Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

stance. The Government at home has by the measure of settling them put an end to all further claims on their part, which was one of the great Objects of it. Such of them as have deceived Government will of course not meet at your hands with any further favor or encouragement; but since they are now there, it will certainly be your duty not to render their situation disagreeable to them if their own Misconduct does not justify it.

10th. Your suggestion respecting Carleton Island is very proper for consideration whenever a final settlement respecting the boundary Line takes place between us and the American States, but I must here again recommend that as few discussions as possible on these Points do take place in the mean time while the Boundary is not settled.

11th. The difficulties which at present stand in the way of establishing a Port in Upper Canada are such as render that Measure impracticable. It was a Subject much discussed, and upon mature Consideration rejected at the time of passing the late Canada Act. As the Lords of the Treasury do not, I conceive, mean to comply with the requisition for a Custom House in Upper Canada (which is the next article but one) for the reasons I have already stated to Lord Dorchester, (17th July, 1793) and which I now inclose, that very circumstance must operate as an insurmountable Objection to the Port requested. At the same time, I see no reason, by the usual means of Correspondents, Partners in Trade, Agents and Factors at Montreal and Quebec, why the export Trade of Upper Canada may not be carried on to any extent. The Superfluity of a Country operates very forcibly in finding an Opening for itself. If, in process of time, the Settlement of the Country should extend itself Westward, the natural vent for its produce would appear to be by the Mississippi, the Navigation of which and its Consequences would lead to Discussions very premature in the present moment.

12th. The late Canada Act has rendered the Provinces distinct from & independent of each other both in respect of their Legislative & Judicial Capacities, and in the exercise of them, The King or the Parliament of Great Britain, as the case may be, is by the several restrictions & reservations in that Act, made the Arbiter between them, and it does not occur to me that any more salutary Measure can be adopted for obviating the difficulty here stated. The Legislature of this Country has recently exercised its wisdom in settling the respective Interests of those two Provinces, and it will be better to Act with chearfulness under the Arrangements which have been made than to speculate upon hasty or premature Alterations.

13th. My Opinion respecting a Custom House in Upper Canada is included in what I have already said on the Subject of a Port in that Province.

14th. The requisition contained in this Article being of a Military Nature, and no reasons being stated to me why the Rank required is necessary, it is not in my Power to give an Opinion respecting it, but I shall certainly lay the same before Lord Amherst' in order that His Majesty's pleasure may be taken thereon the moment you shall transmit to me the grounds upon which it is made. In the mean time, I observe that Colonel Gordon of the 26th Regiment, as well as His Royal Highness Prince Edward, is your Senior Officer.

15th. On the Subject of a new Boundary Line I have sufficiently explained myself in my Letters to you. It must be left for future discussion with America.

16th. No Grounds for the Opinion which is stated by this Article as entertained by the Settlers in Upper Canada, were ever held forth or intimated to them by this Government. As the Observations which follow this Article have a strong 1 The Commander in Chief of the Army.

tendency to hostilities with America, and go rather to meet than to guard against the views of those persons within the United States who may be desirous of involving us in a War with them, I cannot omit expressing my disapprobation of whatever has such a Tendency. It is, as I have already intimated to you in a separate Letter, equally important that you should be as much as possible on your guard against the Views of America, and that at the same time you should studiously avoid whatever may give a pretence for urging on and inflaming the popular Prejudices now existing there against this Country.

17th. The Remarks which follow respecting the Navigation of the Mississippi suggest very useful hints whenever a favourable Opportunity for their more immediate Consideration may occur.

18th. I have already communicated my sentiments to Lord Dorchester on this Subject in writing, and herewith inclose them to you. If the Seamen are hired as Soldiers it will be better, and will go a great way in removing the evils complained of. They will then at all events be immediately Subject to the Mutiny Bill, when acting with any portion of His Majesty's Troops, independent of such regulations as the provincial Legislature may adopt with respect to them, and which will affect them when Acting separately.

19th. It will certainly be of great advantage to His Majesty's Interests in the Provinces to favor the Admission of the Sons of Canadian Gentlemen into the Army, and I communicated with Lord Dorchester previous to His Lordship's departure, and shall certainly keep it in view when any opportunity offers of stating anything specified for His Majesty's Consideration.

20th. I am of opinion that it will be proper to state to Lord Dorchester in what particulars the present mode of constructing the vessels upon the Lakes is defective, and that some other better adapted to the Nature of the Navigation on the Lakes be concerted between His Lordship and you. In doing this it will be necessary that you should be assisted by a Person well skilled in Naval Architecture & Mechanics, and capable of applying his knowledge to local circumstances and to the Service which the Vessels in question are to perform. I propose therefore to mention Captain Schank1 to His Majesty for that purpose, should he be so situated in respect of Service here, as to allow him to undertake that business.

21. The Naval Articles of War as well as all Military Regulations which regard the Provincial forces, must be made by the respective Provincial Legislatures, and as those Forces, particularly the Naval may serve indiscriminately in either Province the Laws respecting them should be the same in both Provinces.

22d. Every reasonable degree of Encouragement should be given to the Quakers as they are perhaps of all others the most useful to an Infant Colony, but to exempt them from any Taxes would be impolitic if not impracticable, and would sooner or later occasion discontents in His Majesty's other Subjects.

In most instances the Affirmation of a Quaker is equivalent to an Oath. In all judicial proceedings, in respect of his allegiance, and in lieu of all Oaths to be taken to avoid pains & Penalties, the Laws of England respecting the Affirmation of a Quaker, should I am of Opinion meet with a liberal construction but I doubt whether the Oath prescribed by the late Canada Act to be taken by all Members of the Legislative Council and of the Assembly can be dispensed with in favor of any Person, or even if an Affirmation by a Quaker to the same tenor & effect were allowed, whether he could make it. It requires him to "defend His Majesty to the utmost of his Power against all traitorous Conspiracies and Attempts, &ca.", this obliges him to personal Service and to use force if Necessary, whereas the Prin1 Captain (afterwards Admiral) John Schank, who had served for several years on the Lakes.

ciples of Persons of his Persuasion extend only to their being obedient to The King & the Government, and not to the bearing of Arms in their defence.

23d. With respect to the Indians it was a principal Object in the proposed plan for settling the Boundary between the Canadas and the American States, to guard against any sale of Lands by the Indians, of the nature mentioned in this Article, by declaring that no part of that space which was to be between the two Countries should ever be occupied or come into the possession of either.

24th. As the Quarter Master General's Department is under the direction of the Commander in Chief, I am of opinion that the circumstances which have been stated relative to that Department in your Province should be communicated to Lord Dorchester. Such a department either in the Person of a Quarter Master General or a Deputy Quarter Master General, as far as I can Judge appears to me to be highly necessary in Upper Canada, and if the Officer who now officiates in that Province is insufficient for the duties of that Station, I have no doubt that His Lordship will agree in soliciting the Appointment of such a Person in that Department as you shall be of Opinion is best qualified for the Charge. Endorsed:-Drat to Lieut. Govr. Simcoe. October, 1793. (No. 2)

No. 1.
Sir,

FROM LORD DORCHESTER TO J. G. SIMCOE.

QUEBEC, 7th October, 1793.

Soon after my arrival Mr. Ogden1 presented his Complaint of trespass with his Letter to you on that Subject, and your answer which I think very proper. In his way down He perceived a Saw Mill building by Mr. Lorimier near Oswegatchie of which also he greatly complains: I shall send my answer to Mr. Hammond, after proper enquiries. Mr. Ogden talked highly of the Population on the South Side of the Lakes Erie and Ontario; That in the Genesee Country seems scarcely credible, particularly the Plantations belonging to himself and Mr. Morris; That of Mr. Pultney too he thought considerable. The progress of these Settlements requires much attention, and I am to request you will have the goodness to communicate to me every information you may procure of their proceedings and approach to the Lakes.

I am also to desire you will inform me of the Progress of Population and Agriculture on the North side of those Lakes, and how near they approach Toronto; the settling and cultivating the Country round that Post must facilitate and bring forward every advantage its situation can afford, and well deserves encouragement: prior thereto every attempt must be attended with difficulty; in laying out the Town, I should advise the system of wide Streets and squares with open Angles; but more especially that the Ground which Captain Mann recommends for Public Works and Batteries be reserved; all which are marked on Mr. Collins's Plan, a Copy of which I understand you have taken with you. I think it necessary to make these reservations, tho' I cannot approve of any Fortifications being erected there at present.

The several answers given by Major General Clarke concerning Orders and Instructions, which appear to me to decide immediately on Peace or War, I think 1 Samuel Ogden from New Jersey.

discreet and prudent, and there I shall leave that business for the present, but I must request you will be pleased to consider the extensive Frontier of Upper Canada; the number of Posts there already under very peculiar circumstances, together with the inadequate Force for their defence, and you will, I hope, perceive that Augmenting the number of Posts, must increase the demand for Troops; yet, notwithstanding this want of Troops, should Hostilities commence, the War cannot be confined to Upper Canada, and the greatest part of the Forces may eventually be drawn from thence, whatever may be the inconvenience to that Province: I shall therefore recommend, that after securing the established and direct communication as well as circumstances will permit, you keep the rest of the Troops free to Act, when the occasion may require. You will, no doubt, pay great attention to the Militia, and make such arrangements as shall enable them to bring forth their whole strength, and employ it to the best advantage; for it may so happen, that on their own Strength alone they must depend for their defence.

J. G. S.

Colonel Simcoe.

I am, &c.

DORCHESTER.

Endorsed:-In Lt. Govr. Simcoe's No. 20. of the 18th Decr., 1793.

THE PETITION OF JOHN WILLSON

To his Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esq'r, Lieut. Governor of and Colonel Cammanding his Majesty's Forces in Upper Canada,

Sheweth

The humble Petition of John
Willson, late of New Brunswick,

That Your Petitioner being an American Loyalist having acted as a Justice of the Peace for the County of Northumberland in his Majesty's Province of New Brunswick under a Commission issued by his Excellency Thomas Carleton Esq'r, Governor of the said province, removed with several other Families amounting in the whole to the number of Forty Six persons into this province with an Intent to settle themselves before the Winter, but being unavoidably detained several Weeks at Kingston they did not arrive at this place till the Month of October, since which time the greater part of his associates have thro sickness been incapable of Exerting themselves to procure sustenance for their Families and are now reduced to great Distress for Want of provision.

Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that he may be allowed to draw Rations from his Majesty's Stores for the support of the s'd settlers to an amount not exceeding the Value of £100 upon his entering into an Obligation in the penalty of £200 to replace within the term of three years the same Quantity of Stores as He may find necessary to draw and shall receive for the support of the persons afores'd.

And Your Petitioner shall ever pray, &c.,

JOHN WILLSON

(Certificate)

138 Rations.

I approve of the issue of one hundred & thirty eight Rations,' to distressed Loyalists, at the Post of Niagara, 10 Oct'r, '93.

For Major Smith

Commandant Niagara

J. GRAVES SIMCOE

(MSS. of D. W. Smith, Toronto Public Library, Series A, Vol. 10, pp. 441, 455.)

PROCEEDINGS OF A COUNCIL HELD AT BUFFALOE CREEK, 10th OCTOBER, 1793.

Present

Lt. Col. Butler, Dy Agent for Indian Affairs.

Israel Chapin, Esqr. Superintendant of Indian Affairs for the United States, with the Chiefs of the Six Nations.

After the usual compliments had passed Captain Brant addressed them as follows.

Brothers,

You and the King our Father, and you our Brothers of the United States, attend to what we have to say, we will now explain to you the material point upon which we have called you together and requested your attendance at this Council. and which has not been fully explained to you before. We wish to act openly that the world may judge of our proceedings.

Brothers,

It is unnecessary to repeat what passed at the Great Council at the Miamis Rapids, as you are already acquainted therewith, we shall therefore point out the cause of our parting from that meeting in the manner we did.

Brothers,

When the first Deputation from the Confederate Indians met the Commissioners of the United States, every thing seemed to promise a friendly termination of the Treaty, but before their return to the Council Fire, messengers from the Creek Indians had arrived there and brought authentic information of the White People having encroached upon that part of the Confederacy. This intelligence at once gave a change to the face of our proceedings, and probably was the sole cause of the abrupt termination of the negociation for peace. Thus you see that claims upon our lands have been, and still continue to be the cause of the war. Brothers,

About five years ago we agreed upon a line of Demarkation, with the United States, which you know to be the Muskingum, and notwithstanding the various accidents that have occurred since, we will still adhere to that Boundary.

Brothers,

We think the United States will agree to that Line, which will shew that they act with that sincerity & justice, they always profess for the Indians. Should they

1 A receipt for the 138 Rations, signed by John Willson, follows this memo. in the MS. collection.

« AnteriorContinuar »