Upon the whole tho' there be no direct and systematic opposition to Government, it is apparent, that on the other hand there is no direct support of its measures; and in particular as it seems at the present season proper to avoid making use of the negative of the Crown, I am sorry to observe there is too great reason and probability that the Legislative Council are much more likely to promote than to suppress any attempt that may demand the exertion of that prerogative.

Mr. Hamilton is an avowed Republican in his sentiments and altho' the merchants are justly obnoxious to the settlers of this Province, and He is particularly so, yet the ascendancy He and his friend, Mr. Cartwright must acquire, by being Agents for the Contract which supplies the King's Troops with provisions, is of that nature, that there is nothing to prevent them from exercising it to the detriment of Government, if they have any particular Object to promote, that may gratify their avarice, ambition or Vanity. Upon these Considerations, I most anxiously hope that Captain Shaw may be added to the Legislative Council, and as the Chief Justice is of Opinion that He cannot execute the Office of Executive Counsellor under the intimation I have received of his appointment, I must beg that you will be pleased immediately to transmit to me by the way of New York, (and a duplicate by way of Quebec), the proper Authority to enable him to Act as an Executive Counsellor.

I do myself the honor to enclose the resolution of the House of Assembly to request of Government the loan of a specified sum of money to pay their Officers, and the proceedings of the Executive Council, and their compliance therewith. I have the honor to be with great Respect, &c.,

Your most Obt.

& most humble Servt.

J. G. SIMCOE.

The Right Honorable

Henry Dundas,

One of His Majesty's principal Secretaries

of State, &c., &c., &c.

Endorsed: York (late Toronto) Upper Canada, 16 Sepr. 1793. Lt. Govr. SimR. 23d Decr. No. 17. (Four Inclosures)

coe.

(Voluminous)

Sir,

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO HENRY DUNDAS.

PRIVATE

YORK, UPPER CANADA, Sept. 20th, 1793.

I hope that the very great importance it is of, that the temporary Establishments in this Province should give place to a more permanent system, will apologize for the particular detail which I have felt myself called upon to submit to your Consideration. The apprehension of Indian Hostilities or from the United States seems to be universal in the Province, & in that case, little is to be expected from a people who have already suffered severely for their Loyalty, & too many of whom poor & dispirited, are more apt to regret what they have lost, than to remember what they have received.

It is my duty to observe that no Recruits can be raised in this Province, so very high is the Price of Wages.

In regard to the last Sessions, the Chief Justice has furnished me with the Observations on the proceedings of the Houses; I follow his Opinion of the necessity of Mr. Shaw's being of the Council: & He dreads the Ascendancy which the provision Contract, independant of the Government of this Province, may throw into the Hands of Messrs. Hamilton & Cartwright.

Amongst the Plans which are now transmitted there is a sketch of the Engineer's, Lt. Pilkington that exactly describes the situation of this Harbour. May I take the Liberty of requesting, Sir, that through you it may be most humbly Offered to His Majesty? This place was named with due celebrity on the arrival of the news that the Duke of York had obtained Possession of the Camp of Famars'. I have the honor to be with the most perfect Respect, Sir,

your most Obt & Obliged

J. G. SIMCOE.

Endorsed: Upper Canada. 20th Sept. 1793. Lt. Govr. Simcoe. R 23d

I do myself the honor of transmitting an actual survey of the River Thames, as far as it serves to communicate between the Lakes Ontario and Sinclair, together with the Military Road leading thereto, and which is now opening by the Queen's Rangers.

I

The Tract of Country which lies between this River (or rather navigable Canal as its Indian Name and French Translation, La Tranche, import) and Lake Erie is one of the finest for all agricultural purposes in North America, and far exceeds the soil or climate of the Atlantic States. There are few or no interjacent Swamps and a variety of useful streams empty themselves into the Lake, or the River. have the pleasure of transmitting an accurate survey of Long Point on Lake Erie, and an Harbour in its vicinity that may, at a slight expence, be strongly fortified and which from its position opposite Presque Isle, and its vicinity to Fort Erie is admirably calculated to become the Naval Arsenal on Lake Erie.

I also enclose for your inspection an actual survey of the Harbour of York (late Toronto) the proper Naval and Military Arsenal of Lake Ontario and in a great measure of Upper Canada.

I have information of an Harbour which is described to be an excellent one, three leagues to the southward of Matchadash Bay, on Lake Huron, and of a River some few miles beyond it, whose entrance is said to be navigable; this River I apprehend to be the same which the Indians mention as affording a communication with the main branch of the La Tranche (or Thames).

I beg leave to submit to you, Sir, that under such alterations as the existing circumstances of the Times have rendered necessary, that I contemplate his Majesty's Ministers, as following the general system of their Predecessors, and as considering the Colonization of this Country to be totally subservient to the Maritime Power and Commerce; on which the happiness and safety of Great Britain 1 May 23, 1793.

57

'stem, as previously to ent to colonize beyond at present, it certainly em, that Great Britain ossessions, and by esd by supporting such a avidity with which the scriptions of People to rm new and encreasing hich flow into them. ion to Upper Canada, succeed, and the InBritish Nation; It is which have been herethe Line of the United ficial to Great Britain. the United States at us than real, yet as it ival Power, and places nost necessary that it able than its intrinsic on Lake Ontario is at t. Lawrence, from its constantly frozen up, estroyed, as it is at no

In regard to the Observations on the pr of Mr. Shaw's being of sion Contract, indeper the Hands of Messrs.

Amongst the Plan eer's, Lt. Pilkington tl take the Liberty of r Offered to His Majest; of the news that the Di I have the honor

Endorsed: Uppe

FROM

No. 18.

Sir,

I do myself the h as far as it serves to co with the Military Ros Rangers.

The Tract of Cou as its Indian Name a is one of the finest for the soil or climate of t and a variety of usefu have the pleasure of t and an Harbour in its and which from its pc admirably calculated

I also enclose for (late Toronto) the pr great measure of Upp I have informatic three leagues to the River some few miles I apprehend to be the cation with the main 1

I beg leave to sul circumstances of the 1 esty's Ministers, as f considering the Coloni time Power and Comi

1 May 23, 1793.

in a very great degree is dependent-In pursuance of this system, as previously to the revolt of the Atlantic Colonies, it was thought improvident to colonize beyond the Ohio, and to form distant and internal settlements, so at present, it certainly appears eligible, and not contradictory to her Maritime system, that Great Britain should avail herself of the advantages of her remaining Possessions, and by establishing a naval Force in the inland seas of that Country, and by supporting such a Force by a certain proportion of Colonists, profit from that avidity with which the Leaders of the American Revolution have encouraged all descriptions of People to pass the ancient Boundaries of their former Colonies, and to form new and encreasing settlements on the Shores of the Lakes or on those Rivers which flow into them.

If therefore by the Extension of the British Constitution to Upper Canada, the great Experiment that is now making, shall gradually succeed, and the Inhabitants of that Colony become firmly attached to the British Nation; It is apparent that all the Settlements under the circumstances which have been heretofore described, that may sooner or later be formed within the Line of the United States agreeably to the Treaty, must eventually become beneficial to Great Britain. Great Britain possesses some Ships upon these Lakes: the United States at present have none; and tho' this naval Force be more specious than real, yet as it turns the Eyes of Men to contemplate Upper Canada as a Naval Power, and places a Rivalship and Superiority in that Point where it seems most necessary that it should exist, it has a relative importance perhaps more valuable than its intrinsic one. The Winter Station and refitting Port of the Shipping on Lake Ontario is at Kingston; this Port which is at the Mouth of the River St. Lawrence, from its extent and situation is absolutely indefensible, and by being constantly frozen up, during the Winter, is certainly liable at that season to be destroyed, as it is at no great distance from the United States.

The

I propose therefore that the Winter Station of the Fleet, and the refitting Port, and such Naval Buildings as may be wanting, be at York.-this Post is at a great distance from the foreign shore, is capable of being easily defended, and the Grants of Land, having been made by the present Government, sufficient care has been taken, that great reservations of timber should be made for naval purposes. floating Ice (and a Bridge which it makes from the Islands near Kingston to the Continent) prevents the Shipping in that Harbour as well as in that of Niagara, from sailing for several days in the Spring, when it is practicable to be at Sea from Yorka Circumstance of no little moment when the growing Importance of this Colony is in Contemplation. The Shipping on Lake Erie winter at Detroit, they are also frozen up, and unprotected in any shape, from any attempt which may be made against them.

The People of the United States being bent on the occupation of Presque Isle, I beg to propose without loss of time, that an Establishment may take place at Long Point, and I conceive from information of the surveyor, that it may be practicable to erect a sufficient Work on the Island mark'd in the Plan A to protect the Shipping in which case I hesitate not in recommending that they be transferred to that Harbour.-should I discover, (as I hope, if I can procure the Indians to accompany me at this Season) the Harbour on Lake Huron, I shall not fail to have a Survey transmitted to you, Sir, the ensuing Summer.

I must observe in a general view, of the maritime advantages of these Ports, that Naval Artificers in case of necessity may be easily transferred from one Lake to the other; it not being more than six days Journey from Long Point to York, and from thence to Lake Huron.

Ships adequate to all the purposes of Lake Erie might be built sixty miles