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32X

SKETCHES OF CANADA

AND

THE UNITED STATES.

" A ntll<
uur u|ilnloii
lh« iiir« ut «

" We arc

to hli Mnjiii

" Hero II
wa; of tax,
and viii|ilo]i

I*!!- iifllia i

SKETCHES OF CANADA

AND

THE UNITED STATES.

Bv WILLIAM L. MACKENZIE.

p. H/io^^ci

" A nation muil not be nice about deulls when lis existence oi Ubeities are threatened. In
uur u|ilnlon, no criils ever arose In tireat Britain more pregnant with grave alarm than that on
the eve of which we at this moment stand."— r/io Times. Saturday, June lith, 1833.

" We are approaching to a state of anarchy and confusion."— ^Mreu of the Legislativ Council
t» hit Mulmty, on theprcunt eondiiion of Lower Canada. <iuebec, 1838.

" Hero national prosperity is the prosperity of every individual. Not a cent is contributed by
way of tax, not a dollar Is expended fVoni the public cofTers, which is not assented to by the peopk',
and employed to enlarge their means of i!i\joyment."— CTorcmor Throop't Message to the Lcgista'
tuir nfthii atnle of Veto YorU, Juntiory, 1032.

LONDON :
EFFINGHAM WILSON,

ROYAL EXCHANGE.

MDCCCXXXIII.

t ,*•*.• I

42911

.\/« »

^ i?.-> '

" It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers, but by
their distribution, that good government is effected. Were not this great
country already divided into states, that division must be made, that each
might do for itself what concerns itself directly, and what it can so much
better do than a distant authority. Every state again is divided into
counties, each to take care of what lies within its local bounds ; each
county again info townships or wards, to manage minuter details; and
every ward into farms, to be governed each by its individual proprietor.
Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we
should soon want bread."— J/emoira of Thomcu Jefferton, a Whig of
\77G.

W. CLowiia, Stamford Streat.

tf» be cloie to

CONTENTS.

ers, but by
9t this great
e, that each
;aii so much
iivided into
Linds ; each
letails; and
proprietor,
to reap, we
a Whig of

Page
Introduction ...... xiii

Western New York — Lockport— Sects — Rochester — The Erie Canal —
Natural Gas . . . . . 1 to 7

A Scotch Whig — A Cameroniaii . . . .7

Bordentown — The Jerseys — Point Breeze — Joseph Bonaparte 8 to 12
The State House —The Bell — Philadelphia Water-Works — General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Ohurch — Tim Naval Yard . 13 to 18
Equality, or Whites and Blacks —Canadian Elections — Female Voters
— Philadelphia Ladies . . , 19 to 21

Kidnapping Slaves in Upper Canada . . 21 to 23

Baltimore — Slavery — Conduct of Negroes m the Canadas . 23 to 25
Washington ; the Capitol — Mr. Gales — Republican Simplicity 25 to 27
Mr. Leckie — Major Barry — The General Post-Office — The Pa-
tent-Office - Colonial Post-Office — War- Office — Gales and
Seaton . . . . . 27 to 33

A Divorce— Crazy Dow — Marriages . . 33 to 3fi

General Green . . . . v\

Officers of the General Government — General J\I'Comb — Library . V

Congress . . . , . 37 to 4(»

The Department of State— Royal Autographs . 40 to -4 2

Martin Van Buren . . . . 42

Andrew Jackson . . . . 46 to 49

Notice of his Birth and Early History — The

Poor . . . . . 49 to 56

Public Opinion— Colonial Militia— United States Militia— Character

56 to 59

60 to 62

of the President ....
Duties of Congress — Public Servants — James Monroe
Standing Armies . . .

Lafayette on the Niagara Frontier

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CONTENTS.

Ji:

Pas*
American Governors— Governor Finlay — Governor Gilmer 69 to 72
Going Downhill — Bankruptcies — Noah's Safety Valve, or Life in the

West— Trade in 1750 . . . 72 to 76

Philadelphia Fashions Fourscore Tears ago . . 76

Bookselling in America . • . ' 78

Nullification in Canada, or a Smuggling Scene upon the Niagara

River . . . . .81

Albion Mills— The Burning Spring— The Lover's Leap — Ancaster —

Burlington Bay . . . . 85 to 87

A County Election at the Falls of Niagara . . 87

Doctor Lefferty .... 92

A Voyage down the Falls of Niagara . . .94

Sam Patch— A Tremendous Jump— Sam's Death— Trenton Falls —

The Table Rock— Niagara . . . 97 to 101

The Niagara Whirlpool — ^The Falls — Scenery near St. David's

101 to 104
Methodism in Canada^a Camp Meeting . . 1 05

Middlesex Election — Captain Matthews — Mr. Rolph — Colonel Talbot

—The Spirit of Freedom . . . 110 to 115

Father Talbot— Riot at St. Thomas . . . 1 1 5 to 1 1 8

The Children of Peace, a new religion— Hope Village — Splendid

Temple— A Concert in the Woods . . 118 to 123

An Itinerating Sect . . . . . 123

Tnie Christianity, or the old Negro — Militia Fines — A Lovely Country

—Newmarket — Dr. Strachan . . . 125 to 128

Church Missionaries — A Marriage in a Stable . 128 to 130

The Credit Indians — ^The Mission House — Indian School — Peter

Jones — Dorcas Society — Indian Fisheries — Salmon — * Deer

Hunting . . . . . . 130 to 136

The Canadian Yorkshire— Tories versut Reformers . 136

Judge Hopkins' Tavern — The Canadian Solomons — Crime in Upper

Canada . . . . . 137 to 142

Nova Scutia — Beating Legislators into Order — The Speaker 142

Lockport in 1825 — ^The Canada Company, a great evil 144 to 146
A Trip to Quebec — Montreal Churches— The Catholic Cathedral— A

CONTENTS.

s-l

Page
Chaplain dismissed— Lower Canada Clergy— Irish and Canadian
Tithes . . . • • 147 to 15

Climate of the Canadas — Quails — Moutreal Harbour — Sorell— At
torney •General Stuart . . • . 151 to 153

Anecdote of Sir James Kempt — Canadian Loyalty — On abandoning
Canada {Note) . . . . 154 to 156

Government — Vermont and Upper Canada compared — General Assem.
bly of Vermont . . . . . 15G to 151i

Vermont — A Curious Quotation, p. 160 — Democratic Elections — Re-
porters — General Assembly — Chaplain — Income and Taxes— Bank
Taxes — Legislative Contingencies — Judges' Salaries — Salaries of
Public Officers in Upper Canada and Vermont — Auditors — Trea-
surers . . . . • • lG0tol65

Vermont — Governor's Salary — Mr. Crafts' Speech— CoJinty Officers —
Biillots for Congress — The Pardoning Power— Contested Elections
—Banks — Lotteries — A Judge's Contingencies — Who may give
Evidence — Common Schools — Court of Chancery — A Prorogation
^Cognovits ..... 165 to 172

Shipwreck of the Waterloo Steamer — Travelling on the Ice — Honesty
and Humanity of the Canadian Habitans — St. Nicholas — Death of
Captain Perry . . , . 172 to 179

The Steerage of an Emigrant Ship — Quebec Dog Carts — The Amateur
Theatre -Lord Ay Imer . . . . 179 to 182

Quebec — A Variety of Climates — Floating Frost — The Assembly's
Library — Legislative Buildings — The Exchange 181 to 186

Quebec College — Upper Canada, College — Bishop Signay 187 to 192

St. Lawrence Navigation by the United States . . 192

A New York Synagogue — An Unitarian . . 193, 194

Albany Typographical Society — A Toast . . 195

Albany — Senate and Assembly of New York — Passing Bank Charters
—Colonial I'olicy .... 198 to 202

An American Methodist Chapel — Religious Controversy . 203, 204

Eleven Quotations — Sermon on Slavery, by Mr. Bascom, in New
York— Colony of Liberia .... 205 to 213

New York, London, and Liverpool lines of Packet Ships — A Voyage
across the Atlactic — Fare on board — Steerage Passengers— Amuse-

via

CONTENTS.

220 to 223

. '22,i

229 to 231

231 to 233

. 233

P«ge
ment« — Books — The Ontario— Aveiaj^e length of Voyages — The
Swallows . . . . . 213 to 220

Spitheail— The Health Officer— The Custom House

Insanity and Death of Mr. Mudgu .

London— Lobo — Banks of the Thames

Colonel Backhouse — North Shore of Lake Erie — A Slide

Beauties of Houghton ....

Quaker Meeting- House and School — Meuonists and Tunkards

234 to 236

Albion andCaledon — A Farmer from York — Accidents in the Woods —
Falls of the Credit— A Highland Family— Justice Sloat 237 to 24 1

Upper Canada — The Lake Simcoe Country — Whitchurch — The
Militia Band of Music— The Highland Lassie . 242 to 244

Wild Land Taxes — Brock Townnhip — Absentees — The Canadian
Woods . ..... 245 to 247

A Quotation from Noah — Guelph — Mr. Gait — The Priory — Churches
— Eramosa— A Town Meeting . . • 247 to 249

Seven Years in Gaol — Jonah Brown — Oppressive Law Costs — A
Family Government .... 250 to 252

The Cholera in America — in Montreal — in Albany — A Mournful
Marriage — Washington Sages . . . 252 to 256

Registering Titles to Landed Estates — Law in New York for recording
Conveyances, &c. — Do. in the Canadas . . 256 to 261

Upper Canada Deer Shooting, 262— The Tame Deer, 263— Calves in
Harness — Cat and Kittens — Farmer Wixson, 264 — Tlie Canadian
Dog, 265— The Bears— Peter Orr, 266-7— Waterfalls— The Pic-
tured Rocks of Lake Superior, 268 . . 262 to 270
Upper Canada Paper Mills — Maple Sugar, 271 — A Political Paruon —
Marriage of a Catholic Priest, 272 — My Husband, my Slave— A
Procession of Africans, 273 — The Church Bell at Auction-^Bund-
ling, 275— A Militia Training, 276— Preserved Fish, 277— Early
Marriages — Mr. Savage outwitted — Horse-stealing, 278 270 to 279
Old and New Charters— Settling Duties, 280— Itinerating School-
master, 282 — Political Almanacks, 283 — A Liberal — Bets or Wagers,
•284— Petty Law Courts, 285— The Macdonells at Law, 286— Won-

CONTENTS.

Page
ilerful Escape from the Woods, 287— Glengarry — Political Frieml*
ahips ...... 279 to 289

Methodista and CathuUcs, 289— Robert Gourlay, 290— A Negro by
Ballot— 106 Speeches, 291— Springfield Village, 292— A Message
from His Excellency! 293 .... 289 to 294

Scenery on the Niagara— Awful Death of Colunul Nichol — Stamford
Cuttage— The Falls .... 295 to 297

Mock Parliaments, a quotation, 298 — A Canadian County Election—
The Press Triumphant — Hustings on the Snow — An Itinerating
Printing Press — A Procession — Noble Spirit displayed by the 79th
Regiment — their Punishment — A Threat of removing the Seat of
Government . . . . . 298 to .304

Laws of Entail, Half-blood, and Primogeniture done away — The Ex-
isting Law in New York stated — Intestate Estates — Lands Allodial
—Personal Estates — Mr. Godfrey Vigne's Opinions — Anecdote of
John Binkley — The Upper Canada Legislative Council an ob-
struction ...... 305 to 314

Queenston Colunm — Digging for Libel— Lieutenant-General Sir Pere-
grine Muitland ..... 314 to 318

Tnp. RioEAU Canai. — Locks — Commercial Importance — Major Wal-
ker's Toast — Military Value of the ('anal — A Loyal Population-
Mock Estimates — Huskisson's Strictures — Dam at Hog's Buck —
Lands and Mill Sites — 22 Block Houses— Glory — Redoubts and
Powder Magazines — Naval Reservoirs— Fever — Proposed Passage
to Quebec ...... 319 to 326

New York Schools and Mechanical Labour Institution . 326

The United States, a Chapter on Grievances — Dr. Wilson's Catalogue

of Sins . . . . . . 328 to 334

Libel Laws ....... 334

Processions — ^The Fete Dieu — " His Excellency opening Parliament !"
— A Care-worn Functionary .... 335 to 337

Fatal Accident on the Niagara — A Wonderful o/d Newspaper

337 to 339
Or. Doyle's Disclosures — A Pensioned Bishop — The Reptile Me-
thodists — Turning out a Priest — Parson Strachan . 340 to 343
On Emigration to North America — Illinois and Upper Canada com-

a 5

111

i ft.

CONTENTS.

Page
pared — Colonial and United States Duties— How to become an
American Citizen — New South Wales — Advice to Labourers-
Classes of Emigrants — A Journey in Upper Canada*— January and
April, 1832 — Hints to Capitalists— Cheering Prospects 344 to 336
Legislative Recreations at Albany .... 357

Politicril Condition of Upper Canada — Significant Quotations— Intro-
duction to Ministers — Statements concerning the Colonies — The
Colonial Office, 361— Upper Canada Revenues, 361-2— Mr. R. W.
Hay, 363— Petitions, 364— Persecution for Opinion, 366— Difficulty
of Petitioning, 367 — Government, 368 — Causes of Discontent, 369
—Judges, Juries, Sheriffs, 371 — Official Outrages — ^The Magis-
tracy, 372— Favoured Priesthoods, 373— War Claims, 373— Legis-
lative Assemblies, 374 — Taxation without Representation — Standing
Armies, 375 — Education, Trade, Inefficient Legislation, 376 — Legis-
lative Council — Colonial Expenditure, 377 — ^The Colonies and
United States contrasted, 378 — A Remedy for Canadian Difficul-
ties ...... 379 to 380

A Step towards Independence — (Quotations, the Official Gazette-
John Q. Adams, 381— United States Journals, 382— The Times,
383)— A General Conference, 384— On Union with the United
States, 386 ..... 380 to 389

Nova Scotia taunted with her dependent condition ai a Colony
(note) . . . . . 386 to 388

Opinions of British Colonial Government, by the Washington Journal

and Baltimore Gazette (nole) . . . 388, 389

The particulars of an Attempt to take the Life of the Writer of these

Sketches, at Hamilton, March 19th. 1831 . 390 to 404

District Meeting at Hamilton . . . .391

Colonel Kerr's Attempt ..... 394

C< iduct of the Government audits supporters . 399 to 404

Colonel Kerr tried, to keep up appearances . . 402

Rev. Isaac Fidler's account of Sir John Colborne's defences, when be-
sieged by the Yeomaury in the Government-House t . 404
Upper Cima(la~'A Venetian Senate, or " Kings, Lords, and Com-
mons!" . . ... 405 to 410

Political UuioDB in the Colonies— Dismissal of the Crowa Lawyers 411

CONTENTS.

Page
)ecoine an
abourers—
inuary and
344 to 356
. 357
)ns — Intro-
)nies — The
Mr. R. W.
-Difficulty
ontent, 369
'he Magis-
173— LegU-
— Standing
176— Legis-
)lonies and
in Difficul-

379 to 380
, Gazette—
The Times,
the United

380 to 389
I a Colony

386 to 388

[ton Journal

388, 389

iter of these

390 to 404

391

. 394

399 to 404

402

SB, when be-

404

I, and Com-

405 to 410

sawyers 411

Page

Captain Phillpotts — The Colonels in Trouble — Mr. Hume's Mo-
tion ..... 414 to 417
Captain Maithewsand General Maitland, orEspionage in the Colonies-
Yankee Doodle and Hail Columbia— Military Persecution 417 to 423
The Chaplain tu the Jesuits .... 423
Ploughing Matches ..... 424
The City of the Falls .... ib.
Petty Couits — Law Fees .... 425
Wheat and Flour Trade in the Valley of the St. Lawrence — The
American Tariff of 1833 . • . 427 to 432
The Canada Timber Trade— Tax at the Chaudiere Falls 433 to 435
Trifling with the House of Commons — The Neglected Addresses 436
False and Deceptive Revenue Returns — The Blue Book — William
Hands of Sandwich — Andrew Stuart on Jobbing . 438 to 444
Pensions and Sinecures, a specimen . . . 445
British North American Post-Office Department — Letter Postage-
Improved means of conveyance — Pkindering the Public and hood-
winking Downing Street — Canada Newspapers— Who's to blame ?
—Viscount Howick's efforts to improve the System — Mr. Hume's
Inquiries .... 446 to 455
Banking in Upper Canada — Tlie Kingston Bank blown up — The
present Bank commences at York — Its doubtful character and im.
proper conduct — Ways and Means for obtaining Bank Charters

455 to 460

Honesty the best policy ; or the true and abiding interest of England in

her future intercourse with her North American Empire 460 to 467

Auld James Laidlaw — Land granting — James Hogg — Sir Walter

Scott ..... 468 to 471

Esquesing— Gait's Lawrie Todd . . 471 to 474

Emigration to Canada and New South Wales, 1833 474 to 481

Lower Canada — A Free Press — Montreal Bank — Mr. Vigor — Nova

Scotia .... 482 to 483

Lower Canada Company . . . . 488

Unskilful Physicians . ... 490

A Finance Committee ! . . • i 492

Monopolies in Uppei Canada • • * 493'|

l-i

Xll

CONTENTS.

Legislative Councils, a solemn mockery
The Morning Herald ,

Anecdotes of Lake Ontario .
Vote of thanks to the Earl of Ripoii
Explanations

494
497
499
500
503

I l|

4'*

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Page
494
497
499
500
503

INTRODUCTION.

" Let the House but remember the expression of Mr. Jettmon, when the conqueat of Louisiana
wai contemplated,—' When the cherrjr is ripe and ready to fall, you have only to open your mouth,
you need not shake the tree.' "—Vide Mr. Alexander Baring'$ Speechea in the Haute qf Commont, on
t>w f Wilton of Canatlian fortificationt.

A BOOK about America might be written every six
months, by the same traveller, periodically revisiting
the same scenes, and yet possess in a high degree the
charm of novelty, so rapid is the career of improve-
ment, and so interesting and extensive are the changes
which the agency of man is continually effecting in
the western world. But, although I have travelled at
least forty thousand miles on the North American
continent, and seen much of the manners and customs
of its inhabitants, within the last fourteen years, I
am sensible that I do not possess sufficient skill and
ability, as a writer, to commaiid the attention of the
public to any systematic and elaborate work I might
prepare for the press. Even this little book is ex-
ceedingly defective in its style and composition ; nor

ii ■

il '.

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

II
111

has much regard been paid to order of time and phico
in the arrangement of the sketches and anecdotes^
whether original or selected. If it possesses any merit,
it will be found chiefly to consist in a faithful detail
of circumstances important to be known in this country,
but concerning which, other and abler writers on Ame-
rica have been silent. I am careful to state no one
fact, as of my own personal knowledge, of the truth of
which I entertain a doubt. When offering opinions
on the political condition of Upper Canada, however,
it is possible I may have been, in some cases, uncon-
sciously swayed by the state of my feelings, for I
hold it to be next to impossible, in the present excited
condition of the two Canadas, for any person to take
that active part in public affairs which has fallen
to my share without becoming more or less of a par-
tisan.

All I can -say is, that I have desired to write with
impartiality both of the United States and British
America. I have not written of Canada in the manner
of a traveller taking a passing glance at scenes h«*
never more expects to visit, but as a person deeply
interested concerning the home of his future years, the
country of his adoption, the birth-place of his children.
If the statesmen of England shall decide to present
the United States with the better half of the northern
continent, I am free of blame, and may plead the con-

INTRODUCTION

ind place
necdotes^
ny merit,
'ul detail
country,
on Ame-
5 no one
truth of
opinions
however.
\, uncon-
J3, for I
excited
to take
as fallen
>f a par-
rite with
I British
' manner
:enes he
I deeply
?ars, the
3hildren.
present
lorthern
the con-

tents of this book in justification. The candid Mr.
Noah (see quotation, p. 160) fears that timely reforms
may retard the separation of the Canadas from Eng-
land ; and thousands of his countrymen oppose repub-
lican institutions in the colonies for the same reason,
although they are aware that the colonists possess no
means of upholding a splendid aristocracy, and have
no desire for its establishment among them. The
elder Pitt, Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, the Earl of Ripon,
Lord Howick, and Mr. Stanley — good Whigs, as we
would call them in America — have all admitted that
the experiment of maintaining monarchical institutions
beyond the Atlantic must fail. Why, then, not place
the connexion gradually on the footing of interest, in-
clination, and ancient friendship, and renounce the
mockery, the mere pageants, " the means of riveting
the fetters on the conquered," which Mr. Macaulay, in
his reply to Mr. O'Connell, last February, so ably ex-
posed and denounced* ? The political condition of the
northern colonies is that of " a house divided against
itself; "and successive administrations in England have
turned round for aid in every other quarter ; but their
strong hold, the affections of a free, grateful, and happy
people, they have neglected. There is yet time, how-
ever ; and if, by an honest and intelligent Whig mi-
nistry, in 1833, (and I am strongly inclined to believe

* See page 298 of this book.

I'f

I ;i ..I

%•! tl

> i'

XVI

INTRODUCTION.

I I

they deserve the name, notwithstanding all that is said
against them,) we of the northern colonies shall be
kept clear of the evils attendant on a violent revolution,
(and they are numerous, and not of short diu'ation,)
they will give the lie to those politicians who insist
that a Whig in opposition is a Tory in place; and
that, had the Whigs been in office in 1774, they
would not have acted more discreetly than the Tories
did.

I feel a sincere and abiding friendship for govern-
ments based on the broad principle of civil and reli-
gious liberty. I seek no monopoly in trade for the
colonists ; they have no desire for it. To promote the
diffusion of useful knowledge among the people, as
most favourable to human happiness^ is my anxious
wish. The hope of promoting the success of these
objects, in a part of the North American continent,
induced me to accept the mission upon which I have
been detained for a year in England, and I have no
reason to regret my journey. I have found the mi-
nisters of the crown easy of access, willing to hearken
to the complaints of the people, and to consider of mea-
sures for their relief. Although a great deal remains
to be done, it is but fair to acknowledge that Lords
Goderich and Howick, as well as Mr. Stanley, have
given much of their attention to Upper Canada affairs,
and adopted many very useful and salutary measures

■4

INTRODUCTION.

XVll

at is said
sliall be
evolution,
i\iration,)
ho iiisist
ace; and
74, they
lie Tories

r govern -
and reli-
for the
)mote the
)eople, as
ir anxious

of these
continent,
ih I have

have no
i the mi-

hearken
?,r of inea-

1 remains
lat LordM
iley, have
da affairs,
measures

relative to that province. They are not disposed to
Hsten to the opinions of those only who tell them that
every thing done by the agents of the Government
abroad is right ; on the contrary, they hear both sides,
and judge for themselves. They have undoubtedly
done much good, and I know that Upper Canada will
be grateful. But let them not deceive themselves with
the hope that the Legislative and Executive Councils,
the present jury system, the judiciary, and those other
monopolies I have elsewhere described, can remain
as proper to uphold a pageantry the country is tired
of, while the work of reform stands still. Nova Scotia,
the best governed of all the colonies, is far from being
satisfied. The feeling in New Brunswick may be
known by the resolves of its late legislative session.
Newfoundland has already proved the inexpediency of
giving power to the people to tell their wishes while
a junto of placemen is constituted so as to balk their
o?;pcctations. The Lower Canadians, a people in whom
the Government ought to have trusted above all others
in America, " are approaching to a state of anarchy
and confusion," so say the anomalous body called the
Legislative Council; and as for Upper Canada, it
must be hard times indeed when a governor requires
to have armed men and cannon planted rovmd his
residence, when he hears that the people are about to
present him with a petition for redress of grievances.

xvm

INTRODUCTION.

To those who take an interest in the affairs of the
New World, and look with anxiety to the success of the
experiment of self-government, attempted for the last
half century by a majority of its inhabitants, my book
will doubtless afford some satisfaction. Without giving,
occasionally, minute sketches of the progress of the new
settlements, from a state of wilderness to cultivated
farms, villages, dwellings, chapels, school-houses,
orchards, barn-yards, and fruitful fields, the property
of a happy and intelligent population, a correct know-
ledge of America is unattainable. Of castles, palaces,
and other costly edifices, the -residences of men pos-
sessing immense wealth, there are very few, and I trust
they may not increase ; but we have noble rivers, lakes,
and canals, splendid and magnificent scenery, and a
climate which I should be very sorry to exchange
for the fogs and ever-varying atmosphere around
London.

Dr. Dwight has expressed an opinion that the tra-
veller cannot find in New England and New York
those varieties of religion, language, customs, and
manners, which in Europe often diversify the scsne at
little distances, and give beauty and interest to his
descriptions. There is, however, variety enough, if
we include the Canadas. Within a square of 400
miles may be found the professors of 100 religious
creeds and systems, from the Menonist, Tunkard^ and

INTRODUCTION.

XIX

rs of the
ess of the
the last
my book
Jt giving,
■ the new
ultivated
1-houses,
property
ct know-
, palaces,
lien pos-
id I trust
rs, lakes,
y^, and a
jxchange
I around

the tra-
?w York
tns, and
sesne at
t to his
ough, if
of 400
religious
ard, and

Child of Peace of Uppe** Canada, to the Hopkinsian,
Chrystian, and Universalist, across the Niagara. There
are colonies of Welch, Dutch, Swiss, French, High-
land and Lowland Scotch, Irish, English, and Ger-
mans, each colony speaking its own native language,
and maintaining its national character, customs, man-
ners, and iisages, in many essential particulars. There
are also a variety of tribes of Indians ; settlements of
Africans and half-breeds ; Republicans ; Loyalists ;
Yankees and Democrats ; absolute monarchy men, —
supporters of Kings, Lords, and Commons ; advocates
of cheap government ; and lovers of pomp, ceremony,
and courtly extravagance ; there are Nationals, Nid-
lifiers, Bucktails, Federalists, sticklers for primogeniture
and the perpetual union of church and state ; and
equally warm friends of the opposite doctrines of " civil
and religious liberty." America has already proved
that ignorance is not necessary to preserve good order
among the multitude, and shown that " when ihe
blessings of rational liberty and universal protection are
securely enjoyed, men of very different religious views
can all be strongly attached to the government " and
its institutions.

It may be thought by some that the picture I have
drawn of colonial rule, as compared with self-govern-
ment in the United States, is calculated rather to
repress than encourage emigration — and, unless a re-

' t!

I- J

INTRODUCTION.

medy be afforded, it may produce that effect. But it

should be recollected, that I did not come to this

country for the purpose of puffing any particular

section of America, for the advantage of the monopolist

or extensive absentee proprietor, but in the character

of a freeholder and inhabitant, to state facts for which

I shall be held responsible on my return. We of

Canada are less anxious to encourage, by specious

misrepresentations, a vast influx of settlers from Europe,

ignorant of the situation of the country, and therefore

too apt to be careless of its true interests, than we are

to obtain the blessings of self-government and freedom

for those who now constitute the settled population.

Whatever may be the views, feelings, or prejudices of

persons long accustomed to the governments of Europe,

we know that their children will cling to America as

their country, and seek its welfare.

I am, perhaps, the hiuidredth agent who has crossed
the Atlantic, within the last century, in the hopes of
convincinor the advisers of the British crown that it
would be good policy to sacrifice the personal interests
of a few to the general welfare, and allow the colonists
the enjoyment of free institutions. If Great Britain
has profited by the trade of the United States, not-
withstanding the interruption caused by the seven
years'' ilar, and the many lives lost therein, besides
130,000,000^. of debt, and the disgrace of having

INTRODUCTION.

XXI

been worsted in a bad cause, how much more would
have been the national gains had that war and that
debt never had an existence ?

Among other advantages common to the United
States and Canada, the emigrant may fairly enumerate
cheap and good land, cheap and wholesome food, a
high price for labour, no tithes, no taxes to impede the
progress of knowledge, no game laws, no burthensome
poor rates, no stamps, no house duty, and in most
places a temperate and wholesome climate. Other
distinctions I have stated elsewhere, when treating on
Emigration.

In the United States, the British or Irish emigrant
remains an alien for at least five years. In Canada
he is entitled to all the privileges of a citizen, such
as they are, the moment he enters the river St.
Lawrence.

It may be alleged with great truth against these
volumes, that they are the production of a radical re-
former ; and the charge is a grave and serious one,
when made in a community so aristocratic as the
British reading public. But I would say, in mitigation,
that I am writing about America, a land of radical
reformers, and therefore so much the better calculated
or the task of explaining their opinions and feelings :
facts are the same, if faithfully stated, whatever may
be the colouring.

XXll

INTRODUCTION.

If the people of Great Britain can but perceive their
true interests, before it be too late, they will assist their
northern colonists in gradually changing those petty and
vexatious governments — in spite of which they have
multiplied like the Israelites in Egypt — into a federal,
free, and independent empire, with well-defined general
and municipal powers vested in the people. By thi'^
means Britain might enjoy all the advantages of a free,
untaxed, and rapidly increasing trade with these coun-
tries, uninterrupted, for many generations, and honestly
lay claim to a large debt of gratitude at the hand of
the Canadians, who are already amply sufficient for
their own protection from outward aggression if united
among themselves.

The question of a Conference or Convention, to be
composed of representatives of the people of the six
North American Colonies, is not a new one ; yet it
cannot be said to be fairly before the Canadian public
—it has never been discussed in the Colonial Assemblies,
nor has it ever formed any part of their resolutions on
grievances. My own opinion, when I came to England
in May, 1832, was rather in favour of tedding to the
numbers of the British Hous* >(' 'uiiiions a lew
Commissioners from the Colonies, to assist in the
transaction of that Transatlantic business of general
interest, for which their local legislatures are necessarily

INTRODUCTION.

XXlll

ive their
sist their
petty and
ley have
. federal,
I general

By t\w
of a free,
?se coun-
honestly

hand of
cient for
if united

»n, to be
r the six

; yet it
m public
isemblies,
utions on

England
Iff to the
[IS a lew
st in the
f general
Bcessarily

unfit. But when I had seen the working of tlie po-
pular branch of the Imperial Parliament — its numbers
by far too great for the purposes of legislation — its
uiistasonable hours of meeting and separating ; (luui-
(ix'dfc of persons toiling like slaves the greater part of
the year, from six in the evening until one or two in
the morning, as inspired by ambition, interest, folly,
or patriotism;) and the inability of its members to do
justice to the innumerable questions of public and pri-
vate interest which it was their duty to decide, I
became sensible that it would be the height of cruelty to
attempt converting these persons into a congress for
the larger half of the North American Continent, and
thus to confine them to London all the year round.

I may be in error with regard to the propriety or
justice of calling together a general conference of the
colonies ; and if so, the friend who shall expose the
fallacy of my reasoning will receive my sincere thanks.
But it does appear to me that much that is useful
would arise out of such a step ; and I cannot perceive
in what way a continuance in ignorance of the opinions
of the bette»r-informed part of the nort hern colonists can
prove advantageous to this nation. That colonial minister
must be very clear-sighted, who is able to perceive and
comprehend the slate of public opinion in British Ame-
rica, notwitlteianding the clouds of dust which church-
men and Canadian merchants, office-holders and oflUce-

XXIV

INTRODUCTION.

seekers, are continually raising, in order to darken
his understanding. The domestic conference would be
a barometer in which he might more safely confide.

The Morning Chronicle, in one of its numbers of
this week, suggests to certain illustrious personages,
that they might derive useful instruction from the
study of certain memorable periods of English history.
For a like obvious reason, I would earnestly recom-
mend to the advisers of the crown, that they employ a
leisure hour in comparing the history of the era pre-
ceding the revolution in North America, with event*
which are passing before their eyes on that interesting
continent.

I take this opportunity of returning my grateful ac-
knowledgments to Mr. Hume and Mr. Warburton for
the zeal, perseverance, and ability they have mani-
fested in and out of parliament in advocating the true
interests of the people of Canada, and of England as
therewith intimately connected.

London, June 15th f 1833.

darken
)uld be
fide,
bers of
onages,
)m the
history,
recom-
nploy a
ra pre-
1 event*
eresting

teful ac-
irton for
e mani-
the true
gland as

SKETCHES

CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

" We confess that we like to see men left to act for themselves. We
like the variety of human nature. We like to see different races of
mankind advancing, each by its own road, to civilization. The minds of
men are tlien in a more vigorous and healthy state. We dislike the
lonely, dead level of an universal or far extended empire, whether Ro-
man, or Russian, or British." — The Edinburgh Review, No. CXI.
Oc/. 1832. Article 4. Colonel Tod on the Hittory and Character of
the Rajpoots,

WESTERN NEW YORK— THE ERIE CANAL.

Clyde, May Wh, 1829.
Dear Sir, — I had no leisure to write until after I
took the packet this afternoon ; and as a crowded canal-
boat is not the most desirable situation for a letter
writer, you will have to make the necessary allowances ;
and believe me when I assure you that I am anxious
to give a faithful sketch of the country I am passing
through, without fatiguing you with tedious and minute
details.

I left York on the evening of the 8th, and next
morning rode through the Credit woods, much pleased
with the improvements which have been made on
Dundas Street, on both sides of that beaudfi.l river.
On the evening of Monday I reached Fort Erie ; but

ii 1

WESTERN NEW YORK.

there was no gettiiiff across the Niagara ; the ice
from the great western lakes was floating down towards
the Falls in large masses, forming one contiimed tract
of moving ice, extending as far up and down the river
as the eye could reach. On returning to the Falls I
ascertained that there was good crossing at Queenston,
and experienced no difficulty whatever. Tlie weather
was very cold, and the inhabitants considered the ice
as having a powerful etFect in lowering the temperature
of the atmosphere.

The stage starts from Lewiston for Rochester at
2 A. M., and arrives at 3, 4, 5, or G p. m. the same
day, passing through Lockport, where the passengers
breakfast about six in the morning. The ridge road
is naturally good, perhaps the best in America ; but to
go to Lockport we had to leave it for some time, and
on doing so we passed over ten or twelve miles of as
bad road as any in Canada; but it is newly made, and
probably they will have it improved before another
year. It surprised me much to find the road between
Rochester and Fulham's Basin, on the Canal, all full
of holes and broken up, so as to render it quite un-
pleasant for travellers. There are many very good
j roads in " the States," but it seems they are not all
' good more than with us, Lockport tin-ivcs amazingly;
there are now two towns, the ujjper above the locks
and the lower below them. Many of the buildings
show signs of great wealth, and tiie appearance of the
place, taken as a whole, evinces a sense of security,
comfort and industry. They had been electing their
officers under the new charter in Lockport the night
before we arrived, and the Jackson ticket succeeded.

he ice
owards
d tract
le river
Falls I
^enstoii,
veather
the ice
lerature

3stcr at
e same
;sengers
Ijje road
; but to
me, and
}s of as
ide, and
another
between
, all full
iiite un-
ry good
; not all
lazingly;
he locks
)uildings
;c of the
security,
ino- their
he night
icceeded.

ROCllKSTER. 6

The Presbyterians are the leading and predominant
sect in this state ; I meet their chvu'ches in every di-
rection. Presbyterianism is exceedingly well suited to
a republican system, being itself distinguished by a
democratic form of church government, and which well
accounts for the detestation in which it was always
held by the Stuart family when on .he throne of Eng-
land. Episcopacy is on the increase ; and, being freed
from state nurture, is by no means unpopular (as in
Canada now or in New England threescore years ago.)
One of the Episcopal churches in Rochester is superbly
finished inside; and I could distinguish several more
chapels belonging to this sect as I passed along, by
the square tower witli which each of them is sur-
mounted.

We entered Rochester at half-past five, having
passed through a thickly settled country, in some

places in a high state of cultivation ; and Mr. and

myself remained for the night at the Eagle Tavern,
one of the mammoth caravauseras in that extraordinary
town. The acconmiodation is good and the charges
moderate ; but I am told that the Rochester House is
more retired, and tlierefore preferred whore families
are travelling. The postmaster of Rochester, Mr.
Reynolds, has built an arcade or exchange for the
merchants; it is one of the greatest curiosities in the
place, — very handsome and convenient, — a pleasing
evidence of American enterprise, and of the confidence
capitalists entertain in the security of property and the
permanency of their free institutions. Two lines of
daily stages ply on the ridge road; — the old line, by
Mr. Barton, Mr. Adams, and others, which conveys

WESTERN NEW YORK.

the mail, and the new or Pioneer line, which is dis-
tinguished from its elder opponent by resting from its
labours on the Christian Sabbath. Manufactures of
various kinds thrive in Rochester ; there is one daily
and about a half dozen of weekly newspapers, besides
job and book printers. The flouring mills of Rochester
are famed for the flour they turn out, and the paper-
mills supply that article in greater variety, at least
twenty-five per cent, cheaper ihan with us. Every ne-
cessary and luxiuy of life is to be had in abundance ;
law is cheaply administered, and there is the utmost
confidence in the purity of the administration of
justice. The seminaries for education are upon a
grand and efficient scale ; and it is a fixed principle
with all parties, that to make good citizens the people
must be well informed, — and so they are. There is of
course much party feeling in a free government like
this, but it is very evanescent, constantly assuming
new forms. I have never yet met an American who
would prefer another system of government to his own ;
local circumstances may cause him to emigrate, but
an American is at heart an American still, and the
more I see of this country the better I can account for
the objections made by persons in office in Canada to
the admission of its citizens to the benefit of natural-
ization among us. * * *

Along the line of canal below Rochester I am now
travelling for the first time. About eight years ago I
went by the land route, via Canandaigua and Auburn,
which is by far the finest. The canal route, however,
has its peculiar beauties and attractions ; every few
miles bring you to a village or a hamlet, — and the elegant

pa^

THE ERIE CANAL.

church spire or commodious belfry tells you at every
crook and cur' e of the liquid highway that you are in
u Christian country, among an opulent and religious
people. I am much pleased to find that the country
through which the canal passes is agreeably diversified
in its scenery by hill and dale, — here a valley and
there a gentle swell, an^l so on in succession in all di-
rections. For a few rods you find yourself in the
midst of a wood, then again in a rich well-settled
country, having all the outward signs of plenty and
content. The modern Palmyra is a town about two-
thirds of the size of York; but the houses in gv^neral
are finer and more substantial. Lyons, Newark, Mon-
tezuma, Port Gibson, and several other villages we
pa^^scd to-day are curious as having sprung into ex-
istence like Rochester, as if by the wand of an en-
chanter. Our boat has already passed twelve or
fifteen other large vessels crowded with passengers, and
filled with goods and baggage for the west. Among
others we met The General Jackson, The La Fayette,
'i'he John Hancock, The Dulcinea del Tobosa, and
Tlie Napoleon, llie boat I am now writing in (11,
p. M.) is called the Buffalo, the expense for conveyance
on board of which, including board and lodging, being
four cents a mile, or six dollars and one-third from
Rochester to Utica. You may take the canal all the
way through, or only for a mile or two, paying in pro-
l)ortion to the distance. The accommodations and fare
are much better than I could have anticipated. The
Erie Canal, unlike British canals, is not puddled, and
of consequence the risk of accidents to its banks is
much greater. Mr. Merritt expects to have the Wei-

WESTERN NEW YORK.

land Canal open and in use some time in June, and the
whole line to the Grand River navigable by the month
of August. Although a great part of the work will be
finished in a very superficial manner, and soon require
repair, and although it will be impossible to reconcile
the cost with the progress and execution of tlie work, 1
shall, nevertheless, feel great satisfaction at witnessing
its completion. A canal in a colony is a wonder under
any circumstances, and as for economy, it is out of tlie
question. They have begun to excavate the bunks of
the Niagara at the mouth of the Welland Hiver, by
which its entrance will be greatly improved; towing
paths are also being made, which will j)revent tlie
banks of the Niagara from being washed away by the
stream, from which at present they are sulVering great
injury.

As a proof of the merit of Scott's iwvels, you meet
them everywhere, — in boarding houses, taverns, steam-
boats, and packet-boats; and tlie superiority of Irish
and Scottish national airs may be inferred when you
hear the American packet buglers strike up Paddy
Carey or the Yellow-haired Laddie on entering one of
their villages, changing to Moore's Legacy, or Tanna-
hill's Jessie, from time to tini", for variety's sake. A
gentleman on board the packet informs me that there
are 150 houses lighted up with natural gas from the
• rock in the village of Fredonia on lake ICrie. lie has
his store, his counting room and dwelling-house so
lighted, and the flame is as pure and clear as that
from the coal-gas of New York or TiOndon.

There are many pleasant reflections associated with
the Erie Canal, — that splendid monuntent of the

, i

■J

the

THE ERIE CANAL. 7

departed Clinton's comprehensive genius. He may
with truth be said to have made the wilderness to
blossom as the rose, and created pastures for the lamb
in the everlasting forests. The yell of the savage and
the howl of the wolf are succeeded by the song of
praise, and the glad tidings of salvation to fallen man.

f I

A SCOTCH WHIG— A CAMERONIAN.

Franklin House, Broadway, New York,
May 2bth, 1829.
Ykstcrday forenoon I accompanied Mr. Macintyre
to Doctor Spring's church, in the Park, and as we
W(M'e I'uthcr earlv, I took a walk among the monu-
nienls, an inscription on one cf which will convince
you that (Paul .lones exclusive) the Scotch of 177C
w(M'<» not all Tories. The stone sets forth, that there
lie the remains of " General William Malcolm, a
native of Scotland, who died in 1791 ;" and that pos-
sessing " a cultivated understanding," and being ani-
mated by the " love of liberty," he was " one of the
foremost of those who asserted the rights and secured
the fi-eedom of America." And I sincerely trust that
that freedom is well secured, and that this truly great
and happy country may long continue to oiler an
asylum and a home to the orpressed of all nations.
l''or where is the German, Russian, Prussian, Irish-
man, Italian, Portuguese or Spaniard, (and I had like
to have added Englishman or Scotchman,) who sets his
foot iipon this soil but sees and feels the difference
betwixt a popular government, strong and powerful in

i 1

A CAMERONIAN.

the love and affection of a whole people, and a des-
potism, where the natives are the slaves of a pampered
few ? In the aftern m I went to hear Doctor
M'Leod, a steadfast Presbyterian of the old school ;
the genuine Cameronian, and a good preacher. There,
the old and solemn tunes of our fathers have not yet
made way for ballad rhymes — there, the single line of
old Scottish Psalmody is given out by the preacher in
truly national style — there, the discourse is divided
and subdivided into heads and observes in true
covenanting fashion. I felt more at home in this church,
the members of which are either Scotch, or generally
from the north of Ireland, than I have often done
while listening to the splendid eloquence of more
fashionable pulpit orators. * * *

BORDENTOWN— JOSEPH BONAPARTE.

" No landscape here is alloyed by the painful consideration, that the
castle which towers in grandeur was erected by the hard labour of de-
graded vassals > or, that the magnificent structure which rises in the
spreading and embellished domain, presents a painful contrast to the
meaner habitations, and sometimes the miserable hovels that mark a
dependent, always a dependent — alas, sometimes a wretched peasantry t"
—Bishop Hubart.

fVhitehill, Banks of the Delaware,
May 2Cith, 1829.

After a voyage of some thirty or forty miles in a

steam-boat, between New York and the ancient town

of New Brunswick, and a drive in and on a stage

coach for thirty additional miles, I found myself at

Bordeatown last night late ; and took a post-chaise

from thence to Whitehill, the seat of my friend Mr.

higl

a des-
npered
Doctor
jchool ;
There,
not yet
line of
icher in
divided
n true
church,
enerally
m done
of more

)n, that the
hour of de-
•ises in the
rast to the
hat mark a
peasantry '."

>elaware,

liles in a
ient town
I a stage
myself at
)st-chaise
riend Mr.

BORDENTOWN. ^

Bruce, this morning. Bordentown is dehghtfuUy
situated on the south bank of the Delaware, about
twenty-eight miles above Philadelphia; a scattered
village containing perhaps from 500 to 1000 inhabi-
tant and in the immediate neighbourhood are the
estate and grounds of the brother of Napoleon. A
little be td Arnel's inn, above the steam-boat landing
place, on the high bank, the traveller will have a
prospect of the well cultivated valleys of Pennsylvania
for many miles round. Judge Hopkinson, the author
of " Hail, Columbia !" was sitting on the stoop with Mr.
Arnel when I left the inn, and among other curiosities, I
was shown the house in which the celebrated Thomas
Paine once resided, and which is the only property he
ever owned on this continent. Had he had sense
enough to remain contented with his ample share of
fame as the writer of "The Rights of Man," and
** Common Sense," without interfering with revealed
religion, he would at this day have probably stood
next to Washington and Franklin, as a promoter of
the glorious revolution which secured freedom to
America. Mr. Bruce pointed out to me, from the
high bank, the remains of the house on the other side
of the Delaware, the former residence of the father of
Pennsylvania, William Penn. The soil of the Jerseys,
so far as my observation goes, is far inferior in quality
to the land in Upper Canada ; but it is well and gene-
rally cidtivated, and the markets of New York and
Philadelphia are near. The country is low ; there
are few hills, but here and there a gentle swell ; vege-
tation is far advanced, the people having every appear-
ance of wealth and comfort. From two to four dollars

B 5

JOSEPH BONAPARXn.

are severally charged by different lines for a passage
between New York and Philadelphia. The estate of
Whitehill borders with Commodore Stewart's resi-
dence, and the mansion house is at least sixty feet
above the high-water mark of the Delaware, which
ebbs and flows as regularly here as at Philadelphia,
From the windows there is a charming prospect both
up and down this noble river, and the stoam-Ijoats pass
to and from the great city each morning and evening.
There are toll gates here, and the road for many miles
is covered with broken freestone, or metal as we call it in
England. The travel is very groat. Coal will soon
be plentiful over all this country, and it is well there is
a substitute for wood, for it is getting very scarce.

Our host, Mr. Bruce, being personally acquainted
with the Count de Surviliers, we "ccompanied him to
Point Breeze, and were shown the house and grounds
of the man who had exchanged the toils and cares of
a Spanish crown for the happier retirement of an
American plantation. Joseph Bonaparte has here
purchased upwards of a thousand acres of land, which
he has improved and embellished to suit his taste and
fancy; this is his residence both in summer and in winter.
His lady and family are in Europe, and I believe his
nephew. Prince Charles Lucien, is there also. In front
of the house are several lemon trees bearinjr fruit, and
on the right side, opposite the green-house is placed a
bust of the empress mother, one of the finest specimens
of the sculptor's art, and a pleasing proof of the power
of man over marble. In the hall and elsewhere, in
appropriate niches, are marble busts of the Empress
Marie Louise, Louis Bonaparte, Prince Mu rat's

.iiS

BORDENTOWN.

mother. Cardinal Caprara, the Emperor Napoleon
(larger than life), Voltaire, Montesquieu, and many
others; those of the Bonaparte family being all by
Canova. Many beautiful pictures are hung up through
the rooms, some of them, I am told, of very great
value. Not a few of these pictures are family pieces,
such as the Count's children, his countess and family.
Napoleon in his robes as Emperor of the French, &c.
Plates of the battles of Aboukir and Marengo, and
several statues, attracted my attention, but I could
perceive no memorial of Josephine, Madame Hor-
tense or Eugene Beauharnois, and ascertained that
neither their busts nor portraits had ever been placed
in this selection. Prince Murat, son to the ex-king
of Naples, has purchased a farm not far from his rela-
tive. The Count's library consists of very splendid
editions of Frencli and Italian authors ; it is not all in
one room, and I am not sure that we saw the whole of it.
Very few English books are in the collection. Among
the ponderous folios and quartos I perceived CEuvres
Homeri; Voyage de Saint Non; CEuvres de Jean
Racine; Camptignes d'ltalie; Juvenal; Boccace ;
Machiavel ; Dante (two or three editions) ; Pope's
works ; Don Quixote ; Necker ; Virgil ; Pctrarca
Rime ; Tasso, Gerusalemm Liberata ; Annales Fran-
coises; Bossuet; Histoire Naturelle; Rousseau;
Horace de Baskerville ; Crebillon ; Anacharsis (Bar-
th61emy) ; Anacreon (Greek, French, and Latin) ;
Moli^re; Voltaire; Xenophon ; Biblia Polyglotta;
Bible de Saurin (a huge 6 volume folio) ; Voyages de
Saussure ; Batailles du Prince Eugene ; Anticliita de
Ercolano; a folio edition of St. Pierre's Paul and

i *l

JOSEPH BONAPARTH.

Virginia; and Prince Charles Lucien's Ornithology,
the latter one of the most superb works ever issued
from Carey and Lea's press. I took many more
names down, but have not time now to copy them. I
was led to imagine, from the general appearance of the
books, that Joseph has not the same fondness for the
mathematics which proved so eminently serviceable to
the conqueror of Toulon and general of the army of
Italy. There is a tower or square building where the
old house stood, from which the best view of the coun-
try may be obtained. The garden consists of four
acres only, but is in the best possible state of cultiva-
tion; Mr. Motheland, the gardener, was with the
Count both in France and Italy. Among other wonders
in this department we were shown the tea rose, which
is in bloom, and smells like tea ; a great variety of
roses on an eglantine stock ; the Camilla; the Flora
Jessamine; the perpetual rose ; the Cape of Good Hope
grape and other kinds ; many species of the pea from
France; a multiflora, &c. The Count is highly es-
teemed in the neighbourhood, as a mild, gentle, and
i unassuming citizen ; he is on the best terms with the
; people, whom he does not slight, but treats them with
regard. He had gone down to Philadelphia on the
morning on which we visited his seat near Borden-
town.*

■^1

* Joseph Bonaparte returned to Europe in 1832.

PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA— THE STATE-HOUSE BELL-THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

" Every well-educated man, who is not either utterly inconsidercte, or
void of all sensibility, must regard with peculiar interest the spectacle
which your country now exhibits, enjoying in its infancy the inestimable
blessings of civil and religious liberty, and those arts and sciences which
formerly have only been found in states that have arrived at their rull
growth, and too often when they have been verging towards accay. You
are rapidly augmenting on a scale nev ' before witnessed in the civilized
world." — Letter— Mr. IVilberforce to Dr. Sprague of Massachusetts,
Dtc. 1828.

23, South TJiird Street, Philadelphia^
ilfaj/28, 1829.

The State House, from which the celebrated procla-
mation of American freedom emanated, is a venerable
structure, built in 1733, forming one side of Indepen-
dence Square, and containing several of the public
offices. The hall wliore the Declaration of Indepen-
dence was signed is on the ground floor, on your left
hand as vou enter, and contains a statue of Washiuff-
ton, with the motto — " First in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts of his countrymen." This room is,
as it ought to bi^, taken great care of, and only used
on extraordinary occasions. An Irishman, who emi-
grated hither in 1784, has charge of the State House :
he took us up to see the bell ; and its inscription, and
the source whence that inscription emanated, show the
feelings of the people twenty years before the Revolu-
tion. This bell weighs over 2000 lbs., and was cast
by Pass and Stow, in Philadelphia, 1753. The motto
was ordered by the Assembly, and is as follows : —
" Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land, unto all

J i^

THK STATE-HOUSE BELL.

the inhabitants thereof.'' (Leviticus xxv. 10.) " By
order of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, for the State
House of Philadelphia." This bell was the first that
tolled, on the announcement of the determination of
Congress to assert and maintain the rights of their
country. When the glad news of the royal assent
having been given to the bill for the emancipation of
Catholic Ireland reached Philadelphia, the good old
bell was again put in joyous motion, and tolled for
twelve successive hours, beingr the first time in half a
century in which it had been nmg to celebrate the
passage of a British Act of Parliament. They rang
until the clapper broke; but, saitl the Hibernian
keeper, " We rigged a jury clapper, and rang away
again, for we thought we saw a ray of freedom in it to
the old sod."

The great clock in the same building was made by
Isaac Lakins, a Pennsylvanian self-taught artist : the
pendulum weighs 175 lbs. ; and, as the clock is illu-
minated, " it shows the time o' day at any time o'
night," and keeps time at all seasons, being constructed
on a peculiar and useful principle. We were also
shown the assembly-chamber of the ancient colony of
Pennsylvania, which is much larger than our late or
former assembly-room in York.

The American Revolution was a noble era in the
annals of British freedom. It was a memorable struggle
of Christian freemen — of men who trusted in the God
of Heaven, who revered his Sabbaths, and, by their
representatives in Congress, set apart days of fasting,
and humbled themselves before him, in that period of
doubt and darkness. The British colonists of '76

■'^m

m its
a virt
almosi
a mo(l
plainj
yield
will
for at

PHILADKLPHFA.

fought with their Bibles in their knapsacks — they had
learned to prize the sweets of liberty ; and panted, not
after worldly wealth and distinction, but after the free-
dom of interpreting the Bible for themselves, and fol-
lowing its precepts. History affords a few similar
glorious examples of disinterested devotion to the true
principles of liberty — not in Greece nor in Rome, but
on the plains of the United Provinces ; at Bannock-
burn ; and on the mountains of Switzerland, at the
battle of Morgarten. It is worthy of remark, that a
fervent spirit of piety and benevolence animated the
defenders of their country in all these cases. Leopold
of Austria assembled 20,000 chosen men " to trample
the audacious rustics under his feet ;" but 1400 of the
flower of the youth of Switzerland grasped their arras
and assembled at the town of Schweitz to meet the
tyrant. They proclaimed a solemn fast — they passed
the day in religious exercises ; and cliaunting hymns,
and kneeling down in the open air, implored " the God
of heaven and earth to listen to their lowly prayers,
and humble the pride of their enemies." Let Mont-
gomery's pious strains tell to posterity the victory of
Morgarten ; let the solemn festival, decreed to be held
in its commemoration, proclaim the sacred truth, that
a virtuous people, struggling for their liberties, are
almost, if not altogether, invincible. " Liberty," observes
a modern writer, " will not desert the most unbroken
plain, if its inhabitants are sincere in the homage they
yield to her; but no fortresses, natural or artlHcial,
will protect a nation of slaves. The Swiss were free
for ages under a feudal administration ; and the Romans

WATKR-WOUKS OF PHILADKLPIllA.

ccntinuetl to be slaves under a republican form of
government." * * *

I do not find the weather warmer or more unpleasant
than in Upper Canada at this season ; nor have 1 ascer-
tained that sickness prevails here to a great extent: on
the contrary, the cleanliness indoors and out, the sweet-
ness and openness of the streets, and the numerous
squares and wholesome water, together with the regular
habits of the people, indicate health. * * *

We made a party to the Philadelphia water-works
at Fair Moimt on the Schuylkill, in the afternoon.
This magnificent undertaking is situated about two
miles above the city, immediately opposite the patriotic
Treasurer Morris's country-seat. These works are said
to have been planned by Mr. Joseph G. Lewis, and
are most important to the health, comfort, and cleanli-
ness of the city. They cost about 130,000 dollars, and
are one of the greatest curiosities in Pennsylvania;
many persons having come hundreds of miles to view
them. A dam is here thrown over the river, by which
a head of water is obtained to turn three enormous
wheels, by means of which the pure river water is
pumped up in vast quantities to the top of a high and
rocky bank, (an ascent of about eighty *'ect,) and there
thrown into large reservoirs, from whence it is freely
and plentifully distributed all over the city. In the
streets there are pumps at certain distances for public
use ; and the water is carried to private houses, and
used to wash and sweeten courts and yards and to
purify the street g\ittcrs ; and water-plugs are distri-
buted throughout the city, to which the hose of fire-

I
Pres

foreii
Rice

IVV£

> I

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

engines may be speedily attached in case of fire. In
Philadelphia, a principal part of the people are, I think,
Quakers : they call it the city of brotherly love ; and
it is, without doubt, the cleanest, pleasantest, quietest,
and most desirable town I have yet seen on this conti-
nent. New York is larger ; but if I were to choose a
retirement in the United States of America, in which
to spend the evening of my days, I should strongly
incline to prefer Philadelphia, so far as my observation
has yet extended. The water-works at Fair Mount are
constructed of hewn stone, at the expense of the mayor
and citizens, and the neighbouring grounds highly
ornamented with promenades, flights of stairs, arbours,
carved and other figures, &c. There is placed, half
way up in the rock, a statue, which throws the water
in all directions; and below the works is a wooden
bridge of one immense span, which reaches quite across
the Schuylkill, and is well worth the attention of the
stranger. On the hill you have a Chinese pagoda,
built by Peter A. Brown, an American architect ; and
in view is the shot-tower, said to be IGO feet high. The
water-works are a source of great revenue to the C'ty;
and there is no doubt but that, when the good tow.: of
York shall have obtained a charter of incorporation,
the citizens will turn their attention to the best means
of obtaining a constant and plentiful supply of pure and
•wholesome water.

I visited the hall of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of the United States yesterday
forenoon. That venerable body is now in session. Dr.
Rice being laeu* Moderator, and Dr. Ely stated clerk.
I was introduced to a number of the members by my

'x I

■ I
! *

TIIK NAVAL-YAUD.

friend, the Rev. Mr. Ballaiityne ; and remained about
an hour lO observe their mode of procedure, which is
much the same as obtains in the General Assembly of
the Church of Scotland, at Edinburgh. Many ladies
and gentlemen were present, and the utmost order pre-
vailed throughout. The Assembly consists, I presume,
of between one hundred and two hundred members,
partly ministers and partly laymen; and not a few of
their heads were as white as snow, forming a striking
contrast to the youthfvd appearance of the junior mem-
bers. The assembly-hall is in front of the first Pres-
byterian church, in Washington Square, a noble-looking
building, as indeed are almost all the chm*chcs I have
seen in this city, where marble is in far more common
use than stone or brick in the town of York.

The naval-yard is open, and it requires no special
permission to enable the traveller to examine it. There
are now two vessels on the stocks, both of them build-
ing in frame-houses : the first is a frigate, and the other
a ship intended to mount, I believe, one hundred and
thirty guns : this last is said to be nearly two hundred
feet keel, and both will soon be ready for launching.
I could not possibly convey to you a correct idea of a
ship of this class : to comprehend its vastness, you umst
see it, as I did, with your own eyes. When we got

upon cue of the decks, Mr. , a Philadelphian,

proposed to hire a coach to take us round the ship, in
order to avoid fatigue ! I meant to have made a few
remarks upon the botanic garden, but ps the sheet is
full I shall defer till to-morrow. * * *

upon I
the ta
accoul
Th
liberti

AMERICAN KQUALITY.

EQUALITY; OR WHITES AND BLACKS.

The citizens of Philadelphia live ia great comfort;
yo\i meet with very few people indeed who are not in
easy circumstances, and that class who live in wealth
and affluence is very numerous. I have seen several
black gentlemen ridinjj in iheir carriajjcs, some of
them much respected and very respectable. Coloured
people are in great abundance here, and tiiere is no
slavery, nor the least appearance of it. Yesterday
forenoon, when on my way to the post-office, I saw a
lady right ahead, tall and graceful in her form and
movements, with a grand Leghorn bonnet, fashion-
able summer dress, &c. &c. I quickened my pace a
little, and beheld a human face of the purest ebony ;
black, black as the ace of spades ! They speak of
equality in this country, but it is in ITpper Canada that
it can be seen in all its glory. There is a man of
colour, a barber and hair-dresser in our town of York,
named Butler; he is married to a coloured woman,
and they arc respectable, well-behaved people in their
line, and pimctual in their dealings ; they have, of
course, a black family : and (hear it, ye slave-tradin<r
equal-rights-and-independence people !) they keep
white men and women servants from Europe to wait
upon them and their black children. This is turning
the tables upon the Southerons, and fairly balancing
accounts with the ebony-hearted slave-holders.

There are certainly several very essential degrees of
liberty to which the Americans have not attained, but

I I

FEMALE ELECTORS.

which either have been taken, or are about to be, in
our country.

When my friend Colonel Baby, of Sandwich, con-
tested the county of Kent with Messrs. Lyttle and
Wilkinson, no less than thirty-five ladies came forward
to the hustings and gave their votes, — maids and
widows, — one of them gave Wilkinson a plumper.
This was almost equal to a declaration in form. Only
one married lady voted. But in Lower Canada there
have been numerous instances of women exercising the
freehold right of voting in person for a favourite can-
didate. Sometimes the wife votes on one freehold and
the husband on another.

There was a contested election at Montreal, in May,
1831, which lasted about a month : during its con-
tinuance two hundred and twenfy-five women came
forward to vote. One of the candidates. Dr. Tracy,
was an Irishman, and for him ninety-five ladies re-
corded their votes. The other gentleman was Mr.
Stanley Bagg, a citizen of the United States, natural-
ized in Canada. For him there were one hundred and
four female voters. The other twenty-six did not
vote. Several ladies voted one way, and, it is said,
their husbands took the other side. One married lady
voted in her own right. Her husband was found to
have no vote. The Irishman won the day, but by a
very small majority. The Quebec Act, under which
the ladies vote, was passed in the British parliament
forty years ago.

It is in my recollection that when Canning was
standing for Liverpool, he told the ladies in a jocular

way, 1

siiffraj

it that

I hi

oC Misi

conceri

eyes, n

that til

Hoston

gredien

OtVK da^

t^scapod I
wizod on
between (
wlio haui(
xcreaniiriff
fending m

mentoi's h
villagers v
stolen five
1^1*011 found

PHILADELPHIA LADIKS.

KIDNAPPING IN UPPER CANADA.

, ' {

way, that if ever he advocated the doctrine of universal
stiftrage, he would not fail to in ilude them. What is
it that may not become fashionable ?

I had almost forgotten to state, for the information

of Miss , and all others of the sex whom it may

concern, that the Philadelphia ladies have sprightly
eyes, regular (and not seldom handsome) features, but
that the charming red and white of Connecticut and
Boston, Aberdeenshire or Galway, is rather a rare in-
gredient south of tlie Delaware.

/ I

" He was liikcn in my camp as a spy —
He lias been tried and condemned as a spy —
And you may rest assured he shall hv hanged as a spy.
P. S. He is hanged."

General Putnam's Lettr.

Onk day last summer a poor black girl, who had
escaped irom the whip-lash to ♦his side the water, was
Hei/(>d on a Sunday, near Queenston, in broad daylight,
between eleven and noon, by two hired scoundrels,
who hauled and pulled her through that village ; she
screaming and crying in the most piteous and heart-
rending manner, and her ruffian cream-coioiu-ed tor-
mentoi's laughing at her distress, and amusing the
villagers with the cock-and-bul' story that she had
stolen five hundred dollars, and ihat the money had
been found in her bundle. To the everlasting disgrace

KIDNAPPING IN UPPER CANADA.

of the inhabitants of Qiicenston, they stood by, many
of them, and allowed the poor African lass to be placed
by main force on board the ferry-boat which was to
carry her back into slavery of a far worse nature than
she had formerly oxperionced. Her lot would now be,
1st, exemplary punishment, and 2d, a slow murder
(for so it may be called) in the unhealthy climate of
the rice or sugar plantations. Is it not time that kid-
napping of this sort, in Upper Canada, were put an
end to by the strong arm of the law?

The above case was related to me by a friend on
whose accuracy I can fully depend. The following
case of James Smith was published in the newspapers.
I am acquainted with Smith, who (April, 1828) was a
young man of about twenty-three or twenty-four years
of age. I had from him the whole of his early history,
and it was a horrible tale indeed. That slavery must
have been galling indeed which coidd tempt a human
being to trust himself to the broad and deep waters of
the Niagara rather than return under it.

" A black man, by the name of James Smith, in the
employ of Mr. R. M. Long, of Clinton, was seized a
few nights ago in his bed, by a band of slave-holding
ruffians from the south, and conveyed across the
Niagara river gagged and pinioned. He was kept
concealed near Lewiston in some old barrack, while his
Virginia master, whom he recognised, was making
arrangements for proceeding onwards with his captive ;
but very fortmiately Cuffee made his escape, and, after
lying concealed for forty-eight hours without fire or
food, actually swam the Niagara river in the night, and
thus secured his retreat. The poor fellow landed at

In tf

offlj

and

One I

flap
the i|
air iii
migl^
and,
quin

KIDNAPl'lNQ.

the fishing-ground on this shore, and was first dis-
covered by a party of fishermen, buffeting the chilly
element nearly exhausted. He states that some of the
party who seized him were disguised ; they are sup-
posed to be Canadian spies bribed lor the disgraceful
purpose. It is a pity that the law could not seek
them out for punishment as an example to others."

BALTIMORE— SLAVES— FREE BLACKS.

"And little thought I, when in youth's warm hour,
Glowing indignant at tyrannic power,
I turned in fancy to that happy land
Whose milder laws victorious patriots planned.
That I should ever see a region there.
Where dark oppression urges to despair;
And freedom's clamour, and the negro's cries,
In wildest dissonance commingling rise."

The Up ion.

Indian Queen Hotel, June 2d, 1829.

In the dining-room there are hung up several pairs
of flappers which extend the whole length of the table,
and that is about the usual extent of a rope walk.
One or more blacks, by means of a string and pulleys,
flap away like good fellows, causing utter dismay to
the insect tribes, and producing an agreeable current of
air in every part of the room. Gulliver the traveller
might have improved on the Baltimore flapper system,
and, so far as I have seen or felt, we in the north re-
quire the luxury as much as the Baltimoreans. But

; \

'. !'■• I

-t

BALTIMORK — SLAVKS.

the Helots we want not. Maryland is a slave state,
but the bondage is unpopular, insomuch that it is esti-
mated that, out of a population of 80,000 in the city,
only 5000 are in bondage, while 25,000 (blacks and
mulattoes) are free. I perceive, however, that in all
parts of the Union, and by all classes of white society,
their ebony brethren are treated as a degraded caste,
inferior by nature, whether learned or unlearned, rich
or poor, virtuous or vicious. I was even told by a
gentleman of respectability to-day, that a negro who
has made a fortune of 100,000 dollars, as a sail-ma\er,
in Philadelphia, and whose private character is that of
a man of honour, discretion and probity, dare not so
much as think of ranking himself with the whites, but
when he and his wife invite any of their cream-coloured
friends to tea, dinner, &c., they actually wait upon
tlieir guests at table. Vice and cruelty, and money
ill got, bring their own punishment with them ; so it is
with slavery, — it is a curse brought on by the avarice
of a former age, and the people of the present day are
about to reap, or are already reaping, its bitter fruits.

During my residence among the colonists in Canada,
I have made the blacks who are interspersed amongst
the population my occasional study. Many who are
now free in Canada were born in the United States in
slavery ; but although not a few are drunkards, spend-
thrifts, addicted to low cunning, and so forth, yet have
I found here and there a respectable, well-behaved,
thrifty and intelligent family of blacks farming in the
woods, and living as sober, righteous, and godly a life
in this present evil world as any of their European-
complexioned neighbours. From which L conclude.

" Eva
and verl
Great b(
forma^iol
the syste
chief we
Batt/e oi

Some

FREK BLACKS.

that, if the yoke of slavery were removed from off the
Virginian and GeorjTJan race of sables, and they in-
termixed with an industrious and moral people, a
visible improvement in their condition would be pro-
duced in an age. But among ihe profligate and loose
population of the southern slave states, they cannot
attain this blessing. Niles, in one of his Registers,
gives a lamentable accoimt of the fatal effects of un-
restrained intemperance among the negroes lately freed,
residing in Baltimore, Negroes as well as Greeks
must be accustomed to the blessings of freedom ere
they can duly appreciate their value. The Israelites,
when in a temporary difficulty, longed for the flesh-
pots of Egypt, the land of their former bondage. Yet
all men love freedom ; even the wild Greenlander, the
grim Kamschatkan, and the desolate Siberian love their
barren wastes.

*' His wastes of ice are lovelier in his eve
Than all the flowery vales beneath the sky ;
And dearer far than Caesar's palact-dotne,
His cavern-shelter, and his cottage-home."

I \

REPUBLICAN SIMPLICITY.

" Every man of sober, candid reflection must confess, that very gross
and very unfortunate errors existed in the measures adopted, both in
Great Britain and America, towards the Colonies. In both countries in-
forma'ton was drawn and received, almost solely from those who espoused
the system of the reigning administration Deception and mis-
chief were the necessary consequence."— Dm'i^A/'* Reflections on Ihe
Battle of Lexington.

Washington, June 3, 1829.
Some of the columns of the Capitol, which is now

'.♦ il

«r:

iW'-

REl'UBUCAN SIMPMCirV.

finished, have carvings of Indian corn stalks substi-
tuted for flutings and filletings, while the capitals are
made of tlie ears of corn half stripped, having, on the
whole, an appearance very like to the Corinthian or
Composite order. The representative chamber is semi-
circular, lighted from the roof, which is supported by
massy columns of breccia, a dark-bluish, siliceous pud-
ding-stone, hard and highly polished. It is known to
the natives by the name of Washington marble.

The mayor of the city is an Englishman, Mr. Gales,
senior editor of the National Intelligencer, an oppo-
sition paper. There is also an opposition paper pub-
!ished in Cieorgctown, and the National Journal in the
city, — all daily prints, and edited by men of talent and
industry. In the houses, grounds, dress, and equipage
of the citizens, there is certainly very little to be found
of " rep\iblican simplicity ;" every thing you see be-
tokens abundant wealth, and ** their majesties the
people " appear to keep it up in the true style of
princes. The grounds around the president's house,
and the seat of national legislature, are undergoing
improvements on a scale befitting the style and dignity
of " the sovereigns of America." Go where you will
through the country, in private houses and in public
halls, in churches and in palaces, in books and news-
papers, every where you have proofs of the national
gratitude to George Washington, the gallant and dis-
interested guardian of American freedom. Nor is the
host of American worthies, who bravely determined to
meet death or acquire constitutional rights and the use
of them, forgotten by the present generation. " Their
memory and their name " is remembered among the

1 wo
tlie forJ
letter vi
will pri

REPUBLICAN SIMPLICITY.

early benefactors of this continent ; and yet upon what
a slender thread once h\m<r tl)eir liberties ! Had the
treason of Arnold been successful, how different might
have been the aspect of their atiairs and the fate of
their generals ! We term the revolution of 1688
glorious ; but had the battle of the Boyne ended in
the destruction of King William's army, it would have
been branded as a rebellion, and its promoters de-
nounced as the worst of traitors : —

" Rebellion ! foul dishonouring word,
VViiose wrongful blight so ofl hath stained
Tiie holiest cause that tongue or sword
Of mortal ever lost or gained.
How many a spirit, born to bless,
Hath sunk beneath that withering name.
Which, but a day's, an hour's success
Had wafted to eternal fume !"

WASHINGTON— MR. LECKIK— THE POSTMASTER-GENE-
RAL— MR. EATON— Mr. GALES.

" A virtuous and laborious people may be cheaply governed, determin-
ing, as we Jo, to have no offices of profit, nor any sinecures, or useless
appointments, so common in ancient or corrupted states. We can govern
ourselves a year for the sum you pay in a single department, for what one
jobbing contractor, by the favour of a minister, can cheat you out of in a
single article." — Frankliii's Letters. Passy., July 1, 1778.

Washington, June 4, 1829.

Two mail stages leave this capital daily, the one in
the forenoon and the other at night ; and as my eleventh
letter was despatched by the mail of last evening, you
will probably receive this one at the same time. Nei-

c 2

MR. LECKIR.

ther of them contain news of interest. I breakfasted
this morning at the house of Mr. Leckie, the archi-
tect, a superintendent of masonry on the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, and a member of the city corporation.
Mr. Leckie is a native of Perthshire, in Scotland, has
been for these last thirty years a citizen of the Union,
and, like many others of his countrymen, the architect
of his own fortune. I found him in possession of an
excellent library; and truly I have been both sur-
prised and pleased to see, in many private houses in
these states, extensive collections of choice and valuable
works, French, English, and American. Among his
books I noted a folio, with maps and plates, containing
reports on canals, railways, roads, and other subjects,
made to the Pennsylvania Society by W. Strickland.
It had been printed by Carey of Philadelphia in 1826.
On inquiry I found that such works as Strickland's are
encouraged by Congress and by the several state legis-
latures ; they purchase so many copies each body, and
afterwards dispose of them according to their best
discretion for the general good,— an advantage Upper
Canada will scarce attain under Sir John Colborne.
Besides his library, Mr. licckie showed nie one of the
most complete collections of mathematical instruments
I have yet met with in America; among which was
one of Jones's pocket sextants, having a magnifier
attached, and with which you may take angles to a
minute, either horizontal or vertical. On his table lay
the latest American and English hterary and scientific
periodicals. He keeps his coach and pair, and enjoys
the afternoon of his days in ease and affluence, tlie
not unusual reward of even moderate talent and in-

as if
mild
man oi
for he
be noi
large
'inoperl
was ei
departJ
he hacj
tell yo|
which

MAJOR BARRY.

dustry in business in this wonderful country. After
breakfast I waited upon Major Barry, the postmaster-
general, to whom, as well as to Mr. Abraham Bradley,
his assistant, I had procured sundry letters of intro-
duction, being desirous to make some inquiries re-
garding their department. I experienced the kindest
attention from these gentlemen, and obtained all the in-
formation wished for, together with the latest official
copies of the laws, instructions, and regulations, by which
the postnmster-goneral and his deputies are guided in
conducting the atfairs of nearly 9000 country offices.
They also gave me a list of all the post-offices in the
Union, with the names of the postmasters, of the coun-
ties and states to which they belong, the distance from
this city and from the seats of state governments re-
spectively, — a very curious compilation, and exceed
ingly useful for reference.

Major Barry was friendly to the election of Presi-
dent Jackson, and the unsuccessful candidate for the
gubernatorial chair in Kentucky last fall. He looks
as if upwards of forty years of age ; his manner is
mild and pleasing, and truly he must needs be a
man of active business habits, and great perseverance,
for he has got an office which will assuredly prove to
be no sinecure. I found him si^tino all alone in a
large room, with a desk, and perhaps thirty or forty
unopened letters (to his address) beside him. He
was employed in the epistolary correspondence of the
department, but how many out of the morning's mail
he had already got through hands I am not able to
tell you. It is evident, however, that the practice,
which allows the postmaster-general of England to do

.?'

•^

[

'■■ 1

THE POST-OFFICE.

nearly all his duties by deputy, has not as yet obtained
at Washington. Mr. Bradley, to whom Major Barry
afterwards introduced me in tho next apartment,
seemed to have a summer day's work before him as
well as his principal. The salary of the one is 6000
dollars, and of the other 2500 dollars, and there is a
second assistant with a similar income. From forty
to fifty clerks are employed in the general post-office,
who receive from 800 dollars to 1700 dollars a-year
salary, according to their seniority. The surplus re-
venue of the department is (as ours ought to be), tor
the most part, expended in the extension and im-
provement of the establishment.

The building which contains the general post-oflice
on the ground-floor is very large, and the patent
office is located on tlie \ippor floor. Mr. Bradley
politely requested mo to go upstairs, and introduced
me to Dr. Jones, the superintendent, who is, I believe,
well known in the literary world as the conductor of
a periodical work of celebrity, devoted to the arts and
sciences. The patent office has been in existence
about thirty-six years, and several large rooms are
already filled with models of machines, implements,
&c., for which patent rights have been taken. There
are, no doubt, many supposed inventions patented,
which contain nclhing new whatever, but, on the other
hand, there are many models, which attbrd abundant
evidence both of originality of design and ingenuity of
execution. To a mechauical genius a sight of the
patent office alone would amply recompense a journey
to this city.

The colonial post-office department had originally

Yorl
ing
to thl
direcl

) ,

THE PATENT OFFICE.

an agreement with tho establishment here regarding
the conveyance of letters and papers ; it was dated as
far back as 1790 or 92, but is lost. The present ar-
rangements are only temporary. I learn that the post-
master-general at Quebec is allowed twenty per cent,
on all letter postage passing into Canada from the
United States, and paid by him to this department,
but in what way it is divided between that officer and
his deputies in Niagara, Montreal, and Kingston (agents
for the United States), I did not ascertain. One would
think thoy might forgive us the two-pence of ferriage
at Fort George on each letter, seeing they draw reve-
v.nt ", ; m both countries, but forgiveness of laxes
fo o very prominent part of the colonial system

at present. The postmaster-general assured me, that
the letters to the western section of Canada are sent
to Youngstown exclusively, only in compliance with
the wishes of Mr. Stayner, of Quebec. * * * *

On leaving the Patent Office, I went to the bureau
of Mr. Secretary Eaton, who has succeeded General
Porter at the head of the war department, intending
to hand him a couple of letters introductory, which
had been politely forwarded by a friend from New
York, but learned that he was then engaged, transact-
ing business with the secretary of the navy. Attached
to this department, and under Mr. Eaton's immediate
direction, are an engineer office, an ordnance office,
a pension office, a commissary-general's office, a bounty
land office, and a surgeon-generaVs office. In the
same building are writing-rooms for probably thirty
clerks and officers, who receive each a salary from
2000 dollars down to 800 dollars. Even the mes-

r '

{ ::;

I ii

MR. SECRETARY EATON.

sengers are paid 700 dollars each, and their assist-
a- :-. 400 dollars. Hours of business at the public
t-thces are from nine till three. Having been made
acquainted with several of the officers of this department

by Mr. , I passed nearly two hours examining

all that was curious, and in another letter shall copy
out my notes. Mr. Eaton, like the postmaster-general
and his 8000 post-offices, has seemingly a pretty
heavy load u^on his shoulders; I heard him called
an amiable, good-hearted mati, and lie appears to be
esteemed by all parties in the state. He is a sinceie
friend of the president, whose biograpiior he was in
1824, when he completed an account of liis life, which
had been begun by the late Major Reid of the United
States army. Mr. lianiage, of Philadelphia, gave me
a few lines of intioduclion to the Mayor of Washing-
ton, and Major Noah of New York did me the same
favour, addressed to General Green. 1 waited first
upon " the opposition," and found his honor as busy
as a bee. Mr. Gales, as mayor and printer and senior
editor of the National Intelligencer, has, like all the
great men I had seen or heard of in this place, a
burthen of labour heavy enough for any ordinary pair
of shoulders ; and I felt a good deal of regret that,
with iheir undoubted talents and industry, added to
the lucrative situations of printers to both houses of
Congress, which they held until very lately, Messrs.
Gales and Seaton, ever respectable as editors and as
men, had failed to realize a competence for old age.
Putting all party considerations aside, these gentlemen
are known to have upheld the dignity of the republic for
many years in their sphere as public men ; and although

t ,

A MARRIAGE.

I do not for a moment wish to interfere in the local
politics of their country, I confess I feel sorry to learn
they are on the losing hand in their business. The
profits on the printing of Congress are estimated in
the National Journal at 70,000 dollars per annum,
but I do not believe that legislative bodies, so eco-
nomical and prudent in every other matter as they
are known to be, have ever allowed such profits to pass
into the hands of their printers. The estimate is,
doubtless, an exaggerated one.

:(c 4: 4: 9): 1):

A DIVORCE— MARRIAGES— LORENZO DOW.

f» i

/♦

1 DO not vouch for the authenticity of the following
account of an American divorce, but give it as related
by General Duff Green — not doubting its probability.
" A short time since, in an adjoining town, a happy
pair were joined in wedlock by a facetious township
squire, \Nhose fees totally exhausted the funds of the
bridegroom. Not many days, it appears, had elapsed
before the parties who had been joined 'till death
should them part,' became mutually dissatisfied witii
their lot, and returned to the squire with their many
tales of woe, beseeching him with all their eloquence to
nn-marnj them, which he agreed to do, provided he
was previously paid the sum of three dollars, double
the foe of the first ceremony. This sum the bride-
groom paid by a week's labour on the squire's farm.
Then came the ceremony of • parting.' Tlie squire
placed a block on the floor, on which was put a live

CRAZY D^W.

cat : one pulled the head and the other tlie tail, while
the sq^r-", with an axe severed the cat in twain, at the
same t' : exclaiming, ' Death has now parted yon !"
The co.ij/le departed with a firm belief that the per-
formance was strictly legal and have not lived together
since."

There is a singular, eccentric character, a mothodist
preacher, but, I have understood, a really pious and
good man, by the name of Lorenzo Dow, otherwise
•' Crazy Dow," who itinerates at will through the whole
of the United States and Canada, preaching, by aj)-
pointment, often in the wildest and most romantic
spots — from the tops of rocks or in the most seques-
tered vales. From the top of a rock he will give out
an appointment, to be fulfilled, perhaps, five years after;
and at the time named, Lorenzo and an audietice of
four or five thousand persons will be found punctual at
the spot agreed on. He was preaching in Washington
city in June, 1830, and I think it was (Jeneral Croon
who stated of him that, at the close of a religious meet-
ing — he observed that he was incliniul to matrimony.
If any lady in his congregation had similar inclinations,
she was requested to rise. A lady a little advanced ii;
life gave the required intimation. I^onnizo visited
her — she became his wife, and shared her fortune
with him.

On May -day, 1830, he was in the neighbourhood
of Plattsburgh ; and of his wanderings the American
papers give the following brief accouiit : —

" The most eccentric of all beings, Lorenzo Dow,
has, for the present week, been preaching in Keens-
ville, Pleasant Valley, and the intermediate and ad-

propri

CRAZY DOW.

tl,

jacont towns. He has now gone to Whitehall to re-
deem an appointment which he had made ten years ago.
We are informed that ho deUvered a discourse at
Pleasant Valley last Monday, the peroration of which
was as follows : — * Friends, I've preached in town tyid
in country — in village and in city, — on water and on
land — in America and in Europe, — I've preached to
presidents, kings, tyrants, and despots, and to their
slaves, menials, and mendicants, — and, believe me,
friends, I never preached a better sermon than the
one just ended, — and, what is still more, I told those
personages what I now tell you, that, unless you

repent, you will be d d ! May our Lord and

Saviour have mercy for you, poor sinners ! Amen.'

•' liOrenzo Dow, in company with a male and
femHle preacher, was in Camden, New Jersey, the last
accounts."

Speaking of marriages, the editor of the Crav/ford
Messenger, who is a justice of the peace, tells us of a
coiiplv he married last August, under peculiar circum-
stances ; — and 1 remember of a widower and widow
marrying at Vork, not long ago, who had each large
families, and only one tooth betvveeu them. They
were buckled one morning by Squire Scott, once the
propi'ietor of Maberly's Mills, Aberdeen.

" Married, by T. Atkinson, Esq., Mr. Jesse Glancy,
(»f Sadsbury, to Miss Dolly Trace, of Vernon." [The
parties in this case, a hale hearty widower, and a still
sprightly, good-looking widow, politely called at our
residence for the benefit of oiu* official service. The
hymeneal knot, for better for worse, being tied in our
best way, we took the freedom to ask — " Pray, madam,

> n

GENERAL GREEN.

how many children hud you by your first husband."
—"Sixteen, sir; thirteen of whom are still living."
— " Very good !" " Well, Mr. G., how many had you
by your first wife." — " Fi:^een, sir ; fourteen living." —
" Admirable !" Sparta would have been proud oi this
couple.]

GENERAL GREEN, PRINTER TO CONGRESS.

"There is not one generous emotion of the heart against which the logic
of enlightened self-interest cannot arm itself — not one whicii, according
to this logic, is not blindness or weakness — not one which enlightened
self-interest may not crush with its exact calculations, and its victorious
equations." — Be/yamm Constant.

General Green deserted the cause of the President
and his friends at a time when he thought he saw a
prospect of upsetting the administration, but their plans
were blasted by the spirit and unanimity of the people.
Mr. Eaton exposed Green's ingratitude in a letter
published last year in the Washington Globe, from
which I add an extract : —

" Before I knew him (General Green), I rendered
substantial services to this man ; but his ingratitude is
a warning to the friends who now confide in him, of
what they may expect if interest or policy shall
hereafter make it necessary. Before he left Missouri,
he was poor and pennyless, too much so, as he in-
formed me and others, to be able to remove his wife
and children to this place, where he had then lately
estabhshed a press. Upon his application to me.

.' t^ I

GENERAL GREEN.

and stating his necessities, I borrowed for him fourteen
hundred dollars; part of which he repaid in about
fifteen months, and the balance only recently, when
he found the sense of the community shocked by the
baseness of employing the means furnished by my
unreturned advances to destroy my reputation.

" In difficulty here, and pressed for money, he again,
in 1826, applied tome, wlien, through a friend of mine
in Baltimore, I obtained for him 2500 dollars. For
the very press from which, probably, he daily circu-
lates his abuse of me, I have a note which was pro-
tested and paid by me, on which I was not an endorser,
and which has been in my possession several years,
the whole or a part of which still remains unpaia. To
my exertions and zeal in his behalf, as most of the
senate of the United States can testify, is he indebted
for his first success as public printer, the annual re-
ceipts of which appointment at this time are not less
than from thirty to fifty thousand dollars."

I have heard some anecdotes of editors in England,
in private circles, not unlike this of DufF Green.

'i:f

GENERAL M'COMB— LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

The officers of the general government of the United
States are perhaps the most unassuming public func-
tionaries in the world, and this is one reason why they
are so highly esteemed, so popular with the people.
True, they change situations often, but only to ex-

!. , 1

GENERAL M'COMB.

change one routine of important services rendered to
their country for another, for which tliey are found
more suitable. General Jackson was a lawyer, a judge,
H senator, a warrior, a farmer, and, last jI' all, presi-
dent — probably he will wind up, as Jefferson and
Monroe did, by accepting the office of justice of the
peace in a country village. Mr. Adams was a pro-
fessor in a college, a foicign minister, a secretary of
state, president, and is now a member of Congress.
Mr. Van Buren was a senator of the United States,
then Governor of New York state, next secretary of
state for the Union, lastly, minister to Great Britain.
His next step will probably be the vice-presidency
instead of Mr. Calhoun, who will be taken care of by
that class of his fellow-citizens who have most con-
fidence in him, so that his labours may not be lost to
the nation.

Thus it is in America.

I had letters to General M'Comb, the commander-
in-chief, whose head-quarters are here, and experi-
enced from him a great deal of polite and kind atten-
tion. He showed me all that was rare and cinious
in the departmciit over which he presides — wrote a
note to another department, the system of which 1
was anxious to examine in some respects — and intro-
duced me to several gentlemen in the public offices
from whom I received and noted much useful infor-
mation.

The reader will find in Chief Justice Marshall's
Life of General Washington, vol. v. pp. 648-9-50, a
history of ihe circumstances ander which Mr. Adet,
the Gallic eivoy, presented to this Republic the

CONOKKSS LIBRARY.

f'l

colours of the National Convention of France, with
letters of amity from the Committee of Pnblic Safety
of the French nation, accompanying their presi'nt.
This flag is carefully preserved in the office of the
adjutant-general, and on my making a request to that
officer, it was unrolled and shown to me. It has the
picture of the Gallic cock handsomely displuyed in
its centre, and is in a state of excellent preservation.

I was indebted to the general also for an intro-
duction to the library of Congress, and passed
several hours very agreeably in examining the extent
and condition of that invaluable appendage to a
ileliberative body. The library, as I have before stated,
is placed in the Capitol — is exceedingly well arranged,
each description of books being kept by themselves.
Tliere is but one library for both Houses. Occupied
on the same deliberations, interested in the same
cause, appointed by the same authority, a iVee, con-
tented, prosperous and happy people, why should
the senators require one apartment and the rei)resen-
tatives another? It is enough tliat less enlightened
and united bodies pursue that course.

The catalogues are upon a new, and I think, useful
princij)le in large librarit j, which not only facilitates
your finding any author you want, but also other
works treating u^)on similar subjects. I perceive they
have got British copies of a great many Reports of
Committees of the House of Commons ; some of them
well thumbed too. To a legislative body such as as-
semblies at Washington, a choice collection of stan-
dard books is absolutely indispensable. There are a
number of copies of several domestic works in the

TIIIJ DEPARTMKNT OF STATE.

library, purchased to encourage the authors, and
afterwards voted away from time to time, by joint
resohitions of the two Houses assented to by the Presi-
dent, which serve in place of laws on such matters.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

To Mr. Van Buren, the Secretary of State, I had
lettei-s of introduction from (ieneral Porter, of Black
Rock, the late Secretary at War; from Mr. Cooke, now
member of Congress for the Niagara frontier; from
General Smith, senator of the United States for Mary-
land ; from Mr. Guitteau, then postmaster of BuH'alo,
and from other gentlemen in Canada and the Unitetl
States, who were desirous to facilitate my purpose of
acquiring useful information during my journey
through the republic.

Through Mr. Van Buren's kindness, I had access
to the library of the Department of State, a fine na-
tional selection, annually increasing in value. Major
Van Buren, his son, spent a forenoon in making me
acquainted with the most remarkable public docu-
ments, &c. He showed me the original " Declaration
of Independence," with the signature of the members
of Congress thereto attached ; it is framed, and, of
course, in a far better state of preservation than the
Magna Charta shown at the British Museum. The
Great Charter is, by many, considered a first step in
the progress of political improvement — the revolution
of 1G88 a second step— and the Declaration of Inde-
pendence by America, a third. I examined the writing

■r

llli; DKrARTMKNT OF STATE.

and signatures witli care, and found them to resemble
closely the co}ii)er plate facsimile published some
years ago, I think, in Philadelphia. In the same
suite of rooms are many other curiosities, such as
swords, snutl'-boxes, medals. Sec, presented to United
States' Ministers by liussia. South America, Sweden.
&c. In the library attached to this department
are deposited copies of all books for which an ex-
clusive right of publication has been taken out by
the authors or proprietors, besides many other works,
some of them very interesting and rare. Having re-
pressed some curiosity, I was politely shown tJ.e ori-
ginals of the treaties made by the United States
with several foreign powers. His Majesty King
(leorire writes his name in nearly as good a hand a-
myself, and the national seal of Britain attached \j
the treaty is a piece of as elegant workmanship as
anything of the kind I ever beheld. There are the
records of not less than three treaties made with
Bonaparte. I examined his signature to each care-
fully. Once his name is tolerably well written, but in
a hurried manner; another time I could trace the
four first letters, and might guess the rest, from know-
ing beforehand who ivrofe them. The third, hastily
scrawled when on horseback (the Louv;ii*:a cession
treaty, if I mistake not), is almost illegible. It is
said of Napoleon, that he never wrote a good hand,
and that latterly it had become so illegible as only to
be deciphered by his secretaries. If it was as bad
as his signatures to treaties with America, I should
not have envied his clerks their situations ; especially
if he wrote as much as his historians say he did.

THE DEPARTMKNT OF STATE.

There is a negociation with the Emperor of Morocco
among these pledges of peace, but as it was written in
Arabic, I could not understand a syllable of it ; it
might have been old Ebony's Chaldee MS. for aught
I could tell to the contrary. An award of the late
Czar of Russia is also deposited here, having his auto-
graph annexed. The King of Prussia writes an excel-
lent hand, and shoidd " ci-owns and coronets be rent "
from their wearers on the European continent in his
time, he will be able to follow the example of Diony-
sius of Syracuse, and turn country schoolmaster. I
had an opportunity of seeing a treaty with the Empe-
ror of Brazil, Avhich is a handsome silken document,
but the Don affixes his name in a scurvy, clumsy,
unkingly manner. The seal of the United States is
beautiful, has a goodly device, and must have cost a
" power of money " to Uncle Sam. It aflurds an
opportunity for an instructive contrast, when placed
beside Mr. Madison's plain small signet, with some
thirteen or fifteen stars in it, which signet is preserved
in the same place, attached to some conunercial docu-
ment or other.

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

" Virtue and intelligence — the shcet-anclior of our national union and
the perpetuity of our national freedom." — Andrew Jackson.

The state of New York has, within the last twelve
months, given Mr. Van Buren, the late minister to
Britain, strong proofs of its approbation of his public

MARTIN VAN BUIIEN.

conduct : hundreds of public meetings of the towns and
counties have met and passed resolutions approving of
his measures, and disapproving greatly of the vote of
the Senate rejecting his appointment as the successor
of Mr. M'Lane. Some of the other states have followed
the example of New York ; and the resolve of the
Senate, which was intended to etlect Mr. Van Buren's
downfall, will, in all probability, serve to raise him
still higher in the estimation of his countrymen.

Martin Van Buren, who is in all probability destined
to be the next Vice-president, and perhaps the suc-
cessor of General Jackson in the Presidency of the
Union, was born at Kinderhook, New York, on the
5th of December, 1782. Both of his parents were
exclusively of Dutch descent, their ancestors having
emigrated from Holland. His father was a Whig in
the old Revolution, and an anti- federalist in 1788.

Mr. Van Buren was placed in a lawyer's office at
the early age of fourteen, and in 1803 he was licensed
as an attorney of the Supreme Coiu't, and bt>gan to
practise in his native village ; in 1807 he was admitted
as counsellor of the Supreme Court; and in 180i)
removed to the city of Hudson. He was of plebeian
birth, began life a democrat, disdained to court the
favour of the powerful in the pursuit of wealth, but
aspired to the highest distinctions in his profession. In
1815 he was appointed Attorney-General of the state
of New York, when he changed his residence to Albanv.
In 1812 he was elected a Senator of New York, and
distinguished himself as one of the original advocates
of the war with Great Britain, and as a firm supporter
of Governor Tompkins, who was pledged to its zealous

: \^.

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

prosecution. His Memoirs serve to show that he was
one of the most active men in the state during the con-
tinuance of the struggle, in endeavouring to provide
money and means to carry the war to a successful con-
clusion by the conquest of the C'anadas. In 1821, Mr.
Van Buren, then the head of the democratic party, in
opposition to De Witt Clinton and the Federalists, was
elected to the Senate of the United States for New
York, and was returned to the convention which
amended the constitution of that state, in the same
year. He continiied a uiember of the Senate, in Con-
gress, until, in 1829, lie was elected, on the death of
Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York State. In the
Senate, lie had supported the Tarift' Bills of 1824 and
1828, as it was the wish of the state; but, like (ieneral
Jackson, he is a friend to a moderate tarilV, and a
reduction of the revenue to the lowest possible point
consistent with the carrying on an economical govern-
ment and paying the national debt. He resigned the
office of Governor of New \ ork, after he had held it
for about ten weeks, for the situa'ion of Secretary of
State for the Union, in which office he was the s\ic-
cessor of Henry Clay. In consequence of disagreements
of the cabinet at Washington, he retired to private life
in June, 1831 ; but was soon after nominated minister
to the court of St. James's, in the place of Louis
M'Lane of Delaware. It is said that the President
was influenced in making this appointment by the
belief that Mr. Van Buren would be the most likely to
negotiate an adjustment of the \msettled questions
concerning blockades, impressments, and the right of
search, to which the war between Great Britain and

*1
! 1

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

America has been ascribed. What, success Mr. Van
Buren might have had in the adjustment of these ques-
tions, had he remained longer, must be left to conjec-
ture, — he seems to have been a favourite with the
King, — but the Senate of the United States, by the
casting-vote of Mr. Calhoun, the present Vice-president,
negatived General Jackson's nomination; and Mr. Van
Buren, of course, returned to America last June, and
is now a candidate for the second office of the Union,
which will in a few weeks be in the gift of the yeo-
manry. He seems to owe his rise neither to birth and
ancestry, nor to property and patronage, but to ability
and talent, joined with perseverance. His private
character is that of a mild and benevolent man, of
great ease and frankness of manners, and great know-
ledge of the world. To great command of temper, he
unites a good deal of forbearance, and is said to possess
conversational powers of a high order. His opponents
ascribe much of his success to a talent for political
intrigue and artifice, while his partisans impute his rise
to his own sagacity and discretion. Be this as it may,
it is evident he possesses in a high degree the confi-
dence of the present chief magistrate of the Union, and
it does seem probable that he will be his successor.
Many events, however, may take place during the next
four years to change the relative situations of public
men, in a nation where all the higher offices of state are
in the gift ofthe people, or of those whom tliey appoint.
In person, Mr. Van Buren is neither above nor
below the middle height ; his figiire is erect and grace-
ful; his frame slender, and apparently delicate, but
capable of sustaining severe and long-continued exer-

ANDREW JACKSON.

tion ; the general expression of his features animated ;
his eye quick and piercing ; his head (wliich is now
quite bald), particularly his forehead, of unusual size,
and — as the phi onologists of North America assure us
— admiral! • formation.

ANDREW JACKSON.

" I was a republican ; but fate, and the opposition of Europe, made
me an emperor." — Napoleon Bonaparte.

Washington, June, 1829.
It was no part of my intention, when I resolved to pay
a visit to the United States, to wait upon the President.
I had imbibed unfriendly opinions concerning him
from the newspapers and reviews and partisans of the
day, and consequently declined lettc rs of introduction
ivhich were tendered me by my friends, both in New
York and Philadelphia. The more I inquired into
(General Jackson's character, however, the more I ex-
amined into facts, and judging it by these facts, the more
reason had I to distrust my previous judgment ; and
therefore when I was requested by the Secretary of
State not to quit Washington on my return from the
south without waiting upon the President, I assented,
and one morning accompanied Major Van Buren to
the President's house, expecting to meet, nevertheless,
with a haughty, distant, military chieftain, in whose
presence I sliould feel rather uncomfortable. I ^vas
agreeably disappointed and pleased to find in General
Jackson great gentleness and benevolence of manner,
accompanied with that goodnatured atlability of ad-

ANDREW JACKSON.

dress which will enable all persons who wait upon him
to feel at ease in his presence, — as well the backwoods-
man full of " republican simplicity," as the man of the
world, long familiar with the pomp and circimistance
of reoral magnificence. The house is a handsome stone
building near the public offices, with an Ionic portico.
We were ushered into a large and pleasant apartment,
with plain furniture and lofty ceiling, the windows of
which command a view of the beautn'id valley of the
Potomac, where we found the president. On being
introduced to him, he shook me heartily by the hand,
as did his friend and private secretary Major Dunelson,
who was the only person in the room with him when
we arrived. After a conversation of perhaps three-
quarters or half an hour, I took my leave. I had
read in the National Journal a long history of in-
numerable forms and ceremonies to be undergone by
persons paying their respects to the head of the govern-
ment, but found it was all a joke of the opposition.
One attendant only was " in waiting," an agile little
Irish lad, with a light summer jacket on, who appeared
to me the very antipodes of ceremony and parade. I
compared this active and useful servant, in my mind's
eye, with the hosts of lacqueys and })edchamber gentle-
men I had seen surrounding the persons and devouring
the revenues of European princes, and the odds were
greatly in favoiu' of that simple yet efficient system,
which, disdaining the costly foppery and useless trap-
pings of state, prefers placing confidence in the virtue
and intelligence of a free people. The countenance
and person of the President are such as, once seen, will
not soon be forgotten : his tall erect figure and sin-

ANDREW JACKSON.

gularly original physiognomy allow of no rnistakos as
to the individual His looks arc far more' mau1\ com
manding i>iid open than tho portraits inthr print shops
would indicate, and his eye seems ^o bctr.iy u di^j'osi
tion ardent and })assionate, but nevn'r sidlen or petu
lant. His foroheatl is very liich, and tbo lines thereon
deeply indented; liis complexion dark and sun-burnt,
and bis visage that of the war-worn veteran. I v.as
impressed with his contem])lative, '.houghllid counte-
iKDico and strongly marked features; well do t.n \'
c'xresponl with !he eventful lale of his adventurous
life, (lis exterior appearance is remarkably i)lain, —
he w' ius a black dress, without any l)adge indicative of
ins rank and office, yet are his jx'rson and demeanour
well calculated to inspire a stranger ulth a senriment
beyond mere respect. I looked ft»r the ring of Wash-
ington's hair with which he hud been inesented, but it
was not on his finger; it may be also remembered,
l!.it on him were bestowed the telescope and pistols of
the father of American liberty. I had been informed
that he was sickly and unfit to transact business,
which is another of the romances of the partisan presses
in opposition to his administration. He evidently
enjoys an ordinary share of good health, and sometimes
rides sixteen miles of a morning before breakfast, which
is no unfavourable constitutional symptom. Lacking
some twenty or thirty years of the age at which his
venerated predecessors, Jefferson and the (dder Adams,
left the scenes of their country's greatness, he bids fair
to fill the presidential chair for the next eight years
with infinite honour and advantage to himself and his
nation, and will probably retire into private life, the

ANDREW JACKSON.

last of the presidents which America can select from
that noble band of patriots whose virtue and whose
valour proved the salvation of their common country in
its first and most glorious revolution.

ANDREW JACKSON.

" He would refer the House to what had passed as respected America,
and it would see that, after all the quarrels and bloody wars, which were
founded in justice on the one hand, and oppression on the other, it had risen
into independence ; and from the subsequent course pursued, our friend-
ship had been continued with the United States, and every Englishman
who now visited that country was received with the utmost kindness and
hospitality. He trusted, if ever the situation of the Canadians was such as
to induce them to separate from this government — that, before that event
look place, such a course of conciliatory measures would be adopted
as would keep up a lasting friendship between the two countries." —

lirport of Mr, Secretary Stanleifs Speech in the House of Commons,

Matj 2, 1828.

'I'll ERE wore several intelligent foreigners at Washinor-
ton during my residence in that city, and I heard
them speak in the highest terms of the President;
indeed, his deportment in his new residence, and the
maimers of his family, appeared to give much satis-
faction to all who hatl held inlercourse with them.

.After my visit, I wished much to compare him
with Mr. Adams; such comparison as a previous
knowledge of the characters of the parties, joined to a
personal observation of their manners, would have
enabled me to make, but the ex-president had just
then sustained a heavy domestic calamity; and al-
1 hough I had letters to him from two of his most
intimate personal friends, I was afraid that a visit to

ANDREW JACKSON.

Meridian Hill, under the circumstances, would be
deemed unseasonable.

Mr. Walsh of Philadelphia, editor of the American
Quarterly Review and the National Gazette, a gon-
tleman highly distinguished in the annals of American
literature, was at Washington during the time I was
tliere, and, with very good means of observation, he
represents General Jackson as of prepossessing ad-
tlrcss, easy, liberal, and sensible in conversation. It
is his constant practice to visit the public offices, anil
examine into the manner in which the auditors and
clerks perform their duties.

His character and personal appearance have been
mucli canvassed by his enemies. I will quote the de-
scription given of him by Mr. Eaton, his biographer
and most intimate friend : —

*' In the person of General Jackson is perceived
nothing of the robust or elegant. He is six feet and
an inch high, remarkably straight and spare, and
wejohs not more than a hundred and forty-five pounds.
His conformation appears to disqualify him for hard-
ship ; yet, accustomed to it from early Vii'e, few are ca-
pable of enduring fatigue to the same extent, or with
less injuri/. His dark blue eyes, with brows arched
and slightly projecting, possess a marked expressior., but
wlien from any cause excited, they sparkle with peculiar
lustre and penetration. In his manners he is pleas-
ing, in his address commanding; while his coinitenance,
marked with firmness and decision, beams with a
strength and intclligfence that strikes at first sight.
In his deportment there is nothing repulsive. Easy,

ANDREW JACKSON.

affable^ and familiar, he is open and accessible to all.
Influenced by the belief that merit should constitute
the only difference in men, his attention is equally
bestowed on honest poverty as on titled consequence.
No man, however inconsiderable his standing, ever
approached him on business that he did not patiently
listen to his story, and aftbrd him all the information
in his power. His moral character is without reproach,
and by those who know him most intimately he is
most esteemed. Benevolence in him is a prominent
virtue. He was never known to pass distress without
seekinor to assist and to relieve it."

Among other instances of good luck. General Jack-
son had the fortune to please the fastidious taste ol
Mrs. Trollope, the American oracle of the London
Quarterly, who appears to have caught a glimpse of
him when at Cincinnati. She tells us that " he wore
liis grey hair carelessly, but not ungracefully arranged,
and, spite of his harsh gaunt features, he looked like a
gentleman and a soldier."

Bishop Watson justly remarks, that " all families
being of equal antiquity, and time and chance so hap-
pening to all that kings may become beggars, and
beggars become kings, no solid reason (he thinks)
can be given why any man should derive honour or
infamy from the station which his ancestors filled in
civil society." It is indeed a remarkable feature in
the picture of human credulity, which the page of his-
tory everywhere presents to the philosophical reader,
that so many persons should have really credited the
foolish stories which interested men have propagated
for interested purposes, about the wonderful efficacy

1 1

ANDREW JACKSON.

of noble blood, ancient lineage, titular honours, and so
forth, as if it were not well known that " there are few
families but whtit are at one end related to the greatest
princes, and at the other to the meanest peasants. '""

General Jackson claims no gentle blood, conveyed
to him, with their splendid mansions and wide domains,
from " a long line of ancestors." His youth was spent
in adversity ; and I know not whether he can trace his
connexion and kindred with any other family, either in
Ireland or America, his nearest and dearest relations
having fallen a sacrifice to the revolution*; yet did

* It is the true and abiding interest of the people of Great Britain
and llie United States, that they remain at peace with each oth^r,
and nnite together in the bond of friendship and good will. I firmly
believe that the President of the United States is anxiously desirous
that these three kingdoms may flourish, and that their inhabitants may
enjoy the inestimable blessing of good government.* But it is evident, from
the following extracts from Major baton's book, tiiat his feelings towards
the aristocracy of this country, the authors of the war of the revolution,
were not of the most kindly nature. I hope that the present liberal go-
vernment will do justice to the North American Colonies, and cultivate
itie friendship and good will of the great English republic, so that such
>rcnes as are here described may never again be heard of in America: —

''Andrew Jackson was born on the lath day of March, 1767. His
fatlier, (Andrew,) the yount^est son of his family, emigrated to America
from Ireland during the year 1765, bringing with him two sons, Hugh
and Robert, both very young. Landing at Charlestown, in South Caro-
lina, he shortly afleiwards purchased a tract of land, in what was then
called the VVaxsaw settlement, about forty-five miles above Camden, at
which place tlie subject ofiiiis history was born. Shortly after his birth
his father died, leaving three sons to be provided for by their mother.
She appears to have been an exemplary woman, and to have executed
the arduous duties which had devolved on her with great faithfulness and
with much success. To ihe lessons which she inculcated on the youthful
minds of her sons was, no doubt, owing, in a great measure, that fixed
opposition to British tyranny and oppression, which afterward so much
distinguished tlicm. Often would she spend the winter's evenings in re-
counting to them the suflerings of their grandfather at the siege of Car-

camp,

ANDRKW JACKSON.

Mrs. TroUope, the prop and pillar of established
churches, " thrones, and altars," see in him the style

rickfergus, and the oppressions exercised by the nobility of Ireland over
tlie labouring poor, impressing it upon them, as a first duty, to expend
their lives, if it should become necessary, in defending and bupporting the
natural rights of man.

" Inheriting but a small patrimony from their father, it was impossible
that all the suns could receive an expensive education. The two oldest
were, therefore, only taught the rudiments of their mother tongue, at a
common country school; but Andrew, being intended by his mother for
the ministry, was sent to a flourishing academy at the Waxsaw Meeting
House, superintended by Mr. Humphries, Here he was placed on the
itudy of the dead languages, and continued, until the revolutionary war,
extending its ravages into that section of South Carolina where he then
was, rendered it necessary that every one should betake himself to the
American standard, seek protection with the enemy, or flee his country.
It was not an alternative that admitted of tedious deliberation. The
natural ardour of his temper, deriving encouragement from the recom-
mendations of his mother, whose feelings were not less alive on the occa-
sion than his own, and excited by those sentiments in favour of liberty
witli which, by her conversation, his mind had been early endued, quickly
determined him in tlic course to be pursued ; and, at the tender ago of
fourteen, accompanied by his brother Robert, he hastened to the American
camp, and en;i;aged actively in the service of his country. His oldest
brother, who had previously joined the army, had lost his life at the battle
of Stono, from the excessive heat of the weather and the fatigues of the
day." — Reid's Memoir.

His capture by (he British forces is thus described by his biogra-
phers : —

" Being pi. ced under guard, Andrew was ordered in a very imperious
tone, by a British officer, to clean his boots, which had become mr.ldied
in crossing the creek. This order he positively and peremptorily refused
to obey, alleging that he looked for such treatment as a prisoner of war had
a right to expect. Incensed at his refusal, the oGBcer aimed a blow at
his head with a drawn sword, which would, very probably, have termi-
nated his existence, had he not parried its effects by throwing up his left
hand, on which he received a severe wound, the mark of which he bears
to this hour. His younger brother, at the same time, for a similar oflence,
received a deep cut on the head, which subsequently occasioned his
death. They were both now taken to gaol, where, separated and confined,
they were treated with marked severity, until a few days after the battle

ANDREW JACKSON.

and lu«aiiii<: of a jralUint }jontl(Miian — and slip saw

P> n ^

right.

heUne Canulcn, wlieii, in coMse<|iienre of a |t.irtiiil exchange, rffi-ctod by
ihc intoicessiiins ami exertions of llioir mother, and Cnptain Walker of
the militia, thoy were holh releiised iVoni ooiifinenient. ('nptaiti Walker
had, in a charge on the rear of the Hrilish aniiy, xuccreded in niiiking
thirteen pri-oncrs, whom he pave in ex(hanf;o for seven Americans, of
which numher were these two young men. Hoheit, (liirinp his contine-
nient in prison, had siilVercd (greatly; the wound on his head, all this
time, having never hecn dressed, was followed hy an iiiflanmiation of tlir
brain, which, in a few days after liiH hheralion, brought him to the grnvo.
To add to the afBictions of Andrew, his mother, worn down by grief and
her incessant exertions to provide clothing and other comforts for the
sufl'cring prisoners who had been taken from their nci>,d)bourhood, ex-
pired in a few weeks after her son, near the lines of Ihc enemy, in the
vicinity of Charleston. Amlrew, the hist and onh ^urviving child, con-
fined to a bed of sickness, occasioneil hy the sulTerings he had been com-
pelled to undergo whilst a prisoner, and by getting wet on his return
from captivity, was tinis left in the wide world without n human being
with whom he could claim a nor relationship. The small-pox, about
the same time, having m:ulc its appearance u|)on him, had well nigh ter.
niinated his sorrows and his existence." — IteiU's Memoir,

At the early age of twenty-one he stood a soli'ary individual in life: his
nearest and dearest relations were in their graves ; not one of his kindred
had been spared to remind him of '' those endearing recollections and
circumstances which warp the mind to the place of its nativity." He
therefore determined to go to Tennessee with Judge M'Nairy ; and in
that territory he commenced the practice of the law, and was soon after
appointed Attorney-General of the western district. His biographer in-
forms us, that at this early period of his life he distinguished himself in
checking the depredations committed by the Indians upon the settlers.

In 1796 he was chosen one of the members of the convention for esta-
blishing a constitution for the state of Tennessee, and was the first meni>
ber elected to Congress by that commonwealth. Next year, when only
thirty years of age, he was chosen a senator of the United States. About
this time he was chosen to succeed General Conway as Major-Qeneral of
the military division of Tennessee, by the field-officers, and continued to
liold that appointment until, in 1814, he was constituted a Major-Oeneral
uf the United States service.

" Great Britain," adds Major Eaton, " by multiplied outrages on our
rights, a3 an independent and neutral nation, had provoked from our go-

ANDRICW J\( KSON.

.).)

m our
ur go-

Hut sho is wronjT in spoikiii^ d(Ti<lingly of liis gill
of fifty dollars to iht; poor at Washington on a, ccrlaiii
occasion. She should hav«^ roniprnbpre<l th.it there are
eouiparatively few who can ho called poor — that tin*
|)eo|)li' keep their money in their own pockets, instead
of huildintr up and endowing dukedoms and earldoms;
and that, during the years 1828 and 1829, in which
she resided at ('incinnati, she never once cast her eyes
upon a beggar, nor upon an idler of rank, family, and
fortune.

She tells us, in plain terms, that the low rate of taxa-
tion in the United States unquestionably permits the
people of America to get into comfortable circum-
stances and ac(Hmiulate wealth much faster than in
England, and concludes by praising l^jtiglish splendour
for the few and Knglish poverty for the many. How
inconsistent this ! Is not 50 dollars a more magnificent
and princely gift from the purse of Andrew Jackson,
with an income of 25,000 dollars a year, than would
be 5000 dollars from the purse of William the Fourth ?

The speeches of our most gracious sovereign, deli-
vered from the throne, generally recommend the adop-
tion of a rigid economy : this appears to be a matter of

vernmerit a declaration of nar against her. This measure, though founded
ill abundant cause, had been long forborne, and every attempt at con-
ciliation made, without effect: when, at length, it was resorted to as the
only alternative that could preserve the honour and dignity of the nation.
General Jackson, ever devoted to the interest of his country, from tlie
moment of the declaration, knew no wish so strong as that of entering
into her service against a power which, independent of public considera-
tions, he had many private reasons for disliking. In her he could trace
sufferings and injuries received, and the efficient cause why, in early life,
he had been left forlorn and wretched, without a single relation in the
world."

ANDREW JACKSON.

form. In the United States, however, they practise
what they profess.

" I do not doubt/' observes the President of America,
in his message of the 4th of December, 1830, " that
those who come after us will be as much alive as we
are to the obligation upon the trustees of political
power, to exempt those for whom they act from all un-
necessary burdens : and as sensible of the great truth,
that the resources of the nation, beyond those required
for the immediate and necessary piu'poses of govern-
ment, can nowhere be so well deposited as in the
pockets of the people.''^

PUBLIC OPINION— AMERICAN MILITIA-
PRESIDKNT.

-THE

" It is from public schools, be assured, that skilful magistrates, disci-
plined and courageous soldiers, good fathers, good husbands, good
brothers, good friends, and honest men coiue forth. Wherever we see
the youth depraved, the nation is en the decline. Let Liberty have au
immoveable foundation in the wisdom of jour constitutions; and let it be
the cement which unites your states, which cannot be destroyed. Esta-
blish no legal preference in your different modes of worsiiip. Super-
stition is everywhere innocent, where it is neither protected nor perse-
cuted." — Raynal.

Some ten or fifteen years ago the legislature of the
Union was employed for weeks in censuring General
Jackson's military conduct, and very severe its cen-
sures were. Now, we find full two-thirds of the Re-
public cheerfully placing in his hands the helm of
state. This is the way of the world, however. The

i?» ' ' !• I li

PUBLIC OPINION.

persevering often triumph. " Scest thou a man dili-
gent in his business," saith Solomon, " he shall stand
before kings, he shall not stand before mean men."
This famous passage was early impressed on Franklin's
mind by his humble parf»nt, and he never forgot it.
He stood before five crowned heads in the course of
his political life, upright in the independence of honest
principle, and unabashed in the pride of native endow-
ment. Jackson, like Franklin, is an extraordinary in-
stance of self-advancement; and his transition from
obscurity to greatness will cause him to be classed with
such men as Basil, Ilienzi, Alexander V., Ximenes,
Hadrian VI., Wolsey, Adrian IV., Cromwell (Thomas),
Sixtus v., Masaniello, Alberoni, Napoleon, Berna-
dotte, &c. His biographers, as I have already stated,
are the late INIajor l^eid, and Major Eaton, late Secre-
tary at War. The latter is the President's most in-
timate friend, has the highest admiration for his
character, and acknowledorcs " a confidential intercourse
of more than fifteen years."

It must be highly gratifying to the President to
receive from many British travellers the involuntary
tribute of their approbation. " I took occasion," says
Mr. Stuart, in his excellent work, " to express to him
the great gratification it aftbrded me to have an oppor-
tunity of witnessing, in the course of my travels through
the United States, the happiness of the people, cer-
tainly the best educated, fed, and clothed in the
world."

In a dobate in the House of Commons, in the winter
of 1829-30, some of the members on the side of oppo-

D 5

I i\

AMERICAN MILITIA.

sition are stated to have said, that the force kept up
in the Canadas was much too large ; and that if the
colonial government was well administered, these
colonies could depend on the militia for ample pro-
tection. They called on ministers to look to the
United States, where the whole standing army did not
exceed 6000 men, scattered over an extent of country
equal in size to nearly the whole of Europe; and
where reliance was placed, in cases of necessity, on a
well-organized and disciplined militia. In answer, the
Secretary at Jl'ur remarked, that very little reliance
could be placed on colonial militia, and that the force
asked for Canada was the same as voted in 1794, not-
withstanding the importance of tlie country had been
greatly increased. My authority for this conversation
is the public journals.

Under the United States government, the Pi-esident
has not the same distrustful opinion of the yeomanry
of the Union, but, in his inaugural address, admits
that the military sliould be held subordinate to the
civil power ; that str.iuinig armies are dangerous to
free governments in time of peace ; that increasing the
navy, preserving forts, ai'senals and dock-yards, and
introducing progressive im^jrovements in the discipline
of both branches of the military service, are m-oasures
prescribed by prudence. On the national militia is
his great dependence placed. "As long," says he,
" as oiu' government is administered for the good of
the people, and ifs regulated by their will ; as long as
it secures to us the rights of person and of property,
liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be ivorth

PRESIDENT JACKSON.

defending ; and so long as it is worth defending, a
patriotic militia will covor it with an impenetrable

aegis.

There is one exceedingly amiable and engaging
feature in the character of General Jackson. He is,
not in words only, but in deed and in truth, the friend
of the humbler classes against the united rapacity of
their more exalted brethren, who, in America as else-
where, would willingly concentrate the wealth and
power of the republic in a few hands, that it might
minister the more securely to the wants of a luxurious
and immoral aristocracy.* No other President of the
United States was ever able to act with that decision
and firmness for the public good, which has thus far
distinguished the career of President Jackson. He is
in favour of universal education, and has publicly re-
commended the appropriation of the public lands to
that purpose. He is opposed to imprisonment for
debt, and has strongly and earnestly recommended to
Congress the freeing of the United States debtors. He
is in favour of no legislation in religion beiii'? i nwilling
that what constitutes oiu* duty to our God should be
made a stalking horse by modern Pharisees on which
to ride into political power. And his veto message on
the Bank question stands forth a splendid and im-
perishable monument of his hatred to oppression under
the form of" licensed monopolies."

* The President aad heads of ilepartments, and the governors of the
several states, are of easy access to the humblest citizen who may have a
complaint to make. In England a petitioner, after travelling 4000 miles
from a colony to seek justice, will require to be more patient. Out
ministers are williii!^, but they have too much to do.

DUTIKS OF CONGRESS.

DUTIES OF CONGRESS—DISINTERESTED STATESMEN
—DEATH OF MONROE.

'* People of America ! let the example of all the nations which liave
preceded you, arid especially that of the mother country, instruct you !
Be afraid of the influence of gold, which brings with luxury the corruption
of manners, and contempt of laws! Be afraid of too unequal a distribu-
tion of riches, which shows a small number of citizens in wealth, and a
great number in misery, — whence arises the insolence of the one and the
disgrace of the other," — Ilaynat,

" From those mansions and castles of the aristocracy of France, as
proud and as powerful a body of nobles as ever existed were driven forth
to exile and to beggary {hear, and cheers), — to implore the charity of
hostile religions and cf hostile nations. And why did such destruction
fall upon thorn P why were they swept away with such utter destruction .''
why was their heritage given to strangers, and their palaces dismantled,
but because they had no sympathy with the people? (c/ieers.)" — Mr.
Macau/ay's Speech on Reform,

Congress, when they meet, inquire into every alleged
grievance; the humblest citizen is as sure of obtaining
a hearing, and consequently of having his wrongs re-
dressed, as the richest man in the Union. And the
consequences of inquiries of committees of Congress
do not end when tlieir reports are made. The public
officer that would dare to continue an abuse that had
been pointed out woidd very speedily get a " highland
hoist," not soon again to enjoy liis daily slice of the
loaf of the Republic.

The governors of Virginia are always men of first-
rate talents and high character; men well acquainted
with the interests of their country and the rights of
their state. Virginia has nearly a million of inhabi-
tants, and pays her governors an annual salary of
3000 dollars, which is enough. Tlie Scottish tjarish

DISINTERESTED STATESMEN.

minister fulfils his duties and maintains his personal
respectability of character to the full as well upon 250/.
a-year, as the Episcopalian dignitary, who riots un the
luxuries to be obtained with 150,000 dollars in the
same time.

In the best days of Greece and Rome it was an
honourable mark of a public man to say of him, that ,
after faithfully !>erving his country, he died poor. In
the republics of North America, poverty in such a case
' ., to this day, held to be very creditable. But in
England and her colonies the whole lifetime of public
men appears to be employed in drawing from the in-
dustry of the working classes, by all possible means,
the greatest possible amount of money and wealth. Of
the American presidents, Washington and the two
Messrs. Adams were of English descent, Jefferson of
Welsh descent, Jackson's fatlier and mother were from
Ireland, and Monroe and Madison's ancestors natives
of Scotlajid. It is said that John Adams was eight
years oldc than Jefferson— he eight years older than
Madison — Madison eight years older than Monroe —
and Monroe eight years older than .lohii Qiiincy
Adams.

The deaths of so many presidents as three out of
seven, on the 4th of July, the anniversary of their
national independence, of that remarkable era in the
history of the human race in which they had severally
taken an active part, abandoning the prospects of per-
sonal wealth and luxiuy under the colonial system, for
the doubtful prospect of liberty to the people, is indeed
a mar\'ellous and extraordinary circumstance. Monroe
lived to see the fifty-fifth year of his country's indepen-

DEATH OF MONROE.

(lence, and " while the roar of camion, the ringing ol
bells, and the shouts ol' joy proclaimed the reliirn ol"
that day sacred to liberty, this honoured patriot and
gallant soldier tranquilly breathed his Inst."

" As President he was a safe and valuable chief-
magistrate — as a man he was pure, upright, and sin-
cere — firm in his views, just in his intentions, attached
to his friends, and liberal to his o})ponents. Congress
by its late act, did justice to his claims. He exercised
office for the benefit of the people, and not for his own
aggrandizement ; for after fifty years of sxiccessful pid)lic
services he died poor, without following the example of
William Pitt, and enriching his relations at the expense
of his country."

STANDING ARMIES.

*■' We cling to peace. Wc are not afraid of Holy Alliances. Peace
is the parent of industry and wealtii ; and wealth is the parent of know-
ledge and liberty. Let peace only he continued, and the harvest of ini-
provement must lie leaped in ^piie ol all the ellbrts of all the goviru-
nienls of I'u'opc." — ..Inr^iintf t'lin •><■!,•, Nnv.'lOlh, ly32.

Large standing anviies ;ii-c of little use wliere the
lauded property of a nalio-.i is pretty e([iijilly divided.
The yeouiaiiiy will light manriilly in ilefence (tf their
eomitry wherever they have a slake in the soil. Ijnt
where tb pe<^ le are merely labourers, tenants at
will, and sv rvants to a lev. excessively rich persons, or
where they an^ triple-taxed inhabitants of crowded
cities luu-epresented in tiie councils of their countrv,
standing armies are necessary to protect the few from
the indignation of the many. The tax-gatherer and

STANDING ARMIES.

6:3

lithe-collector pile up their gold with the drawn
bayonet of the hireling close at their backs. Know-
ledge is power, and will surely break down this
system !

Dr. Moore, in Zeluco, very justly remarks that the
pay of the private soldier is small, and our govern-
ment has been in no haste to remedy the evil. A
private in a British foot regiment is allowed sirpence
a day and plain food ; an ensign has eleven times as
nuicli, besides his allowances ; a lieutenant fifteen
times as much ; and a captain has the pay of twenty-
one brave fellows, each of whom will probably take as
manly a part in the heat of a battle as any of their
offi( ors. In a monarchy we find no faidt that the men
do not select their leaders, but we think that the
system of buyinof and sollincj commissions is most
unjust towards soldiers of merit. One commissioned
or non-coinmissioiiod officer may be brave as a lion
and deserviufj of promotion, b\it at the same time he
is poor and unable to deposit a large sum of money ;
the son of some idle sinecin-ist or servile functionary
may have no one qualification but the cash, yet that
a.lon(^ will rais<> him up step by step above all his
fellows. To the private soldier the hope of laving up
a fund for the decline of lilo is denied ; and unless the
service is very long indeed, the retiring allowance will
be merely nominal. Not so the officer, llalf-pay or
a steady pi')ision is given him; nor do we object to it,
although three gem rals to every regiment are rather
too many in peace. As to the principle of rising by
nuM'it to the higlu^sl ranks in the army, how rare it is
that any common soldier realizes even a commission !

'! '

STANDING ARMIES.

No ! Interest, birth, gold, sycophancy, and the Mrs.
Clarkes of the age, all these stand between him and
even hope itself. These are evils, and they ought to
be remedied, and remedied they speedily will be by
a reformed Parliament. In tlie service of our repub-
lican neighbours, the descendants of Britons, the
soldier is found in food and clothing, and has his eight
dollars a month besides, (fourteen pence sterling a
day.) His term of service is five years — none are en-
listed for a longer period ; and at its expiration he is
presented with a free deed of 100 acres of land on
which he and his family may spend their days in
comfort. The British soldier too, in America, can
obtain land.* But is it after five years' service? Is
he not reither bound to expend the tlower of his youth
and the prime of his life in an occupation which at
the approach of age leaves him a labourer or mechanic
without capital, while of promotion he can have small
hope ? The moment a citizen of Cireat Britain enlists,
his civil rights are in many res])ects suspended ; and
he dare not even express his political sentiments if at
\arianct with his officer's, whose ])ovver over his com-
forts is most absolute. I have often asked myself
wherein his actual situation dift'ored from that of
the soldier of despotism in Russia, Prussia, and

* Since I wrote these oliservations, liis Majesty's Government liave
deprived the private soldier of the right tie formerly had to a lot of land
in the North American Colonies after long service. Rut to commis-
sioned officers, the privilege of free grants is continued. This ap[)ears to
me to be unjust in principle. Mr. Stuart, in liis •' Three Years in Ame-
rica," quoles approvingly the fact slated hv I'rince Paul of Wirtemberg,
that " no soldiers m the world are .is well fed, as well clotlied, and as wcli
paid, as those of the United States."

STANDING ARMIES.

Austria. The American soldier preserves his ci\il
rights unimpaired during his term of service ; he may
vote at elections^ and freely express his political sen-
timents of any public man. If by this means he is
rendered less d<icile, he is taught to defend liberty as
a, freeman entitled to its usages and to equal rights
with his fellow-men. The private soldier of England
is a mere machine ; who, for a few pence a day and
his rations, must either shoot his fellow-creatures
when ordered to do so, or bo shot himself as a dis-
obedient coward.* The soldier is to be pitied, not
blamed or envied — he dare express no opinion — tlie
concerns of his country he is forbidden to think of —
he has no hope of rising in the world — and his winter
of life presents a prospect dark, gloomy, and cheerless.
The Virginia slave is forbidden to learn, and his in-
structor is punished — the British soldier, when he
becomes in name the guardian of his country's rights,
forfeits, during his brightest years, most of those civil
rights which ennoble humanity. Wherefore is this ?

* The election at Montreal, during which the regular troops were
called out to fire upon the cdecto.'s and inhabitants, took place while I
was crossing the Atlantic. I have carefully perused about two hundred
folio pages of the evidence taken before tiie House of Assembly of Lower
Canada, relative to the killing and wounding of the citizens, and the im-
pression it has left on my mind is, that the system of misgovernment
from which the colonists have vainly striven to free themselves, was the
great first cause of these disturbances. The remedy is a change of that
system.

I AFAYKTTE ON THK NIAGARA FRONTIER.

LAFAYETTE ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER.

" Perhaps if we were wise — but what nation, as a nation, ever is
wise, or ever was separated from foreign possessions but by a violent dis-
ruption ? — we should already be thinking of the inevitablr ur, no
matter how distant, that is to divide our vast Eastern territor' . ;i us ;
and, as it is inevitable, try to make it matter of choice as i. jh as of
necessity ; be anxious to teach our subjects what can assist them here-
after to govern themselves, and try to cultivate in them, by justice and
kindness, those friendly feelings whicli we should wish them to indulge
after a separation j so that, though no longer subjects of one state, we
might leave them somewhat qualified to be independent ; and, at all
events, prepared to continue every amicable relation of commerce, letters,
and mutual aid with their former masters." — The Edinburgh Review,
No. CXI. Oct. 1832. ^rt. 4. Co/one/ Tod on the History and Cha.
racier of the Rajpoots.

" Le plus grand malheur pour I'homme politique c'est d'obeir i unc
puissance etrangere. Aucune humiliation, aucun tourment de cueur, ne
peul ttre compare a celui-lil. La nation sujette, a moins qu'elle ne soit
prot^qce par que/que lot extraordinaire, ne croit pas obeir au souverain ;
or 'luU^ nation ne veut obeir h. une autre par la raison toute simple
4ju"o' c«^i7Ja<io« ne sail commander a une autre." — Lc Comte de Maistre.

The history of General Lafayette's visit to the United
Stales in 1824 is before the public ; but the enthusiasm
with which that illusi rious friend of America and sur-
vivor of her Washington was received by all classes
must have been seen in order to be fully comprehended
by strangers. I was invited to come over to Lewiston
by Colonel King, Mr. Cook, and other gentlemen
resident on the opposite frontier, on the day in which
the General was to make his entry from the Falls into
that town, and I gladly accepted the invitation. The
whole country, for many miles round, had assembletl
to welcome the chivalrous hero who had left the vo-
luptuous court of France, and the wealth and titular
splendour of his native land and ancient lineage, to

LAFAYETTE ON THE NIAGARA FUONTIER.

taken up with
' '1 Lafayette
Allergies to
IllnglJshmen

>S'

draw the sword of freedom on behalf of foreigners in a
foreign dime, struggUng against tlie despotism exei-
cised by those of liis own order, in the name of English-
men, but without their consent. In the hey-day of
youth, in the glow of boyhood, at the -> ' 'iod of life when
the sons of noble families are too
frivolous and idle pleasures, lii
devote his life, his fortime, and li u
rescue Englishmen and the descent
from that " gilded slavery," as Lord Chatham called
it, with which a proud and selfish race then governing
in England in the name of the nation, would have
enchained the vouthful Hercules of America. La-
fayette gloried in the prospect before him, of extending
happiness to the hut of the poorest settler; with him
" virtue was its own reward ;" he cheerfully entered a
service where there was great danger to be encoiuitered,
no pay, considerable ])ecuniary loss, and a doubtful
cause to be contended for.

But to retiu'n to the scene at Lewiston. The proud-
<?st of nionaichs misrht have envied the homage that
day paid to General Lafayette, by a people who felt
themselves in the presence of one of their first, greatest,
and most disinterested benefactors ; it was indeed the
homage of the heart. Half a century had elapsed
since their aged visiter had combated in their defence,
by the side of the fathers of their race ; and I saw
grey-headed men, surroimded by several generations
of their offspring, shed tears of joy when the General
reminded them of the deeds of other years, when the
western world was struggling with the Butes, and
Norths, and Burgoynes, and Sackvilles : the mo-

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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80

(716)S72-4S03

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LAFAYETTE ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER.

nopolists, directors, contractors, state priests, fools, and
tyrants of a former age, for a name among the nations
of the earth.

I was introduced by Colonel King ; and as I had
addressed a pamphlet to the General some months
before he left France, he immediately recollected me,
spoke with the utmost kindness, and earnestly urged
me to prove myself the disinterested friend and advo-
cate of liberty on the other (Canada) shores. He in-
quired as to the progress of liberal principles in the
Canadas, and I assured him that the feeling of the
people was strong and nearly universal in support of
free institutions ; and that whatever course the govern-
ment might pursue, Canada would not be awed into
slavery.

Although I consider this interview with the most
persevering and consistent friend of freedom now alive,
one of the most fortunate events of my life, it has since
brought upon me many injurious imputations. A
placeman in the provincial assembly quoted it as u
pre ^f that I was a rebel ; and to this day the official
presses in British America cast it in my teeth as a
crime of no mean magnitude. Yet have the Lord
Advocate of Scotland and other members of this
government, as well as the presses which support them,
given very strong proofs of the esteem and approbation
with which they look upon Lafayette, " the hero of
two revolutions " in France and one in America ; and
when at Paris, during the short peace of Amiens, the
champion of ihe Whigs, Charles James Fox, visited
him in terms of personal as well as political friendship.

AMRRICAN GOVERNORS.

AMERICAN GOVERNORS.

" Our sentiment has always been, that the worst possible governors of
British'coionies were military men ; yet such are, in most cases,^elected
for our colonial governments. Men educated to issue orders, not to pro.
pose subjects of inquiry or discussion, — men used to coerce those who
are punished for daring to think, instead of to conciliate free and reason,
able beings, — these are the persons from among whom the conductors of
our colonial system, in every quarter of the habitable world, are appointed
by the ministers of Great Britain to perplex, distract, and to dissolve an
empire which ought to rest upon opinion."— TAe Times.

On the 15th of July, 1826, we stopped at the pleasant
little village of Waterloo, opposite Black Rock, near
Fort Erie. We had been taking a ride along the north
banks of Lake Erie, which are not so high and abrupt as
farther up. The scenery is very pleasant. Buffalo
and the hills and inlets of the other shores aid the
view and relieve the eye. It is worthy of observation
how different the mannei's of the Americans are from
ours. Take an instance. Governor William Finlay
took supper at the inn where we lodged : instead of
ordering a room to himself and Mr. Wright his travel-
ling companion, supper alone, and so forth, ho sat
down with the Major and myself (of whom he then
knew nothing) to that meal, — talked without pride or
affectation, asked us questions about the country, and
made his remarks freely and with good humour.
Speaking of the sudden and remarkable deaths of John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson, he said, that when they
signed the Declaration of Independence, they did so at
the risk of their necks ; he also said, of the farms on
the frontier, that the lands were of a fine quality, but

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AMERICAN GOVERNORS.

pi <

not in the best state of cultivation ; and on being told
of the low price of lands, he seemed surprised.

Governor Finlay is a tall, stout, portly man, ap-
I)ears to be over fifty years of age, and his manners are
easy and unaffected ; he was governor of the rich old
state of Pennsylvania before Shultz, the present incum-
bent. He had been to see the Falls, and returned next
morning to Buffalo. One of the journeymen printers
belonging to my establishment at York was with us,
and sat at table with his Excellency, but not the least
uneasiness was manifested by the good old republican.
Had it been some paltry subaltern, some clerk of
office, some district judge or attorney at law of U. C,
he would have been in fidgets at the neglect of eti-
quette. I remember some years ago Sir William
Campbell and I met at Hopkins's hotel in Nelson.
He was going to the Niagara assizes, and stopped to
breakfast ; I conversed a short time with him in the
I'oom, and the weather was cold. A countryman, very
<'«cently dressed, came into the room and sat down by
fire. The judge looked very helplessly at me, and
iemarked with some petulance upon the want of re-
gularity and good order. To humour him I went out
and hinted to Mr. Hopkins that the judge was in dis-
tress, and the old gentleman was gratified by having
leave to eat his breakfast at a table bv himself. The
bill at the inn (Lewis's) at Waterloo, in Halifax cur-
rency, was at follows : — six suppers and breakfasts,
(each 3s.) 18s.; horse, 4s. ; three beds, 3s. ; punch, Is.
Governor Clinton had been over to the Falls the day
before; the landlord had not seen him for fourteen

.>i>

AMERICAN GOVERNORS.

years, and he remarked to me that he (Mr. Clinton)
looked much older. No wonder he looked much older;
the duties attached to the offices he filled were enough
to undermine any constitution. But, after all, it is
much better for a man to wear out than to rust out.
Governor Clinton was dressed in the plainest manner
possible ; so was the ex-dignitary of Pennsylvania.

Speaking of governors, I may as well introduce in
this place the state of Illinois. There the government
is no burden to the people, nor is it a government
opposed to their wishes and interests. It is exceedingly
cheap, the whole of the civil list establishment not
amounting to the one-thirtieth part of the cost of the
[^pper Canada system. The governor of Illinois is
chosen by the people, and a good governor he is. His
name is Gilmer, and he keeps a capital tavern at the
seat of his government, and boards the members of
Assembly like so many princes at two dollars a-week,
presiding, of course, with due decorum at the head of
his own table ! His inn pays well, and the good folks
of Illinois give him 500/. a-year for governing them.
Mr. Gilmer is getting rich, and he is no burden to the
country. If among the changes and turns of capricious
fortune, and they are many, our Sir John had to turn
tavern-keeper, he might soon become a formidable
I'ival to the seer of Illinois. After all, the simplicity of
the Illinois system and the 500/, a-year to Gilmer has
perhaps less intrigue, less deception in it, being con-
tinually and effectually checked by the active operation
of p\iblic opinion, than the 5000/. a-year for ever to Sir
John and his scribes out of the Upper Canada taxes.
Gilmer in his respectable tavera, and Sir John in his

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AMERICAN GOVERNORS.

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palace, with the Lord Bishop next door, afford a droll
contrast as to the various ways and means of getting a
living by the art and mystery of governing the folks of
North America. It must be allowed that the Illinois
U»giHlator« have simphfied the craft in a marvellous
degree. Mr. Stuart tells us that the people of that
state " have adhered tenaciously to democratic prin-
ciples, retaining in their hands every power which can
conveniently be withheld from the rulers ;" and that
•' the whole annual disbursements for salaries to the
executive do not exceed 10,000 dollars."

GOING DOWN HILL IN AMERICA— A RESTING PLACE.

" To imprison a man's body, from which nothing can be extracted, is
only to foutcr the too natural principle of man — to persecute his fellow.
Misfortune (Ineii not deserve or require such punishment. If a man refuse*
to pay, let the law take hold of what he has— if he fails altogether, whether
from folly or misfortune, let the same rule be observed — if he has, in the
couric of his business, committed or attempted fraud, let him be dealt
with a» II felon. This is reason and justice." — The Courier.

" He can mcc one feature of ev^iry landscape here, one charm of Ame-
rican scenery, which more than repays for the absence of those monu-
ment« of the power and the grandeur, and the \vealth and the taste, of the
rich and the mighty of other lands — and which no other land affords.
The sloping Aides and summits of uur hills, and the extensive plains that
stretch before our view, are studded with the substantial and neat and
commodious dwellings of freemen — independent freemen, owners of the
soil, — men who can proudly walk over their land, and exultingly say —
It in mine," — Hiihop Hobarl.

TiiK facility with which boys, striplings without a
shilling, lads who have more need of a schoolmaster's
l)irch than a ledger, are enabled to " begin business "
and obtain extensive credits, is injurious to themselves.

GOING DOWN HILL IN AMERICA.

in most cases through Ufe, and often ruinous to the
credulous speculators who set them a-going. 1
counted nearly 300 names of persons advertised iu
the Philadelphia United Slates' Gazette of the 20th
October, 1829, as " applicants for the benefit of the
insolvent laws, to appear at the County Court House,
or. Tuesday, October 20th, 1S29, at 10 o'clock, a.m."
If the county of Philadelphia presents, according to
its population, a fair specimen oi' the present condition
of the State of Pennsylvania, there must be from 150U
to 2000 bankruptcies per annum. Some of the " ap-
plicants" are recorded as labourers, clerks, collectors,
bricklayers, watermen ! comb-makers, weavers, milk-
men ! carters, whip-makers, bandbox-makers, waiters !
manufactvirers of wine bitters ! riggers, ostlers ! sus-
pender makers ! oystermen ! teachers ! engineers,
frame-makers, shingle-dressers, draymen, potters^
gentlemen, pedlars, iron-founders, comedians, portrait-
painters, paper-makers, stocking-weavers, gold-beaters,
auctioneers, hog-butchers, lottery-brokers, porters !
carriers, distillers, grate-makers, only two farmers, &c.
&c. I have preserved this remarkable list, and am
not a little curious to learn what sort of insolvent laws
they have in Penn's country. I should judge, from
the quality of some of the " applicants," that the
system is cheap, expeditious, and withal very attrac-
tive !

In the Official Gazette of the State of New York
(the Albany Argus) of date the 22nd October, in the
same year, I coimted 168 insolvent or bankrupt
notices. I presume that law is about as cheap and
expeditious in the one state as in the other j that aftei'

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it has taken all a man has, it will permit him to begin
the world again, and earn more outside the walls of a
prison.

I have read somewhere, that in England, of sixteen
millions sterling lately wiped off by the Court for the
Relief of Insolvent Debtors, the dividends from the
debtors' estates averaged a farthing in the pound !

The celebrated Major Noah, whose experience of
** life in New York " no man will gainsay, and whose
views of " life in the country " are entitled to great
respect, gave in 1829, in his •* Enquirer," the follow-
ing account of the safety valve, whereby the American
commercial world is relieved from the pressure of
unfortunate tradesmen, mechanics, and merchants.
In England, by prudent management, the North
American Colonies might be made to afford a happy
home to hundreds of thousands of British subjects who
are burthensome to their neighbours here, and doing
no good for themselves and families.

" There is another evil witli which our commercial cities are afflicted.
The crowd that presses forward into commerce is too great. If a farmer's
eldest son happens to say a bright thing, his mother strokes his head and
protests he must one day be a lawyer, a doctor, or a merchant in New York.
Hegrows up panting for Broadway, and dreaming over the delights of Pearl
street. He leaves, as soon as he reaches a certain age, the green fields
and healthy air of his native valley — and precipitates himself into a crowd
of competitors behind the counters of Maiden Lane, or at the desks of
Pearl or South-street. Commercial pursuits are overstocked. In other
commercial countries, they are in a similar condition, but they possess
not the remedy that vrv. have. If any one becomes unfortunate in business
in this country, he can always turn farmer. No one need fear misfortune,
if his health, industry, and ordinary discretion remain. He can go to the
West — turn farmer — be an active man, and in a few years, he will be
figuring in the halls of the state or national legislature. We have hun-
dreds in this great city, who never can expect to make a figure— who are
supplanted by rivals at every turning— who feci severely the effects of

A RESTING PLACE.

\icissitudes in trade. In Western New York — in Ohio— in the interior
of almost every state — such persons, by limiting their desires to a simpler
standard of living, might even become squires, judgeii senators, congress*
men, fathers of seven sons, and grandfathers of their fifty or one hundred
descendants. Let them remain struggling in Nt^w York, and what is the
result? They will run the gauntlet through WalUstreet every other
morning — puffing and blowing like a porpoise — and trying to raise money
at one per cent, a month. But let them go to the country, and in a few
years they will, if industrious, sit in their own orchard— Kirink their ow n
cider— cut their own apple pies, and give themselves no trouble about
tarifT— anti-tariff— dull times — and troublesome duns."

The following extract from Watson's "Annals of
Philadelphia " would lead to the inference that the
extension of trade had not improved the morals of the
citizens. The narrator speaks of the times of the
monarchy when he was under the government of the
2nd and 3rd Georges, previous to the revolution : —

*' When I was a boy, there was no such thing as conducting business
in the present wholesale manner, and by efforts at monopoly. No masters
were seen exempted from personal labour in any branch of business,
living on the profits derived from many hired journeymen ; and no places
were sought out at much expense and display of signs and decorated
windows to allur ^ custom. Thus every shoemaker ur tailor was a man for
himself; thus w "^.nery tinman, blacksmith, hatter, wheelwright, weaver,
barber, bookbindei, umbrella-maker, coppersmith and brass founder,
painter and glazier, cedar-cooper, plasterer, cabinet and chair-maker,
chaise-maker, &c. In those days, if they did not aspire to much, they
were more sure of the end — a decent competency in old age, and a
tranquil and certain livelihood while engaged in the acquisition of its
reward. At that time, ruinous overstocks of goods imported were utterly
unknown, and supplies from auction sales, as now, were neither depended
upon nor resorted to. The same advance ' on the sterii ng ' was the set
price of every storekeeper's profit. As none got suddenly rich by mono*
polies, ihey went through whole lives, gradually, but surely augmenting
their estates, without the least fear of the misfortune of bankruptcy.
When it did rarely occur, such was the surprise and the general sympathy
flf the public, that citizens saluted each other with sad faces, and made
their regrets and condolence a measure of common concern. An aged
person has told me, that when the inhabitant and proprietor of that large

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nilLADELPIllA KASHIONS

house, formerly tlie pust-office, at ihe corner of Chesniil-street nnd Car-
peiiter's-court, suddenly failed in business, tlio wliole house was closely
shut up ''or one week, as an cinhlein of the deepest fitiuily-mourniiig ;
and all who passed the house instinctively sfopt and mingled the expres-
sions of their lively regret. Now, how changed are the matter-* in these
particulars ! Now men fail wiih hanly indilf'ercncc, ami some of them
have often the effrontery to appear abroad in exprn^ive display, elbow-
ing: aside their suffering crcflitors at public plares of expensive resort.
I occasionally meet with such, by whom I have been injured, who indulge
in travelling equipage, witi) which they delight to pass and dust me, and
who, ntverihcless, would feel their dignity much insulted at even a ci\il
hint to spare me but a little of the disregarded <li'i)t. It might lower
the arrogancy of some such to know, there was once a time in our colony
when such heedless and desperate dealers and livers were sold for a
term of years to pay their just debts,"

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PHILADELPHIA FASHIONS FOURSCORE YEARS AGO.

" L'imagination gouverne I'universe." — Napoleon Bonaparte.

In Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia," published
since I last visited that city, he states, on the autho-
rity of a gentleman fourscore years of age, that, about
the time of the revolution, "men wore three-square
or cocked hats, and wigs, coats with large cufls, big
skirts, lined and stilTened with buckram. The poorer
classes wore sheep and buckskin V)reeches close set to
the limbs, The very boys often wore wigs, and their
dresses in general were similar to that of the men."
" The women wore caps (a bare head was nevc^r seen !)
stiff' stays, hoops from six inches to two leet on each
side, so that a full-dressed lady entered a door like a
crab, jiointing her obtruding flanks end foremost, high-
heeled shoes of black stuff with white cotton or thread
stockings ; and in the miry times of winter iliey wore
clogs, gala shoes, or pattens."

FOURSCORE YBARS AGO.

Since I have been in Ijondon, I have noticed the
officers of particular institutions, and some of the
(ii-eenwich pensioners in grotesque dresses, somethiiity
hke those above described ; and the patrons of charity
schools seem to take an ungenerous pleasure in dress-
ing up the children of the unfortunate city poor in
garbs as vuicouth and unseemly as it was possible for
the folly or stupidity of our ancestors to imagine. You
will see girls of nine or ten with caps like old women,
and droll-looking attire ; and little spindleshanked boys
in knee breeches, antique-cut coats, and large badges,
as if to distinguish them from the rest of mankind,
because of the poverty of their parents. Surely this

is unjjenerous !

From an advertisement published in the Philadel-
phia newspaper of 1745, Mr. Watson takes the follow-
ing now unintelligible articles of dress — all of them
presented for sale, too, even for the ladies, on Fish-
bourne's wharf, to wit : — " Tandems, isinghams, nuus'
bag and gulix (these all mean shirting) huckabacks,
quilted humstrums, turkettoes, grassetts, single allo-
peens, children's stays, jumps and bodices, whalebone
and iron busks, men's new market caps, silk and
worsted wove patterns for breeches, allibanies, dick-
mansoy, cushloes, chuckloes, cuttanees, crimson dan-
nador, chained soosees, lemonees, by rampants, moree,
iiaffermamy, saxlingham, prunelloe, barragons, drug-
gets, floretas," &c.

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BOOKSELLING.

" Is there any substantial difference between the British government
forbidding its American colonies to trade with other nations, and to pur«
chase any but British manufactures, and the adoption of that pretended
American System, which compels one section of the Union to resort ex-
clusively to another section for its necessary supply of manufactured
articles ?"—-,4/6ct-/ Gui/atin.

The annual sales of books in the United States are
estimated, by the most competent judges, at about
10,000,000 of dollars value, and of newspapers,
3,000,000. The production of these is supposed to
employ about 2700 paper-makers, 3200 printers,
1800 bookbinders, and about 21,000 women and chil-
dren depending on these tradesmen. The late re-
duction of tariff duties will increase the value of the
book-trade^ lower prices, and add to the number of
persons employed in it and its dependent branches.

On English books a drawback of three-pence per
lb. is now allowed on their exportation to the United
States or other foreign countries. The publishers or
proprietors of new, or copyright works and stereotyped
publications, printed in Great Britain, may profit by the
change made in the United States Tariff. This draw-
back, added to the difference between the tariff duties
of 1828 and 18.32, will form an additional inducement
to EngKsh publishers to print an additional number of
copies of each new work, for the American market, to
be sold there at a price far below the rate charged in
England. In this they have the example of the go-
vernment ; for by its regulations glass, paper, soap, &c.
made in Britain, are sold lower in Quebec than in
London, or at the door of the manufactory.

By the tariff of 1828, the duty on English books.

BOOKSELLING.

when imported into the United States, was 30 per
cent., ad valorem, when bound, and 26 per cent,
when in boards ; there was also an addition of 10 per
cent, made to the invoice price in estimating these
duties. After the 4th of March, 1833, this duty will be
reduced in both cases to 15 per cent., and the ad-
<litional 10 per cent, will be replaced by an addition of
the actual charges of exportation, insurance exclusive.
The par value of the sovereign will be changed from
444 cents lO 480 cents.

For example : —

A London bookseller shall carefully assort printed
books, value 1000^, for the American market ; invoice-
ing these books, if on commission, at the lowest fair
price he can possibly afford, after deducting the paper
duty. He obtains the drawback of three-pence per lb.
as usual at the custom-house here.

The duty payable on these books at New York, if
landed after the 4th March, 1833, will be as follows : —

i:i000 at 480 cents per £., = 4800 dollars.
Add freight and shipping charges, say 75 cents,

4875 dollars.
Duty, 15 per cent, on 4875 dolls., 731 J. dollars.

Or if landed before the 4th March, 1833, the duty
will be, —

i^lOOO at 444 cents per £., = 4440 dollars.
Add per statute 10 per cent., 444 cts. 4888 dolls.
Duty, 26 per cent, on 4888, if unbound books,

1270 dollars.
Or, if bound, 30 per cent., equal to 1462 dollars.

The difference, which is between 500 and 700 dol-

BOOKSELLING.

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lars, would form a very fair profit on the adventuro ;
and those who wished to supply themselves with a
superior edition of a new work would have the op-
portunity. Tlicir duty on British books is to the full
as high as the Britisli tax on their cotton and flour.

If there is ground for suspicion that the invoice pre-
sented to the customs, in cases where ad valorem
duties are payable, is not the true value, the goods
may be equitably appraised.*

By the laritf law of 1799, Congress ordered the
" pound sterling of Ireland" to be estimated at 410
cents. How Irish invoices are hereafter to be valued,
as to the currency, the new tariff saith not.

I would here notice that blank books will continue
subject to 30 per cent, duty on importation into the
Union, while paper will only be subject to 15. Paper-
makers in England may therefore oiler paper as low
in New York as in Liverpool, or nearly so, for the
fine kinds.

A consideration there is, which all persons exporting
goods to the United States should keep in mind,
namely, tliat the exchange is, against America, no-
minally It) per cent., but in reality only 7 or 8. I will
explain the exchanges more fully when I come to the
question of the Currency. * * *

* These calnilations were made last year, and formed a part oftlie
MS. of the 3 vols, octavo I was about to print. They are in no way
affected by the operation of the TariiTlaw of March, 1833.

■f

NULLIFICATION IN CANADA, OR A SMUGGLING SCENE
UPON THE NIAGARA RIVER.

'* Providence, by giving difTerent soils, climates, and natural produc.
tions to different countries!, has evidently intended that tliey shnuld be
mutually serviceable to each other." — M'-Citlloch's Principles of Politi'
cat Economy,

" Ships under any flaw upon the face of the globe have free access to
the ports of our Kast Indian territories, to bring commodities of eveiy
description, and to lake away theirs in return. They can buy everything
where they can buy clicape^t, and sell everything where they can sell
dearest."— Af/'. Mairynt. PurUamenlartf Debates, vol. vii. p. 604.

*' West India, East India, bank, corn-l.iw, corporation monnpolies,
must all be swept away. We must have free-trade in everything, and
this, too, witiiout inquiring whetiier other nations will follow our ex-
ample. If they be ignorant, there is no reason why we should act as if
we were so." — Mr. Roebuck's Address to the Electors of Bath. Oct. 3,
1832.

As I happened to be a witness of the following pro-
ceedings at Fort George, during the time the Niagara
River was frozen over to its month, in the winter of
1821 — 2, I am induced to publish them for the pur-
pose of showing his majesty's government that arbi-
trary regulations, intended to advance the private in-
terest of certain persons on this side the water at the
expense of the lawful gains of the North American
colonists, will, when carried to a certain extent, become
null and void by the operation of public opinion. In
1821 — 2, tea was, as at present, prohibited from being
imported into Canada from the Republic; but the
East India Company had overreached themselves —
their anxiety for gain drove the colonists to the Union
lor nearly every pound they consumed. Canada thus
paid a tax to the United States of many hundred
tiiousand dollars, as import duties on tea alone> the

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NULLIFICATION IN CANADA

tax on hyson then being about two shillings sterling
per lb.

It was late one evening when I arrived at Lewiston
(United States) ; 1 proceeded to Youngstown, opposite
Fort George, having business to do with a forwarder of
goods; went down to his store on the bank of the
river immediately opposite the British fortress, and per-
ceived that he was busy loading a couple of two-horse
sleighs with barrels at bottom, and with large white
boxes, of the size of two chests of tea, at top ; about
fifteen or eighteen hundred weight was placed on each
sleigh ; they were then roped ; the drivers mounted
and drove across the only path cut through the rough
masses of ice that led to the Canada shore, where a
party of the regular soldiers were placed as sentinels to
watch the coast and prevent smuggling, with a large
blazing fire before them. The troops had enlisted in
his majesty's service for the purpose of defending their
king and country, and not as excisemen, police, or
common informers; and although they could have
cleared a good many hundred dollars by seizing the
tea (if it was tea), they were pleased neither to see
nor hear. There was no bribe given them, for I after-
wards inquired particularly as to that fact.

" A witness of the highest authority in this matter,"
says Sir Henry Parnell, " stated, in his evidence be-
fore the Committee of Finance, that the duty of
soldiers in the West Indies was that of a police."
Englishmen toil and sweat to pay soldiers to go to the
West Indies and guard the oppressor from the ven-
geance of his slave ! I suppose Sir Henry Hardinge
must have had in view the unfitness of the Canadian

A SMUGGLING SCENE.

iiiUitia for acting as a police, or as excisemen over
their fathers and brothers, when he denounced them
as inefficient in the debate upon the War Defences of
the Colonies.

After I had done my business in Youngstown, I also
crossed over and went to take supper at Mrs. Rogers's,
where I had left my horse. The two sleighs had
driven right into the heart of the town, and I passed
them in the yard of the same hotel. After the drivers
had supped they left Fort George, and I have no
doubt but that in two days' time they had supplied a
dozen of merchants (who were probably postmasters,
justices, coroners, bank directors, &c., &c.) on their
route by land, travelling day and night through the
thick-settled country around the head of Lake Ontario,
a hundred miles to York, where I have been credibly
informed the shop-keeping establishment of the then
custom-house officer did not lack a supply of the scarce
and valuable commodity any more than the others,
although, of course, that officer did not conduct that
domestic department himself in person.

I would here remark, that not less than 1500 per-
sons must have seen these sleighs — none who saw
them could doubt much what their loading was —
(although, of course, they did not know any more than
my?elf, not having opened the packages)— everybody
was aware that by giving an information to any of the
custom-house officers or their deputies, a large reward
would probably be secured, yet no one interfered.
Why was this ? It was because the pec pie of Upper
Canada, in 1822, were of opinion, that their country
ought not to be made a tributary state, and as such.

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NULLIFICATION IN CANADA

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turned over to the East India Company by way of
compensation for the tea they lost in the old colonies
prior to the revohition. The East India Company lay
down a rnle, they allow free trade in their own
dominions, and the people of Upper Canada, in such
cases as the above, content themselves with render-
ing the prohibitory ordinances of the aristocracy as in-
effectual as possible.

While I admit the illegality of the proceedings of
the smugfjlers, I am of opinion that, if these tea prohi-
bitions had been agreed to in a legislature in which the
landowners were represented, they would have been
morally bound to have conformed to measures intended
for the general good; — but why the British parlia-
ment renewed a prohibitory charter to the Company,
including the colonies, and thus taxed them without
their consent, in the teeth of a solemn obligation not to
do so, while they allowed the Company to pocket the
profits, I am unable to explain.

The political economist may derive instruction from
this short statement, and the British lawgiver and
financier will at once perceive the difficulty that attends
all calculations of the extent of the trade carried on
between the colonics and the Northern States. That
trade can only be lessened by a more honourable policy
on this side of the Atlantic, and the abolition of every
monopoly that interieres with the right contended for
by the settler, to lay out his money in the cheapest
shop.

The practice of introducing tea and other American
prohibited goods, at the time I saw the sleighs cross
the Niagara, must have been nearly universal —

THE BURNING SPRING.

iscarcely any tea was imported at Quebec. Juilen,
also, acting upon the principle of doing as they woxild
be done by, and considering the prohibitory system
illegal and arbitrary, refused to convict; the law of
" writs of assistance," that valuable legacy of England
to the freemen of America under her controul, has
proved a more efficient aid to the custom-house officer,
who, it is supposed, has an understanding with the
'* during our pleasure" sheriflf, in the selection of a
few revenue jurors as the merchants call them, at the
assizes, and these jurors, it is believed, I know not how
correctly, are expected to stand out for a conviction
for the crown wherever it is possible to obtain one. It
is a pity that such suspicions sliould attend the ad-
ministration of the laws, or that contraband trade
should be necessary in order to countervail colonial
regulations.

THE BURNING SPRING— THE LOVER'S LEAP.

I VISITED the burning spring in Barton, near the
Albion Mills, on the 14th July , 1825 ; it is situated
near the bed of the creek, in one of the most romantic
spots in Upper Canada — a ravine made by one of the
mountain creeks, in the ridge stretching across the
country above IJurlington bay. To reach it, the
traveller may leave his vehicle at Mr. S.''s, and pro-
ceed on foot down into the hollow, half a mile below.
I went alone, and found the spring bubbling and
burning with a great deal of noise. It is below high-

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THE LOVER 8 LKAP.

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water mark of the creek in the spring, but as the
waters subside, it again begins to bubble and burn
amongst the stones. The place is wild and romantic
in the extreme. I returned up the bed of the creek, a
very difficult ascent. On each side was the wild grape
vine, the ginseng, and many other shrubs and plants
of note. The rocks smell strongly of sulphur all round,
and there are crusts of sulphur in some of the rocky
fissures. The gas evolved is carburetted hydrogen;
and ii is said that the people of Erie, on the south side
of the lake of that name, have turned to good account
their burning springs, by converting them, with the
aid of wooden pipes, into gas lights for their houses.
At the back of Squire Secord's store I was shown by
his lady the spot from whence a Miss Riley some
years ago leapt into the dell. The rock is there eighty-
eight feet perpendicular ; the young lady fell on her
breast on a slab of wood, and survived but a few hours.
She was a beautiful and accomplished Irishwoman,
and her story is short. A young man (since married
to another) promised to wed her. His mother is said
to have turned his mind from her. She was ruined,
however, and followed the advice of the poet, as given
in the inimitable linos,

" Wlien lovely woman stoops to folly," &c.

My valued friend. Dr. Tiffany, senior, attended her in
her last moments. Though an old man, he sobbed
and wept by her side like a child ; but he could not
save her, nor did she desire to live.

From the Albion Mills (Secord's) to the village of
Ancaster is seven miles, through a country settled by

ELECTION AT NIAGARA.

rich farmers throughout. Ancaster, though upwards
of four hundred feet above the lake, is well watered,
and there are two or three grist-mills in its immediate
vicinity. Abounding, as does this country, with de-
lightful situations, yet are there few equal to the site
of Ancaster. Beyond it are the fertile plains which
lead to the Grand River ; below it is Burlington Bay,
with its oval amphitheatre and sumptuous scenery;
and, on the opposite mountain (divided by a valley of
two miles), the cottages, mills, churches, creeks, rocks,
orchards, fields, hollows, and knolls of the two Flam-
boroughs and Beverly.

AN ELECTION AT THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.

" There is an air of neatness and comfort among the Swiss which I have
seen nowhere else in Europe. The poorest are educated ; there are no
exceptions. I have not seen a beggar in the confederate republics. Po*
litical union is preserved by a love of freedom among a people professing
different religions, and speaking four different languages. Universal suf*
frage prevails at elections — business is transacted with facility. Self-go*
vernment here proves itself favourable to virtue." — Letters from Swit-
zertand, April 16, 1831.

" It would be well if the people would at all times bear in mind that
crowds have their courtiers as well as monarchs. Wherever there is
power, there will be flatterers; and the people do not always sufficiently
recollect that they are liable to be flattered and misled as well as princes,
and by flatterers not less mean, cringing, and servile ; and, above all, not
less false, or less selflih, than the filthiest flatterer who ever frequented
a palace, to serve hii own private ends by betraying the interests of hit
master."— Sir George Murray's Speech to the Electors of Perthshire.

During my residence in America I have been a very
frequent visiter at the Falls of Niagara. I was a
spectator of the contested election for four members

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AN ELKCTION AT

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to represent the county of Lincoln, on the Niagara
frontier, in the Provincial Parhanient, held at the Pa-
viHon above the Falls, o«i the 2t)th of July, 1824, and
five subsequent days; and took notes as follows : —

The tide of population, ^vhich has rolled westward
with a slow but steady and even pace, during the last
two centuries, and which, ere long, will people the
western world with the overflowings of more thickly-
settled climes, until the ocean shall set bounds to
human dominion, has already proceeded in its course
far beyond the confines of tliat magnificent stream the
Niao^ara, properly so called. The reader will there-
fore scarce wonder, that four knights, girt wiih swords,
shoidd be found necessary, in the nineteenth century,
lo guard the interests of the hardy yeomanry who are
settled upon its western banks. Our conscript fathers
at (Canadian) York are, it seems, required once in
four years to pass in review before the plebeians whose
affairs they conduct ; and, on the 26th of July, 1824,
the yeomanry met, by virtue of a notice by Colonel
Leonard, High Sheriff of the county of Lincoln, to
select from old and new candidates for their favour
the said four knights. The days of chivalry and
knight-errantry, long past, would have well suited the
scene here displayed : the splendid hotel of Mr.
Forsyth, with its luscious sign-board, was the central
point of attraction. The roar of Niagara's mighty
abyss ; the cloud of smoke that arose therefrom, re-
flecting the morning sun ; the lovely rainbow ; the
elevated situation of the ground on which the specta-
tors as well as the actors stood (one hundred feet
higher than the summit of the cataract) ; the white

THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.

81)

foam of the rapids immediately above the falls ; the
grand, though rather limited landscape, including isle
and main land, forest and cultivated field, dashing
wave and gently-gliding current, — seemed not to arrest
for a moment the attention of the mvdtitude, the
drama and the actors absorbed all other conside-
rations.

After a friend of Colonel Leonard had read the
usual writs and parchments, I cast my eye from the
second balcony of the hotel, or, as the aforesaid sign-
board terms it. Pavilion of Mr. Forsyth, and beheld
what would have been well worthy the pencil of a
Wilkie, — an assemblage, as motley, as varied in its
materials, as the four quarters of the world could
aftbrd to send together; the London Exchange, in its
throngest business-days, inclusive.

There were Cliristians and Heathens, Menonists
and Tunkardsj Quakers and Universalists, Presby-
terians and Baptists, Roman Catholics and Amcn-ican
Methodists ; there were Frenchmen and Yankees,
Irishmen and .IMulattoes, Scotchmen and Indians,
Englishmen, Canadians, Americans, and Negroes,
Dutchmen and Geituans, Welshmen and Swedes,
Highlanders and Lowlanders, poetical as well as most
prosaical phizes, horsemen and footmen, fiddlers and
dancers, honourables and reverends, captains and
colonels, beaux and belles, Avaggons and tilburies,
coaches and chaises, gigs and carts; in short, Europe,
Asia, Africa, and America had there each its repre-
sentative among the loyal subjects and servants of our
good King George^ the fourth of the name.

A lawyer candidate sported an agricultural flag — a

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AN ELECTION AT

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farmer, a white banner; the others had no distin"
guishing characteristic to mark out them or their fol-
lowers from the crowd : and the unadorned straw hats
and chip hats, black hats and white hats of the worthy
freeholders appeared from above like the black and
white men on a backgammon-board, but were rather
irregularly placed for the game which the physicians,
lawyers, merchants, and farmers, otherwise knights,
were about to play with the brains, or in default
thereof, as the case might be, the empty heads of the
freeholders. A person, with a very friendly look, of a
rotund, rosy countenance, handed me an election puff,
praising some of the candidates ; another helped me to
a second puff, lashing them.

The speeches had nothing extraordinary either in
the matter or manner. Dr. Lefferty's address alone ex-
cepted. If I were to rest contented with remarking,
that the doctor made an animated speech, I should do
less than justice to the powers of his windpipe. To
the lungs of a Stentor he added the eloquence of a
Demosthenes ; and I may safely aver, that those tra-
vellers who speak of having heard the roar of Niagara
at ten or twenty miles distance, would add to their
veritable histories, if they had enjoyed the pleasure of
hearing the doctor's oratory, that, if he had continued
to hold forth for ever, none within the reach of his
powerful voice would have heard the least noise from
any other cause — the horrible din proceeding from
that awful dash and crash of the watery element im-
mediately below would, to their ears, have been hushed
to eternity. What then may we not expect from that
patriot at York, whose thunders outroared the father

TIIK FALLS OF NIAGARA.

of cataracts, and the terrors of whose tongue made the
placemen and pensioners on the front halcony of the
Pavilion quake and tremble like the pillars on which
the stately fabric rests.

After six days' polling, the names of the members
elect were declared, and they severally acknowledged
the sense they had of the public confidence.

A carriage was now provided, which the four newly-
elected representatives of the county of Lincoln, and
Mr. M'Bride, the member for the town of Niagara,
ascended ; the agricultural banner was displayed by
the latter gentleman, and twenty or thirty hardy Ca-
nadian youths set off at a good speed towards the next
hotel, drawing onwards the men of their choice. I
cast my eyes at the moment towards the falls, the
rainbow over which was vivid, varied in its hues, and
beautiful to behold. I remembered the promise of
Omnipotence (see Genesis ix. 13), I surveyed the
happy and delighted faces of an innocent yeomanry
around me, and mentally exclaimed, — He that would
barter the interests of these peaceable, confiding, kind-
hearted, hard-working farmers, for the sake of the
empty titles, honours, and emoluments which our
executive can offer, surely deserves to be driven from
society, to be branded in the forehead fool, or knavej
as it may happen, and to feel the force of that still
small voice, that inward monitor, which never did,
which never can applaud a false friend to his country.

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OOLfOR LEFFERTY.

DOCTOR LEFFERTY.

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Doctor Lkffkrty, who is a notlvc of the Province
(now State) of Now Jersey, aii<' Mw s'»n of a former
Attorney-General of that Lolony, serM'd as a surgeon
to the forces in the tinu' of the var; had his premises

(lesti

d, and is not \c\

pn
recompensed ; and liad his
establishment again burnt wliileattendinjj at the Wis-
lature at York. I stopp '(I ;, day or two with him at
Lundy's Lane, before the sad destruction of his house,
and copy from my note-book a list of the curiosities :

" Visited this eccentric legislator, and by way of
whiling away tlie time, took a list of all the rare and
curious things, animate and inanimate, about his esta-
bUshment, which is a handsome one. And first I may
enumerate ' iiimsklf,* — then a part of a mammoth's
tooth, taken out of the lower jaw, on the Missouri,
by Mr. Stewart. It is very ponderous. A piece of
Indian crockery, made of a composition of shell
powdered and mixed with clay ; it was brought from
the Arkansas territory. A wild yoose tamed : this
animal was very polite indeed, and bowed to those
who fed it, with dignity. A white owl, measiu'es from
tip to lip (.1 wing, across the b;ick, five feet .our inches.
T'f- ; ■■:uf ,>i(j. The Louisiana State pig. Two thigh
bones; one of an Indian, very large, and had been in
his lifetime fractured and broken, but had ossified
and got firmly together again. SkuliSf jow-bones,
drum -sticks, pistols, the skeleton of an American
goldfinch, a noble head of deer's horns, three or four
nondescripts in bottles preserved in whiskey for their

elect
conseq
(jeiien
One e
and se

DOCTOR LKITKRTY.

iinconinion Ufjliness : 35G9 doctor's phials, botllcs
and jars filled with fluids, unguents, and powders ol"
various kinds, several of the labels on which it would
dislocate the strongest pair of jaws that <'ver lodged in
a human head to pronoinice. Guns, pnivder-horns,
./ournal.'} of Assembly y Pharmacopeias, Alien Qucslion
Resolutions, Colonial Advocate carefully fihd, (a re-
markable and convineing instance of this gentleman's
wisdom and good sense.) Observer : se\ ei al number.s
of this jo\n'nal were wrapped round two stulVed rattle-
snakes; — Joe lionfanti on the chimney-piece, — military
sashes, daggers, anatomy books, skates, a pair ; five
cats, two of them jet black ; two dogs, mortars and
pestles ; specimens of petrifactions of leaves, Lncah's
Pharsalia, 1G3G; an electrifying machine; Greek
books in abundance ; and a large hornet's nest in
good preservation." I was told that Derbyshire spar
(lime with the lluoric acid) may be fuundat the whirl-
pool, but had noi time to go to see it.

The doctor has a standing song, " Twelve bottles
more ;" and an everlasting anecdote, the authenticity
of which has been disputed. The last time I heard it
was in the Assembly's Chamber upon the militia
question : —

" If,'" said the doctor, " it should be determined to
adopt the American laws here, and to allow the men to
elect their officers and then domineer over them, the
consequences would be just the same as it had been in
(ieneral Hull's army during the invasion of Canada.
One evening the general heard a noise near his tent
and sent out to inquire the cause. I'he reply was,

■ I

A VOYAGE DOWN

* O, nothing at all, general : — merely a company of
Kentuckyans, who are busy riding their captain on a
rail.' "

A VOYAGE DOWN THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.

On' tlie 8th September, 1827, I was present at the
descent of the Michigan over the Niagara cataract.
Tlie day was very favourable, and every steam-boat,
schooner, and stage-coach, which could be procured
within many miles of the Falls was in motion, as well
as waggons and other vehicles beyond calculation : —
the roads to the Falls in every direction were like the
approaches to a Vorkshire fair ; and perhaps there were
eight or ten thousand persons on the spot by one
o'clock, p. M., including show-men with wild beasts,
gingerbread people, cake and beer stalls, wheel of for-
tune men, &c.

The two hotels and the galleries were crowded with
people dressed in the pink of the fashion : — the banks
of the river above and belov,' Goat Island — the British
and American shores — trees — houses and house-tops,
—on waggons and waggon wheels — every place and
every corner and nook was filled with human beings: —
bands of music enlivened the scene ; — and the roar of
the African lion in the menagerie, and the din of the
passing multitude, joined to the crashing of the cata-
ract, were almost too much for human organs.

About a quarter before three, I, from a station on a
point below Forsyth's, perceived the schooner Michigan

Tin: FALLS OV NIAGARA.

of 136 tons in the channel ; she had on board a crew
of six persons, commanded by Captain Rough, a bold
and \mdaimted Scotsman, fourscore years of age, with
two bears, a buffalo, two foxes, a racoon, an eagle,
fifteen geese, and a dog. She made her ajipearance,
in company with the steam-boat Chippewa, which
escorted her below the island, nearly opposite to Chip-
pewa village; when the crew put oft' in their boat,
and after towing her to within about Haifa mile of the
rapids, made for, and soon arrived safe on the Canada
shore, within four rods of the rapids, and in very im-
minent danger of their lives. Mr. Weishuhn told me
that, if he had not cut the rope, Captain Rough would
have continued to tow the Michigan until it would
have been impossible for them to escape.

The Michigan approached the rapids about three
p. M. in very good style, with her head inclined to the
Canada shore, and reached the first ledge in about
twenty minutes after the steam-boat left her. This was
a moment of the most intense interest, and attracted
the undivided attention of the multitude, who had se-
parated into groups, and taken their stations on the
banks of the river, and on the islands — on the house-
tops and on the balconies — on the table- rock above,
and on the rocky banks below the cataract.

A Canadian journal (the York Courier) thus cor-
rectly describes the descent of the schooner : —

" Every eye which could command a view of it was
rivetted on the Michigan at this moment — and when
she made the first plunge into the rapids, there was
a simiiStineous shout of applause. The shock was
evidently a severe one, and its effect was visible upoii

;

1 -/

1 .

A VOYAGE DOWN

ship'

i liich now began to be-

hcr heterogeneous snip a crew, wiiicli now
stir themselves ; — his btiffaloshij) was evidently in un-
easy quarters — the eagle vainly essayed to soar from
the ' troubled waters' around liiui, 1o a more congenial
element — and even bruin exhibited sijiusol' uneasiness,
and began to look out for more com foi table quarters.
Relbre arriving at the second ledge of rapids, the vessel
stuck apparently between two rocks, for a few seconds,
but the violence of the current dro\e her rovuid, and
she went stern foremost oxer the second ledge — pitched
on her starboard side, and before righting, both her
masts were carried away, the buffalo and several other
finimals were thrown overboard, while bruin, after
taking an observation from the bowsprit head, com-
mitted himself to the waters, in search '>f less perilous
iipartments. After this shock the vessel became water-
logi^ed, and floating down the rapids, exhibited suc-
cessively a wreck on the breakers, and a ship going to
pieces. She broke right in half, and meeting with
no further obstruction, darted like an arrow down the
feai-ful steep. A goose, the only animal which went
over the Falls and remained alive — was picked up, in
a state of exhaustion, and is now in possession of a
gentleman in York (Mr. Duggan) — the buffalo — ap-
parently qiiite dead — floated in the wake of the ship,
and went over the falls a few moments after it. The
bears, after making every exertion, and stemming the
violence of the cm'rent, for several minutes, reached a
small island near the Canada shore, and one of them
was afterwards piu'chased and shown to the company
at Ontario-house, by Captain Mosier."

In the preceding February, two men who cm-

SAM PATCH — A TREMENDOUS JUMP.

barked in a boat above the Falls, intending to cross
over, were forced into the rapids by the ice, precipitated
into the bottomless gulf below, and dashed to pieces.

Any

.MU-

SAM PATCH— A TREMENDOUS JUMP.

On tile 22d of October, 1829, I went over from
York to the Falls to see Sam Patch take his tremen-
dous leap of 118 feet perpendicular, concerning which
I gave the following account : —

" Mr. Sam Patch, whose leaping propensities have
acquired him so great a notoriety, is a native of Mas-
sachusetts, slight, but well made, perhaps not over
thirty years of age, and of a temperament, as indi-
cated by his dark countenance, rather inclining to
melancholy. He is, moreover, like many other great
geniuses, a greater friend to the bottle than the bottle
is to him; and several respectable men, Americans,
have assured me that his first leap at the Passaic
Falls, in New Jersey, was with the view of getting rid
of the cares and troubles of life, and of anticipating
his share of the knowledge of the next believed to be
acquired by the departed. Be this as it may, how-
over, Sam, when he landed in the waters below the
Passaic Falls, found himself as much alive as before
he took the jump from above, and soon acqiurrd a
fame which his late exhibitions at Goat Island are
calculated to increase. Although last Saturday was
very wet, Sam attended to jump as per advertisement,
and leaped from the mast-head of the Niagara into

I. ■■■>

SAM PATCH — A TREMRNUUUS JUMP.

I'M
hi;

Ml'

,1 11

the river, on his way down from Buffalo, perfurming
the feat with great ease and dexterity. At three
o'clock a considerable number of persons had assem-
bled on both sides of the river, and ihe jumping appa-
ratus appeared in order for use in front of Goat Island.
It consisted of a ladder, or ladders, elevated 118 feet
perpendicular above the margin of the waters in the
eddy between the British and American Falls, stayed
by ropes, and accommodated wiih a platform at top.
Sam came forth with great punctuality, descended the
Biddle staircase, ascended the ladder, and stood for
some time upon the platform surveying the spectators
and the gulf of waters below. He had on a black
vest and white trowsers, and the American flag waved
from a staff over his head. The day was gloomy ; it
rained heavily ; a great mist was raising from the
Horse Shoe, and the rainbow of the cataract exhibited
its beautiful and varied hues. My station was on the
British side below the rocks, and immediately oppo-
site the platform; and I consumed the minutes in
eating the grapes with which these banks abound, by
way of dessert to a hasty dinner we had taken at the
Pavilion. A boat crossed over in front of us, and
took its station below the ladder. At last Sam sprang
off the platform, eight or ten feet out ; but the ap-
paratus not being very firm, he swung a little round,
and descended, holding out his arms, the one a little
above and the other below a horizontal direction ; his
feet, when he struck the water, were not close together,
but one of them was drawn up, and, as it were,
cramped a little. When he came to the water, he
made a great splash, and disappeared like a stone,

SAM PATCH — A TREMENDOUS JUMP.

but came up in less than half a minute farther up the
river, and swam to land on his back. He thought at
first he had dislocated his thigh, but found, on coming
to shore, that he had suffered no harm. There was
only one gentleman with me in the dangerous spot I
had chosen below the overhanging rocks ; and when we
perceived a boat coming across with Sam in it waving
a liandkerchief, he returned to the hotel, and I scram-
bled along to the Forsyth old stairs below, and with
difficulty got upon the bank. Sam was introduced to
me in due form by Major Frazer of the United States
army, and I took that opportunity of asking him a
few questions. He inhales when he jumps, and says
it does not hurt him in the least.

" He is to spring off the Table Rock next, or from
the same elevation (160 feet), and three months notice
will be given the public. When he swung round and
placed his elbows close to his back as if to save it, he
was an exact representation of a man being hanged,
and I felt for the moment a sensation of terror which
scarcely subsided till I saw him re-appear on the
waters.. He takes about four or five seconds to the
leap, and supposes himself to go fifteen feet below the
surface of the stream. Had I given him the least en-
couragement, I have no doubt he would have accom-
panied me to York, and jumped into the lake, from
the top of any ladder or foot-way that could have been
erected for his convenience. But I rather dissuaded
him. To a mind fond of romance, and desirous lo
realize now and then a sufficient share of the marvel-
lous, Sam's 118 feet jump, the cataract above him and
the cataract below him, the seemingly bottomless pit

I '

100

SAM PATCH— A TRKMKNDOUS JUMP.

at \m feet, tlic 200 feet of perpendicular rock behind
him, the apparatus from which he sprang, so like the
fatal ladder of the state, added to the horrid din of the
i forsc-Shoe Cauldron continually sending forth thick
cloiids of smoke, present a scene seldom equalled by
the most sj)len(lid and gloomy descriptions of our
modern (U*alc'*s in magic. The Superior lies ' safe
and sound ' upon a shoal in the midst of the rapids
above the Falls, and might be mistaken at first sight
for a rock."

I do not recollect havinjj heard of such another ad-
venturer as Patch. The 80 feet leaps of the Persians
into the river Karoon, at the foot of the Buctari range
of mountains, are not to be compared with a descent
of 118 feet into the stormy waves of the Niagara.

A few weeks after, he jumped from the edge of the
(jeneMsec Falls, near Rochester, one hundred and twenty
feet, lost his balance, fell sidelong into the water, and,
being intoxicated, disappeared in the gulf below, to
rise no more. There were twelve thousand persons
present. Sam appears to have had a sort of knjw-
ledge of what would be his fate, for he bade the spec-
tators a farewell, and requested a friend to convey his
money to his wife.

In the month of August before, a fine promising
youth of twenty-one was drowned at Trenton Falls, by
sHpping his foot into the current while conveying some
hidies round. His look, as he was carried over the
fall, is represented by his uncle as heart-rending in the
extreme, and the more so as the party were unable to
render him that assistance his look seemed to expect
and request.

of Pri

the wi
perpe
au an

SAM PATCH — A TREMENDOUS JUMP.

101

i f i

i V

At the same time that I went across to see Sam, 1
\isited the Table Rock, and examined its position,
l)articidarly the part intended to have been blasted off.
An English gentleman of rank, who had actually
measured it, gave me its height, 163 feet ; from a
fissure, or cracked place, to margin, 49^ feet ; from
perpendicular over the edge to inside of cavity below,
44 feet, leaving only 5^ feet of base. It is cracked
from top to bottom, and you can thrust a pole down
eight or twelve feet in several places into the crack.
It is probabk that the next winter's frost will act like
a wedge upon this crack, and loosen the whole mass,
so that it will tumble into the river. Should that be
the case, excellent stairs could be immediately erected
close to the fallinc; sheet of water at the edge of the
Fall.

Niagara is pronounced in a variety of ways, but tlie
correct pronounciation is Ne-aw-gerah, the emphasis to
be placed on the second syllable, and the word spoken
quick. The aborigines spoke the word in the same
way.

THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

No traveller ought to omit visiting the Whirlpool
several miles below the Falls of Niagara.

The Whirlpool is a large deep basin, about the size
of Primrose Hill, at the back of Chalk Farm, in which
the waters of the mighty St. Lawrence revolve in one
perpetual whirl, caused by their being obstructed by
an angle of the steep and dreary banks which over-

t ;

'i i

102

THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

;l'i

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hang this dreadful place. The Whirlpool, like the
Falls, has caused the loss of human life ; one instance
of which I will here relate : —

Mr. Wallace, the blacksmith, had a son, a fine
youth, of whom he was exceedingly proud, and the
lad one day went down to the Whirlpo and the cir-
rent proving too strong for him, he was carried into the
whirl. His poor distracted mother sat on *he gloomy
bank, for days and hours, and beheld the b*. Jy of her
own darling child carried round in a circle by the
waters, sometimes disappearing for a time, and then
coming up and revolving on the surface of his watery
grave; and thus continuing for several days, no human
aid being available even to obtain his remains. An
acquaintance, who resides at the Whirlpool, informed
me, that in the course of five or six days, bodies which
get into this dismal cauldron are carried down the
river.

It is usual for persons rafting timber from places
between the Falls and the Whirlpool, to get off the
raft before they come to the basin, first placing the
raft in such a position as may best enable it to float
down the stream without being carried into the whirl.
On one occasion, however^ one of the raftsmen refused
to leave the raft — he was not afraid, all would go
safe— entreaty was unavailing, and the raft, with the
unfortunate, headstrong man upon it, made its way
downwards and was soon drawn within the fatal circle;
around which, for three days and three nights, it con-
tinued to revolve ; all the efforts of a thousand anxious
spectators proving unavailing. The continual and
sickening motion he underwent robbed the poor suf-

Falls

THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

103

ferer of all power to eat — sleep he could not — a dread-
ful death was before his eyes, so much the more ter-
rible that it was protracted night after night in
such a place. At last a man was found who ven-
tured into the whirl as far as he could with hopes of
life, a strong rope heing tied round his middle, one
end of which was on shore. He carried with him a
line to throw to the raft — succeeded; the agonized
sufferer fastened it to the raft, and in this way he was
drawn on shore, and his life preserved.

In January, 1829, 1 had a letter from Mr. Forsyth,
the proprietor of the Pavilion, stating that part of the
great Fall had gone down into the chasm below, to the
extent of an acre at least of the rock, on the Canada
side, thereby extending the curve called the Horse-
shoe, and adding exceedingly to the grandeur and
beauty of the cataract. The Table Rock is not in-
jured ; but immediately above it, in the shoe of the
Falls, where the waters lately descended in a circular
sheet, the range has become much more straight, and
the resemblance of a semicircle, or rather a horse-shoo,
is lost. The launch took place at nine in the evening
of the 28th of December, 1828, and shook the Pavilion
like as if an earthquake had taken place ; the concus-
sion was even felt as far up as Chippewa, two miles
above the Falls, So great was the crash, that it shook
the bottles and glasses on the shelves in the hotel.
There had been no expectation of that part of the
Falls giving way ; but the fall of the projecting cliiV,
immediately below the Table Rock, was every day
looked for.

104

THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

! 1

i i ■

St David*s, Grantham. — The most beautit'ullv
diversified scenery the eye of man coidd desire to rest
upon is to be found in the neighbourhood of St. Da-
vid's Village, back, near the line of the Welland
Canal , on the Niagara frontier, or from the hill behind
the seat which belonged to Sir Peregrine Maitland, in
Stamford. Hill and dale, meadow and arable land,
grove and clearing, garden and orchard, neat cottage
and substantial landowner's frame or brick dwelling,
intermingle in pleasing irregularity. The broken
lands, crags half hid with verdure, the sunny bank,
the bubbling brook, now appearing clear as crystal,
now lost in the depths of the valley ; the machinery of
the cloth-dressers and wool-carders ; the village and
village church ; and, above all, the healthy and happy
countenances of the inhabitants, present a scene to the
eye of the body and to the eye of the mind, in which
not one unpleasant feeling is mixed. Grantham will
equal, if not surpass, the most lovely situations in
Westmorland or Cumberland.

105

METHODISM— A CAMP-MEETING.

" With respect to the charge of showing an undue prefercnte to
teachers of religion belonging to the established church of this country, it
>s so utterly at variance with the whole course of policy which it has
been the object of my despatches to yourself to prescribe, that I cannot
pause to repel it in any formal manner." — Despatch — The Earl of Hip'in
to the Lieut.- Oovernor of Upper Canada, Nov. 8, 1832.

'' I am thoroughly persuaded thai there is not the slightest foundation
for thinking that, in the populous parts of the United States, the people
are more liable to the charge of fanaticism, or religious enthusiasm, than
in Britain."— S/Mar/'« Three Years in North America.

" Tlieir shelter was wretched, — their sufferings were intense,— their
dangers were not small : all these evils they sustained with fortitude.
To each other they were kind; to the savages they were just. They
loved the truth of the Gospel, — embraced it in its purity, — and obeyed
it with an exact excellence of life, which added a new wreath to the
character of ma.n!'—Dwight''s Account of the Pi/grim Fathers.

The " Christian Guardian" of the 29th of August,
1832, gives a statement of the Methodist body in
Canada, from which it appears that within the bounds
of the Upper Province there are 14,901 members of
the church, of whom 1090 are Indians ; that the in-
crease of members in society since last year is 3553 ;
that the Rev. James Richardson is to be the editor of
the "Conference" paper for 1832 — 3; and that the
Rev. Egerton Ryerson is delegated by the Canada
Conference to come to England next May with pro-
positions for a union with the general Wesleyan Con-
ference in England, which also has three or four mis-
sionaries itinerating in Upper Canada*.

It is estimated that there are about four or five
regular hearers to one member, consequently the

* Mr. Ryerson has since arrived in England.

106

MKTIIOOISM.

1:1

1 '

regular attendants upon the Methodist church in the
colony may be reckoned at from 60,000 to 70,000.

Many of the ministers of this connexion are men of
excellent ability as preachers of the gospel. They
have done great good in the colony, and are held in
deser\ed estimation by the people for their zeal and
faithfulness in the performance of their high duties ;
but from the government and its officers they have
suffered many wrongs.

Although T have heard a great deal about camp-
meetings I never was at any time a spectator of the
proceedings at these rural assemblies for public wor-
ship; and, having never seen them, cannot describe
them. I should, however, incline to the opinion that
the accounts of extravagance in action which are cir-
culated concerning them, by Mrs. TroUope and others,
are mere caricatures. The Methodists are a highly
respectable and intelhgent body, and their ministers
often men of talent and great knowledge of mankind,
who labour unceasingly to promote the interests of
morality and religion, receiving an income scarcely
sufficient to support themselves and families.

The following description of a camp-meeting h by
a young Englishman, not a Methodist, and was ad-
dressed to a person in England : —

" Chinguacousy , 4th March, 1832.
" As I am beginning this letter on a Sunday, I will
describe a camp-meeting which I attended last year.
You are already aware that the uncultivated part of
the land here consists of wood or forest, every tree very
high as compared to those in the English forests. The

V CAMP-MKETINQ.

107

scene of the meeting I .:ttcndcd was about six miles
from my uncle's, in Toronto, (near York, lj)per
Canada.) He attended with his family, and occupied
a tent in connexion with his next neighbour. There
is about the space of a moderate field cleared of under-
brush, and the trees thinned so as to leave a shade
from the sun, (in the midst of the forest,) which is
inclosed by a fence and string of tents which «" md
the area. The tents are like the booths i; •
fair, tables for the owners and their friend,
being substituted for the counters. There ..ge

stand or stage for the preachers, of rough workman-
ship, but suitable to hold a number, and secured
against rain. About a dozen preachers were present ;
and I should say that 3000 people were collected
together. The greater part of the people bring pro-
visions and beds for three or four days. The camp is
shut and opened by means of a large gate placed at
one end, which is watched at night to prevent the
entrance of disturbers or disorderly persons. 1 had
otten felt a desire to attend one of these meetings,
having heard a great deal both of bad and good
respecting them. The bad were disorderly persons,
and male and female drunkards, &c. ; but I must
confess that little or none of this species of character
came under my observation, although it is said that
some disturbers were in the neighbourhood. The good
you will say must be very good, where from sixty to a
thousand or more come forward, and are or profess to be
converts. I have met with persons from time to time,
the fruits of these ministerial services, who bear a per-
manently good character in the churches to which

108

METHODISM.

i i

l-S

they belong ; there are also many who fall away. Ilie
services consist of preaching, prayer-meetings, — both
public and in the tents, — class meetings, &c., and are
continued, nearly without interruption, day and night.
The sermons I heard were both able in composition
and powerful in delivery. The preachers speak ex-
tempore. It is indeed very few good sermons I have
heard in this country except at camp-meetings. There
is something very remarkable in the prayer-meetings ;
the people collect in considerable numbers, and are
called mournern. There is a long table with a railing
round at a little distance sufficient to contain them.
They kneel down, and several preachers and others
pray ; sometimes the whole people together pray. All
is extempore. There are persons, both male and
feuale, employed in the meantime [I suppose the
writer here means *' in the intervals between these
prayers." — M.] in going round and talking to them
on the state of their minds ; and both at these and at
the prayer-meetings in the tents there will be, every
now and then, one who will, we should say in Eng-
land, faint, — go into hysterics. These cases I will
presume to say little of ; it is indeed a mysterious thing,
and the universal cause to which it is attributed here is
the influence of the Spirit. I have carefully observed
the appearance of women in this situation : they ap-
pear quite dead as to any power or sensibility remaining
in them, excepting warmth and a feeble pulse, ^'^ou
may prick them with needles, and it will have no
effect whatever. The people will in no case use any
means or method to recover them till they recover of
themselves. I told you once that Mr. , his wife,

A CAMP-MEEtlNG.

109

and eldest son, had joined the Methodists ; they were
all mourners on this occasion. Speaking of this, I
may tell you, that among the Methodists it is very
common in their large meetings to have not only
many speakers engaged in prayer at once, but also the
whole of the people. It has struck me very remark-
ably on one or two of these occasions, when I have
been present, to hear a hundred persons or more pray-
ing together. I could not, of course, distinguish what
any one of them said. It was different from the re-
petition of the Litany in some of the churches where
the people join in an audible voice, for you knew or
could imagine what they were speaking of A concert
of music I have heard, but had not before (except as
in the Litany) heard an audible concert of prayer.
There was not, in the latter case, a harmony of sound,
but 1 presimie there teas a harmony of feeling. The
ground at the camp-meeting is illuminated all night by
means of stages, each of them twelve feet high, and of
the breadth of an ordinary sized breakfast-table on the
top, on which are kept blazing fires of pine-wood. The
Calvinists here, as well as with you, are exceedingly
prejudiced against the Methodists, and the govern-
ment and its officers have endeavoured in many ways
to injure them. It is certain, however, that they have
done a great deal of good, and been the real benefactors
of the people of this country."

Mrs. Trollope is not alone in her abuse of the
Methodists in America in 1832. Mr. Vigne, of Lin-
coln's Inn, in his " Six Months," condescends to retail
the following spiteful remark of the captain of a Chesa-
peake steam-boat to their injury : — " The captain as-

1' 1

If >

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I

1 I

t ,

METHODISM.

sured me that, upon one occasion, during a camp-meet-
ing, he carried no less than 1500 persons at a time;
he landed them during the night, and about 200 got
away without paying their passage." Such a passage
as this shows a feeling not creditable to its narrator.
Steam-boat captains have no means of distinguishing
the religion of their passengers.

MIDDLESEX ELECTION, JULY, 1824.

" The strength of the people is nothing without union, and union !.«
nothing without confidence and discipline." — Thomas Attwoud.

" Thither shall her sons repair,
And beyond the roaring main,
Find their native country there,

Find their Switzerland digi\n"— Montgomery,

For upwards of sixty miles, the road, as we passed
upwards to the ground where the" election was to take
place, was well travelled by people interested for some
one or other of the candidates. I saw a Methodist
church near St. Thomas ; about fifty miles below there
is another, which was erected at Waterford, chiefly by
the liberal aid afforded by Mr. Loder. On Monday
moining we arrived at St. Thomas, the place appointed
for holding the election for the county ot Middlesex,
of which I will now give a brief account.

The hustings were placed near the church, on a
high and well-chosen spot of ground. The village was
crowded with people, and the result of a contested
election, not yet begun, was joyfully anticipated by the
friends of all three of the candidates, though, of course,

III!

MIDDLESEX ELECTION.

u
Us

only two could succeed. Groups stood in every di*
rection, some wearing an oak-tree leaf in their hats,
which signified " Mathews and Liberty ;" others, rib-
bons as favours. On one man's hat was tied a broad
orange ribbon : the inscription, " Rolph and Mathews,"
showed his party : three-fourths of the people had no
party emblems about them at all. A little after ten
o'clock, Mr. Warren, the returning officer. Colonel
Talbot, Mr. Rolph, Colonel Burwell, Captain Mathews,
and Mr. Bostwick, mounted the hustings. Mr. War-
ren was dressed in blue, had his sword appended to
his side, and cut a fine figure as returning officer. He
read the writ, and five or six hundred persons, who
were bystanders, were hushed, when the tall figure of
Colonel Burwell was extended to its full length, as he
arose to address the multitude. He commenced plead-
ing in justification of his past conduct, and parried
admirably the thrusts of some teasing electors who
were perpetually demanding why he had acted so and
so, why he did this, and said that ? He spoke of the
milk of human kindness, of location tickets, of flogging
bills, of asking no votes, and read part of the Upper
Canada Gazette for the edification of those present —
this was all well ; and had I not known his votes in the
house, I confess all I yet saw had served to prepossess
me in his favour ; but towards the end of his speech he
unfortunately stumbled on some political squib or
cracker, that he had understood to have been written by
an old acquaintance. He spoke of this performance
in harsh terms. Some one desired him to read it,
which he did ; and his passion having obtained the
mastery of his better judgment, he burst at once into

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112

MIDDLCSKX ELECTION.

hill

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Ml"

such a strain of personal invective against the author —
a jolly good-looking farmer — who was present, that I
felt for both parties. This ebullition of resentment,
in so inappropriate a place, lost him many friends ;
and a poor man of the name of Gardiner, with whom
he had had a law-suit concerning the value of an old
house, and who complained of foul play, lost him a
good many more. I addressed the electors from my
waggon at considerable length in favour of tlie popular
candidates, and electioneered for several days with
great activity, but it was unnecessary ; the Talbot set-
tlement would have elected the opposition candidates,
if twice the influence the local government and Co-
lonel Talbot possessed had been exercised against
them ; and I am proud to acknowledge that they made
a noble choice.

The next speaker, after Colonel Burwell, was Cap-
tain Mathews, of the half-pay (or rather retired allow-
ance) royal artillery ; he met a joyful, kind reception.
His manly, athletic form and courteous demeanour,
added to the independent English principles he pro-
fessed to espouse, secured to him a distinguished place
in the good graces of many a worthy yeoman. He
resided at Queenston when he first came to Canada ;
and his departure for " the west " is thus announced
in an old number of the Argus: —

" We are informed that Captain Mathews of the
Royal Artillery, with his family and servants, ron-
sisting of nearly thirty persons, passed through An-
caster, about four weeks ago, on his way to the Bush
in Lobo, with six waggons, one cart, twenty-four
horses, a flock of sheep, and some cows." This

MIDDLKSEX ELECTtO^f.

113

Wealthy, intelligent, and patriotic Englishman made an
excellent speech, remarkable for its brevity, considering
the variety of subjects he embraced ; as he concluded
the people rent the air with their acclamations — and
well they might ; they never had a more sincere friend
than the gallant officer they have sent to parliament.
His well-wishers have only one fear, namely, that he
will act too independent a part.

Mr. Rolph (who spoke last) promised to act with inde-
pendence, and to defend the people's rights ; spoke with
considerable animation of the fine county in Vv'hich he
that day had the honoi"* to be a candidate; expressed
a warm interest in its prosperity and that of the pro-
vince at large; adverted to the time when it was a
desert ; reminded them of what had been effected in
twenty-one years, and a\igured well of the future fate
of the country, its agricvdture, and its infant manu-
factures. Getting warm, he forgot that he was at a
comity election, and commenced a sentence in his
professional way, " Gentlemen of the Jury." He,
however, quickly recollected himself, but indeed the
expression was not ill-timed —

" For lawyers, like women, however well bred,
Will aye talk of that which runs most in their head."

Colonel Talbot, to whose care the settlement of
Middlesex was originally confided, was born in Mal-
lahide, near Dublin, in Ireland, and has given that
name to one of his townships in Middlesex. He is,
without doubt, a man of eccentric habits ; but many
of the stories that are current in the country respect-
ing his manner of living have no foundation in truth.
He was, when I saw him, dressed in a plain blue

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114

MIDDLESEX ELECTION.

;. !

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surtout coat and trousers ; there was nothing fanciful
about his dress or horse furniture, save an Indian
blanket, which wa? v/rapped up like a horseman's
cloak antl fastened behind his saddle; his air is that
of a military officer. In youth he must have pos-
sessed a handsome person and well-formed features ;
for even now, and he is nearly sixty years of age, his
features iiave nothing harsh, and his appearance is
rather prepossessing. (See next sketch.)

The ardent desire for rational freedom which ob-
tains in this district was to me very pleasing. I saw
it ill many instances made abundantly manifest. Long
Point is fifty miles from St. Thomas, yet mo j than
a hundred rode that distance to vote against Burwell
for the independent candidates. Those who had no
horses were furnished by those who had — those who
had no money were cheerfully supplied by their more
affluent neighbours ; and in a few instances, men who
declared their willingness to join the good cause, but
lamcnved their slender circumstances, were paid as
much as they could otherwise have earned, or else
young farmers who had no votes in Middlesex worked
their oxen in their absence. It was a cheering spec-
tacle to a friend of Canada to see the happy groups
of horsemen from every (quarter ride up to the hust-
ings, shouting blithely " Rolph and Mathews ! " —
" Mathews and Liberty !" Even the newly-elected
members of Oxford came with their bands of yeomen
to vote for the men of the people's choice.

Mr. Hurwell had represented the county for twelve
years, ai.d his votes and conduct had so incensed the
fnrniers that they determined to put him out. That

MIDDLESEX ELFXTION.

115

precious political selection, the local magistracy, sup-
ported him almost to a man.

There is a Scotch settlement in the neighbourhood,
but they would not on any account give him their
votes.

Mr. Rolph is a native of England, a barrister of the
Inner Temple, and graduate of Cambridge University.

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FATHER TALBOT.

" The legislative council were ranged on the side of the government to
oppress the people, and in raising those feelings of discontent which led
them to make war upon each other. The legislative council, he was fully
satisfied, was the root of all the evils which had oppressed that country for
the last !en or fifteen years. Tiiese complaints were not of squabbles
which sprang up on the moment, but of evils of long standing." — News*
paper Report of Mr. Stanley^ s Speech on Canada Affairs, 2nd May,
1828.

" Tiie affairs of Canada have particularly occupied the attention of the
Commons. On the motion to appropriate 30,000/. for fortifying King-
ston at the head of Lake Ontario, Mr. Stanley opposed the grant as a
useless expenditure. In relation to danger from invasion, Mr. Stanley
said that the United States would not accept of the Canadas. Mr. Stan-
ley is in error. The two Canadas can, as separate states, come as easily
and as readily Into the republic, as Louisiana or Missouri ; and Mr.
Peel himself admitted, that the time would come, when the Canadas
would become independent." — M, M. Noah. — New York Courier and
Enquirer, 1828.

The Hon. Thomas Talbot, a Downing-street pen-
sioner, and legislative counsellor, issued the following
handbill to his dependents ; his neighbours had been
showing signs of insubordination, which it was deemed
absolutely necessary to suppress.

116

FATHER TALBOT.

iii ,1 '

Port Talbot, March lOth, 1832.

[To the Editor of the St. Thomas Journal.]
Sir, — " Having seen the proceedings of different
meetings held in the Talbot Settlement, on the subject
of imagined grievances, and finding that it is now
necessary to ascertain the real sentiments of the inha-
bitants, so as at once to put down the fever (by a few
only) manifested, to encourage disaffection to the
British Government, I give this notice, recommending
a general meeting of my settlers on St. George's day,
the 23rd of April next, at the King's Arms at St.
Thomas, at noon, when I shall attend.

" Thomas Talbot.

« Father of the Talbot Settlement." *

* The meeting was held, and I quote a passage of the Hon. Col.
Talbot's speech, as reported by his friend Mr. Talbot, a Justice of tiie
Peace in that neighbourhood: — "It was not until very recently that
those intruders openly declared themselves. It was not until they
formed a damned cold water society here, at which they met night
after night in secret conclave to concoct measures for the subvertion of
our institutions, that I was aware of the prevalence of such principles.
This well-organized band first commenced the study of their tactics at
Malahide, where they had the greatest strength, and where they iiad the
advantage of the military skill of a Yankee deserter for a drill serjeant,
aided by a tall stripling, the son of an U. E. Loyalist, whom they trans-
formed into a flag staff. (Immense cheers and laughter.) Here the old
Schoharrie line for a while drove a prbtty considerable trade. (Continued
laughter.) They next tried their strength in Yarmouth, where, aided
by a few Hickory Quakers, they succeeded in organizing a com-
mittee of vigilance, whose duty I suppose was to sound ' the conchshell of
sedition in every valley and on every hill ;' and were aided by certain
characters who, making a cloak of religion to cover their seditious pur-
poses, and who secretly lent them the light of their countenance, they
prospered to the present time."

Here is the language of a man who is venerated — idolized — and wor-
shipped by the London District oligarchy — a man after whom they sent
an escort with trumpets and banners, on the day of meeting. These ar^

FATIIKU TALBOT.

A sketch of one of the meetings alluded to by the
" Father of the Talbot Settlement " is furnished in the
columns of the St. Thomas Journal. The scene v;as
St. Thomas, nea?* Lake Erie, in Middlesex: — " H.
Warren, Esq. was chosen Chairman, and E. Erma-
tinger, secretary : an address to the King, prepared
for signatures, being read, J. Givins, Esq. proceeded
to address the meeting. In the interim, the opposite
party having discovered what was going on, entered
the room ; a scene of confusion shortly after ensued —
' from words they came to blows.' We should judge
about fifty or sixty were engaged in the general scuffle
— pelting and being pelted — several were pretty se-
\erely bruised ; one person we saw had his eye gouged
nearly out ; another was tumbled down stairs, and
nimibers ran over him, trampling the poor fellow
under foot. From the number of bloody noses to be
seen after the scene of action was over, one would
suppose there had been hot times. For our own part,
we, with several others, who, like ourselves, chose to be
spectators, rather than actors in this disgraceful scene,
preferred a safe corner of the room, thinking ourselves
lucky if we could but get oft' with a whole head on
our shoulders. We hope, for the good name of our
district, it will be some time before another such a
Iracas takes place here. It is certainly a stigma on
this part of our district — a disgrace to us. If we have
grievances to complain of, (and certainly we do think we

the feelings of liie antureform leaders towards temperance societies —
towards religion — towards morality. This is the manner in which they
are wont to bneer at and abuse men who are foremost as philanthropiist^
ill our cunntry — who are benefiting their fellow-citizens by arresting the
march of drunkenness. — Hamilton Free Pres^,

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118

FATHER TALBOT.

have some,) should we enforce our arguments with the
fist ? If we live in one of the best countries in the
world, (and we certainly believe we do) — and if we are
governed by the best rulers in the world, should argu-
ments to enforce such belief be followed up by thumps
and kicks ?""

ill

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE.

" From the quality of the immigration (to use that neologism) now
setting into Canada, there is no rational prospect for any alteration in this
state of feeling favourable to the church of England. So far from that, the
hostility which she already provokes will grow annually nore embittered
as the number increases of her Catholic enemies, and as their conscious-
ness becomes more distinct of the independent power which they pos-
sess." — Blackwood's Magazine. Review of McGregor's British America.

In September, 1828, I made a tour through the
county of York, Upper Canada, and gave the follow-
ing account of a new and very remarKable religious
society, " The Children of Peace."

" However much some may desire uniformity in
religious creeds, services, and ceremonies, th^y will, in
the absence of clerical persecution and disqualification,
cease to anticipate such a result. In proportion to
the intelligence, virtue, and morality of the several
districts of a country, will the religic as distinctions of
its inhabitants be more or less removed from fana-
ticism, bigotry, supei stition, and intolerance.

" Among the many sects which have taken root in
the soil of Upper Canada, a new order of Christians
has, within a few years, arisen and become conspi

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE.

119

cuous (even to our legislature) less by the peculiarity
of their doctrines (for they have no written creed)
than for the outward form of their worship, which is
very splendid ; whereas the Quakers or Friends, from
among whom they chiefly took their rise, have made
plainness and simplicity their distinguishing charac-
teristic, even so far as the verv cut and colour of their
garments.

" The Children of Peace consist, at present, of
thirty or forty families, residing in or near the village
of Hope, in the township of East Gwillimbury, about
thirty-five miles from York, and four and a half from
Newmarket. The situation is healthy and salubrious,
the country open and well cleared : and I noted down
the names of tanners, weavers, hatters, blacksmiths,
tinsmiths, coopers, joiners, shoemakers, cabinetmakers,
carpenters, tailors, harnessmakers, storekeepers, and
wheelwrights, who already follow their vocations in
the village of Hope. In its neighbourhood I stayed
two nights, in the house of Mr. Enos Dennis, an old
settler from Pennsylvania, a part of whose family
belonor to the Children of Peace. Mr. Dennis is at
once a millwright, wheelwright, blacksmith, cabinet-
maker, and cart and plough maker, and displays con-
siderable ingenuity as a workman. The Society of
Friends had once a meeting-house in Hope, not a
vestige of which remains; but, on the same ground,
Mr. David Wilson is now erecting an elegant and
fanciful building, on two sides of which are the repre-
sentation of a setting-sun, below which is inscribed the
word ' Armageddon,' — the historical meaning of which
may be found in the Old Testament.

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120

TIIK CHILDREN OF PEACE.

I 't

" 'J litre are two schools in Hope; one for the ordi-
nary branches of education, and the other, on a far
larger scale, for the instruction of young females in
knittiiig, sewing, spinning, making chip and straw
hats and bonnets, spinning wool, and other useful
ai'complishnjents of a like description. There is a male
and a female superintendent resident in this latter
school : the pu])ils cook, make their own clothes, keep
llie garden in order, receive lessons in reading, &c.,
and work at their various avocations. I counted
nearly a dozen of large wool-wheels in one of the
rooms. Among the pupils I saw either one or two
young girls from York, and they all seemed happy
and contented.

" The new church or chapel of the Children of
Peace is certainly calculated to inspire the beholder
wilh astonishment; its dimensions — its architecture —
its situation — are all so extraordinary. On a level
plain, inclosed first with a fence, and afterwards by a
row of maple trees, on every side, stands the chapel or
temple of Hope. It is a regular square, each of the
four sides measuring sixty feet at the base. The
main body of the chapel is twenty-four feet high, and
is lighted by twenty-four w indows, with seventy-two
panes each; having also one door in each front. Sur-
mounting a pavilion roof, so near a level as to permit
me to walk upon it without danger, adding only six
feet to the height of the main building, rises a square
tower, hall, or gallery, measuring twenty-seven and a
half feet on each side, and sixteen feet in height. In-
side, this place is one blaze of light, containing twelve
windows of sixty panes each: it is to be used as a:i

THE CHILDREN OF PKACE.

121

orchestra or music room, being open within as a part
of the chapel below. Here will be placed, as in a
gallery, the musicians and organist, at least thirty feet
above the congregation. And when the large full-
toned and soft-set organ, built by Mr. Coates, of York,
shall be set up in this room, together with the players
on the flutes, violins, bass-viols, bassoons, clarionets,
and flageolets, used by the society in their worship,
the eflect will remind a visiter of * the music of the
spheres,' about which bards of old have sung, and
poets, in ' lofty lays,' recorded fancy's fictions. This
tower or gallery is supported inside by sixteen pillars,
and, like the former building, has a pavilion roof,
rising so gently, however, as to permit us to walk on
it with ease. Beautifully placed on the centre of this
roof, and supported inside by four pillars, is a third
tower, in exact accordance with the architectural taste
displayed throughout the work. It is twelve feet
high ; square, each side being nine and a half feet,
with four double windows of fifty-four lights each. At
the corners of each roof, and also on the four corners
of the highest tower, are placed large ornamented
lanterns, which add to the beauty of the temple, and
are lighted up at the annual grand festival, which com-
mences on the morning of the first Saturday of Sep-
tember, and continues till the Monday following.

** The highest tower is surmounted by a gilded
ball, on each side of which is inscribed * Peace.'
The temple is painted white ; and when finished in-
side, will be the most surprising and original fabric
allotted for divine worship in the colony. Being
seated on a rising ground, it has a fine eflect when

iil

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122

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE.

i '

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viewed from the surrounding country, towering above
its mother earth, unequalled and alone, in all the
sublimity and majesty of castellated grandeur. The
elevation of the new chapel is from seventy to eighty
feet, measuring from the ground to the tops of the
four highest lanterns. The religious services of the
society are performed as yet in the old chapel, a plain
building outside, but finished within in very handsome
style. The number of members and hearers is about
200, and the utmost regularity is said to prevail at
their meetings. As I remarked before, the Children
of Peace, like the Quakers, have no written creed ; the
church liscipline being altered and amended, if need
be, on motion, by a vote of the majority of the con-
gregation. As yet, however, every alteration of church
government has been carried without oppos:ition. On
Saturday, at noon, there is a relaxation from labour —
the children give over their work or tasks, amuse
themselves, and take their recreation in the fields.
In the evening there is a meeting in the chapel for
religious exercises: besides, I was informed that the
sabbath is strictly kept. In the old chapel, I observed
several paintings by Coates, — Peace, represented by
an elegant female figure with an infant on each arm,
and Eve trampling the serpent under foot : there is
also a third painting of Peace by the same artist. On
one side of \he organ is a picture of King David's
harp ; on the other, his spear, bow, and shield. Four
black flags, used at funerals, with a star in the centre,
and gilt at the top of the staff, wave from the organ-
loft. Early on the morning after I arrived, I found
some of the singers in the chapel practising their hymns

The

anoth

AN ITINERATING SECT.

The children of peace itinerate; I therefore hiul
another opportunity of beholding their mode of wor-

G 2

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE.

123

and tunes. A number of young females sang a hymn,
composed, as is all their poetry, by members of the
society. Two young men had bass-viols, and the full-
toned organ aided the music, which, I will venture to
say, is unequalled in any part of the Upper, and
scarcely surpassed even by the Catholics in the Lower
province. I should like to have heard their minister
preach a sermon, as it would better have enabled me
to understand their mode of worship, but another
opportunity will doubtless offer, which I can embrace.
It is a question with many, whether the society will
increase and spread over other parts of the colony, or
confine itself to the original meeting. By some of the
neighbouring sectarians, the Children of Peace are
reviled with great bitterness, while others have been
equally strong in their commendation. One thing is
evident, they afford ample proofs, both in their village
and in tlieir chapels, that, comparatively, great
achievements may be accomplished by a few when
united in their efforts and persevering in their habits
and systems. Such of the members of the parliameal
of this colony, as havo visited the society, speak of it
with approbation ; and a few more years will probably
determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, the tendency of
its doctrines and peculiar mode of worship."

124

AN ITINERATING SE«^T.

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shipping on the 2nd September, 1829, at nine in the
morning of a Sunday, eight miles from York.

I found seated in the temporary chapel, around a
table, at the upper end of the apartment, the musi-
cians, from fifteen to twenty men, and six or eight
young women, altogether presenting a band of vocal
and instrumental performers, such as are seldom to be
met with, unless in choirs, or perhaps at the grand
festivals for sacred music, which now and then occur
in England. The first tune played was Darling-
ton ; J. Willson and Tebbitts each performed on
the violincello; J&^se Doan and Benjamin Dunham
on the first and second clarionets; C "h^s Doan
on the bassoon; Richard Coates and ^ Willson

on concert horns ; Job Hughes on the violin ; Ira
Doan on the flageolet ; Charles Haines and Joshua
Harris played on the German flute, and Judah Lundy
and Enos Doan performed on octave flutes. It may
be easily conceived that the effect was very pleasant
and delightful. — Westminster was the next tune ; after
which the females sang a psalm to the music of
Cornish ; they sang it beautifully in trio. Their pre-
paratory services were concluded by performing a
solemn Scottish air.

At eleven in the forenoon, the congregation had
assembled, perhaps 200 or 300 persons in all, atten-
tive, decorous, and well dressed; some came in car-
riages of various descriptions, many on horseback, and
not a few on foot. The service began with sacred
music, first instrumental, and afterwards both vocal
dnd instrumental. A pause ensued, after which Mr.
David Willson, their principal minister, gave out a

hour.

Hope,

improvi]
chiefly,
music,
a third
and a
feet of
commen

AN ITINERATING SECT.

125

hymn or rather paraphrase of part of St. John's
gospel, from which also he afterwards took his text.
The women singers, who have very fine voices, and are
all dressed in white garments, sang this hymn, ac-
companied by such of the members of the society as
chose to join them, the lines being given out two at a
time for the benefit of the congregation. Their style
of singing would here have been pronounced faultless
by the best judges of the art. They compose all their
own hymns and psalms to suit the occasions on which
they are sung, have a large organ in their chapel at
Hope, and assemble regularly once a quarter both
liere and at Markham, on certain stated sabbaths.

After anoher pause their preacher rose up and
began his discourse, which lasted, perhaps, over an

firilll* 5|t ijt ^j! 3[€ Sp 5p

THE NEGRO— MILITIA FINES— CHURCHES AND MILLS.

" Nothing can be more disgraceful to the people of the United States,
nor more inconsistent with their prufess°d principles of equality, than
their treatment of the free people of colour." — StuartU Three Years, 8[c.

Upper Canadttf July, 1830.
Hope, the village of the Children of Peace, is fast
improving. Their new and spacious temple, intended
chiefly, 1 believe, for vocal and instrumental sacred
music, will soon be finished. The materials for
a third church or place of worship are collecting,
and a structure of the dimensions of 50 by 100
feet of brick, with elegant workmanship, will soon bo
commenced.

I ■■■

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MILITIA FINES.

■I

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i

In the house of Samuel Hughes, a member of this
new society, I found an undoubted evidence of prac-
tical Christianity. Three years ago an old decrepit
negro, who had up to that time begged for a subsist-
ence, was struck with the palsy in his body and one
of his sides, and lost th use of his limbs and one
arm. Mr. Hughes took him in — had a chair with
wheels made for him — and continues to wait upon
and assist the helpless object, who can do nothing for
himself. Whether he and his family do this alto-
gether at their own expense, or whether they get some
help from the society, I know not ; but their conduct
might put to the blush many who make extraordinary
professions of that meek faith, of the effects of which
their proud lives afford but a faint specimen.

I learnt in Markhani that the Rev. Dr. Strachan
had given Mr. Peterson, the aged pastor of the Ger-
man congregation, a pension of 140 dollars, bound
him over not to preach there, and placed in his stead
an episcopalian clergyman of the establishment.

A singular case in the way of fining persons absent
at training was recorded lately in the Kingston
Herald, from which it appeared that Mr. Thomas
Turner Orton was pretty severely dealt with by the
magistrates for being absent without leave. A few
days ago Messrs. Smalley, Selby, and Tyler, assem-
bled to put his new Excellency's instructions into full
effect in the home district. We learn that a great
many of the country people were fined, and that con-
siderable costs accrued to the magistrates. [It will
be remembered that his Excellency forgot to comply
with the application of his faithful commons in assem-
bly last session on this delicate matter.] We are told

CHURCHES AND MILLS.

12V

that Mr. Selby issued summonses for persons in King,
although ' Mr. Tyler is the nearest justice, and that
aliens who had not taken the oath were made to pay
fines the same as others. One man having got two
warnings to turn out at different days, paid four dollars
of fines, and one or two more in costs ; and in cases
where the penalty was remitted the costs were neverthe-
less levied. I'nder the present rule of his Excellency's
Royal Court, which enables him to take our revenues
from us without our consent, for purposes of which v\<>
disapprove, these things are all fair ; and there is
also a provincial statute in the case. Moreover, Dr.
Franklin's rules for reducing a large empire into a
small one, apj^ear to be perfectly understood by all
parties.

Queen-street, beyond Yonge-street, is certainly the
finest road, and passes through one of the most beau-
tiful neighbourhoods in the county of York. It is in
good repair, and both here and on Union-street is the
face of the country diversified with gentle swells, valleys,
and knolls, orchards, comfortable farm-houses, fine
crops of grain, clumps of forest-trees, &c. I went as
far as the high grounds from whence Lake Simcoe is
visible, and returned vid Hope, Newmarket, &c.

In the village of Newmarket, which stands at least
650 feet above the level of the surface waters of Lake
Ontario, Mr. Robinson has built a large and hand-
some gristmill, Mr. Cawthra has built another not
far off, and Mr. Millard has erected a third. I also
observed a lofty gristmill building at Thornhill, and
another in King. The Unitarian Quakers are build-

Jf"

r28

CIwRCHRS AND MILLS.

!il

ing a moeting-house in King ; and in Vaughan, near
Purdy's mills, a neat Episcopalian chapel has just
been erected, to which I met Mr. Boulton going out
to officiate yesterday morning, with his clerical gar-
ments under his arm. I also met a Baptist preacher
on his way out, and ascertained that the Rev. W. Jen-
kins, Presbyterian minister, w a that day to preach
to two congregations in the same neighbourhood.

A clerical anecdote of Mr. Jenkins, well worthy of
record, reached me at second-hand while on my travels,
as follows : — Tiie reverend gentleman, who resides in
Markliam, happened to be in company one day with
Archdeacon Strachan, and several other priests. The
archdeacon, in the course of conversation, turned round
to Mr. Jenkins, and (with a self-approving look, which
seemed to say, " if you had studied the art and mys-
tery of booing as I have done, you might have been
better ofF,") jestingly said, " Mr. Jenkins, your coat is

get*iiig quite grey.'

<f I

do not at all doubt. Doctor,"

I'eplied Jenkins, "' but that it is the worse of the wear,
for I have worn it a long time, but have net turned it
yetr *

CHURCH MISSIONARIES— A MARRIAGE IN A STABLE.

I GAVK the following account of marriages by esta-
blished priestd, in the House of Assembly : — " Mr.
Mackenzie regretted very much that the exclu'^.ive
right assumed by the missionaries of the Church of
England to marry persons all over the country, at

* The (irchdeaciin commenced life in Canada a Presbyterian clergy-
man, bill had gone over to the chu'ch endowed by the state, from con-
viction of its orthodoxy.

.^-

CHURCH MISSIONARIKS.

129

all hours, without registry, had been, in some in-
stances that had recently come to his knowledge,
greatly abused. He had heard of a Rev. Mr. Evans^
of Vittoria, whom his Excellency placed at the board
of Education for the London District ; this missionary
had set apart two hours in the day to marrying
peopli» : if these two forenoon hours were missed by
the bride and bridegroom, back they must go, how-
ever great the distance to their places of residence,
and come again next day. A couple, one afternoon,
came from a great distance in the interior, accom-
panied by their numerous friends and acquaintances,
to be married. The hour had gone by ; the parson's
standing order, like the laws of the Medes and Per-
sians, could not be altered — entreaty by the bride-
groom was in vain. Money is scarce in that section
of country; the parties and cavalcade, though re-
spectable, 'lad to go back five miles to an inn, and
come back next morning to the priest, and then
they breakfasted at Mr. Askin's, nothing improved, I
guess, in their esteem for a church and state clergy.
There is an Indian Episcopal Missionary at Brantford,
a Mr. Lugger, and he assumes the right to marry,
withheld from other denominations. One day, a jolly
yeoman and his intended came to be married by him ;
they were plainly dressed, and the parson judged
them to be poor. Instead of celebrating the solemn
ceremony in his house, he ordered the parties to his
stable, had a table placed, and there married them.
In a stable our Saviour was born, because there was
no room for the blessed Virgin in the inn. Missionary
litfgger is at best but an indifferent representative of

130

A MARRIAGK IN A STABLK.

the humility of his Master. The bridegroom was
indignant at the insult offered him, but said nothing
until the knot was tied. He then, being a brawny
fellow, took up Lugger's table, dashed it to pieces
before his fa'-e, and read him a lecture upon the duties
of the clerical station, which, perhaps, he has not yet
forgotten. Such scenes as these are one of the conse-
quences of our ecclesiastical thraldom." — Feb. 1831.

UPPER CANADA— CREDIT INDIANS.

At the nuuth of the river Credit, on lake Ontario, the
government has a purchase or grant of six acres from
the Indians, with a tavern upon it, the rent of which
is paid to the receiver-general, who accounts for it,
neither to the British nor to the provincial Parliament,
bu*^^ to the " Lords of the Treasury."

We reached the Indian village about two o'clock in
the afternoon of the 24th December, 1830 ; it is si-
tuated on a high ground on the west bank of the
river, perhaps two miles above lake Ontario.

About half-way between lake Ontario and Dundas-
street, in the middle of 3800 acres of their reserved
land, is situated the village of the Credit Indians.
It is built upon the table land overlooking the high
banks of the river, on each side of which are fertile
meadows in a state of cultivation. A number of the
houses were built with the proceeds of the sale by
government to the Rev. Mr. M'Grath, of part of the
Indians' lands, sold as they say against their consent.
In the rear of each dwelling is a garden, and the chief,

UPPER CANADA— CREDIT INDIANS.

131

Mr. Sawyer, and several other Indians reside in frame
houses, for they now have an excellent saw-mill, which,
to their honour be it spoken, was built without a
drop of spirits. The Methodist mission-house, hi
which resides Elder Youmans, is a commodious two-
story frame building, well finished ; and nearly oppo-
site is the Methodist episcopal chapel, a neat, clean
and commodious place of worship. Close by is the
flag staff, on which the British ensign is hoisted on
great occasions, such as a visit from his Excellency,
(who has been once at this place.)

Although the reserve is a military territory, where
the chief marries the Indians, and the woodlands are
undivided, yet each family has its own town lot. The
Indians are sober, comfortable and orderly ; they
make sleighs for sale, al«o many other articles, but no
shoes. In their school are taught about fifty Indian
children ; the girls by Miss Rolph, a sister of the late
member for Middlesex ; the boys by Mr. Edvvay
Ryerson, a brother of the late editor of the Christian
Guardian.

The school-room is a large and commodious apart-
ment, with tiers of raised benches in the rear ; on one
division of which sit the girls, and the boys on the
other. There are also desks and slates for ciphering,
and copy-books and copperplate lines for those who
write. The Bibles and Testaments are chiefly those
of the London Society for promoting Christian Know-
ledge; son.e of the other books are English printed,
and some American : no sectarian intolerance prevails
in that way. Among the school-furniture, are a hand-
some map of the world ; the Arithmeticon ; attractive

132

UPPER CANADA — CREElIT INDIANS.

I I

!! I

Hi'

'f.

alpliabets on pasteboard; regular figures illustrative
of geometry, sonie of them cut out of wood, and some
of them made of pasteboard ; the picture of Elijah fed
by ravens ; figures of birds, fishes, and quadrupeds, on
pasteboard, coloured, accompanied with the history of
each animal ; the figure of a clock, in pasteboard, by
which to explain the principles of the time-piece. The
walls of the school are adorned with good moral
maxims; and I perceived that one of the rules was
rather novel, though doubtless in place here. — It was,
" No blankets to be worn in school." We sliould have
been much gratified by seeing the progress of the
scholars while at their lessors, but Mr. Jones told us
th,.vt the master had gone to York for the day.

The translating-oflRce is occupied by Mr. Peter
Jones, the Indian minister. He has a very select
library, and is now employed in translating St. John's
Gospel into the Mississagua language. His trans-
lation of St. Matthew is already published.

In the Dorcas Society-room there are a variety oJ
books, Indian baskets, and other articles of ornament
and use. This association of Indian females have set
apart every Thursday on which to work lor the sup-
port of their missions. Last year, they made fancy
work, such as gloves, moccasins, ^>urses, and the like,
to the value in money of one hvnulred dollars ; and
have not this season relaxed their laudable exertions.
To those who, with me, remember the state of the
Indians ten or twelve years ago, their pleasant, happy,
and comfortable condition will afford much pleasure.
Divine Providence has wisely reserved to itself the
government and direction of the seasons; and man.

UPPER CANADA — CREDIT INDIANS.

133

to whom has been awarded the power of forming a
temporary government for his species during their
mortal pilgrimage here below, seems even in this to
have received too great a task, of which the conduct
of the Europeans to the Indians, generally, is a proof.
Right glad, therefore, am I to be able to record ono
instance in which the native tribes have really profited
by their acquaintance with the Europeans.

The Indians are regadar subscribers for the Colonial
Advocate newspaper, and very punctual payers.

Tliey presented the following very interesting peti-
tion to General Colborne, in 1829 ; he referred it to
the Assembly, which complied with their requests : —

"The petition of the Mississagua Indians, settled at
the River Credit, to our Great Father, Sir John
Colborne, K.C.B., Lieutenant-Governor of Upper
Canada, &c. &c. &c.

" Father! — Your children, who now petition to you,
are a remnant of the great nations who owned and inha-
bited the country in which you now live and make
laws ; — the trround on which vou and your children
stand covers the bones of our fathers, of many genera-
tions. \Vhen your fathers came over the great waters,
we received them as friends, and gave them land to
live upon. We have always been friends to our great
father the King and his white children. When the
white men came they made us sick and drunken ; and
as they increased, we grew less and less, till we are
now very small. We sold a great deal of land to our
great father the King for very little, and we became
poorer and poorer. We reserved all the hunting and

• V 4

134

UPPER CANADA — CREDIT INDIANS.

fishing, but the white men soon grew so many that they
took all : when all the rest was gone, we kept the ten-
mile creek, the twelve-mile creek, and the river Credit.
The two first are gone from us, but we are wishing to
keep the Credit. We reserved one mile on each side of
the Credit, where we now live. About four years ago,
the Great Spirit sent to us good men with the great
word the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and we
became a new people ; we have thrown away our sins ;
we live in houses, in a village where we worship the
Great Spirit, and learn his word, and keep his sab-
baths; our children and young men learn to read;
and many of our people from a distance have joined us.
We now want the fish in our river, that we may keep
our children at home to go to school, and not go many
miles back to hunt for provisions. We also catch sal-
mon, and sell them very cheap to industrious white men
who bring us flour, and other provisions, and cattle ;
and they say it is much better than to fish themselves.
But now. Father, we will tell you how wicked white
men have used us. — ^They come in the fall and spring,
and encamp for many weeks close by our village.
They burn and destroy our fences and boards in the
night ; they watch the salmon and take them as fast as
they come up ; they swear and get drunk and give a
very bad example to our young people, and try to
persuade them to be wicked like themselves, and par-
ticularly on the Sabbath ; — their wicked ways give us
much trouble and make our hearts sorry. Others go
to the mouth of the river and catch all the salmon :
they put the offals of salmon in the mouth of the river
to keep the fish from passing up, that they may take

tunal
Amei
M
writii
that
Amei
three!
as thi

UPPER CANADA — CREDIT INDIANS.

135

them with a seine near the mouth of the river in the
lake; and often in the dark they set gill nets in the
river and stop all the fish. By those means v.o are
much injured and our children are deprived of bread.

" Now, father, once all the fish in these rivers and
these lakes, and all the deer in these woods, were ours ;
but your red childrf^n only ask you to cause laws to be
made to keep these bad men away from our fishery at
the Rive'" Credit irom Mr. Racey's line to the mouth
of the river, and along tl • lake shore one mile on each
side of the river as f-, as our land extends, and to
punish those w'^r* attempt to fi i« here. We will not
fish on Saturdr y niTht, Sunday night, and Sunday, but
will let the fish pass up to our white brotiiers up the
river.

" And your petitioners, &c.
(Signed) " James Adjitance,
" Peter Jones,
•' Joseph Sawyer,
And fifty-one others.

•' River Credit, Jan. .31, 1829."

''<'" If Dundas Street, we met an Indian sleigh with
eight deer in it, all which the owner had shot in the
woods within the space of two days. There are for-
tunately very mild and judicious game-laws in North
America.

Mr. Vigne, in his work on America, and while
writing of the back settlements of Pennsylvania, says,
that " of the cervus virginianus, or common deer of
America, a single hunter will sometimes kill two or
three in a day ; but will more often go without a shot,
as they are very wild, and their sense of smelling ex-

136

THE CANADIAN YORKSHIRE.

''!

; (

ceedingly acute." In Upper Canada it more depends
whether the hunter is or is not in the neighbourhood of
a thick settlement. Vigne states a fact that I was
unacquainted with ; he says that deer will crush rattle-
snakes to death, by jumping upon them with all their
four feet brought close together.

THE CANADIAN YORKSHIRE.

The county of York, the seat of government in Upper
Canada, and the most populous and wealthy shire in
the two Canadas, had generally been inclined to elect
Tory members to the legislature, and its elections had
usually been attended with a large expenditure of money
by these candidates.

Its first member was Sir David William Smith,
now of Nortlmmbcrland, baronet, and a pensioner of
about thirty years standing. Its second member was
Mr. Alcock, the chief justice of the province. Its third,
Angus M*Donell, Esq,, also a government functionary.
The Honourable Mr. Justice Thorpe was elected by
tho reformers, but the government soon ruined him by
means of an application to Downing Street : he was
afterwards appointed chief-justice of Sierra Leone !
Mr. Gough, an independent Irishman, succeeded
Thorpe; then the Honourable Thomas Ridout, sur-
veyor-general, followed by the Honourable Peter Ro-
binson, who made the county a stepping-stone to half-
a dozen of offices, worth about 1500^ a year. Dr.
Baldwin, Colone! Thompioa, and Captain Playter —
the latter a relative of the chief-justice — succeeded.

A JUDGE S TAVERN.

137

In July, 1828, the county nailed the flag of freedor i
to the mast ; and Mr. Ketchum, a wealthy tanner,
and the writer of these sketches, were returned by
triumphant majorities ; which decision of the land-
owners, no influence of the executive, though added to
that of all the colonial monopolies, and dangerous
powers which surround it, has been sufficient to change.
At five successive elections I have been returned by a
county containing nearly 50,000 inhabitants, and 5000
freeholders, with continually increasing majorities ; and
although the first contest was attended with great ex-
pense to me, I must do the yeomanry the justice to
acknowledge that they never allowed me to expend
one farthing during any subsequent struggle. Last
November, (during my absence in this country,) in a
time of great excitement, I was elected unanimously ;
men of all countries, and parties, and creeds, agreeing
to support me, in order to show his Majesty's ministers
the true state of public opinion. A division between
the Orangemen and Catholics had, at the second
election, created some disunion, but last November
these parties buried their differences, and united to
oppose the officers of the colonial government.

I i'

A JUDGE'S TAVERN— THE CANADIAN SOLOMONS.

In October, 1826, t visited Buffalo, Black Rock, Man-
chester Paper Mills, on the United States side of the
Niagara river, and Lewiston.
While at Lewiston an acquaintance showed me the

138

A JUDGE S TAVERN.

11
it

day-book of Silas Hopkins, now one of the judges of
the court of common pleas for the county of Niagara,
which he had kept while an innkeeper in Cambria, a
small village near the town of Rochester. I vouch for
the authenticity of the book, and have copied therefrom
the following accounts, the period being the second
year of the war with England :—

" Lias Hopkins to S. Hopkins, Dr.

" Cambria, 29th March, 1813.
(Various dates.) D. C.

" To 1 quart whisky . . . „ 34
2 yards tobacco . . . „ 6
1 sling . . . ,, ^

Cr. by a pair of socks, 75 cents.
1 sling whisky . . . >, 13
2s. worth whisky, sundry times „ 25
To whisky and vinegar . . „ 13 "

Glasses of brandy sling to Ahab Saylis, and cock-
tails, (a spirituous compound much drunk in the States,)
show Judge Hopkins's defective orthography. Luther
Clark appears to have been a good customer for beer,
which the judge spells sometimes bear — shrub he often
spells schrub and scrub. One of his items is, " other
2 ginn slings, at 12J cents." The value of a brandy
sling in these times was a quarter dollar.

Another item is " one gallon of soap, 25 cents."
Breakfasts he sets down as follows : —
" To 2 brixfasts, at 25 cents . 50 cents."
It appears they were often paid in barter.
In August 1812, he charges pork 12 J cents a lb.,
buckwheat, a dollar a barrel, and wheat, 1| dollars a
bushel. Common shugar, 25 cents a lb., ham 20 cents.

A JUDGE S TAVERN.

139

He winds up an account thus, " twenty tow dollars,"
charges " a pint of sling, 50 cents," and credits Moly-
neux on the Ridge-road, with 12 dollars for " 24 lbs.
loaf shugar.''

In 1817 he has an account against Captain Jarius

Ross of

•* Breaking 1 pint tumbler . . 50 cents,
his and Allen's drink . . . 125
one bushel oats .... 75

to 5 slings 125

2 quarts sider (cider) . . . 38."

All these items are in the judge of the court of com-
mon pleas's own hand-writing ; but I am told that he
now composes more grammatically; that he judges
with impartiality, to the satisfaction of an enlightened
population ; and, as by law required, the charges in his
court do not amount to one dollar to ten demanded in
Upper Canada in similar cases.

Each county in the state of New York has its court
of common pleas, where a first judge, with four asso-
ciates, decides the ordinary civil causes that arise
within their jurisdiction. Very moderate fees are
found sufficient to obtain the services of able men ; and
I believe that Judges Robert Fleming (1st), and
Messrs. Van Horn, A. G. Hinman, M'CoUum, and
S. Hopkins, with incomes of, perhaps, thirty or forty
pounds, from judicial sources, dispense as prompt and
efficient justice to their fellow-citizens as they would
do if paid fifteen times as much.

Two of our inland custom-house officers, in Upper
Canada, were appointed to seats in the court of King's
Bench in that province some years ago, for the posses-

nil

140

CANADIAN SOLOMONS.

sion of those qualities which suit British colony govern-
ments. One of them. Judge Hagerman, was the same
person who had attempted to horsewhip Mr. Gourlay
at Kingston, which was thought a mark of wisdom in
America by those who considered Mr. Gourlay 's con-
duct towards Mr. Brougham a proof of insanity.
Judge Hagern^an's education, like that of Judge Silas
Hopkins, had been somewhat neglected in early life,
so that he occasionally stumbled.

He told a jury, in Hamilton, that he thought Vin-
cent (a criminal then on trial for his life) was guilty of
murder in strangling his wife, and that he would " share
the responsibility with the jury !" Vincent was con-
victed and executed, on suspicion alone, and chiefly, I
think, on account of the charge of the judge, who was
too 'gnorant to know the meaning of the words " chronic
disease," used by a professional gentleman, and ex-
cited the laughter of th9 ' li- informed by stating to
the jury, that " chronic disease" was one that affected
"the back-bone, and other bones immediately con-
nected with the spine !" Mr, Hagerman has since
changed his judicial functions for that of solicitor-
general. From that office he has been removed, and is
now in London, the agent of the Tories and the Church.
Judge Sherwood, the other emanation from the
Custom-house, told a jury in my hearing, that the
editor of a newspaper, then on trial at the Court-
House, York, for some alleged political libel, was
"a wholesale retailer of calumny," and admitted in the
same sentence, that the case before the court was his
" first offence." The printer was condemned to a twelve-
month's imprisonment, and other heavy penalties ; and

CANADIAN SOLOMONS.

141

when the assembly interceded for a commutation of
his punishment, the judge wrote to Sir J. Colborne,
the Governor, that the printer of a libel ought to be
punished to that extent, that " in human probability
would prevent a recurrence of the offence." The
military viceroy was of the same opinion, and the
printer continued in jail. It was considered a much
more venial offence to attempt to murder me in 1832,
as th? sequel will show.

On a review of the accounts of the Attorney-General,
Mr. Jonas Jones, and the Solicitor-General, for 1825,
which are chiefly made up of crov.ri prosecutions,
opinions to the chief magistrate and others, and war-
rants for the discharge and respite of criminals, we
find that in that year there were in the high criminal
court of Upper Canada 119 trials for offences. I am
not enabled to say how many were convicted, nor how
many on an average were tried together ; the imper-
fect state of the accounts being an obstacle to accurate
information; but if in these 119 trials, 238 persons
were before the court, it will give the alarming
number of one in 1000 of the whole population. The
crimes are classed as follows in the accounts of the
crown lawyers: — For maiming cattle, 2; arson, 2;
libel, 5; perjury, 10; rape, 1; nuisance, 4; carrying,
a challenge, 1 ; ibrgery, 5 ; sending a challenge,
1 ; assisting or enticing soldiers to desert, 3 ; con-
spiracy, 4 ; larceny, 25 ; horse-stealing, 4 ; burglary,
2 ; assault with an intent to kill, 1 ; sedition, 1 ;
murder, 5 ; bestiality, 2 ; manslaughter, 1 ; riot, 6 ;
assault with intent to commit a rape, 2; receiving
stolen goods, 1 ; maliciously shooting, 4 ; rescue, 1 ;

■I

L42

lU'ATTNG LEGISLATORS INTO ORDKR.

,1 i

pulling f U)wr. a dwelling house, 1 ; escape, 2 ; misde-
meanor, 4 ; biaspliemy , \ ; extortion, 1 ; uttering
ft»rged n«»!f'!i, 5 ; laiv;;riy of ittle, 1 ; felony, 2; forei-
blts t»ntry rud detainer, 1 • maliciously killing a hog,
1 ; kc'oping a disorderly house, 1 j assaulting a magis-
trate in the discharge of hh duty, 1 ; sheep stealing,
1, wou'.iding a marf, i; assault, 3; robbery,!. A
ffcitrfu) catalogue f. hia is, and if the crimes which pass
uijaotircd oti accoutit of the ignorance and neglect of
magistrates, or the backwardness of prosecutors, as well
as thoHC tried at the quarter-sessions, were added, I
think a very powerful argument against the inefficiency
of our colonial system might be deduced, in favour of
general education. Crime has since decreased.

NOVA SCOTIA— BEATING LEGISLATORS INTO ORDER-

I SHOULD suppose that many amusing yet genuine
anecdotes of colonial legislation might be picked up in
British America, if one had time and industry sufficient
for the task. The following true history of beating
legislators into order is on the authority of Mr. Archi-
bald, the present Speaker of the House of Assembly
and Attorney-General of the Province of Nova Scotia,
an actitc and a popular politician : —

" The first deliberations of our legislature were rude
as the country, and doubtless many extraordinary
scenes took place. Within the memory of man, Mr.
Chairman, for I have it from my learned friend, the
Attorney-General, who was an eye-witness, the House
of Assembly sat round a common table, with the
Speaker at their head, and instead of the respectful

sell
He

BEATING LEGISLATORS INTO ORDER.

143

calls to order which you sometimes hear from that
chair, the Speaker carried a cane and beat the re-
fractory members into order. The building in which
the governor, the council, and the assembly then met
to deUberate, was narrow and contracted; but the
building in which we are assembled bespeaks the in-
crease of our resources, our public spirit, and our
taste. But does the improvement only appear in the
splendid apartments in which the House and Council
assemble? No, Mr. Chairman, the country has im-
proved in the same ratio; it is fast filling with the
sons of freemen, men who know and who dearly prize
their rights, and who will not allow their liberties,
which they enjoyed in the lands of their forefathers, to
be curtailed."

The narrator of the above anecdotes is thus described
by a contemporary : —

The Speaker.

" Our Speaker, S. G. W. Archibald, Esq., is the
most easy and fluent orator in the House. He was
originally bred a carpenter ; but having tumbled into
a mill-stream, he was carried over the water-wheel and
came out below, with both his thighs broken. Having
recovered from the effects of this accident, and having,
by the death of his parents, become possessed of a
small property, he sold it, and with the proceeds went,
I believe, to Philadelphia, where he put himself to
school, and subsequently passed some time at college.
He then returned here, put himself apprentice to
an attorney — and, at his admission to the bar, soon
distinguished himself by his fluency, ingenuity, and

* !

144

THE CANADA COMPANY.

wit. Since then he has acquired the first practice in our
courts — has been a Member of Assembly for several
sessions, wiiere he is marked by his graceful and
gentlemanly demeanour, his eloquence, and plausi-
bility. He always leans to the side of government-
being our Solicitor-General and Chief Justice of Prin'\'
Edward Island, to which place he repairs periodi-
cally, to hold his courts. In addition to his other
qualities, he is, as I once heard a country member,
who had in vain endeavoured to fortify himself against
the fascination of his manner, emphatically say, —
*An amazing pleasant fellow over a bottle of wine.' "

;'!.)■

il-i

,1: 1

LOCKPORT— THE CANADA COMPANY.

*' I appeal to the House whether the colonial administration of the
country has not been for years one system of jobbing. — Fitcoitnt Howick.
Mirror of Parliament, February 18, 1831.

" The example of the United States has shown, that without any of the
complicated regulations by which it is attempted to guard against the
mi<applicati jn of land acquired gratuitously, without those conditions and
restraints which have been equally inoperative in the prevention of fraud
and inconvenient to the bond fide settlers, we may safely trust to the
interests of purchasers that land <-'.<ch has been paid for will be turned to
good account." — Lor-i Goderich— Despatch to Lower Canada.

* * * * I seated myself on a large gray stone, on
the high ground above the canal basin, on the morning
of the 1st of December, and surveyed the scene around
me — the canal— the locks — stone and frame houses —
log-buildings — handsome farms- varehouses — grist-
mills — waterfalls — barbers' shops — bustle and acti-
vity — waggons, with ox-teams and horse-teams —

THE CANADA COMPANY.

145

waggons with ox-teams and horse-teams — hotels —
thousands of tree stumps, and the people burning and
destroying them — carding machines — tanneries — cloth
works — tinplate factories — taverns — churches. What
a change in four short years from a state of wilderness !
Kings built pyramids ; but it was reserved for a popular
government to produce a scene like this.

In a one-story cottage, 18 feet by 24, 1 found a doctor
and an attorney — law and physic under one roof.
Next door stood " J. Smith's real cash store." The
Holland Land Company are a curse to the Western
country, and generally and justly detested. * * *

Such was Lockport, on the Erie Canal, in 1825. It
is now the capital of Niagara county, a place of great
trade, and the seat of many manufactures.

The incorporation of a few speculating merchants and
bankers in Upper Canada, as a Canada Company, has
been a sacrifice of the interests of the province and of
the nation to the persons thus incorporated, and to the
favourites on whom the government bestow the proceeds
of the sales. This fact will also more clearly appear
from the following extracts from the parliamentary
papers of the session 1831 : —

Extract from a letter from Col. By to Gen. Mann,
dated on the Rideau Canal, 15 March, 1830, and
published by order of the House of Commons, Feb.
1831. — I have transmitted " a plan showing the crown
and clergy reserves in the vicinity of the Rideau
Canal." — " As these lots have been recently offered
to me by one of the agents of the Canada Land Com-
pany at four dollars per acre, saying his instructions
were to charge six dollars per acre to any other

1 i

iii

v-j-

146

THE CANADA COMPANY.

PERSON, consequently this monopoly is keeping that
part of the country which ought to be immediately
settled, in a state of wilderness ; and as it appears,
from the accompanying affidavits, as also from Dr. J.
Dimlop's letter herewith enclosed, that those lots are
of comparatively little value," &c. — p. 123.

In another letter. Col, By, again speaking of the
crown and clergy reserves, states that " on the present
system the emigrants have nowhere to settle, and
numbers wander to me in a starving state, asking for
land ; and when they are shown the back concessions,
being afraid to encounter the wilderness, they pursue
their journey until they reach the United States."
—p. 132.

Again — " The canal is causing the country to settle
rapidly, notwithstanding the high prices charged by the
Canada Land Company, as already noticed." — p. 124,

So greedy of gain were these monopolists, that the
improvements which the government had made in the
neighbourhood of their lands they turned to their own
profit.* *****

* I perceive by the Court Circular, that during the last twelvemonths
the Colonial Office has been besieged by a party of land speculators, with
Mr. Nathaniel Gould at their head, demanding a monopoly of the public
lands of Lower Canada. Sentiments on that subject, in whicn I coincide,
are plainly expressed in a letter which appeared in the Morning Chronicle,
of the 19ih September last; and the opinion of the House of Assembly
of the Province is in unison with mine. If the officers of the government
cannot be trusted with the sale of the public lands, change them ; but let
us have no more Canada land jobs.

A TRIP TO QUEBEC. 147

A TRIP TO QUEBEC— THE CATHOLIC CLERGY.

" It Wits contrary to the meaning of that Act, that a system of religious
exclusion should ever have been acted upon ; and he felt equally con-
vinced that it was the intention of that Act that the inhabitants of that
colony should never have to look across their boundarie!* and see any
thing to envy which they did not possess. He trusted thattlie petitioners
had made out a case which would induce the House to look into their
complaints ; and he hoped that in a question where the interests of a
million of persons were involved, this country would preserve a line of
liberal and friendly policy." — HJr. Secretary Stanley, House of Cum-
mom, May 2, 1828.

" I have no solicitude for retaining either the Bishop or the Archdeacon
on the list of (legislative) councillors; but am, on the contrary, rather
disponed to the opinion, thai by resigning their seats they would best con-
sult their own personal comfort, and the success of their designs for the
spiritual good of the people." — The Enrl of Ripon to the Lieutenant
Governor of Upper Canada, Nov. 8, 1832.

Immediately after the prorogation of the Upper Ca-
nada Legislature, in March 1831, 1 left Vork for Quebec,
the roads being then in a very indifferent condition, and
the navigation of the River St. Lawrence much ob-
structed by ice. A full account of the journey, made
at a season when few travellers are to be seen, would
perhaps be found tedious to the general reader : I shall
therefore relate from my note-book a few sketches which
will, I hope, bo found interesting.

Montreal, April lOth, 1831.
The Scots Presbyterian church is shut up at present,
owing to a difference between the ministers. I went this
forenoon to the American Presbyterian church, the
clergyman of which is greatly celebrated here as a
preacher. The house is a large and commodious

148

MONTREAL.

;i )

stone building, handsomely finished both inside and
outside. The pulpit is of the most costly mahogany,
with crimson cushion, very splendid. The windows are
all made double, to keep out the cold. The congrega-
tion sit while singing, as in Scotland, but the organist
and band of nmsicians alone join in the melody ; at
least I did not observe that any others of the congre-
gation opened their lips to sing. The music is very
pleasing; some of the choristers, male and female,
having fine, powerful voices. The congregation is nu-
merous, and the people generally very well dressed,
forming evidently an important and influential part of
the citizens of Montreal. Yet the minister, because he
was born in the United States, is forbidden to marry
even the members of his own congregation. Mr. Per-
kins delivered an excellent discourse from Isaiah — "Woe
unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward
of his hand shall be given him."

The Catholic cathedral may be justly termed an
ornament to the world. I like the outside, however,
rather better than the interior arrangements. The
spires or towers, it seems, are to be carried to a great
height. Perhaps it is owing to early associations, but
I confess I see more beauty in the bluish grey freestone
of the church of Montreal than in the' costly marble of
the New York city hall. Strangers visiting this place
should by no means omit going to see the foundling
hospital, and that of the Hotel Dieu. On the top of
the great church here, large gilt crosses have been
placed. This is not in accordance with the chaste sim-
plicity of the architecture; and it is, moreover, in bad
taste : with the representation of a cross, as connected

THE CATHOLIC CLERGY.

149

with Christianity, we associate the idea of pain, igno-
miny, and privation— not of wealth, gold, or gilding.
The image of Christ suspended on the cross, inside the
building, is a far more appropriate Christian emblem.
The cross is there of wood, painted a death colour.

Never did a church establishment in any country
present fewer objectionable points than that of l^ower
Canada.* The Catholic religion is professed by a
majority of the people, and the clergy of that faith are
maintained, not by a tithe, but by a twenty-sixth part
of the produce of the land of those persons only who
are members of that church. No man is forced to be a
Catholic, consequently no man is forced to pay or
maintain a Catholic minister. Yet, in a case where a
parish priest sued and recovered a very small sum
from one or two persons as his dues or stipend, the
" Canadian Courant," echoed by the *' Montreal
Herald," sounded the alarm at tithes, tithe proctors,
demoralizing the laity, and so forth. This course

* Early ia this session of the legislature I introduced my annual
motion, declaratory against a government-appointed chaplain in assembly,
and against an established church. The question was left to a committee,
which reported that " ia England there is a church established by law,
which the king at his coronation is solemnly sworn to maintain," but
" Your committee do not admit that the church of England is the
established church of this province, and are therefore of opinion
that the executive, if possessed of the right, might appoint a
minister of any sect of Christians to officiate as chaplain of this House.
Constituted as the House of Assembly of this province now is, and must
always continue to be, of persons of various religious denominations, the
appointment of any chaplain will, in all probability, be unsatisfactory to a
majority of the House."

The House adopted the report by a large majority, and the chaplain
and his kneeling-stool were dismissed soon after.

\.'\

150

LOWER CANADA TITHES.

appears to be unfair and uncalled for, seeing the
people themselves continue the willing members of a
church which could not otherwise compel them to
maintain its ministers, or support it in any shape
whatsoever. On the publication in the " Courant," the
late Mr. Tracey, of the •* Vindicator," thus commented ;
" Between Irish and Canadian tithes there is as
much difference as we can possibly conceive between
any two things under the same appellation. An op-
pressive and cruel tyrant does not differ more from a
mild and affectionate ruler, though the common term of
king applies to both. The Irish tithes are paid mostly
by Roman Catholics to a Protestant clergy ; to men
who give no value, perform no service, do no one act
for wiiich, in conscience, they should receive any thing
whatever — the Canadian tithe is paid by a Roman
Catholic people, and none other, to Roman Catholic
clergymen, who perform every service which duty
and religion direct them. The Irish tithe is nomi-
nally one-tenth of the produce of the land, but more
frequently one-sixth — the Canadian pays the twenty-
sixth. The Protestant parson harasses the poor man
with a troublesome set under the various names of
tithe-proctors, valuators, appraisers, &c. &c. — the
Canadian clergyman receives his portion direct from
the farmer, taking, almost in every case, his word for
the accomplishment of the contract. The Protestant
parson drags the unfortunate defaulter before an Ec-
clesiastical Court, a species of mock tribunal, where
in every instance he is sure to prevail — the Cana-
dian priest has the same recourse as other men, and

CATHOLIC CLERGY.

151

receives no favour or affection : if he cannot make his
claim good, he suffers defeat and the consequences of
it. While oppression of every kind is heaped on the
head of the unfortunate Irishman, the Canadian
farmer has but little to pay, though there is a service
performed ; and it is but a rare instance where such
a case as one of compulsion takes place."

The Canadian pays tithe of wheat only. There are
no other tithes demanded.

I i

CLIMATE OF THE CANADAS— THE QUAIL— MONTREAL

WHARF.

The variety of climates to be found in the two Ca -
nadas, if unknown to those who visit Quebec, may
occasion many mistakes. On consulting the map of
North America, the settlements of Kingston, York,
Niagara, and Sandwich, will be met many degrees to
the south-west; and, as they are not mountainous, the
heat increases as you ascend the river St. Lawrence
and the great lakes to the head of Lake Erie. While the
t'weller in Quebec is shivering in flannels, in the midst
of ice and snow, the inhabitant of some parts of Upper
Canada may be glad to seek relief from the noon-day
heat in the shade, though dressed in the lightest cloth-
ing. The following article, which I select from the
Kingston (Upper Canada) Chronicle, of Oct. 22, 1831,
shows the variety of climates, in the case of the
quail : —

" A very unpr'^cedented occurrence took place here
on Tuesday last, A gentleman observed a bevy of

152

MONTREAL WHARF.

quails lighting in his garden (a bird scarcely known
beyond the limits of the Niagara district) ; and,
doubtful as to the identity of the birds, he called upon
an officer of this garrison, whose house adjoined the
garden, to assist him in capturing the unexpected
visiters. Every exertion that humanity could suggest
to save the lives of the fugitive beings was resorted to ;
in vain were they enveloped in the umbrage of hats,
caps, pocket-handkerchiefs, and other harmless mis-
siles, until at length necessity obliged a recurrence to
the infallible detonator, when three out of the bevy fell
under the unerring aim of one of the party, who has
the merit of recording the fact of beinor the first that
ever saw or ever shot a quail in the neighbourhood of
Kingston. The birds were in admirable order, and
did not appear to have suffered by their migration to
a less genial climate than that of their nativity."

Although several ships had arrived at Quebec from
Europe, the navigation between that port and Mon-
treal continued to be impeded by ice for a fortnight
after I reached the latter place. I waited for a
steam- boat passage, and have to return my thanks for
the kind and friendly attentions which I received from
some of the priucipal Canadian families during my
stay.

" On hoard the Steam-packet Waterloo^

River St. Lawrence, April I6th, 1831.

" We sailed from Montreal this morning at eleven,
half an hour after the departure of the Lady of the
Lake, the first steam-boat for Quebec during the pre-
sent season. The port of Montreal now presents a very
lively scene — quite different to what it was a week ago.

MONTREAL WHARF.

153

All is bustle and business — Durham boats unloading
grain — steamers sounding brief notes of preparation —
carmen bawling and screaming ' sacre" — merchants
and their clerks moving in all directions with anxious
faces full of profit and loss — canoes and batteaux
loading, unloading, paddling, and ferrying — windmills,
their sails engrossing every passing breeze — brewers
and distillers darkening the face of heaven with clouds
of smoke — piles, yea even wharfs of ice, making active
reparations for a passage down Lake St. Peter's —
woodmen providing their costly fuel — bells tolling
for departed saints or departing sinners — carpenters
fashioning steam-boats and schooners — and last, though
not least, rain heavily pouring down upon poor mor-
tals, as it has done, with brief intermissions, ever since
I left home. We stop to-night at Sorel, a village
remarkable only as the scene of Attorney-General
Stuart's defeat and the indirect cause of his present
disgrace.* It has now on its wharfs the largest quan-
tity of iriwood for steam-boats that I ever saw piled
in one place ; also plenty of excellent fish."

* Mr. Stuart, brother of the Archdeacon of Kingston, begun public
life in Lower Canaua a thorough reformer, and was returned to the legis-
htiiie by the Canadians for the city of Montreal. Office had its charni;',
however; and, with the authority of Attorney-General, and the income
(as he said) of 5000^. a-year, the placeman became the bitter persecutor
of his old friends the patriots. At length the House of Assembly unani-
mously impeached him of high crimes and misdemeanours; Lord Aylmer
suspended him ; and the head of the Colonial Department, after hearing
his defences, and takino; the opinion of Sir Thomas Denman, condemned
and dismissed him. The Hon. Mr. Viger was the agent for the Assembly.
Mr. Stuart and hiw fricniis used most provoking language towards Lord
Goderich for this act of justice ; and Ihey now boast that he (Mr, S.) is
appointed Chief Justice of Newfoundland, evidently a calumny directed
against Mr. Stanley. Should Mr. Stuart be hereafter placed in office in
the coloiiies, ! trust that some independent member of the Commons will
iHove for the production of the papers containing the above transactions.

H 5

i .

154

ii I

SIR JAMES KEMPT— SIR JOHN COLBORNE.

"Washington himself was a country surveyor; Franklin, a journeyman
printer; General Green, a blaci^smith ; Roger Sherman, of the first Con-
gress that declared independence, was a shoemaker." — Stuart's Three
years in North America.

" There is no class of the Canadian people, however small, nor iiidivi-
dual among them, however obscure lis situation, to whose petitions his
Majesty does not require that the most exact and respectful attendance
should be given." — "Despatch" — The Earl of Bh^n to Sir J. Co/Lome,
Nov. 8, 1832.

" Our colonies were the receptacles for all those inefficient -personages
whose qualifications will not bear the scrutiny of the public at home.
Corruption at home has an appearance of decency with it ; but the coIo>
nies are 'foul as Vulcan's smithy,'"— Morninff Chronicle, Nov. 16, 1832.

I HAVE read, in a Lower Canada newspaper, an anec-
dote of Sir James Kenjpt, worthy of the representa-
tive of a British king, such as fancy would love to
paint him.

A common labourer, in some of the public works
at Quebec, whose daily earnings by the sweat of his
brow were all-important to him and his little family,
was cruelly and arbitrarily dismissed by the superin-
tendent from his employment, for the alleged offence oi'
signing a petition, complaining of grievances. The
injured peasant laid his wrong before the governor,
praying his innpirage between his petitioner and those
who were about to ruin him. This illustrio\is person,
governed in all his public actions by the principles of
equal justice, which in the end ever prove the wisest
policy, ordered his immediate restoration. In Upper
Canada it is otherwise. — George Rolph, Esq., of Dundas,
Halton county, was most arbitrarily dismissed from the
situation of Clerk of the Peace, upon pretended charges
of misdemeanor in his office, without any proof of the

SIR JAMES KEMPT — SIR JOHN COLBORNE.

155

truth of such charges, and with an open refusal to hear
any defence from the accused, — the known and just
provisions of the statute-la\' to the contrary notwitli-
stfinding. Against this flagrant injustice and oppres-
sion, an appeal was made to Sir John Colborne, who.
with all the promptness indicative of satisfaction or of
a previous knowledge of the transaction, ratified and
sanctioned the shameful proceedings ; to the evil ex-
ample of all other magistrates in the like case oftend-
ing against the good, equal, and upright government
of our lord the king, his crown, and dignity. Such is
the difference between the conduct of a Kempt and a
Colborne, in corresponding situations, and just as w ide
is the difference between the men themselves.

Notwithstanding trie nial-administration of the exe-
cutive, and the want of confidence felt in the courts of
justice, there is yet a powerful feeling of friendship
towards England beyond the Atlantic ; but the people
there, as well as here, wish to be rid of a costly, cor-
rupt, smd oppressive system. Ask a Canadian, —
Would you desire an established ch\irch ; the ministers
to be paid by the state ? He will reply. No, no ; let all
denominations be equal. Would you desire the law
of primogeniture ? — No. The election of your own
justices of the peace ? — Yes. The control over your
wild lands and all other revenue ? — Yes. Cheap, eco-
nomical government? — Undoubtedly. The election of
your own governors? — Ay. Of your legislative coun-
cillors? — Ay. Well then, would you not also wish
to be joined to the United States ? — No, never ! *

* In commenting on a debnte in the House of Commons, relating to the
commerce of the Canadu>, the " Quebec Gazette," speaking of EnglaiJ,

1 I

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156

GOVERNMENT VERMONT AND

'1 1

GOVERNMENT— VERMONT AND UPPER CANADA
COMPARED.*

" I am heartily disgusted with the times. Tiie universal cry is Liberty /"
—Letter from Mr. Eddia, of the Customs, Maryland. Annapolis, 1775.

•' I confeKH that it is with regret I see this country interfere with the
regulation of those colonic*, either as respects the representation of the
state, or their financial aflTuirs."— S/ueecAo/ A/;-. Stanley, May 2, 1828.

" It it ohviotisly only by a system of good, steady, and conciliatory go-
vernmesi!, that ' Canada ' can, if worth retaining, he preserved. The
people triu»t be interested in the maintenance of the government by its
cheapness, impai'i'ility, efficiency, and the purity of the administration of
justice. At |tre»tTit. all are dissatisfied." — Siuarfs Three Years in North
America,

" If Icginlnlive capacity is hereditary with large landed estates, it may
well be suppoHed trunsmissible, in a smaller degree, with s»»a//er sections
of the soil."-— 7V«e Sun, Nov. 3, 1832.

I iiAVi: (ItTivcd both instruction and amusement
while coiilinud to the cabin by the rain, in reading

sayn, — " In our minds there can be no kind of doubt that she ought to
keep the colonics. The only thing to be considered is, the maimer in
which hIic may best an<i mo : cheaply keep them. On this subject there
muy be difCeicnces of opinion.

" If fJrcfit Ijritain were to abandon Canada, all her North American
colonies must fjill very soon. \^'e do think it hard, that the mother
country, so heavily taxed as she is already, should be burdened for se-
curing it, Fortificali'ins to some e>. tent may be necessary; tlie Rideau
Caiiiil, a* a means of conveying troop-', and stores, may also be necessary,
— although we think tiiat an army ai lil)erty to cross the St. Lawrence
miglit euHily cut oil' the communication on the Ottawa and Rideau Canal :
it is only in the view of cheaply conveying supplies to Upper Canada
befiire a war, tlcit lliis canal can be useful.

" Anoiher mt-anfi, and one agreed by all to be essential, is the security
ariiiing (rum the afTeciioti of the inhabitants of the country. It is singular
that thi^ sIkpiiM have been very often neglected; but the affection of the
Canadas i» shaken with difficulty, — it is at all times very easily gained,
and it in very zealous. Under the fne operation of our eslublished con-
ititulion, the ol)«i'rwince of public rights, and a free outlet for trade, that
•fl'eclion, we nuiy siii'ely say, will never be shaken."

• " The U|)per Canadian " (I quote the "Quebec_Gazette") "sees tlie

UPPER CANADA COMPARED.

157

a close-printed octavo of 231 pages, purporting to
be the " Journal of the General Assembly of the State
of Vermont ;" for their session began at Montpelier on
the second Thursday of October and closed on the se-
cond Thursday in November last, after a sitting of four
weeks. The proceedings of this body will be more
interesting on account of the similarity in the condi-
tion of our colony and Vermont in point of population,
pursuits, religion, language, and origin. Our popula-
tion is over 250,000 ; so is theirs. We are an inland

people of the adjoining frontier thriving and contented, without the most
distant idea uf any insecurity of the advantages which they enjoy. He
sees the southern bani(s of the great river and lai^es, which are known to
have been a wilderness when the Upper Canadian settlements were so far
advanced that the first settlers on the American side depended on 'hem for
a supply of provisions ; and he beholds them now surpassing the Cana-
tliian inhabitants in all the necessaries and comforts of life, secure, con-
tented, and satisfied with their own government. Those who count on
j'lejudices, and ancient hostilities and declamation, long to resist the in-
fluence of such facts, are mere dreamers. Even power, and a sense of
duty, alune, are not to be trusted as a sure means of resisting them. There
is no safe course but to intrust the people of Upper Canada with an in-
fluence in the management of their own concerns, something like that
which prevails in the adjoining country, and thereby throw the burden
of any disadvantageous comparison which they may draw from their con-
dition on themselves.

" Instead of this, for many years past, their wishes, their views, and
efforts, have been disregarded and obstructed; their means misapplied,
their character vilified, and their liberties attempted to be wrested from
them or restrained ; and all in the na-ne, too, of the British government,
which in reality can have no wish, object, or interest, in opposition to the
happiness, prosperity, and contentment of the subject in these colonies.

" It is time that this state of things should cease. If one set of men in
Upper Canada have so managed as to bring it about ; if they have rendered
themselves odious to the great body of the people there, and in some mea-
sure implicated the British government, others must be found who will
cease to follow in the same steps, and prove to all, that a contented and
thriving population is not less compatible with the British government in
Upper Canada than in the United States."

158

GOVERNMENT — VERMONT AND

country, chiefly employed in agriculture, and having
no seaport ; so are they. With us many religious sects
flourish ; ditto in Vermont. We chiefly speak the
English language ; so do they. And, lastly, our origin
is in the main British, or Anglo-American (Ireland,
that prolific land, never being forgotten) ; such also
appears to be their genealogy.

In soil and climate we have a decided advantage
over these democrats; and in so far as a costly splendid
government is (and must be) superior to a cheap and
popular one, we have equal cause of self-gratulation.

I proceed to state a few facts from the Journal : —

The legislative session in Vermont generally lasts
four weeks, and what the country desires is at once
accomplished.

Each town in the state is entitled to send one mem-
ber, who is elected by ballot, and must have a majority
of all the votes given at the election.

Each member is paid at the rate of one dollar and
a half per day of wages out of the state treasury, in
lieu of expenses, and also allowed mileage-money to
and from the seat of government.

There are thirteen counties, some of them containing
upwards of twenty towns, and one county which con-
tains but four towns.

The meetings of the assembly are, a morning session
commencing at nine, and an evening session usually
beginning at two. The season of meeting is October,
which is most convenient to the farmers there,

A select committee is annually appointed to report
rules tor the government of the House of Representa-
tives. All the committees are appointed by the Speaker

UPPER CANADA COMPARED.

159

within the three first days of the session, but, on mo-
tion of any member, the appointment may be overruled
by the House, in which case the vacancy must be in-
stantly filled, on the nomination of some member. The
Speaker may speak on all questions of order in pre-
ference to any other member ; and appeals from his
decision to the House are to be decided without de-
bate.

The number of towns in Vermont exceeds 200 (ge-
nerally about six miles square), and the number of
members sent by them to the general assembly con-
sequently exceeds 200. Their attendance is regidar and
punctual, as may be seen by the yeas and nays. On
the first division recorded on the journal, 199 members
were present ; and during the last recorded vote of the
session, 175 were in attendance.

They elect their Speaker and engrossing clerk an-
nually by ballot, and their clerk by nomination. The
Secretary of State is also elected annually by the as-
sembly by ballot.

At each division of the assembly, the clerk takes
down the name of each member ; and his constituents
(as with us in the Canadas) may, at any future time,
refer to the journals for an official extract of his vote.

The government of Vermont is more like that of a
municipal corporation than is that of Upper Canada,
which latter has cognizance of foreign trade, &c.

1 1 '1

* ,

' h^

160

GOVERNMENT-VERMONT.

" Unless we can make the Canadians more anxious to remain under
British sway than to shake it off, and more attached to Great Britain
than to a nearer ne- ' our, it is futile to fancy that we ever can continue to
rule them. If thei - ?sts would, in their own eyes, be better consulted
by quitting this coi> y tiia,! by adhering to her — if they can gain any
tiling by the separation — if they see an English minister attempt to make
out a case for England veriu$ Canada, or for a British Governor versua
a Canadian Parliament, it is all over ; the colony takes lire, and will not
be worth the expense or bloodshed of a contest (an unsuccessful contest)
to preserve her. The Legislative Council must be remodelleil or abo-
lished."— 77ie Times, May bth, 1828.

" We suppose the reforms about to be introduced into the civil admi-
nistration of these colonies will wither, for the present, the Roft, blushing,
pulpy germ of democracy which — most frightful to the fat churchmen and
loyal lawyers — had appeared in these regions during the last few years.
We advise the Canadians, in a very friendly way, to take as much out of
John Bull as they can get, while he is in the humour. It will be full
time for [them to think of democratic committees and regular nomina-
tions when John buttons up his purse, flies into a passion, and swears
he won't give another brass farthing. There is a time for all things ;
and when the time comes, let them send down to New York, and they
shall have a ' schoolmaster* to teach them the A, B, C,of democracy very
cheap." — M.M. Noah. — New York Courier and Enquirer, 1831.

The freemen of Vermont have the privilege of elect-
ing their governor, lieutenant-governor, treasurer, and
twelve executive councillors, annually by ballot, in
their respective townships, on a certain day named in
the constitution. On the first day of their Parlia-
mentary Session in each year, the Speaker of the
Assembly nominates a committee, consisting of three
members from each county, " to join such committee
as the governor in council may appoint, to receive,
sort, and count the votes for governor, lieutenant-
governor, treasurer, and councillors."

If, on counting the votes, it appears that no one

GOVERNMENT VERMONT.

161

candidate had a majority of all the suffrages to each

or any of these offices, the council and assembly with

the governor in office meet in joint committee, and

ballot until some one person has a majority of suf-

fr-iges to the office or offices not filled by ^.h^.' f f^emen.

1830, it appeared that 30,721 freenrcf? b td /oted

overnor; but no one candidate Uavin>/ had a

<i y of the whole votes, the governor, council, and

uabeiiiuJy, after several ballotings, elected Mr. Crafts,

the candidate who had the greatest plurality of the

suflfrages of the people.

The Speaker was authorized to assign a seat on the
floor of the House to such person or persons as he
should approve, to report the debates and proceedings
of the general assembly.

There is no legislative council or senate. The
governor and his council of twelve transact executive
business, and also fonn a second branch of the legis-
lature; sitting, considering, and giving or refusing
their assent to bills, resolutions, &c. The printed
copies of the acts of the state are divided, by order of
the Assembly, equally among the towns according to
their organization and population, and not as with us.

Both houses met in joint committee on the 16th of
October, at nine in the morning, and elected a chaplain
of the General Assembly by joint ballot. The gover-
nor neither attempted, by divine or by royal permission,
to send parson, gown, bands^ cloak, kneeling-stool,
nor prayer-book ! !

On the 18th of October, a committee of five mem-
bers from each congressional district in Vermont were
elected, un nomination of the Speaker of the Assembly,

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GOVERNMENT — VERMONT.

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to receive, sort, and count the votes in their several
districts, for members to represent Vermont in Con-
gress. [Upper Canada has not (nor can have) even
an agent of the people to give wholesome counsel and
advice to the British Ministry and nation on their
behalf!]

By the report of the auditor of the treasury, it
appears that the whole income and taxes of the state
for the year ending September last, amounted to a
little over 13,000/., or about the same sum that was
received by the executive of Upper Canada last year
for the arrearages of wild land&s foolishly sold for taxes,
and chiefly squandered by district justices over whom
their country has no control. On the dividends of eight
banks of the state of Vermont, a tax of six per cent,
had been very properly laid, yielding, in 1830, upwards
of 500/. A year's revenue in Upper Canada is not
less than 140,000/. / can prove this any moment.

The expenditure of the state for the year ending
September 1830, consisted of —

1st. The expenses of the Ger-^ral Assembly of
1829, including mileage, and wages of upwards of 200
members, with their clerks, espeaker, and all contin-
gencies, printing, &c. &c. for both houses, only 2618/.
[Our legislative representation (I suppose I must not
call it, in the words of Macbeth, " unreal mockery ")
costs the good people of the colony upwards of 8500/.
a year, and performs not one-tenth of the good service
of that of Vermont !]

2d. One year's salary of the judges of the Sapreme
Court amounts to 1469/. ; off which is deducted the
fees received by the court in civil suits, or 533/. in

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GOVERNMENT — VERMONT.

163

1630. — [In Upper Canada, the judges and pensioned
judges of the Supreme Court perform infinitely less
service to the country than their Vermont brethren,
and cost the farmers of Upper Canada 10,000/. a year
nearly ! What then ? Upper Canada was made for
gentlemen, Vermont for farmers !]

3rd. The several states' attorneys in the different
counties receive moderate compensation for their
services, in all amounting, in 1830, to 400/. and
upwards; they paying into the public treasury all
fines, and forfeitures, and fees, and costs charged or
recovered by them, in all actions carried on by them
at the expense and in the name of the state< In
1630 they paid in about 200/. more than they
received, and therefore cost less than nothing. — [In
Upper Canada, in 1830, the province attorneys,
general, and those travelling luminaries the clerks of
assize, cost the country not less in all than 4560/.]

4th. The Secretary of State for Vermont received,
in 1 830, a salary of 1 12/. The same officer in Upper
Canada (Cameron) touched upwards of 1000/. of
public cash in the same time for fewer and less im-
portant services ! In Vermont, if one tenth of a man's
time is employed by the public, he is allowed for that
tenth only ! — [In Upper Canada, he who labours for a
few days is paid several hundred pounds, and consi-
dered a servant by the year. They have no sergeant-
at-arms, usher of the black rod, master in chancery, or
clerk of the crown in chancery, in Vermont. With
us, in Upper Canada, these idle and useless worthies
consume several hundred pounds a year of the taxe.'«
paid by the people.]

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GOVERNMENT — VEI|MONT.

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5th. The salary of the clerk of the House of As-
sembly of Vermont is 94^ a year, and there are an
abundance of able candidates. Mr. Fitzgibbon, the
clerk of the Assembly in Upper Canada, has now an
income from that source alone of 4O01. and upwards.

6th. The secretary to the governor and council of
Vermont receives 62/. a year, and is an efficient
officer. — [In Upper Canada, there are * * * *
*" * # * ♦ and some half-a-dozen equally

useful persons, who contrive to divide the secretary's
office among them under different names, and charge
just 3146/. a year for their trouble in contriving work
for themselves.]

7th. One engrossing clerk costs Vermont 19/. a
year ; half-a-dozen such clerks contrive to draw 300/.
if not 400/. out of the good folks in Upper Canada.
Too many costly servants are worse than none.

8th. The auditor of public accounts to Vermont
state is well paid with 19/. a yec.r. The auditor of
public accounts in Upper Canac' ontrives to divide
the job with the inspector-genera ..he said accounts,
and they with their company of clerks cost 1415/. a
year. Where is the farruer who would not fight for
glory, for a great public debt, high salaries, and
higher taxes ? There is no glory, no public debt, no
high taxation, no (overwhelming salaries, in Vermont.
Each man pursues happiness there in his own way.
Where is the Upper Canada tax-payer, where is the
law-mill-ground farmer, who woidd not heartily despise
such a cheap constitution ; and cry out lustily, " Down
with the democrats !"

9th. The treasurer of the State of Vermont has held

GOVERNMBNT — VERMONT.

165

office many years ; is respectable, wealthy, and intelli-
gent. He is annually re-elected to office, and his
salary as treasurer (and school commissioner) is 12bl.
a year. But in Vermont there are such things as
public spirit, patriotism, love of country, a determina-
tion to enjoy the blessings of freedom. Wealth is but
a secondary object with these modern Romans. — In
Upper Canada, the province-treasurer gets the use or
interest of vast sums of public money, has his thou-
sands in the monopoly bank, and 1000/. a year for
keeping the money of the aristocracy safe for their
especial use !

VERMONT.

"I know, my Lords, that some persons make a different application of
those facts of history, and say, ' See what are the effects of concession :
when you offered to the Americans all that they required, they would not
accept it.' But their refusal is easily explained. The concession was not
made in time. You persevered in resisting the reasonable demands of
your fellotv-subjects, until at length you drove those colonies into the
arms of France." — Newspaper Report of Earl Grey's Speech on the
Reform Bill.

" It is now too late ! "—Revolution of 1830. Reply of Lafayette to
the Duke of Mont imartf sent to him at the Hotel tie Fillefrom Charles X,

"The people are at last possessed of the right of choosing their own
k)cal magistrates, and the appointment of nearly 3000 ofiSces is thus
placed in the proper depositary." — De Witt Clinton.

The salary of the Governor of the great state of Ver-
mont is just 700 dollars a year; and with that moderate
recompense many there are of high-minded and ho-
nourable natives who would be glad to assume the
cares of office, and faithfully fulfil the important duties
which annually devolve on the chief magistrate of

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VERMONT.

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250,000 freemen. If, in Upper Canada, faithful, well-
informed Canadians are always found anxious to be
honoured with the suffrages of their countrymen as re-
presentatives in our inefficient House of Assembly, their
recompense being but 30^ a year, how much more
willingly would they give their disinterested services,
each in his turn ac governor, *' with a single view to the
interests and prospeiity of the state ! " But while 175/.
amply compensates the active, enterprising, and intel-
ligent Van Nesses, Galushas, and Lincolns, for their
expenses in guiding the helm of state, the Maitlands,
Gores, and Colbornes, have successively hung like a
dead weight upon the honest industry of the English
and Canadian people, uselessly consuming out of the
public revenues four and even five thousand pounds a
year, to be expended in producing what the majority
of the intelligent and well-informed among mankind
would term a rickety, corrupt, and unnatui'al system,
alike injurious and destructive to the best interests of
the people of England and America.

The governors of Vermont retire from oflfice to mix
among the citizens, become judges, or represent the
state in Congress; the governors of the colonies are
never selected, except from that class who carry their
gains and families across the ocean the moment they
are recalled.

In Vermont all petitions, bills, resolutions, and
accounts left imdecided in one year, are, as a matter of
course, taken up and decided by the next assembly.
Not so in Canada.

The governors of Vermont, unlike presidents of the
United States, deliver a speech to the General As-

VERMONT.

167

sembly, soon after being notified of their appointment
to office. Governor Crafts in 1830 delivered an excel-
lent address, as appears by the journals. " If," said
he, " our liberties be ever subverted, it will be effected
through the agency of the uninformed and unreflecting
portion of our population, guided and directed by un-
principled and designing men. In gpvernments founded
by the people for the security of their persons, their
property, and their privileges, the meeting of the re-
presentatives will ever be viewed with the most lively
interest ; for, coming from every part of the govern-
ment, they must necessarily possess a knowledge of all
the wants, as well as the wishes, of their constituents.
As no human wisdom can devise a code of laws which
will permanently apply to the ever-varying interests
and pursuits of civilized man, frequent meetings of the
legislature, therefore, become indispensably necessary
to examine the operation of the laws on the various
subjects to which they apply — to rescind such as are
unnecessary, or have proved oppressive in their appli-
cation — and to provide such others as the varyhig
circvmistances of the community may render neces-
sary."

Yes, 175^ to meet expenses produces an able and
patriotic governor, of native connexions; and that is
more than services of plate and 4000/. a year have been
able to do for Upper Canada, from among gentlemen
sent across the Atlantic, sometimes to intrigue for the
subversion of liberty and popular rights.

The governor of Vermont, and the Council and
House of Representatives, meet from time to time, by
appointment, during the session, and receive from the

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168

VERMONT.

members of Assembly for each county their nomina-
tion of county officers for each ensuing year. The
people's representatives from the several towns form
annual appointing committees for their respectiv e coun-
ties, and nominate assistant county judges, also she-
riffs, high bailiffs, states' attorneys, judges of probate,
commissioners of roads and of gaol delivery, and all the
justices of the peace. These appointments, though
annual, are very generally continuations, unless the
country wills it otherwise. [In Upper Canada, by way
of contrast, we have had the Rolph and Colborne case
^the Matthews and Maitland case — and the Willis
and Robinson case — all very instructive, without
doubt !]

On the 21st October, 1830, the governor, council,
and assembly, all emanating from the people of Ver-
mont, assembled, and by separate ballots elected a se-
nator to serve for six years in the senate of the United
States. [When will the voice of Upper Canada be
thus heard in the House of Lords of England ? When
will the vote of some peer cease to outweigh in that
house the opinions of 280,000 British subjects ! !]

The governors of Vermont never pardon in cases of
condemnation for murder. If they see reason to stay
execution, the case is submitted to the people's repre-
sentatives, who either allow the law to take its course,
or proceed by bill to mitigate the judgment, which bill
the governor and council must agree to, else it will be
of no validity.

In cases of contested elections, of which only two
occurred in 1830, the committee on elections hears evi-
dence, sustains or dismisses the complaint, and declares

VERMONT.

169

who is entitled to the seat. The House may either
concur in or dissent from the resolutions of their com-
mittee. A committee is appointed in one year to ex-
amine the several banks of the state ; it is their duty
to report next year the result to the assembly, and it
appears that they do so. With a poorer soil and worse
climate than Upper Canada, Vermont maintains ten
banks, each conveniently located, with a small capital
of 15,000^. to 20,000/. There, there are no privileged
classes to sacrifice the interests of the many to the
avarice or vanity of the few; and to tell the people,
that the bank paper of an irresponsible junto of public
functionaries, and none other, shall circulate.

The auditor-general and surveyor -general of Ver-
mont are chosen annually, if necessary, by the governor,
council, and assembly, by ballot. We of Upper Canada
have got a Mr. Hurd appointed as chief surveyor, but
the country know nothing of him, nor he of them.

The House refused permission for a lottery in the
state — refused even to accept a tax on lottr i es.

The House refused to allow the Hon. Batt-s Turner
75/. compensation as a late judge of the supreme court,
over and above his iialary, although, in consequence
of the indisposition of another judge and the increasing
business of that year, he had had much additional
labour to perform. They heard him at the bar, a
committee recommended an additional allowance, mo-
tion after motion was made in his favour, in vain. In
Upper Canada, the government, out of the people's
money, in a similar case, would have at once paid the
courtly judge, without asking the opinion of the Par-
liament, unless it happened to be a very servile one,

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VERMONT.

500/. or 1000/. to enable liim to purchase bank stock
or wild land at sheriffs' sales for taxes^ in order thereby
to create a pecuniary aristocracy !

Tlie constitution and laws of Vermont exclude no
one as a witness in the courts of law who believes in a
God. The assembly annually elect their commissioners
of common schools, who appear by their reports to be
a very efficient body, and receive and ask only a mo-
derate sum for their expenses. In Upper Canada the
people have nothing to do with these things. Dr.
St radian has his 300/, a year, his 2000 acres now and
then in the Gore of Toronto ; his glebes and mission
money and councilships, and the public schools are none
the better for his superintendence.

Instead of allowing the military person sent to com-
mand the troops to select four bank directors, and thus
J^lay into the hands of the bank monopoly by choosing
from the monopolists themselves, the Vermonters meet
together, governor, council, and assembly, and then
elect by ballot annually three directors to represent
the state in the state bank.

The principal officers of the militia of Vermont are
filled up by the joint resolution of the governor, council,
and assembly, who, emanating from and returning to
the people, are very harmonious in their decisions. In
the assembly they stop idle debate often, by calling for
the previous question, viz. : " Shall the main question
be now put ?" by which a decision is obtained at once,
and much time saved.

There is in Vermont a court of chancery, and the
people take good care that law shall be kept both cheap
and expeditious. There are also a state's prison, and

50/.
of t
penc

VERMONT.

171

deaf and dumb institution, and economy, which is
better than all.

On the 11th of November, at six in (he mornings
the legislature of Vermont met, thanked their speaker,
and were complimented by him, sent a message to the
governor that they had concluded the public business ;
the governor attended, the chaplain said prayers, and,
by order of the governor, the sheriff of Washington
county prorogued the parliament indefinitely.

1 mention these facts and dwell upon them, with the
view of convincing those who are interested in preserving
the connexion subsisting between Great Britain and
her North American Colonies, that an alteration in the
system of their domestic government ought to take
place, in order to give them an opportunity of removing
the extravagant church and state establishments which
are now pressing down their energies. * * *

The above comparison between the state and the
colony has been published in Upper Canada in English,
and in Lower Canada in French. The Journal of
Vermont, which furnished the ground-work of my
commentary, went to the bottom of the St. Lawrence
in the Waterloo the following Monday morning.

The road to honour, power, and preferment in the
United States, is " public opinion." In an agricultural
state, farmers make the laws, and if wrong is done, they
have themselves to blame, and can provide a remedy
at any time by an extra session. A cognovit in the
Court of King's Bench, Upper Canada, for a debt of
50Z. costs the defendant 'SI. In Vermont any justice
of the peace can take the same cognovit for fifteen
pence. He does it in less than fifteen minutes, and

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VERMONT.

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t he act is legal and efficient. Is it because the peoplt*
{' W'rniont live in a republic that law is cheap and
speedy there? No such thing. It is because there the
farmers make the laws to suit themselves, while iu
Upper Canada they could only attain that jwwer by
the concession of Enuliind, or a revolution.

SHIPWRECK OF THE WATERLOO.

" If Mc look for a more correct or moral people than the Canadian
hahitans, we may search in vain."— 3/'Gr«gror'» Britith America,

TO MR. JAMES BAXTER, YORK, UPPER CANADA.

MailhoVs Hotels Quebec, Tuesday,
April, i8th, 1831.
In my letter of Saturday last, I informed you that I
liad taken a passage for this city on board the
Waterloo steam-boat. I now write to express my
very great satisfaction at the miraculous escape of the
passengers and crew of that fine vessel from sudden
destruction in the ice of the St. Lawrence ; and to
narrate hastily my perilous adventure.

On Saturday night we stopped at William Henry,
and by eleven in the forenoon of Sunday were at the
wharf of Three Rivers, the steam-boat Lady of the
. Lake keeping constantly a short distance a-head of
us. It was the general wish of the passengers, that
Captain Perry would proceed, although he had no
certain information that the bridge of ice off' Cape
Rouge (pronounced here Karuzh) had given way,
and he did so. When off" . Dechambault, one of the
company's pilots came on board, and said he had

SHIPWRECK OF THE WATERLOO.

173

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rt»rtain information that the ice at Carouge liad gone
tlown, and left the channel clear. Towards night,
Mr. Lyman, of the house of Hedge and Lyman, Mon-
treal, expressed to me some doubts as to the danger
of our situation ; but I confess I had no fears what-
ever, but believed that, by midnight at least, we \void<l
be oft' the wharf here. About twenty miles above this
city, however, we came near to the great body of ice
with which the chaimel is choked up, and the master
and the pilot judged it prudent to turn about and ancho)-
in what was considered a safe place, several miles up
the river. Late in the night we cast anchor in clear
smooth water ; the Lady having previously anchored
not far above us. We neither saw nor dreamt of the
bay of ice that afterwards bore down upon us with the
ebb of the tide. The passengers and crew numbered,
perhaps, upwards of fifty persons, five or six being
women, one with a child only nine weeks old. There
were about fourteen in the upper cabin with me, and
the wife of Mr. Collins, an Englishman, from Oxford,
occupied the ladies' cabin below ours. By eleven, the
passengers were all in bed expect Mr. Lalanne of
Montreal and myself. At midnight, Mr. Lalanne also
retired, and I sat above another hour reading a book
that interested me. Mr. Lyman had only lain down
with his clothes on, such were his just apprehensions.
I took the candle about one in the morning, went
round the vessel, found all well, no appearance of
storm or danger ; I then stript, went to bed and fell
fast asleep. At two o'clock, Mr. Lyman and other
passengers awoke me, said we were in danger, that
the ice had come down upon us and was driving us

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SHIPWRECK OF THE WATERLOO.

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among the ice above Carouge, where, in all probabi-
lity, we should be lost. The ice made a dreadful din,
but I confess I apprehended nothing, so went asleep
again, and was again awaked. We had dragged one
anchor and lost the other, and had drifted into the
midst of the ice. The vessel had become unmanage-
able. The efforts of the crew to back her out were
useless, the cables being in the ice. For three hours
before the wreck, several passengers had declared their
conviction that we should all go to the bottom ; but I
lay still in my berth, and listened to their arguments,
pro and con, until half-past five. In a moment, as
it were, some vast mass of ice came down upon her
with a tremendous force ; the engine instantly stopped,
and in less than a minute she filled. I jumped up in
my shirt, caught hold of my trousers and overshoes,
and was soon on a large cake of ice on which they
had hauled the ship's boat and a bark canoe. The
passengers had all previously gone upon the ice, and
were stepping from island to island, or rather from hill
to hill, and from valley to valley of ice, endeavouring
to make the shore, which was about a mile distant.
Captain Perry, his mate, and some of his people re-
mained with the boat, near to the wreck, which at that
time had been left by all, it being supposed that she
would suddenly be engulphed by reason of the very
heavy cargo and the weight of her engine. After
helping to haul the boat a little farther on the ice, I
went close to the steamer, observed that the water
ceased to make as at first, and returning "to Captain
Perry, took his advice as to the chance I had of going
down if I returned for my clothes and baggage. He

SHIPWRECK OF THE WATERLOO.

175

thought I might venture, and in a moment I was on
board ; got my watch and pocket-book from under my
pillow, seized hold of my saddle-bags, valise, great-
coat, aiid other clothes, and without hat or boots made
for the land. It was a difficult task, but I was last,
and the track of the feet of others often guided me
when I could see no one. The tide was then makingf,
and the waters, in several places, gushed up through the
rent and rotten ice as if they would forever stop my
progress. In one hole I was nearly up to my neck h\
water; and as my overshoes Would not stay on my
feet, I added them to my luggage, of which I was
heartily tii-ed. At length I came up with Mr. Lyman,
and a poor woman who had almost given in and was
weeping bitterly. Mr. Lyman's leg had been broken
during the Montreal tailors' riot of last summer, by a
stone thrown by a tailor, and he found walking very
difficult. I kept company with him and the woman,
until by the good providence of God and the wonderful
bridge of ice he had that morning provided for us his
humble creatures, we all got safe to land at the village
of St. Nicholas, the property of Sir John Caldwell,
about sixteen miles above this city. I was quite
hoarse with cold, and very much fatigued, for no other
passenger had ventured to stop for his baggage. See-
ing, however, from the shore that the vessel was still
above water, and con-ectly judging that she was sup-
ported by the ice that had got imder her wings, the
passengers offered rewards to the Canadian peasants to
bring their baggage ashore. With their efficient aid,
the assistance of Mr. Sutton, a most hospitable and
friendly man, who resides in the seignorial house of St.

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SHIPWRECK OF THE WATERLOO.

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Nicholas; the advice of the parish priest, Mr. Du-
fresne, who took an active and lively interest on behalf
of the wrecked ; and of the captain, mate, and seamen,
(all of whom I admired for their coolness and delibe-
ration,) nearly all of the upper cabin furniture, and
bedding, the most of the passengers' baggage, and the
boat's books and papers, were saved. With the rest
of the odds and ends, my hat and boots made their
appearance, the latter well soaked in water. Among
the passengers were Messrs. Lyman, Buck, and
Lalanne, of Montreal ; Lieutenant Brooke of the 32nd
regiment ; Mr. Cowie, of the Hudson's Bay Company ;
and Messrs. Charles Stuart, Satterthwaite and Wick-
steed of this city. The lady had to be taken from the
lower cabin while under water ; and she fainted from
terror while in the midst of the ice, but was at last got
ashore. Old Mr. Ritchie, who came to Quebec about
fifty years ago from Glasgow, had great difficulty in
reaching land. The military officer in his haste left
his watch and money under his pillow, and paid a
Canadian liberally to go back for it. The Oxonian,
who had left his watch in his wife's bed in the lower
cabin, induced a Canadian to go out and dive for it —
he paid the Canadian, as I was informed, only 6s. 3d. !
A settler and his wife, on their way to Quebec, lost his
title-deeds, a large sum of money, and his trunks ; it
was impossible to get at them, as they were forward
and deep under water.

The Waterloo was the property of Messrs. John
Molson and Sons, the wealthy Montreal merchants,
?ind was probably worth 2000/. or 2500/. The cargo
was very heavy, being composed of groceries, pork.

SHIPWRECK OF THE WATERLOO.

177

whiskey, candles, beer, cider, &c. I was told tliat
one house in Montreal had shipped a hundred pun-
cheons of whiskey on board. If so, their loss will
be great.

I must not omit to state, that the sterling honesty
of the Canadians in humble life never appeared to me
in a fairer liffht than in their transactions of the morn-
ing of the shipwreck. Not one pin's value of property
did the humblest of their peasants, or peasants' boys,
attempt to secrete or lay claim to. No ! It was de-
lightful to see the little fellows, one by one, come up
to Mr. Sutton's with their loads, and lay them down
among the baggage, without even claiming praise for
their exertions. Had some of our legislators who made
invidious comparisons between the Upper and Lower
Canadians last winter in the Assembly, been with me
to see the benevolent creatures exert themselves on
our behalf, they would certainly have felt ashamed of
their censures. Savage, the mate of the Waterloo, I
particularly marked. He is a brave fellow ; he stuck
to her to the last ; and truly the engineer did his duty
well, so far as he came under my observation. When
a boy, swimming in the Tay, I was seized with a cramp;
and a schoolfellow, an excellent swimmer, caught hold
of me after I had sunk twice, and saved my life. In
no other adventure, until yesterday, have I had a full
view of apparent instant death immediately before my
eyes (for in great and long lengthened sickness the facul-
ties of the mind are impaired.) Yesterday, however, in
moments of the greatest peril, I felt perfectly calm ; and
certainly was much more alarmed at the prospect of
having a tooth extracted by Dr. Tims last winter than

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SHIPWRECK OF TIIK WATERLOO.

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at the horrid crashing of the wreck. This calmness is
of essential service for self-preservation, and always
increases the chances to save life, by enabling a person
to reason, reflect, and act speedily and decisively to the
best advantage.

St. Nicholas is a very romantic spot, well worthy
the attention of the curious. I left it at eleven, a.m.,
having taken charge of the ship's letters for Mr. Shaw,
the agent here, who is much disturbed at the disastrous
occurrence.

The passengers advertised in the Quebec Gazette
their opinion of the causes of the shipwreck of the
Waterloo, from which I send you an extract : —

" The undersigned passengers on board the steam-
boat, Waterloo, this morning wrecked in the ice oppo-
site St. Nicholas, on her passage from Montreal to
Quebec, take this early opportunity to express their
conviction that Mr. Perry, the master, and his crew,
acted with due precaution in the navigation of the
vessel, and paid the utmost attention to ensure the
safety of all on board when their situation became
dangerous. ''■

" The undersigned return their acknowledgments to

* Captain Peny, who commanded the sieam-boat Waterloo, when
shipwrecked off ('ape Rouge, on the St. Lawrence, last April, has at
length found a watery grave in that noble ri>er. He was drowned in
attempting to cross in a canoe be!u\v Montreal, on the 3rd instant. We
have already borne testimony to the anxiety he manifested, and the risk
he ran, to save the passengers in the Waterloo, of whom the editor of
this journal was one. We learn by the Montreal Herald, that this brave,
but most unfortunate youncr sailor, might have easily got to land had he
cliosrn tu abandon iiis two comrades', for he was a fine swimmer. But he
saved one of them, and, after being an hour in the river, yielded to his
fate in shoal water.^Co/tf/iirt/ Advocate.

SHIPWRECK OF TUB WATERLOO.

179

the captain and crew, for the attention thus shown, and
for the successful endeavours made to bring their bag-
gage safe to land; to Mr. Sutton also for liis great
hospitality and exertions, at much personal risk, in aid
of the crew ; as well as to the inhabitants of St. Ni-
cholas, generally, for their humane and persevering
efforts to alleviate, as far as possible, the misfortune
in which the passengers and crew were involved."

AN EMIGRANT SHIP— QUEBEC AMATEUR THEATRE.

" See on the beach
Yon grey-haired man — the last of all his line.
His is a tale well worthy of thy hearing;
He speaks a language soon to be forgot ;
And if thou linger'st but one liitle hour,
Thou'lt mourn that tale, that language, gone, exiled
To the Canadian wilderness, and \osi.'^ ^Godolphin.

" It would certainly be a source of mortification to us, to see all our
emigrating fellow>subjects relinquish their allegiance, and become citizens
of another country. At present, however, we have the satisfaction to
think that the great body of the emigrants who leave our shores, not only
remain loyal and true to us in the provinces, but become a source of wealth
and political strength to those imporant outworks of the empire — re-
doubts, as they may be called in ilie language of fortification — by which
the traverses .of the besiegers are kept at a respectable distance from the
citadel."— fia«7 Ha/rs Travel*.

I i

Quebec, April 22d to 2bth, 1631.

One forenoon I went on board the ship Airthy C astle,
from Bristol, immediately after her arrival. The passen-
gers were in number 254, all in the hold or steerage ; alt
English, from about Bristol, Bath, Frome, Warminster,
Maiden Bradley, &c. I went below, and truly it was a

180

QUEBEC AMATEUR THEATRE.

curious sight. About 200 human beings, male and female;
young, old, and middle-aged ; talking, singing, laugh-
ing, crying, eating, drinking, shaving, washing ', some
naked in bed, and others dressing to go ashore ; hand-
some young women (perhaps some) and ugly old men,
married and single ; religious and irreligious. Here a
grave matron chaunting selections from the last edition
of the? last new hymn book ; there, a brawny plough-
boy " pouring forth the sweet melody of Robin Adair."
These settlers were poor, but in general they were fine-
looking people, and such as I was glad to see come to
America. They had had a fine passage of about a month,
and they told me that no more ship loads of settlers
would come from the same quarter this year. I found
that it was the intention of many of them to come to
Upper Canada. Fortune may smile on some, and frown
on others ; but it is my opinion that few among them
will forget being cooped up below deck for four weeks
in a moveable bed-room, with 250 such fellow-lodgers
as I have endeavoured to describe.

Not the least curious feature of Quebec is its dog-
cart. These vehicles, with one, two, and sometimes
three well-trained dogs, in harness, are to be seen in
every quarter of the city. I have seen the driver riding,
and the dogs pushing along at a round trot, oftener
than once. The dogs are in this way very serviceable,
and the practice might be adopted in other places where
there are too many " idle dogs."

We of the Canadas surely require much keeping,
and are a very valuable race of people. I saw as many
military and naval officers at the Amateur Theatre,
assembled to witness the representation of General

QUEBEC AMATEUR THEATRE.

181

Bombastes Furioso, as would have swallowed up any
other nation than Great Britain for their maintenance
in idleness. They were generally good-looking men,
and if placed on farms, like Cincinnatus after the
Roman war, would have raised wheat, Indian corn,
pigs, poultry, and Johnny cake, to the benefit of our
common country. General Bombastes sat immediately
opposite General Aylmer, and supported his assumed
character, style, and dignity, much to my satisfaction.
General Aylmer is a hale, good-looking, elderly gen-
tleman, above the middle-size, and if he does not live
very comfortable, it must be his own fault, for he has a
castle in the clouds — a court studded round with fighting
cavaliers and fair damsels — a baroness who (I am
told) speaks French like a native, and does the honours
of his venerable chateau with the grace and dignity of
a Maintenon or a Josephine — a crimson throne and
chair of state — and last, but not least, about 10,000/.
a year of spending money !

QUEBEC— LEGISLATIVE LIBRARIES.

« In defiance of us, and all that our folly can accomplish, Canada, with
the far-stretching countries to the west, will eventually compose a great
empire. But we can do much at this crisis to forward that consumma-
tion, and to found lasting remembrances favourable to our own foremost
interests." — Biackwood'a Edinburgh Magazine, 1832. Review of
Macgregor't Britiih America.

Mailhofs Hotel, QuebeCf April 21, 1631.
What a variety of climates and temperatures are to
be found in Canada ! At York the ice had left the

i I

" I

\ I

I <

! .

1S2

CLIMATE AND SCENERY.

Streets and open country more than a month ago; at
Montreal, the scavengers were clearing it out of St. Paul
Street, its last resort within the city, a week ago. But
here, in the ancient capital of the Canadas, there are
as yet left abundant memorials of turbulent winter.
In defiance of sun and rain, and " gentle April breezes,"
vast quantities of snow and ice are accumulated even
in the most open and exposed parts of the country
round Quebec ; I came down from Cape Rouge the
greater part of the road in a sleigh, and in many
places the ice and snow lay two, three, four, say even
six faet deep on the highway. In the harbour here
there is a great deal of ice ; and on crossing hither from
Mackenzie's Hotel at Point Levi there is much diffi-
culty experienced in making the shore. The Cana-
dians who ferried me across skipped like supple-jacks
from island to island of floating frost, with their mo-
cassins on, and in utter defiance of cold and wet. Now
and then they held on by the boat and pushed it
towards land with astonishing celerity.

I like Quebec; I always admired its bold and
romantic scenery. Nature here exhibits her handy-
work on a grand and magnificent scale; and Art has
done much to second her eiibrts. Steep as are the
streets and heavy the ascents, yet nevertheless would
my Scottish taste prefer this rock to the most level
plains in Canada. The environs of Quebec in every
direction appear to be well and thickly settled, and
the style of cultivation in which the farms are kept is
highly creditable to the Canadian farmers. They
labour under one great disadvantage, as compared with
the Upper Canada grain-growers, not being able to sow

QUEBEC — LEGISLATIVE LIBRARIES.

183

fall wheat and depend on the crop. On the other hand,
they are nearer the market.

In Quebec are two reading-rooms— one in the lower
town, sustained by the merchants — the other, in the
Bishop's Palace, connected with the library of the
House of Assembly. I have often proposed to influential
members of the present as well as the two last legisla-
tures of Upper Canada, the establishment of a reading-
room, and the annual augmentation of ** the library,"
but always in vain. The representatives of our Upper
Canada, " superior intelligences," possess so much in-
formation already, that they appear to think an ad-
dition to the stock would occasion a superfluous waste
of public money. Here the law-makers are more
moderate. They live and learn. Instead of a few
miserable odd volumes, the sweepings of some second-
hand London book shop, and which form " the library
of both Houses" of the legislature of the intellectual
colony above M' Gee's Point, I find in Quebec an ex-
tensive and valuable collection of authors in the French
and English languages, carefully arranged in boxes on
shelves so that they may be expeditiously removed in
case of fire.* They are divided, in the catalogue of
1831, into seven classes, viz. —

i ■

' * The libraries of the Legislative Houses in Lower Canada are valuable
literary treasures. The library of Congress contains 16,000 volumes;
the library of Harvard University contains 35,000 volumes, and a con-
siderable angmentation is expected from Europe ; the library of the
Boston Athenseum numbers 25,000 volumes ; the Quebec library in the
lower town, and the public library at the Exchange, Montreal, are both
of them valuable and extensive. But the library of the Legislature of
Upper Canada has not had a volume added to it, except the journals, for
nearly a dozen of years. It is indeed a miserable apology ; not wotth

184

QUEBEC — LEOISLATIVK LIBRARIES.

1. Theology.

2. Government, &c. — Section i. Government,
politics, and legislation, ii. Political economy, com-
merce and finance.

3. Jurisprudence. — Section i. Law of nature
and nations, and treaties of peace. ii. Civil law.
iii. Ecclesiastical and Canon law. iv. Constitutional
and parliamentary laws of Great Britain and Ireland.
V. Statute and common law of Great Britain and
Ireland, vi. French law. vii. Colonial law.

4. Arts and Sciences. — Section i. Philosophy,
ii. Physical and mathematical sciences and agricul-
ture, iii. Mechanical arts, manufactures and trades,
iv. Fine arts and art of war. v. Medicine, anatomy,
chemistry, &c.

5. Belles Lbttres.

6. Geography and Voyages.

7. Chronology and History.

f No book can be removed from the library during
the recess, without the permission of Mr. Lindsay the

one-tenth of the private library which that ambitious priest who made a
pilgrimage to London to accuse the people of Upper Canada and their
clergy of ignorance and sedition has been enabled to purchase with the
cash of the country.

In several sessions of the Provincial Legislature of Upper Canada, I
made repeated efforts to improve and enlarge the library. The Legisla-
tive Council successfully opposed an attempt I made by a resolution
which passed the Assembly, to order, out of the contingent fund, the
" Edinburgh," " Quarterly," " Westminster," and " American Quarterly
Reviews," and " Blackwood," the " New Monthly," and other leading
periodicals of the day, for the use of members— they threw the motion
under their table and refused to act upon it, and indeed manifested in all
their proceedings the utmost unwillingness to put the country in possession
of those British and Colouial publications for reference which the spirit
of the age requires.

Sp(

arti

QUEBBC LEGISLATIVE LIBRARIKS.

183

clerk of the Assembly, but that permission can be ob-
tained. After being introduced to the librarian by
Mr. Neilson, member for the county of Quebec, I found
myself entitled to the use of the reading-room during
my stay in the city, with the privilege of calling for any
book in the ample catalogue, and reading or referring
to it in the library between the hours of nine and five.
The legislative council have their library separate and
distinct from that of the Assembly. Perhaps the day
may yet arrive in which " the superior intelligences"
who annually assemble at York will be content to take
from the Lower Canadians the example of a well en-
dowed legislative library ! To me it would be an in-
estimable treasure, a mine of the sort of riches I have
ever coveted most. I never think of Philadelphia,
without some friendly recollections of the Franklin
library and its 25,000 volumes.

The Assembly's chamber is an elegant room, taste-
fully fitted up, with a gallery for spectators. The
members sit upon benches with cushions, without
desks. The legislative coimcil chamber is decorated
in a style that may well be termed magnificent. The
chair and canopy of state, with the costly crimson
drapery, produce an imposing effect. In both cham-
bers there are placed full-length portraits of our two
last monarchs; and in the library are likenesses of
Messrs. Panet, Vallieres, Papineau and the other
speakers ; also of Messrs. Neilson, Viger and Cuvillier.
I knew the two latter portraits at once; but Mr.
Speaker Papineau 's likeness is quite a failure of the
artist, whose canvas ill describes the animation, viva-

J !

i I

18G

QUEBEC EXCHANGE.

city of countenance, and j^netrating eye of that dirt-
tinguished popular loader.

There is much that deserves to be copied in the
offices of the legislature. Every document to which
reference might be desirable, every paper of every com-
mittee of every session, can be immediately referred to,
with the least possible difficulty. System is every
thing.*

The Quebec Exchatjgc and Exchange Rending-
Rooms are chiefly upheld by the sxibscription^ of the
mercantile part of the community, and the reading-
room is abiuidantly supplied with newspa])ers from
Europe, Lower Canada, and the United States.
Although the trade of the two provinces is extensive,
only one l^pper Canada paper, a journal of very
limited circulation, is received. The second story
contains the Quebec Library. In the room I found
Almanacs of all soils in abundance, also the Reviews,
New Monthly Magazine, and Army and Navy Lists,
The " Black Book, or Corruption Unmasked," with
the supplementary volume, are placed in a very con-
spicuous situation, and the " Courant," ♦* Vindicator"
and " La Minerve," are subscribed for. The Exchange
building is an elegant new structure of a beautiful blue
freestone. Mr. Henry Thomson, the anrent. is inde-
fatigable in the collection of news, and extremely aflabl»^
and polite to strangers.

* I understand that the Lower Canadians are making great improve*
inents in their legislative buildings this year (1833).

bve*

187

CANADIAN COLLEGES— YORK AND QUEBEC.

" — ^— We do believe that the ruling English caHle in India, who are
as honourable a class as is to bo found on earth, are so circumstanced a.<
tu be under a moral impossibility of greatly improving the condition of
those amon{r whom they are. This can only be done by the people them-
selves ; and better, in the first instance, by a people under many small
governments, than under one largo one ; — better by men left to themselves
to find out and remedy their own wants, than, if trained and directed by
such as arc far above them in science and information, and who have not
patience to wait for their tardy progress ; — who are in haste to teach ihem
the reiinemenis, while Ihcy are yet in want of the necessaries of life*
What i^ the native growth of the soil is likely to be more healthy and
more enduring than an exotic, nursed and watched with whatever care
and Ubourr—lCdinburffh Review, No. CXI., Art A, Oct. 1832.— Co/o-
we/ Tod on the History and Character of the Rajpooti."

" In the same spirit his Majesty now directs me to instruct you to for-
ward, to the very utmost extent of your lawful authority and influence,
every scheme for the extension of education among the youtli of the pro-
vince, and especially amongst the poorest and most destitute of their
number, which may be suggested from any quarter, with a reasonable
prospect of promoting that great design. All minor distinctions should
be merged in a general union for this important end ; and, al Uie head of
that union, the local government should be found encouraging and guid>
ing, and, to the utmost of its power, assisting all the elTorts which may
be made to create or to foster a tasto for iitellectuai enjoyments and
pursuits." — The Earl of Ripon to the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper
Canada— Despatch^ Nov. 8, 1832.

Whi le in Quebec, I visited the college or seminary of
edtication founded and endowed, many years ago, by
th** French government. It is situated in the heart of
the upper town, in a pleasant and commanding situa-
tion, overlooking many miles of the surrounding
country. The centre building of the college is one
hundivd and eighty feet long, and four or five stories
high ; and there are two wings of proportionate dimen-
sions. The massy walls are of stone, of very sub-

■

' i

188 CANADIAN COLLEGES — YORK AND QUEBKC.

stantial workmanship ; and there is a chapel attached,
aa also spacious gardens and offices. The system of
education has become hberal. Those who desire in-
struction in theology receive it ; and those who do not
are under no obligations to adhere to the doctrines of
the church of Rome. Messire Parent, the superior of
the institution, was so very kind as to accompany me
through the apartments devoted to the studies of the
several classes ; at the same time affording me such
explanations of the system pursued as I required.
Upwards of two hundred students are now receiving
their education at Quebec College, under eight pro-
fessors, who instruct them in the mathematics, philo-
sophy, the Greek, Latin, French, and English lan-
guages, history, arithmetic, geography, and attendant
sciences. There is also a teacher of Latin upon the
Lancasterian system. Theology is taught to those
who require it. There is a museum and valuable
library, with a philosophical apparatus for experiments ;
air-pumps, an orrery, a galvanic battery, electrical
apparatus, a camera-obscura, &c. &c.

About seventy scholars are lodged and boarded in
the seminary ; the others reside with their parents and
friends in the city. Students who do not board in
the college pay 1/. a year in full of fees, and find
their own elementary books. Boarders, for education,
lodging, washing, and board, pay 20/. a year ; and if
absent at vacation time, only pay 17/. 10s. currency.

It was evening when I visited the college. The
supper-room had plates laid for seventy or eighty.
The table-cloths were of Lower Canada manufacture ;
and each youth's napkin or towel was carefully wrapped

'•VKgjM'

CANADIAN COLLEGES— YOUK AND QUEBEC.

189

I I

round his knife and fork. Their drink is water. Spi-
rituous liquors are never permitted ; and wine only at
such seasons as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascen-
sion, Whit-Sunday, and the anniversary of the supe-
rior's birth-day. The health of the students is watched
over with paternal attention ; and an hospital, with cold
and warm baths, is attached to the seminary.

The Superior showed me, from the garden, some of
the lands from the rents of which the establishment is
supported. They are situated below the city, beyond
the falls of Montmorenci, and are valuable. The col-
lege holds them in its corporate capacity. Messire
Parent is a mild, amiable man ; very affable and un-
assuming in his manners. Such, indeed, is the general
character of those catholic clergymen in Lower Canada
with whom I am acquainted ; and to this, added to a
sincere desire constantly manifested to promote the
happiness of the people, they owe an influence over
the community, which legal enactments and the perse-
cution or proscription of all other denominations could
never have bestowed.

As to the exercises of the students, I made but small
inquiry. I pres\mie they differ some Httle from the
usages of Edinburgh and St. Andrew's, in which vene-
rable establishments boys of fifteen or sixteen may
be seen attending the class of logic ; and, " without
having formed a single idea, writing essays to refute
Hume, Locke, Aristotle, and Des Cartes ! "

The chapel of the college contains a choice collec-
tion of beautiful pictures, as does rlso the cathedral
church, which latter is very tastefuhy ornamented
within, altliough plain on the outside.

\ .'■

190

CANADIAN COLLEGES — YORK AND QUEBEC.

Let me now direct the attention of the reader to
York College, and the monetary system of the execu-
tive in Upper Canada.

Instead of 1/. a year of college fees, the charge is 8/.,
besides extra charges for fire-wood and other contin-
gencies; instead of 17/. lOs. for board, lodging, washing,
mending, and college dues, the demand is from 35/.
to 42/. 10s., with 31. 10s. of entrance money to buy
bedding.

The college at York in Upper Canada is most ex-
travagantly endowed with from two to three hundred
thousand acres of the very best picked lands of the
colony ; 1000/. a year is allowed it from the Canada
Company's payments; and thousands of pounds are
realized at will by its self-constituted managers- from
the sale of school lots and school lands, and the pro-
ceeds applied as if they were the private property of
the government officers. Splendid incomes are given
to masters culled at Oxford by the vice-chancellor, and
dwellings furnished to the professors (we may truly
say) by the sweat of the brow of the Canadian labourer.
All these advantages, and others not now necessary to
be mentioned, are insufficient to gratify the rapacious
appetites of the " established church" managers, who,
in order to accumulate wealth and live in opulence,
charge the children of his majesty's subjects ten times
as high fees as are required by the less amply endowed
seminary at Quebec. They have another reason for
so doing. The college (already a monopoly) becomes
almost an exclusive school for the families of the go-
vernment officers, and the few who through their
means have in York already attained a pecuniary

with ;

accuse

old set

new or

tliedra

vered

Messir

'^'gnay

tion

Sonieti

times,

word

manust

earnest

as obtc

thousar

ally he

interrui

purple

MESSIRB SIGNAY.

191

independence out of the public treasury. The college
never was intended for the people, nor did the executive
endow it thus amply that all classes might apply to the
fountain of knowledge. No; the same spirit which
induced the present chief justice and venerable arch-
deacon to trample in the dust Mr. Clark's modest bill
for bestowing on the infant Crantham Academy 125/.
a year for four years, out of the public taxes, for the
j)romotion of learning, never did, never could intend
to model the college at York upon liberal principles
towards the Canadian people.

* .+ * *

Whatever faults Protestants may think fit to find
with their Catholic brethren, they certainly cannot
accuse them of that sleepy lack-brain practice of reading
old sermons to their congregations instead of studying
new ones. On a Sunday forenoon I went to the ca-
thedral church of Quebec, and heard a discourse deli-
vered to a very numerous and attentive audience by
Messire Signay, coadjutor bishop of Quebec. Messire
Signay is old and grey-headed, but there is an anima-
tion in his tone and gesture that is quite delightful.
Sometimes he spoke with his black cap on ; at other
times, ho dolled it for a moment or two. But every
word was from mind or memory. He had neither
manuscript nor notes before him; his manner was
earnest, natural, and impassioned, and his matter such
as obtained for him the undivided attention of the
thousands who composed his congregation. Occasion-
ally he would kneel down in the pulpit, but without
interrupting the sermon. His dress was white, with a
purple tunic round his shoulders; and after he had

1 i ;

i :•

192

OPENING OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.

concluded his discourse, he returned to the space in
front of the grand altar, and took his seat among the
other priests.

ii I

OPENING OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.

Mr. Buchanan, the British Consul at New York, does
not stand alone in his opinion as to the expediency
of opening the navigation of the St. Lawrence to the
American trade ; it is veiy popular in Lower Canada.
The Times, in which Mr. Buchanan's essay first ap-
peared, lays down doctrines in the paper of the 26th
of September last very favourable to the pretensions of
the United States to the free navigation of that noble
river; and, as the same editor has conducted that
Journal for many years, it may be inferred that the
Times would be in favour of the consul's scheme. I
add tlie quotation : —

" The great powers of Europe assembled at the con-
gress of Verona did not proclaim in their general act,
that all rivers ' traversing or dividing different states
were free;' they did not professedly open the internal
trade of Germany, of Belgium, and of France, to the
ocean, by the means of the noble streams, whose
mouths had been hermetically sealed by the tyranny
of Napoleon, that the court of the Hague might be per-
mitted to shut thom by custom-house regulations." —
Times, Sept. 2b, 1832.

Tlie Quebec Gazette and Pictou Patriot were, in
1830, in favour of opening the St. Lawrence navigation
to the United States' shipping : —

La5

forel
the

*0r|

' -^jQI^"

OPEMNO OK THE ST. LAWRkxCE.

— 193

" Wo heartily concur in fJ,^

favour of opening the Sf T '^^"''^" « Gazette in

'he free operation oflZ^Z "'r'' ''"''"
•o fear from contagion itT^T ,'™ '"""^ "°"»"?

i' ".ight spread; :Z'CZ"' ""'" '" '"'"^^ "-'

Russmn posscssious on this „„,"""''"' ^ ^^ly or the
<o .he enterprise and inte CroTth' T '' '"'" "P^"
ncan e tizons whi„l, >U.oAlZ2ol "'' ^'"''^

channel opened to their enn, " "^''J' ""v

■•-' very soon prevail on he 12' '''"!'""'' '''■^^''on,
™a.- ,. is „o,v indigenon. to ^tl !:^^""'"■""^ ^»-

'Op.mon»,|,o„W|,efr„asa,V
„° """;»''■■"«'•' l"S rank, „h;„.„

ll»t my „p„„„„ „,„., 1,^

Last Saturday hein. ,hf rV^*"''^"'^^' ^^S^-

;'™'heje„4s;;cir:;ro'''^'r^^^^^^^^

forenoon to see the Israeli.!.!, "" '"""' '" *«

• "" il-e St. !„.,„„ . '^'"S 'h<' oldest it,

ril >i

194

A NEW YORK SYNAGOGUi:.

the city. The women sat by tliemsclves in the gallery;,
and the men had seats assij;ned them on the jjround
floor. The symbolical oil bvirnt in a lamp suspended
from the roof in front of the officiating rabbi or priest,
who, being surrounded by four or five elders in plaids,
read or rather chaunted portions of two rolls which
were si'ccessively opened by two youths, and afterwards
carefully wrapped up with broad ribands, enveloped in
a sort of bag of calico, and crowned with certain gold
and silver insignia I could not understand the nature
of. The services were all in Hebrew, and the children
of Israel very decorous and attentive. The males had
every one of them their hats on, in memory I presume
of the manner of eating the Passover prescribed in
Scripture. They were all shaved, except one man in
the seat next before me, who appeared to have given
his beard a iubilee of a week at least " for auld lanj;
syne." Mr. Noah of the Customs, Judge of Israel,
was not present on this occasion. Tiie ceremonies are
ft'w, and not half so intricate and perplexing to
strangers as the services of the C'hurch of Kome, many
of which were always to me incomprehensil)le.

Being invited by a friend, I went last evening at
seven to hear Mr. Ware of Chambers Street, the
celebrated Unitarian preacher. The burden of his
discourse was an argument in opposition to the
doctrine of the atonement. The conynjjation was
numerous, and the decorations of the church very
splendid, with an organ, hired singers, &c.

I had never before heard an Unitarian sermon, ex-
cept in the Upper Canada Assembly, from Captain
Matthews of the Royal Invalid Artillery.

J'lii
senil
nieni
neiaj
was
iolU

ariesl

195

Ibis
[the
kvas
levy

ktain

ALBANY TYPOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY— A TOAST.

" Let us recollect that we are the same parliament which refused to
inquire into the grievances stated in the numerous petitions and me-
morials with which our table groaned — that we turned a deaf ear to the
complaints of the oppressed — tiint we even amused ourselves with their
sufferings. Let us recollect that wc are tlie same parliament wliich sanc-
tioned the use of spies and informers by the British government — debasing
that government, once so celebrated for good faith and honour, into a con-
dition lower in character than tiiat of the ancient Frencli police. Who
our successors may be I know not ; but God grant that this country may
never see another parliament as regardless of the liberties znd rights of
the people, and of the principles of general justice, as this parliament has
been !" — Sir Samuel Romilly.

" Those evils were many of them inflicted by the Irish Parliament,
except so far as the domestic parliament was corrupted by English money,
under the fancied name of an independent legislature." — Fide Mr,
Stanley's reply to Mr, O' Connell, Housf of Commons^ February, 1833.
Debate on the Address.

" The people went to work alone.
And shook up every case, sir,
And published soon a work well known,

'Tis called 'The Great Three Days,' sir;
Republished since in Belgium,
And in the press in Poland :
God speed the day when this great work
Shall be unknown in no land.
O, the Press, &c."

The Printers of Paris,

New York, April, 1832.
The violent proceedings of the present House of As-
sembly of Upper Canada have brought colonial govern-
ment even more than formerly into contempt with our
neiurhbours on this side the St. Lawrence; but I own I
was not prepared to expect such a sentiment as the
following at a social meeting of the highest fimction-
aries of the state of New York, whereat were present

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196

ALBANY TVPOURAPIIICAL SOCIKTY.

/ /

It <

the governor of two millions of people, the Secretary of
State, Speaker of the Assembly, Comptroller, &c. The
cut is a severe one, but . .le majority dare not, and the
minority will not deny that the sentiment is just.

[From the Albany Argm.'\

"ALBANY TYPOGRAl'HICAL SOCIETY.

" This society lield their annual meeting on Tuesday evening (March
13, 1832^, at Bradstreet'ii Mansion House. At nine, the society, with a
large company of guests, sat down to a splendid supper, prepared in Mr.
Bradstreet's best style, and comprising every delicacy of the season. The
spacious dining>room of the Mansion House was elegantly and tastefully
decorated. We were particularly struck by the efTect of a large illumi-
nated transparency elevated over the chair of the president, with the
device of a press sendin^^ forth its golden rays of knowledge, and the im-
mortal motto, ' Ars Art#um.'

" Among tht! guests we noticed (he Governor and Lieutenant Governor,
Secretary of Slate, Comptroller, Speaker and several members of the
legislature, &c. The evening passed delightfully ; every person seemed
to enjoy himself; and in addition to the wit and humour of the toasts,
several fine songs from Messrs. Roberts and Hamilton, accompanied by
the orchestra of the theatre, contributed essentially to the general satis-
faction of the numerous company.

"The following arc soriie of the toasts : —

" 1. The Press. — Tlie moral sun, whose light is true knowledge, and
whose heat is a genial warmth to the cause of truth, but a scorching
blast to error and falsehood.

"2. The Printers. — Theirs is a noble task — to scatter truth, and feed
the hungry mind ; may they never lack the more material bread necessary
for the body.

"9. Poland. — Once a fair/orwi, now defaced by the tyrant Nicholas ;
may her sons yet butler his yiiee, and throw his motley columns into pi,

"10. The Despotisms of the Old World ! — May their maZ/er hesquab-
bled, and their heails distrihuled in the lower case.

"11. Don Mi'juel. — An oppressive /orewan over an office of rats,
whose works abound in monks and friars; may the devil soak his pelt
in the lye-tub.

" 13. Woman. — The last, the nonpareil edition from Nature's press.

" When bached by virtue, and unslurred by art,
Her sway 's most potedt o'er the human heart.

ALBANY TYPOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

VOLUNTEERS.

197

« By S. Baker, the President. — The Printers of Paris. — They composed
the first column in tlic great revolution of 1830; may they be equally
emulous in all causes honourable to our profession.

"By Char'es I. Livingston, Speaker of the Assembly. — The Press..^
While labouring to establish free principles in the old world, U is success-
fully maintaining them in the new.

" '"l>"By H. C.Grant.— The Parliament of Upper Canada.- ^A/orwi.^
jl^ 0^ squabbled matter, locked up in the chase of restriction with the-f^
^^quoins of violence and dissension, whose capitals are continually^::^
t3^falling out. -^

" By S. G. Andrews, of the Assembly.— The unshackled Press. — It
strengthens the eil'urts of virtue and patriotism, and accelerates, with
overwhelming power, the principles of civil liberty.

" By J. S. Wallace. — The Fair Sex. — May each soon be locked up in
the chase of wedlock, worked off, pressed, r.nd run through many Edi.
tions,

" By A. C. Flagg, Secretary of State. — Benjamin Franklin. — He left his
tmpression upon the age in which he lived ; and he lived in an age too
patriotic to reject the talent of a sound patriot because he was a printer.

"There were many more toasts and sentiments."

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NEW YORK LEGISLATURE— BANK ACTS.

" Instead of spoliation or pillage, we see no country in which the poa>
session and disposal of property is better protected, ur its acquisition by
judicious industry better assured." — fVilliam Gore Outeley, Attache to
his Majetty's Legation at tVathington,

" Here national prosperity is the prosperity of every individual ; not a
cent is contributed by way of tax, not a dollar is expended from the
public ccfTers, which is not assented to by the people, and employed to
enlarge their means of enjoyment." — Vide Governor TTtroop'a Meiiagt
to the Legislature of the State of New York, January, 1832.

" America complained that it was taxed, and oppressively taxed, with-
out having a voice in tlie imposition of the taxes ; that it was compelled
to obey laws in the framing of which it had nu share whatever ; that it
was in fact so shackled and oppressed, that it had no appeal but to force
to assert its independence. It did appeal, and justice being on its side*
appealed successfully."— A/r. Secretary St^r.'ey's Reply to Mr. O^Con'
nelt. House of Commons, Feb. 18J3.

" I trust these various institutions will form connexions with each
other, and be bound to each other by the mutual ties of commi.ii objects
and pursuits ; and that thereby the members of our two countries will
habitually learn to consider and feel towards each other as brethren bound
to manifest mutual good will, and to assist each other in the promotion
of benevolent purposes." — Letter^ Mr. Wilberforce to Dr. Sprague of
Massachusetts, Dec. 1828,

New York, April 23rrf, 1832.
* * * * While in Albany, I spent some time in
observing the mode of doing business in the senate and
assembly of this state.* They transact a great deal

* Since my arrival in London, I have seen a copy of the Daily Albany
Argus, the ofTicial Gazette, of the State of New York; and return my
thanks to the editor for the kind feelings which dictated the following
remarks, relative to that part of the above letter which was published
last April in Upper Canada : —

[From the Albany Argus of May 10th, 1832.] -"The Colonial Advo-
cate contains an interesting letter, addressed to the conductor of that
paper from New Yo.k, by Mr. Mackenzie, the former editor, a short

on
tribl
lies!
oftf

?al

shed

of business, very much to the purpose, in a short time,
simply by attending to method, and setting aside all
useless formalities. They read their minutes without
turning out the public — they clothe their speakers
neither with wigs, gowns, nor three-cocked hats —
members rise in their places and make reports, instead
of getting up in pairs and striving who shall obtain
the floor and catch the Speaker's eye first — their
onler and rule of proceeding cannot be departed from

time before liis embarkation for Europe, on business connected with the
political affairs of the province. This gentleman has been long and
honourably known as the ardent and eOBcient advocate of reform in the
British provinces of North America; and more recently by the meditated
attempt upon his life, made at the supposed instigation of certain oflBcers
of government, on the evening of the meeting of the irdiubilants of Gore
district, assembled for the purpose of consulting together on the state of
tiiti provinces, and adopting an address and petition to the king and par-
liament of Great Britain. His indefatigable exertions in the cause of
civil and religious liberty have gained for him a high place in the conti-
<lence and regard of the people of Canada, and of the friends of liberal
principles everywhere. His fearless exposure of the corruption, extra-
vagance, and abuse of power in the provincial government, have secured
him a popularity which neither official denunciations nor the more formi-
(iable appliances of government patronage have been able to shake — a
popularity rooted deeply in the aflcctions of the people, and which has
stood the test of legislative tyranny, personal violence, and titled intole-
ranee, backed by the seasonable and congenial, though impotent, co-ope>
ration of a kindred print in this state, reference to which is made in one
of the extracts given below from Mr. M.'s letter. He goes to England
as the bearer of the grievances of the people of Canada to the throne,
with appeals to the advocates of Parliamentary Reform in England, and,
we trust, to efTect for the provinces that equal representation which is
so loudly demanded in the mother country.

"On his way to the seabord, Mr. M. passed a few days in this city
during the Session of the Legislature. The following are his observations
on the forms of legislation iu this state. We quote them as a deserved
tribute, from an intelligent and estimable foreign gentleman, to the busi-
ness habits (.f our legislative houses, and as illustrative of that mode
of thinking and speaking which characterizes a liberal-minded man."

NEW YORK LEOISLATIRK.

199

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NEW YORK LKGISLATURE.

without tho common consent of every member, given
without (Hscussioii ; the ayes and noes are taken with
great accuracy in the shortest possiWe time, and with-
out troubling any member to rise ; tho assistant clerks
liave their places near the Speaker ; the reporters for
the public press have comfortable seats assigned them
also near the Speaker, but are not paid ; * w hen the
clergyman conies in tho morning to implore a bless-
iu,T on their deliberations, he takes the lieutenant-
governor's chair at the head of the senate, and the
Speaker's desk in the assembly ; the attendance of
members is good, their deportment very orderly — tho
closeness of their attention to business almost incre-

• I was in tlie galfery of the House of Peers on the eveniti'j; on which
their lordships were agreeably occupied in passing the Ileroim Bill for
England ; and am free to admit that the Assembly's chamber, at Albanjr,
is infinitely more gorgeouL and aristocratic than tb'i Peers' House, ami
the capital at Washington and the President's house are evidently more
"lordly halls" in outward appearance than the Houses of l^onls and
Commons and the Palace of St. James in this ancient seat of an ancient
monarchy. The interior of the senate and house of lepresentntives is also
fitted up in a style of luxury not to be found in the chambers of the •' Col-
lective Wisdom" of renovated and regenerated Britain. The seats in
the House of Peers are plain benches, with backs something in the style
of the methodist church pews in York, Upper Canada, but cushioned and
covered with scarlet cloth ; the woolpacks are also covered with that
material. Their lord>hips' bar has a plain railing, below one small
comer of which, penned up, like sheep within a fold, stand the re-
porters for the public press. Neither in the House of Commons
nor in the Peers' Chamber are that important class of persons, whose
duty it is to convey to Kngli^hmen the proceedings of their legislature,
treated with a proper degree of respect. What a strange idea it mud
give to an American of the character of the British Government, when he
is told that 30/. or 40/. a session must be paid to the door-keeper of the
Representative Chamber by the proprietors of each daily newspaper for
leave to the reporters to occupy a back seat in a noi>y gallery, tliero to
take the debates and proceedings of the most important legislative body
in the world !

NEW YORK LEGISLATURE BANK ACTS.

201

diblc — they have a morning session at ten — then an
after-dinner session — then an evening session, at seven.
The minutes of both houses took tip httle short of half
an hour in reading one day. The bills or acts are
I'airly written upon good paper — no parchment is
used. There are no knocks, and black rods, and
bows, and scrapes, s^nd interruj)lions \o business on
accoiuit of messages from the senate or governor; all
is done qiiictly ; and bills and resolutions pass silently
from the ofticers of one house to those of another, or to
the governor, as matters of course. The lieutenant-
governor, in the senate, and the Speaker and chairman
of conunittees of the whole assembly, are provided with
mallets or little hammers, which they use when tliere
is any noise, saying, •* The house will please to be in
order," or wouls to that effect — order is instantly re-
stored. Utica and Buffalo have this winter obtainetl
charters as cities— not on the Jesuitical plan proposed
by the Attorney-General for York, by which he would
have ensured bad government, high taxation, and
nominal responsibility; but — to give the citizens the
most ample and useful powers consistent with private
right, and the safety and security of the state. * * *

I was present at the passing of several bank charters
in the assembly, and was especially attentive to the
arguments made use of for a bank at Sackets Harbour,
under and subject to the responsibilities of the safety
fvmd and commission laws. The member for Jefferson
county boasted of the gold and silver which had of late
years enriched and strengthened that frontier section
of the state, being received from Lower Canada in
return for American produce exported to Montreal and

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202

NEW -VORK LEGISLATURE BANK ACTS.

Quebec duty-free. You are indebted for that advan-
tage (thinks I to myself) to the half-dozen of families
who engross all political power in Upper Canada, and
who, rather than allow the taxes and resources to return
among the farmers to enrich the back settlements, and
furnish capital wherewith to improve the country and
increase its products to a sufficient extent to supply the
wants of England, would keep the country a desart,
comparatively speaking, wherein themselves might play
the bashaw in perfect safety — while they fatten the
Americans, and strengthen their power and resources,
and impoverish Canada by the aid of the country
which upholds them to her injury. America shuts out
British manufactures by tariffs — Canada admits them
— the colonial executives strive to frighten settlers of
capital from Canada by established churches, clergy
reserves, Hamilton and York riots, costly and ill-de-
lined laws, bank and other monopolies, primogeniture
laws, and a government wherein the people are in
reality ciphers — where education is neglected, and
the taxes most unjustly squandered for unworthy pur-
poses. * ♦ * ♦ * *

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203

AN AMERICAN METHODIST CHAPEL.

" And, above all, there is no country in which religion and its ministers
are more generally respected and supported by the mass of the popula"
tion, although without compulsory provision, and where the lives ami
example of the clergy more nearly approach to those of their great pri-
mitive models."— ^r7///flm Gore Ouselci/s Remarks, p. 12,

" But it is in our civil and religious institutions that we may, without
the imputation of vainglory, boast of the pre-eminence. Actual observa-
tion will compel every traveller througli those nations of the continent
that now succumb under the yoke of des|)o!ic power, mild and benevo-
lent as in some instances is confessedly its admini:itration, to feel, however
reluctant, the full force of the remark, which he may have thought evil
discontent alone had raised, that the labour, and independence, and free-
dom, and happiness of the many, are sacrificed to the ambition, and
power, and luxury of tiie few." — Bishop Hobarl.

New York, Sunday, April 20, 1832.

Drak Sir, — I went this forenoon to Duane Stioel
Chapel, one of the places of public worship occupied
by the Wesleyans in this city. As well as I can re-
member, it was the first time I had been in a Metho-
dist church in the United States of America, and I
returned home well satisfied both with minister and
congregation. The preacher earnestly addressed a
most attentive audience on the important subject of
" the world to come ;" and, after dwelling for some
time on the lightness and frivolity of many of the pvn*-
suits eagerly followed by mankind, proceeded to lay
before his hearers an interesting picture of eternity —
" everlasting eternity." The singing was sweet and
simple. The women, as in the Quaker meeting-hotises,
sat on one side, and the men on the other. The build-
ing had no useless ornament, and appeared to lack no

204

AN AMERICAN METHODIST CHAPEL.

useful decoration. The many religious sects in this
city, and their perfect equality in the eye of the law,
open a door lor a great deal of controversy, and con-
troversy leads to an investigation of facts ; the conse-
quence of such inquiries, thus protected, is the detec-
tion and exposiu'e of superstition, bigotrjs and false
religion, and the promotion of the empire of truth upon
the earth. I have been looking into a volume of me-
moirs, by one of the ministers of Boston, which I find
very interesting. They have gone through three Ame-
rican and three British editions — I wish 1 was able
to put them through a Canada edition also. I speak
of the Memoirs of Mrs. Susan Huntington, of Boston.
She writes well on the effect of religious controversy —
but I am afraid I shall not have time to transcribe some
of her opinions at length before sailing. Perhaps some
of the readers of this letter, while ordering books for
family use, will not forget in their list the works of the
Rev. Robert Hall, Baptist minister of Bristol, Eng-
land, of which there is a handsome octavo edition, in
three volumes, for sale in this city, with the author's
life, by his early friend, Sir James Mackintosh; and
the third American edition of the pious and amiable
Mrs. Susan Huntington's Letters and Memoirs. They
are favourable to virtue, full of information, and cal-
culated to enlighten and instruct, and to promote
domestic happiness upon a true and durable founda-
tion. ******

w
ev

e
e
)r
e

li-
ke

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205

Mr. BASCOM— a DISCOURSE ON SLAVERY.

" If you place in my hands the sacred trust of representing you in tlie
Commons' House of Parliament, you arm me with power to complete the
goof' works which we have begun together, nor will I rest from my la-
bours until, by the bles)ing of God, I have seen an end of the abuses
which bend England to the ground, and the mists dispersed from the
eyes of the ignorant, and the chains drop from the hands of the slave.".^
H. Brougham.

" Prosperity founded on injustice is never lasting."— BisAojo ffation.

" Oh ! who midst the darkness of night would abide
That can taste the sweet breezes of morn ?
And who that has drank of the crystalline tide
To the feculent flood would return ?" — Hosvoe.
" Bred in a cage, far from the feather'd throng,
Tlie bird repays his keeper with his song;
But if some playful child sets wide the door,
Aliroad he flies, and thinks of home no more ;
Willi love of liberty begins to burn,

And rather starves than to his cage return." — Independence.
"What,! beseech you, are the props of your ' honest' exertion, —
the profits of tradn ? Are there no bribes to menials ? Is there uoaduU
teration of goods? Are the rich never duped in the price they pay .'' Are
the poor never wronged in the quality they receive P Is theie honesty in
the bread you eat — in a single necessity which clothes, or feeds, or warms
you ? Let those whom the law protects consider it a protector; when
did it ever protect me ? When did it ever protect the poor man? The
government of u state, the institutions of law, profess to provide for all
those who obey. Mark ! a man hungers '. — do you feed him ? He is
naked ! — do you clothe him ? If not, you break your covenant — you
drive him back to the first law of nature, and you hang him — not because
he is guilty, but because you have left him naked and starving!"— -TAf!
Robber^s Apology. Paul Clifford.

" I am only known to you by my devotion to the improvement of our
species ; by the love I bear to civil and religious liberty all over the
world ; by my inextinguishable hatred of slavery, under what name so-
ever it may be veiled, and of whatever race it may be the curse." —

U. Brougham.

" Look on yonder earth :

The golden harvests spring; the unfailing sun

Sheds light and life ; the fruits, the flowers, the trees,

Arise in due succession ; all things speak

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206

MR. BASCOM — A DISCOURSE ON SLAVERY.

'if

Peace, harmony, and love. The universe,
In 1. .ture's silent eloquence, declares
That all fulfil the works of love and joy —
All but the outcast, man." — Shelley.
" The Americans have frequently been reproached for suffering the
continuance of slavery for one instant after the declaration of independ-
ence. It must be recollected, that before that time they were not al-
lowed to abolish it, even after repeated petitions to that effect to the go-
vernment of tiie mother country," — H'llliam Gore Ouseley's Remarks,
p. 159.

" 'Twas light: his babes around him lay at rest,
Their niollicr slumbered on their father's breast;
A yell of murder rang around their bed :
They woke ; their cottage blazed ; the victims fled.
Forth sprang' the ambushed ruffians on their prey ;
They caught, they bound, they drove them far away.
Tlie while man bought them at the mart of blood ;
In pestilential barks they crossed the flood.
Tlien were the wretched ones asunder torn—
To distant isles — to separate bondage borne ;
Denied, though sought with tears, the sad relief
That misery loves — the fellowship of grief." — The JVest Indies.
" And man, whose heaven -erected face the smiles of love adorn ;
Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn !
See yonder poor, o'erlaboured wight, so abject, mean, and vile,
Who begs a brother of the earth to give him leave to toil;
And see his \ovA\y fellow. worm the poor petition spurn,
Unmindful, though a weeping wife and helpless offspring mourn." —

Burns.
" Make a figure of a negro woman, and write under it, ' We still pay a
poll-tax to support the flogging of women in Jamaica;' and when you can
add to it the datr, of the removal of the evil, leave it to your posterity as
a proof that their fathers, though humble, were not mean ; that though
poor, they were much too good to be worked in their own country, for the
sake of enabling the rich to work slaves in another.''— jS/awry m Ihe
West Indies. fVestminster licvieu', No. 22, Art. 1.

New York, Sunday Evening,
ylprU29, 1832.— 10 p.m.
* * * I HAVE been at the Presbyterian clmrcli,
Murray Street, to hear the far-famed orator, Basconi.

or
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MR. BASCOM — A DISCOURSE ON SLAVERY.

207

preach a sermon in aid of the funds of the American
Colonization Society, for sending free persons of colour
to Liberia. The building is large and elegant, capable
perhaps of containing 3000 persons, and beautifully
lighted up with gas. I went early, but, although the
seats were free to all alike for that evening, they were
occupied, and I considered myself fortunate in being
allowed to stand for an hour and a half to listen to one
of the ablest, best, and most interesting discourses ever
delivered on this continent. Thousands, less successful,
could not find admission. At first I ffured I should
not be able to hear Mr. Bascom distinclly ; afterwards
I wrote in my memorandum book that he was a sensible
speaker, but without the least pretensions to eloquence ;
before he concluded, however, I felt that, whether at
the bar, in the pulpit, or senate chamber, I had never
listened to his equal on this continent. He fully dis-
proves the charge that America is the land " where
genius sickens and where fancy dies."

Mr. Rolph's celebrated speech in favour of the abo-
lition of imprisonment for debt, in the House of As-
sembly of Upper Canada, was a masterly effort, but it
could not equal Bascom's charity sermon. Tlie latter
had the ancient glories of Africa before him — the 1700
rears of outrap-e and crime of which the unfortunate
natives of that injured continent have been the hapless
victims. The sufferings of millions, aye, of hundreds
of millioii;3 of innocent beings, were the theme of his
discourse ; and he careered in the grandeur of histo-
rical description, a perfect master of his art. He tlid
not read his discourse, nor even use notes. He needed
them not. You might have heard the least whisper

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208

MR. BASCOM — A DISCOURSE ON SLAVERY.

when he came to speak of the millions of childless
mothers and widowed women whom the accursed kid-
napper had rendered wretched on Afric's 10,000 miles
of exposed coast. " Females of America !" he ex-
claimed — " ye free and happy children of this highly
favoured land !" — but I must delay a detailed account
of tliis extraordinary man and Ins delightful sermon
until I can find a leisure hour while crossing the At-
lantic. I do not know whether I should admire most
the native eloquence he displayed, his great acquaint-
ance with the history of his subject, or the select and
choice lanjjuaffe in which he clothed his ideas. On
making inquiry, I find that Mr. Bascom is a professor
of divinity somewhere in Kentucky or Pennsylvania,
an ex-chaplain to Congress, and a native American Me-
thodist preacher.

On board the Ontario, London Packet Ship,
At sea. May 16, 1832.
In my last letter I briefly noticed a most eloquent
discourse delivered in Murray-Street Church, Ne'v
York, on the Sabbath evening before I sailed, on the
delicate question of Negro Slavery, by Mr. Bascom, a
Methodist minister of the United States. When we
look back to what Africa has been, and consider her
present degraded condition, and the criminal part
hitherto taken by Europe and America against her
long-suffering and devoted population, the efforts of
the p)»ilan1hropist to destroy slavery and make the
African race happy and contented beconie deeply in-
teresting to the friends of rational freedom. It was a
noble act by which Charles James Fox, a few days

I
that!
the
an
Socil
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morj
to
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MR. BASCOM A DISCOURSE ON SLAVERY.

209

only before he was taken sick of his last illness, over-
threw the slave trade in the dominions of Great Bri-
tain. Earl Grey and the Whigs may look forth with
honest pride and pleasure at that bright event in their
short career. It was altogether characteristic of the
worn out and despicable Bourbon dynasty, that Louis
XVIII.'s first effort after his restoration to the throne
of France, was to re-establish in his dominions this
accursed traffic in the life and labour of a portion of
the human race. He had his reward. Nor have the
Spaniards, Portuguese, and French nations escaped
the punishment due to them for participating in such
guilty gains. — England is endeavouring to wash her
hands of slavery, and let the United States look well
to it ; they also havu 2,000,000 and upwards of unfor-
tunate, unoffending Africans in bondr.ge.

"Is he not Man, though sweet religion's voice
Ne'er bade the mourner in his God rejoice ?
Is he not Man, though knowledge never $=hed
Her quicliening beams on his neglected head ?
Is he not Man, by sin and suffering tried?
Is he not Man, for whom the Saviour died P "

I understood Mr. Bascom to state in his sermon,
that there are now 300,000 free persons of colour in
the Union, where they are held to be a separate caste,
an anomalous race — that the object of the Colonization
Society is to send them to Liberia, civilize the African
coast, and give them a happy home — that there are
more applications from coloured people desirous to go
to Liberia thati the Society's funds can remove — that
fourteen of the legislatures of the United States have
granted appropriations for the use of the Association —

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210

MR. BASCOM — A DISCOURSE ON SLAVERY.

(the cost of transportation is twenty dollars each person
to Liberia) — that in the two Americas there are now
9,350,000 negroes — that Virginia (a slave state) has
reported, under authority of her legislature, that,
during the la&t fourteen years, property in that state
has depreciated 70,000,000 dollars — that the Union
pays more annually for the correction of the crimes of
the free blacks than woi'l 1 transport every one of them
to Africa — that free people of colour hold life by as
strong a teniu'o on the western coast of Africa as in
any of the southern states of the Union — that Liberia
is a fertile climate, in which the thermometer ( Fahren-
heit's) ranges generally between + 20 and 65, pro-
ducing indigo, rice, tobacco, spices, many luxuries,
palm, sandal- wood, ebony, precious stones, &c. — Look
back to the period (observed the accomplished orator)
when the people of these states imported fifty or sixty
thousand slaves per annum, for the sake of the gains
made by murder, robbery, and torment ! Will ye, now
that ye have ten times the wealth ye then possessed,
hesitate to make some reparation, and send annually
a tenth of that number back to their country? Nay,
even now is it not a well-known fact, that twelve or
fifteen thousand slaves (these were his words, I believe)
are annually smuggled into the southern parts of this
free republic ? Give us bui a tenth of the sums that
were paid for forging chains for their slaves, by our
forefathers, that colonies may be planted at convenient
intervals, the native tribes enhghtened on the 10,000
miles of exposed African coast, and slave kidnapping
thus effectually prevented. Will you hold the slaves
in colonial subjection ? Remember the bondage wherein

tl
tl
ai
dj

C(j

acl

Ml. BASCOM A DISCOURSE ON SLAVEKY.

211

your fathers were held. The chosen people of God
were desired not to forget that they had been slaves in
Egypt — they did forget, and were re-ensla»ed to
Babylon. Let ns beware lest we lightly esteem what
God has done for us as a people — the unequalled
freedom and happiness we enjoy. Already are some
of our public assemblies become fields of political
intrigue, where some meet to sell character for a penny,
and some for a place, and to act such scenes as would
make a Hottentot blush. [Great sensation in the
church.] We boast of our superiority to the African :
wherein does it consist ? We are the descendants of
the Goths and Vandals — Africa has a far nobler line
to boast of Tlie speaker here dwelt upon the glories
of ancient Africa, and affirmed that there was no branch
of science or literature in which the negroes of the
present day had not excelled. He scouted the idea
entertained and promulgated of the inferiority of in-
tellect of the black population, and cited many examples
of the contrary. But was it to be wondered at that
Africa had fallen back in civilization ? Since the com-
mencement of the slave trade, European cupidity had
murdered and enslaved 190,000,000 of the natives of
that continent ; for nearly 1700 years (it is estimated
that) from 150,000 to 200,000 of them have been
annually dragged in chains from their country, and all
domestic ties torn asunder and broken. Mr. Bascom
concluded one of the most splendid orations I ever
heard by a general review of the oppression and cruelty
practised by man towards his fellow-men,, and made
a touching appeal to the judgment and feelings of his
admiring audience. Nor was that appeal made in

^1'

- ;!

212 MR. BASCOM A DISCOURSE ON 8LAVKRV.

:; I

vain. I hope that those generous and kind-hearted
Canadians whom tliese Hnes may reach will bear in
mind that the price of their liberty " is everlasting vigi-
lance," and that the government which woidd bestow
10,000 dollars a year on an attorney-general, and
60,000 dollars on building a college for the initiation
of some fifty or sixty placemen and pensioners' offspring,
while perhaps 50,000 of the children of the province
were starvingf for lack of knowletljje on a miserable
pittance of 10,000 dollars annually, would wii'ingly
see the farmers and mechanics reduced to as low a
state as that to which the cupidity of Liverpool, Bristol,
and London merchants annually reduced hundreds of
thousands of unoffending Africans threescore years
ago. To what a state of misery and calamity has
not Tory oppression reduced the once hale and hearty
labourers and mechanics of England and Ireland !
Mr. Pitt could not afford to suppress negro slavery !
Lord Eldon, too, opposed the abolition of that inhuman
traffic with all his powers of argument and influence.
The former is below the clod — the latter generally and
justly despised. So may it ever be ! These selfish
statesmen, rather than quit office, abridge a pension,
or curtail a salary, would have continued to drag their
fellow-creatures to distant lands, far from friends, home,
and kindred, and for ever; would have tortured them
in slave-ships ; would have burnt them under a tropical
sun, packed into dens, without room to move, to stand,
or to lie down, " chained, scourged, famished, withering
with fever and thirst; human layers festering on each
other; the dead, the dying, the frantic, and the tor-
tured, compressed together like bales of merchandise ;

n
jh

MR. BASCOM — A DISCOURSE ON SLAVKRV. 213

hundreds seizing the first moment of seeing the hght
and air to fling themselves overboard; hundreds dying
of grief, thousands dying of pestilence ; and the rest,
even more wretched, surviving only for a hopeless
captivity in a strange land, to labour for life under the
whips of overseers, savages immeasurably more brutal
and debased than their imfortunate victims ! " But I
had forgotten — Pitt made a few speeches in favour of
abolishing slavery ; aye, and a few more in favour of
parliamentary reform, and with eqtial honesty.

THE LONDON, LIVERPOOL, AND NEW YORK
PACKETS.

Written on board the New York and London packet-
ship Ontario, at Sea, May 2ist, 1832.
While at sea, I may as well address a few sugges-
tions and state a few facts relative to a voyage across
the Atlantic, for the information of such of my Cana-
dian friends as may find it expedient to visit Europe
on I usiness or pleasure. The London and New York
old and now lines of packets, and the Liverpool lines,
consist of vessels of the first class, commanded by ex-
perienced seamen, and well manned. These vessels are
well provided with sea stores ; and generally complete
the voyage from New York to Liverpool, or Ports-
mouth, in twenty-four days. — This is the average of
the last ten years to Liverpool ; and the voyage to
Portsmouth can be performed in about the same space
of time. The two lines of London packets, advertised

1
■

. . ;»■ ■>

■■' (V'' ■'

214

LONDON AND NEW YORK PACKETS.

by the agents, Messrs. John Griswold ; and Fish, Grin-
nell, and Co., are composed of superb, lirst-rate, fast-
saiUng ships. I have been on board several of them,
and have carefully inquired into their accommodations
and capacities for sailing. * * * ♦ 'y\^q p^g,
sengers to London, by the London packets, usually
take the stage at Portsmouth, the distance being
seventy miles, and the road good; but they may
go round with the ship, via the river Thames : anil it
is very conmion for passengers for New York to meet
the packet at Portsmouth, instead of sailing roimd by
the river Thames and the Channel. These packets
do not all carry a female attendant ; but those that do
ought to have the preference where ladies are passen-
gers, even although they have their own servants in
attendance; for a female servant attached to the ship
will not be liable to be sea-sick, being used to the
sea; and being also accustomed to wait on ladies,
she will often anticipate their wishes, and adbrd the
usual alleviating remedies for sea- sickness, &c., more
readily than tlieir maids, who may be taken ill in
rough weather, when most wanted. We have break-
fast on board this ship at nine, consisting of black
tea, green tea, coffee, biscuit, bread, hot rolls, fish,
fowl, ham, cold mutton, eggs ; sometimes wc have
chocolate, &c. A lunch follows, at noon, consisting of
bread, cheese, cold meat, tongue, wine, porter, liquors,
&c. Dinner comes on at four in the afternoon, —
soups, fresh mutton, beef, pork, and sometimes veal,
served up in various ways, fish, curry, hashes, pies,
puddings, turkeys, geese, barn-door fowls, bacon,
plum-pudding, preserves, pastry, &c. The dessert —

of I
and

licH,
pou,

t—

LONDON AND NEW YORK PACKKTS.

215

oranges, raisins, almonds, Spanish nuts, figs, prunes,
wines, viz., excellent Madeira and port, and also
claret, are always on the table ; and occasionally (say
every other day) champagne, a very fair and genuine
sample is served round after the cloth is removed. I
omit all detail relative to the order in which dinner is
served on board ship. The passengers appear all of
tliem quite at home. Sometimes, however, we have
to hold the soup-plate and tea-cup aid saiicer nicely
balanced in the hand to prevent disagreeable conse-
quences to our own or our next neighboms' clothes,
while the ship rocks, and rolls, and pitches " so plea-
santly," that it might almost persuade a whole school
to play truant in order to enjoy the ride. I have seen
gravies, sauces, tea, coffee, milk, and liquors often sud-
denly absent without leave ; and when you went to
look for them, they had quietly settled down on the
floor, in a lady's lap, or on a gentleman's vest or
" inferior garmenf"" Mr. Noah formerly wrote
essays on " good society " — the select few — the aristo-

cracy

but 1 found it difficult to learn what was

fashionable, or what was good society, during my so-
journ in New York. I dined one day in a democratic
palace (for I may so style the mansion) where the ladies
walked up to their chairs at the dinner- table without
being escorted by the gentlemen; and where every
one had leave to enjoy the good things with which
that table was abundantly covered, without being sub-
jected to the continual and often vexatious interruption
of drinking wine, successively, with half a dozen of
people before the cloth is removed. Drinking healths
and taking wine with one another, in the midst of

216

DINNER CEREMONIES.

dinner, are as annoying as they are common practices.
Another day I was invited to dinner where the custom
(or, if you please, tlie fashion) was the reverse of the
above. One of my kind and friendly entertainers (and
I have experienced many proofs of friendship in that
city) made me acquainted w ith every male and female
in the room the moment I entered it ; another, with
far more correct taste and judgment, introduced me by
name only to the three or four persons seated next to
him, and wisely left to chance the revelation of who
were the other guests. An old and much-respected
Scotchwoman asked me to be one of a party •* to drink
tea and spend the evening," and wearied my patience
by suspending the delivery of the second cuj) until all
who sat at table had drank oft' their first. This
is a custom she might have left behind in Edinburgh.
** A top])ing merchant," with whom I " scraped " an
acquaintance while he was on a visit to Canada some
years ago, entertained about a dozen of us one day at
table without the least reference to a first, second, or
third course. I was invited to dinner at five, and was
punctual, but the soup was not served up till about ten
minutes past six. To those who seldom take a lunch
this is really unfair. If the invitation card says six,
dinner ought to be on the table at least twenty mi-
nutes after that hour ; but where it is only a verbal
request, without a written answer, the entertainer is
less to blame, for in that case there is no contract. I
have found it the general usage in New York, as else-
where, to ask some of the guests at dinner to cut up
the dishes and help those at table. This is a very in-
convenient and troublesome practice, Chesterfield and

shi
gri
sea

LONDON AND NKW YORK PACKETS.

217

at
or

[ten
nc\\
I six,
1 mi-
rbal
Ir is

plse-
|t up
in-
and

his successors, to the contrary, notwithstanding. There
are many persons who do not carve in the most scien-
tific manner, and cannot boast " a talent for me-
chanics." I am awkward at dissecting a stiff-jointed
turkey; awkward at cutting down an oak, if three feet
in diameter ; awkward at mending a pen or in writing
a letter ; and awkward at chopping fire-wood or mow-
ing hay. To me, the German practice of having the
joints carved at the sideboard , and sent round, or even
the Upper Canada " farmer fashion/' so called, is pre-
ferable to the above custom.

I find the sea-air and the Ontario's bill of fare to
agree well with my constitution ; for I can sit down
daily, and do justice to a hearty breakfast and dinner —
feats I was rarely ever eq\ial to at York. Threescore
years have elapsed since the learned Dr. Samuel John-
son exclaimed, in the fulness of his heart, " Give me
a good dinner and an appetite to eat it, and I will be
happier than the mightiest potentate which this world
can produce, surrounded by his satellites and rioting in
the indulgence of immeasurable power i " I presume
there are millions of the doctor's compatriots of the
present age who would gladly re-echo the sentiment.
A good dinner is a good thing, if taken in moderation.

Brandy, hoUands, London vx)iter, cider, seidlitz-
powders, soda-water, and cordials are brought to the
passengers by the steward, when requested, from a
place fitted up like the bar of an hotel. A chest of
medicines, with suitable directions, accompanies the
ship for the use of the crew and passengers. Broths,
gruel, and other light food, fit for tnose who may be
sea-sick, qualmish, or otherwise indisposed, are pre-

218

LONDON AND NEW YORK PACKETS.

: i

pared at all hours ; and the comfort of the passengers
studiously attended to. The ladies' cabin, in some of
the packets, is placed at the stern, where the ship has
the most unpleasant motion. In the Ontario, it is
fitted up near the centre, where the agitation of the
waves has the least effect upon the stomach and its
contents. Passengers should go early and take their
places, and pin a card or piece of paper, with their
names, upon the berths they wish to occupy. The
state-rooms, nearest the middle of this ship, I consider
preferable. 140 dollars is the rale of passage for one
person to London, wine and liquors included ; or 2G0
dollars for a lady and gentleman, with wines. Those
who choose to save " something handsome," may go
at 120 dollars in the cabin, and carry their own wines
with them; but few do so, — singularity is dreaded even
on board a London packet. Steerage passengers find
themselves in everything but water and fuel, and pay
18 dollars passage-money. The voyage out to Ame-
rica is almost always of much longer duration than the
voyage home to England, and consequently more un-
pleasant. On board this packet, reading, writing,
eating, sleeping, conversation, cards, and, when the
weather will permit, walking the deck, are the chief
employments, as far as my observation extends. With
not a few, the fashionable, but disagreeable, practice
of smoking tobacco, cigars, &c. obtains.

I think 1 mentioned in a former letter, that the
Ontario had several hundred volumes of books on
board for the amusement of the passengers. Except
Lawrie Todd, I do not remember having allowed my-
self hhure to read a novel for years, until witliin these

LONDON AND NEW YORK PACKETS.

219

the
un-
iting,

the
chief

rith
Ictice

the
Is on

icept

my
Ithese

last three weeks, during which I have perused Irving's
Tales of a Traveller ; Bulwer's Polham, Devereiix,
Eugene Aram, Paul Clifford, and the Disownid ;
D'Israeli's Young Duke; Colonel Hamilton's Cyril
Thornton ; Sir Walter Scott's Anne of Gcierstein ;
James Hogg's Sliepherd's Calendar ; Cooper's Water
Witch ; Captain Marriott's Naval Officer ; and the
Tale of Crockford's. The least interesting of these
will bear " a first reading." But there is a number
of dull, stupid novels on board, to go over which
attentively would be a cruel penance. I have ac-
quired the habit of looking through this class of pub-
lications ivith as much despatch as the editor of a

ew York daily journal, when fighting his way
inrough the proverbial dulness of the weekly perio-
dicals of the backwoods, of which, perhaps, hundreds
are on his exchange list. I have not confined my
reading to works of fancy, however amusing; but,
indeed, there are days on board a ship, during which
it is so boisterous and unpleasant, that to attempt the
study of history, or to engage in any work requiring
close application and attention, would almost be im-
practicable. Then it is that well-drawn pictures of
men and manners of the present or past ages — fancy
sketches of society — add to the comforts of a sea
voyage across the Atlantic. * * *

Families taking passage by these packets for Eng-
land should inquire whether such and such stores
(they may wish for) be provided ; as also, whether
such and such medicines be in the medicine-chest.
They should also provide a sufficient supply of clean
raiment in case either of health or sickness.

220

LONDON AND NEW YORK PACKETS.

The Ontario has been rather a favourite with tra-
vellers of and from Canada. Tliis voyage there was
neither clergyman nor physician on board, and public
religious exercises are altogether discontinued. Cap-
tain Sebor is very well liked. The steerage passen-
gers must be very uncomfortable, especially when the
weather is rough, and the waves beating over the sides
and bow of the vessel. It is, perhaps, necessary,
however, that one should have felt the misery of a
steerage passage, in order to judge of the comparative
comforts of a packet's cabin. It is better to beyin life
in the steerage of society^ and finish it in the cabin,
than to have to walk forward in old age, or late in life.

The average length of all the voyages of the regular
packets, from Liverpool (or Portsmouth) to New York,
during the last ten years, has been about thirty-eight
days. December, January, and February, are counted
among the worst months to return to New York from
England, and among the best to obtain a quick
passage to Europe. In April, the winds that prevail
are from the eastward. * * *

Yesterday two young swallows came on board and
visited the cabin — 900 miles from land !

SHIP ONTARIO— THE HEALTH OFFICER.

Quebec Hotel, Portsmouth, May 29th, 1832.
We anchored last night for a few hours off the Isle of
Wight, in sight of Hurst Castle Lights and the
Needles. This morning about ten, the health officer

SHIP ONTARIO— THE HEALTH OFFICER.

221

of
the
leer

hailed us when in sight of Spithead, came alongside
in a small boat, bearing a dirty small flag with a
faded crown on it, and after constituting one of his
oarsmen into a temporary portable desk-frame, began
to fire oft' a series of interrogatories, which I feared
at one time would prove interminable. He signed his
name *' IV. Bore, superintendent and examining
officer of quarantine ;" and if he borts the whole
foreign trade as he did the Ontario, he is well named ;
he put me very much in mind of Gait's sketch of "the
weariful woman." He wore a sailor's blue jacket, sat
on an old groat coat, and nevtr attempted to board
us, or oven for a nioiiicat to cpiit his recumbent pos-
lure. He was precise, solemn, and rather good-hu-
movred — I would call him an epicure in his profes-
sion. Many of his questions were about infection,
quarantine, disease, health; whether the passengers
had uU got sick at one time ; whether Captain Sebor
had been put into quarantine at New York in consc-
quence of sailing last from London, &c. He modu-
lated his bass voice when asking any questions not on
his brief; then raisinuf it almost to a higrh treble note.
Ho jotted down the captain's responses opposite the
questions, and one of his mutes hoisted the whole
statement iqi in a sort of wooden ladle attached to the
top of a long pole — the captain signed and lowered it
dow n ; next, the ladle came up for the bill of health ;
then it brought up a New Testament encased in copper
and soldered, which the captain kissed, the old man
below repeating the words of the oath sitting at his
ease — no " hats oft*." The copper-cased edition of
the Scriptures was lowered in the ladle — which.

212

SHIP ONTARIO THE HEALTH OFFICER.

las*.>' brought tip a couple of cortificates of the iieahh
oft fifty-eif^ht souls in the good ship Ontario, and
Dou ijore bid us good morning.

It is customary to make a present to the steward
and his assistant. The gentlemen made up a purse
for them, to which each contributed a sovereign — I
believe that each of the ladies made a present of a
like sum to the female attendant, who well deserved
it. I mention this, in order to afford a better idea of
,M incidental expenses to the traveller. The captain
hired a neat and commodious sail-boat to take the pas-
sengers who chose to land at Portsmouth ashore — the
distance being four m les. At the Custom-house, the
Custom-house officers were very polite, speedily exa-
mined our baggage, not as if with an intention to
seaidi for trifles by which to give us trouble, but in
the most gentlemanly manner. I have found good
accommodation at this hotel, one of the proprietors of
which is an agent for the New York linys of Loiidon
Packets.

It was four weeks {to an hour) from the' tinifi I
came on board the Ontario off New York, to the time
the passage-boat put us ashore here. I learn thftt the
Caledonia, New York packet, which sailed with us,
arrived at Liverpool three days before us. Her mail-
bag reached London last night — the Ontario's mail
will reach that city some time this afternoon. On the
29th of May, 1820, at noon, I had the pleasure for
the first time to set my foot on the Canadian shore,
at Quebec. This day, exactly at noon, I landed at
Portsmouth. Twelve years of a difference, within a
very few minutes; years spent in hard, fatiguing.

INSANITY.

223

arduous (and as I trust, useful) service — a service
that I do not by ai\y means regret, for my humble
exertions have been well and amply rewarded, and
that too in the way and manner calculated to afford
me the most enduring satisfaction. * * * *

I learn that the people of Portsmouth, Gosport, &c.
are, almost to a man, radical reformers, and warmly
disposed to support the whole bill as it passed the
Commons. The example of the reformers in England,
and their brilliant success, should teach the Upper
Canadians to be united as one man in defence of their
rights us British fivemon. *****

INSANITY— DKATII OF MR. MUDGE.

" Suicide originates in misery." — Rrjleciions on Suicide by Madame
•fe SlaVl.

" To renounce life when it could alone be purchased at the price of
conscience, is the only suicide permitted to virtue."— Larfy Jane Grey to
Dr. Aylmers,

" The man who «^r.y.^, ' I «.vill sorrow, and will not be comforted,' is
ignorant of the laws of his own nature — he knows not that which is
within him. He cannot dedicate his days to unavailing regrets. Comfort
will visit him in a thousand unknown shapes and unsuspected forms.
Sometimes it will steal unawares into his soul, and brooding like the hal-
cyon on the billowy waters of his spirit, they will become culm. Some-
times, like a thing of life and beauty, it will start up before him in his
patli, and he will welcome it to his arms. If joy is transient, so is
sorrow. Tlie chariot of time, though its wheels be noiseless, is ever
rolling OP its course. The world may remain unmoved, but to us it is
ever changing." — Cyrii Thornton.

" Little did my mother think,
That day she cradled me,
What land 1 was to travel in,

Or what death I should die."— OW Ballad.

York, Upper Canada, I6th June, 1831.
Had another example been required to teach mankind

224

INSANITY — DEATH OF MK. MUDOE,

tliat health and wealth, youth and high connexion,
are insufficient to produce contentment, the untoward
fate of Mr. Mudgc (private secretary to the lieutenant-
governor of Upper Canac.a) would have taught that
lesson. It appears by the evidence produced before a
coroner's j^uy, which sat last Friday morning on view of
the mangled remains of this unfortunate youth, that
he blew his brains oui, with a rifle at midnight on
'Jhursday last, lie was found next morning in bed,
by his servant and the Kev. Mr. Matthews, a ghastly
spectacle of human weakness — a mangled corpse ! The
causes which led to this truly awful catostropho are a»
yet enveloped in mysterious darkness. Some said he
was crossed in love, some said he had received bad
news, others declared he was insane, but the coroner's
jury learnt nothing.

It appeared by the evidence of Mr. M'Mahon, that
on the day before his deatli, Mr. Mudge was cheerful,
composed, and part of the time apparently very agree-
ably employed in assisting in putting up a copying
press that had been received from Europe. Mr.
Jones had dined with him at Sir John Colborne's the
evening before, w hen one of the officers of the 79th
took a leading part in the conversation — Mr. Mudge
tat silent and inattentive. It was remarked, that
before going to dinner that night lie had been very
attentive to his dress, much more so than usual ; and
a friend who saw him set otl' assured me tliat he then
appeared to be in a very lively humour, as much so
as at any time within his observation. Throughout
the day he was cheerful, and his countenance full of
smdes. Yet it was stated by Mr. Jones, that that

[

INSANITY — DEATH OF MR. MUDGE.

225

Ir.

fry
nd

night, when walking with him in the gardens and
grounds attached to the government-house, he asked
him many questions, but could not obtain answers.
Whether this perceptible difference in Mr. Mudge's
maimer after eight o'clock that evening gave rise to
the rumours that he had received an insidt at dinner
which preyed on his spirits, and that Captain Blois,
who had returned that same evenivfj from Europe, had
brought him very distressing inteUigence from his cor-
respondents in England, which he read at eight o'clock
and turned pale, I know not. It was late in the night
when ho returned home, and instead of waiting until
the servant could light him up, he procv.eded (contrary
to his us\ial custom) in the dark to his chamber; his
man followed with candles as speedily as he coulr'
" William," said he to his servant, " you can now go
to bed, I shall not want you any more to-night," His
servant on this retired to rest.

Mr. Mudge's residence was situated midway be-
tween Colonel Coffin's house and the hotel of Mr.
Edward Wright, about fifteen or sixteen feet distant
from each. Mr. Wright had a child sick that night,
and its cries awakened him so that he rose out of bed
a little before midnight — his chamber and Mr.
Mudge's were opposite each other. His clock kej)t
time Avith the garrison gun, and at the very moment
the clock struck the midnight hour, he heard a report
which he mistook for thunder, until, lool.ing out and
observing that it was a clear, serene, starlight night, he
became sensible that it was the discharge of fire-arms
he had heard. The skies were calm, and the stars
shone bright in the blue vault of heaven. The noise

' .1 ,1

•,»

226

INSANITY — DEATH OF MR. MUDOE.

he had listened to was the dcath-knell of a fellow*
mortal, whose troubled spirit had at that awful moment
fled to the tribunal of Omnipotence. There was then
a lijjht burning in Colonel Coffin's window. A Mrs.
Hughes, in an adjoining house, states that she thinks
she heard the report of fire-arms twice. No one in
]Mr. Mudgc's house heard any noise; and it was only
next morning, when the Rev. Charles Matthews
called to accompany Mr. Mudge to bathe, that the
attendant went up stairs and found his master lifeless
on the bed. They then went and informed his Excel-
lency, who sent for Dr. Widmer and the coroner.

Mr. Mudge had wound up his watcli carefully and
hung it as usual at the bed-head, hatl put on his night-
cap, and placed his clothes on a chair. His slippers
were laid aside — his candle put out — and the room
arranged as if the occupant had gone to bed in com-
fort. The room door was shut as usual, but not
locked ; the bed clothes covered his body, which was
placed in the posture of a man lying on his back with
the left hand outstretched; on the left side of the
corpse, above the bed clothes, lay a small and very
handsome ride, with the ramrod firmly grasped in the
fingers of the right hand. He must have put the
muzzle of the giui in his mouth, and having touched
the trigger with the ramrod, thus, while lying on the
bed, blown out his brains. The ball was found in the
pillow among the leathers, flattened as if it had come
in contact with the skuJ ; the brains were blown all
over the wall. Instant death must have ensued. It
is inferred that the rifle must have been very hard
charged, for it had started back half a yard, and

exi

Dij

thel

abol

rani

lioni

busj

imi

• ,»

I I

INSANITY — DEATH OF MR. MUDGE.

22";

Ime
I all
It
lard
md

might have gone farther but for a chest of drawers.
No testimony has been given by any one, either to the
jury or since, that I have heard of, by which it could
appear that the deceased then or at any former period
laboured under insanity, or was suspected of being de-
ranged. I have good private authority for stating that
on the day before his death he had been at one time
as jolly and happy to all appearance as at any former
period of his life. The jurors must have returned
their verdict that *' t he deceased came to his death by
shooting himself with a rifle, loaded with powder and
ball, during a temporary fit of insanity," upon the
principle, that he who destroys himself nuist be for
the time under mental derangement, self-preservation
beingf nature's first law.

I did hear a rumour that he was murdered, but the
tale was so extraordinary and withal improbable that
I forbear to toll it. There being no apparent cause
for his death, we have yet to learn whether he had be-
come a convert to Rousseau's extraordinary doctrine
published in the L'ter from St. Preaux to Lord Boston
— that " by making existence insupportable, God com-
mands us to put an end to it. On putting an end to
existence, therefore, we only obey the command of the
Divinity." Mr. Mudge, as I learn, was nephew to
the lady of Sir .John Colborne — he appeared to be
about five or six and twenty years of age — held the
rank of Lieutenant in the British army, and filled with
honour to himself and advantatje to all who had
business to do with the head of the government, the
important oflfice of confidential secretary to the Lieu-

^ 1

-i .1

I.. ',:

».'

228

INSANITY DEATH OF MR. MUDGC.

tenant -Governor. As a man of business he was
methodical, prompt, and decisive; and in liis habits
sobriety and love of order were distinguishing cha-
racteristics.* Benevolence was visible in his actions:
it is understood that for a long period before his death
he allowed a former servant who hud fallen into a
lingering disease the same wages as when in health in
his service, lie was of the middle size, very fair com-
plexion; and his countenance, though not what would
be termed handsome, was mild, agreeable, and indicative
of a contemplative mind. His income, about iiOOl.
a-year, was evidently far beyond his expenditure: of
pecuniary embarrassment, therefore, I presimie, ho
could have known nothing ; and in cases like his, even
where a predisposition in the family is admitted, there
is almost always a powerful and immediate impelling
cause.

* " Sure 'tis a curse which angry Fates impose
To mortify man's arrogance, tliat those
Who 're fashioned of some hetter sort of clajr
Mucii sooner than the common herd decay.
What bitter pangs must humbled Genius feel.
In their last hours, to view a Swift and Steele I
How must ill-boding horrors fill her breast
When she beholiJs men, marked above the rest
For cjualities mo?t dear, plunged from that height.
And bunk, deep sunk, in second childhood's night !"

Epistle to IVUliam Hogttrlh.

229

^i i

LONDON— THE RIVER THAMES.

" T]ie settlement of colonies in uninhabited countries — the establish*
ment of those in >ecurity, whose mixfurtunes have made their rountry .10
longer picii^iiig or sufc,— the acquisition of property wilho\it injury to
any — the appropriation uf liie wa>te and iuxurliint .ounties uf nature, and
the enjoyment of those gifts wliicli Heaven has scattered upon regions
uncultivated and unoccupied, cannot he considered without giving; rise to
a great nnnilier of pleasing ideas, and bewildering tht imagination in de>
lighlful pro.|)ects." — Johnson's Life 0/ Savagt,

Loho, Upper Canada, July 27, 1825.
* * * * I noticed one of our Scottish lir/ional
characteristics copied here, which deserves io be re-
corded. More tlian one half the men, women, and
children in the London district walk barefooted all the
summer season.

Opposite Westminster, on the north side of the
Thames is the Township of London, one of the best
settled in the district.* Adjoining London is Lobo,

• The Town of London, the new capital of the London District, had
no existence at the lime I w rote. It was desc h^d by Mr. Talbut, in his
first number of T/te Sun (1831), as follows :

" The Town of London is situated on an elevated piece of land, imme-
diately over the River Thames, where its branches unite. Less than five
years ago its present site was a cheerle°' wilderness, without a human
habitation ; it now numbers upwards of seventy framed houses, verging
fast towards completion, some of v iiicn are of a very superior order. The
court-house, (built by Mr. Ewart,) which is allowed by strangers to be
the finest building in the province, stands within about twenty yards of
the brink of the hdl, which may he said to be the bank of the river. It is
100 feet long, 50 feet wide, .ind 50 feet high. The building, aUhough not
strictly Gothic, is in that style, and with its octagon towers has much the
appearance of tlie ancient castles, so much admired in Great Britain and
Ireland. The court room is finished in a very superior manner. The
windows, which are six in number, and truly Gothic, are surmounted by

, 1

230

LONDON — THE KIVKU THAMES.

in which Captain Mafthows, iho nienihor for Middle-
sex, resides. His honse is on the north bank of the
river, whicli f^hdes j^enlly and in silence, on its way
towards I^ake St. Clair. 'J'he elevation of the banks
on both sides above the level of the water may here
exceed st»venty feet, and the sides are very steep. In
the bank below the ho\ise are very remarkable petri*
factions. Koots, shrubs, trees. Sec, are I'oinid turned
into stone. A s])rin«^ rushes out of the bank at this
place, and my conjecture is, that it runs over a bed of
sulphate of lime, and that the sidphuric acid contained
in the water acts on the or(:;anized botUcs with wiiich it
comes in contact at the surface, the water depositing
a portion of the lime it holds in solution. IVtrifactions
are seen here in every stajj^e, an<l the masses have as-
sumed n\any a sin<;ular and fantastic form. This is
the only species of rock hereabouts, and it may be cut
into chimney-pieces or ornaments, being white and
bluish white, ponderous, somewhat translucent on the
etlges, and larj^e pieces may be Ibiuul free from frac-
tures, 'ihe Thames here nmcli resembles some
romantic scenery I have beheld on the banks of the
Tweed — the scpiare towers only are wanting, but they
may be fancied when beholding the log castles. Cap-
tain Matthews has a choice library, it is the most ex-
tensive I met with during this journey. His men were
Sfatheriuii in the wheat harvest in the fields. On the
other bank he has GOO acres, ^ — and an estate in all of

elliptical arches, supported by pillars nearly twenty feet high. Arches
are also sprung from four of those pillars, which passing across the angles
of the room, make the ceiling an octagon, and, ornamented as it is, it adds
much to the beauty of the room."

gri

larJ

fieri

Jacl

nexl

NORTH SIIORG OF LAKIi: ERIli;.

231

about 2000. Such a propcM'ty in Kilj^land would be
invaluable. Hero it is worth about one pound an
acre.

The weal her contiiuies oppressively hot; but the
crops will be ecpial lo an average of the last ten years.

NORTH SIIOllK OF LAKE ERIE.

bhes
Igles
Idds

(jCt your tahio smoke

Wilh soliil roast or l)uke(l, or what tlie litM'ds
Of laiuur breed sii|n)ly, or wliat ttif wilds
Yield to the toilsome pleasures of the chase:
Gcuerous your wine, the boast of ripening years,
But frugal be your cups."

Armslfunij's Art of Preserving llmlth.

Villorla, Upper Canada, July 2i), 1825.
It was within an hotu* and a half of niidnijifht when I
arrived at Colonel IJackhouse'.s residence, and having
had a warm invitation a year belbre, I met with a
cordial welcome. The Colonel is a jolly old York-
shireman, and emigrated to Canada thirty years ago;
ho is senior magistrate and chairman of the quarter
sessions for the London District. — His principal seat
is at Walsingham, near Vittoria, but he has been here
occasionally ibr a year or two, superintending improve-
ments on the Silver Creek estate, which have already
cost hi.ii upwards of 12,000 dollars. He has built a
grist and saw-mill, and, at much expense, erected a
large mill-dam on the sand banks, and cleared 150
acres of forest. -Mrs. B. and his youngest son, Mr.
Jacob, were at Silver Creek when 1 arrived. The
next morning we had a choice breakfast, but by way

/ 5
1 *

" 'T:;. iTtVwT-aht. i,.::^

232

NORTH SHORE OF LAKE ERIE.

of anticipation theColonel helped himself to his morning
cup of new milk two parts, whisky one part, no stinting,
I pledged him, but used the latter liquid in greater
moderation. During our dejeune a green bottle, filled
with excellent aquavitue, was placed in the centre of
the board, and mine host qualified each cup of Mrs.
B.'s hyson with about an equal proportion of the clear
liquid from the aforesaid bottle. I attempted in my
last cup to follow his example, but it was not pleasant
to my taste. I am strongly inclined to believe that
the worthy Colonel could lay the Dean and the whole
of tlie chapter of C under the table, for, notwith-
standing that he indulged himself thus freely, I per-
ceived not the least alteration in his conversation during
the day.

His mansion is situate on Lake Erie, a few rods
back from the edge of the bank ; I was very much de-
lighted with the view I had of the lake and coast from
this place. The shores of Erie are very high and
abrupt, as far as the eye could reach either way; I
judged the elevation above the surface of the water of
the lake to be from fifty to seventy, and even eighty
feet. A very remarkable, though not uncommon,
occu rence happened here lately. The Colonel was
enjoying himself taking his morning walk near the
margin of the high bank in front of his house, when
he felt the ground giving way ; he had scarce enough
of time left to remove nearer his house, when an im-
mense body of the bank loosened itself from the rest of
the field and gave way to the length of ten chains or
more, and of various widths, sliding slowly and mag-
nificently down into the bosom of the lake. I saw the

thaf
oftl

BEAUTIES OF HOUGHTON.

233

trees and shrubs growinof below on the beach with
their tops and foHage on the level with the earlliy pre-
cipice on which I stood. No stone is found on the
coast in a distance of many miles.

^ 'H

BEAUTIES OF HOUGHTON.

Township of Houghton on Lake Erie, Upper Canada,

July 29, 1825.

* * * * I met a man with a basket of sloes,
which he called wild cherries ; he had with him three
dogs and a gun, and had caught a large wild turkey
and a racoon. On the poplar trees in the prairies I
saw hundreds of insects much resembling the locust;
the country people call them sun bugs. The winds and
storms have created large hills of sand facing the beach
of the lake ; I had no instrument with me, but judge
these hills to be from 80 to 140 feet higher than the
lake, and Irom 20 to 70 foet above the level of the
surrounding land. I tied my horse to a tree and
contemplated for a time in silence the heavenly prospect
around me. Lake Erie, on one side, reflected a golden
lustre in the beams of a July sun ; the beach was far
below ; the rich and luxuriant clusters of wild grape
vines, the mountain balm, the stunted sloe, and many
other trees and shrubs grew in abundance around me;
on one side was a large j)rairie extending to the very
edge of the lofty banks of Erie, and far more beautiful
than the Regent's Park : here and there were clumps
of trees covered with verdure ; the grass was green and

■i

234

BEAUTIES OF HOUGHTON.

velvety, for ilie heat of the warmest summer in the
memory of ini^ i had not impaired its native hue;
behind me was the vast and extensive forest, rich in
melanic treasures, but full of marshes and quagmires,
engendering agues, remittants, intermittent s. These
marshes might be drained with ease, thought I, if we
had a population adequate to the task, — but ii cannot
bo while a few irresponsible individuals have the
managemnt of the lands. * * *

As I proceeded, I met several labourers with their
dogs and guns enjoying the pleasures of the chase.
Here is plenty of game, and no game laws. A gen-
tleman in Bayham told me that if I would wait over
Sunday he would start a deer, and run her into the
lake with his hounds — but I could not tarry.

QUAKER MEETING-HOUSE AND SCHOOL-ROOM.

" Unfit for greatness, I her snares defy,
And look on riches with untainted eye.
To others let the glill'ring baubles fall,
Content siiall place us far above them all."

Churchill.

" If, as has been remarked with so much truth, knowledge is power,
one of the first obligations on the part of those who govern is to have it
on their side, and by tliat means to ensure the command of opinion, the
claim to respect, the title to confidence." — Letter of Mr. Figerto the Earl
of liipon in the matter of Attorney-General Stuart,

Fort Erie, Upper Canada, July, 1826.

A FEW miles from Lake Erie, in the township of
Bertie, in a quiet and retired spot, near by a concession
road, stands the plain and unadorned place of worship

swi

for

was

that

Mr.

the

a\vai

Mr.

niissl

QUAKKR MKETIXG-HOUSE AND SCHOOL-ROOM. 235

of the society of friends ; and at a little distance beyond,
their school.

On entering the latter, I recognized in the teacher
my old friend Mr. William Wilson, lie had from
twenty to thirty boys and girls round him, the children
of the neighbouring quaker families. The healthy,
happy, cheerful, and placid coimtenances of these young
innocents it was delighlful to look upon. How happy
is youth when placed at a distance from the snares of
vice, and far away from the cotton or lace factory ! —
here is the native abode of innocence and peace.
These children never see their parents contending
and quarrelling about dogmatical points in religion or
politics, for theT parents refuse to adopt creeds, and are
loyal and true to the government which protects them;
willingly obedient to the law, enemies of oppression, the
friends of all mankind, charitable and humane. This
is the character of a true professor of the religion of
Fox, Barclay, and Penn. Opposite the school-house^
and fastened to the boughs of the lofty beech and
maple trees which surround the area, are placed two
swings, made of the bark of the elm and bass-wood,
prepared In an aslury — one is for tlie boys, the other
for the gi .'Is. I took a turn in one of these machines,
Avas sent aloft in the air, and thought for a few minutes
that I had gone back to the halcyon days of youth.
Mr, Wilson then took us to see the burying-ground of
the society, where these children of peace rest in quiet,
awaititigf their eternal morninj;. We retired to dine at
Mr. Thomas Moore's, much pleased that we had not
missed the quaker meeting-house. Mr. Moore, in

■! 1

<*«<«

/' 1 !/

^36

QUAKERS AND TUNKARDS.

. \

1813, planted in the fall ninoty-nine appli tivt ? on an
acre of ground, on an acclivity — tiny now "orin *)> ex
cellenl and valuable bearing orchard; this is worthy
of imitation. I hml almosi (^rofotfen to mention Mr.
Wilson's staff; it is a crab-tree, ornament'd with a
piece of ivory, part of one of the tusks of *}»e celebraied
boar imported by Lieutenant-Governor Maitland; the
rr .si of the tusk Mr. W. keeps as a relic;.

The constitutions of the Canadas are explained so as
to oK'-iude the Menonist, the Txnikard, the Quaker, and
Moravian brethren from seats in the letjislature, or
ortic( s under the government, because these persons,
formidable in numbers, wealthy and respectable, con-
scientiously affirm, instead of taking an oath. They
have only to cross a river half a mile wide to behold
persons of their persuasions in the full and peaceful
enjoyment of equal rights with the rest of the popula-
tion.

[Lords Ilowick and Goderich, before leaving the
colonial department, expressed a desire to remove these
disabilities, and the decision of the House of Commons
in the case of Mr. Pease, leaves grovmd for believing
that the Quakers and 7'unkards of Canada, w ill soon
be placed on a footing with the rest of the community.]

Mil

237

UPPER CANADA-

-ALBION AND CALEDOX— A HIGH.
Lx\ND FAMILY.

loon

" Weave, brothers, weave ! — ^Toil is ours ;

But toil i< the lot of men :
One gathers the fruit, one gathers the flowers,

One soweth the seed again.
'J'here is not a creature, from England's king,

To tlie peasant that delves the soil,
Tiiat knows half the pleasures tli» reasons bring,

If he have not his share of toil \"—The Weavers'' Song.

♦' Dear Scotia ! o'er the swelling soa,

From childhood's hopes, from Irierids, from tliee,
On earth, where'er thy oflspring roam,
This day their hearts should wander home."

Her sons are brave, her daughters fair.

Her gowan glens no slave can share ;

Then from the feeling never stray,

That loves the land that's far away."

Sung bij Mr. Maywoud, on St. Andrew's Day, in New VorA.

Albion^ August 2, 1831.
This is a delightful township, agreeably diversified
with hill ana valley, knoll and ravine, forest and
clearing. The resident landowners made a very re-
spectable appearance at the place of town meeting,
Molloy's Mills, and took precisely the same view of
public affairs as the people of the other townships;
there was just as unanimous an expression of senti-
ment, as would be found in the assembly if the people
were fairly represented in it. Immense tracts of wild
laud are to be met with in Albion, and the town is
remarkably well-watered, with an abundance of rapids,
mill sites, &c. The oak ridges, or Queenston Moun-
tain continuation, run througli to King. The largest
cleared farm belongs to Mr. William Wilson, from

' I r)

238

UPIMCR CVXAOA.

;

York, in England, who has a conilbrtabk' fraine-hoiiso,
and 100 acivs under good cultivafion. Tho Howard
family of York have a grist-null, ami Mr. Gcorgo
Bolton, an ICnglish settlor, has another. Tliero are
several saw-mills, and the growing crop promises fair.
On twelve acres of wheat land Mr. Wilson expects this
year to reap thirty-five bushels an acre — this is a first
crop. 'J'here is in some places wheat damaged with
snuit, but perhaps this is owing to bad management.
There is no post-ollice in Albion, C'aledon, J'^squosing,
Erin, CMiinguacousy, Adjala, Mono, or Tecumseth,
although the population is over (J.OOO, it may be over
seven.* On the night I stopped in Albion, Mr. W.
Wilson, the EngUsh settler, in whose house I slept, had
eight sheep and lambs devoured by the v»olves ; and,
on the previous Saturday, throe nien, in the far-back
township of Mono, were caught in the forest in a storm.
They crept below a liollow log for shelter, on which a
large tree fell, and crushed them to eleath. Accidents are
not unfrcquent in new and remote townships. InMe-
lancthon, a distant township, four children, one of them
a girl of sixteen, went into the woods in search of a
calf, and have not since been heard of. They have
doubtless perished with cold and hunger.

One half of the settlers in Albion are English, and
one half Irish ; there is not a more spirited town, for its
size, I believe, on the continent of North America.
They love their native land ; they i)ray for its prospe-
rity, and that the downfall of its enenues and theirs
may be hastened.

* Mr. Stayner has attended to the petitions of the freeholders, and
established four or five post-oiBces in these townships since I left Canadai

a huj

the

ALBION AND CALKDON.

239

and
jada<

Cnlvdon, A itgiist 3 , 1 83 1 .

This townsliip is higher and (h*icr than Chiiit^iia-
cousy, and fontains a trroat nunihor of clearings, many
of them ol thirty, forty, fifty, and some of sixty acres.
The ialls of the Crecht, which river is a large and
powerful stream in this town, are a lovely romantic
spot, ahoiit f(jrty miles from ^'ork. It is impossible
adequately to describe the many natural beauties which
adorn the banks of this noble river. There is m\ich
fine land in Caledon, and in some places great irregu-
larity in the sm-face of the earth, the Allegany ridge of
momitains running through the town. A post-office
in, and good roads leading from the township, are
greatly required by the inhabitants. Fortunately for the
settlers, there is no tavern ; but imfortunately for them
there are but few school-houses, and but one buildinsr
for ptiblic worship. Archdeacon Strachan came once
to Caledon, but he never came back. I hear that
Squire Lemon is at the head of a petition for a Church
of England priest to settle in Caledon, and if he does
settle, and is able to maintain himself as Mr. M'Millan,
the Presbyterian minister, and the clergy of the Me-
thodist cluu'ch have to do, I shall wish him every
success. A Presbyterian meeting-house is now building :
I have heard of no other.

The townships of Markham, Albion, Caledon,
Vaughan, &c., in York county, contain from eighty to
a hundred square miles each.

I accompanied Mr. Archibald M'Naughton, one of
the Scottish settlers, liome from the town-meeting to

\ '

r^wM******"*"'***'

240

A HIGHLAND FAMILY.

andpvoditfe of Ins place • potatoes, new

broaa, <.r «o..r 'l)" 8™"'' *' ' „„ fanada mavlc and

a,lc.Um-mad. "T^'V^ilfrbei,," tl.c only f"«MS" a'-f^;
tea from China^ .l>e la J '^ ; .^,„,i„„ .vceUs, I had
except .alt. T)«nng he tl.r. M ^^^^^ j^^^,, „f„„

,„de on horseback 1* \* "i a,,;„k no .pirH«o-
„et tUrongU «i.l. 'he ra • _i, „.«, an ex-

,i.l„or, no nor for >"»" f',X or it. The Scottish
periment. I fi"f "'>f ^J^l' 1 brought six children
Lmer. «i.h «hom 1 J°^f ';„j ^,Z had other five
„Uh him from A^g^ f " ^'^ j ,,even. He -ver lost
bom to 1»»>"'C*:'"'^*.7'",;, are all cheerful, and
„„o; and, «i,h h,s -^; j'^ „„,,, able roof. After
healthy, and happy. "" " ' ,i„\e-honoured usage
supper, in accordance ^^rth t ^^^^ jj.y^^

of^Ss country, he ookdo^nth^^ ^^^^^^^^^

his partner m W" 'J;^^"' „„,hered round him, and
„ith his numerou f*™' ^^ ,^^ ,„iemn strains of
i„,his J-'f/f :T::; a„» from Wslo^lyroof,
Scottish melody heard » '^^ ^ . j,, Creator, pre-
i„ honour and P™- "^ ^^/„ "„^ ,4 world. The
server, and hount.ful ^f"^'';;;;„ u.e sacred volume;
eldest son then read a ^»f '"j^^,^,^, ,he services of

and -he famrty of '^^ -^'j/;,, ,,, to their God.
the day by bo«mg the knee P

Surely this is '^n"" '^^ watered, and has a
Caledon IS /^'^''^•''''5'p ;„, „„e of the hills. Lake
,,rie.y of '--^^^tU^f intervening country, are
Ontario, and the \asi vr«*

JUSTICE SLOAT.

241

said to be distinctly visible. I regretted mucli that
my engaoreinent in Chinguacousy prevented me [roni
visiting this spot.

Some years ago, Mr. Bacon, who had been appointed
to the high office of Assessor of the township of Ca-
ledon, went to Mr. Justice Sloat to be sworn into office.
The old justice was so much in the habit of attesting
to land settlement duly oaths, that he took the book,
and, presenting it to the new-made functionary, com-
menced, " You, M. B., do swear that you have truly
and duly performed the settlement duties on lot No.

, according to law. So help you God." "Indeed,"

replied Bacon, " I will swear no such thing ; I am the
new assessor of Caledon." " Ah ! rejoined the justice, I
did not understand your errand, I thought it was land;"
and then he administered the proper oath, and took
his fee.

The several townships of Uj)per Canada meet on
the fii-st Monthly of January, and elect each its own
officers for the year, every inhabitant householder and
freeholder having a vote. These officers consist of a
town-clerk, two town-wardena, an assessor, a collector
of rates, overseers of the highways and roads, fence-
viewers, a pound-keeper, &c., &c. The voting is open.
In the United States it is by ballot, which is far better.
Bills to improve the township incorporations have often
been lost in thelegislativecouncil, although universally
acceptable to the people.

I i

■ \

242

LITER CANADA— YORK AND SIMCOE— NORTH OF THK
RIDGES-TIIE HIGHLAND LASSIE.

« « * 4. « And whilst the Fates afford
Plain plenty to supply the frugal board,
Whilst Mirth, with Decency, his lovely bride,
And wii\e's gay god, with Temtekance by his side,
Their welcome visit pay ; whilst Heai.hi attend*
The narrow circle of our chosen friends —
Whilst frank Ooou-Humolu consecrates the treat,
And Woman makes society complete, —
Thus will we live."

C/iurchi/i.

*' The emigrant will also find, I think, that the physical and pu»iti\c
advantages arc more encouraging to the settler in UppcrCanadii, &c. than
in the United Slates ; independently of the reluctance that every right-
minded Englishman must feel to abandon the colours of his country," —
H'llliam Gore Ouseley.

•' The Scots are poor ! cries surly English pride ;
True is the charge, nor by themselves denied.
Are they not then in strictest reason dear,
Who wisely come to mend their fortunes here ?

Prophectf of Famine,

Georgiana, Lake Simcoe, July, 1831.
UNguESTiONABLY the country north of the Kidgos lur
surpasses the south in beauty. Whitchurch, the east
or settled part of King, near Yonge Street, East
Gwillimbury and North Gvvillimbury, form one con-
tinued settlement; and sucli might have now been all
the (jood land in this fertile colony, but for the narrow-
minded policy of the goverimient, who have been a
tlead weight upon the energies of the country, and the
protectors and preservers of wolves and bears, and
forests and swamps, and fevers and agues, and bad
roads — the gaolers of the people — penning them up

I' 1^

UPPER CANADA— YORK AND SIMCOE.

243

} ' •

THK

positive
li,c. ihan
ry hrIiI-
ntry."—

1^.

gos lai"
lie t'liHl
Kust
^iic cou-
jccu all
I narrow -
been a
laud the
irs, ami
lud bad
leni "1>

here and there, and squeezing from tlieir industry a
miserable tribute. Where is there in America a
lovelier spot of earth than the country nortli of Lake
Ontario ?

Mr. John Bogart, sen., with whom I breakfasted
one morning at his house, situated on one of tlie high-
est pieces of table land in Whitchurch, county of
York, probably 700 feet above Ontario's margin, was
one of the first settlers, and now owns, with his sons
and family, a valuable and improving estate. ]3ogart's
mills are built on a never-failing stream falling into
Lake Simcoe, and a village has been laid out close by.
The new mill is a large and extensive flouring esta-
blishment, and must have consumed a great capital,
Mr. Bogart's son called the town meeting, and the father
presided; Mr. Eck, who has a farm and tannery in
the next concession, acting as secretary. If those
persons in office in England could but enter into the
feelings of the farmers here, and properly understand
the etlects of their exclusive system, it would be
altered. And it will be altered. The meetinor in
East Gwillimbury, to petition the king for a redress
of grievances, was followed in the evening by many
demonstrations of joy ; and the spirited young men of
the volunteer amateur musicians, composing the
powerful band of the militia regiment, marched up
and down the streets of Hope, playing cheerful and
enlivening airs. I had the curiosity to count their
instruments, and there were three or four clarionets,
two French horns, two bassoons, besides German and
octave flutes, flageolets, &c. They have also violins

M 2

' ,. ! I

244 NORTH OF THK RIDGKS- THE IIIUIILANU LASSIE.

and violc-ncellos, and arc masters of their delightful
art.

While ridinjj through the Georgiana woods, we lost
our way about half an hour before sunset ; thero
were many forest tracks, but we could not tell the
true one. As we journeyed on, guessing our way,
jumping over fallen trees, and wading the creeks as
carefully as possible, lest our horses should sink in the
mire, a young woman came up, with silver brooch,
plaid, bare legs, shoes and stockings in hand, and
dressed very plain. Highland Scottish fashion. She
spoke very little ]''nglish, and Mr. M'Leod and I
had forgot what little (Jaelic we once possessed ; but
we ascertained that she had come from (I think)
Breadalbane, and was on her way to a relative in
Thorah, thirty miles farther back in these woods. Ii
would, indeed, be hard, if the distress brought on by
the cruel and unfeeling monopolizers of power in Bri-
tain and Ireland, v.hich could drive a lass like this
4000 miles off to wander in these deserts to seek an
independent home, could be made to reach the emi-
grants permanently in America. But it will not —
Canada is not lashed alongside of Great Britain like
Ireland, to be scourged and oppressed for ages in the
name of Jesus Christ, Christianity, and the Protestant
religion! And perhaps, too, there is some reality in
the Reform Bill.

pa I
th(

saw,
had

182'

245

WILD-LAND TAXES— THE LAKE SIMCOE COUNTRY.

•' In truth, the parties of Whig and Tory are those of nature. They
exist in all countries, whether called by these names or by those of
aristocrats and democrats. — cdtc droit and c6li gauche,— xxXits^s and radi-
cals, serviles an<i liberals. The sirkly, woiikly, timid man fears the
people, and is a Tory by nature ; the healthy, >trong^, and bold, cherishes
them, and is formed a Whig by nature." — Thomas Jefferson.

" It is a celebrated notion of a patriot who signally distinguished him-
self for the liberties of his country, that a House of Commons should
never grant such subsidies as are easy to be raised, and give no pain to
the people, lest the nation should acquiesce under a burden they did not
feel, and see it perpetuatea without repining." — Addison's Defence of
the Act of Parliament fur laying a Tax uf Four Shillings in the Pound
on Land.—" Freeholder^' No. XX., Feb. 27, 1716.

The fertile township of Brock lies in the rear of Ux-
bridge ; and its inhabitants have six tniles of forest-
path to pass throtigh before they come to the dreary
twelve miles I have mentioned. The woods are taxed;
but where are the fruits of the taxation ? — Not, cer-
tainly, in improved roads. By the operation of the
original wild-lanf' assessment law, the monies received
by the treasurers of districts, for the eighth of a penny
per acre tax on absentee lands, were ordered to be
paid to the overseers of highways in the divisions where
the lands lay, who were authorized to repair the high-
ways therewith, within the current year ; and to ac-
count for the money, on oath, under high pains and
penalties in case of perjury. Messrs. John Beverly
Robinson, John Strachan, Jonas Jones, Archibald
M'Lean, and the rest of our mushroom aristocracy,
saw, with regret, that some of the public money
had got out of their grasp. They accordingly, ia
1824, repealed the law giving the money to the over-

246

THE LAKE SIMCOE COUNTRY.

seers of highways ; and enacted, that it should be
given to their cronies, the justices of the peace, whom
they could make and unmake at their pleasure ! Thus
the law now stands ; and whereas they formerly made
the overseers give in an account, upon oath, how they
had expended the public money, they took care, in the
law of 1824, to require no account from the magistrateH
whatever. Mr. Billings, in the last Gazette, inserts
an advertisement, dated in July, showing that nearly
1000/. are now in his hands ready to be paid to Judge
Robinson's irresponsible justices in this district.

Tn the woods of these vast settlements I find wild
gooseberries, spikenards, the sassafras, raspberries,
brambles, Solomon's seal, ground hemlock, moose or
leather-wood, poplar, and heal-all ; partridges in abun-
dance; deer, very plenty ; also, now and then to be
met with, a black fox, pole-cat, or young bear. There
c'lre no snakes of a dangerous kind in the country.
71ie feathered tribe are lesa tuneful than in more
northern climes.

The settlers assured me that I was the first of their
representatives who, to their knowledge, had ever
visited that part of the country since the province was
settled, although they had often rode fifty or sixty
miles to York, to vote for the best candidate. These
people petitioned government to allow a bill to pass,
enabling them to vote without travelling fifty miles ;
but the local authorities make too much by abuses to
listen to a voice from the Canadian woods. They will
hold the grip until tiie people are strong enough to
shake them off*, unless relief comes through the minis-
ters of the crown or a reformed parliament. In Brock

h .

THE LAKE SIMCOE COUNTRY.

247

(

be
lom
hus
ladc
they
I the
rates
iserts
learly
fudge

X wikl
ervies,
lose 01*
I abun-
V to he

There

mntvy.
\\ move

of their
Ll ever
[wee was
ir sixty
lliese
I to pass,
miles ;
Lbuses to
['hey will
longh to
lie minis-
[u BrocV

are some fine farms ; and Mr. Wixson, a native Ca-
nadian, now editor of the " Advocate," at York, is an
extensive land-owner, and resident on one of them.

GUELPH, UPPER CANADA.

'•The labour of converting an American forest into an iiabitaljiL'
eounlry is immense." — Dr. DwighOx Travels,

•■ Whenever there is a desire either to provide for or to get rid u(
any member of a family, to the colonies — the general refugium peccato-
fftni — is he sent. Let us reverse this state of things. Suppose, for a
moment, that persons from Washington were to be sent over to govern
the diflerent districts in this country : they would, of course, comi*
here imbued with all their national feeling and national prejudices, and
altogether unacquainted with those of this country. How would such a
government be relished by the people of England .'' This, however, is
the case of the Canadas at this noment." — Alejcander Baring — Par/in-
mentartf Debates, 1828.

" On general grounds we are pleased to read of these advances in
civilization (Guelph) and these conquests, diisimed in vo long time to Ik
exclusively the domain of our federal republic. But \'''-\c were to speiik
selfishly, we would say that we regret the diversion o' ^Ir. Gall's genius
from fiction to reality, — from the construction of roman^^es and novels, to
the construction of market-houses and caravanser?s."__iii/. M. Nouk,
Customs, New York,

I VISITED the Canada Company's town of Guelpli ou
the 5th of Sej)tember, 1831 ; it is the seat of the
Canada Company's monopoly, and was intended at
first as the centre of their operations. Mr. Gaits
plans were injudicious, if the Company was meant to
be, what it now is, a scourge to a new country., a dr.^in
to its means, by giving it no advantage in point of
capital, but taking all it can from the people. Bi>.t
if Mr. Gait had been furnished with means, liis plans

I 1

246

GVELfm, UPPER CANADA.

were in general calculated to be productive, especially
his bank, which was a very good idea. Doubtless he
expended a few thousands uselessly, and paid two
prices for many things; but what European could
have avoided doing so, if he expended money at all,
immediately on coming from England ?

Mr. Gait's priory is an elegant design. The house
might serve an earl — the rustic work is in character
— the grounds Handsome — the spot well chosen, just
above the river Speed, a constant stream, over which,
here, is an excellent bridge, and below that a grist-
mill, which I found Mr. Elgie, an Englishman, em-
ployed in putting in order.

Round the priory there arc gardens ice-house, well-
house, offices, root-house, &c. Mr. Elgie is the only
inhabitant ; but from the porch to the inmost parlour
press, it is fitted for a prince. The scenery about
Guelph is broken and uneven, and therefore interest-
ing; the soil good; ^he situation healthy ; the distance
from Dundas about twenty-four miles. Guelph town-
ship is small — only about 47,000 acres, as I am told ;
all is settled but 9000 acres. The population of the
township of Guelph is 1050, to which add the villagers,
other 300. There are Presbvterian, Catholic, and
Episcopalian churches, on the way or finished ; there
are no magistrates nor courts in the township; the
maple stump and raiUng, with the sim-dial, where
the first tree was cut down, when Mr. Gait left ott'
building castles in the air at .Jock's Lodge to com-
mence the caravanseras of Guelph, is still shown — they
should paint it ; it is surrounded with a rail, being
the first tree cut in the cittj, and surmounted by the

n 1

Uvhere

left off

com-

-they

being

Iby the

OUKLPH, UPPER CANADA.

249

sun-dial. Five or six roads terminate \a Guelph,
which stands probably 800 feet above Lake Ontario.
In the mill are lour run of stones ; two for raerchant
tlour, one for country flour, and one for oatmeal. The
Company'o manager here gets, I understand, only 25/.
a year' lu Eramosa township, back of Guelph, a
Mr. Johnsoi had cleared 50 acres ; the three brothers
Armstrong, 50 each; Nelson, 60 to 80; Parkinson,
about 100; and Smith nearly 60. Mr. Gait's bank-
ing-house stands empty ; it is in a very damp situation,
and noiild have rotted the notes had the circulation
been dilatory. It is of stone. The Company's school-
house, taught by Mr. Matthews, is capacious, and
also of stone. Mr. Matthews adjourned his school
to make room for the meeting to petition for more
liberal institutions. Mr. Akiii, merchant, Guelph,
took the chair; and the late Mr. James Keogh, town-
clerk of the township, acted as secretary. The York
proceedings were adopted, and it was resolved, among
other things, that the Canada Company, as con-
stiiuted for the gain of a few, was a great e "il. Jones,
the Company's agent in York, was enraged at the
whole proceedings, and threatened Mr. Akin and
others with the veugeance of the monopoly, on his
visit to Guelph some time after. This nad the eft'tct
of inducunjj those fariners who are in de'ot to the
agents to exercise caution, lest their opinions might
prove their ruin. The Guelphs, however, addressed
the King, and sent their petition with the others.

M 5

250

UPPER CANADA— SEVEN YEARS IN GAOL.

•' Partout oil des hommes en veulent opprimer il'aulres, il y a violence,
liesordre, et cause de desordre : partout ou iiul n'affecte de pretentions
clominatrices, partout il y a liberie, il y a repos et gage de surete,"—
Dunoyer,

" Oppression, willing to appear
An object of our love, not feai,
Or at tlie most a reverend awe
To breed, usurped the garb of Law.
A book she lield, on wliich her eyes
Were deeply fixed, whence seemed to r; te
Joy in her breast; a bonk, of migiif
Most wonderful, wliich black to white
Could turn, and, without help of laws,
Coulil make tlie worse the better cause."

The Duellist.

A rooR man named Jonah Broum, who had reahzed
n small property on the St. Lawrence frontier, got into
contact with tlie Messrs. Jones there, and that in-
llnential fam/y hurled him into the " whale's helly "
v( the law.

Hear his statement, as published in the Upper
Canada tnnvspapers : — " A baililf was employed to take
tne on a Ca. Sa. who was a stranger to me. The first
thing ho did was to strike me on the head, and after-
ward,-, clenched me. I disengaged myself from him ;
but on hearing som one say that he had a lawful
authority (o take me, I told him if he wo\dd show it,
I was ready to go with him, (Mr. Howard, a former
member of })arliament, was present;) but he refused to
^how any authority, and J, not knowing him to be any
kind of leiral otticer, refused to "o with him, &c. Jt
was on the 5th Nu\ ember, 1821, 1 was taken, and put

/or

tioj

pn(

awJ

ofil

'Didl

set

'he

SEVEN YEARS IN GAOL.

251

ence,
itions

,«.

liist.

realized
got into
tliat in-
s boUy "

Upper
|.<_\ to take
nie first
^id after-

t-om liiiT^ ;
a lawful

show it.

a former
I refused to

lo be any

1, &e. 1^
Ivi, and pwt

into Brockville gaol, and on the 10th day of January
I was ordered to York to take my trial for an escape
from the sheriff, &c., and fined 10/. and costs; but
being unable to pay it, I have remained a close prisoner
for^ue years and a half. Now, sir, I have been an
inhabitant of this country for forty years, in the course
of which time I have seen men tried for various high
crimes, such as gaol-breaking, treason, rape, and murder;
but I never saw any man but myself confined for fi\('
or six years, without ever having been tried bel'ore
twelve men of his comitry,'"' &c.

The law kept poor Jonah about seven years from his
wife and children, shut rip in ^ ork gaol, and, if I re-
member rifjht, only released iiini when it had obtained
all he and his ehihhvn had in the worlii!

In 1830, the people of the Gore District complained
to the legislature, that they suffered severely by " the
enormous expenses which at pre^fMit are attendant on
the prosecution for small demands, in the several
courts of justice in this province ; and that they behold
with deep regret the suff«M-ings of the unfortunate
debtor, who is impoverished by a bill of costs, I're-
(piently amounting to dhuble or even treble the s\mi
for which he was justly indebted : and that your i)eti-
tioners are fully convinced that unless some more
prudent mode is adopted, poverty or immediate ruin
awaits a number of \ho most enterprising inhabitants
of this colony."

Other districts complained in equally strong language
— but what could we do ? The Legislative Council
and the judges, — a sort of family government, — had
set their faces against every useful improvement, and
the Assembly had no efficient control over the execu-

252

THE CHOLERA IN AMERICA.

live council. Many trials have been made to simplify
law process, but all in vain. I introduced a bill into
the House of Assembly for the better reoulation of
certain fees in the law, a few months before my de-
parture for this coiuitry. It would have been a great
relief to many, and the Assembly passed it, every one
voting in its favoiu* but ISIr. Ilagerman and another.
Mr. II. told the House that if he could not stop it
there, it could be sto])ped elsewhere ; and he was right.
The Legislative Coimcil threw it out at once. So it
lias been in many other cases, as may be seen v^hen-
evtr ihe colonial office shall send to tlie House of Com-
mons the returns moved for last August, and again,
last February, by Mr. Hume.

TUli CHOLKRA IN AMERICA.

'• Their steps were graves ; o'^r prostrate realms they trod."

Mofilgomery.

A RKLATioN of my wife's, who happened to be at
Montreal, waiting for a passage to London during the
'hrce worst weeks of the cholera in that city, com-
municated to me the following particulars: —

The situation of the poorer classes of emigrants was
in the h''"htst degree distressing. Hundreds of them
lay, night after night, for a fortnight together, upon
the hard stones, with tiieir blankets; nor would the
commodore allow a single boat to carry them up to
Kiiigston, for fear of still more spet (lily spreading the
contagion. In Quebec, not a few sold their clothes in
order to obtain the means of returning to Liirope, and
many died : the remains of 140 persons had been

Th
ford

' ti

THE CHOLKRA IN AMERICA.

253

s was
them
\ipon
lid tlic
up to
ng the
thes in
pc, and
\ been

interred in one hole, or grave, in the Montreal bury ing-
ground, when my friend went to see it, and forty
corpses lay ready for burial. Several of the Catholic
priests were among the victims. Nothing could exceed
the kindness and attention which was paid by this
priesthood to the sick ; everything that men could do
to alleviate suffering, they did. At the commence-
ment, the Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches
were shut up, but there was service in the Methodist
and Catholic churches. The latter were open night
and day.

My friend was informed that the following experi-
ment was made : — A piece of fresh wholesome beef
was placed on the top of one of the Catholic new ca-
thedral church spires, and taken down after an hour
and twenty minutes, in a tainted and corrupt state.
Lime was distributed iu the city, and plentifully used.
Insj)cctors went round the city every day, in the
morning, to enfoi'^e cleanHness; every one you met
hud a piece of camphor in hand ; and, in St. Paul's
Street, pots of pitch and rosin were kept burning at
every door, to purify the atmosphere. Tiie field-pieces
were brought from St. Helen's, and fired, in order to
produce a more pure atmosphere; and as the mortality
continued to increase, many were interred, and business
was almost at a stand. Day by day the death-cart,
with a yellow flag and a boy, went round for the dead,
with deal boxes nailed together coarsely, in lieu of
coffins ; but in the outskirts of the city the mortality
was much less than in the thickly populated part.
There was a doctor who came into the city, and per-
formed many cures', by some very simple process. The

254

THE CHOLERA. IN AMERICA.

citizens made him a handsome present. The Indians
in Caughnawaaga sutlercd severely in their numbers,
although in the country around the deaths were nt
few. The disease has now abated in North Am* ;,
but, while it raged, in no other part were its devatsta-
tions so extensive as in Lower Canada. This is
ascribed by some to the inmiigration from Europe.
As for my part, I am vniable to render a reason.

The cholera has taken otl' several thousand persons
in the great maritime cities of North America, and
has continued its ravages into the interior of Canada
and the United States. It commenced at Quebec.
In a very able and full report, by Dr. Beck of Albany,
made to the governor of New York State, on the 14th
of August last, are these statements : —

" Jun(^ 8, 1832. — On this day the first case of cholera
was reported to have occurred at Quebec, where it
continued to rage for several weeks.

" June 9. — The first case reported at Montreal. It
was that of an emigrant on board the steam-boat
Voyageur, from Quebec. On the 10th there was
another case from the vessel. Same night several
natives were taken ill. According to Dr. Nelson,
several cases of choUna occurred in the early part of
April, after which the disease disappeared, and broke
out again in a mild form about the first of June. He
states that, in many instances, several in a famil\ were
attacked ; but the clergy, physicians, and those who
were in attendance on the sick, unless rendered sus-
ceptible by over-exertion, generally escaped."

Dr. Beck continues his account of the progress of
the disorder at great length ; he then remarks, that —

M I

THE CHOLERA IN AMERICA.

255

rress oi
that—

"In reviewing this table, it will be observed that
the disease has generally passed from place to place
along the main channels of communication. Wherever

cted city or vil-

h the disease

1 •<' vicinity.

t» les, it gra-

it has prevailed to any extent, the
lage appears to become a centre f
is communicated to ditl'erent, pi •
Thus, from Montreal and Quebec,
dually spread into various parts ol Canada, following
the course of emigration. Cases also appeared on the
line of our northern canal, and at different points on
Lake Champlain. In most of the villages on the Ca-
nadian side of the St. Lawrence, and of Lake Ontario,
where the tide of emigration has been uninterrupted,
the cholera has occurred ; while, on the American side —
where, since the breaking out of the disease at Montreal,
all conmiunication with the Canadus has been stopped
— not a case has been reported except at Ogdensburgh,
and one or two other points on the St. Lawrence, where
the intercourse could not be so completely interrupted.
" Again, when the disease was once located at
Albany, boatmen and others leaving the city were at-
tacked in various places, both on the line of the canal
and elsewhere ; and ^ it appeared to radiate from this
as a centre. The same fact has also been observed at
New York, from which, by travel, the disease has been
communicated to cities and villages in the vicinity, and
even at some distance."

The American journals are filled with remarkable
statements respecting the cholera, one of whic'. 1 select
from the Philadelphia Gazette. The wedf'ing must
have been a mournful one : —

" Among the singular circumstances which we have

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256

THE CHOLERA IN AMERICA.

seen recorded, as connected with the cholera, we may
mention the following, which we have received from the
most unquestionable authority. We copy it from a
letter before us, dated Princeton, (N. J.) August 24.
We present the initials, but omit the full names of the

parties. * Dr. S r, of Pennington, was seized with

it (the cholera) on Monday night last, and on Tuesday,
when in a collapsed state, ha was married to Miss

W g, to whom he had been engaged for some time

past, in order that she might inherit his property."

The appearance of the cholera greatly frightened the
Washington folks. In Loiidon it was recommended
by some physicians to abstain from unripe fruits, but
the Americans went much farther than this, for the
Board of Health of W^ashington prohibited, for ninety
days, the sale of the following articles in the market :
— " Cabbage, green corn, cucumbers, peas, beans,
parsnips, carrots, (^g plant, cimblins or squashes,
pumpkins, turnips, water-melons, cantelopes, musk-
melons, apples, pears, peaches, plums, damsons, cher-
ries, apricots, pine-apples, oranges, lemons, limes,
cocoa-nuts, ice-cream, fish, crabs, oysters, clamis, lob-
sters, and crawfish ! ! "

ii'

'i\

REGISTERING TITLES TO LANDED ESTATES.

Conveyances of real estates in North America are
simplified as much as possible in most of the states of
the Union ; and, even according to the more complex
and tedious custom adopted in Upper Canada, where

.;VI

REGISTKRING TITLES TO LANDED ESTATES. 257

the English law of descent obtains, the transfer of
landed property is a matter of much less cost and
trouble than in England. In most of the states and
colonies, conveyances of real estates are required to be
put on record ; but the mode, and time, and manner
of registration varies, according to the laws and usages
of each state ov province. I perceive, by a late par-
liamentary paper, that neither Mr. Alexander Baring
nor (I think) Mr, Ellice were able to state with accu-
racy, to a committee of the Commons, the mode of
recording deeds, altliough those gentlemen have a
great interest in land in the new world. Mr. Ellice
has estates both in Canada and the United States ;
Mr. Baring has also a large inheritance in the Union.

The state of New York being, as I have before said,
the largest in the Union, and its code of laws the
result of ages of unfettered legislation, I select its
mode of registration of estates for the information of
the English reader.

The electors — that is, the people — once in every
three years elect (by ballot, as in all other cases) a
county clerk for each county in the state, which is care-
fully subdivided, from time to time, so as to exclude
Lancashires, Yorkshires, Rutlands, Nairns, and other
counties, either too large or too small for the public
convenience. The county clerk, so elected, has certain
prescribed duties laid down in the statute-book ; gives
security for the due performance of those duties ; and
may appoint a deputy, who, in case of the death of his
principal, is subject to the same responsibilities and
entitled to the same emoluments as a county clerk,
until a new clerk shall be elected and sworn into office.

■

I ,-

' i

258

REGISTERING TITLES TO LANDED ESTATES.

Every conveyance of real estate, situated within the
state of New York, must be recorded in the office of
the clerk of the county where the land lies ; and every
conveyance not so recorded is void in law, as against
any subsequent purchaser, in good faith and for a
valuable consideration, of tlie same real estate or any
part oi it, ^.'iose conveyance shall be first put on re-
cord. The county clerks are bound to keep two sets
of books ; one for recording deeds absolute in their
terms, the other for the registration of mortgages,
securities, and all conditional deeds. To entitle any
conveyance to be put on record by any coimty clerk, it
must be acknowledged by the party or parties exe-
cuting the same, or proved by a subscribing witness,
if within the state, before the chancellor, justices of
the supreme court, circuit judges, supreme court com-
missioners, judges of county courts, mayors and re-
corders of cities, or commissioners of ' ?ds for a city
or county. If proved out of the statv id within the
United States, certain judges, within their respective
jurisdictions, may receive the ^;roofs. If ihe party to
such conveyance be within Great Britain or Ireland,
it may be acknowledged or proved before the Lord
Mayor of London, or the chief magistrate of Dublin,
or of Edinburgh, or of Liverpool, or before the United
States consul in London : such proof to be duly certi-
fied under the hand and official seal of such mayor,
magistrate, minister, or charge des affaires. There is
another mode of proof for foreign conveyances : — proof
may be oflfered before any person specially authorized
for that purpose, by a commission from the Court of
Chancery, to be issued to any reputable person residing

n the
ice of
every
gainst
for a
>r any
on re-
\'0 sets
1 their
tgages,
tie any
;lerk, it
es exe-
vvitness,
stices of
irt com-
and re-
)r a city
thin the
ispective
party to
Ireland,
Ihe Lord
Dubhn,
United
ily certi-
mayor,
There is
: — proof
ithorized
Court of
residing

KEGISTERINO TITLES TO LANDED ESTATES.

259

in or going to the country where the proof is to be
taken. The officer who takes an acknowledgment of
the execution of a conveyance is required to have had
satisfactory proof that the person making the acknow-
ledgment is the person described in, and who made
the conveyance. No acknowledgment of a married
woman is lawful, unless she acknowledge, on a private
examination, that she has signed and delivered such
conveyance freely and without fear of her husband.
The proof of a subscribing witness is not to be taken
unless he is known to the officer, or has satisfactory
evidence that he is the person who was such witness.

Every officer who shall take the proof of any con-
veyance is required to endorse an<l sign a certificate,
on the conveyance, setting forth the things required by
la\v to be done, the name and residence of witnesses,
and what they swore to: and every conveyance so
proved and certified may be read in evidence without
further proof, and is entitled to be put on record. The
record of a conveyance, duly recorded, or a transcript
thereof, duly certified, may be road in evidence, with
the like force and effect as the original conveyance.
But such evidence may be rebutted by the party
affected by it, if it can be made to appear that the
proof was taken on the oath of an interested or incom-
petent witness. Conveyances are to be recorded in the
order in which they are delivered to the clerk for that
purpose, and are considered as on record from the
time of such delivery. The recorder enters in the
book a full copy of the conveyance, adding the
time of the day, month, and year, when recorded ; and
endorses on the conveyance, before returning it to the

* i

260

REGISTERING TITLES TO LANDED ESTATES.

'f'

owner, a certificate, stating the time when, and the
book and page where, ihe same was recorded. Pro-
visions are made for identifying such certificate and
record, if offered in evidence in courts of justice. A
very simple and efficient mode is also prescribed for
the discharge of records of mortgages paid and rati-
fied, and for proof when witnesses are dead. Any
clerk of any city or county, who may improperly record
a conveyance, is made subject to fine and imprison-
ment ; and judges, officers, or others, authorized to
take proof, or to record or cancel conveyances, are sub-
ject to fine and imprisonment, and liable in damages
to the party injured, if they be guilty of any malfea-
sance or fraudulent practice in the execution of their
duty. By real estate I mean all chattels real, except
leases for a term not exceeding three years. Of
course, last wills and testaments, and powers of attor-
ney, are not included in the term conveyance ; but
letters of attorney, and executory contracts for the sale
and purchase of lands, may be legally recorded, certi-
fied, and read in evidence, the same as a conveyance.

For further information as to the mode of recording
conveyances in America, the Revised Laws of New
York, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, &c. may be con-
sulted. Indeed, I should consider it an important
addition to the library of the legislature of Great
Britain, if they would purchase the latest editions of
the Statutes of every state in the Union. I see a
variety of colonial laws in some of the committee-
rooms of the Commons, but whether they are placed
in the catalogue of books I do not now recollect. I

the

Pro-
and

s. A

d for
rati-
Any

record

)rison-

zed to

•e sub-
images

malfea-

)f their

, except

rs. Of

,f attor-

,e; but

the sale

fd, certi-
ance.
(cording

|of New
H amp-
be con-
iportant
If Great
^itions of
1 see a
imittee-
e placed
Lect. I

REGISTERING TITLES TO LANDED ESTATES.

261

think it would be seen by these statutes, that the
several states are, to the full, as good payers of their
debts as the powers of Europe, although the latter
have the advantage over them of high taxation, with
legions of bayoneteers to frighten or coax the dutiful
and loyal subjects into prompt payment. One would
imagine that the people who could stand the stamps,
excise duties, and other vexatious imposts of Europe,
could stand anything ; and the truth is, they get
accustomed to them, just as the man did to his dun-
geon who was confined thirty years in the Bastille,
the Doge of Venice's prison, or some such awful place.
I had almost forgotten to mention that there are no
stamps in any part of America that I know of,
Jamaica excepted.

In one part of Lower Canada titles to real property
are recorded nearly in the same way as in New York ;
in other parts of that colony the usage is different ; but
conveyances are much less costly there than in Eng-
land, or even in Upper Canada. There is a register-
office in every county in Upper Canada, which affords
great protection to purchasers ; but the selection of the
registrars should be in the county freeholders, and not
in the military governors, for the latter often choose
unfit and improper persons to fill the office, while the
former would have the strongest personal interest in
selecting the surest possible depositary for the records
of their estates.

s 1^

i \

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262

FIFTY ITEMS.

UPPER CANADA DEER-SHOOTING.

'fi

My friend, Mr. Stephen Miles of Prescott, relates the
following melancholy circumstance, which occurred in
October, 1832. I was personally acquainted with
the deceased Mr. Grant, and know Dr. Wiley, the
coroner, very well : —

" Two men, each on a scaffold erected for the pur-
pose, were watching for deer on the Nation River, in
the township of Mountain, on Thursday evening last,
the 11th instant, and had agreed, if one shot at a
deer, and wanted the assistance of the other, to whistle.
One of them soon shot at a deer; and, unfortunately,
just at that time, Mr. James Grant, of South Gower,
made his appearance in a canoe, and, fearful of being
shot, he whistled, when the other perceiving some-
thing in the water, and thinking it was the deer, he
took aim, (his gun being loaded with two balls,) and
shot Mr. Grant through tlie thigh, which caused him
to bleed to death immediately. The ill-fated young
man who unfortunately shot Mr. Grant went the next
day and gave himself up : he was advised to go to
the inquest. An inquest was held on the body by

FIFTY ITEMS.

263

I ' I

tes the
rrecl itl
>tl with
oy, the

he pur-
liver, in
ing last,
lot at a
whistle,
unately,
Gower,
of being
ig some-
deer, he
lis,) and
sed him
id young
the next
to go to
lody by

Dr. Wiley, on the 13th instant, and the verdict of the
jury was ' accidental death.'

" The case of Mr. Grant is truly afflicting. The
banns of marriage had been published betwee.^ him
and the female of his choice, and he was to have been
married on Sunday. But mark the change ! he was
shot on Thursday night, an inquest was held on his
body on Saturday night, and he was buried on Sunday.
A most affecting and appropriate discourse was deli-
vered on the occasion by the Rev. Mr. Webster, who
was on that day to have performed the marriage cere-
mony."

THE TAME DEER.

June 10, 1827. — An Indian woman, living in or
about York, Upper Canada, has reared a young deer,
lor some time, with much maternal tenderness. She
sold it lately to a storekeeper's wife in the market
square, to whose house she goes every day, and allows
the beautiful little animal to suck her breasts. Yes-
terday I beheld the squaw sitting whh her child at one
breast, and the young deer sucking the other. Its
fore-paws were placed on the pap, paddle paddling
in a very playful manner, while it eagerly received
the nourishment usually appropriated exclusively to
infants. In the third volume of Baron Humboldt's
personal narrative, p. 46, he states that Lagano, a
labourer, suckled his own child for five months, and
that the quality of the milk was good ; also, that a
lie-goat was milked every other day, in Hanover, for a
great number of years.

I like to see droll sights, and I remember three

{ 1

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264

FIFTY ITEMS.

in the winter of 1825. The first was a couple of
calves, in harness, drawing a sleigh, and guided by an
Indian boy in the Indian woods. The second, a boy
harnessing two docile sheep to a wood sleioh, in Ilal-
dimand. The third, a goat in harness, drawing a
sleigh, in which were three children, near Kingston.

THE CAT AND KITTKNS.

My friend Mr. Wixson communicated the following
curious fact in natural history, last August : —

An old cat, at Mr. Abraham Losie's, in the township
of Pickering, Upper Canada, having been killed about
six weeks ago, leaving several kittens, the children
took the kits to the house. Mr. Losie had a small
bitch, which had, about a year before, had a litter of
pups, but was, of course, dry at the time. She adopted
the kits, which, sucking her, brought her to her milk,
and she raises and caresses them as her own offspring :
she will even return from following any of the family,
of which she used to be very fond, and take care of
and nourish her adopted charge.

Query — Does not this afford us a useful hint how
to conduct ourselves towards the helpless orphan ?

ili

i.'i

AN UPPER CANADA FARMER.

While travelling in Pickering, about twenty-six miles
from York, Upper Canada, in July, 1831, 1 took notes
as follow : —

In the rear of the residue of the Elmsley tract, the
land becomes agreeably diversified with hill and dale ;

lie of

ly a«
L boy
Hal-
ing a
on.

llowing

wnsbip
1 about
cbildren
a small
litter of
adopted
\er millv>
flspring ••

family.

care of

hint bow
\an?

-six miles
ook notes

I tract, the
md dale;

FIFTY ITEMS.

265

and the clearings creeks, orchards, and farmsteads,
gladden and relieve the eye. Mr. Thomas Hubbard's
wheat and rye, as I passed up on the 22d July,
were dead ripe, and they were cradling. The crop
was abundant, and the grain plump. About ten
miles back from the street, on the Brock road, is the
farm of Mr. Joseph Wixson, who presided at the town
meeting — a lovely, healthy spot of ground, high above
the lake, well-watered, the soil excellent, the clearing
very large, and in the best cultivation; the garden,
and orchard, and house, and offices, besj)eaking wealth
and comfort. Four hundred acres in his homestead,
and wool-carding, weaving, dyeing, and spinning, were
carrying on within doors, while the harvesting was in
progress without. For twenty years and upwards Mr.
Wixson told me ho had lived in this spot, almost secluded
from society by the vast forests which surrounded him.
He now begins to get neighbours. Well, well do the
persons in authority here know, that but for their sys-
tem, persevered in for an age, ten times the present
number of such farmers rrsiight have been now con-
suming British and British West India goods, and
giving their wheat and provisions in exchange, instead
of Canada importing from New York and Ohio. Mr.
Wixson accompaiiicd me to Uxbridge.

THE CANADIAN DOO.

Mr. Lamb communicated to me the following anec-
dote, 25th February, 1831: — A slut belonging to
Mr. Taylor, late of the H umber Mills, who stopped
behind when he removed to the west country, had four

1 I

26«

FIFTY ITEMS.

pups. He happened to be passing by soon after, and
took the old cur and two of her young ones home
with him in the sleigh, a distance of full three miles.
The animal, it would appear, did not relish her new
residence, for she set out in the night, or very early in
the following morning, carrying her two young ones
through the deep snow to the place from whence they
had been taken by Mr. Taylor. It is believed here,
that she must have carried one a short distance, left it
upon some dry sheltered spot of ground and gone
back for the other, and continued this mode of con-
\eyance until she reached home. I suppose that each
of the pups weighed 6 lbs. ; and it is evident they
could not have travelled, for they were quite dry. On
her arrival, she lodged her offspring in an ashes-box
until she found open doors to carry them in. Such
maternal affection as was shown by this brute animal
forms a remarkable contrast to the inhumanity of
some mothers endowed with reason.

THE BEARS.

Bears are both numerous and troublesome in the
unsettled country on the banks of Lake Simcoe, north
of Vork, Upper Canada. The following extract of a
letter to the Rev. James Richardson, York, would
indicate that bear-hunting affords good sport : —

" Narrows, Lake Simcoe, 11th Sept. 1832.

" For some weeks past, frequent complaints have
been made by unarmed travellers of the number and
V)oldness of bears, making their appearance on the

III

ad
ncie
les.
lew

r in
»nes

hey
lerc,

!ft it
crone
con-
civch

they
. On
.s-box

Sucli
ininia^

ity of

in the
north
let of a
would

1832.

ts have

jer and

on the

FIFTY ITEMS.

267

road leading across the portage from the Narrows to
Coldvvater; seldom giving the road or showing any
timidity.

" On Tliursday, 13th inst., one of our Indians who
is an excellent hunter, and marksman, went out quite
early in the morning to reconnoitre. The hunter soon
observed a large stately bear approaching him with
boldness; ho reserved his fire until the bear approached
within a few paces of the muzzle of his gun, when he
shot him dead. The hunter then pursued on, and
within a few hours, shot seven ; five of which were
large warlike old ones, and two vigorous cubs."

Mr. Buel of Brockville relates the following story of
an encounter with a bear which took place last year : —
" Mr. Peter Orr, a native of Paisley, Scotland, ac-
companied by his brother and another young man,
having been to purchase scythes, on the I8th August,
near to M'Nab township, on the Ottawa or Grand
River, on their return home, coming up the river in
a small birch canoe, saw a bear swimming across,
which they ventured to attack. Tlie bear immediately
swam towards them, when one of them struck it
across the shoulder with a scythe; this caused the
bear to go under water for a short time, and on his
second appearance he was struck on the nose, which
caused him to yell horribly. The young man who
struck the bear being startled, leaned too far back-
wards and upset the canoe ; by this means Peter was
drowned, the other two clung to the canoe till she.
drifted ashore. The bear was wounded and killed
soon afterwards. The body was not found till the 27th
Attgust, near to the place he fell in. He has left an

N 2

268

FIFTY ITEMS.

aged mother with a number of friends to bewail his
loss."

NATURAL CURIOSITIES.

In October, 1825, I visited one of the greatest natu-
ral curiosities in the Niagara District, Ball's mills in
the township of Clinton. The waterfall at Ball's
mills is over a ledge of rocks, seventy or eighty feet
perpendicular. The view from the mill was highly
interesting. There is another of these Upper Canada
cataracts, which would form a fine subject for the
pencil of the artist, namely, the fall at the brow of
the mountain above Dundas village, which is much
greater than that at Ball's mills. The wild, irregular,
broken hill and dale country about Dundas heightens
the beauty of the waterfall. But there is a wonder
in nature I have not yet seen, but which I hope to be
able to visit next summer, — I mean the Pictured Rocks
of Lake Superior, of which we have the following
account from the pen of Mr. Lewis Cass, late governor
of Michigan : —

" Upon the southern coast of Lake Superior, about
fifty miles from the falls of St. Mary, are the immense
precipitous dirts, called by the voyagers, Le Portrail
and the Pictured Rocks. This name has been given
to them in coi sequence of the different appearances
which they present to the traveller as he passes their
base in his canoe. It requires little aid from the ima-
gination to discern in them the castellated tower and
lofty dome, spires and pinnacles, and every sublime,
grotesque, or fantastic shape, which the genius of
architecture ever invented. These cliffs are an un-

FIFTY ITBhiB.

2G9

broken mass of rocks, rising to an elevation of 300
feet above the level of the lake, and stretching along
the coast for fifteen miles. The voyagers never pass
this coast except in the most profound calm ; and the
Indians, before they make the attempt, offer their ac-
customed oblations, to propitiate the favour of their
manitons. The eye instinctively searches along this
eternal rampart for a single place of security ; but the
search is in vain. With an impassable barrier of rocks
on one side, and an interminable expanse of water on
the other, a sudden storm upon the lake would as
inevitably ensure destruction to the passenger in his
frail canoe, as if he were on the brink of the cataract
of Niagara. The rock itself is a sandstone, which is
disintegrated by the continual action of the waters
with comparative facility. There are no broken masses
upon which the eye can rest and find relief. The
lake is so deep, that these masses, as they are torn
from the precipice, are concealed beneath its waters
until they are reduced to sand. The action of the
waves has undermined every projecting point; and
there the immense precipice rests upon arches, and
the foundation is intersected with caverns in every
direction.

** When we passed this mighty fabric of nature, the
wind was still and the lake was calm. But even the
slightest motion of the waves, which in the most pro-
found calm agitates these internal seas, swept through
the deep caverns with the noise of distant thunder, and
died away upon the ear, as if rolled forward in the
dark recesses inaccessible to human observation. No
sound more melancholy or more awful ever vibrated

1 I

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270

FIFTY ITEMS.

upon human nerves. It has left an impression which
neither time nor distance can ever efface. Resting in
a frail bark canoe upon the limpid waters of the lake,
we seemed almost suspended in air, so pellucid is the
element upon which we floated. In gazing upon the
towering battlements which impended over us, and from
which the smallest fragment would have destroyed us,
we felt, and felt intensely, our own insignificance. No
situation can be imagined more appalling to the courage,
or more humbling to the pride of man. We appeared
like a speck upon the face of the creation. Our whole
party, Indians and voyagers, and soldiers, officers, and
servants, contemplated in mute astonishment the awful
display of creative power, at whose base we hung ; and
no sound broke upon the ear to interrupt the ceaseless
roaring of the waters. No splendid cathedral, no
temple built with human hands, no pompous worship
could ever impress the spectator with such humility,
and so strong a conviction of the immense distance be-
tween him and the Almighty Architect.

" The writer of this article has viewed the Falls of
Niagara, and the passage of the Potomac through the
Blue Bridge, two of the most stupendous objects in
the natural features of our country. The impression
they produce is feeble and transient, compared with
that of the * Pictured Rocks'* on Lake Superior."

UPPER CANADA PAPER-MILLS.

York, August 9, 1827. — About three miles out of
town in the bottom of a deep ravine, watered by the
river Don, and bounded also by beautiful and verdant

■ '■\ I

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FIFTY ITEMS.

271

flats, are situated the York paper-mill, distillery, and
grist-mill, owned by Messrs. Eastwood and Co. ; also
Mr. Shepard's axe-grinding machinery, and Messrs.
Helliwell's large and extensive brewery. I went out
to view these improvements a few days ago, and re-
turned much gratified with witnessing the paper ma-
nufacture in active operation — as also the bold and
pleasing scenery on the banks of the Don. The river
might be made navigable with small expense up to the
brewery, and if the surrounding lands were laid out in
five acre lots all the way to town they would sell to
great advantage.

There are two or three other paper-mills in the
province.

lout of

)y the

lerdant

MAPLE SUGAR.

I have sometimes been present and assisted at an
operation carried to great extent in both Canadas,
I mean sugar-making. I have also seen the concen-
trated cyder, made by freezing a barrel of the common,
and obtaining the spirituous liquid that remains in the
centre, inside.

A great part of the sugar consumed by the farmers
is got from the maple tree — the Indians boiling it for
\ise and sale, as well as the English. The juice is
allowed to run from the trees into coarse wooden troughs,
collected from time to time in pails, and boiled in the
woods, " at the sugar bush," which if watched night
and day in the season, and the fires kept continually
burning. I am very fond of maple sugar, and as for
maple molasses, it is by many considered more de-
licious than honey.

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272

PIFIY ITEM».

DOING TWO THINGS AT ONCE.

Mr. M'Grath, the church missionary of Toronto,
Upper Canada, married a couple one day in his vestry-
room, of the names of Price and Hahon. At the con-
clusion of the ceremony, he pulled out of his pocket
a political address in favour of the colonial function-
aries, and containing much ahuse of myself, and begged
the signatures of the wedding party to it. The address
has since been sent to England,

MARRIAGE OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

While in New York, in April, 1832, a Baptist
minister related to me the foUowinjj curious anecdote;
*' Seven years ago be had lawfully married one of the
Catholic priests of that city, agreeably to the statutes
of the State and the usages of the Union. The
marriage was kept strictly private ; the lady had two
fine children to her clerical benedict ; thoy were happy
and contented, the priest concealing the nature of their
connexion lest he should lose his office. He died
suddenly while I was in New York, the church took
hold or were about to take hold of his temporal wealth,
and the lady his wife waited on my informant as
evidence to enable her to obtain his property for his
children. The clergyman assured me that she would
fully succeed. Had, however, the church of Rome
been established as part and parcel of the law, she
must have failed, and her children come to poverty.
Indeed a lawyer to whom I mentioned the circumstance
doubted whether the rule of the church he belonged to

FIFTY ITKMS.

273

would not apply to the deceased priest's property even
in America. By and by, it is to be hoped the church
of Rome will allow its priests to marry. Why not ?
Many of the Levites, priests, prophets, apostles,
preachers and teachers under the Old and New Testa-
ment dispensations were married men.

•1

A HUSBAND AND SLAVE.

A late number of the The Charleston (South Caro-
lina) Patriot mentions the case of a slave, named
William, the husband and property of Mary Douglass,
a free-coloured woman, who was tried on the 4th, and
executed on the 17th of August, for having wounded
two white men. It thus appears that the laws of
South Carolina allow a free woman to marry the slave
whom she may have inherited or purchased with money ;
and that after the marriage his bondage may be con-
tinued. It follows, I presume, that the free woman
may sell the slave her husband. What then will be
the state of the parties? Will the sale amount to a
divorce in law ? Can a woman, luuler such circum-
stances, marry another slave, and sell and divorce him
also?

1 X

A PROCESSION OF AFRICANS.

One day in April, 1832, I met in the streets of

New York a procession entirely composed of coloured

people, with drums, trumpets, and a band of music; —

there were hundreds of them — some bearing banners,

others flags, and all decorated with badges, sashes,

ribbonsj &c. I felt pleased and gratified at their

N 5

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274

FIFTY ITEMS.

contented, joyous bearing, and hope that the day may
soon come, in wtiich the task-master shall no more
dare to lift his whip to the unhappy African ; and in
which man shall cease 1» possess the power to buy,
and sell, and torture his fellow-man. The philan-
thropic Clarkson's worthy name was inscribed on the
insignia of one of the societies composing the proces-
sion. Were I a person of colour, and felt is I now
feel, I would never rest nor cease my efforts until the
last badge of degradation and inequality had been
taken from the necks of my countrymen.

Mr. Gore Ousley, attached to the British legation
at Washington, speaking from his own observation,
says, that " If an individual, concentrating the wisdom
and virtues of every age in his own person, and inhe-
riting th qualities of a Socrates, an Alfred, a Gus-
tavus Vasa, and a Washington combined, were born
with a negro skin in the United States, I do not think
that he would ever be allowed a perfectly social equality
with a white scoundrel. The consequence of this ar-
tificial and unjust social degradation, is not unfre-
quently a real debasement, which often renders the
free-coloured population comparatively unprofitable
members of society."

THE BELL OF BATAVIA.

The large and elegant Episcopal church of St.
Jame8*'s in Batavia, New York State, got in debt to a
carpenter for repairs, and refused to pay him, being
out of funds. He prosecuted them, obtained a verdict,
and seized the church-bell in execution, as is shown in

FIFTY ITEMS.

275

r ■ ^

the following advertisement, the original of which is in
my possession. It is no wonder that our Episcopalian
colonial priests are afraid of Yankee practices. The
Chief Justice would stare if he saw Dr. Strachan's
bell rung for its own sale, by Baird, the deputy sheriff*.
The American laws allow churches to be sold as well
as other property, if they contract debts and refuse
payment — which is very proper; — and the man who
caused the writ to be served, stated, that if they did
not raise enough by the sale of the bell, they would
vendue Bible, prayer-book, parson's cushion, and all.

The following is a correct copy of Sheriff" Thomp-
son's advertisement : — =

" Sheriff's sale. — By virtue of two writs of fieri facias,
I have seized and taken the goods and chattels of the
wardens and vestrymen of St. James's church, to wit,
one bell ; which I shall expose for sale at public vendue,
on the 2d day of February next, at ten o'clock in the
forenoon, at St. .lames church, in the town of Batavia :
dated January 25, 1827.

" Wm. R. Thompson, Sheriff.
" H. Thompson, Deputy.'*

I A

of St.
Ibt to a
1, being
;erdict,
kown in

BUNDLINOW

This custom, once common in some parts of the
Canadas and the United States, seems to have arisen
originally from the poverty of the early settlers, and
their having scanty accommodations. A young man
visits a young woman to court her for marriage, and
is allowed to sleep with her, each keeping on a part of
their clothes. I'liis custom is fast passing away.

t I

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P ■

276

FIFTY ITEM9.

.1!

■li!

MILITIA TRAINING.

In the course of a debate in the House of Assembly
of Upper Canada, on the 5th of February, 1828, Cap-
tain Matthews " enquired what good eftect had arisen
from militia trainings ? — the people assembled from
various parts of the country, and on reaching the
ground a spectator would find beer kegs and whiskey
kegs, and the people drinking and stimiilating them-
selves with ardent spirits ; the officers and men often
make fools of themselves going through a few ma-
noeuvres they know very little about. Then comes the
whiskey again. The officers go to some tavern and
fall to drinking, and the men profit by their example.
The question is perhaps asked, of how many men are
absent, and how many present, and there the matter
ends. The officers, he understood, were under the
direction of the magistrates, and if a vagrant, as dis-
orderly as may be found, will allow a magistrate to get
in his debt, that vagrant will very soon become a militia
officer : he did not speak at random ; no, he could pro-
duce instances in his own county. Again, these officers
have such odd ways ; one of them put a gun under
his (Captain M's.) horse's legs at a training, and
fired it off, at the risk of breaking his neck. It was
also customary to fire off a gun as near a person's ear
as possible, just to see if he would start ! (^Laughter.)
The learned doctor from Lincoln had, on a former
f ccasion, advocated more days of training and fewer of
statute labour, and he should not wonder if that gentle-
man were to advocate war by-and-by :-^he had reaped
a rich harvest from it,'* {Laughter.)

FIFTY ITKMS.

277

There is doubtless something of caricature in the
captain's sketch, which I copied at the moment.

\ i

MR. PRESERVED FISH.

Many of the names of persons and places in the
United States are very curious, and not seldom ab-
surd and ridiculous. It is the same in England. One
of the principal merchants in the city of New York is
a Mr. Preserved Fish. Although now the principal
of an extensive mercantile house, he was formerly the
humble owner and skipper of a small trading schooner,
respecting which the following anecdote is told : —

" Mr. Preserved Fish was carrying a cargo of
pickled fish to Baltimore, when he was hailed by a
large ship, and the following dialogue ensued : —

' What ship ? '— ' The Preserved Fish.'

* What captain ?' — * Preserved Fish.'
' What owner ? ' — ' Preserved Fish.'

' What cargo ? ' — • Preserved Fish.'

* Ay, ay, we know the cargo : but what's your cap-
tain's name?' — ' Preserved Fish: — bound for Balti-
more.

The Liberty Days and Freedom Kings, of America,
have their counterparts in Europe, but the inquiry is
not worth the trouble it would give one to procure a
full and true list of them.

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

The editor of the Baltimore Visitor gave the follow-
ing anecdote last year, under the above head :—

k:l

278

FIFTY ITEMS.

*' A gentleman of our acquaintance, now in this
city, a Virginian by birth, has * done the state some
service.' He is but thirty-two years of age, and is
the father of fifteen children. He married his first
wife at the age of fourteen, — she died when she was
eighteen, and was the motlier of six ; at nineteen
years of age he married his second wife, who is young
yet, and the mother of nine. To use his own expres-
sion, he has * prospects of more.' Fifteen children in
seventeen years is what we should call doing a tolera-
bly good business."

The Virginian has proved himself an admirer of
Franklin's Essay on Early Marriages.

MR. SAVAGE.

On a Saturday evening in August, 1829, about ten,
a waggish Yankee knocked at the door of Mr. Savage,
collector of the customs at the port of York, Upper
Canada, and, in the character of an informer, received
five dollars for pointing out to him a contraband dep6t,
containing five barrels of American whiskey. Down
sallied the collector, hired a team for other two dol-
lars, rewarded a sailor with a dollar to roll tlie barrels
out of the lake where they had been hid, had the
seizure carted to the cellars of the king's auctioneer,
and was congratulating himself on his night's work,
when Mosley suggested to him the propriety of tast-
ing the spirit. He did taste it, and found himself the
fortunate captor of five barrels of the pure water of
Lake Ontario !

HORSE-STEALING.

In Upper Canada there is a great deal of this crime.

FIFTY ITEM9.

279

p'nd when a culprit is caught he is generally sentenced
to death, if convicted, but the sentence never executed.
In the state of Delaware they have a different mode
of punishing horse thieves : —

" A man stole a horse in Sussex county, Delaware,
and was arrested on the 17th of August, 1829 ; he
was arraigned and found guilty on the 18th, and sen-
tenced to restore fourfold the value of the said horse-
to be set on the public pillory for the space of one
hour — to be publicly whipped with thirty-nine lashes
upon the bare back, well laid on — and to be disposed
of, as a servant, to the highest and best bidder or bid-
ders, for seven years; which sentence was executed
on the 19th ; including only three days' ride from
freedom and independence to the whipping-post, pil-
lory, and slavery."

I !!

'i - *i

OLD AND NEW CITY CHARTERS.

Those who think that our brethren in America have
made no improvement upon the kingly practice of
Europe, should obtain a copy of the charter granted
by the " sovereign people of New York " to the city
of Buffalo, in 1832, and compare it with the charter
granted by that " Most high and Mighty Prince,
James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland, King, Defender of the. Faith,*' to the
Burgh of Peebles in Scotland, dated at Newmarket,
1624. I have seen a translation of the latter instru-
ment, by Mr. Barclay, and the following are some of
the rights granted by majesty : — ,

" To the said Provost, Bailies, Counsellors, and

280

FIFTY ITEMS.

I I

Community of our said Burgh of Peebles and their
successors, of us, and our successors in feu heritage
and free burgage for ever, by all the righteous meiths
of the same, old and divided, as the same lie in length
and breadth in houses, biggins, bogs, plains, muirs,
marshes, ways, paths, waters, lakes, rivulets, meadows,
grazings, and pasturages, mills, multures, and their
sequels, fowlings, huntings, fishings, peats, turfs, coals,
coal-heughs, cunnings, cinningaries, doves, dove-cots,
smithies, kilns, breweries, weins, forests, groves and
twigs, woods, stakes, stone and chalk quarries, with
courts and their fines, herezelds, bloodwells, and the
first night of the brides, with common pasturage, free
use and entry, and pit and gallows sale, jack, thole
kane, [A blank left here in the Latin Copy] wrack-
muir venison, infang thief, outfang thief, pit and
gallows, and with all and sundry liberties, advantages,
profits, cessments, and their just pertinents whatsoever,
as well named as not named, as well under ground
as above ground, far and near with the pertinents,"
&c.

I doubt much whether " the first night of the
brides," was includ^jd in the privileges granted to the
transatlantic corporation, by the legislators asseiabled
at Albany last winter, unless, indeed, to i;:ch <l<'r. •*
the first night of his own bride ; and even that privilege
>'as not, I presume, stated in the charter as a royal
b^.nevolence.

LI.ER CANADA SETTLING DUTIES.

In tiiose times when the British government re-

FIFTY ITEMS.

281

ind

quired the heavy timber on each 200 acre lot granted
to a settler to be cut down, to the extent of ten acres
on each lot, a house to be built, and the ten acres cut
down to 'put under good fence, before issuing the
title-; Iced, many evaded the regulations, and the fol-
lowing is a specimen of the conscientious roguery prac-
tised : —

"In 1825, Kr***r and Sy**s, two Yankees, are re-
ported to have sworn that they had lately done settle-
ment duties in the new townships on 50,000 acres,
(before Squires Riley, M' Bride, and others.) The
mode by which they are said to have eluded the terms
of the oath displays no little ingenuity. They first
got a chain made with ten links, out of sixpenny
worth of wire, and therewith they cut so many chains
in a line ; on a 200 acre lot they guessed a piece of
ground of ten acres, the whole of which the order in
council conditions to be put under fence. Leaving
the post and rail system aside as tedious, they took
each an oak sapling and fenced with one another, like
swordsmen, until they fenced round the area of the
ten acres. The house they built of the required size
by the expeditious method of laying a few sticks
across each o' her. All this was done in a few minutes,
and their price was in proportion, being only 10 dol-
lars for the settlement duty of 200 acres, while others
charge 50 or (iO dollars. Mr. M. told me that their
oaths had ^t into disrepute with the magistrates, and
it appears, that they were disbelieved none too soon.
Osborne and Armstrong have succeeded them in
chopping."

re-

282

FIFTY ITI:MS.

ITINERATING SCHOOLMASTERS.

Travelling teachers are very commcu in Upper
Canada; but, perhaps, not so much so as in New
England, where education is more accessible to the
humblest citizens than in Scotland. The following story
is going the rounds in the States, and it may be
true : —

" A young collegian, itinerating in the state of
Maine, fell in company, and also in love, with a very
pretty girl, the daughter of an old curmudgeon, whose
brains were made of saw-dust, hog's lard and molasses ;
but who, on account of the spaciousness of his farm,
had been for years at the head of the school committee
in the district. The collegian's attachment to Sally (for
that was the name of the daughter) was so overpower-
ing, that all the logic and philosophy he had learned
in school was, compared to the force of his passions, as
chaff in a hurricane. But not having- the wherewithal
to winter in Maine without a resort to employment,
he intimated to Sally that he should like to keep
the school in that district ; when the kind-hearted girl
informed him that her father was the committee
man, and she also informed him what questions would
be put to him, and how he must answer them, if he
expected to gain the good graces of her father. Accord-
ingly, on Sunday evening, the young man of classic
lore informed the old ignoramus that he should like
to take charge of their school for the winter, and
board in his family. Whereupon the old fellow as-
sumed an air of much importance, and looking at the
apphcant with his usual dignity while examining

FIFTY ITEMS.

283

ipper
New
) the
story
ly be

itc of

a very

whose

lasses ;
farm,

imittee

lly (for

•power-

leavned

ions, as

ewithal

►yment,
keep

ted girl
iiniittee
would
11, if he
Accord-
classic
uld like
er, and
low as-
g at the
amining

candidates for keeping school, put the same questions
that Sally had informed her paramour would be asked.

'' ' Do you believe in the final salvation of the world V

" ' Most certainly,' answered the young collegian ;
' it is the only belief that the Scriptures justify.'

*' ' Do you believe that God ever made another man
equal to Tliomas Jefferson Y

" ' Certainly not ; and I have been of this opinion
ever since I read his Notes on Virginia?'

" 'Can you spell Massachusetts?'

"'I ought to know how, sir, for it is my native state.'

*' * Well, spell it.'

♦' The youMg man spelt the word very distinctly,
when the father turned to the daughter, and said,

" ' Did he spell it right, Sal ? '

" ' Yes, sir,' answered the affectionate girl, — when
her father, turning again to the candidate, triumphantly
exclaimed — * You may begin school to-morrow.'

*' How the young pedagogue and Sally managed
affairs through the winter, is another part of the story."

POOR Richard's almanacks.

In order more effectually to unite all classes of the
people against the system of misrule in Upper Ca-
nada, I compiled and published an annual fourpenny
almanack, filled with political facts and astounding
disclosures concerning the colonial authorities. Such a
work is referred to at all times of the year, a id be-
comes a sort of family record. In 1829, 30, and 31,
I dispersed from 30,000 to 40,000 of these «' Poor
Richards," and am sorry that my absence in England

284

FIFTY ITEMS.

this year will cause them to be neglected. They are
an efficient weapon in the hands of freemen.

A CATHOLIC AND LIBERAL.

Liberal opinions on religious matters are widely
diffused through the North American population.
I remember having read a speech of Mr. Freeman's,
of New Bedford, Massachusetts, made in the legisla-
ture of that state, in 1830, upon the presentation of a
petition to incorporate the American Temperance
Society, as follows : —

" I have every reason, sir, to be a Catholic and
Liberal. My father was at one time a follower of
Priestley, then of Edwards and Hopkins. Among the
fourteen that survive of his twenty children, are to be
found Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Calvinists, Con-
gregationalists. Unitarians, Methodists, and Baptists.
For myself, I am, as it respects any of the thousand
sects into which Christendom is divided, a Nothing-
arian, but feel a fellowship with all who obey the pre-
cepts and follow the example of the Lord Jesus ; and
am willing that any, or all, should associate for any
good object."

NEW YORK— BETS OR WAGERS.

The revised statutes of this great state contain the
following provisions : —

*' All wagers, bets, or stakes, made to depend upon
any race, or upon any gaming by lot or chance, or
upon any lot, chance, casualty, or unknown or contin-
gent event whatever, shall be unlawful. All contracts

FIFTY ITEMS.

285

are

vldely

latiou.

man's,

egisla-

m of a

)erance

iic and
>wer of
ong the
•e to be
3, Con-
laptists.
lousand
othing-
he pre-
s ; and
for any

Itain the

id upon

ince, or

contin-

contracts

for or on account of any money or property, or thing
in action so wagered, bet or staked, shall be void.

" Any person who shall pay, deliver, or deposit any
money, property, or thing in action, upon the event of
any wager or bet herein prohibited, may sue for and
recover the same of the winner or person to whom the
same shall be paid or delivered, and of the stake-
holder or other person in whose hands shall be depo-
sited any such wager, bet, or stake, or any part
thereof, whether the same shall have been paid over
by such stake-holder or not, whether any such wager
be lost or not."

A bet, therefore, is a contract, the performance of
which rests entirely in the integrity and honour of the
parties.

PETTY LAW COURTS.

The following is one of the mildest specimens of an
attorney's bill in the inferior or district court of Upper
Canada, which I copied from the original. The lawyer
was the Clerk of the Peace : —

Home District Court. — David Stcgman vs. Wil-
liam G. Hay. — Instiuctions, 5s. Letter, Is. Draw-
ing Declaration, 4s. ; two copies, 4s. Notice on ditto,
2s. Attending for summons. Is. Attending Sheriff,
Is. Attending for return. Is. Attending to file
ditto, Is. Alias Declaration, 4.9.; two copies, 4s.
Attending for Alias Summons, Is. Attending Sheriff,
Is. Attending for return. Is. Affidavit on Summons,
2s. Gd. Cgt., 2s. 6d. (1/. 16s. to attorney). To clerk,
2s. 6fi., 2.V., 2s. G(i. To Judge (although he had no-
thing to try), 2s. Gd. and 2s. 6d.— (Mr. Grant Powell

286

FIITV ITKMS.

is the judjro.) To the SherilV (.Farvls), 2s. Gd. and
i).v. id. Total 59*. 10 J. costs, loss 2s. = 57». KW.,
Jrlalifax cuironcy. Plaint ill' and di'lcndant lived in
one county. There wan no (rial, tto dispute, no
trouble. Kay gave Ste<i;nuin a note in August, I82H,
for 5/. 12v. (id., on which he says he paid in Jainiary,
182i>, 3/. 8s. 2d. The suit was instituted for the ha-
lance of 21. and upwards, with interest. Nearly twelve
dollars costs were created, because attornies are allowed
in the Assenddy to make the laws so as to bring forth
the above nonsensical jargon in the shape of a law-bill.
Were the district jvulges obliged to go the circuit of
their districts every two months, and hold township
courts, such cases as Hay's might be decided in fifteen
minutes, at an expense of about half a dollar.

THE M'DONELLS AT LAW.

It must be admitted, however, that in some places
the emigrants ward oil' expenses by making the law a
sort of family allair. Accordingly, by referring to the
Upper Canada Royal Gazette, of June 20, 1828, we
find that Alexander M'Donell has prosecuted Alex-
ander M'Donell for debt; that Alexander M'DoneJl
has obtained an execution against the real estate of
Alexander M'Donell. and that Angtjs M'Donell, de-
puty sheri'V of the Eastern District, has seized Alex-
ander M'Doneirs farm, being lot No. 8, in the seventh
concession of Charlottenburgh, which is to be sold by
the high shorilV, Donald M'Donell, on the 2 1st July
next, at said Donald M'Donell's office in Cornwall.
How clanish these liigldand Scotsmen are, even in

1 1

FIFTY ITKMS.

287

, and
VO(i.,
eel ill
'e, no
182H,
miary,
lie ba-
Uvelve
illoweil
.r forth
a\v-l)ill.
rcuit of
)wnsUil>
li tifteeu

Canada ! Althouprh qnarrelliuf^ and ieariiig each other
to pieces by Uiw, :t wouhl a])j)ear tliat tliey distribute
the le<»al spoils, soU'ly and exehjsively, amonfif the
namesakes and descendants of the jjreat feudal liouso
of Chmranald of CJU'iigarry.

WONOEUrUL PRESr.RVATION.

On the second day of June IH2(), I received a letter
from my friend, A. M. Farewell, of Wliitby, communi-
cating^ the following particulars of the preservation of a
boy and his grandmother, when lost in the grc^at forest
north of Lake Ontario. " An aged woman by the
name of Page, and her grandson, a lad of eight years
old, were lost in the woods in the east part of Whitby,
on the 24th ult., when attempting to go from one re-
lative's house to another's; and, owing to the circum-
stance of her often changing her residence among her
children, she was not missed till the evening of the
fourth day after. A company of men, to the number
of three liundred, were immediately sent in search of
them, and continued constantly limit ing till the 31st
at three o'clock, before they were found.

" It would hardly seem possible that an infirm woman
of seventy-five years of age could have survived eigjit
days of fatigue and fasting, without shelter or fire, and
exposed to myriads of muskettoes; but huppily, they
were both alive, though the poor old woman was in a
deplorable state, quite exhausted and incapable of
moving ; but she now seems likely to recover. The
boy was tolerably active, and had collected a quantity
of roots in his hat to support his feeble grandmotlier, in

288

FIFTY ITEMS.

doing which he had worn the skin from his fingers.
The highest praise is due to the inhabitants of Whitby
and the adjoining towns, for their humane and unre-
mitting exertions in the search, particularly as it was
the most difficult season lor farmers to leave their work,
being the midst of seed-time."

GLENGARRY, UPPER CANADA.

♦ * * * Glengarry is composed, one-half of
Presbyterians and one-half of Catholics — there are very
few to be found either of Episcopalians, Methodists, or
Baptists, among its 10,000 inhabitants, who are chiefly
Highlanders and their descendants, speaking the Erse
or Gaelic language fluently. At St. Raphael is a
Catholic cathedral, and at William.stown, where the
county meeting was held, a Presbyterian church and
clergyman, the Rev. John Mackenzie. * *

After the labours of the day were at end, some thirty
or forty Highlanders sat down to rest themselves — and
a merry night they made of it. There were Highland
songs and lively choruses ; and Glengarry bards sang
their own ballads to tunes themselves had invented.

POLITICAL FRIENDSHIPS.

*' If every one's internal care
Were written on his brow,
How many would our pity share,
Who raise our envy now!"

Trantt. Met astasia.

» * * # ]Vlr. Huskisson, however, did nothing
but suffer abuses to accumulaie. At his sudden and

fori

the

all

peas

repr

FIFTY ITEMS.

289

ers.
itby
nre-
was
kork,

lalfof
e very
sts, or
c\\iefly
e Erse
;l is a
pre the
•cli and

,e thirty

s — aiul

hcrhland

ids sang

ted.

htasio.

nothing
Iden and

violent death — after sojourning for an age amidst tlie
pomp and vanities of courts and cabinets, thrones and
revokitions, he asked himself, " How have I acted ?"
I wish his successors would oftener ask themselves that
question in sincerity. Huskisson, in death, sighed to
part with domestic, fireside happiness; but to the
statesmen, the politicians, the men of the world, he
made no allusions, nor sent them any remembrance.
Than political friendships none are more cold, selfish
and heartless. Read history — consult the memoirs
of eminent men — enter the legislative hall and toil for
your country the livelong day, week, month, or session,
— the theory and the practice will alike declare the
unstable character of all political connexions.

METHODISTS AND CATHOLICS.

By the way, the Methodists in America and the
Roman Catholics of the continent of Europe unite in
two very essential po'nts, the devotion of clergy and
laity to their religious duties, and the equality observed
within the walls of their churches and chapels. In the
Methodist chapels in York and New York I perceived
that all the seats wero equally free to all who chose to
occupy them ; none being selected, as in the Presby-
terian, Catholic, and Episcopalian churches in York,
where the highest places are for the ich and the lowest
for the poor. On the continent (in France, for instance)
the Catholic places of worship are free at all times to
all classes; and the poorest mechanic and meanest
peasant may be seen placing himself, without fear or
reproach, by the side of the greatest nobleman or high-

I ii

290

FIFTY ITEMS.

born dame in the nation. " No distinction is there
made between the high and the low-born in the house
of God ; they pray upon a s! ...pie deal chair, and
address up, side by side, to the throne of God a
mutual prayer for forgiveness and protection."

ROBERT GOURLAY.

JSIr. Gourlay, who has been banished Canada under
an anjust and obsolete statute, sent me out the follow-
ing protest, dated Leith, June 18, 1830. — " Protest. —
I acquired right to land in Upper Canada, 1807, by
marriage — and, in 1810, paid for an equal quantity,
making together 866 acres, to which I still have just
and undisputed right.

" I entered Upper Canada, June 1817 ; stayed there
three months ; publicly declared that it was ' the
country of my choice,' and after that did not sleep out
of the province for ten months, during which time I was
twice tried and honourably acquitted. I then hastened
to New York, sent to England a power of attorney for
winding up my affairs there ; returned to Upper
Canada ; was imprisoned eight months because I
would not go away, and banished for no other reason,
while unable from effects of confinement to protest
against the proceedings : I have petitioned the king
and parliament of Great Britain twenty times in the
space of ten years ; never have had the slightest re-
dress ; nor has a single individual of the provincial
parliament spoken in my favour, but the reverse.
Against all this monstrous iniquity — this treatment
illegal, unconstitutional, and unnecessary, I now pro-

li''

i!i

FIFTY ITEMS.

291

re
se
lid
a

test by this writing, to be carried to Upper Canada by
my son, and published there by those who may.

" Robert Gourlay."

ider
Lovv-
jf.—
f, by
ntity,
e just

L there
5 'the
out
1 was
Lstened
ney for
Upper
ause 1
reason,
protest
kirtg
s in the
test re-
ovincial
reverse,
eatment

ow pro-

THE BALLOT.

In the s«»ssion of 1831, Mr. Brown, a member of
the House oi \ssembly of Upper Canada for the county
of Durham, dishked, but elected through the workings
of the system, (one of Sir Peregrine Maitland's justices,
and a merchant,) — stated in the legislature that such
was his influence in his county that he could return a
negro if voting by ballot were adopted. Afterwards
he boasted through the public press — " What I stated
I again repeat, that if I had twelve smart fellows to
join with me, I could return a negro from any county
in the province by ballot." I wish they would exchange
him for a negro.

SPEECHES.

January 19, 1826. — There are some very pleasant
and powerful speakers in the House of Assembly of
Upper Canada, and not a few dull prosers to balance
against them. A member, who kept an accurate
account of the number of times on which the different
members spoke in the debate in committee on Friday
week, — between the hours of ten a.m., and six p.m., —
reports as follows :

Names in favour of the resolutions, and number of
speeches. — Captain Matthews, 7; Mr. Fothergill, 6;
Mr. Perry, 2; Dr. Lefferty, 6; Mr. Rolph, 5; Mr.
Hamilton, 9 ; Mr. Beardsley, 3 ; Mr. Randal, 1 ;

\ 5

292

FIFTY ITEMS.

Colonel Ingersol,4 ; Mr. M'Bride, 3; Mr. Bidwell, 1 ;
total, 47.

Against the resolutions, and number of speeches. —
Mr. Charles Jones, 5 ; Mr. James Gordon, 14; Attorney
General, 14; Mr. Jonas Jones, 12; Mr. D. Jones, 3;
Mr. Scolliek, 3; Mr. Morris, 3 ; Mr. Walsh, 2; Mr.
Cameron, 2; Mr. M'Donell, 1 ; total 59.

[Not having a Mirror of Parliament in Canada, I
am unable to state the length of each speech.]

SPRINGFIELD VILL.\GE.

A friend, in a letter to me, thus describes this beau-
tiful neighbourhood, about nineteen miles from York,
Upper Canada. I very well remrm.ber when there
was not one tree cut in its vicinity :•—

" In the first place, I would wish to observe that, in
point of location, strangers can be accommodated with
situations either upon a pleasant hill or in a fertile
valley : (a Hollander would probably prefer the latter,
and a Swiss the former, both nearly equal in point of
salubrity.) To men of business I would observe, that
our farmers arc industrious and becoming rich ; and
their wives and daughters (dear creatures) anxious to
wear pretty calicoes, bonnets, &c., at meeting. To
manufacturers, that we have an almost unparalleled
water power extending for miles, above and below, and
that it is rapidly coming into use ; that we have a
fertile wheat country ; a constantly increasing influx of
farming capital; and to industrious ladies I would say,
that there may be broom corn enough raised next
season for them all to use throughout the province;

-I

•ney
,3;
Mr.

Lla, 1

beau-
York,
there

^at, ill
>d with
fertile
latter,
(oint of
e, that

; and
[iious to

. To

Iralleled

»vv, and

have a

[nflux of

dd say,

;d next
Irovince ;

FIFTY ITBMS.

293

and again to business, since that ours is now a thriving
village, containing mercantile and mechanics' shops,
mills, &c. &c. There is to be erected the present
season many buildings, and some have already been
put up at a cost so moderate that I almost fear to risk
my veracity by mentioning it; but having all the ma-
terials at our doors, I believe I may confidently assert,
that building of every kind may be done as cheap as
in any other part of this province. To those who desire
to combine the manly exercises of hunting, fishing, &c.,
with the more arduous pursuits of business, I have
only to say that birds of the air and beasts of the Held
are here in abundance, and at their service. And for
the latter amusement, the abundance of salmon our
river aflbrds bears testimony of one of the greatest
luxuries in the piscatory catalogue, and the name of
trout, pike, eels, &c., would have enchanted even old
Izaak Walton, the prince of anglers, and the only
ichthyological writer I have ever perused with anything
like a feeling of pleasure. Frequently at dawn of day
the deer may be seen feeding or playing in the meadows
of the valley ; soon with a majestic bound it is up the
steep ascent, and is lost to the eye in the thicket;
pursuing him a short distance, the ear of the huntsman
is saluted by the hooting owl, the woodpecker, and the
drum of the partridge."

A MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY.

On the 3d of February, 1825, I thus sketched a
scene of frequent occurrence in the House of Assembly
of Upper Canada : —

i«: '. p.

294

FIFTY ITEMS.

Scene. The assembly's chamber. The house in
debate. Three knocks are given, by Knott the door-
keeper, pretty loud ones; the door is opened by tlio
deputy sergeaut-at-arms.

Deputy Sergf. — (with a profound bow to the chair,)
A message from His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor.

Speaker. — (touching his cocked hat,) Admit the
messenger.

Enter Major Hillicr, a neat little gentleman, in
full <«iiHtary uniform, with sword, sash, epaulettes, &c.
who makes two awfully profound obeisances at the
bar ; is half inclined to make two more as he passes
the stove pipe ; and when he gets before the speaker's
chair. Lord Atterbury's reply to the Earl of Rochester,
" Yours to the centre, my lord," is well imitated by
two bows, so very low, so very long, and so very solemn,
as almost to say, " Yours to the antipodes, Mr. Speaker,"
Honest John Wilson, of Wentworth, goes through this
ordeal, and supports his part by corresponding incli-
nations of the head, and touches of the cocked hat with
the hand. The Major hands the speaker the precious
documents from His Excellency, and then retires,
after going again through the same routine of bows
and obeisances. The speaker never moves a muscle —
doubtless he atones for it by an inward chuckle ; other
members, however, sometimes allow themselves the
indulgence of a smile at the close of the ceremony,
which is ended by the speaker reading the messages,
the members standing the while.

DEATH
The Ja
fair an(
apples,
choicest
does the
tionary-
and Nia
towns in
although
great Sr,
Ontario's
''"try on
Woth vill
might, wi
ment to
the land r
both sides
locks, tre
channel, a
to throw
accompanj
member o\
to York;
schemes
made. L\
confines of
Dr. DoddJ
secret ! "
on me at
ai'gument

:( <

295

■\

DEATH OF COLONEL NICIIOL— STAMFORD COTTAGE.

The Lands on the margin of the Niagara river arc
fair and fertile ; the orchards loaded with peaches,
apples, pears, quinces, plums, and other fruit of the
clioicest kindi^ ; and the fields filled with j>rain — y(«t
does the population in that district remain nearly sta-
tionary — lands rise but slowly 'n value. Queenston
and Niagara, two of the oldest, if not the two oldest
towns in the province, cannot be said to increase,
although the one is seated at the embouchure of the
great St. Lawrence, where its waters mingle with
Ontario's deeps ; and the other, the principal port of
entry on the grand highway from the United States.
Both villages are built in desirable situations, and
might, with the country around them, give employ-
ment to thousands of artisans. Close to Queenston
the land rises rather abruptly, several hundred feet on
both sides of the river, which is overshadowed by lofty
rocks, trees, and shrubs, and confined to a narrow
channel, across wliich Mr. Hall, the engineer, proposed
to throw a chain-briJge. Early in May, 1824, I had
accompanied Colonel Robert Nichol, a distinguished
member of the colonial legislature, on a journey across
to York; he was in fine health and spirits, full of
schemes for public improvements thereafter to be
made. Little did he think how near he was to the
confines of eternity, to that dread moment when, w itli
Dr. Dodd, he could exclaim, " Now for the grand
secret ! " Towards the middle of the month he called
on me at my home in Queenston, and we had a long
argument upon colonial politics j the further discussion

296

STAMFORD COTTAGE.

'fl

of which was to be continued at a future day at his
place at Stamford. He was then a candidate for
the town of Niagara, and on the evening of the 18th
stopped late in tlie village. The road to Stamford is
along the high bank of the Niagara, and so up the
hill at Queenston ; and it appeared on the inquest,
held on the 20th, that (probably, about midnight) he
had driven his own horse- carriage fairly to the top of
the hill, and instead of keeping to the right, had ob-
liged the horse to drive towards the bushes which con-
ceal the edge of the gulpli ; and that, on the animal
getting entangled among them, one of the wheels of
the carriage had gone over the bank, and the scat
and rider tumbled out. Next day, man, horse, and
carriage were found on the low bank of the river,
dashed to pieces ; they must have been precipitated
several hundred feet perpendicular from the summit of
that fatal rock, over which the luifortunate gentleman
had driven. There was some suspicion of foul play,
for the colonel had many enemies ; but the coroner's
jury, of which I was foreman, saw no ground for
ascribing his death to any cause remote from the acci-
dent.

Stamford cottage is very beautifully situated a short
half-mile north of the road which leads from Queenston
to the Niagara Falls, and about mid-way between. If
there is a healthy situation in Upper Canada, it is
there. Placed higher by fifty or sixty feet than the
top of the Falls, far removed from swamps, dense fogs,
and unhewn forests. Sir P. Maitland, the proprietor,
enjoys a pure atmosphere, and in two directions near
the house an extensive and delightful prospect. In

STAMFORD COTTAGE.

297

short
?nston

. If

it is
Ml the

fogs,
rietor,

near
In

front of the cottagfe are a few trees scattered here and
there, in a midst of a thriving field of grain, over
which, through his meadows, he can faintly perceive
the world at a distance, as its inhabitants pass to and
fro in the landscape, in gigs, coaches, chaises, waggons
and carts, often enveloped in clouds of dust, to see the
monument, the election. Col. Nichol's rock, Forsyth's
wooden palace, the whirlpool, and last but not least,
the cataract of Niagara. His Excellency purchased
fifty acres only ; on this he built, and the building is
said to be in a very odd taste. Some admire it, others
don't. The design, it is understood, was drawn by
Lady Sarah Maitland. If some of those loungers
who are almost always to be found sketching a series of
views of the Falls, would take a camera obscura to this
spot and delineate its scenery faithfully, they would
add to their portfolios one of the finest pictures Canada
affords ; and if Mr. Forsyth would import some eight
or ten dozen plain large mirrors, witli a few convex
and concave ones, and build a hermitage, which from
its front windows inside would (like the Duke of
Alhol's on a branch of the river Tay) reflect the
stupendous cataract of Niagara in all its beauty and
in all the variations in which mirrors are capable of
presenting it to the view, he would add another very
powerful inducement to the curious to visit his en-
chanted domains.*

• Sir Peregrine has, since then, been appointed Governor of Nova
Scotia; from the government of which colony he has often been absent.
For many months past he has resided in England, thereby proving that
his office is a mere sinecure, meriting abolition.

o 5

' J

298

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT — A CONTESTED COUNTY
ELECTION HELD ON THE SNOW IN JANUARY, 1832—
FREE SPIRIT OF THE CANADIANS.

'' We doubt very gravely, whether military men ouglit ever to be em-
ployed as civil governors over any portion of a free people. They have,
one and all, an instinctive jealousy of privileges which set their own
power at defiance : they are liabituated to command, but not to pernuaile
or reason — they dread freedom of speech, and hate a deliberative assembly.
Their tone, therefore, is for the most part, that of haughty and uncompro-
mising power,"— TTie Times, 31st Dec. 1827.

" He required no such evidence to convince him of a fact wliicii all
history confirmed— namely, that it was morally, politically, and, he might
add, physically impossible fur two independent legislatures to co-exist
under one executive. The more minutely history was examined, the
more wotdd the conviction of this important truth be strengthened, and
tlie more would all appearances to the contrary be deceptive. They
could have, as of yore, a Parliament in England, and a Parliament in
Ireland ; but it should be as up to 1782, when the whole actual legisla-
tive power lay in the one, and all that the other had to do was to formally
obey. Such was the case in the co-existent Parliaments of France, Bur-
gundy and Brittany ; and more, in those mockeries of the name with
which the house of Austria amused the people of Bohemia and the Tyrol.
In all these cases there was no such thing as an independent legislature ;
all the power lay in the hands of the crown ; and the Parliament was a
mere pageant — a mockery — or means of rivetting the fetters of the con-
quered. In fact, if history had one lesson which stood out more empha-
tically than another, it was that which, indeed, reason would strike out
for itself, the impossibility of two independent legislntures co-existing
under the same ertecutivc head.'' — Mr. Alacau/ay's Re fit y to Mr. O'Con-
neU. — House of Commons, Feb, 1833.

The year 1832 commenced on a sabbath — the Mon-
day following, being the first week-day of the year,
was that fixed on by the governor and council as
the day of election for the Metropolitan county, un-
questionably to put the electors to the greatest possible
inconvenience ; for on that day, annually, they must

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT.

290

3 Mou-

un-

meet in their respective townships throughout tlie
colony, to choose their local officers for the year. On
this occasion, however, every thing else was laid aside,
and the landowners flocked in thousands to the seat of
government.

One bad act of a government generally leads to
others. The violence used towards me in Upper Ca-
nada, induced the legislative council in the lower pro-
vince to attack the press and imprison the printers.
The next step was the killing of the unoffending Cana-
dians by the regular troops in the streets of Montreal.

The accounts given of the election in the newspapers
of the day were as follow : —

" The Press triumphant ! — The morning of the 2(1
of January was clear and pleasant, the sleighing excel-
lent, the weather mild and agreeable for the season,
and the people of the gallant county of York fidly
awake to the important duty they were about to fuliil
in defence of those dear and valued privileges, the pos-
session of which distinguishes the freeman from the
slave. They had given Mr. Mackenzie a pledge on a
former occasion, that they would never desert him in
difficulty unless he abandoned their rights ; and nobly
has that pledge been redeemed. By ten o'clock the
electors had assembled in great numbers around the
huntings ; and, soon after, ' the Yonge Street triumphal
car,' carrying the ensign of the United Kingdom, and
bearing aloft tv-o Highland pipers, attired in ' the garb
of old Gaul,' passed towards the city, followed by the
farmers in their sleighs. It was expected that Colonel
Washburn v.ould be offered, on the part of the execu-
tive ; but we heard the Colonel resign his interest, and

H :i

300

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT.

promise his r ipport to Mr. Street, who was introduced
to the electors by Colonel Thompson of Toronto, a
former county member. Mr. Mackenzie was proposed
for the third time, by his friend, Mr. Joseph Shcpard
of Yonge Street ; seconded, as usual, by Mr. John
Bogart, senior, of Whitchurch. The returning officer,
Mr. Spragge, behaved with great propriety. The
freeholders *»xpressed themselves much satisfied with
his conduct. Mr. Mackenzie addressed the people
first, and at considerable length ; and afterwards read,
as a part of his speech, the articles of impeachment
against Sir John Colborne and the advisers of the
crown, which occiipy the first five or six columns of
this newspaper. The electors listened throughout with
tlie utmost attention : the candidates were proposed —
s, forest of hands were held up in favour of Mr. Mac-
kenzie, and one hand (some say not one) for Mr. Street.
The latter demanded a poll. It opened at half-past
one ; and by three Mr. Mackenzie had polled 1 19
votes, and Mr. Street 1 vote. The latter, perceiving
the unanimity of the people, and their spirit and deter-
mination, said he would not further protract a hopeless
contest. We presume that not less than 1000 voters
stood round the hustings, or waited in town to give
their votes; and even when the election had terminated,
and until twenty-four hours thereafter, the freeholders
continued to pour into the city from all quarters. Had
the poll been kept open during the week, not less than
5000 votes would have probably been given for the old
member, many of them from non-residents.

" In the midst of the forests and snows of Canada,
and for the first time since the country was reclaimed

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT.

301

from a state of nature, the press was seen in free ope-
ration, worked in the open air, on a sleigh, and sur-
rounded by thousands of as bold, resolute, and warm-
hearted men as ever met in America. The triumphant
scene which followed, the address of the co\mty com-
mittee; the reply ; the enthusiasm displayed by the
people^ and by numbers of the gallant Highland regi-
ment stationed in this town, will form the subject of an
interesting article hereafter. There was no riot, no dis-
order, no confusion, no intoxication, no open houses — all
wa.v joy and gladness, friendship, good-will, and peace.
The people carried their representative into his own
house on their shoulders; and, next morning, assembled
in such numbers at the Parliament House, as to cause
much terror and aiiNioty to many of the members."

Tlie following account of the proceedings appeared
in the Guardian, and is interesting as a proof of the
noble spirit of freedom which animates the people of
British America.

" Mr. Street was nominated by Colonel I'iiompson,
a former coimty member, and, I understand, liad the
promise of Colonel Washburn's interest. But as well
might you uproot Mount Atlas as resist the people of
the wealthiest and most populous comity in Upper
Canada, when united us the voice of one man, and
roused by an infringement upon their rights. The
assemblage was !he largest that has ever been wit-
nessed in the Home District on any occasion, notwith-
standing it w as the day on which town meetings were
held in every township. The assemblage at one time
was generally estimated at between 2000 and 3000,
and it is believed there would have been twice that

302

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT.

number had not the election been appointed on the day
of the township meetings. Previous to the opening of
the poll, about forty sleighs came through the town.
and escorted Mr. Mackenzie to the hustinjjs. * * *
After the close of the poll, a gold medal and chain were
presented to Mr. Mackenzie by a committee appointed
for that purpose, with an address, read by Mr. Charles
Mackintosh, to which Mr. Mackenzie made a short
reply. This medal cost 250 dollars, and is a superb
piece of workmanship. On one side are the rose, thistle,
and shamrock, with the words — ' His Majesty King
William IV. the people's friend.' On the otlier side
is inscribed — ' Presented to William L. Mackenzie,
Esquire, by his constituents of the county of York,
Upper Canada, as a token of their approbation of his
political career. January 2, 1832.' A procession was
then formed, in front of which was an immense sleigh,
belonging to Mr. Montgomery, whicli was drawn by
four horses, and carried between twenty and thirty men,
and two or three Highland pipers. From 50 to 100
sleighs followed, and between 1000 and 2000 of the
inhabitants. The procession passed by the Govern-
ment House, from thence to the Parliament House,
thence to Mr. Cawthra's, and then to Mr. Mackenzie's
own house, giving cheers at eacli of these places. One
of the most singular curiosities of the day was a little
printing press, placed on one of the sleighs, warmed by
» furnace, on which a couple of boys continued, while
moving through the streets, to strike off their New
Year's Address, and throw it to the people.

" Over the press was hoisted a crimson flag, with
the motto, * The Liberty of the Press. The mottos

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT.

303

on the other flags were — ' King William IV. and Re-
form;' ' Bidvvell and the glorious Minority;' ' 1832,
A good Beginning ;' ' A Free Press the Terror of Sy-
cophants.' The proceedings were conducted with
general order and sobriety, though with much spirit.
No treats were given. I vvc>s told by some electors
that a proposal to treat the electors would have been
considered as a general insult. Thus has the county
of York ten times more than undone in one hour what
twenty-four vain inconsiderate men employed six days
in doing, at an expense to the province of many thou-
sands of doV I's. The responsibility of the conse-
quences of these proceedings rests with those whose
spleen and party spite originated them." A person was
stationed at the hotel at the entrance of the iown, to
count the sleighs as they passed, and he couuied 134,
each sleigh being capable of containing from five to
fifteen persons.

Tlie soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the
79th took, many of them, a strong degree of interest in
Mr. M.'s favovir ; not a few went to the hustings ; and a
good many joined the procession, and actually cheered
while the bagpipes were playing at the governor's
house, and the yeomanry triumphing in their victory.
But they paid dear for their exhibition of patriotism,
and for manifesting their love of free institutions.
Governor Colborne was enraged at their manly con-
duct. Orders were given to read the articles of war,
at the head of the regiment, for i ^veral successive days,
and even on Sunday, after leaving church ; to provide
additional supplies of ammvmition for each soldier ; to
confine them within the walls of the fortress during the

304

THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT.

great public meeting of the lOtli January; * and also for
the whole week of the February election ; and condign
punishment was to be the fate of that man among them
who woultl dare to set his foot in a farmer's sleigh from
tliat time forward, '('liese gallant men had followed Sir
Neil Douglas to death or victory with unconcern, and
this was their reward when they showed a natural
feeling of sympathy with the worthy farmers who were
in peace the champions of that freedom of which the
military had been taught to believe themselves in war
the defenders.

* Although a conini\inity of proprietors anil cullivalors of tlie soil can
have no interest in disorder, the Yor/i Courier, after complimenting the
yeomanry with the epithet of " swine," thus announced the proposiiiou
in Assembly of a dependant on tiie executive power :" —

" Mr. Thomson pave notice of an address to His Majesty, praying him
to remove the seat of government to some more safe and convenient po-
sition. The subject is expected to be brought up to-day, and a consi-
derable majority is expected in favour of tlie measure. Tiie principal
reason assigned for this measure i«, that it is incompalible with the dig-
nity and the freedom of deliberation of legislative bodies, to hold their
meetings in a place in which they are daily liable to be annoyed, insulted,
and overawed by a mob : or in the neighbourhood of a description of
population, who arc so ignorant or infatuated as to become the ready
tools for executing every species of violence and outrage to which any
political demagogue may choose to incite them. And another reason
assigned is, that a popuhiion of such a description, who arc incessantly
labouring to annoy, embarrass, or ileslroy the government which is ail-
ministered at the provincial capital, ought not in equity, or injustice to
the better disposed part of their fellow-subjects in the rt st of the province,
to enjoy the immense advantages which are necessarily ditlused through
the neighbourhood of the provincial capital."

I n

305

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

RULES FOR TIIK DISTRIHUTION OF INTKSTATK ESTATES

CASKS IN WHICH HALF-HLOOD INIIKRITS LANDS

ALLOOIAL PERSONAL ESTATE OF INTESTATES MR.

VIGNe's OIMNIONS ANECDOTE OF MR. BINKLKY

EFFORTS TO CHANGE THE LAW OF DESCENTS IN UIM'ER
CANADA.

" He considered that the I-egisl:itivc Council was that institution which
especially r.qiiircd revision and allcr.uion. They acted as pultry and
impotent screens for tlie protection of the governor. In all instances they
were opposed to the people, and were placcil as a substitute for an aris-
tocracy, without |)()ssessing any of liie (lualilicalions of an aristocracy,
according to our notions of tliat body in K.ngland, — imposing salutary
checks, and exercising a judicious vigilmicc over the councils of the
country. Indeed, the prevalence of (he French law respecting primoge-
niture, according to coiitumc tie I'arix, preventeil the possil)ility of tliat
hereditary descent of property hy which our aristocracy was preserved."
— Speech of Mr. Secretary Stan/etj in the House of Commons, May 2,
1828 — Morning Chronicle report.

" Elector of Mtddleiex. — What are your opinions concerning the law
of primogeniture ?

" Mr. Hume. — That a law which enriches one son at the expense of
the rest of a family, must be injudicious and unjust. Its effects are to
render younger sons beggars and dependant on the public. The late Sir
Samuel Roniilly contemplated a reform in the law of descent of landed
property, which the next parliament will no doubt carry into efl'ect; and
thus a man will no longer be able lO invest his property in landed estates
to descend uncloggcd to his children, to the ruin often of those to whom
he is indebted." — Report in Morning Chronicle.

The British Colonists (now the United States), in all
cases where the law of primogeniture, half-blood, and
entail prevailed, hastened to abolish these unnatural
laws the moment they were freed from the restraints
which the machinery of colonial government had im-
posed upon their wishes and judgment.

300

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

!'i"

On the 12th of July, 1782, the legislature of the
state of New York passed an act to abolish entails, to
confirm conveyances by tenants in tail, and for the
more equal distribution of the estates of intestates;
and, in 1786, another act was passed, abolishing, in
certain cases, the distinction between brothers and
sisters of the whole and of the half-blood.

As New York is the most populous of the United
States, I shall briefly explain the law now in fore?? in
that state for regulating the descent and distribution
of the real estate of every person who may die without
devising the same.

Such real estate descends in the following order : —
viz., first, to his lineal descendants ; secondly, to his
father; thirdly, to his mother; and, fourthly, to his
collateral relatives : subject, in all cases, to the follow-
ing rules : —

1. If the intestate shall leave several descendants in
the direct line of lineal descent, and of equal degree
of consanguinity, the inheritance shall descend to such
persons in equal parts, however remote from the intes-
tate the common degree of relationship may be.

2. If any of the children of the intestate be living,
and any be dead, the inheritance shall descend to the
children who are living, and to the descendants of the
children who shall have died ; so that each child who
shall be uviug shall inherit such share as would have
come to him if all the brothers and sisters, who shall
have died, leaving issue, had been alive at the time of
the intestate's death ; and so that the descmdants of
each child who shall be dead shall inheri*, the share
which their parent would have received if Lving. And

m.\

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

307

this rule is ordered to apply to all descendants of un-
equal degrees of consanguinity to the intestate.

3. When the intestate dies without lawful descend-
ants, and leaving a father, his father inherits, unless
the inheritance came to the intestate on the part of
his mother. In the latter case, the mother inherits
for her life, and the property goes, at her death, to the
brothers and sisters of the intestate. If he has no
brothers and sisters, his mother inherits in fee.

4. If there be no father or mother capable of inhe-
riting, the collateral relatives of the intestate inherit in
equal parts, if of equal degree of consanguinity to
the deceivsed, however remote that common degree
may be.

5. If all the intestate's brothers and sisters are alive,
the inheritance descends to them equally.' If some of
them are alive, and some dead, leaving issue, the living
take their shares, and the children of the deceased
brothers or sisters inherit the shares their parents
would have received if livintj. And this last described
order of inli-nitance prevails as to the other lineal de-
scendants ot every brother and sister of the intestate,
to the remotest degree, where such descendants are of
unequal degrees.

6. When there is no heir under the five preceding
rules, the brothers and sisters of the father of the in-
testate inherit equally if all be living, or to their
descendants if all be dead, or to the brothers and
sisters alive their shares, and to the children of the
brothers and sisters who are dead the shares their
parents would have received if they had been living.
The descent in this case is the same as if the brothers

308

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGRNITURE.

and sisters of the father had been tlie like relations of
the intestate.

7. Brothers and sisters of the mother inherit in the
next degree.

8. They take precedence of the brothers and sisters
of the father and their descendants where the estate
came to the intestate on the part of his mother.

9. Wliere the estate of the intestate did not come to
him on the part either of his father or mother, the in-
heritance descends to the brothers and sisters both of
the father and mother and their lineal heirs. That is,
of course, only when the intestate has no lineal
descendants or brothers or sisters.

10. When an intestate who is illegitimate dies with-
out descendants, his mother inherits. If she be dead,
then her relatives inherit as if her deceased son had
been legitimate.

11. Relatives of the half-blood inherit equally with
those of the whole-blood of the same degree • and their
descendants by the same rules ; mdcss the inheritance
came to the intestate by descent, devise, or gift of some
one of his ancestors; in which case all those who are
not of the w hole-blood of such ancestors are excluded
from such inheritance.

12. In cases unprovided for in these eleven rules,
the inheritance descends according to the ordinary
course of the Common Law of England.

Where there is but one heir he holds solely ; where
there are several heirs, they take as tenants in common,
in proportion to their respective rights.

Posthumous children and relatives inherit as if born
before ♦heir parents' death.

;i!.l ,: I

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOQKNITURE.

309

No ])crson capable of inheriting as above is ex-
cluded by reason of the alienism of any ancestor of
such person.

When any child of an intestate shall have been ad-
vanced by him, by settlement, or portion of real or
personal estate, or by both of them, the value shall be
reckoned as part of the real and personal estate of
such intestate, descendible to his heirs (for the pur-
poses mentioned in this paragraph only), and to be
distributed to his next of kin; and if such advancement
be equal or superior to the share such child ought to
receive, he gets no more; or if less than his propor-
tion he gets the ditlerence. Maintenance, education,
or giving money to such child for any other purpose
than as a portion, not to be accounted.

All feudal tenures are done away with in New York
State. All lands are allodial; so that, subject only
to the liability to escheat, fhe entire and absolute pro-
perty is vested in the owners according to the nature
of their estates.

A general and beneficial power may be given to a
married woman, to dispose, during her marriage, and
without the concurrence of her husband, of lands con-
veyed or devised to her in fee ; or a special and bene-
ficial power may be given her to dispose of any estate
less than a fee, belonging to her, in the lands to which
that power relates. By virtue of such powers she
may create any estate which she might create if un-
married.

A widow in New York State is endowed of the third
part of all the lands whereof her husband was seised of
an estate of inheritance, at any time during the mar-

!(.

310

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

;

>¥

riage. And the widow of an alien allowed to hold real
estate, if she be an mhabitant of the State, is entitled
to her dower. In case of divorce women lose their
dower.

When a man marries a woman who has had lands
conveyed to her as her jointure, with her consent, she
has no claim after his death on the rest of his lands.
A pecuniary provision made for an intended wife with
her consent shall bar her claim of dower.

In the distribution of the personal estate of intestates
the widow gets a third, and the residue is equally
divided among the children or their legal representa-
tives, if dead. Where there are no children there are
other provisions too tedious to be stated liere at length.

With regard to the sale and distribution, or the care
of the real estate of persons dying without making a
will ; or the lease of a part to pay debts ; or the
disposal of the proceeds of the proportion coming to
minors until they come of age, the legislature have pro-
vided ample, clear, humane, and salutary provisions,
but it would exceed the limits to which I wish to carry
this work were I to enumerate them. The surrogate
has great power in such cases, but he is elected during
the pleasure of his neighbours, who, of course, know
his character ; he gives due security ; is removable,
and responsible to the court of Cliancery, an efficient
equity tribunal.

Mr. Vigne, in his " Six Months in America," lately
published, expresses himself in strong and decided
terms in favour of the law of Primogeniture, and
assures his readers that " a sale, not attended
with sacrifice, takes place at the decease of nearly

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

311

every person who dies in possession of landed pro-
perty." He believes that a great part of the evils
attendant upon drunkenness, as they exist in the
Union, arise from the law of equal distribution. With
regard to his first argument, not half the estates of in-
testates are sold ; and as to his second, whiskey sells
as well in Upper Canada, where entails, half-blood,
and primogeniture, with the English statute-law up to
1792, are in force, as in Pennsylvania, where these
laws have been lonjj discarded. Elsewhere, he informs
us what a gloomy picture is drawn by the Americans
of a divided estate, a dispersed family, and so forth.
If this be true, they can alter the law any day; there
are no foreign bayonets and colonial legislative councils
to interfere with their sovereign pleasure. And, if a
minority are dissatisfied, they can make their wills and
disinherit nine of their children to provide for the tenth,
until those of their way of thinking become more nu-
merous. He tells us, that estates in England cannot
be entailed and rendered inalienable for more than a
life or lives in being, and for twenty-one years after-
wards ; and that, for this and the primogeniture law,
the Englishman feels a debt of gratitude to the consti-
tution of his country. One part of h's story contra-
dicts the other : in page 252 of his first volume, we
are told that " an aristocracy is most inideniably
springing up in every city of the Union." And that,
" in the course of time, many large fortunes will be
amassed, and opulent families will be distributed
through the country."

" These families," he says, " will beautify their places,
and the head of the family will do his utmost to

♦

312

LAWS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

' 1

I •

keep the estate among them. — Many will do this.
And," he continues, in a triumphant tone, " will not
an hereditary aristocracy be produced in this manner?"
Elsewhere, the friends of expensive kings, and some
dozens of royal dukes and duchesses, princes and prin-
cesses, as per order, are encouraged to stay on this
side the great sea by the information that, " in Ame-
rica, the stimulus of titled distinction being unknown,
it must often happen that tlie finest talents are doomed
to remain unemployed." Thus much for Godfrey T.
Vigne, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister at Law.

Sometime in 182G or 1827, I read a paragraph in
the Morning Herald, which went to state that the late
General Scott had two daughters, to whom he be-
queathed each one hundred thousand pomids, on con-
dition that they did not marry peers of the realm ; of
whom, in the course of his gambling speculations, he
had seen quite enough : but in case any one of the
sisters married in the aristocracy, her fortune was to
go to the other. The eldest found a lover in the Duke
of Portland, who, it seems, married her without the
fortune, and Miss Joan Scott, the youngest, became
Mrs. George Canning, and entitled to the 200,000/.
Mrs. Canning had nobility of mind sufficient to do
that justice to her titled sister which the will of their
father had omitted, for she divided with her the inhe-
ritance. An act not less amiable and honourable to
the parties took place, not many years ago, at Dundas,
in Upper Canada. A prudent and highly-respectable
family of Germans, of the name of Binkley, with
whose acquaintance I have been honoured since 1821,
emigrated from Pennsylvania some thirty years ago,

JOHN BINKLEY.

313

ph in
^e late
,e be-
ll con-
.m; of
pns, lie

of the

was to
Duke

ut the

)ecaine

to do
ff their
le inhe-
•able to
>undas,
lectahle
with
1821,
irs ago,

and purchased, for ready money, a valuable and beau-
tifid estate, between the villages of Dinidas, Ancaster,
and Hamilton, to the extent of about a thousand acres
of fertile land. They consisted of the elder Mr. Binkley,
his wife, and their three sons and two daughters.
They had capital, and commenced tanning, grazing,
farming, &c. ; and, by steady and persevering industry,
dail}^ added to their riches. The daughters were soon
married. In process of time, the old man took his
eldest son John aside, and fold him that he intended to
divide the estate, by will, equally between him and his
tv . i others, as also the farm-stock and personal pro-
; -' J . before, however, this intention was fulfilled, he
died intestate, and left John Binkley his sole heir at
law, and in possession of the whole. In such a case,
many a man would have left his brethren to shift for
themselves ; or, like the Earl of Q******, endeavoured
to quarter them upon the public. Not so acted Mr.
Binkley : he assembled together the whole family,
informed his brethren of the private intentions of their
deceased parent, and conveyed to each of them one full
third of the real and personal estate, reserving a third
to himself The three brothers are married, and have
large families ; their lands are now of great value ; and
the elder brother, living, as he does, in happiness and
comfort with his kindred, and respected and esteemed
by all his neighbours, has never once repented fulfilling
the excellent intention of his venerable and worthy sire.
I have mentioned in another part of this work, that
bills, for distributing equally among the children, or
heirs of eqiial degree, the real estate of persons who
die without making a will, have passed the House of

I i

314

7.A\VS OF ENTAIL AND PRIMOGENITURE.

s f

Assembly of Upper Canada, in the present and every
former parliament which has sat since 1824, generally
by large majorities ; and that the legislative council,
nominated by the colonial government, with members
appointed for life by a mandamus from the king, has,
with great regularity, frustrated the intention of the
country, by negativing the bills sent up to it.

In the three volume work, from which these sketches
are chiefly a selection, I had added an argument in
favour of the principle of equal distribution of real
estate, but it is by far too long for insertion in this
little book. ^

QUEENSTON COLUMN— DIGGING FOR LIBEL.

" Sir Peregrine arrived here in Nov. 1828 ; and his period of three
years will terminate in about four months. Should it please his Majesty
to remove him, we are satisfied it would rank among the popular acts of
the new ie\gn'*— Halifax Nova Scolian.

Queension, Upper Canada, June, 1824.
A TRIVIAL occurrence at this time, to which I shall
here briefly advert, will do more to explain to the
leader the character of a colonial government than
would the most laboured essay.

The country had determined to erect a column, 120
feet high, to the memory of General Sir Isaac Brock,
who fell in the battle at these heights in 1813. The
legislature, by an act, had named Thomas Dickson,
Esq. the Hon. Thomas Clark, and Colonel Robert
Nichol, commissioners to superintend the work ; and
Mr. Francis Hall, now of the Shubenacadie Canal
Nova Scotia, was chosen by them as their engineer.

iir

QUEEN8T0N MONUMENT.

315

120

,rocU,
The
kson,
Robert
I-, and
3ana\
leer.

A few days before he tumbled over the rocks. Col.
Nichol called at my house, to inform me that the
foundation of this monument (which has been erected
400 oi' 600 feet above the level of the waters of the
Niagara) would be laid with masonic honours, and
that one or more lodges from York had promised to
be present ; and when the workmen were nearly ready,
Mr. Hall was asked if he would name a day, and
thereafter told me that the foundation would be laid on
any day the contractors pleased ; but that the proces-
sion would be deferred until the 13th of October, being
the anniversary of General Brock's death.

It was suggested to Colonel Dickson, the only resi-
dent surviving commissioner, that, out of respect to the
deceased, under whom many of the townspeople had
fought on the occasion about to be commemorated, the
foundation-stone ought to be laid with the usual
honours; and as he concurred in that opinion, I was
requested to prepare a suitable inscription for a
record, which I did, and then took it to the colonel,
who corrected the date of the reign and some other
inaccuracies in his own house, and approved of the
proceeding, although lame with the gout, and, there-
fore, unable to be present. Messrs. Kennedy,
M'Arthur, and M'Naughton, the contractors, (natives
of Scotland, and who had built the five stone locks on
the Erie Canal at Lockport,) then appointed a day,
and gave orders to excavate the foundation-stone, so
that it might contain a glass vessel, hermetically
sealed, enclosing the coins of the reigning sovereign,
the official gazette and other newspapers, and the roll
containing the record or memorial I had drawn out ;

I i

316

QURENSTON MONUMENT.

which wa one. On the day appointed, I, being re-
quested » 10 do, deposited the glass vessel and its
contents in the hollow of the stone, covered it over with
tlie fur of a beaver or otter, touched the stone with the
trowel in the presence of those assembled, and James
Lapraik immediately applied the mortar and covered
the deposit with another large stone, beneath which it
might have remained for ages, but for the rage into
v.hich the whole transaction threw his Excellency the
present Governor of Nova Scotia.

James Lapraik, the mason, is cousin to James
Lapraik, the Scottish poet, whom Burns celebrates :

" ! for a spunk o' AUiin's glee,
Or Ferguson's, the baiild and slee,
Or bright Lapraik's my friend lo be," &c.

The contractors, the masons, and others, spent the
aifernoon in convivial mirth;* the particulars went the
• oiuid of the newspapers from Sandwich to Quebec ;
and it was tauntingly said by some, that while the
governor of the province was traversing the country,
laying the foundations of county gaols, (Sir Peregrine
had just laid the foundation of that of Kingston,)

* " The memory of Burns, Burns's Farewell toTarbolton Lodge, and
Wolfe's Lament, were sung on the spot by James M'Queen, in fine style :
he may well boast of being among the first vocal musicians this country
affords. Coins of the reigns of James IL, Queen Anne, George III., and
of the American llepublic, the Dutch United Provinces and Portugal,
were deposited in the stone, as were also an Upper Canada Gazette, and
No. I. of our loyal and patriotic ' Advocate.' The 1st of June ought
to be dear to all good British subjects, being tlie anniversary of the day
on which the gallant Lord Howe beat the French fleet off Brest. A
meeting of freemasons took place at brother J. B. Cole's Queenston Hotel,
a new lodge was formed, and thereafter the night was spent in great har-
mony and with much conviviality.'' — Coionial Advocate, June, 1824.

DIGGING FOR LIBEL.

317

Lapraik and I were doing the like honours to the
memory of departed heroes (Brock and M'Donell) at
Queenston.* Nothing could exceed the rage and in-
dignation of Governor Maitland on his return from the
lower province, some weeks afterwards ; he sent for
Colonel Clark, who resided near him, and, being in a
towering passion, ordered the column to be pulled
down again, and the first number of " The Colonial
Advocate" taken out of the foundation. It had fic-
cused him of indolence, and of being the cause why
Mr. Fothergill, the editor of his official gazette, had
announced "that this fine country (meaning Upper
Canada) has so long languished in a state of compa-
rative stupor and inactivity, whilst our more enterprising
neighboiu's are laughing us to scorn." It had a iserted
that the causes of this stupor and inactivity on the
part of the Canadians were, first, " that we were blessed
with a governor who. after spending his earlier days in
the din of war and the turmoil of camps, had gained
enough renown in Europe to enable him to enjoy liim-
self, like the country he governed, in inactivity ; whose
migrations were, by water, from York to Queenston,
and from Queenston to York, like the Vicar of Wake-
field, from the brown bed to the blue, and from the
blue bed to the brown — who knew our wants, as he
gained a knowledge ofthe hour of the day, by report —

* Queenston Monument is very like the column since built in memory
of the Duke of York in Waterloo Place ; but the view from the summit
of the former, five to six hundred feet above the surface of Lake Ontario,
is infinitely superior in grandeur and extent to the prospect from the
latter, with the metropolis of the universe at its base.

318

DIOGfNG FOR LIBEL.

r.i

V I

in the one case by the N'agara gun, and in the other
by the Gazette essays up *n stu;)or and inactivity," &c.
The idea that such " recollections of the nineteenth
century" might re-appear a thousand years hence
quite overcame his Excellency's philosophy ; and after
the pillar of hewn stone had reached (I think) forty-
eight feet from the base, the Hon. Thomas Clark, and
Mr. Hall the engineer, gave directions, and the work-
men began cuttins into the foundation of the structure.
After many hours' labour they succeeded in recovering
an old pamphlet, sealed up in a bottle, wrapped round
with an otter's skin, deposited in the heart of a sfone,
at the bottom of a monument ! Mr. Grant, the justice
of the peace, was called up, with the engineer, &c. to
attest the " premature resurrection," and on the ensuing
evening Sir Peregrine Maitland slept in peace.

I was present when they recovered the treasure, and
claimed and obtained the dreaded number one, which
I have brought to London, and may probably present
it to the British Museum. His Excellency gained
" a mighty name " by this successful military exploit ;
but the jokes cracked at his cost by the wicked w its
who conduct the thousand and one journals of the
great republic were innumerable. I was afraid they
would never have done with him.

I et this brief, but accurate, statement convince the
most sceptical of the power of the press over the
minds of those who most affect to contemn and despise
its salutary influences.

j ''■'

319

THE RIDEAU CANAL.

loit;

wits

the

they

THE LOCKS — THE DAMS COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF

THE CANAL — MAJOR WALKER's TOAST — MILITARY
VALUE OF THE CANAL A LOYAL POPULATION — FAL-
LACIOUS ESTIMATES HUSKISSON's STRICTURES —

DAM AT THE HOg's BACK VALUE OF LANDS AND MIl.l.

SITES TWENTY-TWO MILITARY BLOCK-HOUSES

GLORY REDOUBTS, POWDER MAGAZINES, BOiMB-

PROOF STORIES NAVAL RESERVOIRS— FEVER PRO-
POSED PASSAGE TO QUEBEC — CANAL COM! LETED.

" The only way of keeping up the connexion of Canada with this
country was, not by strengthening tlie fortifications, but by conciliating
the people. That might be <iccomplished by giving a free and independent
constitution to Canada. At present a great majority of the members of
the legislative councils hold places under the crown ; it was therefore
impossible for the people to feel any confidence in these bodies."— JLor'/
AUhorp't Speech on Canada, May, 1830.

" It is impossible to suppose the Canadians dread your power. It is
not easy to believe that the abstract duty of loyalty, as distinguished from
ths sentiment of loyalty, can be very strongly felt. The right of rejecting
European dominion has been so often asserted in North and South
America, that revolt can scarcely be esteemed in those continents as cri-
minal or disgraceful. Neither does it seem to me that a sense of national
pride ard importance is in your favour. It cannot be regarded as an en-
viable distinction to remain the only dependent portion of the new world.
Your dominion rests upon the habit of subjection ; upon the ancient
affection felt by the colonists for their mother country ; upon their confi-
dence in your justice, and upon their persuasion that they have a direct
interest in maintaining the connexion." — See the Evidence jiven by Mr.
James Stephen, junior, be/ore the House of Commons' Committee on the
Government of Canada, 1828.

When in that section of country in September, 1831,
I had not an opportunity of examining all the Rideaii
canal, my political engagements interfering with my

320

THE RIDEAU CANAL.

wish to have passed along the whole line cf that great
work ; but, much as I was pressed for time, I carefully
inspected a good many miles of it — sometimes riding
alonff its banks, and at other times as close to them as
the path would permit. Such of the locks as I saw
are noble monuments of the skill and experience of the
masons and architects who planned and built them.
The three locks at Merrickville, and the lock at Bur-
ritt's rapids, which came more closely under my ob-
servation than any of the others, ow ing to the delay 1
made at those places, are equal, if not superior, to the
locks at Lockport, and on the Lachine canal; and
being upon a grand scale, and built ot beautiful hewn
stone, have a very imposing and durable appearance,
looking as if they would last for ages. The dams, and
other erections, also seem to be of the most permanent
possible character.

Were the public revenues expended for useful pur-
poses among the farmers and other settlers, England
might find the Rldeau canal even a profitable invest-
ment of the public taxes ; but if produce is to be
brought duty free from New York and Ohio to the
Quebec market, in years of plenty, and no prudent
encouragement, by the reduction of prohibitory duties,
held out to the cultivator to settle in this section of
Canada, the intentions of the home government will in
part be frustrated. Had the crown-lands been sold
low to individuals, or even jiven away to actual set-
tlers in this region, the clergy reserves, and all such
nonsensical drawbacks to improvement, done away
with, and good roads made twenty years ago with the
public funds, the Rideau canal would have been con-

IJ , i i ■^'

TlIK RIDKAU CANAL.

321

ties,

of
11 in
sold
set-
such
iway
the
con-

structed much cheaper, and one-half the expenditiiro
would not, as it has done already, have found its way
over to the United States, to encourage their manu-
factures, and add to their real national capital. But
80 it is : our colonial government ever have considered
the application of common-sense principles to their
system as worse than rebellion ; their policy has been
very near akin to the late Major Walker's standing
toast during the hate struggle with the United States :
— " A long and a moderate w ar, at ten shillings a day."

I have said that the Rideau canal mUjht be made a
profitable investment of the public taxes. In saying
so, I took into consideration the increased value of
public lands, the increased consumption of British
goods for which retiuMis could be made, a prudent
management of the affairs of the undertaking, and a
change in the system of provincial government. 'J'he
Lords of the Treasury " are fully aware " that, in
the event of a war with the United States, the .-aftty
of the Canadas must , epend mainly upon " canals to
unite" the different extremities of these provinces;
but I considc" good governments to unite the pcoj'le
far more essential, and less costly.

In 1819 " every military man " attached great im-
portance to the canal to be made " by the line of the
Ottawa;" and in order "to form a loyal and war-
like population on the banks of the Rideau and Ottawa,""
the Duke of Richmond recommended to government
Colonel Cockburn's plans for " a military settlement "
at Perth; — half-pay officers, the Rideau canal, and
" an industrious and loyal population throughout the
new military townships." In 1825 (April) a joint

322

THE RIDEAU CANAL.

committee of the legislature of Upper Canada (at the
head of which were Dr. Strachan, and his pupil, the
present Chief Justice) reported the expense of a four-
feet canal at 62,000Z. A million will scarcely cover all
damages for the first five years ! They also hinted to
his Majesty's government that " it would be most im-
prudent to reckon securely on a very long continuance
of peace. "

The false and absurd reports of ignorant quacks
were made use of at the outset, in order to induce the
nation to consent to the Kideau canal being com-
menced. Mr. Samuel Clowes's "long experience and
professional ability " were putl'ed to the skies by the
president of the Upper Canada commissioners, who
had a deep personal interest in the thing going on at
all hazards ; and even Sir James Carmichael Smith
condescends to sound the praises of " the three esti-
mates drawn up by a very able practical engineer,"
whose only blunders were mistaking shillings for pence
in the casting up. Had he nmltiplicd the sum total
of each of his estimates by twelve, he would have been
nearer the truth.

The money of the nation was never in better spending
hands than Lord Bathurst's. In 1826, Mr. Horton,
the Whig governor of Ceylon, and the Tory ex-under-
secretary for the colonies, wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel
By, to authorize the contractor to commence as early
in the season as circumstances would permit, without
waiting for the passing of the annual grant by parlia-
ment. In 1828 the thing was understood, and Mr.
Huskisson stated, that it had been intimated to the
government that Mr. Clowes's estimates were " made

( 1

THE RIDEAU CANAL.

323

ling

[•ton,

Ider-

lonel

jarly

Ibout

lirlia-

Mr.
the

iiatle

out from tho reprehensible motive of endeavouring to
benefit the colony, by embarking his Majesty's govern-
ment in this undertaking upon the faith of an estimate
which the author of it considered to be fallacious and
inadequate." Trick and mancBUvre on 1 )th sides —
schemers in Downing Street, matched by their appren-
tices in York I If they would trust the people, thesi-
mistakes might be avoided.

Colonel By gives an interesting account of the de-
struction of the dam at the Hog's Back, on the 3d April,
1829: — " Tho arch-key work, twenty-six feet thic'. av
the base, gave way about fifteen feet above tlie fouhJa-
tion, and near the centre of the dam, with a noise re-
sembling thunder. Colonel By was standing on it, with
forty men, employed in attempting to stop the leak,
when he felt a motion like an earthquake, and instantly
ordered the men to run, the stones falling from under
his feet as he moved off."

The official correspondence relative to the canal,
published by the order of the Connnons, sliows large
sums paid to Major Fraser of Broekvili> , Pr. Munro,
and others, for lands through which the canal passed.
If these lots shall not be quietly conveyed to court
favourites, and the public kept noae the wiser until
after the next twenty years have elapsed, large sums
may yet be realized to the country by their sale. 1
hope that Lord Goderich''s plan to do away land-
jobbing will be successful, but I doubt it.

Among the expenses of the canal, military officers
are a leading item ; — first lieutenants of the royal staff"
corps have one shilling per day, extra pay, for Wa-

i I*

r '■ -'■r,v

asni^i

324

THE RIOEAU CANAL.

terloo. How much extra for Waterloo have the pri-
vates ?

Among the military appurtenances to this naval
and military canal, a charge of 61,000^. was made out
as an extra, in 1830, for twenty-two military block-
houses, land for ditto and defences, and a naval reser-
voir. Soldiers would be wanted in due time to fill the
block-houses, and defend the defences ; and officers, of
course, to command the soldiers, and ships to bring the
parties back and forward between Europe and America,
and admirals and commodores to command them, and
Spitalfields weavers and Manchester spinners to work
sixteen hours a day, and starve the whole twenty-four,
to keep this show up. " The insignificant force of
122,369 men," says a Jonathan newspaper, " is re-
quired to keep John Bull peaceable in time of peace,
prevent his purse from becoming too heavy, or his
body over-corpulent by excessive eating. 122,369 !
What a pretty display ! What a gallant band ! Who
says England is not the freest land upon earth? And
in view of all this, is it not astonishing that America
should arm but 6000? Is it not singular that she
shoidd prefer good meat, bread, and wine, a comfort-
able house, and a contented mind — to glory ! with its
drum and fife, flag, sword, and musket ?" Why is it
that the republicans seek no military defences for their
canals — no corps of observation — no block-houses ? It
is because a contented people are a nation's best de-
fence.

Colonel By, in his letter of 15th March, 1830, pro-
poses his defences. 1st, He growls at the Canada

' 'I

f -i

THE RIDEAU CANAL.

325

pvo-
knaJa

Company for keeping the country in a state of wilder-
ness ; next, he proposes fire-proof, and nearly bomb-
proof stories in the block-houses ; square redoubts
round each block-house ; tin-covered roofs, as tin-plate
remains about sixty years free of rust in that climate ;
the block-houses to be on a large scale, that they may
serve as secure depots intimeof war; the magazine of each
block-house to contain sixty-four barrels of gunpowder ;
the upper floor to be the barracks of fifty men, and the
port-holes to be lined with raw hides, well salted, and
rolled tight, and jammed in while moist, to prevent the
ports from being damaged by the discharge of their
own guns at the Yankees. For the purchase of land
required for military works. Colonel By puts down
20,000/. ! Then there is a sum of 8000/. for a reser-
voir and defence, on the land of a Mr. Sparks, who
asked 10,000/. only ! ! ! for eighty-eight acres, chiefly
swamp, but in a position " one of the strongest in
Canada."

In the progress of the Rideau, Welland, and Bur-
lington canals, there was a great deal of fever : the
same was the case in the United States canals. Co-
lonel By frequently alludes to " the dreadfully ofi*en-
sive smell arising from the decayed vegetable matter
in these evacuations," and which generated the fever.

Among ^he projects of the military men in North
America, I find it a favourite measure with Sir James
Kempt, and Commissary-General Routh, to make the
passage through the Rivitire des Prairies navigable,
between the isle Jesus, and behind the island of Mon-
treal. All the plans these people propose is to keep
as far away as possible from the frontier of the United

. I

326

THE RIDEAU CANAL.

f' II

States with their improvements. Mr. Routh I pre-
sume to be the wisest man among them ; for, while he
admits the magnificence of the Rideau canal, he wishes
all the canals and rivers to be made profitable in the
way of trade, which is essential to the due maintenance
of magnificence.

By letters from Canada I learn that the Rideau
canal is now complete ; that is to say, it is open from
end to end, and may be navigated by vessels not
drawing over four feet water. Steam-boats 110 feet
long, and 33 feet broad across the paddle-boxes, can
pass through the locks ; and steamers have begun to
ply with passengers and merchandise.

SCHOOLS— MECHANICAL LABOUR INSTITUTION.

" Man becomes degraded in proportion as lie loses the right of self-
government. Every effort ought therefore to be made to fortify our free
institutions; and the great bulwark of security is to be found in educa-
tion — the culture of the heart and the head — the liiffusion of knowledge,
piety, and morality. A virtuous and enlightened man can never submit
to degradation ; and a virtuous and enlightened people will never breathe
in the atmosphere of slavery. Upon education we must therefore rely
for the purity, the preservation, and the perpetuation of republican govern-
ment. In this sacred cause we cannot exercise too much liberality. It
is identified with our best interests in this wurld, and with our best des-
tinies in the world to come." — De Witt Clinton.

The number of school-districts and pupils instructed,
in the state of New York, have increased since the
last year. There are 9316 school-districts in the state,
and 8818 of them have made returns according to the
statute. The returns show 508,657 cliildren between the
ages of five and sixteen years ; and that 505,943 have

11 I.

SCHOOLS — MECHANICAL LABOUR INSTITUTION. 327

icted,
le the

[state,
|to the
jn the
have

been instructed in the schools from which returns have
been received. The amount of money paid to teachers,
derived from the public treasury, town taxes and
funds, and voluntary contributions, is 605,729 dollars.
There is an interesting experiment now in progress,
in Rochester village, to combine mechanical labour
with instruction in the sciences which appertain to a
liberal education. The institution was founded in the
spring of 1831 ; it numbered sixty-one pupils in Ja-
nuary last, and is in a prosperous state. The pupils rise
at four each morning, work three hours, and study ten,
in the course of the day. I think the hours of study
are too long; but when I call to mind the speeches I
have heard Mr. Sadler and others deliver in the
House of Commons, on the time, mode, and manner
in which the children of " free-born Englishmen " toil
in the factories, I count it an error on the safe side, as
their studies must be often pleasant and agreeable,
besides beinjj instructive. Mechanical labour is found
to alternate better with study than farming work. One-
third of the students at the academy at Rochester
earned as much, nearly, by joiner work, coopering,
and painting, as paid all the charges against them for
board and education. An account is kept separately
with each scholar ; and " the hope of reward sweetens
labour."

New York, April, 1832.

■t

Vi^^rwfc»tfww>wn,wfr. r

328

UNITED STATJ:3-\ CHAPTER ON GRIEVANCES!!!

" Were Locke aiiu Sidney living in our day, they would regard the
American government as a beautiful and successful experiment, uliich has
solved diflSculties that had perplexed the wisest men, from the beginning
of titne, and unfolded truths of incalculable value to mankind." — The
Sc.ottmcn.

" You, Parry, shall have a schooner built for me, or I will buy a ves-
sel; the Greeks shall invest me with the character of their ambassador,
or agent : — I will go to the United States, and procure that free and
enlightened government to set the example of recognizing the federation
of Greece as an independent state." — Lord Byron — (Z-i/e, A^ John
GaU.)

" The United States of America have a government, in my opinion,
the very best in existence ; and the Americans think so too." — O. P. Q.

In the preceding pages I have said several very
good things in favour of the United States' govern-
ment, because, after many years of continued personal
observation, I felt justified in doing so. The Whigs
call it a free and enlightened goverimient; so does
Lord Byron ; Lord Brougham had his Westmoreland
election medals struck for " the 4th of Jidy ;" and, as
may be seen above, O. P. Q. and the editor of the
Scotsman are in raptures with that ** beautiful and
successful experiment'' which has solved so many
difficulties, with which Locke and Sidney, with others,
" the wisest men from the beginning of time," had
been troubled and perplexed. I have travelled many
thousand miles in the United States, in 1821, 1824,
1825, 1826, 1829, and 1832 ;— have seen the same
places, and people, and sections of country, again and
again and again — every new visit affording evidences
more and more convincing to me, that I was in a
land rapidly improving ; and satisfying my judgment.

'SVf,5

lany
L824,
Isame
and
;nces
in a
knent.

UNITED STATES — A CHAPTER ON GRIEVANCES. 329

humble as it is, of the capacity and fitness of a
cheap and economical government and popular insti-
tutions, when combined with almost universal edu-
cation, to enable mankind to attain a high degree of
happiness.

I am every day more and mere convinced of the
truth of Carnot's remark, — that, " in a free country,
there is much clamour with but little suffering ; while
in a despotic state, there are few complaints, but much
grievance." The eternal ding-dong of administration
and anti-administration papers in the United States —
their plausible complaints of mismanagement and mis-
rule, discontent, disunion, and what not, had great
weight with me once, insomuch that I was led to doubt
the stability of the federal government itself. I did
not understand these matters then so well as I do now.
Let a stranger travel in search of the elements of dis-
union, of which he has heard so much in the daily
prints, and he will soon find out the proper value of
the doleful strains of pluce-hiuiting patriots iu a free
republic.

True, South Carolina has justly complained of the
taritt", and New l^^ngland and N(;vv York are lifting up
their voices against negro slavery — the Indians have
been ill-used — and social order is perhaps not such as
the best friends of our species might wish for; but,
for all these things, the United States is, compara-
tively speaking, a free and haj)py country ; and I
rejoice that such a man as Mr. Stuart has at length
come forward to acknowledge it.

While I give the fair and comely side of the picture
of the republic to the eye of the reader, it seems fit

330

UNITED STATES — A CHAPTER ON ORIEVVNCrS,

and expedient also to afford him a passing gU uoe at
a view of society which is dark and unlovel)' ; and tor
that purpose, I stlect a handl.ill isBiied d\xring the
cholera last May, at Albany, the political capital of the
first state of the Union, by " tlif officers of the church'*
in that city, over whom the much ctlibrated and Very
Rev. Dr. Daniel Wilson presides us ir,inisier.

Tiie Rev. Dr. is at the head of a |'ariy of (I thin;. /
Pri'sbytcrians, who profess an eJitraordinaiy degree of
stricti*eo?s in their lives and conversation, and readily
censuK- ;dl wlio come short of their adopted standard
of thccretical perfection. Their handbill, during the
progress of the cholera, seems to have c( ncentrated all
the sins and grievances of the nation into a small com-
pact space ; and aflforded full and sufficient cause for
fasting and humiliation by the congregation. The
official gazette of the state (the Albany Argus)
quotes the greater part of the handbill, and it is to be
regretted that it has left off at the close of the tenth sin,
as the enemies of American institutions may despair of
ever being able to obtain another blacker catalogue : —

" Albany — Causes of Fasting, unanimously adopted
by the Officers of the Church.

" The Lord of Hosts has sent on our land a very
long and severe winter, and a cold and tardy spring.
Much grain, that would have furnished food for man,
has been fed to cattle, thus diminishing the v.ealth of
the nation. This is the true cause of the depression
of business and of the complaints relative to scarceness
of money.

" The aboriginal nations of the west have confe-

UNITED STATES — A CHAPTER ON GRIEVANCES. 331

a very
spring,
or man,
ealth of
ression
rceiiess

confe-

derated together, and waged war upon our almost de-
fenceless western frontier. Their savage modes of
warfare render such an invasion peculiarly distressing.
The tomahawk and the scalping-knife have been
making frightful carnage, while the militia and regular
troops have not been able to arrest their progress in
bloodshed and desolation. The long winter had ren-
dered provisions very scarce in thp new settlements ;
and when the husbandman had prepared his ground
and was about to commit his seed to the soil, he was
compelled to fly from his home — pennyless.

" Faction rages violently in the country. Honest
labours for the good of the commonwealth, by men of
talents and integrity, are not the high road to prefer-
ment, but rather to proscription. Faction, not prin-
ciple, sways too many : thus the good of the nation is
sacrificed on the altar of party strife. The harmony of
the republic, and even the \mion of these states, is in
danger of coming speedily to an end, through the
folly and selfishness of demagogues. We seem to be
on the brink of a civil war, which is the most dreadful
of all national visitations.

" The plague of the cholera has invaded our land,
and Death, riding on his pale horse, is filling the
stoutest hearts with dismay,

" It is now in the neighbourhood of our city. We
have nuch reason to apprehend that ' these are the
beginnings of sorrows.' The Lord is angry with us
for our many and aggravated sins.

*' Let us all acknowledge our transgressions before
the God of Israel, and call upon him for mercy — * for
the King of Israel is a merciful king.—' He will not

"n.- gmei g

332 UNITED STATES — A CHAPTER ON GRIEVANCES.

chide continually, nor keep his anger still.' The fol-
lowing sins we confess before the Lord our God with
fasting, humiliation, and prayer, and do beseech him
to pardon these our iniquities, for the Redeemer's sake,
and spare us and our city.

'* The Duke of York, an Episcopalian, while the
high church prelacy of England was persecuting Pres-
byterians, made war on New York, then New Amster-
dam, and conquered this Holland colony. After the
conquest, large grants of land were made to Trinity
and other Episcopalian churches. They are now of
very great value, and employed in the propagation of
prelatical hierarchy. They influence greatly the state
government — though there are not ten Episcopahan
churches in the state, yet the state-printei , the lieu-
tenant-governor, and the governor are high church-
men. Trinity is the richest corporation on this side
of the Atlantic, except the United States Bank.
Query : How much of the stock of that institution is
held by the vestrymen of Trinity ? Do the demo-
cratic Presbyterians of this state know these iiiings? If
they do, will they not mourn over them before God, as
public evils? Surely it is a great evil when monied
aristocracies govern the commonwealth."

Here follows a schedule of transgressions '* in the
church," arranged under ten separate heads, each
ending with a short prayer for " forgiveness in
Heaven." We are then favoured with a summary of
the sins " in the state," which we quote thus : —

" In the state there are many sins.

" 1. Drunkenness. — The corporations of the cities
do not interpose to prevent this evil

!i!i

UNITED STATES — A CHAPTER ON GRIEVANCES. 333

with

him

sake,

e the
Pres-
mstcv-
er the
Prinity
low of
tion of
le state
Dpalian
le lieu-
jhurch-
lis side

Bank.
Lition is

demo-
ngs? If
God, as

monied

'' in the
Is, each
ness in
mary of

he cities

" 2. Whoredom. — Many public men keep harlots
with shameless effrontery.

" 3. Sabbath-breaking. — The mails still are carried,
notwithstanding th? loud voice of Christianity, that
was sounded, for two years, in the ears of Congress.
Steam-boats, stages, grog-shops, taverns, hack-men,
tide-waiters, closetted-ledgers, news-rooms, novel read-
ing, and idleness, do, with many other sins, desecrate
the Lord's holy day. The rulers are guiltiest of all.

" 4. Factions. — The nuUifiers and others regard not
the glory of God, nor the good of the nation.

" 5. Slavery.— The United States' Constitution,
and those of twelve states, are chargeable with this
enormous evil — it debase'* the nation to hell.

" 6. The nation refuses to obey the Lord Christ,
notwithstanding all that God has done for us, through
the covenant of his peace ; the nation rejects the Prince
of Peace.

" 7. Contempt of the ministry and Gospel ordi-
nances.

" 8. The press in the hands of the ungodly, in
many instances.

" 9. Popery and Pelagianism, under the names of
riopkinsianism and Methodism, prevail and increase.

** 10. Tlie poor are greatly oppressed by opulent
bankers and stock-jobbers."

Here follows, (says the state printer,) a further enu-
meration of sins, and another prayer ; and then " pre-
ventives of cholera." The authors of the handbill would
doubtless have supported Sir Andrew Agnew's Sab-
bath scheme, or voted for the introduction of the blue
laws of Connecticut into their state, almost to a man.

334

LIBEL LAWS.

The true Christian would convince and convert by
precept and example, while the intolerant and the
hypocritical would return to the days of our Protestant
and Catholic persecuting progenitors, persuade the un-
believing by the power of the civil magistrate, and
confirm the doubtful by means of bills of pains and
penalties.

LIBEL LAWS.

" The legislative council was the cause of most of the evils, by con-
stantly acting as the mere creature of the governor for the time being.
From the year 1820 to the present time, the legislative council had
agreed to, or had refused their consent to hills, according to the varying
pleasure of each successive governor. He trusted that this would be
altered, and that a more moderate system would be introduced." — Report
of Mr, Slanlty^s Speech in the House of Commons on the affairs of
Canada, June 5, 1829.

Perceiving that much injustice was done to indivi-
duals under colour of the libel laws, said to be in force
m Upper Canada, I endeavoured to effect a change,
and with that view introduced into the House of As-
sembly, in 1830, the following bill to improve the law.
It passed the representative branch unanimously, and
was rejected in the legislative council by a vote equally
decisive of the opinion of that body. There is nothing
original in the proposition, which was again passed in
the assembly, and again rejected by the council, some
fifteen months ago.

The Bill.
*' Whereas it is expedient, that, in all trials for
libel, the truth may be given in evidence, in justification,
unless the same shall have been published maliciously.

LIBEL LAWS.

335

** Be it therefore enacted, &c., that the publicalion
of the truth shall in no case be deemed or taken to be
a libel, unless it shall be made with a malicious in-
tention.

" And be it further enacted, that upon the trial of any
information or indictment for libel, any defendant or
defendants may, under the plea of ' not guilty,' give in
evidence the truth of the matter charged in such infor-
mation or indictment as libellous ; and if the truth of
the said matter be proved to the satisfaction of the
jury, before whom such indictment or information shall
be tried, they shall then and there acquit such de-
fendant or defendants, \mless it shall appear to them,
upon a consideration of all the circumstances attending
the publication of such matter, that the same was
published with a malicious intention."

rials for
ification,
iciously.

PROCESSIONS.

The first public procession I witnessed in America was
the Fete Dieu, a religious ceremony of the Catholics of
Lower Canada. It was conducted with great splendour
and suitable decorations through the streets and sq«iares
of Montreal, the weather proving very favourable.
The second was at the opening of the eighth provincial
parliament at York. This last was intended as an
imitation of the ceremony of the King going from St.
James's Palace, in state, to open the session of the
legislature of Great Britain ; and it struck my fancy as
being one of the most ridiculous and grotesque exhibi-
tions that could well be conceived by the mind of man.

336

PROCKSSIUNS.

The roads were bad, the weather very wet, and his
Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland moved slowly on
in a coach, such as may be found at the Pantechnicon
sometimes with the price marked 75/., or under ; next
to him went the Chief Justice in an old-fashioned
machine, the like of which no cockney ever cast his
eyes on in England; a painted waggon, decorated with
scarlet cloth, formed No. 3 ; No. 4 w as an old hnnbering
vehicle, seemingly half cart, half chaise ; 5 I don't re-
member; but the rear was brought up by a farm
sleigh, drawn through the deep mud with great diffi-
culty by a couple of horses; in this sleigh sat the
Honourable Colonel Smith, who had been for some
time the administrator of the government. His Honour
was attired, like the others, " in the usual state," as
the Gazette pompously announced. And thus did the
cavalcade slowly proceed to the legislative council
chamber, where Sir Peregrine took his seat upon the
throne, and the commons were summoned by the usher
of the black rod; next followed the command to choose
a speaker, and the other formalities prescribed by
Hatscll — and then the poor pageant returned by the
way it came.

I have lived to see such humble attempts at mo-
narchical pomp as the above, wonderfully improved
by superb coaches and four from London and New
York, with waiting-men in gorgeous liveries, and sleighs
built upon the most splendid and approved principle.
With these alterations, a corresponding degree of
magnificence has been introduced into the costumes of
the grandees of whom our shows are composed ; and
orders from the proper officer of St. James's Palace

I his
f on
licon
next
ioned
it his
I with
)ering
i\'l re-
, farm

t aiffi-

,at the
: some
lonour
itc," as
did the
covmeil
pon the
le usVier
choose
bed by
[l by the

at mo-
iproved

liul New
sleighs
principle,
•ee of
tumes of
Led; aud
(s Palace

PROCESSIONS.

337

have been duly announced, prescribing the court dresses
and laying down the various degrees of precedence
from a colonial viceroy down almost to a wood-chopper.
But I must own, that when I have called to my recol-
lection what are the means by which this foolish pomp
and parade are supported, I have wished for 1821 and
its droll but economical procession back again.

In 1821, the assembly was but for form's sake. I
«aw them elect their speaker, a Mr. Levins Peters
Sherwood, who trudged along for years under the
burthen of official station as follows: —

He was at one and the same time collector of the
customs at Brockville and at Johnstown ; judge of the
district court of two counties ; registrar of conveyances
for Leeds county, for Granville county, and for Carleton
county; surrogate judge, Johnstown district, M.P. for
a county, and speaker of the I louse of Assembly.

With these functions he united an extensive business
as a practising barrister and attorney in all the courts,
farming out such of his offices as he could not manage
in person, and attending the annual militia musters as
colonel of the county militia. He is a specimen of a
numerous class.

FATAJ. ACCIDENT ON THE NIAGARA.

During the greater part of 1824 I resided with my
family in Queenston ; and one Sunday forenoon, while
I was walking on the high banks of the river, the ferry
boat got into the vortex of one of the whirls and upset.
Three ladies, who were passengers, were drowned,

5
1^

338

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE NIAGARA.

They had been across giving orders to their milliner
about some ball dresses, and the boatman succeeded
in getting one of them (Mrs. Gordon, wife of Captain
Gordon of the British army, and daughter of a former
liigh sheriff of Niagara) placed upon the bottom of
the capsized skiff, where she could have remained until
assistance had arrived from the shore. But the un-
happy lady saw her daughter's body floating in the
stream near her, and, hjedless of herself, sprang for-
ward into the fathomless abyss in the hopes of being able
to reach her beloved child. That hope was vain — the
beautiful girl (and few in Canada were fairer) mocked
her mother's embrace; she instantly sank in the
depths of the flood, and never rose again. Her body,
and that of her comrade, were never more seen nor
heard of. Mrs. Gordon's remains floated on the surface,
and, after being but a short time in the water, were
taken to the ferry-house, where every effort we could
devise for her recovery proved fruitless. In that year
I frequently crossed the Niagara here, (seven miles
below the falls,) at the hour of midnight, and alone, the
ferrymen on both sides having retired to rest. These
dismal voyages I made in the days of the infancy of
printing in Upper Canada, in consequence of a contract
then subsisting, by which an Irish gentleman at Lewiston
had agreed to print from 1000 to 1500 copies of my
earliest numbers. I was detained from home, making
selections from the British journals which were obtained
via New York. On one occasion it was very dark,
and I missed my way, going down the river a consi-
derable distance towards Fort George, and being in
the greatest danger of upsetting without knowing what

NEWS, BUT NOT BY STEAM.

339

»able

— the

locked

n the

body,

en nor

iirface,

*, were
cowld

t year
miles

ne, the
These
ncy of

ontract
wiston
of my
aking
tained
dark,
consi-
eing in
g what

course to take, and the river full of little whirls which
change their place, and are not altogether free of
danger.

I have now in my possession a newspaper, one of the
numbers of the 'Colonial Advocate ' for 1824, the paper
for which was made at the Falls of Niagara ; the first
side composed and printed off by an American and an
Irishman at Lewiston, in the United States, on the
south bank of the St. Lawrence ; and the second side
set up and pressed off in Queenston, Upper Canada,
on the northerly bank of that river. This number, so
printed, was afterwards published and issued in York,
north of Lake Ontario, and is probably the only news-
paper-sheet that ever was printed in two nations. In
those days there was no duty on paper, no stamps, no
security required against libel beforehand ; the press
was free ; and if a governor or other colonial functionary
disliked its strictures, he had his remedy by digging
out of the bottoms of the monuments the offending
numbers, after the fashion of Sir P. Maitland.

Q 2

340

THE CHURCH OF ROME— CORRUPT STATE INFLUENCES.

. f

i '

" The first (entitled to the place
Of honour both by gown and grace)
Who never let occasion slip
To take right hand of fellowship ;
And was so proud, that, should he meet
The twelve Apostles in the street,
He'd turn his nose up at them all,
And shove his Saviour from the wall ;
Who was so mean (meanness and pride
Still go together side hy side)
That he would cringe, and creep, be civil,
And hold a stirrup for the devil.
If in a journey to his mind,
He'd let him mount, and ride behind." — The D'ielliat.

" Could any thing, he asked, be more unjustifiable than that the Ca-
tholics of Ireland should contribute one-tenth of their incomes to pay a
clergy oflficiating for the sole benefit of a fraction of their countrymen —
only one-sixteenth ? Even the Turks did not make the Greeks, when
under their yoke, pay towards the maintenance of Mahomedanism." —
Mr. O' ConnelPs Speech in Reply to the Address. House of Commons,
1833.

In his examination before the House of Lords, March
21, 1825, the Right Reverend Dr. Doyle, in answer to
a question about giving the crown an infltience in the
election of Roman Catholic Bishops, remarks, tliat,
" In general, the ministers of state in every country are
rinxious to intermeddle in ecclesiastical matters, and
(haw to themselves the patronage of the church, and
thereby frequently lessen the liberties of the people."
" I have observed," adds Dr. Doyle, " since I came to
manhood, that there have been uninterrupted and stron^
eftbrts to subvert the Cptholic religion in Ireland. I
have heard of private instructions being sent by the
British government to their agent in Canada, to with-

BISHOP MACDONKLL — STATK INFLUENCES.

341

;ncks.

D'ielliit.

jl the Ca-
s to pay a
itrymen —
;eks, when
anism." —
Commons,

, March
nswer to
; in the
LS, that,
mtry aro
ers, and
rch, and
j)eople."

came to
id strong
land. I
it by the

to with-

draw from certain places there Catholic missionaries,
and substitute less :«ealous for more zealous men, as
well as to diminish their number."

The Catholic prelate offered to inform their lordships,
next day, of the precise time when these instructions
were sent. It will be seen, from the annexed extract
of a Utter from Bishop Macdonell, lately elevated to
the seat of a legislative councillor for life, with a pen-
sion or salary, from the crown, of 400^. a year, during
pleasure, that the same influence continues to be exer-
cised. The Methodists, the most numerous sect in
the colony, are insulted in that letter, in the grossest
terms, by a person dependent on the fruits of their
industry ; while at the same time they are obliged to
maintain the ministers of their choice. Mr. Crevier,
the missionary at Sand^^ich, had, it appears, been
over-zealous, and therefore the mitred politician
wanted to give him a broad hint that he had the civil
authority (of the garrison) to send him boyond Lake
Simcoe, to rescue the poor Indians from iL<i fangs oi"
'* those reptiles," the Methodists. There are now
great dissensions in the Catholic church in Upper
Canada ; and, at a meeting heM in the Catholic
chapel, York, three months ago, it was unanimou'sly
resolved by the congregation, after they had removed
the political bisliop, that " the unhappy differences
in that church have arisen out of the corrupt influence
which state patronage has upon all churches."

I add the following extract from the bishop's letter
to his vicar-general.

" I could wish you to wait upon his Excellency, and to submit to him
my iiitentions and orders in reference to Mr. Crevier ; /or it has been
always a principle of mine, from which I would 7iot wish to deviate on
this occasion^ whenever 1 found it necessary to resort to an extraordinary

342

BISHOP MACDONELL —

exercise of my spiritual authority, to do to with the approbation and
consent of the temporal power. From the uniform kindness and conde>
scension which we have received fram his present Excellency, Sir John
Colborne, I should hope that he would have the goodness of furnishing
you with such reconnmendation as would procure you sufficient support
from the civil authority of the western district, in the event of your find*
ing any insurmountable difficulties, on the part of Mr. Crevier or his party,
in the execution of our orders. I should, however, be extremely sorry to
resort to the civil power, except in case oi absolute necessity ; at the same
time I should not be very backward in giving a broad hint to Mr. Crevier,
that I was in pcsscs:;'.un of such a power, and should not hesitate to make
use of it in rase of necessity.

" I would advise you to take the Honourable Mr. Baby with you when
y.-.w wait upon his LiXceilency on the business above-mentioned, as he \f.
better acquainted than you or I with the characters and matters to be over-
hauled in Sandwich. From what has already come to the kn<;wledge of
his Excellency respecting Mr. Crevier's electioneering transactions, I
should trust he would have the less objection th:<.t Se should be removed
from Sandwich, if necessary, and placed in a situation more suitable t.i
his peculiar talents and qualifications : being tolerably well versed in the
Indian language, and a thorough-bred voyagtur, he would be admirably
qualified to match the Yankee Methodists, nnd rescue the poor Indiana
of Penetanguishine and Lake Simcoe from the fangs of these reptiles,
'' I remain, with much esteem and regard,

" Very Reverend and dear Sir,

" Yours, aflectionately,

" A. llKcioi -us."

Viscount Howick appears to be opposed to the u])-
holding of such persons as Bishop Macdonell at the
cost of the people of Canada. Speaking of the annual
grant to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
in July, 1830, in the House of Commons, this noble-
man is reported to have said of the grant, that " he
objected to it, as the devotion of a large sum of the
public money to the maintenance of an exclusive and a
dominant church, especially in a country circumstanced
as Canada was, where one-seventh of the land w as de-
voted to the maintenance of the church establishment,
and where that exclusive and dominant church gave

CORRUPT STATK INFLUENCES.

343

\tioH and
id conde-

Sir John
furnishing
it siippoii
your find-

his party,
ly sorry to
,t the same
Ir.Crevier,
te to make

you

when

d, as he i.^
to be over-
cwledge of
Inactions, 1
)e removed

suitable t.)
ersed in the

admirably
oor Indians
cptiles.

tely,
01 ,us."

the up-
11 at the
e annual
i Gospel,
is noble-
hat " he
n of the
ive and a
nistanced
;1 was de-
lishment,
rch gave

great dissatisfaction. Tlic interests of religion in
Canada would be much more effectually promoted by
removing all invidious distinctions respecting tnatters
of religion. If the goverimient desired to see that or
any colony happy or prosperous, they would put down
monopo?y, and prevent, as far as they could, all cause
of jealousy." The Noble Lord further added, " that
the missionaries sent out from the Methodist connexion
were, he understood, highly efficient."

Hear Sir George Murray, the Duke of Wellington's
Military Secretary of the Colonies, on this subject : —
" He was inclined to think, that, everywhere, the state
derives strength l.om the stipport of religion ; and that
rehgion acquires respectability in the eyes of the people
by being connected with the state," No doubt it does,
as witness the Honoun ble and Venerable John Strachan,
Doctor in Divinity, President of tlie Board of Educa-
tion of Upper Canada, member of the legislative
council, rector and parish priest of York, missionary
of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge,
member of the executive council or colcmial cabinet, a
principal shareholder in the York Joint-Stock Bank,
(and a late director,) member of the clergy (or clergy-
reserve) corporation. President of the University of
King's College, justice of the peace, college cotmcillor,
land councillor, senior member of eleven district boards
of education, commissioner under the Heir and Devisee
Act, Archdeacon of York in the bishopric of Quebec,
trustee of the Royal Institution, a first-rate land specu-
lator, et ccBtera, et ct£tera. The Archdeacon of York,
and Bishop Regiopolis, are of Sir George's selecting.
How respectable ! ! !

t s

344

ON EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

" Does any man tell nie, that my full efforts can be of no service j
and that it does not belong to my humble station to meddle with the
runcerns of a nation ? I can tell him, that it is on such individuals as I
ihat a nation has to rest, both for the hand of support and the eye of in*
telligence. The uninformed mob may swell a nation's bulk, and the
titled, tinsel, courtly throng, maybe its feathered ornament; but the
number of those who are elevated enough in life iv reason and reflect,
yet low enough i.t keep clear of the venal contagion of a court, — these
are a nation's strength." — Robert Burns,

** The true sovereigns of a country are those who determine its mind,
its modes of thinking, its tastes, its principles. In Euijpe, political and
artificial distinctions have, mure or less, friumplicd over and obscured
our common nature. Man does not there value himself as man. It is for
his blood, rank, or some artificial distinction, and not for the attributes
of humanity, that hu holds himself in respect.'' — Ckanning.

Mr. Stuart, in his " Tliree Years in North America,"
give» the state of lUinois the preference over every
other part of that extensive continent, as a place of
settlement for emigrating farmers; and, after his
candid and practical man"<n', describes tiie soil, cli-
mate, an<l pfovernment of i is favourite ierritorv. The
late Mr. Morris Hirkbeck, some years ago, expressed
the same opinions, and proved his sincerity by adopt-
ing IlUnois as the country of his choice. I am in-
debted to Av. I^^-kbeck for several useftd publications,
sent me in 1824; ?nd, like him, I consider Illinois a
iiiilhlv-favoured state. I nave, moreover, written at
great length concerning the system of misrule which
obtains in Upper Canada, and cloaked no iniquity of
the local authorities. 1 was sent here, not to seek new
settlers for that colony, but to endeavour to obtain
justice for those who are already its inhabitants. In

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

345

noticing forms of government, I have not hesitated to
speak in strong terms of approbation of the free and
popular institutions established in the northern states
of the Union, and to declare my opinion that rea], repre-
sentative domestic governments are best suited to the
wants and wishes of the British colonists. In humbly
tendering my disinterested advice to my countrymen
of England, Ireland, and Scotland, I would say, how-
ever, — " Give the preference to Upper Canada, not-
withstanding that its government is probably the very
worst administered of any beyond the Atlantic. Do
not go to Illinois."

The climate of Upper Canada is salubrious, whole-
some, and favourable to long life — more so than that
of Illinois. The heat of su^imer is less oppressive in
the former than in the latter. Both in I'pper Canada
and Illinois, the settler will meet with plenty of excel-
lent land for sale, at a low price, and in desirable
situations. As to the length auil severity of the win-
ters, 1 would far rather spend a winter in Upper
Canada than in London, and I have tried both.

Illinois is a far inland state, not very well watered ;
Upper Canada is one of the best-watered countries in
the world, abounding in navigable streams, lakes,
rivers, and canals ; and possessing a free and uninter-
rupted comminiication \vith the ocean, via Quebec,
as also by the New York canals, and the Hudson
river. The farmei* in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, &c. is
many hundred miles farther distant from the foreign
market for his surplus produce than the settler in
Upper Canada ; and the St. Lawrence is a far safer
road to the ocean than the Mississippi to New Orleans,

346

KMIGRATION TO AMKRICA.

in the Gulf of Mexico. A great part of the weahh of
a country consists iu its external commerce — in ex-
changing its surplus produce for those superfluous pro-
ductions of another country which it stands in need
of. It is of importance that countries thus trading
be placed as near each other as possible. England
and Canada can carry on a barter trade with far less
expense than could England and Illinois. New South
Wales is worse situated for trade or barter than
either Canada or Illinois.

Duties of twenty, thirty, and even forty or fifty per
cent, on the value of goods imported into tlie United
States, continue to be levied by its government on the
farmer who consumes them. But the Canadian emi-
grant is subject only to a light impost of 2^ per cent,
at Quebec, on similar importations ; he saves the dif-
ference. Shopkeepers, taking their stock of goods to
America, should consider that lOOOi. value imported
into Quebec, pays a duty of 2bl. ; but if landed at
Boston or New York, the duty would probably be
nearer 325/.

I admit that the government of Upper Canada is a
disgrace to the American continent, and to the na-
tional character of England ; but the spirit of the people
is an excellent spirit. The press is free, and daily
extending its benericial influences. When I established
a newspaper in the province, less than ten years ago,
I stood nearly alone; now, a majority of nearly forty
presses advocate the principles of rational freedom.

It must be admitted that the management for set-
tling land is not so good in the colonies as in the United
States; and that the crown and clergy reserves, the

KMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

347

Canada Company, and other absentee proprietors, are
a great evil ; but lands are cheaper in Canada than in
the Union, and the soil is better than in the New
England States. Again, I would say, " Let not the
emigrant fear to cast his lot in the midst of his country-
men in Upper Canada : he will find few or no toll-
bars; no tithes; no poor-rates ; no stamps; plenty of
game, but no oppressive game-laws; very few de-
pendent poor ; no courts ecclesiastical ; the taxes com-
paratively few and light, (but the proceeds in general
ill applied;) the necessaries of life in abundance, and
low in price ; and labour well rewarded." Few of the
farmers are tenants, or have rent to pay ; nor will they
soon be oppressed, as in these kingdoms, by a union
of great landlords and rich money-lenders. The free-
dom of the Canadas depends neither on parchments nor
on princes ; and although there are many mean men
among the European emigrants, I have perceived that
the hearts of the great majority of them are in the
right place.

In order to iiecome a citizen of the United States,
and hold and convey real estate as such, the English-
man or Irishman who emigrates has to reside five years
in that nation as an iilien, in a state of probation. At
least three years before he is naturalized, he must
come into the public court, and solemnly swear that
it is his wish and intention to abjure, for ever, all alle-
giance to his native country and its institutions ; as
also to abjure, for ever, his king and constitution, and
all other dominions, princes, and potentates. I have
seen many a thorough radical leave the United States
rather than swallow that oath — an oath, as I think.

i Ki

348

KMIGKATION TO AMERICA.

alike discreditable to the congress who framed it, and
to the government which is required to enforce its
observance.

At the end of his five years of national apr itice-
ship, the British alien emigrant, if he has givi .oofs
of his attachment to the principles of the constitution of
the United States, and proved liis residence, is ad-
mitted as an adopted citizen, after another oath, for
ever abjuring his native country, king, and constitution,
and binding him to support the United States, has
been administered and duly recorded, in the court of the
district in which he is a resident. — See Acts of Con-
gress, c. 28, year 1802.

But in Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick,
the British or Irish settler is at once put upon a footing
vv irh the most favoured of the population, and may be
uppoirted to any office, or buy and sell landed estate,
iJlie day he touches the shore. His children, too, are
entitled to all the rights and privileges of British born
subjects in all the dominions of Great Britain. Children
born in the United States, of British parents, are also,
of right, British subjects by the law of England, even
althovigh their parents may have become citizens of the
United States. To this rule there are a few exceptions.
Upper Canadri contains the greatest body of native
British born subjects, in allegiance to the king, to be
found in any possession out of these islands. The
feeling of the public is favourable to the emign.nt — he
is in the midst of his countrymen. In the United
States, so far as I have seen and heard, it is not po-
pular to give public offices to naturalized foreigners ;
nor is it common in England to do so.

it, and
)rce its

. Uice-
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is ad-
ith, for
titution,
res, has
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ens of the
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of native
ng, to be
ids. The
Tri.nt — he
le United
s not po-
oreigners ;

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

349

The length of the winter in Lower Canada is a great
injury to the farmer. In Upper Canada that draw-
back to his prosperity is not felt.

Negro slavery is unknown in British America; in
Illinois they only escaped it by i sting- vote in 1824.
Upper Canada is far removod ' *i region of slavery ;

Illinois is environed by slave tes.

The price of farm produce i- t .variably higher

in Upper Canada than in Illinois ; and, of late years,
the demand from Britain and the lower provinces has
been stable, and the prices very satisfactory to the
grain-grower.

With regard to Now South Wales, it should be con-
sidered, that the convicts place it in a lower scale than
oven the American slave-holding states; that it has
not the semblance of popular institutions; that it is
three or four times as far from England as Upper
Canada, and ill situated for the profitable exchanges of
its surplus produce. Upper Canada is placed along-
side one of the freest nations of the earth, and doubtless
owes a great deal to the neighbourhood. Australia is
under a military sway, on the confines of the civilized
world, with a thin population widely scattered over a
vast continent.

I own that I would gladly see 50,000 farmers anil
labourers emigrate to Upper Canada every year; they
need not fear succeeding to a sure and certain inde-
pendence, if steady, sober, and industrious. The farm
servant, without a shilling in his pocket, can work for
a farmer until he save enough to buy pre sions to go
upon his own land, which may be had on credit at, or
under, a dollar an acre. If careful and diligent, we

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350

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

will find him in a few years a wealthy resident land-
owner, free of debt, comfortable and contented. When
I heard of the intimidation of the farmers in Essex and
elsewhere, by their landlords, previous to the last
general election, I said to several of my acquaintances,
" If these men would consult their true interests, they
would be on their way to their own estates in Upper
Canada before another election ; in that country they
might look forward with satisfaction to a good old age,
and a sure and certain independence for their children."
To the English, Irish, or Scottish emigrating labourer
I would give this wholesome counsel : Be diligent —
persevere — neither eat, drink, nor wear anything that
is not of the produce of your own farm — if you can
avoid doing so — until your lands aie paid for, and a
freehold title recorded and in your pocket. Rather
miss a good bargain than grasp at too much with the
risk of getting in debt. If your clothes be plain and
clean, never care although they be coarse. You will
be valued by your conduct, and not by your clothes.
As to food, your own mutton and beef, and pork and
veal, and butter and cheese, and potatoes and com,
and poultry, &c. raised at home, will render you as
independent as King William IV. Drink good water,
or plain family beer, (there is no malt-tax or exciseman
to interfere with you,) and look forward to the time
when the orchard you have planted and enclosed will
bear fruit abundantly, and enable you to refresh your-
self and comfort a friend with an occasional tankard
of racy home-made cyder. As to tea, coffee, smoking
or chewing tobacco, snuffing, and the vile practice of
drinking spirits, be not tempted by the extraordinary

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

351

lowness of price in America ; " touch not, taste not,
handle not,** Remember our European landlords : —

" I've noticed on our laird's court-day,
An' mony a time my heart's been wae,
Poor tenant bodies, scant o' cash,
How they maun thole a factor's snash ;
He'll stamp an' threaten, curse an' swear,
He'll apprehend them, poind their gear ;
While they maun stan', wi' aspect humblei
An' hear it a', an' fear an' tremble."

It is of no use for silk or cotton weavers, mill-
spinners, clothiers, cutlers, watchmakers, calico-printers,
and r her mechanics who, like them, manufacture
wares easily and cheaply imported from Europe, to
emigrate to Upper Canada for the purpose of pursuing
their respective occupations. They would be met at
every corner by the productions of the half-starved
workmen of these kingdoms, offered at the lowest rates.
Taylors, Tory-parsons, physicians, lawyers, surgeons,
shopmen, and clerks, are not at present in great re*
quest in Upper Canada ; but waggon-makers, mer-
chants, (shopkeepers,) bricklayers, carpenters, stone-
masons, cabinet-makers, blacksmiths, and joiners might
probably better their circumstances by crossing the
ocean. Common-school teachers, shoemakers, saddlers,
coopers, brewers, and bakers, may do well enough, but
I think that their chance is not so good as that of the
preceding classes. Each man, on resolving to emigrate^
should have previously sat down and counted the cost,
and seriously asked himself the question. What am 1
to do when I get to America ? He has tlie whole of
that wide continent in which to make a choice,> and
may readily amend a first choice if he find that it
would be to his advantage.

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352

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

I have often alluded to the climate of Upper Canada
in the course of my remarks, and chiefly because an er-
roneous notion had gone forth that it was very cold, and
the winters gloomy, long, and harsh. I have not found
it so. On referring to my note-book for 1831, 1 perceive
that I " attended a public meeting of the towns of
Cornwall and Roxborough, held in the King*s Bench
Court-room, Cornwall, on Monday, October 31st,
having left Williamstown in Glengarry at the lower
extremity c: the colony on the 30th. The weather
was agreeably warm and pleasant on the Sunday, but
on Monday it rained all day. At 11 p.m. took
my seat in the stage for Prescott; the post-roads
were bad ; breakfasted comfortably at Williamsburgh
stage-house on the 1st November; dined at Prescott;
took a passage on board the good steamer Queen ston.
Captain Meneilly, and met with very comfortable ac-
commodation. Only 300 passengers on board ! (The
humanity of the Hon. John Hp'^Uton had induced
him to give a free passage tt arty of the poor
creatures who had been wrecked in the Acadia by a
drunken pilot on Green Ib!and. Some of our sapient
legislators would prevent a similar act of humanity
next year by taxing his bar-keeper 10/. for the good of
the confraternity of tax consumers in York.) Took
supper that night with a friend at Brockville ; on Wed-
nesday the 2nd, had a pleasant sail to Kingston, where
we arrived in the evening and stopped three hours ;
on Thursday night we were off Cobourg, where the
vessel waited some time; and on Friday forenoon I was
for an hour at home attending to my affairs in York.
At noon on that day (again in the Queenston) took a

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EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

353

passage for the head of Lake Ontario^ and passed up
through the Burlington Canal at dusk in the evening.
Mem. The work seems to be in good order. Took
supper within a couple of miles of Hamilton^ the capital
of the District of Gore. Next morning, Saturday,
Nov. 5th, breakfasted off Grimsby ; took a lunch at Fort
George, (Niagara;) dined with a friend at the beau-
tiful village of St. David's ; and supped with an old
acquaintance in the classical frontier town of Queen-
ston. Rode down to Niagara, along the lovely banks
of the St. Lawrence, on Sunday morning, November
6th; stepped over for five minutes into the United
States of America to ascertain the fate of Warsaw and
the Reform Bill; then bade adieu to Brother Jona-
than, and, by the aid of the Canadian steamer, was
home to York and laid up in winter quarters by
three o'clock in the afternoon of the said 6th Novem-
ber, my only damage being a slight hoarseness con-
tracted on the night of the 29th October in Glengarry.
Are not these favourable proofs of the mildness of our
climate ?"

If the reader will take a map of Canada and trace
the above route, it will be seen that I travelled 500
miles with ease in November, in a short space of time
— no frost had set in.

My agent, Mr. Wixson, a native Canadian, and a
practical farmer, wrote me on the 17th of January last,
that during the first seven days of the new year, the
weather at York had all the appearance of spring*
that the grass in my garden had grown to the length
of several inches, while the currant-bushes were bud-
ding and almost ready to put forth leaves. Mr. T.

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354

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

i \ ■

II;

Mosher had seen a frog on the Saturday jumping
about, lively and gay, as is usual in the spring of the
year. Farmers in the neighbourhood were ploughing
summer fallows, and the roads broken up. About the
8th of January, cold, frost, snow, and excellent sleigh-
ing came round — noble, bracing weather for the human
constitution, but rarely to be met with in Illinois,
unless for a very short space.

Again, on the 4th of April, Mr. W. wrote me from
York, that "the spring had opened in good earnest,
and that the grass on the plat in the garden was as
green as a leek. The ice was nearly out of the har-
bour, insomuch that a loaded schooner had left one of
the wharfs for Prescott the day before. In short, the
weather was finer at that moment, and had been for
more than a week, than in the year 1832, in the
middle of May. The roads were drying very fast,
and the farmers* waggons revisiting the markets."

Upper Canada, unfortunately, stands low in the
estimation of many persons of liberal principles, be-
cause of the intolerant and despotic character of its
government; but that is a burden which only time
and circumstances can remove. With all its faults, I
would recommend the capitalist not to stand in fear of
it, but to give Upper Canada the first trial. Men of
500Z., lOOOZ., and so on, up to 5000Z. fortune, with
families, would, in most cases, find their circumstances
greatly benefited, and their prospects in life much im-
proved, by transferring their capital and enterprise from
England to Upper Canada. There is abundant room
for the safe and profitable investment of money, either
by active men of business or by those who would

I '

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

355

prefer a quiet and retired life. Living is cheap-
society better than in the country parts of Britain, for
the poor and the miserable are wanting. It should,
moreover, be borne in mind that a settler in Upper
Canada, in possession of 100/. annual income, is
placed, in regard to pecuniary circumstances, in the
same relative position to " the higher orders" of gentry
and freeholders there, as he would be, with 1000/.
a-year, or thereabouts, to the corresponding classes of
society in this country, if he resided here.

I entertain a lively expectation that many of the
difficulties experienced in Upper Canada will be
speedily removed by a prudent and judicious course
of conduct on the part of Mr. Stanley, the new colonial
minister. Lords Goderich and Howick did much to-
wards conciliating the Canadian people ; and it was
not to be expected that their able and experienced
successor would change his principles for the sake of
conciliating the monopolists of the colonies.

Capitalists emigrating to America should not take
their money with them in specie — they should leave it,
and carry over a power to draw, at a short date,
on their bankers here. Their bills of exchange will
yield a good premium in any part of North America.

In comparing Illinois, and the United States
generally, with British America, I am far from de-
siring to underrate the substantial advantages which
have attended the emigration of many thousands of
industrious settlers to the territories of the great re-
public. Our farmers, instead of expending their capital
in cultivating the lands of other men, with little profit
to themselves, find the 600/. or 1000/. which they

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EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

would have laid out in stocking the farm of some great
lord or squire here, an abundant means of purchasing
and stocking a larger and better estate of their own
in the western territories, to descend to their heirs for
ever in fee simple, in a land of few taxes well applied,
and where no higher and more privileged because more
useless class can unduly influence their attempts at
obtaining honest and faithful lawgivers and a more
equal code of laws. Moreover, the emigrant farmer in
the United States has not inflicted on him the pain of
seeing the hardy and laborious farm-servant toiling
from generation to generation in hopeless poverty and
privation, his ill-rewarded industry serving only to
increase the countless luxuries of the drones of com-
munity. In Upper Canada and the United States no
ploughman need fear taking to himself a wife lest he
should involve an amiable woman and her infants in
want and poverty. There his children are his greatest
wealth ; there no unnatural laws of entail, half-bloody
and primogeniture, will long interpose to prevent their
realizing all the happiness and felicity pictured by
Scotia's favourite bard in the expressive lines,

" O, happj love ! where love like this is found !

O, heartfelt raptures ! bliss beyond compare !
I've paced much this weary, mortal round,

And'Sage Experience bids me this declare—
' If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare,

One cordial in this melancholy vale,
'Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair,

In other's arms, breathe out the tender tale,
Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.* *'

357

LEGISLATIVE RECREATIONS AT ALBANY.

An income of 10,000/. a year is not necessary to a
man*s happiness in the United States, even in the
most exalted stations. Among the people of the state
of New York, such a revenue would place its owner
in a manner beyond society — the country would be
suspicious of such a person, and would rarely trust
him in any important public situation. Here, nearly
all the members of parliament are chosen from the rich
and powerful : the people of America can find poor
men in whom they may safely place confidence.

Let it not be imagined, however, that the legisla-
tors of Albany are Itfss happy and contented because
they are placed under a governor with an income of
900/. a year, instead of having a king and royal family
at four hundred times the expense. Their parties and
amusements may be less expensive to their consti-
tuents in New York State, but they are, perhaps, quite
as social. Take, for example, the following picture of
the legislative recreations at Albany during the winter
of 1829, as sketched in his happiest manner by Mr.
Noah on the spot : —

" Every other week there is a regular dinner laid
out at the Eagle tavern and the Hill, alternately, to
which all the choice spirits in Albany are invited by
the residents of the two houses. The tables are
spread out in the most elegant style. Ornaments pro-
fusely cover the groaning mahogany. Printed bills of
fare, on fine hot-pressed paper, are set down in the
neighbourhood of each cover. Several courses are
served up to the guests. On many occasions there, I

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358

LEGISLATIVE RECREATIONS AT ALBANY.

have seen the first course contain nearly twenty varie-
ties, among which were to be found rich venison, fine
mountain mutton, and ham boiled in champaign. On
these occasions, many of the officers of the state go-
vernment are present. Governors, senators, judges^
secretaries, and representatives, mingle together. All
the wits and bon vivants, all that are distinguished for
talents and accomplishments in the capital, generally
take care to swell the company. The mirth and gaiety
are managed with much decorum, for the master-
spirit, the very Falstaff of the age, is not only a
gentleman every inch of him (and where's the man
that dares compete in inches with him, either across,
round, or lengthwise ?) but an exquisite manager of
men*s minds and faculties. He brings out the diffi-
dent — he fills up conversational chasms — and when
the company stagnates, he throws out new ideas,
and conducts to admiration the whole machinery of
knowing how to make the most of life. On another
occasion, it might be an agreeable pastime to sketch
the general features of other portions of society, which
are distinguished for talents, accomplishments, wit,
and beauty. The state government has its dinners
and soirees t as well as the national. There is as much
beauty in the females, as much gallantry in the males,
although it is smaller in compass, more limited in
numbers, and seldom got up like the famous jams of
Washington. There are some dashing characters of
both sexes, that might be touched lightly with the
fairy pen of description in such a manner as to please
and gratify the better and finer feelings of all,"

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

" No government in the world possesses so few means of bestowing
favours as that of the United States. The governments are the servants
of the people, and are so considered by the people. They are chosen to
m' ;age, for short periods, the common concerns ; and when they cease
to ^ive satisfaction, they cease to be employed. If the powers, however,
of the government to do good, are restricted, those of doing harm are atill
more limited." — John Quincy Adams,

"The people of Upper Canada had no agent, while Chief Justice
Campbell, whose own conduct was deeply implicated in the state of things
brought about in the courts by his absence from duty while receiving a
very large allowance, was on the spot using his endeavours, and receiving
the honours of knighthood for his exertions, against a poor people who
had fed him in idleness for several years. In our opinion a change of
policy must take place towards Upper Canada, or the evil can only be
met by the exercise of power : loyal, but determined to enjoy the British
constitution in practice, that country will have its just rights at any ex-
pense." — Neihoni's Quebec Gazette.

" As long as you have the wisdom to keep the sovereign authority of
this country as the sanctuary of liberty, the sacred temple consecrated to
our common faith, wherever the chosen race and sons of England worship
freedom, they will turn their faces towards you. The more they multiply,
the more friends you will have : the more ardently they love liberty, the
more perfect will be their obedience. Slavery they can have everywhere:
it is a weed that grows in every soil." — Burke on Conciliation with
America.

*' In this fcirin the first grand right is, that of the people having a share
in their own government by their representatives chosen by themselves,
and in consequence of being ruled by laws which they themselves approve,
not by edicts of men over whom they have no control. This is a bul-
irark surrounding and defending their property, which by their honest
cares and labours they have acquired, so that no portions of it can legally
be taken from them but with their own full and free consent, when they
in their judgment deem it just and necessary to give them for public ser-
vices; and precisely direct the easiest, cheapest, and most equal methods
in which they shall be collected. The influence of this right extends still
farther. If money is wanted by rulers who have in any manner oppressed
the people, they may retain it until their grievances are redressed ; and
thus peaceably procure relief without trusting to despised petitions, or

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

disturbing the public tranquillity." — Aildreas of Ihe Old Colonie$ to the
People of Quebec. London Annua/ ReyiUer, 1 774.

"The legislative councils ought to be tutally free and repeatedly chosen.
in a manner as much independent of the governor as the nature of a
colony would admit : those, he conceived, would be the best. The go*
vernments now established in North America were, in his opinion, the
best adapted to the situation of the people who lived under them of any
of the governments of the ancient or modern world j and when we had a
colony like this, capable of freedom, and capable of a great increase of
people, it was material that the inhabitants should have nothing to look
to among their neighbours to excite their envy. Canada must be pre<
served iu its adherence to Great Britain by the choice of its inhabitants,
and it could not possibly be kept by any otK?r means."— CAar/«« Jamea
Fox, Debate in the House of Commons, when giving the Canadas a
new form 0/ ffovemment, /ipril%, 1791.

" We think that the address of the legislative council of Upper Canada
8 as good a thing in the way of colonial addresses as any we have seen.
It is in the right slave-holding spirit — minds corrupted with the long en<
joyment of unbridled power over their fellow-men, which the colonial
minister has endeavoured to bring within the limits of justice and consti-
tutional right. How their dignity is ofTended at Lord Ooderich having
listened to any complaints against them ! They touch his despatch as it
were with a pair of tongs. It would defile the pages of their journals,
and corrupt the chaste and pure documents preserved in the office of the
clerk of the parliaments of Upper Canada. • • • • Perhaps his
Majesty's Colonial Secretary might beneficially increase the public opi-
nion of Iheir independence, by relieving some of them from seats held
during pleasure."— -Qi«'6ec Gazette, April 10, 1833.

I WAS introduced to his Majesty's Ministers, about
twelve months ago, by Mr. Hume, member for Mid-
dlesex> and Mr. Viger, agent for the House of Assembly
of Lower Canada; and have had interviews with
several members of the government, and been permitted
to place under their consideration statements concerning
the post-office department, the joint-stock-banks, the
revenue, the legislative council, the administration of
justice, the jury laws, the local magistracy, the state

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPKR CANADA.

3GI

of the representation, church estaUishments, &c. To
some of these remonstra»i?os the Colonial Department
has paid great attention, and sought to redress many
grievances of which the people have long complained.
Now that the Earl of Ripon and Viscount Howick no
longer control the Colonial Department, I may state
my firm and settled conviction, that they did their best
to remove every well-founded cause of complaint in
Upper Canada^ of the existence of which they were
made sensible. In a conversation I had with Mr.
Stanley since he accepted the seals of the Colonial
Department, I saw no reason to doubt his intentions
of persevering in the kind, conscientious, and concilia-
tory course of policy which, in Upper Canada, was be-
ginning to produce such excellent results during the
latter months of the administration of his predecessors.
Lords Ripon and Howick.

It is not, however, to be denied that the government
of Upper Canada is a despotism ; a government legally
existing independent of the will of the governed. Re-
sponsibility to the people from their rulers is, in law,
merely nominal ; and it is impossible in England to
judge correctly in many cases of the conduct of the
few who govern abroad. The persons who administer
the government, and hold the most lucrative offices,
continue to retain their situations, whether their conduct
is, or is not, in unison with the wishes of the people.
Public confidence is not by any means a necessary in-
gredient in colonial rule. A great part of the revenue
is disposed of secretly — very little of it is under popular
control — and erroneous (false) statements of the in-
comes of public functionaries are officially transmitted

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RP:VENUE8 of upper CANADA.

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to the Colonial Office on the one hand> while equally
unsatisfactory, and still more incomplete, accounts
serve to delude the colonial legislatures on the other.
It is inconsistent with the character of a transitory
compilation like this to introduce many details ; but if
any member of the House of Commons wishes to
r^scertain particulars, let him taove the House for an
address to the King for copies of the documents I
have placed on the table of the Colonial Secretary
within the last twelve months, together with the de-
spatches that have been sent to the Lieutenant-Governor
of Upper Canada during that period.

The following revenues are not at the disposal of
the House of Assembly, namely, the timber duties;
sales of public lands; clergy land sales; permanent
fees and offices (equal to 30,000Z. a-year) ; permanent
(uvil list (equal to 16,000/. a-year) ; Canada Company's
payments; timber sales; rents of public lands and
ferries ; college funds ; fines and forfeitures ; crown
fees; assessed and wild land taxes; post-office re-
venues; Rideau and Welland Canal revenues; and
the naval and military expenditure derived from
England. The interest of the public debt absorbs,
annually, 100,000 dollars, or thereabouts, and of the
residue the voting is a mere matter of form. This system
cannot last, and I would be neglecting my duty to the
country of my birth if I did not attempt to expose it,
ill order that it may be changed.

I had placed a petition, of which the following, with
some few omissions, is a copy, in the hands of
Mr. Hume, for presentation in the House of Commons.
When I learned that Viscounts Goderich and Howick

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA. 363

had set about the work of reform in Canada in right
earnest, I then withdrew it. Knowing little or nothing
of Mr. Hay, Lord Howick's successor, but presuming
that he is placed over the northern colonies by Mr.
Stanley, in consequence of his ardent attachment to
the principles and usages of English liberty, I respect-
fully invite his attention to the facts it contained,
nothing doubting but that he will prove himself to
Upper Canada a thorough reformer and a good Whig,
attached to principle far more than to official station.
The colonial secretary has an arduous task ; " ad-
dresses, remonstrances, and complaints, pour into his
department from the four quarters of the world ;'* and
I agree with " the Quebec Gazette " in thinking, that
there is no public situation ** in which a mild, well-
educated, sensible and benevolent English gentleman,
can be more shocked in his feelings and counteracted
in his views."

' TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, IN
PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED—

" The Humble Petition of William L. Mackenzie,
Printer ; Member representing the County of York,
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada;
(and deputed to this Country as the Agent for the
Petitioners to the King and Parliament, praying
for a Redress of Grievances :)

** Showeth, — ^That between the months of June,
1831, and April, 1832, the people of Upper Canada,
having full confidence in the gracious disposition of his

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

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Majesty early to hearken to the just complaints of his
subjects throughout his widely extended dominions,
met together in their respective towns and counties for
the purpose of petitioning his Majesty on the state of
the province, and of laying their grievances at the foot
of the throne. At upwards of a hundred general meet-
inors of the landowners and other inhabitants of the
districts, counties, towns, and townships into which
Upper Canada is divided, memorials to his Majesty
were adopted, and subscribed by between twenty and
thirty thousand persons, — a considerable majority, as
there is reason to believe, of the whole male adult
population. And it was a request of tue memorialists,
unanimously made at all their meetings, that your
petitioner should proceed to England in charge of
their memorials, and endeavour to obtain a favourable
answer.

" Petition fo the House of Commons^ 1832.
" That your petitioner was the bearer of a memorial
to your honourable House, agreed upon last year, and
subscribed by ten thousand of the landowners and other
inhabitants of Upper Canada, praying that an inquiry
might be instituted into the state of the colony and
relief extended ; said memorial was presented by one
of the representatives for Middlesex a short time be-
fore the close of the last session, but the investigation
prayed for was not gone into.

" Applications at the Colonial Office.
"That your petitioner was introduced to the Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies on the occasion of pre-
senting the addresses from Upper Canada, last July,

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA. 365

and has had the honour to obtain several audiences of
his lordship, and been permitted to address many com-
munications on the state of the province to the Colonial
Office; but * * * *

*' Petition to the House of Commons ^ 1831.

" That your petitioner is a member of the central
committee of friends of civil and religious liberty,
who forwarded the memorial of ten thousand of the
freeholders of Upper Canada to one of the representa-
tives for Middlesex for presentation in your honourable
House^ in 1831. ITie petition was ordered to be
printed, but there has been no inquiry. The memo-
rialists have requested your petitioner to endeavour to
obtain the attention of Parliament to the prayer of
their memorial.

«' Petition of 1828.

" That your petitioner was a member of the pro-
vincial committee who forwarded to one of the present
representatives for Middlesex for presentation in your
honourable House in 1828, the memorial of eight
thousand of the inhabitants of Upper Canada, stating
their grievances ; and that he has been required to act
as their agent.

" Petition of 1829.

'* That about five thousand inhabitants of the county
of York, of whom your petitioner was one, transmitted
petitions for redress of grievances, for presentation in
the Houses of Lords and Commons in 1829, but, be-
cause of some informality in the wording, the legisla-
ture would not receive or listen to them.

*' Recommendations of the Canada Committee neglected.
"That the recommendations made by the select

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366 POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

committee of your honourable House, to whom was
referred, in 1828, the consideration of the state of the
civil government of the Canadas, have not been com-
plied with as far as Upper Canada is concerned. On
the contrary, the abuses then complained of have
greatly increased, and are increasing, with perfect im-
punity to the wrong-doers. The attention of the pro-
vince is anxiously turned towards the deliberations of
Parliament, in the confident expectation that your
honourable House will at length favourably listen to
our humble prayers, cause inquiry to be made, and
grant relief,

" Persecution for Opinion,
'* An opinion is very generally entertained in Upper
Canada— and, as your petitioner believes, with good
reason — ^that wherever the Government or its officers
have an opportunity to injure in their business or
prospects in life those persons whose names are at-
tached to petitions calling the attention of his Majesty
or your honourable House to the misconduct which
prevails in the colonial administration, or who take a
prominent part with the complainants, they seldom
fail to use it. It is well known that for years to-
gether the right of the people to meet and petition
for redress of grievances was suspended, at the request
of Sir P. Maitland; it was made a criminal act for
any number of the landowners to assemble together to
petition the king, within the limits of Upper Canada ;
and the royal grants of public lands to Canadians, be-
stowed as the reward of their bravery in defence of the
province in time of war, were rescinded because they
ventured to meet and petition Parliament for a redress
of grievances, in time of peace !

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA. 367

'' Difficulty of Petitioning,
*' Petitioning England, and sending agents to London
from year to year, is attended with much difficulty,
trouble, and expense to a people 4000 miles distant from
the supreme authority ; and it is a duty at all times un-
pleasant to have to complain of the conduct of others.
Although, however, the act of petitioning is unpleasant,
the right is nevertheless dear to British subjects ; and
I humbly request permission to recapitulate some of
the grievances felt by the inhabitants of Upper Canada
which have been embodied in their memorials to the
King and Parliament, and to the lieutenant-governor
and provincial legislature. Having been honoured
with the confidence of the landowners, in whom is the
right of suffrage, so far as to be five times successively
chosen to serve as a member of the Legislative As-
sembly for the most populous shire in the Canadas,
that in which is the seat of the government of the
Upper Province — ^having been unanimously elected
last November while absent in this country, endeavour-
ing to obtain the attention of the Colonial Depart-
ment to the petitions of the freeholders, I may reason-
ably be supposed to speak their sentiments.

" The Quebec Act
" Immediately afler the thirteen colonies, now the
United States of America, had adopted their present
federal constitution, an act was passed in the Parlia-
ment of Great Britain, dividing the Province oi
Quebec into two ; establishing a splendid and very ex-
pensive system of monarchical government in an infant
country, among a few agricultural settlers scattered
over many hundred miles of a wilderness frontier;

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

providing for the creation of hereditary titles of honour,
and establishing legislative bodies over whose proceed-
ings the people could exercise no control, the repre-
sentative of an imaginary aristocracy, in a portion of
the American continent in which no class of persons
possessed of large fortunes, and an illustrious name or
ancient lineage, were to be met with.

** Government of Upper Canada.
" As there are no materials in Upper Canada out of
which to form an influential order of hereditary legis-
lators, the whole authority of the state, civil and
military, has usually been concentrated in the person
of the officer commanding the forces, acting under
such instructions as he may have received from time
to time from the Colonial Office or the Horse Guards.
The heads of departments in this country who thus
exercise an influence over the internal government of the
colony, cannot be the most fit to judge concerning the
wants and wishes of a country they never saw. They
must depend on their agents. And thus it is, that
while in the adjoining states the chief magistrates are
freely elected by the people from among their ablest
and most patriotic statesmen, the colonists are under
the necessity of submitting to the mandates of a person
bred in the army, a stranger to their feelings, preju-
dices, manners, and customs, ignorant of the country
he is sent out to govern, having no permanent interest
in common with its population, and being continually
surrounded and advised by a body of self-interested
counsellors, whom no popular vote of disapprobation
can ever change. There is not now, neither has there
ever been, any real constitutional check upon the

POLITICAL CONDITION OP UPPER CANADA. 309

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natural disposition of men in the possession of power
to promote their own partial views and interests at
the expense of the interests of the great body of the
people.

" Causes of the present Discontents.
"The infancy of the country, the poverty of the first
settlers, the command over the waste lands, (the
disposal of which is regulated by no law,) and tlie
civil and military expenditure derived from the taxes
levied upon the people of these kingdoms, have left all
the power in the hands of the executive government,
and rendered the apparent constitutional check de-
rived from the custom of electing a branch of the legis-
lature altogether nugatory, or perhaps rather mis-
chievous than otherwise, it serving as a cloak to
legislative acts for promoting, in many if not in most
cases, individual and partial interests at the sacrifice
of the public good, and that, too, with an apparent
sanction from the people through their representatives.
Hence, immense tracts of waste lands, vested in the
crown for the benefit of actual settlers, were granteil
to individuals who kept them from actual settlers in
the expectation of realizing fortunes out of them.
Hence the very great neglect of the roads ; hence the
general retardment of the prosperity of the province.
Hence the interspersion of crown and clergy reserved
lands among the lots to be granted for actual settle-
ment. Hence the sale of those lands to the Canada
Company, founded upon the principle that a revenue
was to be derived from the labours of the first settlers
in a wilderness, for the advantage of persons resident
in England ; and in order to afford incomes to public

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370

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

functionaries, pensioners, and favourites, over the
amount and continuance of which the people or the
representatives they might select could exercise no
control. Hence high salaries, over-numerous offices^
pensions and perquisites for many persons living on
the industry of the colony, without affording any ade-
quate return for the advancement of the public pros-
perity. Hence the extensive, insecure, and dangerous
banking monopoly in the hands of the government
and its officers. Hence the alarming increase of the
provincial debt. Hence the secrecy with which a
large portion of the revenues are expended, while
information concerning the management and appro-
priations is yearly refused to successive Assemblies in
his Majesty's name. Hence the unequal and very
imperfect state of the representation of the qualified
electors in the House of Assembly ; in which, as at
present constituted, a majority of the whole members
are elected by places containing less than one-third of
the whole population and assessed property in the,
province. Hence also the very expensive, and at the
isame time, inefficient system for the administration of
justice, its great delays, and the want of confidence
which the people have so often expressed in its dis-
pensation. Hence, too, the attempts to maintain and
support these monopolies, separate interests, and
undue individual advantages, by preferences from
government to particular religious denominations, pre-
ferences in provision for the support of the clergy,
preferences in the direction of education and schools,
preferences in appointment to offices of trust, honour,
and profit ; and preferences to those localities, classes.

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

371

and individuals who will give their support to this
exclusive system. The undue advantages thus pos-
sessed by persons in authority open a door to tlie
practice of bribery and corruption in everj depart-
ment of the state ; encourage in the people a servile
spirit of dependence on persons in office, and have
left their representatives not even the nominal control
over a revenue, complicated and very unsatisfactory
accounts of the receipts and expenditure of some part
of which are partially submitted to their inspection and
published as a mere matter of form. r

" Judges — Juries — Sheriffs.
" For forty years, ever since the establishment of the
colony, our judges, sheriffs, and magistrates have been
kept in abject dependence on the will of the officer ad-
ministering the government ; and whilst in this state
of complete subservience have been called upon to
pass between the richest men in the country and the
poorest and most unpopular ; between the government
and the man opposed to its measures ; between the
conflicting enactments of British and Colonial legis-
latures ; between the pleasure of their patrons and the
spirit of the laws. In apportioning the retiring allow-
ances of these judges and other public officers, recourse
is had, not to the people's representatives, but to the
instructions sent out from the Treasury or Colonial
Office, New and expensive, and useless offices are
created, and the incumbents paid under the like au-
thority. Our grand and petty jurors are selected or
chosen at the discretion of sheriffs thus dependent on
the government ; hence we are liable to be subjected
in most cases to a mock trial by jury, and are conti-

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372 POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

nually dependent on the caprice of a body of the
most violent partisans of the executive under the form
of a grand inquest.

** Administration of Justice,

*' The expenses of obtaining a decision in the law
courts are enormous — at least seven-fold greater than
in the adjoining republics : the people have no confi-
dence in the administration of justice — they ought to
have none. There is no tribunal established for the
trial of cases of impeachment: when complaint is
made to this country^ it is of no avail ; it is rather a
means of promoting the delinquents to still higher
honours.

" Outrages by Government Officers.

" Justices of the peace, and other officers of the go-
vernment, are frequently proved guilty of the most
criminal outrages against the peace of the community ;
instead of meeting with disapprobation in the highest
quarters, they are encouraged in their disgraceful
career — advanced and promoted to places of greater
power and trust, and the petitions of the landowners
for their removal slighted and contemned.

" Powers of the Magistracy, — Low Value of
Landed Estate,

'* The local magistracy, in the formation of whom the
country has not the slightest influence, have assumed
the sole control of a large and growing revenue, an-
nually raised by the imposition of taxes on dwelling-
houses, shops, lands, cattle, horses, grist-mills, car-
riages, &c. Much of this money is squandered in the
most profligate manner, and there are no means of
redress. Within the last three years, the fee simple

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

373

of nearly 700,000 acres of excellent land, chiefly
in old settlements, the property of individuals, has
been sold by the sheriffs, for taxes in arrear, at an
average of about five-pence sterling per acre, and the
proceeds paid over to these parties to expend, without
their being subject to any efficient accountability for
their proceedings.
" Revenues and Character of the Official Priesthood.

" About a fourth or a fifth part of the whole of the
lands in the province are in the hands of the religious
teachers of a small minority of the population, who
are paid by his Majesty's Government for propagating
among the colonies a great variety of doctrines, the
most opposed to each other possible ; and a part of
whose business it appears to be to interfere in the
political discussions of the province, and sow dissension
among its inhabitants. These favoured priesthoods
receive large incomes besides from the colonial reve-
nues and from taxes raised from the people of the
United Kingdom, in opposition to the wishes of the
local Houses of Assembly.

'* PVar Claims.

" The sufferers by the late war with the United
States, whose claims have been acknowledged, have
petitioned for redress long, and in vain — ^they are not
recompensed. Part of the lands their opportune
valour saved were sold to the Canada Company, for
the purpose of raising a fund for their benefit ; but his
Majesty's Government apply the proceeds to the pur-
poses of patronage, pensions, sinecures, inconies to
bishops and other priests, of a variety of churches : —
the sufferers are forgotten.

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POLITICAL CONDITION OP UPPER CANADA.

** Powers of the Legialative Assemblies.

•* The Legislative Assemblies of the colony possess
little or no power to redress the wrongs of the people
they profess to represent. Sometimes they are almost
exclusively composed of popular members, and at
other times a majority is obtained to sanction many
bad measures of the government, and increase the in-
jurious enactments on the statute-book* In 1820 and
1830, their almost unanimous representations to his
Majesty's Government, pointing out the abuses of the
administration of affairs in the colony, appeared to be
productive of but one effect — that of benefiting those
whose misrule they exposed.

** Postmasters^ Reventie Officers, and Sheriffs in

the Legislature,
" Your petitioner is returned by a constituency of
landed proprietors, nearly equal in numbers, and
assessed value of property, with the United consti-
tuencies, who return a fourth of the whole popular
representation, consisting of fifty-two members. In
utter contempt of the law, there are seven or eight
postmasters, and three or four collectors of the customs
and excise revenue, sitting in the present House of
Assembly, for places where the^' ' .,^^i -» be peiiorm-
ing other official duties ; also a principal sheriff
holding office during pleasure, and representing the
place of his own executive jurisdiction. Such persons
wMHi btain their seats by undue influence ; and, when
elected, ccmbine with other dependent persons to vote
the constitution a dead letter. One of the most violent
partisans of the government was made collector of the
customs at the port of Brockville, while tae present

POLITK AL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

legislature werr in session last year, and was not even
sent back to his constituents, but continued to sit and
vote as before.

" Tcuxation without Representation.

** The largest portion of the taxes and duties levied
on the people have been imposed without even the
appearance of asking their consent ; and the proceeds,
as well as the greater part of the other revenues, con-
tinue to be appropriated contrary to their wishes, and
to purposes they would never sanction. Even in cases
where a tax or an appropriation of money is subjected
to a vote of the House of Assembly, it is often carried
by a majority of members representing a minority of
the classes entitled to share in the representation, 'i he
House is occasionally asked to grant a few thousand
pounds for the support of the civil government, but
this is merely for form's sake. Sometimes years
elapse without any such request being made. Indeed,
if the people would submit, the government could go
on for a century, independent of a popular vote.

" Standing Armies.

" Standing armies are kept among us in time of
peace, without the consent of our legislatures: the
military is not only independent of and superior to
the civil power, but also the chief stay and dependence
of those who use a delegated authority to oppress and
injure us. Late occurrences in Montreal, and else-
where, give a colour of truth to the assertion often
made in Canada, — that bands of armed men are up-
UAd among us, less for the purpose of affording pro-
tection to the people than of coercing them. Sup-
ported by the military, the crown and the legislature

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POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

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claim our allegiance, but neither afford protection to
the lives and property, nor secure the liberty of the
subjects.

'* Education.

" The progress of education is obstructed. The
direction of public instruction is in general placed in
the hands of those whose interest it is to keep the
great body of the people in ignorance.

«' Trade,

" The trade of the colony with other parts of the
world is subjected to a multitude of vexatious and im-
politic regulations and prohibitions, enacted without
any reference to the colonists, their wishes, or interests :
— we are oppressed with a weight of commercial mo-
nopoly, while our fellow-subjects in these kingdoms
suffer great losses in their intercourse with foreign
nations, in order, as some say, to promote Canadian
interests. We are desirous to be delivered from the
injuries, as well as the supposed benefits, attending
these monopolies.

" Inefficient Legislation,
" Enactments, the most wholesome and necessary for
the public good ; laws anxiously desired by the country,
and calculated to promote the welfare of its inhabitants,
are continually refused the sanction of the executive
and of the councils dependent thereon.

" Among the multitude of wise and salutary measures
thus rejected since your petitioner first entered the
legislature, may be enumerated, bills for securing to
the people a fair and impartial trial by jury ; for ren-
dering the administration of justice more effectual and
less expensive ; for the encouragement of education j

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA. 377

for rendering the representative branch of the legisla-
ture more independent of executive influences, and for
procuring a more fair and equal representation of the
people in the Assembly ; for abolishing the law of
primogeniture, (which exists nowhere else in North
America,) and providing for the more equal distribu-
tion of the real estate of persons dying intestate ; for
the better regulation of the 300 township incorpora-
tions of the colony ; for the improvement of the roads ;
for providing that no person should be liable to pu-
nishment for publishing the truth from good motives
and for justifiable purposes ; for allowing the accused,
in all criminal prosecutions, the benefit of full defence
by counsel ; and for appointing commissioners to con-
sider important matters of mutual interest with Lower
Canada.

" The Legislative Council,

" III these, and many other bills, the Legislative
Council have served as a screen to take from the Co-
lonial Office, and the general officer commanding the
forces, the odium of continually balking the public
expectation, and frustrating the wishes of the country.
This council is composed of officers of the government ,
pensioners of the crown, priests of the churches of
Rome and England, collectors of the Excise revenues,
and other persons whose subservience has been suffi-
ciently proved. It hr s never acquired the public con-
fidence ; it has never deserved it.

" British Colonial Expenditure,

" The annual expenditure occasioned to England by
the present mode of government in the North American
colonies, has been estimated at about 3,000,000/. ster-

i 1

'-}

• 1

I ■

'< k

s >

^ft

378

POLITICAL CONDITION OP UPPER CANADA.

ling, inclusive of the tax occasioned by the discrimi-
nating duties on timber — this is in time of peace.
Even i: no return were made to the colonists in mer-
chandise, the whole exports of British America, to all
the rest of the world, would scarcely amount to this
sum; and as for the territorial revenue accruing to
Britain, it is not worth naming.

" The petitions of the people of Lower Canada to their
government, and of the House of Assembly of that
province to the king and parliament, show that most of
the evils of which we complain they also are afflicted
with ; and that they seek the same simple remedy —
the power of * self-government.' The other North
American provinces doubtless feel, in a greater or lesser
degree, the pressure of a colonial system unsuitable to
the liberality of the age in which we live.

" The Colonies contrasted with the United States,
" The majority of the North American colonists are
neither of British birth nor descent ; nor are they mem-
bers of the established churches of England or of Scot-
land. British America furnishes no suitable materials
for splendid, costly governments ; its inhabitants evi-
dently have no wish for them. The people of Upper
Canada are in view of the United States, in daily
intercourse with its citizens ; they are the same race
of men, speaking one language ; they see the people
on their adjoining frontier thriving and contented under
domestic governments instituted for the common be-
nefit and protection ; and they are persuaded that it
is the wish of the British nation that they should have
no just cause to envy the condition of their neighbours.
In Ohio, New York, and Vermont, the military (of

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA. 379

;rimi-
)eace.
mer-
toall
this
ing to

their
f that
nost of
flicted
edy —
North
•lesser
able to

ates,
sts are
mem-
P Scot-
iterials
its evi-
Upper
I daily
le race
people
I under
lon be-
that it
d have
ibours.
ry (of

whom there are very few) are seen in strict subordina-
tion to the civil power ; the laws are known to be a
faithful expression of the pubHc will ; the penal code
is humane and merciful ; the judiciary are independent,
and the people satisfied with the administration of
justice ; the taxes are raised, and public expenditures
appropriated, only according to law ; the public func-
tionaries require neither extravagant incomes nor bur-
thensome pensions to induce them to fulfil their several
duties; population, wealth well distributed, and the
value of real estate rapidly increase ; to all the citizens
are ensured the blessings of education ; and, without
establishing any one sect over the others, a suitable
maintenance is obtained for the ministers of religion
from the voluntary contributions of their several con-
gregations.

" The best, if not the only means^ of promoting the
prosperity of Upper Canada,
" Your petitioner humbly submits, that, unless the
people of Upper Canada shall be entrusted with an
influence in the management of their own affairs, some-
thing like that which prevails in the adjoining country,
and the burthen of any disadvantageous comparison
which they may draw thereby thrown upon them-
selves, the difficulties which now surround the colonial
government will speedily be multiplied. Under a
frugal administration the value of landed estate in
Upper Canada will be greatly increased, and the set-
tlement of the country much facilitated, by a numerous
and intelligent class of capitalists, who will neither
entrust their property nor take up their abode in a land
in which the settler is continually liable to be involved

, i

1 " »

^: 'g

380

POLITICAL CONDITION OF UPPER CANADA.

in the troubles attending a struggle for the possession
of a government able and willing to protect persons and
property, and secure to the community the blessings of
civil and religious freedom.

" Prayer of this Petition.

" In laying their complaints, year after year, before
your honourable House, the people of Upper Canada
have constantly appealed to facts, and earnestly re-
quested that an early investigation might take place,
always reposing, as in duty bound, the fullest confi-
dence in the wisdom and magnanimity of Parliament.
And your petitioner, for the several reasons herein-
before set forth, humbly prays your honourable House
to cause an inquiry to be instituted into the condition
of the province, so that justice may be done, and relief
extended to its much-injured inhabitants. Your pe-
titioner will ever pray.

** W. L. Mackenzie."

" London, February 21, 1833."

1 1

' ;■■■

•

1'' '.
1

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

" Mjr maxims of Colonial policy, in (he present state of the world, are
few and simple — protect the colonists, and suffer them to conduct their
own internal affairs. They ought to be left to the reasonable adminis-
tration oi' their own government, and should possess the control over
their own money. These maxims form my creed." — Sir J. Mackintosh,

** The strte of the colonies of the Canadas is very different from those
which contain a slave population dependent on the will of a few great
proprietors, who look to the mother country as their ultimate place of
refuge and enjoyment."— Afr. Alexander Baring^a speech in the Houae
of Commontf in oppotition to a grant for building fortresses in Canada.

" The province it rapidly advancing in wealth— her commerce is ex-

;v«

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

381

session
ns and
ings of

before
/anada
tly re-
! place,
t confi-
ament.
herein-
House
tndition
d relief
our pe-

SIE.

»»

(Torld, are

duct their

adminis-

trol over

ckintosh.

'om those
few great
place of
the Houae
t Canada.

rce is ex-

tending, and her population increasing. With a good soil and a healthy
climate — with great capabilities and valuable internal resources, her
future destiny is easily seen ; and the fostering hand of an enlightened
legislature will tend much to adrance the period when she will enter
into comparison with the older countries of Europe, and take her place
cmong the nations of the world." — The Montreai. Qazetle, by Royal
autliority, 1830.

'* The idem manebtU, tamen idem dicebatf was the rock on which
Britain split, and lost America: we did not advert to the difference be*
tween young colonies which wanted our protection, and grown-up
colonies which were able to protect themselves."— JSmAoje) IVatton to
Lord Moira.

" The business of the mother country, as hitherto exemplified, has been
to wring from the colonists whatever could be forced from them, for the
use of the aristocracy at home. The business of colonists is to resist that
wrenching ; and if by no other means, by separation. In what a state
are the Canadas at this moment while we write ! They have in the eye
of the Englishman little to complain of, their trade being in some degree
favoured, and the form of a legislature allowed. But the favour shown
to Canadian produce is not extensive enough, and the legislative power is
not real. The Canadians, therefore, assert that if they governed them-
selves, they would be much better governed : their internal improvements
are checked by perverse rapacious appropriations of land ; the official
patronage is too largely shared by natives of Great Britain ; the governor
and his council assume too much power, and the inhabitants have a
dangerous example at their door, in the shape of a successful prospect of
emancipation."— 7%e Times, Sept. 11, 1828.

" The colonial system, by which this whole hemisphere was bound,
has fallen into ruins. Totally abolished by revolutions, converting colo.
nies into independent nations, throughout the two American continents,
excepting a portion of territory chiefly at the northern extremity of our
own, and confined to the remnants of dominion retained by Great Britain
over the insular Archipelago, geographically the appendages of our part
of the globe. With all the rest we have free trade — even with the in-
sular colonies uf all the European nations, except Great Britain." — JMeam
sage of President Adams to Congress, December^ 1828.

*^ * In peace, prepare for war,' is a maxim of our own : it is the maxim
of all wise nations. We trust, war with Great Britain is at a great dis*
tance ; but whenever it may come, unless the British interests be well
fortified in the hearts of the colonists, not all the fortifications of stone and

, 1

! 'r

i*r

382

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

1 ;
1^ ''

1*1

■ i

Wood will prevent the Canadas from following the example set by our-
selves in 1776." — Waahington Nationat Journai.

" As for the colonies themselves, they would doubtless embrace with
eagerness the opportunity of joining our Union, as free, sovereign, and
independent States. Their grievances would be instantly redressed ; or
rather, would cease, in the course of nature, to exist. They could form
four States, with great convenience of natural or well-established boun-
daries, and would send eight senators and thirty representatives to Con-
gress," — Boston Daily Advertiser.

^' Most ardently it is to be wished, that the happy example which has
so prosperously attached to our Union, on the south, the French colony of
Louisiana, could effectually point the way to an equally auspicious junc-
tion of the French colonies of the north : what privileges would it open
for the Canadas ; what collisions would it obviate between Great Britain
and the United States ; what relief would it afford to England ; what a
noble accession would it constitute to our republic !*' — North American
Review.

" We know not that the accession of the Canadas would be of any ad*
vantage to the United States, unless they should be converted into a depot
whence the means of aggression should be directed against us ; or unless,
a» some of our own and the British editors have insinuated, and even
recommended, they should be made a rendezvous for those persons who
may endeavour to realize an iniquitous opulence by the perpetration of
frauds upon our revenue. It is easy to suppose a state of things in which
it might be obviously advantageous to the United States to receive the
adhesion of the Canadas, on such terms as she might prescribe ; but that
state of things can only exist when Great Britain shall so far lose sight of
(iignity and justice as to countenance measures which will allow the
United States no alternative but to submit to a system of robbery, or to
covet the possession of that territory which affords an asylum to the de-
predators, and a depository for their plunder." — Nationat Journai.

.'' Meantime, as to the Canadas, they are gaining strength and wealth
by the expenditure which England is yearly making there ; and if, as
seems not improbable, emigration thither on a large scale, from Ireland,
shall be encouraged, there will be superadded a numerous, active, and not
very loyal population, (for those who have only known the oppression of
a government can hardly cling to it with much affection,) ready, on any
change or chance, to assert for themselves, and in their own behalf, the
doctrines of perfect equality and self-government, of which they daily
witness the peaceful and successful operation within our borders.

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

383

■■« ■

with
, and

" The Canadas must, in the nature of things, at some future day fall
within the orhit of this Cnion." — New York American.

" The same spirit of forbearance ought to govern us in all other acts of
interference with the internal affairs of Canada. Where we cannot event-
ually command, we should be content to know our own situation, and to
act by the gentle ministrations of parental influence, addressed to adult
and independent children." — Blackwood's Magazine. Review of
3PGregor'8 British America.

" The times are past when great and populous regions might be ruled
by inflicting on them a continual sacriflce of their own desires to the dic-
tates of a remote supremacy. Intelligence is now too widely dispersed
over the world for any such course of policy to succeed. The principles
of every man's reasoning are confirmed and encouraged by every man's
recollection and reading ; and the colonist finds the rights which he lays
claim to, not merely illustrated by the rebellions of North and South
America, but effectually vindicated by the independence of these immense
countries, with just a lapse of a single generation between their respec-
tive triumphs." — The Times.

" The minister ought to have given earlier notice to parliament of the
disturbances in America. They began in July, and now we are in the
middle of January. Lately they were only ' occurrences ;' they are now
grown to disturbances, to tumults, and riots. I duubt they border on re-
bellion, and I fear they will lose that name in that of revolution."— ilfr.
Grenvilie's Reply to Mr. Pitt, 1766.

'^ Of tlie various constitutions that prevailed in our own colonies before
we lost them, that which approached nearest to perfection had been that
of Massachusetts, and yet the province rebelled." — Edmund Burke,

" The loss of so important a limb as her North American provinces,
would inflict a heavy wound upon the reputation of England, and the
European estimate of her power. She would suffer ; but on them such a
separation would fall lightly. They would soon manifest their self-suf-
Hcing powers for repelling aggression, and for exercising all the functions
of an independent state. Tc them no power could be really formidable,
in a military sense, except the great republic on their frontiers." — Black-
wood's Magazine. Review of M^ Gregorys British America.

I ■

I i

' i

I .;•■

;]i

With regard to the destiny of the Northern Colo-
nies, it is prophesied by so...e that they will speedily
unite with the great republic on their northern fron-

384

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

Vr-

S^l

!«-':i

tier ; others are of opinion, that the northern states of
the Union (those free of slavery) will separate from
the slave-holding states in the south, and join the
colonies, under one federal and several state govern-
ments. There are those also who look forward to the
time when the coloni ts will seek strength and inde-
pendence in their own resources, without joining any
other power. A few seem to expect that the present
system of government can go on for many years to
come, without any very essential alterations. Without
considering as to the probability of some of these
speculations, I would remark, that I have long desired
to see a conference assembled at Quebec, consisting
of delegates freely elected by the people of the six
northern colonies, to express to England the opinion of
the whole body on matters of great general interest.
No one colony can legislate for the whole concerning
the post-office, post-roads, patents, public lands, a
system of bankrupt laws, boundaries, inland naviga-
tion extending beyond any one colony, &c. ; neither
can the British government and parliament satis-
factorily regulate these matters without the advice or
consent of the parties most interested. Now, in time
of peace, these things may be considered, by a con-
ference, with advantage. It is within the power of
the crown to call together such a council ; but many
doubt that it would lead the colonists to seek an earlier
independence, and, in so doing, to rely upon the friend-
ship of the United States No such results need be anti-
cipated, if England set about preparing the colonists,
in right earnest, for taking that share in the manage-
ment of their affairs which they ought to have had

r •

A STEP TOWARDS IND"'»ENDENCE.

385

J of

•cm

the

ern-

the

nde-

any

isent

.rs to

thout

these

jsired

isting

le six

lion of

terest.

rning
(Is, a

aviga-
either
satis-
ce or
ntime
a con-
er of
many
earlier
friend-
e anti-
onists,
anage-
e had

ere now, and which she cannot prevent their having.
Sending representatives from Canada to the House of
Commons will not answer, it would give no satisfaction
in the colonies; and truly the Commons have enough
to do without acting as a substitute for a congress for
half North America. Without such a conference as I
have named, many important interests in the colonies
must and will be wofully neglected ; and clerks, and
collectors, and paymasters of the public revenues will
continue, as hitherto, to blunder on, regulating and
auditing their own proceedings, with the notable aid of
St. Martin's Le Grand and Downing Street official
accountants, who know but little about the matters of
which they are called to judge. Without such a con-
ference, English statesmen may remain too long in
ignorance of the feelings and wishes of the colonies and
their leading men. It is unquestionably the desire of
the present administration in England to secure a long
continuance of that sincere friendship, affection, kind-
ness, and good-will which ever ought to subsist between
the northern colonies and the British people. British
America will soon number three, five, seven, ay, ten
millions of inhabitants ; and those, too, of an enterprising
character, inhabiting a lovely free country, and justly
proud of the enjoyment of liberal institutions. Let us
then fondly hope, that the great Creator and Preserver
of the universe will order affairs so that no cause may
arise in our time again to plunge the North American
continent into war; but that England, Canada, and
the United States may long continue in harmony and
peace with each other, striving to increase their ample
means of bestowing comfort and happiness on the

386

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

family of mankind^ remembering with satisfaction
every act of national and individual kindness and for-
bearance, and profiting by the experience of the past.

A closer connexion with the United States would
not be to the advantage of the North American Colo-
nists. The people of the Union want little or none
of their produce ; and if joined to the other states, they
would be required to contribute their share of the
naval and military expenses of the general govern-
ment, — a burden they are now relieved from. The
influence of the French part of the population of Lower
Canada would be lessened by such a connexion, as would
also that of the European emigrants in both provinces.
Many profitable branches of trade now carried on
would be annihilated ; and I am not sure that a free
commerce would be gained. There might be a great
deal said on this question, but I will not go into the
merits of it. The facts I have placed on the table of
the Colonial Secretary are, in my view, a sufficient
ground for inquiry ; and there are some quotations,*

* The following extract from an essay, first published in the Boston
Palladium, was extensively circulated in the newspapers of Nova Scotia
and the Canadas, in 1830. It is only one of a thousand similar articles
I could have quoted from the American periodical press within the last
twelve years ; and it is well that a British public should see such state-
ments. Reflecting men, in both hemispheres, will easily judge of their
probable effects : —

[^Extract, copied into the " Halifax Nova Scotian" from the
" New England Palladium."]

" No one will deny that we have remained for a long time in ignorance
of our neighbours in Nova Scotia; and all will admit, by this time, that
the colonists have proved themselves no less ignorant of us, and the un-
paralleled privileges which, as free citizens, we enjoy over them. We
esteem it a task of no great difficulty to show that the people in Nova
Scotia are essentially shackled, that they do not enjoy as much political
liberty as the citizens tf the United States, and that they never can, while
British culonists, rise to anything like an equality with the rights and
privileges of free American citizens.

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

387

Ld
.0-

ne
ley
the
jrn-

rvie

)wer
ould
nces.
i on
a free

great

o the

He of
picient

fiotis,*

e Boston

a Scotia
articles
the iast
h state-

5 of their

\the

Jignorance
llimc, that
nd the un-

iem. ^®
le in Nova
Ih political
lean, while
Tights and

statements, and stray remarks in this Httle volume,
which the friend of Canada may peruse with advan-

" In the first place, we know of no greater shackle than that which
withholds from a people the privilege of electing their own political and
civil magistrates. This is a privilege of which the inhabitants of Nova
Scotia are wholly deprived. They have no voice in electing their own
governor; but they must look to Lngland for their chief magistrate. It
IS well known, too, that all the colonies are in the same predicament*
Their governors are all appointed in England, and sent out to them, not
as free gifts, but on loan. They are invested with such power as the
policy of the British Government may dictate ; and must be acknow-
ledged as the chief administrators of the provincial governments. Accept
them, they must. Is tliis the political liberty of which ' A Colonist '
boasts? — Is this the liberty which, in his opinion, brings the citizens of
his country and our son a common level ? Away with such freedom !—
it deserves only the name of bondage. It is, we grant, all that we could
once claim, but we want it no longer.

" What ! have we no transcendent privileges over colonists ? Have we
gained nothing by the struggles of our revolutionary heroes? Are we
dependent on a foreign government fur our executive rulers.' Do we
have Transatlantic bishops sent to us as the infallible promulgators of
our religious doctrine ? Must we send to England and ask permission of
a king, before we can obtain the charter fur any great internal improve,
ment, founded on the general welfare of the country P These are a few
of the many shackles which apply, with peculiar force, to every indivi-
dual of colonial Nova Scutia; a country which, this late writer has toU
us, is as free as any other on the face of the earth. Free of what ? — Like
the slave of a plantation, — free of one thing, certainly, and that is free-
dom. This we shall not pretend to deny. We want no better evidence
than that which we have already cited, to confirm the truth of our former
statements, and to show that our provincial neighbours are truly shackled,
and are confined to the narrow sphere assigned them by the old govern-
ment. Were it required, we might descend into more minute facts, and
show that the poor, we would rather say the farmers, of Nova Scotia, are
very severely oppressed by the high duties which the British Govern-
ment have imposed on American articles; and particularly flour, and
which, if we mistake not, amounts to the additional price of about one
dollar on every barrel they consume. This is the origin of the whole
system of smuggling which is carried on between the eastern part of
Maine and the British provinces; and we are told it as a fact, that not a
barrel of flour which has paid this duty is seen on the northern and
western borders of Nova Scotia.

" When, by common suffrage, the colonists voluntarily elect their own
governors; when they appoint their own bishops; when they guard their
coast with their own naval ships, manned with their own native seamen;
when they erect costly barracks and armouries for an army composed of
their own men ; in short, when they can carry on any system of internal
trade and improvement, without requiring, as a preparatory and indispen-
sable measure, a charter from the mother government; then, and not till
then, can they boast of anything like national and political freedom.

3H8

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

* IJ

,ii i

I «

tagc. If a conference shaP be held inexpedient, what

Then, without a libel on the free citizens uf this Republic, might a colonist
compare his rountrywith ours. Nothing but presumption and false pride
cuuld lead him tu do it at present ; and we can !«carcely conceive a
greater insult on the character of our glorious institutions, and, indeed, on
every individual that composes this union, tlian that of comparing a colony
with the freest country in the known world.

" The very name of colonirtt implies subordination and submission to
superior rulers. This we regard as the true and concise meaning of the
term. Experience has, in every instance, proved it so. And the most
illustrious example of the truth of thin remark, is to be found in the his-
tory of our own country, when we were a mere dependent colony, and
were subject to the selfish and petulant restrictions of the F/ritish govern-
ment. Connected with monarchical fjovernments, colonies are merely
the nourishing branches of a corrupt vine, They are always held in
servile bondage and submission to the superior power. The yoke which
binds tlieni down, may, we grant, sometimes be loosened, but it is loosened
o.ily to relapse again with new severity. It is idle, therefore, to talk of
colonial liberty ; the man who asserts it, only deceives himself.

*' We have made our remarks, not with any feelings of national prejudice
towards our neighbours, with many of whom we are united by the strong
ties of consanguinity and intimate friendship, but in the hope that they
will press forward with energy worthy the enterprise, and openly assert
their rights, and in the event obtain them. We are continually meeting
with new evidence which convinces us that a change in the political con-
dition of the British colonies must ere long take place. The people will
not long be oppressed. Witness the spirit which now pervades all
Canada. It bodes much good to the world, and we rejoice to sc^ human
nature come forward and boldly assert her rights. It will again prove to
the world that the spirit of political or civil, like that of religious liberty,
prompts men to become free — to become free in spite of all opposing
obstacles. We wish them success."

In an editorial commentary upon an article on Canada affairs which
was copied some time since from T/ie Scotsman into The Mortting Chro-
nicle, tlie Washington National Journal takes occasion to observe as
follows: —

" But when the London editor refers to this as the only cause which
has stirred up a spirit of disaffection to British supremacy, we think he
is in error. Were we called on to assi<.;;n the great moving cause, we
think we might point to the influence of our political example as having
produced not a disaffection to the British Government particularly, but to
all systemn of rule which practically deny that the sovereignty resides in
the people. The proximity of Canada to the United Slates has given to
her peculiar facilities for observing, understanding, and appreciating our
j)olitical institutions. She has discovered their irresistible tendency to
the promotion of human happiness, which is the Icgilimate end of all
governriicnt. She has learned that, under them, citizens are protected in
their equal rights, whether political or religious, that nothing is exclusive,
and tha^ the operation of public opinion is direct and unavoidable. If
she has been led to draw comparisons between her condition as a pro*
vince, and the condition of those who are separated from her by a mere

'•I

\i^

A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

381)

lat

mist
ride
,e a
I, on
)lony

>n to
)f the

most
J hia-
f, and
overn-
riierely
leld ui
I which
losened

talk of

rejudice
le strong
hat they
i\y assert
' meeting
lical con-
iople vvili
vades all
human

prove to
us liberty,

opposing

irs which
ling Chro-
ob>erve as

lusc which
,e think he
cause, we
. as having

larly,<'"''«
f resides tn
las given to
elating our
Lendency to
„ end ol" aU
[protected in
lis exclusive,
roidable. ^
,n as a pro-
sr by a mere

is there that can be substitufcd to transact tlie busi-
ness proposed to bo left to it, and now neglected ?

gcographiciil line, the result of the compaiisons cannot have been rcM-
dered more favourable to Great Brit.iin by her p.ir ial appropriation t'f
the bounty uf the legislature to one sect, and that a minority, perhaps di-
miiiishinf? instead of incrciisinp, nor by the other acts of partial or op-

firessive legislation which might be pointed out, and which are referred to
ty the London editor. It is a decree of nature and of Providence, not to
be abrogated by human codos, that man will seek to obtain the highest
perfection of happiness. Wise governments will act in alliance with
nature and Providence, in endeavouring to gratify this instinctive desire;
and when governments so fir depart from the whisperings of wisdom as
to forcet or slum that obvious path, iney have no reason to complain
whv... a piiople shall begin to think for tht'mselves, and to place ihei •
wishes in oj^^-^^ition to the will of those wiio constitute the governmer.r.
Reasoning from these preuiises, we h;ive been led to the oonclu»ion tliat
Canadii, in her dcsiie to mrMjIiorate her own political {"ondition, has beeti
influenced in a great degrie by the knowledge she has acquired of tlu-
superior tendency of our institutions to peifect human happiness; and if
she has been the first to profit by this knowledge, it is to be attributed to
the opportunity of obtaining accurate information which she possesses
beyond any other nation or dependency.

'* Time will give to the example of the United States a more extensive
influence; not because she will labour to sow dissensions between go-
vernments and subjects, but because the tendency-of her institutions will
be more ditTusely known and valued."

Tilt Baltimore Gazette made the following obsurvutions on the state
of the colonies, in 18"28: —

"There is, indeed, one respect, in which colonies will subserve, in
fuUire times at least, the glory, the true glory, of Great Britain. It has
been her noble destiny to give birth to the greatest republic that ever ex-
isted ; and to record the fact with that indelible mark, identity of lati-
guage. It has been her glorious destiny to sow more widely than any
other nation, ihe seeds of free government. And, centuries hence, when
she herself may have mouldered, as all other empires have, her monumf-iit
will be ' America.' The present condition of the Canadas is very similar
to ours at the beginning of the Revolution. They are divided into various
provinces, (we include under the name all the British North American
possessions ;) they have learnt to value and to manage the representative
form of government ; and they are now as capable as we vvere 'if pro-
viding for their own safety and prosperity. Let England do willingly at
once what she must one of these days be compelled to do — -declare them
independent, and establish them as a confederate republic. She may be
assured that so far from our looking upon them with cupidity or dislike,
there will not be an American whose heart will not exult, and who w ill not
appreciate the grandeur of such an achievement. She herself may, by
treaty, secure such commercial advantages as she might vainly hope to
obtain after a violent separation."

i ''

. (

<t\

390

THE PARTICULARS OF AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE
LIFE OF THE WRITER OF THESE SKETCHES, AT
HAMILTON, MARCH 19, 1831.

" Thus, miserable people, are you (o be abandoned to the merciless
and insatiable lusts of a band of sanguinary adventurers, before whose
eyes no punishment is set up equal to the temptation which the luxuries
of your land present to them ! Would it not be better to say tc the
governor which you shall send out, 'Act as you please in Hindostan for
these four years to come — do as you like j all I shall require from you
is, to give me an account of your transactions when you return ? ' " —
Charles James Fox.

''When the political machine is such that the grand objects of desire
are seen to be the reward, not of virtue, not of talent, but of subservience
to the will, and command over the affections of the ruling few ; interest
with the man above to be the only sure means to the next step in wealth,
or power, or consideration, and so on ; the means of pleasing the man
above become, in that case, the great' object of pursuit. And as the
favours of the man above are necessarily limited — as some, therefore, of
the candidates for his favour can only obtain the objects of their desire by
disappointing others — the arts of supplanting rise into importance ; and
the whole of that tribe of faculties denoted by the words intrigue, flattery,
backbiting, treachery, Src, are the fruitful offspring of that political edu-
cation which government, where the interests of the subject many are
but a secondary object, cannot fail to produce." — Supplement to the
Encyclopeedia Briiannica, article Education, by James Mill, Esq.

We will never obtain for Upper Canada a remedy for
the evils under which that country labours^ by means
of the British government, unless that government can
be made acquainted with facts strong enough to carry
conviction to the minds of its members that these evils
exist. Although, therefore, the following statement
may frighten a dozen, or half a dozen, prudent and
careful persons from emigrating to that colony, I feel
it to be my duty to lay it before the English people, in
the confident assurance that it will enlist, in favour of

dy for
means
nt can
carry
5 evils
tement
t and
, 1 feel
pie, in
vour of

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

391

the settlers already in the province, the sympathies of
the Anti- Slavery Society, as well as of that numerous
body of male and female petitioners who have, by their
petitions for the immediate abolition of slavery through-
out the British dominions, proved themselves the
friends of peace and tranquillity, and the followers of
Him whose commandment was, to do to others as
we would that they should do unto us in like circum-
stances.

Early in March, 1832, the high-sheriff of Gore called
a general meeting of the freeholders of that district,
consisting of the counties of Halton and Wentworth,
at the head of Lake Ontario, to be held in the shire-
hall at Hamilton, on the 19th of that month, to con-
sider whether it would not be expedient to address the
king in opposition to those numerous petitions and
memorials of which it was understood I was about to
be the bearer to England. The meeting was held
accordingly, and having been specially invited by a
preliminary meeting held on the subject, I attended in
order to vote on the occasion, it so happening that I
am a freeholder in each of the counties of which the
district consists. 1 was also formerly a resident in
Halton, which is the shire next to that I now
represent.

The freeholders attended in great numbers, but the
party who called them together had very little sup-
port. Mr. Sheldon was voted their chairman in pre-
ference to the sheriff, by three-fourths of the land-
owners present; and the Tories, finding they were
worsted, endeavoured to turn the whole proceedings

I Ki

ill

i'i

392

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

i '

into confusion, and by this means prevent the adoption
or signing of a counter address.

Thus far I took no part in the business of the day,
but stood a silent spectator. At length it was sug-
gested, that it would be expedient for the chairman,
and those who supported him, to leave the sheriff and
justices with the hall, and hold the meeting on the
green, which was done, and about six hundred signa-
tures were attached to the popular address on the spot.
The government party found that very few remained
with them, and the evident disaffection of the farmers
to the cause of Toryism vexed and annoyed them ex-
ceedingly.

The magistrates and district officers, thus perceiving
the alienation of the people from them on the division
of the meeting, were filled with indignation against me,
as a principal author, in their opinion, of the change,
but they durst not harm me while the sun was up, for
they feared the people. The proceedings of that night,
which were published in the " Free Press " at Ha-
milton, where the first attempt at midnight assassination
was made, as also in many other French and English
newspapers throughout the Canadas and in the United
States, were as follow : —

Lri:^

'f DARING ATTEMPT MADE IN HAMILTON TO MURDER

MR. MACKENZIE.

" After the meeting on the Court- House Green was
dissolved, Mr. Mackenzie retired with a few friends to
the house of Mr. Matthew Bayley, baker, Court-House
Square, to dinner. Mr. Bayley had been urged, before

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

393

JBDER

len was

mds to
-House
L before

the meeting, to allow the committee the use of his par-
lour for the day, and to provide some refreshments,
and had kindly consented. He is a much-respcctoil
member of the Methodist church, but so little attentive
to or versed in party politics, that he voted for Messrs.
Willson and M'Nab at the last election for the county
of Wentworth. It appears that some of Messrs. M'Nab
and VVillson's most violent partisans, stimulated of
course by official loaders behind the scenes, had, during
the day, held out dark threats of personal violence
against Mr. Mackenzie ; and it can be proved by the
most incontrovertible evidence, that, during the day,
and before they became flushed with liquor, some of
Mr. M'Nab's personal friends and confidential de-
pendants had organized a plan for kidnapping Mr.
Mackenzie, and that they were divided in opinion as
to whether it would be most advisable to take him to
a secret place, tar and feather, and otherwise person-
ally injure him, so as to prevent his going to England,
or to take his life at once ! What they had determined
on by nine o'clock may be inferred from the sequel of
this narration.

'' Mr. Sheldon, Mr. Davis, Mr. Griffin, and Mr.
Freeman, strongly urged Mr. Mackenzie to leave town,
before dark, and assured him his life was sought ; but
he declined their respective offers of a conveyance, pre-
ferring to go in the stage at eleven at night, which
would give him an opportunity of receiving some
statements regarding the meeting, and of transacting
other business. Mr. Asahel Davis came back not le^^s
than three times to urge Mr. Mackenzie to return in
his carriage to Wellington Square.

! )

, It I

394

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

" In the evening Mr. Mackenzie, accompanied by
Mr, Smith of the Frfie Press, made two calls in town,
but entered no tavern or place of entertainment. They
returned to Mr. Bayley's between eight and nine, and
Mr. Mackenzie asked Mrs. Bayley to make a little
tea for them. They then sat down to write in the
parlour up stairs, and about nine were interrupted by
the sudden entrance of Colonel W. J. Kerr, (brother-
in-law of Mr. Brant, the Indian chief, and ma-
nager on the Burlington canal,) accompanied by Lieu-
tenant George Pettit of Captain Service's troop, who
opened the door without knocking or being announced.
Mr. Mackenzie bowed to Mr. Kerr, and asked him to
take a chair, and Mr. Smith did the same to Mr.
Pettit. Mr. Kerr declined to sit, but immediately
after sat down and instantly rose again, turning over
the sheet of paper on which Mr. Mackenzie had been
writing, remarking, with much apparent good humour,
— ' Well, Mr. Mackenzie, have you got all our griev-
ances redressed at last ?' Some reply was made, when,
Mr. Kerr continuing to stand, Mr. Mackenzie politely
inquired whether they had any commands for him ;
and Mr. Kerr having intimated a wish to speak with
him in private, Mr. Mackenzie unhesitatingly, and
without the slightest suspicion of foul play, took a
caudle and followed him out of the room, and so down
stairs. Mr. Kerr immediately opened the street door,
and, standing outside on the stone step, introduced
Mr. Mackenzie to Mr. James Dennis Oliver, Mr.
Ritchie, and their accomplices, saying, ' This is your
man ;* or, * This is our man.' Mr. Mackenzie imme-
diately bowed, expecting that some order, commission.

■

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

395

or inquiry would follow, instead of which Mr. Oliver
seized hold of him on the one side, by the collar,
to drag him into the dark space in front of the
house, and Mr. Kerr seized him by the collar on the
other side ; the candle was dashed to the ground ; Mr.
Mackenzie grasped the door, and struggled, uttering
shrieks of murder, for he now too well anticipated his
intended fate. Mr. Smith and Mr. Bayley's brother
tried to hold him back, and Mr. Pettit, who soon came
down, tried to push him out. In a moment, one of
Kerr's party without struck him a terrible blow with
a club, en which, bleeding profusely from face, mouth,
and nostrils, he fell down on the stone threshold, and
was instantly dragged by these ruffians into the square,
where, although he resisted and shrieked, they had
almost succeeded in despatching him, with violent
blows and kicks, when the opportune appearance of
some of the neighbours, with Mr. Bayley's brother
and a hght, which showed Mr. Mackenzie's head and
face covered with gore, induced the murderers to take
to their heels, all except Kerr, who is lame, and was
probably intimidated by a billet of wood, which a Mr.
Peck, a labourer, flourished over his head. Kerr rose,
and, in a soothing tone, said, * Don't be afraid, Mr.
Mackenzie; you shan't be hurt, you shan't be hurt !'
He then followed his comrades as fast as he could,
and was next morning at the canal at Burlington,
where he stated that, on the previous night, he had
saved Mr. Mackenzie's life from a band of ruffians,
who, but for him, (Mr. Kerr,) would have certainly
murdered him.

" Mr. Mackenzie, although disfigured and cut in

t 1.^

r
i-

396

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

*: 4

.!.; ■ .' *■

the face, wounded in the head, hurt in the breast, and
otherwise much bruised, escaped by a miracle from a
dangerous or fatal stroke ; for it is supposed that the
club had struck the door or lintel before it knocked
him down, otherwise the first blow must have de-
spatched him on the spot. Mr. Kerr is a very large,
stout, and powerful man. Mr. Ritchie is also a man
of great muscular strength. Oliver used to live in
York. Of their accomplices we shall speak hereafter.

"The townspeople would have assembled sooner,
were it not that a coloured woman lives close by who
frequently disturbs the neighbourhood by her screams,
and they thought it was her. Besides, there are but
few houses near Bayley's,

" Mr, Bayley's wife went into convulsions, and re-
mained in a dreadful slate most of the nighi, screaming
that they were coming back to murder Mr. Mackenzie.
Her nervous system was so shocked that we thought
she would either die or lose her reason, but towards
morning she grew better.

" Mr. Kerr had threatened Mr. MackenzieV life last
August meeting in Hamilton, behaving himself more
like an insane person than a gentleman. This was in
the presence of hundreds, and he had no provocation.
During the sheriff's meeting in the court-house o.i the
day of the attempt to murder Mr. Mackenzie, he had
openly threatened him, collared him, said he would
knock him down, and acted a very passionate part ; but
all this Mr. Mackenzie believed tj be a momentary
ebullition of passion which meant nothing; and as he
had known Mr. Kerr, for nearly eleven years, to be an
intelligent, wealthy, and responsible man, he supposed

■<— puit— tn^t FW W

ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. MACKENZIE.

H9T

id
. a

he
ed
le-
•ge,
aan
; in
er.
iner,
who
ams,
but

d re-

iming

enzie.

ought

wards

life last
more
I was in
Ication.
oa the
ic had
would
|rt ; but
lentary
Id as he
|o be an
ipposed

him incapaLle of the unparalleled baseness to which
he that night stooped. Had Mr. Mackenzie known
that KeiT and his companions stole into the house,
stole up stairs, and searched for him from room to
room, he would have been suspicious of them, but he
imagined they had been admitted and directed to his
room by Mrs. Bayley.

" Next day Mr. Mackenzie went to Mr. M'Nab's
office to see Oliver, who stated that he had been at the
wharf when the attempt was made, but expected a
warrant was out against him. Mr. Mackenzie told
him there was no warrant, and was especially careful
to prevent him from suspecting that he was recognized,
as it might have been an inducement to the gang to
finish the tragedy the ensuing night.

" It appears that Messrs. Kerr, Pettit, J. D. Oliver,
James Ritchie, and others, had been together in
Carey's Inn, immediately before the attack, and had
gone away together ; as also, that Kerr and M*Nab
had been in close conversation there.

" There is a person in Hamilton of the name of Jona-
than G. Hathaway, who used to paint grave-stones for
a living near the village of Simcoe, and was hired with
his team to conduct Mr. Mackenzie to St. Thomas,
Middlesex, in 1824 ; he has since lived in the States
and many other places, and was once a partner, or con-
cerned in some way or other, with Hiram Leavenworth,
in printing near Geneva, New York. This Hathaway
is a crafty speculating Yankee, and his name and
Mr. Law's appear together in M'^Nab's paper of last
Thursday at seme pretended motion to insult Mr.

;«

1 'f:.

';^

#>',

398

ATTEMPT TO MURDKR MR. MACKENZIE.

! I

' i

Mackenzie. This Hathaway, like Oliver, is a poor
dependant on M*Nab, and likely to do any work for
him. On this evening he called at the * Free Press'
office and inquired earnestly for Mr. Mackenzie, where
he boarded ? — Had he left town ? — ^Where could he be
found ? He also came to Bayley's after night to buy
bread. Oliver also was making diligent inquiries of
the same kind at Mr. Sproule's the shoemaker and
many other places, and using harsh and abusive
language concerning Mr. Mackenzie; J. Hathaway
and Oliver had also been both at Mr. Bayley's
brother's shortly before the attack. Squire Matthew
Crooks had been in Carey's with the party, and had
also been trying to ferret out where Mr. Mackenzie
could be found : Mr. Crooks may explain why — if he
can, Mr. Ritchie (said to be on the new list of
magistrates, and a fit selection) was speaking of Mr.
Mackenzie in the most violent manner on the day of
the meeting ; and as to Mr. Kerr, he was quite out-
rageous.

*' Some very important testimony, directly impli-
cating persons from whom better things might be ex-
pected, we judge it prudent to withhold for the present,
until further private inquiries can be made.

** We really fear that Mr. Smith's life and property
will be in danger in co.isequence of the manly ex-
posures contained in the last * Free Press.' No man
who knows the vile, worthless character of the Gore
magistracy as a body will place the least confidence in
them.

*' This article is me^-ely a fresh chapter of *the pro-

,'!

CniME AND OUTRAGE REWARDED.

399

operty
ly ex-
o man
Gore
Mice in

le pro-

gress of misgovernment.' Wherever the honours and
emoluments of society are bestowed as the reward of
crime, crime will be committed.

" Fraser, a vulgar coarse person, publicly threatened
in the House of Assembly to horsewhip Mr. Mac-
kenzie during the expulsion trial, and received from
Governor Colborne, in twenty-four hours after, the pro-
mise (since fulfilled) of the collectorship of Brockville.

" Lyons and Richardson never did anything to
merit the registership and clerkship of the peace in
the Niagara district, except destroying Mr. Macken-
zie's office, and breaking into his dwelling-house,
armed with clubs.

*' Heward, in the same case, succeeded to 4001. a
year, as District-Court Clerk.

" The editor of the Courier was a tar-and-feather
rioter, and the executive have taken him by the hand.

" The tar-and-feather rioters of Gore were high offi-
cial men ; they came forward and gave testimony that
they were criminals : — the House of Assembly required
Sir John to do justice. Do they not hold their situa-
tions — are they not favourites of this executive ?

'^ Office-holders and expectants know these things ;
and they know, that if Mr. Mackenzie had lain at this
moment a corpse in Hamilton, the suspected persons
would never be brought to substantial justice, but in a
short time would perhaps be heard of, as succeeding to
some of the highest and most lucrative offices in the
country.

" The official presses would sum up the affair with,
' It is wrong to kill anybody ; but if any one deserved
to be put out of the way, it was Mackenzie.'

' i

• ,

H
n

400

THE PROGRESS OF MISQOVERNMENT.

! I

I' i

•' This is a horrible state of things. It is, indeed,
the progress of misgovernment.'"

The above statement was copied so generally
through the United States, that when on my way to
New York, the foUowirig month, almost every person
who heard my name mentioned knew me by the ac-
counts they had read of the Hamilton outrage.

On the morning after this attempt, the townspeople,
who had, in a body, watched the premises all night,
consulted what it would be best to do, and it was re-
solved to take down the depositions of what those who
had seen the transaction could swear to, and lay them
before Mr. Rolph, an English barrister, living at
Dundas, for his advice. Mr. Rolph, it will be remem-
bered, had been tarred and feathered, a few years
before, by some of the government officers, and after-
wards elected by tlie landowners to represent the
county he resided in ; but the law in Canada could
yield him no redress, although a lawyer, and his bro-
ther one of the most popular and estimable men in
the colony.

I was very unwell all next day, but able to sit up.
I was a ghastly spectacle to look upon ; and for months
after felt the effects of the blows and bruises.

It was understood that Mr. Kerr and his friends
had again met, and sworn to complete their work on
the following night ; but the people of Hamilton sat
up, well armed with weapons of defence, and the
scouts the official party sent to M ;. Bayley's, informed
them that we were too well guarc'ed.

On the third day I was conveyed in a waggon to
Dundas. Mr. Rolph examined the testimony, and ac-

to
on

LC-

;ht,
re-
wlio
liem
y at
lem-
^ears
aifter-
the
couUl
5 bro-
en in

\i up.
louths

frienils

)r.< on

)n sat

id the

formed

fcfon to
ind ac-

TIIE PROGRESS OF MISOOVERNMRNT.

401

knovvledged the strength of the case ; but the difficidty
was how to obtain a remedy. The reader will here
observe, that in Jamaica, the missionaries had the
slaves and the Judges of the Supreme Court on their
side; while, in Canada, the governor, judges, magis-
trates, and public functionaries (having the troops at
their control) were the parties who most dreaded my
going to England ; and among them were those from
whom I had most to fear. Had I stopped and
attempted a prosecution, and been likely to succeed,
my life might have paid the forfeit of my temerity ;
and the object for which I was about to proceed to
London would have been in part defeated. It had
been as much as hinted from the catholic altar, by
Bishop jMacdoncll, that I was " a wretch " unfit to
live ; and Mr. Gurnett, in the demi-official journal of
the government, held the following language to his
readers : —

*' Tills demonstration of public sentiment ha«, as it is eminently calcu-
lated to do, thrown alarm and terror into the ranks of the revolutionists.
They see the most numerous, ami intinitel)' the most respectable, part of
the Protestant inhabitants on the one hand, and the whole Catholic po-
pulation of the town on the other hand, rising, as it were, in arms against
them ; and it is not surprising, therefore, that they should he terrified
for the success of their diabolical machinations. The leading tools of the
conspirators are consequently again on the alert, — they have ransacked
the town to obtain signatures, and have succeeded in getting eighty or
ninety to a requisition, calling a meeting of the inhabitants of the town
of York on Friday next, for the avowed purpose of ' expressing the sen-
timents of the capital of Upper Canada on the state of the colony,' &c.;
but, in reality, for the purpose of bringing down their Yonge-street mob,
to intimidate the town, or at least to give an appearance of strength and
consequence to the faction, of which the present demonstration of feeling
in this town has almost entirely divested it. * * *

" For their own sakes, however, we would caution the faction against
any attempt at deception or unfair play at the meeting; for if they do—.

ii i

1 «l

.*"■ c

402

TRIAL OF COLONEL KERR.

in the present temper of the public mind towards the leading agitators,
particularly in the Catholic body, who have been grossly insulted by
them — we most assuredly would not insure the leading revolutionary
tools a whole skin, or a whole bone in their skins, for the space of fifteen
minutes."

,1 ;

lil. ■■..-■> '

f .:

Colonel Kerr, the principal actor in this drama, is a
strong and powerful man, possessed of property to the
value of from 5000/. to 8000/. ; and the superinten-
dent of the Burlington Canal. He is a justice of the
peace, and an especial favourite of the colonial govern-
ment. Some years ago he married the sister of
Colonel Brant, the Indian chief, and will probably
inherit the Brant estates. Who complained of him to
the grand jury I know not ; but it appears they could
not get the affair hushed up altogether, as the reader
will see by the following extract from the Hamilton Free
Press of last August. The magistrates on the grand
inquest made it assault and battery ; and Col. Kerr's
friend. Judge Macaulay, handsomely terminated the
farce by fining the culprit 22/. 2s. 2d, sterling, without
giving him the trouble of an hour's imprisonment !
His honour might as well have made the fine " two-
pence." What is 22/. to a man of 400/. yearly income ?

( From the Hamilton Free Press.)

« GORE DISTRICT ASSIZES.

" Wm, Johnson Kerk, Esq. was tried/or Assault and Battery on

Wm. L. Mackenzie, Esq. Fined 25/.
" This trial grewr out of the events of the memorable 1 9th of March, in
which the individual whose name graces the head of this paragraph
pl.ved a very conspicuous part. Most of our readers will recollect the
account we gave at the time of the proceedings of the day, and the pro-
ceedings of the night — the latter of which we shall again advert to. It
appeared in evidence, that Mr. Kerr, accompanied by one George Pettit,
a strapping son of Vulcan, on the evening in question, about nine o'clock,
entered itie lodgings of Mr. Mackenzie, at the private residence of Mr.

TRIAL OF COLONEL KERR.

403

yon

[arch, in
jiragraph
ilect the
the pro-

to. It
^e Pettit,

o'clock,
ke of Mr.

Matthew Baylcy, in thisi (own. The former pretended he had some private
business with Mr. Mackenzie, and for the purpose of speaking together
they both left the room. A few minutes after this, Mr. Mackenzie was
heard to cry ' murder,'' on which Mr. Petlit and witness ran down stairs.
Peltit got out of the door first: when witness arrived, Mr. Mackenzie
was about two-thirds out of the door — some person or persons pulling
him forward j witness with another person took hold of Mackenzie's coal
to pull him back ; witness discovered Kerr to be one who assisted in
pulling him forward ; they succeeded in dragging Mackenzie out, and he
continued to scream and cry 'murder.* When the candle was brought,
the door was thrown open, and Mackenzie discovered in the hands of
Kerr, his face and clothes covered with blood. Mr. Kerr, when he saw
that he was discovered, spoke very soothingly to Mackenzie, and said
he should not be hurt !

" This is the evidence which went to convict Mr. Kerr. Mr. Pettit,
the associate of the prisoner, was called on the part of tlie defence, who,
after stammering and choking at some posing questions put to him, made
out to say, that Kerr pro^-osed to him that evening to go to Bayley's
bakery, where he said they would very likely come across Mackenzie
and his bag of grievances. In reply to the question whether he knew
if Mr. Kerr or any other person went there for tlie purpose of abusing
Mr. "ftNckenzie, he said he himself did not — ^hich was not answering the
question. It was put to him in several different ways, but he evaded
it and did not answer it directly, at all.

*' If it had been necessary, or if tlie Solicitor-General (Mr. Hagerman,
now agent for the high church party in London) had felt as anxious to in-
vestigate this affair as some others, much more important evidence could
have been elicited. The outrage, however, was so glaring, aud the guilt
of Kerr so apparent, that it was not necessary to answer the ends of
justice.

" The Jury, after hearing the Judge's charge, in which we must say he
did not evince the least disposition to screen the prisoner — very soon
returned a verdict of Guilty.

"The Solicitor-General, in opening thecase, stated that Mr. Kerr is on
the commission of the peace, which fact we were not before aware of;
but which now suggests some very important queries and reflections.
The first is, was Mr. Kerr on the commission at the time he committed
the outrage .'* — if he was, will his Excellency so far disregard public feeN
ing as to continue him in that capacity, after having been convicted of so
flagrant a breach of the peace, which he is sworn to keep and watch over ?
If he was not on the commission at that time, and has been put on since,
it will go to show how little the characters, merits, or qualifications of
persons placed to rule over us are called in question — and will be another
proof of the corruption of our Colonial Government."

404

A GOVERNOR BESIEGED !

The Rev. Isaac Fidler, now in London, was about
this time a minister of the Church of England, resid-
ing a few miles from York. I never heard of him
until I saw his book the other day, from which I
select an account he gives of the state of society.
There must have been a great deal of discontent exist-
ing in London, when his Majesty, in 1830, was afraid
to partake of the hospitality of the chief city in his
dominions ; and there must be a still more determined
opposition to the measures of a colonial government
where the chief magistrate has to fortify his dwelling-
house against a population consisting almost exclu-
sively of landowners living on their own farms, with
their children and connexions. Mr. Fidler's version of
the ceremony of presenting a petition, which Sir John
Colborne never sent to England, is as follows : —

From a work on America, by the Rev. Itaac Fidler, just published.

" During the preceding winter, when Parliament was assembled in
York, so great was the crowd of revolutionary rebels and American de-
mocrats, and so strenuous their efforts to intimidate the governor, and
compel him to surrender up the province to misrule, that apprehensions
were entertained in that capital (meaning York, Upper Canada) of an
overthrow of the government. The misguided men, instigated by factious
demagogues, or by those supposed to be in American pay, entered York,
armed for the most part with bludgeons or shillelas, and marched in tu-
multuous procession, with menaces and threats, towards the government
house, where the governor resides. His Excellency had timely notice of
this outrageous insurrection, and having ordered the Riot Act to be read,
caused some loaded cannon to be planted so as to command the principal
streets which lead to his residence ; and the soldiers to be drawn out, and
artillery-men with lighted matches to be stationed ready. The factious
and tumultuous mob, amounting in numbers to many thousands, pretended,
when they saw the reception prepared for them, that their sole object
was to present a petition for redress of grievances." — pp. 227, 8, and 9.

Although I was not present, I disbelieve the story
of the bludgeons and shillelas.

405

UPPER CANADA— KING, LORDS, AND COMMONS.

" It may easily be seen to what fate a colonial governor is exposed.
He may become the instrument of the ambition or of the interest of those
whose advice Iir is obliged to take. These latter escape as well censure
as punishment, whilst he is answerable for errors and injui^ticc vvhich are
the means of their acquiring honours and emoluments which should be
the recompense of services, the reward of merit." — Letter — The Hon.
D. B. Viger to Viscount Goderich in the matter of Attorney-General
Stuart.

" The (legislative) councils have also been employed as instruments
for relieving governors from the responsibility they ought to have borne
for their rejection of measures which have been proposed by the other
branch of the legislature ; and have not seldom involved them in dissen-
sions which it would have been more judicious to decline. * * *
The council does not assume in the colony a position or an influence
analogous to that of the House of Peers, because entirely destitute of that
hold on public opinion which the property and independence of its mem-
bers, as well as the antiquity of the institution itself, confer upon the
peerage of tins cour.try." — Despatch, Fiscount Goderich to Governor
Cochrane, 17 th Juty^ 1832.

" It was in vain to attempt to carry on the government in the colo-
nies in a proper manner, if all the orders were issued from the office at
home, and were supported, without reference to circumstances, by the
Legislative Council, who often acted in opposition to the wishes of the
colonists, expressca, as they only could be expressed, through the House
of Assembly. If the government meant to maintain their sway over that
country, they must do it through the will of the people. It was to be
hoped that the right honourable gentleman would not attempt to force an
aristocracy^ in the form of a legislative council, upon a state where there
were no natural materials for its existence." — Speech of Mr. Secretary
Stanley on Canadian afnirs. House of Commons, June 5, 1829.

story

The following curious but accurate statement will
convey to the minds of liberal Englishmen a tolerably
fair picture of colonial rule. When I left Upper
Canada last year, some of the offices, sinecures, and
pensions of the government were divided as follows : —

406

KING^ LORDSj AND COMMONS.

if \

;■ (•:

>' h*

■■; t •

No. I. jyArcvj Boulton, senior, a retired pensioner,
500^ sterling.

2. Henry, son to No. 1, Attorney- General and
Bank Solicitor, 2400/.

3. DArcy, son to No. 1, Auditor-General, Master
in Chancery, Police Justice, &c. Income unknown.

4. JVilliam, son to No. 1, Church Missionary,
King's College Professor, &c., 650/.

5. George, son to No. 1 , Registrar of Northumber-
land, Member of Assembly for Durham, &c. Income
unknown.

6. John Beverly Robinson, brother-in-law to No. 3,
Chief Justice of Upper Canada, Member for life of the
Legislative Council, Speaker of ditto, 2000/.

7. Peter f brother to No. 6, Member of the Executive
Council, Member for life of the Legislative Council,
Crown Land Commissioner, Surveyor General of Woods,
Clergy Reserve Commissioner, &c. 1300/.

8. William y brother to Nos. 6 and 7, Postmaster of
Newmarket, Member of Assembly for Simcoe, Govern-
ment Contractor, Colonel of Militia, Justice of the
Peace, &c. Income unknown.

9. Jonas Jones, brother-in-law to No. 2, Judge of
the District Court in three districts containing eight
counties, and filling a number of other offices. Income
about 1000/.

10. Charles, brother to No. 9, Member for life of
Legislative Council, Justice of the Peace in twenty-
seven counties, &c.

11. Alpheus, brother to Nos. 9 and 10, Collector of
Customs, Prescott, Postmaster at ditto, Agent for Go-
vernment Bank at ditto, &c. Income 900/.

KINGj LORDSj AND COMMONS.

407

ige of
leigbt

Icoroe

ife of

[enty-

tor of
ir Go-

12. Levius P. Sherwood, brother-in-law to Nos. 9,
10, 11, one of the Justices of the Court of King's
Bench, Income 1000/.

13. Henry, son to No. 12, Clerk of Assize, &c.

14. John Elmsley, son-in-law to No. 12, Member
of the Legislative Council for life. Bank Director,
Justice of the Peace, &c.

15. Charles Heward, nephew to No. 6, Clerk of
the District Court, &c. Income 400/.

16. James B. Macaiday, brother-in-law to Nos. 17
and 19. One of the Justices of the Court of King's
Bench. Income, lOOOZ.

17. Christopher Alexander Hagerman, brother-in-
law to No. 16, Solicitor-General, 800Z.

18. John M'Gill, a relation of Nos. 16 and 17,
Legislative Councillor for life. Pensioner, 500/.

19 and 20. W. Allan and George Crookshanks,
connexions by marriage of 16 and 17, Legislative
Councillors for life, the latter President of the Bank.
500/.

21. Henry Jones, cousin to Nos. 9, 10, &c.. Post-
master of Brockville, Justice of the Peace, Member
of Assembly for Brockville. Income unknown.

22. Wm, Dummer Po welly father of No. 24, Legis-
lative Councillor for life. Justice of the Peace, Pen-
sioner, Pension, 1000/.

23. Samuel Peters Jarvis, son-in-law to No. 22,
Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, Deputy Secretary of
the Province,' Bank Director, &c. Income unknown.

24. Grant, son to No. 22, Clerk of the Legislative
Council, Police Justice, Judge Home District Court,

'' I

408

KINO, LORDS; AND COMMONS.

; I

I;-

i,--

>: I

Official Principal of Probate Court, Commissioner of
Customs, &c. Income, 675/.

25. miliam M., brother to 23 High Sheriff Gore
District. Income from 500/. to 800/.

26. William B., cousin to Nos. 23 and 25, High
Sheriff, Home District, Member of Assembly. In-
come 900/.

27. Adiel Sherwood, cousin to No. 12, High Sheriff
of Johnstown, and Treasurer of that district. Income,
from 500/. to 800/.

28. George Sherwood, son to No. 12, Clerk of Assize.

29. John Strachan, their family tutor and political
schoolmaster, archdeacon and rector of York, member
of the Executive and Legislative Councils, President
of the University, President of the Board of Educa-
tion, and twenty other situations. Income, on an
average of years, upwards of 1800/.

30. Thomas Mercer Jones, son-in-law to No. 29;
associated with No. 19, as the Canada Company's
agents and managers in Canada^

This family connexion rules Upper Canada accord-
ing to its own good pleasure, and has no efficient check
from this country to guard the people against its acts
of tyranny and oppression.

It includes the whole of the judges of the supreme
civil and criminal tribunal (Nos. 6, 12, and 16) —
active Tory politicians. Judge Macaulay was a clerk
in the office of No. 2, not long since.

It includes half the Executive Council or provincial
cabinet.

It includes the Speaker and other eight Members of
the Legislative Council.

UPPER CANADA — KINO, LORDS, AND COMMONS. 409

ore

igh
In-

leriff
jine,

isize.

ideal

mber

iident

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on an

0.29;

lany's

tccord-
check
its acts

ipreme
16)-
a clerk

mncial

ibers of

It includes the persons who have the control of the
Canada Land Company's monopoly.

It includes the President and Solicitor of the Bank^
and about half the Bank Directors; together with
shareholders, holding, to the best of ray recollecdon,
about 1800 shares.

And it included the crow a lawyers until last March,
when they carried their opposition to Viscount Gode-
rich's measures of reform to such a height as per-
sonally to insult the government, and to declare their
belief that he had not the royal authority for his de-
spatches. They were then removed ; but, with this
exception, the chain remains unbroken. This family
compact surround the Lieutenant-Governor, and
mould him, like wax, to their will ; they fill every
office with their relatives, dependants, and partisans ;
by them justices of the peace and officers of the mi-
litia are made and unmade ; they have increased the
number of the Legislative Council by recommending,
through the Governor, half a dozen of nobodies and a
few placemen, pensioners, and individuals of well-
known narrow and bigoted principles ; the whole
of the revenues of Upper Canada are in reality at their
mercy; — they are paymasters, receivers, auditors.
King, Lords, and Commons !

Against such a phalanx, it is probable that at present
the people, or any representatives they may select, can
effect but little, unless supported in right earnest by
Mr. Stanley and Mr. Hay. Their truly noble prede-
cessors began to show a disposition to do what it had
never entered into the mind of a colonial secretary to do
before ; namely, to begin to place some real confidence

I !

> I

t ■ I

l:i

ir'

III

410 UPPER CANADA — KINO, LORDS^ AND COMMONS.

ill the honour, generosity, gra.itude, and good feelings of
the people, the landowners of the colony. Nor have I the
lep reason to suspect that Mr. Stanley will show that
he . ixS left any of his Whig principles at the gate of the
Colonial Office, but the contrary. Of Mr. Hay, as I said
before, I know nothing ; but there cannot be a doubt
entertained of his being a very distinguished Whig ar '
thorough Reformer ; he would not have received or
accepted office else.*

The enemies of Canadian freedom say we want to
quarrel with England. If that had been true, these
pages had never seen the light — if that had been true,
nothing would havo been more easy for the people than
to have effected the change, f

** Of course the colonial reader must not for a moment Mistake the
generous Whig-reforming Mr. Hay, of 1833, for an under-secretaiy, a name-
sake of his, who held ofHce in the darkcti days of Toryism, and was and is,
(as I well know and can prove,) as thorough and consistent aTory (i. e., an
enemy to human freedom) as the Duke of Wellington himself. I'he North
American colonists would have had very good cause for doubtmg the since-
rity of any liberal and friendly measure, the execution of which had been
intrusted to his (IVIr. H.'s) care, and they would have doubted it.

r To show in the clearest point of view how little dependence can be
placed on colonial functionaries, when checked by his Majesty's govern-
ment in their career of injustice, I may here mention that when Mr.
H.J. Boulton was dismissed by Lord Goderich from his office of Attorney-
General of Upper Canada, he immediately sent a copy of the despatch
and correspondence to his friend Mr. Gurnett, ct' the York Courier, for
publication ; and the Courier, the organ of his party and their dependant,
thus comments on the transaction in the number of May 1, 1833. — "No-
body can tell what caper this political imbecil.; may next enact. * *
The minJs of the well-affected people of the country begin to be unhinged.
Their affections are already more than half alienated from the government
of that country (England), and in the apprehension that the same insult-
ing and degrading course of policy towards them is likely to be continued,
they already begin to ' cast about' in ' their mind's eye ' for some new
state of political existence, which shall effectually put the colony beyond
the reach of injury and insult from any and every ignoramus whom the
political lottery of the day may chance to elevate to the chair of the Colo,
nial Office.*' This is quite intelligible— '< Allow us to pillage the Ca-
nadians, or else!"

411

!
I

1 I

of
he
lat
:he
aid
ubt
ar '.
I or

it to
[bese
true,
than

ake the
a name-
8 and is,

|(t. e., an
le North
jC since-
lad been

le can be
govern-

POLITICAL UNIONS IN THE COLONIES.

" If there had been no display of physical force, or public opinion,
I very well know that there would have been no reform bill.''— iWr.
Hume*8 Speech at Manchester, Manchester Times, Nov, 3, 1832.

** When Charles the Tenth, and PoUgnac,

Were forced to turn for sorts^ ?ir,
They found the People chemists^ all,

Provided with retorts, sir.
And when to carry out their plan,

They sent the press to winter.
They found the People were a press,

And every man a printer?^ — The Printers of Paris.

" All America is in a flame ! Expresses are flying from province to pro-
vince. It is the universal opinion here, that the mother country cannot
support a contention with these settlements, if they abide steady to the
letter and spirit of their associations." — Letter from America, by Mr.
Eddis, Collector of the Customs, Annapolis, Maryland, May 2Bth, 1774.

'' Silly jests and contemptible sneers were reiterated concerning the
dastardly character of the colonists. All these were spread, felt, and
remembered. The expedition to Concord refuted them al\." --Timothy
Dwight,

Profiting by experience, it is to be hoped that Eng-
land will facilitate the formation of associations for the
common good, benefit, and advantage of the remaining
colonies, instead of harassing the two countries to
prevent associations, conferences, and parliaments from
assembling. Refusals to pay taxes; agreements to
discourage the use of tea. West India produce, and
British merchandise and manufactures ; and associa-
tions to run down the banks, will, I trust, never again
be found necessary to preserve the liberties of any por-
tion of North America. " Old things are passed away,
and all is become new."

The Legislative Council of Upper Canada took the
t rouble to address the Lieutenant-Governor last winter,
to the extent of three yards, newspaper column mea-

T 2

**li*,.,.

412

POLITICAL UNIONS IN THE COLONIES.

sure, filled with abuse and misropresentation of the
writer of these sketches, and his proceedings, and
those who generally act with him in political matters.
They complain, pmong other things, of the establish-
ment of *'politJ'al unions, which threaten alike the
peace and liberty of the people," and seem greatly to
dread their effects.

When I left Canada, there were no unions, and I
recommended that they should be deferred unless it be-
came apparent that we had nothing to hope from the
Whig government. Last fall, I erroneously judged
that relief was hopeless, and a number of unions im-
mediately sprang up through the province, ably
organized and fit for corresponding with each other.
Lord Goderich's despatch, of November 8th, was so
kind and conciliating, and withal so honest and
straightforward, that the jeomanry rejoiced, and the
luiions began to be abandoned ; and last March I
begged of the people to discontinue them, as there was
a prospect tiiat the Colonial Department would set
itself in right earnest to the task of considering and
redressing our complaints. The unions are silent.
We shall probably get a new House of Assembly, in
which case the unions will be dissolved, and done
away with entirely ; but as Burke said in his better
days. Wherever there are abuses, there ought to be
clamour, so that the injured may obtain redress.

It is a remarkable fact, that the Enghsh Colonists,
now the United States, have always been anxious to
have Canada under the same government as them-
selves. In 1759, they volunteered and fought bravely
and successfully to effect that object, and their local
assemblies granted large subsidies. In 1776, when

POLITICAL UNIONS IN TIIK COLON1KS.

413

the
inil
ers.
ish-
the
y to

id 1
itbe-
i the
dged
i im-

ably
other,
vas so
t and
id the
rch I
re was
Id set
g and

silent.

bly, in
done
better
to be

ilonists,
xious to
them-
bravely
eir local
6, when

treated with rather more contempt than the great body
of the people of Lower Canada have endured in
order that a few trading houses might be conciUatcd,
one of their first efforts was the subjugation of Canada,
by trying to arouse the ancient prejudices of its inha-
bitants against England. Again, in 1812, the pre-
vailing discontents in Canada were an additional in-
ducement for them to declare war.*

* The Unions of 1832-3 were composed, almost exclusively, of the
respectable hmduwners of the country, and their proceedings were con-
ducted with great order, quietness, und moderation. Many measures the
country desired have been conceded in the Earl of Ripon's despatch of
the 8th Nov. ; and the following copy of a letter from his lordship to Sir
J. Colborne, since published in the Canada papers, gives proof that his
Majesty's government is to Lave no cause for the assembling of such
associations : —

" Downing Street, March 6th, 1833.

** Sir, — By the accounts I have lately rece ed of the proceedings of
the Legislature of Upper Canada, 1 have learnt that the Attorney and
Solicitor><jeneral of that Province have, in their places in the Assembly,
taken a part directly opposed to the avowed policy of his Majesty's go-
vernment. As members of the provincial parliament, Mr. Boulton and
Mr. Hagerman arc, of course, bound to act upon their own view of what
is most for the interest of their constituents, and of the colony at large ;
but if, upon questions of great political importance, they unfortunately
difi'er in opinion from his Majesty's government, it is obvious that they
cannot continue to hold confidential situations in his Majesty's service,
without either betraying their duty as members of the legislature, or
bringing the sincerity of the government into question by their oppo*
sition to the policy which his Majesty has been advised to pursue.

" His Majesty can have no wish that Mr. Boulton and Mr. Hagerman
should adopt the first of these alternatives ; but on the other hand, he
cannot allow the measures of his government to be impeded by the oppo-
sition of the law officers of the crown. In order, therefore, that these gen-
tlemen may be at full liberty, w members of the legislature, to follow the
dictates of their own judgment, I have received his Majesty's commands
to inform you that he regrets that he can no longer avail himself of their
services, and that, from the time of your receiving this despatch, they are
to be relieved from the duties imposed upon them in their respective
offices.

" You will transmit copies of this despatch to Mr. Boulton and Mr. Ha-
german.

" I have the honour, &c, &c.

(Signed) "Goderich."

;R:

414

I !

^' I

CAPTAIN PHILLPOTTS.

" The slander was intended to poison the royal ear, and to prejudice
the mind of his Majesty and his government against those who most
naturally look up to him for protection. It was calculated to defame in
the very quarter where a man of honour would most wish his character
to be regarded with esteem and respect." — Mr. BidweWa Strictures on
the Secret Report of Chief Justice Robinson f House 0/ Assembly of Upper
Canada, Dec. 1831.

" If any public officers can be named, who are guilty of an abuse of
their power, and of remissness in their duties, his Majesty would not be
slow in removing any such persons from his service." — Viscount Gode-
rich,

*^ What must have been their agonized feelings, when, in October
last, Polignac and his guilty colleagir^s saw their prison surrounded with
an infuriated populace, with torches in their ranks, and demanding loudly
the heads of their victims. Yet, three short months before, these men
were * governing France, amidst all the enjoyments of luxury and power,'
unapprehensive of the coming change." — Report of a Committee of the
Chamber of Deputies, 1830.

A BROTHER of the Bishop of Exeter, a captain in
the royal engineers, who sometimes preaches sermons,
went out with a party of soldiers, and, in an illegal
manner, as it was alleged, upset the blacksmith's shop
at the Falls of Niagara, overthrew fences, laid oper
the growing corn and cabbages to destruction, and did
other marvellous works, which occasioned a petition to
be presented to the House of Assembly against what
was called a militar' outrage. The House, after much
preliminary consideration, agreed to the appointment
of a select committee to inquire into the circumstances,
and whether, as had been alleged by the petitioning
party. Sir Peregrine Maitland, commander of the
forces, had really given orders for such an unusual

Lin in
mons,
legal
shop
oper
id did
ion to
what
much
itmeiit
ances,
loning
of the
nusual

I >

CAPTAIN PUILLPOTTS.

415

proceeding. But Sir Peregrine was determined to
prove the truth of Mr. Macaulay's principle, that
colonial legislatures are a mere pageant : he therefore
peremptorily ordered Colonel Coffin, the adjutant-
general of militia, and Colonel Givens, the superin-
tendent of the Indian department, not to obey the
summons of the Assembly, nor give any evidence.
These gentlemen, truly considering the military power
to be the superior one, disobeyed the orders of the
House, barricadoed themselves up in their dwelling,
and, when at length brought by force to the bar of the
Assembly, produced the orders of the general com-
manding in justification. They were sent to gaol, and
General Maitland immediately prorogued the legisla-
ture and liberated them. The Surveyor-General, when
summoned, said he was a membe^ of the Legislative
Council and a high officer of the crown, and that he
could not come to give evidence without General Mait-
land's and the Council's leave. Of course lie gave no
evidence. The complainant to the House obtained
juc gment against Phillpotts, (and Leonard the military
officer, selected by the military governor as a perma-
nent high-sheriff, and who had taken a part in the
affair,) but the high-sheriff, a party concerned, had
the selecting or picking of the grand and petty jurors
at his pleasure and discretion, and the thing went as
the government wished it should. The whole of the
proceedings were immediately transmitted to the
Colonial Department, and his Majesty's government
was pleased, in the most prompt and satisfactory
manner, to manifest its high approbation at this
and many other acts of a like nature done by Sir

416

CAPTAIN PHILLPOTTS.

I-

I- K

Peregrine, by transferring him to the superior station
of Governor and Commander of the Forces in Nova
Scotia. The complainant petitioned his Majesty, but
there was no reply, and the House of Assembly's
Committee reported, among other things, that it ap-
peared to them upon examination, " that some of the
most daring outrages against the peace of the com-
munity have passed unprosecuted, and that the persons
guilty have, from their connexions in high life, been
promoted to the most important offices of trust, honour,
and emolument in the local government. It appears
that the crown officers, who exercise an exclusive right
to conduct criminal prosecutions at the courts of oyer
and terminer and general gaol delivery, are in the
habit, even in the first instance, of being retained and
taking an active part in the civil action for the wrong,
by which it is inevitable that prosecutors will be dis-
couraged to apply to them for professional aid, and
justice, therefore, in many cases, fail, unless the rights
of prosecutors and of the bar are upheld as in England."
Of this report the accused took no public notice, but
the attorney-general addressed a secret communica-
tion to Sir Peregrine Maitland, for the colonial office,
which it duly reached, defaming the committee as dis-
affected to the government, &c. Of this step, too, his
Majesty's government expressed its approbation by
exalting this attorney-general to the centre seat of the
bench of justice, in open defiance of the sense of the
Assembly of that day, almost unanimously expressed.
I speak of the blessed reign of that distinguished friend
of human freedom. Sir George Murray.

Mr. Hume, in August last, obtained an address of

CAPTAIN PHILLPOTTS.

417

tlie House of Commons for a copy of these proceed-
ings, with a view, as it was understood, of inquiring
into Sir Peregrine Maitland's conduct, as well as that
of the other parties, but after an interval of nine
months the returns were not forthcoming. Perhaps
they have since been made out

ress

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS, AND GENERAL MAITLAND, OR
ESPIONAGE IN THE COLONIES.

" A system of espionage assumes that there i; something which ought
to be watched and to be prevented ; and as so I a system probably did
exist in Upper Canada during the administration of Sir "*eregrine Mait-
land, it may be said that, so far, his gov :i'ru) ent was led to act on false prin*
ciples. • • * The report of th: apy is received in tecret, placed
in the confidential archives of office, and referred to as a testimonial of
character in which such set of testimonials can be applied with effect when
the occasion arises."— A/acAu>oo<<*« Edinburgh Magazine^ 1829.

" Your Majesty's officers, both civ I and military, are deliberately li-
belled, as a combined faction, actuated by interest alone, to struggle for
the support of a corrupt government, adverse to the rights and interests
of the people." — Addreaa of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada
to his Majeaty, Quebec^ 1833.

" The ordnance department at London has ordered home to England
for the purpose of taking ^-i« •rial there, Captain Matthews, a member of
the Upper Canada House ot Assembly, who stands charged with having
called for Yankee Doodle or Hail Columbia, in some provincial play-
house. Truly there ss something very undignified in such vexatious
stretches of authority." — New York Enquirer.

" Scene. — Roxbury.
" Band playing Yankee Doodle.
" Lord Percy. — Why do you laugh. Sirrah !

" Jonathan.— To think how you will dance by-and-by to Chevy-Chace.^*

Battle of Lexington.

It was but lately that I comprehended the extent
of the injustice practised by the government, in allow-

T 5

'■!

Ill

418

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS.

Wi I i

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I f''

* "

1 I

^^' i

^k.

te'^.

ing old men to sell their half-pay in time of peace to
young men, thus entailing many thousands of pounds
in taxes upon the people for additional dead weight,
and keeping dependent on them many noble families
who have younger sons to be provided for at the ex-
pense of a sort of jobbing not cognizable at the Old
Bailey. Another means of influence is the opportu-
nity of calling half-puj-^ officers from the colonies on
some frivolous pretence or other, if they should, on any
occasion, get into the popular branch of the legislature,
and manifest a genuine British fellow-feeling with
their constituents. On them, from that moment, the
colonial spy fixes his eye ; their every action is watched,
for evil, and not for good.

Captain Matthews of the royal invalid artillery, an
officer of nearly thirty years service, had been, as I
have already stated, elected for Middlesex, along with
Mr. Rolph, and he soon became a favourite with the
freeholders, for he advocated just and liberal measures
— for this he was hated by the local government, and
his destruction sought for. He had " honourably re-
fused to impeach by a ruinous admission the civil
rights of the people he represented ;" and it happen-
ing that a company of strolling players, being from the
United States and in distress, solicited the patronage
of the members of the Assembly by cards, many
members went to their theatre, among whom was
Captain Matthews. The spy was also there !

After the national airs of England had been played.
Hail Columbia and Yankee Doodle were called for in
banter, and the former air was played. A spy, be-
lieved to be now high in office, addressed letters to

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS.

419

;ters to

two miserable sycophantic journals, the Quebec Mer-
cury and Kingston Chronicle, accusing Captain Mat-
thews of calling for these airs, which he had not done.
But Sir P. Maitland, Lord Dalhousie, and their
military divans, preferred a secret accusation against
their brother officer to the military authorities here.

It was adroitly managed, so that Captain Matthews
received an order to repair to Quebec, there to spend
the winter months preparatory to going to England to
clear his character from accusations, by whom and to
what extent he could not tell — this being the season
when his absence was wanted, in order to give the local
government a preponderance in the legislature against
the people'*s rights. He asked leave of absence of the
House of Assembly, and was refused, (32 to 1.) The
Assembly than inquired into the affair, and they thus
report : —

'^ If every effervescence of feeling upon every jovial
or innocent occasion is, in these provinces, to be mag-
nified into crime by the testimony of secret informers —
if there can longer exist a political inquisition which
shall scan the motives of every faithful servant of the
public — if the authorities in Canada shall humble
the independence of the legislature by scandalizing its
me'nbers and causing them to be ordered to Quebec
and thence to England, to sustain a fate which, under
such corroboration as Lord Dalhousie received, might
cover them with ignominy, or bring them, however
innocent, to the block ; — or if the members of our com-
munity shall be awed into political subserviency by
fear of oppression, or lured by the corrupt hope of par-
ticipating guilty favours, then, indeed, will the pro-

III'

:' 1

420

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS.

\..

V -il

fffr

spect before us lour, and this fine province become a
distant appendage of a mighty empire, ruled by a few
aspiring men with the scourge of power."

The report is long and the evidence elaborate — I
have no room for it. Let it suffice to say, that,
in London, although it was sent to the military autho-
rities, the captain's half-pay was instantly stopped ; that
he was re-elected by the county of Middlesex, but re-
duced to great pecuniary distress, and finally obliged
to quit the representative chamber and remove to
England, broken-hearted. His pay was long after-
wards re-established through some private interest —
for as to the Assembly's report, it did him more harm
than good. The English government have a large
body of half-pay officers stationed in Canada, and on
them and the troops and fortresses I presume they
were wont to depend against the country. The United
States' papers made songs and jokes about Captain
Matthews, the British Government, and Yankee Doo-
dle, and kept up " Earl Bathurst " for a long time.

Take Noah's edition of the thing :—

" YANKEE DOODLE.

" We have seen a report of certain evidence given
on the trial of a Captain Matthews (member of the
Canadian legislature) for having called for ' Yankee
Doodle,' or * Hail Columbia,' in the theatre of York,
(Upper Canada,) to the infinite compromise of his
taste, loyalty, and patriotism. Much fuss has been
made about the matter, and the English government
sent out orders for the captain to return to England

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS.

421

and answer for his crime. The examinations are
unusually 'lengthy/ and beyond all imagination
ludicrous. It seems a tribe of vagrant ' Yankee '
players had strolled into Upper Canada, and on one
occasion a great many members of the parliament,
and other public functionaries, attended the perform-
ance. They forced these poor ' Yankees ' to sing

* God save the king,' and ' other national airs.'
Afterwards some of them called for * Yankee Doodle.'

" This is the great pivot of investigation, the hinge
\ipon which the guilt or innocence of Captain Mat-
thews, M. P., turned. The deliberate result of the
trial is, that it (and Hail Columbia) was called for
' in derision.' One witness (an M. P.) says, * the
audience was, with few exceptions, all members,' and
that they were full of mirth and levity. Colonel
Beikie, Mr. Cameron, Mr. C. Jones and others,

* danced while Yankee Doodle was played.' (Only
imagine a platoon of members of Congress dancing in
a theatre to God save the king!) Another witness
says, ' Hail Columbia applies to all America, and
Yankee Doodle to the United States only ! I ! ! This
witness is Mr. Gordon, M. P. A third witness (M. P.)
talks of one of his brother M. P.'s * showing fight;'
and he adds that he has often heard God save the king,
and Rule Britannia, played in the United States*
theatres ; but he does not tell us they were received
either with laughter, dancing, or contempt. One of
the questions put to a witness is, ' What is the nature
of this Yankee Doodle?' (It would puzzle us to
answer, as much as it did the Canadian M. P.) A

1 M

'-1 i

422

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS.

t ; I

Mr. Vankoughnett, M. P., tells the house that he
stripped off his coat, and threatened to knock people
down ! ^Vhat has been done in this vast momentous
matter v e do not exactly know ; but it must be con-
fessed, iha the evidence does not speak very strongly
in favour of the amenity and decorum of the M. P.'s
of Upper Canada.

*' If calling for one of our national airs, in a time of
profound peace, within a few miles of the frontiers, is
regarded as an unpardonable crime by the British
government, who shall wonder or complain that the
British people are full of prejudice against us ? Yet
no matter. Those things may have an unsalutary
effect in one way, but they are serviceable in every
otLer. — ^They teach us to confide solely in ourselves.
It is idle to lament the misconceptions and useless to
correct the misrepresentations of other nations. We
know ourselves, and let that content us. W' may
have our Squire Bunkers and our Yankee Doodles,
though we should have thought that both Bunker and
Doodle were ' unmu'sical to Volscian ears.'

If these things should be remembered to our dis-
advantage beyond the Atlantic hereafter, we have
ourselves to blame for the miserables to whom we
intrust the affairs of the colonies, and whose meanness
sometimes produces unpleasant results.

Hear the Halifax Recorder. — " It appears from
the proceedings in the Upper Canada parliament that
the House has refused to grant leave to Captain Mat-
thews to leave his duties as a member, in order to
proceed home and take his trial for imputed disloyalty.

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS.

423

he having called for Yankee Doodle at the play-houce.
Really we think people must have their wits about
them now-a-days, if such things as these are to be con-
strued into disaffection. The Yankees played ' God
save the king * for Captain Wallace, and gave him a
dinner besides, but they will hardly be so civil here-
after when they hear of their favourite tune being
treated so scurvily. We may now alter the old song,
and sing it in a new version.

** Thoughts, words, and deeds, the statute blamed with reason,
When Yankee Doodle is indicted treason.''

Captain Matthews was a very pleasant man, in
company or in the legislature — full of wit and humour.
But the Bathursts, and Wellingtons, and Maitlands,
and their associates, broke him down at last.

Was it for such as them that our peasantry were to
stand forth in support of entails, primogeniture, and
half-blood laws ? Never !

dis-
have
^m we
mness

from
kt that

Mat-

Ider to

)yalty,

THE CHAPLAIN TO THE JESUITS.

When the accounts of the Jesuits' estates were exa-
mined by the House of Assembly of Lower Canada,
it was found that one of the church of England parsons
residing in Quebec was in the habit of annually
drawing a large income from these school funds, on
pretence of being " Chaplain to the Jesuits ! " The
Jesuits had been all dead many years before, and
besides they were Roman Catholics. The parson's
name was Sewell, a son of Jonathan the chief justice.

. '«'«■#■

424

I>LOUGHING MATCHES.

In both Canadas agricultural societies ore greatly
encouraged. In the upper provinc«» ^iund plongiting
matches take place from tim*^ to tiirit, in'.d *he jni les
are contested with a great deal of spirit, and generally
fairly awarded to the victors.

Mr. Stuart's "Three Years in America" i? in my
opinion, the best book lately written concerning the
U/iited States : and, in regard io the , gricultiire,
oomni(»rce, nnd manufacture of the British North
AooT ican colonies, I would give the preference to Mr.
McGregor's British America, a new edition of which,
greatly improved, has just been announced by Mr.
Blackwood of Edinburgh. Purchasers should ask for
the newest editions. Mr. Gourlay's statistical work
on Upper Canada gives more information to the far-
*aer concerning that province than any other publica-
tion I have ever met with.

THE CITY OF THE FALLS.

I LEARN that General Murray, (now about to return
to America, as it is said,) and his partners, who have
purchased the hotels and environs of the Falls of Nia-
gara, are about to expend many thousand pounds in
rendering that eighth wonder of the world yet more
famous by the great works of art to be established on
its banks. Few places are more susceptible of im-
provement than the neighbourhood of the grand ca-
taract.

425

at\y
ling

rally

I my
r the
Uure,
"«Jorth
• Mr.
vhich,
f Mr.
isk for
. work
le far-
iblica-

return
10 have
>f Nia-
inds in
;t more
Ihed on
of im-
md ca-

PETTY COURTS-LAW FEES.

"■ Those too the tyrant serve, who skilled to snare
The feet of justice in the toils of law,
Stand ready to oppress the weaker still ;
And, right or wrong, will vindicate for gold,
Sneering at public virtue, which beneath
Their pityless tread lies torn and trampled, where
Honour sits smiling at the sale of truth." — Shelley.

" He would ask t^e right honourable gentleman (Mr. Stanley), did he
think that the bench of justice in Ireland was such as to deserve the con>
fidence of the people of that country ? Did the rigbt honourable gentle-
man know the history of that country, even for the last twenty or
thirty years, and the manner in which the judicial situations had been
filled up there ? Did he know that, during that period, the enemies of
liberty and the enemies of Ireland were in power, and that it was with
their own political supporters and partisans that they filled up the judicial
situations in Ireland ?"—iS/?eecA of Mr. O^Connell on the Addren,
House of Commons, February, 1833.

To show the vexations and harassing nature of
colonial government, as it is exhibited in Upper Ca-
nada, I shall go into the walks of common life, and ex-
hibit a case of daily occurrence.

Thomas Meeks and Mathew Fenwick were carpen-
ters and joiners. Englishmen, in partnership. They
had a little shop and house of their own, in York, and
were doing well, when one of them went security for a
friend, and had to pay his friend's debt. This cir-
cumstance threw them behind with their own debts,
and some persons who had trifling claims on them em-
ployed attorneys to collect them ; the result, as shown
in the receipt by Sheriff Jarvis, now before me, was as
follows : —

Brazil v, Fenwick ; debt, 6/. 15s. ; costs, 6/. 7s. 3d
Wells «. Meeks, &c. ; debt, 21. ; costs, 3/. 18s. 3d.

426

PETTY COURTS LAW FEES.

f.j

■

Gibbons v. Meeks ; debt, 21, 10s. ; costs, 5/. 16«. 1 d.
Elliot V. Meeks and Fenwick ; debt, 2/. bs. ; costs,

There were additional costs of 3Z. odds, and for these
sums the little property of the two Englishmen was
sacrificed, and the executions paid.

It is not the selling of their property that forms the
grievance, but the unjust legal system, whereby four
petty debts, amounting altogether to 13/., are swelled
up to 35Z. In the states of Ohio or Vermont, or in
Scotland, the creditors would have obtained executic>ns
promptly, but the law would have subjected the unfor-
tunate debtors to an expense nearer to 21». than to
the 21/. they paid in Upper Canada.

Every attempt to rid the people of this nuisance,
this robbery in the name of British law, will fail, un-
less the Legislative Council shall be made elective, or
removed altogether. That venerable body has so
many cousins, uncles, brothers, and dependents to pro-
vide for, as sheriffs, attorneys, barristers, law-clerks,
&c., that it will resist " to the death," (as Mr. Stanley
said,) all attempts to assimilate Ohio and T-ipper
Canada law, in point of simplicity and expense. In-
structions to the contrary, from the Colonial Office,
would not be worth the paper they would be written
on, unless committed to hands able and willing to
execute them.

In 1830, about six thousand lawsuits were brought
in the lowest court.

In the same year, about four thousand writs were
issued from the district court, for trial of civil suits of
40/. and under.

PETTY COURTS — LAW FEES.

427

i.U.

costs,

these
n was

ms the
)y four
welled
:, or in
cuticms
unfor-
:han to

Liisance,

fail, un-

tive, or
has so
to pro-
-clerks,
Stanley
}pper

&e. In-
Office,
written
ilUng to

brought

rits were
suits of

In the superior court, that year, two thousand six
hundred and ninety-eight writs were issued, and of
these introductions to lawsuits, judgment was entered
up on seven hundred and sixty-seven cases.

Law costs are enormous.

WHEAT AND FLOUR TRADE IN THE VALLEY OF
THE ST. LAWRENCE.

" With respect to Canada, (including our other possessions on the
continent of North America,) no case can be made out to sliow that we
should not have every commercial advantage we are supposed now to
have, if it were made an independent state. Neither our manufactures,
foreign commerce, nor shipping, would be injured by such a measure." —
Sir Henry Parneli, on Financial Reform. Fourth edition. 1832.

" Ungrateful people of America ! Bounties have been extended to them.
When I had the honour to serve the crown, while you yourselves were
loaded with an enormous debt, you have given bounties on their lumber,
on their iron, their hemp, and many other articles. You have relaxed,
in their favour, the Act of Navigation, that Palladium of the British com-
merce ; and yet I have been abused in all the public papers, as an
enemy to the trade of America." — 3Ir. GrenviUe*s Speech in the Home
of Commons. Paris edition. 1766.

'' These northern colonies stand in a peculiar and dangerous relation
to us." — C C. Cambreleng.

By the new arrangements for the regulation of trade
in America, the United States are gain^^rs. While the
Canadian farmer has only one market, Quebec, which
they may glut whenever it suits them, the republicans
have three markets — ^first, the great domestic demand
created by the manufacturing and southern states —
secondly, the market of the whole world, via New York,
^c. — thirdly, the Upper and Lower Canada markets

V-'

428

WHEAT AND FLOUR TRADE IN THE

r n

r \r

i i

for wheat, flour, and other produce, dutyfree. The wheat
of the United States may also be imported into Upper
Canada, ground there, and shipped to England upon
the same terms as the flour of Canada. In his argu-
ment before the House of Commons, on the 11th of
March, 1831, Mr. Poulett Thomson said, (vide
" Mirror of Parliament,") that " the greatest advantage
which resulted from the ministerial plan in operation,
called the ' April Trade Act,* in his opinion, was, that
by the arrangement respecting the admission of flour,
and salted provisions, duty free, into the Northern
colonies, we destroy the whole range of custom-
houses on the St. Lawrence, and open at once that
vast outlet to the states of Maine and of the Ohio. He
need scarcely dwell upon the advantages which must
result, in a political point of view, from rendering these
fertile provinces, daily increasing in cultivation, de-
pendent on us for an outlet for their produce.'* All
this is very fine, if he had added, that his project was
an exceeding good one for rendering the Canadas
anxious to obtain independence of a power which would
thus consult its own interest at their cost, Mr. Pou-
lett Thomson might have gone so far as to say, that
it would be but fair to the Canadians to allow
them to go to Maine and the Ohio for such articles
as they might require, free of 15, 25, 30 per cent, or
the other British prohibitory duties. Mr. Thomson
forgot the choice of markets the Maine people
have, which the colonists have not — he did not re-
member that a tax of half a dollar a barrel is laid on
the salt which is brought from the United States, to
salt the pork raised in Upper Canada, to pay the

VALLEY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.

429

wheat
Jpper

upon

argu-
Ith of

antage
iration,
s, that
f flour,
orthern
jtistom-
ce that
10. He
3h must
[ig these
ion, de-
All
ject was
anadas
;h would
[r. Pou-
ay, that
allow
articles
cent, or
homson
people
not re-
laid on
kates, to

pay

the

Canada frontier war losses, while the lands that ought
to have been sold to pay these losses are applied by suc-
cessive ministers to the most unworthy purposes, and the
United States farmer enabled to use the same salt, duty
free, and then carry his pork to the Quebec and New-
foundland markets on equal or more favourable terms
than the Canadian. Mr. Thomson forgot that the
Northern Colonies consume half as much West India
rum as the British Islands, which the Ohio and Maine,
with the rest of the Union to boot, do not do. I admit
that it is unreasonable to oblige the people of New-
foundland to come and buy a barrel of pork at Mon-
treal, at three or four dollars a barrel more than they
could have the same quality at New York ; and that
it is wise and prudent to allow the people of Ohio to
bring their pork and wheat to Montreal, to enable
Canada to supply the fisheries, the lumbermen, &c.,
rather than to oblige them to take it to New York :
but Mr. Poulett Thomson should have remembered
that free trade means freedom to all the parties con-
cerned, not to two parties at the expense of a third, who
is kept down by one of them.

Although the United Slates will not allow the im-
portation of wheat-flour. West Indian colonial produce,
or provisions from Canada, Great Britain, or the
Southern Colonies, unless heavy duties are paid, (whe-
ther it be in United States or English ships,) there
is found a powerful party in the Union who condemn
Messrs. M*Lane and Van Buren for that part of the
late agreement which gives to the people of Britain
the liberty of buying in the ports of the Union wheat
and flour j paying for it, and carrying it away in their

111

430

WHEAT AND FLOUK ^IIALE

' ii)

Iti

own ships, for the supply of their own colonies. A
late series of letters, understood to be the production
of Mr. Rush, are violent in their censures because
Mr. M'Lane wrote to Mr. Van Buren — " It will
generally be our interest, as it is that of every other
nation, to allow the exportation of its surplus produce
in the vessels of any other country." Who ever heard
of a shopkeeper refusing to sell goods to a farmer ready
to pay for them, because the farmer intended to employ
his own waggon to convey them home, instead of
paying for that of the shopkeeper ? Well has it been
said by Mr. Hall, in his able and philosophical in-
quiry, " Trade knows no friend ; avarice no compas-
sion; gain no bounds." The United States ships
enjoy nine-tenths of the carrying trade : they can clear
out to Europe from the British West Indies, a privi-
lege they never enjoyed before : they have, practically,
a monopoly of that trade, and they oivn it, yet many
complain. If a British ship buys and pays for a cargo
of United States provisions, that payment puts in
motion American industry both by sea and land; it
furnishes the seller with the very sinews of foreign
trade — cash, or its equivalent.

A gentleman, connected with the trade of New
York, wrote me from that city, dated Nov. 3, 1831,
that during that year, up to that date, there were laden
at that port, with flour and provisions, 57 British ships
for the West Indies ; 56 to Halifax and other ports in
Nova Scotia ; 44 to Newfoundland ; 28 to New Bruns-
wick, and 3 to Quebec ; that several of these vessels
were not fully laden, but that of the flour and pro-
vision carried by United States vessels^ of which he

IN THE VALLEY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE.

431

;. A

iction

icausc

t will
other

reduce

heard

r ready

jmploy

ead of

it been

ical in-

:ompas-

18 ships

an clear

a privi-

ictically,

et many

a cargo

puts in

land; it

foreign

jof New
|3, 1831,
?re laden
[ish ships
ports in
Bruns-
ke vessels
land pro-
i^hich he

did not obtain a return, the 188 cargoes woidd bo
completed, and perhaps ten per cent, more, or sa\
rather more than 200 fidl cargoes.

Last January, when the Clay party objected to
Mr. Van Buren's appointment as Minister to Great
Britain, the venerable Senator General Smith (of Bal-
timore), who has been forty years in Congress, rose in
Senate, and stated that *' the Senator from Kentucky
(Mr. Clay) has charged Mr. M'Lane with having done
injury to the navigating interest, by the opening of the
St. Lawrence and the Northern ports to our free inter-
course ; thus transferring, as he said, the carrying of
the produce of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York,
Vermont and Maine to British ships, which would
otherwise have been carried by our own ships. I
believe the farmers of those States do not complain.
They know that their produce, sold in Montreal, is
received there free of duty, and is carried to England,
Ireland, and the West Indies, as if it were the produce
of Canada. It is of little importance to them who is
the carrier, provided they get an additional market and
a better price for their produce. * * * * 'pjjp
Senator (Mr. Clay) has truly said that the wheat of
the States bordering on the Canadas passes into Canada,
is there ground, and the flour shipped to British ports,
as if it were the produce of the wheat of Canada.
This has been the spontaneous act of Great Britain,
adopted for her own interest, and is most certainly
highly beneficial to our farmers. An immense number
of sheep, hogs, horses, and cattle are driven annually
from Maine to Quebec and New Brunswick. The
farmers and graziers of Maine differ in opinion with

•!

I If

! S

;

432

WHEAT AND FLOUR TRADB.

I * J; :

M .'

the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Clay), aad are really
so simple as to believe, that their free intercourse with
Lower Canada and New Brunswick is highly bene-
ficial to them. ******** We have
for nearly half a century been claiming the free navi-
gation of the St. Lawrence as a natural right. It has
at length been gratuitously conceded to us uy Great
Britain, and now the senator from Kentucky (Mr.
Clay) complains of it as a grievance."

I have read the new American tariff law with great
attention. It is a boon conferred upon Canada, and a
valuable one. It will either give us tea at the cheapest
rate ; drugs, dyestuffs, and a thousand other things from
the best markets, duty free ; or it will do better, it will
force a free trade to China for the colonies. The cheaper
the farmer buys, the cheaper he can afford to sell with
a good profit. I like this tariff law. It may be said
that no conscientious man will buy American tea which
is prohibited. Did Canada consent to that prohibi-
tion? Was our advice asked when the ports were
opened to American provisions? Would it be just to
let the American farmers compete with us in our own
markets, while we were enriching a monopoly by pay-
ing eighty cents for a pound of the tea we can have at
half a dollar ? But I need not extend these remarks,
for ministers appear to be disposed to do England and
her colonies justice on the matter of trade.

433

jally
with
3ene-
bave
navl-
[t has
Great
(Mr.

1 great

, and a
tieapest

gs from
•, it will
cheaper
sell with
be said
a which
prohibi-
ts were
ie just to
our own
by pay-
have at
remarks,
land and

THE CANADA TIMBER TRADE.

** They would, through their representatives, have a voice in the dis-
posal of all monies raised from them by taxation ; as they cannot per-
ceive that to be justice, which condemns one to the eternal drudgery of
filling a purse for another to empty."— iWr. T. Dalton to Sir G. Murray.

I WILL here relate a few facts illustrative of the real
principles of those gentlemen who profess to be friendly
to freedom in trade.

On the 4th of February, 1831, the House of As-
sembly of Upper Canada unanimously agreed to the
following resolution, which they forthwith communi-
cated to the Legislative Council for its concurrence :«^

" Resolved, that besides the long and expensive
voyage and the high rate of wages which operate so in-
juriously against the Canadian timber, the recent regu-
lation, which imposes a duty of one penny per foot on
timber cut from the waste lands of the crown, in this
province, is not the least of the many discouragements
which fetter and blight the efforts of those who prose-
cute this interesting trade."

What, think you, was the opinion of the Legislative
Council with regard to this just and reasonable re-
solve ?

Its members were as unanimous in their opposition
to it as the Assembly had been in its favour !

But the Assembly did not let the matter rest here :
they immediately addressed the lieutenant-governor,
requesting that the persons engaged in the timber trade
with these kingdoms might be allowed to cut timber
on the waste lands of the colony, free of the tax, thereby
to enable the timber merchants " to furnish a regular

434

THE CANADA TIMBER TRADE.

.1 (

« (

1/ J,

I I

supply of all kinds of timber at the port of Quebec,
without involving them in great pecuniary difficulty
and loss." His Excellency, who is tied down by strict
instructions, transmitted the address to the government
in England, and the government in England replied a
few months ago, that they were very sorry they could
not alford to part with the proceeds of this inland penny
a foot, and that it must remain just as their predeces-
sors had laid it on, — a tax upon Old England !

And so the matter ended.

I will now explain the nature of this tax, which was
laid on by the Tories, a few years ago, in order to
obtain thereby a little more plunder for their friends
from the national industry.

The greater part of the red and white pine brought
froni America, also many feet of deals, some spars,
thousands of oak-staves, and a considerable quantity
of oak, are obtained in the unsurveyed and unsettled
British territory back of the Chaudiere Falls on the
river Ottawa ; rafted down that river to the St. Law-
rence ; and thence shipped to these kingdoms, and a
part sent to the British West Indies. Until very lately
tlie persons concerned in this trade were allowed to cut
down this timber without molestation, but a duty of a
penny a foot on some qualities and three half-] ence a
foot on others has been imposed of late — not by any
legislative act, but in virtue of an order from Downing
Street. What becomes of tiie proceeds is a state mystery
whicli few of our House of Commons' financiers could
unravel — but no one will question its being a tax upon
the merchants, shipowners, builders, and still more on
the householders of Britain and Ireland, for it adds

;' fii

THE CANADA TIMBER TRADE.

435

Lty

•ict

ent

d a

.uld

nny

ces-

was
er to
Lends

nigVit
pars,
ntity

lettled
n tlie
Law-
nd a
lately
to cut
y of a
lence a

y any
)wning
lyslery
could
Lx upon
liore on

it adds

materially to the first cost of a great part of the timber
used jn this nation, in a trade, too, which labours
under many natural disadvantages.

By an order of the Wellington ministry, an office
was set up at the Chaudiere Falls, and a couple of
Scotch gentlemen of the names of Charles and Robert
Shirreff, installed as its managers, with an establish-
ment of measurers, assistant measurers, clerks, and
other servants. Here every raft is stopped, the rafts-
man hindered, the timber examined and measured,
and the odious tax collected.

From the returns of the collectors I estimate that,
since the commencement of 1828 to the present time,
a duty or impost of upwards of a penny per foot has
been collected on skven millions of feet, afterwards
shipped at the port of Quebec. If, therefore, 3d., 4df.,
or bd.f is the pric .here, this impost hath augmented
it 20 to 30 per cent,, most of which falls upon the
British consumer and manufacturer, and injures the
trade.

What becomes of the money ? This is the next
question.

I think it will be found, that when the far-famed
finance committee of the House of Commons sat in
1828, the Tory government of that day withheld from
them the Upper Canada Blue Books of 1824, 1825,
1826, and 1827, and sent an old one, as far back as
1823 — several years antecedent to the principal nart
of the jobbing now carried on. I have examined the
printed documents in the Commons' library, and could
find no other Upper Canada Blue Book than that of
1823.

•II

436

TRIFLING WITH THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

•

i I

W 1

'• \'

When, at any time, the House of Assembly of
Upper Canada attempts to obtain, through the lieute-
nant-governor, an accurate account of what the whole
revenue is, and how it is disposed of. Sir John and his
council pretend that they have secret orders from the
Colonial OtHce not to afford the information required.
In 1829, Sir John pledged his word in a message
to the House that they should know what had become
of the militia fines, Quaker penalties, &c. ; and up to
this hour has been worse than his promise. When
the Earl of Ripon's despatch of 8th Nov. last took
away the pretext of the " secret orders,*' by denying
that any such had been given, Sir John and his
government pretended that the accounts could not be
got ready that session to lay before the House ?

Will the Colonial Office uphold this juggling ?

When, on many former occasions, the local assem-
bly of Upper Canada have endeavoured to acquire
something like a guess-work knowledge of the incomes
of the innumerable public functionaries, they have ob-
tained a part, through the medium of the government.
Some of the incomes were palpably unfairly stated.
Dr. Strachan and several other dignitaries gave in no
returns at all. In short, the truth could not be come
at.

Will the government allow this irresponsibility to
continue i*

In the hopes of obta'ning what the colonists had
failed in getting at, namely, /acf.9, Mr. Hume, last

T^ \

TRIFLING WITH THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

437

I of

ute-

hole

I his

I the

ired.

isage

come

jp to

Yhen

took
nying
^ his

ot be

Lssem-
.cquire
icomes
Lve ob-
[iment.
istated.
|e in no
ie come

ility

August, moved for addresses of the House of Commons
to the King, for returns of places and emohiments
held by members of the House of Assembly, and of
the executive and legislative councils, with Iheir pen-
sions, &c. also of the grants of public land made to
them by government, and the titles of bills on which
the legislative councils and assemblies had differed in
opinion during several years last past ; together with
the payments made to priests of the churches of Rome,
England, Scotland, &c., out of the revenues of Upper
Canada. The House of Commons passed addresses.
Viscount Howick fully concurring, and despatches
were transmitted to Lord Aylmer and Sir John Col-
borne the same month (August.)

The information sought for might have been in
London in November, for it takes very little time t(»
prepare such papers. But December, January, antl
February came, and no returns. Again, on the 6th of
February last, the reformed Parliament renewed the
addresses to the King ; and again were despatches
sent to Lord Aylmer and Sir John. But March,
April, and Ma^ have elapsed, and the colonial exe-
c\itives still decline to comply with the wishes of Par-
liament. No returns have yet come to hand.

How long is this trifling with the country to be
endured ?

But this is by no means the blackest part of the
story — that forms the subject of another sketch, as
follows : —

Ists had

, last

438

I I

1 j j

',' ■

II;

! i !

FALSE AND DECEPTIVE REVENUE RETURNS— THE

BLUE BOOK.

" If any public officers can be named, who are guilty of an abuse of
their power, and of remissness in their duties, his Majesty would not be
slow in removing such persons from his service. If it can be shown that
the patronage of the crown has been exercised upon any narrow or ex-
clusive maxims, they cannot be too entirely disavowed and abandoned.
His Majesty can have no desire that any such invidious distinctions
should be maintained." — Despatch of the Eatl >f Ripon to the Governor
of Lower Canada.

<' By giving the Canadians the entire control over their expenditure,
we shall certainly do away with all the jobbing which has hiiherto
existed. The jobs and extravagance of those connected with the govern-
ment of Canada hive been the stepping-stones to grosser jobs and
greater extravagances, for which the people of England have suffered."—-
FitcQunt Howick, Feb. 18, 1831. Vide " Mirror of Parliament:^

*' I appeal to the House, whether the colonial administration of the
country has not been for years one system of jobbing." — Ibid.

" A base, a wicked and u.i feeling government imparts its bad qualities
in time to the great mi>ss cl the people." — George Canning.

Not content with trifling with his Majesty's Ministers
and the House of Commons, with regard to the time
of traii:miiting revenue and other returns, the execu-
tive government of upper Canada deceive the Colonial
Secretary and the English nation, by sending home
accounts, which, on the face of them, are calculated to
mislead. In plain English, they send home false
statements, knowing them to he so.

I'^p to the middle of February, 1833, the detailed
accounts of the receipt and expenditure of the public
revenue, &c., commonly called '^ the Blue Book," for
he year 1831, had not, as I am informed, reached

THE BLUE BOOK.

439

isters
time

xecu-
onial
lome
,ed to
false

tailed
t^ublic
' for
jached

the Colonial Office from Upper Canada 1 but the offi-
cial return for 1830 had been received.

It so happened that, early in 1831, 1 moved in th;.^
House of- Assembly a resolution for an address to
Governor Colborne, requesting accurate statements of
the incomes, fees, salaries, and other emoluments of
the officers of the civil government, for this same year
1830. Many persons made their returns within two
or three weeks to tlie executive government, under
their own hands. These returns were immediately
printed, and I brought copies to England with me,
and compaj'ed them with " the official return of the
civil establishment of the colony." The executive
council are the board of audit, and when his Majesty's
Ministers make any appointments, or confirm, or reject
those made iu Canada, these official returns are their
guides, wiih regard to the incomes attached to the
office. To the local assembly, partial statenients,
calculated to confuse the understanding, are sent down ;
and to the House of Commons no statement at all. So
far back as 1823, the Assembly, after voting such
supplies as were asked of them, addressed Sir P.
Maitiand, complaining that the public accounts were
sent them in a state so confused and perplexed, as to
be utterly beyond their comprehension. But it was of
no use.

Year, 1830.

John Henry Dunn, Receiver General. Salary 200iJ.
No other income, fees, or allowances. — Blue Book.

Emolument, 1006/. besides a salary of 200/. — Mr.
Dunn's own account sent to Sir J. Colborne.

Zachariah Mudije, Private Secretary, Income,

440

THE BLACK BOOK.

182^. lO^.j and no other fees and emoluments. — Blue
Book,

Income, 182/. 10s., and other 347Z. of fees and
emoluments. — Account signed by Mr. Mudge, and
sent to the Assembly,

[It is worthy of remark, that before the official return
for England was made out, Mr. Mudge had shot him-
self, as is elsewhere stated in this book, and his place
was filled up pro tern, by a dependent on the local au-
thorities. Mr. Dunn also, the Receiver-General, a plain
straightforward Englishman, whom they disliked,
talked of returning to Europe. Of course I cannot
know that these circumstances influenced the Council
in the deception they practised upon Lord Goderich.]

Thomas Kirkpatrick, Collector of Customs, Kings-
ton. Income, 282/., and no more. — Blue Book,

Income, 506/. — Account signed and sent to Sir John
Colborne by Mr. Kirkpatrick.

Duncan Cameron, Secretary and Registrar. Salary
and fees, 936/. 1 Is. 4c/., and no more. — Blue Book,

In this statement 258/. 12s., paid to him as addi-
tional fees, have been omitted. (See ''Assembly's
Journal," 1831, for accounts of 1830, p. 117.) The
accounts of his Deputy are also very incorrectly given.

George Savage, Collector of Customs, York. In-
come, 122/. — Blue Book. Income, by his own state-
ment to the Assembly, 200/.

I believe neither statement. They are, doubtless,
under the truth ; but there are no comptrollers, nor
any other check upon collectors, who give in any
accounts they think lit.

THB BLUE BOOK.

441

Mahlon Burwell, Postmaster, Port Talbot. — This
person is described in the " Blue Book" as holding
the offices of County Registrar and Collector of Cus-
toms, and no other, while, in truth, he had been also
Postmaster for many years.

The " Blue Book " professes to give an account of
all public offices, but it omits the Postmasters of York,
Kingston, Niagara, Brockville, and fifty or sixty
others.

[The " Blue Book " for Lower Canada, 1826, gave
the Deputy Postmaster-General's salary at 500^, and
said there were no fees or other emoluments. What a
mockery such accounts must be !]

given.
In-

state-

The returns of Alpheus Jones, Collector of Customs,
Prescott ; James Fitzgibbon, Clerk of Assembly ; Grant
Powell, Clerk to the Council, &c. &c. to the Governor,
are, all of them, different from his returns to England,
as shown in the *' Blue Book."

There are eleven masters of district schools, with
salaries of 901. each. Some of them charge six and
even eight guineas a day-scholar besides, and they all
take fees. The *' Blue Book " says they take " no fees."

The Executive Council omit giving any returns of
the eleven Deputy Clerks of the Crown, the Clerks of
Assize, &c. Of these, and district treasurers, and many
other officers, the '' Blue Book " says nothing at all.

The " Blue Book " misleads us with regard to the
two judges' incomes; 233Z. 6s. Sd, are altogether
omitted.

The account of education and of monies paid to
teachers is imperfect, and calculated to mislead.

u 5

442

A WONDERFUL

OGE !

1
1

;#]

■

f '

1 :

■ ,

h h

»■

i:'

■'« 1

111 Archdeacon Stuart's return it is omitted to in-
clude his salary as a minister of what they call ** the
Established Church."

fFilliam Hands — The " Blue k" takes care to
forget to tell ministers that William was treasurer of
the counties of Kent and Essex, surrogate and post-
master. William, at one and the same time, filled the
offices of —

1. Judge in civil cases for the counties of Kent

and Essex.

2. High Sheriff of the said counties !

3. Treasurer of the said counties !

4. Surrogate of the said counties !

5. Ganger, Collector of Excise, and Inspector of

Shop and Tavern Licences for said counties !

6. Postmaster of Sandwich !

7. Collector of Customs at Sandwich !

I think he has since allowed a friend (Mr. Berczy)
to take his office No. 1.

I might go on, even to weariness, in the cases which
show the deceptions that are practised on the British
government by the Upper Canada authorities, but it
cannot be necessary. My attention was more espe-
cially drawn to " the official return of the civil
establishment of the colony," in the " Blue Book " for
that year, from the fact of Lord Gode rich's having re-
ferred to it for the amount of certain salaries, as stated
in his despatch of the 8th of November last. The
moment I saw the book I was made aware of the de-
ception practised ^nd fully enabled to vindicate the
statements I had reviously made, and which the

) in-
*the

ire to
rer of
post-
;dthe

Kent

ctor of
inties !

ferczy)

which
Jriiish
but it
espe-
civil
Ik " for
tng re-
stated
The
Ihe de-
Lte the
:;h the

THE BLUE BOOK.

443

local authorities pretended to consider an insult of the
grossest nature on my part.

I am not fond of making rash assertions; but 1
would like to ask Sir George Murray why thr ( jper
Canada ' lue Books " of 1824, 5, 6, ar^5 7 w^re
withli'-'l ^ie Finance Committee of xS2S, md

that ot It? That year's return was calcu-

lated to uusiead them many thousand pounds as to
the revenue in 1828.

I understand that the MS. *' Blue Books " and
those printed by the Finriitce Committee do not agree.
Why are there omissions in the latter in certain cases ?

In conclusion, it may be asked. Can any Colonial
Minister, under the plea of a " pressure of business,"*'
or under any other plea, longer suffer the Governor
and Council to transmit such accounts, and insult His
Majesty's Ministers, when the colony complains of
such jobbing? The recent proceedings of Viscount
Goderich and Mr. Stanley serve to show that they will
not be disposed to throw the broad mantle of the state
over such proceedings.

I would, at the same time, not be understood for an
instant as setting myself up for a paragon of perfection.
My firm belief is, that all men, when they get the
fingering of the public money in colonies, have much
need to repeat the Lord's Prayer — " Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil ! '* I dare say I
am naturally as proud, overbearing, vain, and careless
as this colony-government ; and all the punishment I
would award them would be removal from office, and
a substitution of publicity and real responsibility from
their successors to those who produce the wealth and

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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2.5

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Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 873-4503

444

THE BLUE BOOK.

pay the taxes. In colonies, the people are usually
considered fair game ; placemen too often look upon
public plunder as ** quartering on the enemy." Mr.
Andrew Stuart (of Quebec), in his late volume of a
'* Review of the Legislature of Lower Canada," for
1831, tells us that " the remaining part of the loyalists
consisted of the placemen of the different colonies.
They, their descendants, and their friends have been
found, since the year 1774, and are now found, in all
the principal offices of His Majesty's colonies. In the
struggle which followed, these men were not found in
the field ; their loyalty vented itself in extravagant
professions, in addresses, and in representations to the
Colonial Administration and the British Government.
The war depriving them of their places, they assailed
the British Government with petitions for new ones."
Mr. Stuart goes on to show the consequences, thus :
— " It is not here as it is in England, where a ministry
comes in and goes out ; and the mischiefs of this colo-
nial abuse (the patronage of the Governor) are there-
fore perpetuated from Governor to Governor. The
new Governor is obliged to use the instruments which
his predecessor has left him ; and these, sometimes bad
enough, selected perhaps by a Governor, who, with
the best intentions in the world, has converted his pa-
tronage into an eleemosynary fund for decayed widows,
and for men whose only claim to be provided for is,
that they cannot provide for themselves."

^ ^

445

IS,

PENSIONS AND SINECURES. !

" A side I chose, and on that side was strong,
Till time hath fairly proved me in the wrong ;
Convinced, I change ; (can any man do more P

And have not greater patriots changed before ?}
Changed, I at once, (can any man do less?)

Without a single blush, that change confess ;
Confess it with a manly kind of pride.
And lit the losing for the winning side."

The Candidate.

" Was it consistent with that unsullied purity which ought to belong to
the judicial character, that judges should have their families quartered upon
the public purse, and that, as regular as the quarter came round, their ap-
plications should be made to the treasury for payment?" Mr, (yConnell'a
speech on the Jddrets, House of Commons, Feb. 1833.

The following pensions and sinecures, besides others
we know nothing of, are paid in Upper Canada, yearly
without the consent of the province, and contrary to its
wish plainly expressed, except those marked thus.*
Pension, Sir W. Campbell .... i:i200 Sterling.

do. W. D. Powell 1000 do.

do. D. Arcy Boulton 500 do.

do. Sir D. W. Smith, Bart. . . 200 do.

do. John M'Gill 450 do.

do. Thomas Talbot 400 do.

do. Colonel Smith's family . . . 200 do.

Pensions Five persons 631 do.

Pension Bishop Regiopolis 400 do.

Sinecures C. C. Small , . . . £ 900 Duty by dep.

do. D. Cameron 1100 do.

do. John Strachan .... 750 No duties.
do. Provincial Agent . . , 200 do.
do. Archdeacon Stuart . . 300 do.

' ..,'

rtr'

446

PENSIONS AND SINECURES.

Sinecures Samuel Ridout ....
do. Officers Land Grantingl
Department . . . . (

do.
do.
do.

£200 No duties.

2566

do.

245

do.

100

do.

Dr. Phillips 200/., 45/.*

Naval Officer ....

Clerk Executive Council 820 Duty by dep.

Colonel Coffin .... 325 do.

There are many other pensions and sinecures, but
this specimen may suffice. " The numerous appeals
in support of pretensions to office in the colonies, on
the ground of charity, poverty, &c., would almost per-
suade us that the public offices are regarded as poor-
houses, where people are to be maintained at the
public expense, because they are unable to procure a
living any where else."

i i r

' 'J

\ ,

■

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■#.! .1 :

BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN
DEPARTMENT.

T-OFFICE

I HAVE long been of opinion that one way by which
to unite two countries togetrer, where the people or a
majority of them speak o:ie language, and carry on
an extensive trade with each other, is by a safe, cheap,
and expeditious post communication, and lines of post
roads judiciously laid down.

This very obvious method of connecting the Canadas
with England has hitherto been greatly neglected, or
rather prohibited, for the restrictions have amounted
to a virtual prohibition.

But the present is a good time to change these
things for the better, and if we would even now take

iities.

lo.

lo.
lo.

by dep.
lo.
res, but

appeals
^nies, on
lost per-
as poor-
L at the
rocure a

y which
or a
on
, cheap,
of post

pie
[Carry

ICanadas

?cted, or

Imounted

ise these

Low take

BRITISH AMERICAN POST-OFFICE.

447

the hint from our republican descendants of the Ame-
rican Union, letters might soon be passing from the
most distant parts of Ireland or Scotland to the
westernmost corner of Upper Canada for a postage of
only a shilling or fifteen pence, and newspapers that
have been stamped, duty free.

If it can be done, or if a better means of conveyance
is not suggested, a line of packets should be made to
run twice a-week between Halifax and Liverpool; the
swiftest-sailing ships that can be built and the safest
and most obliging captains. From Halifax the post-
road should be improved, no matter at what expense,
to Quebec, and settlements encouraged at every point
where they can be begun with advantage. To im-
prove such a road for such a piupose, the legisla
tures of the two Canadas would doubtless contribute
most liberally and with great cheerfulness. Careful,
experienced, trusty men should be chosen to oversee
the road made. We would thus accomplish a speedy,
safe, cheap, regular, and expeditious post communica-
tion with the whole of British America at all seasons
of the year ; and the Montreal or Quebec merchant,
or the Upper or Lower Canada emigrant would receive
his letters as soon and at a price as reasonable as if he
had employed the New York packets and L^nited
States' mails. Pamphlets, magazines, reviews, and all
other periodicals should also be allowed to pass by
this conveyance between England and her colonies,
and it should be an unalterable part of the post-office-
law to allow no fees, perquisites, or jobbing. At pre-
sent the whole concern is a job from beginning to end.

\\i

■ ' k

448

BRITISH AMERICAN POST-OFFICE.

I I

' ii

Whenever you talk to the people at St. Martin's Le
Grand about reduced post-office rates, and a clear
well-defined law, they tell you a long story about the
magnitude of the national debt. What has that to do
with the matter ? Here we are, a first-rate commercial
nation, the first navai power in the world, justly de-
sirous to keep up our influence beyond the Atlantic ;
yet with excellent means in our hands, arising out of
the control of the post-office, we employ a code* of laws
which drives the whole of the colonial correspondence
into the hands of the United States, to enrich their
treasury, while the British monthly packets capsize
once or twice a year, and charge such a price for the
letters they carry, that it would seem as if their owners
wished the 6anadas beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Why expend millions on wars, and canals, and de-
fences, and be pennywise about the postage of letters,
pamphlets, and newspapers ? If the good folks of the
colonies are wanted to be kept together, the more they
know of England .and English affairs, and the more
England knows of them — the better for the connexion.
The post-office is "one of a very few monopolies that
may be turned to great national advantage, if the
rulers of the nation are not too busy to attend to such
matters.

But, as I have already stated, it is made a scanda-
lous job of; and until Viscount Howick took the
matter up in earnest, there was really very little pro-
spect of a change for the better.

The first address to the king from Upper Canada
on the post-office was in consequence of a petition of

BRITISH AMERICAN POST-OFFICE.

449

rtin's Le
a clear
bout the
tiat to do
tnmercial
justly de-
A.tlantic ;
\g out of
ie-of laws
pondence
•ich their
s capsize
e for the
sir owners
fountains,
and de-
of letters,
ks of the
nore they
the more
jonnexion.
lolies that
re, if the
1 to such

a scanda-
took the
little pro-

r Canada
petition of

mine to the Assembly, in 1823. Neither the Post-
master-General nor Earl Bathurst so much as conde-
scended even to acknowledge the receipt of that address.

In 1829, I moved the House for another select
committee, and obtained it ; we went fully into an
inquiry, and reported at great length. But the De-
puty Postmaster-General at Quebec (Mr. Stayner)
evaded giving us information of the revenue raised, or
of his own income. He either had or pretended to
have an order from the British government to keep
the amount of the revenue a perfect secret from the
country. Our report and the evidence were printed
and duly forwarded to the general post-office and colo-
nial department, but they remained unnoticed and un-
acknowledged.

Soon after this. Lower Canada took the question up,
and a select committee of the House of Assembly
made a very sensible report, in which, among other
things, they state that Mr. Stayner gave vague and
unsatisfactory answers on revenue questions, under his
injunction of secresy from London. Lower Canada
addressed the king, but there was no answer. Again
there was a committee, and a report, and an address,
but no answer from London. At length a third
address has been despatched to London, and I believe
that the post-office will be reformed. *

Nor has Upper Canada been idle ; there have been
a plentiful supply of additional reports, bills, and ad-
dresses to the king from that quarter also.

When in the library of the House of Commons one
day last July, I found, on examining the official re-
turns of Lower Canada salaries, made to this govern-

ii '

450

JOBBING IN THE COLONIES.

n'l

-Ml'
■ t.

t! I

S--; ■ I

ment from Quebec, and printed by order of the Fi-
nance Committee of 1828, that the deputy postmaster-
-general's emoluments were thus returned. *' Salary
500/." " Amount of fees during the year 1826, in
sterling value, none." " Holds no other office, and is
never absent."

This return was to blind this government. So far
from a 500Z. salary being the income of the incumbent,
he knew he was pocketing, as fees, all the newspaper
and printed paper postage of the colonies, and not
even as much as accounting for the amount. Of this
money he had no right to a single shilling. It never
could have been intended to allow the agent for packet-
boats at Quebec to raise, at his pleasure, the postage
on a weekly journal, from Is. Sd. to 2s. 6d. ; then up
t(\ 3s., and finally to 4s., and afterwards put the
money collected quietly into his pocket, without ac-
counting for it in any way. Complaint was made to
Sir F. Freoling, but he justified all things without the
least inquiry. In fact, there is no real check on this
department ; the deputy does just as he pleases.

Finding that all hopes of obtaining information of
the post-otFice revenue from documents published in
Britain were vain, and that Mr. Stayner had foiled the
colonial assemblies and the periodical press, I laid the
petitions before Mr. Hume, who carried an address
through the House of Commons last August, and
again last February, calling for information of the
state of'the post-office revenue, in such detail as would
have been useful. Many of the papers asked for
could have been furnished in a few days from the
general post-office, but the order of the house has now

„ ii«. r

t,-; ,;«,

A HUNGRY TAX-GATHERER.

451

' the Fi-
stmaster-
" Salary
• 1826, ill
cc, and is

. So fin-
iicumbent,
lewspaper
, and not
Of this
It never
for packet -
le postage
; then up
s put the
itiiout ac-
s made to
I'ithout the
ck on this
ises.

rmation of

blished in

foiled the

1 laid the

in address

Ligust, and

ion of the

il as would

asked for

from the

se has now

remained nearly ten months a dead letter, Mr.
Stayner being, doubtless, very willing to keep the
affair a profitable secret, as long as the carelessness of
his superiors shall permit him to do so. TJie colonial
office have asked for the returns, but where are they ?
Although Mr. Stayner's name does not appear in
the list of incomes over 1000/. a year, he well knows
that it ought to have been there. It is a burning
shame to tax each newspaper that goes by mail 4s.,
or the value of an acre of waste land per an:ium, and
pay couriers to carry the new? and postmciaters to
collect the revenue, for no other purpose than that of
making a fortune to a young man who married the
late deputy postmaster-general's daughter, and then
quietly stept into his father-in-law's shoes as a part of
the dowry. Mr. Stayner receives between 300/. and
400/. a year postage from the * Christian Guardian'
newspaper alone, and pockets every shilling as per-
quisite. Tliere are, besides my newspaper the Advo-
cate * — the St. Thomas's Journal — St. The >i?'s
Liberal — Brockville Recorder — Cornwall Observer —
Grenville Gazette — Kingston Spectator — Kingston
Chronicle — Kingston Herald — Cobourg Reformer —
Cobourg Star — Hallowell Free Press — Hastings
Times — Canadian Freeman — Antidote — York Courier
— York Correspondent — York Patriot — York Official
Gazette — York Magazine — Hamilton Free Press —
Gore Mercury — Niagara Gleaner — Canadian Wes-
leyan — London Sun — St. Catherine's Journal — a pa-

♦ Of course, all the newspapers send as many newspapers by other
conveyances than the mail-bag- as they can, but for the remainder, they
must pay into Mr. Stayner's private treasury.

452

A PAGE OF THE BLACK DOOK.

■ :

per at Perth, and others, the names of which I do not
remember. All these are in Upper Canada, and Mr.
Stayner employs his deputies in collecting the whole
postage, which he quietly pockets as his fee. Then
in Lower Canada, there are the two Official Gazettes —
the Quebec Gazette, Mercury and Canadien — the
Ami du Peuple — Montreal Minerve, Herald, Courant,
and Vindicator, with many other journals. Mr.
Stayner devours the postage of them all. lie also
retains a share of all United States letter- postage, and
the whole of the newspaper, pamphlet, and printed
paper postage; the amount of which the public will
never learn. I have no doubt, but that if a really
accurate statement could be got from him, his income,
(nominally 500/.) exceeds 3000/. a year,
y^-this is, and this has been British government in
America, from the very beginning ; although the proof
that the colonists themselves are excellent checks upon
official extravagance is before the nation, in the ' His-
tory of the Last Five Years of the Legislation of the
House of Assembly of Lower Canada,' as compared
with the fifty-five years that were before that era.

Will the postmaster- general of England publicly
own to the world that, from year to year, in the face
of the addresses and reports of the representatives of
the Canadians, and the complaints of the press, he
persevered in commanding his deputy Mr. Stayner to
withhold all information of the revenue from the
Houses of Assembly, while he pocketed his thousands
a year from the industry of the people, and accounted
to nobody ? — I think not. I rather imagine it will
turn out, as in the case of the attorney and solicitor-

■v :l*

TUG COLONIAL OFFICE.

453

i I do not
, and Mr.
the whole
ee. Then
jiazettes —
idien — the
I, Courant,
als. Mr.
lie also
ostage, and
nd printed
public will
if a really
his income,

ernment in
xh the proof
;hecks upon
I the ' His-
ation of the
s compared
lat era.
nd publicly
in the face
sentatives of
le press, he
■. Stayner to
le from the
is thousands
id accounted
agine it will
ind solicitor-

general of Upper Canada, who protected for years the
pockets of their partisans, by professing to have an
order of s* i*esy about the revenue accounts, which
Lord Goderich nobly and promptly disclaimed all
knowledge of.

In my letters to America last year, I began to find
much fault with his Majesty's ministers for their care-
lessness and inattention, and for protecting colonial
abuses. I now come forward to acknowledge that I
did them very great injustice. Never did any depart-
ment exert itself more earnestly, faithfully, and suc-
cessfully, for the removal of colonial abuses, than that
of the colonies under Lords Goderich and Howick,
The latter was unwearied in his attention to North
American affairs, and anxiously and successfully inte-
rested himself on behalf of the Canadians, with re ird
to the post-office question. I understand that the
result of his and Mr. Stanley's inquiries will be the
immediate removal of all cause of complaint, so far as
they have the power without a new act of parliament.
It has been said, that as the colonists have no repre-
sentatives in parliament, every member of the legisla-
ture is, in a manner, bound to assist them when they
complain. In several cases I have seen, that when
the Canadians wished to transmit addresses or peti-
tions to the care of Mr. Hume, a heavy postage was
chargeable. If you wisli to know their complaints,
take that charge off as speedily as possible — let their
grievances get a ready vent — do not seek to bottle
them up — it is bad policy.

I have ijpoken with some severity of Mr. Slayner's
conduct, but certainly not with a view of injuring him.

lil

.1
a.

454

RRFORM IN THE POST-OFFICE.

■ 1

Let him keep all he has already got ; let him keep
his oOIce too ; let him be paid in i'uture a handsome
salary, for he is a competent person to perform the
duties of his station; but let the people of the
country know what he does, and have some check
upon his proceedings — away with the mercenary sys-
tem of fees, perquisites, per centages, secrcsy, and
jobbing — have done with it for ever, as well in his
case as in every other.

On behalf of the petitioners from Canada, I was
permitted to present a report of my views on the post-
office, to the department for the colonies. I would
only wish to make one alteration, to say that I hope
the wishes of the two colonial assemblies, as expressed
in their unanimous addresses to the King, of this year,
concerning newspaper postage, may be complied with,
and that Mr. Stayner will cease his opposition to their
views. As for the returns moved for by Mr. Hume,
they might have been on the table of the House six
months ago. Like the answer to the Canadian ad-
dresses, they will surely arrive some time ; either this
year, or the year following.

A great deal of needless mystery has been intro-
duced into the colonial post-office revenue accounts
collected here ; it surely cannot be a matter of diffi-
culty for Sir F. Freeling to keep the receipts for Ca-
nada and the West Indies distinct from the others.
So limited are the post-office accommodations of the
colonies, that about 10,000/. a year are transmitted to
England, after maintaining the provincial offices.
There are, besides, very large sums obtained here, both
of colonial, ship, and inland revenue, from colonial

DEPARTMENT IN CANADA.

455

m keep
andsome
ibrm the
of the
le check
[lary sys-
rcsy, and
II in his

la, I was
the post-

1 would
at I hope
expressed
• this year,
plied with,
ion to their
'r. Hume,

louse six
ladian ad-

either this

een intro-
accounts
er of diffi-
)ts for Ca-
the others,
[ons of the
nsmitled to
ial oflBces.
here, both
m colonial

correspondence. In the United States, they give
ample post accommodaliotis, and think the revenue
<loes well if it defrays the expenses.

BANKING IN UPPER CANADA.

*' If a capitalist interest can influence representation and the prpM, anil
mould the laws to enrich itself, represeiitaiion is its instrument, and a
bandage over the eyes of the people." — Jrfferson (on SubaidiBing Prettes,)
vol. i. p. 343.

«' Commerce has set the mark of selfishness,
The signet of its all-enslaving power
Upon a shining ore, and called it gold :
Before whose image bow the vulgar great.
The vainly rich, the miserable proud.
The mob of peasants, nobles, priests, and kings,
And with blind fei'lings reverence the power
That grinds them to the dust of misery.
But in the temple uf their hireling hearts
Gold is a living god, and rules in scurn
All earthly things but virtue."

SAeHey.

" It cannot be concealed that, with whatever reason, the opinion is
widely diffused, that it (the Bank of Upper Canada) is a political engine
of dangerous power, unsuitable to be vested in the executive of so young
a province, in which, unliappily, political and party strife have, during
the late administration, made up half the business of life." — f^ide Report
of Finance Committee of House of Assemh/y, Stssion 1829.

One of the objects of the persons who sent me to
England last year was to get a stop put to the gam-
bling of the government officers in the property of the
people of Upper Canada, under the specious pretences
of a paper currency and joint-stock banks to encourage
trade.

The first bank established among us was at King

(11

ill

'!•:

456

BANKING IN UPPER CANADA.

ston, a shareholding concern, under the management
of Mr. Hagerman, our late solicitor-general, Mr.
M'Lean, the high-sheriff, Mr. Gumming, the collector
of excise, Mr. Dalton, late member for Frontenac,
Mr. Whitney, and one or two other " very respec-
table " persons. The bank did a great deal of business,
" encouraged trade," issued dollar bills, and in due
time failed, and paid five-pence to the dollar. The
managers blamed each other, many ex-post-facto laws
were passed, nobody had done wrong, and the farmers
suffered the loss.

The next bank was to be 200,000/. capital, and to
begin ^whenever the stock-holders, including the pro-
vince, could raise two shillings in the pound in specie.
The 20,000/., however, could not be collected, and so
another act was passed to say that, when 10,000/. was
paid iii, banking might begin. And it did so. There
was no time fixed in whieh to pay the rest of the capi-
tal, and stockholders pledged their shares to the bank
and paid their instalments from time to time in the
paper of the institution. The stockholders were not
held responsible beyond their shares, and scarcely to
that extent; land was taken in mortgage on long
loans ; and the whole concern conducted with such a
strong regard to secresy, that even the stockholders
were not permitted to know their partners ! In 1830,
the company applied for leave to double their capital
stock, and their petition having been referred by the
general assembly to the committee on banks and cur-
rency, of which I was chairman, we instituted an
inquiry into their concerns, in terms of the act of In-
corporation, but directors, cashier, solicitor, and presi-

B I

■I h

BANKING IN UPPER CANADA.

457

lagement
jral, Mr.
; collector
Vontenac,
•y respec-
' business,
id in due
lar. The
facto laws
le farmers

tal, and to
ig the pro-
l in specie,
ed, and so
),000L was
30. There
,f the capi-
o the bank
me in the
rs were not
scarcely to
re on long
[th such a
tockholders
In 1830,
heir capital
rred by the
is and cur-
itituted an
I act of In-
and presi-

dent set us at defiance ; the Assembly unanimously
required certain information of their proceedings, and
the directors told them they should not have it. The
increase of capital was then refused, and the House
soon after dissolved two years before its time.

Although the present General Assembly was of a
very different stamp from that which had preceded it,
the whole influence and powers of the government
having been exerted on the occasion, I was reappointed
chairman of the currency committee, and brought in a
bill for the general regulation of banking, which the
crown officers tried to throw out the moment it was
reported from the committee, but not with success.
They then tried to throw me out of the House, and
failed for that year ; their bank-stock bill also failed.
In the winter of 1831-2, however, they had better
success. I was accused of being the author of an
article in a newspaper which they called a libel — 1
admitted the authorship — refused all apology — was
expelled — unanimously re-elected — again accused of
libel — condemned by the Legislative Council — again
expelled — and then, the bank-stock bill so much de-
sired by the government and its officers, passed
through committee, clauses for securing the public
from risk being first negatived in a full Iaousc by the
Speaker's casting voice. I was instantly re-elected,
and the country petitioned the King and Parliament
by thousands against the imposition which had been
practised upon them. I was permitted to place the
facts before his Majesty's government ; great care and
consideration were bestowed in weighing the objections

I'i

■

458

BANKING IN UPPER CANADA.

..:

to the bill which the petitioners had urged; and I
have not the slightest doubt but that ample justice in
this case will be done the country.

In the same session, Mr. Hagerman, then solicitor-
general, brought in a bill for a second Kingston bank,
upon the same visionary basis of two shillings in the
pound and no real responsibility, and carried it
through triumphantly. Had ministers assented to
these acts, we should have had nearly four millions of
paper money afloat next year in Upper Canada ; and
the farmers, labourers, and mechanics, exchanging
their wheat, labour, and industry for paper rags which,
in the event of a bad harvest, or other casualty,
would,

*' Like the baseless fabric of a vision.
Leave nut a wreck behind."

Messrs. H. and B. are now in London for the pur-
pose of explaining these things; and I should think
they would have some little difficulty in convincing the
Lords of the Treasury that the order of puff-banks
which, in New York, used to break weekly, injuring
our merchants and manufacturers, are more suitable
for the people of the colonies. I have no objection to
joint-stock banks, but I would make it a preliminary
that those who set them up should, by paying in
their shares, show that they have money to lend. I
would also provide that those who divide the profits
should be answerable in case of loss, so that the bill-
holder might not suffer ; and would insert a clause to
prevent the directors (perhaps not holding a twenty-
fifth part of the stock) from borrowing three-quarters

^ (^

BANKING IN UPPER CANADA.

459

; and I
istice in

lolicitor-
)n bank,
s in the
irried it
lentcd to
lilUons of
da; and
changing
Ts which,
casualty.

r the pur-
,uld think
incing the
)uff-banks
, injuring
e suitable
sjection to
rehminary

laying in
lend. I

he profits
the bill-
clause to

a twenty-

e-quarters

of the capital for their own private speculations, as
is done by the managers of the bank of Montreal.

It is impossible to convey a correct idea of the vast
influence exercised by an institution like the Province
Bank in a country like Upper Canada. Possessing
an exclusive power of loaning money, (for the Kingston
Bank-stock was of course taken up by the same class
of persons,) and having the control of the revenues of
the colony, it had little to fear from within or without.
The managers might speculate to any extent, and
there were no means of checking their follies. To
loan paper by the million which requires no represen-
tative in the till, nor after responsibility to the holder,
is both profitable, and, as a political concern, very
influential. It is convenient for an unpopular govern-
ment to have their puppets in the Assembly, whom
they can extinguish in a moment by calling in a loan
mortgaged on lands — it is convenient to be able to sub-
sidize the press — it is convenient to be able, by sudden
law process and great expense, to frighten thousands
from exhibiting their wishes and sentiments upon
public occasions.

So universal was the detestation in which the bank
was held, that, in the capital county of the province in
which the bank is situated, I should have ruined my
election if I had not agreed strenuously to oppose to
the utmost of my power in the legislature every at-
tempt to extend or increase its much-abused power
and influence.

His Majesty's Ministers may amend the Upper
Canada banking system, but they cannot change its
exclusive character so long as the Legislative Council

X 2

■1

460

ENGLAND S TRUE POLICY.

is formed of a junto of government officers^ enjoying a
monopoly of the paper currency, and able to prevent its
passing into other hands.

HONESTY THE BEST POLICY; OR, THE TRUE AND
ABIDING INTEREST OF ENGLAND IN HER FUTURE
INTERCOURSE WITH HER NORTH AMERICAN EM-
PIRE.

" Long did I endeavour, with unfeigned and unwearied zeal, to pre-
serve from breaking that fine and noble china vase — the Britisih empire ;
for I knew that, being once broken, the separate parts could not retain
even their shares of the strength and value that existed in the whole, and
that a perfect re-union of those parts could scarce ever be hoped for.
Your lordship may possibly remember the tiars of joy which wet my
checks, when, at your good sister's in London, you once gave me expecta-
tions that a reconciliation might soon take place. I hud the misfortune
to find these expectations disappointed, and to be treated as the cause of
the mischief I was labouring to prevent." — Letter, Dr. Franklin to Lord
Houie, Jul^, 1776.

" In truth, it is pretty much with colonies as with children : we pro-
tect and nourish them in infancy ; we direct them in youth, and leave
them to their own guidance in manhood ; and the best conduct to be ob-
served is to part with them on friendly terms, offer them wholesome
advice and assistance when they recjuire it, and keep up an amicable in-
tercourse with them." — Quarterly Rtview, 1829.

" At this moment the government of Lower Canada may be defined to
be a mixed government, composed of the discordant elements of autocracy
and democracy."— ^ide Mr, Andrew Stuart's Review, page 139.

*' Our authority is not to be exercised by vexatious in-
terference in the internal affairs of the colonies. I am
desirous of protecting them from aggression, of cherish-
ing their prosperity and of combining their efforts with
those of the mother country, — in peace for the common

-I \

% ;

ENGLAND S TRUE POMCY.

4G1

jying a
vent its

JE AND
FUTURE

AN EM-

al, to pre-
sh empire ;
1 not retain
whole, and
! hoped for.
ch wet my
ne expecta-
misfortune
the cause of
tiin to Lord

we pro-

h, and leave

ict to be ob-

wholesome

amicable in-

36 defined to
of autocracy
139.

atious in-
ss. I am
»t' cherish,
forts with
e common

welfare — in war for the common defence." These ex-
pressions are, no doubt truly, ascribed to Lord Viscount
Howick, by the '* Mirror of Parliament," as liaving
been delivered by him in the course of a debate on
Canada, in the House of Commons, about two years
ago. Admitting, as I do, most heartily, that such an
union would be most desirable if it could be etfected,
the question follows, How can it be brought about ?
Only by making the colonists independent in a greater
degree of the authority of England than they are at
present. Now they are supposed to have no opinion
at all. Mr. Canning told Mr. Gallatin, that " Our
right either to open the ports of our colonies, or to
keep them closed, as might suit our own convenience ;
our riglit to grant the indulgence of a trade with those
colonies to foreign powers, wholly or partially, uncon-
ditionally or conditionally, as we might think proper,
and, if conditionally, on what conditions we pleased,
was clear." I admit that this is law, but I doubt
whether it will unite the colonies with Enjjland next
war "for the common defence." Cn the other hand
it may be asked —

Who would protect their foreign trade, if not entirely
dependent on England ?

Who would defend their frontiers were a quarrel to
arise with the United States ?

How long would they expect to keep Quebec and
command the St. Lawrence, as an independent
people ?

Would the burden of their defences be thrown upon
themselves? — or, if not, v.ho would bear it?

Would they necessarily be involved in all those

462

ENGLAND S TRUE POLICY.

jii .1!

^1 I

European wars and contentiona in which England
might be induced to take part ?

I have stated these questions, less with a view of
entering into a full consideration of the important
matters of state policy which they embrace, than of
inquiring of the people of England whether it would
not be just and expedient to allow their fellow-subjects
in British America to send representatives to a general
conference to express their sentiments on these and
other matters of general interest. If his Majesty's
government are conscious that the colonies are not
managed to the general satisfaction by the military
men sent out to govern them, what objections can they
have to allow a channel by which the public opinion
may be fairly expressed ? Is it reasonable to suppose

that

the colonists will be contented to have England

go to war, as in 1812, and command their assistance
in pre noting whatever may be the objects of tliat war,
without giving them an opportunity, as a country, to
express an opinion as to the justice or injustice of the
object for which it is to be carried on ? What can a
free and enlightened British government have to fuar
from a representative assembly speaking the sentiments
of the most intelligent part of the population in British
North America ? When will a time of greater quiet
and peace present itself in which to call such a body
together ?

Sir Henry Parnell, in his treatise on Finance, says,
'* What ought now to be done, in order to promote, in
a certain and effectual manner, the interests both of
the colonies and the British public, is to amend the law
of 1825, so as to make it, by repealing all the restric-

■'i t?

ENGLAND S TRUE POLICY.

463

iilngland

view of
iportant
than of
,t would
-subjects
I general
icse and
lajcsty's
are not
military
can they
c opinion
> suppose
England
issistance
that war,
utry, to
lice of the
lat can a
e to fear
ntimcnts
.n British
ter quiet
111 a body

[ice, says,
;)mote, in
both of
ll the law

restric-

tions of the system which that law contained, what it
was avowedly intended by the legislature to be, namely,
a law to give perfect freedom of trade to the colonies,
and thus get rid, in toto, of the colonial monopoly.''
This is also my opinion. With Mr. Huskisson I would
say that " companies of all kinds are now-a-days out of
fashion.'* But would it not be expedient for the states-
men of England to obtain the sentiments of an united
representation of the colonists themselves on a point of
such vital importance ? Would not a great deal be
gained by the publicity of the debates of a conference
held to consider such matters as this in the St. Ste-
phen's of Quebec ?

It is admitted on all hands, that Canada can only
be preserved in friendship, amity, and intimate con-
nexion with England, for any length of time, with the
consent of its inhabitants. Why then hesitate to ascer-
tain their collective wishes? Are the proceedings of
the agents of the English crown eminently calculated
to conciliate the colonists ? Are Mr. Alexander
Baring's boasted advantages in a West India monopoly
possessed by the dwellers on the banks of the St. Law-
rence the surest supports of far-extended empire ? If
(as Lord Althorp tells us) "the English House of
Commons should be under the influence, not of the
aristocracy, the government, or the crown, but of the
great body of the respectable and intelligent people of
the country,"* is it just, is it politic, is it expedient to
prevent " the great body of the respectable and intelli-

* Vide " Mirror of Parliament," page 574, Debates, House of Com-
mons, March 1, 1831.

'I
I

464

England's thue policv.

I t r

gent people" of British America from stating their
views through a similar constitutional channel ?

That man must be a driveller and a fool who can for a
moment imagine that I am influenced in these remarks
by a desire to see the representatives of the northern
colonies legislating in the capitol at Wasliington, in the
midst of freedom overshadowed by negro slavery, even
within the ten miles square. The great republic is too
extensive already to suit my ideas of liberty ; and
although I have expressed my admiration of its insti-
tutions in many essential respects, (for I care not to
conceal my opinions on any subject connected with
governments,) yet it would be to me a source of satis-
faction if I could perceive a still clearer prospect of
Canadian independence of that republic than is now
before me. Therefore it is I agitate this question now.

I have quoted many authorities as indicative of con-
flicting opinions with regard to the future destiny of
Canada, and will own that I myself have held different
views on the subject from what I do now. When the
Duke of Wellington and Sir George Murray were in
office, it appeared to me that their policy was quietly
delivering British America into the hands of the adjoin-
ing nation ; but when they were driven from power, I
began to see a more cheering and enlivening prospect in
the distance. The Whig ministers wish to be guided
by public opinion, and hence appear to desire that
public opinion should have every possible opportunity
of being enlightened.

An union of the Canadas is talked of, but the thing
is impracticable, and desired by neither province.
Hereafter a new state may be formed on their western

1%. l!

ENGLAND S TRUE POLICY.

465

ng tlioir
?

can for a
remarks
northern
)n, in the
ery, even
jlic is too
rty; and
its insti-
ire not to
cted with
! of satis-
rospect of
in is now
stion now.
ve of con-
Icstiny of
I different
Vhen the
y were in
IS quietly
le adjoin-
power, I
rospect in
36 guided
sire that
portunity

the thing
province,
ir western

boundary, with municipal powers to regidate its do-
mestic concerns. The great object now required is a
conference of all the colonies, not a consolidation of the
two largest of them into one state.

Are you to regulate the currency, patents, the post-
office, boundaries, immigration, naturalization, bank-
ruptcy, defences, public lands, the Rideau Canal, inland
trade and canals, revenue for general purposes, the
navigation of the St. Lawrence, &c., by orders issued
from this side the sea, without even an accredited agent
from Upper or Lower Canada ? Will that be a means
of pronioting '* the common welfare ?" Do you expect
to depend upon information derived from those states-
men who usually act as agents to tliis government
abroad? or upon the little juntos of executive and
legislative councillors whom you have placed above the
representative houses to thwart and coerce them ? or
upon the military officers who serve on foreign stations?
Experience shows that such dependence would be vain
and futile.

Again, — are there those who (Hke Mr. Macaulay,
foreseeing the probable difficulties of two independent
legislatures acting under one executive head) would
give the northern colonies thirty representatives in the
House of Commons, to sit beside the hundred Irish
members, and then expect from such an union happy
results? They would be mistaken. I came to this
country favourable to a proposition of this kind, but a
closer examination of the working of the House of
Commons satisfied me that it would not answer any
practical purpose.

Who, that is happy and comfortable, in the midst of

X 5

I 1

' >

m ■

466

ENGLAND S TRUE POLICT.

>:> m

1 i ■;

his family, friends, and connexions, on the other side
of the Atlantic, would sacrifice the society in which he
had been accustomed to live, for the sake of a seat in
a legislative body which turns day into night and night
into day ; which begins in earnest its nocturnal legisla-
tion at an hour when the labourers and mechanics of
America retire from the toils of the day ; and has its
sittings 4000 miles distant from the constituency whose
wishes and interest it would be his duty to study ?
The project would not answer, even if it were not a fact
that the House of Commons has already more mem-
bers than are suitable for a representative house, and
more business on hand than all those members can do
as it ousfht to be done.

I must return then to the principle, that an union of
measures between England and British America can
only be based upon the v/ill of the people of both
countries fairly expressed ; and that, to be permanent,
it must be founded on nmtual goodwill, and regulated
by justice and forbearance. A colonial secretary,
wearied out with details of minor measures, may desire
to put oft* the consideration of such a question " to a
more convenient season." Let me remind him that it
may be put off a day too long. Many persons with
whom I have conversed in England talk rather slight-
ingly of our colonies in North America, but it is be-
cause they are unable to appreciate the advantages they
possess above other highly-favoured lands.

The amiable and pacific Mr. Stuart resided three
years in the United States, but was unable, with all his
powers of observation, to give a consistent opinion
with regard to the policy of that government towards

•f -u

ler side
hich he
L seat in
id night
legisla-
lanics of
I has its
ry whose
I study ?
ot a fact
'e mem-
Lise, and
s can do

union of
?rica can
of both
rmanent,
egulated
ecretary,
ay desire
m "to a
na that it
5ons with
er slight-
it is be-
ages they

led three
th all his
opinion
towards

ENGLAND S TRUE POLICY.

4G7

Canada. In one part of his work he says •* he is
thoroughly convinced that there is no people with
whom the American government and nation desire so
much to be at peace, and on friendly terms, as the
British ; and that the American government desires
no extension of territory from the British, either iu
Canada or the West Indies." This opinion is rather
at variance with the details of the history of the Maine
boundary question, and still more so with Mr. Stuart
himself, for he elsewhere quotes the observation of
Henry Clay, that " We have the Canadas as much
under our command as Great Britain has the ocean.
I would take the whole continent from them, and ask
them no favours. God has given us the power and
the means." And then adds — •• For such a change we
ought some day or other to be prepared, and to have
our minds made up." See also his argument, chap. 9
of vol. i. The truth is, if the farmers of the United
States see their brethren in Canada happy in the enjoy-
ment of free institutions, all attempts of the place-
hunters and manufacturing monopolists will not be
able to persuade Congress to interfere. War may be
the game of the statesman, but it is the destruction of
the peaceful agriculturist. Why should the farmer ou
the one side of the Niagara leave the plough to go to
war with the farmer on the other side ? What is there
that is seemly in a contest producing animosity and
strife, death and destruction, ruined villages, weeping
widows, and fatherless orphans ?

"!^W*

4GB

AULD JAMES LAIDLAW.

Il-

James Laidlaw, of Ksqtiesinor, cousin and corre-
spondent of James Hogg, the Ettrick J*hcj)lierd^
died on the I3th of January, 1829. The readers of
Blackwood's Magazine will probably remember him
as a contributor to that amusing miscellany. Hu
carried the shepherd's crook on the Caledonian moun-
tains for many years, until the time when he emi-
grated with his family to Canada. In Esquesing he
sustained auld Scottish hospitality; to the weary tra-
veller his door was ever open, and his plentiful board
and cheerful fireside ever bade the stranger welcome.
James was a man of bright intellect, and kept up a
correspondence with me from year to year, through
The Colonial Advocate. One of his letters, descriptive
of America as he found it, I subjoin, preserving his
mode of spelling :

" Esquislng J any 8 1827
" very Dear Sir, — i have taken upon me to write you
a few Lines to let you kno that the Scotts Bodys that
Lives heare is all doing Tolarabley well for the things
of tl\is world but I am afraid that few of them thinks
a bout what will Come of their Soul when IXalh there
days doth End for they have found n thinn tl;py Call
Whiskey and a great many of them da u bales and drinks
at it till they make themselves worce than an ox or an ass
for they Differ among them Selvs and men that meets
good freinds before they pairt is Like to cut one ano-
t'jorr hvoX% Burns Speaks of the Barley Bree Sement-
ing the qurfill but the ray Bree hear is almost sure to

l;>

Al;l JAMES I.Aini.AW.

4C9

1 corrc-
opherd,
idors of
Der him
f. He
I moun-
he emi-
csing he
ary ira-
ul board
velcome.
'pt up a
through
scriptive
vinff his

vrite you
)dys that
le things
n thinks
alh there
^ Call
id drinks
or an ass
lat meets
one ano-
Sement-
it sure to

mak a Qiirall for since tlie Budys turnd Lairds Every
one is for being Master and they never consider that
their Neighbour is as far \ip in the world as them-
selves, but AMerica is a good Contry for a poor man
if he is able to work but is a Contry that is full of
Rougs that is what I like it worst for for there is very
few but will Cheat you if they can if I had known it to
be what it is it Should never have seen me but times
being bad in Scotland after the War and old Sheperds
Like me being not Much thought of when we get old
I thought of coming to America and there was an
Advertisement in one of the Edinburgh News Papers
in the year 18 IG that ony Body that wished to go to
Canada Government wold take them out free of Ex-
pence and they were to Write to a Mr Cami)ble in
Edinburgh so I Wrote Mr. Campble telling him what
famiely I had that I had five sons and told him there
age and I wanted to know houw much land each of us
ould get, so he wrote me that I was a very fit hand to
go to America having so many sons and that I ould get
Two hundred accrs for my self and Like ways for Every
one of my sous that was come of age but I could not
get away as stock was so low and it could not be turnd
into money but times was better in Two years so I sold
all tUat I had and came away 1818 and I had to come
out on my own Expcnce for by this time there was no
word of Bringing ony to Canada So I came toyork and
went through all there otlices acortJing to acte of parle-
naent J sopose and aye the other Dolor to pay but they
ould gtve us oidy one Hundred acers Each, — and that
was ti > 1)0 drawn by Ballat if it was good I^and we
wei\ the bett«^r of it and if Bad we bid Haud with it

470

AULD JAMES LAIDLAW.

M..

i '.

if there Map said it was capable of cultivation I belive
the Cribblers in york ould tak the last Shilling that a
poor man has before they ould do anything for him in
the way of getting land for in one cf their offices they
were crying it is five and Sixpence five and Sixpence
and only Marking Two or three words, but I will pas
them for they are an avericeous Set. I am Realy
feard that the Deil get the must part of them if they
do not bethink them selves in time, I sopose that they
never read the tenth commandment or they ould not
covet there niboures money — the folke hear is for
geting a Liberery and we have got Mr Leslees Catloge
of Books for 1825 the Nixt Catloge he prints he
would do well to Let people kno the price of his
Books, but he is got into the yankee fashin but when
among us a Book that he ould Like to have and knows
the price he knows whither he can purchas it or not
and ould Send for it with some of his Nibours I never
saw a Catloge of Books in Scotland but the price was
marked at the tail of it. Now Sir be so good as not put
me in your News papers or I will stand a Chance of
getting the Lake to keep where they put your Types ;
if you let theys fellos away without punishment ye
should be whiped with a road of Birks it would be well
dune to take them and dip them Twise or Thrise a day
in the Lake this col'd wether it ould Cool them and let
them find that Douking in the Lake is No Joke, Now
Mr Mcanzie I ould not have taken this Liberty I hope
that you will not take it ill I am afraid that you will
not can read it as I am a very Bad Writer but I was
never at th(? School a quarter of a year in my Life.
Now Sir I cowld tell you Bits of Stories but I am

I J

ESQUESING.

471

i I belive
Iff that a
3r him in
Sees they
Sixpence

will pas
m Realy
n if they
that they
ould not
11" is for
s Catloge
prints he
le of his
but when
,nd knows
it or not
s I never
price was
IS not put
I'hance of
r Types ;
iment ye
d be well
rise a day
m and let
)ke. Now
ty I hope

you will
>ut I was

Life,
but I am

afraid that you put me in your Colonial Advicate I do
not Like to be put in prent I once wrot a bit of a letter
to my Son Robert to Scotland and my friend Jas,
Hogg the poet put it in Blackwoods Magzine and had
me through all North America before I New that rnv
letter was gone Home. Hogg poor man has spent
must of his life in coming Lies and if I read the Bible
right I think it says that all Liares is to have there
pairt in the Lake that Burns with fire and Brimston
But they find it a Loqarative trade for I Belive that
Hogg and Walter Scott has got more money for Lie-
ing than old Boston and the Erskins got for all tlie
Sermons ever they Wrote, but the Greatst Blessings
in this warld is set must Light by for people is fonder
of any Book than the Bible altho it is the greatest
Blissing that Ever the warld saw.

" Now my the Blessing of God rest on you and on all
Loers of his name is the sincer prayer of your Loving
Contry man old

" James Laidlaw."

" ESquising."

ESQUESING.

" Encamped by Indian rivers wild,
The soldier, resting on his arms,
In Burns's carol sweet recalls
Tiie scenes that blest him when acliild,
And glows and gladdens at the charms
Of Scotia's woods and waterralls."

E SQUESiNO (an Indian name) is one of *ho most spirited
and thriving townships north of Dundas Street, and is

472

KSQVESING.

? I

d.l

i' ! I

(' '.i!

i I.

* 4
' 11

well settled, containing already upwards of 1600 in-
habitants. The seventli line and town-line between this
town and Chinguacousy are the best travelled, and
the latter is usually taken to go into Erin. Toronto is
famed for its oxen; ^^larkham for its horses; and in
Esquesing (which, with the Trafalgar- road leading to
it, is rather scarce of horses) there are, perhaps, 250
pairs of oxen. Tlie Scotch and Baptist Blocks of
Esquesing are composed of choice land : the former
contains about 350 souls, the latter under 200. Some
very useful road improvements have been lately made
with the public money ; but there are only two schools,
although, perhaps, 400 persons are of an age between
six and sixteen. There has been a goodly accession
of settlers during the present season ; and of the pre-
sent inhabitants the origin is, first in numbers, Scotch;
second, Canadians ; third, Irish ; fourth, English ;
fifth, Americans. Of the latter there are very few, I
examined the assessment-roll at Mr. Thompson's hotel
(and a very good hotel [ found it), and found Edward
Leonard, a Canadian, highest ; he being 507Z. : the
next was Benoj ah Williams, an American, 350/.; then
Charles Kennedy, Canadian, 292/. ; Thomas Stephens,
Esq. Irish, 233/. The owners of the greatest number
of acres of cultivated land, are : —

1. Irish: Wilham Kent, 85 acres; Thomas Ste-
phens, 80 ; William Early, 60; Arthur Graham, 80 ;
William Cootes, 50; George Crawford, 60. — 2. Ca-
nadian : Cliristian Barns, 85 ; INIorris Kenedy, 58 ;
Charles Kenedy, 50. — 3. Scotch : Thomas Fyfe, Esq.
and John Stewart, 80 acres each ; Alexander Robert-
son, John Fisher^ Duncan M'Kinnon, and Alexander

ESQUESING.

473

1600 in-
Avecn this
lied, and
roronto is
5; and in
leading to
luips, 250
Blocks of
he former
D. Some
tely made
\o schools,
e between

accession
f the pre-
■s, Scotch ;

English ;

ly few. I
son's hotel
d Edward
>07/. : the
bOl.; then

Stephens,
st number

omas Ste-
iham, 80 ;
-2. Ca-
►nedy, 58 ;
Fyfe, Esq.
er Robert-
Alexander

M'Nab, 50 each ; Donald M'Kinnon, 60 ; John Barns,
65; Robert INIurray, 55, — 4. Americans: Adolphus
Atkins, 80 ; John Smith, 80 ; James Bessy, 50 ; John
Bessy, 60 ; Hiram Bedford, 50. — 5. English : John
Atkinson, 50 ; James Thornton, 50.

Squire Fyfe was the firsl settler; the second was
Mr. Donald M'Kinnon.

There are 5 grist-mills ; 9 saw-mills ; 8 asheries ;
4 distilleries; 2 carding and fulling machines; 1 wool-
len cloth weaving establishment.

It is about eleven years since I first visited this town-
ship, and that was within a year of the commence-
ment of the settlement. Now there are about 300
families, nearly all of them in comfortable circum-
stances, consuming in abundance the merchandise and
manufactures of old England, and furnishing employ-
ment to her shipping. And, if Upper Canada had had
fair play, 500,000 additional human beings would now
have called her fertile valleys their happy home ; en-
riching Britain with their commerce, employing tens of
thousands of her mechanics, and sending hundreds of
thousands of barrels of flour and pork to Montreal for
her use and the use of her West India colonies. —
Even this advantage has been sacrificed to encourage
the growth of produce on the Ohio, and fatten a thank-
less, heartless race of idle good-for-nothing priests,
placemen, pensioners, attorneys, loyal paupers, &c. &c.

The above was written when I visited the township
in September, 1831 . I have often gone to spend a
few days in the Scotch settlement. The language and
the people being familiar to my early recollections, it
was like going home. Esquesing is an oblong body of

rii

474

ESQUIJSING.

the most fertile land in America, twelve miles by nine,
about twenty-five miles from York, and the same dis-
tance from Dundas (Upper Canada.)

In naming good books for information about the new
townships, I ought not to forget Mr. Gait's excellent
novel of " Lawrie Todd." I remember that I rose
from the perusal of it filled with a sense of gratitude to
the distinguished author for the rich mejital repast his
genius had placed before me. The graphic descriptions
of Western scenery, and the lively and/rti7///uZ sketches
of " life in America," with which the work abounds,
are certainly not among the least of its many attrac-
tions.

! I

EMIGRATION TO CANADA AND NEW SOUTH WALES.

1832.

" The first settlers of all the colonies were men of irreproachable cha-
racters ; many of them fled from persecution ; otiiers on account of an
honourable poverty; and all of them with thpir expectations limited to
the prospect of a hare subsistence, in freedom and peace. All idea of
wealth or pleasure was out of the question. A set of men more con-
scientious in their doings, or simple in their manner, never founded any
commonwealth. It is, indeed, the peculiar glory of North America, that,
with a very few exceptions, its empire was originally founded in charity
and peace." — Henri/ Brougham,

On the motion of Mr. Wolryche Whitmore, the
House of Commons addressed the King, not long ago,
for copies of certain official papers relative to emigra-
tion lo New South Wales and Canada, which papers
have since been sent down and printed, communicating
many interesting particulars : —

Mr. Buchanan, agent for settlers, in a report mado

by nine,
same dis-

t the new
excellent
it I rose
atitude to
repast his
scriptions
I sketches
abounds,
ly attrac-

H WALES.

oachable cha*
account of an
ns liiniteJ to
All idea of
en more con-
founded any
kHfierica, that,
led in charity

nore, the

long ago,

o emigra-

ch papers

lunicating

port mado

EMIGRATION TO CANADA AND NEW SOUTH WALES. 475

at Quebec, 12th December, 1832, to Lord Aylmer,
states that,

" In 1832, about 54,000 souls arrived and settled in
the Canadas.

" Of these, 10,200 remained in Lower Canada, and
13,500 settled between Kingston and York, in the
Home, Newcastle, and Midland districts of Upper
Canada.

" 3346 persons are believed to have removed into the
United States, and a greater quantity of emigrants to
have arrived in Canada from England, &c. via New
York.

*' Among the settlers, by way of Quebec, came many
respectable and wealthy families from all parts of the
United Kingdom, bringing, in specie and property,
from 600,000Z. to 700,000/. sterling. On the week
ending the 29th September, a credit of 16,000/. was
fixed at the Quebec bank by a London house, in favour
of one emigrant.

" The deaths of emigrants by the cholera, which they
brought from Europe, were estiniaved at 2350 persons.
So alarmed were the Canadians, that " the poor
strangers, with money in hand, could not prevail on
the inhabitants of Montreal to give them shelter."

Mr. Buchanan directed about three-fourths of the
entire number of emigrants during the season to
Upper Canada, in which province they experienced
a hearty welcome from all classes, and are prospering.
These emigrants are now sending money home to
assist their friends to follow them.

Mr. B. had made a tour through the districts and
settlements in Upper Canada, and did not meet with

476

EMIGRATION TO CANADA AND

'i.

; J

•■ i

one industrious settler who could not obtain employ-
ment. The number of that class, arrived in 1832,
was not adequate to supply the demand created by
the more wealthy emigrants ; and the demand for all
classes of working people had never been exceeded
in the Canadas. In every part of Upper Canada
settlement was fast proceeding ; and the numerous
villages forming, and the great extent of buildings
goir.g on in all directions, was a satisfactory testimony
of the advantages that colony was beginning to enjoy.
Even in Quebec, a very general difficulty had been
experienced by mastcr-tiadesmen and contractors in
getting hands to carry on their work at an advanced
rate of wages.

Among other settlers, 1700 commuted pensioners
had arrived; and about 5000 emigrants had been
aided by their parishes and landlords to come to
Canada. But the funds of many poor settlers had
been shamefully misapplied by the captains and
others to whom they had intrusted them when going
out to America.

I see no reason to question the correctness of Mr.
B.'s statements as above given ; nor do they involve a
contradiction of the opinions I have published in the
preceding pages. But it ap})ears that the Earl of
Ripon and some of the colonial authorities in New
South Wales are at issue with respect to the class of
settlers most fit for that part of the world. La-
bourers, according to Mr. Spode of Van Dieman's
Land, would be a beneficial emigration, " provided
these labourers were not the scourings of the work-
houses and parishes, but were really industrious, hard-

NEW SOUTH WALES — 1832.

477

employ-
in 1832,

Dated by
id for all
exceeded
Canada
numerous
buildings
testimony
; to enjoy,
had been
Factors in
advanced

pensioners
had been
I come to
t tiers had
tains and
hen going

?ss of Mr.
involve a

led in the

le Karl of

in New

le class of

Id. La-

Dicman's

' provided

the work-

ious, hard-

working men." And Governor Arthur objects to
the encouragement of free-labourers by the parish
authorities, " because the parishes would probably
send habitual paupers, and the worst characters they
could select."

This question has been much canvassed by the
press and in the legislatiires of the Canadas; and I
own that the reasoning of the Earl of Ripon, in one of
his despatches, in reply to the Australian authorities,
carries with it to my mind a refutation of the objec-
tions made against pauper emigration. " It has been
found," says his lordship, " that the idle and worth-
less paupers have frequently been rendered so by the
hopelessness of their situation, and when enabled to
find constant employment at fair wages, a great
change has almost invariably taken place in their
conduct. * * * The worst characters are not
willing to go. * * * It is the active-minded, en-
terprising, and industrious labourer, who cannot endure
to be reduced by the want of employment to the
humiliating condition of a parish pauper, and who
is on that account anxious to emigrate. He wishes to
live on the fruits of his own industry, not upon the
weekly pittance doled out by the overseer ; and there-
fore gladly accepts the offer which is made to him of
going to seek in a new country that independence and
that fair field for his exertions which he cannot find at
home."*

All the Earl of Ripon s despatches, from the bureau
of the colonies, are considered to be among the finest

* Vide Viscount Godericli's Despatch to Governor Arthur, 27th
Jan. 1832.

' [i\

478

EMIGRATION TO CANADA AND

I \ 3

' a*

specimens of official correspondence ; but it is such
passages as these, where his lordship proves that
wealth has not hardened his heart, and where he con-
vinces the reader that he can enter into the feelings of
the humblest peasan , sympathize in his distresses,
and seek a remedy for his griefs, that I admire the most.
I sincerely regret that I should ever have doubted his
lordship's friendship to the Canadians, or under-
valued his unwearied zeal for the welfare of the
lowliest of his coimtrymen.

The Australian official correspondence is another
proof of the accuracy of conclusions in favour of Ca-
nadian emigration, in preference to going a journey of
17,000 miles round the world to New South Wales.
In Governor Bourke's despatch of 24th September last,
we are told, that "labourers in and near Sydney do
not now receive above 2s. 6d. a day, without food or
lodging; or in the country more than 12/. to 14Z. per
annum, with board and lodging." And again — " The
Colonial interest of money at Van Dieman's Land is
now FIFTEEN per cent." ! ! (p. 40.)

Not the least curious of these state-papers is a sort of
wholesale account-current of money expended, or au-
thorized so to be, by the Earl of Ripon's orders, on
account of emigration from these kingdoms. Sir John
Colborne sends the account to London; Mr. Peter
Robinson (No. 7. of the sketch in " King, Lords, and
Commons ") furnishes the cash, from sales of lands
made valuable by the people's industry ; and the most
violent political partisans in the colony are carefully
selected by his Excellency to expend about 40,000
dollars in aid of the emigrants. Who audits the

NEW SOUTH WALES-

•1832.

479

is such
)ve8 that
e he con-
eelings of
distresses,
the most.
»ubled his
>r under-
e of the

s another
our of Ca-
journey of
ith Wales,
ember last,
Sydney do
lut food or
to I4i. per
iin-"The
I's Land is

( is a sort of

ed, or au-

orders, on

Sir John

Mr. Peter

,ords, and
es of lands
id the most
•e carefully
,out 40,000

audits the

accounts ? who directs the expenditure ? What proof
have we that this, like the rest, is not converted into
a mere job, and turned, as usual, to account of Parson
Strachan and the other members of the Upper Canada
royal family, or their dependents ? Let it be supposed
that Lord Ripon himself is the auditor. If he were,
and if Upper Canada were part of his estate, what
could he know of the accounts of Roswell Mount, Wil-
}" n Chisholm, James Fitzgibbon, or the'r friend
Ga.nble ? Just as little as he knows of the men them-
selves. The real objection to give any real power to
the representative houses in Upper and Lower Ca-
nada, on the part of the authorities, is exactly the
same which the peers of England had to the Reform
Bill — it would introduce a wholesome economy and
retrenchment, and interfere with the venerable prac-
tice of the aristocracy of enriching and upholding their
order by doing injustice to those whom they ought
to have protected. Lord Ripon, in his despatches,
seems to have a great anxiety for the increase of that
species of revenue in the colonies which is neither
under the control of the imperial nor local parlia-
ments. Why not trust it to a free legislative audit ?
Why not only recommend, but also ensure publicity
of accounts ? Why manifest anxiety for the augmen-
tation of a revenue, which, in Upper Canada, is be-
yond all doubt the means of corrupting the govern-
ment and the legislature of the colony, and of render-
ing the representative houses unfit to express the sen-
timents of the manly and honest yeomanry who return
them as their watchmen ? In a late memorial of the
General Assembly of Mr. Stuart's favourite democratic

480

EMIGRATION TO CANADA AND

state of Illinois, addressed to the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States, they tell Con-
gress, that " it is impossible for any assembly of men,
so far removed from the theatre in which their legis-
lation operates, fully to understand and appreciate the
situation and wants of their constituents. The land
legislation of Congress is annually becoming an evil of
enormous magnitude, threateninjj to absorb its atten-
tion, and withdrav/ it in a great measure from its
appropriate duties." In like manner I affirm, that
the ever-varying land legislation of the Colonial Office,
although well meant, is "an evil of enoiTTious magni-
tude," preventing the colonies from inquiring into
abuses and negativinor bad measures, which their local
knowledge well qualifies for doing, if permitted to
have one voice (out of three) in such matters.

Passing to another part of tJ^e subject, I beg to state
that I heartily agree with the ii^arl of Ripon in the
opinion he expresses in his despatch to Sir J. Col-
borne, dated 7th March last, that " no circumstance
could have contributed more powerfully to accelerate
the progress of Upper Canada to wealth and import-
ance, than the strong direction which emigration has
taken within the last few years towards this province ;"
and I most earnestly invite intending emigrants to give
it a trial in preference to any other country to which
the attention of the nation is now directed. I cannot,
ought not to doubt the sincerity and determination of
the ministers of the crown to interpose no opposition
to colonial reform ; and I verily believe that, if that
reform, at length so happily begun, shall be soon
carried into full effect. Upper Canada will be one of the

r /

NEW SOUTH WALES 1832.

481

[1 House
tell Con-
j of men,
heir legis-
eciate the
The land
an evil of
its atten-
B from its
firm, that
.vial Office,
lus magni-
pring into
their local
rmitted to
irs.

beg to state
pon in the
Sir J. Col-
rcumstance
accelerate
nd import-
gfration has
province
ants to give
ry to which
I cannot,
[•mination of
opposition
that, if that
all be soon
)e one of the

»>

most desirable places of residence to bo found on the
face of the earth for that class of persons who, like me,
iirc lovers of a fine, fertile country, and plenty of free-
dom.

Tliis opitiiou is not at variance with the sentiments
I have expressed in private to thousands of persons,
(among them many of my own relatives,) since my
return to the United Kingdom. But they should
keep in mind, every man and mother's son of them,
to shake the dust of Toryism from off their feet before
they croiss the ocean ; and to enter upon their farms
in tlie Canadas, "Whigs of the old school," that is
to say, " radical reformers, whether in or out of office."
If thev «^-onie thus, whether Englishmen, Irishmen, or
Scotsmen, wlietlicr Catholic or Protestant, whether poor
or rich, they will be heartily welcome ; and, if blessed
with health and habits of temperance and industry,
they will probubly have as little reason to regret their
journey to the Canaan of the west, as had the humble
author of these pages.

I'liere is not room in a little book like this to enter
into an argmnent on the subject, but I am prepared
to prove that if all the duties charged on British and
British Colonial produce were taken off at the port of
(Quebec — the duties on spirituovis liquors excepted —
England and Canada woidd be benefited, and revenue
enough left for every purpose of good government.

482

.? /

.- I

LOWER CANADA.— MR. VIGER.

" By tlieir original constitution, the Colonies were independent of the
Parliament. They were not represented in that body, Tliey had no
khare in the election of ti;e House of Commons. The levying uf taxes
upon them by Parliament was precisely the same usurpation as the levy-
ing of ship-money had been in Cliarles I.'" — Ju/m Quincy Adamt' Om-
lion, J j/y At ft, 1831.

•'Men, hovvever, who tan, with the minds of great statesmen, appre-
ciate the present value of these colonies, will clearly anticipate andjustly
estimate their future grandeur, their importance in maintaining the
influence of England over the whole of the VVe>tern world, and their
consequence in preserving British power in Europe." — MGreyor's
British America.

"There is no power in this country which can maintain a struggle even
for a twelvemonth against the Commons of England, within doors and
without, the first of which holds the purse, while the second fills or
sUrves Hr—Tfie Timet, June 6, 1833.

'* All these (meaning the Bank, East India, West India, and Tithe
questions), or any of them, may be decided by a majority of factious,
place-hunting lords, in a way the mo»t adverse to the votes of the Com-
mons, to the wishes ot the Crown, and to the resolute wilt of the entire
nation. Then let us ask, in our turn, the (piestion, shall the House of
Lords be the dominant, paramount, supreme, nud bestriding power?
Shall it be a mere Venetian senate ?" — Iliiil,

" As against, that is to say above, the opinion of the House of Com-
mons, ascertained by its votes ; and those of the country generally, as-
certained through the accustomed channels of meetings, petitions, andtiie
public press, the po\\ers and prerogatives of the House of Lords are abso-
lutely nothing." — Jbid.

" Injustice may repair its wrongs, time may efface them from the me-
mory of the injured; but contempt is engraved in indelible characters,
Tlie wound heals— the scar reniJiins. What Government can think itself
interested in degrading a people— in provoking their hatred?" — Mr,
Viger to Viscount Guderic/i, in the matter of Sluart.

The province of Lower Canada has felt the yoke of
the conqueror for many a long year. First, it was
placed entirely under military law ; next, in 1770, it

3'' Si

LOWER CANADA. — MR. VIQER.

483

received a constitution, which was jxistly execrated from
the one end of North America to the other, and formed
an additional reason for distrusting the British Govern-
ment of that day by the colonists. In 1791, when
old France was trying to rid herself of the mean,
proud aristocracy by whom she had ber n sro long
tyrannized o.w', and at a time when the machiaations
of the despots of hiUicpe had failed in preventing a
federal union of the thirteen colonies, now the United
States, it was judged expedient to give the Canadas
more popular institutions, and the 2nd Quebec Act was
passed. In Lower Canada, however. Government
studiously kept the people as ignorant as possible ; and,
in order that the press might be held in check, and the
spirit of freedom repressed, the Habeas Corpus Act
was kept suspended almost continually from 1793 to
1812. In 1810, some members of the Assembly
showed a spirit of independence, and were instantly
sent to gaol. A free press had spoken out pretty
freely, and it was promptly sent to the dungeons of the
King's Bench, types and all. In the war which fol-
lowed, the Canadians behaved nobly; but being after-
wards unwilling to be burthened with a host of expen-
sive and useless persons translated from England to
fatten upon their industry and sneer at their igno-
rance, their revenues were applied without their con-
sent, and in defiance of all law, and the Governor in
Chief and his advisers were justified by the Tory
Government for having done so. The journals pub-
lished by authority turned the people into ridicule, and
applied to them every abusive epithet which court-
paid wit and ill-directed ingenuity could invent or re-

Y 2

' »'■*'■ '^

484

LOWER CANADA. — MR. VTGEB.

Ja i

P ,':

'I !

■1;; ;

member. Their Receiver-General failed for 100,000/.,
and continues to this day a first-rate court magnate, as
if no such mistake had happened. Persons obnoxious
to them personally, as having been among their bit-
terest revilers and enemies, continuod to engross manv
offices of trust and confidence ; and to this day nine-
tenths of the public functionaries are persons whom the
])opulation of the country have no confidence in what-
ever. In 1828, 88,000 persons petitioned the House
of Commons; an inquiry was gone into, and it ter-
minated in their favour. The Government then reme-
died some abuses, and Viscount Goderich, who suc-
ceeded Sir George Murray, applied himself in right
earnest to remove many more. A greater share of the
public funds were placed at the disposal of the Assem-
bly, and the Jesuits' estates mismanagement, and
some other scandalous jobs, done away with. But still
thp grand difficulty remained — ^judges they disliked,
and executive and Ic gislative councillors in whom they
had no confidence, continued to mar their harmony
and oppose their wishes; and although the Govern-
ment of England admitted the evil of an unpopular
Legislative Council, they continued to preserve the
screen as a convenience for their officers. Several un-
popular persons found refuge in the Legislative Council
wlien worsted in their attempts to get into the Assem-
bly. The riots, disturbances, discontents, and troubles
are so like those of Upper Canada, that it would be a
vain repetition to enumerate them. The Council and
the Assembly are now at open war ; and if the Whig
doctrines of the " Times " of the 6th instant, which
I have chosen to place over this article, were " a truth"

L00,000/.,
agnate, as
obnoxious
their bit-
ross many
day nine-
whom the
3 in what-
he House
nd it ter-
len reme-
who suc-
if in right
lare of the
he Assem-
uent, and

But still

(Ushked,
vhom they

harmony
e Govern-
unpopular
eserve the
everal un-
ive Council

10 Assem-
id troubles
vould be a
ouncil and

the Whig
int, which

" a truth"

LOWER CANADA. — MR. VIGKR.

485

in Canada, the Council would liave to succumb. As it
is, the result is not so certain ; for the home-policy ot
the Home-Government may not be altogether suitable
to the case of the 600,000 people of Lower Canada,
who have been governed, thus far, " Irish-fashion."
I have not room to enumerate the several monopolies
under which Lower Canada suffers, but they are many
and grievous, and have, doubtless, tried the temper of
the Legislative Assemblies. One of them, the Bank
of Montreal, operates very unfavourably to public
liberty ; its managers are chiefly merchants, connected
with houses here and in the United States, and the
President a shrewd and intelligent commission-mer-
chant from Vermont ; he does a very great b\isiness,
and has just been made a Legislative Councillor for
life. Others of the Directors are also of the Council,
and magistrates of Montreal, and of the province. The
whole capital stock of the incorporation was 250,000/.
on the 15th of November, 1830; and at the same
time the Directors had borrowed 181,043/., or nearly
three-quarters of the whole capital stock ; leaving to
the 600,000 people of the colony a chance of borrow-
ing the other quarter ! ! Jobs like this were formerly
done in New York ; but the Legislature there passed
a law to restrain all such unfairness and partiality.
The Montreal Joint Stock Company is upon the delu-
sive system of " no real responsibility by the direc-
tors or stock-holders ; " and all profits, bonuses, and
dividends to be divided among these irresponsibles.
Their charter is near its close ; and I think the British
Government will prevent, in time to come, the passage
of all such improper and dangerous Bank Acts. In

i -n:

1 f ;

! !■■

■f'

i V:

^.^

48G

LOWER CANADA. MR. VIGER«

1831, the Assembly sent home to England the Hon,
D. B. Viger, a popular and deservedly influential
member of the Legislative Council, to obtain a redress
of grievances. Thrice by annual votes, almost unani-
mously given, the representative branch of the Legis-
lature have manifested their unshaken confidence in
this appointment; and the Legislative Council, and
the other placemen, and Quebec and Montreal traders,
have still oftener condemned it. Instead of cultivating
the good-will of the Assembly, and, through them, of
their constituents, it appears to me that most of the
appointments to office in the colony, since Mr. Viger
has been here, have been men whom the Canadians
would not have trusted. Something like contempt has
been shown for the opinion of the people; and the
knot of merchants and placemen who insult Mr. Vi-
ger through the Morning Herald have gained many
of their points at the expense of his countrymen. I
must call this bad policy on the part of the Colonial
Office : for if ever England had a strong tower on
the continent of America, it was in the affections of
the Lower Canadians; a people differing in maimers,
and customs, and language, and religion from the
New Englanders ; a people desiroi's to keep up these
distinctions, so important to the influence of this nation,
but a people who also desire, and will have, a cheap
domestic government. I would much rather see a
colonial conference called at Quebec than witness an
extra-session of Congress held in New York or Phila-
delphia. His Majesty's Government may refuse or
neglect the former, until they render the latter in-
evitable.

^■r

I': i,

LOWER CANADA. MR. VIGER.

487

1 i].

the Hoik
influential
n a redress
ost unani-
the Legis-
ifidence in
)uncil, and
eal traders,
cultivating
jh them, of
nost of the
Mr. Vigor
Canadians
ntempt has
e; and the
lit Mr. Vi-
lined manv
try men. I
ne Colonial
tower on
iffections of
n manners,
1 from the
p up these
this nation,
re, a cheap
ther see a
witness an
c or Phila-
refuse or
latter in-

With all its faults, the Legislative Council of Lower
Canada is a far less blameable body than that of
Upper Canada. It has been made to pass many good
laws, through the perseverance of the other house;
but this year refuses the Supply Bill, because the As-
sembly have assumed the control of the whole public
revenue, and incorporated many useful reforms in the
bill they sent up. The Assembly has also (to use the
lansuage of the Council) " ventured on the darinsf
step of addressing his Majesty to render the Legisla-
tive Council elective;" and their Address will test
Mr. Stanley's consistency of character. We will see
whether he, the most powerful and eloquent declaimer
of all the Wliigs against these petty juntos, the Colo-
nial Councils, will promptly redeem his pledges and
promises to the Two Canadas, by sweeping the Councils
away. I think he will try,

Mr. Blanchard (of Pictou), member of the General
Assembly of Nova Scotia for the county of Halifax,
not long since made the following remarks : —

*' In this and other North American colonies, there
is the eager prosecution of those very measures which
forced into rebellion adjacent sections of the empire ;
and we rejoice to see the loyal province of Nova Scotia
aroused to counteract a system of misrule, which has
for its basis the aggrandizement of a few ; who, first,
by their oppressions create discontent, and then assail
the oppressed with the shout of disatlection to Govern-
ment. In these provinces, councils, as they are at
piesent constituted, without affording the least advan-
tage to the Crown, are a dead weight upon the
prosperity of the subject ; and it cannot be otherwise.
Custom-house officers, officers of excise, treasurers.

488

LOWER CANADA COMPANY.

judge', attorney-generals, bisliops, &c. &c. are there;
and they are there, not because they possess either in-
telligence or capacities of legislation, but because their
friends, having foisted them into lucrative offices, give
them an additional lift into what they conceive to be
honour."

\
i
i

!■
1

.1 I ,

t, J'/

LOWER CANADA COMPANY.

" Know then, that we consider ourselves, and do insist that we are and
ought to be as free as our fellow-subjects in Great Britain ; and that no
power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our
consent. ♦ * * We will never submit to be liewers of wood and drawers
of water for any ministry or nation in the world." — John Jay.

" The mode of settlement upon seigneuries, the desire to be near their
church, the plain, sociable, kind-hearted character of the Canadians, all
conspire to make them ding together, as long as subsistence can be got.
Not only the external customs,^but the politeness of old France is distin-
guishable at once among these simple peasants."— /itr/3o>7 hi/ Mr.
Richards, to Lord Goderich, on Canada Waste Lands,

" The price paid by the settler for his land is not in fact lost to him,
it is applied in diminishing the burthen of taxation, by defraying part of
the necessary expenses of the Government ; and it will also, it is to be
hoped, afford the means of opening roads, of erecting schools and
churches, and of making other local improvements. Indeed, for one of
these purposes more particularly, the opening of roads, I think there
would be considerable advantage in demanding a higher price for land
than is i:ow usually paid." — Despatch, the Earl of Ripon.

I woi'LD have written at more length concerning these
speculations, had I not supposed they were at an end.
It appears, however, by a communication from the
local government to the merchants of Quebec, that the
scheme of a Lower Canada Company is about to re-
ceive the sanction of ministers, and that 500,000 acres
are to be immediately disposed of to the monopoly.
Jf I mistake not, there was a pledge from England

LOWER CANADA COMPANY.

489

are there;
s either in-
?cause their
officesj give
iceive to be

that we are and
II ; and that no
IS without our
od and dmwers
lay.

lo be near their
Canadians, all
ice can be got.
'ranee is distin-
leport by Mr.

act lost to him,
fraying part of
ilso, it is to be
g schools and
eed, for one of
I think there
price for land

rning these

at an end.

from the

jc, that tlie

30ut to re-

),000 acres

monopoly.

mi England

that this would no; be done ; and Mr. Stanley has
before him the petitions of 20,000 persons in Upper
Canada, complaining of the present Canada Company,
as also the opinion of the representative branch of the
legislature of Lower Canada, and of many public
meetings of counties and other places, against the new
scheme. This induces me to think that there must
be a mistake in the matter ; for, if not, it wovdd be a
proof to the inhabitants of that province, that their
opinions, when weighed against the interesl^s of Messrs.
Nathaniel Gould and his mercantile friends, were as
nothing. This would lead to unfavourable compari-
sons with the United States, who now allow no such
scandalous and disgracefid jobs to exist.

General Simcoe, the agent for the crown in Upper
Canada, pledged himself, and stated to the legislature
during its first session, that he had the royal authority
for stating to them, that the seventh of the public
lands reserved by his Majesty had been reserved for
the public uses and the general benefit. This pro-
mise was openly violated, however, for, after the farmers
had made these lands very valuable by their labour,
in settling on and around them, government made a
job of the whole by selling them to a knot of specida-
tors on Change. Then the farmers were obliged to
buy lands they had improved from the agents of these
persons, at high rates. The Canada Company paid in
111. p'M share, and divided 4 per cent. These 17/.
shares now fetch b\l. each, in the city; and it is said
that the Company have cleared in one year 34,000/.,
besides expenses. All this is out of the sweat and
toil of the labourer ir» Upper Canada, and he knows it.

I i

490

LOWER CANADA COMPANY.

As for the application of the money paid to govern-
ment, it is in many, if not in most cases, used for the
most unworthy purposes, and in all cases without ♦he
sanction of the people of the country from whom it is
raised.

J-

UNSKILFIL PLYSICIANS.
IcNorANT doctors, who have

"Ne'er toiled an hour in physic's cause,
Or given one tliought to Nature's laws,"

are far worse than none, and with these America is
cursed. Some veil their incapacity in a solemn manner
and polite address ; others dash boldly on, and trust to
ignorance, when backed by matchless impudence,
Drs. Telfer and Stuart assured me that even the
Niagara frontier, in ivhkh ihere are no crown and
clergy reserves, was, in the fall of 1825, very unhealthy.
Many cases of dysentery proved fatal, and lake fevers
and intermittents abounded : children suffered much.
An unlicensed quack, whose name has escaped my
memory, gave an infant child twenty-five drops of
laudanum, and it fell asleep and slept for ever.
Another self-taught surgeon and his assistant took a
half-pay officer, from Kent, in tow for a stricture in
the urethra; and had not Dr. Flanagan of the British
Army, and Dr. Telfer, been sent for, they would have
sacriiiced their patient's life through gross ignorance.
Three poor fellows, who were working on the Welland
canal, came to a doctor for a cure for fever and ague,
and received bark with a strong dose of laudanum in
it, to slop, as he said, the Cholera Morbus : only one of

to govern-
ed for the
ithout ♦he
vhom it is

\merica ia
iin manner
ind trust to
mpudence.
t even tlie
crown and

unhealthy.

lake fevers

red much,
scaped my
e drops of
t for ever.

ant took a
stricture in

the British
ivould have

ignorance,
lie Welland
r and ague,
ludanum in

only one of

UNSKILFUL PHYSICIANS.

41)1

them took his dose, and he slept soundly, and departed
this life at three the following morning. The other
two had doubted, and they missed the draught.
Quacks come into the Western States of the Union
and into the Coloni.^3 pennyless — gull the public, and
actually acquire no little practical skill by experience
at the expense of their clients' lives : of these not a few
live in a fine stylo, and realize competent fortunes.
The law, of late years, has been more strict and more
strictly enforced against such pretenders to " the art
divine, to heal each lurking ill ;" and, moreover, skil-
ful practitioners, natives as well of America as of
Ev jpe, are become far more abundant. I knew a
case of a doctor who took six pounds of blood from one
of his patients at one time! Dr. Tclfer (who served
his apprenticeship with Dr. Graham, of Hawick) told
me of a cure in which anotlier Ill^^pocrates was sent
for to an old gentleman in agony with a suppression of
urine, caused by paralysis of the bladder : the man of
medicine prescribed saltpetre and other diuretics, which
caused a plentiful secretion of urine, but his patient
void-'d not one drop. When Dr. Telfer was called in,
the smell from the uufortiuiate man, who had been in
that painful state for four days, was exceedingly offen-
sive. The lighter parts of the urine oozed through
the pores of his skin, and the bladder was swoln to its
greatest possible extent. Dr. Telfer immediately
made use of the catheter, and the full contents of the
bladder, of excessive fuetid urine, were voided. In-
stant case was the co> sequence, and the paralysis was
afterwards removed. Poor settlers who go forty or fifty
miles back in the woods with their families, have ruu

I .'

: i

1 !

■*-■

492

UNSKILFUL PHYSICIANS.

the risk of ill health, the absence of competent physi-
cians, distance from markets, bad (or impassable)
roads for half the year, and undergo many other priva-
tions. All this they might surmount ; but the cruel
and unfeeling conduct of the local government, in de-
livering th?m up to heavy fees, Canada Company
monopolies, costly law, (which soon strips a man of his
farm,) and bad rule in every possible shape, is a cho-
lera morbus ending in many cases only with their lives.

The cholera of infants carries off great numbers of
children in the cities during the summer months, but
comparatively few die in the country. The young of
the human species, as well as of the brute creation, re-
quire pure air.

The Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park, Lon-
don, are very judiciously placed in a high situation, at
a distance from the positive insahibrity of the

"Chaos of eternal smoke
An J volatile corruption from the dead,
The dying, sickening, and the living world."

J s

GUARDIANS OF THE PUBLIC PURSE.

The Upper Canada Finance Committee of 1833, in
the House of Assembly, were — 1. The Postmaster of
Nelson, Chairman! — 2. The Solicitor General! —

3. The Collector of Customs at Port Dalhousie, and
Postmaster and Toll-collector at St. Catherine's I —

4. The Postmaster of Newmarket ! — 5. The Attor-
ney General! — With (6 and 7.) Messrs. Morris and
Samson. This is colony government.

493

ent physi-
Tipassable)
)thcrpriva-
t the cruel
lent, in de-
Company
man of hifi
?, is a clio-
iheir lives,
lumbers of
lonths, but
e young of
•eation, re-

!*ark, Lon-
ituation, at
le

3E.

f 1833, in

itmaster of
jreneral ! —
ousie, and
lerine's I —
rhe Attor-
lorris and

MONOPOLIES IN UPPER CANADA.

'' Culoniai and provincial countries are misgoverned, so as to become
proverbial for arbitrary rule, caprice, and mismanagement. Sometimes
tlie yoi<e is rendered comparatively light and endurable, by tho £;ood
xense and the good feeling of the individual governors, but the syst^.^!
brings degradation and ruin — the crouching hubit of slavery, and the
insolent domination of upstart and transitory authority. The Union hax
made Ireland a province, and she has sufTered, accordingly, the evils of
colonial degradation." — Report of Mr. O'Connell's Speech in the House
0/ Commons, on the State of Ire fond, December 9, 1830.

I. The House of Assembly ; 2. The Legislative
Council ; 3. The Executive ditto ; 4 and 5. York and
Kingston Banks ; 6. Law Society Incorporation ; 7 to

II. York, Kingston, Niagara, Amherstburgh, and
Brockville Town Incorporations ; 12. Eleven sets of
District Magistrates ; 13. Canada Company ; 14.
Eleven District Courts; 15. Court of King's Bench;
16. Upper Canada College ; 17. Clergy Incorpora-
tion ; 18. Welland Canal Company ; 19. Desjardin's
Canal ditto ; 20. Grand River Navigation Company ;
21 and 22. Cornwall and Sandwich Police ; 23. The
Lieutenant-Governor, or Agent of the Colonial Office.
There are about twenty-five other chartered or incor-
porated monopolies, besides those of the Catholic and
Presbyterian priests, paid by the government from the
industry of the Methodists, Baptists, &c. I might also
have added, Education, which is the worst monopoly
of all. The Legislative Council complained to the
British government of the political unions : the
Council is, itself, the most pernicious political union in
existence.

ii:

t I

494

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

I. V

f f

r .''

I* i

■ 1 ■ /
w ■

>i^

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, A SOLEMN MOCKERY !

" I really do believe (hat where society is constituted as in Canadj,
any attempt on the part of the government to appoint the f.egi.shitive
('ouncil is the merest delusion. I have ever been of opinion, (hat the
only possible way by which you can give to that body the weight and
respectability which they ouglit to possess, is by introducing the princi|)le
of election." 7l/r. Labouc/iere, House of Cominons, Ftb, 18, 1832'
Mirror of Parliament.

" Why, every step of these Tory tyrants is a direct step towards reve-
lation. Let them move onwards: we cannot prevent them. — nothing
(.an prevent them ; they are galloping full tilt at the precipice, and the
abyss yawns for them below." Dines, June 14_ 1833. Observa-
tions on the manoeuvres of the Tory Chiefs in the House of I'eers.

As a proof of the sycophancy of the legislative coun-
cils of the Canadas, I will here relate what took place
on the passage of an obnoxious bill desired by Sir
Peregrine Maitland's government in Uj)per Canada
some years ago. The legislative council were almost
inianimous against making the temporary act prema-
turely permanent ; and the Honourable James Jiaby,
the Honourable John A. Dunn, and Chief-justice
Powell, opposed the passing of the bill. — For a whole
week they argued and spoke against the bill; and at
length arrived the ever-memorable day for its final
passing. I'he legislative council met, every member
adhering to his opitiion ; and it was certain the
measure would be negatived. But the enemies of the
constitution prevailed upon the pious Sir Peregrine
Maitland to believe that he would be doinsr God an
acceptable service if he would oblige those members
dependent upon the government for their yearly sub-
sistence, to change their conduct and vote in favour of
the very measure against which thf y had been speak-

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

495

C'KKRY !

IS in Canada,
le I.egiiiliitive
nion, that the
le weight and
the principle
;6. 18, 1S32.

towards revc-
hem. — nothing

pice, and thL*
V3. Obseria-
' I'efrs.

itive cotm-
took place
•ed by Sir
er Camulii
ere almost
ict prenui-
nies 13abv,
'hid'-justice
^or a whole
ill ; and at
31' its final
ly member
lertain the
iiies of the
Peregrine
\g God an
3 members
yearly sub-
1 favour oC
leen speak-

ing, arguing, and voting for a week before. Accoriling
to the evidence of the Honourable William Dickson, the
business of the legislative council was suspended ior
hours, while his Excellency and the executive council
consulted about the expediency of intimidating certain
members into a tame submission to the opinion of
others at the sacrifice of their own. While the Honour-
able James Baby was sitting in the council-chamber
by the side of the Honourable William Dickson, with
all the imaginury importance of an independent law-
giver, a message was delivered to the former gentleman
stating that Secretary Hillier wished to see him. He
obeyed — he returned — not with his former countenance
beaming with pleasure, and smiling over the honest
discharge of his duties, but with a face marked by
chagrin. He was evidently much confused and agi-
tated. His sympathizing friend next to him inquired
what was the matter : the humbled peer replied — " 1
must vote for the bill ! " And when the same inquiry
was made of the late Chief-justice Powell, he answered
— " I must vote for it also; I have received a new
light upon the subject within the last ten minutes." —
The Honourable John H. Dunn, though in good health,
tvas sick and could not attend the council ; and the
Honourable John M'Gill walked through the rain as
far as to the Parliament House, to inform a friend that
he too was sick and could not attend the House that
day. When the measure was carried and the House
adjourned, the Honourable Mr. Dickson said to the
Honourable James Babv, " This is unaccountable con-
duct ;" in answer to which the unhappy man put his
hand upon his heart, and said, " My Children ! my
Children ! " expressing his regret at the necessity which

i'i

1 { I

49r»

LEGISLATIVI-: COUNCILS.

I'fi

- »

■■J"'/

drove him to the abamlonmont ol' the course lie hud
pursued. In answer to a question whetlier the same
influence was exerted on other occlusions, tlie Honour-
able Mr. Dickson says — •* I firndy believe it. 1 know
that the Honourable John H. Dunn as well as myself
and the Honourable Thomas Clark entered our protest
on the journals against the bill entitled an act to make
permanent and extend the provisions now iu Ibrce for
the establishment and regulation of common schools
throughout this province, and for granting to his Ma-
jesty a further sum of money to promote and encourage
education within the same; but his (Mr. Dunn's)
name has since been erased, and the erasiu-e appears
on the journals, and I have also reason to believe that
the late Chief-justice Powell was unduly injiuenced on
a similar occasion."

Such is the testimony of the Honourable Mr. Dick-
son, corroborated by the Honoiu*able Thomas Clark,
gentlemen whose veracity cannot be disputed.

I have already named nine placemen and pensioners
in the council; to whom may be added. Bishop Mac-
donell, pensioner, 400/. ; Sir W. Campbell, pensioner,
1200/. ; G. H. Markland, Inspector General and
Executive Councillor, 600/. ; Joseph Wells, Executive
Councillor, Registrar of King's College, and Treasurer
of the Board of Education ; Duncan Cameron, Secre-
tary of State and Registrar General, 1000/.; John H.
Dunn, Receiver General, 1000/. ; Neil M'Lean, Gau-
ger. Excise Collector, Surrogate, Inspector, and Trea-
surer, E. D. ; A. M'Donell, Ganger, Inspector and
Collector of Excise, and pensioner, H. D. ; Thomas
Talbot, pensioner, 400/. ; Bishop Stuart, 3150/. ; Zac-
cheus Bumham, Treasurer, N. D„ 200/.; A. Baldwin

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

407

rse he hud
'!• the 8ame
10 Honour-
it. 1 know
?U as myself
I our protest
let to make
iu Ibree lor
lion schools
to his Ma-
il encourage
r. Dunn's)
ure appears
believe that
tjiuenced on

J Mr. Dick-
>mas Clarke
?d.

d pensioners
ishop Mac-
1, pensioner,
jeneral and
1, Executive
id Treasurer
sron, Secre-
!. J John H.
Lean, Gau-
, and Trea-
spector and
). ; Thomas
WbOl. ; Zac-
A. Baldwin

and P. Adamson, half- pay ; and some other persons
of their way of thinking, selected of late years to keep
up appearances. The lame, the deaf, the bed ridden,
and the superannuated, form a part of the actors in
this legislative farce; but the people have a mind to
change the scene. The legislative council of Lower
Canada is the counterpart of ours.

THE MORNING HERALD.

The Times was angry with the Paris journalists a few
weeks ago for giving a bombastic, high-coloured de-
scription of the Cold Bath Fields meeting, and exalt-
ing Messrs. Lee and Mee to a place in the first class of
the agitating politicians in this metropolis. It is of
no use to find fault A.itli such descriptions, for they will
continually occur where foreign newspaper writers
speak of what thf know nothing about. Of this T/m
Morning Herald is a proof, as I shall show. Tliis
print, during the twelve months in which I have been
residing here, has given an extensive circulation to an
inconceivable quantity of slander, misrepresentation,
and abuse of the people of Canada, chiefly in para-
graphs, or pretended foreign letters, or extracts from
letters, placed under the City head. A son of the late
Judge Bedard of Lower Canada, (a member of the
legislature, and the brother of the present mayor of
Quebec,) seeing one of these scandalous productions
when in London, on his return from a tour in Switzer-
land, sent them his name and a brief and very modest

1 i:

498

THE MORNING HERALD.

.1.

sii ; I

f- ■/%'

' i

letter in explanation, but they would not insert a
syllable of it. Nay, more, his letter was publicly used
and referred to next day, in that newspaper, to the in-
jury of the Canadians. I wrote a short explanation
some time last winter, but, upon pretence of leaving no
room for further discussion, it was suppressed, and
then the misstatements complained of were steadily
repeated. Not even as an advertisement would they
allow their misrepresentations to be corrected and the
truth told about Canada ! I state these facts, to warn
the few whom these pages may reach how little the
statements of one of the highest class of English joiu*nal-
ists is to be depended on in cases where the interest of
some party with whom they may be connected in
making the worse the better cause is concerned. On
those matters to which the attention of this nation has
been widely awakened, the " Morning Herald" is often
one of the most candid, sensible, and temperate of
journals. But when the abuse of a province or its
agent, of whom the public think but little, will answer
a purpose with Downing Street, the " Herald" will
stoop to conduct which I think very discreditable, and
which the humblest journalists in Canada would be
ashamed of. It will lend its columns to attack and in-
jure individuals and communities, and afterwards shut
out all opportunity for reply or explanation. Surely
this must be the work of a miserable i.nderling, and
not of the editor ! I have observed that the " Times "
pursues a very different course.

499

ot insert a
jblicly used
r, to the ill-
explanation
f leaving no
ressed, and
;re steadily
would they
ted and the
cts, to warn
w little the
ish joiuMial-
s interest of
nnected in
erned. On
> nation has
lid" is often
?mperate of
vince or its
will answer
erald" will
litable, and
a would be
tack and in-
r wards shut
an. Surely
Jerling, and
e" Times"

ANECDOTES OF LAKE ONTARIO.

One day, in the summer of 1831, the fine steam-shiji
Great Britain anchored a mile out from the harbour
of Port Hope, in Lake Ontario, and I had the pleasure
of witnessing the process of landing a span of horses by
a method not much in use in England. These fine
animals were severally backed over the vessel's side
and sent head-over-heels into the water. On coming
up they made for the middle of the lake instead of
striving for the shore. They swam with considerable
speed, and the steamer's boat, which was instantly
lowered, made after them. The seamen contrived to
turn their heads when out two or three miles from land,
and the moment they saw the shore they made for it.
At length we had the satisfaction of seeing them get
to land, one of them, however, much exhausted.

I did not witness the accident detailed in the follow-
ing extract of a letter from Niagara, of date the 16th
Sept. of that year, but was assured of the accuracy of
the statement by a friend who was on board the Great
Britain at the time : —

" An incident of unusiio,! interest befell a little girl
last evening, between the landing wharf of the steam-
boat Great Britain and the Youngstown ferry. She
was of the number of poor Scotch emigrants who had
just disembarked from the boat and huddled their
utensils on the wharf. By some accident she was pre-
cipitated into the depths of the river and sank, ap-
parently to rise no more. Never was more confusion,
and never such inconsiderate remissness, in adopting

'■ 1

500

VOTK OF THANKS TO THK EARL OF RIPON.

means of recovery. Tlie men stood motionless on tlio
fatal spot, as though expecting to attract the child by
the intensity of their gaze. Fortunately, at this mo-
ment a strange gentleman appeared, and, moved by
the heart-rending shrieks of the mother, slipped oti' his
coat, watch, and shoes, and plunged to the bottom in
pursuit. lie soon re-appeared, bringing up the little
Highlander, swam with her to the shore, and ran
witii her to an adjoining out -house, where the means
of resuscitation were immediately and successfully
adopted. In less than two hours the child had en-
tirely recovered, and was delivered over to the mother.
The deliverer is an entire stranjjer. All that the cmi-
grants knew of him was, that he embarked on board
the Great Britain at Oswego, bound for the westward ;
that he spoke to them very kindly while on board,
and gave some crackers to the children."

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE EARL OF RIWON.

On the 9th of February last, Mr. Perry moved a reso-
lution for an address to his Majesty, expressing the
gratitude of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada
for the vctluable concession made to the public will
by the Earl of Ilipon and the ministers of the crown.
Mr. Hagerman the Solicitor-general, and Mr. Boulton
the Attorney-general, with the other persons in the
House holding public offices, violently opposed and
defeated the motion. They insulted the government
by refusing the Colonial Secretary's despatch a place

ON.

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE EARL OF RIPON.

501

ess on the
,e child by
t this mo-
nioved by
ped oti' his

bottom in
p the little
, and ran

the means
luecessfully
Id had en-
he mother,
at the emi-
1 on board

westward ;

on board.

)ved a reso-
ressing the
per Canada
public will
the crown.
/Ir. Boulton
5ons in the
pposed and
cjovernment
eh a place

on their journals, and the legislative council went still
farther — they sneered at the despatch and its author,
and sent it back from whence it came.

Mr. Perry's resolution is well worth the perusal ; it
was as follows : —

" That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, thanking him
for the prompt attention that his Majesty has been most graciously
pleased to pay to the representations and petitions, not only of his faithful
Commons, but also of his Majesty's faithful and loyal people in this pro.
vince, and to express to his Majesty our sincere gratitude for the many
valuable measures that his Majesty has been most graciously pleased to
suggest and recommend to the government of this province, which are
eminently cclculated, if acted upon, to render his Majesty's loyal subjects
n this provin're more happy and contented, and which .^re contained in
le despatch of Lord Goderich, his Majesty's Secretary of State for the
Colonies, dated Downing-street, Sth Nov., 1832, and transmitted by his
Uxcellency Sir John Colburne to the House of Assembly, on the 12th
day of January, 1833, viz,, the passing of a bill for the amendment of
the Election Laws; the aiter.uion of the Charter of King's College in such
a manner as shall agree witii tlie wishes of the people; the placing the
Town Members of the Assembly on the same footing, in respect to wages,
as the County Menibers; the allowing all the members of religious deno-
minations, who cannot conscientiously take an oath, the privilege of the
Elective Franchise ; the interdiction of the disposal of Crown Lands to
favourites, and rendering them the subject of public competition ; the
repeal of the law which excludes British subjects from voting at elections,
and being elected, until the expiration of seven years after their return
from a residence in a foreign country; the non-ip.terference of all persons
holding official situations in tlic province at elections; the strong recom-
mendation of his Majesty for a universal diffusion of Education, especially
amongst the poorest and most destitute; the desire expressed that the
most ample and particular information should be given to this House of
the avails and disposition of the casual and territorial revenue ; the jdis-
position expressed by his Majesty, that the ministers of religion should
resign their seats in the Councils, aod that no undue preference should be
given to preachers of the Cliurch of England ; the reducing tiie cost at
elections; the respect expressed for our constitutional rights; the pass-
ing of a bill for the independence of the judges; and the passing of a bill
limiting the number of persons holding office to seats in the House of
A.si'mbly.

fli

■1:

■I I

1 i

■''\

i ' ,

502

VOTE OF THANKS lO THE EARL OF RIPON.

:i. '

W ■' ■!

" That this House, emboldened by the kind and attentive reception and
consideration whicli the proper representations of his Majesty's faithful
people have always received from iiis Majesty, most respectfully beg leave
to represent to his Majesty, that a large share of the financial resources ot
the province accrues from the payment annually made by the Canada
Land Company — the leases and sales of crown lands — licenses to cut
timber on the said lands — leases and mill-sites, ferries and other property,
seizures, fines, forfeitures, &c. known and called by the name of the
Casual and Territorial Revenue ; and that ilie said revenue is raised, col-
lected, appropriated, and expended by the government without the know-
ledge, approbation, or sanction of the legislature of the province, and that
the Land-granting department in tills province is entirely conducted with-
out the control or sanction of any law for its regulation.

" That many inconveniences and disadvantages are likely to arise from
a refusal to allow the revenue to be under the control and management of
the legislature, who have the exclusive application and direction of other
public funds. Several public offices of the province are employed in tins
collection and management of all these monies ; and it is diiBcuIt to de-
termine what proportion each fund should contribute towards the ex-
penses of these offices, while it is manifestly unjust that the whole sum
should be paid out of the money which is admitted to be under the control
of the Provincial Parliament.

" That this House is persuaded that all public monies will be collected
with greater economy, and applied more usefully and faithfully, if the col-
lection and expenditure are subjected to the direction of the representa-
tives of the people ; and cannot but be apprehensive that if the large and
increasing revenue adverted to is allowed to be raised and expended by
those who may be intrusted by his Majesty with the administration of
our provincial government, in such a manner as they may deem best,
without any check or responsibility to the legislature, it will give them a
dangerous influence, incompatible with the genius and spirit of our free
constitution, which requires, as we believe, that all monies raised from
the people should be expended for their benefit, in such a manner as their
representatives may direct.

" That this House has the greatest confidence in his M^ijesty's paternal
regard for the improvement, prosperity, and liberty of his Majesty's domi-
nions, and therefore trusts that his Majesty will be pleased to listen gra-
ciously to its representations, and to give such directions that the collec-
tion and application of all public monies raised in this province, as well as
the management of the Land-granting departm.ent, may be left to the legis-
lature of this province."

»ON.

reception and
jesly's faithful
ully beg leave
d resources ot
)V the Canada
licenses to cut
jther property,
» name of the
5 is raised, col-
lout the know-
'ince, and that
onducted with-

ly to arise from
management of
ection of other
mployed in tiic

difficult to de-
towards the ex-

the whole sum
nder the control

vill be collected

iiullyjif the col-

the representa-

if the large and

d expended by

dministration of

[lay deem best,

will give them a

spirit of our free

nies raised from

manner as their

Iijesty's paternal
Majesty's domi-
sed to listen gra-
3 that the coUcc-
jvince, as well as
5 left to the legia-

EXPLANATIONS.

Some of these sketches were written at York in Upper Canada; others
were addressed, as the gossip of the day, news, politics, or varieties,
from various places, to friends at York. A few remarks have been added
in London.
In page 20, line 15, for 1831 read 1832.

Observes (page 8). A word used in Scotland to denote the divisions
of a sermon.

The Sloop (page 9). The porch and seats in front or rear of a dwell-
ing house.

A Dollar is a coin worth only 4s. 2d. sterling, but accounted of the
value of 4«. Gd. sterling in the northern colonies.

Halifax Currency is the money of account in tlic colonies. Four
dollars make a pound, and a dollar is accounted as five sliillings.

A Cent is an American copper coin of the value of aa English half-
penny.

A Tory — Tories. All over North America the friends of civil and re-
ligious freedom are understood to be good Whigs, while, on the other
hand, the appellation of a Tory serves on both sides of the Niagara to dis-
tinguish a supporter of despotic and arbitrary power. It is in this sense
I have used the term, and not in a sense personally offensive to any one.
Tories are often excellent neighbours and kind friends, but having been
unfortunate in their political education, they " have a natural alliance
with the enemies of mankind in every part of the world."

The King's Representative. Although we are in the habit of bestow-
ing this title upon colonial governors, it is misapplied. They are simply
agents of the British government for the time being, and as such re.«pon-
sible to it.

A friend who has read my borrowed sketch of Mr. Attorney. General
Archibald, (page 143,) assures me that he is much less of a courtier than
that description would imply.

With respect to those parts of this volume which are taken up in the
exposure of colonial jobbing, it seemed to me fair and reasonable, that as
li'.e late Attorney and Solicitor General of Upper Canada, with the aid of
Doctor Strachan and the Chief-juslice, had contrived to defeat the Earl
of Ripon's purpose of publishing my statements within the province, a
specimen of the facts offered to the consideration of the Colonial Office
might be very properly introduced into this volume, and reference made
to the remainder. Messrs. Boulton and Hagerman are now in London,
and may disprove the facts alleged — if they can. How is it that these
two men, of a weak and feeble capacity, mean acquirements, and no

n
u

•li!

l<i;|t

if.

i>^'

504

EXPLANATIONS.

■I ' ,

f>er.soiiaI influence with the people of Upper Canada, have contrived for
a number of years to keep possession of the offices of Attorney and Soli-
citor General, in defiance of public opinion ? — It is because character
has not been essential to political success in life in that part of the world,
where a dark and gloomy military despotism required suitable instruments
to lio its work. The colonial rotten-borougli system has interfered with
tiie usefulness of the Assembly; but wlicn the new elections are over, I
imagine tluit the Morning Herald will have no further occasion to regret
the dissatisfaction of the province on account of the ejection of its two
Tory friends. Of tlie many animadversions made in America upon the
I onduct of the late crown lawyers, last winter, in the legislature of the
colony, tiie following, by Mr. John Neilson, Member for the county o*
(Quebec, is the best : — " This is faction ; and faction availing itself of the
< ons'itutional privileges of anotlier branch of government to fill their
porkets at the expense of the people, bring the government into contempt,
and produce a state of anarchy in the power instituted for the preserva-
tion of order andthe etecution of the laws."

I would willingly have moderated some passages in which Sir .lohn
(^olborne is mentioned, but cannot do so without a disregard to truth.
At tlie same time I admit thit Sir John (a gallant and brave officer'^ was
necessarily placed in the midst of a class of persons who were interested
in misleading him; and that when colonial governors see that the people
can uphold ihem, they will probably bCgin to treat them with more con.
sideration than Sir John Colborne has ever yet shown for the feelings
and opinions of the people of Upper Canada.

^ Courtier. In using this term I mean to include many cleve;, intelli-
gent men, in dependent situations, wiio want to thrive in a colony.
Doctor Dunlop, for instance, the slirewd and i'.umorous auihor of the
" Backwoodsman," recorded his opinion of the Methodists of Canada in the
highest strains of unminglcd approbation, on the journals vi the legisla*
lure: but tlie moment he found they were the objects of Sir John Col-
boriie's hatred, he turned round and sneered at, traduced, and ridiculed
them. Tills it is to be a courtier.

Diycjing for Librl (page 314). I was present one day in Colonel
Pmkson's, when a grand quarrel ensued between the two commissioners
about Sir Peregrine and the digging up of the bottle. Colonel Clark in.
sisie> that it was their duty to obey " his Excellency " in such a ;;ase ;
but \.\.i colleague told him in reply, tliat before he would have acted as
he (Chirk) had, he would have stood lo be shot at.

A Span of Horses (page 499) means a pair of horses.

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Moral Writers, and Systems of Morality considered and compared.^
The Condition of Mortality examined.— Liberty and Necessity.—
Remarks on the Bible Societies.

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I NO.

^80R, ESQ.

-The Imagina-
tish Constitu-
-The principal
d compared.—
Necessity.—

loards.

ON;

e of biograpliy
divested of the
irs in tills work
es to overcome,
1 an unbiassed
f his inquiries.
the public, as-
poleon and his
way.

i completion of
iterest, and the
a period, inde-
nd support.

y bought Vols,
lird and found
ce 1/. 10s.

MENT OF

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RDER FOR THE

Esq.

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Xiafayettey Koiiis Philippe, and the Revolution

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INTERIOR

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nd Functions of
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leni. Havini; been
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ted with this horri-
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WITn DIORESSIONS, ENOLISil AND AMERICAy.

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