portance of this Communication is evident. The Merchant will probably supply by this Rout those heavy Commodities which are necessary in the North West trade; and this part of Upper Canada will find another vent for its flour & by rivalling the Settlements near Detroit in that Article at the mart of Michillimackinac will occasion the King's Garrisons to be furnished at a cheaper rate. The Merchants & Traders have already turn'd their Eyes to this communication, & obtained Lots in the Town of York upon speculation, this will be greatly encreased, when it shall be fully understood that it is much more easy of access than uniform Reports and frequent Enquiries had given room to imagine. In a Military point of view, in five days Troops can be passed from Gloucester Bay to York;-In a foreign one, It must be a more practicable rout at all Seasons to Lake Superior than the Atlantic States, and particularly New York can ever arrive at. I take this opportunity, Sir, of enclosing a very accurate Sketch of this Communication, And a slight one of the Province comprehending the establishment I have proposed. Having at a very early period of my Life formed an opinion of the immense importance which the Possession of the Isthmus between the Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron must be of to the King and British Nation in the growing population and consequence of North America, and having been confirmed in this Opinion by the revolt of the Atlantic Colonies, I cannot but be sensibly gratified, that the disposition of particular Towns and communications which from enquiry & consideration, I apprehended to be necessary to give Speedy & effectual Stability to the Colony, have now appeared to my own conviction from personal investigation, of all the Consequence which I had attributed to such an Arrangement. It remains for me only to know, Sir, your Resolution whether I shall be enabled to occupy them to their utmost extent, or in submission to circumstances remain in my present station. The immediate occupation of London &c., &c., I am convinced would be for the public benefit, the remaining at York of personal convenience to the Officers of the Government. But in any case I must hope that the Indian department, that of the Commissaries and that of the Shipping may be considered as under the management of this Government, subject to the controul of the Commander in Chief, but not through any Channel but that of the Lieutenant Governor of this Province. In various communications I have detailed the necessity of such a measure, which I conceive most materially involves the prosperity of the Inhabitants of this Province, the Comfort of those who administer its Government, and ultimately the Power and Wealth of Great Britain. I have the honor to be with the most perfect Respect, Sir, The Rt. Honble Henry Dundas R. 27th Jany 1794. No. 19. Two charts transmitted herewith. Your most Obt. FROM E. B. LITTLEHALES TO FRANCIS LE MAISTRE. YORK, Octг. 20, 1793. Sir, The undermentioned extracts of letters from Lieut. Schoedde, Commanding at Fort Ontario, to me of the 11 and 25 last September, I have the honor to forward for the Commander in Chief's information, by order of His Excy, Col. Simcoe. "Fort Ontario, Sep. 11, 1793. On the night of the 4 and 5 inst. two boats laden with salt attempted to pass me, notwithstanding being fired at by small arms and great guns, and actually did pass. I was obliged to man a boat, which overtook it after a long chase and brought it back-the other was seized a little above the fort." "25 Sep. 1793. I beg leave to say that on my part I have shewn the settlers such attention and civility as I conceived not to militate against my duty; but you can hardly form any judgment what kind of people they are in general; they are the scum of the States. One man, whose name is Valkenburg, already mentioned to you before, is the only decent man among them, and he is entirely in my interest. He has on different occasions used persuasion with the deserters to return, hitherto ineffectually, and now I will try whether pecuniary advantage will persuade him to greater exertions. Through his means, I have been able to hinder some people, who had marked out their settlements within 21⁄2 miles from the Fort, from establishing themselves. I have likewise prevented their settling on the Lake without coming to extremities, by propagating through him, that in the present Indian War it was a happy circumstance for the settlers to have Ontario in the British Possession, as it would prevent any hostile Indians from passing, at the same time it was the only safe place through which they could dispose of their produce and receive flour in return. That as I was well furnished with intelligence, I could with pleasure give them information of any approaching danger, that being thus friendly disposed towards them, I expected on their part, that they would confine their nearer approach of settling to the limits of 8 Mile Creek. This report has had such an effect upon them, that they have retired within the prescribed limits. As I do not conceive that the Indians will bend their course this way, I hope His Excy. will not take amiss the propagation of this report, which has got rid of very disagreeable neighbours. This, however, can only be a temporary expedient, and in a short time they will approach to cannon shot distance. How the Garrison is to procure wood will be difficult to say, unless purchased from them.” I am to add that H. E. Lieut. Governor Simcoe hopes the custom house boat with a gun, which is nearly finished at Niagara, and will proceed to Fort Ontario early in the Spring, will prevent any similar attempts to those alluded to in Lieut. Schoedde's letter. I have been directed to convey H. Excy's approbation of Captain Schoedde's conduct upon this occasion, and at the same time to observe that His Excellency is happy no accident happened from the necessity he was under of firing at the boats with smuggled goods. I am, &c., F. Le Maistre, Esq. Military Secretary. 1 At Oswego. E. B. LITTLEHALES. FROM JAMES BABY TO J. G. SIMCOE. His Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Governor of Upper Canada, &c., &c., &c. I would have transmitted long before now to Your Excellency the arrangement I propose respecting the Militia had I been furnished with the Bill concerning it. Having no hopes of receiving it for the present, I was going to send down the plan I meant to lay before your Excellency, for approbation, had not several difficulties occurred, so as not to let it appear in so perfect a state, as I would wish, owing to the want of the Act. Thinking that no inconvenience could arise by deferring a little more, I hope your Excellency will not attribute to any neglect on my part my not transmitting it at present. I expect in the mean time to be more enabled to recommend some few more officers yet wanting for some remote Companies, such as at River La Tranche, River Huron, and for a second company at River Raisin, which was also an obstacle in my way, not being at present acquainted with the people best qualified in those quarters to receive commissions. I should have sent this some time ago had I not known of Your Excellency's excursion to Lake Huron, from which I hope Your Excellency is returned in perfect health. I am happy to be able to inform Your Excellency that the Militia in the County of Kent consists of near Seven Hundred men fit to bear arms, which I presume exceeds materially the return made for that part of the late district of Hesse. Should Your Excellency find that I ought to have sent what I have done I will send it as soon as I shall hear Your Excellency's desire respecting the matter. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, I have just received His Excellency Lieut. Governor Simcoe's Orders to communicate to you that all the Loyalists under Mr. Wilson's superintendence, have permission, if they please, to come to this place by the first opportunity: Whenever any Loyalists, or persons who may have business with His Excellency at this place, are recommended by the Chief Justice, you will be pleased to order them a passage in any of the King's Vessels free of expence, or of course, any other people that you may chuse should receive a passage upon similar terms. His Excellency has referred Mr. Wilson, and his associates to the Chief Justice, and any arrangement he may think proper to make in the distribution of provision to these people, I am to request, you will be so good to cause to be carried into execution and His Excellency will sanction such arrangement with an order to you in the regular manner. I am, (MSS. of D. W. Smith, Toronto Public Library, Series A, Vol. 10, pp. 447-9.) FROM E. B. LITTLEHALES TO D. W. SMITH. YORK, 27th October, 1793 Sir: The undermentioned extract of a letter, from His Excellency Lieut. Governor Simcoe, to Messrs Desjardins and La Corne, French Missionaries, I have the honor to transmit to you, agreeably to His Excellency's instructions; and am, Sir, Your most obedient and very humble Ser't E. B. LITTLEHALES D. W. Smith, Esq'r, Acting Surveyor General (Extract) "The Executive Council of this Country has agreed with me to reserve for the French Emigrants, a Township in the vicinity of Burlington Bay; this station, I selected, as considering it united the most desirable requisites for a general settlement of any part of the Province, which was personally known to me, for such French Gentlemen as might be likely to emigrate in a body." (MSS. of D. W. Smith, Toronto Public Library, Series A, Vol. 8, pp. 57-8.) Sir, FROM R. G. ENGLAND TO J. G. SIMCOE. October 29th, 1793, DETROIT. I had the honor of writing to you on the 23rd inst., when I enclosed copies of two letters I received from Colonel McKee, and herewith send Your Excellency a copy of a letter I received from him yesterday morning by express. You will perceive it was dated the 22d and from my not hearing from him since, I imagine that the Army of the United States do not advance so very rapidly as the intelligence communicated to him mentions. Indeed it is natural to suppose that they must occasionally delay to establish Posts to support their chain of communication. The Colonel has made a requisition to his assistant here for some articles which I fortunately anticipated, and which I suppose were with him long before his requisition reached this Post. I this morning communicated the intelligence I received from Colonel McKee to the Honorable Mr. Baby, as Lieutenant of the County, with a view that some attempt may be made to form the Militia in the event of their service being required. This became particularly necessary as I know there are jealousies, and that some of the Officers who formerly held commissions do not mean to serve any longer. In the course of our conversation on the subject I perceived that he conceives from the late Militia Act that he is impowered to act separately and not under the control of the Commandant of the Post. As I never saw the Act, I was of course' [very delicate on the subject, though it strikes me that there can be but oneCommanding Officer for Troops acting under the same Government and at the same Post. My object is to carry on the King's Service while I remain here as smoothly as possible, and I really am by no means ambitious to usurp a Command that the laws of the Country do not entitle me to. Therefore to be correct I should be glad upon this occasion as well as on every other that may occur in my situation to receive Your Excellency's instructions. In the present state of the Militia, little indeed is to be expected from them. What may be done by exertions if made use of time may perhaps shew. I have the honor to be Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant. R. G. ENGLAND. I forward a letter from Colonel McKee to Your Excellency. His Excellency Lieutenant Governor Simcoe, &c., &c., &c. FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO HENRY DUNDAS. YORK October 30th, 1793. Sir, I have very great pleasure in representing to you the very great Assistance I have from time to time derived from Lt. Givens whom you honored with a recommendation to my notice. I employed this Young Gentleman in my communications with Mr. Hammond, as you desired till such times as being known his Life was endangered by a drunken Indian, from which he extricated himself by great presence of mind. Lt. Givens' perfect knowledge of the Indian Language used in this part of the Province, and for which there is no Interpreter, has lately been of essential service to me in enabling me to carry into effect my personal Investigations of the Country, and should any arrangement take place in the Indian Department, I shall gladly avail myself of his Services-as the pay of Lieutenant is insufficient to support any extra expences in this Country, I have thought it right to remunerate this Gentle |