and the efforts of the United States to turn them against this Colony have spread an incredible alarm amongst the Inhabitants.

A sawmill is building for Government at a most convenient spot, within three miles of the Post, from which I propose to supply all such materials as may be wanted at any Post on Lake Ontario at the cheapest rate. I have collected hither some condemned 18 pounders, which I purpose to have placed on a sandy part marked on the Plan. I have also procured five 18 pound Carronades and ten of 12 Pounders, mounted upon slides. To these I have added an excellent brass medium 12 pounder, intended for a Gun Boat, all which may be placed in the Block House, till it is supplied with Guns proper for its situation and advantages. These Guns I hope may be of the largest Calibre, and that Your Grace will also order me to be furnished with some Howitzers of 10 inches. I perceive that the Peninsula at some future period will be strongly fortified, as the Harbour must become the Naval Arsenal of Lake Ontario. I beg to remark to Your Grace, that the sandy Peninsula is so healthy that the Native Indians have requested permission to encamp upon it with their families at the sickly Season.

I have just received information by a Person of credibility, that a French Man of the name of Mazeres or Meziere, has been sent by Mons. Genest the French Resident in the United States, into Lower Canada. This Emissary is described to me as a young man of great address and properly qualified to disseminate those democratic Principles in which he is a perfect enthusiast. I think it proper to communicate this circumstance to Your Excellency and am with great respect, Sir, Your most ob. & most humble, &c.,

To His Excellency, Genl. Clarke.

J. G. SIMCOE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JOSEPH BRANT TO JOSEPH CHEW, SECRETARY OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DATED NIAGARA

THE 26th OF SEPTR. 1793.

"I arrived here some time ago from the Miamis, much disappointed in my expectations & wishes as to a peace, the three Nations, Shawonoes, Delawares, & Twightwees, being in my opinion too much under the guidance & influence of some white people, who have advised them to adhere to the old boundary line as fixed in the year 1768, the Six Nations and Lake Indians, much the most numerous 1 Often called the Miamis.

tribes were for adhering to the Muskingum Line, as offered to the Americans in the year 1788, from this division amongst us respecting the boundary, it was the cause of our doing no business, we acted consistently, at least I myself did with the dictates of my conscience, and honor & honesty. The Shawanoes, Delawares & Twightwees carried everything their own way, & were determined not to meet the Commissioners from the United States, to treat with them unless the Line they wished for should be admitted. This we the Six Nations & Lake Indians could not concur in, knowing that what they insisted on was by no means fair, this was the reason why the treaty broke up & should those three Nations not be able to withstand the Americans, (as there is little reason to suppose they will), possession will be got of their Country and they drove back to the Mississippi, unless assisted by the British, (which I suppose will not be the case), the consequences then must be fatal to those Indians as time must ere long convince us.

"I am now on my way to Buffaloe Creek to attend at a Council to be held there, at which the Six Nations mean to make an offer to the Americans of the Muskingum as the Boundary Line, should this not be accepted of by them it may be the means of again uniting our Indian Nations and convincing us that the Americans are equally as stubborn on their part, as the Shawanoes &c., are on theirs. After this Council is finished, I shall send you a copy of our journal, with the different Speeches & other occurrences, which passed between the Indians & the Commissioners, from which you'll be able to form a more perfect opinion of the conduct of us all, & then be able to judge whether the Six Nations have acted with propriety or not, I still hope that peace and Unanimity may be brought about, and am determined that no perseverance shall be wanting on my part to accomplish such desirable objects."

This letter will be transmitted by Captain Lawes, a very old & distinguished officer in His Majesty's Service & an Inhabitant of this Province, as this Gentleman acts as assistant to the Engineer, He can speak with propriety to the request which it is my duty to make.

The axes sent to this Country are so carelessly fabricated as to be totally incompetent to any Service whatever. Those which are constructed in the Country sell at the least for two Dollars at Niagara & increase in Price in proportion to the demand.

I think that Fifty will be the smallest quantity that the Queen's Rangers can possibly execute their public employment with the ensuing year; but should they not be of the prime quality I shall be obliged to purchase them in this Country. I have therefore thought proper to have a model made, which should be exactly attended to & for that purpose I have added an Instruction which has been given to me by a competent judge. I must also beg to be furnished with complete sets of saw mills, Irons, in particular, Cranks, Gudgeons and Rag Wheels.

The Scipio's Cargo had merely the Saws, & it has been with difficulty that

I have been able to make out from the Iron works of an Old mill that has been permitted to go to ruin sufficient to complete one saw, instead of a Gang of saws, at the mill which I am now erecting at York. The great utility saw mills are in a new settlement is not to be described and is inferior only to the absolute Necessity which It appears to me in respect to Economy that the Government labours under to rescue His Majesty's Service from the imposition of the Merchant Traders, to be able to supply all such materials to the King's Garrisons at a permanent & cheap rate. I also wish for a supply of such Paint for Boats &c., as will keep; The charge here being most exorbitant on such Articles which are in perpetual Request.

I am fully determined to establish a Species of Government farms in certain situations, which shall pay the labour of the soldier & shortly provide sustenance for a few Horses necessary to the Service: and which will soon become of material use, as the Roads open, to carry Expresses, which necessary Business is at present managed by the Indians who are exorbitantly paid; and as I had proof last year not trustworthy: as by neglect or Accident the Letters all bore the marks of having been in the flames & how many were really burnt It is impossible to ascertain. I must heartily hope that you & Mrs Nepean are in better health than when I left Europe; I am, Dr. Nepean, your very faithful & obliged servt.

J. G. SIMCOE.

Capt. Lawes' purposes to return early in the spring and would be a proper person to be entrusted with any dispatches. He will tell you that I have lived in the Canvass Houses boarded in winter. I have constantly lamented I did not obtain that intended for the West Indies; It would have been very comfortable for me, or an excellent hospital.

Endorsed: York, Upper Canada 28 Septr, 1793. Lieut. Govr. Simcoe. R 22d Decr. (Two inclosures)

DIARY OF LIEUT. GOVERNOR SIMCOE'S JOURNEY FROM HUMBER BAY TO MATCHEDASH BAY IN 1793 BY ALEXANDER MACDONNELL, SHERIFF OF THE HOME DISTRICT.2

1793, September 24th. Lieutenant Pilkington of the R. E., Lieutenant Darling of the 5th Regiment, Lieutenant Givens of the Queen's Rangers, and A. Aitken. D.P.S., with two Lake La Claie3 and two Matchetache Bay Indians, embarked in a batteau and went that night to Mr. St. John's, on the River Humber.

25th. Got up at daybreak to prepare matters for our journey. His Excel

1 George Lawe, Surveyor of Works at Niagara; captain 1st Lincoln Regt. of militia; wounded and taken prisoner at Fort George, 27 May, 1813; Sergeant at Arms and Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Upper Canada, 1792-1816.

2 Alexander Macdonell, 1762-1842, the author of this diary was born at Fort Augustus in Scotland and came to New York with his father in 1772; served as a volunteer under Sir John Johnson at the siege of Fort Schuyler and the battle of Oriskany, 1777; ensign in 84th Regt., 1778-9; exchanged into Butler's Rangers as lieut. 1780-4; sheriff of Home District, 1792-1805; member of Assembly for the Counties of Glengarry and Prescott, 1800-12; Speaker, 1805-8; agent for Lord Selkirk at Baldoon, 1805-12; Deputy Paymaster General of Militia, 1812-3; prisoner of war at Fort George, 27 May, 1813; Superintendent of Settlements, 1815-6; Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, 1816; member of the Legislative Council for Upper Canada.

3 Afterward Lake Simcoe.

4 St. John Rousseau, trader, who had an establishment at Baby Point on the Humber River. See also "Simcoe Papers," Vol. I, p. 396.

lency, Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, joined us from York. We shortly afterwards were ready and entered the woods, keeping our course about N.N.W., crossed a long pine ridge. About one o'clock dined upon a small river which empties itself into the Humber, and, to make the loads lighter, took the bones out of the pork. After dinner, re-loaded our horses and pursued our journey. About four o'clock, it beginning to rain, we encamped on the side of the Humber, at the west extremity of the 3rd concession. We here got some wild grapes and a quantity of crawfish.

26th. At eight o'clock continued our journey. In the early part of the day, went over a pine ridge; but from ten to six in the evening, when we encamped, went through excellent land for grain or grass, the trees uncommonly large and tall, especially the pine. Crossed two small creeks which emptied themselves into the Humber, on one of which (Drunken Creek) we dined, and encamped on the second. The land through which we passed is chiefly wooded with maple, bass, beech, pine and cedar. During this day's march we passed the encampment of an Indian trader, who was on his way to his wintering ground on Lake La Claie.

27th. Proceeded on early in the morning. Shortly after leaving our fires went through a ridge of very fine pine, which appeared to be bounded by a deep ravine to the north. After crossing in an oblique direction the pine ridge, went over excellent land, black, rich mould; timber, maple, beech, black birch and bass. Crossed a ravine and ascended a small eminence of indifferent land. This height terminated in a point, and a gradual descent to the River Humber, which we crossed. We dined here, and remained two hours to refresh ourselves and horses. While at dinner, two men with two horses, who left the end of the carrying place in the morning, met us. They were going to bring forward the trader which we passed the preceding day, and his goods. After dinner proceeded on. Went over very uneven ground, the soil in some places indifferent, but in general not bad land. Saw some very fine yellow pine and black birch. About six o'clock came to the end' of the carrying place and encamped. Here found Mr. Cuthbertson, Indian trader, and owner of the hut we passed the day before, encamped.

2

28th. After breakfast, Messrs. Givens and Aitken, with two Indians and two white men, went up the river for three canoes which had been previously provided for the Governor, and I went with three Rangers to erect a stage near the river to put the pork, &c. on, when brought down from the encampment. Having accomplished this, upon our return we cut a few trees to make a bridge upon a bad pass in the swamp. Returned to camp about two o'clock, and shortly afterwards to the stage with seven of the Rangers, all with packs which we put upon the stage. We here met Messrs. Givens and Aitken, having returned with the canoes. The whole then returned to camp only me, who remained to take care of the baggage. In about two hours the whole came down, and we immediately embarked into five canoes, viz. the Governor, Mr. Aitken, an Indian and two Rangers in one; Messrs. Pilkington and Darling with their two servants in the second; Mr. Givens and two Indians in a third; and an Indian and two Rangers with me in the fourth; and Mr. Aitken's surveying party in the fifth. We dragged our canoes till we came to the river over a part of the swamp where it would be impossible to walk without their support, it being a quagmire, the skin or surface of which was very thin. Proceeded about a mile and a half or two miles along the river, which in this short

1 On the west branch of the Holland River, near Kettleby, Ont.

2 Elsewhere written Culbertson. He was a Scottish fur trader who lived in Kingston for many years.

3 The Holland River, (West Branch).

distance has several turns. Went about a quarter of a mile up a smaller river' which empties itself into the former and encamped. Soon after making our fires, the Great Sail' and his family, (Messassagues), who were encamped further up the river, came to visit their Great Father, the Governor, to whom they presented a pair of ducks, some beaver's meat, and a beaver's tail. The Governor gave them some rum and tobacco.

3

29th. Embarked into our canoes in the same manner as the preceding day, paddled down the river, which is a dead water, bordered on each side with quagmires, similar to the one we hauled our canoes over. About two hours after leaving camp, Mr. Givens came into my canoe and the Indian went into his; but our canoe made much water and we could not keep up with the others, we shortly after got the Indian back again. At twenty minutes after one we entered Lake La Claie, now Lake Simcoe, so called in memory of Captain Simcoe of the R.N. At the entrance of the Lake, we saw two canoes, who upon seeing us paddled off to their village, which was upon a point about four miles off, to apprise them of the Governor's arrival. We paddled on towards the point and passed the village close in shore. The Indians, who were by this time assembled, fired a feu de joie to compliment His Excellency, which we answered with three cheers, and then doubled the point, and put in shore in a small sandy bay to dine. Soon after our landing the Indians came in a body to wait on the Governor, to whom they presented a beaver blanket, which he declined taking then, but promised to take it upon his return from Matchetache Bay. They were all more or less drunk and made rather an unintelligible speech. They got liquor from four Canadians who had been sent from Matchetache Bay by Cowan, an Indian trader, to buy corn. His Excellency was sorry that he could not see Keenees, the chief of the village, with whom he was acquainted, as he was dangerously ill. We left our smallest canoe here, and got one Indian in lieu of the two Indians belonging to the village, who preferred remaining to proceeding on the journey. After dinner we re-embarked, and the wind being fair, hoisted sail, and about dark put in shore and encamped in a cedar grove about six miles from the village.

30th. Left our encampment about ten o'clock. Mr. Givens was taken into the Governor's canoe, and in his place one of the Rangers put into mine. Sailed on with a strong breeze about six miles, and it blowing too fresh to cross Kempenfelt Bay, put in at Point Endeavour," where we remained till two o'clock and dined. After dinner, the wind moderating a little, we again hoisted sail and crossed the bay, which is between seven and eight miles deep and four or five wide. We had scarcely got over when the wind blew hard ahead, and it beginning to rain we encamped in a pleasant spot on the side of the lake.

October 1st. Embarked about eight o'clock, and having a contrary wind, had to paddle against a head swell, which impeded our going much, and frequently

1 On the North Branch of the Holland River. The position of Great Sail's encampment, half a mile farther up the same stream, has been well known locally, being on Lot 7, Concession 3 of West Gwillimbury Township, about three-quarters of a mile up the branch from the main river.

2 His descendants have been well known as the Big Sail family of Snake Island. In the version of this Diary printed in the Trans. Can. Inst., Series IV, I. 128-139, the name is incorrectly given throughout.

3 Since known as De Grassi Point.

4 On the Innisfil shore, opposite Fox Island.

5 Named Big Bay Point since settlement.

6 An Indian landing-place at a cove on the Oro shore.