The most practicable approach to Niagara on the side of Ontario, is by an unused, tho' well known Indian path, leading to and from an ancient Indian Village, somewhere above Allen's Mill and keeping between the Creeks which fall into Lake Ontario and the Tonewante. The ridge is dry, and a hundred Pioneers would make it practicable for an Army, only preceding it one day, but all the New Englanders are Pioneers. From Presqu'Isle to Buffaloe Creek there is no difficulty. I have every reason on earth, both public and private, My Lord, to regret the extension of War to this infant Colony, but should it take place, I hope to conduct myself so as to obtain your good opinion, and to render it manifest that a devoted Attachment to my King and Country continues to be the ruling Principle of my Life. I have the honor to be, &c.

Rt. Honble. Lord Dorchester.

J. G. SIMCOE.

FROM HENRY DUNDAS TO J. G. SIMCOE.

WHITEHALL, 16th March, 1794.

Lt. Govr. Simcoe.

No. 3.

Sir:

No. 17-16th Sepr. 1793.

17-16th
18.-20th.

Private.-20th.

I have received and laid before the King your Letters of the numbers and Dates mentioned in the margin. The first of these respects the Acts passed in the last Session. I think you did very right in passing the Marriage Act, as it stood, in order to avoid the difficulties arising from a desire in the House of Assembly to extend the power of solemnizing Marriages beyond what was proper. At the same time, the Opinion which you have received of His Majesty's Advocate, Attorney and Solicitor General, will enable you in the next Sessions to make such Amendments as appear to be requisite. While on the subject of the Acts, which are very properly commented upon, I take this opportunity of observing to you that in transmitting them each Act should be respectively signed by the Speakers of the two Houses, at the time of its passing, and by you when you give your assent, and should be under the seal of the Province, either separately or connected with those which accompany it.

I am sorry to observe anything like a tendency, either in the Legislative Council or Assembly to oppose His Majesty's Government, and in matters too, which are so evidently of a beneficial nature to the Province.

But much is to be allowed to the Novelty of the Duties imposed on them, and to the light in which they are called upon to view things, namely, as not connected with this or that local consideration, but with the Protection and Welfare of the Province at large, a mode of viewing things naturally repugnant to the first impressions created in their minds. Nothing could tend more completely to the continuance of such first impressions, and of course to a narrow and contracted Policy than the Idea of the Members receiving Wages from their several constituents; an Idea, which I trust will not be entertained by the Assembly for a moment. The Conduct of Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Cartwright appears to be such as by no means entitle them to the favour or Attention of His Majesty's Government in

Canada. I make no doubt therefore of your having already represented their Conduct and their Principles to Lord Dorchester; for nothing is more destructive both in example and in effect than that the influence, flowing from the Executive Authority, should be exerted against that Authority.

I have received His Majesty's Pleasure in favour of Mr. Shaw's succeeding to the vacant seat in the Legislative Council and have accordingly given directions for making out his Appointment. His Mandamus to the Executive Council has long since been passed and both one and the other will be delivered to Mr. Shaw's Agent upon his calling for them and paying the Fees.

The Plan for future Townships transmitted in your Letter of the same number and date with that which I have been answering, seems in placing the Reserves for the Crown and the Church, to have attended to the Spirit and Principles of the late Canada Act.

Although there may be a good reason for making those Reserves in the BackLands, in the particular Township of York, yet in that Township also, there should be a Reservation in the Front Concessions for the Glebe and Residence of the Clergyman, who shall be appointed the Rector under the Provisions of the Act. It was at first proposed to make the Reserves in Lower Canada in large Masses, but the same has been laid aside, in consequence of directions from hence.

I have particularly attended to your Letter, No. 18, & to the Charts of the River Thames, Long Point, and the Harbour of York, which accompanied it— The Drawing you transmitted of the last of these was graciously received by the King.

The exertions which you have made in person, to trace out and investigate the precise course of the River Thames, & the situations of Long Point & of York, are highly both to your Credit and very satisfactory to His Majesty's Servants.

I am certainly of Opinion that the Welfare and the Security of Upper Canada will be the more intimately blended and connected with each other, in proportion as the Inhabitants look to the Lakes, both as the means of their Wealth and of their Defence. In point of Defence, Í look upon Gun Boats and other Vessels of Force, but especially Gun Boats, as the natural Defence of the Province'; and that such Defence would be obtained at a much less Expence both of Men and Money, than by any Land Forces, which were to have an equal effect. This being the case, the next question is, where to establish the Chief Naval Station of the Province, and herein I am of Opinion with you, that York is the most proper place for it. I have communicated to the Master General of the Ordnance your proposed mode of occupying this Place, with Lt. Pilkington's estimate of the Expence and I hope to receive His Grace's opinion thereupon, previous to the departure of this Letter; at all events, I dare say His Grace will not object to such a mode as your local information shall suggest, & which Lord Dorchester shall approve of.

I also agree with you that the Place upon the River Thames which you have marked as the scite for London, is well situated and judiciously chosen for the future Capital; but as the Defence of the Colony is the first Object, if that Defence should be Maritime, it follows that the Settlement of York is the most important for the present, not as the future Capital, but as the Chief Place of Strength and Security for the Naval Force of the Province; keeping in view the Defence of the Province, a Station on Lake Erie, for the Security of the Shipping of that Lake would be the next Object; Long Point appears to be well situated for this purpose, but if, as

1 The correctness of this view was amply proven later, when in the war of 1812, the defeat of Barclay's fleet on Lake Erie was soon followed by the advance of U. S. forces along the Thames River, and in 1814 by the destruction of Port Dover in May, and by Gen. McArthur's raid in November.

has been represented to me, it is unhealthy, the advantage of its Situation would be thereby rendered nugatory. Its being settled and inhabited may remove the objection by removing the Cause, but until that happens, it would be inexpedient to erect any Works for its Defence. Perhaps some other Harbour to the East or West of Long Point, and to which there is no objection, may be discovered, in which case, I am of opinion it should be occupied and rendered fit for the reception and security of the shipping of Lake Erie, at as small an Expence as possible, and in such manner, as in consequence of your communications to him, Lord Dorchester shall approve of. A Naval Station at York and another on Lake Erie will of course lead to a Maritime Force as the natural Defence of the Province and with the assistance of such a Naval Officer as I have in my former Letter alluded to, in the person of Captain Shank, would very soon place the Province beyond the fear of future interruptions. In the mean while, it is proper to keep His Majesty's Vessels on the Lakes, at least those, which from their present state and construction, are worthy of it, in such a condition as to be fit for Service. I must also observe that another Advantage will arise from the occupation of York, and of some similar Station on Lake Erie, I mean that of connecting our Forces more immediately with the Posts in our Possession.

But if to these the occupation of London was now to be added, it appears from Your Letters, that they altogether would require a greater Force than can be spared at this moment. Whilst on this Subject I take the opportunity of suggesting whether it may not be proper, in case no material opposition should be made to it, to enact that the Militia should in case of Actual Hostilities, be liable to serve on the Lakes, as well as on shore. Such a Provision might eventually be of great Service in manning the Gun Boats of the Province.

It is certainly of material consequence that the Indian Presents should be distributed with economy and with effect, and the Plan suggested by you, and recommended by Sir John Johnson to the Commander-in-Chief, appears to me to be well worthy of attention, and I have no doubt will meet Lord Dorchester's approbation. The general control & management of Indian Affairs are necessarily vested in the Commander in Chief, but there can be no doubt but that in his Orders and Directions, which are at present addressed to the Superintendant General, he will, at all times, be very glad to be assisted by such communications, as he shall from time to time, receive from the Lieut. Governor and Executive Council of Upper Canada, who from their collective information, may be of the greatest use, in reducing the management of Indian Affairs into such a regular, systematic form, (which appears to be much wanted), as will combine the greatest effect with the least expence.

Since writing the above I have received and laid before The King your Letters dated the 8th of October and the 10th of November last. The Communication which by your vigour and Assiduity, you have been enabled to trace between York and Lake Huron is of great importance, and must prove beneficial to the Province in the several points of view, in which you have considered it.-In order to facilitate this communication you will of course give every encouragement for settling these parts of the Route which are most convenient as stages for the Traders and as Depots for all Articles of Merchandize in their passage from York to Lake Huron. -There is no doubt but that the communication in question is in favour of the occupation of London, as soon as ever the strength of the Country will admit of it, but it will not be possible, at this moment, to increase the Regiments in Canada to their present Establishment by Recruits sent from hence at the same time the Bounty allowed in this Country, which is £15 per man, may operate to that

effect by raising a sufficient number of Recruits in the Canadas to complete the Regiments there, and Lord Dorchester will by this Opportunity, receive directions to grant the like Bounty in Canada as is granted in England.

I am very sorry to observe from your letter of the 10th of Novr. that the Lake Indians have joined the Six Nations in their Secession from the General Confederacy, and I think from your statement that Captain Brant's conduct is even something more than merely suspicious, especially when I observe that his views and his Conduct tend altogether to implicate this Country in the present Hostilities between the Indians and the American States.

Ensign McCausland, who brought your Letter, brings Intelligence of the Indians having cut to pieces Genl Wayne's rear Guard, consisting of 200 men, near the Miamis Village, with the loss only of one man on their part; and that they had taken 70 loaded Horses, which accompanied General Wayne's Army. Some part of this Intelligence seems to be corroborated by an American Paper of the 18th of Decr. last.

Should the event of the present Campaign prove unsuccessful to the American Army under Genl Wayne I cannot but still hope that the States will open their eyes to the Advantages of a Final Treaty upon the principles you are already acquainted with.-The Muskingham Boundary, as delivered to Lord Dorchester in the year 1791, or any other which will leave a sufficient Interval between his Majesty's Provinces and the American States, is the greatest object to aim at.

On the Subject of the Commissariat, the Indian Department, and the Shipping of Upper Canada, I have already in this, and in my Letter to you, No. 2 of the 2d of October last, given you my opinion, and I have only to add, that altho' the above Departments are necessarily under the general superintendance & control of the Commander in Chief, there can be no doubt but that, as far as they relate to the Province under your Government, he will, at all times, be happy to avail himself of your representations in all things, which may tend to their being well and œconomically executed.

I take this opportunity of informing you that a Letter will be transmitted to Lord Dorchester by this Packet, containing His Majesty's Instructions to His Lordship, to raise without delay, Two Provincial Battalions of 750 men each for the Defence of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. These Battalions when completed, will, I conceive, allow you to occupy the scite fixed upon for London, and, in the mean time, I see no objection to your taking any preparatory Steps for that purpose, the adoption of which do not require an immediate Military Force to be stationed there. I am, &c.,

Endorsed:-Drat To Lt. Govr. Simcoe, March, 1794. No. 3.

HENRY DUNDAS.

FROM HENRY DUNDAS TO J. G. SIMCOE.

Lt.-Govr. Simcoe:
No. 4.

Sir:

WHITEHALL, 16th March, 1794.

I have received and laid before The King your Letters of the 23d and 24th of August last with their respective Inclosures.

I have in my Letter to Lord Dorchester of the 9th of November last, being in answer to Letters from M. General Clarke, expressed my entire Approbation of the

friendly and impartial manner in which you conducted yourself towards the Commissioners from the American States, as well as Towards the Indians, and in my letter to His Lordship of the 8th Jany. last, as well as on the present occasion, I have given my Opinion of the importance of a Naval System of Defence for the Province of Upper Canada.

The Addresses of both Houses of the Legislature inclosed in yours of the 23d of August are very satisfactory to His Majesty.

I have transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury for their Consideration a Copy of your Letter of the 24th of August last with the several Inclosures it refers

to.

I have no doubt but the Commissary General at Quebec, will be directed by Lord Dorchester to take such steps in supplying Upper Canada, as, from your Communications to Lord Dorchester, shall appear to have a tendency, both to benefit the Province, and to reduce the expence of the supplies themselves.

My Letter, No. 3, which will accompany this renders a further Answer to your Letters, as above mentioned, unnecessary.

I am &c.

HENRY DUNDAS.

Endorsed:-Drat. To Lt. Govr. Simcoe. March, 1794. No. 4.

FROM JAMES MONROE TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

(Extract.)

PHILADELPHIA, March 16th, '94.

What course it will be proper for us to take in the present emergency becomes daily more difficult to decide. The aggressions of Britain have increased to a height to silence the voice of her friends, or nearly so. She regards no kind of form in the pursuit of our property, seizing whatever she can lay her hands on. Our vessels w'ch remain are driven into harbour here & will I apprehend scarcely leave it again for the present. An embargo is proposed with the view of cutting off supplies from the B'h West Indies, necessary in aid of her present operations there.

Urgent as the crisis is, the embarrassment increases still further from the consideration that not the least confidence can be reposed in our Executive council. To embark in a war when the whole favor of the country will be in the hands of the enemy of the publick liberty, a few characters only excepted, will be more dangerous than any now menac'd from B. and yet to take no step seems to evince a pusillanimity w'ch will degrade us as a nation, & likewise suffer the ruin of our commerce & every other interest connected with it to take place.

What will be the issue of our affairs time can only develope, but certain it is that at present the prospect is most wretched & gloomy. I had like to have mentioned that as a remedy it was talked of by the fiscal party, to send an Envoy Exty. to Engld to complain of these injuries & seek redress, & that H[amilton was spoken of for this mission. As the situation is in some measure a parallel one I sho'd think it more suitable to employ John Dickinson, who I believe drew the last petition of Congress to the king, in the course of the late revolution. (Printed in the "Writings of James Monroe", edited by S. L. Hamilton Vol. I. pp. 287-9.)