IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 10 I.I 1.25 lU IIIM ■3,2 IIIM 1.4 12.2 2.0 1.6 "/a A '^A e C}. VI ^^ m. -^ ^\ §s / o / Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y 14580 (716) 872-4503 L.'*-^i?t*4'' L '■» 'ir .»' / ■^ ^*r..4 EARLY ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE THE CULTIVATION OF HEMP IN EASTERN BRITISH AMERICA.! A. IPapor X£ead before th.e Ne-w BrvinsAvioli XXistorical Society. Corresponding Secretary New Brunswick Historical Society* I The cultivation of hemp was early at- tempted or BaG;K<>Bted by the first colonizers of this portion of the American continent, and in nearly all of the old works relating to the early settlement of northeastern America, reference is frequently made to the importance of its onltivation and the benefits that would in consequence result to a maritime people. Richard Hakluyt, the industrious and enthusiastic compiler of early voyasres, in his Discourse Concerning Westerne Planting, written and presented to Queen Elizabeth in 1584, mentions among the probable important products of "New founde lande," hemp for making cables and cordage. And in another chapter of his discourse, he recommends that the "multi- tude of loyterers and idle vagabonds" then infesting England be transported and "con- demned for certain yeira in the western partes, especially in Newefounde lande, in sawinge and fellinge of tymber for mastes of shippes and deale boordes; in burninge of the firres and pine trees to make pitche, tarr and rosen and sope ashes; in beatinge and workinge of hempe for cordage." Hemp was raised and spun in Virginia previous to 1648, and in 1651 its cultivation was encouraged in that colony by bounties offered by government. In the Plymouth colony the cultivation of hemp was also attempted, as hemp-seed was ordered for that colony as early as 1620. But a species of native hemp may have been grown in the northern parts of this continent, for it is related that Jacques C/artier, on his firnt voyage to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in 1534, met native Indiana in the Bay of Chalenr fishing with nets made of a kind of hemp. [Rev. B. F. De- Costa in Narrative and Critical History of America.] The early French explorers attached screat importance to the lands visited by Cartier and his successors, and justly formed a high estimate of the vast resources of our Acadia. Sieur Borgier of Rochelle, one of the early tnrantees of Acadia, on a visit to our coast in 1684, planted at Cheda- buoto Bay, on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, wheat, rye and barley, and in the autumn reaped the harvest and carried the produce to France for exhibition. Flax, hemp, peas, beans and all kinds of vegetables, Sieur Borgier asserted, grew there, as well as they did in the neighborhood of Paris. M. de la Ronde Denys, a captain of in* fantry in the French army, and grandson of Nioholab Denys, the first historian of Aca- dia, writing from Cape Breton in 1713, says: "We are deficient in nothing re' quired, for we have the wood, the tar, the ooal, and the masting, and eventually the hemp will be common there t make cordage and sails." The fall and capture of Fort Hoyal by the Eaglish under Nicholson in 1710 made Nova Scotia a part of the British empire, the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, having confirmed the conquest. In 1718 Sir Alex- ander Cairnes, James Douglas and Joshua Gee petitioned the crown for a grant of land on the sea coast, five leagues south- west and five leagues northeast of Chebucto, now Halifax, harbor. These gentlemen proposed to build a town, and improve the country round it in raising; hemp and in making pitch, tar and turpentine. The petition was not granted; and no attempt at settlement was made at Chebucto until 1749, when Halifax was founded by English settlers under Cornwallis. Three years previous to this event, in the autumn of 1746, the duke d'Anville,on his ill-fated expedition against the English settlem«nt8 on the Atlantic ooant, rt-ndezvoused at Chebucto with the remainder of his fleet, where thj unfortan> ate duke and many of his solders died. During this period the Eoglish lords of trade were continually urging on the colon- ies the importance of producing hemp in such quantities as to render England inde- pendent of the northern countries of Europe for a supply of that material so necessary to a naval power, and Dr. Douglas, the author of a work entitled, A Summary, Historical and Political, of the First Planting of the Briti>)h Settlements in America, mentions hemp among other articles, the product of the colonies, on which all enumerations, or duties, be taken off to encourage trade and navigation. On the 8th of April, 1752, three yeani after the settlement of Halifax, the gover- nor and council of Nova Scotia, who were vested with the powers of legi8lation,among other bounties granted to stimulate and en- courage agriculture among the settlers, offered 3'i. per pound for hemp produced in that province. Vigorous efforts were made during these years to people the province, particularly the lands from which the Acadian French 2 were bo rathleoaly driven. The fall of Qae- beo and the oonquest of Canada brought peace to Nova Sootia, as v^ell as o all the poaBesBioaa of theEaglieh on tbia continent, and among the inducementa ofifered to aet- tlera to come and poasesa the rich landa near the Bay of Fundy, they were aaaured that those landa had produced "wheat, rye, bar- ley, oata, hemp, flax, etc , for more than 100 yeara past, never failing of crops nor need- ing to be manured." [Murdook'a Hiatory of Nova Sootia.] We find no record, for some yeara after the conquest, of efforta made or auggeations offered in reference to the cultivation of hemp in theae provinces. The revolution- ary controveray and the atruggle for inde- pendence involved the acant population of Acadia to some extent in that contest, and the influx of the Loyaliata at ita close gave great impetus and growth to our industries and added vastly to our commercial im- portance, and efforts were again made by the British government to extend the cul- tivation of hemp in the remaining loyal colonies. Scattered through the Haldimand papers (dominion archives) will be found frequent reference to the cultivation of this important article, and the anxiety evinced by British statesmen at the close of the last century to render the empire independent of foreign powers for its supply of this necessary and important naval requisite is apparent in all of these communications. And it was even sug- gested by some of the writers that persons conversant with the cultivation and prepar- ation of hemp be selected in Russia and Poland and sent to these provinceEf to teach the inhabitants the best methods then in use in northern Europe. England, as mistress of the seas, was soon to be engaged in a des- perate strug£;le to maintain her supremacy against powerful enemiep, and it was only natural she should look to her own loyal kith and kin in these provinces for support in the day of trial. In 1788 premiums were offered in Nova Scotia for the cultivation of hemp, but little progress was apparently made, as the quantity produced does not appear to have been large, and in 1801 Sir John Went- worth, by direction of the British secretary of state for the colonies, again recommended its cultivation, and the sum of £200 was voted by the Nova Scotia legislature to buy hemp seed for distribution among the farm- ers of that province, but wu have no knowl- edge of the progress made or quantity pro- duced during those years. No attempt of which we have any record seems to have been made in New Brunswick to introduce the cultivation of hemp until the year 1803 —twenty-five years after the landing of the loyalists. On the 11th of March, 1803, daring the session of the gen- eral assembly at Fredericton, the following message from Qovernor Thomas Carleto:^ was communicated to the house of assembly: "The lieutenant-governor intorma the house that his majesty's ministers have, in their commuuioations to him, pointed out the importance of giving all practical en- couragement to the raising ot hemp in this province; be therefore recommends to the consideration of the hous^ the making ot some provision tor granting bounties for this purpose, being confident of their zeal to contribute, as far as may be in their power, to an object so intereating to the national welfare." The suggestion contained in Governor Carleton's message was acted on, and on Tuesday. March 15th, 1803, the following resolutions were passed by the house of assembly, and afterwards concurred in by the legislative council: Whereas, the growth and culture of hemp in this province would be of great national ad- vantage; Resolved, that a bounty of thirty pounds be granted to the person who within four years shall in any one ye^ir raise the greatest quan- tity of merchantable hemp in this province, provided the same exceed one ton. That a bounty of twenty nounds be granted to the person who within the same period as aforesaid, shall raise the next greatest quan- tity of the same article in this province, pro- vided the same exceed half a ton. Thita bounty of ton pounds be granted io the person who within the same period as aforesaid, ahall raise the next greatest quan- tity of the same article In this province, pro- vided the same excef'd a quarter of a ton. That a further bounty of ten poundfl per ton be granted for every ton of merchantsible hemp rised within the same period as aforesaid in this province. Thatabounty of twenty pounds bo granted to such person as shall imoort into this pro- vince forty bu-hels ot nood new, clean hemp seed and distribute the same to the inhabitants of this province in his discretion as the same may be called f rir. Resolved, that this hou?e will make provision for payment of the bounties aforesaid, when the same may be required, aod proper vouchers and certificates from the justices of the common pleas in the respective counties in favor of the person claiming the same, shall be produced.-- We are unable now to state to what ex- tent the cultivation of hemp was encour- aged by the bounties offered, as we have not had an opportunity to search the records of our province to ascertain, but in the pub- lished proceedings of the legislative council —the only record to which we have had access — there ia no mention of further ac* tion on the part of our provincial authorities relative to the aubject. On the 29 th of July, 1808, Colonel Edward Goldatone Lutwyche waa ap- pointed agent for New Brunswick in Great Britain, and the Hon. George Leonard and the Hon. Ward Chipman ap- pointed a committee to correspond with Colonel Lutwyche. Among the subjects that early claimed the attention of the com- mittee of correspondence was the cultiva- tion and preparation of hemp in this prov- ince. On the 5Eh ot September, 1808, the committee wrote Colonel 'Lutwyche the following letter, marked No. 2, on this im- portant subject, and which has not hereto- fore been printed: Irms the have, in Dted out jtioal en- ) in thia Is to the naking ot nties for eir zeal to sir power, national Governor n, and on following house of red in by of hemp Bitional ad- pounds be ^our yeara itest quan- I province, >e granted ) period as test quan- vince, pro- g'anted to period as iteat quan- (vince, pro- a ton. nds per ton itfible hemp iforesaid in be granted .o this pro- ?lean herap inhabitants as the same ^e provision jsaid, when ler vouchers the common favor of the a produced.N what ex- rfts encour- ve have not i records of n the pub- ive council have had further ac- authorities 18, Colonel e was ap- Brunswick sn. George hipman ap- ipond with he subjects of the com- Lhe oultiva- 1 this prov- •, 1808, the iwyche the on this im- I not hereto< Si'. JoHN.N. B., fith Sept., 1808. Dear Sib— From the royal instructions that have been from time to time given respecting grants of land, and from the intimations of government on other occa- eioDS, it appears to be an object of great magnitude to encourage the culture of hemp in chese provinces; and the late interruption of the friendly ioteroourse between Great Britain and Russia must have increased the importance of having a resource within his majesty's dominions for the supply of an ar- ticle so essential to the maritime interests of the nation. From the experiments that have been already made, it has been ascer- tained beyond a doubt that a great propor- tion of the land in this country is peculiarly adapted t3 the growth of this article, but the difficulty of producing it in any consid- erable quantity fit for market arises from a want ot sufficient knowledge of the mode of dressing it, and a bufficient capital to procure the necessary hands and implements for this purpose, no individual having it in his power to engage in so expensive a specu- lation without public aid. If the govern- ment, thet'iiote, is desirous of availing it- self of this country for a supply of hemp, some method must be fallen upon to procure and send out at the public expence a number of settlers from the north of Germany ac- quainted with the best manner of raising, curing and dressing it, and to furnish them with seed and proper implements for the purpose. There is no doubt that land already fit for its cultivation might be procured on which to tnake a fair experiment, and the produce would probably in the course of a few years repay all the expense that the government would be at; and in case of suc- cess, the example would stimulate others to engage in a similar undertaking, so as grad- ually to make this article one of the most valuable staple commodities of this and the neighboring provinces. If these pugges- tions should be thought worthy of attention, the commander-in-chief of the province might ba instructed to look out for and provide a proper place whereon to fix a company of settlers of this description; and the business, while in such a course of experiment, might be managed under the direction of such an overseer as he might think fit to employ, government sustaining the loss or reapiug the profits that might be derived from a speculation so much beyond the abilities of any person here to engage in at his own risk. After considerable disoassion of the sub- ject here, the result of the opinions seems to be that in some such way as this only can a measure of so much importance be tried with any probability of success. We have, therefore, thought it our duty to make it the subject of a letter to you that it may be fairly brought before his majesty's ministers for their consideration, if no material objac- ktioQ Biaouid arise in your mind after due de- liberation and inqniry,to make the reqaisita communications on the subject. We have the honor to be, etc., etc., (Signed) Geohoe Leonard, Ward Chipman. E. G. Lutwyohk. To this letter Colonel Lutwyche made the following reply: The Hon'bles George Leonard and Ward Chipman: Gentlemen — I have the pleasure to ac- knowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2, and the duplicate, and having several times conversed with Lord Sheffield on the sub- ject of cultivating hemp in the British col- onies, I cbrhmunid'ated it to his lordship as a probable means of furthering your views, in answer to which he says: "I have repeatedly endeavored to pro- mote the encouragement of the growth of hemp in the British colonies. I have recom- mended the culture on various occasions by several applications, iktid particularly when I was president of the board of agriculture; but I observed among men in office a grave distrust of the opi- nion that hemp could be raised to advantage,or in any mateiial quantity, in our colonies. It appears to me from the many papers I have read on the subject, that the great desideratum would be to procure persons from hence and from Ger- many who understand the dressing of hemp. Ministers will object to the expense, unless they were convinced of the advantage to be derived from it. I shall not probably settle in London till the first week in February, when I shall be ready to assist in a measure that may prove beneficial not only to the British colonies,but to the empire at large." Under the circumstance of his lordship having failed in his representations, and his readiness to co-operate with me, I have thought it most prudf^nt to postpone the applioation until his return, when it there is a chance of succeeding, it will be much in- creased. Ministers must now be convinced of the necessity, as well as policy, of being independent of foreign states, for an article of thefirstnecessity toamaritimecountrylike this, and therefore they will require to be convinced of the probability of deriving a supply from the colonies to induce them to afford proper encouragement. I understand the matter will be referred to the board of trade, and their decision will most probably regulate the conduct of the ministers. Perhaps before the sailing of the next packet I may be enabled to give you some further information on the subject. I have the honour to be, gent.'s. Your most h'ble serv't, E. G. Lutwyche. Kensington, 10th Jan'y., 1809. The correspondence on the subject seems to have ended with this letter, but the dia- oussion oontinaed In England. Nathaniel Atoheson. F. A. S., the eminent writer on oolonial affairs, that year (1808) pnblished his celebrated book, American Enoroaoh- ments on British Rif^hts, or observations on the importance of the British North American colonies, and thus refers to the efforts made to encourage the culture of hemp intheae provinces: "It has long been an object of the government of this country to promote and encourage the cultivaion of hemp and flax in the British colonies in America, and for that purpose bounties have been given and various means adopted to attain an object of such importance as that of raising, within the British empire, these two valuable materials; and there can be no doubt that if measures are now adopt* ed to secure the home market to the growers of them for a reasonable period, such ex- tended cultivation and improved manage- ment will take place as will render Great Britain in a few yearai||^dependenbof foreign countries for these raw materials of her manufactures." • ••••• "Within the last two years proper persons have been appointed by government to su- perintend and aid the exertions of the colonists who might be induced to cultivate this article in Canada; but the encourage- ment hitherto afforded has not been consid- ered adequate or likely to induce the gener- ality of landholders to engage extensively in the cultivation of hemp. It has unfortu- nately happened that of the hemp seed sent out to this colony a considerable part turned out to be kiln-dried. The soil for hemp should be rich, deep, light and moderately dry. Of this description much can be found on the banks of the creeks and rivers in Canada. Upper Canada, from the nature of its soil and climate, has been thought to be peculiarly well adapted to the cultivation of hemp, and some good samples have been produced and brought from thence. Whether it will ever become an article of geneial cul- tivation in this province is dubious from the high price of labor and the loss it is sup- posed a farmer would sustain by the cultiva- tion of hemp instead of wheat and other grain. This apprehension, however, does not apply to New Brunswick or Nova Sco- tia, where the lands are equally good and calculated for the cultivation of this valu- able article, and where it appears experi- ments have been made with success and profit." Nothing further was done in New Bruns- wick relative to this matter of hemp cul- ture, and as trouble was even then brewing with our neighbors— the United States— the subject it seems was not again referred to, as matters of more vital importance to our provincial rulers soon engrossed their atten- tion at home. In 1812 war was declared against England by the United States, and enterprises of this nature had to be aban- doned, and when peace was restored the subject of hemp culture does not appear to have been again brought prominently before our people. In the meantime the march of maritime progress and enterprise brought other materials into active competition, and thu fine manilla hemp from the Phillippine Isles superseded that grown in northern climes, and its cultivation no longer beoame a matter of national importance to our naval authorities. In seekirg information on this interesting subject, the writer addressed a communica- tion to Julius L. Inches, Esq. , secretary of agriculture for New Brunswick, prob- ably the best authority in this province, and was favored with the following inform- ation relative to the cultivation of hemp in New Brunswii'k during recent years: Office for Aoriculturb, \ Fredericton, N. B., March 21, 1892./ In regard to the cultivation pf hemp Li New Brunswick there is very little inform- ation to be had; in recent times it has nrb been cultivated to any extent except in t'nB French settlements bordering on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and in Madawaska county, and they raise it for their own use only. There is no effort to make a business of it. There is no difiSculty about its growing in this province, but I do not look upon it as an industry that can be made profitable, or indeed prosecuted to any great extent under present circumstances. Labor is too dear with us to make it remunerative, and it is not probable it will be more plenty in the near future. The French settlers cultivate the plant in small patches for their own use without any effort to make it pay by selling a portion of the crop. The labor is principally done by the females, who do not think of trying any of the new modes of working land or harvesting crops. I do not know of any published articles that can be got from which you might obtain any in- formation. I rememl)er, a long time back, that it was proposed to stimulate the pro- duction of hemp, but without any satisfac- tory results, and in recent years it is never mentioned or named as one of the subjects for consideration. Note. — The writer has quoted freely from Beamish Murdoch's History of Nova Scotia. The writer is indebted to Anthony Atoheson Euq , of the customs department, grandson of Nathaniel Atcheson, F. A. S., for the use of the copy of American En- croachments on British Rights, from which the quot>itions inserted in this paper were taken. The volume was the author's pri- vate copy, and contains notes and correc- tions in the handwriting of that distin- guished writer, and is marked with his book-plate and autograph. To I. DeLanoey Robinson, Esq. , of Fred- ericton, the writer is also indebted for valu- able information. I in lai be aban- bored the ippear to itly before march of brought :itioD, and 'billippine northern er became > our naval Dterestlng >mmunioa-' Qretary of ck, prob- province, ig inform' f hemp in krs: tJBE, \ 1892. / hemp Li ;le inform- it has nrb apt in the 1 the Gi'lf ca county, use only, neaa of it. growing in upon it aa ofitable, or >at extent Labor is lunerative, lore plenty Qh aettlera ea for their kke it pay The labor )8, who do w modea of I do not bat can be in any in- time back, e the pro- y aatisfao- it ia never le Bubjeota freely from ova Scotia. > Anthony epartment, . F. A. S., lerioan En- Erom which paper were ithor'a pri- ind correc- bat idiatin- l with hia J. , of Fred- id for valu- Before cloaing this ])ortion of the paper we must refer to a phase of the queation heretofore omitted. After the peace of 1763 a number of jgrants were given to prominent persons in the other coloniea of large areaa of land in Nova Scotia. Among the conditions imposed, on the grantees of these early grants b}' government, "they were to plant, within ten years from the date of the grant, one rood to every 1,000 acres with hemp, and to keep a like quan- tity of land planted during the successive years " (Patterson's History of the County of Pictou.) But this condition was not complied with, and a witty member of the Nova Scotia legislature — Lawrence Doyle — publicly stated before that body, three- quarters of a century after these grants were given, that there waa not sufficient hemp raised in Nova S<. tia for criminal purposes. THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE. Hon. Ward Chipman, the eider, was born in the province of Massachuaetts Bay, and graduated at Harvard University in 1770. Sabine says: "In 1775 he waa driven from bis habitation to Boston, and was one of the eighteen country gentlemen who that year were addreaaera of General Gage." He left Boston with the British army at the evacua- tion in 177C, and nent to Halifax and from thence to England. But the life hibtory of thia remarkable man, whose name ia ao inti- mately interwoven in the early annala of New Brunswick, can not been i;iven in thia abort sketch. Rambling through the Rural oemetery laat autumn the writer came nn- expeotedly npon the tomb of Ward Chip- man, and copied the epitaph, composed evidently by his equally celebrated son, Ward Chipman, junior, and it will take the place of a more extended sketch: "Thia monument is erected over the remains of the Honorable Ward Chipman, Esquire, who was born in the province of Massaohuaetts Bay, on the 30ch ot July, 1754, and died at Fredericton, in this province, on the 8th February, 1824. He was a graduate of Harvard university and educated to the pro- fession of the law. Retaining hia loyalty to his sovereign, he was obliged to abandon his native land on the evacuation of Boston in the year 1776. Having repaired to Eng- land, and the royal bounty bestowed on him a pension, in common with a long list of his I suffering fellow countrymen. But a state of inaction being ill-suited to his ardent niind. In less tban a year be relinquished his pension and rejoined the king's troops at New York, where he was employed in a military department and in the practice of the oourt of admiralty until the peace of 1783. On the first erection of thia province in 1784 he waa appointed aolioitor general, and continually afterwarda bore a con- •pioaoaa and most uaefnl part ijl its fiSiAn aa an advocate at the bar, a member of the honie of assembly, a member of hia majeaty'a council, a judge of the aupreme court, and agent on the part of hia majnaty befora several oommiasions for aettliug disputed points of boundary with the Lnited States, until he closed hia mortal career, while administering the gov- ernment of thia province aa preaident and commaader-in-chief duripg a vacancy in the ofiioe of lieutenant governor. Disticguished during the whole of his varied and active life for superior abilities and unweariable zeal, for genuine integrity and singular humanity and benevolence, his loss waa uni- veraally deplored; and thia fr>ul tribute from his neareat connexiona affords but a feeble expression of the affeotioDatu re- spect with which they cherish the memory of his virtues." The biography ot Ward Chipman baa yet to be written, and whoever undertakes that task, will find the materials scattered through the early records of this province and the colonial records in London, and the subject one of intense fascination. Let US hope that a writer equal to the task may be forthcoming before some of the evi- dences of hia g:tnius and talents are scat- tered or destroyed, that posterity may know what this brilliant Loyalist accom- plished for British power on this continent. HON. OEOROB LEONARD, was also a Massachusetts Loyalist and waa connected during the revolutionary war^ with Edward Winslow and Ward Chipman. He was an active Loyaliat and a prominent member ot the Associated Refugeea and Loyalists of New York, and was second in command of the expedition fitted out in that city in 1779 to osoupy Nantucket Island. This expedition was commanded by Kdward Winalow, and an account of it ia given in Macy'a Hiatory of Nantucket laland. Mr. Leonard came to New Bruna- wick in 1783 and waa appointed one of the agents to locate landa granted to Loyaliata, and in 1791 was made a member of the legislative council of the province. He died at Sussex Vale in 1826. Richard Leonard, a son of the Hon. Geo. Leonard, was an officer of the 104th regiment and served with that corps of New Brnnswickers dur- ing the war of 1812, and died at Lundy's Lane, in the province of Upper Canada, in 1833. NEW BRUNSWICK PROVINCE AGENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN FROM 1783 TO 1830. The first agent appointed for the province of New Brunswick in Great Britain waa the celebrated Brook Watson, the Cumberland county boy who became lord mayor of Lon- don, and died a baronet of the United Kingdom. Thia appointment was one of the earlieat made on the formation of the pro- vince by tbe firat house of ass)^ mbly that met in St. John, and was proposed to the I^k'"- latire ooanoil on the 17th of January, 1786, t fi by the Hnlioltor general, Ward Chlptnan, and Ebenezer Foster, one of the represent- ativea for Kingt county. The council oca- ourred with the house of aasennbly in the appointment, and the Hon. Jonathan Odell and the Hon. Edward Winslow were ap- pointed a oummittee to conduct correspond- enoe with Mr, Watson. Brook Watson continued agent for the province until 1794, when he resigned, as his presence was re- quired with the British forces then serving on the continent of Europe, and the thanks of both branches of the legislature of New Brunswick were tendered him for his patri- otic exertions on behalf of the province. During his long and eventful life, Brook Watson continued on intimate terms with many of the leading loyalists who made New Brunswick their home, and took a deep interest in the settlement and prosper- ity of the province. A few months previous to his appointment as province agent, Brook Watson wrote the following letter to Edward Winslow, the original of which is still preserved among other papers by the descendants of that distinguished man in this province: London, 26th August, 1785. Colonel Winslow: Dear Sir —The Gen'l Description of the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Bruns- wick which yon obligingly sent me under date c* Ap'l ye 23th is by far the most reg- ular and perfect thing of the kind I ever saw; its just the information I wanted, and arranged better than any ideas of mine could possibly suggest, and carries more convincing proof on its face than fifty speeches may in the House of Commons from the most respectable information. You have thereby put a Weapon, Offensive and defensive, into my hands, which may eventually intitle me to the honorable ap- pelation of Champion for the remaining Provinces. Mr. Lambton has also obliged me ,with some observations made during his match to Pausamaqaody, by all which I clearly perceive the West India Isles will soon be amply supplied with all kinds of Lumber, White-oak staves excepted, and therein is indeed a great want, how it may be supplied I can't conceive, for I much fear the fine staves expected to supply their want will be found insufficient for the purpose; should it prove otherwise, I beg to be furnished with Authenticated Proof of it. There is no reason to apprehend a free trade being allow'd between the British isle in the W. Indies and the American states. Thq eyes of this country have, thank God, been open'd to see the destructive tendency of such a measure, or will the duty on foreign oil be taken off or reduced, as it now stand it is an effectual Bounty to our own fisheries, and is severely felt by the American states. They complain, and I am glad they have cause for so doing. Their rcheme of placing Nantnckett under our government is too flimsy an artifice to take, and the Quakers must move to one of the King's provinces if they mean to enjoy the blessings of his government and the benefits of our commerce. The Province of Nova Scotia have at last forbid the Americans to Enter their Ports; had this wise step been earlier taken she would not have been drained of her money as has been the case. The States complain of being treated as Aliens, forgetting they made themselves such. If our Government act wisely, a Governor General will soon be sent to the remaining Provinces, who will work them to their own happiness and the good of the Empire, their neighbours, like Vinager, fretting on their own Lees, will soon curse the Day which made them inde- pendent. Farewel, Dr. Sr., Your faithful H'ble S'en, Brook Watson. "The Gen'l Description of the Provinces of Nora Scotia and New Brunswick" re- ferred to by the writer of this letter, and furnished by a man of acknowledged talent, as Ed ward Winslow, would be interesting and valuable to every student of provincial his- tory. WILLIAM KNOX OF LONDON was appointed Brook Watson's successor, and Colonel Ludlow (Hon. Gabriel G. Lud- low) to "be a committee ot the legislative council to correspond with the ai^eut." At the following session of the legislative coun- cil, on the 5th March, 1795, the Hon Ed- ward Winslow, Hon. Jonathan Odell and the Hon John Saunders were added to the committee. And on the 16th of February, 1797, Thomas Knox, a son of William Knox, was appointed joint agent for the province with his lather. William KtiOK appears to have performed his duties tsa agent for New Brunswick satis- factorily, for at the session of 1801 it was "Resolved unanimously that the thanks of this house are due to Mr. Knox for his vigil- ant attention to the general interests of this colony." William Knox held the posi- tion until 18tU8, when he resigned. On re- tiring the thanks of the house of assembly was again Rendered him and his son, Thomas Knox, for their faithful services aa agent and joint agent of the province. William Knox was under secretary of state for the American department in 1780, and suggested the division of Maine between the Penobscot and J^t. Crniz rivers into a province to be settled by loyal refugees, and to be called "New Ireland." Colonel Edward Goldstone Lutwyche, the next resident agent for New Brunswick, was appointed on the 29 ch of July, 1808, and the Hon. George Leonard and Hon. Ward Chipman were appointed a committee to correspond with Colonel Lutwyche. Colonel Lutwyche was born in the under our tioe to tak«, > one of the Vi enjoy the the benefits have at last their Porta; r taken she [ her money les oomplain getting they Government will soon be )8, who will leas and the bbonra, like n Lees, will I them inde- I 8'en, c Watson. he Provincea answiok" re- 8 letter, and edged talent, iterestiogand rovinoiai hia- rooN t'a ancoeaaor, ariel G. Lud- iie legislative ai^eut." At islative coun- 3e Hon. Ed- m Odell and added to the of February, i^illiam Knox, the province kve performed jDBwick satis- ': 1801 it was he thanks of c for hia vigil- [ interests of held the poai- jned. On re- le of asaembly nd hia aon, iul aervioea as )rovince. ' secretary of tment in 1780, daine between rivers into a i refugees, and Lutwyohe, the irunswiok, was uly, 1808, and id Hon. Ward committee to ?yche. born in the province of Maaaaohuaetta bay, and In 1760, with hia mother, Mra. Sarah Lut. wyohe, removed Irom Boaton to Merrimao, New Hampshire. Ho waa a highly educated man and a lawyer by profession, and is sup- Eoaed to have been a member of the New [ampahire colonial legialatare trom 1768 to 1775, aa hia name appears aa a member of aeveral committeea of that body. At Mer- rimao he became a deacon of the Congrega- tional church, and alao colonel of the Fifth New Hampshire regiment of militia. When newa reached Meriimao of the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, Colonel Lutwyche waa importuned by the offioera and men of hia regiment to march against the Hritiah, which he refuaed to do and tried to discour- age othera from going. Some time during the night of April 20th he left home clan- deatinely and joined General Gage in Boaton, and at the evacuation of that city followed the Britiah army to Halifax, Nova Scotia. In January, 1777,- Colonel Lutwyche was at Long Island, New York, and during that year was married to Jane Ripelje of New York city. In 1780 Colo- nel Lutwycbe, assisted in organizing in New York, among the loyalits who sought refuge in that city, a military organization known aa "The Aasociated Refugees and Loyal- ists," and became, with the Hon. George Leonard,& member of the Board of Directora that concroiled and guided the operationa of the Anaociated Loyalists. On the e^racua tion of New York in 1783, Colonel Lutwyche went to England, and waa granted a pen- sion by the English government. His pro- perty was confiscated by the state of New Hampshire, and a ferry privilege owned bj him at the crossing of the Merrimac river, between the towns Merrimao and Litchfield, was granted to the Hon. Mathew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of independance, and the locality is now known as Thorn- ton's ferry. The ferry privilege was after- wards resto-ed to Mra. Sarah Lutwyche. In 1778 Colonel Lutwyche, with other pro- minent Loyalists of New Hampshire, (in- cluding Governor Sir John Wentwort and Bet'jamin Thompson, afterwards Count Rumford) waa proscribed by the General Court of New Hampshire. Colonel Lutwyche made his home in Lon- don, where he met many of the loyalists who viaited the great metropolis, after the war, to press their claima against the gov- ernment. BETWEEN EDWARD WIN8L0W and Colonel Lutwyche there existed a strong friendship, and for many years previous to the latter'a appointment as agent for New Brunswick he had been Winslow's confiden- tial correspondent in London, and had assisted him in bis claims on the British government and had pressed Winslow's ap- pointment aa a judge of the supreme court of this provino^n Lord Sheffield. Wins- low was graceful for Colonel Lutwyche's aer- vicea, and In a latter to Lord ShefHeld, dated "Kingaolear, 20th Auguat, 1807," thanking hia lordahip for the appointment, he makes thia acknowledgement: "My worthy and faithful friend, Lutwyohe, has communicated the partioulara of the negotiationa which have oeen carried on in my favor, and truly, my lord, the per- uaal of \m have excited a degree of aenai- bility beyond what I have ever before ex- perienced. Well may that good man ex- claim: *Weri all noblemen like Lord Shef- field, titles would be honorable indeed.'" Writing to Winslow a few months before hia appointment aa agent for New Bruna- wick. Col. Lutwyche gives this information regarding the state uf public feeling in Eng- land and the perils that menaced the Britiah empire at that period in Europe aa well as America, and which a few yeara afterwards culminated in war on this continent. "The new state of things in Europe has affected this country in a peculiar manner. What will be the result ia uncertain— tho' it ia certain we are determined to hold out to the laat — there ia no abatement of the apirit or the exertions of the country. "The Americana have taken a moat favorable opportunity, it muat be oonfeaaed, to gain aome pointa; but they muat not pull too hard, lest the atring break; " tho' thia country ia aia- ocrely deairoua of avoiding a rupture with them, yet the ministry are determined not to sacrifice the honur or intereat of it." Colonel Lutwyohe was a close observer of men, a' d his correspondence reveals many phases of life among the exiled Loyalists re- aiding in England during that period. His If .ters are written in an easy, flowing atyle — though aomewhat difficult to decipher — that mark the trained diplomat or man of the world; but all of them evince a knowledge of the aubjeot in hand and a de- termination to accomplish, if possible, the matter undertaken. Col. Lutwyche waa agent for New Bruns- wick during a moat critical period of its history. The embargo troubles with the United States be gdin shortly after his ap- pointment, and then the declaration of war followed. These events, with local provin- cial matters of grave importance, engroaaed hifa attention in London, and also the atten- tion of the committee of correspondence in this province, who appear to have reposed great confidence in his judgment and abil- ity, as the following extract from a letter, addressed to him by the committee of cor- respondence from St. John, on the 26th of March, 1810, will testify: "We have great satisfaction in informing you that the whole of the correspondence between you and the late committee of the council and assembly waa takon into consid- eration at the late aeasion of the General Assembly at Fredericton, and that your zealous attention to the interests of the $ provinoe, and jodloloua oonduot In the dU- charge of youc duties aa the provinoial agent front the time of your appointment, met their higheat approbation, in teatlmony of which the turn of £200 sterling was grant- ed to you for your past aervioea; a remuner- ation, however^ inconsiderable in itself, ex- ceeding the Hte hitherto granted in any aimilar inatan^." OOLONBL LUTWYOHK oontlnaed to diacharse the dutiea of agent evidently to the aatisfaotion of the com- mittee until hia death, which occurred in London in the autumn of 1815. During the yeara that Colonel Lutwyohe held tho o£Bce of province agent be had many difficult and delicate misaiona to perform; but In all the negotiationa he oonauoted with the home authoritiea he aeema to have performed hia part to the aatiafaotion of auob exacting oritica aa Winalow, Leonard and Chipman. On aeveral ocoaaions he acted in conjunctioa with the celebrated Nathaniel Atoheson, who was then acting aa aG;ent for the prov- ince of Nova Scotia in London; and hia in- timate knowledge of and acquaintance with the leading public men in the British metropolia rendered him a valuable official for tbia young colony in thoae days of politi- cal intrigue. On the 7th of March, 1816, Thomas Bonnor, of Spring Garden, waa appointed province agent in London, and held the position until 1824. And on the 27th of that mouth Jno.Bainbridge and Henry Bliss were appointed joint agenta for the provinoe in the room of Thomaa Bonnor. John Bainbridge was laced there by a brother — Lewis Bliss — in oving memory of the Hon. Jonathan Bliss and Mary Bliss, hia wife, and of their sons, John Worthington Bliss, William Blowers Bliss and Henry Bliss. NoTB — The writer is indebted to the Rev. Henry G. Jessop of Dartmouth college, Hanover, New Hampshire, for all the infor- mation relating to the early life of Colonel Edward T. Lutwychn contained in this paper, and gleaned from rare historical worki in that gentleman's possession. St. John, N. B., April, 1892. barr liter of le resided . ral painph< ated ooneid- aa well ai laued. The n Mr. BlUe' raa entitled ry and Re- her Planta- Blisa wrote reciation of valuablo as ) of Britiah g the first M agent also ia for many of the best indoD. Mr. r.}ir Howard in, Nathan- of others, >t perusal at poaaeaaions la ooDtinent world sach )reng^ and regretted by The beauti- inity church It John was is Bliss — in lathan Bliss f their sons, »m Blowers 1 to the Rev. nth college, M the infor- ) of Colonel ned in this e historical saion.