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'•V i.r '■' \.' 1,' :i.'(^- 'f ; %'v'.>^-'^v ,-' ■■ Vs Wli;it lins 1)0111 doiii^ mm {"MMmiim U) \wm\\t Marino Disastors. i'li'v NOTES OF A LECTURE DELIVERED ■i.-1) .^'^' 4. U. GREGORY, Esq., AGENT OF- THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE AND FISHERIES, '■^ :#^^^'a' \:f/' BEFORE TTIK yf>(.^:-'i\rf ^£\Uxmi and fi^totical f odctji af i^mhtt, ^'^':^i,.Vf;y ^(_, *•■ (9;^. Saturday Evming, i^f/i A/archy \?>^ \ . ■ti'^'t '" QUEHECr I'RINTKI) AT THi: "AfOHMXti OirRONICLK nFKRlK. 1H8I. i— ^ ^ =^^r^> l r^^^?^^'^'W^' 'r~ir--rnr^'»^r--^»--Tr^^ y » sgi :Tl ^1 .'^•'Vf, •-b,':'^ ''^- <:'■■•£■ ■■^^^■^i^- -/Ay^- ■^:f::v-'-<''i''-^-- ■' --/"'C-ir-' if%..v^" \' 'y-^- '-^^w-^' ■■%-,. y\:'-;.f:-' ':;■:. V.;:' /'.■'..■■• '-fr'-. \ -'././/■/■-■■.'•■ • . . ■■/*.' ••r^'.... •/••"'■■■' ' >•:•• n.,'^'*'V'^ •■*"' ■-^•wM''-'4-'' !^'~.:,m,^;'*^J-y- : ■t'A* ^, ■ii' i ' -3 ' ,v ■y^' my ■. ', •■.•V .' .. ' -,. . .■;; ! ■\iC^ f r. < ^ !:•'•?■• ' '. ^*' ^■,''. ■ 'h ■■. rt-.:. r ' ■■■> '' ■ , K f' II /v i^^ " . ITS SI3:I3?-v^if^Ec:K:s. Wliat liiiN I)cc3i doiii' sime CoiilVilcnilion !•;) s^rcvoiil Murine Disiistcrs. NOTES OF A LECTURE DELIVERED \w J. U. GREGORY, Esq., AGENT OF THE DEPAUT.ME.NT OF JIARIKE AND FISHERIES, HKFOUK 'I'lIK ^'itcnivii ttutl ^Ustovical „^odctit of (»ucl»«, ill 'III r^" On SaHcrday Evcmng, u)^/i March. 1881. QUEBEC: PRINTED AT THE "JIOUXIXG CJJROICLE " OFFICE. 1881. I i T 1 ANTICOSTI,-rrS SHIPWRECKS. What has besn done since Confederation to prevent Marine Disasters. X0TE.-5 OF A LECTURE DELIVERED BY J. TT. a}{Y/l,)llY Eso BEFORE THE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OUEREC, ON SATURDAY EVENING, l!)Tii .AIARCII, 188L 4- Mr Prrsuh'jit, billies and Crnlk'ni/'n, 111 accepting- an invitation to explain to you some of the efforts made to lessen the dangers the naviirator has so lono- encountered in visiting our shores, I have done so with I full sense of my inability to do justice to the subjects I may touch upon. In abler hands there is a fund of "useful and important matter which could bo worked up into a very interesting lecture. However, I shall do my best to relate, m an unvarnished manner, such facts as I have gathered and feel sure you will kindly overlook any shortcomings m this, my hrst attempt at anything of the kind. I was about alluding to my recent illness— hoping to shoulder upon that circumstance, some of my weak points— but my physical appearance is so much against my gaining any pity on that score, that I pass it by, and shall trust to your indulgence. As I proceed, I will explain to you a map of Anticosti, got up at my request in 1878, by one of our most intelligent and ingenious lighthouse-keepers, Mr. David Tetu, while he was in charge of the station at the South Point of that Island. Mr. Tetu, as you will easily see, is a man of con- siderablo ability and fond of adventure ; ho has become well acquainted with all the points of interest in the Griilf, and is in possession of valtuible information upon lishinu;. min- ing- and navig'ation, which he readily i)lacos at the I'isposal of those whom it can in any way benefit. Having- for many years past reported upon the casualties occurring in my District, it struck me that such a map would be an ex- cellent means of illustrating- the numlxn- and position of the wrecks in some given locality, and this map speaks very plainly for that dreaded Island — Anticosti. Mr. Tetu's love of adventure having induced him to become a resident of th(; 8outh Point for several years, I availed my- self of his kind offer to make the map. Before Confederation we had in th(? Quebec District — as far as Belle-Isle - 18 light-houses, 1 liglil-ship, 5 fog cannons and 6 provision depots. At present the district is very much larger, it includes Montreal to Quebec, the Mag- dalen Islands and Bay des Chaleurs, and numbers 143 light-houses, 8 light-ships, T powerful steam fog whistles and horns, 9 fog guns, 8 provision depots — making it pro- bably one of the best protected coasts in the world. The mariner, once he enters the Gulf, is but a few hours de- prived of the guidance ot these means to steer his course, i^ome of the light-houses have cost this young and ambitious country enormous sums of money. The establishment at Belle-Isle cost over $00,000.00 ; Forteau, $00,000.00 ; Cape Rosier, $75,000.00 ; S. ^Y. Toint Anticosli, $34,000.00 ; and several others not far off the same price. The lantern alone at Belle-Isle, a first order Dioptric, cost =£4,000 stg. or nearly $20,000.00. That at Cape Kosier as much. They are made of solid glass over three iiiches thick, cut into deep prisms, and are made only in two countries in the world : France and England. (Those I mention were made in Paris, France, by Messrs. Sautter, Lemmonnier & Co.) They are in blocks ten feet high, about three feet broad, and put together in solid brass frames, forming a , round lantern, six feet in diamotor. They are as clear as crystal, and made of the purest white glass. Many pieces being destroyed or laid aside from Haws be lore a perfect lantern can be put tog-ether ; months are consumed in their manufacture. These liglits are very powerful, and in keep- ing with imy in the world, excepting the electric light only, and many navigators say they are seen as far oil" and are very much less expensive. So long as a few lights were called for, the country could stand such expense, but, as our great shipping resources became developed, and wrecks more numerous, a demand was made for increased protec- tion. Petroleum afforded a powerful medium for illumin- ating purposes, and a very much cheaper lighting apparatus was found reliable in the Catroptrie Light, and easily man- aged ; they are built in Canada, at Montreal, by Mr. E. Chanteloupe, whose exhibit at the last Paris Exhibition entitled him to first prizes and the decoration of the Legion of Honor. So much for home manufacture. And now our coast is dotted with lixed and revolving lights, both on its South and North Shores. Many of the most important of these lights, seen as far ofl" as the one on Belle-Isle, have only cost from $3,000.00 to $10,000.00, and ten to iifteen light-houses are now put up at the cost of one formerly. Next in importance, and in fact in thick weather of the greatest importance, is the sys- tem of fog signals, on shore, and on board of light-ships. These instruments are heard from three to ten miles off, ac- cording to state of the wind and atmosphere, and the con- fiding mariner, sure that he is in the right course, is often wakened to a sense of his danger by the blast of the fog horn, sound of the whistle, or boom of the cannon, when all haste is made to change the course, which was leading him on to destruction. Many a ship captain has related to me how he was saved by such timely warning, and ex- pressed his gratitude for the fostering care of the G-overn- ment in placing such admirable signals for his protection. i 6 •'\ [Since the Manicouagan and Red Island light-ships have been placed on those dangerous shoals, with their powerful double lights at night, and penetrating steam whistles in thick weather, these dreaded localities, which had formerly- doomed many a noble crew to a watery grave, and en- gulphed many a fine ship, have become almost entirely shorn of their records of disaster. To these means of protection for the mariner, has been added the International Code of Signals, in connection with the system of telegraphing, for which we are indebted to the energy and perseverance of the Honorable Dr. Fortin, who received from the Minister of Public Works, the Honorable Mr. Langevin, his powerful support, and now the system, in many directions, is in perfect working order, and is an invaluable boon to the great shipping interest of Canada. That you may better understand the working of the signalling by flags, I have prepared a couple of staffs in this hall. To the right, we will suppose, the staff repre- sents the main-mast of a ship; to the left, the flag-staff of one of our light-houses, which is also a telegraphic station, with the wires in the house, and the keeper, or one of his family or assistants, an operator. We will now suppose that a ship has left some British port, bound for Quebec, say loaded with 500 tons of steam coal, which is sure to find a ready sale upon arriving. The owner of the ship sees her ofi", and writes to his Agent at Quebec, that his good ship, say the " Peerless," of Liverpool, 887 tons ; official number, 61,964 ; distinguish- ing signal, J. V. T. Gr., left with a fair wind and pros- pects on such a day. By the first mail steamer, the Quebec Agent gets this letter, and particulars of her cargo, with instructions to sell it, and secure a return carjro with all possible despatch. Time is very valuable in navigation, and the owner would like his ship to make one or two more voyages to and from Quebec before the treacherous latter days of November overtakes her here. Weeks roll by, no news of the " Peerless ' is hoard. The Agent begins to feel anxious. Where can she be i Have winds been unfavorable ? Other shix)s which left about the same time have arrived. Can anything have happened the " Peer- less"? He scans the maritime column ol" the Morning Chronicle, and the evening reports of the Mercury and Telegraph. At last he finds tidings; amongst telegraph re- ports, he learns that the ship " Peerless," ollicial No. 01,9(3-4, passed Bird Rocks inw^ards. S. E. In-ee/o. He claps his hands in contentment: the "Peerless" is all right so far; but she has yet a long and perilous Journey before her — beset by shoals, r'^'^fs, treacherous currents, fogs and storms. Many days may elapse before he hears of her again, and new anxieties spring up ; but the ship is wafted on her way, w^arned on this side by the fog alarms, led on in that direction by the lights ? and beating and tacking east to west and north to south, she is many days working her way up. Again a telegraphic message is flashed up from — say Fame Point, Cape Chatte, or Matane. The ship ''Peerless," official No. 61,964, passed inwards at one P.M. this day ; fair weather ; stiff" north-easterly breeze. The Agent then feels she is comparatively safe. He sends out his clerk, who sells the cargo of coal ; he secures a return cargo of timber, and while this vessel is yet 200 or 300 miles from port, her business is settled, and no time lost. I shall now^ endeavor to explain to you how all such new^s has reached here while the vessel has not been nearer probably than 2 to 5 miies from land. EXHIBIT SIGNALS, &c. The International Code of Signals, consisting of eighteen flags, has been adopted by the Maritime Powers of the World. It w^as prepared by a Committee appointed by the British Board of Trade in 1855 and published in 1857. It is very simple and only requires practice to work by any one who can read the questions and answers in the books. i 8 "With 18 llag-8 over 78,000 di.stinct signals can be made, and the name and nnni]>ei' of over 50,000 vessels be given. The Hags represent only the conso)uints of the alphabet, and it is l)y a combination of two, three or four of these Hags in a hoist, that arbitrary signs are made which rex^re- sent words and sentences of the same signihcation in all languages. No IJistinL'uishing or Divisional Flag or Pen- nant is used to give tli- -ame series oF signals or combina- tion of signs a, dilierent meaning. Each signal has through- out th(^ code but one signihcation. The code U composed of 1 Burgee, 4 Pennanls and 13 Square Flags, and, in addition, one "Code fSignal" or '•Ansvv'^ering Flag," a Ked and AVhite Ijarred Pennant. Show the Code, head it out. The nature of the signal is indicated by the number of flags hoisted, whether two, three or lour together, thus : Signals of iivo jlags with The Bargee uppermost are Atlention Signals. A Pennant " " Compass " A Square Flag " " Urgent, Danger ov Distressed Signals. Signals of three /lags Relate to subjects of inquiry or communication, includ- ing Latitude, Longitude and Time Signals. Signals oi four flags with The Burgee uppermost are Geographical Signals. The Pennant C, D or F upiiermost, are Spelling and Vocabulary Signals. The Pennant G uppermost are names of Men-of- War. A Square Flag uppermost are names of Merchant Ships. The flags to be hoisted at one time, never exceed four. A FEW SIGNAL EXAMPLES. (These flags are run up as soon as ship is seen and flags can bo made out. ) ShoroStation.Q//e,s^/y«.BP W (oflcigs) Do you wish to he- re ported ? Ship Atmver C (llliio) Yes. Shore B.T(2Iiags) Show your distin- guishing signals. Ship Answer J V T G (4 Hags). ..Ship " Pee-less/' of Liverpool, official No. 61,004,887 tons register. Shore Qiieslio/i. ...ly N W (3 llags)...AVh('re are you from? Ship Answer B D \V L (4 (lags)..Caraiir, Wales. In the event of wishiniT to coniiiiunicate fiom shore : iSh.oi'e....Ques(i()n...,J^ N D (8 ii;igs)....Closein, I wish to com- municate with you B S Iv (3 flags)... I have letters or parcel for you. J B T ( 8 flags)... .Send a boat ashore. Ship Answer J C N (3 flags) AYili send a boat. Distress Signals. In case of sickness or accident : Ship Question... D H M (3 flags).. ..Captain is ill. F B W (3 flags) AYant a Doctor or Sur- geon. '^hore.... Answer F C II (3 flags)., ..No Doctor here. KM F (3flLigs)....Apply at. C D P J (4 flags).. M. A. \ Matane. Spelt C F N J (4 flags).. T. A. [ by 3 hoists of C D U V (4 flags).. N. E. ) 4 flags each. Ship Answer RS J (3 flags) Thanks. Shore ...Question D T J (3 flags) Is he seriously ill? Ship Answer C MK F (4 flags).. Broken) The Captain n T T> -n / 4 n \ A i '^^^ broken CJIIF (4 flags)... Arm. jj^^g ^^^.^^ 10 Shore Ansiver li V II (3 Hugs).... Sorry to hear it. Ship Answer It 8 J (3 ihigs) Thanks. NN D (3iian.s)....Good-bye. Shore Skinals— Danger. Shore Warning- M S II (3 liag.s)...Yoii are too close in, keep further oif. Warning:. ..Iv T (2 Hags) Get her on the other tack, or you will be on shore. Ship Answer li S J (3 Hags) Thanks. WINTER NAVIGATION. As the subject of wintei" navigation has taken a strong- hold upon the minds of those who are alive to the i:)rosper- ity of Quebec, l)erore proceeding further with my lecture, it may not be out of place for me to state some views upon this popular subject. I once had some ex]-)erience of navi- gating the St. Lawrence below Quebec, when the river was covered with ice, and for a long time I was rather opposed to the idea of its practicability, but when I had that expe- rience it w^as on the steamship " Napoleon III." She is a powerful steamer, but too wedge shaped to cope with heavy ice. We managed, howcA'cr, to cut throngh thirty miles of sheet ice, about four or five inches thick, at very fair speed. It has always appeared to me that the greatest drawback to winter navigation was the want of harbours of refuge, in the event of vessels being overtaken by dark nights, or blinding snow-storms, anywhere between Bic and Quebec. Below Bic there is plenty sea-room ; but from Bic, upwards, a vessel cannot anchor upon any of the usual grounds ; for no vessel could resist the pressure of the ice coming up or down, with the strong tides, if she is in the w^ay : therefore, safe anchorage, or harbours of refuge, are a necessity. 11 I have lately enquired more carefully into the subject, and have called to my aid experienced navigators, and the weather records of our Department ; add to these the ex- • cellent explanations made by Mr. Sewell, backed by others, I have considerably changed my mind, and have joined the rank and file of the advocates of winter navi2:ation as far up as Quebec. I find that the first safe winter harbour after leavins: Bic would be Tadousac, about forty miles up. The next would be Murray Bay, about forty mile.s further up. Both places have proved safe on more than one occasion all the winter through. There is a ship, the " Mangerton," now at Murray Bay, and two of our light ships snug and safe at ' Les Eboulements, since winter set in. As soon as inward bound vessels would reach Murray Bay, 80 miles up from Bic, (and I believe this perfectly practicable at all seasons), they would then have the choice of two channels to come up the last TO miles to reach Quebec. By the sj^stem of telegraphic communication on the south and north shores, assisted by the code of signals, the vessel will learn which channel is the clearer of ice — and take the more advantagi^ous. Should they decide upon the south channel, a long pier or block in the Traverse with range lights which serve ns Beacons by day, would afford a guide to get through the most diflicult part of the river. Should they continue up the north channel the traverse at the foot of the Island of Orleans is already pro- vided with necessary range lights and beacons. It must be remembered that when one channel is full of ice, which is generally caused by the action of the wind blowing it in that direction, the otlier is almost free of it. From Mur- ray Bay to Quebec is about TO miles, and a good steamer should run up in a few hours ; but if this stretch is con- sidered too long without a harbour of refuge, would not an Ice-breaker about midway overcome this difficulty, should any really exist. There is little danger from I I f 1 I i' 12 fogs in winter — and some winters, like the past one have had few if any blinding snow storms. We often see the Ocean Mail Steamers detained hours by fogs, in the sum- mer season, while all through the winter, the atmosphere is comparatively clear, and now that ha-bours of refuge with safe anchorage are found distributed at reasonable distances, the objection I saw to the practicability of winter navigation have been greatly lessened if not entirely re- moved. Of course, you will please understand that I do not mean winter navigation for sailing vessels, but for good pow^erful steiimers constructed with a view^ of showing a bold front to the ice. We have had considerable Canadian produce iinding its way this winter through the channel from even 50 miles above Quebec. I am informed that as far down as Murray Bay, Tadousac, Metis and even Matane, barrels of flour, boxes of cheese and barrels of apples have come ashore, having been thrown overboard from the unfortunate steam- ship " Ottawa," wrecked at Cap a la Roche ; and I trust the day is not far distant w^hen a safer means of winter trans- port will be found to convey productions of the country over the same water to foreign countries all the year round. The subject is still in its infancy, but is w^orthy of serious consideration. The Department has recently issued this circular, which will be of great advantage to early shipping : Notice to Ship Masters saihng for Ports in Gulf and River St. La^xTence. No. ?: or 18S1. Notice is hereby given that arrangements have been made by the Government of Canada, by which, with the co-operation of the French Authorities at St. Pierre, Mique- lon, signals will be shown daily during the month of April, from the Semaphore established at the Light-house Station 13 on Point Gralantry, St. Pierre, Miquelon, by which Masters of Vessels bound for Ports in the G-ulf and River St. Lawrence will be advised as to the condition of the ice in the Grulf, the winds, the temperature and weather indica- tions. Daily despatches are received at St. Pierre, via Sydney, from the Telegraph and Signal Stations established by the Government of Canada last season, at South-West Point, Anticosti, Cape Rosier, Graspe, Cape Magdalen, Gaspe, and Grosse Isle and House Harbor, Magdalen Islands, and Ship Masters desiring information as to the state of the ice and weather in the Gulf, can obtain it by lying to, off Point Galantry, St. Pierre, and signalling for information, which will be supplied free of cost. WM. SMITH, Deputij of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Department of Marine and Fisheries, ) Ottawa, 15th March, 1881. J N. B. — These signals will continue to be shown during the month of April in subsequent years until further notice. ANTICOSTI. I shall now describe to you the nautical map of Anti- costi, alluded to in my opening remarks : exhibit the map. This map shows the place where every wreck has occur- red since 1870 or the past 10 jesivs. You will notice clusters of them in some places. Light Houses and Fog Alarms have been erected on these dangerous points to try and prevent such disasters. You will see that the vessels on the map indicate whether they are Steamships, Sailing Ships, Brigs or Schooners. The French war frigate " La 14 Renommt'e," wrecked in 1736, is also shewn, as 1 will allude to it in my remarks. In 10 years the Wrecks and Casualties on Anticosti number : - - 7 Steamships, 07 Sailing Ships and Barques, 14 Brig's and Brigantines, 18 Schooner;^', 106 Vessels of about 120,000 gross tonnage, and manned by oyer 2,000 men exclusive of any passengers. Probably 3,0C'0 souls have been cast upon its shores by shipwrecks in 10 years. The value of vessels and cargoes, 6 to 8 millions of dollars, or over half a million lost per annum. I shall not tiro you with figures nor official statistics, but proceed simply to describe the Island as I saw it on differ- ent occasions. The Island of Anticosti may be called the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it is surrouded by fishing of all des- criptions, IVom the monstrous whale to the tiny caplin, and its Rivers abound with salmon and trout. Hundreds of Canadian and United States fishermen visit its waters in schooners and barges every season to earn a precarious living. It is about 135 miles long and over 30 miles broad, narrowing at each end, with an area of nearly two millions and a half acres. A considerable portion of the southern part is a peat bed about 12 to 15 feet above the level of the sea, partly covered by a thick and impenetrable forest of dwarf spruce trees about 12 feet high, their branches so twisted and matted together, that it is said a man can walk upon their tops. Swamps and small lakes are met with in every direction — the home and breeding ground of innu- merable water-fowl — such as geese, ducks, loons, &c., &c. Such is the nature of the Island until a more northerly portion is reached, when it gradually rises to about 400 feet and is nowhere over 700 feet above high water mark. Here may be found extensive forests of pine, spruce, juniper, 15 a^h and white birch — but none of a largor .size than will make a mast for a 60 ton schooner. No other animal than the black bear, martin, otter, red, silvei' and black fox is found upon the Island — not even the hare and part" ridffe, so common elsewhere. The difl'erent fur boarincr animals are trapped in winter, and are a source of consider- able profit to some of the settlers. Silver and Ijlack fox skins, in proper season, often selling at from s^oO to ^100 each. Horned cattle do not get on well on the greater part of the Island from some cause not yet properly under.stood, they seldom live over 18 months after arrival. It is sup- posed there is some sort of weed that efl'ects them. How- ever, there is one point : Ellis Bay, where they thrive, and I saw there some very fine cattle raised by Cnptain Setter. Here the land has been under cultivation for a long period, and probably the noxious weed does not exist, — but every- where horses thrive and so do pigs. We renew the stock of cows for our Light-house Keepers every two years. The hides of their predecessors are sent to Quebec tanners, and go back by next season's steamer, to be made into shoes for the use of the family. The southern coast is everywhere rock belonging to one great lime-stone formation, and often containing curious and interesting fossils. There are but three bays called harbours : Fox Bay, Ellis Bay and English Bay ; but these are only safe in certain conditions of the wind — and then for vessels of light draught. The reefs of shelv- ing lime-stone extend from one to two miles from the shore. No anchorage is to be found. The frequent fogs, treacher- ous currents, and want of harbours, have always made it the dread of the Mariner, and wrecks have frequently taken place in the most incomprehensible manner. In an investigation held by me last fall into the cause of the loss of the S.S. " Cybele," it was shown that a few hours before the disaster, this vessel had taken her proper bearings and course to avoid the Island — had distinctly tl \ . 16 seen the land several miles off, and was thought by all on board to be in a perfectly safe road. The weather thick- ened, a cloud was seen in the distance, hang'ing- over what was suppose! to be the back of the Island, yet this vessel struck 1| miles from the shore. This could only be ac- counted for by the fact that a mist from the swamps had arisen and so covered the low peat- bed as to cause it to ajv pear like the water, also mist covered, and it was only when the boat was lowered and rowed towards the Island th;it they knew they were so near. Treacherous currents had gradually drawn this vessel out of its safe course ; the day's reckonings were thereby deranged — and the ship at full speed struck the rocks. When the question was put to the witnesses one after the other : " Why the sounding had not been regularly taken," the answer from them was, that they believed they were 4 to 5 miles from It iid and in 40 fathoms of water. This vessel became a total wreck. In former times, the poor shipwrecked mariners and passengers found themselves upon an Island atfordmg no means of sustenance, and the sufferings of the crew of the French frigate "La Renommee," who realized a Winter of horrors, starvation and deaths, so graphically related by our esteemed President, in his Chronicles of the St, Lawrence, will afford you some idea of the awful fate which awaited the unfortunate castaway, upon that dreaded Island. But much of this is now changed. Government cannot remove the dangerous reefs nor change the treacherous currents ; but by plachig light-houses, fog guns and power- ful steam-whistles on the most exposed points, on the approach of thick weather, their bright light or penetrating sound warns the passing vessel to change its course and seek a safe path. When an ill-fated vessel strikes, and the crew, half-drowned, and often half clad, reach the shore, they have but to follow the beach in any direction, when they will soon come to a sign-board fastened to a tree, which will buoy them up with hope — for in several directions 17 lO will be louiul these hoards, Avitli ii hand painted upon them, the linger pointing to the road, and the words, "so many miles to thi^ provision depot and house of refuge." Here will be found a kind keeper, provided with 15 brls. flour, 7 brls. pork, 5 brls. peas, some preserved meats, elothiuii', blankets, and a well-filled medicine chest, and a warm house, till tlirir fate is made known and they are taken off the Island and brought to the mainland, whence they are sent to their homes. The British Board of Trade paying liberally all the expenses for British Registered Vessels' crews ; foreign Consuls for those of the nations they represent, and the Dominion Government for crews of Dominion V«^ssels. In Novem})erlast, the British Barque " Bristolian," Capt, McLimont, with a crew of 15 men, and the Canadian Brig- antine " Pamlico," 9 men, were wrecked on Anticosti ; the former near Becksie River, the latter at Strawberry Bay. I am told that the few fishermen at Straws berry Bay w^ent ux^ to their arms in the ice and the water to help to take the nearly frozen, dripping wet crew off the " Pamlico ;" they built lires on the shore, warmed them, and took them to their homes as soon as they could move — all were saved. But the poor fellows of the " Bristolian " fared far worse ; the high billows of the ice-cold sea rolled over the ship, carried away one of the crew, unable to keep his hold on account of ice, and whetting the other poor exhausted sailors to the skin, two of whom dropped upon the deck and lay there frozen corpses w4th probably 12 feet of ice over them. Tw^o more of the crew died shortly after reaching shore, from exposure. The others, probably possessed of warm clothing, yet frost-bitten and wet, w^ere taken into the small hut of the only fisherman in the locality, where they met with the most christian kindness, but must have been a heavy addition to a family already scantily supplied with the necessaries of life. 3 , 18 -I'l Ml A man was deypalchecl 42 iiiiU's to th»' S.W. Point telegraph station, llie only one yet in oi)eration, and, a few hours alter thc^ disa.sler, the fate of these unfortunate people was flashed over the cable and made known, and my Depart- ment took the matter in hand. As soon as a vessel could be secured from the nearest point, it was sent over with provisions, medicine and a Doctor to assist these poor people. She reached the Island two days after, and the crews received all possible care. Capt. McLimont was found in a delirious state from his sull'erings. The men managed to walk some 14 miles to Ellis Bay, and the Captain, wrapped in l)lankets and tied down on a dog- sleigh, called a Commetic, was dragged over the icebound coast to the same place. On ihe road, the sleigh broke through the ice, and the poor sull'ering Captain was immersed in water up to his neck, and it was feared would disappear under the ice. Fortunately, the men, though cold and shivering, dragged him out ; owing to the number of blankets over him he was not wet through, but when he arrived at Elhs Bay he was completely enveloped in ice. A few days later, a small schooner, caught in the ice at Ellis Bay, was enabled to get out. The Captain and crew of the " Bristolian " and " Pamlico," with Messrs. Lloyd and McDonald, two gentlemen from Montreal on a pro- specting tour, overtaken by the sudden cold weather, were hurried on board and sail was set for Gaspe, where, next day, they arrived safely, the sails one stiff sheet of ice, and perfectly immovable. The crews, as soon as clothed and properly furnished wuth moccasins and plenty warm socks to cover their tender frost-bitten feet, were sent on a six days land journey to Campbelton, whence they were forwarded to their homes, by rail, and steamship from Haliiax. Poor Captain McLimont was left behind at Gaspe, suffering from his frozen limbs ; and recently part of his feet and hands were amputated. One of the crew of the " Pamlico" also remained at Gaspe under n i , T 19 • /, medical treatment, but is now, as well as the Captain, re- covering. Dr. Shea, sent over to attend the sick, ])y some means did not reach the schooner '' Wasp " in time, and yet remains separated from his family, and actually a prisoner on the Island, he went over to help to bring others off. There also remains three of the '• Bristolian's" men who were too ill to be removed. The disasters to shipping last fall, awakened much sympathy in the hearts of the people ashore and caused our Department great anxiety. But, while the public remembering the horrors they had read and heard of, which the f)oor castaway might expect on Anticosti, were on the qui-vive for news, we published all the messages received, and, as often as possible, the answers I sent ; and I may here state that in 4 days I received and answered from above and below Quebec, 93 telegraphic messages, nearly all connected with disasters, and the plans to adopt to prevent others. As to the means of supporting liie on Anticosti, I am happy to say that Government, with a view to helping the inhabitants and shipwrecked jicople, generously placed at my disposal sufficient funds to carry out a plan which has been attended witii the happiest results. In 1874, owing to the number of fishermen from New- foundland, who by the glowing promises of an Anticosti Company, managed by a venturesome foreigner who thought he could found a colony and thereby make a for- tune, whole families were induced to leave their homes and settle on this land of great promise. They were pro- vided with means to build houses, and some supplies for which they were expected to pay in iish, — but it was not long before the company came to grief, and at the approach of winter — no more i)rovisions could be got from them. Our light-house keepers wrote most doleful accounts of the state of affairs ; and as our Depots would be emptied by these poor i^eojile to i^revent them from starving, if any shipwrecks should take place, the crews would be without 20 succor, — to prevent this the Steamer '* Napoleon" was sent down with 100 barrels of flour, which was given to the people. The next fall the same danger being apprehended and Government finding these people becoming a burden, I was commissioned to go to Gaspt- — there await the Steamer " Lady Head," sent from Halifax for the purpose — and my instructions wore to take the people ofl' the Island and send them where they came from or where they might choose to go. But finding that they had no longer homes in Newfoundland, and if brough*^ to Quebec would be helpless paupers, in the face of a severe winter — I telegraph- ed these facts to Ottawa, and having learned that potatoes grew in abundance wher(!ver i)lanted, I recommended that a certain sum be allowed me to buy 200 or 300 ])arrels of potatoes in Gaspe, which with other sui^plies the people be helped through another winter, and by furnishing seed potatoes upon condition that they would cultivate them, that in a short time they would be better off and l)e able to help care for shipwrecked people, for which they would be liberally paid. My request was granted, and I visited all the settlements upon the Island. I called the inhabi- tants together — four or five families in some places, a few more in others, I enquired into their condition, number, age and resources ; finding them well disposed and having no desire to leave. I distributed carefully the supplies and got them to appoint one of their number to receive one barrel of seed potatoes for each family, and all were to aid in safely stowing them out of danger from frost, and gave besides to each family 3 barrels to eat. For every barrel of potatoes sown about 40 barrels are harvested. Each family cleared a small patch of land next spring, and about two years after, potatoes were so plentiful that a schooner load was sent up to Quebec for sale ; and since then they are grown in abundance. The soil is good and when ex- hausted, at their very doors they have tons of one of the best of fertilizers in the sea weed. When the wrecks took 21 place, last fall, wo knew well that it was easy to pick up 500 bushels of potatoes ; There was some ilour, pork and peas in our depots : several head oi line cattle at Ellis Bay ; several fat pigs at English Bay, descendants from Col. Rhodes' stock ; lodgings for all ; luel and fresh water at hand ; and that Anticosti so long the dreaded Island where starvation stared the shipwrecked people, was now able to furnish better food, shelter and warmth, than hundreds of poor people at this moment enjoy m the large cities of Quebec and Montreal, — and 1 did feel haj)py in the know- ledge that the fostcu'ing care of the Department I serve had made me the instrument to bring about some of these hap- py results. The climate at Anticosti is not more severe than that of any of the Maritime Provinces. The soil is good, and it can produce the same cereals, V(\getables, and probably fruits most of the lower Provinces do. Although it has no natu ral harbours for large vessels, some of its bays, by throwing out break-waters, could easily ])e made harbours of refuge. There is plenty of timber and stone at hand if wanted for that purposv\ The Island has been neglected. In 1080, it was granted by the French to Louis .Toliette, in reward for his discoveries of Illinois and further services rendered the French Government, and after the conquest, it fell into the hands of some wealthy families living in England, and a portion of it is also owned by parties in Canada. It is only within a very short time that anything good is said of Anticosti, and I suppose it will take ages l)efore it will become anything of an agricultural place, owing to its isolation and the class of people devoted only to lishing, who make it their home. There is a charm about a fisher- man's life, and he seldom leaves it for any other calling. Notwithstanding all that has been done to protect the inward and outward ships visiting our ports, wrecks still occur, but not so often in the same places as formerly ; they arc generally some few miles away from where the 22 ■«"; I: light-houses and log alarms have been put. Formerly from Trinity Bay to lied Island many wrecks occurred, and the loss of life was very great indeed. Since the establishment of Se\ en Islands, Egg Island, Portneuf Light-houses, Mani- couagan Shoals, and Red Island Reef Light-ships and fog alarms, for years past, but few wrecks have taken place on the North Shore. It was on Egg Island that eight heavily laden British transports, on the night of the 22nd August, 1711, were stranded and over two thousand corpses strewed the beach of the Island and the mainland shore, when the vessel sent down there by the French to save property arrived. The neighbourhood is known as La Pointe aux Ani^lais. Mr. Lemoine gives notes from Sir Hoverton Walker's Journal of this ill-fated expedition in his very interesting book, The Chronicles of the St. Lawrence. When I visited Egg Island last summer with His Excellency the Governor- General, w^e were shown an old cannon, taken out of the sand from this place, belonging to some of the unfortunate vessels, it was perfectly honey-combed ; on a bright, clear day, they are often seen lying at the bottom of the sea, and I exjoect one up next season which I shall present to this Society's Museum. The Department of Marine is about erecting other lights and fog alarms on the coast, to further complete its system. I cannot close my remarks without speaking of another branch of service which has also called for the prompt and generous action of the Provincial as well as the Federal Governments, The poor lisherman, living far away from the civilized world, often suffers severely from the vissisi- tudes his i)recarious calling exposes him to, and I cannot better illustrate this than to relate to you some facts con- nected with a mission I was entrusted in 1868. In the early part of the fall of that year, the then Gover- nor General, Lord Monk, received a letter from the Captain of H. M. S. " Si)inx," who had just returned from a cruise to the Labividor Coast, calling' his attention to the deplorable condition of the fishermen, and cited one case in particular, that of a family at Bradore Bay, named Js. As this portion of the coast was within the limits of the Province of Quebec, it became a matter for the Provincial Govern- ment to look after ; but the Department of Marine ollered the services of the S.S. " Napoleon," which was soon visiting the light-houses in that direction, to render any assistance required. Sir Narcisse Belleau was then the Lt.-Governor, and the Hon. Mr. Chauveau, Premier of the Province. They requested my Department to allow me to go down and enquire into the facts and assist the suiferers — I was commissioned by the Provincial Government to represent them, and generously supplied with $2,000 and carte- blanche to use it as I thought best for the purpose of alleviating their wants, and also to bring away any of the people desirous of leaving. On the 22nd September, after placing on board the " Napoleon" over 300 brls. flour, meal and other provisions ; powder and shot for those who might have guns and could kill game, I left Quebec. I need not relate to you any of my adventures during the first three weeks of my trip, but will endeavour to describe to you the condition of the one family the Js', as an example of many others similarly situated. We reached Blanc Sablon, the extreme point of Canadian Labrador. A small river here separates Canadian from Newfoundland territory. I visited over 30 fishing settlements. The people in summer living on Islands where they carry on lishing (the whole coast of Labrador is dotted with Islands.) In winter they move off to the mainland, where they have warmer houses, and are near to fuel, which they haul upon commetics from miles away where it is found in the ravines. Each family owns five or six dogs for this purpose. Many of these families were in the greatest want, with a Labrador winter of over eight months duration — before them. They were all liberally as- I 24 sistod. Oil the iiioriiiiigof thw lotii of October, I went ashore at Blaiie ISabJoii, where I found a few fishermen connected with a largi? tradini;' establishment, Avho collected fish and loaded vessels for a Jersey firm. This point being a depot, where all the surrounding- lishermen brought their catch and traded it oU" for provisions, clothing and other wants. My first enquiry was for the family of J . I was in- formed that they lived at Bradore Bay, eight or nine miles oil", and that owing to the heavy sea, I could not reach the bay in a boat, but could do so by land, with the assistance of a guide who would show me the road over the moun- tains. Mr. Duhamel, late keeper of East Pt. Anticosti light- house, then on his way to Quebec with us, volunteered to accompany me on my Journey. Dressing warmly but as light as possible, shod with light Esquimault seal-skin boots, and our pockets filled with biscuits, we started on our tramp, our guide, a lisherman, formerly from St. Malo, France, leading the way. Owing to the yielding moss- covering to the rocks and the pleasantly cold weather we travelled fast ; our talkative guide pointed out to me many interesting places, and helped to while away the time. "When about five miles on our way we saw coming towards us a tall, dark complexioned man, about 40 years old, dressed in can- vas, a tarpauline hat, and his feet covered with raw seal-skin slippers. Our guide hailed him by name, and I thereby learned that it was poor J himself, who was on his way to the Bay, to try and get something to save his family from starvation. His haggard shivering appearance de- noted sulFering and want. I approached and gave him my hand which he j^olitely shook and answered my common- place questions with intelligence and courtesy. I request- ed him to turn back, as I wished to visit his establishment, not letting him nor the guide know the nature of my mission. He answered that it was a sad place to visit, as his fishing had failed for so many years that he was reduced 25 w to poverty — and he supposed I knew enough of Labrador to understand that fishing was his only means of earning a living. At one time his family were in a position to entertain gentlemen, and that the late Mr. Noel Bowen, of Quebec, had spent his holidays there when on a visit to his parents, and that Dr. Fortin, when in charge of " La Cana- dienne," had dined there with other gentlemen, — the family being able to entertain them sumptuously, but all this was terribly changed. I gradually led him on to speak of his future prospects, which certainly appeared very discouraging. I asked whether he would not like to leave the coast with his family, and remove to some place whore the earning of a living w^as more to be depended upon. He answered that he was born on the coast, had never left it, and would not do so now, he was unfit for any other life, and that he owned the best sealing station in the neighborhood. In former times his father had been considered a wealthy man, often clearing $6,000 to $8,000 per season with his seal fishing, but he had spent all in law suits and failure of seal fishing had reduced them to their present condition. From a prevalence of westwardly winds, the bay at the time seals should strike in became so blocked up with ice, that they could not set their nets. Every season for some years past being equally unfavorable, his father and mother went away, leaving the fisheries to himself and brothers, but they soon got dis- couraged and left him also. His parents died somewhere near Quebec. He being the last to remain would never forsake the old spot. I told him that I could arrange it in such a way that it would cost him nothing to do so, if he would consent to leave, but this he decidedly objected to. He loves the old place, and buoys himself up with the hope of soon meeting better success. He related an instance of another fisherman similarly situated, who had caught no seals for some time, but by a sudden change of wind his bay was cleared of ice ; nets immediately set, and in two 4 26 mm or three houris over 500 seals were captured, each seal being- worth about S-1. The w^ind soon after shifted around block- ed up the Bay again with ice and he caught no more seal that season. Poor J hoped for some such good luck. AVc now came in sight of his house : a large wooden building in a very delapidated condition ; all the material used in its construction had been brought down in schooners from Quebec. J remarked that this wu'jJ their summer house ; they have another smaller one in the interior nearer wood. AVhen we reached the building, I perceived that many panes of window glass were broken, and their house appeared very bleak indeed. After he had gone forward and tied up a half-starved woliish looking dog, which he said was vicious to strangers, we followed him in by the back door, through what had once been the kitchen. The flooring in places had been pulled up. Seeing that I noticed this, ,1 stopped and explained the reason why it was so : — He said that last Spring, during cold weather, having removed to this house to be ready to begin his fishing operations, he w^as so weak for w^ant of nourishment, that he had not sufficient strength to go for wood, and was obliged to burn some of the flooring to prevent his family from perishing from cold. Looking around, I found the partition had been grained in imitation of oak. We passed on till we came to the front hall, on each side of which I could see rooms through the open doors. The floors were painted in different coloured squares, and on the walls of the parlour and principal rooms, hung the remains of costly French paper-hanging, representing hunting scenes, nearly half life-size ; but there was no furniture left in any of these rooms, but in another room was found a stove, a three- legged stool, pine table and a large bundle of nets. We were asked into this room and entered it. I asked J s to allow me to see his wife and children. He answered that they were hardly sufficiently clad to show themselves, but that he would go up stairs and try to induce them to 27 come down. After some delay, I heard some one descend- ing the stairs, apparently labouring under a distressing cough, it was his poor wife, followed by five of his daughters, ranging in age from thre'3 to twelve years. Mrs. J had on a very thin faded cotton jacket and a skirt made of an old boat's sail, but perfectly clean. I do not think that she had on any flannel or other warm clothing. She had neither shoes or stockings. In entering the room she made a very lady-like bow, and stood opposite to me near the stove, until I insisted she should occupy the only seat in the room. Mr. Duhamel and myself seating our- selves on the bundle of nets. Oh ! what a sad face this woman had, want and suffering were plainly marked upon it, as well as her emaciated figure; she had evidently been very handsome, fair and rosy in younger and happier days. She was about 35 years of age and told me she was Scotch, and born in Glasgow. She came out to Halifax to visit a sister who had been governess in a merchant's family with whom the J s did business. Some time after her arrival, J brother, who was then considered rich and prosperous, married that sister and she came over to Labrador on a visit to them. Here she met and married her brother-in-law, and, for many years, had every comfort and was happy. But what a change has since taken place ; starvation frequently stares her in the face, and in conse- quence, she had become very sickly. They had nine children, the eldest a girl of sixteen ; next a boy of about 14. Both were away with a gun and their last charge of powder, trying to shoot the largest bird they could find, to furnish a scanty meal for the family. They had been living for many days on small trout caught by the children in a stream close by. They had neither pork nor grease of any kind to cook their fish in, nor had they any other food whatever ; in fact thesejjsmall fish and water had kept them alive. The poor children were very thin 28 m and nearly naked ; none had worn shoes or stockings for a long time, winter or summer. I asked J s whether he could not make some sort of covering for their feet with sealskins. He answered yes, but they needed food first and sealskins were traded for flour to prevent them from starving. Mrs. J s remarked in sad tone, " all will soon be over, for we cannot live through another such Winter as the last, and the one now near at hand, finds us even worse pro- vided." I told her that on the way to their house, I had spoken to her husband about leaving that miserable place, and asked her to try and persuade him to accept my offer and leave at once. She turned her large, sad consumptive eyes kindly upon him and answered that whatever he con- sidered best to do, she would consent to. Looking around upon the poor hungry children, I remembered that we had our over-coat pockets loaded with biscuits, for our own and guide's lunch. Mr. Duhamel and I rose from off' our seats, and distributed these amongst them by handsful. I shall never forget the manner in which those biscuits were de- voured. Turning to J s I said : come, get ready ; I will wait for you, and provide for you and your family, and land you at some place where you can find work for your- self and son, and where you can bring up your family to a new life, educate them, and every one can become useful, and where, in trouble, you will find kind neighbours wil- ling to help you. This is no place to settle down on, with such a fine family, especially so many girls. What prospects have they in life ? Do you wish to see them married to men as poor as yourself ? and, again, going over the suffering life you are now passing through. God forbid, he answered, I would do anything to improve their condition, but T am unfit for any other life than that of a fisherman and will not yet forsake this old spot w^here I was born. I learned that last season, not being able to obtain on credit the necessary outfit to carry on fishing alone, he agreed with 29 some parties, if they did so, he would give them the privi- lege of using his Bay ; himself and son to help for one-third of the catch, for their pay. His share was only fifteen seals, value about $G0, and did not cover his indebtedness to his partners. Seal carcasses he salted down for food for his dogs for the winter, but they were forced to eat most of them themselves. Such meat he said is tough and rancid and most difficult to digest and made them sick. One little girl, however, managed to eat it. She would cut off a slice, freshen it in water, warm it upon the stove and eat it. This child he called hard times. He showed his last bill at the traders, to whom he was yet in debt ; there were no other items but those of flour, sea biscuits, a few nails, twine and thread. No pork, tea, sugar, molasses nor tobacco ; these being too great luxuries for them. They charged fifteen dollars per barrel for flour, nine dollars per cwt. for common sailor biscuits, fifteen cents -per pound for nails — to be exchanged for fish at a low price. In justice to the traders, I must remark that if their prices appear very high, they frequently loose considerable ; for when a fisherman wont pay or can't pay, they must loose. There is nothing to bo got, for they own neither land or other property. This unfortunate family had traded of all their furniture, little by little, and even sold their feather beds to trading schooners. J s asked me to step outside and he would show me his Bay and describe the mode of catching seals. In doing so, we passed a small lot which had once been handsomely en- closed, and was the burying-ground of the family, in which were three or four handsome marble tombstones, marking the last resting place of some of the family, who had died in their better days. I greatly feared, said J s, speaking of them, that several more graves would have been added to the number last Winter, or may before next Spring, but there will be no marble tombstones to mark them. From an elevation, he pointed out to me the Bay, horse-shoe 30 ■ ' ' JR^ ' ii shaped, in which, in former times, so many seals were caught. He told me that often, from the spot we were then upon, last Spring, while his family was starving, he had seen thousands of seals on the ice, but they were too far oil" to venture after them, as a change of wind or the ice breaking away might carry him off to sea. From what I could learn, seals when in their best con- dition to yield oil, seek such bays, when they arc free of ice, and delight in getting near the shore, and congregate in immense numbers, in such quiet sheltered harbours. To catch them, the fishermen attach one end of their long nets made of cord about as thick as a lead pencil, to a capstan ashore at one side of the bay. Loading one or two boats with the net, which is very long, they then row straight out as far as the net will allow, and then cross over to the other side, encircling the seals. This end is also attached to another capstan on the other side of the bay, and wound in by the men on shore. As soon as the seals find them- selves prisoners, they dive and endeavour to make for deeper water, and in doing so run their heads int? the meshes of the nets, push forward with all their strength, and never draw back ; most of them are thus strangled, and those remaining alive are drawn by the net near the shore and killed by the men with clubs. Js. had serviceable nets and a couple of boats, and was fitted out to catch seals, should the next season prove favor- able. As it was now getting late, and we had a long walk before us, and wishing to call on some other families on our way back, we entered the house to bid good-bye to Mrs. Js. and the children. I told Mrs. Js. that it was quite evident to me that her husband would not leave the bay, and supposed he thought his reasons for not doing so, were very good ; but I hoped their condition would soon change for the better and the next time I visited them to find them surrounded with comfort and happiness. 31 " Tliaiik you, Sir, she answered, lor your good wi.shes ;ind cncouraiiing words. 1 hope that Ihey may ftoon be realized." 1 had not as yet said a word about my leaving- them any provisions ; but the words which were to convey this happy information were trying* hard to force themselves from my lips, and I had diiliculty in repressing them. Biii what secret joy I experienced in the knowledge that I would soon change their dreadful fears into happiness. I then told her that 1 must return to Blanc Sablon, and that if her husband would come with me I would leave with him sudicient food and anything else I could obtain to keep them through the long winter so near at hand — to take courag«», and heaven would reward her for her patience and sufferings. Tears of joy str» imed down her cheeks ; the gratitude she exi)ressed was w^ithout bounds, and blessings were show- ered upon those who had come to their rescue, and were about saving them from utter despair and starvation. It was now my happy moment — and I told her how gener- ously Government had acted in commissioning me to en- quire into their condition, and relieve their distress. I can never forget that poor woman's astonished look and grateful expressions. A silent shake of the hands, for no one could speak ; ])eckoning Js. to follow, w^e left that house of suffering and want tilled with sudden new-born hopes, and hastened on our journey back. Js. on the road become quite gay, and said so many things in an absent-minded way, that he asked me to excuse his manners ; for the past hour had so changed his prospects for the "Winter, that he was quite besides him- self and hardly knew what he was saying. On our road back, I visited two other families, also very badly off for provisions, but fairly supplied with clothing. At about 7 o'clock in the evening, we reached Blanc Sablon Bay. Js. said he would wait at a fisherman's house, until I should senci the articles I intended giving him ashore. 32 A sigiuil )>r()Ught the steamer's boat to the shore for my companion and sell", and we were soon on the deck, tired and han•> ^1'/ I told liiiTi to tiy Diul fill :i n(j(>(l meal. "I iiiul Iho loocl exoellonl," ho aiisworod, ''hat whou I think thoy have nothing pt home tor hroakliist, I cannot imjoy it mysell"; my appotito leaves me. I said all I eoulddo to induce him to make n hearty meal, hut he soon left the tahle, evidently anxious to get home, with something lor his wife and children. I th(^refbre ordennl the long-boat to be manned by a crew of hardy sailors. Several barrels of flour, meal, peas and pork were put in it, sufficient to carry them through the long winter — the bundle of clothing crowned the lot — and .Is., seated near his treasure, was rowed ashore . The thanks and blessings of that hapi)y man still ring in my ears. What joy must have been in his house when he returned loaded with comforts they were so long strangers to. Cariboo and the white partridge or ptarmigan, are to be found not far off, and with powder and shot he no doubt added game, during the winter, to his other supplies. In conclusion, I am happy to state that the next year brought better luck to poor J. He was fortunate enough to make a good season's fishing, and I understand has lived comparatively w^ell ever since ; but his poor wife did not live long to share his good luck. She soon after died of consumption. There has been no period in my official career which I look back to with as much happiness as I do upon this mission, when I was the instrument of relieving so much suffering by the generosity of a paternal government