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PARTRIDGE & CO., 8 & 9, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1898. nh '?;n> THE ROMANCE OP COLONIZATION. Special tUtenlUm is regueated to this well^written and up- to-date Series cf books on the development of British Colonizcttionfrom its eommencemetU to the present day. Crown Sro. FrontUpieoe. 820 pages. Cloth extra, 2>. M. each. I.-THB UNITXD BTATSB OF AMXRICA TO TBB TIMB OF THU PHiaRIM FATHBBB. By G. Barnbtt Smith. n.-TH]> UNITBD BTATSB OF AmRXCA TO THB FRBBnMT DAT. By O. Barnett Smith. III.— IMDXA : ttom fhe Aryan InTasion to the Oreat Bepoy Mutiny. By Alfbcd B. Kmioht. IV.-~0A1!TAX)A: It! XUie and FxogreM. By G. Barkett Smith. PftfiP ft- 65 PREFACE. THE story of Canada possesses many of the elements of romance, and is one of deep interest for the whole of the Anglo-Saxon race. It was on Canadian soil that the long and deadly struggle between the French and English took place. From the time of Champlain to that which is immortally associated with the names of Wolfe and Montcalm, the history of the Dominion presents one long series of stirring and memorable events. In the following pages an attempt has been made to trace that history, omitting nothing which is of real native or European import- ance ; while dne note has been taken of the growth of Provincial and Federal interests. The object has been to present a snccinct narrative of the rise and growth of Canada from the earliest times to the present day. With regard to the future of Canada, its prosperity seems to be well assured. The High Commissioner, Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, in a recent speech recommended it as a land of promise for all who are 6 ■■! ill' 111 PREFACE. willing to work. He pointed ont that any Englishmen who were desirons of making a new Lume for them- selves, wonld find in Canada land to be had for the asking, schools as good as any they had in the old coontry, and ministers of religion who were as earnest in looking after their people as they were in Great Britain. The Canadians also are loyal to the Empire which they have done so much towards building up. The enterprise of the Dominion is one of its most characteristic features. Sir William Van Home, Chairman of the Canadian Pacific Railway, has just stated that he shall only regard the railway service as complete when the Company can take a passenger at Euston Station, London, place him on one of its own cars, and land him in Yokohama without transfer to any other line. This is expected to be accomplished by the year 1900. In furtherance of this object, magnificent and powerful steamships will shortly be built for the Vancouver and Yokohama service. Success to our brethren across the sea, who are thus resolved to place Cauttua in tbe forefront of the world's progress 1 G. B. S. COiiTENTS. "till I ( 1 CHAP. I. THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS . II. -^ni' COLONV FROM 1665 TO 1700 . ill. ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM IV. CAITURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE . V. CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION . ' VI. THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811 . VII. THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION . 1 VIII. EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836 IX. THE REBELLION OF 1837-38. X. UNION OF UPPER AND LOWER CANADA . XI. GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD . XII. CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES Xm. THE RED RIVER REBELLION . XIV. THE DOMINION SINCE CONFED."IUTION . XV. THE CANADA OF TO-DAY PAOI 9 27 49 65 115 132 152 182 198 223 231 252 275 284 310 I i ^m T brc 80\ of eve of He] moi port and witl I ^ beqi Ii Frai CANADA: ITS RISE AND PR0GKES8, 'ir ' ^1 CHAPTER I. THE EABLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. THE first settlements in the Canadian colonies were made by the French. Colnmbns having brought immortal honour to himself and the Spanish sovereigns Ferdinand and Isabella by his discovery of the American Continent in 1492, and this great event having been followed np by the explorations of the Cabots, which redounded to the credit of Henry VII. of England, Francis I. of France became moved to similar enterprises. " What I " he is re- ported to have exclaimed, ^' shall the Kings of Spain and Portugal divide all America between them, without suffering me to take a share as their brother ? I would fain see the article in Adam*s Will that bequeaths that vast inheritance to them." Imbued with the combined ideas of glory and gain, Fraacis held out every inducement to his subjects to 9 i c ''] 10 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. embark on American ventures ; and he at length discovered in 1523 a Florentine named John Verrazani, then resident in France, who was a bold and resolute seaman, and eager to undertake a voyage to the newly discovered continent. The King ordered a vessel to be prepared for him, and in 1524 Verrazani put forth ; but being overcome by stress of weather, he was obliged to return to port. Next year he sailed again, in another ship called the Dauphine^ and proceeding by Madeira he eventually landed on the shores of Florida. Ranging along the coast from the twenty- eighth to the fiftieth degree of north latitude, he took nominal possession of the country, which he styled New France. But the reports he took back to France were considered very unsatisfactory by the King, who ordered him to explore the same route again in 1525. Verrazani departed on his second expedition, but he had no sooner landed on the continent than he was unfortunately murdered by the Indians. It was reserved for Jacques Cartier, the celebrated French navigator, to become the real pioneer in Canadian discovery in the interests of France. Cartier's career was marked by a daring spirit of adventure. Born at St. Malo on the Slst of December, 1494, he became known as a bold and able seaman in his youth. It was not, however, until 1634 that he made the first of his great voyages to North America. Admiral Chabot having recommended him for this important service, the King appointed him to it, and had fitted out for him two vessels of sixty tons each, manned with 122 seamen. The little expedition sailed from St. Malo on the 10th of April, 1534, and on the 10th of THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 11 May it came in sight of Bonavista, in Newfonndland, and anchored in the harbonr of St. Catherine. Cartier traversed the Labrador coast, crossed a gnlf which he called St. Lawrence, and anchored in July in a bay which he called the Gnlf of Chalenr, in consequence of the excessive heat prevailing. He next coasted the shores of Gasp6— now part of the province of Quebec — and took possession of the country in the name of his sovereign, Francis I. He remained for some time in the district, in order to conciliate and study the natives, and to acquire a knowledge of the country. The quaint ceremony of taking possession of the land is described by one of the old historians. It appears that Cartier erected upon a height of land a Cross, thirty feet high, on which was suspended a shield, with three Jleurs-de-lis carved on it, with the motto, " Long live the King of France." The natives followed the details of the ceremony with earnest attention. Cartier and his people knelt down before the Cross, and prayed devoutly, with their hands uplifted to heaven; and as soon as the ceremony was over he went on board his ship. *' At the same moment, an Indian chief, clothed in a bear's skin, and attended by three of his sons and his brother, went in a canoe towards the vessels ; when he had approached sufficiently near to be heard, he began a long oration, and pointed to the Cross just then set up ; he then showed them the country round about, giving them to understand that it was his, and that they should not have it without his permission. While the Indians were alongside one of the ships, r'Jii ! Ji ' t 12 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. two sailors leaped into their canoe, and forced two of them on board. Cartier endeavonred to pacify the chief, and assured him that they should be treated kindly, that they should retnm again to their own country, and that the Cross was merely intended as a guide to them on entering the port when they should return. To these assurances he added a present of hatchets and knives, which so much pleased the chief that he returned perfectly satisfied. Leaving Gasp^ on the 25th of July, he entered the St. Lawrence so far as to see the opposite shores, where, meeting with head-winds and boisterous weather, he sailed for France, and arrived on the 5th of September at St. Malo." Cartier reported very favourably on the prospects of a plantation in this part of America, and the public mind was much stirred. On the advice of Vice- Admiral de Mailleraye, the King ordered an equip- ment of three vessels for the ensuing year ; and, accordingly, Cartier again sailed from St. Malo on the 19th of May, 1535. The f>hips encountered such tempestuous weather, however, that they were dis- persed, and did not meet again until the 26th of July, when they all reached the Bay of Castel, in Newfoundland. Cartier now navigated the Gulf of St. Lawrence, passing between the Island of Anticosti and the northern shore. After he had explored the coast, he proceeded up the River St. Lawrence, and on the 2nd of September arrived at an island which he named Bacchus, now Orleans. He moored his vessels, and went on shore with several of his men, accompanied by the Indians he had taken with him THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 13 on his former voyage. The natives fled at their approach ; bat on hearing the good news that their conntrymen had returned, their fears subsided, and they began to skip and dance. The place Cartier was now at was Stadacond, the site of the present city of Quebec. Donnaconna, the Indian chief, attended by his followers in twelve canoes, paid a visit to Cartier. The chief made a long oration, diversified with much grotesque postur- ing ; and when the returned Indians informed him that they had been treated with great kindness in France, he expressed much joy, and laid Cartier^s arm about hh neck as a token of friendship. Not long after this interview, Cartier intimated to Donna- conna his desire to visit Hochelaga, the most con- siderable village in the country ; but the chief was far from pleased at this, and sought to dissuade him from his intention. Cartier was resolute, however, and securing his vessels at Port de St. Croix, he sailed on the 19th of September with his pinnace and two other boats up the river, and arrived at Hochelaga on the 2nd of October. Next day Cartier, in sumptuous attire, with twenty-five of his men, went in procession to see the town. On the way they were met by various detachments of natives, who brought out their sick to be touched and healed by Cartier, whom they regarded as a superior being, sent from Heaven, with the power of healing diseases. Cartier did what could be done to gratify them ; and to divert their attention from his supposed miraculous powers, he made presents of hatchets to the men, beads to the women, and trinkets to the children. I lil fi!|' m 14 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. He then ordered the drams and trumpets to sonnd, which pleased the Ir lians mightily, so that they began to dance and skip abont with great joy. After the ceremony was over, Cartier ascended the mountain, at the foot of which the town of Hochelaga was boilt. From the summit of the mountain he beheld spread out before him a fine expanse of country, interspersed with rivers, woods, hills, and islands. To this mountain he gave the name of Mont Royal, which was afterwards corrupted into Montreal. As the course of the majestic river could be traced above several falls, the natives, on being appealed to, stated that they might sail up the river for three months, that it ran through two or three great lakes, beyond which there was a sea of fresh water to which they knew no bounds ; and that on the other side of the mountain there was another river, which ran in a contrary direction, to the south-west, through a country free from snow and ice. Cartier subsequently returned to Stadacon^, where he and his companions remained through the winter with Donnaconna and his tribe. In April the ice broke up, and on the 3rd of May Cartier took possession of the country by erecting a Cross, thirty feet high, on which was suspended a shield, with the arms of France, and bearing this inscription, Francisctis FrimtiSf Dei Gratia j Francorum Rex, regnat, " The same day, Donnaconna, accompanied by the two savages who had been in France, visited Cartier on board ; while they were regaling themselves, Donna- conna and two other Indians were seized, and confined on board Cartier*s ship. The next night the natives ^ THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 15 lown to thv) shore, howling and beating their ), crying oat for their friends. Cartier at first them admittancfc ; bnt on his assuring them |e would bring them back again, they reluctantly ked to Donuaconna and the other Indians* ^nre. On the 6th of May, Cartier sailed from de St. Croix, touched at St. Peter's, in >nndland, and arrived at St. Malo on the \{ July, 1536. The Indians that were taken wee had been so often told of the necessity ^ptism in order to salvation, that on their they were, at their own request, baptized ; [either of them lived to see their native land » Cartier reported favourably on the nature and y of the new country, and his statements were ed by the Indians brought with him, the King ed to send him on yet a third voyage. Francis Roche, Seigneur or Lord of Roberval, was ited the King's Lieutenant and Governor of France and Hochelaga. Cartier was appointed pilot, with five vessels under his charge. The vity of Roberval caused great delay, and at Cartier was directed to sail without him. ng St. Malo on the 23rd of May, 1541, his being victualled for two years, Cartier experi- very severe weather, and did not arrive at de St. Croix until August. As soon as they red, the new chief and others came up, and enquiries after the Indians in France. They informed that Donnaconna was dead, and that thers had married and become great lords, and 1:1' m 14 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. He then ordered the drums and trumpets to sc which pleased the Indians mightily, so that began to dance and skip about with great joy. After the ceremony was over, Cartier ascended mountain, at the foot of which the town of Hoch< was built. From the summit of the mountai: beheld spread out before him a fine expanse of cou interspersed with rivers, woods, hills, and isli To this mountain he gave the name of Mont R which was afterwards corrupted into Montreal, the course of the majestic river could be traced a several falls, the natives, on being appealed to, si that they might sail up the river for three moi that it ran through two or three great lakes, be which there was a sea of fresh water to which knew no bounds ; and that on the other side oi mountain there was another river, which rai a contrary direction, to the south-west, thronj country free from snow and ice. Cartier subsequently returned to Stadacon^, w he and his companions remained through the w: with Donnaconna and his tribe. In April the ice b up, and on the 3rd of May Cartier took posses of the country by erecting a Cross, thirty feet I on which was suspended a shield, with the i of France, and bearing this inscription, Franct PrimuSy Dei Gratia^ Francorum Rex, regnat, " same day, Donnaconna, accompanied by the savages who had been in France, visited Cartie: board ; while they were regaling themselves, Do: conna and two other Indians were seized, and conf on board Cartier^s ship. The next night the vaX THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 15 came down to the shore, howling and beating their breasts, crying oat for their friends. Cartier at first refased them admittance ; but on his assuring them that he wonid bring them back again, they reluctantly consented to Donnaconna and the other Indians* departure. On the 6th of May, Cartier sailed from Port de St. Croix, touched at St. Peter's, in Newfoundland, and arrived at St. Malo on the 6th of July, 1536. The Indians that were taken to France had been so often told of the necessity of baptism in order to salvation, that on their arrival they were, at their own request, baptized ; but neither of them lived to see their native land again." As Cartier reported favourably on the nature and fertility of the new country, and his statements were confirmed by the Indians brought with him, the King resolved to send him on yet a third voyage. Francis de la Roche, Seigneur or Lord of Roberval, was appointed the King's Lieutenant and Governor of New France and Hochelaga. Cartier was appointed chief pilot, flrith five vessels under his charge. The inactivity of Roberval caused great delay, and at length Cartier was directed to sail without him. Leaving St. Malo on the 23rd of May, 1541, his ships being victualled for two years, Cartier experi- enced very severe weather, and did not arrive at Port de St. Croix until August. As soon as they anchored, the new chief and others came up, and made enquiries after the Indians in France. They were informed that Donnaconna was dead, and that the others had married and become great lords, and .1.1' ' ' I •mH! '"liili I f i S ^^ 16 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROOBESS. did not wish to retnrn. Cartier remained in Canada for a year; bnt as Roberval did not appear, he resolved to retnrn to France. Pntting into St. John's, Newfoundland, on the way, he there met Roberval, the governor, with 200 settlers. Althongh Cartier reported that the Indians were strongly averse to the planting of a colony, the governor insisted upon his returning with him ; bnt Cartier sailed away from St. John's in the night, nnperceived. Roberval prosecnted his voyage, and in July anchored at the place Cartier had left. Here he erected two forts, where he deposited his stores and ammunition. Iron ore was found, as well as crystals supposed to be diamonds, and a yellow substance believed to contain gold. Specimens were sent to France. The winter proved very severe for the settlers ; and in addition to suffering great distress, they were severely oppressed by Roberval, who hanged, laid in irons, or whipped offenders according to his mood. Fifty persons died of scurvy, and all the survivors were bitterly discontented. After this, the colonizing spirit in France languished for half a century. Then, in 1598, the Marquis de la Roche, a nobleman of Picardy, obtained letters patent conferring upon him powers similar to those granted to Roberval. The marquis sailed for Nova Scotia, his passengers consisting of a number of convicts who had been taken out of the French gaols. Falling in with the Island of Sable, the marquis landed forty of his wretched band, until he could survey the coast, and find a suitable place for a settlement. But he returned to France without ' 111 THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 17 doing this, and the miserable beings he had landed were left to their fate. For seven years they subsisted with the ntmost difficulty ; and when at last the French king (Henry IV.) sent a vessel to rescue them, only twelve survivors out of forty were found. They were taken to France, and the King pardoned their crimes, and rewarded them for the hardships they had undergone. With regard to the origin of the name of Canada, it is somewhat obscure. On Cartier's first arrival, the Indians were frequently heard to pronounce these two words, Aca Nada, nothing here, from which some supposed the name of the country was derived. But others believed the name to have originated in an Indian word, Kannatka^ a village or collection of huts ; and this is the derivation now most favoured. The next effort at a French settlement after De la Roche's was made in 1600, when the King granted equal privileges to a M. de Chauvin, who had great interest at Court. Chauvin had been stimulated by the representations of one Pontgrav^, who had made frequent voyages to Tadousac, and who reported strongly as to the value of the fur trade. Chauvin and Pontgrave sailed together for the St. Lawrence, where they obtained peltries and furs in great abun- dance. They were preparing for a second voyage in 1601 when Chauvin died. A number of merchants of liouen now formed themselves into a company, with a view of carrying on the fur trade and effecting settlements in Canada. The patent was grunted to Commander de Chatte. A squadron was fitted out, and the command given to Pontgrav^ who was a 1 1 18 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. accompanied by Samuel de Champlain, a brave and experienced seaman. Champlain was destined to be the first real colonizer of the coantry. He was a Frenchman of gentle birth, maritime and military experience, and much religions enthusiasm. He was a native of Brouage, and for his share in the development of Canada he has been styled " The Father of New France." Pontgrav^ and Champlain visited Tadousac, and then sailed up the St. Lawrence, and anchored at a place called by the Indians Rebek^ or the rock. This place was deemed fitting for a fort or settlement, and it was here that Champlain ultimately founded the city of Quebec. On returning to France, Champlain found that the Commander de Chatte was dead, and that *' a new patent had been given to M. de Monts, constituting him governor of the American territory lying between the fortieth and forty-sixth degree of north latitude, with an exclusive privilege of trade to Acadia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, during the term of ten years. The patent was published in all the maritime towns of France. De Monts equipped two vessels, and sailed on the 7th of March for his new government. Champlain and Perrincourt accom- panied him. They formeu settlements at St. Croix and Port Royal, and retained quiet possession of Acadia, until they were attacked by Sir Samuel Argal in the year 1614, by the command of Governor Dale, of Virginia, when their settlements were broken up. While these attempts had been made in Acadia, De Monts and his company conceived that great advantages would result from the establishment of THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 19 a colony in the River St. Lawrence by the extension of tlie fur trade, and they indulged the hope of penetrat- ing westward through the lakes to the Pacific Ocean, and by that means of finding a nearer communication with China. With this view, one of their vessels had been sent, in the year 1608, to the River St. Lawrence, commanded by Champlain. In a former voyage, he had marked out a spot above the Island of Orleans, as a proper place for a fort. As soon as he arrived at Quebec, which was on the 3rd of July, he began to clear the woods, ordered houses to be built, and laid out ^.> rdens for the inhabitants. He passed the winter at this place, but some of his people suffered much from the scurvy. As soon as the navigation was open, he went up the River St. Lawrence, attended by several Indians, to explore the country; and on his way to the southward, he crossed a large lake, to which he gave his own name, which it retains to this day. On the shores of Lake St. Sacrement, now Lake George, he met a party of the Iroquois, of Five Nations, who were then at war with the Canada Indians ; an action ensued, and the party of the Five Nations was defeated. Champlain killed two Indians with his own musket, and he brought fifty scalps in triumph to Quebec. In the autumn of the same year, he returned to France, leaving Captain Peter Chauvin in command, and in the following year returned to Quebec to establish a colony, of which he is justly considered the founder." In 1610, as De Monts had lost his privilege of trade, Champlain revisited France, in order to find a power- ftd protector for the young colony. The Comte de i' ii .i r 1 1 I \ 1 I ! j5 . i4"l'«' 20 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Soissons had obtained the viceroyalty, and he readily delegated his anthority to Ghamplain, appointing him his lieatenant. The Prince de Conde succeeded, on the count's death, to the viceroyalty of New France, and he confirmed Champlain in his appoint- ment, and obtained letters of incorporation for a new company, consisting of merchants of St. Malo, Rouen, and La Rochelle. Champlain pressed upon the Company the necessity for sending out settlers, as well as priests for Christianiging the natives. Four priests of the Becollets were accordingly sent out, and these were the first who settled in Canada. The Prince de Cond6 disposed of the viceroyalty in 1620 to his relative the Marshal de Montmorenci, who retained Champlain in his position. The latter, who paid frequent visits to France, took his family out to Quebec. Troubles arose from the hostile attitude of the Five Nations, who dreaded an alliance between the Algonquins, Hurons, and the French. Representations as to the deplorable state of the colony were at length made to the French Govern- ment, which suppressed the old company, and granted an exclusive privilege to two brothers of the name of De Caen. In 1623-24 Champlain built a fort to protect the little colony of Quebec, which at this time consisted of only fifty persons. Champlain then went to France again to represent the necessitous and comparatively insecure position of the colony, when he found that the Marshal de Montmorenci had disposed of his viceroyalty to his nephew the Due de Ventadour. The due had taken orders^ and his chief object was THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 21 the spiritual welfare of the colony. He consequently sent out in 1625 three Jesuits, Fathers L'Allemand, Masse, and De Breboeuf, and two lay brothers. They were well received by the Recollets at their small house, on the site of which now stands the present General Hospital, near the River St. Charles. The Caens were Huguenots engaged in the fur trade. As religions dissensions broke out, Cardinal Richelieu revoked their privileges, and a charter was granted to an influential company called the Company of One Hundred Associates. Their powers were most extensive, including the right to declare war and to make peace, to enjoy the whole trade by sea and land for fifteen years, except the cod and whale fishery ; and the beaver and fur trade in general were to belong to the Company for ever. The King gave them two ships of 300 tons each, and elevated twelve of the principal members of the Company into the Noblesse. The Company, on its part, agreed to bring into the colony, in the year 1628, 200 or 300 settlers, and 16,000 more before the year 1643. But war having been declared between England and France, an expedition was sent against the colony under Admiral Sir David Kirk. In the meantime William de Caen sought to avenge himself for the loss of his exclusive privilege. Two brothers of Kirk, Lewis and Thomas besieged Quebec, and in consequence of his distressful condition Champlain was compelled to surrender. Thus was the capital of New France first subdued by the power of England. Lewis Kirk became commander of Quebec, and Champlain proceeded to France. I ll I I ll 1 1 1 ' T"^ 22 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. I I i i\ Negotiations were afterwards set on foot for the resti- tution of the colony to France, and in 1632 this was accomplished. By the Treaty of St. Germain en Laye, all the old territory, as well as Acadia (Nova Scotia) and Cape Breton, became French possessions. The French Company having regained its rights, Cham- plain was reappointed governor in 1633 ; and he took oat with him a number of respectable colonists, as well as two Jesuits, who were sent forth for the con- version of the Indians, and for the education of the youth of the settlement. The foundation of a Jesuit house had just been laid, when a severe loss overtook the colony by the death of its governor, who expired in December, 1635. Champlain seems to have been a zealous proselytizer, as well as an upright and valiant man, and it was a common saying of his that '^ the salvation of one soul was of more value than the conquest of an empire." A terrible earthquake visited the colony in February, 1633. It was felt over 200 leagues of territory from east to west, and 100 from north to south. The shocks were no fewer than thirty in number ; but fortunately, notwithstanding the general derangement of nature, no human lives appear to have been lost. Montmagny, Champlain's successor, founded various institutions for the benefit of the colonists, and peopled and forti- fied the Island of Montreal with a view of repressing the incursions of the Five Nations. The St. Sulpi- cians of Paris acquired this island for their operations. Succeeding governors were D'Aillebout and De Lauzon, and under the latter the religious orders made con- siderable progress. In 1653, Maisonville, Governor of THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 23 the Island of Montreal, visited France, and returned with a hundred men, together with a pious lady. Marguerite Bourgeois, who in 1659 laid the foundation of the institution called the Sisters of the Congre- gation. The same year a new governor of the whole colony, the Marquis d'Argenson, went out ; and in 1670, owing to the representations of the Jesuits, Quebec was created a bishopric, and Fran(;)ois de Laval, titular Bishop of Petrea, was appointed to the see. Seminaries had already been erected for the education of a sufficient number of young men for the priesthood. The Baron d'Avaugour succeeded D'Argenson ; but the colony generally was in a deplorable state, and made no progress. The King sent out De Monts as his commissioner to visit Canada, and to report upon the state of the country. In the end, the Company resigned its charter to the King, who took the colony under the royal protection, and appointed M. de M6zy Governor-General. The King created a Sovereign Council, " composed of De M6zy, as Governor-General, representing the Crown ; De Laval, Bishop of Petrea ; Robert, Intendant ; and four other councillors to be elected by them, one to be Attorney-General, and a Clerk for the conservation of the mirutes of arrets, decrees, or orders of the Council. The Clerk to hold his appoint- ment at the pleasure of the Governor and Bishop. The powers of the Sovereign Council were — 'cog- nizance of all causes, civil as well as criminal ; to judge sovereignly, and in the last resort, according to the laws and ordinances of the Kingdom ; and ^1! nl < i'i I ( i ii w ^^ y 24 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. therein to proceed as near as possible in the form and manner practised and observed in the jurisdiction of our Conrt of our Parliament of Paris; reserving, nevertheless, according to our sovereignty, the right to change, reform, and amplify the said laws and ordin- ances, and to alter, repeal, or renew them, or such other regulations, statutes, and constitutions, as we may conceive to be useful to our service and the welfare of our subjects in that country.* The Council was directed to take order on the expenditure of public money, the Indian trade, the colony's commerce with France, the matters of public police, the appointment of judges in the first instance for all private differ- ences, without chicane or dilatory proceedings ; the appointment of clerks, notaries, Serjeants, and other officers of courts ; the five councillors to hear and determine petty causes, and see that the judgment of the Council be executed ; to take more especial cognizance in business touching syndics and trustees of houses, their inhabitants, strangers, and others, and render justice promptly ; to have such salary as the State may order, and nothing else, nor to accept of any presents without the royal leave, nor exercise any other office. The Governor-General and Bishoj) were directed to cause the Attorney-General and Secretary to promulgate and enregister this Edict, and see it executed, notwithstanding any impediments, oppositions, and appeals. If any impediments should intervene, the cognizance was to be referred to the Sovereign Council, and all other courts were prohibited from interfering. A copy of the Edict, under the signature of the Clerk of the Sovereign Council, was ■u^ THE EARLY FRENCH ADVENTURERS. 25 to have the same force and effect as the original. All acts of the Sovereign Council were directed to be under the Seal of the King's Arms, and universal obedience was commanded." In 1679, the Custom of Paris and the Ordinances of the Kingdom of France were declared the law of Canada ; and some years later Quebec, Three Rivers, and Montreal were constituted separate jurisdictions, and the Court of Justice Royale at Montreal was established. Returning to the progress of the colony, in 1664 the King by an edict annexed it to the West India Company. The Company became possessed by this edict of the territory lying between the Rivers Amazon and Oronoko, as well as the Caribbee Islands, Canada, Acadia, Newfoundland, and Africa. This territory was conceded to the Company en seigneurie ; and it was to be governed by the laws and ordinances of the empire ".nd the custom of Paris, so as to avoid all difficulties and disputes. The Marquis de Tracy, who had been appointed Viceroy in North and South America, with authority over all governors, was ordered first to the West Indies, and then directed to visit Canada, there to adopt such measures as he deemed most expedient to ensure the tranquillity of the colony, and to put the country into a state of defence against the attacks of the Five Nations, who had now become more troublesome in consequence of the support and encouragement they received from the English. The tribes confederated under the name of the Five Nations were the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas — all Iroquois Indians. For I*- A. . % I ' i '■[ 26 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. generations they had been engaged in implacable warfare with the Algonqnins and Hnrons, the most powerful native races in Canada. During the progress of hostilities, the Iroquois Indians obtained guns and ammunition from ths Dutch ; and as these gave them a great superiority over their rivals, the Algonquius were in course of time practically annihilated. Such was the position of affairs when a new depar- ture took place in the history of the colony. i .*'1^ ii \ CHAPTER II. THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. THE Viceroy, the Marqnis de Tracy, took out with him the Seigneur de Conrcelles as Governor of Canada, and M. Talon, Intendant. M. de Conrcelles took the place of M. de M6zy, who had been recalled. The regiment of Carignan-Sali^res accompanied the Viceroy ; and in 1665 a considerable number of new settlers arrived in Canada, bringing with them cattle, sheep, and horses, the first live stock as yet despatched to the colony. The West India Company was to enjoy a monopoly of the territories and the trade of the colony for forty years ; and it was not only granted fnrther the exclu- sive navigation, but was to receive a bounty of thirty livres on every ton of goods exported to France. The Company was likewise to have a right to all mines and minerals, the power of levying and recruiting soldiers within the kingdom, manufacturing arms and ammunition for the defence of its possessions, building forts, and even declaring and carrying on war by sea and land against the native Indians, or neighbouring foreign colonies, in case of insult. A coat-of-arms was granted to the colony ; but when used in war 27 ;!!• i ■' !■ ;[ t 3 I 38 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. it was to be snrmonnted by the royal arms of France. To enconrage emigration, all colonists and converts professing the Romish faith were invested with the rights of Frenchmen. To check the irruptions of the tribes of the Five Nations, M. de Tracy erected three forts at the month of the River Richelieu, afterwards known as the Sorel. These forts proved unavailing, however, as the Indians discovered other means of harassing the settlements. De Tracy, therefore, determined to carry the war into the enemy's country. Although seventy years of age, he took the field in person, with a large force, with the object of exterminating the hostile Indians. On the 14th of September, 1666, his army, consisting of regular soldiers, militia, and friendly Indians, set forth ; but great difficulties were encountered as they advanced, and the means of subsistence vanished. The Indians retired ; and after a march of 700 miles, the governor had to return without effecting anything but the destruction of the villages, and the capture of a few old men, women, and children. Happily large stores of corn were found. In the ensuing spring, De Tracy returned to France, leaving M. de Courcelles behind to administer the affairs of government. The latter succeeded in dealing with the Indians, and even in preventing his own allies from engaging in a war with the Iroquois. He further induced a large body of the Hurons to settle in a new district, and fixed upon Cataraqui on Lake Ontario — near the present site of Kingston — as an eligible situation for the erection of a fort, for the double purpose of protecting the fur trade and THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 29 checking the incnrsions of the hostile tribes. De Courcelles sufifered so much in health by his exertions that he was compelled to ask for his recall. He had only just left when small-pox broke out among the Indian tribes, causing the most fearful ravages. In the settlement at Sillery alone 1,500 perished, while one tribe was completely exterminated, and several others nearly so. In 1672, De Courcelles was succeeded by the Count de Frontenac, who immediately erected the fort at Cataraqui, which was frequently called Fort Frontenac in consequence. The count was very able and ambitious, but also proud and overbearing, and he warmly resented any attempts to limit his juris- diction. By the terms of the charter, all afifairs of importance in the colony were to be decided in a Council of State, composed of the governor, the bishop, and the intendant, each with an equal vote. The bishop was supported by the clergy, whose in- fluence was exerted in opposing the sale of spirits to the Indians, which the Viceroy, on the contrary, upheld as being profitable, and as a means he believed of attaching the Indians to the French interest. The count had also violent dissensions with M. Chesneau, the intendant ; and as it was found impossible for them to act in concert, and there were other complaints against the governor, the French Government finally recalled them both. At the same time, it decided in favour of the clergy, and prohibited the sale of the fatal firewater. Here we pause to relate the tragic story of the Sieur de la Salle, a young Frenchman of family and ff-; j ''\' i 1 i 1 < i ' ■;|i|i '1 tJ 30 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. fortnne, who was at this time residing in Qnebec. He had emigrated to America in the hope of gaining both fame and wealth, being impressed with the idea of the practicability of eifecting a passage to China and Japan through the uaexplored regions to the west of Canada. He had hrard of the success, in 1073, of a priest named Marquette, and a merchant of Quebec named Jolyet, who had penetrated as far as the mighty Mississippi ; and he became fired with the ambition of exploring the Missouri, which he believed must lead to the northern ocean. Having obtained the sanction of the Government to his enter- prise, De la Salle went to France, where he was enabled, through the assistance of the Prince de Conti, to prepare an expedition. He was joined in . his undertaking by the Chevalier Tnti, and on the ) 14th of July, 1678, they sailed from France with ] thirty men, and in two months reached Quebec. One >. Father Hennepin was of the party, which now made ^ for the great lakes. The following is Father Hennepin's deeply interest- ing description of the construction of the first vessel ever built on the Canadian lakes, and of the adven- tures it passed through : " It now became necessary for La Salle, in furtherance of his object, to construct a vessel above the Falls of Niagara sufficiently large to transport the men and goods necessary to carry on a profitable trade with the savages residing on the western lakes. On the 22nd of January, 1679, they went six miles above the falls to the mouth of a small creek, and there built a dock convenient for the construction of their vessel. » !■ THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 31 ** On the ;i56th of January, the keel and other pieces being ready, La Salle requested Father Hennepin to drive the first bolt, bnt the modesty of the father's profession prevented. During the rigorous winter La Salle determined to return to Fort Frontenac ; and leaving the dock in charge of the Italian named Chevalier Tuti, he started, accompanied by Father Hennepin, as far as Lake Ontario ; from Ontario he traversed the dreary forests to Frontenac on foot, with only two companions and a dog, which drew his baggage on a sleigh, subsisting on nothing but parched corn, and even that failed him two days' journey from the fort. In the meantime, the building of the vessel went on under the suspicious eyes of the neighbouring savages, although the most part of them had gone to war beyond Lake Erie. One of them, feigning intoxication, attempted the life of the blacksmith, who defended himself successfully with a red-hot bar of iron. The timely warning of a friendly squaw averted the burning of their vessel on the stocks, which was designed by the savages. The workmen were almost disheartened by frequent alarms, and would have abandoned the work had they not been cheered by the good father, who represented the great advantage their per- severance would afford, and how much their success would redound to the glory of God. These and other inducements accelerated the work, and the vessel was soon ready to be launched, though not entirely finished. Chanting the Te Deum, and firing three guns, they committed her to the river amid cries of joy, and swung their hammocks in ! I I'^W iilli i!'^ TT 32 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. secarity from the wild beasts and still more dreaded Indians. " When the Senecas returned from their expedition, they were greatly astonished at the floating fort, which struck terror among all the savages who lived on the great lakes and river within 1,500 miles. Hennepin ascended the river in a bark canoe with one of his companions as far as Lake Erie. They twice palled the canoe np the rapids, and sounded the lake for the purpose of ascertaining the depth. He reported that, with a favourable north or north-west wind, the vessel could ascend to the lake, and then sail without difficulty over its whole extent. Soon after, the vessel was launched in the current of Niagara, about four and a half miles from the lake. Hennepin left it for Fort Frontenac, and, returning with La Salle and two other fathers, Gabriel and Zenobe Mambre, anchored in the Niagara on the 30th of July, 1679. On the 4th of August they reached the dock where the ship was built, distant eighteen miles from Lake Ontario, and proceeded thence in a bark canoe to their vessel, which they found at anchor three miles from the beautiful Lake Erie. "The vessel was sixty tons' burden, completely rigged, and found with all the necessaries, arms, pro- visions, and merchandise ; it had seven small pieces of cannon on board, two of which were of brass. There was a griffin flying at the jib-boom, and an eagle above. There were also all the ordinary ornaments and other fixtures which usually grace a ship of war. " They endeavoured many times to ascend the cur- rent of the Niagara into Lake Erie without success, the THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 33 wind not being strong enongh. . . . While they were thas detained, La Salle employed a few of his men in clearing some land on the Canadian shore opposite the vessel, and in sowing some vegetable seeds for the benefit of those who might inhabit the place. "At length, the wind being favoarable, they lightened the vessel by sending most of the crew ashore, and, with the aid of their sails and ten or a dozen men at the tow lines, ascended the current into Lake Erie. Thus, on the 7th of August, 1679, the first vessel set sail on the untried waters of Lake Erie. They steered southward, after having chanted the Te Deum, and discharged their artillery in the presence of a vast numbei of Seneca warriors. It had been reported to our voyagers that Lake Erie was full of breakers and sandbanks, which rendersd a safe navi- gation impossible ; they therefore kept the lead going, sounding from time to time. " After sailing without diflSculty through Lake Brie, they arrived on the 11th of August at the mouth of the Detroit River, sailing up which they arrived at Lake St. Clair, to which they gave the name it bears. After being detained several days by contrary winds at the bottom of the St. Clair River, they at length succeeded in entering Lake Huron on the 23rd of August, chanting the Te Deum through gratitude for a safe navigation thus far. Fassiiig along the eastern shore of the lake, they sailed with a fresh and favourable wind until evening, when the wind suddenly veered, driving them across Saginaw Bay. The storm raged until the 24th, and was succeeded by a calm, which continued until next day noon, 3 I. :,,ll -I r if iU T^ 34 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. V ,! |;f when they pursued their course until midnight. As they doubled a point which advanced into the lake, they were suddenly struck by a furious wind, which forced them to run behind the cape for safety. On the 26th, the violence of the storm compelled them to send down their topmasts and yard, and to stand in, for they could find neither anchorage nor shelter. " It was then the stout heart of La Salle failed him. The whole crew fell upon their knees to say their prayers and prepare for death, except the pilot, whom they could not compel to follow their example, and who, on the contrary, did nothing all the time but curse and swear against La Salle, who had brought him thither to make him perish in a nasty lake, and lose the glory he had acquired by his long and happy navigation on the ocean. On the 27th, favoured with less adverse winds, they arrived during the night at Michillimakinac, and anchored in the bay, where they reported six fathoms of water and a clay bottom. The savages were struck dumb with astonishment at the size of their vessel, and the noise of their guns. " Here they regaled themselves on the delicious trout, which they described as being from fifty pounds to sixty pounds in weight, and as affording the savages their principal subsistence. On the 2nd of September they left Mackinack, entered Lake Michigan, and sailed forty leagues to an island at the mouth of the Bay of Puara (Green Bay). From this place, La Salle determined to send back the ship laden with furs to Niagara. The pilot and five men embarked in her, and on the 10th she fired a gun, and set sail on her return with a favourable wind. Nothing more was THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 35 heard from her, and she undoabtedly foundered in Lake Huron, with all on board. Her cargo was rich, and valued at 60,000 livres." D^iuntless in spirit, La Salle pursued his course with unabated energy ; and after grappling with difficulties and dangers of all kinds — from both the Indians and his own party — he at length succeeded in reaching the mouth of the Mississippi. From here, the homeward journey to Quebec proved more difficult and dangerous than the outward one ; but ultimately, after an absence of more than two years, the explorers arrived at Quebec. Shortly afterwards, La Salle lefl; for France, where he was received with honour, and granted a commission as governor over the whole extent of country lying between the lakes and the Gulf of Mexico ; and an expedition was equipped, consisting of four ships and a number of men, for the purpose tf forming a settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi, and thus establishing a line of communi- cation between that settlement and those already existing in Canada. Leaving Bochclle on the 24th of July, 1684, the vessels touched at St. Domin[^o and (Juba on their passage, i,nd arrived in due t'me off the coast of Florida. Being unaware of the I ngitude of the mouth of the river of which he was in quest, La Salle proceeded about 200 miles beyond the mouth of the Mississippi before he became aware of his mistake. He then attempted to form a settlement on the coast, with the intention of afterwards makiiig; a 8€ r. 1 for the lost river. But this latter idea v as at last abandoned ; and without Indian guide > to conduct bim, he wandered into the inte r'ci' 2>ait8 of I' jiiii ill ■FT fT If 36 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. the country, after the fabulons mines of St. Barbe, and on the way he and bis nephew were murdered by his mutinous followers. This dramatic end to a strange career occurred in 1687. La Salle's death broke up the small colony on the coast, many of whose members died from hunger and fatigue. Those who were not murdered by the Indians were confined by the Spaniards in the mines, and only seven persons escaped to Canada to relate their dreadful misfortunes. Returning to the history of the colony, the West India Company, being convinced of its inability any longer to carry out the complicated objects of iU charter, resigned it into the hands of the Crown in December, 1674. At this period the whole popula- tion of the French settlements in Canada, including converted Indians, amounted to about 8,000 souls. In 1682, Frontenac was succeeded as Viceroy by M. de la Barre, while M. de Meules was appointed intendant. The new governor was confronted by many difficulties. The English settlers on the Hudson regarded the Iroquois country as within their own territory, and used every means to court the alliance and good feeling of the Indians, and to draw their trade from the French settlements. To a large extent they succeeded, because they were able to offer the Indians more advantageous terms than the French traders. Remonstrances proved of no avail, and the French governor was further crippled by the reduction in the military strength of the colony. M. de la Barre declared war against the two "Vi^^ yj i THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 37 \^y> Indian tribes which were most hostile to French interests, the Mohawks and the Senecas ; and having procured a reinforcement of 200 soldiers from France, he advanced np the river from Quebec. At Montreal he received deputies from the two tribes, but dis- trusted their assurances ; and he was proceeding against the Senecas, whea other tribes informed him that they should make common cause with the attacked. Sickness broke out amongst the French troops ; and when De la Barre threatened the Indian deputies unless full reparation was made for injuries already sustained, they replied that he must be in a dream, and that if he would only open his eyes he must see that he was altogether unable to carry out his formidable threats. They guaranteed re- paration for any actual plunder inflicted on French traders, but added that no more could be conceded, and that the army must be instantly withdrawn. De la Barre, convinced of the hopelessness of the struggle, acceded to these terms, and at once beg n his retreat. On reaching Quebec, he found that a fr- iiili detachment of soldiers had just arrived from i'tBRc'!, under the command of two captains of marn^ew, who were commanded to proceed to the most 'irpoftant posts, and to capture as many of the Five Nations as possible, as his Majesty meant them to be employed on board the French galleys. When the unsuccessful issue of the expedition against the Indians became known to the French Government, De la Barre was immediately recalled, (id the Marquis de D^nonville was appointed his siivHitssor, This was in 1685. The new governor :[f!^ Ml t: :l M' ') TT^ 38 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. 'I ■ showed no disposition to conciliate the Indians. It is trae he persuaded a nnmber of chiefs to meet him on the banks of Lake Ontario ; bnt he suddenly put them in irons, and sent them off to France to man the galleys, in accordance with the wish of the French king. It is said that in this act of treachery he even employed two missionaries to assist him. The marquis next urged upon the King the necessity of er' c^ing a fort at Niagara to interrupt the com- mnnic i between the British and the Iroquois, and the ^ 'th-West Company at Quebec offered to pay an annual rent of 30,000 livres to the Crown for the privilege of a monopoly of the trade at the proposed station. This roused the English, and in the spring of 1686 D^nonville received a letter from Colonel Dougan, the Governor of New York, de- manding explanations of the military preparations making against the Iroquois, whom he alleged to be subjects of England, and also remonstrating against the erection of a fort at Niagara by the French, all that country being considered by the British a dependency of New York. The French commander made a specious and temporizing reply, but continued his preparations for war, and at last started on an expedition into the country of the Senecas. He inflicted a defeat upon the Iroquois ; but they were, nevertheless, far from being subdued. Follow- ing their enemies on their homeward march, they ^'destroyed the newly erected fort of Niagara, and afterwards blockaded that at Cataraqui ; and after making themselves masters of the whole upper THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 39 country of the St. Lawrence, sent deputies to Montreal with proposals of peace, leaving, at two days' march behind, a band of 1,200 warriors. They insisted upon the restoration of the chiefs who had been sent to France, and all other captives, giving the commander only foar days to agree to the terms. D^nonville had no choice but to submit. The treaty was interrupted by an act of treachery on the part of the Hurons. They had entered into the war on the misunderstanding that it was not to terminate till their enemies the Iroquois were completely sub- dued ; and fearing lest their allies the French should leave them at the mercy of the Iroquois, they determined to interrupt the treaty. They therefore attacked a party of the deputies ; and telling some who were taken prisoners that they had committed the act at the instigation of the governor, allowed them to depart. The consequences were such as the Hurons anticipated. A large party of Five Nations made a sudden descent on the Island of Montreal, and carried off 200 prisoners, without any resistance. The fort at Cataraqui was blown up and abandoned." The affairs of the colony being now in a perilous state, the Marquis de D^nonville was recalled, and the province was for a second time committed to the goveilnorship of the Comte de Frontenac. Taking out with him the captured chiefs, he landed at Montreal on the '"Tth of October, 1689. " On his arrival, he endeavoured to open a negotiation with the Iroquois ; and by the advice of Oureonhar^ (one of the chiefs he brought with him from France), he sent a deputy, with four of the prisonersj to announce to the tribes If' II ' 1 1 > ' 1 I i^ . : u\l \ > 1 I V Mi '-1 i ?l^ I ! 1 t ■ I 40 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. i his return to Canada, and his wish to conclnde a treaty of peace. The Iroquois, after some deliberation, sent back the deputies with six belts, expressing their determination. Affecting to consider Onunthio (the governor) as always the same, they complained that his rods of correction had been too sharp and cntting. The roots of the tree of peace which he had planted at Fort Frontenac had been withered by blood ; the gromid had been polluted with treachery and falsehood. They demanded redress for these injuries, and that Onreouhar^, with his captive companions, should be sent back, previous to the liberation of the French prisoners. Onunthio would then be at liberty to plant again the tree of peace, but not on the same spot. ^' At this time, the Ottawas and other tribes, being desirous of having the English market to carry their furs to, were anxious to conclnde a peace with the Iroquois, particularly as they felt that the alliance of the French was an injury rather than a benefit to them ; they having to protect the French, instead of the French protecting them. It was not, however, the policy of the governor to allow of this union, as the Iroquois could depend upon the support of both the English and Dutch, and the whole or greater portion of the valuable trade in furs would be transferred from the Canadian to the New England settlements. The English and French nations were now at war, and the count determined to strike the first blow in order to endeavour to retrieve the reputation of his country in America. An expedition was sent out, therefore, in 1690, against Schenectady, THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 41 the frontier town of New York. The party, composed of French and Indians, succeeded in surprising the place. The fort and every honse was pillaged and burnt, and all the horrors of war were let loose on the inhabitants ; sixty-three men, women, and children were massacred in cold blood, and two old Indians who were taken prisoners were cut into pieces to make sonp for the Indians who accompanied the French. The Iroqaois, after this affair, sent messengers to the survivors, promising to revenge the injury. Shortly afterwards, a second expedition was despatched to attack the English village of Sementels, which they succeeded in destroying, but were themselves waylaid on their retreat, and had considerable diffi- culty in escaping. The next measure adopted by the count was to send a detachment to strengthen the post at Michillimakinac, who were also bearers of presents to the chiefs in that neighbourhood. This party was attacked on their journey by a band of the Five Nations, whom they succeeded in defeating." But the British now began to attack the French settlements as well as the Indians. Two expeditions were prepared, one by sea from Boston against Quebec, the other by land from New York directed against Montreal. Sir William Phipps commanded the sea expedition, having under him a fleet of thirty- four vessels, and a large body of troops. Sir William captured all the posts on the coasts of Acadia and Newfoundland, with several on the St. Lawrence, and was within a few days' sail of Quebec before news of his advance arrived there. The British fleet made its appearance before the city on the 5th of v Mimi. \ ,\ If I) I; I ( ; 42 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. October, 1690, and Sir William Phippa at once demanded its surrender. Frontenac replied that he should surrender to no one, and described King William as a usurper. A good deal of skirmishing ensued ; but as Sir William found that neither the fire from his ships nor the efforts of his army made any impression, he resolved to return to New Eng- land. The expedition fared disastrously on its return journey, and several of the vessels foundered. The British land force against Montreal was com- manded by General Winthrop ; but it effected nothing, and was obliged to retreat to Albany for supplies. The failure of both expeditions excited the liveliest dissatisfaction in England and the British American colonies. In 1691, a large party of Iroquois made an irruption into the country about Montreal ; but they were opposed by an officer named De Calli^res, at the head of the French troops and about 800 Indian allies. The invaders in the outset captured several posts ; but in the end they were compelled to retreat. There was little to choose between the barbarity of the French and that of the Indians in the conduct of these campaigns. Frontenac made several attempts to bring about a peace with the Five Nations, but in vain. He therefore collected an army of regulars, militia, and Indians, to the number of about 700 men, and in February, 1693, invaded the Mohawk country. Three Indian entrenchments were captured ; and when the news reached Albany, Major Schuyler, with 500 men, including Indians, advanced to attack the French, THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 48 with whom he had several saccessfnl skirmishes. The count returned to Montreal ; and learning from the Indian prisoners that an important British expedition was being prepared against Canada, he put the capital into a state of defence, and augmented the fortifications of Chambly, Sorel, and Montreal. As he also rebuilt the old fort of Oataraqui, the Five Nations appealed for succour to Colonel Fletcher, Governor of New York. This was not forthcoming ; but the Indians proceeded to harass the French. The allied Indians complained greatly of the disadvan- tageous terms under which they were forced to trade with the French, compared with those obtained from the British by the Five Nations, and threatened to desert the French, and, joining the Iroquois, place themselves under the protection of the British. This danger demanded vigorous action on the part of Frontenac. He consequently determined upon such proceedings as should impress his enemies with a sufficient idea of his power, and at the same time rivet the chains of his allies. A strong force was collected, which in June, 1695, marched to Cataraqui, and thence into the country of the Onondagas. They discovered, on entering a lake, two bundles of rushes suspended to a tree, from which they learned that upwards of 1,400 warriors were waiting to receive them. We learn from Charlevoix's narrative that "the French army then passed the Onondaga Lake; and having formed themselves in order of battle, the better to deceive the Indians, the two wings took a e I ■ m : I : - '^M 1 I ' i it1 ' 1 L mLj i r f i I I ■ I il( I 44 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. circuit round the borders of it : the engiL3er, Le Vassenr, that accompanied the connt, then marked ont a fort) where the provisions and batteaax were deposited, with a gnard of a hundred men. A Seneca Indian, who had been ont as a scont, apprised the Onondagas of the near approach of the French. It had been their determination to have defended their castles ; bnt when they were informed of the strength of the French army, and of the nature of the mortars they had bronght with them, which, if they fell on their castles, would burst and bury them in the ruins, they instantly set fire to their village, and retired to the woods. The French by this time came up, and, finding no enemy, were idle spectators of the burning of a few miserable huts. The Oneidas, more to amuse than determined to make peace, on the 5th of August sent a messenger with a belt to assure the count that his nation was desirous of peace, and wished to live on the best terms with the French. The count answered that he sincerely wished peace with them, and that it should be concluded ; on condition, however, that those Oneidas who had left Canada should return and settle in the colony, as he was to be no longer amused with idle negotiations. The count, to add weight to his proposition, and to convince them of his ability to punish them in case of resistance, sent forward the Marquis de Yaudreuil with a detachment of 600 men to the Oneida village, with orders, in case of resistance, to put every Indian to the sword. The Oneidas did not wait the approach of the detachment, but fied with the utmost precipitation, THE COLONY FROM 1665 TO 1700. 45 leaving behind an old sachem of a hundred years of age. He was delivered over to the Indians belonging to the French party, who pat him to the torture, which he bore with more than manly presence of mind. To one who stabbed him with a knife, 'You had better,* said he, *make me die by fire, that these French dogs may learn to suffer like men. You Indians, you dogs of dogs, think of me, when you are in a like condition.' Never, perhaps, was a man treated with more cruelty, nor did any man bear it with more magnanimity and resolution. In a council of war, which was called on the 9th of August, it was resolved to destroy the Seneca tribe, and to leave a considerable French force in the country daring the winter. On the evening of the same day, to the astonishment of the whole army, the count relinquished his former plan, and marched with the army for Montreal, where it arrived on the 20th of August, having only lost six men during the whole march. The count was in hopes that the late incursion would dispose the natives to peace ; and to increase their distress, and to harass them the more, as soon as the troops had recovered from their fatigue, large parties were sent into their country to prevent sup- plies of provisions being sent to them, of which they were in the greatest want. The Five Nations, to convince the count that they were still unsulii d, sent several parties into Canada, one of which advanced near to Montreal, where, meeting a small French force, an action commenced, in which the French were routed, and the commanding officer and several were killed. As soon as M. de Calli^res was < 1 1 i 1 ■ i 1 ■[ i' wm 1 1 l»V.|,v: . . i 1 n vm J i^ 46 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. infonned of their approach, Captain de Repentigni and several men went in parsnit of them ; they were soon come np with, and the French losing their captain, they were routed by the Indiacs of the Five Nations." Early in 1697, Frontenac was appr by the French Government of another impending attack on Canada by the British, and he was ordered to have all his defences ready, together with an available army of some 2,000 men. The alarm proved to b>3 a false one, however ; for the British, instead of attacking, were fortifying their own places, nnder apprehension of incursions from Canada. Meantime, causes of dissatisfaction multiplied, and the Indians were further incensed on discovering through their intercourse with the British that they were being cheated by the French rer tions of the fur trade. On the 11th of Septembe , ^ Peace of Ryswick was concluded by France and Great Britain ; and as news of this reached New York before it was known in Canada, the Five Nations, nnder the protection of the treaty, went out to hunt near Cataraqui. Taking this opportunity for re \renge, Frontenac sent out a French force, with a r.umber of Algonquins, to attack them. Black Kettle, a famous Onondaga chief, and forty of his warriors, were disporting themselves in the hunting grounds, when they were attacked and defeated. Several were slain, and among them Black Kettle himself. After he was mortally wounded, he cried out : ^* !\Inst I, who have made the whole earth tremble before me, now die by the hands of children I " THE COLONY FROM 1665 lO 1700. 47 The Sienr de R^vcSrin formed a company in 1697, and established a fishery at tho harbour of Mount Louis, about half-way between Quebec and the extremity of the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the south side. The settlers were much disturbed by the English in the outset ; but their exertions in both fishery and agriculture were fairly successful. A warm and lengthy controversy took place in 1698 between the Earl of Bellamont, who had just been appointed Governor of New York, and the Comte de Frontenac. It arose out of an exchange of prisoners between Canada and the Five Nations, and Lord Bellamont demanded that the exchange should be made through him, the Five Nations being under the protection of England. Frontenac stoutly resisted this, and absolutely refused to acknowledge the Five Nations as subjects of Great Britain. The dispute still remained undecided when, on the 28th of November, 1698, the Comte de Frontenac died in the seventy-eighth year of his age. His governorship had lasted for seventeen years, and by the French Canadians he was deeply regretted as the i'ather of the Country. The clergy honoured him for his virtues, the noblesse esteemed him for his valour, and the people generally held him in affectionate regard for his goodness. In his old age, his former infirmities of temper had somewhat softened. The Chevalier de Calli6res was appointed governor on the 20th of April, 1699, the Marquis de Vaudreuil sacceeding him as Governor of Montreal. \U f ■ t . 1 , t :■ . S i k 48 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. The policy of Calli^res was to bring together all the Indian tribes within reach of the Canadian settle- ments into one bond of union. In this he was partially snccessfnl for a time, and as the seventeenth centnry closed he effected a treaty of peace with the depnties of several Irdian tribes. CHAPTER III. ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. THE interregnum of peace secured by the Treaty of Ryswick proved of short duration. It lasted barely five years, for in 1702 a rupture occurred between France and England, and war broke out afresh. Its disastrous effects were speedily felt in the respective colonies. Before the outbreak, how- ever, the deputies of the Five Nations and those of the Indians of the north-west had met at Montreal, and concluded an amicable arrangement, with a mntaal restoration of prisoners. But as soon as the news reached Canada that war had been declared between England and France, Calli^res, apprehensive lest the British should incite the Five Nations to break the peace just concluded, perceived the necessity for undertaking the most vigorous measures to forestall the action of the English. He consequently represented to the Court of France the imperative importance of sending over troops for the preservation of the colony, and urging that the fortifications should be put into a complete state of repair. While engaged in translating his views into action, the chevalier died suddenly on the 26th of May, 49 4 ■■ •• 1 '. 'J ' . 1 ! ■'i i .■'ii'i II {I F !!■ 50 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. 1703, his loss being deplored by the whole country. He was succeeded by the Marqnis de Vaudreuil, who took out with him M. Beauharnois as intendant. The marquis followed in the footsteps of his pre- decessor, and seized the earliest opportunity of gaining over the Five Nations to the French intert^t. The wisdom of this step was made apparent in the spring of 1708, when a council was held at Montreal to adopt measures to check the intrigu of the English among the Indian allies. A number of Indian chiefs were present, and it was resolved that a blow should be struck against the British colonies. The Five Nations were appealed to by the English to turn against their old enemies the French ; but these tribes were unwilling to disturb the existing peaceful rela- tions. " When they concluded a treaty," they replied, ** they did so with the intention of keeping it ; while the Europeans seemed to enter into such engagements solely with the view of immediately breaking them. One chief, with the rude freedom of his nation, intimated his suspicion that the nations were both drunk." In 1709, however, a serious attempt against Canada was made by the British. Colonel Vetch, an English- man who had resided for some years at Quebec, was the moving spirit in this enterprise. The Ministry in England approved of it, and Vetch went to Boston and New York to prevail upon the English colonies to join in the scheme. De Vaudreuil received intelli- gence that " a fleet of twenty ships was being prepared for the expedition, and that a large force of regular troops was to sail under its protection, while 2,000 ITS fflSTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. 51 English and as many Indians were to march npon Montreal by way of Lake Champlain. He was desiroas of carrying the war into the enemy's country ; but his allies objected, and he was obliged to content himself with acting on the defensive. The British, in the meantime, after forming a chain of posts from New York, had occupied with considerable detachments Lakes George and Champlain, and were erecting forts, with a view to cover their descent upon Canada. The Iroquois had joined them, according to promise ; but in a grand council of the tribes which was held at Onondaga one of the chief orators remarked, that their independence was only maintained by the mutual jealousy of the two European nations, each of whom, if they could, would domineer over them, and that it would therefore be highly imprudent to permit the English to conquer Canada. These views of the subject were generally adopted by the rest of the council ; and the English, losing their assistance, and being weakened by a pestilential disorder which broke out among their own people, burnt the forts they had just erected, and abandoned the enterprise." Another British expedition was undertaken in 1710, but this likewise proved abortive ; yet matters re- mained in such an unsettled state, that in 1712 the merchants of Quebec subscribed 50,0U0 crowns for the purpose of strengthening the fortifications of the town. The Fox Indians now began to cause much trouble ; but they were severely repulsed in their attempt to burn the French fort at Detroit and destroy its inhabitants. The Treaty of Utrecht was signed on the 30th of ■i'i , H '! ii!"''t t i I ! 62 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. ; I i i ii March, 1713, and once more peace was restored between France and England. France retained Canada, but surrendered Acadia and Newfoundland ; she also resigned all claims to the sovereignty of the Five Nations. At this time the population of Canada numbered about 25,000 souls. A period of peace now set in, which proved bene- ficial to the development of the colony. Charlevoix, who visited it in 1720-21, gives a lively picture of the social life of the cities, as well as an attractive description of the beautiful scenery in the vicinity of the great lakes. He found, however, that little had been done as regards trade and the cultivation of land, no doubt owing to the disturbed state of the country ; but now this state of things began to be remedied to some extent. A considerable trade was done in shipbuilding in 1723, and there was a sensible increase in the exports to and imports from France. In 1725, M. de Vaudreuil died, after a lengthened governorship of more than twenty-two years. Heriot, in a description of Canada at this time, states that, " when the French began their settlements in Canada, property was granted in extensive lots, called seigneuriesj stretching along either coast of the St. Lawrence for a distance of ninety miles below Quebec, and thirty miles above Montreal, comprehending a space of 300 miles in length. ^'The seigneuries each contain 100 to 500 square miles, and are parcelled out into small tracts on a free- hold lease to the inhabitants, as the persons to whom they were granted had not the means of cultivating ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. 53 them. These consisted of officers of the army, of geDtlemen, and of commnnities, who were not in a state to employ labourers and workmen. The portion to each inhabitant was of three acres in hreadth, and from seventy to eighty in depth, com- mencing on the banks of the river, and rnnning back into the woods, thns forming an entire and regular lot of land. " To the proprietors of seigneuries some powers, as well as considerable profits, are attached. They are by their grants authorized to hold courts, and sit as judges in what is termed haute and basse justice, which includes all crimes committed within their jurisdiction, treasons and murders excepted. Few, however, exercised this privilege, except the ecclesias- tical seigneurs of Montreal, whose right of jurisdiction the Kin^ of France purchased from them, giving them in return his droit de change. Some of the seigneurs have a right of villain service from their tenants. '< There are in Canada upwards of a hundred seigneuries, of which that of Montreal, belonging to the Seminary of St. Sulpice, is the richest and most productive. The next in value and profit is the territory of the Jesuits. The members of that society who resided at Quebec were, like the priests of Mon- treal, only agents for the head of their community. Bat since the expulsion of their order from France, and the seizure by the Catholic sovereigns of Europe of all the lands of that society within their dominions, the Jesuits in Canada held their seigniory in their own right. Ill i-Si I f ,j; :i jl 54 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. " Some of the domiciliated savages held also in the proyince land in the right of seigneurs. ** Upon a representation of the narrow circnmstances to which many of the nohlesse and gentlemen of the colony were reduced, not only by the causes already assigned, but by others equally powerful, Louis XIV. was induced to permit persons of that description to carry on commerce by sea and land without being subjected to any enquiry on this account, or to an imputation of their having derogated from their rank in society. " To no seigniory is the right of patronage to the Church attached ; it was upon the advancement of the pretensions of some seigneurs^ founded on their having built parochial churches, that the King, in 1685, pronounced in council that this right should belong to the bishop, he being the most capable of judging concerning the qualifications of persons who were to serve." As regards the spread of Christianity, Recollet and Jebi^it missionaries traversed the country in all directions, suffering great hardships in their endeavours to convert the Indians. Their work was watched with much interest and enthusiasm in France, and it has always been admitted that they were the first explorers of the country, and the pioneers of civilization in the Far West. There were not only Jesuits at the beginning of the eighteenth century in such centres as Tadousac, Lorette, B69an90ur, St. Francois, and Sanlt St. Louis, but in every Indian village. The Jesuit priest suffered all imaginable inconveniences, such as walking all day in the snow, lying in the ITS niSTORY TO THE ARRIV4L OF MONTCALM. 55 open air all winter, lying ont in both good and bad weather, lying in the Indian hats, which swarmed with vermin, etc. They went through all these hardships with a double object — one being political, and the other the conversion of the Indians. They were clever and canning, and of great service to the French king, for they were frequently able to persuade the Indians to break their treaties with the English. The ordinary priests were a far more numerous class. They were nearly all stationary, few acting as missionaries. The Recollets, the third order of clergymen in Canada, had taken vows of poverty, and lived chiefly on the alms which people gave them. The Marquis de Vaudreuil having died on the 10th of October, 1726, he was succeeded by the Marquis de Beauharnois, a natural son of Louis XIY. of France. The deceased governor had ruled the country well for twenty-two years, and his death was sincerely mourned in consequence. Beauharnois continued a similar course in his rule, and by judicious manage- ment the affairs of the colony began to revive. Peace was restored with the Indians by the adoption of a just and conciliatory policy, and there were frequent intermarriages between the two races; cultivation was greatly extended, and little occurred to disturb the repose of the colonists or the governor, save the growing importance and the encroachments of the active inhabitants of the British colonies. Governor Burnet of New York erected a fort and trading post at Oswego on Lake Ontario, in the hope of diverting the Indian trade on the lakes to New York ; but the Marquis de Beauharnois immediately 56 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. sent an envoy to obtain the consent of the Indians in the neighbourhood of Niagara to the erection of a fort and establishment on the banks of the river. He also erected a fort at Crown Point on Lake Champlain, and another at Ticonderoga. These re- taliatory measures surprised and annoyed Bnrnet, and an epistolary warfare ensned between the two governors, but no serions action followed. The religions communities continued to acquire property to such an extent, that in 1743 the King of France issued an edict prohibiting all mortmain acquisitions, and all changes and alienations. Various religious decrees were also promulgated, and an order made, with regard to the registration of the royal edicts and ordinances, that in future no edict, declara- tion, or letters patent should be registered in the Supreme Council of Quebec but by his special order, signified by the Secretary having the Department of the Marine. War was again declared in 1745 between France and England. Louisburg and Cape Breton were taken by an expedition under the command of a New Englander named Pepperel, who was imme- diately created a baronet of the United Kingdom for his brilliant service. Pepperel was actively assisted by a squadron under Admiral Warren. As soon as the news of the capture of Cape Breton reached France, an expedition was prepared to endeavour to retake the island, and to retrieve the French honour. " A fleet of eleven ships of the line, thirty smaller vessels, and transports, containing 3,000 soldiers, set sail on the 22nd of June, with the inten- ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. 57 tion in the first place of attacking and taking Nova Scotia. Four ships of the line from the West Indies were ordered to join the squadron, and Canada sent a party of 1,700 men to assist the enterprise. The French fleet, however, met with stormy weather, which separated the ships ; the admiral died suddenly ; and the shattered remnants of the squadron returned to France crestfallen and dispirited. A new expedition was soon equipped, consisting of six large men-of- war, the same number of frigates, and four armed East Indiamen ; and a convoy of thirty merchant vessels sailed under their protection. They also took ont with them Admiral de la Jonqui^re, who had jast been appointed Governor of Canada. On the 3rd of May, 1746, they fell in with a British fleet, nnder Admiral Anson and Rear- Admiral Warren, which had been despatched to intercept them, and before night all the battle-ships had surrendered, while a large portion of the convoy escaped during the night. As soon as the capture of the governor was known in France, the Comte de la Galissoni^re was appointed to fill the vacancy. He endeavoured to prevail upon the French Government to send out a large number of settlers, to be located on the frontiers, to act as a check upon the British ; his advice, however, was disregarded, and the admiral being shortly released from captivity and conveyed to Canada, the count returned to France." The French governors of Canada were so inade- quately paid, that Admiral de la Jonqni^re and his secretary confined to themselves the privilege of selling spirits to the natives. But the complaints ; !! :. 1 I . W ' I ■ i Wi-hii; , ' 58 CANADA: ITS RISE AND FROORESS. against the goveraor became at length so nnmerons and so clamorons, that his friends at home were compelled to notice them, and he was consequently recalled. Before his snccessor was appointed, how- ever, the admiral died at Quebec. In 1752, the Marqnis dn Qnesne d^ Menneville was appointed Governor of Canada, Lonisiana, Cape Breton, St. John's, and their dependencies. He was a man of ability ; but his demeanoar was hanghty in the extreme. Soon after reaching Quebec, Menne- ville perceived that peace could not be of long dura- tion, Ro he directed his attention to the discipline of the troops and the militia. He formed the militia of Quebec and Montreal into several companies, and placed officers in command of each. A company of artillery was attached to the militia of both cities, who were on Sundays and holidays regularly exercised at the great guns. At stated intervals he reviewed the militia of the country parishes, and adopted other plans calculated to secure the safety and tranquillity of the colony. Although there was no actual war during Menne- ville's governorship, France and England being then at peace, skirmishes frequently took place between the people of the two colonies, wid the Governments in Europe did not hesitate to assist and encourage their respective colonies in hostile operations against each other. Detachments were sent from Canada to establish forts on the Ohio and Alleghany Rivers, and ultimately preparations were made for carrying on frontier operations both offensive and defensive. The British colonists were not slow in adopting ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. 59 similar measures, while the citizens of Virginia protested strongly against the French encroachments. It was while engaged npon a mission to the French that we first come npon the distinguished name of George Washington. " To gain intelligence respecting the motions of the Virginians, frequent parties were sent out from Fort Dn Quesne. One of these, under the command of Jamonville, a French officer, had proceeded but a short distance, when he was met by Lieutenant- Colonel Washington, who was then on his march to Fort Necessity. He had no sooner opened to Colonel Washington the object of his mission, to warn the English from taking possession of the country, than he and several of his party were killed. As soon as M. de Contrecoeur was made acquainted with this circumstance, he assembled the Indians near the fort, and related to them the action that had just taken place. Availing himself of their indignation, and resolved on revenge, he assembled ' the officers of the garrison, who agreed on the imme- diate investiture of Fort Necessity. A small number of troops and Indians were put under the command of M. de Villier, a brother of Jnmonville, who, proceeding with his people to the fort, compelled Colonel Washington to surrender." When Great Britain was made aware of the French encroachments near the Ohio, she resolved on taking the most effectual measures to drive the French from the several posts they occupied. Orders were given to her governors in America to repel force by force, and several regiments were despatched from Ireland I I t ''I i I li 60 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGREflS. to assist in the work. Anticipating a rnptnre, France retaliated by making e£fective war preparations, and a large fleet was equipped at Brest, under the command of Admiral Bois de la Mothe, on board of which were several old regiments, a considerable supply of ammunition, and all other necessary war materials. Open war had not yet been declared ; bnt thb English Ministry sent ont Admiral Boscawen with eleven sail of the line to observe the movements of the French fleet. The rival fleets reached Newfoundland iL\ April, 1755. Thick fogs prevailed, and Admiral de la Mothe succeeded in getting his fleet away from the vicinity of the British, except two vessels, the Alcide and the Lysy which were captured respectively by Captain Andrews and Captain (afterwards Lord) Howe. On the news of these captures reachii^g France, the French Ambassador was recalled from London, and diplomatic relations were suspended between the two countries. In reply to French complaints. Great Britain retorted that the conduct of the French on the Ohio had rendered her own action both necessary and justifiable. The British colonies sent reinforcements to the English com- mander-in-chief in America, General Braddock, who began his march on the 10th of June, with 2,200 men, towards the place where Colonel Waahi eton had been defeated during the precedi e^ ear. The Marquis du Quesne de leville hav'ng re- quested his recall, he was succ ted this year by the Marquis de Vaudreuil de Cavagnac, soi of the former governor of that name. ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. 61 On the 9th of July) General Braddock pnshed forward with a picked force to invest Fort Dn Qnesne, which occupied the present site of Pittsbarg, Penn- sylvania. Notwithstanding his proverbial obstinacy, he so far paid attention to the warnings of his American officers that he threw oat flank and advance parties to gnard against a surprise. He twice forded the Monongahela, in order to avoid a dangerous defile ; and it was on the right bank of the river that his advance guard was attacked by a party of about 900 French and Indians from the fort. It was not a real ambuscade ; but the dense cover of the forest, of which the Indians immediately took advantage to surround Braddock's force, and the latter*s dogged insistence on his men fighting in line instead of imitating the tactics of the foe, exposed the British as a helpless living target to a withering fire, to which they could make but a very inadequate return. A fierce conflict of two hours ensued. Braddock, who exhibited remarkable bravery, had four horses shot under him, and was mortally wounded while vainly endeavouring to rally his men. The survivors made a hasty retreat under Washington, Braddock's aide- de-camp, who was the only one of the general's staff who escaped unhurt, although he had again aad again been in imminent peril. No fewer than 68 out of 86 officers, and 914 out of 1,373 men engaged, were either killed or wounded. The loss of the French was trifling. Braddock was borne from the field, and died on the 13th at Great Meadows, about sixty miles from the scene of his fatal surprise. \\' :|-ii 62 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. " The English army, instead of fortifying themselves after the retreat, in caca the late snccess of the French might have indnced them to have penetrated into Virginia, left a few troops at Fort Cumberland, and marched with the rest, amounting to 1,600 men, on the 2nd of Angnst, to Philadelphia, whence they were soon afterwards shipped to Albany, by order of General Shirley, on whom the chief command, on Braddock's death, devolved. Notwithstanding the late misfortune near Fort Du Qnesne, the northern colonies, 80 far from being dispirited, set on foot two expedi- tions, one under the command of General Shirley, and the other under the command of General Johnson. Johnson, on the 8th of August, set out for Lake George, where General Lyman, with 6,000 pro- vincials, had arrived. Here he took post on very strong ground, surrounded with thick woods, Lake George in his rear, and with a breastwork in front of felled trees. As soon as 't was known that this army had marched from Albany, and that the object of General Johnson was to attack Crown Point, Baron Dieskan, a brave and experienced officer, was despatched with 3,000 men, composed of regulars, marine troops, and Canadians, to oppose him. On his arrival at Crown Point, he divided his army ; and after leaving one half at this place, marched on by the way of South Bay, and at length arrived in sight of the English entrenchments at Lake George. At half-past eleven o*clock on the morning of the 8th of September, the Baron marched in regular order towards Johnson's centre, and when withii 115 yards made his grand and centre attack with a \ i' ITS HISTORY TO THE ARRIVAL OF MONTCALM. 63 heavy platoon firing, while the Canadians and Indians, dispersed on the flanks, kept np an ''rregnlar fire. The engagement soon became general on both sides. The French regulars kept their ground and order with great resolution, till overpowered by the warm and constant fire of the English ; they then made a movement to the right of Johnson's encampment, and though a body of Canadians had advanced as a reinforcement, yet they could not again be brought into actioL. The French troops, no longer able to sustain the fire of the English, r<^treated at four in the afternoon in the most precipitate manner. Their loss is stated at 1,000 men, killed, wounded, and prisoners, among whom was the Baron, who was severely wounded. The remains of the French army made the best of their way to Crown Point. The English had 126 men killed, 94 wounded, and 60 missing. As soon as the news of this victory reached England, the King applauded General John- son's bravery, created him a baronet, and gratified him with a donation of £5,000 sterling. The ex- pedition under General Shirley went on so slowly, that he did not leave Albany before the end of July, and only arrived at Oswego in August. Here the general waited for the supplies of provisions, which by some mismanagement did not reach him until the end of September, when it was thought too late to undertake the expedition to Niagara. After leav- ing a garrison of about 700 men at Oswego, he returned on the 24th of October to Albany." All through the year 1755 the civil afiairs of the French colony were in a very unsatisfactory state. The ,-.• ! ? 64 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. i ' ft' cnltivators of the soil being called away by the exigencies of the war, agricaltare was neglected, and a scarcity of provisions ensued. To make matters worse, Bigot, the intendant, oat of avaricious motives, shipped off large quantities of wheat to the West India Islands. The governor himself gave his sanction to the measures of a company which swal- lowed up everything. This company kept up the price of flour, in spite of the loud complaints of the people. Oppression, abuse, and peculation reigned everywhere, and petty officials all over the country followed the nefarious example set by their superiors. It is consequently not surprising that the Marquis de Yaudreuil soon lost the confidence of the colonists. They had looked to him for protection, and he had allowed the people to be harassed and plundered on all hands. Both French and English were in a state of great expectancy as regards future war operations, when in the summer of 1756 the Marquis de Montcalm arrived in Canada with a large body of French troops. War had already been formally declared between France and England. The British colonies were by no means unprepared for the struggle, however. At this time, the State of Massachusetts alone could muster 40,000 men capable of bearing arms; Con- necticut could furnish 27,000; and strong contingents might be expected from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Adding the re- inforcements from England, there could thus be put into the field a very formidable force. ■ill m ' m"ym CHAPTER IV. CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. WITH Montcalm there arrived from Europe two other brave and experienced officers, the Chevalier de Levi and Colonel de Bonrlemaqne. Montcalm remained a few days at Quebec, so that he could make himself acquainted with the position of affairs, and then he directed three regiments of regular troops to proceed to Montreal, whither he departed in advance to confer with the governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil. He warmly approved the governor's conduct in pushing forward troops for the investiture of Oswego, where a number of French troops had already arrived from Fort Frontenac, under Captain de Villier. Bourlemaque was then directed to proceed to De Villier's camp with reinforce- ments, and to take the chief command. Montcalm himself left for Ticonderoga on the 27th of June. There he made preparations for the defence of the frontier, and endeavoured to procure accu- rate intelligence of the movements of the British at Albany. On the 15th of July, he returned to Montreal, leaving De Levi and 3,000 men for the protection of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and the maintenance of French supremacy on Lake Champlain and the 65 {( 1^! t ' N fill I M: I ■' I 66 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Richelieu. Still on the alert, the French commander next hastened from Montreal to Fort Frontenac, to make preparations for the assault on Oswego. The British, meanwhile, were dilatory and compara- tively inactive. Lord Londonn, the commander-in- chief, was detained in England, and Major-General Abercromby was ordered to precede him, and to hold the chief command in America until his arrival. Abercromby took out with him the 35th and 42nd Regiments, and arrived at Albany towards the end of June. Deeming his force too weak to carry out the extensive plan of operations drawn up by General Shirley and the other colonial officers, and anxious to avoid responsibility, he determined to await the arrival of Loudoun before undertaking any important advance. While the bulk of the British army thus remained stationary. Colonel Bradstreet, with a detachment of raw Irish recruits, conducted a large convoy of pro- visions in safety to Oswego. De Villier, with 700 French and Indians, had marched forward from Sackett's Harbour to intercept him, but got lost in the forest. On his return, Bradstreet, fearing an attack, divided his canoes and boats into three divisions, for better security in fighting. Gallantly proceeding himself in the first canoe, he left Oswego on the 3rd of July, and had only advanced nine miles up-stream, when a sharp volley from the French rang through the forest. The fire was deadly, and both Bradstreet and the enemy made for a little island. The former had not a dozen men with him, but he drove the French from the place. A few more of 1! CAPTURE OF QUEBEC— DEATH OF WOLFE. 67 his band soon arrived, and twenty brave men beat back again doable the nnmbex of Frenchmen. The enemy made yet a third onset with seventy men, but Bradstreet and his little band once more repelled them. The second and third British divisions now came np, and after a desperate struggle the French were completely routed, with the loss of 100 dead, 70 prisoners, and a large quantity of firearms. Brad- street's Irish force had altogether 60 killed and wounded. Its leader hurried to Albany to warn \bercromby that Oswego was threatened by a large I'rench force. Orders were given for the 44th Regi- ment to hasten to its relief, but its march was greatly delayed. Although Lord Loudoun joined the British army on the 29th of July, the force generally still remained inactive. The historians, however, chronicle great activity on the part of Montcalm. " Having departed from Frontenac on the 4th of August, he arrived on the evening of the same day at Sackett's Harbour, the general rendezvous of his army, which amounted to more than 3,000 men. On the 9 th, his vanguard arrived within a mile and a half of Oswego ; on the night of the 10th, his first division also came up. The second division followed shortly after, and at midnight on the 12th he opened his trenches against Fort Ontario, which crowned a height on the opposite side of the river from Fort Oswego, and completely commanded the latter. From the following daybreak till evening the fire of the garrison was well kept up, when, their ammunition becoming exhausted, they had no alternative but to spike their guns, and retire !'( iMlil h, 68 CANADA*. ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. across the river to Fort Oswego. The abandoned fort, which contained eight gnns and fonr mortars, was immediately occupied by Montcalm, who now continued his parallel down the river-side, where a breaching battery was speedily erected, and next morning, at six o'clock, nine guns poured a destructive fire at point-blank range against Fort Oswego. At eight o'clock, Colonel Mercer, its commanding officer, was killed ; and at ten, although its fire was still much superior to that of the Fip.nch, the besieged hoisted a white flag and offered to surrender, much to the astonishment of Montcalm and h;s officers. " The garrison, consisting of Shirley's and Pepperel's regiments, and a detachment of Schuyler's regiment of militia, was about 1,700 strong, and lost 150 in killed and wounded during the brief siege, and shortly afterwards, when 30 men.^ attempting to escape through the woods, were massacred by the Indians. The French had 80 killed and wounded. Over 1,600 prisoners of war, including 120 women, were sent down the St. Lawrence, and the colours of the captured regiments for a brief space decorated the walls of the churches of Montreal, Three Rivers, and Quebec. One hundred and twenty cannon and mortars, six sloops of war, 200 boats, and large stores of ammunition and provisions, with £18,000 in coin, fell to the conquerors." This victory added to the rising fame of Montcalm, who, to curry favour with the Iroquois, razed Fort Oswego to the ground, and then returned to Fort Frontenac. The surrender of Oswego reflected dis- credit on the British troops, and it had the further CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 69 effect of terminating the campaign of 1756 entirely in favour of the French. Their trade was re- established, and their supremacy on Lake Ontario confirmed. General Webb was advancing with the 44th Regiment to relieve the British garrison, when he heard of the capture of the fort, and turned back to Albany. Loudoun was pusillanimous, and did not venture to attack the victorious French army ; and the unfortunate frontier settlers of Virginia, Penn- sylvania, and New York were doomed to feel the fall effects of the recent disasters. Their lands were overrun with marauding parties of French and Indians, whose course was marked by plunder and massacre. Reprisals followed, and the country was in a state of terror. The young Iroquois, ( !ogusted with the supineness of the British, were vrith diffi- calty dissuaded from throwing in their lot with Montcalm. All through the winter the French commander kept his scouts at work ; and as he found that vast stores of provisions and warlike munitions had been collected at Fort William Henry, on Lake George, he resolved to capture it by a sudden assault, thus crippling the future operations of the British against Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Accordingly, at midnight on the 19th of March, 1757, a force of 1,100 French and 400 Indians, under Rigaud de Vaudreuil, attempted to carry the fort by escalade, but was repulsed. Yaudreuil then destroyed the adjacent storehouses and buildings, and returned to Montreal. Colonel de Bourlemaque was next despatched with \' if, 5 » ■ l4 m ill'' '' '' \ 4 ' ''i1 'L' i i wMik ■iiM 70 CANADA: ITS RISE AND FROGRESSi two battalions to strengthen the works at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, while Captain Ponchot was sent to Niagara to fortify it in the best possible manner, and assume the command. Lord Loudonn, having received large reinforce- ments from England, resolved on the reduction of Lonisburg ; bnt when he heard that a strong French fleet had arrived at Cape Breton, he abandoned the idea. To General "Webb was entrusted the defence of New York and the New England States ; while Colonel Munro, with a force of 2,000 men, was placed in charge at Fort William Henry. Collecting an army of 6,000 regular troops and militia, and 1,700 Indians, Montcalm began the siege of Fort William Henry. On the way to the fort, he had several successful brushes with British parties. Many prisoners were taken ; and when one of them tried to intimidate Montcalm by saying, " To-morrow or the next day General Webb will be at the fort with fresh troops," he replied, " No matter, in less than twelve days I will have a good story to tell about them." Webb certainly did go to Fort William Henry ; but he took care to leave it again with a strong escort in sufficient time to avoid the siege. The cowardice of some of the British leaders at this time contrasts very unfavourably with the courage and resolution of the great French commander. ^'Montcalm had not sufficient boats to carry his entire army by water, and the Iroquois agreed to guide De Levi with 2,600 men by land. Next day, which was the 1st of August, the main body of the army embarked in 250 boats, in front of which '11 CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 71 advanced the Indians in their decorated canoes. The rain fell in torrents, yet they rowed nearly all night, till at length the three triangnlar signal fires of De Levi broke upon their view, and the fleet pulled into North-West Bay. An hour after midnight, two English boats were descried upon . ^ lake, which had been despatched to reconnoitre. '" ^^ canoes of the Algonquins boldly pushed out in pursuit, and with snch celerity that one of the boats was captured. Of its crew, two prisoners alone were reserved ; the rest were massacred. The Algonquins had one of their principal chiefs killed. Next morning no effort at concealment was attempted by the French ; and the Indians, forming their canoes in a single line across the water, made the bay resound with their war-cry. The British were almost taken by surprise, and Montcalm disembarked without interruption a mile and a half below the fort, towards which his troops advanced in three columns. The Indians covered his flanks with vigilant skirmishes, or pushed on in advance to burn the barracks of the British, to capture their cattle and horses, and to cut off and scalp their stragglers. They speedily succeeded in surprising a foraging party, forty of whom they slew and scalped, and captured fifty head of cattle. During the day, they occupied, in connection with a force under La Come, the road leading to Fort Edward, and interrupted all communication with the army of Webb. To the north, De Levi was posted with his regulars and Canadians ; while Montcalm, with the main body of his army, established himself on the west side of the lake. Fort William Henry ,1 !ir« \y\ '\\W\\ ^9 ' 1 ' '^^^ ! ' ' M . H' ,'••••. n' 72 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. was defended by Lientenant-Colonel Mnnro, of the 35th Regiment of th;. line, with less than 500 men ; but 1,700 more lay entrenched at his side on the eminence to the south-east, where now may be seen the ruins of Fort George. Montcalm spent the 3rd of August in reconnoitring the fort and neigh- bourhood, and in erecting his batteries. Next day, he summoned Munro to surrender ; but the gallant old soldier sent an answer of defiance. ^I will defend my trust,' said he, ' to the last extremity.' This bold reply hantened the preparations of the French, whose scanty supply of provisions must speedily run short. Montcalm felt, if he would conquer at all, it must be soon, and pressed forward his approaches night and day. The zeal of their general imparted itself to the men, who vigorously dragged the artillery over rocks and through forests, brought gabions and fascines, and laboured with untiring zeal in the trenches. The first battery of nine guns and two mortars was speedily constructed, and awoke a thousand echoes amid the surrounding hills as it opened on the fort amid the wild war- whoop of the savages. In two days more, Montcalm had constructed his second parallel; and another battery, at a shorter range, poured a destructive fire upon the fort, while the Canadians and savages, swarming into the zigzag of the trenches, swept its ramparts with murderous aim. The odds were great against him ; still, Munro held out with stubborn valour, in the vain hope that Webb would advance to his aid. But the craven heart, who might speedily have collected a strong body of militia to assist CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 73 his 4,000 men in raising the siege, sent nothing bat a letter, with an exaggerated account of the French army, and advising him to surrender. Still the gallant old man held bravely out, and not till half his guns were burst, and his ammunition nigh exhausted, did he unfurl a flag of truce." Knowing the terrible passion of the Indians for massacre and plunder, Montcalm insisted upon the stipulation that the British should be allowed to depart with all the honours of war, on condition of not serving against the French for eighteen months. They were also to surrender everything but their private effects, and to give up all captive Canadians and French Indians. The capitulation was signed on the 9th of August, and Munro delivered up the fort. Unfortunately, Montcalm's Indian allies obtained spirituous liquors from the English, and they became so maddened under their influence, that when the British began to march out of their entrenchments they set upon them with great fury. De Levi rushed in among the infuriated savages, and endeavoured to check the spoliation and massacre, but without effect. So frightful was the scene, that many French officers were wounded in their endeavours to shield the British troops. " Kill me 1 " exclaim»^d Montcalm, " but spare them ; they are under my protection." But all was of no avail. The British were compelled to defend themselves as best they could; but the march to Fort Edward was a disordered flight, the surviving troops reaching it in detachments. A painful but eloquent description of this tragic occur- >»' mr Fi^lB f H' '^ 1 1 ( :!|:^ ' M I I r: if 11:^ 'I* i \m::\ ' ^'t u I'i 74 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. rence is given in Fenimore Cooper's Last of the Mohicans. Fort William Henry was demolished, and Montcalm left, bearing with him the vast stores found there. Bnt instead of marching on Fort Edward, he dis- missed the Canadian militia to gather in their harvest. Meanwhile, the capture of Fort William Henry excited great alarm in the New England colonies ; bnt instead of adopting a bold policy. Lord Loudonn spent the remainder of the season in quarrelling with the colonies about the quarters for his troops and the royal prerogative, and the French were left undisturbed. Loudoun's miserable inefficiency excited great in- dignation in England. The Ministry of the Dnke of Newcastle was discredited by it, and Pitt came into office. He superseded the impotent commanders in America, and, disregarding military precedents, elevated Colonel Amherst to the rank of major- general, and placed him at the head of the force which was designed for the attack of Louisbnrg. Under Amherst, Whitmore, Lawrence, and James Wc^fe were appointed brigadier-generals. The con- quest of the Ohio Valley was assigned to Forbes ; while Abercromby was to operate against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, with Lord Howe his second in command. The two men in whom both Ministers and the public placed the greatest confidence were Howe and Wolfe. The former was an able com- mander, with quick perceptions, and a manly and humane disposition. Wolfe was only thirty-one years of age, yet he had already been eighteen years in the CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 75 army, and had served at Dettingen, Fontenoy, and Laffeldt. Merit made him a lientenant-colonel at two-and-twenty. He was brave in spirit and firm in command, yet in private life he was gentle and humane ; and though accnstomed to command, he lovingly obeyed his widowed mother, whom he re- garded with the greatest affection and veneration. " On the 19th of February, 1758," says one narra- tive, " a magnificent fleet sailed from Portsmouth, which carried out General Amherst, and an army of 10,000 men. It was long detained by contrary winds, and after a stormy passage reached Halifax on the 28th of May, where Boscawen's fleet was met coming out of the harbour, the gallant admiral being weary of inaction. At dawn, on the 2nd of June, the entire armament, embracing 22 ships of the line, 15 frigates, 120 smaller vessels, and 11,600 troops, arrived off Louisburg. Amherst indulged in the hope that he would be able to surprise its garrison, and issued orders for the silent landing of the troops. But for six days a rough sea, and the heavy surf which broke upon the rugged beach, rendered a disembarkation impossible. During this interval, the French toiled night and day to strengthen their position, and flred upon the ships at every opportunity. On the evening of the 7th, the wind lulled, the fog cleared ofi", and the heavy sea gradually subsided, but a violent surf still continued to break on the beach. On the follow- ing morning, just before daylight, three divisions of boats received the troops ; at dawn, Commodore Durell examined the shore, and reported a landing to be practicable. Seven frigates now opened fire to cover ( ! r t t -■i: , 1 1 1 1 i * ■ ^ ■ i 1. k,i t ; ; [1^ f h. I 1 m v.. 76 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. the advance to land. In a few minntes afterwards, the left division, led by Brigadier Wolfe, began to row in-shore, and was speedily followed by Whitmoio and Lawrence, with their brigades ; while two sm■ i; i; ': ' k III 82 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. plied artillery would have swept away, the flower of British chivalry was crashed and broken. At length, in the confusion, an English column lost their way, and fired in mistake on their comrades. This event produced hopeless dejection, the disorder in a few minutes became irretrievable, and Highlanders and provincials, rangers and grenadiers, joined in one disgraceful flight. During the confusion of battle, Abercromby cowered safely at the saw-mills in the rear. When his presence was necessary to rally the fugitives, he was nowhere to be found ; and his second in command lost the opportunity of distinguishing himself, and gave no orders. But the disordered troops, finding the French did not pursue them, gradually recovered from their terror, and rallied of their own accord near a few unbroken battalions whom the general had retained in his vicinity, most probably with a view to his own safety. Yet scarcely had con- fidence been partially restored, than an unaccountable ore* :• from Abercromby to retreat to the landing-place renewed the panic. The soldiers, concluding they were to embark immediately to escape the pursuit of their victorious enemy, broke from all order and control, and crowded towards the boats. Fortunately, the gallant Bradstreet still held together a small force, which he now with prompt decision formed across the landing-place, and would not suffer a man to embark. Had the disordered masses been allowed to rush into the boats, numbers must have perished in the lake ; and thus to the prudence of one man the salvation of many lives may be justly attributed. Owing to Bradstreet's spirited conduct, order was *l CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 83 in a little time restored, and the army remained on the lake-shore for the night. It still exceeded the French force fourfold, yet next morning Abercromby re-embarked, did not rest till he was safe across the lake, and even then sent on his artillery and ammn- nition to Albany, to prevent the possibility of their falling into the hands of Montcalm." The British loss in this sanguinary engagement was 1,950 in killed, wounded, and missing, nearly all of whom were regular troops, and amongst them were a great number of officers. The loss would have been heavier still if the French had pursued the enemy. The French loss was 450 killed and wounded, includ- ing thirty-eight officers. Montcalm employed the night in strengthening his lines, expecting a fresh assault when the British had brought up their guns. But he had nothing to fear from Abercromby, for that poltroon was far away. *'Had I to besiege Fort Carillon," said Montcalm, " I would only ask for six mortars and two pieces of artillery." The English general, though still possessing a siege-train and an army of 14,000 men, spent the ensuing season in lining out a new fort near the site of Fort William Henry. Bradstreet, with more of the true British spirit, insisted upon attacking Fort Frontenac, and was at length supported by the council of war. At the Oneida portage, he was joined by Brigadier Stan\«yx with nearly 3,000 militia, and by forty-two Onondaga Indians led by their chief Red Head. Bradstreet quickly marched to Lake Ontario, and on the 25th of August he arrived within a mile of Fort Fron- tenac. He found the position defended by thirty guns '-(■'1 -T i 1 ' 1 If 1 ' ! ' i ' i : M i'l i .,||! ipi: -Hi I j:!! i Ifl! |! 84 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. and sixteen small mortars ; bat the works were weak, and the garrison small and dispirited. Bradstreet took possession of an old entrenchment near the defences, and at once opened the assault with his guns. As the garrison was quite incapable of sustaining a defence, it surrendered on the morning of the 27th. The victors made a splendid haul of provisions, ammunition, shipping, and sixty pieces of cannon and sixteen small mortars. But the commander had been strictly enjoined by Abercromby to destroy most of the stores and shipping captured. The fort was blown up and abandoned ; but the French repaired it in the summer, and also strengthened and extended the works at Niagara. While Bradstreet was operating against Fort Fron- tenac, Montcalm lost no opportunity of harassing Abercromby 's outposts. The French light troops committed so much havoc and massacre, that Major Rogers was despatched with 700 men against them. This force wab soon reduced by hardship and desertion to about 500. On the 8th of August, it encountered and defeated an equal number of French, whose loss amounted to 190 killed and wounded. In the west, the French suffered a severe check by the capture of Fort Du Quesne. On the last day of June, Brigadier Forbes, with 1,500 regular troops and 5,000 militia, marched from Philadelphia en route for the Ohio Valley. Washington commanded two Virginian corps in the militia. The force had a long and laborious march over the Alleghanies, construct- ing a new road to the Ohio as it went. It was September before the army arrived at Raystown, CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 85 nioety miles from Fort Du Quesne, and Forbes the commander was very ill. A force of 2,000 men, nnder Colonel Bouquet, was detached to take post at Loyal Hanna. A portion of this force, consisting of 800 Highlanders and a company of Virginian militia, was told off to make a reconnaissance of the works. Instead of this, the leader, Grant, directly challenged the garrison, and a conflict ensued, when the High- landers were completely routed, with a loss of nearly 300 in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The whole army now moved forward as rapidly as possible. The French, however, abandoned the place on the 24th of November, first springing a mine under one of its faces. On the following day, the British took possession of the deserted stronghold, and at once proceeded to repair its works, changing the name of the fort to Pittsburg, in honour of the Minister who planned its capture. The capture of Fort Du Quesne closed the campaign of 1758, which on the whole had gone distinctly in favour of the British. It was true that Abercromby had been defeated ; but the capture of Louisburg had left France without a safe port near the St. Lawrence, and effectually closed Canada in on the seaboard, while the reduction of Forts Frontenac and Du Quesne had given to Britain possession of all the territory out of which the war had arisen. Abercromby still had a large army, and Montcalm knew that it only required a skilful general to make it available. This it soon received, for in December Pitt superseded Abercromby, and appointed General Amherst com- mander-in-chief of the army in America. It I I f ! i II II! 1: I 86 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. The year 1759, which was destined to be a memorable one in the history of Canada, opened with vigorous measnres on the part of the British. The House of Commons had voted £12,000,000 for carrying on the war, and Pitt drew up with great skill the arrangements for the ensuing American campaign. He selected the leading officers, not according to seniority of rank, but their ability. Stanwyx was entrusted with the capture of the French posts from Pittsburg to Lake Erie ; Prideaux was to reduce Niagara ; while Amherst was instructed to attack Canada by Lake Champlain and the Richelieu, to capture Montreal, effect a junction with the ex- pedition against Quebec, and thus terminate French domination in North America by a single campaign. To Wolfe, who was Pitt's favourite general, was given the command of the important expedition against Quebec, which was regarded as the crucial undertaking of the whole campaign. The French governor, De Vaudreuil, recognizing the critical position of Canada, sent De Bougainville to France for fresh troops and provisions, while Montcalm proceeded diligently to put the colony into a state of defence. All male inhabitants in the province, from sixteen to sixty years of age, were ordered to be enrolled in the militia. What made the prospect of war worse was the comparative failure of the recent harvest. In January, a census was taken of all the in- habitants in the three governments of the colony, and the number was found to be about 85,000. The number of men capable of bearing arms in the district CAPTURE OF QUEBEC— DEATH OF WOLFE. 87 of Quebec was 7,511, in that of Montreal 6,405, and in that of Three Rivers 1,313, making an aggre- gate of 15,229. Many of th^se were not available, however, from the necessities of agricnlture ; while the British had nearly 50,000 men under arms, or ready to take the field. Nevertheless, Montcalm gallantly went on with his duty, strengthening the fortifications, building vessels, and majcing strenuous efforts to collect provisions. De Bougainville returned from France in May, bringing with him decorations and promotions for the officers who had already distinguished themselves, but little substantial assistance. The King and his Ministers urged the governor to take every possible step to defend the province, while Montcalm was told that his Majesty relied upon his zeal and courage. De Vaudreuil now addressed a circular to the militia officers, requiring them to be ready for marching in any direction at a moment's notice, and at the same time endeavoured to excite their patriotism by a stirring appeal. ^'This campaign," said he, " will afiford the Canadians an opportunity of signal- izing themselves. His Majesty well knows the confidence I have in them, and I have not failed to inform him of their services. His Majesty trusts they will make those eflforts that are to be looked for from the most faithful subjects, more particularly as they have to defend their religion, their wives, and their property from the cruel treatment to be expected from the English. " With respect to myself, I am resolved not to consent to any capitulation, in hopes that .this resolu- < I ;■■ ^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4p 1.0 1.1 m iM la — ■ii Hi 12.2 £ lit £ Mi |20 lllllii l^ ^ Hiotographic ^Sciences CorpOTalion ^V^^ 4^:^^ 23 wht main stmit WnSTIR,N.Y. I4SM (7l*)l7a-4S03 '^ 'M. 111! ■I r ill 11: 88 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. tion may have the most rainons consequences to the English. It is most indubitable that it would be more mercifal for the inhabitants, their wives and children, to be bnried under the ruins of the colony, than to fall into the hands of the English. " It being highly necessary that the most prudent precautions should be taken to prevent a surprise, I have established beacons from post to post, along the south shore, below Point Levi, to be set fire to as soon as the enemy are discovered. '* We promise every protection to the inhabitants, their wives, children, and property, to prevent their falling into the hands of the English, who would make them su£fer the same hardships and miseries experienced by the Acadians. In addition to which, we have the testimony of their late ill-conduct, in their treatment of the inhabitants of Cape Breton, notwithstanding the capituktion, as well as those of the Island of St. John. " Their hatred is so well known towards everything that is Canadian, that they even make them respon- sible for the cruelties of a few Indians, still forgetting the measures we have taken to prevent a repetition of these actions, and the good treatment which the nation has at all times shown to them when prisoners. We have a real satisfaction in declaring that we entertain no apprehensions for the safety of the colony, yet we shall adopt the most efficacious measures for securing to the inhabitants their rights and property." But the most extraordinary document issued at this juncture was a pastoral letter from Dr. de Pont CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OP WOLFE. 89 Briant, the Bishop of Canada, to the clergy of his diocese. It drew a most deplorable picture of the civil and religions condition of the people, dwelling npon the impions hypocrisy which prevailed, and denonncing the widespread gambling, immorality, and crime, whose effects were to be perceived every- where. His lordship ordered a series of special services of hnmiliation to be observed thronghont the province. A conncil of war held at Montreal decided that a strong body of troops shonld be posted at Quebec under Montcalm ; and that Bonrlemaqne shonld take post at Ticonderoga, and blow np the works on the approach of the British, if he shonld be nnable to resist them. Crown Point was to follow the same fate, if necessary ; and then Bonrlemaqne was to retire to an island at the head of Lake Champlain, and there, aided by the shipping, make the most stabborn resistance, and if possible prevent the jnno- tion of the armies nnder Amherst and Wolfe. The Chevalier De la Come, with 800 regulars and militia, was to entrench himself above Montreal, and withstand any force that might descend from Lake Ontario. The campaign of 1759 opened with the advance of Brigadier Prideaux, at the head of nearly 4,000 regular troops and militia, and a large body of Iroquois led by Sir William Johnson, against the fort at Niagara. The army embarked on Lake Ontario on the 1st of July, and effected a landing on the 7th at one of the inlets six miles east of Niagara. The fort was invested on the land side, and the British boats effectually intercepted all communica- . it ' II 1 1 ! i ij "I I K: > 'i Ufl liir mm'. 90 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. 1'' I tion by water. Fonchot, the French commander, sent to Frontenac, Detroit, and other western posts for aid, including as many Indians as conld be collected. Belying upon such aid, he determined to defend the fort to the last extremity. To a demand from the British general to snrrender, he replied : *' My post is strong, my garrison faithfnl ; and the longer I hold out, the more I will win the esteem of the enemy." Frideanx conducted his operations with skill, and the defences soon began to cramble under his vigorons fire. Having received slight reinforcements, the besieged made a sally on the 11th, but were driven back. For six more days Fonchot held bravely out, looking for the sncconrs which Frideanx had taken measures to intercept. This brave English com- mander was killed in the trenches on the evening of the 19th, and the chief command now devolved on Sir William Johnson. The incidents which followed are thus graphically described in Macmullen*s history : *^ Meanwhile, De Aubrey rapidly descended from Detroit, at the head of 1,200 Frenchmen, collected from tho different posts towards the Ohio, and nearly 1,400 Indians. On the 23rd, four savages made their way into the beleaguered fort with a letter to Fonchot informing him that succour was at hand, and that the British lines would speedily be attacked. But Johnson's / scouts had given him ample intelligence of De Aubrey's approach, and he coolly prepared for the combat. Leaving sufficient troops to guard the trenches, he threw forward strong pickets, on CAPTURE OP QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 91 the eveniDg of the 23rd, to occnpy the woods on either side of the rongh forest road leading from Chippewa to Niagara, and connected these by a chain of Indian skirmishers. Th3se arrangements com- pleted, and no enemy appearing, the troops lay down to rest with their arms iu their hands. It was a warm Jnly night, and the stars glimmered brightly down npon the sombre forest, now nnrnffled by even the faintest breeze. To the contemplative mind, the scene mnst have been one of peculiar solemnity and grandenr. Close at hand, the stillness was nnbroken, save by the monotonous breathings of the many sleepers, or the sentinePs tread. A little farther on, there was a brief pause aronnd the beleaguered fort, and then its dark sides were suddenly illumi- nated by its own guns, or revealed by the red light of a sal?o from the hostile trenches. From the distance, the dull boom of the cataract f^ill upon the ear like the noontide roar of life in London, or the rush of the approaching storm. The white tents of the besieging army, the watch-fires of the camp, the bright moon whose rays peered softly down amidst the sprays of the forest trees to glance from the polished muskets of the sleeping sentinel or the Indian's tomahawk, and the soft feathery cloud of spray that rose upwards from the Horse-Shoe Falls — all tended to complete a scene of surpassing interest. On the following morning, at daybreak, Johnson pnshed forward his grenadier companies and part of the 46th Regiment to strengthen his fort, while the 44th Regiment was formed in reserve to preserve the communication with the troops in the trenches. v.] 1 '; ■ 1 ||- i| 'i .{ it.' , \ 1* ' . i tl f , , 'I 1 ' 1 ij 92 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. and to act wherever its assisUace might be needed. Abont eight o'clock, the head of the French column was perceived advancing through the woods, with large bodies of Indians covering either flank. As the enemy came on, the British ontposts fell steadily back on the main body withont firing, while the Iroquois pressed forward to parley with the French Indians, with a view of inclining them to peace. The latter refused to abandon their allies, and accordingly the warriors of the Six Nations again resumed their post on the flanks of the British. De Aubrey now speedily formed his force, and advanced to the attack. Shouting their appalling war-cry, the Indians burst through the woods, and fell furiously upon the British Une, which coolly awaited their approach, and swept them away with a few rolling volleys. The close and steady fire with which they were received completely astonished the western warriors, and so thorough was their discomfiture that they disap- peared altogether from the field of battle. Their flight left the flanks of the French completely exposed, and they were soon boldly turned by the Iroquois, who pressed rapidly forward through the woods, while the British held their ground in front with the utmost steadiness. Attacked on all sides by greatly superior numbers, the French hesitated, gave way, and after an action of little more than half an hoar broke into utter rout. De Aubrey and his surviving officers, with a great part of his troops, were taken prisoners, while the fiigitives were rapidly pursued and slain, or driven into the wilderness, where the numerous dead lay uncounted." CAPTURE OP QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 93 When the news of Johnson's victory had been confirmed, Ponchot, the French commander, surren- dered np the fort and garrison, liberal terms being granted him. The French were to march ont with the honours of war, and the women and children were to have safe conveyance to the nearest port of France. All stores, provisions, and arms were given np to the British general, and the garrison, 600 strong, were conveyed to New York under his protection. So important was the victory that the French forts as far as Erie fell without resistance. In announcing the British success to Amherst, Johnson said: *^I have only to regret the loss of Qeneral Prideaux and Colonel Johnson. I endeavoured to pursue the late general's vigorous measures, the good efiPects of which he deserved to enjoy." An attack made by a strong body of Canadians and Indians under La Corne upon the British detachment at Oswego completely failed. Meanwhile, the coe> mander-in-chief had the greatest difficulty in keeping the main army together at Lake George, owing to the numerous desertions from the militia. General Amherst, having traced ont the plan of Fort George, sailed down the lake on the 21st of July with his army of 11,000 men. He effected a landing near the place where Abercromby had disembarked the year before. Preparations were made for an assault on the French lines, which were guarded by a body of 3,400 men, composed of regulars, Canadians, and Indians. But on the morning of the 23rd the French withdrew from the lines which had enabled them to gain their victory of the preceding year, and fell back ^ <<: i i 1 ,.' il \ ^Hi llli i,'' ■ 1 < > ■': i il; -.4 iBj .!■ \W] 1 i S (i , t ' § ! i ■ -n ;il* ;ife«; « V\ i 4 u CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. npon Fort Carillon. After a spell of sharp croBs- firingy Bonrlemaqne recognized that even the defence of the fort was impracticable ; so he silently left it in the night, detaching 400 men to continue snch resistance as might conceal his retreat. On the night of the 26th, intelligence was brought to Amherst that the fort had been abandoned, and a mine laid ; and immediately afterwards a tremendous explosion con- firmed the news. Flames burst forth simultaneously from the wooden breastworks, barracks, and stores. Amherst detached some light troops in pursuit of the French, and then began the work of repairing the fort. The fortress of Crown Point was next found by Major Rogers abandoned by the French ; and when Amherst came up, he encamped on the site, and traced out the lines of a new fort as a protection against the scouting parties of French and Indians. Bonrlemaqne had retreated to the Isle-aux-Noix, at the northern end of the lake ; and here, with a force of 3,500 men, 100 pieces of cannon, and four armed vessels, he strongly fortified himself. He resolved to defend the entrance of the Richelieu to the last extremity. In order to effect a junction with Wolfe at Quebec, two courses were open to Amherst. One was to open a road through the forest and push on to Montreal, leaving Bourlemaque in his rear ; the other, to obtain command of the lake, and drive him from his position. He adopted the latter plan ; but before it could be carried out, winter overtook him, and the main body of the British army was compelled to waste its strength in doing nothing. Brigadier Gage also, who was appointed to the command of Prideaux's CAPTURE 07 QUEBEC— DEATH OF WOLFE. 95 )| (age force afc Oswego, failed to advance u(X)n and capture Ogdensbnrg, as he had been directed to do. The indefatigable Major Rogers was the only British officer in thid region who continued an active and snccessfnl conrse. He penetrated the forest to Lake St. Francis, and fell npon and completely crashed an Indian force which had detained an officer and a nnmber of men sent with a flag of trace. The campaign in the west soon ended, and the British forces went into winter quarters. The operations on the St. Lawrence now demand attention. Wolfe having assembled his army of abont 8,000 men at Loaisbarg, he divided it into three brigades, led by Brigadiers Monckton, Townshend, and Mnrray, while the Adjntant-General was Isaac Barre, a fearless and ambitions Irishman, and one of the repnted authors of the Letters of Junius, The fleet, which consisted of twenty-two men-of-war, and as many frigates and armed vessels, was under the command of Admiral Saunders. On board one of the ships was Jervis, afterwards Earl St. Vincent ; while James Cook, the celebrated navigator, was sailing-master of another. The armament arrived safely off the Isle of Orleans on the 26th of June, and on the following day the troops effected a landing. Wolfe was astonished at the beauty of the scenery which spread out before him in all directions, and he was also struck with admiration at the ingenuity and skill displayed by Montcalm in devising his means of defence. Nothing was left undone, and for nine miles or more to Cape Rouge every landing-place was entrenched and i.-i ■; i V 11 I ■ 'r >, 111 ( :( ? I 1' f I li PI ;-i-t: 100 CANADA: ITS BISE AND PROGRESS. I It bracing three different and equally desperate methods of attacking Montcalm in his entrenchments below the town. These were all overmled, however, in favour of Brigadier Townshend's plan of landing an army above the town, in order to draw the French from their impregnable position to an open action. " I have acquiesced in their proposal/' wrote Wolfe to Pitt, in a despatch dated the 2nd of September, *'and we are preparing to put it into execution. There is such a choice of difficulties, that I am myself at a loss how to determine." One more examination of the citadel was made by Wolfe and Admiral Saunders, with a view to a general assault ; but the general saw no prospect of success, especially as the fleet could render him no assistance. '' But if Wolfe's difficulties were great, so also were those which surrounded Montcalm. He knew not where to turn for a ray of hope, except to the now rapidly approaching winter. Danger menaced him on every side. Gage threatened him from Lake Ontario, Amherst from Lake Champlain, while the stately fleet riding securely at anchor below left no hope of succour from France. The peculation and misconduct of the civil officers wasted his resources, and hi hesitated not to tell even the governor himself that he had sold his country. 'But while I live,' ex- claimed the intrepid soldier, 'I will not deliver it up.' * Of one thing I can assure you,' wrote he to a friend, *I shall not survive the probable loss of the colony. There are times when a general's only resource is to die with honour ; this is such a time : no stain shall rest ou my memory.* But he found CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 101 consolation in the fact that the conqnest of Canada most speedily lead to the independence of the British colonies. Provisions and ammunition were becoming scarce in his camp, and the nnhappy peasants stole to their homes by dozens to gather in their harvest. He sconrged some offenders, hanged others, and threatened their villages with the vengeance of the savages, yet he coald not keep them together, and was finally obliged to allow 2,000 of the militia to depart, to gather in their crops, at the most critical period of the campaign. The new plan of operations adopted by Wolfe rendered the concentration of his troops at Point Levi necessary, and preparations were at once made to evacaate the position at the Mont- morency. These were all completed by the 3rd of September, when the troops safely crosbcd over the river. The vigilant eye of Montcalm had anticipated this movement from the nnnsual stir among the British, and he marched two strong colnmns to attack them while embarking. Monckton, from the heights of Point Levi, discovered the danger which menaced the retiring brigades, and, embarking a strong de- tachment in boats which were protected by some ships and frigates, rowed towards the Beauport shore as if abont to assault the French lines. Montcalm was accordingly compelled to recall his battalions for their defence, and to permit the British troops at Montmorency to embark without molestation." Wolfe having partially recovered, he and his brigadiers closely examined the bank of the river,' in the hope of discovering some point by which his army ooold ascend to the Plains of Abraham. At i i 1 1 ■ Si < •( i- I i ^i Ut i I ■ i ( i; 102 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. last, abont three miles above the city, he found a narrow path winding np the steep precipice from the water^s edge, at a point where the bank carved slightly inward, and which has since been known as Wolfe's Cove. Although two men coold scarcely ascend this path abreast, the general determined that his army should disembark here, and take the guard at the summit, amounting to about a hundred men, by surprise. This point taken, the French could no longer avoid giving battle. Preparations began ; and in order to deceive Montcalm as to the real point of attack, James Cook and others were sent to take observations up the river at Beauport, as though the attack were to be made from that quarter. On the 12th of Sep- tember, a French deserter brought in most important intelligence to Wolfe. "The main force," he said, "is still below the city, and our general will not believe that you meditate an attack anywhere bnt from the Montmorency side. The Canadians are alarmed by the fall of Niagara, and in great distress for provisions. De Levi, with a large detachment, has left us for Montreal to meet Amherst; and De Bougainville, with 1,500 men, watches the motions of your fleet in the upper river." As evening came on, Wolfe made his dispositions. While he drew the enemy's attention in one direction, Monckton's and Murray's brigades moved up the river from Point Levi, and embarked on board the fleet without being observed. Then, at nine o'clock, the first division of the army, 1,600 strong, silently dropped into flat- bottomed boats, and waited the orders of their chief. CAPTURE OF QUEBEC— DEATH OP WOLPE. 103 <' It was a pleasant aatmnii night," observes Mac- mnllen, ^'and the fall Instrons stars of a northern finnament twinkled cheerfully down on the noble cnrrent of the St. Lawrence, as Wolfe qnietly passed from ship to ship to make his final inspection, and ntter his last words of encouragement. In a pure and gifbed mind like his, the solemn hour conld scarcely fail of awakening befitting associations. He spoke of the poet Gray, and the beantifol legacy he had given the world in his Elegy in a Country Churchyard. *I would prefer,' said he, * being the author of that poem to the glory of beating the French to-morrow ' ; and while the cautions dip of the oars into the rippling current alone broke the stillness of the night, he repeated : The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave. Await alike th' inexorable hour. The paths of glory lead bat to the grave. At one o'clock, on the morning of the 13th, the order to advance was given, and the flotilla dropped silently down with the receding tide, Wolfe com- manding in person. He still continued his poetical musings ; but his eye at the same time was keenly bent on the outline of the dark heights beneath which he floated past. He recognized at length the appointed spot, and leaped ashore. "Meantime, the current had carried a few boats lower down, which had on board the light company of the 78th Highlanders. These were the first troops to land ; without a moment's hesitation, they scrambled iJ m th I I t i \h lii 104 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PHOURESS. up the face of the wooded precipice, clinging to the roots and branches of trees. Half the ascent was already won, when for the first time the qui-vive of the French sentry above was given. * La France,^ promptly answered M'Donald, the Highland captain, with ready self-possession, and the sentinel shouldered his mnsket and pnrsned his rounds. In a few minntes, however, the nnnsnal rustling among the trees near at hand alarmed the sentinels, their guard was turned out, and fired one hurried volley at the Highlanders, then, panic-stricken, turned and fled. By this time, another body of troops had pressed up the pathway, and possessed themselves of a four-gun redoubt which commanded it. As day dawned, Wolfe stood with his invincible battalions on the Plains of Abraham, the battle-field which gave a new empire to the Anglo-Saxon race. Only one gun, however, could be got np the hill, so difficult was the ascent." Montcalm was completely deceived by the British manoeuvres. Even when daylight approached, he was unable to realize the situation, it was so utterly un- expected. While the scattered roll of musketry was heard from above the beleaguered town, a horseman galloped up and told Montcalm that the British had ascended to the Plains of Abraham. *^ It can be but a small party come to bum a few houses and then retire,'' replied the general. But the man persisted that the British were there in force. "Then," said Montcalm, "they have at last got to the weak side of this miserable garrison ; we must give them battle, and crash them before midday.* »» t CAPTURE OP QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLTE. 105 The story of the memorable engagement that ensned, which ended in the victory of the British and the death of both commanders, is thns dramatically told by the historian already qnoted : " Leaving Governor De Vaudrenil behind with 1,500 militia, and despatching a courier to recall De Bongainville, Montcalm harried his troops across the Valley of the St. Charles, over the bridge, and along the northern face of the ramparts to the battle-gronnd, where Wolfe, having already formed his line, calmly awaited his approach. The 35th Begiment were posted on the extreme right near the precipice ; on their left stood the Grenadiers of Lonisbnrg ; the 28th, the 43rd, the 58th, the 78th Highlanders, and the 47th com- pleted the front, led by Wolfe, and Monckton on the right, and Murray on the lefb. The second line, composed of the 15th Regiment and two battalions of the 60th or Royal Americans, was led by Townshend. The 48th Regiment, in four columns, formed the reserve under Colonel Burton. Colonel Howe, with the light infantry posted in houses, or scattered through the neighbouring coppices, covered the left flank and rear. The right flank was efifectually protected by the precipice. The entire British army was somewhat under 5,000 men, but they were all well-trained veterans. "About six o'clock, small bodies of the French troops deployed on the slopes near the ramparts of the city. By seven, they mustered more nume- ronsly, and brought up two field-guns, which caused some annoyance to the British. Towards eight o'clock, Montcalm had arrived with the bulk of I 1. \ ■ i i I ! 106 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. his army, which he formed in three distinct masses on a slope to the no' th-west of the city, where they were sheltered from Wolfe's solitary but mischievons gnn. At nine, he pushed to the front, and began to form his line of battle, being assured that De Bougainville was close at hand, and whose light cavalry, of which he had 350, already threatened the British left. His centre was formed of 720 regalar troops and 1,200 militia. The right was composed of 1,600 veterans and 400 militia ; on the left were 1,300 trained soldiers, supported by 2,300 of the Canadian levies. His total force thus amounted to 7,520 men, besides Indians, who were not less than 400. Of this force scarcely one half were regular troops ; but the expected arrival of De Bougainville would add 1,500 veterans to his army, and, he trusted, enable him to win the battle, and save Quebec. " Montcalm designed to avail himself of his superior force by outflanking the British left, and thus crowding them towards the landing-place, where he would assail them again with his own left and centre, while De Bougainville threatened the rear. Thus attacked on three sides of a square at the same time, he considered that the stubborn courage of the enemy must give way. The British position formed two sides of a square, one of which was occupied by their line of battle, the other by Colonel Howe's light infantry, who, as already stated, thas covered the left flank and rear. ^^ Agreeably to his plan of operations, Montcahn began the battle at ten o'clock by assailing Howe's posi- tion with a strong body of Canadian and Indian skir- CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OF WOLFE. 107 mishers, who speedily drove in the British pickets on their supports. Under cover of the clond of smoke, which soon rose over this part of the battle-field, the veterans of the French right wing passed swiftly at an sLagle with the British left, and fiercely assaulted their light infantry. Howe felt the importance of his post, and made a stout resistance. His men fell fast ; bnt in a few minutes Townshend, with the Idth Begiment and two battalions of the 60th, came to his aid, and the assailants were speedily beaten back with heavy loss. "The attempt to outflank the British lefb being thns completely defeated, Montcalm's only resource was to attack their right and centre. Throwing forward a swarm of skirmishers, their fire speedily dislodged the few light infantry with which Wolfe had covered his front, and drove them back in disorder on the main body. This occurrence some- what alarmed the British troops ; but Wolfe, hurrying along the line, cheered them with his voice and presence, and directed them on no account to fire without orders. He speedily succeeded in restoring confidence. Recalling his troops, Montcalm now ^ pushed forward his whole centre and left, which, with loud cheers and arms at the recover, moved holdly on to the attack. As the smoke of the skir- mishers' fire cleared oif from the battle-field, the long ranks of the French were seen rapidly ap- proaching the British position. At the distance of 150 yards an oblique movement from the left gave their lines the appearance of columns, which chiefly threatened Wolfe's right wing. Another moment i i ;*' ''\ 108 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. m III! II H passed, the French paused, and from flank to flank ponred a murderous and rapid fire upon the British line. The 35th and Grenadiers fell fast. Still not a shot was returned. Wolfe was struck in the wrist; but wrapping a handkerchief around the wound, he hurried from rank to rank, warning his men to reserve their fire for a shorter and deadlier range. Not a single trigger was pulled. With arms shouldered as if on parade, and motionless save when they closed upon the ghastly gaps made in their ranks by the French fire, these gallant men waited the word of command with that indomitable endurance which has ever char- acterized the British soldier when properly trained and led. The French were still unharmed, their confidence increased, and with a loud cheer they pressed forward against the British. A few moments more, and only forty paces separated the combatants. And now the clear voice of Wolfe giving the word to fire rises over the field. The order passes like an electric shot along the British line, its long row of muskets is swiftly levelled, and the next instant a well-aimed volley, almost as distinct as a single shot, rolls over the battle-field. It fell with terrible effect upon the advancing foe. Numbers of French soldiers reeled and fell at once ; others staggered for a moment, then dropped aside to die ; others, again, burst from the ranks shrieking in agony. Presently the breeze which blew gently across the battle-field carried away the smoke of one of the deadliest volleys that ever burst from British infantry, and the assailing battalions were soon reduced to mere groups among the slain. Scarcely fifteen minutes had elapsed since CAPTURE OF QUEBEC — DEATH OP WOLFE. 109 Montcalm had made his principal attack, and already the hattle was lost. The Brigadier de St. Oars was killed, and De Senezergaes, the second in command, mortally wonnded ; while the Canadian militia had already broken and fled in confusion. Still the gallant Frenchman was not dismayed. Riding throngh the shattered ranks, he cheered the men with his voice, and indnced them to re-form. << Meantime, the British troops had reloaded, and Wolfe, resolving to take advantage of the disorder in the French ranks, ordered his whole line to advance, placing himself at the head of the 28th and the Grenadiers. For a few minntes they move forward steadily, then their pace increases to a ran, and with bayonets at the charge they rash npon the French. Jnsi then Wolfe was wounded a second time in the body ; bnt still pressing forward, he received a ball in the breast. * Support me,' he said to an officer near him ; ' let not my brave fellows see me fall.* He was carried to the rear, and water was brought him to quench his thirst. Still the British pressed forward with fiery vaLur. On the right, the 35th swept all before them ; in the centre, the 28th and Louisburg Grenadiers moved firmly on ; on the left, the 58th and 78th overcame a stubborn and bloody resistance, and the last corps with its terrible claymore followed swiftly in pursuit, and supplied the want of cavalry. '^he fierce struggle fell heavily on the British, but was terribly destractive to the French. They wavered under the carnage; but Montcalm, galloping among his stubborn veterans, called on them to re-form, and again oppose the advancing foe. His efforts were ! / ! I I 110 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. vain ; the head of every formation was mowed down by the terrible fire of the British, who, again rashing forward at the charge, compelled his troops to give way in every direction. At this critical period, he fell mortally wounded, and from that moment all was utter ront and confusion on the side of the French. Wolfe's life ebbs fast away ; yet from time to time he essays to look upon the battle, and clear away the death-mist that gathers on his sight. Presently his spirit draws nearer *to that bourne whence no traveller returns ' ; he sinks backward, and gives no signs of life beyond a heavy breathing and the occasional groan of painful dissolution. The French fly in all directions. * They run ! they ran ! ' exclaimed some of the officers who stood by their dying general. ^ Who runs ? * eagerly asked Wolfe, like one aroused from sleep. 'The enemy, sir,' answered the officer who supported him ; * they give way everywhere.' * Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton,' said Wolfe, ' and tell him to march Webb's regiment (the 48th) with all speed down to the St. Charles River to cut off their retreat.' His voice grew fainter and fainter as he spoke, and he tnmed as if to seek an easier position on his side. Four days before, he had looked forward to an early death with dismay ; but he now felt he would breathe his last breath on the field of victory, and that he had well done his duty to his country. *Now God be praised ! I die happy,' said the gallant soldier faintly, yet distinctly ; and Wolfe, who had won a new empire for his race, passed from this material world to immortality." CAPTURE OF QUEBEC—DEATH OF WOLFE. Ill The body of Wolfe was taken borne, and bnried in Greenwich Church, and a monument was erected to him in Westminster Abbey. Although only thirty- two years of age at his death, he takes rank among the first six or eight of English generals. He had crowded into a brief span of life actions that would have reflected lustre on the oldest veteran. There are few instances where immortality has been con- quered at so early an age. The fires from the rampart of Quebec and the frigates stationed in the St. Charles checked the British pursuit of the flying enemy ; and, moreover, Bougainville's formidable corps of veterans was hourly expected. Monckton had been severely wounded in the lungs ; and Townshend, now the senior o£Scer , recalled his disordered battalions to oppose the new enemy. He put himself into a strong position of defence ; but no conflict occurred, for when Bougain- ville learned the news of Montcalm's total defeat, he declined meeting the victors, and hastily retreated to Cape Rouge. On the same day, De Yandreuil, with 1,500 Canadians, deserted the lines below Quebec, and, leaving all his artillery, tents, ammunition, and stores behind, effected a hurried retreat to Jacques Cartier. The loss of the British in this decisive and memor- able battle on the Plains of Abraham amounted to 59 killed and 597 wounded of all ranks ; that of the French was 600 killed, and upwards of 1,000 wounded and made prisoners. The Canadian militia ran away when they saw the victory inclining towards the British, and therefore suffered much less than the regular troops, who were almost destroyed. u, Ml ( !'• ' i 1 : ;iS \\ V\ -Vjtli 112 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. The last scene in the life of Montcalm was very pathetic. " When his wound was dressed, he asked the surgeons if it was mortal ; and being answered in the affirmative, calmly said, ' I am glad of it ; how long can I survive ? ' ' Perhaps a dozen hours, and perhaps less,' was the reply. ' So much the better,' rejoined the general ; ' I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec' To a council of war which hastily assembled, he showed that in twelve hours all the troops near at hand might be concentrated, and the British attacked before they had time to entrench themselves ; but his proposition was overruled. With him, the hope of France in Canada was departing. De Ramsay, who commanded the garrison, asked his orders about defending the city. * To your keeping,' he replied, ' I commend the honour of France. I wish you all comfort, and to be happily extricated from your perplexities. As for me, my time is short ; I shall pass the night with God, and prepare myself for death.' To another he said, 'Since it was my misfortune to be discomfited and mortally wounded, it is a great consolation to be vanquished by so noble and generous an enemy.' He shortly afterwards called for his chaplain, who, with the bishop, admini- stered the last offices of his religion, and remained with him till he died next day. Thus terminated the career of a great general and a brave man. Trained from his youth in the art of war, laborioos, just, and self-denying, he offered a remarkable excep- tion to the venality of the public men of Canada at this period, and in the midst of universal corruption made the general good his aim. Night, the rushing CAPTURE OP QUEBEC— DEATH OF WOLFE. 113 tide, veteran discipline, and more brilliant genins had given his rival the victory ; yet he was not the less great. And while the name of Wolfe will never be forgotten, that of Montcalm is also engraved by its side on the enduring scroll of human fame. The latter has been censured for not abiding the chances of a siege rather than risking a battle. But with a town already in ruins, a garrison deficient in provisions and ammunition, and an enemy to con- tend with possessed of a formidable siege-train, the fire of which must speedily silence his guns, he acted wisely in staV'ng the issue on the battle, in which, while he found defeat, he met also an honourable and glorious death." Anticipating French reinforcements, Townshend set to work constructing redoubts, and placing his artillery in order. Admiral Saunders had already moved the whole of his fleet into the basin, preparatory to an attack on the Lower Town. Provisions in Quebec were very low, and the anxious citizens pressed the acting commander, De Ramsay, to capitulate before they were reduced to the last extremity. " We have cheerfully sacrificed our houses and our fortunes," they urged ; *' but we cannot expose our wives and children to massacre." De Levi, who was at Montreal, had been requested by De Vaudreuil to hasten to Quebec, and assume the chief command. He arrived at the Fiench headquarters near Jacques Cartier on the 16th, and immediately convened a council of war, at which it was decided to raise the siege if possible. A message was sent to De Bamsay to hold out to 8 i. Hi! Iij;. i til :i 114 CANADA: ITS RISE AMD PROGRESS. the last extremity, as on the 18th the whole French army would be in motion, with a large supply of provisions, to relieve the city. But the information came too late. Capitulation had been agreed to on the 17th, and early on the ensuing day the terms were fully ratified, and Quebec surrendered. The keys of the city were delivered up in the evening, and the Louisburg Grenadiers marched in ; while Captain Falliser of the navy took possession of the Lower Town. The news of the fall of Quebec was received with joyful acclamations throughout the whole of the British provinces. Illuminations, bonfires, rejoicings were the order of the day. In Great Britain also there were triumphal celebrations, though the national joy was tempered by sadness over the death of the brilliant young general who had died in the moment of victory. I m CHAPTER V. 'v;( iM CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. THE garrison of Quebec was permitted to march out with all the honours of war, and favourable terms were granted to the inhabitants. All the conditions were faithfully observed by the British. Many of the residents cheerfully and voluntarily took the oath of allegiance to King George II. In October, the entire British fleet, with the exception of two small vessels, sailed from Quebec for Halifax, and then for England. Brigadier Townshend also proceeded home ; while Monckton, who was recovering from his wounds, went to winter in the milder climate of New York. General Murray was entrusted with the government of Quebec, having Colonel Burton as lieutenant-governor, and a garrison of about 5,000 men. During a thick fog, a French vessel managed to elude the vigilance of the British fleet, and to escape away to France, bearing important despatches. Some of these despatches were full of recriminations, De Vaudreuil bitterly censuring De Bamsay for his precipitate surrender of Quebec, and De Ramsay condemning De Vaudreuil for his flight from the lines at the Montmorency. As the result of one disastrous campaign, the 115 r I i ,'i 1 116 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. French position in Canada had passed into a practi- cally hopeless phase. All the important posts now held by France were those of Three Rivers, Montreal, Frontenac, Detroit, and Mackinaw. She had been shut ont from Lake Champlain by the loss of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, from the west by the fall of Niagara, and from the seaboard by the conquest of Quebec. The country was in a distressed condition everywhere, and sick and wounded men were found in every hamlet. Provisions were scarce even at Quebec, where scurvy carried off 800 men, and incapacitated nearly double that number. Murray employed the winter in rebuilding a portion of Quebec and fortifying the city. He erected eight timber redoubts outside the defences towards the Plains of Abraham, and armed them with artillery, while he also laid in eleven months' provisions in the citadel. Outposts were established at all favonr- able points to conceal his movements from the enemy, and to confirm the country people in their allegiance. But the French likewise were not idle. The troops at Jacques Cartier harassed the British at every opportunity, and De Levi at Montreal pushed forward his preparations for the recapture of Quebec in the spring. He had all the French vessels remaining refitted, and built galleys to receive stores, provisions, and ammunition. De Levi left Montreal on the 17th of April, 1760, with all his available force, and collected on his way downwards the detached corps at the various posts. On arriving at Cape Bougc, he had eight battalions of regular troops, 4,500 strong, 6,000 Canadians, and CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 117 wy\ over 200 Indians. The artillery and stores were conveyed down the river in boats. It was not until the 27th that Marray received his first intelligence of the approach of this hostile force. He at once covered the retreat of his advanced posts at Cape Boage and elsewhere, and, retiring, broke down all the bridges. Bat De Levi pressed on, and by the 28th was within three miles of Quebec. Murray had only an available force of 3,500 men, so greatly had his army been reduced by disease, desertion, and death. Yet, with this small force at his command, Murray resolved upon giving battle. In a subsequent despatch to the Secretary of State, he said, " Having well weighed my peculiar position, and well knowing that in shutting myself within the walls of the city I should risk the whole stake on the chance of defending a wretched fortification, I resolved upon venturing an action in the field." The event, how- ever, proved that he had come to a rash and disastrous resolution. " Shortly after daybreak, Murray formed his skeleton battalions on the Plains of Abraham, supported by twenty pieces of artillery, planted at the most favourable points. Having completed his order of battle, he rode to the front to reconnoitre the enemy's position. The previous night had been wet, so he found the French occupied in putting their arms into order, and in other respects unprepared, as he sup- posed, for action. Thinking this a favourable oppor- tunity to assail them, he gave orders for an immediate attack, which was gladly obeyed by his little army, who pushed forward in admirable order over the brow I si I f'i ? ? I . II ■> 118 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. of the heights and into the plains beyond. De Levi at first conid scarcely believe that the British seriously intended to attack his overwhelming force, and they had almost advanced within gan-shot range before he called his troops to arms. His line of battle, after a momentary confasion, was speedily formed, and some companies of grenadiers thrown into the woods on the right to cover his flank in that direction. These almost immediately encountered the skirmishers and light troops on the British left, who speedily drove them in on the main body, and, following too far in pursuit, got in front of their own artillery, and compelled its silence for a time. The advance of the British light troops was soon checked, however, by the steady front of the French supports, whose fire quickly compelled them to retire. De Levi's army was by this time formed in battle array, and the action speedily became general. For an honr and three-quarters did the battle rage with the utmost fury ; but finally the numbers of the French pre- vailed. The British left was thrown into disorder, and gave way; the right was hardly pressed also; and Murray was compelled finally to retreat, leaving nearly the whole of his guns in the hands of the enemy, and 300 dead upon the field. The greater part of the wounded, amounting in all to 700, he succeeded, however, in carrying . with him. Nearly a third of the British army were either killed or wounded; but still the French had dearly purchased their victory by a loss, according to their own admission, of fully 1,800 put hora de combat. So exasperated were they at the obstinacy of the contest by so small r lie H CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 119 a force, that tbey stained their trinmph by refusing quarter to several English officers, and by giving up the British wounded left on the field to the fury of the Indians. Out of nearly a hundred of these unfortunate men, unavoidably abandoned by Murray in his retreat, only twenty-^ight were sent to hospital ; the rest were massacred by the savages.*' Murray retired within the walls of Quebec, and resumed the work of strengthening the fortifications. On the evening of the 28th, he issued a general order to his troops to the effect " that although the morn- ing had been unfortunate to the British arms, yet affairs were not desperate, that a fleet niight soon be expected, and it only remained for officers and men to bear patiently the unavoidable fatigues of a siege." The garrison now consisted of only 2,200 effective men ; but they were all animated by a courageous spirit. On the 10th of May, De Levi, who had taken up his position within 800 yards of the walls, opened his batteries, consisting of thirteen guns p: i two mortars. But Murray had stationed men on the walls, and his fire completely overpowered that of the French. Both besieged and besiegers were earnestly looking for the arrival of squadrons to aid them. On the 9th of May, a frigate was seen rounding the headland of Point Levi, and standing for the city. Great excite- ment prevailed as the Union-jack was run up the mast and a boat put off for the Lower Town. The garrison warmly welcomed this first instalment of British relief, and officers and men mounted the ramparts in the face of the enemy, and made the : 1 \ ■' ! ^ftj ' :'^i m i ''^ ■ 1 1 WM i 1 *i ^ m 'I ;l^^ 120 ' '.^ % CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. ■1 -j:,^ C welkin ring with their hearty cheers. Two other vessels arrived on the lt5th, under the command of Commodore S wanton ; and next day the French vessels above the town were vigorously attacked, and forced on shore or destroyed. De Levi was now compelled to retreat, and lie fled precipitately, leaving his provisions, gnns, tents, ammunition, and entrenching tools behind him. Murray went out rapidly in pursuit, but he was only able to capture a few stragglers; while De Levi made his way to Jacques Cartier, and afterwards to Montreal. The French heads of departments in Canada had pursued such a shameful system of peculation and robbery, that the inhabitants of Quebec began to look forward to the English rule as a benefit instead of an injury. This feeling was strengthened by a judicious proclamation from Murray on the 22nd of May, to the effect that all peaceable residents would be fully pro- tected, as well as those who at once laid down their arms and remained neutral. Defeated, France, with her exhausted treasury, could give them no assist- ance ; and the bills of exchange of the preceding year, drawn upon the Government by the Canadian officials, still remained undischarged. There was a great depreciation of the colonial paper money, and the people could only obtain relief for their financial and other troubles by remaining true to their adhesion to Great Britain. The proclamation concluded with the assurance that "if they withdrew themselves from the army of M. de Levi, and gave it no assist- ance, further injury should not be done their homes 1 CANADA BECOMES A BKITISH POSSESSION. 121 or growing crops, and that thns the evils of another famine would be averted." The proclamation had a widespread beneficial influence, and the French general in Montreal endeavoured in vain to neutralize its effects. On the 22nd of July, Amherst, who was at Oswego, fonnd himself, owing to various reinforcements, at the head of an army of 10,000 men, with 700 Indians. He embarked with these forces, on the 10th of August, en route for Montreal, and invested the French fort at Ogdensburg on the way. After two or three days of heavy firing, the French surrendered at discretion on the 25th. Ascertaining that the Iroquois intended to massacre the French soldiers as soon as they gained entrance to the works, Amherst sternly forbade this, and stated that he should resist it by force. As they then sullenly threatened to return home, Amherst said they might do so, but he should exact vengeance for any atrocities they might commit on the way. Amherst gave the name of Fort William Augustus to the conquered island. Writing to the Governor of New York, he said that, as he had destroyed French power at La Presentation (Ogdensburg), and also on the islands at the head of the rapids, the settlers on the Mohawk should be invited to return, for now they were assured of '' a quiet and peaceable abode in their habitations.'" The British army now passed down the St. Lawrence, and, after losing eighty-four men and several boats in the Cedar Rapids, landed on the Island of Montreal, about nine miles from the town, on the 6th of September. In the meantime, Murray, ■ 'i ; I ¥m 122 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. ■ il II who had left Quebec en the 14th of Jnne with 2,200 chosen men, was ascending the river, sabdning various small posts on its banks, and compelling the inhabitants whenever practicable to submit to the authority of Great Britain. As he found Bourlemaque with 4,000 men posted at Sorel, Murray determined to await the arrival of an expected reinforcement from Lonisburg. As soon as this came up, he pursued his way, and on the 7th of September his troops were disembarked, and posted to the north- east of the town. Next day, Colonel Haldimand, who had penetrated into Canada by Lake Champlain and the Richelieu, also arrived at Montreal, with a force of upwards of 3,000 men ; so that there was now an army of nearly 16,000 men assembled beneath the walls of what was practically a defenceless town. Negotiations for a capitulation had already been opened by De Vaudreuil on the 6th of September ; but so many difficulties arose as to the articles of peace, that the capitulation was not signed until the 8th. The articles, like those of Quebec, were drawn up only in French. Dr. Kingsford, the Canadian historian, gives the following digest of the articles of capitulation : '' No special privileges are granted in these conditions ; they may be regarded as the acceptance of surrender by a conquered people. The troops were allowed the honours of war ; but they had to lay down their arms, not to serve again during the war, and to be embarked as prisoners for France. A clause giving protection to deserters was refused. The demand that the Indians should be sent away after the articles were signed was refused, Amherst CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 123 remarking) ' There has been no cruelty committed by onr Indians, and good order shall be maintained.* M. de Vandreuil and the officers were promised every consideration. All were allowed to cany away their private papers ; bat the archives and maps of the conntry were to be left behind. It was asked that, if peace was proclaimed, matters should return to the condition in which they had been. Amherst declared that everything must depend on the orders of the King. Those who had business in the conntry with the permission of De Vandreuil could remain nntil they had arranged their affairs. No mention on either side was made of the use of the French language. The free exercise of religion was granted ; the enforced payment of the dime must depend on the King's will. The demand that the King of France should continue to name the Roman Catholic bishop was refused, as equally was the power to establish new parishes. The nuns were maintained in their constitutions and principles. The same con- sideration to the male communities of the Jesuits and St. Sulpicians was reserved for the King's pleasure. These communities were allowed to retain their property, with the right of disposing of their possessions, and withdrawing with the money to France. In answer to the condition asked for by De Vandreuil, that those who remained in the colony should not be liable to bear arms against the King of France or his allies, he was told that the Canadians became subjects of the King of Great Britain. No special provision was entertained with regard to the Acadians ; the demand that they should be sent back ■^ J, 1 i i \ 1 •1, f • t : 1 ' ■;'• i s t ill ii! r 8 ^Hfir ' ^'=|: 1 1M';, , K iy il ! i i : I! 124 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. to their lands was specially refused. The remaining articles were the ordinary provisions made under circumstances of such surrender of a territory for the protection of the inhabitants, with the desire of granting them fair and equitable terms. It might be said that the whole spirit of the conditions was embraced in the remark of Amherst on Article 41, that the Canadians became the King's subjects. On the morning following the settlement of the articles of capitulation, the 9th of September, a detachment of troops with artillery proceeded to the place d'armes, and as a military force occupied the town ; the French regiments, one after the other, came upon the ground and laid down their arms, and returned to the camp on the ramparts, where they had been established. The ceremony over, a British force was sent to take possession of the gates, and guards were placed throughout the city. The British colours were now raised from the small fort which then stood at the east of Montreal, to show that the last stronghold of French Canada had surrendered." By this capitulation, the whole of the vast territory extending from the fishing stations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Michigan and Illinois, passed into the hands of the British. On the 11th of September, Amherst reviewed his whole force, in the presence of De Vaudreuil, with whom he became on friendly terms. The French troops next began to evacuate the town, and by the 22nd every French soldier had left Montreal, except those who had married in the country, and who had resolved to remain in it, and transfer their allegiance CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 125 to the new Government. The provincial troops like- wise returned to their respective homes in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Major Rogers was despatched with 400 men, and letters from De Vaudrenil, to take possession of the French forts at Detroit, Miami, St. Joseph, and Michillimackinac. At the head of Lake Erie, Rogers encountered the great Ottawa chiefs Pontiac, who was the head of a confederacy of Indian tribes, and who subsequently gave much trouble to the British. General Amherst proceeded to establish a military government for Canada, with the double object of preserving the public tranquillity and administering justice. The colony was divided into three districts : the first was Quebec, over which Murray was placed ; the second Three Rivers, at the head of which was Colonel Burton ; and the third Montreal, which was entrusted to Brigadier Gage. Several courts of justice were established, composed of Canadian militia officers, who had summary jurisdiction, but with right of appeal to the commandant. This military authority was approved by the British Ministry, until France had relinquished Canada, and a proper form of government could be instituted. Prosperity began once more to dawn upon Canada, now that the fears of British invasion and of Indian massacres were at an end. The bulk of the people soon blessed the events which had placed them under the rule of Great Britain. Even an able French author, the Abb6 Raynal, wrote : " To the impene- trably mysterious transactions of a cruel inquisition. v*^ ''1 ^' » s ^ ' I :i:.:i \ f >>MI!lik({| 126 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. succeeded a cool, rational, and pablic trial ; and a tribnual dreadful, and accustomed to shed blood, was replaced by humane judges, more disposed to acknow- ledge innocence than to assume criminality. The conquered people have been still more delighted by finding the liberty of their persons secured for ever by the famous law of Habieas Corpus. As they had too long been victims of the arbitrary wills of those who governed them, they have blessed the beneficent hand that drew them from a state of slavery to pnt them under the protection of just laws." At this period, General Amherst obtained a census of the population, which was reported at 76,172. It was thus distributed : Montreal, 37,200 ; Quebec, 32,584 ; Three Rivers, 6,388. Having traversed the new British possessions, Amherst made his way to New York, where he arrived on the 28th of October. He never subsequently visited Canada. It remains to be stated that before the surrender of Montreal the French Court attempted to succour it in July. A number of store-ships had been sent out in the spring, under convoy of a frigate. Apprised of the sailing of an English squadron up the St. Lawrence before their arrival, the French vessels put into the Bay of Chalerirs, Here Commodore the Honourable John Byron (grandfather of the poet), with his squadron from Louisburg, attacked their whole fleet, consisting of one frigate, two store-ships, and nineteen sail of smaller vessels. These he de- stroyed, as well as two batteries which had been raised on shore for their protection. The town, consisting of 200 houses, met with the same fate. CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 127 When Great Britain liod conqnered Canada and Gnadeloupe, slie desired peace. Opinion in England and America was divided as to the desirability of these acquisitions. Wliile there were a majority in favonr of keeping Canada, the minority thonght it might become burdensome and troublesome to us. One writer prophetically said that if England retained Canada, she would soon find North America itself too powerful and too populous to be governed at a distance. Yet Benjamin Franklin, the enlightened American statesman, strongly advocated its retention as a great safeguard for perpetual peace in North America. Pitt took the same view, and by his action unwittingly paved the way for the independence of the United States. George II. died suddenly on the 25th of October, 1760. His successor, bent on governing in fact as well as in name, disliked Pitt, who had raised his coantry from an abyss of weakness and disgrace to be the first power in Europe. Relations became so strained, that the Minister resigned in October, 1761. George III. felt that he stood in the way of the peace he so much desired, and did not therefore ask him to remain; but Pitt still remained the Minister of the nation. While the King and Queen were received wit]i coldness in the city of London, the appearance of Pitt drew forth the loudest acclama- tions. He had a further triumph when his successors were soon compelled to adopt his policy and to declare war against Spain. With the exception of Prussia and Portugal, Great Britain speedily found the whole of Europe arrayed against her. li' i 4 f 1 ■: 1 ' '■ikl i 1 1 ill i Is 128 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Spain invaded Portugal ; but with the aid of British auxiliaries, the latter drove her back. In her colonies, Spain suffered still more severely. Havannah was taken by the Earl of Albemarle and Admiral Pococke, with plunder to the amount of £3,000,000 ; Draper and Cornwallis captured the city of Manila ; and as the cannon of the Horse Guards announced the birth of a Prince of Wales, waggons conveyed two millions of treasure to the Tower, a prize to the captors of two Spanish vessels. France, deprived of her colonies as well as Spain, found her commerce on the brink of ruin ; and Austria and Prussia were weary of costly and useless campaigns. No wonder, under such circumstances, that Europe generally sighed for peace. Lord Bute, George III.'s favourite Minister, had little to boast of personally in regard to these events. He had been compelled to adopt his rival's policy, but against his will. The French had almost suc- ceeded in an attempt to seize Newfoundland, as Bute had left this important post badly protected. But British valour once more triumphed, and in Sep- tember, 1762, the last French attempt on Newfound- land was decisively defeated. On the 3rd of November, 1 762, preliminaries of peace were signed at Paris by France and Spain on the one hand, and Great Britain and Portugal on the other. By this peace, Great Britain, in addition to its islands in the West Indies, gained the Floridas, Louisiana to the Mississippi, all Canada, Cape Breton, and the other islands on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Senegal; while the victories of Clive and Coote in Asia, and of CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 129 Watson and Pococke at sea, gave her the ascendency in the East Indies. Although George III. declared that England had nev^er signed such a favourable treaty before, Pitt opposed it on the ground that it did not give his country the advantages to which it was entitled by conquest. The nation at large took the same view ; but Parliament sanctioned the treaty by a large majority, and it was finally ratified on the 10th of February, 1763. In Europe things remained sub- stantially as they were ; but in Asia and America everything was changed, and the Anglo-Saxon race became predominant in both continents. By tl^e thirteenth Article of this Treaty of Paris, the King of France " renounced all pretensions which he had formed or might form to Nova Scotia or Acadia in all its parts, and guaranteed the whole of it, with all its dependencies, to the King of Great Britain. He also added and guaranteed to his Britannic Majesty in full right, Canada^ with all its dependencies, as well as the Island of Cape Breton, and all other islands and coasts in the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, t.ad generally every thmg that depended on the said countries, lands, islands, and coasts, with the soveroignty, property, possession, and all rights, acquired by treaty or otherwise, which the most Christian King and the Crown of France have hsd till now over the said countries, islands, lands, plfkces, coasts, and their inhabitants ; so that the most Cbris- tit ' Jng ceded and made over the whole to tho said King and to the Crown of Great Britain, and t'lat in the most ample manner and form, w(^iiout restric- \ . 1 ' ' 4 ' ' 1 1 \ 1 ■■;i 1 1 1 \ i 1. i i. J i! I :;,il IP Pi I ill 130 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. tioDj and without any liberty to depart from the said cession and guarantee, under any pretence, or to disturb Great Britain in the possessions above men- tioned. His Britannic Majesty on his side agreed to grant the liberty of the Catholic religion to the inhabitants of Canada ; that his new Catholic sub- jects might profess the worship of their religion, according to the rites of the Romish Church, as far as the laws of Great Britain might permit. His Britannic Majesty further agreed, that the French inhabitants or others, who had been subjects of the most Christian King in Canada, might retire with safety and freedom, whenever they might think pt'oper, and might sell their estates, provided it be to the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, and might bring away their effects, as well as their persons, without being restrained in their emigration, under any pre- tence whatsoever, except that of debts or of criminal prosecutions. The term limited for their emigration was fixed to the space of eighteen months, to be computed from the day of the exchange of the Ratifications of Peace." In September, 1763, General Murray suppressed by his vigorous action at Quebec a mutiny which broke out in consequence of an order from the commander-in-chief in America stopping, on the ground of necessity, fourpence for each ration of provisions to be issued to the forces under his com- mand. Murray ordered the garrison to be under arms on the 21st on the Grand Parade. When they had assembled, he read the articles of war ; and a^er demonstrating to the soldiers the enormity of their PJ'11 CANADA BECOMES A BRITISH POSSESSION. 131 lie said or to e men- agreed to the ic snb- eligion, rch, as t. His French I of the re with pi'oper, to the it bring without my pre- iriminal migration I, to be of the ^pressed which )m the Ion the crime, he declared his fixed resolation to compel their sabmission, or to perish in the attempt. He then went to the head of Amherst's Grenadiers, determined to pat to death the first man who refused to obey. He commanded them, in sign of compliance with orders, to march between two royal colours planted for that purpose. They did so, and returned cheer- fully to their duty, expressing sorrow for their past behaviour ; and all the rest followed their example. The general then declared they had recovered their character as good soldiers, and restored to the battalion its colours. The behaviour of the men ever afterwards deserved the warmest praise. As for the colony generally, its condition under the new Government was all that could be hoped for. For years remonstrances had been transmitted to France against the oppressions of the former rulers, but all in vain ; now every Canadian subject of Great Britain knew that he could no longer be harassed or misgoverned with impunity. niJt i * 'J' '|.,H li !' tit ( CHAPTER VI. THE COLONY FKOM 1763 TO 1811. ' PEACE having been secured, Great Britain pro- t ' to give a settled form of government to its 111 possessions. In October, 1763, a pro- clamation nvas published under the Great Seal for erecting four civil governments in America ; namely, those of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Granada. It was further announced that, as soon as circumstances permitted, general assemblies of the people would be convened as in the American pro- vinces; in the meantime, the law? of England were to be in force. All the laws, customs, and judicial forms which had long been in vogue were thus abolished at one stroke. It was not altogether a judicious proceeding, for the violent changes led to reactions which have been more or less felt ever since. General Murray was appointed to the governorship of Canada, or the province of Quebec ; and he nomi- nated a council of eight members to assist him in the government. Canada was at this time still with- out a printing press ; but on the 21st of June, 1764, the first number of the Quebec Gazette was published, and that journal has continued to appear ever since. Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Chancery 188 THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 133 were established in September; bat the effort to settle all causes by the English laws failed, and the French laws and usages were allowed in certain causes, la 1765, complaints were sent to England relative to the establishment of the courts, the harsh conduct of law officers, and the enormous fees exacted. Redress was granted as far as possible, and Murray was held in high esteem by the French community for the considera- tion he invariably showed them, while che population was accustoming itself to the new order of things. General Murray left for England in 1767 ; and as he did not return. Brigadier Sir Guy Carleton was appointed permanent Governor in his stead. The new administrator was a humane and just man, and proved himself a true friend to the colonists. When the criminal law of England became better understood, it worked more smoothly, and trial by jury and the Habeas Corpus Act gave general satisfaction to the people. Trade became prosperous, and emigrants returned from France, as well as large nambers of Acadians from the surrounding colonies. Between 1760 and 1773, it was estimated that the population increased by one-fourth. It was still, of course, overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Petitions began to be signed for the summoning of a House of Assembly, under the terms of the proclama- tion of 1763. Nothing was done, however; and Great Britain wph bo disturbed by the spirit of independence growing up in the colonies, that in 1774 it was determined to give Canada a new form of government. On the 2nd of May, a bill, usually known as the Qaebec Act, " was brought into the House of Lords by • * il m \ \ 11 M It.,.; i i !l li ili j; i ,i \ n- inn ['■ r f 134 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. the Earl of Dartmouth, which passed without opposi- tion, and was sent down to the Commons for their concurrence. This bill repealed all the provisions of the royal proclamation of 1763, annulled all the acts of the Governor and Council relative to the civil government and administration of justice, revoked the commissions of judges and other existing officers, and established new boundaries for the province, which was now declared to embrace all ancient Canada, Labrador, and the counties west of the Ohio and Mississippi. The Quebec Act released the Roman Catholic religion in Canada from all penal restrictions ; renewed their dues and tithes to its regular clergy, but as regarded members of their own Church only (Prot*»r and be more nbers. licipal listra- iritish right tides id by this Conncil was to be transmitted, within six months at furthest after enactment, for the approbation of the King, and if disallowed to be nail and void on his pleasure becoming known in Quebec." Canada was governed under the Quebec Act for seventeen years ; but it was obnoxious to the English, who longed for the constitutional rights of the old country. The measure was opposed in the House of Commons ; but its sponsors and supporters defended it, on the supposition that the French would remain the dominant race in Canada. The Earl of Chatham spoke strongly against it, as leading to a thousand difficulties, as well as the alienation of the British colonists ; and the city of London agitated warmly against it. But the bill was carried, and, as we have seen, long remained the law of Canada. It was received in the most hostile spirit in the American colonies, and remonstrances poured in upon the Home Government for thus taking away all the ancient rights of English subjects. In the American Congress the Act was severely condemned. The Act annexed large territories to Quebec, including that part of the United States now forming Minnesota, AVisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. In 1775, the American War of Independence broke out. At an early stage, the colonists captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which commanded the Valley of the Hudson. The Americans believed that the Canadian people generally were favourable to their cause, and determined to anticipate the British by striking a decided blow in the north. They accordingly despatched a force of nearly 2,000 men. m i 'i'lH' . i. ■i ■-•I'm \ :: 1! i k'nil I li . ! 136 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. i under Schuyler and Montgomery, to penetrate into Canada by the Richelieu. Two expeditions were sent against Fort St. John ; and the second, under General Montgomery, succeeded in reducing the fort iu November, 1775. Fort Chambl^e was likewise taken ; and this important capture gave Montgomery a plenti- ful supply of provisions. Montreal being next attacked. Governor Carleton found himself not strong enough to defend it ; so he abandoned the city, and the day following it was occupied by General Mont- gomery. General Prescott, with a British force, shortly afterwards surrendered. Everything seemed to be in favour of the colonists ; and although the season was now far advanced, Montgomery hastened towards Quebec. This indefatigable officer suffered nothing to deter him, notwithstanding that he had to weaken his small force of 2,000 men by discharging many soldiers whose term of service had expired. Being shortly reinforced by Colonel Arnold with about 1,000 men, he resolved on attacking Quebec. It was ably defended by Carleton ; but on the night of the 31st of December a vigorous assault was made. It was repulsed with great loss, and the gallant Mont- gomery was killed. This brave officer, who was as formidable in war as he was gentle in peace, was much esteemed and beloved. He came of a good north of Ireland family, and had served with distinc- tion under Wolfe ; but after the Peace of 1763, he married an American lady. Miss Livingston, and when the rupture with England occurred, he joined the cause of the United States with genuine enthusiasm. In May, 1776, the Americans retreated from Quebec, THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 137 under General Thomas, Montgomery's snccessor. The small-pox committed great havoc amongst the troops, and one of its victims was Thomas himself, who was SQCceeded in the command by General Sullivan. Various military movements subsequently took place ; but in the end the American forces with- drew altogether from Canada. The invasion resulted in no advantage to the American cause ; but, on the contrary, it roused the hostility of the inhabitants, and drew them into closer relations with Great Britain. In the summer of 1777, Sir Guy Carleton was succeeded as Governor by Major-General Haldimand. He was a native of Switzerland, and knew little or nothing^oT the laws and customs of either the British or the Canadians. He was quite unfitted to ad- minister the government, and his rule was distin- guished by undue severity. For his violations of the liberty of the subject, several successful actions were brought against him, and the damages were paid by the British Government. After the Americans had achieved their independence, the Canadians more than ever desired a House of Assembly of their own. The British element in the colony was now strengthened by an emigration of loyalists from the State of New York. A census taken in 1784 showed that the population of Montreal, Three Rivers, and Quebec amounted to 113,012; and that 28,000 men were fit to bear arms, and had been enrolled in the militia. The other and more thinly populated portions of Canada probably contained 7,000 souls. A new settlement was effected at this time upon the lands lying along the banks of the St. Lawrence, \^'M I 138 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PRQORESS. f^om the highest French settlement at Lake St. Francis upwards, and ronnd the Bay of Qninte. The settlers consisted of Americans, loyalists, and disbanded officers and soldiers of the 84th Regiment, with a few other German and English soldiers. Settlements were also formed on, the Niagara River and at Amherstbnrg, the latter being the first effec- tive settlement of Upper Canada. Before the close of 1784, its population amounted to about 10,000 souls. Large allotments on moderate terms were made, on con- dition of actual occupation ; and the benefits promised led to a considerable emigration from Great Britain. As the English Ministers found that General Haldimand was not the proper person to rule the province, they sent out Mr. Henry Hamilton in 1785, to act as Lieutenant-Governor until a governor should be appointed. He summoned the Legislative Council, and with their sanction the law of Habeas Corpus was introduced into the province, to the great satisfaction of the colonists generally, including the Roman Catholics. In 1786, the government was again entrusted to General Carleton, who had now been raised to the peerage under the title of Lord Dorchester. On his arrival at Quebec on the 23rd of October, his lordship was cordially welcomed by the inhabitants. The new Governor directed enquiries to be made into the state of the laws, the commerce, the police, and the education of the province. Commerce was declining ; and education was at such a low ebb, that there was not a school in the province where the higher branches of learning were taught. The / m THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 139 nnsatisfactory condition of things, combined with the rapid increase of the English-speaking population, encoiiraged the efforts of reformers who advocated a division of the colony. A representative was sent to England, and the information he placed before Ministers led them to bring in a bill which gave a new Constitution to Canada. The main provision of this bill, which came before the House of Commons in 1791, was the division of the province into Upper and Lower Canada. Mr. Pitt, in introducing the bill, briefly stated its pro- visions. The province of Quebec was to be divided into Upper and Lower Canada, in order to prevent any dissensions between the French Canadians and settlers of British origin. " Each province was to have its own Legislature, composed of a Legislative Council, the members of which were to be chosen for life, and a House of Assembly, to be elected in the usual manner by the people. The Habeas Corpus Act was to be a fundamental principle of the new Con- stitution. Provision was likewise to be made for the maintenance of the Protestant clergy in both provinces, by the allotment of lands (the Clergy Reserves) ; and while Parliament reserved to itself the right of regulating trade and commerce, the local legis- latures were to have the sole power of internal taxation. "Mr. Fox warmly opposed the bDl on several grounds. He argued that it would be wiser ratliei to unite still more closely than to separate the British and French settlers ; and that the Legislative Council should be also elective, with a higher quali- fication on the part of elected and electors than ti It 140 CANADil: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. i i . i was necessary for the Lower House. 'By this means/ said he, ' Canadians will have a real aristo- cracy, chosen by persons of property, from iiuoug persons of the highest quality, who woald thus have that weight and independence necessary ^'^ guard against the innovations of the people on one part, or of the Crown on the other.' '^ The Quebec reformers were also dissatisfied with the bill, and instructed Mr. Lymburner to oppose it, chiefly on the grounds that the division of the province would interfere with commerce, and would be really injurious to the inhabitants of Upper Canada. Mr. Lymburner was heard at the bar of the Hoase of Commons against the bill on the 23rd of March, and oppofed its principles in a long and lucid argument. But his efforts failed to prevent a separation of tb<>i province. The bill passed into law, and continued be the Constitution of the Canadas until the Union. Lord Dorchester having obtained leave of absence, Major-Gene ral Clarke was called upon to act as Lieutenant-Governor. The elections to the Houses of Assembly were held in June, 1792, andamong the members returned were several of the principal merchants of Montreal and Quebec. General Clarke opened the first Parliament of Lower Canada on the 17th of December. A number of bills were passed, and an address was voted to the King, praying for the establishment of a Canadian College. Momentoas events now transpired in Europe, the French Revolu- tion being disiluguished by the violence of its excesses. Eventually, war was declared between France and England. Meantime, the commerce and prosperity THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 141 of Canada were steadily on the increase, and about a hundred vessels from British and foreign ports annually visited Qaebec, while the net annual revenue of the Lower Province— from lands, customs, duties, and licences — was little less than £6,000 sterling. In September, 1793, Lord Dorchester returned to Canada, and in November opened the second session of Parliament. Legislative zeal was not very strong, as only five or six bills were passed during the session. In consequence of the arrival of revolutionary emissaries from France, the Assembly aimed one of its measures against aliens who inculcated treason, and gave the Governor extensive powers to search out and punish such persons. Before the final session of the first Parliament of Lower Canada closed in 1796, the public revenue had largely increased since the division of the province. Lord Dorchester finally left Canada in July, 1796, having accomplished much for the well-being and contentment of the province. He was succeeded as Governor-General by Major-General Prescott, who, in opening the new Parliament in January, 1797, alluded to the recent treaty of commerce and navigation between Great Britain and the United States as being highly favourable to the province. In the course of this year, the first execution for high treason took place in Canada. David McLean, a bankrupt American, endeavoured to persuade a number of the inhabitants of Quebec to assist him in seizing the city. His designs were discovered, and he was tried, condemned, and hanged as a traitor. This was the chief event in Prescott's administration, and he departed for England in 1799 much regretted by <|! iV 111 !'! '( n i ), 1- Mm j 11 i r._ iLdAJ 142 CANADA: rrs rise and progress. i the colonists. He was followed by Sir Robert Shore Milnes as Lieatenant-Governor. All classes of the commnnity in Lower Canada at this period were contented. " The inhabitants of British origin felt that they had all they could reasonably expect in a House of Assembly and a Legislative Council ; while the population of French descent, in the fall enjoyment of their language, their customs, and their religion, lived on in an easy and good-natured existence which nothing disturbed. Meantime, the province was steadily pro- gressing in population and wealth. The inhabitants showed their devotion and loyalty to Great Britain by contributing liberal sums to carry on the war." Father Casot, the last of the Jesuits in Canada, died in 1 800, and the large possessions of the order now devolved to the Government. As the father had devoted his revenues to charitable purposes, his death was deeply regretted by the poor. Slavery had always hitherto existed in Canada ; but in 1803 Chief Justice Osgood at Montreal declared slavery inconsistent with the laws of the "country, and gave freedom to all persons in that condition. From that time onwards Canada remained free soil, a£fording a safe refuge for slaves. From 1803 to 1806 — when the Lieutenant-Governor, who was personally unpopular, left the colony — trade and public affairs were in a satisfactory state. The revenue in 1805 amounted to over £33,000 ; and although the expenditure was about £40,000, the diflPe- rence was far less in proportion than in previous years. One hundred and forty-six vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 25,136, visited Quebec during the season. tl THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 143 Mr. Dunn, who assumed direction of the govern- ment as senior executive councillor, unpleasantly dis- tinguished his rule by attempting to curb the liberty of the press. The Montreal Gazette having reported the proceedings at a dinner of the merchants of Montreal, which were regarded as reflecting on certain Parliamentary representatives, the House of Assembly voted the publication a breach of privilege, and ordered the publisher and editor of the Gazette to be taken into custody. As these gentlemen could not be found, however, the matter ended. But the manager of the Quebec Mercury, a journal which had criticized the illiberal proceedings of the Assembly, was summoned to the bar of the House, and compelled to apologize. As members of the Assembly were not paid, and the novelty of being legislators had worn off, it was frequently difficult to obtain a quorum to transact the necessary business of the province. At the close of the session of 1805, many measures had failed to pass from this cause. At this period, a new journal, Le Canadierif appeared, exclusively devoted to French interests. It was an able and popular journal ; but, un- fortunately, it began a system of agitation and discord between the two races, which subsequently had lament- able results. The session of 1807 was marked by two incidents : a debate on a resolution for paying the ex- /penses of members residing at a distance from Quebec, j which was only lost by two votes ; and the election of / Mr. Ezekiel Hart, a Jew, by the people of Three Riversr On the 19th of October, 1807, Lieutenant-General Sir James H. Craig, who had been appointed to succeed General Frescott as Governor-General of Mil I III f' i < ||! I 'i 1 1 i llij iJji IS! I 'HI i f! 1 1 t>ij (■ ' I 144 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PKOGRBSS. J British North America, arrived at Qaebec, and assnmed charge of the government. During the first session under his rule, that of 1808, the Jewish member for Three Rivers was unseated, and the Militia, Alien, and Preservation Acts were continued. A new Assembly was now elected, which met in May, 1809. M. Panet, who had filled the office of Speaker during the four preceding Parliaments, was again elected. The Governor, displeased with the proc lUgs of the Assembly, dissolved it prematurely, and his otherwise arbitrary policy made him unpopular ; and the feeling was not removed by a tour which he made through the principal towns of the province. In 1809, John Molson, an enterprising and spirited merchant of Montreal, fitted out the first steamer that ever ploughed the waters of the St. Lawrence. On the 3rd of November, this memorable little craft, named the Accommodation^ got up steam, shot out into the current, and, after a voyage of thirty-six hours, arrived safely at Quebec, where the whole city seemed to have turned out to welcome the nautical phenomenon. This venture gave a fresh impetus to the prosperity of Canada. The second steamer con- structed in the province was launched at Montreal. A new Assembly met in January, 1810, and Panet was once more elected Speaker. The Governor was more conciliatory in opening the first session ; but he and the Assembly were soon at war again, the chief ground of difference arising out of the proposed disqualification of the judges from sitting in Parlia- ment. The Governor accepted a measure of dis- qualification ; but desired, with the Council, to have THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 145 its operation postponed for a session. The Assembly retorted by declaring the seat of Mr. de Bonne, a judge, vacant by eighteen to six votes. The Governor, exasperated by this, again dissolved the Assembly. The press and the pnblic now joined in the fray, the British colonists taking the side of the Governor, and the French espousing the cause of the more constitutional Assembly. The offices of Le Canadien, the French paper, were overrun by a party of soldiers, and its printer committed to prison. A number of influential French citizens were arrested for treasonable practices ; but as there was nothing against them, they were released, and the miniature Reign of Terror gradually subsided. At the ensuing elections, the old members of the Assembly were for the most part re-elected, and Panet was again chosen Speaker. As a third dis- solation would have been straining matters too far, the Governor exhibited a more peaceable spirit, and allowed the public business to proceed. Mr. Bedard, a member of the House who had been arrested, proved a bone of contention ; but eventually the Governor released him at his own pleasure. The session of 1811 passed over smoothly, and the bill to disqualify judges was passed and became law. General Craig left Canada on the 19th of June, being then seriously out of health, and he died in England early in the following year. He had r governed arbitrarily, imprisoning innocent men, and I violating the rights of private property ; but he was probably not so much to blame as the system whose mouthpiece he was, an irresponsible Executive being at the root of most public disorders in Lower Canada. 10 ^m 1 i L i! ;| ; \ 'l[{ Ml! f! J i '■. ': 1 t ' ( 146 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. n/ Turning now to the affairs of Upper Canada, or Ontario, we find that when it was erected into a separate province in 1791, with a Constitntion modelled on that of Lower Canada, it had a popula- tion of about 20,000 souls. These were scattered along the St. Lawrence from Lake St. Francis upwards to Kingston, thence around the Bay of Quinte, along the Niagara frontier at Amherstburg, in the old French settlement on the Thames, and in the Iroquois settlement at Grand River. Life was very lonely for the distant settlers in Western Canada. They had literally to cat their way, and clear the forests as best they could. Dangers and difficulties beset them on all hands ; but they persevered, and in the course of half a century a great transformation was effected in the country and the people. But when Governor John Graves Simcoe arrived in Upper Canada in 1792, there was nothing in the shape of a town beyond a small village at Kingston, and another at Newark, or Niagara, with an occasional cluster of log cabins elsewhere. As Newark was the most central spot, it was chosen for the capital, and here assembled the first Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada, on the 17th of September, 1792. The Lower House was composed of sixteen members, the Upper House of eight. Yet in its first session the Legislature displayed commendable wisdom and a just appreciation of the necessities of the province. Eight Acts were passed : one introduced the English civil law ; another established trial by jury ; and a third provided for the easier recovery of small debts. One Act regulated the toll to be taken on mills, and THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 147 another made provision for building a gaol and conrt- hoase in each of the fonr districts of Upper Canada. These districts comprised the Eastern, or Johnstown district ; the Middle, or Kingston district ; the Home, or Niagara district ; and the Western, or Detroit district. In closing the first Parliamentary session, the Governor complimented the honest farmers — ^for such were nearly the whole of the legislators — upon their satisfactory measures. Simcoe still held the rank of brigadier in the English army ; and as he owned extensive estates in the mother country, people wondered why he should bury himself in the forests of Canada. His enlightened and liberal measures were probably due to patriotic motives ; but he might also have felt that, in the renewed struggle imminent, apparently, between America and Great Britain, the Governor of Upper Canada must play an important part. When the Governor found that the strong fort on the American side of the Niagara River was to be surrendered by the British, he abandoned the design of making Newark his capital, as it would not do in case of war for the chief town of the province to be within reach of the enemy's guns on the frontier. Accordingly, after coasting along the upper shore of Lake Ontario, he fixed upon a place near the old French fort Toronto. Its geographical situation, viewed from every point, was excellent ; s o in 17 94 Toronto be fifttny^ t.hft pApifftl city. The result amply jus- tified his choice, and on a site hitherto rarely visited by human footsteps one of the most beautiful cities upon the American Continent soon rose into view. ^1 M ■A j^n i. ';!, H U iliJ WJI U\i H \[ (^ ' ill V II li I'i l\ 148 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. ^ • JJ l\U ]LL.'L Land being granted to settlers on liberal terms, emigration from the United States to Upper Canada speedily became continuous, and its population rose to 30,000 sonls. But now a new difficulty arose. Simcoe, who disliked the Americans, dreaded lest his capital should be chiefly settled by them ; so he began to cast about for a new metropolis on the banks of a river which he renamed the Thames. The Governor, however, was thwarted by Lord Dorchester, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of British North America, who held the Imperial purse-strings, and had the disposition of troops and vessels of war. He directed that Kingston should be the principal naval and military station of Lake Ontario ; and from that time forward it continted to remain so. But many years after Simcoe's death, Sir John Colborne partially carried out his plan of a metropolis by erecting barracks on the site he had chosen, and the London of Canada ultimately expanded into a flourishing city. In 1793, a bill was carried providing for the pay- ^ment of members at the modest rate of two dollars per day ; but by far the most important measure of the session was one against slavery. This Act declared that no more slaves were to be imported into the colony under certain pains and penalties, and that even voluntary contracts for personal services were to be limited to nine years. While the Act confirmed the existing property of masters in slaves imported under authorized licences, provision was made that their future children should be manumitted at the age of twenty-five years. The farmers of Upper Canada thus struck a fatal blow at slavery ten years THE COLONY FROM ITBS TO 1811. 149 were rmed orted that the Ipper rears before slavery was abolished in Lower Canada. As the Parliament of Upper Canada was to be elected every four years, the first Assembly accordingly termi- nated its existence in 1 795, having enacted measures of a useful and eminently practical character. The public press of the province at this time was limited to a demy sheet, issued as a Government Gazette at Niagara, and published weekly. The little press on which it was printed served also to print the Acts of the Legislature and the proclama- tions and circulars issued by the Governor. In consequence of complaints made by the Ameri- can Government, charging Governor Simcoe with exciting the hostilities of the Iroquois in both Canada and New York, he was recalled in 1796. During the interim, Mr. Russell, senior member of the Executive Council, assumed the direction of public afiairs. As soon as Simcoe had departed, those portions of his policy which had been really praiseworthy were thrown over. Agreements with settlers were violated, and lands were seized upon by the favourites of men in power for the purposes of speculation. In 1797, Niagara ceased to be the capital of Upper Canada, its place being taken by Toronto. There the second Parliament assembled in June, and con- ducted its business. Matters progressed without interruption until the autumn of 1799, when Major- General Peter Hunter arrived as Lieutenant-Governor of the province. /As an international commerce had sprung up across Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence, and the Niagara River, an Act was passed in 1800 to regulate this commerce, and giving the Governor in' 1^ ) ■ !,i.^' r 150 CANADA : ITS RISE ANt) PUOGRSSS. f n Council power to establish ports of entry, and to^ adopt snch other measures as might ^pear desirable^ There was still great jealousy in Canada against the Americans, who were credited with a desire for conquest; so in 1801 the Act for the better security of the province against the King's enemies was renewed. Another Act J> passed prohibited the sale of spiritijous liquors and^^ strong waters in the Indian settlement on the Thames. There was now such a stream of Irish, Scotch, American, and English emigrants to Upper Canada, that when the Legislature met in 1802 the new district of Newcastle had been formed, and an Act was passed providing for the administration of justice therein. Other Acts increased the ports of entry, and granted £750 to encourage the growth of hemp. As the government of the province was practically in the hands of the Governor and his Council, and there was no check upon their action, the people at length began to chafe under this condition of things, and as early as 1806 there were two distinct parties in Canada West, closely assimilating to the Whig and Tory parties of Great Britain before the Revolution. The former desired more constitutional liberty, while the latter held by the irresponsible Executive. For a long time the Tories held a decided supe- riority ; and the system of favouritism by the Governor and Council led to the growth of abuses. Peculation prevailed, and even the administration of justice was not all that could be desired. As the judges were removable at the pleasure of the Crown, this weakened their personal influence, and in some cases affected their decisions. There were many irregn- THE COLONY FROM 1763 TO 1811. 151 larities in connection with the civil and criminal law, and a good deal of discontent prevailed, when a respect- able English lawyer named Thorpe arrived, whose upright conduct tended to allay the public irritation. On the recall of Hunter in 1806, Mr. Gore was sent out as Governor in his stead. He had every desire to govern justly, and personally he was an estimable man ; but he at once fell under the influence of the leaders of the Tory party. The oligarchy soon niled as strongly as ever, and because Judge Thorpe was determined to pursue an upright course in redressing grievances, he was attacked by the official newspaper. Against the teeth of the Government opposition, Thorpe was elected to a seat in Parliament ; while an indepen- dent journal, the Upper Canada Guardian^ was estab- lished. Gore procured Thorpe*s recall ; and although the latter obtained a verdict against him for libel, he was left by the English Ministry to die in neglect. The great majority of the people in Canada West continued loyal to Great Britain. They had griev- ances, of course ; but as they were lightly taxed, and prosperous, and certain concessions were made to them, they did not break out into open complaints. The want of a paper currency was a great drawback to the province, and the public morals — especially as regards intemperance — were not all that could be desired. In 1810, a good deal was done in laying out new roads and building bridges ; and when in the ensuing year Mr. Gore went to England on leave of absence, there seemed no indication of that inter- national storm which was already brewing. ^ ij. I ii-'i!i*ll i i 5 [; CHAPTER VII. THE SECOND AMEBICAN INVASION. IT is necessary to glance at the predisposing canses which led to the second American invasion of Canada. First, there was the feeling of bitter ani- mosity towards the British nation, which had prevailed in America since the revolutionary struggle. The election of Jefferson to the Presidency in 1801 com- • pletely established the ascendency of the Democratic party in the Union ; and no longer checked by the counteracting influence of government, the jealousy and dislike of everything British made itself more than ever manifest. The nation even preferred the tyrannical Napoleon to constitutional England, the mother of its own race— a fact which sufficiently testifies to the temporary aberration of the national mind. By Napoleon's celebrated Berlin and Milan Decrees, ^ all the Continental ports were closed against British manufactures, the whole British Islands declared in a state of blockade, and the seizure ordered of all vessels bound from British harbours, as well also as that of British goods, wherever they could be found. Great Britain naturally retaliated by her famous Orders in Council, which declared all the ports of 162 THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 153 ^t France and her allies— from which the British flag was excluded — in a state of rigorons blockade. These decrees and orders pressed heavily npon nentrals, and especially upon Americans, who had now a large carrying trade to various parts of the globe. Instead of directing his attention against Bonaparte, however, President Jefferson encouraged the hostility against England by refusing to ratify a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation conclnded by the American Minister in London with the British Government. He followed this up in October, 1807, by an angry message to Congress, severely denouncing the British Orders in Council, but saying nothing of the French Decrees, to which they were the natural response. A difficulty next arose in 1808 with regard to the right of searching for British deserters on board American ships ; but the British offered to make reparation in a case where a captain had carried out this right by force instead of making a simple requisition. The election of Madison to the Presi- dency in 1809 led to the repeal of Jefferson*s embargo law against American vessels leaving United States ports, and the substitution of an Act prohibiting all intercourse with France and England, but which provided at the same time that, if either of the belligerents should repeal its hostile edicts, this Act should cease to be in force with respect to that nation. Mr. Erskine was sent out to America to negotiate ; but as he recommended that the Orders in Council should cease to be in force at a certain period, the English Government repudiated his action, which made the hostility between the two nations as bitter 1 ! 1 ( t 1 1 \ ■ 111 ■III I .( ft ' 154 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. IKI i. f J I 3 ^H' If I !■ \ ili as ever, and strengthened the hands of the Ai^^rican war party. By the early part of 1811 a mptnre seemed in- evitable. The American Minister left the British Court, and the United States openly renewed their intercourse with France. An accidentally hostile collision in May between the English war-sloop Little Belt and the American frigate President further precipitated matters. In January, 1812, Congress decided, by 109 to 22 votes, to increase the regular troops to 25,000 men, and to raise an immediate loan of £2,000,000 sterling. A general embargo was laid on all vessels in the harbours of the United States, hoping thereby to capture the British homeward- bound West India fleet. The President also tried to make capital against England by purchasing a correspondence supposed to be damaging from a Captain Henry, but he was outwitted. On the 19th of June, 1812, Congress formally declared war against Great Britain, and directed that hostilities be immediately commenced. The Orders in Council were repealed about this time ; but on learning the news America did not recede from her hostile position. There was a strong and honourable party in the United States, however, which denounced the war, though othars supported it on the grounds of conquest. The majority were determined to ally themselves with the Emperor Napoleon, whose whole career was in flat contradiction to the prii 'p)« s of the American Republic. The men of N« jgland lamented war ; and when it was announcei., ^^e sb'ps in Boston ^arbour displayed flags half-mast igh St a )le of THE SECX>ND AMERICAN INVASION. 155 in token of monrning. The Democratic war party calcnlated upon an easy conquest of Canada, and npon being joined by many Canadians ; yet in both points they were disappointed. Bat they man- aged to obtain an alliance with some of the Indian tribes, and especially with the Iroquois of New York State. While the war fever was spreading in the States, in September, 1811, Lieutenant- General Sir George Prevost, recently the popular Governor of Nova Scotia, arrived at Quebec, and assumed charge of the government of Lower Canada, with the supreme military command of both provinces. In 1812, the Lower Canadian Parliament passed a very liberal militia act, and" voted £12,000 for drilling the local militia, and £20,000 more for incidental measures of defence; while a further sum of £30,000 was placed at the Governor's disposal, should war be declared between Great Britain and the United States. Four new regiments of militia were embodied, as well as a regiment of Canadian Yoltigeurs. When it became known at Quebec that Congress had declared war, all American citizens were ordered to quit the province by the 3rd of July. Parliament passed a statute to legalize the issue of army bills to the extent of £250,000 ; and an annual grant of £15,000 was made for five years to pay whatever interest might accrue. General Brock in Upper Canada also made every preparation for the struggle. The Legislature passed an effective militia bill, and granted £5,000 to defray training expenses. Hostilities speedily began, and the first success il i<'i| .f '■ 156 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. frff' * \ : of the campaign fell to General Brock, who, by the measures he ordered to be taken by Captain Roberts, acquired possession of the important fort at Mackinaw, which secnred the entrance into Lake Michigan. Besides the value of the acquisition in itself, the capture of the fort had an excellent effect in retaining the north-west Indians in the British interest. General Hull, the American commander in Upper Canada, crossed the Detroit River on the 12th of July, and planted his standard at Sandwich. Here he issued a bombastic proclamation, calling upon the inhabitants to surrender. ^' He did not ask for assistance,'* he said, " as he had a force that would break down all opposition, and that force was but the vanguard of a much greater. The United States offered peace, liberty, and security against war, slavery, and destruction." Few joined his ranks, however, and a counter-pro iamation soon appeared from General Brock. The American and British forces came into battle array some miles from Amherstburg. Hull made several attempts to force a passage across the River Canard, a tributary of the Detroit, but in vain. He then fell back, and established himself at Detroit. Brock proceeded to Amherstburg, where he met the Indians in council. Among the chiefs present was Tecumseh, who was destined to play a prominent part in Canadian history. He. was prepossessing in appearance, of average stature, with a figure light, graceful, and finely proportioned, while his hazel ey a, with its penetrating glance, showed him to be a nn THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 167 war, met esent inent g in ight, eye, )e a maa of energy and decision. HnU's despatches to his Government had been capt^-ed in one of the recent skirmishes, and they were of such a desponding tone, and painted his position in snch gloomy colours, that Brock determined to attack him at once, before succour could arrive. " By the 15th of August, a battery was constructed on the banks of the river opposite Detroit, and three guns and two howitzers placed in position, when Brock summoned Hull to surrender. He refused to comply, when the battery opened fire. Next morning, the British, numbering in all 700 regulars and militia and 600 Indians, crossed the river three miles below the town. Forming his men in column, and throw- ing out the Indians to cover his flanks. General Brock advanced steadily towards the fort. When at the distance of a mile, he halted to reconnoitre ; and observing that little or no precautions for defence had been taken at the land side, resolved on an immediate assault. But Hull prevented this move- ment by capitulating ; the garrison, with troops encamped in the vicinity, amounting altogether to 2,500 men, surrendering to little more than half their number. With Detroit a large quantity of military stores and provisions were given up, and the territory of Michigan also surrendered on the simple condition that life and property should be respected. The American militia were permitted to return to their homes, while the regular troops and officers, over 1,000 in number, were sent down to Quebec. Thus disgracefully, on the part of the Americans, ended the first attempt to conquer Upper Canada. Within ii|.f'i 'I ^1: : ! tl •|! ir' .11 1 1 r 158 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. the short space of five weeks, Mackinaw had fallen Detroit had been captured, and the chief part of their army of invasion compelled to surrender ; while their whole north-western frontier was left exposed to hostile incursions. The successes of British regular troops and militia, against a force so much their superior in numbers, had a most excellent effect in raising the spirits of the Canadian people, and securing the fidelity of the Indians. Had Hull been a man of energy and decision, matters must have been very different. Yet, in any event, with the force at his disposal, he could scarcely have established himself permanently in a hostile country difiicult to traverse, and which, as at the River Canard, presented many favourable positions to check the progress of an invading force. But, aside from every considera- tion, his surrender was one of the most cowardly and humiliating occurrences which had ever taken place in North America. Hull's timid and vacillating con- duct appears in strange contrast with the foresight, energy, and decision of the gallant Brock. The rapid movement on Mackmaw ; the expeditious advance to Amherstburg, after he had dismissed the Legislature ; and the passage of the Detroit River in the face of a superior force, when he had learned the timidity of its leader, unquestionably stamp the latter as a man of superior genius, and remind one of the most fortunate days of the gallant Montcalm." England still believed that America would withdraw from her position, as the Orders in Council had been repealed ; and in pursuance of this belief, Prevost, the governor-in-chief, had proposed an armistice to THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 159 Major-General Dearborn, the American commander- in-chief. Dearborn assented; bat the American Secretary at War, General Armstrong, refused to ratify the armistice, which he believed to proceed from weakness and danger on the part of the British general. The plan of the American campaign was as follows : Hull was to enter Canada at Detroit, and Van Ran- sallaer at the Niagara River, while Dearborn was to assail it by way of Lake Champlain and the Richelieu. Military posts were established at various favourable positions along the frontier, whence harassing excur- sions were to be made into Canadian territory. Slight successes were obtained in this way at Ogdensburg and Fort Erie. The British Government were still so sceptical as to the American designs on Canada, that only the 103rd Regiment and a battalion of Royal Scots had been sent out to the assistance of Prevost. Meanwhile, preparations were made by the Americans, both on land and water, for the conquest of Upper Canada before winter set in. General Harrison collected a large army at the west to avenge the fall of Detroit, while Dearborn instructed Van Ran- sallaer to penetrate Brock's line of defence on the Niagara at Queenston. Van Ransallaer had a large force, while Brock had scarcely 2,000 men for the defence, though these were in a high state of efficiency. " During the 12th, Van Ransallaer completed his preparations for attacking Queenston. The following morning was cold and stormy ; but, nevertheless, his troops embarked in boats at an early hour, and every- thing was made ready to push ai'.ross the river with the \ ' ■ hi *•:! „ If H t li '>' ti .,V BHl 160 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. first binsh of dawn. These movements were soon discovered by the British sentries, who gave the alarm. Captain Dennis of the 49th, who commanded at Qaeenston, immediately collected two companies of his regiment and abont a hundred of the militia at the landing-place to oppose the enemy, whom he held in check for a considerable time, aided by the power of an eighteen-ponnder in position on the heights above, and a masked gnn abont a mile lower down. A portion of the Americans, however, landed higher np, and, ascending by an unguarded path, turned the British flank, captured the eighteen- ponnder, and speedily compelled Dennis to retreat, after having sustained considerable loss, to the north end of the village. Here he was met by General Brock, who had heard the cannonade at Niagara, and pushed forward, in company with his aides-de- camp. Major Glegg and Colonel M'Donnell, to ascer- tain its cause. Having learned how matters stood, he .dismounted from his horse, and, resolving to carry the heights, now fully in possession of the Americans, placed himself at the head of a company of the 49th, and, waving his sword, led to the charge in double-quick time, under a heavy fire from the enemy's riflemen. Ere long, one of these singled out the general, took deliberate aim, fired, and the gallant Brock, without a word, sank down to rise no more. The 49th now raised a shout to 'avenge the general I ' when regulars and militia madly rushed forward, and drove the enemy, despite their superior numbers, from the summit of the hill. By this time, the Americans had been strongly reinforced, THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 161 and the British, who had never exceeded 300 alto- gether, finding themselvec nearly surrounded, were compelled to retire, having sustained a loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners of about a hundred men, including several officers. They re-formed in front of the one-gun battery, already stated as being a mile below Qneenston, to await the arrival of assistance. Van Bansallaer had, therefore, made a solid lodgment on Canadian soil with nearly 1,000 men, and after giving orders to form an entrenched camp, recrossed the river to send over reinforcements. But the American militia, having now seen enough of hard fighting, were suddenly seized with con- scientious scruples about going out of their own territory. Comparatively few crossed over to the assistance of their comrades beyond the river, who were thus left to shift for themselves. Early in the afternoon, a demonstration was made against the American position in the most gallant manner by yoang Brant, at the head of some fifty Mohawks. These, after a sharp skirmish, were compelled to retire, owing to the steady front presented by Colonel (afterwards General) Scott, who had meanwhile arrived, and assumed the chief command, Wadsworth, a militia general on the field, waiving his right there- to. But the British had no intention of surrender- ing Queenston so easily. Major-General Sheaffe, an American by birth, assumed the chief command on Brock's death, and, having collected all the troops at Niagara and the Chippewa, moved forward in admirable order to drive the enemy from their formidable position. His force, inclusive of 100 U ,1 ! ■'1 li f- :!'» i 162 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Indians, was nnder 1,000 men, of whom only 560 were regnlars, with two small gnns. After making a long detour to the right^ to again open ground in rear of the heights, Sheafife began the attack by an advance on his left, which, after delivering a volley, charged with the bayonet, and drove in Scott's right. He then advanced his main body, and, after a sharp conflict, a part of the enemy were driven back over the first ridge of heights to the road leading to the falls, while another portion let them- selves down with the aid of the roots and bnshes towards the river, hotly pnrsned by the Indians, who were with difficulty withdrawn. Resistance was now oat of the question, and the Americans, to the amount of 950 regulars and militia, sur- rendered. So completely had they been scattered, that hardly 300 men remained with Scott when he gave himself up. Their loss in killed and wounded was also »evere, ibnt has never been correctly ascertained ; it could scarcely, however, be under 300 men." Thus was defeated the second attempt of the Americans to gain a permanent foothold in Canada. But to the Canadians the death of Brock was a terrible loss. Besides being a brave and sagacious soldier, he was a jm>t and prudent civil governor, and he was esteemed by friends and foes alike as a man. By his death — he was only forty-two— a most promising career was suddenly cut short. Van Bansallaer, disgusted with the conduct of the militia, resigned his command, and was succeeded by Brigadier-General Smyth, who procured an armis- I.l >^ THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 163 tice of thirty days. The Americans were snccessfnl daring October in several skirmishes. In November, Dearborn, at the head of 10,000 men, hnng upon the confines of Lower Canada ; Smyth, with 5,000 men, occupied the Niagara frontier ; while Harrison, the bravest and most formidable of the American generals, with his Kentucky forest-rangers and Ohio sharp-shooters, threatened the weak British force under Proctor in the distant west. After a time, Dearborn saw the hopelessness of attempting a descent on Montreal, and withdrew his troops into winter quarters. In the meantime. General Smyth, who was in the vicinity of Fort Erie, issued an inflated proclamation, which read like a burlesque of the great Napoleon. His boast with regard to his " army of the centre" proved a very empty onf» for his attempts against a much weaker force ended in failure and disgrace. His own soldiers despised him, and he was finally obliged to fly from the camp, being everywhere denounced as a traitor and a coward. He was cashiered by the American Government without trial. The campaign of 1813 opened with bright prospects for the Canadians, whose Legislatures voted liberal supplies for carrying on the war. Before the close of January, Colonel Proctor achieved two striking successes against the Americans, and defeated and took prisoner Colonel Winchester, who commanded a brigade of Harrison's army. For this. Proctor was raised to the rank of brigadier-general. In Upper Canada, General Prevost directed successful opera- tions against Ogdensburg and Fort La Presentation. y ^ \l ■i:'|| ! •i * Tl ill til n I- , 164 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. . The American plan of campaign was for Harrison to recover Michigan, and threaten Canada at its western extremity ; while Commodore Channcey, aided by a strong land force nnder General Pike, was to capture Toronto, and invest Fort George at Niagara. Pike was next to assist in carrying the British posts at Erie and Chippewa. The combined American armies were then to descend to Kingston, in the reduction of which they would be aided by a third force under General Dearborn in person. After- wards, Montreal and Quebec were to be assailed. With fourteen armed vessels and 1,600 troops, Chauncey and Pike began the attack on Toronto on the 25th of April. The place was badly defended, and the first line was carried with little difficulty. The British commander, Sheafie, however, or rather his artillery sergeant, Marshall, now blew up his magazine to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, and terrible havoc ensued. General Pike was killed, and 200 others of the British were killed and wounded. Still, General Sheaflfe's force was so weak in numbers that he was compelled to retire towards Kingston. He was soon afterwards succeeded in the chief command in Upper Canada by Major-General de Rottenburg. Sheaffe returned to the Lower Province to command the troops in the Montreal district. Chauncey next proceeded with a powerful force to atta^ck Fort George at Niagara. For its defence, against a large fleet and a strong army, General Vincent had scarcely 1,400 men. Still, he defended himself gallantly for a time ; but finding at last the defence hopeless, he directed the guns to THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 165 II be spiked, the magazine to be blown np, and retreated in excellent order towards Qneenston, leaving the Americans to take possession of the ruins of Fort George and a few dismantled houses. Harrison, in spite of Winchester's defeat, still persevered in his determination to drive the British across the Detroit River and ;- v r Michigan. On the 1st ot May, Proctor invested Fort Meigs ; the besieged made a sally, and carried the British batteries ; but Proctor, having got his main body qnickly under arms, cut off the retreat of his assail- ants by a rapid and judicious movement, and then achieved a brilliant and decisive victory. The enemy lost over 700 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners ; while the casualties of the British were only fifteen killed and forty-five wounded. But as half of his militia left soon after the battle, Proctor was obliged to raise the siege of Fort Meigs and to retire. His victory had somewhat raised the spirits of the Canadians, which had been depressed by the American successes at Toronto, Fort George, and elsewhere. In Central Canada, matters began to improve early in May, when Sir James Yeo, a naval officer of distinction, arrived at Quebec, with several officers of the royal navy and 450 seamen. The fleet at Kingston was already in a forward state of preparation to meet the enemy. The Governor-General and Yeo met at Kingston, and determined to make a dash at once at Sackett's Harbour, the great depot of the American naval and military stores. Unfortunately, when the British arrived and found the Americans to be not so formidable as they expected, Prevost postponed the ■J I ! J' 166 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. 'v" )r i ? ft tn:H I;: attack for a day, and thns lost his opportunity of captnring Sackett's Harbonr. The British fought one snccessfol skirmish ; bnt lus^ead of following this up by a complete victory, as he might have done, Prevost retired, under the idea that a relief column was advancing to the aid of the enemy. By this weak Action, Provost's military reputation sustained a severe shock. Meanwhile, in Western Canada, Dearborn sent a strong force — consisting of 3,000 infantry and 2dU cavalry, with nine field-pieces — to dislodge Vincent and his British troops from the position they had taken on Burlington Heights. On the 5th of June, when the Americans arrived, Vincent directed a night attack to be made upon them by Colonel Harvey, which proved completely successful. Meantime, Commodore Yeo, on Lake Ontario, effected a com- munication with Vincent's little army. Dearborn was soon cooped up in Fort George, and the district in a critical position. His force had wasted away to less than 5,000 men. On the 28th of June, how- ever, he sent out a detachment of 600 men under Colonel Boerstler to dislodge a British picket at Beaver Dam ; but the whole detachment surrendered to a greatly inferior British force. This final failure completely ruined Dearborn's military reputation, and he was soon superseded in his command by Major- General Wilkinson. On the shores of Lake Ontario, Vincent more than held his own, and inflicted several reverses on the Americans. The British fleet also captured several American vessels on the lake. Plattsburg was next THE SEOOND AMEBICAN INVASION. 167 captnred by Colonel Murray. Bat on Lake Erie the British sastained a severe reverse, their fleet being captured by Commodore Perry. The effects of this disaster were speedily felt by Proctor. With the enemy on both his flank and front, and larking provisions ?nd supplies of every kind, he was compelled to retreat. " Amherstbnrg, Detroit, and the minor fortified posts in the west were dis- mantled, stores of every kind destroyed, and the British, numbering 830, commenced to retreat along the Thames towards Lake Ontario, accompanied by 500 Indians under Tecumseh, who showed an honour- able fidelity in misfortune. Harrison, following rapidly in pursuit with an army of 3,500 men, including several hundred cavalry, came up with Proctor's rear-guard on the 4th of October, and succeeded in capturing all his stores and ammunition and over 100 prisoners. The British general had now no recourse but to hazard a battle, and for this purpose he took up a position, on the following day, at the Moravian village on the Thames. Proctor's usual prudence appears to have forsaken him. The bridges in his rear had been left entire ; he made no effort to strengthen his position by a breastwork ; and it is even said that his field of battle was ill-chosen. But in any case his few worn-out and harassed soldiers, now reduced by casualties to nearly 600 men, were wholly unequal to a contest with Harrison's numerous and compara- tively well-appointed army. The result was what might naturally be expected. The British were speedily beaten at all points, and Proctor fled from the field of battle, leaving the Indians to their fate. i ■ H I i- (!■ hi ir 168 CANADA: rrs rise and progress. Led by their gallant chieftain) they fonght man- fully against enormous odds, and only retired when Tecumseh no longer lived to rally them. The few British soldiers who escaped from captivity or death fled through the woods to reassemble, to the number of 240, at Burlington Heights. Nor did the reverses of the British terminate with this fresh disaster. On the same day that Proctor fled before Harrison, six schooners, having on board 250 soldiers, proceed- ing from Toronto to Kingston without convoy, were captured on Lake Ontario. These losses, in addition to the alarming intelligence that the enemy was making great preparations for the conquest of Lower Canada, and that Harrison was descending Lake Erie to reinforce the American army on the Niagara frontier, compelled Vincent, whose force was now reduced to 1,200 effective men, to raise the blockade of Fort George, and retreat to his old position on Burlington Heights. This movement was effected in most excellent order, although his rear was threat- ened by Brigadier M'Clure with a force fully as large as his own. At Stoney Creek, his rear-guard took up a strong position, and checked the further pursuit of the enemy. At Burlington Heights, Vincent was joined by the fugitives of Proctor's division, who mad * up his strength to nearly 1,500 bayonets." Emboldened by their successes, the Americans now avowed their intention of invading Lower Canada, and taking up their winter quarters at Montreal. But the Canadians interfered with these projects. After sustaining defeats at Chrysler's Farm and Chateaugay, the Americans burnt the town of Niagara, and then THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 169 retreated. This measare, which turned 400 helpless women and children into the streets of Niagara homeless in the depth of winter, excited great in- dignation among the Canadian people. Acts of retri- bution followed ; for as the British now defeated the Americans all along the Niagara frontier, they bnrnt the towns of the enemy. The campaign of 1813 closed with no advantage whatever to the Americans, and the conquest of Canada seemed as remote as ever. When the Legislatnre of Lower Canada met in Jannary, 1814, an Act was passed increasing the issne of Army Bills to £1,500,000, and votes of thanks were accorded to Colonel de Salaberry and Colonel Morrison for their victories at Chateangay and Chrysler's Farm. Difficnlties arose with the judges of the province which had not been adjusted when this last session of the seventh Parliament closed on the 17th of March. The Legislature of Upper Canada met at Toronto in February, and passed several useful measures, besides making further provision for the war. In view of the campaign of 1814, stores of all descriptions were forwarded by sleighs from Montreal and Quebec to Kingston at enormous expense. The first military movements began near the border of Lower Canada. Wilkinson marched t^ the western side of Lake Champlain on the 26th of March, with the view of attacking a small British force at La Colle Mill. His army consisted of 6,000 infantry and 100 cavalry, with eleven guns. The ordinary garrison of La Colle Mill, which was under the command of Major Handcock, was under 200 men ; but he 111 UM^ m *-, j^ it J ! I 1 H 1 1 ■ if' iiIm :J!'; 170 CANADA: ITS RI8E AND PROGRESS. hastily drew together 300 more from the adjacent stations. With this small force of 500 men, he resolved to hold a post, which a few hours' fire of well-directed artillery would have levelled to the ground, against a well-appointed army. "At one o'clock p.m. on the 30th of March, Wilkinson, after huving made a demonstration against the outpost at Burtonville, occupied the woods close to La Colle Mill with his entire force, which he de- ployed into line, with the view of surrounding the British position and carrying it with the bayonet. His troops cheered loudly as they advanced ; but the well-aimed and rapid fire with which they were re- ceived, soon compelled them to waver, and retreat into the wood for shelter. Three guns (an eighteen, twelve, and six-pounder) were now brought to bear upon the mill, within point-blank range. But these guns were badly served, and did little injury, while the artillerymen suffered severely from the British musketry and the fire of their two guns. The enemy was also held in check on the side of the Richelieu by the fire of two sloops and two gunboats, which had advanced towards the scene of action from Isle-anx- Noix ; but these had to remain too far away to do much service. Desperate as were the odds, the flank companies of the 13th Regiment, and the Canadian Voltigeurs and Fencibles, made two gallant charges, in turn, to capture the enemy's guns, but were repulsed by the sheer force of numbers, the fire of his artillery, as well as two brigades of infantry, being directed against them. For full four hours did these few hundred gallant men withstand an THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 171 army. As evening approached, their ammnnition began to ran ohort. Still they did not qaail. Not a man spoke of surrender ; and the daring front they had shown dnring the day deterred the enemy from assaulting their position with the bayonet. At six o'clock, Wilkinson retreated from the Canadian grist- mill, completely foiled and beaten, and retraced his steps to Plattsburg. His repulse was infinitely more disgraceful than that sustained by Abercromby before the lines of Montcalm at Ti*:onderoga. There the British bravely endeavoured to storm ; the American army made no attempt of the kind." After this check, the American Government aban- doned the idea of subduing Lower Canada for the present; and Wilkinson, after leaving garrisons in the principal posts on Lake Champlain, moved his army to the neighbourhood of Lake Ontario to operate against the Upper Province. The campaign was opened here, under favourable auspices for Canada, by Commodore Yeo and General Drummond. Oswego was captured by the British on the 6th of May, after a sharp action, and the fort was dismantled and the barracks and bridges were destroj'^ed. The English proceeded to LUockade the whole of the American seaboaT-i. Overtures for peace were made, but they fell through, and America still determined to pursue its designs against Canada. On the 3rd of July, two strong brigades, under Scott and Ripley, crossed the Niagara River from BuiFalo to Fort Erie. Major Buck, the CVnadian commandant at Fort Erie, surrendered the post, deeming it a useless loss of life to oppose a large ^^^^BBbI^B i ■nil ;■ .i'i I IS I I llillfli 172 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. anny of upwards of 4,000 troops with a mere handful of men. Major-General Rial], who was commanding the British on the Niagara frontier, determined to check the enemy under General Brown at Chippewa early in July. But Brown made no attempt to carry the post, remaining content with establishing his position a short distance from it. " On the morning of the 5th, Riall, having been reinforced by the 3rd Buffs, 600 strong, from Toronto, determined to become the assailant with 1,600 regulars, 300 Indians, and 600 militia. Brown had taken up a good position : his right rested on some buildings and orchards close on the river, and was strongly supported by artillery ; his left extended to a wood, with a strong body of riflemen and Indians thrown out on his flank and in advance. Riall began th( battle shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon, by pushing his main body in columns of echelon against the enemy's line, with the view of breaking through, and turning it at three different points. At the same time, a body of militia, with the entire Indian force, were thrown to the right to dislodge his light troojjs and savages from the wood. But the Kentucky riflemen fought stoutly, while the Iroquois effectually held the Canadian Indians in check, and neither were dislodged, until assailed by the light companies of the Royal Scots and 100th Regiment. Meanwhile, the heads of the attacking columns were crushed again and again by the discharges of the long and solid American line, which stood its ground bravely, and tired with rapidity and precision. Riall, at length tinding himself unable to penetrate it, was reluctantly '^■:l|l THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 173 obliged to order a retreat, having sustained a loss of 157 killed and 320 wounded. The American loss was little more than half as severe. This battle was the most considerable fought as yet during the war, and the unusual steadiness and good conduct of the American troops showed the advantage of better discipline and superior general officers. Rial! made a serious mistake in attacking an army strongly posted and twice his own strength, but he had doubt- less been induced to take this step from the supposition that the enemy would be beaten as easily as usual. His defeat clearly proved that the British had now to contend against abler commanders and better troops, and that a nearer equality of numbers must be possessed to ensure success. Had Riall been content to act on the defensive, and cover himself by entrenchments at the favourable ground on the eastern side of the Chippewa Creek, his position would have been very difficult to force, and the attempt could scarcely fail to have resulted in the defeat of the enemy. His desperate bravery, how- ever, had one good effect : it showed the Americans that, if they established themselves in Canada, it would only be by very hard fighting." The Americans made no effort to improve their victory, and Riall retreated in order. The next engagement, which was at Lundy's Lane, or Bridg- water, was a triumph for the British arms. General Dmmmond, having heard of the advance of a large army on the Niagara frontier, left Kingston, and proceeded thither, where he arrived on the 2r)th of Jnly. Here he learned of the advance of Brown and 174 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. n the retreat of Biall, and he determined at once to support the latter on the enemy's rear. On reaching Lundy's Lane, with 800 regulars, Drnmmond found that Riall had left ; but he at once recalled him. Drnmmond then took possession of the little eminence at Lnndy's Lane, on the summit of which he placed five field-guns and two brass twenty-fonr-pounders. His line of battle was formed of the 89th Regiment, a detachment of the Royal Scots, the light companies of the 41st, the Glengarry Light Infantry, bodies of militia, and of the 3rd Buifs, and a squadron of the 19th Light Dragoons. The entire force amounted to only 1,600 men. The enemy's brigades, under Scott and Ripley, with the militia and cavalry under General Porter, made up General Brown's army to fully 5,000 men. "When Drnmmond arrived on the ground, the enemy was already within 600 yards of the ad- vantageous position of which he at once so promptly and skilfully took possession. He had barely time to complete his formation, ''hen the whole front was vrarmly engaged. But the decision and skill of the Biitish general had already half won the battle. The battery, so judiciously placed, was admirably served, and swept the field with terrible rapidity, while the sharp rolling volleys of the infantry held Scott's superior numbers efiectually in check. For three-quarters of an hour did the battle rage on some- thing like equal terms in point of strength; then Ripley's brigade came on the ground, with another battery of artillery, and Drummond's little army had now to contend against three times its number. 'V THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 175 Brown at once availed himself of his superior force to outflank his opponent's line. The 25th American Regiment swept round the British left, forced it back at an angle with the centre, gained temporary possession of the road, and the enemy's cavalry, following behind, made several prisoners, — General Riall, who had been severely wounded and was passing to the rear, among the rest. But the Canadian militiamen of the left gave vi ay no farther than the brow of the road ; and there, although pressed hard by immensely superior numbers, did they gallantly hold their ground, and eflfectually covered the rear of the centre and right. Meanwhile, the battle raged furiously at the centre of the British Une, on which the Americans made fierce and repeated attacks, but were repulsed again and again with steady valour, to be afterwards smote down with terrible carnage by the fire of the artillery as they fell back to reform. Presently, night drew its sable pall over the battle-field ; still the combat raged with desperate obstinacy. The assailants, maddened by their losses, pressed forward repeatedly to capture the British guns, and even bayoneted the gunners in the act of loading, but were as often repulsed. They next pushed up their own guns within a few yards of Drummond's battery, and thus maintained a combat of artillery. At one time, led by Colonel Miller, they forced the 89th back, and captured several of the British cannon ; but a vigorous bayonet charge recovered them again, and took a gun in addition from the enemy, together with several tumbrils. About nine o'clock, there was a brief lull in the battlt^ I 4 • '! 176 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. I ill while Scott's brigade, which had suffered severely, was being withdrawn by Brown and placed in reserve, and Ripley's fresher troops pushed to the front. Luckily, at this time the remainder of Riall's division, whose retreat on Fort George, as already stated, had been countermanded by Drummond, came up with two guns ; and having been joined on its way by 400 militia, the hard-pressed British combatants were now reinforced by 1,200 fresh troops, with some of whom their line was prolonged at the right, which it was apprehended the enemy might outflank ; the rest were placed in reserve. The moon now rose dimly over the battle-field, and flung its uncertain light from behind a mass of thin feathery cloud on the hostile ranks, enabling the eye to scan the slope in front of the British position, strewed thickly with the dying and the dead, the plaintive groans of the wounded mingling strangely and chillingly the while with the dull yet terribly voluminous roar of the mighty cataract close by. The contest was again resum'"!. Long thin lines of fire marked the discharges of the hostile infantry, while ever and anon the artillery shot out a red volume of flame, and then its thunders reverberated across the bloody field, to waste themselves in fitful echoes amid the continuous roll of the Niagara. A momentary pause now and then succeeded, and the cries of the wounded for water fell ominously on the ears of the still uninjured. Till midnight did this terrible combat con- tinue, when Brown, finding all his efforts fruitless to force the British position, retreated to Chippewa, leaving Drummond in full possession of the battle-field." m IP m m THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 177 The battle of Lundy's Lane was the most sanguinary, and the most fiercely contested, of any fonght in Canada during the war. Had the whole American army been thrown at once against the British line, Drummond must have been hemmed in, and compelled to either retreat or surrender. But Brown and Scott were not skilful military tacticians, and Drummond won the victory by sheer bravery, with the aid of a strong position. Drummond next made a daring attempt to capture Fort Erie. He would probably have succeeded, but his third column under Colonel Fischer was unable to co-operate with him. Drummond's troops fought bravely ; but a great number of them were killed by the accidental explosion of a magazine, and the remainder retreated in dismay. The British loss was very severe, 157 men being killed, 308 wounded, and 186 made prisoners. The American loss was trifling. The British also sustained another reverse at Black Rock, where (Jolonel Tucker was defeated, though the Americans under Gaines did not follow up their advantage. When Drummond, therefore, received reinforcements from Lower Canada, he was enabled to retain his position. An abortive attempt was made by the Americans to recapture the Fort of Mackinaw ; but the British were more fortunate in their attempts upon Maine, a large part of which they cai)tured. In fact, the whole country from Penobscot to New Brunswick was formally taken possession of, and remained under British rule till the end of the war. The arrival at Quebec of 16,000 men of the Duke •iji ! ! Il il^ 178 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. of Wellington's army enabled Governor-General Prevost to assume the offensive. He consequently despatched General Kempt with a portion of this force to Upper Canada, with a view to a descent on Sackett's Harbour ; while a body of 11,000 troops were concentrated on the Richelieu frontier, to operate against the enemy's posts on Lake Champ- lain. But the naval portion of this expedition— which was composed of one frigate, the Conjiance, one brig, two sloops, and twelve gunboats— was in a lamentable state of inefficiency. Early in August, the American general, Izzard, moved up Lake Ontario, with 4,000 men, to reinforce the besieged troops at Fort Erie, and to enable them to assume the oflFensive. Lake Champlain was, there- fore, left very slenderly defended, and on the 6th of September, Prevost's army appeared before Plattsburg, having met with no opposition. Plattsburg was pro- tected by two block-houses, and a chain of strongly fortified field-works, garrisoned by 1,600 troops and militia under Brigadier Macomb. The British artillery was brought up ; but Prevost delayed his attack upon the enemy's works, until he could be supported by the British squadron. It was not until the 1 1th that the fleet appeared, and even then the shipwrights were busy on the hull of the Conjiance^ which bore Commodore Downie's flag. "The squadron which the British vessels were now bearing down to attack was much their superior in men, tonnage, and weight of metal, besides being supported by powerful land batteries. Still, Downie relied upon Prevost's assurance that the enemy's THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 179 position would be assailed by land while he attacked his fleet, and bore gallantly down to action. But instead of supporting this movement, Prevost directed his men to cook their breakfasts. The result was what might naturally be expected. After a desperate battle, the Conjiance^ Linnet brig, and Chub sloop were compelled to strike their colours ; the Finch struck on a reef, and was of no use during the action ; and nine of the gunboats fled. Prevost at length put his attacking columns in motion ; but on finding that he could not expect succour from the fleet, he immediately withdrew them, and resolved to retreat. The works could have been easily carried ; a success in this way would have been a set-off to the disaster of the fleet ; and nothing could have equalled the indignation of the troops when they were ordered to retreat. Many of the officers in- dignantly broke their swords, declaring that they would never serve again ; and the army sullenly retraced its way to the Canadian frontier, undisturbed by the enemy. The disgraceful course pursued on this occasion effectually destroyed the military repu- tation of the governor-in-chief ; and as he died before he could be tried by court-martial, the stain still rests on his memory. On board the fleet, the loss in killed and wounded was 129, while the land force lost about 200. The loss of the American fleet was nearly as severe as that of the British. Among the killed of the latter was the gallant Downie. No sooner did the American force invested at Fort Erie learn the disaster of the British at Lake Champlain, than they made a vigorous sortie on 'I ,11 \ i 11 I 1 1 180 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. the afternoon of the 17th of September. Owing to the rain falling in torrents, they succeeded in turning the right of the besiegers' pickets, and after a sharp contest obtained possession of two batteries. Bnt a reinforcement speedily coming up, they were at once driven back, and pnrsned to the very glacis of the fort, whither they retired with precipitation, having sustained a loss in killed, wounded, and missing of 509 men. The British loss amounted to 600, of whom one-half, however, had been made prisoners in the trenches at the commencement of the sortie. Finding his men becoming very sickly, and learning also the advance of General Izzard's division, Drummond raised the siege on the 21st, and retired totally unmolested on Chippewa During the autumn months, Chaancey had the advantage, in both the number and size of his vessels, of the British squadron on Lake Ontario. At length, on the 10th of October, the St. Lawrence, a vessel of 100 guns, was launched at Kingston, when the American commodore immediately withdrew, and was blockaded in turn at Sackett's Harbour. The lake freed from the enemy's ships, troops and stores were conveyed to the army on the Niagara frontier ; and although Izzard had now a fine force of 8,000 men at Fort Erie, he blew up its works, recrossed the river, and left the harassed people of Upper Canada to repose. Beyond a foray of mounted Kentucky brigands, who marked their course with plunder and destruction at the extreme west, the retreat of Izzard was the last event of a war which completely burst the bubble of American invasion of Canada." THE SECOND AMERICAN INVASION. 181 On the 24th of December, 1814, a treaty was signed at Ghent, which pat an end to hostilities on the American Continent, and restored peace between Great Britain and Canada and the United States. The conquests on both sides wer6 restored, and provision was made for settling the boundaries between the United States and Canada ; though these have ever since been a subject of negotiation. The second invasion of Canada was very disastrous for the United States. She acquired not a single dollar of compensation, nor a single inch of territory. On the contrary, her commerce suffered terribly by her unjustifiable action. Her export trade had fallen from £22,000,000 sterling to £1,600,000 ; nearly 3,000 of her merchant vessels had been captured ; two-thirds of the mercantile and trading classes of the nation had become practically insolvent ; and the Union was threatened with the secession of the New England States. If every war undertaken for spoliation and conquest could be punished in the same manner, we should soon witness fewer of those aggressive wars which are a scandal to civilized and Christian nations. 1 U IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■^1^ ill |5o ""^ M^H IM m i^ 1^ »< 6" ► Hiotographic Sciences Corporation as WIST MAIN STMIT WIISTU.N.Y. MSM (716)t7a-4S03 ^t >.V^ ) k- ..<^>^ mm ! H % i f I \ m I CHAPTER VIII. BVBNTS FROM 1815 tO 1836. WHEN the Legislatnre of Lower Canada met on the 21st of January, 1815, Mr. Lonis J. Papinean was elected Speaker of the Assembly. A g grant of £25,000 was passed for making the Lachine Canal, and another of £1,000 per annum as salary for the Speaker. A message from the Governor officially announced the conclusion of peace, where- upon the embodied militia were immediately disbanded. Returns showed that the public revenues had now more than overtaken the expenditure, the former being £204,550, And the latter £197,250. Sir George Prevost left the colony in April, and died in England in the ensuing January. General Dmmmond assumed charge of the government, and his first public act was the redemption of the Army Bills issued during the war. Early in the session of 1816, it was announced that the Prince Regent had dismissed the charges against Chief Justices Sewell and Monk; and as the Assembly insisted on further prosecuting this matter, it was dissolved, and new elections were held. Sir John C. Sherbrooke was appointed €k>vernor- in-Chief of Canada, and he arrived at Quebec on the 182 EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 183 2l8t of Jnly, 1816. The new Assembly was as strong as ever against the recalcitrant judges. It again elected as its Speaker L. J. Papinean, who was destined to fignre prominently in Canadian affairs. Votes of relief were passed for the distressed districts, and a grant of £20,000 was made for distribution in small Ijans to indnstrions farmers. As Governor Sher- brooke disliked remaining in Canada, foreseeing that the nndecided policy of the British Government mne^ lead to difficnlties, he reqnested his 'recall, and was succeeded by the Dnkq of Richmond, who arrived in Canada in Jaly, 1818., The dnke speedily came into conflict with the Legislature on the question of the expenditure and official salaries and pensions. The liegislative Council practically made the unheard-of claim that it should appoint what officers it pleased at such salaries as it pleased, and that it was the duty of the Assembly to pay the estimates without enquiry. The House naturally resented this. In addition to Sewell and Monk, two other judges, named Bedard and Foucher, were impeached for malpractices ; but owing to the difficulties of a prosecution, nothing farther was effected in either case. The Governor angrily prorogued Parliament on the 24th of April, 1819, and on the 27th of August following the Duke of Richmond died suddenly, while on a tour of inspec- tion through Upper Canada, from the bite of a tame fox, which was not known to be in a rabid state. Monk, upon whom the government devolved, dissolved the Assembly in February, 1820, because it refused to vote the amount necessary for the civil list. The elections again resulted unfavourably for l^lli ■ 1 1 ' I! 'I HI 184 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGBESS. the Execntive ; but owing to the death of George III. another dissolution became necessary. In the mean- time, the Earl of Dalhonsie was sent oat as Governor, and he arrived on the 18th of Jnne. When the new Assembly met, a qnarrel arose between the two Honses on the question of snpply, the Upper Honse being in favour of centralizing all real power in the Execntive, while the Lower claimed the right to dispense the public revenue. A project for a union between the Upper and Lower Provinces was now brought forward ; but it caused much dissatisfaction, and the scheme was abandoned. Lord Dalhonsie governed with a high hand, and his difficulties increased yearly, the French Canadians being bitterly opposed to his policy. At length, finding that there was little prospect of the Governor making any concessions to their demands, the anti- Executive party determined, in 1828, to lay their grievances by petition before the Imperial Parliament and the Crown. These grievances were chiefly based on the unconstitutional course of the Legislative Council, in throwing out useful bills passed by the Lower House, on the arbitrary acts^of the Governor, and his expenditure of the public moneys without authority from the Assembly. The names of no fewer than 87,000 persons were affixed to the petition. "The increasing embarrassment of the admini- stration of Lower Canada determined the British Ministry to release itself from all responsibility in the premises by submitting the matter to Parlia- ment. On the 2nd of May, Mr. Huskisson, now Colonial Secretary, moved in the House of Commons ^TTi vv EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 185 that a select committee of twenty-one members be appointed to enquire into the civil condition of Canada. EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 187 m 80 far as to draw np the draft of a petition to the Crown, when the Execntive, thoroughly alarmed at the postnre of affairs, seized upon a passage in the petition, charging wholesale corruption against the officials, as a pretext for prosecuting him for libel. While the storm raged, Mr. Gore was recalled, and was succeeded as Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada by Sir Peregrine Maitland. Gourlay was brought to trial at Kingston, and acquitted ; and a second trial took place at Brockville on another count, but with the same result. Gourlay was now very popular ; but the Assembly, disliking the idea of conventions, pro- nounced them illegal, and left him to his fate. He was ordered to quit the country ; and as he refused, was again throrn into prison. Subsequently, he was compelled to leave the province. The Family Compact, as the party of the Executive came to be known, still continued to wield its influence, and it received a great accession of strength by the appointment of Bishop Strachan, au able and re- sourceful man, who continued to be one of the most active members of the body until its final overthrow. In 1821, one Barnabas Bid well was returned as member for Lennox and Addington. It being dis- covered, however, that he was a person of immoral character, a fugitive from justice, and a citizen of the United States, having taken the oath of allegiance there, he was expelled the House, though only by a majority of one. After this, a residence of seven years was made necessary for eligibility on the part of foreigners to membership in the Assembly. The project of the Welland Canal was now mooted, and I I .f 188 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. , ■; I ^ it was eventnally carried through, chiefly owing to the exertions of William Hamilton Merritt, of the Niagara district. The canal proved of inestimable benefit in ensuring the fntnre prosperity of Canada. In 1824, was formed the Canada Land Company, a corporation at first productive of benefit, but subse- quently of injury to the province. Under its Imperial Charter, it began to buy up vast tracts of the Clergy Beserve and Crown lands at low prices, which it sold again in small lots at a large advance. In effect, it was a huge land monopoly, and, like all monopolies, brought evils in its train. Without the wishes of the Canadian Parliament being consulted, a vast quantity of the soil was withdrawn from public purposes, and passed into the hands of private specu- lators on the London Stock Exchange. When Parliament opened in January, 1825, the Reform party carried their candidate for Speaker by a majority of two, the Family Compact being at length in a minority. William Lyon Mackenzie, a Scotch emigrant, now began to acquire great influence in the affairs of Canada. He attacked Government abuses and packed juries in the columns of the Colonial AdvocatCy and indirectly he assisted in securing for Canada a large measure of liberty and self-govern- ment. Moving to Toronto, where he issued the Advocate as a broadsheet, Mackenzie boldly attacked the abuses of the post office and other departments, until his printing office was broken into and completely wrecked, two magistrates coolly looking on. The Governor severely condemned this conduct, and the parties were sued for damages. Mackenzie was EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 189 awarded £625, which was subscribed by friends of the aggressors, who thns escaped scot-free. Great excitement occurred at Niagara Falls in May, 1827, when one Forsyth, who owned the principal inn at the falls and considerable landed property in the district, enclosed the Crown reservation. The Governor's officials removed the fence, and Forsyth was beaten in two suits for damages ; but the Governor was blamed by the Home Government for his action. A good deal of feeling arose over the Orange processions and the Clergy Reserves; and the Governor further increased his unpopularity by suspending from office Mr. Willis, a judge who would not identify himself with the Family Compact, and who dared to pursue an independent course. The elections of 1828 went in favour of the Reformers, Mackenzie being amongst the members elected ; and there was much satis- faction when Sir Peregrine Maitland left to assume the government of Nova Scotia, and Sir John Colborne was appointed in his place. When the new Parliament met in January, 1829, Marshall Spring Bidwell — a son of the Bidwell previously mentioned — was elected Speaker. The first agitation now began for responsible government ; but in the following year the death of George IV. necessitated a new election. Both the Reform party and the Family Compact were now to a large extent reconstructed, the former shedding most of its republican element, and the latter assuming a wider form as the Conservative party. In the Assembly, Mackenzie gave no repose to those who held by the Family Compact, and he showed that 1 4 » 1 1 ,» ■ ' Ui f ''■ a '*9 i \'n ■ '^ 1 i»f • iiiiL. iS M 190 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. iiui;i' there were very few members in the Lower House whn were not either paid officials of the Government or completely nnder their influence. He became so dangerous, that Attorney-General Bonlton and others determined he must be got rid of. Nobody was safe, if light was going to be thrown fearlessly upon every abuse, as Mackenzie threatened to do. The fact of his having circulated some copies of the journals of the House was accordingly seized upon as con- stituting a breach of privilege. But the discreditable plot failed by a majority of twenty to fifteen against it. Mackenzie was now more active than ever in his agitation for reform. He got up a petition, signed by 25,000 persons, asking the King for a rectification of abuses. In addition, the King was implored to give the Legislative Assembly the full control of all the revenues of the province, and the disposal of the public lands ; to permit the secularization of the Clergy Reserves; the establishment of municipal councils, law reform, the power to impeach public servants, the exclusion of judges and clergymen from Parliament, and the abolition of the right of primo- geniture. All these privileges were at a later date conceded ; but the mover in them now was pursued with relentless hostility within the House, though outside he was extremely popular. Soon after Parlia- ment assembled in November, 1831, an article by Mackenzie in the Colonial Advocate was voted by twenty-seven to fifteen to be a gross libel and a breach of privilege. Owing to the malevolent exer- tions of Boulton, Attorney, and Hagerman, Solicitor- General; he was expelled the House by twenty-four EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 191 to fifteen. Pablic indignation now rose to fever heat ; and when the new elections took place in January, 1832, Mackenzie became the object of great public de- monstrations, and he was triumphantly re-elected for York. Again was he expelled, only to be once more returned by an immense majority. He was now the most popular man in the province, and was chosen by a mass meeting at Toronto to act as agent in laying the petition for the redress of grievances before the King. The summer of 1832 was marked by the ravages of Asiatic cholera throughout the province, it having been conveyed over from England in emigrant vessels. '' The Legislature assembled on the 31st of October. In his opening address, the Governor alluded to the rapid increase of population by immigration, the com- pletion of the Rideau Canal, and the almost complete disappearance of cholera. Mr. Mackenzie still con- tinned absent in England, and was busily engaged in attracting the attention of the Colonial Office, now controlled by Lord Goderich, to the affairs of the pro- vince. One of the first measures of the session was his third expulsion from the Assembly. But he was again re-elected by acclamation, no other candidate presenting himself, and the same day the first political Reform union of Upper Canada was organized, on a basis proposed by Dr. Morrison. Five times, altogether, was Mackenzie expelled by the Family Compact majority of the Assembly, to be as often re- elected. The Home Government disapproved of their conduct in this respect. It was decidedly opposed to its Whig policy, and to the principles of Reform i 192 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. lil. professed by the Imperial Parliament, and althongh averse to complying with all the prayers of the petitions, for which Mackenzie acted as agent, the latter had the satisfaction of seeing Attorney-General Bonlton and Solicitor-General Hagerman deprived of their situations for aiding prominently in his frequent expulsion. Hagerman, however, proceeding promptly to England, soon procured his own restoration to office ; while Boulton got a judgeship in Newfoundland, ^ where he soon embroiled himself with a large section of the populfition, and was finally dismissed from all employment by the Imperial Grovernmeut. These occurrences added largely to the intensity of party spirit, and the agitation which they aroused reacted to some extent on the Legislature, which this ycitr passed the long and mnah- desired Act making the judges ind«pendent of the Crown, and enabling them to hold their office for life, provided they behaved themselves properly. This Act alsu declared both branches of the Legislature a competent court to try impeachments against judges, giving, however, ^ a right of appeal to the King in Council. Thus one serious and long-standing abuse was removed, and the flagrant case of a Thorp or a Willis could never again occur in Upper Canada. In November of this year, Mackenzie discontinued the publication of his Colonial Adtocate^ For two or three years the Family Compact party had been powerful again ; but its arbitrary action lost it many friends, and at the elections in December, 1834, the Reform party secured a majority of ten in a House of fifby-eight members. This proved the ^ T, i ':^ EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 193 death-knell of the Family Compact, and a new and better party sprang from its ashes, which began to call itself Conservative, and which certainly pnrsned a more constitutional course than the old. But a great deal of discontent arose when fifty-seven rectories were set apart from the Clergy Reserves for clergy- men of the Chnrch of England. The Reform party were likewise very hostile towards the Executive, on account of its reactionary measurers. As the English Colonial Office, however, now pledged itself to a policy of conciliation, and Sir John Colborne wccld not carry ort the new views, he was recalled, and Sir Francis Bond Head was appointed his successor in 1837. Returning to the affairs of Lower Canada, Sir James Kempt, who became Governor-in-Chief in 1828, pur- sued a conciliatory policy ; but the financial disputes still continued between the Assembly and the Execu- tive. These yet remained unsettled in 1830, when Kempt was succeeded as Governor by Lord Aylmer. The Imperial duties were at length surrendered to the Executive ; but when the Assembly proceeded to memorialize the Crown to make the Legislative Council elective, this was refused by Lord Stanley, the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The demands of the Papineau or Reform party in the Assembly were now embodied in a series of Ninety-two Resolutions, on which petitions to the King, Lords, and Commons of jhe United Kingdom were founded. Eventu?»lly, in April, 1828, a select committbw of the House of Commons was appointed, on the motion of Lord Stanley, to enquire into the 18 11 il Pi I W ] I'll ;■: If I ; II II 104 CANADA: rrs rise and progress. alleged grievances of the inhabitants of Lower Canada. The committee was made of the widest and most liberal character, and among its members were Bnlwer Lytton and Daniel 0*Connell. '' The committee sat nntil the 3rd of the following Jnly, examined the various petitions and documents connected with Canadian grievances, as well as several witnesses, and spared no pains to acqnire a jost knowledge of the questions at issue. The result of the investigation was a report, which declared in the most unequivocal language Hhat the Governors of Lower Canada had been imremitting in their en- deavours to carry out the suggestions of the select committee of 1828, and that any want of success on j their part was entirely owing to the quarirels between the two branches of the Canadian Legislature and other local causes." The report further stated Uhat it would be inexpedient to make the documents public, which had been submitted to the committee, and that the interests of the empire would be best subserved by leaving practical measures for the future admini-' stration of Lower Canada entirely in the hands of the Imperial Government.' In other words, the committee had come to the conclusion that every reasonable concession had been made to the French majority of Lower Canada, and that no further measures of conciliation could be adopted with regard to them, without serious injury to the British portion of the inhabitants, now more than a fourth of the entire population, and representing all its great commercial and monetary interests. They could not fail to see, from their minute enquiry, and the tenor of the / EVENTS FROM 1815 TO 1836. 195 Ninety-two Resolutions, the extreme views of the Assemhly, and the latent desire for a total indepen- dence which pervaded all their movements, as well as their thinly concealed hostility to Great Britain." The differences between the British and the French inhabitants of Lower Canada now became every day more marked, and rival societies were formed in support of the two factions. The disturbed feeling of the popnlation was intensified by a second severe visitation of the cholera. When a new Assembly met in Febraary, 1835, Papinean was again elected Speaker, and the hostility to the Execntive was as strong as ever. Preparations began to be made on both sides for a deadly straggle, and a condition of general alarm prevailed, when Sir Robert Peel sncceeded to the office cf Premier. He determined to send ont a special commission for the examination of existing grievances ; bat althoagh his administration was sncceeded by that of Lord Mel- bourne before he conld efifect his pnrpose, his successors carried ont his intention. The commissioners were the Earl of Grosford, Sir Charles Grey, and Sir George Qipps, and Lord Gosford was likewise appointed to succeed Lord Aylmer as Governor-in-Chief. The resnlt of the Gk)8ford Commission was sach that all real grievances were offered to be redressed in the most liberal manner, and every point in dispnte consistent with the retention of Lower Canada as a British province was conceded. Bat Papinean and his friends refused to be conciliated. Their hatred of British ascendency had reached its culminating point, and they now aimed at total independence. w \ 'IK iiB M ' '\ 1 ?i i m ■ 196 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. The Lower House passed a bill appoiatiog Mr. Boebnck their agent in England, with instrnctions to press their grievances ; bat the Legislative Conncil threw it ont. Papinean, in violent language, then announced himself a Republican in principle, and other members followed his example. The loyal population became alarmed. The Home Government remained firm on the question of not making the'' Legislative Council elective, which would have given the control of both Houses to Papineau and his friends. Papineau, therefore, determined upon revolu- tion, counting on the support of the United States. Perceiving the seriqus aspect of things, the British population began to form themselves into defensive associations. Session after session still saw the same deadlock in public affairs, with Papineau the idol of the country people. Indignation meetings were held by the French element, and violent resolutions passed. Though the Governor denounced these gatherings as seditions, they still continued. William IV. died in the midst of this excitement ; but the accession of Victoria led to no improvement in Canada. Indeed, so strong was the language of Papineau and his friends, that they were dismissed from the service as officers of militia. One more attempt was made to smooth matters by summoning the Assembly ; but as it proved as recalcitrant as ever, it was prorogued. The " Patriots," as they now called themselves, organized military associations, with the avowed object of establishing a "North- West R epublic of Lower Canada." Legd prosecutions'wouid have been of no avail. The bench, EVEirrs FBOM 1815 to 1836. 197 the bar, and the people were alike animated by a spirit of hostility to Great Britain, and no jnry wonld have convicted a political criminal. As for the intervention of the military power, that conld only be called npon to qnell actoal rebellion. Meanwhfle, the Roman Catholic clergy, perceiving the dangers likely to follow the spread of the revolntionary feeling, now songht to check the progress of the storm. But there was a critical period to pass through before the clerical inflaence could begin to make itself felt. CHAPTER IX. THE BEBBLLION OF 1837-38. THE desire of the British Government to preserve the French element in Canada distinct from the English, as a safeguard against revolution, had un- fortunately the very opposite effect from that intended, and it precipitated the conflict Ministers were anxious to avoid. The French, being the dominant power in Canada, became also the aggressive power, though until the time of Fapineau no systematic attempt was made to excite the prejudices of the masses against the natives of British origin. Governor Prevost pursued a French policy ; and while he saved the country from the Americans, he excited hopes of a future nationality. The experiment of giving an English constitution to a French population failed completely'in all its lead- ing objects, though thp Colonial Office vainly strove to preserve British ascendency by making the Execu- tive and Legislative Councils almost exclusively English, and by excluding the French majority from all posts of real influence. Yet the British were the real reformers, although the French Canadians claimed to be the Liberal party of Lower Canada. The British procured the Constita- 199 THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 199 tioD, and they were foremost in agricnltnre, trade, and commerce, in all great public measures of ntility, and in seeking the social elevation of the indostrial classes. The French, on the contrary, clnng to ancient customs, laws, and ordinances, and remained a stationary and non-progressive population. In brief, the Lower Canadians desired to acquire the legislative and administrative power to enable them to preserve their French nationality, and to shut out British immigration, enterprise, and competition. In Upper Canada, on the other hand, five-sixths of the Reform party desired to acquire administrative influence, with the view of placing the Constitution on a more secure and permanent basis, and not with a wish to overturn it altogether. They did not object to immigration, and sought to keep up with the advancing spirit of the age. They detested the Americans even more than they did the British, and only contemplated accepting aid from the former until they could achieve their independence. Such was the condition of affairs when Louis Joseph Papineau precipitated the Revolution of 1837. He wielded an immense influence, yet he had neither a good cause, good counsel, nor money to reward his friends. If he had succeeded, his policy was only a disintegrating one ; but he was destined to be worsted in his contest with Great Britain and the hardy Anglo- Canadian population. Though distinguished as an orator and a partizan leader, he had no solid qualities, and was a miserable failure in the field. He was the very opposite to Washington, whose country was ever his first thought, as it is with all true patriots. I ''^i ' i! •tiifili 200 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PBOQRESS. The eloquent agitator Papinean was forty-eight years old v 1837. He knew how to excite the passions and prejudices of his race, bat he was unable to guide them in a wise course. While he carried the Lower French Canadians with him, he had no under- standing of the people of Upper Canada, who were necessary to the success of his scheme. One of his principal supporters was a Frenchified Englishman named Wolfred Nelson. The peasantry elected them their leaders, the tricoloured flag was displayed, and mobs paraded the streets of St. Hyacinthe, St. Denis, St. Charles, and Montreal. But the Roman Catholic ' clergy now used all their influence in favour of the Government, so that the insurgents could make little headway. In consequence of a riot in Montreal, led by a French Canadian association called the Sons of Liberty, on the 12th of November, 1837, the Governor issued a proclamation directing the suppression of all unlawfal meetings, and sixty disaflected magistrates in the district of Montreal were replaced by more loyal citizens in the commission of the peace. Perceiving the crisis which was at hand. Sir John Colborne moved to Montreal, where he concentrated the troops from Upper Canada and from Quebec. Warrants were issued for the arrest of Papineau, Storrow Brown (who had led the Montreal riot), and O'Callaghan, / editor of the revolutionary Vindicator ^ on charges of high treason; but they escaped. The insurgents who assembled at St Charles were commanded by Brown ; and those who collected at St. Denis on the Bichelieu were directed by Dr. / ■w THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 201 Wolfred Kelson. Nelson came from loyal and respect- able parents; bnt being elected to Parliament for the St. Denu district^ he fell under the influence of Papineau, and enthusiastically imbibed his Republican principles. , Colonel Gore was- despatched from Montreal, with 200 infantry, a party of volunteer cavalry, and three guns, to attack St. Denis ; and Colonel Wetherall was directed to move down the Bichelieu against St. Charles. Gore reached William Henry on the 22nd, where he was reinforced by a company of infantry. All through the wintry night they marched amidst showers of sleet and rain, which froze as they fell, to St. Denis, a distance of sixteen miles. The incidents which ensued are thus described by a Canadian historian : << Meanwhile, Wolfred Nelson had been apprised of the simultaneous movement against his post and St Charles, and threw out scouting parties before day, on the morning of the 23rd, to watch the approach of the troops, and break down the wooden bridges to retard their advance. About two o*clock on the pre- ceding night. Lieutenant Weir, charged with despatches for Wetherall, had been captured by the insurgent guards, and taken to Nelson's house. He was dressed in coloured clothes, stated his name and rank with considerable reluctance, and after declining to partake either of refreshment or retire to rest, was given in charge by the doctor to ' three trustworthy habitants * to be retained as a prisoner. Shortly before day, the alarm spread far and near, and bodies of insurgent peasantry pushed rapidly in from the surrounding 'A m : 202 CANADA: ITS RISE AND FROGBESS. ;Hi(:'i|- conntry to snpport their comrades fjready in the villages, where a force of 300 or 400 men was soon collected, and posted with great judgment in bnildings flanking and covering one another. In recon- noitring the advancing troops, breaking down bridges, and taking np defensive positions. Nelson showed considerable military skill, and was evidently better adapted by natnre for a partizan leader than for a physician or a distiller. The courage of the doctor appeared in strange contrast with the cowardice of Papinean, who since his flight from Montreal had Inrked at St. Denis. Here he remained as Nelson's gnest till the appearance of the troops, when, instead of heading his misgnided followers like a brave man, and showing them that he coald fight as well as talk, he abandoned them in the moment of danger, and fled to Yamaska on the St. Hyacinthe River, whence he subsequently made his way into the United States. No excuses, no sophistry can palliate this act. No consideration should have made him desert his friends at such a time. Had he gallantly stood his ground, and borne himself like a man, the circumstance would have atoned, in the opinion of posterity, for much of his folly; whereas, the fact of his cowardly flight must stamp him with enduring ignominy. A strong loopholed or many-windowed dwelling-house, or building of any kind surrounded by others affording positions for a flanking or cross-fire, is always an admirable defensive position, when an assailing force lacks heavy artillery. Colonel Gore found this to be the case to his cost in the attack on St. Denis. The single field-gun he had been able to bring on madb THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 203 little impression on the bnildings of the village ; and although he attempted again and again, from ten o'clock in the forenoon till fonr in the afternoon, to tnrn the insurgents* position, he was completely foiled, and thought it pmdent to retreat, as the peasantry were now rapidly collecting, and he had already sustained a loss of six killed, and one officer (Captain Markham) and sixteen men wounded. Five of the latter were left behind, and treated with the utmost humanity by Nelson. After endeavouring for several hours to drag it through the horrible roads, the gun— a brass one — was spiked and abandoned. The loss of the insurgents was much greater than that of the troops, being thirteen killed and several wounded. Still, the victory was decidedly on their side, and they had effectually prevented the sheriff from executing the warrants for the apprehension of Nelson and others. But they stained their triumph by the cowardly and cruel murder of the unfortunate We:'?. When the firing commenced, his guard pinioned his arms with a rope, and put him into a cart, with the view of taking him to the rebel head- quarters at St. Charles. Possibly disliking his uncomfortable position, or fancying he might be able to make his escape, he jumped from the cart ere it had quit the village, and, as it is said, in defence of the barbarous act of his murder, struck at his guards, though how, unless with his feet, it is diScult to imagine, as his arms were still bound. In the scuffle he was mercilessly shot, sabred, hacked, and stabbed, as though he had been a mad dog, and not a pinioned and defenceless human being ; and when the wretched ■i i i ■ 1 1 1 h' .; J'i'^ t '■ I' 204 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. man, maimed and bleeding from nnmerons wonndn, sought shelter beneath the cart, he was dragged forth and foully mnrdered in the presence of a crowd of 7 spectators. No more savage act marks the whole annals of Canada. And yet one of the barbarous villains who perpetrated it was subsequently ac- quitted, at Montreal, by a perjured jury of his countrymen." Although this victory raised the hopes of the insurgents, they were speedily dashed again by a defeat of the rebels at St. Charles, where Wetherall came up with the insurgent force under Brown. Desirous to avoid the shedding of blood, Wetherall sent word that if they dispersed peaceably they should not be injured. Brown replied that, if Wetherall's troops laid down their arms, they should be permitted to pass unmolested. This proved to be a bit of braggadocio ; for before the action had fairly begun, Brown fled, leaving his followers, about 1,000 in number, to shift for themselves. Wetherall speedily captured the entrenchment, the rebel loss being about sixty killed, with a number of prisoners. Gore returned to St. Denis with a stronger force, intending to attack Nelson ; but the latter had fled. All the buildings were razed to the ground. Martial law was proclaimed in the district of Montreal on the 5th of December, and a reward of £500 was offered for the apprehension of Weir's murderers. The prompt measures taken by Sir Joho Colbome suppressed the rebellion along the Richelieu before it could receive aid from the United States. Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes, with his military and 1't ! [} THE REBELLION OF 1837-38. 205 voluuteer troops, swept the connties of the disaffected, and among the prisoners taken was Wolfred Nelson. General Colborne made a movement against St. Eastache, and on the 16th of December captured the rebel position. The loss of the insargeuts was upwards of 100 killed, about the same number wounded, and 118 prisoners. The leader, Girod, like Brown at St. Charles, deserted his followers, soon after the firing commenced, under the pretence of bringing up reinforcements ; but he was pursued for some days, and when he found it impossible to escape, he shot himself in the head a few miles below Montreal. General Colborne next received the surrender of 250 insurgents at Montreal, all of whom he suffered to depart except the leaders. On the 13th of January, 1838, Lord Gosford was recalled, and Colborne assumed the reins of the civil government until his successor should arrive. In February, a rising, under Robert Nelson — ^brother of Wolfred — and a Dr. Cote, was suppressed, and the whole force of 600 surrendered. Meanwhile, an Act was passed in the British Parliament in February, suspending the Constitution of Lower Canada, and making temporary provision for its government by the creation of a Special Council, whose decrees were to have the same force as the acts of a Legislature. At the same time, the Earl of Durham was appointed Governor- General, and her Majesty's High Commis- sioner " for the adjustment of certain important affairs affecting the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada." The Special Council met at Montreal on the 18th of April, and suspended the Habeas Corpus Act until 'A I: i 206 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. I- if t ■ Ji the 14th of Angnst following. Other protective measures were taken, which came into force at once. The Earl of Durham arrived at Qnebec on the 27th of May, assumed charge of the government, and two days afterwards issued a proclamation, briefly stating the policy he proposed to pursue. " The honest and conscientious advocates of reform and of the amelioration of defective institutions will receive from me,*' he said, " without distinction of party, races, or politics, that assistance and encouragement which their patriotism has a right to command ; but the disturbers of the public peace will find in me an uncompromising opponent. People of British America, I beg you to consider me as a friend and an arbitrator, ready at all times to listen to your wishes, complaints, and griev- ances, and fully determined to act with the strictest impartiality. If you, on your side, will abjure all party and sectarian animosities, and unite with me in the blessed woik of peace and harmony, I feel assured that I can lay the foundation of such a system of government as will protect the rights and interests of all classes, allay all dissensions, and permanently establish, under divine Providence, the wealth, great- ness, and prosperity, of which such inexhaustible elements are to be found in these fertile countries." He amply redeemed his promise. Never did any public man act more disinterestedly than Lord Durham. His celebrated report is a lasting monument of elabo- rate research, impartial scrutiny, and historical worth. Considerable reinforcements had already arrived from England and Halifax, as well as several vessels of war, and the prospect of successful revolt was now •T'*TP THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 207 more slender than ever. Still, disaffection had not yet ceased to exist, and Papfncin's partizans were already organizing another armed force with a view to the establishment of the Repnblic of Lower Canada. One of Lord Durham's first measares was to procnre an accurate return of the prisoners in the several gaols of the province, with the depositions against each, and a list of the unexecuted warrants against parties who had fled the country. The old Executive Council was next dissolved, as well as the Special Council recently constituted under the Suspension Act. A new Execu- tive Council was, however, soon appointed. A com- mission formed to enquire into the mode of disposing of Crown lands brought many abuses to light. Its report was favourable to the squatters, and recom- mended that they should be allowed the right of pre-emption. Up to the present, no persons had been tried for high treason, and large numbers still re- mained in the Montreal gaol to be disposed of. In the excited state of the public mind, it would be difficult to find an impartial jury, should they be brought to trial ; and Lord Durham's mission being one of peace, he was unwilling to resort to court-martial. In this dilemma, he had recourse to an expedient, which, being at variance with all established precedent and law, created a large amount of criticism in both Canada and England. It was determined to release the minor offenders ; and the principal ones were induced to place themselves at the disposal of the Governor-General, waiving all right to a trial. A new Special Council was accordingly summoned, in order to give its sanc- tion to the line of policy Lord Durham now determined I » .li m 208 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS, ! .1 ■ill ^^ to pursue. On the 28th of June, the day on which this Council assembled, they issued an edict banishing Wolfred Nelson, Bouchette, Gauvin, Viger, and five others of the leading insurgents, then in prison at Montreal, to Bermuda, and threatening the penalty of death on Papineau and others, if they returned to Canada without permission. This was certainly a high-handed procedure ; but, at the same time, it released the Governor-General from a serious dilemma, leaned to mercy's side, and, although it established an arbitrary and dangerous precedent, was therefore to a great extent excusable." The English Government approved of these measures ; but the Imperial Parliament annulled Lord Durham's ordinance, though it passed [an act of indemnity to shield the Governor and his Special Council from any future proceedings which might arise out of their illegal course. In Canada, the Governor's action was endorsed as being necessary, owing to the condition of the country. The acquittal of the murderers of Joseph Chartrand, a volunteer private of St. John's, in spite of the clearest evidence, as well as the acquittal of one of Weir's murderers, also did much to exonerate the Governor. After the censure passed upon him. Lord Durham resigned his position as Governor-General, leaving Sir John Colbome in charge of the government. The loss of Lord Durham was deeply regretted by the Canadians. Although his term of office had been short, he had done more for the country than any other governor, while his admirable report to a great extent paved the way for the subsequent union of the provinces. measures : THE REBELLION OF 1837-38. 209 Early in November, 1838, a second rebellion broke out in Lower Canada, headed by Dr. Robert Nelson, who was to be president of the proposed new republic. The rising was general throughout the whole district of Montreal. Martial law was again put in force, and the Habeas Corpus Act suspended. General Colborne took the field, and moved towards Napiervills, where Nelson had collected a large body of insurgents, and issued a second declaration of independence, which caused a run on the Montreal banks. The loyalist militia of Odelltown organized themselves, with the view of interrupting the communication of Nelson with House's point in his rear. They took up a strong position at La Colle Mill, where they were reinforced by the Hemmingford militia. A considerable body of insurgents under Cote and Gagnon endeavoured to dislodge them ; but they were severely defeated, and the whole body driven into rapid and inglorious flight. ''Nelson's position at Napierville now became extremely critical. In his rear was the victorious frontier militia ; while Sir John Colborne was steadily advancing against his front, with an overwhelming force of regular infantry and cavalry. He accordingly determined to fall back upon Odelltown with part of his forces, disperse the militia, 200 in number, posted there, and thus open his line of communication with the United States, so as to secure a safe retreat in case of necessity. In pursuance of this resolution, he moved against Odelltown, on the morning of the 9th, with 800 men armed with muskets and fowling- pieces, and 200 more carrying pikes and swords. U iVMM 11 V^ 1 II - m 1 ; : : :m! ^!^1 ' ■ • i,i i ' • Pi 210 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. ' i'i. i'* Forfcnnately, as this formidable force was abont to enter the village, Lientenant-Colonel Taylor, an officer sent ont expressly from England to organize the militia, arrived on the ground, assumed command of the 200 loyalists, and posted them in the Methodist chnrch, or in good position close by. Nelson began the battle at eleven o'clock by driving in Taylor's advanced picket, and then moved his force in solid column against the chnrch. The gnn captured at La Colle now did good service. Loaded with grape, its first discharge raked the advancing enemy with deadly effect, and opened a long lane through his ranks. Two other discharges were also given with success ; but the insurgents pushed boldly on, and soon compelled the gunners to abandon it, and retire to the church, on the road immediately by which it was posted. Again and again did the enemy endeavour to capture this gun ; but the militia, although harassed and fatigued by long and arduous duty, fought stoutly, swept them back with close and well-aimed volleys, and even sallied out and made repeated charges with the bayonet. For two hours and a half did the action continue, and then, repulsed in every attempt to carry the church, the appearance of a body of a hundred militia, advancing to aid their comrades on their flank, completely disheartened the insurgents, who fled in every direction — ^part back to Napierville, another across the lines into the United States. Among the latter was Robert Nelson, who, soon pro- V curing a horse, rode full speed to Plattsburg. Previous to the battle, some of the insurgents suspected he was about to desert them, and were with difficulty pre- THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 211 vented from giving him np to Sir John Colborne. He gladly seized the first opportunity, therefore, to escape from his Patriot associates, and leave them to their fate. In this action, the loss of the rehels was nearly sixty killed, besides a large number woanded. The loyalists had one captain (McAllister) and fonr men killed, and one lieutenant and nine men wounded. A considerable body of insurgents still remained at Napierville ; but on the approach of General Colboroe, they betook themselves to flight. The British cavalry, who made several prisoners, started rapidly in pursuit, and the chase was continued from daylight till the evening of the 10th." Insurgent bodies at Beauhamois and Chambly were next defeated and dispersed, and in the short space of seven days the second Lower Canadian rebellion was suppressed. It was felt that the lenity displayed towards the prisoners in the first insurrec- tion would now be entirely misplaced, and would afford no hope for the future safety of the country. As trial by jury would have proved abortive, a court-martial assembled for the trial of the captive insurgents. Twelve suffered the extreme penalty of the law, and a number of others were sentenced to transportation. As to events in Upper Canada during this critical period. Major Sir ITrancis Bond Head had been appointed Governor. Sir Francis proved a rash and headstrong governor, who sought to retain power in his own hands by pitting Reformers against Tories in his councils. As an agitator, he beat Bidwell and Mackenzie on their own ground. By votes of the Assembly, he was requested to carry out responsible '. I . ! -? i 212 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. im lr:r' mm 1 i! j^'i -fHili llll goyernment, bnt refased. He dissolved Parliament, and the Reform party were beaten at the elections. Mackenzie, Bidwell, and other popular leaders were among the defeated ; and Mackenzie now apparently gave np all hopes of redress of existing evils by constitutional means, and secretly resolved to have recourse to illegal measures to carry out his views. He issued a newspaper called the Constitution^ which did much to inflame the public mind, and pave the way for rebellion. Although Sir Francis B. Head had secured a triumph at the elections, he began to experience considerable friction with the Colonial Office. Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Secretary, directed the Lieutenant-Governor to carry out responsible government in Upper Canada, but he refused, and the Home Government hesitated in jecallini^ him. In the spring of 1837, a commer- cial crisis arose in the province, and Parliament was summoned to deal with it. Fortunately, sound maxims of political economy prevailed ; specie pay- ment was continued, the banks safely weathered the storm, redeemed their bills when presented, and thns preserved the credit of the province untarnished. But there was a storm approaching of another character. The vast majority of the Reform party were sincerely attached to the connection with the mother country, and they never dreamed that Mac- kenzie, Holph, and other popular leaders had formed the design of establishing a republic by open rebellion, thus abandoning the constitutional and legal position they had hitherto occupied for an illegal and treason- able one. Yet there was already a secret correspou- V • *l THB REBELUON OF 1837-38. 213 dence with the insurgent leaders in Lower Canada, and a line of operations had been agreed npon ; while vigilance committees were being organized, and other treasonable measures set on foot. In spite of all this, Sir Francis 6. Head himself still disbelieved in any idea of rebellion. He even sent troops away from the province, neglected to embody militia in their place, and committed the care of 4,000 stand of arms and accoutrements in Toronto to the city corporation, Mackenzie and his sympathizers, however, were making active preparations for revolt ; and when at length the Governor called oat the militia, Mackenzie in his newspaper called upon the people to rise. This being an overt act of treason^ a warrant was issued for his arrest ; but he fled before he could be appre- hended. Shortly afterwards, he was advancing to attack Toronto, at the head of a band of armed followers. Organized bands from various parts of the country had been directed to meet at Yonge Street, about four miles from Toronto, on the 7th of December. It was expected that the insurgent force would then be 4,000 strong, and the plan was to seize upon the arms in the City Hall, and to capture the Governor and his chief advisers, and hold them in safe custody. Indefinite rumours of these plans reached the Executive ; but they were discredited, and the Governor went on his course in blind security. In all probability, the city would have been captured, had not Dr. Rolph deranged Mackenzie's plans by altering the date of the attack from the 7th to the 4th. Van Egmond, an old French colonel, was i 214 CANADA: ITS tasfi AKD ^ttOGB£SS. M ' ! * I ! ? appointed commander of the insargent army, which also incladed Lonnt and other officers. At last the flames of insurrection bnrst forth, and Lientenant-Colonel Moodie lost his life in riding to Toronto to warn Sir Francis B. Head of the approach of the insurgents. Alderman John Powell had already done this, however, thoagh he had been compelled to shoot down a prominent insurgent named Anderson, who was taking him prisoner, before he could make for the city. Anxiety now prevailed where secnrity had hitherto been felt. The insargent gathering swelled to 800 men, armed with rifles, fowling-pieces, and pikes. Every preparation was made by the authorities to strengthen the weak force in the city ; but every eflbrt would probably have been in vain, had the insurgents made the most of their advantages. *^ Alarmed at the prospect of an immediate attack," remarks Macmullen, *^ and desirous to gain time, the Governor at midday sent the secret traitor Rolph and Robert Baldwin to the insurgents with a flag of truce, ostensibly to learn what they demanded. Mackenzie replied that they wanted independence ; and added that, as they had no confidence in the Governor's word, he would have to put his message in writing, and within one hour. As two o'clock approached, the insurgents advanced towards the city, and were met at its immediate borders by a second flag of truce, bringing answer that their demand could not be complied with. But their farther advance was now stayed, by the secret advice of Rolph to wait till six o'clock, and enter the city under cover of night, when the disaffected there, to the number of 600, would be THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 215 ?ili I prepared to join them. At the appointed honr they again moved forward, and when within half a mile of the city were fired upon by a picket of loyalists, concealed behind a fence, and who immediately after- wards retreated. This nnlooked-for attack produced the greatest confusion among the insurgents, who, after firing a few shots in return, were soon speeding away in disorderly flight, leaving one of their number killed, and two wounded, behind. Mackenzie en- deavoured to rally the flying mob ; but they absolutely refused to renew the attack, the majority throwing away their arms and returning to their homes. During the night, a few fresh bodies of insurgents came up ; but on the following day, Mackenzie's force, all told, had dwindled down to about 500 men. Despairing of success, Bolph had fled to the United States during the preceding night, and was speedily followed by a number of others, who had efiectually compromised themselves. Meanwhile, intelligence had spread far and wide that the rebels had advanced against Toronto. At two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. Sir Allan M^Nab learned the news at Hamilton, and immediately mounting his horse he rode to the wharf, seized a steamboat l3ring there, put a guard on board, and despatched messengers in various directions to summon loyal men to the rescue. In three hours' time, that steamer was under weigh, freighted with stout hearts and stalwart arms, to be received at Toronto with cheers, that, reverberating to Government House, told the anxious Sir Francis B. Head that the * men of Gore ' had first arrived to aid him. Next day, the loyal militia crowded in to his assistance from all directions. ■:.f 1^ I I M 216 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Villi r.T 'i rUl] and were armed and organized as well as circnm- stances would permit. Early on Thursday morning, Van Egmond arrived to take command of the insur- gents, and detached a force of sixty men to cnt off communication with Toronto to the eastward, barn the Don bridge, capture the mail from Montreal, and draw out the force of the enemy in that direction. They succeeded in capturing the mail and setting the bridge on fire ; but the flames were shortly afterwards extinguished, and no intelligence of consequence was acquired by the insurgents. Meanwhile, it having been determined to attack their main body at Montgomery's Tavern, on Gallows' Hill, every preparation was fully made by eleven o'clock. Six hundred men, with two field-pieces, formed the main column of attack, under Sir Allan M'Nab, while another force of 320 men were detached to take the insurgent position in flank. It was situated at a small wood near the road, which aflbrded partial cover to some 400 badly armed men, who still clung to the desperate fortunes of their leaders. Their defence was of the weakest kind. The fire of the artillery speedily drove them from their first position, when a few volleys of musketry and a bayonet charge put them into rapid flight, hotly pursued by the enraged militia. The loss of the insurgents wr/' thirty-six killed and fourteen wounded, while the loyalist force only sustained a loss of three slightly wounded. Little mercy was shown to the defeated, and two trembling prisoners were alone brought in, to be immediately discharged by the Governor, who subsequently directed Montgomery's Tavern, and the dwelling of Gibson, a member of the THE REBELLION OF 1837-38. 217 Assembly, and who had a command nnder Mackenzie, to be bnrned down. During their stay at Gallows' Hill, the insurgents made prisoners of fifty-four loyalists, who were treated as well as circumstances permitted of, and were not subjected to any cruelty whatever. And thus terminated the attempt to capture Toronto." By great good fortune, the insurgents had not been led by skilled and capable men, otherwise the result must have been different ; and if Toronto had fallen, the insurrection would have spread through the whole province. A reward of £1,000 was offered for the capture of Mackenzie, but he escaped to Buffalo; and rewards of £500 each were offered for the capture of David Gibson, Samuel Lount, Silas Fletcher, and Jesse Loyd, the other principal rebel leaders. Rolph had already escaped, and Bidwell exiled himself, and be- came a citizen of the United States, settling in New York city, where he acquired fame as a lawyer. Kingston and Toronto were placed in positions of defence. Conservatives and moderate Reformers alike rallied round the Government, and thousands of militia came in to proffer their loyal services. Dr. Duncombe attempted a rising in the London district ; but it was speedily quelled, and Duncombe, like other rebel leaders, took to flight, leaving his deluded followers to shift for themselves. Mackenzie got together a band of insurgents and adventurers at Buffalo — Canadians and Americans — and he and Rolph and the other members of the executive committee placed at the head of it a clever iiSi) I- i? 218 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. 'i bat nnscrapnlons person of the name of Van Rens- selaer. Mackenzie made himself ridicnlons by offering £600 for the apprehension of Sir F. B. Head. The insurgent force, to the extent of 1,000 strong, gathered on Navy Island, near Niagara. They were mostly of a worthless American type, and few responsible Canadians joined the rising. Open American aid was furnished to the so-called " Patriots," and the Caroline steamboat was employed to convey men and stores from the mainland to Navy Island. Governor Head gave permission for the Caroline to be captured, and she was gallantly boarded and taken by a detachment under Lieutenant Drew of the Royal Navy. An apology was subsequently made for the destruction of the vessel to the United States. The Legislature met in December, and suspended the Habeas Corpus Act. In January, 1838, Van Rensselaer was driven from Navy Island to the American mainland. The " Patriots," under a Scotch- man named Sutherland, next threatened Amherstbarg. They were in considerable force, and the loyal militia of the district hastily assembled to repel them. But Sutherland retreated to one of the American islands instead of beginning the attack. The militia captured the rebel schooner Annej and drove the insurgents from Point Pele Island. Meanwhile, the Home Government had recalled Sir Francis B. Head, and appointed Sir George Arthjar in his place. The new Governor arrived at Toronto on the 23rd of March. Imprisoned " Patriots " were now put on trial at Hamilton and Toronto, and the insurgents at large desisted at present from their ■n THE REBELUON OF 1837-38. 219 designs. Bat the Government distribnted troops all along the frontier, while strong positions were soon held by 40,000 of the most efficient militia in the world. Lonnt and Matthews, two leaders of Mac- kenzie's attack npon Toronto, were executed for treason, bnt mercy was shown tc» the political prisoners generally. A dastardly outrage was committed on the 29th of May, when a ruffianly gang, under one Johnson, boarded the Sir Robert Feely one of the finest steam- boats plying on the St. Lawrence, turned the passengers adrift, rifled the vessel, and then set on fire and de- )/ stroyed it. The Governor of New York State took immediate measures to arrest the perpetrators, but the leader escaped ; and he, with some others of his stamp, followed up his previous act by spoliations on land. On the 12th of November, a body of 250 insurgents, led by Von Schultz, a Polish adventurer, landed at Prescott, on the Canadian side, and took up a strong position at Windmill Point, a little distance away. Von Schultz expected to be joined by many of the Canadians, but in this he was completely disappointed. " By the morning of the 13th, a force of over 400 militia and 80 regulars had been drawn together, and, supported by the Victoria and Coburg^ armed steamers, moved forward at seven o'clock under the command of Major Young, one of the military officers sent out from England to organize the militia, to dislodge the enemy from the breastwork he had formed, by connecting the stone walls around the mill with entrenchments of earth. The ^Patriots* ! ■fir 220 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PBOORESS. • >i i I i "t I'M I 'If. i 1 5, h] fought desperately, but were gradually driven from point CO point, and finally compelled to take shelter in the stone buildings within their position, where, as the attacking force had no artillery, and the guns of the steamers made no impression on the mill, they were permitted for the present to remain. Strong pickets, however, were posted so as to prevent their escape during the ensuing night. The loss of the Canadians during this action was severe. Two officers and six men were killed, and three officers and thirty- nine men were wounded. The * Patriots ' suffered still more severely. Two of their officers and eleven men had been killed, a large number wounded, and thirty- two taken prisoners. During the battle, several boats filled with men had attempted to cross from the opposite side, but were prevented by the armed steamers. The American shore was crowded with spectators, who cheered vigorously whenever they supposed their countrymen had the advantage of the Canadians. Meanwhile, the schooners, which had sought shelter near the American shore, were taken possession of by a United States marshal, aided by some troops. The steamer United States was also seized, and the unhappy adventurers at Windmill Point left to their fate, although they repeatedly begged to be taken off. During the 14th, the enemy was permitted to retain his position undisturbed, the Experiment keeping a sharp watch to prevent his escape. On the following day, heavy artillery was forwarded from Kingston, as well as a body of troops, under Lieutenant Colonel Dundas ; but owing to some delays, these did not reach Prescott till the 'il' THE REBELUON OP 1837-38. 221 afternoon of the 16th. As night approached, the troops and militia moved forward to the assault, and being well supported by the fire of their guns, the * Patriots ' were soon driven from the dwelling-houses, and compelled to retreat to the mill. This efifectually resisted the fire of the artillery ; but its destruction being apprehended by the * Patriots,' who still numbered over a hundred, they surrendered at discretion. Several others were afterwards captured, who had hidden in the vicinity, so that 130 were taken alto- gether, of whom several were wounded ; their loss in killed was probably about fifty, there being no certainty on this point, many of the dead being burned in the buLMlngs. On the side of the Canadians, only one soldier was killed, and a few wounded in the final assault." The movement against Amherstburg, which also proved unsuccessful, was intercepted at Sandwich, a village two miles away. The insurgents were defeated. They had disgracefully stained their character by the brutal murder of Surgeon Hume, of the regular army, who happened to meet them when some of them were wounded, and ofiered his medical aid. Vengeance was quickly exacted for this by Colonel Prince, who unfortunately marred his victory by ordering four prisoners to be shot. The insurrection now died out, the last painful incident in the rebellion being the melancholy death of nineteen insurgents, who were frozen to death on the shore near Detroit. The rising having been suppressed, courts-martial assembled at Kingston and London, for the trial of the prisoners taken in arms at Prescott and Windsor. 222 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Von Schnltz, and nine others, chiefly Americans, were executed at Kingston. Three were executed at London for an outrage committed at Windsor, several were also executed in Lower Canada, and a large number from both provinces were transported to the penal settlements at New Holland. The bulk of the prisoners taken at Prescott, being under age, were pardoned, and allowed to return to their homes. The insurrection had its disastrous side in dis- locating trade and commerce, and it also involved a large expenditure to the State. The moral blame for the rebellion very largely attaches to the name of William Lyon Mackenzie. This man of restless spirit and energies had led a chequered career, and he was so unstable that he was constantly in difficulties of some kind or other. His action was such that probably the taint of insanity was already at work in his mind, for he ultimately died of softening of the brain. Like Gourlay in Lower Canada, he completely failed in his aims and intentions ; and well was it for the future of the two provinces that the projects of these two men were successfully overthrown. :\. i; I 111 CHAPTER X. UNION OP UPPER AND LOWER CANADA. THE insurrection having been quelled, in 1839 the two Canadian provinces completed the varions military works in progress. Every important defen- sive position was re-established, and the entire ('iniidian frontier from Maine to Michigan was placed in a state of secnrity. The militia was reorganized as a permanent corps, with a certain number of years* service. For Upper Canada alone, the militia army list showed 106 complete regiments ; and with a total population of 450,000, the province could readily assemble 40,000 men in arms. The regular army in Canada consisted, in 1839, of seventeen regiments of the line, one regiment of Cavalry, and a proper proj .>rtion of the Royal irtillery. Sappers, Miners, and Royal Engineers, a. naval force was also stationed on Lakes Ontario and Erie. The finances of the Upper Province were unfortu- nately in a bad condition, and the Governor drew attention to the urgency of this in openirig the session of 1839, as also to the necessity f'>r ttettling the question of the Clergy Reserves. The publication of Lord Durham's report early in tht year led to the feeling that the union of the sister provinces would 223 I I ;i ■■■'i i 224 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. I; >1 be an excellent remedy for many of the evils under which both were suffering. The Assembly passed a resolution in favour of union, but it was thrown out in the Upper House. An Act was passed giving the Government the control of the Welland Canal ; but an attempt to settle the Clergy Reserves difficulty proved abortive. Mackenzie, who was now at Rochester, was arrested, and indicted for promoting armed expeditions against Upper Canada to overturn its government. He was found guilty, and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment in the (^aul of Monroe County, and to pay a fine often doHar":: Sir John Colborne, having been appointed Governor- General of the Canadas, continued the measures necessary for their complete pacification. Being indisposed, however, by reason of his long and arduous exertions, he was recalled at his own request, and Mr. Poulett Thomson arrived at Quebec in October as his successor. The new Governor, who was subsequently created Lord Sydenham, was a very capable statesman and able financier, and a close student of human nature. Though his appointment was not received with much favour in Canada in t/;e outset, it was ultimately acknowledged that he waf one of the best governors ever sent out from England. The Home Government at length came tc the conclusion that it would be the best policy to effect a union between the two provinces, and to concede responsible government to the majority which sup- ported British rule. The Governor-General agrees! with this, and he perceived the necessity foj^ maki i St - ! ■It 238 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. and the Reform leaders were burnt in effigy. It was believed that Lord Elgin would either reftise his assent to the bill, or refer it to the consideration of the Home Government — which would have been a judicious step, in view of all that su5 sequently occurred. But on the 26th of April, in giving the royal assent to a Customs Bill, he likewise gave it to the Rebellion Losses Bill. When the Governor-General left the House, he was received with hootings by an unruly mob, and missiles were thrown at his carriage. The Assembly went on with its sittings, however, although Sir Allan M*Nab predicted a riot at any moment, and urged the calling in of the military. Owing to the imprudent confidence of the Government, no measures had been taken against a possible riot when evening set in. " Towards eight o'clock, the fire-bells were rung to create an excitement, and a large number of persons speedily assembled at the Champ de Mars, where several inflammatory speeches were made. Presently a cry was suddenly raised, 'To the Parliament House I ' Thither the crowd immediately proceeded in a state of great excitement ; and encountering neither police nor military to check their progress, their lond shouts and yells gave the first information to members, now discussing the Judicature Bill for Lower Canada, of the commencement of what was evidently a formid- able riot. A few moments more, and a shower of stones dashed in at the windows, when the Strangers' Gallery was immediately deserted. Some of the members made their escape by this gallery, while others took refuge behind the Speaker's Chair. Mean- ( t GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD. 239 while, stones continued to be thrown, till nearly all the windows were broken. Presently, this mode of attack was discontiuned, and the mob began to force their way into the building. A few soon after made their appearance armed with sticks in the Hall of Assembly, at the opposite end of which the remaining members and clerks now disappeared as rapidly as possible. One of the rioters then seated himself in the Speaker's Chair, and waving his hand said, 'I dissolve this Honse.' The work of destruction was then rapidly proceeded with. Benches were pulled to pieces, and piled in the middle of the floor, with papers from the members' desks. Chandeliers and globe-lights were next broken, and the Speaker's mace was seized and carried off, despite the exertions of the serjeant-at-arms, who had the courage to remain. Messrs. Hobinson and Gugy did their best to expel the rioters ; and Sir Allan M'Nab employed himself in saving the Queen's picture, painted by Partridge, for which £500 had been paid. Presently, the cry was raised ^ that the Parliament Honse was on fire ! ' and a lurid glare from the basement story bore painful testimony to its correctness. Several gentle- men now exerted themselves to save some of the valuable books in the library of the Assembly ; but the flames spread so rapidly, that they were soon compelled to seek safety in flight. Some of them, however, remained so long in the burning building, that they were injured by the fire, and had to be rescued with ladders. The military, who had at length been sent for, were available in keeping back the dense crowd ; but nothing could be done to arrest I !.F ' I i i I :il|: 11 ill I 240 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. the conflagration, or save the valuable libraries and public records, the destruction of which inflicted a lasting disgrace and irreparable injury on the country. The Paris mobs, in the midst of revolution and anarchy, respected public buildings, the libraries, and works of art ; and it remained for the vandalism of Montreal rioters to inflict a public injury on themselves, of a character adopted by the Saracens and Huds, and other barbarians of the Middle Ages, to punish their enemies. Some fire-engines made a useless attempt to suppress the flames, which speedily illu- minated the whole city, and threw out dense volumes of smoke, borne by the breeze towards the dark mountain, dimly visible in the background of the magnificent though painful spectacle. When the morning sun arose, the fire-charred and still smoking ruins of tne Parliament House were all that remained of a vast amount of public property, equal in value, it was estimated, to the sum about to be expended under the Rebellion Losses Bill." The mob conveyed the mace to Donegani's Hotel, and deposited it in the room occupied by Sir Allan M'Nab. Then they proceeded to wreck the Pilot office, where the Ministerial paper was printed. Next day (April 27th), the commander-in-chief. Sir Benjamin D'Urban, arrived in the city from his country seat, and made arrangements for the suppression of any future riots. Although several arrests were made, the mob insulted and beat several of the Reform members, and next attacked the Old Government House, where a Cabinet Council was being held ; but they were beaten back by a bayonet charge of the military. GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD. 241 V " After nightfall, the mob received large accessions to their nnmber, and presently a nnmeroas body moved towards the St. Antoine suburb, where they com- pletely wrecked the dwelling of the Premier, Mr. Lafoataine, and bnrned down his stables. The windows of Messrs. Baldwin's and Cameron's boarding- houses were next broken. Dr. Wolfred Nelson's honse shared the same fate, as well as the houses of Messrs. Hincks, Holmes, and Charles Wilson. Objections being made next day to the military doing poUce duty, a body of French and Irish constables were sworn in ; and the rumour that these were being armed and drilled at the Bonsecours Market, threatened for a while to produce a fresh riot. The arrival of a deputation from Quebec (the inhabitants of which had a keen eye to the removal of the seat of govern- ment to their own city) to offer protection to the Governor-General renewed the excitement, and loud threats were made of violence to its members. But during the day they prudently remained in the French suburb, and entered the city in the evening without exciting observation. The loyal inhabitants of Montreal now held a public meeting, and circulated an address, signed by 200 respectable names, inviting the citizens to co-operate in the preservation of peace and order, which had a tranquillizing effect. But a new source of public uneasiness speedily arose. During the 28th, the Assembly had agreed upon an address to the Governor-General in connection with the recent riots, and it was arranged that he should receive it at the Government House instead of at Moncklands. Escorted by a troop of volunteer 16 A mu 242 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. dragoons, and accompanied by several of his snite, Lord Elgin, accordingly, drove into the city on the 30th. He was greeted with showers of stones in the Hay- market, and in Great St. James and Notre Dame Streets with difficulty preserved his face from being injured. When he entered the Government House, he took a two-pound stone with him, which he had picked up in his carriage, as evidence of the unusual and sorrowful treatment her Majesty's representative had received. Captain Weatheral, a magistrate, read the Eiot Act, and ordered the infantry on guard to charge. But the crowd had no ill-feeling towards the military, and cheered them as they ran out of their way. They waited patiently, expecting the reappearance of the Governor-General, in order to renew their assault upon him. But instead of turning round up Notre Dame Street, he doubled on the mob, and passed rapidly along in the direction of Sherbrooke Street. Cabs, caliches, and everything that would run were at once launched in pursuit, and, crossing his route, the Governor-General's carriage was bitterly assailed in the main street of the St. Lawrence suburbs. The good and rapid driving of his postilions enabled him to clear the desperate mob, but not until the head of his brother. Colonel Bruce, had been cut, injuries inflicted on the chief of police, Colonel Ermatiuger, and on Captain Jones, commanding the escort, and every panel of the carriage driven in. It was the old war of races putting itself into a new shape, and British feeling was now venting its indignation in this riotous fashion for the imaginary triumph of the rebellious foe that had been so GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD. 243 thoroughly crashed eleven years before. Nor did the excitement terminate with the assault on the Governor- General. A deputation from Toronto was made the occasion of a Ministerial dinner at Teta*s Hotel, when the cheering of toasts was met by groans from the mob outside. Presently, missiles were thrown, pistol shots fired, men wounded, and the arrival of a strong body of military alone prevented a serious loss of life. Next day, Lafontaine's house was again attacked ; but this time a volley of musketry compelled the mob to retreat — not, however, till one man had been killed. At the inquest, an attempt was made to fire the hotel where it was being held, and to do violence to Mr. Lafontaine during the confusion ; but he was saved by a party of the 71st Highlanders." These disgraceful riots, combined with the inse- curity of life and property in Montreal, determined the Legislature to remove the seat of government to Toronto for a period of two years, and to Quebec for four subsequent years. The late serious events, as well as the personal insults to which he had been subjected, led Lord Elgin to tender his resignation to the Home Govern- ment. But the Queen and her Ministers at once expressed their entire approval of his conduct, and urgently desired him to remain at his post. Both Houses of Parliament, which had sustained the Re- bellion Losses Bill, likewise endorsed the Governor- Qeneral's conduct, and pressed him to remain. When Sir Robert Peel's Government afterwards came in, it took the same view, as did the nation at large. Canada itself began gradually to settle down again, ill 244 CANADA: ITS RISE AMD PROGRESS. i. ■ I i I f 1 though bitter feeling still continued to exist in certain Tory circles, and the city of Montreal sufifered con- siderably for its insensate action. Dissensions arose among the Reformers in 1850, one section of the party desiring to overthrow the settlement eflfected on the Clergy Reserves question, and advocating the devotion of the Reserves to secular purposes. But the Government managed to hold their own through the session. The construction of railways was proceeded with, and postal improvements introduced. In 1851, a general election took place, and among those who lost their seats was Mr. Robert Baldwin, ex-Attorney-General, whilst among the new members returned was William Lyon Mac- kenzie. A terrible fire occurred in Quebec in July, 1852, which laid a great part of the city in ashes, and rendered 10,000 people homeless. The seat of government was removed to Quebec ; and during the next three years, 1852-55, all the great questions which agitated the country were settled. A Recipro- city Treaty was concluded with the United States ; the Clergy Reserves question was settled by an act of secularization, and the foundation of a permanent endowment ; the Seignorial Tenure difficulty was adjusted ; the Canada Ocean Steamship Company was incorporated ; and a new Customs Tariff was passed. In December, 1855, Lord Elgin resigned the post of Governor-General, which had long been irksome to him. His successor was Sir Edmund W. Head, a brilliant scholar, and a man of official experience as chief poor-law commissioner. Resigning this post, he was first appointed Governor of New Brunswick, and GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD. 245 then Qovemor- General of British North America. Under Head*s rule, the adoption of the principle of Free Trade largely increased the commercial prosperity of the country. In the ranks of the Reformers, Mr. George Brown now began to occupy a conspicuous position. He was an Edinburgh man, who emigrated with his father to Canada in 1838. Mr. Brown founded the Toronto Globe in 1844, and in 1851 he was elected to the Legislature, where his abilities and industry soon gave him a conspicuous position. In February, 1856, the Conservative Ministry was de- feated. The Premier, Sir Allan M'Nab, resigned ; and the Attorney-General, Mr. John A. Macdonald, became leader of the Conservatives. After a short spell of office on the part of Mr. Tache, Macdonald became Prime Minister. The new Government an- nounced its abandonment of the "double majority" principle ; that is, a majority in their favour from both Upper and Lower Canada separately, as well as collectively. Such a principle had never obtained in Great Britain, but it had been recognized for some time in Canada. When the new Parliament met in February, 1858, at Toronto, amongst the members returned for the first time was the Fenian Thomas D'Arcy M*Ghee, who took the oath of allegiance without a murmur, and settled down into a peaceable and law-abiding citizen of Canada. Foiled in other attempts to overthrow the Government, the Reformers at length defeated it on the question of the proposed removal of the seat of government to Ottawa. The Ministry resigned, and Mr. George Brown formed a new administration. V "f 246 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. I u V He conld get no support, however, and was soon compelled to resign. Mr. Cartier, leader of the Lower Canadian majority, then became Premier, and in his Ministry were Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Alexander Gait. Intense party spirit prevailed at this time; bnt, nevertheless, many valuable measures were passed. Two special events marked the course of the year 1858. One was the successful laying of the Atlantic Cable — though it proved to be only a temporary achievement, constant communication being delayed till some years later— and the other was the death of Robert Baldwin, the Nestor of Canadian reform, who was the victim of ingratitude and contumely. After his death, his great services to the country were more fittingly remembered than they had been during his life. In the session of 1859, the question of the seat of government was finally set at rest, and it was deter- mined to proceed at once with the public buildings at Ottawa. The Victoria Railway Bridge at Montreal was approaching completion, and a pressing invitation was given to her Majesty and any member of the Royal Family to visit Canada for the purpose of the opening. An agitation was now set on foot, chiefly by Mr. George Brown, calling for a more equal government and representation of the two provinces, and the first whisperings began to be heard of the principle of confederation. When the Legislature met at Quebec in February, 1860, the Governor-General announced the Queen's regret that she could not visit the Dominion ; but she acknowledged the affectionate loyalty of her Canadian subjects, and expressed a hope that the Prince of ■'• '1 GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD. 247 Wales woald be able to open the new Victoria Bridge in her name. As the result of a Reform Convention at Toronto, Mr. Brown bronght forward resolntions condemning the existing constitutional relations of Upper and Lower Canada, declaring that the union conld no longer be continued in its present form, and affirming that the true remedy for the evils complained of was the formation of two or more local governments, and the creation of some joint authority to dispose of the affairs common to all. These resolntions were defeated by a large majority, as was also a motion of want of confidence in Ministers. The visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada in 1860 was one of the most important and auspicious events in the history of the Dominion. " From one end of the country to the other it evoked a feeling of the most loyal enthusiasm, and people of all classes and of all shades of politics now united most cordially to do honour to the Imperial representative of their good Queen. From every direction along the proposed route of progress arose the din of preparation, and city and town and village corporations voted money to decorate their localities and make fitting arrange- ments otherwise. At Quebec, a portion of the Parlia- ment buildings had been handsomely fitted up for the reception of the Prince and his suite ; and here, on the 21st of August, he was received in state by both Houses of the Legislature, headed by their Speakers, Narcisse Belleau of the Council, and Henry Smith of the Assembly, both of whom received the honour of knighthood. The festivities having terminated at Quebec, progress westward was resumed to Montreal, ? ■ ;! 248 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. where a grand ovation awaited bis Royal Highness. Ab the steamer Kingston^ which carried him and his snite, entered the harbonr, the batteries of St. Helen's Island thundered oat a royal salute, the sailors of the vessels of war manned the yards and made the welkin ring with cheers, which were taken np by the vast mnltitnde who lined the substantial wharves, while the city bells reverberated far and wide their sonorous tones of welcome. A little farther on, the current of the noble river still chafing angrily from its descent of the Lachine Rapids, was spanned by the Victoria Bridge, the idea of which first assumed tangible shape in the mind of a talented Canadian engineer, Thomas C. Keefer, to be elaborated and perfected by the genius of a Stephenson. Stretching 10,000 feet from shore to shore, with pier openings 200 feet in width, and rising in the centre 100 feet above high- water mark, to permit lake steamers to pass beneath, this colossal structure stood, the eighth wonder of the world. And this was the bridge now formally opened for traffic by the Prince of Wales, in the name of his august mother, after whom it was most fitly called. Next day, Montreal literally ran riot with joy. A grand ball collected all that was bright and beaa- Mful in the city to greet the heir-apparent of their sovereign, and night was turned into day by the blazes of illuminations and firowf "l<^s, that lit up the dark mountain-side in ^\\e background, or flashed over the broad curr- the St. Lawrence as it sped murmuringly ot iward. From Montreal, the Prince of Wales proceeded t Ottawa, where, on the Ist of September, in the presence of the Dake of ^^^m GOVERNORS PROM ^VDRNHAM TO HEAD. 249 Newcastle, the Governor-General, many of the nota- bilities of Canada, and a most brilliant suite, he laid the fonndation stone of the new Parliament bnild- ings, and subsequently shot the timber slides of the Chandi^re on the nsnal lumberman's crib. Proceed- ing np the Ottawa to Arnprior, he crossed the country by carriage and railway to Brockville, where he arrived at night, and a most brilliant reception awaited him. This loyal little town greeted him with a grand firemen's torchlight procession, with triumphal arches, fireworks, an illumination, and bonfires among the islands in the river. Embarking on board the Kingston^ the royal party proceeded next day westwards through the beautiful lake of the Thonsand Islands. But no landing was made either at Kingston or Belleville, in consequence of the Orange societies of those neighbourhoods insisting on receiving his Royal Highness with party flags, processions, and music. Further unpleasantness, in connection with the Orange body, awaited him at Toronto, where a triumphal arch on his proposed route was decorated with its flags and emblems, but beneath which he declined to pass. This raised a storm of Orange indignation against his advisers, and the Duke of Newcastle and the Governor-General were burned in effigy on Colborne Street. His progress through the Western Peninsula evoked no additional demonstrations of this nature, and the most joyous welcome everywhere awaited him. His Royal Highness finally passed, at Windsor, out of Canada into the United States, to be exceedingly well received in all the great northern cities visited by 1 ; [ { 250 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. him, and particularly at Boston, bnt to have his passage southward stopped at Bichmond, the gateway of the slave states, by insulting demonstrations on the part of its mob." The case of the fugitive slave Anderson cansed great excitement in Canada dnring the closing days of 1860. Anderson, in making his escape from bondage in Missouri seven years before, had killed a man who sought to arrest him. He succeeded in reaching Canada, where, after a long residence, he was now recognized by a Missouri slave-dealer. He was charged with murder, and his extradition demanded under the provisions of the Ashburton Treaty. After magisterial proceedings, the case was argued before the Court of Error and Appeal at Toronto, on a writ of Habeas Corpus, when Chief Justice Robinson delivered judg- ment — Judge McLean alone dissenting — to the effect that Anderson must Ve given up. Intense public feel- ing was excited, the alleged murder being regarded as an act of self-defence, and therefore no murder. Steps were being taken to bring the matter before the English Court of Queen's Bench, when Anderson was set free by the Court of Common Pleas at Toronto, on the ground of informality in his warrant of committal. The Anderson case led to a revision of the Canadian Act, enforcing the Ashburton Treaty ; and primary jurisdiction, as regarded foreign fugitives from justice, was taken from the control of ordinary magistrates, and left with judges of county courts and police justices. A census of the population, declared early in 1861, showed the total population of Canada was 2,506,765. mmmmmm ^r^ GOVERNORS FROM SYDENHAM TO HEAD. 251 Bat the most remarkable fact ' the census was the great advance revealed in the Upper Province as compared with the Lower. In 1841 the population of Upper Canada was 465,375 ; in 1851 it was 952,061 ; while in 1861 it had reached 1,396,091. On the other hand, the population of Lower Canada in 1841 was 690,782 ; in 1851, 890,261 ; and in 1861 it stood at 1,110,444. This excess of population in the Upper Province gave the supporters of representation by population fresh courage, and in the session of 1861 they renewed their efforts in the Legislature in favour of a constitutional change, but were again defeated. The session was practically fruitless in useful measures, and at the end of May Parliament was dissolved. In Upper Canada the ensuing elections resulted in a victory for the Reform party, though its leader, Mr. Brown, was defeated in Toronto by a combination of Orangemen and Eoman Catholics. At the same time, the Premier, Mr. Cartier, defeated the Rouge leader, Dorion, in Montreal East. The American Civil War now broke out ; but Canada, like Great Britain, maintained a strict neutrality. Events went on peacefully in Canada, the only incident of importance for some time being the death of William Lyon Mackenzie, the once prominent citizen, who died in great pecuniary embarrassment, and with all his political hopes shattered in the dust. Sir Edmund Head retired from the office of Governor- General in October, 1861, and Lord Monck was sent oat as his Buccessor. 1 il CHAPTER XII. CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. iii;t ! ■ THE grand idea of confederation was destined to be carried out while Lord Monck was Governor- General of Canada. The new Viceroy was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, where he was born in 1819. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was called to the Irish bar in 1841. In 1849, he succeeded to the title and estates, and three years later was returned to the House of Commons for Portsmouth. Making a good impression in the House, he was appointed a Lord of the Treasury in the Palmerston Government, and held that office for two years. It now remained to see how he would comport himself in a much wider sphere. During the early months of Lord Monck's rule, two events cast a deep shadow over the Canadian people. One was the death of the Prince Consort, which drew forth expressions of the deepest sympathy with the Queen in her great loss ; and the other was the affair of the British mail steamer I'rent, which had been boarded by Captain Wilkes, of the United States Navy, who forcibly seized Messrs. Slidell and Mason, the Confederate Commissioners. For a time, this incident threatened to cause a war between England and the United States, with consequent disturbance to 262 CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 253 the peace of Canada ; but happily the matter yielded to a peaceable adjastment. In March, 1862, Lord Monck opened Parliament at Qaebec in considerable state. After a lengthy debate on the address, business was proceeded with. On the 7th of April, an address of condolence to the Queen, on the death of the Prince Consort, was agreed to in the Upper Chamber, of which Sir Allan M'Nab was now the Speaker, and sent down to the Assembly for its concurrence, which was at once signified. As the session progressed, it became evident that the Government were losing ground, owing to the prevalence of certain abuses, the deficiency in the r^^venue, unpopular fiscal changes proposed by Mr. Gait, and other causes. On the 30th of May, they were defeated on a Militia Bill by sixty-one to fifty -four, and resigned office. A new Cabinet was formed under the leadership of Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald and Mr. L. V. Sicotte. The policy of the new Administration was announced to be — the restoration of the double-majority principle in all matters locally afi'ecting either section of the province ; the readjustment of the representation of Upper and Lower Canada respectively ; an amended Militia Law ; a revision of the tariff, so as to produce increased revenue, and afford protection to manu- facturing industries ; an Insolvent Debtors' Act ; a system of retrenchment in the public expenditure ; the maintenance of her Majesty's decision on the seat of government question ; and an investigation into certain alleged abuses in connection with the construction of the Parliamentary buildings at Ottawa. This pro- > 254 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. n y r gramme was received with much favour by almost all classes of the community ; though Mr. Brown, in the Toronto Globe^ fiercely assailed the Upper Canada sec- tion of the' Administration for not making representation by population, without any regard to a dividing line between Upper and Lower Canada, a Cabinet question, and for having yielded to French domination. In August, Sir Allan M'Nab died at his residence near Hamilton, having survived his Reform con- temporary William Hamilton Merritt but a brie/ space. One by one the links with the past generation in Canada were being severed. The Governor- General first visited Upper Canada in September, in order to open the Provincial Exhibition at Toronto. Wherever he went, he created a favourable impression by his frank bearing and genial manners. Canada now enjoyed a spell of great agricultural and commercial prosperity, and this gratifying condition of things was accompanied also by a diminution of crime. Parliament assembled at Quebec on the 13th of February, 1863, when the Legislative Council elected Alexander Campbell as their Speaker, in the place of the late Sir Allan M'Nab. The hostility of the Reformers towards the Government was soon made apparent. An amendment was moved to the address, asserting the principle of representation by population ; but this was defeated by sixty-four to forty-two. A second motion for increasing the representation of Upper Canada without disturbing the existing number of members was negatived by eighty-one to thirty- three. Still, the Government was felt to be in a position of insecurity. A measure called Scott's CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 255 Separate School Bill, wbich conceded certain privileges to Boman Catholics, awoke afresh the hostility of western Heformers, while the statement of the Finance Minister proved that Ministers had not been able to redeem their promises. Mr. John A. Mac- donald took advantage of these circumstances, and on the 1st of May moved a direct vote of want of confidence in the Government. This was carried by sixty-four votes to fifty-nine. Whereupon the Premier resolved to appeal to the country, at the same time making a reconstruction of his Cabinet, in order to appease the electors of the Reform party and the Lower Canadian Rouges. When Parliament again assembled in August, the Government were strong enough to carry their candidate for the Speakership of the Assembly, Lewis Wallbridge, by sixty-six to fifty-eight votes. They also managed to struggle through the remainder of the session, notwithstanding their financial and other difficulties. But early in 1864 the Government further lost ground by a declaration made by Mr. M'Dougall, Commissioner of Crown Lands, to the effect that he had abandoned representation by population, because he had found it to be impracticable. This highly incensed Mr. Brown and the Reformers ; and when, subsequently, the new Solicitor-General, Mr. Albert N. Richards, was rejected by his constitu- ents on his appeal for re-election, the actual majority of Ministers -in the Assembly was reduced to one. Seeing that they could not hope to continue the successful conduct of public affairs, Ministers resigned in March, and a new Government was formed under 256 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PR06KESS. 11.!' m I Sir E. P. Tache, a Lower Canadian Conservative, which included Messrs. Cartier, Gait, M'Gee, Langevin, and J. A. Macdonald. Bat its difficnlties began almost as soon as it was constituted. A factions spirit had sprung up in the Assembly, and parties appeared to be only desirous of defeating each other. Ministers having advised the issuing of an order in council reducing the canal tolls, the opposition moved a vote of want of confidence in them, which was only defeated by sixty-four to sixty-two. In June, an actual defeat was sustained on ihe question of a Govern- ment loan of $100,000 made to Montreal in 1859, the votes being — for Ministers, fifty-eight ; against, sixty. Constitutional government in Canada now seemed to have arrived at a dead-lock. Dissolutions of Parliament and changes of Cabinet had been re- peatedly tried, and yet the public business could not be carried on. The public were dismayed but helpless over the condition of affairs, while the friends of constitutional government were in a state of bewilder- ment and despair. At last, many of the best states- men on both sides came to the conclusion that the only solution of the difficulty was that suggested by Mr. Brown many years before — the scheme of a joint authority. It had been ridiculed and defeated again and again, John A. Macdonald being especially strong in his opposition to it. But Mr. Brown had an ample revenge when his political foes were brought to acknow- ledge that his plan was the only one to afford relief. "The negotiations which now ensued between the rival political leaders speedily resulted in a satis- factory understanding, based upon a project of con- CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 257 federation of all the British North American provinces on the federal principle, and leaving to each province the settlement by local legislation of its own municipal and peculiar affairs. In order to ensure the satisfactory arrangement of all the details of the project, Mr. Brown was to have three seats in the Cabinet placed at his disposal. He accordingly became President of the Council ; William M'Dougall, Provincial Secretary ; and Oliver Mowatt, Postmaster-General. Thus a strong coalition government was formed to carry out the newly accepted policy of confederation ; and although extreme parties here and there grumbled at these arrangements, the great body of the people of all shades of opinion, thankful that the dangerous crisis had been safely passed, gladly accepted the situation, and calmly and confidently awaited ''e progress of events. Never before had a coalition been more opportune. It rendered the Government of the country again respectable, elevated it above the accidents of faction, and enabled it to wield the administrative power with that firmness and decision so requisite during the trying and critical period which speedily ensued. It would, indeed, seem as if a special Providence was controlling matters for its own wise purposes, and evoking results from the ambitions and passions of partizan leaders, directly tending to elevate this country to a position of greater eminence, and to increased usefulness among the nations. The curtain fell on the Parliamentary drama on the 30th of June. But faction even yet was not wholly extinct, and soon found a prominent exponent in Matthew Crooks Cameron, who now contested 17 ' i ! 258 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. ;:'§!*'' f ;■) ; ;■;< I mi v'i. North Ontario with Secretary M'Dongall, and beat him by a hundred votes. The latter was not, however, left without a seat in the Legislature. He was subsequently returned by the thoughtful Scotch settlers of North Lanark, who gave him a large majority over a Mr. Rosamond, whose father, an Irish Conservative of the straitest school, showed his appreciation of the coalition by voting for the Secretary, and against his own son." Difficulties arising out of the American Civil War speedily demonstrated the necessity for a strong government in Canada. Perceiving no prospect of European intervention, the Confederates attempted in September, 1864, to effect a diversion in their favour from the Canadian frontier. By menacing the defence- less borders of the Northern States, they hoped to cause a war between them and Great Britain. In pursuance of this policy, Confederate bands seized two American steamboats, the Philo Parsons and Island Queen, on Lake Erie, with the immediate aesign of releasing a number of Southern prisoners confined on Johnson's Island, and of destroying the lake shipping. Although these objects were not carried out, great excitement ensued ; and this was intensified in October, when a body of twenty-three Southern refugees made a raid on the little Vermont town of St. Albans, close to the Canadian frontier, shooting an American citizen there, robbing its banks of $233,000 in current funds, and then hastily retreating across the border. The Canadian authorities promptly arrested fourteen of these marauders, who were committed to the gaol at Montreal. 1 ' CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 259 aud beat was not, ,ture. He ful Scotch 1 a large father, an »1, showed y for the Civil War a strong jrospect of tempted in heir favour he defence- f hoped to ritain. In seized two ,nd Island aesign of s confined the lake lot carried intensified Southern it town of I, shooting banks of retreating pronaptly rho were Other nnfortunate incidents succeeded. In the meantime, the bitter feelings provoked by the Lake Erie outrage and the St. Albans raid, as well as by the expression of sympathy for the South on the part of many of the Canadian /^urnals, when the vast majority of the people al -^ . *oed slavery, reacted very unfavourably on Canada, and materially tended, with other adverse causes, to the speedy abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty. The inexplicable discharge of the St. Albans raiders by Judge Coursol, of Montreal, in December, and the illegal surrender to them of $90,000 of the stolen money by the police — which the Government were subsequently obliged to repay — still further complicated matters, and increased the tension of Canadian relations with the United States. At this juncture, proposals for a confederation of the North American provinces began to assume definite shape, and to be \ lewed with favour by many British and Canadian statesmen. The union question had already been agitated in the maritime provinces, and an enlarged project of confederation was laid before the Governor-General, the several Lieutenant-Governors, and thirty-three representatives of all shades of politics, in a council at Quebec, early in October. The negotiators " proceeded to business methodically and cautiously, the representatives of each province having a close eye to its local benefits, and seeking to place its peculiar advantages in the best possible light. Canadians pointed to their vast territorial area, their national wealth, and their important population as their contributions to the proposed State ; while the m 260 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. <[r t hi, maritime pro.in'^es plamed themselves on their nohle harbours, their great merchant fleets, and their foreign commerce. In addition, Newfoundlanders set forth the value of their fisheries ftud their mines ; New Brunswickers pointed to the vigorous and growing trade they would bring into the partnership ; Nova Scotians alluded complacently to their vast coal-fields ; while Prince Edward Islanders coquettishly asserted their claims to consideration as representing the Isle of Wight of British North America. Gradually difficulties were smoothed down, local pretensions regulated, a harmonious basis of action settled upon, and resolutions adopted, on which subsequently the Imperial Act of Confederation was based." When Parliament met at Quebec in January, 1865, the Governor-General announced that her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies was prepared to introduce a measure into the Imperial Parliament to give effect to the Acts of Union which might be passed by the different local Legislatures. During the debates on the address, the divisions showed that a great majority of the Legislature supported the principle of confederation; and the question was finally disposed of by a vote of ninety-one to thirty-three. Parliament was then prorogued, in order that Ministers might put themselves into communication with the J^ome Government on this all-absorbing question. Shortly afterwards, dramatic incidents occurred in the United States. President Lincoln, the friend of the slave, was assassinated ; but the preservation of the Union was already assured. The Confederate Generals Lee and Johnston surrendered, the war was over, and CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 361 the dream of a Southern Empire had vanished. Slavery- was abolished, nor was the price too heavy to pay for the removal of this dark stain for ever from the statute books of a free people. On the 23rd of June, a second and most disastrous fire occurred at Quebec, which rendered 3,000 persons homeless, and destroyed property to the extent of $1,000,000. The narrow streets and wooden buildings of Old Quebec made the city peculiarly liable to these coDflagrations, which have been far less frequent since the building of more commodious stone structures in wider thoroughfares. The Legislature of United Canada assembled for the last time in Quebec on the 8th of August, to receive the report of the deputation to England with respect to confederation, and for the completion of public business left unfinished at the close of the previous session. The Premier, Sir E. P. Tache, had died a few days before, and he was succeeded by Sir Narcisse Belleau, a member of the Upper House. The various measures quickly passed through the House, including an Act imposing a stamp duty on notes and bills. Towards the close of the year, the seat of government was at length removed to Ottawa. Early in 1866, Mr. Brown resigned his seat in the Cabinet, on a question arising out of the Reciprocity Treaty. All the members of the Government except himself were in favour of making a good many con- cessions to the United States, and of accepting legis- lative reciprocity if they could not secure treaty reciprocity. Mr. Brown declared that he could not accept legislative reciprocity, which might be termi- -i 262 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PAOORESS. ifi '■ f i'l'U h nated at any moment by a vote of Congress, nor could he accept what he deemed to be unnecessary concessionR. As it soon afterwards appeared that neither the American Government nor Congress would agree to a renewal of the treaty in any shape which would make it acceptable to Canada, many of Mr. Brown's friends regretted that he did not remain in the Govern- ment nntil confederation had been carried through. The effects of reciprocity were thus described by a Canadian authority : " As the period drew near for the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty, Canada pre- sented a most unusual spectacle. American dealers in farm stock and produce spread themselves in every direction throughout the country, already largely denuded of saleable articles, and purchased every- thing buyable. The various international ferries were choked up continnally with vast droves of cattle, sheep, and horses, as though a hostile army had harried all Canada ; while the conveying capacity of the railways, in every direction, was taxed to its utmost limits to meet the needs of produce-buyers at th?"^ juncture. Under the provisions of the Reciprocity Treaty, the international commerce between the United States and this country had swsJled to the enormous sum of £70,000,000 per annum. Its termination produced a great disturbance of trade, and the New England States, now so accustomed to the cheap markets of Canada lying almost at their doors, were largely the sufferers, and had to look elsewhere for supplies for their manufacturing population. The brewers of New York and Pennsylvania experienced the greatest inconvenience in having their supplies CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 2G3 of Canadian barley cut off, while woollen and worsted mannfactarers found it utterly impossible to replace the long staple they had hitherto drawn so abundantly from this country ; and railway companies and produce merchants bewailed the loss of a profitable and grow- ing tributary commerce. Never before were the calcu- lations of American politicians so thoroughly at fault. They had vainly supposed that Canada could not pos- sibly survive the loss of reciprocity, that its abrogation must hasten annexation to the United States, and they hoped in this way to rid themselves of an independent and lightly taxed country lying conterminous with their northern frontier for many hundreds of miles, and never once imagined they were about to seriously injure them- selves. And yet it so turned out that the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty was much more detrimental to the United States than to Canada. Here its loss was much less sensibly felt than could have been sopposed possible even by the most sanguine, and it scarcely raised an adverse ripple on the current of our prosperity. Its operations had already swept away all surplus farm stock, trenched largely even upon necessary animals, enriched the country, and placed it in an admirable position to start forward on its own account. Instead of being tributaries and customers of the United States, the Canadians would henceforth be competitors ; and the loss of reciprocity, while it greatly tended to stimulate confederation, led the commercial men of this country to push their trade far outside its accustomed limits, and rendered the prospect of annexation infinitely more remote than it ever was before." It ■K ;i- ! I I' I lilt! I'l ]l • ■=f :■ [' :i i i . f 1; ill Li \ [. 264 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. As the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty led to no desire for annexation on the part of the Canadians, the American supporters of annexation cast abont for other means to further their ends ; and open coun- tenance began to be given to the Fenian associations in many of the principal towns in the Northern States. Military supplies of all descriptions were procured, and early in March the plan of Sweeny, the Fenian leader, was published. A series of combined move- ments were arranged for the 1 7th of March, St. Patrick's Day ; and to these threats of invasion the Canadian Government immediately responded by calling out 10,000 volunteers. In less than twenty-four hours, no fewer than 14,000 men offered themselves for the defence of the country. No Fenian advance took place on the day named ; and although there was a ludicrous demonstration of a few badly armed men, in April the agitation soon apparently died down. But as time wore on it became evident that the Fenian organization in the United States was more formidable than at first appeared to be the case. It was divided into two sections, one of which, led by Stephens and O'Mahony, contemplated a move against Ireland ; the other, the larger section, led by Roberts and Sweeny, proposed to conquer Canada in the iirst place, and to make it the base of subsequent operations against Great Britain. The American Republican leaders did more than temporize with the Fenians, in order to gain the Irish vote, and at the same time harass C-anada and Great Britain ; and the Fenian leaders were permitted to make hostile preparations without restraint. Ambitious politicians and others CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 265 contributed largely to the invasion fund, and a number of disciplined men, discharged from the American army, gladly embraced the opportunity to join the enterprise. Sweeny himself was formerly an officer in the American regular service, and he had associated with him a number of well-trained military men who had held commands in the late Civil War. In May, the Fenian ^:ader8 laid their plans for a simultaneous descent upon Canada. Three lines of operations were determined on : one from Chicago and other western cities, on the Lake Huron coast ; another from Buffalo and Rochester, across the Niagara frontier ; and the third and most formidable from the cities of the Atlantic seaboard, to organize in the vicinity of Ogdensburg. This last force was to menace Ottawa, to capture Prescott, and operate along the exposed frontier in the direction of the eastern townships. By the end of May, the city of Buffalo, at the foot of Lake Erie, swarmed with Fenian bands. On the Ist of June, a body of about 1,200 strong, under the command of General O'Neil, crossed the Niagarj: River at Bla^krock, and landed unopposed on Canadian soil. They took possession of the ruins of Fort Erie and of the depot of the Buffalo and Lako Huron Railway. But the Fenians were utterly disappointed as to a Canadian rising in their favour. Having made a purposely delusive reconnaissance down the Niagara, O'Neil quickly retraced his steps, and moved in the direction of the W Hand Canal, until he came to an elevated woodland termed Limeridge, where he constructed a temporary breast- work. Meantime, the Canadian military authorities 266 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. had not been idle. Volunteer corps were called out, and General Napier, commanding the Western District, was instructed to adopt any measures he deemed necessary. A Toronto volunteer force, under the command of Colonel Booker, a volunteer officer of no experience, was despatched to Port Colborne, at the Lake Erie entrance of the Welland Canal, to cover that important work. Another column of 1 ,800 troops, including 760 regulars and a battery of artillery, under Colonel Peacock, took up a position at Chippewa, two miles above Niagara Falls. Booker and Peacock were to unite and attack O'Neil, and in moving forward to do this Booker unexpectedly encountered O'Neil's outposts at Limeridge. He drove back the advance line of O'Neil on his main body, aiui l^ad this success been skilfully utilized a real victory might have been gained. But at the critical moment, owing to confused orders and want of ammunition, a panic ensued, and Booker's force was speedily in full retreat. It was now O'Neil's turn to take advantage of his good fortune ; but he failed to do so, and ordered a retreat on Fort Erie. He there defeated a small body of volunteers under Colonel Dennis, and made forty prisoners. " Worn out with marching and fighting, the Fenians began to understand that campaigning in Canada was not the holiday aifair they had anticipated ; and after night had set in, many of them stole down to the river, and crossed to the American shore in small boats. Meanwhile, their friends in Buffalo were making the most strenuous exertions to reinforce them ; and towards midnight a tug, towing two canal- u CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 267 boats laden with 400 well-armed men and abundant supplies, left the harbour for Fort Erie, while the lower part of the city swarmed with armed sympa- thizers, and the American authorities were powerless to interfere. But O'Neil and his officers had already given up every hope of success, and all they now desired was to escape in safety from the attack which daylight must bring with it from Peacock's column, lying on its arms a few miles distant. A small boat carried the order from O'Neil to the officer command- ing the reinforcements to return to Buffalo, and to send the tug and canal-boats to take off his force from Fort Erie. This order reached the reinforcing party when about midway in the river, was obeyed, and shortly after one o'clock on the morning of Sunday the 3rd, the bulk of the Fenian force, to the number of fully 900, without even drawing in their pickets, stole on board the boats sent for them, and were speedily on their way to the American s'aore. Before they could land, however, they were intercepted by the United States armed propeller Harrison^ compelled to surrender, and were soon anchored under the guns of the war steamer Michigan. The rest of the Fenians endeavoured to cross as best they could, some even, in their extremity, pulling the planks from the wharves, and pushing out into the current upon them. Many also escaped in small boats sent over by their friends ; while the remainder, who were probably about 200 in number, hid themselves in the vicinity, or skulked off into the bush. The prisoners they had captured were all abandoned at Fort Erie, as well as most of their dead and wounded ; I 268 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. I ;■ i and when Colonel Peacock came up on Sunday morn- ing, he found he had nothing to do beyond arresting the straggling Fenians still lingering in the neigh- bourhood, who were sent to Toronto gaol. And thus ingloriously terminated the Fenian invasion of the Niagara frontier. The New York leaders sought to conceal their chagrin at its ill success by describing it as a mere feint designed to cover a more important attack to be made elsewhere." Turning now to the important movement on Ogdens- burg and Prescott, it was completely circumvented by the rapid massing of over 2,000 volunteers and regulars at the point threatened, and by the placing of a British gunboat in the river. The Fenians tlien moved downwards, as though to attack Cornwall ; but a garrison there of 3,000 troops and volunteers convinced them of the futility of their designs. As by the 5th of June no fewer than 5,000 Fenians had congregated on the borders of the eastern town- ships, the President jf the United States could no longer ignore the representations of the British Minister at Washington, nor shut his eyes to the fact that war was being made on a friendly country from the United States. He accordingly " issued a pro- clamation callii'g on the Fenians to disperse, and commit no overt acts ; while General Meade, an honest and capable officer, was ordered to arrest their leaders and seize their supplies. In pursuance of this order, he speedily captured a large amount of arms and ammunition, which arrived by railway at Ogdensburg, and prevented the passage north of further reinforcements. On the 8th, however, a body CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 269 1- ■ of Fenians, 2,000 strong, under the command of General Spear, crossed the frontier near St. Albans, and marched three miles into the interior. There they formed a sort of camp, whence they spread out over the country, plundering every description of property which could possibly be of any use to them. But the advance of troops against them caused them to retreat across the border, where Spear and other leaders were arrested by General Meade, and the masses of mischievous men rapidly dispersed, the American Government granting them free con- veyance home on the different railway lines. Thus terminated the Fenian invasion of the Canadian frontier. The actual injury to property it produced was not of much account ; but the indirect loss sus- tained by this country — 40,000 volunteers being at one period under arms — was very considerable. No new Feri?an attempts were made against Canada. During the summer, gunboats guarded the lake and river approaches ; and troops and volunteers, stationed at every assailable point, demonstrated the folly of further efforts at invasion. Canada bewailed the death of her college youths and young men of Toronto. But their blood was not shed in vain. It speedily bore fruit ; and, in connection with the gallant manner in which a great volunteer force had sprung to arms, raised this country in the opinion of the world, and greatly stimulated the project of confederation." On the 8th of June, tlie Legislature assembled in the new Parliament buildings at Ottawa. In his opening speech, tho Governor-General said he had convened a Council of Trade, which included represen- t I I 270 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. tatives from the different provinces of British North America. The termination of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States rendered it necessary to seek new avenues of trade, and it was intended to develop and extend commercial relations with the West Indies and Brazil. He also referred to the Fenian rising, which called for protective measures. A new Tariff Bill, rendered necessary by the cessa- tion of the Reciprocity Treaty, was brought forward by Mr. Gait. It reduced the duty on the great bulk of imported goods 5 per cent., leaving the maximum rate 15 per cent., admitted articles which entered largely into the manufactures of the country free, and provided for the deficiency thus produced by increasing the import on whisky thirty cents a gallon. This tariff was not only a considerable relief to importers of foreign goods, but it largely stimulated the manufactures of the country. It passed with few modifications. The writ of Habeas Corpus was suspended for a year, the assessment law of Upper Canada was amended, and its municipal law was subjected to very important alterations, which raised the franchise in towns, and effected other changes that were well received by all classes. On the 3rd of July, Ministers brought forward resolutions in the Legislature defining the Constitu- tions of Upper and Lower Canada respectively, under the proposed Confederation Scheme, and these resolu- tions were subsequently embodied in the Imperial Bill. The American Congress, still angling after annexation, passed a measure granting facilities for the admission of British North America into the American Union as CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 271 3118 was iw was four separate States, and providing for the assumption of their public debt by the General Government. The bill completely failed, and its overtures were treated by the Canadian people with indifference and contempt. Before the summer ended, another disastrous fire occurred at Quebec, which resulted in the whole of the St. Roch suburb, and likewise much of that of St. Sauveur, being burnt down; 2,119 houses were destroyed, and upwards of 20,000 persons were left homeless. This disaster, which scattered a large portion of the population, combined with a serious decline in the commerce of Quebec, quite paralyzed the city for a long time to come. In the autumn, the Fenian trials took place at Toronto, when the grand jury ignored many of the bills against the prisoners. In a large number of cases, however, true bills were found, and the prisoners were convicted and sentenced to death ; but the sen- tences were afterwards commuted by the Queen to a period of imprisonment in the provincial penitentiary. The great confederation project now moved towards its final consummation. In December, delegates from the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick assembled in London to arrange the final terms of the Act of Union to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament. The Earl of Carnarvon, the Colonial Secretary, introduced the measure on tlie 7th of February, 1867, in the House of Lords. It quickly passed through its various stages, and was sent down to the C-ommous. There likewise it passed with few amendments, and on the 28th of March it 272 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. received the royal assent and became law. A bill was next day brought forward in the Commons, to guarantee a loan of £3,000,000 sterling for the Inter- colonial Railway, and this duly went through its various stages and became law. Her Majesty then issued her royal proclamation, appointing the 1st of July as the day on which the Dominion of Canada should begin its new existence, at the same time nominating its seventy-two senators. The British North America Act of 1867, better known as the Confederation Act, " gives jurisdiction to the Provincial Governments over administration of justice (except in criminal matters), municipal, and all purely local affairs. In the territories, not yet constituted into provinces, there is a small elective body or house who select a financial committee to assist the Lieutenant-Governor. These territories are also represented in the two Houses of the Dominion Parliament. The Central or General Government of the Dominion is administered by a Governor-General, with the assistance of a Ministry responsible to a Parliament, composed of a Senate appointed by the Crown, and a House of Commons elected under an electoral franchise, practically the very threshold of universal suffrage. This Government has jurisdiction over trade and commerce, post office, militia and defence, navigation and shipping, fisheries, railways and public works of a Dominion character, and all other matters of a general or national import. Education is under the control of the Provincial Governments, but the rights and privileges of a religious minority with respect to separate or de- CONFEDERATION OF THE PROVINCES. 273 nominational schools are protected by the Constitution. The common law of England prevails in all the provinces except in French Canada, where the civil law still exists. The criminal law of England obtains throughout the Dominion. The Central Government appoints all the judges, who are irremovable except for cause. Although the Constitution places in the Central Government the residue of all powers not expressly given to the provincial authorities, con- flicts of jurisdiction are constantly arising between the general and local governments. Such questions, however, are being gradually settled by the decisions of the courts — the chief security of a written Constitu- tion — although at times the rivalry of parties and the antagonisms of distinct nationalities and creeds tend to give special importance to certain educational and other matters which arise in the operation of the Constitution. All these are perils inseparable from a federal constitution governing two distinct races. The appointment of the Governor-General by the Crown, the power of disallowing bills which may interfere with Imperial obligations, and the right which Canadians still enjoy of appealing to the judicial committee of the Queen's Privy Council from the subordinate courts of the provinces, including the Supreme Court of Canada ; the obligation which rests upon England to assist the colony in time of danger by all the power of her army and fleet, together with the fact that all treaties with foreign powers must be necessarily negotiated through the Imperial authorities, will be considered as the most patent evidences of Canada being still a dependency of the Empire." 18 1 n M r ! ■ * 274 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. The great scheme of confederation answered ad- mirably in welding the populations of the various provinces into one harmonious whole, and in ensuring the prosperity and progress of the Dominion. British Columbia, which includes Vancouver Island, entered the Canadian Confederation in July, 1871. The province is represented in the Dominion Senate by three members, and in the House of Commons by six. The Provincial Government is represented by a Lieutenant-Governor, appointed and paid by the Dominion, and a Legislative Assembly of twenty-seven members, elected by the inhabitants. Education is compulsory, and free between the ages of seven and twelve. This province, with its magnificent if rugged scenery, was isolated from the rest of the Dominion until the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. Its commerce is now increasing rapidly, and lines of steamers pass between Vancouver and Hong Kong. Prince Edward Island entered the Confederation in 1873. It is situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and is separated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by Northumberland Strait. Free education has pre- vailed in the province since 1853. The government of the island is administered by a Lieutenant-Governor, appointed by the Governor in Council, and paid out of federal funds. The Legislative Council consists of thirteen members, and the Assembly of thirty members. In the Dominion Senate the province is represented by four members, and in the House of Commons by six. I^ t X (ft CHAPTER XIII. THE RED RIVER REBELLION. CANADA was greatly agitated by two important occnrrences in 1869-70. The first was another Fenian raid from the United States, which happily proved a fiasco, and the other was the formidable rising known as the Red River Rebellion. The restless Fenian adventurers who congregated in some of the great cities of the American Union subsisted by contributions from Irish immigrants who were hostile to the rule of Great Britain. In May, 1870, these people began to collect in arms under the so-styled general, O'Neil, at two points on the frontier, between Canada and New York and Ver- mont States respectively. The United States, although charged by Canada and her friends with supineness in allowing these armed bands to as- semble, acted with singular promptitude when the alarm respecting their movements was given. On the 23rd of May, the intended rising was reported at Washington. On the 24th, the President issued a proclamation, stating that he had received information of the preparation of illegal expeditions against the people of Canada by inhabitants of the United States, and that all participation in or furtherance of such 276 v^ .^v^ ^-^^.^. >, *■ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l^|Z8 |25 >^ 1^ 12.2 ^ ^ Mam I 1^ 1 2£ IJil 1 1.25 II 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" ► HiotogFEiphic Sdfflices CorpOTation 33 WBT MAIN STMIT WIUTH.N.Y. I4SM (716)a7a-4S03 .^<^ >^^ ^ 276 CANADA: ITS RISE AND ':'ROORESS. n^;^l! :! \i\. ■lit ^ jl;* j ii! I proceedings wonld forfeit the protection of the United States Government, and render the promoters amen- able to justice. However, the first body of Fenians, under 0*Neil in person, crossed from Vermont in considerable strength. On the 25th, General Meade was despatched from Philadelphia to the frontier, bnt the necessary work had been accomplished before he arrived. The Fenians had been repulsed at Williams- town by a detachment of the 69th Regiment and some Canadian volunteers, nnder General Lindsay. One man was killed. The Fenians were just ninety minutes on Canadian soil. As soon as O'Neil re- crossed the frontier, he found the United States marshal, Forster, in waiting, who arrested him after some show of resistance, and carried him ofiP in a carriage. On the 27th, another band, under a Fenian leader named Gleeson, crossed the border from Malone; but these too were easily repulsed, also with the loss of one man only, and in their flight Gleeson and others were captured by the American authorities. The prisoners were placed in confinement to await their trial for a breach of the neutrality laws. For his action in this matter. President Grant received an expression of satisfaction from the British Government through Mr. Thornton, the British Minister. The Fenian leaders were tried in the course of the summer, and received sentences of imprisonment, bnt with recommendations to mercy, which were subsequently acted upon ; while at the same time a stringent proclamation against future raids was issued by the President. The Red River Rebellion demands explanation in THE RED RIVER REBELLION. 277 greater detail, because of the circnmstances which gave rise to it. " The Hndson*s Bay Company, under their charters from Charles II. and other anthorities, had enjoyed powers of proprietorship and exclusive trade in the vast region north of the American boun- dary-line, 49° north, to the Frozen Ocean. Early in this century, the great projector, Lord Selkirk, had established in the extreme south of this region, and close to the American line, a colony of mixed French Canadians, chiefly half-bred, and English and Scotch descendants of servants of the Company, in a strip of fertile land on the banks of the Bed River flowing from what is now the American State of Minnesota iiito Lake Winnipeg. These people, though estab- lished under a very rigorous winter climate, increased to the number of some 8,000 or 10,000, living on the rich agricultural produce of their short summer, and on trade with the surrounding Indians. They inhabited, perhaps, the most secluded spot ever reathed by European colonists, in the exact centre of the North American Continent equidistant from the Atlantic and Tacific east and west, and from the mouth of Mackenzie's River and that of the Mississippi north and south. The Company sent them supplies by way of a long land journey from Hudson's Bay, itself inaccessible from ice except for three months in the year. The nearest American railway station is distant from them about 600 miles ; the western end of Lake Superior, in Canada, about 400 ; all between them and these points is wilderness of prairie and of forest This insulated community had been ruled after a fashion by the Company under a * Governor of ! i ( m Mr i ■• ■•U'» PF ^1 51 •if ! ^ fS I .III ! I* - 7- 278 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Assiniboia' and a Recorder. Bat they had always been tronblesome subjects. In 1869, the Company had sncceeded in effecting an arrangement for parting with all their general territorial rights in Rupert's Land (that is, their dominion east of the Rocky Mountains) to Canada for £300,000. This cession, of course, included the Red River." The Canadian Ministry, of which Sir John Mac- donald was Premier, at once took measures to assume possession of the country, where they proposed to establish a provisional government. These measures are thus described by the Hon. J. G. Bourinot, in his recent volume on Canada : " Mr. William M'Dougall, a prominent Canadian Liberal, one of the founders of confederation, always an earnest advocate of the acquisition of the North-West, was appointed to act as Lieutenant-Governor as soon as the formal transfer was made. This transfer, however, was not completed until a few months later than it was at first expected^ and the Government of Canada appears to have acted with some precipitancy in sending surveyors into the country, and in allowing Mr. M'Dougall to proceed at once to the scene of his proposed government. It would have been wise had the Canadian authorities taken measures to ascertain the wishes of the small but independent population with respect to the future government of their own country. The British as well as French settlers resented the hasty action of the Canadian authorities. The half-breeds, little acquainted with questions of government, saw in the appearance of surveying parties an insidious attempt to dispossess them eventually of their lands, to which THE RED RIVER REBELUON. 279 many of them had not a sound title. The British settlers, the best educated and most intelligent portion of the population, believed that a popular form of government should have been immediately established in the old limits of Assiniboia as soon as jit became a part of Canada. Some of the Hudson's Bay Company's employes were not in their hearts pleased at the transfer, and the probable change in their position in a country where they had been so long masters. Although these men stood aloof from the insurrection, yet their influence was not exercised at the com- mencement of the troubles in favour of peace and order, or in exposing the plans of the insurgents, of which some of them must have had an idea. The appearance of Mr. M'Dougall on the frontier of the settlement was the signal for an outbreak which lias been dignified by the name of rebellion. The iusurgents seized Fort Garry, and established a pro- visional government, with Mr. John Bruce, a Scotch settler, as nominal president, and Mr. Louis Riel, the actual leader, as secretary of state. The latter was a French half-breed, who had been superficially educated in French Canada. His temperament was that of a race not inclined to steady occupation, loving the life of the river and plain, ready to put law at defiance when their rights and privileges were in danger. This restless man and his half-breed associates soon found themselves at the head and front of the whole rebellious movement, as the British settlers, while disapproving of the action of the Canadian Government, were not prepared to support the seditious designs of the French Canadian M^tis. Biel became president, li !! 280 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. h -i II i ;' I '■ ■ \ t. :' ; 'i-iili ■ ; .r and made prisoners of Dr. Scbaltz, in later times a lientenant-governor of the new province, and of a number of other British settlers who were now anxioas to restore order and come to terms with the Canadian Government, who began to show every disposition to arrange the difficulty. In the meantime, Mr. M'Dongall issned a proclamation which was a mere hrutum fuXmen^ and then went back to Ottawa, where he detailed his grievances, and soon afterwards disappeared from pnblic life. The Canadian authorities by this time recognized their mistake, and entered into negotiations with Red River delegates, representing both the loyal and rebellious elements, and the result was more favourable for the immediate settlement of the diffi- culties. At this critical juncture, the Canadian Government had the advantage of the sage counsels of Sir Donald Smith, then a prominent official of the Hudson's Bay Company, who at a later time became a prominent figure in Canadian public life. Chiefly through the instrumentality of Archbishop Tache, whose services to the land and race he loved can never be forgotten by its people, an amnesty was promised to those who had taken part in the in- surrection ; and the troubles would have come to an end, had not Riel, in a moment of recklessness char- acteristic of his real nature, tried one Thomas Scott by the veriest mockery of a court-martial, on account of some severe words he had uttered against the rebels* government, and had him mercilessly shot outside the fort. As Scott was a native of Ontario, and an Orangeman, his murder aroused a widespread feeling of indignation throughout his native province. THE RED RIVER REBELUON. 281 The amnesty which was promised to Archbishop Tach6, it is now quite clear, never contemplated the pardon of a crime like this, which was committed subsequently." The Canadian Government now decided to act with resolution, and the British troops in Canada furnished a contingent for immediate action. One battalion of infantry, two of Canadian militia, and a small party of artillery and engineers were selected for the pur- pose, under the command of Colonel Garnet Wolseley, now Lord Wolseley, the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. "The expedition which followed — in the summer of 1870 — though not exciting the same public interest, very much resembled in its general character that against Theodore, King of Abyssinia, in 1868, and illustrated in like manner the power of endurance, resource, and discipline of trained men employed in a very trying service. Between the head of Lake Superior and the Red River, about 500 miles were to be passed of country without a road (one had been projected by Canada, but a small portion of it only was even marked out), a region composed of thick forest, swamp, bush-covered rocks, and small lakes of intricate navigation. The route is described by a member of the expedition as * forty-eight miles by road through the forest to Shenandowan Lake, and thence about 310 miles by rivers and lakes, with about seventeen portages to the Lake of the Woods. Some of these portages were more than a mile in length ; and when it is remembered that all the boats, stores, etc., required for the expedition had to be carried by the soldiers over these breaks in the navi- gation, an idea can be formed of the phygical labour 'J ; I I I t i \ i m .!! mt 282 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. which such an operation would entail. From the Lake of the Woods to Fort Garry was about 100 miles in a direct line by hand ; but there was only a road made for about sixty miles of that distance, the unmade portion being laid out over most difficult swamps ' ; and ultimately it was necessary to avoid the difficulties of this last portion by a circuitous movement down the Winnipeg River. The expedition reached Fort Garry, the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company, and now of Riel and his rebel followers, on the 23rd of August. They were welcomed enthusiastically by the loyal party, and met with no opposition from the dis- affected. Riel had disappeared : the latest accounts represent him as having taken refuge, with a consider- able amount of plunder which he had collected, in the neighbouring American territory. The British force did not experience the loss of a single man, thanks in great measure to the foresight and sagacity with which the whole enterprise was conducted. *It had to advance,' says an eye-witness, ' from its point of dis- embarkation on Lake Superior, for more than 600 miles, through a wilderness of water, rocks, and forests, where no supplies were to be had, and where every pound weight of provisions and stores had to be trans- ported for miles on the backs of soldiers. . . . The total expense was under £100,000, of which one-quarter only was to be paid by England. There was no reck- less waste in either material or money .... It may be safely asserted that no such distance has ever been traversed by an efficient brigade, numbering about 1,400 souls, in any of our numerous little wars, at such a trifling cost.' » »» THE RED RIVER REBELLION. 283 Order having been re-established, the province of Manitoba was constituted, and added to the Dominion of Canada. Manitoba was given a complete system of local government, with guarantees respecting educa- tion, as in the old provinces. The first Lieutenant- Governor was Mr. Adams Archibald, a Nova Scotian lawyer, and a statesman of distinction. Representa- tion was given to the province in the two Houses of Parliament. The vast territory outside of the new prairie province was subsequently divided into six districts for purposes of government — Alberta, Assini- boia, Athabasca, Keewatin, and Saskatchewan. In the great northern unsettled districts, four new pro- visional districts were marked out in 1896, under the names of Franklin, Mackenzie, Yukon, and Ungava. During the last twenty years, Manitoba has made remarkable progress from the agricultural point of view, but its political history has beea comparatively uneventful. i 1! CHAPTER XIV. THB DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. BEFORE tracing the farther progress of Canada, it will be fitting here to make some refer- ences to the men who, both before and since con- federation, bore so large a share in the making of the Dominion. First, in point of time, was the Hon. George Brown, an able bnt sometimes injudicious statesman. Earnest and eloquent, and possessing wide financial and political knowledge, he was responsible during his career for the raising of many difficulties which almost made government for a time impossible. Prior to the union of 1867, both in speech and through his news- paper, the Toronto Globe^ he attacked French Canada and its institutions with great bitterness, and thereby aggravated the racial antagonisms. Yet it must not be forgotten that it was largely through his advocacy of confederation, when the plan was most fiercely assailed, that this great boon was eventually secured. Mr. Brown died from a wound he received at the hands of a reckless printer who had been in his employ, and grateful Canadians erected a fine monu- ment to his memory in Queen's Park, Toronto. Sir George Etienne Cartier was the leader of the Liberal-Conservative party, and it was through his 284 THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 285 inflnence that the French Canadian race came to be a real factor to be reckoned with in Dominion affairs. He was distinguished for his sound sense and excel- lent judgment in times of national difficulty and danger. He died in 1873, and was awarded a State faneral ; while a statue was raised to him on one side of the Parliament buildings at Ottawa. Mr. Alexander Mackenzie was a statesman who raised himself from the humble position of a stone- mason to the highest place in the councils of the country. A Liberal in politics, he had a thorough knowledge of Canadian questions, and was Premier from 1873 to 1878. But the statesman who held the most prominent position in the public eye for fully a generation was Sir John A. Macdonald, the leader of the Conservative party after the death of Sir Allan M'Nab. With exception of Mr. Mackenzie's four years of office above-mentioned, Sir J. A. Macdonald was Premier of the Dominion from 1867 till his death in 1891. He has been described as the most successful states- man that Canada has yet produced, both on account of his long tenure of office, and of the importance of the measures which he was able to carry during his remark- able career. Both in physical features and statesman- ship he has frequently been compared to the Earl of Beaconsfield. " A lawyer by profession," says the Hon. J. G. Bourinot, speaking of Sir John Macdonald, " but a politician by choice, not remarkable for originality of conception, but possessing an unusual capacity for estimating the exact conditions of public sentiment, and for moulding his policy so as to satisfy that I I! ■J I f 5 ^'f* r HA ill IX I i "■ Wi.i It 286 CANADA: ITS RISE AMD PROGRESS. opinion, having a perfect nnderstanding of the weak- nesses and ambitions of hnman nature, believing ^bat party success was often as desirable as the trinmph of any great principle, ready to forget his friends and purchase his opponents when political danger was imminent, possessing a fascinating manner which he found very useful at times when he had to pacify his friends and disarm his opponents, fully comprehending the use of compromise in a country of diverse nation- alities, having a firm conviction that in the principles of the British Constitution there was the best gnarantoe fur sound political progress, having a patriotic con- fidence in the ability of Canada to hold her own on this continent, and become, to use his own words, ' a nation within a nation,* — that is to say, within the British Empire, — Sir John Macdonald oiFers to the political student an example of a remarkable combina- tion of strength and weakness, of qualities which make up a great statesman and a mere party politician, according to the governing circumstances. Happily, for the best interests of Canada, in the case of con- federation the statesman prevailed. But his ambition at this crisis would have been futile, had not Mr. Brown consented to unite with him and Cart'Vr. This triple alliance made a confederation possible on terms acceptable to both English and French Canadians. These three men were the representatives of the antagonistic elements which had to be reconciled and cemented." On Sir John's death in 1891, a State funeral was awarded to the deceased, and statues were afterwards erected to his memory in the cities of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, and Kingston. THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 287 That at Ottawa is oa the opposite side of the Parlia- ment bnildings to the statne of Cartier. On the occasion of the Queen's great Jubilee, Lady Macdonald was created a peeress in her own right. To these names worthy of remembrance should be added Sir Charles Tupper and Sir Leonard Tilley, the Premiers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, who co- operated with the statesmen of i\ ^ upper provinces in the successful formation of the Confederation. Among other names of men prominent as Liberal leaders in N h m i I , The qnestion of commercial union between the United States and Canada caa 3 on for discussion in the Dominion House of Commons early in April, 1888. The motion for unrestricted reciprocity was rejected by 124 to 67 votes. The Government amendment carried was to the effect that Canada was desirous, in the future as in the past, of cultivating and extend- ing trade relations with the United States, in so far as it might not conflict with the national policy of Canada. At a later date, the Government arranged with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for the cp.ncellation of its monopoly clauses, on terms satis- factory to Manitoba. An abortive conference was held at Ottawa, in June, between Canada and New- foundland, to discuss the question of the entry of the latter into the Confederation. Lord Monck, who was Governor-General at the time of the passing of the Confederation Scheme, resigned in 1868, and was succeeded by Lord Lisgar, who held the ofiice for four years. Lord Dufferin became Governor-General in 1872, and his brilliant admini- stration was signalized by the remarkable development of the province of Manitoba. His lordship resigned in 1878, and was followed by the Marquis of Lome, who held the office for five years, during which he and the Princess Louise were popular with the people. The Marquis of Lansdowne held the appointment from 1883 to 1888, when he was succeeded by Lord Stanley of Preston, who resigned on succeeding to the Earldom of Derby in 1893. His successor was the Earl of Aberdeen, who has just resigned this high ofiice. The province of Quebec was greatly agitated by a series of official scandals in 1891-92. Towards the THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 295 close of the former year, Mr. A. P. Bradley, Secretary of the Railway Department, was dismissed for having drawn a year's pay for his son as a clerk in his department while the latter was actually attending college. Soon afterwards the Royal Commission issued its report on the Chaleur Bay Railway Scandal, and Mr. Mercier's Cabinet was at once dismissed, Mr. Mercier protesting strongly against the proceed- ing as arbitrary and nnconstitntional. A new Cabinet was formed, with Mr. de Boucherville as Premier and President of the Council. A further charge was now preferred against the late Mercier Administration. It was discovered that letters of credit for $60,000 had been issued for stationery, while only $10,000 worth had been supplied. In January, 1892, a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into the alleged corrupt practices during Mr. Mercier's Premiership. A civil action was likewise entered against Mr. Pacaud to recover $100,000 of the Chaleur Bay Railway subsidy, but this was dismissed. It was soon stated that another batch of letters of credit had been discovered by the Quebec Government, pledging the credit of the province for a year in advance to the extent of $300,000. The majority and minority reports of the Chaleur Bay Commission were made public in February. The President, Judge Jette, a Liberal, exonerated Mr. Mercier and all his Ministers, and only condemned Mr. Mercier's political agent, Pacaud, and the ;contractor, Armstrong. The other judges, Baber and Davidson, both Conservatives, unreservedly condemned Mr. Mercier and Mr. Langelier, ex-Secretary. The elections in Quebec resulted in the signal defeat of Mr. Mercier, 296 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. \\\ lb rl' *i. fifty-three Government members being returned and only seventeen Liberals, including Mr. Mercier, who now resigned his seat, and issued an address to his friends, announcing his retirement into private life. He next voluntarily executed an assignment of his estate for the benefit of his creditors ; but on the 9th of June, he and Pacaud were committed for trial, on the charge of conspiracy to defraud. The charge against Messrs. Pacaud and Langelier was dismissed ; but two fresh charges of fraud were brought against Mr. Mercier, in connection with the Hereford and the Montreal and Ottawa Railways. Judge Chauvean committed Mr. Mercier for trial on all three of the charges brought against him. No bills, however, were returned on the indictment against him of malfeasance as to the Hereford Bailway subsidies, and against Mr. Pacaud of bribery. Eventually, in November, both Mr. Mercier and Mr. Pacaud were acquitted of the various charges of malfeasance brought against them. Another scandal which caused much comment arose out of a charge brought against the Postmaster-General for the Dominion, Sir A. P. Caron, of having em- ployed money from railway subsidies for electioneering purposes. A Royal Commission was appomted by the Dominion House of Commons to investigate the matter. But in September, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Edgar, refused to proceed before the Royal Commission with his charges against Sir A. P. Caron, on the ground that the charges had been changed by the Government so as to no longer include his original allegations of fraud and conspiracy. With regard to Imperial matters, the 250th anni- THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 297 versary of the foundation of Montreal was celebrated in May, 1892, with great ceremony. In August the province of Ontario kept the 100th anniversary of its existence, the proceedings taking place princi- pally near Niagara, where the Legislature of the province met after its creation. In the Dominion Parliament, the Hon. G. Foster, Finance Minister, stated that the outcome of the conference with the United States was to make it clear that unrestricted reciprocity must inevitably lead to the annexation of Canada. At a later date, all idea of reciprocity between Canada and the States was quashed by a message sent by President Harrison and the Senate, urging Congress to retaliate against Canada for what he called the persistent denial of the rights of American citizens, guaranteed by the Treaty of Washington, in connection with the navigation of Canadian canals. A bill was afterwards passed to prevent Canadian vessels from passing through the Sault Sainte Marie Canal. In the Canadian House of Commons, the following resolution was adopted by ninety-eight to sixty-four votes : " That when the Parliament of Great Britain admits Canadian products to the British markets on more favourable terms than it grants to foreign products, Canada will be prepared to extend corresponding advantages of reduction of duties to British manu- factured got Is." It was afterwards resolved to open negotiations with the Imperial Government to secure a fuller representation of Canadian interests at Washington and in other countries, where it should be found desirable and consistent with proper relations between Great Britain and Canada. A Redistribution : J i i i 1 i K i 1 d ■ 4 ( i J i ' hi *il s ni ('Mi 298 CANADA : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. of Seats Bill was carried throagh the Dominion Legis- lature during the session, which took away a seat each from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and two seats from New Brunswick, and gave two new seats to Manitoba. In the session of 1893, when introducing the Dominion Budget, the Finance Minister said that free trade was imjx>ssible in Canada ; but the Government were in favour of giving preference to all places within the bounds of the British Empire, and of a fair measure of reciprocity with the United States. A Ministerial crisis arose through the action of Mr. Wallace, the Comptroller of Customs, who publicly promised that the Canadian Orangemen would assist Ulster to resist Home Rule. The Ministry, though not in sympathy with their colleague, had a narrow escape from a hostile vote. A great Liberal Convention, attended by nearly 2,000 delegates from all parts of the Dominion, was held at Ottawa in June, the Hon. Wilfrid Lanrier presiding. Tariflf reform on the basis of revenue only, and reciprocity, were indicated as the leading planks in the Liberal platform, as against the Conservative principle of protection. The convention also declared in favour of an elective Senate. Much interest was manifested this year by a new commercial development ; namely, the opening up of a new steamship route to Australia and New Zealand via Vancouver and Honolulu. The Canadian Pacific Railway were to act as the agents of the new line in Europe, Canada, and the United States. The advertised time of the through train from Montreal THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 299 to Vancouver was reduced by fcwenty-four hours, the journey now occupying only five days. Fiscal and commercial measures were again the chief points of discussion in 1894. Sir John Thompson, in the course of a speech delivered at Picton, Nova Scotia, said that the Government were in favour of reducing the tariff to as low a basis as was com- patible with the revenue requirements. He had no hope of obtaining a reciprocity treaty from the United States Democrats ; but for every step taken by them in abolishing or reducing duties on Canadian products, the Canadian Government would take corresponding steps to make trade between the two countries freer ; always, however, having regard to Canada's revenue requirements, commercial independence, and the bonds of attachment uniting her to the mother country. In the Dominion Parliament, a new Tariff Bill was introduced by the Government on March 26th, with the object of imposing only ad valorem duties on im- ported goods in place of the existing system of mixed specific and ad valorem duties. Reductions were proposed on many goods imported from Great Britain. The new tariff scheme passed, and the reductions in the import duties had a favourable effect on commerce, as had also the passage of the Wilson tariff in the United States. An Intercolonial Conference was held at Ottawa in June, when the Governor-General, Lord Aberdeen, received the delegates. A loyal address to the Queen was first adopted, and then the confer- ence devoted itself to the practical work of devising means for providing commercial intercourse between all parts of the empire. i-'i ■■>; 'f 1 I I ! ii II #lil i Ui8;i? Ill \ \< 'H !i M 300 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Sir John Thompson, the Dominion Premier, visited England in December, 1894, for the purpose of dis- cassing, amongst other things, the qnestion of Canadian copyright. He died suddenly, however, on the 12th of that month, at Windsor Castle, whither he had been summoned to have an audience of the Queen, and to be sworn of the Privy Council. On the receipt of this melancholy news in Canada, the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell succeeded in forming a new Ministry, which met with general approval. An Imperial man-of-war conveyed the remains of Sir John Thompson to the city of Halifax, where an official funeral was given to them, the ceremony being attended by all the chief officers of the Dominion, and by an immense number of people gathered from all parts of Canada. The appointment of this highly esteemed statesman on; the Paris Court of Arbitration had been regarded by the Canadians as a direct acknowledgment of the importance of the Dominion in Imperial councils. The Dominion Parliament had many important matters before it in the session of 1895. In February, the Minister of Trade stated that the tenders for laying the proposed Pacific cable had been received, and that the lowest amount was £1 ,51 7,000. The route suggested was from Vancouver to Fanning Island, Fiji, and Norfolk Island to New Zealand and Australia. A subject which caused great dissension at this time was one known as the Manitoba Schools Question. In March, the Governor in Council declared that the rights and privileges enjoyed by the Roman Catholic minority in Manitoba in relation to education prior to the 1st of May, 1890, were prejudicially affected by Acts passed by the Provincial Legislature in that year, and that a THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 301 provincial law shonid be passed re-enacting the pro- visions of the law in force prior to May, 1890, so as to remove the grievances of which the Catholics com- plained. The Acts of 1890 had abolished the exist- ing separate Protestant and Catholic sections of the School Board, and brought all the school districts, both Protestant and Catholic, nnder one system of free and non-sectarian schools, supported by the proceeds of a public school rate. Schools not conducted in accordance with this system were expressly excluded from all share in the grants. The Roman Catholics appealed, with the result above stated. But the decision of the Government immediately raised both a Catholic V. Protestant and a Province v. Dominion question. Sir Charles H. Tupper, the Minister of Justice, maintained that the proper constitutional course was a dissolution, and therefore resigned office. He was afterwards, however, prevailed upon to return. The Manitoba Provincial Government declined to comply with the remedial order of the Dominion Government, and pointed out the difficulty, which amounted almost to an impossibility, of maintaining separate schools in so large and scattered a country. The Dominion Government then announced that it would not take any further immediate steps ; but if no amicable settlement could be arrived at before, it would bring forward legislation to remedy the griev- ance of the minority by the ensuing January at the latest. This caused the resignation of Mr. A. R. Angers, the Minister of Agriculture, who wished for remedial legislation at once ; but the House, by 114 votes to 70, endorsed the action of the Government. The financial difficulties of Newfoundland revived M \i -^ V 'i---:-^l 302 CANADA: liS RISE AND PROGRESS. the idea of the union of that colony with the Dominion, and a conference was held between Dominion and Newfoundland delegates, which it was stated resulted in the basis of a union. But the negotiations subse- quently fell through, as the Whiteway Government of Newfoundland found themselves unable to bear the financial burdens which would still be left to them under the Canadian terms. The Royal Commission on Prohibition, after sitting for two years, reported against the abolition of the liquor traffic, and recommended instead its curtailment, with the prevention of adulteration, and a system of high licences. The Dominion House of Commons rejected a resolution in favour of Women's Suffrage bv 105 to 47 votes. In October, 1895, the Dominion Government issued a proclamation setting apart various unorganized por- tions of the Dominion into provisional districts. The territory east of Hudson Bay, having the province of Quebec on the south and the Atlantic on the east, was designated as Ungava. The territory embraced in the islands of the Arctic Sea was named Franklin, the Mackenzie River region Mackenzie, and the Pacific Coast territory lying north of British Columbia and west of Mackenzie, Yukon. The extent of Ungava and Franklin is undefined, Mackenzie covers 538,600 square miles, and Yukon covers 225,000 square miles, in addition to 143,000 square miles added to Atha- basca and 470,000 to Keewatin. In the course of a special interview, " General " Booth laid his plans for the establishment of an agricultural Salvation Army colony in the North- West THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 303 Territory before the Governor-Genei-al, the Cabinet, and the permanent officials ; and he warmly urged his request for a grant of public land and money. The matter was reserved for further consideration. The great difficulty in the session of 1 896 was again the Manitoba Catholic Schools Question. Ministerial changes occurred in January ; Sir Mackenzie Bo well still retained the Premiership, however, but being joined by Sir Charles Tupper, senior, and others. The Manitoba Schools Remedial Bill was introduced into the Dominion Parliament, giving the Catholics the right to establish denominational schools under strict guarantees as to their efficiency. The measure was fiercely contested, one sitting alone lasting for 129 hours. The Premier announced his resignation, the bill was not carried, and Parliament was prorogued. Sir Charles Tupper became Premier, and Sir Donald Smith was appointed High Commissioner in England. The elections, which were held in June, resulted in a crushing defeat for the Conservatives. They only succeeded in returning 86 members, as against 118 Liberals and 8 Independents. The great change took place in Quebec, which, in spite of all the pressure applied by the Roman Catholic hierarchy, and the strict episcopal injunctions to vote for the Conservative party, went almost solidly Liberal. The education question had much to do with the result, which was a triumph for civil freedom over clerical influence ; but tariff reform was also an important factor in the contest. Sir C. Tupper and his colleagues resigned, and Mr. (now Sir) Wilfrid Laurier took office with a strong Liberal Cabinet, including no less than I : 'H- m is , I"' « 8 I .1 ' , 1 r M.r' I rH::!|| li :; * 1 fi; 5.-^ 304 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. five provincial ex-Premiers. In September, a com- promise as to the Manitoba Schools Question was proposed between the Dominion Government and the Manitoba Ministry. It was suggested that provision should be made for voluntary religious instruction in the schools by the clergy of the different Churches after school hours, and that a fair proportion of Catholic teachers should be appointed in those schools which were attended by many Catholic children. A remarkable outburst of loyalty occurred in the Dominion House of Commons on the 23rd of September. A reference to the Queen led to the whole House joining in singing, " God save the Queen," and giving three cheers for her Majesty, whose reign had then exceeded in length that of any other British sovereign. It is interesting to note the position of political parties in Canada. The two leading divisions are known by the old and familiar titles of Conservative and Liberal. From the date of confederation, in 1867, the Liberals were only in power once, until their signal victory in 1896. In this latter struggle, the Conservatives were led by Sir Charles Tupper, and the party advocated protection and preferential trade, if possible, with Great Britain and the Colonies, new steam and cable services, the strengthening of the defences of the Dominion, and the redress of the grievances of the Catholics with regard to the Manitoba Schools. The Liberals, led by Mr. Wilfrid Laurier, advocated fiscal reforms in the direction of free trade, modified only by revenue requirements, the extension of the franchise, the enlargement of the trade of Caiiada; ^nd a policy of non-interference with pro- THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 305 vincial politics, especially with regard to Manitoba. A third party, the McCarthyites, seceded from the Conservative party, on account of the administrative scandals a few years ago, and advocated parity of administration. A fourth party, the Patrons of Industry, formed practically the Labour party. The eight Independent members returned at the elections of 1896 were, on the whole, supporters of the Liberals. So intense was the feeling which still remained over the Manitoba Schools Question, that the Roman Catholic bishops of Quebec interdicted the Liberal paper the Lecteur ; but a new organ, the Soleil, was immediately issued to take its place, with the Premier as one of its directors. The Lecteur was denounced solely because of the support it gave t() the Manitoba Schools settlement in opposition to the Roman Catholic hierarchy. This settlement, which had been arranged shortly after Mr. Lanrier's accession to power, was approved by the Legislature of Manitoba on the 18th of March, 1897. Only five out of the forty members present voted against the measure which was introduced to carry out its provisions. The attitude of the Roman Catholic clergy, however, especially in Quebec, remained uncompromisingly hostile. Every means of influence, even a threat that those who voted against the wishes of the Church should be refused burial in consecrated ground, was brought to bear, but in vain. The electorate generally stoutly claimed their political independence, and in spite of the clergy returned candidates who approved the settlement. When the provincial general election took place throughout Quebec in May, fifty-three 20 u !i if ■ I ■ ?M 306 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. Liberals were returned, and only twenty Conservatives and one Independent. The provincial election in Nova Scotia also resulted in a great triuniph for the Liberals, only three Conservatives being returned against thirty- five Liberals. In consequence of the galling effects of an Alien Labour Law, put into force against Canadians by the United States, the Dominion House of Commons now took similar and retaliatory measures. The Finance Minister for the Dominion, Mr. W. S. Fielding, brought in his Budget on the 22nd of April, estimating the revenue for the year at $37,300,000, and the expenditure at $37,900,000, the deficit being attributable to the fiscal policy of the previous Govern- ment. But the great feature of Mr. Fielding's Budget speech was his epoch-making announcement on the question of the tariff. Ho stated that the Government had resolved to maintain the existing tariff, but freed from some of its enormities and injustices, and to a large extent from specific duties, for those countries which were not prepared to deal favourably and on reciprocal terms with the Dominion. They would, however, set up a preferential tariff which would apply at once to Great Britain, and to any other country that should afterwards grant reciprocal terms to Canadian products. With regard to the general tariff, specific duties were abolished in numerous instances — for ex- ample, iron, clothing, woollens, and glass ; while they were largelj reduced in others, such as textile fabrics ; but the duties on luxuries were increased. The following were the important resolutions dealing with the preferential tarifi'. On all the products of ■;* THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 307 the countries entitled to tJie benefits of this reciprocal tariff, the duties mentioned in schedule (a) of the general tariff shall be reduced as follows : Until the 30th of June, 1898, inclusive, the reduction shall in every case be one-eighth of the duty mentioned in the general tariff, and the duty to be levied, collected, and paid shall be seven-eighths of the duty mentioned in the schedule. On and after the 1st of July, 1898, the re- duction shall in every case be one-fourth of the duty mentioned in the schedule, and the duty to be levied, collected, and paid shall be three-fourths of the duty mentioned in the schedule : provided, however, that these reductions shall not apply to any of the following articles ; namely, ales, beers, wines, and liquors, sugar, molasses, and syrups of all kinds, the production of the sugar-cane or the beetroot, tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes. The foregoing would apply to Great Britain immediately; and as regards other countries, the application would be p:overned by this resolution when the customs tariff of any country admits the products of Canada on terms which on the whole are as favour- able to Canada as the terms of the reciprocal tariff herein referred to are to the countries to which it may apply. Articles which are the growth, product, or manufacture of such country, when imported direct therefrom, may then be imported direct into Canada, or taken out of the warehouse for consumption therein, at reduced rates of duty, provided in the reciprocal tariff any question that may arise as to the countries entitled to the benefits of reciprocal tariff shall be decided by the Comptroller of Customs. During the debates on the tariff, Mr. Fielding stated ilijf ' i! If h Mm i I : 'If: '■■ !'■: If 5: , ii.' M M I (I. 1 f ^ 1 ' ^ 1 ' ; : 1 , .;i , J.; i ' : ' '< ' B - * i E ' ' - H 1 ■ UBi 11 i 308 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. that, though the Government still held that the German and Belgian treaties with Great Britain did not apply to Canada, yet they had inserted a clause in the Tariff Bill empowering the Governor in Council " to extend the benefits of such reciprocal tariff to any country which may be entitled thereto by virtue of any treaty with her Majesty." At a later date, the Imperial Government, in the interests of the tariff policy of the Dominion, denounced the existing com- mercial treaties with Belgium and Germany, finding that they interfered with the desire of the colony to give preferential treatment to Great Britain. This decision was hailed throughout Canada with satisfac- tion and approval. The Dominion Cabinet next found themselves compelled to extend the operation of the preferential clause of the tariff, which had already been applied to Great Britain, New South Wales, France, Belgium, and Germany, to the other countries entitled to it under the most-favoured-nation treaties — namely, Spain, Eussia, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway ; but these countries were to cease to be so entitled during 1898. The passing of the new tariff soon began to exercise a beneficial effect upon the commerce of the Dominion. The Government sent a representative to Europe to enquire into the best methods for developing the exports of Canadian agri- cultural produce. Railway extension was vigorously proceeded with, and the Dominion benefited consider- ably by the increased demand for timber in Great Britain, a very large proportion of the increase con- sisting of increased shipments from British North x\ merica. THE DOMINION SINCE CONFEDERATION. 309 Intense excitement prevailed in Canada in Jnly, owing to the wonderful discoveries of gold reported from the Klondike district in the North-West Terri- tories, and the Yukon Territory generally. As the new gold-fields were in remote and inclement regions, the Government issued emphatic warnings as to the dangers from cold and starvation to which miners going thither exposed themselves. A royalty was imposed on the out-put of placer diggings, and every alternative claim in placer grounds was reserved as Government property. The Klondike discoveries and mining developments generally made for increased trade, while the arrangements for establishing a new weekly fast steamship service between the Dominion and Great Britain were expected to tend in the same direction. In the course of 1897, the status of a province was conferred upon the North-West Territories, and a Ministry was accordingly formed with Mr. F. W. Haultain as Premier. On the occasion of the Queen's great Jubilee in 1897, there were loyal demonstrations throughout Canada. The Governor-General attended a review at Ottawa, and was present at other loyal gatherings in honour of her Majesty. Popular enthusiasm was everywhere displayed. The Colonial Premiers were invited to visit England for the Jubilee celebrations, and among them was the Dominion Premier, Mr. Wilfrid Laurier. He and the other Premiers were received at Windsor by the Queen, who conferred upon them the honour of knighthood. The Colonial Premiers subsequently visited Mr. Gladstone at Hawarden. ; \ n h ■rii fn ill - CHAPTER XV. THE CANADA OF TC-DAY. HAVING brought down the history of Canada to the present year, something now remains to be said concerning the extent and the physical charac- teristics of the Dominion, its resources, commerce, government, constitution, and people. The Dominion of Canada embraces all the upper portion of the North American Continent except Labrador, which belongs to Newfoundland, and Alaska, which belongs to the United States. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the west by the Pacific and Alaska, on the east by Newfoundland and the Atlantic, and on the south by the United States. Its total area is 3,456,383 square miles. Magnificent harbours and sheltered bays abound on both the Atlantic and Pacific shores. Hudson Bay, which is connected with the Atlantic by Hudson Straits, is really an inland sea with an area of 350,000 square miles, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence is 80,000 square miles in extent. A recent writer points out that the most striking physical features of Canada are the Rocky Mountains, the Laurentian Range, and the chain of immense fresh-water lakes. The Laurentian Range is about 3,500 miles in length, and extends along the 310 <" THE CANADA OF TO-DAY. 311 north side of the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa River, stretching thence away to Lake Superior and the north. The range varies in height from 1,000 to 3,000 feet. The eastern and north-western portions of Canada are well timbered ; bnt to the westward of the Red River there is an immense fertile plain, suitable for agricaltnre and grazing, extending almost to the Rocky Mountains. The highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains are Mount Brown, 16,000 feet, Mount Murchison, 15,789 feet, and Mount Hooker, 15,700 feet ; and the average height of the whole chain is from 7,000 to 8,000 feet. With regard to the lakes and rivers of Canada, the system of the St. Lawrence alone — with its great lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario — drains an area of no less than 330,000 square miles. Between Lakes Erie and Ontario are the famous Falls of Niagara. The area of the lakes themselves is about 90,000 square miles ; and Lake Superior and Lake Ontario, with their out- let, form the greatest fresh-water way in the world. Among other important lakes may be mentioned the Great Slave Lake, 12,000 square miles, the Great Bear Lake, 10,000 square miles, and Lake Winnipeg, 9,000 square miles. With regard to the climate of Canada, the cold in winter and the heat in summer are greater than in Great Britain ; but the climate is a healthy one, be- cause the air is always dry, bracing, and exhilarating. British Columbia is thought to possess the finest climate in North America. All the grain and fruit crops grown in England flourish in Canada ; and in the southern part of the Dominion, many species ■.' I I' f I- K" I 'J . ! til u^< \>r ^ 1 i IE i* «! '.: ItIi 312 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. rained in England under glass — snch as grapes, peaches, melons, and tomatoes — ripen in the open air. The area of the various districts and provinces of Canada is as follows : Ontario, 144,600 square miles — not including some disputed territory ; Quebec, 193,355; Nova Scotia, 21,731 ; New Brunswick, 27,322 ; Prince Edward Island, 2,133 ; Manitoba, 60,600 ; British Columbia, 390,344 ; Provisional districts — Assiniboia, 89,700 ; Saskatchewan, 106,700 ; Alberta, 106,500 ; Athabasca, 105,500 ; remaining territory, about 2,200,000. Canada is almost as large as the whole of Europe, and about 600,000 square miles larger than the United States without Alaska. The province of Ontario, which contains the capital of the Dominion, is the best, the wealthiest, and the most thickly populated of all the Canadian provinces. It is a splendid agricultural region, and one well adapted for stock raising. A traveller through Canada thus describes the province of Quebec, the old home of the French : " The great River St. Lawrence runs through this province from the head of ocean naviga- tion to the gulf of the same name, thus giving the country a most commanding commercial position. The scenery on the banks is always pleasing, and sometimes even magnificently grand, especially among the thou- sand islands. The climate is very healthy, the winter being cold and the summer of about the same average warmth as that of France. The dryness of the winter air renders the frequent extreme cold of that season not nearly so unpleasant as it would otherwise be, while the snowfall is even welcomed by the farmer as form- ing a warm covering for the ground, and enabling him THE CANADA OF TO-DAY. 313 to draw his firewood and other * produce * to market with ease on sleds. On the other hand, while the climate is in winter not more severe than that of some of the Western Prairie States in America, the summers are freer from ague, which is the scourge of most parts of the American Continent below a certain latitude. Quebec and Montreal, both old French towns, and still maintaining a good deal of that Old World appearance , which is so rare in America, are the chief cities of the province. The first, which has a population of between 60,000 and 70,000, is the capital of the province; while the latter, with a population of 216,000, is the com- mercial metropolis, and, indeed, the chief port in British North America. To travellers from Europe, Quebec will always have the greatest interest. It has historic associ- ations which few of the other Canadian towns possess, and the man must be deficient in sentiment who can visit the Heights of Abraham, or walk under the shadow of its battlements, without memories that take him far back to the days when the Briton and the Frenchman fought here for the mastery of the New World. Quebec is essentially a French city of two hundred years ago." Taking a sketch now from the Manitoba region, we read : " The prairie land passes into woodland in various localities to the north of the Saskatchewan, to reappear in higher latitudes. On Peace River, there are extensive prairies with extremely rich soil. In other localities there is an agreeable mixture of wood- land and prairie, and this character of country appears to prevail as far as Hay River, 400 miles north of the River Saskatchewan. Although the prairie region is of vast extent, it is not at all fertile. A very large area i I p M 1 I I .i .! K i ! I iH: \ii »• „Mi *» h Ml r : ' *•' ; ' ■ ] 1^ 1 1 ; ;V;i^- ^ > r 314 CANADA: ITS RISE AND rKOORESS. adjoining the boundary of the United States, midway between Manitoba and tht Rocky Mountain Zone, is arid and unfavourable for agriculture. In other quarters, a great breadth of rich pasture and cultivable land exists. The province of Manitoba is in reality a mere speck of the vast North-Western Territories, or Rupert's Land, out of which it is formed. It contains, neverthe- less, about 9,000,000 acres, mostly prairie, consisting of rich alluvial soil, so clear that a ' buggy * can be driven for 1,000 miles over fertile lands capable of growing wheat and other vegetable products, in per- haps as great perfection as any other portion of the temperate North American Continent. Along the banks of the streams wood abounds, and the natural prairie is covered with rich nutritious grasses. The summers are hot, and the winters colder even than in other portions of Canada ; but both seasons are very healthy. Snow disappears and ploughing commences in April, while the crops are harvested in August. The regular frosts seldom set in later than November, while Red River is rarely open for navigation earlier than the end of April. There are thus in Manitoba, as in the rest of the colder portions of Canada, two seasons — the summer, which is the period of activity, and the winter, a time when the settler rests from his labours. Professor Daniel Wilson remarks, that early in April the alders and willows of the Saskatchew^aa country are in bloom, and the prairie anemone then covers the northern ex- posures to the very verge of the retreating snow. May is hotter than in the provinces along the banks of the St. Lawrence ; but the nights are cold, and even during the period of the greatest heats the cold night breeze THE CANADA OF TO-DAY. 315 brings heavy dews, and begets a pleasant change after the sultry hours of daylight. To use the language of the Rev. Professor Bryce, a resident of the province, * The juuctnre of the seasons is not very noticeable. Spring glides superbly into summer, summer into fine autumn weather, which, during the equinox, breaks up in a series of heavy gales of wind, accompanied by rain and snow. These are followed by that divine after- math, the Indian summer, which attains its true glory only in the North-West.' " With regard to Canadian life in its general aspects, the traveller from whom we have already quoted says : " The people of that country differ in many respects from those of the United Sta! 'is and of England. They have an accent of their own — partaking of the general Transatlantic drawl — and in their character they have also some features which at once stamp them as a race not yet out of the gristle period, but hardening into the bone of manhood. The men are equally energetic in business with those of the United States, but are capable of greater physical exertion. They bear the reputation, perhaps undeserved, of being exceedingly careful of their money, though, possibly, a little more scrupulous in obtaining it than some of their neighbours over the border. Sweeping censure, like sweeping praise, is, however, always dangerous, and in some cases utterly erroneous. Accordingly, it may be as well not to generalize upon premises which will un- doubtedly be declared erroneous, no matter what con- clusions they may lead to. It cannot, at least, be denied that the Canadian women are as healthy in appearance as the men are robust. The true * American ' woman i ?'1 I ,, , i"- "'4 :rt. '*5! 316 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. 'iiay be pretty, bnt she soon fades, and she is ageing at thirty. The Canadian girl is, on the contrary, like the English woman, in her prime at that period, and, being addicted to out-of-door exercise, maintains her freshness longer. She walks on snow-shoes, *tra- bogens ' and * rinks ' out of doors, while inside her daily domestic duties take so much of her time that she indulges in little of the lassitude and languor which unfortunately too often afflict her American sister. The moral character of the people is high. In the town, there are rogues, as there always are in large communities. In the country, the people are orderly and peaceable. Farmyards are rarely enclosed. Timber lies all winter on the banks of the stream, ready to be floated down when the ice disappears, and yet it is perfectly safe from depredation. In the farmhouse bolts and locks are unnecessary, while the farm imple- ments lie in the field, and the stock often wander all summer through the woods till the autumn, when each owner claims his own. Education is free and com- pulsory, the teachers being paid by a school tax levied on every citizen, while every ratepayer over twenty-one is entitled to a vote. Lastly, it may be added that the * manifest destiny ' of Canada to go over to the United States is not believed in, except by a very small section of the country." The population of Canada amounted, in 1897, to about 5,200,000. The French number 1,415,090, or 29 per cent. ; and the Indians number about 100,000. The federal capital, Ottawa, has a population of 44,154 ; and the populations of the other chief cities are as follows : Montreal, 216,650 ; Toronto, 181,220 ; Quebec, I THE CANADA OF TO-DAY. 317 63,090; Halifax, 38,556; St. John, 39,179; and Winnipeg, 25,642. Some years ago there were by descent— 1,298,929 French Canadians ; 957,403 Irish, 881,301 English, 099,863 Scotch, and 9,947 Welsh- total, British population, 2,548,514 ; Germans, 254,319 ; Indians, 108,547 ; Dutch, 30,412 ; the rest of the population being cosmopolitan, and including Africans Swiss, Chinese, Scandinavians, Italians, Russians, Spanish and Portuguese, and Icelanders. The language generally spoken is English ; but in some parts of the province of Quebec, French is the only language understood. In the Dominion, Quebec, and Manitoba Parliaments, members may address the Houde in either language. lu the city of Quebec, French is the official language, as it is that of nearly all the inhabitants. The fortunes of the Indians, who are now greatly diminished in numbers, are still followed with deep interest. Nearly all the survivors are to be found in the eastern provinces, in Manitoba and the North-West, and in British Columbia ; but there are now very few Indians of pure blood in the older provinces. Although they are proving amenable to civilizatica, and e re chiefly engaged in industrial and agricultural occupations, many still follow hunting and fishing as a means of livelihood. Those who possess the necessary property qualifications have enjoyed the franchise since 1886. The education of the young is being encouraged by the establishment of schools. The Indians are supervised by the superinteu J at-general of Indian affairs, which office is held by the Minister of the Interior, a member of the Dominion Cabinet ; and the Qovernment expen i I i I! I- '5 I . 1 ^n; 1; \.) IB A I 318 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. diture for the Indian service is upwards of $1,250,000. The public revenue of the Dominion for 1896-97 was £7,323,720 ; the expenditure, £7,389,830 ; the exports, £26,822,796 ; the imports, £22,276,000 ; and the net public debt, £52,073,000. Canada enjoyed a system of free and unsectarian edu- cation long before the establishment of Board Schools in England. Good education is widely diffused through- out the Dominion, and the highest prizes the country offers are open to all, rich and poor alike. The principal universities are those of Toronto, McGill at Montreal, Laval at Qaebec, Queen*s at Kingston, Victoria at Coburg, and Dalhousie at Halifax. There are numerous scientific and historical societies, and both literature and science are now advancing by rapid strides. There is no State Church in Canada, though the Roman Catholic Church in the province of Quebec enjoys still the privileges of collecting tithes, etc., which it possessed previous to British rule. The strength of the chief religious bodies is thus estimated : Roman Catholics, 1,992,017; Methodists, 847,765; Presbyterians, 755,326 ; Church of England, 644,059 ; and Baptists, 303,839. As regards social matters in the Dominion, local option prevails with regard to the liquor traffic ; marriage with a deceased wife's sister has been legalized since 1882 ; religious liberty prevails, and there are fewer class distinctions than in the mother country ; in addition to free education, there is a free and liberal franchise; members of Parliament are paid for their services ; the Parliaments are quinquennial ; and there is no system for lega- THE CANADA OF TO-DAY. 319 lizing pauperism, though the aged, the sick, and the orphan are looked after. The public lands are under the control of the various local governments, except in the case of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, where the lands are retained by the Dominion Government, the object being by sale, etc., to refund the money expended in acquiring the territory, and in constructing the Canadian Pacific Railway. The forest products constitute one of the most important sources of wealth, though live stock, agricri!ti:;ral produce, and manufactures play no un- iuiport; ' part. The mineral deposits are practically inexhaustible, especially coal, iron, copper, and gold. The fisheries on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are very valuable. There are sixty-five main lines of railway working in the Dominion, with a total mileage of 16,091. The Canadian Pacific and the Grand Trunk of Canada Railways are the two principal systems. Touching the constitution and method of govern- ment, the Federal Parliament is modelled after that of the United Kingdom, though the Upper House con- sists of 81 scn'.iiGTf* nominated for life by the Governor in Council — V. \ frora Ontario, 24 from Quebec, 10 from Nova Scoti , 10 fiom New Brunswick, 4 from Mani- toba, 3 froTU Bn fsh Columbia, 4 from Prince Edward Island, itnd 2 froia the Territories. The House of Commons consists of 213 members, elected on a popular suftrage— 92 from Ontario, 65 from Quebec, 20 from Nova Scotia, 14 from New Brunswick, 6 from British Columbia, 5 from Prince Edward Island, 7 from M; nitoba, ad 4 from the North-West Territories. The limits '^ federal and provincial jurisdiction are !;J im 320 CANADA: ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. regnlated by the Britisa North America Act of 1867, which formulated the Constitution of the Dominion. 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By the "^Author of " Dick and his Donkey." Jiiiuiy's Q«ffanium| or, The Pris« flower of « Lendoo Gottt CATALOGUE OF NEW (^ POFUIAR WOR KS, 13 OHB ■HILMMe MWAKD BOOll {foniintiti^ 9Uai*m Ditoovery ; or, On the Edge oT a Desert By T. M. Browne, Author of *' Dawaoo*s Madge," etc. lAtHe Bunch's Charge ; or, True to Trust By Nellie C(»nwaU. Antiior of *'TainSn Rosewame." etc. Iiosln^ fluid Finding; or, The Moonstone Ring. By Jenme Chappell. Author of ** Who wm the Culprit ? " etc. Xdttle Woodman and his Dog GsMar (The). By Mn. Sherwood. Littlo Bugler (The) : A Tale of the American Cii^ War. By George Munroe Royce. New Edition. Lady Betty's Twins. By E. M. Waterworth, Author of. "Master Lionel," " Twice Saved,'* etc. Marjory; or, What Would Jesus do? By Laura A. Barter, Antbor of " Harold ; or, Two Died for Me." llarion and Augusta; or, Love and Selfishness. By Emma Le^e, Author of " Ellerslie Houses" etc. Old Ooggles ; or, The Brackenhurst Bairns* Mistake. By M. S. 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'\ By I Annie Uvinir it Down. By Laon M. Lane. Eaglehurst Towers. By lin. emma Marshall. Without a Thouarht \ j,Si, Sing.jChapiM Her Saddest Blessing, ^i^^w Fine Gold; or, Ravenswood Courtcnay. By Emma Blarshall. Thi adorn ean also be had in fancy doth, price i«. M CHBIP RBPBIKTS OF POPULIB 8T0R1B8 PCR THB YOPBB. Crown 8«o. \^ pages. Illustrated, Cloth boards, li. each, *Claire ; or, A Handred Years Ago. By T. M. Browne, Author of ** Jim's Discovery," etc *Tlie Minister's Money. By Eliza F. Pollard, Author of " True unto Death," etc *Nobly Planned. By M. B. Manwell, Author of •« Mother's Boy," etc q *Hev Two Sons. A Story for Young Men and Maidens. By Mrs. Charles Gamett Rag and Tag: A Plea for the Waifs and Strays of Olcl ^jEngland. By Mrs. E. J. Whittaker. Through Iiife's Shadows. By Eliza F. Pollard. The lattle Princess of Tower Hill. By L. T. Meade. OIoTie and Madge. By Mrs. G. S. Rcaney. The Safe Gompass and How it Points. The Best Things. Rays fipom the Sun. BllersUe House : A Book for Boys. By Emma Leslie. Manohester. House: A Tale of Two Apprentices. By J. Capes Story. Iiike a Little Candle; or, Bertrand's Influence. By Mrs. Haycraft. Violet Maltland ; or, By Thorny W.iy3. By Laura M. Lane. Martin RedCsm's Oath. By Ethel F. Heddle. Dairyman's Daughter (The). By Legh Richmond. Hcy. j Dr. Net Newton 'ttaetive mnd CATALOGUE OF NEW a* POPULAR WORKS, xs #•• omohm PICTUM BOOKS FOB TBI TOPH0. '^ Fa^4ib. fFiM ColpurnI Covtr$» mul FmB of tttHaimHomB, *]li]|g o* Rotas : Pictures uid Stories for Little Folks. ByUnde Jack, Anthor of "Fiolie and Fun,** etc Four FoU-pagt eoloiued ud munooai other niastntions. ^Holiday Joys: Stories and Pictures for Girls and Boys. By C D. M., Anthor of ** Meny Pl-iymates," etc. Foor fuU-iMge CMonred end nnmeroos other Illustrations. FroUo and Fun: Pictures and Stories for Every One. By Unde Jade, Anthor of " Follow the Druni,'' etc. Foor ftll-iMge cMonred and nnmeroai other lUuttntioiM. Mony Plsymatos: Pictures and Stories for Little Foik» By C. D. M., Anthor of " Br^tnew and Beauty^" etc. Fonr full'page coloured and numerons other IllastratioM. Follow tho Dram : Pictures and Stories for Cheerful and Glum. By Uncle Jack, Anthor of " Bright Beams and Happy Scenes," etc. Four (ull.page coloured and numerous other illustratioiM. Off and Away : Pictures and Stories for Grave and Gaj, By C. D. VLt Author of '* tightness and Beauty," etc. Fonr full-paft ououred, and numerons other lUnstrations. Bible notores and Stories. Old Testament Bt D. J. D., Author of " Pets Abroad," etc. With Fortyfour iuU-page Ulustrations. Coloinred pap« boards, is. ; cloth gilt, is. 6d. Bible iMotures and Stones. New Testament. By Tames Weston and D. T. D. With Forty-five beautiful fidl-page Ulustrations by W. J. Webb, Sir John Gilbert, and others. New Edition. Fcap. 4to. Illustrated boards, Is. ; doth, extra, is. 6d. Bri^t Beams and Happy Boenes: A Picture Book for Little Folk. By J. D. Four full*page cdoured and numerous other IllustrtUions. Coloured paper cover, is. ; doth, is. 6d. Holiday Hours in Animal Land. (New Series.) By Uncle Harry. Four full-page coloured and numeions odier Illustrations. Coloured paper cover, is. ; doth, is. 6d. Meny Moc:snts. A Picture Book for Lads and Lasses. By C. D. M- Four full>page coloured and many Selections from the Rev. F. B. Meyer, B.A. By Thain Odm Bmohm HIKBPBMHT IHRIBrOF ILLOSTRITBP BOOK!. Sl6pt^8, Small CrowH 9vii8in Bessie: A Story of Youthful Etutiestnesi, By ^iiutk Lttcas Balfour. kWSOl Dawson's Madge; or, The Poacher's Daughter* By T, 1$. Browne, Author of " The Muwrove Raneh,** eta FItO Gousins (The). By Emma Leslie. CATALOGUB OF NEW 5* POPXTZAR WORKS, 17 BfMm emohm Foolish OhrUwy ; or, Discontent 4nd its Consequences. By Meta, Author of " Noel's Lesson,'' ete. Vor Laey** Sake. By Annie S. Swan. Oiddio Qarland; or, The Three Mirrors. By Jennie Chappell. OMmdniotliiov^s Child* By Annie S. Swan. How PaqI's Penny Boeame a Pound. By Mrs. Bowav Author of *^Didc and his Donkey." How Poior's Pound Became a Penny. By the suneAuthinr. Jean Jaoquee S A Story of the Franco-Prussian War. By Isabel Lawford. John Oriel*! Start in Life. By Mary Howitt I Wise and Otherwise, j Household Puzzles. 1 The BandoliAs. 1 Mrs. Solomon Smith Looking Links In Bebeoea's Ufe. Interrupted. The Poeket Measure. Little Fishers and their Nets A New Graft on the Fandljr The Man of the House. . - ^ 3dm mtohm fVith CdloMrtd firmtisptM, and JBuatrmOoits on •vtrypt^. Pmptr komri$t Covtr* primttd m /inm Cohun mnd VmmitMt 3«^ / *loth MMfWi, 4'** MNW. Fletnre Book* ietureBook. ht. •mttrStoriflti Tiny Tot's TMasnres. Papa's Present* Pretty Bible Stories. Baby% Bible Pletuw Botfk. 3 -^j^S£»y%ffibS^| j ?^?yf&]c!» - ■mmi III iiiiiiii IM 'MMUttiriiM-' all '1 '-* 7.T.^..Wv-p^. ,,>,-^ '*'*' ■ Ij^ ^- ,-!?^w*.:-iS*;,s»ip«5*is ^«'*-S-;y:WWP l^jA"&^ ».«,„ SS