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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichi§, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. by errata Tied to lent line pelure, racon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 SK M WH LIFE OF COLONKI, TAl.BOT. AV9 TUS TALBOT SETTLEMENT, ITS EISE AND PHOGRES?, WITH SKETCHES OF THE PUBLIC CHARACTERS, AND CAREER OF SO^IE OF THE MOST CONSPICUOUS MEN IN UPPER CxV,NADA, WHO WEPvS EITHKR nilENDS OB ACQUA fNTAXCKfl OF THE SUBJKCT OF THESE MEM01R«. BY EDWARD ER:\TAT1NGER. . ♦» — ST, THOMAS : Printed at A. McLarhlin-s Home Journal O^e. 1359. f J P r I c '■1 f / 99510 PIM<:i'ACK 1 In \rritin<^ tlif LiiV- of Culonol 'r.-ilLot, I Lavo li.'id dntt (i)ijfct ill view, im)ii('l\ , to transmit to postfiily, w liiiicvf-r is ])raiscw(iithy in his coiiiluct and clinnuMrT, for llicir imitu- tiition ;iM(l ex;uni)lL'. Tlic faults of such men as Col me' Talbot do uol vary much from tlioso of tl-.c l)ulk <>f inankii.d , 1 &l ERRATA: Page 62—18 miles from Chatham, should be Chatham Page 66— lor Chewvitt, read— Chewitt. Page 94~for $2^, read— $2^. Page 111— read— George Elliot—Itinerauts. Page 123— for 90, read— 60. Pa^ 127— 5th line from the bottom, for Specula tions, read— Stipulations. Page^l60— fur Archdoqcon Stuart read— Dr Stew/«rt ^i^^r^i 2'i] —.sixth iino fr.-m f) Ji^'l. 'in fh-^ bottom, for did, reaH :s ■i J v /oiu!ifi iciiu.'i. > I'lu 111 V' niKKi, (loi's iioc prrspii,: \o tlie biographer any of those striking incidents and stalling events, wliich of them'^clves. are sutticient to c(unmau(l the attention of llic woild, and excite universal interest. Wo liave notliing but his personal cliaracter and a re])ititi()n of the same kind of transactions to dwell on; t'nun'which, how- ever, much instruction may be derived- J^it tn make tliin work more generally useful and interesting, I have incor- porated tkc history of the Tall)ot Setlleinenl, and sketches of the t»ublic career and characters, of some of the njogt; ])rominent men of Upper Canada, frietids and acquainfancesi of the Uolonel, and other?, who?e pusitionv; expose,' them to public notice. Of the two fiist lUnhop:' of t]ie Churoli of Enj;land and 99510 m J I rui<:i ACK. In writing tlif Life of Culonol Talliot, I havo li.'id <«ri« (il'jpct in view, muiu'ly, u» trimsmit to puslciity, wliatcvff h ))raiscw()rthy in his coimIucI iuhI cli,'ir;u'f*'r, for their iniitu- tiilioTi ;ui(l cx;inij»l(!. Tlic faults of sucli nun as ('olnnel Talbot do liOt vary niiurh fVotn those of t ho l>ull< of tnankii.d , and roriuire i. :> bioj^raphcr. Hut whf^n evil, and not i;i)iid, i^ tho fi^wvi-rninif ])rint'i[)k' <'f men's lives, then tlw jiiclurn should l)e rovcTsetl. I lia\o sketched instances of Imli, with iniyjirtial hnud The Life of Colonel Trdbot must prove liii^ddy in- iercstinj^ to u larj^e nopula^ioji, wiiich has grown up under }iiK au>picps. and whose histoiy is id('utiii<'(l with his own, in many respects. Such;, life would attract attenti'-n, tVoni its unusual character, simply ns a pioneer of the f irest. Added to this, t\)lon(d Talbot's name was associated with potnc of those noble cliaractrrs, ^\■ho have contributed to the fame and glory of Kngland, The ])rincipal facts connected with Colonel Taliiot'.'^ early life, were o])tained through a friend, from himself at my recjuest, and although he was very ill at tin; tim>', lie was very particular, that nothing but tiie truth >!niuld bo communicated. When tlu^ Colonel was supposecl to be on his death bed at Mr, Harris' in London. 1 \ isited him, and he spoke in a very feeling manner of his i»ast career, and of Ills desire and endeavors to do right, Hefore I left, I told him, 1 would endeavor to do Justice to his memory and this is my chief reason for publishing tl.ese memoirs. Colonel Talbot's life in C nada, does not present to tlie biograplierany oft hose striking incidents and startling events, wiiich of iheni^clves. are suiiicient to command tlnj attention of the world, and ex'-ite univi-rsal interest. Wo hav«» nothing but his j)ersona aracter and a rei)itition of the same kind of transactions to ul)lic career and characters, of some of the most: ])rominent men of Upper Canada, friends and acquaintancea of the Colonel, and others, whoi--e positions expose them to public notice. Of the two first lUiiihop:» of rim Churoh of L'rifjlatid and 1/. pnEi- v B. Irfln'i'l \n rpjjcr Crui;i'!;i, v, Ik.'-p fxnltftl flutious inrpsf tlii'in w ith 'o riii;(»'i power, for tjdod, wl.( ii prrtpt rl y cxor- <'i'M|, fo!' f vil, wh'.-u coiitr.iri'vi-.r, I tnvf ^|v.kcn niily,r.n«l "Itli h.uli -itc to r:, •.;';.'('ia;i' •••r c',\t( rnial^ llnir ffiul' , XoL oiily .TO Ihc tiicnilic)' • of lljrjt Clirvcli uIIVi'ImI \>y the coii- fimrt dj" ]iv !li lir.j'.-, )u;t itidn-ccily it ;!oi-'(in tlic vl'ulo oiMiifiiiiiiiy, .'ii 'I in !.;> ] ;nl ( r,rppi !• I anad;",. li;;'; \]\\^ liccii TiioTf |.rcji;(Ii(M'»lIv iV'l'. llir.n t/itliiii the liniii- ot" llic Talbof S( ItlviiK'iit. J^iit \v!.f'i',ri- ni'if'Ctiii:: on tl.'- coi'iltiot of Mislio; >, or othrv ))r.-.i)iinriit rnoii. whose na?n s \\r.:c hnr-n iiitroduiT'd inlo ll.i> wc*!;, i 1 111 ho jn>,fancc d ad that ('(iild hu said, witii luilii and jiisticc, nor ha'>f I ]ia/a!dfd my own individual a<.( rtions <»r opini n^; IiM I liavo farci'iilly \vciL,died every r\iii'0'^-^i»)n, and ad thai I hixvc wiilten {.^ocs forth with the sancliou of inaiiy friends, whom I liavc. oon-ultod from linio Id Unic, during 'A\o jtro- gre.ss- of tlii.H v.-()i-k. \\'iih rr>j r'ct (o '!.o closiu;,' year;*, of CoIotkI 'i'alhot'.s lifi', v.hiidi \v(io so ciidiitti I'cd hv th*>Mifrercnces whicli L;ie\v ii|> Ix.'lwcen Idm and Iii- nepiiow, Sir liicbard Airey, nnd teriniiiati.'i in swoh an unfortunato distribiitiou of tho Cohtiiel's estat*', I Iiave rohifc d only a-^ tiineJi a--, may convoy to the reader an idea of tlie cau.-CHol' iho.-c diiiicidlics. But liaviii';; had conversations sej'arately Nvitli both I 'rude and Nephew, what [ have slated i^- a fair and inn ;;rt.al view of the whole maf.er. I v/ould fnithcr vcn.arl:, th;i' I hr.vo been rennraied, ■wlulo Wi'itin!^ lluKe I'lomoiiv, when f'j^'eahing uf jer.-'cn:, ■"ho ha'.c d<].anfd ;lii-N life, whi.-e characi'-rs or career [ have ^ketciied, ;o bearin mind It.o old l.;itm ]Mo\eib. .Do rnortKis nil nini honnrn, ^vllich i> inter|>re!ed, " Letnoihiaj^ be ^ai i of the dead, but ^ Lai is faYorabl(\" — tot) nth, t wo'dd '.\i\\ ; for in the sarno coll(c:ien of proverbs tliero is another ({uito aa cunsi.-tent ^vitll sound morality. Bouis norct, q>ii,rjuL- pfparcrrlt hiaCts. '* He injurfs the good, who spaiT's the bad." To the latter doctrinr. I sidy-eribo. whetlier with reference to tho dead or the liviiu:; for to re- cord only the \irtuesof men, would certaird.y m;ii:e a very perfect picture, plea.^in;^- no doubt to friends and family connections; b/Ut at ilie .-anie time, a very fal.'^e one; toially raluelci-s to j^.o^ttrity; would falsify aii liistoiy, atid biogra- pher.'^ would only f(t examples wluch nelxidy could follo\r. ^ T. Thomaf. Kevr.vBFK Ut, I$50. E. F>. 1 lOu, 1 lii. Hill, I 1)1) H Is I, who tl) 10- n very tnmiiy toially biogra- coil Id CONTENTS. CfiAPTKR I. — Colonel Talbot's early life and Educfi- tion — Enters the Army — Aide-de-C'amp with Arthur Wcl Csly in Ireland — Comes to Canada, 1790 — Bocotncs docrctary to General Simct)e, 1791 — Reiiirns to Enghuid, 1794, to join his Regiment — Uanid promotion... 1-12. Chaptku II. — Colonel Tal])ot'H return to Canada — Fleminix's acc(nint of his first visit to the 'ialhot Settlement, with General 8imcoo — Settles at Port Talbot 1603-Port Talbot — Colon«d Talbot's dis- gust with the stiiLe of Society in England... 12-22. Chapter III. — Plan of Se.tlonicnt — Terms of grant?" of land from the British Government — Early Settlers — Anecdotes 22-32 . CiiArTEii IV. — Progress of the SetMoinent — (^'olonol Burweli — Hardships — P^xtent of the Talbol Settlo- ment — John Rf)lph — Captain Matthews. . ..S2-47. CiiArTKH V. — American War of 1812, ami \\-\r stories — Punctuality— Banking — J. K. Woodwiir^l. 47-02. Chavtkr VI. — The Scotch settlers at Aldborouirh — -The Audience Window — JeflVy Hunter — Ex- tent of land placed at the Colonel's dispooal.-C2 68. (aiAi'TKR VII. — Letter to Earl Batliurst — Remu- neration for services — Jealousy of Officials at iiittle York 08-73. Chapter VII I. ---Yarmouth — Hickory Quakeis — Dr. Dunlop .._. 73-79. Chapter IX. — Talbot Anniversary — St. Thomas — ~ County of Elgin — London District Officials —Tho HarrisVamily 79-89. Chapter X. — London — Rogers' interview with Colonel Tfllbof 80-95. C05TE5T1. CiiAPTKR XT. — The Buildings and Domestic economj of Port 'J'albot — Mow tho wino diiod out in sum- iTier---Vi>ilors--Kx-!>lK'rift' Parkins — The C'^lonol's Pefit-Tho IVdaiit 9r,.\0\. CllAi'TKR XII. — Colonel Talbot at a polilical Meeting; in St. Tliorn.is — (Jeomo Lawton lO'J-l 1 1. CiiAPTHR XIII. — Th(» (iolonel's religious prof<'ssion Kcasuns fur not subscribing fur a meeting hou«e — CJoorcjn Klliott — Ilitieranrs. 111-121. CiiAPrr.u XIV'. — Hon. Z. I^urnliam — A Wolf in Khccji's clothng — 'J'he indignant pretender — A knowing shot. 121-131. CiiAi'THu XV^ — Colonel Talbot's reasons f)r not marryiiia-- Matrimony"-A Loving couple.l 81-138. Chaptkr XVI. — Sir A. McNnb — Miliiia tiaininix — Colonel I'oslwiek and tho Volunteers. — Trip to Oakland — 'I'he Qucen\s Birthday — D. Kftpplcje — Bela Shaw - 138-158. CiiAri Efi XVII. — Sir .1. B. Bobinson — John Wilson and the Lawyers of tlio Settlement 159-170. CiiAi'TER XV III. — Bishop Straehan and Bishop Cronyn — Tho two first Bishops of Upper Canada. • -...'. 170-187. Chapter XIX. — TheMullman— The Coloticl's atten- tion to his sick man — Lone: sermons — Wcstover's morality — Emigration and old Countrvmen.. 187 199. OriAPTEii XX. — Orioinal Documents rclatinij to tho 'Jalbot Anniversary — Colonel Talbot's princi)»lcs f\m\ hnlits — Temp'^roncc — I'ho Colonel's declin- ing years. 199-209. Chapter X,\I. — Colonel Airey — Colonel Talbot i.>o .ihn iii- KEoi.MK.vT — IIaimi) l'i;().\rn"ir. leclin- ii Ibot lolont'l :i4. blonel • 225 .220. CoLON'iiL Tiif-: Hon. Tiiomxs Tai.idt tlio son ()f iiolmr-.l 'J';ilb( t K.'.-(| , find Miirujirct, I jirh r'.'cra^rf'. ''Th o albots orMiilabide, aro <,4' tht- t^ame oii -in as ll: L'ail of Shrewsbury, whose progonitor, Richard de Talbot, was a ba"on in lli.' reiLjn i'f Wiiliani the c m- queror. His grandson, Uicli.ud, was fatlior ot (iilbfit. .Jicostor of tht' Eail of Sliiows-bury. \sho st-Mk'd ii: Ireland in the reii^^n of Henry tlic H. aii I wa> i;i- -.estcd with the anoieni Baronial Casilo of Mahiiii lo, 'f.'id ihe Estates bilon^iii'jf thcroto. Th^i tini > n;' its (.rocti-'U IS uhknown, but sir)5->">.'< 1 I u. l^'^ f .iitc'-edent to the Conquest You!iir Talbo^ was educaled at the Maivhosif ,t 1 \[\\T> \)f'^"i\ -ublio free school, but his education u !i '"lit. fur wc find that heobtuiu'I a ' r-f e'e^on l.U'"E or CDI.'.iNKL TAI.nOT. '."'^■".rs, and was f>ne of lli>"> Aiilc-de-cnmp?; to tin' ^'aivj lis of Iluckiii^liiirii, ^'i ri.litive of ihe Talboi fjiriiiv.) tlioii Lo- 1 [jieiiLonant of Ireland, in tli*' yoavs 17SG and 8S, wiion l;c \va< not moro than 10 or 17 yoars of an;p. Ills brollicr Aide, wan Artliur Wt'llesly, who suhso(|uent.ly l»efamc tlio renowned h-^ro of a bundti'd li'^ht-, the conqueror of tlie (tr-.'-it Napoleon, on the field of Waterloo. The two Aidi's, Arthur Well^sly, better knowii as the Duke of Wellinirton, nnd Thomas Talbot, were no' destined fo tread in tlie same tl.ilds of fjlory . While the Trt>n Duke was reaping lion-as and glory in the field of battle, Colonel Talbut was occupied lu the forests of Canadn, while the one was con<|ue2inj^' the aj-mies of Napoleon, and wading thro' llelds of blood, amid.-it the groans ot the dyinij; and the shrieks of t,iie wounded, the other wa=^ combitting the trees ofiiio forest, and marching in triuaipli over fallen limber. One was armed wi'.h the sword, while tlie other shouldered the axe ! wiiicli was tlie most use- ful occupation and the most consonant to tlie dictat- s • of hu nanity, may be left fur others to decide. The acquaintance formed between iliese iw * men, destiii;„'d to become consj>icuou3 in very differ- f-nt ways, continued, the' laot without long inteivui- '€ separation, tlirongh a long life. And the gre;it ijaptain of the ag«», surrounded by everything that .s LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. to th'' l^albor. ia til-' thnn lO Arthur nowned le ( rl'.'-ll r known Talbot. !iJ glory upiod m iqiieiin^ lu'Uls ot" ! shrieks he trees or fallen vhilo the iiosl use- dictat-.'i • e. lese l^T ' y (VnT--r- inlejviu' ,lic gre.'.i '^'^ thut .*s Ljtfat and honorable in human life, was glad to see hi.s early assocl"3 between these two di-lmiiuished men. The ]^uke of Wellington was the fust of the two octogenarians, whu ftll under death's despotic sway, — his earthly eareeer having terminated on the 14*.h Sept^uuber, in the year 18." 2. Clolonel Talbot outlived him onlv a few months. Those, who witnes.-ed, or rerd of the magnifi- cent obsequies of the illustrious hero of the Peninsul.i when people of all nations of the world beheld a great nation mourning o\er the departed conqueror, in all the pomp and circumstance of woe, and who may read these memoires, will have an opportunity of contrastino- the termination of the earlhlv career of these two distinguishicd men, whose begiiming wa^ so iicarly equal. Colontd Talbot's prospects of niilitary fame and glory, in his youth, were brighter than those of the Duke, but at the close of their lives the Preacher of England, pronouncing the funeral oration over the latter, said — 'know ye not that a iireat man is fallen" — while a few friends onlv, at- LIFE or Cv I.ONEL TALBOT. Uiidc'l the reinfiins of the found^T of the Talbul. Sotllemci t, fo their cartlily rosfini^' })laco. In llie year 1790, Mr. 'J\i] bo t joined tho 2-Uli Rpgiment, as Lioutenant, ai Quebec. He received his Company and majority both in tlie year 1793; and ill January l79G was promoted t > tlie Li^iut. C( loiiclry of the 5th Ilegini?nt of P'oot, which Regi- ineul he joined, and commanded two battalions, until the Peace of Amiens, doing seivice on the Corit inert and at Cjibraller. IIj was with his resiment i i llulhmd, in the (HsaRtrou'^ expedition of the Duivo cf \'oik. Colonel Talb';t appears to have been a favor- ite w iiii the Duke, f^jr altho' lie had committed a l.j'each of discipline, bv mircliini'- his reu'imeiU a uiiu.'rcnt road from that he had been ordered to do, in order as he considered, to avoi'l harassing his men, iind exnosinr;' them to more dan2:er, the Duke in a fiiendly note, fuund among llid Colonel's papers alludes to the circumstance in a very good aatured lo.um r. 'l'h\ I la, with vben he !t on the riontiiicnt. To show the hig'h opiui »n which (reu. Sinncoe entertained of vounir Talhjt's merits and biHly, wo cannot do better ihun to transcribe lli'^ .'tter, which the General wrote in his bchah', and ddresscd to Lord llobartin the year 1803, det-iiling Colonel Talbot'.s services and recommonding his ap- ilication for a cfrant of land. Nothins: cai exceed the warmth of friendship, and the high estimate of Colonel Talbol'fi character, which Gqw, Simco-' seems to have formed, and this is fully expressed i;i his letter: — Somerset Stref.t, Purtman Square, ) 11th Feby., 1803. j Mr Lord, — In CO. sequence of Mr. Talbot having acqtuiutevl me that Mr. Sullivan, on his presenting a request f.)r a grant of land in ihe Province of Upper Canada, had intimated it would be proper I should inform your Lordship of Mr. Talbot's especial service^^. I took the earliest opportunity of waiting upon your Lordship, and in consequence of the interview which I had th* honor to hold with you yesterday, 1 ob-^y y )ur Lord ship's Commands in detailing Mr. T tlbots views, and the nature of his claims to the protection of iiis Ma- jc'Siy's government. Upon my arriv d in Canada, to carry the c>n- sti'uiiuii which had been granted to tliat Colony into effect, Mr. Talbot accompani".] me as my p:iv.t'u' LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. •t.id cunti'iential Secretary into Upper Canada, ffo remiMtieJ in my family four years, when hd wa^ called homo, as Major of the *5th Regiment, thei: Drdored to Flanders. During that i)eriod ho not. only conducted many details and important duties, jnci'lental to tiie original establishment of a Colony, in matters of internal regulation, to my entire satin- iacLion, but was employed in the moat confidential measures necessary to preserve that country in peace, without violating on the one hand, the relations of amity with the United States; and on the other, alienating the affection of the Indian nations, at thai period in open war with them. h\ this very critical situation, I principally mad«* u>i<:' of Mr. Talbot for the most confidential intercourse with the several Indian Tribes; and occasiondl!/ with his Majesty's Minister at Philadelphia;— these luties, without any salary or emolumont, he executed to my perfect satisfaction. I consider these circumstances, my Lord, as luthorizinsf me in o-eneral terms to recommend Mr. Talbot to your consideration and protection. Mr. Talbot's specific application, which I beg leave to support to the utmost of my power, consists of two ■ Wbeu the 85th Reo;lnient was stationed in St. Thon;as L'oloncl Talbot said ho liad ooiuraanded that Regiment n\ 22 years of age — but before he died he told a friend that iw wa«i Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Regiment apabovc. Thi-' ni'i>t have been a mistake. LII-'E OF COLONEL TAM'.OT. I. lie e wa^ t, the I; ho not. duties. Colony , re sati.-^- ideniirtl n peace, tions ot" .e other, , at til a'. V maUo ercourso asiondU/ — these 3xecute'-l jord, as end Mr. n. Mr. leave to t5 of two t. Thonia.'^ giment a' nd that iw ovc. Thi-" points. 'J'ho lirst is tlio grant of five thousar.d acres of land as a Held Officer, actually and bona fide, meaning to reside in the Province for the purpose of estal^lishing himself therein. The King's tounty having been extended to the field Oflicer-', wlio hai] served durin' the American war, in o-rants to a similar extent (exclusive of an allotment of land for every individual which their J.imiiies mignt consist of,) it was judged expedient by ravself, Mr Chi«.'f Justice Osgoode, and other confidential Officers of the Crown in that Colony, to extend the provision of five thousand acres to any Field Officer of character, ^^ho, hona jhh'^ should become a sctller therein, it heing obvious that it was for his Majesty's interest (hat a loyal set of European gentlemen should, as speedily as possible, be obtained to take the lead in the several districts. This principle, my Lord, was acted upon fi.t the time of my d(>parLure from th(! Country, and should I to this moment have remained in the goveriimenl thereof, I could have seen n ; reason whatever for departing from it. In conse- quence, liad Mr. Talbot becJi totally unknown to me, except by his character and the high rank ho had borne in the King's Service, I siiould have thouglit him a most eligible acquisition to this ProvinCv., and on this public ground, without hesitation, have i,aanted him bOOO acres on the same principles that 'ft 1 fm 8 LTFK OF COLONEL TALllOT. had been laid down anl acted upj;i, — I'lis i.-: t'.io first [)LirtofMr Talbot's rO(jn.">st. Tho second re- quest (jf Mr. Talbot b, that ili«30 SOOO acres may bo yrar.tcd in tl'eTowlisbip of Yarinoiith, in the County (A' N'orlolk, on lake Erie, and that the rcmiindor of thit Town.d]ip may bo rjservjd for such a period a> may aj-tpcar ad\isible to g-overnment, for the purpose of Ills settling it, on tli<.' followincj spocitic plan, namely: that 200 acrcn shall be allotted to liim f»r every family lie s' all establish thereon, — 50 aci-js thereof to be granted to each family in por|>etuity, and the reinaininii- 150 acro^ of each lot to become his property, f>r the ex^)eniO and ',roabI<» of coll .-ctin-^ and locatinsi them. }>\r. Sjllivan, in a cai.versation, : ad suggested to Mr. Talbot the possibility of procuring set'd<,*r< in tli-.s Country, but miuij rcasoi'S oppose tlitmselves to thr»t idea, in which 1 l.ave the honor of perfectly agreeing wiih yov.r Lordship; but shoul i it be pra'licable to turn the tide of emiu'rr.lion, which (j-iveriimcnt cannot ]-revent from taking place to the United Stages, ultimately to rest in this Province. I beg to consi^ der it as an object of the greaiost national importance, find that will speedily faltil the idea wiih which I undertook the administration of that government, under my Lord Crenville'8 siuspices of elevating thi.^ valuable part of His Majesty's dominions from the Nen femj S!a(< disso srron Kiig lan^.i on o Tal! r.f m tent i> in mou, of ihi altv, LIFK OF COLONKL TALHOT. nd re- nay bo ■'■:. 1 'V Jounty 1 id or of ,;^^H riu'.l a'S '^H ->urp»sc '^"^^1 : pUi?'-, !Je^I liiui l'"' aci''js •petuity, becoine -'"osted to ili tll'::> S iO tliT^t cable to it canuo-t Stamen, :->ovtanco , wliich I erumGul, lUng tUi^i fiom tlio degrading .situation of a potty factory, t() be apov;.n- ful support and protection to the British Empire; i;i some ir. stances, such a phm in tho infancy of th*^ •^'overnnient liad great success, as I had tho honor, of painting out to your Lordship, and Mr. Talbot from habit, observation and natui-e, in my judgment, i> nerfectlv well suited to o-ivo it a Avider extent. iFIis plan is to Introduce Iiimself amongst a larg' body of Welch and Scotch fiimilics, who arrived a: New York in the Summer of ISOl, and who hav.; iemporarlhj fixed tliomselvcs in the interior of tha', 8!atr, many of whom arc already disgusted with the dissoUte principles of the people there, and feel n stronu" inclination to return under the ^•oveI•nmcnlOl England, but do not possess the means of purchasing lani.I; or paying the fees denian5hii), after having willi i^ioat credit arri'. cd at the rank of Lieut. Colonel iiii-: preferred tho incessant and active employment V. !uch he has undertake!i, and that under vour Lord- >lr'r)\-> patronage may lead to the highest public ad- V -uiiago. On this public ground, abslraeted froiji my ;■>:. 'iui.al tiffecLion rind regard fcr liim, I hope that your (j 'dship will give directiun to the Lieut. Governor, o '.'ersoTJ administering tho government of Upper C'.'.i.:»da, that tho prayer of his petition be imme- t'..-i.toly granted — (embraced in 4th paragraph of this :-".:cT,)and I further entreat from vour Lordship's L,:()i:icss and benevolence, that M:. Talbot mav hn\v. ;L : honor of being the bearer of your despatches on :.\i: subject, as ho h'ls for some time taken his pas- Si;je oii board of a vessel that will sail without fail 'idav next, for New YoiL I have the honor to bo tfcc., (•signed) J. G. SLMCOE. '- I'cj Uio[ht lion. Lord Houart, il-c, li'c, Sec , it will be seen frou) the S'^oiiel of this biography 1 O'^'-' far the high estimate ot Colonel Talbot's char- iiy.CT and ability formed by General Simcoe, has been i.Mlized, and whether or not Colonel Talbot has ful- ti'.xi the 0"r,'ectatiuns of his exalted friend and ardent J I i .1 • I imnhouil ', cannot ing Willi , C clone I :)lovnaent )ur Lord" iblic U'l- tVoBi my that your Lrovernor, of Uppoi be imme- ph of this Lordship's inav haw. utches on n his pa.s- thout fciil MCOl::. biography Dot's char- ?, has been .»ot has ful- and ardent I.IKE OF (OLONF.I. TAI.r.OT. 1 1 admirer, rionoral Simcoo was a man, from in- ■xalted position ind commanding talent fidly capa]»Ir. of judging '^f the merits of a young officer. It is pleasing at all times to rceord the 0}>inion r.f ojood men, su universally Jndtted. The Hon. James Crooks, one of Canr.da's i'- «-poct.ed veterans, knew young Talbot well, at the time he was altaehed to General Simcoe's suite. He \va> then stationed nt Niagara, wh<.'re, with other ofhcer''*, iio kept house. Mr. Crooks speaks of the young Secretary's gentlemanly deportment and aetivity, as is elsewhere noted, and was well acquainted with him durinjj; the residence of a lone; life. How ;;oung Talbot fulfilled the duties of private nnd confidential Secretary, we learn from Genera! Simcoe's letter, but it is certain he was never miicli addicted to writing. But what he di '•yen found among his papers. Witli respect to the culiivation of hemp. 9]^o1vei . 12 LIFE OF tOLONKL TALUOT, .1 ly 'a'l.crJil Simcce, il nppciirs Colonel Tnll'ul did not ro, his own expcctalions. Ho mfide the altenijit Ml llio caily days (.f liis scttlcniont, but must liavc I'ound il unpiolitabk'; \\liicli is easily aeoonnted lor, nlicn uc consiilor that tlio (ulli\ati(»n ofhcnip icquiics considerably caj'ilal, and mncli labor. Moth thes.' iiionns could bo much more ( rolltably enijiloyod in ihc clearing of lands, and in cultivaiiag the S(»ii. Fci' these purj)osus his people were oven too few, and tlie riocessiiv of raisin u' the means of sab-^istence would prevent thoir being otherwiso employed. S-' the cuUivation of hemp was abandonc'.l. CIIAPTEll IT. t-'oU'\IL T>I.150T'd RETURN TO CaNAU.V — FlEMI:.oV ACCOUNT OP IJIS FIKST VISIT TO THE TaI.HOT Settlement with C!eneral Simcoe — Settles AT Port Taldot 1803 — Port Taijjot — Colonel 'i'ALnoT's disgust with the state of Society in K NO land. It was at the conclusion of the Peace of Amiens Colonel Talbot retired from the Army, and t^ame lo Canada, witli the intention of settling; which he did, and remained on his estate at Port, Talbot for nearly ^)K) years. Wo are told Cim". the Vuuns; Lieutoiiani first hecame fimitten with ihe charms of Cannd.:*. (liii it is not known that l:c wiis.cver smitten, '.ike Mm OF C.niONP.L TALDOT. 13 fall-ct did inavk' the but nuist aecountcd I of henip 0". I>»>t]i ; the soil. 1 too few, .ib'^isteiice oyed. S>' E Tai.i'.ot —Settles —Colonel society in of AmiGn> d came to loll lie did, for noarly .oiifip.: fir>t CaiiRJa. ordinary niciO:Vk.3 of him in terms of the highest admiration. The account mven bv Mr. Munro was comma- Tiicatcd to liim verbally, by a man of the name of Flcmming, who actod as canoe,or boatman, to General ?imcoe and his Sec'y. Talbot, from Fort Eric, on tlic exploring expeditlor, to the unbroken forests of tliO London and Western Districts, which at that time, when General ."'iracoe first assumed the Government of Upper Canada, had only been s iirvcyed on paper. Flemmingdescribcs young Talbot as being bjih smai t y ■: 14 MTE OP COLONEL TALDOT. ill appcaranco, and prompt and nctivo in manner. T') uso his owQ wonls, " The Colonel was th- '^prellicst, the neatest a?ul most active of the wholf 'parhj,* and as soon as they landed to eucarap, ho im- niodiately set about collecting wood for fuel, assis' itu.^ in pitching the tent; and in the morniu^j wa . •*'iually active in aiding the boatman across Lon^' i*oint with the boat and canoe. On one occasicn. His P^xcellency suggostcd that there were njc;i '•nougli, and the Colonel's laconic reply was, "theiM ire none more manly than I am," which the General roceiveort Talbot, ivery work. 5, choppiji^^ icy thought eneral," ro- -0 a bache ency aske.i of the Ilil'. tish,)" Nj. 3t VOt." I I Oti hindmir at Kittle Creek, tk.w I'ort Slauk-y, t( . .^k 'linnor, the same question was asked an'! tl.< • am«j reply was ^'iven: but early in the cveniii'^, ft .i rival at the ppot fio deservedly called Port Tallr^t. :iie Ct'lonel had a tent speedily erected o\\ tlu* top <>f '.'no Hill, turned host at once, met the (Jovernoi n* the tent door, and with the dignity so natural to hin.. reviled His Excellency to the Castlo of Malalii 1- iving, "Hero, Cicniral Sinicoc, will 1 roost, nu'! will soon make the forest tremble under the wiuL"- ". f ihe tlock i will invito by my warbliugs, arounl 'J lie. »' '• On tlie morning following, Indians \vh«> wr^ . r.c.inipcd on the flats of the Creek, were liircd U 1 ilut the party across the wilderness, to Munscy 't'uwn, from whence they proceeded down the Kivet '■Lake St. Clair, meeting on their way, not ev<'ij . :;c opening in the dense forest ,that then overshnd- ■ wed the meanderlnnr course of the River Thamec. ("n thcirjeturn, and arrival at the Forks, whore Tv:;- '!on now stands, General Simcoe told the Colonel, " this will be the chief military depot of the Wo.st, ■tnd the seat of a District. From this spot," pointiuL Ms sword to a tree that stood at or near the western :iiigle of the present Court house, "I will have a lin'- I'-r a road run as straight as the crow can fly, to thf h(.*ad of the little lake," where Dundas stands, which IG LIFE or COLONEL TALDOT. wim Joiie,a' d the Road, to_lhis day, i-; called tbc Gov- ernor's Road. "Flemming, the boatman, afterwards became a bettler under Colonel Talbot, on a lot of land on the l-anks of the River, in the Township of Aldboro,' and lived thereon, from the vear 1802 or 3 to the year 1845. He was there buried, leaving 6 or 7 indus- trious sons, who were all located by Colonel Talbot, in the Township of Mosa, directly across the river, in Kighi of their father's farm." The foreo-oinn: account furnished by Flcmino; to Mr INIunro, we have been told, is incorrect in several particulars — that the route pursued by General Sirn- cop, was by boat only to Long Point, and thence by land to the Forks of the River Thames. This we mere- ly note, that wo may not be charged with making ;in erroneous statement willingly. Ii was after this time, that Colonel Talbot re- turned to Europe, and remained with his regiment till tbc Peace of Amiens, when it would appear, he deter.nined to fulfil his intention of founding a setile- ment in the wilds of Canada. This intention no doubt was seriotisly entertained, while on the explor- ing expedition with General Simcoe, and we are in- I'urmed that Colonel Talbot had learnt something of the eligibility of the site cf Port Talbot, from Mr. Ibiinly, a gentleman who had surveyed the Town- sh }d tlic G.jV- s became a land on the Jboro,' and -0 the year >r 7 indus- nel Talbot, ho river, in "^'IcminfY to in several ncral Sirn- thence by s we mere- makinof Jin Talbot re- regiment appear, he ig a settle- cntion no lie explor- WQ are in- lethincf of from Mr. le Town- LIFE OF COLONEL TILBOT. n ships of Dunwich and Aidboro,' wiih whom tlic Col- onel had become acquainted at Niagara. Mr, Hamly had described the beauties of Port Taii>ot ia terms of just commendation, and Colonel Talbof, has contirmcd his judgment, by selecting it, as the Rit»'. of the future homo of a branch of the descendants of the Talbots of MalahiJo. Mr. Ilamly brought up and educated John and Bostwick, the sons of a Cler<~»vman of tho Church of E norland, in New Cn-- land, who emigrated to Canada, and wore always conspicuous for their loyal attachment to tho Rritish Crown, Colonel Talbot landed at Port Talbot, on tho 21st of May, 1303, from a boat, accompanied by sev- eral men, (among whom was a Mr. Power,) and im- mediately set to work with his axe, and cut down tlu' fu^'t tree, to commemorate his landing to tako pos- session of his woodland estate. The settlement which now bears his name, was then an unbroken forest, and there wore no traces of civilization, n^Kwor than Long Point, GO miles east, while to tho west, the aborigines were still tho Lords of the soil, and ruled with tho tomahawk. At the time of Colonel Talbot's landing, cvery- tliing in nature was dressed in its best attire, and i\.- ^veiling stream of Port Talbot creek, then swolhm in the dimensions of a respectable river, overhung witli b* 1? LIFE OF COLONEL TALIiOT. jil the- (jocp trvecn boughs of the surrounding foresi, aiid •gliding through tlie valley, around tlie verdant hill if Port Talbot, poured it? lim[)id stream into Lake i'^rio '^iih a rapidous current. At tliis deligl^tful •er.iun of the vear, the fc>re.st teemed with life — the iir.uy green of the trccB, the chirping and singing ol Mimerous birds, the solitary tapping of the wood- pecker, the lofty hills, and placid waters spread out p.io an inland ocean, all wore a smiling aspect, and •!,(.crcd the Pioneers of iho Forest. There are few, if aiiy, more charming spots 'hail the site of Port Talbot. The creek which gavt- n-L' to its being named a Port, winds round the hill.-, lirouHirich tlatson one side, noiselessly, without any apparent motion, (except, as before mentioned, in iimosof high water,) and its dark smooth water's sleeping under and through clumps of woods, \n-i\- :ind there, gives it a beautiful appearance. The ap- proach to Port Talbot from the east, is through an •ivenuo of between one and two miles, the road pre- senting every variety of woodland scenery, n)w run j.inir over level land, and then divino- into the valle^ s j.etween liiHs of various heights, and on each side i>\ the road the numerous trees pomting their majestii heads to the skies, afford a grand and pleasing va- riety. After at length winding round the acclivity ol tie higli land surrounding Port Talbot, the eye i- •I add the i> tei of LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 10 oresL, and rdant bill nto Lake deligMfal L life— tbe singing ol the A^-ood- spread owi i?pcct. and niucr spots whicli gavf >d the liill>, •ithout any iiiioncd, iv- )Oth vati'i-* oods, b>;f<' . The ap- llirough ail AG road prc- f, n:)^Y ruu the vallep each side (4 eir majostii pleasing va- : acclivity ot , the cyo \- M :1 I icfresbed by a magnificent view of the waters of Lakf Erie, bounded only by tho distant horizon. Stand- iiijr then on this hicape is rich, in the highest degree; ranges oi woods rising from the banks of the creek, one aboNo .•mother, until their summits are nearly lost in the clouds, clothed ill the soft verdure of spring, or be- '!ecked in the tinted foliage of autumn, altord a plea- sing relief to the eye, turning from the vast expaii;;* cf waters of Lake Erie. On the bosom of the Lak'-, ►Steamers, or other craft, are continually a; pearin;r, generally wending their way to American ports, and add life to the scene. In the rear of Port Talbot, tlic eye passes over hill f.nd dale, until the view i^ terminated by the primeval forest; compo-O'l of the maple, the beech, the stately oak, and a vaii'jt\ of other trees. Colonel Talbot being permanently located inth' wilds of Canada, to the great dismay of the fcuit footed tribe, who Iiad s) long" held und'sturbcd pos- -os^ion, his life in the woods mav now be said have commenced, and we may here pause, to relhc: ^)i\ the cxtraoi'dinr.ry and peculiar character of (li? 20 LIFE OF COLONKL TALBOT. indiviJaal, who could detacli himself tVom all tliO aiiractions o( civilized life, and set himself down ai-no. with the exception of a few hired men, in tho midst of a trackless forest, inhabited only by a few scattering Indians, and wild beasts. The resolution which Colonel Talbot had formed, and was now about to ajt upon, is the more extraordinary in an individual, elevated at so early an ago, to a rank so high in the army; endowed as he was, with every qualification, apparently necessary to raise him. to the very summit of iiiilitary glory ; surrourded by the pomp and sf^lendor of military parade, so attrac- tive to the votaries of fashionable life ; moving; amidst the fascinations of polished society, and the smiles and blandishments of \outh and beauty — that a nian so situated should abandon the luxuries and cnchant- )nent of stich a coterie, and become the immediate neighbor of raccoons and howling wolves, to lead a dull monotonous life in the untamed forests of Can- ada, with the certain piospect of hard labor and con- tinual privation, is proof that he was a man of great fortitude, and of no ordinary mind. At the time Colonel Talbot exchanged ihe sword fur the axe, he was young, active, and sufUciently ac- complished, to adorn the society in which men of his rai\k usually mix. His rank in the army was un- uasually high for a man of his years, being a Lieut. Colonel at the age of twenty-two. i ih an tiJC ])ol >0t Cen and mar theij the] those all w Gcor sous Jarly guis) polls the tl h; th( ners, and t Were mere t J tion of Ingh re to the T LIFE OF CULONEL TALBOT. 21 ii all tl''> •If JoWU n, in tii'i by a few •csolutwi^ was now u'v hi i^^' a rank so ^itli every ) him, ^^ ourded by , so attvac- anG:ami<.l:st ItliG smiW^^ IvdtP- nuiu ,J cuoliant- immediato I, to lead a ,ts of Cnr.- or and con- lan of great the sword [iciently ac- men of his w was nn- linci: a Tieut. It is said, however, that young Talbot ami'J-l a!l tlie alluremouti of high Ufc, the attractions of beauty, and the pride of aristocracy, became thoroughly dis- gusted with the corruptions and fashionable vies, then so prevalent; which were ill concealed by th'» polish of education, and the conventional farjis of society. At that time, about tho close of the last century, it is well known that debauchery, dissipatior; and immorality of every kind, infected the lives of many of the aristocracy of England, having before their eyes, the examide of the sons of Royalty, and the heir apparent to the Throne. On the vices of those days, we nee d not dwell, they are familiar t > all who know anything of the early life of the lato George the 4th, and his royal brothers, Tiies!3 sons of the good old King Gcorgo the 3rd, pa-t.ica- larly the eldest, the Prince of Wales, were distin- guished for their handsome personal appearanc(', polished manners and elegant address, and weie the theme of universal admiration; but unfortunate- ly, the lustre of their rank, and the polishof ihii: man- ners, were tarnished by the immorality of their lives; and the advantages of birth, education, and \^caIth, were made subservient to the indulgence of the meretricious enjoyments of vice, and to the gratifica- tion of licentiousness. That Colonel Talbot, whoso high rank aud family connexions gjave him the cntra^ lu the first society in England, should have lonkod j. O.) LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. with aversion at tho glazed eye of fa-liional'le dissi- pation, and should have shrunk with disgust from the contamination of lewdness, nursed in tho ^ap of wealth and luxury, was an early indication of that superiority of mind, which distinguished him through tho greater portion of his hfe. Few men of his rank and station, would ever have dreamt of undergoing such a change of life, and iV'Aver still, would liav3 persevered through eveiy difficulty, like Colonel Talbot, had they undertaken it. It has been said, that tho Colonel had been crossed in love, or otiierwise dissapointed, and that this led him li'buiy himself in iho woods ;but these surmises are not based on reliable information. I : I U 'I CHAPTER III. Plan of Settlement —Terms of grants of land, FROM THE British Government — Early Set- tlers — Anecdotes. Some years seem to have elapsed before tho ('oloncl had attracted any number of settlers around him, and during this time he must, (as indeed ho was, generally, during his residence at Port Talbot,) have been left to the solitude of his own reflections ; and, where it was difllcult to get good servants, and more so to retain them, he had not only frequently to cook, and serve bis own table, but to do his own the he 01 this fro : Loriil ^^cnc Ningi I 11.11 LIFE OF COLONEL TALnOT. 23 G dissi- et from c ^ap of of tlmt tliroufr^^ M ever life, and A\ every idcrtaken n crossed IS led him miscs are or LANP. ILY Sf>T- jforc the }rs around indeed be 1-t Talbot,) •ellections ; ■vants, and frequently bis own ' '.ores about tbe liouse. Tliesc menial offices l.(f often liad to perform when distinguishod guest.-' visited him. The plan of settlement adopted by Col. Talbot, was a wise one. The Country has long' enjoyed the ))cncfit, which his foresight and good manngenicnt otfected. Every settler whom he located o'l a lot of ianil, was obliged to perform his settlement duties, liy clearing a certain space in front of his lot, before he could J)c assured of his title. This space was uniform througout the settlement, and by this means the sun gained access to the roads, which wero soon- er improved, than if each settler had been at liberty to commence clearing w^herever ho thought proper. ]?y this judicious plan, several hundred miles of passa- ble road were made, with good and uniform clear- ings on each side, and attecced the soundness of the Colonel's judgment. Another advantage resultini^ from this plan was, that the idle and improvident were stimulated by the example of the industrious. The Colonel bad made an arran^'omont witli ihe British Government, while in England, by which lie obtained a grant of 5000 acrei of land. To carry this arrangement into eifect, he obtained an ordi.T from the Government of England, on application t» Lord Hobart, son of the Earl of Buckinoham to (rcncral Hunter, with whom he had an interview at Niagara. The arrangement then made with the fi" !:l I ■■ ■ J M 21 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. home govornmeiit, wjft, that fur every settler wlioni llie Colonel located on 50 acres of land, he shouM liimself be entitled to 200 acres, to the extent of 5000 acres. He afterwards obtained, through his influenco with the government, for such of his settlers as desir- ed it, 100 acres of land ench, upon condition of performing the settlement duties, i.e. clearing a certain portion of the land, building a house upon \\ and paying fees on receiving patent £6 9 3. So poor were many of the settlers who availed them- selves of this privelege, that they had not completed these moderate stipulations, some of them during";* period of 30 years. For the first twenty years of the Colonel's set- tlement, the hardships, he, as well as his settlers had to contend with, were of no ordinary kind, and such only as could be overcome by industry and patient endurance. All who were not exercised in these virtues, either sold their claims for little or nothing, or forfeited their land. ^Many of the settlers to this day, acknowledge themselves indebted to Colonel Talbot's means and foresight, for enabling them to overcome the difficulties which they had to encoun- ter. At the present moment, when the country smiles with verdant fields, Mooming orchards, and produces the necessaries of life in abundances, it and cli Viri-; til (.Ol.nNKl. lAI.I'.OT . U.) shouM vtent of ifluenco ls dcsir- ition of aring a upon i% 3. So d tbem- 3iiipletcd during'a lel's set- tlers liad md sucli d patient A. in these nothing, rs to this Colonel them to 3 encoun- country ards, and ances, it Would appoar that tlic Colonel ha^l hcoi\ lun'.iy ro jKiiil for all his labors, by the valualdo ostalo h" .u-- iHUnil, but it must bo retiiembcre 1 thit aUh'')Ui4'h tills be true, the liberality of the iJritish (rovor'.imuut was not bestowed upon him in vain, lu tUos(^ early (jays, many favorites and hangers on of the Ooverii' ment, obtained grants of large traets of land for a mere song, without re<[uiring any duties fruni ihcm at all, and some forfeited rieh grants, from their inability to perform the stipulated dutie.-". For instance, Mr. Charles Ino'crsol obtained a iiTa"^ of tiic whole Township of Oxford; a person named Sales, the Township of Townsend; and another person named D.uoa, Ihc Township of Burford, on conditions of settlement, which they were unable to fulfil, and therefore lost their grants: each of which would have produced a magnificent fortune, had those person^^ retained them. Colonel Talbot, on the contrary, voluntarily took the lands he acquired, on conlition of fulfdling duties, which he performed faithfully, not only for his own benefit, but for that of a large num- ber of poor settlors. Much has been sail about tiie many tliousand acres of land awarded to Colonel Talbot, but there is little doubt, that he might havp, purchased them for the amount he expended or lont. in settling them. The Township "f Yarmouth, ncar!\- ih'^ )'id;i, w?\s ^^itliM' civcn >"^'i'" f •• *hr c u r H ; t I ; I ! ■! 1 11 lAlK •>I' I't.I.O.WhI. I .1,1. 'C (5.il'\ ',>!(>;■ hold foi' a tiiilj lo tlio (*;iii;i'l.i Coiuji.iiiy . Tin's ^\;ls Colonel 'J'alhnt's llrst sclcclion, liit ho fuiuiJ llmt it had already hccii disp<^seil of. The (!ai)al;i Company too, il is well known, had acquired a niillioii acrcis in the Huron tract, at a cost of little inoro llian Is per acre, so that the liberality of flic i*ritish 0(.»vernincnt in disposiiifj of the lauds of the (.'ruwn, was exten(h'd to much less worthy ohjccta than Colonel lalbut, who was instrumental in ren- dering^' a large number of poor Hcttlers independent, atj well as liimself. As ha-< al.'cady been said, young Tulbut was a very active man, and his bodily fiame, and vigorous Constitution, enabled liim to undergo great fatigue and hardship. For eevei'al years lluM'o were no sedl' IS or other inhabitants than his own hired men. In order to supply this deficiency, he distributed largo placards to attract settlers, which had the ell'ect of bringing a great many people inl( the settlement, but many of those turned out to be very worthless characters. It was not until tlio year 1809 tbat settlers be- gan to conic in, and then but few in number. In that year two families of 'the name of Pcarce and l^ater- r:on, took up land from the Colonel, and settled near him in Dunwich, in which Township Port Talbot is i!uated. 'I'hcso early settlors are among the bcsl, ■■■^'0 liitvc ever '•n'''p'd )h>; s^lilmi-nt. Th''ir ii'r M MiT. >V C)r, >Nh.'. ■! AI.Ilol' 27 Coiini.uiy . 1, lilt lie 1 of. The J acquire* I St of litllu ,lity of tlic luds of tlio Lliy o1»jccts till ill rcii- pendeiit, ats ulbut was a [\d vigorous cut fati}j;uc were no liircprGciale 1. Tiio head of these was an Irish weaver, named (>oyiie, a maa not devoid of industry, but of an avaricious si>irit, who toiled and prospered in disc'ontent. Tlies3 persons as far, as it was possible to annoy a man of Colonel Talbot^^ iiidexible character, left n3 moans, such as grovellin>^' minds usually make use of, untried, to accomplish their own selfish ends. Among other difTHculties the early settlers had to encounter was, to get their corn groimd, after it had been raised aniDuix tha stumps. One of the means by which they used to render their corn fit for use, was, by hollowing out the s*ump of somo largo fallen tree, by means of fire, keeping the edge all the tinac wet, uatil the fire burned down and converted the stump, or trunk ]of the tree, into a, mortar, and then with a wooden beetle, serving as a postrd, the orn was pounded suiii.'iei'tly for us'\ I I ' i , I 'I* V' I I nil (t 2b i.lMi. or i;oi.i»Ni:L TAi.noi, ll<^\\..vi'i, lu t»l.»viato lliis diniciilty, ('oImiioI 'I'albaL l-iiilf a mill at Uiunvicli, in 1807 or 8, ami to tliis llio s'.'ttleis woro \^\ixd to rcs^^rf, till soino y(3:ir3 after, \\hbbery, and to prevent artful men from over-rcaeh- iiK'- (lieir weaker mit7dcd brethren. CL>loncl 'ralbot was an uncompromising onomy to can't and hun»l)Ug, whethor in roligim or poli- tics, bnt ov^n in bis early days ho desired to hold religion in respect, and to set a proper example to iiis settlors; for wo are told tbat ho assembled his j e if ilivitic sorvico. II(! had or-casioiiaMy to iii.iie parties ill the bonds of matrimony, and even it is said, Lo ii ii whi<;b tlie pioneer of Port Talbot liad pi icoJ iiiiUMjIf, and the hardships and privations, ho chociriilly iiadia- went. " In the fall of 180S or i), a rii^i 1 ri,-.d;ytv3ii.iii was located on 200 acres of land, wlthii! a .ew inile.i of l^ort Talbot, who observed, and strjiily kept <>.< Sunday y from sunset on Saturday to sunrisu on Monday, and in the Colonofs lo'j; castle, spent hi-; Sabbath, consi.stenlly re;^din^• his riM<>. On ih'^ Monilay interning, ho carried on his back a we.dv'j ])rovision of bread, the joint manufic'jiri; of (Joload Talbot and his sottlei* J'thnny, as tliti Coloiiol us 1 familiarly to call him. On the Colonel himself huoiorously related, "Johnny did noo arrive at Port Talbot, as usual, bv s;;ns.;!, and I b'>2:an to fcnr nil wn-; not vi^hi 'viMi liini I p-oinrc.'. i ; i.Tyr vv cTi 1.0X1- r. tai.mot. '110 fooJ, aiul carried it iiuuugh the \vooarbor savs, that the Colonel v/as full of v^il and 1 ))loy. the ?-■ name ■4 T.ii-r :v t'i>i<'i:;ri. rAi.i;'>r. •:. I OCmK :G, throw overwork was fo')l ; horae as lesignriod lany veara BurweH's, llin!:', and f, all ^vcll ? recently ivritcr that marauders y Avas in- bcr ncces- ;od. Ti.is It is well Talbot, in by joining; .nity of in- laractor, in m sf^.tllcvs. 1 of v^it and * ■^ jokf in hl^ early days, and tells Low, on one occasion, ho fri'ditcncd a man out of his name and money. To stran-Ters, the (colonel was sometimes, certaiiilv, an ohject of terror. On this occasion, the applicant for land, .leremy Orandell, had wi-^lud Mr. J].al)cr's f.itlicr to accompany him, as he was in the h;iL)it of doinij olhers, to smooth the way, but OrandL-ll was impatient, and made his way alone. He was usli- ered in by J»;irery, when the Colonel tnrned round upon him, with a highly flushed countenance, and demanded his name. The man became so terrilied, that he remained speechless, the Colonel then asked him if he had any money, to fjive it to him; the man inmirdiately put his hand into his pocket and gave him what money he had. Crandell was llien led off by Jeirery, to the kitchen, where he was com- f u'lably entertained for the night. The next morn- ing the Colonel settled his business, sUisfactorily, returned him his money, telling him that he had taken it from him, to prevent his being robbed by some of l.is rascally servants, — such being the char- ncter of some of the persons he was obliged to em- })loy. It wa^ a stmding joke, ag linst Crandell, in the Fcttletnent ever afterwards, that he had lost hh name at Port Talbot. An Englishman, it is said, should alwavs bo approached (ffler dinner, if you want to obtain u favor fiom him but C'.-loncl Talb'jl wa- an Iii:.hm:ia» I, . r GO Lii'i: OF ('Oi/'Nj:l tai.bot. and could not Lear to be dlsturbuil at that time of day. CHAPTER IV. PROnRESS OF THE RinTLh^MFXT OoLONFL BniWEr.L — IlAunsMiPs — 1']xti:nt of tiik Talhot Settle- ment — John Uolpii — Captain Matthews. The progress of the eettlcmcnt was slow, till after the year 1810. About this time Colonel Burwell, who had been employed to survey the Townships of Malahide, Ijayham, au:iiu between the ColoUol and any new settler was recoi'ded, by noting the n.ime of tlie .s ttler on the lot in the map. The name once placed on ihc ma]), the settler was at libeily to take posS(;,;>ii>!i of )hp ];tlii], nud \\ M\ I"'M' ;i inO" Jivk'Hl^h -? i, 1,11'j: or coi.u.nri. iamjoi'. i] :i Lime of URWET.L m Sf.ttle- m w^. |fl ow, till 9 Colonel 9 vey lliG m t of tl.o m sit, and 9 d adjoin" 9 } day of ■ his time, | Port Tal- and \)r> i useful to vi m in all | bey jnd :| ll)ot, h d ;| own and | ouol und 1 ]\{i n;inie '| anie once -•| V to take 1 !!id''!iM' i title, --till In; had perfornicd the settlement diiiii'S antl paid the fees for the patent; when, as was sometimes the ease, the grant was not entirely free. This mode of pencilling down men's titles, and the very "etcntive memory, which th.c Colonel possessed, enahled him to make transfers with the upmost facility. Instead of long written documents, with words repeated a hundred times, recapitulating the bargain of sale or transfer between A and 13, the two pardes had only to a]>i)ear at Port Talbot, and stale the nature of the transaction, when, if it appeared to bo honest and fair, the Colonel approved of the change, and a piece of India rubber, disi)laced A to make roc.m for B, but if the Colonel detected, which was often (ho ease, that B was endeavoring to overreach A and to inveigle or cheat him out of his land, the bargain w;'s at an end. As long as the settlers had all the difllcultios of new comers in the woods to contend with, the inllu- enee of Colonel Talbot was all powerful, and mainly contributed to ]>lace Colonel fUirwell in the elevated position, ho for many years occn[)ied, as a member of the Provincial Parliament, but in tlic course of time political adventures got into the settlement, and suc- ceeded in creatiiiii divisions and strife amoni>- tlio settlers, many of whom had outlived their poverty :iiid their regard for their benefactor. Colon'd rUirwfdl wp'^ fii'^t (d<^cted it)(>nili( i for IP 31 LI IT '>F rrj I. <>\r:r. talimt. tlio utii(«'(l Countios of MiiMlcsnx ami OxiViid, in op- position to t!ie well known Mr. ^lallory, who aflcr- war'ls turned traitor, Tho contost wai keen, ori'l suptaincd with i;rcat spirit. All poisons havini^, what wcro calk'tl Land J5oard promises, as well as Dcjds, were enlillod to vote; and it was a joke amo/iL( the electors, to taunt their opponents with \oting on birch baik certincatcs, This election was lield at tlic Log House of David Seoord, and the electors had to encamp in the woods, so few were the habitations in those days. Colonel Ijurwell might be considered Colonel Talbot's rca'Iy reckoticr, and a more obsequious friend it would have been diflicuU to find. Althou2;h of an imperious nature, and little disposed to submit to the raillery of others, Biirwell bore with gre^t equa- niniily, Colonel Talbot's cutting sallies audsarcastio remarks, wTiich frequently appeared as if the Colonel held his judgment in contempt. Burwell was a na- tive of New Jersey, and came at an early day to this Province. His first residence was at Fort Erie, whence ho went to live at Long Point. Here he re- sided for sometime, with Daniel McQueen, the fa- ther of Major McQueen, an early settler under Col- onel Talbot. He was very assiduous, and ambiti(^us of becoming a scholar, and although self taught he w as never very bright By those who know him, he was even considered dull. Old McQueen u-ed to h '% 'i '=1 ^ MI'l. ;>i.' ( Mi.oNKI. 1 .\ I.llul. \n J, IV lo liiiii, as v.c. pourf'l over his book'-, " llurwcll " voii arc a call's hi'ad «")f a fdluw, aru way. V<>u " have a calf's head, tlicrc is nothing* in il, hut \viiat " h (hivcii ill." For nvuiy years, in tlu; infancy of the sctllenient, nnd after it had grown to a considerable extent, Colonel Burwcll was iv very useful man; hi:) kiiowlcdg-e as a Hurveyor, and other acfjuiremonts well filled him to render services to the people umong whom lie was settled, as well as to Colonel Talbot, who had use for all his talents; but to what- ever deL-rce of leririiinu" and usefulness he miiiht havo arisen, his vanity and egotism were Cfptal to bolh . As he grew older, and when more intelligent people had found their way into tlic settlement, IjurwelTs useful qualiiies became less conr,pieuous, nnd weio less called into rctpiisition, but his foibles becamo more apparent. Perhaps wo should be at a loss to show his weakness more conspicuously than he. has done himself, by the names he imj^osed on his sons^ lie commenced with the i-reat hero of heathen mv- thology, Hercules, (the name of his eldest son,) to whom succceJed Hannibal, the great Carthagcnian (ceneral; and by regular descent Leonidas, •' The viilunuR .SjJiulan, wlio ivsiiriicd his life, •' To s;n-t' his ('oiiiiUy,at Ihe Octa ;iu yiiiii^bls, •* Thcnnopyi^u" — but the son, who had the most proteuoions to a 'nnrne io'licating innirniminiitv and Lra\erv, was Miu'lr, ll;im 'd ■•('(.r r lllc II!,. dc;!! \\rr'^ of ' ;4'.•<^1); |,p' •> ! {(-.ij^l '■ -:, il \(' '.U'} I l!"i': "K <''»i.uNl... ..\i r."i, (irmial liiC'ik! However, cliildiori nic licl i(N|m.ii ^ible lor I he wciUiit's.s ur vanily of their j>;!r*'nis, unv lire tlicy bouml lo a:l up to the clianiclor of reiiowii- <•(! heroes, jifter whom they mny hajipcn to he named, 'j'lie most promising I'liiMren too ol'ieii f a man. whom ciivum- cl nrtrr- priC'''i in ;t po-:ifirin 'f' ji:'^''' p InV"'! ;i ron wM I sj)10U( Jil.lll, i ; There ? I'lo hub ^ i.irt: or cuj.hnll tai,i:oT 37 ('S|'i. Il- ls, U<»1' MloWU- r.anu'tl. )inL llic vcrancc e miiKls Wivh, he ii>U and as con- iifideiicc cut want iii conli- d to tlic t ip.stctid alivo of r for tlic lonor he CJencral to resign, loiiistrar to which Nvas with neither. cii<-um- d n row s')icuous part in the atVairs of Canada, had he pofi- scHsod the necessary (|!Kilitications of. a great statco- man, and had he res}»ectcd the opinions oi'othoiti as much as he did his own. The lore'^'oiii"- is certainly, not a verv llaltjri!!..'; likeness of Colonel Mahloa Durwell, but his fri'-nt!-; will tidinit it is a true one. lie was tall in slntnre and dii^'nitied in ai>pearance; and, as has been belbrc inLinialed, oxcoediiigly ani])itions. IIo was a pro- fessed member of the Cliurch of England, a:i,l, i;i various ways, extended his patronage to advance th i lempjral interests of the Church. At Port Burweil, ho built a Chure'i, and endowed it with CUO acres of land. He a.lso made a jvrant of land to the Chiueli Socielv of the Dioceso of Toronto, of 100 acres, L» tin t)\vn of L )ad<)n, he give a plot of ground of considerable value, for a park or garden, besides makiiinr oif'.s of various kinds, for educational mid oilier purposes. • Colonel Durwell, like most men who rise by their own merit and industry, determined to give lleicules, his first-born, a finished educitioi, and sent him to York (Toronto) accordingly, where ii'-" might have the best instruction the Province aft'ordcu. There he acipiircd, along with scholastic education, ihe habits of fashionable dissi[)ation, and became an inebriate. He was obliged to return home, and under D v i. I ! 38 I.IKJ; «tF t'()|.<'Nt:i, 'I'AMK.I, j>arcntal survtMllaiico, bconmo more ^toatly \\'lit'n hifi fiuhei resigned tlic Rogistrarsliip, llcretilcs was appointed liegistraT of the County of Middlesex, vhich oflice be held for some years, but bis evil pro- pensities again got tbe better of liim, be became a eot, and at last died in a meluncbolv state in Boston. It is lamentable that vounu: men with the best prospects before them, so frequently forfeit them, by yoilding to the deba.sing habit of drinking, ihe con- sequence, too frequently — of parental fondness and partiality. Hercules Burwell had the best oppor- lunity of acq a ring distinction, had ho been steady. His brother Leonidas, fortunately for himself, was not drawn into the same vortex of dissipation, but has maintained a steady and respectable character, nnd his capacity would newer have been questioned, had he not, through the support of reformers on one side, and of conservatives on tbe other, and through ilie influence of his father's name, arrived at the dis- tinction of an M. P. P., having been elected to the House of Assembly, as representative for the Elast Riding of tbe County of Elgin. Here he has only dietinguished himself by taking an extreme course, r.nd has succeeded in. satisfying neither friends nor foes. Here a few reflections suofcest themselves on the advantages and disadvantages of scholastic edu- cation, for however paradoxical it iray appear, a Oi m LIFK OF COLOKEL TAl.BOT. 39 1 hiirb state of mental cultivation , in innumerable in- stances, has proved a curse instead of a blossing This is ea'^iiy accoimtod for, wlien we reflec'u that education only devolopes, but does not create, the fciculties of the mind. The more a weak mind is. educated, the more its defects are exhibited, and the more a strong mind is polished by education, the more its strength is developed. Many young men, who would have made good ploughmen, and indus- trious laborers, had they been taught to work, in- btead of being sent to school or to college, till the age of maturity, have been totally ruined, through the ambition and desire of parents to elevate ihcir children above the common level. It is not for U3 to say why it is so, but most assuredly the qualities of mind in children are as various as the qualities of minerals or metals; and the more you attempt to polish them, the more their native inferiority becomes manifest. Hence, thousands of highly educated men, who had been elevated to a standard, which tho capacity of their minds were unequal to, have sunk to the level of the basest and most abject of man- kind. When children are born to fortunes or entailed estates, as is often the case in Europe, the evil con- sequences of too high a standard of scholastic educa- tion, to youths of inferior minds, arc not so appa- rent, because these sprigs of fortune arc not obliged ' I I ! I I ! i f If hiili 40 LIFE OF COLON KL TALboT. to exercise their wits, and tliclr place in soclely is always kept for tlicm ; but t;,e poor youtli, witli a dull or weak mind, wLo has been pol .'■hod u}) by education, and who has to live by his talents, must sink below the state from which he has been forced up. Therefore, it behoves parents to atlord their cliildren just as much educition, as their after ])ur- Buils in life are liliely to rc((uire, whenever they can discover the qualities of their minds. Mr. Secord was one of a few settlers who had arrived from the NiaixMra District, and who bc-Mu to settle on Talbot road in tho year 1811. Among these were Benjamin Wilson, Esq., Daniel Ilipp'eja Captain D. Secord, Mo^es Riee, and tho ManJeviiles, nil of whom remained loyal to their Sovereign, and faithful to their henefactor, to the last. Others Bgain, proved themselves less deserving, and as they lew indcDendent, thev became discontented and un- g jpen grateful. Such were the T-JOples, some of the Davis' and ma ny were others, as will hereafter appear. I mm Selves in the forests of Canada, remote from a For a numhor of years, the settlement, we may very well believe, progressed slowly, as in tho.so early days few could be induced to immure them- 11 the comforts and advantages of civilization; and it was not till the year 1817, that onylbitig like a regular 8tore or shop, was established in the seillement. During; the intermediate time, tho wants of the set- ■'If i.irr: ok clonfl tai.mot. 41 )cicly ig , with a J up by Is, must n fu recti brd their ftor ])ur- ibey can wlio bail bcir.in t'3 CD Among Ripp'eja iiJovilles, and Oihers d as they d anf] uu- he Dcivis', t, wc may [^ in tUo^^o ro them- om fill the lul it wag a regular eitlernonf. ' (ho set- I '^"' ll(•r^i were; frequently supplied from the stoics of Col. Talb'jt, who provided necossarics for his own uso, ntid for the men whom he employed. From theso btoros the settlors were glad to supply themselves, at any price, but many of them were unable to pay . Few persons, who have not experienced life in (ho backwoods, cau form cm adequate idea of the suOforiiig.s and hardship?*, whicli the early settlcis hail to endure. The roals newly made, were full of Etunips and fallen timber, and to wind round and through these, with a yoke of o?:en and a rude carf, frerjuently through morasses, over rudely constructed causeways, commonly called corduroys, with very broad stripes, could only be accomplished with much labor and palionco. AVhat was the work of a week I hen, with heavy labor, and much privation, can now be performed with ease in one day. Indeed for ]nany years, with all the assiduity of Colonel Talbot and his system of improvement, it was with the greatest difliculty his settlers, could get their corn ground, after they had gone through the labor of clearing a patch of land, and the anxiety of raising a crop from it. Frequently they preferred going by water, a distance of CO or 70 miles, in a boat, along the shores of Lake Erie to Lon^• Point, to ll- (Jays has jnt of a tvheat to \ntitv of ist, wbilo er hand, •ovisions, id it was it sorac- •oportion. albot, ia nds little its worth oodsman ivert the But urarco, Driiihtcr old the direction Deautiful scenery )nel Tal- steadily mprove- ntaininc:, J j..j.)l>ably, Hut less at tbi% time, than l."u.000 inhal-i- tniiN. 'J'he majority of the liisi setiK'i<, or their iloscendauts, are the proprietors of fine farms, wi-ll stocked and improved, and worth X'oOO to I'oOOO each. Many of these settlers had little more than the axe on their shoulders, when they commenced. Mr. James Hamilton, one of the sons of R. Hamilton, and brother of the Hon John Hamilton in the year 1817, landed a few goods at the mouth of Kettle Creek, now Port Stanley, and for many years kept a store in connexion with Mr. John War- ren, under tiio style and title of Hamilton <^ Warren, at St. Thomas, they afterwards built the Talbot Mills, ne .1 Port Stanley, which were unforlunately undermined by the current of the Creek, and went to destruction. Mr. Hamilton was the first person who established a reo-ular store in the Betilement. Ho afterwards retired from business, and becamo Sheriff of the Loudon District. From the year 1810 settlers increased annually and among others, who came to the settlement, was the well known John Rolph, an Enf;'lishman. Mr. Rolph located himself on a lot of land at Cattish Creek, in the year 1813. For some years, it would appear, Mr. Rolph was a frequent guest at Port Tal- • hot, and enjoyed the good will and hospitality of the Colonel. Tnd(^ed, ho was at that time so great an :ulmiror of Colonel Talbot, or alTected to bo so, thut t, » J I i I-IFK uf ('ULONEf. TAI.IJOT, 1^' I ho was iho. origitntor in tho yeai l8l7,of tbe Talbut Anniversary, which was liept up for moro than 20 years, to celebrata the day of Colonel Talbot's arrival at Port Talbot. Some further account of the Tulbot Anniversary will bo given hereafter. Some years after, it would appear, Rolph com- menced that career in politics, which hurried him into rebelhoij. While livinnr in the Talbot settlement he had so ingratiated himself with the popular party, in opposition to Colonel Talbot and his nominee, Curwell, that he was returned member of the Pro- vincial Parliament, in conjunction with Capt. Mat- thews, a retired olliecr, who became very dissipated, and courted popularity by bar-room or mob oratory. The following: anecdote will shew the estima- tion in which Matthews' character was held among gentlemen. " Having been fined 5s for swearing in Court, Captain Matthews objected that the fine ouffht not to be m'-re han Is. Mr. Tenbrook a facetious lawyer, immediately rosa, and, addressing the Court, said, Captain Matthews is right, the fine of OS is imposed on gentlemen, but, for blackguards, the fine is only Is! The secret of Rolph's real or affected veneration for Colonel Talbot, is said to have grown out of a desire to unite (he names of Rolph and Talbot, by . family connexion, llolph had sisters, and Colonel Tall'Ot lind no wife. The silken net was supposed to LIFJE OF COLONEL TALliOT. 45 3 Talbut than 20 's arrival ic Talbot pli cona- ried him ettlement lar party, nominee, the Pro- apt. Mat- lisslpated, J oratory, cstima- d among earing in the fine nbrook a ddressing , the fiuo ,ck guards, encration out of a Talbot, by . i Golonil ipposed to Lave been arlfullv spread, and it^va,s vaiiilv itnairincd that the Colonel would soon feel the loneliness of his situation, and become entangled in the meshes of love. The Colonel, however, it may well be ima- trined, was too old a bird to be caught in this so:t of way. lie had walked among th" fair of England, in the heyday of life, bedecked in brilliant plumnge, handsome in appearance, and polished in manners, and in every way adapted to attract the snnles and fascinalions of youth and beauty; anil he had come off unscathed. It was not likely that in after years, ho would allow others to cater fur him, or to ap- ]iroach near enough to put on the salt, lie was too old a bird for that, and ihi-j, it is supposed, rtol[)h fjund out, and therefore drew off his forces. It is not here intended to insinuate that the Misses Ilolph were any party to the schemes of t eir brother. In ordinary cases, the unpremeditated display of female charms, would have sufficed for the carrying out of Rolph's views, RoI})h was a smooth, oily-tongued politician, and with his kn jwledge of law and physic, was well skilled in the art of pleasing people, diseased either in mind or body. Some of the old ladies, and vain aspiring old men of the settlement, luive a higli opinion of Rolph to this day. As a physicnm, he must have excelled the famous Dr. Hornbook, immortalized by the poet Burns; and as a lawyer, he was no doubt 11 ^ ! 40 LIFE OF COLONEL TALUOT. equally skillful; but ;i8 a politician, he sadly disap- pointed the expectations of his warmest friends. Even Wnn. Lyon McKenzie, his brother in treason, lived to siigniatize him, for his treachery and coward- ice, and spoke and wrote of him, in terms of the utmost contempt. In the year 1837, Rolph, who lived in Toronto, was considered to be deeply implicated with Mc Kenzie in the outbreak which then took place, and fled from the Province, in order to save his neck, but returned after a few years expatriation, with other pardoned traitors, and lived in peace, practising his profession. After living several years in retirement, some of his former associates in treason, having taken a lead in public affairs, Rolph peeped out to look at the political atmosphere, and, seeing that all was safe, again made his appearance on the arena of pub- lic life, and being elected a member of the Provin- cial Parliament, became one of the ministers of the Canadian Cabinet; in which elevated position he (after having narrowly and undeservedly escaped tl;o gallows,) continued for some years, to the reproach and everlasting disgrace of those who elected him. In the Provincial House of Assembly, Rolph was confronted with hi^ old associate, W. L. McKenzie, who now met him in opposition, taunted him with his treason, and publicly held him up as one of the k ■ \ •* )' I ' ]M\: ov t'f):.'^Ni:(. tai.iu) r. meanest Iraitors, wlio liaa ever graced a gibbot. The elevation of such a man as John llolpli, to the Coun- cil of Slate, is a lamentable proof ol the degrading dei)th to which democracy would sink a government when uncontrolled by proper constitutional checks. Fvolph,it is said, gained much popularity by practis- ing his profession, wilhout charges, or at very low rates. CHAPTER V. American War, 1812, and War Storiks — Punc- tuality BanKL'JG and J. K. VVOODWARD. During the war witli tho United States, in 1812, Colonel Talbot commanded the militia of the District, a force then not numerous; and this West- ern portion of Canada, was more indebted for safety to the difUculty of supporting an army in it, and of finding an enemy, than to the force, which could bo broughi together to repel an attack. Therefore, only marauding parties found their way into the settlement — more in search of plunder, than with any view of fighting. On one occasion, one of these marauding parties, commanded by a man named Walker, presented themselves at Port Talbot, and summoned the garrison to surrender. T'ho garrison, it may be conceived, was not very formidable, there being no fortifications or troops, except a few of the yeomanry. Tho sudden appearance of these bri. ij 4 s LIFF, UF COLON EL TALLoP. gands, left not mucli tiiiio for consultation, and C-apt. Paterson, who cuiinnand'-'d tbo yeomanry or iniiitia, intimated to (Jjlonel Talbot, that as defonco was out of t!iG question, sauve qui pf^^^t, sliould ba the order of the day, and that ho, (ihe Colonel,) of all others, ought not to be found at home, to grace 'ho triumph of a lawless horde. Arc Jrdingly, as Commander Walker and his party entered the Colonel's Log Mansion on one side, CJolonel Talbot walked out at another door. Colonel Talbot, unlike the hero of Trafalgar, was unostentatious in his dress, and not particularly fond of military display ; therefore ho was not so easily distinguished from thoso about him, which facilitated his escape. Captain Paterson who hved to a good age, on a handsome farm, about live miles above Colonel Talbot's and in almost daily latere )urse with the Colonel, gave to the writer the fuUowinoj account of the takinci: of Port Talbot. " The prrty consisted of Indians and scouts from the American army, after the battle of Moravian Town, where the gallant Tecuraseh was killed, and where General Proctor so disgraced himself by retreating with his army, loavmg only one Company to face the on( ,vho ad< emy, wno were ni consequence maue prisoners. Captain Pattcrpon said, the Colonel had confer- red with him, when the approach of tl lie n)arau- ders was announced, and that they both agreed, it was iu vain to resist. The first of the enemy -'si IHi LIFT OK COLONEL TALBOT. i!) 1 Cap*. iniiiLia, was out ic order others, [riuinph maiider jl's Log [ out at hero of and not efore ho 3ut him, ison who jout five t daily riter the Talbot. 'rom the n Town, d where etrcating to face )risoners. confor- n)arau- agreed, Ic enemy who entered the premises, wns nu Indian, and tlie follow nig colloquy touk place, between him and the Captain: — •' You one officer," '' Yes," " what. cfiicer?""Oh! b'g officer,— Captain. " Oihor In- dians came up, and rushed into the house, when they saw Colonel Talbot walking off. '* Who that yonder," Baid the Indian, " ho big officer too?" '• No! " said Patsrson, '* he is only the man that tends the sheep. " At the same momcn^ two Indians had levelled their rifles at the Colonel, when the other called to them, not to fire on tlie poor man that kept the sheep, and thoy dropt their rifles; bat seeing the Colonel walk- ing off at a brisk step, the two Indians were not satislied, and raided their rifles, but they were ag;d i checked, and the CoLnel in the meantiiL'o dropt iiito the ravine, and wa?5 out of hight. Tiio premises were rifled, and everything that the Arnoricaufi could lay their hinds on, wa> carried off; some very tine horses formed part of lh<;ir plunder. What they could not take with tuem, that, wa-s ei'iier v;iiu\b!.i or fic-Tviceable, ihcy couiniittcd to the tLuiiCn a otherwise destroyed. The u'list null which Colonel Tftlbot had erected, and which had proved very ser- \iccable to the infant settlement, was totally de« ftrnyed. His cattle were all driven off, but his gold ?»bout two quart pots full, and somo plate, that were concealed under the front vr\vrr r^f ♦':>: h -•;<;-,, I 60 l.rFK t.F COI-OMCl, lAI ncT. I jjiirsuecl lii.-i V, alk tliroiigU the nyoocIs, leaving tlie sheep to take care oi themselves, and thus he es- caped. Colonel Burwell was uot so fortunate, for being confin« d to his house, with fever and ague, they gathered him up, and sent him off prisoner to Cbil- icothe, where he remained several months prisoner of war. Captain Wilson was also made prisoner, but escaped through the humanity of the chief of three Indians, under whose charge he had been placed, in consideration of his having a large family to pro- vide for. Colcn(>l Talbot, with his militia, was at the battles of Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie. At one of these places. Major Backhouse had ordered liis men to retreat, which Colonel Talbot being made aware of, personally rodo after them, andraado thera return. Durinir the ni^ht of the same enffnjxement, a droll incident occurod. A man named Watson, one of the Colonel's earliest settlcrE:, happened to bo without a gun, his own having been taken away from liim or lost, which the Colonel obseiving, reproached him with being unarmed. Watson made the best excuse ho could. "Take that man's gun," said the Colonel, pointing to a musket lying beside one who had been killed, and then you won't have to say that you have no gun. Watson, however, was in no way uneasy about being unarmed, and very naively -i I «: ! LIFE OF COLONEL TALBoT. ra ivirig the ma he es- , for being gue, they er to Cbil- prisoner of isoner, but ef of three en placed, ily to pro- yas at the . At one Drdered liis eing made uadn them ijinixement, d Watson, cned to bo awav from reproached e the best ," said the le one who ave to say , was in no cry naively replied, " Well, Colonel, I guess I ueror robbod the living yet, and I'm sure I won't rob the dead.'' As an incident of the war of 1812, we may mention that after the taking of Detroit by Genoial Brock, in the summer of that year, General Proctor was k'ft in command, while Brock returned to tho Niagaia frontier, and in IS 13 Proctor went and fouirht a battle with the Americans, at tho Iluisin River, and defeated them ; but afterwards, in conso- qiience of the capture of the British fleet on Lake Erie, Detroit had to be evacuoted, for want of sup- plies. The American General, Flarrison, followed the British, and a battle was fuuojht at Moravian Town, where the gallant Tecumseh was killed. It was on this occasi'^n that General Proctor forfeited his reputation as a soldier, and for his disgraceful retreat before the enemy, leaving only one compriny ofregidars, as before mentioned, with their In lian allies, headed by Tecumseh, to bear tho brunt of the battle, he wns tried by Court Martial,— Colonel Talbot was one of tho officers summoned to Quebec, to try Proctor for his conduct. General Mc Arthur, also marched from Detroit, with 900 men, and 250 Indians, as far a=i Brantford, but .ithout doing any other damage than killing cattle, and taking provisions wherever they found them. This body of men returned by way o( the Tal')ot Roid, and tho unfortunate sottlcrs wore sub- t.j ii i2 LITB. urCOLpPILL JALOOl. j,l U! jt'ctcJ lu their t.le|)roJaliM?is, but 8ii(yerc',r c<*^r."NF.i, T.uror. f. I il i llu.' early scttlrr** IkkI to do without inon^*y. Tliere >vas not a Bank or a Bank Office in the settlement— now, there are a dozen at least. So unaccustomed were the settler?, to tlie use of Bank notes in early times, that when Trii^colt v.^ Given, started a bank note Hhop in St. Thomas, many of the farmers seemed to think that they cfot money by merely signing their names, and sot little value on a bunch of bank notes, obtained for so slight a consideration; but a few montlis enlightened their understandings. The tirst attempt at banking in this settlement was made in the year 1834 or 35, when Mr. Wood- ward, an Englishman, undertook to operate for Mt'ssrs Truscott ik Green, who astonished the old foggies in Toronto, by the boldness of their adven- ture. Those sturdy old gentlemen, the Hon. Wm. Allan, old Chowvitt, and Thomas G. Ridout, under- stood very well how promises to pay in the shape of bank notes, could bo made to represent every- thing else but themselves, and the public long accustomed to the cautious siixnatures of these three Bank of Upper Canada OfHcials, had full confidence in their dingy oblong bits of paper, but neither one nor the other, could discover the wisdom or safety of allowing bank notes to circulate, which really in first hands repiesented nothing; so they determined at once, to check the circulation of these paper stri])'?, on the lonj- tail of a Hyinj kite- A ■■J I ! 11 LIKfc: 01 LUl.'»NKL lALlUji. 57 kite wuii't tly williout a tail made ot'blrips of paper ainJ string, and some weight to k(.'fp llicin down; nor oan a batik, issuincj notoa, long exist without a boalthy circulation. Now, to obtain this, Tniscolt tt Green, or tho Agiiciillural Bank, as it was cn- tillod, employed Mr. J. K. Woodward, who, liko the renowned Teelzel, tho vendor of tho Pope's indul- gences, in tho days of Martin LuLhor, soon attracted a crowd of needv customers, in search of bank note indulgences, as little likely to relieve them, as Teotzel's paper wares; and many of the farmers, too, prided themselves on having a bank c»f th.eir ov n, the Agricultural linnk; and some years after, the greatest political schemer, after Lord Sydenham, which Canada ever saw, Francis llineks, ini[)roved the idea, and with tlic aid of some Toronto j)oliti- cians, as patriotic as himself, estahlislicd the Far- mer's Joint Stock Bank. J. K. Woodward was tho agent of these Agricultural concernH in St. Tiioraas, as some of the settlers well remember to this day, and if they do not, they have only to step into Cen- tre Street, where they will see on Richard NicoU's lot, a tenanfJess wooden frame, wiihoiit doors or windows, and the words Agricultural Bank, painted in large characters over the m.un doorway of a skeleton buiMinnj t^ refresh their memories — like the sightless skull, described by the great sentiment- alist, w.m ryrs', son^ teeth^ sans evcrythuhj. 'l\\iderable sum of raonev. There are two earthly objects which men most covet and desire, women and money. Tho love of the former, cannot be two ardent, when it is pure, and the longer and sttongei the pa?sion be- comes, the more doea it enobbi and elevate the man ; 60 J.IFK OF C'oI.oN'KI. TAL^iiT. i m \<: I'i' .: \. but ihe Ir.ve of money lias just llio contrary eHict, and when a mercenary wretch simulates the ono passion, to g^itify the other, base'^oss can desccml no lower — lust anJ. avarice operating together beget meancss and hypocrisy. Woodward built an extensive range of houses in St. Thomas, which were rented for barracks, when troops were stationed here, and also purchased a very fine farm in the neighborhood. As long as tlia Agricultural interest supported the banking interest, Mr. Woodwar.l, appeared to be u ,icTi man., but hs j^oon as the farmers' bank notes declined in value, his wealth disappeared, like the baseless fabric of a vision. But Woodward was ready foi everything that ofl'ejcd; for he waa as loyal as he was religious, and, therefore, when the outbreak occured, he joined the St. Thomas cavalry troop, and became Lieutenant and Paymaster, in which rank he continued till the troop was disbanded. Nobody ever had an idea that Woodward seriously intended to fight, and be was the butt of the wholo troop. But he made them pay for their jokes, whenever their ne- cessities caused ihera to aniicipalo pay day. After the ch so of his military caree?, Wood' Tvard took a grist mill near Port Sumlcy, and lived for ponie time on tul!, and at, leni^th retired i\} Hnc;- Innd to rrsu>iie his old tra.ie, thong ii nobody cou;d cxactiv lOil whrd It was. Some men are said \^ I.IFE OF COLON EI. lAI.UOl. have good, and sotno to bavo bad characters, but, of Woodward, it may be said, hu had no character at all. AVheii Woodward terminated his banking: career for a time, bank notes were much scarcer ia tho settlement, but intrinsically more valuable, and many of the settlers had found out, that their own live stock, were much more useful than Agricultural Farmers' Joint Stock, or People's Bank Notos. Tney were now quite willing to renew their acquaintance Tvith the old chartered bank notes; but Hincks and his friends did not abandon them, for tinding bank- ing less profitable than they had anticipated, they turned their wits and paper to better account, by furnishing cheap news, and food for agitation, and soon the Exain'uier — Newspaper, circulated among tho farmers a.s freely as the Agricultural bank notes had done. From these small beginnings, we havo arge results. A magni6ccnt lino of Canals an I Railways, and a Provincial Debt that will last longer than either of lb em I Tho effect of these improvements has been to shorten the circulation cf bank notes, by hastening tho speed at which they travel ; for a bank note paid in St. Thomas to day, may bo in Montreal to-raorrow. To reflecting minds, and men acquainted with bank- iijg, this will appear no disadvantage, but rather a prote>'tion to the public, as if must havo a tondciiry i' t-1 LIFE OF rOT.ONEL TALBOT. to keep the currency of flv^ Jf")uiitry ia ^a']li-'ilt^i stnto. Having allowed the Colonel ample time to hansact Lis business at Little York, (Toronto) with {be threat officials of the government — among \Yhom he walked as a sort of independent Sovereign, — we AviJI return with him, to his usual routine. 11 V I I J s ■ 111 ! I J I CHAPTER VI. Tmt: ?>cotcii Settlers in Aldbcuo' — The Audience Window — Jeffkry Hunter — Extent of Land PLACED AT THE CoLONEL's DISPOSAL. Somewhere about the year 1818, a number of Scotch emigrants found their way into the settlement. Thene had tirst settled in the United States, near the Genesee Hiver, but hearing of the Talbot Settlement, applied to Colonel Talbot for land, and agreed to become pettlers under him on 50 acres of land each. This was strictlv in accordance, both with the en- gagcmcnt of Colonel Talbot with the British Govern- ment and with these settlers, and did not prevent them fr©m acquiring other bind, by grant, thiough Colonel Talbot, the same as other settlers, as thongli nopnch bargain for the 50 acres had been 4iiade. But, after sometime, a person named Blat/k, artfully instilled into the minds of these people, that Colonel Talbot liad been withholdintr from ihem 150 acrer. of land each, LUTE or COLU.NEL fALROf. 03 which [cjiuscd great excitement, at the ensuing elec tion, this absurd story was turned to political account., All those Scotchmen, who were lead to believe that thoy had been defrauded, became inveterate oppo- nents of Colonel Talbot and of (hose whom lie was supposed to tavuf. With a piper at their head, they marched in a body to the poll, to display their 'md*i- pendence, by voting against Burwell and Bostwick, who were friend: of Colonel Talbot. A more senseless clamor, it is not easy to conceive, than that which was raised against -Col one I Talbot by these settlers, who had only thomsolvc.'-, to blame if they had made a bad bargain. Thoy might have had more land, if thoy had chosen to have gon further into [the inleiior; but no, tlicy chose to lake 50 acres each, on the Lake Shore. The bargain was one only between the Colonel and ihemselves; he fulfilled his part of the agreement honorably, and these men, who were made the dupes of others more designing than themselves, had no just c'luse of complaint. To the honor of some of the Highlanders, be it said, they have Hved long- enough to acknowledge the injustice of the accusa- tion against the Colonel, while others havo always reprobated the conduct of their countrymen on that occasion. Among the niost respectable portion of the Scotch settlers in Aldboro*, are Angus McKay, Ueorofo Guno, Bannerraa!), mid others, who had M ' 1 !. I Kl f III I ! 11 M 1:; 1 „ 61 MFK OF COLONEL TALBOT. been in earlier days tempted to emigrate from Scot- land to tlie inhospitable regions of Iludsons' Bay, in order to form under, the auspices of Lord Selkirk, ix Colony at Red River. The dreadful hardships and privations encountered and overcome by those poor j)eople, during their stay at llud-ions' Bay, and on thoir journey to the Selkirk settlement, can scarcely be imagined. With their wives and children, they were frequently reduced to the greatest extremities for want of food, having at the same time, to brave the inclemency of the Arctic climate, and to travel through every kind of dilliculty, 1000 miles at least, before reaching the settlement — and when there, their situation was very little better. Finally, after enduring every sort of misery for several years, they were enabled to find their way to the United States, and thence to Canada, and settled in Aldboro*, where they live, in comfortable circumstances. The old people to this day, can scarcely refrain from shed - ding tears, when they are led to speak of the heart- rending scenes they passed through, in the North West Territory. As an instance of the benevolent disposition of Colonel Talbot, and the ignorance of the people with whom he had to deal, Mr. Munro has furnished the following anecdote: — '* In the Autumn of 1818, two or three of the Highland emigi ants arrived at the !*ixieen, (a creek) in I '^ LIFE OF COLoNEI. TAIUOr. <).> Aldboro', came to the Colonel for land, \Hiicli he at once gave, and by way of sealing the contract, treated each of them to a good horn of real whiskey ; and while at dinner, the Colonel paced the room, instructing his guests how to build houses, clear land, plant corn and potatoes, with other useful directions; beseeching them to be industrious, sober and peace- able. At bed time, the Colonel produced a pile oi blankets, and requested his guests to make their own bed. One of the party said, * We never made a bed!' — the Colonel took the maltras^, placed it on the floor, before the fire, brought the back of three chairs, to »he subserv'ent position of pillows, spread one blanket, then turned round, and said, 'spreai the rest of the blankets fc^irly on the top of that, and learn to help yourselves, in Canada.' The men commenced, but the Colonel getting out of patience with their awkwardness, look the rest of the blankets and spread them, at the same time, remarking, . LIFE ol CO LONE I, lAMiui'. |.:iiLy, lia*l, like the Jews ealing the [);is>ovor, Lu stand on their feet, the conversation was usually short and to the purpose. Of late years, the Colonel devoted the forenoon of each day, for the transaction of all business con- nected with land granting; which being generally understood, parties either made an early start for Port Talbot, or arrived there the evening before. Besides Colonel Burwoll, Colonel Talbot had, for many years, a faithful domestic,' J i.Te Hunter, in whom he had groat confidence, ii;id \/ho was very useful in reaching down the maps. Jeffery was well known to all who visited Port Talbot, for ho not only served in the capacity oi house steward and butler, but wailed at table, and was frequently the medium of communication between the Colonel and some late arrival in the kitchen, who took this method of breaking the matter ho was upon, to the Colonel. The guest at table, for Colonel Talbot was seldom without one or more, was more amused than disturbed by those short inlerruptions at the festive board. A few brief sentences sufficed, and the business was closed. In order to understand the extent and nature of Colonel Talbot's transactions with emigrants and settlers, wo may refer to the correspondence and other documents; laid before the House of Assembly in iho yoar 1830, and published in (ho Appendix' to ; .:(! t;? LIFE OY f OI.ONKL TAI.nr.T. ilie Journal of the House of Assembly, for tliaL year. The abstract from which we quote, is headed *• Statement of LanJs in the London and Western " Districts, which have been placed in the hands of '' the Hon. Thomas Talbot, under Orders in Oouncil, <* aiid Orders from the Lieutenant Governor, for the *' time being." From this statement we learn that the total quantity of land placed at Colonel Talbot's disposal, amounted to no less than 518,000 acres, lying in 28 Townships, and the population settled in these Town- ships, was estimated by the Colonel in 1831, at nearly 40,000 souls. These settlers were not like many others, who found their way at that early date into various parts of the Province, generally having some means to begin with ; on the contrary, the Talbot settlors were among the poorest of the poor, and many of them could not have struggled through, without his help and protection. CHAPTER VIL Letter to Earl Bathurst — Remunkkation for SERVICES — Jealousy op Officials at Little York. In the 5 ear 182G we find that Colmel Talbot was reduced to great straits, through his exertions to forward the interests of his settlers, as tlio following LIFE OF COLONEL TALnOT. 09 n,i»a«^raph in a letter from him to Earl liathurst will shew : — " After twenty-three years entirely devoted to •• the improvement of the Western Districts of this <' Province, and establishing on tlieir lands, about '* 20,000 souls, without any expense for suporintend- " ence to the government, or the persons immediate ly '< benefitted; but, on the contrary, at a sacrifice of •* £20,000 , in rendering them comfortable, I find '* myself entirely straitened, and now wholly without *• capital." •' 1 gratefully acknowledge a very considerable grant of land from the Crown," the Colonel adds, but that his \gricultural labors had been unproductive; wo can readily imagine, seeing how much he had otherwise to occupy his attention. In conse- quence of this appeal, Cohnel Talbot obtained, by way of remuneration, for services, £400 per annum. This allowance be it remembered, was not altogether gratuitious, but was for services which he continued to render, in locating settlers on the waste lands of the Crown. It may be here remarked, that there was never a man in Canada, entrusted with so large a power in the disposal of Crown lands, as Colonel Talbot, and certainly none, who could have used that power to a better purpose. If we inquire into the manner in which he executed the trust coniidod to him, wo I; t, n 1* I ^ ::i \''V Ml rV :l 1 Vi TO LIFK OF roLuNKL TALnOT. shall lind that ho, on all occasions, acted as the friend of the poor, industrious settler, whom ho prolecte' pruhibited the iiiuuJation of settlers from the United ■* States, and had authorized the Consol of New '' York to grant Certilicates to emigrants from the " United Kin ijdom for 100 acro;-. of land in Uppe ' I i I ' I .11 lii I a i n 72 LIFK OF COLONEL TALDOT. *' Canada. When these people discovered that the soil " and cHmate near to Colonel Talbot's setth ment were " favorable, many flocked there without ever pre- *' senting themselves to t'lo Government— and there *' found either a location of 50 acres as Colonel Talbot's ** settler, for which, he in return, claimed a grant of " 200 acres; or they found a location of 100 acres in " certain lands submitted to the superintendence of " that gentleman, as will be presently explained, and *» in either case the interests of the Colonial (iovern- " ment are implicated. When the emigrant, pos- " sessing an authority to receive one hundred acres of '* land, finds himself limited to the possession of fifty, ** and that the Government actually bestows on a *' stranger 200 acres on that account, no reasoning •* can lemove the impression of something worse than " mere absurdity.'' The entire paragraph hero quoted from Mr. W. D. Powcll'i report to His Honor Mr. Smith, intended at the lime as a reflection on Colonel Tolbot's proceed- ings, exhibits pretty clearly the animus by which the then Executive Council was governed. To de- signate Colonel Talbot, who we have seen bad deserv- edly risen high in His Majesty's service, and had merited the warm culogium of his representative* General Simcoe, as a strange)', in contrast with the newly arrived emigrant, was an expression ill chosen, by the organ of the Executive Council, d:c„ and im- cy LIFE Vi< COLON LL TALP.OT. h O properly .ipy.lied. What, after all, does the compluint amount to, why, merely that tlie emigrant preferred' mottling under Colonel Talbot, and the reason is given in the promised explanation of Mr. Powell, namely , lipcnuse, — " The emigrant, applying to the Govern- '"or in Cjaacil, vecoivol it \ is true, an order for " 100 acres of land, but he could not take possession " until the survey moncf/, if not the patent fee wa« "paid, when if he passed by the Talbot School town- " ship road, lie founil 100 acres to enter uodii "without i^ivance."'' Here we perceive that envy aiid jealousy operated with thi Executive C/ouncil, (piite a> micli ;n a desire to bcneiit the emigrant, envy at Culonbl Talbot's ac'juiring 2 00 acres of land, for piacing a set tier on 50, and jealousy, bccau.-^e tho oniigrant preferred settling under him, beyond the reach of their control The fact is, in Colonel Talbot* the poor emigrant found a protector, who took an interest in his welfare, and who nourished him m Iiis poverty. CHAPTER VIII. Iaimclii: — HicKCKV Qr.wiERs— I'n. Di'Ni.or. With respect to tho inundation of settlers from the United States, which is spoken of in the foregoing quoted paragraph, tho loyalty of tho sctthMnent "ijd(r '.'(.]< \u'\ T.'ill.iot'- cSUp'Tinti ndcr.'M', wa^^ not /^ r f 74 LIFE OFCOl.ONKI. IALB<>| iiupaiKid throuL;li liis means. The grofUor j)ait ol those wlio foind \\\o\v \v:iy into Cannda, and settled under Mm,' (lid so, Ix'caupc they preferred living ind'T (he Britiyh Crown, and the iidiabitants of tho Talhot Settlement, hav,' ever been as loyal, at least, as any ])nrtion of the Canadian eonimunity. It is worthy of remark, that tho most of thoso who took any part in the onll-reak of ls37, wore settlers who had ae.jnired their lands l»y purehase from iheso patties to whom the Ciown had iL,^ranted th(!in' Im lore C'olonel Talbot ma- proaeh ; not b<'cause th''y W(3re Quakers, but l.kin;.: '"T liiii! ( 'dlntifil .')i J rn 1 1 li ,M< ■ I, lib or CULoNKL TAl.r.OT. 75 lor ])f^it ol and settled cried living Lj\nts of the yal, at l*'.'ist, mity. It is iO wh<~> took sotllers wlio from tlioso nutod tlioiir ioiition; auil ich h<5 li'i'l \;liip of Var B was .1 Tiian I-; KlV) of tli»' ird Joiinthiui 1, cniigi'Med ^■rc II species UlU'd /f/'-Ay)rv ^ guidtvl by duct is gooil prevail-'. I' In, torm of i<'- but, iM'iVUj:-' !4, or baplai! tcriiity, Nveu' not roco'»'iiizcd as suoli, by their nioro oithouox hrctlirou but it is a notorious fact, that in the work of sedition and treason, the spirit movoon peaceably ridinir tlirough tho south of Yarmouth, and wherever he apiiearcd a f^ilont commotion arose.*' As tho smooth stream slides noiselessly along in proportion to the, depth of its waters, so the friends of peace, iinpellcvl each otinn* forward, to intercept the rushing tide of loyalty. Trained to tho doctrino of passive obedience, and non-resistanco, thoy might he supposed a'? intending to throw tliemselves in tho way, between two contending forces, to prevent ions view, i 1 lay *• Altlimij^h tlio owner T^ado his escape afterwards, l!i ^ (•iv.'un ('nl(i!('(l liorso (h(l not. fur lie was seen freuuenlly ii ) he ranks of t lie lnyjibsN and ■•i])i>e;i rod (piil ca'-; re.'Kiy ;:n(i t'or- \\,'ird !'• oni
  • | rulnii, I'toctor Willsdn, who sidis*M|urntly ]Mit, in a claim inr liini hel'dre the ("onunissioncr appointed to s(MIIo fr's cliar^or, wlii!' th' v a(biiirc']r ill tini(«:(W' war and rrbfllicn m 'li '16 r.ipfi or coi.oNKi i.ii.iioT. f !? 1' I ^ i: supposed, Liiat they equippe'l a party -jl' their young men to march to Oakland, the rondevouz of Duii- comb's rebel force, to act as a wall of partition between them and tlio fast approaching loyalists of the west. Their good intentions wero raisinterpreteil. Their Commissaries, Elias and Joiui, with beef for the supply of the sons of peace were seized anjiilli from liis joiniii'j; in the l.uig'b, His tlirco reasons tur x)ot goin^ lo (yjiuicli, savoured more of fuu tli;inreligioi)— 1st, said lie, Because one man has all the talking. 2iiii, IJticausclhey siuf^ without drinliiti-^. 3rd, Because a nam ' • '.no to nict't his wife there. ■'^wi 1,1 1'F. or f'MT.t.NKI 1 At.B'ir. •ir young i of Dui\- partition )yiilists of terpreted. Ii beef fui and their ill tiic ait n, the first these, one other lived ew him. ih occurre'l r advanced raph frou) wilh wit known Dr. stature, to now that arly appli- *''Iliis country," sajf? Dr. Dunlop, "owes its settlement to tlie pers0 miles of him, and oommeuced his arduous undertaking by (Uitting out roads, amidst much head:sh?iking from tho sage and sneering from the ignorant. " " I spent a foihiigl't with liini, some 18 months ago, and certainly ouc '-if his levees with his settlero, would, if well reported '"> unite as amu-^inj; as one of those mornin"< at Bow Street — that about the time 1. loft T/mdon, wre. Avho may he I rsalion ^\ii^ •.istns, wliicb > reason-^ lor linn n-'b}j;hvp.— llkiujr. 2ii'i. knii-c a "1"" Tho. Doc'or -vvn^ a meniher nf tlic Jlou-c v\' A.ss('nibl> I If had fnr his /■«('/■«/, Jcniniy J(»hnsfon. a luinioroiis litllr III I'.tnaii, ami \ho. lion was John Prinoo. Tlie'Sf luiniod fi Conimittco ol" lliroe aiipoiiitcd to lost the qii;ditio~. of mall and spirituous liquor. Dr. lluulop and Jctniny .lolm^loit dtci(lc(l in favor of tho latter, (.\«loiu;l IMiuco protvirod .'vfalt . ■is tho most T\']iol('soiiio, wliidi lio lias* proved hv t">uIt.^ \vi hi- two joUy Odiup'nmon'-. I' I i 'I' (5. ;:'! ( ;|t); 1 t ^' » ^. LIFE OF COLONEL lALBvi'. sLyied by Koiiie wag, the l^adiug articles of tho Mornhig Herald.'"' " The whole of this tract is watered bv beau- tiful s'.ieams and rivers, aiany of which are even majestic. Among these may be enumerated the Thames, which originating within 40 miles of Lake Ontario, runs parallel to Lake Erie, and discharges itself into Lake St. Clair.'' According to Doctor Dunlop, the officials of Little York, to whom reference has already been made, seeing what a valuable tract of Country Colonel Talbot had got mto, and had 0})ened up, became desirous of acquiring a portion for them- selves, tlieir kitli and kin, and gave him mucli trouble and annoyance; but the Colonel's influence and energy defeated all their projects, and the country is now filled with valuable settlers and industrious farmers, instead of its lying for many years a " bowl- ing wilderness," as the Doctor expresses it, ke[)t in that state, in order that some day it might rise in value to feed the folly of upstart heirs of needy and gra8])mg courtiers. The independent situation in which Colonel Talbot was pla<^ed by the Home Government, was no doubt L source of annoyance, occasionally, to the Provincial Government, and it must be confessed, that his manner and bearing towards tho«e officials wlio were in aulliority, was not always Ihe mosl b( ill r LIFK oF (.'Ol.i.'Ni;! I A I !',« 'T conciliatt.Tv. oi- ev<'U lunrlcou--. S.iii-ii.d wii.li llit; oorrec'-iiess of his pruceeilitigs, luulei the .'unngoMK'Hi lie had entered into wiih the Britisli (lovernmcnt, Colonel Talbot was little disposed to subniii to any interference on the part of Provincial Ollioials, who derived their authority, as it were, second hand, while his sprung from the Fountain Head, renewed from time to time as occasion required. CHAPTER IX. Tai.p.ot Annivku^^ary — St. Thomas — Oorxrv of Elgiv— London Distiuct Officials — 'i'liF, Haii- Eis Family. While the bettlement was peopled generally, only by those people, who might bo tei-nied the fir-st setilcrf, belonging to the venerable corps of pion- eers of the forest, and who had been witnesses of Colonel Talbot's valuable exertions, while ])arlicipa- ting in the labors and privations he had undergone, these settlers did not fail to coinnieniorato the day of his fust arrival, as a day of festivity, by tliniun- togalher and by a ball. In the first years of this celebration, the Talbot anniversary was commemo- rated in a style of rustic conviviality, the company being composed almost exclusively of men, who had chopped out their own fortunes, and of women lit to rear and nurse their hardy sons and daughters. Among these (he Colonel never failed lo .'ipp<^ar, t = ■0 I.I ft: ')K vOI.ONKf, rAIJit.T. M». / v ; I'i ii. •Iiai'i- ill tlic jov V..I llif oC'-nsicji), aii day of May in each year, the back- woodsman ab'indoned liis toil, (lircw Itv his axe, and took his partner under liis arm to the anniversary 'i'ho ample board f^roaied nnder such substantial faro as the settlement couM afford, and after the cloth v/as removed, a iiuntlred r'l '.tie voices r-?sp(»nded to the King's health. " The day and all who lionor it," elicited a stentorian thuul, which made the welkin ring, and the " Hon. Thomas Talbot, the founder of the Talbot Settlement," was drowned in bumpers amidst deafening cheers. When the «torm of voicea had subsiT. Rl (laiicc or tlie Cotillon, einployod llic legs, wliile tli(» arms tuji^ycl a holiday ; tlio lads annising iIkmubcIvcs over and unon, clipping something in the style of the Spani.'ih Fandango, to elieor up tiic dance. But in pnigress of time, as the population Itecamo less homou'eneous, and strand-era to the fcclinf's of the early Fct tiers became more numerous, the Hpirit of the anniversary was lost. The peasantry found tliem.selvcii elhowed out of soci.My, by their consumers, and home>pun groy and blue sloekings liad to give place to silks, scarlet and gold, and every variety of fashion I Instead of shewing their partners how to cut the figure of eight, crossing hands without ]iraso goes among farmers, for fear of a soft thump, from some charming dear creature, or of a poke from some moustached Son of Mars, who formed one pair of a long chain, rapidly whirling each other round to the music of Straus. This is Mo faui.'icd pictur"'. The unnivrsary was cel-biated r II 8 I, I IK Ol'' t'UL'>NKL TALUOI. I ; li (i ^^ ■i'!l hisl, (li.iriML^ ilia two years of tho robollioii, wlioii tho military luul been introduced into the woo.ls, with a (l«'!^reo of splenlour unknown to tho omniaia f/alho'ums of former days. At first, the admixturo of scarlet and gold, and blue and red, witli u coires- pondinc^ display in the dress of the ladies of tho settlement, and a full military band, discoursing swoot music, dazzled tho eye and delighted the ear. Uut it was observed that the old settlers dropt oil', the anniversary had become too refined for them. The display of military uniforms interlaced and surrounr a century, was disc )ntinued. Tho giUant '' )l.)nel, now Gonoral Wetliirall, and tho other ofMceis of the garrison at Loudon, were among the guesls, on one occasion ; and, what was a strange eoincidenco, on another occasion, the oQieers of the S5lh Regiment, whoso Head Quarters were established in St. Thomas, in the year 1838, added hrilliau'-v to tho scene and festivities of tjic : t I.IFK Of COLONEL iAI Bol. S3 hen oils, I urn cturo )irc3- [ the v.sing 1 llie ittlors ed for rlaced which novel (^uad- l they thcrs, ItViug a miver- bcd in luartcr loiidon, I, what )n, the >uarters 1838, of lll(> luiiiivor.siry. This IlMiinent Colonol T.ilhn had commanded at the early ago of 22 years, w hen the spot on which tlioy now joined, with his settlers to do him honor, was a dense forest. The Talhot Anniversary was always held at. St. Thomas, after the iirst few years, except ono year when it was colehrated at London. London had now hecomo n. town of eonsiilorahlo import ai.c^, and the prediction of General Simcoe was verifiec^ It had become the chief military depot of the wc-t. Its garrison thou being composed of two regiments of infantry, a company of artillery, and a well ap- pointed Iroop of Provincial Cavalry; and the old settler had lived to witness the prediction realized. The town of St Thomas, where tne anniversary was celebrated fur s») many years, now the capital of the County of I'^lgin, was named after the Colonel; althougli ho never appears to liave aspired to the rank of a Saint i!i the Calender. The scenery around St. Thomas is lovely from every point of view, except where tirt has spoil't the face of nature. The Kettle Creek pursues its silent course through the deep valleys, which nearly surround the town, and from the hi-rhland, on which it is built, the eye is refreshed by rural landscapes, of the most pleasing description. For many years this delightful spot was thinly inhabited, and although na ture had done so much for it, art had done little, and that little very ^ .* IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. /, ^ A. Q... V] <^^ A A c^l /% \> VI % '/ -<^ 1.0 I.I f i£ 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 11.6 Photographic Sdences Corporation s. iP V s ^^ ^\ '^ V o^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 h4 LIFE OF COLONEL TALHuT. I] II iS ' k ill 't^\ II .1' villi awlcwanlly ; tho princi[>lo street being crooked, and wooden builJings perched endways and lengthways, on the bi'ow of the steep banks of the creek, exhibiting all their posterior irregularities to one another, and to the traveller from London. But, since it has become the County Town it has improved rapidly. Tho courthouse lately erected is a very handsome building, and commands a mrgnificent view of the surrounding country. Substantial brick stores and elegant dwellings have displaced or overshadowed many of the ricketty wooden frames, which are falling into disuse; and numerous sidewalks, now planked, enable the inhabitants to perambulate the town, without fear of having their boots wrenche'l off their feet, by the stitf muvl, through which they had to ])ick their way, in times* prior to the last Talbot Anniversarv, At the present time a railroad, tho London and Pc/t Stanley Railway crosses tho town, and passen- gers can trav^cl in less than an hour, the distance from -■^'.. Thomas and London, about 17 miles which in early times it took them a day to accomplish. By means of this railroad, the Town of St. Thoinae has rapid communication with every part of North Amerioa, and travellers can reach Quebec, New York in the East, and Detroit and Chicago in loss timo than it took them ton yeaars ago, to stage through to Hamilton between 80 and 90 miles. LIFE UF C<)LONEL TALBOT. 8i Tlie County of Elgin comprises Seven Townships, formint^ tlio most compact portion of the Talbot settlement, namely, AMborough, Diinwich, South- wold, Yarmouth, Malahide, South Dorchester and Bayham, and extends from oast to west, about 60 miles, and from north to south about 15 miles, throughout its Avhole length fronting on Lake Eric. With the exception of some portions of the Town- ships of Bayham and Malahide, the lands in this County, as a whole, are scarcely equalled in any part of the Province, as tested bv the superior quality of winter wheat raised on thorn. It has also the advantage in point of climate, over the interior part of the settlement, from its exposure to the refreshing: breezes of Lake Erie. All the fruits indigcnoous to the northerly parts of America, and many of those of more southern climes, are grown in abundance. Even peaches wero iu abundance for some years, and no doubt will be so again ; but the severity of the winter a few years ago, destroyed the trees, and none have since grown. In those parts of the Townships of Bayham and Malahide, where the soil is light and sandy. Pines, are the priuci pal trees and afford a large quantity of the best qualities of square timber and lumber for market. The villag^-js of Vienna and Port Burweli arc chiefly engaged in the lumber trade, of which th ey supply largo quanii- !f r I II I 86 LIFE OF COI.oNIll. lALHoJ ties for the United States market. Tho growth of timber throughout the County of Elgin, ia generally of the very best quality, embracing beech, maple, oak, wahiut and butternut, with othcr^ kinds indioa- 1102: a rich soil. The number of persons assessed in 1858 in this County was 5793 Acres of land do do do 430,830 And the total value of assessed property $4,083,544 St. Thomas had been originally intended for the County Town of the whole London District, now comprising the Counties of Middlesex and Elgin, and a beautiful plot of ground, now the residence of E . Ermatingor, Esq., had been designated and was long known as the Goal and Court-house Block, but it was supposed, Coloucl Burwcll, who was certainly of a viudiclivo disposition, frustrated this design, because ho had been rejected as the representative of Middlesex; whoso constituency, at that time, generally resided on the lino of Talbot road, cast and west of St. Thomas. At the time of which we now speak, the Court- heuse was at Victoria, in the Long Point country? now the Talbot District, where all the officials of the District resided, that is the County or District Judge, James Mitohel, Esq., a veteran who had decided the case ot many a bottle — the District Treasurer, John Harris, Esq., an old sailor, whose blunt rnd jolly ; 'I' I 1 iiilt LIFE OF COLONEL TALBO l". 87 manner, was no barrier to hii acquiring iiifluGnco with tho great, and Jack Harris was as familiarly known, as honest Enos Call, in St. Thomas, and J. li. Askin, Esq., Clerk of tho Peace, whose bluff manners and abundant chop stulf, was a good ac- companiment to Jack Harris' boatswain whistle. Besides these, there was old Sheriff Rappleje, and several lawyers, tho present J udge Salmon among others. All these resided in tho vicinity of Long Point, and when the court was established at Lon- don, travelled thence, generally, along tho Talbot Road, to hold court, a distance of 70 miles. Tho first stage was to the widow Coltmau's, thence to St. Thomas, and thence to London. At these differ- ed places all matters connected with the business of the State, were fully discussed, and rampvint toryism was master of tho ceremonies. These were the good old times, such as Dame Quickly spoke of, and how- ever necessity and forca c circumstances may have effected a change in mens* opinions, none will say that there was not as much real happiness in those days, as at present. Of ihose personages above named, none were more conspicuous than Ju^k Harris. In the naval service he had learned to spin a yarn, and if a story required stretching, Harris would do it. He could draw a long how, as tho phrase i^'oos, and on thif> II i 'i I 88 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. ' I \' ifli ■1 ■ 1, 1 I li!|i ■Il:ll account acquired a fame which few men in the settlement could ever hope to attain to. By degrees, the officers of the court removed to London, ar.d Mr. Harris was the first to build a house of consider- able dimensions, on a handsome piece of ground, highly elevated above the banks of the river Thames. This house was long the resort of the first men in Canada, and in this house the venerable founder of the Talbot settlement lay, during his first serioua illness, while on his way to England. Every mnn of rank or distinction, who visited this part of Canada became the guest of Mr. Harris. Mr. P. Thompson, the late Lord Sydenham, the various Lieutenant Governors and Governor Generals, and Mr. now Lord Stanley, were among the number. To be admitted at Mr Harris,' was like gaining admission to the saIo?t of one of the aristocracy, conspicuous in Europe. Mr. Harris, himself, was a plain, seafaring looking man, without much polish, either in manner or expression, but Mrs. Harris was both handsome and clever, and wuih her accomplished daughters rendered her house attractive to all lovers of good society and agreeable entertainment. During the time that London was occupied as a garrison town, and one or two Regiments of the Line, a Company of the Royal Artillery, and a troop of Cavalry, were stationed there, every officer consideiied it part of his ;£8 I ! .111! LIFT OF rwLOXl'.l. TALBOT. Mn duty to pay his ilovoirs to the Harris,' and for some years their house was the resort of all the fasliion- ablo people of the neighborhood. It appears strange, but it is no less a fact, that men with their wives and daughters, who had or liavc become distinguished in every part of be world, have been entertained at the Harris/ Besides Lord Stanley, mentioned above, wo may name Generals Wetherall, Markham, and Iiiglis, die, (fee., &c. It could not be expected, however, that all the gallant Sons of Mars, or votaries of fashion, would escape, unscathed, the fascinations of Mr. Harris* friirand accomplished daughters. Nor did they, for Cupid's uarts were so true to the mark, in more than one instance, and made such a deep impression, that no hands could extract them, or heal the wound, but those of the lovely Miss Harris.' The rest may be imagined, they married in high life. Many were the sneers and envyings of persons, who thought themselves as good as the Harris'; (for such feehngs will accompany people even into thi woods,) but for my own part, having experienced kindness and enjoyed tho hospitalities of Mr. Harris' family, in days when their sun shone bright, I do not forget that it has been overcast by the clouds, of sorrow, for the loss of the head of tho family. Mr. Harris having died some years ago. I J ' I, no ' i jf ITFE OF COIONET. TAT EOT. CHAPTER X. London — Rogers' interview with Colonel Tal- EOT. The Town of London was survoyed and laid out in lots, in tho year 1818, partly by Colonej Burwell, and the lots were mostly given out to actual settlers, by Colonel Talbot, on condition of settlement duties being performed, and a bouse built thereon. The fulfillment of thes*^ conditions was closely watched by the Colonel, and as tho town grew, he was continually pestered by persons desirious of speculating on the lots. Then it was that those levees, of which Dr. Dunlop speaks, were held at the reception window, and the following is a genuine anecdote of one of his mornings, ** A Patlander who had heard of Colonel Talbot's reputed eccentricities, thought he would take him in his own humor, and accordingly made his way to the well known window, where the cackling and fluttering of poultry soon announced his arrival, and brought the Colonel to the spot. And, * what do you want!' the first invariable salutation, con- vinced our adventurer that he was in the right place. * I have come, Colonel, to see, as I have a large rising family, whether you could'nt give me 2 or 300 acres of land.* ' Devil a sod,' was the reply. I ■■:*■ 1: ITFE OF { OIONKI. ■lAl,B..r, VH t Weil, I was thinking Colonel, if I got a grant of Ian J I could make some improvement in tlie seLlle- ment.' ' I dare say you could, but I have got no land for you.' ' Well, I always heard Colonel, Lbat you were a good friend to the poor, and — ' ' I want none of your blarney; you can have 100 acres in Tilberry West' * Faith, Colonel,' r?joined Pat, ' I think I've coma far enougu west already. Per- haps y'er honor could give me two or three lots in the town of London.* *They are all given out already — I have none in it, to give' — ' but stop, hero JefFry, hand me the map.' JeflVy, who was the Colonel's shadow on these occasions, soon spread the town out before him, and after conning over it for gome time — ^ Yes,' said the colonel, * here are two lots on Simcoe Street, you c^n have them.' ' Si mcoe Street, where'U that be? may bo it's in the woods yet! Pm a bit of an ould soldier, d'ye see Colonel, and always like to face the enemy,' said Rogers, with an aroh look, * aud would thank you to give me the lots, as convenient as you can to the Goal and Court-house.^ But the Colonel had no other lots to give, and Rogers was about to depart, ^^' n the thought struck him, he'd try the Colonel's patience a littk further, come what might. So be turned as the audience window was about to close, and, * what do you want again,' struck his oar.' * T was think • I. M r»? ].]\''K .11' t'i rOVl'l. T U.l:i'r, I i !l I iiig Culniicl. lli;»t t.lii'i(; are' some s.''.u.leiii("'iit. diiticv^ to he done on the lots in Simcoe Street, and soni«' sort of houses to bo put on tlieinV 'Yes,* wan llio reply. ' If I niny be so bold then, at wliose expense will thi'. bo dono .' at yours or nunc (\jloneH' This was enoiigli, the (Jolonel merely replied, • at yours to be sure, and you may tako your-elf off.' The window closed, and the interview t(>rminatcd. The lots were neglected till recently, but are now in an im[)roving part of the town, and becoming daily more valuabl(\ llogcrs did not ijo farther west, but settled himself in St. Thomas, where he now owns real estate worth from XlOOO to £2000. As has been already stated, tlie town of Lon- don was laid out in 1818. At this time, the site of tlic town was gencn lly known as the Forks, from its being situated between two arras or branches of the River Thames, wliich unite at the entnmcc of the town from the west. London is built on tho table land, stretching several miles east from the Forks* The streets are laid out at right ano-les, and the principal ones are at least a mile long. Twenty years ago, there was scarcely a respectable house in the town. It now contains Ioug: ranojes of handsome brick buildings, and a population of 10,000 souls. It is central to a large extent of well settled country, and all the leading roads, east, west, nortii LIKE OV CuhuNM. lAI.UOl •j:i utiJ soutl), are made to j.ass right through it. r'or inauy yeans at'ter London liaH been mado tho County town, the roads leadini^ to it wore travel- led with difliculty. From Haiuillou, tho stage took fivtiuentlv three days — the distance is now travelled in twelve hours, and from St. Tlionias to London, 18 miles, was sometimes a haiil days march — tho liverv 8tai»le hacks, arc now i'jrced through in two hours. From almost any p irL of the Talbot Settlement, the traveller may i^o in twenty four hours to Toronto, with eaijp, il was then tour hard davs' wcjrk. Sucli has been the progress of improvom«,'nL and tho facilities of Lravellinij;. The Greuc Western Uailroad lias its central Depot in the town of London, which will make it a place of great resort, and some of its more sanguine inhabitants fancy, that when the Thames is made navigable, so that steamboats can navigate its waters up to tbe town, it may rival its great namesake of old England. Tliis is too niueh to expect, but its progress has been surprising, and a few feet of ground now, costs as much as would have purcha^^ed the whole town, at the time Colonel Talbot located it. Contrast London with the village of Port Stanley, the principal shipping Port of the whole settlemeiit, and we see at once tho elfect of hi.-^ wise plan of not allowing tho lots to be bought up by one or more speculators. Those who drew lots in Lon Ion had t<> improve and build houses on f ^1 04 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBoT. » 111 tliera. Wlicroas the land at Port Stanley was all in llie handn of one individual, and its long slagnant condition is the effect of monoply. London is now a large lloiirishio.g town, and will Hoon be a city; while Port Stanley is yet only a village. ^Ihe foregoing was written some years ago, since which time the town of London has become a city ; and, like many oLh^r places in Canada, it has over- grown itself. Not only has the Great Western Railway, a principal station there, with large ranges of buildings and workshops; but the Grand Trunk and London and Port Stanley Railway Companies have stations there, so that there is communication with every part of Canada and the United States by Railway. The part of the city, which was first built, and where the Court-house now stands, has gone greatly to decay witjiin the last few years, and, in fact, it looks very much like a mortgaged estate, which the proprietors never intend to redeem. The piincipal part of the city is now to the eastward, and it is a curious fact, that Dr. Elijah Duncomb of St. Thomas, had his name entered for the lot on which this part of the city stands, when he first came to Canada, at $2 J per acre, and gave it up on account of its inacccsibility, for want of a bridge across the Thames. A great part of this land may now he valued at i!!r lOL<»N'EL iAI.Ilul. '.»5 CITAPTEllXI. The Bi'iLDiNfjs and Domf.stic Kcoxomy of Port TALnOT— How THE WINK PKlED OUT IN SuMMER Visitors — Ex-Siikrifi* Parkins — Thk Colonel's Pest — The I*eu\nt. i^iflTirult as woro the roads twenty or thirty years ago, thero wore nono bettor than those of the Talbot Settlement, even in the more densely popula- ted and earlier settled part of the Country, where the influence of government patronage, was more felt; and neither the deep sunk ruts, nor the disloca- ting corduroys, prevented a constant stream of trav- ellers and emigrants from finding their way to I*ort Talbot. Thither every new comer sped, not always like the dove in search of land, returning with oaken leaves in their mouths, but frequently, more like thp ravens going to and fro. And the Colonel, unlike Noah, did not open the window of his ark, to take Ihcm in, but ho usually shut it to keep them out. Here for the information of the virtuosi, and all who take an interest in primitive architecture, and the domestic economy of a bachelor's life nt Port Talbot, we will attempt a description of the exterior structure of the Colonel's domicile, and its internal arrangement. In the construction and furniture of his house, Colonel Talbot seemed to have adopted Lycurgus' ordinance, levelled, it is related in Plutarch, or. 1,1 Fi: ^>F COI/.NKI, TAIJ'.oT. I 1) ill' lU'l P : i 1 i I I i H> t !; 'i' ;, against mugniticence .'ind expense. By this on I in- ancG it wan diroctecl that the ceilings of the houses should be wrought witli no tool but the axe, and the doors but the saw. This was, literally, the case at Port Talbot, for the 'Jasfcle of Malahide, there erected, (frequently the resort of the first men cf Canada, as well as of England,) was neither more nor less than a long range of low buildings, formed of logs and shingles. The main building consisting of three divisions or apartments, viz., the granary and stor3 room, wdierc hung the venerable yellow dyed sheep skin coat and cap, occupied the east erul, through this vou passed to the audience chamber and dininr: rootn, whence by an easy transition, Jcffry was wont to slip out and in from the kitchen. " Here will I roost," as srud the Colonel to General Simcoe, and here it may be said he did roost, and he was not the only rooster, for the Dutch piazz i in front of the building, formed nn inviting lodging for numerous beads of poultry, and these, with the dcs. gave early notice cf the approach of strangers . In the centre room where the Colonel transacted all his business ard received all admitted visitors, the furniture was of the plainest kind, consisting of a solid deal table, a few chairs with skin bottoms, chests and a cupboard. The ample fire place was the most comfortable looking thing in the room, in cold weather. This venerable apartment might M t LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 07 .his ordin- the houses KG, and tho the case at ;ro erected, Canada, as ]csi3 than a loa's and r of three y and stora dyed sheep k1, through • and dininr; y was wont lere will I imcoe, and yas not the ront of the T numerous ;. gave early transacted isitore, the isting of a n bottoms, place was ho room, in ■nont might have excited the admiration of Oato the Censor, ov tho praise of Diogenes, but Co^ nel Talbot's economy was more in appearance than in reality, for he neither drank bad wine, nor starved his servants or cattle. Although his faro might, bo called homely, it was frood, and his wine was always pronounced excellent. lie was so very particular about bis wine, that be always had it brought up in double casks. Having been recommended to a particular wine merchant in Montreal for a supply, that gentlemen (Mr. Logan) on his first application, had told him that he had none good enough for him then, which so gained the Coloners confidence, that ho never applied to any other wine merchant for tho remainder of his life in Canada.* Besides the l)uilding we have spoken of, he had another contiguous, containing a range of bed rooms, where his guests could be made comfortable for the night. In his latter years, ho had added a suit of rooms of more lofty pretensions, but without disturb- ing the old tenements, and these sumptuous apart- * After (ino of liis trips to Eiiglrind, the Colonel was tr.ivclliii^^ with ono of iiis brothers on his w;iy to Port. Talhot, thiougli the' United t^tatcs, who like many other old countrymen found fault wiih everything he met with, pnrticularly tlic wines, he pronounced to be execrable. ••< Kcver mind," ^^^aid Colonel Talbot, " you shall have some good wine at Port Talbot." Accordingly, not long after their arrival, (he person he had left in charge, was called upon to jtroduce some of Logan's liest port, in order thai lie might Kcleeni In? pledge, and cleanse liis brother's mouth of the \illnijou.-- htuiT he liad drank in the I'nited folate. . Tli'' i : I I ' ill i ! 1 I \'.-^ u t !U^ l.TFL OFLOLONEL TALT50T. mcnts were re?»eiTcd for state occasions. Before this time nutnerons had been the oruests of exalted rank wlio liad visited Port Talbot. Indeed, it was only after the introduction of Responsible Government in Canada, that the Governors of Canada omitted to make a tour as far as Port Talbot. This channrc of Rjstem l«rought a different class of men to Canada, to p'eside over its destinies. Prior to thi^ time, every man of rank who hal visited Canada, had visited Port Talbot also — aud not o'ontlemen onlv, but ladies were sometimes attracted by the fame of the extraordinary individual, who could re.-^ist their charms. Among the former we may name the Duke of RichmoTid, Mr. Labou- ehere, Sir Peregrine Maitland, Sir J. Colborne, Lord Aylraer, Chief Justice Robinson, and many other distinguished men, besides a vast number of respect- able emigrants, who paid their respects at Port Talbot. These all ex[)erienced the Colonel's hos- pitality; but, what was more to his credit, the poor deserving settlors wera not sent empty away. These man afToctcl to go nftor some, l)ul soon returned witli the doleful intellif^jf'ticc tlint llie cask wa:^ empty — that there wa^ Tione. • 'Xonol" paid the Coh^uel, who liad never allowed liirnsclf to he "without good wine — " None, why wliat has become of it?" The servant being an Irishman and liavin;^ a fair share of that mother wit, for which his countrymen are famed, was no way at a loss for a reply. " Wliat none'" said t1\c Colonel, with evident snrprie-o. " NoUv', \ » )• ludior, il all dried up ^ith the lio^ T\'caliirr!' ' LIFE OF COLONEL TAl.UOT. 00 5 fore this Ited rank was only imonl in nitted to iliangc of Canada, , who ha 1 also — aud sometimes individual, ho former r. Liibou- rne, Lord any other Df respect- at Port )nel's hos- the poor These -that tlirre liad iievci' None, wliy n Irishman which his loss for ^ ith evident ith the hot. n' were resigned to Jeflfry's care, who knew liow tu administer to their wants, in a manner coii^rcnial to their rank in lile. Notwithstanding,' the many years, while the settlement was in its infancy, when he was confined to the .society of the early settlers, wh^j were neither polished in their manners, nor relined in their tastes, (being generally of the poor and laboring class of people,) Colonel Talbot maintained, in a peculiar degree, the dignity of his rank and station, and while he expected respect from all who approached him, Irom the Governor to the peasant, he treated his visitors in a manner suitable to their deserts. Even while he has been obliged to superintend the culinary department, to entertain distinguished visitors, ho has been known to throw off the cook's apron, and ])re8erve the same demeanor as if he were surrounded by all the elegancies and conveniences of life. The fact is, a well bred man is never at a loss to maintain his self-respect. Occasionally, however, the Colonel has enter- tained persons, who ought not to have been admitted to his table. The notorious 'Mr. Ex-Sheriff Parkins, c f London, (England) was one of these. This per- son being one day at dinner with the Colonel, made use of language about a friend of Colonel Talbot's ^vhich was distasteful, and upon which the Colonel remarked that he did not permit such language to be l\ I |! I .^h 100 l.lhE Ui CO;LONEL TALBOT. II ! i ' : i 1 \ TiiaJc use of at his table. The Ex-SherilT imme- diately liftinpj the edge of the table cloth, which discovered only a pine board, impertinently rejoined; '^ Your table! do you call this a table?" " Jeffry, let Mr. Parkins' horse bo brought to the door," was the ready reply. Of the thouBands, who called upon the Colonel at Port Talbot, a few measured their own merits by his condescension, while others made use of forcible arii'umcnts to obtain their endg. An old Scotch- woman wo are told, the wife of one of the early settlers, was so impressed with the belief that the Colonel, and all he possessed, belonged to the settlers, that she made no difficulty about requiring one of his horses to go to mill. " Indeed," said the Colonel, I will give you no horse." " You won't, won't you,' ' said the heroine, seizing the carving fork, " we shall see whether you would rather give a horse, or be run through with this fork!'* The Colonel retreated, calling out, "Jeffry, Jeff ry, order a horse for this Scoich d 1." This was done, the Colonel's pest, as bo termed her, went oflf satisfied, and in due time returned the horse. A very different character once approached him, a Pedant, who lived in the Township of Howard, and spent much time in collecting long words from the Dictionary. Such characters ; among an illiterate populntion, frequently pass themselves off for men ■l\ LFFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. ini iff immc- th, which rejoined ; Jeffry, let " was the ) Colonel merits by f forcible i Scotch- the oarly that the ,c settlers, no: one of Q Colonel, Dn'tyou," " we shall so, or be retreated, for this lel's pest, due time od him, a »vard, and from the illiterate for men m X\ of learning, and of superior wisdom, mi;i ^vhen iliis desire of distinction has root merely in vanity, lli»io is not so much harm in it, but when the afleclation of learning is only assumed to blind thp, eyes of the ignorant, or serves to conceal the vices of a sordid mind, it is pernicious in the extreme. However, Colonel Talbot was not the mnn that would allow himself to be smothered with long sound- ing words, and while the Pedant was making a dis- play of his carefully selected vocabulary, to detail n local grievance, or rather to lay a complaint against one of the settlers , ho was cut short by the Colonol , who accosted him in a manner to dispel any expecta- tion of his being imposed upon by pharasaical cir- cumlocution. *' What the hell do you mean, man ! if you do not come down to tho level of my poor understanding, I can do nothing for you." The man profitted by tho rebuke, and commenced in plain words, but in rather an ambiguous manner, to state that his neighbor was unworthy of the grant of land he had obtained, as he was not working well. " Come out with it," said the Colonel, '' for I see now what you would be at. You wish to oust your neighbor, and got the laud for yourself, but I'll be d d if you do." The man took himself off iiicon tiuently. Tho Colonel had discovered the truth hidden in a multitude of words . Many attempts of this kind were mado ai Port Talbot. lu-J ^ t, . ii r i i 11: ' 1 1 1 1 '1 ! il i '1 ,' 1. 1 '' ''' i; i 1! ' ■i ' i ;; '.'1 i i . h>:< ! ■ LIKi: I'F C'OI.OXKI TAI.Bivr. CHAPTER XIL (JOLONEL Talbot at a Political Meeting in ?t. Thomas — George Lawton. Colonel Talbot, although ho naturally took a livaly interest in whatever aftected the welfare of (•anuda, scarcely ever interfered in politics and personally took no part in election contests. It was, however, very evident to all who knew hira, that his political sentiments harmonized with the principles of the tory school in this Province, and Jeffry, who was his alter 'dem at the Poll, always voted for the tory eandidate . The Colonel, being a Legislative Coun- cillor, never voted himself, although he saldom took his seat in the Council. The only occasion on which he fippeared personally to identify himself with any political partv, was during the time of Sir J. Col- borne's administration in tho year 183— , when the liberal parly were agitating the Country by every means in their power. At this time it was clearly foreseen that the result of their proceedings would bo rebellion. In every part of Canada, the Agitators , of whom McKenzio was deservedly considered the chief, had aroused a spirit of loyalty, which spon- taneously burst forth and expressed itself in loyal addresses, to the Throne, adopted at public meetings throughout Upper Canada. At these meetings the proceedings of tho Agitators were universally con- I.IFh "I" tJtiI.'»S'b'I. 1 U IMi' lit;; ly looli a relfare of litics and . It was, 3, that his •inciples of r, who was jr the lory tive Coun- ildom took on which f with any \r J. Col- when the by every as clearly igs would [Agitators , dered the ich spon- in loyal meetings le tings the sally con- (i; il-.-iniK't!. aiul iho udiuinistiatioii ul' Sn ,1. '!.,lIjornf- was highly approved of. On this occasion, Colonel Inibot considered it hisdntv to como forward, and docUire liimself openly as opposed to the faction who were disturbing tlio peiiO(! of tho country, and to sustain the administrator of tlio Government. lie llierefore called a meeting of Ills settlers, to take placo at St. Thomas, on St^ Goorcro's Duv. At this meeting which was tho only one of a political natnre, that he ever attended, that I am aware of, tho settlers manifested by their appearance that they still considered Colonel Talbot as the Father of the Settlement, and worthy of their highest regard. Among those present, were the Nevilles, tho Pearces, tho Patersous, the Bohiers of Dunwich, the Manns, tho Mandevilles, and a host of oihers, too numerous to mention. These men never swerved from their allegiance to the Crown, and were never wanting in respect to their benefactor. Many of them have since departed this life, but the same sentiments animate the breasts of their numerous offspring. The black sheep to whom the Colonel .alluded in his speech were the Teeples, some of the Davis', and others of tho Schoharie line as he distinguished those persons who had emigrated into Canada, from a place called Schohario, in tho United Stales. i t. I > .. II : I S . '1.; I. n I m m i\ If ^^ '^l:^ii I > 10 -I J.IFK (>y I'OLONKJ. lAUiO'i. Tliese bottlers who had come into the seUlement at u later day, did not appreciate th.e Colonel's exertions, and wore too ready to join in the ranks of his oppo- nents, and the opponents of the then existing Govern- ment. The men who at this time were so discon- tented, had in reality little cause to complain. They were generally the proprietors of fine farms, and all the taxes they had to pay were a mere bagattelle. Indeed they wore among the must prosperous and independent class of the settlers; but unfortunately thoy were acted on by such political agitators as Rolph and McKenzie, who bad commenced a politi- cal warfare with what was called the Family Com- pact, and who, to accomplish their objects, made use of every means to excite the prejudices of che people. The Family Compact, were those who were in possession of the most lucrative offices under tho Government, among whom there were some promi- nent names, such as the Boultons, Powells, Robinsons, Strachans, (fee, &c., and these with their numerous family connexions, presented a formidable array of talent , as well as numbers. Like all men in similar circumstances, the Family Compact were iicl always as attentive to their duties as they should have been, and their elevated positions rendeied them objects of dislike to the popular party, and excited the envy of man of §fr©volling minds, who can discover no merit M •1' ll LIFE OF COLONEL TALUOT. 105 meiit at a exertions, his oppo- rr Govern- SO diacon- in. They tis, and hU ■bagattellc. )erous and fortunately icvitators as jed a ]ioM- amily Com- jects made idices of i-bc 57ho were in under tho Bome promi- 1, Robinsons, Li- numeroUB ble array of icn in similar "le v.ci always Id have been, \ta objects of the envy of Uer no merit that docB ro. centre in themrelves, and who a»'c ever ready to enJeavor to bi! j* iown others to their own level. The McKcnzic party, however, as if deter- mined, that the predictions of the result of their ao-itatiou and seditious proceedings should ho veri- fied, did not relax their eitbrtK, until they had gone ihrouch an unsuccessful r iomin at rebellion. Long before the time appointed for the meeting, a large party went out to meet the Colonel, on the top of Drake's hill, as it is called, from which a sj)lon- did view of St. Thomas, which it coram inds from iho west, is afforded; and accompanied hy a ])and of music, escorted him into the town, amidst the waving of flags and banners, encribed, The Hon. Thomas Talbot, Founder of the Talbot Settlement, &C., &;c. The roads leadi^jg to St. Thomas, were alive with people from every part of the Settlement, many coming jforty or fifty miles to respond to the cah of the Founder of tho Talbot Settlcmaiit. As the hour of meeting approached, one dense crowd surrounded the platform, which had been erected outside of the St. Thomas Hotel, and when the ven- erable Pioneer of Port Talbot, made his appearance, the joyous multitude greeted him with cheers, long and loud ; but there were some who ranged them- selves in knots at a distance, and looked upon these manifestations of respect with no favorable eye, and ?on i prcdiciionH i ml of tho nvy, w'liich Iress which : iind sage isiivni wnich i ^vc•re prcs- i-om poverty \s\[\\ them, uiniifuetiired hands stuck i^ood looking ould swallow pains he had in the settle- ;sponse tVom prcseut, and edge. Ln, ^vilh sev- iieeting in a nplause. He le scttlcnieut, to people il tiers, such as [le, '• in spite o-ot into the 1,00 r' '\i I 1,1 FR OF COLONEL TAI.BOT. lOV Ah an instance of the great respect in wliicli lie was held by the many Imndred settlers, who respon- ded to his call on this occasion, it may bo stated that being aware of the Colonel's aversion to political dis- cussion or altercation, no other person attempted to address tho meotinf^. All felt satisfied with tho sentiments he had expressed, and appreciated tlie advice he had offered. As ho had arranged, a loyal address dictated by himself, was then read to the meeting, and submitted for their adoption. The following paragraphs from tho address will afford a tolerable idea of tho prevrdling political sentiments of his settlers at that time. — at least all these who were not infected wiih the rot. *' Deeply impressed with a lively sense ol iho manifold blessings we enjoy under the protection of your Majesty's Government, established in this Pro- vince, we beg to assure Your Majesty, that the in- habitants of the Talbot Settlement, (with the excep- tion of a few only,) in no wise participate in those feelings of discontent so recently manifested by a few disaffected individuals, who, nicking religion sub- servient to their political designs, have by tho most insidious arts and flagrant misstatements, endeavored to eradicate every true British feeling from the hearts of Your Majesty's loyid subjects." " Whilst the subjects of mighty Empires are borne down by the woiMu of 1 eavv (axes, distractod \ lOH Uriii OF COL«)NKL lAIJiOi, 1 1 I \< !|-/ I'll V i 1 ; ]: j. ^,l' \ hhhi ',, f; by inlornjil cdniinotiona, and allliotcil with m.iny rc:il grievHiiccs, the iulial)itanta of tins Sottlemout, id common with their fellow suhjoctsof Upper CnnadR, gratefully acknowledge that tliey enjoy, through the Messing of their Almighty Father, a greater portion of rational freedom, civil and religious liberty, and peaceful contentment, than, as they believe, any other people on earth. Their taxes are light, and applied to useful purposes; their Laws, constitutionally made, with the assent of the representatives of their own free choice, impartially administered, and their commerce encouraged and protected by the mighty arm of Britain." Such were the fervent feelings of loyalty which animated the breasts of the great majority of the settlers at that time , but, the Colonel was right, the black sheep were infected loith the rot, and they never recovered. The disease, too, spread till it broke out into overt acts of treason, and involved some of those who had found their way into tho Settlement, without the Colonel's advice or assist- ance, in ruin and misery, even to death on the gal lows. The beautiful Township of Yarmouth, whicli, as we have already made mention, was the land first selected by Colonel Talbot to found a Settle- ment in, had been granted to tho Baby family, and others, and had been sold b)f the proprietors to a different class of scitlcrF to those intended bv the Lim or COLONSL TALDOT. 109 many veal ,lemout, in cr CaiifidR, llirougU tho Iter portion liberty, and e, any other and applied stitiilionally lives of their ;d, and their tho mighty ►yalty which jority of the vas right, the it, and they jpread till it and involved ,vHy into tho ice or assist- on the gal iouth, whicli, Iwas the lanii and a Settle- family, and iprietors to a ndct] I'V tbc ■4 Colonel, a society of Friends, who set up their own narrow views of religion, in opposition to the great bulk of all civilized nations, and set at nought the commandment of (iod, to keep holy tho Lord's Day. Although they claimed tho privilugo of being exempt from war, they did not fail to cncourago sedition, and in tho meek garb of friends of peace, enrolled themselves in tho ranks of faction, and quitely lent a willing hand to uproot the institutions of the country. Among this band of meek brothers, an English- man, named George Lawlon, had purchased a lot of land, and although a hard working man, made it his b isiness to sow discontent amonrj his neiohbors. Lawton was a man of strong mind with a voluble and boisterous tongue, and was well educated in the Manchester school of politics. At the meeting we have been speaking of, he was one who stood aloof, but the rancour of his tongue, after the proceedings were over, did not fail to create a row, and his life seemed in danger; his heels, however, saved him; and this was not the only lime, for, like the deer in the fable, the member which he prided most, led him frequently into danger, while tho limbs which he made no account of, (his legs) carried him out of it. In McKenzio's outbreak of 1836, Lawton became a leader among the Spartans, as the South Yarmouth troop of rebels were called, and marched J ; K i » if ! \ I I ^ 110 LIFK OF COLOMKL iALliOT. to join General Dr. Durcomb's army, [assombled at Oakland. The troop reached the placo of rendezvous in time to fly before McNab's forces, which wero in pursuit, and Lawton [escaped the gallows by run- ning away. A curious anecdote is told of Lawton. Being implicated in the Bristol liots, while the offi. cers were in search, he fell sick in the place of con- cealment, and it was reported that he had died. To put this beyond dcubt, the funeral solemnities took place, and in the meantime Lawton escaped to America. After some time, he found his way to Port Stanley, where among the persons he first met was one of the mourners,' who thought he had fol- lowed him to the grave ! So the story was related to the writer. True is the adage, a man that is born to be drowned, cannot be hanged. Lawton was neither — for after having remained in exile, for several years in the United States, he was allowed to return, to live in peace once more, under the Government he, with others, would have overturned, and died a nat- ural death, the possessor of a valuable property which he leU to his offspring. C isombled nt rcndf zvouB vbich were )ws by run- of Law ton. lile the offi- lace of con- d died. To unities took escaped to i his "way to he first met ho had fol- was related born to be as neither— ieveral years 3 return, to ernment he, died a nat- ile property l.iri': OF COI.nNKI- TALROT. CHAPTER XIII. Ill TiiK Colonel's Religious Profkh3ion — Rkasons FOIl NOT SIHSCUIBING FOU A MkKTINO IIoiSE — (lEORGK Elliot's Itinerants. Various conjectures and surmises were cntcr- tiiincd of Colonel Talbot's religious belief. By some he was considered to bo a Roman Catholic; by others, not far from a free thinker; arid some set him down, H3 a man of no religion at all. But, wo have liis own words and acts to shew that he was a professed member of the Church of Euglnnd, and we know that he contributed liberally towards her f upport. llo was the owner of two pews in the church of St. Thomas, and subscribed, and paid toward the sup- port of the clergyman when called upon. That he WIS lax in the performance of his religious duties publicly, for many years of his life, cannot bo denied, bill this will less excite our surprise, when we con- sider the isolated situation in which he was placed, and the total abienco of all example to inlluence his conduct, in a religious point of view. Besides this, there can be no doubt, that there was a peculiarity in the disposition of Colonel Talbot, which led him to eshew all appearance of being controlled by others? either in his religious or political sentiments. In this respe:t, wo have reason to believe, Cclonel Talbot was no worse than many of his earlv associates, and tliat he was quite as religious nn n , 1 1 ■i! i ■; ' 1 ' 1 1 1 1 ■' :; 1 ( { ■ ! II 1^ 1 1 1 i w I 112 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. vast number, who lufiko greater pretensions and who are at all times within reach of places of worship, where the very first order of talent is employed to conduct the services. In religious as well as civil society, there is a very marked distinction of classes, particularly in the Church of England; (althougli there is no positive necessity why it shonld be so) fashion governs the attendance of a great portion of the aristocracy , and all who follow in their wake. For instance, if you go to any of the churches in the most fashionable parts of the great city of Loudon, (and it is a good deal so in the cities of Canada,) the attendance at Divine worship in the forenoon is highly respectable, the church is surrounded by carriages, so that there is scarcely room for the poor, but goto the same churches in the afternoon, and you find]more than half the pews are empty, with a few scivauts scattered here and there; while the matin worshippers are disporting themselves in Rotten Row o7 Hyde Park, by thousands, on horseback or in carriages of the most elegant description, and of every conceivable form, to suit the taste, pride, or vanity of the owners. Such scenes are more attractive than half empty churches, therefore ii is no wonder that thousands of pedestrians, who have nothing but their best clothes to exhibit, throng the Parks to walk and criticise their superiors in rank. When men of rank do condescend to attend Divine worship in the after- LIFE or < oLoVr.l lAl.l'.OT. I ].] an( I who f worship, nployed to ?ell as civil of classes, (although nld be so) , portion of their wake rches in the of Loudon, Canada,) the foi-enoon is rounded hy for the poor, lon, and you ', with a few lile the matin Rotten How teback or in and ofevjry or vanity of ,r active than wonder that ;mg but their to walk and men of rank in the afier- noon they may bo set down as truly (■vann;.lii-al wo shippers, wlio are governed by icli'^nous ni'»tiv«.',s rallior than fashionable ones. Colonel Talhot was nii aristocrat, there can be no doubt, in the highest sense, or porliaps it wouM he more applicable and express the meaning bettor to say, he was an aristocrat of the Wliig school— that is a school formed of younger sons of nol)leniei), and men of high connexions, who have to support a liigh rank with slender maans. 'J'o do this thev often ft/ quarrel with their fathers, and shew their independ ence by differing with them in polities. But when- ever men of this stamp come to Canada, although they always profess to liave been Whigs in the old country, they become Tories here, lest tliey should lose their identity altogether. For in Knglaiid Whigs and Radicals, are distinct classes; but in Canada, there is no such distinction, and a man must be either Tory or Conservative, or Liberal an-1 Radi- cal, and in the latter case, he inutt, avoid every appearance of aristocracy, if lie wishes to succeed in politics. Now, at Port Talbot, the same opportunity uf attending religious service in the conipany of fashion- able associates, and men of rank, did not occur, and there was nothing attractive onougli as a mere mat tcr of form, to draw him once every third Sunday , several miles from homo, to hoar onlv, perli.'ip^^ ;,. ill •vt I I >. f J ^ i ': 3 ' !» 1 : -; 1 ^ ' '■■ I- 1' 4 ' ;!^ ■ ■V:i U-l I Hi;' cjv r'uiu.VDJ. T u.i."i' dull and di.'Wsy sermon, fi the .-'^rvirr'..j.ril"'>inu'.i iii the oold listless manner, so usual in remote country parishes. Here Colonel Talbot erred, for his attend- ance at church, (and so with every other man of rank ii: isolated positions,) would mat(Mially tend to stim_ ulate the zeal of a clergyman, in the correct perform, nnce of bis duties. But, altnough Colonel Talbot did not habitually attend public worship, he was not altogether without the benefit of clergy, for the Rev. Mark Burnham, who officiated at the church iu Dunwich, five miles iibove Port Talbot, every third Sunday, where dwelt a few families, the Patersons, Pearces, Bachus' and Bobiers, — some of the Colonel's most steady friends and ablest settlers — for many years never failed to visit Port Talbot on his return home, the Monday following, where he was always an expected and welcome guest. The Colonel was fond of com- pany, when he could have visitors on his owii terms, which were generally adapted to suit the quality of his guests, and like most great men, who have to bottle themselves up from ordinary visitors, the Colonel could relax, and lay his ears open for news from different parts of his extensive settlement. He could also indulge in jokers and witticisms, the un- natural offspring of vice and virtue — or a double entendre. It must have been rather a bold venture tor a young clergyman to co?ne in contact with a ■A Ml 1,1 1 ii. vi L'>)I.'"»N M- I M.ll'JJ' no couiiUy tiis attend - an of rank u\ to sliin_ ;t perform. 1 liabiliuilly er without Bunilvam, , five miles lay, "wliere zesy Bachua' Qost steady years never home, tlio Ian expected lond of corn- own terms, e quality of bo have to |isitor3, the m for news itneut. He ims, the un- •or a double lold venture tact with a 4 ^1 I Mitiii III Twliiiu'l 'J'albul's wit lUid iac\ liuint)iii', and a iiiaii who \vc)uld startle at thj very idea of being priest ridden; in fact, who would be much more likely to saddle tlie priest — but the revjrend gentle- man bore with Idm a long while, till at length finding that he was not making any progress with the old gentleman, in a religious point of view; on the con- trary, that his sallies cf wit became more frequent and cutting, he left him to get to lieaven without his assistance. Colonel Talbot was never pleased with himself for having said or done anything to provoke the dis- pleasure of his reverend guest, but being in the habit at table, after dinner, of smacking his lips over a glas3 of good port, and cracking jokes, which extorted from his guest a half approving smile, he v^^as tempted to exceed the bounds which religious or even chasto conversation would prescribe, and came so near proving in vino Veritas, that the reverend gentleman would never revisit him, although I believe it was Colonel Talbot's earnest desire that he should. Here a few remarks suoffrest themselves as to the evil eftccts, of placing young men to rusticate i:i remote parishes, almost as soon as they have entered into Holy Orders, and there leaving them with scarcely any earthly object to excite their ambition or sthnulate their zeal, for ten or twenty yea-s more or loss, of that portion J thoir lives, wlien thev IIG LII L OK tol.uNKI. I Al.tiul I 'I! ■! I I luMiltl I)"' iiiilaily contact with men of supoiior iiifeliinoiKM' and rclig'ious experience, to correct and remove the prejudices of Sectarian education. Too often such young divines are sat over congregations, witli an over estimate of tli^ir own acquirements, and at a time of life wlien thoy require the wisdom of ago and experience to nralure their judgment, and wlien tliey are as incapable of receiving religious instiuction as they are of imparting it. But althousih Colonel Talbot made no oiuward fchew of religion, he gave sufficient evidence that he was not void of religious feeling. His was the reli- gion of the heart, and not of the lips. His religion taught liim to perform the pait of the good Samara- tan, and few mo:i have given better proof of their desire to do good. For many years he kept open house for his settlers, and fed and entertained them, even with his own hands performing the offices of a menial for them. To this fact, hundred of settlers can testify. If Colonel Talbot did not merit the character of a devoted clmrchman, he could not be charged with encouraging dissent, as the following anecdote may servo to shew. The Rev, Mr. S — a Congrega- tional preacher, who could, like the Apostle Paul, say these hands have laboied and mil istered to my own wants, once calle 1 on tlic Colonel, when the follow- ing charnclt^rislic colloquy look place. ■^3 1,1 FE OF COLONEL TAI.UOT. 117 )i'rGct iind ioT") . 'i'lJO •lOTfitions, lirements, ,e wisdom )'mcat, aiid cr religious no outward ice that he ras the reli- lis religion od Samara- of of their kept open ,inod them , offices of a of settlers Icharacter of largcd Nviih jcdote may Coigfcga- llc Paul, say I to my own the foUo^Y- " Good morning Colonel," said the Reverend, and — •' What do you want ?" was the reply. " We want to make some improvement in our nei'diborhood ?'' said his Kovercnc(r, " and — " "^There's much need of it!" said the Colonel. « ' We are going to build a liouse." •' A house for what ? "A house for the worship^ of God ; and I jlI^t came to solicit a subscription." '• I'll give you nothing," " Why not, Colonel?" '* Because you gather a parcel of you together, sing a psalm, howl and yell like a band of wolves, then go and cheat your neighbor, and come back and sing a hymn over it," The Rev. Mr. S who was really a good, well meaning man, and certainly more like a suc- cessor of the Apostle, than many of our Bishops and Clergy, took the Colonel's rebuff in good part, and was even constrained to admit the force of his re- marks. Mr. S was one of the early settlers, and ever entertained a sincere respect for Colonel Talbot, who, ho said was a good man ; and this was the testimony of the most sensible an i loyal men in the settlement. While the Settlement was in its infancy, as was goncrally tin case throughout Upper (^inada, at that t '• ^1 i' ^i ' Point, having been caught in an intrigue with^another * On ono occasion being in debt to a man named Sutton on -i' nolo for .'J^'iO, the man pressed him for payment, br.t Elliot only wanted to pay liira in trade — that is, sell him goods at a price without reference to value or original cost — l)at Sutton wanted, money. " Well," said Elliot, lot nio see the note." Sutton handed him the note, and Elliot very deliberately tore it in bits. Then to appease the man, paid him iu trade. On another, occasion Elliot, for a stiiall LIFK OK COLUltKL TALriOT. 1 PJ man's wif^;, he was Uogiaded from the office of Minis- ter, and he removed to Talbot Street, vlicre he obtained land, and set up a store. Having already committed the crime of adultery, be udded thai of bigamy, by marrying a second wife, while the first was living in Ireland or the United States. By p.irismony, cunning, shaving and fraud, this worthless character, accumulated a largo property, but the arm of the Lord overtook hinii in the n ' -st of his sins, and he died, unregretted and unhonored, like the beasts that perish, a miserable exap:plo o^ iho folly and wickedness of worshipping the mammon of unrighteousness. After the settlement had got into a flouriihing condiuon, another of these itinerant preachers came over from the United States, to enlighten the settlers, and the following account of his pregrinations ap- peared in one of the local papers, cautioning the in- habitants to look out for a wolf iii sheep's clothing. * The Rev. M a few days ago crossed over from Detroit, and wended his way into one of the amount bought of a minor (the heir) a fourth of his interest in a 200 acre lot of land, a valuable farm. Made out the deed, l)ut instead of the 60 acres, Inserted the whole lot, and the lad signed it. Some years aiter it was found the fHtlier «iad made a will, and Elliot was baffled. Ho had the cool ftfTrontcry to prosecute his claim for the money advanced, in the Court of Qucf-n's Rrnch, where liis villanv was fullv exposf'd. 120 LIFK or COLCNEL VALBOT. i! i< < western Townships, whore he pro ached, and wai afterwards entertained bv one of the settlers. Beinnr in a very ragg:}d and destitute state, tlio settler lent him fi new suit of clotlics, which he had by him, and in these lie w«s to preach on a certain day; but inslciid of keeping his appointment, he proceeded to another Township, 50 or GO miles distant, where ho collected a congregation and, preached the word. I'^ero he arranged to preach on a future day, and in the meantime desired to edify some moro of the stray sheep at no great distance; but being wearied, one of his hearers, acting the part of the good Samaritan, set him on his beast, having only a haher and skin saddle. Being thus clad and mounted, \m revereneo .proceeded a sufficient distance, and poured the waters of life freely on another congregation where mec'inij beiuii concluded he made a fresh appointment, and borrowed a saddle and bridle. Thence he journeyed eastward. By this time, t'jo first victim had started in search of his clothes, and tracked the preacher to the place where he had borrowed a horse, the owner of which joined in the pursuit, and the two wero not very long before ihey discovered the man who had ler.t the saddle and biidle, and where a congregation had asserabledi nccorJing to appointment. After a friTuless pursuit, npplicuiion being made to a magistrate in St. Thomas, it was discovered that the reverend vaga- f.^ 1,11 L OK CUL«»NKL lAlIiOI IL'I , and was IS. Being settlor lent 3y him, and 11 day, but )roceedcd to t , where ho 1 the word, day, and in noro of the 'hig wearied, if the good only a haUcr |raounted, his I, and poured congregation lade a fresh and bridle, is time, t'iO clothes, and ore he had ch joined in [y long before Ihe saddle and ,d assembled J itlcss pursuit, istrate in St- ivercnd vaga- huud had decamped, luu'ing lirst -Id the li ant n,J ippoi iitments Such wer."^ some of the spirit ujil ii^liU whioh dawned on tho settlomont in early days, hut as ha^ alreaily been stated, when tlie settlers li id overcome the dilhculties of openinnj U[) the forest, and had ac<[uired abundance of tlic creature comrorts of life, and the wants of tho body were \\o\\ supplied, tho welfare of the soul became a matter of more solici- tude. Ministers of religion became more permanently located, and with them, dissension and sectarian strife entered into iho settlement, and became the pn)liiic 80urcc of political and religious warfare. The poverty of tlie first settlers and Iho want of education, rendered them an easy prey to the cant- ing hypocrites, who infested the sottlemont, and who found it much easier to excite their feeling ■; and to work upon their prejudices, than to instruct them in the duties of practical piety. CHAPTER XIV. Hon. Z. HuRNHAM — A Wolf in Sheep's ci/JiiiLNG— - The Indignant Pretender — A knowinc; s^fiot. A character worthy of a place in those inciuoirs, and one of Colonel Talbot'.s numerous vi^itnrs, ^^'as the .11 jii. Z. Runihaiit, The life of ||,p Hmh, Z;ic<\iv\i l;iiih;iiii, r,;tl:.-i k i i r' Ol mm M' if LIFE OF I'ul.uNKL rALlJOi. <»f' tlic K(!V. iM.uK 15iunliiim, affords an e\'aiii|»]e of the suoc'(\ss!ul career of one of the pioi...crs of lliu forest, UMsur[)nssed, ire(jualk'd in Canada, and holds out an encouraging proapect to all who fpursuo the peaceful arts of husbandry, with industry and perse- verance. Ho came first to Canada, from New Hampshire, in iho United States, about the year 1797 — having followed hU brother, Asa Burnham, q land surveyor, who liad preceded him . Several other brothers settled in Canada, about the same lime, and in the same neighborhood, — Cobourg and Port Hope. Zaccheus Burnham, was a powerfully built man, more than six feet high, with a fine, manly <;ountenance, and a clear head. His first essay in the woods of Canada, was distressingly unfortunate, for he nearly chopped his foot off the first winter, and was laid up most of the year. This misfortune, to a man who had only his axe to depend on, was very trying and particularly unfortunate for a new begin- ner in the woods. Mr. Burnham, however, nothing (lauiiLed, persevered in chopping out a clearing, and so far succeeded in settling himself in life, that in the year 1800 he went to his native country for a domes- lie partner, and returned the same winter, with a voungwife, with whom he continued to live between 50 and GO years, on the beautiful farm he owned, adjoining the court linuse, at Cobourg. This farm ronf^i.'ts of ''00 ;u:reN, ono h:\U rl'^nred^ nnd in a high » LIFE OP COLONKL TAUJOT. V2a st.'Uo of cultivation. To have ui.kIo suoh a properly by (lint of labour ulono, would li;ivo boon work sufli- cicnt for tho life of an ordinary ruiiti, but this wag a siuull portion of tho property ho died jtosseesi'd of, after having expended very considerable sums of money on his children, and grandehildren. Lookin i^V i .1 labor .»!' many years, ft is interesting to note i'rom wliat small boginning.s sucli great results are pro- duced. A Per several years' labor and privations, Mr. Diirnliam succeeded in purcliasing two ewes. These were ojtlicr lost or destroyed; then he travelled at least 100 miles, and brought home two more, on«3 of these died, llic otlier lived to produce lambs, but these were all destioyed by the pigs. At Inst he managed to purchase half a dozen sheep, and part of these he lost. At length ho had »*aiscd wheat enounh to buy a cow and a yoke of oxon, and from this time ho began to prosper. VVhen the war broke out with the United States in 1812, Mr. Curnham's was almost the only farm along the road where supplies could be obtained, and troops on the Ime of march quartered and provided for. This alibrded him a good market for his spare cattle and surplus produce. A good foundation being tluis laid, everything he touched scorned to prosper, ilis increasing wealth enabled him to assist others, and he loaned monies on mortixooe on the most e(pu table teims. llis investments were so judi- ciously made, that it was a settled o[)inion in the neighborhood, rnd gave rise to the constant remark, when any person became involved and ran away, that if he owed Mr. Burnham, he would bo sure to conie bn' settled, on:ibl<'d him i<^ Ix; very usof'i]. He was tor ninnv venrs Tre'isuier urnhani was also ]i«»n >ivi) wilh a scat in the Provincial House of As.'-cmM}- lor many ycar.^, and subsecjuently, \^s mnde a rnlished .-c nmeh an Mr. nii'tih.'jm, arid the sam . I HI measur > oi sin r !; I i 1 I li ^ ■t; n?' i! 't ^^1' ':' IMI ill ' »! It! '1 120 LIFE OF COLO^'EL 'rALUOT. not always attend ilie labors of other men, liowevei ui(iustriuus and dilligent they may have been. Bu{ it, is certain, that in ihc work of clearing the forest, and in the pursuit of agriculture, no success can bo expected, where unremitting labor and dilligence are wanting. It was supposed that Mr. Burnham died worth >5l, 000,000, this was, no doubt, an exaggera- tion, but even half that amount, considering that he had expended largo suras in building mills and in other improvements for the benefit of his children and grand' children, makes him to have been one of the most wealthy, and certainly not one of the least useful, men in the Province. From a funeral sermon, preached by the Aich- deacon of York, A. N. Bethune, with whom Mr. Burnham communicated for seven^l years, we extract the following testimony to his worth and usefulnpss. " He was one' of those who might be said to have come as a pilgrim to this new land, — with all a pilgrim's risks and hardships. The struggles of early settlement, its trials and privations, he had full ex- perience of, — of all that in a social, moral, and reli- gious view, the tillers of the soil, just reclaimed from the wilderness, must necessarily endure. ** And his was an example of the effect of thrift and industry, and unbenulng rectitude. Where God vouchsafes health and strength, physical difficulties SMon cive wny \o enerrry and resolution; nnd where I «' LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT, 127 I), liowevei , ■ )een. But 1 the forest, 1 cess can bo 1 Uiorcnce are 1 1 •nham died !^ 1 exaggera- ^^^B ins that he wt nills and in H lis <'iiildreu M been one of of the least )y the Arch- whom Mr. 1, we extract 1 usefnhipss. laid to have Lwith all a lies of early Kad full ex- Ll, and reli- , ■ •■ Baimed from let of thrift 1 Where God HdifficultiGS ■ t^ H and where * 'M there is the will, along with help and blessing from above, the solitude is soon made to bo jocund, and the wilderness to rejoice and blossom. P'rom little beginnings there wat5 a large prosperity, — the sure result of well directed toil and steady uprightness. And this lonij; ao-o brouMit him into places of honor and trust, — marks of public confidence which would not have been accorded, were there not tho conviction of a strict integrity, as well as of clearness of judgment and general capacity." Such was the Hon. Zaccheus Burnham, the wealthiest farmer in Canada, who died at Cobourg in the 80th year of his age^ honored and respected by all who knew him. Probably few men ever had bet'.er opportunities, or were placed in situations in which they could study human nature, better than Colonel Talbot. None was ever more di?-intcrested in all his land transactions with settlers and emiijrants. The larsce landed estate which he acquired, was in no instance the fruit of bargains between the Colonel and his settlers. All his land was obtained by grants from the Crown, on terms which he himself dictated, the speculations he entered into with the British Govern- ment, he strictly adhered to, and he acquired a very valuable property by so doing; but had ho felt dis- posed to take advantage of his situation, and to increase hif= properly by speculating among his set- ^[ l!2S T.IFF OF CoMiNKi, TALnr>T. i 1: Hi ( ! .1' k , - 1 ■ i i ;1 1; i ( <; t i I !, :'i \ ] >^ ] m ! I' M 11' tiers he had ;imi>le opportunities of ' short coat, s\vall< w IIFE ok ('o!..tNKl. 'I'AI.I'.o r. I'J'J SO, and li**- J lanrl job- were lAic it his ftaga- to f rustrato of Ills set- Ills settleis to Yankees, fellows, ^vho 1 or specula- te say, that ,' chips and ^ tbey began wliicli thi'V ,0 aslicep. in with an ort Talbot in s all from ll>^' from top to would say. xM boots, NYoll otbes, with a utside of all, The other "li-t of looking tis n Yai^^^cc c.iat, sNvall' w 1 .a^. >;|' tail, and paiils lo mateli. 'I'liey uL^'ict'd to journey toovllier, add made a lialt jit old Waters' tavern, where they received full instructions as to their future ])roce''(.ling^. Here it was arranged that Amos, (the clever follow) should try his luck iirst, while his companion Jolin, remained at the tavern to wait his turn. As sodi as Amos reached the well known wimlow, he was accosted as usual !)y the Culond, witji— " Wei!, what do you want?" "I uuess. Colonel, 1 should like b) draw a lo'- of hind :" "Well, I guess, I liave got none t'ur y )u.'* So Amos returned to his companion, in no M'ry amiable temper, swearij^g to be upsides with the old cocn, who had taken hini for a Yankee, and that he would try him again, and if he did'nt give him a lot he niiglit do as he darned please. *' But I say, friend Jolm,'' he continued, '< let ris change coals, and old Beelzebub won't take me for a Yankee then, I guess.'' The happy thought was soon carried into efFe:t, and Amos stood up in the smock frock, while the swallow tail lodged on John's ample posteriors. Thus erpiip- ped, Amos made his approach to the window, feigning as well as he could, the manner of the burlv Kno;- lishman, and without fjuessinnf at all, mortdv said. '' iV.e com'd, Culonel, to axe ver honor, if vour lionor i»uld !>ive me a lf>t of land, ea u.^ Ml an I ! th i:J l\ iB],: -IJ ..I ,'|!i| f -^' il i 1 ' 1 ' (i ■ it !!' 130 LIFK OK ('"LDNEL lALHoT. family want to become settlers. Tlie ColoiU'l lookcl at him full in the face, then Uirned liis head, and with his old husky voice, called out. '* JeftVy, Jeffry, set on the dogs, here's a wolf in sheep's clothing." Not only did wolves in sheep's clothing often present themselves at Colonel Talbot's window, but others ns frequently appeared without any such dis- guise. Some of these would put the rou<^h side out and try what loud talk would do. On one occasion an Irishman, proud of his origin, and whoso patro- nimic told at once that ho was a son of the EoioralJ Isle, tinding that he could not prevail with the Colonel, on the score of being a fellow-countryman, resorted to rudeness, an! with more warmth tbau discretion, stood upon his pedigree, and told the Colonel that his family was as honorable and tho coat of arms as respectable and as ancient as tho Talbot's of Malahide. JeftVy and the dogo were always the last resource on such occasions. " My dogs don't understand heraldry," was tho laconic retort, and if you don*t take yourself off, they will not leave a coat to your back." At another time one of those shrewd, ready witted inhabitants, who had received his early educa- tion in the United States, but had made Canada his homo, and preferred to live under the British Govern- ment, made his way to Port Talbot, in search of a lot of land, when the following characteristic dialolovv, but any such dis- o\irf\\ side out one occasion^ . whoso patro- ■ tho Emerald vail with the ;v-countryraan, I warmth than and told the )rable and thf^ ancient as tho the dog 9 were casions. " My as tho laconic ff, thoy will not ) shrewd, ready lis early educa- ;ide Canada hi^ British Govern- in search of a terlfttic dialoo;u.' lo'>k placi'. Tlio Colonul, be it ob.s.M vcl, ;iilli(jiigli atone lime he rejected tiie equivociil ti'stiniony of ceriiticates of character, on this occasion, a.sked the applicant, (Thurston) if ho haJ got a recommand. The man promptly replied, that he had; "and iVom whom," rejoined the Colonel. " From tho Almighty/" was the reply. '' And wJiat does He say." ** Why, ho rccommonds me to tiko care uf myself, and to get as much land as I can." " Very well," said the Colonel '' that is a good recommendation, and you shall have a lot." (niAPTER XV. CoLONEi, Talbot's reasons foii not maiiuyinu — • Matrimony — A Loviing Coui'le. Colonel Talbot was never married, and by many persons he has been set down as a woman-hater, but this was by no means the case, for lie often enter- tained ladies of the highest rank, and took pleasure in rendering their visits to Port Talbot, as agree- able as possible. The celebrated Mrs. Jameson wasamouLMlij number of bis fair visitors, and she has spoken of her sojourn therv3 as being highly grati- fying. There were, as theie always is, a class of t'niiales who were the Colonel's aversion — ladies, whosp ruriosity rises in proporlion a.-, th'^ objeel ^vhiidi excites it. i« confenlpd Umn thr ir viow, < 1 f1 i;;; Ml K 111' fll.M.N |.J, i AIJiMl n ■f :; I; ' r i, It) ';i:^ V -!;.; ' 1 4 H i ; > l! i'. ;i! ■ r .1 I. i' lit I I't , ilii li*ii>pi'ns (•,) [>{■ It.'yii i ihcir reach, lli'lyiiig mi (lie ailiiic'iion of t"'';riaki cliunn^, which ihcy probably never possosseJ, or wiiic'i time, flio e tnnnon eiiemv, liad oblilcM-atod , soiiio of lliese ladies errant would r.iiii liavo exploreJ the socrels of Port Talbot; whcro a man could live without llie solace of fcinalc soc'iotv* a being, npparontly, callous to the dictates of lovo, and iu.-5ensibl(i to th(3 Hncst feolin'2;s of the huniHii heart. But tlio Colonel, c )nsidoriii'j; discreliou llic better pari of valour, scerned delcrmiued lo rua no jisks, or to engage in unequal ct)nlcsts; therefore, wlien ivjr it, wis hiutcd that Miss So and So, pro- posed visiting Port Talbot, he leant a deaf ear to tlic proposal. A good ancodoto is told, howevnr, relative to the Ooloncl's celibacy, A friend having bantered him on th subject of his remaining so long in a sluto of siuj^le blessedness, took an opportunity of ques- tioning hira about it, and in the course of a familiar chat, asked luni why he remained so long single, when there was so much need of a help-mate. " Why," said the (loloiiel, " to tell you the truth, I never saw but one woman that I really cared anything about, and she would'nt have me, and to use an old joke, those who would have me, the devil would'nt liare them. Miss Johnstone," oatinued the Colonol, " l!ie daiigliLcr 'd" ""^u* .1. .lohuatonc, was the only i,'ii! J "vcr loved, and s]i(> wMild'nl have me. I'or ih*^ •lying "11 til'' hey pr(»b;ibly iimon LMiomy, errant would Talbot; when; foiuale society) ctatGS of love, )f tlio human (.Hscretiou lUc iio.d 10 Ywn. no ists; tliereforo, and So, pi'o- deaf car to the r,r, relative to viii^ bantered loii<' ill a i^ttitc inity of ques- e of a familiar |so long single, a holp-mato. u the truth, I cared anything 1 to uso an old devil wouM'nt od the Colonel, iv, the only ^iil UFK OF COLONEL TALBOT. 133 truth of this story we will not vouch, although it was related by one of the early settlers.* The pro- bability is, that Colonel Talbot, having placed himself beyond the reach of the society of his early youth, how much soever ho might have desired it, could not with propriety have entered into the matrimonial state. It IS no reflection on the early settl-^'s to say, that there was not among them any lady qualified to support the dignity of Port Talbot. Such a per- son he must have sought in the neighborhood of more polished society, and had he foiiu 1 a lady willing to ?hare the honors of Malahide Castle in Canada, ho would have had to build a castle, and to have engaged a retinue of domestics to perform very dif- ferent services, from tho^ie which the people employed by him had to perform. mf * Chavlo=5 Gustavus Adolphua Tozer, a farmer of Miilahidc, who related the above anecdote, was one of those unfortunate individuals whom parents encumber witli long names. Tozer says tliat Colonel I'albot and himself were on very in'iiniate terms at one ti'i e, so much so, tlmt tliej addressed each other by the fainiliar names of Oharles and Tom. That the Colonel was very anxious that Tozer should build a griit mill, and uffered to advance liim £lOOO for that purpose; but that on consultinj^ hia mother, she dissuaded him from undertakiiig it! As a warnino- to parents who are fond of long names, it may be stated, that Kome years ago a Mr. Gilbert, ou becoming father of a son, and heir, (to hard labor) was so charmed wiih Tozer's name, that he had it ]-)re{ixcd to his own in full; So the child was christened ^Charles Gustavus Adolphua Tozer Gilbert, a nf»rae long enough for a German Prince — but the child did not long survive the operation. 134 Lire OF COLONBL XALBo'l. I I * i I ill ? ■■■ 1, Besides, Colonel Talbot was addicted to a bach- elor's life from his early youth, which would seem to have originated in a sense of superiority, (not the most amiable trait in his character,) and which could brook DO equal. Many men entertain a very erro- neous opinion that by marrying, they sacrifice their independence, and such a sentiment may have influ- enced|the Colonel's conduct, but it is a great mis- take for any man lo imagine that he is safe in attempting to maintain a degree of independence incompatiule with human nature, and contrary to the order of Divine Providence. A man who continues a bachelor beyond ?, cer- tain time of life, may be considered like the barren fig tree, of which it was said, " cut it down why cum- bereih it the ground." There may be cases in which it is prudent not to marry, and Colonel Talbot's may have been one, but, generally speaking, a man loses much more than he gains, by avoiding matri- mony In the imperfect state of human nature, inde- pendence signifies an habitual desire to fulfill the design and end of our creation, in accordance with the will of God, and in the lawful enjoyment of what He has ordained. What bachelor ever did this ? It IS true, in many intances, tho married stuto is a ve»^' miserable one, and tliousands would wil- 1 to a bacii- rould seem Ly, (uol the ^vhicb could I very erro- .crifice tlieir ' have influ- a great mis- e is safe in ndependence atrary to the )eyond ^- cef' ie the barren nwhy cuvi- ases in which Talbot's may log, a man )iding matri- nature, inde- to fulfill tbc jordance with enjoyment of elor ever did n married stulo ^ds would vril- LirS OF COLONEL TALBOT. 135 lingly sever the tie which binds man and wifo together, but tins does not argue that th-^y would be better ofl' by being disunited. In married life, tho instances are rare indeed, where there are not faults on both sides, ami there is no state where these fviuUs are so sure of detection and of being constcintly kcipt in view, as in the married slate; bad indeed, must that man or woman 10, who does not endeavor to correct the faults, which in all their hideousness, are daily exhibited to hia or her view. Married people may hide tlioir faults from evarybojy else, but they cannot hide them from one another; if they do not nnprove under such searching scrutiny, then it may be said that the last state of these is worse than the first. Therefore it is rational to conclude, that where marriage does not confer present happine^j , it cor- rects evil habits, and prevents greater degrees of wickedness. An amusing anecdote is told of a married pair who had become residents of tk: Talbot Settlement, and for some years occupied a respectable position. The male partner in the concern was a professional man, of respectable appear;ince and gentlemanly manners; the lady was handsome and attractive— ruby lips, a inouth not too small, pretty black eyes, a handsome :ountenance and glossy black hair — in short, Mrs. J- -waR the beau ideal of a pretty brunette, and the mother of several lovely childrei 136 LllJB OF COLOMSL 1 ALUOf. :\ n 1 1 ;ii ' III i i!! I EverytLiug combined in these parties to render tho marriage state happy, as far as outward appearances went, until the occurrence of wliich wo are about to speak. It was reraarl\abl(.', as it very frequently is in other case?, what manifestations of the tenderest affection Mr. and Mrs. J oonlinually exhibited towards each other, on occasions of social iiUercourso with their neighbors. It seemed as if tho honeymoon had never ended. ♦' My dear Charles!" and "Julia my love!" were the honied words, with which they addressed each other. Such a constant warmth of affection, and the glowing heat of lovo, growing brighter tho longer it burned, did not fail to attract the attention of tho friends, whom iliey occasionally met, some of whom had experienced a decline in the ardour of their affections, and had tasted many drops of alloy, mingled with the felicity in the cup of con- nubial bliss. But with Mr. and Mrs. J there appeared to be no abatement in their affections After a whil*', however, something like cross words, and even angry expressions were heard, accidently, to pass between this pair of doves, but these, like drops of lemon syrup, were only considered as neces- sary to give flavor to the cooliiig draught, to allay tho thirst of a love perhaps too fervid. On one occasion this loving couple were travel- ling in the direction of Hamilton, along the Talbot ill :• LIFE OF lOLoNKl. T.U.BOT. U<7 fud-T tlio »pear>inceii •e about to jntly is in » tendercR^ f exhibited inlercourso lioneymooa and "Julia which they warmth of [>, growing I to attract ccfvsijually lei me in the |many drops cup of con- there |ir aflfo.ctions n-oss words, accidently, |t these, like ;d as neces- dit, to allay ^ere travel- the Talbot Road, an usefulness, and' m [l^ J.IFI-: OF COLONCJ TALDOT. ■i.'! ^li !ii !i M i» I at , K, ' !t'l' ]\ i.l } - * 11 '. 4 ■■ ■ . '' i 1 ,,? 1! i'l Nlli ' U: 11! t in;i(J<' hiiM .-ubsprvicnt ' men of inferior inorit, in cvcrylliiii!^" which nonstitutoft the character ot' ji noblo .111:111. Tills dff'creiicc to othor^, aroso from imuitc modesty, seldom mot witli in men. Ah an instimv v.'o will relate what took place in St. Thomas, at the lim'^ of th(; outbreak of 1837. In tlio middle of a hard winter's niglit in Do eomler, the writer received an express, communicating intelliL^encc of iMcKcnzic's outbreak. The same ex« press proceeded to Colonel BurwcH's and l*ort Tal hot. Wo sent to advortiao Colonel Hostwick at Port Stanley, and Major Neville, at Yarmouth Heights, and loquesting the Colonel to como to St. Thomaa ti) ndvlso whr'^ steps it wore best to take— prompt ami caily in the morning he was in attendance. Wo uri;ed liim to call ou*- the m ilitiabut he hesitated ; lie %vouM wait for instructions from Port Talbot and for Colonel Burwell — no word or person came from tlin! dir'^ction, and at length he yielded. The militia ■"Tore called out, and old Isaac Riley was soon fcen inarchino; in under the shadow of his own musket! TliO militia-men came in freely from the surrounding Townships^; for there was a feeling of insecurity pre- valent, owing to the supposed number of disaffected men in the settlement, many of whom were from tlie lJnito(i States, and only watched, it was thought, for nn opportunity to shake ofi the yoke of Britisb anpremacy. The south of Yarmouth was con'^idcr'l I i LIFE OK COLONEI. TALIlor. \Vd ciior merit, in ictcr of w noblo 30 from inmilc Art an inst \nco 'riiomas, lit the ■'8 uiglit in De- communicating The same ex* •a and I'ort Tal- lest wick at Port irmontli Ileiii^litii, to St. Thomas akc— prompt untl itteiKlancc. Wo L ho hesitated ; lie •t Talbot and for [1 came from tlitV. ^ocl. The mililin ^vart soon seen lis own musket! \ the surrounding if inr-ccurity pro- ber of disaffected ,m were from tlv- was thought, for yoke of Briiisb I •* ^ h was con'^idcT'^'; \ in a state of rebellion, and the »Scotel» i!i H)C north, it vvafi saiJ, und<'r the dehisiv(; hope of' rKcapin)^ pny- niont of arrears on their lands to the (.an.'i'ia Com- pany, were equally unKOund. Then^^jn;, the loyalists rallied, and determined to bo prepared to prevent th<' junction of n^bcls from witliout, fntni joinin^j foes within. A con.si(h^rablo number of volunteers, horKl' t'<.|,nNHI. lAI,i:wr. r' If f liiriiotl from OaKl;ms(\vick was a ti'ic lioldier of tlio cross, as well as of ilie field, and lb»' worst lliat can be baid of Jiini, is that he liad no turn for spooulation, and no facnlty for monoy-making. The militia who went to Oakland, wcro not cxclnsivoly of Colonel JJubtwiciv's regiment, hut vol- unteers from ihc 1st and 2nd batallions, and Jimon'' the ofTicers who accompanied them were Major Neville, Captain Shore, and others, e(piully active. Either of these, particularly Captain Shore, wcro quite as well qualified, and better entitled than Col. Askin, to have the command, but thot gentlemen adroitly placed himself in the van, and reaped the reward due to their exertions. When the Talbot Settlement had greatly in- creased in population, the militia force incieased to a corresponding extent, and the field neai' McGregor's, in Westminnter, was the parade ground of the crack rcgiincnt of Middlesex. By this time, seme of the oiHcers came out in uniform, and each company had at least more than one gur. Here the 5?% 154 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. I ( ! rl , fi relates, Abe --^-would knock Jehial as straight as a loon's foot. Captain Daniel Rappleje was much ebtcemod among the settlers, and was the first who buitt a grist mill in St. Thomas. He was like many others an easy-going sort of man, and was not very long in getting rid of the very valuable lot of land he owned as before mentioned. About this time, a knot of knowing persons had gathered round St. Thomas, and gambling and speculation occupied much of their vacant time. Chief among thoso was Justus Wilcox, a well known character, who might have aspired to the dignity of a black-leg, had his lot been cast in the midst of a more enlightened community. As it was, money being exceedingly scarce in those days, they could only play for land and its produce, and in this way Captain Rappleje got pretty well fleeced by Wilcox and his ai^sociates. It was about this time, that old Bigelow, (the inventor of black salts and potash in the settlement) Mr. Goodhue, (now the Hon. J. G. Goodhue) Dr. (jloodhuc, and Dr. Chas. Duncombe, one of Mc Kenzie's Generals in 1837, commenced business in St . Thomas ; subsequently Bela Shaw and Lucius Bigelow, occupied the place of the two former, in the busines of barter cf goods and physic, whether for land, black salts or wheat. Among such deservedly esteemed clever men, Rappleje could not LIFK OF c'uLUNF.I, lALliUT, 155 have been expected to hold his own long, and thcrc- foro he retreated to Yarmouth heiglits, TS'hcro he died possessed of a good farm. ■ The name of Bela Shaw must lone: dwell in the remembrance of the inhabitants of the Talbot Set- tlement, for the old settlers while recounting to tho young fjlks the scenes of their earlier days, will often repeat the name of Bela Shaw. lie must have lived and carried on business in St Thomas at least for thirty years, either in conjunction with Bigelow, or George Goodhue, and during that ume he acquired a very considerable and extended influence with n large number of the settlers. He was a thorough American, or rather Yankee, in all his ideas and tastes, but nevertheless, a man of an amicable dis- position, and kind hearted. His affinities naturally incliued him to lake the liberal side in politics, which in those latter days, was considered the same thing as being 'a rebel, and Mr. Shaw ^wls looked on by the tory party with a good deal of suspicion. Ho attended some of the political meetings of the disafifected, and when McKenzie hatched his scheme of rebellion, Bela Shaw was pounced upon as one of his party. Poor man, he was too inoft'onsive to injure any one knowingly, but this did not shield him from tho darkest suspicions of traitorous designs. When the volunteers and militia atarted from St Thomas to Oakland, Bela Shaw was invited to join the party, I' 1 oO LIFE OF COLONKL TALDOT. (; ' 1 1 an invitation he no more dared to decline, than a subject, when invited to dine with tlie Queen! on pain of incurring Her Majesty's displeasure. As a matter of personal safety, poor Siiaw was but too glad to accept the invitation, and had thus an oppor- tunity atForded him of witnessing the miserable effects of an unsuccessful rebellion. He saw his friends on every hand roughly handled, their houses pillaged and forays in the barn yards of peaceable farmers, who had not learned to belch toryisra, and in fact, did not know the right from the wrong side in poli- tics. Certainly, many of the peaceable inhabitants were shamefully robbed and abased by some of those who acted ;he part of ultra tories, and who had taken up the trade of politics on the tory side, with- out any regard to princiiDle. During this forced march, Shaw had ample time for reflection, and there is no doubt he formed the resolution of extrica- ting himself from the British Lion's paws as soon as ha could. On his return from Oakland, however, more misery awaited bin'». Colonel Mahlon Burwell, who had by this timo recovered from the state of alarm into which the first report of McKenzie's outbreak had thrown him — it is even said Burwell gave up all for lost, when he first heard the astounding news, eanio down to St. Thomas, dctermin9d to incarcerate Bcla Shaw, for his supposed conncxioh with the Liberal Newspaper, LIFE OF C CLONE L TALBOT. 167 wbich bad weekly vomitted treaaon ; but more likely for thwarting Burwell in some of bis election con- tests, for Burwell was excessively vindictive, — Luckily for Shaw, there were magistrates in St. Thomas, who would noi commit an act of cruelity, to gratify Burwell's morbid feelings of revenge. Among these Magistrates was Colonel John Bostwick, who deferrred to Colonel Burwell in everything else. Even Bostwick would not gratify Burwell by sending Shaw to jail, on insufficient testimony. Although Burwell offered to make an affidavit, as strong as the nature of the case would admit of. So poor Shaw escapod — and having settled his aflfairs as soon as he could, he it 'A his departure from Canada, and established himself in the western States, under a government more congenial to his feelings, than tho knock-down, drag out sort of administration he had recently had some expeiience of. In Shaw's time, the merchant or storekeeper, as he was generally called, was unquestonably the most influential member of civil society, as he was the only medium through which the settlers could barter to supply their wants, and with few exceptions the farmers were indebted to tho storekeeper to a large aiiiount. On the other hand, the storekeeper was largely indebted to tho mercliants of Montreal, for Montreal was the emporium of trade in those days, N 158 LIFE OF t'uLONEL lALnul. if it be not bo stiil. And llie merchants of Moutrenl were no doubt equally liable to the merchants and manufacturers of England. But the farmers in the Talbot dettleraent knew little of the ramifications of trade, beyond the knowledge they acquired through Hamilton and Warren, and Bela Shaw, or Bigelow and Shaw. These were the principal, and almost the only storekeepers in the settlement forty years ago, and as each of these firms took opposite sides in politics, they did not fail to influence their customer.^ by every means in their power. Shaw's manner was smooth and persuasive, and his store had become the rendezvous of all the dis- affected and discontented spirits of the settlement. How far he would have gone, had McKenzie's attempt been successful, I cannot say, but there are npt wanting those, who believe him to have been as guilty of treason as the ten men who forfeited their lives on the gallows at London ; but as he did not commit himself by overt acts, it would not have been just to have hung him on suspicion ! Instead of joining his friends outside the court-house at London, he has lived at Rock River to become a very old man, and to assist in working out those republican Insti- tutions which he always cherished. 8 of Moiitreal oaerchants and farmers iu the amifications of [uired through V, or Bigelow al, and almost !nt forty years )posite sides in their customer!^ )ersuasive, and } of all the dis- he settlement, d McKenzie's but there are have been as forfeited their as he did not not have been I Instead of >use at London, a very old man, publican Insti- LIFE OF COLuNfiL TALBOT. CHAPTER XVII, 159 SiK J. B. Robinson — John Wilson, and the Law- yers of. the Settlement. Of the numerous guests, whom Colonel Talbot entertained at Port Talbot, Chief Justice Robinson, the learned and estimable premier of the Bench of Upper Canada, was the most welcome, and was frequently a visitor at Colonel Talbot's. This hospi- tality was reciprocated by the Chief as Sir J. B. Robinson is familarily called by all who love to do Lira honor — and Colonel Talbot was always an hon- ored guest of the Chief's whenever he visited Littio York, (or Toronto). This fact speaks volumes in favor of Colonel Talbot's standing with gentlemen of high rank and unblemished reputation. The inti- macy existing for many years between Colonel Tal- bot and Chief Justice Robinson, stood on the best footing,— -mutual respect. It was not an ordinary acquaintance, or that of mere formal society, but it was the friendship of men of mind, and of refined manners. Chief Justice Robinson is deservedly the prido and ornament of the Bench of Upper Canada; and he is one of the few, who have maintained the dig- nity of the Bench for many years, to the universal satisfaction of the public. In early life he was a keen politician of the tory school, as most gentlemen ^v .iM~ , I ililMll* Coluiic'l, ii svas certaiuly nut out of any parliculai regard lie liad for the profession; for the specimenb of lawyers, who found their way into the settlement, as soon as the settlors had anything tDquairol about, were not likely to attract the favorable notice of a man with such a nice sense of honor as Colonel Talbot possessed. Conspicuous among these, was the somewhat celebrated Mr. John Wilson, of Lon- don. Mr. Wilson came to London between 20 and 30 years ago, when that town was thinly inhabited, and was for many years very successful. After the Coynes, no one seeiuc to have excited Colonel Talbot's aversion, more than Mr. Wilson, and he spoke of him in terms too strong to repeat here. It is more than probable, the Coynes, George Elliot, and some other such troublesome customers, were Mr. Wilson's clients, and they certainly chose u representative, who could be as offensive as them- selves. A man, whose bold effrontery has frequently extorted the smile of astonishment from the Bench) as well as the vulgar laughter of the crowd. It must be admitted, that the lawyer even when he is a man of delicate feelings, and is only doing his duty 10 his clionte, apart from a certain amount of prejudice, which exists against the profession, is very likely to incur the displeasure of those whom he is employed to proceed against, but, if in addition In Oijs, he exhibits a callous and overbearing dispositiont ii ¥ \v LIFE OF COLONEL TALDOT. 105 which seoms to delight in the miseries he is instru- mental in creating, and seizes any opportunity that may otler, as an occasion for annoying the object of his dislike, then ho justly merits the application of thtf opprobrious epithets so frequently bestowed on Ia>v- yers, and renders himself an object of aversion to all honest and honorable minded men. Mr. Wilson came to London, at a time, when there was no lawyer of good standing there, to pre^ occupy the ground, and ho had the business nearly all to himself; otherwise, he could never have ad- vanced to the position he now occupies ; for his tal- ents are certainly not uncommon, in fact, exaqtly fitted for Old Bailey practice, but here he would scarcely have attained the celebrity of Alderman Harmer, Edwin James, or the renowned '^ — Bodkin. What was the particular occasion on whioh his conduct was so offensive to Colonel Talbot, I do not recollect. It was either because ho was thwJUted in some land purchase of town lots, or because he took up some vexatious case against the Colondl, ai the instanje of some undeserving settler — probably both. Colonel Talbot, like every other honest iflaoi^ had the utmost aversion to appearing in a Court of Justice, merely to give some unimportant testimony ill u disreputable cause ; or more likely to gratify »n unf«»ftling lawyer's spleen and his clients malvolftnoe. •I 166 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. i.,H 1 1 )> ii "I I-' . J. •s For some such purpose the Colonel was dragged to Oourt on one occasion, and Mr. Wilson exercised his ingenuity to draw the Colonel out, and shew the power he had over him, that there, (in Court) he was the Colonel's equal at least, and that he could not screen himself from his vulgar gaze, behind the au- dience window. Wilson was never more mistaken in life ; for although he repeated his cross questions two or three times, the Colonel with his back turned towards him, answered the court in his own peculiar quaint manner, without deigning to look at him. I have been told a reconciliatian took place between Colonel Talbot and Mr. Wilson, before the Colonel's death. Be this as it may, there is still a largo margin left for improvement. Nothing has more tended to temper Mr Wilson's conduct as a barrister, than his having continually to confront one of his own pupils, H. C . Beecher, Esq., whose gentlemanly manners and pViyful wit, often briogs up his old master shori, if it does not make him blush. The lawyer has privileges in a Court of Justice, which no other man can exercise in public, and when he abuses these piivileges, no opportunity should be lost of holding him up to public scorn and indigna- tion. The lawyer frequently stands in the place of the murderer,' the adulterer, the robber, the thief, and tbo -vlopts of every sitoric:; of crime, yoi it ii not 1 V 'J ^1 LIKE OF (oLuNKL 1 A I, HOT. 107 necessary that l>e ishoultl tran.stbrm liimaclt' into the likeness of the hideous monster, whose case he may happen to have in hand. It is vain to say the Judge will stop over zeal- ous, hot headed barristers, when they become intem- perate or abusive, and carry their impertinences too far. Some Judges purposely close their oars, it is believed, to all the barristers may say which ha« not a direct bearing on the case, and wi!l not trust them- selves to follow learned gentlemen in their wander- ings from the r...,ths of truth ; nor do they seem to pay attention to frequent violations of decorum, and that regard for propriety and proper feeling, which a heartless barrister discards, as soon as ho throws the black gown over his shoulders, be it 8ilk or stuft*. It. is really astonishing, the length to whicli some Judges Tvill allow barristers to proceed in thc'r inquiries, and which reall)' appear to have no other object in view, but to torture a witness and to display their zeal. However this may be, certain it is, that the license allowed to barristers in a Court of Justice, is frequently the cause and occasion of the most bru- tal assaults on the feelings and characters of mdivi- duals, who may be unfortunate enough to be dragged into Court. Mr. Wilson for sometime represented the town of London, in the Provincial House of Assembly, but was such an impracticable trimmer in politics, ihat 1» ij |-'n \ !■ :'. :!?/ 108 LIFR OFf'ULONEL TALBoT. no party could trust him ; aud he has had to retire without oven the compliment of a peerage. His excessive desire to distinguish himself, and to boecme a leading man, has led him to over act his part, and his line speeches, and familiar expositions of the arts and sciences, husbandry and home manufactures, instead of attracting applause, and a wider extent of of fame, have had only the effect of settling upon him the soubriquet of " home spun John."** It is proper here to remark, in reference to Mr. Wilson, that he has always maintained his character for integrity as a lawyer, and that he is indebted in some measure for his success to his promptitude in paying over the monies he receives on account of his * When the question of dividing the County of Middlesex, was first brought \ip in the House of Assembly, "Wilson endeavored to impress the House with the belief, that by constituting the Townships fronting on Lake Erie, (ijOW the County of Elgin.) into a new County, the County of Middlesex, would be deprived of egress to the Lake, that the front of the County of Middlesex would bo cutoff, and that they (the inhabitants of the County of Middlesex) would only be able to get out through the l)ack door — or words to that effect, This is a good specimen of Wilson's ability as a debater. A discussion having arisen about Mi., Wilson's political consistency, one of the party cnlled hira a loose fish, on which,old McQueen, who knew Wilson thoroughly, briskly rejoined. •• No, he is a sun-fish, and being called on for an explanation. "A sun-fish," said ho, "* is a small fish we sometimes see on the sandy shore of Lake Eiic, with one side always turned towards the sun; and when that side is well warmed, he/(/>aover to the other acV> door— or ^eu of Wilson's tlsou's political [loose fisb, on pugbly, briskly (ailed on for an 1 small fiaU wc lEiic, with one len Ibat sid<) is fde -and so be lie. as long as l,b! McQueen clients, 'i'l'is is a secret some lawyers do not ap- pear to understand, and which it would be profitable for thera to learn. If in the early days of the settlement, lawyers were few, because briefs and fees were scarce, the cornucopia of prosperity, which brought on the late commercial and monetary crisis, has increased the number tenfold. Distress and sickness, breed law- yers and doctors, and if they continue to increase, as ihey have done within the last few years, farmers will have something as destructive to complain of, as themid^e and weevil ! Our towns and villafxes, are filled with law and medical students. The great complaint is now, that our legislative lialis are crowded with lawyers, who live on politics, that every avenue to preferment or profit is choked with them; but what is to support the multitude of young men , who have abandoned the ivool bags^ in hopes of reaching the wool sack? nobody can tell; but they must feed on somebody ! To maintain the number of lawyers and doctors now training, one iialf the community at least, must become sick or insolvent, imd there may bo no escape from the dsinger which threatens the country on this account, but by adopt- ing the plan of the Captain of the Tonqin as re- lated by Washington Irvin^^ Th»t ship , while on tbe Pacific near Astoria, was boarded by an im- mense number of Indiaiis, wbo took posssession of 170 LIFE OK Colonel talbot. .1 1/ 1' ber, and would bavo put tbe whole of tbe crew and passengers to death ; the Captain conceived the bold idea of blowing up the ship^ which he did by setung fire to the magazine. By some such desperctt" act we might expect to rid ourselves of the lawyers, who most assuredly, if they go on increasing and multi- plying as they are now doing, will in the end, ruin theuselves and the country toc« ! Our young gentle- men should begin to turn their attention to somo other occupation. CHAPTER XVIIII. Bishop Strachan and Bishop Crofyn — tub two FIRST Bishops of Upper Canada. A man of a very different stamp from Chief Justice Robinson, with whom Colonel Talbot occa- sionaly came in " ^^''ct, and to whom he paid every outward markot .^.ect, was Dr. Strachan, who may be considered the Cardinal Wolsey of Canada. From the Arch-deaconry of Little York, he emerged into the Bishopric of the Diocese of Toronto, Colonel Talbot always doubted his Apostolic descent. The life of this eminent, but self-willed prelate, should be the subject of a separate biography, whenever a a more meek successor, may be permitted to occupy the episcopal chair; and whenever the glare of hi« ftalced position, shall permit the still small voice of teiith, to sorutinizo tlio actions of a long and labor um^ LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 171 tlie crew and )ived llio bold iid by setiing desperatf act J lawyers, who ing and multi- Uie end, luin r young genile- ention to soino Di:7YN— TUB TWO • mw ^fo™ ^^^^^ lel Talbot occa- |m be paid every •acban,whomay Canada. T'rom le emerged into loronto. Colonel i\c descent. Tb^ prelate, should iphy, whenever a •niitted to occupy the gla^® '^^ ^^\ ;iU small voice of a long and labor ious life, wiih the impartial voice of candour, unbiased by the obsequious* mouth of flattery. If Colonel Talbot may be considered the pioneer of the forest in the Talbot Settlement, Dr. Strachan may justly be considered the pioneer of the Church in Upper Canada. The circumstances of Dr. Strachan's lift, in his earlier days, resemble those of the Ca;dinal, in many particulars, allowing for the (^.ifference of the time&s and for the prejudices of education. Both from a humbk condition in life, rose to the highest point of ascendancy ia Church and State. Both lavished the means placed at their: disposal by the favor of the Court, to carry out their own magnificent designs, and the one liyed, as the other hap lived, to feel the instability of human greatness. We do not desire to do Dr. Strachan injustice ; we believe him to be the fejetter man of the two. He has many sfticere admirers and friends, and some of the first and most distinguished men in the Provinc e were reared and educated under his hand, but this was before ho assumed the staflf and mitre ; and before his powerful intellect and uncurbed ambition, had impelled him in Church and State, to usurp and exercise despotic sway. Dr. Strachan came to Canada as tutor to the family of Mr. Cartright, of Kingston, one of Vug best f:in,iac;A ."^annda Ims oror known, ^nd he afterwards ' J^^lit'''':SjiXs^ f^F 172 Lliil OF CoLOliiJiL lALliai .f ii became iho instructor of the most eminent men m tLc Province; chief amono- whom, wo mny name Sir J. B. Robiiioon, tbo Hon. Robert Baldwin, and many others, all men of distinction, more or less. To 1 avc been the chosen instructor of such men, was in itsclj u great compliment to the Doctor's merit; but although they were educated by the same mind, and we may assume were indoctrinated in the same principle }, the two leading men above named, bocame diametrically opposed in their views of Church aud State polity, yet it is a fact, that thoy both cherishod the highest regard for Dr. Strachan, and Mr. Baldwii; has been heard in the Hall of the Legislative Assem bly, when ho was strenuously opposing the Bishop of Toronto's measarea, U declare that he held the char acter of his venerable instructor in tho highest esteem This is a creditable fact, and may serve to softeii some of the apparently har*.h expressions we may huvo to employ in delineating his public character. Dr. Strachan entered into Holy Orders, in the Church of England, at an early date, having, it is Raid, abandoned tho religioiw faith of his forefalher.", ('Presbyterian) whether from conviction or from motives of wordly ambition, as has been alleged ;5igaii:^^.t him, wo shall not presume to decide,* but • Wo luivc Bcnn tho fulloTving anecdoto quoted as fip])licabIo ).o Dr. »Stnichan, " Whrn Cowror wns made Bishop of C='l v-'H'. Jill oUl v"otii;»ii svho hpot,' f^aid the Bishop, • I have ijot anew- light on thissulyect." • ^".o J see,' replied .Intiet, * fur -when y<'' was at Perth, yohad hut ac r:in(l|o, but noo ye hae ;^ot "vn before ye. jThat'w your nt": \] 1V4 LIFE OF C'OLONKL TALBOT. I;* ' I i ue\er to tolerate a Jominarft ChiircL ^lU'li as ho would have established. In instituting a comparison between Dr. Strachau and Cardinal Wolsey, hia biographer, whoever he may be, will have to concede the palm of merit to the Cardinal's distant successor. If the latter has not exhibited the meekness of tlie dove, — he has dis- played consummate skill, in averting his downfall; for seeiug that the current of popular feeling was setting strongly against him in the Church, he has had tha good sense, to recede from the lofty position he strove to maintain, and to concede to the mem- bers of the Church, clerical and layical, a voice in the administration of her affairs. This concession, although in a manner forced from him, while the storms of dissent raged without, and internal com- motion was springing up within the Church, is never, theless creditable to his sagacity and judgment; and in this respect, he has proved himself superior to his great prototype the Cardinal, and more yield- ing than his countryman James ! But by the establishment of the Synod, he has lost none of his power as Bishop, on the contrary he haft rather strengthaned it ; for nothing in Synod can pass without his approval; consequently things must remain in statu quo, unless the bishop chooses. The life ef aman like Dr. Strachau, must attract noticp, and sliould be i^eld up to the public as » J.IKK -jY >.\>I.»'N'Kl lAl.l'.i.T. DC piiUeru to bi' iuiitated, or an oxami'lc t. [»- avoiii^'il ; or it may be Bftkl, his virtues sliould bo comHiemled, and liis faults condemned. Ills faithfulness and porseveranco in whatever concerned tlie interests i»f the Church, are entitled to praise; but his inltraper- ate zeal for her temporaUties , has frequently exliibitcu a warmth incompatible with the habitual exercise of christian humility. His hasty temperament lias frequently betrayed his judgment, in his* conduct towards his clergy. Some have been too harshly treated, while others have been too leniently dealt with, when their faults wore inexcusable. In either case y the members of the Church have suQercd. At the same time, his indpmitable energy and perse- verance have preserved for him a 'lasting monument in the establishment of Trinity College. Here we have somelhing to admire, if wo do not approve of the exclusive spirit of its foundatim. The Bishop of Toronto, was an old man when lo under- took to raise this Institution, and he has certainly accomplished what no other man in the Province could have done. lie wont to England, and raised funds at a time of life when other men would have gone to rest, and what he raised has been applied to the purpose for which it was intendee^. How diflfcrout in its object and results, was this from the miasion of two difiiinojuishetl clergyman of his Diocese, several yo^r^ previous. 'JMioy wont I: ft ' . * i'/C tlTL uj- cv^..i-':) J..ti:;lahit Hh*J Ii'ol.'iliJ, oU H luibSloL lu ittlbi I'lUiilfi vi liolifilf (.{' thoChuroli, liut what thoy real izod or what become of tlio money, han alwayp \)Qo.n n mystery. So wo may conclude there arc worse moil in the Church than tlio Bishop of Tor- onto. It is surprising wliat a strong Scottish accent IViiliop Stracliaii has always retained, of which, pro. hubly ho was never desirous of divesting himself — if has a droll ell'oct, both in his preaching and conversa- tion. At a lato mooting of the Synod, ono of the lay delegates, who was never suspected by those who knew liim best, of troubling hirasoll about tho affuirs of religion — took the opportunity of making what he considered, no doubt, a tolling (speech. He began l>y taking the most popular side of tho question, and was for sometime listened to with marked approba- tion. As he proceeded, however, after a lengthened flolivery, he diverged, and signs of impatience began to manifest themselves in no unmistakable forms. Still the delegate continued with as much imperturbability as a man walking a thousand miles'in a thousand hours -—tho Bishop got out of patience loo — and soon brought the orator up all Rl.anding. " Doctor," said the Bishop, ** you spak vera wcol, when you begaOj hit DOG yo'ro fawkiag uousenae.** This closed tho doctor*s Kpcarh, ^1 Llfc'Jt: Ul- LOLOHkA. lALliOl. 1 il The DiucehC of [luron embrace^ tlic whulo of the Talbot Sotllcmcnt, and a very extensive tract of country bcsidea. Thin extensive Diocese, is at present, presided over by Dr. Cronyn, its fir.'.t Bishop, At a lato meeting of Synod, there were present— of the clergy, and a proportionate number of h}men. As Synods appear to be assembled more for the purpose of sanctioning and giving effect to the views of the Bishop and his clergy in each Diocese, thaii for independent deliberation, we may judge what the nature of their proceedings will bo, from considering the character and ability of the Bishop, in whom all the power of the Church is centered. Dr. Cronyn became a missionary of the Church of England and Ireland, in the town of London, more than a quarter of a century ago, and being a provi- dent man, had not, liko many of his poorer brethren, come into the wilderness empty handed. On the contrary, he brought with him, wherewith to purchase land, and to'build a very comfortable house, near to the Church. Hor(3 ho resided for ' some yoari, until he was enabled to build a more substinUfil house — a handsome stone buUding, still nearfei* to the Church. When, howevftr, the rage of speculfi- Uon had reaohod its height, the Dootor was tempts to paYt with tliis mansion and the grounds adjoioiag, fov thft haudsomo sum of ;fil 8,000, as wowero in- formed, to l\w young- gentlemen, who pnrcell^A the .V % ' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // £>, 1.0 I.I 1.25 I- buu IIIM 12.2 20 U III 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^o /m:> :ir 178 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. VI : , (■ ^ > '■ li' -:: \ i ' I 11 ■M 'H property out — into '/lots, and made a lottery of th em. How much they made by the speculation is not known, and wo mention this matter of bargain and sale, to refute the slander so often repeated, that when a man enters the church, ho is precluded from those sources of money-making, by which oth^r men grow rich; and as an instance of the enormous value, to which property had risen in the exciting days of speculation. The Church in London, of which Dr. Cronyn was, and is rector, had attached to it a glebe of 200 acres of land, in such a locality, of course exceedingly valuable ; indeed, too valuable to be let alone, so the Church obtained an act of Parliament, authorizing the sale and conversion of this orlebe into another glebe, by the purchase of another lot of land in a situation more remote. The transaction was some- thing like this. By selling the lot in London, say for £10,000, and buying another for £5000— this sum would be obtained to pay off the debt of the CJhuich— though evidently unfair, if not a dishonest act towards succeeding Rectors — for it must have the effect of shortening his income — but the object for which this conversion of property was made, was not accomplished, the Church is still in debt! This need not surprise members of the Church, for ihere are few Churches in Canada, that are not involved in debt, more or less; but tho hifitory of the Cliurcb in London, during LIFE OF COLONEL XAlBOX. 17 -J 9ry of th em. ition is not bargain and peated, that scluded from h otG^r men 9 enormous he exciting Dr. Cronyn ebe of 200 exceedingly done, so the authorizing nto another )f land in a i was some- London, say 25000— this lebt of the a dishonest ist have the 5 object for ie, was not This need ere are few I debt, more don, during Dr. Ciouyii'd incumbency, presents a series ul' transac- tions in i/he management of Cburcli property and glebo lands, displaying such consummato skill, and adroit finesse^ as not only to defy exposure, but even to claim and obtain from unwilling members their approval. Did we live in the times of such men as George of Cappadocia, such transactions might pass unnoticed, but in the present enlightened age of the Church, to stigmatize them as disreputable, is employing the mildest terms, which such trafficking with Church property can admit of.* I am not aware that Dr. Cronyn ever found his waj' to Port Talbot, or became acqu;untod with Colonel Talbot personally. The Colonel had such an instinctive horror of wordly-minded priests, that such an acquaintance could never have ripened into intimacy. Men arrive at distinction many ways, and often by the employment of infinite skill, and a vast amount of labour; but from an humble origin, (Bishop Cronyn's father was a successful shoemaker in the City of Kilkenny, in Ireland,) to have attained the staff and mitre, by the voice of a learned body of clergymen, and a still larger body of laymen, was the work of an astute mind, and an eloquent tongue. * When thinking or writing of the affairs of the Church in London, Our Saviour's indignant rebuke of those wlio trafficked in the Templo of God, always prcFeuta itself to my mind . Vide xxi. Matt,, 13 v. I. so LIKK oK (JULONEI. TALHoT. k. i\ 'I Hilts a'" , ill ^ i l Is 'i; ! I U 'i:^ !■ besides much perseverance and vjligance. The es- sential qualifications to accomplish such a task, Dr. Cronyn possesses in an eminent degree. Doctor Crony n is undoubtedly, considered to be a clever man, which is but an equivocal compliment, but no amount of talent can atono for the want of that singleness of purpose and unostentatious piety, which slould distinguish a Bishop. Doctor Cronyn is the first Bishop elected in Canada, and prior to the time of election, his char- acter was publicly assiiled by many of the clergy, as well as laity. His neglect of his parochial duties, and turn for speculation, were freely discussed ; and his qualifications, as contrasted with those of the rival candidate for the episcopate, the Venerable Arch- deacon of York, Dr. Bethume, were disparagingly spoken of; but as soon as the election was decided in his favor, the whole Synod, by a generous impulse acting in the spirit of Church Unity, congratulated him on bis elevation to the episcopate, as warmly and with as much apparent satisfaction, as if by the pro- cess of election, they considered the man whom they had branded as an unfaithful steward, and worldly minded priest, could be converted mto a heavenly- minded Bishop. Such want of consistency and prin- ciple, is indefensible. A Bishop of the Church, is too important a personage tc escape public notico, and his character, LIFE OK COLONKL TALBOT. 181 ought to shino m a beacon light to the whole body of the Church, but the right man to put in the right place is not likely to present himself, to pass through the ordeal of Svnodical election, constituted as our Synods are. At this first election of a bishop, for the Diocese of Huron, the evil effect of the popular election, was clearly manifest, for the man chosen, has been too notoriously suspected, and accused of being more governed by motives of wordly distinc- tion than by spiritual considerations. If we contrast the characters of the two first Bishops in Upper Canada, we must in fairness con- cede the superiority to Dr. Strachan; for although he has lived and enjoyed unbounded influence in the Councils of the State, as well as of the Church, and has had opportunities of enriching himself far beyond those of any othi;r Sisl -^ ol the Church of England in Canada, I.e has never betrayed a disposition to mix up his purely temporal interests with those of the Church. His characteristics w«re of a higher order. His ambition was lofty, if his conduct were arbitrary; his love fc wordly distinction did not outstrip his desire to extend the interests and use- fulness of the Church. His great ^aim was to aggrandize the Church, andhiraself as the head of it, in his extensive Diocese. Dr. Strachan has not sought to make his own temporal concerns the first consideration; but the object of Dr. Cronyn's ambi- P -•.fl ii e I I ' 182 MFK OF COLONKL TALnOT. turn tion, and we cannot convey our cs'imatc of liis cliaractor, in terms more nj {»iicablt\ fan will bo fiuind in tlie following oxtrnct from Milnoi's History of tlio Church of Christ, as a)<]iii, whom he would recommend as his fiuceepsor. ' If y-'ii seok a man of exemplary lif"*, and able io infitrnct you,' Pays he, ' you have Paul; if you desire a m?in of seculnr f^kill, rnd one who knows liow to mnini; in an interest among ihe great, and to pres-Mve an appearance of reiio'ion, Macedonius is preferable.*'* The Church of England in Upper Canada, is said to number one third of the population, but in the Talbot Seitlcmt^nt, end in the Rural Districts frenerally, one fiiih would be an over estimate, and * Bishop R.f'\rn''t,of Qno^rc. -vv-as a perfect contrast to the r.ishniis ■ lia\e t)een f-[('ak-ini; of. He was ibe cnibodi- nierit (if s-iiiip'ieh V itsoli Hf \ isited the Scitleriient nmny ■\(>ars aii,f), on a ton}- of cnjx'wi-ion (,)iie (hay lie c^me to me to iiui^nvf- ahri;t the c,har,iet( r of a man named Ks^hon, " Pour fel]<'vv,' -aid li's Lord-hi'), "hi' t( lis me he is very nmch in war.t of money, and that he c.nld get Korae from ]^\iie cleansed, ribh, there 1 consider ties when ncumbent, judgment, or wrong ; have been heraselves ipt admin- parallel in h men of- acted as if eep up an Bws of the Bishop, they are at liberty to indulge in every sort of iniquity, which SLiin(hiliz"s even llio vory name of reli<^i(jn. Tliesc unsounil {'illais of tho Church slop iIk! inoiiLlis ot' lo ilicir voiees against the disreputal.li* trallic and j ibbirg which have bopij goin^:; on there f>r so ni mv Vi-ais. i licso ar*-" Ntt'o' ir <'X|)i-i s-i ms, im* what 1 itpj-uaiic can hi' loo Htror.iX, t'- a i»!v 'o iii'Mi A h . malo' i li_;'oii ■' cl'ak fur fS'tT'v sia. ii^ i^ iiii ■ iii iIih wmihI. tlic r\i! is ever inia'^ '.' 1 wili l i- '^' i i i, but il i>; la \ <'rl i cdio!)s wIiimi (Ik; opititiiunitv servt% to leprobate vici' and cidlivatc viiiui\ The progress of religioa, hi)sv('Vi'i-, wid bo voiy si r.v, while the heads of tin^ ( hur(di ac^ on the piinciple that the end jusiifies the means, and pay i Itle n;tentioa to the moral conduct of individuals, so long as ihey do not oppose the schemes of llio Bisliop and his clergy. If this be the state of the Church, at the fouu^ain head, what must it be in the remote parishes. However, in these, the money temptation is not so great. It is in no captious spirit we make these remarks. The interests of religion are too important, to be trifled with, or to be dealt witli as merchandize or real estate speculations ! What is the consequence of all the contest for worldly estate in the Church? Bishops and clergy must live, and be respectably u ' I 186 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. m i(: / II supported ; but Jo they ro live, and are they so sup- ported 5 Half the clergy, it is well known, only subsist on a miserably inadequate maintenance. Yet the revenues of the Church, from all sources would be annplo, if her a Kairs were properly, I might say honestly, administered. More equalization of in- comes, is one of the chief things required. But the full discussion of this subject would be out of place here. I have elsewhere said, the Church of England members, in the Talbot Settlement, do not number over one fifth of the population, and I have estima- ted the population at 150,000. Now, if Ve deduct the nominal, that is those who contribute nothing, not even their prayers in Church, towards her sup- port, from the real members, that is those who do contribute something, and who do support reli- gion by their presence in church, one tenth would not be too low an estimate. With those remarks we may leave the subject to over zealous members of the Church, to consider where the fault lies. It is pleasant to turn from the contemplation of ■whatever deforms and disgraces the cause of religion, to review the characters of clergymen, who adorn their profession. Cf such charactors there are many ill the Chuich. In the Talbot Settlement there are some, who have pursued the even tenor of their ways with exemplary fidelity and unostentatious piety. LIFE OP COLON KL TALBOT. 18' By 80 sup- )\vn, only nee. Yet DCS would might say tion of in- ired . But lut of place : England t number ,ve estima- we deduct i nothing, her sup- who do lort reli- th would jmarlvs we Ders of the plation of )f religion, ho adorn are many there are their ways )us piety. The Rev. Richard Flood of Cjiraih'c, ha5? hibor-'d with unvaryipg zeal for thirty years, among the Indians at Munsey Town, and his paiishotiers in Cannloc and Delaware, without our even once hearing of such disgraceful squalls, as frequently occur in other parishes. And the Rev. Mr. Holland, (now at Fort Erie) for many years the incumbent of Dunwich, above Port Talbot, lived in peace and harmony among his parishoners, without creating any of those religious feuds in his congregation, which are else- where of such frequent occurrence. Such men do much towards fostering the true spirit of Christ- tianitv. CHAPTER XIX. The Mullman — The Colonel's attkntion to uls SICK MAN — Long Sermons — Westovers Moral-- iTY— Emigration and Old Cguntryeen. Colonel Talbot, like many other persons who are supposed to live out of the world, was never at a losa for news, and was not easily taken by surprise. Whenever any unwelcome visitor or rough customer meditated a descent on Port Talbot, the Colonel was made aware of it, and prepared accordingly. Many persons who had taken up lots of land, were slow to fulfil the conditions of the contract, and make the stipulated improvement ; in such cases, after waiting 188 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. lit ■ I . hi ill n mn more than a reasonablo time, the land was given out toothers. Tiie parlies who thus lost tiioir clairriBi ware generally undieerving characters, and con- sidered themselves hardly treated, when they wore only justly served. One of these persons, hearing that he had been reported as a defaiilter to the Colonel, anticipating what n(,uld foljuw. s>il>l<'; mihI ilieivt' i- liiccrcded at once to Port T;il' ol. On li s way up h" steppe 1 at. old Water's fnii, aid liMvini;- iiiit.iln d h dcze of coiinge, in the sh;i])e of hr.iodv, n;;iie it kii>v\(i to all lhf of 1 hs w»y Irom liiin |wiho- (lay, )nvfising Mullni'in tlic dis- us tVioRcls ling, and i you not my skin," into his was inim- , drew a at dinner, d himself nts beds, Iteamb :)at, in .vant of a berth, and in tho morning took liisscat at the breakfast table, and helped himself bounti- fully, lie then fitretched himself out on a settee till dinner-time, when, havinjj; mudo his bow to tho beef and greens, ho was about to resume his couch, but Joffry beginning to consider that the Mullman was an uninvited guest, reported progress to tho Colonel. " Sir," says ho, " here's? a Ktrargo sort of man in the kitchrn." '* Well, what does he want?'* Bays tho Colonel. " Why, lie hel[)s himself, seem- ingly, to everything ho wants. ** 1 know what he don't wan't" "What's thol, Jefl'ry?" ♦' A good '• appetite, Bir — he eats as if ho had been used to it " all his life." ** Call him here," says the Colonel, who perceived that his old favorite JeflTry, had onlv just began at the first end of a long story. When the man appeared, the Colonel asked him what the deuce he mean't by quartering himself upon him so uncerraoniously. Tho Scotsman very composedly replied. "I will na gangawa the year, nor never, " until you gie me my land back again. "** Take it" said the Colonel, " and go to the deil with it, anl if ever I see you back hero, it will be my turn to break bones." ^ Tho Mullman went t^way satisfied, telling every one ho met, that tho only plan to get along with the Colonel, was to stick to him as a barnacle to the rock. This is one of many instances, where persons -^ fi' r '\ ,» : ,>r I \\ 190 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. measured iho Colonel's benevolent disprsition, by their own deserts, and rcprestnteJ liini, like tiic noble- men in the gospel, as an amtcre laaii. Whereas the love of justice was the nost predominant in Lis char- acter. In the year 1840, as related by Mr. Munro, an incident occured at Port Talbot, which exhibits the goodness of the Colonel's heart. One of his hired men fell sick, but haJ a strong prejudice against Medical men, aiid their medicines. The Colonel knowing this, and being aware that the young man had no relations in the country, adaiinistered some medicine himself, and attended him in the capacity ot nurse as well ps doctor. l>y the Colonel's assiduous aid and attentions, the lad scon recovered his health and strength, and faitlifuily served his benefactor for a year after, when he received every fraction of bis wages, without abatement for the time he had been sick, and lefi the Colonel with fe«lingf of rcTerenc and gratitude, amounting almost to idolization. To thio day, the young man's estimation of the Colonel's goodness, is such, thai he will permit nobody to say a disrespectful word of his master, doctor and friend, with impunity. ' ^ Many amusing anecdotes of the Colonel's ready wit and sarcastic humour, are related among ihe sel- lers. Among others, the proverbial penuriousness of Scotchmen, did not escape his observation. A young LIFE OF CO!,ONEL TAI.I'.OT. 191 icsiiion, by [) lUc noble- Vheieaslhe in Lis cbar- Munro, an xbibits the of his hired lice against :he Colouel young man ibtered some le capacity ot I's assiduous ed his health lenefactor for ictian of bis 16 bad been of reverenc .lizaiion. To the Colonel's Dbody to say r and friend, jlonel's ready long ibeset- iuriousness of A young clergymen was sent as a miss! iiry into tlio Township whore he lived, and like too many of iho cloth, knew bettt r how to bep;in liis scrmoti tlian wlion to .stop. Colonel Talbot boing al dinner with the P»is!iop, himself a Scotchman, a fiiend remarked that the Rev. ,the youno- missionary, preached intole-ably ong sermona, whicii '.vh ,i miUer of com plaint amonc his hearer?i. " Ave, niv Lord,'' said the Colouel, " and I never knev; am bodv thut could bear a long sermon, but a Scotchnjan Avhcn ho pays for it." It may verv Avell be imno-incd, tliat in tlie early days of the Settlement, mcrality was at a very 1 j\v ebb. As far as common honesty goc?, il;c people, generally, "weio tolerably n:ioral. That is to sny, they would neither steal their neighbor's property, nor tell a direct lie; nor would they allow a stranger to starve at their doors; bul the more enlaro-ed vir- lues of christian morality, such as benevolence and honor, it was scarcely to be expectcf/, under the in- structions of the religious teachers wc have described, that the tarly settlers sluiuld excel in. An instance of the lax state of morality which pi'evailed in those days, may be mentioned. A friend, who had been requested by a distant proprietcr to have an eye to some land which he owned ir llio settlement, and onwhich tresspassers were cn'.ting ofT the timber to make ataves, upbraided a neighbor who lived on I I lift if I 'li^li 102 LIFE OF COLON KL TALI30T. land fidji/iniiif^^ for allowing a man's land to be rob- bed in that sort of way, without doinji^ anything to stop such glaring ra8c;ility. " Wliy, what can I do,'* said Westover, and why should I trouble myself about it? ''At least/' said Lis friend, ''you can inform those who arc more interested, so that they may detect the tlieives." '^ Oh, it's none of my business," or some sucli reply followed. "But," says tlie other, " don't you know that you are bound by the golden rule, which requires that you should do u ito others, as you 2vouId the// should do toyouy That's true ," naively retorted V/estover, but I guess that rule works both ways, wdiy, look here, neighbor, If Twos taking the timher, I should' at want you to inform agin me.'''' During the early period of the Talbot Settle- ment when the country was but little improved, the most of those who found their way into it were emi- grants from the United States, and a good many of the settlers from the Niagara District : but in process of time, old countrymen from England, Ireland and Scotland, came in considerable numbers. Among thcFe emigrants, foremost were many Highland Scotchmen, who purchased their lands from the Canada Company, in the Township of Yarmouth, and others who took up lands in Ekfrid and Mosa. These were among the very poorest class of settlers, and for mnny years had to work very hard, not only in 3 be rob- ytbing to !an T do," 'Self about •an inform they may business," , tho other, he golden ito others, at's true ," that rulo r, If Twos to inform ot Settle- oved, the were emi- d many of in process reland and Among Highland from the outh, and Ka. These ttlers, and lot only in LIFE OF COLONEI. TAI.BOP ion clearing their land, and in raising crops and cattle, to subsist their ftimilios; but to obtain money to pay the instalments due on their lands. These poor peo- ple, were no doubt inured to hardships and priva- tions in their own native country, and therefore were no strangers to misery. Of this, they had quite enough to contend with in Canada, but after many years, hard struggling, they have made themselves independent, having fine farms scattered throughout the Settlement, and on the occasion of either a wed- ding or a funeral, old and young, lads and lasses, dis- play no inconsiderable amount of wealth, in horses, carriages, and personal adornmenis. The old fulks speak little but the Gaelic, but the young pco])le are quite as good in English as Gaelic. The Irish emigrants have been of a more mixed class, and have not been altogether so prudent and prosperous as the Scotch. Still most of them have improved their condition by coming to Canada. Those of them who have h id most to endure and suffer, were the educated class, with slender moans and too much pride. Descriptive of this class, was a remark of John Harris'. Once Mr. Harris met with some gentlemen from various parts of the Province, in Toronto, and the conversation turned on the num- ber and quality of the emigrants, who had become settlers within a few years. Each was contending that his part of the coimtry had rpreived the great- ,i!i ill i 4^ \V4 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. t 1 ill* I ' ; ■'•■ 1' f I ^ f • il 1 i M lI_ est accession of respectable settlers, but Harris set- tled the point beyond dispute, by the following laconic retort. " Why, d m me," said he, " in the London District, we have one Township all gentlemen.'* This was the Township of Adelaide, whore a large number of old soldiers, who had com- Duited for their pensions, and had received land in exchange, had settled themselves, or rather tried to do so; and if thev had not the education and man ners of gentlemen, they did not want for independ- ence of feeling, an«' thriftless habits. Among them were settled many respectable Irish families, whoso members were well iittod to adorn a drawing room, and display their eloquence, garnished with the rich ♦^avor of accent, for which Irish ladies and gentle- men are so conspicuous. A nephew of the great Curran, Captain Curran , was among the number* But the discipline of civilized life, was soon lost in the woods, and neither the Irish gentleman nor the old soldier afforded any quarter to the prostrate porker, who came under the operation of his knife. However, a number of these settlers have been seeded dotcn, and the probability is, that a more industrious race, tho' less polished, will have arisen in their stead . At one time J St. Thomas, which might very well be considered the capital of the settlement, was the headquarters of a numerous party of English omi LItK OF COLONEL TALBOT. lU grauLs, who had been tenaut faimcrs, small landed proprietors, and tradesmen. There could be no mis- taking them, they were genuine Englishmen; for if their dialect did not convince you of this, their John bullism was sure to do it. They had grumbled themselves out of England, and the same spirit accompanied them to Canada. Tlioy blustered and swore in a manner, quite novel to the old ficttlers. These, it is true, could too frequently indulge in profanity much more wicked, than Englishmen arc accustomed to, but their oaths did not seem to spring from such a full stomach. Thou the hearty contempt which they appeared to entertain for every thin gout- side of England, except themselves, would have been insu!T«rable, had cxpeneucc not tauglit the old ^settlers that all this Anglo-patriolism, would soon bo subdued by the frosty and healthy climate of Can ada. Many of the English settlers, however, are among the best, and most wealthy farmers of this , and every other part of Canada. They soon become acclimated, and enjoy a degree of freedom and inde pendence not exceeded, if attained, in any other part of the world. Thousands of them, who might have lived in the old country all their lives, without ever being the owners of horses and cattle, have them here in abundance, besides being the proprietors of valuable freehold estates. It i?. astonishing however, : I I ' ' I II , k ; 'is H ) '!' 190 till LIFE UF CuLoNEL TALBOT. illy, h >le England very recciiiiy, now ignorant people in were, of everything relating to Canada.* Other emigrants camo into the settlement from Nova Scoiiu, and have, generally, done well. Ac- customed in thoir own country, to poor soil and a hard climate, their industry and frugal habits, well fitted them to succeed in Canada. The Nova Scotians in the settlement, are the best maple sugar makerp, and produce large quantities annually, of the finest quality, both powdered, and in the cake. Much has been said and written on the subject of immigration, and various schemes have been pro- posed, with the view of attracting a iarge number of emigrants to Canada. It has been felt, that by far the larger number of those who leave Europe, find their way into the United States. But this is not to bo wondered at, for that portion of North America, was first peopled by British settlers, whose relatives and connexions followed, till those states became more and more populous. Another reason why the United States does, and will continue to receive larger numbers of emigrants than Canada, is, that the climate of that portion of the continent of North * As an instance of the ignorance wbich prevailed in Enp;land, not many years since, Irapy mention, tbat an Englishraau who emigrated to Canada, and lias been liring in iLe settlement about 20 years, being much afflicted with tooth ache, and apprehensive that there were no dentists in Canada, took the precaution of having all bis teeth draw?!, before he left! and 1 .has done without toetli ever since. ITFE OF C'.(1.0'TE:I TALBOT. 197 Auicricn, is more con fcnid! to the i'ocliiifs ot tins peoplo of almost every otlicr part of the world. The numerous harbors too, of the United States, accesai Me to ships from sea all the year round, is another great reason why immigration flows more in that direction. The climate of Canada, wo know, is salubrious, and the soil fertile, but wo ought not to shut our eyes to the fact, that the United States possess advantages, which nature has denied to Canada. For this, and other reasons, while we should encourage iraviV^ ration all in our power, we ought not to expect that Canada can compete Avith the United States in this respect, so long as they have immense tracts of land to offer to eraigran<:s, at nomi- nal prices, and under climates suitable to people from every part of the globe. Any strained efforts to tempt emigrants into Canada, will fail in their effect, because the emi* grants will leave Canada as fast as they come into it, if they find the United States more attractive. Canada will, undoubted[y grow and prosper, and emigrants will continue to take up their abode in it, but they will be of that class, who prefer a monarchi- cal to a republican government, and who like the climate. The best and most useful class of settlers will be those, who from clioice, select Canada for their home. Twenty years ago, when Canada wa«! much less known, than at present, three times as 11)8 I.IFK UKrOLONKL IMUol Mi t 5 : I » 1; tJt 1 ,'11 i !■ 'J 11 ! ' U ^ ;- I , V 4 jr ^^ 1 f -) ' J V: 1 \ ^ 'i l' ill i i ' m '^ '' i: 1 *i f ' S ' ' ;i 1 *» t *! i r'l i' ' ;{ -' • U ' ■ ■ ' 1 1^' M ; A mk 'a ' iw ^' '1 ^Jit ■ lit (\\c\ny c\mgrca\{^ cw.ie in; and tliey \vill (.ome, in as !arj;<*- imai))or< again. \v]ioTie\''er Kurope has the The sanae amount of redundant populalion, tliat it had then. Tie Country embraced within iho Talbot Set- tlement has received rh large a proportion of the emigrants, who have found their way into Canada, as any District of similar extent, and the settlers more generally have been of the laboring class. These contribute more to the wealth of the country, than those who bring money without labor, and spend it on objects which do not stimulate production. This is the caso when a gentlemen with a few hundreds or thousands of pounds, purchases land at a higli price, near a town or city, and does not raise crops or revenue enough from it, to pay interest on the purchase money. The man ho bought it from has most likely gone ofif to another country with the money, and the owner, through want of proper in- dustry, has been impoverished , the knd has to be sold for less than he gave for it, and to the same ex- tent the wealth of the country has been diminished. Had the original owner contiliued to occupy it, he would have made it produce sufficient for all his wants, and something more, but the gentleman farmer has neither worked it himself, nor has he employed proper persons to do it for him. But he has eaten the value of it up, and becomes an incum LIFK i>K I'uUtNEl. I Al.lior "j:i ne, 111 as has the l\nt itliBd Ibot Set- n of tho IcTiada, as ,lerB more s. These itry, than spend it on. This hundreds lit a higli iso crops est on the from has with the I roper in- Ihas to be same ex- Iminished. py it, he Ir all his [entleman )r hds he But he In incum brauce rr ius uwji luinl. Tiiu lower uc havo o!".>i^t I settlers, the rnoro in '.'•■ -ivuntry likoly iij pros]), r CHAPTER XX. OiUGiNAL Documents relating to the Taj-boi Anniversary — Colonel Taliiot's rRiNcii'LES AND Habits — Tf .i'Iiuanx'e — The Colonel's DECLINING TKARS. Since the foregoing portion of this biograpfjy came out of the Press, I have been fortunate enough to obtain, through tho kindness of Samuel Price, Esq., of Port Stanley, the original correspondence which took place at tho time of establishing the Talbot Anniversary. These original documents were preserved by Major Nevills, the Secretary of tho Meeting, to which they refer, and of which Meeting the notorious John Rolph was a prominent member ; and although he afterwards turned traitor to his country, the Secretary never did. On the contrary, Major Nevills, who is now a very old man,, has always borne a high character in the set- tlement, for his loyalty and bravery, and always ranked high in Colonel Talbot's esteem; because the Colonel knew well he could always depend on him, in peace or in war. Major Nevills' sentiments and conduct well accorded with his personal appearance, which was manly and handsome He was, in carliei iife, the Captain of a loyal company of settlers. '$ m lidO I IfF mF C«»I.'tNKI. lAI.DO'l W- •i ii warfHic, (»!• it> [Hililioal . Actia. His noiiio was ji lower of strenj^lli in the settlomeiit, uiid liis Ix'uulifiil farm on Yarmouth liciglitH, was the resort of many of the host men of tlie Settlement. The Address to (Joloncl Talbot, 18 just such as we might e\j)cct from tho men who signed it, and the note of J. Rolph, appended, exhibits the zeal with which lie favored the Talbot Anniversary. Colonel Bur- well's pompous address to the People of Talbot lload, and the way they treated it, at a meeting held by tliera 21st May, 1817, as per Resolutions subjoined, affords pretty good evidence that we have not been mistaken in our estimate of his character, and that Colonel Talbot liad some reason to suspect his judg- ment. It has been supposed that Burwell was jeal- ous of Rolph's growing influence, and the result shoived he had reason to be; for Rolph became his opponent, and defeated him at the polls. This was the secret of Burwell's affectation of conscientious scruples, about interfering with solemn days ap- pointed to be celebrated y earl 1/ ^ in commemoration of the death or martyrdom oj Saints, or the days when men were ivont to 2^ray for the souls of their de- ceased friends! 1 Ed., Gth chap. 14lh. How- over, Colonel Talbot had no such feelings of false delicacy as Burwell imagined, and liis frank and manly letter bore ample evidence of this. A pener- LIFE OF COLONKL TALBOT. 201 no was n 4l)oaulirnl of many ^uch as we 1(1 the note ,ilh which loncl Biir- Ibot UoarJ, irr hold by subjoined, } not been \ and that cthisjudg- was jeal- ilio result )Gcamo his This was nscientious days ap- aoration of days when their de- h. How- rs of false frank and A gener- ous tnind, which lias been deroted to tlie weifure of others, as well as that of self, has no rea>ion to shrink from iho well deserved compliments of thoso wlio have been benefitted; for the groat incentive to all virtuous actions, is to deserve well of those whom wo intend to serve, and the public acknowledgement of such services, whore many have been bencliltcd, is the best reward a man can receive in tliis life. But no such generous impuLso actuated IJurwclI, and, it is said, he found out that he had made a mistake in addressing the People, and afterwards recanted. Certainly, if he failed to prevent the institution of the Talbot Anniversary, it was strongly 8US[)ected that ho succoeded in causing it to bo discontinued, by forcing it over to London, where it was soon 'lowed to die a natural death. (CORRBSPOKDEMCE.) Yarmouth, Gth March, 18l7. Sir— I am directed, as secretary, by n numerous n'.eet- iug on the Talbot Anniversary, on the 8th Rfarch. to tians- niit tlie inclosed address to you. I am fuvtlier diroiitod to inform you, that a chair is to ho loft i)erpetually vacant in your name, which is to be filled by you only, or by your desceudaijts in future ages. In assuring you of the warni'ih and cordiality with which the above motions were a) >provod, I individually express the very particular respect with which, I am, Sir, Your most obedient and humble servant, JAMES NEVILLS. Secretary. To the Hon. ruloncl Talhot Port Tal hot. 202 LIFE OF COLONKL TALDOT. i)^ !'/lli 1 1 W™'' I :l 1 8f'n( llio above letter iu vour y'albot'H answer to you is inclofeu. tiHii)(.'> aui"utc. I hospitality utoniplating grcss of our tronngo aud poiuted tlio tbifi public and of our drcn to our our regard but as tho JHincerity. 50N, P. rion.V.P. to the Hou. llowing aus- ^d to you. V, Mr Adjt. je published fdiugs of tho he Adjutant jy riding up kOLPH. f,, Yavmout^ :/'t» the InhahitmUg of the TaUtot Sdtli'ment: — Oentleriic'U. — Accept my hearty thanks, in return tor the flattering addrcnH wliich you have been pleased, so un- expectedly, to honor tnoAvitli. I am highly gratified to licar tliatyou are not insenHil)lo of thoexcrtiiuis 1 have madn to advance the \vellar»( of thirt {mrt of tho I'rovince, for which lam amply compensated )y witnessing this day tho asi-(-mblago of ko Loyjil and respectablo a body of settlers; and J navo not any doubt but that in a very few years, our country will exhibit in a conspicuous degree, the superiority of our soil and labors. The surest pledge we can give for its contirmation, is lo fireservo tho continuance of the admirablo industry and larmonv wliich has hitherto so happily prevailed thn>ut,'h- outthe Talbot Settlement, and yf the wel- ices. Noth- escaped his salted rank, ery, nor hia Ly pride was right. Ho D man ever means. Of Df, from the sd a fortune oorest of his rudent and |nd have be- states sur- lily. y, we have ay seem to e formed of |r, the cause , and in the e latter por- revious, *M.Q Colonel was not considered by some persons, abstemi- ous, and there is little doubt, but that the loneliness of his situation, induced him lo partake more freely of wine and ardent spirits, tlian he would otherwise h:.ve done, but his iron frama and robust constitu- lion, enabled him to bear more indulgence of this ktnd, than most other men, without apparent i'jjury. The writer has frequently boon a guest at his tablo, and partaken of his hospitality, and never obsorved that the Colonel indulged immoderately, or lost hirf habitual presence of mind. Indeed his frequent intercourse with men of the highpst rank, during the greater portion of his life, must go far to sliew th it he was not the slave of so debasing a vice as inff^'n- perance. Admitting, however, for arguments' sake that Colonel Talbot did indulge freely in the use of ardent spirits, or of the common beverage of the country, Canadian whiskey, wliat a contradiction does his life present to the assertions of those stren- uous advocates of teetotalism, who contend tli;it all fermented liquors are poison, and that all, whoeitlv^r manufacture or vend them, except to be used im medicines, are murderers. How few of the advocates of total abstinence can measure iher lives by that of CJolonel Talbot, who lived in full possession of his mental faculties, fourscore years. Temperance is oominendable in all men, and at «11 timcR, hut it is questiorable whether in the early i 08 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. Ill ii) f 1)1, (i i iin M part of the Settlement of Canada, many of the settlera could have struggled through the difficulties and pri- vations that they had to undergo, without something to stimulate and cheer them on , through the dreary road of life in the woods. It may he quite easy for m'"n in a more civilized state of society, with every sort of_^luxury and comfort to pick and choose upon to forego even the moderate use of liquor, in ex- change fortsome other sensual gratification; but place the same men in the backwoods of Canada, half a century ago, with a scanty supply of the coarsest kind of food, with years of toil and privation staring them in the face, and they would be glad to make use of whatever their Allwise ""Creator sets before them, for nourishment or enjoyment. He who told the Israelites by the voice of his servant Moses, (14 chap. Deul., 27 v.) " And thou shnlt bestow that " money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for " oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, " or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, and thou shall " eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt " rejoice, thou and thine household," never in- tended that the course and ©rder of his Wise I'rovi- dence, should be altered by man. The Holy Scrip- lures teem with passages authorizing the use of the juice of the grape, and every year the earth produces grain and fruit, to be converted into fermented liquors ; and yet men clothed with a little brief au- LIFE Of COLOXEL TALBOT. 9M) ihority— poor weak men, who are incapable of keeping the least of God's laws and commandments, — such weak fallible creatures as these, will attempt to make a law to deprive their fello'.v creatures of the proper use of those things which they possess, only through the bounty of His Divine Providonce, It is no argument against the moderate use of liquor, to prove that men get drunk, and commit every sort of crime, for it is equally true, tliat they commit every other sort of crime before they get drunk; this is only an argument against intemper- ance, which is condemned in every page of Scripture. Intemperance, unlike most other crimes, carries with it, its own punishment, and is most frequently re- sorted to, to drown the sense of guilt of most other crimes, which /nakes the picture more disgusting and horrid, but the cure for this evil must be the same as for all other vices, namely, Christian Moral- ity. Any attempt to improve upon the Moral Laws of God, must argue a very defective sense of the duties of Christianity. CHAPTER XXI, Colonel Airey — Colonel Talbot goes to England — Differences between the Colonel and Colonel Aire v. 'Vhr^ Founder of the Talbot Settlement, as far as r •.MO LIVE OF COLONEL TALBur. i i )^ Pt m i 1. 1 1 i u ^ i ifii H ' he progress of the Settlement is considered, lived to see his work accomplished, and the prosperity of hia selUement completely established; but as far as relates ^o the family estate, and his design to found one, he seems lamentably to have failed, through circumstances v/hich arose in the 1 ist few years of his life. It is a source of regret, that the mantle of oblivion, should seem to have overshadowed his once powerful and sagacious mind, for sometime previous to his deceaae. These circumstances we shall endea- vor to trace with as much regard to brevity, aa truth find candour require. For many years previous to his death, it appears to have been the dcsiio of Colonel Talbot, — a desire consistent with his aristocratic descent, — to bequeatli his large estate to one of the male descendants of the Talbot family, and wiih this view ho had many years ago invited one of his sister's sons, Julius Airey, to reside with him at Port Talbot. This young gentleman accordingly came to reside there, but the dull monotonous life he was obliged to lead, and the Colonel's eccentricities, were ill calculated to engage the affections of a youth just verging on manhood; 80 after rusticating, without companions or equals in either birth or education, for one or more years, he returned to England; and relinquished whatever claims he might consider he had on Port Tal- bot. LIKK of *OL»i.NEL TALH'iT n After some years, Colonel Airey, Miliu;iy Soero- tary at the Horse Guards, succeefle.'l to the expecta- tions of his younger brother, and came with his family to resido at Port Talbot. Correspondence "which had taken place bbtween Colonel Talbot, and this, his nephew, seemed to justify Colonel Airey in the expectation, that he was to succeed to his Uncle's valuable estate, and the interests of a risinj;;- family, required sorao sacrifice on his part. ThesL' cant.idera- tions it may be presumed, operated with Colonel Airey, and led him conditionally to relinquish hia post at the Horse Guards. Colonel Airey was no stranger to Port Talbot, for he had visited his Uncle there, while Qctincr as secretary to the then Governor General, Lord Aylmer, and subsequently, during the outbreak of 1837, whilo commanding the 34th Regiment, ho was quartered with his Regiment, for some wei^ks at St. Thomae, od!v 12 Hii.es distant. He no.v came out, it w&a thought, to reside permanently at Port Talbot. From this time Colonel Talbot's bodily infirmities and dis- agreemcLts of another kind, worked powerfully on his once vigorous^ constitution, and brought on the illness from which ho never fully recovered . Had Colonel Talbot's intentions, when Colonel Airey arrived in the courtry, been carried out, he would have lived and died at Port Talbot. He hnd intended that his nephew should occupy somo, part ffff o t o LIFE or COL'jWKL TAIBOT. I)i, r* •; I ! of tliO estate at a convenient distance from h'lA own reBidence, so that he might continue to live on in liis own old fashioned way, and avoid those inter, forences and jarrings, wliich are so apt to occur between relations. But this intention was by some means overruled, and in a few months the iookery was converted into a moro convenient and spacious mansion. Colonel Talbot and Colonel Airey, how- ever, were not altogether birds of a feather, and it soon proved that they could not live together. The former had been accustomed for the greater portion of his life, to suit the convenience of his domestics, iind in common with the inhabitants of the country, to dine at noon ; the latter was accustomed to wait for the buglecall, till 7 o'clock inthe evening. Col- onel Talbot could, on s|le ob- splen- many lueo of CHxVl»TKK XX 11. Final settlembN't with Colonkl. Airey— Ottonaaj McBkth. Prior to his departure for England, to reconcile differences, or to satisfy his own consciciice, tlie Colonel had made over to Colonel Aircy, the Port Talbot Estate, worth, it is couisideied, £10,0U0, and 13,000 acres of land, in the adjoining Township of Aldboro'. This was not a moiety of the e.-^it. to which Col'^nel Talbol possessed, and which Col)nel Airey had reason to expect would descend to him, but the disagreements which have been ailiuied to, seera to have altered Colonel Talbot's mind on this subject After remaining some time at Port Talbot, Colonel Airey, seeing, it is presumed, that he had acquired Rs much of die estate as he was likely to get, while Colonel Talbot was last in England, had rented Port Talbot to Mr. Saunders, an En/'jlish gentleman, and returned with his family to England, to resume bin postal the Horse Guards. We have no desire to narrate the particulars of those ditibrences, which arose between Colonel Tal- bot and his nephew, did we possess all the ncccessary information. There is no doubt, Colonel Talbot was arbitrary and self willed. At Port Talbut he had never acknowledged any equal, and bis great age, considfrirg the secluded and indcpen 'cut life he had i!' \l 11 I •JU) LIFE UK(K)LONKI. TALIIOT. leil, must Imvo tended to confirm him in many pre- judicios. Ho denied positively tliaL lie liad hold out nny indueemonls to Colonel Airoy, to come to Can- ada, but had assented reluctantly to Colonel Airey's own proposition, signifniir th t if ho did como and settle at Port Talbot, he would leave him his pro- perty. To relieve himself from this pledge, would ap])ear to have been the reason for his dividing tho estate. Colonel Airoy , on tho oilier hand, main- tained that th'i Colonel had invited him out, and promised that he would settle his estate upon hin. Be this as it mav, there is no doubt that from the time of his arrival. Colonel Airey began to consider himself as the proprietor of his Uncle's properly, and under this impression, desired to assu.'^.ie tho manage- ment, and regulate Colonel Talbot's atfairs. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been all right, but with Colonel Talbot it was all wrong. One incident will convey a tolerable idea, how things went on at Port Talbot, under the new regulations. Tho Hon. James Crooks, an acquaintance of Colonel Talbot's of 50 years standing, was travel- ling in the direction of Port Talbot, and naturally made a halt to see his old friend . It was Sunday, and the ftimily wero at Church, 5 miles distant. Colonel Talbot, as was his wont, wished to offer some refreshment, but so completely was everything lii LIl-'K OK Ol ''»VF^1 lAI U *T. I'l my pre- iold out :o Can- Aiicy's mo and his pro- (, would ing ibo , maiii- ut, and )n liim. 01 n the consider rty, and Q an age- Under een all wrong, things llations. Ince of travol- iturallv luuday, iistant. lo offer rything secured, undor lock a' d kfV, thnt ho could touch nothing in the fihHj)o of Li«*vorngo. Most f.ravellor^ on n journey, where ri srooil Inn cannot bo found for many miles, are glad to moot witli any friend, who can afford thoni refreshment, and tho Hon. Mr. Crooks waajust in lliis biuiation; ihorcforo ho could the more r'"'adily feci for the restraint under which Colonel Talboi }ij)peared to be placed. This was a trifling incident, and mli^ht baveoccured acci- dently, but the bulk i-f family disputoM and disagree raents grow out of 8ueh triflivs, and the pooition in which Colont-l Airey had })lae(:d hiniBfilf — required him to act witii CNlrcme dtdicary towardrf bib Uncle, who had no doubt bocome ptovisli and impatient, of anything like serveillance or interference with his settled habits- These difl^rences, whatever might liavo been their cau.se, hud the effect of dividing tho Colonel's estate, and of cmsing him lo end his days in a position very ditVereut from what his friends conld have witched. George McBeth whose name has been men- tioned, had succeeded to the situation of Jeffrv Hun- ter, and lived with Coloi.el Talbot for many years, but being a young nuMi of better education, than his predecessor, and being very assiduous, in his atten- tions tohismaeter, ho acquired great influence over him in his latter yeari. McB<;.th had so gaiaed the Coldnel's grcd c pinion , that he ^toid in the relation if a fcirj ?ri(n r& veil ^^ fcjv{:i.l, He Rcccnjpr.icd 2 I y L1M-: OF (,'OLoNKt. TALJiuT. I' I'M tlio (Jolonel twice in his voyages to und from En_, land, and was hih nurse and attendant in all his sick- ness. In fact, the Colonel ireatod him more like a son than a servant. Goorge bccanio his idol, and he liad been so long accustomed to call George, and re- fer to liim about everything connected with his affairs, that it seemed he could neither live nor die without (n^orgc. The hold wliich George had thusac(juircd on the Colonel's affections, placed him in a ( osition I o defy ull competitors for his old master's favor . He had completely ingratiared himself with the Colonel, before Colonel Airey came out to reside on the estate, and as the latter, wo may very well sup- pose, was not disposed to recognize a rival in his Uncle's sv-rvant, wc need be at no loss to conjecture how differences arose, and hov/ a breach, when once made, was kept open. McBeth's position was calcu- lated, however unintentional it might have been on hh part, to be very offensive to a man of Colonel Airey's rank and expectations; and on the score of interest, if actuated by no higher motive, ic was natural for McBeth to humour his old master, in all liis prejudices and dislikes. Thus, wc have a key to ■what followed. The last will and testament of Colonel Tallwt was read by H. C. Beecher, Esq., joint Executor ^^it]l Mr. McBeth, over his grave, and the whole remainiler of his estate, supposed to bo worth £50, 000, without a singlo bequest to friend or rekitivoj i.irr. (>['■ COLON i:i. i Ai.i;or, iMO from En^ ill lih sick- nore like a (Jol, and ho go, and rc- i his affairs, lie without LIS acquired a j osition tor's favor. with the o reside on ^ well sup- ival ill his > coDJecture when once was calcu- ,e been on )f Colonel G score of vu, it was islcr, in all c a key to lel TallKA Executor the whole rorth £50, r rekitivo» except an annuity of il'20 to Mrs. Hunter, the widoNV of Jeftry, was beqiicsithed to George Mcl'etli. The will was executed 1 tih December, 1852, in presenco of Messrs. Shanlev, Hutchinson and StoneMiaii. CliAPTEH XXlll. DliATll OF Col.OivEL 'lALUO r— I lEFLEoriONS UN- i:rai. Huvinir traot'il the career of Colonel Talbot i) the close of what might be considered his public life, the rcmaniHiL? portion of his earthly existence liir- nishcs little that is worthy of recording. We seaw liim lust a lod;^!:er in the humble abode of Mis. Hun- ter, with his uttend.int, George McBeth, Here he had caused an ;iddiiion to be made to the house, to atford hitn more room, but so completely dependeLt liad ho become on Georu'e for all his wants and com- fort, that he hn•> LlFt '.>!• f'uLo.NLL lALI'.olV ll' % |l ■u H N f 1 estate to Lis hiroj servant. This was certainly not wliat iio intended to lifive done, till within a few years of his demise, but lie liad unfortunately planed himself beyond the reach of counsel or advice, and was no longer animated by these proper feelings of pride, which are highly honorable when based on rectitude. From what we know, and from what has been stated of the life of Colonel Talbot, we can have little doubt, but that he was animated by a desire to do good, and that his aspirations were of a benevolent nature; but ho lacked one thing, lie was deficient in humihty . He set out in lif" with the best inten- tions, but he neglected the only safe course to carry thom out. L ike many other great men, he relied too much on the strenfjth of his own mind. Wo have seen that in early life, he did not neglect the ordinances of religion; ho did not at onco abandon those forms of devotion, wtih which he had become amiliarized in the society of the civilized world; but the habit of self-reliance in religion, led him astray, as it has frequently done other men. The mind of man is so wonderfully constituted, that no matter how powerful the intellect, or how exalted the genius, if ho does not implicitly rely on strength superior to his own, and habitually mske use of the means which religion places within his reach, his strength becomes weakness. Of this] great fact, history' furnishes nnumoraijic instances, and we have examples daily ^'^^y lb I.lFIi OK cnl.ns i;|, 'l ai.UOT, before our eyes. Men Tuny acquire we:\llli, t'aiii'' a:nl earthly glory, in this life, but if they havr i^t niado religion, iho {irst and chief consideration, tlu^ hour of death is a blank space in tiioir existence, anJ they have toiled for worse than nodiing-. Tiiese retk'clions are proper, at all tiines, but more particularly so, when we arc considering the lives of distinguised or oxtraordin;'y men. The mortal remains of the Founder of the Talbot Settlement, were removed from London ibe day previous to thcir inieiment, 9ih February, and by some mal-a;:angement were deposited for the night in the barn or granary of Mr. Lewis, Lmkeeper at Finfjal. Great was the indi'^nation and horror of many of the old settlers, when they learnt that the remains of their old benefactor had been so un- worthily disposed of, for the last night they wero to remain above ground. One old settler, or rather a son of one of the old settleas, Mr. Sam lel Burwellj a faithful adherent of Colonel Talbot's, with tears in his eyes, we are told, begged] to have the body re- moved to his own house close by, and Mr. Partridge a worthy settlor, would have cheerfully done the same; but this, it appears, would have disturbed the order of previous arrangement. It is even said tbiit Mr. Lewis, the Innkeeper, would willingly have aflforded the best room in his house; but no; iho undertaker w^as inexorable, and answereil to all re monstranc^g, that ho had carried blf^.Qcv men Ihan !• i ii !|A t • ill f) 1 1 ( I 1 i!' ) 1 ). 1 I-;. '2 2 A lAVF. OK CiJONKf, T.U.DOT ColuMoi Tulbot, and it was only after gront .'Xclte. ment had arisen in tlio villago, tliaf. the eoipso was allowed to be removed frona the hearse, and secured for tliG night, under lock and hoy in the granary This fceno was disgraceful to the parlies whose negli- gence or heartle;vsnes8 caused it. The recollection of this indignity, otiered to the remains of the Foun- der of the Talbot Settlement, now, although a life- less corpse, depo.sited in the abode of cattle, is revolt- ing, and the whole community cry shame on those who committed such an outrage. The undertaker and his men, were no doubt to blame, for they are reported to have been in a state of intoxication; but that the remains of the venerable founder of the Talbot Setll«raent, shuold have been left in charge of so unworthy a keeper, for the whole night pre- vious to their interment, was an act; of great negli- gence, which scarcely admits of excuse, however much it may be palliated. We are willing to be- lieve that no intentional disrespect wag premeditated, but neither the annals of civilization, nor the tradi- tions of barbarism, could probably furnish an instance of such lamentable inattention to the unburied remains of a departed friend! However, from the arrange- ments of the succeeding day, we may conclude no such outrage had been contemplated. On the following day the corpse was removed from Fingal to Port Talbot, and rcbtod for a short time within the walU of the m-msiori, whore full of i.^j LIF£ oV COLoNKL TALlJUl'. 225 life and vigor, the body had lived near half a cen- tury. Here the mourners assembled, and the funeral procession was formed in the following or- der: — The fU arse containing llie body, followed by sleighs conroying George McBeth, II. (;. Beecher, Esq., Hon. G. Goodhue, L. Lawrason, Esq , James Hamilton, Esq., J. B. A.kin, Esq., and sorno others of Iho most respectable men in London, and othor gentlemen from diifjrent parts of tho soLtlemfMil. The funeral service of the Church of n<,^!and, was performed by the Uev. Mr. Holland, in the Epi.sco- pal Church at Tyrconnel, and at the grave adjacent to the church, where the last mark of respect was paid by comparatively a few friends, who travelled many miles on an intensely cold day, to witness the obsequies of a man so long distinguished ihruughout the Settlement. The body of the deceased was deposited in a leaden coffin, encased m one of oak, bearing the fol- i-vvviug incription : — THOMAS TALBOr. FOtJXDER OF THE TALBOT SKTTLE.UEXT. PIED 6th FEhRUARY, 1850, 22G m !.■', i I)) w W i« LIKE OF COLONEL TALIJOT, CONCLUSION Ilaviiin- followed Colonel Talhot totlio grrvo, and });iid our last tribute of respect to liis honored remains, a brief retrospect of the rise and proo-resB of tho settlement founded h\ him, and a condensed view of its present state, may not prove nnintercst- inuj; partieularly to those old setders, wh<> liave lived and toiled in it, irom youlh ier of aeeoss, and much nioio favort'd by the intlux of capital, than tho Talbot Si'ttl('n;C'it, yet it exliibiled i!i».)re sii^-ns of improveiii;'t)i. ;U an early date, alir^^t beyond tho reach of civih'zation, than most of the other traets of rich ai.d fertile country ; as luis been shewn in tho bodv of this work. Talbot Street, as it used to bo called, extends in a direct line, over IGO niibs, east and west, near tho shores of Lake Erie, terminating !;t Andierstburg ; and there are numerous, parallel and cross roads, all well settled, to the exienl of many Inindrcd miles, studded with towns and villaecs, and other appliances of civilzod lite'; altogether presenting' a landscape of rural beauty, sekh-m surpassed in Canada. The Talbot Settlenn.ent, which includes the whole of the County of Klgin, lirge jiortions of tiie counties of Kent and Essex, and some of the counties of Middlc- s 'X, ir.'l Noifolk, in all of which Colonel Talbot, located settlers for the Government, ccmtains as I have before estimated, a population ot 150,000, wlio are worth, in the agnrregate, not less than ^20,000,000, in substantial wealth. This large amount of property, consists of almost everything, ^vhich can conducofcto the social welfare of man. In this extent of scvllement, there are now about CO Po'^t Onices, as many churches, large and small, and not less than :«00 Connnon Schools, all of which I II- 1. "!• COI.nNKL iALHOl. 2:7 Ills in ir the )iirg; s, all iiiles, ■noes 10 of The tho ?.s of ddlo- Ibot, tains ot less arge In t 00 nrili, hich have spruii^j; inti> oxisioncti during a p'Tiod shorter than the Hfu of llic ol(h\st settler. These st; li.stics afTor'l a pleasing index to the happy results of in- dustry, guided by prudence, and may serve to teach nil who may be disj)osed to settle in this, or any other part of Canada, yet in a slate of nature, how much may be accomplished by labor and perseve- rance. When we consider, that this large and pros- perous popuhition, has grown out of tenury, v.itii n) other capital but labor to start with, we may r(\st assured, that such results could only spring from well directed industry on a fruitfu' vjil. Could the settlers under Colonel Talbi.it, have looked forward to a state of prospeiity such as now surrounds them, the anticipation would have cheered manv a weary day's toil, and have softened many a hard day's pri- vation. All who may follow Uieir exuniple, will have this cheering prospect. The line of t!ie Nia00 lio <"X|)en(!e(Jiti lenstinnr Cabinol Ministers, members of Pnrlianient, and nearly all tho leading politicians and other c lebreties <>f Canada, in honor of Francifi Hincks, — a polilical adventurer, who has so safelv moored the debt of Catiadn, that it can nerer break from its anchorage! But about this time, Mr. Isaac Buchanan, at tSe instance of the (ircat Western Railway (Jompany, it was understood, tlirew himself into the project of th« Great Southern, h;iving through Mr. W allacr>, a Buflalo Engineer, aiwjuired a controling mteiest. As this was ail Engineerinjf process, I shall not attempt to explain it. No sooner, howev- r, did Mr. liuchan- an appear as a competitor on the line, with Mr. Zimmerman, than an excite- ent was raised by tho friends of each party, and was wafted to EngUnd as fast as steam could carry it. Zimmerman l)eing au adept, in the art of cooking up railway schemes, and of bribing and feastinof that indescribable class of speculators, expectant contractors and sub-cont'actors, who hang on the line of a projected railway, was more than a match for any honcbt man, particularly Isaac Buchanan, a m in of wealth, honestly ncquired, and who could not calculate on 900 per cent. More- over, the Great Western llaihvay Company, acted on by Mr. Zimmerman and his friends, repudiated the action of Mr. Bucha» an in !heir behalf; although Mr. KadclifFe, their V^ce President, had seconded all Mr. Buchanan's eftorts to obtain control of tho line I In this state of things, Mr, Buchanan and Zimmer- man came to an airangement to carry on the tMiter- prize jointly. So matters were progrossin^r, when Mr. Zimiiiennan was killed in the dreadful catastro- phe, which happen«!d tj tho cars of the Gr^-'at West- ern at the DnnlRR Ivunal, II !i ' m t4\ I'' ■ 230 kUK WF C^aO.tKL lALBor. It is unfoJlunat*', for tho interefits of the Niagara nnd Detroit Ilivor'.s K-iilway, that ihe iindorstanding "\\lii('!i tori; y.]',\co in t!'c* en', w.is rutt made in the bi:;ir;rii!!fr; but tl;is (I'd not Hrcoid with Mr. Zimnicr- ninn'd vif.v;.; ^t tho time, aiul a host of cormdiaiit?', hko tho ihsntialc miIIuics \\ho I-ovit ovor tho bodies of t\V(- cciitcjcii:];^ armi* s, to( k earo to keep uj) the <.pp<'>iu*(>n; aiid so tho opporlunity cticred by Mr. Buchanan, was lor^t. !No mall coidd have cntorod into a project \xiLh moro zeal and enthusiasm tlian Mr. Buchanan, and no man in Ciinaihi, lias ever risked so mucli of liis per- sonal nieans (jCJJC.OOO) to forwatd such an enter- prise. A more enierprising merchant, or a more generous man tlian Mr. liurhanaii, I believe, docs not exist in Canada, and he had done much to fbr- ■\vMrd the interests of the Great Western ; but evil counsels prevailed at Mead Quaiters, and he was abandoned to tho tender mercios of unprincipled men, wiio can appreciate no talent or enterjnise, uhich does not promise to fill their pockets. Jf ever tho < Jreat Southern runs through the 'I'albot Setilenient, it will be owing to the energy and liberality of haac Buchanan. FINIS. y HI I I iLBor. re»t» of ti.e Niagara : the understand ing- iH not niado in the I witli Mr. Zimracr- lu)s{ of corrnor.'inl!', .(•r ovor tlio bodies •aro t) Ivccp uj) tlie it}- c tie red by Mr. into a project \ritb Ir. Buchanan, and 1 so mucli of hispcr- ard such an enter- rchant, or a more ail, I belicvc, docs done much to i'or- Wc&tern; but evil liters, and he was i unprincipled men, r enterprise, uhicli kets. Jf ever tbo Talbot ^i-'Uk'nictit, d liberality of hauc