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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour ttre reproduit en un seul clich*. 11 est film* i partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche i droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant la nombre d'imagae nteassaira. Lee diagrammes suhranta illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 *•"*«*» WIOUinON TBT CNAtT (ANSI and ISO TEST CHAUT No. 2) }^ iu 1.6 A d^PyEDjVMGE Inc <»3Eoit Moin SIrMt (7H) 2M - S9n - ro> m*- •• > HE UAWACTIOJIS OF M| WYAL SOCIETY Of CANADA With OcmpiiBieiita CNtARIO HISTORICAL SOCfEtr! to; (A. . -If I* J 1 1 «->./'>,. r i ^ C An . /.^ ^ , HECrioN II.. 1913 PI '/ Tk.wb R.S.C. David William Smith. A Supplemtnlury \otf to the I'pfter Ciittada Election .j/17»2. By C. C. James, C.M.(J., LL.D. Read May 28, 1013. In May 1902, 1 presented to the Royal Society of Canada a paper on • The First Legislators of Upper Canada ' in which I gave the list of members of the first Legislature, sixteen in all, awixned them to their various constituencies, and appended such dates as were avail- able at the time. In that paper I set down David William Smith as one of the members for the County of Kent, which included the residents of Detroit, and of all the country north and west as far as the uncertain boundaries of the Province extended. His Colleague was William Macomb. Francis or Francois Baby was set down as the member for the adjoining County of Essex (and SufTolk). After the paper had been written and was ready foi- the printer-, an addendum note was attached setting forth the list of members as printed in The Quebec Magazine of December, 1792. This list set down David William Smith as niember for Essex and Francis Baby and William Macomr) as the two members for Kent. The question arises as to whether Smith was returned for Kent, as is generally stated in histwical records, or whether he was leturned for Vmen as reported in The Quebec Maga- tine. In my paper on "The Second Legislature of Upper Canada" printed in the Royal Society Records for 1903, I assigned Smith to Essex, md there I am disposed to leave him for the present. This paper is presented not merely with a view to disposing of that question, if possible, but also to make available some information as to how elections were conducted in the early dayj. I might add this note, however, that Mr. C. M. Burton, of Detroit, has stated that Smith ran in Essex on the 20th of August, 1792, was defeated and at once was set up in Detroit and elected on the 28th of August, along with Macomb. Smith himself has left on record that he was elected a member of the first Legislature on 27th August, 1792, but unfortunately be failed to state for what riding be was elected. He simply put the record as follows:— "Member of First Canadian Parliament, 27tb August, 1792." The three letters that follow bearing date 26th July, 6th August, and Hth August, 1792, are reproduced through the kindness of Mr. C. M. Burton, Detroit, who haa the origio«ls in his eoUectbn of the Askin papers. It was in tjl»e spring of 1792 that the 5th Rqpment of Foot ^ '..^ t- ' THK HOYAL r^XICTY OF CANADA WW traiwferred fmm Detroit tii Viair.r. i u u ■ . thi« Regiment, ax. h^I Lw^W Lm tifr T ""^'^ "' Smith appointed h« old friend, John A^khof S^Joit't. h'"!""*"'' ■gent, and it ih to him that ♦»,« ♦hJ.! *. ""troit, aM hw election of 14th AugJ con 1h thl t "T r '^^'■«^'- ''»"• '«tt«" Detroit elecTon eat Lt'L tn^t^^^ TT ^.° '"'''' '''"* »»"' that riding. ** '"' *'"' ""* ''^'We ♦«' ntand for " Perhape I should have done better to have Mt .m #„.. . . seata in Detroit, aa I hear onlv of Mr « u T . ^ '°' *'"** "' "'» but I did not then im:i^/:oZ^'::sLT v^^r'^*^'- I thrown out on the 20th lL7h!^u *"i'"«' *« ^"t*: bo8ide«, were Here follow the lern.!-"'* '"'" '*' " ^'""'« '^ ^''^ '^^•'•" My Deau ^fo- Tk . Niagara, 26 Jul V, 1792. on the eiSfby trLvk. I'T'' o"!^''^ ^^' ""^ ^ '^"''ded Whe (Th.;*i;rSt^^^^^^ west by the River Detroit to MaiaonviUe'a mUl- from f^' k "".*** running paraUel to the River Detroit37ake st n • Tt ^^i- " ''"* of four n,Ue«, until it reaches the mtrLa^ranche'r u '^"' nver to where the canying pla,e fro: ^JtZpL'^Z^.Tr::'' This said county of Eaaex wi»k ^k^ j- • • S'nKes tftat river. Which .h,„ .«ils:^«';"';^;i°'z^""vr"rK "" certificates (for lands) nnlv r .. ^ ! j memt)er. Thoee who have prehendB the new «!„ „; a^ Eri« k' T "°'" ''''" *'•»''* -»" Monf.-fon'« .omrnv who h ''° *"'^' «^""'"*"y certificates, them since mr^e^rtU LZ«r% "'^'P* '^"^ '"'^« ••-«'-«^ thi. i.t ^P^^i.,r::\Tii:^r^^^^^^ - the -ii,; ,„ rot:t-'-"d ttrred^ oTt: " r?"^^^ner;r.t , iHiu mose settled on the south side of River T« Tro- i. most happy, and in that ntuo t k-„ I onoery, I shall be iKiel. You will draw on m. 7°, .? •<> the mob, to w.ih down the Pleasure in l^elpint^ frria^fria^r^th^ t^^^^^^ ^^ 12th Septemb^ llZd .Z^'^^ '''' ^^'' ""^ "»*"»»"« the *ffe<-tion in this Hiiinr, J C it^f nTm'r"""^' '*"°' '"^ . u nope 1 need not make many apologies 910936 IJAMKnl lUVIII WII.MAM .«.\IITII on fhnt H.-.,r... \. | |,av,. 1,^'.,,, the .hi.vh... I an ...rn.in.Hl .,, «., .hr„u,h w.th ,,. ami Hh....l.| f s,u.,«.|. | ho,H. ,„ .„ , ,„v ,„««.»., Hftciwn..lH \\,. Hhall not .•,.r.ni..ly havo tl.<. ,,r„vi.ui- H,,.,-.. four years MO that wherovt.r tl... .oat ..f Kov...„„M.„t niav Ik., or whafv... may Ik- tho ,l(.sf,n8ti..n of the roKt.. I tiiak. no .loul.t that I shall Im- able to attml the Cou.u.ij an.l ttHH..,nl,ly , arly. Mv having don., he HTttlerH huHincHH without ..n.oluinontH ,,n. anv quarter. Hhoul.l be .ome indurenient to th.-.n. on the sror,. of Kratifu.le. to return tne I rather think ,f m inten,|,Ml that the ,Hv,,,le who have Fn-n.h ^rant^ ot, the KarriHon si.ie Hhoul.l vote; a. the .leseription of the eountv of Kent rornprohenresent this county p) a-lwjfging, and vou hiKl I hav,. no ehance for Essex. I shall be proud to Jk> returnod'for th.1 county, but as the French p<.ople know little of me, I have not any hope« on that score. I am very ill at present, mvself, or I woul.l certamly Ko up to Detroit, but if the ,KH,ple are sinccrJ that is unneces- sary, and this will Kive it a fair trial. You will do me a service by de- hvenng to Mr. Pollard the names „f those capable to vote, which vou can get from a small register in the land offi.c, marked or rather endorsed. "Certificates granted," and another endorsed 'French grants en roture." If any of Monforton'., or Maisonville's compaiiv have receivee thankful to vou to use your mfluence with them. (-„!. McKee has pron.i.se: prevents my setting off for Detroit immediately but the coming of the Prince. He is to i>e here alwuit the 25th— my fate is to lie determineil the 28th. I^ith tells me you have written to me but the opposite party have got hold of the letter because they guessed its contents. Have proper b(M)ths erected for my frientls at the hustings, employ Forsyth to make large plum cakes with plenty of fruit, etc. Be sure let the wine lie good and ))lenty. Ix^t the |)easants have a fiddle, some leverage and l^eef. If my absence merely should be mentioned as a bar to my election, you may assure the world that if Mu-re is time between the return being made and the meeting of the .Vs.sembly, I will com* up to take the sentiments of the County, and I will annually pay Detroit a visit Iwfore I go to tlu^ .Metro|H)lis to nunn the .Vssendily. Forgive ine, I woriy you out. 1 have quite an election fever. However, it will soon be cooled, and let th*^ determination be as it will, I shall Iw perfectly satisfied and ecjually obliged to all my good friends. (iod l>less you and yours, and believe me unfeignedly, faitlifully an2. To chhIi paiil for trauMport «>f iMmnlx £ D 10 " Sheriff's officer 9 day8 3 4 „ " Miliiruni and Park for hoaniN ,-, 19 ^ " Henry Ftot^fonl making hiMtingH 2 mo " 2 elerkx K days at .37 /A m) () ■' cash paid a man distriliutinic udvertixenientN, paper, etc. 2 N. Y. ('urrency £44 j) 3 Half Amount David Wm. Smith. Vm\ jt22 |» 3 HptiiminK officer ax jier order .5 12 £-2S 1 a Received of Mr. .Ajikin 7 49 £30 10 (I 10 " amount of Wm. Surrell's account for sundries furnished by him 5S 7« To James* May for sundries per acct. pd 12156 1 1 To paid Wm. and David Robertson for hogshead porter 18 Paid ditto amount of Wm. Scott's account £17 7 35 7 £233 4 5 1792. Sept. 21— By your draft on Messrs. Auldjo & Co., at 31 days "«l»t for £200 24— By Messrs. George Leitli & Co. for balance 33 4 5 N. Y. Currency £233 4 5 In the expense account just given it will be noted that there is, on August 27th, a charge of seven shillmgs to pover the cost of one bottle of rum and one loaf for a messenger who was sent with a letter to Mi. Selby, This suggests the advisibility of adding two short notes from Mr. Selby to Mr. Askim, written during the early days of the campaign. Mr. Selby resided in Essex. They refer to the voting in that county. It may well be that the messenger of the 27th was a hurry-up request near the close of the poll for the voters, whom Mr. Selby said he could "bring forward at a short notice." Or perhaps Roch, the messenger, carried a letter conveying the news that Mr. Smith had been elected. Here we give the two Selby letters. Mouth of Detroit River, Friday, 16th Aug. , 1792 Dear Sir: — When I left Niagara I was requested by Mr. Smith to wait on you the moment of my arrival at Detroit, to assure you how sensible He is of the great obligation he owes to you and his other worthy friends who have so strenuously supported his interest in the present contest for a representative in the House of Assembly. Be assured, Sir, that I should have been extremely happy had circumstances permitted me to have made you a personal report of his sentiments on this occasion, but my late sickness rendered it necessary for me to get ashore as soon as possible. Mr. Smith from the experiences, goodness and partiality of his friends, flatters himself with the hopes of success and he purposes in that event to make his acknowledgements in person as soon as his present {jamm] DAVID WILLIAM SMITH hurry of indiapensible business is a little subsided: and, lost h« should have omitted to make application to any of the electors, he gave me half a dozen addresses with blank supcrecriptions which I now beg leave to enclose to you for that purpose. With every sentiment of regard I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, Your most obedient Humble servant, D. SELBY. John Askin, Esq., Detroit. (MSS. Vol. 2, p. 63, Burton Library.) Saturday, 17th August, 1792. Deau Sir: — When I did myself the honour of writing to you yesterday I forgot to mention that in case Mr. Smith is likely to be hfd run, I have some votes to bring forward at a short notice, but I would rather avoid their appearing unless it was absolutely necessary; of this you will be able to judge in sufficient time to send me information. With my best compliments to all your good family, I am, dear Sir, Very faithfully, Yours, Ac, D. SELBY. .John Askin, Esq., Detroit. (MSS. Vol. 2, p. 64, Burton Library) From the letters we are able to form a very clear idea as to how elections were run in the earliest campaigns in Upper Canada, and from the accounts we learn that the entire expense had, of necessity, to be borne by the candidates— further, that the candidates did not depend for their elections on good wishes and prayers. And now for a concludmg note. Having read all the letters and the two accounts, must we not come to the conclusion that David William Smith was elected as member of the Legislature for the coimty of Essex (and Suffolk) ? The elections continued for a period of six to eight days, .mith's letter of 14th August was written prior to the holding of the lection in Essex. When it reached Askin at Detroit, the election for Kent must already have been started and therefore I conclude that Francis Baby in THK noYAI, SMontativeN for tliat county, and that David William Smith 8t(H)d for Essex and Suffolk, and thanks to .Fohn Askin and his liberal carrying out of the orders for free meals and drinks, and with the timely assistance of Selby's reserves, he headed the po!' on the evening of the 27th or the 28th. The green and pink ribbons won.* The bon-fire no doubt was lit and a great carousal held about the hustings near the mouth of the River. The bills of the ta\ ern keep«'r Smith, and of the traders were settled for promptly, but it was nearly two years before Sheriff Pollard had final settlement of his official account. There is one other (question yet to Ije answered- who went down to defeat a^rninst David William Smith? ♦Grwn for the Irisli and pink lor tli«» I'rvnch'.'