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The Annals of Canada

COMPILED BY

LIEUT.-COL WM. WHITE, C.M.G.

Deputy Postmaster Ge.ieral of Canada.

NOTE.-These Annals were published in the 'Canadian Monthly and National
Review issued by Messrs. Adani,Stevenson and Company, of Toronto.
The publication of this magazine having been discontinued and no other
convenient medium for their continuance being available the compilation
of these annals ceased.

I ' I • ■

( ■ « I
• ,* • • ■ <
I ■ • (

PREFACE.

THE compilation of these Annals was undertaken with a view to
supplying the Canadian reader with a concise summary of the
leading events in the history of his country.

The work is divided into three parts — the first embracing the
period from the discovery of Canada to the capitulation of Mon-
treal ; the second commencing with the Treaty of Paris and
terminating with the Rebellion of 1837 ; and the third covering the
term from the Union of the Canadas, in 1840, to the Confederation
of the Provinces in 1867.

Leaving, then, for the study of those who have leisure and incli-
nation for poetic fancies, the story of a lost Atlantis and the misty
outlines of the travels of early Norsemen, the reader will be brought
at once to the time from which the history of the settlement of Canada
may be traced with tolerable accuracy. Thenceforward will be found
a simple record of events in the order of their occurrence, comment
being for the most part avoided as foreign to the object of the work,
which is rather to enable the reader to ascertain at once, with ease
and certainty, the date of each occurrence, and the names of the per-
sons and places connected therewith.

In the earlier years the events to be noted are few and far between,
and the reader may perhaps be of opinion that occurrences of too trivial
a character have been recorded ; but it must be borne in mind that the
theatre of action was very limited, and the actors few ; and it may be
hoped that on such grounds the plea for a little extra indulgence on
the part of the public will not be disregarded.

Great care has been taken, by comparison of different authorities,
to secure accuracy in the dates and in the names of persons and
places.

In a work of this kind, brevity is of course indispensable, and,
therefore, as before remarked, the reference to each event will be as
concise as possible. A singular coincidence may be remarked in some
of the events recorded, as for instance, the defeats of Generals Braddock
and the Baron Dieskau, where the regular forces of the two most
powerful nations in Europe were severally defeated by bodies of pro-

PREFACE.

vincial troops, inferior to them in every respect, save one — the ability
to adapt their tactics to the exceptional circumstances of their respective
situations.

Many of the occurrences which took place in connection with
trade and commerce under the old rigime, prove very conclusively
that combinations, or rings, are not by any means a modern invention ;
and it is very doubtful whether any subsequent operator has eclipsed
the Intendant Bigot in the magnitude of his operations.

In military matters, the jealousies between the regular troops from
France and the militia of Canada caused the governors great disquiet,
the Marquis de Vaudreuil being forced to allude -to the effects of
these misunderstandings, even at a time when the safety of the
colony was in jeopardy.

In matters ecclesiastical, human nature asserted itself in our early
history pretty much in the same manner as it does now. M. de Laval,
Bishop of Petrcea, found it impossible to place himself in accord with
the Abbe de Queytus ; whilst the governor, the Viscount d'Argenson,
asserted the supremacy of the State by demanding the place of honor
at ecclesiastical ceremonies, which place M. de Laval stoutly contended
belonged to him as Bishop — a dispute which remained unsettle-:' during
the terms of three governors in succession.

The otory of the early settlement of Canada is full of romantic
incident. In those times there was no thought of converting the
sword into the ploughshare, for the hand which guided the plough
had but too often to defend it with the sword, and the golden sheaves
of harvest were not seldom crimsoned with the blood of the husband-
man. Few, if any, can read without deep interest the simple record
of the travels of the early missionaries, who may well be said to have
carried their lives in their hands, as they fought their way — half-starved,
weary, and foot-sore — through the mighty forests of the New World.

The reader will no doubt discover many omissions, and some inaccu-
racies, in the following pages ; but if the perusal leads him to consuh
those works which treat more fully of the events recorded, and thus
brings him to a better knowledge of the history of his country, the
object of publication will have been fully attained.

WILLIAM WHITE.

Ottawa, Jtmiiarv, /S^j.

THE ANNALS OF CANADA.

PART I.

From 1492 to 1760.

1492. The Bahamas were discovered
by Christopher Cokimbus.

1494. Jacques Cartier born at St.
Malo on 31st December.

1497. John and Sebastian Cabot
sailed in May, under a commission from
king Henry VII. of England, dated 5th
March, 1496, to endeavour to find a
North-west passage to India and China
(Cathay). They sighted Prince Edward
Island on St. John's day, which led to
its being called the Island of St. John.

1498. The Cabots are believed to
have explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence
and a considerable portion of the At-
lantic coast this year.

1500. The coast of Labrador was
visited by Caspar Cortereal.who sailed
from L'sbon.

1501. Gaspar Corttreal, a Portu-
guese, sailed from Lisbon for America a
second time, but was never again heard
from; nor was his brother Michael, who
sailed in 1502 in search of him.

1518. Baron de Lery is said to have
landed on Sable Island, and to have
left some cattle there.

1523. Giovanni Verrazzani, a Floren-
tine navigator, was commissioned by

I Francis I. to undertake a voyage of
I discovery to the New World.

1524. Verrazzani returned to France
but was not very well received, as he
had failed to bring back with him gold,
j valuable merchandize, or any other
' objects of great interest or curiosity.
Verrazzani returned to America the
■ year following. Of his subsequent dis-
coveries and ultimate fate nothing
definite is known, but he is believed to
have been killed by the natives.

1534. JacquesCartier,an experienced

I navigator, having been commissioned
by Francis I. to continue the discover-
ies of Verrazzani, sailed from St.
Maloes on 20th April, coasted the
! greaterpartof the gulf, which he named
j St. Limircncf, and took formal posses-
1 sion of the country in the name of his
' master the king of France. On his
return to France, which he reached on
the 5th September, he took with him
I two of the natives.

I 1535. Cartier left St. Maloes on the
' 19th May, and returned to Canada with
1 three vessels, discovered and named
i the Saguenay, left two of his vessels
at Quebec, and passed up the St.
i Lawrence, through Lake St. Peter, to

1536

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1603

Hochelaga, where he found an Indian
village, which he called Mount Royal,
from the mountain in rear of the
village. Having returned to Quebec,
then named Stadacona, his vessels
were frozen in on 15th November.

1536. On the 5th April, Cartier's
vessels were released from the ice,
and on the 6th May he sailed for France.
As he proceeded slowly, in order to
observe the coasts and islands in the
Gulf, he did not leave Cape Race un»il
the 19th June, and arrived at St. Maloes
on the i6th July.

1640. Cartier arrived at Quebec
from France on 24th August. He
built a small fort near the River St.
Charles, and leaving a garrison there,
returned to France.

1541. Fran9ois de la Roque, Seigneur
de Roberval, who had been commis-
sioned, June 15, 1540, by Francis I., king
of France, as viceroy and lieutenant-
;<eneral in Canada, Hochelaga, &c., left
France on 23rd May, with five vessels,
well manned and equipped, having Car-
tier with him as chief pilot, who landed
on Cape Breton, or on the adjoining
coast of Nova Scotia, where he built a
fort, garrisoned and provisioned it.
Roberval himself proceeded to Quebec,
and thence sailed to France.

1542. Roberval returned from Prance
and, on reaching Newfoundland, met
Cartier, with the garrison left the year
before, on his way back to France.
Roberval, however, persuaded Cartier
and the men of the garrison to return
to the fort where they had passed the
winter, whilst he himself proceeded to
explore the St. Lawrence.

1649. Roberval, accompanied by his
brother and a numerous train of enter-
prising young men, again embarked for
Canada, but they were never afterwards
heard of.

WB. The coast of Labrador was
visited by Sir Martin Frobisher in this
and the two following years.

1583. nth June — SirHumphreyGii-
bert sailed from Plymouth with five
ships, and arrived off Newfoundland
on the nth July, when he proceeded
to take formal possession of the Island
in the name of the Queen of England.
The ship commanded by Sir Humphrey
foundered on the return voyage, and all
on board perished.

1592. Juan de Fuca discovered Van-
couver's Island and gave his name to
the straits between the Island and the
mainland.

1698. I'be marquis de la Roche was
appointed by Henry IV. lieutenant-gen-
eral of Canada, Hochelaga, &c., and
sailed for Canada with about sixty per-
sons, most of whom were landed on
Sable Island where many of them per-
ished miserably. The marquis visited
the neighbouring coast of Nova Scotia
and then returned to France.

1699. Captain Chauvin, a naval
officer upon whom had been conferred
powers similar to those given to the
marquis de la Roche, and M. Ponte-
grav4, visited Tadousac, and estab-
lished a trading post there.

1600-1,2. MM.Chauvin and Ponte-
grave made several voyages to Tadou-
sac during these years, having, in 1602,
associated with them M. de. Chattes,
commandant of Dieppe.

1603. Captain Chauvin died, and a
patent was issued by Henry IV. to
Pierre Dugast, Sieur des Monts, (a
Calvinist) giving him exclusive trading
privileges and powers of government
between the 40th and 46th degrees
of latitude. Des Monts and M. de
Chatte associated with them Samuel
Champlain, who made his first voyage
to Canada in this year.

i6o4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1613

1604. DcB Monts sailed for America
with four vessels, having with him
Pontegrave, Champlain, Pontrincourt,
and Lescarbot. Des Monts landed in
Acadia (Nova Scotia), and attempted
to found a Colony there.

1605. Champlain continued his ex-
ploration of the coasts of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick, and wintered near
the mouth of the river St. John.

1606. ^oi*^ Royal (Annapolis) was
settled by Champlain, who returned
to France this year. Port Royal and
the land in the vicinity were shortly
after granted to Jean de "Biencourt,
baron de Pontrincourt, who was really
the founder of the place.

1607. Champlain and Pontegrav^ are
said to have made a voyage to Tadousac
this year. Pontrincourt returned to
France.

1608. Samuel Champlain left France
in April, entered the St. Lawrence, and
at the junction of the St. Charles with
the St. Lawrence he landed, made a
settlement, and thus, on the 3rd July
1608, laid the foundation of the City
of Quebec, the Capital of New France.

1609. Champlain ascended the St.
Lawrence, and discovered the lake
which now bears his name. On 30th
July he experienced for the first time
the horrors of Indian warfare, having
engaged, with his friendn the Algon-
quins, in a battle with a party of I roquois,
who were defeated and the prisoners
tortured by the Algonquins.

''.609. Champlain having returned
from his excursion to Lake Champlain,
appointed Pierre Chauvin to take
charge of his colony, and sailed in
September for France.

1610. Champlain, accompanied by
M. Pontegrav^, sailed from Harfleur in
April, and reached Tadousac on the

a6th May. He afterwards ascended
the St. Lawrence as far as the River
Richelieu. On returning to Quebec.
Champlain heard of the assasination
of King Henry IV., and, accompanied
by PontegraviJ, immediately sailed for
Prance. Pontrincourt arrived at Port
Royal in June, and on a4th June a large
number of Indians were baptized here
by Josntf Fl^che.

1610. A merchant named Ouy, who
sailed from Bristol, is said to have
landed at Conception Bay, Newfound-
land, and to have founded a colony, or
established a trading post there.

1610. Hudson's Bay was discovered
by the celebrated navigator, Henry
Hudson, who, being sezied by his
mutinous crew, was turned adrift in an
open boat with eight of his men who
remained faithful to him, and was never
afterwards heard of.

1611. Champlain and Pontegravfr
returned to Canada early in the spring.
The former ascended the St. Lawrence
as far as Hochelaga (Montreal), where
he ccMnmenced a settlement on the
Island, which he named St. Helen's in
honor of his wife Helfene Boull^.
Charles de Bourbon, comte de Soissons,
was appointed viceroy of New France,
but, dying shortly after, he was suc-
ceeded in his viceroyalty by Henri,
Prince deCondd, who appointed Cham-
plain his lieutenant.

1612. Champlain does not appear to
have visited Canada during this year,
having, it is said, been detained in
France by the intrigues of certain mer-
chants of St. Maloes. On the 15th
October, Champlain was appointed
lieutenant of the viceroy of New
France.

1613. Champlain sailed from St.
Maloes on 6th March, accompanied by
Pontegrav^, each being in command of

i6i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1618

the ship in which he sailed ; they
reached Quebec on 7th May. During
this season Champlain ascended the
Ottawa River as far as Allumette
Island ; returning to Quebec, he sailed
thence for France, with Pontegrav«5,
about the end of August.— Port Royal
destroyed by Captain (afterwards Sir
Samuel) Argall.— An expedition was
organiited, and a vessel of one hundred
tons fitted out at Honfleur, chiefly at
the cost of the Marquis de Guerche-
ville, under command of M. de
Saussaye, who sailed on 12th March ;
reached La Have on i6th May, and
then proceeded to Penobscot Bay,
where a settlement was made, but at
once broken up by Captain Argall;
most of the party returned to France.

1614. Champlain remained in France,
engaged in forming from the merchants
of vSt. Maloes, Rouen, and Rochelle, a
commercial association for trading with
Canada.

1616. In April Champlain left Har-
rteur with several vessels, bringing
with him four members of the relig-
ious order of RaolUts* (Franciscans),
Fathers Denis, Dolbeau, Le Caron, and
Du Plessis. Champlain, accompanied
by Joseph le Caron, one of the Recollet
fathers, ascended the Ottawa to Matta-
wan; thence passing by Lake Nipissing
and the French River, he entered
the Georgian Hay, and, turning south-
wards, reached the settlements of the
Hurons lying between Lake Simcoe
and Nottawasaga Bay. Champlain
then accompanied his Indian friends,
the Hurons, on an expedition against
the Onondagas. The Hurons, leaving
their settlements near Lake Simcoe,
followed a south-easterly course until
they struck the Otonabee and Trent

rivers, down which they proceeded,
reaching Lake Ontario by the Bay of
Quintt; they then passed to the eastern
end of the lake, which they crossed.
After their disembarkation, the Hurons
advanced upon the Onondaga settle-
ments some eighty miles south of the
lake. The attack was not successful,
and, notwithstanding the assistance
rendered by Champlain and the few
Frenchmen with him, the Hurons were
compelled to retreat. On their return
home, Champlain desired to descend
the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but the
' Hurons be^ng unwilling that he should
! leave them, he accompanied them back
to Lake Simcoe, remaining, however,
some time at Rice Lake, where they
collected fish and game for winter use.
The party reached their settlements on
ijrd December.

1616. Champlain, who had remained
during the winter of 1615-16 with the
Hurons, set out in June with Father
Caron on his return to Quebec, which
was safely reached on the nth July.
After remaining about a month in
Quebec, Champlain and Father Caron
sailed for France.

1617. A family named Hebert accom-
panied Champlain to Quebec. Louis
Hebert, the father of the family, has
been accounted the first emigrant to
Canada, he having come to Canada to
practice agriculture. Champlain re-
turned to France in the autumn.

1618. During the winter of this year
the Indians became disaffected, and
two Frenchmen were murdered at
Three Rivers. A conspiracy was
entered into by the Indians for the
destruction of the colony, but Brother
du Plessis (one of the Recollds) became
aware of what was going on, and con-

•Recollets— Friars Minor of the strict observance order of St. Francis. They originated in Spain.
Introduced into Italy in 1525. They were invited to France in 1592 by Louis de Gonzaque, due de Nevers ;
he first established the;" in the convent des Recollets, and its name thenceforward diutinpuished this
branch of the order of Franciscan friars. -Dict. ui-s Dates.

I6i8

1620

CANADIAN ANNALH.

1627

trivcd to disconcert their plans. Pope
I'aul IV. confided the charge of the
missions in Canada to the Ktcollets of
I'aris.

1920. Henri Prince de Condd sur-
rendered his viceroyalty in favour of
the duke de Montmorency for eleven
thousand crowns. Champlain wascon-
firmed in his post of lieutenant-general
by the new viceroy, and his appoint-
ment and past services were especially
recognized by the king. On this occa-
sion Champlain was .accompanied to
Canada by Madame Champlain, his
wife, and by a number of persons whom
he induced to embark with him with a
view to settling in the country. The
Raolld Fathers laid the foundation
stone of their chapel this year. Lord
Baltimore founded a settlement in
Newfoundland, but shortly left for
Maryland.

1681. The .Association formed for
the purpose of trading with Canada,
^^ as suppressed, and its rights
were conferred upon William and
Emeric de Caen. The first child of
European parents was born at Quebec
on i4th May, being the son of Abraham
Martin and Margaret Langlois. The
boy's name was Eustache. The whole
of Acadia was granted to Sir William
Alexander (afterwards earl of Stirling),
who first gave it the name of Nova
Scotia.

1683. M. Pontegrave returned from
Canada to France, his health being
much impaired. William de Caen
visited Quebec. Fathe"- loseph Caron,
accompanied by Gabriel Segard, went
on a mission to the Huron settlements
near lake Simcoe,to use their influence
in establishing a general pacification
amongst the Indians, and succeeded in
arranging a treaty of peace between
the Hurons, the Iroquois, and Algon-
quins.

1684. Champlain sailed from Quebec
for France «m the 15th August ; he was
accompanied by his wife and two
Kecollet priests. Emeric de Caen was
left in charge of the little colony at
Quebec, now numbering about fift\
souls. A stone fort was erected at
Quebec this year. Henri de Levy.
due de Ventadour, nephew of the kinj;.
purchased the viceroyalty of Canada
from the due de Montmorency. Sir
William Stirling's patent confirmed b\
Charles I., 12th July.

1685. Fathers Charles Lallemant.
Enemonde Masse.and Jean de Brebauf.
of the order of Jesuits, came to Canada
under the auspices of the due de
Ventadour, who took great interest in
promoting the propagation of the Cath-
olic faith. Nicholas Viel, a Kecollet
priest, drowned by the upsetting of a
canoe, at the place now known as the
Saiilt iiu Raolld (Island of Montreal 1.
Baronets of Nova Scotia were created
this year, with certain grants and
privileges, with a view to aid in the
settlement of Nova Scotia.

1686. Champlain returned to Canada
in the summer, accompanied by Father
Caron and M. Boulle. M. de Queylus
arrived at Quebec from Normandy,
having been appointed vicar-general 01
Canada. The French established a
settlement at Placentia bay, Newfound-
land.

168T. 1'^'^ company known as the
"One hundred Associates," was estab-
lished by royal edict dated 29th April.
" for the primary purpose of converting
"the native Indians to the Catholic
" faith," and •' for the purpose of obtain-
"ing for his Majesty's subjects new
"commercial advantages, derivable
"from a better management of the fur
" trade, or fromlthe discovery of a route
"to the Pacific ocean, and to China,
"through the great rivers and lakes of

j627

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1635

♦• New France." This company was
organized under the especial patron-
age and management of Cardinal de
Richelieu, and held New France with
all the privileges of a feudal seigniory
under the king. Louis Hebert, who
may with truth be styled the first Cana-
dian farmer, died this year.

18S8> Champlain received a summons
on the 10th July, from Sir David Kirkt,
demanding the surrender of Quebec to
the English. Champlain having re-
turned a spirited refusal to this demand,
Kirkt relinquished his design for the
time, and occupied himself in cruising
to capture the supplies intended for
Canada. M. de Roquemont, who had
arrived at Gasptf Basin, with a fleet
from France, rashly provoked an action,
and lost his whole fleet.

1629. Father Philibert Nogrot and
Father Charles Lallemant were wrecked
on the Acadian coast on their voyage
from France to Canada with supplies
for Champlain. Louis and Thomas
Kirkt, brothers of Sir David, appeared
off Point Levi early in July. Cham-
plain and Pontegrave, having neither
ammunition nor provisions, were com-
pelled to surrender, and the English
took possession of Quebec on the 19th
July. Champlain, and all who chose to
leave the colony with him, embarked on
board the vessel of Thomas Kirkt on
24th July, and sailed for England, and
thence passed over to France. The
conditions of surrender having been
ratified by Sir David Kirkt, who had
remained at Tadousac, the golden
lilies of France gave place to the red
cross of St. George, and Canada became
an English Colony.

1680. ^>"g Louis Xin. granted a
commission dated nth March, to
Charles de St. Btienne sieur de la
Tour as King's Lieutenant-General in
Acadie and dependencies. Charles

LaTour and his father Claude had
been created baronets of Nova Scotia
in 1629-1630.

1632. The circumstances attending
the capture of Quebec having been
enquired into, it was found that the
surrender did not take place until two
months after peace had been proclaimed
between England and France ; the nego-
tiations which had been entered into
between the two countries, terminated
in the restoration of Canada to the
French crown, and a treaty was signed
at St. Germain-en- Laye on the 29th
March 1632, by which not only Quebec,
but Acadia (Nova Scotia) and Isle
Royale (Cape Breton) were ceded to
France. In pursuance of the stipu-
lations of the above mentioned treaty,
Emeric de Caen, armed with authority
from the government of France, and
furnished with an order under the sign
manual of the king of England, super-
seded Thomas Kirkt in the command
at Quebec, and Canada again came
under the dominion of France on 13th
July 1632.

1633. On ^^^ 23rd May Champlain
landed at Quebec amidst manifestations
of great joy. He brought with him
merchandise, ammunition, and provi-
sions, and lost no time in resuming his
labours for the advancement of the
colony. — Lord Falkland was appointed
Governor of Newfoundland, the English
having maintained possession of this
Island.

1636. Champlain was attacked by
paralysis on loth October, and after
lingering for more than two months,
died on Christmas day, 1635. His
remains were placed in a vault, over
which was built a small chapel, known
as "Champlain Chapel." Father Lalle-
mant, who had been his confessor,
officiated at his funeral. Thus termi-
nated the earthly career of Samuel de

i635

1635

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1647

)f this

fed by
after
|onths,
His
\, over
jcnown
iLalle-
lessor,
lermi-
lel de

Champlain, who, from 1607 to 1635,
may well be said to have been the
mainstay of French power and pro-
gress in North Amcrija. His singular
honesty of purpose, and unswerving
adherence to the truth, gained him
the respect and confidence of his own
countrymen and of all the Indian tribes,

1636. R^n^ Rohault, son of the Mar-
quis de Gamache, gave six thousand
crowns towards the foundation of a
college in Quebec, and the foundation
of the Jesuits' College is said to have
been Laid this year.* On the death of
Champlain, M. Chateaufort assumed
charge of the colony.

1636. M. Charles Hualt de Mont-
magny.who had been appointed Gover-
nor of Canada on the death of Cham-
plain, reached Quebec in May.

1631. An institution was founded by
M. de Sillery, a knight of Malta, for
converted Algonquins. It was situated
near Quebec, and named " Sillery,"
after its founder. Father Le Jeune is
said to have been placed in charge.

1639. The Hotel Dieu, at Quebec,
was founded through the instrumental-
ity of the Duchess d'Aiguillon.

1640. The Ursuline Convent was
founded at Quebec by Madame de la
Peltrie, who came out from Frsince
accompanied by three nuns, who were
to act as nurses for the Hotel Dieu,
and three Ursuline sisters for the con-
vent. A society known as " La Com-
pagnie de Montreal" was founded in
Paris for the promotion of religion in
the colony, and M. de Maisonneuve was
selected to conduct the operations and
preside over the affairs of the company
in Canada. The grant of the greater
part of the Island of Montreal to M.

•By some writers, the date of the foundation is
stated to be two years later, in 1637.

de Maisonneuve and his associates
bears date 17th December, 1640. — The
church and college of the Jesuits at
Quebec was destroyed by fire.

1641. M. de Maisonneuve and his
party arrived at Quebec early in the
season, and, notwithstanding the objec-
tions raised by the Quebec colonists,
proceeded without delay to Hochelaga
(Island of Montreal).

164S. On the 17th May the spot
selected for the site of the town of
" Ville Marie" was consecrated by the
Superior of the Jesuits, and the new
settlement, which was destined in after
times to become the commercial metro-
polis of Canada, started into life.

1643. Jean Nicolet, the discoverer of
the Mississippi, was drowned about the
end of October by the upsetting of a
canoe going from Quebec to Sillery.

1644. The grant of the Island of
Montreal to the Seminary of St. Sulpice
was confirmed by the King on the 13th
February. Wheat was first sown in
Canada this year.

1645. M. Maisonneuve returned to
France, on account of the death of his
father, and to obtain supplies and
assistance for hiscolony at Ville Marie.
Father Jerome Lallemant returned
from the country of the Hurons, and
was elected on the i6th September
Superior of the Jesuits.

1646. 16th March— The chapel of the
Hotel Dieu at Quebec was blessed by
Father Vimont. The Jesuit Father
Isaac Jogues was murdered by the
Iroquois who were very troublesome
to the settlers at this time.

1647. The church at Sillery was
blessed on the 8th May. M. Louis
D'Aillebout de Coulonge, who had some
time before been commandant at Three
Rivers, was appointed Governor of Can-

i647

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1659

ada in succession to M. de Montmagny,
whose term of office had expired. —
La Tour's fort at St. John was taken
by M. d'Aulnay de Charnisy, the gar-
rison hanged, and Madame La Tour,
who had defended the fort in her hus-
band's absence, died of grief shortly
after.

1648. August 2oth.— M. D'Aillebout
arrived at Quebec from France to
assume the Government of Canada. —
Father Anthony Daniel was tortured
to death by the Iroquois in one of a
series of attacks upon the Huron Set-
tlements ; several hundreds of the
Hurons were put to death during the
onslaughts.* — Sillery was destroyed by
the I roquois. — Large flocks of white
partridges (Tetrao Mutus) visited the
vicinity of Quebec. Twelve hundred
were killed in the course of a month.

1649« A girl, aged sixteen, was exe-
.cuted at Quebec for theft.

1650. The house of the Ursulines at
Quebec was destroyed by fire on the
night of the 30th December.

1661. March 13th— M. D'Aillebout
laid the foundation-stone of the church
at Ste. Anne du Petit Cap (now known
as La bonne Ste. Anne — the Good St.
Anne). — ^Jean de Lauzon was appointed
to succeed M. D'Aillebout as Governor
of Canada on the 17th January, and
landed at Quebec on the 14th October. —
Charles de la Tour appointed Governor
of Acadia, by Louis XIIL

1652. November 12th —MM. St.
Denis and Gaillarbois were killed by
the Indians at Cap de la Madeleine. —
M. du Plessis and eight other French-
men were also murdered by the Iroquois.

* These repeated onslaughts almost annihilated
the Hurons ; the remnant of the tribe sought aid
from the Missionaries, and were established near
Quebec, where some of their descendants may still
be found.

1653. M. de Maisonneuve, who had
been to France to obtain succour, re-
turned with a reinforcement of 105
men. — The benediction of the Chapel
at the Island of Orleans, near Quebec,
by Father John Lallemant, took place
this year.

1654. Brothers Louis le Bcesme and

N. Liegeois . were murdered by the
Iroquois. — Port Royal taken by the
English i6th August, and Le Borgne
carried prisoner to Boston.

1655. A sanguinary engagement took
place between the Iroquois and the
Fries, in which the power of the latter
was utterly destroyed.

1656. A large part of Acadia was
granted to Sir Thomas Temple and
others by Oliver Cromwell.

1667. The Seminary of St. Sulpice
was founded by the Abb^ Queylus, who
was commissioned for that purpose by
the St. Sulpicians of Paris. — Fran9ois
de Laval, Abb^ de Montigny, who was
born at Laval, Maine, France, 23rd
March, 1622, was consecrated Bishop
of Petroea and appointed Vicar Apos-
tolic for Canada ; Monseigneur de
Laval (a scion of the noble house of
Montmorency) was thus the first Bishop
sent to Canada.

1668. New buildings, consisting of
hospital, choir and church for the Hotel
Dieu, Quebec, were finished, and the
latter consecrated on loth August by
the Abbe de Queylus. — The foundation
of the church of Notre ame de Bonse-
cours in the city of Montreal was laid
by the Soeur Marguerite Bourgeois. —
M. Pierre de Voyer, Vicomte d'Argen-
son, who had been appointed Governor
of Canada in 1657, arrived at Quebec
on nth July, and immediately as-
sumed the reins of government.

1659. The Convent de la Congrega-
tion, at Montreal, was founded by

1 659

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1665

Marguerite Bourgeois. — From this time
the control of the Jesuits over the
clergy of Canada virtually ceased.* —
M. de Laval, the first Bishop who
came to Canada, arrived at Quebec
from France on the i6th June.

1660. M. d'Aillebout died at Mon-
treal on 2ist May. — A grant was made
by the French Government to Captain
Sueve Doublet, of the island of St.
John (now Prince Edward Island).

1661. Pierre du Bois, Baron d'Avau-
gour, succeeded Vicomte d'Argenson
as Governor of Canada.

1662. A large number of emigrants
and a company of regular soldiers ar-
rived from France. — An extraordinary
meteor is said to have been seen both
in Quebec and Montreal.

1663. A violent shock of earthquake
was felt throughout Canada and parts
of the New England States on the 5th
February. — The Chevalier Augustin
de Saffray Mesy arrived at Quebec on
15th September, and assumed the reins
of government in place of the Baron
d'Avaugour, who had been recalled. —
The Seminary of Quebec was founded
by M. de Laval, who had obtained the
formal approval of the King in April,
before sailing with M. de Mesy for
Canada. — The date of the landing of
M. Augustin de Mesy may fairly be
considered to be the date from which
the new rigime commenced. Thence-
forward the decree of 21st March was
to have effect, and Canada was to be
governed by a Supreme Council, con-
sisting of the Governor, the Bishop, the
Royal Intendant, five Councillors, an
Attorney-General and Chief Clerk. — M.
Robert, a Councillor oi State, was the
first Royal Intendant, but it does not
appear that he ever assumed the duties

* M. le Vicomte d'Argenson is stated to have in-
troduced letter! dc cac\tt into France.

of his office. — The year 1663 was not
only memorable on account of the
political changes which took place, but
also on account of the natural phe-
nomena which occurred. On January
7th, and again on the 14th, very bril-
liant mock suns were observed at
Quebec, where, also, on 5th February,
a violent shock of earthquake was felt.
Earthquakes are said to have occurred
frequently from February to August,
1663, and to have extended throughout
Eastern Canada and the New England
States, producing in many places on the
lower St. Lawrence a complete change
of the surface of the valley, elevating
and depressing it, and changing the
beds of the smaller streams.

1664. M. Alexandre de Prouville,
Marquis de Tracy, who had been ap-
pointed Viceroy of all the Colonies of
France, sailed from Rochelle in Feb-
ruary for the West Indies, whence he
was to proceed to Canada on a tour of
inspection of all the French Colonies
in North America.

1665. A comet was visible in Quebec
at Eastertide. — February 24th and Oc-
tober 15th violent shocks of earthquake
were felt at Murray Bay and Tadousac.
— M. de Mesy died at Quebec on 5th of
May. — June 19 — Four companies of the
Carignan regiment arrived at Quebec
— June 30. — The Marquis de Tracy,
Viceroy of the Colonies of France,
arrived at Quebec, accompanied by
four companies of the Carignan regi-
ment. — August 19 — M. de Sali^res,
Colonel of the Carignan regiment, ar-
rived at Quebec with four companies.
The four remaining companies of the
Carignan regiment arrived in Canada
on 20th August. — September 12 — Dan-
iel de R^mi, Sieur de Courcelles, who
had been appointed to succeed M. de
Mesy as Governor, arrived at Quebec,
bringing with him M. de Talon, Royal

i665

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1673

Intendant. — During the autumn of this
year detachments of soldiers were sent
up the country and erected forts at
Sorel, Chambly, and St. Ther^se, posts
on the river Richelieu.

1666« January gth — M.deCourcelles
left Quebec on an expedition against
the Indians, and returned on 17th
March. May 31 — The Marquis de
Tracy laid the foundation-stone of the
Jesuits' Chapel in Quebec, M. de Cour-
celles laid the first stone of the first
chapel, and M. de Talon the first stone
of the second chapel. July nth — The
Cathedral of Quebec was consecrated
by M. de Laval, under whose auspices
it had been built. — A second expedition,
numbering upwards of 600 men, under
the Marquis de Tracy, accompanied by
M. de Courcelles, marched against the
Indians in October. The Indians re-
tired into the forest, declining an
engagement, and the French, having
burned their villages and stores of
provisions, returned to Canada.

166ir> Acadia was restored to France
by the treaty of Breda, made in July.
— The Marquis de Tracy returned to
France in the autumn, having accom-
plished the object of his missioi)| — The
first ball given in Canada took place at
the house of a Mons. Ch artier, on the
4th February, and the pious old Jesuit
who records the fact expresses the fer-
vent •■ - that no evil consequences
™*y —Jean Vincent de St. Cas-

tine, udi'on de St. Castine, settled near
Pentagofit (Penobscot).

1668« Formal cession to France by
King Charles II. of all Acadia, by let-
ters patent, dated in February. — The
Intendant Talon established a brewery
in Quebec.

1669. Charter granted by King
Charles II. of England to the Hudson's
Bay Company.

16T0> A Royal edict was issued by
Louis XIV. for the encouragement of
early marriages amongst his Canadian
subjects. — M . de Courcelles took charge
of an expedition against the Senecas
(Sonnontouans) ; he proceeded as far
as the Bay of Quints, when the Senecas
came to terms and complied with all
his demands. — Although Acadia was
formally ceded to France in 1668, pos
session was not given until 1670, when
the following places were surrendered :
Pentagoet, St. John, Gemisick (now
Jemseg, on the St. John river). Port
Royal, Lah^ve, and Cape Sable. The
surrender was made by Sir Thomas
Temple to Hubert d'Audigny, cheva-
lier de Grand-fontaine.

1671. Madame de la Peltrie (who
founded the Ursuline Convent at Que-
bec) died in November. — M. de Lusson
made a treaty with the North-Western
Indians at the Falls of St. Mary (Sault
Ste. Marie).

1672. Louis de la Buade, Count de
Paluan and de Frontenac, was ap-
pointed to succeed M. de Courcelles as
Governor of Canada : his commission
bearing date 7th April. September
i2th — M. de Courcelles, accompanied
by the Intendant de Talon, sailed from
Quebec for France.— By a decree, da-
ted at St. Germain-en- Laye, 4th June,
and signed by the Queen Marie Therfese,
the Intendant Talon was authorized to
frame police regulations and to appoint
Judges both in Canada and Acadia. —
Joliet, accompanied by a priest named
Marquette, penetrated, in December,
as far as Michilimakinac.

1613. The corner-stone of the
Church of Notre Dame de Bonsecours
was laid this year. The erection of
this church had been delayed since
1658, when the foundation was laid.—
Fort Frontenac (now Kingston) was

i673

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1682

built and garrisoned under the orders
of the new Governor. — Joliet and Mar-
quette, passing by way of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers, reached the Missis-
sippi on 17th June, and descended as
far as the confluence of the Arkansas.
—With a view to check the trade which
had sprung up between the Indians
and the Coureurs des Bois, a decree
was issued by the King, dated from
the camp at Vossen, between Brussels
and Louvain, on 15th June, forbidding
any Frenchman to remain in the woods
more than twenty-four hours without
leave from the Governor.

1674. By a decree issued at St. Ger-
main-en- Laye, Louis XIV. resumed
the powers and privileges granted to
the West India Company, and the
trade with Canada thus became open
to all his Majesty's subjects. — Canada
was made an Episcopal See, and M. de
Laval, titularbishop of Petrcea, became
the first bishop of Quebec* — Sir
Thomas Temple died.

1675. A royal edict, dated 5th June,
confirmed the establishment of the
Sovereign Council, which was to be
composed of the Governor, M. de
Laval, recently appointed Bishop of
Quebec, or, in his absence, the Grand
Vicar; the Intendant, and seven other
Councillors. — The Church of Notre
Dame de Bonsecours, at Montreal, was
finished, and the first mass said therein
on the feast of the Assomption.

1676. An edict of the king was
issued in April confirming the arrange-
ment made by the Bishop of Quebec
for the affiliation of the Seminary of
Quebec with that of Paris. — M. de
Chambly appointed Governor of Aca-
dia, subject, however, to the Governor
of Canada.

* Those who desire a more intimate acquaintance
with the character of M. de Laval, cannot do better
than consult " The OU Regime in Canada," recently
published by Francis Parkman.

1677. The Indian chief Garaconthift,
who had been a firm ally of the
French, died this year. — La Salle
visited France to obtain authority to
prosecute his researches in the western
part of the continent.

1678. La Salle returned from France,
and passing by way of Lake Erie in
the Griffon, built above Niagara Falls,
he founded a settlement by himself
at Detroit ; proceeding thence to the
Straits of Mackinaw (Michilimakinac),
sailed across to Green Bay, and thence
to the River St. Joseph, where he es-
tablished Fort Miami. — Several of the
Recollet Fathers returned to Canada
under the patronage of the Intendant
Talon, and much to the annoyance of
M. de Laval, whose authority they
slighted.

1679. By an edict of the 7th May, it
was forbidden to arrest or imprison any
person except by order of the Gover-
nor, or of the Sovereign Council. — An
attempt was made this year to estab-
lish a parochial clergy, vesting the
power of appointment in the Seigneurs;
but, owing to the determined opposition
of the Bishop, the attempt was not
successful,

1680. A great meeting was held at
Montreal and negotiations were car-
ried on between the Count de Frontenac
and the Iroquois chiefs, with a view to
a better understanding between the
French and the Indians; but the re-
lations between the Cantons and the
French Colony remained on the same
uncertain footing up to the time of
Frontenac's recall in 1682-

1682. M. Lefebvre de la Barre was
appointed to succeed the Count de
Frontenac as Governor of Canada ; de
Frontenac having been recalled owing
to the difficulties which arose in carry-
ing on the Government nom the
Governor's irritable temper. — M. de

1 683

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1690

M uelles was at the same time appointed
Intendant. — A great fire occurred in
Quebec, by which nearly all the build-
ings in the lower town were consumed.
— La Salle arrived on the Mississippi
from Canada on and February, and con-
ducted an expedition down the river.
He claimed the entire valley for the
French King, and named it Louisiana
in his honour. La Salle was accompa-
nied on this expedition by a priest
named Hennepin.

1684. An expedition against the In-
dians was undertaken by the Governor
de la Barre, but it ended in a complete
failure ; the indecision and want of
skill on the part of the Governor alien-
ated the feelings of the Indians who
had hitherto been friendly to the
French. — M. de la Vallifere appointed
to command in Acadia, M.de Chambly
having gone to Grenada, of which
island he had been named Governor.
M. de la Vallifere seems to have been
succeeded in a short time by M. Perrot.

1686< M.de la Barre was superseded
on the result of his expedition against
the Indians becoming known in France,
and was succeeded by Jacques R4n$ de
Brisay, Marquis de Denonville, a
cavalry officer of some reputation in
the French service. — Six hundred regu-
lar troops arrived from France to
strengthen the garrisons in Canada.

1686. The Island of St. John (Prince
Edward), the Magdalens, and Isle
Koyale (Cape Breton), were granted by
Louis XIV. to Gabriel Gautier, by pa-
tent dated in May, 1686. — By the treaty
between France and England, dated
1 6th November, it was stipulated that
if hostilities should break out between
the two Crowns in Europe, peace should
not thereby be broken in America. —
The Ursuline Convent at Quebec, which
had been rebuilt after the fire of 1650,
was again destroyed by fire.

1681. M. de Menneval appointed
Governor of Acadia in place of M.
Perrot; his government to extend from
Cape Gasp^, to the river Kennebec.
By commission dated i6th March, he
is directed to reside at Port Royal,
and to give particular attention to the
christianizing of the Indians. — M. de
Denonville, having assembled at Mont-
real a mixed force of upwards of two
thousand men, marched up the St.
Lawrence, crossed Lake Ontario near
the mouth of the Genessee, where he
erected a fort, and proceeded to the
settlements of the Senecas, who, being
defeated in the action which ensued,
retired into the woods. The French,
having destroyed the provisions and
growing crops of the Senecas, retired.
The marquis established a fort near
Niagara Falls, and, having left a gar-
rison there, returned to Montreal. — ■
Chevalier de Vaudreuil arrived in Que-
bec with a reinforcement of eight
hundred men.

1688. Sieur de Goutins appointed
tcrivain du rot in Acadia. — Sir Edmond
Andros, governor of New England,
landed at Pentago6t (Penobscot), and
pillaged the residence of the Baron de
Castine. — M. de la Vallifere succeeded
M. de Laval as Bishop of Quebec.

1689. The Indians attacked the
Inland of Montreal on 6th August, and
nearly destroyed the settlement; hun-
dreds of persons were cruelly massa-
cred. The want of success in his
operations against the Indians on the
part of M. de Denonville, led, as in the
case of M. de la Barre, to his recall,
and he was succeeded by the Count de
Frontenac, who arrived at Quebec on
the i8th October, accompanied by M.
de Calliferes.

1690. A party of French Canadians
and Indians commanded by M. Le
Moyne de St. Helfene, attacked Corlaer

i6go

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1692

(Schenectady) during the night of Feb-
ruary i8th, and surprising the inhabit-
ants in their sleep, ruthlessly murdered
about sixty, and carrying off as many
more ; with the cattle and other spoil,
which they hurriedly gathered together,
they returned to Canada. Many strag-
glers were, however, cut off by the
infuriated settlers, who collected and
harassed the retiring party. — A second
expedition started from Three Rivers
under Francois Hertel, who, following
the St. Francis and Connecticut rivers,
arrived at Salmon Falls (Portsmouth,
New Hampshire), on 27th March, where
a tragedy similar t„. that of Corlaer
was enacted ; some thirty persons were
murdered, and a number carried away
as prisoners ; the houses, cattle, and
stores were destroyed by fire. — A third
party under M. de Portneuf penetrated
to Casco, on Casco Bay, Maine, and,
after a slight resistance, captured the
forts. They then burned the habi-
tations and demolished the defences,
and taking the survivors with them,
retreated to Quebec. In this attack
the English colonists lost about thirty
men, the French two. Mr. Nelson,
who had been appointed English Gov-
ernor of Nova Scotia, was taken prisoner
by M. Villebon and sent to Quebec.
These expeditions were organized by
Count Frontenac with a view to raise
the character of the French in the
estimation of the Iroquois, the frequent
defeats sustained by the Canadians
under M. de la Barre and the Marquis
de Denonville having completely des-
troyed the prestige they had acquired
during the administration of M. de
Courcelle. — Sir William Phipps, gover-
nor of Massachusetts, appeared off
Quebec on the 16th October with a fleet
and a body of troops under Major
Walley and demanded the surrender
of Quebec. Count Frontenac returned
an indignant refusual, and Sir William

opened fire upon the city. The troops
landed on the i8th, but after two days
fighting, (during which M. de Sainte
Helfene was mortally wounded) the
English came to the conclusion to
abandon the attempt ; the troops were
therefore re-embarked, and the fleet
returned to Boston. Great rejoicing
took place after the departure of the
fleet, and a new church, Notre Dame de
la Victoire, was erected in honor of the
victory.* Annapolis, then cafled Port
Royal, was captured by the English
under Sir William Phipps. In May.
M. de Menneval, the Governor, and the
whole garrison (about 40 men) were
taken prisoners, and the settlement was
pillaged. The Chevalier de Villebon
arrived at Port Royal on 14th June, and
learning what had taken place, he with-
drew to Gemisick (Jemseg) and pro-
ceeded thence to Quebec. Commis-
sioners from the English Colonies met
at New York on ist May to concert
measures for joint attack on the French
possessions. A deputation was sent to
London to solicit naval and military co-
operation.

1691. The Indians assembled in force
at the confluence of the Ottawa and St.
Lawrence above Montreal, and from
thence threatened the settlements,
treating with the greatest cruelty such
of the inhabitants as fell into their
hands.

1692> The Grey Nunnery at Mon-
treal was founded this year. — Early in
the spring Colonel Schuyler of New
York invaded Canada at the head of a
considerable body of colonial militia
and Indians; he wa^, however, met and
defeated by a force under M. de Var-
ennes. — The defences of Quebec were
greatly improved and strengthened this

* A medal was struck by the King of France,
bearing the words " Francia in novo orbe victrix
Kebeca liberata, A. D., M.D.C.X.C."

«3

r^ff^

1692

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1698

year, and the St. Louis and St. John
gates were built. — An edict of the king
was issued in March authorizing the
establishment of a general hospital at
Quebec, and also confirming the estab-
lishment of the Recollets.

1692. Sir William Phipps dispatched
an expedition to Nachouac (now Nash-
waak) up the St. John river to capture
Villebon, but finding the French were
prepared* the attack was abandoned.
— A fort was erected at Pemaquid by
Sir William Phipps, under instructions
from the English government.

1693> Frontenac led an attack
against the Iroquois early in the season.
— This year the court called Justice
Royale was established at Montreal.
It was a court having both criminal
and civil jurisdiction, and was sanc-
tioned by an edict dated March, 1693.

1694. The Indians having suffered
very severely from the incursions of the
French in 1693, sent emissaries to
Quebec and Montreal to negociate a
treaty.

1695. Fort Frontenac was reestab-
lished and garrisoned.

1696. M. de Frontenac having fixed
upon Isle Perrot as the place of rendez-
vous, ordered all the forces of the col-
ony to assemble there, and having
collected some two thousand three
hundred men, left on 7th July to attack
the Indian settlements on the south
side of Lake Ontario. Having de-
stroyed the villages of the Onondagas
and Oneidas, the governor suddenly
decided, notwithstanding the remon-
strances of his lieutenants de Calli^re,
de Ramezay, and de Vaudreuil, to re-
turn to Montreal. It was upon this
occasion that the French captured a
very old man,* the only person left in
the settlement, and handed him over to

their Indian allies to be tortured, a fate
which he bore with the greatest forti-
tude.

1696. M. d'Iberville captured the
English fort at Pemaquid which was
demolished, The English settlements
in Newfoundland were attacked by a
French squadron of six men of war.
The English man of war. Sapphire, was
destroyed by her captain (Cleasby) to
prevent her falling into the hands of
the French, who made prisoners of the
crew, and inflicted great injury on the
settlements. — Major Benjamin Church,
commissioned by Lieutenant-Governor
Stoughton of Massachusetts, embarked
at Boston, and proceeded to Beaubassin
(Chignecto) which he completely de-
stroyed. This expedition, having been
joined by Colonel Haythorne, who as-
sumed the command, then ascended the
St. John river and attacked Villebon at
Nachouac, but was repulsed.

1697. By the treaty of Ryswick,
ratified by King William III. on 25th
September, 1697, France was confirmed
in the possession of Canada and
Acadia. — A French fleet under the
Marquis of Nesmond was sent from
Brest to attack the English settlements
in Newfoundland and New England,
but not arriving at Placentia until 27th
July, the design was abondoned. —
Governor Bradstreet, of Massachusetts,
died at Salem on 27th March, aged 94.
— Sir John Gibson was dispatched to
Newfoundland with large reinforce-
ments.

1698. Fort William, at the harbour
of St. John, Newfoundland, was built
by Sir John Gibson. — In May, Lord
Bellamont, then governor of New York
and Massachusetts, sent Colonel Schuy-
ler on a mission to Count Frontenac,
informing the latter of the conclusion

** Stated to have been nearly loo years of age.

1698

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1 701

of peace, and proposing an exchange
of prisoners. Owing to a misunder-
standing which arose, this mission led
to a controversy which Count Frontenac
did not live to see the end of. Count
Frontenac died, after a few days illness,
at Quebec, on 28th November; his
remains were interred in the Church of
the RecoUets, at Quebec. On the death
of Count Frontenac, he was succeeded
by M. Louis Hector de Callibre, who
was at that time commandant at Mon-
treal.*

1100. M. de Fontenn sent by the
King of France to report on the state
of affairs in Acadia. He advised the
king to abandon the forts on the river
St. John, (at Nachouac and St. John)
and to make Port Royal the head-
quarters of the government. — Captain
JohnAlden,in a memorial addressed to
his excellency the Earl of Bellamont,
then governor of New York, claims the
St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay
to be the boundary between the French

* [The following paragraph and notes were inad-
vertently omitted under their proper dates. It has
been thought well to give them place here before
proceeding to the next century.]

1080. Christmas Day, 163s, was a dark day in
the anaals of New France. In a chamber of the
fort at Quebec, breathless and cold, lay the hardy
frame which war, the wilderness, and the sea had
buffeted so long in vain. After two months and a
half of illness, Champlain, at the age of sixty-eight,
was dead. His last cares were for his colony, and
the succour of its suffering families. Jesuits, officers,
soldiers, traders, and the few settlers of Quebec, fol-
lowed his remains to the Church ; Le Jeune pro-
nounced his eulogy, and the feeble community built
a tomb in his honour.— #Vanci( AirJIrmait.

IflOO. This year should be ever memorable in the
history of Canada for the noble act of self-devotion
of Adam d'Aulac, Sieur des Ormeaux, and his six-
teen brave companions, who met the Iroquois whilst
descending the Ottawa on their way to attack the
settlements at Montreal. D'Aulac had taken pos-
session of a small palisade fort, and he and his
companions, aided by a party of Hurons under
Annahotaha (most of whom, however, deserted
during the Bght and joined the Iroquois) defended

and English possessions.— M. de Ville-
bon,* governor of Acadia, died on 5th
July. He was succeeded by M. de
Bouillon.— The Governor, de Callikre,
sent a deputation composed of MM.
Bruyas (a priest), de Maricourt, and
Joncaire to the Cantons to confer with
the Iroquois, and a kind of preliminary
treaty was entered into at Montreal on
i8th September. — Marguerite de Bour>
geois, who founded the Convent de la
Congregation (Black Nunnery) at Mon-
treal, died at Montreal on i2th January,
in the Both year of her age.

WOl. Towards the end of July,
some fifteen hundred Indians assem-
bled at Montreal, including Abenaquis,
Hurons, Algonquins, Montagnais, and
converted Iroquois, and a grand con-
ference took place, which ended in the
conclusion of a general peace on 4th
August, 1701. Amongst those who
came to attend this gathering, were
Nicholas Perrot, and the famous chief
Kondiaronk (Le Rat), who has been

the post with such persistent vigor, that when
d'Aulac and his companions had all been slain (save
five Hurons who escaped to Montreal), the Iroquois,
dismayed at their losses, returned home, sullen and
dejected.

Ifote to 1666.— Many of the settlements on the
St. Lawrence were named after the officers of the
Carignan regiment— for instance, Berthier, Sorel,
Chambly, Saint Ours, Contrecoeur, Varennes, Ver-
cheres. The greater part of this regiment remained
in Canada. Selgnories were granted to the officers,
and they, in turn, gave lands to their men ; and thus
a chain of military settlements was formed between
Quebec and Montreal.

* M. de Villebon is said, by some wriers, to have
been one of theeleven sons of Charles le Moyne, first
baron de Longueuil. This, however, can hardly be
the case,as Mr. J. M. LeMoine, in " Maple Leaves,"
says the sons were de Longueuil (the younger), d'lber-
ville, de Maricourt, de Serigny, de Bienville, de
Chateauguay, d'Assigny, Jean Baptiste (de Bien-
ville), and Antoine de St. Helene, all, but one who
died young, men of great mark who contributed
largely to the advancement of their country.

x/oi

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1708

•tyled "an Indian only in name" by
those amongst the French who knew
him best.— The Seminary of Quebec
was destroyed by fire on the 15th
November. — A fort was erected at
Detroit this year.— The Earl of Bella-
mont, governor of New York, died at
New York.

ITOS. King William III. died in
March, and Queen Anne ascended the
throne. On 4th May, war was declared
by Great Britain, Germany, and Hol-
land, against France and Spain.

1703. M. de Calli^re died at Quebec
on 26th May. On the death of M. de
Calli^re, the colonists petitioned the
king to appoint as his successor, M. de
Vaudreuil, then governor of Montreal,
and his Majesty having been pleased to
accede to this request, Philippe de
Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, became
governor of Canada on ist August, 1703.
—Sir John Leake with an Engli-a fleet,
destroyed three French men of war,
and upwards of thirty merchantmen off"
the coast of Newfoundland. — A decree
was issued at Versailles on 20th March,
cancelling previors grants of lands in
Nova Scotia, to the duke de Venddme
le Borgne, Latour and others, declaring
Acadia reunited to the Royal Domain,
and granting lands to Latour ind others
in lieu of those resumed by the Crown.
— A conference was held by Governor
Dudley, of Massachusetts, with the
Indians of Acadia at Casco, where as-
surances of peace and friendship were
mutually given, but, in less than two
months, these same Indians attacked
the English settlements all along the
frontier, with their usual ferocity.—
Francois de Laval de Montmorency,
Abbrf de Montigny, who was sent to
Canada in 1659 to preside over the
church in Canada, with the rank of
Vicar Apostolic, and who subsequently
became Bishop of Petrcea, and later

first Bishop of Quebec, which dignity
he resigned in 1688, died at Quebec at
the advanced age of 86."* — M. de Beau>
harnois was appointed Royal Intendant
in place of M. de Champigny.

1104. In May an expedition left
Boston to scour the coasts of the Bay
of Fundy and Basin of Mines, under
Colonel Benjamin Church, who finished
by landing at Beaubassin (Chignecto),
which he destroyed. — Peregrine White,
the first child born in the Plymouth
Colony, died on 20th July, aged 83 years.
His descendants are said to have re-
moved with other loyalists to the County
of Shelbourne, Nova Scotia. — The
Bishop of Quebec, (Jean Baptiste de la
Croix de St. Valier), whilst on his way
from France to Canada in La Seiner
a French frigate, was captured by the
English, and carried a prisoner to
England.

1T07. The English Colonies sent a
large force to attack Port Royal, (An-
napolis), by sea and land ; the attack
failed, but the beseiged, commanded by
Subercase, assisted by de Castin, were
very hard pressed, and had great diffi-
culty in maintaining the place.

1708. Deerfield and Haverhill, in
New England, were destroyed by an
expedition from Canada, under de
Chaillons and Hertel de Rouville, and
many of the inhabitants were massa-
cred.

* Francois Xavier de Laval-Montmorency, AbM
de Montigny, born at Laval, Maine, France, 23rd
March, 163a— a descendant of (he great Constable
of France, Anne de Montmorency — trained under
the immediate superintendence of BernieresdeLou-
vigny at the well-known " Hermitage" at Caen, was
the man selected by le Jeune as a fit ruler for the
Church in Canada, and the choice did credit to the
sagacity of the learned Jesuit. Laval was a man
bom to rule ; his proud, imperious nature could
brook no superior (and whilstin Canada he certainly
never acknowledged one). He was consecrated
Bishop of Petroea, and appointed Vicar-Apostolic
for Canada. M, de Laval was thus the first Bishop>
sent to Canada.

1708

1709

CANADIAN ANNALS.

I718

ITOB. St. John's, Newfoundland,
captured by M. de St. Ovide, who
commanded the French post at Pla-
centia. Carbonnear was thus the only
place in the Island still occupied by
the British.

1710. The New England States
again invested Port Royal, which, after
holding out for about three weeks,
capitulated on i6th October. The
name of the place was then changed to
Annapolis. Port Royal was defended
on this occasion, as in 1707, by Suber-
case and the Baron de St. Castin ; the
English were under the command of
Francis Nicholson, as general, with
Colonel Vetch as adjutant - general.
After the surrender. Vetch remained
in command with a garrison of marines
and New England volunteers.

1711. Sir Hovendon Walker sailed
from Boston in command of a large
fleet, and numerous transports, having
on board 4,000 men, destined to operate
against Canada, but owing to the
damage sustained by the fleet by a
heavy storm at sea, the expedition was
abandoned, and General Nicholson, who
had left New York at the head of an
army intended to co-operate with
Admiral Walker, returned to New
York without firing a shot.

1718. A rumour having spread
abroad thai another attack was about
to be made on Quebec, the merchants
raised a subscription amounting to
5c,ooo crowns, which sum they pre-
sented to the Governor to aid him in
his preparations of the defence of the
city. — Michel Btfgon de la Picardi^re
became Intendant of Canada.

1713. On nth April, 1713, a treaty
of peace was signed at Utrecht,
between Queen Anne and Louis XIV.,
by which the French King surrendered
to Great Britain, all claim to Hudson's

Bay, Acadia, (Nova Scotia), and New-
foundland. Cape Breton was still to
belong to France. General N icholson*
was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia,
and Colonel John Moody Governor of
Newfoundland.

1714. Queen Anne died on ist
August, and was succeeded by George,
Elector of Hanover, who became George
I. of England.— M. de Mornay appoint-
ed coadjutor to the Bishop of Quebec.
— M. de Vaudreuil went to France on
leave of absence : M. de Rameiay ad-
ministered the affairs of the colony
during the absence of the governor.

1716. Louis XIV., King of France
and Navarre, died ist September, after
a reign of over seventy years, having
ascended the throne on the 14th May,
1643. He was succeeded by his grand-
son Louis XV., born 15th February,
1710. — Phillippe, duke of Orleans, be-
came regent.

1716. M. de Vaudreuil returned to
Canada.

1717. An edict was issued by the
king on the i2th January, establishing
a Court of Admiralty for Canada. —
Benjamin Church, who had frequently
commanded expeditions against the
French settlements in Acadia, died,
aged 78. — Colonel Richard Phillipps
was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia
and Newfoundland ; his commission,
however, bears date 9th July, 1719.

1718. Ginseng, {Aralia quinquefolia),
was discovered in Canada by the
Jesuit Lafitau. This plant has at
times become a valuable export from

* Francis Nicholson who had been Lieutenant-
Governor of New York, Virginia and Maryland in
succession, and finally Governoi in chief of Virginia,
subsequently became GoTernor of Nora Scotia
(1713), and South Carolina (1731). It is very doubt-
ful if any other person ever filled the ofice of gover-
nor in so many different place*.

»7

I7I8

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1725

Canada, but the distance of the only
market (China), and the conaequent
uncertainty attending the trade, led to
it! abandonment.

lilt. Colonel Oledhill waa appointed
lieutenant-governor of Placentia in
place of Colonel Moody.

1180 Charlevoix visited Canada,
and travelled as tar as Lake St. Clair;
from his glowing description of the
climate, the scenery, and the attrac*
tions of Canadian society, he would
seem to have been highly pleased with
his visit.— The fortifications at Louis-
burg, Cape Breton, were completed at
a cost of a million and a half sterling.
Louisburg at this time traded largely
in coal, fish and lumber with the West
Indies. — Improvements were commen-
ced in the fortifications at Montreal
and Quebec, under the superintendence
of M. Gaspard Chaussegros de Liry,
the expense being defrayed by an as-
sessment upon the inhabitants of the two
cities. — Governor Phillipps* arrived
from Boston at Annapolis Royal, in the
middle of April. — Canso attacked and
plundered by the Indians on 7th
August ; loss estimated at ^C 20,000.

17S1. Baron de St. Castin, who was
recognized by the Abenaquis as their
chief, was taken prisoner by an armed
vessel from Boston. After being kept
for several months in captivity, he was
released on the urgent representations
of M. de Vaudreuil. The capture of
St. Castin was followed by an immediate
attack on the New England settlements
by the Abenaquis, The Jesuit P^re
Rasle was killed by the Americans in

* The Nova Scotia Archives, (published by the
Record Commission, 1869), contain a number of
letters from Governor Phillipps to the Right Honor-
able James Craggs, Secretary of State, in which the
affairs of the colony are discussed with great minute-
r.Mi.

one of the attacks upon the Abenaquis.
—Mails were regularly conveyed be-
tween Montreal and Quebec for the first
time.

ItW* Canada was divided, (with the
assent of the duke of Orleans, then
regent of France), into eighty-two
parishes.- Governor Phillipps writes
from Canso to the Board of Trade at
Whitehall, that he has been drawn
into a war with the Indians.

11S8. The duke of Orleans, regent
of France, died 22nd November. — As
an indication of the great impetus
which the long peace had given to the
commerce of Canada, it is stated that
nineteen vessels cleared from Quebec
this year, and eight vessels (including
two men'of-war), were built.

1126< Colonel Schuyler, and three
deputies from New England, went to
Montreal to treat for peace with the
Indian chiefs then assembled in that
city. The conferences were held under
the auspices of M. de Vaudreuil. — The
French man-of-war Le Chameau, having
on board the new Intendant, M. de
Chazel, M. de Louvigny, Governor of
Three Rivers, and many officers,
ecclesiastics and others, was wrecked
at Cape Breton, and all on board lost. —
M. de Mornay succeeded M. de St.
Valier as Bishop of Quebec. — Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Lawrence Armstrong ap-
pointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova
Scotia on 8th February. — The long and
successful administration of the first
Marquis de Vaudreuil was terminated
by his death on loth October, an event
which caused the deepest sorrow to
the Canadians, by whom the 'marquis
was held in the highest esteem. On
the death of her husband, Madame de
Vaudreuil returned to France. — M.
Btfgon, who had so ably filled the post
of Intendant during the administration
of M. de Vaudreuil, returned to France

1726

CANADIAN ANNALS.

'737

on the death of the marquii. — M. Le
Moyne, Baron de Longueuil, (a Cana-
dian), Governor of Montreal, adminii-
tered the affairs of the colony pending
the appointment of a aucceiior to M.
de Vaudreuil.

1186< Charles, Marquis de Beauhar-
nois, who had been appointed Gover-
nor of Canada on the death of the
Marquis de Vaudreuil, arrived in Que-
bec, accompained by M. Dupuis, who
|M. de Chazel who was first named
having been lost on his passage to
Canada), succeeded M. Btfgonas Inten-
dant. — A treaty of peace was made at
Boston, (called Dummer's treaty) on
15th December, 1725, between the
Indians of Nova Scotia and New Eng-
land, and the governments of the New
England States and Nova Scotia.
This treaty was signed by the Nova
Scctia Council and the Indian chiefs,
at Annapolis, on 4th June, 1736. — ^John
Doucett, Lieutenant-Governor of the
fort at Annapolis, died on 19th Novem-
ber.

1787. King George I. died on Sun-
day, nth June, and was succeeded by
his son, George II.— Lieutenant Otho
Hamilton was appointed secretary to
the council in Nova Scotia on a8th

July-

1788. David Dunbar, surveyor-gen-
eral of His Majesty's woods in America,
was, by commission from the Lords of
the Treasury, dated Whitehall, May 9,
1728, appointed surveyor-general of His
Majesty's lands within the Province of
Nova Scotia, and to mark out and set
apart, for masts and timber for the use
of the Royal Navy, 200,000 acres.

1789. Governor Phillipps arrived at
Annapolis Royal from England, (having
spent some weeks at Canso on his way),
on 2oth November.

1731. Governor Phillipps left Anna-
polis for England on a7th August, 173 1,

to arrange certain affairs connected
with the regiment of which he was
colonel. Lieutenant-Governor Arm*
strong assumed the government on the
departure of General Philipps.— The
French erected a strong fort on Lake
Champlain,* at a point afterwards
known as Crown Point.

1733. M. Pierre Herman Dosquet,
Bishop of Samos, coadjutor to the
Bishop of Quebec, superseded M. de
Mornay in the Bishopric of Quebec.

1734. Bishop Dosquet visited Canada,
but returned to France the same year.

1736. Lieutenant-Governor Arm-
strong, writing from Annapolis in Sep-
tember, says that he has nine effective
companies for the defence of Nova
Scotia, and that there is one more
company stationed at Placentia. —
Colonel Gledhill, Lieutenant-Governor
of Placentia, Newfoundland, died, and
was succeeded by Major Henry Cope.

1737. Isaac Provender, a lad of ten
or eleven years of age, was arrested for
setting fire, on the 19th of April, to the
house of his master, Lieutenant
Amherst, at Annapolis ; the house and
contents were entirely consumed. The
care is mentioned as the deliberations of
the Lieutenant-Governor (Armstrong)
and his council shew with what care,
even in the earliest days of the colony,
justice was administered; the decision
arrived at being, that as the boy was
within the years of discretion, they
could not proceed against him. — A
commission was appointed by the Board
of Trade to settle the boundaries be-
tween Massachusetts Bay and New
Hampshire ; the Nova Scotia members
of the commission sailed for Hampton,
where the commission was to sit, on
3rd July.

* Fort Frederic, 10 named in honor of Jean
Frederic Pbelippeaui, Count de Maurepat, at that
time Minitter of Marine.

1738

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1745

lT38i The Lieutenant-Governor and
council of Nova Scotia appointed, by
an order dated 13th January, four terms
annually for the trial of causes, viz., the
first Tuesday in March and May, and
the last Tuesday in July and Novem-
ber. On loth June, the council of
Nova Scotia addressed a letter of re-
monstrance to Governor Phillipps (then
in England), giving in detail a list of
the reasons, which, in their opinion,
hindered the advancement of the
Province.

1739. On Thursday, 6th De-
cember, the Lieutenant-Governor of
Nova Scotia, Lieutenant-Colonel Arm-
strong,* was found dead in his bed,
having five wounds in his breast, his
sword lying carelessly by his side. An
inquest was held on the 7th, and a ver-
dict of lunacy rendered. — M. Pourray
de TAuberivibre was appointed Bishop
of Quebec. — On the death of Lieuten-
ant-Governor Armstrong, the govern-
ment of Nova Scotia was assumed by
Mr. John Adams, the senior member of
the council.

1140. M. de I'Auberivifere, Bishop
of Quebec, arrived in Quebec. An
epidemic was raging at the time ; he
caught the infection, and died before
he could take up his duties. — Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Paul Mascarene was ap-
pointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova
Scotia in succession to Lieutenant-
Governor Armstrong. Colonel Mas-
cerene was major of General Phillipps'
regiment, and had been a member of
the Nova Scotia council since 1720. —
A formal declaration of war between
Great Britian and Spain was made on
14th May at Annapolis. — A royal com-

* Lawrence Armstrong wa« Lieutenant-Colonel
of the regiment of General Phillipps, which h«d
been stationed in Nova Scotia for many years. He
was appointed a member of the first council of Nova
Scotia, called by Governor Phillipps at Annapolis
in 1720. He was appointed lieutenant-governor 8th
February, 1725.

mission, dated 4th September, 1740, to
mark out and settle the boundaries be-
tween the Provinces of Massachusetts
Bay and the Colony of Rhode Island,
was issued, and amongst the members
of this commission were included five
members of the council of Nova Scotia.

1141. M. Dubreuil de Pontbriant
was nominated by Benedict XIV. to
succeed M. de I'Auberivi^re, as Bishop
of Quebec.

1742. Lieutenant-Colonel Cosby, who
was li>> utenant-colonel of General Phil-
lipp'i regiment, and lieutenant-governor
of the fort and garrison at Annapolis,
died on 27th December.

1744. M.du Vivier, with a force from
Louisburg, surprised and captured
Canso on 13th May, carried the small
garrison, seventy or eighty men, and
the inhabitants to Louisburg. Canso
was burned, and an English vessel in
port captured. — A proclamation in-
forming the inhabitants of the war be-
tween England and France, was pub-
lished at Annapolis on 15th Tune. — The
Indians attacked Annapolis on ist July,
and on 25th August were joined by Du
Vivier with eight hundred men, chiefly
Indians and militia. Aid was sent to
Annapolis from time to time from Bos-
ton, and after failing in all his attempts
to take the place, Du Vivier retired on
26th September. — War was declared
tween Great Britain and France, by
France on 15th March, and by Great
Britain on gth April. From this date
such laws only were to have force in
Canada, as were duly registered by the
superior council at Quebec ; hence the
French Code Marchand, not having been
registered, was not in force in Canada.
— A shock of earthquake was felt at
Quebec on the i6th May.

1746. An expedition for the conquest
of Cape Breton, under command of
Colonel William Pepperell, sailed from

«o

1745

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1747

)rce m
by the
ce the
g been
nada.
felt at

iquest

nd of

from

Nantasket on 24th March, and arrived
at Canso on 4th April. The land forces
numbered about four thousand men,
being militia from New Hampshire,
Massachusetts and Connecticut ; the
naval part of the expedition amounted
to thirteen armed vessels, carrying
two hundred guns. The principal offi-
cers who accompanied the force, were
Colonel Pepperell, (with local rank of
lieutenant-general), in command. Col-
onels Wolcott, (with local rank of
major-general), Samuel Waldo, John
Bradstreet, Jeremiah Moulton, Mes-
serv^, Gorham, Gridley, and Vaughan
and Captains (naval) Edward Tyng and
Rouse. The expedition reached Louis-
burg on 30th April. On the i8th May,
the Vigilant, a French ship-of-war of
sixty-four guns, commanded by the
Marquis de la MAisonforte, and having
on board stores for the garrison, was
captured by the Mermaid, belonging to
the fleet of Commodore Warren, which,
having followed the expedition to Canso,
was then co-operating with the land
forces. Louisburg capitulated on 15th
June, and the British forces entered the
town on the 17th. The garrison, com-
prising six hundred regular soldiers,
and one thousand three hundred militia,
together with the inhabitants, about
two thousand, were sent to France.
The news of the capture of Louisburg
was received in London with great re-
joicing. Pepperell was made a baronet,
and Commodore Warren a rear admiral.
Commissions as colonels in the regular
service were issued to Governor Shirley,
of Massachusetts, and Pepperell.

1746i Jacques Pierre de Tafifanell
Marquis de la Jonquiere, Admiral of
France, was appointed to succeed the
Marquis de Beauharnois as Governor
of Canada, but was taken prisioner (on
his voyage from France to Canada), by
the British fleet, under Admiral Anson,
in action off Cape Finisterre on the 3rd

May, — The New England troops, who
had been in garrison at Louisburg
since its capture in June, 1745, were
relieved on 24th May by Fuller's and
Warburton's regiments (with part of
Frampton's), which had been des-
patched from England the previou
autumn, and had wintered in Virginia.
M. de Ramezay arrived at Beau-
bassin, from Quebec,, in June, at the
head of six hundred Canadians, with
the intention of organizing an attack
upon Annapolis. The duke d'Auville,.
who had command of the expedition
despatched from Rochelle on 22nd June
for the re-conquest of Cape Breton and
Acadia, arrived at Chibouctou, Halifax,
on loth September, and died there on
17th. He was buried on a small island
(said to be St. George's Island), at the
entrance to the harbour. Vice-Admiral
d'Estournelle, who commanded the
fleet, desired to return to France, but
his views not being acceptable to the
council of war, called on the i8th Sep-
tember to determine the course to be
pursued, he fell on his sword, and died
the next day. The fleet soon afterwards
encountered a storm off Cape Sable,
and was dispersed, and so eventually
returned to France — having suffered
great loss by storms and sickness, with-
out effecting anything. Troops were
sent from Boston in December to the
Basin of Mines, to assist in repelling
the expected attack of de Ramezay.
Colonel Noble commanded ; the force
numbered about four hundred and
seventy men, and were quartered
among the people at Grand Pr^.

n41. On the capture of the Marquis
de la Jonquiere becoming known to the
French Government, Roland Michel
Barrin, Count de la Galisonni^re, was
appointed Governor, ad interim, and.
immediately sailed for Quebec, where he
arrived on September igth.-r-Madame
Youville assumed charge of thev Grey

1747

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1749

Nunnery at Montreal. — M. de Bienville,
under the instructions of the governor,
defined the boundaries between the
French and English possessions, and
marked the line by sinking, at proper
intervals, leaden plates bearing the
Royal Arms of France. — An attack
was made by the French, under com-
mand of M. Coulon de Villiers, before
day-break, on nth February, upon
the English, under Colonel Noble, at
Grand Prk (Horton). Colonel Noble
was aroused from his sleep and killed,
before he had time to dress; four other
officers, and a number of men, variously
estiinated at from seventy to one hun-
dred and forty, were killed, and some
fifty or sixty taken prisoners ; the
remainder of the force, who were en-
trenched in a stone building, renewed
the action the next day, but were com-
pelled to capitulate, being allowed how-
ever, to retain their arms and ammu-
nition on condition that they left for
Annapolis in forty eight hours.

1748> A proclamation of Governor
Shirley of Massachusetts,* dated 21st
October, 1747, was received at Annap-
olis on 12th April, promising the king's
protection to the loyal inhabitants of
Nova Scotia, proscribing, by name,
twelve persons who had been guilty of
treason, and offering a reward for their
apprehension. — A treaty of peace was
signed by France and Great Britain at
Aix-la-Chapelle, on 7th October, by
which Cape Breton (Isle Royale) was
restored to the French Crown. A sum
of ;f 235,749 sterling was voted by Par-
liament to the New England Colonies,
to indemnify them for the expenses in-

* It may, at first sight, appear strange that a pro-
clamation having reference to the affairs of Nova
Scotia, should be issued by the Governor of Massa-
chusetts, but it mutt be borne in mind, that the
possession of Nova Scotia was altogether owing to
the constant aid and support derived from the New
England States.

curred in the conquest of Louisburg.
— Francois Bigot appointed Intendant
of Canada.

1T40> The Marquis de la Jonqui^re.
who had been set at liberty, sailed for
Canada, and relieved the Count de la
Galisonnifere,* who returned to France,
for which he sailed from Quebec on
24th September. — Kalm, the Swedish
naturalist, visited Canada during thi!>
year. — Colonel the Honorable Edward
Cornwallisf was gazetted as Governor
of Nova Scotia on 9th May, and sailed
on 14th. He reached Chebucto (now
Halifax) on 2ist June. A large number
of settlers came out with Colonel Corn-
wallis, and early in July the first pre-
parations were made for a permanent
settlement. On 14th July the new
council was sworn in, and general re-
joicing took place. On i8th July, at a
council held on board His Majesty's
Ship Beaufort, the new settlement was
named Halifax in honour of the Earl o^
Halifax,! t^o President of the Board
of Trade. — The first trial for murder
in Nova Scotia took place at Halifax.
One Peter Carteet had stabbed the
boatswain's mate of the Beaufort man-
of-war, Abraham Goodside by name ;
juries were empanelled on 31st August,

* M.de !a Galissonniire was charged in 1756 with
an expedition to Minorca for the seige of Port
Mahon ; his fleet, on his return, was met by Admiral
Byng's squadron, which he defeated. He died at
Nemonis on a6th October, 1756, on his way to Fon-
tainebltau, where Louis XV. then was.

f The Honourable Edward Cornwallis, was the
son of Charles, third Baron Cornwallis ; he was born
in 1712. He was colonel of the 24th foot, was
Member of Parliament for Eye in 1749, for West-
minster in 17531 afterwards Governor of Gibraltar.
His twin broth. , j^redericK, was Archbishop of
Canterbury.

i George Dunk Montague, Earl of Halifax, was
President of the Board of Trade in 1748, he wa&
subsequently Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, a Lord of
the Admiralty and Secre aryof State. Lord Halifax
died in 1772, when, having no heirs male, the earl-
dom expired.

1749

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1752

a grand jury brought in a true bill, and
on trial before the governor and coun-
cil, who sat as a general court, the
petit jury found him guilty of murder,
and Carteet was hanged accordingly,
under a warrant from the governor, on
13th September.

1750. Commissioners met in Paris
to determine the boundaries of Nova
Scotia. The British commissioners
were William Shirley (Governor of
Massachusetts) and William Mildmay.
The French commissioners were the
Marquis de la Galissonni^re and M.
Etienne de Silhouette. The confer-
ences lasted for three years, but were
practically useless owing to the impos-
sibility of reconciling the conflicting
claims of the two parties. — M. de la
Jonquiere caused a fort (named Fort
KouilltJ, after M. Rouille de Jouy,
then foreign minister at Paris) to be
erected on the site now occupied by the
City of Toronto. — Notwithstanding the
appointment of' a commission to deter-
mine the boundaries of the English and
French possessions in North America, a
feeling of mutual distrust was rapidly
spreading amongst the subjects of both
crowns, and M. de la Jonquifere was
most energetic in devising means of
checking the encroachments of the
English colonists. He strengthened
the post at Detroit, and despatched re-
inforcements to the Alleghanies ; whilst
at the same time the Chevalier de la
Come was instructed to lose no time in
organizing the Acadians, and opposing,
by every means in his power, the ad-
vance of British settlements in Nova
Scotia. The possession of Chignecto
at once became an object of import-
ance to both parties, and whilst La
Come erected a fort at Beausejour,
around which Father Le Loutre* col-

'* Louis Joseph de la t.outre was sent to Canada
the Society of i'UkriKi' Missions at Paris in 1737.

lected his Acadians, Major Lawrence
was despatched from Halifax to
erect a fort on the eastern side of
the Missiguash, afterwards known as
Fort Lawrence. — Sir Danvers Osborne,
Bart.,f arrived at Halifax in the Saltash
sloop on the 33rd August, and was
sworn in as one of His Majesty's Coun-
cil for Nova Scotia on 29th August. —
Edward How was treacherously shot
through the heart by a party of Indians
under Le Loutre, whilst holding parley
with a French officer across the Missi-
guash river (Chignecto).

1751. Count de Raymond succeeded
M. Desherbiers as Governor of Louis-
burg. Dartmouth, (opposite Halifax)
Nova Scotia, attacked by Indians in
May, and, notwithstanding the pre-
sence of a company of rangers, a num-
ber of persons were killed, and others
carried away as prisoners before the
Indians were driven off.

1752. The Marquis de la Jonquifere
died at Quebec on the 17th May, and
Charles le Moyne, Baron de Longueuil,
Governor of Montreal, replaced him
pending the appointment of a successor.
Captain the Marquis Duquesne de
Menneville, an officer of marine, was
appointed to succeed M.de la Jonquiere.
— Two ships laden with wheat were des-
patched from Quebec to Marseilles,

In 1740 he was missionary to the Micmacs in Nova
Scotia. In 1743 he led a body of Abenaqui Indians
in an attack upon Annapolis. De Loutre held the
office of Vicar-General in Acadia, and was a most
determined opponent of British power in America.
After having misled the unfortunate Acadians by
his pernicious counsels, he deserted them at their
greatest need, and went to Quebec, where he found
a very cold reception. He then sailed for France,
but the vessel in which he sailed was captured by the
English, and he was sent a prisoner to Jersey, where
he remained until the conclusion of peace in 1763
when he returned to France.

f Sir Danvers Osborne was M.P. for Bedfordshire
in 1747 ; was appointed Governor of New York in
June, 1753; and died in that province a few days after

liis arrival

1752

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1755

being, in all probability, the first cargoes
of wheat shipped from Canada. —
Peregrine Thomas Hopson, colonel of
the 40th regiment, was sworn in as
Governor of Nova Scotia, on 3rd August,
in place of Governor Cornwallis, who
returned to England. — Lieutenant-Col-
onel the Honourable Robert Monckton
(who afterwards fought at Quebec) was
appointed to command at Chignecto,
(Fort Lawrence).

1T63« Fort Duquesne (on the site of
the modern city of Pittsburg) was built
at the confluence of the Monongahela
and the Alleghany rivers with the Ohio,
by M. de Contrecceur, acting under the
instructions of M. Duquesne. Fort
Venango was also erected at the same
time, at the junction of the Riviere aux
Boeufs with the Alleghany. To coun-
teract the influence of the French, the
English built a fort on the Monongahela,
which was called Fort Necessity, and
was erected under the superintendence
of Lieutenant-Colonel George Wash-
ington.* — A settlement was made at
Lunenburg (Nova Scotia) by a number
of German emigrants, who arrived there
from Halifax on 7th June. — Governor
Hopson sailed from Halifax for England
on 1st November, leaving Charles Law-
rence as Lieutenant-Governor. — The
German settlers at Lunenburg (Nova
Scotia) became so dissatisfied, mainly
owing, no doubt, to their ignorance of
the English laws and language, that
they broke into open rebellion, and
Colonel Monckton was sent down from
Halifax with two hundred regulars to
restore order. The ringleader, Hoff-
man, was arrested, and taken prisoner
to Halifax, when order was soon re-
stored.

* It was whilst engaged in these expeditions
against the French on the Monongahela, that Wash-
ington laid the foundation of that great reputation
as a military commander, which he acquired in after
years.

1T64. Jonathan Belcher appointed
Chief Justice of Nova Scotia.— William
Osgoode, first Chief Justice of Upper
Canada, born in March. — M. de Jum-
onville,* a French officer, was killed on
28th May, in a skirmish near Fort
Duquesne, between a small party of
Canadians under his command, and a
body of Virginia militia under Lieuten-
ant-Colonel George Washington. On
28th June M. de Contrecceur despatched
a force of six hundred French and one
hundred Indians from Fort Duquesne,
under the command of M. de Villiers, to
attack Washington's force wherever it
might be found.— On the 3rd July M.
de Villiers attacked the Virginians,
who had reached Fort Necessity ; after
sustaining the French fire for ten hours,
Washington, having lost ninety men,
was, on 4th July, obliged to surrender.
The garrison were, however, permitted
to march out with the honors of war,
and to return to Virginia with every-
thing but their artillery, which was to
be destroyed by the captors. — The
Church of Notre Dame de Bonsecours
at Montreal was destroyed by fire.

1T55» The Marquis Duquesne, de-
siring to re-enter the naval service, re-
quested his recall, and was succeeded
by Pierre Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-
Cavagnal — Governor of Louisiana —
who was born at Quebec in 1698. — A
large fleet, under Admiral de la Mothe,
sailed from Brest at the end of April,
having on board the new governor, and
upwards of 3000 men under the com-
mand of Major-General the Baron
Dieskau. Admiral Boscawen, with an
English fleet, was despatched to inter-
cept the French fleet, and succeeded

* The circumstance attending the death of Jum-
onville gnve rise to much angry recrimination, it
being held by the French that he was shot whilst
bearing a message under a flag of truce, whilst
Washington explictly denies that any foundation
existed for such a statement.

1755

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1756

bf Jum-

jition, it

whilst

ndation

in taking two men-of-war off Cape Race ;
the remainder of the fleet reached
Quebec in safety in July. — Major-
General Braddock arrived at New
York with reinforcements, and imme-
diately took the field, but met with a
most disastrous repulse on the 9th
of July, whilst advancing on Fort
Duquesne; upwards of sixty British
officers were killed and wounded.
General Braddock received a shot
which passed through his right arm
into his lungs, from the effects of
which he died on the 13th. M. de
Beaujeu, who commanded the French,
was also among the slain. — Colonel
Washington, who was present on this
occasion on the staff of General Brad-
dock, was one of the few officers who
escaped unhurt, and he was thus
enabled to render valuable service in
conducting the retreat of the remnants
of the British force. — Sir William John-
son, who had marched against Crown
Point with a force of militia and a
small body of Indians, was more suc-
cessful, having, on the 8th September,
completely defeated Baron Dieskau,
who was severely wounded and taken
prisoner. — An expedition under Colo-
nels Winslow and Monckton against
the Acadian settlements in the vicinity
of Bale Verte was also attended with
success. Fort Beaus^jour (commanded
by M. Vergor Duchambon) was attacked
by Colonel Monckton, and, after a few
days' resistance, surrendered on the
i6th June. Fort Gaspereaux was taken
by Colonel Winslow on the i8th. The
capture of these forts placed the Aca-
dian population entirely at the mercy
of their conquerors, and, after much
consideration, the council of Nova
Scotia came to the conclusion that
the only safe means of preventing the
return of the Acadian families and
their formation into a compact body
always ready to act adversely to Bri-

tish interests, was to distribute them
amongst the colonies from Georgia to
New England, and this was accordingly
done. Many of the Acadians, however,
with that love of country with which
they were so deeply imbued, found
their way in after years to the land of
their birth, and very many of their
descendants are counted in the present
population of Nova Scotia. — General
Shirley, who, on the death of General
Braddock, succeeded to the command
of the army, was despatched with a
strong force to act against Fort Niagara,
but, after throwing a reinforcement of
seven hundred men into Oswego, he
returned to Albany. — Fort William
Henry was erected by Sir William
Johnson, on the site of his action with
the French under the Baron Dieskau.

1166. The Earl of Loudon* was
appointed Governor of Virginia, and
Commander of the British forces in
America, and the Marquis de Montcalm
to a similar position in Canada. With
the Marquis de Montcalm came the
Chevalier de Levis, M. de Bougainville,
and M. Bourlamaque, ofBcers of dis-
tinguished merit, and troops to the
number of about a thousand. — War was
declared between France and Great
Britain, (on 18th May in London, and
on gth June at Versailles). — Charles
Lawrencef was appointed Captain-

* John Campbell, fourth Earl of Loudon, was born
in 1705 ; succeeded his father in the earldom Novem-
ber 1731. He raised a regiment of Highlanders to
oppose the Pretender in 174; ; became Colonel 01
the 30tli regiment of foot in 1749 ; Colonel of the
60th Royal Americans in 1755; Colonel of a regi-
ment of Foot Guards in 1770 ; and died, unmarried'
on 27th April, i7Hi, aged 77.

+ Charles Lawrence was Major in Warburton's
regiment of foot ; he went to Halifax with the troops
in 1749, and was sworn in as a member of the coun-
cil on 3i8t July of that year, by Governor Cornwallis.
He was gazetted Colonel in 1757, and commanded a
brigade at the siege of Louisburg in 1758. Colonel
Lawrence died, unmarried, at Halifax on iqth Octo-

IP""^

1756

CANADIAN ANNALS.

^757

General and Governor-in-Chief ; and
Robert Monckton Lieutenant-Governor
of Nova Scotia.l by royal commission,
and they were sworn in on 23rd July. —
Fort Oswego, on the River Chouagen,
was invested by the Marquis de Mont-
calm, and after a short resistance, was
taken on the i6th August. Large stores
of ammunition and provisions, one
hundred and twenty-one guns, seven
armed vessels, a large sum of money,
and 1600 prisoners, (chiefly of Shir-
ley's and Pepperell's regiments), fell
into the hands of the enemy. — War
was pub'icly declared against France
in Halifax on gth August.

1157. An expedition, under the Earl
of Loudon and Admiral Holburne, was
despatched against Louisburg, but find-
ing the French had (including the
Indians) a garrison of 10,000 men, and
a fleet of fifteen men-of-war, the expe-
dition was abandoned. Lord Loudon
strengthened the garrisons of Halifax,
and of the forts in the Bay of Fundy,

ber, 1760. He was much respected, and a monument
was erected to his memory in St. Paul's Church,
Halifax, by the Legislature of Nova Scotia.

t The Honorable Robert Monckton was the second
son of the first Viscount Galway, and his wife. Lady
Elizabeth Manners, who was a daughter of the Duke
of Rutland, and a grand-daughter of Lord William
Russel, who was beheaded in 1683. Robert Monck-
ton commenced his military career in Flanders in
1742, and was present at the battle of Dettingcn. He
was sent to Halifax in 1753. He commanded at
the reduction of BeausSjour in 1755. In 1757 he be-
came Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Battalion of
the Royal Americans, and joined the army under
Lord Loudon. He commanded a battalion at the
siege of Louisburg ; and served as Brigadier-General
under Wolfe at the capture of Quebec, when he was
wounded in the lungs ; for these services he was
given the Colonelcy of the 17th regiment. In 1761
Monckton became a Major-General, and shortly
after Governor of New York, from whence he pro-
ceeded in command of the expedition against Mar-
tinico, returning to New York after its capture. The
appointment 01 Governor of Berwick was conferred
upon Monckton in 1766; he was madeaLieutenant-
General in 1770; Governor of Portsmouth (which
place he represented in Parliament) in 1778 ; he died
in 1782.

and returned to New York. — An expe-
dition, under M. de Rigaud, (brother to
M. de Vaudreuil), was despatched to
attack FortWilliam Henry about the end
of February. It was hoped, by making
the attack unexpectedly, the garrison
might be surprised, and forced to sur-
render ; the attempt was, however, a
failure ; and after burning as many of
the outworks, batteaux, palisades, &c.,
as possible, M. de Rigaud returned. —
A second expedition, under M. de
Montcalm, accompanied by De Levis,
De Rigaud, Bourlamaque, and Bougain-
ville, started for Fort William Henry
on 30th July. The attacking force
consisted of 3,000 regulars, about 3,000
Canadian militia, and some 1,700 or
1,800 Indians. The fort was com-
manded by Colonel Monroe, and con-
tained a garrison of about 2,700 men.
Operations were commenced on 4th
August, and after a spirited defence, in
which the besieged lost some 200 men,
a capitulation was agreed upon on the
9th August ; the garrison was to march
out with the honors of war, on condi-
tion that they did not serve again during
the war. The British, having accepted
their terms, started on their march to
Fort Edward, but had barely gone a
mile when they were fallen upon by the
Indians, and a large number most bar-
barously massacred — Garneau says
that nearly 600 reached Fort Edward ;
but as 2,372 surrendered, and only 200
or 300 are claimed to have been car-
ried off by the Indians, (most of whom
were subsequently ransomed by Mont-
calm), and 500 to have succeeded in
getting back into the Fort, there re-
main about 1,000 to be accounted for.
When it became known that Mont-
calm — with a force of 6,000 regulars
and militia on the spot — had permitted
this massacre to be perpetrated under
his very eyes, the deepest indignation
was felt throughout the British Pro-

J_757

Vn expe-
•other to
tched to
It the end
^ making
garrison
d to sur-
wever, a
many of
ides, &c.,
turned. —
r M. de
De Levis,
Bougain-
m Henry
;ing force
30ut 3,000
; 1,700 or
was com-
, and con-
2,700 men.
id on 4th
iefence, in
5 200 men,
pon on the
isto march
on condi-
;ain during
|g accepted
march to
;ly gone a
|pon by the
most bar-
leau says
Edward ;
Id only 200
been car-
of whom
by Mont-
eeded in
there re-
lunted for.
at Mont-
regulars
permitted
ted under
dignation
litish Fro-

1757

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1758

vinces, and the conviction, then rapidly
spreading amongst the leading British
colonists, that, as General Shirley ex-
pressed it, "delenda est Canada" became
stronger than ever. — Major-General
James Abercrombie was appointed com-
mander of the army in North America,
and Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal
American Regiment, (then consisting
of four battalions of 1,000 men each).
Lord Howe, Edward Whitmore, and
Charles Lawrence were made Brig-
adier-Generals for service in America.

1758. On 2oth May a council was
held at the governor's house in Halifax,
at which a plan was adopted for con-
vening a house of representatives of
the inhabitants of the Province, to be
known as the General Assembly of
Nova Scotia ; this Assembly was to
consist of sixteen members, and to meet
in the following October. — On Sunday,
28th May, Admiral Boscawen set sail
from Halifax with a fleet of twenty-
three ships of the line, eighteen frigates,
and one hundred and sixteen transports
and other vessels, for Louisburg,
having on board 12,260 men under
command of General Amherst, (with
whom were Wolfe, Lawrence and Whit-
more, Monckton being left in command
at Halifax.) The fleet anchored in
Gabarus Bay on 2nd June, but owing
to fog and other causes, the troops
were unable to reach the shore until
the 8th, when Wolfe's Brigade efl'ected
a landing — he being one of the first to
plunge into the surf and make for the
shore. The landing was disputed by
the French under Colonel St. Julien,
but was finally effected with a loss to
the British of about no men, killed
wounded, and missing ; the French
loss amounted to upwards of 70 men,
and over 20 guns which had been
placed along the shore to prevent a
landing. — On 28th June, Colonel Mes-

serv^ and his son died of small-pox, to
the great regret of the iorce. Colonel
Messerv^ had under his command a
company of volunteer engineers (chiefly
carpenters), who were of great service
to the attacking force. On yth July
a sortie was made, under Lieutenant-
Colonel Marin ; a party of the 17th
were surprised, and Lord Dundonald
was killed. On 26th July the French
batteries were in a ruinous state ; the
fleet had been captured or destroyed ;
and, further resistance being useless,
M. Drucour, the French commandant,
on petition of the inhabitants, proposed
to surrender. Articles of capitulation
were agreed upon, and on the 27th the
garrison laid down their arms. The
prisoners, including land and sea forces,
numbered 5,637 ; they were sent to
England, and the inhabitants who had
not borne arms were sent to France.
Upwards of 200 cannon, and large
quantities of military stores of various
kinds, fell into the hands of the victors.
The capitulation included the Island
of St. John (Prince Edward Island),
and Lieutenant-Colonel Lord RoUo was
sent to take possession. — Whilst victory
perched on the standard of General
Amherst, a far different fate befel
General Abercrombie, who embarked,
on the 5th July, on Lake George, to
attack Carillon (Ticonderoga) with a
force of 6,367 regulars and 9,024 Pro-
vincial militia. Montcalm, who com-
manded the French, had a force of
about 3,800 men (nearly 3,000 regulars).
The first attack was made on the 6th,
when Lord Howe was killed, and the
British repulsed. On the 8th the prin-
cipal action took place with a loss to
the English of nearly 2,000 men, killed
and wounded, after which Abercrombie
retired to the head of Lake George. —
Learning that the troops had been
withdrawn from Fort Frontenac Gen-
eral Abercrombie despatched Colonel

1758

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1759

Bradstreet with a large force to sur-
prise that important post. Bradstreet
reached FortFrontenacon 25th August,
compelled the small garrison to sur-
render, and destroyed the place, to-
gether with a number of small vessels
which had been sent there after the
capture of Oswego. — Towards the close
of the year, Fort Duquesne, which had
been attacked by General Forbes, was
abandoned by M. de Ligneris, and
completely destroyed by the British
force, who gave the name of Pittsburg
to the place. — When the details of the
operations of the British forces in
America reached England, General
Abercrombie was at once superseded,
and Major-General Jeffry Amherst*
was appointed to the chief command
of the British troops in North America.
— The first General Assembly of Nova
Scotia met for the first time in the
Court House in Halifax, on Monday,
2nd October, and elected Robert Sand-
erson their speaker. The session lasted
until 2ist December.

1759. M. de Bougainville arrived at
Quebec from France on 14th May,
bringing with him the grand cross of
the order of St. Louis for M. de Vaud-
reuil, and promotions and honors of
various degrees for those who had dis-
tinguished themselves in the campaign
of the previous year. In addition to
honors and rewards, however, M. de
Bougainville brought the alarming in-
telligence that the British Government
was making every preparation for send-
ing a large force to act directly against
Quebec. — A council of war was called,

*' Jeffry Amherst was born on 2gth January, 1717 ;
he was the second son of Jeffry Amherst of River-
head, in the County of Kent. Amherst was made
a Knight of the Bath in 1761 ; created Baron
Amherst in 1776 ; appointed Commander-in-Chief
of the army in 1778. He attained the rank of Field
Marshal ; was Colonel of the and Lifeguards, and
of the 6gth regiment ; and Governor of Guernsey.
Lord Amherst died on 3rd August, 1797.

and every possible effort was made to
put the capital in a state of defence. —
Early in the spring General Amherst
concentrated his troops at Albany and
Fort Edward ; and, having despatched
a force of regulars under Prideaux,
supported by militia and Indians under
Sir William Johnson, to operate against
Niagara, he himself advanced into
the Champlain district, arriving at
Carillon (Ticonderoga) on 22nd July.
Prideaux reached Fort Niagara on 3th
July ; he was killed on the 19th by the
explosion of a shell, when the command
devolved upon Sir William Johnson, to
whom the fort surrendered on 25th
July. — The British fleet, numbering
over fifty vessels, under the command
of Admirals Saunders, Holmes and
Durell, and having on board 7,600
soldiers, and 1,000 marines, under com-
mond of Major-General James Wolfe,
who had with him as Brigadiers.
Monckton, Townshend and Murray,
arrived off the Island of Orleans on
26th June. Troops were landed on the
Island on 27th and 28th ; there was a
violent gale at the time, and the ship-
ping and boats sustained a good deal of
damage. June 29th — The French,
about 1 a.m., by favour of a north-west
wind and ebb of tide, sent down several
fire-ships and rafts, with an intention to
destroy the British fleet ; but the acti-
vity of the sailors with their boats and
grapplings prevented any damage lO
the ships. June30lh — Amherst's, Ken-
nedy's, Webb's and Fraser's regiments
crossed to Point Levi, and encamped
opposite to Cape Diamond. July 5th —
Colonel Burton, with the 48th and
Major Dalling's Light Infantry, posted
at Point Levi, opposite south side ot the
town of Quebec. July 8th — General
Wolfe landed on the north shore of the
St. Lawrence, east of the Falls of
Montmorency, with the greater part
of two brigades, and proceeded to

1759

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1759

form a camp. July loth — Fire was
opened upon Quebec from a battery (5
13 inch mortars, and 6 32 pounders) at
Point Levi. July i8th — General Wolfe
reconnoitred the north shore above the
town, with a view to ascertain whether
a landing could be effected. July 22nd —
Colonel Carleton landed with a body of
troops at Pointe-aux-Trembles, where
a number of prisoners (including 150
ladies) were taken. The ladies were
conveyed to Quebec the following day.
July 28th — A duel was fought between
Captain Ross and Lieutenant Naim of
Fraser's regiment. July 31st — An at-
tempt was made by two regiments from
Point Levi, supported by the troops in
camp to the east of the Montmorency
River, to take the entrenchments on
the west side of the Montmorency, but
the attempt failed, and the troops were
withdrawn; the casualties were thirty-
eight killed and sixty-two wounded.
The cause of failure was the precipit-
ancy of the grenadiers, who rushed to
the attack before the troops sent to
their support had time to form. August
8th — An expedition under Brigadier
Murray attempted a landing at Point-
aux-Trembles, but finding the French
were well prepared, withdrew with a
loss of 26 men killed, and 10 officers
and 36 men wounded, and about 10
sailors killed and wounded. August
19th — Deschambault was surprised by
a force under Murray, and a large
quantity of stores destroyed. August
27th — General Wolfe was taken ill, an
occurrence which was very much re-
gretted by the whole army, whose con-
fidence in their general was unbounded ;
fortunately, the attack passed off, and
the general was able to meet his officers
in consultation on the 30th. August
29th — The Sutherland was attacked by
seventy-five batteaux ; the attack was,
however, repulsed, with the loss of
four batteaux. September 1st — All

the houses on the east side of the
Montmorency were burned by the Bri-
tish troops. On this and the follow-
ing day the cannon which had been
mounted on the works at Montmo-
rency were removed to Point Levi,
where preparations were made for the
encampment of the troops which had
occupied the works on the north
shore, east of Quebec. September
3rd — General Wolfe withdrew the
greater part of his men from the camp
at Montmorency, and landed them at
Point Levi. From this date until the
nth, observations were made daily by
the General and his Brigadiers of the
character of the north shore, and the
vessels of war and the troops were so
disposed as to be available for landing
at the point there is every reason to
believe the General had by this time
selected, so soon as the weather,
which had for some days been very
wet and stormy, should moderate.
September 4th — An officer and three
Rangers arrived in the British camp
with despatches from General Amherst
to General Wolfe. They left Crown
Point on the 8th August, at which time
General Amherst was actively engaged
in making all preparations necessary for
taking possession of Lake Champlain,
and thence advancing upon Canada.
September 12 — General Wolfe's orders
of this day revealed the plan which he
had finally resolved upon, namely, to
make a vigorous attack on the west
side of the city, where the French had
supposed a landing to be impracticable.
The army was directed to embark in
flat-bottomed boats by midnight, and
upon a signal from the Sutherland they
were to repair to that rendezvous.
Great care was taken in the selection
of the party, which was under the com-
mand of Captain Delaune, to lead in
the ascent of the heights ; twenty-four
men were finally chosen, and so care-

1759

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1759

fully and well did they perform their
duty that they were already on the
heights before the French guard had
been turned out to dispute the ascent.
September 13th— By eight o'clock the
Hritish army, numbering about 4,800
men, under the immediate command
of General Wolfe, was drawn up on
the heights above what is now known as
Wolfe's Cove, and prepared to advance
on the city, Montcalm, on hearing
that Wolfe had landed, lost no time in
moving against him. The two armies
met, the English reserving their fire
until the French were within forty
paces ; a volley wm, tncn delivered
with such precision that the advance
of the French was checked at once ;
all efforts to re-form the line were
vain, and thus, in a short half hour,
was lost and won the City of Quebec,
and with it the possession of a conti-
nent. General Wolfe, who had received
three wounds, died on the field, and his
body was sent to England. =' As soon as
the result of the battle became known,
intrenching tools were served out, and
the British troops at once began to make
redoubts, not knowing but that they
might, on the following day, have to
fight to maintain the position they had
so bravely won, it being reported that
the French expected a reinforcement
of 2000 men before morning. During
the night a slight attack was made,
but Colonel Burton, with the 48th Regi-
ment, was able to drive off the assail-
ants. September 14th — The Marquis

* Major-General James Wolfe was born at Wester-
ham, in the County of Kent, in 1726. His father was a
general offtcer ; and Wolfe was thus enabled to com-
mence his military career at an early age. He was
present at the buttles of Dettingen and Fontenoy,
and also at Laffeldt, where he attracted the particular
notice of the Duke of Cumberland, by whom he was
ever afterwards befriended. Wolfe was specially
selected by I'itt for the attack upon Louisburg, and
his conduct on that occasion led to his being en-
trusted with the command of the land forces in the
expedition against Quebec.

of Montcalm''= died of his wounds, and
was buried in the Ursuline Convent in
Quebec. September i8th — Quebec
capitulated, and the Red Cross of St.
George floated from the Gibraltar of
America. When the news of the capture
of Quebec reached Britain, the whole
three kingdoms were filled with joy —
the more so as British arms had, during
the three or four years immediately pre-
ceding, sustained some severe reverses
in Canada. London, and other cities
and chief towns, sent congratulatory
addresses to the king; and Parliament
directed a statue to be erected in West-
minster Abbey in commemoration of
the death and achievements of General
Wolfe; the thanks of Parliament were
voted to the principal officers of the
army and navy who had taken part in
the expedition against Quebec. f A
general thanksgiving was also ordered
throughout the kingdom. In France,
too, the loss of Quebec and the death
of Montcalm made a painful impression
upon the public mind, whilst through-

' Louis Joseph de Montcalm, Marquis of St.
Veran, wus born at Condiac in 1712, and like his
rival, Wolfe, entered the army at an early age. He
served in Italy, Bohemia and Germany, and bad
acquired considerable distinction, when the defeat
of Dieskau rendered it necessary for the French
Court to select an officer for the command in Can-
ada. Montcalm justified the confidence placed in
him, and did all that it was possible for him to do to
maintain the supremacy of the French in Canada ;
but although millions could be found for the reckless
extrava(,'anceof the French Court, and the Intendant
Bigot could lose thousands at the gaming-table, no
money was forthcoming to maintain the strength
and efficiency of the army, and its General sub-
mitted to a fate he could not avert, and died happy
that he had been spared the humiliation of having
to surrender the Capital.

+ The Gentleman's Magazine for January, 1794,
(Vol. LXIV., Part I.) contains an account of the
death, on 27th December, 1793, of Lieutenant John
McCulloch, a. native of the north of Ireland, who
had, when very young, been taken by his father to
North America. Lieutenant McCulloch was cap-
tured by the French in 1756, and taken to Quebec,
where he was permitted to range about wherever he
pleased until November, when he w a : charged with

iry, 1794.
Lt of the
jiant John
and, who
I father to
[was cap-
Quebec,
lerever he
Lrged with

1759

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1760

out Europe it seemed to be taken (or
granted that the capture of Quebec
had broujjht to a conclusion the strug-
gle between France and England in
the North American colonies. Sep-
tember 26th — That portion of the
French army which had composed
the garrison of Quebec, including 26
officers, 49 non-commissioned officers,
and 540 rank and file, embarked at
Quebec for France, conformably to the
terms of the treaty. August 4th —
Bourlamaque blew up Fort St. Frederic
and retired to Isle-aux-Noix. General
Amherst at once occupied the deserted
post, and proceeded to erect a new fort.
August 9th — M.de Levis left Quebec on
a tour of inspection, and proceeded as
far as Fort Frontenac, retun ing by way
of Lake Champlain to Mf ureal, where
he arrived on nth September. On the
15th September ue Levis was informed
by express .nessenger that Montcalm
had been beaten before Quebec. He
left immediately and joined the army,
of which he at once assumed the com-
mand, at the Jacques Cartier river, on
the 17th, and led the troops back to-
wards Quebec. He reached St. Augustin
on the 19th, and there learned that
Quebec had been surrendered by M. de
Ramezay, commandant, on the 18th,
upon which he retired to the Jacques
Cartier and fortified his camp there.
Admiral Saunders and General Towns-
hend sailed from Quebec on the i8th of
(3ctober, and were followed by General
Monckton and Colonel Guy Carleton on
the 24th, on which date the last of the
English fleet left Quebec. November

being a spy, and sent to France ; from thence he
was, in 1757, sent to England on an exchange of
prisoners. Provided with a letter of introduction
from General Shirley, Lieutenant McCulloch waited
on General Wolfe ; and it is claimed that from him
Wolfe gained much information respecting the forti-
fications of Quebec, and first learned of the existence
of that path by which the troops ascended to the
Plains of Abraham.

28th — General Murray caused block-
houses to be erected outside the city
of Quebec, to cover the fortifications.
August 17th — Nova Scotia divided into
five counties — Annapolis, King's, Cum-
berland, Lunenburg, and Halifax. —
On 4th December the first session of
the Second Assembly of Nova Scotia
began. Mr. William Nesbit was chosen
speaker.

1160. During the autumn of 1759
and spring of 1760 no serious attempt
was made by the French Government
to send aid to the handful of men who
were still determined to hold out whilst
defense was possible. Far different,
however, was the conduct of the British
Government. Stimulated by the suc-
cess which had at length crowned their
efforts, every endeavour was made to
ensure the retention of that which had
been so hardly won. Numerous squad-
rons covered the seas, so that the
ocean-way between Europe and Canada
was absolutely barred against France ;
whilst Lord Colville, with a powerful
fleet, was waiting in Halifax until the
spring should be sufficiently advanced
to permit him to ascend the St. Law-
rence. The Anglo-American Provinces
vied with each other in their eff'orts to
raise men and money to ensure the
fruition of their hopes. The army at
Quebec was to be reinforced, and
ascend the St. Lawrence ; Colonel
Haviland was preparing for an ad-
vance from Lake Champlain by way of
Isle-aux-Noix and St. John's ; whilst
General Amherst was to assemble a
large force at Oswego, descend the St.
Lawrence, and effect a junction with
the two other corps at Montreal. Feb-
ruary 22nd and 24th — Attacks were
made by the French upon Point Levi,
but they were promptly and easily re-
pelled by the garrison. March 19th —
Strong reinforcements were sent to
Ste. Foye and Quebec. April loth —

1760

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1760

The ice nave way, and General Murray
Hent ofiTa Hchooner with despatches for
the olTtcer commanding the fleet to
hasten his coming. April 24th and 25th
— The inhabitants of Quebec were com-
pelled to leave the city as an attack by
the army of the Chevalier de Levis was
daily expected. April 26th — M. de Levis
landed his forces at Pointe-aux-Trem-
bles, and marched on Lorette. April
27th — General Murray withdrew his
troops from Cap-Rouge and Ste. Foye.
April 28th — General Murray, having
decided to risk a battle, marched out
to Ste. Foye, where an engagement
took place, which resulted in the defeat
of the British force, which was com-
pelled to retire into the city, with a loss
of nearly one thousand men in killed
and wounded. May gth — The frigate
Lowestoff arrived off Quebec and saluted
the forts, her arrival being welcomed
with the most lively satisfaction by the
garrison. May 15th — The first division
of the British fleet arrived. May i6th
— The Vanguard moved up the river,
accompanied by two frigates, captured
the French shipping above Quebec, and
prepared to enfilade the trenches of De
Levis, who retired precipitately, leaving
his cannon, tents, and war material, the
whole of which fell into the hands of
the British. July 15th — General Mur-
ray passed the Jacques Cartier on his
way to Montreal, arriving at Three
Rivers on 6th August and Sorel on the
12th. August 7th — Colonel Haldimand
left Oswego with the first division of
General Amherst's army, on his way
down the St. Lawrence to Montreal.
August gth — Fort Jacques Cartier was
attacked by Colonel Fraser, and sur-
rendered the next day. August loth —
General Amherst left Oswego with the
main body of Royal Artillery and regu-
lars. August t2th— Brigadier-General
Gage followed General Amherst from
Oswego with eight battalions of Provin-

cial troops. August 17th — La Galettc
(Osgewetchie) was reached, and a
French vessel stationed there was cap-
tured. August 27th — Isle-aux- Noix
surrendered to Colonel Haviland. Sep-
tember 3rd — Haviland's corps reached
Longueuil, and General Amherst's force
arrived at Isle Perrot. The forces of
Amherst and Haviland were joined by
those of General Murray on the 7th,
and the combined force beleagured the
city on the 8th. The Marquis de Vaud-
reuil had, however, on the 6th, come to
the decision, in spite of the strong
opposition of de Levis, who wished to
fight to the last, that any further resist-
ance was useless, and had sent a flag of
truce to General Amherst, with an inti-
mation that he was willing to negotiate
for terms of surrender. On 8th Septem-
ber the capitulation of Montreal was
signed by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and
Canada passed finally under British rule.
The British took possession of Montreal
the same day. The Governor General,
Chevalier de Levis,* the troops, num-
bering about 183 officers and 2400 men.

* The Chevalier de Levis lost no time, on hia re-
turn to France, in seeking active employment, for
he was present at the battle of Johannisberg, gained
in 1763, by the Prince de Condi over the famous
William, Duke of Brunswick, On the conclusion
of the war he was appointed governor of Artois ;
he was nominated a Marshal of France, and created
Duke de Levis in 1784. He died at Arras in 1787,
leaving a son, Pierre Marie Gaston, duke de Levis,
a well known political writer and moralist after the
restoration. Among the officers who surrendered at
Montreal with De Levis were Bourlamaquc and
Bougainville. These officers had taken an active
part in the military operations in Canada during
the latter years of the war, and now, at its close,
returned to France, resolved, like De Levis, to con-
tinue in the service of their country. M. de Bour-
lamaque lived until 1764, and died at Guadeloupe, of
which he was then governor. Colonel Bougainville
entered the marine service, and fought, as a leading
naval commander in the French fleet, during the
w;\r of American Independence. He afterwards took
a voyage round the world, and became known by his
geographical discoveries.

1760

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1760

officers of the civil government,* and
some 500 or 600 sailors, servants,
women and children, embarked for
France. Before leaving Canada, M.
de Vaudreuil sent orders to the com-
mandant at Detroit, and to other officers
commanding French posts in the west,
to surrender their commands to such
British officers as might be deputed to
take them over. Thus, by 1761, French
domination existed no longer in any
part of Canada, after a duration of
nearly two centuries. September 9th —
Amongst the articles taken possession
of by General Amherst on entering
Montreal, were the colours of Shirley's
and Pepperell's regiments, which had
been lost at Oswego when these regi-
ments surrendered in 1750. These
colours were marched out of Montreal
by a detachment of grenadiers and a
band of music, and carried down the
rightof the line to headquarters, where
they were lodged. — Governor Law-
rence was taken ill on Saturday, nth
October, with fever and inflammation
of the lungs, of which he died on Sun-
day the icjth. During the eleven years
he had spent in Nova Scotia, he occupied
either the chief or a prominent position
in all its affairs, both civil and military,
and won the respect and confidence as
well of the authorities in England as of
the settlers of Nova Scotia. On the
death of Governor Lawrence the com-

• On their return to France a strict investigation
was held into the conduct of the Governor-General,
Intendant, and other civil officers charged with the
administration of affairs in Canada. On loth Decem-
ber, 1763, the presidentof the commission which had
been appointed to conduct the investigation, rendered
his Bnal decree regarding the parties accused. De
Vaudreuil was, with five others, relieved from the
accusation. Bigot, the Intendant, who had been
committed to the Bastile on 17th November, 1761,
was sentenced to exile for life. Many of the less
prominent officers were sentenced to banishment
for various terms, and compelled to make restitution.
The amount thus ordered to be made good by de-
faulters is said to have exceeded 11,000,000 of francs.

mand of the Province was assumed by
the Honorable Jonathan Belcher. I—
King George II. died at Kensin^(<on
Palace on the 25th October, in h v -;th
year, and was succeeded by hts '«;rand
son. King George III. — When the ».ap
ture of Quebec by the English became
known amongst the Acadian Indians
a disposition to treat for peace soon
became apparent, and treaties of peace
were accordingly made by the Micmacs
and the St. John and Passamaquoddy
tribes with the Governor ot Nova
Scotia, early in the Sprinji >>f 1760. —
In May six vessels kft t^>rdeau\ with
400 troops and horses t\) strengthen ■-.
garrison \M Montreal. Three of ihum:
vessels were captured in the English
Channel ; the remaining three ie»chi ;
the Bay of Chaleurs ;ind landed the
troops at the mouth of the Kestigoucht,
where, there were fortifications and thi.'
beginning of a town to be called Petite
Rochelle. Commodore Byron had fol-
lowed the French vessels, and arrived
at the Kestigouche on the z.\th June ;
and on the 8th of July an actton took
place which resulted in the capture \M
the three French vessels — the McukAult,
32 ; Bienfaisant, 22 ; and Mart/tus May
loze, i8 — the recapture of several sn>*ll
English trading vessels, and the total
destruction of the place. Byron alt<M -
wards destroyed the settlements (some
200 houses) on the Mirimachi. — On the
8th of September Governor Lawrence
opened the second session o( the Second
General Assembly of Nova Scotia; this

+ Jonathan Belcher was the second son of Gover-
nor Belcher of Massachusetts. He was educated at
Harvard, Cambridge, where he graduated ; he then
went to England, and entered at the Middle Temple.
He was appointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia in
1754, and was one of the strongest advocates of the
necessity for a representative Assembly in Nova
Scotia. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, who
was born at Halifax, was the grandson of Chief Jus-
tice Belcher.

1760

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1760

session closed on the 27th September,
having passed twenty acts, and a reso-
lution that their constituents should
not be put to any expense for their at-
tendance. — On gth February. Mr. Pitt
had given instructions that the; fortress
of Louisburg should be demolished, the
harbour made as impracticable as possi-
ble, and the garrison, artillery, stores,
&c., be sent to Halifax, The work of
demolition had been carried on during
the summer under the superintendence
of Commodore Byron, and the last blast
was fired on the 17th October. — Major-
General Paul Mascarene, whose moral
qualities, patience, and perseverance in
loyalty and duty had endeared him to
Nova Scotia, died this year. — Captain
John Rous* also died this year. — The
House of Commons voted ;f 200,000 to
the North American Provinces for the
expense of levying, clothing, and pay of
troops raised by them for His Majesty's
service in the war with the French in

* Captain John Rous, then Captain of a Boston
privateer, first came into notice in 1744, when he cap-
tured five armed French vessels at the port of Fishot,
Newfoundland. He was engaged in the expedition
against Cape Breton in 1745, and in acknowledgment
of his services on this occasion he was, on the 24th
September, 1745, gazetted a Captain in the Royal
Navy. In 1753 he commanded the little squadron
which accompanied Colonels Winslow and Monckton
in the expedition against Fort Beausejour. In 1756
he accompanied the Earl of Loudon in his unsuc-
cessful atiiempt against Louisburg. Captain Rous
was in command of the Sutherland at the capture of
Louisburg and at the seige of Quebec, and it was
from the deck of that vessel that General Wolfe's
last order was issued previous to the battle on the
Plains of Abraham. Captain Rous was sworn in a
member of the Council of Nova Scotia on the ist ot
October, 1754.

Canada. — Colonel Frye, in command of
Fort Cumberland, Chignecto, reports
to the Governor of New England, on
7th March, that the inhabitants of
Miramichi, Richibucto, Buctouche and
other places on the Bay of Chaleurs,
had, accompanied by M, Menach,|
their priest, formally renewed their
submission, and subscribed to certain
articles drawn specially to meet their
cases. M. Menach also brought with
him two Indian chiefs, Paul Lawrence
and Augustine Michael, who came on
behalf of their tribes (Micmacs) to
tender their submission. The total
number of Micmacs who gave in their
submission amounted to nearly 3,000,
represented by fourteen chiefs. — For
several years the dark clouds of war
had overshadowed the land, the long
gathering storm had at last burst on
the Plains of Abraham — the struggle
was over — and the sky was now clear ;
but in its mighty course the tempest
had swept away forever the golden
lilies of France, and the meteor flag
of England floated over the Capital of
Canada. Henceforward the matter of
fact Saxon was to rule in place of the
glory-loving Frank, and the influence
of commerce was to rise superior to
the glorious traditions of war.

; The Abbe Miniac, or Menach, came to Acadia
with Father Gerard in 1742. He brought letters
from the Bishop of Quebec to Governor Mascarene
setting forth that he was a man of experience and
ability, and had filled the offices of Grand Vicar and
Archdeacon. He was placed in charge of the Indian
mission at Miramichi in 177s, succeeding M. La
Corne.

INTEODUCTION TO SECOND PART.

Acadia
letters
carene
ce and
:ar and
Indian
M. La

THE ancien regime having passed away, the first duty of the King's
Lieutenants in Canada was to provide for the new order of things,
and nobly did they bend themselves to the task before them.

The Treaty of Paris had hardly been signed before General Murray,
at the instance of the clergy of Quebec, had referred to the British Cabi-
net for instructions as to the position of the Roman Catholic Church in
Canada. The See of Quebec was vacant, and peace having been es-
tablished, it became necessary to fill the vacancy ; but it was by no means
clear how this could be done. Hence arose the necessity for dealing at
once with the Church question. The British Ministry lost no time in
submitting to the law officers of the Crown the whole case as presented
to them by General Murray, and, with a liberality which did them credit,
the law officers expressed the opinion that the Roman Catholic subjects
of the King in Canada were not liable to the disabilities imposed by
statutory enactment on their co-religionists in Great Britain.

From this time until the passing of the Act of 1774, the question of
the future Government of Canada was constantly engaging the attention
of the leading lawyers of Britain.

Norton, Yorke, deGrey, Marriott, Wedderburn, Thurlow, men who
successively filled the highest legal positions in Great Britain, devoted
their best energies to the solution of the difficulties which were encountered
in framing a scheme of government for the new Colony, and so well did
they succeed, that when, in 1775, emissaries sent by the Congress of the
American States came to Canada to induce the Canadians to throw off
their allegiance, they found the new Colony without a single cause of
complaint, and returned utterly discomfited to report the failure of their
attempt.

In after years as population increased, and conflicting interests de-
veloped, further attempts were made to adapt the Government to the
altered circumstances of the people, and in 1791 the country was divided
into two Provinces, and two separate Governments were established.

III

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND PART.

The constitution given to Canada in 1791 was well received, and the
current of events ran smoothly for a time. Parliamentary discord, how-
ever, arose before long, until, under the administration of Sir J. H. Craig,
party warfare reached a height which boded ill for the future of the Colony.

The advent of Sir George Prevost, and the change in policy which he
introduced, tended greatly to allay the political fever of the previous
administration, so that .. the war broke out in 1812, Canada was ablefor
the second time to pre. an unbroken front to the enemy, and to declare
to the world, by the noble conduct of her sons at Queenston Heights and
Chateauguay, her unshaken loyalty and devotion to her Sovereign. The
events of the war tended in fact to draw closer than ever the bonds which
connected Great Britain and the Canadas.

The conclusion of the war of 1814 left the Canadians once more at
liberty to turn their attention to political matters, and party strife soon
regained its former strength. In 1827 matters reached a crisis, and the
state of Canada again engaged the earnest attention of the British Govern-
ment. The report upon Canadian aifairs by a committee of the House
of Commons, seems, however, to have left things pretty much as they
were, and in reality to have decided nothing.

Agitation and dissatisfaction became rife again, and so continued
until the passing of the Ninety -two Resolutions in 1834. The passage of
these resolutions led to further discussion in the Imperial Parliament,
but no satisfactory solution of the difficulty could be arrived at, and mat-
ters progressed from bad to worse until the outbreak in 1837 led to those
changes in the Government which resulted in the union of Upper and
Lower Canada, and thus paved the way for the Confederation of the
Dominion in 1867.

THE ANNALS OF CANADA.

PART II.

From 1763 to 1837.

1763. On the 25th April the General
Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia
met at Halifax. The session was opened
with a speech by Lieutenant-Governor
Belcher. This Assembly was prorogued
on 2ist July. — On the loth May a treaty
was signed at Paris,* by which the
whole of the possessions of France in
North America, except the Islands of
St. Pierre and Miquelon, were ceded to
Great Britain. — Pontiac commenced
the seige of Pittsburg, which he carried
on until the place was relieved by Gen-
eral Bradstreet in 1764. — General
Amherst, before leaving for New York,
divided Canada into three districts, and
appointed a Lieutenant-Governor for

* In the treaty of Paris, the following clauses were
inserted to regulate the rights of fishery, &c. :

" V. The subjects of France shall have the liberty
of fishing and drying on a part of the coasts of the
Island of Newfoundland, such as it is specified in the
XIII. article of the treaty of Utrecht ; which article
is renewed and confirmed by the present treaty,
except what relates to the Island of Cape Breton,
as well as to the other islands and coasts in the
mouth and in the Gulph of St. Lawrence. And his
Britannic Majesty consents to leave to the subjects
of the Most Christian King the liberty of fishing in
the Gulph of St. Lawrence, on condition that the sub-
jects of France do not exercise the said fishery but
at the distance of three leagues from all the coasts
belonging to Great Britain, as well those of the con-
tinent as those of the islands situated in the said

each, namely : General Murray for
Quebec, General Gage for Montreal,
and Colonel Burton for Three Rivers. —
August 26th — Governor Belcher an-
nounced that Colonel th>i Honourable
Montague Wilmot had been appointed
to succeed him as Lieutenant-Gover-
nor. — September 24th — Colonel the
Honourable Montague Wilmot reached
Halifax, and on the 26th he took the
oaths of office, and entered upon his
duties as Lieutenant-Governor of Nova
Scotia. — On October 7th a proclamation
was issued by King George HL, defining
the position of the new colony, and vir-
tually abolishing the French laws and
substituting those of England, — The

Gulph of St. Lawrence. And as to what relates to
the fishery on the coasts of the Island of Cape Bre-
ton, out of the said Gulph, the subjects of the Most
Christian King shall not be permitted to exercise the
said fishery but at the distance of fifteen leagues from
the coasts of the island of Cape Breton, and the
fishery on the coasts of Nova Scotia or Acadia, and
everywhere else out of the said Gulph, shall remain
on the foot of former treaties.

" VI. The Kingof Great Britain cedes the Islands
of St. Pierre and Miquelon, in full right, to His Most
Christian Majesty to serve as a shelter to the French
fishermen ; and His said Most Christian Majesty
engages not to fortify the said islands, to erect no
buildings upon them, but merely for the convenience
of the fishery, and to keep upon them a guard of fifty
men only for the police.

" n

i.
J

1763

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1764

islands of St. John and Cape Breton
(Isle Royale) were annexed by royal
proclamation to the government of
Nova Scotia. — October 19th — The ses-
sion* of the Nova Scotia Legislature was
opened by Lieutenant-Governor Wil-
mot. — On 2ist November General Mur-
, ray succeeded Lord Amherst as Gover-
nor-General of Canada. He was assisted
in the government by a council con-
sisting of the Lieutenant-Governors at
Montreal and Three Rivers, the Chief
Justice, the Inspector-General, and
eight of the principal inhabitants. —
November 27th — Seventy soldiers,
being part of a detachment on the way
from Niagara to Detroit, were drowned
in a storm on Lake Erie. — Since the
death of M. de Pontbriand the Episcopal
See of Quebec had remained vacant.
When hostilities ceased, application
was made by the clergy to General
Murray for permission to the chapter
of the diocese to exercise the rights
possessed by bishops and chapters in
all Catholic countries. This applica-
tion was recommended by General
Murray, who sent his secretary, M.
Cramah^, to London to support its
prayer. The documents relative to
this subject were submitted to the at-
torney and solicitor general for the
time being — Sir F. Nortonf and Sir
W. de Grey — who ga\ e it as their opin-
ion, that in view of the stipulations in
the treaty of 1763 regarding the church

* During this session, which closed on 26th No-
vember, it was ordered that mahogany chairs be
made for the members, the chair for Mr. Speaker to
l:e somewhat larger than the rest.

t Fletcher Norton was born 23rd January, 1716.
He was the eldest son of Thomas Norton of Grant-
ley, County York ; he was educated for the law, and
became solicitor-general in December, 1761 ; in
November, 1763, he became attorney-general ;
in 1770 he was chosen speaker of the House of Com-
m >n3, which position he retained until 1780. On
gth April, 1782, he was created a peer, as Lord
Grantley, Baron of Markoalield, in the County of
York.

in Canada, the Catholics of that colony
were not liable to the operation of the
disabilities imposed by statute on their
co-religionists in Great Britain. The
chapter of Quebec met accordingly to-
wards the end of the year, and elected
as their bishop M. de Montgolfier,--
superior of the Seminary of St. Sulpice
at Montreal; but the government
taking exception to this nomination,
Montgolfier declined the charge by a
formal renunciation made at Quebec in
1764. He, at the same time, designated
Jean Olivier Briand, a native of Brit-
tany who had come to Quebec in 1741,
as secretary to M. de Pontbriand, and
was one of the canons and grand-vicar
of the diocese, to fill the vacant Episco-
pal chair. M. Briand was elected by
the chapter on nth September, 1764,
and shortly after repaired to London,
where his election was confirmed by
King George III., and he received his
bulls of investiture from Clement XIII.
M. Briand was consecrated in Paris as
Bishop of Quebec, and then returned to
hib diocese.

1764. Prince Edward Island (Island
of St. John) was surveyed by the British
Government, and divided into sixty-
seven townships. — The first number of

* M. Montgolfier was elected by the chapter of
Quebec to the then vacant bishopric on 15th Sep-
tember, 1763. The consent of the King was given
on condition that, like the Catholic Bishops in Lon-
don and Dublin, he would not assume the insignia
of his rank, and also provided General Murray
approved of his election. This approval General
Murray declined to give, and at the same time inti-
mated that he would prefer M. Briand, who had
been secretary to the late Bishop (M.de Pontbriand).
On the gth September, 1764, Montgolfier resigned,
and on the nth September, two days afterwards,
M. Briand was elected On 30th April, 1785, Lord
Stanley, in the King's name, offered Montgolfier the
coadjutorship of the diocese of Quebec, paying him
at the same time a high compliment on account of
his acknowledged ability, but the offer was then
politely declined, advancing years being urged as a
reason for refusing so important a position. Mont-
golfier died on 27th August, 1791, aged 78.

!-^

1764

CAS'ADIAN ANNALS.

1766

\ inti-

had

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lont-

the Quebec Gazette published on the
2ist June. — In November the governor
and council established a system of
equity jurisdiction, being in fact an in-
troduction into Canada of the Court of
Chancery ;* French laws and customs
were, however, to be allowed and ad-
mitted in all causes in the courts of
civil jurisdiction between the natives of
Canada, in the controversies origin-
ating before the ist October, 1764. —
September 28th — Permission was given
to the Acadians to settle in Nova
Scotia, and to hold lands upon taking
the customary oaths. — Mr. Henry Ellis
having resigned his office of Governor
of Nova Scotia, an office, by the way,
the duties of which he never attempted
to fulfil. Colonel Wilmot was, on the
8th October, appointed Governor of
Nova Scotia. — About 600 Acadians,
having received full permission from
the authorities to leave, departed from
Halifax towards the end of November
to settle in the French West Indies. —
The Courts of King's Bench and Com-
mon Pleas were established. — The
Governor-General was appointed Vice-
Admiral of the Province of Quebec, and
the territories thereon depending.

1765> The fourth General Assembly
of Nova Scotia met at Halifax on 28th
May. The session was opened by
Governor Wilmot ; M*-. Nesbitt was
elected speaker. The chief business
which engaged the attention of the
members was an act to re-arrange the
constituencies,! the County of Sunbury
and Township of Sackville (in what is
now the Province of New Brunswick)

* The Governor was to preside as Chancellor with
two Masters, two Examiners, and one Registrar. In
1774 this court merged into the courts erected by the
Act 14 George III., cap. 83.

f This Act was, however, disallowed by an order of
the king in council, nth September, 1767, and an in-
s^truction was at the same time given forbidding the
fassing'ofany Act of thi« kind in future.

being included for the first time in the
electoral divisions. The session closed
on 15th June. Collections were made
in Nova Scotia in aid of the sufferers by
the great fire at Montreal. — Very large
grants of lands in Nova Scotia (Ben-
jamin Franklin's name appears among
the grantees) were made by Governor
Wilmot and his council, and the ad-
vancement of the province was, in the
opinion of many, much retarded by this
rashness in locking Up large tracts of
country. — A great fire broke out in
Montreal, which was not subdued until
more than one hundred houses had
been destroyed. The greater part of
the Grey Nunnery was burned down
during this conflagration. — 22nd March
— The Stamp Act* received the royal
assent. The news of the passage of
this act created the greatest excitement
in Boston and the New England States,
but in Canada and Nova Scotia it seems
to have been accepted without much
opposition. — 28th May — The fourth
session of the Legislature of Nova
Scotia was opened by Governor Wil-
mot. This session terminated on the
15th June. — August 21st — William
Henry, Duke of Clarence, born.

1766. Memorials had been forwarded
from Canada to the Board of Trade
complaining of certain matters in con-
nection with the administration of
affairs in the colony, and these mem-
orials had been submitted by the Board
of Trade to the law officers of the
Crown,* by whom a report was pre-

* The Stamp Act was based upon a resolution
passed by the House of Commons in 1764, " That to-
wards defraying the necessary expenses of protecting
the colonies, it may be proper to charge certain stamp
duties upon them."

* William de Grey, one of the Crown lawyers at
the time, was born on 19th July, 1719. He was
educated at the University of Cambridge, and called
to the bar. He became King's counsel 30th January,
1758 ; Solicitor-General to the Queen September,
1761 ; Solicitor-General to the King 16th December,

,t *■

t^'

1766

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1766

rented in April, 1766. This report
failed, however, to meet with the ap-
proval of the government, and was laid
aside. — The obnoxious Stamp Act was
repealed in the House of Commons on
24th February by a majority of 275 to
167 — William Pitt being the most
earnest and eloquent of those who urged
the repeal. In the House of Lords the
vote was 105 to 72. The royal assent
was given on the i8th March. The re-
joicing in America on receipt of the
news of the repeal of the Stamp Act was
universal. — Governor Wilmot died at
H-lifax on 23rd May, and the adminis-
tration cf the government was assumed
b\ .if, Benjamin Green.* — The General
Ascerabl/ met at Halifax on the 3rd
June, a. '..' 'Session closed on 31st
Jr'v. A , ' jvess to the Crovn. on the
rtpeai of uie i . ,. A:' was agreed to.
— Michael Francklin.f having being ap-
pointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova
Scotia, was sworn into office and as-
sumed the command of the province on

1763 ; Attorney-General 6th Aygnst, 1766 ; knighted
and appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common
Pleas 26th January, 1771, which office he resigned
8th June, 1780. On 17th October, 1780, Sir William
de Grey was created Baron Walsingham. His lord-
ship died on gth May, 1781.

* Benjamin Green was a native of the Province of
Massachusetts. He was born in 1713 ; the youngest
son of the Rev. Joseph Green of Salem. He accom-
panied General Pepperell to Louisbourg in 1745 as
secretary to the expedition, and after the capture of
that place he remained there as government sec-
retary. When Cape Breton was restored to France
in 1749, he removed to Halifax and was ap-
pointed a member of the council. On the death of
Governor Wilmot, Mr. Green, being at the time the
senior councillor, was appointed administrator of
the government. He died at Halifax in 177a.

+ Michael Francklin was a native of the south of
England. He came to Halifax in 1752; waselected
a member of the House of Assembly in 1759, and
appointed a member of the council in 1762. He
married a grand-daughter of Peter Faneuil of Bos-
ton. Mr. J. B. Francklin, for forty years clerk of
the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia, was his
eldest son. Governor Francklin died at Halifax on
Sth November, 1782.

23rd August. — The General Assembly
met at Halifax on 23rd October, when
the session was opened by a speech
from the new Lieutenant-Governor.
The Assembly was prorogued on 22nd
November. — November 27th — Lord
William Campbell,* who had arrived at
Halifax from England in the Glasgow
on the 24th, was sworn in as Governor of
Nova Scotia. — General Murray,! who
was charged with too great partiality
for the military, and whose measures
had failed to secure the approval of the
Canada traders both in the colony and
in the mother country, was recalled, and
was succeeded by Brigadier-General
Guy Carleton.j It is only fair to Gen-
eral Murray to add that a committee
of the Privy Council, to whom the
charges against General Murray were
referred for investigation, absolved him
entirely. With General Carleton came
a new Chief Justice, (Hay), Gregory

* Lord William Campbell was the fourth son of
John Campbell, fourth Duke of Argyll. He married
a daughter of Ralph Izard of Charleston, South
Carolina, and died sth September, 1778.

f General Murray presented to the Corporation of
Hastings, England (he was a Jurat of Hastings) a
shield which was taken from one of the gates of
Quebec at the time of its capture in 1759. On the
shield are the arms of France, surrounded by a
collar (probably of an order of knighthood), from
which is suspended a Maltese cross, and surmounted
by a royal crown. Mr. J. M. O'Leary of the Civil
Service, Ottawa, recently obtained from Thomas
Ross, Esquire, Mayor of Hastings, a very handsome
photograph of this shield.

t Guy Carleton was born on 3rd September, 1724.
Married on zist May, 1772, Maria Howard, daughter
of Thomas, second Earl of Effingham. General
Carleton successfully resisted the attack upon Que-
bec by Arnold and Montgomery in 1775, and subse-
quently compelled the American army to recross the
St. Lawrence. He succeeded Sir Henry Clinton as
Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in 1782.
He evacuated New York on 5th November, 1783,
after signing the treaty of peace. General Carleton
was created Baron Dorchester on 2ist August, 1786,
and in October of that year became, for the second
time, Governor of Canada. Lord Dorcheiter was a
K. C. B., and Colonel of the 4th regiment of dragoons.
He died in England in 1808.

1766

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1769

having been superseded, and an Attor-
ney-General, Maseres.*

1767< The General Assembly of Nova
Scotia met on ist July ; the session was
opened with a speech from Lord Wil-
liam Campbell, the new Governor, in
which he expressed the great satisfac-
tion of His Majesty a» the behaviour
of the colony of Nova Scotia. The
reply of the Assembly was couched in
strong terms of loyalty and gratitude to
the Crown. This session terminated
on the ist August.— On 5th October
permission was given to a number of
Acadian families to settle in the vicinity
of Harrington and Yarmouth. — The
Assembly met again on 17th October,
and after passing three Acts, was pro-
rogued on the 19th. The session was
opened and closed by Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Francklin in the absence of Lord
William Campbell, who had sailed on
1st October in His Majesty's ship Glas-
gow for New York. — A number of Aca-
dian families were permitted, on taking
the oath of allegiance, to settle on the
eastern coast of the province. — A new
seal for the Province of Nova Scotia
was received at Halifax on ist Decem-
ber from England. — Prince Edward's
Island (then called the Island of St.
John) was divided into three counties.
King's, Queen's and Prince's. Isaac
Deschamps was appointed by Lieuten-
ant-Governor Francklin to superintend
the alTairs of the Island, and men and
materials for the erection of buildings
at Charlottetown accompanied him. —
The whole Island of St. John (Prince
Edward Island), which had, in 1764,
been surveyed and laid out in sixty-
seven townships, was granted by the

* Francis Maseres was born in London in 1731 ; he
was the grandson of a Huguenot refugee who had
settled in England. He left Canada in 1773, when
he was appointed Cursitor Baron of the Court of
Exchequer. He died at Reigate, in Surrey, May 19th,
1 384.

King in Council to a number of persons
who were, for the most part, residents
of the United Kingdom.

1768. Lieutenant-Governor Franck-
lin acknowledged receipt of an order
from the Secretary of State forbidding
the digging oi any more coal in Cape
Breton. The Lieutenant-Governor was
also preparing a return of the manu-
factures of Nova Scotia ; the manu-
facturers of Great Britain were begin-
ning to exhibit great jealousy of a grow-
ing inclination to establish manufac-
tures in the North American colonies.
— On the i8th June Lieutenant-Gover-
nor Francklin opened the sixth session
of the fourth General Assembly of Nova
Scotia ; this session lasted until 9th
July, when the House was prorogued. —
On the 22nd June the Courts of Com-
mon Pleas and General Sessions of the
peace were opened at Charlottetown,
(or rather at the place selected as the
site where Charlottetown was to be
built, as there was at the time nothing
but a few huts hastily put up to serve
as a protection from the weather) and
justices of the peace were sworn in. —
On the loth September Governor Lord
William Campbell arrived at Halifax
in the Mermaid frigate from England. —
Governor Lord Willliam Campbell
opened the seventh session of the fourth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia on
22nd October ; this session (with seve-
ral long recesses) lasted until 23rd Janu-
ary.

1769. Walter Patterson, Esq., was
appointed Governor of the Island of
St. John (Prince Edward Island). —
The eighth and last session of the fourth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia was
opened by Lord William Campbell on
loth October, and lasted until 9th No-
vember, when the prorogation took
place.

1770

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1773

mo. All the reports which had been
made from time to time upon the form
ofgovernment, jurisdiction of the courts
of law, and other matters connected
with the new colony of Canada, had
been transmitted to England, and they
were now submitted to a special com-
mittee of the Privy Council, which re-
commended that all the papers should
be placed in the hands of the King's
advocate (Marriott), the Attorney-Gen-
eral (Thurlow),* and the Solicitor-Gen-
eral (Wedderburn),+ with orders to
compile a civil code and a criminal code
suited to the wants of the colony. —
M. d'Esglis, a Canadian by birth, hav-
ing been born in Quebec in 1710, was
elected by the chapter of Quebec co-
adjutor to the Bishop of Quebec ; the
mode of election having been questioned
by the authorities, two years elapsed
before Clement XIV., with the assent
of the King, granted the requisite bulls
of confirmation, and M. d'Esglis was
not recognized as a bishop until 22nd
January, 1772. when he became Bishop
of Dorylceum, in part, inf., with the
rightofsuccessionto the See of Quebec.
— On the 6th June the first session of
the fifth General Assembly of Nova
Scotia was opened at Halifax by Gov-

* Edward Thurlow was the eldest son of the Rev.
Thomas Thurlow, rector of Ashfield, County Suffolk.
He was born in i732,educatedat Canterbury School,
and afterwards at the University of Cambridge, and
called to the bar in 1758. Mr. Thurlow entered par-
liament in 1768, became Solicitor-General in 1770.
Attorney-General in 1771, and Lord Chancellor on
3rd June, 1778, when he was raised to the peerage
as Baron Thurlow. Lord Thurlow withdrew from
public life in 1792, and died 12th September, 1806,
Lord Thurlow was a ripe scholar, and in his private
relations generous and affectionate, but as a states-
man he was rather arrogant and factious, and rough
and rude in debate.

-f Alexander Wedderburn was the eldest son of
Peter Wedderburn of Chesterhall, County Mid-
Lothian. He was born in Scotland in 1733, received
his education at Edinburgh, and was called to the
English bar in 1757. In 1763 he obtained a silk gown
King's Counsel. Entering parliament as member

ernor Lord William Campbell; this
session lasted until 2nd July, when the
House was prorogued. — On the 17th
July the Council of Nova Scotia set
aside lands in Cumberland for the en-
dowment of a public seminary of learn-
ing to be established at Windsor.

1771* It has been computed that the
export of wheat from Canada amounted
to 471,000 bushels for this year; the
greater part being from the Sorel dis-
trict. — On the 6th June the second ses-
sion of the fifth General Assembly of
Nova Scotia met at Halifax ; this ses-
sion closed on 6th July; no business
worthy of note was transacted. — On the
17th October Lord William Campbell
sailed from Halifax for Boston, and
Benjamin Green assumed the adminis-
tration of the government.

1772. The British Parliament granted
;f 3,000 for the erection of public build-
ings on the Island of St. John (Prince
Edward Island). — The third session
of the Nova Scotia General Assembly
was opened by Lieutenant-Governor
Francklin on gth June ; this session
ended on 8th July. — Lord William
Campbell returned to Halifax, and as-
sumed the government. — Great im-
provements were made in the lighthouse
on Sambro Island, (Halifax). — Benja-
min Greene, senior councillor, died at
Halifax on 14th October.

1773. The first House of Assembly
was summoned in the Island of St. John

for Richmond shortly after ; he became Solicitor-
General 26th January, 1771, Attorney-General loth
June, 1778. On the 14th June, 1780, Wedderburn
was appointed Chief -Justice of the Common Pleas
with a peerage, as Baron Loughborough, and on
27th Jauuary, 1793, Lord High Chancellor of Great
Britain. On 21st April, 1801, Lord Loughborough
was created Earl of Rosslyn on his retirement from
office. He died 3rd January, 1805, and was succeeded
in his title by his nephew, General Sir James St.
Clair Erskine. G. C. B., a distinguished officer and
an intimate friend ot the Duke of Wellington.

1773

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1774

(Prince Edward Island) by Governor
Patterson. The Assembly met in July ;
there were eighteen members. The
land question (which has never yet been
satisfactorily disposed of) engaged the
atttention of the Assembly, and an act
was passed to secure the payment of
quit rents.-- — A papal decree abolishing
the order of Jesuits in Canada was is-
sued. — The last capitulary act of the
chapter of Quebec took place in this
year.— The Nova Scotia Assembly met
on2oth April, and the session closed on
the 24th ; five acts having been pass-
ed.— Lord William Campbell appointed
Governor of South Carolina. He was
succeeded by Francis Legge, a major
in the army.

* The recent appointment of the Right Hon. Mr.
Childers, Dr. Jenkins, Mr. J. S. Cowell, and Mr.
Haliburton, as Land Commissioners for Prince
Edward Island (with instructions to enquire into
the original grants, the extent to which the con-
ditions attached to them have been fulfilled, the
amount of rent paid by the tenants, and the cost of
recovering arrears), having called public attention
to the question of land tenure in Prince Edward
Island, it may not be uninteresting to give at length
the views of the Earl of Durham upon this subject
as expressed in a letter addressed to Lord Glenelg
(then Colonial Secretary), in October, 1838, which
letter has been recently published by Mr. Duncan
Campbell, the historian, who is now engaged in
writing a history of Prince Edward Island : —
"Castle tf St. Lewis,
" Quebec, 8th October, 183R.
" Mv Lord,—

" I have had the honor of receiving your Lord-
ship's despatch of the 5th ultimo (No. 103), whereby
you desire that I will express to you my judgment
on the whole subject of Escheat in the Island of
Prince Edward.

"After perusing the voluminous documents en-
closed in your Lordship's despatch, I do not feel that
it is in my power to add anything to the very full
information on the subject which these documents
comprise. The information before me is now so
ample, that upon no matter of fact can I entertain a
doubt. Nearly the whole Island was alienated in
one day by the Crown, in very large grants, chiefly
to absentees, and upon conditions of set lement
which have been wholly disregarded. The extreme
improvidence, I might say the reckless profusion,
which dictated these granlj, is obvious. The total
neglect of the Government as to enforcing the con-

1T74. A proclamation appeared in
the Nova Scotia Gazette on 20th Sep-
tember against public meetings on the
ground that they tended to disturbance.
— .\ cargo of tea having arrived at
Halifax from New England consigned
to a Mr. William Smith, Mr. Smith
called a public meeting to consider the
mode in which the tea should be dis-
posed of. This conduct being con-
sidered by the authorities as likely to
provoke disturbances, the meeting was
forbidden, and Mr. Smith and a Mr,
Fillis, who had acted with him, were
deprived by the governor in council of
all offices held by them under the
government. This prompt action on
the part of the council seems to have

ditions of the grants is not less so. The great bulk
of the Island is still possessed by absentees, who hold
it as a sort of reversionary interest which requires
no present attention, but may become valuable some
day or other, through the growing want of the in-
habitants. But in the meantime, the inhabitants of
the Island are subjected to the greatest inconveni-
ence, nay, to the most serious injury, from the state
of property in land. The absent proprietors neither
improve the land themselves, nor will let others im-
prove it. They retain the land, and keep it in a state
of wilderness. Your Lordship can scarcely conceive
the degree of injury inflicted on a new settlement by
being hemmed in by wilderness land, which has been
placed out of the control of Government, and is en-
tirely neglected by its absent proprietors. This evil
pervades British > orth America, and has been, fur
many years past, a subject of universal and bitter
complaints. The same evil was felt in many 01 the
States of the American Union, where, however, it
has been remedied by taxation of a penal character,
—taxation, I mean, in the nature of a fine for the
abatement of a nuisance. In Prince Edward Island
t^.is evil has attained its maximum. It has been
long and loudly complained of, but without any ef-
fect. The people, their representative Assembly,
the Legislative Council and the Governor, have cor-
dially concurred in devising a remedy for it. All
their efforts, however, have proved in vain. Some
influence— it cannot be that of equity or reason-
has steadily counteracted the measures of the Colo-
nial Legislature. I cannot imagine that it is any
other influence than that of the absent proprietors,
resident in England ; and in saying so I do but ex-
press the universal opinion of the Colony. The
only question, therefore, as it appears to me, is
whether that influence shall prevail against the

1774

CANADIAN ANNALS.

^774

checked any tendency to disorder, as
no further trouble occurred. — The fifth
session of the sixth General Assembly
of Nova Scotia commenced on 6th
October and closed on the 23rd Decem-
ber, when the Governor (Legge) refer-
red to the question of the public debt
of Nova Scotia, expressing his aston-
ishment that so young a colony should
already have contracted a debt. — A
census was taken in Cape Bieton in
October, when the population amounted
to 1013 persons, of whom 686 were
Roman Catholics, and 327 Protestants.
— SirGuy Carleton returned to Canada
and assumed the reigns of government.
The affairs of Canada had, during the
governor's absence in England, been
administered by M. CramahtJ. — A
notice dated 28th December, and
signed James Jeffrey, was issued from
the Quebec Post Office stating that
mails would be made up at that office
for New York at 2 p.m. on Monday and
Thursday. These mails were sent via
Montreal and Lake George. Notice
was given at the same time that " for
the convenience of persons who may
have concerns on LakeChamplain," a
Post Office had been established at
Crown Point, and another at Fort
Edward.— The Act 14 George III., Cap.

deliberative acts of the Colonial Legislature, and
the universal complaints of the suffering Colonists.
I can have no doubt on the subject. My decided
opinion is that the Royal assent should no longer
be withheld from the Act of the Colonial Legislature.
" At the same time, I doubt whether this Act will
prove a sufficient remedy for the evil in question.
It was but natural that the Colonial Legislature,
who have found it impossible as yet to obtain any
remedy whatever, should hesitate to propose a suffi-
cient one. Undeterred by any such consideration,
relying on the cordial co-operation of Her Majesty's
Government and Parliament in the work of improv-
ing the state of these Colonies, I had intended, be-
fore the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, and
still intend, to suggest a measure which, while it
provides an efficient remedy for the evil suffered by
the Colonists, shall also prove advantageous to the
absentee proprietors, by rendering their propert

83, commonly known as the "Quebec
Act," was passed this year, and as its
principles were warmly discussed both
in England and America at the time of
its passage through Parliament, it may
not be out of place to give here a sum-
mary of its provisions. Section I. de-
clares that all the territories, islands
and countries in North America belong-
ing to the Crown of Great Britain from
the Bay of Chaleurs along the height
of land immediately south of the St.
Lawrence to the east of the Connecti-
cut River, thence by line of latitude
45° N. until the line cuts the River St.
Lawrence, (except the Hudson's Bay
and Newfoundland districts) shall be
part and parcel of the Province of
Quebec. Section IL states the pro-
visions of the Act are not to affect the
boundaries of any other colony. Sec-
tion IIL, nor to make void rights for-
merly granted. Section IV. declares
all former provisions for the govern-
ment of the province to be null and
void from ist May, 1775. Section V.
provides that inhabitants of the Pro-
vince of Quebec may profess the
Romish religion subject to the King's
supremacy as declared by the Act i
Elizabeth, chap, i, and that the clergy
may enjoy their accustomed dues with

more valuable. Whether the inhabitants of Prince
Edward Island would prefer waiting for the now
uncertain results of such a suggestion of mine, or
that the Act which they have passed should be at
once confirmed, I cannot tell ; but I venture earnestly
to recommend that Her M.jesty's Government
should be guided by their wishes on the subject-
And in order to ascertain th' se, I propose to trans-
mit a copy of the present despatch to Sir Charles
Fit^roy, with a request that he will, after consulting
with the leading men of the Colony, address your
Lordship on the subject.

" With respect to the terms proposed by the pro-
prietors, I am clearly of opinion that anj^such ar-
rangement would be wholly inadequate to the end
in view.

" I am, &c„ &c.,

"DURHAM."
"Lord Glenelo."

1774

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1774

and
on V.

Fro-
th e

ing's
Act I

ergy

with

Prince

le now

nine, or

Id be at

irnestly

rnment

subject

I trans -

Charles

suiting

is your

VM.'

respect to such persons only as shall
profess the said religion. Section VI.
gives power to His Majesty to make
provision for the support of the Pro-
testant clergy out of the rest of the
accustomed dues and rights. Section
VII. declares that no person professing
the Romish religion is to be obliged to
take the oath prescribed by i Elizabeth,
but may, in lieu thereof, take before
the governor the following, namely : —
" I, A. B., do sincerely promise and
swear that I will be faithful and bear
true allegiance to His Majesty King
George, and him will defend to the
utmost of my power against all traitor-
ous conspiracies and attempts whatso-
ever which shall be made against his
person, crown and dignity; and I will
cio my utmost endeavour to disclose
and make known to His Majesty, his
heirs and successors, all treasons and
traitorous conspiracies and attempts
which I shall know to be against him,
or any of them ; and all this I do swear
without any equivocation, mental eva-
sion, or secret reservation, and renoun-
cing all pardons and dispensations from
any power or person whomsoever to
the contrary, so help me God." This
section also provides that any person
refusing to take this oath shall be sub-
ject to the penalties imposed by the Act
I Elizabeth. Section VIII. continues to
all His Majesty's Canadian subjects
I religious orders only excepted) the
right to hold all their possessions, &c.
as heretofore, and provides that in
matters of controversy, resort is to be
had to the laws and customs of Canada
for decision. Section IX. exempts from
the provisions of this Act any lands
t,'ranted, or to be granted, by His
Majesty in common soccag^ Section
X. gives power to owners of lands,
^'oods, &c., to alienate during lifetime,
or devise by will according to the laws
of Canada or of England. Section XI.

declares that the criminal law of Eng-
land shall continue to have force in
Canada. Section XII. authorizes His
Majesty, with the consent of the Privy
Council, to appoint a council for the
affairs of the Province of Quebec, to
consist of persons resident in the Pro-
vince, not exceeding twenty-three, nor
less than seventeen, who are to have
power, with consent of the governor, to
make ordinances for the peace, welfare,
and good government of the Province.
Section XIII. prohibits the council
created by the preceding section from
levying any taxes, but the council may
authorize towns and districts to asses
taxes for local purposes. Section XIV.
provides that all ordinances of the
council shall be laid before His Majesty
within six months, and if disallowed,
shall be void from the date of the pub-
lication in Quebec of the order in coun-
cil disallowing them. Section XV.
declares that no ordinance touching
religion, or imposing greater punish-
ment than fine or imprisonment for
three months, shall be in force until
approved by His Majesty. Section
XVI. provides that no ordinance shall
be passed at any meeting of council
where less than a majority of the whole
council be present, nor at any time,
except between ist January and ist
May, unless upon any very urgent
occasion, when the council may be
specially summoned. Section XVII.
reserves to His Majesty the power to
create any courts with criminal, civil,
or ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Section
XVIII. declares that no general acts
respecting trade or commerce in British
North America, shall be affected by
this Act, but that all such Acts are in
force in the Province of Quebec. An
Act (14 George III., chap. 88) was also
passed to impose a duty on the import-
ation into Canada of spirits and molas-
ses, and to levy a license duty on the

I I

1775

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1775

'i ■1

sale ofspirituouB liquors, &c., in order to
provide a revenue for the support of the
civil government.

1TT5« In January, 1775, a list of
letters remaining uncalled for in the
Quebec and Montreal Post Offices was
published. Among the Quebec ad-
dresses occur the names Batiscan,
Beauport and St. Charles, whilst tRe
Montreal list includes L'Assomption,
St. Sulpice and Detroit. — Governor
Legge opened the seventh session of
the fifth General Assembly of Nova
Scotia at Halifax on 12th June ; this
session closed on 20th July. On sth
July a proclammation was issued by the
Governor of Nova Scotia forbidding all
persons in the Province from corres-
ponding with, or assisting the rebels in
New England. — Attacks were made on
various settlements on the Bay of
Fundy by parties of New Englanders
who established themselves at Machias.
— The first congress of the thirteen
colonies had met at Philadelphia in
September, 1774, and it was now deter-
mined, on the proposition of Colonel
Arnold, to attempt the conquest of Can-
ada. General Schuyler was appointed
to the chief command, and he and Gen-
eral Montgomery advanced against
Montreal by way of St. John's. The
fort at Chambly was surrendered by
Major Stopford almost without a strug-
gle. St. John's held out for over a
month, but was at length compelled to
surrender. A premature attack on
Montreal by Colonel Ethan Allen failed,
and Allen was taken prisioner ; but a
very few days afterwards Montreal
opened its gates to Montgomery. Gen-
eral Carleton having been compelled to
retreat to Quebec with a remnant of
his force, barely sufficient for an escort,
Montgomery followed the governor
down the St. Lawrence, and entered
Three Rivers without resistance, thence
proceeding on his way to Quebec, where

he was joined by Colonel Arnold, who
had ascended the Kennebec, and the
combined force invested Quebec early
in December. General Carleton's first
care on »'•« return to Quebec was to put
the city state of defence. The

population of Quebec at that time is
estimated to have been about 5,000,
and the governor was able to collect a
force of nearly 1,800 men, consisting of
regulars, militia, sailors. See. ; more
than 150 pieces of artillery were in
position in the upper and lower town.
When Montgomery arrived he at once
proceeded to invest the city, occupying
Beauport, La Canardi^re and St. Foye,
fixing his head quarters at the latter
place. The only plan which appeared
likely to succeed was to carry the city
by a sudden assault, and *his General
Montgor determined to attempt.

The ni| December 30th being dark

and stoi.. rvith a heavy fall of snow,
was selected for the assault ; feints
wtre to be made on the western side of
the city, whilst the main body of the
enemy was to be divided into two par-
ties, one under Colonel Arnold was to
march through the St. Roch suburbs
and carry the barricades and batteries
at Sault-au-Matelot ; whilst Mont-
gomery, descending by Wolfe's Cove,
was to force the barrier at Prfes-de-
Ville, a.. ' enter the city by vVay of
Champlain Street. These arrange-
ments were all satisfactorily carried
out, and by 4 a.m. on 31st December,
Montgomery was drawing near to the
barrier at Prfes-de-Ville ; this was
passed without difficulty ; shortly after
passing the barrier Montgomery was
confronted by a masked battery. He
halted for a few moments, then rushed
to the ass^lt, but the deadly shower
of grape with which he was received
broke the head of the column, and so
discouraged the enemy that no second
attempt was made. Montgomery was

1775

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1776

ont-
ove,
-de-
of
nge-
ried
ber,
the
was
ifter
was
He
~~khed
pwer
lived
so
bond
was

killed, and several of his oflice.H, in-
cluding both his aides-de-camp, were
killed or severely wounded. Arnold
meanwhile had encountered a spirited
resistance, and being liimself disabled,
and his force attacked in rear, was
compelled to retreat with a loss of over
400 men who were taken prisoners.
The killed on the side of the enemy
exceeded 100, whilst the British loss
did not amount to 20. No further
attempt was made on the city during
the winter; the enemy under command
of Colonel Arnold, who had succeeded
G eneral Montgom ery, kept up a block-
ade of the city at a "distance of three
miles.— The eighth session of the fifth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia was
opened by Governor Legge on 20th
October, and lasted until i8th Novem-
ber.— With a view to the better pro-
tection of the province from the designs
of emissaries from the revolted provin-
ces, mart. I law was declare : in Nova
Scotia on joth November, and all
t-trangers were required to report them-
selves on arrival to two magistrates on
pain of being treated as spies. — Two
armed schooners from Marblehead
called at Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island, and carried off Attorney-Gen-
eral Callbeck (who was, during the
absence in England of Mr. Patterson,
t he Governor, administering the govern-
ment), and some other officers of the
government. When the capture of Mr.
Callbeck was reported to General
Washington, he reprimanded the cap-
tors, and returned the prisoners and
plunder with expressions of regret. —
Governor Legge was authorized by the
Earl of Dartmouth to raise a regiment
of 1,000 men for the defense of Nova
Scotia.

1T76. When congress learned that
General Montgomery had fallen in the
attempt to capture Quebec, and that
the failure of the expedition was pro-

bable, it was decided (early iii February)
to send commisioners to Canada in-
vested with full powers to treat upon
all matters and things whatsoever.
The commissioners were Benjamin
Franklin, Samuel Chase and Charles
Carroll ; they were accompanied by the
Rev. John Carroll (afterwards Bishop
of Baltimore). The party left Phila-
delphia about 20th March, and reached
Montreal towards the end of April.
They were not more successful in
diplomacy than Montgomery had been
in war, and returned to Philadelphia in
June. One good resulted from their
mission ; they had in their train one
Mesplets, a printer, who, having with
him the materials for his business,
thought he saw an opening for him in
Montreal, and therefore when the com-
missioners returned to Philadelphia, he
remained and became the first printer
in Montreal. From his press the Mon-
treal Gazette was first issued in 1778.

17T8> A treaty of alliance and trade
was signed by France, and the revolted
British Colonies. — General Carleton
left Canada for England, leaving Gene-
ral Haldimandto administer the affairs
f the Province as Lieutenant-Gover-
no.. — Four companies of Provincial
troops were sent to garrison Charlotte-
town. — Bryan Finucane, who had been
appointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia,
arrived at Halifax on the loth April,
and was sworn in as a member of
Council on ist May. — Lieutenant-
Governor Arbuthnot was promoted to
the rank of Rear -Admiral. — The
eleventh session of the Fifth General
Assembly of Nova Scotia was opened
by the Lieutenant-Govenor, Admiral
Arbuthnot, on 6th June. This session
closed on 25th June. The public debt
of Nova Scotia appears, from a state-
ment laid before the Legislature at this
session, to have been, at this date,
;f 14,500 sterling. — Commissioner Rich-

1779

CANADIAN ANNALS.

I78O

'';il

ard Hughes was sworn in as Lieuten-
ant-Governor of Nova Scotia, on 17th
August, Admiral Arbuthnot iiaving
sailed for England in the Thetis. — An
Act of Parliament (i8 Geo. III., Cap.
12) was passed declaring that no tax
should thereafter be imposed by the
King and Parliament of Great Britain,
on any of the colonies in North
America, or the West Indies, except
such duties as might be imposed for
the regulation of commerce, the net
produce of which should be applied to
the use of the colony. So much of the
Act (7 Geo. III.,) as imposed a duty on
tea imported from Great Britain into
America, was repealed by this Act.

m9. The 1 2th session of the Fifth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia, was
opened by Lieutenant GovernorHughes.
who announced in his speech that Mr.
Francklin, superintendent of Indian
Affairs, had effected the re-establish-
ment of peace with the Indian tribes,
and had succeeded in getting a treaty
annulled, which had actually been
made by the Indians with the revolu-
tionary leaders, by which the Indians
had engaged to furnish 600 men to aid
in the struggle with Great Britain. —
The Third General Assembly of Prince
Edward Island {Island of St. John) met
in October, the Honourable T. Des-
Brisay acting as Lieutenant-Governor
(luring the absence in England of the
Governor, Walter Patterson.

1780. The thirteenth session of the
Fifth General Assembly of Nova Scotia
was opened at Halifax on qth October,
by Lieutenant-Governor Hughes. — An
Act was passed during this session
to establish a public school at Hali-
fax. — The Assembly was prorogued on
3rd November. —Sir Richard Hughes,
Lieutenant-Governor (who had recently
become a baronet), was, on 26th Sep-
tember, promoted to be a Rear- Admiral
of the Blue.

1*781. Brigadier - General Francis
McLean, Colonel of the 82nd Regiment,
who commanded the troops in Nova
Scotia, died at Halifax on 4th May. —
The General Assembly of Nova Scotia
met at Halifax on nth of June. — The
session was opened by Sir Richard
Hughes, who, in his opening speech,
mentioned his promotion, and that he
was to be succeeded by Sir A. S.
Hamond. A resolution was passed
during this session to pay ten shillings
a day to members of the distant towns
and counties who " shall think proper
to apply for the same." A pension
of ;f 50 sterling was voted for life to
Elizabeth Amelia Belcher, orphan
daughter of the late Chief-Justice
Belcher. — The Assembly was prorogued
on the 5th July. — The new Lieutenant-
Governor, Captain Sir Andrew Snape
Hamond, R. N., arrived at Halifax on
30th July, and was sworn into office the
next day. — August 29th. The town of
Annapolis Royal was plundered by tht
crews of two rebel schooners whicli
had sailed up the basin the previous
night and landed there unobserved at
break of day. — December 8th. Attor-
ney-General Brenton, of Nova Scotia,
was appointed Assistant Judge of the
Supreme Court in place of Mr. Morris,
deceased. Charles Morris, son of the
late Judge, was appointed Chief Land
Surveyor of Nova Scotia. — Governor
Patterson, of Prince Edward Island
(Island of St. John), ordered the sale
of nine whole and five half townships
for non-payment of quit-rents. This
act was not approved by the Home
Government, and created much dis-
satisfaction, resulting, in 1786, in the
recall of Governor Patterson. The
sale of these lands, and the disturbance
consequent thereon, may fairly be con-
sidered as the commencement of the
difficulties which the peculiar tenure
of land in Prince Edward Island has

I78I

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1783

[he

jhe
Ice
»n-
Ihe

ire
las

brought upon that colony, which diffi-
culties the legislation of nearly a cen-
tury has failed to remove.

1782. The fifteenth session of the
Fifth Genei" ;1 Assembly of Nova Scotia
was opened by Lieutenant-Governor
Hamond on the nth of June. The
Lieutenant-Governor, in his opening
speech, complimented the Assembly
for their loyalty, and expressed the
hope that peace would soon be restored.
This session terminated on the 4th of
July. — The settlements on the south-
western coast of Nova Scotia and in
the Bay of Fundy were much annoyed
by frequent attacks of American priva-
teers. Annapolis had been plundered
in 1781, and Lunenburg suffered a like
misfortune in 1782. — Lieutenant-Colo-
nel John Parr, who had been appointed
Governor of Nova Scotia, arrived at
Halifax in the St. Lawrence on the
6th October. On the arrival of Colonel
Parr, Sir A. S. Hamond at once wrote
to the Earl of Shelburne (then Colonial
Secretary), tendering his resignation of
the office of Lieutenant-Governor, to
which he had been re-appointed. —
Colonel Parr was sworn into office as
Governor of Nova Scotia on the 19th
October. — The Honorable Michael
Francklin died at Halifax after a resi-
dence of thirty years in Nova Scotia,
during which time he had filled many
public ofR'-.es of nigh trust, and had
secured the esteem of his fellow-citizens
both for his ability and integrity. —
The preliminary articles of peace be-
tween His Britannic Majesty's Com-
missioners and those of the United
States of America, were signed at
Paris on the 30th of November ; by
Richard Oswald for the King, and by
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John
Jay, and Henry Laurens for the United
States. — December 3rd. A proclama-
tion was issued by Governor Parr, of
Nova Scotia, against the impressment

of men for the King's service without
permission of the civil magistrate.

1783. A treaty of peace was signed
at Versailles, on the 3rd of September,
between Great Britain and France, and
also between Great Britain and Spain.
A treaty between Great Britain and
the United States was signed at Paris
on the same day, by which the indepen-
dence of the thirteen United States of
America was recognized. By this
treaty the limits of Canada were con-
siderably abridged. Lake Champlain
in the East, and Detroit in the then
far west, passed away forever from the
power of Britain. — During the progress
of the war many thousands of the loyal
minority had left the States and had
settled in Canada and Nova Scotia,
where they were gladly received, and
commended to the special favor of
the Provincial Governments. Liberal
grants of land, and assistance in vari-
ous ways, showed in an unmistakeable
manner the satisfaction with which so
valuable an accession to the population
of the British Provinces was received ;
and the United Empire Loyalists, as
the new comers were called, proved,
by the energy with which they set to
work to develope the resources of the
country, how well they merited the
hearty reception which had been given
them. — A deputation, consisting of
Messrs. Adhdmar, Powell, and Delisle,
went to England with a petition to
Parliament asking for the introduction
into Canada of the law of Ilahtus Corpus,
and other rights unci privileges enjoj'ed
by British subjects elsewhere.— Colonel
de Seitz, who commanded one of the
Hessian regiments, died at Halifax. —
The preliminaries of peace, and the
King's proclamation for a cessation of
arms, were published in the Nova Scotia
Gazette on the 22nd April, — On the 6th
of June, Governor Parr writes to the
Secretary of State that, since January,

,. i:

• #■

. *

1 £f i

1783

CANADIAN ANNALS.

upwards of 7,000 refugees had arrived
in Nova Scotia from the United States,
and that 3,000 more were expected f-
and he also asks aid from the Home
Government to furnish shelter, imple-
ments of husbandry, &c. — On the 23rd
September, Edmond Fanning, Esquire,
was sworn in at Halifax as Lieutenant-
Governor of Nova Scotia. — The six-
teenth session of the Fifth General
Assembly of Nova Scotia was opened
by Governor Parr at Halifax on the
6th October. This session closed on
the 2nd December. Mr. William Nes-
bitt,f the Speaker, tendered his resig-
nation of the chair on account of his
age and infirmity. The Assembly
passed a vote of thanks to him for
his long and faithful services, and
granted him an annuity of ;fioo a
year for the remainder of his life.

1784. Among the persons who had
suffered from the arbitrary measures of
the Government of Canada during the
administration of General Haldimand,
was a M. du Calvet, a Huguenot, who
had taken a very active pait in urging
the adoption of changes calculated to
render the constitution more acceptable
to the people, and had thus rendered
himself obnoxious to the Governor.
M. du Calvet went to France in 1783,
ahdthe next year published, in London,
a work illustrative of his views on the
constitution of Canada. It is some-

' This estimate fell far short of the actual numhcr,
as, from subsequent statements, it would seem that
at least 25,000 persons left the United States and
settled in Nova Scotia.

t William Nesbitt accompanied Governor Corn-
wallis to Nova Scotia in 17(9, and was employed in
the Secretary's office forso.-ne years. He afterwards
practised as an attorney and solicitor in Halifax, and
became Attorney-General of Nova Scotia. On the
establishment of Representative Government he was
elected a member of the Assembly, and was made
speaker in 1759. Mr. Nesbitt continued in the chair,
with the exception of one year (1774) when he was
sick, until his retirement in 1783. He died in 1784.

1884

what singular to find that at so early
a period of our history the question of
representation in the Imperial Parlia-
ment should have been discussed, but
it will be found among ';he changes
pressed upon the attention of the British
Government by M. du Calvet.— The
Iroquois, under Braiit, were settled on
the banks of the Grand River.— M. de
St. Luc moved an address in the Coun-
cil thanking His Majesty for his pro-
tection of Canada during the American
revolution, and praying that he would
maintain intact the Government of 1774.
This motion was opposed by Messrs.
Grant, De Lery,and Levesque, but was
finally carried. Indeed from this d"ate
until 1790 a perfect flood of petitions
poured in upon the House of Commons
and engaged the attention of the Home
Government, all having reference to
the future government of Canada.—
July 19th. Theframeofthe first Roman
Catholic Church in Halifax was raised
on the present site of St. Mary's Cathe-
dral. — Nova Scotia was divided into
two Provinces, the line of separation to
be drawn from the mouth of the Missi-
guash River, in the Bay of Fundy, to
its source, and from thence across the
Isthmus into the nearest part of the
Bale Verte. The New Province was
called New Brunswick.— Colonel Carle-
ton, who had been appointed Governor
of the new Province of New Brunswick,
reached Halifax m October, and, shortly
afterwards, proceeded to the seat of his
government, reaching St.John''=on Sun-
day, the 31st of November, where he
met with a most enthusiastic reception.
Jonathan Odell, Secretary of the new
Province, accompanied the Governor
to St. John. A proclamation was issued
by Colonel Carleton, on 22nd Novem-

* St. John was then called Parr-town, after Gover-
nor Parr, of Nova Scotia.

kvick,
artly
3f his
I Sun-
re he
kion.
new
;rnor
bsued
Ivem-

1784

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1786

ber, dated at Parr-town, giving the
boundaries of the Province, and a
second on 25th November, requiring
all grants, deeds, &c., to be registered
at Parr-town. — An ordinance, dated
29th April, v.-as issued by General
Haldimand, extending the law of Habeas
Corpus to Canada, and providing gen-
er;>lly for securing the liberty of the
subject. — On Monday, ist November,
the seventeenth and last session of the
fifth General Assembly of Nova Scotia
was convened at Halifax. This Assem-
bly had been first elected in 1770, and
had, therefore, lasted fourteen years.
Thomas Cochran was chosen Speaker,
in place of William Nesbitt, who had
resigned. The Governor, in his open-
ing speech, announced the division of
the Province. This session terminated
on the 8th December. — The Legislative
Assembly of the Island of St. John
(Prince Edward Island) was dissolved,
and a new election took place immedi-
ately. — Mr. Desbarres, who had been
appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Cape
Breton, which had been made a sepa-
rate colony, arrived at Halifax from
Portsmouth on the i6th November. —
M. d'Esglis succeeded M. Briand as
Bishop of Quebec on the 2nd of Decem-
ber. — Governor Haldimand having left
the Province, the administration of
the government of Canada devolved
upon the Lieutenant-Governor, Henry
Hamilton, Esq., who assume' the
government on the i6th November.

1785« An ordinance of 21st April
provided for trial by jury in actions of
a commercial nature, and for personal
wrongs to be compensated in damages.
— The Legislative Assembly of Prince
Edward Island which had been elected
in 1784, met in this year, and was (in con-
sequence of some difficulty with the
governor) almost immediately dissolved,
and another election was ordered. — A

charter, dated i8th May, was granted
by Governor Carleton of New Bruns-
wick, by which the inhabitants of Parr-
town on the east side of the harbour,
and of Carleton on the west side, at the
mouth of the St. John River, were in-
corporated as a city by the name of the
city of St. John. They were to have a
mayor, recorder, six aldermen, and six
assistants. — October 20th — The Gene-
ral Assembly of Nova Scotia, which had
existed since 1770, was dissolved by
proclamation. Writs, returnable on
1st December, were issued for a new
election. — The first session of the sixth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia was
opened with a speech from Governor
Parr at Halifax, on the 5th December.
This session closed on 28th December.
— August 8th — Isaac Deschamps ap-
pointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia in
place of Bryan Finucane, deceased. — A
regular line of Government Packets
established between Falmouth and
Halifax. — The first general election for
the Province of New Brunswick was
held this year. — Brigadier General
Henry Hope, Colonel of the 44th regi-
ment, announced his appointment as
Lieutenant-Governor of the Province
of Quebec by proclamation, dated 2nd
November. Colonel Hope succeeded
Henry Hamilton, Esq., who sailed for
England in the Antelope mail packet on
6th November.

1186. The first session of the first
Legislative Assembly of New Bruns-
wick was held at St. John. Fredericton
was chosen as the capital of the Pro-
vince.— The second session of the sixth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia was
opened at Halifax on 8th June, and
closed nth July. — Sir Guy Carleton,
K.C.B., was appointed, on nth April,
Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief
of Quebec, Nova Scotia, (including the
Islands of St. John and Cape Breton)

■A

■

/■

1786

CANADIAN Aiy'NALS.

1788

1:^

... '.H

New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Sir Guy Carleton thus became the first
British Governor-General of Canada. —
His Royal Highness Prince William
Henry (afterwards King William IV.)
arrived at Placentia on i6th July in
command of His Majesty's Ship
Pegasus, 28. — Lord Dorchester having
been appointed Governor-in-Chief of all
the British North American Provinces*
Mr. Parr became Lieutenant-Governor
of Nova Scotia. — 4th October-^- Prince
William Henry arrived at Halifax from
St. John, N. B. The Prince was re-
ceived with great rejoicings; Halifax
was illuminated, and everything was
done to give expression to the general
satisfaction at the visit of a member of
the Royal Family. — General Lord Dor-
chester, K.C.B., (Sir Guy Carleton had
been created Baron Dorchester on 21st
August) arrived at Quebec, in His
Majesty's Ship Thisbe, Captain Coffin,
on Sunday, 2and October. His Lord-
ship landed on 23rd, and was sworn in
as Governor-General at the Castle of
St. Louis on the same day. — The Prince
sailed from Halifax for the West Indies
on 25th October. — A bill was laid before
the Legislative Assembly of the Island
of St. John (Prince Edward Island) to
ratify the sales of lands ordered in 1781.
This bill was passed, but on being sent
to England it was disallowed. A bill
sent out from England to make the
sales of 178 1 voidable was laid before
the Assembly by the Governor. This
bill was rejected by the Assembly, and
a bill professing to reach the object
desired by the Home Government was
passed. This was, however, disallowed
on being sent home, and Governor
Patterson was recalled.

1787. An ordinance, dated 27th Feb-
ruary, regulating the proceedings in
certain cases in the Court of King's
Bench, and giving the right of appeal

to the Privy Council, was sanctioned by
Governor Lord Dorchester, who, also,
on 23rd April, gave his sanction to an
ordinance respecting the quartering of
troops in country parishes, and the con-
veyance of effects belonging to the
government. — ^June 28th — Prince Wil-
liam Henry arrived at Halifax in the
Pegasus on his return from the Wfst
Indies. — ^July 14th — The Prince sailed
for Quebec, which he reached on the
14th August; on landing he was re-
ceived by the Governor, Lord Dor-
chester; addresses were presented, the
city was illuminated, and every pos-
sible mark of respect and attention was
shown to him. — On Tuesday, October
i6th, the Right Rev. Charles Inglis,
D.D., first Bishop of Nova Scotia, (so
created by Patent, dated, nth August)
arrived at Halifax. — The third session
of the sixth General Assembly of Nova
Scotia was opened by Governor Parr
on 25th October. — Prince William
Henry arrived at Halifax from Quebec
on 24th October. From this time un-
til 12th November, when the Prince
sailed from Halifax, balls, reviews, din-
ners and entertainments of all kinds
followed in rapid succession. The
House of Assembly, being in session,
voted ;f70o for a dinner and ball in
honor of His Royal Highness. — The
General Assembly of Nova Scotia was
prorogued on 12th December.

1788> An ordinance was passed by
the Governor in Council at Quebec on
30th April to prevent persons practising
physic and surgery without a license.
— Lieutenant-General Fanning, who
had arrived at Charlottetown the pre-
vious autumn, (1787) assumed the
government of the Island of St. John
(Prince Edward Island). Mr. Patter-
son, the previous governor, and who
declined in the autumn to surrender
his office to General Fanning, having

1788

CANADIAN ANNALS.

I79I

been ordered by the Home Govern-
ment to resign, Governor Fanning
convened the Assembly as early as
practicable after assuming the reins of
government, and the dissensions which
had existed for the two or three years
previous ceased for a time. — On July
17th the Honorable Jeremy Pemberton
arrived at Halifax from Quebec. He
was appointed by commission, signed
by Governor Parr, and dated 19th
August, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia.
Prince William Henry again visited
Nova Scotia. He arrived at Halifax
in the Andromeda on 17th August, and
remained until the agth September. —
Chief Justice Pemberton opened the
Supreme Court on 21st October, when
his patent was read.

1189. The General Asserhbly of
Nova Scotia met at Halifax on 5th
March, being the fourth session of the
sixth Assembly. No session appears
to have been held during the year 1788.
Mr. Uniacke was elected Speaker in
place of Mr. Blowers, who had been
appointed a member of the council. —
Serious complaints were preferred by
the House ot Assembly of Nova Scotia
against the judges of the Supreme
Court of that Province. The session
closed on 9th April.

1190. The Assembly of Nova Scot.".^
(5th session of 6th Assembly) met at
Halifax on 25th February. A bill was
passed during this session limiting the
duration of an Assembly to seven years,
but Governor Parr declined to give his
consent. The complaints against the
judges of the Supreme Court were again
brought before the Assembly, and it
was finally decided to impeach Judges
Deschamps and Brenton. The Assem-
bly adjourned on 28th April.

1791. Information was received from
thb Agent in London of the Province

of Nova Scotia that the King had given
orders that the charges against the
judges of the Supreme Court of Nova
Scotia should be heard before His
Majesty in council. — The General As-
sembly of Nova Scotia (6th session of
6th Assembly) met on 6th June, and
was closed on 5th July. — Lieutenant-
Governor Parr died, after a short illness,
on 25th November. He was buried on
29th with great pomp and ceremony in
St. Paul's Church. Mr. Bulkeley, as
senior member of the council assumed
the control of public affairs, until His
Majesty's pleasure could be known. —
Very shortly after the passing of the
Act of 1774, (14 George IH.) commonly
known as the Quebec Act, an agitation
was commenced for its repeal, and this
agitation had been continued with but
little interruption ever since. The long
sought for change was now to take
place, the agitators had carried their
point, and the Quebec Act was about
to be numbered, in part, at least, with
the things of the past. — On 4th March,
1791, a message from the King was
transmitted to the House of Commons.
This message was as follows: " His
Majesty thinks it proper to acquaint
the House of Commons that it ap-
pears to His Majesty that it would
be for the benefit of His Majesty's
subjects in his Province of Quebec,
that the same should be divided
into two separate provinces, to be
called the Province of Upper Canada,
and the Province of Lower Canada, and
that it is accordingly His Majesty's in-
tention so to divide the same, when-
ever His Majesty shall be enabled by
Act of Parliament to establish the
necessary regulations for the govern-
ment of the said Province. His Majesty,
therefore, recommends this object to the
consideration of this House. His
Majesty also recommends to this House
to consider of such provisions as may

p 'i

1 791

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1791

be necessary to enable His Majesty to
make a permanent appropriation of
lands in the said province for the sup-
port and maintenance of a protestant
clergy within the same, in proportion to
such lands as have been already grant-
ed within the same by His Majesty; and
it is His Majesty's desire that such pro-
vision may be made with respect to all
future grants of land within the said
provinces respectively, as may best con-
duce to the same object, in proportion
to such increase as may happen in the
population and cultivation of the said
provinces ; and for this purpose, His
Majesty consents that such provisions
and regulations may be made by this
House respecting all future grants of
land to be made by His Majesty with-
in the said provinces, as this House
shall think fit." The bill was intro-
duced by Mr. Pitt on the 4th March,
and gave rise to considerable discus-
sion ; Mr. Fox, Mr. Francis, and others,
opposing its passage, whilst Edmund
Burke supported the government. The
bill was also opposed by a number of
Canadians, represented by Mr. Adam
Lymburner, a merchant of Quebec,
who, as their agent, was heard on 23rd
March, against it, at the bar of the
House of Commons. The Act of 1791
was generally known as the Constitu-
tional Act. Its principal provisions were
as follows : — The first section repeals so
much of the Quebec Act (14 Geo. III.,
ch. 83) as relates to the appointment of
a Council for the Province of Quebec,
and the power given to the said Council
to make ordinances for the govern-
ment thereof. The second clause recites
the intention of His Majesty, as com-
municated in his message, to divide the
Province of Quebec into two provinces,
to be called Upper Canada and Lower
Canada, and enacts that a Legislative
Council and Assembly shall be estab-
lished for each province, by and with

whose advice His Majesty may make
laws for the peace, welfare, and good
government thereof. The third, fourth,
and fifth sections provide for the sum-
moning, by the Lieutenant-Governors
of the respective provinces, of members
to the Legislative Council (seven for
Upper Canada and fifteen for Lower
Canada) ; such members to be of the
full age of twenty-one years, and to
hold their seats for jlife. Section six
authorizes His Majesty to annex to
hereditary titles of honor, the right of
being summoned to the Legislative
Council. Sections seven to eleven,
inclusive, relate to vacation of seats in
the Legislative Council, forfeiture of
hereditary rights and questions respect-
ing the right to be summoned. Section
twelve authorizes the Governor or
Lieutenant-Governor to appoint the
Speaker of the Legislative Council.
Sections thirteen to twenty-five relate to
the election of members of the Legis-
lative Assembly — Upper Canada to have
sixteen members ; Lower Canada, fifty.
Sections twenty-six and twenty-seven
give power to the Governor to fix the
times and placesof holding the first and
succeeding sessions of the Legislative
Council and Assembly in each Province,
giving due notice thereof, and to pro-
rogue and dissolve the same. They
were to be convoked at least once in
every twelve months ; each assembly
was to continue for four years from the
date fixed for the return of the writs,
subject to prorogation and dissolution.
Section twenty-eight enacts that all
questions arising in either Council or
Assembly shall be decided by a major-
ity of votes, the Speaker of each House
to have a casting vote. Section twenty-
nine prescribes the oath to be taken by
members of the Council and Assembly.
Section thirty authorizes the Governor
to give or withhold His Majesty's assent
to all bills passed by the two Houses,

I79I

ANADIAN ANNALS.

I79I

or to reserve such as he may think fit
for the signification of His Majesty's
pleasure thereon. Section thirty-one
requires copies of all bills which have
been assented to to be forwarded to the
Secretary of State, and authorizes the
disallowance of any such bills at any
time within two years after receipt by
the Secretary of State. The next
section provides that reserved bills
shall have no force until the King's
assent had been communicated to the
Governor. Section thirty-three con-
tinues in force all laws, ordinances,
or statutes, except so far as they may
be repealed or varied by this Act.
Section thirty-four continues existing
Courts of civil jurisdiction. Sections
thirty-five to forty-two, inclusive, relate
to the provision made and to be made
for the support of the clergy, both
Catholic and Protestant. Section forty-
three enacts that all lands to be there-
after granted in Upper Canada were to
be in free and common soccage, and so
also in Lower Canada, when the grantee
required it. The two following sections
relate to the issue of fresh grants on
surrender of existing titles. Section
forty-six declares that this Act shall
not prevent the operation of any Act
of Parliament establishing prohibitions
or imposing duties for the regulation
of navigation and commerce ; such
duties were, however, as provided by
the next section, to be applied to the
use of the respective provinces. By
section forty-eight it is provided that
His Majesty, in Council, is to fix a
date, not later than the 31st of Decem-
ber, 1791, for the commencement of
this Act. Section forty-nine provides
that writs of summons and election
shall issue not later than the 31st of
December, 1792. The fiftieth and con-
cluding section authorizes the making
of temporary laws pending the first
meeting of the Legislative Council and

Assembly. — March loth. A numerously
signed petition was presented to Lord
Dorchester, by the seigniors of the
Province of Quebec, against the intro-
duction of free and common soccage. —
Prince Edward arrived at Quebec on
the nth August, from Gibraltar, with
the 7th Regiment of Royal Fusiliers,
which he commanded. His arrival was
hailed with great satisfaction by the
citizens of Quebec, who presented him
with an address on the i8th of August.
— The Governor - General, Lord Dor-
chester, sailed from Quebec on the 17th
August, in His Majesty's Ship Alligator.
On the 25th August Major - General
Aimed Clarke, Lieutenant - Governor
and Major- G'~neral commanding the
forces in America, issued a proclama-
tion assuming the government during
the absence on leave of the Governor.
— Lieutenant - General Sir F. Haldi-
mand, K.C.B., (formerly Governor of
Canada), died at Yverdon, Switzerland,
in June, in the 76th year of his age. —
By a proclamation dated at the Castle
of St. Louis, Quebec, i8th November,
1791, of the Lieutenant - Governor,
Major - General Aimed Clarke, it was
declared that the Act dividing the
Province into two Provinces should
commence within Upper and Lower
Canada respectively on 26th December,
1791. The line dividing the two Pro-
vinces was to commence at a stone
boundary on the north bank of Lake
St. Francis, at the cove west of the
Point -ati-Baudet, in the limit between
the township of Lancaster and the
seigniory of New Longueuil, running
along the said limit in the direction of
north thirty -four degrees west to the
uttermost angle of the said seigniory
of New Longueuil, thence along the
north-west boundary of the seigniories
of Vaudreuil, running north twenty-five
degrees east until it strikes the Ottawa
River ; to ascend the said river into

ti ■'

?ii

1792

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1792

Lake Temiscaminqua ; and from the
head of the said lake by a line drawn
due north until it strikes the boundary
line of Hudson's Bay, including all the
territory to the westward and south-
ward of the said line, to the utmost
extent of the country commonly known
by the name of Canada. — The 26th of
December was celebrated in Quebec by
a public dinner, an illumination in the
evening, and other demonstrations of
joy. — John Graves Simcoe, Esquire,
who had been appointed Lieutenant-
Governor of Upper Canada, arrived at
Quebec on Friday, November nth, in
His Majesty's Ship Triton. — A violent
shock of earthquake was felt in Quebec
on 6th December.

1792. January 15th. — Fifteen vessels
sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, for
Sierra Leone, conveying thither up-
wards of twelve hundred coloured
persons. The expense of transport,
amounting to nearly ;f 4,000, was borne
by the British Government. — John
Wentworth, Esquire, who had been
appointed Lieutenant - Governor of
Nova Scotia, arrived at Halifax in
His Majesty's Ship Hussar, on the
1 2th of May. Mr. Wentworth had,
previous to the revolution, been Gover-
nor of New Hampshire, of which pro-
vince he was a native. Governor
Wentworth was sworn into office on
Monday, 14th May, with the cere-
monies usual on such occasions. — The
seventh session of the Sixth General
Assembly of Nova Scotia was opened
by Governor Wentworth on the 6th of
June, and prorogued on the nth July.
— The Halifax Gazette of September
nth contained the following notice re-
specting the impeachment of the Judges
(Deschamps and Brenton) : " The Com-
mittee of Her Majesty's Privy Council,
before whom the charges exhibited by
the House of Assembly against the

assistant Judges of the Supreme Court
have been heard, have reported to His
Majesty that, after a mature considera-
tion of the subject, they cannot find
any cause of censure against those
gentlemen, and consequently have fully
acquitted them, which report His Ma-
jesty has been pleased to confirm." —
Colonel His Royal Highness Prince
Edward was installed Grand Master of
the Provincial Grand Lodge of Free-
masons, at Quebec, on the 22nd of June,
— On the gth July Letters Patent were
issued by Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe
dividing the Province of Upper Canada
into Counties, and apportioning the
representation thereof. The Counties
in Upper Canada were : Glengarry,
Stormont, Dundas, Grenville, Leeds,
Frontenac, Ontario, Addington, Prince
Edward, Lennox, Hastings, Northum-
berland, Durham, York, Lincoln, Nor-
folk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent. — On the
7th of February proclamations were
issued by the Lieutenant-Governors of
Upper and Lower Canada, giving at
length the terms upon which the Crown
Lands in their respective Provinces
would be granted to intending settlers.
On the 7th May the division of Lower
Canada into Electoral Districts was
announced by a proclamation of the
Lieutenant-Governor, who at the same
time fixed the number of representa-
tives to be elected for each district ;
this proclamation was followed by a
second, dated 14th May, ordering the
issue of writs for the election of mem-
bers of the Legislative Assembly, such
writs to be dated 24th of May, and to
be returnable on loth July. The Coun-
ties into which Lower Canada was at
this time divided were as follows : —
Bedford, Buckinghamshire, Cornwallis,
Devon, Dorchester, Effingham, Gasp^,
Hampshire, Hertford, Huntingdon,
Kent, Leinster, Montreal, Northumber-
land, Orleans, Quebec, Richelieu, St.

1793

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1793

Maurice, Surrey, and Warwick.— The
Legislative Council and General Assem-
bly of the new Province of Upper
Canada met for the first time at Newark
(now Niagara) on 17th September. The
session was opened by John Graves
Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor, and the
members lost no time in proceeding to
business, for by the 15th October, when
the session closed, seven Acts had been
passed — the most important of which
were those providing for the introduc-
tion of English Civil Law, the establish-
ment of trial by jury, and the building
of gaols and court-houses. — On the
3rd of December Mr. Abel Learned
and Mr. Ward Bailey arrived at Quebec,
having travelled on horseback over the
road then just completed from the Pro-
vince Line on the Connecticut River to
the old road on the Chaudi^re, by which
it was claimed that the distance between
Quebec and Boston had been shortened
two hundred miles. — December 17th.
The Legislative Assembly and Legis-
lative Council of the Province of
Quebec met for the first time. The
Hon. William Smith was appointed
Speaker of the Legislative Council
and Mr. J. A. Panet was, on the fol-
lowing day, elected by a majority of
ten, and after considerable discussion.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
On Thursday, the 20th, Major-Generaj
Aimed Clarke, Lieutenant-Governor,
(in the absence of Lord Dorchester,)
opened the session with a speech. —
December 20th. A notice, signed by
Hugh Finlay, Deputy Postmaster-Gen-
eral, appeared in the Quebec Gazette,
that a regular conveyance once every
fourteen days, had been established for
transmission of mails between Mon-
treal and Burlington, in the State of
Vermont.

1793. January 14th. A General
Court-Martial assembled at Quebec, of
which Colonel Walker, R.A., was presi-

dent, to try some soldiers of the Royal
Fusiliers, (7th regiment,) on a charge
of mutiny. The finding of the Court
was published on the 25th March, when
private Joseph Draper was sentenced
to death, William Rose to five hundred
lashes, Timothy Kennedy to seven
hundred lashes. Sergeant Thomas
Wigton to five hundred lashes and to
be reduced to the ranks, James Lau-
drigan was acquitted, the evidence
being insufficient to convict him. On
Tuesday, 9th April, private Draper,
whose execution had been respited to
that day, was brought out from the
barricks and made to walk behind his
coffin to the place of execution, the
troops marching with music suited to
the solemn occasion. Just as the ex-
ecution was about to take place, His
Royal Highness Prince Edward an-
nounced that Draper had been pardoned,
an announcement which was received
with the most lively satisfaction by the
large number of persons who had as-
sembled to witness the execution. —
24th April. Major - General Clarke
issued a Proclamation stating that
France had declared war against Great
Britain, on the ist February, and
adding that Letters of Marque would
be issued in the usual manner. — 25th
April. General Clarke sent a message
to the House of Assembly recommend-
ing a revision of the laws regulating
the Militia. — May ist. An Address
from the House of Assembly to General
Clarke, assuring His Excellency of
their readiness to co-operate with him
in all measures necessary for the de-
fence of the country. — May gth. The
General Assembly of the Province of
Lower Canada was prorogued by Gen-
eral Clarke. The first Act passed by
the Legislature of Lower Canada v,-as
an Act to regulate the landing of gun-
powder at Montreal ; of the remaining
Acts of this session, those relating to

Pi"

1793

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1794

the importation of wampum from the
United States, and providing for the
imposition of duties; to establish a fund
for payment of salaries of officers of the
Legislature, and contingent expenses of
the same. — A proclamation, dated 22nd
April, by General Washington, Presi-
dent of the United States, enjoining the
inhabitants of the United States to
observe a strict neutrality during the
war between France and the other
European Powers, was published in the
Qathec Gazette. — May 14. The French
islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, were
captured by the British forces, and the
French troops in garrison were sent
to Halifax, Nova Scotia. — Dr. Jacob
Mountain was appointed the first pro-
testant Bishop of Quebec. — September
14th. His Excellency Lord Dorchester,
Governor-General, and his family, ar-
rived at Quebec in H.M.S. Severn, from
London. — November nth. The second
session of the Legislature of Lower
Canada was opened by His Excellency
Lord Dorchester, who, in his opening
speech, especially commended to the
careful attention of the Members the
establishment of a Financial System,
and of Courts of Justice, and the enact-
ment of a Militia Law.— November
14th. The House of Assembly of
Lower Canada presented His Royal
Highness Prince Edward with an ad-
dress, thanking him for the zeal and
activity he had displayed for the pro-
tection of the property of the citizens,
and for the defence of the country. —
The Hon. William Smith, Speaker of
the Legislative Council, and Chief
Justice of the Province of Lower
Canada, died at Quebec, on Friday 6th
December. — The Second Session of the
first Provincial Parliament of Upper
Canada was opened at Newark, on 31st
May, and was prorogued on 9th July.
The principal Acts passed during this
Session were for the regulation of the

Militia; the appointment of parish and
town officers; to provide for the sol-
emnization of marriage; to prevent the
further introduction of slaves, and to
establish a Court of Probate. — The
General Assembly of Nova Scotia
was dissolved by Lieutenant-Governor
Wentworth on the 22nd January, and
writs, returnable on the 5th March,
were issued for a new election. — The
Assembly meet on 20th March, and
Thomas Barclay was chosen Speaker.
On 13th April the Council of Nova
Scotia directed the Sheriffs of each
county to make proclamation of the
war with France. — 20th June. Major-
General Ogilvie arrived at Halifax in
H.M.S. Alligator, having on board the
French Governor, M, Dauseville, and
the troops captured at St, Pierre. —
23rd July. Lieutenant-Governor Went-
worth repot ts that, in case of invasion,
1,500 Militia could be assembled for the
defence of Halifax in a few hours ;
and that Militia force available for de-
fence of the whole Province, would
exceed 4,000 men.

1794. Two companies of Provincial
Militia were raised in the Island of St.
John, (P. E. Island,) for purposes of
defence.— The Third Session of the
first Parliament of Upper Canada
was opened by Lieutenant-Governor
Simcoe, at Newark, on 2nd June; this
session terminated on the 7th July.
The Acts passed related principally to
the constitution of the law courts,
forms of procedure, and to the impos-
ition of duties upon spirits. — The
building of the town of York, (now the
City of Toronto,) was commenced early
in the spring of 1794, under the per-
sonal supervision of Governor Simcoe,
who selected, as the site of his own
residence, a spot on the high ground
overlooking the valley of the Don. —
An address was presented at Quebec,

1794

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1794

on the 8th January, by the Masonic
fraternity, to H. R. H. Prince Edward,
Grand Master of the Free Masons in
Lower Canada, on his departure to
assume command of a portion of the
forces enKa^ed in operations against
the French West Indies.— Addresses
were also presented to the Prince by
the Legislative Council, citizens of
Quebec, Montreal and William Henry,
and by several other public bodies.
Major-GeneralH.R. H. Prince Edward
left Quebec on 22nd January, and
arrived at Boston, Mass., on 6th Feb-
ruary, on his way to join the forces in
the West Indies. The Prince sailed
from Boston in the packet Roebuck, and
reached the West Indies in time to
take an active part in the capture of
Martinique,'^ St. Lucia and Guadaloupe.
He returned late in the spring, and
arrived at Halifax, in H. M. S. Blanche,
on loth May, where he was received
with great rejoicing.— February 13th.
The Honorables Pierre A. de Bonne and
James Walker, were appointed judges
of the Court of Common Pleas, for
Lower Canada.— On 29th April the
following message was transmitted to
the House of Assembly, then in session
at Quebec, by Governor Lord Dor-
chester. " The Governor has given
directions for laying before the House
of Assembly an account of the Provin-
cial Revenue of the Crown, from the
commencement of the new constitution
to the loth January, 1794." It is un-
necessary to give the details which
accompanied the message : it may be
sufficient to state that for the period

•The colours captured at the taking of Martini-
que, were, on 17th May, 1794, escorted by a
detachment of Life Guards from St. James' Palace
to St. Paul's Cathedral, where they were received
by the Dean and Chapter, attended by the Choir.
The colours were afterwards put up in the Cathe-
edral as memorials of the success of the British
forces under Prince Edward's command in the West
Indies.

indicated the gross revenue amounted
to a little over ^f 14,000 sterling, a sum
which, however, did not nearly meet
the expenses of the Civil (lovernment,
which were estimated at about ;f 25,000
sterling a year. — Tlie Session was
closed on 31st May, 1794, when the
Royal assent was given by the Gov-
ernor-General to five bills; the Judica-
ture bill was, how :ver, reserved for the
signification of His Majesty's pleasure.
— Mr. Panet,the Speaker of the House
of Assembly for Lower Canada, having
been appointed one of the Jud;.;us of
His Majesty's Court of Common Pleas
for that Province, Chartier de Lot-
binibre, Esq., was chosen Speaker in
his stead. Mr. Panet, finding that his
acceptance of the appointment neces-
sitated his removal to Montreal, sub-
sequently declined, and remained a
member of the Assembly. During this
(the second) Session of the first Provin-
cial Parliament of Lower Canada, the
House of Assembly formally resolved:
"That in all unprovided cases, resort
shall be had to the rules, usages, and
forms, of the Parliament of Great
Britain, which shall be followed unti
this House shall think fit to make a
rule or rules applicable to such un-
provided cases." The Hon. Henry
Caldwell was, on 30th June, appointed
Receiver-General of Lower Canada.
M. Denant was nominated by Pope
Pius VI., Bishop of Canathe (in part,
infill.) and coadjutor of Quebec; M.
Denant was not consecrated until the
following year. — The Second Session
of the seventh General Assembly of
Nova Scotia was opened on 6th June
by Lieutenant-Governor Wentworth,
who in his opening speech referred to
the brilliant services of Prince Edward
in the West Indies; and both Houses,
in their addresses in reply, alluded in
the most eulogistic terms to the achieve-
ments of His Royal Highness. The
Session terminated on the 9th July.

I ! 9

J s

1794

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1795

During the month of June, Prince
Edward proceeded on a tour through
the adjoining Province of New Bruns-
wick. He waH accompanied by Lieu-
tenant-Governor Carleton from St. John
up the river to Fredericton, the Capital,
returning thence by way of St. John.
The Prince reached Halifax about the
end of the month, and being now the
Henior officer in Nova Scotia, assumed
command of the troops. — December
nth. The Hon. James Monk, Attor-
ney General for Lower Canada, was
appointed Chief Justice of the the Court
of King's Bench, at Montreal. A Pro-
clamation was issued by the Governor-
General in December, announcing that
His Majesty, in Council, had been
pleased to give his assent to the "Act
for the divison of Lower Canada into
Districts, for amending the judicature
thereof, and for repealing certain laws
therein mentioned." This act was
commonly known as the Judicature
Act, and came into force on the nth
December.

1796. The Parliament of Upper
Canada met at Newark on the 6th
July, and was prorogued on the loth
August. Five Acts were passed, the
most important being the "Act for the
public registering of deeds, conveyances,
wills, and other incumbrances which
shall be made, or may affect any lands,
tenements, or hereditaments, within
this Province." No stronger proof of
the practical manner in which the first
settlers of Ontario conducted thc^r
affairs could be given than the p *"
of such an Act* as this in the ,i

session of the first Parliament i he
Province. — Governor Simcoe received

* It may interest some of our readers to
know that the system of registration of titles which
has been found of such great utility in the Province
of Ontario, aid, as may be seen from the above, was
one of the first measures to receive the sanction of
its Legislature, is now, although under entirely dif-

and entertained, at Newark, for some
days, the Duke de Liancourt, a French
nobleman then travelling in America.
— The Third Session of the first Pro-
vincial Parliament of Lower Canada
was opened by Lord Dorchester, on
5th January, 1795. This Session was
closed on 7th May, after a speech from
Lord Dorchester, in which His Excel-
lency expressed his approbation of the
measures and conduct of both Houses.
On the i6th February, the Public Ac-
counts were laid before the Assembly
for the first time. The estimates for
the Civil Government for the year
ending 5th January, 1796, amounted to
;^i9,993 sterling. The actual expen-
diture for the previous year had been
;{'i9,985 sterling. A sum of ;f5,ooo
sterling was voted by the Assembly
" towards defraying the cost of the
administration of Justice, and the sup-
port of the Civil Government for each
year, to count from 5th January, 1795,
and in future." — The Acts passed during
the third session of the first Provin-
cial Parliament of Lower Canada
were: An Act to amend the Judi-
cature Act of the previous session; an
Act respecting the inspection of Pot
and Pearl Ashes, and also an Act to
permit theirimportation from the neigh-
bouring States ; an Act to ratify and
confirm the agreement made between
the Commissioners of the two Pro-
vinces; an Act respecting the regis-
of Baptisms, Marriages and
t to compel vessels
CCS infected with plague,
esi> ,ial fever or disease, to
Qu uitine; an Act granting
Majesty certain duties on

tration
B'

(a,

. IS

cnses, and also an Act imposing

ferent conditions, and in fact u
gether distinct, engaging atter
and to a certain extent became I
in August last, of the "Act t'
facilitate the transfer of lam
39 Vict,, Cap. 87.

a system alto-

in England,

n the passing

lify titles, and

Kland."— 38 and

'795

CANADIAti ANNALS.

1796

alto-

lland,

Issing

and

duties on the importation of certain
Koofls, wares and merchandise, therein
mentioned, the money so raised to be
applied to the support of the Civil Gov-
ernment of the Province ; an Act
respecting the validity of certain pro-
ceedings in the Court of King's Bench;
and an Act respecting Aliens. These
Acts, although few in number, made
some very important additions to the
Statutes of Lower Canada, and appear
fully to justify the approbation bestowed
by the Governor-General. — April 15th'
The Hon. John Collins, A!ember of the
Legislative Council, and Deputy Sur-
veyor-General of Lower Canada, died
suddenly at Quebec. — May t4th. Jona*
than Sewell, Esq., appointed Attor-
ney-General for Lower Canada, and
Advocate-General for the said Province.
— May i8th. A Proclamation was
issued by Governor-General, Lord Dor-
chester, laying an embargo upon all
ships in Lower Canada ports laden
with wheat, wheat flour, or peas, and
prohibiting the exportation of the same.
— June 4th. Louis Charles Foucher
appointed Solicitor - General and In-
spector-General for Lower Canada. —
September 3rd. John Coffin, Esq., ap-
pointed Surveyor-General of Woods for
Lower Canada; and Mr. William Von-
denvelden, to print all Laws of the
Province of Lower Canada. — September
gth. A Proclamation was issued by
Governor Lord Dorchester, laying an
embargo upon all vessels laden with
wheat, peas, oats, Indian corn, barley,
flour and biscuit, from loth September,
until the loth of December following.
— loth August. The thanks of the
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
were voted to Lieutenant - Colonel
William Campbell, of the 24th regiment,
for his " judicious, prudent and spirited
conduct during his command at Fort
Miamis during the year 1794. — 20th
November. The Fourth Session of the

first Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada was opened by Governor-
General Lord Dorchester, at Quebec. —
April iitii. John Wentwonii, Esquire-
Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Si-otia,
created a baronet. The Genera! As-
sembly of Nova Scotia (Third Session
of 7th General Assembly) met at Hali-
fax, on 1 2th March — Thomas Barclay*
Esquire, speaker. The session closed
on the 13th April. During this session
an Act was passed authorising the
raising of £2000 by lottery for road
purposes, an Act which was afterwards
duly confirmed by His Majesty. Sir
John and Lady Wentworth made a tour
of the Western part of the Province
this year. The Militia of Nova Scotia
were employed (by a system of rotation)
in repair and enlargement of fortifica-
tions during the summer.

1196. The Fifth Session of the first
Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada
was opened by Lieutenant-Governor
Simcoe at Newark on the i6th May.
This Session, which closed on the 3rd
June, was a very short one. Seven
Acts were passed, three of which re-
lated tothe adminstration of justice and
constitution of Courts of Law ; one was
" An Act for the better regulation of
certain coins current in this Province."
The remaining three related to local
matters. — A Proclamation, dated 2nd
January, was issued by Governor Lord
Dorchester, authorizing the importation
by sea of all kinds of grain and pro-
visions on account of the distress caused
by the general failure throughout
Lower Canada of the harvest in 1795.
— The Fourth Session of the First Pro.
vincial Parliament of Lcwer Canada,
which had commenced on 20th Novem-
ber, was closed by Governor Lord Dor-
chester on 7th May. The Session had
been a very long one, and a great deal
of work had been done. Twelve Acts
were passed, of which the most impor'

II!

1796

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1796

tant was "An Act for making, repairing
and altering the Higiiways and Bridges
within the Province of Lower Canada."
This Act contains seventy-three sections.
and appears to have been drawn up
with great care. Ofthe remaining Acts
those to declare the date from which
Acts of Parliament should take effect ;
to provide for the safe custody and
registering of all Letters Patent grant-
ing Crown Lands ; to regulate persons
who Ivre or engage to perform voyages
to or from the Indiaa Country ; and to
authorize the apprehension of felons
escaping from the Provinces of New
Brunswick and Upper Canada, are the
only ones now possessing any interest ;
the others have long sinceexpired or been
repealed. — A Proclamation was issued
by Lord Dorchester on 17th May, offer-
ing a reward of ^"50 for the discovery
of the murderer of John Palley and
Margaret Debard, who were murdered
at William Henry on the night of Sun-
day the 8th May. This murder caused
a great sensation at the the time, and
the citizens of William Henry offered a
reward of a like amount for the detec-
tion of the murderer. — On 31st May a
Proclamation was issued dissolving
the Parlirment of Lower Canada, and
directing the issue of writs, returnable
on the 20th July, for a new election. —
On 7th July Isaac Ogden was appointed
one of the judges of the Court of King's
Bench, Jonathan Sewell Commissary of
the Court of Vice-Admiralty, and Her-
man W. Ryland Clerk ofthe Executive
Council. An Order in Council was pass-
ed on 7th July for the purpose of regu-
lating trade and commerce between the
United States and the Province of
Lower Canada. — Governor Lord Dor-
chester embarked with his family on
Saturday, gth July, on board His
Majesty's Ship /It/Ziv,''- and sailed for

*The Active frigate, with Lord Dorchester and
family on board, was shipwrecked on the Island

England on leave of absence. Previous
to his departure his lordship received
addresses from the inhabitants of the
cities of Quebec and Montreal express-
ing their attachment to him and wish-
ing him a pleasant voyage. — On 12th
July General Robert Prescott, Lieuten-
ant-Governor, issued a Proclamation
assuming the government of Lower
Cannda during Lord Dorchester's ab-
sence. — On Tuesday, 6th September, a
disastrous conflagration occured in the
Upper Town of Quebec, the Recollet
Church and a number of houses from
St. Louis Street to Mount Carmel were
destroyed ; at one time the Castle of St.
Lewis was in great danger, but a fortu-
nate change in the wind drove the fire
up Carrier Street towards Mount Car-
mel, where it was stopped. A Pro-
clamation, dated 30th October, was is-
sued by General Prescott, Lieutenant-
Governor, directing the immediate
arrest of all foreigners guilty of trea-
sonable practices and seditious at-
tempts to alienate the affections of His
Majesty's subjects. An Order in Coun-
cil of the same date ordenng all per-
sons, being subjects of France, who had
arrived in Lower Canada since ist
May, 1794, to leave the province with-
in 24 days, was also published. On
nth November, another Proclamation
appeared announcing hostilities with
Spain. The General Assembly of Nova
Scotia, met at Halifax on Thursday,
3rd March. The session was opened
by Lieutenant - Governor Sir John
Wentworth, who referred to the pros-
perous state of the province, and, in
view ofthe diminution ofthe public debt,
suggested a reduction of taxation. The
balance against Nova Scotia, at that

of Anticosti. The ship was lost, but nil the people
were saved. Lord Dorchester and family got safely
to Perce, then a fishing village, on the Gaspe coast'
His Lordship and family arrived at Halifax on the
15th August in the Provincial vessel EarlnfMoira
whence they sailed in the Dover for England.

1796

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1797

ler-

lith
ova
lay,
ned
ohn
ros-
in
ebt,
The

Eople
|afely

I the
foira

date, amounted to ;£'2,o82 i6s. yd This
session terminated on the nth April.
On 22nd July, 500 Maroons* arrived
at Halifax from Jamaica. They were
quartered about two miles from Hali-
fax, and subsequently settled on about
3000 acres of land, purchased for that
purpose in Preston, about five miles
from Halifax. On 5th September a
French squadron of five or six sail of
the line, with three frigates and a cor-
vette, made a descent at Bay of Bulls,
Newfoundland, where they landed 2000
men in three hours. They destroyed
the settlement, captured some vessels
and plundered the place. An expedi-
tion was sent against Sydney, Cape
Breton, but having encountered a
storm, failed to reach its destination.
James Michael Freke Bulkeley, secre-
tary of the Province of Nova Scotia
died at Halifax on 12th November,
Mr. Bulkeley was succeeded by Ben-
ning Wentworth, brother-in-law to
the Lieutenant - Governor, who was
sworn into office on 14th November.

1*791. The first session of the second

*The|Maroons were descendents of African slaves,
who had left the plantations in Jamaica, and taken
refuge in the mountains. These Maroons had for
a long time been in a state of open rebellion, and
neither the energy and activity of Lord Balcarres,
r.or the bravery and skill of General Walpole, had
been sufficient to overcome the determined resist-
ance of men thoroughly familiar with every foot of
the country they occupied, and who were no sooner
driven from one point than they reappeared in
another. The introduction by Colonel Quarrel of
some bloodhounds from Cuba, and the threat to use
them against the Maroons, led to a suspension of
hostilities, and on 21st December, 1795, a treaty of
peace was finally agreed npon. It is claimed that
by an additional and secret clause in the treaty
agreed to by General Walpole, it was stipulated that
the Maroons should not be removed from the Island
of Jamaica ; but if this stipulation was really made,
the Assembly of Jamaica violated it, as a sum of
£41,000 was voted to defray the cost of settling the
Maroons in Nova Scotia. The experiment of sett-
ling so large a body of men of negro origin in a cold
country like Nova Scotia does not seem to have been
attended with much success, as they were all shipped
to Sierra Leone in 1800.

Provincial Parliament of Lower Canada
was opened at Quebec, on Tuesday,
24th January, by His Excellency Gen-
eral Prescott, Lieutenant - Governor.
Jean Antoine Panet, Esquire, was elect-
ed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Lieutenant-Governor Prescott, by pro-
clamation dated the 27th April, an-
nounced his appointment (bearing date
15th December, 1796), as Governor-
General, whereupon addresses of con-
gratulation were presented to His
Excellency by the Legislative Council
and Legislative Assembly on ist May.
The session closed on the following
day. Six Acts were passed during this
session of which the most important
were the Act, (Cap. 2, 37 Geo. IIL) to
continue the Alien Act to the end of the
war then existing between Great Britain
and France ; and the " Act for the bet-
ter preservation of His Majesty's
Government, as by law happily estab-
lished in this Province." By this Act,
which was renewed from year to year
until the year 1812, the provincial law
of Habeas Corpus could be suspended at
the discretion of the Executive; and,
saving the privileges of the Provincial
Parliament, all persons imprisrned by
warrants, signed by three Executive
Councillors, for treason, treasonable
practices, or suspicion of the same,
might be detained during the period
before mentioned, without bail or main-
prise. — From a notice in the Quebec
Gazette of 4th May, it would appear
that the rate then paid to labourers by
the day in the city of Quebec was is. 6d.
currency. — On Friday July 7th, David
McLane* was tried before a special

*David McLane had been in business in Provi-
dence, Rhode Island, and was an American citizen.
The indictment found against him by the Grand
I ury consisted of two counts, o.ie " for compassing
the death of the King," and the other " for adhering
to the King's enemies." On each count fourteen
overt acts were laid, which were the same on both
counts. As the statement of these overt acts are
somewhat lengthy, it may suffice to give the sub"

li ■*■■

1797

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1797

Court of Oyer and Terminer at Quebec,
for the crime of High Treason. The
prosecution was conducted by the At-
torney-General in person, and after a
trial which lasted the whole day, the
prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced
to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
McLane was executed on the Glacis out-
side the walls near St. John's Gate on
the 21st July. — James Ker, Esq., was,
on 26th August, appointed Judge of the
Court of Vice - Admiralty for Lower
Canada. — The Right Reverend Jean
Francois Hubert, Bishop of Quebec,
died at Quebec on Tuesday, tyth Oc-
tober. — The Rev. S. Jehosapbat Moun-
tain, was appointed Rector of the Pro-
testant church at Quebec. — The Hon.
Joseph Gaspard Chaussegros de Lery,
Knight of the Order of St. Louis, mem-
berof the Legislative Council of Quebec,
died at Quebec on the nth December,
in the 77th year of his age. Mr. de
Lery was one of the first of the Cana-
dian noblesse to do homage to their
new Sovereign, he having been pre-
sented to King George HL in March,
1763. — The second session of the Second
Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada,
was held at York, the buildings erected
there under the personal supervision of
Lieutenant - Governor Simcoe being
ready for the accomodation of the mem-
bers of the Legislature. This was the
first session of Parliament held at York.
The session was opened on the ist June,
by the Hon. Peter Russell, who, as
senior Memberof the Executive Council,

stance of them, which was that McLane had con-
spired to introduce arms and ammunition and to
procure an invasion of the Province; and that he
had conspired to excite rebellion within the Pro-
vince, and had procured information to be communi-
cated to the King's enemies and used against the
Government. There appears to be no doubt that
McLane was legally guilty of high treason ; but his
plans, if he can be said to have had any, were so im-
prar-ticable, and indeed so utterly preposterous, that
a lunatic asylum would probably have been the
fittest place for him.

had assumed the administration of
affairs on the departure of Major-Gen-
eral Simcoe,* who had been ordered to
the West Indies, in the autumn of 1796.
During this session, which closed on
the 3rd July, seventeen Acts were pass-
ed. The most important were " An
Act for the better securing the Pro-
vince against the King's enemies ; " " An
Act for the more easy barring of dower."
" An Act for the regulation of Ferries."
Of the remainder ten were for the con-
solidation and improvement of laws re-
lating to the administration of justice
and conveyance of real estate, one for
the better regulation of the Militia ; one
provided for the establishment of the
Law Society of Upper Canada, one for
Trade with the United States, and one
for the collection of the Revenue. — The
General-Assembly of Nova Scotia met
on 6th June. Mr. Barclay was Speaker.
The session closed on the loth July.
Governor Wentworth in his opening
speech congratulated the members on
the prosperous state of the province,
and on the exemption the people enjoy-
ed from the miseries of war so severely
felt in other parts of the Empire. — On
gth September Chief Justice Strange
resigned, having accepted an appoint-
ment at Bombay. Attorney - General

*Lieutenant-General John Graves Simcoe, the
first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, was
the son of Captain John Simcoe, R.N., a gentleman
of the County of Northampton General (then
Colonel) Simcoe was, on his promotion to the rank
of a general officer, removed to the West Indies,
and was appointed Governor of San Domingo. He
had before comintif to Canada been M. P. for St,
Mawes, a Cornish borough, and shortly after his re-
turn from the West Indies was selected to succeed
Lord Lake as Commander-in-Chief in India, but
died on the eve of his departure to assume his com-
mand. He was buried in his private chapel at Wol-
ford Lodge, County Devon. A monument was
erected to his memory by the County of Devon in
the Cathedral at Exeter. General Simcoe married
the daughter and heiress of Colonel Thomas Gwil-
lim, an officer of an old and distinguished family,
who had at onetime been Aide-de-Camp to General
Wolfe.

1797

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1798

Blowers was appointed Chief Justice,
Solicitor-General Uniacke became At-
torney - General, and Jonathan Sterns
succeeded to the Solicitor-Generalship.
— On 23rd Noveniber, H. M. S. La
Tribune was lost in entering Halifax
Harbour ; only 12 of the ship's company
were rescued. — October 3rd, Benning
Wentworth resigned the office of Trea-
surer of Nova Scotia, and Mr. Michael
Wallace was appointed in his stead.—
The House of Assembly of the Island
of St. John (Prince Edward Island)
directed an investigation to be made to
ascertain the quantity of settled and un-
settled lands in the colony. It was
found that 23 lots, embracing 458,580
acres had not one settler ; that 12 other
lots, containing 243,000 acres had only
36 families, or about 200 souls ; and
that 6 other lots, containing 120,000
acres had only 48 families, or about 250
souls. The whole population of the
Island at that time, was about 4,500.
On these and similar grounds, a petition
was addressed to the Home Govern-
ment, praying that the proprietors
who had failed in their duty, might be
compelled to fulfil their engagements,
or that their lands should be forfeited.

1798» The second session of the
second Provincial Parliament of Upper
Canada was opened at York, on the
5th June, by the Hon. Peter Russell,
President. The session, which was a
short one, closed on the fifth of July.
Seven Acts were passed during this
session, the most important of which
was the " Act for the better division
of this Province." By this Act the
geographical division of the Province
was re-arranged and a number of im-
portant changes were made. Another
Act provided for the ascertaining and
establishing on a permanent footing
the boundary lines of townships. Cer-
tain amendments were made to the

Marriage Act of 1793. The other four
Acts relate to local matters oi no great
moment. A notice issued from the
Post Office at Fort Niagara, dated ist
October, 1798, giving a " list of letters
remaining with Joseph Edwards Esq.,
in Newark, U. C, for the conveniency
of the persons to whom they are direct-
ed " contains letters addressed to Cleve-
land (Ohio), Bay of Quinty ; and Cata-
rockway (Cataraqui.) A Proclamation,
dated 15th December, was issued by
Mr. President Russell, announcing that
His Majesty had been pleased to order
that all United Empire Loyalists and
their children who were actually settled
in the Province of Upper Canada, on or
before 28th July, 1798, should continue
to receive His Majesty's bounty of 200
acres of land eech, free from any ex-
pense whatever. — The second session
of the second Provincial Parliament of
Lower Canada was opened by General
Prescott, Governor-General, at Quebec,
on the 20th February. — Charles Fre-
chette was tried on 27th March, in
the Court of King's Bench, Quebec,
for misprision of High Treason, in hav-
ing a knowledge of the designs of the
late David McLane (who was executed
on 2ist July, 1797, for High Treason)
against the province of Quebec, and)
concealing them ; he was convicted and
sentenced to imprisonment for life, all
his moveable property to be forfeited to
the King, together with all the profits
of his immoveable estate. — The Pro-
vincial Parliament of Lower Canada,
was prorogued on the nth May. Of
the five Acts passed during this session,
three were to continue in force the
Acts for making a temporary pA>vision
for the regulation of trade between
Lower Canada and the United States
of America; for the better preserva-
tion of His Majesty's Government, as
by law happily established in this pro-
vince ; and for providing Returning

i I

i I
t I

1798

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1798

Officers for Knights, Citizens and Bur-
gesses to serve in the Assembly. Of
the two remaining Acts one was " an
Act to allow to the province of Upper
Canada, a proportion of the duties im-
posed by the Legislature of this pro-
vince (Lower Canada) en such articles
as have been transported from this pro-
vince into the province of Upper
'Canada, between the first day of March,
and the thirty-first day of December,
1797." The other Act was to repeal
the Act appointing commissioners to
treat with commissioners appointed
by Upper Canada to settle the pro-
portion which should belong to each
province of the duties collected on
articles imported into one province and
passing thence into the other, and for
appointing other commissioners for a
like purpose. — A fire lu-oke out in St.
Francis Street, Quebec, on Sunday, 17th
J une, and rapidly assumed alarming pro-
portions. By the strenuous exertions of
the troops, encouraged by the Governor-
General, who had turned out at the first
alarm, the Seminary was saved, but
fifteen houses were entirely destroyed. —
The tempestuous weather on the At-
lantic coast in the latter part of 1797
and beginning of 1798, cast a gloom
throughout Nova Scotia. Wrecks were
frequent, and the loss of life heavy. The
people of Haliiax, as on many previous
occasions, were, however, quite equal
to the emergency. Boats were manned,
provisioned and despatched to the re-
lief of the sufferers, and every thing
which willing hearts and strong arms
could effect was done to mitigate the
severity of the sea < i. Upwards of
thirty persons were wrecked on Sable
Island at one time. — The officers and
men of the Royal Nova Scotia Regi-
ment subscribed a week's pay towards
the fund raised to assist His Majesty in
meeting the heavy expenses of the war ;
thepeople of Halifax contributed ;^40oo

to the same fund. — The General As-
sembly of Nova Scotia met at Halifax
on 8th June. Sir John Wentworth in
his opening speech expressed his great
satisfaction at the loyalty displayed by
the people of Nova Scotia as evidenced
by their liberal subscriptions in aid of
the expenses of the war. — On the 30th
June the Nova Scotia Assembly voted
five hundred guineas to purchase a star
to be presented to Prince Edward. — On
Saturday, the 7th July, the Lieutenant-
Governor, the Council and the Assem-
bly proceeded from the Council Chamber
to Government House and there pre-
sented an address to the Prince, offer-
ing this star,* which he very graciously
accepted During the session, which
terminated on 7th July, six Acts were
passed, one of which was an Act to
prevent aliens from remaining in the
province, unless by special permission
from the Government. On the 8th
August, Prince Edward met with a
serious accident whilst riding in the
vicinity of Halifax. His horse stumbled
and fell upon him, severely bruising his
leg and thigh. After a short time the
symptons became so serious that the
medical sta'*' recommended His Royal
Highness to go to England, advice which
he was reluctantly compelled to follow.
The Prince sailed from Halifax on 23rd
October, in H. M. S. Topaz. Addresses
were presented to him by the Lieu-
tenant-Governor and Council, and also
by the citizens of Halifax, deeply
lamenting his accident and his de-
parture, and expressing the earnest
wish that he might soon return to them.
— An Act was passed this year by the
Legislature of the Island of St. John,
changing the name of the Island to

'The star itself (a diamond star of the Order of
the Garter) was not presented to the Prince until
the 9th of January, 1799, when it was conveyed to
Kensington Palace by Mr. Charles Wentworth, son
of the Lieutenant-Governor, and Mr. Hartshorne,
who presented it to His Royal Highness.

1798

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1799

JU-

Iso

le-

:st

in,
I to

Bon

Prince Edward Island, from ist January,
1800. The change was made as a com-
pliment to Prince Edward, who was at
the time in Halifax, Nova Scotia. —
The House of Assembly of New Bruns-
wick met at Fredericton on the i6th
January, but there being no quorum,
the House adjourned from day to day
until the 19th, when the session was
formally opened by Governor Carleton.
During this session, which closed on
the gth February, two Acts only were
passed, one an Act for the regulation
of seamen, the other to contin-e in force
sundry acts about to expire.

1199. A Proclamation was issued
by the Honourable Peter Russell, Pre-
sident, directing the observance in
Upper Canada of the twelfth of March
as a day of thanksgiving for the glor-
ious victories obtained over the French
by Admirals Sir H. Nelson and Sir J.
B. Warren. — The third session of the
second Provincial Parliament of Upper
Canada which met at York on Wednes-
day, I2th June, was opened with a
speech by the Honourable Peter Rus-
sell, President. Five Acts were passed
during this session. Two were Acts to
continue expiring laws, the remainder
were : an Act to provide for the educa-
tion and support of orphan children ;
an Act to enable persons holding the
office of registrar to be elected members
of the House of Assembly ; and an Act
to confirm the provisional agreements
made by the commissioners of Upper
and Lower Canada. The session closed
on 29th June. — Lieutenant-General
Peter Hunter, who had been appointed
Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada
in place of Major General Simcoe,
arrived at York, on Thursday, 15th
August, in His Majesty's ship Speed,
Captain Paxton. The Bishop of
Quebec (Dr. Mountain) arrived the
same evening in the Mohawk. — Gen-

eral Hunter issued a Proclama-
tion on the 17th August announcing
his appointment as Lieutenant-Gover-
nor of Upper Canada. — His Excellency
Robert Liston, British Ambassador at
Washington, arrived at Newark on the
19th August, accompanied by Lord
Henry Stewart. Mr. Erskine, and Mr.
Thornton. After a stay of two days the
party proceeded to Philadelphia. —
Thursday, January loth, was set apart
in Lower Canada as a day of thanks-
giving for the glorious victones over
the French fleets by Admiral Sir H.
Nelson at the Nile, and Sir J. B. War-
ren off Brest. — The third session of the
second Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada was opened at Quebec by His
Excellency, General Prescott, Gover-
nor-General, on Thursday 28th March.
This session was closed on Monday,
3rd June. Ten Acts were passed, of
which the most important were the Act
amending the Act for making, repairing
and altering the highways and bridges,
within this Province, and for other pur-
poses ; an Act respecting weights and
measures ; and an Act to confirm cer-
tain additional articles of agreement
entered into by the Commissioners
appointed for that purpose between the
Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.
The other Acts are not of sufficient
importance to require separate men-
tion. — His Royal Highness Prince
Edward, was, on St. George's Day,
(23rd of April), created Duke of Kent
and Strathearn, and Earl of Dublin.
His younger brother. Prince Ernest,
was, on the same day, created Duke of
Cumberland. The two Royal Dukes
took their seats in the House of Lords,
on the loth May. His Royal Highness
the Duke of Kent, was, on the loth May,
promoted to the rank of General, and
was, on 17th May, appointed General
and Commander-in-Chief of His Ma-
jesty's forces in British North America.

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1799

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1799

— During this summer large sums were
subscribed in Canada to assist in defray-
ing the cost of carrying on the war
against France. The Bishop of Quebec
(Dr. Jacob Mountain), the Chief Justice
(Osgoode), and Mr. Henry Caldwell,
each gave ;f300. — An address, dated
i6th June, and signed by all the princi-
pal inhabitants of the city of Quebec,
was presented to General Prescott on
his departure for England. Similar
addresses were presented to His Excel-
lency, from Three Rivers, (dated 8th
July) ; William Henry, (loth July) •,.and
Montreal, (dated 13th July).— General
Prescott having sailed for England, on
leave of absence, a proclamation was
issued onsist July, by Robert S. Milnes,
Esq., Lieutenant • Governor, announ-
cing that he had assumed the adminis-
tration of the Government. The salary
of the Governor-in-Chief had, up to this
time, been ;f a,ooo a year, but on the
assumption of the control of public
affairs by Mr. Milnes the amount was
increased to ;f 2,500.— The Civil Expen-
diture of the j'rovince of Lower Canada
for the year 1799 amounted to ;f 24,597
sterling. This sum does not include
the expenses of the Legislature, which
amounted to about ;f 1,400. The reve-
nue of the Province for the same period
was very nearly equal to the charges
thereon. The affairs of the Province
appear to have been administered by
General Prescott in an upright and
honorable manner.— Thomas Barclay,
Esq., Speaker of the Assembly of Nova
Scotia, was appointed His Majesty's
Consul General for the Eastern States of
America, on 27th January. — The Gene-
ral Assembly of Nova Scotia (7th ses-
sion of 7th Assembly) met at Halifax,
on 7th June. Sir John Wentworth was
able, as he had been for some years, to
congratulate the Province on its gene-
ral prosperity. Richard John Uniacke,
Attorney General, was elected Speaker

in place of Mr. Barclay. The session
terminated on 31st July. — His Royal
Highness the Duke of Kent arrived at
Halifax in the Anthusa, Capt. Wooley,
on Friday, 6th September. He was
received with the greatest delight, the
bells of the Churches were rung for joy,
the people assembled en masse to greet
him, and the guns of the citadel, and
men-of-war in port thundered forth
their welcone. The Duke was accom-
panied by four Aides-de-Camp — Majors
Gordon and Smith, and Captains
Hardyman and Dodd ; and by his
domestic Chaplain, the Rev. Mr.
Wetherall. The country house of Sir
John Wentworth (called the Prince's
Lodge), on the west side of Bedford
Basin, about six miles from Halifax,
was the residence of the Duke, a place
for which he is said to have had a great
fancy. — The 7th General Assembly of
Nova Scotia was dissolved on the nth
October, and writs returnable on the
23rd December were issued for a new
election. — On the 30th October H.M.S.
Porcupine, Captain Evans, arrived at
Halifax, having on board the Duke of
Orleans,* and his brothers, the Duke de
Montpensier, and the Count Beaujolais,
attended by Count Montjoie. These
distinguished visitors had come to
Halifax hoping to obtain a passage
thence to England, but, being disap-
pointed, sailed in a few days for New
York. — The House of Assembly of New
Brunswick met at Fredericton, on the
15th January, but a sufficient number
of members to compose a House not
being in attendance, the House adjourn-
ed from day to day until the i8th, when
the session was opened with a speech
by Lieut.-Governor Carleton. This
session was closed on the 8th February.
Serious differences had for some time

♦Afterwards Louis Phillippe, King of the French,
who abdicated in 1848.

■ 1 !

1799

CANADIAN ANNALS.

i8oa

In
Ih

Ih,

existed between the House of Assembly
and the Council, but during this ses-
sion these disagreements were, it would
appear, adjusted, as Acts were passed
for defraying the ordinary services of
the Province for the years 1795, 1796,
1797, 1798 and 1799. Eight other Acts
were passed during this session, but,
being of a local character, it is not
necessary to refer to them in detail.
The franking privilege does not as yet
appear to have obtained in New Bruns-
wick, as among the sums voted this ses-
sion we find an item of three pounds,
five shillings and nine pence to the gene-
ral post office for postage of letters
with writs of election to several of the
Sheriffs.

1800. The fourth session of the
second Provincial Parliament of Upper
Canada was held at York. The session
was opened by the new Lieutenant
Governor, Lieutenant -General Peter
Hunter, on the 2nd June, and closed on
the 4th July. Six Acts were passed
during this session. The most impor-
tant was an Act for the further intro-
duction of the Criminal Law of England,
by which Act it was declared that the
Criminal Law of England, as it stood
on 17th September, 1792, should be the
Criminal Law of Upper Canada. Two
Acts respecting elections of Members
for the House of Assembly, one for the
regulation of special juries, and one
providing for the conduct of trade rela-
tions between Upper Canada and the
United States, complete the list. — The
Quebec Gazette of January 2nd contains
a notice, signed by Hugh Finlay, Deputy
Postmaster-General, that the yearly
winter mail for Upper Canada will be
closed at Quebec on the 20th January,
and will be despatched from Montreal
on the 24th. — The fourth Session of the
Second Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada was opened by the Lieutenant-

Governor, Robert Shore Milnes, Esq.,
at Quebec, on 5th March. — The Rev.
Father Jean Joseph Casot, Priest of the
Company of Jesus, Procureur of the
Missions and Colleges of the Jesuits in
Canada, and the last of the Order in
Canada, died at Quebec, on Sunday,
i6th March. — The question of the dis-
posal of the estates of the Jesuits
occupied a good deal of the time of the
Legislative Assembly during the early
part of the session. On 12th March a
motion was mads "that the House do
resolve itself into a committee to con-
sider of the most proper measures of
obtaining information concerning the
rights and pretensions which this Pro-
vince may have upon the College of
Quebec (the Jesuits' College,) and the
estates thereunto annexed;" upon
which a member of the Executive
Council (Mr. Young) rose in his place
and said that he was authorized by Hij
Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to
inform the House that His Excellency
by and with the advice of His Majesty's
Executive Council, had given orders to
take possession of the estates of the
Order of the Jesuits in the name of, and
as the property of His Majesty. Not-
withstanding this statement the motion
was pressed and an address was voted
(16 to 8) to the effect that the House
desired to investigate the claims of the
Province to the estates in question, and
to that end asked for communication of
all papers and documents connected
therewith. To this address the Lieu-
tenant Governor replied as follows:
" Gentlemen, I think it necessary to
inform you on the subject-matter of the
present address, that the whole pro-
ceedings of the commission issued on
29th December, 1787, including every
claim and pretension respecting the
estates of the late Order of Jesuits in
this Province, together with the hum-
ble address of the House of Assembly,

1800

CANADIAN Af^N.^r.S.

1800

voted on the nth April, 1793, have
been respectively submitted to the
King: — that His Majesty having been
graciously pleased to refer the whole
proceedings to his Privy Council, the
result of their consultations, with His
Majesty's order thereon, was transmit-
ted to this Government in the month of
April last ; and, in consequence of such
order, commissions have issued to
take the whole of the property into the
hands of the Crown. After reflecting
on these circumstances, should the
House of Assembly continue to deem it
advisable to persist in their proposed
investigation, I shall comply with their
request to allow them access to those
papers which have already been made
public, and shall in that case give
orders that all persons duly authorized
by the House of Assembly, be at liberty
to take copies of all titles, documents,
reports, papers, and all proceedings
under the commission mentioned, which
were returned into the Council office
on or before the asth August, 1790. But
after the information I have now given,
the House of Assembly will certainly
deem it incumbent on them to consider
whether it is consistent with that re-
spect which they have hitherto uniform-
ly manifested towards their sovereign
to reiterate any application on the sub-
ject." The House of Assembly did not
recede very gracefully from the position
which it had taken in respect to the
action of the Crown in assuming pos-
session of these estates for it resolved
a few days after the receipt of the com-
munication from the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor to go into committee to take into
consideration His Excellency's answer,
which was done accordingly, but finally
came to the resolution " that the House
ought to postpone, to a future time, the
enquiry into the rights and pretensions
alluded to." — On Wednesday, 2nd of
April, it was moved in the House of

Assembly at Quebec, " that as it ap-
peared to this House by a record of
the Court of King's Bench for the dis-
trict of Montreal, that the said C. B.
Bone had been convicted of the crime
of conspiracy with sundry other persons,
unjustly and fraudulently to obtain of
Etienne Drouin, divers large sums of
money, be expelled this House." After
a long debate, the House divided, yeas
21, nays 8, so Mr. Bone was expelled
accordingly. — 29th May. The fourth
session of the second Provincial Par-
liament of Lower Canada was prorogued
by the Lieutenant-Governor. Eight
acts were passed during this Session ;
the most important was an Act to regu-
late the election of members to the As-
sembly ; an Act to prevent the intro-
duction or spreading of infectious dis-
eases; and an Act to provide for the
erection of a bridge over the river
Jacques Cartier; the remaining acts
were to continue or amend existing
statutes. — May 29th. William Cobbet
issued at New York his " Porcupines'
Farewell to the People of the United
States," announcing his return to Great
Britain. This production, written in
Cobbet's peculiar style, concludes thus,
"With this I depart for tliat Home,
where neither the moth of Democracy,
northe rust of Federalism doth corrupt ;
and where thieves do not, with impunity,
break through and steal five thousand
dollars at a time." — 4th June. A pro-
clamation was issued by Lieutenant-
Governor Milnes dissolving the Parlia-
ment of Lower Canada, and directing
the issue of writs (returnable on 28th
July) for a new election. — ^July 31st,
An address was presented to the Duke
of Kent by the Lieutenant-Governor and
Council, expressing their deep regret at
his approaching departure.. — November
2oth. A notice, signed by George
Heriot, Deputy Postmaster General of

British North America, announced tha

H:il

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

1800

It
Ir

V
It

a courier would leave Montreal on 20th
December with mails for Kingston,
whence they would be forwarded to
York and Fort George; and that this
service would be carried on monthly
during the winter, an improvement
which, it was hoped, would secure the
countenance and support of the public.
— Monday, December 15th, Francois
Josue de la Come, Chevalier of the Order
of St. Louis, and Capitaine de Vaisseau
in the service of His Most Christian
Majesty, died at Quebec. M. de la
Come was a Canadian by birth, and
served in the navy of France in various
parts of the world, especially in the
East Indies, where he gained the esteem
of M. de Suifrein. After the conquest
of Canada, M. de la Corne served in
Germany with many of his countrymen
who had returned to France after the
capitulation of Montreal, and finally
returned to Canada in 1792. — In No-
vember a new Great Seal to replace the
one previously in use, was placed in the
hands of the Lord-Chancellor. His
Majesty, in the new Seal, instead of
being styled as heretofore, " King of
Great Britain, France, and Ireland," is
simply styled " Brittaniarum Rex," a
short but very comprehensive title.
The arms of France were also entirely
expunged from the new Seal. — The first
session of the eighth General Assembly
of Nova Scotia was opened at Halifax
on the 20th February by Governor
Wentworth. Richard John Uniacke,
Esq., Member for Queen's County, was
elected Speaker. — On March i8th,
Scrope Bernard, Esq., was appointed
(by resolution of the House of Assembly)
Agent for the Province of Nova Scotia
resident in London. During this Ses-
sion, the House of Assembly having
passed one bill to continue several re-
venue acts, the Council objected on the
ground that this course obliged them to
accept or reject the whole of the acts

so included; the Assembly demurred,
and appealed to the Lieutenant-Gover-
nor, but the Council being firm in their
opposition, the objection was main-
tained, and separate bills were passed.
Session closed 2nd May. — The Militia of
Nova Scotia at this time numbered
10,000 effective men. — On loth April
the foundation stone of St. George's
Church, Halifax, was laid by Sir John
Wentworth.— On 5th June the corner
stone of the Masonic Hall, in Halifax,
was laid by H. R. H. the Duke of Kent.
—William Cobbett landed at Halifax
on 6th June, on his way from New York
to England. During his short stay in
Halifax he dined with the Duke of Kent.
— Mr. Bulkeley having resigned the
officcsof Master of the Rolls and Register
in Chancery, Mr. Benning Wentworth
was, on the 8th July, appointed Master
of the Rolls, and Judge Brenton was
made Master in Chancery. — Sunday,
August 3rd, H. R. H. the Duke of Kent
embarked on H. M. S. Assistance, and
sailed the next day for England, arriv-
ing at Portsmouth on 31st August. —
On 7th August a military execution took
place behind the Citadel at Halifax.
Eleven soldiers had been sentenced to
death for acts of mutiny and desertion ;
at the place of execution eight of them
were reprieved, and the remaining
three suffered death. — Early in August
the Maroons, 551 in number, embarked
in the Asia for Sierra Leone, thus ter-
minating, after a four years trial, the
attempt to form on a large scale a set-
tlement of blacks in Nova Scotia. — The
Honorable Richard Bulkeley* died at

* Richard Bulkeley accompanied Governor Corn-
wallis to Nova Scotia as Aide-de-Camp in 1749. He
became Secretary of the Province in 1739, an office
which he retained under no less than thirteen Gover-
nors in succession until his resignation (in favor of
his son Michael Freke Bulkeley) in 1793. Mr.
Bulkeley was appointed a Member of the Council in
1730, and administered the government of the Pro-
vince, as senior member of the Council, on the death

ii :

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180I

CANADIAN ANNALS.

180I

Halifax on Saturday, 7th December,
in the 83rd year of his age. — No session
of the Assembly of the Province of New
Brunswick appears to have been held
during the year 1800.

ISOlt Proclamations, dated 25ih of
May, were issued at York by Lieutenant-
Governor Hunter, announcing the
changes in the Royal style and title, in
the flag to be used by Merchant vessels,
and in the Book of Common Prayer,
consequent upon the union of Great
Britain and Ireland. On zgth of May
the first session of the third Parliament
of Upper Canada was opened at York
by Governor Hunter. The Honorable
D. W. Smith was elected Speaker of
the Assembly. The session terminated
on the nth July when the Parliament
was prorogued. Twelve Acts were
passed, the most important of which
were an Act respecting Quarter Ses-
sions, an Act for the establishment of a
market at Kingston, an Act authorizing
the appointment of Inspectors of Flour
and of Pot and Pearl ashes, an Act to
prevent the selling of spirituous liquors
to the Moravian Indians (then settled
on the banks of the river Thames) and
an Act granting a Supply to His
Majesty ; the remaining seven Acts were
of a local or temporary character. It
is worthy of note, as shewing the
progress of the new Province, that this
year, for the first time, a regular supply
bill, giving details of expenditure, was
passed. With a view to encourage
persons to undertake the cultivation of
hemp, the Assembly of Upper Canada
had during the recent session voted a

of Governor Parr, in 1791. He was twice married, his
first wife being a daughter of Captain John Rous,
R. N„ a name famous in the annals of Nova Scotia,
At the time of his death Mr. Bullceley held the
offices of Judge of the Admiralty, Grand Master of
the Freemasons, and Brigadier-General of Militia.
He left a widow and one son, the latter being at the
time in England.

sum of money to be applied to the
purchase of hemp seed to be distributed
gratis amongst farmers willing to
cultivate it, and had also offered
bounties to such persons as should raise
hemp for exportation. The Honorables
John McGill and D. W. Smith were, on
29th July, appointed Commissioners to
carry into effect the intentions of the-
Assembly. The appointment of Mr.
W. Allan as Collector of Duties at the
port of York (now Toronto) is announced
in the Gazette of August 29th. — The
third Provincial Parliament of the
Province of Quebec met at Quebec on
the 8th of January, and proceeded to the
election of a Speaker. Judge de Bonne-
and the late Speaker were proposed,
and the late Speaker, the Honorable
J. A. Panet, was elected by a large
majority. The Speaker having been
elected, the House of Assembly ad-
journed until the loth.when Lieutenant-
Governor Milnes made a speech, as
usual at the opening of the Session, in
which he announced the intention of
His Majesty to establish a competent
number of Free Schools, for instruction
in the first rudiments of learning, and
in the English tongue. — January 24th,.
Mr. C, B. Bouc, who was expelled from
the House of Assembly during the last
session of the preceding Parliament,
had been returned to the new Parlia-
ment by the County of Effingham, and
the attention of the Assembly having
been called to the records of the last
session, Mr. Bouc was expelled for the
second time. — March 19th, An adver-
tisement appears in the Quebec Gazette,.
signed by Colonel le Comte Duprd,
stating that the townships of Windsor,
Simpson and We.idover had been set
apart forthe officers, non-commissioned
officers, and men, of the Canadian
Militia who served during the blockade
of the City of Quebec in the winter of
1775-6, and calling upon the persons

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

180I

interested to pay their shares of the
costs of survey. — March 20th, Mr. C. B.
Bcuc, having been again elected to the
House of Assembly by the County of
Effingham, was once more expelled.
On the 9th of April the Quebec Gaxette
published at length the Royal Procla-
mations, dalcd at St. James's the ist
day of January, 1801, declaring the
changes in the FCoyal Style and Title,
and in the Ensign or Colors to be borne
at sea by British merchant ships, con-
sequent on the Union of Great Britain
with Ireland. — On Wednesday, the 8th
April, the first session of the third Par-
liament of the Province of Quebec was
closed with a speech by Lieutenant-
Governor Milnes, in which His Excel-
lency alluded to the recent union of the
Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland,
and expressed the hope that this union
would tend to consolidate the strength
and advance the prosperity of the
Empire. Thirteen Acts received the
Governor's approval, and three were
reserved. The session had been a busy
one, and the work done was important.
Acts had been passed for the relief of
persons holding lands or immovable
property of the Crown en Roture upon
which Lods et Ventes, or mutation fines
were due ; to explain and amend the
law respecting Last Wills and Testa-
ments, so as to remove any doubt as to
the full power to devise or bequeath
lands, goods or credits, irrespective of
any supposed restriction which French
usage or custom might impose ; the
laws regulating Forms of proceeding
in Courts of Civil Jurisdiction and the
Administration of Justice were amend-
ed in several points of importance ; the
punishment for women convicted of
High Treason was changed from burn-
ing to death to hanging; a Company
was incorporated to supply the City of
Montreal with water; an Act for the
regulation of the Common belonging to

the town of Three Rivers was passed ;
the duties on Tobacco were revised r
and a duty was imposed on Billiard
Tables. A Supply Bill was passed and
several expiring Acts were continued..
The Bills reserved were: — An Act to
declare the Decisory Oath, or Serment
Decisoire, admissible in Commercial as
well as other Civil Matters in this
Province ; an Act for removing the old
Walls and Fortifications that surround
the City of Montreal ; and an Act for
the establishment of Free Schools and
the Advancement of Learning in this
Province (LowerCanada). These Acts
received the assent of the King in
Council, on the 7th of April, 1802. — The
Quebec Gazette of the 23rd April an-
nounces that His Excellency Robert
Shore Milnes, Esquire, Lieutenant-
Governor of the Province of Lower
Canada, had, on the 14th February,
been created a Baronet of the United
Kingdom. May 6. — The Honorablea
Thomas Dunn, F. Baby, Joseph de
Longueuil, G. E. Taschereau, and R.
Lestergie were appointed Commission-
ers for the execution of the Act for the
relief of persons holding lands from His
Majesty en Roture upon which Lods et
Ventes are due. June 12. — A letter,
signed H. W. Ryland (Clerk of the
Council), acknowledges the receipt from
Lieutenant - Colonel the Honorable
Joseph de Longueuil of five hundred
pounds sterling, as a voluntary contribu-
tion on the part of the officers and priva-
tes oftheist Battalion of RoyalCanadian
Volunteers towards carrying on the war.
— The Honorable Hugh Finlay, late
Deputy Postmaster General of British
North America, and Senior Member
of the Council, died at Quebec on 26th
December. Mr. Finlay had been forty-
one years in the public service, and had
been succeeded by Mr. George Heriot,.
who had been appointed Deputy Post-
master General in the previous year>

i8oi

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1802

— The BiDAll-pox WAS prevalent at Hali-
fax during the latter part of the year 1800
and the beginning of 1801— 163 persons
having died from that disease between
September, 1800, and February, x8oi,* in
the city and suburbs of Halifax. — The
Assembly of Nova Scotia met at Halifax
on 9th of June ; the session (second of
the eighth Assembly) closed on i6th
July. — The cultivation of hemp, which
had already engaged the attention of
the Legislaturet) of Upper and Lower
Canada, was strongly recommended to
the farmers of Nova Scotia, and £zoo
was voted to purchase seed. — A bill to
establish a bank at Halifax was intro-
duced, but rejected by a vote of 14 to 9.
A demand was made by the projectors
of the scheme that " no other bank
should be established by any future law
of the Province during the continuance
of the said corporation," and no doubt
this demand for a monopoly largely
influenced those who opposed the bill. —
Isaac Deschamps,! Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, died on
nth August. He was succeeded by
George Henry Monk, better known as
Major Monk, in which capacity he,
although educated as a lawyer, had seen
much service. — The General Assembly
of New Brunswick met en 20th January,
but a sufficient number of members to
compose a House not being present an
adjournment took place, and the session

*A detailed return on this subject, compiled by
Dr. W. J. Almon, may be found in Murdoclc'a Hi*-
(ory of Nova Scotia, vol. iii., pp. ais, aiS, 217,

tisaac Deichamps was of Swiss origin. He
assisted Captain Murray in the suppression of the
turbulent proceedings at Pisquid in 1754, at whick
time he was clerk to Joshua Mauger. He entered
the Legislative Assembly as member for West Fal-
mouth, in July, 1761, and became a Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas the same year. In 1768
Judge Deschamps was appointed Judge of the
Island of St. John, (Prince Edward Island), and in
1770 one of the Judge* of the Supreme Court of
Nova Scotia, and succeeded Chief Justice Pinucane
as Chief Justice of that Court, in 1783.

was opened with a speech from Lieu-
tenant -Qovernor Carleton on the a6th.
—On a7th January David Panning, one
of the members for King's County, was
expelled, he having been convicted of
felony in the Supreme Court. The
session closed on aist February. Thir-
teen acts were passed, six of which re-
lated to public works in various parts of
the Province. Of the remaining acts
one only seems to call for remark,
namely, an act for the further and bet-
ter support of the poor in the City of St.
John, it being singular that, so early in
the history of the colony, special legis-
lation should be requisite for the sup-
port of the poorer class of the popula-
tion.

1802> The second session of t*.*
third Provincial Parliament of Upper
Canada was opened by Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Hunter, at York, on asth May,
and closed on the 7th July. The busi-
ness of this session was not very heavy,
only five acts having been passed.
Provision was made for the adminis-
tration of justice in the district of New-
castle. The Governor was authorized
to name one or more additional ports of
entry, and to appoint collectors thereat,
withja view to the better collection of the
duties upon merchandise imported from
the United States. The amount to be
retained by the Receiver-General for
his own use, out of the moneys collected
by him, was fixed by an act of Parlia-
ment. The remaining two acts were
temporary. The Quebec Gazette of
January 7th contains a copy of the
Royal Proclamation (dated at Windsor
i2th October, 1801), declaring the ces-
sation of arms, as well by sea as land,
agreed upon between His Majesty and
the French Republic, and enjoining the
observance thereof. Copies of this
Proclamation were posted up in all
parts of the city. A salute was fired

l802

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1802

from the Grand Battery at i p.m., and
a general illumination took place in the
evening. — The second session of the
third Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada was opened at Quebec by Lieu-
tenant-Governor Sir Robert Shore
Milnes, Bart., on Monday, nth January.
This session closed on the 5th April. In
his opening speech the Lieutenant-
Governor congratuated the country on
the restoration of peace. Allusion was
also made to the importance of giving
encouragement to the cultivation of
hemp. Eleven acts were passed dur-
ing the session. In accordance with
the Lieutenant-Governor's recommen-
dation, the Assembly, by a special Act,
appropriated twelve hundred pounds to
be expended in such a manner as might
best tend to promote the cultivation of
hemp within the Province of Lower
Canada.''' On 17th February Charles
Baptiste Bouc was introduced to the

* As so much trouble was taken to ercourage the
cultivation of hemp in the several Provinces of
British North America, it may not be uninteresting
to give the opinion of a well known writer as to the
cause of failure. Mr. Rhind, in his Hiitory of iht
Vegetable Kingdom, says : ( page 413 ) " Much
anxiety was evinced, some years since, in this
country, (England) that we should obtain supplies
of hemp from our own dependencies, and its culti-
vation was very much encouraged in Canada. The
attention of the planters being strongly called to it,
several samples of hemp of Canadian growth were
sent home. These were placed under the examina-
tion of the best judges, by whom they were con-
sidered defective, rather from the faulty mode of
preparation than from any inferiority in the ma-
terial itself. Some was found to be of as great a
length as the Italian hemp, which is longer than
that from the Baltic, but the whole was mixed
together, without any regard to length or quality.
The St. Petersburg hemp, on the contrary, is
always carefully assorted into different classes, dis-
tinguished in commerce as " clean, or best staple
hemp," " best shot," which is rather inferior to the
first, and "half clean," which is much inferior.
These classes, of course, obtain very different prices
in the market. It was supposed that the Canadian
planters would have readily attained to better
methods of preparing and assorting, but they have
not yet been able to compete with the Russian culti-
vators, who still exclusively supply our (t. «. the
English) markets."

Assembly as member for the County of
Effingham, for which he had been again
returned. On the 22nd the former
proceedings of the House ( in the
two preceding sessions) were ordered
to be read, and the whole matter
was referred to a committee, to give
Mr. Bouc an opportunity of pro-
ducing evidence in justification of his
conduct. On the 22nd March the ques-
tion of Mr. Bouc's return was again
before the House of Assembly, when ht;
was once more formally expelled, and
an Act was passed disqualifying and
restraining Charles Baptiste Bouc from
being elected and from sitting and vot-
ing as a member of the House of As-
sembly. Thus terminated the Bouc
election case, which had occupied the
attention of the House of Assembly in
three successive sessions, and had
rivalled the celebrated Wilkes case be-
fore the British House of Commons.
Of the remaining acts of this session
five were to continue, for specified
terms, existing laws ; one was to extend
to one hundred days the time within
which any writ for the election of
a member of the County of Gasp^
should be returnable; another to pro-
vide for the more effectual regulation
of the police within the cities of Quebec
and Montreal, and the town of Three
Rivers, and also for extending regula-
tions of police to other towns and
villages ; the remaining Act was to em-
power Justices of the Peace to make,
for a limited time, rules and regulations
for the government of apprentices and
others. — On loth February the Quebec
Gazette contains a notice that a mail
for the District of Gasp«S will be made
up on the following Wednesday (17th)
and be conveyed by the King's courier
to the village at the head of the river
Madawaska where a yearly messenger
is sent from Gasp^ who will take up the
mail and convey it to destination. The

l802

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1802

supplement to the Quebec Gazette, of
the i8th February, announces the ap-
pointment, on the nth of that month, of
Herman Witsius Ryland, as Clerk of
the Crown in Chancery, in place of the
Hon. Hugh Finlay, deceased, and of
Joseph Bouchette as Deputy Surveyor-
General for the Province of Lower
Canada. — On 25th February the Honor-
able Gabriel Elzear Taschereau, was ap-
pointed Superintendent of the Provincial
Post Houses in the Province of Lower
Canada, in the room of the Honorable
Hugh Finlay, deceased. — May 20. —
The Quebec Gazette announces the
establishment, on the loth May, of
Boards for the encouragement of the
cultivation of hemp, at Quebec, and at
Montreal, under the presidency of His
Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor.
P. E. Desbarats was appointed Secre-
tary of the Board at Quebec, and F. W.
Ermatinger of that at Montreal. The
members of the Boards were the lead-
ing members of the Legislature, and
principal citizens of the two cities.
Full instructions were published as to
the mode of cultivation, and the pre-
paration of the hemp for market. — July
27. — A proclamation was issued by
Lieutenant-Governor Milnes, enjoining
the observance, throughout the Pro-
vince of Lower Canada, of the 12th
August, as a day of general thanks-
giving for the restoration of peace. —
The third session of the eighth General
Assembly of Nova Scotia was opened
by Lieutenant-Governor Wentworth,
at Halifax, on the 25th February. A
report having spread abroad that the
Lieutenant-Governor was about to be
removed from Nova Scotia, the As-
sembly, in theirreply tohis Excellency's
speech, compliment him highly, attri-
bute the prosperity of the country to
his wise administration and unceasing
exertions to promote its interests, ex-
press the most ardent hope for his

continuance at the head of the govern-
ment, and conclude thus: "Should
we be deprived of that blessing, we
beg to offer our prayers that uninter-
rupted prosperity and happiness may
attend you and your Excellency's family,
and that your Excellency will be per-
suaded that, wherever future events
may place you, you will ever be accom-
panied by the gratitude and affectionate
attachment of the Commons of Nova
Scotia." This reply was followed up
by an address (passed on 19th March)
to the King, praying that he would
retain Sir John Wentworth in his
government. — On ist March a petition
was presented to ' Assembly from
Edmund Burke, V ca-General of the
Diocese of Quebec sking that an act
might be passed for incorporating the
Roman Catholic Bishop of Quebec,
and others, to enable them to receive
donations, for the use of such schools
as they might think proper to erect
for the education of the Roman Catholic
youth of the Province of Nova Scotia.
The Lieutenant-Governor declined to
grant the request, but promised to refer
the matter for the consideration of His
Majesty's ministers. — This session of
the Nova Scotia Legislature was a
somewhat stormy one. Attention hav-
ing been called by a member of the
Assembly to the unsatisfactory manner
in which the commissioners for build-
ing the new government house were
performing their duty — the cost having
been limited to ;f5,400, whilst ;f8,goo
had already been spent — an address to
the Lieutenant-Governor was voted,
asking for an enquiry. One of the com-
missioners was a member of the council,
and on application being made by the
House, to allow this commissioner (Mr.
Belcher), to attend to be examined, the
council refused, and proposed that
written questions, to be answered in
writing, should be sent to him. Finally,

l802

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1803

the Assembly passed a series of resolu-
tions, censuring the commissioners, but
the Governor refused to remove them,
and so the matter ended. — Later in the
session, a further cause of disagreement
arose, between the Assembly and the
Council. The Assembly had voted
;f5,ooo for roads and bridges. The
Council, through a committee of con-
ference, sent a written statement to the
Assembly, to say that the Council could
not agree, consistently with the state
of the treasury, to so large a sum as
;{■ 5,000 for roads and bridges ; but were
willing to concur in a sum not exceed-
ing ;f3,5oo, to be divided and appro-
priated amongst the respective counties
in the Province; to be laid out by a
commissioner to be appointed by the
governor, lieutenant-governor, or com-
mander-in-chief, for each and every
county, under the direction of the
justices in sessions, etc. The Assembly
at once resented so direct an attack
upon their privileges, and resolved :
"That this House will not receive any
proposition of an appropriation of public
money, to any particular service, from
His Majesty's Council ; and that an as-
sent or dissent to a money vote of this
House is the only answer the House can
consistently with their privileges, re-
ceive." Notwithstandingthis resolution,
the affair appears to have resulted in a
compromise, as the amount finally ap-
propriated for roads and bridges was
£i,9g8. The Assembly was prorogued
on the 15th April. — The conclusion of
peace between France and England
was notified by a proclamation, dated
at Halifax, on 4th June, and the 8th
July was appointed for public thanks-
giving. — The export of gypsum to the
United States had increased so largely,
that the amount exported during this
year reached 300,000 tons. — June 22.
— An order was received by the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, directing the disband

ing of the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment.
— The settlement of the county of
Pictou progressed rapidly ; upwards of
350 emigrants from Scotland settled
there during the year.

1803. A meeting was held at York,
on the 8th January, to take measures
tT raise subscriptions for the erection
of a church in the town of York. — The
third session of the third Provincial
Parliament of Upper Canada was
opened by Lieutenant-Governor H unter
at York, on the 24th January. Twelve
acts were passed during this session,
amongst which were : An Act to allow
time for the sale of lands and tenements
by the sheriff, by which it was provided
that the sheriff should not expose lands
or tenements for sale within less than
twelve months from the day upon which
he received the writ ; an Act to au-
thorize the governor to license practi-
tioners in the law; and an Act au-
thorizing the payment, to members of
the Assembly, of ten shillings a day for
every day they were necessarily absent
from home, in attendance in the House
of Assembly, or going to or returning
therefrom — to be assessed upon the dis-
. -ict represented, and paid over to the
member by the treasurer. Nine other
acts were passed, but it is unnecessary
to particularize them. The session
closed on the 5th March. — Thomas
Scott, Attorney - General for Upper
Canada, was appointed by proclamation
dated 2nd March, a commissioner for
the purchasing and distributing hemp-
seed, gratis, amongst the farmers. —
Notice is given in the Upper Canada
Gazette of 25th June, " That regular
attendance, for the transaction of the
public business of this Province, will in
future be given at the office of the Seco
retary of the Province, the Executive
Council office, and the Surveyor-General's
ffice, every day in the year, (Sundays-
Good Friday, and Christmas Day only

\ I

i8o3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1803

1 i

excepted), from ten o'clock in the morn-
ing until three o'clock in the afternoon,
and from five o'clock in the afternoon
until seven o'clock in the evening."
The notice is signed James Green,
Secretary. July 28. — Dr. Jacob Moun-
tain, Bishop of Quebec, arrived at York,
on a tour through his diocese, which at
this time extended to, and included
Detroit. October 26 — Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Hunter announces, by proclama-
tion, that, from 5th November, a weekly
market will be held in the Town of
York every Saturday.— The third session
of the third Provincial Parliament of
Lower Canada was opened at Quebec
by Lieutenant - Governor Milnes, on
Tuesday, February 8th. The opening
speech was unusually uninteresting.
The only subjects referred to were the
militia laws, which were about to ex-
pire; and the gaols at Quebec and
Montreal, which were declared to be
insufficient in accommodation, and in-
secure. The session passed without
any event of importance. The militia
laws were renewed ; the supplies voted ;
four expiring acts were continued for a
further period, and these six acts having
been passed the Lieutenant-Governor
prorogued the Parliament on the i8th of
April. April 6th — A very destructive
fire took place a't Montreal, the gaol,
English Church, College, and about
thirty-five house were destroyed, the
loss being estimated at thirty thousand
pounds. July 14th — The Quebec Gaz-
ette, of this date, contains the King's
proclamation of i6th May, announcing
that war had been declared against the
French Republic. — July 2: — A procla-
mation was issued by Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Milnes, calling a special session
of the Provincial Parliament, to be held
at Quebec on the 2ud August. The
special session, being the fourth of the
third Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada, was opened by Lieutenant-

Governor Milnes, whu announced the
commencement of hostilities between
Great Britain and the French Republic,
and called upon the Legislature to
make provision for the security of the
Province. The Assembly at once pro-
ceeded to pass an Act for the "better
preservation of His Majesty's Govern-
ment, as bylaw happily established in
this Province," and an Act for "estab-
lishing regulations respecting aliens
and certain subjects of His Majesty,
who have resided in France, coming
into this Province, or residing therein."
Advantage was taken of the Parliament
being in session to pass two other Acts
of no public importance, and the short
session closed on nth August. A Bill
for the encouragement and discipline
of militia volunteers passed the Assem-
bly; but it does not seem to have been
thought necessary to prolong the ses-
sion to enable this Bill to pass through
the Council, and it did not therefore
become law. — The large fire in Mon-
treal on 6th April had been followed by
such a number of smaller ones that a
general feeling of insecurity began to
prevail, and on loth August a procla-
mation was issued by the Lieutenant-
Governoi", offering a reward of five hun-
dred pounds for such information as
would lead to the conviction of the in-
cendiary. Rewards of one thousand
dollars were offered by the magistrates
of Montreal and Quebec, respectively,
for similar informp ;rn. — An order of
the Lieutenant-Gc.ernor in Council
was issued on 13th August, under the
provisions of the Alien Act, passed at
the recent session, directing all subjects
of the French Republic or Batavian
Republic to leave the Province of
Quebec before the end of the month.
November 17 — The Quebec Gazette, of
tnis date, contains the full text of the
Act 43 George IIL, chapter 138 — an
Act for extending the jurisdiction of the

1803

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1803

courts of justice in the Provinces of
Lower and Upper Canada to the trial
and punishment of persons guilty of
crimes and offences within certain
parts of North America adjoining the
said Provinces. This Act provided
that all cfences committed within any
of the Indian territories, or parts of
America not within the limits of either
of the Provinces of Lower or Upper
Canada, or of any civil government of
the United States of An.srica, should
be deemed offences of the same nature
and be tried in the same manner and
be subject to the same punishment as
if committed within the provinces of
Lower or Upper Canada. The Nova
Scotia Assembly met at Halifax on the
ist of June, and remained in session
until 28th July, when the prorogation
took place. The greater part of the
session was occupied with discussions
between the Assembly and the Council
relative to appropriations — the Council
objecting to the large sums voted for
the construction of roads and bridges,
which amounts the Assembly was un-
willing to reduce. Ten thousand
pounds were voted as a free gift to His
Majesty to assist in carrying on the war,
the vote being 30 for, to 2 against ;
but this vote was subsequently rescinded
the numbers then standing 16 to 10. —
Eight hundred and fifty-four emigrants
from Scotland settled in the County of
Pictou during this year. — The General
Assembly of the Province of New
Brunswick met at Fredericton on the
8th of February. Amos Botsford,
m' mber for the County of Westmore-
land, was elected Speaker. Ten Acts
were passed during the session ; but as
they were altogether of a local or
temporary charf cteran enumeration of
them in detail is unnecessary. The
session closed on i6th March. — The
Earl of Selkirk brought out with him to
Prince Edward Island nearly 800 emi-

grants, chiefly from the Highlands of
Scotland. They were located on the
old French settlement, north and south
of Point Prim.

1804. The practice of summoning
Parliament early in the year, which
had been commenced in Upper Canada
in 1803, was continued this year ; and
the fourth session of the third Provin-
cial Parliament of Upper Canada, was
accordingly opened by Lieutenant-
Governor Hunter, at York, on the 1st
of February. The renewal of hostilities
between Great Britain and France had
its effect upon colonial policy, and so
the first acts passed were, " An act for
the better securing the Province against
all seditious attempts or designs to dis-
turb the tranquility thereof," and an
act for the exemplary punishment of all
persons who should aid or assist soldiers
to desert. — A further sum of money
was granted for the growth and culti-
vation of hemp, — Provision was made
for the printing and distribution of the
laws ; ;f 1000 was voted for the making
and repairing of roads and bridges, and
after a short but busy session, in which
eleven acts were passed, Parliament
was prorogued on the 9th of March.
Robert Baldwin, was born in the City
of Toronto this year. He was the son
of Dr. William Warren Baldwin, who,
with his father, Robert Baldwin, Esq.,
had settled in Canada in 1798. The
family came from Knockmole, in the
County of Cork, Ireland. — The schooner
Speedy, Captain Paxton commanding,
left York on Sunday, 7th October, in
the evening, for Presqu'Isle, and was
seen off that place on Monday evening ;
but a storm coming on suddenly, the ves-
sel was unable to enter the harbour. A
fire was kindled on shore and a sharp
look out kept up, but nothing more was,
seen of the vessel. The passengers on
board were, Mr. Justice Cochran, (a son
of the Hon. Thomas Cochran, of Hali-

i8o4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1804

fax, Nova Scotia,) Robert J. D. Gray,
Solicitor-General, Angus Macdonell,
M.P.P.,Jacob Herchmer.John Stegman,
George Cowan, James Ruggles, Mr.
Anderson, a student-at-law, and Mr.
Fisk, High Constable. These gentle-
men were on their way to hold the
circuit in the District of Newcastle,
at which an Indian, (who was also on
board the Speedy) was to be tried for
the murder of one John Sharp, late
of the Queen's Rangers. It is com-
puted that, including the captain and
crew, about twenty persons were lost
in the Speedy . — A proclamation, dated
loth January, was issued by Lieu-
tenant Governor Milnes, setting apart
Wednesday the ist of February, to
be observed as a day of fasting and
humiliation throughout the Province of
Lower Canada, in consequence of the
renewal of war. — The supplement to the
Quebec Gazette of February gth, con-
tains the following notice : " Married
on Saturday, a2nd December, at Balti-
more, (Maryland) by the Rev. Bishop
Carrol, Mr. Jerome Buonaparte, young-
est brother to the first consul of the
French Republic, to the agreeable Miss
"Elizabeth Patterson, eldest daughter of
Mr. William Patterson, merchant, of
that city."— The fifth session of the third
Provincial Parliament of Lower Cana-
da, was opened at Quebec by Lieu-
tenant Governor Milnes, on the loth
February. Thirteen Acts were passed
this session. The Alien Act, and the
" Act for the better preservation of His
Majesty's Government, as by law hap-
pily established in this Province," were
renewed ; an Act to encourage persons
to apprehend deserters from the regular
foxes was passed; three other Acts,
about to expire, were continued for a
limited time ; the cultiva .ion of hemp
was further encouraged by a grant of
twelve hundred pounds; an Act was
passed to re;^.. late the curing, packing.

and inspection of beef and pork for ex-
portation. Marriages solemnized by
ministers of the Church of Scotland and
by Protestant Dissenting Ministers since
the conquest, were specially legalized ;
provision was made for the more easy
administration of oaths to witnesses
before the grand jury ; and three Acts
respecting the collection and appropria-
tion of the revenue complete the list.
The session terminated on the 2nd of
May. — On Friday, 2nd of March, two
non-commissioned officers and five pri-
vates belonging to the regular troops,
then in Garrison, were executed at
Quebec, for desertion ; and eleven pri-
vates were at the same time sentenced
to transportation for life, for the same
offence. The Quebec Gazette of 7th
June, contains a notice dated 4th June,
signed by John Craigie, Deputy Com-
missary General, to the effect that the
Commissioners of His Majesty's Treas-
ury, had signified their intention of
having the provisions required for the
forces stationed in British North
America supplied thenceforward from
the North American Provinces, and
that, therefore, tenders for the supply
of flour, pork, and peas, at the several
military stations, would be received by
him. Tenders for the supply of three
thousand five hundred gallons of West
India Rum were also invited. — 13th
June. A Proclamation was issued by
Lieutenant-Governor Milnes, dissolving
the Parliament of Lower Canada, and
directing the issue of writs, returnable
on the 6th August, for the election of
a new Parliament. — On Tuesday the
28th August, the New Cathedral
Church of the Diocese of Quebec, was
consecrated by the Bishop of Quebec.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Gover-
nor, Sir George Pownall, and the leading
citizens of Quebec were present. — The
fifth Session of the eighth General
Assembly of Nova Scotia, was opened

i8o4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1805

by Lieutenant-Governor Wentworth,
at Halifax, on Thursday, 21st June.
The session seems to have been occu-
pied, for the most part, in discussions
between the Assembly and Council,
respecting the appropriation of the
public revenue, more particularly as
regarded the expenditure for roads and
bridges ; the position assumed by each
may be best described by giving the
formal resolutions of each House. On
Thursday, 12th July, the Council sent
the following message to the Assembly :
" They (the Council) think the particu-
lar distribution (of the road votes)
should be left to the discretion of the
Executive Government, who have the
means of investigating' the propriety
and determining the utility of such
distribution, and of enforcing the due
performance of engagements which
may be made by the persons to be
employed in such service." To this
message the reply was: "The House
of Assembly, in answer to the message
of His Majesty's Council of this day, on
the subject of the road votes, have only
to observe that they are finally deter-
mined to adhere to the usual mode of
granting and applying money for that
service. The House has already voted
the revenue for the ensuing year, to be
continued the same as it was the past
year, and when the appropriation of
such revenue shall be agreed on, will
pass bills for its continuance." This
reply was adopted, 28 for ; i against.
On 26th July, the matter being still in
dispute, a conference was held between
the two Houses ; but the Assembly
declined to give way, and the proroga-
tion took place on 27th, the appro-
priation bill failing to pass. The dis-
agreement between the Council and
the Assembly appears to have been
taken very coolly by the Lieutenant-
Governor, as in his speech on closing
the session, he expressed his regret

that a difference of opinion had pre-
vented the passage of the appropria-
tion bill ; but added that it would not
be of great inconvenience, as the " con-
curred votes" would be paid, in accord-
ance with the practice which obtained
before appropriation bills were in use
in Nova Scotia, and that he would pay
the usual salaries, contingencies, and
members pay of ten shillings a day, to
such as would receive it, out of moneys
granted and not appropriated. On Satur-
day, 3rd of November, at 9 a.m., General
Bowyer caused a false alarm to be
given at Halifax, in order to test the
efficiency of the militia in case of an
attack being made upon the city, of
which the Lieutenant-Governor was at
the time apprehensive, from the fre-
quent arrivals at ports of the United
States, of French troops, and French
ships. The result was very satisfact-
ory, as by 10 a.m., 961 men were em-
bodied and distributed to their several
posts. It does not appear that the
Assembly of New Brunswick was call-
ed together for the despatch of busi-
ness during the year 1804. — On the 20th
of August of this year, Alexander Auldjo
announcd that he, as agent for Upper
and Lower Canada of the Phoenix Fire
Insurance Company of London, Eng-
land, was prepared to insure property
in any part of the Provinces against
fire, so that thenceforward persons who
had up to that time been obliged to
effect their insurance in England would
be able to transact such business in
Canada.

1805< The first session of the fourth
Provincial Parliament was opened at
York, by Lieutenant-Governor Hunter,
on the 1st February. Alexander
McDonell, Esq., was elected speaker.
In his opening speech, the Governor
congratulates the Province upon the
success which had so far attended the
efforts of the Government to introduce

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1805

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1805

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the cultivation of hemp, and urges the
farmers to persevere in their exertions.
The session closed on the 2nd March,
ten Acts having been passed, the most
important of which was an Act to
afford relief to those persons who might
be entitled to claim lands in the
Province of Upper Canada, as heirs
or devisees of the nominees of the
Crown, in cases where no patent had
been issued. This Act provided for
the appointment of commissioners to
enquire into all such claims, and pre-
scribed the mode of procedure. An
Act was passed to regulate the curing,
packing, and inspection of beef and
pork, so as to assimilate the laws of
Upper and Lower Canada respecting
that branch of trade. Of the remain-
ing Acts, six were in amendment of
existing laws, and two were appropria-
tion Acts. — Lieutenant-General Peter
Hunter, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper
Canada, and commanding in chief His
Majesty's forces in both the Canadas,
died at Quebec, on 21st August, whilst
on a tour of inspection. A monument
was erected to His Excellency's mem-
ory, in the English Cathedral at Que-
bec, by his brother Dr. John Hunter,
of London, England. — September 17th.
A proclamation was issued by the
Honorable Alexander Grant, announc-
ing the death of Lieutenant-Gnvernor
Hunter, and that he had assumed the
Government of the Province. — Mr.
Thomas Gary published the first num-
ber of the " Mercury " at Quebec, in
January. — The first session of the
fourth Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada was opened at Quebec, by
Lieutenant-Governor Sir R. S. Milnes,
on the gth January. Mr. Panet was
again elected Speaker, the vote stand-
ing : Panet, 39 ; DeSalaberry, 3. The
session was a busy one, and lasted
until the 25th of March. No less than
seventeen Acts were added to the

Statute Book. Of these, five were for
the renewal or amendment of existing
laws ; one was to enable farmers who
had buffered from the deficient harvest
of 1804 to obtain more readily seed
wheat, corn, or other necessary grain ;
four were to provide for the building
or repair of bridges, or improvement of
inland navigation ; by another provi-
sion was made for the establishment of
a Trinity House at Quebec ; the erec-
tion of Gaols in Montreal and Quebec
was provided for by two Acts ; an Act
was passed for erecting an Hotel, Coffee
House, and Assembly Room, in the
city of Quebec ; Sunday trading was
prohibited ; a Toll was established on
the Montreal and Lachine road, and
provision made for improving the road.
Agriculture received a considerable
share of attention this session ; a mea-
sure was introduced to check the
growth of the Canada thistle. This,
however, failed to become law ; but an
Act was passed to compel proprietors
of orchards in the parish of Montreal,
to take measures for the destruction of
a caterpillar which had proved very
injurious to apple trees in that district.
— February 13th. Francis Lemaistre,
Lieutenant-Governor of Gasp^, Adju-
tant-Geneial of the militia of Lower
Canada, died at his house in St.
Famille Street, Quebec. — April 2gth,
The Honorable John Elmsley, Chief
Justice of the Province of Lower Cana-
da, died at Montreal. — The Quebec
Gazette of i6th May announces the
appointment of Colonel Francis Baby,
as Adjutant-General of the militia of
Lower Canada. This Gazette also
contains the appointments made under
the act passed at the last session,
for the establishment of a Trinity
House at Quebec, which were as fol-
lows : The Honorable John Young,
M aster Warden ; William Grant, Deputy
Master Warden ; John Painter, and

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CA^^ADIAN ANNALS-

1805

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Mathew Bell, Wardens, for Quebec ; I
Alexander Auldjo, Francois Desrivieres '
and James Caldwell, Wardens for Mon-
treal ; Franc )is Houcher, Warden and
Harbour Master of Quebec ; and
Augustin Jerome Raby, Warden and
Superintendent of Pilots, at Quebec.
— 22nd May. Notice is given in the
Gazette, by proclamation, of the decla- I
ration of war with Spain. — On Tuesday,
4th June, beinj; the birth-day of^ His
Majesty, colors were presented by Lady
Milnes to Colonel Hale's battalion of
Quebec militia. The presentation took
place on the parade ground, all the
troops in garrison taking part in the
ceremony. — 4th of July. Mr, Gabriel
Franchfere was appointed Harbour
Master at Montreal. — The by-laws,
rules, and orders of the Trinity
House of Quebec, as sanctioned
and confirmed by the Lieutenant-
Governor on the 2gth June, appeal
at length in the supplement to the
Quebec Gazette of this date. — A pro-
clamation of His Excellency, Sir K. S.
Milnes, dated 31st Jul}-, announces
his approaching departure from the
Province, on leave of absence, and that
on his departure the administration of
the government would devolve upon
the Honorable Thomas Dunn, he being
the senior member of the council. — The
same Gazette contains the appointments
of George Longmore, M.D., as Health
Officer and Medical Inspector of the
port of Quebec, and of John Painter
as Treasurer to the Trinity House of
Quebec, and, on ist August, of James
Stuart, Esq., as Solicitor-General of
Lower Canada. — His Excellency Lieu-
tenant Governor Milnes embarked on
H. M. S. Urauie, on 5th August, and
sailed immediately for England. — July
27th. Lieutenant-General Bowyer, com-
manding the troops in Nova Scotia,
being about to return to England, the
inhabitants of Halifax presented him

with a sword of the valueof 120 guineas,
as a testimonial of their regard — It
is noted as an evidence of the growth
of the Province, and of the increasing
attention given to agriculture, that this
year, with the exception of flour,
which still continued to be imported
from the United States, Nova Scotia
was able to supply provisions not only
for her own people, but also for the troops
and prisoners of war, of whom there
were six or seven hundred in the Pro-
vince. — 28th November. The sixth ses-
sion of the eighth General Assembly of
Nova Scotia, was opened at Halifax.

j The Speaker, Mr. Uniacke, beingabsent
on leave in England, it became neces-
sary to elect some person to fill his
place during the session, and the choice
of the Assembly fell upon Mr. William
Cottnam Tonge. — The appropriation
bill was, as it had been during the past
two or three sessions, a subject of dis-
agreement between the Assembly and
the Council, and the session was in

\ consequence protracted until the i8th
January, 1S06, when the prorogation
took place. — 29th January. The Cien-
eral Assembly of New Brunswick, hav-
ing been prorogued to this day, met for
the despatch of business, but a suffi-
cient number of members not being in
attendance, the House was further pro-
rogued until the 4th p-ebruary, when
the session was formally opened by
His Honor Gabriel G. Ludlow, Presi-
dent, upon whom, in the absence of
His Excellency Lieutenant-Governor
Carleton,the administration of the gov-
ernment had devolved.— Twenty-one
Acts were passed during this session,

- amongst which were " An Act for the
better regulating the militia in this
Province," and " An Act for the more
effectual prevention of desertion from

i His Majesty's forces," Acts which the
renewal of the war with France had
led the President to recommend to the

i8o6

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1806

flli

special attention of the Assembly. —
Lieutenant-General Fanning,'*' was per-
mitted (after repeated applications) to
retire from the government of Prince
Edward Island, an office which he had
held since 1787. He was succeeded by
Colonel Joseph F. W. Des Barres, an
officer who (when a captain) had been
present at the capture of Quebec.
1806. The second session of the
S/' fourth Provincial Parliament of Upper

Canada, was opened by His Honor the
Honorable Alexander Grant, President,
on the 4th of February. Allusion was
made by His Honor to the death of
Governor Hunter, and to the glorious
victory at Trafalgar, but no subjects for
Provincial Legislation were touched
upon. The session closed on the 3rd
March ; seven Acts were passed, one
of which was to amend the law relating
to the practice of Physic and Surgery ;
another to make provision for the pay-
ment of Sheriffs ; a third to procure
certain apparatus for the promotion of
science in connection with the educa-
tion of youth in the Province ; the
remaining Acts, had reference to the
collection and appropriation of the
Revenue. On 29th August, Francis

* Edward Fanning was the son of Captain James
Fanning, a British Officer, who, after selling his
commission, settled in New York. He was born in
the then Province of New York, on 24th April, 1739,
and educated at Yale College, where he received his
M. A. degree. Although educated for the bar, the
disturbed state of the American Provinces induced
him to leave his practice for a more active life.
Entering the military service he became a colonel,
and served with distinction under Governor Tryon,
of North Carolina ; he went to England in 1773,
strongly recommended to the favour of the govern-
ment for his services in Carolina. After serving for
some time in the army, Colonel Fanning, was, on
Z4th of February, 1783, appointed Lieutenant-
Governor of Nova Scotia, and, in 1787 succeeded
Governor Patterson, in Prince Edward Island. On
his retirement from the government of Prince
Edward Island, General Fanning had a pension of
£500 stg. a year conferred upon him in considera-
tion of his long and faithful service. He died in
London, on the 28th February, 1818, in the 79th year
of his age.

Gore, Esq., who had been appointed
to succeed General Hunter, having
arrived at York, issued the usual proc-
lamations announcing his assumption
of the Lieutenant-Govirnorship of the
Province of Upper Canada. August
i6th. The Quebec fleet, under convoy
of H. M. S. Champion, 24 guns, was
overtaken at sea by the Veteran, 74
guns, under command of Jerome
Bonaparte, and six vessels were taken
and burnt ; the remainder by scatter-
ing, escaped capture. The Quebec
Gazette of 2nd January, gave at length,
Lord CoUingwood's despatch announc-
ing the victory at Trafalgar, and the
ever to be lamented death of Lord
Nelson. A salute was fired from the
Grand Battery at one o'clock in the
afternoon of the 4th, and a general
illumination took place in the evening
of that day, followed by public balls
on the evenings of the 8th and loth,
thus prolonging for a whole week the
public rejoicings for the glorious vic-
tory which had been obtained. January
17th. — Monseigneur Pierre Denaut,
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church
at Quebec, died at Longueuil, aged 63.
M. Denaut was succeeded in his
bishopric by M. Plessis, who had been
consecrated bishop of Canathe on 25th
January, 1801. — The second session
of the fourth Provincial Parlia-
ment of Lower Canada, was opened
by Mr. President Dunn, at Quebec,
on the 20th February. — An account
of a public dinner, given at Mon-
treal, in March, 1805, having ap-
peared in the Montreal Gazette, of 1st
April, 1805, in which the speeches were
reported at some length, to the great
umbrage of certain members of the
Legislative Assembly, it was resolved,
on 7th March, 1806 "that the said
paper contains a false and malicious
libel." Mr. Thomas Cary, editor of
the Quebec Mercury, having published

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1806

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1807

in his paper an account of the proceed-
ings of the Assembly, was arrested for
80 doing by the Sergeant-at-Arms ;
he was, however, after two days con-
finement, released on making an ample
apology. On 15th March, the Assem-
bly ordered the arrest of Isaac Tod,
of the city of Montreal, for having
published, and of Edward Edwards,
for having printed, the said libel. No
measures were, however, taken to
carry the order into effect, and the
matter was then suffered to drop. —
Nathaniel Taylor, Deputy Secretary,
and Registrar of the Province of Lower
Canada, died at Quebec, on 4th April. —
The session of the Lower Canada Par-
liament closed on 19th April. Seven
Acts were passed, and one was reserved
for the signification of His Majesty's
pleasure thereon. Four of the seven
Acts were to continue existing laws,
and of the remaining three, one was to
authorize further expenditure for the
improvement of the navigation between
Montreal and Lake St. Francis. The
reserved Act was to authorize the erec-
tion of a bridge over the river L'As-
somption. — Le Canadien, the first news-
paper printed in the French language in
Canada, appeared in November. Feb-
ruary 15th. — Lieutenant-General Wil-
liam Gardiner, commanding the forces
in Nova Scotia, died at Halifax, and
was buried at St. Paul's church in that
city. — The Nova Scotia Assembly was
dissolved on 28th May, and writs for a
new election, returnable on 7th August,
were issued. On i8th November the
new Assembly (first session of the
ninth General Assembly) met. Mr.
William Cottnam Tonge, member for
the county of Hants, was elected
Speaker. The House attended the
Lieutenant-Governor on the 19th with
their Speaker elect, who was presented
to His Excellency by Mr. Northup.
Sir John informed them that he did not

approve of the choice they had made,
and desired them to return and make
another, and to present the member
chosen for his approbation on the day
following at one o'clock. The Assem-
bly accordingly withdrew, and on the
2oth proceeded to choose another
Speaker. Mr. Lewis Morris Wilkins,
member for Lunenburg, was then
elected and approved by His Excel-
lency, who opened the session with a
speech in which he congratulated the
Assembly upon the victories obtained
by British forces by sea and land, and
upon the general prosperity of the Pro-
vince. The House of Assembly pre-
sented an address to the Lieutenant-
Governor in reply to the speech from
the throne, on 22nd November, in
which allusion was made to the rejec-
tion of Mr. Tonge as Speaker in the
following terms : — " While we lament
that your Excellency has been pleased
to exercise a branch of His Majesty's
prerogative, long unused in Great Bri-
tain, and without precedent in this
Province, we beg leave to assure your
Excellency that we shall not fail to cul-
tivate assiduously a good understanding
between the different branches of the
legislature, and to prosecute with dili-
gence the business of the session." No
further reference appears to have been
made to the subject.

1807i The A p Bfroc ssion of the fourth
Provincial Parliament of Upper CanadaT
was opened by Lieutenant-Governor
Francis Gore, at York, on Monday, 2nd
February. The session was a short
but busy one. The prorogation took
place on the loth March. Of the
twelve Acts which were passed, the
most important was an Act to establish
Public Schools in each and every dis-
trict of the Province. These schools
were placed under the management of
five trustees in each district, who were
to be appointed by the Lieutenant-

i8o7

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1807

Governor. The teachers were to be vEneas Shaw appointed Adjutant-Gene-
paid by the Receiver-General out of ral of Militia for the Province of Upper
the Kcneral revenue, and to receive j Canada. — December 30th. The York
;f 100 a year, each. — Of the remaining j Gazette of this date contains at length

Acts of this sef-sion, one was for the

the King's Proclamation (dated ifith

preservation of salmon in the Home j October, 1807), "For recalling and
and Newcastle Districts, in which the ( prohibiting British seamen from serv-
itaking of salmon by setting any nets. < ing foreign princes and states." — The
weirs, or other engines, in any creek ] (//'/'i.t CVuunfd GKonZ/Vo;, the first "oppo-

or river, or at or near the mouth of any
creek or river, was prohibited under a
penalty of five pounds for the first
offence, and double that amount for

sition paper" published in Upper
Canada, made its appearance this year.
It was edited by Mr. Willcocks, who
had been Sheriff of the Home District,

any subsequent offence. — Three Acts ] and was subsequently returned to Par-
were for the regulation of sundry details liament to urge the views of the then
respecting the profession and practice ^ rising opposition party. — The third
of the law ; one repealed the Act au- session of the fourth Provincial Parlia-
thorizing the payment of bounties for ment of Lower Canada was opened at
the destruction of wolves and bears; Quebec, on 21st January, by His Honor
another provided for the settlement of Thomas Dunn, Esq., President of the
certiin matters connected with the Province of Lower Canada. Seventeen
setting apart of the district of Johns- j Acts were passed during this session,
town ; the remaining Acts had refe | one of which, an Act to incorporate
rence to the collection and disburse- 1 the Quebec Benevolent Society, was re-
ment of the public revenue.— Captain j served for the signification of His
Joseph Brant," chief of the Six Nations, ; Majesty's pleasure thereon, and was
died on 24th November, aged 65 years. 1 assented to by His Majesty in Council
— December 2nd. Lieutenant-Colonel | on 30th March, 1808. Of the remain-
ing sixteen Acts, ten were to continue

• Joseph Brant was of pure Mohawk blood. He
first came into notice when, in 175O, he was sent by
Sir William Johnson to Dr. Wheeling's Indiin
School in Connecticut, where he received a good
education. In 1762 Brant acted as interpreter to a
missionary named Smith; in 1775 he visited ling-
land. In 1779 he was present at the attack on Mini-
sink, in Orange county. The allusion to Brant in
Gertrude of Wyoming is too well known to need
repetition, but it may not be out of place to quote
the poet's remarks on being satisfied of the erro-
neous view he had formed of Brant's character.
Campbell, repeating the substance of his conversa-
tion with Brant's son, whose acquaintance the poet
had made in England, wrote as follows : " Had I
learnt all this of your father when 1 was writing
my poem, he should not have figured in it as the
hero of mischief." Campbell adds, " It was but
bare justice to say thus much of a Mohawk Indian,
who spoke English eloquently, and was thought
capable of having written a history of the Six
Nations. I ascertained also that he often strove to
mitigate the cruelty of Indian warfare. The name
of Brant therefore remains in my poem a pure and
declared character of fiction."

for a limited time, or to amend, existing
Acts ; two were to provide for the erec-
tion of market houses in the cities of
Quebec and Montreal ; one was for the
prevention of desertion of seamen from
merchant ships ; another for the regu-
lation of the fisheries in the District of
Gaspe; an Act for the more easy reco-
very of small debts, and another
granting to Jean Baptiste Bedard the
exclusive right and privilege of erecting
bridges in Lower Canada, according to
certain models therein described, com-
plete the list. The prorogation took
place on the i6th April. — Notice is
given in the Quebec Gazette of 19th
February that an Act of the Imperial
Parliament had been passed, 21st July,
1806, permitting until ist January

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i8o7

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1807

1809, the importation of masts, yards,
bowsprits, or timber fit for naval pur-
poses, from the British Colonies in
North America into the United King-
dom, duty free. — June 22nd. Captain
Humphreys, of His Majesty's ship
Leopard (50 guns) having satisfied him-
self that there were three men, de-
serters from the Melampus frigate, on
board the United States frigate Chesa-
peake (38 guns), sent on board that
vessel a despatch from Admiral Berke-
ley, commanding the British fleet then
at anchor off the Cape of Delaware,
demanding the surrender of these three
men ; this demand being refused by the
captain of the Chesapeake, the Leopard
opened fire, when, after exchanging a
few shots, the Chesapeake struck her
colours. Captain Humphreys then ob-
tained the men he had demanded, and
the vessels returned to their respective
stations, the Chesapeake to Hampton
Roads, and the Leopard rejoined the
fleet. The news of this event created
a strong sensation throughout the
United States. The President (Thomas
Jefl'erson) immediately issued a procla-
mation, dated 3rd July, requiring all
British armed vessels to leave United
States harbours or waters ; and a
strong remonstrance was at once ad-
.dressed to the British Government. —
A proclamation, dated 12th August,
was issued by His Honor Mr. Presi-
dent Dunn, prohibiting the exportation
from Lower Canada of gunpowder,
ammunition, arms, and warlike stores
of every kind and description. — 19th
August. Lieutenant-General Sir James
Henry Craig, K.C.B., appointed Cap-
tain-General and Governor in Chief of
the North American Provinces. Sir
James was also appointed Commander of
the Forces in North America. — The
Quebec Gazette of 20th August contains
an Order in Council, forbidding the
rjmoval of gunpowder from any maga-

zine, store, or warehouse unless by per-
mission of the Governor or person ad-
ministering the Government. — 9th Sep-
tember. A General Order was issued
by Mr. President Dunn, thanking the
militia for the alacrity with which they
had responded to the General Order of
20th August, directing them to hold
themselves in readiness for active ser-
vice, and for their general good con-
duct which had merited the President's
warmest approbation — On 20th Sep-
tember a Te Deum was sung " in
thanksgiving for the new marks of
Divine goodness to the country in in-
spiring its inhabitants with the most
favorable dispositions for the King's
service in defence of the country." A
similar service was ordered in every
church throughout the Province. —
Lieut. -General Sir J. H. Craig, Gov
ernor in Chief, arrived at Quebec on
Sunday, iSth October, in H. M. S.
Horatio, Captain George Scott, and on
24th October issued the usual procla-
mation announcing his assumption of
the Government — 24th November. A
General Order of His Excellency, Sir
J. H. Craig remits the fines imposed by
the courts u][)on a few militiamen who
had been prosecuted for acts of insub-
ordination, and exhorts the militia
generally to be vigilant at all times and
ready for service on the shortes
notice. — December 17th. The Quebec
Gazette contains an oflicial notice that
His Excellency had been pleased to
grant the Royal pardon to sundry per-
sons who had been convicted of misde-
meanor under the Militia Act. —
October 31st. Lieut. -Governor Gore
announced that His Majesty had been
pleased to suspend Mr. Justice Thorpe
from ais office of judge in Upper
Canada; and that measures would be
taken for the appointment of his suc-
cessor. — ^January loth. Mr. Brenton
Halliburton appointed an Assistant

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

1808

Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova
Scotia in place of Hon. J. Brenton,
deceased. — ^August 24th. The Lieu-
tenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in
Council, issued an order prohibiting
the export of provisions from Nova
Scotia from the date of the Order unti]
the I at November. — December 3rd.
The second session of the ninth Gene-
ral Assembly of Nova Scotia met at
Halifax. — Lady Wentworth being very
ill, the speech from the throne was
read by Chief Justice Blowers, presi-
dent of the Council. — Pecember nth.
The Assembly voted 100 guineas for
the purchase of a sword or a piece ol
plate, to be presented to Vice- Admiral
Berkeley, as a testimonial of the re-
spect and esteem in which he was held
in the Province of Nova Scotia. Lieu-
tenant-Governor Wentworth subse-
quently (on I St February, 1808) de-
clined giving his assent to this vote. —
The House of Assembly of New
Brunswick met at Fredericton on 30th
January, when the session was opened
by His Honor Mr. President Ludlow.
The Assembly, during this tcssinn,
voted ;f 50 for the purchase of a silver
trumpet, to be presented to the New
Brunswick Fencible Regiment, the
trumpet to have the arms of the Pro-
vince engraved thereon. Sixteen Acts
were passed during this session. In
New Brunswick, as in the other Pro-
vinces, the possibility of war with the
United States induced the Govern-
ment to look to the means of defending
the Province, and accordingly we find
amongst the Acts above referred to
"An Act for the better regulation of
the Militia in this Province," and an
•• Act for the more effectual punish-
ment of such persons as shall seduce
soldiers to desert."

1806. The fourth session of the
fourth Provincial Parliament of Upper

Canada was opened at York on the 20th
January by His Excellency Francis
Gore, Lieutenant-Governor. This ses-
sion terminated on the i6th March.
Sixteen Acts received the assent of the
Lieutenant-Governor, amongst which
was an " Act to explain, amend, and
reduce to one Act of Parliament the
several laws now in being for the
raising and training .he Militia of this
Province." This Act contains forty-
three sections, and appears to have
been drafted with great care. Many of
its provisions are embodied in the pre-
sent law (1868). The other Acts of this
session are chiefly in amendment of, or
to continue, then existing Acts, and it
is therefore unnecessary to refer to
them in detail. — A proclamation, dated
2ist May, was issued by Lieutenant-
Governor Gore, dissolving the Provin-
cial Parliament of Upper Canada, and
directing the issue of writs, returnable
on the 2nd of July, for calling a new
Provincial Parliament. — July 7th. The
first stone of the lighthouse at Gibral-
tar Point, at the entrance of York
(now Toronto) harbour, was laid. The
York Gazette of July gth expresses the
greatest satisfaction at the commence-
ment of this important public work;
the concluding words of the article
express the hope that " it may in
building raise to its proposed height
without maim or injury to its builders,
and stand as a monument to ages yet
unborn." — Lieutenant-Governor Gore
left York on the 15th June on a tour
through the western part of Upper
Canada. He proceeded as far as
Sandwich, and returned to York on
23rd July. — The Hon. Peter Rus-
sell,'*^ who, on the departure of Major-

* Mr. Russell had been in the army and still

held the rank of captain (on half pay). During the

Revolutionary war he had been secretary to Sir

Henry Clinton, Commander-in-Chief of the army in

'North America. He had also held the office of

i8o8

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1808

still

Jgthe

Sir

General Simcoe in 1796, became Presi-
dent of the Government of Upper
Canada, died at York on the 30th of
September. — November i8th. William
Warren BaJdwin appointed Registrar
of the Court of Probate for Upper
Canada vice Miles Macdonell resigned.
— ^January 2ist. Francois Vassall de
Monville appointed Deputy Adjutant-
General of Militia for Lower Canada,
appointment to bear date 26th Decem-
ber, 1807. — The fourth session of the
/ourth Provincial Parliament of Lower
Canada was opened at Quebec by His
Excellency Lieutenant • General Sir
James Henry Craig, K.C.B., Governor-
General, on Friday, January 29th.
This session lasted until 14th April.
Thirty-five Acts were passed, one of
which, namely, an Act for erecting
common gaols with court halls in the
inferior district of Gasp£, was reserved,
and received the assent of His Majesty
in Council on 15th November, 1809. Of
the remaining ActR, thirteen were to
continue or to amend existing laws ;
seven were for the improvement of
roads and building of bridges; one
was to regulate the trial of contro-
verted elections ; another was for the
better regulation of the lumber trade ;
an Act was also passed to regulate the
currency ; the rest it is unnecessary to
particularise. Two other subjects of
importance engaged the attention of
the Assembly during this session. The
first was the eligibility of persons pro-
fessing the Jewish religion to sit as
members of the Assembly, a question
decided in the negative by a formal

Receiver-Oeneral of Upper Canada, and had been a
member of the Executive and Legislative Councils
of that Province. Mr. Russell was buried with
military honors at York on 4th October. His Ex-
cellency the Lieutenant-Governor and all the princi-
pal gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood were
preaent. The military on duty on the occasion were
commanded by Major Fuller (father ot the Rev.
T.B. Fuller, Archdeacon of Niagara.)

resolution of the House which was
carried by 21 to 5, and reads as fol-
lows : "That Ezekiel Hart, Esq.,
professing the Jewish religion, cannot
take a seat nor vote in this House."
The second subject was an inquiry into
the state and relations of the inter-
course between Quebec and the West
Indies. The importance of establish-
ing a direct trade between Canada and
the West Indies was strongly felt, and
earnest efforts were made to enlist
public sympathy for a movement in
this direction. — February 22nd. The
Hon. Henry Allcock, Chief Justice of
the Province of Lower Canada, and
Speaker of the Legislative Council,
died at his house in St. Lewis Street,
Quebec. — April 28th. A proclamation
appears in the Quebec Gazette of this
date, dissolving the Provincial Parlia*
ment of the Province of Quebec, and
directing the issue of writs, returnable
on the i8th June, for a new election. —
June 14th. A letter was addressed by
Mr. Ryland, Governor's Secretary, to
Lieut.-Colonel J. A. Panet, Captain P.
Bedard, Captain J. F. Taschereau,
Lieutenant J. L. Borgia, and Surgeon
F. Blanchet, informing them that His
Excellency thought it necessary for
His Majesty's service to dismiss them
from their situations in the town
militia. The reason for this step is said
to have been because he could place
no confidence in persons whom he had
good ground for considering to be pro-
prietors of a seditious and libellous pub-
lication. Lieutenant • Colonel Panet
was succeeded in his command by
Charles Pinguet.— July 19th. H.M.S.
Amelia, Captain the Hon. F. P. Irby,
arrived at Quebec from Falmouth,
having on board the Lord Bishop of
Quebec, and Major-General Drum-
mond and suite. — August 6th. Samuel
Phillips, Clerk of the House of Assem-
bly of Lower Canada, died at Quebec.

;|1

' 'I

1808

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1808

Mr. Phillips was the first Clerk of the
Assembly under the new constTtution.
—September 8th. Jonathan Sewell,
Esq., Attorney - General, appointed
Chief Justice of the Province of
Lower Canada, in the room of the
Hon. Henry Allcock, deceased. — Sep-
tember loth Edward Bowen, Esq.,
appointed Attorney-General for Lower
Canada— December 15th. William
Lindsay, jun., Esq., appointed Clerk of
the House of Assembly of Lower
Canada in the room of Samuel
Phillips, Esq., deceased, commission
dated 7th August, 1808.— February 4th.
The second session of the ninth Gene-
ral Assembly of Nova Scotia was
closed by Lieutenant-Governor Went-
worth. — February 18th. BenningWent-
worth. Secretary of the Province of
Nova Scotia, died at Halifax in the
fifty-third year of his age. He was
succeeded by Charles Marcy Went-
worth, son of Sir John Wentworth, the
Lieutenant-Governor. — In view of the
critical state of the relations between
England and the United States, three
regiments of Nova Scotia militia were
embodied and employed in active ser-
vice, taking their share of garrison
duties. — April 7th. Lieutenant-Gene-
ral Sir George. Prevost, Bart., arrived
at Halifax in H.M.S. Penelope, having
been appointed by commission, dated
15th January, 1808, Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Nova Scotia. Sir George took
the oaths of oflice and signed the rolls
on April 13th. His arrival was wholly
unexpected, the official letter from the
Secretary of State announcing his ap-
pointment did not reach Halifax until
the 26th April. Sir George Prevost
brought with him three regiments of
foot, the 7th, 8th, and 23rd.— The third
session of the ninth General Assembly
of Nova Scotia was opened at Halifax
on the 19th May by the new Lieuten-
ant-Governor, Sir George Prevost, who

in his opening speech, recommended a
revision of the militia laws. — On May
23rd the Lieutenant-Governor sent a
message to the Assembly, transmitting
a despatch from the Secretary of
State recommending to the favourable
consideration of the House some suit-
able provision in the way of an annnuity
to the late Lieutenant-Governor, Sir
John Wentworth. The Assembly, after
some discussion with the Council,
passed an Act, granting a pension of
;^5oo stg. a year, for life, to Sir John
Wentworth. A like pension was paid
to him by the British Government.
The Assembly took the occasion of the
passing of this Act to present Sir John
with an address expressing their appre-
ciation of his long and valuable ser-
vices to Nova Scotia, to which he re-
plied in feeling terms. 23rd June, The
session closed. Sir George Prevost
thanked the Assembly for having
passed the militia laws. — On the i6th
June, Aaron Burr,* late Vice-president

* The singular character and romantic history of
Aaron Burr seem to require that at least a passing
notice should be given of this remarkable man.
Aaron Burr was the son of a clergyman, a native oi
Fairfield, in Connecticut, who was at one time presi-
dent of the College of New Jersey. He was born at
Newark, New Jersey, on February 6th, 1756, gra-
duated at Princeton College in 1772, entered he
army as a private, and accompanied Arnold on his
expedition to Quebec. He was engaged in the de-
fence of New York, under General Putnam, and
became a lieutenant-colonel in 1777, and in 1780 he
resigned his commission, and took to the study of
law. Mr. Burr was Attorney-General of New
York in 1789, and United States senator in 1791. He
became Vice-president of the United States in 1801,
and in 1804 was nominated for Governor of the
State of New York. The contest was bitter, and led
to a duel between him and Alexander Hamilton (on
July nth, 1804), in which Hamilton was killed. Mr.
Burr's subsnquent conduct led to his trial for high
treason. The trial took place at Richmond, Vir-
ginia. It commenced on March 27th, and did not
terminate until September 7th, when the jury
brought in the foUowmg verdict, " Aaron Burr is not
proved to be guilty under the indictment by any evi-
dence submitted to us." On being set at liberty he
went to Europe to prosecute his designs, and whilst
in Halifax obtained a letter from Lieutenant-Gov-

r; »

i8o8

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1809

I at

knd

BI,

Ithe

hot

W
liot

Pit

of the United States, visited Halifax,
whence he sailed for Europe. — The Hon.
John Haliburton, member of the Coun-
cil of Nova Scotia, died on nth July.—
On 24th November Sir George Prevost
opened the fourth session of the ninth
General Assembly of Nova Scotia. He
announced his approaching departure in
command of an expedition to the West
Indies, and informed the House that
during his absence the civil Government
would be administered by the Judge of
the Admiralty Court, the Hon. Alexan-
der Croke.— Sir George Prevost left
Halifax on 6th December, at 9 a.m., in
H.M.S. Penelope, Captain Dick, and ar-
rived at Barbadoes on 29th December. —
On December 7th Mr. Croke was sworn
in as President of the Province, and
Commander-in-Chief during the absence
of the Lieutenant-Governor. — July 5th.
The General Assembly of New Bruns-
wick met at Fredericton, when the
session was opened by Major-General
Martin Hunter, President and Comman-
der-in-Chief of the Province of New
Brunswick. Five acts were passed dur-
ing this session, the most important of
which was an " Act for the greater secu-
rity of the Province by the better regu-
lating the military thereof."— On 30th
July the General Assembly was pro-
rogued to the second Tuesday in October.
1909. The fifth session of the fifth
Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada
was opened at York by Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Gore on the second* of February.

ernor Sir George Prevost to Viscount Castlereagh.
Vice-Admiral Sir J. B. Wairen, who was at the time
in Halifax appears to have been consulted in the
matter, and to have concurred m recommending Mr.
Burr's plant to the favourable consideration of the
British Government, Mr. Burr's mission was a fail-
ure. In 1809 he was, on the complaint of the Spanish
ambassador in London, who represented that Mr.
Burr was engaged in enterprises against the posses-
sions of Spain in America, ordered to leave the United
Kingdom, Mr. Burr never recovered his former posi-
tion and influence. He died on 14th September,
1836, on Staten Island, New York.

Samuel Street Esq., was chosen Speaker
of the House of Assembly. Nine Acts
were passed during this session, which
closed on the 9th March. The possible
contingency of a war with the United
States appears to have been ever present
with the Governors of the several North
American Provinces, as we find thomost
important Act of this session was " An
Act for quartering and billeting, on cer-
tain occasions. His Majesty's troops^
and the militia of this Province." —
February 13th. The Honorables James
Baby, Richard Cartwright, and Robert
Hamilton, and Thomas Talbot, and
William Allen, Esquires, were appointed
by the Lieutenant-Governor, Commis-
sioners for the purchasing of merchant-
able hemp, the growth of Upper Canada.
— Postal communication between the
Provincesof Upper and Lower Canada
was still tedious and infrequent, as the
following notice, taken from the York
Gazette of 4th January, 1809, sufficiently
testifies : * For General Information,
the winter mail will be despatched from
Quebec for Upper Canada, on the fol-
lowing dates, viz. : Mondays 2nd Janu-
ary, 6th February, 5th March, and 3rd
April, each mail may be looked for here
from 16 to 18 days after the above pe-
riods. The courier from Kingston is to
go on to Niagara without making any
stay (unless found necessary) at this
place so that all persons will have time
to prepare their letters by the time he
returns fot Kingston again. (Signed),
W. Allan, Dy. P. M. York. 2nd January,
1809." — The Quebec Gazette of 2nd Feb-
ruary, contains the following notice re-
lating to Postal matters : " An adver-
tisement dated Terrebonne, 26th Decem-
ber, 1 808, signed Mackenzie, Oldham &»
Co., and Thomas Porteous, having ap-
peared in the Quebec and Montreal Ga-

* The Statutes (edition printed at Kingston, U.C.>
1831) give the date as theivcvwi/, the York Gatette of
3rd February, t8o8, says this Jay, that is the thirtl.

i809

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1809

zett0S, intimating that a courier has been
engaged to pass between Montreal and
Terrebonne, to carry all letters, news-
papers i^nd packages not exceeding a
certain weight, and such establishment
of a post having been made without the
authority or knowledge of the Deputy
Postmaster General of British North
America, the parties therein concerned
shall be prosecuted with all possible ex-
pedition." The notice goes on to quote
at length the provisions of the Post-Oflice
Act, 9th Queen Anne, Cap. 10, and is
signed Geo. Heriot, Deputy Postmaster
General of British North America.
Messrs. Mackenzie, Oldham, and Por-
teous, published a card in reply, stating
that although they did, as alleged, carry
correspondence between the points in-
dicated, they did so without charge, and
had been driven to adopt the course of
action complained of, solely on account
of the defective arrangements made by
the Post-office authorities. — April loth.
The first session of the fifth Parliament
of the Province of Quebec was opened at
Quebec by His Excellency, Sir J. H.
Craig, Governor General. Mr. J. A. Pa-
net was again elected Speaker. — May
Sth. It was resolved by the House of
Assembly of Lower Canada, "That Eze-
kiel Hart, Esquire, professing the Jewish
religion, cannot sit nor vote in this
House." — May 15. His Excellency the
Governor-in-Chief prorogued the Par-
liament of Lower Canada, Five acts
were assented to, all of which were to
continue or amend existing laws. The
Governor in his speech upon this occa-
sion censured the members of the As-
sembly very severely for their frivolity
and inattention to public business. His
Excellency, addressing the members of
the Assembly spoke a follows : " You
have wasted in fruitless debates, excited
by private and personal animosities, or
by frivolous contests, upon trivial mat-
ters of form, that time and those talents,

to which within your walls, the public
have an exclusive title; this abuse of
your functions, you have preferred to the
high and important duties which you
owe to your Sovereign, and to your con-
stituents ; and you have thereby been
forced to neglect the consideration of
matters of moment and necessity, which
were before you, while you have at the
same time virtually prevented the intro*
duction of such others as may have
been in contemplation." — June 17th.
The comer stone of the new goal at
Quebec was laid by His Excellency the
Governor General, assisted by the mem-
bers of the Royal craft. — June 23rd.
The foundation stone of the Scotch
Church in Quebec, was laid by the Rev.
Alexander Spark. — June 26th. Gover-
nor General Sir J. H. Graig, reached
Three Rivers on his way to visit Mon-
treal. An address was presetted, to
which His Excellency made a suitable
reply. Sir James Craig reached Mon-
treal on 28th June, and was received
with every mark of respect. — July i8th.
Notice is given in the Quebec papers
that the "Vermont" steamboat will
leave St. John's every Saturday morning
at 9 a.m., and reach White Hall about
9 a.rn. on Sunday. Returning will leave
White Hall at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Quebec Gazette of July 20th, pub-
lished in full an act, 49 Geo. Ill Cap.
XVI, to encourage commercial inter-
course between Lower Cattada and
Bermuda,h-j which it was provided "th t
from and after the passing of this act,
any Rum or other spirits, being the pro-
duce or manufacture of any of His
Majesty's sugar colonies in the West
Indies, legally imported into the island of
Bermuda, may be legally imported into
the Province of Lower Canada, and
landed and admitted to an entry upon
payment of the same rate of duty as if
the same had been imported directly
from any of His Majesty's sugar colo-

9«

i8o9

CANADIAN ANNALS.

181O

nies in the IVesi Indies, and under the
conditions and restrictions contained in
the said act, without payment of duty,
in the same manner as if such rum or
other spirits had been imported directl]{
from any of the said sugar colonies."
An Act (149 Geo. iii Cap. 27), "for
establishing Courts of Judicature in the
Island of Newfoundland and the islands
adjacent; and for re-annexing part of
the coast of Labrador and the islands
lying on the said coast to the Govern-
ment of Newfoundland," appears at
length in the Quebec Gazette of the 24th
August. By this act such parts of the
coast of Labrador from the river St.
John to Hudson's straits and the island
of Anticosti, and all other smaller islands
(except the Magdalen Islands), are sep-
arated from the Government of Lower
Canada, and re-annexed to the Govern-
ment of Newfoundland. The Honour-
able G. E. Taschereau, Colonel of the
2nd Battalion Quebec Militia, Member
of the Legislative Council, Grand Voyer
of the District of Quebec, died at the
Manor House, Ste. Marie, Beauce, on
the 1 8th September. Mr. Pierre Mar-
coux,who succeeded Colonel Taschereau
as Grand Voyer of the District of Que-
bec, died on the 20th November.— Jan-
uary 26th. The General Assembly of
Nova Scotia (4th Session of the 9th
Assembly) was prorogued by the Hon-
ourable Alexander Croke, President of
the Province, who administered the
Government during the absence of Sir
George Prevost. The President had
declined giving his assent to the Appro-
priation Bill, and in his prorogation
speech, he stated his reasons for such
refusal by declaring that the Government
would appropriate the revenue of the
Province more beneficially and economi-
cally than the Assembly had provided
for by their Bill. The Speaker of the
Assembly desired to address his Honour,
remonstrating against the disallowance

of the Bill, but the President of the
Council declared the House prorogued.
— April 15th. Lieutenant-General Sir
George Prevost, Bart., arrived at Hali-
fax, on his return from the West Indies,
and resumed the administration of the
Government of Nova Scotia. The Lieu-
tenant-Governor's return caused very
I great satisfaction to the people of Nova
! Scotia, the inhabitants of Halifax pre-
' sented him with an address, in which
I allusion was made to the capture of Mar-
I tinique, and a public ball and supper
were given by the gentlemen of Halifax
in his honour. The fifth Session of the
9th General Assembly of Nova Scotia,
I was opened at Halifax on Wednesday,
' 7th June, by Sir George Prevost. An
Address was presented to his Excel-
lency by the Assembly, complimenting
him upon his success in the expedition
to Martinique, and a sum of 200 guineas
was voted to purchase him a sword or a
piece of plate. The session was closed
on loth June, three acts, one being the
appropriation act, were assented to.
No allusion was made, either by the
Assembly or by the Lieutenant-Gover-
nor, to the misunderstanding which had
arisen between Dr. Croke, whilst admin-
istering the Government, and the Assem-
bly, so that what might have caused a
serious embroglio, was thus quietly and
eflfectually disposed of by the exercise
of a little tact, supported by common-
sense. The fifth Session of the General
Assembly of Nova Scotia, having been
called for a special purpose, it did not
interfere with the general arrangements
for the meeting of the Assembly; the
sixth session was therefore held at the
usual time, and was opened by Lieu-
tenant-Governor Sir George Prevost, at
Halifax, on Thursday, November 9th,
and closed on 22nd December. During
this session, a petition was presented
to the Assembly, alleging that two young
men named McTray and Allan, natives

•at-

i8io

CANADIAN ANNALS.

18ID

> ii I

of Nova Scotia, who had sought redress
for the value of some timber they had
been unjustly deprived of, by suing the
aggressors, had, through a conspiracy,
been impressed and carried away in the
Tkefis frigate, to the West Indies, and
praying that the House would take
action in order to procure their release,
and to punish the conspirators ; where-
upon the Hou^ passed an address to
the Lieutenant-Governor for their relief.
The Assembly of New Brunswick did
not meet for despatch of business diir-
ing the year 1 809.

1810. January 12th. Mr. William
Allan, Deputy- Postmaster at York, an-
nounces in the Vot/i Gazette, that ' A re-
gular intercourse with Lower Canada
once a fortnight, by post, has now com-
menced, and will be continued for the
ensuing six months, or even for the whole
year should it be found necessary." —
The second Session of the 5th Provincial
Parliament of Upper Canada was opened
at York on the ist February, by His Ex-
cellency Francis Gore, Esq., Lieutenant-
Governor. In his opening speech, Mr.
Gore thus alludes to the unsatisfactory
state of the relations between Great
Britain and the United States : " It
would have been an additional source of
satisfaction to me to have been enabled to
announce to you the restoration and re-
newal of friendship and amity between
Great Britain and the United States of
America, which, until of late, have so hap-
pily existed. And should the repeated
efforts of His Majesty to accomplish so
desirable an end not succeed, I trust that
his brave and loyal subjects in this Pro-
vince will evince, as many of them have
already done, an unconquerable attach-
ment to their King and Constitution."
Thirteen Acts were passed during this
session. The laws respecting the mak-
ing and repairing of public highways and
roads were amended and consolidated ;
provision was made to prevent the forg-

ing and counterfeiting of foreign bills
of exchange and promissory notes ; an
act ivas passed for levying a duty upon
billiard tables ; an alteration was made
in the law respecting the barring of
dower, and sundry other minor matters
were attended to. The session termi-
nated on the 1 2th March. On the 8th
March, an address to the King was voted
by the Legislative Council of Upper
Canada, congratulating His Majesty on
his having attained the fiftieth year of his
reign, and a similar address was voted
by the House of Assembly on the 9th.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor,
was requetsed to transmit the same.
During this session, the attention of the
Legislative Assembly had been called to
a pamphlet, published over the signature,
" John Mills Jackson," and on the loth
March, it was resolved, on the motion of
Mr. Crowell Wilson, seconded by Mr.
James McNabb, " that the pamphlet en-
titled * A View of the Province of Upper
Canada,' signed 'John Mills Jackson,
contains a false, scandalous and seditious
libel; comprising expressions of the most
unexampled insolence and contumely
towards His Majesty's Government of
this Province, the grossest aspersions
upon the House of Assembly.the Courts
of Justice therein, and the officers of the
civil establishment of the said Govern-
ment, and most manifestly tending to al-
ienate the affections of the people from
His Majesty's Government of this Pro-
vince ; to withdraw them from their obe-
dience to the laws of the country, and
to excite them to insurrection." An ad-
dress was also presented to the Lieu-
tenant-Governor expressing the abhor-
rence and detestation of the Assembly
at the aforesaid libel. A presentment
was made by the Grand Jury against Mr.
Willcock's, a member of the Assembly,
and publisher of the Upper Canada
Guardian, for seditious libel against the
Government and the Lieutenant-Gover-

i8io

CANADIAN ANNALS.

18IO

nor; but the Attorney-General was in.
structed to enter a nolle prosequi, and so
the matter dropped. —January 30th.
Notice is given in the Quebec Cazette,
by His Excellency Sir J. H. Craig,
that, in accordance with the terms of
the proclamation issued by His Majesty
on entering upon the fiftieth year of
his reign, pardon would be granted to
all deserters from his Land Forces who
surrendered themselves to any field
officer, or officer commanding a post
or detachment, or magistrate, within
three months.-- The meeting of the Pro-
vincial Parliament of Lower Canada
(being the first session of the sixth
Provincial Parliament), took place on
29th January, when the Hon. J. A. Panet
was unanimously elected Speaker of the
House of Assembly. On the second of
February, His Excellency the (iovernor-
Cleneral approved of the Speaker elect
of the Assembly, and delivered the
usual opening speech, which on this
occasion had reference chiefly to the
success which had attended the opera-
tions of the British forces engaged in
the war against France, and to the un-
satisfactory state of the relations be-
tween (jreat Britain and the United
States.— February 1 5th. The Governor-
G«neral, Sir J. H. Craig, nnounces by
proclamation the pardon it all persons
undergoing sentence for all felonies and
misdemeanours, murder alone excepted,
as an act of grace in honour of the com-
pletion of the fiftieth year of His Ma-
jesty's reign. The Legislative Assembly
had for several years shown a strong
desire to exclude the judges who had,
up to this time, been frequently elected
members of that body. Twice had bills
for declaring the judges ineligible to
seats in the House cf Assembly passed
the lower house; and during this session
the Assembly had again passed a Bill
for the same purpose : this Biil was re-

turned by the Legislative Council, with
an amendment postponing its operation
until the end of the then present Parlia-
ment. The majority of the Assembly
became irritated at the difficulties which
arose in the passage of the Act, and
allowing themselves to be carried away
by their excitement, proceeded on
Saturday, 24th February, to pass, by a
majority of 19 to 10, the following reso-
lutions : " That P. A. de Bonne, being
one of the Judges of the Court of King's
Bench, cannot sit nor vote in this
House," and " That the seat of P. A. de
Bonne one of the Members for the
County of Quebec, is vacant," — thus
bringing themselves into direct collision
with the Legislative Council, and with
the Governor-General, whose instruc-
tions were to give the Royal Assent to
any proper Bill for rendering His Ma-
jesty's Judges of the Court of King's
Bench, in future, ineligible to seats in
the House of Assembly, in which the
two Houses should concur. Upon the
passing of this resolution, the Speaker
of the Assembly applied to the Gover-
nor-General, in the usual way, to issue a
writ in His Majesty's name, for the
election of a member for the County of
Quebec in the place of the expelled
Judge. This application placed the Go-
vernor in a most awkward position,
from which he deemed it necessary to
relieve himself by a Dissolution of
Parliament. His Excellency, accord-
ingly, having previously given his assent
to the renewal of the acts regulating
trade with the United States, and for
the better preservation of His Majesty's
Government, announced his intention
in a speech in which the following pas-
sages occur : " Called again to the un-
pleasant exercise of one of the functions
of His Majesty's prerogative with which
I am entrusted, I feel it to be again ex-
pedient, that I should st<ite to you, and

i8io

CANADtAAT ANNALS.

1810

that through you, which is indeed the
only channel of communication that I
have with them, the people may be dis-
tinctly informed of the motives by which
I am actuated. Whatever might be my
personal wishes, or however strong
might be my desire, that the public
business suffer no interruption, 1 feel
that, on this occasion, nothing is left to
my discretion ; it has been rendered
impossible for me to act otherwise than
in the way I am proposing. The House
of Assembly has taken upon themselves,
without the participation of the other
branches of the Legislature, to pass a
vote, that a Judge of His Majesty's
Court of King's Hench, cannot sit nor
vote, in their House. However I might
set aside the personal feelings which
would not be unnatural in me, as to the
mode in which this transaction has been
conducted towards myself, there is
another, and infinitely higher considera-
tion, arises out of it, which 1 must not
overlook. It is impossible for me to
consider what has been done in any
other light than as a direct violation of
an act of the Imperial Parliament ; — of
that Parliament which conferred on you
the constitution, to which you profess to
owe your present prosperity ; nor can I
do otherwise, than consider the House
of Assembly as having, unconstitution-
ally, disfranchised a large portion of His
Majesty's subjects, and rendered ineligi-
ble, by an authority which they do not
possess, another not inconsiderable class
of the community. Such an assump-
tion, I should, at any rate, feel myself
bound by every tie of duty to oppose ;
but, in consequence of the expulsion of
the member for the County of Quebec,
a vacancy in the representation for that
county has been declared, and it would
be necessary that a new writ should
issue for the election of another mem-
ber. That writ would have to be signed

by me. Gentlemen, I cannot, dare not,
render myself a partaker in a violation
of an Act of the Imperial Parliament;
and I know no other way by which i
can avoid becoming so but that which I
am pursuing."— March 1st. The Gov-
nor-General's proclamation dissolving
the sixth Provincial Parliament of
Lower Canada was issued.— March 7th.
An address signed by 524 persons from
the inhabitants of the city of Quelicc
was presented to Govprnor-Cicneral Sir
J. H. Craig, assuring His Excellency of
their attachment to His Majesty's (iov-
ernment and of their disapproval of the
action of the Legislative Assembly which
had led to the recent dissolution of
Parliament. His Excellency made a
suitable reply, and expressed his great
gratification that his conduct had met
with the approval of so large a number
of the citizens of Quebec. Similar ad-
dresses were presented to the Ciovernor-
General by the inhabitants of Montreal
(signed by 887 persons), William Henry
(Sorel), and Terrebonne.- March 21st.
A proclamation was issued by Sir J. H.
Craig, defending at great length his con-
duct in connection with the recent dis-
solution of Parliament.— August 6th. His
Excellency the Right Honorable Francis
James Jackson, His Majesty's Minister
Plenipotentiary to the United States of
America, arrived at Montreal, accom-
panied by Mrs. Jackson and his infant
son. Mr. Jackson was entertained by
the citizens of Montreal at a public din-
ner on the $th, at which all the leading
citizens, the officers of the garrison, and
a number of strangers were present. On
leaving Montreal, he proceeded to Que-
bec in a birch canoe manned by twelve
Canadians. At Quebec he was also in-
vited to a public dinner, at which His
Excellency the Governor-General was
present. Mr. Jackson left Quebec on
the 18th, on his way to England viu

l8io

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1811

Montreal and New York, from whence >
he sailed in H. M. Frigate Venus. Nov.
22nd. The Quebec oagctte contains
President Madison's proclamation of :
Nov. loth, announcing ihe revocation,
from the ist Nov , of the French de-
crees, so as to cease violating the neutral
commerce of the United States, and in
consequence opening the ports of the
Ignited .States to French armed vessels ;
whilst Hritish armed vessels would still
be excluded, pending the revocation of
the Orders in Council, which Great
liritain had engaged to revoke whenever
the repeal of the French decrees should
have taken effect.— Dec. 3rd. A notice,
signed by Mr. (leo. Heriot, Deputy
Postmaster General of British North
America, offered a reward of two hun-
dred dollars for such information as
would lead to the conviction of the per- ;
sons engaged in riotous and tumultuous I
proceedings at the General Post Office ;
in Quebec on the ist December.- Dec. 1
1 2th. 'i'he first session of the seventh
Provincial Parliament of Lower Canada
was opened with the usual formalities at
Quebec, by His Excellency, Sir J. H.
Craig, Governor (leneral. The Hon. J.
A. Panet was again chosen Speaker.
The Legislative Assembly of Nova
Scotia did not meet during the year 1 8 10.
Mr. Foster Hutchinson, the senior mem-
ber of the Nova Scotia bar, was ap-
pointed an Assistant Judge of the Su-
preme Court of Nova Scotia. A general
election having taken place in the Pro-
vince of New Brunswick, the new As-
sembly met at Fredericton on Saturday
27th January, when Amos Botsford
Esq., was re-elected Speaker. The ses-
sion was opened by Major-General Mar-
tin Hunter, President of the Council,
and Commander of the Forces in New
Brunswick, who, in his opening speech,
commended to "the serious consider-
ation of the Assembly, the renewal, with

every practicable improvement, of the
laws for regulating and training the
Militia, and for enabling the Govern-
ment, promptly and effectually to call
into action the force of the country,
whenever its defence or safety may re-
quire." This session was an unusually
busy one, and lasted until the 14th
March, when the prorogation took place.
Thirty-six Acts were passed, amongst
which was an Act for the better regu-
lating the Militia in this Province, and
also an Act respecting desertion from
His Majesty's forces.— Dec. 22nd. Col.
Edward William Gray, Sheriff of the
District of Montreal, died at Montreal*
Colonel Gray had held the shrievalty of
Montreal for the long space of forty
years. He was also Colonel-Command-
ant of the first Battalion of Montreal
Militia. Colonel Gray was succeeded
in his office of Sheriff by Frederick
William Ermatinger Esq., whose ap-
pointment is dated 17th January, 181 1.
1911,— The third session of the fifth
Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada,
was held at York, where Parliament was^
opened by Lieutenant-Governor Gore,-
accompanied by Brigadier General
Brock, on the ist February. During
this session, which terminated on the
1 3th March, nine Acts were passed, seven
of which were appropriation Bills or Acts
amending existing laws. One of the re-
maining Acts was for determining the
rate of interest in Upper Canada, and
fixing the damages upon protested Bills
of Exchange ; the other was in amend-
ment of the Militia Law so far as it re-
lated to the exemption of Quakers,

: Menonists, and Tunkers. The session
(ist of 7th Parliament of L. C.) of
Parliament which had commenced at

; Quebec on 12th December, 18 10, closed
on 2 1st March, when His Excellency

I Sir J. H. Craig, Governor-in-Chief,gave

: the Roval Assent to the sixteen Acts

l8ll

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1811

• ?

which had been passed, reserved one
for the signification of His Majesty's
pleasure thereon, and prorogued the
Parliament. The session thus termin-
ated had been an unusually long and
busy one, the two Houses having sat,
without adjourning for the Christmas
holidays, for more than three months,
and having given through that period
unremitting attention to the business be-
fore them. The important question of
the exclusion of the judges from the As-
sembly had been finally settled by the
passage of an Act containing but a
single clause, short but comprehensive,
. as follows : " And it is hereby enacted
that from and after the passing of this
Act, no person who shall be a judge of
either of His Majesty's Courts of King's
Bench within this Province, shall be
capable of being elected, or of sitting or
voting as a member of Assembly in any
Provincial Parliament." The Militia
Act was continued for a couple of years,
not then to expire in the event of war or
invasion. Provision was made, notwith-
standing the unfriendly disposition of
the United States Government towards
Canada, for preventing the forgery
and counterfeiting of Foreign Bills of
Exchange, Foreign Promisssory Notes,
and Foreign Orders for the payment of
money ; a Bill passed exprcsscly, as His
Excellency stated in his speech, " for
preventing the nefarious traffic that has
but too long been carried on, in the
forgery of their (». e. the United States)
Bank Notes," and which, the Governor
added, "will at least prove, that you
have not suffered any sentiment of re-
sentment to weigh against those princi-
ples of liberal justice with which you
are at all times animated towards them."
Of the remaining Acts of this session,
one provided for the completion of the
Montreal Jail ; another, the reserved
Act, for the erection of a jail at Three

Rivers ; and the remainder for the col-
lection of the revenue, the continuation
or amendment of existing laws, and for
sundry local matters which it is not
necessary to enumerate in detail.—
March 30th. The punishments of whip-
ping and putting in the pillory were still
commonly awarded, as the lists of pun-
ishments awarded at the session of the
Court of King's Bench contains names
of two persons (one male and one female)
sentenced to be whipped, and of two
persons (husband and wife) to be put in
the pillory, once in the Upper town mar-
ket, and once in that of the Lower
j town. On the night of 16th May,alK)ut
' nine o'clock, a smart engagement took
j place between the United States frigate
President, Cpmmodore Rogers, of forty-
four guns, and H. M. S. Litfle Belt,
Captain Bingham, of fourteen guns. As
usual, when such unfortunate accidents
happen, each party claimed to have
challenged first and to have been the
last to fire, but inasmuch as the action
took place some twenty miles at sea,
north-east of Cape Henry, in the dusk
of the evening, and considering that the
United States frigate was a neutral ves-
sel, whilst the British sloop was on a
cruise expecting at any moment to fall
in with an enemy, the responsibility for
the loss of life (eleven men were kill-
ed and twenty-one wounded) would
seem to rest with the United States
Commodore, who adopted the extra-
ordinary course, whilst in command of
a neutral vessel, of chasing and ques-
tioning a belligerent on the high seas. —
June 19th. Sir James Henry Craig,
Govemor-in-Chief of the British North
American Colonies, embarked at Quebec,
on his return to England, in H. M. S.
frigate Amelia, Captain Irby. The
troops lined the streets in one unbroken
avenue, in close order, from the Chateau
St. Lewis to the place of embarkation.

i8ii

CANADIAN ANNALS.

I8II

A salute of 19 guns from the Clrand
Battery gave the last farewell of Canada,
the frigate saluted him with 17 guns, (as
Vice- Admiral of British North America),
and Sir James left Canada to seek that
repose which the state of his health so
urgently demanded. Upon the de-
parture of the (»overnor-in-Chief, the
administration of the Government de-
volved upon the Hon. Thomas Dunn,
senior member of the Council, who
thereupon assumed the title of President
of the Province of Lower Canada, and
Administrator of the Government there-
of. — 12th August. Mr. President Dunn
by proclamation of this date, prohibited
the exportation from Lower Canada of
saltpetre, gunpowder, ammunition,
arms, and warlike stores of every de-
nomination and description whatsoever.
— Sept. 13. His Excellency General
Sir George Prcvost, Captain-General
and Governor-in-Chief of British North
America, arrived with his family and
suite in H. M. S. Me/am^us, Captain
Hawker, from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
His Excellency took the oaths of office
on the 14th, held a levee on the 24th,and,
on the 25th, issued the usual proclama-
tion announcing his appointment as
Governor-General. Shortly after. Sir
George Prevost left Quebec on a tour
through the Western part of the Pro-
vince, proceeding by the north shore, and
arrived at Montreal on the 30th Sept. —
October loth. The Hon. Francois Baby
appointed Grand Voyer of Lower
Canada, Lieutenant-Colonel Vassal de
Monviel, Adjutant-General, and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Xavier de Lanaudiere,
Deputy Adjutant-General for Lower
Canada. A brilliant comet was visible
in Quebec, both early morning and
evening, during the greatest part of the
months of September and October. —
October 19th. Quebec was visited by a
very heavy gale which inflicted much

injury upon the shipping in the hnrhour,
upwards of twenty square rigged ves-
sels were reported as damaged. Near
Montreal considerable damage was done,
especially to the Churches at Longueuil
and Longue Pointe. The infant son of
His Excellency, Sir George Prevost,
born on 7th Nov., died, after a short ill-
ness, on the 12th, at the Castle of St.
Lewis. -December 4th. The election
for the County of Montreal terminated,
after a contest of f/irctr uurks, at 5 p.m. ;
the votes at the close of the poll stood
as follows : Mr. Stuart, 1445 ; Mr. Roy,
1253. — Thursday, February I4lh, the
Assembly of Nova .Scotia met at Hali-
fax (7th session of the 9th General As-
sembly). Sir George I'revost in his
opening speech expressed the hope that
the United States would not become
hostile to Great Britain, he then re-
ferred to the growing importance of the
fisheries and agriculture of the I'rovincc,
the enlargement of its towns, advance-
ment of learning and cultivation of the
useful and ornamental sciences ; all un-
equivocal indications of a prosperous
and rising country. During this session
an Act was passed for the establishment
ofgrammjxr schools in the Counties of
Sydney, Cumberland, Kings, Oueens,
Lunenburg, Annapolis and .Shelburne,
and in the districts of Pictou, Colchester
and Yarmouth. Provision was also
made for giving aid to the common
schools, and an Act was passed provid-
ing for the erection of a Province House.
This building was not completed until
1819, and cost, when finished, $52,000.
The Assembly was prorogued on the
3rd April. In closing the session, the
Lieutenant-Governor called attention to
the non-intercourse Act, pa_ s d in the
United States, as an indication of ap-
proaching war, and a reason for looking
carefully to the efficiency of the Militia.
The Halifax Committee of Trade pub-

i8ii

CANADIAN ANNALS.

I8l2

lished a project for establishing a Pro-
vincial Joint Stock Bank in February o:
this year, but the necessary support does
not appear to have been forthcoming, as
no further steps were taken. On Mon-
day, August 1 2th, the birthday of the
Prince Regent, after the usual military
review, the comer stone of the Province
House was laid, with Masonic ceremon-
ies, by Sir George Prevost, the benedic-
tion was pronounced by the Masonic
chaplain, the Rev. Archibald Gray, D.D.
On Sunday, 25th August, Sir George
Prevost sailed from Halifax in the
Mclampns frigate for Quebec, to replace
Sir J. H. Craig, who had resigned, as
Governor-in-Chief of British North
America. On 26th August, Dr. Croke
was sworn in as Administrator of the
Government of Nova Scotia. Major-
General Hunter was recalled from New
Brunswick and directed to assume the
command of the forces in Nova Scotia,
Major-General Balfour being ordered to
Fredericton to replace him. On i6th
October, General Sir John Coape Sher-
brooke, K. B., arrived at Halifax with
Lady Sherbrooke and family, in H. M.
S. Manilla. General Sherbrooke was
sworn in as Lieuteiiant-Governor, and
Major-General Hunter at once returned
to New Brunswick. No session of the
New Brunswick Assembly appears to
have been held during the year 181 1.
Major-General William Balfour died
suddenly at Fredeiicton, whither he had
gone to administer the Government, on
the 2nd December.

l§ia— Sir J. H. Craig,* K.C.B., late

* Sir J. H. Craig was of Scotch descent. He
was born at Gibraltar, where his father was judge,
in 1750. In 1774 Captain Craig accompanied the
47th to America and served during the Revolutionary
war. He was severely wounded at Bunker's Hill,
was present at Ticonderoga, and after the disastrous
affair at Saratoga, Capt. Craig was selected by Gen-
eral Burgoyne to carry home the despatches, his pro-
motion to a majority in the 82nd foot followed imme-

Governor-General of Canada, died in
London, on Sunday, January 12th. — The
fourth session of the fifth Provincial
Parliament 0: Upper Canada was opened
at York, on the 3rd of February, by
Major-General Isaac Brock, who admin-
istered the Government during the ab-
sence on leave of Lieut.-Govemor Gore.

diately upon his return to England. Major Craig
went to Nova Scotia with the 82nd in 1778, and ac-
companied his regiment to North Carolina in 1781
In 1794 he became a Major-General, and went early
the following year to the Cape of Good Hope, where
he greatly distinguished himself. In 1797 General
Craig was invested with the Order of the Bath by
Earl Macartney (by deputation from His Majesty)
by whom he was succeeded as Governor of the Cape.
On his return to England General Craig was ordered
to India, where in 1801 he was promoted to the rank
of Lieutenant-General. In 1802 he returned to Eng-
land, where he remained until 1805, when he pro-
ceeded to the Mediterranean where he commanded
the troops employed in Naples and Sicily. In t8o6
General Craig was compelled by illness (he suffered
most severely from dropsy) to relinquish his command
and return to England. In 1807 the threatening as-
pect of the relations between Great Britain and the
United States induced him to accept a command, and
he proceeded to Quebec as Governor-General ; the
steady progress of his malady compelled him once
more to retire from active service and he sailed for
England in June, 181 1. Disease had now, however,
gained too strong a hold to be again baffled by med-
ical skill, and although he rallied for a short time
after his return to England, the end could no longer
be averted and he died as above stated, at his house
in Charlotte Street, on Sunday, January 12th, 1812.
However widely the views expressed by various
writers as to the character of his administration may
differ, the personal character of Sir James H. Craig
seems to have been deservedly held in high esteem by
those whose relations with His Excellency enabled
them to form an impartial opinion. The Mercury
of 24th June, iSii, referring to his departure from
Quebec concludes thus, " It will be found by a thou,
sand evidences that he united the genius of greatness
with an ardent love of doing good ; and possessed an
association of talents seldom found in any individual.
His reigning passion was to perform his duty com-
pletely and conscientiously ; his favourite amusement,
to confer, by acts of charity, the means of subsistence
on the indigent, and to add to the relief of many in
declining circumstances. Every project, every act,
whatever objects they might refer to, bore the impres-
sion of his character ; and if one principal of it was
stronger than another, it was discoverable in a broad,
deep tone of .benevolence, which reigned throuc;hout
the whole."

100

I8l2

I8I2

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1812

During this session, which terminated
on the 6th of March, eleven acts were
passed. The Militia Act was amended
and ;£5,ooo were granted to defray the
expenses of training and exercising the
militia. The Heir and Devisee Act was
also amended, as were the acts relating
to the making and repairing of public
highways and the building of bridges.
An Act to prevent damage to travellers
on the highways was passed, by which
it was provided that all persons travel-
ling upon the highways and meeting
sleighs or other carriages were to turn
out to the right hand and give half the
road. — April 8th. General Brock issued
orders, in accordance with the act passed
duringthe recent session, for forming two
flank companies from each battalion of
militia. Having thus made such prepar-
ations as were practicable, General
Brock proceeded to the western frontier,
taking with him 100 of the 41st regiment
to reinforce the garrison at Amherstburg.
— On the 1 8th June, war was declared
by the United States of America against
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland and its dependencies. — On
the 20th June, General Brock returned
to York, and on receiving intelligence
that war was actually declared, at once
summoned an extra session of the legis-
lature. He then hastened to Fort
George, on the Niagara frontier, where
he immediately established his head-
quarters. On the declaration of war be-
coming known in Quebec, Sir George
Prevost despatched Colonel Lethbridge
to Kingston and placed Major-General
the Baron de Rottenburg in command
at Montreal, so that these officers work-
ing in concert with General Brock might
keep open the communication between
Upper and Lower Canada. The United
States lost no time in commencing hos-
tilities (for which they had for several
months been making every possible pre-

lOI

paration), for on the 1 2th July Brigadier-
General Hull crossed the Detroit river
and occupied the village of Sandwich,
from which place he issued his celebrated
proclamation.— July 3rd. Lieutenant
Rollette, commanding the armed brig
Hunter, by a bold attempt with his
barge, succeeded in capturing the Caya-
hoga packet bound from the Miami
river to Detroit, loaded with baggage and
the hospital stores of the United States
army.— July i6th. Captain Roberts,
who was stationed at St. Joseph, with a
small detachment of the loth Royal Vet-
eran Battalion, having been instructed
by Major-General Brock to adopt the
most prompt and effectual measures to
possess himself of the United States fort
at Michilimakinack, set out with such
boats and canoes as were available, in
which he carried with him 45 officers and
men of the detachment under his com-
mand, about 180 Canadians, and two
iron 6-poundcrs, the whole being con-
voyed by a small brig belonging to the
North-West Company ; and early on the
morning of the 1 7th, safely effet ^ed a
landing before Michilimackinack. By
ten o'clock one of the guns had been
placed in position on a height command-
ing the post, which was then summoned
to surrender ; at noon the United States
colours were hauled down and the
British ensign was hoisted.— On the 22nd
July, General Brock issued from 'Fort
George his proclamation, in reply to
that of General Hull, in which he points
out in plain, but dignified language, the
duty of his people, exhorts them to
its fulfilment, and assures them that,
even if overwhelmed by a superior force
at the outset, they might rely that Great
Britain would never abandon the Prov-
ince. — July 27th. The extra session of the
Legislature, called by General Brock on
receiving information of the declaration
of war, was opened, by the General, at

I8l2

CANADIAN ANNALS.

York, who in his speech assumed a tone
of confidence which was productive of
the best effects. Having made the ne-
cessary provision for the calling out and
training the militia and for the defence
of the Province, the session (the first of
the sixth Provincial Parliament) was
closed on the 5th August, five acts having
been passed. — 5th August. A detach-
ment of the 41st regiment, sent by Col-
onel Proctor from Amherstburg, to-
gether with a small body of Indians
under Tccumseh, crossed the Detroit
river to Brownstown, where they attacked
and defeated a force of 200 men under
Major Van Home, who were on their
way to meet a detachment of volunteers
from Ohio, with a convoy of provisions
for General Hull's army. On this occa-
sion Hull's despatches and correspon-
dence fell into the hands of Tecum-
seh, and were the means of convey-
ing to General Brock much valu-
able information as to General Hull's
intentions and the condition of the force
under his command. — August 6th. Gen-
eral Brock left York for Burlington Bay,
whence he proceeded by land to Long
Point. On the 7th he held a council at the
village of the Mohawks, on the Grand
River, when the Indians promised that
a party of sixty should be ready to fol-
low him on the loth. — 9th August. Lieut.-
Colonel Miller, with a body of 600
Unitfed States troops and militia, at-
tacked Major Muir of the 41st regi-
ment, who was at the head of a party
of British troops and some Indians, at a
place called Maguago, between Browns-
town and Detroit ; after a smart action,
in which Colonel Miller lost seventy-five
men,the British were compelled to retire;
their loss was, however, inconsiderable.
— August nth. Major Denny, who
had been left in command of a
detachment of United States troops
at Sandwich, when General Hull with-

drew on the 7th and 8th, retired
Detroit. — August 13th. General Broc
reached A mhers tburg from Lon:
Point shortly before midnight, bring
ing with him about 300 militia am
a few regulars. On the 14th, a council
was held, at which nearly a thousand
Indians^ attended. The council was
opened] by General Brock, who an-
nounced to the Indians: that he had
come to their fassistance, and hoped
with their aid to drive the United States
forces from Detroit. The General's
speech was highly applauded, and Te-
cumseh was unanimously called upon
to speak in reply. After the council
was over,>the ^.General called together
Tecumseh and a few of the oldest
chiefs, communicated his views, and ex-
plained the manner in which he pro-
posed to carry out his intended opera-
tions.— On the i. 1 5th August, General
Brock addressed a formal demand to
Brigadier-General Hull for the imme-
diate surrender of Fort Detroit; with
this demand Hull declined to comply
In the afternoon, fire was opened upon
Detroit from a five-gun battery which
had been erected opposite to the fort
under the direction of Captain Dixon of
the Royal Engineers ; the fire was re-
turned from Detroit, but the British
commander, perceiving that his fire was
ineffective, directed it to cease. During
the night, about 600 Indians, under
Colonel Elliott, crossed the river, and
took up a position to enable them to
take the enemy in flank and in rear
should he oppose the landing. At day-
break on Sunday, August i6th, the fire
from Captain Dixon's battery was re-
sumed, and the British forces, consisting
of 330 regulars and 400 militia, with
five pieces of light artillery, were em-
barked in boats and canoes of every de-
scription, and soon effected a landing,
without opposition, near Spring Wells-

102

i8i

I8l2

CANADIAN ANNALS.

I8l2

was re-
British
fire was
During
under
/er, and
them to
I in rear
At day-
Ithe fire
I was re-
jnsisting
1, with
ere em-
I'ery de-
[anding,
Wells,

some three miles below Detroit. On
the advance of the British the United
States forces abandoned their outworks
and two 24-pounders, and retreated into
the fort. The British, having advanced
to a ravine within a mile of the works,
halted, and prepared for the assault.
Whilst the columns were being formed
for this purpose, a flag of truce ap-
peared, and Lieut.-Colonel McDonell
and Captain Glegg returned to the fort
with the officer who bore it to arrange
the terms of a capitulation : these were
soon arranged, and the British troops
entered Detroit. By the terms of the
capitulation the Michigan Territory,
Fort Detroit, with thirty-three pieces of
cannon, the vessel of war Adams, and
about 2,500 troops, with one stand of
colours, surrendered to the British arms.
Among the United States troops which
surrendered were one company of
artillery, some cavalry, and the entire
4th United States Regiment of Infantry.
An immense quantity of stores and the
military chest were also taken. Leaving
Colonel Proctor in command at Detroit,
General Brock lost no time in returning
to the eastern part of the Proyince ; he
was at Fort George on the 25th August,
and arrived in York on the 27th, where
he was received with the greatest enthu-
siasm. On his passage from Detroit to
Fort George, General Brock had learned
of the armistice which Sir George Pre-
vost had concluded with General Dear-
born ; hostilities being thus suspended,
he proceeded to Kingston, which he
reached on the 4th of September. On
his arrival he received a despatch from
Sir George Prevost announcing the Pre-
sident's disapproval of the armistice
which General Dearborn had assented
to. Having reviewed the Kingston
militia, General Brock at once repaired
to Fort George, which he reached on
the 9th September. — Captain Forsythe,

with 150 riflemen, crossed over from
Gravelly Point to Gananoque on the 9th
September, dislodged a party of about
fifty Canadian militia, captured a small
quantity of arms and ammunition, burnt
and destroyed some provisions and a
store, and, having taken prisoners four
men who were in hospital, returned to
the United States side of the river. — On
the 4th October, Colonel Lethbridge,
who was in command at Prescott, an-
noyed by the frequent attacks upon his
convoys, attempted a descent upon Og-
densburg. Having got together about
750 regulars and militia, he em-
barked them in twenty-five batteaux,
and supported by two gunboats, pushed
off. When about mid-stream, the
enemy opened a heavy fire of artil-
lery, some of his boats were struck
and disabled, and, falling into confusion,
the flotilla dropped down the stream and
abandoned the attempt, with a loss of
three men killed and four wounded.
The United States force was under the
command of Brigadier-General Brown,
and behaved with coolness and intrepid-
ity.— Oct. 9th. Lieut. Elliott, of the
United States Navy, with 100 seamen,
came over from Black Rock, and suc-
ceeded in the early morning in boarding
and carry ing oft'the brig Z?^/r<7//,of 200 tons
and 6 guns (lately the U. S. brig Adams,
captured at Detroit), and the North-west
Company's brig Caledonia (the vessel
which had assisted at the taking of Mich-
ilimackinack), of about 100 tons, then
lying at anchor off Fort Erie. The for-
mer had on board four 12-pounders, a
large quantity of shot, some 200 muskets
and other stores destined for Kingston
and Prescott — the latter had a valuable
cargo of furs, which was safely landed by
the enemy. The Detroit having grounded
on Squaw Island, was burned by the
enemy.— Oct. nth. The United States
forces were concentrated at Lewiston

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under General Van Ranselaer, for an
attack upon Queenston, but owing to
failure in preparation of the boats, the
attempt was abandoned. — Oct. 13th.
The United States forces having been
again concentrated at Lewiston, embark-
ed at daybreak under cover of a battery
of two 18 and two 6-pounders. The
only English batteries from which they
could be annoyed in their passage were
one, mounting an i8-pounderon Queen-
ston Heights, and another mounting a
24-pound carronade a little below the
village. The first division, under Colonel
Van Ranselaer, were able, therefore, to
effect a landing with but little loss ; one
officer, however, was killed in the boats
whilst crossing The first division
landed, the boats (about ten) went back
for more men. Colonel Van Ranselaer
was opposed by the two flank companies
of the 49th regiment and the York
militia. General Brock, who always
rose very early, hearing the firing
awoke his aid-de-camp, Major Glegg,
and rode with his staff from Fort
George to the scene of action. On
teaching the i8-pounder battery, the
general dismounted and was eagerly sur-
veying the field, when firing was opened
from the heights in the rear of the bat-
tery, Captain Wool with a detachment of
United States regulars having succeeded
in ascending a path which, being
deemed inaccessible, had been left un-
guarded. General Brock and his aides,
de-camp were compelled to retire so pre-
cipitatel)- that they had not even time to
remount. Meeting Captain Williams
with a party of the 49th advancing t'
the attack, the General placed him-
self at their head and charged Wool's
detachment, driving them to the edge of
the bank. H ere the U nited States troops,
animated by the exhortations of their
commander, made a stand and opened
a heavy fire of musketry upon the Brit-

ish forces. Conspicuous by his height,
dress, his gestures, and the enthu-
siasm he displayed in leading on
his little band. General Brock was
soon singled out and struck by a
bullet, which, entering his right breast
passed through his left side. He had just
said, " Push on the brave York Volun-
teers." After being struck, the General
desired that his death should be con-
cealed from his men, adding a wish,
which could not be understood dis-
tinctly, that a token of remembrance
should be transmitted to his sister. The
body of the General was conveyed to a
house in Queenston, where it remained
until the afternoon unperceived by the
enemy. Shortly after the fall of General
Brock, Lieutenant-Colonel McDoneH,
his provincial aide-de-camp, was mor-
tally wounded whilst gallantly leading
the York volunteers in a charge which
compelled the enemy to spike the 18-
pounder gun. The death of their Gen-
eral, and the heavy loss they had sus-
tained, compelled the British troops to
retire, and the United States forces were,
for some hours, left in quiet possession
of Queenston Heights. In the mean-
time, Major-General Sheaife, acting
under instructions give 1 him by General
Brock on leaving Fort George in the
morning, collected his forces, and, with
abo- -TO men of the 41st and 49th
re • , two companies of Lincoln
muaia, and a few Indians, had followed
to Queenston. Whilst on the march he
was reinforced by some 200 militia, a
party of the 41st, and a few Indians
under Norton and Brant, thus increas-
ing his force to nearly 1000 men. Hav-
ing stationed Lieutenant Holcroft, R.A.,
with two field pieces and a small detach-
ment so as to cover the village of
Queenston, General Sheaffe, who had
made a detour to enable him to do so,
debouched in rear of the heights about

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two miles from Queenston, and at once
advanced upon the enemy, who, fighting
manfully, was soon driven over the
heights by the impetuosity of his assail-
ants, who were not only animated by a
desire to retrieve the fortune of the day,
but were burning to avenge the loss of
their commander. With the heights
from which they had just been driven
towering over them, and the river in
their rear, the United States army had
but one course open to them, and Colo-
nel Scott, accompanied by Captains
Totten and Gibson, was soon seen ad-
vancing with a white cravat upon the
point of his sword to offer the uncondi-
tional surrender of the forces under
General Wadsworth's command. Thus
terminated the battle of Queenston,
which had lasted from four o'clock in the
morning until four o'clock in the after-
noon. The United ^ > force which
surrendered to C - Sbeaffe com-
prised one general otiicer, two lieutenant-
colonels, five majors, and upwards 0£
nine hundred other officers and men^
one field piece, and one stand of colours ;
their total loss, including killed, wounded^
and missing, amounted to very nearly
fifteen hundred men. The British loss
was sixteen killed and sixty-nine woun-
ded ; but the fall of General Brock*

* Isaac Brock was the eighth and youngest son of
John Brock and Elizabeth de Lisle. He was born
on the 6th October, 1769, in the parish of St. Peter
le Port, in the island of Guernsey. He received his
education at Southampton, with the exception of one
year, which he spent at Rotterdam with a French
Protestant clergyman, from whom he learned French.
I saac Brock obtained his fir.st commission as an en-
sign in the 8th, the King's Own regiment, on snd
March, 1785 ; in 1790, he obtained his next step, and
was gazetted to a lieutenancy in the same regiment ;
and towards the close of the same year, having
raised the requisite number of men for an indepen.
dent company, he was made a captain. In 17911
Captain Brock exchanged (he paying the difference)
into the 49th, which regiment he joined at Barba-
does, where it was then stationed. In 1793, Captiin
Brock returned to England from Jamaica (to which

was an irreparable loss, and cast a deep
shade over the glory of this dearly-
bought victory. — During the action of

island the 49th had been removed) owing to a severe
attack of fever, which had nearly proved fatal. On
the 24th June, I79«, Captain Brock obtained, by
purchase, his majority, and was placed in command
of a body of recruits waiting to join the regiment,
then about to return to England. A little more than
two years later (on the asth October, 1797), Major
Brock obtained his next step, and became, by pur-
chase, a lieutenant-colonel, and shortly afterwards
succeeded to the command of the 49th, with which
he proceeded to Holland in 1799. During his service
in Holland, he was several times under fire, and re-
ceived a slight wound at the battle of Egmont-op-
Zee, or Bergen. In 1801, the 49th regiment formed
part of the force sent to the Baltic, and in the attack
upon Copenhagen, Lieutenant-Colonel Brock was sec-
ond in command of the land forces engaged. In
1803, the 49th sailed for Canada. Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Brock returned on a visit to England in 1805, and
whilst there received the brevet rank of Colonel.
In June, 1806, Colonel Brock returned to Canada,
and, on the 37th September, succeeded Colonel Bowes
in the command of the troops in Upper and Lower
Canada. In 1808, Colonel Brock was made a Briga-
dier, and, in July, 1810, proceeded to York and
assumed command of the forces in Upper Canada.
On 4th June, 1811, Brock was promoted to be Major-
General on the staff of North America, and, on the
9th October, was appointed President and Adminis-
trator of the Government of Upper Canada, the
Lieutenant-Governor (Gore) having obtained leave of
absence to visit Eni;land. A public monument,
voted by Parliament, was erected to Brock's memory
in St. Paul's Cathedral. A pension of /^aoo a year
was conferred upon his four surviving brothers, upon
whom, iu accordance with an address from the Leg-
islative Assembly of Upper Canada, a grant of 11,000
acres of land in that Province was also made by the
Prince Regent. In acknow.edging the receipt of
Sir Geo, Prevost's dispatch conveying the satisfac-
tory intelligence that General Hull had been defeated
and taken prisoner and Detroit captured. Earl
Bathurst wrote : " You will inform Major-General
Brock that his Royal Highness, taking into consider-
ation all the difficulties by which Major-General
Brock was surrounded from the time of the invasion
of the Province by the American army, under the
command of General Hull, and the singular judg-
ment, firmness, skill, and courage with which he
was enabled to surmount them so effectually, has
been pleased to appoint him an extra Knight of the
most honourable order of the Bath."— On the 13th
October, 1824, the remains of General Brock, and
those of his gallant aide-de-camp, were removed from
Fort George and deposited in the vault beneath the
monument erected on Queenston Heights by the

los

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

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, -'

i t

111

i ■

I !

Queenston, the British commanders at
Fort George and at Fort Erie had kept the
enemy fully engaged^ At Fort Erie, the
British, under the command of Lieut.-Col-
onel Myers, soon compelled the enemy at
Black Rock to cease his fire, and also
blew up a barrack with a depot contain-
ing a considerable quantity of arnmuni-
tion. The brig Caledonia, lately cap-
tured by Lieutenant Elliott, Uni ed
States navy, was almost destroyed at her
moorings ; whilst Major Evans, of the
8th regiment, who remained in command
at Fort jeorge, so effectually silenced,
by a well-directed fire, the enemy's bat-
teries at Fort Niagara, that the fort was
dismantled and abandoned. — By the
death of General Brock the administra-
tion of the Government in Upper Can-
ada, as well as the command of the
forces, devolved upon Major-General
Sheaffe, who, having granted the United
States commander an armistice of three
days to bury his dead and take care of
his wounded, paroled General Wads-
worth and some of his principal officers,
and sent the rest to Quebec. Among
the prisoners taken, twenty-three men
were found who declared themselves to
be British subjects by birth. These men
were consequently sent to England for

Legislature of Upper Canada to his memory.— On
the 17th April, 1840 (Good Friday), a miscreant
named Lett introduced a quantity of gunpowder into
this monument, with the malicious intention of de-
stroying it ; the explosion, efTected by a train, caused
so much damage as to render the column altogether
irreparable. On 30th July, following, a public meet-
ing was held on Queenston Heights for the purpose
of adopting resolutions for the erection of anothe'
monument. Nearly eight thousand persons — inclu-
ding the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir George Arthur,
and his staff— attended the meeting, at which the
most eminent men in Upper Canada were present
The meeting resolved that the most suitable monu-
ment to replace the shattered column would be an
obelisk, and a premium was offered for a design,
which was awarded, in 1843, to Mr. Young;, architect
to King's College, Toronto. The restored monu-
ment was inaugurated in 1859. —Life of Majer-Gen-
tral Sir Isaac Brock. F. B. Tupper.

trial as traitors. The United States
Government at once retaliated, and
placed in confinement a like number of
British prisoners, to be held as hostages
for the safety of the men to be tried as
traitors. — General Brock was interred
on the 1 6th October, at Fort George ;
the remains of his aide-de-camp, Lieut.-
Colonel McDonell, were placed in the
same grave, a cavalier bastion in Fort
George, selected by the General's sur-
viving aide-de-camp as the most appro-
priate in every respect to the character
of his illustrious chief. Immediately
after the funeral was over, Major-General
Van Ranselaer directed that minute-
guns should be fired from Fort Niagara
" as a mark of respect due to a brave
enemy " — incontestible evidence of the
generous feeling by which the United
States commander was actuated. — On
the 1 8th October, General Smyth as-
sumed the command of the United
States forces upon the Niagara frontier.
His first act was to apply to Major-Gen-
eral Sheaffe for an armistice, to which
the latter promptly agreed, such armis-
tice to continue until thirty hours after
notice of its termination had been given.
— November 9th. The United States
fleet of seven vessels appeared off" King-
ston, and, after chasing the Royal George
into Kingston channel, opened fire upon
her. The fire was, however, so warmly
returned by both ships and batteries
that the enemy hauled off*, and the next
day beat out into the open lake, and, as
the weather became more boisterous, the
fleet sailed the following day for Sack-
ett's Harbour. On their way, the trans-
port sloop Elizabeth, having on board
Mr. Brock, paymaster of the 49th, fell
into their hands. Commodore Chaun-
cey, however, immediately, in the most
generous manner, restored to Mr. Brock
all the effects of the late Sir Isaac
Brock, which were on board. — Novem-
06

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

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ler.
ri-
ch
is-
ter

es
xt
as
Ihe
k-
s-
d
U
li-
st
k
c

ber, 30th. The armistice which had
been agreed upon between Major Gen-
eral SheafTe and Brigadier General
Smyth terminated, and both sides pre-
pared to resume hostilities. About mid-
night on the 27th. November, a force
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Boerstler and Captain King of the 14th.
United States Infantry, with about sc ^
enty United States seamen, under Lieui-
tenant Angus, effected a landing on the
British side at the upper end of Grand
Isle, between Fort Erie and Chippawa.
They were opposed by Lieutenant King
R. A. and Lieutenants Lamont and
Bartley of the 49th. King and Lamont,
after a determined resistance, were
wounded, and with about thirty men
taken prisoners ; Bartley finding he
could muster no more than seventeen
men retreated. The guns were spiked and
Boerstler and Angus returned to their
boats and recrossed. Captain King
(who was aide-de-camp to General
Smyth) was less fortunate, for Major
Ormsby having arrived with reinforce-
ments from Fort Erie, King, with some
other officers and about forty men, had
to surrender. Early the following day
(the 28th.) Colonel Winder started from
Black Rock to renew the attack upon
the British posts ; but in the meanwhile
Colonel Bishopp had moved from Chip-
pawa, joined Major Ormsby from Fort
Erie, and awaited the enemy with up-
wards of a thousand men, consisting of
detachments from the 41st., 49th., and
Royal Newfoundland regiments, a body
of militia under Colonel Clark, and some
Indians. The guns spiked by Lieuten-
ant Angus had also been unspiked and
remounted. Upon the approach of
Colonel Winder, the British troops
cheered and at once opened fire ; two of
the boats were destroyed, the remainder
were thrown into confusion, and Colonel
Winder retreated to Black Rock with a

loss of six killed and twenty-two woun-
ded. Later in the day a flag was sent
over to Colonel Bishopp demanding the
surrender of Fort Erie and its garrison,
to which the gallant Colonel somewhat
laconically replied, ' Come and take it.'
A renewal of the attack was threatened,
but not actually attempted, on the ist.
December, after which the United
States army oh the Niagara frontier
went into winter quarters. — The second
session of the seventh Provincial Parlia-
ment of Lower Canada was opened at
Quebec, on Friday, February 21st., by
His Excellency Sir George Prevost,
Governor i.i Chief. (His Excellency's
commission not having reached C anada,
he is at this date described in all official
documents as President of the Province
and administrator of the Government.)
The session was a very long one and did
not close until the 19th. May. Twenty-
two acts were passed^ amongst which
were measures for improving the organ-
ization of the militia ; for extending the
powers of the courts of law in respect to
writs of habeas corpus ; for ameliorating
the condition of decayed pilots ; for re-
pairing the Castle of St. Lewis ; and for
preventing the introduction of infectious
diseases. — The 8th. May was appointed
a day of fasting and humiliation on ac-
count of the war and the personal afflic-
tion of the king.— 22nd. May, Olivier
Perrault Esquire, and on 23rd. Edward
Bowen Esquire, were appointed Justices
of the Court of King's Bench for the Que-
bec district, in place of the Honourables
P. A. de Bonne and, J. Wilkins resigned.
— June 29th. News of the declaration
of war by the United States against
Great Britain reached Quebec. — June
30th. Proclamations were issued by
Sir George Prevost announcing the dec-
laration of war and directing all subjects
of the United States to leave the Pro-
vince within fourteen days ; laying an

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':%

embargo upon all shipping then in the
ports of the Province ; and summoning
the Provincial Parliament to meet on
the i6th. July. Sir George Prevost left
Quebec for Montreal on ist. July to take
measures for the defence of the Mon-
treal district. — July 6th. A militia gen-
eral order was issued directing all the
Battalions of militia throughout the
Province of Quebec, to hold themselves
in readiness to be embodied and march
on the shortest notice to such points as
the safety of the Province and the exi-
gency of the service might require. —
July 15th. Sir George Prevost an-
nounced by proclamation his appoint-
ment as Captain General and Governor
in Chief of all the Provinces of British
North-America. — July i6th. The em-
bargo was continued by a further proc-
lamation, and the exportation of arms
and provisions and stores of all kinds
strictly prohibited. The third session
of the seventh Provincial Parliament of
Lower Canada was opened by Sir
George Prevost, who briefly explained
that the declaration of war had rendered
it imperative that Parliament should be
summoned at once, and that he relied
with the fullest confidence upon the As-
sembly to make provision for the expen-
diture which the preparations for the de-
fence of the country would necessarily
entail. The Assembly passed an act
entitled ' An act to facilitate the circula-
tion of Army Bills,' and having thus
provided for raising the money required
by the exigencies of the public service,
the Parliament was prorogued on the
1st. August. The government having
been thus enabled to meet the demands
upon the exchequer, and public spirit
having revived, every effort was directed
to prepare for the defence of the country.
The militia of Quebec had commenced
garrison duty on the 5th. July, the reg-
ular troops having been previously des-

patched to the Montreal district.— Aug-
ust 1 2th. Reinforcements for the garrison
of Quebec having arrived on the 4th., the
militia were relieved from garrison duty.
—October 23rd. The piquet (consisting
of a detachment of Canadian voyageurs,
under the command of Lieutenant Rot-
tot) stationed at the Indian village of
St. Regis, was surprised about five o'clock
in the morning, by a body of about four
hundred United States militia, under
the command of Major G. D. Young.
Lieutenant Rottot, Sergeant McGilli-
vray, and six men were killed, and En-
sign Hall and twenty-three men were
taken prisoners. In plundering the vil-
lage the United States soldiers found a
British ensign or union jack, belonging
to some person living in the place and
kept for display on file days, which, in
an order issued by Major Young an-
nouncing his victory, was magnilo-
quently described as ' the first colours
taken during the war.'— November 20th.
About 3 A. M. a force of United States
militia and a troop of dragoons, com-
manded by Colonels Zebulon M. Pike,
and Clarke, forded the Lacolle river and
advanced upon the British outpost.
The piquet which occupied the guard-
house consisted of about twenty voya-
geurs and a few Indians under the com-
mand of Bernard Panet, who, being
warned by Captain McKay, a sturdy
North-Wester, that, whilst visiting the
piquet, he had heard the noise made by
the enemy in advancing through the un-
derwood and in cocking their rifles, sa-
luted the foe with a volley and retired
without loss. Desiring to surround the
guard-house, the enemy had divided his
force, and was approaching from differ-
ent points, when, being misled as to the
position of the British piquet by Captain
McKay's parting volley, the two parties
attacked each other and kept up a smart
fire for several minutes before the mis-

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iBli

ties
lart
mis-

take was discovered. When the error
was found out it was ascertained that
five men had been killed and several
wounded. This unfortunate contretemps
appears to have damped the ardour of the
invaders, as the whole force retired across
the frontiers and made no attempt to re-
new the attack. As the movements of the
enemy afforded grounds for expecting
that a more serious attempt at invasion
would be made before long, on the
22nd. November the Governor General
issued an order directing the whole mil-
itia force of the Province to consider
themselves commanded for active ser-
vice, and to be prepared to advance to
meet the enemy as soon as required.
Large bodies of militia marched to
L'Acadie and Laprairie, and a general
movement was commenced towards the
point supposed to be threatened. The
United States forces, however, did not
renew the contest, but retired into win-
ter quarters at Burlington, Greenbush,
and Plattsburgh. — On the 23rd. Novem-
ber an attack was made upon the United
States frontier post at Salmon rivennear
St. Regis. The attacking party was
composed of small detachments of Royal
Artillery, 49th. regiment, and Glengarry
Light Infantry, amounting altogether to
about seventy men, under the conmiand
of Major Clarke, and about the same
number of Cornwall and Glengarry mil-
itia ; the whole force being commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel McMillan. The
enemy being completely surprised, took
refuge in a block-he ise, but, finding they
were sut-rounded, at once gave them-
selves up as prisoners of war. One cap-
tain, two subalterns, and forty-one men,
were taken prisoners ; and four batteaux
and fifty-seven stand of arms fell into
the hands of the British force. — The first
session of the tenth General Assembly
of Nova Scotia, was opened at Halifax,
on Thursday, 6th. February, by the

Lieutenant Governor, Sir J. C. Sher-
brooke. Mr. Lewis Morris Wilkins was
elected Speaker of the Assembly. —
February 19th. This day was set apart
by proclamation of the Lieutenant Gov-
ernor as a day of fasting and humiliation
throughout the Province of Nova Scotia.
— April loth. The Assembly was pro-
rogued.— June 27th. H. M. S. Belvidera
36, Captain Byron, arrived at Halifax.
TMJielvidera had been attacked on the
23rd. (the very next day after the dec-
laration of war became known), off Nan-
tucket, by the United States frigates
President and Constitution, accompanied
by three other vessels ; the wind favour-
ing her, Captain Byron was able to get
the Belvidera off. He had, however, two
men killed and twenty-two wounded.
Late on the evening of Sunday, June
28th., a messenger arrived at Halifax
with despatches from General Hunter,
who commanded the forces in New
Brunswick, with intelligence of the dec-
laration of war. The Lieutenant Gov-
ernor held a council at 10 A. M. on the
29th., when it was ordered that the mil-
itia should be at once embodied, and
such other measures were taken as were
deemed necessary for the defence of the
country. As it was very generally un-
derstood that the people of the State of
Maine did not desire that the amicable
relations which had so long existed be-
tween themselves and the inhabitants
of the British Provinces should be dis-
turbed, the Lieutenant Governor, with
the acquiesence of the British Admiral
then at Halifax, issued, on 3rd July, a
proclamation forbidding any persons
under his command from offering mo-
lestation to the people of the United
States living on the frontier of New
Brunswick, or interfering with their
goods or their coasting vessels. So un-
willing, indeed, were the people of the
Eastern United States to engage in hos-

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1813

tilities with the ir northern neighbours,
that when the declaration of war reached
Boston, all the ships in port hoisted
their colours at half-mast. An extra
session having been summoned on ac-
count of the war, the Assembly met at
Halifax on 21st. July (second session of
the tenth Assembly), and having made
provision for the pay and maintenance
of the militia and for the other necess-
ary measures of defence, were prorogued
on the 14th. August. — December 5th.
Sir George Prevost returned to Quebec
from Montreal, where he had for the
previous four months been busily en-
gaged in directing and superintending
the measures necessary for the defence of
the Province. Before leaving Montreal
and after arriving in Quebec, addresses
congratulating His Excellency upon the
success which had attended his efforts
and expressing the utmost confidence
in his ability, were presented to him
by the principal inhabitants of the
two cities. — 17th. December. Louis
Charles Foucher was appointed one of
the Justices of the King's Bench for the
Montreal district, vice the Honourable
Pierre Louis Panet deceased on the 2nd.
December. — 29th. December. The
fourth session of the seventh Provincial
Parliament was opened at Quebec by
His Excellency Sir George Prevost, who,
in his opening speech, congratulated the
members upon the success with which
His Majesty's arms in Canada had been
blessed. — The General Assembly of the
Province of New Brunswick met at
Fredericton on Tuesday, 4th February,
but there not being a sufficient number
of members in attendance to form a
quorum, the session did not commence
until the 5th., when Major General Mar-
tin Hunter, President and Conunander
of the forces in New Brunswick, opened
the session in due form. — The Presi-
dents opening speech referred chiefly

to the unfortunate condition of the rela-
tions between the United States and
Great Britain, and to the necessity im-
posed upon the Assembly of making
proper provision for the defence of the
Province. — This session terminated on
the 7th. March. Twenty bills were
passed, including bills appropriating
money for the defence of the Province,
and for the regulation of the militia.
Provision was also made for the preven-
tion and extinction of fires in the city of
St. John.

1818* — Colonel Proctor, who com-
manded the British force at Detroit, had
established an advanced post at French-
town, on the river Raisin, about 26 miles
from Detroit ; this post General Win-
chester, who had advanced from San-
dusky on 31st. December, with the inten-
tion of making an attack upon Maiden,
determined to capture. Colonel Lewis
was accordingly sent 'orward with a
strong detachment of United States
troops, and reached Frenchtown about
three o'clock on the afternoon ;>r the
1 8th. January. The small force under
command of Major Reynolds (about
thirty Essex militia and two hundred
Indians) was compelled to retire, but
maintained an obstinate though un-
equal conflict for nearly three miles,
when the United States force withdrew
from the pursuit and occupied French-
town, leaving Major Reynolds at lib-
erty to continue his retreat without mo-
lestation: he accordingly fell back upon
Brownstown, sixteen miles nearer to De-
troit. On the 2oth. January General
Winchester arrived with reinforcements
and joined Colonel l^ewis at French-
town. Colonel Proctor, on learning of
the retreat of Major Reynolds to Browns-
town after the action on the i8th., at
once pushed forward from Maiden with
the whole of his available force, amount-
ing to about five hundred regulars and

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1813

militia and six hundred Indians, and
reached Swan Creek, a short distance
from Frenchtown, on the evening of the
21st January. — At daybreak on the
22nd the British force commenced the
attack, and, after a severe contest in
which both sides lost heavily, the United
States force surrendered. General Win-
chester was captured some time before
the final surrender by the Wyandot chief
Roundhead, and conducted by his cap-
tor to Colonel Proctor. The IJritish
loss in this action amounted to twenty-
four killed, and thirteen officers and one
hundred and fifty-eight men wounded.
The United .StJites forces had upwards
of two hundred men killed, and one
general, three field officers,nine captains,
twenty f ubalterns, twenty-seven ser-
geants, and four hundred and thirty-five
rank and file taken prisoners. The
glory of this gallant exploit was unfor-
tunately tarnished by the massacre, on
the following day, of a number of woun-
ded prisoners. An alarm having been
raised that CJencral Harrison was ap-
proaching, the Indians, as was but too
often the case under similar circum-
stances, disencumbered themselves of
their prisoners by killing them. In ac-
knowledgment of his success upon this
occasion. Sir (ieorge Prevost, as com-
mander-in-chief in British North Amer-
ica, promoted Colonel Proctor to the
rank of Brigadier General, a promotion
which was subsequently confirmed by
the Prince Regent. — On the 6th of Feb-
ruary, two companies of riflemen, un-
der Captain Forsythe, crossed the St.
Lawrence and made a raid upon Brock-
ville. After wounding a militia sentry,
and firing into a number of hcises, the
enemy retired, carrying away with them
fifty-two of the inhabitants as prisoners.
Amongst the prisoners were several
elderly gentlemen who had retired from
the militia retaining their rank, and

whose names were paraded by their
captors as two majors, three captains,
and two lieutenants of Canadian militia
taken prisoners.— February 22nd. With
a view to put a stop to these predatory
incursions from the United States' side
of the river, an attack was made by the
garrison of Prescott, then under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell,
upon the village of Ogdensburgh. The
troops moved across the river upon the
ice, and, after a sharp contest, drove the
enemy from the village with a loss of
twenty men killed and a considerable
number wounded. Four brass field-
pieces, seven pieces of iron ordnance,
several hundred stand of arms, and a
considerable quantity of stores, fell into
the hands of the British, who lost seven
killed, and seven officers (including
Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell) and forty-
one men wounded. After having de-
stroyed two small schooners and two
gunboats, Colonel McDonnell retired to
his quarters at Prescott.— April 27th.
The United States squadron of sixteen
vessels, under Commodore Chauncey,
haying on board 2500 troops comman-
ded by General Dearborn, appeared in
the early morning off York, ;ind soon
bore down upon Gibraltar Point and the
western flank of the town. Major-
General Sheaffe, who commanded the
British forces in Upper Canada, at once
detached Captain McNeil at the head
of two companies of the 8th, supported
by two hundred of the militia and some
Indians under Colonel Givens, to keep
the enemy at bay so as to give time to
destroy the public property and prepare
for retreat upon Kingston. The United
States troops disembarked at the mouth
of the Humber undercover ofa heavy fire
from the fleet, which killed Captain Mc-
Neil and the greater part of his grena-
diers, who were drawn upin lineon the top
of the bank. The United States riflemen,

III

1-813

CANADIAA ANNALS.

I«I3

under Captain Forsytli, pushed forward
under slieltcr of the trees and covered
the hmding of ( leneral Pikcs's division
of about one thousand men. Tlie Urit-
isli force, having ahx-ady sustained a
heavy h)ss, and being so greatly out-
numbe ed, slowly fell back upon the
town. (Icneral I'ike pushed steadily
forward, and early in the afternoon
found himself in front of the old French
fort, which his troops at once proceeded
to occupy. Jiefore, however, the defence
had entirely ceased, a trcmeiulous ex-
plosion took place, and friend and foe
were enveloped in one common destruc-
tion. This catastrophe put an end to
the contest, whicli cost the Uritish force
62 killed and 72 wounded, besides Lieut.-
Colone! Chewett and 293 of the militia
who were compelled to surrender pris-
oners of war. The loss of the United
States troops, caused mainly by the ex-
plosion of the magazine, was much
heavier: upwards of 320 men wire
killed and wounded, ( leneral Hike being
amongst the number. During the ad-
vance of the enemy, General Shcaffe
had destroyed a ship which was i;n the
stocks, the d(jckyard, and such stores as
ct)uld not be taken away ; and having
despatchctl, under escort, all the stores
which could be removed, had iiimsclf
followed with the remainder of his forces,
and commenced his retreat to Kingston.
The United States troops burned the
halls and offices used l)ythe Legislature
and Courts of Justice ; destroyed the
library, and all the papers and records,
including the library of the town ; robbed
the church, and plundered private prop-
erty to a considerable extent. A few of
the books belonging to the public library
were returned by Commodore Chauncey,
but by far the greater part were taken
away or destroyed. — May 2nd. The
United States forces evacuated York. —
April 23rd. General Proctor, in further-

ance of his plan of attacking ( lencral
Harrison's force in detail, assembled his
forces and set out for the Mianu, ho|)ing
to arrive there before some considerable
reinforcements which were expected by
General Harrison could reach that offi-
cer. He ascended the river, and arrived
opposite Fort Meigs on the 28th, his
force at that time amounting to about
520 regulars, 400 militia, and nearly
1200 Indians.- On the 5th May, liiiga-
dier-Gencral Clay, who had arrived with
two battalions, assaulted the Hritish
batteries and carried them, but, having
lieen drawn into a pursuit by the Indians
was cut off by General Proctor's main
body, and, after a sharp action, the
greater portion of the assailants were
killed or captured. The loss of the
enemy was over seven hundred in killed,
wounded, and prisoners (nearly ti\e
hundred prisoners were taken) ; the
liritish loss was comparatively trilling,
amounting to fifteen killed and forty-five
wounded. The Indians and militia,
however willing to engage in the active
duties of a campaign, were ill fitted for
the steady drudgery of ordinary siege
operations, and, conscquenth', notwith-
standing his recent success. General
Proctor found himself compelled to re-
linquish his attempt upon Fort Meigs.
He accordingly raised the siege, but was
allowed to carry off his guns and stores
without molestation. The main object
of the attack had, however, been at-
tained, as General Harrison found him-
self unable to commence offensive oper-
ations until he could receive reinforce-
ments. — After his successful attack upon
Toronto, General Dearborn prepared
for an attack upon Fort George ; and,
having obtained reinforcements from
Sackett's Harbour, conmienced opera-
tions on the 26th of May, when P'ort
Niagara opened a heavy cannonade
upon Fort George, by which the latter

iia

i«i3

CAS AD I AN ASNAl.S.

1813

ith-

) ic-

.■i-s.
was
ires
icct

liiin-

Ipcr-

Ircc-

jpon

red

jind,

lorn

pra-

|"ort

ide

tter

fort sustained considerable daniajjc
The fire was resumed on the morning of
the 27tli, aided by the k""** "f the Uni-
ted States fleet, which covered the land-
ing; of the enemy. For three hours
(leneral Vincent H'T'li^'itly "Pposcd the
enemy, but, findinjj it useless longer to
resist a force which ^''^'''^t'y outnum-
bered hisown, and wliich was, moreover,
supported by the guns of a powerful fleet,
he at length ordered the guns t<» be
spiked and the magazine to be blown up.
He then commenced a retreat, in excel-
lent order, to (^ueenston, leaving to the
United .States troops a dismantled for-
tress and a few damaged houses. On
the day following (lencral Vincent with-
drew the garrison from F'ort Erie and
his other outposts, and continued his
retreat to Forty-Mile Creek. The Brit-
ish loss on this occasion was 52 killed
and about 300 wounded and missing.
The loss of the United States troops is
stated at 39 killed and 1 1 1 wounded. —
On the 5th of May, Sir James Yeo, a
Hrilisli naval officer, had arrived at
(Quebec with several officers of the royal
navy and four hundred and fifty seamen.
Captains Barclay, I'ring, and Finnis,
who had come overland from Halifax,
were already busily engaged at Kingston
in putting the fleet into a state of prepa-
ration to meet the enemy. The Gover-
nor-General accompanied Sir James
Yeo to Kingston, with a view to imme-
diate offensive operations.— May 27th.
Sir James Yeo, ha\ing completed his
preparations, the British fleet of seven
vessels, mounting about one hundred
guns, sailed from Kingston, having on
board nearly one thousand troops, un-
der the immediate command of the
Governor-General, Sir George Prevost,
who had with him Colonel Baynes, Ad-
jutant-General. The 28th was spent in
reconnoitcring. On the 2r>th the troops
were landed, and, led on by Colonel

Baynes, soon compelled the enemy to
retire to cover of his forts and block-
houses. 'I'he barracks ami a new frig-
ate on tlic stocks were set on fire by the
British troops ; and Genual Brown, who
commanded the United States forces,
believing his position untenable, gave
orders to destroy the public buildings
and naval stores. At this crisis, when a
complete victory was almost gained, Sir
George Prevost directed the withdrawal
of the troops, thus snatching the fruits of
victory from his own forces,and enabling
the I'nitcd States troops to return and
save from destruction a considerable
amount of public property. The British
loss ill this affair was one officer and
forty-se\en men killed, twelve officers
and nearly two hundred men wounded
and missing. June 5th. The British
advanced pickets fell back from Stony
Creek owing to the near approach of the
United States forces from Fort George.
General Vincent having, upon the ad-
vice of Lieut.-Colone! Harvey, Deputy
Adjutant-General, decided to make a
night attack upon the United States
troops, moved up about eleven o'clock
in the evening with the 49th and part of
the 8th regiments, altogether about
seven hundred men. Lieut.-Colonel
Harvey, who had previously reconnoi-
tred the position, led the attack with his
usual gallantry, and completely surprised
the enemy, who, besides their loss in
killed and wounded, had two brigadier-
generals (Chandler and Winder), seven
officers, and one hundred and sixteen
men taken prisoners. Three guns, a
brass howitzer, and three tumbrils also
fell into the hands of the British. Gen-
eral Vincent withdrew his force before
daylight lest the discovery of his numer-
ical inferiority should not only neutralize
the effect his spirited attack had pro-
duced, but enccrrage the enemy to risk
an action which, in view of his superior

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1813

;V.

.11

numbers, could hardly fail to be disas-
trous to his opponent. The British
loss in 'his affair was heavy, amounting
to one officer and twenty-two men killed,
twelve officers and one hundred and
fifteen men wounded, and fifty-five men
missing ; but the effect upon the enemy,
who were thereby thrown back to the
frontier and reduced from an offensive
to a defensive force, compelled to de-
pend upon their own resources, can
hardly be overestimated. In the morn-
ing the United States troops re-occupied
their camp, but only remained in it long
enough to destroy their tents and stores,
after which they commenced a retreat
to Forty-Mile Creek, where the British
fleet found them on the 7th, and on the
following morning opened fire and sum-
moned them to surrender. Although
declining to surrender, the United .States
commander thought it prudent to fall
back upon Fort George. Supported by
the fleet, the British force pressed upon
their rear, and the fleet captured twelve
batteaux, containing officers' baggage
and stores. — June 23rd. Lieut.-Colonel
Bcerstler, of the United States army.
was despatched from Fort George with
the 14th United States Infantry, two
field-guns, and some dragoons, amount-
ing together to a little over six hundred
men, to surprise the British outpost at
the Beaver Dam. The expedition was
planned and the men were assembled
with rapidity and secrecy ; but, in spite
of the precautions taken, the object and
destination of the expedition became
known to a few persons, amongst whom
was James Secord, a militiaman, who
had been severely wounded at Queens-
ton. Secord, crippled by his wounds, was
unable to move, but his wife, Mary, ani-
mated by the love of her country, under-
took a mission which a man, strictly
guarded as the lines of the United
States army were, could hardly hope to

accomplish. With womanly tact, she
threw the United States sentry off his
guard, passed the lines, and, once in the
woods, made her way rapidly, and
reached the British outpost by nightfall.
Her errand was soon communicated to
Lieutenant Fitzgibbon, who at once
made his own preparations, and notified
Major de Haren. At daybreak on the
24th Bcerstler's force encountered Kerr's
Mohawks. Kerr, not having more than
thirty Indians, had recourse to the tac-
tics of his countryman, and hung upon
the flanks and rear of his enemy, in-
flicting such loss as he could and har-
rassing his march. On emerging from
the woods into a clearing (near the pres-
ent village of Thorold) Colonel Bcerstler
found himself confronted by Lieutenant
Fitzgibbon's detachment, so placed that
their weakness might not be discovered ;
and upon his flanks and rear Kerr's In-
dians, and the few militia whom the
noise of the firing had attracted from
their homes, kept up an incessant but
desultory attack. At this moment Fitz-
gibbon, whose cool, soldierlike bearing
cannot fail to excite the warmest admi-
ration, advanced with a white handker-
chief and coolly proposed to Bcerstler
that he should surrender. The United
States commander, bewildered by the
incessant yells of the Indians, and, as
he believed, surrounded by the enemy,
agreed to capitulate, and actually sur-
rendered five hundred and twelve men,
two field guns, and the colours of thj
14th United States Infantry to a lieuten-
ant of the 49th in command of a de-
tachment of forty-six men, supported by
about as many Indians and militia.
Fortunately the self-command of Lieu-
tenant Fitzgibbon never for one moment
deserted him, and he, therefore, man-
aged to prolong the arrangement of the
capitulation so that by the time it was
actually signed, Major de Haren had

114

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS,

1813

reached the scene with two hundred
men. — July 4th. Lieutenant-Colonel
Clark crossed from Queenston during
the night, and attacked Fort Schlosser.
The enemy being taken by surprise, lost
a brass six-pounder, about fifty stand of
arms, some stores, a gun-boat, and two
batteaux. — July nth. Lieutenant-Col-
onel Bishopp crossed the Niagara at
daybreak with about two hundred regu-
lars (detachments of the 8th, 41st, and
49th, regiments), and forty men belong-
ing to the Lincoln militia, with the in-
tention of seizing and destroying the
United States post and naval depot at
Black Rock. The enemy were com-
pletely taken by surprise, and in a few
moments the United States militia
under Major Adams, about three hun-
dred men, were dispersed, and three
heavy guns found in their camp were
brought to bear upon the Block House
garrisoned by United States Artillery,
which speedily surrendered. No time
was lost in proceeding with the work of
destruction ; the Block House, barracks,
naval arsenal, ard a schooner were
burnt ; and all the public stores which
could be removed were rapidly trans-
ferred to the British boats. But, in the
meanwhile, the enemy had not been idle.
General Porter had escaped at the com-
mencement of the action, and had rid-
den rapidly to Buffalo, where he at once
set to work to collect a force to oppose
Bishopp. With this force he reached
Black Rock just as the British were re-
embarking, and his Indians creeping
along the top of the bank, at once opened
fire. Colonel Bishopp landed some of
his men and drove the Indians back,
but, reinforced from the main body, the
Indians returned to the attack and com-
pelled the British to take to their boats
again. During this second embarka-
tion some of the oars of Colonel Bish-
opp's boat were lost, and the boat drift-

ing helplessly down the stream, the gal-
lant colonel became a target for the In-
dians and riflemen, and was so severely
wounded that he died in a few days,
universally regretted by all who knew
him. The British succeeded, notwith-
standing the loss of their commanding
officer. Captain Saunders, and fifteen
men killed,and a large number wounded,
in carrying off seven pieces of ordnance,
two hundred stand of arms, and a large
quantity of stores.— July 30th. The
United States Cruisers from Sackett's
Harbour succeeded in capturing, whilst
passing through the Thousand Islands,
a brigade of Batteaux loaded with pro-
visions from Montreal for Kingston, with
which he retired to Goose Creek, on the
south side of the St. Lawrence, below
the village of Gananoque. Lieutenant
Scott R. N. with three gun-beats and a
detachment of the looth. legiment, en-
deavoured to retake the batteaux ; but
the enemy had selected so strong a po-
sition, and had so strengthened it with
fallen trees, that Lieutenant Scott was
compelled to relinquish the attempt, not
however without suffering a severe loss,
as Captain Milnes, aide-de-camp to the
commander of the forces, who had vol-
unteered his services, was mortally
wounded, and died shortly after. — July
25th. General Proctor appeared before
Fort Meigs with about five hundred
men, nearly all regulars o( the 41st and
49th regiments, and two hundred In-
dians. Finding himself unable, owing
to the insufficiency of his artillery, con-
sisting of two six-pounder field pieces,
to make any impression upon the works,
he withdrew his forces and proceeded to
Von Stephenson, about twenty miles
from the mouth of the Sandusky river,
which he summoned to surrender.
Major Croghan, who commanded the
garrison of the fort, at once refused to
treat, and expressed his intention of

i8i3

CANADIAN ANXALS.

1813

^"'i

fighting to the last. On the evening of
August 2nd, after a smart cannonade
from his two six-pounders, and two five
and a half inch howitzers, General Proc-
tor attempted to carry the fort by as-
sault. On reaching the ditch the as-
sailants found themselves exposed to a
raking fire of grape from a masked six-
pounder, which compelled them to retire
with heavy loss. Brevet Lieutenant-
Colonel Short, of the 41st regiment, who
led the storming party, and three other
officers and fifty-two men, were killed
and missing, and three officers and
thirty-eight men were wounded. The
loss of the garrison is said to have been
only one man killed and seven wounded.
Thus foiled in his attempt upon fort
Stephenson, General Proctor withdrew
on the 3rd August and returned to Am-
herstburg. Commodore Chauncey, who
had sailed from Sackett's Harbour with
a body of United States troops under
Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, with the in-
tention of seizing the British depot at
Burlington Heights and destroying the
stores ; finding that the detachment on
duty there under the command of Major
Maule had been reinforced by the Glen-
garry Fencibles under Lieutenant-Col-
onel Battersby, declined the attack, and
moved down the lake to York, where
his force landed on 31st July,* without
opposition, and having taken possession
of such stores as they could find, inclu-
ding a quantity of flour, private property
belonging to and taken from the stores
of Major Allan and Mr. St. George,
burned the barracks wood-yard and pub-
lic storehouses on Gibraltar Point, re-em-
barked the troops on Sunday afternoon,
1st August, and bore away for Niagara.

* McMuUen in his History sf Canada, page 383,
KiTC* tht date ef this raid upon York as the 23rd
July ; but as the authorities generally fix the 31st as
the day upon which the attack was made, that date
has been tdhcrcd to.

The British Fleet, under Commodore
Sir James Yeo, left Kingston on the 31st
July, and arrived off" Niajjara on the 8th
.August. The two fleets manoeuvred for
two days, and on the loth the British
Commodore managed to cut off and cap-
ture two fine schooners manned by forty
men each. Commodore Chauncey lost
two other schooners in a heavy squall
whilst trying to escape the British fleet.
From these vessels sixteen men were
saved by the boats of the British fleet; the
remainder perished. After these occur-
rences the fleets separated, the British
vessels returned to Kingston, whilst
Commodore Chauncey remained for a
short time at Niagara and then sailed
for Sackett's Harbour.— On 7th Septem-
ber the fleets came in sight of each
other, and manoeuvred, but without re-
sult. — On 28th September the fleets
again met off York, when a smart action
lasting for two hours took place. Sir
James'Yeo's ^hip,the fF<?^, was severely
handled, and might have been captured
had not Captain Mulcaster, in the Roya/
George, run in between the Wolfe and
the United States Commodore's vessel,
the Pike, and thus enablfed the Wolfe
to sheer off and repair damages. After
this action the British fleet retired under
Burlington Heights, whither the United
States fleet did not care to follow. — On
1st October, Commodore Chauncey
sailed from Fort George for Sackett's
Harbour, and on his way down, fell in
with and captured five small vessels out
of seven, with upwards of two hundred
and fifty men of de Watteville's regi-
ment from York, bound for Kingston.
— On loth September, about sunrise,
the fleets on Lake Erie, commanded by
Commodore Perry of the United States
navy, and by Captain Barclay R. N.,came
in sight of each other off Put-in Bay.
About noon the action was commenced
by Captain Barclay, who, in the A'irag-ara^
16

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

i8l3

-On

engaged the Lawrence, commanded by
Perry. After two hours of hard fighting,
the Lawrence was so severely handled
that she struck her flag to Captain Bar-
clay, who, however, w^as so short handed
that he could not spare men to take pos-
session of her. A change of wind oc-
curred about this time, which gave a
decided advantage to the United States
vessels. Eagerly availing himself of this
circumstance, Perry, who had left the
Lawrence and succeeded in reaching
the Niagara, bore up and engaged the
Detroit, already much injured, and the
Queen Charlotte. The remainder of
the United States fleet ably supported
their commander, and in four hours the
whole of the British fleet was compelled
to surrender. The British loss was very
heavy, Captain Finnis was killed, Cap-
tain Barclay, and Lieutenants Stokoe,
Irvine, Garland, Buchan, and Bignall
were all wounded ; in short, every com-
mander, and every officer second in com-
mand, was either killed or disabled.
The loss sustained by the detachment
from the army serving as marines on
board the fleet, was alfo heavy. Lieu-
tenant Garden, of the Royal Newfound-
land regiment, one serjeant, and twenty-
four rank and file were killed, three Ser-
jeants and fifty-six rank and file were
wounded, and two lieutenants, one as-
sistant surgeon, four Serjeants, and one
hundred and seventy-one rank and file
were taken prisoners. The loss of the
United States fleet is said to have
been twenty-seven killed, and ninety-six
wounded. — September 23rd. General
Harrison's force having been transported
by Commodore Perry's fleet from Port-
age river and Fort Meigs, occupied Am-
herstburg, Major-General Prt)ctor hav-
ing already abandoned it, and fallen
back upon Sandwich. — September 26th,
General Proctor, having withdrawn from
Maiden (Amherstburg), Windsor, and

Sandwich all such stores as could l)c
removed, and destroyed the rest ; having
also burned all the public buildings at
Fort Detroit, and transported the guns
from the fort to Windsor on the Cana-
dian side of the river, finally relinquished
Detroit and withdrew to British terri-
tory. The defeat and capture of Bar-
clay's squadron having rendered his
position on the western frontier no lon-
ger tenable. General Proctor lost no time
in commencing his retreat, having under
his command the 41st regiment, about
five hundred and forty strong, a part of
the Royal Newfoundland regimen', and
some militia, in all about eight hundred
and thirty men ; to which must be added
Tecumseth's Indians, amounting to not
less than five hundred warriors, wh(>
were actively engaged in covering the
retreat. — September 27th. General Har-
rison occupied Sandwich, and on 2nd
October resumed his pursuit of the Brit-
ish force, the rearguard of which he
overtook on the 4th and captured a
large quantity of ammunition and stores.
— On the 4th October, General Proctor
took up a position on Dalson's farm, ;i
rising ground some sixteen miles from
Baptiste Creek, and near the site of the
present town of Chatham. Leaving
Major Warburton in command, the gen-
eral pushed on to Moraviantown, an In-
dian village about sixteen miles from
Dalson's. Before daylight on the morn-
ing after his arrival, General Proctor
was aroused from his sleep and informed
that the enemy had already commenced
an attack, had taken some prisoners and
captured some ammunition and stores,
and that the British force was retiring.
Hastily mounting his horse, he rode
with his staff" to the front, and met the
retreating force some three miles west
of the Indian settlement at Moravian-
town. The British were halted and
faced about. The position taken was

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1813

«1

,\ good one, protected on the left by
the river Thames, not broad but deep,
and on the right by a swamp, leaving a
narrow front, in the centre of which the
road ran, upon which a small six-
pounder field-piece was posted. About
8 a.m., the enemy appeared in sight, and
advanced slowly, carefully availing them-
selves of the excellent cover afforded by
the trees. All at once the men were
massed and a rush was made ; this was
checked by a volley from the British,
but in a moment the enemy rallied and
renewed the attack, this time with more
success, as the British troops, dissatisfied
by fancied or real neglect, and dispirited
by long continued exposure and priva-
tion, made but a feeble resistance, and
finally broke, and the battle was over.
The greater part at once surrendered,
the total loss in killed, wounded, and
missing being twenty-eight officers,
thirty-four Serjeants, and five hundred
and sixty-three rank and file. General
Proctor and his staff managed, however,
to make good their retreat, and with a
remnant of his force amounting to sev-
enteen officers, besides the general,
fifteen Serjeants, and two hundred and
thirteen rank and file, assembled some-
time afterwards at Ancaster. On this
occasion the Indians carried on the con-
test with great courage and tenacity
intil the day was irretrievably lost and
thirty-three of their number had been
slain, including the celebrated Shawa-
nese chief Tecumseth, who fell whilst

' ruciimseth was a Shawanee, and was born in
1 76J (ur 1770). He first distinguished himself in re-
sisting the attempt of General Harmer to punish the
Indians in 1790 ; and in 1791, when General St. Clair
undertouk a similar mission, Tecumseth was one of
his most determined and skilful opponents. From
this time until 1812, the great aim of Tecumseth's life
was to imite the numerous aboriginal tribes of North
America in one great confederation, so that they
might be strong enough to resist further encroach-
ments, even if unable to regain their former posses-
sions. In i8b, Tecumseth, whilst on one 01 his tours

bravely contending with the Kentucky
horsemen under Colonel R. M. John-
ston, by whose hand it is believed Te-
cumseth was slain, as there seems to be
no doubt that it was whilst engaged in a
hand-to-hand contest with Colonel John-
ston that Tecumseth received the wound
which caused his death. The conduct
of Major-General Proctor in the man-
agement of his retreat from Maiden, was
very severely commented on. In the
the general order of 24th November,
1813, the Governor-General, who was
also Commander-in-Chief, uses these
words in referring to the action at Mo-
raviantown: " In the latter, but very few
appear to have been rescued by an hon-
ourable death, from the ignominy of
passing under the American yoke ; nor
are there many whose wounds plead in
mitigation of this reproach. The right
division appears to have been encum-
dered with an unmanageable load of
unnecessary and forbidden private bag-
gage ; whilst the requisite arrangements
for the expedition, and certain convey-
ance of the ammunition and provisions,
the sole objects worthy of consideration,
appear to have been totally neglected,
as well as all those ordinary measures

amongst the tribes, had an interview with Major-
Ueneral Harrison, then Governor of the State of In-
diana ; no result followed this interview, and Tecum-
seth continued his journey to the Creek nation. On
his return he found that, during his absence, General
Harrison had attacked his people at Tippecanoe, and
that many of his warriors had been slain. In i8isi
when war between th<! United States and Great Brit-
ain became imminent, Tecumseth was strongly soli-
cited by General Hull's emissaries to remain neutral
during the war ; but he resolutely declined to have
any thing to do with the big knives, and from the
first became the firm and true friend of the British,
taking an active part in a 1 the operations on the
western frontier, His last words to General Proctor
just before ^he battle of the Thames, were, " Father,
tell your young men to be firm, and all will be well."
In 1814 a handsome sword was sent by the Prince
Regent to the son of Tecumseth, as a mark of respect
to his father's memory. — Tuppcr's Lift of Sir Isaac
Brock.

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1813

to retard and impede a pursuing enemy.
The result affords but too fatal a proof
of this unjustifiable neglect. The right
division had quitted Sandwich, on its
retreat, on 26th September, having had
ample time for every previous arrange-
ment to facilitate and secure that move-
ment ; on the 2nd October following, the
enemy pursued by the same route, and
on the 4th succeeded in capturing all
the stores of the division ; and on the
following day attacked and defeated it
almost without a struggle." *

* Major-General Proctor was tried by Court
Martial in December, 1814, on five charges
preferred against him for misconduct on tnis
occasion. He was found guilty of part of
them, and sentenced to be publicly repri-
manded, and to be suspended from rank and
pay for six months. It was found " that he
did not take the proper measures for conduct-
ing the retreat," that he had "in many in-
stances during the retreat, and in the disposi-
tion of the force under his command, been
erroneous in judgment, and in some, deficient
in those energetic and active exertions which
the extraordinary difficulties of his situation
so particularly required." " But as to any
defect or reproach with regard to the personal
conduct of Major-General Proctor during the
action of the 5th October, the Court most
fully acquitted him." His Royal Highness
the Prince Regent confirmed the finding of
the Court, but animadverted upon it rather
severely by the general order issued on the
occasion, dated "Horse Guards, 9th Sep-
tember, 1815," for its "mistaken lenity"
towards the accused. Tlie following passage
occurs in the general order abovementioned.
" With respect to the second chaise it ap-
jieared to His Royal Highness to be a matter
of surprise that the Court should find the pri-
soner guilty of the offence alleged against
him, while they at the same time acquit him
of all tlie facts upon which that charge is
founded ; and yet that in the summing up of
their finding upon the whole of the charges,
they should ascribe the offences of which the
prisoner has been found guilty, to error of
judgment, and pass a sentence totally inapplic-
able to their own finding of guilt, which can
alone be ascribed to the Court having been
induced by a reference to the general good
character and conduct of Major-General Proc-
tor, to forget, through a humane but mistaken
lenity, what was due from them to the ser-
vice." — History of j'^oiver Canada, by Robert
Christie.

Immediately after the action at Mora-
vian Town, General Harrison retired
to Detroit and Sandwich ; his retreat
being harassed by the Indians. He
had intended to proceed against Mich-
ilimackinac, but finding the season too
far advanced for such an expedition, all
his disposable forces were conveyed
from the head of Lake Erie to Bufifalo,
whence they were despatched to Fort
Niagara and Fort George, to supply the
place of the troops which had been with-
draw.. 10 join the expedition for which
troops were then being assembled at
Sackett's Harbour, by Major-General
Wilkinson. October 9th, Major-General
Vincent having learned by express from
Major-General Proctor of the disastrous
result of the action at Moravian Town,
decided to raise the investment of Fort
George and to fall back upon Burling-
ton Heights, so that he might succour the
broken remains of the right division then
retreating towards the head of Lake
Ontario, and at the same time, by secur-
ing so important a position, prevent Gen-
eral Harrison from occupying it, and so
place the British force between the two
United States armies. In accordance
with this decision the main body of the
British force, early on the morning of
the 9th October, fell back silently, and
in good order, with their baggage ; leav-
ing their picquets at their posts until the
evening, when they were withdrawn, and
the enemy became aware of the retreat,
which was covered by Colonel Murray
with seven companies of the looth, and
the light company of the 8th regiments.
Major-General Vincent was pursued by
Brigadiers General McClure and Porter,
who left Fort George at the head of 1 500
men, but so well did Colonel Murray
cover the retreat of the main body, that
General Vincent was able to collect the
remains of General Proctor's force
(which to the number of two hundred and

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1813

}■

■j r '

forty six of all ranks had assembled at
the rendezvous, at Ancaster, on the 17 th
October) and take up a position on Bur-
lington Heights, whilst Colonel Murray
was finally allowed to establish himself
at Stoney Creek, without any attempt on
the part of the enemy to dislodge him.
The United States Government having
relinquished the idea of attacking King-,
ston, it was arranged between the
United States Secretary of War, and
General Wilkinson, that the United
States force which had been assembled
at Sackett's Harbour, should leave King-
ston in the rear, and proceed down the
St. Lawrence to Montreal, and there co-
operate with General Hampton, who was
to advance from Lake Champlain in an
attack upon that city. General Wilkin-
son accordingly left Sackett's Harbour
on the 2 1 St October, and proceeded to
Grenadier Island, near Kingston, which
had been selected as the point from
which the expedition was to start. On
the 3rd November a flotilla of upwards
of three hundred boats of various sizes,
escorted by United States gunboats, pro-
ceeded down the St. Lawrence. On
ne&ring Prescott, General Wilkinson
landed his troops on the United States
side of the river, and marched them to
a bay some two miles below Prescott, so
as to avoid the fire of the British bat-
teries at that port. The flotilla ran past
Prescott during the night of November
6th, without sustaining much injury
from the cannonade opened upon them.
So soon as Major-General de Rotten-
burgh had ascertained that General Wil-
kinson's force had commenced the de-
scent c th 2 St. Lawrence, he despatched
Lieul ",' fivei Morrison of the 89th,
V il^ Iv 5 1 i»gi T.**: 1 together with the 49th
>.nuer ^i'liit Toloncl Plenderleath, and
*,Mi ' oltigeurs and Fcncibles, under
Li«,::t.-Co' >ne' ' -arson, in all about
eight hundred men, to follow the enemy.

This corps of observation was accom-
panied by the Deputy-Adjutant-General,
Lieut. -Colonel Harvey, and proceeded on
its way, escorted by a small division of
gun-boats, commanded by Captain Mul-
caster, R.N. On the 7th November
Colonel Macomb landed on the British
side of the St. Lawrence with 1200 men.
and on the 8th November the enemy were
overtaken by Colonel Morrison at Point
Iroquois. On the loth November Lieut .-
Colonel Morrison landed at the United
States post at Hamilton, where he cap-
tured a quantity of provisions and stores,
and two pieces of ordnance. On the
nth of November the United States
forces, then under command of General
Boyd, were so closely pressed by the
British, under Lieutenant-Colonel Mor-
rison, that they were compelled to con-
centrate and ofiter battle. The United
States force consisted of two brigades of
infantry and one regiment of cavalry,
amounting together to upwards of three
thousand men. About two o'clock in
the afternoon the enemy moved forward
from Chrystler's Point and attacked Col-
onel Morrison's advance, which gradually
retired until it had reached the ground
previously selected, an open spot where
the right rested on the river, the left
on a pine wood . The right was held by
the flank companies of the 49th regi-
ment, a detachment of the Glengarry
Fencibles, and one gun under Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Pearson, supported by
three companies of the 89th regiment
under Captain Barnes, with one gun.
Further to the rear, and extending to
the woods on the left the remainder
of the 49th and 89th regiments, with
one gun, formed the main body and re-
serve . The woods on the left were oc-
cupied by the Voltigeurs under Major
Herriot and the Indians under Lieuten-
ant Anderson. The battle became gen-
eral by half-past two, when the United

120

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1813

States Commander endeavoured to turn
the British left, but was foiled in his at-
tempt by the 89th Regiment. The enemy
next tried to force the right, but here
he was held in check by the 49th Regi-
ment. " When within half musket shot,"
writes Lieut. -Colonel Morrison, "the
line was formed under a heavy but irre-
gular fire from the enemy, the 49th was
directed to charge their guns, posted
opposite to ours ; but it became neces-
sary when within a short distance of the
guns to check this forward movement,
in consequence of a charge from the
enemy's cavalry on the right, lest these
horsemen should wheel about and fall
upon the rear ; but they v/ere received in
so gallant a manner by the companies of
the 89th regiment under Captain Barnes,
and the well directed fire of the artillery,
that they quickly retreated, and by a
charge from those companies one gun,
a six-pounder field-piece, was gained.
The enemy immediately concentrated his
force to check our advance, but, such
was the steady countenance and well
directed fire of the troops and artillery,
that about half-past four they gave
way at all points from an exceedingly
strong position, endeavouring by their
light infantry to cover their retreat ; who,
however, were soon driven away by a
judicious movement made by Lieutenant-
Colonel Pearson." The British occupied
for the night the field of battle. The loss
of the United States force in this action
amounted to three officers and ninety-
nine men killed, and fifteen officers —
including Brigadier-General Covington,
who died two days after — and two hun-
dred and twenty-one men wounded. The
British loss was three officers (Captain
Naime, 49th regiment, and Lieutenants
Lorimier and Armstrong of the Canadian
Fencibles), and twenty-one men killed,
and ten officers and one hundred and
thirty-seven wounded, and twelve men |

missing. On leaving the field the United
States infantry at once re-embarked,
whilst the cavalry with the field artillery
— five guns — proceeded to Cornwall by
land in rear of the division of General
Brown, who being some distance in ad-
vance was unaware of the action at
Chrystler's Farm. General Wilkinson,
who was ill and unable to land during the
recent action, proceeded down the river
and joined General Brown's division,
near Cornwall. Here he learned that
General Hampton's division was falling
back upon Lake Champlain. Under
these circumstances General Wilkinson,
on the 1 2th of November, summoned
a Council of War, at which it was unani-
mously resolved, " That the attack on
Montreal should be abandoned for the
present, and that the army near Corn-
wall should immediately be crossed to the
American shore for taking up winter
quarters." The United States forces
were accordingly withdrawn from Cana-
da, and on the 13th went into winter
quarters at French Mills, on the Salmon
river. Early in December, Lieutenant-
General Drummond arrived at the head
of Lake Ontario, and at once prepared
to resume the offensive. On the loth of
December, Brigadier-General McClure,
in a most wanton and inhuman manner,
burned the Village of Newark (Niagara),
thereby exposing upwards of four hun-
dred women and children to the inclem-
ency of a Canadian winter and the im-
minent risk of starvation. On the 12th
of December, the United States forces,
under McClure, hastily evacuated Fort
George, which was at once occupied by
the British, under Colonel Murray. The
feeling of exasperation at the barbarous
destruction of Newark was so general
and so deep that General Drummond de-
cided to retaliate, and preparations were
immediately commenced for an assault
upon Fort Niagara. On the night of the

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

i8th of December, Colonel Murray, with
about five hundred and fifty men of the
Royal Artillery, Royal Scots, 41st and
looth Regiments, crossed the river and
moved at once upon the fort, and having
obtained an entrance through the main
gate before the enemy had time to sound
an alarm, possession of the works was
speedily obtained, the enemy making a
f"eble resistance, and finally surrender-
ing at discretion. The British loss was
one officer (Lieutenant Nolan) and five
men killed, and two officers and three
men wounded. The United States forces
lost two officers and sixty-five men killed,
and twelve rank and file wounded, to-
gether with about three hundred pri-
soners. Three thousand stand of arms,
a large number of guns (twenty-seven
being mounted on the works), and a
great quantity of stores, fell into the
hands of the British. Major-General
Riall had crossed the river immediately
after Colonel Murray, taking with him
the remainder of the Royal Scots and
41st Regiments ; and, on learning that
the fort was taken, marched at once upon
Lewiston, where the enemy had assem-
bled a force with the object of attacking
Queenstown. On the approach of the
British force, the United States troops
evacuated Lewiston, leaving behind
them two guns and a quantity of stores.
Lewiston and Manchester were burned,
and, with the view of following up these
successes. General Drummond advanced
to Chippewa, where he established his
head-quarters. On the night of the 29th
of December Major-General Rial! again
crossed the river, and landed about two
miles below Black Rock, having with
him detachments of the 8th, 41st, 89th,
and looth Regiments, and at daybreak
on the 29th he advanced upon the town,
where the enemy were in force and
strongly posted. The United States
forces maintained their ground for some

time, but were compelled to give way
with a loss of five guns. From Black
Rock the enemy was pursued to Buffalo,
where an attempt was made to check
the advance of the British ; but being
again compelled to retire, the United
States troops finally took to the woods,
leaving behind them three guns. The
enemy having been thoroughly van-
quished, General Riall detached two
companies of the 8th Regiment, under
Captain Robinson, to destroy three ves-
sels belonging to the Lake Erie squad-
ron, which was effectually accomplished.
Buffalo anrl Black Rock were, with all
the stores which could not be carried
away, set on fire and entirely consumed.
1814. — January 7th, the Quebec papers
contain a notice from the proprietors of
the line of mail stages between Quebec
and Montreal to the effect that the price
of conveyance between those cities would
be reduced from £4. ids. currency, to
^3 IDS. currency. The stages to start
from Quebec and Montreal at four
o'clock every Sunday, Tuesday, and
Thursday, and reach Three Rivers the
evenings of the same days ; to leave
Three Rivers at four o'clock the follow-
ing morning and reach Quebec or Mon-
treal the same evening.

January 22nd. — The House of Assem-
bly, then in session at Quebec, being
moved to read the article in the Quebec
Mercury of the 19th January, under the
head of ' ' Letter to a Party Leader," the
same was read, when it was resolved,
"That the said paper contains a false
and scandalous libel upon this House,
and a manifest breach of its privileges."
And it was ordered " that Thomas Cary,
editor of the Quebec Mercury, be taken
into custody by the Serjeant-at-Arms or
his Deputy, and be brought to the bar of
this House to-morrow afternoon."

January 23rd. — The House of Assem-
bly was informed " that the Serjeant-at-

122

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

1813

Arms had called several times at the
house of Thomas Cary, editor of the
Quebec Mercury, but had not found him
at home." Whereupon it was ordered
" that the Serjeant-at-Arms should use
all diligence to take into custody and
bring to the bar of the House the said
Thomas Cary."

February 8th. — A ;;eneral order was
issued at Quebec stating that His Excel-
lency having seen in the Boston GazeUe
of 28th January, a publication purport..ig
to be a copy of a General Order issued
by the United States Government rela-
tive to the exchange of prisoners therein
named, considered himself called upon,
in the most public manner, to protest
against the pretended release of the
officers named in the said general order
from their parole of honour, given under
their hands whilst prisoners of war,
His Excellency having expressly refused
to accede to the exchange of the officers
mentioned,as proposed to him by Major-
General Dearborn in his letters of 26th
December and 2nd January, under au-
thority of the United States Government,
upon the identical terms contained in
the order of i8th January above referred
to ; and that His Excellency felt himself
compelled to declare that he still consid-
ered those officers as prisoners of war on
their parole, and that should the fate of
war again place any of them at the dis-
posal of the British Government, before
a regular and ratified exchange of them
takes place, they will be deemed to have
broken their parole, and to be thereby
subject to all the consequences sanc-
tioned by the established usages of war
in like case.

February 15th. — The fourth session of
the seventh Provincial Parliament of
Lower Canada was closed by His Ex-
cellency Sir George Prevost, who, after
giving his assent to ten Bills passed du-
ring the session, prorogued the Parlia-

ment. The attention of the House of
Assembly during this session was mainly
directed towards the necessity which ex-
isted for making provision for carrying
on the war against the United States ;
for this purpose ample supplies were pro-
vided by the three Acts which were
passed ; the remaining Acts were, com-
paratively, unimportant. The session
of Parliament having terminated, the
Governor-General left Quebec for Mon-
treal on the 17th of February, to deter-
mine upon the measures to be taken to
resist the expected aggression in that
part of the Province.

February 1 8th.— Major J. Thomas
Taschereau succeeded, upon the death
of Lieutenant-Colonel de Lanaudi^re,
to the Adjutant-Generalship of Lower
Canada.

March nth.— The Quebec Gazette
contains the announcement that His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent had
been pleased to confer the dignity of a
Baronet of the United Kingdom, upon
Roger Hale Sheaffe, Esq., Major-Gene
ral of His Majesty's Forces, and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel of the 49th Regiment of
Foot.

April 14th. — Edward Brabazon Bren-
ton appointed Secretary to the Gover-
nor-General, in place of Herman Wit-
sius Ryland, who retires from that
office.

May 5th.— H. M. S. Woolwich, 44
guns, arrived at Quebec, having on
board Sir James Yeo and several other
naval officers, and 450 seamen for ser-
vice on the Lakes.

May I2th. — Major-General Francis de
Rottenburg issued a proclamation an-
nouncing his assumption, during the ab-
sence in Upper Canada of Sir George
Prevost, of the administration of the
Government of Lower Canada.

June 3rd.— Major Taylor, of the looth
Regiment, captured, near Isle aux Noix,

>7:

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1813

the United States armed vessels Grow-
ler and Eagle, each mounting eleven
guns, and having four officers and forty-
five men on board.

June 14th. — Major-General George
Glasgow (Sir George Prevost being still
absent in Upper Canada) announced by
proclamation his assumption of the ad-
ministration of the Government in
Lower Canada, and by a second procla-
mation, of the same date, removed the
embargo from all vessels in Lower
Canada waters. Amongst the prisoners
captured on the 6th of June, in the
vicinity of Stoney Creek, were two men,
James Gready, formerly a private in the
8th Regiment, and Terence Hunt, for-
merly a private in the 6th Regiment.
These men, being deserters from His
Majesty's service, and having been taken
in arms fighting with the enemy against
His Majesty's troops, were tried by
court martial and sentenced to be shot.

An expedition, under command of
Colonel Murray, having been sent against
Lake Champlain, succeeded, on the
29th of July, in destroying the enemy's
Arsenal, Block House, Commissary's
Buildings, stores, and some boats at
Plattsburg, together with the extensive
barracks of Saranac, capable of contain-
ing 4,000 troops ; the barracks and stores
at Swanton and Mississquoi Bay, and
the public buildings, barracks, block-
houses, &c., at Champlain Town. Some
naval stores, shot, and equipments for a
number of batteaux were brought away.
Seven small vessels were taken, one of
which was destroyed. Colonel Murray
was ably supported in his operations by
Captain Everard, R.N., Lieutenant-
Colonel Williams, of the 13th Regiment,
and Captain Elliott, of the 103rd Foot,
Sir George Prevost, Grovernor-General
and Commander-in-Chief, issued a proc-
lamation, dated the 4th of September,
protesting in strong terms against the

practice of the United States Govern-
ment in making prisoners of war of un-
armed private citizens, and parolling
them, with a view to preventing them
from accepting any employment in their
different callings as mechanics or other-
wise, or from aiding the public service
in any other way, under the apprehen-
sion of exposing themselves to the re-
sentment of the enemy for having vio-
lated their parole.

Sir George Prevost threatened to re-
taliate with all the means in his power,
if a practice so entirely opposed to all
the usages of war was not at once dis-
continued.

September 20th. — General Hampton,
with upwards of five thousand men, ad-
vanced from Cumberland Head and en •
tered Lower Canada at Odelltown,where
his advanced guard surprised a small
picquet early in the morning. The road
leading thence towards L'Acadie and the
open country in the vicinity of Montreal,
passed through a swampy wood, and had
been cut up and rendered impracticable
by Lieutenant-Colonel de Salabenys
Voltigeurs. This road was held by a
detachment of Frontier Light Infantry
and a few Indians, under Captain Mail-
loux, who were at once reinforced by the
flank companies of the 4th battalion of
Embodied Militia, under Major Per-
rault, and de Salabenys Voltigeurs.
General Hampton did not attempt to
force a passage by this road, and evacu-
ated Odelltown on the 22nd of Septem-
ber. Colonel de Salaberry followed the
enemy to Chateauguay, and thence ad-
vanced to Four Comers, where General
Hampton had encamped. After a skir-
mish with the enemy's advance, on the
1st of October, Colonel de Salaberry re-
turned to his position at Chat94uguay,

October 36th, — A smart action took
place at the Chateauguay River between
the United States army, under Major-

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1 8 13

General Hampton, and the advanced
picquets of the British, under Lieuten-
ant>Colonel de Salaberry , the excellent
disposition of his force, composed of the
light company of the Canadian Fenci-
bles and two companies of Canadian
Voltigeurs, enabled Colonel de Salaberry
to repulse with considerable loss the ad-
vance of the enemy's principal column,
commanded by General Hampton in per-
son. The light brigade of the United
States army, under Colonel Purdy, was
opposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Mac-
donnell, who, in like manner, chec! .ed
its progress on the south side of the river
by ordering the militia, under Captain
Daly, supported by Captain Bruyere
(who were both wounded), to advance
across the ford and support the Beau-
hamois Militia, who had been stationed
at the ford to guard it. The enemy
rallied and returned repeatedly to the
attack, which lerminated only with the
day in his complete disgrace and defeat,
being foiled by a mere handful of men,
who, by their determined bravery, held
their position against more than twenty
times their number. To Lieutenant-
Colonel de Salaberry belongs the honour
of this victory, which was entirely due
to his soldier-like conduct, both in the
judicious choice he made in the position
and management of his forces, and in
the gallant and steady manner in which
the enemy's attacks were received and
repelled. Besides the officers above
mentioned. Captains Ferguson, de
Bartzch, Levesque, Jean Baptiste Du-
chesnay, Juchereau Duchesnay, and
Lamothe, and Adjutants Hebden and
O'SuUivan, were specially mentioned as
having been conspicuous for their gal-
lantry on this occasion ; and Colonel de
Salaberry warmly acknowledged the
valuable assistance he derived from
their able support- The British loss at
the Battle of Chateauguay was five rank

and file killed, two captains, one sergeant
and thirteen rank and file wounded, and
four men missing. The United States
army left forty killed on the field, and
had about 100 more hors de combat,

November 4th.— A general order was
issued relieving the militia from further
service ; this order concludes as follows :

"His Excellency the Governor-in-
Chief and Commander of the Forces,
has the highest pride and satisfaction in
declaring his acknowledgments to the
loyal and brave militia of Lower Canada
for the zeal and alacrity with which they
flew to their posts, and for the patience
and firmness with which they have en-
dured, in this inclement season, the
severe hardships and privations to which
they have been exposed ; the steadiness
and discipline of the whole force have
been conspicuous, c^iid the undaunted
gallantry dist-layed by six companies,
almost f" a man composed of Canadian
Fenciules and Militia, under the imme-
diate command of Lieutenant-Colonel De
Salaberry, in repelling with disgrace, an
American invading army twenty times
their numbei*, reflects unfading honou.
on the Canadian name."

November 13th.— The Montreal Her-
ald oi this date contains the following
notice :

" The Printer of the Montreal Herald
has to apologize to his subscribers for
not publishing this week, he and iiis ap-
prentices having been called to a dis-
tance upon military duty, which he
trusts will prove sufficient excuse."

The order of the Prince Regent in
Council, of 13th October, 181 2, authori-
zing general reprisals against the ships>
goods, and citizens of the United States,
having reached Halifax, the Lieuteoant-
Governor, Sir John C. Sherbrooke, is-
sued a proclamation calling upon all Hi&
Majesty's loyal subjects to do their ut-
most to capture the ships of the citizens

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

1813

1 ■.

of the United States and destroy their
commerce, for which purpose His Royal
Highness had been pleased to direct
letters of marque and commissions of
privateers to be granted in the usual
manner. On the 13th January no less
than 21 United States' prizes were con-
demned in the Vice-Admiralty Court at
Halifax.

February nth.— The second session
of the Tenth General Assembly of Nova
Scotia was opened at Halifax by the
Lieutenant-Governor Sir J. C. Sher-
brooke, who, in his opening speech, ex-
pressed his admiration of the zeal, loyalty,
and courage of the Canadians, who,
supported by a small force of regular sol-
diers, had repelled repeated attacks of
United States troops on their territory ;
and his firm reliance upon the same
spirit of loyally if Nova Scotia should be
attacked.

The Nova Scotia Assembly was pro-
rogued on the 3rd of April, having
passed an additional militia law, and
provided for the improvement of the
roads, besides giving attention to a great
number of minor matters of local interest.

June 6th — The United States frigate
Chesapeake, 49 guns, which had been
so gallantly captured by H. M.S. Shan-
«"«. 38 guns, Captain Broke, off Bos-
ton Harbour, on the ist June, arrived
at Halifax.

June 8th. — Captain Lawrence, late of
the Chesapeake, who had died of the
wounds received in the action with the
Shannon, was buried at Halifax. His
remains were landed, under a discharge
of minufe guns, at the King's wharf, from
whence they were followed to the grave
by his own surviving officers, those of
His Majesty's army and navy, and many
of the people of Halifax. The coffin was
covered with the United States flag, upon
which was placed the sword of the de-
ceased officer ; the pall was supported by

six captain! of the Royal Navy ; 300
men of the 64th Regiment attended as a
firing party, and fired three volleys over
the grave.

August loth.— The United States brig
Henry arrived at Halifax with a flag of
truce from Salem, and permission having
been granted, the bodies of Captain Law-
rence and Lieutenant Ludlow — who had
also died of his wounds— late of the
Chesapeake, were disinterred and placed
on board the Henry for conveyance to
the United Sutes.

August 25th. —The merchants and un-
derwriters of Halifax presented an ad-
dress to Captain Broke, of the Shannon,
accompanied by a handsome piece of
plate.

November 12th.— Halifax was visited
by a tremendous gale or hurricane which
rushed up the harbour with terrific vio-
lence. Twenty-one men-of-war of various
descriptions were in port ; all suffered
more or less ; seven of them were driven
ashore, and several seamen lost their
lives. No less than forty-seven merchant-
men were stranded, and twenty-four,
although not driven ashore, were more or
less injured. Three small vessels were
totally lost, together with seven or eight
men who were on board. Fortunately
the storm raged with the greatest vio-
lence at dead low water, so that the
wharves and stores suffered much less
than they otherwise would ; but the total
loss was very heavy.

January 12th. — The General Assem-
bly of New Brunswick met at Freder-
icton, but a sufficient number of mem-
bers to proceed to business not at-
tending, the House adjourned until the
13th, when the members proceeded to
elect a Speaker, in the place of Amos
Botsford, Esq., deceased. John Robin-
son having been elected and confirmed
by the President, Major-General George
Stracey Smyth, the regular opening of
26

i8i3

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

the Session took place on the 14th. In
his speech the President alluded to the
state of war then existing between the
United Kingdom and the United States,
and recommended a careful revision of
the Militia Laws and such other mea-
sures as might be necessary for the de-
fence of the Province.

February 15th.— The 104th ("New
Brunswick) Regiment, being under or-
ders to proceed to Canada on active ser-
vice, the following resolution was passed
by the House of Assembly ; —

" Resolved, That the House of Assem-
bly of New Brunswick cannot view thede-
parture of the 104th Regiment from this
Province without feeling every solicitude
for a corps raised in this country, and
destined they trust long to continue its
pride and ornament ; the House have ob-
served with peculiar pleasure that the
merit of the officers and men of this
regiment has been such as to have in-
duced His Majesty to confer upon
it a high mark of his favour and appro-
bation in numbering it with the line ;
and the House takes this occasion to ex-
press the high sense they have of the
propriety of conduct observed by tius
regiment during its continuance in this
Province." To which Colonel Halket
replied as follows : —

*' Kredericton, 15th Feb., 1813.

" Sir, — I have this day had the honour
to receive through you, their Speaker,
the resolution of the House of Assembly
of this Province, expressive of their sen-
timents upon the removal of the regi-
ment under my command from the coun-
try, and also their marked approbation
of its general good conduct whilst in it.

' ' Such honourable testimony of merit
must always dwell in the recollection of
every individual of the corps to whom I
have communicated the same, and serve
for the future to create an emulation
amongst them for its long continuance,

in the certain hope of rendering them-
selves worthy of such marked distinc-
tion from the country in which they were
formed. I have, therefore, united with
our sincere regret at parting, to offer you
the uniform thanks of myself, the officers,
non-commissioned officers and privates
of the 104th Regiment, and to remain,
with the greatest respect,

" Sir, your most obedient servant,

" (Signed) A. Halket, Colonti,
Lieutenant-Colonel 104/A Regt.
" To John Rawlinson, Esq.,

" Speaker of the House of Assembly. ''

The 104th Regiment left St. John in
February on their march through New
Brunswick to Canada ; the people on
their route turned out to help them with
sleighs.

The Session terminated on the 3rU of
March. Acts for regulating the Militia,
for vesting in the Crown such lands as
might be required for fortitications or
other military purposes, and for billeting
troops and militia when on the march,
were passed, and provision was made
for such expenditure as might be neces-
sary for the defence of the Province.

Colonel Uesbarres was succeeded in
thegovernment of Prince Edward Island
by Charles Douglas Smith, brother of
Sir Sidney Smith. Lieutenant-Gover-
nor Smith summoned the Assembly to
meet on the 15th of November. His
opening speech was indicative of that
eccentricity of character which tended
so greatly in subsequent years to mar
his usefulness as a public man. He re-
marked that he would have called them
together earlier, but he was not cer-
tain that the public good would be
served by it.

1814 — February 6th. — Captains Sher-
wood and Kerr, with a small party of Ma-
rines and Militia, crossed over the St.
Lawrence fromCornwall to Madrid in the
State of New York, and brought away a
27

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

f
'1-

considerable quantity of merchandise
which had been plundered from British
merchants near Cornwall in October,
1 81 3, when en route to Upper Canada.
The inhabitants of Madrid made no op-
position to the seizure and removal of
these effects, and they, in consequence,
were not molested by the British, who
returned to their quarters with the goods
they had seized.

The third session of the sixth Pro-
vincial Parliament of Upper Canada
was opened at Toronto on the 15th
February by Lieutenant-General^Gordon
Drummond, who, in the absence of the
Lieutenant-Governor, was President of
the Province. Nineteen Acts were passed
during this session, of which no less than
thirteen were measures providing either
directy or indirectly for the collection of
revenue and the defence of the country.
One of these Acts was to vest in the
Crown all lands belonging to inhabitants
of the United Status who, having come
into Upper Canada and received grants
of Crown lands, had withdrawn volun-
tarily from their allegiance and from the
defence of the Province. Another Act
altered the law with reference to the for-
feiture of inheritance upon attainder for
treason. The session closed on the 14th
of March.

March 4th. — A party of the enemy
having entrenched themselves at Long-
wood, Captain Barsden of the 89th, with
the light company of that regiment, the
flank companies of the Royal Scots, and
a detachment of Kent militia attempted
to dislodge them. The attack failed,
but the enemy shortly after abandoned
the position. The loss of the British
upon this occasion was two oiificers.
Captain D. Johnston, Royal Scots, and
Lieutenant P. Grame, 89th, and twelve
men killed, and three officers and forty-
nine men wounded. In the latter were
included an officer and six men of the

Kent militia, who behaved with great
steadiness.

May 4th. — General Drummond, with
six companies of De Watteville's regi-
ment, the light company of the Glen-
garry's, the second battalion of the Royal
Marines, a detachment of Royal Artil-
lery with two field pieces, a detachment
of a rocket company, and a few sappers
and miners, set sail from Kingston with
the intention of making ah attack upon
Oswego. On the morning of the 6th a
body of troops under Lieutenant-Colonel
Fischer, supported by about two hun-
dred seamen under Captain Mulcaster,
R. N., effected a landing in face of a
heavy fire of round shot and grape from
a battery, and of musketry from a de-
tachment of about three hundred United
States troops posted on the brow of a
hill and in the edge of the woods com-
manding the landing-place. The British
OA landing pressed up the hill and
stormed the battery ; the enemy soon
gave way, leaving some sixty men, chief-
ly wounded, behind them. The British
having taken possession of the stores
found in the Fort and in the neighbour-
hood, dismantled the fortifications and
destroyed the barracks. On the 7th
May the force re-embarked and returned
to Kingston. In these operations the
British troops lost one officer (Captain
Holtaway, of the Marines) and fifteen
men killed, and two officers and sixty
men wounded. The naval force had
three men killed. Captains Mulcaster
and Popham (both severely), and two
other officers and seven men wounded.
Three thirty-two-pounders, four twenty-
fours, one twelve, and one six, all iron
guns, were captured, and one twelve and
one six-pounder were destroyed. One
schooner, and several boats laden with
ordnance, naval, and other stores were
brought away, three schooners and other
craft were destroyed. The garrison flag
28

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1 8 14

c
r

had been nailed to the staff, but Lieut.
Hewitt of the Royal Marines climbed
the staff and pulled it down . The result
aimed at in this attack was but partially
attained, as it was found that a large
portion of the naval stores in the enemy's
possession had been conveyed to the
Falls, some miles up the river and de-
posited there.— isth May. A detachment
of United States troops, under Colonel
Campbell, landed at Long Point, and at
once proceeded to pillage and lay waste
as much of the surrounding country as
they could reach. The Village of Port
Dover was burned, as were all the mills
in the vicinity ; the cattle were killed,
and every portable article of value, even
to the clothing of women and children,
was carried away. The loss of property
by this raid was estimated at upwards of
fifty thousand dollars. On the 29th May,
a boat having on board two 24-pounders
and some naval stores was taken by the
British on its way from Sackett's Har-
bour to Oswego.

The Naval Commander having as-
certained that fifteen other boats had
left Sackett's Harbour for Oswego at the
same time as the boat which had been
captured on the 29th, directed Captains
Popham and Spilsbury, with two gun-
boats and five barges, to go in quest of
the enemy. These officers, having
learned that the enemy's boats had taken
refuge in Sandy Creek, proceeded up
the creek for the purpose of attacking
them. The enemy were posted in strong
force, and the attacking party were
overpowered with great loss, eighteen
being killed and fifty wounded.

July 3rd. — The United States forces
from Buffalo, Black Rock, and other
places on the United States frontier,
consisting of two brigades under Briga-
diers Scott and Ripley, the whole being
under the command of Major-General
Brown, effected a landing without oppo-

sition at two points ; the one about a
mile above, and the other about the -ame
distance below Fort Erie. Major Buck,
of the 8th regiment, was stationed with
about seventy men at Fort Erie, and he •
at once surrendered his post without fir-
ing a shot. Having thus easily obtained
possession of Fort Erie the United
States army advanced without delay to
Chippewa, which was reached on the
evening of the 5th July. Here Major-
General Riall, with the looth Regiment
under Lieutenant- Colonel the Marquis
of Tweeddale, the 2nd Lincoln Militia,
part of the Royal Scots, commanded by
Lieutenant - Colonel Gordon, and 8th
Regiments, and a body of Indians, was
prepared to oppose the further advance
of the invading force, and gave battle on
the evening of the sth, when, notwith-
standing the determined bravery and
steadiness of the British troops, they
were compelled by the great superiority
of the enemy's numbers to give way,
and General Riall accordingly fell back
upon Chippewa ; and after throwing
such reinforcements as he could spare
into Forts George, Niagara, and Missis-
saga, he retired to Twenty Mile Creek,
so as to cover the route to Burlington
Heights, lest the enemy should push on,
and by a forced march succeed in occu-
pying that important position. In this
action the loss of the British amounted
to six officers and one hundred and forty-
two men killed, and twenty-six officers
(among them Lieutenant-Colonels the
Marquis of Tweeddale, Dickson(Militia),
and Gordon, the former severely) and
two hundred and ninety-five men wound-
ed, and one officer and forty-five men
missing. The loss of the United States
force was stated at seventy men killed
and nine officers and two hundred and
forty men wounded, and nineteen men
missing.
After the battle the United States-

129

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

1 '

General Brown
the intention of
before reinforce-
them. General

forces advanced along the Niagara and
occupied Queenston. Demonstrations
were made against Forts George and
Mississaga, but as Lieutenant-Colonel
Tucker, who commanded at these posts,
was prepared for a resolute defence,
General Brown made no further attempts
upon them.

July 25th~General Brown retreated
from Queenston, to which he had pre-
viously retired, with his whole force to
Chippewa. The village of St. Davids
was burned by the detachment of ♦United
States troops under Lieutenant-Colonel
Stone, who was severely censured by
General Brown for this act of vandalism.
On the retreat of the United States
army ^Lreneral Riall immediately ad-
vanced ; whereupon
wheeled about with
crushing the British
ments could reach
Riall's force soon became hotly engaged
and, being greatly outnumbered, were
already beginning to retire when General
Drummond, who had sailed from York
on the evening of Sunday the 24th and
reached Niagara at daybreak on the
following day, reached the road leading
towards the Beaver Dam over the sum-
mit of the hill at Lundy's Lane. At once
countermanding the order to retire which
had been given to that part of General
Riall's force composed of the Glengarry
Light Infantry and Incorporated Mili-
tia, Gen. Drummond, who had brought
with him the 89th regiment, and detach-
ments of the 41st and Royal Scots, im-
mediately prepared to renew the con-
flict.

The formation was hardly completed
when the whole British force was warmly
and closely engaged ; the enemy attacked
again and again, but were met with the
most perfect steadiness and intrepid
gallantr>', and repulsed with heavy loss
as often as they advanced. So hotly

was the contest carried on tha*^ the Bri-
tish artillerj-men were bayoneted at their
guns, and when, at the close of the ac-
tion, the guns were limbered up, two
United States guns remained with the
British troops whilst one British gun was
carried away by the enemy. About nine
o'clock in the evening the enemy brought
up the remainder of 1 ' '"rce, and re-
newed the attack wit' -1 troops, but
he was again everyw- repulsed with
great gallantry. General Drummond
was joined about this time by that part
of General Riall's division which on the
advance of the enemy had been ordered
to retire, consisting of the 103rd regi-
ment, detachments of the Royal Scots,
8th, and looth regiments.

The enemy continued his efforts to
carry the British position until midnight,
when the severe loss inflicted upon him
by the steadiness, valour, and discipline
of the British force, compelled him to
desist and withdraw his troops, which
immediately fell back to the camp at
Chippewa.

On the 27th, the United States army,
the command of which had, owing to
the severe wounds received by Generals
Brown and Scott, devolved upon General
Ripley, burned Streets' mills, destroyed
the bridge at Chippewa, threw a quantity
of baggage and provisions into the river,
and then continued its retreat to Fort
Erie, where entrenchments were thrown,
up and every effort was made to secure
itself against the British, who immedi-
ately invested the works. The United
States force engaged at Lundy's Lane
was estimated at about five thousand ;
the loss was, by their own statement,
twelve officers and one hundred and
forty-eight men killed, fifty officers and
four hundred and sixty-seven men
wounded, Major-General Brown and
Brigadier Scott being among the
wounded.

130

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

On the side of the British five officers
were killed and seventy-nine men. Gen-
eral Riali was wounded and taken pris-
soner. General Drummond was also
wounded, as were Lieutenant-Colonels
Morrison, Pearson,and Robinson, Majors
Hatt and Simons, and thirty-three other
officers, and five hundred and eighteen
men ; and six officers and two hundred
and twenty-nine men were missing,
making a general total of killed, wound-
ed, and missing of eight hundred and
seventy-eight men.

July 25th. — A communication from
His Honour Lieutenant-General Drum-
mond, President, administering the Go-
vernment of the Province of Upper
Canada, announced the result of the pro-
ceedings of a special commission, held
at Ancaster, in the Niagara District, on
the 23rd of May, for the tri^il of persons
charged with high treason. Fifteen per-
sons were convicted and condemned : of
these, eight — the principal offenders —
suffered the awful sentence of the law,
at Burlington, on the 20th of July. Seven
were reprieved until His Majesty's plea-
sure respecting them should be made
known. His Honour concluded his com-
munication by making a public acknow-
ledgment to the gentlemen who com-
posed the grand and petit juries under
the Special Commission, for their pa-
tience, diligence, firmness, and justice in
the discharge of the solemn duties im-
posed upon them.

August 1st.— The United States fleet
sailed from Sackett's harbour and pro-
ceeded to the head of the Lake, but find-
ing no land force to co-operate with, the
United States troops being invested in
their entrenchments round Fort Erie,
soon returned to port.

August i2th.— Captain Dobbs, R.N.,
captured with his boats (which had been
conveyed overland from the Niagara
River) two United States' schooners—

the OAio and the Sonurs— which vrcre
lying off Fort Erie for the purpose of
flanking the approaches. Each schooner
was armed with three long twelve-
pounders, and had a complement of
thirty-five men.

August 13th. — General Dtunimond,
having determined to storm the enemy's
entrenchments, opened fire from a bat-
tery which he had erected, with such
effect as to induce him to attempt the
assault on the 14th, on the evening of
which day three colums were formed ;
one under command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Fischer, of De Watteville's
regiment, consisting of his own regi-
ment, the 8th, detachments from the
89th and looth regiments, and some
artillery ; a second under Lieutenant-
Colonel Drummond, which was com-
posed of the flank companies of the 104th
and 41st regiments, and a body of sea-
men and marines, under Captain Dobbs,
R. N. ; the third was composed of the
103rd regiment and two companies of
the Royal Scots, and was commanded
by Colonel Scott, of the 103rd regi-
ment The first of these columns ob-
tained possession of part of the enemy's
works, but was compelled, for want of
support, to retire with heavy loss. The
other two columns succeeded in obtain-
ing a lodgment in the fort, and seized
the Demi Bastion, the guns of which
they turned against the enemy ; but, un-
fortunately, a quantity of ammunition
underneath the platform upon which the
guns were placed exploded, causing the
British troops severe loss, and throwing
them into a panic from which it was im-
possible to rally them ; whilst the enemy,
profiting by the confusion which the ex-
plosion had caused, pressed forward with
a heavy and destructive fire, and com-
pelled the assailants to retire from the
works they had so gallantly carried. In
this attack the loss of the British was

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

very severe. Colonel Scott and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Drummond fell at the
head of their respective columns whilst
nobly leading the assault on the works.
Captain Torrens, of the Royal Scots, and
Lieutenant Noel, of the 8th, were also
killed. Four officers and fifty-four men
were returned as killed, and twenty-four
officers and two hundred and eighty-five
men wounded. In addition to these, nine
officers and five hundred and thirty men
were missing, most of whom were sub-
sequently ascertained to have been
killed.

The United States force only ad-
mitted a loss of eighty-four in killed,
wounded, and missing.

A few days afterwards, the 6th and
82nd regiments arrived to reinforce
General Drummond, who did not deem
it expedient to hazard another attempt
to gain the fort, but was satisfied with
continuing the investment, and by thus
cooping up the United States army with-
in their entrenchments, compelled them
to procure all their supplies from their
own country, and rendered the occupa-
tion of the fort of no service to them.

Having learned that General Brown
had established his magazines at Buffalo,
General Drummond, on the night of the
3rd of August, directed a force, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, of the 41st
regiment, to ascend the Niagara and to
attack that post. The United States
commander had, however, taken mea-
sures to guard against any surprise in
this direction, and on reaching the Cona-
jocta Creek, Colonel Tucker found the
bridge destroyed and a force on the op-
posite bank, posted behind a breastwork
of logs, ready to dispute the crossing. It
being impracticable to force a passage
at this point. Colonel Tucker next tried
to cross at a ford on his left flank, but
this too was so well defended by a body
of Morgan's riflemen that the attempt

was abandoned, and the troops were
therefore re-embarked, and returned to
the British side of the river.

The United States Government, being
very unwilling that the British should
retain possession of the fortified posts on
the Upper Lakes, directed, in April, the
organization of an expedition having for
its objects the seizure and occupancy of
a new post alleged to have been estab-
lished by the British at Matchedash,
and the recapture of Michilimackinac.
Owing, however, to various causes, this
expedition did not actually start until
the 3rd of July, on which day a detach-
ment of the United States regulars and
militia, under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Crogan, embarked at
Detroit, and sailed for Matchedash.
The weather proving unfavourable, the
attempt on'Matchedash was abandoned,
and the fleet bore up for St. Mary's,
where Captain Holmes landed and pil-
laged the stores of the North-West Com-
pany, and then burned the place. After
the capture of St. Mary's, the expedition
left the Sault and proceeded to Michili-
mackinac, where it arrived on the 26th
of July. Colonel Crogan landed his
troops on the 4th of August, and ad-
vanced to the attack. The British, un-
der the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
McDonall, were quite prepared to re-
ceive him, and after a sharp skirmish, in
which Capcaii' Holmes and seventeen
men of the attacking force were killed,
Colonel Crogan withdrew his troops and
re-embarked.

On the way back to Detroit the expe-
dition ran into the Georgian Bay and
attacked Nottawasaga, where a schooner
and a block-house were destroyed. On
leaving Michilimackinac, Colonel Cro-
ghan had directed two cruisers, the
Tigress and the Scorpion, to remain in
the neighbourhood, as they might be
useful in intercepting supplies destined

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

for the garrison. A small party of sea-
men, under the command of Lieutenant
Bulger, of the Royal Newfoundland re-
giment, succeeded in capturing the
Tigress on the evening of the 3rd of
September, and the Scorpion on the
morning of the 5th. After the capture
of these two vessels (each carried a long
24-pounder, and had a complement of
thirty-two men) no further attack was
made upon Michilimackinac.

Lieutenant-Colonel McDonall, who
commanded at Michilimackinac, de-
spatched Lieutenant-Colonel McKay, of
the Indian Department, early in July,
with six hundred and fifty men, to attack
the United States post at Prairie du
Chien, on the Mississippi, On the 17th
of July, Lieutenant-Colonel McKay ar-
rived at this post, which was situated on
a height, and was defended by two
block-houses, each mounting six pieces
of cannon, and in front of the fort, in
the middle of the Mississippi, was sta-
tioned a large gun-boat, carrying four-
teen pieces of artillery. The fort having
refused to surrender. Colonel McKay
opened fire upon the gun-boat, which he
soon compelled to cut her cable and drop
down the river for shelter. On the even-
ing of the 19th of July, Lieutenant-
Colonel McKay, having thrown up
breastworks at a distance of four hun-
dred and fifty yards, prepared to open a
cannonade upon the fort, when the enemy
hoisted a white flag and sent an officer
to announce their surrender. The British
immediately occupied the post, the sur-
render of which was of great importance,
as it at once secured the ascendency of
British influence over the Indian tribes
of the West.

August 1 6th. — A detachment of the
enemy, accompanied by a number of
Indians, landed at Port Talbot, a settle-
ment on the shores of Lake Erie, found-
ed by Colonel Taibot,surprised the place,

and plundered the inhabitants of all they
possessed, leaving them utterly destitute
and almost naked ; even women and
children were robbed of their clothing in
the most shameless manner. Upwards
of fifty families, numbering over two
hundred persons, suffered by this raid.
The Burwells were particularly unfor-
tunate on this occasion — five heads of
families of that name being included in
the list of sufferers. Mahlon Burwell, a
Member of the House of Assembly, al-
though ill of fever and ague, was bound
like a felon and carried away as a pri-
soner. Colonel Talbot escaped with
much difficulty, but was unable to save
a single article.

September 17th.— The United States
garrison at Fort Erie made a sortie in
the afternoon, and attacked the lines of
the British investing force with the whole
strength of the garrison, amounting to
upwards of five thousand men. At first
the enemy gained some advantage, and
turned the right of the British line of
piquets, gaining possession, after a hard
fight, of two batteries. Reinforcements
were, however, rapidly pushed forward,
and the enemy was driven into the fort
with considerable loss. Both sides suf-
fered severely in this affair. The United
States commander admitted a loss in
killed, wounded, and missing of five
hundred and nine men, including
eleven officers l-.illed and twenty-three
wounded.

The British lost three officers and one
hundred and twelve men killed, seven-
teen officers and one hundred and sixty-
one men wounded, nnd thirteen officers
and three hundred and three men mis-
sing (these men it was subsequently as-
certained were captured in the first rush
upon the British entrenchments ; they
were sent prisoners to Albany, where
they arrived on the 9th of October) ;
total, six hundred and nine of all ranks.

133

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1814

Mr. Willcocks, at one time a member
of the Assembly of Upper Canada,
against whom a presentment for libel
had been made by the grand jury, in
1808, for seditious libel against the Gov-
ernment and the Lieutenant-Governor,
and who had subsequently gone over to
the United States and joined the invad-
ing force under Brigadier-General Rip-
ley, was killed in this sortie.

After this affair, Gereral ' iiamond,
finding that his troops were encamped in
a low situation, which the late rains had
rendered very unhealthy, raised the in-
vestment of Fort Erie, and on the even-
ing of the 2 1st of September fell back
upon Chippawa, the enemy -••;;■:.'? nj
attempt to interfere with his inov"^le•^'^s.

October 22nd. — Brigadier- Juieiii
McArthur crossed the St. Clair river
with a force of moun*.(..a Kenti 'cy Jfle-
men, for the purpose ol making a n.'^
in Western Canada. Ke succeeded in
reaching the Grand River, where he en-
countered a detachment of the 103rd
regiment, supported by a party of Indian
warriors, who at once disputed his pas-
sage. Finding his further progress thus
summarily stopped, General McArthur
retired towards Detroit, being followed
for a short distance by a party of the
19th light dragoons, having only suc-
ceeded in burning a few mills and plun-
dering a number of settlers of their pri-
vate property, their whole course being
marked by wanton plunder, devastation,
and indiscriminate pillage, conduct re-
pugnant alike to the dictates of humanity
and the usages of war.

November sth. — The United States
troops, under command of Major-Gene-
ral Izzard, blew up the works at Fort
Erie, destroyed the place, and retired to
their own territory, thus relieving the in-
habitants of Upper Canada from the
distress occasioned by the enemy's oc-
cupation of that part of the frontier.

November loth,— The British fleet re-
turned to Kingston, having on board
Lieutenant-General Drummond and his
staff, the 41st regiment, and a few con-
valescents.

December 24th.— A treaty of peace
between His Britannic Majesty and the
United States of America was signed at
Ghent.

January 9th.— The General Orders of
this date acknowledge the receipt of a
report, through Colonel Sir Sidney Beck-
with, from Captain Barker, of the Fron-
tier Light Infantry, of the complete suc-
cess of an expedition committed to the
charge of that officer against the posts
and depots of the enemy at Derby, in
i'na State of Vermont, which were taken
possession of on the 17th of December,
15.3. B.\rracks for 1,200 men, recently
ei -;, were destroyed, together with
•'I! .: ^rabies and storehouses ; and a
lai,tr« qt :. .; o' military stores were
brought away. Captain Barker reported
Captains Curtis and Taplin, and Lieu-
tenants Messa and Bod well, of the Town-
ships Militia, as having rendered valu-
able service on this occasion.

January 13th.— The fifth session of
the seventh Provincial Parliament of
Lower Canada was opened by His Ex-
cellency Sir George Prevost, Governor-
in-Chief. His Excellency congratulated
Parliament on the defeat of the United
States army at Chateauguay by a mere
handful of Canadian militia, and on the
victory obtained over Major-General
Wilkinson's forces at Chrystler's Farm,
events which had nobly upheld the
honour of His Majesty's arms and effec-
tually disconcerted all the plans of the
enemy for the invasion of the Province.
January i6th. — Captain McGillivray,
of the 3rd Embodied Militia, having
learned that a sergeant and thirteen
United States dragoons had been posted
at Clough's Farm, on the lines, near

134

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CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

Phillipsburg, collected a few militiamen
in the vicinity, and, at 10 P.M., attacked
the post, capturing six prisoners and ten
horses, with arms and appointments.
One dragoon was killed, and one dra-
goon and the sergeant severely wounded.

January 2Sth. — The thanks of the
Legislative Assembly of Quebec were
voted to Lieutenant-Colonel de Sala-
berry, of the Canadian Voltigeurs, and
to the officers and privates under his
command in the engagement at Cha-
teauguay on the 26th of October, 181 3 ,
and to Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, of
the 89th regiment, and to the officers
and privates under his command in the
action at Chrystler's Farm, on the nth
of November.

January 26th. — Captain Thomas
Nairne (son of Colonel John Nairne,
who had served with the troops engaged
in the sieges of Louisburg and Quebec,
and had subsequently been granted the
seigniory of Murray Bay), of the 49th
regiment, who was killed at the head of
his company at the battle of Chrystler's
Farm, was buried with the military
honours due to his rank in the Protest-
ant burying ground at Quebec.

January 28th. — The following notice
appeared in the Quebec papers : —

" Quebec, January 28th, 1814.

" As the couriers between Montreal
:and Kingston have a liberal salary from
the Post-office, they are no longer per-
mitted to charge for the conveyance of
newspapers to that Province. The post-
age of the number sent will be charged
to the editors at the rate of y. per an-
num for each, in the same manner as
those conveyed between Quebec and
Montreal. The couriers are further en-
joined to pay the same attention with
respect to the delivery of papers as to
that of way letters.

" (Signed) Geo. Heriot,

"Dy. P.M. Geni:'

Februar)- sth.— The Speaker of the
House of Assembly laid before the House
a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel de Sala-
berry, expressing his gratitude to the
Assembly for the vote of thanks to him-
self and the ofificers and men under his
command at Chateauguay; which had
been passed on the 25th of January.
This letter was ordered to be entered on
the Journals of the Assembly.

February i8th. — The House of As-
sembly of the Province of Quebec took
into consideration the report of the Spe-
cial Committee appointed to examine
particularly the rules of practice of the
Courts of Justice in the Province of
Quebec, and to report in detail upon the
principal points wherein they were con-
trary and repugnant to the law of the
land ; and the resolutions contained in
the said report being agreed to, the
House resolved to impeach Jonathan
Sewell, Esq., Chief Justice of the Prov-
ince of Quebec, and James Monk,
Esq., Chief Justice of the Court of King's
Bench for the District of Montreal.

March 3rd.— The Speaker and Mem-
bers of the Legislative Assembly of the
Province of Quebec, attended Sir George
Prevost, Captain-General and Govemor-
in-Chief, at the castle of St. Lewis, and
presented the articles of impeachment
against Chief Justices Sewell and Monk,
requesting His Excellency to transmit
them to His Majesty's (ministers to be
laid before His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent., The Assembly also re-
quested His Excellency to suspend the
Chief Justices from their ofifices until Mis
Majesty's pleasure should be known.
' His Excellency's reply was as follows :
'I shall take an early opportunity of
transmitting to His Majesty's minis-
ters your Address to Hfs Royal High-
ness the Prince Regent, together with
the articles of accusation which have
been preferred by you against the Chief

13s

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

■ )

Justice of the Province, and the Chief
Justice of the District of Montreal. But
I do not think it expedient to suspend
the Chief Justice of the Province, and
the Chief Justice of the District of Mon-
treal, from their offices upon an Address
to that effect from one branch of the Le-
gislature alone, founded on articles of
accusation on which the Legislative
Council have not been consulted, and in
which they have not concurred." The
House of Assembly took umbrage at
the tone of His Excellency's reply, and
on their return at once proceeded to
pass a series of resolutions affirming
their right to offer advice to the Gover-
nor-in-Chief without the concurrence of
the Legislative Council ; asserting that
the charges exhibited by the House of
Assembly were rightly denominated
" Heads of Impeachment ;" and con-
cluding with the declaration that His
Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, " by
his said answer to the Address of this
House, hath violated the constitutional
rights and privileges of this House."
These resolutions were followed on the
8th March by another, which reads :
" That notwithstanding the perverse and
wicked advice given to His Excellency
the Governor-in-Chief, on the subject
of the Constitutional Rights and Privi-
leges of this House, and the endeavors
of evil disposed advisers to lead him into
error, and to embroil him with His Ma-
jesty's faithful Commons of this Prov-
ince, this House has not, in any respect,
altered the opinion it has ever enter-
tained of the wisdom of His Excellency's
administration of the Government, and
is determined to adopt the measures it
had deemed necessary for the support
of the Government, and the defence of
the Province."

March isth. — A deputation of 23 In-
dian chiefs and warriors, representing
the Ottawas, Chippewas, Shawnees,

Delawares, Mohawks, Saulks, Foxes,
Kickapoos, and Winnebagoes, and ac-
companied by the sister of Tecumseh
had arrived in Quebec, and were this
day admitted to a special audience of
His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief,
who received them with a good deal of
state, in the great room ot the old castle
of St. Lewis ; the band of the 70th regi- .
ment was in attendance. Addresses
were made to His Excellency, who re-
plied in suitable terms. After the
speeches had been delivered, Tecumseh's
sister was presented to Lady Prevost.
P.efreshments were then served, and the
Chiefs took their leave, apparently well
pleased with their reception.

March 17th. — The session of Parlia-
ment closed ; the Governor-in-Chief re-
marked in his prorogation speech : " I
cannot but lament the course of pro-
ceeding adopted by you " (the House of
Assembly) " has occasioned the loss of
a productive revenue bill, and of the
liberal appropriations you had made for
the defence of the Province, and for
ameliorating the situation of the militia ;
and I regret that in sacrificing these
desirable objects, you should have been
swayed by any considerations which
seemed to you of higher importance than
the immediate secrity of the country
or the comfort of those engaged in its
protection." Eleven bills received the
Royal Assent on this occasion ; of these,
nine were to continue or amend existing
laws ; one was for the establishment of
Post Houses in the different parts of the
Province, declaring very minutely the
duties QixhcMaitres de Paste as respects
the accommodation to be afforded to the
travelling public ; the remaining Act
was to exempt from duty salt imported
for the use of the Fi heries in the
Province.

On the 22nd March, Sir George Pre-
vost issued a proclamation,which appear-

i8i4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

he
.ct
:d
le

ed in the Quebec Gazette^ dissolving the
Parliament of Lower Canada, and di-
recting the issue of writs for the election
of a new Parliament, returnable on the
13th of May following.

March 26th. — A General Order was
issued conveying the approbation of His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent of
the gallant conduct of Lieutenant-Colo-
nel de Salaberry and the officers and
men of the Canadian militia under his
command at Chateauguay, and statuig
that in accordance with the request of His
Excellency the Governor-General, His
Royal Highness had been pleased to
direct that colours should be forwarded
for presencation to the embodied battal-
ions of Canadian militia, "feeling that
they have evinced an ability and dispo-
sition to secure them from insult, which
gives them the best title to such a mark
of distinction."

March 26th. — A proclamation was is-
sued, appointing the 21st of April a day
of General Thanksgiving, for the great
success which had attended the opera-
tions of His Majesty's troops in various
parts of the world, and for the protection
of His Majesty's dominions from the
attacks of his enemies.

March 30th. — The outposts on the
communications leading from Odelltown
to Burtonville and Lacolle Mill, were at-
tacked at an early hour by the enemy
under the command of Major-General
Wilkinson, who had advanced with a
force of nearly three thousand men col-
lected from Burlington and Plattsburg.
The British picquets fell back in good
order before the superior numbers of the
enemy, disputing his advance. The ad-
vance on the Burtonville road was not
persevered in, the whole of the enemy's
force being directed against the post at
Lacolle, under command of Major
Handcock, of the 13th regiment. The
picquets were soon driven in and the

enemy advanced in force and established
a battery of three 12-pounders, with
which they opened fire on the Mill Block
House. Major Handcock ordered an
attack upon the enemy's guns which
although executed with the greatest gal-
lantry, failed in consequence of the
large number of the enemy's infantry
posted in the surrounding woods. A
second attempt to capture these guns
was made by the grenadier company of
the Canadian Fencibles and a company
of Voltigeurs, who having followed the
enemy from the Burtonville road with
the view of reinforcing the point at-
tacked, made a most spirited attempt to
capture the enemy's guns, and although
foiled in this, they succeeded in gaining
the Block House and reinforcing the
garrison. Captain Pring, of the Royal
Navy, brought up a sloop and some
gun-boats from Isle aux Noix to the
mouth of the Lacolle river, whence he
opened a destructive and galling fire
upon the enemy. Lieut. Creswick,
R. N., succeeded in landing two field-
pieces and stores, and getting them
from the boats to the Block House. The
enemy persevered in his attack until
night-fall, when he withdrew his guns
and retreated by the road to Odelltown,
having sustained a severe loss. The
loss of the British in this attack was two
officers (Captain EUard and Ensign
Whitford, of the 1 3th regiment) wounded,
II men killed, and 2 Serjeants and 42
men wounded. Major Handcock ex-
pressed himself highly indebted to Capt.
Ritter, of the Frontier Militia, whose
local knowledge enabled him to afford
the most essential service and to furnish
most valuable information. The loss of
the United States forces on this occa-
sion, is said to have reached nearly 300
in killed, wounded, and missing.

April 24th. — A General Order was
issued by His Excellency the Governor-

I8I4

CANADIAN ANNALS.

1814

in-Chief and Commander of the Forces,
announcin); that His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent had been please to direct
that medals or other badges of distinc-
tion should be issued to such officers as
were recommended by His Excellency
who were engaged in the actions at
Detroit, Chateauguay, and Chrystler's
Farm.

April 2Sth. — A notice from the Gen-
eral Post Office states that the office
will, on the 2nd May, be removed to
the Freemason's Hall ; and that, for the
future, the mails will travel by night as
well as by day.

June 14th. — Addresses were presented
to Chief-Justices Sewell and Monk by
the Legislative Council and the inhabit-
ants of the city and vicinity of Quebec,
expressing their strong disapproval of
the action of the Hoyse of Assembly in
preferring articles of accusation against
the two Chief-Justices, and expressing
their great confidence in and hearty
sympathy with the accused.

July 14th. — The Quebec GiizeUe pub-
lished the Proclamation of His Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, dated from
Carlton House on the 6th of May, de-
claring the cessation of arms, as well by
sea as land, agreed upon between His
Britannic Majesty and His Most Chris-
tian Majesty, and enjoining the ob-
servance thereof.

August 2d. — H.M.SS. Warspite, 74,
Captain Lord James O'Bryen, and Ajax,
74, Rear-Admiral Otway, arrived at
Quebec from Bordeaux with troops, ac-
companied by the York, 74, and the
Vengeur, 74, which last, however, re-
mained at the Brandy Pots and tran-
shipped their troops. With these ships
there arrived forty-three transports, with
troops from the Garonne — amounting,
with the troops which had previously
arrived, to a reinforcement of about
i6,ocx> men.

The squadron on Lake Champlain hav-
ing been placed in a state of efficiency,
and the new frigate the Coufiance having
been rapidly pushed forward so as to take
part inthccontemplatediservice, astrong
reinforcement of l?lue. Jackets was sent
from H.M.SS. Ajijf&MlVtirspi/e, then
at Quebec, for service on the lake. The
naval preparationsbeing thus completed.
Sir George Prevost concentrated his
arnjy between Laprairieand Fort Cham-
bly, having under him Major-General
de Rottenburg,immediatelyin command,
and Majors-General Power, Robinson,
and Brisbane in command of brigades.
On the 1st of September, this army
crossed the United States frontier at
Odelltown, and on the 3rd advanced and
occupied Champlain Town, which was
abandoned by the enemy on the ap-
proach of the British. On the 4th, the
British advanced upon Plattsburg, upon
which town the United States militia re-
tired as the British advanced. From
the 4th until the loth of September, the
British remained in front of Plattsburg
waiting until the fleet could assist in the
projected combined attack. On the i ith,
at dawn of day, the troops were ordered
under arms, and about 9 A. M . the Cou-
fiance rounded Cumlierland Head, fol-
lowed at some distance by the other
vessels.

The enemy's squadron on Lake Cham-
plain consisted of the Saratoga, 26 ;
Eagie, 20 ; Ticonderoga, 1 7 ; and the
cutter Preble, of 7 guns. The British
had, besides the Confiance, 36, the Lin-
net, 18 ; the Chub, 10 ; and the Finch,
10 ; and 12 gun-boats, mounting in the
aggregate 16 guns. Shortly after round-
ing Cumberland Head, the Confiance
found herself, about 8 A.M., in front of
the enemy's line, and had to bear the
brunt of the fire of the whole United
States squadron ; a fire which, however,
she returned with considerable effect.

138