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WI: 
 
 44'^: 
 
 Zl 
 
 ■^V' 
 
I 
 
 Jl'f«! < , 
 
 AN APPEAL, 
 
 ^7;iivtmc^ to «i ciintritK ^ufiUc ; 
 
 AND TO THE FEELINGS OF THOSE 
 
 V/IIOSE UPRIGHT SENTIMENTS AND DISCERNING MINDS, 
 
 ENABLE THEM TO 
 
 '*Wti(3^i\ it tw tilt i^aUntt of Uit Jaanctiiatfi 
 
 tf 
 
 
 BY ELMER GUSHING, ESQUIR 
 
 JL^a 
 
 WHEREIN IS DISPLAYED THE SINGULAR 
 
 HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR ; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH THAT OP 
 
 THE OTHER JMERICJJYSy 
 
 SETTLED IN THE PROVINCE OF 
 
 LOWER-CANADA. 
 
 " Tlien let me hope indnlg'ence still to share ; 
 ii" less my merit, i^reater be tny care; 
 Tlio' hard the task, that task you'll kindly feel, 
 Aud, fjr desert, accept unvvea.ieJ zeal-" 
 
 Yet prompt to stay his country's fill. 
 The stormy city's war he'll join ; 
 
 Vticn thou, and Imlfi, and freedom call: 
 Fur freedoui's voice, and trtUhs, aiu ihiae." 
 
 Stan«5tcat)r : 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, /<^ 
 
 BY S. II. DlClvKRSON. 
 182G. 
 
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mPPBP 
 
 '■n' " 
 
 -;•". • •■ 
 
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INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 TO a candid Public I address this "Appeal," not doubting but 
 tlicy will do nie justice ap soon as they possess data suflicient to 
 form an opinion. I rest with confidence on the evidence, which I 
 shall here exhibit, for a final decision concerning the rectitude of 
 my moral conduct thro' life generally, and more particularly con- 
 cerning my transactions as a witness in the cause of David M'Lane, 
 in the year 1797, who was theu tried for high treason, convicted 
 and executed. 
 
 It is with no small degree of pain and mortification that I find 
 myself driven to the alternative of making this appeal. — I thereby 
 feel myself, in some measure, degraded from that proud station, to 
 which innocence and unsullied conduct ever entitle us. We have 
 
 « 
 
 a just claim, without question, to an untarnished reputation, until 
 some prwf ov at least some colour of suspicion of improper con- 
 duct, should exist against us. I am forced to make my defence 
 against the envenomed tongue of slander — against accusations which 
 are unsupported by one suspicious event — one colour of evi- 
 dence — Yet, no other resource presenting itself to my view, I here 
 ofi"er my unvarnished tale to the candid, the feeling and sensible 
 part cf my brethren of the human family ; fully persuaded that 
 they will do justice to the subject. Fully persuaded that they will 
 try the various instances of my proceedmgs by the feelings of 
 their own heart, and, by that criterion, determine whether I merit 
 the approbation or frowns of the virtuous part of society. 
 
 I>y this mode of trial, I'sim willing to abide the final determina- 
 tion of my fellow citizens. That I have always adopted the wisest 
 measures, under the various situations in which I have been pla- 
 ced, is a point to which I lay no claim. I well know that " 'tis hu- 
 man to err" — This truth is forcibly impressed on my mind by long* 
 
 
 
 »<'.'! 
 
 
 \l 
 
/ 
 
 IV 
 
 INTRODLvlTION. 
 
 and repeated experience ; nnd, as I am approximntuig ti) (lie end 
 of my mortnl course, I can iio»v look l>ack with wonder mid pity 
 on tlic weaknessfci to wliich the human character is constantly 
 subject. 
 
 I do not oiTer this appeal for t'le purpose of pcrsnadii.g mankind 
 that my y5o/j7jca/ wisdom lias always been nninipeachable ; hut to 
 hhew them tliat the fmall abilities which the great author of nature 
 Paw lit to bestow on me, haie ever been directed by the laws of 
 mor.il rectitude, and of course, that 1 have suflered the fame por- 
 tion cf injuftioe rnnrornm^ the trial of M'Lane as my conduct, in 
 that respect, lias been reprc^en(pd immoral. 
 
 It requires but a s-li^lit knowledge of human nature to learn that 
 an evil report is much more easily put into circulation and credited 
 than a good one. Tliis {iroceeds from the nature of the human 
 heart. All men are anxious for distinction. This distinction con- 
 sists in comparison —tlie lower we deprers others, the higher it ex- 
 alts us in the comparative view of the subject. From this cause 
 mankind arc too ready to swalbiw down an evil report with avidity. 
 However, the frequenrj' of imlnlging this propenj^ity does by no 
 means justify it, or diminish its moral turpitude — The practice is 
 base — it is unmanly — it is contrary to the laws of God and man, 
 and I submit to the judgment (f every discerning person whether 
 if IS not an invariable and certain evidence of a corrupt heart and 
 debased mind to follow this practice ? 
 
 For nearly thirty years, I have borne the evils resulting from 
 tl;i-! pestiioiilial propensity. 1 have borne it in silence, under the 
 exp;^ctation that time would effect the remedy to which I mit^ht 
 justly look with contidence, as a righteous claim on the moral sense 
 of man. Treachery and perjury have been doated upon a thou- 
 sand babbling tongues against me. Such cruel, wicked malicious and 
 nefarious representations have gained admittance into the various 
 circles of society, at a time when the clearest and most authentic 
 r'ocumonts were ht'fore the j)ublic, girtng the lie direct to them. 
 Those rei>roseiitations have j)assed current notwithstanding these 
 prblic documents ; and uhen not a single circumstance ever exis- 
 ted to give cause for e.ven a suspicion of such a crime on my part- 
 To run after such reports — to call on my brethren of the human 
 
 
IN'TRODLCrrON' T 
 
 f tmi'y (o ccapc from (heir tmirflerous proccetling — lo implore llicm 
 lo restore me my ('lir i'mir, iib^^tain iVom lacerating my clmructer 
 and b!ackenin<; my repiitalion, was what I could not reconcile to my 
 feelings. 1 coiiM not but recollect that I, in common with the rest 
 of mankind, ought to he presumed innocent, until proved guilty — that 
 the want of this jTOof warf of itself sufi'icient evidence, to the can- 
 did and inlclligont part of the world, of ipy upright and unimpeacha- 
 ble conduct. The (h^^nified stand to which innocence was ever en- 
 titled, ought not to he suijected lo the degrading necessity of coaxing, 
 flattering, and imyioring the wicked and malicious slanderer to cease 
 from trou!)ling our repose. It is what we have a right to demand. 
 It is our just due ; — and when we do not receive it, we are treat- 
 ed with flagrant injustice — an injustice which violates, most glaring- 
 ly, the laws of moral rectitude. • . , '. 
 
 To suffer such unmerited rcpro€^ch in a c/iris^ion country, where 
 people are full of profession of "doing by others as they would that 
 others shouW do by them," appears still more monstrous w.iul 
 detestable. 
 
 Still I fee' an irrcsistable rcluctancy to move in mj own vindica- 
 tion. I considered that enough, and more than enough of conclu- 
 sive evidence whs already before the public to set this cruel and 
 midicious report at rest. The publication of the trial of M'Liine 
 h-nl hccD in general circulation since 1'797. — In that publication 
 there is nbt only negative, but likewise the most />ost/ire evidence 
 which the nature of the case could admit, that my conduct, thro' 
 (iiat unhappy busineps, was entirely uprig;ht. 'J'his evidence con- 
 f.isled in the open and public declaration of M'Lane himself, the 
 man against whom my testimony was directed — the man who w;is 
 interested to invalidate and depreciute my evidence — the man who 
 w;is vibrating between life and death, standing upon the awful and 
 solemn brink of eternity.* 
 
 It likewise was publicly known that I possessed the confidence of 
 my own Government, by holding places of honorable, respectable 
 iM)d important trusts under it. — Vv'hat more satisfactory evidence 
 could mankind require ? What stronger proof could the candid 
 
 < I'M 
 
 ■■ 
 
 Sec Al'Lanes Trial, Page 77. 
 
 isif 
 
\1 
 
 INTRODI.CnOX. 
 
 I • 
 
 and reflecting ptpect ? — Yet under all lliesr. circumstances, with 
 this cloud ofevidence < n;iiin8t tlicin, have tlie busy, meddling, ntnli- 
 cious and slanderous herd never ceased, one niouicut, to reiterate 
 and propagate this vile report, until it became «o serious as to in- 
 jure me in pursuing my necessary and important avocations. 
 
 In this state of the business, and under such a view of the sub- 
 ject, I linally concluded to make my appeal to a candid public — To 
 lay the whole state of the case before them, aiid rest my justifica- 
 tion OD their decision. 
 
 In pursuing the course of this nppeal, however, I shall go more 
 fully into the history of my performance on the broad thcatrp of life 
 than what appertains merely to the business concerning M'Lane, 
 I shall take the liberty of throwing into public view an eventful 
 history of about 30 years past, combined with m.iny things of an in- 
 tpresting nature both to individuals and to the public at large. In 
 the course of this pursuit, I shall endeavor to confme myself prin- 
 cipally to the relation of facts, and leave the inferences to be drawn 
 therefrom to the good sense of the candid reader. 
 
 In this appeal it must not be expected that I shall be able to ex* 
 hibit classic elegance ; — fine, smooth and soft sounding language ; 
 rounded and swelling periods ; or deep scientific lore — such pati.s 
 have never been trodden by me. My life has been devoted to 
 other pursuits. — All I can offer is a plain, simple, unvarnished tal* 
 of real facts — such, ns I hopt^, will bear the stamp and test of 
 truth. To such do I make this appeal as esteem truth, in her sim- 
 ple dress, more highly than l.ilsehood adorned with every factitious 
 ornament. If, by such, I am justified and supported, | am satisfied 
 — 1 have obtained the object of my pursuit — I have reached the 
 gaol for which I started. I h;(v«; then gained the reward which t)iR 
 immutable laws of moral rectitude adjudges to be my j?/sMight. 
 To such who compose the general inquest of the world, I submit 
 with pleasure ; and will wait, patiently and subniissively, fur their 
 Verdict. 
 
-*v*" ,' 
 
 -^ i 
 
 ll 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ,. 
 
 •*Tliosp principlps. nlnch on the hrarf engravIT, 
 ♦' llavt! mail opiiiinn'ssliiftitig' tempest br.iv'd 
 •• Which, iindefac'd hv manners (ir by times, 
 " Dy rcvolutionb and their train of rrimes, 
 *' Man, civilizM or savag^e, stilt has felt ; 
 «• And will retain, 'till nature's fabric melt. 
 
 i< 
 
 '['• 
 
 IN the year 1792 I removed, Avith my family, from 
 the State of Massachusetts, into the Province of 
 Lower-Canada; and settled in the City of Montreal, 
 as a place offering flattering prospects for the em- 
 ployment of active industry. Conceiving it the more 
 sure calculation to circumscribe my business to very 
 harrow limits, whilst I was yet a stranger in the 
 country, and in a measure ignorant of the various 
 prospects which might present, I commenced by 
 opening a small house of entertainment. This I con- 
 tinued for the period of 5 years ; and with greater 
 success, in that line, than my most sanguine expec- 
 tations had ever inspired. My unwearied and con- 
 stant attention to the wants, comfort and safety of 
 the weary traveller were abundantly rewarded by 
 daily and accumulating profit. My customers I ev- 
 er met, and received with pleasure. In fact, their 
 wishes, when bounded by moral rectitude, were nev- 
 er treated with neglect. 1 lived in peace and friend- 
 ship with the world — that same world were appa- 
 rently at peace and friendship with me. I saw, with 
 much pleasure, the means fast increasing, for making 
 a sure and permanent establishtnent lor the wants of 
 a growing family. 
 
 It is an observation as old as (he historv of man 
 
 
i 
 
 that liuraan prosperity is unstablo. Hy sncl exppri- 
 erice I found this vori/iod in relation to iny own viltiiirs. 
 After tontiuuin/i: ihi^^ course of prosperous busines* 
 for a number oi' years, my liouse, furnitin-e anil other 
 moveable pro[)eily was consumetl hy fire. The re- 
 ward of several years of unabatin^ industry, econo- 
 my and severe labor, in one moment, lell a prey to 
 this devouring clement, and was lost in the gulph of 
 everlastiiig ri;in. 
 
 This reverse was severely felt; but it did not 
 by any means, produce despondency. I rejected 
 that I was e^tabiished in business. [ could make 
 my calculations on future prospects with more accu- 
 racy than tbnnerly. My name had become known 
 far and wide as an attentive and accommodatinj]j 
 Tavern-keeper. i\Jy old customers, I was sure of re- 
 ceiving again. — new ones, I was confider»t of ob- 
 taining. The business admitted a profit. My credit 
 among the moneyed interest, in Montreal, was* good. 
 I could anticipate any means which my necessities 
 required. Under such circumstances, altho' my los- 
 ses were severe, yet I had no reason for d(??ponden- 
 cy — on the contrary, I had the strongest grounds for 
 confidence in my future prospects arul pursuits. 
 
 I was determined to rebuild my house, with every 
 degree of dispatch, upon a more enlarged scale than 
 the former. However, during the time in whitth [ 
 was making calculations and arrangements for this 
 purpose, a new scene opened to my view which ma- 
 terially changed my plans ; and which, in its conse- 
 quences aFid remote c.Ibcts, prodat;ed a train of the 
 most disagreeable events — events which have hung, 
 with oppressive weight, lor thirty years, over my 
 head ; and covered it with the premature blossoms 
 of the grave. 
 
 There was no building at this time, in Montreal, 
 which v'.ould be used by tlie citizens for p'lhlic meet- 
 ings on business and pleasure. I was strongly soli- 
 cited, by the Gentlemen of thl>-> city, to cnlar|je my 
 
 
my 
 
 % 
 
 p1fin in Imilillncj to such a il'^pjrcc as to form a houi«t* 
 stjiliciciitly spac;ious for the accommodation of llu* 
 inhabitants of Montreal, arul the pubhc at hiroe ; 
 promisins^ under Kuch conditions, to give me sucfi 
 support as to render it highly j)rorital)l(; in the result. 
 
 In an evil hour I acceded to this proposal — \ 
 must here candidly confess my own weakness. By 
 this pointed manifestation of public approbation in 
 my line of biisiness, my varnty was greatly flattered 
 — so much so, as to prevent me from giving the sub- • 
 ject its due consitlcration. But who so insensible as 
 not to be gratified, by public ap|)robation ? I ever 
 ha<l an ambition to act upon a more enlarged thea- 
 tre than my little tavern nllbrded. To this situation 
 I was called by the united solicitations of the most 
 respectnble inhabitants of Montreal. They otlered 
 m«» wt^alth, combined with the proud consideration 
 of being a useful and esteemed member of society. 
 
 It was urged by those Gentlemen, and believed 
 by me, that the profits, which I should realize from 
 the inhabitants of Montreal, would a-bundantly fur- 
 nish the means of meeting all the expences of ma- 
 king and supporting such an establishment ; and of 
 course all the money derived from foreign custom 
 would constitute a fund entirely unincumbered, and 
 at my own disposal. I believed such representa- 
 tions to be made from fair and accurate calculations. 
 I had heretofore succeeded beyond my expectations, in 
 the same line of business, and in the same place ; and 
 that too, when I was wholly unknown. Why not 
 now, after 1 had becojue known and approved, ra- 
 tionally look for success, at least, equal \o my expec- 
 tation, and likewise the expectation of all the know- 
 inn; ones ? 
 
 Under these impressions I commenced my ardu- 
 ous, expensive and fatal iu)dertaking. 1 was deter- 
 mined lo even outdo the most sanguine expectatiors 
 ot the Montreal gentry in preparing for their accom- 
 modation, in return for the gencrul cynfidence which 
 
 ,<! ii 
 
 it ■ I 
 I '' 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 i 
 
10 
 
 
 I, 
 
 tli."'y liaJ maniresl-cd towards mo. I was fully bent 
 on their more than realizing all thenr anticipations in 
 my favor. My credit was such as to enable me to 
 obtain cash to meet the expence of any kind of buil- 
 ding [ chose to erect. 
 
 Immediately I commenced, and in a short time fin- 
 ished, a noble edifice; together with all the neces- 
 sary out hiiildings .'.nd conveniences for a public es- 
 labhshmcnt upon an extensive scale. This house 
 likewise was supplied with furniture to answer every 
 purpose, in equal proportion and stile. The whole 
 expences attending this concern. I found, amounted 
 to a grcJnt siun. Yet no gloomy feelings — no dis- 
 couraging forebodings interrupted my repose. I 
 had been flattered with a golden harvest, on opening 
 my house. My friends of the city paid me many 
 <:ompliments, and bestowed niany flattering encomi- 
 ums on the elegant mansion which i had reared, 
 and on the superb stile in which it was finished, so 
 superior to what had been expected. 
 
 Such flattering observations had their efTect. I 
 felt every degree of confidence in the uilimate profit 
 of my business, notwithstanding the heavy sums 
 which this undertaking had cost me, and u hich were 
 now due. 
 
 The day of opening my house was, to me. more 
 than a day of Jubilee. It became immediately 
 crowded, thro' all the various apartment"^. All was 
 hilarity and happiness. Every appearance Avas now 
 manifested, by the good people of Montreal to meet 
 my wishes; and even exceed my most sanguine ex- 
 pectations. All, of every class, vied witli each other 
 in making mo feel the profit of my business ; and in 
 participating in the general joy which now prevailed. 
 
 At midnight my house became empty. 1 had now 
 a little leisure ibr reflection. The tumult and hur- 
 rv of business had ceased — [ could count the event* 
 of th'j day — the profits whicli thif; b; jinning of busi- 
 ness, had produced. With what heartfelt satisfac- 
 
 S! ■' 't 
 
 »( 
 
rr 
 
 in 
 
 led. 
 
 liOW 
 
 lur- 
 
 |usi- 
 It'ac- 
 
 II 
 
 lion di«l I calculate the inrome ol" this day; and by 
 that criterion ot estimation, Ibresee the speed;' ex- 
 tinction of" all the debts lying ajijainst me. Counting 
 one half the profits reahzed this day, >vould more 
 than suffice for meeting all my debts, in' the course 
 of one year. I lay down on my pillow with plea- 
 sure and self gratulation. Every appearance, ex- 
 liibilcJ to my view, was of" the consoling kind. I was 
 giving ])leafeure to the world, hi return that same 
 world gave pleasure to me! Who could suppose 
 that scenes so bright, so pleasing, so alluring were 
 all illusory .'' Yet such they afterwards provedtobc. 
 
 However, my house again filled the next day — the 
 former crowd of pro(ita])le business succeeded ; and 
 1 had no reason yet to fear a reverse. This contin- 
 ued whilst the novelty of my establishment was strong 
 on the minds of the populace. In time, this wore a- 
 way. The gentry of Montreal, on whom my most 
 sanguine calculations were formed, were chiefly of 
 the mercantile class. They were quite in the habit 
 of calculati'ig proft and loss with much shrewdness. 
 "•• To buy cheap and sell dear," formed the pole star 
 which governed all their calculations. They were 
 very willing to enjoy pleasure, but it became their u- 
 niform study to purchase it at the cheapest possible 
 rate. The enthusiasm which attended the opening 
 of tlie " American Coffee house," the name by which 
 my house w^is known, in time subsided. The Gen*- 
 try returned to their former habits of cool ra'cula- 
 tion. It was iheir own interest they had to consult, 
 and not mine. Ifl had made great and extraordina- 
 ry exertion for their pleasure and convenience, that 
 became my aflhir and not theirs. If I had incured 
 heavy debts, it was my business to pay them. If I 
 had rested too securely on their promises, it was a 
 mark of my folly ; and it might induce me to use 
 more caution in future, by present disappointment. 
 
 The house once erected could not be removed, 
 Jiowevcr much 1 might be dissatisfied. It was well 
 
 ■i ! 
 
 % 
 
 ■Ti'i 
 
 i:-^ 
 
 
 II 
 
f - ■ 
 
 U„o.n that neoe.Uy .•ouM oo,n5;c;l.ne to continue 
 tans of e^tricaung-ys U. .U ^^^^^ „,. ^ B.,d 
 that tl.e toW" """'^,A be what U,oy .msl't. Ln 
 ,,l.-asnrc, let my '«<^ "f;;^ g„od cHi/e.s coi.ce.vcJ .t 
 ler this consi; oration the !^ cntcrtainmeut at the 
 
 toWthe--po;"y'»''^^'^';'\,ee '-y "o means .ncU- 
 thcapest rate. 1i et they ««,^ ./,„„al attendance, 
 
 'or the luxuries "^l^^ ;^^^';;;" anxious to dimmish 
 only thc/.ri«wh>chthey we ^^^^ , ^j 
 
 l\ad Wnishcd a s ock ol t ^^. ^^ g^ 
 
 other delicacies «*?'^V ^^ Ling furnished at the 
 
 ded Yet they m^'^^^-* "^ anded for the wretched 
 
 lime vrices as ««'^'1^™S1 grocery shops in town. 
 
 rera';e commonly soldm A go^^^^^^ P , ,tte,- 
 
 1 kept a retinue of Vl!":^^„ foet, I neglected no re- 
 dance on my ™« 5""f 'Vi^ued my house happy- 
 ^„,„ee to make all ^^o ^'S'^^' { t^d to meet 
 
 In the higher ranks of «»^ «j,^ ^„ P.^ich 1 cons.d- 
 that manly and rationa hberaW^ ^^^^ ,.„^ ^„y 
 
 •red myself justly entitkd^ I ^^^^^ ^,, 
 disposition, 1.1 his c asMo \ ^^^^^^ ^hen I 
 
 sities, or to take »''^="''M„,:„ ' the fair and rea- 
 ^d hefore them my '^'^Z^^U.^^ « fullvcxpcct- 
 lonable pro6t to «h.<=h ' « -^ V^h pleasure to my 
 cd that they «ould »''';"^^ fe, from that, one con- 
 course of p>oceedmg-but so ^„^eecded. 
 .tant scene of •^'■''"f ""^J * hVg ^ ^ _^,,^.,„„, ,, 
 
 lu an un'ortuua'e . ome '^ „!,miinu.ion in my P"- 
 „;ve satisfaction, 1 agied to ^,^.^ j,^,.^ ,, j 
 
 ,.»« in some small '"S'|''' „,• ,,,„,i and ncrcased. 
 
 • . ^^ole'rected, the •'^^--^^^-pt^,, „ ,ine of de- 
 
 There now «?l« ""„;7mV expenditure, at every as- 
 
 maikation, until I '»"" ' '"^^., ? ,«. To this c.rcum- 
 
 serably. greater than "^yj^^^f- ,1,^ good people o 
 
 stance, 1 called ^ ^^^»^j^^ " ^turning to my or.gujnl 
 
 thiscity; and nsled^^^^ „,„e rehnguishca the 
 
 pnceB. iiOVM>>^'i 
 
13 
 
 to 
 
 ground Nvhicli 1 never was able to regain. New ar- 
 ^>,uments wvvc rcsorled to, attended with threats that 
 liiy house would be lorsaken by the first characters, 
 bolli in point of rank and opulence, thro' the Pro- 
 ^ ince. f candidly conlcss that tliis threat had more 
 than its due weight upon my mind. 
 
 Under such circuiTLstanc.es, I continued for six. 
 years ineflectnally to struggle with my cmbarass- 
 ments ; anxiously crideavoring to disencumber my- 
 HelflVom debt; but, with all my endeavors, painfully 
 found <hat 1 was daily phmged deeper into ruin. 
 This view of the subject finally determined me to 
 relinquish my business ; resign my property into the 
 hands of my creditors ; and seek my fortune in a- 
 nother country. 
 
 After having been flattered with the animating 
 expectation of accumulating an independence in 
 Montreal, then to meet complete disappointment; 
 and that disappointment proceeding from a quarter 
 where I had not the least expectation, became a 
 consideration of such deep mollification, as to in- 
 duce me to reject the idea altogether of continuing 
 in this place — I fully determined to leave it, and re- 
 turn to the U. States. I gave information of this to 
 my Creditors; Advertised all my properly for sale; 
 and put my unsettled concerns into the hands of iMr. 
 Sewell, for a speedy adjustment. I then hastened 
 my preparations for a removal. 
 
 I had now a fair opportunity to view the opera- 
 tions of the human heart — to learn and read the his- 
 tory ot man. I was now fully able to appreciate the 
 value of entertaining the first characters in the Pro- 
 vince, for six years, at losing prices. This was a 
 subject on wiiich I once had felt extremely delicate. 
 The reputation of my iiouse, I was very desirous to 
 maintain, at every sacrifice. I <lid it, and now found 
 those "high blown honors" evaporating in smoke, 
 and treated with contempt. ^v'llcn. in apparent 
 prosperity, the bow of respect, the smile of approLa- 
 
 if 
 
 h 
 
 f ; 
 
 -I; 
 
14 
 
 lion and llic flattorlnn; enooniMJms of esteem were 
 bestowed on me with much Hberahly. Yet, in my 
 preserjt situatioii. I appeared as a stranger — an a 
 person wholly unknown in this ifrmt city. Jn addi- 
 tion to all this, I Ibund those who had iormerly so 
 highly caressed and a])planded njy conduct, were 
 now very ready to impute my failure to my own 
 want of ability to calculate, and manage sueli an es- 
 tablishment. 
 
 That such accusations and insinuations were en- 
 tirely false and unlmmded, abundantly ajipears from 
 after events. Vox- every person who has occupied 
 the American Coflee-House, since my leaving it, has 
 experienced the like calamity with myselti which 
 ever will continue to be the case whilst its support 
 is conducted with so much illiberality. 
 
 One circumstance has ever struck my mind with 
 surprise concerning the conduct of my creditors. — 
 They consisted of some of the leading characters 
 in Montreal, and were very liberal in calling my 
 rules of calculation into question. They were ever 
 forward in their endeavors to curtail my prices, and 
 thereby reducing the profits of my business, which 
 directly led to an inability to discharge my debts, 
 which were due to them. I eycr considered that 
 their true interest would lead them to promote my 
 prosperity, in order to enable me to pay them the 
 money which was due. But, so far from pursuing 
 this course, they were the ibremost in reducing my 
 profits ; and, in order to &ave the pitiful sum five 
 .shillings for an evening's entertainment, drew down 
 Josses on themselves of considerable magnitude. I 
 now submit it to the consideration of the candid who 
 were the more faulty in calculation? 
 
 An event which gave, in its consequences, a new 
 face to my aifairs; a new turn to my business; and 
 new data for calculation, noM took place, which 
 shall be my busincjss to relate. In pursuing the ob- 
 jects, which these events presented, I used my ut- 
 
15 
 
 most endeavors to net in eonformlty to the nicest 
 Miles of moral rectitude, uninfluenced bj every sin- 
 iriter consideration ; the result of which was, the 
 most uidimited approbation of my own heart; but, 
 at the same time, the bitterest invoctives from many 
 of my brethren of the humaii family. 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 <' Tjpt not pain or toil ilismay thpR ; 
 <• Fasliion rule ; or vice hctray llicc. 
 <' Solid joys nnmix'd with wo, 
 " Virtue onfy caa bestow. 
 
 > 
 
 ON the 5th of November In the year I79G David 
 M'Lane, formerly a merchant of Providence in the- 
 State of Rhodeisland, came to, and put up at my 
 house, in Montreal. I had formerly known him when -. 
 carrying on his mercantile concerns in that town. 
 There he bore a most excellent character, as air 
 honest, fair, industrious and respectable dealer. It 
 could not be a matter of surprise at my receiving him 
 with pleasure, particularly, when it is taken into con- 
 sideration that [ had previously learned that he had 
 met with considerable losses in his business; and 
 the sympathy which my own situation would cause 
 me to feel towards a man in his condition. 
 
 Thes^ circumstances produced, with the renewal 
 of our oKl acquaintance, an increased intimacy, — 
 This intimacy led him to unfold to me the secret of 
 his journey into this country, and the objects which 
 influenced his present calculations. 
 
 However, before he made a full disclosure, he re- 
 qirired of me a solemn promise to krep the whole 
 communication a profound secret. From knowinja; 
 the man ; and from the high confidence I had in his 
 good intentions, I felt no hcsilatioa in making the^ 
 
 i| 
 
 - i: 
 
 m 
 
 .1 
 
mi^m 
 
 16 
 
 promise nhicli he required. However, I maJc it 
 subject to the condition that keeping tiie secret 
 shoidd, in no way, tend to the damage of my person 
 or property. He then proceeded — 
 
 " Mr. Cushing so far irom proving detrimental to 
 you in person or property, the business, in which I 
 am now engaged, shall raise you from a state of cm- 
 ]>arrassment to affluence and splendor. I well know 
 the ungenerous treatment you have received in this 
 country; — you shall, ere long, tind those very peo- 
 ple, who now treat you with haughty neglect, pros- 
 trate at your feet, suing to you tor friendship and as- 
 sistance; and willing to descend lo any degree of 
 meanness to obtain jour fa^ or. For it is a univer- 
 sal truth that such as an; haughty and unfeeling in 
 prosperity are uniformly ahjoct and base in adver- 
 sity." 
 
 *' Know then that I am a general in the French 
 service, and am here for the express purpose of de- 
 vising ways and means for revolutionizing the Cana- 
 das ; and, thereby uniting them again to their origin- 
 al country. Strange as it may seem to you, I possess 
 the means, in abundance, to effect this important ob- 
 ject. Yet it is my wish, as well as the wish of those 
 under whom I act, to produce this revolution with 
 as little expence of blood, on both sides, as is possi- 
 ble. However, the Canadas must fall. The haugh- 
 ty power of Great Britain must be annihilated on 
 this Continent. As our means are adequate to such 
 an imdertaking, our determination is to make those 
 means effectual." 
 
 " You may wonder, Mr. Cushing, whefi you see me 
 here, a solitary individual, what means are within 
 my reach to effect such a great object. But you 
 may rest assured that I boast of nothing which 1 can- 
 not perform. Fifteen thousand men on the Line, 
 Green Mountain bojs. steel to the i>ack bone, all 
 ready to enter the Province at the first signal. How- 
 ever, this expedition must be procrastinated until 
 
 01 
 
17 
 
 upriiii:;, Avhen nc shall have a fleet in tlie river to co- 
 operate witli our land army. Then you will see the 
 tricoloured llag flying triumphant in every fort and 
 garrison thro' the two Provinces. Then you will sec 
 all our friends lifted from their abjeet and grovelling- 
 eondition, under the British Government, to places 
 ot honor and profit, as a reward for their getieroui 
 exertions in the cause of humanity. 
 
 "• The struggle, Mr. Gushing, will not be of long 
 continuance. We shall fall on them like lightning. 
 We shall take them unawares and unprepared. The 
 country will be ours before they will have time to 
 attempt resistance. 
 
 " I ha^ e now exhibited to your view some small 
 specimens of the outlines of our plans. Before ( 
 can go more into detail, you must pledge yourself, in 
 the most unequivocal manner, to lend us all your en- 
 ergies to co-operate in this object ; after having done 
 that, I will more perfectly open the system, and des- 
 cribe to you the part which you must perform in thitj 
 business ; and, as I conctMV<i ycu well qualified to 
 act a part in it, highly honorable and profitable, I 
 will insure you any subordinate situation, either hi 
 the military or civil department!), as a reward. — 1 
 wait for your answer." 
 
 This declaration produced, in my mind a degree 
 of surprise and astonishment which no words can re- 
 
 f>resent. It was so unexpected — so far out of tho 
 ine of any thing which I had anticipated, that I sat. 
 some minutes, in dumb astonishment. However, 1, 
 at length, made the ibllowing reply. 
 
 " Mr. M'Lane, I must candidly confess that my 
 mind is hardly made up for a reply. Your objects 
 are so unexpected — so unlooked for — so foreign from 
 any thing which I had anticipated, that ! am at a losi< 
 how to view the subject. From your good character, I 
 cannot believe you capable of deliberately enteriii«>- 
 into a business which you sujiposcd to be wioiig : nei^ 
 liher do I believe you would wantonly wuiind m/ 
 
 !l 
 
 :\ 11 
 
 iJ ': 
 
 
i 
 
 I 
 
 in 
 
 feelings, by proposinj; to me to tiike part in a con- 
 cern, Avhich my conscionco Mould comlcmn. let 
 from tlio superficiiii view I have had time to take, I 
 cannot but consider it wrong; — and a wrong of the 
 first magnitude, both in the jmlitical and moral sense 
 of the word. I well know that every enthusiast, both 
 in religion and politics, believes his own to l>c the 
 l)ost,~but shall he be iiuhilged with the privilege, in 
 consequence-of this belief, (o crowd his religion or 
 liis politics, by force, down tlie throats of others ? — 
 Common sense forbids it. This, once allowed, would 
 reduce the order of society into its primitive chaos. 
 
 " In such points, every society has the undeniablo 
 right to act for itself. If you believe a pure democ- 
 racy the best government, you have the unlimited 
 ])rivilegc of enjoying that, in such a society — and I 
 should act a very unjust part towards you, by at- 
 tempting to deprive you of it. by force. If I believe 
 a mixeci government preferable, I have the same right 
 to enjoy it; and any attempt in you to deprive me of 
 it, would be eqiutl/ij unjust. 
 
 "Are the Canadians unhappy under their present 
 political situation ? I believe not. Thoy certainly 
 have no reason for discontent. ' Why then disturb 
 them ? V\ iiy force them to accept of a new order of 
 political existence .'' If the Canadians arc dissatisfi- 
 ed with this government — If they prefer one more 
 democratical, they might easily gain their desired 
 object, by emigrating to the U. States : they do not ; 
 the presumption then is that they are contented with 
 their present situation; or, at least, that they do not 
 wish for a greater extent of the republican principle. 
 .. "You alledgc that there has been some difficulty 
 among them about the road act. Do you find any 
 government where no uneasiness exists ? Certainly 
 not in the one under whose autliority you are now 
 acting — neither do you find it in (he U. States. Their 
 constant political squabbles, and the terrible insur- 
 rection in Pennsylvania, concerning the whit>key 
 laws, abundantly prove it. - 
 
 \i 
 
19 
 
 M 
 
 ♦•AVouKl it 1kiv(; been just, in Groat Britair), at 
 that time, to iiitorirrc in ^our administration, and 
 ellJjct a revolution in ijonr government? If not in 
 yours, then why in ours.'' Moreov^er will you deluge 
 the Canadians in blood and conC.agration in order to 
 make them happy? What an ab^iurdityl But, my 
 dear Sir. the threat question "• what is the best gov- 
 ernment" has long occupied fhe attention of the wi- 
 sest part of mankind ; and by wiiat criterion will you 
 now decide the oueslion ? By force, by bruta! force ? 
 Force never enlightened the mirjd,or conveyed con- 
 viction, since time began. Then why adopt a prin- 
 ciple which will not apply? 
 
 " My own mode of thinking has long been oppos- 
 ed, from moral principle, to revolutions, insurrec- 
 tions ; or, in point of fact, to wars in almost any 
 shape. I fully believe ti»e sentiment of the Wise 
 man to be just, when he iays "A pot of herbs, in 
 peace, is better than a stalled ox in strife." Wars, 
 in almost every instance, cost more than they come 
 to — that is to say, subtract more from the great mass ' 
 of human happiness, than they ever add to it. The 
 sacrifice of blood, of treasure, and the various ten- 
 der endearments which constitute our felicity, are 
 never compensated by all the advantages which wars 
 produce. I have had my serious doubts whether 
 the popular revolution of the U. States has eflected, 
 or ever will efTect, so great a share of happiiicss 
 to the human fimiily at large, as what was lost by 
 the events of the revolutionary war. However, sucli 
 has been the enthusiasm on that point, through that 
 country, that I have found it necessary to express 
 this sentiment with much caution, in order to pre- 
 serve my own peace ;rnd safety, notwithstanding the 
 great professions of libemlify^ which we daily hear 
 them make. They certainly are, in common w ith 
 others, exceedingly indulgent in hearing sentiments 
 which are congenial to their own feelings. 
 
 *• It will be impossible to eflect a revolution ia 
 
 4 
 
 i- ■ 
 
 Ml . 
 
 \i 
 
20 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 II 
 
 I ■■. 
 
 Canada witliout much blood sliod and dcslruc(ion to 
 the inhabitants, notwithstanding all vour fond expec- 
 tations to the contrary. And what will they irn'm ns 
 a coufiterbalance to this cnicl pacnfue ? Will Ihey 
 pay less taxes? That is impossihlo — for thoy at 
 present pay not any. Will they more jxTfectiy en- 
 joy their religion — their customs — their rights and 
 privileges as men ? All these are fully secured to 
 ihem. To say then, that this revohjl ionizing plan is 
 formed for the good of mankind, .and the happiness 
 of the Canadians, is a perfect solecism. 
 
 "Look at that country in whose service you are 
 engaged, and at the horrid consequences atter.ding 
 a revolution. Their fields have been fertilized with 
 the blood of its citizens. Havoc and dismay arc 
 spread thro' all its departments. Thousands of its 
 inhabitants wandering in exile and poverty. All the 
 tender endearments, which sweeten the course of 
 life, deslroved ; and the kingdom itself turned into a 
 prison and slaughter-house. 
 
 " Under such circumstances do you come here lo 
 ])ring your happiness to us.'* Yuu, who are com- 
 pletely miserable within yourselves, offering to make 
 us happy!!! The absurdity is too ridiculous for a 
 moments consideration. If vou wish to induce the 
 human family to receive your oflcrs, convince them, 
 in the first place, that you enjoy the happiness which 
 you offer. Obtain tranquillity at home, before you 
 di*tribnte it abroad. Mankind rnnnot believe you 
 are able to contribute to their fislicity, until they see 
 jou in the enjoyment of it amojig yourselves. 
 
 "Another consideration forcibly crowds itself on 
 my mind, as relating to my own conduct in this busi- 
 iiesp.> I am a British subject. » I have sworn allegi- 
 ance to this government. 1 am under stronger mor- 
 al obligation to maintain my loyalty inviolate, than if 
 f had been a native of the country. 1 came here af- 
 ter I was a roan capable of acting a tree and inde- 
 pendent part. By my conduct I said to this govern- 
 
 
to 
 ?c- 
 
 as 
 
 at 
 |en- 
 
 «> 
 
 21 
 
 mciit " permit mo lo llvo nmoiig you, and under tlie 
 protection of your laws; and in return, I will, to the 
 ntmoBt of my ]iowrr. obey and support the laws." I 
 «;ver have, and still receive that protection. You 
 observe that I have met \vith much injustice here, 
 yet I have no reason to blame the Administration.— 
 In every country we shall find individunh who will do 
 wrong. No government can prevent it. There are 
 cases of injustice v\hi<'.h no laws can reach. 
 
 "This, Mr. M'Lane, is ujy situation ; and under 
 such a situation, shall f violate the solemn obliga- 
 tions which I made to this country ? Ought I so 
 lightly to trifle with the great tie which ])ind6 man to 
 man."^ If you believed me capable of such an aban- 
 donment of the moral sense, would you consider 
 yourself safe in communicating your secret to me, 
 and thereby placing your life and liberty at my dis- 
 posal ? If 1 were capable of violating the greater 
 obligation, certainly 1 should be the less. In addi- 
 tion to this, my promise to you was conditional. la- 
 greed to keep your secret providing it were compat- 
 ible with the satety of my person and property. Do 
 you conceive that I am so absolutely lost to all re- 
 flection as to behevc that a revolution will not en- 
 danger the satiety of myself, my tamily and proper- 
 ty ? Certainly you cannot. 
 
 " What may be my final determination, t)n mature 
 reflection, concerning your information, I cannot now 
 inform you. I wish to act towards you, towards this 
 government, and towards ail raanldnd, with strict 
 moral integrity. I am undetermined what my real 
 duty requires. I view myself as virhially belonging 
 to another country. I continue here but a short 
 time, merely to turn my property to the best advan- 
 tage ; that my creditors may sulTer as little loss as 
 the nature of things will admit. Were it not for this 
 single consideration, I should consider my duty would 
 imj^veriously compel me, painful as its discharge would 
 prove, to arrest you instantly, andto deliver.you, to- 
 
 't! 
 
 ' i 
 
o> 
 
 .!H 
 
 » 
 
 
 I'l^l 
 
 ¥■ 
 
 If i 
 
 ^rllicr with the iriformatioii which yon have corninw- 
 iiicated to me, over to the ollieers of ^overiiiiKMit. 
 
 "I sensibly feel an inten\st for your Iiappiness. — I 
 wish to avoid distinl)ii»j>; it. I now tliiiik I sh;dl do 
 nothing in givirrti; intorniation. However, this I can- 
 not promise. It will aUcgelher (h'petid on hnlher 
 relleetion, and future cirenin>5tanres; — at ajiy rate \ 
 will conceal your name so long as I can vvilh propri- 
 ety. Vet I will take the liherly to advise you to 
 leave the Province instantly ; and to return to it no 
 more, lest some unforeseen event may prov<* your ru- 
 in. For, give mo leave to remark to you, that there 
 is more vigilance and penetration in this government 
 than what you believe/' 
 
 M'Lane heard nie with attention, but with appa- 
 rent surprise. When I had finished he made the fol- 
 lowing reply. 
 
 " Mr. Gushing, I respect your prejudices, because 
 they appear conscientious ; hut lijrgive me if I ob- 
 serve that they appear to proceed from mental weak- 
 ness, and from a want of due attention to the sub- 
 ject, more than from correct reasoning. Tlie doc- 
 trine of" the divine right of Kings ; of implicit obe- 
 dience and non-resistance," is long since exploded, 
 even in your own country, in theory; altho' not alto- 
 gether ir» practice. As the dawn of reason increases, 
 this doctrine will, more and more, appear in its own 
 ridiculous and odious colors. 
 
 " What forms the connexion, pray let me ask you, 
 between the Ruler and the ruled ? Does not the 
 Ruler bind himself by as solemn an obligation to the 
 people, as the Oath of Allegiance binds the subject 
 to him .'' This forms the mutual compact between 
 the King and his subjects. The King takes a solemn 
 oath to administer justice with impartiality. In con- 
 sideration for this, tiie subject takes a solemn oath 
 to obey and support him in this Administration. If 
 this compact is broken by either party, it at once 
 dissolves all obligation on the other. This is the ne- 
 
23 
 
 ressjiry mul unavoidable circrl. hocitiRo hoth prom- 
 iscH an* in their iiiiluro t'oiulilional. and binding no 
 longer than the <-ondiiion is I'lillilled. 
 
 " This b<Miig the simple, natural, unvarnished state 
 of the social compact, how do we find it carried into 
 operation »mong you. and in your government ? — 
 'I his is the line of policy adopted to divert the mind 
 Irom the object which ought to clsnm all observation. 
 .Sermons, Orations, Speeches riid exhortations are 
 constantly poured forth against disloyally — against 
 trilhng with the oath of allegiance — against breath- 
 ing the softest whispers, dfMogatory to the sacred 
 name of Mfijesty, let him who wears that name, or 
 his agents, violate the compact in ever so enormous 
 a degree This outcry is continued and reiterated 
 so frequently that you finally become habituated to 
 view one side of the question only — that is to say, 
 the obedience and loyalty of the subject. You are 
 never allowed to go into the examination w hether the 
 compact has been broken by the Crown, and of 
 course your allegiance dissolved, — this is too sacred 
 a subject for vulgar inspection, or animadversion ! 
 
 " The whole energy and strength of your govern- 
 ment is pointed to one object — that is to say, to in- 
 stil iuto tlie minds of the people at large an idea that 
 the King inherits certain divine qualities, which raise 
 him to an infinite remove above his subjects ; and 
 that all those who hold commissions under the crown 
 receive an emanation from that fountain of divinity, 
 ■which qualifies them to bo approached with awe and 
 reverence ; to he indulged in ease, splendor and rich- 
 es, and treated with adoration. The natural conse- 
 quence is that a haughty, supercilious, overbearing 
 conduct succeeds, together with inattention to otli- 
 cial duties. 
 
 " This spirit prevails tlirongh your whole system ; 
 and I am bold to say that scarcely a day passes in 
 which more or less injustice is not done by those in 
 oflice, and they find thcm»elv<>s sheltered by the ri- 
 
 Ml 
 
 jf 
 
 
 11 
 
Il 
 
 k\ 
 
 111 
 
 I 
 
 Ti 
 
 
 ii! 
 
 
 ■J'. I 
 
 m 
 
 21 
 
 cliculous idea that their characfer is too sacred to be 
 called into question. How often have I seen those in 
 office treat'their fellow subjects, of the common class, 
 with such insolent contempt as you would blush to 
 offer to your dog ! ! And is this performing the con- 
 ditions of the coronation oath towards the subject ? 
 The Crown is accountable tor the conduct of its offi- 
 cers. Nothing is more generally known than that 
 the principal is accountable for the conduct of its a- 
 gent. 
 
 " You say that the Canadians are happy in their 
 present situation. But give me leave to tell you, 
 that theii happiness consists only in insensibility — 
 in igncrancfc — in stupidity. No doubt they possess 
 something which we may call a degree removed 
 from misery, by enjoying mere animal {)leasure. So 
 do the Hotentols — the Savages of various countries, 
 and the African slaves. Does this imply that we 
 should not use our best endeavors to increase their 
 happiness — to raise them, from a state of brutal en- 
 joyment, to the proud rank of men ? 
 
 '' I am aware that no country in the world carry 
 their boasting to a greater pitch than the British na- 
 tion. They tell much of their invariable and stern 
 regard to justice. They will adduce as evidence, 
 their conduct to Lord Melville — to the Duke of 
 "York, to General V^hitlock, Warren Hastings, &c. 
 &:c. ; bu' this is not the crileriori by which their love 
 of justice is to be determined. Do we ever find them 
 hunting out the private, poor and unknown individu- 
 al, who has been overborne by oppression, and 
 reaching out the national arm for his support? This 
 shows their real love of justice — the ibnner shows 
 only party intrigue, or love of eclat and fame. 
 
 '•You observe Mr. Cushing thrt "there are cases 
 of wrong which no laws can reach." if this be the 
 rase, it shows a great defect in your jurisprudence. 
 The great object of the social compact is to obtain 
 impartial jutstice to every one, lot it be covered with 
 
 and 
 
 of 
 
 had 
 
 be I 
 
 obtl 
 
 the! 
 
 ThI 
 
 his 
 
 sprj 
 
 am 
 
 Bui 
 
 tic[ 
 
 iia(j 
 
 trej 
 
 leal 
 
 nut 
 
 15 
 
25 
 
 whaU'Vcr veil or screen the ingenuity of man may 
 invent. U", by delusive promises, you have been t!e- 
 prived of your property, it is as real a transgression 
 of the rules of moral right, as though yon had been 
 deprived of it by the assault of the highway-man ; 
 and ought to be rectified as much. But can we ex- 
 pect, from your Government, any care for the goo<l 
 of the people at large? Is not the pretence, that 
 the people are represented in the Parliament of Great 
 Bncain, an imposition which outrages the laws of 
 common decency ? The insult would not be so great, 
 the satire would not be so biting, should the lan- 
 guage from the throne be in conformity to the con- 
 duct. Should the Crown at once declare to the great 
 body of society, that they were to be considered as 
 Jross; as the refuse of nature; as automatons to be 
 moved merely for the use and splendor of the Court ; 
 that any care or provision for ihem was entirely out 
 of the question ; that the Crown, and its various de- 
 pendencies, were the only objects requiring legisla- 
 tive provision and care. 
 
 '• In order more fully to prove the Want of that love 
 and care for the subject which pervades every part 
 of your society, I will bring into view a name whicii 
 has occupied riiuch of the public attention. Mr. Wil- 
 berforcc?. Member of your Parliament for York, ha > 
 obtained great celebrity for his hum.inity towards 
 the African Slaves, in his exertions for their freedom. 
 This class has become numerous and extensive, — by 
 his appearing as an advocate in their behalf, he has 
 sj)read his own fame thro' the world for humanity, 
 and all the amiable qualities of the human heart. — 
 But let us examiaie his conduct in private and domes- 
 tic scenes. — Let us look at his proceedings where he 
 had no opportunity lor public eclat — Let us view his 
 treatment towards the British Slaves. Me shall then 
 learn whether his conduct has been the result of a 
 native love of justice, or only a lo\ e to his own fame. 
 
 *' No day pusises but what some instances of op- 
 
 !|l 
 
 
 frsi 
 
MP 
 
 III 
 
 1 
 
 V'^'tf 
 
 ff .' 
 
 \ 
 
 26 
 
 ))rcsbion and violence take place around liiin — Ifn^ 
 he been known as the active and .spirited advocate 
 for such oppressed subjects ? By no means. Such 
 distances olhis exertioih would give him much troub- 
 le, unaccompanied uith a name sounding across the 
 Atlantic, in order to miike mysellmore Tull^i under- 
 stood, I will suppose thatjou shoul<l write to him; 
 stating- all the wrongs you have suflTered under hia 
 Majesty's Government, nay, supposing your wronga 
 were Um i'old more aggravated than they really are. 
 Supposing you had suflered equal to the Al'ricaii 
 slaves, would he raise his> voice, and thunder in the 
 Senate in your behalf? No such thing. You, being 
 a solitary private individual, could not materially 
 contribute to his great name. 
 
 My answer to the Aari^ous observations of M'Lane 
 was bhojt. 1 barely observed that I l»ad not pene- 
 tration sutFicient to discern the various abuses in our 
 Government which ho thought existed, that I thought 
 myself as well acquainted with it, as well as with the 
 real state of the Canadians, as an absent total stran- 
 ger; and one who had gained all his information 
 irom the enemies of Great Britain. 
 
 This was not the wholeconversatio-n which passed 
 Letween M'Lane and me; neithei* can it be expect- 
 ed, (hat at this disUmt period, all tfie words, in the 
 order in which they were spoken can now be dis- 
 tinctly re3neml)ered. Yet I believe that I have giv- 
 en a full and fair representation of the suhdame and 
 complexion of our discourse. 
 
 M'Laue immediately left my house, and, I presume, 
 returned into the U. States. His absence gave me 
 opportunity for relleclion. I improved it. In consid- 
 ering what I had done and said, I felt inward satis- 
 faction, a conviction that I had done scrupulously 
 right. How ever, tlio conisideration of an expected 
 invasion of lljlt^ i^roviuce ; of the horrors which wouhl 
 attend it, increased my desires to hasten my dcpar- 
 lure by closing my busiuess here. 
 
 .1 
 
 V 
 
5i7 
 
 ■ITn^ 
 
 Iroul)- 
 
 ]s tlic 
 
 (ridrr- 
 
 hiin ; 
 
 ir hia 
 
 With such fenHnjrs, I waited on Mr. Scwcll, and 
 J)rcssc'd him in the most earnest manner to expedite 
 the final settlement of my concerns, that thereby I 
 might be enabled to leave the country. Mr. Scwell, 
 who was a man of most l>cnevolent ' id humane feel- 
 ings, had ever been oppof^ed to my leaving the coun- 
 try. He had always deplored my Want of success in 
 biisiness^ and was most sensibly alive to the cause 
 which produced it. Jic now observed my increased 
 anxiety, and absolute detennination on a removal 
 with surprise, lie could not readily understand 
 why I should be more desirous now of hastening the 
 close of my business, than formerly. 
 
 There had been, for some lime past, suspicions 
 afloLit that mischief was determined against this 
 country, from sonic quarter. Such sifspicions had 
 been made knowii to Mr. Sewcll ; and his penetra- 
 ting mind immediately led him to suspect that I had 
 a more ample knowledge on this subject than others, 
 and that this knowledge created an increased anxie- 
 ty for a speedy removal. He laid it to me in direct 
 terms, but my mind was not made up for a communi- 
 cation — I was silent, and retired. ; * 
 
 Mr. Sewell called on me, the day following, at my 
 own house. He entered again with warmth on the 
 subject. Ho observed, that my silence yesterday 
 confirmed his first suspicions that I had more knowl- 
 edge on that subject, than f chose to communicate ; 
 that I was bound by every sentiment of moral recti- 
 tude, to withhold no such information. He abjured 
 me by every thing solemn and sacred; by every 
 thing near and dear; by every sentiment of honoi' 
 and honesty, to unfold the mystery. He explained 
 to me, in the most luminous manner, my dutv to the 
 Government under which I had, and yet continued 
 to live; and, anticipating my own previous reflec- 
 tions on that point, clearly illustrated, by convincing 
 arguments, that the obligation of my oath of allegi- 
 ance remained in full force; and would so do, until 
 
 If 
 
 'i' 
 il 
 
 ^ ' 
 
m 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 Ei-'ii^ 
 
 ! I 
 
 I 
 
 2a 
 
 I had made an ftrftial settlement in another country. 
 
 I heard Mr. Seweli with Matienee and uitendon. 
 I wislied for infoniiation. 1 wislicd to do my duly, 
 uninfluenced hy collateral consideraiioTis. I told 
 him that 1 would take time for consideration; and 
 would do what should appear to me to be right. 
 With this, he left me. 
 
 , My mind was much occupied tliro' the day, and 
 during the night, upon tliis important subject. A 
 new train of rellections aro>iO to my view, which had 
 never occurred helbre. Should I make a discovery 
 of the plot in contemplation, it would become pub- 
 licly known that I was the informer. It would be- 
 come known in that country, to which I was about 
 removing. I well knew the enthusiasm which there 
 prevailed in favor of the French interest. M'Lane 
 had distinctly informed me that fifteen thousand of 
 my countrymen were ready to enter the Province in 
 a hostile manner. What then had I to expect from a 
 country manifesting such a disposition, when it should 
 become known that thro' mo, all their fond expecta- 
 tions were defeated ? My peace and safety would be 
 endangered, and every prospect of success n; busi- 
 ness defeated. 
 
 Such were the cons-idcrations which pi-esented 
 themselves to my mind. Mr. Sewell called on me 
 again; and I unfolded to him the serious impedi-r 
 ments which stood in the way of a disclosure on my 
 part. He appeared sensible of the weiglit of my re- 
 marks, and the justness of my objections to proceed- 
 ii!g any fmther in this business. He again lelt me. 
 
 Again I was visited by Mr. Sewell. He ol)served 
 that he had given the subject of our former conver- 
 sation much cx)nsideratior]. He thought of but one 
 way to obviate the dilficulties which presented them- 
 selves to view — " the way which I have devised" con- 
 tinued Mr. Sewell " is to have a provision made for 
 vcu in this country, etpiul to what you can falrlv and 
 jeuj;^oiiably CApecl, in the U. States. Then to Velin- 
 
 
m 
 
 I^PPIP^p^fllll I I J Jl|IV,i,lM| 
 
 29 
 
 quisli your idea of a removal altogether.*' To this 
 proposal I acceded with pleasure; and anjreed, pro- 
 viding? the contemplated p^•o^'ision sliould be made, 
 to disclose what knowledge I possessed, concerning 
 any plans in contemplation against the weltare of the 
 Provinces. 
 
 In making tids arrangement, I w as fully persuaded, 
 in my own mind, that my conduct and calculations 
 were graduated upon the fairebt scale of moral rec- 
 titude ; that the most delicate mind could not be dis- 
 satisfied with such a mode of procedure. I had faith- 
 lull^ discharg;cd every obligation, under w hich I was 
 placed. — I had acted a more ^delicate part tow^ards 
 M'Lane thar» what he, or his friends, had any just 
 reason to expect. I had likewise provided for ray 
 own safety, as well as the safety ol" the country, where 
 I resided. 
 
 But a day or two had elapsed before Mr. Sewell, 
 (still true to the cause of his country) called on me 
 again, and said he would accompany me to Quebec, 
 where he would use his influence, tliat such provis- 
 ion should be n)ade for me to remain in the Province 
 as would be satisfactory ; which he did. — His broth- 
 er, the present Chief Justice of the Province, who 
 was then ^Jt^i/. GcueraU communicated this to the 
 Governor, and he directed him to assure me on the 
 faith of Government, that the Tpwnship of fchipton 
 should, as early as possible, be granted to me and 
 mv associates in lots of twelve hundred acres each, 
 and that permission was at the same time given for me» 
 with my associates to take possession of, and occupy 
 llie same as soon as I might see proper. — I shall here 
 wo/c, that I had often been importuned by people 
 fiom the United States, who were making applicotion 
 for grants of Lands in this Province, to enter into the 
 business with them, which I always declined, owing 
 to the heavy expences attending such applications, 
 and grants, of which I was well acquainted. 
 
 As I was determined to leave Montreal, I saw no 
 
 IB Ml 
 
 1 
 
 !!•!" 
 
30 
 
 tvny more eligible (or a comfortable livelibood tban 
 the one aforesaid; expecting at the same ilme that 
 tlie grant would be attended Avith little delay and 
 expence, but the sequel will show my mistake. 
 
 Every difficulty being i>ow removed, 1 gave all the 
 information I possessed on the subject, to the proper 
 officers of Government, suppressing the name of M'- 
 I^ane only; which I did not conceive of any import 
 to communicate, at the present moment ; and wish- 
 ing to leave him on a» eligible ground as the public 
 safety would permit. In [>oint of fact, wishing toex- 
 tcnd every manifestation of friendship to him, which 
 was any way compatible witli public duly. 
 
 During the winter succeeding, I was busily employ- 
 ed in making arrangements for meeting the objects 
 of my present attention, by forming o settlement on 
 the land, to which I was now entitled. I neither saw, 
 nor heard any thing more of M^^aric, or his expedi- 
 tion into Canada, f presumed it had died a natural 
 death, in common with thousands of other schemes 
 of wild and enthusiastic adventurers. However, in 
 the month of May following, I received a summons 
 to attend a Court of Oyer and Terminer, to be hol- 
 den in Quebec, on the 12th of the June following, — I 
 obeyed the summons; Ment to Quebec; found M'- 
 Lane in prison ; and about to take his trial on a 
 charge of high treason. This trial I attended, gave 
 my testimoi^ ; and, so far was M'Lane himself from 
 expressing any dissatisfaction at my conduct, or the 
 nature of my evidence, that, in the course of his de- 
 fence, he observed to the Court that ''all the witnes- 
 ses who have appeared against me may be honest 
 men for aught I know ; 1 have nothing in particular 
 to object against them."* 
 
 *See M'Lane's trial, page 77. . 
 
$1 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " When raging wimfs tho nilllcd deep ilofornt, 
 «' U'c look atUistancc aad eiijoy the storjii ; 
 " Toat on the waves with pNasure otiirrs see, 
 *' Nor heed their danger while ourselves arc free. 
 
 I have now gone thro' the relation of tho connec- 
 tion which I Jiail in the business w ith M'ljane. I 
 have gone more minutely into the relation of'partic- 
 iilarB here, than what appeared in <he pubhcation Qf 
 t!»at trial. The relation of such ifxcts only as went 
 to substantiate the charges laid in the indictment, 
 were the only requisitions then made on me. The 
 publication has been before the world since the year 
 1797, and, I presume, will be found agreeing with 
 this history of that alTair. I therefore appeal, with 
 confidence, to the good sense of every candid and 
 intelligent reader respecting the rectiUide of my con- 
 duct thro' the whole train of that unpleasant busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Many causes existed, at this time, calculated to 
 inilame the minds of people on the subject of Mr, 
 M'Lanc's death. The madness of revolutionary 
 doctrines had spread far and wide, and inlected peo- 
 ple of every class and denomination. By such, 
 whatever was connected with the French revolution 
 — the French interest — the glorious cause of liber- 
 ty ! was viewed as sacred ; and, whoever had the 
 sacrilegious audacity to speak against it, much more 
 to aci against it, was beheld with horror and detes- 
 tation; and deserving the execration of all maii- 
 Ivind. 
 
 Many, who had flattered tliemselves with the ac- 
 cumulation of wealth, by the plunder of the Cana- 
 das, felt severe mortification, at being diiappointed 
 of their golden harvest, by the death of M'Lane ; 
 and of course, entertained keen resentment to- 
 wards those who weie instnjinK^'^tal rn his detecr 
 
w^ 
 
 ■Bi^l! ,' LJLJl 
 
 mtmm 
 
 32 
 
 III maniiestiiij^ their resenf- 
 
 i 
 
 I :ll! 
 
 tion and overtlirou. 
 
 mcnt, they were rotraiiied hy no tender qiiahns of 
 conscience — by no unprodtable regard to truth and 
 justice. The French revolution, liad introduced a 
 new order of things. The nuisty ruies of ancient 
 morality were exploded. The institutions, which, 
 by the lapse and experience of ni ii»y centuries, had 
 acquired veneration from the wise, the good and the 
 great, were scouted with contempt, from the stage 
 of existence, as baubles too trifling for the amuse- 
 Bieat of children. 
 
 Tlie great rule of faith, adopted by these new phi- 
 losophers, was *'• liberty and equality;" this '-liberty 
 and equality," consioled in forcing the new doctrines 
 down the throats of others by fire and sword. What- 
 ever promoted this glorious cause was virtue ; what- 
 ever was opposed to it, or even partook of neutrali- 
 ty, was vice ; and vice in her most horrid forms. 
 Pious frauds, and the most barefaced violations of 
 truth, when used to promote this divirre object, were 
 exhibitions of the most exalted and heroic virtue. 
 
 Such was the situation of the human family, at 
 this eventful period; and such was the ardour witli 
 whIcL they souglit revenge against me, for the part 
 which I pertormed in t:.e M'Lane cau>e. I soon found 
 myself subjected to the bitterest reprf>aches. 1 wa> 
 held up to view as tlie murderer of M'Lane. On 
 the otlier hand, and to make the contrast more stri- 
 king, M'l. me was celebrated as the Martyr of Lib- 
 erty; as the best among the virtuous sons of man; 
 as giving his life a ransom for the happiness of the 
 human family; as the very essence of goodness, in- 
 nocence and virtue. The dark an<l insiduous strokes 
 of the assassin were contiimally made on my refm- 
 tation. U. was whispered atnong the multitude, that 
 I had originally CFitered into the plans of M'Jvane ; 
 that \ had solemnly pledged myself to give all my 
 cxe'lio'is for its accomplishment; and that 1 had at- 
 terwardb, in a most cruel and treacherous laanner, 
 
 i? 
 
'wmm 
 
 33 
 
 betrayed !ilm for the reward of a township of land. 
 That M'Lane, on his trial, and at the time of his ex- 
 ecution, poured out the hittenest complaints against 
 mo, for my treachery. Ballads were composed, on 
 this occasion, and sung in strains of mourniul lamen- 
 tation. Ghosts, hobgoblins, spectres and spirits, 
 were introduced to garnish the scene. 
 
 Several Printers in the United States, entered 
 spiritedly into this concern; and spread such re- 
 ports far and wide. The coruscations of the 
 " North Star," were particularly noticed on this oc- 
 casion. This paper, (so far as it was known) had ev- 
 er exhibited the outrageous goodness of the Editor. 
 However, his scintillations were frequently of the 
 sombre kind ; and often made darkness visible. 
 This being the case, children were frequently seen 
 in groups, singing, weeping, and lamenting over poor 
 M'Lanc ; and shuddering at the guilt of nis vile be- 
 trayers. 
 
 This situation was very unpleasant; but, as the 
 trial of M'Lane was printed, and in public circula- 
 tion through the country, I was persuaded that the 
 villainy of my traducers, would soon be unfolded, 
 and the deception, under which the great mass of 
 mankind labored, would be removed. In this pleas- 
 ing anticipation, however, I found myself thrown out. 
 It is true, this publication, was, on its first appear- 
 ance, seized and read with avidity. But, when 
 it was found to contain no trait of what was expect- 
 ed ; no dying lamentations of poor M'Lane over my 
 treachery; no ghosts, apparitions, hobgoblins or 
 rawhead and bloody bones, it was thrown aside as 
 totally unworthy of consideration. It djd not con- 
 tribute, in the least, to the amusements and past- 
 times of the multitude. 
 
 When M'Lane's trial appeared in print it con- 
 tained nothing of the marvellous. It exhibited only 
 a history of old schools. How then could such a book 
 interest the feelings of those " new lights," who had 
 
 E 
 
 'I 
 
 I 
 
S4 
 
 long since discovered its fallacy? Tlii^ Book, in 
 point of fact, was scarcely deemed uortfiy a place 
 in the offices of Cloacina ; it containctl nothing to 
 gratify the malignant; it was uninteresting to the 
 credulous and superstitious. It was therefore neg- 
 lected, and soon forgotleiK 
 
 Yet, with the forgetfulness of the book, the slan- 
 derers of my character did not forget their maligni- 
 ty towards me. That was kept in full vigor of re- 
 collection : in unabated energy. Finding that they 
 had no documents to support their scandalous rep- 
 resentations, they continued and increased their for- 
 mer malevolence by dark and insidious declarations. 
 They boldly asserted that the Government of thi» 
 Province were fully aware of my treasonable practi- 
 ces with M'Lane, of my treachery towards him, and 
 of my perjury on his trial; and consequiently, that I 
 was viewed with detestation, by those in administra- 
 tion. 
 
 Not long after this, I was appointed, by the Gov- 
 ernment of this Province, to the office of a Justice 
 of Peace ; and to the command of a Troop of Cav- 
 alry. This was a circumstance so directly falsifying 
 the representations, which had previously been made, 
 that, if the world would sulTer themselves to be dis- 
 abused, by any species of evidence which could be 
 laid before them, they now certainly had the most 
 conclusive testimony to produce that effect. It was 
 adduced, by some of my friends, in answer to those 
 who continued the roar of slander against me. My 
 friends brought this subject into view, and not my- 
 self. 1 did not see tit to enter into any discussion 
 with these great reformers of mankind. I maintain- 
 ed a,'total silence, resting upon the strong ground, 
 that I was, in the eye of candor and justice, innocent, 
 until I was proved guilty ; or at least, until some col- 
 our of suspicion rested against me. So far from this, 
 every evidence, which a reasonable man could de- 
 sire, was pointedly in my favor. 
 
mmm 
 
 35 
 
 Tf» obviate tlio strong proofs wliich now appeared 
 against my caliimniritors, they had recourse to villl- 
 fying the Ailininistration of this province, ■which had 
 conferred those offices of trust, honor and impor- 
 tance on me. Thcbc calumniators, in a^rcat meas- 
 ure, were members of a neighboring country, which 
 was convulsed, by political faction, to its very foun- 
 dation, and was threatened with civil war; yet they 
 had the hardihood and unfeeling eflfrontery to ob- 
 serve, " To one born and brought up in our liberal 
 <tnd happy country^ where light and liberty have sought 
 their last asylum ; where merit and virtue are the 
 only recommendations to office, it will appear strange 
 that a man, covered with the foulest disgrace, should 
 be promoted, by any Governmerrt. Yet, when we 
 take a view of Great Britain, and all the ramifica- 
 tions of its Govermental departments, we shall see 
 nothing but the vilest corruption and dereliction of 
 virtue, in every vestige of her conduct.; and, of 
 course, no promotions which she can make ; no coun- 
 tenance which she can shew ; no approbation which 
 fihe can bestow, can be considered as evidence in 
 favor of any one." 
 
 Such representations were not only made at that 
 period, but since have been repeated to me in per- 
 son, by a man who very much wishes to be thought 
 to possess both candor and information ; who ha8 
 frequently announced himself to the world as a man 
 of uncommonly shrewd discernment. If the world 
 has been so stupid as not to give him full credit ibr 
 his declarations, it arises from no fault on his part — 
 be has certainly repeated those declarations often c- 
 
 JQQUgh. 
 
 !! 
 
 < ■! 
 
36 
 
 CUAPTEK IV. 
 
 •'Or with tremblinp' hope p\ic ra«t 
 « Her luok* on ho\tn of ^lory past ; 
 "And burn Rff»in with virtHdii* fuiiw, 
 •« Her aucioDt honors to reclaim. 
 
 I must now call the attention of the roadcr hack 
 to the object which I have heretofore cursorily men- 
 tioned — that is to 8aj, to the Townshin of land 
 which wag promised as a provision equal to what I 
 could fairly expect, from my business and exertions 
 in the U. States. This was one of the townships ta- 
 ken from the waste hinds of the Crown in this Pro- 
 vince; and finally grantod, under the name of Ship- 
 ton. 
 
 I was well aware of the hardships I had to encoun- 
 ter in this undertaking. To penetrate into a forest, 
 the distance of fifty or sijcty miles from any inhabit 
 tants, thro' a pathless wilderness, ^horc no road?, 
 houses, mills, or other conveniences for the support 
 of life exist ; To transport provisions for subsistence, 
 and the various implements of labor, is a task which 
 those cannot fully realize, who arc not individually 
 nnd practicallv acquainted with it, |Jowever, I not 
 only felt a willingnesB, but a pleasure in submitting 
 to all those ditficulties ; because I t':d it under the 
 full persuasion that it would, in a Utv. years, enable 
 me to meet all the pecuniary demands, lying against 
 me ; and, in addition to that, sATqid me and my fami-^ 
 ly an ample support. 
 
 I made my calculations, and built my expectations 
 upon what I had known, in many instances of a sim- 
 ilar nature, in the U- Stfites, where wild land, by set- 
 tlement and cultivation was rendered more valuable, 
 in a very rapid manner. I saw no reason why the 
 same should not be the case here. I was not alone 
 in this opinion. Many Americans, who were noted 
 
St 
 
 Tim- pjootl calculation and enlcrprlzc, )iad einbarkctl 
 in the same undertaking; and were impressed ifvilh 
 ihe sarac expectations. 
 
 This townsliip, which contained sixty four thou- 
 sand acres^ would yield me, after deducting the Ke- 
 serves and the lots for sellers, thirty-eight thousand 
 acres. The land was uncommonly fertile; and o- 
 very way calculated, by its local situation, to in- 
 crease in value, with more than usual rapidity, by 
 settlement and cultivation. The settlement of these 
 forests would be of national consequence. It would 
 open resources to this country of great public utility; 
 and afford articles of exportation heretofore unknown. 
 It would facilitate internal intercourse and commu- 
 nication thro' all her diflTercnt parts, by opening road« 
 thro' her wilds. 
 
 Under these considerations, I fully believed that 
 every exertion which 1 should make, in promotirtg 
 this buai.iesfi, would meet the most cordial and de- 
 cided approbation of this Government ; and that 
 they would gladly ajffbrd every needful encourage- 
 ment, as the wants of the country should be^v.iede»- 
 veloped by time and experience. Under this im- 
 pression, I lost no time in arranging ray surveying 
 party j penetrating with them, into the wildeniesf*;) 
 completmg the survey ; and making the return into 
 the proper office, that the grant might issue of 
 course. 
 
 I expected now to obtain the grant of my township 
 without delay, or any further expence, of any con- 
 siderable amount. Under this expectation, [ took 
 my family into the wilderness ; and concentrated my 
 wFiole force to this one object. I invited, and suc- 
 ceeded in obtaining, many settlers to co-operate with 
 me in forwarding this new establishment; and in 
 opening large extensive fields, smiling with luxuriant 
 crops, thro' this gloomy forest. I ha*l promised each 
 eettler a Jot containing two hundred acres, as a com- 
 penfiatipn for his early beginning in the township. 
 
38 
 
 The fame of this country, and the prohfic nature of 
 its soiK soon becamt 'pread abroad ; and many peo- 
 
 f)le of property, of intormation, and of sound calcu- 
 ation came to explore and view the country, with 
 the inter<ion of purchasing and setthng among us. 
 However^ at this fii itical period, a series of unfortu- 
 nate events took pJace which ruined our fair pros- 
 "peris ; and totally debtroyed every hope that men of 
 inon_^ ; men who wou'l be a blessing of an invalua- 
 ble price to our coiuitry, v.ould become our fellow 
 subjects. 
 
 An unhnppy <lispute took place betw^ecn the Cov- 
 entor and his Council, concerning the grants of land 
 to be made to the various applicants, in the manner, 
 and to the amount first in contemplation. This dis- 
 pute was continued v/ith warmth, for a considerable 
 lime in Qjebec ; an9 finally referred to England for 
 a decision. This en ated delay for many years — 
 much alarm attended this delay. The applicants 
 were 1 1 the expense of sending an Agent to Kngland 
 to manage their concerns before the King and Coun- 
 cil. During these years of painful suspense, suspi- 
 cion, languor, and idleness succeeded. The emi- 
 gration ceased ; and the general aspect of the town- 
 ships was covered with a gloomy despondency. 
 
 Those who had s^?ttled in Shipton, under my pro- 
 mise for land, became uneasy, as the delay of the 
 grant was continued ; and their own farms began to 
 increase in value. They made loud and reiterated 
 complaints. I was very desirous of quieting thei." 
 feelings of alarm. It was just that I shoultl. I made 
 many journeys to Quebec — I spent much time there 
 year after year, attended with heavy and destructive 
 expense, both in money and time, to soljeit the ful- 
 filment of the promise made to me for my land, with- 
 out success. 
 
 The cause was finally determined in England ; 
 and sent back to this Country to be carried into ef- 
 fect. Some of the applicants received half, some a 
 
wm 
 
 «il^"Pi!> 
 
 39 
 
 quarter and some the whole of their townships;: 
 however incumbered with conditions and expenses 
 which were very heavy. When I lir;u finally obtain- 
 ed my Grant, which was for the whole township j 
 given the Deeds to my settlers ; and counted the Va- 
 rious expenses and drawbacks which had attended 
 this uniortunatc husiness. I found that the whole 
 thirty eight thousand acres of land, whir'^ fell to my 
 share, would not sell for money enough to Ct/v<ir my 
 expenses. 
 
 In the room of realizing my fond and reasonable ex- 
 pectations of raising myself to that grateful situation, 
 by my inexpressible hardships, and unceasing exer- 
 tions, which I fondly hoped would enable me to meet 
 the demands of my Creditors ; the expenses atten- 
 ding this business ; and a decent provision for my 
 family, the unspeakable, morti tying consideration 
 now presented itself of being more deeply involved 
 than formerly. In point of fact, unless some extra- 
 ordinary revolution, among the incidents of unstable 
 fortune, should take place in my favor, my ruin must 
 becGiiie inevitable. 
 
 Tlie provision which had been intended for me, 
 hud in reality made me poorer than before. This 
 misfortune, however, \ seriously believe was never 
 designed. I have every confidence in the original 
 honest calculations of this Government towards me, 
 ,vhen the p"omise vas made : but the unfortunate 
 course which this business had taken, entirely de- 
 feated the original object which \/as in contempla- 
 tion. 
 
 It may be a matter of surprize to many who read 
 this appeal, why I did not become entirely discoura- 
 ged; and why I did not relinquish a pursuit which 
 had been attended with sucli heavy losses and se- 
 vere hardships. I will candidly declare that I have 
 on a retrospective view of the subject, felt no little 
 degree of wonder myself. Since the ardour of youth- 
 iul entcrprize has cooled ; and the lapse of time has 
 
 '■i 
 
 ;i '^ 
 
 i!!. 
 
 1 i-i,i 
 
 
 ■ ' ji 
 
 / 
 
 jj 
 
 -»'— - 
 
40 
 
 mantled my head with the silver memorialH of ap- 
 proadiiiig dissolution, my faith in the delicate sense 
 of justice, and the parental feelings of Gwernnaent 
 towards the subject, is greatly diminished ; so much 
 80 as to be well aware that ne who rests his hope» 
 of support and protection upon simple merit alone, 
 will ultimately find that he has built his hopes on a 
 delusive foundation. 
 
 Many reasons had their effect on my mind, in my 
 mode of calculating at that time, which will not rea- 
 dily appear to the reader ; but which shall be my 
 endeavor now to illustrate. When the Government 
 of this Provir»ce had made me the promise of a rea- 
 sonable provision, I sincerely believed they did it in 
 good faith ; and under those enlarged views of bene- 
 volence and justice as should really and effectually 
 produce my final ease and comfort ; not with the 
 selfish designof the speculator, to make the best bar- 
 gain that finesse and intrigue could effect. If this 
 township, contrary to their and my expectation ; and 
 without any fault on my part, should prove unpro- 
 ductive, by unforeseen casualties, I fully believed 
 that they would, in parental kindness, to a dutiful 
 and faithful child, devise some ways and means to 
 effect that in reality, which hitherto had been done 
 only in name. 
 
 I ha<l long become sensible that, under present 
 prospects, the object of promoting my own individu- 
 al interest was nearly or quite to an end : Yet by 
 pushing the settlement of the new country ; by a- 
 meliorating its situation concerning roads, mills, 
 mechanics and every other public improvement, was 
 promoting the general good of the rrovince ; and 
 greatly enhancing the value of the particular proper- 
 ity belonging to the Crown. Such conduct, I did 
 believe would not be forgotten, and ultimately rewar- 
 ded. In fine, I was strongly infatuated with the idea 
 that Govenuncnt would do by me, as I had done 
 by them. 
 
 I 
 
 / ■ 
 
■BUBiWWUXJUaUUU 
 
 41 
 
 ■ That no blame could attach td my calculations or 
 pursuits in the Towhship of Shiptoii is evident irom 
 the facts here stated ; and likewise from the failure 
 of every one, perhaps to tlie inimber of fifty, who had 
 embarked in similar undertakings. That f had uni- 
 formly, and in every instance, been faithful to this 
 Government, both in my public and private capaci- 
 ty, every day's experience made manifest. 
 
 As the Townships were settled a'.together by em- 
 igrants from the (J. States, it cannot be a matter of 
 surprise, thct this people retained many of their po- 
 litical prejudices, formed in early life, and become 
 fvong by long habit, in favor of the laws of the 
 (iv .itry from whence they came. This is the case 
 with mankind universally. It must be the work of 
 lime to root out those prejudices ; to disseminate m- 
 formation through the body of Society ; and assimu- 
 late them to the genius of the Government under 
 which they live. 
 
 Under this view of the subject, I neglected no 
 means of gaining information of the laws of this 
 country ; particularly that part which related to tl\c 
 duties of a Magistrate. I uniformly endeavoured to 
 discharge that duty uninfluenced bj clamour; and 
 regardlef-;'^ of personal consequences, i embraced ev- 
 ery on '01? unity of spreading information among the 
 peoplf Mn'^crning the laws of the country; and in- 
 culcatu jr t^ J duties under which they lay, of relin- 
 quishing eve-y idea of their former Government; 
 and strictly adhering to that which they had chosen, 
 and under which they now resided. My endeavors 
 in this respect were crowned with a success beyond 
 my most sanguine hopes; and were productive ot 
 the most salutary consequences. Moreover, I have 
 <he iroud satisfaction to say, that in the whole per- 
 for , .ince of my otfic'^l duty, even to the present uio- 
 meuL { havt: nevei met with a frown or censure from 
 my superiorB in oiJice. Whether I have received a 
 
 
 » ;■ 
 
 ■■ 1 
 
fr*((^^^.l 
 
 / 
 
 42 
 
 corresponding attention from Govornmrn<, the read- 
 er must judge from the sequel. 
 
 It may still be a matter of wonder to the greater 
 part of mankind, why the Townships liave so long 
 languished in their population and improvements; 
 when they, from nature, possess so mnny advantages, 
 both uf locality and of soil. What I have already 
 said may be considered as some of the causes ope- 
 rating thc^e effects ; hut by no means equal to pro- 
 duce all the cala, ' "'"s under which we labor. I 
 cannot explain this i\ \ more justly and fully than 
 by giving to the publi a course of observations 
 made to me, by a gentleman from the U. States, of 
 extensive property, of great information and of the 
 shrewdest discernment. This gentleman came to 
 me with a wish and intention of purchasing iiineteen 
 thousand acres of my land ; with the expectation of 
 making a settlement on it, with his family. 
 
 He had ever preferred the British to the Ameri- 
 can Government; and had indulged the warm hope 
 of enjoying this preference, by becoming an inhabi- 
 tant of this Province. He explored and viewed my 
 land with much attention. He likewise spent much 
 time im making very minute inquiries into the nature 
 of the country generally ; and into the policy which 
 the Government at home had adopted concerning 
 the new Townships. After an investigation of many 
 weeks, into these particulars, he iinally relinquished 
 the object of purchasing ; and gave the following 
 reasons for his final determuiation. 
 
 " Mr. Gushing, the price of four dollars per acre, 
 which you set on your land, is small when compared 
 with the real and natural value of it, both as it re- 
 lates to its prolific quality, and to its local advanta- 
 ges. Had the future prospects of this country pre- 
 sented, in a political point of view, equally an agree- 
 able aspect, I should not have hesitated to purchase, 
 even had you demanded ten dollars the acre. I 
 should have conceivied ray money well laid out at 
 
 I J 
 
> 
 
 43 
 
 that price. 
 
 iiikc me .1 • 
 
 MJr land, on' 
 
 it< I would no 
 
 gain and lose 
 
 " I have n 
 
 tut, ns <he case now is, if you would 
 maKe me a 'jApstUj|t of nineteen thousand acres of 
 j»ur land, on»m»jdHion of occupying and improving 
 
 pcept it. I should make a bad bar- 
 
 mcy by so doing/' 
 
 loubt that those who have the man- 
 agement of this business, the political concerns of 
 this country, wish to manage them to the best advan- 
 tage, — but they are (however great in other res- 
 pects) ignorant of the subject upon which they are 
 called to act. In saying thus much, I, by no means, 
 would be understood to represent those men as des- 
 titute of talent or good intentions. It is always the 
 case that people are ignorant of a subject, where 
 they have not the means of information. Those, who 
 have the management of this country, have assumed 
 an analogy between this and England, when, in fact, 
 no such analogy exists ; and, reasoning upon the pre- 
 sumption of tiiat analogy, they will certainly make 
 erroneous calculations ; and such calculations as will 
 prove ruinous to this country." 
 
 " In order to make myself more fully understood^ 
 I will point out to you some of the circumstances 
 which will operate as a dead weight to this country 
 in its progress to opulence and wealth, and which 
 will defeat the very objects they were designed to 
 effect." 
 
 " In the first place, 1 will notice the Crown and 
 Clergy Reserves. These contain two-sevenths of all 
 the land in the Townships ; and these reserves are 
 regularly intermixed with the other lots granted in 
 free and common Soccage. You have been at the 
 expence of surveying, not only your own lands, but 
 likewise these reserved lands. Vou are also at the 
 sole expence of making a first settlement, and doing 
 all the pubUc work necessary for the amelioration of 
 the country. All the land is divided into seven 
 parts, of which you hold five, and the Government 
 retain two. Nothing can be more plain and obvi- 
 
 ■^1 i 
 
 ■! 
 
 i.; 
 
 ;!; 
 
 !! .1 
 
 ii i 
 
 !i h 
 
 ! I i 
 
 w 
 
ii»tim-'mi -.-I 
 
 f 
 
 i| 
 
 
 ^44 - / 
 
 (ms\y juBt, tlmn that all the lands, Avhich receive 
 jirofit from labor and money, ought U ^»car an eijual 
 ])roportior of this expence. But 8«j.^ar from thiM 
 live parts bear the whole burden, Lille two parts 
 are wholly exempt from every kin i|of expence or 
 trouble, and at the same time receivkan equal prof- 
 it. This is unjust; it is not only unjust, but it is im- 
 politic — lor injustice and true policy never were, .and 
 in the nature of things, never can be united." 
 
 " Let ns place this business in another point of 
 view. Let us suppose your Government had been 
 pt the whole expense of the survey of this land ; of 
 tbo Charter fees, &c., and then have said to you : 
 "*We will give you forty-five thousand acres ot 
 land, unattended with any expence to you, what- 
 ever, in a Township containing sixty-four thousand 
 acres, on condition of your making a permanent 
 settlement on each lot of two hundred acres: 
 We will moreover contribute two-sevenths to the 
 i^xpences necessary for the general and public pros- 
 perity of the Township.' " Under this considera- 
 tion, let us see whether Government would have 
 made a good bargain. Her land, in a state of na- 
 ture, was, at the utmost, worth five shillings the a- 
 cre — altho' votir vendues never have made it worth 
 more than two shillings and six-pence. Iler sixty- 
 four thousand acres are worth sixty-four thousand 
 dollars. — Her expenditures, for ten years, I will cal- 
 culate at six thousand dollars more, bo that she now 
 has a properly of seventy thousand dollars in the 
 common concern ; and ought to meet an ample re- 
 turn of profit. Your Government have retained nine- 
 teen thousand acres, in your Township : this land, 
 at a moderate calculation, in the course of ten years, 
 would have become worth ten dollars the acre, and 
 consequently made the [)roperty, belonging to Gov- 
 ernment, Morth one hundred and ninety thousand 
 dollars." 
 
 " We shouW naturally suppose that people, exer- 
 
 tr 
 at 
 is 
 
 U] 
 
 j t 
 
 ii 
 
45 
 
 <jsiug fair Calculation, would be satisfied with sucli 
 an enormous profit upon their money ; and would con- 
 jsider that they Iiad sold, not given, you forty-five ihou- 
 sand acres, at a profit truly astonisliing. By this ar- 
 rangement the Government of your Province would 
 enjoy a two-fold advantage. Tiicy would increase 
 the general wealth and resources of the country ; 
 and greatly enhance the value of their own disposa-* 
 ble property." 
 
 " 13ut your Government have not made these cal- 
 culations. Over greedy, they have " ' snatched at the 
 ijhadow and lost the substance.'*' They have made 
 arrangements exactly the reverse of all this. They 
 have thrown the whole burden, a burden under which 
 you must inevitably sink, on you ; and thereby seal- 
 ed their own, and your ruin. I am bold to say that 
 the country cannot prosper under this situation. How 
 many countries in the world, which enjoy, from na- 
 ture, the highest privileges, entirely sink in poverty 
 and misery, by the nature of their political situa- 
 tion." 
 
 " It is an old and true saying that " ' trade will al- 
 ways seek its proper level.' " It is so in every other 
 kind of business; and in none more prominently 
 than that concerning land and agricultural concerns. 
 The riches of this Province must always be derived 
 from agriculture. Therefore a wise Government 
 will always give every encouragement and counte- 
 nance to this pursuit, well aware that every measure 
 %vhich has a tendency to cripple its interest will, in 
 a direct manner, dry up the sources of her wealth 
 and prosperity." 
 
 "The Townships, and other lands belonging to 
 the Crown, oiTer a source of infinite wealth and 
 strength to the public interest of the mother coun- 
 try, when duly and justly managed ; when arranged 
 and managed upon that lair and liberal plan, which 
 is indispensably necessary for its prosperity ; — but, 
 upon the present system, all those benefits are lost— 
 
 ( 
 
 1 1 
 
 I: 
 
 i' 
 
i 
 
 40 
 
 nay much worse than lost ; Ijecausc, after you have 
 struggled witli your difticulties many years, and ulli- 
 niately sink under them, you will learn that your 
 Government has dealt unfairly q^ you — that she has 
 forgotten the kind care of a parent towards you, and 
 endeavoured to take an ungenerous advantc^e of 
 your confidence towards her, to load you with a bur- 
 den which you cannot 6U[)port. This will have a 
 direct tendency to alienate your affections , and des- 
 troy that confidence which is ever the great strength 
 of a Government." 
 
 " I have now, Mr. Gushing, pointed out such ditli- 
 culties as are enough to discourage me from pur- 
 chasing and settling in your country, but I have not, 
 by any means, yet brought tlie whole into view. An 
 erroneous system, once adopted, produces a uniform 
 train of evils which grow out of it, and are the nat- 
 ural products of the mother stock. This truth you 
 will see abundantly verified in the plan adopted for 
 leasing the reserved lots. In point of fact, you will 
 see the original plan of injustice improved upon, and 
 the same eager .desire of wringing from the industri- 
 ous labourer a large share of his hard earnings." 
 
 " Calculating the Rese^^'es to be worth one dollar 
 per acre, tlie natural, plain and equitable metbod 
 which presents itself for leasing those lands, is for a 
 sum amounting yearly to the interest of the capital — 
 that is to say twelve dollars on each lot forever. — 
 The Government, in giving you a lot containing two 
 hundred acres, give you two hundred dollars ; and, 
 of course, are justly entitled to an income from you 
 amounting to the interest of their capital which they 
 entrust in your hands ; and you are as justly entitled 
 to the use of the land, together with all the amelio- 
 rations and improvements which you make on it." 
 
 " I am well aware that it is in the contemplation 
 of your Government to have those lands, at a future 
 period, increase in value, and consequently aflbrd a 
 much larger income. But, by whose labor and mon- 
 
 te 
 wi 
 a 
 
 in 
 
47 
 
 cy, (Iocs this increase in vnliio take place ? Not by 
 tlnnrs, for they pay no money Hhate\er. It is by 
 >onr means that their lands hecome more valuable; 
 and Uii me ask you if it he just to appropriate your 
 hard earnings, to their own individual use?" 
 
 " However, let us look, for a moment, at the plan 
 •which they have adopted, and see if it does not em- 
 brace a system of injustice perhaps never exceeded. 
 They otter you a lot of land for twenty-one years on- 
 ly, at an average of about ten dollars yearly rent. — 
 At the expiration of twenty-one years, the land, to- 
 gether with all the improvements which you have 
 made on it, reverts back into the hands of the Lessor ! 
 AVho is so ignorant as not to know that land, while 
 in a state of wilderness, is of no use to the occupant 
 whatever. Previously to his finding his land profita- 
 ble, he must expend ten dollars, at the lowest calcu- 
 lation, on each acre, in removing the trees, and pre- 
 paring his ground for the seed. Afterwards, it will 
 cost ten dollars to the acre more to erect necessary 
 buildings, making fences, planting orchards, &c. &c. 
 so that, at the expiration of the lease, the tenant 
 has twenty dollars, of his omn moiiey^ on each acre, 
 which your Government will take from him, and put 
 in their own pocket ! and one part of this money, ob- 
 tained by such glaring injustice, is designed for the 
 support of religion ! ! 
 
 " You may say, in reply to these remarks that the 
 Government have a right to annex such conditions to 
 their property, as they set fit — that they compel no 
 one to accept their proposals, but leave every one to 
 act a voluntary part. But let me call your attention 
 again to the great importance, to every Government, 
 to maintain the confidence of the subject in their pa- 
 ternal care; and let us see whether it be compatible 
 with that confidence, even to make the offer of such 
 a glaring piece of injustice. It shews to tlie subject, 
 in the most unequivocal manner, their willingness to 
 defraud him of his property." 
 
 II 
 
 ^ i 
 
 n 
 
 ! I 
 
 y 
 
48 
 
 \i 
 
 *• However, tho idea is very erroneous, that t!ie 
 ftubject is left entirely to his own choice about taking 
 tliese Reserves. There is a degree of necessity un- 
 der which the settlers labour of having those lands 
 occupied. They arc so intermixed with the other 
 lots as to become an incumbrance, while unoccupied. 
 The means by whicli a new country is raided to pros- 
 perity is a rapid and general settlement. When the 
 inhabitants form a compact society, they become 
 mutually assisting to each other in forwarding the 
 general and particular concerns of the society ; and 
 carrying many objects into effect, of indispensable 
 necessity. It is impossible to form a compact settle- 
 ment, when those Keserves are interspersed among 
 the other inhabitants, and unsettled ; so that two 
 evils of a very serious nature present themselves, ei- 
 ther to take those Reserves, incumbered with the un- 
 reasonable conditions, or live separated by eternal 
 forests." 
 
 " Thus you see, that in every point of view, such 
 arrangements are not only impolitic to the highest 
 degree, but are likewise glaringly unjust; they, in 
 point of fact, a re ridiculous ; and will be attended 
 with the most fatal consequences to the prosperity 
 of this country. By such means, a class of inhabi- 
 tants will be introduced, which ought to be kept out. 
 Another class w/J be kept out, which ought to be 
 introduced ; and which is undoubtedly necessary to 
 its prosperity." 
 
 " The expenses in making a first settlement in a 
 new country, are very considerable ; and oudit to 
 be met by men possessing both means and calcula- 
 tion. People of property, are more generally peo- 
 ple of sound calculation, of industry, and of regular 
 habits : they are consequently capable of making 
 such arrangements, in their first settUng, as will fa- 
 cilitate, not or»iy their own individual advantage, but 
 likewise the general advantage and prosperity of 
 the country at large. They bccouic an qxample to 
 
 (( 
 
 lure 
 mea 
 
jg X fffUL-i' 
 
 -•A' 
 
 49 
 
 thei ' poorer neighbors, and by their etatnple and 
 council, inspire them with a spirit of emulation to 
 industij, economy, harmony and peaceable practi- 
 ces. By such means the strength of society becomes 
 increased and united to one point (viz.) the general 
 and common prosperity. The energies of such a 
 society are directed with wisdom, and thereby be- 
 come capable of effecting objects of great magni- 
 tude and utility." 
 
 " Having now bad a view of what ought to be the 
 case with a new country, let us look, for a moment, 
 on whit actually is your situation. By the Reserves 
 you are divided from each other by everlasting bar- 
 riers. The poorest among the poor will be the only 
 people who ever think of sitting down on them ; and 
 such as never dream of paying any rent; or expend- 
 ing much labor on the land. Such men are a dead 
 weight on Society. If they possess such qualities 
 from nature as to make them valuable members of 
 the community, they will, in this situation, soon lose 
 them. They cannot but reflect, that every day's 
 work they do on their land is finally to result to the 
 advantage of another and not to themselves. They 
 have no object to stimulate their ambition to indus- 
 try ; they, of course, become idle, dissipated and 
 worthless ; totally regardless of private or public 
 prosperity. Their example becomes contagious, 
 and, by slow and imperceptible degrees, infects the 
 whole body of your society." 
 
 " Under this situation you will find the enormoue 
 rents which have been expected from these Reserves, 
 evaporate in snftoke ; the country will dwindle into 
 insignificancy and poverty; and those fine tracts of 
 land, which might be made of invaluable advantage, 
 both to individuals and to the public at large, lost tp 
 itself, and to the Government." 
 
 " However, the embarrassnicnts of a political na- 
 ture, which I have already tnentioned, do not, by any 
 means, compose the whole catalogue Aihith Miigd 
 
 lit 
 
 e 
 
 v'i^ 
 
 
ni 
 
 30 
 
 over this country ; nnd whicli cvrr Mill prrvrnt its 
 growth. Your TowFiships an? not iiicorporatccl, so 
 as to enable von to muke rules and rej-ulalions for 
 the management of your own internal eoneerns. — 
 Kvery Townhhip has its separate and parlicular in- 
 terest, which it ought to have the power to manatje; 
 Fueh as opening roads, erecting Churehcs, establish- 
 ing Schools, &c. &c. kc. Such concerns call for the 
 united eftbrts of the Township; and none can esti- 
 mate the wants; calculate the resources, and direct 
 them with so much economy and wisdom .as tiie 
 Township itself It feels its own wants, and from 
 mutual consultation, can determine when, and how, 
 they can be removed. If they must depend on for- 
 eign aid, direction or control, it is attended with ex- 
 jKjnse, d<elay, and want of proper concert." 
 
 "When you are thus united by incorporation, it 
 concentrates, not only the energies, but likewise the 
 feelings of the inhabitants. They are frequently cal- 
 hxK togetlicr on the business of the Township: — 
 They feel a common interest; and, of coui'se, insen- 
 sibly contract an alfection for ench other, like mem- 
 bers of one commoTi family. In such social inter- 
 views they enjoy many opportunities of giving and 
 receiving information; and of negociating many con- 
 cerns of their own private adiiirs, highly beneficial. 
 They become habituated to do their Township busi- 
 ness with order and regularity ; and, from that con- 
 sideration, are insensibly led into the practice of 
 system in the management of their private concerns. 
 It likewise creates a degree of emulation and of ri- 
 valship between the Townships, to out-do each otli- 
 er in their public works ; hence excellent roads 
 would be established in every direction. This " es- 
 prit de corps" would moreover excite the emulation 
 of the inhabitants of one Township to out-do those 
 of the others in their agricultural pursuits, both in 
 quantity and the excellency of the quality. This 
 would lead to improveaieiits every day, of the high- 
 
51 
 
 pst consf«q'."»n('o, in a pui»lic point of view — all llicse 
 advanlnf^caaro lost to you in your prrnont situation.'^ 
 " Anothor^rot iiironvcnionro, which attentls this 
 country, ia yonr rofnl laws. In my l:ist rcmnrks i 
 have incident jilly iir)fic<*(l that subject already, but it 
 requires a further illustration. According to your 
 ])resent system, yon cannot get a rond established 
 without consi(!(»rHble e\ pence, in the first infitance, 
 by procurinj; m Gnind \ oyer from a considerable 
 distance to vibit yon; to view your country; and 
 then to decide on the place for your road. Should 
 your Grand V'cyer happen to be accpiainled with the 
 interests of a new country (the greater probability is 
 that he will not) and can make accurate calculations 
 on evory circmnstanco whicii has a bearing on bis 
 subject, ho infiy, among Uie number of possibilities, 
 esti.d)lish his road correctly. However, m that cr e, 
 he cause is subject to litigation and much procras- 
 iuiation, whilst you are suilering for the want of your 
 ii'oad. Hut, should your Grand Voyer be ignorant of 
 his business among you, which 1 presume will hap- 
 
 J)en nine times out of ten, the only recourst he can 
 )ave, is consulting the inhabitants; and, being a 
 stranger amongst them, knows not who possess the 
 most accurate knowledge on this important subject : 
 of course he is under the necessity of giving a pref- 
 erence to the plurality of voices and strength of 
 clamour. In this case the " IVoces Verbal"" of the 
 Grand Voyer will almost certaiidy be contested and 
 set aside by the Court, which leaives you, aftiT all 
 your ex pence, trouble, and waiting witjj impatience, 
 where you began ! !" 
 
 "The buaines of estal^lisbing roads, requires much 
 sound. calculation, combined with a local knowledge 
 of the most critical kind. And who so well fitted lor 
 that business as those who resule on, and are con- 
 stantly and practically acquainted with the land, 
 with all its various bearings and future prospects ? 
 Good roads in any country are of prime considera- 
 
 li 1 
 
 i it 
 i li I 
 
52 
 
 tion ; and ought to be obtained with the least pos- 
 sible delay or dithculty." 
 
 *■'' But after you finally get your road established, 
 by due course of law, what means are at your com- 
 mand for making it ? Can you compel the King and 
 the Clerf^y to make two parts out of seven through 
 your country ? You know you cannot. For ejtam- 
 pie, every man living in Shipton is required, by law, 
 to make the road across his own land , but what ad- 
 \antage will your road be, when you find it immedi- 
 ately stopped by a Reserve ?" 
 
 *'I have not yet enumerated all the dlfliculties 
 which await you on the subject of roads. Much of 
 the land in the Townships is already owned by ab- 
 sentees — much more will probably fall into their 
 bands hereafter. Will those absentees assist you in 
 making roads, nnd other wc rks necessary to the ge- 
 neral interest of the country ? You have no law, by 
 which ycu can compel them. It is troe, their own 
 interest would induce them to do it, if it were well 
 understood. The common dictates ot justice like- 
 wise would have the same influence, if attended to: 
 because nothing can be more plain than that a man 
 ought to bear hie equal proportion, in the expence 
 of enhi.ncing the value of his property, in coomion 
 wiih others interested in the sam^ property. Yet 
 the true interests of a new countr" are so little un«- 
 derstood in this Province generally, that those i'ich 
 ab;>ente€s will never contnbute one farthing towards 
 o,meUorating the situation of the country, so long as 
 they are pei-suaded their interest is increasing in vaU 
 lie. by the means of your labor and money." 
 
 *' Having said thus much on your road concerns, 1 
 wiljl proceed to the consideration of another circum- 
 stance of great disadvantage to this country, viz. the 
 mod? of conveying landed titles. You have no oili- 
 res, hy which the accurate situation of landed prop- 
 erty can be ascertained by the purchaser ; and, of 
 co^fBe, an optjniug for fraudulent transactions so tta^ 
 
fe 
 
 grant, that no man of money and prudence, will ven- 
 ture to risk Iiis property upon so uncertain a i'oun* 
 dation." 
 
 " Another disativantage attending you is your laws. 
 They are foreign to all the habits and feeling!? of the 
 Americans ; and published in a language which they 
 do not understand. By that mean, they cannot in- 
 form themselves, when they have a wish so to do^ 
 That every opulent farmer should become a lawyer 
 and practicing attorney, I, by no means, think neces- 
 sary: Yet, that every person of that description, 
 ought lo have a sufficient knowledge of the law of 
 the cour.try, where he resides, (o enable him to do 
 common businesa with correctness ; and to be a 
 guide to his neighbors, is a truth beyond question. 
 Every wealthy farmer ought to know enough to dis- 
 charge the duties of a Justice of the Peace, a Grand 
 Juror and a Coroner, with that degree of accuracy 
 and despatch as to be an honor to himself, and to 
 the government under which he acts. By such 
 means men have the pleasing and laudable satiB.^ac- 
 tion of becoming useful and respectable members of 
 fcpciety." 
 
 •' Another, and if possible, more fatal considera- 
 tion presents itsell^ — which is a jealousy, on the part 
 of your government, of the American character. In 
 pursuing a line of policy dictated by that spirit of 
 jealousy, they will adopt those contracted measures 
 which will greatly injure you; and, ultimately, ppove 
 detrimental to themselves. Oppression never yet 
 made a loyal subject. It has been tried, since the 
 existence of society, and always failed.— Yet man- 
 kind — the great, the wise, the sagacious, will not 
 learn from such abundant experience. They will 
 beheve it absolutely necessary to keep those sub- 
 jects m a low, depressed situ-ation, of whom they en- 
 tertain fears md dioubts. When the subject feels 
 oppre;3'-.n, he will resist. It is the lirst principle of 
 existence apd self pre&ervation. On the contrary, 
 
 l-HM 
 1j 
 
 ! I 
 I. 
 t 
 I, 
 
 
 t 
 
54 
 
 when people feel tlic arm of protection, of encour- 
 agement, and of help, they will become affectionate 
 am! faithful : The human heart is formed of such 
 materials as to produce such consequences from ne- 
 cessity." 
 
 " To illustrate this truth more clearly, look at the 
 situation of England and Scotland uf)til the year 
 ]716. These two kirjgdoms were continually carry- 
 ing on the most cruel wars against each other. The 
 policy of England was to keep the Scotch in the 
 most abject state of degradation. The Scotch felt 
 it; resented it; and resisted it. However, the injreat 
 Earl of Chatham, fortunately for the two kingdoms, 
 fortunately for mankind and for the cause of human- 
 ity, viewed this subject extremely different from his 
 predecessors. He adopted an entirely new system. 
 He applied his measures to the affections of the 
 Scotch, and was successful. He treated them as 
 brethren, entitled to all the rights, privileges and 
 considerations, equally with their southern fellow 
 subjects. The consequences were most happy. — ^ 
 From a turbulent and factious people, they have be- 
 come as loyal as any part of His Majesty's domin- 
 ions." ^ '- 
 
 " It has been the case, in a remarkable manner, 
 with the governmenls of Europe to exercise such a 
 line of policy in the management of their Colonial • 
 concerns as to destroy the connexion between the 
 Col^y and the Mother Country. France, Spain, 
 Portugal and England have all suffered losses of (he '- 
 severest kind in consequeix^e. Plad the erJarged 
 and manly poiiry of the Earl of Ciiatham prevailed 
 in the British Cabinet, under the Administration of 
 Lord North, ! am bold to say that the happiest con- 
 nexion between her and her Colonies (now the Uni- 
 ted States) would have continued undiminished to 
 this very day. But unhappily the reverse was the 
 case. Lord North had recourse to the stern man- 
 dates of authority, supported by fear. He never ad- 
 
 v\ 
 
ii 
 
 w 
 
 95 
 
 ilressed himsolf to the nobler passions of the heart: 
 and the coioiiists had drank loo deeply of the spirit 
 of the British Constitution, to bow to such a mode 
 of government." 
 
 *• Should this country ever become so populated 
 as to require the establii^hment of ncrv Districts a- 
 mong you for the administralion of Justice, allhonf;!i 
 the whole population should consist of Americans ; 
 and the establishment made for the cypress purpose 
 of their accommodation, yet you will hnd that not a 
 single American will he promoted to any ollice of e- 
 molument and honor in the District; particularly, if 
 Furopeans can be found who will condescend to fdl 
 them. In fact, every o.(ficc w orth attention, will be 
 given, not to you, who have made the country what 
 it is, but to strangers. What is the language spoken 
 by such appointments ? They sny to you, hi the 
 most unequivocal terms : ' Voti are all either rogues 
 or fools ; and are unworthy of ronlidence or counte- 
 nance.' I submit it to your good sense how such 
 language would operate on your feelings ? Mankind 
 will bear supercilious contempt with less patience 
 than ar»y other injury. If you complain, your com- 
 plaints will be treated with silent contempt ; o >it- 
 ter reproaches tor your restless and turbulent con- 
 duct. Such difficulties will create a sore which Mill 
 ultimately break — and woe to the country when that 
 shall take place ! !" 
 
 "Human nature is formed with such principles as 
 unavoidably to produce such ctrects. Extend the 
 liberal and manly token of confidence, and you there- 
 by gain the affection arid attachment of the subject. 
 On the contrary, when you withhold that confidence 
 unjustly; when you treat him as unworthy of honor- 
 able notice and attention, you alienate his affection, 
 and destroy every laudable ambition to make him- 
 self an object of confiderUial regard." 
 
 "I have no idea that your Sovereign wishes un- 
 hapj[)iness to one of his subjects. On the contrarv> 
 
 :i| 
 
 ii 
 
 J P 
 
there is no "Monarch who ever possessed, in my opin- 
 ion, a more paternal licart ; or a more cordial desire 
 to extend happiness lo all his suhjects, through his 
 widely extended dominions. But it is impossible ibr 
 liim, personally and wisely, to superintend the inter- 
 ests of all his subjects; more particularly (hose who 
 are at so great a distance as the inhabitants of this 
 Province. This duty he must delegate to others, 
 which is done to a Governor, viho is sent to reside 
 in, and superintend the concerns of the Province. 
 This selection of a Governor is (undoubtedly made 
 of a man who is well acquainted with the varions in- 
 terests of an old country ; but does that qualify him 
 to understand the wants and interests of a new coun- 
 try.'* They are as dissimilar from each other as 
 light to darkness. If this Governor should prove to 
 be a great and good man, anxious to learn the true 
 state of his government and the means i-equisite to 
 promote its prosperity, when turning his attention to 
 the Townships, will he take a back-load of Pork 
 and bread, swing his pack, and penetrate into your 
 forests, in order to make hims*elf minutely acquaint- 
 ed with the nature of your country and the fot5tering 
 plans which you require? You cannot expect it." 
 ' "Inquiry then must be his only resource for due 
 information. This must be made, of necessity, from 
 those who »urrou^id him. You will find this class to 
 consist of Military officers, ivierchant- and those at- 
 tached to the civil Departments. Ca i he gain cor- 
 rect information from them ? As well may you ex- 
 pect a dissertation upon the art of skating from an 
 inhabitant of Congo. The information, which the 
 Governor will obtain from this quarter, will prove 
 highly detrimental ; for they will all unite in repre- 
 senting you as a grade below the savages ; as little 
 worthy of attention, or gubernatorial consider.Mon. 
 This will be very natural. It will serve to shut out 
 Ifhe Americans from any part of the 'loaves an ' fish- 
 es;' and, thereby, leave a greater share tor ihe oth-- 
 er orders of society to enjoy." 
 
 i 
 
Vt 
 
 ik 
 
 Foreigners, totally unacquainted with your hab- 
 its, manners and customs, will bo sent into youV 
 country, to fill all the otlices of />ro/?/. They will, 
 as ever has been the case, con'^ider themselves, as a 
 superior order of beings, to the inhabitants of the 
 country. They will claim this superiority in conse- 
 quence of their birt/i! being natives of Europe!! 
 This has uniformly been the case w ilh the natives of 
 modern Europe. We may ratioiially expect it will 
 take place agaiii in this country. They w ill likewise 
 claim a superiority over you, in consequence of be- 
 ing thought worthy to superintend and govern a peo- 
 ])le, who were altogether incapable of managing 
 iheir own public concerns. In tliis respect they \Vill 
 reason exactly as the government has done, which 
 appointed them. They will conduct towards you 
 accordingly. They will treat your maimers, custom?^ 
 and habits with ridicule and contempt. ''hey will 
 require from you impHcit obedience and submission 
 to all their customs, however absu.d they may ap- 
 pear to you. This will produce collision, alterca- 
 tion and discord between you and them. Both par- 
 ties will complain. Government will always Icwi to 
 the side of their own officers; and you will gain the 
 name of a factious, uneasy and difficult people to 
 manage; a people re(juiring the utmost severity to 
 keep in a due state of subordination." 
 
 " You may wonder at my pretending to predict 
 the future events and political proceedings of youi* 
 government towards you, so long before hand. I do 
 it by calculating upon the system which is already a- 
 dopted. That system will assuredly lead to the re- 
 sults, which 1 have described, but very imperfectly." 
 
 "I have now Mr. Gushing lightly touched upon 
 some of the most' prominent difficulties to whidi you 
 are subject ; and which will retard the growth and 
 prosperity of your country. Time and experience 
 will inform you that other countries, no better situa- 
 ted than your own, both in point of locltl advantages 
 
 I i 
 
 ! , 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 il 
 
56 
 
 ^1 
 
 ^\ 
 
 and soil, will rise to opulence, FplenJor ancT f;rf»at 
 strength, whilst yours will Isuii»;uish ; ami continue on 
 the back ground, perhaps lor centuries to come. — 
 The irihabitants will grow poor, idle and shirtless. 
 Twenty years hence, they \vill not he so well provi- 
 ded with the necessaries of life, as at the present 
 moment; when they ought, and would, with due en- 
 couragement, make, from their surplusage, immense 
 exportations, Such is the history, liot only of the 
 American character, but the character oi" man. Such 
 consequences will follow irresistably their causes; 
 and no human exertion can preveiit it." 
 
 "Justice and true policy are iiiscparaUy connect- 
 ed together. However much mankirid may Hatter 
 themselves that they can devise ways- and means 
 more beneficial than those tempered by justice, they 
 ever have, and they ever will fail in their expecta- 
 tions. It is so ordered by the high behests of 
 heaven; in the very nature of things; and fixed by 
 immutable laws, that injustice generates destruction. 
 When that truth, which every day's experience de- 
 monstrates, becomes practically understood thro' the 
 world, mankind will form a happy community; and 
 the golden age of tiie poets will be realized." 
 
 " You, Mr. Gushing, have penetrated into the for- 
 est; encountered the various difficullies and hard- 
 ships which a first settlement presents ; formed, .is it 
 were, a new creation of your own, out of this chaos; 
 contributed highly to the general good of the Prov- 
 ince, by enlarging its wealth and resources ; and 
 greatly enhancmg, by your labor and money, the in- 
 dividual property of the Crown and Clergy ; at least 
 to as great a degree as man, unaided could do — then, 
 after all your public merit, should yoii find yourself 
 neglected, in the appointments to honor and profit ; 
 particularly in your own country, suffered to lan- 
 guish in poverty and obscurity in your old age, after 
 your strength was spent in public service, and stran- 
 gers, who had borne no part in ihe " heat and bur- 
 
5? 
 
 <^cn of the day" sent nmoug you, lo fill all your offi- 
 ces of profit^ would you be satisticd ? Could you be- 
 lieve that fair aud impartial ju ce had been exerci- 
 sed towards you ? Yon could .iOt. Common sense 
 v/ould not allow it. You might be silent ; and dis- 
 4;ovcr vour dissatisfaction to no one ; but would that 
 prevent your feeling the wound ? Would it not ran- 
 kle in your heart, and greatly corrode your enjoy- 
 uieiit? If you live to become an old man, all these 
 things you probably will be called to see and experi- 
 «,ucc." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 '♦ And fail not as we pass thro' Iife''3 bad road, 
 
 "To wound tlie iin^c'iarfled traveller! witness yon 
 
 •'Who (jroan distross'd beneath oppression's scourge; 
 
 "Ingratitude's sharp tooth; the cankcr'd tongue 
 
 " Of slander ; furtuoe's losa ; or bitterer far, the loss of fame. 
 
 'iii 
 
 Notwithstanding the gloomy pictore which this 
 gentleman had drawn of the prospects before me, I 
 did not thm experience much despondency. I trust- 
 ed much to my own exertions to promote the gener- 
 al good and rising fame of this new country. I well 
 knew, however, that many of his remarks concerning 
 our present situation, were well founded ; yet I had 
 the consoliiig consideration of believing that all these 
 calculations would be .litered for the better, as soon 
 as the Government should gain information. I did 
 not then think that much time would be requisite for 
 this information. I was determined, at all events, to 
 perform my own d«ty faithfully to that country in 
 whose service I had embarked ; and risk the conse- 
 quences. I had not a doubt of meeting every de- 
 gree of support and assistance wh<ch was just. 
 
 1 had unlimited confidence, that those, who were 
 
 r t 
 
 if 
 
60 
 
 in administration, wouKl duly appreciate nnd reward 
 jTiy public services; and that any embarrassmei»ts 
 to wliicli I might be exposed, in I lie disclj^rge of my 
 duty, would be humanely t'elt. and generously reliev- 
 ed.' From a continuation of the relation of a train 
 of facts, the reader will draw his own conclusion, 
 V'helhor I wa? an accurate calculator ; and bad a 
 competejit understanding of the history of man. 
 
 I now found tbat the Township of Shipton, together 
 with tlie Qther Townsliips, labored under severe in- 
 conveniences from the wa:»t of roads to commumcate 
 with each other; and to form an outlet to our prin- 
 cipal towns, from whence we might bring our neces- 
 r-aries. In order to eflect tins desirable object, I so- 
 licited a meeting of Agents from the several Town- 
 ships, in order to enter into some mcasi'.res to ac- 
 romplish this purpose. A meeting finally was bol- 
 (\ei\ ; and an agreement entered into to open a road 
 from Shipfon to the Canadian settlements near the 
 village of St. Francois, a distance of forty-three miles 
 from Ship'on, thro' a perfect wilderness. Fourteen 
 milps of this road fell to my share, wbicb I opened, 
 wilhout delay, at the expence of fifty pounds, 
 without any remuneration or compensation from any 
 one whatever. The opening of this road greatly re- 
 lieved the wants of the inhal)itants ; and seemed, for 
 a time, to give new life and animation to the country. 
 
 I\Iills being wanted for the use of the inhabitants, 
 I erected mills, both for the manufactory of tlour and 
 boards. The labors of the liirmer were richly re- 
 warded by abundant har^ ests of corn. Hay and 
 grass yielded luxurious crops. Flocks and herds 
 were uncommordy prolific. Animal strength, combi- 
 ned witb that of man, facilitated our industriQus ex- 
 ertions. The hum of business and labor was lieard 
 in every part oiour ibrests. JVlan waJ^ united t<> man 
 in the social ties of afFection. There was a mytual 
 den?ndancc pervix'jng ail the members of our soeir 
 ^^Ji ¥ iAicb ciidi>«rcd us to ea<;h .9t^,er ; {ijfi.d greatly 
 
61 
 
 I 
 
 curolpnrrl thf> (oils to wliicli wo wore subject, an4 
 tlie privations which we endured. Our tables wor^ 
 ever spread with alacrity, ibr the stranger and nee- 
 dy, if not with hixiiries, yet with substantial food, tho 
 products of our own farms, if we could not accom- 
 modate our friends with a bed ot ider down, yet wo 
 could, and did present them with a bed composed of 
 heralock boughs Inid on the tloor made clean ^nd 
 neat with the broom, where the balmy charms of 
 sleep were not nnsuccessfidly courted. i 
 
 The fanner, who had occupied his land for a few 
 years, was able, fmm the surpluisage of his crops, to 
 sell provisions to the new comer, and receive hk<^ 
 pay in labor. Mechanics, such as the blacksmith, 
 carpenter, shoemaker and mason, were established in 
 the country, by whom our wants were lessened ; and 
 our provisions, the current coin of our country, con- 
 stituted a ready and convenient mode of pp.yment. 
 In fine, our whole concerns flowed in an eqsy smooth 
 channel : ajid held out (he most j^Uuring prospect^ 
 of future prosperity. 
 
 This was our happy and prosperous situation when 
 events took place which covered our fond expecta- 
 tions — our fair prospects, with clouds of deep obscu-r 
 rity. The circumstance, which 1 hfvve heretofore 
 mentioned, of withholding the grants of the lai^ds 
 tor many years, gave the lifst alarm. The various 
 dilliculties which the Reserves produced, began to 
 be ielt ; and tliat subject, w bich before was very im- 
 properly understood, now opeu'd more iullyits dele- 
 terious elfects. Many considerations, before un- 
 tliought of, were, by the more discerning, now taken 
 into view; and produced unhappy ellects to the 
 growth of our country. Many lei't the country and 
 returned into the U. States. This wa.^ the case with 
 the whole of the inhabitants of the Tov/wship «f Ely, 
 after enduring incredible hardshipr-, in making their 
 farms. 
 
 It may appear, to such as are unacquaijkitct[ with 
 
 
 I 
 
 f ;! 
 
 ^ I 
 
 ; i!f| 
 
 i|! 
 
the 8tilr|0Ct,{]iat (ho diiriciiUi(^s and rmbarmppmeiifs, 
 attending the Uvat setllemcnt of a new ronntry, are 
 not so great as hero rcprosoFitcd. In order to illus- 
 trate this point more i\i\ly, I ivill enter into a detail 
 of the di/fieulties which a first settler has to encoun- 
 ter. He has a pathless M'iKlerness to penetrate, and, 
 <A courne, can receive no assistance iroin horse, ox 
 or c:irriap;e. He must perform his tour on foot. In 
 orler fo efTect this, he must carry on his back a inns- 
 kot, ammunition, ax. blanket, fire works and p^o^ is- 
 ion for ten days. This, altogether, will form a loud 
 of about 80 lbs. With this load he will be able to 
 tr'^vel twenty miles per day. lie must halt beibre 
 ni-rht, in order to build his camp, cut his wood and 
 make his tire to cook his victuals. Then he will be 
 three days reaching his place of destination ; and 
 this done with a degree of fatigue totally indiscriba- 
 ble. When he arrives, he finds provisions to sup- 
 port him only for seven days. One day is unavoida- 
 bly spent in erecting a camp for his future shelter, 
 and making some little preparations; of course he 
 h-is four days which he can devote to labor on his 
 Iniid, in cutting down trees; at the expiration of 
 which, he lias only two day's provision left to carry 
 him again back to the haunts of human beings; and 
 is thereby compelled to re-trace his former steps 
 thro' the wilderness, with his accustomed parapher- 
 lialia, in order to obtain a recruit of provision. 
 
 This obtained, he returns again to his lonely and 
 excessive labour. Duririg the summer, he finds he 
 can clear and prepare for a future crop, about two 
 acres, by thus alternately Morking and bringing his 
 provisions. At the close of the season he returns a- 
 gain to the inhabite<l world, where he continues un- 
 til the month of April succeding. He then is neces- 
 fiilated to transport his wheat, ibur bushels, for the 
 ground which he has prepared the preceding year. 
 Tliis will require, at least, eight journeys thro' the 
 •wilderness. Alter he has arri\ed with his lust load 
 
 ri 
 
of wlieftt, he must ngftin travn*sr the forest in quest 
 of more provision to support him, nhilst he is rcm- 
 mittirig his seed to the ground. Ifavin^ tlie help 
 neither of oxen or ijorses to harrow the wheat iato 
 the soil, he is conipeHrMl to suht^titutc the hoe, and 
 that used by his own hands, which requires ten times 
 the labor. 
 
 After he has finally finished liIs laborious task, the 
 same routine commences this, as did the year before, 
 of alternately laboring on the land niid transporting 
 provisions, until the month of Srptembcr arrives, 
 when his wheat become prepared for the sickle. — 
 After cutting his wheat, he must trarisport the sheaves 
 on his shoulder to a place of security. At this mo- 
 4 ment he finds the great burden of his difficulty re- 
 
 f moved. Altho' there is no mill at hand to manufac- 
 
 ture his wheat into flour, yet rather than submit to 
 the fatigue and loss of time, in perambulating the wil- 
 derness, he chooses to subsist on boiled wheat. 
 
 Again, at the approach of winter, he returns to his 
 family, and to the habitations of man. He hires, at 
 the approach ot spring, a number of men to assist 
 him in transporting his family, on Indian sleighs, thro' 
 the forest, to his hut in the wilderness. He takes 
 ■with him a coflee mill, by which he can, now and 
 then, make something like meal, in small quantities, 
 ■which, when baked, forms a wretched substitute for 
 bread. Yet their chief subsistence consists of boil- 
 ed wheat. He now finds more time for working on 
 his land. He is under no necessity of travelling after 
 provisions, or seed for his ensuing crop. After com- 
 mitting his seed again to the groi'.nd, he finds him- 
 self able to prepare four acres for wheat for the year 
 ensuing. In July he cuts the hay growing on the 
 grourjd, he first cleared ; and finds sufficient to sup- 
 port a cow thro' the approaching winter, which 
 greatly promotes the means of sustenance for his 
 family. Towards the close of winter, he procures 
 himself a pair of oxen, with the appropriate para- 
 
 I ! 
 
 I- I' 
 
 n 
 
ph^'ffiaJiji. With llif liolp of his ox«'i), ht* finds hiifi- 
 solt* disenrnnibcri'd from iimhj dillitrulli^s; hois a- 
 h\v to poifonn much more husiiiess than I'dbre. — 
 Yet witli his cow and oxen he meets with inconven- 
 iences. AtXev working]; his oxen thro' the day he- 
 must turn them loose, at night, to seek their food, iit 
 the forest, Fre<iuenlly they wander fur, and are not 
 easily found. Another serious ditlicultv occurs. 
 When he breaks his chains, ax, or any tool, he must 
 again (ravel thro' the wilderness, to get them put in- 
 to repair. He even has to go the distance of sixty 
 wiles to grind his ax. 
 
 Such arc some few, out of the many hardships, 
 which a first settler is called to encounter, in a new^ 
 country. And when he has submitted to, and over- 
 come them, I will refer it to any man's good sense, 
 what must be his sensations at finding ail his labora 
 proving worse than abortive ? 
 
 "The grateful Iniiiter, wlien liis horse is old, 
 
 " Wills not the uselt-ss favorite to be sold ; 
 
 " He knows his foi<ncr worth ami gives liini plucc 
 
 •* In some fiiir pasture, 'till ho's run his liicc : 
 
 " But has the lahorcr in the Towuships tlouo 
 
 "Less worthy service, tho' not dealt to one'' 
 
 " Shall we not then contribute to his case, 
 
 " la liib old haunts, where auciCut objects plcabc ? 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 '• It suits me well to mingle now 
 "With things tliat never jjleasM before; 
 " Tlio' cv'r}' joy is fled below, 
 " What future ffriefa can touch me more .* 
 
 Not many years elapsed before my creditors be- 
 gan to press me seriously for their money. My 
 lands, I could dispose of, to stUllers for provision, 
 oxen, cows, sheep or horses ; but tiiis kind of pay- 
 
03 
 
 mnit would not cancel my dc;Y}U. Cash >Vas thf ftn- 
 Jy^ medium which would cover ihos^r 'Iemar.L.-<. Lot, 
 aflcr lot, WHS finally boM at Sheriirs eaic, for the 
 moKt trilling sums, until, at last, the w hole of thirty- 
 ('ijrht thousand acres was sunk in the pijl[)h of aiin; 
 and fell into the hands «f people who did not resi<lo 
 on the lands, or in the townshipK. I found notie hut 
 poor people would emia;rate into our country. Men 
 of property, who could command cash, would not 
 venture their money in purchasing land where so 
 many f'ut.t.c disadvantages preserited. 
 
 For the period of twenty years, I maintained the 
 unavailing struggle". I ultimately suiik under the 
 weight of the accumulating diHicultios which envi- 
 roned me on every side ; vainly llattering myself, and 
 my friends, every year, that our emharrassments 
 Would he removed. Petitions, remonstrances an<l 
 memorial were presented, \Mthout effect or atten- 
 tion. All .,«y labors and indescribahle efforts for 
 the general good, were looked at with perfect apa- 
 thy. All my earnest solicitations were answered 
 with " you have already received your reward for 
 your services; and a great reward too. \VI)y will 
 you trouble us everlastingly.'' If you have improvi- 
 dently squandered the property we gnue you, yo»i 
 must abide the consequences of your own miscon- 
 duct." 
 
 It was not always the case that I was honored 
 with this consoling answer. Silence, very frequent- 
 ly, was the only return I could obtain. One Gcufk- 
 tjt,an, in a particular manner, who is universally no- 
 led for h\i^ llberalify, his good sense, his suavity of 
 manners and his benevolence^ was constantly making 
 such remarks, attended with sarcastic taunts upon 
 ihe Yankee character. Silence or reproot was the 
 only answer which he ever advised to be given lo any 
 of our applications. As this (ienllertmn was con- 
 stantly whispering in the Governor's ear, it cannot 
 be tJjought burprising that his remarks should liavc 
 
 1 
 
 
 ■■-Ai 
 
«ome efllect; Jmrticularlj, when it is tnlycn into con^ 
 tfideration that we hatl no ''coutiii)" about the court 
 to disabuse the vice-rojal ear. As this Gcntlanun 
 "lookeJ with {ibhorence to ohl Enj^land's trusting to 
 SLcli a cursed and deb;wf"d Govrrnnient as that of 
 tlie U. States," he wished, I presume, to exercise liis 
 upleen on all who had the misloi LuiiC of being born 
 iu that "-accursed" country. 
 
 , Notwithstanding all these discourafijinij, mortify- 
 ing and gloomy considerations, I was determined 'o 
 fuliil my duty, both of a public and private nature, 
 under ihe feeble hope, that tin^' and more correct in- 
 formation would finally produce the remedy to the 
 many disappointments which 1 had demeritoriously 
 expeiienccd. At any rate, I consoled myself with 
 deserving success, if 1 did not gain it. 
 
 One ]"act, 1 will take the liberty to relate, out of 
 many which constantly occurred, in order to shew 
 the unpleasant situation in which I was placed. My 
 Troop of Cavalry, I had brought to a high state 
 of discipline and military ardour. Tliis cost me 
 ^nuch time, labor and money, unattended with any 
 remuneration. I had expended so much money in 
 this pursuit, and I felt myself so seriously embarras- 
 sed from other disappointments, that I could not 
 consistently proceed to further expenditures of a 
 similar nature. A meeting of the Troop was war- 
 ned. Some members of this body lived at the 
 distance of fifteen miles from the place of meeting. 
 It became indispensably necessary that some re- 
 freshments should be provided for the men, on the 
 occasion. I ordered my son to make those provis- 
 ions, and take a compensation from those who chose 
 to partake. He accordingly purchased a small 
 quantity 'Of liquors and other provisions, which he 
 dealt out to the Troop, and received from them the 
 simie sum of money which he had expended. 
 
 An' envious and avaricious individual, chose t© 
 complain to the Court of Sessions, against my son. 
 
C7 
 
 tor selling; splntons liquors without licence. JTe 
 was fined forty ilollars, with costs of suit. J laid this 
 rase heCore the Governor, by petition, and prayed 
 for a remission of the in\ie, on the ground that my hod 
 had thus done in obedience to my orders ; that those 
 orders were given to promote the public service ; 
 and not iov private emolument; that, if the leUcr o( 
 the law condemned tJiis act, yet the spirit of it enti- 
 tled my fton to a reward rather than to punishment. 
 However, this petition met the common fate of oth- 
 ers ; and I obtained no rehef 
 
 Necessity tinally compelled me to resign my com- 
 mission. in pursuing the duties of a Justice, of -the 
 ]*eace, 1 found innumerable diilleulties to surmount. 
 Jn the first place, these duties were very little known 
 among us ; and what was far worse, no code in print, 
 or even in matmscript, by which those duties could 
 be learned, as applicable to this-: Province. " Burns' 
 Justice" was the only authority to guide us in our of- 
 ficial duty. A great part of the doctrines and cases, 
 Laid down by Burns, were wholly irrelative to the 
 laws of this country. There Avas no rule of discrim- 
 ination between what was, and what was not the ride 
 of practice It took me much time, attended with 
 considerable expencc, to gain this very necessary \^- 
 formatioit 1 had no way to obtain this, but thro' qf- 
 ticial and professional characters. 
 
 In as much as I had received and accepted the 
 appointment, I was resolved to gain such a degree 
 of mfonnation, as requisite to give me a competent 
 knowledge of the nature of my oilicinl d»i(y; and 
 then to pursue it without deviation : and I have the 
 proud satisfaction of being able to say, at this day, 
 after a discharge of that duty lor more thai, twenty 
 years, that never a Irovvn or a censure, trom the higli- 
 er Courts, has ever been manifested, in one solitary 
 instance, conct^rning my proceedings as a Magis- 
 trate. 
 
 However, if i met with no diiUcultics from the 
 
 . I; 
 
68 
 
 Courts, nnJ other high -authorities, f encouhtcml un- 
 speakable perplexities from the common people. 
 This took place j]jenerally thro' ignorance and pre^ 
 indices, contracted by early habits. This was a 
 source of more diificulty than a refractory disposi- 
 tion; and for several years, my exertions in doing a- 
 way tlieir prejudices; and directilig them into the 
 j^enius of our own laws, were attended with the hi![>- 
 piost effects. 
 
 There ultimately moved into Shipton a man, who 
 brought with him considerable property, by leaving 
 heavy deinarwls against him in the U. States. This 
 man had held the situation of Colonel of Militia and 
 high Baiiifl' in the country from whence he had fled. 
 He possessed an unbounded ambition for popularity 
 and riches ; and left no means unattempted to grati- 
 fy those fiworile passions. He was restrained by no 
 squeamish adherence to moral rectitude — the end 
 always justified the means. Tho' very illiterate and 
 uninformed, he had a wonderful facility of imposing 
 on the multitude, by confidently pretending to exten- 
 sive knowledge on subjects, of which he was totally 
 ignorant. He particularly made great pretension;* 
 to extensive information in the science of law. 
 
 His bold and imposing conduct had but too much 
 iiiliuenceon the ijjnorant multitude. Whilst he con- 
 firmed in the country, he was the source of much pov- 
 })lexity to me, in the execution of my ofllcial duty. 
 He kept the country in a continued tjiimult, turmoil 
 and confusion, hy party faction and cabal. Howev- 
 er, the crimes of perjury and forgery being about to 
 be brought home against him, he saw fit once more 
 to abscond ; and seek, in another country, a new 
 theatre lor the display of his talents. 
 
 During the time of his residing in Shipton, his 
 great object was to draw the attention of the inhabi- 
 tants to himself, as a guide, director and counsellor. 
 As I possessed some influence among these peo[)le, 
 he found it extremely convenient, in the furtherance 
 
 I 
 
i 
 
 •^. 
 
 69 
 ' 1 .• n..».nrp inorclerlo en- . 
 
 of Ws vWns to ■^^TjltnUu cd cantroul among 
 this people. To eftect I ^ P™ccea.ng''- ' « , 
 
 t„„pU.a '« X\«;pe2,g my con<l«c »- Ma^ 
 was constantly r«F' -^o arbitrary and Hi<?g^'-^ 
 Trate, unjust, oppressive, ar^^^^^^^ 
 
 S:hiirrof«XcV;'^ 
 
 .cutWe p'art "^ "-/u^^^'and Great jrUain, to 
 0,c war belween he "^ S'^^^,,,„.o„t the Prov""^« '« 
 every Justice of he 1 ^f^\ ^ before them and 
 TaU on the ■"ha^^''^.^*:?: leave the country : 
 take the oath of allcs'*"*;^ ' ,• , ,o commit all to 
 
 S the r^o^irXr TXl to comply w.'h 
 TaU who should ncS>'^'=t »[.'';'" to these orders. I 
 Ihcse injunctions. In f «'''™'„Va" tV'Ose residing 
 
 nTedi<ie'y--'>\"tt>w tt -'<! take the oath 
 in Shipton, to appear, '"'} ""J 'i^ave the Province, 
 'required; or else """f/^^H Colonel exerted him- 
 On this occasion, our renowned , ; ,,,th the 
 
 self to dissuad» the people ion r ^^^^^ ( ^f 
 
 ^'^f'-^,:^fo^^'y disposition, unau- 
 
 In this instance h'^ "'^^^^ i„n„ence any, except 
 monstrances did "ot "l^^a^e ] ^^^ obstinately 
 
 one poor, l>a>>»>«'*f' "''^ssary oath. As he vvns a 
 reft/ed to take the necessa y ^^^^^ ^.t^emely i?- 
 
 character by »» "l^rmvTef rustilied in exercisii.S 
 norant, 1 considered my ell j ^^fl.etion and 
 
 «onie small «le'a^»"' " ' ulm to a sense of his du y, 
 information would b""! f^^7„iti,«. 1 "sed many ar- 
 vvithout P'-oceed.-ng to extre ra ^^^ ^,,, , ,„, 
 
 gnmei.ts to convince h.n o ^ ^^^„,,., (be force 
 fntellects were "'<^apablt o co. p^ ^^ ^^ ,„^ , 
 
 of an arg-""-i\,^J"ob,iser "l^'-'^"' '" "'"" 
 norance : and 1 was oui j, . 
 
 bim to jail. 
 
 iU 
 .J ; 
 
7a 
 
 Had I b<?en iiivet«le(l M'ilh discretionary power*?, I 
 should not have romniiltrd the old raan ; becausiE*, I 
 knew, from a prrsonai acquaintance, that lie vvi^ihed 
 110 harm to any cause ; and could do none, if he had 
 wished it; but ray orders were imperative and abso- 
 lute. I iiad no discretionary power entrusted to me; 
 I must obey the orders, such as they were. 
 
 Immediately nfter, the worthy colonel, altho' lie 
 himself had been Ihe sole cause of tlic unhnppy e- 
 vent, and ought, in strict justice, to be the subjei;t of 
 imprisonment, raised a loud outcry against me, for 
 such a barbarous and cruel piece of conduct: and, 
 indeed, this outcry had no small eflect upon the 
 great mass of mankind ; particularly among such as 
 were acquainted with the old man. They knew him 
 to be an inolTensive character. They knew that 
 tiiere was nothing to fear, either from his disposition, 
 or his abilities. They were informed that I had 
 committed him under the pretence of his being a 
 dangerous person. They could see no propriety in 
 such a transaction. I did not sec fit to run about a- 
 mong the multitude, to explain the reason upon which 
 I acted. 
 
 At the subsequent sitting of the Court of King^s 
 Bench for the District of Three-Rivers, this old man 
 was brought before the Court, where much exertio?i 
 was made by the Colonel and his partisans, to prove 
 that I had, maliciously and unjustly, committed the 
 prisoner without cause. The Court heard lliem 
 with much attention and patience; and ultimately 
 declared that, if my conduct was censurable in any 
 point, it was on account of shewing too much lenity, 
 by not committing him immediately and vvithou-t d,€- 
 lay. 
 
 This determination of the Cou-rt, it is trite, des- 
 troyed all hopes of obtaiiting any legal crimination, 
 in consequence of my barbarity towards the poor old 
 raan. l^ut it did not prevent the popular clamor, 
 which had before been raised; and which continued 
 
Wimmi.' 
 
 \- 
 
 rvhU Vikcwisc tros coup- 
 „..a i„crea,ed «.ni-t - j;;;^ U, poor NPtane 
 
 a.k Al a cer uun tune <>» ^^^^ ^ -;"!'J7';f *! 
 
 IT Slateti, anJ was ««^ purpose ot receivijg, 
 
 "•ee iu order, -'^^^^j ' at Jlu.« f'om people •„ , 
 a certain sum ot """V;,„.,.(,ted him to come &pcrei 
 Shiptou. The co'"»e' j^^^^f ,hcre u.*oown to mc, 
 Vy to I'is house-to ^™^ ''';'^„,i„ess and depart, 
 until he could arrange h'*' J^^^, t^^t a man trom the 
 " Having received mlor—^^ ^,_^^ ,^^e, I .m- 
 U. States was secretly m U ^^_ Up- 
 
 jnediatel J sent tor, an<l brou n , ^^s fully 
 
 ota .nmute \">-^^'f''^,:,„ early comprebended 
 satisfied that he ^vas a persfm j^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 t the exceptions ; ami m^,gt.t^ ^ .^^ |.^^^,^,y^ „„der 
 
 ^f:^ -'^% t£ nt Three-Rivers, in a^ 
 .Not lo.« '^^«!:/' !' , Kfu^-s Bench. I was arres- 
 
 -^■-::\^!;S\hl--p''"^t!' 
 
 led in opt 11 ^^r:: nn.e grouiKit^ ot 
 committed 10 jaA. 1 ^^^ 5, 
 
 ihi 
 
 eason, avid 
 accuBation 
 
 ! M 
 
n 
 
 f.f 
 
 1 
 
 r 
 
 ■\rer(^, that I U'as lioKling a criminnl commfrde "Wltfi 
 ti»e enemies of the country ; that I was givin<r them 
 aid, informrition ami assistance ; arid the circum- 
 stance just related , was brought in proof, l>y the co- 
 lonel liinisch", vi'ho, Avith a number oi his adherents, 
 appeared to be the infomiants. My trunk was sei- 
 zed, and all my pnpei-s examined. 
 
 However, this examination falling into the hands 
 of meri who were well able (o dive lo the bottom of 
 a dark intrigue, they soon became satisfied where 
 the evil lay ; made their report that I had acted an 
 upright part in tlie faithfid discharge of the duty of a 
 Magistrate ; and that the complaint was originated 
 by a Jiifdicious conspiracy against me. Of course, 
 after lying in jail one night, I was ordered into Court, 
 there highly comniended for my fidelity ; and then 
 discharged. Yet for reasons entirely unknown to 
 me, the conspirators wc-re suflered to de|xirt with 
 impunity. 
 
 I have related these two events, for the purpose 
 of shewing how much trouble may befal a Magis- 
 trate, when his eye is fixed on, and his conduct sole- 
 ly governed by his duty, uninfluenced by the selfish 
 views and malignant passions of individuals ; and 
 likewise how much serious damage may arise to the 
 peace of society, from the factious and wicked con- 
 duct of a single individual. 
 
 What will more surprise the reader is, that this 
 same renowned colonel^ aitej* his conduct had become 
 obnoxious to the most public censure, had the ad- 
 dress, thro' the intrigue and solicitations of some of 
 his connexions, w ho partook largely of his own dispo- 
 sition and principles, to get himself appointed to the 
 oiFioe of a Justice of the Peace. However, before 
 he was gazetted, the storm which was gathering a- 
 gainst him, for his flagrant transgressions, was too ior- 
 Hiidable to encounter ; and happy for the country, he 
 sought an asylum under ai.totJKT government ; and 
 still more happy would it be, if his qoiinexlo:is would 
 follow his exaijiple, in that rcsp*'ct. 
 
73 
 
 ' As I have now endeavored to give the reader a 
 candid history of my conduct, as a pubhc functiona- 
 ry, I will call his attention to that of a private man ; 
 and as connectc^d with the liistory of the Townships. 
 
 Many years since, I found the Townships were in 
 the wane, aa to their settlement ; and the general 
 prosperity of those who were already placed on 
 these lands. I continually experiencetl many evils, 
 which had been predicted, and found that they had 
 fallen upon us very heavily. Industry abated — idle^ 
 ness succeeded ; and, with idleness, its twin sister, 
 dissipation. Dissipation introduced contention and 
 quarrels; these generated lawsuits, which were at- 
 tended with heavy ex perjce, both of time and money. 
 By such means, harmony and fraternal afiection were 
 destroyed, which composed and strengthened happi- 
 ness. Our country remained destitute, almost alto- 
 gether, of roads and other public ameliorations. — • 
 Our applications for relief were treated with total 
 neglect. In tine, the American character was held 
 in the most sovereign contempt. 
 
 So little was the cause of the Americans attended 
 to, or even understood, that, at the commencement 
 of the war before mentioned, an enquiry was made, 
 by one of the most intelligent and induential mem-, 
 bers of Administration, whether the Americans would 
 prove faithful to this country, in the contest. The 
 answer to -this question was ; "I know the Americans 
 leel sore, under the neglects and wrongs which they 
 have experienced here ; yet, I think, as a people, they 
 may be depended on." At this remark, the gentle- 
 man putting the question, appeared much astonished, 
 that the American inhabitants of the Townships, 
 should think they had any cause for complaint! ! 
 
 I wa? of the opinion that the great weiyjht of our 
 poliiical evils arose from fear, lest the American in- 
 habitants would retain so strong a predilection m fev- 
 vor of the country of their nativity, as to prove un- 
 laithful, tihould ever a collision happeit between the 
 
 i I 
 
 ' l! 
 
74 
 
 
 M» 
 
 fwo countricB. Yet I conKl not but view their line 
 pt policy with some surprise, h it possible, said I, 
 thnt they can expect to divert the evil by oppres- 
 sion ? According to my humble mode of reasoning, 
 the very method adopted to prevent this evil has the 
 most direct tendency to produce it. When the sub- 
 ject finds himself placed in such a situation, as to 
 render all hi? endeavours to increase his property 
 incflfectual, all countries become alike to him. He 
 feels no attachment to the country, because he reali- 
 zes no benefit trom it. He i^ ever ready for revolu- 
 tion and change. He says to himself " no change 
 can alter my situation for the worse ; it may for th^ 
 better ;" and^ of course, is vvilbng to try it. 
 
 Far from this is the case with the wealthy farmer. 
 He finds, that by the fostering and parental hand of 
 Government, his exertions of industry and economy 
 are crowned with complete success. His property 
 is increased; his mearjs of subsistence greatly enlar- 
 ged ; and his own meritorious endeavors tor general 
 prosperity, duly appreciated. Under such a view of 
 the subject, his heart warms with sensations of the 
 most grateful kind, towards such a Government He 
 feels his own interest and happiness inseparably con- 
 nected with theirs ; and has too great a stake to risk 
 on the chance of any revolution whatever. Pie not 
 only is vitally attached to his country himself, but u- 
 jses the whole scope of his influence with others, to 
 ensure their fidelity. Let the most alluring tempta- 
 tions be held up to his view, to induce him to prove 
 unfaithful, he is ready with this reply : " One thing I 
 know, under this Government I am happy ; I am 
 prosperoufe. Shall 1 act so mad a part as to relin- 
 quish a certain happiness, for that which depends al- 
 together on contingencies ? This Government has 
 shevyn the kindness of a parent towards me, shall 1 
 now I epay them with the blackest ingratitude?" — 
 Such, i conceive to be, the simple, unadulterated 
 language of the human heart. 
 
* T e\»pr fe1f p^r^iiadetl, in ihfiy 6#ri ihind, tliat if pv^t 
 An opportunity was oHered the inhabitants of th^ 
 Townships to efface, by the positive and active ex- 
 ertions of fidelity, the unfavorable impressions which 
 existed against them, that this Government would a- 
 wake from their dormant and inactive fetate concern- 
 ing our welfare ; and that they would then Endeavor 
 to remove the evils under which we groaned. 
 
 The opportunity finally presented itself, after a 
 lapse of fifteen years. A war broke out between the 
 U. States and Great Britain. These Provinces were 
 the only vulnerable part of the Dominions of the 
 Crown. They were almost wholly destitute of <^eg- 
 ular troops for their defence. Thd mother country 
 was deeply involved in a war at home, which requi- 
 l*ed all her resources. An overwhelming force from 
 the U. States, threatened the two Provinces. Therd 
 was nothing of consequence, to resist them, but the 
 Militia. Under these gloomy prospects, this Gov- 
 ernment Jelt the want of our assistance. They no 
 Sooner made known their wants, than they vt^ere 
 
 rromptly attended to, with spirit and cheerfulness, 
 felt this to be a critical and favorable moment for 
 the Townships. I endeavored to impress the idea' 
 forcibly upon the inhabitants. In this I received thei 
 co-operation of all the most influential men thro' the 
 country. Those exertions were attended with the 
 desired success. And, I am bold to say, that nc^' 
 troops did their duty more faithfully, in repeling the 
 invaders. 
 
 Peace soon sticceeded ; and I looked forward with' 
 the most anxious and pleasing expectation ot seeing 
 my hopes realised ; of seeing the interests of the 
 Townships claiiti som6 attention from the Govern- 
 ment. However, the business continued to languish, 
 until an Englishman^ of considerable property, sat 
 down in ouf country, whose interest was unavoida- 
 bly blended with our public concerns. His voice 
 was heard ; andf the Legislature entered with spirit' 
 
 ;,! 
 
 i 
 
76 
 
 Pt { 
 
 i*M« 
 
 i 
 
 into our rmbarrnpsments ; and, as the want of road* 
 bore the most prominent feature in our dillicultie^, 
 they granted the noble sum of fifty thousand pounds, 
 to be appropriated to that object, thro' the Province. 
 This circumstance caused univei-sal joy. New ani- 
 mation pervaded the Townsliips. S\c hailed the 
 day, as the date of our dehverance from bondage. 
 Industry began again to rear its drooping head ; and 
 the hum of business was once more heard thro' our 
 rountry. But alas ! this pleasing scene soon " fled 
 like the baseless fabiuc of a vision, and left not a 
 trace behind." 
 
 The causes which produced these fatal effects, it 
 is my business now to dcvelope. After the ^rant of 
 this noble sum, it became necessary to apr t men 
 to dispose of it, for the purposes for whiCi. it wag 
 granted. As the money was granted for the use of 
 the Townships, in making such roads as would most 
 contribute to public utility, it was natural to expect 
 that jsqch as re^sided in, and were best acquainted 
 with the general interests of the Townships, would 
 have received that appointment. But unfortunately 
 all such were native ./Americans ; and therefore could 
 not be entrusted with the important business of man- 
 aging their own concerns. 
 
 I think it will be viewed with some surprise Vihen 
 it is understood wlio were ultimately appointed to 
 this very important duty. One was the English gen- 
 tleman before mentioned. In the navy and by mer- 
 cantile pursuits, in the Mediterranean, he had, from 
 firaall beginnings, raised himself to a handsome com- 
 petency. In forming the more interesting connec- 
 tion of a domestic circle, he was by no means forget- 
 ful of the '•'•nuiin chanced In all this, it undoubtedly 
 shewed him to be a man of sound calculation, and 
 shrewd discernment on subjects with which he was 
 acquainted. Yet the analogy between nautical and 
 mercantile concerns, and those of a new country, 
 was not very striking. He might have a prefect un- 
 derstanding how to "hand, reef and steer." He 
 
77 
 
 might know the minutest concerns on "Clianj^c," 
 without knowing a single item concerning our affairs. 
 A man of his natural sagacity might prohahiy learn, 
 in time, to be master of the knowledge of our situa- 
 tion: but was it wise to give him the disposal of the 
 foundation of our hopes, whilst he was yet in a state 
 . of pupilage ? 
 
 Another appointed to this important office was a 
 gentleman educated altogether in the military de- 
 partment. This gentleman had served his King, in 
 his own department, with reputation and honor. He 
 undoubtedly had a perfect knowledge of fascines, 
 gabions, intrenching, &c. : and had great skill in o- 
 vercoming an enemy in common warfare. But tlie 
 enemies which presented themselves in our country 
 were of a totally dissimilar nature ; and to be over- 
 come by means entirely different; and cousequently 
 totally out of his Walks of inforpiation. 
 
 A Notary, who had spent all his life behind his 
 desk, received the third place in this trio. This gen- 
 tleman was well acquainted with the pen, yet with 
 the ax, the main tool for the wilderness, he was whol- 
 ly ignorant. With his pen, he could describe woods, 
 mountains, hills, rocks, rivers and cataracts, yet how 
 to remove tlie difficulties which they presented, he 
 knew nothing. 
 
 These were the three characters appointed to su- 
 perintend the concerns of a new country !! ! they 
 were appointed to a business, concerning which the 
 whole course of their lives, gave them no insight ; 
 and the result proved fatal to the interests of the 
 Townships. However, these gentlemen were not 
 Americans; had no " corruption of blood" to dis- 
 qualify them, which was a sufficient recommendation 
 for their appointment to manage our concerns, as will 
 more fully appear in the sequel. 
 
 When these gentlemen met upon the important 
 
 business of the routes for the roads, which were to be 
 
 opened, it was a n;iatter worthy of notice, that they 
 
 'combined the public interest so inseparably with 
 
78 
 
 their own individual advantafijr, tlint t!ic three rondm 
 in r-ontempIn<ian hitppmed to pass through the land 
 of each. However, it proved verj unfortunate, both 
 to the gentlemen and the public, that this combina- 
 tion was made ; for two of those roads were opened, 
 and at an immense expcnce, where no travelling will 
 take place, probably for a century to come. Fol- 
 lowing the true spirit of provincial policy, these gen- 
 tlemen chose to give the contract, for opening thes6 
 roads, to Canadians, who were equally unqualified 
 for executing the plans which had been adopted. — 
 So (hat, in the event, this princely sum, which, right- 
 ly managed, would have been of lasting and unspeak- 
 able advantage to the country, was nearly lost ; and 
 the country left in greater despondency than ever. 
 
 The Legislature again turned their attention to the 
 Townships. In order to facilitate the administra- 
 tion of justice among us; and to save the enormous 
 expense attending suits before a court at a great dis- 
 tance ; they established a new District, composed of 
 the Townships altogether. In filling the various of- 
 fices of t-his new establishment, I nattered myself, 
 with some faint hope, that those who had " borne 
 the heat and burden of the day," in the first settle- 
 ment and population of the country ; who had spent 
 their all in its service, would claim some attention. 
 But not one among the Americans was found worthy 
 of notice. I could not but ejaculate "«Ias! poor 
 Yorick", how are we degraded ! How much are wc 
 subjected to the bitter taunts and irony of our south- 
 ern neighbors } How insultingly will they reproach 
 us with our creduhty and military ardour, durhig the 
 war, contrasted with our present situation } 
 
 I hear them arrogantty demand, " who arc your 
 District oificers'? On examination bring made, and' 
 finding them every one foreigners, they again ex- 
 claim, " What ! not one among' you ; not one among 
 a population of forty thousand Americans, found wor- 
 thy of Otfice" .'' No, not one found worthy of office, 
 to which emolument is attaciicd ! 
 
■'f 
 
 i7- 
 
 79 
 
 Thee cons-ulcrations ^Pf"' J^^H "li^e'^S^"^"' 
 «rS..g. We arc «'f "^^„,t Iced in a cbss be- 
 iuislf subjects ; "^^^ J,<.rigi„e» are mtru«- 
 ;„« the savages. >> > « , ; „„„ public coi.- 
 
 e.\ with the "»"'f7'^' ,"' " l,er nnworthy and ."- 
 eerus, wc are treateJ »» •'' "f j;„ei, U the appear- 
 competent to the -»«>" aWV«.^ -j j,^„„ !„ n.y 
 Te' which 'h« »j;;^c ;' °«:„H toacandidvubhe, 
 
 the proud rank of T"' ^o" ^^c occurrences sh ce 
 of \U Majesty s sul^ec s. l^ ^^.^^^ ^„„f„„o„ 
 
 have compelled roe '"''f^JJer their bitter taunts ? 
 Zi shame. How co Id answer t ^^^_^^^^ ,,^„ 
 
 ••Trrhe a ,-.0., m «je ^e^^'uXtctf 
 the inhabitants ?ho .Id re.nam <,omplamts 
 
 aegrading ^'f""""', 'jl^yh Ce have so faithfully ser- 
 to that Government "hich we n ^^^ ^^ ^,b- 
 
 ?ed.> I"-'-" "iclptetre Answer which we 
 serve, that «e "-'Slrly Vom the G™rfe««»., wh» 
 should receive; f 'j'^S^^ for his affecl.mto 
 
 has so highly ''f '"^"17" Hranswer we know, be- 
 
 The truth is, nolliing "'' ,."^'',.,/„inK the Govern- 
 dissatistied P«'>P^<'';ttleyttrtS hands. The 
 :r'wrtrXfr I tUeir complamts, the 
 
 I 1 
 
w 
 
 i| 
 
 do 
 
 36oner we may expect some exemption from (iieif 
 eternal clamors. My advice is, to reprimand, and 
 dismiss them." 
 
 Under sucli n view of the suhjcct, we remain si- 
 I :. We find it the only alternative to save our 
 k jlings from addilional mortification. A sullen ap- 
 athy succeeds the iicrctofore general animation, and 
 industrious pursuits. Our English iViends, who have 
 condescended to lake the management of our public 
 concerns into their hands, treat us, our manners, our 
 customs and our propensities, not with the soli con- 
 ciliating blanthshments of urbanity, but with haugh- 
 ty contempt, and arrogant superiority. Treat us as 
 a race, infinitely Iwneath them in the scale of c^is- 
 tence; and only fitted, by the course of nature, for 
 "hewers of wood and drawers of water.*' 
 
 What will be the ultimate issue of this line of 
 policy, I leave to the determination of those more 
 versed in the political history of man. I candidly 
 declare that the prospect to me is gloomy and 
 painful. I greatly tear the principle of re-action; 
 and the gene nd calamity it will |)roduce. However, 
 I pray God that my fears may never be realized. 
 
 Let future events be what they may; let calamity 
 or prosperity bcfal us, 1 have this couooling reflec- 
 tion in my own breast; that in every situation, both 
 as a private individual, and as an officer of Govern- 
 ment, I have faithfully discharged my duty, in limes 
 of prosperity, and in times of great danger and ditli- 
 culty. If my services have not been duly apprecia- 
 ted, it arises from no fault of mine, of which I have 
 any knowledge; neither dues it produce any senti- 
 -ment of anger or resentment. If any have done 
 w rong, my only wish is, that they may see it, and re- 
 form; that they may become convinced that justice 
 and true policy are inseparably coiuiected ; and un- 
 der this conviction, they may adopt such measures 
 as shall produce the mutual happiness, prosperity 
 and glory of themselves and the people with whom 
 they are connected. 
 
8t 
 
 i^'^^h 
 
 ■A »* 
 
 ^.;ii.. -^-.-r 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 «dfvani-^bM troubles sinff, ^ -' 
 
 »0f roars f"';fjJ;^J't,,e voice of spring, 
 "Of flowers f>f ^^^^^"Un the dead; 
 u Ar.a burst the ^\'>^^f'" , j^, repose, 
 
 ';rsor^ailfsun\"tb^oucofp^^^^^^^ 
 
 :;?i: 
 
 ' ^-v " ^ . 1 1 r«v history concerning rtif 
 
 Having fiO* f"''^'^^,,7i, 'm„„Ui; the trial o ; 
 first commcncig b^'"«^s ^^^ townships; and 
 
 M'Lane; my ™"'^^,'*^" under this Government,! 
 „y conduct as »" O" ^^ ,i,e, „„ch more tranqml , 
 „ow come to « f^^„"^, "{ess conspicuous than (or- 
 an<l serene, but mucn ^ 
 
 ""'••'>'• f innMe termination of the land busi- 
 
 Bv the unfortunate '«^™" ■ . exhausted ; the 
 
 ness^my P^P^'^i^'^roretl-'od ; and although 
 prospect ol obin innS »°[ Government, left to 
 l„ old but faUhlul s. V u.t ^ ^^^^^,,,^^i„„, neglect. 
 
 vant and P*'""?: ^teemng bat 1 had alreatty re- 
 ea. or answered l^X "'f,^(:"„\en, in reality, th.s re- 
 ceived a» ample ^<^' ^^ money, and more 
 ,vard consisted n, n^f»-''^f,^,'e labor, to inhance tho 
 
 than twenty .V""'':"/," Government only. 
 
 value of the property ol o ^^ ^^^^ |^^^_^^,^. „^,„. 
 
 Frou. this sUnatiou, 1 "-^'^ , „,,,„i|y unacquam- 
 pation of a •f'l^";*^:^- ''!.!«, 1^1 by palie.t industry 
 id with >»"^*'^""'^"\''"o , ,4ched that degree oi 
 and perseverance, I soon business, as to ob- 
 
 Unowledge and oorrec^'^,; ;' 7„,';,,e ,he necessaries 
 ,„•„, a snmcent e;""'"^^"' .^.P ,ved from the stage 
 of life. 1 was now Ian ) ■ .,, e,,,oymcnt. 
 
 of public hfe, to «'--;V^'^^„™:^;,, a„d wUh calmness, 
 1 ciulJ now ock ba'^^^ ™ \he disappoinl.neut ot 
 o„lhe 7«<^'"' "'J.": , the cloud, ol darkness, 
 all my lond liopci., ^ 
 
 ■I 
 
•Mr 
 
 m 
 
 "W^ich obscured my future prospects'. Ye*s, I could 
 look unmoved upon 
 
 " What in the human bosom stirr'd ; 
 "The sicb'ninf ;'.mf of hope deferr'd: 
 ' •' And memory with a torturing' train, 
 
 " Of all our raorniiiff visions vain." 
 
 In this situation, probably I should always have re- 
 mained during life, without claiming further public 
 notice, had not a circumstance taken place, which 
 roused my attention, and induced me once more to 
 appear before the public by way of appeal; and de^ 
 mand that justice from them, which has been with- 
 held from other quarters. 
 
 During my leisure moments, I had employed my 
 time in forming a work, which I flattered myself, 
 might be beneficial to my brethren of the human 
 family. After completing this, I had occasion to 
 open a correspondence with Ebenczer Eaton, Prin- 
 ter, in Diinvillc, in the State of Vermont, for pub- 
 lishing the work. My negotiations wore proceeding 
 >vith every prospect and appearance of success, 
 >vhcn they were broken olT, in a very curious and 
 extraordinary manrjcr, which will more fully appear 
 by the following letters. 
 
 Danville, July 16th, 1823. 
 
 Dear Sir, — I have periwefl a letter which you sent to IMr. Ran- 
 dal, bciiring date the 9th instant ; and in reply to your enquiry rel- 
 ative to the expense of printing a Book, which you have prepared 
 for the Press, make the following estimation of the whole expense 
 of a thousand copiop ready for delivery at ^625. 
 
 J can begin the work immediately, should you accede to the* 
 terms ; I will print it on a fair type ; and issue your Prospectus, 
 gratis ; and endeavor to obtain subscriptions for you, on all my 
 post routes. 
 
 Mr. Randal, requests me to say to you that he will give all pos- 
 sible aid in procuring subscribers to your Book ; anrl is with me of 
 opinion that it will be best to print it on duodecimo on long priin- 
 nier. Please to answer this as soon as convenient. 
 
 Raspcrtfully yours, LBEN'K. EATON. 
 
 Mr. Elmer Gushing. 
 
33 
 
 ; Imoa fraiUie. of human -"'-; 'JV', ;, „„„ e.peto.t t. 
 *d ■» to '^'■i^- °* r°T;l Together «Uh your leU« 
 
 -■> »>"- "'^ r C:frc"-rU, e.a»i.ea *o whole. 
 
 «ed a portion of it. »"" '° 
 
 r n nmnion.-ll U 'avouraWe. ^ „,5-„lance m mj 
 
 lork be done here •, and .0 . m » ,„ s,an,tead, to 
 
 :„,a,e n.e to ^^flJ^;];^::;^, h, ,0. no.Uf,.n, »e .0 
 
 M«. EtMEK Cos«.»»- 5„.jvy „„e,uded, a. 1 
 
 p S. Since this letter "»' *'f'" „„u. to reduce the pr.« 
 Jan..o. to o.,in the P^--; ';.„ ;„„,pr,n..er .c.h- 
 to J6» JolUr, on v.ca, oc^-o _ • _, E- E. 
 
 .„„dea. da.dec.n>o for», i ^^^^^^^^ ^^^,, „.,,^.e«..^^ 
 
 S,K -1 have again deferred Vn'^^^J'^l^. the 
 
 B:::-icon.-.-o,-f:-,_tainw^^ 
 
 :r:^e— ..:vhich.-he..^ ^ . 
 
 Lter was not eM'V.<=" "" '^' Zi -.t my office, je^erday mor- 
 '*td.,. Because Mr. '^-"fl '^0/ authority, (.« «-« -am. 
 
 . S ;'l 
 
i .. 
 
 81 
 
 'W 
 
 tion paper, sbouW I print them. Two items in rcliilion to yoiii' 
 character, were, as report says, an illicit and crimiu;il intercourse 
 with a married woman. The other, your connexion in the powder 
 plot, some fifteen or twenty years ago, which terminated, through 
 your treachery, in the exec^Jtion of the unfortunate M'Lnne. You 
 know whether these charges are well founded ; or whether they 
 are founded in slander. 
 
 As things are circumstanced, in justice to my own character, and 
 the chir.icter of my Press, I can taiic no part in propagating the 
 work, any firther, than to print it for you. 1 shall wait your di» 
 reclions. If you direct me to print the prospectus next week, 
 that part, in the conditions of the F'rospeotus which states that the 
 8ubj5cri|)tions are to be returned to the North Star Otlicc, must hi 
 Btnckcn out ; as I cannot allow allusion to my name iii the concern, 
 to go before the public. Respectfully yours, 
 
 KBEN'll. EATON. 
 
 Mr, Elmer Gushing. ; 
 
 Stansteab, September Bth, 1823. 
 
 Mr. Eato-v, Sir, — Yours of the date of the 27th ult. came duly 
 to hand ; and I will take the liberty to remark, that no instance 
 of my life eyer caused more surprize, than your letter. I read 
 it — laid it by — re-perused it ; and reflected again, I cryed, in 
 the astonishment of my heart, " what is man, that thou art mmdful 
 of him!" 1 had formed an idea of Mr. Eaton, and BIr, Randal, of 
 the most agreeable kind, both as it related to sound sense and 
 goodness of heart. In addition to this, 1 knew they were born and 
 brought up in a country where slander ivas " the order of the 
 day ;" and exercised against characters of the first eminence among 
 them, 1 presumed, of course, that their good sense would be ad- 
 equate to meet any slanderous reports which the enemies of my 
 work might endeavor to propagate against me. It is what I ex- 
 pected. Those are the only arguments which they possess. I 
 had, long since, anticipated reproaches, revilings and slander. 
 With some, I expected such arguments to have their efl'ect. With 
 you, and Mr. Randal I did not. I thought you understood the na- 
 ture of man too well. In addition to which, I knew that ilocu- 
 ments had been before the eye of the public, authenticated by the) 
 
 
«5 
 
 liigliost authority in this country, for more than twenty years past, 
 giving the lie direct to such insinuationa. 
 
 ' For more than twenty years, 1 have heen so liappy ai to possesa 
 the confidence of my own Government, hy holding commissions, of 
 public trust, confidence and honor. In the first place, the com- 
 mand of a Troop of Cavalry ; and in the second place, the commis- 
 sion of a Justice of the peace, during which tiuie, I have the proud 
 satisfaction to s,iy, that, in no instance yet, have 1 ever met the dis- 
 approbation of either the Executive or Judicial deparlracnts of our 
 Government. 
 
 Under such considerations, can you wonder ut my astonishment 
 at finding a Gentleman of information and candor siiflering himself 
 io be influenced by reports, which carried every evidence of ab- 
 surdity and self contradiction! Is this the course in which you " do 
 by others as you wish that others should do by you T' — History, 
 both sacred and profane, informs us that the best of men have been 
 aubjecj, in al! ages, to the bitterest sliuider. W^; diily see this tak- 
 ing place in all countries ; and in none more than in the U. States — 
 yet, with all these evidences before your eyes, the first puff of slan- 
 der against me, was sufficient for your decision ! ! ! 
 
 But, my dear Sir, what has ray character to do witli the work ? 
 If it possesses merit ; if it contains new and useful information, it 
 ought to be given to tlie public. If not, it ought to be smothered 
 ii: the womb, and never see the liglit. Would you sulTer a work 
 to emanate from your pre«s, which you considered delcteiious to 
 map'iind, even should it be the production of the angel G;d)riel ? 
 On the other hand, providing you obtained the most ueeful informa- 
 tion to mankind would you not h.y it beluit; (liiin, evnn if viui iib- 
 tained it from his nfernal Majesty himself? Would nut you iJialid 
 use of the we. pons of an enemy against himself? 
 
 However, this long train of observations, is not made for the pur- 
 pose of persuading you to print or patronize. I have concltidcMJ 
 to obviate the many dilijculties which present themselves on Ihif 
 occasion in a much more summary manner. You will be so good 
 as to make up your account, for what trouldc and expense 1 'nave 
 already put you to, with that, return the manuscript ; and I will 
 meet your demand with pleasure, 1 am, &.c. K. CL'SHING. 
 
 1 
 
)i- { '<l 
 
 86 
 
 u 
 
 Dat^ii.le, Sept. 24th, 1828. 
 
 Sir,— y oars of the 8lh was duly received. I shall not attempt 
 • labored answer of it, or any vindication of my conduct relative to 
 the Koticipated publication. This, however, I can assure you. Sir, 
 that it was not an enemy to your religious principles, but a friend 
 to them, who told me the unfavorable reports in circulirtion against 
 you. It was Mr. Randal, and he is \j^e only person, if my memo- 
 ry serves me, with whom I have conversed respecting your book, 
 •r yourself. He obtained bis information (as he says) from Capt. 
 Edward Burt, of this Village, who obtained his information in Can« 
 ada, where he formed a partiirf acquaintance with you. On bear- 
 ing those reports, instead of proclaiming them on the house tops, 
 or to any person whatever, i wrote you immediately on the sub- 
 ject, and if I have in thus doing, pursued a course, contrary to the 
 tenor of the Gospel, 1 have yet to be convinced of it, by arguments 
 more forcible than your pctulent shng at my religious opinions^ or 
 at those wiio agree with me in sentiment. 
 
 In similar circumstances, i should wish for similar information. 
 Your being a Captun in the Troop and a Justice of the Peace, is 
 no certain evidence, that you arc, to say the least, what Pope calls 
 the " noblest work of God." in this Government, it is the charac- 
 ter and not the titles, which makes the man. 1 pretend not to say, 
 the reports which 1 have heard, respecting your character, ar« 
 true, and most certainly I hope they are not. 
 
 Respectfully Yours, ' " ^BEN'R. EATON. 
 
 l^fMtR Cl;6lIl^'9 Es^a. 
 
 pANviti.E, Oct. 15lh, S823. 
 
 FftifcNfa Canutrio, — I saw the letter addressed by you to Mr. 
 Eaton complaining that fioiiie in this Quarter were eneriuies to 
 you ; and spreading the reports of yoyr being cQucerned with 
 M'Lane in the powder plot ; and of betraying him afterwards. 
 Those who informed me and Mr. Eaton of that business were 
 not enemies to our cause, but were friends. We both enquir- 
 ed of those who knew you ; and to my astonishment, were tol(| 
 thtit you were the very man, as above described. 
 
 You cannot believe me to be an enemy to you, because I have 
 00 reason «o to be ; but I am a friend to tb«: work you are ear 
 
I. 
 
 , ' 87 
 
 9 
 
 gaged in ; and do not wish to hurt the glorious cause of a free 
 satvatien. The name of M'Lane, and the powder plot, is fa- 
 miliar with almost every person throughout the country ; and a 
 work like yours, would not gain credit, when it was once be- 
 lieved to be written by a man implicated in such accusations. If you 
 are the man, 1 am sorry for it — if not 1 am glad. I hope Sir 
 you will not think hard of me. If you get your book printed, 
 1 hope to have one of them ; for 1 have a good opinion of the 
 work. Your Friend, ROBERT O. RANDAL, 
 
 Ma. E Cvshing. 
 
 ' As it relates to the merits of the correspondence, 
 "between me and Mr. Eaton, the reader will form his 
 own opinion. I had not the honor of a personal ac- 
 quaintance with this luminary. Yet the coruscations 
 of the " North Star" had been long known to me, and 
 the country generally to be of a novel kind, " to say 
 the least." The language not of the fine polish of 
 the French ; or in the flowing numbers of a Robert- 
 son ; nor yet over loaded with classic elegance. 
 However, he undoubtedly made use of such expres- 
 sions as he believed would meet the feelings of his 
 readers, and render liis works popular. 
 
 That he was a man of the most consummate virtue 
 and christian meekness^ there can be but little doubt. 
 We have abundunt evidence of it from his own dec- 
 larations. It appears, however, that he had some 
 suspicion that these declarations might be thought 
 not exactly true ; in order to remedy this defect, ho 
 uniformly renewed them, till one might be almost 
 tempted to think that he thought them true himself. 
 He also manifested his abhorrence of vice, in his un- 
 common diligence in discovering her haunts abroad^ 
 and lashing her in a truly Gothic style. Yet it has 
 been a matter of doubt with some, whether he was 
 an accurate casuist. Whether the principles which 
 constituted virtue nnd vice, he correctly understood. 
 Be that as it may, he was beyond question, a great 
 and good man, but rather unliappy in the choice of 
 
 i 
 
rv^nrr^-: 
 
 65 
 
 mSi \ 
 
 rtioang to make it known. h\ one instance, however^ 
 his policy was deep and highly commendable. To 
 hide tiie aberrations of early life, he sought for, and 
 obtained a Calvintstic mantle of charity which cover- 
 ed a muUilnde of sins. 
 
 Thus reader I hare gfven a faithful narrative, a» 
 far as my recollection will enable me, of transac- 
 tions in wlilcii 1 iiive been concerned, either direct- 
 ly or indirectly, for the period of thirty years past. 
 I am not insensible that there attaches some degree 
 of suspicion of partiality to a narrative when made 
 by the writer in his own behalf This undoubtedly 
 will be the case with mine. The principle of self 
 love imperiously compels us to estimate and exhibit 
 our own conduct, in the fairest point of view ; and in- 
 duces us to hide the dark side of our own history. 
 However much this suspicion may exist, I again call 
 on every one, to detect and make public any unfair- 
 ness whicli may be found ; or even the appearance 
 of partiality. 
 
 Many transactions of my life may bear the aspect 
 of indiscretion, and want of sound calculation; but 
 if one solitary instance can be adduced to show a 
 dereliction from duty, either pubhc or private, let it 
 be brought to liiiht and receive its merited condem- 
 nation. Under these considerations. I submit to the 
 determination of that public, who, I fully believe^ 
 will do me justice. 
 
 My limits do not admit of carrying this "Appeal" 
 any further ai. present. For the sake of brevity, and 
 other reasons, 1 have even omitted some which I had 
 prepared for the press. — 1 therefore submit it as you 
 see it. 
 
 ELMER GUSHING. 
 Stanstead, May 15th, 1821. 
 
 >' : ' i