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London and Middlesex
Historical Society

Transactions 1911-12

The Battle at Longwoods

J. I. Poole, B.A.

Reminiscences of Mrs. Gilbert Porte

Miss Priddis

The Mackenzies of Hyde Park

Mrs. Evans

1913. *VA

Published by the Society,

OFFICERS 1912-13

President Capt. T. J. Murphy

Vice-President T. H. Purdom, K.C.

Second Vice-President Mrs. G. F. Brickenden

Secretary Rev. Geo. M. Cox

Asst. Secretary Miss Coyne

Treasurer Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.

Curator Dr. S. Woolverton

Executive Committee

Miss Priddis Miss Moore Thomas Bryan

Henry Macklin, J.P., A. W. Fraser

The London and Middlesex Historical Society was
organized in the year 1901. Its objects are to promote his-
torical Tesearch and to collect ajid preserve records and
other historical material that may be of use to the future
historians of our country. Its funds are devoted ex-
clusively to these objects; there are no salaried officers.

The Public Library Board grants the Society the free
use of a room for its meetings, which are held on the
third Tuesday evening of each 'month, from October to
April, inclusive, and to which the public are invited — ad-
mission always free. Membership in the Society is open
to ajiy person interested in its objects, and is maintained
by the payment of an annual fee of fifty cents.

TRANSACTIONS 1911-12

1911

Oct. 24—

The Roman Catholic Church in Canada (Part I.)

President Murphy.

Nov. 21—

Imperialism

John Stevenson, Esq.

Dec. 19—

The Bar of Middlesex (Part I.)

Judge D. J. Hughes.

I 1912

Jan. 16—

Earlier History of the Western University

President N. C. James, M.A.

Feb. 20—

Reminiscences of a Sheriff's Office

Sheriff D. M. Cameron.

March 19—

The Bar of Middlesex (Part II.)

Thos. H. Purdom, K. C.

April 16—

Some Politicians of Early London

Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.

May 21—

Ceremonial of Six Nations (Indian)

Prof. Dearness, M.A.

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE

HILL

INTRODUCTION.

The following narrative of the fight at "Battle Hill," or
rather of Longwood (which is the name set forth in nearly all
the early records) is written with a three-fold object.

In the first place, I was anxious, from a personal standpoint,
to become familiar with its details; secondly, it occurred to me
that this piece of local history should be rescued from the oblivion
into which it had apparently fallen ; and thirdly, this account is
given to the public at the instance of the Middlesex Historical
Society, through my friend, Mr. Frank E. Leonard, of London,
Ontario, one of its officers, who communicated with me to the
above effect, while I was residing and practicing at Comber,
Ontario, and the good work of which society, I fear, is not being
sufficiently appreciated by the county generally.

No doubt it will be conceded on all hands that the details
of this, the only fight that took place within the limits of the
present county of Middlesex during the war of 1812-14, should
by all means be kept in remembrance from the fact that, unlike
such counties as Lincoln, Welland, Essex, Kent and some others,
its historic ground is very considerably circumscribed.

The writer has tried by all available means in his power
to make the statements contained within the pages of the

8 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

accompanying story correct to a degree, and in the interests of
historical accuracy, criticism, from whatever source it may
come, is cheerfully invited.

Traditional evidence in the writing of this narrative has
been almost entirely left out of the question. It has, in nearly
every instance in which it was taken into consideration, been
so flatly contradictory of the official and other contemporary
documents as to be practically worthless, and thus has been,
for the above reasons, laid aside almost altogether.

From my own experience as a legal practitioner, I find that
a writer of any sort cannot be too particular in thoroughly sift-
ing and weighing the various kinds and degrees of evidence
placed before 'him, and that idea has, it is hoped, been constantly
kept before me in the preparation of this short, historical sketch.

'This recital, as it now appears, varies in some particulars
considerably from the narrative as it appeared in my paper read
at London, Ontario, in May, 1903, for the reason that I have
discovered since that time much new documentary evidence,
which has been used in correcting and adding to my manuscript.
If failures have been made in the production of this rehearsal,
either through errors, or in any other way, it is earnestly trusted
that some of my readers at least will take the trouble to set me
right.

>I cannot conclude without expressing my thanks to the fol-
lowing gentlemen who, among others, have assisted me by all
means in their power in the production of this pamphlet,
namely:— Judge Woods, of Chatham, Ontario; Colonel E. Porter
Thompson, late of Frankfort, Kentucky; Mr. C. M. Burton, of
Detroit, Michigan; Mr. Avern Pardoe and Colonel Irving, of
Toronto, Ontario, and Lt.-Col. Cruickshank, of Niagara Falls,
Ontario, and also the Registrars of Deeds at Chatham, Simcoe
and Guelph, Ont. In nearly every instance in which I have com-
municated with parties asking for information in the prepara-
tion of this pamphlet (and they were not few) assistance has
been cheerfully and promptly given.

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL

"Pulchrumque mori sucurrit in armis." — Vergil Aeneid,
B. 2, V. 317.

Often and often during my childhood and High School days
did I visit the scene of this action, hoping to find some relics of
an engagement in which our arms suffered a reverse, but I was
always unsuccessful in my little explorations. In fact I met
with very indifferent success when I turned to the people who I
thought might possibly know something concerning the details
of this struggle, which after all seemed to be nothing more than
a mere memory, the particulars of which were beyond a hope of
successful resurrection. When again I looked into the current
histories of my native land which I was able to lay hold of, at
that time, I was again doomed to disappointment, and very bitter
disappointment too, as this conflict in many of them was not even
mentioned, while in others it was only barely alluded to, and thus
my curiosity was not in the least degree satisfied.

Some of those whom I questioned thought that the Amer-
icans were the victors, and others thought that the British were
the victors, while a third party seemed only to be amused at my
youthful anxieties respecting the details and result of an almost
forgotten fight, and skilfully concealed their want of knowledge
of the matter in hand by a knowing smile. And thus the affair
dropped almost entirely out of my own mind for more than a
decade.

Maturer years, however, brought the subject back to my
recollection with increased interest, as the scene of this struggle
is located within a very few miles of the home where I passed the
earlier period of my life. As succeeding years followed, greater
facilities presented themselves to me for acquiring contempor-
ary documentary evidences of what did actually transpire in
connection with this action, thus enabling me to give at least
a tolerably correct account of an event so intimately connected
with the past history of a locality, now embraced within the
limits of the present county of Middlesex, and of the township of
Mosa more especially.

The result of my enquiries is now given to the public, and
in order that the events immediately preceding, and leading up
to this engagement may be better understood, I propose to lay
before my readers a brief resume of the war between the two
great branches of the Anglo-Saxon family.

Without going fully into the causes of the war of 1812-14,
I might simply state that the ostensible reason for it was the

10 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

dissatisfaction which the American authorities felt at the "right
of search" exercised by the British, in overhauling their vessels
to seek for deserters from the British navy. But the real cause
of the memorable struggle lay in the desire of the United States
to conquer Upper and Lower Canada, as well as the other British
North American provinces, and thus annex their territories to
those of the great Republic.

President Madison, in many respects a well-meaning man,
coerced by such of his political friends as John Caldwell Calhoun
and Henry Clay, "yielded against the dictates of his better judg-
ment 'and thereby brought on three years of war against the
Mother Country, which gave not one compensating advantage."
War was thus accordingly declared on the 18th day of June, 1812,
although public opinion in the New England States of the Union
strongly condemned the Federal Government in its hositility
towards Great Britain.

Right here it may perhaps be not out of place to observe that
the Americans themselves exercised the same "right of search"
in regard to a British vessel in 1861 which they complained that
Great Britain had done in 1812.

The Indians of the West and Northwest, smarting under the
stings produced by their defeat under Elksottawa, or Laule-
wasekaw, the prophet-brother of the renowned Tecumseh, by the
Americans under General William Henry Harrison at Tippecanoe
on Nov. 7th, 1811, and influenced also by Col. Matthew Elliott,
the British Commandant at Amherstburg, were inclined at first
to ally themselves with the British, but after the capture of the
American post at Mackinac by Captain Charles Roberts at the
very commencement of the war, they, naturally anxious to be on
the winning side* showed no hesitation, in a very large measure,
in casting in their fortunes with the British, and arraying them-
selves against the hated "Longknives."

The surrender of Fort Detroit by the American general
William Hull, on Aug. 16th, 1812, to the British under Maj. Gen.
Sir Isaac Brock, assisted by a large body of Indians under Tecum-
seh, the head chief of the Shawanoes, soon followed.

Thus ended in disaster and disgrace the first invasion of
Canada, since by the terms of this capitulation the whole Ameri-
can army of the Northwest, consisting of 2,500 men with their
arms and military magazines, including an armed brig, passed
into the hands of the British authorities, as did also the entire
possession of the then territory of Michigan, which included
besides the present State of that name the adjoining one of
Wisconsin and portions of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

After this brilliant feat of arms, Brock hastily proceeded to
Fort George on the Niagara River, leaving Colonel Henry Proc-

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 11

ter (not Proctor) in command of the troops of the Right Division,
with headquarters at Sandwich, and Lieut.-Col. Robert Nicol of
the Norfolk Militia in charge of the garrison at Detroit, while
the Indians under Tecumseh and Roundhead (Brandy-Jack)
retired to the country opposite Am'herstburg, on the Michigan
side of the Detroit River, in the vicinity of Brownstown, now
Gibraltar.

On October 13th, 1812, the victory of Queens town Heights
was achieved, but unfortunately for Canada, her success was
dearly purchased by the death of Brock, who fell, almost in the
first stages of the action.

Col. Procter in the early part of January, 1813, having
crossed the Detroit River from Amherstburg, and being again
joined by the Indians under Tecumseh, totally routed the Ameri-
cans under Brig.-Gen. James Winchester, who, with the greater
portion of his army, was taken prisoner at River Basin, forty
miles below Detroit, January 22nd, 1813. Turning upon Gen.
Clay, he defeated him also, at the Battle of the Miami, May 5th,
1813, and would have captured Fort Meigs had he been assisted
by the Indians as promptly as he had a right to expect.

After an unsuccessful attack upon Fort Stephenson, Aug.
1st, 1813, he recrossed the River at Amherstburg, and retired
temporarily to Sandwich, leaving the Indians in the neighborhood
of the former place.

On September 10th, 1813, was fought the naval battle of
Lake Erie, in which the British fleet under Captain Robert Her-
riott Barclay, a veteran of the Nile and of Trafalgar, was defeated
by the American squadron under Captain Oliver Hazard Perry,
who captured every vessel and after the fight towed them into
the harbor of Sandusky.

At this point it may perhaps be well to notice that although
Perry is often spoken of as "Commodore," yet he held no such
rank in the American navy. Isaac Chauncey was the commodore,
and Perry's commission as post-captain only dates from the day
of his victory over Barclay, namely, Sept. 10th, 1813.

Procter's frequent calls for reinforcements from headquar-
ters on the Niagara fontier, where Major General Sir Roger Hale
Sheaffe commanded, were unheeded, (and in fact could not be
spared), and thus he was compelled to undertake the arduous
task of leading his diminutive force of 850 British and Cana-
dians, besides a body of about a thousand Indians under Tecum-
seh, to a place where they might hope to make a successful
stand against Harrison's army of 3,500 men, having first ar-
ranged with the Indians' chieftain that they should face the
enemy at Chatham or Moravian Town. The loss of the fleet
had deprived Procter (now Major-General) of the only means

12 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

of communication open to him with his friends on the Niagara
frontier, except by the roads, if such they might be called,
stretching along the Detroit and Thames rivers, and thence
through the boggy forests away to the east.

Procter abandoned Amherstburg on Sept. 24th, 1813, and
calling in the garrisons of Sandwich and Detroit as he proceeded,
retreated as rapidly as circumstances would permit, closely fol-
lowed by Harrison, who crossed the Detroit River at its mouth,
and occupied Amherstburg only three days after the departure
of Procter from that same place. Having been joined at Sand-
wich by his detachment of 1,500 Kentucky mounted riflemen
under Governor Isaac Shelby, an old Revolutionary veteran, Har-
rison closely pursued Procter's worn-out and dispirited force, and
reached a point on the north bank of the Thames, a mile and a
half west of Movarian Town, on Oct. 5th, only two hours after
the arrival of the British and their Indian allies at this same
locality.

The British troops had received no pay for several months,
and three gunboats and one brig, which accompanied the army
as it marched along the banks of the aforesaid rivers, had to be
destroyed, along with their cargoes, including the ammunition
for the troops, to prevent their becoming the prizes of the swift-
footed and exultant foe. Procter, too, was on bad terms with
the rank and file of his army, and his knowledge of bushfighting
was of the most meagre description, and between him and Tecum-
seh there was an entire lack of sympathy, without which in any
case success need scarcely be even hoped for.

Thus when the handful of British troops, now reduced to 476
men through sickness, desertions and captures on the way,
turned to face their enemy near Moravian Town, in the tall for-
est, thickly strewn with autumn leaves, on the afternoon of
October 5th, 1813, the expressions used by many of them showed
that they were ready to strike a last blow, but they instinctively
felt that it was indeed to be the last. Many of our readers are
already familiar with the details of this engagement, which
lasted only about twenty minutes, terminating with Procter's
defeat and the death of Tecumseh, who fell by the pistol shot
of an officer of the Kentucky Mounted Infantry, while in the act
of hurling his tomahawk at the already wounded horseman.

After this victory, which was followed up by a short pursuit
of the remaining British, Harrison returned with his army to
Detroit and finally withdrew to Lower Sandusky (now Free-
mont) with a view of assisting his friends in their projected
invasion of the Niagara frontier, having left Lieut-Col. Anthony
Butler in command of the garrison at Detroit. After another
garrison had been placed at Amherstburg, the Kentucky troops

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 13

were marched home, and disbanded on Nov. 4th, 1813, and new
levies were raised in that State for service on the Canadian
frontier in the early part of February, 1814.

A large portion of Procter's little army, reduced in strength
to 476 effective soldiers, and consisting of the 1st Battalion of
the 41st Regiment together with thirty or forty members of
the 10th Royal Veterans and twenty Light Canadian Dragoons,
were taken prisoners, and for a time ignominously confined within
the strong walls of a local penitentiary at Frankfort. Procter
himself, having escaped with his family, his personal staff and
the Dragoons, made considerable effort to rally his remaining
troops after the battle, and was nearly taken prisoner
in the pursuit that followed. Lieut. Richard Bullock of
the 41st, with about fifty of his company, eluded the
observation of the watchful foe by a rapid flight
through the thick woods, and after many vicissitudes
finally joined the wreck of Procter's command at Ancaster, about
three weeks after the defeat at Moravian Town. This whole
force now only numbered 246 troops, not including the Indians.
Henceforth, we hear no more of Procter during the war, nor of
the Right Division of the British army operating in Upper Can-
ada, the remainder of which was now merged into the command
of the Centre Division, under Col. (afterwards Ma j. -Gen.) John
Vincent, with headquarters at Burlington.

Shortly before the 1st of January, 1814, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Gor-
don Drummond established a small outpost of the Centre Division
at Delaware, a little village upon the Thames, about thirty-four
miles east of Moravian Town, and about twelve miles west of
the site of the present City of London. This village then con-
sisted of only a few straggling houses, and a saw mill close by.
This force was stationed at this place for the purpose of acting
as a corps of observation over and keeping in check the strag-
gling bands of American Militia who were constantly harrassing
the peaceful inhabitants of the London District. It comprised
the Flank Companies of the Royal Scots, and a light company
of the 89th Regiment, a detachment of Canadian (Kent) Militia,
and a small body of Rangers, the whole being under the command
of Captain Stewart, the full strength of which amounted to 196
men. Stewart was frequently obliged during the months of
January and February to send out reconnoitering expeditions
down the Thames, and even into the vicinity of Sandwich for
the purpose of checking the desultory incursions of the enemy
above referred to.

In order to act as a counterpoise to, and neutralize as far as
possible the effect of the establishment of the British post at
Delaware, Lieut.-Col. Butler, who still held command at Detroit,

14 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

established a similar post at McLear's, near Dolsen's Farm, on
the 'banks of the Thames about two miles below where the city
of Chatham now stands, at which station was placed a company
of thirty-nine American regulars under Lieut. Larwell. The Brit-
ish having been apprised of the situation of this corps, Lieut.
Medcalf with thirty-three regulars and militia marched through
the woods from the Rond Eau and surprised it in the silent
watches of the night (Dec. 23, 1813) capturing the whole party
without loss of killed on either side, and only five Americans
wounded.

Butler did not think proper to re-establish this post, but
contented himself with sending out foraging expeditions from
Detroit as before. In one of these incursions Captain Lee with
a company of Michigan Rangers captured and carried off as
prisoners Col. Baby, Capt. Springer, and several others of the
Canadian Militia, who were most active in the defence of their
country. Springer was the postmaster at Delaware, and an old
U. E. Loyalist, having first seen the light of day near Albany in
the State of New York, and after his removal to Canada became
a Justice of the Peace, and during the war held the rank of
captain in the Militia of Upper Canada. Springer's horses and
sleigh were also taken on this occasion, the captain being tied
down in the bottom of the box and in this manner conveyed to
Kentucky, crossing the Detroit River on the ice. In a subse-
quent expedition, Lee also took and carried away into captivity
Major Tpwnsley of the same branch of the Canadian service.
This individual was a native of Connecticut and another of that
noble and heroic band who braving even death itself dared to
be loyal to the old flag with its glorious traditions and take up
arms to defend from invasion the fair and free soil of their
adopted home. That he was a man of considerable merit seems
to be established by the fact that his enemies characterize him
as "the most active and vindictive partizan of the British in
Upper Canada."

Butler, however, finding his hold upon the south-western
portion of the province rather uncertain, determined to make
an attack upon someone or other of the British posts in the
interior, and by its capture and destruction rid himself of the
repeated onsets from which his wild and turbulent foragers suf-
fered at the hands of their stubborn and resolute foe. Accord-
ingly on Feb. 21st, 1814, he resolved upon despatching Captain
Andrew Hunter Holmes of the 24th U. S. (Tennessee) Infantry
with a detachment from this regiment and also from those of the
26th Vermont, the 27th New York and the 28th Kentucky,
together with two pieces of artillery. Holmes was directed to
march against either Port Talbot or Delaware, as circumstances

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 15

would permit or the exigencies of the situation might require.
At this time a period of comparative tranquility seemed to pre-
vail, and since in consequence thereof Captain Stewart was not
molested in his little post at Delaware and as the militia was no
longer considered necessary to aid in its maintenance, he con-
cluded to order it home.

However, as the sequel will show, this short season of
apparent peace was more imaginary than real. Holmes, immedi-
ately upon receiving his instructions from his superior officer,
set out from Amherstburg, and having reached Pointe au Pelee,
found the roads between that place and the Rond Eau to be so
much obstructed by fallen timber, deep snow, thickets and wet
swamps, that he was obliged to abandon his guns at Pointe au
Pelee, and trust to his small arms for the reduction of the British
post at Port Talbot. The climate of this part of the country
being less severe in winter than in the more northerly sections,
the soil in the woods rarely freezes to such an extent as to allow
the passage therein of such a relatively heavy load as a six
pounder (the calibre of Holmes' guns) and in fact often makes
insecure footing for a horse of ordinary weight.

Captain Gill with his company of Michigan Rangers, and
'Captain Lee with a troop of Michigan Militia Dragoons, having
pursued some Canadian (Kent) Militia up the Thames under
Lieut. McGregor, effected a junction with Holmes, at the Rond
Eau, without serious obstruction, so that Holmes' total strength
now numbered 180 men. He at once resumed his march for Port
Talbot, 'but soon changed his determination upon hearing that
his advance guard had fallen in with some Canadian militia, who
he imagined would carry to Port Talbot the news of his coming,
and then concluded to make an attempt to surprise Delaware.
The settled conviction on the part of the British appeared to
him to be that he intended avoiding Delaware and proceed to
Port Talbot, which would in that event, leave his rear open to
attack, so that for this reason, also, he concluded to abandon his
intended expedition to the latter place, and make a sudden rush
up'on the former, as indeed by his instructions from Butler he
was authorized to do. He therefore altered his route and directed
his march towards Delaware. Having crossed the Thames a
short distance below Moravian Town, he proceeded rapidly along
the forest highway leading through the "Long Woods," a huge
natural park extending from the site of the present village of
Thamesville to Delaware, a distance of about thirty-seven miles
and embracing within its woody domains an area of about 190,000
square acres.

Almost in the very heart of this dreary solitude, at that
time, lived with his family a quaint and lonely individual named

16 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

George Ward, whose dwelling was known as "Wan*'8 Station,"
and whose memory is practically immortalized in the designa-
tion of the present village of Wardsville. Whether for advance
or for retreat, the by-path, for it was very little more, leading
through this forest was such as the nicely gravelled and automo-
bile imagination of the present day can scarcely be expected to
clearly apprehend. The road, such as it was, followed in some
places the northerly bank of the sluggish and winding Thames,
and at others where cutting off bends, stretched at some dis-
tance from the river, when after passing east of where Wards-
ville now stands, the traveller finds himself entirely removed
from the stream, until he reaches Delaware. The Townships of
Mosa and Ekfrid were then unknown to geography, and the ter-
ritory now embraced withinv the limits of these smiling munici-
palities was then occupied by wandering bands of Chippewa
Indians. Neither was this region then a part of the present
County of Middlesex, which, at this period of our history, includ-
ed on the north bank of the Thames only the Township of Lon-
don, while the .remainder thereof lay on the opposite side of the
river and embraced a large part of the lands now included within
the limits of the County of Elgin, as it now exists.

Holmes' force, being nearly all mounted, traversed the
sloughs of this unmitigated wilderness with wonderful celerity.
The troops of which the invaders force was composed, and styled
by American writers as "Mounted Infantry," were for the most
part hunters, trappers and sportsmen, and, says Coffin, "inured
to the wilderness, and between whom and the Indians there ex-
isted a constant warfare and deadly hatred. As we might ex-
pect in men leading wild and reckless lives, there existed among
them confused and unconventional ideas as to the rights of per-
sonal property, combined with a marvellous tendency towards
violating them. Supple and athletic, fearless, daring, sometimes
vindictive, and frequently, chivalrous towards a conquered foe,
arrayed in a hunting frock and leathern trousers fringed with
tassels, they were trained to cover their bodies behind trees
from which they fired, without exposing themselves to any
greater extent than was really necessary. They were not cavalry
as we understand the term, as not a man among them carried a
sword, but simply a rifle, and for fighting at close quarters there
were fastened to their belt the cruel knife and awful tomahawk.
Thus the hardy pioneers of Kentucky and Tennessee presented
an appearance at once formidable as well as picturesque. Their
usual tactics were to follow up the enemy on horseback, and
then dismounting from their docile steeds, step behind trees,
and ply the unerring rifle. In the case of the roads being difficult
for travel to footmen they often each took up one of them, be-

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL

liind, on the backs of their trusty horses, and thus the march of
the foot was greatly accelerated and a large stretch of country
was in this way covered in a brief period of time.

These statements will now explain the rapid march of
Holmes from Amherstburg to within fifteen miles of Delaware,
and back to Fort Detroit. When Holmes reached a point in the
woody and snow-covered bridle path "only fifteen miles from
Delaware, on the 3rd inst., we received intelligence," he says in
his report, "that the enemy had left Delaware with the intention
of descending the river, and that we should probably meet him
in one hour, that his force consisted of a light company from the
Royal Scots, mustering for duty one hundred and twenty men, a
light company from the 89th Regiment of foot (efficiency not
known), Caldwell's Indians, and McGregor's militia, amounting
in all to about 300 men." This information was evidently not
given to Holmes by any of his own scouts, since, had this been
the case, he would have thus informed his superior officer, as he
was always quite anxious that his skill should be exhibited to
the best advantage, when making his report to Butler. In speak-
ing with reference to this very event, Armstrong says, "when
arrived at fifteen miles of his object he was informed by a per-
son not unfriendly to the United States that the fact of his ap-
proach was already known to Captain Stewart, the commandant
of the post, who to meet it had collected a considerable force,
which if he (Holmes) pursued his march on the Delaware road,
he would in all probability soon encounter." Holmes seems there-
fore to have procured his information (which was nearly correct)
respecting his opponents' force from a renegade Canadian. This
person seems to have met Holmes in advance of the British,
since, according to his own report, the American' officer was told
that the British force was probably within one hour's march of
him. Not knowing the ground he at once retreated to what was
then known as '"Twenty Mile Creek," so called from its being
about twenty miles west of Delaware, this stream being also
about three miles east of Ward's Station, and having re-crossed
it on a bridge, took up an excellent position on its western bank,
now known as "Battle Hill."

Captain Gill, with about twenty Michigan Rangers was left
by Holmes to cover the retreat, and watch the movements of the
pursuing Canadian Rangers, under Caldwell. Holmes' command
had originally amounted to 180 men, but hunger, cold and fa-
tigue had brought on illness, and although none had died, yet all
were much disheartened, and sixteen were sent home since they
were unable to withstand the hardships connected with this
wearisome march, so that his total strength now numbered 164
men. The main body of the Americans had barely encamped

18 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

before it was joined by Gill with his American Rangers who had
been driven in after exchanging a few shots with the Canadian
Rangers who had vainly attempted to reconnoitre, although he
was able to give the main body sufficient time to make good its
retreat to Twenty Mile Creek. The remaining portion of the day
and also the night were turned to good account by the American
commandant. Disaffection had crept into the ranks of the in-
vaders, and both officers and men loudly demanded that a re-
treat should be made still further, since many of them had suf-
fered severely from fatigue and exposure, and alleged that
others had been permitted to return home for these very same
reasons. Holmes therefore was obliged to call a council of his
officers to determine whether they should endeavor to maintain
their present position, or retreat, and on this question there was
considerable diversity of opinion. The Captain and his Adjutant,
Ensign Heard, however, were strongly opposed to the latter
alternative, and the impression finally prevailed that they should
"conquer the British or perish in the attempt."

The strengthening of his position was then proceeded with,
which was fortified by an abattis on three sides formed of logs,
piled upon each other breast high, and faced on the outerside
with brushwood. The portion of the hills looking immediately
to the east, and over which the road crossed, was also slightly
strengthened in the same way. These hills, besides being very
steep, were covered with water, which was brought up from the
creek during the night in no stinted draughts, and being quickly
frozen into ice, owing to the intense cold, was then concealed by
snow being thrown thereon, so that the American position, pre-
viously naturally strong, was now practically unassailable.

The Canadian Rangers spent the night of the 3rd on the
plain to the rear of the eastern hills, between which and the
American camp lay a rather deep valley through which from
north to south flows the creek which finally empties itself into
the Thames about a mile south from where the road, now known
as the Longwoods Road, crosses the hills. Although the ground
is now cleared away, and the forest trees no longer wave their
massive branches over the hills, the creek and the ravine, still the
western bank is yet an admirable location for defensive purposes,
as against an enemy advancing from the east, and the American
position was therefore well selected.

Stewart having received notification, late on the night of the
third, from Captain William Caldwell that he had met with a
party of Americans on that very day, sent Captain James Lewis
Basden at daylight, on the morning of the fourth with the Reg-
ulars consisting of the companies previously mentioned, together
with the company of the Kent Militia, under Lieut. McGregor,

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL

19

and about forty Indians, Wyandots and Pottawattomies, acting
as scouts, under Captain "Billy" Caldwell, a half-breed, to the
support of the Rangers. Stewart himself was detained for sev-
eral hours at Delaware, upon urgent business, with Col. Elliott,
one of the survivors of Moravian Town, and not really expecting

REFERENCE

A The Road leading from Delaware
B The American enclosure
C The bottom of the Ravine where the Brit-
ish were killed.
0 Ground which commands the enclosure
not occupied by our Troops and very
thinly wooded every where else the
wood is very thick

*r\

,/ 7

H
/

0 10 £0 30 40 50
SCALE: OF YAPIO s

Sketch of the Battlefield after I,e Breton,
made a few days subsequent to the action.

an action immediately, much to his subsequent regret was not
present at the fight that followed. Being all on foot their march
was necessarily laborious over the lightly crested snow, through
which they broke at every step. On the right hand and on the
left, as they passed along, rose the primeval, woods in which were

20 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

great beech and maple trees, mantled in dazzling sheets of snow,
and Nature herself was enshrouded in funereal white, and
except for the steady tramp of the troops, while they proceeded
on their way the forest was as silent as the grave. At Twenty
Mile Creek all was quiet, until the first dim redness tinged the
eastern sky, and the hills and the woods grew visible in the morn-
ing light, when suddenly, the sound of arms was heard.

The Canadian Rangers, having risen from their wintry bed,
were all alert, and after exchanging a few scattered, ineffective
shots with the enemy, on the western hills, hastily retreated with
the object of drawing the invaders from their strong position.
This stratagem of inducing the Americans to leave their location
on the opposite heights was well contrived, and had it been skill-
fully followed up could hardly have failed to effect the entire
destruction of the enemy's force. Holmes, on discovering that
the company of Canadian Rangers had disappeared, waited some
time for their return, and then despatched Lieut. Knox with the
Michigan Rangers to reconnoitre, and upon his return he reported
that the Canadians had retreated with the utmost precipitation,
leaving articles of baggage and camp furniture scattered about,
and that judging from the number of fires, and the appearance
of the trail, the strength of the enemy did not exceed sixty or
seventy men.

The American commandant, displeased at the thought of his
having retreated on the previous day from such a slender force,
and assuming that he had been previously wrongly informed as
to the real strength of his opponents, now abandoned his position
on the western hills and commenced a close pursuit of the flying
Canadains, intending to endeavor to capture Delaware before the
end of the day. He, however, had not proceeded more than five
miles, when Captain Lee of the Michigan Militia Dragoons, who
was in advance of the main body, reported to him that the Brit-
ish and Canadians in considerable force were now arranging
themselves in order of battle on ground of their own choosing ;
Caldwell, in the meantime, having been joined by the main body
under Basden.

At this time the golden opportunity of making a flank move-
ment through the woods, and thus cutting off the Americans
from a retreat to Twenty Mile Creek, presented itself to Basden.
In fact he was strongly urged to do this by those of his men who
were familiar with the physical features of the locality, and par-
ticularly by the two Caldwells. But as he was by no means a
strategist, he neglected doing so, and consequently lost his move
in this game of military tactics. Had this been done, Holmes, in
all probability, would have been driven towards Delaware or Port
Talbot, and without forage or other supplies, placed between two

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 21

fires, in which case his entire command would have been either
ultimately destroyed or compelled to surrender. Having taken
advantage of Basden's blunder, he rapidly retreated and was thus
finally enabled to resume his former position on the western bank
of the creek, and at once began preparations for the struggle,
notwithstanding the complaints of many of his men, who again
strongly pressed him to retreat farther. Nor was this rapid re-
treat wtihout its effect upon the mind of Basden, who only saw
in Holmes' swift movements, the effects of fear and a settled
design on the part of his foeman to avoid a conflict.

The American troops being indifferently drilled, were formed
in a hollow square, with the baggage and horses in the centre, in
order to avoid the necessity of attempting military evolutions in
action, which they were unable to perform. The brow of the
west hill overhanging the creek, across which elevation stretched
the road, was occupied by the detachment of the 24th Tennessee
and 28th Kentucky, while those of the 26th Vermont and 27th
New York defended the hills and the breastwork on the north
side of the American position, the ravine here making a slight
bend in a northwesterly direction, a very short distance beyond
the north side of the road. The Michigan Rangers occupied a
position on the west side of the square, while the Michigan
Militia Dragoons stood on the south side of the American camp,
the ravine here making another bend almost due south, as the
waters of the creek rush onward and mingle with those of the
Thames. These hills are all quite steep, and besides forming
commanding eminences, about fifteen or twenty feet high, were
fortified by long breastworks as above described.

Basden, then a young man of only twenty-nine years of age,
like many others of the old school of British officers, believed
that almost anything could be accomplished by dash and spirit,
and that the enemy's entrenchments could be taken by storm,
confidently expecting that he would thus be able to teach the
Americans such a lesson that in the future they would positively
desist from making any further foraging raids into Upper Can-
ada. Had he been governed by prudence and judgment he would
in all probability, have succeeded in doing so, but being as indis-
creet as he was brave, he recklessly ordered a direct front attack,
instead of, in the first instance, endeavoring to turn the enemy's
flank, thus repeating and accentuating the mistake made by him-
self during the previous part of the day. The desultery skirm-
ishes with the enemy, occuring in connection with the advance
and retreat of the Americans previously alluded to, in conjunc-
tion with the great depth of snow, for it was fully fifteen inches
deep, tended greatly to retard the advance of the British and
Canadians, so that it was about five o'clock in the afternoon of

22 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Friday, the 4th day of March, 1814, when they arrived on the
eastern heights of the wide and deep ravine, through which
Twenty Mile Creek discharges its waters. The company of Kent
Militia under McGregor and the company of Canadian Rangers
under Caldwell were instructed to make a flank movement up
the valley, above the north side of the road, and upon the enemy's
left where the detachments of the 26th and 27th were posted, and
the Indians under Captain ''Billy" Caldwell were dispatched to
turn his right, where were stationed the Michigan Militia Dra-
goons and Rangers, while the British Regulars were to make an
attack upon the centre of the American position defended by the
detachments from the 24th and 28th.

Comparatively deadly work soon began. A more efficient
corps for the flanking service to the left of the American position
could scarcely have been selected from the whole irregular force
in Upper Canada than this handful of men, fifty in number, led
by McGregor and Caldwell, sheltering themselves behind trees as
they noiselessly proceeded until they had passed up the ravine,
under a heavy fire, to turn that portion of the invader's intrench-
ments, held by the soldiers of Vermont and New York, and then
sounded their bugles, according to previous orders. The Indians,
uttering their shrill war-cries, and also fighting from behind
trees at a more respectful distance, engaged the right of the
enemy, but owing to the fact that the latter had the advantage of
an intrenched post, while the former fought from behind trees
only, they were thus comparatively easily kept at bay.

It was, however, in the centre of the enemy's position where
the struggle of the day took place. While the flanking move-
ments were being made, the British Regulars commenced firing
heavily upon the position held by the troops of Tennesee and
Kentucky, these being the detachments from the 24th and 28th
American Regulars. The foe, to the accompaniment of loud
cries from the 28th of "Hurrah for Kentucky!" "Hurrah for
Kentucky !" from their sheltered positions returned the fire with
equal spirit and determination. Basden, putting himself at the
head of the Royal Scots detachment, determined to try to carry
by storm the main portion of the enemy's position, and for this
purpose an advance was made from the eastern hills in double
quick time, down a tongue of land sloping towards the western
eminence, occupied by the 24th and 28th, and along which pro-
jection the road at that time ran, and being almost parallel with
the southern limit of the modern highway. The road being
exceedingly narrow the detachment was formed "into an open
column of sections right in front," in which order it proceeded
down the slope and over the bridge, which crossed the creek,
being met at every step by a fire from the enemy posted on the

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 23

heights above, which decimated their ranks, but failed to dampen
their glowing ardour. The hill upon which the 24th and 28th
detachments had taken their position, "actually at this moment,"
says Thompson, "presented the appearance' of a volcano belch-
ing forth cataracts of streaming fire, and dense columns of
smoke; the air was filled with one continued roar of musketry,
resembling the roar of a thousand drums, and as if to add a more
terrific grandeur to the scene, the sun shot forth a few partial
rays through the dense forest upon the conflicting parties/' sev-
eral of whom beheld this grand fountain of light, that afternoon,
for the last time upon earth.

The detachment having passed the bridge which spanned the
creek, advanced to the foot of the western hills and
within fifteen or twenty paces of the enemy posted be-
hind the breastwork on the brow of the hill, from which
was still poured into their ranks a most destructive fire. Here
another occurrence of greater moment and of much more ap-
palling nature presented itself to the minds of the brave Regulars
and filled them with apprehension, altogether unprepared, as
they were, for such an event. The face of the western hill, cov-
ered with ice, almost as slippery as glass and concealed by a
slight covering of snow, was found to be extremely difficult, if
not impossible, to climb. The enemy, screened behind the brow
of the hill, discharging their fatal rifles with such startling effect
as to practically destroy front section of their opponent's advance,
and those who followed, says Holmes, "were much thinned and
wounded" as the men of the 24th and 28th detachments, from
their almost impregnable situation from above, fired volley after
volley into the surging mass below.

Many were the brave attempts to overcome this unexpected
natural obstacle, and reach the enemy's lines above. Basden him-
self, at the head of the foremost section, reached a point within
three yards of the position held by the adversary, when a bullet,
fired with fatal precision, laid him low, dangerously wounded in
the upper part of the right thigh. As the invaders fought be-
hind cover, few, if any of them, were struck during this vain but
brave attempt of the British Regulars to carry .the hill. The
troops were therefore reluctantly obliged to abandon the charge
and take refuge in diffused order behind trees at the bottom of
the ravine, and at from twenty to thirty paces from the Ameri-
can line, and place their sole dependence upon the rifle.

This change of tactics, nevertheless, was largely neutralized
from the fact that the enemy's regulars were now ordered to
kneel upon the ground, so that the brow of the heights might
protect them as far as possible from their opponents' view. The
firing on both sides was still carried on with great vivacity. The

24 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

cover afforded the British by the trees, however, proved in many
cases to be quite insufficient, by reason of their frequently stand-
ing in squads behind the same tree, while the enemy discharged
their rifles upon them from an extended front. The crisis of the
day, at all events, was now over. From the close and rapid firing
of the enemy stationed upon the heights, and also from the
favored nature of their situation, the British dared not uncover,
and under the circumstances, a second charge up the hill was en-
tirely out of the question. On the right flank of the enemy, the
Indian attack was from the beginning necessarily weak, although
they fought from behind trees, yet owing to the protected char-
acter of their antagonists' position, and the inherent inability of
the red man to make any such attack as the circumstances of
this particular case required, the American lines were at this
point also incapable of being carried. On the enemy's left flank,
however, the Canadian Rangers and Militia were on the point of
scaling the invaders' works, when, through the failure of the
front attack by the Regulars, and not being properly supported
in consequence thereof, they were also repulsed.

Unable to sustain the unequal conflict, and favored also by
the fast approaching shades of night, the British, amid repeated
shouts of "Hurrah for Kentucky!" from the detachment of the
28th still ringing in their ears, withdrew, after a close and gal-
lant contest extending over a period of an hour and a half.

Ensign Mills of the 89th, upon whom the command de-
volved after the fall of Basden, wrote from the field just
after the conclusion of the fight to Captain Stewart and handed
his letter giving a few details of the fight to him. It will be re-
membered that Stewart was detained at Delaware and only
arrived at the field near the conclusion of the action. In his
letter, among other things, Mills says, "I have the satisfaction
to assure you that every man did his duty, and that we retired
in perfectly good order." On the day following the engagement
(March 5th) Stewart wrote to Maj.-Gen. Riall, who was after-
wards taken prisoner at the battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25th,
1814, a brief account of this action, and enclosed Ensign Mills'
letter. After having concluded his business at Delaware, Stew-
art hurried through the forest towards Twenty Mile Creek, and
reached Battle Hill just previous to -the close of the action, and
on the following morning wrote Riall to the above effect, from a
place where a stream crosses the Longwoods Road in the present
Township of Ekfrid, adjacent to where the present Loop Line of
the Grand Trunk Railway also intersects the aforesaid road.

The losses of the British in this action were considerable,
taking into account the number of men engaged, and amounted
in all to 14 killed, 52 wounded (six of whom died within one week

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 25

after the action) and one missing. Volunteer Piggett who had
joined the detachment of the 89th only a few days before this
action, besides being wounded was also taken prisoner. The
detailed account of British losses is as follows:

1. Royal Scots Flank Company—Captain D. Johnson and
nine rank and file, killed; Lieut. A. McDonald, three sergeants,
thirty-one rank and file, wounded, and one bugler missing.

2. 89th Light Company— Lieut. P. Graeme and three rank
and file, killed ; Captain Basden, one sergeant and seven rank and
file, wounded; Volunteer Piggett taken prisoner.

3. Kent Militia and Rangers — Lieut. John McGregor, Ser-
geant John Coll and five rank and file, wounded.

No account seems to have been taken of any killed or wound-
ed among the Indians.

The losses of the invaders, owing to their having fought
from a sheltered position, only amounted to four killed and three
wounded, including a non-commissioned officer. Says Kingsford,
"Although great gallantry was shown in the attack, it was most
ill-judged, and led to the serious casualties already narrated, with
no prospect of success." The American Commandant forbore to
pursue the British when they retired from the fatal ravines and
over the eastern hills, as he was well aware that should he do so
the same advantage of position would then accrue to them which
had that afternoon been so highly beneficial to himself. Had he
advanced into the ravine from his position on the western hills
he would in all probability have been caught by the British in the
identical trap in which they themselves had such hurtful experi-
ence only an hour or so previously, and of which they would in
that event be very likely to make good use, especially as the
creek could only be crossed by means of the same bridge over
which the gallant Regulars had passed so lately were he to com-
mence a pursuit by means of mounted troops. Moreover, his
soldiers being greatly fatigued and frost-bitten, and their shoes
cut to pieces by the frozen ground, he was unable on this ac-
count, also to follow up his foes on foot.. The above reasons
given by this clever officer for not pursuing the British and tak-
ing advantage of his victory, seem at first sight to savor rather
of the nature of excuses than reasons, yet taking into considera-
tion all the circumstances of the case there is much to be said in
favor of his conclusions. The British force engaged in this
action amounted to 240 men, composed of the following corps :

Royal Scots Flank Company 101 men

89th Regiment Light Company 45 men

Militia and Rangers 50 men

26 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Indians 44 men

Total 240 men

The whole American strength engaged in this conflict num-
bered one hundred and sixty-four men, computed as follows:

Regulars 94 men

Rangers and Militia Dragoons 70 men

Total 164 men

The latter had, however, the inestimable advantage of a
superior location, together with an excellent knowledge of bush
fighting, which threw the possibilities as well as the probabilities
of success into their hands from the very beginning of the action.
The great inequality of loss in this fight is therefore to be at-
tributed to the judicious position chosen by Holmes (or rather
chosen by the renegade Canadian who, according to tradition,
selected it for him and also suggested pouring water on the face
of the hill to make ice), who compelled Basden to attack him at a
very great disadvantage; and this very event of itself, we are
assured by one writer, more than his bravery deserves the reward
of success. "Possessing also the advantage of dress which renders
him undistinguishable to the eye of a foeman, the American
backwoodsman enters into a contest with the British Regular,
whose glaring uniform and shining accoutrements are objects too
conspicuous to be missed, while his utter ignorance of a mode of
warfare in which courage and discipline are completely worth-
less, renders the struggle for mastery still more unequal." Holmes
states that he behaved very humanely towards the killed and
wounded British, not even allowing his men to remove the shoes
from off the feet of the slain although many of his own men
were then marching in their stocking feet. He also gives special
credit, in his report to Lieut.-Col. Butler, for their services in this
contest to Lieutenants Knox and Henry of the 28th Kentucky
and Jackson and Potter of the 24th Tennessee detachments, as
well as Captain Lee of the Michigan Militia Dragoons. Sailing-
Master Darling, who had upon setting out on this expedition,
volunteered to command the artillery which was subsequently
abandoned at Pointe au Pelee, is also thanked for the part he
took in this engagement. He likewise expresses his gratitude to
Ensign Heard of the 28th for his services in connection with this
victory. Heard acted as Holmes' adjutant and rendered him
valuable assistance at the conference of officers, on the night
previous to the fight, concerning the advisability of a retreat or a
contest with the foe.

Holmes was, however, well aware that, notwithstanding his
success at "Battle Hill," his prospects for the capture of either

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL / 27

Delaware or Port Talbot were now more remote than ever, since a
superior force — although a lately beaten one — lay between him
and either of these places, and he could not hope for a blunder
like Basden's to be repeated. He therefore began a rapid march
from the field at Twenty Mile Creek at nine o'clock on the even-
ing of this action of Friday, March 4th 1814, and reached De-
troit, a distance of about ninety miles from the scene of his late
conflict, in time to allow Butler to make a short report of the fight
to Major-General Harrison, under date of March 7th, which
report was transmitted to headquarters through Lieut. Shannon
of the 27th New York.

It will thus be seen that Holmes felt ill at ease while a single
mile intervened between his command and the palisaded fort on
the American side of the Detroit River. Under date March 10th
he issued a much fuller report of action to Butler, which was
afterwards forwarded to Harrison. In speaking of this expedi-
tion, says Gen. Armstrong "it may be enough to say, that hav-
ing a worthless object, and inadequate means, it ought not to
have been adopted, for of what importance to the United States
would have been the capture or destruction of a blockhouse in
the heart of the enemy's country, more than one hundred miles
distant from our frontier, and which, if held would have been
difficult to sustain, and if destroyed, easily reinstated."

On the day following the engagement, the British detach-
ments, after having definitely ascertained by a flank movement
through the woods north of the road that the enemy had disap-
peared, resumed their former position at Delaware, which was
more than once raided during the continuance of the war.

On March 7th Stewart received a communication from Riall
requesting him to retreat from Delaware in consequence of a
report, which subsequently turned out to be incorrect, that a
body of 500 Americans were now advancing up the Thames for
the purpose of making an attack upon the post. On the 10th
Stewart and the regulars arrived at the Village of Oxford, now
Oxford Centre, leaving the Rangers under Caldwell a short dis-
tance from where the City of London now stands.

The ground upon which this conflict took place is now
known as south half of lot seven, in the first range north of the
Longwoods Road, in the Township of Mosa, and County of Mid-
dlesex, and the north half of lot seven, in the first range south
of Longwoods Road in the same township. The former lands
were granted by the Crown to the late David Conradt by patent
bearing date the 3rd day of November, 1830, and the latter were
also granted by Crown patent to the late Jeremiah Grey on the
22nd day of July, 1831.

Formerly pieces of old muskets, rifles, military buttons,

28 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

bullets and other reminders of an age of strife, were from time
to time picked up on the scene of this forest conflict at Battle
Hill. These finds, however, became rarer and rarer as time
passed on, until now they have, to all intents and purposes, ceased
to have existence, notwithstanding the efforts of the modern
relic hunter. The late Jeremiah Grey, of whom mention has
just been made, ploughed up at the edge of the creek in the ravine,
about the year 1870, the skeleton of some poor long-forgotten
victim of Basden's wild charge up the western heights. Some
time previous to this discovery, the bones of another soldier,
(evidently an American) were disinterred in the sandfield, just
in the rear of the position occupied by the 24th and 28th detach-
ments of the invader's force on that bleak afternoon of Friday,
the 4th day of March, 1814.

Local tradition did not neglect, for many years, to throw a
weird mantle over many occurrences connected with this fight
in the woods, and invest them with a halo of romance, the product
of entirely too fruitful imaginations to be of any value for histor-
ical accuracy. In the case of the battles of Tours and Poitiers
(732), and of Bannockburn (1314), and also of many others, the
inhabitant of the locality would gravely inform the passing trav-
eler that by night would be heard the neighing and tramping of
horses, the clash of arms, the groans of the wounded, the shrieks
of the dying and the shouts of the combatants. We are also
told that in the instance of Battle Hill during the years now past
and gone would be dimly seen the ghosts of the slain, silently
flitting over the hills in the small, quiet hours of darkness, warn-
ing the living against disturbing the repose of the dead, and
frightening the more timid against invading their dread mysteri-
ous haunts ; all of which sounds strangely like the story of the
fabled Giant of the Canary Islands.

Beautiful tales of treasure buried at the time of the con-
flict in this forest, and subsequently recovered by means of a
map showing its whereabouts, have also been related, and in
truth committed to writing, regardless of the fact that the
troops who fought at Twenty Mile Creek had no treasure to
bury. This last remark, I think, suggests the question: What
would a corps of Whites and Indians, numbering only 240 men,
and marching out from Delaware to fight an enemy whom they
might meet at almost any moment, be doing with treasure?
Would it not be left at Delaware, or better still, at headquarters
on Burlington Heights? Inasmuch as the British force sent out
trom Delaware for a mere temporary purpose intended to return
to the same place after having fought the enemy, it seems
scarcely reasonable to suppose that treasure would be carried
along with it, be encumbered thereby, and then carried back to

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL ~ 29

Delaware. In fact it may be added that the story of the treasure
buried at Battle Hill, and afterwards recovered by means of a
chart seems to be borrowed largely from the narrative of the
search, through the same instrumentality, for the long lost hoard
of the Inca, Atahualpah, one of the last native sovereigns of the
ancient empire of Peru, with just sufficient imaginative color-
ing applied thereto, as would give the tale a local application
to this particular case. The writer once remembers being shown
where search was made for the army chest of Procter, hidden
after his defeat at Moravian Town. As a matter of history he
had no army chest to hide. But the prodigality of the human
imagination is as boundless and unlimited as immensity itself.
The fierce light of modern intelligence is nevertheless fast dis-
pelling and scattering to the winds all such popular illusions
and consigning them to their proper place in the regions of a
buried and forgotten past.

The muse of history has time and again sung the praises
of the courageous and unsuccessful assault made by the soldiers
of Pickett's Brigade of the Confederate army upon Cemetery
Hill, the key to the Federal position, on the last day of the fierce
battle of Gettysburg, July 3rd, 1863. She has been equally loud
in her commendations of the gallant charge of the British troops
upon the rocky precipices of Spion Kop during the late war in
South Africa, and which has become familiar to nearly every per-
son living throughout the length and breadth of our land. But
it may be said, and in fact repeated, that within the limits of
the County of Middlesex to-day there are not perhaps a dozen
individuals familiar with the correct official accounts of this
equally brave and daring attack upon the icy snow-clad heights
at Battle Hill on the cold winter's afternoon of Friday, the 4th
day of March, 1814.

Canadians, as a rule, make no boast of their loyalty any
more than they do of the other manly virtues which they quite
properly claim to be their national characteristics. The hillsides
overshadowing the ravine at Twenty Mile Creek are the monu-
ments of the gallant dead reposing beneath their shades; their
names and the heroic efforts which they made at this place and
set forth in the pages of history are the inscriptions recorded
thereon. Even at this date can we not, by copying the lessons
set so admirably before us by other sister societies, place a sim-
ple memorial here, commemorating the heroic death at Battle Hill
of Captain Johnston and Lieutenant Graeme, as well as the other
brave and unnamed regulars who died that Canada might live
and our glorious heritage of freedom be preserved to us through-
out the succeeding ages. The hand would surely wither which
could desecrate that stone.

30 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

APPENDIX A.

Adjutant-General's Office, Quebec, 10th March, 1814—
General Orders.

His Excellency, the commander of the forces, has received
from Lieut.-General Drummond, the report of Captain Stewart
of the Royal Scots, of an affair which took place between the
detachment under the orders of that officer and a body of the
enemy, on the 4th inst., at Longwood, in advance of Delaware
town.

Captain Stewart reports that receiving a report late on the
night of the 3rd inst., from Captain Caldwell that a party of the
enemy had been seen in Long Wood, he directed the Flank Com-
panies of the Royal Scots and the Light Company of the 89th
Regiment, under the immediate command of Captain Basden,
89th Regiment, to march at daybreak to the support of Captain
Caldwell; and at five o'clock in the evening the enemy was dis-
covered in very superior force, posted on a commanding eminence,
strongly intrenched with log breastworks ; this post was instantly
attacked in the most gallant manner by the flanked companies
in front, while Captain Caldwell's company of Rangers and a
detachment of the Loyal Kent Militia made a flank movement to
the right, and a small band of Indians to the left, with a view of
gaining the rear of the position, and after repeated efforts to
dislodge the enemy, in an arduous and spirited contest of an
hour and a half duration, which terminated with the daylight,
the troops were reluctantly withdrawn, having suffered severely,
principally in officers. The enemy has since abandoned his posi-
tion in Longwood.

List of the wounded, killed and missing :

(Royal Scots Light Company — 1 captain, 9 rank and file,
killed; 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 31 rank and file, wounded; 1
bugler, missing.

89th Light Company— 1 lieutenant, 3 rank and file, killed;
1 captain, 1 sergeant and 7 rank and file, wounded; Volunteer
Piggott wounded and taken prisoner.

Loyal Kent Volunteers — 1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant and 5 rank
and file, wounded.

Names of officers killed and wounded :

Captain D. Johnston, Royal Scots, and Lieutenant P. Graeme,
89th Regiment, killed; Captain Basden, 89th Regiment, and
Lieutenant A. McDonald, Royal Scots, wounded.

(Author's Note—Lieut. John McGregor, Loyal Kent Volun-
teers, wounded, and thereby lost an arm, and Sergeant John
Call, also wounded. Of the wounded, above set forth, six died
within a week afterwards. John Shaw, William Shaw and John

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 31

Mitchell, all members of the Kent Volunteers, were among the
wounded, and William Shaw was one of those who died of
wounds.)

Ensign Mills to Captain Stewart.

Longwood, March 4th, 1814.

I beg to acquaint you that this afternoon about five o'clock,
the party commanded by Captain Basden of the 29th Regiment
came up with the enemy in force of nearly 500 men and, after
an action of an hour and a half, in which I am concerned to state
our loss is very considerable, the troops were withdrawn in con-
sequence of the great superiority of the enemy's number. I
have the satisfaction to assure you every man did his duty, and
that we retired in perfect good order. I have the honor to be,
Sir, etc., etc.

J. Mills, Ensign, 89th Light Company.

Captain Stewart, Royal Scots.

Captain Stewart to Major- General Riall.

Fourteen Mile Creek, March 5th, 1814.

Sir : — Having received a report from Captain Caldwell late on
the night of the 3rd, stating that he had fallen in with a party
of the Americans that day in his advance through the Long Wood,
the flank companies of the Royals and 89th Regiment moved
early yesterday morning to his support, and at five o'clock in the
afternoon came up with them, who were posted on a commanding
eminence, strongly intrenched by a log breastwork; they were
instantly most gallantly attacked in front by the two companion
of the Royal and 89th. At the same time the Kent Militia and
Captain Caldwell's company of Rangers made a flank movement
to the right, and a small party of Indians to the left, to gain
the rear of the enemy's position, and after repeated efforts to
dislodge them without effect, the troops were most reluctantly
withdrawn.

:I regret that our loss is very considerable. I enclose a letter
from Ensign Mills of the 89th Regiment, who remained in com-
mand of the troops in this affair, every other officer being killed
or wounded. I was detained at Delaware several hours after
the movement of the two companies, making arrangements with
Colonel Elliott of the Indian department for a particular service
in which the Indians were to be employed, which I regret pre-
vented my joining the troops till the close of the action. Infor-
mation is just received that the Americans have retreated from

32 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

their position. I herewith enclose a return of the killed and
wounded and missing.

A. STEWART,
Capt. R. Scots, Lieut.-Col., London District.
Major-General Riall, etc., etc.

York, March 9th, 1814.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the

copy of a report received from Major-General Riall from Captain
Stewart of the Royal Scots Light Company, relative to an affair
which took place in advance of Delaware Town between the
detachment under his orders and a body of the enemy from the
westward.

I regret to state that our loss has been considerable in pro-
portion to the numbers engaged, and that notwithstanding the
daring gallantry displayed on the occasion, finding it impractic-
able to dislodge the enemy from the security of his breastwork,
the troops were reluctantly withdrawn, after an action of an
hour and a half. It is reported that the enemy have since retired
from their position.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient servant,

GORDON DRUMMOND, Lieut.-Gen.

Captain Basden to Captain Stewart.

Oxford, March 13th, 1814.

Sir: — I take the earliest opportunity, being a little recov-
ered, to inform you of the circumstances which took place on the
4th inst. for the early information of Major General Riall, com-
manding the right division of the army.

Having on the evening of the 3rd received your orders to
march the next morning, I paraded in consequence and received
further directions, viz., to move forward, support Capt. Caldwell's
detachment, and push on as far as Ward's with the whole. I
moved on, found Capt. Caldwell with the whole of his party at
the Fourteen Mile Creek. He had seen the enemy that morning
in numbers, supposed 150 or 200, drawn up in an irregular col-
umn, about 5 or 6 miles from his present position (the Fourteen
Mile Creek). I here refreshed the men and waited a very long
time in expectation of some Indians (conceiving that a party
was following me, five only arrived) , and it growing late in the
day I proceeded, leaving Mr. Eraser of the Indian department

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL S3

with orders to hurry on such Indians as might come up. On
approaching the place where the enemy had been before seen,
it was observed by the smoke and some noise that they were
occupying the same ground. I therefore made my dispositions
for an immediate attack, it growing late. They were posted on
the opposite side of a ravine, on a high bank close to the road,
and I thought I could perceive a slight brush wood fence thrown
up, as I presumed, to obstruct the road. The Kent Volunteers
with the Rangers, I directed to file through the woods, to my
left (right?), and by making an extensive circle they were to
post themselves in the rear of the enemy, get as near as possible,
not to fire a shot, but to sound a bugle, whenever the position
was properly secured and they were prepared to advance. Mr.
Fraser now arrived with about 23 Indians. These I stationed
to flank my right (left?), and advance with the main body. At
the sound of the bugle the flank companies moved on in open col-
umn of sections (the 89th Light Company being weak in subdi-
visions) led by the Royals, with an advance from them. The
enemy commenced their fire immediately on our appearance, and
when the head of the column had preceded a short distance down
the hill, the firing from the enemy was so severe as to occasion
a check, they instantly cheered and rushed on, making for the
road on the opposite side, with the intention of carrying this
fence. However, this was found impossible, the ascent being so
steep and slippery. I now desired the men to follow me, and I
moved in the ravine to the right, for some distance under an
uncommon fire. On ascending and gaining the top of the bank, I
was very much surprised to observe another face of a work. I
placed the men in extended order under cover of the trees, and
the action was kept up with great vigor till dusk, when that of
the enemy became very feeble. I now determined to send to
the point on the top of the hill (from where the action com-
menced) for more men to strengthen the party I had then with
me, and on their arrival to strain the enemy's position agreeable
to my first intention. At the instant I received a severe wound
in the thigh, and was under the necessity of going to the rear;
before I had proceeded far the enemy's fire had ceased — at this
period only I received your orders to retire which order I for-
warded to the officer commanding on the field. A few minutes
after I met yourself. I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your very humble obedient servant,

JAS. L. BASDEN, Capt. 89th Reg.

Capt. Stewart, Royal Scots, Com'g, etc., etc.
<C 682-p 236)

34 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Captain Basden's Report Reviewed.

Basden's letter to Stewart, read between the lines, seems to
be apologetic and wanting in spirit, and apparently is quite as
remarkable for what it actually omits as for what it really con-
tains. Colonel Le Breton, in writing from Delaware under date
of March 8, 1814, regarding this fight says : "As the report of our
unfortunate and truly lamentable expedition has reached the
General (Riall), you are no doubt acquainted with the circum-
stances, shall therefore forebear making any comments," evi-
dently thought that the least said about the fight would be the
best for all parties concerned. Basden's previous experience in
Bengal and among the Mahrattas, at that period seems to have
unfitted him to carry through successfully such a mission as
the one in question herein. His refusal to accept the counsel
tendered him by the two Caldwells, to make a wide flanking tour
through the woods instead of attacking the enemy in front, pre-
pared the way for the subsequent disaster that followed. He
only mentions twenty-eight Indians as being attached to his
force, while all the other authorities give a relatively, consider-
ably larger number. Volunteer Piggott, who was present in the
action, says they numbered from forty to sixty. The best author-
ities say that the total force under Basden was 240 men, and as
from various sources we know the exact number of Regulars,
Rangers and Militia taking part in this action, and subtracting
the sum total of these from the grand total of the fighting force
we thus arrive at the number of Indians as 44, which practically
agrees with Piggott's statement.

He flatly contradicts the British official report of this action,
wherein is set forth the fact that the Militia and Rangers were
stationed to the right of the Regulars and the Indians to the
left, whereas Basden's satement is exactly to the contrary effect.
Holmes also contradicts both Basden and the British general
orders, when he says that both the Indians and the Militia were
stationed on the right, or rather, ' 'across the ravine above the
road," which conveys exactly the same meaning. Capt. Stew-
art's letter to Major-General Riall, bearing date March 5th, 1814,
the day after the action, precisely agrees with the general orders
in stating that the Militia and Rangers were stationed on the
right of the Regulars, and the Indians on the left, and thus con-
tradicts both Holmes and Basden. As before mentioned, Holmes
also disagrees with Basden when he says that both the Militia
and Indians were placed "across the ravine above the road,"
which indicates that they were both on the right of the Regu-
lars, whereas Basden states that only the Indians were on the
right of the Regulars, and the Militia on the left thereof. Holmes,
under the term "Militia" includes both Rangers and Militia,

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL ' 35

while the British and Canadian authorities clearly exhibit a
difference between Militia and Rangers. Basden's letter is writ-
ten on March 13th, 1814, while he was yet lying ill through his
severe wound. A sick man, painfully wounded as Basden was,
is not likely to remember past events as clearly as another per-
son, having his faculties completely unimpaired. Stewart, too,
arrived at the scene of the action just before its close, and there-
fore was as well informed under any circumstances as Basden
could possibly be, and his report is written on the day following
the action, whereas Basden's letter was not written until nine
days afterwards. The whole tone of this report appears to be
apologetic, rather than explanatory, although, of course, inci-
dentally, a considerable number of interesting details are exhib-
ited therein.

The flanking movement of which he speaks, is by no means,
the one which he was previously counselled to make. The one in
question was made simultaneously with the direct front attack,
whereas he was previously urged to make a wide turning move-
ment to the right from Fourteen Mile Creek and thus prevent
Holmes from ever reaching his old position on the Western hills
at Twenty Mile Creek (Battle Hill). The flank movement first
above referred to was made too late to be of any practical value
to Basden, and thus the attainment of the proposed object
entirely depended upon the success of the front attack to be
made by the Regulars upon the main position of the Americans.
The Regulars were unable to succeed in this attack in front and
thus the whole plan of action egregiously failed, largely through
the slippery condition of the hills upon the summit of which
the enemy was posted. He, like Holmes, says nothing about
water having been poured upon the face of the western hills by
the enemy to make ice, but notes its slippery condition. Thomp-
son, however, who was one of the Royal Scots, mentions this
very fact and this is also abundantly corroborated by local
tradition. The loss of the fight is therefore to be attributed to
the failure of the front attack from the above mentioned cause,
rather than to the fact of his severe wound, upon which he
seems to lay altogether too much stress, in trying to account for
his defeat. To do him justice, he seems, however, to have profited
in after years from the drastic lesson, taught him at Battle Hill.
He gives no details of the relative strength of the opposing
parties, and reminds Stewart that the troops retreated through
the giving of orders to that effect by that officer. Stewart could
not possibly order otherwise, seeing the false position in which
Basden had placed the troops. He refers to Geo. Ward's dwelling
in the woods, which places beyond doubt, chronologically, what

36 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

the family tradition states about his living on the present site of
Wardsville, at least as early as the war.

APPENDIX B.

Letter from Captain Holmes to Lieutenant-Colonel Butler, Com-
manding at Detroit, and Transmitted to the Depart-
ment of War by General Harrison.

Fort Covington, March 10th, 1814.

Sir: — I have the honor to submit in writing, that the ex-
pedition sent under my command against the enemy's posts by
your special orders of the 21st ultimo, had the good fortune on
the 4th inst. to meet and subdue a force double its own, fresh
from the barracks, and led by a distinguished officer. I had
been compelled to leave the artillery, by the invincible difficulties
of the route from Point Au Plait to the Round 0. No wheel
carriage of any kind had ever attempted it before and none will
ever pass it until the brush and fallen timber are cut away and
the swamp causewayed or drained. After joining Capt. Gill I
began the march for Fort Talbot, but was soon convinced of its
being impossible to reach the fort in time to secure any force
which might be there or adjacent. This conviction, united with
the information that the enemy had a large force at Delaware
upon the Thames, that I should be expected at Fort Talbot, and
consequently that a previous descent upon Delaware might de-
ceive the foe, and lead him to expose to me some point in
defending others he might think menaced, and coupled with the
possibility that hearing of Capt. Gill's march to the Round O, by
McGregor's militia, whom he had pursued, a detachment had
descended the Thames to intercept him, determined me to exer-
cise the discretion allowed by the order, and to strike at once
upon the river.

On the 3rd inst., when only fifteen miles from Delaware we
received intelligence that the enemy had left Delaware with the
intention of descending the river and that we should probably
meet him in one hour ; that his force consisted of a light company
from the Royal Scots, mustering for duty one hundred and
twenty men; a light company from the 89th Regiment of foot
(efficiency not known) ; Caldwell's Indians and McGregor's
militia ; amounting in all to about three hundred men. My com-
mand had not originally exceeded one hundred and eighty in
rank and file. Hunger, cold and fatigue had brought on disease,
and though none had died, all were exceedingly depressed, and
sixteen had been ordered home as unable to continue the march,
l resolved therefore to avoid conflict on equal grounds and

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 3?

immediately retreated five miles for the sake of a good position,
on the western bank of Twenty Mile Creek, leaving Gill, with
twenty Rangers to cover the retreat, and to watch the enemy's
motions. We had camped but a few minutes, when Capt. Gill
joined, after exchanging shots with the enemy's advance in
vainly attempting to reconnoitre his force. The Twenty Mile
Creek runs from north to south, through a deep wide ravine,
and of course is flanked east and west by lofty heights. My
camp was formed upon the western heights. The enemy's upon
the opposite. During the night of the 3rd all was quiet. At
sunrise on the 4th, the enemy appeared thinly upon the opposite
heights, fired upon us without effect, and vanished. After wait-
ing some time for their reappearance, Lieut. Knox of the Rangers
was sent to reconnoitre. Upon his return, he reported the enemy
had retreated to the utmost precipitation, leaving his baggage
scattered upon the road, and that his trail and fires made him
out not more than seventy men. Mortified at the supposition of
having retrograded from this diminutive force, I instantly com-
menced the pursuit, with the design of attacking Delaware
before the opening of another .day. We did not, however, pro-
ceed beyond five miles, when Capt. Lee, commanding the advance,
discovered the enemy in considerable force, arranging himself
for battle. The symptoms of fear and flight were now easily
traced to the purpose of seducing me from the heights and so
far the plan had succeeded, but the enemy had failed to improve
the advantage. If he had thrown his chief force across the
ravine above the road, and occupied our camp when reliquished,
thus obstructing my communication to the rear, I should have
been driven upon Delaware against a superior force, since found
to be stationed there, or forced to take the wilderness for Fort
Talbot, without forage or provisions. Heaven averted this cal-
amity. We soon regained the position at Twenty Mile Creek, and
though the Rangers were greatly disheartened by the retreat,
and to a man insisted upon not fighting the enemy, we decided
an exhibit to that spot a scene of death or victory.

I was induced to adopt the order of a hollow square, to pre-
vent the necessity of evolution, which I knew all the troops were
incompetent to perform in action. The detachments of the 24th
and 28th infantry occupied the brow of the heights. The detach-
ment from the garrison at Detroit formed the north front of
the square, the Rangers the west, the Militia the south. Our
horses and baggage stood in the centre. The enemy threw his
Militia and Indians across the ravine above the road and com-
menced action with savage yells and bugles sounding
from the north, west and south. His regulars at the
same time charged down the road from the opposite heights,

38 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

crossed the bridge, charged up the heights we occupied within
twenty steps of the American line, and against the most destruct-
ive fire. But his front section was shot to pieces. Those who
followed were much thinned and wounded. His officers were soon
cut down, and his antagonists continued to evince a degree of
animation that bespoke at once their boldness and security. He
therefore abandoned the charge, and took cover in the woods at
diffused order, between fifteen, twenty and thirty paces of our
line, and placed all hope upon his ammunition.

Our regulars being uncovered, were ordered to kneel, that
the brow of the heights might partly screen them from the
enemy's view. The firing increased on both sides with great
vivacity. But the crisis was over. I knew the enemy dared not
uncover, and of course no second charge would be attempted. On
the north, west and south front the fire had been sustained with
much coolness, and with considerable loss to the foe. Our troops
on these fronts being protected by logs hastily thrown together,
the enemy not charging, both the rifie and musket were aimed at
leisure, perhaps always told. The enemy at last became per-
suaded that Providence had sealed the fortune of the day. His
cover on the east front was insufficient ; for as he had charged
in column of sections, and therefore, when dispersing on either
side of the road, was unable to extend his flanks, and as our regu-
lars presented an extended front from the beginning, it is evident
that a common sized tree could not protect even one man, much
less the squads that often stood and breathed their last together ;
and yet upon his regulars the enemy relied for victory. In con-
cert therefore, and favored by the shades of twilight he com-
menced a general retreat after one hour's close and gallant con-
flict.

I did not pursue for the following reasons: 1. We had
triumphed against numbers and discipline, and were therefore
under no obligation of honor to incur additional hazard. 2. In
these requisites (numbers and discipline) the enemy were still
superior, and the night would have insured success to ambus-
cade. 3. The enemy's bugle sounded close upon the opposite
heights. If then we pursued, we must have passed over him as
he did to us, because the creek could not be passed on horseback
at no other point, and the troops being fatigued and frostbitten,
their shoes cut to pieces by frozen ground, it was not possible
to pursue on foot. It follows, that the attempt to pursue would
have given the enemy the same advantage that produced the
defeat.

Our loss in killed and wounded amounted to a non-commis-
sioned officer and six privates ; with the blood of between eighty
and ninety brave Englishmen, and among them four officers,

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 39

avenged their fall. The commander, Capt. Basden, of the 89th,
is supposed to have been killed at an early stage of the contest.
The whole American force in action consisted of one hundred
and fifty rank and file, of whom seventy were militia, including
the Rangers. The enemy's regulars alone were from one hundred
and fifty to one hundred and eighty strong, and his militia and
Indians fought upon three fronts of our square.

I am much indebted to all my regular officers, and I trust
their names will be mentioned to the army and to the War
Department. Without intending a discrimination it must be
acknowledged that the exertions of Lieut. Knox and Henry of the
28th and Jackson and Potter of the 24th were most conspicuous
because fortune had opposed them to the main strength of the
foe. Capt. Lee of the Michigan Dragoons was of great assistance
before the action at the head of the advance and spies; and my
warmest thanks are due to the acting sailing-master Darling,
of the United States schooner Summers, who had volunteered to
command the artillery. Ensign Heard of the 28th, acting as a
volunteer adjutant, merits my acknowledgments, and especially
for his zeal in defending my opinion against a final retreat, when
others permitted their hopes to sink beneath the pressure of the
movement.

The enemy's wounded and prisoners were treated with the
utmost humanity. Some of our men were marching in their
stockinged feet, but they were not permitted to take a shoe even
from the dead:.

I have the honor, to be with perfect respect, Sir, your most
obedient servant,

(Signed) A. H. HOLMES, Captain 24th Infantry.
Lieutenant-Colonel Butler, commanding the Territory
of Michigan and its dependencies.

Captain Holmes' Report Reviewed.

In speaking of his reasons for changing his route from Port
Talbot to Delaware when he arrived at the Rond Eau Holmes'
report is so confused that it is difficult, if not almost impossible
to arrive at his real meaning. Fortunately General Armstrong
and others throw light on this point, and plainly tell us that
Holmes concluded that McGregor, who had been pursued up the
Thames by Captain Lee, would very probably carry the news to
Port Talbot of the coming of the enemy and thus throw the
British and Canadians upon the alert. Holmes calls Port Talbot,
"Fort Talbot."

Farther on he says, "On the 3rd inst., when only fifteen miles
from Delaware, we received intelligence that the enemy had left

40 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Delaware, with the intention of descending the river, and that we
should probably meet him in one hour," etc. He evidently now
refers to the Canadian Rangers under Caldwell, who formed an
advance guard of the British force. It will be remembered that
Caldwell, in his advance through the woods, discovered the
proximity of the Americans, word of which he sent to Captain
Stewart at Delaware, which information reached the latter late
on the night of the 3rd. Holmes does not state how he got infor-
mation of the British movements, of their strength, and the
different detachments of which it was composed. Had it been
through his own scouts, he would not likely have left us in the
dark on this point. Armstrong plainly states that this informa-
tion was given "by a person not unfriendly to the United States."
He clearly sees Basden's blunder in not outflanking him, on the
4th, after he had been drawn from his advantageous position at
Twenty Mile Creek by Caldwell, earlier in the day. He estimates
his fighting strength, in one part of his report, somewhat below
what other contemporary American authorities say it was, in
another part of this same report agrees with them. He augments
the British and Canadian force to 300 men, when, as a matter of
fact, it was just 240, including Indians. Volunteer Piggott of
the 89th Light Company, who was taken prisoner, could have
given him more correct information on this point, and in fact,
Butler's report to Harrison, dated March 7th, put the British
strength at 236 men as stated by "prisoners" — Piggott was the
only prisoner taken. The effect of the fire of the detachments
of the 24th and regulars of the 28th upon the British is largely
exaggerated, and he says nothing about pouring water along the
face of the western hill to make ice and covering up the deception
with snow. This last statement is supported by the authority
of Thompson, and traditional evidence on this point is also very
abundant. The writer, among other sources, procured infor-
mation about throwing water on the hill to make ice and then
covering it with snow to entrap the British; from an old gentle-
man who in turn got it from a member of the militia — John T.
Doane — who was present at this action in the Long Woods. While
praising his officers for the assistance they gave him in winning
this victory at Battle Hill he neglects to give any credit to the
Canadian who, tradition strongly asserts, suggested to Holmes to
throw water on the hillside, on the western bank of Twenty Mile
Creek, besides informing him as to the whereabouts of the excel-
lent ^position here taken by the invaders as well as for the infor-
mation given him as to the movements and position of the
British at Delaware on the 3rd, and also the strength of the force.
Basden, rash as he was on that occasion, would, in all probability
have won the day, but for this unlooked for event of throwing

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 41

water on the hills to the west. The number of British killed
and wounded is considerably exaggerated relative to the number
engaged, and though he praises them for their gallantry, he gives
no reasons for his own rapid retreat to Detroit, immediately
after the conclusion of the fight.

Lieut.-Col. Butler to Major-General Harrison.

Dear Sir: — "By Lieut. Shannon of the United States Infan-
try I have the honor of informing you that a detachment of
troops under my command, led by Captain Holmes of the 24th
United States Infantry, has obtained a signal victory over the
enemy. The affair took place on the 4th inst., about a hundred
miles from this place on the River de French. Our force con-
sisted of not more than 160 Rangers and mounted infantry. The
enemy from their own acknowledgment, .had about 240. The fine
light company of Scots Greys is totally destroyed; they led the
attack most gallantly and their commander fell within ten paces
of our front line. The light company of the 89th has also suf-
fered severely; one officer of the company fell, one is a prisoner
and another is said to be badly wounded. In killed, wounded and
prisoners the enemy lost about eighty, whilst on our part there
was but four killed and four wounded. The great disparity
in the loss on each side is to be attributed to t-he very judicious
position occupied by Captain Holmes, who compelled the enemy
to attack him at a great disadvantage. This, even more than his
gallantry, merits the laurel.

Captain Holmes has just returned and will furnish a detailed
account of the expedition which shall be immediately transmitted
to you.

Enemy's forces as stated by prisoners :

Royal Scots 101

89th Regiment 45

Militia 50

Indians . 40 to 60

236

A. BUTLER,

Lieut.-Col. Commandant at Detroit.
Detroit, March 7th, 1814.

(Author's Note — Butler uses the word "prisoners." There
was only one prisoner taken, namely, Volunteer Piggott.)

42 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

APPENDIX C.

NOTES— PERSONAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL

James Madison, the fourth President of the United States,
was a native of Virginia, and held office during two terms, viz.,
from March 4th, 1809, till march 4th, 1817. During his term the
second war between the United States and Great Britain took
place. Personally, he was opposed to the war, declaring it
unrighteous, as well as unnecessary. His peculiar ambition, how-
ever, was allowed to overcome his judgment, since many of the
leaders of the political party to which he belonged, refused to
support his nomination for a second presidential term unless he
sanctioned the commencement of hostilities, which, after much
hesitation, he accordingly did. He died in 1836, aged 85 years.

Roundhead, a celebrated chief of the Wyandots, headed one-
half of his nation on the side of the British at the beginning of
the war, as did another chief, Walk-in-the-Water, command the
other half of the tribe, on the side of the Americans. His Indian
name was Staw-yeh-tauh, but was also known as Brandy-Jack
from his dissolute habits. It was he who took General James
Winchester prisoner at the battle of River Raisin, and personally
conducted 'him to Procter. He died in August, 1813, aged about
60 years.

General William Hull was an old Revolutionary veteran, and
upon the breaking out of the war was appointed to the command
of the Northwest. He failed to capture Amherstburg, owing to
the arrival of Brock from Niagara with timely assistance, and
was in time besieged in Detroit and compelled to surrender the
place, August 16th, 1812. For this act he was court-martialed
and condemned to death, but his life was spared through the
clemency of the President, by reason of his services on behalf of
his country during the v/ar of the Revolution. His wife was
named Sarah Fuller and from her he had eight daughters and
one son, Abraham Fuller Hull. This son was born in 1786, grad-
uated from Harvard Law School in 1805, and was the third attor-
ney ever admitted to practice by the Detroit bar. He entered the
army in 1811, and was his father's adjutant when Detroit sur-
rendered. Was a captain of the 9th U. S. Infantry when he was
killed at the battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25th, 1814, aged 28
years, where 'his grave is still shown on the battlefield. General
Hull died in November, 1825, at Newton, Massachusetts, and his
wife the following year. Documents recently unearthed by Mr.
C. M. Burton, of Detroit, show that Gen. Lewis Cass, and not
Hull, was to blame for the surrender of that city to Brock.

Detroit (the Narrows) was founded in 1701 by La Motte-
Cadillac, and soon became an important trading post during the

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 43

period of French domination in Canada. When Capt. Beletre sur-
rendered the place to Major Rogers in 1760 it contained about 250
inhabitants. After having withstood a prolonged siege by Pon-
tiac, extending over about a year and a half (1763-1764) it
remained a British possession until it was acquired by the United
States under John Jay's Treaty, in 1796. It again passed under
British rule for a brief period from August 16th, 1812, till Sep-
tember 28th, 1813, when the garrison was withdrawn by Procter
during his disastrous retreat from Amherstburg to Moravian
Town. Although the settlement was called Detroit, yet the fort
itself was formerly named Ponchartrain, and stood back from
the river, at some distance, and was surrounded by a high wooden
palisade. The streets at this time were very narrow, and the
houses nearly all wooden, and built closely together. In 1812 its
population had grown to about 2,500.

Sandwich, originally called L'Assomption, was a French
Catholic Mission as early as 1747, although its present existing
records carry the reader back only to 1760. After the conquest
in 1760 its name was changed to its present designation, and it
still contains many reminders of a departed age. During the
campaign of 1812 and 1813 it wa$ Procter's headquarters.

The parish still bears its former French name, slightly mod-
ified to "Assumption." In 1817 it had 260 inhabited houses, with
a population of about 1,000.

Tippecanoe River, a tributary of the Wabash, is in the west-
ern part of the State of Indiana, and memorable for the battle
fought on its banks, November 7th, 1811, between the Americans
under Harrison, and the Shawanees, with other allied Indian
tribes, under Elksottawa or Laulewasekaw, a brother of Tecum-
seh, and in the temporary absence of the latter. The Indians
were defeated, with a loss of 40 killed, while the Americans had
62 killed and 126 wounded. Some thirty years ago the Legis-
lature of the State appropriated $35,000 to erect an iron fence
around the battlefield, to replace the former wooden one.

Tecumseh, or Tek-kum-thai, which means, in the Shawanee
tongue, "a tiger crouching for his prey," the great Indian war-
rior and statesman, was born on the banks of the Mad River, in
Ohio, in the year 1768. He seems to have been imbued with a
fierce hatred of the American nation, and endeavored by all means
possible to prevent the territories of the Indians from being*
appropriated by them. In most respects he was certainly a re-
markable man, and in breadth of ideas, together with his un-
bounded influence over the savage tribes of the continent, was no
unworthy successor of the renowned Pontiac (1763), or of the
equally famous Pometacon, or Metacomet, chief of the Wampan-
oags (1676.) He was humane towards a fallen foe, and in dram-

44 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

atic eloquence among Indians, has seldom been equalled, much
less surpassed. He loyally stood by the British while he lived, and
was present at all the important battles, in which the army of
the Right Division was engaged. Had his advice been acted upon,
the Americans would have been met on the banks of the Detroit
River, at their landing place, below Amherstburg, and the disas-
ter of Moravian Town probably averted. The most popular auth-
ority appears to state that he was killed at the battle of Moravian
Town, Oct. 5th, 1813, by Col. Richard M. Johnson, a Kentuckian.
But this is disputed by Capt. "Billy" Caldwell, a half-breed, who
was present at this action, and who always maintained that John-
son slew a Pattawattomie brave, and not Tecumseh. James
Knaggs (1780-1860) who fought in the American army there and
knew Tecumseh personally, was strongly of a different opinion,
which was set forth in an affidavit made by him and exhibited in
Ross' History of the Knaggs Family, which stated that without a
shadow of doubt, Tecumseh was slain by Johnson.

Amherstburg, named after Sir Jeffrey Amherst, Governor-
General of Canada, by Robert Rogers, who visited its site in 1763
while on his way from Montreal to receive the capitulation of
Detroit, was founded in 1795, and the British garrison withdrawn
to this place in the following year from Detroit. The land upon
which Amherstburg now stands, including an area of seven miles
square, was, however, granted to Jonathan and Jacob Schifflin on
October 13th, 1783, by the Ottawa Indians for a very trifling
amount, which grant was afterwards annulled by the British
Government, whereupon the Schifflins retired to New York City,
and there became wealthy before they died. Although originally
called Fort Amherstburg the place was known as Maiden during
the war of 1812-14, but subsequently the name Amherstburg was
resumed. Harrison took up his quarters here for a short time
after his victory at Moravian Town, and it is said that "he neither
threatened nor molested the inhabitants" during the residence at
the post. In 1817 Amherstburg contained 108 inhabited houses,
with a population of 675. Its natural, and also its historic attrac-
tions, at the present day, are truly wonderful. The past and the
present, the old and the new, exist here side by side, furnishing
an almost unlimited amount of food for reflection to the observant
stranger sojourning within its gates. During the war it remained
in possession of the Americans, according to their accounts, from
Sept. 24th, 1813, but according to British accounts from Sept.
27th, 1813, until July 1st, 1815, when the place was evacuated
by them. This post was the only portion of British territory
held by the enemy at the conclusion of the war.

William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia in 1773, and
having graduated from Hampden Sidney College, applied himself

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 45

to the study of medicine. He broke off his professional studies
without taking his degree and entered the army, and distinguish-
ing himself in the Indian wars, finally became Lieut.-Gov. of the
American Northwest Territories. In 1799 he entered Congress,
and soon afterwards was appointed Governor of the Territory of
Michigan. His victories at Tippancanoe, Nov. 7th, 1811, and
Moravian Town, October 5th, 1813, as well as his success as an
administrator, gave him great influence in the councils of his
nation. He was defeated in the Presidential campaign of 1836,
but was elected November 4th, 1840, and inaugurated March 4th,
1841, but lived only one month after he had become President.
As a military officer he was gentle and humane.

;Col. Richard Mentor Johnson, the alleged slayer of Tecum-
seh, held the position of Vice-President of the United States dur-
ing the term of 1837-1841. He was born in Kentucky in 1781,
and was elected member of the United States Congress during
the war of 1812-14. He was an attorney by profession, and died
in his native state in 1850.

Isaac Shelby was a veteran of the Revolution and a man of
great energy and force of character. He was born in 1750 and
was the first Governor of Kentucky as a state, and held office
during two different terms, namely, 1790-2 and 1812-14. He
commanded a body of 1,500 mounted riflemen from his state
during the campaign 1813, and was present at the battle of Mor-
avian Town. He was of Welsh descent and died in 1826. By
profession he was a land surveyor, as was also his father before
him.

Major-General Henry Procter, who was defeated at Moravian
Town by Harrison, seems to be often confused with another officer
of the same name, who also served in the war, if we should be
allowed to judge from the erroneous manner in which his name
is frequently spelled.

Henry Procter was born in 1765 and at the age of 16 entered
the army. His conduct of the Michigan campaign of 1813 was
indeed quite creditable; with less than 1,000 white troops and a
very unreliable Indian force, he destroyed three American armies,
each as large as his own. He seems to receive more than his full
share of the blame for his conduct at the retreat from Amherst-
burg to Moravian Town. This retreat was conducted badly
enough in all conscience, and deserved a large amount of censure,
but to lay all the blame at his door seems quite unreasonable and
unfair. Reinforcements that he asked for from headquarters,
and, in fact, could not be spared, were never sent, and as a conse-
quence he and his soldiers became dispirited because of this
neglect. For his defeat at Moravian Town he was suspended from
service, and pay for six months, by decree, dated 9th September,
1815. He died in 1822 at Bath, England.

46 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Lieut.-Gen. Henry Adolphus Proctor was born in 1784, came
to Canada with his regiment in 1814, and served on the Niagara
frontier. He died in Wales in 1859.

George Ward, of Ward's Station, was born in Ireland in 1743.
He was the eldest son of the family and in early life became a
soldier, as did also his brothers. After a military career, both
in England and Ireland in the 58th Foot, he embarked with his
regiment, the 62nd Foot, for Quebec on May 29th, 1776. He
afterwards saw severe fighting during the Revolutionary War,
both in Canada and in the revolted colonies, remaining in the
struggle until its close in 1783. He was present at the action
(among others) which ended in the surrender of Burgoyne, at
Saratoga Springs, to the Americans in 1777. He retired from
the service in 1796, in which he had been a sergeant in the 24th
Foot, and a sergeant-major in the 105th Foot, and took up his
residence near where Chatham now stands. He there became the
original patentee of lot 67, in the "Old Survey" of that city, hav-
ing procured it from the Crown in 1802.

In the following year he disposed of his farm in that vicinity,
which he had obtained as a military grant, and removed about
thirty-five miles farther up the Thames, to the site of the pres-
ent Village of Wardsville, for many years afterwards known as
Ward's Station. Owing to difficulties with the Chippewa Indians
Ward was in 1809 obliged to quit his newly found home in the
Long Woods and return to the "Old Settlement" near Chatham.
In 1812 he again took his abode in the "Forty Mile Wood" as it
was then sometimes called.

At the commencement of the war he was appointed drill in-
structor in the Kent Militia, in which capacity he acted for a brief
period with indeed very indifferent success, and was also in the
former part of the war a dispatch carrier. Ward witnessed the
surrender of Detroit to Brock (Aug. 16th, 1812) and followed
Procter on the occasion of the disastrous retreat of the latter
from Moravian Town to Burlington. Although he seems to have
suffered considerably, in a financial way, from losses to his crops
and buildings, during the war, from both friends and foes, yet
on the whole, he appears to have been fairly generously recom-
pensed therefor. In fact, he seems to have fared better than
many others in this respect, notably those at Port Dover and else-
where, who lost their property during the war.

Ward's loyalty to the British Crown was, however, at times,
very seriously called into question, and during his latter years
was always under a cloud of suspicion for having given, as was
alleged, such advice and information as largely enabled the in-
vaders to win the day at "Battle Hill." General Armstrong's
narrative seems to confirm this opinion, and, in fact, Ward was

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 47

openly charged by Captain Caldwell- of the Canadian Rangers
and others with being a traitor. One of his sons was killed at the
siege of Fort Erie, Nov. 28th, 1813, and two others, named Wil-
liam and John respectively, served for a time in McGregor's
Company of the Kent Volunteers. For several years his house,
which stood on the west bank of Paint Creek, in the northwest
angle on lot 16, range 1, south of the Longswoods Road, Mosa,
where he kept a sort of caravansary, was known as Ward's
Station. John Howison, who stopped over night there on Christ-
mas eve of 1819, speaks of Ward's hospitality towards those of
his guests who were at all inclined to be communicative. When,
the township of Mosa was surveyed in 1820, by Mahlon Burwell,
he complained to the Government that he was only allowed the
patent to lots 16 and 17, south of the aforesaid road, along with
that to the south half of lot 16 on the north thereof, containing,
in all, about 200 acres. His claim to more land was put forth on
the ground of his former military services, apparently ignoring
the fact that he had already received his reward therefor in the
form of a grant at the "Old Settlement." On April 13th, 1825,
patents to the above lands were issued to Ward and his three
sons, William Ward, Alexander Daniel Ward and Talbot St. John
Ward, as tenants in common. He died at his home in Wardsville
about 1832, and is buried there. The property at Chatham here-
inbefore mentioned, was on Dec. llth, 1837, disposed of, his
widow, Margaret Ward, and son, William Ward, joining in the
deed of conveyance. Many of his descendants still reside at or
near the present Village of Wardsville, Alexander Daniel Ward
died at Wardsville in the autumn of 1876, and his only sister, a
Mrs. Banning, died at a very advanced age about 1882. Ward
was by religion an Episcopalian. It will be noticed that Captain
Basden in his report of the 'fight at Battle Hill refers to Ward's
place of residence. He was then the only settler living in the
"Long Woods" belt.

(Note. — The writer intends at some future time to make the
life of Ward the subject of a separate paper, and for that reason,
the above biography is comparatively brief.)

Dolsen's farm is situated on the north side of the Thames
River, in the Township of Dover East, in the County of Kent,
about two and one-half miles below the Town of Chatham, and
is known as lots 18 and 19, in the first concession of the aforesaid
township. The patent of this farm was issued to Matthew Dol-
sen, originally Van Dolsen, in 1796. His loyalty to the British
Crown seems to have sat very lightly upon his shoulders (if in-
deed he had any) as he deserted to the Americans in the early
stages of the war. While he remained on the American side of
the border assisting the enemies of his country, his wife and

48 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

family for a time enjoyed the protection of the Canadian Govern-
ment until they finally joined him at Detroit, where he amassed
an ample fortune and an unreliable reputation. A late Canadian
senator, who knew his record well, gives him a very poor certifi-
cate of character. The first house erected on the farm was con-
structed of hewed logs, which was afterwards replaced by one of
bricks. His son, John Dolsen, born in 1782, inherited the farm
from his father, and kept a general country store, and was also
the registrar of deeds. The farm subsequently descended to
Uriah John Dolsen, a son of John, who afterwards sold it. It is
now owned by James Scott Gray, a member of the firm of Wil-
liam Gray & Sons, Chatham, and is still known as the "Dolsen
Farm."

There is another farm on the south side of the Thames, in
the Township of Raleigh, Kent County, which was settled upon by
Isaac Dolsen, a brother of Matthew, and is situated about six
miles below Chatham. The American army, while advancing up
the river in pursuit of Procter, (who, however, marched up the
^ north side) crossed over his farm and left some reminders of
their stay here. In the walls of the old farm house still standing
are shown the bullet holes of their rifle shots. The old Dolsen
burying ground is on this farm.

Hezekiah Jackson enlisted in the State of Tennessee, as an
ensign in the 24th U. S. Infantry, on March 13th, 1813, and ap-
pointed 3rd lieutenant on the 15th day of August, 1813, which
commission he held when he fought at Battle Hill under Holmes,
by whom he is specially mentioned for meritorious conduct in
that action. He was afterwards transferred to the U. S. 2nd
Rifles on May 28th, 1814, but finally returned to his old regiment
the 24th U. S. Infantry, on the 29th July, 1814. He accompanied
Holmes and Cotgrove in their ill starred expedition against Fort
Michilimackinac and was killed in the attack upon the post on
the morning of August 4th, 1814. His remains, along with those
of Holmes, who was also slain there, were shipped to Detroit and
buried side by side in the old Protestant cemetery there (See
Holmes.)

Moravian Town, originally called Fairfield, was settled by
the Delaware Indians in 1792. They were largely Christians, and
were accompanied by missionaries of the Moravian persuasion,
hence the name "Moravian Town," which was applied to the set-
tlement as early as 1795. The Moravian Reserve at one time ex-
tended along both banks of the Thames a few miles above
Thamesville, but now lies entirely on the south side pi that river.
These Delawares formerly came from the Muskingum River
country, in the State of Ohio. They were called Delawares from
the fact that they had previously resided on the banks of the

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 49

Delaware River. The original seats of both Delawares and
Wyandots seem to have been in the Ungava District of the
Labrador Peninsula.

Oliver Hazard Perry — of naval fame — was a native of
Rhode Island and was only 28 years of age when he achieved his
victory over Captain Barclay, Sept. 10th, 1813, which was the
first and only naval battle in which he was ever engaged. His
statute now stands in Wade Park, Cleveland. He is often spoken
of as Commodore Perry, when, as a matter of fact, he never held
a higher rank than that of Post-Captain. He died in 1819.

•Robert Herriott Barclay saw considerable of service in the
British navy before his defeat by Perry. He served under Nelson
at the Nile (1798) Trafalgar (1805) where he lost an arm. Had
he displayed the same energy in fitting up his fleet as Perry did,
the result of the battle of Lake Erie might have been different,
even with the slender resources at his command. For his defeat
he was tried by court-martial and acquitted. He died at Edin-
burgh, May 8th, 1837, aged 52 years, so that he and Perry were
of the same age.

John T. Doan was a militia man, who fought at Battle Hill
and afterwards was present at the battle of Lundy's Lane, July
25th, 1814, during which he is said to have lain concealed behind
a pile of fence rails, securely screened from the plunging balls
of the American rifles. He afterwards lived on a farm in the
Township of Yarmouth, in the County of Elgin, and died about
1863. He was one of the authorities for the statement that 'tjhe
invaders poured water on the face of Battle Hill to make i;:e,
but does not appear to say at whose suggestion this was done?.
However, other traditional authorities, through different sources,
by their agreement seem to establish this last question beyond
all doubt. The family were originally Pennsylvania Dutch and
came from Bucks County in that state, and his father and uncles
are said to have been members of Butler's Rangers during the
Revolutionary War. His brother, Joshua G. Doan, was executed
in London, Qnt., in January, 1840, for complicity in the Cana-
dian Rebellion of 1837-38.

John Mitchell, who appears to have resided in the Town-
ship of Dunwich, in the County of Elgin, near Port Talbot, was
also in this action at Battle IJill as a member of the militia and
was wounded there and rendered unfit for service. The report
says that he was plundered by the enemy and left with a wife
and small family destitute of the necessaries of life. In April,
1815, he received' the sum of £25 as a partial compensation for
his losses, and in May, 1816, he was granted the further sum of
£20, with the same object in view. Both these amounts were paid
him by the Loyal and Patriotic Society. His name appears

50 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

among those entitled to a grant of land for services as militiamen
during the war.

John B. Laughton was born at Detroit in 1787 while it was
yet a British possession. When in 1796 many residents of Eng-
lish, Irish and Scotch nationalities, "preferring not to be
Yankees," as Laughton expressed it, crossed over to the Cana-
dian side of the Detroit River, the family to which he belonged
came also and settled at Chatham, where in 1802, John Laugh-
1812, accepted the commission from Fort Washington, now Cin-
cinnati, in the then territory of Mississippi on April 29th, 1812.
On June 8th, 1813, he was promoted to the rank of major and
assistant adjutant-general. Having resigned this commission on
ton, the father, obtained the patent to lot 10 in the Old Survey
of that place. On Jan. 7th, 1808, John B. Laughton, then residing
at Sandwich, sold this property, the father having died in the
meantime. From Sandwich, where he dwelt, he saw the white
flag (a table cloth) unfurled, that proclaimed the surrender of
Detroit in 1812. He was a member of the Kent Militia, and was
present at the action at Battle Hill and also at the battle of
Chippewa, July 5th, 1814, where his brother was killed. He was
also present at the action at Lundy's Lane, July 25th, 1814, where
he was taken prisoner and carried off to Greenbush, opposite
Albany. After his release he again took up his residence at
Sandwich, during which period he held office as one of the ward-
ens of St. John's Episcopal Church, of that town, during the years
1838-1840, and again in 1844. He died at Sandwich on Dec. 26th,
1&79, aged 92 years, and so far as is known was the last survivor
of the fight at Battle Hill.

Isaac Lee first took service in a troop of Michigan militia
dragoons, commanded by Captain Richard Smith, having been
enrolled on May llth, 1812. He shortly afterwards commanded
a small body of mounted militia, recruited from the vicinity of
River Raisin, now French Town, in the State of Michigan, in which
corps he held the rank of captain from October, 1813, till April,
1814, and distinguished himself by the capture of Colonel Francis
Baby, already referred to. He took part in the action at Battle
Hill and received the thanks of his superior officer, Captain
Holmes, for his gallant conduct there. James Knaggs (1780-
1860), the captor of John McGregor, of Sandwich, and M. P. P.
for the County of Kent, served under Lee as a private in his Mich-
igan Militia Dragoons, spoken of by Harrison as "River Raisin
men, the best troops in the world." After the war he was
appointed justice of the peace for the district of Erie, Michigan,
May 9th, 1816, and was afterwards appointed assistant registrar
of Macomb County, Michigan, July 14th, 1817.

Ensign Heard was a grandson of the celebrated Morgan of

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 51

Revolutionary fame, and served as adjutant to Captain Holmes
in his expedition from Amherstburg, which resulted in the action
at Battle Hill. He is specially mentioned by Holmes and praised
for his assistance in preventing a further retreat from Twenty
Mile Creek against the judgment of the other officers who
strongly pressed Holmes not to make a stand at this place, but
fall back closer to the base of operations before engaging with
the British. He was slain on the night of August 12th, 1814, in
a naval skirmish near Fort Erie, in which the American schoon-
ers, Ohio and Somers, were captured by Captain Dobbs of the
British Royal navy and a force of 75 men in nine boats. It will
be noticed that Heard was killed just eight days after the death
of Captain Holmes, the victor at Battle Hill.

Twenty Mile Creek (not to be confounded with Twenty Mile
Creek on the Niagara Peninsula) is not known by that name
today, and in fact there does not appear to be a man now living
who ever knew it by that name. Although called Twenty Mile
Creek in old records written during and shortly after the war, it
is now popularly known as "Battle Hill Creek." In the original
field notes of the Township of Mosa, written in the spring of 1820,
it is referred to as "A brook where the Battle of Long Woods
was fought during the late war."

Francis Baby (pronounced Bawbee), the ninth child of
Jacques Duperon Baby (the friend of Major Glad win and of
Pontiac) was born at Detroit in September, 1768. He married
Fanny Abbott on September 5th, 1795, who was only 16 years
old. In his time held several offices, which among others were
Deputy Lieutenant for Essex County, commissioner of the peace,
justice of the peace, and was also a member of the Upper Cana-
dian House of Assembly, having represented Essex, and the now
extinct County of Suffolk from 1792 to 1796. The farm, con-
sisting of 1,000 acres, upon which he lived, is now included within
the limits of the present City of Windsor. He was appointed col-
onel of the militia in the early part of the war and was wounded
at the battle of Moravian Town, and was one of the very few
officers in Procter's army who escaped to the Niagara frontier.
Having returned from there in the early part of 1814 he estab-
lished a small post on that river, below where Chatham now
stands. Lieut.^Col. Butler having been apprised of this, sent
Captain Isaac Lee with a party of Michigan Militia Dragoons to
reconnoitre and, if possible, disperse this force. Lee gained the
rear of Baby without being observed, and having scattered his
force in all directions, took Baby prisoner, February 3rd, 1814.
He returned to his farm after the war, where he died, Nov. 22nd,
1858, after having taken part in the Canadian Rebellion of
1837-38, and fought in the battle of Windsor, December 4th, 1838.

52 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Alexander Stewart, who was in charge of the post of obser-
vation at Delaware during the latter part of 1813, and the early
part of 1814, was born in Scotland, and while yet a young man
entered the army as ensign of the 1st Foot (otherwise known
as the Royal Scots Regiment) on January 12th, 1796. He was
afterwards advanced on November 4th, 1799, to the rank of
lieutenant of the 4th Foot, and transferred to the 1st Foot as
lieutenant on May 30th, 1800, and promoted to the grade of
captain on August 23rd, 1804. His other positions were brevet-
major, 4th June, 1814, major of the 1st Foot, December 1st,
1814, and lieutenant-colonel in the same regiment on November
23rd, 1815. He retired from the service on half -pay with the
rank of lieutenant-colonel on March 25th, 1816, and died in 1822.
While the action at Battle Hill was being fought, Stewart was
on the way there from Delaware, having been previously detained
at that place, in endeavoring to send some Wyandots with am-
munition to their brethren on the St. Clair River.

James Lewis Basden, C. B., was born in Westmoreland, Eng-
land, on February 29th, 1785, and appointed ensign of the 94th
Foot on January 12th, 1800, and lieutenant in the same regiment
on March 17th, 1801.

In this latter capacity he took part in the Mahratta War
in Hindoostan during the years 1803-4-5, under Sir Arthur Wel-
lesley, afterwards Duke of Wellington, and was present at the
taking of Burhampor, Asseerghur, Argaum, Lasselgaum, Chaw-
dore, Jauluah and Gwilleghur. On December 30th, 1806, he was
advanced to the rank of captain in the 89th, a position which he
held when he commanded the British and Canadians at the time
of his defeat in the action of the "Long Woods," Friday, March
4th, 1814. In consequence of a severe wound received at this
place, in the upper part of the right thigh, he was recompensed-
with one year's full pay in addition to his regular salary. The
other actions in which he took part, during the war of 1812-14,
were the taking of Black Rock and Buffalo, December 30th, 1813,
Lundy's Lane, July 25th, 1814, where he was again wounded
(this time slightly), and Fort Erie, August 15th, 1814. After
this event he was promoted to the rank of brevet-major for his
services in the war, December 30th, 1815, and became a major
of the 89th on November 25th, 1821. With this rank he served
in the first Burmese war, 1824-25 and fought under Sir Archibald
Campbell at the taking of Rangoon, 'and Tavy and Mergui, under
Sir E. Miles. His next promotion was Erevet Lieut.-Col. 89th
Foot, 7th of July, 1838. He retired on full pay on the 16th of
June, 1843, and was afterwards promoted to the position of
brevet colonel, November 28th, 1854. For his distinguished ser-
vices in the field he was finally rewarded by his sovereign with

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 5S

the distinction of Campanion of the Bath, and was specially
mentioned in the Home Dispatches of the Governor-General of
India. He died on May 22nd, 1856.

Andrew Hunter Holmes was a native of Virginia, £nd having-
been appointed captain in the 24th U. S. Infantry March 12th,
September 4th, 1813, he returned to his former grade as captain
in the 24th, which rank he held when sent out by Lieut.-Col.
Butler to lead the expedition into Upper Canada, which resulted
in his victory at Battle Hill, March 4th, 1814, and subsequent
rapid retreat to Detroit. For his success in this action he was
again promoted to the position of major in the 32nd U. S.
Infantry, April 18th, 1814, and appointed military commandant
at the post of Amherstburg, where excessive mildness does not
appear to have been, by any means, the chief characteristic of
his administration. In the early part of July, 1814, he was sent
out as second in command of an expedition under Col. George
Crogan, the ultimate object of which was the capture of Fort
Michilimackinac. After considerable plundering and destruction
of property at Sault Ste. Marie, the British, maintaining that
the property was private and belonging to the Hudson Bay Co.
and the Americans holding that it was really public and belonging
to the British Government, the Americans disembarked on Mack-
inaw Island on the morning of August 4th, 1814, for the purpose
of attacking the fort. Their regulars, amounting to 430, formed
the second line of attack under Jthe command of Holmes, while
the first line, composed of militia, was commanded by Col. Cot-
grove. Before going into action Mr. Holmes was strongly advised
by a Mr. Simon Davenport to exchange his uniform for plain
clothes, as he would be made a marked man by the Winnebago
Indians, in the British service, whose village near the Sault
he had caused to be destroyed, but he obstinately replied that a
uniform was made to wear, and he was going to wear it. In
leading his troops in the attack upon the British position, five
balls entered his chest, from the effect of which he was instantly
killed (August 4th, 1814).

When his men retreated after their unsuccessful assault his
body was left on the field, and concealed by some British soldiers
under leaves and fence rails to prevent an outrage by the Indians.
Shortly afterwards it was discovered by two Frenchmen who
stripped the corpse naked and carried off all its belongings. The
British Commandant, upon hearing of this, declared that he
would shoot the rascals at once, unless the uniform, watch, papers
and other valuables of the fallen officer were immediately re-
stored to his friends, which they unwillingly did, and with the
body, were given over to the proper authorities. Holmes* sword,
however, fell into the hands of the Indians and by them was

54 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

presented to George Johnston (1796-1861), the half -breed son
of John Johnston (1762-1828), a British trader residing at the
Sault. Lieutenant Jackson of the 2th U. S. Infantry, who fought
under Holmes at Battle Hill, was also slain in this attack upon
Fort Mackinaw, which happened exactly five months after the
fight at the former place. On August 17th, 1814, the bodies of
Holmes and Jackson were brought to Detroit on an American
vessel and buried side by side in the old Protestant cemetery
there, and minute guns fired over their graves. After the con-
clusion of the war Fort Mackinaw was restored to the Ameri-
cans, and by them was called Fort Holmes from the name of this
officer.

"Billy" Caldwell was the son of Colonel William Caldwell,
an old Revolutionary officer of Irish nationality, and a captain in
Butler's Rangers, who emigrated from Virginia in 1784, and
a Pottawaomie woman. He was born near Amherstburg, and
in August, 1812, we find him at Fort Dearborn, now Chicago,
where he was instrumental in saving the lives of some white
settlers from massacre at the hands of the Indians. He fought
on the side of 'the British during the war and was present at all
the battles in which the army of the Right Division took part
from River Raisin, 22nd of January, 1813, until the battle of the
Thames, near Moravian Town, October 5th, 1813. He then
joined the army of the Centre Division and was present at the
engagement at Battle Hill, where he commanded a small body
of Pottawattomies and Wyandots. He was the Saganah or chief
of the former tribe. After the conclusion of the war he returned
to Fort Dearborn and from there went to Council Bluffs, Iowa,
where he died in 1835. He was present as a witness at the trial
of Procter for military incapacity in 1815. The writer was once
shown the rifle which he carried in the actions at Moravian Town
and Battle Hill, and his pleasure could perhaps be better imagined
than described, as he examined this grim old relic of the interest-
ing events of nearly a century ago.

William Caldwell, a half brother of "Billy," the son of Colonel
William Caldwell, above named, and his wife, Susan Baby, was
born on his father's farm, just outside the limits of Amherstburg,
in 1784. He served in the war as a lieutenant in the first Essex
Militia, and was present with his father and brothers, at the bat-
tle of the Thames, near Moravian Town. At the engagement at
Battle Hill he commanded a small body of Canadian Rangers as
captain and had his advice been followed this fight would cer-
tainly have had a different ending. After the war he returned
to Amherstburg, where he married Ruth Johnson, in 1822. He
lived at Amherstburg during the remaining portion of his life
and died there in 1873. He was by religion a Roman Catholic.

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 55

William Henry enlisted as second lieutenant in the 28th U. S.
Infantry in Kentucky on May 20th, 1813, and was subsequently
raised to the rank of first lieutenant in the same regiment, which
commission he held when he fought at Battle Hill. He was hon-
orably discharged from the service on June 15th, 1815, and died
on February 6th, 1846. He is also made mention of by Holmes
for gallant conduct at Battle Hill.

Ebenezer Knox entered the service, in the then Territory
of Mississippi, as an ensign in the 21st U. S. Infantry, on March
12th, 1812, and for dishonorable conduct was expelled from the
army on March 2nd, 1813. He appears to have again enlisted
in the 28th Kentucky and was present at the fight at Battle Hill
in the capacity of lieutenant in that regiment. He seems to have
worked hard to remove the stain caused by his previous conduct,
as Holmes praises him in his report on the action at Battle Hill.

John C. Potter was enrolled as a third lieutenant in the 26th
U. S. Infantry (Vermont) and fought at Battle Hill, his name
being one of those specially mentioned in the report of Holmes,
<the commanding officer, for his valuable service there. He was
transferred to the 24th Kentucky Infantry on July 29th, 1814,
and was present at the attack on Fort Mackinaw, August 4th,
1814, where Holmes and Lieutenant Jackson were killed. He was
promoted on October 17th, 1814, to the rank of second lieutenant,
and honorably discharged in June, 1815.

The Longwoods Road was, during the closing years of the
eighteenth century, merely a trail running through the Long
Woods (whence its name) and extending north of the Thames
River, from London to Chatham. Lieut.-Governor Simcoe made
a trip over it in 1793, when travelling from Niagara to the south-
westerly portion of the then Province of Upper Canada. During
the year 1800 this trail was somewhat improved and made only
tolerably fit for the transportation of troops, artillery and mil-
itary stores. When the Township of Mosa was surveyed in 1820
by the late Mahlon Burwell (grandfather of the present family
of that name, in the Township of Caradoc), the road was in some
measure straightened by cutting off some of its angles and bends,
but nevertheless, it by means represents a straight line. This
newly-surveyed road was then taken as a base line in surveying
to the Thames in the townships of Mosa, Ekfrid and Caradoc,
each range being parallel to this road. Two ranges of lots on
the north side of the road were similarly surveyed, and farther
to the north, straight lines were then run. Tremaine's Map of
the County of Middlesex, bearing date 1862, very well illustrates
the above remarks. In the earliest maps it is shown as "Road
leading through the Long Woods."

•In November, 1824, fifty-eight lots on the south side of the

56 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

road in -the Long Woods tract were set apart to be granted to
persons who would assist in making the road a proper means of
communication between the Western District (Kent, Essex and
Lambton) and the other settled portions of the province, and the
whole matter was placed in the hands of Colonel Talbot for exe-
cution. With what measure of success this scheme was attended
the writer is not prepared to state.

The County of Kent originally extended from Hudson Bay
to the Mississippi River and included Detroit and Sandwich,
among other posts. Its narrowest part represented a strip of
land four miles wide in the northern portion of the present
County of Essex, stretching along the eastern shores of the
Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, from Sandwich to the Thames
River. It included all the remaining portion of the then Province
of Upper Canada, not contained in the original nineteen counties
which included Essex on the west and Glengarry on the east,
and was certainly the largest county on record. The portion of
the county now lying within the limits of the United States was
lost to it by John Jay's Treaty of 1796, otherwise its boundaries
remained unchanged until after the war.

The Thames River is first exhibited in Bellini's map of 1744,
but without giving it a name. Appended to this map is a note
stating that it had been explored for eighty leagues from its
mouth, without meeting a rapid or obstacle of any sort. Pre-
vious to and for a long time after this date it was called by the
Chippewa Indians the "Ask-un-e-see-be" or the "Antlered River,"
alluding to its appearance at Upper Forks, where London now
stands. In 1745 it was called by the French trappers, who fre-
quented its neighborhood, "La Riviere La Tranchee' or simply
"La Tranche," from its trench-like appearance from its mouth
up towards the present site of Chatham. In fact, it is yet often
called "La Tranche" by many of the older French-Canadian
inhabitants who reside below Chatham. Peter Bell's map of
1772 calls it the "New River," which name it retained, at least
officially, until May 22nd, 1784, as shown by a grant of land from
the Indians to the Canadian Government of that date. It was
called by its present name in 1793 by Lieut.-Governor Simcoe,
who, English as he was, if nothing else, abolished native names
all over the Province, substituting therefor Anglo-Saxon appella-
tions, which have neither sense nor reason when applied to the
physical features of Canada. It is pleasing to note, however, that
out of the general wreck a few native names still survived. The
late William Baby, formerly collector of customs at Windsor,
Ontario, and nephew of the late Colonel Francis Baby, sailed down
this river from London to Chatham in a small boat, amid immense
cakes of floating ice, in the early spring of 1834.

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 57

John McGregor was born in Argyllshire, Scotland. His
name, apparently, first appears in Canadian records as the orig-
inal patentee of lot 20, in the 5th concession of the Township of
Walsingham, in the present County of Norfolk, Ontario, con-
taining 200 acres. This patent bears date the 31st day of March,
1807. Just before the opening of the war he was residing in
the woods of the Township of Dover East, in the County of Kent,
and near the Thames River. Shortly after the commencement
of hostilities he received his first military commission in July,
1812, as ensign in Captain John Dolsen's company of the Royal
Kent Volunteers. During the year 1813 he was promoted to the
grade of lieutenant in this same branch of the service, which
position he held as late as May, 1814, and certainly he appears
to have been very active in the defence of his adopted country.
In the month of December, 1813, McGregor, with seven of his
company, assisted Lieut. Medcalf, with twenty-five regulars and
volunteers in the capture of thirty-nine U. S. regulars at McLears,
near Dolsen's farm, about fifteen miles from the mouth of the
Thames River. This feat was accomplished about an hour before
daylight, without any loss to the British and Canadians, but five
Americans were wounded. In his report bearing date December
23rd, 1813, Medcalf says, among other things:

To Lieutenant McGregor I am under particular obligations
for his zeal and assistance; his local knowledge of the country
greatly facilitated the execution of the enterprise."

In February, 1814, McGregor, with some of his men, was
pursued up the Thames by Captains Gill and Lee, of the Michigan
Rangers and Militia Dragoons respectively, but having made good
his escape, joined the regulars at Delaware under Captain Stew-
art. Immediately after this, McGregor took part in the action
at "Battle Hill," March 4th, 1814, where, although he was
severely wounded in the arm, which was subsequently amputated
in consequence thereof, he played his part so well that his name
is mentioned with approval in some of the military annals of his
day. He, however, does not appear to have been any too popular
among the men over whom he was placed in command.

Shortly after the fight at Battle Hill a number of them
deserted through dissatisfaction with McGregor, the direct cause
of which at this comparatively distant day does not clearly
appear. In the month of June, 1814, he was promoted to a cap-
taincy in the Kent Volunteers, and after the close of the war was
placed on the retired list, with a pension of £20 per annum. On
April 16, 1819, and while he was still living in Dover East, he
sold his farm in Walsingham to John McGregor, of Sandwich,
merchant and M. P. P. for the County of Kent, the considera-
tion therefor being £175. The Captain does not appear to have

58 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ever owned any land in Dover East. On December 15th, 1820,
an allotment was made by the Government to McGregor for his
military services of the north halves of lots 11, 12, 13, 14 and
15, and the south halves of lots 12, 13 and 14, and also the south-
west quarter of lot 15, in the first concession of the old Town-
ship of Sombra (as then constituted), now the Gore of the Town-
ship of Chatham, in the County of Kent, containing 900 acres,
more or less. The order granting this allotment appears to have
been stayed on account of a dispute respecting the south half
of lot 11, but was finally approved of on June 30th, 1821. Mc-
Gregor seems to have died in the early part of the year 1823. In
March of that year a petition was forwarded by Mary McGregor
to Sir Peregrine Maitland, the then Lieutenant-Governor of the
Province, which stated among other things, that she was the
widow of Captain John McGregor, of the Kent Volunteers, who
was severely wounded in action at the Long Woods, and that by
reason of his death she was left in very reduced circumstances,
with six children under sixteen years of age to support, and
asked that she receive her husband's pension just as if he were
still alive, and had served in the regular army instead of in the
militia. This petition received the usual "most serious considera-
tion" and it was not until the following October that a reply
thereto was vouchsafed, to the effect that the Lords Commis-
sioners of His Majesty's Treasury regretted that they had no
funds to grant Mrs. McGregor the assistance which she solicited.
The patent to the aforesaid lands was issued by the Heir and
Devisee Commissioners on July 31st, 1831, to Donald McGregor,
George McGregor, Alex. McGregor, Gregor McGregor, David
McGregor, John McGregor, Isaac Brock McGregor, Elizabeth Mc-
Dougall, wife of Arch. McDougall, Margaret McDonald, wife of
John McDonald, and Annie McGregor, spinster, all of the Town-
ship of Dover, in the County of Kent, the devisees named in the
last will and testament of the late John McGregor, of the Kent
Volunteers, deceased, as tenants in common. Besides those just
above named, McGregor appears to have had other children,
namely William, Mary and James, who served in his father's
company of the Kent Volunteers, and of whom an account is
hereinafter written. The Village of Wallaceburg South now
stands upon a portion of lot 13, and the Sydenham River inter-
sects lots 12 and 13. The present police magistrate of the Town
of Wallaceburg, Mr. A. McDougall, is a nephew of the aforesaid
Elizabeth McDougall.

McGregor's company of Loyal Kent Volunteers was largely
recruited from the Scotch settlers, originally located in the
Baldoon Settlement, near Wallaceburg, by Lord Selkirk, in 1804,
after whose castle in Scotland the place took its name. A perusal

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 59

of the Muster Roll of McGregor's Company plainly establishes
the nationality of those enrolled theron.

Lauchlin McDougall was a member of McGregor's company
and fought at Battle Hill. In the Muster Roll he is reported as
"wounded and unfit for service." He was one of the original
Baldoon settlers and erected the first house (a log shanty) in
Wallaceburg in 1822.

John McDonald the son-in-law of Captain McGregor, also
served in the war as a member of his company of Kent Volun-
teers.

James McGregor was a son of Lieutenant (afterwards cap-
tain) John McGregor, previously mentioned, and in 1802 became
the patentee from the Crown of lot 6, in the "Old Survey" of
the townsite of Chatham, then popularly known as the "Lower
Forks." Prior to the breaking out of the war he resided in the
Township of Howard, in the County of Kent, while his father
lived in the Township of Dover East, in the same county. At
the commencement of hostilities he enlisted as a private in Cap-
tain John Dolsen's company of Kent Volunteers, in which same
company his father served as an ensign, sergeant, lieutenant and
finally as a captain. James was present at the surrender of Detroit
to the British, August 16th, 1812, and afterwards served under
Major-General Henry Procter, taking part in the action at River
Raisin, January 22nd, 1813, and the siege of Fort Meigs, on the
Miami, or Maumee River, Ohio, in April, 1813. After the disas-
trous defeat of the latter officer at Moravian Town, October 5th,
1813, and consequent disappearance of the army of the right
division as a fighting unit, the Kent Volunteers became attached
to the army of the centre division under Lieutenant-General
Drummond. McGregor assisted in the taking of Fort Niagara,
December 19th, 1813, and was present in the action of the Long
Woods (or Battle Hill), March 4th, 1814, and was there slightly
wounded. He was injured in all five times during the war. The
last and most serious occasion was in a skirmish with the enemy
on Thames River, July 19th, 1814, where a musket ball, fired
from behind, passed through the hip and lodged near the groin,
just under the skin. He never fully recovered from the effect of
this wound, which continued to trouble him through life, and
rendered him almost entirely unable to earn a livelihood. Shortly
after the month of April, 1814, upon the promotion of his father
to the captaincy of his company he was appointed lieutenant,
which rank he held until the close of the war. McGregor, like
his father, was at the conclusion of the struggle granted a yearly
pension of £20, payable from July 9th, 1814, the date of his last
and severest wound. This pension he regularly received until
July, 1821, when, by an act of the Legislature of the Province,

60 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

which provided that militia pensioners submit themselves to a
medical examination before being granted any further assist-
ance from the Government, McGregor lost his pension through
the medical board having reported that he was not sufficiently
disabled to warrant a continuation of his yearly allowance. Hav-
ing vainly applied to the Legislature for a special act, granting
him relief, he finally appealed to Lord Dalhousie, the governor-
general, for another medical examination at Quebec, which was
granted, and his case was then reported favorably. This pro-
ceeding on the part of Dalhousie was indeed quite illegal, since
it aimed at setting aside the authority of a board, regularly
constituted under an act of the Legislature. There is no doubt
but what the system (or perhaps want of system) of granting
pensions was subject to much abuse, men frequently obtaining
them without having any legal or moral right thereto, and it
was to correct abuses with regard to pensions that this act was
passed. Apparently in this case the medical board pushed mat-
ters too far, as appears to be evident, having regard to McGreg-
or's last infirmity, caused by his painful wound. To do him
justice, he was certainly woefully ignorant of ordinary modes
of conducting business, since we find that in July, 1821, he gave
powers of attorney to three different persons to collect his pen-
sion, besides making personal application for it. The strange mode
of procedure caused his arrest at the instance of Mr. W. W. Bald-
win (father of the late Hon. Robert Baldwin) who appears to
have acted at that time as a sort of solicitor for the treasury. He
was now living in the Township of Flamboro West, in the County
of Wentworth, and in very poor circumstances too. The Gov-
ernment, on July 12th, 1825, granted him the north halves of
lots 16 and 17, concession 5, and the east half of lot 17, conces-
sion 4, in the Township of Garafraxa West, in the County of
Wellington, Ontario, containing in all 500 acres, more or less.
These lands he sold on December 5th, 1828, to the Hon. John
Henry Dunn, who was then receiver-general of the Province, for
the modest sum of £62 10s., his wife, Nancy McGregor (formerly
Nancy Purvis, a daughter of the late Col. Purvis) joining in the
conveyance to bar dower. According to the family traditions
McGregor's pension was never restored to him, although Sir Pere-
grine Maitland, the then Lieut-Governor of Upper Canada, in a
communication to Lord Bathurst, bearing date February 10th,
1827, stated that he had been induced from the circumstances
to restore it. His lot in the "Old Survey" of Chatham was, on
October 26th, 1849, sold by McGregor's son, Andrew, who is
described as of the Township of Howard in the County of Kent.
Lieut. McGregor had also another son, John Jas. McGregor, who
died in the Township of Beverly in Wentworth County in Decem-

THE FIGHT AT BATTLE HILL 61

•her, 1890. McGregor answered his last roll-call in 1842, having
in that year been accidentally killed by a fall from his horse at
Cook's Hollow about a mile and a half from his farm in Flam-
boro West. The sword of this officer remained in the possession
of the family for a couple of generations, until their removal from
their home in Flamboro West to Hamilton, when it was unfor-
tunately either lost or stolen, and thus this precious family relic
finally disappeared and became lost to the world.

PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
Canadian and British.

1. The British General Orders— March 10th, 1814.

2. Report of Loyal and Patriotic Society — 1817.

3. The Military and Naval Operations of the War of
1812-15— Christie, 1818.

4. History of the War of 1812— Thompson, 1832.

5. History of the War of 1812-14— Auchinleck, 1855.

6. The War of 1812 and its Moral— Coffin, 1864.

7. Traditional History of the Wyandots— Clarke, 1870.

8. History of Canada, Vol. 8— Kingsford, 1895.

9. Records of War Department, London, England.
10. /Bureau of Archives, Ottawa, Ontario.

American.

1. Report: Lieut.-Col. Butler to Major-Gen. Harrison —
March 7th, 1814.

2. Report: Capt. Holmes to Lieut.-Col. Butler — March
10th, 1814.

3. Annals of America — Niles' Historical Register, 1814.

4. History of the Second War for Independence — Brown,
1815.

5. History of the Late War in the Western Country —
McAfee, 1816.

6. Notices of the War of 1812— Armstrong, 1840.

7. Historical Sketch of the Second War Between the United
States and Great Britain — Ingersoll, 1849.

8. Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812— Lossing, 1868.

9. Records of the War Department at Washington, D. C.

10. Historical Register and Dictionary of the U. S. Army —
Heitman Vol. 1.

11. Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections, Vols. 15
and 32.

Reminiscences of Mrs. Gilbert Porte

By Harriet Priddis, May 20, 1902.

Though the history of the pioneer women of London records
no daring deed, like that of Abigail Becker, nor historic tramp,
like that of Laura Secord, yet every life is a record of such
patient endurance of privations, such brave battling with danger,
such a wonderful gift for resourceful adaptability, that the sim-
plest story of the old days must bear, within itself, the Stirling
elements of romance.

While they took no active part in the national or political
happenings of the day, it may be interesting to us, and to those
that come after us, to hear from their own lips how these public
events affected their simple lives. For this reason I have
selected for my paper the reminiscences of Mrs. Gilbert Porte,
who is today, May 20th, 1902, the oldest continuous resident in
London.

My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McCormick, left Donagha-
dee, County Down, Ireland, in April, 1829, and reached London,
Canada West, in the early summer of the same year. I was then
two years and a half old, having been born in Donaghadee on the
31st January, 1827. After arriving here, we stopped with my
Uncle Owrey, at Lambeth, for some time, as we could get no
shelter in the settlement till the Rev. Mr. Boswell left his house
on the north side of York Street, between Thames and Ridout
Streets, where Scale's Terrace now stands. It was a very
draughty old log building, and the snow would come through the
crevices in the wall on our breakfast table. But, such as it was,
the only Episcopal service in London, at that time, was held in
the kitchen of Boswell's house. As soon as possible, my father
secured the grant from Col. Talbot of a lot on the same street,
a block further east, and in the spring built a comfortable log
house, which was the eighteenth house built in London; and we
were the twentieth family to reside here.

The most important adventure of my childhood was being
lost in the woods with my little brother within a stone throw of
our own home. My mother, after missing us, searched quietly
for some time, till, evening beginning to close in, she became
alarmed and called in the assistance of all the neighborhood. Our
little dog, "Cubbie," came running up, barking and pulling at
mother's skirt. Mr. Simeon Morrill advised following its lead;

REMINISCENCES OF MRS. GILBERT PORTE 63

and, sure enough, that took them to just where we were — in a
little shanty occupied by a tailor on the north-west corner of
Richmond and York Streets. The good man and his wife had
done all they could to pacify us; but we were in great distress,
for we knew we were lost; the forest was very dense and dark,
and we had wandered about for some time.

The great feature in the landscape in those days was "the
creek." I don't remember where it rose — away off in the woods,
somewhere east, I suppose. It crossed behind where the Tecum-
seh now stands, and entered the river a little south of York
Street Bridge. It's practical use was supplying water to Mor-
rilTs and Hyman's tanneries. I can see it all before me like a
panorama ; but more change has been caused to the views around
London by the cutting down of hills and the building up of
gullies than anything else. A great many little, rough,
wooden bridges crossed the creek. I remember one especially
leading to Proudfoot's Church, which stood far back on the lot,
so as to be on high, dry ground, on York Street, about half way
between Richmond and Talbot Streets. London has earlier days
than I can remember, for York Street Bridge seems always to
have been built; and I have often seen it in the early days
chained to the immense butternut trees, which were then so
plentiful on the banks of the river, to keep it from floating away
with the floods.

One of these immense trees at the foot of Richmond Street
was quite a land-mark in its day. As it leaned a little to the
south, its branches stretched almost across the river, and there
was not a boy in the village who could not show you beneath
their shade the best speckled trout hole in the world, and a com-
fortable seat among the branches from which to throw the line.

Indians were such familiar figures that the children had no
thought of being frightened at them, though our mothers did not
care to have them come in their houses from a general idea that
they were not clean. They would sit on the side of the road
(there was grass everywhere, when there was not snow), and
we'd take out a pail of milk or buttermilk and some bread to
them.

My mother had, one day, taken a fine batch of bread from
the bake kettles (for we had no stoves, but open fire places with
pothooks and kettles), and set it steaming on the dresser. When
looking up, she found the doorway darkened by a big Indian,
grunting and pointing to his mouth and then to the bread. By
signs she made him understand to help himself to the bread.
He stalked over, took the biggest loaf and left. She always said
he might have taken the whole six without her objecting, so
that he left.

64 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

They were grateful, too; for one day two of them arrived
with a stick across their shoulders supporting a fine deer. They
slipped the carcass out of its hide, for they had it ready stripped,
and grunting, 'Tor good Cormick; for good Cormick," took
their departure with the skin. Judge Wilson, who was a young
man, then just married, lived opposite and helped my father cut
it up and had one-quarter. Of course, all provision was useful in a
new settlement; but venison was not such a treat then as it is
now. My father once, going to the back door, found a deer
browsing from the twigs of a tree he had cut down the day
before. He did not have a gun on hand, and before he could get
one, the animal was lost in the woods.

I knew McGregor's Tavern, which always seems to be the
beginning of every London history, very well, as it was quite
near our house — on the south-west corner of King and Ridout
Streets. Ever since I can remember, even before the rebellion,
it was a nice looking building. But I have often and often heard
Mr. James Williams say when he was a boy about eleven
(1826), he was crossing from the Webster settlement to West-
minster with Mr. Webster, they saw smoke among the
trees and decided Indians were camping near the Forks. On
reaching the spot, they looked on the very beginning of the
Forest City. Two men had felled some trees, using the brush,
covered with quilts, for their beds. The smoke which had
attracked attention was smudge to deaden the activity of the
mosquitoes. The men were busy preparing logs for the shack,
which was to become a land-mark; and a tavern has ever since,
and does to this day, stand on the site of McGregors.

Mail came from the old conutry every two or three months,
and one never knew when to expect it. I remember my mother
once paid a dollar postage on a letter that had done some un-
necessary travelling. We used to go to the post office out the
Governor's Road, through the woods to Major Schofield's farm,
where the Sacred Heart Convent now stands.

It was a log house of the usual style, though there was
afterwards a frame addition added to either side. We always
waited in the front room, where there was a fire-place, while the
Major brought our letters from the room behind, as that was the
family bedroom. Mr. Lawrason bought part of the farm, and
the building of his mansion was quite an epoch in the town's
history.

Other comforts of life besides letters were not to be de-
pended upon, and were often delayed by wind and weather and
bad roads. At one time there was not a needle to be found in
the village till Mr. O'Brien's or Mr. Lawrason's new stock arrived
by Jenning's teams from Hamilton. Mothers with ragged little

REMINISCENCES OF MRS. GILBERT PORTE 65

girls, or hardly decently covered little boys, went among friends
begging for the loan of the priceless little one-eyed machine.
Finally my mother bethought her of a pin-cushion that had
accompanied her from old Ireland and done duty on board ship.
She ripped it open, and behold ! a mine of wealth pushed into the
sawdust by mischievous little fingers — needles for everybody.
Neighbors were all kind to one another in that small community,
but some were better able to help than others ; and Mrs. Simeon
Morrill was a true Mother in Israel to inexperienced young
housekeepers, fresh from the country where bread and butter,
candles and soap were bought ready-made. Many and many a
day she spent in giving private lessons in domestic economy, and
cheering hearts discouraged by hardships and incapacity.

Anecdotes of Col. Talbot's bruskness and eccentricity have
always been plentiful and apparently interesting in the London
district. He seemed never to forget a face he had seen nor a
block of ground he had granted. My father bought from Mr.
Van Warmer the south-west corner of Horton and Richmond
Streets, and not finding the deed quite straight (the owner was
an American who had not taken the path of allegiance) , he decid-
ed to make sure by getting an original grant from the Colonel.
The old gentleman looked sharply at my father, and then turning
to his maps, snapped out, "I gave you a grant before, and why do
you come bothering for more than your due?" When my father
explained the circumstances, he was quite reasonable, granted
his request, and freely discussed the prospects of the country
and settlement.

There were plenty of good private schools in London from
the earliest days. Sheriff Glass, in reminiscent mood, always
declared I attended school with him in a building on York Street,
near Thames Street, kept by a cooper and his wife. When the
cooper got tired of teaching, he went back to his trade (the
tapping of his hammer somewhat distracting our attention),
and his wife taught for a spell. When domestic affairs required
her attention, the cooper once more became school-master. I
cannot recall this scene, often described by my old friend, but I
distinctly remember a little school on York Street, where a big
bear was chained up in the front yard, whether to keep us in
order or for a plaything and pet, I cannot say. I was getting to
be a big girl when I went to Miss Stinson's school, away up on
North Street, now Carling, on the north-east corner of Talbot
Street. The house still stands as it then was with the school-room
facing North Street, but there is now a little brick addition on
Talbot Street. Dr. Stinson lived a few doors north, in the house
with a good many steps going up to the front door, now occupied
by Mr. Pritchard. It is one of the oldest houses in town, and we

66 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

thought it a very handsome place then, though it is much im-
proved now. Young Dr. Owrey, a student of Dr. Stinson, was
the first white man drowned at the Forks, but there have been
many, many deaths in the treacherous river since.

After leaving Miss Stinson, I went to Mr. Taylor's school on
Horton, near Talbot Street. The pupils were both boys and
girls, and he coached students preparing for professions at the
same time. While I attended, Mr. Thomas Scatchard and Mr.
Ephraim Parke had desks on the girls' side of the room, and
were subjects of great interest. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot started a
school on the corner of Richmond and North Streets, where the
Bank of British North America now stands. They were both
considered very clever, but did not teach very long. The build-
ing was moved many years ago to a few doors further east, and
may still be seen very little changed in appearance — No. 197
Queen's Avenue. Mrs. Talbot taught the girls up stairs, her
husband the boys down stairs.

The town was growing rapidly; the rebellion was quelled.
The military occupied the barracks and social distinctions were
being marked by the time. I became a pupil of Mrs. Pringle's
Young Ladies' School, and I remember so well when Mrs.
Richardson, mother of Mrs. Judge Hughes and Mrs. Judge Hor-
ton, started in opposition a more fashionable and expensive
establishment, and took away quite a number of pupils. This,
of course, raised some feeling of resentment. One day the girls,
in passing, came up and looked in our window, naturally inter-
ested in the old place. You ought to have seen Mrs. Pringle's
indignation as she exclaimed, "Go away directly, you rude girls.
If this is all the manners you learn at your fashionable establish-
ment, you might better have remained where you were." Mrs.
Pringle was quite artistic, and under her instruction we did
very elaborate and quite expensive fancy work. She used to
paint the faces and hands on white satin, and we worked the
•figures and landscapes in colored silk, with varied success ; every
girl had her sampler in those days, while the mats and foot-
stools in fine crewel work are certainly proof of our persever-
ance. Then we had many little notions which I think quite as
pretty as the fancy work of the present day — rice work, pricked
work, etc. etc. I never saw a rag mat till long after I married.
Mr. Pringle was as gifted as his wife. He was a cabinet maker
by trade, and built an organ entirely himself. He put it in the
English Church on trial a few Sundays before it was burned
down (Ash Wednesday, 1844) , and, as it was not insured, he lost
the labor of years.

We celebrated the last coronation (Queen Victoria) in great
style, though, of course, we did not hear of it for many weeks

REMINISCENCES OF MRS. GILBERT PORTE 67

after the event occured. But we were all ready, and when the
news came a holiday was proclaimed, and we did justice to the oc-
casion. Every window had its own candle, and in some few extra
loyal or extra extravagant cases, every pane of glass, and when
the panes were so much smaller than they are now, that meant
quite a show. But the greatest effort was made just opposite the
Court House. A big hole was dug near the centre of the street
and filled with wood for a bonfire. Over it was erected a tripod
of very tall posts bound together by chains, from which was
suspended an immense tar barrel with the blazing tar pouring
out from all sides and dropping on the bonfire below. I still
think I have never seen so grand a sight.

I remember the anxious times of the rebellion very well,
though I could never quite make out what 'twas all about.
People who only read the account in the histories cannot realize
the terror of the wild rumors, the difficulty of communication
(and consequent suspense) , with fathers, husbands and brothers
marching off to fight rebels, who were mostly neighbors from
over the river.

One bright moonlight night, when one could see to read
distinctly, there came a tremendous knocking at the door. My
father called, "Who's there ?" "Hamilton (sheriff), and Askin
(Colonel) ; come on, and bring your gun." "Haven't got one."
"Then bring an axe-helve, stick or something. We hear the
rebels are to take possession of the Court House. Who else
shall we call up?"

They got together eighteen citizens who for some time
guarded the Court House. Then the militia poured in from the
country around, and we had ten or more billeted for several
days. My mother gave them possession of the kitchen with the
bedroom off it, and did her family cooking by snatches as she
could best manage when they were away on duty. They lay on
the floor at night with a big fire blazing on the hearth the whole
time. One Sunday, following the first outbreak, the authorities
put gates on York Street bridge. I do not remember anything
about Blackfriars bridge. Of course, it was built then, but it
was so far away we children did not take it into consideration. It
was years and years after before there was anything but a ferry
at Wellington Street. .

Life generally was disorganized ; with the men away, women
gathered in groups at each other's houses. As my mother had
four children she could not well leave home, so the neighbors
came to her. I have often heard her tell of one occasion when
three friends were stopping with her. They saw a strange-look-
ing woman come to the gate. When she rapped my mother called
"Who's there?"

68 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

"A foe" ; in a man's voice.

"Then, what are you doing here ? This is McCormick's."

"I know it, the pickets are after me. Help me off or my life
will be at your door." My mother gave him food, Mrs. Franks
a shilling, and they let him out a back door. He ran down the
bank and crossed the river on the ice, as he said he would be all
-right if he could get to Westminster. He had hardly got well
off the place before the picket arrived, asking if they had seen a
strange woman. They said no, but a strange man had gone by
that road, pointing to the opposite direction taken by the fugi-
tive. We always rather gloried in the rumor that this was Lyon
McKenzie. My father was away most of the time, as he was
color sergeant under Col. Askin. At one time, when they were
in Maiden, the Colonel said, "Come here, McCormick," and as
they stood by a grave, continued with a sigh, "Many and many
a time she has carried me on her back."

The regulars were sent for at the first outbreak, but it took
them so long to travel the distance (the 32nd came the whole
way from Halifax on sleighs) that things had pretty well quieted
down before they arrived. I remember being so disappointed
when I saw them march through the town, that their coats were
not red ; but a big soldier threw open his grey overcoat, and my
small woman's eyes were delighted with the sight of the red
coat, which afterward seemed to take possession of the town. We
had five of them billeted on us. Every resident was obliged to
accommodate a certain number till the Government secured Den-
nis O'Brian's new block for a barracks.

Hard times followed the rebellion. Flour was $14.00 a bar-
rel, and small loaves of bakers' bread a York shilling each. To
add to the trouble there came an epidemic of hydrophobia. Whe-
ther one mad dog did all the damage, or whether it could have
been in the air I never heard; but the excitement was intense,
and a mad dog chase was a common occurrence. Poor little
"Cubic" fell a victim. Most of the cows were bitten and sacri-
ficed ; and the loss of milk was a serious hardship to mothers and
housekeepers in the prevailing distress.

The residence of the military in our midst, the contract for
the barracks, and the start given to building generally, made life
easier; and we young folks thought it quite gay. As Dr. O'Flar-
ity, of the 83rd Regiment, lived quite near us on the southeast
corner of Richmond and Horton streets, we saw a good deal of
what was going on, and were once allowed to attend an amateur
performance at a theatre on Wellington street, where the public
library now stands. Standing trees supported the board roof and
stumps, sawed off pretty evenly, supported the rough board seats.
We went in a dark passageway by a door on North street. Dr.

REMINISCENCES OP MRS. GILBERT PORTE 69

OTlarity acted the part of a ghost; so I suppose the play was
Hamlet, but that I don't remember. There were many complaints
of the recklessness and lawlessness of the young officers; no
doubt they thought they were out in the woods, and did not take
into account the rights of property. As there were no bathrooms
in the barracks it was quite a common sight to see squads of
men being taken down to the river for a dip. There was one
company they called the "flying artillery." It would come rushing
down the main street at any hour, and everything had to get out
of its way; and it was only just out for a drill, or to exercise the
horses.

The most important event of the military life of the early
days was the funeral of Col. Maitland. He died at the mess house,
about where Garvey's grocery store now stands on Dundas street,
and was buried in St. Paul's churchyard. Being in the winter,
the coffin was carried on a gun sleigh.

Sir James Alexander took the house opposite ours after the
O'Flarity's left, and was very kind and neighborly. He was a fine
looking man, very quiet and unassuming in manner; but Lady
Alexander was a great sport, and a daring horsewoman. They
had high hurdles built on Horton Street near their house, and
used to run races and jump on the public street.

The big fires of London are now spoken of as being a bless-
ing, making a way for better buildings ; but they were regarded
as a terrible calamity at the time; and there were dark sugges-
tions of our town being doomed. I was married at home in 1845
after the burning of the old church (Ash Wednesday, 1846) , and
before the completion of the new (Ash Wednesday, 1846). Mr.
Cronyn said he would not have married me in my father's house
if he had had a church for me to go to. The next Sunday we
attended services in the Mechanics' Hall, which then stood on
the Court House Square, when the alarm of fire was given, and
everyone rushed out. There were 190 houses destroyed before
the fire was got under control. My eldest son was the first child
christened in the New St. Paul's.

When the railway came in 1854 everything was changed.
The last signs of pioneer days soon passed away. London was
made a city in 1855. St. Paul's chimes called the congregation to
worship. My little boys attended the public schools. Business
men had private boxes in the post office, from which they took
their own mail, and the Great Western train bore our letters
twice a day past blocks of houses where I so well remember an
unbroken forest.

The Mackenzies of Hyde Park

By Mrs. Evans, May 17, 1904.

The researches of the Middlesex Historical Society into the
records of the western part of the province have stimulated a
spirit of enquiry among the descendants of the earlier settlers,
which cannot fail to have interesting results. Reminiscences are
the order of the day. Memories are busy recalling facts and cir-
cumstances almost forgotten, and that would almost certainly
have been entirely forgotten in another generation. The dis-
covery of the old minute book of the Township of London a few
weeks ago was a valuable find. It is almost a doomsday book of
the township for the year 1820. The first township meeting was
held on the first Monday in January, 1819, at the house of Joshua
Applegarth, that gentleman acting as clerk. At that time the
site of the city was a part of the township, and apparently not
regarded as the most important part either. At this meeting the
assessors, roadmasters, pound-keepers and wardens were appoint-
ed for the current year. In those early days office holding was no
sinecure, and the settlers were obliged to take their turn at it.
Each year saw almost an entire change of officials. At the second
meeting Mr. Duncan Mackenzie was elected town clerk. He held
the position for ten years, which must be regarded as a marvel
of permanency. He resigned in 1830, and in the next nineteen
years the township had no less than eleven clerks, most of them
being satisfied with one year's experience.

From the very first Mr. Duncan Mackenzie took an important
part in the affairs of the district. He was born on the 12th of
August, 1787, at Ruthven in the parish of Moy, Invernesshire,
just at the beginning of the throes of the French Revolution.
His boyhood was passed among rumors of wars, and it is not
surprising that his first act on coming of age was to enlist
against Bonaparte. On the second of April, 1808, he joined the
Fifth Battalion of Royal Artillery, and remained in active ser-
vice until the final overthrow of Napoleon, to which he contri-
buted his share at the battle of Waterloo. Immediately after
the peace and the consequent disbandment of the troops, Mr.
Mackenzie married Margaret Barclay, also a native of Invernes-
shire, and decided to come to Canada where grants of land were
being given to British veterans on the most favorable terms.

Mr. Mackenzie and his wife sailed for Canada in 1817, and

THE MACKENZIES OF HYDE PARK 71

shortly after their arrival, their eldest daughter, Anne, was born
at Miram&chi, Nova Scotia.

Mr. Mackenzie's objective point was Col. Talbot's resi-
dence, as he had the control of all the Government land in
this district. They reached Col. Talbot's on the 21st October,
1818, and at once secured a grant of Lot 23, in the fourth conces-
sion of London Township. They took possession on the 17th of
November, the site of the present City of London being at that
time an unbroken forest. The grant consisted of eight hundred
acres, but Mr. Mackenzie relinquished six hundred of these to
incoming settlers. The log cabin which he first occupied soon
grew too small, and "Dalmagarry Cottage" was built, a house
that is still standing, and judging from its present appearance,
it must have been quite an imposing mansion for those times.
A free hospitality was, and is still, exercised within its walls ; and
there were few Scotchmen in the district that were not acquaint-
ed with its interior.

The nearest neighbor was Margaret Routledge, whose
brothers gave the name to Hyde Park, and who afterwards mar-
ried Mr. Carling, father of Sir John Carling. The public notice
of the marriage was fastened to a beech tree, which is still
standing, and of which Sir John Carling spoke of in his remini-
scences before the Society.

On December 19th, 1818, Mr. Mackenzie's second daughter,
Mary, was born, the first white female child born in the district,
and the oldest living native white person in this neighborhood.
She is now eighty-six years of age, in full possession of all her
faculties, a regular attendant at the Presbyterian Church at
Hyde Park, three-quarters of a mile away, and quite capable of
superintending the dinner for the family on Sundays when the
weather prevents her attending church. She is also an expert
needle-woman, being quite at home on such fine and intricate
work as netting, doilies, etc. Mrs. Macdonald resides with her
son-in-law, Mr. Donald McMillan, for many years connected with
the London Mutual Insurance Company, though now retired.

It is not easy to understand at the present day the difficulties
the early settlers had to encounter, particularly settlers from
the Old Country, ignorant as they were of the conditions of life
in Canada. The long voyage in a sailing vessel across the ocean
was the slightest of their troubles. When they came to the St.
Lawrence rapids they had fifty miles of jolting over a rough
wagon road. At Prescott they were able to take boat for King-
ston, seventy miles further up. Toronto, or, as it was then
called, York, was a hundred and seventy miles further. From
York they crossed to the mouth of the Niagara River, where
they again took wagon for Queenston, seven miles distant; and

72 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

from that town, still by wagon, to Fort Erie, a distance of
twenty-nine miles. At Fort Erie, they took boat for Long Point,
eighty miles away, paying £17-6s for the trip. Another boat
brought them to Kettle Creek, a distance of sixty miles, for
which they paid £3-5s, and £l-ls paid their wagon fare from
there to this city. They were just twenty-seven days making
the journey from Cornwall to Col. Talbot's house — days that no
doubt impressed them strongly, with the extend of thejr adopted
country.

On their farm they had the usual privations of all early
settlers, although as this district was settled with comparative
rapidity, their hardships was much less than in many other parts
of the province. Forty years after Mrs. Duncan Mackenzie
settled near Hyde Park, the wolves made it impossible to raise
sheep west of Chatham ; nor was there a single market for any
kind of produce between Chatham and Windsor. And yet there
were numerous little settlements scattered through that district
as old as Hyde Park settlement.

The absence of roads was, of course, one of the main diffi-
culties with which the early settlers had to contend. Of roads,
as we understand them now, there did not exist one in the
province. Twenty years after Mr. Mackenzie settled at Hyde
Park, the only piece of gravelled road in Ontario was on Yonge
Street, between Toronto and Thornhill, about twelve miles. The
other roads were just cut through the woods, with trunks of
trees thrown across wherever the ground was swampy. Even
these "Corduroy roads/' as they were called, v/ere few and far
between, being the stage routes between the different towns and
villages. The ordinary side roads and concession lines were nar-
row tracks winding among the trees, obstructed here and there
with fallen logs, which it was easier to go around than remove,
and blazed at intervals, so that in the day time a person with
good eye-sight would have very little difficulty in finding his way.
Of bridges, there were none ; and when streams had to be crossed
the road was blazed to a shallow part where it could be forded.
At the forks of the river, just below the present Court House,
a family named Beverly established a ferry; but its operations
were very uncertain. Ague was very prevalent in all these
settlements, the Beverly family suffering greatly ; and when the
passengers had to wait for hours for some one to ferry them
across, they used to say they were waiting until some of the
family would stop shaking. The ford at the forks was therefore
the principle thoroughfare. When our big sewer system was
being put down a few years ago, the old corduroy road leading to
the ford was struck on Ridout Street, at a depth of seven feet
below the surface.

THE MACKENZIES OF HYDE PARK 73

This absence of roads naturally had the effect of isolating
the different settlements, and, to a certain extent, every
individual settler. Each family was in a measure compelled to
be self-sustaining and self-reliant. The first orchard in this
neighborhood was planted by Mr. Mackenzie with trees grown
from apple seeds which he brought with him from the old coun-
try. Instead of handsome cooking stoves the settlers had the
crane and pot hooks, which with a pair of tongs decorated every
chimney. Each family made its own soap and candles, made its
own yarn, and worked it up into mittens, stockings, comforters,
etc., and made in fact, most of its own clothes and furniture.
For fancy furniture, the neighborhood was indebted to John
Fralick, a sort of universal genius living near Byron. He was a
good mechanic; and most of the houses contained specimens of
his handiwork, amongst them being the big and little spinning-
wheels which were in great demand by the women. There are
many still living who remember him as a familiar figure about
the city. Doctors were unknown, and each household had simple
remedies for ordinary complaints. When an emergency occurred
it had to be met with the means on hand. Probably the first
surgical operation in the township was performed by Mrs. Mac-
kenzie. One of the boys had his toe chopped off with an axe.
She promptly fastened it on again, and the operation was as
successful as if it had been performed by the College of Physic-
ians.

One of the pleasures which Mrs. Mackenzie's children and
grand children well remember was to go out to the bush with
her while she would be gathering herbs for these medicinal uses.
Not only hyssop and hoar-hound were found, but sweet cicely,
squaw-berries, ground nuts, spice wood and crinkley root, to their
great delight. Bunches of these herbs adorned the ample kitchen,
as well as golden corn braided by the husks, and onions by their

tops.

In the large dining-room adjoining, the family gathered in
the winter evenings around the open fire with its blazing logs;
and while the girls would be knitting or sewing, and the boys
engaged in knitting or other occupations, their mother would
read aloud — for she was a woman of literary taste and good edu-
cation for those days. The amusement of the young people con-
sisted chiefly in playing pranks on each other; and many an
enjoyable story has come down to the descendants of the mis-
chievous doings of the boys of those days.

The older children had to begin their education at home ; but
they were not very old when a teacher was secured for the dis-
trict, and they plodded to school through the woods six days a
week. Later, Saturday afternoon was given as a holiday; and

74 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

the whole Saturday holiday was introduced about the time of
Lennie's Grammar, when the children stood in line in front of
the teacher in order of merit, swinging rythmetically from side
to side and memorizing lists. This they did with such thorough-
ness that they could recite those lists with the rapidity of the
wind, for instance : The adverbs are so, no, not, nay, yea, yes, too,
well, up, very, how, far, now, then, ill , soon , much , here , there ,
where, whence, thence.

There were in all seven children in Mr. Mackenzie's fam-
ily. The eldest was Anne, who married William MacMillan, P. L.
S., and became the mother of ten children, one of whom, Duncan,
represented East Middlesex in the Dominion Parliament, and
afterwards became Judge MacMillan. Donald still resides at
Hyde Park, and the three daughters, Mrs. Richard J. Evans, and
the Misses Kate and Annie, are well known in the city. Four of
the sons are living in other parts of Canada and the States. The
second daughter, Mary, married Alexander Macdonald and had
three children, with one of whom she still lives near the old home-
stead. She has been already referred to as the oldest living nat-
ive of the district. Margaret married Wm. Moore, of London, and
her family still reside here, one son, John, being a member of
the firm of Moore & Henry, architects, and the other, Percy, of
Fraser & Moore, barristers. Isabella became Mrs. Patterson, and
is still living in Delaware with her daughter; and Sarah is the
wife of Dr. Hoare, of Strathroy. Of the sons, George was
county clerk of Middlesex until his death in 1891, and John
A. is the county judge of Lambton. Altogether there are sixty-
five descendants of Duncan Mackenzie living, of whom fifty-two
are Canadians.

'Whenever a cow was killed the skin was taken to a tanner
and half left in payment for sole leather, and a journeyman cob-
bler stayed at the house and made the family shoes. Incidentally
he supplied gum for the children, as they usually stole his wax
for that purpose. The first mill was near the waterworks; and
corn had to be brought there to be ground. On one occasion when
Squire Mackenzie took a load of corn to the mill a storm came on
as he was returning home. He took the corn out, sat on it to
keep it dry, and held the horse, as he was fearful of losing his
way in the intense darkness. At daybreak he found that he was
not a quarter of a mile from home.

Not long after Mr. Mackenzie's arrival in Middlesex, the
mutterings of the rebellion began, under the leadership of his
namesake, William Lyon Mackenzie. Mr. Duncan Mackenzie's
military experience was at once utilized, and he received a com-
mission as captain of the first battery of artillery raised in the
west. During the trouble he was stationed at Chippewa. When

THE MACKENZIES OF HYDE PARK

the rebellion was suppressed he raised and maintained for fifteen
years a battery in this city, which was the foundation of the
present city battery. He was a thorough soldier, and the spirit
survived in his family. One of his grandsons, the late Judge
MacMillan, was one of the ensigns who received the first colors
presented to the Seventh Regiment. He and another grandson,
Percy Moore, served in the Northwest Rebellion, while still
another, Harold Mackenzie, son of Judge Mackenzie, of Sarnia,
fought in the war in South Africa.

In religion Mr. Mackenzie was an ardent Presbyterian, and
was the chairman of the committee that was entrusted with the
erection of the First Church of Scotland in this district. The
other members of the committee were Messrs. John Michie, John
Birrell, William McMillan (Mr. Mackenzie's son-in-law), William
Clark and James McLaren. In 1842 Mr. Mackenzie laid the
corner stone of St. Andrew's Church. It cost five hundred dol-
lars, and has long since been replaced by the present magnificent
structure.

About 1834 Mr. Duncan Mackenzie was appointed a magis-
trate. There was not much formality in the court over which
he presided. Costs cut no figure in the cases-— the plaintiff, the
defendant and the magistrate talking it over in a friendly way,
perhaps by the roadside, and the judgment was quietly accepted
and carried out without the interference of the plaintiff. He
held this honorable position until the time of his death in 1874.

It would be hard indeed to estimate what the country owes
to a man of his strength of character, untiring industry and ster-
ling integrity, who not only carved out a home for himself out of
those forest wilds, but was identified with each progressive step
in the advancement of the district, and left behind him children
and grandchildren to bear the honored name, and revere the
memory of those brave pioneers.

Sranaadtntta of

Hotthon

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LONDON AND MIDDLESEX

Historical Society

PART V.

Robert Wilson, The Pioneer Teacher

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D.

London Public Schools — 1848-1871

C. B. EDWARDS, B.A.

London Grammar School and Collegiate Institute

F. W. C. McCUTCHEON, B.A.

The Western University

N. C. JAMES, B.A., Ph.D.

1914
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.

Officers- 191 3- 14.

T. H. PURDOM, K.C., President

D. RODGER, ESQ., 1st Vice-President

MRS. G. F. BRICKENDEN, 2nd Vice-President

F. E. PERRIN, B.A., - - - Secretary

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D., - - Treasurer

S. WOOLVERTON, D.D.S., - - - - - Curator

CAPT. T. J. MURPHY, H. MACKLIN, J.P., THOS.
BRYAN, ESQ., MISS H. PRIDDIS, MRS. A. W.
FRASER, and MISS MOORE, - Executive Committee

The London and Middlesex Historical Society was 'organized in the
year 1901. Its objects are to promote historical research and to collect
and preserve records and other historical material that may be of use
to the future historians of our country. Its funds are devoted exclu-
sively to these objects; there are no salaried officers.

The Public Library Board grants the Society the free use of a
room for its meetings, which are held on the third Tuesday evening of
each month, from October to April, inclusive, and to which the public
are invited — admission always free. Membership in the Society is
open to any person interested in its objects, and is maintained by the
payment of an annual fee of fifty cents.

TRANSACTIONS, 1912-13.

1912

Oct. 22 — The Hundredth Regiment —

Miss H. Priddis

Nov. 19— London Public Schools, 1848 to 1871.
C. B. Edwards, B. A.

1913

Jan. 21 — London Grammar School and Collegiate Institute.
F. W. C. McCutcheon, B. A.

Feb. 18— The Fourth Battalion Middlesex Militia,
Sheriff D. M. Cameron.

March 18 — Reminiscences of Early London,

F. E. Pen-in, B. A.

April 15 — Early Surveys of Middlesex,

F. W. Farncombe, C. E.

May 20 — The use of Catalogues in Historical Research,
W. O. Carson, City Librarian

Oct. 28— The War of 1812,

Dr. Severance.

Dec. 30 — Robert Wilson, the Pioneer Teacher.
Cl. T. Campbell, M. D.

ROBERT WILSON.

Robert Wilson, The Pioneer Teacher

By Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.

IT is somewhat singular that the three men of most importance
in the pioneer educational work of London bore the same
name, though they were unrelated, and of different national-
ities. There was John Wilson, barrister, a Scotchman, the first
local Superintendent of Education ; Nicholas Wilson, an Irishman,
one of the first teachers appointed, and a member of the staff for
more than half a century; and Robert Wilson, an Englishman,
and the first teacher in London who had a professional training
in a Normal school. John Wilson's name as a lawyer, a member
of Parliament and a judge, is written in Canada's history; Nicho-
las Wilson's name is endeared to two generations of Londoners ;
Robert Wils'on's name is forgotten by all but perhaps a few of the
older residents of the city. Let me recall for you the personality
of one whose career of usefulness was cut short by an untimely
death.

Robert Wilson was born in Hull, England, and came to
Canada with his parents in 1830, when he was but a little
more than thirteen. His father, Christopher Wilson, had followed
a business somewhat on the line of commission merchant, selling
principally for the farmers in his neighborhood. His association
with agricultural work probably turned his attention to the idea
of a settler's life in the colonies, and he emigrated to this country
with a family of six children and his wife. He secured from Mr.
Talbot a farm on the 12th concession of London Township, near
the Lobo town line, about two miles south of the present village
of Denfield, and leaving part of his family in Toronto, came with
Robert and three other boys to London.

One can hardly imagine the feelings of a family of settlers
like these as they surveyed the site of their new home. Before
them an unbroken stretch of forest — the road by which they
reached their destination only an embryo extension of the con-
cession line from the better settled district to the east. No
sound to strike the ear except such as nature might provide —
the murmuring winds among the forest leaves, the singing of
woodland birds, and the chirping of the smaller game that looked
with inquisitive eyes on the strange visitors; while "the wolf's
lone howl" or snarling bark from the dense thicket added a grue-
some melody. But the pioneers had no time to admire the

6 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

beauties of nature, or grow nervous over unaccustomed sounds.
They must set to work and build a home.

And a primitive home it had to be — a typical settlers' log
cabin. There was no material but what the woods supplied ; and
no tools but the few the settlers brought with them. Lumber,
bricks, glass — such luxuries were not for them. The house was
built of logs undressed, laid one above the other, pinned by
wooden stakes at the angles, and chinked with mud. The rafters
and sleepers were of the larger limbs. The roof was of the clap-
board variety — logs of oak, sawn into three feet lengths, and
then 'Split into slabs as thin as the grain of the wood might per-
mit; these placed in position were tied down with strands of
basswood bark. The floor was of logs split and laid with the
convex side down. Windows and doors there were none; the
spaces for those useful appurtenances being covered when neces-
sary by extemporized curtains held in place in stormy
weather by branches of trees. There was no time to
put up a chimney and no bricks to make it with.
But a hole was cut in the roof at the spot where the fireplace
should be, and on the ground beneath the fire was started when
required. Doubtless, many a time young Robert sat here with
his brothers on the floor, with his feet hanging down, toasting
his shins at the blaze, and watching the smoke as it curled up-
ward through the hole in the roof where the chimney was to be.
Of course, this was only the beginning. As fast as circumstances
would permit, and material could be obtained, improvements were
added. Doors and windows found their proper place; the chim-
ney reared itself through the roof ; the hearth appeared with its
swinging crane, its pot hooks and hangers; the single room was
partitioned off into apartments; and comfort suceeded to the
hardships of the earlier days.

It was in these conditions that young Wilson commenced his
life in Canada. The days were spent in hard work, clearing the
land, planting the grain, tapping the maple trees, and
making the sugar, gathering in the little harvest, patching up
the log cabin, and adding to the primitive and unique furniture
with which it was furnished. Father and sons, mother and
daughters, had to be jacks of all trades and try their hands at
everything for which to-day we go to the merchant and mechanic.
There was no time for school and no school to attend. But when-
ever a spare moment could be snatched, Robert utilized it ; for he
was a natural student. He had received a rudimentary education
before he left England, and he wanted more. Books were not
easily obtainable, but wherever one could be borrowed or bought
he availed himself of the opportunity. And the results of his
work showed that after all, books are not absolutely necessary to

ROBERT WFLSON, THE PIONEER TEACHER.

acquiring knowledge. It is the student himself more than 'his
accessories that really counts.

A 'hard life this may seem to us ; and yet it had its pleasures
and recreations. For Robert there was always nature to be
studied, and books to be read.- Social life became more available.
The towns'hip increased in population, neighbors came within
riding distance, and then near enough to be reached by walking.
Visits and social intercourse developed. Robert had taught him-
self to play on the flute and the violin and was a welcome guest
wherever he went. The young people often gathered for an
evening at the Wilson home, where music and games and dancing
gave relief from the daily toil.

So he grew to manhood. Tall and slim, six feet in height,
agile and alert in body and limb, with a smooth face and rosy
complexion, brown hair, and bright brown eyes, with a clear,
pleasant voice and a cheery smile. When, during the rebellion,
he enlisted in the loyal militia, and as one of the London cavalry
troop, he mounted 'his horse, and rode forth in defense of Queen
and country,, there were few more handsome lads among the
yeoman soldiery of Upper Canada.

His military experience was devoid of results in itself, for
there was no fighting to be done. But it was of decided service
to him, in that it largely extended his circle of acquaintance,
and brought him into contact with some men of culture from
whose society he derived great benefit, and who gave him material
assistance in extending the circle of his studies, and developing
his own mental faculties. To none, perhaps, was he more indebt-
ed than to Mr. John Wilson, who became his guide and friend.
Himself a country school teacher in his younger days, 'he could
appreciate a young man's efforts at self -improvement, and sym-
pathize with him in his ambitions. He seems to have been very
much attracted by his young namesake, who, in return, gave him
love and loyalty that lasted through life.

As he developed, Robert Wilson became satisfied that there
was something else before him than a farmer's life. And as he
realized that, under his circumstances, in trying to teach others
he could teach Ihimself , he commenced a little school in his own
neighborhood. For this work he was already as well fitted as the
average teacher. There was then no regular training for persons
entering that profession in Canada, and no particular qualifica-
tions demanded. Anyone who felt so disposed could start a
school, and if he could get enough people to send their children
and pay the fees, his purpose was accomplished While there
were a few educated teachers, many took up this work because
they could think of nothing better to do. Discharged soldiers,
crippled mechanics, old women without any means of support,

8 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

and young people anxious to make a little money, tried their un-
familiar hand at the pedagogue's art. Wilson had better quali-
fications than most of these, for he had already learned more
than the average backwoods settler, and more than many of his
own age in the young and ^growing towns and villages. His
success was apparent from the first, and he shortly after made a
more ambitious movement to a better settled section on the 7th
concession.

But even this soon proved too limited a field, and about 1842
or 1843 (I cannot find the precise date) he moved into the flour-
ishing police village of London, bringing -his niece with him as
housekeeper. He opened his school first in a building on Ridout
street, north of Dundas, but subsequently moved it to more com-
modious quarters in the new Mechanics' Institute building on the
Court House Square. Here he taught for several years with
marked success. He was well suited for the work. Apart alto-
gether from his educational qualifications, he knew how to
handle young people. Courteous and agreeable in his manner,
kind and sociable in his disposition, he soon acquired the confi-
dence and esteem of his pupils. He tried to make their lessons
pleasant, and to interest them in their work. He did not confine
himself to the then common practise of trying to drill a few les-
sons into them by rote, but endeavored rather to broaden their
conceptions, and make them think for themselves. At the same
time he was a firm disciplinarian; only the iron hand was con-
cealed under the velvet glove.

It was about this time that he began to extend his activities
outside the schoolroom. His school being held in the Mechanics'
Institute building, it was but natural that he should associate
himself with that organization, more especially as it was itself
intended for educational purposes; and all the more because he
saw that he could make it helpful for himself in his professional
work, while he was helping a laudable undertaking.

Mechanics' Institutes had been inaugurated in England about
1823 by Dr. Birkbeck. The movement became very popular;
spread rapidly over England; and was soon introduced into the
colonies. Its object was the associating of artisans for their
mutual improvement. This they affected by studying the ele-
mentary principles as well as the methods of their trades, and at
the same time enlarging their acquaintance with matters outside
their own occupation. They had classes and lectures, not only
by skilled mechanics on their own work, but on general subjects
by professional men. They had their working rooms, their read-
ing rooms, and not least of all their libraries. In fact the move-
ment may be considered the commencement of the public library
as an educational institution.

ROBERT WFLSON, THE PIONEER TEACHER,

In Canada there were institutes in Toronto and Kingston,
as is evidenced by the appearance in the public accounts of grants
to them in 1835. A third seems to have followed in Hamilton in
1839. And the next appears to have been in London, where it was
permanently organized on the 1st of January, 1841. Apparently
it must have existed in some form even before this date, for at
an early meeting in the year the minutes refer to the securing of
some books from the old Mechanics' Institute. Of this primitive
Institute, 'however, I have not been able to obtain any further
record.

The list of the first officers embraces the names of some who
were at the time leading citizens, but became still more prominent
in after years. They were nearly all workmen, or what might be
termed master mechanics, though a few merchants and others
appear on the roll. Marcus Holmes, carriage builder, was the
first president; Ed. Matthews, builder, and S. Morrill, tanner,
were the vice-presidents ; J. Farley, a merchant, was one of the
secretaries ; Robert Fennel, a harness maker, whose shop was for
many years a prominent feature of York street, west of Ridout,
was treasurer. Others who attached themselves to the young
association were men like Elijah Leonard and Wm. McBride,
whose names are still remembered by those who knew London as
late as two score years ago.

The institute grew and prospered. It commenced to accumu-
late a library ; it obtained lectures not only from its active mem-
bers, but from professional men like John Wilson, H. C. R.
Becher, Rev. Dr. Cronyn, and the Rev. Mr. Proudfoot — first of
that name. The first meetings were held in what they called the
Seminary, or Government school building, then presided over
by the Rev. F. Wright, soon to be followed by the Rev. B. Bayley.
Then they had their meetings in the Methodist Episcopal Church
further north on Ridout street.

But with their growth they became ambitious, and decided
on having a home of their own. They secured a site from the
County Council on the Court House Square, midway between the
Seminary and the military magazine. Subscriptions and dona-
tions were gathered in to the extent of something over $1,200,
and before long they had their building ready for occupation,
though it was not completed and fully equipped for a few years.
It was of a somewhat Grecian style of architecture, constructed of
wood, with a roof forming an acute angle with the sides of the
building and a very obtuse angle at the apex. When completed,
a row of pillars upheld the overhanging second story. The old
structure, in a modified and rather dilapidated form, may still
be seen on Talbot street, just north of Dundas, where it fills the
useful but not ornamental purposes of a blacksmith's shop.

10 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Wilson was not one of the original members of the institute,
but he joined it subsequently, and became very active, filling at
times the office of secretary.

His success as a teacher ought to have been satisfactory, but
he desired to improve himself still further. The first training
school for teachers was opened in 1847 — the Normal School of
Toronto. And the next year he appeared there as a student. He
was the first man from London to obtain a normal school training,
Mr. Nicholas Wilson following him the year after.

In 1848, the amended school act came into force, and a board
of trustees was elected for London, and entered on its duties
in the beginning of the year, John Wilson, barrister, toeing chosen
as local superintendent of education. Four teachers were ap-
pointed at a salary of £50 a year and fees, the schools not being
then free. Mr. Nicholas Wilson was one of the first appointments.
But these men had not been trained professionally, and in its
desire to secure the best talent available, the board wrote to
Robert Wilson, offering him a school with a salary of £60 and fees
amounting to six shillings and three pence, to ten shillings for
each pupil. The offer was accepted, and he entered on his duties
in May. That his work here was successful may be gathered from
that fact that the superintendent of education in his report the
following year, made special reference to the superiority of
Robert Wilson's school, and the excellent results obtained by the
only teacher who taught on the new normal system.

The need for enlarged school accommodation for the growing
town soon became apparent. The late A. S. Abbott, for so many
years our city clerk, was at that time collector of taxes. In the.
course of his house-to-house visitations, he was attracted by a
vacant block, bounded by Waterloo and Colborne, King and York
Streets. It was a little one-sided, but the town was growing in
that direction. So he brought the matter to the attention of the
local authorities who approved the idea; and Mr. John Wilson,
superintendent of education, had sufficient influence with the
Government to secure a grant of land. And here the board
undertook the erection of what was so long known as the Union
school.

In the preliminary work of preparing for this school, Robert
Wilson was especially active, even going to New York in connec-
tion with the plans for the building. It was opened in 1850. Not
unnaturally he expected the appointment of head master. In-
stead of that he was given the place of assistant, with a salary of
£120 — Mr. Nicholas Wilson being made principal. He was disap-
pointed, and always attributed the action of the board to political
prejudice. It is too far away from the time for us to be sure if
there were any grounds for this belief. But we know that such

ROBERT WBLSON, THE PI ONEEIR TEACHER. 11

things do occur at times ; and in 1849 and 1850, political feeling
was very 'bitter in a certain class of London people. Be that as
it may, his enthusiasm was certainly dampened, and in June of his
first year he resigned. Mr. Nicholas Wilson's tenure of 'office did
not last much longer, for he was superseded in 1851 by Mr.
Hamilton Hunter.

Whether or not Robert Wilson intended resuming his pro-
fession later, I do not know. But there was no opportunity in
London at the time. So he went into mercantile life, starting a
general store on Dundas street, opposite the market. And this
he advertised as a "temperance store." That was a novelty. All
general stores sold liquor. In fact, it was the prevailing beverage.
Many of the leading citizens were distillers and brewers. Taverns
were found at every street corner, as well as along the block. The
county roads had them located every mile or two. And the effects
on the population were sufficiently marked to attract the attention
of travellers from the old country like Mrs. Jamison, who speaks
with some disgust of the drunkenness she saw on London streets.

But the leaven of temperance was beginning to work. There
were a few active citizens who were not only total abstainers
themselves, but were commencing to preach the gospel of social
reform. Mr. Simeon Morrill, a tanner, and Robert Wilson, among
others, organized societies of Sons of Temperance and
Daughters of Temperance. They had public lectures and
private entertainments. These societies became rivals for
popularity with the tavern, and attracted quite a few
young men by their facilities for social enjoyment. I have
been told that among these pioneer "Sons" was a certain Mr.
John Carling (not unknown to the present generation) , though the
subsequently entered upon an occupation which interfered with
tfiis membership. In the temperance movement Robert Wilson
took a prominent part.

He continued his store for a year or two, and then, I under-
stand, disposed of his stock to Mr. C. T. Priddis, who carried on
the business as a dry goods establishment. I think Mr. Priddis
was the first London merchant to confine himself exclusively to
dry goods. Wilson then took up auctioneering for a livelihood.
He erected a house for himself on William street, just south of
the creek — an evidence of how the town was spreading eastward.
Meantime he was interesting himself in civic affairs, and was
recognized as a useful and enterprising citizen. In 1854 he was
elected one of the councillors for St. George's Ward, having for
his colleagues two men well known in London, who became still
more prominent subsequently — Mr. John Carling and Mr. Wm.
Barker.

His active career, however, was soon to close. In the April

12 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

of that year he was stricken with typhoid fever, and passed
away at the end of the month. On the first of May his friends
and fellow-citizens met at his house and viewed his face for the
last time; then the funeral cortege moved on to London Town-
ship, and in the family plot in St. George's churchyard, on the
13th concession, they laid him away to rest.

Mr. Wilson was ' twice married. It was during his brief
military career that he met the lady who became his first wife —
Miss Ann Coyne, of a well-known Elgin County family. She
only lived about a year, and died, leaving a baby girl, Who soon
followed her. His second wife was Miss Charlotte Cudmore of
Woodstock, who survived him many years. There were also
three children, two boys and a girl. I understand the boys are
still living in the United States.

In religion he was an Anglican. In politics he was originally
a Conservative, like most of Mr. Talbot's band of settlers in Lon-
don Township. I use the word "Conservative" as the modern title
of the old political "Family Compact" party. In later years his
views seem to have changed. I never heard any explanation of
the change, but I can readily imagine 'how it might have occurred.
Mr. John Wilson was the Conservative member of Parliament
for London; but he was greatly disgusted with the rioters who
burned down the Parliament buildings in Montreal during the
stormy period of Lord Elgin's rule. And he was especially dis-
pleased with the conduct of many of his own party leaders in con-
doning the disloyalty and turbulence of the Montreal mob. He
did not hesitate to give expression to his feelings, with the result
that in his own town he evolved a very bitter antagonism among
many who had been his 'supporters. Robert Wilson was one of
his most intimate and loyal friends ; and I can readily understand
that he followed his leader in his political views. And it is quite
possible that in doing this he brought about the opposition which
prevented his appointment to the principalship of the Union
School.

I have endeavored to give you some idea of Robert Wilson's
appearance and character. Of his attainments it seems difficult
to speak in terms of moderation, when his opportunities are con-
sidered. With no scholastic training except his few months at
the Normal School, but by his own untiring diligence and perse-
verance, aided by the sympatlhy and support of the better educat-
ed few who knew and appreciated him, but whose help could have
been but casual at most, he became one of the best teachers of
his day. He was a fairly accomplished musician, -an artist of no
mean ability, a poet whose verses, I am told, compare not unfavor-
ably with the work of 'much better known men. That such a
life as his promised to be should have been cut short untimely

ROBERT WHLSON, THE PIONEER TEACHER. 13

by 'his early death, before he had readied the age of two score,
was a loss to the community in Which he lived, and of which he
was an ornament.

Lest I may be thought to have drawn on my imagination, and
be uttering praise undeserved, I will close with a few lines from
a letter written by one who knew him well, and whose qualifica-
tions for the formation of a judicial opinion will be readily ad-
mitted by the members of the Historical Society. In a letter re-
ceived from him a few days ago, his honor the veteran Judge D.
J. Hughes of St. Thomas, writes :

"I knew and well remember Robert Wilson, as a teacher in
the public school in London, an acquaintance that commenced
with his 'service as a volunteer at the time of the rebellion in
1837 ... He was a pleasing, outspoken Yorkshire man, a
typical English 'schoolmaster. He was well-trained and possessed
a kindly, straightforward way which would have well received
the polish of a higher education if he had possessed the opportuni-
ties not within his reach. He had musical talents which only
needed cultivation to make them conspicuous; and his taste for
poetry was evidenced by original verse that I have often enjoyed
reading. But like many another .aspirant for fame he was kept
covered by want of a just appreciation of capable people of whom
at that time there were few."

Mr. E. Clisscld, of Ottawa, a pupil of Robert Wilson, writes
as follows:

"Under Mr. Wilson's genial direction I got along well for the
short time that I could be spared from work for I really loved the
teacher, and loved to learn. Not only that, but Robert Wilson en-
couraged my taste for reading, letting me have ready access to his
library at his home (near the corner of Richmond and St. James
streets) Where I was welcomed by his family, and found a con-
genial companion in his nephew, the late Michael Pickering,
brother of Mrs. John H. Morgan, now of 546 Richmond street.

"Robert Wilson had the happy faculty of making his school
attractive. He loved music, and he organized a good glee club,
composed of his more advanced scholars, Who sang at the temper-
ance meetings for which the "Old Mechanics Institute" was in
old times famous. Some of the members of this Glee Club whose
names I remember were the late Adam Begg, and his sister the
late Mrs. Mclntosh, Waterloo and Dundas Street ; Mrs. J. H. Mor-
gan (nee Pickering), and her brother Michael; Mrs. Alfred Row-
land St., (nee Clissold), besides many others — forming a merry
band who lent attraction and charm to functions that otherwise
might 'have savored of dullness."

London Public Schools, 1 848-1 87 1

By €. B. Edwards, B.A.

IN a new country people are so strenuously struggling to make
a living that the common occurrences of home life, the daily
toil, municipal and provincial affairs are taken as a matter
of course, and little or no thought is given to recording passing
events that would prove of deep interest to succeeding genera-
tions.

Probably at no time, in the world's history has there been
such a scientific and skilful effort to ascertain the true facts that
are so necessary to write history that is reliable and trustworthy
as has been the case during the past half century. Costly exca-
vations have been undertaken, inscriptions have been deciphered,
and ancient documents collected. The first two of these are not
necessary in writing Canadian History, but a great deal can be
done in the way of collecting documentary materials.

The various 'historical societies in Canada are doing a splen-
did work in this respect and are thus preserving a mass of
information that will be of immense benefit to the 'historian who
will write the story of our country. In this history a consider-
able part assuredly will be devoted to an account of how the
young people were trained to take their part in the social, indus-
trial and political life of Canada.

The Public School, as we have it in Canada, is a legacy from
the new England States which made a virtue of giving all the
children a thorough grounding in elementary Education. Shortly
after the Pilgrim Fathers settled in Massachusetts they estab-
lished schools for all the youth of the community, but it is to
Horace Mann that they owe a debt of gratitude as the founder of
the present-day system of Public Schools in the United States,
an honor that we in Ontario pay to Dr. Ryerson.

The old Grammar schools now High schools and the Univer-
sities were modelled after the English pattern. Concerning the
High School I shall say but little leaving to Principal McCutcheon
a subject that is replete with interesting facts and valuable in-
formation.

The late Mr. Nicholas Wilson contributed to the London
Free Press in 1894 the following account of the first teachers in
London. "The best school in London in those early days was
established about the year 1838 by Mr. William Taylor. Mr.
Taylor was a man of fine physique, good education and consider-

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 15

able experience as a teacher. He came to Canada from Queen's
County, Ireland, where he had kept an Academy for some years.
He opened his school in a house on Talbot street, just south of
York, but subsequently erected a more suitable building on Hor-
ton street, near Talbot, in which he taught for several years.
The young Londoners who attended school before the establish-
ment of the Public Schools, received their education principally
from Mr. Taylor. He died about 1848.*

The Mr. Taylor spoken of was a graduate of Trinity College
Dublin, and the grandfather of the writer's "better-half."

No records exist of organized common schools for the Town
of London prior to 1848.

The minutes of the "Board of Common Schools
for the Town of London," which met tine 15th of January that
year, record that "The following gentlemen were selected as
the Board of Trustees for Common 'Schools for the Town of
London, by the Mayor and Council of the said town, as required
by 10 and 11 Vic., Cap. 19, entitled an Act for amending the
Common 'School of Upper Canada for the year 1848." Then
follows the names, viz., Samuel Eccles, William Begg, Harding
O'Brien, Henry Dalton, John S. Buchanan, Henry Mathewson.
At this meeting John Wilson, Esq., (afterwards Hon. Mr. Justice
Wilson) was appointed Superintendent.

Four teachers were engaged for the year at a salary of £50
each. The teachers chosen were Nicholas Wilson, Mr. Eraser,
Joseph Cortishly and Robert Rogers. The four schools were
designated St. George's, St. Patrick's, St. Andrew's and St.
David's, which would indicate a courteous and thoughtful regard
for iihe patron saints of the various nationalities* inhabiting
the British Isles, and further seem to indicate that representa-
tives of each were to be found in the new town. The Board fixed
the minimum rate for pupils at 2s 6d per quarter, and author-
ized the use of the Irish National School Books. It appears that
the mayor, Henry Dalton, was ex-officio a member and chair-
man of the school board. Among the business transacted by the
Board in 1848 was the decision to erect a new school to accom-
modate 350 or 400 pupils at a cost of £400, which sum, it
appears, was readily voted by the council. The total expenditure
for the year was £281 6s lll/2d-

The minutes of the succeeding years are very interesting
in showing the frequent changes of teachers, the names of
those Who served as trustees, some of whom afterwards rose

*Prior to this date the District Grammar School, or Seminary, as it was commonly
called, was the only school receiving Government aid; all other schools were private
ventures.

*The four wards of the village bore these names.

16 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

to hig!h rank in Provincial and Dominion affairs, and the com-
mittees of citizens appointed to manage the various schools.

A report to the board at the close of 1848 shows that 362
pupils were 'enrolled during the year, with an average attend-
ance of 252, of whom 193 were boys and 94 girls. There must
be some error here, as 193 and 94 do not make 252. The super-
intendent declined to accept a salary; the secretary was a
member of the 'board, and the treasurer received the munifi-
cent reward of £2 per annum.

At a meeting on the 29th May, 1849, tenders for the new
school were accepted at a total cost of £1,329, the contracts
being let to Mr. John Beattie for carpenter work, Mr. Joseph
F. Rolf e brick and stone work, and Mr. Henry Roots for plaster-
ing. Tihis building when erected was known as the Central
School. It appears from the minutes of the school board that
the buildings, or at least some of them, used for school purposes
were rented.

* Among the names of the trustees for 1850, the following
appear: Messrs. Jolhn (afterwards Sir John) Carling, George
Magee, William Elliot, who afterwards became county judge.
The latter was elected as secretary and Mr. Henry Dalton as
chairman for the year. At a meeting in February of this year,
Mr. Nicholas Wilson was appointed head master .of the town
schools at a salary of £150 per annum. At the same meeting
it was decided to secure, if possible, a female teacher, at a
salary of £65 per annum. This, I believe, was the first woman
that was employed, and it can be seen that, considering the
value of money in those days, the salary was not a mean one,
the pound being four dollars in our money. At a subsequent
meeting it was resolved to engage two female teachers in the
persons of Misses Haigh and Wharing, who were the pioneers
of hundreds of oth'ers who have since that time given splendid
service in the cause of education in London.

On March the 5th, tihe following motion was adopted:
"Proposed by Mr. Mathewson, seconded by Mr. Carling, that
the head master be requested to have the female school dis-
missed in the evenings at ten minutes before the male depart-
ments." Mention lias already been made of the fact that all
pupils attending the "Common Schools" had to pay fees vary-
ing from 2s '6d to 7s 6d per quarter, but at the meeting of the
school board on the 15th March, 1850, the following motion
was adopted: "That the trustees are of the opinion that the
schools should be supported by an assessment upon property,
and that the mayor and the town council be requested to carry
out the same." Fees, however, were not entirely abolished till
1870.

NICHOLAS WILSON

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 17

The meeting of the trustees on the 12th December, 1850,
was held in the Town Hall, and Mr. A. S. Abbott was chosen
secretary pro tern, work having grown to such an extent that
it proved too onerous for a member of the board to transact.
Mr. Abbott was on the 19th December appointed as secretary
to the board, a position !he faithfully filled for over forty-two
years. During all these years we have the minutes of the
board written out in Mr. Abbotts' plain, precise handwriting,
indicating the care and method which he exercised in carrying
out his heavy duties — for we must remember that for most of
this time he was, in addition to being secretary of the school
board, clerk of the Corporation of the City of London. In con-
nection with the place of holding the meetings of the sclhool
trustees in the years 1848-9-50, the minutes of many of the
meetings begin as follows, after stating the date: "The trus-
tees met at Mr. Balkwell's Inn." Subsequent to December,
1850, most of tihe meetings of the school board were held in
the Town Hall till the completion of the City Hall, the first
meeting in which was held on the 7th December, 1855. There-
after the meetings of the board /have always been held in the
City Hall, except for a time in 1864-65, when they were held
in the Central School.

A school census showed that on December 31st, 1850, there
were 1850 children between t\he ages of four and sixteen in the
Town of London.

During the year 1851, Mr. Hamilton Hunter was appointed
head master of the common schools at a salary of £200 per
annum, a position he retained till 1855, being succeeded by J. B.
Boyle, Esq. During the year 1853, among the teachers who re-
signed was Peter Murtagh, who was suceeded by John Taafe,
while among the women appointed was Miss Corrigan. In the
early fifties Mr. Peter McCann was appointed by the board to
collect the school rates.

In July, 1854, at a meeting of the Common School trustees,
a deputation from the board of Grammar School trustees
appeared. On motion of Hon. J. G. iGoodhue (of t/he Grammar
School Board), seconded by John Carling, Esq., it was resolved
to unite the boards, if suitable arrangement could be made.
The proposed union was not effected, however, until eleven
years later.

Besides the names of trustees already mentioned who
were members of the school board during the years
1848 to 1856 were Messrs. Alex. Johnston, E. W. Hyman
(father of the Hon. C. S. Hyman), Samuel McBride and
James Egan, the latter of whom is, I believe, the only survivor.
Mr. Egan was instrumental in establishing a library in connec-

18 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

tion with the schools and many years afterwards was a mem-
ber of the Public Library Board.

If other sources of information were lacking that the popu-
lation of the new city was increasing the efforts of the trustees,
as shown by the minutes of the board, to obtain additional
accommodation in the Firemen's Hall and afterwards in the
hospital would indicate that such was the case. The city coun-
cil was requested to furnish £3,000 wherewith to buy land and
erect a school house. This request was made at a meeting of
the Board on the 2nd of September, and at a meeting on the
16th of the same month, the chairman reported that the re-
quest for funds had been unanimously granted. Truly the
early city fathers acted with promptness that to-day seems al-
most unbelievable.

One hundred pounds was voted in 1855 for a library for the
use of the schools of the city and £10 for chemical apparatus.
The minutes of 1856 record a motion to declare the 24th of
May a holiday in the schools.

In 1857 the City Council, upon application of the Board
of Trustees, granted the latter the unappropriated clergy
reserve fund, which was expended in the purchase of school
sites and the building of school houses, the total amount being
£4,500.

The Horton Street School, now Brener's Cigar Factory,
was opened in 1856, and the next year a small frame building
with two rooms was placed on the eastern side of the Union
School Block, at a cost of £159, the contractor being Mr. R. F.
Mathews.

It is apparent that the summer vacation was in the early
days of very short duration, for in 1857 the board only allowed
three weeks, beginning the 3rd of August, but the next year
the time was extended to four weeks.

The following extract from the report of Principal Boyle,
August, 1857, indicates the number of pupils assigned to a
teacher in the "old days:" "In order to instruct efficiently the
268 children transferred to the Juvenile School, a staff of three
teachers would be required; but in a short time after removal
many of the younger children will be withdrawn on the
approach of winter. Having this in view, then, the more
prudent course to pursue would be to open the school with only
two teachers — a monitor from the senior class of the Union
School can be sent to them."

On the 2nd November. 1857, a tender was received for 150
cords of 'dry wood at 2s 6d per cord (about 60 cents per cord).
Truly the cost of living in those days was not excessive in the
matter of fuel.

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 19

Up to 1857 all the children in London attended the Com-
mon Schools, but in this year R. C. 'Separate Schools were
established, and most of the children of Roman Catholics were
in consequence withdrawn from the Public 'Schools.

It is interesting to note that in the year 1858 the accounts
of the board were for the first time kept in dollars and cents.

Two of the most important items of business, as indicated
by the number of motions relating thereto appearing upon the
minutes, were: salaries of teachers and appointment and salary
of janitors. In this year the salary of the principal was $900;
male teachers $550; female ranged from $380 to $250; while
the secretary, who was also city clerk, received $60.

In February, 1858, it was decided that in future the meet-
ings of the board would be held on the first Tuesday of every
month, which is continued up to the present time.

A motion in the March meeting of this year was : "That the
Scriptures be introduced into the Common Schools of the city
to be read as the morning and evening lessons," was voted down.
The following amendment carried: "That the teachers be
required to open and close school with that form of prayer
recommended by the Board of Education.''

An indication of the rich agricultural land within the city
limits and the thriftiness of the janitors is the adoption of the
following motion: "That James Boyce, janitor, be permitted to
plant potatoes on the Central School grounds among the trees."

A month or two later, however, he was directed by the
board to keep the school grounds perfectly clean, and "that
cows, hogs or geese be not permitted to pasture thereon." It
was further decided at the same meeting to rescind a resolution
of keeping the scihools open on Saturday.

A school was opened on Talbo't Street in a rented house
in September of this year (1858), and later, in the same year,
a small school was erected where the present Talbot Street
School now stands.

Among the new members of the trustees elected in the
years 1859 and 1860 were Messrs. S. H. Graydon and A. G.
Smytlh, the latter of whom is still living, comparatively hale
and hearty at the age of 89.

The efforts of the board to furnish better school buildings
and to meet the requirement of an increasing population
apparently met with some adverse criticism, as is always the
case, for in the August meeting of 1859 we find that the fol-
lowing motion was unanimously adopted: "That Mr. G. G.
Magee (chairman) be thanked for the able manner in which
he defended this board from the charges of extravagances
appearing in the city press."

20 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The frequent reference to Principal 'Boyle which appear in
the minutes of the Board show us that he possessed in no slight
degree the confidence and support of that body. Not only was
the selection and placing of teachers often left in his hands,
but the administration of the rules of the board was vested
in him.

In 1860 Mr. Hamilton Hunter, one of the teachers in the
Union Sclhool, resigned after many years* very efficient service.

The great event in the school year was the visit of H. R.
H. Edward, Prince of Wales, which took place on the 12th of
September. The arrangements were very elaborate and numer-
ous. The board appointed Messrs. Graydon, Ross and Hunter
in conjunction with Principal Boyle to prepare the programme.
A platform costing $240 was erected on wlhich were assembled
the children. The following is an account of the reception of
the Prince as contained in Vol. II. of Historical Educational
Papers and Documents of Ontario:

"At London the royal carriage stopped in the centre of
the semi-circular erection that had been built for the children
of the public schools. Here the little ones, to the number of
3,000, commenced cheering and waving their handkerchiefs,
and when the royal carriage was drawn up in front of them,
sang the National Anthem in good style. This was one of the
most interesting sights of the day. The departure of the
Prince, like his arrival, was the signal for loud cheering on the
part of the youngsters, and their little voices seemed to vie
with each other in doing honor to their royal visitor."

The platform was erected on the east side of Richmond
Street, opposite Kent 'Street, on the ground where now stands
the Christian Science Church.

The policy of affording accommodation for the increasing
school population led to the erection of two new brick schools,
one on Horton Street, and the otlher on Bond ('Princess Avenue) ,
which were completed in 1862. It will be noted that the custom
in early years had been to erect wooden school houses in the
outlying districts to be supplanted later by brick structures.

The need of a place in which the pupils might properly
receive physical training was met in 1861 by the erection, by
popular subscription, of a gymnasium on the Union School
grounds.

A subject that created considerable discussion in the years
1861-62 was a proposal to provide separate accommodation for
the colored children attending the sclhools. The matter was
debated at length at many meetings of the board. The local
and chief superintendents of education were appealed to as to
-the legality of sudh an action, but, apparently, no satisfactory

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 21

solution could be arrived at. Finally, however, in 1862, a reso-
lution was adopted that separate accommodation for colored
children be provided when financially practicable. This condi-
tion has not yet been reached.

The requests by the authorities of various religious denom-
inations for the use of the schools for public worship and as
Sunday schools were very numerous, and would seem to indicate
that London was poorly supplied with churches. As a usual
thing these requests were denied, which, in some cases, brought
upon members of the board a severe criticism from clergymen
whose requests were refused. It was held by the trustees that
as the schools were for all denominations it would be creating
distinctions to grant the request of one denomination unless all
received the same favor. Another reason for the refusal given
was that the use of the schools for these meetings so dis-
arranged the rooms that there was considerable trouble in
preparing them for the day school.

In 1862 a teacher of vocal music was added to the staff,
and in 1863, on motion of Messrs. Webb and Robert Gunn, it
was decided that military drill should be taught in the schools,
and that the brigade major be asked to furnish an instructor.

In this same year the Hon. Mr. Justice Wilson, local super-
intendent of schools, resigned a position which :he had held con-
tinuously since 1848, with the exception of the period from
1852 to 1856, inclusive, when the Rev. W. F. Clarke occupied it.

The report which he made on his retirement from office
was an important public document, as it summarizes in a clear
and comprehensive manner the rise and progress of the common
schools in the City of London. It is worthy of note that
although there was in London a Grammar School that few of
the city pupils attended it, but received instructions in the
classical subjects and higlher ma'thamatics in the senior depart-
ments of the Central School. I 'have thought it wise to add to
Judge Wilson's report that of Bis'hop Cronyn, who was his
successor in office. The salary paid to the local superintendents
was $100 per annum ; and both Judge Wilson and Bishop Cronyn
devoted this sum annually to the purchase of books, which were
given as prizes to the pupils attending the schools.

In the early sixties the City of London had for its local
superintendents of public schools the Hon. Mr. Justice John
Wilson and the Right Reverend Bishop Cronyn. The reports
<)f the public school system and its capabilities by these two
distinguished men will be read with special interest, as they are
comprehensive in their character and thoroughly practical in
their purpose and objects.

22 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The London City Schools, by the Honorable Mr. Justice
John Wilson:

"On severing the tie which has connected me for so many
years with the work of education in this city, it may not "be
out of place to review the past, compare it with the present, and
calmly rest our hopes of the future upon these considerations.

"I can refer with much satisfaction to the part I took in
securing from spoilation the valuable block of land upon which
the Central School now stands; and to the support and encour-
agement I was enabled to give the school trustees in their
struggle for the erection of the buildings and the extension of
the city public school system. I have watched with deep inter-
est every effort of the Board to establish upon a firm basis a
system which might confer the benefits of a sound, liberal
•education upon the whole youth of the municipality — open to
all, adapted to the talents and wants of all. How far a design
so comprehensive and so noble in its aim has succeeded, I pur-
pose now to show. In the year 1850, the teachers employed
were five — three males and two females ; the number of children
entered in the school during the year was 598; the average
attendance was only 337. In 1855, when, according to the
public records, the population of the city was over 16,000, the
teachers were increased to twelve, and the number of children
entered in the schools to 1,823, and the average attendance to
726. Although on enquiry I learn that the population is now
(1863) practically no greater than in 1855, yet the pupils
entered during the past year have increased to 2,825, the daily
average attendance to 1,373 and the number of teachers em-
ployed to 22. But, if the Roman Catholic pupils were united
now. as they were then, with the general school system, we
would both have the number of pupils and teachers increased
upwards of 100 per cent, in eight years, while the gross popula-
tion of the city remains about as it was. This seems more than
most sanguine friends of the cause could have hoped.

"It mav be asked from what source the public schools
derived .such accessions to their numbers. Were the children
not attending: the public schools in 1855 uneducated? TThe
reports furnished annually to the chief superintendent of educa-
tion answer both questions, and adduce conclusive proof of the
efficiency of the present school system. At the period alluded
to there were larg^ flourishing sdhools in many parts of the
city, established and conducted by private parties on their own
account. It may not be assuming too much to sav that over
500 scholars were attending these schools about that time. Now
there is scarcely a private school of any consequence to be
found, all having been absorbed in the general school system.

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 23

Nearly all have availed themselves of the provision made for
them by the board of trustees. If we add to these numbers
the children attending the separate schools, we find a larger
proportion of the juvenile classes enjoying the blessings of a
good education in this city than in any other town or city in
the province; and, as a consequence, no beggar children have
been found in the streets. In point of attendance, therefore,
the citizens of London have good reasons to be pleased with
what has already been done, since now the education of almost
all the youth of the city is under the care of the board elected
by themselves; and, by the efforts of tihis board, tttie expansion
of the means of teaching has nearly kept pace with the influx
of pupils requiring to be taught. An improvement as striking
has taken place in the manner of teaching and in the character
of the instruction imparted as that which I have noticed in the
attendance. In the period I first mentioned there was nothing
attempted beyond the limited essentials of an English education.
The public school board was unwilling to foe connected with
the county grammar school. At the date secondly mentioned,
which I look upon as the turning point in our educational affairs
in this place, something was added to the English course, with
a few boys in the elements of the Latin language, forming
merely a classical nucleus. This step was not favorably looked
upon, because it was said to be unnecessary, and the head-
master's time would be taken from the supervision of the
school. The trial, however, went quietly on. Now the English
course is at once extensive and thorough, embracing every sub-
ject of importance to mechanic, the merchant or the profes-
sional man. The classical department has been extended so
as to embrace Latin, Greek and French, and made compre-
hensive enough to qualify students for entering upon the
study of any of the learned professions, or to matriculate in
any college or university in the province. That this branch
of the institution has been' highly prized by the citizens is,
evident from the number of students found in the various
classes. That it has been successfully conducted must be
evident to every one who has watched its progress as I have
done. A few facts are its best panegyric.

"The students of the Central School 'have for years past
competed with those trained in the best schools in the province.
Young men educated here have been subjected to every test,
stood every examination, yet none of them have been rejected
or "plucked"; they have entered classes for the church, law
or medicine. Within the last few years eight young men of
promise (two partly, six entirely trained in the Central School)
have passed their preliminary examination with the highest

24 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

credit and entered upon the study of the legal profession; in
addition to these, many have been educated, it is said, above
the business to which they have devoted themselves. But this
I deny, for neither the mental powers nor moral sentiment can
be too highly cultivated for individual or public good; and we
require more in this province of intelligent, educated, moral
people than those of a highly educated upper class. In a com-
munity like ours, where no advantage of birth or exclusive
privileges obtains, and where the way is open to the talented
and aspiring, however humble their position, it becomes the
duty of the patriot and the statesman to tihrow wide open the
portals of learning to all, and to give all the means of making
their talents available in the competition of life. It cannot be
fairly objected that a liberal education to a young man is in
advance of his position or prospects, for he need be confined to
no position inferior to the scope of his capacity, enlarged by
his education, and no position can long obscure true worth and
great talents well cultivated.

"The Board of School Trustees of London have taken the
initiative in a noble work, which I hope will, sooner or later,
be emulated by other boards of the same kind throughout the
province. They have led the way in bestowing that early and
careful training upon the young who have the natural capacity
to profit by it, which will enable them, on reaching manhood,
to make their talents available to themselves and their country
in any useful and honorable career. The expense of this
system has been set at rest by the able report of the committee
of last year, in which it was shown that the cost per pupil was
less Jiere, with all its advantages, than in any other town or
city in the province. To the public I would say: With the
future I have no concern, but it may be permitted that I should
allude to it. This school system, which works so well here,
was not brought about without deep thought in planning and
great skill and energy in working out. By any ill-judged step
much of this labor and care may become useless. To detract
from the well-earned status of the school would be most in-
jurious. To lower your standard where such endeavor has
been made to advance it would be a loss, no less to the province
than to you, for it would be a virtual acknowledgment that you
•had tried a higher education for the poor man's son and found
it either unsuited or unappreciated; yet neither conclusion
would be correct. The system, in its working and the good
resulting from it, has more than realized every hope.

"May I express a wish that you may advance? Year by
year you can improve by the experience of the preceding. It
is a false economy which aims at anything less than perfect
efficiency. The best talent for your schools is cheap at any

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 25

price. If you underpay your teadhers you will drive them
from you and the profession into other modes of life, where
their services cannot avail you. No greater good can be
effected than by improving the educational institutions of the
country; and, in my judgment, tihis can be best and most easily
accomplished by securing the services of the best men. To me
this has 'been a question fraught with deep interest. My most
ardent wish is that the London schools may not only keep their
present relative rank, but advance in usefulness from time to
time, and enjoy the unlimited confidence of every class of the
community.

"In conclusion, I must be permitted to say that to Mr.
Boyle, your head master, and to the staff of teachers !he super-
intends, you owe it that your .schools are such as I describe.
He has steadily and anxiously persevered in elevating the
character of the Ward and Central Schools, and brought them
to a state of efficiency I hoped for but scarcely expected to see,
and, on every occasion, has cordially carried out any sugges-
tions which were offered to him; and my whole official connec-
tion with 'him (has been more than satisfactory."

The Right Reverend 'Bishop Cronyn, who succeeded Mr.
Justice Wilson, in referring to the condition of the city schools,
speaks of them in high terms of praise, and quite concurs with
the admirable practice of specifically reporting to the parents
on the progress of their children at school. He speaks of it
as having an excellent practical effect on parents and children.
He says:

"Since my appointment as local superintendent of the
public schools in the City of London, I have visited and
examined the Central and Ward Schools, in company with the
head master, and I beg to report, for the information of the
Board of Trustees, the result of my visit. I heard several
classes in each of the schools examined by their respective
teachers in various branches, and I was mucih pleased with the
order which prevailed and the proficiency which the pupils
evinced.

•"I was much pleased to find that the business of each day
was commenced with the reading of God's Word and with
prayer for the Divine Blessing. I was present at the school on
Talbot Street when the prizes were bestowed upon the children,
and a more bright and intelligent group of little beings I never
witnessed. Some ladies who accompanied me were much
struck with the orderly and happy appearance presented by
the children on that occasion. My predecessor in the office of
local superintendent of the sclhools, the Honorable Mr. Justice
Wilson, who was always during his long residence in London

26 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

most zealous to promote and improve the education of the
people, was in the habit of devoting the salary of the office for
the purchase of prizes to be bestowed upon the children at the
annual examination. It will afford me much pleasure to do the
same, and I would request the Board of Trustees to expend
the amount for that purpose." ,

In 1864, Mr. Taafe resigned his position as teacher in the
Union School, and Mr. John Miller, who afterwards became
deputy minister of education, was appointed as one of the senior
teachers.

The reading of cheap novels by the senior pupils in the
Union School was, according to some of the trustees, quite
prevalent, and action was taken by the 'board to furnish suitable
reading matter in order that the taste of the children might
not become perverted by the reading of sensational and harm-
ful books.

Negotiations looking to the union of the County Grammar
School and the Common Schools of the city were undertaken
towards the close of the year 1864, and after various confer-
ences between the boards governing each, a satisfactory
agreement was arrived at in the year 1865. The first meet-
ing of the combined boards, thereafter known as the Board of
Education, was held in the City Hall on the 1st of August, 1865.
At this meeting, Alex. Johnston, Esq., was elected chairman.

At the time when the 'Grammar and Common Schools
were united under one board, the salaries of the teachers were
again adjusted — that of the principals of the Grammar and
Common Schools being fixed at $1,000 each, the men being
graded from $550 to $450 and the women from $350 to $175.

In the following year, among the new trustees were James
M. Cousins, Esq., afterwards mayor, and Thomas Partridge,
Esq., Jr., a prominent lawyer. S. H. Gray don, Esq., who sub-
sequently 'became mayor, was elected chairman.

The visit to the city of Dr. Ryerson was marked by a
lecture in the City Hall on the 2nd of February, at which the
board attended in a body.

The outbreak of smallpox in June was so severe that the
board ordered the schools closed on the 20th for the summer
vacation.

Mr. St. John Hyttenrauch, afterwards music master in the
rmblic schools, began a class in the Central 'School in this year.
The resignation of Mr. H. Hunter and Rev. R. Johnston in 1868
and Mr. Irwin in 1866 closed a long term of service in the
pu'blic schools for each of these gentlemen.

Strange to say, the minutes of 1867 contain no reference
to Confederation or of the first Dominion Day in Canada.

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871. 27

The question of the education of the deaf mutes was dis-
cussed by the board, but no action was taken. This 'has been
provided for, however, by the provincial authorities.

The death in 1869 of Mr. Peter Schram, who for many
years had been a diligent and efficient trustee, was sincerely
regretted by 'his colleague in a resolution of condolence. Mr.
J. C. Glashan, afterwards, in turn, public school inspector of
West Middlesex and the City of Ottawa, was in this year (1869)
appointed to the staff of Central School.

At the direction of the Board all teachers urged upon their
pupils the necessity of vaccination.

The Chadrman in 1870 was A. G. 'Smyth, Esq., wHio with the
exception of Mr. James Egan is the only survivor of the trustees
who served prior to that date.

In this year Mr. Thomas Robb, of New York, a former
resident of London, donated a gold medal for competition among
the pupils of the Public Schools. Subsequently he bequeathed a
sum of money, the interest of which is devoted annually for the
purchase of a gold medal to be given to the pupil of the Public
Schools taking the highest standing at the Entrance Examina-
tion to the High School. Mr. J. B. Smyth also presented prizes
in books.

The policy of supplying increased accommodation for the
senior pupils of the public school by adding to the building in
the Union School block was continued, but opposition to this
plan was offered. Not until nearly twenty years later was a
different plan adopted, that of erecting buildings large enough
to provide for the complete public school course in each school
district.

'For several months in the latter part of this year the
Board wrestled with a problem concerning discipline. It ap-
pears that two of the senior boys in the Central School, dis-
satisfied with the way in which tlhe competitive examinations
were conducted, wrote anonymously to one of the papers,
alleging unfairness and favoritism.

Upon the discovery of their names Principal 'Boyle sus-
pended them. Their parents appealed to the Board, which, in
turn, invoked the opinions of the local and chief superintend-
ents without avail. The matter was finally settled by the
withdrawal of the offensive allegations and a suitable apology.

In 1871 Mr. J. G. Mclntosh presided over the deliberations
of the Board, after serving many years as trustee. In con-
sequence of a new School Act requiring tlhe appointment of an
inspector of schools, His Lordslhip the Bishop of Huron re-
signed his position of local superintendent of schools in
August. His resignation was followed in September by his

28 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

death, on which occasion the Board showed its appreciation
by the following resolution of condolence:

'That the Board of High and Public iSchool Trustees re-
cord their sincere sorrow on account of the death of the late
Bishop of Huron, who for nine years held the office of local
superintendent of schools in this city, also the high value which
they attach to his services which, were always cheerfully and
pleasantly rendered, and their gratitude for his generosity in
regularly placing the wthole of the salary attached to 'his office
at the disposal of the Board for prizes.

"They would also offer their sincere sympathy to the
widow and family of the deceased and their prayer to God that
this great affliction may be sanctified to them, and that they
may be sustained under it by the abundant consolation of the
gospel and the comfort of the Holy Ghost."

In this year the present King Street School was built at a
cost of $1,250 for the lot and $2,680 for a school of four rooms,
which to-day appears very cheap.

The estimates of the year show that after the receipts
were deducted the Council was asked to provide $2,000 for High
School purposes and $12,500 for Public Schools.

We find that the Board censured the Chief of Police for
refusing to allow his men to continue delivering notices of the
monthly meetings to the trustees.

J. B. Boyle, Esq., was appointed as the first public school
inspector of the City of London on the 17th of October, 1871,
after serving as principal of the common or public schools since
1855. He occupied this position for nearly twenty years, dying
in harness in 1891.

Mr. Boyle represented the finest type of the old time
schoolmaster — "severe he was and stern to view" — but this
was only apparent, for beneath a dignified exterior lay a warm
heart and kindly disposition. He was dignified, courageous,
inflexible — dignified in his daily life, courageous in the dis-
charge of his duty and inflexible to all attempts to weaken the
usefulness of the schools. His scholarship was broad and deep
and his executive ability was of a very high order. We have
only to read his annual reports to the Board, most of which are
fortunately preserved, to be struck with his grasp of education-
al affairs, his keen insight into the details of school adminis-
tration and his mastery of the English language.

The History of the Public Schools in London falls natur-
ally into three epochs, first from 1848 until 1871. During this
period the foundations of public education were laid, experi-
ments were made and results noted. The second period extends
from 1871 to 1890, and was marked by the adoption of what is

LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1871.

known as the graded system by which each of the large school
districts became complete in itself. The third period extends
from 1890 till the present, and may be said to be characterized
by the adoption of a more scientific system of education based
upon the study of the child and illustrated by the introduction
of the kindergarten, a more rational teaching of Art, Manual
Training and Household Science. If signs do not fail we are at
present at the opening of a fourth epoch in education, which
may be termed the application of education to the life-work of
the pupils and to which the general term Industrial Education
has been applied.

In addition to the minutes of the Board of Trustees since
the year 1848 there is also a series of printed yearly reports.
Through the kindness of Mrs. John Anderson, a daughter of
the late Inspector Boyle, I am in possession of a copy of each of
these reports, printed on a single sheet of paper, from the
years 1850 to 1862 inclusive (except that of 1853), and I intend
handing them over to the Board of Education for safekeeping.
Subsequent to 1862 and up to 1871 we have only the minutes
for 1865 and 1870. It is to be hoped that the missing reports
may be obtained.

Taken in conjunction with the minutes, they form an in-
.valuable asset in writing an account of the rise and progress
of the public schools in London. The reports, in consequence
of the summary of the year's work, supplement and make clear
the minutes.

The comprehensive report of Mr. Justice Wilson sum-
marizes these documents up to the time of 'his retirement in
1863.

An appeal should be made to the public of the city to
furnish the Board of Education with the missing reports for
the years 1853, 1863, 1864.

To give anything like a full report of the schools subse-
quent to the year 1871 would take more time and space than
could be taken in one paper or one meeting ; but it may be that
at some future time permission will be granted me to complete
the outline already begun in this imperfect paper.

The London Grammar School and the
Collegiate Institute

BY F. W. C. McCUTCHEON, B. A.

Previous to 1809 there were but four grammar schools in
Ontario, one at Kingston, and one at Niagara, or Newark as it
,was then called, one at York and one at Cornwall, for in the
year 1807 grants had been made to provide for a grammar
school in each of the eight districts in which the province was
divided. The grammar school of the London district, the fore-
runner of the present Collegiate Institute, was founded in 1809
<at Vittoria, at that time a thriving hamlet in Norfolk County,
about four or five miles from Lake Erie. The century has added
Jittle if anything to the size of Vittoria, and certainly nothing
to its importance. In 1837 the school was transferred to Lon-
don, under the principalship of Mr. Francis Wright, B.A. Four
years later the Rev. Benjamin Bayly was appointed principal;
and for nearly forty years he retained his connection with the
secondary education of London in this position, and later in the
principalship of the High Sdhool, the title by which the Gram-
mar School was known after 1871. The original home of the
,Grammar School still stands — the old frame structure on the
,north side of King Street, adjoining t'he grounds of the County
,Buildings.

The Grammar School was essentially a Classical Sc'hool;
in fact the Reverend Principal refers to himself in his report
.to the board, not as Principal, but as Classical Master. The
importance placed upon the study of the classics may be easily
inferred from these reports, extract from which will be given
later in the paper. The governing body of the Grammar
School, including the superintendent in London, the Right Rev.
.Bishop of London, and its trustees, were appointed by the
lieutenant-governor in council. Even the nomination of the
principal by these trustees was ratified by the same official
head of the province. The income for the support of the Gram-
jnar School was not derived by taxation of the local munici-
pality, but from Crown lands and from fees imposed upon the
Students who attended. Thus, in its form of government, the
old Grammar Sc'hool was in no sense democratic, but as many
members of the legislature had their sons educated at these
schools and were convinced of the value of a classical education,

GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE 31

it was difficult for the superintendent of education for the
province, Egerton Ryerson, to induce the legislature to make
much change in the curriculum or in the mode of Government
of the Grammar Schools.

In 1853 the Educational Act made it pos'sible for the
Grammar School Board and Public Schools Board to unite, but
because of the antagonism between those who championed the
cause of the humanities and those w"ho favored the introduction
,of a wider curriculum, such a union was not brought about
,until some years later; in London, not till 1865. How great
tthe antagonism was may be inferred from an extract from a
letter written at the time regarding such a union.

"There have been no returns made by the trustees of Com-
mon Schools of the children of poor parents for gratuitous in-
struction in the Grammar Schools, as provided by law, and the
Jboard is of the opinion that under the present very defective
-system the Common Schools of the country will rather repress
/than encourage a desire amongst the people for education of
a superior description. The trustees generally of the Common
.Schools are men who do not know the value of a classical edu-
cation. In many cases, too, the masters are foreigners, and,
therefore, anxious to keep the people from acquiring a liberal
education, which, they well know, would be the surest means
of .... strengthening their attachment to those institu-
tions whic'h are based upon the soundest principles of Christian
truth, and which have for ages successfully withstood the
united attacks of infidelity, false philosophy and the restless
desire of change so natural to man. — (Signed by the Rev. Ben-
jamin Crony n, A. M. ; Mr. John Harris, County Treasurer, and
Mr. Mahlon Burwell, M.iP.iP.)"

When the Public School programme was extended to in-
clude even the classical subjects taught in the Grammar
School, such a union was inevitable.

In 1865 the union of the boards took place in London, and
the Grammar Sdhool was granted accommodation in the old
Central School on Colborne Street. At the time of the union,
(the trustees of the Grammar School were Ven. Archdeacon
Brough, A. M., Rev. John Proudfoot, Rev. Jo'hn Scott, Rev.
John McLean, Rev. Francis Nidhol; the chairman of the joint
,board was Alexander Johnston, the secretary, A. S. Abbott.
The Rev. Principal Bayly was the only teacher Who taught the
Grammar School pupils exclusively. I quote from his report
for 1865. the year of union, the report of the superintendent,
Bishop Cronyn, and an extract from the report of Principal
(later Inspector) Boyle, one of the greatest educational forces
in the city.

32 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Report of Classical Master.

To the Chairman of the United Board of Grammar and
•Common School Trustees for the City of London.

Sir — At the close of the first session since the union of the
Grammar and Common Schools of this city, it is, perhaps, fit-
ting that I should present you with a brief summary of the
working of the classical department thereof.

In consequence of necessary alterations in the rooms,
business was not resumed after the summer vacation until the
28th of August, at which time, or within the ensuing week,
there were 32 boys engaged in classical studies; 9 of these new
scholars chiefly from the county, the residue were old pupils
of the Central School. Since that period 21 have joined the
classical department, of whom 16 are new pupils, making in all
;53. Three of these 'have since entered upon merchantile pur-
suits, and two more have been obliged to discontinue their
studies through illness, leaving at the close of the term 48 upon
the register. During the session there have been six studying
the Greek language ; of these, four have only commenced within
the last three months, and the other two have not advanced
beyond Arnold's First Greek Book. In Latin, one was reading
Horace, but has since left school; another has been studying
Virgil; eight are reading Caesar; twelve in Arnold's Second
Latin Book, and the remainder in the first.

The gross number learning classics in your sc'hool, al-
though larger than in most of the Grammar Schools of the
province, may probably disappoint many of your board, but
the imposition of a rate bill, -however desirable in some
respects, has caused a diminution in the attendance; and when
we add to this the fact of a very large and nourishing establish-
ment (essentially classical) being located in our city, I think
we may rather congratulate ourselves upon our numbers being
so respectable than feel any surprise at their paucity, and I
feel little doubt that as tihe novelty wears off your school will
suffer less from either of these causes.

In conclusion, I may perhaps be permitted to embrace this,
the first opportunity I have had to express my entire satisfac-
tion with the way in which the union of the Grammar and
Common Schools is carried out; from the large and efficient
staff of masters employed, the boys are at all times under in-
struction, which cannot be the case under any other arrange-
ment; indeed, it appears to me that the progress of the pupils,
at least in their English branches, must be more satisfactory
than it can be in any merely Grammar Sc'hool in the province.

I remain, your obedient servant,

BENJ. BAYLY, Classical Master, G. S.
London, Dec. 30, 1865.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. 33

Report of Superintendent.

Rectory, London, C. W., Jan. 1, 1866.

Sir — Having been absent in England for a greater part of
the past year, and 'being much engaged with other duties since
my return, I have not lhad time to visit all the schools in the
city. I have, however, twice visited the Central School, once
in company with Colonel Burrows, R. A., who expressed himself
much pleased witlh the order of the school, and the proficiency
of the several classes examined in our presence.

On my second visit I was accompanied by the Rev. Arthur
Sweatman, M.A., Principal of the London Collegiate Institute,
and he expressed the great satisfaction wihich he experienced
from his visit to the various classes, and 'his 'high opinion of
the order maintained, and the proficiency exhibited by the
scholars.

I was also present at the half-yearly examination of the
Grammar School Department, under the charge of the Rev.
Benj. Bayly, and I am led to believe that great good will result
from the union which has taken place between the Grammar
and Common Schools. On the whole, I think the Board of Trus-
tees 'have much reason to rejoice in the present state of the
schools, and if sound religious instruction formed a more prom-
inent part in the teaching, I think the schools would be all that
could be desired.

This most desirable object, I think, may be obtained. I
have had some conversation with the indefatigable Principal
upon this subject, and I hope with his assistance to be enabled
to accomplish this without in any way violating the principles
on which the common school law is based.

It gives me much pleasure to devote the salary of the office
of superintendent for the purchase of prizes to be bestowed on
the children at the annual examination.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

BENJ. HURON.

Extract From Mr. Boyle's Report.

During the year 1865 a most desirable object was attained
in bringing about a union between the Grammar and Common
School Boards. This work had been often spoken of before;
often thought of by both parties, and once or twice attempted
without any satisfactory result. Of the benefit to be derived
from it, there can be but one opinion entertained among thosa
who understand the question. The Common School Board were

34 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

not prepared to forego the privileges with which the schools
laws invested them, of keeping up, in connection with the Cen-
tral School, a Grammar School department for the advantages
of such of the citizens as desired a classical education for their
children. From this cause, two institutions, apparently rivals,
and double staff of teachers had to 'be supported. But five
months experience has taught the wavering and doubtful that
the labor required to teach each of these classical departments
separately would be sufficient to manage both united with equal
efficiency, and the public money will be expended with more
economy when this rivalry has ceased, through the two schools
coming under a united government.

Although the Educational Act broadened the Grammar
School Curriculum, the emphasis was still laid upon Classics,
and for some time, only those students studying Latin were
taken into account when apportioning the Government Grant.
It is not strange to find in some schools (and I presume Lon-
don was no exception) such a report of numbers as the fol-
lowing: "Number on the roll 103, number taking Latin 102,"
etc., etc.

The Educational Act of 1871 substituted for the title of
Grammar School that of High School, and made extra pro-
vision for commercial, scientific and English branches. In
consequence the staff of the High School was increased to six
teachers in 1872. In addition to Principal Bayly, the staff
included Mr. W. 0. Connor's, A. M., Wm. Remer, Nicholas
Wilson for over 60 years identified with education in London,
Miss Jessie Kessack and Miss D. D. Robertson. The first re-
port of the Principal of the High School which I quote here
will show that the Rev. Principal had not given up his faith
to any great extent in the Classics. The increase in attend-
ance at the High School in consequence of these changes may
be noted by comparing the last report of the Principal of the
Gramfmar School with the first report of the Principal of the
High School.

Classical Master's Report

To the Chairman and Members of the United Board of
Grammar and Common School Trustees of the City of
London.

GENTLEMEN:—

I have the honor of submitting to your Board my Annual
Report of the Statistics of the Grammar School Department of
the Central School.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND COULEGIATE INSTITUTE. 35

The total number of pupils learning Latin during the
year 1870 amounted to 69, of whom 15 were also studying
Greek. Average attendance nearly 40.

The books read were selections from Homer, Lucian,
Xenophon, Horace, Ovid's Heriodes, Cicero, Livy, Virgil and
Caesar, together with Harkness' Elementary Greek and Latin
Books. In fact, we adhere strictly to the programme fur-
nished by the Council of Public Instruction.

I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
London, Jan. 3, 1871. BENJ. BAYLY.

Classical Masters Report

To the Chairman and Members of the Joint Board of High
and Public School Trustees of the City of London.

GENTLEMEN :-

I have the honor of submitting to your Board my Annual
Report of the Statistics of the High School of this city.

At the commencement of the year the numbers in attend-
ance were 119 girls and 80 boys, and there were subsequently
admitted at the two regular periods appointed for the purpose
46 girls and 58 boys, making a total of 303. This is the en-
tire number of pupils who have attended during the year.
There are at present upon our rolls 207; viz, 114 girls and 93
boys.

The High School pupils who have taken the voluntary
subjects are in Classics, 50; in French 80; and in German, 28,
but besides these, 23 boys from the Public Schools have been
learning Latin, 41 of both sexes, French and nine German.

The books studied during the year have been in Greek,
Homer and Lucian; in Latin, Horace, Cicero, Virgil, Ovid and
Caesar, together with Harkness' Elementary Greek and Latin
works; in French De Fivas' Grammar, his Introductory French
Book and Charles XII., and in German, Ann's Grammar.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant,

BENJ. BAYLY,
London, Dec. 31, 1872. Head Master, High School.

An agitation was begun immediately for the erection of
a separate building for the High School, but money was no
more plentiful then than it is now, and there were as many
demands for other purposes as there will always be; and the
school was not erected for another six years. Instead of
spending $20,000 for a new High School building $8,000 was

36 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

spent in enlarging the accommodation for the public schools'
pupils and in that way the congestion of the old Central
School was relieved. When it is recalled that the cost for
education of each pupil based on the daily average attendance
was at this time only $4.71 per annum, it must be admitted
that the task of providing for the education of the young had
fallen into the hands of skilled financiers.

I may be permitted to digress far enough to quote from
a report of Inspector Boyle nearly twenty years later referring
with pride to the erection of the Simcce Street School and re-
ferring also with anything but pride to the action of the Board
in erecting at this time cheap and unsuitable schools in order
to present an attractive balance sheet to the ratepayers.

" We still hear unfavorable criticism occasionally in-
dulged in respecting the outlay on the Simcoe Street School
building, and the unnecessary expense and extravagance
shown by the Board in the erection of this edifice. I venture
to say, and that boldly as a citizen, that ere many years have
rolled over our heads, this will be considered the most judicious
outlay that has ever been made on school property in this
city. There is not a man of taste and sound judgment in the
city of London today, who, if he will only take the time to walk
leisurely through this building, examine carefully and without
prejudice its many advantages over any other structure erect-
ed for a similar purpose within the Municipality, but will
acknowledge at once that the people's representatives on the
School Board have shown good taste, sound judgment, a true
patriotism, and a just regard for the health and comfort, for
the moral, intellectual and aesthetic training of the next gen-
eratoin. He will find there twelve good teachers employed in
this school, twelve class-rooms, and twelve large classes all
in good order, all busy, healthy and happy, and not a breath of
vitiated atmosphere among them. The ventilation is perfect,
the heating excellent, and the lighting all, or nearly all, the
most fastidious can desire. I believe that we have here a
model of what our future school architecture ought to be, and
we sincerely hope it will be taken as a model for our guidance
in time to come.

"As respects the cry of extravagance, that should never
deter men who 'have at 'heart the weal of their city; the edu-
cation and moral elevation of their fellow-citizens. Why I
have had, under the Board of Education, the principal control
of Public School education in this city for thirty-five years,
and many advances and improvements I have seen during
this long period, but not a single one that was not met with

GEAMMAR SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. 37

similar cries of extravagance, and the necessity for the strictest
economy. Anyone who has a little of the antiquarian in his
composition .may indulge his taste for the antique in school
architecture, by taking a survey and making a drawing of a
range of three class-rooms that still adorn the Old Central
School grounds. No one would be so bold as to venture to say
fhat, in these wretched huts, teachers and children were
huddled together for six hours in the day, but yet such was
the case. Would th^se strict economists, who condemn the
erection of Simcoe Street Schoolhouse, have us return to the
simplicity of these earlier days? I hope not. The danger tj
hunon ]ife, especially among the young, and the death-rate in
the same classes are quite too large already through want of
knowledge of the most elementary hygienic laws, for an in-
telligent community like that of London, to wilfully intensify
these dangers and increase this death-rate already frightfully
large.

But about this period the school trustees were awakened
from their happy slumbers "in a fool's Paradise." They,
stimulated by some sudden impulse, rushed at once into wild
extravagance, erected in rapid succession two brick shanties —
one on Horton street, another on Waterloo street south, and
added a wing to an old stable on Talbot street. And now the
denunciations of the extravagance of the Board were loud and
long. Ruin to the city and its interest was freely predicted,
?nd our economic friends of today are only following the role
of earlier and just as wise patriots as they are.

Now, after a few years of respite, giving time for the
fiery indignation of the economists to subside, another start
was made, and only think of it! Before this wave of en-
thusiasm had time to subside, five brick buildings, two stories
high with four class-rooms in each and one with six, were
built and properly equipped and furnished with the best desks
and chairs then known. Now, this was a very decided step in
advance and yet the dissatisfaction injured nobody. The
Board of Education moved by laudable desire to improve still
further the means of education of correct classification, and
the safeguards to health and life for the children, resolved to
take another step in advance. It is after all only a repetition
of our former experience. The people have soon come to ob-
serve the advantage of every move made in the right direction,
and admitted, while the general ratepayers paid the bill, that
they and their children received the benefit."

At this time also, 1872, representations were made to the
Government of the necessity for a Normal School in the City of

38 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

London and that these representations did receive the respect-
ful and careful consideration of the government was evidenced
by the erection of a handsome Normal School building thirty
years later.

For the year 1876 Principal Bayly reported as follows:

To the Chairman and Members of the Board of Education, for

the City of London.
GENTLEMEN:—

I have the honor of submitting to your Board my Annual
Keport of the Statistics of the High Schools of this city.

The number of regularly admitted pupils in attendance
during the first half year, ending June 30, was 152, viz: 83
boys and 69 girls; the average attendance 117. During the
last half of the year there were 91 boys and 76 girls, making a
total of 167, average attendance 126.

The studies pursued during the year were Spelling and
Dictation, Reading, Writing, Drawing Grammar, Geography,
History, Composition, English Literature, Arithmetic, Men-
suration, Algebra, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Bookkeep-
ing, Geometry and Trigonometry.

The pupils taking the Classics numbered 37, French 41
and German 7. The books read were portions of Homer's
Iliad and Odyssey, Xenophon, Horace, Virgil, Cicero, Caesar,
Charles XII., Racine's Horace, together with Greek, Latin,
French and German Grammars.

Respectfully submitted,

BENJ. BAYLY,
London, Jan. 2, 1877. Head Master, High School.

The tendency so evident in modern days was beginning
to show itself in the multiplicity of subjects.

In 1877 the School Board secured a free grant of park
property of two and-a-half acres from the City of London to
form the site of the present Collegiate Institute building. The
sale of the Grammar School lands provided nearly all the
funds for the erection of the building so that a new nine-roomed
High School was provided at little cost to the ratepayers. In
the last report to the Board date January 2, 1879, the old
Principal was glad .to record the fact that the number of
pupils taking Latin had increased from 50 to 80. In that
same month he passed to his reward, esteemed and respected
by all those who knew him. He was succeeded in the
principalship by Francis Checkley. The school is now known
as the London Collegiate Institute. This is not the first in-

GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. 39

stitute in London to bear that name. In 1865 when the
Grammar School and Public School Boards united, Dean Hell-
muth established on the site of what was afterwards the Hell-
muth Ladies' College, a boys' school, denominated the London
Collegiate Institute, and the Rev. Arthur Sweatman was its
first principal. On Mr. Checkley's resignation in 1887 Mr.
Samuel Woods was appointed Principal. He had held the
principalship of the Kingston Collegiate Institute for the 14
years from 1862 to 1876.

In 1888, an addition was made to the original building to
provide suitable laboratories. In 1893 another large addition
for needed class rooms and auditorium was made. In 1898
the present Commercial Building was erected.

With regard to the present building it is interesting to note
that in 1888, the class rooms, the lighting and ventilation were
severely criticized by Inspector Seath, the present Superintend-
ent of Education. Twenty-four years later Inspector Wether-
ell reported that the inferior accommodations were deserving of
the strongest condemnation. It is to be hoped that these
conditions will be remedied and remedied satisfactorily in the
earjy future.

As regards the change that has taken place in the cur-
riculum of the modern Collegiate Institute, a good idea may be
obtained by giving you the figures of the last report to the
Education Department regarding the number of students pur-
suing the various studies. English Grammar 771, English
Composition and Rhetoric 1037, English Literature 1037,
Canadian History 904, British History 817, Ancient History
338, Mediaeval History 56, Modem History 33, Geography 771,
Reading 771, Arithmetic and Mensuration 771, Algebra 864,
Geometry 587, Trigonometry 65, French 648, German 80, Latin
718, Greek 10, Zoology 725, Botany 726, Chemistry 560,
Physics 818, Mineralogy 17, Writing 661, Bookkeeping 661,
Stenography 179, Typewriting 72, Art 692, Physical Education
950, Commercial 179, Manual Training 329, Household Science
346, Middle School Art 26.

Mr. F. W. Merchant succeeded Mr. Woods in 1876, and
held the position till his appointment as principal of the Nor-
mal School, when he was succeeded by Mr. S. J. Radcliffe in
1899. Mr. F. W. G. McCutcheon followed in 1907, and Mr. J.
Roberts in 1913.

As to whether our present curriculum is ideal or not this
is not the place to express an opinion. The change from ex-
clusively classical education to one which admits of every sub-

40 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

ject almost of any practicable benefit was inevitable; but with
all the change in education in the last sixty years has not
kept pace with the progress in other lines. The marvellous
commercial, industrial and scientific progress of the last six-
ty, or forty or even twenty years is but feebly reflected in the
progress of education in this country. The commercial great-
ness of Germany has been founded upon her splendid educa-
tional system. England is beginning to realize that not by
her superior armaments so much as by her superior schools can
she hope to compete with her great Teutonic rival, and it will
be well for the people of Canada if they as a nation early
realize that the best and the most economical expenditure of
public money lies in providing a thorough and adequate educa-
tion for all of its future citizens.

The Western University

[N. C. James, B.A., Ph.D.]

Like all the other Universities of Ontario, the Western
University owes its origin to the need of educational facilities
for students in Divinity. In February 1877 a meeting of
the alumni and professors of Huron College was held in Christ
Church, the Rector of which, the Rev. Canon Smith was Sec-
retary of the Alumni, afterwards first secretary of the senate,
and still later Registrar and Bursar of the University. At
this meeting resolutions were adopted requesting the Bishop
of the Diocese, then Bishop Hellmuth, to procure a charter,
and to aid in soliciting funds for purchasing property and en-
dowing chairs. Bishop Hellmuth took the matter up with
his accustomed energy, procured a charter from the Provincial
Government in 1878, and himself headed the subscription list
with a cash donation of $10,000.* The first meeting of the
Senate as constituted by the act met on May 1, 1878, where
meetings continued to be held for some time. Bishop Hell-
muth was elected chancellor, Dean Boomer, Principal of Huron
College, Vice-chancellor and Provost. It was decided to pur-
chase the Hellmuth Boys' College at a price of $67,000, assum-
ing the mortgage of £4,500 then upon the property, and also
the floating debt on the property. At the third meeting, June
20, 1879, the report of the Finance Committee showed that
$25,000 had been received, of which $20,496 had been paid over
to the Hellmuth College corporation. The Bishop also report-
ed having obtained subscriptions in England amounting to $32,-
420, of which $21,853 had been paid. The constitution had in
the meantime been drawn up and was adopted at this meeting.
(See below).

At the same meeting steps were taken to unite Huron Col-
lege with the University ; for the plan from the first was to
have one institution with one head and one organization.

May 20, 1881, Bishop Hellmuth reported the results of his
second visit to England, which had netted an amount of
$10,000 in subscriptions paid, and a considerable sum promised.

*The Act empowered the petitioners to confer degrees in Divinity, Arts, Law, Medicine,
aubject to three conditions : there were to be at least four professors m arts ; J;here wa«
to be property amounting to $100,000, and the standard maintained was to be at least
«qual ta that *f Toronto University.

42 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Bishop estimated that there would now be about $9,000
available for professors' salaries, which would enable the Sen-
ate to open the University in October. At the same meeting
an affiliation of Huron College with the University was agreed
to, the University to hold in trust all the property and income
of the college and to maintain a faculty of Divinity to the sat-
isfaction in all things of the Council of Huron College.

The financial statement of Mr. G. F. Jewell showed the as-
sets of the University to be some $23,000, of which $6,645 con-
sisted of uncollected notes, and over $10,000 of unpaid sub-
scriptions not represented by notes. His tabulated statement
shows what has been done up to date, and is as follows: Cash
received, $67,827, subscriptions, etc.; Rent of building, $367.
Total. $68,194,

Disbursements, including $45,149.98 paid for the property,
amount to $67,009. The cash balance is $1,185. The mort-
gage on the property, $21,850 is offset by the unpaid subscrip-
tions which unfortunately prove in a large measure uncollect-
able. October 5, 1881, Medical Faculty of the City of London
ask for and obtain affiliation with the University. At the
same meeting the Chancellor announces that in accord with
the request of the Senate he has appointed the first staff of
the University. This staff includes the professors required
for both Arts and Divinity courses, and is made up as follows:
Biblical Exegesis, abo Hebrew, Bishop Hellmuth, Chancellor of
the University; Divinity, Provost Boomer, Vice-chancellor;
Classics and History. Rev. F. W. Kerr, M.A.; Mathematics and
English Literature, Rev. G. B. Sage, B.A. ; Homileties and Pas-
toral Theology, Rev. Canon Innes, M.A., ; Apologetics, Rev. A. C.
Hill, M.A. ; Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity, Rev. J. B.
Richardson, M.A. ; Natural Science, Mental and Moral Philosophy
Rev. Canon Darnell, Principal of Dufferin College; Modern
Languages, Rev. C. B. Guillemont, B.A.; Geology, Botany and
Chemistry, Rev. W. M. Seaborn; Liturgies, Rev. Alfred Brown.
B.A.; Elocution, Rev. G. G. Ballard, B.A.*

On the following day, October 6, 1881, the University be-
gan its teaching work. In June of 1882 the medical faculty
entered into a definite agreement with the Senate of the Uni-

*The two calendars issued during that period (1881-82) possess some curious features.
In order to comply with the condition requiring the standard of Toronto University to
be maintained, the Senate decided to adopt the course laid down in the calendar of
Toronto. Those who prepared the first calendar for the W. U. took their instructions
very literally, issuing a reprint of all the Pass and Honor courses offered in Toronto,
regardless of their inability to carry out such courses. They even went so far as to
insert some pages of information regarding medals and scholarships just as they stood
in the Toronto calendar. In the second calendar, which consists of ten pages instead
of the previous 52, the courses are cut down to suit the circumstances of the case, and,
needless to say, the medals and scholarships offered at Toronto are omitted.

THE WESTERN UNIVERSITY. 43

versity whereby the medical faculty were to be provided with
certain rooms in the building and given sole control of the cot-
tage and enclosure, the whole to be put in repair and furnished
with the necessary equipment so that classes in medicine
should be opened on October 1, 1882. The Medical Faculty
consisted of Drs. Chas. G. Moore, A. G. Fenwick, J. M Fraser
W. E. Waugh, Wm. Saunders, Chas. S. Moore, F. R. Eccles J.
S. Niven, J. A. Stevenson, W. H. Moorehouse, G. P. Jones John
Wishart.

April 27, 1883, the Chancellor announced that his recent
visit to England had resulted in the raising of $16,592 over and
above expenses, and promised that his interest in and efforts
to promote the success of the University would not cease with
his approaching departure from; the Diocese of Huron. At
this meeting the Senate authorized the conferring of the first
two degrees in course, that of B. A. upon Mr. B. F. Sutherland
and that of M.D. upon Mr. W. Roche. Both these gentlemen
had taken all except their first examination in Toronto. It
might be mentioned that the first degree conferred by the
University was the Honorary Degree of D. D. conferred upon
Rev. Alfred Peache of England in recognition of his having en-
dowed the chair of Divinity some time before the University
was organized.

Thus far the prospects of success had been of the brightest;
but at this date events were taking place which rapidly undid
all that had been accomplished by seven years of uninterrupted
effort. The hand which had guided the vessel was about to
be withdrawn, and there was no other to take the helm. Bishop
HelJmuth resigned the Chancellorship at the meeting of August
1. 1884, and on being requested by the Senate to retain the
office in spite of his prospective removal to England, replied
lhat he could only do so with the consent and approval of the
Bishop of the Diocese. A deputation was accordingly ap-
pointed to interview Bishop Baldwin and if possible secure his
approval of Bishop Hellmuth's continuing to work for the Uni-
versity and solicit funds in the Diocese of Huron. Bishop
Baldwin having asked for time to consider the matter, finally
refused his consent. It was afterwards learned that the re-
quest as presented to him had not even contained the words "in
this Diocese," these words having been omitted by a clerical
error. While the Senate felt and expressed the deepest re-
gret at the turn affairs had taken, they proceeded to meet
the changed conditions as best they could. It was decided to
move the classes back into Huron College, all efforts to dispose
of that property having failed ; to place the University property

44 LONDON AND MIDIXLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

itself on the market, and to make a further attempt to collect
unpaid subscriptions, of which there were many outstanding.
But the misfortunes of the Senate were not at an end. At the
meeting in June, 1885, notice was received from the Huron
College Council, announcing that at the expiration of six
months the college would withdraw from affiliation with the
University. The Senate placed on its minute book a series of
resolutions, concluding with the following: This Senate furth-
er desires to place on record the fact that in consequence of
the withdrawal of the resources of Huron College, which con-
stituted the principal part of the resources of the Western
University, and which was originally so intended, the said
University is unable to continue its functions in the Faculty
of Arts, and must therefore refuse for the present to receive
students in said faculty; and after the present undergraduates
receive in due course the degrees to which they may be en-
title that the said faculty of arts be suspended until further
action be taken by this Senate." The Senate was unable to
take "such further action" until the year 1895. The first
attempt to carry on an arts course was given up, and a period
of ten years ensued which might be called the dark age of the
University, although certain events, auspicious or otherwise
stand out prominently. Bishop Hellmuth's successor in the
chancellorship was the Rev. Dr. Peach, the Vice-chancellor,
Dean Boomer, having resigned on account of continued ill-
health, Judge Davis succeeded him, and on his resignation next
year, W. R. Meredith, was elected Vice-chancellor, and the
Rev. Principal Powell of Huron College was made Provost of
the University. In August, 1886, on the request and with the
co-operation of the Middlesex Law Association, a Faculty of
Law was created, consisting of His Honor Judge Wm. Elliott,
Dean; W. H. Bartram, Registrar; W. W. Fitzgerald, Bursar;
W. P. R. Street, W. R. Meredith, James H. Flock, the Hon.
David Mills, James Magee, Geo. C. Gibbons, I. F. Hellmuth, D.
M. Fraser — an exceptionally able staff of lecturers. The Law
Society of Upper Canada then provided no instruction in law,
and it was generally felt that a course of lectures by experi-
enced and successful lawyers would be a great boon to the many
students who were reading for admission to the Bar. It was
also confidently expected that the local examinations would be
accepted by the Law Society in the course for the L.L.B. de-
gree. Great interest was taken by the lawyers and the
citizens generally in the opening of the new law school. The
public inaugural lecture, delivered December 4, 1885 by Judge
Davis, Vice-chancellor of the University, was well attended by

___ THE WESTERN UNIVERSITY. 45

the citizens. The course of regular lectures opened on the
ninth of December, with twenty-eight students in attendance
But when it was found that the Law Society would not accept
fche examinations of this law school in lieu of their own a
considerable numiber dropped out; and in June only three wrote
on the examinations, of whom G. N. Weeks, Esq. obtained the
high average of 91 per cent. In the Autumn seventeen
students entered; but on the 12th of February following Mr
Hellmuth reports that he has refused to deliver his lecture"
as only two students were present. Altogether, during the
brief existence of the Law School, some forty-four students
were enrolled, most of whom are now successful lawyers in
London or elsewhere; but the possibility of conducting a law
school was finally precluded in 1889 by the action of the Law
Society in requiring all students of law to take three years
as Osgoode Hall.

On February 24, 1887 the Senate gave its consent to the
removal of the Medical School to any building which the
Medical Faculty should provide, to their taking with them the
furnaces, fixtures, driving sheds, etc.; and further agreed to
pay over to the Medical Faculty the amount of $4,000 to help
to defray the expenses of the new building, "so soon as the
state of the finances of the University would permit it." In the
light of the long years of financial embarrassment which fol-
lowed, this promise now reads like a cruel jest; but it was made
in all earnestness, and doubtless gave due encouragement to
the mem'bers of the Medical Faculty, who proceeded to finance
their branch of the University as best they could and ultimate-
ly with success.

It has been mentioned that the original purpose of the
Western University was to provide opportunities for the high-
er education of Divinity students of Huron College, and each
successive principal of that institution was firmly convinced
that without such facilities as a University affords it would
be impossible to carry on a Divinity School in London. The
Rev. Principal Miller, who succeeded Principal Fowell in 1891,
and his assistant, the Rev. David Williams, now Bishop of
Huron, were the authors of a proposal by which the staff of
Huron College might be utilized as professors in the arts
course, the revival of which they strongly urged upon the Sen-
ate. It was decided to call a public meeting, as a means of
appealing to the general body of citizens for support. At
this meeting the plan submitted was approved of and a com-
mittee was named to devise means of raising the necessary
funds. This committee failing to secure an agent to proceed

46 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

with the work, a larger committee was appointed to consider
the whole question. This committee in turn named a sirnall
committee, and it looked as if there might be an endless chain
of large and small committees ; but this time the third commit-
tee decided to ask the Senate to procure such legislation as
would enable it by a two-thirds vote to become an undenomina-
tional body. The committee of the citizens were, in case the
suggested change were made, to pledge themselves to raise
$100,000 for endowmjent, either by subscription, a vote of the
council, or a vote of the citizens. Accordingly a new act was
passed making the changes necessary to render the University
undenominational. But the amended charter was never adopt-
ed by the Senate, which feared that they would be giving up
some substantial support, principally from England, for the
sake of what seemed a very shadowy prospect of aid from the
general public here. Accordingly the Arts course remained
for four years longer in a state of suspended animation. In
the meantime the mortgage held by the Star Life Insurance
Co. was accumulating interest, until at length, in May, 1894,
it was found necessary to hand over to the company that piece
of property in which practically all the resources of the Uni-
versity had been sunk. The Senate of that day has been very
generally blamed for having purchased the property, and in
the light of after events it would appear that their course was
hasty and ill-advised. But there were ten acres of land and
apparently a fine building, situated most advantageously with-
in the city. The cost of the building was put at $63,000, that
of the land at $3,000, that of a dining hall which had been
added to the building $6,000 more, making $72,000. The
value of the Iftnd was supposed to have increased enormously,
so that one estimate placed the value of land and buildings at
$104,000. For this the University paid $67,000, which seemed
like a good bargain. Yet the building was a poor one and
the land proved almost unsaleable at the time when it was
placed on the market. The assumption of a mortgage, too,
pnigfht «eem speculative. But subscriptions had flowed in
freely, and under the midas touch of Bishop Hellrnuth every-
thing seemed likely to turn into gold. Then Bishop Hell-
mfuth's hand was withdrawn and even the subscriptions already
promised remained in large part unpaid. The delinquent sub-
scribers must bear] a share of the blame; for if they had kept
their promises the property would have been safe and further
efforts to raise funds would have been more successful. As
it| was, public confidence in the ultimate success of the under-
taking was for a long time shaken. The shipwreck of the

. THE WESTERN UNIVERSITY. 47

whole University scheme might seem complete; but some
things had been accomplished; seeds had been sown which
though long buried ultimately grew and have continued to
grow. Three things may be pointed out as having been
achieved during this period. A charter was secured as a
foundation for future work. When it is considered ^hat in all
probability no more charters will be issued for universities in
Ontario, the value of this one will be better appreciated.
Secondly, a successful medical school was established and
through the enterprise and skill of its faculty has brought
great credit to the University with which it is connected and
to the city of London as well. Lastly, a certain amount of
missionary work had been done and a large element of the
population was inspired with an ambition to see London a real
University city.

London and Middlesex
Historical Society

Part VI.

The Proudfoot Papers

PART I.— 1832
Collected by Miss Harriet Priddis

1915
Published by the Society

OFFICERS 1914-15.

D. RODGER, ESQ.,

F. E, PERRIN, B.A.,

MRS. CL. T. CAMPBELL, -

MI'S'S STELLA MAOKLIN,

MISS E. L. EVANS,

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D.,

S. WOOLVEiRTON, D.D.S.,

T. H. PURDOM, K.C., CAPT. T. J. MURPHY,
JOHN DEARNESS, M.A., H. MACKLIN,
JJ>., MISS H. PRIDDIS, M.RS. GEO. F.
BRICKENDEN, Executive Committee

Messrs. H. MACKLIN and T. BRYAN, - Auditors.

President.

1st Vice-president

2nd Vice-Presidetit

Recording 'Secretary

Corresponding Secretary

- Treasurer

Curator

PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY.

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D.,
JOHN DEARNESS, M.A.,
FRANK LAWSON, ESQ.,
H. MACKLIN, ESQ.,
A. W. FRASER, ESQ.,
CAPT. T. J. MURPHY,
T. H. PURDOM, K.C.,
D. RODGER, ESQ., -

1901 to 1904
1904 to 1906

1906 to 1907

1907 to 1909
1909 to 1911
1911 to 1913

1913 to 1914

1914 to 1915

MEMBERS

Alexander, N., M.D.
Bartlett, Walter
Beattie, J. H. A.
Becher, H. C.
Beck, Hon. Adam
Beck, Mrs. Adam
Beal, N. H., M.D.
Blackburn, H.
Blackburn, W. A.
Bland, R. R.
Brenon, Miss Rose
Brickenden, Geo.
Brickenden, Mrs. Geo.
Bryan, Thos.
Cameron, D. M., Sheriff
Cameron, Mrs. D. M.
Campbell, Cl. T., M.D..
Campbell, Mrs. Cl. T.
Campbell, Miss Mary
Carling, Miss
Coiton, W. D.
Clarke, W. J.
Chapman, J. H.
Cooper, A. E.
Cottam, Jno.
Coyne Miss M. H.
Cronyn, Hume
Cronyn, V.
Cox, Rev. Geo. M.
Daly, J. M.
Davidson, S. Kelso
Davidson, W. McC.

Dearness, John
Dearness, Mrs. John
Duffield, J. C.
Dynes, Miss
Eccles, Dr. F. P.
Edmunds, P. J.
Edwards, C. B.
Essery, E. T., KjC.
Evans, Mrs. R.
Evans, Miss Bessie
Ferguson, Dr. H. J.
Flock, J. H., K.C.
Foreter, Mrs. (Dr.)
Fraser, Mr. A. W.
Fraser, Mrs. A. W.
Fram, Geo.

Fraser, Miss Kathleen
Fraser, Miss Florence
Gahan, Mrs. M. J.
Gaipin, A. R.
Gates, H. E.
Gibson. L.
Graham, C. M. R.
Grant, Stephen
Greenlees, A.
Gunn, G. C.
Hambly, J. H.
Harvey, Alex., sr.
Harvey, Alex., jr.
Hobbs, T. S.
Hoag, J .P.
Hodge, Dr. F. W.

Hutchinson, Dr. T. V.
Hazzard, J. C.
Healey, Mrs.
Hunt, J. I.

Jeffery, A. O., D.C.L.
Jones, H. J.
Judd, J. C.
Langdon, F., B.A.
Labatt, Jno.
Leonard, F. E.
Leonard, Mrs. F. E.
Lawson, Mrs. F.
McBeth, Talbot, Judge
McBeth, Mrs. Talbot
Macklin, Henry
Macklin, Miss Stella
Mclntosh, J. W.
McCann, B. C.
Marshall, Mrs. Helen
Magee, Mr. Justice
Magee, Mrs.
McNeil, G., M.D.
MacDonald, Dr. P.
McQueen, Wm.
McCrimmon, P.
Moore, Miss M. A.
McDonald, G. L.
Macbeth, M.
Mountjoy, C. E.
Mmhinnick, Mrs. J. R.
Minhinnick, Miss
Mitchell, Miss F. A.

\

Murphy, Thomas J.
Nelles, J. A.
Perrin, F. E.
Pinnell, L.
Pope, J. K. H.
Platt, Mrs. A.
Priddis, Miss
Puddicombe, R. W.
Purdom, T. H., K.C.
Raymond, F. W.
Reason, Dr. W. J.
Riehter, J. G.
Robinson, George
Reid, G. M.
Rodger, David
Rigigs, John
Robinson, Alfred

Rowe, Thomas
Saunders, W. EL
Scarrow, W.
Screaton, A.
Scandrett, J. B.
Smallman, T. H.
Sears, H. G.
Sharpe, Arch.
Slater, J.
Smith, E. B
Smith, Mrs. E. B.
Southam, R.
Shaw, W., M.D.
Stevely, Samuel
Stoclcwell, C.
Stephenson, Jas.
Strong, W. T.

Stevenson, Andrew, B.A.
Stuart, Rev. J. J.
Talbot, Oliver
Tillmiann, A.
Tilley, Mre. E. M.
Vining, Jared
Weekes, G. N.
West, Ed.
Winnett, J. W. G.
Winnett, W. H.
Woolverton, Dr. S.
Wilkie, David
Wright, John
Wright, Gordon D.
Wrighton, J. W.
Wyatt. William

TRANSACTIONS— 1914

Feb. 17 — Middlesex Past and Present — a Biological Study
— IProf. John Dearness, M. A.

March 17 — Miscellaneous Discussions — The Members.
May 19 — Annual Meeting, Reports, etc. — The Officers.

Oct. 20 — The Problems of Modern Germany — Rev. L. N.
Tucker, M.A., D.C.L.

Nov. 19— The Proudfoot Papers, I.— Miss H. Priddis.
Dec. 15— The Proudfoot Papers, II.— Miss H. Priddis.

The London and Middlesex Historical Society was or-
ganized in the year 1901. Its objects are to promote his-
torical research and to collect and preserve re'cords and
other historical material that may be of use to the future
historians of our country. Its funds are devoted exclu-
sively to these objects; there are no salaried officers.

The Public Library Board grants the Society the free
use of a room for its meetings, which are held on the
third Tuesday evening of each month, from October to
April, inclusive, and to which the public are invited —
admission always free. Membership in the Society is
open to any person interested in its objects, and is main-
tained by the payment of an annual fee of fifty cents.

I

\

The Proudfoot Papers

Collected by Miss Harriet Priddis.

EXPLANATORY

In 1832, that branch of Presbyterianism in Scotland
called 'The United Associate Synod of the Secessions Church,"
decided to send missionaries to Canada. The three ministers
who volunteered for the work, and were accepted, were the
Rev. Wm. Proudf oot, the Rev. William Robertson, and the Rev.
Thomas Christie. Of these, Mr. Proudf oot was 'pre-eminently
the leader. From the day that he left, almost immediately after
his appointment, he commenced keeping a daily journal, which
not only gave an accurate account of his proceedings, but
included interesting and valuable comments on men and things
—both secular and ecclesiastical. The journal and correspond-
ence herewith printed for the first time, covers only three or
four months, up to the time of his first visit to London. The
remainder of the journal, or such parts as are available, may
be published later.

The difficulties noted by Mr. Proudfoot on his first visit
to London were cleared up shortly after; and in April of 1833
he moved to the village, and assumed the ministry over two
congregations — one in the village, and the other some eleven
miles north in London Township. The church in London bore
in the early days, before the final union of the different Pres-
byterian bodies, the name 6f the U. P. Church; and is now
known as the First Presbyterian. The building occupied for
many years was the frame structure, situated on the south
side of York street, a short distance west of Richmond. Mr.
Proudfoot retained the ministry of this church until his death
on the 10th of February, 1851, at the age of 63. He was suc-
ceeded by his son John.

The following paragraph from Dr. Greig's "History of the
Presbyterian Church in Canada" is sufficiently descriptive. The
portrait accompanying represents him in advanced life.

"William Proudfoot was educated in the University of
Edinburgh, and studied theology under Dr. Lawson of Selkirk.
He was licensed by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in 1812 and
on the 1st of August, 1813, was ordained to the charge of
Pitrodie, in Perthshire, where he remained for seventeen years,
and where, in addition to his pastoral duties, he conducted with
success a classical and mathematical academy. After arriving

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

in Canada Mr. Proudfoot travelled to Upper Canada, and made
an extensive tour through different parts of the Province. He
then accepted the charge of a congregation in London which
he retained till his death. He died on the 10th of January,
1851, in the sixty-third year of his age, and the thirty-eighth
of his ministry. During his residence in Canada he was not
only a zealous missionary and faithful pastor, but discharged
with success other multifarious duties which were laid upon
him. He was Clerk of Presbytery, Clerk of Synod and Official
Correspondent with the Church in Scotland, and took a leading
part in the Union negotiations between the United Secession
and the Presbyterian Synods of Canada. When a theological
college was established in 1844 in connection with the United
Secession Synod, he was appointed professor, and taught class-
ics and philosophy as well as theology, while at the same time
he retained the pastoral charge of the congregation in London.
In addition to all these labors he took an active and influential
part in the public affairs of the Province, and particularly in
the movements respecting King's College and the Clergy Re-
serves. He was a man of dignified appearance and independent
character, and an accomplished scholar, a profound theologian
and an eloquent and impressive preacher, wise in counsel and
energetic in action."

JOURNAL OF REV. W. PROUDFOOT.

Events which happened from the time I left Pitrodie, 1832,
June 25th.

Rouped* all that part of my furniture which I did not mean
to take to America. The proceeds of the sale were £94. I was
enabled to leave Pitrodie without owing any man anything but
"Love." I took property with me in books and clothes amount-
ing to more than £350, besides £60 in cash. Of this I insured
£200 in the Sea Insurance Office. Edinburgh, that should there
happen any accident which might prevent our reaching Amer-
ica there might be something saved our dear daughters left
behind us. In the afternoon of the 25th. Mary and Eliza left
Pitrodie, Mary to go to Musselburgh, Eliza to Edinburgh, for
their education. It being intended by both them and us that
they shall come out next season or the season following to us
in America, if it be the will of God. Parting with them was
a painful event, but I left them under the care of the All
Gracious and ever present God, and under the superintendence
>f friends, who will, I am confident, perform the friends* part.

old by auction.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS

June 27, Wednesday. — I left Pitrodie one o'clock, P. M. I
took John and Alexander with me and we walked over the hill
to Perth. Mrs. Proudfoot, William, Robert, Hart and Jessie
went in a boat lent by Chas. Earned, by the low road. This
evening I lodged with my family and servant in the house of
my dear friend Mr. Newlands. Alex and John got a bed from
Mr. Joseph Jamieson, who has in many instances acted the part
of a friend. I was very much gratified by the attention which
I received from every one of my acquaintances. I was gratified
especially by the kindness of Mr. David Hepburn who, though
but a late acquaintance, crowded into the space of a few weeks
as many proofs of friendship as would have sufficed for years
of ordinary friendly intercourse.

June 28. — I and my family left Perth at 3 o'clock A. M. in
the Defiance Coach for Glasgow. Mr. and Mrs. Newlands and
the Misses Barland, Mr. Hepburn and Wr. Wm. Chalmers ac-
companied us to the coach. I had the whole, of the coach for
my family, judging this to be most for their comfort. From
Milnathoy to Stirling I passed through a district which I had
never seen before. The first part of the way was rather bleak,
and the soil poorish. The last part rich in soil and scenery.
At Dermy, Evenhead, the axletree, by overloading the coach,
became so hot that we were detained an hour till it was cooled.
The journey to Glasgow was accomplished with as much com-
fort as could be expected where there were so many young
children. After dining in the Sartive I went to look out for a
lodging, and not being successful I accepted of an invitation
from Mrs. Johnstone and went to lodge with her, with my
whole family. Mr. Johnstone was absent and I felt' rather un-
pleasantly in taking such a family to his house in his absence,
but I could not do otherwise.

June 129. — Sent sfour of my children to stay with my
cousins John and Robert Hart at Milbrae, parish Cathcart, and
was taken up during this day and June 30 in making prepara-
tions for my voyage.

July 1, Sabbath. — Heard Mr. Duncan preach in Portland
St. chapel (Mr. Johnstone's) on the raising of the Widow's Son
at Nain, and in the afternoon I lectured on the temptation of
our Lord, Math. 4 1-2. In the evening Mrs. Proudfoot and I
walked out to Milbrae, where in consequence of the presence
of strangers we spent the time in a manner that did not please
me.

July 2. — In Glasgow, called for some friends and con-
tinued my preparations.

July 3. — Left Glasgow in the Castle Toward Steamer for

8 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Greenock, as the cabin of the big "Crown" in which I was to
sail was not ready! for the reception of passengers. I took up
my residence in the White Hart Inn, where, though I paid high,
I was very comfortable. We stayed three nights. During my
stay in Greenock I was very much gratified by an instance of
the friendship of Mr. Hepburn of Perth. He had written to
Msesrs. Williamson and Glassford, writers in Greenock, to show
me kindness for his sake. This is one of those things which
are not to be forgotten.

July 5. — The whole family spent the day with Mr.
Williamson.

July 6. — Breakfasted and dined with Mr. Glassford. From
these gentlemen and their families I received every attention,
and had circumstances permitted us to be better acquainted
might have ripened into friendship. About 4 o'clock P. M. I
went on board the "Crown" with my family. I thus left the
shores of my native land, never to return, so far as
I knew then. I was not by any means so afflicted as I had
anticipated. This indifference I attribute to the constant bustle
in which I had lived for many days, by which everything was
banished from my thoughts except that which was necessary
to be done in order to my embarkation and the care of so many
young children in strange places.

July 7. — The Quarantine Physician came on board and
found the crew and passengers in good health. In consequence
of his report there was given a clean bill of health. After the
inspection many of the crew and passengers went ashore and
stayed some hours, which I think, was exceedingly improper
as the cholera was raging in Greenock. The inspection was a
mere form and in no way fitted to serve the purpose for which
I believe it was intended. Just as we were going to sail one of
the passengers was brought off shore in a more drunken state
than I had ever seen any man. He was towed up in the ship in
a state of total insensibility. Between 7 and 8 o'clock P M.
the anchor was raised and the ship towed by a steamer down
the Firth of Clyde as far as Dunwoon. When she left us we
exchanged three cheers. There was little wind, and that little
was contrary. We remained on deck as long as it was light,
and looked with interest at objects, which, in all probability,
we should never see again. After supper we had worship in the
cabin, all the cabin passengers being very agreeable. In the
cabin there are my family, which, including my servant, con-
sists of nine persons. The family of a Mr. Blackburn, consist-
ing of himself, his wife, four children, and a servant, in all
seven; Mrs. and Mr. Robertson, and the surgeon, Mr. Archibald

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS

Stewart — in all nineteen. The crew, including officers and sea-
men, cook and steward, seventeen. The steerage passengers,
including children, 61. Total in ship, 97 souls.

July 8, Sabbath.— The pilot left us about six o'clock in the
morning. The wind fair and fresh. When we got on deck the
island of Ailsa was seen considerably ahead on the left. In the
course of the, day we passed on the right the island of Sanda
and the Mull of Cantyre, a bold barren promontory, by the left
was the coast of Ireland and the island of Rathlin which we
passed in the evening. Rathlin presents a precipitous front,
and so in some parts does the coast of Ireland, though in gen-
eral it appears to rise slowly from the sea in gentle eminences.
We had a distant view of the Giant's Causeway, i.e., it was
pointed out to me, but whether owing to a defect in my vision
or the vagueness of the weather I could not just say that I
saw it. By ordinary causes most of the passengers were sick.

July 9. — Wind unfavorable, being nearly due W. The ship's
motion was from two and a half to five knots, most of the pas-
sengers still sickly. Solan geese and a few porpoises tumbling
about. The sea rough all day, the Captain said it was nothing.
What, thought I, will, it be when it becomes something. As I
only in the cabin escaped sea sickness, the care of the children
devolved on me. Mrs. Proudfoot and the servant unable to
do anything, even for themselves. What a scene is the cabin
of a ship when all in it are sea sick. The never ceasing rock,
the rush of the contents of the stomach upwards. The smell,
the filth. ' Enough.

July 10. — The wind steadily against us, the sea rough.
Sea sickness in general abated considerably, but Mrs. P. and
the servant as ill as ever. I am, therefore, still the nurse.
Saw a few of the birds called Mother Carey's Chickens; was
told they are seen all along the Atlantic. (Query) Where do
they breed? There was a great deal of motion, but the motion
progressive was very small, sometimes four knots and others
not more than two and a half.

July 11. — During night the winds to the N. and blew a
stiff breeze. The sea being rough enough, and the wind not
very fair, caused an unpleasant motion in the ship, everything
in the cabin that was not fixed tumbling about. I was rather
unwell but not sea sick. Saw two, brigs homeward bound and
some gulls. The billows to-day were very grand, but by no
means what I had expected to see in the Atlantic. They were
short and frothy, not the long heaving swell I have heard so
much of. The sailing of the ship very noble, at times she
rode nobly over a surge that came rolling against her, dashing

10 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL -SOCIETY

far on every side the foam from her bows. To-day I lamented
much that being on the Ocean where, on every side the sky
rested on the waters, I could not feel as I wished that sense of
the Majesty of God which it is so comfortable to realize.
Before I left Pitrodie I often thought that the grandeur of the
ocean, its vastness, depth, its enormous fishes, would impress
my mind with veneration for the Creator and Upholder of All
Things; but in this I have been considerably disappointed.

July 12. — The sea rather smooth. Those affected with sea
sickness are for the most part recovered. There are still some
confined to bed. Had some useful, conversation with Mr. Rob-
ertson about our Mission. We agreed in thinking that we ought
not to stop, long in Montreal, but proceed as fast as possible to
the West and endeavor to get an opening for our labors, either
in some town, or in some place where there is a prospect of
an increasing population. From what we have read we thought
there could not be much for us in the large towns.

July 13. — The day remarkably fine, little wind, and sea
smooth^ most of those who had been sea sick were now re-
covered. The man who was brought on board so beastly drunk
made a conspicuous figure to-day. There was on board a man
who could play a little on the fiddle; and another, an ex-
cellent player, on the flute. After a vast deal of low mirth
and fun, such as one may see at a country fair amongst plow-
men, he set a-going a dance upon deck in which, by dint of
entreaty and pulling, he contended that every person in the
steerage who could dance took part. Some of the cabin pas-
sengers humored the joke by dancing a reel or two. W. Gibson
is a strong man, in the enjoyment of perfect health, and with
a great deal of capering and jumping, and clapping of hands,
and whooping, in this way produced an impression very much
in his favor. He seems to be the very beau ideal of his class,
strong, supple, noisy, good humored, and good at teasing the
lassies. Laughter and buffooning characterize W. Gibson. He
has been in the Scotch Greys, and was one of those who com-
muted their pensions and retired to Canada. Some of the
passengers I now find, are decent persons. I hope the favorable
impression I have of a few shall not be obliterated. Saw a man
reading Welch's sermons, another Watt's "World to Come."
There are many of them who appear to possess a very dif-
ferent character.

July 14. — The wind has become more favorable, and we
Nare 'sailing in the right course. The sea is smooth. Saw a
>hear bird: read a little.
\ July 15^ Sabbath. — Weather very agreeable, wind moder-

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 11

ate, sea calm, what wind was, was from the W.; consequently
what progress we gained was by tacking. Saw a brig home-
ward oound sailing with a favorable wind. It is now four or
five days since we saw a ship and the sight of this brig was
a treat. We all felt that we were still in the habitable world,
and experienced an interest in those voyagers, as though they
were brothers. I saw a log of wood floating by the ship.
Yesterday there floated past some spars; perhaps these be-
longed to some ship wrecked in the Atlantic whose earthly
course was closed in horror. Our captain took a less gloomy
view of the subject; he said they had probably been washed off
the deck of some timber laden ship, or even perhaps floated
down the St. Lawrence, where they are constantly to be met
with, having been separated from rafts. Thus it is that we
readily fix upon those probabilities which remove danger farther
from our thoughts. I was told that much wood is every year
driven on the coast of Ireland; and I have read that Iceland is
in a great measure supplied by drift timber. Thus Providence
sometimes compensates to one barren country for its poverty
by sending to it of the abundance of another. The fact that
American timber is floated to Ireland and Iceland is a proof
of the existence of a great western current floating to the east.
It is a proof that this current is a continuation of the Gulf
Stream, for nuts produced in the West Indies or on the North-
ern coast of South America have often been found on the
shores of our Western Islands. This Sabbath was very dif-
ferent from the last. During last Sabbath all were sick. The
sea was rough and stormy. To-day we have fine weather and
almost all on board were free from sickness. I preached in
the steerage from John 12, 32, to a very attentive audience,
and I felt no small interest in preaching to so many on the
bosom of the jnig'hty' deep. One of the cabin passengers
officiated as precentor, and well. I lamented the difficulty of
keeping the children employed in a manner becoming the
Sabbath. May God conduct us in safety to the end of our
voyage, and at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, may we all
in His mercy be received into His Heavenly Kingdom and Glory.

July 16. — Day pleasant. Wind contrary but very light.
Toward evening the monotony was relieved by the appearance
of a swallow of the swift kind, which having been driven out
of its way by the winds, or pursued by some bird that sought
to devour it, sought shelter in the rigging of our ship. Every
one on board was pleased that it had found a shelter and a
resting place. It is pleasing to witness these indications of
good feeling amongst even rude men. There are times and oc-

12 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

casions when there bursts forth proofs of something in man
which might be turned to good account, were a rational system
of training human beings once resorted to. Man has never been
fairly treated, for, though the Christian system is fitted to do
all that the most expanded humanity could wish, yet there has
ever been a something in the application of Christianity which
has in a great measure, neutralized its influence. Most of even
the teachers of Christianity know so little about it and its use,
and about man, that it is no wonder it has done less than its
friends have wished. Nothing can be more absurd than to
teach Christianity in the form of logical definitions; and not
less absurd is it to set about operating upon man in the belief
that there is nothing about him or in him on which we may
lay hold to regenerate him. There exists in man the germs of
all the good we ever can attain to. The truths of the gospel
possess the exclusive honor of so laying hold of the rational
and moral principles of his nature as that he shall think rightly
or feel rightly about all the beings to whom he is related;
first about God, and next about man; and that thinking and
feeling aright towards them he shall act towards them all as
he is bound to do. But to give lectures on Calvinism and Ar-
menianism and to call that preaching the gospel is about as
absurd as in place of giving a hungry man bread to give him
a history of the different kinds of grain, and the mode of their
cultivation, and their chemical qualities.

July 17. — When we got on deck this morning the sea was
as smooth as glass, yet beautifully diversified by considerable
swellings. In this smooth surface there were occasional long
stripes curled by passing breezes. The first mate informed me
that during the night he had seen a shark close to the ship.
These monsters are supposed to come seldom to the surface,
except when hard pressed by hunger. The swallow which had
perched on the rigging last night was brought down to the
cabin by] one of the sailors. Everything was laid before it
which it was supposed that it would eat, but nothing could
induce it to partake of our food. As the sea was so smooth
and the weather so fine, we thought it a good opportunity of
performing the often practised experiment of sinking an empty
bottle in the water, firmly corked. Some said the water forced
its way into the bottle through the pores of the cork, others
that it forced its way through the pores of the glass, others
that if a bottle of rum were sunk the salt water would displace
the rum. We put all these opinions to the test, merely for
amusement, because we thought all of them probable. First we
tied to a deep sea line of 120 fathoms an empty bottle firmly

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 13

corked with a piece of sheet lead fastened over the cork. Sec-
ond a bottle full of rum securely corked. Upon these bottles
being drawn up the first was found empty, the second was
found to contain rum unchanged, and a third one was found
full of salt water and the cork turned upside down. The rum
was given to Will Gibson, who divided it amongst the pas-
sengers. We regretted that we had no instruments for ascer-
taining the specific gravity of the water brought up for 120
fathoms. After dinner had some amusement in shooting at
Mother Carey's Chickens. One came near the ship and many
were anxious to take away its life. I was very glad when it
escaped. A duck was thrown overboard having a string tied
to its foot as a mark to be shot at, but it would not leave the
ship. Next an empty bottle corked was thrown into the sea
as a mark; it was often struck but not broken. There were
two vessels seen from the main mast head. Saw a whale but
not very distinctly; also a considerable number of sea snakes.
These seemed to be very transparent about three or four feet
long, and along their backs ran a long chain of beautiful white
spots; indeed it was by these white spots that they were
distinguishable.

July 18. — The day has been very pleasant, the winds light
but quite favorable. The day being cloudy there was no ob-
servation taken. In the North on the edge of the horizon we
saw a ship homeward bound ; and in the South two ships sailing
in the same direction as we were. They appeared to be sailing
faster than we, at which we felt not a little chagrined, though
we have occasion for no other feeling than unmingled thank-
fulness. Saw a piece of wood floating past the ship covered
with shells. The Captain fired a ball at it and struck it. It
held on its way and we on ours. Mr. Robertson preached from
Psalms. The sermon on deck. The audience attentive. In the
evening we had some recitations from Peter Proven, a pas-
senger, who had been a strolling player; also some very good
playing on the German flute. The day has passed away very
agreeably. Fine weather, good living and agreeable society
render a voyage exceedingly pleasant. I have been very happy
ever since I came on board.

July 19. — When I got on deck this morning I found the
Captain in a very good humor, for a smart breeze had sprung
up which propelled the ship in the right course. The wind con-
tinued steady for some hours but towards afternoon it so fell
away that the sails began flapping in the wind. However, if
we do not make much progress we are free from stormy
weather, and what with harmony and plenty in the cabin, we

14 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

are very comfortable. Saw a white porpoise and a black one.
I was told that the black porpoises always pursue and torment
the white ones. It would appear that it is much the same
among men as among porpoises. There is this difference, that
it is the white men who pursue and torment the black. More
particular enquiry convinced me that the story was destitute
of, proof. I have thus lost my fine parallel, but in losing a
figure I have found a fact, little to the credit of men, viz., that
white and black porpoises do agree, while white and black men
have ever been at variance. As there were many smart looking
children in the steerage, running about idle and working mis-
chief and fighting, I, this day, collected them together and
formed them into classes. When we came on board they seemed
a set of wild unmanageable beings, but when put into order and
set to do something, they became quiet and manageable. Many
of them are smart children. One of the best ways of im-
proving human beings it to direct them to some employment
that is useful, as much in ameliorating human1 nature depends
upon the choice of a line of life suitable to the genius, and
furnishing opportunity for virtuous exertion, as on anything
else. (To improve mankind by mere lecturing is a foolish
attempt. Every man who aims at doing good should not only
teach men the right way, but should seek out occasions for
calling principles into practice. Hence, for a man to pveach
only on Sabbath, and not live as it were, with his flock, is to do
only half of the duty of his station or office. What a nobic
character would that man be, who would take up the whole
system of Christianity and apply it to the redeeming of men.
In doing this Our Lord appears to have left immeasurably be-
hind him every one who has advocated the cause of truth and
worked upon man with his system. In Our Lord's working
there was such a perfect knowledge of the beings on whom
he wished to operate, such a skilful application of the best
means of operating upon them, and such a practical cast in
all his endeavors, and such a life, even in his doctrines, as fairly
place him at the head of Christianity, and at the head of all
who labor in the Godlike work of improving the character of
man. I have little doubt of doing something with the children
if the parents countenance my endeavors. I fear the listless-
ness of the parents will cool down the willingness of, the chil-
dren. I have not hitherto adverted to our cabin fare. We have
tea and coffee in the morning, with beat eggs instead of cream,
ham, herring or sausages or eggs, and as yet, loaf bread. For
dinner we have broth or soup of different kinds, fresh beef,
fowls and pork ham, brandy or rum, white or port wine at
pleasure. In the afternoon tea and ham. Supper consists of

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 15

bread and cheese and porter and toddy, or negus. The water
has hitherto been very good.

July 20. — Was called up from the cabin this morning to
see two whales spouting and tumbling about. The morning fine.
The wind light but favorable. The captain shot a shear bird,
which after having received two shots fell dead into the sea. It
was useless depriving an innocent creature of life. During the
afternoon a ship hove in sight, the Zebulon of Yarmouth, timber
laden from Nova Scotia to Liverpool. I wrote by her to Mr.
Turner and Mr. Newlands. The manner in which these letters
were conveyed on board was as follows : They were wrapped up
in paper and tied to a bit of lead and then thrown into the ship ;
of course it was a chance whether they fell into the ship or the
sea, in this case it was successful. Saw to the leeward, on the
edge of the horizon, a ship homeward bound. Such appearances
in the midst of the watery waste are very animating. After tea
we had a smart shower, which, whatever it may be on land, is
not pleasant at sea. My class is increasing in numbers, and the
children seem to be animated by a good spirit. In the evening
a son of one of the passengers was swinging at a rope, fell and
broke his thigh. The parents were exceedingly distressed, as
may well be supposed. The Dr. and I set the bone. It was his
first attempt and mine. The Dr. is a young lad who has just
finished his apprenticeship. I knew little of the business of
bone setting. I suppose we were much in the same state. Be-
tween us, I think, the job was very well done. The father of
the boy is an old soldier who has commuted his pension. He has
seven sons on board, all restless, riotous youths.

July 21. — Nothing occurred to-day deserving particular
notice.

July 22 (Sabbath) — I preached below deck from Matt. 4,
1-11. Audience attentive. In the evening I had a long argument
with Robertson and Mr. Blackburn respecting the interpreta-
tion of a passage in the seventh chapter of Isaiah. The ques-
tion was, is that chapter a prophecy of Messiah or not? I
contended that it is not a prophecy of Messiah. They maintained
that it was. In going over the preceding context I found that
they still adhered to a style of interpretation, which I have long
rejected, viz.: that, in supporting an orthodox opinion, one is
at perfect liberty to call in the spiritualizing system when the
grammatical sense of the words will not suit the notions, that
prophecy has not one sense only, but many senses, all or any
one of which may be taken as the exigencies of the case may
demand. The argument led to the considerations of the prin-
ciples on which the writers in the New Testament have intro-

16 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

duced quotations from the Old Testament. Here I found that
we could not agree. They maintained that the New Testament
writers have quoted these passages in their real sense. I in-
sisted that there were many of them nothing more than clas-
sical allusions, and that in some it was the words merely as
suited to the writer's purpose, which were taken without any
reference to the sense in which the Old Testament writers used
them. I confirmed my views by going over the quotations in
the first Chapter of Matthew. The discussion came to nothing,
except fixing in my mind the principles which I have adopted,
and methodizing and arranging them in my own mind. I
believe I had better never argue except with those who are
willing to think for themselves, and to take truth wherever they
find it. Debating, somehow or other, interrupts the suavities
of social life.

July 23. — Our progress has been pretty fair this day. A
hen flew overboard into the sea and was lost to us.

July 24. — The wind fair -and good. Our progress between
6 and 7 knots. When we were at breakfast a ship came dose to
the Crown. She was the Branches of London, bound for London,
Captain Howie requested the Captain to report that he had met
our ship. Toward evening the wind blew hard, and by bedtime
most of the sails were reefed. The ship rolled very unpleas-
antly.

July 25. — When I awoke the wind was blowing what the
sailors called a good, stiff breeze, but what I called a gale. It
was, however, in our favor. The waves were very grand. It
was scarcely possible to walk on deck or in the cabin. We were
knocked about from side to side and many ludicrous and some
painful tumbles were got. What a magnificent object is the
sea when wrought up by a gale of wind. Its vast heavings, its
dashing and its foam and its yawning valleys are all grand.
In consequence of the agitated state of the seajthere were many
persons sick. In the forenoon there were seen three whales
tumbling amongst the billows. Some gulls and Mother Carey's
chickens flew about the ship, an indication, the sailors said, that
the breeze would be lasting and stiff. My opinion was that
these birds, having been fatigued with struggling in the storm,
kept in the ship^s wake merely because they were wearied. As
the weather was" thick and rainy, no observation could be taken.

July 26. — We were all delighted with the fine weather
which the morning returned to us. The wind moderate, the
sea comparatively smooth, almost all the sick recovered. ,There
was generaFgood humor throughout the ship. In the forenoon
a number of gulls were fluttering about the ship, which, as

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 17

they were called good shots, called into exercise the skill of the
Captain and Mr. Blackburn. They all escaped. What absurdity
it is to take away the life of harmless creatures, when no good
can result from it. He that kills an animal that does no harm
and which, when killed, cannot be gotten and even though got-
ten, cannot be eaten, performs an act of wanton cruelty. In the
evening were seen two whales spouting high columns of spray.
There is something very grand in the stately movements of
such vast masses of animated matter. The movements of
fishes are, in almost every case, elegant and easy; very differ-
ent from the laborious efforts and the great expenditry of
strength that accompany all movements of land animals.

July 27. — Raining and uncomfortable. The wind southeast.
Towards evening the wind increased almost to a gale and the
waves became magnificent, and the rain settled into a mist so
dense we could not have seen a ship 200 yards off. I was told
that misty weather is very frequently met with on the banks of
Newfoundland near which we now are, and that this black fog
hangs over the coast of Nova Scotia, particularly Cape Breton.
In looking at the chart I found that when the mist is most fre-
quently met with there are sand banks, and that in the northern
latitudes fogs and sand banks are found together. As this is
fact, may it not be inferred that the sand banks are the causes
of the fogs? Perhaps this is the account of the matter. The
water, being not so deep on the banks, is warmed and conse-
quently more easily evaporated; and this evaporation is the
fog. It remains to be proved that the water is warmer, which
I had no means of doing. But even supposing the water to be
cold on these banks, still they may be found to be the cause;
for, if the air blown from warmer places pass to the banks, the
cold upon them will condense the atmosphere, and the deposi-
tion of the moisture suspended in the jair is the mist .or fog.
This is more likely the truth. I have finished reading Picker-
ing's "Canada," and one of the books by the society for the
propogating of useful knowledge. I have read very little, I have
had so much to do in looking after the children that I have had
no time. Some time is lost also in contributing to the comfort
of others.

July 28. — All around the ship a fog, dense and / )ld and
penetrating. The wind unfavorable. ' I was informed tj t about
4 a.m. a ship homeward bound passed within half the/ ^igth of
the ship off the bows of the Crown and was not se^ till she
was close beside us. There was barely time for the I o ships
to turn their helms. This narrow escape from a wau>jy grave
is another mercy which is to be added to the many we have

16

18 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

experienced since we embarked. After breakfast a ship seem-
ingly full of passengers bound for America, passed on the oppo-
site tack within a quarter of a mile. In the afternoon the fog
became exceedingly thick so that a ship came upon us within
half a table length before she was seen. Captain Howie hailed.
We could not hear her name. She was bound for London, fif-
teen days from Quebec.

July 29. — The wind still light and ahead. I preached be-
tween decks from Romans 3, 32. Mr. Robertson, whose turn
it was, was indisposed. Audience attentive. The Sabbath was
not spent, by any means, as the Lord's. Day should be, which I
regretted. Read two sermons of Horsley's to the cabin passen-
gers. I was told the steward had sold to the steerage passen-
gers on Saturday ten bottles of rum. This I think a most per-
nicious custom. The money is taken from the passengers and
they are kept constantly groggy; and all for a paltry gain to
the owners or cabin passengers. It is sold for one shilling a
bottle.

July 30. — Morning cold. Thermometer 50. Saw a seal at
a little distance. With these winds we . shall have a tedious
passage, and yet I am not wearying. I am as happy as ever
I was. The only drawback is the noise of the children in the
cabin of whom there are eight. We are not yet on the banks of
Newfoundland. The fog came on so thick in the afternoon,
we were all forced into the cabin. During supper we were told
there was a light ahead. The Captain said it was some ship
fishing on the Banks, as all ships, fishing are bound by law to
hang out a light. When we went to bed the night was dark,
foggy and uncomfortable. It was proposed to the Captain that
he hang out a light to prevent accidents. He said a light would
be of little use, that a bell was the proper thing, but that the
"Crown" never had a bell, and so she could not make use of
what she had — a light.

July 31. — The morning rainy. About breakfast time there
was a dead calm. Many on board took the opportunity to throw
out lines for cod. In about an hour and a half about twenty
cod fish were taken, which afforded a delightful fresh meal to
every one in the ship. In walking along the deck to see the
fish caught, I fell, owing to the slipperyness of the deck, and
hurt my shoulder.

August 1. — Uncomfortable weather. My arm painful to-
day. At sunset there was an appearance in the West which
was supposed to be land. If land it was, it must be Cape Race.
It did not appear to me to be land. Whether it be land or not
it produced a strange sensation. It brought home to me, that

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 19

now all the difficulties which I had anticipated in taking my
family to a foreign land, and the difficulties which I had antici-
pated in my mission, were just at hand. May God direct me in
my way. All up to the present has been preparation, now is
the time to act.

August 2. — Dense mist, no wind. Tried to fish for cod, but
though there were a few hooked they were all lost in the act
of bringing on board.

August 3. — Morning calm. Ship as still as if lying at
anchor. It is believed by the officers and crew to have been a
mistake that we had seen land. We are beginning to weary
of the voyage.

August 4. — Read to-day all the reports of the Glasgow
Colonial Society. The impression produced upon my mind by
the perusal is, that the Society is as much inclined to set up
the Kirk in the Colony as to make Christians. Such is the
tenor of the information published. The account of the labors
of their missionaries is poor indeed.

August 5, Sabbath. — The day fair. I preached in the steer-
age from 1 John, 4-16. In the evening read to the cabin pas-
sengers a sermon of Horsley's on the Commission given to
Peter.

August 6. — Fair. Saw to-day some sea weed floating past,
shewing there must be a current eastward, perhaps the North-
ern edge of the great Gulf Stream. I had noticed frequently
the same thing on the Banks. We discovered this day that the
feather bed was wholly rotten in the under side. This was
occasioned by the sea damp, but particularly by the green or
damp wood which had been put into the beds when they were
filled up at Greenock. We learned from this that a ship is a
damp place,, and that beds should be' frequently taken out and
dried. Went down to the forecastle to-day and admired the
neatness of the place and the order of it, though there were ten
hammocks in a space not large enough for three beds. Read a
good deal to-day. It is difficult in such a place as I now am to
read, and still more difficult to find opportunity for privacy for
serious reflection. I hope that my deficiencies in this respect
may be attributed to my situation and not to any disinclination.
I am aware that one is ever apt to lay the blame which is due
to himself on his circumstances.

August 7. — Awoke this morning to see the sun 'shining
brightly, a rare sight of light, and the sea as smooth as glass.
We are in hopes of seeing St. Paul's to-morrow. St. Paul's is
an island lying in the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

August 8. — As we knew we were near the entrance to the

20

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL -SOCIETY

Gulf, and as there is a dense mist which prevents us seeing
further than a quarter mile any side, there was considerable
anxiety in the ship lest we should, in the dark, run on Cape
Race or St. Paul's. Let us hope that He who hath guided us
safely on our way will continue to guide us. Having passed as
we thought St. Paul's, ve were still anxious we should run on
the Magdalene or Bird Isles, which are more dangerous than
even St. Paul's on a dark night. No sermon to-day in con-
sequence of the rolling of the ship.

August 9. — I was awakened this morning by a bustle on
deck, occasioned by the lowering of a small boat to go to see
what appeared to be a wreck or a dismantled ship about a mile
distant. On looking out of the cabin window I saw a bare hull
of a vessel. On looking through my glass I was confirmed in
this belief. We had a thousand conjectures about it. The
most intense anxiety was felt until the return of the boat.
When they approached the supposed wreck, it turned out to be
a barque with all sails fully bent. The cause of the strange
appearance was this: A cloud of mist sunk down upon the ship
just to the deck and completely concealed the whole rigging,
leaving the hull distinctly visible. In the course of an hour or
two the mist cleared off, and we saw the barque, rigging and
sails, quite near to us. The same thing occurred once or twice
during the day. The Captain has, for some days, been ill of
sore eyes, which has been a source of anxiety to us all, he hav-
ing treated us at all times with kindness.

August 10. — Misty. About four o'clock a schooner passed
and informed us that we were just five miles from the South
W. point of Anticosti. I felt that this was just as a message
from Heaven, which we did greatly need, because we were far
from being certain where we were ; and besides we were sailing
in such a direction as that in the course of an hour we must
have been in a dangerous situation. How kind the God of
Providence has been to us. But this was not all. About seven
P. M., we hailed a ship from Quebec, who informed us we were
somewhere between Cape Reserve and the great Valley. The
good which was done to us we were enabled to do to another.
A barque hailed us for information where we were, and as they
were wrong in their reckoning ten degrees they were very
thankful for our information. About 9 P. M. the wind blew
like a gale. It came suddenly, then there was such exertions
to take down the sails and get all ready for a storm. The bustle
and preparations were very alarming to us who were not ac-
quainted with sea affairs. May the God who ruleth over all
preserve us. After supper the mate came to ask the Captain

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 21

if he would take down the fore top sail, both because there was
an appearance of more wind, and because the reefing tackle
was all gone. He was ordered it to clew it up. Our dear child
Jessie, who was very feverish last night, is now somewhat
better. May God perfect her recovery and convey us all safely
to land, and keep us after we land. Before the gale came on
we were on deck and saw to the S. W. the long wished for land.
The sight of land was most interesting as being the first view
of that land which is now to be our home, and where we hope
to live, and in which we expect to die and be buried. I mused
on the fate of that country which from the creation of the
world down to the days of Columbus was unknown to all the
rest of the world, and which has run over in the course of
civilization and greatness of power, in the space of a few years,
what it has taken the rest of the world thousands of years to
travel. On that country was poured the light of the experience
of all mankind in one clear, full flood. A land that has become
great in a day. In that land I wish to serve God, and do good
to my fellow men. The Leith ship communicated a piece of
information which deeply affected us all, and which began to
engross every other concern, viz., that the cholera was raging
at Quebec and Montreal; that the mortality occasioned by it
was greater than in any placQ in Britain; and that it was be-
coming more moderate. This was exceedingly distressing to us
all, particularly to me who has so many children. Our only hope
is in the mercy of God.

August 11. — In the course of tacking in toward the shore
the American coast became distinctly visible. Along the whole
shore as far as we could see, there ran a range of hills, not high,
but covered with wood to the very summit. The trees seemed
small and from their color of the Pine tribe. What labors are
here for the hand of the cultivator! That part of the coast
was about Magdalen River. In the afternoon the coast of
Lower Canada on the North side of the St. Lawrence. Near to
Labrador, along the coast, there seemed to run a range of low
hills, and behind another ridge higher, and behind these a still
higher range. Beyond what we saw, and far within that land,
there live many of the children of nature, living without hope
in the world. It is surely to the honor of Christianity that there
have gone forth to these wild and inhospitable regions men
animated by the sole desire of bringing these wild savage
people to the knowledge of the way of life. Oh, that I may be
enabled to gather into the fold of Christ some of my fellow
sinners that they may be saved! Toward evening the wind
died away, and we tacked about, and shall continue, unless the

22 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

wind stiffens to a more favorable point. We may cross and
recross the mouth of the St. Lawrence for days without being
permitted to enter. I am, however, quite reconciled to this
tediousness in the hope that God in His merciful providence
is delaying us till the rage of the Cholera abate. During night
the moon shone clearly, and we all went to rest cheerful and
comfortable. May God in His Infinite Goodness conduct us to
the land of our labors and our hopes.

August 12, Sabbath. — Mr. Robertson preached between
decks. Just fifty persons present. A number were pacing
about the decks smoking and talking. In the evening I read to
the company in the cabin two of Horsley's sermons on Psalm 45.
The Captain very ill of an inflamed eye. During the whole day
tacking between the Seven Islands and the Southern shore.
That part of the shore of the continent to the N. and E. in sight
all day. It appeared to be barren and cheerless. We were not
near enough to see, but it is covered with wood. Tasted the
waters of the gulf; found them not nearly so salt as the
Atlantic. In the charts I see that the River St. Lawrence is
marked as going as far down as Anticosti, which is represented
as in the St. Lawrence. This I think is not correct. The river
should be considered as coming down to Bald Mountain Pt.
and Cape Chat. Below this should be the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The river at its mouth is twenty-five miles wide. The books of
geography say it is ninety miles wide, which I suppose is done
in order to make it wonderful. A river ninety miles wide - ! !

August 13. — About breakfast time the pilot came on
board. It is common for a number of pilots to enter into com-
pany and to have a large boat in common. These pilots cruise
about the mouth of the river, and leave one of their number in
every ship that wants one. Yesterday we saw a pilot boat com-
ing all day far below the seven islands. The pilots are paid
here eighteen shillings for every foot of water the ship draws.
The Pilot gave us a most distressing account of the ravages of
cholera in Quebec and Montreal. He says that it is about eight
weeks since it broke out at Quebec, that it was brought by an
emigrant ship from Ireland, in which there were sixty ill of
it; that at first it seized upon the dissipated of whom there
are a great number in Quebec, where a bottle of spirits can be
had for 9d, that afterwards it seized the sick and the sober,
that it has been worse, if possible, at Montreal than Quebec.
We have thus a most alarming prospect before us. Our safety
?'s in the Lord God alone, who only can shield us from the pest-
ilence; and may He grant that our alarms may be sanctified
to us, and that if it be His will to remove all or any of us, we
may be prepared for the change.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 23

August 14. — We passed the lighthouse at the Bald Mt. Pt.
The left bank of the river densely covered' with wood down to
the water's edge. The wood generally small, and at the out-
side thickly set with brushwood, seemingly spruce and birch*
I have been rather unwell to-day.

August 15. — Saw this morning the village of Mattawa, the
first human habitation we have seen. In it there live a few
farmery who are secluded from all the world. They keep a
schooner, and send in their produce twice or thrice a year.
The principal article of sale is salmon, caught in the stream
which comes down from the Mattawa Mountains. Still unwell.
The Captain rather better. I was told that parties of native
Indians hunt over this whole country. Bears and deer are not
uncommon in the forests. The pilot told me that many of the
Indians in the neighborhood of Quebec are very respectable
people; the white men sometimes marry Indian women. The
Pilot, who is a Catholic, informed me that the priests freely
attend the worst cholera patients, and that he had not heard
of any who had taken the disease. The pilot is of the opinion
that every church ought to support its own ministers, and that
no government tax ought to be imposed for the support of any
religious denomination ; which appeared to me more liberal than
Catholics are supposed to be. It is a very common thing for
one party to misrepresent another, and as long as this is the
case it will be difficult to arrive at truth.

August 16. — The air is very sharp and cold, more so than
I felt it in Scotland at this season. The Pilot says there has
been little warm weather in Canada this summer. In the
morning we had a fine view of the village of Father Point on
the right bank. The houses seem small, each standing on the
end of a strip of land running back from the river. Each has
a portion of cleared ground. Whatever was in crop was quite
green, and I think late; saw no cattle. It does not appear very
thriving. The people may have milk and meal, but it will be
long ere they have anything like wealth. Canada on the Lakes
must be very different from this specimen, else we are
humbugged.

August 17. — Weather fine but cold. In the morning we
were as far up the river as Island Bic, which is a small island
covered with brush. Much of the wood which I saw, the Pilot
says, is Sugar Maple. The Pilot says Quebec is not a place for
emigrants. The people are quite able for all the work, and do
not want strangers. The wages of the work people are 3s. 6d. or
4s. ; but there is more than six months of winter during which
time, a man may be thankful if he get his meat for his day's

24 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

work. Everything is exceedingly dear on account of the
cholera. Farmers do not bring in their produce readily; and
butter, eggs, grain of a.ll kinds nearly half dearer than usual.
There are no temperance societies in Quebec.

August 18. — Anchored to Green Island from 10 till 4 P. M.,
when the tide turned. Green Island seems to be a rock covered
with firs and brush wood. At the east end of it a light house;
at the west end three wigwams. Saw a man and a number of
cows and sheep, seemingly of good size and condition. Beyond
the island on the mainland a good deal of cleared land, and
some pretty spots, and neat small farm houses. All the way
up to Quebec, I hear, the shore is as well studded with houses.
The country has been settled a long time.

August 19, iSabbath. — I preached in the steerage from
1 Thess. 4-1. The audience much the same as last Sabbath.
I was exceedingly sorry to witness the indifference of many of
the passengers, and of the whole crew. The first mate, who
is rather a prepossessing man, lay asleep the whole time on the
hen coop. The Captain has not been able to attend for two
Sabbaths. There is a great deal of profaneness in this ship;
every man of the crew uses it, and most of the passengers.
There are, however, some honorable exceptions. I wish I were
away from them, both on account of the pain which it gives
me, and the hurtful influence they may have on the children.

August 20. — The appearance of the country on the right
bank is exceedingly fine. All along the river side is thickly
studded with cottages, so close they seem to be a street with
little spaces between the houses. We are opposite a most
beautiful village, Camarasca, with a fine looking church, having
a steeple. In the village I noticed many very elegant houses, some
two storey, and others built in the style of the English cottage.
The people, French. The houses are built of wood, and all
whitewashed, even to the roof, which gives them a very cleanly
appearance.

August 21. — Passed several very beautiful islands. Saw
the island close by which is stationed a lightship, with two
lights. The keeper an old captain.

August 22. — The scenery still improving, beautiful beyond
description. I felt I would like to live in retirement on one of
these islands with my family around me, and leave the world
to its fate. It was a foolish wish of a moment. There are
duties to be discharged, and trials to be endured, necessary to
the improvement of the spirit of man; and this improvement
is not to go on in living out of the world on an island in the
St. Lawrence, enchanting though it be.

August 23. — I may state here what I have hitherto forgot-

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 25

ten1 to note, that we have had prayers, family worship, in the
cabin almost every evening since we came on board.

August 24. — As we^are at the quarantine island, it has been
a very busy day, putting the steerage passengers ashore, and
white washing the ship. We heard from a soldier on duty at
the quarantine station that the cholera is raging in Quebec;
during the first month 3,000 died.

August 25. — Nothing new.

August 26, Sabbath. — About five o'clock I was called out of
bed to have a fine view of Quebec. The appearance of this
Northern Capital fom the iver is very fine. The houses high
and elegant; and as they are covered with tin in place of slate,
they glittered in the morning sun like brilliant polished gold.
The City far exceeded anything I had anticipated. We anchor
off the mouth of the St. Charles River. I set foot this day for
the first time in America. May God in His infinite mercy make
us thankful for the many mercies we have experienced in cross-
ing the ocean, and may He continue to guide us, and in these
times particularly, preserve us from danger and disease.

August 27. — Took a stroll through the town in the fore-
noon. At four o'clock we left Quebec. Have not been well
these two days.

August 29. — Arrived at Montreal at four P. M. I immedi-
ately went into the town to deliver some letters and get lodg-
ings. Saw Mr. John Simpson, and Mr. Rattray, tobacconist.
Could not get lodgings; had to stay on board the steamer all
night.

August 30< — Started out early to get lodgings; delivered
a letter to Mr. Alex. Miller which I -had from Mr. Arch. Reed
to him. He lives in the summer in the country, and his town
house is empty. He kindly invited us to such accommodation as
he had to give; so we took our ship mattress and blankets and
spread our beds on the floor. Finding it so hard to get lodgings
I resolved to proceed up the country nearer to the scene of my
labor. I sent off my luggage by McPherson & Co. to Prescott;
and engaged for my family to be taken by coach for forty-five
dollars. I shall have many observations to make on Montreal,
if God spare me.

August 31. — Slept soundly and felt well this morning. I
was very cordially received where I delivered introductory
letters. Messrs. Ferrier, Lawrie, Gerald, and Jamieson were
very kind. Mr. Robertson had some communings with some
of Mr. Shank's people at Montreal. He put out rather the
cloven foot. His object was plainly lo conceal from me the
fact that he had met with any of them. I told him that while
Mr. Shanks and his people were under engagements for a year,

26 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

that I would have no fellowship in his doings amongst them.
God order our way; Amen. In the afternoon Mr. Miller
drove Mr. and Mrs. Robertson and Mrs* P. and myself around
Montreal, and took us to his own house to tea, and showed us
kindness in every possible way. Mr. Miller has a very nice
summer house two miles out, and his farm is nearly as well
managed as if it were in Scotland.

September 1. — At two o'clock I got into the coach for
Prescott. We had a rapid drive over nine miles of a very bad
road to Lachine. We got on board the steamer and sailed to the
Cascades. Breakfast on board which cost me 11-3. Sixteen
miles to Goteau de Lac. The road is not good ; the hollow
places are filled with large logs of wood, and the jolting was
both painful and ludicrous. At the Cascades saw the junction
of the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa. Went on board the
steamer. All went to bed and slept' till dinner time. About
two P. M. we landed at Cornwall and got into the stage for
Prescott.

September 2, Sabbath. — Arrived at Prescott at 6 A. M.,
after a ride of fifty miles over a road that jolted th'e coach in
a style to which hitherto I have been a stranger. Mrs. P. was
all black and blue with knocks caused by the jolting of the
coach. Heard a sermon in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Boyd
preached to sixty-five persons present. The house airy and neat.
The sermon very so-so. Spent the remainder of the day with
my family comfortably.

September 3. — This morning crossed over to Ogdens-
burgh and took the steamer to Morristown from which I pro-
ceeded to Hammond to see Mr. McGregor (brother-in-law) ;
walked there. On both sides of the road saw going on the
process of chopping the forest. Took Alex., John, and William
with me ; they were exceedingly fatigued with the walk.

September 4. — Returned from Hammond to Prescott by
the stage and boat with Mr. McGregor, who has bought seventy
acres of land, lives in a log house, is contented and happy.
I left the three boys with Mrs. McGregor. On our way to
Ogdensburgh we passed through, as we thought, a thunder
cloud. There was a very great deal of lightning, both forked
and sheet, and thunder. CroSvSed over to Prescott in a small
boat. Ogdensburgh is a fine thriving town. The lower storey
of some of the houses is of polished marble, a degree of splen-
dor I have never seen anywhere else. Coaching is very far
from being a comfortable way of travelling. The roads are
rough. The coaches are light, the passengers are in the inside,
and there is no luggage outside. They seem incapable of being
overturned. The horses are light but exceedingly beautiful

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 27

and, active, and when the road is anyway tolerable they go at a
speed which few of the best Scottish coach horses could surpass.

September 5. — Left Prescott this morning with Mrs. Proud-
foot, Robert, Hart and Jessie, and Mr. McGregor, for Brock-
ville in the splendid steamer Great Britain. We took a deck
passage at the rate of one-quarter of a dollar for each. On
arrival at Prescott Mr. McGregor took Mrs. P. and the children
across the river to Morristown. I called for Mr. Stuart, the
Presbyterian minister at Brockville; was very kindly received
and invited to lodge in his house. He introduced me to some
very respectable people in town. I was so happy as to meet
the brethren of the Presbytery, and got some useful informa-
tion respecting the wants of the Canadians, both temporal and
spiritual. There were present Mr. Boyd, of Prescott; Mr. Mc-
Dowell, Fredricksburgh ; and Mr. Lyle, Osnabruck. The Pres-
bytery had met for the purpose of discussing the proposal of
a union, made to them by the ministers in Canada in connection
with the Church of Scotland, and I understood that they had
agreed to accept 'of these proposals. I have not seen the terms,
but in the course of conversation learned that the terms were
made by the Kirk ministers, and offered to the seceders, and
the grounds on which they would receive them. It came out
that they were sensible of their being treated as an inferior
grade; and though they were hurt, yet they were willing to
swallow the affront and to do it with a good grace. I received
from the brethren affectionate invitations to their homes.
Most of them informed me that they have two, three, or four
churches; and that the labor which they undergo is very hard.
I received useful attention from a Mr. Blackburn, to whom I
had letters of introduction. I engaged (D. V.) to preach for
Mr. Stuart next Sabbath. On looking over my expenditure I
find I have spent $25 since leaving Montreal. Every charge
has been heavy in spite of my efforts to keep within bounds.

September 6. — Left Brockville this morning and came to
Hammond to see my family. Walked from Morristown. The
ferry and refreshments cost one half dollar, the former very
dear, the latter very cheap. My design, if God will, is to spend
to-day and to-morrow at Hammond; to return to Brockville on
Saturday; and then on Monday to go to Prescott to look after
my luggage, and to take the steamer to York, V. C. I heard
on my arrival at Hammond that my two fowling pieces have
been seized by the custom house officers at Morristown and that
they will not be restored till I pay thirty per cent, ad valorem.
This is very hard and very mean, but we will see about it. At
my arrival at Hammond I found that the older boy had gone
to stay with Mr. McGregor's father. I wish I had a home to

28

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL 'SOCIETY

which I could conduct them. God, whose ways are all mercy,
will give me a habitation in due time; therefore, I wait. On
my way from Morristown, I killed a snake about two feet in
length. It was crossing the road with a frog in its mouth. The
snakes are not, in general, poisonous, nor do they attain to
any great age.

September 7. — In Hammond, during last night we were
greatly alarmed on account of our dear child Hart, who was
seized with croup in the middle of the night. I gave him four
grains of Calomel, and bathed him up to his neck in warm
water, by which, through the blessing of God, he was greatly
relieved. To-day wrot^ long letters to my dear children Mary
and Eliza, who may God in His infinite mercy preserve and
bless.

September 8. — Came along with Mr. McGregor to Morris-
town where I dined. Waited on the custom house officers from
whom, after a short explanation, I received my fowling pieces
without any duty paid. The ferry boat to Brockville is a mere
shalop; and as there was a storm on the river I was compelled
to wait a considerable time, and after all got over, not without
fear and danger.

September 9. — Brockville. Preached to-day for Mr. Stuart.
In the morning from John 12-30 ; afternoon 1 Thess. 4-1. The
meeting house was very thin both parts of the day. ' There is
a band for conducting the Psalmody of the church. The music
is very good; but here, as in every place where there is a band,
the congregation do not sing. The music is very dearly bought,
when it is at the expense of the praise of God. After service
Mr. and Mrs. Wenham called for me. He is a Baptist, she a
Presbyterian. They both seem devout servants of God. Mr.
W. was so good as to promise me letters to some of his friends
in U. C., and did show me a very good deal of kindness for the
sake of the cause of truth. In the evening Mr. Stuart returned
from where he had been preaching, and I had a long and inter-
esting conversation with him regarding the religious state of
Upper Canada, and regarding the manner in which I should act
best for the interests of the Gospel, the object of my mission,
and the wellbeing of my family. He was very communicative
and very friendly. From him I learned that the wants of the
Upper Province are very great; that there are many villages
destitute of the gospel; that as the settlements are generally
very new, the people are very poor; that a minister, in order
to get what may support him, must preach in two or more
villages; that he must preach occasionally during the week;
that as the villages grow in size and wealth they make ap-

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 29

plication each for a minister to itself; and that a great deal
of patience and perseverance are necessary, both to gather and
preserve a congregation. Was informed that the Methodists
are straining every nerve to make converts to their cause, and
that they are being successful. Mr. McGregor told me on
Friday that at Gouveneur, U. S., there was a revival of religion
last year; that 100 converts were made; and that the Method-
ists never rested till, by hook or crook, they got most of them
to their connection. Mr. Stuart detailed to me a good deal of
the history of the steps which have led to the union of the
Presbyterians of the General Synod and the Presbyterians of
the United Synod. The former are in connection with the Kirk
of Scotland, the latter with the several Presbyterian bodies in
Britain and America (U. S.). The union is primae facie, rather
dishonorable to the dissenters. The Kirk party offers to admit
them into the synod on the following terms: — That the dis-
senters shall produce written proof of their ordination; that
they shall subscribe to the confession of faith (Westminster) ;
and that they shall not set up any claim to the royal bounty,
nor interfere with whatever applications the Kirk party may
make for themselves. These terms are humiliating enough.
It appears that the measure has been recommended by Mr.
George Murray when in office; that Sir John Colbern has as-
sented to it; and that the people generally throughout the
province are desirous of it ; so that the secession party are shut
up. Mr. Stuart thinks that in spite of the apparent ungracious-
ness of the terms the union will work well, and so it will, if
the one party lay aside its hauteur and the other, or both
rather, resolve to do all to the glory of God. I was very de-
sirous to understand the position in which I should be placed
by this union. Mr. Stuart could not well tell, but repeated
again and again, that for his part he was perfectly contented
that a Presbytery or Presbyteries be formed in immediate
connection with the United Associate Synod ; that all he wished
most is the faithful and pure preaching of the gospel; that he
would correspond with me in the event of my being settled ; that I
might be taken into their union if I had a mind; and as proof
of the sincerity of these declarations he gave me some letters
to men of influence in York and other places. Mr. Stuart spoke
of the Kirk clergy as men who desired to ride, and ride on the
dissenters, but he thought that neither the government nor
the country would bear them out in any such measures, and
therefore he concluded that though the terms of the union were
ungracious, yet the union will work well. His opinion appears
to me so far as I know the case, a sound one. He further told

30 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

me that had the United Synod at home sent their missionaries
six months ago, he, for one, would not have accepted admission
with the Kirk Synod. While he said all the above and much
more to the same purpose, he yet was exceedingly guarded not
to mention the name of any place where I might find a favor-
able opening, but referred me for information to the persons
to whom he had given me the letters. I do not think he sup-
posed I perceived this. I received from him an account of the
manner in which Probationers were prepared by the Canadian
Presbyteries. Mr. Stuart had brought on one or two, taught
them literature and divinity, and they were licensed and did
and do very well. The Sabbath was upon the whole spent in
an edifying manner.

September 10. — I resolved this day, after a good deal of
thought, after separations for the divine direction, and con-
versation with Mr. Stuart and Mr. Wenham, to* look out for a
settlement for my family somewhere about or above York;
because should I settle them for some time further down the
river, say, Prescott or Brockville, I should, if spared, have to
sell the furniture which it might be necessary to buy, and to
sell at a loss; or if I should take it to the Upper Country, I
should have to pay a heavy price for its transfer, as where if
I settled the family in or near York I should be able to retain
the furniture as the carriage of it would not be heavy. Having
resolved this, I went this afternoon in the Great Britain steam-
boat to Prescott to look after my luggage. It had not arrived;
and I resolved not to wait for it but proceed with all expedition
to the upper part of the province. I stayed over night with the
Rev. Mr. Boyd, Prescott, who showed good hospitality, and
who conversed very freely about his labors and the matters
connected with the church. He has five preaching stations:
Prescott, and one about ten miles down the river, which are
served on one Sabbath; S. Gower, twenty-four miles back, and
with it two places. Such labors leave him all Tuesday worn
out, and they must soon wear out any constitution. He seems
a man very willing to labor and has pleasure in what he does.
He talked very freely of the union. He suspects, almost thinks,
it will never take place; says, for himself, that if it be opposed
in the Presbytery to which he belongs, he will not unite; that
if any of his brethren are objected to, he will not unite. At
the same time he wishes that it were gone comfortably into.
He informed me that the Governor felt so strongly on the sub-
ject, and felt so strongly the claims of the Seceders, that he
believed the Kirk clergy would not dare to refuse, and that the
dissenters might have made better terms. Mr. Boyd is a fine,
fearless, unassuming man.

THE PROUDFQOT PAPERS 31

September 11. — Left Prescott this morning for York, U. C.
The charge for the cabin and living is six dollars in the United
Kingdom steamer. The cylinders of the engines lie horizon-
tally and this prevents the tugging which is so common and so
disagreeable. I called on Mr. Wenham, Brockville, while the
boat was lying to for passengers and timber for fuel. The
surgeon of the "Roger Stewart," who had given me a dose of
medicine at Quebec, is a passenger and I was glad to see a
face I had seen before. He purposes to settle in U. C. The
St. Lawrence is still the most beautiful river I ever saw. Im-
mediately above Brockville it begins again to be studded with
islands, most of them small, composed of naked rock but all
covered with brush wood. Before bed time we were in the
Lake of the 1,000 Islands. As there was a heavy wind down
the river, the boat lay to for some hours in a kind of wharf
on the American side from where the wood is taken in.

• September 12. — About half after 5 a.m. we lay to at the
wharf at Kingston. Got up about 6 and took a stroll through
the town. It is very beautifully situated. It is smaller than I
expected. There are a good many stone houses, but there is an
air of discomfort about it. It does not seem to be cleanly kept.
There is a fine court house, a very handsome church, the spire
not finished. On the opposite of the bay are the barracks and
other buildings, which were erected during the late American
War, and which, I suppose, are now useless. The summits above
these barracks are covered with fortifications. I saw on the
docks some half-finished line of battleships, which lie there a
monument to the exertions of Britain and of the power of the
United States, whose hostility called forth the prowess of
Britain. There was little gained by Britain in that war, not even
a name, for it is, I believe, generally allowed that Britain had
more men and more guns on the lakes than the Americans, and
yet the Americans had the better of the war. The Government
buildings are connected with the city by a wooden bridge of 12
arches. The bridge must soon, like the ships, go to decay, as it
is neither painted nor pitched. After breakfast we entered
Lake Ontario, a noble inland sea. We sailed up the Canadian
side touching at several points. We soon lost sight of the Amer-
ican shore. The sky, as in the midst of the Atlantic, rested on
the bosom of the deep. The shore is still wood, nothing but wood.
I was told respecting Kingston, by a respectable passenger, that
after having languished for 10 years, it seems now to be reviv-
ing; that the opening of the Rideau Canal throws open to Kings-
ton a Large tract of country, and that, though little has been
done on that route, it has felt that little. It occurred to me that
if something be not done to facilitate navigation of the rapids

32 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

and Cascades, if a canal be not cut, which might be easily done,
that the course of trade will be up the Grand River (Ottawa),
where the navigation is not now interrupted, and that this trade
will centre in Kingston, and consequently Prescott and Brock-
ville will languish. Indeed, if something be not done to render
the navigation of the St. Lawrence easy it would not be surpris-
ing if Prescott and Brockville received their merchandise from
Kingston or from the Ottawa across the country. As we were
leaving the wharf there came in three Indian canoes, in one of
which was the Massasaga Chief, a man of about 50 years of
age, dressed in a blue coat, very shabby, and an old hat. He
pulled his own boat, and his squaw sat on the stern and paddled.
In two of the boat's there were two dogs each, very pretty crea-
tures. I saw in one a firelock. The females were very coarse-
ly dressed; all paddled. There is an appearance of closeness,
cunning and savageness about these men. I suppose they had
come in with merchandise. Two of the canoes were birch bark,
the other a built boat. About midday a very strong breeze
sprung up a-head. The lake was lashed with foam, and the cap-
tain, after making an attempt to enter the Bay of Quinte, found
himself under the necessity of pulling back and taking shelter
in South Bay, just behind the promontory which separates South
Bay from Quinte. There we lay at anchor till past midnight.
There are sometimes very heavy storms on Lake Ontario, which
are attended with great danger. The waves are not the long
swelling billows which are to be met with in the ocean, and over
which a good ship rides so majestically, but short, frothy- work-
ing waves, wMch, in spite of the most skillful steering are per-
petually dashing against the ship. Found on board a copy of
Pilgrim's Progress, which read, not only with admiration of the
talents of the author, but with a delight, in the truth which
Bunyan sets forth in a dress so fascinating. I have always^ re-
marked the want of books in the American boats. There is
ample provision for the body, but not for the mind. There is
good living, plenty of good spirits, and water to drink, but no
books, sometimes a newspaper, which is read twenty times over.
In only one boat have I seen a map of Canada. This might be
remedied at very little expense. A fellow traveller today wished
me to play backgammon. "When asked for a board the waiter
did not know what he meant. I have seen no cards, no back-
gammon board in any boat. The Canadians are said to be ex-
ceedingly good players at draughts.

September 13. — At one a.m. the wind moderated, and we
got on our way. About 11 o'clock we lay to at Cobourg to take
in and give out passengers. Cobourg is a most beautiful village.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 33

Not more than twelve years since this part of the country began
to be cleared. The houses are almost all of wood; and they are
very neat. I would like very much to be domiciled at Cobourg.
The next village is Port Hope, a sweet place; but we were not
near enough to see it distinctly. A gentleman on board had two
newspapers brought from the United States, both religious, and
both of a late date. This was a real treat. In thinking before
I got out of bed what I should do to-day, I could not contrive
anything else than that I read over again all the papers on the
cabin table. I had read them all before, but idleness is an un-
supportable burden. I would rather go to the forest and chop
trees than be idle. I feel somewhat concerned at how I am to
get on at York. May God, who has been my protector and guide
hitherto, protect and guide me still. I am dependent upon Him
alone, for I have here no other friend to whom I can lean. O,
that I had such confidence in His mercy, as that I should, like
Abraham, go forward where God may lead me. There is, I hear,
still some cholera at York. From pestilence, from all dangers,
do thou, O Lord, deliver me! Arrived at York about 11 p.m.,
and put up at the Ontario House, where I was as comfortable
as persons usually are in Canadian Inns. My voyage to-day has
been a pleasant one. The approach to York being around the
promontory called Gibraltar Point, is not interesting, as by it the
town is hid from view till one is very near. The charge from
Prescott to York is $8, including food, but no drink.

September 14. — Called this morning for* Mr. Harris, Mr.
Britoul and Mr. Stewart. Took up my residence with Mr. Har-
ris, the Presbyterian minister. Mr. Britoul, of the Kirk, re-
ceived me coolly, as I expected. Mr. Stewart, Baptist minister,
received me very cordially. I had a letter for Jesse Ketchum,
Esq., M. P., who made no particular remarks. I set about look-
ing for a house for my family, and for this purpose was intro-
duced to Mr. Drummond, an old Scotchman, who entered with
great ardor into all my views. York is a fine town. There are
many fine buildings and private houses, and very spacious brick
edifices as government offices. The buildings are, in general,
erected with a view to convenience, and taste has nothing to do
with the matter. House rent exceedingly high. I begun to fear
I shall not get a house at all suitable for my family.

September 15. — Resumed this day seeking a house and was
still unsuccessful. Got acquainted with a Dr. McDonald, a very
pleasant man. My time was agreeably taken up at times wiith
Dr. James Anderson, with whom I got slightly acquainted at

* The expression "called for" is used by Mr. Proudfoot in the sense of "called on."

34 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Quebec. This afternoon I wrote to my dearest Isabel. I was
greatly distressed in thinking of her, and of our dear children,
and lamented that there is little immediate prospect of getting
a settlement for them. Oh, that God would direct my way, and
give me submission to His will. In the evening attended! a
prayer meeting in Mr. Harris' chapel. There has been a prayer
meeting every evening since the ravages of cholera. It was very
thickly attended. I prayed and gave a short exposition of John
14. In the evening, on coming out of the chapel, I observed in
the Southwest one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena
I had ever seen. There seemed to extend along the Southern
shore of the lake a ridge of dense cloud exceedingly irregular on
its upper edge ; beyond this cloud there was an incessant gleam-
ing of lightning. It seemed to be always illumined, but at very
short intervals the light darted up high above the edge of the
cloud and grandly lighted up the sky. The whole seemed as if
there were an enormous chaldron of fire boiling beyond the cloud
always boiling, at times boiling over. This continued from dusk
till 2 o'clock morning, in the same spot.

September 16. — Sabbath. Preached for Mr. Harris from
John 12:32, and I. Thess. 4:1, and attended a prayer meeting in
the evening. Mr. Harris seems to think that I preach with too
much ease; that if I would appear to exert myself more and to
labor more, my preaching would be more attractive. It lis
strange that men have such absurd notions about preaching
that they should think that the impression of truth comes in the
bodily writhirigs of the man who declares it. Had a great deal
of conversation with Mr. IJ^rris about the Union. I found ^that
he was very far from being satisfied, either with the terms or
with the manner in which it is to be affected.

September 17. — Occupied in the morning seeking a house.
Heard of one which I think I shall rent. Left York at noon, hav-
ing taken my ticket in the stage to Hamilton, for which I paid
$2y2 (12s. 6d.) . I had a letter of introduction from Mr. Harris to
Mr. King at Nelson, and Mr. Paterson at Dundas, The conse-
quence of not having received sufficient information respecting
the position of Nelson, I came on to Hamilton, 14 miles beyond
Nelson. The journey to Hamilton was affected with great dis-
comfort and pain. The roads were so rough, and the jolting of
the stage so severe, that my whole frame was shaken, particular-
ly my back. We took 12 hours to travel 50 miles. A great part
of the tract through which we passed is still forest. There are,
however, several farms on the roadside, some perfectly cleared
and others in progress of being rapidly denuded of their timber.
After it became dark the appearance of these farms that were
in the act of being cleared, had something sublime and sad;

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 35

vast logs, the monarchs of the forest drawn together in heaps
of 6 and 8, and blazing in the middle of the dark forest, whose
edges were widely illumined with the glare. The soil all the way
from York to Hamilton is, for the most part, of a deep sand.
Near York it is in some places a stiff clay; but all along the
whole 50 miles it is sand. Today crossed three small streams
running into the lake, the Humber, the Etobicoke, and the
Credit. The last is the largest and abounds with fine salmon,
which are taken in large quantities. The upper country North
of the lake must be very destitute of water. Being dissatisfied
with the Inn at which the coach stopped, I went in quest of
another after twelve o'clock and was taken by a fellow traveller
to the house of Mr. Plummer of Burley, which I find comfortable.

September 18. — Hamilton is an exceedingly neat and thriv-
ing village. The soil is sandy, which keeps it dry. The main
street is spacious, and may be called a square. In the im-
mediate vicinity there are some as beautiful farms as I have
seen in Scotland, and as valuable too, if they were brought
to market. There is no church in Hamilton, but there is to
be one built, and the people are expecting a Mr. Gale from
Lachine to be the new minister. The Methodists are building
a large place of worship near the town. Behind the town there
runs a ridge of hills wooded to the top. This is a most inter-
esting sight to a Scot who is apt soon to become weary of the
everlasting level of America. This hill is part of that which
crosses the Niagara River, and forms the celebrated Falls. I
had a great mind to climb to the top, but the day was hazy
through mist, or the smoke of burning wood in the forests,
and I was too much fatigued with the shaking of yesterday.
To-day I hired a waggon or car for a dollar, and drove down
to Dundas to present my letter of introduction to Mr. Pater-
son and his father who are from Perth. Mrs. P., who is from
Dundee, received me in very much the Old Country fashion.
There is no stated ministry in Dundas. There is a church
built by subscription, which is given to every one Who asks
it. It is occupied, as occasion serves, by Episcopalian, Meth-
odist, Presbyterian and Baptist. Mr. Paterson, who is a Bap-
tist, kindly offered to get it for me, some part of Sabbath first,
and I made with him arrangements about occupying it. Dun-
das contains about 500 souls, is situated in a deep bottom
through which runs a small stream. It is thought it will become
a place of considerable trade, for when the canal is once
brought to the village it will be the outlet of the produce of the
rich country behind it and the depot of foreign produce for the
back country. The village is situated in a ravine, is unhealthy,

36 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

being subject to fever and ague. I called this day at the emi-
grant office, the keeper of which spoke very sensibly of emigra-
tion. He said that much more had been said of the Company's
land and of the Crown lands than they deserved for the purpose
of inducing emigrants to settle there. That they who went
to the up country must be able to support themselves for some
time as they can get nothing out of the lands, and when they
raise produce they will have no market to send it to; that they
cannot bring it down except in winter when the snow is on the
ground. Were such truths told at times where only it is of use
to tell it, how much misery would be prevented. Whilst I was
jolting in the coach last night and attempting to sleep, my
thoughts reverted, as they are ever doing, to my dear family
now so widely scattered. I was particularly concerned about
my dear lambs in Scotland. My reverie began about seven
thirty o'clock and while I fervently prayed to God to take care
of them and make them his own daughters;, it occurred to me
that, calculating the difference of time, they had two hours ago
bent their knees at their bedside and prayed fervently for their
father and mother, sisters and brothers, far, far, away from
them, and I fancied that, at the very moment I was thinking
of them they were dreaming of me and their mother. And
that in the midst of their dreams their heart, filled with love
and longing, made them cry out, as they often did, "My own
dear Pa;" and I thought I saw them as they were wont to do,
struggling who should get from me the greatest number of
kisses, and I fancied I felt their warm lips on mine. It was a
joyful and a sad meditation. 0, may God bless and guard and
direct our two dear daughters in the land of their birth, and
direct me to a suitable habitation and home for them and the
rest of the family, whom God, of His infinite mercy save and
guide.

September 19. — Grove Inn. This morning about half an
hour before one o'clock, I left Hamilton returning on the road
to York. My intention when I left York was to proceed as far
as Grimsby and Thorold, to see, at the former place, Mr. East-
man, and at the latter, Mr. Black, from both of whom I had
been led to expect information and encouragement. The above
plan I altered at Hamilton; first, because of the cost of it; and
second, because the whole journey must be performed in the
stage, a mode of travelling too severe for me. I therefore re-
solved to retrace my steps, to call for Mr. King at Nelson, and
to preach on Sabbath at Dundas. In my journey in the coach
from Hamilton I was seized with a bowel complaint, which
forced me to get out of the coach three times, and was exceed-
ingly severe. I became alarmed in case it might be cholera

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 37

and so were my fellow travellers, though they did not say so.
With difficulty I got to Grove Inn,, expecting to get rest, but
when I arrived at four thirty A. M., there was no empty bed
in the house, though there are twenty-one. I therefore wrapped
myself in my cloak and a coverlet and lay down upon a sofa,
where I slept soundly until eight o'clock. After breakfast
called for Mr. Kingt but was disappointed in not meeting him
at home. I called also for the surgeon, but he too was from
home. After having met with nothing but disappointment I
returned to Grove Inn to write my journal, to spend the time,
and to school myself to patience and resignation. As I have
now a little time by myself, I shall put down a few things
which I have by degrees come to the knowledge of, and which
I have not hitherto particularized. 1st. With regard to my
mission, I have heard all the way up that there is great want
of the gospel. Now I hear this from everybody, but every
one refers to some place at a distance from himself. The popu-
lation is scattered in a struggling kind of way along the road
sides, and it must require a long journey for many of them to
meet together in such numbers as to form a church able to
support half sermons. There seems, as far as I have travelled,
to be fully as many preachers as the people are able to
support. Ministers must either be supported from other sources
or they must undergo a very great deal of fatigue in preaching
to different little churches to raise as much as will support
them. From anything I have seen I am not the sort of person
that ought to have come out. The Canadian minister ought
to come out without a family, and to be a man who can endure
hardness. So far as I have seen, it will be difficult for me to
get into a place where there is a congregation, and I must for
a long time be a pensioner upon the bounty of the Synod at
times. Scattered as the population is, the people are rendered
more destitute of religious institutions, in consequence of their
being split into so many sects, whereby no sect is able to support
a teacher by itself. There seems no way of remedying this evil.
The people could not bear an established church which might
go far to cure it; and there is no class of society, which
possesses such influence as to draw the rest after it. The only
way to cure the evil (as far as I see) is to educate a race of
ministers so far above the common level, as that they shall
give a tone to the public mind and thus by the goodness of the
article, beat out of the field all half bred adventurers. The
Methodists will be the prevailing party till the people become
enlightened. 2nd. In reference to the land, I have made a few
observations. All the way from York to the head of the lake

38 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

is one continuous sand bank. There is little vegetable mould
on the tops in some places and in many places there is none.
The soil is, therefore, very light. It is said to bear heavy crops
and it certainly is easily worked. I am told that this is no year
to, judge the land by. It has been burnt up by a summer so
dry, as that the like of it has not been for many years. My
opinion (making all deductions) is not very favorable as to
the soil. It certainly is inferior to the cultivated parts of Scot-
land. The climate is far better. I have always looked with
a kind of terror at the enormous trees which must be cut
down before the soil can be available; yet every person to
whom I have expressed my feelings has ridiculed them. Chop-
ping may seem terrible to a Scotchman; it is the delight of
the American. Wood may be chopped and burnt off for from
eight to twelve dollars an acre, and this seems by far the
better way. The thing is done at once and the family may be
supported during the first season. A Dr. Bell whom I con-
sulted to-day about my ailment says that he could take three
months' provisions with him into the forest in the spring and
that he would have no fears as to his support. He would plant
potatoes and eat the produce in three months. He would sow
corn, beans, cucumbers and wheat, and raise enough for the
winter. I shall be very guarded in the accounts which I send
home respecting the land and the country generally. 3rd. I
am now accustomed to live in an American inn. The plan is
much superior, so far as travelling is concerned, to what I have
met in the Old Country. All mess at a common table, and are
summoned by the ringing of a bell. Every one rises when he
pleases. The bearing of all at table is equal to any usually
found in inns; I have ever seen the most polite attention at
table. All travellers of decent appearance mess at the same
table, and this has the effect of giving a polish to them which
is not to be found in the same class of society at home. I have
seen tradesmen deport themselves with great propriety. They
know how every dish is to be eaten and they ask for what they
want with modesty. The charge is a dollar a day including a
bed. At small taverns, brandy and gin are set on the table,
to be mixed with water, and every one takes what he pleases.
The bottle is always handed to a person who buys spirits and
water at the bar of an inn to measure out what he guesses is
a glass in the bottom of a tumbler. I do not think tavern
keepers lose anything in this way. There is never anything
given to waiters and coachmen by lodgers or passengers. The
lodgers congregate about the door, sitting under the piazza,

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 39

or lounge, smoking or reading or dozing in the bar room; and
all seem at ease and comfortable. To-day at the Grove Inn
there called with Dr. Bell a Mr. Willison from Leslie Hay's
Parish. We both were acquainted with some persons in Lan-
arkshire, about whom we soon got into a nice talk which lasted
for nearly two hours. I ought to have remarked in noticing
the inferiority of the soil, that I have been told that there is a
strip of about six or eight miles broad all along the lakes which
is sandy, bearing chiefly pine; that behind that begins the
country of hard wood, which indicates the superiority of the
soil. I must wait, in forming an opinion, till I see. I find there
is more need of using one's own eyes and ears in Canada, than
I was wont to do in Scotland. Perhaps it was my own fault.
In the evening Mr. King, of Nelson, called for me. He entered
very cordially into the object of my mission and seemed in
every way willing to give me all the information and countenance
in his power. From him I heard the usual declaration of the
wants of Upper Canada, and at the same time an account of
the inability of the people to support a minister. Mr. King
mentioned a few places where the people might be willing to
hear the gospel ; but as these places are all within the; bounds
of the Presbytery, I do not think myself at liberty to visit them
till I shall have obtained the sanction of the Presbytery. Of
course I now defer entering upon my labors in this quarter till
the Presbytery have met, and till I shall have got my family
accommodated. My prospects are not so bright as they once
were, but all may yet be well. Ever since I came to America
I have been learning and unlearning every day.

September 20. — This morning at four o'clock I left Grove
Inn and arrived at York about twelve. For reasons not proper
to be recorded in my journal, I took up my residence with Miss
Harris, who keeps a boarding house. Still unwell. I read in
the Canadian Watchman the protest of some Kirk ministers
against the proposed union with the United Synod of Canada.
These reasons of protest are just what might be expected; they
proceed upon a knowledge of the subject. All of them, save
one, I had stated repeatedly to Mr. Stuart and others, as grounds
of objections to the union on the part of himself and brethren.
Mr. Stuart and the Brockville Presbytery have been far too
precipitate, and they cannot now but suffer in feeling and
reputation when their admission is now resisted, after they
had consented to submit to the degradation of consenting with
unwise haste to an admission which cannot now be accepted.
I saw from the first that it was a bad job, but now as things

40 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

are as they are, I shall not say a word, because I do not wish
to take a side, and because I see the measure will go as I wish
it of its own accord. On roving to-day along the road I saw
some fine Sumac trees, some butternuts and a very great deal
of Sassafras, growing wild in the woods. Alsso some fine Cedar,
Hemlock, and Pine trees. These woods afford a fine study. I
wish I knew more botany! The road is very bad, and the jolt-
ing of the stage pained me a good deal. A very little degree
of trouble and expense would make the roads very fine; and if
the roads were good nothing would be more easy than the
movement of a Canadian coach.

September 21. — Confined all day to the house in consequence
of taking medicine. In the same house were lodged two sur-
geons, with whom I was acquainted — Mr. John Anderson and
Mr. McDonald. Also a young gentleman from Edinburgh, Mr.
Gordon, who is come out to buy land. Was amused to-day with
the pranks of a young black bear in a yard near by. A Mr.
Henderson called who gave me a good deal of information
about churches in Canada. Some of his opinions I thought
valuable, and some of them very absurd. He has the opinion
that ministers ought to be left, when the folks take a fancy to
change them; and that they ought to bear patiently all the
ill treatment they may get, and on no account to shew the
least feeling. He said that every minister ought to have a
farm ; that he cannot live without it ; and that- the farm to be
of any value should be his own. But if a minister buy a piece
of land because it is convenient to his church, then if his folks
take a fancy to get quit of him, how distressing must be his
position? He cannot go and seek another church, because he
cannot take his land with him. He must therefore cease to
preach, and must live in a neighborhood that has affronted him.
The system is bad. The Canadian churches must wait till they
can support the ministers without the necessity of doing
something else for their support. The Canadian ministers must
take different ground with the people ; and they must be better
provided for if they are to be better trained and more effective.
Cheap ministers are like everything else which is too cheap —
they are not good. This day has passed rather heavily. I have
had, as usual, many anxieties about my family. May God guide
us all to do, and to submit to, His holy will.

September 22. — York. Little of any consequence has hap-
pened to-day. In the forenoon I went out to Haggs' Mills, seven
miles from town, to look at a house, but it was not suitable.
House hunting in the afternoon. Have felt myself better to-

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 41

day, for which God be praised. How unlike my Saturdays now
are1 to what they used to be at home. I wish I were where I
could be wholly employed about my ministerial work. I hope
and trust I shall soon be settled.

September 23, Sabbath. — Preached for Mr. Harris, who
took the, opportunity and my assistance to give Mr. Jenkins a
rest at Scarboro. I preached in the morning from Matt. 4, 1-12 ;
and in the afternoon from 1 John, 4-16. The first went off
comfortably, the latter not so much so. Dined with Mr.
Ketchum, to whom I explained the reason of my coming* to
Canada. He approved of my mission, and said that there is
abundant room for my labors. At the same time he remarked
that he thought the Canadians ought to support their own
ministers, because they are able to do it. He is a determined
enemy to establishments in religion, and has very enlightened
views on the subject. His testimony is of greater importance
as he is a member of the Parliament. In the evening I heard
preach Mr. Fraser, Methodist, in his own chapel. His text was :
"Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the King-
dom of Heaven." Introduction. — The text declares a most im-
portant truth. If we be not born again we must appear on the
left hand of the judge, be condemned and cast into Hell; be
forever miserable. On the other hand, if we be born again, &c.
It is therefore of great importance. I obviate some mistakes.
It has been said that regeneration is baptism by water. If this
be the case, then they who are not baptized cannot be saved,
if the text be believed. What, shall we say that all the Quakers
who are not baptized with water, men remarkable for their
morality and for standing at the head of every charitable list,
are lost ? Horrible thought. And oh, ye mothers, can you bear
the idea that those dear infants whom you suckled at your
breast are lost, because they were not baptized? But hush
those sobs and dry those tears, they are with Jesus, &c. 2nd.
Explain the new truth. First, it is a great change; second, it
is a sudden change. The sermon was loose, extempore, vapid,
but well delivered. Good singing but I did not like it.

September 24. — Have not yet found a suitable house, at
which I am much concerned. Read to-day a letter of Mr. Bell's
in the Watchman, highly approving of the union. In said letter
Mr. Bell has exposed himself and his cause. He has not seen
the protest published by the Kirk clergy. He is evidently fond
of being taken into the lists of an established clergy. These
may be local reasons, selfish reasons. One of Mr. Harris'
elders, Mr. McLellan, told me to-day that so determined are

42 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

the members of the church at York never to have any con-
nection with an established church, that if Mr. H. consents to
the union in the present terms, they will request him never
again to enter this pulpit. This will fix him at least. Oh, that
I may be directed by God in the right way ; that I may never
offend Him, and may serve Him all my days.

September 25. — In the afternoon I, along with Mr. Mc-
Lellan, set out for the meeting of Presbytery, which is to be
held at Streetsville to-morrow, and we proceeded on horseback
as far as the town, on the River Credit. I had been over this
road before, and have made scarcely any new remarks. I be-
come more reconciled every day to the appearance of the
country. Every person tells me of the ease with which a person
may make a living in it. I am anxious to have my family
settled, that we may begin to do something for ourselves. I
regretted not having time to visit the Indian village about
three miles down the Credit. The Indians are said to be a very
interesting people. They have the exclusive right of fishing
to the mouth of the river. They make baskets; they cultivate
a little land. They have a school, and a Methodist preacher
labors among them. They have forbid spirituous liquors to be
sold in the settlement.

September 26. — Left Credit this morning about six o'clock
and rode up to Streetsville, about four miles. The road all
the way through the bush, as it is called. On both sides of the
road there are some splendid timber trees; the work of chop-
ping and burning is going on very rapidly. The cleared land
seems to promise pretty good farms, soil sandy. Streetsville
is on the Credit. It seems well placed, and has the advantage
of good water privilege. I breakfasted with Mr. John Butchart,
from whom I received a most hearty welcome. I attended the
meeting of the Presbytery. All the members present except Mr.
Harris. An elder attended from Niagara, about forty-five
miles. The meeting was a pro veta one. The subject was to
discuss the union. Mr. Jenkins of Markham, a plain man of
strong, unaffected common sense, opened the meeting in an
able speech, the amount of which was, that he could not think
of uniting a church established by heaven with one established
by men. Mr. Bell, the clerk, made at least half a score of
speeches, characterized by every quality which they ought to
have wanted, in favor of it. He was supported by Mr. Ferg-
uson, and by the moderator, who took a share in the debate.
Mr. Eastman and Mr. Bryning and Mr. McLellan, the York elder,
were of Mr. Jenkin's sentiments. There was no motion, but

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 43

the business ended in approving of the union, in asserting their
approbation of the confession of faith and in referring the busi-
ness to their congregations to report at next meeting. I never
witnessed such a Presbytery (but one). After the business I
sought and obtained leave to state the nature of my commission.
I was most cordially welcomed. Liberty was given me to preach
in the vacancies of the Presbytery, and their countenance in
any field which I might occupy beyond their bounds. I have
every reason to be grateful. Dined with the Presbytery, and
in the evening rode to Logan's, within fourteen miles of York,
where I slept. My reflections on the day's proceedings I must
keep to myself.

September 27. — York. Started from Logan's this morn-
ing at six, and returned to York rather fatigued. Had some
conversation with Messrs. Harris, McLellan and Drummond re-
specting the establishment of a missionary society in York to
send the gospel to the destitute parts of the country. The
proposal met with their approbation. The measure I think a
good one, and I shall exert myself to have it carried out when
I return, if it please God I come back. Cholera rather revived
in York. Since Sabbath I have heard of eleven cases and four
deaths. May the Lord compass me about with the shield of
His protection, and also all mine. In Him we trust.

September 28. — Wrote a letter to my dear Isobel, and one to
Mr. Boyd, Prescott, desiring him to send my luggage, and giving
him an account of the doings of the Presbytery. The letter to
my dear spouse, was to desire her to come up with all con-
venient speed. Went out to Richmond Hill to assist Mr. Jen-
kins in the dispensation of the Supper. Staid over night at
Dalgel in Vaughan with Mr. Dalgel's family — a fine Scotch
family. Mr. Dalgel came from near Hamilton some five years
ago, and bought 200 acres. They have done well. Mrs. Ball,
Streetsville, is a daughter.

September 29. — Returned to Richmond Hill with Mr. Ball.
Preached from John 12, 32. There was not more than fifty
present. Lodged in the house of Squire Mills, an elder of the
church. As a squire he is extremely unlike his brethren in
office in the Old Country. As a Christian he may, for aught I
say, rank with his brethren anywhere. The state of Canadian
hospitality is, to attend to yourself, for few persons will; no
clothes brushed; no shoes cleaned; and no one seems to think
such things necessary. There were lodging in the same house
several persons from a distance, quite in the style of the old-
fashioned aristocrat. Mr. Matthews from Gwillimbury,

44 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

eighteen miles; Mr. Davidson from Pickering, twenty miles.
Most of the members of the Presbyterian Church are owners
of the soil. All dressed for the most part in home made cloth,
all exceedingly comfortable in appearance. All those from a
distance rode or came in waggons, their horses tied to the
railing till service was over. The men and women sat on differ-
ent sides, which had a very odd look. During the evening got
much information from Mr. Matthews respecting the wants of
the gospel; that many are willing to hear it; that they are so
widely scattered; that few congregations could support a
minister.

September 30, Sabbath. — Richmond Hill. Mr. Jenkins
preached the sermon John 1, 29. There was a good congre-
gation, all very well dressed. I preached in the evening from
1 Thess. 4, 1. I was delighted to meet Mr. Hislop and wife
from Peebles ; they knew my brother well, and had often heard
me preach. Saw also Mr. Stuart, who wasc an elder in Jedburgh ;
he too is a land owner. The church at Richmond Hill is not in
a very prosperous state; and when we consider the smallness
of the supply, and the kind, it is no wonder. The day comfort-
ably spent. Went to lodge with Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Bell in
the house of Mr. Marsh, an elder, a very decent man, who
shewed us kindness.

October 1. — After sermon by Mr. Bell went to Mr. Jenkin's
house in the waggon of Mr. Fenwick from Pt. Cowan green.

October 2. — Whiled away the day in wandering about Mr.
J.'s farm — 200 acres of good land. He enjoys rustic plenty,
and has a fine family. I chopped a tree, the first of the Can-
adian forest I have felled.

October 3. — Went to Markham to look at a house to let,
but did not take it. During all the time I have been here I
have been dreaming night and day of my family. May God
preserve them all in His fear from all evil.

October 4. — York. Returned to York, thankful to God for
His mercies to me who am so undeserving. On my way saw
where the rooting up machine had been at work. It heaves the
tree out of the ground with the greatest ease. Saw a man
from Oro, who gives a fine account of that district, but there
is no religious instruction. I find that everyone believes he
has got his lot in the very best part of the country, a happy
disposition. Was delighted to hear from my dear wife that
all are well. Oh, that God would teach us all to be thankful
for His goodness.

October 5. — Friday. I found my luggage by mere accident

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 46

in Feehace's warehouse. I had it brought up to my lodging,
and was quite glad to find it all right. I now wait the arrival
of my dear family; and may they and I meet in health and
comfort by the blessing of God.

October 6. — Mr. Rintoul told me to-day that he had seen
in the papers the death of Mr. Robertson, my fellow mission-
ary, at Montreal. I at once got the paper and read that he
died September 3rd of cholera. My heart was exceedingly
pained at the news. I left, him in excellent health. We were
sent on the same errand. One was taken, the other left. As
a missionary companion I have lost nothing, because he seemed
to choose Montreal, though he did not tell me. But I do grieve
that one who bid fair to be useful in the church, in a place
where the gospel is much needed, is cut off just as he entered
ori his labors. And I feel his death is a warning to myself to
go to do the work of an evangelist with all diligence, that I may
be useful to men while I live, and may prepare to follow my
brother in the work, whenever it shall please God to call me
away. His death will be a disappointment to the Synod; but I
hope they will view it as the doing of God, and will not be dis-
couraged from sending out more men to the land where min-
isters are so much wanted. Every day offers to me more of the
necessities of this province, and I am getting impatient to get
my family settled that I may enter into my field of labor.

October 7, Sabbath. — Preached to-day for Mr. Harris, and
for Mr. Stuart the Baptist in the evening. I had engaged to
preach in Toronto and Etobikoke, but the rain and the bad
roads prevented me. The Sabbath was profitably spent till
after the sermon in the evening, and then some persons called;
and by this the conversation took a light and trifling turn
which beset me, but I did not prevent it, though I might have
done so. There seems to be a good deal of church-going at York,
and also a great deal of carelessness and Sabbath desecration.
Things are done openly here which I never saw done in Scot-
land; but upon the whole I do not think there is so much
wickedness in York as in a town of like population in the Old
Country. Theft and pilfering are here scarcely heard of.
Everybody seems to favor good morals. I have heard no laugh-
ing at religion and religious men by those who make no pro-
fession. Heard to-day a great deal about Methodists and
camp meetings. ,

October 8. — Spent part of the evening with Mr. Stuart. He
recommended Dundas very much as a place suitable for me,
saying it is very destitute; that there are many places in the

46 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

neighborhood where I could preach in the evening; and he
assured me that Messrs. Paterson and Leslie, two Baptists,
would favor me in all their power. I do not like Dundas ; it is
low and unhealthy ; and I should not like to live in it, but would
have no objection to preach in it. Mr. Stuart is one of the
fruits of the revivals in Moulin and Perthshire, and so is his
wife. Both assured me that it was there they were first
brought to the knowledge of the truth. Had a good deal of
talk with him about the religious parties in U. C. The Kirk
has fifteen ministers; the United Synod fifteen; the Baptists
about forty-five. About 3,000 in full communion. The Meth-
odists the most numerous. There are not less than a dozen
Episcopal ministers in York, some of them regular clergy, and
others who are teachers in the college, and who are employed
all over the country at such distance as they can go to on Sat-
urday and return on Monday ; and they are as zealous in propa-
gating Episcopacy as any other sect. Met to-day some of the
passengers of the Crown. An old man from Ireland, Mr.
Tellock, and Mr. Harvey and family. Saw Mr. Harvey who
has been here some time and has 600 acres in Oro. Was told
by him that his district is very destitute of religious instruction,
and was invited to go there and preach, and lodge at his house.
I thus find when I begin to make inquiries places for laboring
are to be found in all quarters.

October 9. — York. Spent the forenoon with Mr. Drum-
mond, who gave me a great deal of information about the
country. Began to read Taylor of Norwich on the Romans, and
was much pleased with his opening section. Had much con-
versation with Mr. Stuart and Mr. Lesly respecting Dundas as
a missionary station. Still I do not feel inclined to settle there,
but I will go anywhere Providence wills me. The weather
warm and pleasant.

October 10. — Confined all day to the house by rain. Called
for Mr. Rintoul, and chatted pleasantly an hour with him. He
is rather stiff, and probably thinks of his church ; but he will be
frank when he knows how little value I set upon such things.
Have been anxious all day about my dear family, who, I suppose
leave Hammond to-day. How uncomfortable they must be in
such weather; and I have not yet found a house to put them
into. May God preserve us all. May He keep and guard them
from all danger and all sin.

October 11. — Nothing special.

October 12. — Rejoiced to-day bv the arrival of my dear
family, all safe, and all well. Oh, thou my soul, bless God the

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS

47

Lord; and all that in me is be stirred up, His holy name to
magnify and bless ! In my haste I took a house in York for my
family, for three months, but the wife and son had not con-
sulted with the husband, and he spoke to them and to me in
a style which I did not like, so I just ordered off my luggage
and took all my family to Miss Harris, putting up with a good
deal of inconvenience. Along with my dear family came Mr.
Christie, a fellow laborer. His coming was a source of the
truest joy to me. He will supply the place of Mr. Robertson.
Oh, that we may both be enabled to labor in the service of God
in His church till the day of our death, and that we may ac-
complish the wishes of the Synod.

October 13. — York. Had a great deal of conversation with
Mr. Christie on our mission. We both thought it our duty to
go westward where the people are most destitute of the means
of religious instruction, and where we shall not come in con-
tact with the Synod of York or the Kirk. Mr. C. seems resolved
not to unite with the U. S. if they shall unite with the Kirk;
and I heartily agree. Having engaged to preach at Scarborough
to-morrow I went out this evening and lodged with Mr. Johnson
where I received good Scottish hospitality. The road to S. is
in many places through fine forests.

October 14. — Scarborough. Preached in the forenoon from
1 John, 4-16. A very good congregation. In the afternoon
there were fewer. They are not accustomed to two sermons.
The congregation has been for sixteen years under Mr. Jenkins,
who is now too frail to give them sermons even once in two
weeks. They are wishing to have a minister to themselves, and
are wishing me to settle amongst them. I, of course, keep off
the subject till I see what will be the result of my preaching
to them. The people seem to be very comfortable, though I
suppose they have not many hard dollars. Most of them are
Scotch. The morning very cold but fine. Alex went with me
and enjoyed the walk.

October 15. — York. Mr. Wm. Craig to-day brought me and
Alex, to York, each on horseback. He is a brother to Dr. Craig
of Peebles, and it was really a treat to me to meet a brother
of one whom I have long regarded as a friend.

October 16. — Rented to-day a house for my family on
Dundas Road about one and a half miles from York. The house
is small, but it is the only one within a reasonable distance from
York at a price I could afford to pay. It is five dollars a month.
Spent the evening with Mrs. Freeland, Mr. Walter Thomsons,
all from Glasgow. I enjoyed it very much.

48 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

October 17. — Took possession of the house I had rented. I
and my family exceedingly happy that we are all together
again in a house we could call home, the first time since we
left Pitrodie. It is small, but when we put our little furniture
in it looked very comfortable, and we were all happy. Felt very
comfortable in thinking of the tender mercies of God to us all.
May this gratitude excite us all to love and good works. I
bought nine chairs at 3s. 8d. each, a fir table at 6s. 6d., a black
walnut table for 25s., bed 35s., and a bed for 15s.; and this I
consider furniture enough for our present need.

October 18. — As it rained heavily all day I was confined to
the house and spent the time writing letters which should have
been written long ago.

October 19. — Occupied great part of the day examining the
state of the packages brought from Scotland, which I found
all right. Rather unwell of cold in the breast.

October 20. — Went into York to-day and bought some
necessary articles, and made a few calls. Mr. Bell, my neighbor,
called to-night, and we had a great deal of talk on the religious
wants of the West. He told me that all along the shore of
Lake Erie there are not any ministers except Methodists.

October 21. — Sacrament of the Lord's Supper dispensed to-
day in Mr. Harris' church. I preached the Action sermon, Matt.
23, 27-38. Served one table on justification, adoption and
sanctification, and preached the evening sermon on 1 John 2-1.
The order in which the communion was observed did not ap-
pear to advantage. The want of order, such as I have been ac-
customed to, disturbed me not a little, and prevented that full
repose of mind so necessary to my profiting by the service as I
wished; and yet I trust I was the better for the ordinance.
Stayed in York all night with Mr. Harris.

October 22. — Home. Spent the day principally at home.
In the evening went to drink tea with Mr. Henderson, a mile
up Yonge Street. Stayed all night with him on account of the
darkness of the nigrht and of the heavy rain.

October 23. — Home. Wrote to Dr. Peddie to-day, my first
letter. Drew a bill of exchange on him for £55 6s., being the
amount of my half yearly salary, after deducting 4s. 4d. as my
payment for the widows' fund. I got 8i/2 per cent, premium, in
all $267.50. I bought a stove for £2 5s. and pipes, 50c. Day fine
and cold. Roads very bad.

October 24. — Home. Added a few lines to Dr. Peddie's
letter. Went into York and spent the evening with Mrs. Free-
land, very kindly received.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 40

October 25. — Heard of two fatal cases of cholera. Intro-
duced to-day to Mr. Munro, who promised to give me letters
to some persons of note in the western country. I am very
happy that my family have got a home for the winter, and that
I am left at liberty to enter on my mission in good earnest. I
therefore, purpose (D. V.) to go to the western district to-
morrow ; take the steam boat to Niagara, from thence to Grims-
by or Thorold, to meet Mr. Christie, and travel along with him.
And now may the Lord of His infinite mercy direct my way and
render me successful in my work. All my dependence is upon
Him. He it is who can give me right feelings, who can enable
me to speak for Him to men, and who can render what is spoken
successful. May I have prudence to walk in wisdom before the
people, and to recommend the cause which I advocate by the
holiness of my conversation.

October 26. — St. Catherines. Sailed from York this morn-
ing in the Canada, for Niagara, at seven o'clock. The sail very
pleasant, but extremely cold. Arrived at Niagara half past one.
On the point of land at the junction of the river with Lake On-
tario on the American side is Fort Ontario, which, were it
strong enough, might effectually guard the entrance of the
river. On the left bank stands Fort George, the British barrier
to the river. It is of mud and in ruins. There were a few
soldiers on guard. The Americans took the fort during the
war; and indeed, they seem to have had no very hard task to
perform. Around it the ground is all cleared for a mile; the
ground is quite level, and there is not a bush or a knoll, not a
stone to shelter from the fire of the garrison. It is better de-
fended on the Canadian than on the American side; better de-
fended against friends than foes. The Town of Niagara is
about a mile from the mouth of the river. There were coaches
from the different lines which took up the passengers free.
Put up at Chrysler's Inn, which is a very good house, where I
had a very good dinner. Hired a stage along with Mr. Wash-
burn and his lady and a Miss McGibbon for St. Catherines.
On the way we saw many very fine farms. Old settle^ lands.
The fields cleared of stumps, orchards in full bearing. When
we were within two and a half miles of St. Catherines our at-
tention was arrested by strange sounds proceeding from the
bush about a quarter of a mile from the road. We stopped and
found it was a camp meeting. Supped at Dyer's Inn, a very
good house.

October 27. — Forty Mile Creek. Before breakfast took a
stroll on the side of the Welland canal, which passes close to

50 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

St. Catherines. Went into a factory of wooden dishes, turned
solid out of the tree. They there have a bottom put into them
and two hoops put on, and are then varnished outside, and in-
side. They are very neat and cheap. Out of the same block
of wood three or four or five dishes are sometimes turned of
different sizes, either pine or black walnut. After breakfast
walked four miles along the canal to Thorold, and delivered my
letter to Mr. Black. He entered very readily into the views of
the Synod. He called with me for Mr. Keefer, father and son.
Mr. Keefer, a chief man of the place, was a Methodist but, dis-
satisfied, became a Presbyterian. Both support a Reformed
Dutch Church, but they think there would be no difficulty in
establishing a Presbyterian church in Thorold. They urged me
to call back very soon. The village is a very sweet place; it
will one day have a good trade; is populous; and the country
all around is cleared and populous. Returned to St. Catherines
for dinner; after dinner set off for Forty Mile Creek. St.
Catherines is a very beautiful place, not more than eight years
old ; has a very good population upward of 500. There is an
American Presbyterian, an Episcopal Church, and a Methodist.
Day dry and fine. The first day of Indian Summer.

October 28, Sabbath. — Forty Mile Creek. Arrived here last
night about eight o'clock. Being recommended by Mr. Eastman
to his father-in-law Mr. Griffin, I called for him; was most
frankly invited to stay in his house, which I did. There is a
Presbyterian church building here of brick, made to hold 400
or 450 people. The church here, together with another at Clin-
ton, about five miles off, intend to have a minister between
them and give him a house and 500 dollars. I preached in the
school house at three o'clock. There was a goodly attendance
though not full, in consequence of no notice being given of my
coming. Did not think the people very attentive. A young man
sitting near the desk took up the Psalm book after I had laid it
down and kept it. Strange forwardness. Spent the day com-
fortably. Preached from John 12, 32.

.October 29. — This morning Mr. Griffin asked me to come
and stay at the Forty. Took a walk to-dav down to the lake,
and1 thought the whole scenery about the Forty much superior
to almost anything I had seen in America. Behind the village
there is what is called a mountain, which I climbed, and found
an immense tract of cleared land. From the summit there is
a splendid view of Lake Ontario, skirted towards the North by
the woods of York, and stretching on all sides as far as the
eye can see. There is every prospect of there being a new

THE PROUDPOOT PAPERS 51

church here. There is an Episcopal church which, here as in
other places, contains the gentility.

October 30.— Forty Mile Creek. Did nothing to-day but
stroll about the place, and was much 'pleased with the scenery.
Mr. Griffin had a nice little party this evening, as also last
evening. I was much pleased with the Canadians. After sup-
per Mr. G. spoke seriously to me about becoming minister of
Forty Mile and Clinton. He wished me to preach at Clinton
where there is a good congregation and many very substantial
farmers ; that after preaching at Clinton he would summon to-
gether the chief people of the congregation and see how much
they would be disposed to give. I promised to return to them
(D. V.) but made no promise to stay. I explained the nature
of my mission, and he wished me not to engage myself in the
west till I should return.

October 31. — Was gratified this morning by seeing the
peculiar atmosphere called Indian Summer. The sun appeared
a bright orb of a copper color. The air smoky. It is not mist,
but a dim haze. I had not thought of the cause of it, but a man
informed me that the mist is caused by the burning of immense
meadows in the West called prairies. Mr. Eastman gave me a
letter to Mr. Marsh, Hamilton, and Mr. Griffin one to Mr.
Wilkes, Brantford, and one to Mr. Smith, Paris. Received to-
day a letter from Mr. Christie, saying that he was off to the
London district and was anxious I should go to him.

November 1. — As I feared the coach might be too full, as
it was yesterday, I walked from Forty Mile to Hamilton. The
day was smoky, and there were many slight showers. The land
on the whole road to Hamilton is in a very good state of cultiv-
ation. There is great difficulty in getting land to buy, and when
a farm comes into the market it sells high. Nine miles from
the Forty is Stoney Creek, a thriving village. Hamilton is a
most beautifully situated town, and will in time in all probability
excell both York and Kingston, in spite of the advantage they
have from the Government offices. Was well received by Mr.
Marsh, who talked a very great deal. Almost as soon as I was
sat down he was in full drive on temperance societies and re-
vivals. He is a smart man and has done much good. In family
worship we all read three verses apiece. I prayed first, then
Mr. Marsh, then Miss Eastman, then Mrs. Marsh ; we all prayed.
This form of family worship I had never seen before. I do
not much approve of it. In some cases it may do very well, but
not in all. During family worship there was a heavy thunder-
storm. Mr. Marsh was making a sofa when I went in .

52 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

November 2. — Left Hamilton to-day about ten, and after a
tedious and wearisome drive over wretched roads arrived at
Brantford about five o'clock. The view from the mountain
above Hamilton is a very splendid one. Below the mountain
is Hamilton, a sweet little place, growing very fast. Beyond
the village is Burlington Bay. There are rising grounds all
around which are seen to much advantage. On the left is the
continuation of the mountain down the west end of Lake On-
tario, all clothed with wood to the very summit. I saw in the
sides of the road up the mountain some free stone and plenty
of lime stone. It is the general opinion that there is plenty of
coal, and that in a short time it will be wrought, for wood is
getting pretty high priced. Passed Ancaster to-day. A nice
little village, but it will never grow large. It is built of wood.
Arrived at Brantford, and immediately went and presented my
letter to Mr. Wilkes, who very kindly invited me to stay in his
house.

November 3. — Brantford is situated on a high bank above
the Grand River where there is a wooden bridge. It is a very
thriving place, more than half of all the houses are stores, and
yet they are all doing well; some are rich. The Grand River
here is larger than the Tay at Perth. It is navigable down to
Lake Erie for boats, with the exception of fourteen miles of
rapids. It is proposed to render it navigable all the way down,
by locking, or by cutting a canal, and then to continue the canal
to Dundas. In Brantford there are very many Indians con-
stantly about upon the street. They have in general very good
faces, nothing savage about them, but many have a childish
frolicksomeness about them, which, were there provocation,
could easily be turned to the fiercest enmity. In drawing near
to Brantford about three miles, we passed a village of Cayuga
Indians. The houses are small, ill built, and not clean. There
are some patches of cleared land around their houses, but the
ground is not well cleared. It is something that they are learn-
ing the habits of civilized life. The females all wear a blanket
over a short gown and petticoat, men and women barefoot. Not
darker than Spanish. After breakfast to-day, I walked over to
Paris, seven miles, to deliver my letter to Mr. Smith. . My in-
tention was to preach at Paris in the forenoon and return and
preach in Brantford in the evening. Mr. Smith is just selling up
his house and had no bed so did not ask me to stop. The Inn is
a very uncomfortable one, and as nobody bade me God speed, I
returned to Brantford in the evening. This was a very great
disappointment, and I was so silly as to take it to heart. The

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 53

road from Brantford is all the way through the forest, which
is composed of oak. The trees about one and a half feet around
and from thirty to forty-five feet high. At Paris, which is
on the right bank of the Grand River,, there is a valuable bed
of plaster of Paris which is wrought to considerable extent.
The stone is pounded and sown to the extent of one-half or
three-quarters of a bushel to the acre. There are saw and grist
and wool mills. It is just? two years since the first stake was
driven in, and now there are about seventy large frame houses
and many stores. Smith's Creek flows into the Grand River.
It is a lazy stream. Got acquainted with two Scotch men and
one woman, members of the Secession Church at Glasgow.
Returned to Brantford very weary.

November 4. — Brantford. Preached in the morning in the
school house very comfortably to about fifty people. Heard
Mr. Leygan, the Episcopal, in the afternoon. Preached in the
evening for Mr. Bryning in the school house, well filled. Were
this not one of Mr.» B.'s stations, it is in the very state to be
a good place for a Presbyterian congregation; but little as it
does for him, he could not want that little. Mr. Wilkes would,
were he encouraged and stimulated, commence building a
church, and would welcome me to it. Mr. Bryning came in the
evening and I had a good deal of conversation with him about
my mission. I resolved to accompany him home on Monday
and talk further on the subject. He seems to think the London
district a good one for my labors and I am resolved to go
thither, the more especially as Mr. Christie has gone before.

November 5. — Mount Pleasant. Came here with Mr. B.
to-day. The village is six miles from Brantford on the right
bank of the Grand River. The country is still all sandy. The
timbers principally oak, and not very thick on the ground. This
is called a mountain, but it is really a ridge. In the evening I
preached in the school house to congregation which Mr. B. had
called together as we came along. The house was full. The
singing good. There was a meeting of the Temperance Society
which was one reason for the congregation. Received from Mr.
B. a most hearty welcome. His partner is a warm-hearted,
active, smart woman, who exerts herself beyond what minister's
wives are required to do in any place I have seen. The income
of Mr. B. from all his places does not exceed $200 in any year.
From him I learned that the Canadians are most unwilling to
pay anything to their minister at all like a competence, and that
if they are spoken to on the subject they will run off to other
denominations and pronounce the man who asks what may

54 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

make him live, a selfish, greedy, money-loving man — altogether
unlike the Apostles who wrought with their hands that they
might make the gospel free of charge. Such is the prospect
for ministers in Canada. The ticket from Brantford to London
is $3.00. The day cold. Indian Summer has been soon over.

November 6. — Canfield's Tavern. This morning I went
over from Mr. Bryning's to Van Norman's Tavern in order to
meet the mail. While I was waiting in the tavern, tliere came
into the bar room an emigrant from Ross-shire, who was in
quest of a school or some employment in that line. He was
destined for Prince Edward Island, but the ship would not land
him there but brought him on to Quebec. He tried school in
Glengary, but finding the people more willing to employ him
than to pay him, he came off seeking another place. He had a
good number of recommendations to influential men, each of
whom had advised him to go somewhere else, assuring him of
success in other places. Bandied about in this way he had gone
to West Gwillimbury, to York, and was now on his way to Zorra
or London. He seemed very much depressed; his eyes were
constantly filled with tears. He had lost a child after leaving
Montreal; had left his wife and children at Glengary; and was
in quest of something for himself to do that he might be able
to support them. Besides all this, he deposited £40 in a Glas-
gow bank which when he came to Greenock had failed, and this
stripped him of his little all. I felt exceedingly for him, the
more that there were points in his case like my own. I spoke
to him and gave him those comforts which I ought to take to
myself. Perhaps they may be more good to him than me. How
erroneous are the opinions of Canada entertained by people in
the Old Country. There are scenes of distress encountered by
emigrants of which they at home have no idea. What a pity
that some one acquainted with the country does not write a
fair account, of it, and undeceive those who may be preparing
to come out. If spared, I shall think it my duty to attempt
something of the kind, if I can get a sufficient quantity of
authentic information. I dined at Van Norman's Tavern, and
fed Mr. Bryning's horse. Came on to Canfield's Inn through a
piece of the very worst road I had ever seen.

November 7. — Mr. Wm. Lee's. Paid for supper, bed and
breakfast 2s 9d. Started about 9 A. M., the road as usual
wretched. After journeying thirteen miles we exchanged our
covered waggon for an uncovered one. The whole day ex-
cessively cold. Indeed it snowed heavily all day, and towards
evening it froze very hard. Mr. Lee's home is near where the

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 55

road turns to London village, from which it is distant about
two miles. I had a letter to him from Mr. Bryning, and it was
most fortunate that it was so, for I should not have been able
to walk in the cold two miles over a road in which I must at
every step have sunk to the middle of the leg. After we entered
the Township of Oxford to-day, the road became a great deal
better than I had seen it from Ancaster. Leaving Oxford we
came to Dorchester, in which are what is called the buck wheat
pines, the most wretched place I have seen in Canada.

November 8. — Mr. Wm. Lee gave me a reception which
would have done honor to a Scotchman. He walked with me
to-day to London and introduced me to Dr. Lee, his brother,
who, strange to say, keeps the principal tavern in London.
Dr. Lee, both on account of his brother's introduction and on
account of Mr. Bryning's letter, received me very kindly. He
introduced me to a Mr. Robertson, storekeeper, a native of
Renfre^w, a magistrate, and one of the leading men connected
with the Kirk of Scotland. Mr. R. invited me to sleep at his
house and shewed me a regulated hospitality. From him I
learned there were a few Presbyterians in the village and town-
ship ; that there are amongst the number kirkmen and seceders ;
that some time ago there was an application made to some
persons at home to send a minister, and that application was
made to Lord Goderich for pecuniary assistance; that an effort
had lately been made to raise subscription for building a house
and raising a stipend ; that at present the matter is quiescent on
account of unwillingness on the part of some to give the cash,
and of several who are dissenters to concur in their application
for a kirkman. He told me further that, there are many who
understand no other language than the Gaelic, and that the
minister whom they wish to be sent to them must be able to
preach in Gaelic. From him I further learned that he and his
party could encourage only a kirkman. This was making my
way quite clear, so far as he and his party are concerned. He
referred me to a Mr. McKenzie, who lives four miles from the
village for further information. From conversation with him
I was not led to hope for much success in my application in that
quarter; and besides, it occurred to me that it would not be
easy to form a Christian church composed of such materials.
The day fine though a little cold.

November 9. — After breakfast walked out to Mr. Mc-
Kenzie's ; did not find him at home, but received a very hospit-
able welcome from his wife. After I left his house I met him,
and had some conversation with him in regard to my mission.

56 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

He is a most violent kirkman, who will give no encouragement
to a man who is not a kirkman, and speaks Gaelic; and the
minister he will encourage must be one who will hold or express
no opinion unfavorable to the government of this country. In
fact, I never met with such a real, red tory. The veriest head
of the most rotten borough is nothing to him. I never felt in
my life so strong an inclination to maul a man; but recollecting
that political opinion had nothing to do with my mission I said
not a word, but left him to have it all his own way and pro-
ceeded on to the English settlement, partly with a view to see
Dr. Cairns who is at present preaching to them, and partly to
see and converse with the people. I lodged with a Mr. Waugh,
a good man and an old light seceder from Yetholm in Rox-
boroughshire, who, in a manly way, received me with great
frankness. He seemed very anxious that I should remain with
them in that quarter. From him I learned that there are very
violent differences amongst Presbyterians in this quarter; that
there are some high kirk, others keen Antiburghers, and some
zealous seceders of the United Secession of the U. C. ; that
these three parties will not unite their efforts to have a minister
among them, and that consequently they want the means of
grace ; that the English settlement, as it is called, together with
the people of Westminster are resolved to exert themselves to
have a minister between them. He has no high opinion of Mr.
McKenzie or Mr. Robertson. We had much conversation, which
convinced me that he is a sensible, good man. At his request
I promised to go and preach at the English settlement after
Dr. Cairns leaves them. The country through which I passed
to-day is covered with hard wood. The timber in many places
very heavy. The soil very good. Some good lots may be had
in this quarter. I saw the stump of an oaktree which was in
diameter twice the length of my umbrella and quite six inches
more.

November 10. — Returned to London this afternoon. On
my way from Mr. Waugh's I called again for Mr. McKenzie,
who detained me to dinner. My silence on politics yesterday
seemed to have produced a good impression. He was now will-
ing that I should settle among the people, and would do what
he could to render it advisable for me to do so. At the same
time he let out the illiberality and ignorance of his high tory-
ism. My settlement, with his concurrence, depended upon my
not saying anything against state or church. To this I made
no reply, for it would be vain to agree with a man who could
propose such a thing; and as it is not likely that I shall settle

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 57

amongst such heterogeneous material I did not wish to cast
out with him. He invited me to preach in his neighborhood
to-morrow evening, which I promised to do, glad of an oppor-
tunity to preach the gospel to any that will hear, be he whig
or tory. During dinner, conversation turned on Methodism, to
which he has a very strong aversion, because they are in favor
of republicanism. The bishop of the Episcopal Methodists re-
sides somewhere about Albany in the United States, and con-
sequently they have a leaning towards it. Mr. McK. was once
a radical or something very like it, but he has of late been ap-
pointed a magistrate, or justice of the peace, and being thus
dressed up in a little brief authority he looks at everything
through the spectacles of his politics. I suppose it might be
possible for me to get a church in or about London ; and in one
sense it would be a very good thing, for the country is growing
fast in population. But then the leading men of the kirk
party, with whom I should of course be connected, and on whom
I should of course be in a good measure dependent for stipend,
do not appear to be of the stamp that a church of Christ
ought to be. It would be better for me to locate myself in some
place where I should be independent and might admit to the
fellowship of the church only such as are evidently Christian.
Mr. McKenzie • suggested as an inducement, that there is in
the neighborhood a very good piece of land, 100 acres, for sale
at a moderate price, which I might look at on Monday. My in-
tention is, however, from the present appearance of things, not
to involve myself with the discordant materials of this place.
If I should settle here I would take that part of the community
that is in connection with the U. Synod of Upper Canada. May
God guide me by His counsel to act for His glory and the good
of souls ; and if I be thus counselled it will also be for the good
of my family. The day dull but not cold. The village of Lon-
don is situated in the forks of the Thames, at the confluence
of the E. and W. branches of it. The situation is a very good
one. The streets are regularly laid out at right angles, and
in a good many of them there is a considerable number of
houses. The best houses here, as everywhere else in Canada,
are stores. In most of the streets are still standing stumps of
large trees, and passengers must wind their way about them
in the best manner they can. There is a large court house and
gaol, just on the edge of the bank, which look down on the
junction of the two branches of the Thames. It is of brick
and plastered on the outside. It is a kind of Gothic, clumsy
and uninteresting. Surely the Canadians might send to Europe

58 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

for plans for their public buildings. The Thames is a noble
river; and when once the wood is cleared off the banks it will
be seen very beautifully winding its way through a fertile
valley which will be clothed one day with flocks and herds. The
portion of land on which London stands, has been covered
principally with pine, consequently it is sandy. There is a
very thin sprinkling of sand on the surface. It will, I think,
never be a very productive spot. There are two wooden bridges
over the river, one on each branch. They are clumsy and badly
made; and being unpainted, will not last long to offend any-
body. There are several very good houses. Dr. Lee's is the
best, at which I lodge. It is a spacious house, but as this is my
first day in it, I cannot tell what sort of entertainment to
expect.

November 11, Sabbath. — London Village. This morning I
preached in the school house from John 12, 32. I enjoyed free-
dom in commending the Christian faith and the Lord Jesus
Christ to man. There had been but short notice that there
would be a sermon, but the house was full as it could hold.
Just as I had pronounced the blessing a person stood up and
intimated that there would be a sermon in the afternoon; that
he was a Presbyterian and a fellow laborer of mine. He told
me his name was McLatchie; that he was an ordained minister
in Ireland; that he had just come to London, and that he de-
signed to spend the rest of his days in the place. Here my
scheme of a church in London is dashed. He will stay in the
place and will preach every day. He has no family. It is plain
he will not remove, and I cannot afford to contend with him.
Thus one of my most flattering projects is dashed to the ground.
Ever since I left Grimsby there has been an untowardness in
my whole movements. They have been all uphill. If I be right
in understanding this as a demonstration of the will of God,
I am most willing to do His will. I could not entertain a wish
which I knew to be contrary to His will.. Mr. McLatchie told
me that he had seen my dear wife this day week and that she
and the family are all well. In the afternoon I went out four
miles; preached to a number of Scotch Highlanders at third
concession from 1 John, 4-16. The audience was most attentive,
even though they did not understand well the English lan-
guage. I baptized two children, the one the ninth child of
Donald McDonald, Daniel Edward; the other, the second child
of John and Nancy Mclntosh, Isabella. It would be of great
importance that a Gaelic minister were sent to labor in this
place. The people can be edified only in the Gaelic language.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS | 59

The parents of the above children were members of the Seces-
sion Church in Nova Scotia. There was a third applicant for
baptism, but as I had not conversed with him before, and as he
had never been a member of a Christian church, I refused for
the present. Lodged for the night in the house of Squire Mc-
Kenzie, from whom I received a most hearty welcome. He is
very willing to support me in forming a church in London,
which is the more gratifying as the different parties were not
united before. The people have been divided between Kirk and
Secession; now both parties are willing that I should settle
among them. What is my duty I do not well know. God will
bye and bye let me know. Shew me, Oh Lord, Thy way and
incline my heart to walk in it. Saw to-day a grist mill going.
Was told that such things were common in Canada. There is
much need of a minister here who would give a tone to the
public mind by admission of religious truth. The day agreeable
but somewhat sharp.

November 12. — Swartz' Inn, Westminster. Breakfasted
with Donald McDonald and returned to the village. Mr. Mc-
Latchie told me that Mr. Christie had returned to Kingston,
having been discouraged by the badness of the roads. This is
the second time I have been left alone. May God enable me to
persevere, and not to be discouraged by inconveniences of an
ordinary kind. Oh, that the manner in which God is exercising
me may be turned to His glory and the good of my own soul,
and the souls of others. In the forenoon Dr. Cairns called as
his time was short and as I wished to send a letter to my dear
wife by him. I came over to Mr. Swartz's tavern, who is a
member of the Dutch Reformed Church. He entertained us
very hospitably. In the course of conversation I discovered that
Dr. Cairns is an old light Antiburgher, and that no impression
can be made upon his mind. There were present Mr. Grieve
and Mr. Whillams, both seceders from Roxboroughshire. I was
much refreshed by their Scotch accent, &c.

November 13. — Westminster. Mr. Grieve's. Walked here
this morning to breakfast. Mr. Grieve has got a lot of as good
land as I have seen in Canada and farms it well. It must be
a valuable property in a few years. The timber is all hard
wood. The soil is a deep black mould resting upon bed of sandy
clay. There is a considerable population around here, who all
live in plenty and content. They are a happy people who live
in Canada. They have not much cash, but they have all that
cash could buy. One of Mr. Grieve's daughters was weaving at
the fireside. The clothes worn by the families are all home

60 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

made. They buy scarcely anything at the store. In con-
sequence of the wish of the people about I agreed to preach to
them in the school house. My ailment (diarrhoea) continuing,
prevented me. It was fortunate for the people that Mr. Mc-
Latchie came in the course of the afternoon and, officiated for
me. This was one more of the cross circumstances which have
attended my jaunt to the West. I wish I may rightly be able
to understand the will of God. The day has been cold; toward
evening there fell some snow and the frost was very hard.

November 14. — Mr. Grieve's. Much better this morning,
though not quite well. Had a great deal of talk with Mr. G.
respecting the country, the farming and the produce. His
observations corresponded very much with what I had heard
before. Last year he raised 14^4 boles of maize to the acre,
andi this year raised ten boles of wheat. He farms with great
style. He takes care not to overcrop the ground, and lays on
manure when the soil is thin, that he may equalize the produce
of the field. He has never seen that dung is an inconvenience
about a farm, as many Canadians have fancied; a good farmer
will find use for it all. He prefers carting out the manure and
plowing it down in the Fall because when it is put on in the
Spring, it keeps the ground too open, and the heat of the Sum-
mer makes too greaf an impression upon it. Had a good deal
of talk about Scotland and Scotch ministers. I am trying to
put off the character of Dr. Cairns, but cannot yet do it, though
there is not much difficulty in the subject. He has done me
some ill already, and it is likely will do more through ignorance.
He is a rigid Antiburgher, though a pious man. In the evening
had a long conversation with John Grieve respecting temper-
ance societies. I insisted that the temperance society is formed
upon an insufficient bdsis, a basis upon which a moral action
should not be left to rest. The rule is that the subscriber
pledges himself upon his honor. Now I maintain that if it is
a moral duty it should rest on the Word of God, but the society
pledges itself to be temperate only in the fear of man. I in-
sisted, moreover, that the church ought to have taken up the
subject; and that the gospel is able to accomplish that and
every other morality; and that it is wrong to overlook the gos-
pel. Further that the order in which God acts, is first, to
awaken the church, and that the rod of His strength goes out
of Zion and subdues the people. But the temperance society,
on the worldly principle of honor, would do what God does by
the gospel. I found it difficult to make him comprehend that
I was no advocate of drinking of ardent spirits ; and he and the

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 61

family appeared to think, that I was a friend of intemperance.
From this I see that it is useless to make country people under-
stand nice distinctions. I got nothing but suspicions for my
pains. I might have known this before. The day has been
cold and frosty. Mr. Grieve's house is full of -chinks between
the logs, and I felt by day and night the wind blowing in upon
me. The family heaped on wood in profusion, but all would
not do. The cold got the mastery when the fire got low.

November 15. — London. Left at about twelve o'clock Mr.
Grieve's hospitable charge, called for Mr. Lee, and reached Lon-
don about four o'clock very much fatigued and not very well.
Mr. Wm. Robertson told me that he was willing to exert him-
self in raising a subscription for a stipend. Mr. Talbot, the
teacher, though an Episcopalian, offered to subscribe. I believe
that had it not been for the coming of Mr. McLatchie I should
have made choice of London for my residence and found it a
comfortable one; but this incident has strangely marred all my
views and entangled my will. May God enable me to act, as
shall best please Him. In the morning it snowed very heavily
and froze severely, and the roads became impassable..

November 16. — Felt not well to-day. Called for Mr. Mc-
Latchie and gathered from him that it is his intention to stay
in London; that he proposed to connect himself with Pres-
bytery, and thinks they will appoint him to labor in this district.
He has a very great deal of complacency, and talked of the
flattering manner in which the people had spoken of him, and
that he had already been invited to preach in St. Thomas. He
does not seem even for one moment to think that I have as
good right to keep my ground as he has to come in upon my
labors. But let there be no strife between us. The land is
wide enough for both and on the Abrahamic principle I am
willing to act, i. e., his dealing with Lot. I do not expect similar
fairness and frankness from him. Donald McDonald called to-
day; much interest about retaining me in this place. He is
purposing to go about with a subscription paper to-morrow to
try and raise a stipend for me. What is to be done in this
matter I do not know ; perhaps my best way is to allow it to go
on, and then judge what my conduct should be, when I see the
result. If it go unsuccessfully I may conclude that it is not
advisable for me to remain. I shall follow what I think are the
leadings of Providence. Haunted much to-day, as is usual
when not well and when things are not successful, with concern
about my family. Oh, My God guide us by Thy Holy Spirit
and shew us Thy salvation. Weather very mild to-day.

62 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

November 17. — London. Somewhat unwell still, but on the
whole better. The Presbyterians in this place in connection
with the Kirk of Scotland are getting subscription papers ready
in order to raise a sum for a stipend for me. What will turn
out of this God only knows. I wish to be passive in the matter
and keep myself unpledged till I see the result. Had an op-
portunity to-day of hearing a great deal of profane swearing,
and of a kind that appeared peculiarly shocking, and that too
from persons of whom I expected better things. The minister
who comes here to labor will have a very great deal to do and
very much to put up with that is uncomfortable. In conversing
this evening with Charles Davidson from Inverness (a good
man) about the baptism of his child, I was told that the people
of this district are exceedingly careless and profane; that
little or no respect is paid to the Sabbath day ; that very many
people are addicted to drinking; that few care anything about
religion. The accounts he gave of the people were enough to
make me dislike to live among them, and at the same time
demonstrated the urgent need there is of one to teach them
the way of life, and to bring them to the faith of Jesus Christ,
that they may be purified in heart and life. It is distressing to
see men live without God and without hope in the world — to
see them trifling away their time and living only for time;
and a poor time in general they have of it. Was told to-day
of a peculiarity among both Americans and Canadians. When
young men and even middle aged men meet in a tavern, they
cannot sit and talk as Old Country people do, but they are all
on their legs rebelling and pulling at one another. They seem
to be just big boys. Witnessed to-day many proofs of this.
The room next to the one I occupied was frequently full of
people making all imaginable noises, laughing, swearing, tumb-
ling on the floor, shoving one another about. They did not,
however, intrude upon me. I have seen about London less to
like than any place in Canada. The manner of drinking spirits
is very different here from what it is in the Old Country. Here
a person or two come to the bar, buy a glass of liquor, and
stand and drink it off, wander about the bar room awhile and
saunter off, perhaps to the bar of another tavern. There is no
sociality of a rational kind, no conversation, no sentiment — it
is the most irrational way of buying a glass I have ever seen.
Was told to-day what I have often been told before, that the
usual spirit drinking is carried on thus. Was told to-day that
many of the Scotch who reside in London are just as careless
as others. How often is this tale told of my countrymen all

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 63

i

over the world. Was told also that many of the Scotch who
have settled 'in Lobo have turned to Methodism. I wish they
may have become better men by the change of Communion.
The day mild and fair; a little frost in the night.

November 18. — London. Awoke this morning in indifferent
health. After breakfast Mr. McLatchie came to call for me before
going to Presbytery. I entered very fully into the circum-
stances in which his coming had placed me. I told him that I
was here before he came; that I had succeeded in uniting the
Kirk and the Seceders; that I had received many assurances of
support from those of both parties; that there was to be a
public meeting of my friends on Monday to raise a stipend for
me which I had every reason to believe would be liberal; that
in regard to those who are in connection with the U. S. of
U. C., I had the authority of the Presbytery for laboring
among them, if I should feel inclined; that, therefore, I con-
sidered myself as having the right which occupancy gives. To
all this he replied that he had set his mind upon London; that
he did not think I had any more right than he had ; that he was
resolved to live in this place with his father in whose house
he would find a home; that he had no objection to labor along
with me; would estimate when and where I was to preach and
hoped I would do the same for him. To this I said that though
the place might provide labor for both of us if we were intended
to preach wherever we might find half a dozen houses, yet
that the most of these stations were within a short distance
from London, to which the people might easily come, and were
willing to come ; there was no virtue in laboring merely for the
sake of laboring; that a minister's time could be better em-
ployed, and at the same time that it would take all the stations
to which he had referred to support for some years one man;
and that therefore the scheme was wholly impracticable. "But,"
said I, "I will give you the offer Abraham gave to Lot. The
land is before us; if you go to the right hand I will go to the
left; let there be no strife between us for we are brethren."
This not in the slightest touching his heart, I then said "I shall
then leave you on the field,, and shall return by the first mail
wagon." At this he seemed delighted. I for my part feel very
much satisfied with what I have done, and I would rather be
in my shoes than his. Preached to a full house on 1 Thess. 4, 1.
After sermon told my friends the position in which I was placed.
My determination to leave them the very first opportunity if well;
they very earnestly tried to dissuade me. To put them off, I
promised to think the matter over again in, the evening, and to

64 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

send them word if there were any change in my mind. A Meth-
odist (Mr. Jackson) occupied the place of worship in the middle
of the day ; and Mr. Cronyn of the Episcopal Church at 4 P. M.
Oh my God let me be guided by Thee in all things, and let not any
ill come out of what I have resolved to do in regard to London.
May I be useful as a minister of the Gospel in converting sinners
and building up saints.

November 19. — Westminster, Swartz's Tavern. Left
London this afternoon at 5 P. M. and came here to wait for the
stage which I understood is to return to Brantford Tuesday
morning. In the morning Mr. Robertson, Donald McDonald,
and Mr. Eraser called for me to receive my ultimatum. I was
very much gratified by their earnestness and good will, but
could give no other answer than I gave yesterday. They did
what they could to alter my resolutions; but when I put to
them the question whether they thought, all things considered,
that I had acted the part of a minister of Christ, they replied
that they thought I had. They then desired me to write them
if circumstances should so alter as that I could return to them ;
and they wished to keep myself disengaged; and further
they said, that they would see how the minds of the people
stood affected, and would write me if they thought there was
any hope of their all being united. Mr. McKenzie was not at
church yesterday, nor did he come in to-day. From this I
suspect that though when I saw him he was the most earnest
for my staying, that he wishes to keep out of the affair al-
together, and to leave himself at liberty how to act if he
should feel inclined to ask a minister of the Kirk. I told Mr.
McDonald and Mr. Eraser not to count themselves by promise
to me; to leave the matter in the hands of Providence, and to
act accordingly. Dr. Lee, Mr. Parke, and Mr. Talbot were very
urgent with me to stay. My opinion is that Mr. McLatchie
will preach often to them; that the people will fall in with
him, as he is upon the spot ; and that I shall hear no more of it.
Upon the whole I have been much gratified by my visit to
London, but still I have not got a settlement for my family,
which is often the occasion of much mental suffering, though
I know this is not right. This morning a heavy fall of snow
which continued till 2 P. M. The air was very mild.

November 20. — Westminster, Swartz's Tavern. During
the night the air became excessively cold and there was a
heavy fall of snow, which continued to fall in small frozen
grains throughout the day. The stage did not come last night,
so I must just (D. V.) linger here till Thursday morfiing at

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 65

four o'clock when, barring accidents, must pass with' the mail.
Mr. Swartz went this morning over to the second concession
to announce that if the people there wish it I will preach to
them to-morrow. His boys brought home four large turkeys
which they had caught in a trap; turkeys are often caught that
way weighing from sixteen to twenty pounds and are worth a
dollar. Mr. Swartz told me that the standard weight of wheat
is sixty pounds to the bushel, oats thirty-five pounds. He is
going to sow rye the first fresh day, and says that if there
come a good fall of snow, it will come up under it. Had a good
deal of conversation about the U. S. of America, about beavers,
and many other things. Frost became intense in the evening;
but the wind fell away and the chinky log house became
tolerable.

November 21. — Went over to the school house on the
second concession and preached to a pretty full house from
1 John 4-16. Mr. Fraser did not tell me that the people there
had sent a petition to the Presbytery praying that Mr! Mc-
Latchie may be sent to labor among them for some time. I
gave him an account of my views with regard to London, and
how these views had been disappointed. He must have felt
rather uncomfortable. Mr. Cairns has done all the mischief.
Mr. Swartz's boys trapped three large wild turkeys to-day.
Mr. Grieve came over and spent the evening with me.

November 22. — The mail waggon — open — came past Mr.
Swartz's this morning at five o'clock. I dressed myself and
went in it. Breakfasted in Putnam's; the roads horrible; got a
covered waggon, at Putnam's. Day very cold; after it became
dark two Scotchmen who were passengers whiled away the
time by singing Scotch songs. Called at Butler's about 9 P. M.
in the hope of getting tea, but the servants were all gone to
bed; he could give us nothing but gin and crackers, which of
course were not taken. Arrived at Brantford at half past two
A. M. ; every bed in the tavern was full; there was no wood
chopped ; we were compelled to go out and chop wood, and make
a fire in the bar room, and sit there weary and hungry and
sleepless till the folks got up. Did all we could to raise the
servants to get us some tea, but not one would move — the
worst usage I ever met with in all my journeyings. Took
twenty-one hours to go fifty miles.

November 23. — Hamilton. Breakfast at Brantford and
dined with Mr. Wilkes. He is about the only man with thought
I have met with in Canada; in religion he is an Independent —
in politics, bordering on Radicalism. He has a number of

66 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

original notions, and supports them with eloquence and talent.
He would be very willing I should come and settle in Brant-
ford or the neighborhood, but he will not put himself forward
as an active man, though he will subscribe to my support. I
understand the meaning of this and consequently notice such
countenance but little. From what he said I begin to be of
the opinion that the country between Dundas and Paris may
form a very fine mission station. I shall look over it. Left
Brantfor4 in the mail waggon — open — at half past five P. M. ;
got on very slowly; roads exceedingly bad. The day snowy
when I left; afterwards it became frosty. Came by Ancaster
and Dundas, and arrived at Hamilton at one o'clock, A. M.,
where I got tea and a nap on a chair for half an hour,
and waited till after three for the coach for York. There was
in the waggon a Mr. Kirkpatrick, settled in the neighborhood
vof Brantford; from Dumfries sixteen years ago. A very nice
man. He got, at an inn on the. road, a Buffalo robe which he
and I wrapped round our knees, and it was a very great
comfort.

November 24. — York, home. Left Hamilton at three A. M.
for York in a coach — covered — and after an uncomfortable ride
arrived home at three P. M. very much fatigued, after having
got no sleep for two nights and a half, and having been out all
the time in the cold. But all this was in a moment forgotten,
by finding my family in good health and all happy — for which
I desire to give thanks to God from whom come all my mercies,
and these have been neither few nor small. Mr. Cairns —
preacher — called just when I arrived; and I gave him a dress-
ing, which,, if he has a soul, he will not soon forget. He has
been doing me much mischief. Was delighted at finding a
number of letters from my dear bairns at home and other
friends. They had: been written shortly after I left Greenock,
and were intended to meet me shortly after my arrival. These
children are very dear to me — they are very little out of my
thoughts.

November 25, Sabbath. — Home. Heard Mr. Cairns preach
in Mr. Harris' chapel to-day — a very poor concern. Spent the
day comfortably with my family, who, I find, have been be-
having very well in my absence. My family have been kindly
treated by the neighbors.

November 26.— Since I returned I find that the Presbytery
at Streetsville have been doing what they can to embarass me.
This is not handsome, but it will never do to allow any cross
feeling to come in between me and them because of the medd-

THE PROUDPOOT PAPERS 67

ling officiousness of a man like Cairns. Wrote to-day to Mr.
Bell telling him that I wish to put him in possession of facts
which have been misrepresented to him. Heard to-day that the
York district has returned Mr. McKenzie their member of
parliament. He has twice been expelled from the House, and
the people have thrice returned him in spite of the Tory party.
From what I can learn, Mr. McKenzie is a man of first rate
talent as a debater* that he has the power of skinning (sarcasm)
to an extraordinary degree; that he mauls his antagonists in
a style which they can neither bear nor retort ; that he advocates
these measures which are for the good of the community in
opposition to the selfish measures of the aristocracy. He is
popular and deserves to be so. He is, however, imprudent in
his severity to his opponents, and does ill to his good cause by
creating personal enemies in those to whom he should only
be opposed on public grounds. Heard to-day that Duncan Mc-
Coll, M. P., was this morning found dead in his bed. He has
been ailing for some days and was a hard drinker. Warm and
rainy.

November 27. — Went to-day to York and called for some
friends who were all apparently happy to see me. Got some
interesting accounts of the doings of the Presbytery at
Streetsville respecting the union, but, as I have not got a copy
of the minutes, I shall not write of it till I do. Was informed
of dissension in the Scotch Kirk at York, seemingly occasioned
by the unpopularity of Mr. Penitout — the most unpopular
part of his conduct being his reading his sermons. Some of his
congregation seem to have made great progress in dissent, they
having declared at a late meeting of the congregation or trus-
tees, that they disliked the minister receiving government
bounty, which is unnecessary, as they can support him by them-
selves, and being got at the expense of other classes of the
community, is unjust. They declared it also illegal; but, I do
not as yet just clearly understand how it is illegal. Things in
that church seem to be troubled, and approaching a crisis.
Learned to-day] that all churches contain very incongruous
material; there are independents in the Kirk, in the Dissenting
Church, in the Methodist churches. It is the belief of Mr.
Wilkes and some others, that when his son comes to York, the
Independents will come out and form a flourishing church for
themselves. Received accounts from several persons not very
much to the honor of Mr. Cairns, which ought to make me
care less for the manner in which he has acted to me. The day
fair and cold.

68 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

November 28.— Read the 110th No. of the Edinburgh Re-
view, and as usual enjoyed a rich intellectual feast. I never
read the review without feeling that I could do something great,
such is the stimulating influence of that masterly work. What
a difference between men in Canada and at home; and yet edu-
cation makes the difference in general. But it is ages of
education that raises man to the state he is now in, in the Old
Country. Fair and cold.

November 29. — Spent the day at home, confined by the
muddy state of the roads. Wrote part of a letter to Mr. New-
lands; taught in the afternoon Alexander's school. Mr. Harris
called and spent part of the forenoon with me, with whom I had
a good deal of friendly chat — chiefly about churches. Wrote a
long letter to Mr. Christie, and sent to him his parcel, which I
had taken with me all over the country in the hope of finding
him. About bed-time it began to rain very hard. The day mild.

November 30. — Very much better to-day. Finished a long
letter to Mr. Newlands ; spent the day in the bosom of my fam-
ily very happy. The weather to-day has been very peculiar. It
rained during the whole of last night, and to-day it has con-
tinued to rain and freeze at the same time. The rain which fell
upon the railing around the house was converted into icicles
as it fell. Contrary to what I had thought, the winter com-
menced earlier in London district than here. When I was in
London there was a hard frost and a good deal of snow, all the
while there was mild weather about York; and now the same
kind of weather which I experienced at London two weeks ago
is just coming on.

December 1. — Mr. Craig come into York to-day to take me
out on horse back to Scarborough, and shewed me all such
kindness as is wont to be shewn tp ministers in Scotland. On
my way called at the house of Mr. Brownlee, a Scotchman from
Lesmahago, to warm our feet, who also served us a Scotch
hospitality. Intended to lodge this evening with Mr. David
Thomson, but when we got to his house we found them all tipsy.
Mr. Thomson had had a bee on Wednesday, and they had been
drinking ever since. Scarborough folks are noted drinkers. In
consequence of the disordered state of the house I proceeded
to Mr. Johnson's, my old quarters, where I received a most
hearty welcome, and where Mr. Craig and I spent the evening
in a very comfortable manner. Had a good deal of conversa-
tion respecting the congregation and the means by which it
may be brought into a state of order so that they may raise
with ease a stipend to the minister. The day exceedingly cold.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS

Hard frost, the trees coated all over with ice, and many of them
beaten to the ground by the weight of the ice. Took five and
a quarter hours to go to Scarborough — twelve miles — on horse
back; the roads were bad.

December 2, Sabbath. — Scarborough. Preached to-day
from Matth. 4, 1, and John 1, 2-1. The congregation not so
numerous as on former occasions on account of bad roads, and
because notice had not been widely circulated. Had a good deal
of conversation this evening suitable to the Sabbath, also about
the right ordering of the congregation. From all that I heard
I came to the conclusion that there is very much to do here,
and that the work to be done will expose to a great deal of ill
will. Some of those who wish to be pillars in the church are
so defective in point of moral character that it would be wrong
to admit them to the fellowship of a Christian community.
Messrs. Johnston and Craig are very anxious that I should
settle here ; about this I have many doubts. It is not a mission-
ary station, strictly so. It is under the care of the Presbytery.
It is not in a neighborhood I would like for my family. There
is no land except what is very high priced. The salary is too
small — only £80 per annum. I hope that God will guide me
in the right way. Scarlet fever is prevalent here. Females,
when confined, do not call the assistance of either midwife or
surgeon; the reason is they charge too high. So the neighbors
assist, and all goes well enough.

December 3. — Home. Walked from Scarborough home;
took six and a half hours — twelve miles, the roads were so
bad. The frost began to give way in the morning and by the
time I got home they were wrought mire. Called on Mr. Brown-
lee on my way, and was hospitably entertained. Saw two
young men from Lanarkshire who were members of the W. A.
Church at Biggar; they were very well pleased to see me and
I to see them. In company with Mr. Brownlee I saw a Mr.
Jas. Tudhope, from Oro, going home to bring out his two sons.
He promised to take some letters from me to Glasgow and gave
me great encouragement to go to Oro, where, he said, the
people were in great need of the gospel, and where he is sure
I shall be most welcome. He told me of a Mr. Gunn in Thorah,
a good man, who would do all he could to facilitate my entrance
to the people in the place where he lives. He says there is ex-
cellent land to be had; the people are doing well and have
plenty of money among them. Got for preaching $41 — the
first money I have received in America. Mr. Johnstone walked
through the lot he wanted me to buy should I become minister

70 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

in Scarborough. It is very high priced at $8 per acre, and 100
at $7. Perhaps its nearness to the market, where all kinds of
farm produce can be disposed of, might after all render it not
a bad bargain. The roads muddy to excess.

December 4. — Home. All day writing letters. Alex, and I
, walked to York in the evening to deliver these letters to Mr.
Tudhope. Spoke to a dentist about putting in three teeth. He
charged no less than $5 apiece, which I refused to give, and so
I must wear my bare mouth a little longer. It were foolish to
buy teeth with that which must be kept to buy meat. I have
;now been 100 days in America. I have not yet been able to
see a place which I think will, in all respects, suit me. I have
been dilatory, I expect, and yet when I think of it I do not see
what I could have done more. I trust God in His infinite
wisdom will so order my steps that I shall have reason to ad-
mire His doings and to praise Him who is the health of my
countenance. Have heard of many females dying in child bed
these two weeks. The season appears to be unfriendly to those
in that way. I expect that the same cause which has produced
cholera, by the state of the atmosphere which enfeebles the
bowels. Can the atmosphere be the cause of it And how?
Among those who have died Mrs. Freeland, daughter of Mr.
Robert Thomson, Glasgow. She shewed Mrs. P. and me much
hospitality when we came to York.

December 5. — Home. Went into York and called for some
acquaintances with whom I had some chat and from some of
whom I heard a scandal.

OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following extract from a letter to one of the officers
of the Synod in Scotland, and which is practically his first
official report, written before his settlement in London, gives
his views of the situation in Upper Canada, in so far as the
operations of his church could be carried on; and details the
plans he and Mr. Christie proposed to adopt. After describ-
ing his reception by the Presbyteries of Brockville and York,
as already given in his journal, he goes on to say:

"In order to leave a just idea of Canada as a field of mis-
sionary labour under the superintendence of the United As-
sociate Synod (of Scotland), it is necessary to divide the coun-
try into the townships within the limits of the United Synod
of Upper Canada, and those that are beyond them. The Synod
has congregations at wide intervals from Cornwall, fifty miles
below Prescott, to London, in the Western territory ; and from

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 71

York (Toronto) to Lake Simcoe. The number of ministers is
fifteen, but some of these have as many as six congregations
under their charge. Indeed, I know of only two or three min-
isters who preach statedly on Sabbath in one place. Many of
these congregations, which were nice missionary stations, and
perhaps are so still, have so grown in numbers and worldly
circumstances as to be able to support each a minister at a
moderate stipend. But the Synod has not ministers to send
to them; and consequently there is reason to fear that some
of these congregations will go over to those churches that can
afford them a regular ministry, if the Synod receive not help
from the United Associate Synod, or from Ireland, whence they
have hitherto drawn their chief supply of preachers. Within
the bounds of the Synod there are very many townships where
small congregations might be collected, which the ministers
have never visited, and which they cannot visit. These might
be formed into excellent stations for missionary labor.

"As I found that the settling of my family near York
would detain me, at least part of the winter, within the
bounds of the Synod, I did not think it brotherly, nor likely to do
good in other respects, to go over the country without their
concurrence. You are aware that the United Synod of Upper
Canada holds the same faith, and observes the same forms
of worship and discipline, as the Associate Synod. - 1 was for-
tunate enough to arrive at Brockville on a day that there was
a meeting of the Presbytery. I stated to the members the
object of my coming to the country. I was most cordially wel-
comed. All the members expressed joy that the United Seces-
sion Church had at length thought of Canada. They named
several places where I might preach, and they told me that I
might easily find more in traversing the country; and, further,
they made me welcome, whether I should join their Synod or
not. On 26th September the Presbytery of York met at Streets-
ville in Toronto (township). I thought it right to attend, the
more especially as it was convenient for me to do so.

"I made the same communications as at Brockville and re-
ceived as hearty a welcome. Tw o of the members of the Presby-
tery urged me very much to pre ach within their bounds, as they
were no longer able to endure the fatigue of travelling to their
numerous congregations, and they assured me they would be
most happy if I could relieve them of part of their labors. In
the neighborhood of these congregations there are stations
where there is room for as much labor as any man could under-
take. From what I have seen of the country and of the re-

72 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ligious parties in it, I think the Synod could not do better than
strengthen the hands of the United Synod of Upper Canada.
They are a church known over all the country. They have been
very useful, and are respected. They have already organized
the means of operating upon every part of the province; and
not only so, but to act without them would be to fix upon them
the stamp of the Synod's disapprobation, which would be the
more painful to them as they have hitherto made it their boast
that they are of the same principles as the United Associate
Synod; and, moreover, it would be no easy matter to satisfy
the people that they and we are the same in doctrine and dis-
cipline if we keep aloof from them.

"That part of the country that is without the limits of the
United Synod is very extensive, and very destitute of preach-
ing. There are places in which the people have not heard a ser-
mon for a year. A very considerable proprietor told me that he
had lived on his farm seven years, and there was not a sermon
within many miles of him all that time. The evil is in part
remedied now by Methodist! preachers, who have spread them-
selves over all the province, and who, owing to the efficiency of
their mode of operation, have penetrated into almost every
township. It is in these out-field parts of the country that we
propose to labor in the first instance, as far as health and the
season will permit. I have had a good deal of conversation
with Mr. Christie on the plan of our operations, and the follow-
ing, it is likely, is the manner in which we will act. We shall
in* company visit those places which are most destitute of the
gospel. We shall mark out the country into circles of mission-
ary exertion, according as we shall be encouraged by the inhab-
itants, taking in as wide a district as a preacher can convenient-
ly go over in two or three weeks. We shall tell the people of the
generous purposes of the United Associate Synod, and that,
if they wish it, they may have supply of sermon from you. An
account of the number and circumstances of these stations we
shall transmit to you for the information of the committee and
the Synod. It is probable that, if God in His mercy spare us to
carry these views into execution, we shall have a report to send
by February."

LETTER TO HIS DAUGHTER.

Written a month after his return from his first visit to
London, C . W. :

York, Dec. 21st, 1832.
My dearest Mary:

As I am at home at present I shall gratify myself, and

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 73

you I believe, by writing to you a very long letter. I wrote to
you from Mr. McGregor's on the 7th September. On the 4th of
this month I wrote you by a man who left York in order to go
to Scotland. Mama wrote by the same opportunity to Aunt
Betsy. I wrote by him a great many letters; as, however, let-
ters by private conveyance seldom reach their destination, I
shall write at present just as if I had not written by him.

I must begin by saying that through the mercy of God we
are all in good health, and have been so for the most part since
we left Scotland. Indeed we neve i all enjoyed better health than
we have done since we parted from you. I trust that you have
been also well — meaning you and Pet, for this letter is for her
as well as you.

We often talk about you both for a long time at once, and
all the children tell everything they can remember about you.
Hart remembered a great deal, and whenever he and Jessie see
a pen or a bit of paper lying about, it is taken to write a letter
to Mary and Anna. Jessie, when she wishes to coax me, begins
a long story about Anna Mary. You know I left the family at
Mr. McGregor's and his father's for about six weeks, during
which time I was about York. All the time I was away Jessie
was complaining that I had left her; when they all came up in
the steamboat I went down to the wharf to meet them, and
Jessie, whenever she saw me, sprang into my arms and cried
"Found papa again;" then hid her face in my bosom and wept
aloud for joy. And had you seen her you would have wept too.
Hart writes letters to you every day on a slate, and Bobby
reads them. When they came up to York they encountered a
very heavy storm on Lake Ontario; there were greater waves
than they had seen in the Atlantic; the cabin windows were
drawn in; and Jessie was more alive to the danger than any of
them. She always cried out that the boat would coup, and clung
to Maggie for safety. They are all growing fast, their clothes
are become too small for them. There is not a finer looking set
of boys in America, and so says everybody that sees them.

We have got a small house about a mile out of town. It
is built as almost all jthe houses are, of wood. It has a kitchen,
two rooms, two bed closets, and a store room for five dollars
per month which, as things go, is cheap. There is only one fire
place in it — the kitchen — and we have two stoves, each of which
heat two rooms, by carrying, the pipes through the partitions.
The rooms are all very small, but they are the warmer on that
account. I have bought very little furniture. The chairs cost
3s. 8d. each. They have wooden bottoms, a little hollowed out,

74 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

are painted, and look very well. Now you must know that the
very best people here use nothing but wooden chairs, and few of
them cost more than a dollar, so we are quite in the fashion.
Tent beds, very handsome, cost seven dollars. Your mama re-
grets very much that she sold her feather beds, for feathers
cost here half a dollar a pound, but they are very fine, equal to
the best down in Scotland. People here keep geese for their
feathers, and pluck them all over four times a year; each goose
produces, every year, a pound of feathers. The feather bed
that mama brought with her, in consequence of being unturned
for a week in the ship, got the tick on the under side rotted all
off. I have got a nice black walnut table, (there is no mahogany
here) which dines us all, for twenty-five shillings. It looks
nearly as well as mahogany. Everybody here who is not in the
very highest -class has just as little furniture as will possibly
do. The better class have things just as in Edinburgh, only
less of it and not so costly.

Alex'r. is employed in chopping wood for the fire. It is
brought in in pieces four feet long, and these need to be hacked
through the middle. He also teaches the young ones; and he
has five scholars to teach with them for a month or two, for
each of which he gets a dollar per month. John is not very
willing to call Alex'r. master, yet his good sense teaches him to
behave well, and so does the warm hearted thoughtless, pretty
Willy.

Mama has very few acquaintances ; the roads have been so
bad that she cannot leave home ; but there are two nice families
close to our home, where she calls frequently. We received
much attention in York ; and were we able to go in dry shod we
might have very good society. There was a very nice lady with
whom we were very happy, a sister of Michael Thomson, the
preacher, but she died about a month ago of puerperal fever.

I forgot to say, when writing about the bairns, that Jessie
is exceedingly like you, Mary. Everything she does brings you
to our remembrance. She is a most joyous little creature, petted
by all her brothers, and humored in every whim she takes. Her
ordinary mode of expressing joy is by jumping for a minute
or two as high as she is able. Alex'r. is trying to teach her the
letters, but she generally tires after saying three or four letters ;
and then, it would be cruel to make her look on the book after
she is tired. Hart is reading in Lennie's Reader, and is making
very good progress. He is growing very stout and improving
every day in his appearance. Bobby, the great fat baby, is as
fat as ever, and as much Maggie's man as ever. He is reading

THE PROUDPOOT PAPERS 75

and writing very well; he is fond of reading; he is at the second
Commandment in the Shorter Catechism. John and Willy are
in arithmetic, and are revising their Latin. There is no meal
here, and the Indian Corn was all destroyed by the frost, so the
children get no porridge. Indeed, nobody uses porridge in this
country. The children breakfast on fried ham and potatoes,
and tea and bread, and they like it far better than porridge.
Dinner is at one o'clock and tea at six, and all meals are the
same. There is no supper in this country. The bread is all
baked in the house, and this is the way it is done. Your mama
buys a barrel of flour, which costs at present five dollars, about
21s. 6d. Sterling. The barrel contains, I suppose, 190 pounds.
This serves the family for bread about a month, and they have
as much as they can consume. Yeast is got from a brewer for
2s. a bottle, or it is made of hops. The bread is fixed in the
oven, i. e., the cast metal oven used for boiling potatoes in. The
loaves are like cheese in shape; and the bread is well raised
and well fired, and is as good as any bread I ever ate in Scot-
land, not excepting even Perth. Mama bought three pigs and
killed them ; and she intends buying seven or eight more, and a
great quantity of beef. Farmers bring cart loads of pigs ready
killed to market, and; she buys what she needs from the carts
as they pass into York. People here need to lay in butcher meat
for summer in winter, because the winter is so severe and fod-
der in general so scarce, that there is little good butcher meat
to be had all summer. The beef and pork cost 2i4d. per Ib.
at present. Fire wood is a dear article here ; we pay 12s. 6d. for
a cord. A cord consists of pieces of split wood four feet long.
They are then laid down till the heap be eight feet long, four
feet high and four feet broad, or in other words it contains 128
cubical feet. The pieces are about the size of a tree two feet in
diameter split into four or five pieces. All these have to be cut
with the axe and split again before they can be used in a room
fire. We burn a cord in two weeks, and thrift is necessary to
make it last so long. To save wood the people in York and all
the towns use stoves. They are in general handsome articles;
they have pipes which conduct the heated air through two and
sometimes three rooms. The heat produced by them is very
disagreeable, to me at least. Indeed I hear every person com-
plain of it as weakening the eyes and taking away the appetite,
and producing a kind of watery state of stomach. We sit a
great deal at the kitchen fire, just to be away from the stove
heat. In the country houses no stoves are used ; there, there is
plenty of wood, and the faster it is burned, SQ much the better.

76 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

I will tell you what sort of a thing a Canadian fire is : The fire
place is about eight feet wide and as much in height, built of
brick. There is not such a thing as a grate in the country. The
fire is laid on the hearth, the ends of the logs are suspended off
the ground about four inches by two pieces of cast iron in this
shape: + + +• (drawing) this is not well drawn, but you
will understand it. Now there is first the back log, which is
generally about eighteen or twenty inches in diameter and some-
times two feet, and it is four or five or six feet long. This is
laid at the back. Next, there is the top log laid above the back
log, this is smaller, from nine to twelve inches in diameter.
Then there is the fore log, about six inches in diameter; and
between the forelog and the back are laid four or five pieces of
split wood, each thicker than a man's leg. And all this is in a
blaze at once. He who can stand within three feet of the fire
Has a tough skin. I must now tell you how the Canadians live.
Breakfast is composed of fry and potatoes, cold meat, bread and
tea. This is the fare in the very poorest log houses I have seen.
In better families, there is pickled beet root, and pickled cucum-
bers, preserved plums or peaches, and apple pie, and in the
season, apple sauce is eaten to all butcher meat. Dinner is the
same at six o'clock. There you see the Canadians live well, and
many who live thus every day, tell me that they scarcely ever
saw butcher meat in the Old Country, and had difficulty in get-
ting porridge and potatoes.

The young people here dress very gayly in towns. They
have all the newest fashions, I suppose, as soon as they have
them in Scotland. They come first to New York, and then to
Canada. In the country the young women spin and dye and
weave all the clothes which they wear. They are, of course,
not finely, but substantially dressed. The country is so muddy
in winter, and so dusty in summer, that nobody in the country
ever thinks of cleaning shoes ; and even they who live in towns
do not get their shoes cleaned unless they can afford to keep a
boy in the kitchen to do it. No female servant in York will
clean, shoes. I never get mine cleaned when I am away from
home. In taverns they charge 3%d. for cleaning shoes, which
I take care to save.

There are good schools, they say, in York for young ladies,
but I think they who teach them are not by any means well
qualified. I asked one who has a large school what she taught.
She said astronomy and writing and cyphering and needle
work. Astronomy is you see taught to girls ten years
old in this country. I suppose the Astronomy is all contained in

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 77

Pinnock's Catechism. I think there is room for a good qualified
teacher, and nothing in the country pays better. There are some
few pianofortes in York, but I have never heard one play, so
cannot judge. I think if such a person as Miss Maria Graham
were to come here, she would make a fortune in a few years.

I had almost forgotten to tell you that our house is about
a mile out of York, on the west side of Dundas street. It is also
about a mile from the lake shore, and all the space between the
house and the lake is cleared, but as it is what is called a com-
mon, it is not cultivated. Directly before the house but close
on the lake are the barracks. We have from the windows a very
fine view, one of the finest in the country. Lake Ontario
stretches to the east and west and south as far as the eye can
see. Until winter set in, there were constantly seen many small
ships or schooners entering the harbor or leaving it. The light
house is just before our windows at the distance of about three
miles.

I do not know if I shall be able to convey to you an idea
of the appearance of this country. It may be said to be a vast
flat, at least it has nothing in the whole extent of it that can
be called a mountain, scarcely anything that can be called a hill.
There are slight undulations which, were the country cleared,
would diversify the surface of the country, but covered as the
whole land is with wood, there is hardly any eminence from
which a person can see to* any distance around him. In the
lower part of Upper Canada I have been told that there are hills
and precipices ; and about twenty miles back from York there is
what is called the Oakridge. At the head of Ontario there is a
steep bank, called the mountain about three to five miles from
the lake, and perhaps 300 feet high ; but when you climb to the
summit, you have only got up to table land which extends the
whole length of Lake Erie, level in a straight line to the west but
sloping very gently to the south. Nothing can be more dull
and cheerless than the aspect of Canada (Upper Canada I mean)
In every direction there are open places cut in the forest ; these
are the farms of the settlers; but as every farmer leaves a
large portion of timber for fire wood, the general appearance of
the country is still that of a forest. In scarcely any place can
be seen 100 acres cleared of timber; and even in cleared places
the stumps of the trees are in general still standing. When I
first saw Upper Canada I thought nothing could be more un-
sightly, I have now got so accustomed to the stumps that I
seldom heed them. The trees are very large in some places.
There are, however, not* many that are three feet in diameter

78 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

at six feet from the ground. They, in general, grow very
closely together, and this makes them rather very tall than
very thick. There are many far bigger trees in Britain than I
have seen in America. Trees here, by growing close, have very
few branches; and by being so thick set, they have very little
hold of the ground; hence in a high wind there are constantly
trees falling, which makes it rather dangerous to be in the
forest in a high wind. In going through the forest one meets at
every stone cast or less, great trees lying rotting in all stages of
decay, some newly fallen, and others rotted away to powder,
or sunk again to earth. Walking through the forest is very
hard labor; riding is still worse, except where a path has been
cut.

I have been all around the head of Lake Ontario. I had not
time to visit the Falls of Niagara, though I was within fourteen
miles. I purpose yet to see them. I have been up by Hamilton,
Dundas, Ancaster, Brantford, Burford, Oxford, Dorchester,
Westminster, and London to the west, and I have been about
twenty miles on the road to Lake Slmcoe. I have seen a good
deal of the country. I have met with uniform kindness from the
people. Indeed the people are very hospitable, and in general
very polite. Canadians speak very well, but late settlers from
every country speak just as they did at home, and when you go
into a Scotch settlement you see the same dress and hear the
same dialect as you would do were you to visit the places they
came from. In some places nothing but Gaelic is spoken or
understood. In others nothing but Dutch; in others nothing
but French; and there are many who "guess" and "calculate"
and "expect" from Yankeeland. In this country a person may
place himself amongst people where he will feel himself as if
he were at home.

I believe I wrote to you in my first letter how grand a view
the St. Lawrence is. Indeed, I had no idea of so magnificent a
stream. When within ninety miles of Quebec it is one grand
and beautiful picture, studded with islands of every picturesque
form, some naked rock, and others clothed from the summit to
the water edge with evergreen. And then the banks, so richly
cultivated and so beautifully settled. From Green Island to
Quebec, ninety miles, there is one continued street of cottages,
which street thickens every four or five miles into a village,
having its church, and steeple glittering in the sun. I never
could leave the deck in daylight all the time we were in the
river.

I must now tell you our plans about you and Anna. We are

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 79

s

very anxious to have you come out to us, and we hope to be in
a place of our own as soon as Spring will make it advisable in
us to move. With regard to the time of your coming out, I
would like it to be about the same time we came, as the weather
is then calmer though the passage be longer. In the event of
your coming out I shall feel it necessary to write to some of our
good friends to have you sent out under the protection of some
one whom we can trust. That is very necessary in a voyage.
There are so many dangers of being imposed upon in the boat
and out of it. Meantime I expect you are engaged as an assist-
ant to Miss Dobie. She promised this last time I saw her. I
shall write to Aunt Betsey and Mrs. Aitcheson and Mr. Wm.
Turner as fast as I can get time, and I shall explain to them
my plan in full length. • I do not know but it would be better
that you do not come out till another year, but I cannot afford
the expenses which would be necessary, especially for Anna. I
think you should sail from Leith, as giving your friends least
trouble. Greenock is the best place to sail from, but there are
many inconveniences connected with going to it. Mamma thinks
that if John Small and Bell Rodger were coming out she would
be satisfied with your coming with them. It is my intention to
go down to Quebec to receive you. We dare not hope that Aunt
Betsey would come out with you, as she talked, I suspect, in
jest. I hope you will write your own opinion immediately upon
the receipt of this, and I shall, I hope, have time to write to
you a particular account of what you must bring with you, and
of all things necessary to be attended to on ship board. But
you must not lose a day in writing an answer.

I received all your letters by Dr. Blackwood only two weeks
ago. He sent them all by post from Montreal.

I hope you are endeavoring to derive all the advantages
from your present situation. I expect to find you an excellent
scholar and very genteel in your manners. As having received
such attention from Miss Dobie, I hope you will see it your duty
to have her interest deeply at heart, and to promote it by every
means in your power. I hope you consult Aunt Betsey about
everything, and that you follow her advice. And you, my dear-
est Anna, I hope you are in every respect dutiful to Miss Wilson,
and to Dr. Turner and Mr. Wm. Turner. You owe a great deal
of gratitude for their kindness to you, which I hope you en-
deavor to discharge. My dearest Mary and Anna I beg you
to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Read the
scriptures every day, and pray to God that He would make you
to love him and to avoid all sin and to do His commandments,

80 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

and that He would direct and preserve you and keep you in all
ways. The wisest course is to live remembering that you are to
die and that after death comes the judgment. On that day it
will be found that they have been wisest who have labored to
do the will of God in sincerity and truth. I must leave a little
corner for the bairns and conclude by expressing my hope that
God by His infinite mercy will keep you both and us to meet
together in health and comfort.

I am, my dear children,

Your most affectionate father,

Wm. Proudfoot.
Dear Sisters:

We all feel the deepest anxiety about your welfare, and
are most anxious to see you both safe in Canada. We have not
yet got a place of our own, but we expect to be settled in a
house of our own in the Spring. Papa has not seen any place
that in every respect pleases him, and he thinks it better not
to make a hasty choice.

May God bless you, our dear sisters. We are yours
affectionately,

Alex'r. Proudfoot Hart Proudfoot

John Proudfoot Jessie Proudfoot

William Proudfoot Robert Proudfoot

Dear Anna Mary.

"Huron" is pronounced Heuron, the "U" sounded as in June.
Address to me to the care of Rev'd. James Harris, York,
Upper Canada.

My dearest Mary and Elizabeth:

I see everyone has forgot to mention Mamma. I am weary-
ing much to see you both. Papa is very much liked, and might
have been settled long before this time but it is not easy to
get a place every way suitable. I hope in the Spring we will
be in a place of our own. I trust Aunt Betsey will keep her
promise and come out with you. Give my kind love to my
Uncle Paterson when you see him, and tell him I felt very
vexed I did not see him and my dear Amelia Famer before I
left Scotland. I will write to all my friends when I get to a
place where the air is clean, but I can tell you this is not the
case in York; it is rather a low lying place. Give my kind love
to Aunt Betsey, and tell her I have gathered very little inform-
ation for her, as we have been very busy ever since we came

THE PROUDFQOT PAPEiRS 81

here so that I scarce know the price of anything. I will write
her again soon.

I remain, my dearest children,

Yours most affectionately,

I. Proudfoot.

My sweet Anna, give my kind love to my dear Aunt Miss
Wilson, and tell her I often think of her, how neatly she slipped
away in Glasgow, for fear, I suppose, of a parting; also give
my kind love to Dr. Turner and also to my dear William. Re-
member me to Uncle Robert and tell him I will write him as
soon as I am able to give him 'right information. Also remember
me to my brother W. and his better half. Jessie is quite a de-
light, and often talking about Anna and Mary; she is very
heavy and good humored, and very fond of Maggie; she re-
members Aunt Betsey.

Maggie Lorrie is quite well and is doing well.

Snow came on yesterday, and such sleighing.

"Sleigh" is pronounced "slay."

"Niagara" is pronounced Ni-ag-a-ra, accented on the
second syllable.

I "Michigan" is pronounced, Me-she-gan, accented on the
last syllable.

"Ohio" is pronounced O-hi-o, the "i" long as in "time."

LETTER TO HIS DAUGTERS

'i

Written a week after his return from his second visit to
London, C. W., and three weeks before his final departure from
York to his Western home.

York, U. C., 5th April, 1833.
My dearest Mary and Ann:

We are all wearying exceedingly to hear from you. The
last letter written by either of you which has come to hand
was written by Mary and dated the 15th October. I have writ-
ten several times, time enough to have received answers since
the letter I wrote from W. McGregor's ; but I do not blame you,
for I suppose my not having received letters is because I did
not tell you to direct them via New York.

I have now resolved upon settling in London, which is about
123 miles west of York. It is a fine village and will soon be a
large town. I am to preach to two congregations, the one is in
London, and, the other about nine miles due North of London.
This will be the case for some years (if spared) and then I pur-
pose to give up one and to keep the other.- I have bought 100

82 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

acres of excellent land in the Township of Westminster.* The
farm is two and a half miles from London and eleven and a
half miles from the other church. The price is 800 dollars,
which is £200 currency, or about £180 sterling. The land is of
the very finest description in Canada, and will bear as good crops
as the best in the Carse. Indeed it is better land than any I
ever saw in the Carse. There are twenty-five acres clear of
timber, of which there will be four and a half in Spring wheat ;
as much for potatoes and Indian corn. The rest is in grass,
which will graze a horse and a cow this summer, and produce
as much hay as will keep them all next winter. I am just draw-
ing the plan for a house, which I purpose to build immediately,
and which will be ready for you both and Aunt Betsey when
you come. It is to be a frame house, and will be far better than
Pitrodie Manse.

In London there is some pretty good society. I have seen
some pianofortes, and the young people dress very well. They
walk a great deal and pay visits to one another. They are
badly off for books. The Thames, on which London stands, is
a very fine river, not just so large as the Tay at Perth, but not
much less. The country is very rich in point of soil, and will,
in a few years, be very thickly settled.

As we are all longing very much to see you, we have
begun to make arrangements for your coming out to us, and we
earnestly pray and hope that you may be conducted in safety.
I have written to Mr. Wm. Turner, and Mr. Wm. Peddie, about
getting a ship for you and getting some person to take care
of you. The following directions will be of use to you. Indeed
I intend it as a guide to you all the way.

1. — Preparations for sailing:

As you will come out in the Cabin, it will not be necessary
for you to lay in any provisions; yet even a Cabin passenger
is the better for having a few articles. Ten pounds of fine
biscuit; two or three dozen porter or ale; a bottle of brandy,
and one or two of Port wine. Aunt Betsey (who is coming out
with you, I hope), will tell you all that is needful, only let me
remind you not to touch these articles till you cannot do with-
out them; do not even tell any person on board that you have
them. You will soon dislike the ship water, and you will find
the porter and ale at that time very delicious. If you write to
Uncle Sandy, he will make a strong box to hold all these
things. You will need a few doses of medicine. Dr. Turner
will tell you what kind and how to use them.

-* London Township.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 83

With regard to clothing, you need not be particular about
what you wear on ship board, so all that you need to provide
is something stout and warm. Be sure to have stout shoes.
Any old bonnet will do, but I do not need to be particular, as
you will have Aunt Betsey — one who knows all about it.

2. — On ship board:

I. Take care of yourelves in damp weather particularly ;
a rainy or foggy day on ship board is exceedingly disagreeable.
Guard against damp feet, wear woollen stockings and stout
shoes, and have some pieces of flannel in case of sore throat.
The most disagreeable part of the voyage to us was on the
Banks of Newfoundland, when we were kept for two weeks,
and during the whole time it was either dense fog or a thin,
drizzling, cold rain. We were obliged to be on deck sometimes,
because the Cabin got uncomfortable and we seldom went on
deck without being wet.

As I suppose you will have to provide your own bed, your
best way will be to buy a feather bed, and you will be sure to
turn it over every day and expose it to the air. Your mother's
bed lay unturned for two weeks, and the tick was all rotted off
on the under side. This alarmed the other cabin passengers,
and their beds were all mouldy, though, not so much damaged
as ours. One bed will serve you both, I suppose.

II. Keep the key of your trunk in your pocket, and never
leave anything lying about, for you may never again see it.
Johnny's pocket was picked of 8s., his whole stock. He left
his trousers lying at his bedside, and in the morning his money
was off. The cabin boy was suspected. Books and work must all
be laid aside under lock and key.

III. You will provide yourself with a quire or two of paper
and note down the events of every day.

IV. Never favor a party in the ship. You must keep your
mind to yourself and never tell one what another may say.
You know what I mean, so I need say nothing more, only let
me impress this upon your mind, that if you neglect the above,
you will make yourself hated and be very unhappy.

V. Never forget to read a portion of the Bible, and to
pray every morning and evening to Him whom the winds and
waves obey.

VI. Resolve to be always employed; this is one of the best
means of avoiding that ennui which is so often experienced in
fine weather at sea. With regard to sea sickness, I can give
you no directions. I never saw those who used remedies any-

84 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

thing the better for them; and I can say nothing from experi-
ence as I never felt it.

3. — When you enter the St. Lawrence the pilot will come
on board with whom you will have an opportunity of talking
French. He will tell you the names of all the villages which
you may see. The pilots are all Frenchmen.

Upon your arrival in Quebec, you will need to look out for
a steamer proceeding to Montreal — 180 miles. The charge for
this in the Cabin is, I think, four or five dollars each. I am
not acquainted with any person in Quebec to whom I could direct
you. Perhaps some of your friends in Edinburgh may have
acquaintances in Quebec. At any rate the law entitles you to
remain on board the ship you cross the Atlantic in for forty-
eight hours after dropping anchor, and this will be sufficient
time to get a steamboat for Montreal. I do not remember
whether food is included in the five dollars freight. You will
enquire about this. When you arrive at Montreal, enquire for
Mr. Alex. Miller; he lives in San Francisco Xavier Street. I
have written to him to receive you. If he be in his country
house when you arrive, his brother will receive you. Call for
Mr. Rattray, tobacconist; he is from Dundee, and will shew
you kindness. Perhaps you will find yourselves very comfort-
able with Mr. Brunton, grocer; he is son to the Rev. Mr. Brun-
ton who stayed in Dundee, and who baptized Alexander. He
has a good house. His sister, a very nice young woman, stays
with him. You will also call for Mr. John Simson, an old school-
fellow of mine. He keeps a store near the large Catholic
Chapel, on the east side of it. Mr. Millar's is on one side of the
chapel and Mr. Simson's is on the other side. Dr. Turner may
give you a letter, if he thinks proper, to the medical gentle-
man who brought out a packet of letters from you last year.

Mr. Cleghorn, an acquaintance of Dr. Turner's, is a good
way from Montreal. I did not see him because the sailing of
the steamboat for La Prairie is such that I could not go and
return the same day. I have some more acquaintances in
Montreal, but Mr. Millar shewed so much kindness to us all,
and is so friendly and kind a man, that I wish you to look to
him for directions about the rest of your journey if you find
him at home. If the steamboat in which you come up from
Quebec arrives late at Montreal, you had better stay on board
till the following morning. Mr. Millar is from Perth, an ac-
quaintance of Mr. Archibald Reid's. Mr. Reid will, I am sure,
very willingly write to Mr. Millar by you.

Mr. Millar will take out your ticket in the coach for Pres-

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS 85

cott, and will give you all the necessary directions about the
way. Your tickets will cost you eight dollars apiece. You
must here (at Montreal) leave your big trunk, if the coach will
not take it. If the coach will take it, so much the better. If
the coach refuse it, Mr. MilHr will get it sent by the forwarder
as the carrier is here called. Mr. Millar will direct your trunk
to the care of Mr. Thomas Bell, King Street, York. I shall
give him directions how it is to be forwarded to London.

When you arrive at Prescott you will be set down at the
inn kept by a Mr. Warren. Miss Warren knows Aunt Emily;
she shewed your mother and all the bairns a great deal of
kindness for three days that we were in the house. Tell her
who you are, and she will shew you kindness for the sake of
mamma. When at Prescott you will call for Rev. Mr. Boyd.
He is a Presbyterian minister there. He and Mrs. Boyd are
very nice people indeed ; he will lodge you in* his house, and
will see you to the steamboat that will bring you to York.

If Aunt Betsey be with you, you will, of course, wish to
pay a visit to Aunt Emily in passing. It will cost you a good
deal of trouble to do it, and some expense. The way is this:
Mr. Boyd will see you over the river to Ogdensburgh; when
there you will get a steamboat that will land you at Morris-
town, about ten miles from Ogdensburgh. When at Morris-
town you will need to hire a waggon to take you to Hammond
to the house of Mr. McGregor. He is well known at Morris-
town, for he preaches there every alternate Sabbath. The
waggon will cost you one and a half or two dollars. You must
bargain to have seats in the waggon, and a span of horses,
i. e., two horses. If you pro to Mr. McGregor's, he will see you
on board the steamboat that is to bring you up the river. I
would scarcely advise you to go to Hammond unless Mr. Boyd,
or some person deputed by him, were to< go with you, at least
to Morristown. Well then, I shall suppose that you do not go
to Morristown. Miss Warren will send a servant with you to
the steamer for York, or Mr. Boyd will go with you. The charge
is eight dollars in the cabin, and this includes, I think, your
food. If any accident should detain the boat at Brockville,
twelve miles above Prescott, you may call for the Rev. Mr.
Stuart. He is no witch for hospitality, and it will be better
that you do not need to call for him. The boat sometimes
stays for some hours at Kingston. If you be disposed to go on
shore, you mav call for Mr. Mowat, cooper, who will shew vou
^ood hospitality for my sake, though I have never seen him.
Your mother was very hospitably entertained by him. When

86 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

you come to York, if it be before nine o'clock in the evening,
you will call for Mr. Thomas Bell, King Street, or for the Rev.
James Harris, Bay Street, or for the Rev. Mr. Stewart, Yonge
Street. Take Mr. Bell first; if once under his care you may
think yourself home. He has some very nice sisters, who will
treat you with all kindness during the time you may choose to
stay in York. You will find here plenty of friends.

On leaving York, Miss Bell has promised to see you to
Hamilton in the steamboat, the last you will need on the way.
When at Hamilton call for the Rev. Mr. Marsh, and tell him
you are come to stay with him for a night. If Miss Bell has
any friend in Hamilton, you will of course stay where she stays.
The mail stage leaves Hamilton for Brantford every morning
at seven o'clock A. M. You will arrive at Brantford in the
afternoon and stay there till the following morning, in all prob-
ability. When at Brantford, you will find yourself very hospit-
ably entertained by Mr. Cotter, the innkeeper; he knows me
well, and is a great friend of mine. While at Brantford you
may call for Mr. Wilkes, whose wife and daughter and daughter-
in-law will be very kind to you. I stayed nearly a month in
his house. At Brantford you will get directions for London.
You will start in the morning and be in your father's house
at night. When you come to, York, if it be after nine o'clock
at night, your best way will be to get the captain or the steward
of the steamboat to shew you to "The Ontario House," the best
inn in York, and you can send a note to Mr. Bell to tell him
that you would be happy if he would come to see you. The
above directions will enable you to find your way to York, even
though you have no person toi come with you; but I hope you
are to come under the guardianship of some of our ministers.

I would hardly advise you to call for Mr. McGregor with-
out a guide; if you do go to see him, you will write to me and
name the day you intend to leave Hammond, and be sure to
write to me when you come to York, and tell me on what day
you intend to leave it, and I will come down for you to Hamil-
ton or York, and take you home with me. Walter Lawson is
at Brantford; he was delighted exceedingly to see me. I had
almost forgotten to tell you not to drink the water of the St.
Lawrence. It almost always brings on a diarrhoea; indeed,
whenever you come to a resting4 place, you should take a good
dose of Calomel and Jalap. We were never right till we did so.

I had a letter from Mr. McGregor about a month ago; he
is wishing to come to Canada to settle. He does not like the

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS f> S7

States very well, so, if we be spared, we may ere long have him
for a neighbor.

You will need at least £12 in' your pocket each, when you
leave Quebec. Your expenses will amount to nearly this. If
you run short by any accident, Mr. Bell at York will supply you
or I will bring it down with me.

I came down from London on Saturday for the purpose of
taking all the family up. The carriage of ourselves and luggage
will cost more than a hundred dollars.

I am happy to say that we are all well. Your brothers
have grown great stout boys since they came to America. The
clothes whicfy they brought with them are all too little for
them. Alex, has been teaching the younger ones all winter
while I was from home, and he taught five children besides, from
each of whom he received a dollar per month. He has been
unwell by boils, which he brought on himself by heating him-
self chopping fine wood. John and Willy have been through
Gray's Arithmetic twice, and have been working away at the
Rudiments. Robert is still Maggie's favorite, and has a pair
of plumper cheeks than are to be seen in all Canada. He reads
very well. Hart is a noble fellow; he is grown very stout.
Jessie, the dear sweet Jessie, is as lovely a child as you ever saw.
She is petted by everyone, and is quite a Madam. The boys
say that when Anna comes she will find the petship is occupied ;
but Anna will, I am sure, find that she has lost none of her
father's affection. They all talk frequently of you and all' are
wearying exceedingly to see you both. They often lament that
you will be sea sick and may have nobody to attend to you,
as they had when they were sick.

You will call for all your friends before you come away.
I would like that both of you saw my mother, but it will lead
to too much expense. I am sure your uncles will come in and
see you before you sail. As to going to the Carse, I fear that
also is impracticable. Indeed you must take care not to spend
a cent that can be saved. You will need it all here.

I have not heard a word about Pitrodie since I left it, except
what was contained in Mary's letter of the 13th October. I
have written to Messrs. Harlands, Pringle and Johnstone, and I
expect a long letter from each of them very soon. I mean to
write to some Carse man after I am fairly set down at London,
to Mr. Turdal and Mr. Williams.

I wrote a long letter to Uncle Sandy at the same time that
I wrote you last, and I purpose to write to him soon again.

I have been conversing with Mamma about the expense of

88 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

travelling up the river St. Lawrence from Quebec. She says
that the charge from Quebec to Montreal was a sovereign for
each of the grown-up persons, and that this included bed and
victuals. The charge from Montreal to Prescott was eight dol-
lars each, or £2 currency, but that this did not include victuals.
We were two nights and a day on the passage. We were in
three coaches and in two steam boats. The charge from Pres-
cott to York was £2 each, including victuals. The charge for
each meal is Is. 3d. We have just three meals in this land.
The steamboats on the St. Lawrence surpass all that is to be
met with in Britain in point of grandeur and size. You will need
to be pretty well dressed in them; not braw, but more smart
than when crossing the Atlantic. Remember to give nothing
to servants in steamboats and inns. Nobody gives to servants
in this country. It is never asked, never expected.

I have written the above so that you might find your way
to us though you were alone, but I do not look for you alone.
I do not bid you come till you can find some guardian approved
of by your friends ; and in that case you will have one who will
see that you are not imposed upon. Aunt Betsey, whom I ex-
pect with you, is as good as any gentleman can be; but she
will be the better of some one to take the fash off her hands.
What money you bring must be in gold ; and if you do not take
care, you will be cheated in the change. A sovereign is worth
23s. 9d. of the currency of the country.

I had intended to write to Miss Dobie, to whom I feel much
indebted. She will accept the assurance of my esteem though
I do not write to her.

You will write to me upon receipt of this and tell me all
about your views of coming to America. Write very small on
a large sheet of paper and fill it full. Present my kindest re-
membrances to Mr. and Mrs. Aitcheson at Drummore ; also Mr.
and Mrs. Aitcheson, St. Johns Street ; to Mr. Black, and to Mr.
Renwick, if either of you see him.

I hope you are both conducting yourselves so as to give
entire satisfaction to the many kind friends who have taken
so deep an interest in you, and above all, so as to please God,
whose favor is better than life. I hope you never forget to read
the Bible every day, and to pray to your Heavenly Father; and
that you attend the church every Sabbath. Preaching is need-
ful, and I trust you both make choice of that good thing which
can never be taken from those who possess it.

Tell Uncle Robert that I purpose to write to him a very
long letter some day soon, but that as I know he must be told

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS

all about prices, I shall need to make a great many enquiries.
I wish he were here. I am sure he would like the country, and
that the country would suit him.

We all unite in most affectionate love to you both; and I
am, my dearest Mary and Anna,

Your ever affectionate father,

Wm. Proudf oot.
Address to me at London, Upper Canada, via New York.

The original of this letter is written on a large sheet of
paper in a small copperplate hand, legible as print. Pages filled
very full, and divided in two columns. It is folded in two,
meeting in the center, then in three, without envelope, sealed
with red wax, and addressed — single sheet: — Misses Mary and
Ann Proudfoot, No. 23 Castle Street, Edinburgh, Scotland (Via
New York).

\

^Transactions

PART VII.

ft? tfje
1916

i— ipsgjt— . tr^n^— ipssii— .11— iipss]|ji^m

London and Middlesex
Historical Society

PART VII.

*

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP

By Freeman Talbot.
BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS

By Hon. D. J. Hughes, Judge of the County Court of Elgin.

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS

By D. M. Cameron, Esq.

PIONEER POLITICIANS

By Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.
THE WRECK OF THE VICTORIA

1916
Published by the Society.

OFFICERS 1915-16.

D. RODGER, ESQ., President.

A. STEVENSON, M.A., 1st Vice- President

MRS. CL. T. CAMPBELL 2nd Vice-President

MISS STELLA MACKLIN, Recording Secretary

MISS E. L. EVANS, Corresponding Secretary

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D., Treasurer

S. WOOLVERTON, D.D.S., Curator

T. H. PURDOM, K.C., CAPT. T. J. MURPHY, JOHN

DEARNESS, M.A., H. MACKLIN, J.P., MISS H.

PRIDDIS, MRS. GEO. F. BRICKENDEN,

Executive Committee
Messrs. H. MACKLIN and T. BRYAN, - - - Auditors

PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY.

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D., - - - - 1901 to 1904

JOHN DEARNESS, M.A., - 1904 to 1906

FRANK LAWSON, ESQ., 1906 to 1907

H. MACKLIN, ESQ., 1907 to 1909

A. W. FRASER, ESQ., 1909 to 1911

CAPT. T. J. MURPHY, 1911 to 1913

T. H. PURDOM, K.C., 1913 to 1914

D. ROPGER, ESQ., ------ 1914 to 1916

TRANSACTIONS— 1915.

Jan. 19 — The Origin and Migration of the Indian—-
By David Rodger, Esq.

Feb. *6— The Proudfoot Papers— II—
By Miss H. Priddis.

April 20— The Old Mechanics' Institute-
By Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.

May 18— The Catholic Church in London— Part II—
By Major T. J. Murphy.

Oct. 20 — National Ideals and the War —
By Rev. Canon Cody.

Nov. 16— The Proudfoot Papers— III—
By Miss Priddis.

Dec. 21 — The Indian west of the Rocky Mountains —
By David Rodger, Esq.

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

HON. FREEMAN TALBOT

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP

BY FREEMAN TALBOT.

(It was in December of 1817 that Richard Talbot, of Limerick
County, Ireland, applied to the British Government for a grant
of land in Canada for settlement by a number of his neighbors.
While the authorities were not disposed to give grants to in-
dividual settlers, they agreed with Mr. Talbot to give 100 acres
to each of his band of immigrants, provided they deposited with
him ten pounds a piece, as a guarantee of good faith. The
government supplied the ship, and in 1818 Mr. Talbot started
with a company of some sixty or more. On arriving in Canada
they found they had to pay their own transportation west to
the new settlement in London Township, as the Governor had no
authority to assist them. As a consequence quite a few left
Mr. Talbot, and settled near the village of Perth. The remainder
made their way slowly through river and lake till they reached
Port Talbot on the shore of Erie, from whence they travelled over-
land to their destination. With Mr. Talbot were his three sons —
Edward Allen, John and Freeman. The elder wrote a large
book on Canada, taught school and published a paper — The
London Sun — the first published between the Niagara peninsula
and Detroit. The second also tried his hand, both at school
teaching and editing, but finally removed in 1839 to the United
States. The younger, Freeman, remainded in Canada until
1856. During that time he worked as a surveyor and con-
tractor, and took part in many local enterprises in Middlesex
and in London. Jn 1833 he married Ann Eliza Clark — the
marriage being the first performed by the rector of St. Pauls', the
Rev. Mr. Cronyn. Their married life lasted fifty-five years.
In 1852, he started the London Prototype, a paper which existed
down to a comparatively late period. But in 1855 he sold out
to a relative — Marcus Talbot — a young man of great ability,
who was subsequently M.P. for East Middlesex, but whose life
came to an untimely end before long in the wreck of the Hungar-
ian, on which he was a passenger. In 1856, Mr. Talb'ot left •
London, and settled in Cleveland, Minnesota, where he lived
many years; but finally removed to the North- West, where he
died among friends and relatives at Strathcarrol, on the 20th
November, 1903, at the advanced age of 92. In 1856, Mr. Talbot
wrote a short article for newspaper publication, giving his recol-
lections of early days — probably the first record of pioneer times'
in Middlesex by one who had personal knowledge. This he
subsequently remodelled and enlarged, and sent to the London
and Middlesex Historical Society, where it was read for him at
the regular meeting of December 19, 1902, as follows: — C.)

During the administration of General Simcoe, the spot upon
which London now stands, attracted the attention of that talented
Governor, and of his far sighted Secretary, the late Colonel

6 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Talbot. This was about the year 1794. He contemplated the
locality of London, as a proper site for the future capital of the
province. The natural advantages of which are said to have
been the centrality of its position between the lakes, Ontario,
Erie, Huron and St. Clair, and its fortunate situation on the
River Thames; fertility of the soil; the mildness and salubrity
of its climate; the abundance and purity of water; means of mili-
tary and naval protection, and the facility of communication
with Lake St. Clair through the outlet of the river Thames,
and Lake Huron by the north branch of the same river. This
latter was a very great mistake. The north branch every mile
during its course flows farther" and farther from Lake Huron.

In 1796 General Simcoe, resigned the Government of Canada,
and was accompanied home to England by his Secretary, Colonel
Talbot, who at the time held a Lieutenant Colonel's commission
in the army. The Colonel soon determined to return to Canada,
and through the influence of Simcoe, with the Home Govern-
ment, obtained a grant of 5,000 acres of land, in the townships of
Dunwich and Aldboro. At that time there was no white
settlement west of the Grand River and none east of the river
St. Clair, while the whole country from Lake Erie to Lake Huron
was an unexplored wilderness. Colonel Talbot's nearest neighbor
was distant 60 miles. But he being intrusted by the Imperial
Government with a great part of this vast region soon induced a
hardy class to follow his trail, and lay the foundation of future
wealth and independence.

Amongst the most prominent men of the early pioneers of
the Talbot settlement, I find the following names: Daniel
Springer, B. B. Bringham, Timothy Kilbourn, Joseph Odell,
Andrew Banghart, Seth Putman, Mahlon Burwell, James Nevells,
Jacobus Shanich, Leslie Paterson, Sylvanus Reynolds, William
Orr, Henry Cook, Samuel Hunt, Richard Williams, Peter Teeple,
John Aikens, Morice Sovereign, Henry Daniel, James Smiley,
Abraham Hoover. The parties named above settled in various
Townships, from the years 1803 to 1815.

London Township was not surveyed until 1818, although a Mr.
.Applegarth erected a very comfortable log building, as early as
1816. He selected a rich spot of land, about three-quarters of a
mile below the Forks and there commenced the cultivation of
hemp, for which the Government of England at that time offered
very great inducements.

Why Mr. Applegarth did not succeed in his enterprise, I
never understood, but I know that he left early in 1820 and we
never heard of him afterwards. In the Autumn of 1818 London
Township was entered by some forty different families, most
of them Irish immigrants, under the direction of my father, the
late Richard Talbot, Esq., who entered into an arrangement with
the British Government to enlist at least sixty adult males to
immigrate from the County Tipperary to Upper Canada. And
as a guarantee that each settler should not become a pauper in

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP

that new country, he was obliged to deposit with my father the
sum of ten pounds, sterling, the money to be returned to the settler
as soon as he had erected a log house, on his free grant of 100
acres of land. Mr. Talbot had obtained a free ship, the Bruns-
wick, commanded by Captain Blake, to convey himself, family
and settlers from the "Cove of Cork" (Queenstown) to Quebec.
The ship wras rationed in the most liberal manner for a four
months voyage, but we crossed the Atlantic in six weeks and three
days.

My father received a grant of 1400 acres of land in the Town-
ship of London. Many of our settlers left us at Kingston, tired
of trail, and went to the Township of Perth, where they were
informed that Colonel Bye was paying high wages for men to
work on the canal that he was then constructing to connect the
waters of the River Ottawa with Ontario Lake. London Town-
ship had at its first settlement many strong attractions and many
almost irresistible difficulties in the way of its rapid improvement;
so thought the practical farmers of Westminister, Southwold and
Yarmouth. The soil was first class, water pure and plenty, mill
sites abundant, splendid timber of almost every variety,
limestone and brick clay easily obtained in many different local-
ities, and as rich pastures for cattle as any Township in the whole
district, still it was remote from the lakes; timber too heavy to be
subdued by the raw Irish; an unsurveyed region between here and
Lake Huron, of sixty miles; and a certainty that fever and ague
would shake the constitution of the Pioneers and lead them in
due time to move their tents and settle in some of the Southern
Townships. Amid all these predictions London prospered and
in time became what it is to-day one of the most wealthy Town-
ships in Ontario.

The destruction by fire of the County buildings in Charlotte-
ville, Vittoria, in 1825 was the event that brought London into
existence as a County Town. The London district at that time
(1825), extended from the Western town line of Burford to the
Eastern town line of Zone; and from Lake Erie to Lake Huron,
comprising what is now the counties of Oxford, Norfolk, Elgin,
Middlesex, Perth, Huron and Bruce.

The following magistrates, Charles Ingersol, of Oxford,
Peter Teeple (ditto), Mr. Homer of Blenham, Ira Schofield of
London Township and Daniel Springer of Delaware, used their
influence with the Government and after a long struggle with
the Southern magistrates, secured a grant of money for the
erection of county buildings in the village of London. Chas.
Ingersol, John Harris and Mahlon Burwell were appointed
commissioners to superintend the erection of county buildings.*

A log building was first erected on the north east corner of the

*The Commissioners were Thos. Talbot, Mahlon Burwell, Jas. Hamilton,
Chas. Ingersol and John Matthews. Mr. F. Talbot was writing from
memory. — C.

8 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

courthouse square, intended as merely a temporary jail. But
ere its completion, a sheriff's officer, Timothy C. Pomeroy, was
murdered in one of the south eastern townships, and three Ribbles,
father and two sons, and C. A. Burleigh, were introduced to the
people of London as the murderers. They were at once confined
in the log building and guarded night and day by armed men.

Early in 1827 they were removed to the proper buildings, that
had been nearly completed. At the assizes in August the four
men were indicted for murder and when placed in the dock for
trial, the Ribbles claimed a separate trial, and were at once
taken back to their cells. Burleigh was convicted and hanged
three days after his trial.

A Methodist preacher, James Jackson, visited Burleigh in
the cells, and wrote out a lengthy poetical confession. Burleigh
assuming all responsibility for the murder. No man at the time
believed the confession to be genuine. Burleigh was a poor
uneducated, unintellectual man, that very few would be willing
to intrust with a loaded gun. The Ribbles on the contrary were
educated, bright men and practical hunters, but the confession
as written out by elder Jackson was printed early in the morning
of the day that the Ribbles were to have been tried, and a copy
placed in the hands of every juror in the town. Very few men
blamed elder Jackson for saving the life of the three Ribbles.
They were all men of families and many held that the execution
of Burleigh was sufficient to atone for the murder of Pomeroy.

In those days hotel accommodation was too limited to ac-
commodate the great number of parties that attended the first
criminal court ever held in London. The judge, the magis-
trates, and a few favorites were entertained by Peter McGregor,
the first hotel keeper that London ever had. Jurors and others
after the toils of the day had to go from two to three miles to
seek entertainment of Joe Flanigan on Westminister street. I
omitted to state in the proper place that the court house was
erected by John Ewart of York (Toronto), and he had the build-
ing completed in every particular to satisfy the commissioners.
The Honorable Thomas Park was at that time a skilled car-
penter, and under his immediate superintendence as foreman, all
of the woodwork was completed. Mr. Robert Carfrae, one of
the very oldest citizens of London was Mr. Parks' most trusted
workman. The bricks were also manufactured by a Toronto
man, Wm. Hale, afterwards a resident of London Township.
Two brick yards were opened, one where the stables of the Rob-
inson Hall now stands, the other on the north side of the north
branch, on lands that now belong to Walter Nixon.

I now proceed to give you the names of many of the first
settlers in London Township: Anderson, Ardell, Armitage,
Armstrong, Adams, Atkinson, Black, Bartlett, Bradshawr, Bur-
gess, Brice, Brownlee, Bogue, Blackman, Blackwell, Carter,
Cummons, Cooley, Clark, Coleson, Carrie, Coot, Collins, Charle-
ton, Cole, Cook, Cooms, Cresort, Carling, Cormickle, Culbert,

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP

Colbert, Craighton, Dagg, Doaty, Dickenson, Dickson, Dunlop,
Digname, Dyre, Dayton, Deacon, Day, Donaldson, Doyle,
Dinsmore, Dewan, Dougall, Elliott, Edwards, Elson, English,
Frank, Fitzgerald, Fitzsimons, Flannigan, Fralick, Farrel, Flood,
Ferguson, Fish, Fisher, Freckleton, Fordham, Fitzpatrick,
Grant, Gleason, Greason, Gibson, Gafferey, Hall, Hull, Hart,
Hughs, Hodgens, Harrison, Hartson, Hale, Hayes, Hobbs,
Hodgsman, Jacobs, Jones, Johnston, King, Kernohan, Long,
Lovell, Lawheed, Monahan, Martin, Moore, Mitchell, Merill,
McConnell, McManahan, McDonald, Mossip, McKenzie, Mc-
Millen, McCloud, Montague, McCanlass, Mclntosh, Monroe,
McRoberts, Musprat, Mooney, Nixon, Nellis, O'Neil, Oram,
Owens, Odell, Oxstabee, Poleston, Patrick, Peasley, Perkins,
Reynolds, Rosser, Robson, Robinson, Roberts, Rutledge, Ryan,
Reilly, Rigley, Riland, Rounds, Robb, Stephens, Shoaf, Shipley,
Sanburn, Sale, Smith, Smibert, Shoebottom, Stanley, Siddle, Sum-
mers, Salmon, Styles, Taylor, Thomson, Thomas, Tweedy, Trainer,
Tackabery, Tenant, Tuke, Williams, Waldrum, Warner, Webster,
Waugh, Wummack, Woods, Wright, Wiley, Wilson, Warren,
Weir, Waldon, Young, Vanderburg, Zavitz.

I will now add the names of my father's settlers including
his own name, all adults: Richard Talbot, Edward Talbot, John
Talbot, William Gerry, Thomas Brooks, Peter Rogers, Thomas
Guest, Frank Lewis, Benjamin Lewis, William Haskett, W7illiam
Mooney, William Evans, William O'Neil, Edmund Stoney,
Joseph O'Brien, George Foster, Thomas Howay, James Howay,
John Phalan, Joseph Hardy, Joseph N. Hardy, John Gray, John
Gray (Junior), Foilet Gray, Robert Keays, Charles Goulding,
Robert Ralph, John Sifton, Charles Sifton, and Thomas Howard.

Permit me to add the names of a few back Londoners from the
(uncivilized) concessions that have distinguished themselves as
leading men in many of the learned professions: Bishop Cronyn,
a London Township man; Hamilton H. Killaly, member for
London and president of the Board of Works; the Shanley family
sent into the public life two distinguished engineers; Judge
William Elliott, a township man, Superintendent of Public
Schools, a leading barrister and for the last quarter of a century
one of your distinguished judges.

No London family ever sent out more leading men into the
country than the Sifton's: John Westly Sifton, a member of the
Manitoba Legislature, speaker of the house and Minister of Pub-
lic Works. Every one knows his son, Clifford, the talented
Minister of the Interior. Another son, A. L. Sifton, a leading
lawyer in Alberta. Another Sifton, a physician. Another a
minister of the Gospel. Two other Sifton's are physicians, one
a railroad surgeon in the city of Milwaukee.

The Shanley family, long inhabitants of London Township,
produced one of the most eminent civil engineers in America,
and two other sons of more than ordinary ability in the same
profession; and James you all knew as a respectable barrister.

10 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Thomas English born in London township, has for many years
been chief of police in Calgary, Alberta.

Two of Robert Webster's sons were Methodist ministers,
Thomas the oldest son preached the Gospel longer than any man
that I ever knew, and together with his clerical duties had for
several years edited a denominational newspaper. Throughout
a long and laborious life, he was esteemed not only^by the Metho-
dists but throughout the whole community. On account of age
he had been superannuated many years ago, and died in Newbury
last year, aged 93 years.

Thomas Howard, son of little Tom, was also a Methodist
minister and editor of a religious journal; and James his brother
who died a few weeks ago in London, had long been a local
preacher.

One of William McMillan's sons is a respectable barrister.

A son of Geo. T. Fitzgerald, was the first who won a gold medal
at the Toronto University; he became a celebrated lawyer, and
rapidly making a fortune, but died while yet a young man, leaving
his family independent.

Thomas Harrison Fitzgerald, one of his sons became a very
prominent man, was a cabinet minister, and is now a prominent
banker in Alberta.

Crowel Wilson was a member of Parliament for Middlesex.
James Ferguson was for many years registrar of deeds in London.
His brother Tom has a son, a very prominent judge.

One of old Joe Marshall's sons was for years a leading member
of Parliament.

A thirteenth concessioner, Mr. Robinson, is now a very in-
fluential member of Parliament.

Five of the London Talbots were newspaper men. Edward
Allan of "The London Sun"; John of "The St. Thomas Liberal";
James of "The Port Huron Commercial"; Freeman, editor and
proprietor of "The Middlesex Prototype" and after him Marcus
Talbot, to whom I had sold my interest in that journal in 1855.

Such are the men and their long toiling progenitors that have
made London Township what it is to-day — one of the most
flourishing townships in Ontario. Its wealth is fairly indicated
in assessment rolls sent me more than ten years ago. It had at
that time 27 brick school-houses, 25 brick churches, an excellent
town hall, 10,000 inhabitants, 4,000 head of cattle, 2,000 horses,
and more sheep and swine than any other township in Middlesex,
and the estimated wealth I allude to was nearly $6,000,000.

VILLAGE NOTES

Many of the oldest settlers will remember that the first hotel
was erected in one day, and that it was owned and kept by Peter.
McGregor, a little Scotch tailor, who had married a Miss Pool of
Westminister, a woman of decided energy and thrift, who by
her go-ahead-spirit, secured the erection from time to time of
such additions to the hotel as she thought their increasing busi-

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP 11

ness demanded; the first part of the hotel was erected in 1826,
before the survey of the townsite was fully completed.

Abraham Carrol, brother to the present sheriff of Oxford
County, soon became a competitor for the popularity which seemed
to be enriching McGregor. He erected a large hotel on the
north side of Dundas street, but very soon failed in business.
He had three bright attractive daughters; and all three got
husbands and left their father almost helpless. As female help
suitable for a hotel was very .scarce and very costly, Abraham
had to leave. Mr. Joseph O'Dell then took possession of the
house. It stood on the north side of Dundas street and east of
Ridout street, and was ever known as the Mansion House.

After Mr. O'Dell came Boyle Traverse, then John O'Neil,
who conducted the hotel for a great many years in the most
satisfactory manner. To Dennis O'Brien belongs the merit of
having erected the first block of brick storeis in London. They
were erected in 1836, just opposite the Court House, north side of
Dundas street. Those buildings in 1838 were leased by the
commissiarat as barracks for a part of the 32nd regiment and were
held by the troops until the completion of the proper Govern-
ment buildings. Messrs. Paul and Bennett after the troops had
left the brick block, fitted them up, as a hotel the "Western"
and occupied them for some years. They were eventually des-
troyed by fire.

Dennis O'Brien was first known to the people of London as a
plain unpretending Irish peddler. He soon became an exten-
sive merchant, and was the first dealer in this section to reduce
the price of goods and groceries to what we deemed a reasonable
standard. Honor and honesty guided him in all his transactions
with the people. He was the first man who ever erected a counter
in the village.

O'Brien was a single man when he came to London in 1826 or
1827, and after he had been here about two years he married
Miss Jane Shotwell, of Westminster; and for some time there-
after lived in the upper storey of his place of business on the
South side of Dundas Street, east of Ridout. That was a pretty
general custom of store-keepers in the early days.

Mr. G. J. Goodhue, a native of Vermont, who had been keeping
store in Westminster on the road to Byron, moved into the little
village about the same time as O'Brien, and started a business
which for many years was a very' successful one. In 1828 or
1829, he put up a building for a store and residence on the west
side of Ridout Street, just north of Dundas. In 1832 he took
Lawrence Lawrason as his partner, and they were connected in
business for several years. For most of the time they had the
Post Office in their building. James Mathison and Richard
Smith were later in the business with him. A year or two after
Mr. Goodhue settled in the village he purchased from John
Kent fifty acres of land in the township of London, adjoining
the town site. That was on the east side of the river, extend-

12 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

ing to what is now Richmond Street and was north of the old
North Street. He paid for the plot fifteen dollars an acre.

Lyman, Farr and Company, were the first druggists in London.
Af cer them Simcoe Terrie, then Dr. Salter.

The first medical practitioner in London was Dr. Archibald
Chisholm. Lemuel Bartlett and Dr. Day though not licenti-
ates frequently came in from the township and practiced in
London. Dr. Hiram Lee, although a resident of Westminster,
frequently administered to the sick. Dr. Elam Stinson came
from New Hampshire and was for years a prominent physician
in London. In 1832 Dr. Geo. Moore came direct from Ire-
land, a thoroughly educated physician. On his arrival in the
town he found the cholera was fast carrying off the inhabi-
tants. Dr. Donelly came direct from Quebec, where he had had
considerable experience in treating cholera patients, and while
he seemed to have the fullest confidence in his ability to restore
the sick, he, shortly after his arrival, took the disease and died
within four hours of the first attack.

While the cholera was raging in London, Henry Sovereign
was tried and convicted of the murder of his wife and seven
children, and on the day of his execution, thousands of men
women and children came, many of them from a distance of
50 miles, to witness the death of Sovereign. In the spring of
1830, Edward Allan Talbot and Andrew Hearn of Niagara,
established the first newspaper ever printed between the Nia-
gara River and the St. Clair, "The London Sun." The Sun
lived about three years.

In 1835 Philip and Benjamin Hodgkinson, brought a print-
ing press from the township of Bayham and established a news-
paper "The London Gazette". They were both practical
printers and Ben a writer of more than ordinary ability. The
"Gazette" lived less than four years.

London has been represented in Parliament by Mahlon
Burw^ell, Hamilton H. Killaly, Lawrence Lawrason, William
Henry Draper, Thomas C. Dickson, and John WTilson. The
representatives in Parliament for Middlesex, have been M.
Mallory, John Bostick, Mahlon Burwell, John Rolph, John
Mathews, Roswell Mount, Thomas Park and Elias Moore.

In 1840 Hamilton H. Killaly, who was then president of the
Board of works and a member of Lord Sydenham's Cabinet,
was elected to represent London in Parliament, and did more
to advance the growth of the town and the prosperity of the
country than any other man, living or dead. His influence
at the seat of Government was irresistible, and he caused to
be constructed also a plank and gravel road from London to
Hamilton; a plank road from London to Port Stanley; an excellent
earthen road from London to Windsor; and a road of the same
description from London to Port Sarnia. On all of those roads,
all hills were reduced to a grade of one foot to thirty, substantial
bridges and perfect drainage effected. He also caused to be

THE FATHERS OF LONDON TOWNSHIP 13

erected splendid piers at Port Stanley, and a canal connecting
the Rondeau with Lake Erie. On these works more than
$400,000 were expended, all paid out by Chas. Monserat at his
office in London. The late Sir Casimer Stanislas Gzowski was
chief engineer over all of the above mentioned works.

The late Thomas Cussick was the first man who ever voted
for a member of Parliament in London. The candidates were
Mahlon Burwell and John Scatcherd. There were few voters
at the time, much fewer than you would suppose from the pop-
ulation, but many that should be voters had neglected to take
out deeds for their property. The Poll closed thus: Burwell 37,
Scatchard 27.

The first Episcopal service ever held in London was by
Rev. Edward Boswell. He remained with us for upwards of
two years. After him came the Rev. Benjamin Cronyn, who
came in 1832, and after more than twenty years service as
rector was elected Bishop of Huron.

The first Presbyterian minister, although a resident of the
Township, frequently officiated in the town, the Rev. Wm.
Proudfoot. After him came the Rev. John Scott who erected
a spacious and handsome Presbyterian church and ministered
to his people for more than 25 years. He loved his people, and
they all admired him; but the "Kist o' Whustles", eventually
caused him to leave his faithful flock.

The first brick dwelling house ever erected in London was
erected on Dundas Street by Cyrus Summers. The first Episco-
pal Church was destroyed by fire and on the 8th October 1844,
all of the houses, fences, trees and sidewalks from Dundas Street
to the river east of Ridout Street and up to Talbot Street were
destroyed by fire. Again on the 12th of April, 1845, did the fire
rage on the north of Dundas Street and destroyed 150 buildings.

Mr. Simeon Morill was one of London's earliest inhabi-
tants and in the early days erected an extensive tannery, — a
factory much needed by the inhabitants of the whole country
at that time. For the first two years he tanned hides and skins
for the farmers on shares, giving them one-half of the leather.
After a time he purchased everything for cash. He also es-
tablished a shoe factory and employed a greater number of
men, than any other person in London.

Marcus Holmes, a blacksmith by trade, an American by birth,
came to London, erected a number of cheap but extensive build-
ings, and for many years had from 20 to 50 men in his employ-
ment. He. built the best waggons ever known at that time,
and manufactured all kinds of pleasure carriages.

Murray Anderson and Elijah Leonard each became foundry
men and did a very prosperous business. In 1856 Anderson's
foundry was blown to pieces by an unaccountable explosion, and
his brother killed.

The Elliott's and McClary's were justly becoming noted as
enterprising manufacturers about the time I left London. I

14 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

find to-day McClary's stoves in every house that I've ever entered,
from Winnipeg to Edmonton, a distance of a thousand miles.

The first lawyers in London, were John Tenbrooke, John
Rolph, William Salmon, Peter Rapalje, and James Givens.

First doctors, Archibald Chrisholm, Elam Stinson, Geo.
Moore and Dr. Donelly.

First preacher of the Episcopal Church, was Edward Boswell.
He officiated in London for two years. Methodist — Edmund
Stoney, Mathew Whiting and James Jackson. Presbyterian —
William Proudfoot. Congregational — Wm. F. Clark.

Not one acre of the first survey was set apart for the Anglican
or any other church. Lot No. 12, on the 2nd Concession in the
Township of London was a Clergy Reserve, 200 acres. Adelaide
Street was the western boundary of that reserve. Lot No. 15,
on the 3rd Concession of London Township was also a clergy
reserve, 200 acres.

The first bridge built in London was Westminster Bridge,
across the south branch of the River Thames. The second
bridge was Blackfriars, crossing the north branch of the river.

I give here the names of our first public officials: Judge,
James Mitchell; High Sheriff, Daniel Rapalje; Treasurer, John
Harris; Clerk of Peace, John B. Askin; Dept. Clerk, Wm. King
Cornish; Reg. of Deeds, Mahlon Burwell; High Constable, John
O'Neil; Jailer, Samuel Park; Cryer of Court, Gideon Bostick.

Now the names of a few of the very first settlers in our town :
Peter McGregor, Dennis O'Brien, Ira Schofield, Patrick McMan-
us, Wm. B. Lee, William Hale, Robert Carfrae, James Little,
Thomas Park, Thomas Gibbons, Joseph Gibbons, Simeon
Morill, James Williams, - — Montague, Edmond Raymond,
Henry Davis, Chas. Sifton, James Waterman, Andrew McCor-
mick, John Jennings, Samuel Glass, David Hogaboom, Robert
Fennel, John Yerks, Joshua O'Dell, John O'Neil, Wm. King
Cornish, John Tenbrook, Samuel Park, J. W. Vanwormer,
Patrick Fallen, J. Flannigan, James Grant, Chas. Grant, Chas.
Davidson, James Oliver, John Oliver, Rev. Edward Boswell,
Edward Mathews, David O'Marsh, Thomas Waters, John Kent,
E. W. Hyman, H. Vanbuskirk, Peter McClary, Peter Vanevery,
Murray Anderson, Moses Carter, James Stearns, Zebadee Talbot,
Moses Carter, Daniel Brown, James Farley, Benjamin Nash,
Charles Henry, William Robertson, Geo. J. Goodhue, E. Ellis,
Syrus Summer, John Harris, Alexander Rabbit, Marcus Holmes,
Nathan Osbourne, John Blair, John Diamond, John Balkwell,
Dr. Stinson, Dr. Chisholm, Dr. Geo. Moore, Daniel Brown,
Simcoe Terrie, Leonard Perrin, John Douglas, Frank Warren,
James Givens, Finley McDonald, John O'Brien, Francis Wright,
Benjamin Bayley, Angus Cameron, — Pringle,

Cardon, William McBride, Samuel McBride, John O'Flin,
John Scatcherd.

Bench and Bar

in the Early

Days

16 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

JUDGE D. J. HUGHES

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 17

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS

BY THE Hox. D. J. HUGHES,
Judge of the County Court of Elgin.

Of the Legal Bar of the past, I will give in narrative form, as
facts and memory serve me. I will speak as briefly and incident-
ally of the Courts and the Administration of Justice in my student
life as possible.

I came to the London District in May, 1835, a lad, and was
sent by my brother-in-law, the late John Wilson, who had adopted
me, to the Grammar School, then taught by Mr. F. H. Wright,
B. A., a Graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. At that time, the
late Mr. Ephraim J. Parke, Mr. Thomas Parke, Junior, and Mr.
Thomas Scatcherd were fellow pupils. The London District
had for some years been very attractive to persons seeking homes,
and caused some of the best agriculturalists and mechanics in the
Province, and many from the United States, to settle in and about
London. It was attractive for lawyers as well as tradespeople.
The territories now constituting the counties of Norfolk, Oxford,
Huron, Perth, Bruce, Middlesex, Elgin and part of what is now
the County of Brant, that is to say, the townships of Burford
and Oakland, formed the London District.

There were for this extensive territory only one Judge, one
Sheriff, one Deputy-Sheriff, one High Constable and several
Justices of the Peace and necessary local constables. The Clerk
of the Peace held also the office of Clerk of the District Court.
The County Treasurer held also the office of Deputy Clerk of
the Crown and Pleas, and was sole issuer of Marriage Licenses.
The District Judge held also the office of Inspector of Tavern
Licenses which owing to the loose way of granting licenses was
really a sinecure. The Court of General Quarter Sessions of the
Peace was presided over by a Chairman elected by the Justices
of the Peace from amongst themselves. Besides their ordinary
jurisdiction in criminal matters, they held and exercised peculiar
jurisdiction on several subjects, such as the granting Licenses to
Innkeepers; matters of establishing new roads where the necessi-
ties of the country required, were referred to them. The grant-
ing Licenses to marry was referred to them. 'Ministers of what
were denominated non-conformist churches, were obliged to
appear and perform certain acts and make certain proofs and to
take the oath of allegiance to the British Crown and Govern-
ment before they could legally perform the marriage ceremony.
The taking of that oath was provided as a possible safeguard,
because it was well known that itinerant preachers from the
United States always insidiously endeavoured (without exception)
to sow seeds in the minds of their hearers, of discontent with our
monarchical system of Government and hold up the transcendant

IS LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

superiority of Democratic Government. Such men were es-
teemed as more remarkable for their politics than for their piety.

There were four officers for the registration of Deeds of Real
Estate and Will of deceased persons affecting titles to lands,
throughout the District; viz: — One at the Township of Dun-
wich for Middlesex; one at Ingersoll for Oxford; one at Goderich
for Huron, and one at Vittoria for Norfolk. In order to get the
registry of a title it was necessary for an attesting witness to
go personally to the office of the Registrar (or to meet him else-
where) to make the necessary proof of execution of an instrument
before him. This system of red tape continued in vogue for some
years after I became a student in 1837. If a deed were executed
of lands in another county, the proof of execution might be,
by affidavit, made there.

In the year A.D., 1835, when I went to live in London (a boy
of thirteen years), the following named members of the legal
profession were residing in the London District; — i.e. of Barr-
isters, viz: — Mr. John Stuart at London; Mr. William Salmon of
Simcoe; Mr. Peter Rapelje of Vittoria and Mr. John Wilson
(afterwards Judge Wilson) who although in 1834 not yet called
to the Bar, was acting as counsel (by the courtesy of the Court
and members of the Bar) in conducting his own cases; and the
following were Attorneys-at-law but not Barristers: — William
King Cornish of London; Mr. Stuart Jones of London; Mr.
Edmund Burton of Ingersoll; Mr. Willaim Lassenohere of Wood-
stock. At subsequent periods, Mr. James Givins of Toronto,
a barrister, settled at St. Thomas; Mr. John Strachan of Toronto,
a Barrister, settled at Goderich; Mr. Robert Nichol of Niagara,
settled at Vienna; Mr. George Baxter of Niagara, a Barrister
(afterwards Judge of the County Court of Welland County)
settled at Vienna; Mr. Thomas D. W7arren, an Attorney, a native,
settled in St. Thomas; Mr. James Stanton of Toronto, a Barris-
ter settled in St. Thomas; Mr. W7illiam Horton of Brockville,
a Barrister, settled in London; Mr. Edward Horton, his brother,
a Barrister, settled in St. Thomas; Mr. John Stewart of London,
a Barrister, settled at Goderich; Mr. James Daniell, a Barrister
(afterwards Judge of the County Court of Prescott and Russell)
settled in London. I cannot give the exact order of their es-
tablishing themselves according to dates, but my enumeration
of names will be found pretty full. (A.D., 1837-1842).

Those who were students at law while I was studying were
Mr. Alexander Douglas McLean, stepson of Mr. Sheriff Hamilton,
afterwards Mayor of Chatham, Mr. John Stewart, formerly
principal of the Grammar School at Perth, a man in advanced
years; Mr. Henry C. R. Becher, a young English gentleman,
who came to Canada to seek his fortune; John Hamilton L.
Askin, son of the Clerk of the Peace; Fred Cleverly, formerly
a midshipman in the East Indian Company's Service; Mr.
James Shanly, the late Master of the High Court of Justice and
known as Lt. Shanly, who was respected by all who knew him.

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 19

He was the son of Counsellor Shanley of the Irish Bar. The last
to be named whom memory serves me wras Mr. George W.
Burton of Ingersoll, afterwards the Hon. Mr. Justice Burton of
the Court of Appeal. He commenced his legal career with his
uncle Mr. Edmund Burton of Ingersoll, before named, and after
being called to the Bar became a partner in the eminent law firm
in Hamilton of Burton and Bruce. Col. Shanly became the
partner of Mr. Givins, which lasted until the removal of Judge
Allen from office and the appointment of Mr. Givins as his
successor. Mr. Givins was the gentleman to whose service in the
profession I was myself articled, and I had charge of the work
and practice of the office from the time I entered it for some years
until my articles and services were transferred to Mr. Wilson,
my brother-in-law and subsequent partner. Mr. Becher and
Mr. Shanly were articled to Mr. Wilson before me.

I cannot speak with confidence of a period anterior to the year
1834. I have it by tradition — that a court had been held and
justice administered at Turkey Point in the County of Norfolk
for some years anterior to the building of the Court House
at Vittoria. After the removal to Vittoria, Col. John Bostwick
(afterwards of Port Stanley) had been in office either as Sheriff
or deputy, but Abraham A. Rapelje ultimately became Sheriff
and Henry V. A. Rapelje his son, was his Deputy until after the
removal of the District town from Vittoria to London. The
burning down of the Court House at Vittoria caused the District
Town to be changed by Act of Parliament. Before the Court
House at London was finished as it now stands, the building that
is now the old Grammar School was used for the Court upstairs,
and for the Jail downstairs. The forming of a town in London was
in embryo and in the forest condition. There was no accommo-
dation for suitors after the Court had been established here.
The Jurors who attended the Courts were obliged to get such
accommodation as they could find anywhere, sometimes in a
barn or hay-loft; sometimes in the woods. They brought with
them their provisions, including little mutchkins of whiskey for
those who drank whiskey. Tea and coffee were luxuries then,
little used or obtainable. They had no jury rooms, and I have
been told by a gentleman who had himself served on the jury,
and who related this to me, that down near the end of West-
minster Bridge at the north side of York Street, there was a
spring of deliciously pure cool water purling from under a wide-
spreading basswood tree, which hung over, leaning towards the
river, which shaded the place for a large distance. They used
to bring their pork and bread, or sausages and bread, or cakes,
or whatever they had to eat, and ate their meal there. Those
who dra-nk whiskey used to pour a little whiskey in the dammed
up spring, and each one who wanted to drink whiskey and water
with his lunch, would dip in his tin cup and take and drink what
he wanted. All were welcome. This place was the only Jury
room (so to speak) where they would be in charge of a Constable,

20 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

making up their verdict after ever}' trial. At that time, the
Jurors were not paid for their attendance at Courts. They
always travelled and lived at their own expense. Jurors were
not paid for their attendance on the trial of Criminal cases,
and it was very hard upon the early settlers to hear legal <
controverted and to come in and spend a week or more during
long trials at their own expense. It was found to be advant-
ageous otherwise to many persons, as it brought strangers to-
gether and acted as an educator of the people. It was an ex-
pensive education for many, so that except in Civil cases their
services were unremunerative. They were paid for every dis-
trict Court case tried by them, $1.50, that is a York shilling
apiece, and in Superior Court cases, they were paid $3.00, which
was a quarter of a dollar a piece, no matter how long the trials
lasted. A lawyer visiting the Court here once, was very much
surprised to find, after the Jurors had made up their minds
and were waiting to render their verdict in a case, to observe
they hesitated to deliver their finding and were waiting for
something. This the visiting lawryer was not accustomed to
as he came from another part of the Country; he could not
understand the halting process which was new to him, so he asked
why they did not deliver their verdict. The clerk said "They
are waiting for their pay", and on further explanation it was
told that one of the lawyers, (a Mr. John Tenbrook, who had
died before my going to London) was not to be trusted, so they
insisted upon having their pay first. I was told also that the
district Judge got so accustomed to the practice and failings of
that particular lawyer, that he would not sign his name on >the
back of the record indicating the verdict, unless his fee of a dollar
was handed up on the bench. The District Court Judge's sole
remuneration for services at that time was by fees. This was
all changed however afterwards when a different set of lawyers
settled in London, and the Judges were Barristers paid by salary.
Owing to the lack of accommodation in the way of hotels, inns
or taverns in the District Town, the officers of the Court, lawyers
and the Judge, who had journeyed from what was called Long
Point, but really Vittoria, where most of them still resided,
used to stay at a very respectable and comfortable tavern out-
side the county town, situated on the Commissioners' Road in
the Township of Westminster, kept by Bartholomew Swartz,
(an old Polish soldier who had been with Napoleon at Moscow).
It was one of the best hostelries in this part of the country,
and the guests used to stay there over night and come to the
village to hold Court during the day. It was the only com-
fortable or habitable place until hotels were erected, suitable
for general public entertainment, the first of which was that of a
Highland Scotchman, the late Peter McGregor on the south
side of King Street facing the Court House Square. The next
was that of Patrick McCan, who kept The Robinson Hall Hotel,
on the corner of Ridout and Dundas Streets, and third the

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 21

hotel of James McFadden on the corner of King and Ridout
Streets on the south side of King Street.

At an early period it was found necessary to provide a tri-
bunal for the collection of small debts, and a jurisdiction was
created conferring authority upon Justices of the Peace to deal
with such matters. But it was found that the Justices of the
Peace were not content with what the law authorized, but must
needs step beyond their proper bounds and commit acts of
trespass, so those Magistrates' Courts were entirely abolished,
and in substitution of them, commissioners were appointed upon
whom a limited jurisdiction was conferred. In the several
prescribed and limited localities those small debt courts were
called "Courts of Request". Some of the commissioners were
lawyers, if they could be obtained. They had jurisdiction
up to the value of $10.00 on matters of debt or contract, but
none as regards torts. Then the Division Courts as they exist
now were substituted for the Courts of Request. Circuits were
prescribed to be settled by quarter sessions to be presided over
by a County Judge or by a Barrister, with extended jurisdiction;
since which the administration of justice in all ordinary affairs
has been brought nearer the people, and has given universal
satisfaction by their domestic convenience.

Before and at the time, indeed for many years after I became
a student-at-law, imprisonment for debt to the extent of $40.00
was allowable. All that was necessary to procure a man's
arrest for debt was for the creditor to make an affidavit setting
forth what the claim was for, that it was due and unpaid, and that
the deponent was apprehensive that the debtor would leave the
Province without paying the debt (it was not necessary to give
any reasons for the "apprehension.") The result was that
many debtors were imprisoned and kept in close confinement,
unable to pay comparatively small sums of money. In amelior-
ation of that condition, a change in the law provided that the
sheriff might take a bond with sureties conditioned that the
debtor would not leave the walls of the jail, and that if he escaped,
the sureties would pay the debt. Subsequently the "Jail Limits"
as they were called were extended to the boundaries of the
Town in which the Court House stood. If the Debtor went
beyond those limits, his bondsmen would be liable as for an escape.
Several debtors, who were prisoners unable to pay compara-
tively small sums of money or to find security, were shut up in
unsanitary cells, obliged to support themselves. There was no
provision for their getting rations from the County. The at-
mosphere of these cells was always close, stuffy and unwhole-
some. I remember two prisoners in particular who had the walls
of the jail for their limits, who had to place their several be-
longings and valuables on a table placed at the foot of the Court
House stairs, to which they had called an auction sale and one
of them acting as auctioneer, sold off their goods in order to fur-
nish them with food. One of these men was a medical doctor.

22 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The other was a man who had respectable connections, but he
himself was not very respectable, so that his relatives did not
seem to have much sympathy for him or his condition.

The District Judge was not necessarily a lawyer, and as far
as my knowledge of the early history of the District extends, the
late James Mitchell of Vittoria was the first District Judge.
He had been a fellow student and "chum" at the University
of St. Andrews in Scotland with the late Bishop Strachan. They
were educated together, immigrated to this country together
where both became in different parts of the Province, teachers of
classical schools; Mr. Mitchell at Vittoria and Mr. Strachan at
Cornwall. Although both were Scotchmen of very much the
same stamp, learned and extremely Scotch and determined, they
were entirely different in their habits, tastes and future walks
in life. Judge Mitchell in the prime of life, although not a lawyer,
had a legal and judicial mind as Mr. Strachan proved to have
possessed. He was an upright, honest and exemplary man until
he became incapacitated by infirmities. After the completion
of the new brick Court House (which still stands on its original
foundation with a new front, in London) some of the officials
removed from the County of Norfolk to the newly constituted
County Town. Neither the Judge nor the sheriff changed their
places of residence. Among those who did so were Mr. John
Harris, the District Treasurer. He had been previous to his
appointment to office, a non-commissioned (a warrant) officer
in the Royal Navy, employed on a government vessel in the sur-
vey of the Canadian Lakes; after the war of 1812-15 under
command and direction of Captains Bayfield and Owen of
H.M.R.N. Mr. Harris was not an accountant and got his treas-
urer's books (for want of keeping a cash book to show his re-
ceipts and disbursements of public money) into an inextricable
muddle. Mr. John' Baptiste Askin (who had formerly been a
clerk during the war of 1812-15 in the commissariat service)
removed, with his family, to London. He was by birth an Indian
half-breed. His father was a white man and his mother a squaw.
He was himself all Indian in his temper, tastes and habits.
He was outwardly of quite gentlemanly bearing but inwardly
conceited, proud, jealous, selfish and envious; all Indian.
He had had the privileges and advantages of having mixed in
the society of gentlemen. He had no taste for the society of his
equals or immediate superiors and was true to his instincts,
unsuccessfully imitative. He was the Clerk of the Peace and
Clerk of the County Court. To him and his office belonged
many several and separate functions, and many that were assum-
ed. The sceptre he swayed for many years amongst ignorant
surroundings was supreme and absolute, until municipal in-
stitutions were established for every district of the Province.
These proved his bane and upset his sway; and what was worse,
curtailed his income. In fact, it was discovered that besides
having been paid the fees prescribed by law, he had been paid an

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 23

annual salary of $1200.00, for which there was no authority.
When Municipal Institutions called District Councils were
established in this Province, which were presided over by wardens
appointed by the Government, a thorough investigation wras made
by the late Hon. John Wilson, who had been appointed to that
office for the London District, into the expenditures connected
with the administration of Justice, and he found that considerable
sums of money had been paid out of the county funds for which
there had been no authority. In the discharge of his duty, he
called the attention of the District Council to the facts and figures.
The same subject had been brought before the Court of General
Quarter Sessions of the Peace by Mr. John Burwell, a member
of the County. However right or wrong, Mr. Askin took the
actions of both these gentlemen as personally hostile and as an
affront, in fact an unpardonable offence which he never forgave.
Even after the death of Mr. Wilson, although he had shaken
hands with him in token of his forgiveness, whilst alive, he abused
him after he was in his grave. He was, as I have said, All Indian,
Who Never Buries the Tomahawk.

Under the irresponsible system of Government which existed
at the time (i.e. before Municipal Institutions were introduced)
Mr. Askin, a strong supporter of it had been in the habit of rec-
ommending men for the commission of the Peace, although he
was only the Clerk of the Court of which they were to become
members. This gave offence to many; because no person how-
ever respectable or suited by education and character for the
office of Justice of the Peace, could be or expect to be appointed
of whom Mr. J. B. Askin did not approve and recommend.

Mr. Henry Van Allen Rapelje, the Deputy Sheriff removed
to London and conducted the office in the name of his father.
Upon the subsequent setting off the -County of Norfolk as a
separate judicial district, he was appointed the Sheriff of that
county and Mr. James Hamilton who had been a merchant at
St. Thomas, was appointed Sheriff of Middlesex, in A.D., 1837.
Mr. Samuel Park the Jailor, removed to London. He was the
son of a Mr. Park who had been the jailor at Vittoria and had
died there. Mr. William King Cornish who had acted as Deputy
to the Clerk of the Peace at Vittoria, removed to London and
subsequently became an Attorney-at-law, there.

Owing to the infirmities of the district Judge, who had latterly
removed to London and lived there for some years, and was very
much afflicted with Rheumatism, it was found necessary to
appoint a Junior Judge. A representation was made to that
effect, to the Government, and Mr. William Young of Caradoc,
an English Attorney by profession, but not a Barrister, wras
appointed for the administration of Justice. Mr. Young was a
very austere and strongly set-up, stiff Englishman, who had held
a good position in England, but lost it through fast living. He
had neither knowledge . or sympathy with the affairs of this
country, but was a fairly good lawyer; highly respectable man in

l>4 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

his way, but a good deal of a wreck who had lost his health and
temper; so that ultimately he became really less fit physically
to discharge all the duties than the Senior Judge was. He con-
ducted the Court with decorum: — When on the Bench he could
and did act the part of a gentleman. — When off the Bench he
could be arrogant and offensive; and swear (in the fashionable
style, common in the period of King George the Fourth) like a
trooper. In plain language, he could be blasphemously profane
when he was stirred to a period of anger. After the entire failure
of bodily health, his mental strength was exhausted and he
died, unlamented, and was soon forgotten. The Senior Judge,
in consequence, temporarily assumed the judicial functions, so
that the administration of Justice in the District Court became
somewhat ludricrous through the advanced age and consequent
incapacity of Judge Mitchell. I remember a case in which
a witness bearing the name of Barnard Mackleroy was called to
give evidence on behalf of one of the suitors, when the lawyer
conducting the case asked the Judge to take down the evidence
the witness was giving. (The Judge had not been taking any
notes at all). " Will your Honor please take that down. " "Yes,
Mr. Givins, I will take that down." With that he began fumb-
ling with his pen in his book. " Now will Your Honor be pleased
to read what you have taken down." "Yes, Mr. Givins. I
have taken down that the witness says that Barnard Mackleroy
is dead." "But Your Honor, the witness is Barnard Mack-
leroy." "I cannot help that; if the witness chooses to swear
that he is dead, I cannot help it." So the case proceeded.
When it came to the Judge's charge, he said: "Gentlemen of
the jury, you have heard the evidence and I have not. The
fact is I am a little deaf in my left ear, (the Jurors sat on that
side), but Gentlemen of the Jury, I must only tell you, that if
you think the evidence adduced on the part of the plaintiff is
the more satisfactory, it will be your duty to find a verdict for
the plaintiff for such damages as you think him justly
entitled to, but if on the contrary, gentlemen, you think
the evidence adduced on the part of the defence, preponderates
and is the more convincing, it is my duty as an upright and just
Judge to tell you that regardless of consequences, it is your duty
to find a verdict for the defendant." "Your Honor, is that the
charge?" "Yes, Mr. Givins, that is the charge." "Short and
sweet, Your Honor."

Following the death of Judge Young, it became impossible
for Judge Mitchell to continue long in the exercise of the Judicial
functions, as he was found to be totally incapacitated, and he
returned to his home at Vittoria, or it's neighborhood, where he
died, and had in his younger days spent a useful life, very much
respected.

The next in order on the local Bench was Mr. Roland XVilliams,
a West Indian Solicitor, (not a barrister) a good lawyer and a very
respectable and justly respected gentleman. He did not remove

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 25

to or reside in London, but continued living on his farm in the
Township of Westminster a few miles from St. Thomas, to which
place we were obliged to go in case we required to make a chamber
application, which of course involved delay and expense for which
there was no recompense in the way of adequate fees or dis-
bursements. Mr. Williams, however, before long became a con-
firmed invalid, and died after only a few years of judicial service.
After the death of Judge W7illiams, an English Barrister by
the name of Henry Allen, was appointed. He was a man who
had difficulty of speech, and was totally unfit to deal with the
people and the ordinary affairs of the country. He could not
comprehend our condition or mode of living of our people; he
had come to this country from one of the West Indies Islands,
was unacquainted with business affairs, and local conditions,
so that the administration of Justice in his hands was inefficient
and gave very great dissatisfaction. He was petulant in his temp-
er and over-bearing as well. I was told by a Clerk of the Division
Court, that on one occasion the Judge, owing to the state of the
roads, was very late in reaching Fingal where he should have
been presiding in the Division Court. The tired suitors had such
confidence in the Clerk, who was not a lawyer, but a very clever
upright and good business man, that they referred their cases to
the Clerk. When the Judge arrived, he found all the cases
disposed of. The clerk made known to the Judge that he had
relieved him from all his trouble; assured him he was sorry
the Judge had come so far through such bad roads, that the parties
had waited long for his arrival and had agreed to his disposing
of the cases by arbitration, and that every case had been settled.
The Judge hearing this threw himself into a rage and dared
the Clerk, on pain of dismissal, ever to do such a thing again.
The Clerk thought he was rendering a service which turned
out to be very offensive to His Honor. A complaint was sub-
sequently made of his entire unfitness, to the Government,
and he was removed from office of Judge of the District Court, but
retained his office of Judge of the Surrogate Court. He tried an
action of Trover for a stag, which the plaintiff claimed as his
property. After the case had been in contention, spun out for
a long time, and ably discussed by the lawyers, who all under-
stood what kind of animal a "stag" was, the Judge, when he
came to charge the jury, said the case must be dismissed because
a stag was what was known as a wild animal, Fera Naturae,
(imagining that the suit was brought for possession of a male
red deer), that if it left one man's woods that man ceased to
have any claim to it, and if it went to another man's woods,
the latter could claim it. The lawyers had difficulty in explain-
ing the difference between what was locally called a "stag"
and a "wild deer", but he did not see it. However the Jury
dealt with it properly, all of which and much more such, showed
his total ignorance of the affairs of the Country in which every
County Judge ought to be well versed. His inefficiency and

26 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

incapability to adapt himself to the exigencies of the office were
so manifest that a complaint was made to the Government
and Judge Allen was removed from the office of Judge of the
County Court.

After his removal, Mr. James Givins (who was then a Barr-
ister of some ten years standing at the Bar) was appointed
his successor as Judge of the County Court. Mr. Allen still
retained the Judgeship of the Surrogate Court. Judge Givins
was an able man and a well read lawyer; but like many others
he failed in the prompt and apt application of legal principles
to present needs, which gave hesitation and uncertainty as to
his decisions. When he had made up his mind, it was by no
means certain that he was right, but he "stuck to it" all the same,
because he thought he was right. He was not a success, nor
entirely unsuccessful, as a Judge. He was not long in the office
when he died and was soon forgotten.

After Mr. Givins died, Judge Small was appointed, and was
the immediate predecessor of the late Judge William Elliott.
He was the Hon. James Edward Small, who had been the Solic-
itor General, a member of the Baldwin Ministry, and a politician.
He was a man who was a better judge of a good dinner than he
was of law, and was more particular about getting his meal in
the middle of the day, (no matter at what stage the trial of a
case before him might be) than he was in the proper discharge of
his duties, — his dinner and it's accompaniment of brandy and
water, were all of supreme importance. He was a man who
boasted, if it could be conceived that a lawyer, much less a Judge
would confess such a thing, that he had never read the Common
Law Procedure Act and did not intend to. His Administrations
in the Division Courts consisted largely in talking all the time
himself and being very impatient of hearing others. More than
that, some of his Clerks of the Division Courts, were not faith-
ful in paying over the moneys they had collected, and the Judge
was not willing to listen to any complaints against them; he
rather shielded them. I have myself gone all the way to the
Division Court at Delaware to complain, and was met by the
Judge with every obstruction. I neither got Justice, not even
a hearing, nor did I get my client's money, after which I never
expected justice and did not care ever to appear before him.
I know that Mr. Becher had the same feeling.

After the re-construction of the Court of Chancery I was
myself appointed the Local Master, but because it involved the
necessity of my giving up practice, I resigned and Col. Shanly
was appointed in my place, and continued in the office until his
death. I do not think it necessary to speak of any members
of the profession (within 50 years) other than those I have ment-
ioned, because they all belong to modern history, which would
be better spoken of by others. I went to practice at Woodstock
in the year 1842, about which time James Daniels, Thomas
Scatcherd and Ephraim J. Parke, Hugh Richardson, Samuel

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 27

Barker and William D. Street, all younger men than myself,
became members of the profession, and members of the London
Bar, or students-at-law in London.

In a subsequent period, after the Counties of Norfolk, Ox-
ford and Huron were set off into separate judicial districts two
of the Judges were not lawyers. In Huron, the district Judge
was an English Barrister, who never practiced. He was a
better judge of roast turkey and well-cooked beef-steak and a
glass of sherry than he was of either law or justice. The Judge
at Woodstock was a retired English Banker, an exceedingly dull
man. The Judge in Norfolk was a man of good common sense,
a business man, but not a lawyer; well suited to deal with the
ordinary affairs among the early settlers of this Country. In
arguing a case before the Judge at Woodstock, it was found
that the producing and reading out to him of a law book, no matter
how inapplicable the subject, always made weight for a success-
ful, favorable decision.

What is now the County of Elgin still formed part of the
County of Middlesex. What are now the counties of Perth and
Bruce, then were within the Judicial district of Huron. After the
establishment of a branch of the Bank of Upper Canada in
London in the year 1835, Mr. James Givins, who was a lawyer
practicing in St. Thomas, came to London to live having been
appointed the notary and solicitor of the Bank. It was the first
and only Bank in London for many years. There was a Mr.
McKenzie who was practicing law in St. Thomas; he remained
there only a short time. Mr. John Strachan was practicing law
at Goderich and Mr. Gideon Acland, a Barrister, went to and
practiced in St. Thomas from 1835 to 1840. He was one of the
best commercial lawyers that then existed in the District. He
was not appreciated in St. Thomas owing to family relations and
preferences for inferior men who were there before him. He
subsequently removed to London, where he only remained a
short time for he died soon after. A Mr. Thomas Keir, who had
been a writer to the Signet in Scotland, removed to London from
Dundas where he had studied law in the office of the Hon. Wm.
Notman for a year. He was entirely unsuited for practice.
He was more a literary man than a lawyer. He could write
political articles well. He was clever, well-educated but not at
all temperate 'in his habits. The other lawyers used to say with
forcefulness, that a Scotch lawyer who came to Canada to practice,
instead of being admitted to the profession after only one year's
study of our system of precedure, should serve five years longer
in order to forget his Scotch peculiarities and Glossary of words,
and learn our legal vernacular. A similar case existed at Goder-
ich, where a Mr. Haldane purported to practice, but was never
admitted to the Bar. He was a Scotch lawyer, a writer to the
Signet, a name given to an important body of lawyers in Scotland.
It was curious to sit down and hear his peculiar law expressions,
so that one really needed a Glossary of Scotch law to be able

28 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

to understand what they meant. I had the opportunity of meet-
ing him on one occasion and his language kept my mind on the
stretch in order to reach his meaning.

I have passed through five separate amendments and practice
of the law in my long connection with the legal profession. The
first involved long and unmeaning counts in declarations which
did not necessarily disclose what an action was brought to re-
cover. There were different forms of action for every remedy
sought. The action on the case for torts; the action of the case in
promises, called Assumpsit; the action of Debt for the recovery of
money; the action of Replevin for the recovery of goods or cattle
or chattels, and for damages for their detention; the action of
Detinue for the recovery of a chattel in specie; the action of
trespass for the recovery of damages for injury to persons or
property, real or personal. The action of Trover for the re-
covery of a chattel and the action called a feigned issue for the
purpose of trying the right of property or possession of chattel
claimed by someone else. These proceedings were not necessar-
ily inaugurated by a Writ or Summons, or by petition or by
direct application to the Court or a Judge. The mysteries of
procedure sanctioned by long practice and ingenuity of those
engaged as legal agents (winked at by the Courts) were barriers
to suitors obtaining their rights except through the agency of
men well versed in the mazes and trodden paths of procedure,
established by the ingenuity of men whose interest it was to
confine their avenues of justice to their own profit and inter-
vention. To give a few instances of this system: — The first
process in ordinary actions was by a writ of capias ad respond-
endum (directed to the sheriff), bailable and non-bailable. The
sheriff, when this Writ was placed in his hands, was supposed
to take the defendant and bring him before the Court; in bailable
cases to arrest him by his body and keep him safely until he should
give security for his due appearance and readiness to answer the
action. In non-bailable cases, .the sheriff was furnished with
copies of the Writ to be served personally upon the defendant,
having endorsed upon the copy notice to the defendant of the
purport and purpose of the service. If the defendant appeared
he did so by entering a written appearance in the Court. If
he failed to do so, the plaintiff might enter one for him and the
proceedings to follow would be taken by the plaintiff's attorney,
which it would take too long to detail here. In the action of
Replevin, the writ ordered the sheriff to seize the goods, similar
to the present procedure. The action of ejectment was commenced
without a writ or summons, which contained a fallacious state-
ment which set forth a claim by a suppositions plaintiff against a
suppositious defendant. The suit by interpleader was commenc-
ed by the stating of a suppositious wager between two persons
as to the ownership of the goods claimed by a real plaintiff.
The action of Trover was by the declaration of the loss of a chattel
which came to the possession of the defendant by finding and

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 29

that the defendant wrongfully deprived the owner of the chattel,
claiming damages for the detention. This system was only
gradually changed by new Rules of Procedure, subsequently
by the Common Law Procedure Act, and ultimately by the
fusion of Law and Equity, and an entire upsetting of all old
methods as it exists at this day.

A curious anomaly was introduced by statute which provided
for the joining in one action of the maker and endorser of a Bill
of Exchange or Promissory Note. It had been held that they
could not be joined in one action because the contract of each
of those parties was not identical — that of the maker of a note
or the acceptor or endorser of a Bill of Exchange being positive
and that of the drawer or endorser as only conditional. To
remedy this, the best the legislators could devise was to prescribe
that a declaration containing "the common money counts"
as they were termed, be filed and served on the defendant, having
attached to them a copy of the instrument upon which the action
was founded, and that without the slightest reference to the
Bill or Note. To remedy this, someone more ingenuous than
the past who had labored with the subject, planned the form
which is now used for joining all parties.

Besides giving the history as to the personnel of the members
of the legal profession, I have extended a statement of some of
my recollections of the past connected with the administration
of law and of legal procedure.

According to the provisions of an Imperial Statute, (which is
easy of reference) all negroes and lands owned in the colonies
of Great Britain were declared to be goods and chattels for
the payment of debts. Taking advantage of that provision
a Judgment and execution were obtained against the owner of
the Township of Moulton in the new County .of Haldimand
(then in the District of Niagara) and the whole Township was
advertised and sold en bloc after ten days notice of sale; pur-
chased by Henry John Boulton a lawyer of Toronto, and his
title under the sale and the proper construction of the Statute
was held to be valid. After which a Provincial law was passed
that required an execution against goods to be first issued, so as
to make the debt and costs out of the chattel estate, failing
which and upon the sheriff's return endorsed "Nulla Bona"
for the whole or in part, only, could an execution against lands
be issued; after which that execution would have to remain in
the sheriff's hands for twelve months and the lands described
and published in the Upper Canada Gazette and in a local paper
for three months before the lands could be sold.

In civil as well as criminal cases, it was the rule to have
trial by jury, except in cases of common assault and petty tres-
passes and for sums above the jurisdiction of the Courts of
Requests. After an interlocutory judgment in the Court of
Queens Bench or District Court, where there was consequently
no defence set up, it was necessary for a jury to assess the "dam-

30 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

ages." The non-payment of a debt or breach of contract was
held to entitle to damages. I knew one lawyer (who was as a
matter of court etiquette obliged to wear his gown and banns)
who was never known to address a jury except in the matter of
obtaining an assessment of damages for non-payment of prom-
issory notes, upon whose verdict judgment and execution would
not be obtained until after commencement of the next law term
of the court. There was no summary reference of such ''dam-
ages." The Legislature (after a long struggle on the subject
of invading that palladium of our liberties, i.e. trial by Jury)
and substituting a summary trial (as had taken a change in
the law in England) passed a law for the trial of petty trespasses
and common assaults by Justices of the Peace. The prog-
nostications of the opponents of the change were in many cases
poorly fulfilled by ignorant and malignant magistrates, ex-
ceeding their jurisdiction in regard to these subjects. I have
known of many such perversions myself, but an appeal to the gener-
al sessions of the peace had for the most part provided against
injustice; and I could furnish numerous instances of the ludic-
rous figures which some magistrates have cut in the assumed
jurisdiction on these subjects.

As to criminal law procedure, I need say very little. There
was no penitentiary for convicts, nothing between the common
gaol and the gallows, except the pillory and the stocks, or send-
ing them to Van Dieman's Land, which was very expensive
and circuitous. I recollect that at the corner of the Court
House Square, (the north-east corner) there stood a common
stocks and pillory, and I remember seeing a man once sitting
in the stocks as punishment for stealing silver spoons, but I
think the pillory was never used. It was not used in my time
certainly. Both were afterwards abolished by statute. As a
partial remedy for the expense of transportation, a law was passed
providing banishment from the country of persons convicted of
aggravated offences, not capital, with a penal clause attached
declaring that if a convict returned from banishment it would be
a capital felony. I knew the case of one old man, over sixty
years of age, who having returned from banishment was arrested
and tried and upon conviction was sentenced to death. However
the sentence was commuted to imprisonment in the penitentiary
(which had then been completed) for the rest of his life. It
is but fair to surmise that this punishment of banishment had
the effect of helping to people the United States with so many
"smart men" as are to be found there, for they had no other
country to adopt as their future homes. It may not be known
to many at the present time and is therefore a fact worthy of
note that prisoners were not allowed full defence in my early
days.. Counsel could not address the jury in defence of the
prisoner.

I recollect that in the old Court House, three courts martial
sat for the trial of grave offences. The first was for that of the

BENCH AND BAR IN THE EARLY DAYS 31

so-called patriots who invaded this province during the troubles
arising out of the Rebellion of 1837. It was a militia Court
Martial presided over by Col. John Bostwick of Port Stanley;
the second was a militia court martial for the trial of Lt. Col.
Craig of Caradoc, which was adjourned and never reassembled.
The third was a general court martial consisting of Officers of
the Army, presided over by Lt. Col. Love of the Royal 85th
Regt. for the Trial of Major O'Connor, of H.M. 85th Regiment,
which ended in his being cruelly and most unjustly dismissed
from the service of the Queen.

The Honorable John Sandfield MacDonald, (an upright
and able lawyer, an enlightened honest politician and states-
men one of the best we ever had had since the retirement of the
Hon. Robert Baldwin from public life) when Attorney-General
and Premier of the Ontario Government, introduced and caused
to be enacted many valuable and economic changes in the law.

(a) — The doing away with Sessions of the Peace being held
quarterly and abolishing Recorders Courts in cities.

(b) — The providing for the summary and hastening the trial
of prisoners in custody unable to procure bail; giving them the
right to be tried immediately by the county Judge without a
jury. We all know the successful result of that provision which
has been accepted by persons accused of crime in thousands of
cases to the manifest saving of expense and more prompt
administration of justice.

(c) — This provision was not acceptable to lawyers who aimed
at personal display before a court and jury. I remember an
instance of aggravated assault which the depositions before me
unfolded; in which it was shown that a woman had cruelly
and repeatedly whipped an adopted little girl, and maimed
and marked her body with wales. The County Attorney, an
exceedingly indolent and careless official had not taken the proper
course of his duty by sending over the depositions, but indiff-
erently and perfunctorily charged the woman in his formal
statement with common assault, which at most would have re-
sulted in an imprisonment for twelve months. The lawyer, not
seeing his advantage, instead of reading the depositions and
recommending his client to plead guilty of common assault,
as charged, demanded a trial by Jury, so that his client was re-
manded. Meanwhile I called down the County Attorney
for his remissness and told him to read the depositions which
he did, so that at the General Session he charged the woman
with the proper offence, i.e. aggravated assault. The proofs
adduced exposed one of the grossest cases of inhuman cruelty
inflicted that I ever heard. The prisoner was convicted and sen-
tenced to an imprisonment of five years in the penitentiary.
The next resort was to the Government without avail.

Those who have been "sat upon" by Judges, are sore and
sure to remember the difficulties of standing before grimness in
the faces of those who have no sympathy with beginners. I

32 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

have felt all this myself. The late Chief Justice Draper was not
grim because he smiled. When he sat upon the Bench delighted
at an opportunity to display his learning and skillful instincts
and taste for niceties, he used to smile at an opportunity. "When
he smiled", the profession used to say "he meant mischief,"
which was fatal to someone. On one occasion, he quietly "sat
upon" poor David Glass, who although wearing a silk gown was
not a lawyer. David, during one Assize had entered several
records of cases for trial which met with fatal results. One of
these I must particularly mention. David got on as far as
addressing the Jury, to which Judge Draper listened and waited;
at the end of which he spoke to David asking very coldly (he
was always cold; technicality was always cold) "Mr. Glass
what was the action brought for?"; to which David replied,
repeating his speech to the Jury. "Yes, I heard you say all that
to the Jury, but what then was the suit brought for?" David
essayed to go over his speech again, but the Judge wound up
"I do not understand you, Mr. Glass," and closed by endorsing
the words "Non suit" on the back of the record, throwing it
down to the Clerk of Assize. Whereupon David turned to his
client and said: "You see, I cannot make the Judge under-
stand, so we have lost the suit", whereupon his client left the
Court, thinking highly of the injured lawyer, but indignant at
the stupidity of the Judge who was an old fool for he "could
not understand Mr. Glass." Meeting a friend at the door of
the court house as he was going away, he asked him how he had
got on with the case, said, "Oh, I have lost my case, because
that d— - old fool of a Judge could not understand Mr. Glass."
That same Judge non-suited me in a Quitam action because
my proof was not technically in accordance with my pleading-
refused to amend — and I lost what was intended to recover
penalties for several gross and oppressive acts of usury, which a
statute then in force was intended to punish and provide remedies.
Upon his declaring a non-suit — the Judge smiled; a complete
Draperian Smile — peculiar to the man, who seemed to derive
comfort from what was disappointment and pain to me, a young
and ambitious lawyer.

Gleanings From The
Sheriff's Records

34 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

SHERIFF JAS. HAMILTON

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS 3.5

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS
BY D. M. CAMERON, ESQ.

(The first sheriff of the London District was Col. Jos. Ryerson,
appointed in 1800. He was succeeded in 1805 by his son-in-law,
John Bostwick, whose father was rector of the Anglican Church
in Great Barrington, Mass. John took up land at the mouth of
the Kettle Creek (now Port Stanley), and became a man prom-
inent in the County . The next sheriff was A. A. Rapalje.
He came of a Huguenot family, the founder, Daniel of that
name, having located about the year 1810 on part of the land
now occupied by the City of St. Thomas. When in 1827 the
judicial seat of the London District was removed from Vittoria
to London, most of the court officials came to the new town.
The sheriff, however, it is understood, never took up his residence
here; and much of the business of his office was transacted by
his son, acting as his deputy. In 1837, James Hamilton received
the appointment in succession to Rapalje. He was a brother
of the Hon. John Hamilton, of Queenston, but had removed to
this section, entering into business in St. Thomas and Sterling
(Port Stanley). The firm of Hamilton & Warren carried on
very extensive operations, having large mills at Sterling which
was the lake port for all this section, and stores in St. Thomas
and other places. Mr. Hamilton held the position of sheriff
for a great many years. It is mainly from the records of the office
during his incumbency that the present sheriff, Mr. D. M%
Cameron, prepared the following paper, read before the Society,
Feb. 20, 1912.— C).

The subject of my paper having been chosen for me in advance
of my examination of the material basis for "Reminiscences of
the Sheriff's Office," I am obliged to alter its terms to more
nearly conform to the facts that I am about to present. What
title to give to this effort after you have heard it, I leave to your-
selves to suggest.

The official records of the sheriff's office for what was in earlier
days the London District, and subsequently the County of
Middlesex, do not go very far back. There are some processes
running back to 1836, and in that year the then sheriff writes to
solicitors to the effect that owing to the disturbed condition of
the county, arising from the threatened rebellion, which cul-
minated next year, it was then found difficult for his Majesty
King William IV. 's writ to run. The same condition continued
to be reported during the two first years of the reign of her
Majesty Queen Victoria. The absence of any record of legal
proceedings prior to that date is due to the fact that these were,
up till then, kept at Vittoria, in the present County of Norfolk,

36 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

then part of the London District, the residence of Sheriff Rapelje
of that time, and burned in a fire which took place during his
regime. But for some years succeeding the period named
there are some documents in the office of considerable interest.
If I make little more than a catalogue of these without either
amplifying on their significance or transcribing them verba-
tim, my doing so will be due to the fact that the miscellaneious
material available to me has been but imperfectly digested, and
because its chronological arrangement requires more time than
I have been able to devote to it.

The Formative Period.

The letters, memoranda and documents are not without in-
terest, however, as disclosing the social and business condi-
tions then existing; the methods that then prevailed for carrying
on the business of this western section; and as illuminating on
this point the correspondence of Sheriff Hamilton, prior to his
appointment, are interesting, informing and instructive.

The period covers from about the year 1820 to 1832, essentially
the formative period in the history of what was then the London
District. Of that district the first settlers entered London Town-
ship, as far as I can obtain information, in 1818; Westminster
had some settlers a year or two previously, and at that time
Byron was, for the period, a thriving settlement, and threatened
to outrival London as the western metropolis. The boost given
to London by Governor Simcoe as the result of his visit some
years previously, gave to London the call, but Byron still con-
tynued for years to be the milling centre of the district, a dis-
tinction which it upheld against strenuous competition. Early
settlers in Caradoc, Delaware, Ekfrid, Adelaide, Lobo and even
Williams, recounted in later years to their descendants their
journeyings on horseback or on foot with the grist for the family
needs; and many residents in these townships will today recall
the interesting details had from their parents, of how they foll-
owed the trail in the journey to and from the mill. I had said
that this would largely be a catalogue. Such I purpose making
it. And dealing with my material by this method, I find a doc-
ument in point of importance, though not in date, among the
most interesting.

Commission for Early Fair.

It is a parchment commission from Sir Francis Bond Head,
lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, to Abraham A. Rapelje,
as sheriff of the London District, and dated the 5th day of July,
1836, authorizing the establishment of a fair or market in "the
Village of Woodstock, in the Township of Blandford, " to be begun
and holden on the second Tuesday in May and the third Thursday
in October, in each and every year, subject to the usual re-
strictions "and picage and stallage," which are to be paid to

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS 37

the said Abraham A. Rapeljc as sheriff, and to be solely appro-
priated to the clearing away the ground. An identically similar
patent exists, issued in 1844, after the union of the Provinces
of Upper and Lower Canada, and dated at Montreal on the
31st day of August in that year, establishes a fair or market in
the ''Village of St. Thomas," and appoints James Hamilton,
the then sheriff, to hold a public fair, "together with all the priv-
ileges, usages, customs, courts of pic poudre incident to fairs,
and laws of fairs in general and now established used and ex-
ercised within that part of Great Britain called England," to
be begun and holden on the first Tuesday in the month of May and
the last Tuesday in the month -of September. This parchment
is signed by Sir Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, and counter-
signed by W. H. Draper (afterwards chief justice of Ontario).

A Tragedy of the Rebellion.

One of the tragedies disclosed by these documents of the olden
time is a letter dated Government House 5th January, 1839, and
intimating that there had been transmitted to Sheriff Hamilton
"by express," which possibly meant a special messenger, a
warrant for the execution "on Monday, the 14th of the same
month, of Albert Clark, an American prisoner, recently convicted
before the court martial now sitting at London." The sheriff
was furnished, so the communication reads, of an exempli-
fication of the warrant which he was to read before the convict
at the time and place of his execution. There is no record in
the office as to the carrying out of the sentence, which was imposed
no doubt, on the prisoner for participation in the Mackenzie
rebellion of '37-f38.*

But to return. On the 5th day of June, 1835, a grant was
made to Abraham A. Rapelje (as sheriff of the District of Lon-
don) of the public fair or market in the "Town of London,"
under the seal of the Province, and in a parchment bearing the
signature of Sir John Colborne, the then lieutenant-governor of
the Province of Upper Canada. The right to hold and admin-
ister the fair is determined to follow the office, the successors
of Sheriff Rapelje to administer while in office. The grant is
countersigned by Robert S. Jameson, at the time attorney-
general, in a neat though rather feminine hand.

Another parchment is a warrant from Sir Charles Metcalfe,
the then governor-general, after the union of the Provinces
of Upper and Lower Canada, instructing Sheriff Hamilton,
under date of Montreal, the 6th day of September, 1844, to take
into his custody Thomas Halpin, then a resident of Chicago,
and under arrest there awaiting extradition on a charge of for-
gery.

"He was duly executed, January 14th, 1839.

38 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

An Election in Oxford.

On the 25th of January, 1838, a warrant was issued over the
signature of Sir Francis Bond Head, appointing James Hamilton,
sheriff of London District, the returning officer at an election
for the Legislative Assembly for the County of Oxford, to be
held no later than the 1st day of April, in the then current year.
The sheriff in those days was more frequently than in later
years returning officer.

Two parchments, each dated the 6th day of December, 1847,
and signed "Elgin and Kincardine," are addressed, one to
James Hamilton, appointing him returning officer for the County
of Middlesex, and the other appointing James Hamilton, John
Harris and James Givins to the same office, each in force "until
the 25th day of January next ensuing," are confusing until the
statutes as well as the circumstances surrounding the election
then contemplated are looked into more thoroughly than I have
been able to do. But a memorandum dated the 4th day of De-
cember, A.D., 1851, shows the methods of procedure then
followed, and incidentally brings to the front some prominently
known to political life in those days.

After noting the fact that the writ was read, the memor-
andum records the fact that "Murdock MacKenzie, Esquire,
moved, and Freeman Talbot, Esquire, seconded, that Crowell
Willson, Esquire, be a fit and proper person to represent the
said County of Middlesex in the next Parliament"; and that
"Mr. James Ferguson moved, and Dr. Lindly Moore seconded,
that William Notman, Esquire, be a fit and proper person to
represent the said county."

Irregularity Revealed.

Dr. Bartlett, seconded by Mr. Peter McDonnell, "nominated
Johnston Grover, Esquire," and on a division being called,
it is recorded that it was decided in favor of William Notman,
Esquire, and a poll being demanded by Johnston Grover on his
own behalf, and by Freeman Talbot on behalf of Crowell Willson,
the poll was granted, "the part of the proclamation was read/ '
so runs the record, "showing the times and the places when the
poll must be held." On Tuesday, the 16th December, the
returning officer postponed the declaration until the day fol-
lowing, owing to irregularity on the part of the deputy returning
officer for the Township of Bayham, William Hatch, he having
omitted to sign and seal the poll book, and the declaration was
adjourned from day to day till the 18th when the vote was found
to be: For Crowell Willson, 1,931; William Notman, 1,856;
Thomas J. Groves, 48.

Evidently electors had a choice and exercised it in the free
and independent manner of to-day, and Crowell Willson was
declared member for Middlesex by a majority of 75 votes. A
glance at the vote of municipalities is interesting, and goes some

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS 39

distance in indicating how near or how far apart political opinion
was then and is now.

Crowell William T. J.

Willson Notman Grover

Aldboro 38 28 1

Adelaide 101 81

Bayham 153 170

Caradoc 77 84 4

Delaware 37 55

Dunwich 13 60

Dorchester 110 112

Ekfrid 16 82 1

London - 472 124 5

Lobo 50 136 2

Malahide 166 189 7

Metcalfe 59 29 4

Mosa 77 54 24

Southwold 163 183

Yarmouth 238 217

Westminster 149 233

Williams.... 19 28

Totals 1931 1856 48

It will be understood that the County of Elgin was then a
part of the County of Middlesex, the former not having been
separated until about three years after the election took place.

The First Bridge.

It is interesting as a matter of record, as disclosed by a search
among the office papers, that the first bridge built to connect
Ridout street with the south side of the river was initiated in
1848, and built by subscription, in which the names of James
Givins, Robert Carfrae, James Hamilton and Alexander Ander-
son appear for contribution of £25 currency each, and others,
among them George J. Goodhue, John Wilson, Simeon Morrill,
John Harris, Elijah Leonard, Samuel Peters, L. Lawrason,
William Horton, Samuel McBride, Murray Anderson, M. Seger,
Thomas Craig, John Birrell, James Oliver, Hugh Stevenson,
Adam Hope, James Shanly and others, appear for various amounts.
The bridge was to connect Ridout street, in the Town of London,
with Queen street (now Ridout street), in the Village of London
South, and the total amounted to £231 15s currency. Sub-
sequently, when the subscriptions were utilized, it was intended
that the projected "Queen street" should pass through the house
then erected by Sheriff Hamilton, and a petition was prepared
for presentation to the township council of Westminster, in which
it is declared that Sheriff Hamilton had advanced the sum of

40 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

£57 16s and IJ^d, and was further liable to Peter McDonald,
together with Dr. Anderson, for the payment of an additional
£74 for extracting stumps and otherwise constructing a road from
the river to the Commissioners' road. It wras to secure the di-
version of the road to the west of the first surveyed location
that the petition was initiated.

The Powers of an M. L. A.

In 1838 a commission " per dedimus potestatem, " issued under
the great seal of the province to James Hamilton, John Stuart,
John Wilson and John B. Askin, and indorsed as being in force in
the County of Oxford, is among the archives. The only re-
striction in the body of the commission is as to its currency, it
being only effective until the 1st of April in that year, and its
issue may have had to do with the elections earlier referred to,
A peculiar difference from present-day methods in regard to
election matters is apparent in the wording of an indenture
in connection with the same County of Oxford election. This,
made between George Washington Whitehead, Edmund Deedes,
John Weir, Daniel Caroll, William Japenstine and Philip Graham,
freeholders of the County of Oxford, of one part, and James
Hamilton, returning officer, of the other part, witnesseth that
''we (they) have chosen Roger Rollo Hunter, Esquire, as repre-
sentative, to be member in the House of Assembly at Toronto,"
and that they "do give unto the said Roger Rollo Hunter full
and sufficient power for us and the commonalty of said county to
do and consent to those things which then and there by the
favor of God shall happen to be ordained by the common council
of our said province." No doubt Mr. Hunter went to Toronto,
then recently altering its name from York, doubly armed when
possessed of this mandate.

I find a curiosity in a bond given by "Elijah Leonard, the
younger, iron-founder, and E. W. Hyman, tanner," to James
Hamilton, sheriff, and dated the 3rd day of May, 1845. This
bond recited that "Whereas, the said Elijah Leonard is desirous
employing one Christian William Dreyer, a prisoner in close cus-
tody of the said James Hamilton, Esquire, as sheriff of London
District, in the common gaol, under sentence of felony pro-
nounced against him," and "Whereas the said James Hamilton
is willing," the prisoner is allowed to enter the employment of
Mr. Leonard (afterward the Hon. Elijah Leonard), provided
he returns to the custody of the jail by the hour of 6 o'clock in
the afternoon, to return to his employment each morning at 8,
and pay the sheriff such sum as may be agreed upon for the ser-
vices of the prisoner, and with the conditions fulfilled, then
the obligation was voided. The agreement is witnessed by the
late Thomas Scatcherd, afterward senior partner in the firm of
Scatcherd & Meredith (now Sir William.) There is no record
as to the conduct of the prisoner while thus allowed a measure
of liberty not permissible in these later days, nor is there evidences

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS 41

that the involuntary service indicated was even then permitted
to any great extent.

The Punishment of Debtors.

The number of capias satisfaciendum issued in those by-
gone days is a revelation, and a striking evidence of how far
we have travelled in the last seventy years from the methods
then prevailing in civil jurisprudence. In 1837 I find that
there were three Ca.Sas. acted upon, but in 1838 the number had
risen to eighteen, with a gradual rise to over double that number
in each of the years immediately succeeding. I need not explain
to those of my audience learned in the law that every action under
the procedure of those days was commenced by capias — a Ca.
re., and followed up by a Ca. Sa. when judgment was made.
But it is necessary that I should make this clear to those not of
the law, to appreciate the full import of these figures. When
a Ca. Sa. issued it meant jail, unless the judgment was discharged
by payment, and the sheriff must have had a busy and a possibly
profitable time in taking the bail bonds of those debtors who were
unable to pay, but had friends to become their surety that they
would not leave the "limits" which at the dates named embraced
the district. So what appears on its face as close confinement
was really a considerable measure of liberty. In 1837 the names
of solicitors indorsed on the bonds embraced those of Givins &
Warren, John Wilson, George Duggan; in 1838, C. Gamble,
C. A. Hagerman; in 1839, in addition to those already named,
there occur Tiffany, Hale, Price, G. Ackland, T. W. Cornish, W.
Salmon, T. D. Warren, Burton and others. I have not traced
this list beyond 1840 in its connection with the issue of Ca. Sas
because of the length to which my paper has already grown.

A. S. Abbott on a Bond.

About the same time, 1840, or a little later, appear the names
of Londoners of a generation or two ago on the list of docu-
ments in the sheriff's office. The names of William Niles, William
Jones Geary, Joshua Putman and others appear as bondsmen,
guaranteeing the faithful performance of his duties as bailiff
by Philo Bennett, and as witness to the document appears the
well-known signature of A. S. Abbott, afterwards and for many
years city clerk of London. A bond to the same effect, dated
the 30th day of August, 1845, introduces the well-remembered
name of Henry Groves, for years high constable of Middlesex
and court crier. In a bond from John McCallum Park to the
sheriff on the appointment of the latter as governor of London
jail, first appears the characteristic and florid handwriting of
John Godbold. This is bringing the sheriff's office history
down to the recollection of men of middle age, and need not be
further referred to.

I now return to the early years of last century, "when George

42 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

the Fourth was King." The disclosures of the sheriff's office
at this period in the history of the province is possibly the most
interesting because the conditions are now so complete a re-
versal of those then prevailing. At that time the late Sheriff
Hamilton was a member of the forwarding firm of Hamilton &
Warren, who appear to have dealt extensively in the wares
peculiar to general stores in those days. The letters from the
firm and to them, the latter and copies of the former having been
preserved by Mr. Hamilton, develop interest along a variety of
lines.

The first in point of date is an agreement from William
(afterwards the Hon. William) Dickson, of Niagara, and Thos.
Clark, as trustees of the estate of Robert Hamilton, to sell to
Ebenezer Cook two hundred acres of land in the Township of
Oxford, being lots 19 and 20 in the third concession, "as described
in his majesty's letters patents of fourteen hundred and fifty
acres in said township, and dated the 1st December, issued to
the said Robert Hamilton." A memorandum on the documents
states that the land is sold at 22 shillings York an acre ($2.75).
On the llth May, 1822, Ebenezer Cook paid four doubloons,
calculated as worth $15.25 each, in part payment under the bond.
An indenture of bargain of sale, dated the 24th February, 1826,
conveying the lands in the Township of Niagara from James
Hamilton, of "Sterling," in the District of London, though
signed and sealed, was never delivered, but is interesting as
describing the sheriff as of "Sterling," subsequently Kettle
Creek, now Port Stanley.

The Name of Port Stanley.

I venture to say that this, the original name of London's
popular lake port and summer resort, is unknown to any of this
audience, and to but few of the residents either of London or
the Port. I do not know what the relation may have been, but
the "Dauntless" and "Sterling" were the two vessels controlled
by Hamilton & Warren which in these early days did the bulk
of the forwarding from Sterling, alias Kettle Creek, alias Port
Stanley. Whether the schooner gave the name to the port or
the port to the schooner or whether both had association with
some previous circumstance, event or locality, I have failed to
determine. The deed is further interesting as bearing the im-
print of "W. L. Mackenzie, Printer, York, U. Canada," a name
to be further referred to in my reminiscences if time permits.

Next in interest, if not in chronological order, I find an "esti-
mate of castings, iron and brass work for a mill of three run of
stones for Messrs. Hamilton & Warren, Kettle Creek, U. C.,"
according to an attached bill, and totalling $851.20, dated at
Black Rock, Feb. 27, 1832, and to be delivered at Fort Erie free
of freight, but subject to duty. I recall the fact that fifty years
ago there was a sluice or waterway of decided proportions, which
manifestly had been a means of developing power, on the east

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS 43

side of Kettle Creek, and wonder if my remote predecessor in
office was responsible for its existence, and whether this bill of
material had formed part of the mill property on this spot.*

A Publisher's Letter.

A letter from Robert Stanton, publisher, dated York, Feb.
14, 1828, is at this point in order. He writes that through his
paper he gives as much of the wisdom uttered by honorable
and learned members (referring to the Legislature) as he could
collect. Hamilton Merritt, he says, "is just arrived, and he
and Strowbridge, the Burlington Bay contractor, are the only
steady lobby members we have this session. Merritt, I suppose,
will ask for more money for the deep cut, which will afford
Lafferty (apparently) an opportunity of displaying his powers
of oratory. (It will be remembered that the Hon. Hamilton
Merritt first projected the Welland Canal about 1822, and that he
succeeded in securing the completion of the first canal some years
subsequently Now the country is discussing the advisability
of an enlarged Welland, a still larger Welland than those that
succeeded the original canal of the period referred to.)

"A good deal of business has gone through, but an interruption
has in some measure taken place in consequence of an address
on the long-agitated alien question. The bill which has passed
the assembly is such as in my opinion will not answer the purpose.
Liberality is professed, and certainly this bill carries it to the ex-
treme and far beyond what was ever intended or thought of by
Lord Goderich or the British Government, under its provisions.
The man who deserted us during the war may come in among us
and have a seat in the assembly, and those who have borne
office in the U. S. and abjured the King and the constitution of
Great Britain will be entitled to vote and sit in the House . Old
Bidwell would creep in at this hole, and this, surely, was never
intended. Kettle Creek harbor* I hope, gets on well. Rolph
being eased of this trouble has made fine speeches on opening
the jail doors throughout the province and letting out all the
debtors — doing away with imprisonment for debt altogether-
how the creditor is to be protected is not very apparent from his
bill, except that he may depend upon the honor of his debtor and
punish him for fraud if he can prove it.

"I hope to see your name as a candidate at the next general
election. Matthews is a source of amusement and merriment
to all within and below the bar. His manner this session is most
whimsical and he raises many a hearty laugh. It interferes,
however, very often with the progress of business."

Many Addresses.

This letter which I have quoted at length is addressed to St.
Thomas, and its postage charge was ninepence. I haven't
Hamilton's answer to inform me whether the news conveved was

' * Sterling was up the creek, a mile or two from the present site of Port
Stanley.— C.

44 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

by him considered worth the money, but it is observable that
letters addressed to Mr. Hamilton were directed to "Sterling,"
"Kettle Creek," Talbotville, " or "St. Thomas" indiscriminately
at this period of time. The Matthews referred to in this letter was
the then representative of Middlesex in the Legislative Assembly
of the province, and is familiarly known as Captain Matthews.
He was an officer in the imperial service, who settled in Lobo
in the first quarter of last century, and became representative for
the county, I think when it first became a separate constituency.
The writer of the communication manifestly differed from
Matthews in political views, and represented the opinions of the
Family Compact, to whom Matthews was strenuously opposed.
Matthews, who is described by historians of the period as of a
jovial, free and easy manner, incurred the hostility of the
Compact by his advocacy of popular rights, and the result was
that representations attacking his loyalty were made to the
Imperial authorities that eventually resulted in his army pen-
sion being cancelled.

An autograph letter from John Rolph, dated 16th August,
1828, is of interest. Another autograph letter is that of Robert
Baldwin, and refers to an execution, "The Gore Bank vs. Clark,"
then in the sheriff's hands, and dated the 22nd July, 1840.

Retracing my steps to 1832, I find a communication from
J. B. Askin, dated Simcoe, on the 18th January, in that year,
of interest as disclosing his opinions of conditions then prevailing.
He says: "I learned this morning by Mr. Kilmaster that some
great meeting is to be held in York on Thursday by Mackenzie's
friends, for the purpose of petitioning his Excellency to dissolve
the Parliament immediately, and if refused it is rumored that
they intend proceeding to the House and dissolving the House
Vi et armis,' and Kilmaster showed me an address to the people
by Mackenzie — a most seditious production, and which in my
opinion shows more derangement of mind than anything else-
he is certainly crazy, and his followers are playing a part which
I have no doubt they will be heartily ashamed of. Kilmaster
says he observed a large number of idle persons about the taverns,
who seemed to have little else to do than to crack up Mackenzie,
and these people put in motion, half drunk as they no doubt will
be before they begin to show their spunk, might cut up some
ridiculous caper. In such cases the rich folk must look out, and
if the wealthy of Little York will join Mr. Mackenzie, they must
run the risk of the destruction of their property, like others."

Askin Remembered.

This letter is reproduced fully, as the writer is in the rec-
ollection of many of the Londoners of half a century ago, and as
indicative of his opinions on the political issues of that date. It
is the first letter in the collection addressed "Port Stanley,"
and is charged 4J/2 pence postage. A letter from S. P. Jarvis,
York, 14th January, in the same year, contains the statement

GLEANINGS FROM THE SHERIFF'S RECORDS 45

that," the war losses question has for the last day or two occupied
the attention of the House. I rather think," he says, "this
important subject to very many will be finally adjusted to
their satisfaction this session. How does Mackenzie's re-ex-
pulsion go down in your county? He is trying hard to kick up a
dust here, and I am sorry to say that he is too well supported in
his wicked purpose." The letter is franked by P. VanKoughnet,
M. P. P., and the postoffice department, then a part of the imperial
service, charged ninepence for its transmission to "St. Thomas,
District of London." The stamp, "York, Up. Can., Jan. 14,"
is a most primitive affair.

The facilities for travel in those days are illustrated by the
dates on a letter from Montreal of the 3rd August, 1827, and
addressed to "Sterling, Kettle Creek," and charged with 11J/2
pence postage. It was forwarded from London on the 26th
August, and reached its destination on the 3rd September. Mr.
John Warren, on the date named, writes that he sends his letter
by a gentleman leaving Montreal for Dundas in the morning.
In it he advises that he had purchased 300 bags which he expects
will get to Prescott by to-morrow week, in time to meet the
"Queenstown," and "in three weeks," the letter proceeds,
"you will no doubt receive them at Sterling." He advises
that if there is no prospect of getting all wheat floured, "it may
probably be as well to send them down here (to Montreal) with
wheat. It is doubtful," he adds, "if I shall be able to procure a
good assortment of drygoods and groceries unless we are enabled
to pay half the amount down, which makes me anxious for you
to use all your exertions to forward what we have already,
without delay, and to get another vessel in case the "Elizabeth"
is not sufficient to carry it off fast enough."

No Demand for Whiskey.

The letter follows with instructions to get shipments from other
dealers, but on no account to accept other consignments to the
prejudice of their own. He further asks to be told "if you go
on with the distillery, and whether I shall purchase the boiler."
The equipment of the distillery was subsequently bought at
Buffalo, and in succeeding letters he reports from Montreal
"No demand for w'hiskey. " Significant, perhaps, of there being
teetotallers even in these early days, although the "barley brew"
was quoted in a succeeding letter as "dull in Montreal at 2 shillings
and 6 pence York or 32 cents a gallon." In the same letter he
reports Gates as having in the season received 560 barrels of flour
of their consignment, which" he holds at 24 shillings currency,
equal to $4.80, and 13 barrels of pork, "now in good demand,"
quoting $15 to $16 as the ruling market price, and urges if their
own vessels could not get the produce forward fast enough, it
might be well to engage some other vessel. The urgency to
purchase drygoods and other supplies for shipment west will be

46 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

appreciated when we realize that selling in the Montreal market
in those days, as was the case for a few years subsequently in
Toronto, was done from the warehouse, and resulted in keen com-
petition from buyers on the spot. There were no travellers for
wholesale houses in those days, and when the goods arrived from
the English market it was a case of "first coming first served."
On the 14th November Mr. Warren writes to his partner from
Fort Erie that he is on the eve of sailing, wind N. E., with some
crockery, drygoods, hoop iron, oil and other merchandise still
remaining to be received from Montreal, which he hopes to reach
there in time to be forwarded by the "Dauntless," which, as he
writes, is in Buffalo taking in cargo, and will cross to Fort Erie
during the day to finish her load. The goods appear to have
been teamed from Queenstown, as he instructs that a claim be
made for ropes taken off the bales by the teamsters in transit.
His father, who thinks it will be too cold to go up by the vessel,
is to go by conveyance to Sterling. He also reports buying an
interest from Helmer of a vessel seized by the sheriff at Buffalo,
paying $500 for one-half the craft, which "will now have a full
load up and another down." adding "Should we lay up the
" Betsy, " which I think we will be obliged to do, we will be enabled
to fit her up next year. She has the promise of all the Long Point
freight next year, and thus has all she possibly can do. Urquhart
is to have command," adding, "The topsail is sheeting, hurra,
adieu!"

But I, too, must say adieu, without at all having exhausted my
sources of information as to conditions in those early days.
I should like to reproduce other material, especially respecting
the Fourth Battalion, Middlesex Militia, the command of which
devolved upon Colonel James Hamilton under a commission issued
by Sir John Colborne, and dated on the 15th of June, 1822. The
nominal roll of this battalion for the ten subsequent years con-
tains names still familiar in the Townships of London, Dela-
ware, Dorchester and Lobo, but this paper is already long enough,
and my stenographer is wearied of the effort in transcribing it into
legible characters.

tl

Pioneer Politicians

18 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

COL. MAHLON BURWELL, M.P.

L. LAWRASON, M.P.

PIONEER POLITICIANS. 49

PIONEER POLITICIANS.

BY Cl. T. CAMPBELL, M.D.

When Upper Canada was made a separate province in 1790
it was divided for electoral purposes into 16 ridings — each re-
turning one member in the Legislative Assembly. In 1808 the
number of representatives was increased to 25 — there being 22
districts, three of which returned two members. The franchise
was confined to British subjects — owning property to the value
of forty shillings.

By an act passed March 7th, 1821 (Chap. LI. 60, Geo. Ill),
the Parliamentary representation was still further increased.
A County with a population of 1,000 was given one member,
with 4,000 and upward it was to have two; a town with a popula-
tion of 1,000 was also given a member. In the first Parliament
after this Act there were 38 members.

London was founded in 1826, and in 1835, nine years after,
it had attained a population of over 1,000. It was not a town,
however; being then only a part of the township of London.
But the Governor, Sir Francis B. Head, was seeking more support
in the Assembly; London was thought to be safe; so London,
having complied with the spirit of the law, received the privilege
of sending a member to Parliament, and exercised its rights for
the first time at the election of 1836.

The political condition of the province at this time was very
unsettled. Political parties, in the modern sense, there were
none. The terms Tory, Whig, Reformer and Radical were
frequently used; but they had not the same meanings as in our
days. Strictly speaking, there were two parties only — the
supporters of the Government, and the opposition. And the
Government meant the Governor. Responsible Government
had not come into existence. Legislative powers were supposed
to be vested in the Governor's Council appointed by him — and
an assembly elected by the people. But in reality, the power
was in the hands of the Governor and his friends.

This official recognized responsibility to no one except the
British Government from whom he received his authority. On
arriving in the province a perfect stranger, he would find a class
of people socially and politically prominent, who claimed to be
the especial upholders of British connection, and the especial
exponents of British loyalty. This class was composed of office-
holders— all appointed by the British Government, together with
the leading men of the U. E. Loyalists, spoken of in later years
as "The Family Compact." The relationship between them was
really one of mutual interests, more than of family ties. They
controlled all important offices; appropriated to their own profit
large tracts of land; and usually manipulated the Governor.
From this class the Governor naturally appointed the Legislative

50 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Council. There was no Cabinet as we understand it. The
Governor usually selected a few of these as his Executive Council;
but even though these were all his friends and supporters, he
only consulted them when he saw fit, and was under no obligation
to accept their advice when given. The Legislative Assembly
was allowed to pass laws; and when these were of a purely local
character, the Council would generally endorse them, and the
Governor sign them. If they touched on questions of public
policy, or trenched on the interests of the provincial aristocracy,
they were quietly buried in the Upper Chamber.

It is not surprising that in this condition of affairs, no one but
a supporter of the Government would care for a seat in the
Assembly. In fact, in these early days, the pioneers of the prov-
ince were too busy clearing the forest, and looking after their
own affairs to be anxious to spend either the time or money
involved in attendance upon a session of Parliament; and the
Governor and his friends had everything their own way. But
this could not continue. With the increase of population and
the settlement of the land, the evils attendant upon a system of
personal Government for the benefit of a few, began to attract
attention. Many things were needed for the improvement of
the country, which those in authority refused to allow. When
agitators like Gourlay called attention to existing evils, they were
prosecuted and persecuted — the only result being to make the
agitation greater and the opposition stronger, until at last the
latter controlled the Assembly.

At the opening of Parliament in 1835, the opposition had a
majority in the popular house. The vote for speaker stood 31 to
27 against the Government. The only London man in the body
was Thos. Parke, who, with Elias Moore represented the County
of Middlesex. He came to London from Toronto in 1826 having
charge of the building of the Court House, and became a prom-
inent citizen; though his real estate was principally in the County.
Not a very brilliant man, and not an extremist; a Reformer, and
yet not very objectionable to the ruling clique. He was for a
short time Surveyor-General in the Executive Council of Gover-
nor Sydenham in 1841.

Sir Francis Bond Head reached Upper Canada in 1835. He
was welcomed by the Reformers, who, for some reason thought
he would be favorable to their views, but they soon found they
were mistaken. The new Governor fell in with the oligarchy
and was absorbed by it. He knew nothing of provincial affairs;
and was easily led to believe that the opposition in his Assembly
was composed of rebels and annexationists. He was a good
talker, but a poor thinker. He had a very good opinion of him-
self; and a very poor opinion of all wTho did not agree with him.

Doubtless instigated thereto by his advisors, he dissolved
Parliament, and became the standard-bearer of a vigorous elector-
al campaign. His duty was to waive the flag and appeal to the
loyalty of the people; while the Family Compact exercised its

PIONEER POLITICIANS.

influence by ways that were dark, and tricks that were not in vain.
The combined forces were successful. There can be no question
that they were helped very much by the indiscretion of some of
the leading Reformers who threatened rebellion if their demands
were not complied with. The people of the province wanted re-
form; but they were not disloyal; and they said so emphatically.
They gave the Governor a majority in the Assembly, and he
took all the credit to himself for it. The result of the campaign
did not make him any wiser — nothing could do that. He accepted
the vote as a full endorsation of himself and his policy, and an
approval of all the evils against which the people had been pro-
testing. A man of more intelligence might have been equally
deceived. But the conduct of the Governor and his new Par-
liament only precipitated the outbreak, and hastened the dawn
of responsible Government.

It was in the campaign of 1836 that London obtained repre-
sentation. The election here was very close. The Government
candidate was Col. Burwell. A Surveyor by profession; he had
been a protege of Col. Talbot; had done a great deal of work in
surveying the south-western part of the province; and had
acquired considerable property. He had been chosen one of the
members for Middlesex in 1831; but was defeated the next year.
He had considerable influence in London; and should have made
a strong candidate. But he was not of a very amiable disposition,
nor of an attractive manner. In religion his views were of a
very negative character, and he did not hestitate to express them.
At the same time he was a strong supporter of the Church of
England as an institution bound up with the interests of the State;
and he showed the sincerity of this rather paradoxical belief by
large legacies to the church. He was, of course, an outsider;
as he did not reside in the village.

His opponent, John Scatcherd, was a more popular man. A
leading merchant, held in the highest respect by his neighbors; a
burly, good-natured English gentleman; sensible and energetic.
He came to Canada in 1831 ; and after a brief stay in Toronto, he
became so discouraged that he decided to take the first vessel
home. But walking through the streets of Toronto he met a
friend who strongly advised him to remain in the province.
The result was that he purchased from a Toronto man a farm in
the Township of Nissouri, without seeing it, and started on foot
for his new estate. Fortunately the farm was a good one; and
he found that investment satisfactory. Shortly after, however,
he started a general store in London ; and remained here for a few
years; then returned to Nissouri where he passed the remainder
of his life, becoming Warden of the County, and member of
Parliament.

The contest was close; but then the vote was very small—
Burwell, 37; Scatchard, 27. Of course, there were more than
64 property holders in the constituency; but a great many of
them were in no hurry to pay the fees necessary to secure their

52 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

HON. THOS. PARKE

PIONEER POLITICIANS. 53

patent from the Crown. Having secured the lot from the
authorities, and having taken possession, and built thereon,
a man was perfectly safe so far as his right to the land was con-
cerned, so he waited a convenient season to get his deed. Doubt-
less many of them were not thinking about the . privilege of
voting and the first election found them unprepared.

Col. Burwell held the seat until 1840. He never attained
any prominence in Parliament; and disappeared from public
life when the union of the two provinces was effected.

The suppression of the rebellion in Upper and Lower
Canada was followed by Lord Durham's visit to the pro-
vince; his memorable report on political conditions; and the
Act of Union passed by the British Parliament on 23rd July,
1840 to join together the two provinces under a system of respons-
ible government. This Act came into force in Canada, Feb.
10th, 1841. The Candidates in London, at the election that
year were Hamilton H. Killaly and Jno. Douglas. Killaly wras
an Irish gentleman, who came out with the Blakes; but while the
latter settled in Adelaide, he located in London Township on the
4th concession, north east of London, near what is now known
as Fanshawe Post Office.

He was a civil engineer by profession and was a very notable
man in his time. He was not a strong politician; for while rather
inclined to Toryism, he had a place as Commissioner of Public
Works in Lord Sydenham's first Administration, as well as in
what is known as the first Baldwin-Lafontaine Cabinet. In his
younger days he was somewhat of a dandy; but afterwards he
would seem to have combined the dandy and the hobo in about
equal proportions. He was a warm-hearted, free-handed Irish-
man ; a great sportsman ; a bon vivant; and scattering his money
lavishly when in office became a poor man in his later years.

A Mr. Adamson, who was chaplain to Lord Sydenham, wrote
a book on "Salmon Fishing in Canada," in which he describes
the fishing expedition of a small party including Mr. Killaly.
He thus pictures the Commissioner of Public Works: "The most
expensively and worst-dressed man on the Continent. I have
seen him at one time promenading a populous city in a dirty,
powder-smeared, and blood-stained shooting coat; while his
nether-man was encased in black dress pantaloons, and highly
varnished French leather dancing pumps. At another time I
have met him with one of Gibb's most recherche dress coats,
a ragged waist coat and worn-out trowsers, all looking as if he
had slept in them for weeks. His shirts never had a button on
them, which caused his brawny and hairy chest to be exposed to
view; while a fringe of ravelled threads from the wrists usually
hung dangling over his fat, freckled and dirty hands. His head
was white, and his face purple — a red cabbage in snow. His
step was brisk and vigorous, while his laugh was defiant and
jocund as the crow of a cock — his voice was like the blast of a
clarion." The probabilities are that the reverend fisherman had

54 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

a fisherman's tendency to exaggeration; and painted his picture
in colors more striking than true.

Mr. Killaly's opponent was John Douglas of the firm of Doug-
las and Warren, general merchants. He claimed to be a reformer.
Very little is. known of him except that he was a man of very
moderate abilities, who subsequently became a bankrupt, and
left London suddenly for the L'nited States, to escape imprison-
ment for debt.

The election was vigorously contested; and marked by the
violence characteristic of the times, as well as by the trickery
characteristic of later days. The law had been changed so that
while there was still a property qualification for elections, there
was a loop-hole of which advantage was taken. If a man squatted
on Government land, built a house on it, and lived there, he was
entitled to a vote. With the connivance of the officers of the
Garrison, several little shacks were erected, during the election
week on some crown lands, and occupied by soldiers who slept
there one night; and next morning presented themselves at the
polls and voted for Killaly.

Of course, the friends of Douglas were indignant; and showed
their feelings by pelting Col. Wetherall's house with stones, and
smashing his windows. The same treatment was accorded Mr.
Givens, Killaly's legal adviser. Shortly after, the Magistrates
offered a reward of £40 for the discovery of the rioters; but, as
usual with political offenders, they were not found.

Killaly was elected by a 'small majority; and as previously
intimated, was called to the Executive Council by Lord Syden-
ham, and made Commissioner of Public Works. In this capacity
he rendered good service to this section of the country. He se-
cured an appropriation of $400,000 for work in the London Dis-
trict. The Hamilton road, the Port Stanley road, the Long-
woods Road and the Sarnia Road were all graded, and also
planked for a considerable distance. Mr. C. S. Gzowski, a Pole,
who had to fly from his country for rebelling against the Russian
Government, had charge of this work, and lived in London most
of the time.

In 1841, Mr. G. J. Goodhue, a prominent business man of
London, was appointed to the Legislative Council. He was
nominally a Reformer; but not an active one like his brother in
St. Thomas; and his social relations were largely with Tories.
Though not a very loveable man, he had a great deal of in-
fluence in the community, as many of the settlers were indebted
to him by note or mortgage. A vacancy occuring in the Council,
the Governor expressed himself as willing to appoint whoever
might be the choice of the people of the district. Mr. Goodhue
had influence; but proposed to get more. He was known to be
very indifferent in religious matters, and no church goer; nor was
he noted for charitable expenditures. But at a Methodist tea-
meeting, he surprised everyone by a contribution of $50. This
would be a large sum in those days from anyone; but coming from

PIONEER POLITICIANS.

Mr. Goodhue, was absolutely startling. The Methodists con-
cluded that he had been converted; and great things were ex-
pected from him. Their influence thrown into the scale, doubt-
less helped his appointment. Whereupon he became an adher-
ent of the Church of England and a supporter of the Family
Compact. He remained in the Council until Confederation;
but appears to have taken no prominent part in public affairs.

Lord Sydenham's administration, as it may be called, contain-
ed two London men — Killaly, Commissioner of Public Works,
and Parke, of Middlesex, Surveyor-General. The Governor
died the following year; and was succeeded by Sir Chas. Bagot.
He was a Tory in British politics; but he understood that he was
to take for his advisors those who had the confidence of the people;
and so the Lafontaine-Baldwin Ministry came into power.
In 1843 he was succeeded by Sir Charles Metcalf. The new
governor had no sympathy with the new idea of responsible
Government; and it is supposed that his instructions from the
Colonial Secretary were in accord with his own views. As he
at. once commenced making appointments without consulting
his Ministry, they promptly resigned— all except Mr. Dominick
Daly, who never had any opinion at variance with those of his
Governor. Sir Charles could not find anyone to take the re-
spnosibility of Government; and so with the aid of Mr. Draper,
a member of the Legislative Council, he undertook to run the
country himself. Parliament was dissolved, and an election
ordered in November. The Governor appealed to the loyalty
of the people, assuring them that the policy of his late advisers
endangered British connection; and the appeal was successful.
A majority was returned ready to support the Governor; and
among them came, as representative from London, Lawrence
Lawrason.

Our new member was one of the first settlers — originally a
partner of Geo. J. Goodhue, but afterwards in business for him-
self. He had always been opposed to the reformers, and was a
very active loyalist during the rebellion. His opponent was J.
Duggan of Toronto. He was a lawyer, with red hair, fond of
talking; but with no claims on London; and the result of the
election was a strong hint for him to go home to Toronto and stay
there.

Mr. Lawrason was elected; but did not retain his seat very
long. The Governor was having some difficulty in Parliament.
Though he had a majority in the Assembly, his chief advisor,
Mr. W7. H. Draper was in the Council. It was thought nece-
ssary that he should obtain a place in the popular branch; and
Mr. Lawrason vacated his seat in London, and the premier was
duly elected there in 1845, Mr. Lawrason never returned to
Parliament; but he was a prosperous member of the community,
until the "hard times" of the fifties left him stranded. He was
subsequently appointed Police Magistrate of London, performing
the duties of that office very creditably during the rest of his life.

56 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

MR. JUSTICE WILSON

PIONEER POLITICIANS. 57

Though London was usually to be depended upon by the
Government of the day, yet it was good fighting ground. Even
the Governor's Chief Advisor could not get the seat without a
struggle. His opponent was John Farley, an Irishman, a brother-
in-law of John Scatcherd, and his partner in business. After
Mr. Scatcherd returned to Nissouri, Mr. Farley continued on the
store for a time and became quite prominent in municipal affairs.
Being an opponent of Mr. Draper's, I assume his political views
were adverse to Governor Metcalfe and his irresponsible system.
As was usual in those days, people who opposed the Government
wrere all classed as rebels, anarchists, infidels, and everything else
that was bad; and, of course, Farley had to be the recipient of
much abuse, and slander. Mr. Draper made a personal canvass.
He was a smooth talker and could extend the "glad hand" to the
electors in a charming manner. All good men were urged to
array themselves on the side of righteousness and loyalty. Which
of course, they did ..; and Mr. Draper's majority was large enough
to prove the high moral standard of the London electorate.

The new member, Mr. W. H. Draper was one of the most
noted men in Canadian History. In his subsequent career as a
judge he had the esteem and respect of all classes to a very high
degree. But as a politician, he did not meet with unanimous
approval. As to his ability there was no question ; and his oratory
was of so persuasive a type that he was commonly called "Sweet
William." But his enemies said he was insincere and unscrupul-
ous. A Kingston paper of the time thus describes him: "The
most plausable of mortals; bland, insinuating, persuasive, and
somewhat eloquent. When speaking, one would suppose he
was honesty personified. If you don't look out he would make
you believe he is the most candid open and frank of all public
men; but all the time he is squirming, twisting, and moulding
a delicate little loop-hole which few but himself can see, out of
which he will afterwards creep; and no one can accuse him of
inconsistency. "

Of course this picture is drawn by an opponent; and must be
toned down a little. But there is no doubt, he was strongly
re-actionary in politics; and opposed to responsible Government.

Mr. Draper's administration lasted till the election of 1848.
He was occasionally defeated in the Assembly; but held on as
long as the Governor wanted him. The election of 1848, however
left his party in a decided minority; the new Governor, Lord
Elgin, was determined to carry out the principle of responsible
Government, and called in Messrs. Baldwin and Lafontaine,
who formed one of the strongest administrations Canada ever had.
Mr. Draper, foreseeing the results of the election, had resigned
office into the hands of Mr. Sherwood, and was not a candidate
at the election ensuing. London had the great honor of being
represented by a premier; but otherwise received no benefit.

Opportunity being thus given for a local man, Mr. John
W7ilson became a candidate, and was elected. He was at that time

58 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

leader of the bar in London. A Scotchman by birth; but a John
Bull in appearance; burly and florid-faced; blunt in manner,
frank in speech; a hater of cant, hypocrisy and snobbery; a friend
of the poor and oppressed. An able lawyer, a good speaker, and
an aggressive fighter. In fact he could fight with weapons not
used to-day; for he fought a duel in defense of a lady's honor-
one of the last duels in Canada.

Mr. Wilson was a popular man, and had no trouble in re-
ceiving an election by acclamation. In politics he was a supporter
of the Sherwood Administration, but was by no means a rabid
partisan.

This election resulted in a victory for the reformers; the
Government was defeated by a vote of 54. to 20 for the speaker-
ship; and Messrs. Baldwin and Lafontaine again came into power.
Meanwhile as has been intimated, Lord Elgin had been appoint-
ed Governor. He was the first Governor who really established
Responsible Government in Canada; and he did .it at some in-
convenience to himself. A bill was passed through Parliament,
providing payment for losses incurred by Canadians during the
rebellion. Of course, loyal citizens were the parties to be bene-
fitted; but as the only proof of disloyalty was active participation
in the rebellion, the Opposition took the ground that many who
were really rebels, but against whom no proceedings had been
taken, would come under its provisions. A great outcry was rais-
ed, and the Governor was asked to reserve the bill for the con-
sideration of the Home Government. But he held that this
was a local affair — passed by a large majority in a newly elected
parliament; and that, therefore, if Responsible Government was
to be a reality, he had no option in the matter. And so he approv-
ed the bill. At once the rampant loyalty of the rabble broke
forth in active demonstrations — stimulated by incendiary speech-
es of public men. The Governor was stoned in his carriage; the
parliament buildings were burned down; and the rioters ruled the
streets of Montreal. With the aid of the Militia they were
finally quelled, and peace restored, but at a great loss of property,
and even of some lives.

As soon as Parliament could re-assemble, violent speeches
were made by some of the opposition leaders, and the course taken
by them was actually an endorsation of the rioters. This was
more than Wilson could stand. He strongly condemned both the
rioter and his sympathizers; he was too honest a man to support
his own leaders when he thought they were wrong; and while he
never became a reformer in name, he was no longer considered
a loyal party man; and thenceforward occupied an independent
position in the Assembly.

In London, some of his supporters were very indignant on
account of the course he had followed ; and he was charged with
being a traitor to his party. He promptly resigned his seat, and
offered himself for re-election, so that his constituents might have
an opportunity of pronouncing judgment. His opponent at the

PIONEER POLITICIANS.

by-election was Thos. C. Dixon, who kept a hat store. In Eng-
land, Mr. Dixon had been a dissenter, and a reformer; in Canada
he became a High Churchman and a rabid Tory. He was now
to be the chronic opponent of Wilson, with varying success. In
his first attempt he was defeated. Mr. Wilson was personally
very popular, and carried with him in this election not only the
reform vote, but a large section of the conservatives who admired
his independence, and agreed with his views in regard to the
Montreal riots.

The London sympathizers with the rioters, however, did
not confine themselves to criticism of their representative in
Parliament. In March there was a riotous meeting held; and the
Governor was buried in effigy. The Mayor, T. C. Dixon, declined
to interfere; but no harm was done. In May, a motion was in-
troduced in the Council, approving of the Governor's conduct.
The Mayor refused to put it; and declared the Council adjourned.
But the Council appointed a chairman, and passed the motion.

In the Autumn of this year, Lord Elgin paid a visit to the West-
ern part of his jurisdiction; and when he reached Hamilton it was
proposed in the Council to invite him to London. The mayor
balked, and vainly attempted to adjourn the Council; but the
motion passed; and the invitation was accepted. Preparations
were made for this reception, on the 3rd of October; some arches
were erected; and in view of threats of violence freely uttered,
a sturdy band of His Excellency's friends, armed with cudgels,
walked out to Dorchester to escort him to the village. While
they were gone, the so-called loyalists chopped down the arches.
When the vice-regal party reached the village, and his local
escort saw what had been done, the atmosphere became sulphur-
ous; and shillalys were flourished. But the Mayor and his gang
had expended all their energy on the arches, and sought shelter.
The Governor went to the Robinson Hall Hotel quietly, where
he addressed the people; and the little tempest in a tea-pot sub-
sided.

In this connection it may be remarked that Mr. Dixon was
the most cantankerous mayor London ever had. He was in a
state of chronic quarrel with his Council. During the year on
about six different occasions, he refused to put motions, and de-
clared the Council adjourned. Each time the Council would
appoint a chairman, do its business, and censure the Mayor.
This commenced in January; and continued till after the Gover-
nor's visit in October. And then, at the last meeting in De-
cember, the Council, by an almost unanimous vote, passed a
resolution, thanking the Mayor for his "straight-forward and
manly conduct" during the year. We may be disposed to think
either that this was intended as a joke, or that the Councillors
were all full of Christmas cheer.

At the next General election, 1851, Mr. .Dixon was the victor.
This, however, was largely due to the fact that some expressions
used by Mr. Wilson in a speech in Parliament, were considered

60 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

insulting to the Irish, who all voted for Dixon — not because they
wanted him — but because they wanted to punish their too out-
spoken representatives.

But London returned to its allegiance in the general election
of 1854, and Mr. Wilson was again elected over Mr. Dixon.
This was the last appearance of the latter in public life. He soon
after became bankrupt, and left for a more congenial clime south
of the lines.

Mr. Wilson continued to represent London until 1857. Dur-
ing this time he occupied an independent position in Parliament,
and was recognized as one of the ablest of men in that body.
Had he been a straight party-man, he would have become a
leader. Indeed, from reports, it is possible he was looked upon as
a man who ought to be premier. Baldwin and Lafontaine had
retired from Parliament, and had been succeeded by Mr. Hincks.
But a disintegration of parties was beginning. A section of the
Reformers led by George Brown, ceased to support the Govern-
ment— claiming that Mr. Hincks was not a good enough Reform-
er for them. On the other hand, a younger element in the Tory
party, led by John A. McDonald, who realized that the time had
gone by for antiquated politics, was growing in influence. At
the election of 1854 the Government was left in a minority.
There were three parties in evidence — the Reformers, the Tories,
and the Clear Grits or radical Reformers. The Government
party was the strongest of the three; but were in a minority of
the whole house. Each party began pulling the wires on its own
behalf. It has been stated that Mr. Hincks proposed to unite
the two sections of the Reform party with Mr. Wilson as leader;
but that, Brown refused his consent.- While the Hon. Jas.
Young of Gait, in his published ''reminiscences," mentions this
reunion, I have not been able to obtain any prcof of its truth.
Mr. Hincks, in a lecture in later days,' detailing the circum-
stances connected with the defeat of his Government, said noth-
ing about this plan; and Mr. Wilson's brother-in-law, Judge
Hughes, who knew as much of his affairs as anyone, tells me he has
no knowledge of it. Possibly it was only something thought of,
but not attempted. But it might been have a good scheme.
Both sections of the reform party could have united under Mr.
Wilson; they certainly would not under either Mr. Hincks or Mr.
Brown. If the latter had been opposed to a combination under
Mr. W7ilson, the result did not improve things, for him. For
there came about a coalition between the Government and the
Tories; and though Sir Allan McNab was made premier for the
time, John A. McDonald was the leading spirit under whom the
moderate reformer and the new-school conservative coalesced
into what has since been known as the Liberal-Conservative party.

Mr. Wilson retired from the Assembly at the disolution of
Parliament in 1857. 'He did not, however, give up all interest in
public affairs; for in 1863 he was elected to the Legislative Council
bv the St. Clair Division. But before he took his seat he was

PIONEER POLITICIANS. (51

appointed as a judge — a position which he filled with honor until
his death.

While Mr. Wilson was a very strong man in London, he was
too independent to give satisfaction to the leaders of the political
parties. The Conservatives especially were on the look-out for a
suitable representative. In 1854, Mr. Spence, Postmaster
General, and Mr. Cayley, Inspector General, were in London in
connection with the purchase of a site for a Post Office building;
and were brought into close relationship with Mr. John Carling,
from whom the land was subsequently purchased. Their asso-
ciation with Mr. Carling gave them a good opinion of his merits.
He was a young man, taking a prominent part in Municipal
affairs — both in the Council and the School Boards. Almost a
native of the town (he was born in London Township), he was
well-liked by all classes of the people. A man of fine presence,
with a genial manner, and, above all, with a high reputation for
honesty, he certainly appeared to possess the neccessary qualifi-
cations for a parliamentary candidate. Messrs. Spence and
Cayley, it is said, took the opportunity of their visit to make
careful enquiry of Mr. Carling's fellow-citizens as to his character,
and were able to give a good report to their leader, Mr. John A.
McDonald.

A year or two later Messrs. Carling and McDonald met in
Hamilton at a meeting of Great Western Railway directors; and
the premier urged upon the young Londoner to offer himself as
a candidate at the next election. Some correspondence with
London Conservatives followed; and the result was that at the
election of 1857, Mr. Wilson retired, and Mr. Carling became the
Conservative candidate.

Both candidates at this election were straight party men.
The Reformers .nominated Mr. Elijah Leonard, one of the prin-
cipal local manufacturers, and founder of the business still
carried on by his sons. Mr. Carling was elected by a majority
of over 600. But Mr. Leonard recovered from his defeat by be-
ing elected to the Legislative Council for the Malahide Division,
in 1862. Both men were in the public eye as long as they lived.
Mr. Leonard was in the Council until Confederation, when he
was appointed to the Senate and held that position until his
death in 1891. Mr. Carling became a Cabinet Minister both in
this Province, and in the Dominion; was appointed to the Senate
first in 1891 and again in 1896; received a Knighthood in 1893;
and died full of years and honor in 1911.

In speaking of the politicians of early London, I have con-
fined myself to the candidates, who were, of course, the represent-
ative men. But, in those days, as now, while the candidates were
in the lime light, the man behind the scenes, who made and un-
made candidates, were important people — sometimes more
important than the men elected to represent them. The names
of some of these can be given; but others have been forgotten.

Jno. Harris, the County Treasurer,, a retired naval officer;

(52 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Jno. B. Askin, clerk of the Court; Jno. O'Neil, keeper of the
Mansion House and leader of the Orangemen; James Given, a
pioneer lawyer^ afterwards County Judge; Murray Anderson, a
dealer in stoves and tin-ware; W. Barker, agent for the Renwick
estate, and one of our first mayors; H. C. R. Becher, who divided
with John Wilson the leadership of the local bar; these, with
others, were among the practical politicians of their time.

As to political campaigns, it may be said that they were con-
ducted as they are to-day — only more so. The orators and can-
vassers of each party presented their arguments with embellish-
ments. Facts were buttressed with fictions. Personal abuse
and misrepresentation were permissable weapons. Debates were
stormy, and were enlivened by cudgels and fists. An occasional
riot only added interest to the contest of tongues. An election
lasted for several days, and was by open vote. At the close of
each day the opposing forces would compare the votes cast, and
gather encouragement or the reverse as the case might be.
Schemes would be devised for the next day's fight; and plans laid
to bring out the electors who would vote right, and keep away
those who would vote wrong. Meanwhile whiskey flowed more
freely than usual; cajolery or bribery, violence or trickery, would
be brought to bear as the case might require; the end always
justified the means.

Pessimists to-day lament the evils connected with politics;
and doubtless there is plenty of room for improvement. But
when we compare the present with the past, we may congratulate
ourselves on a higher standard of political morality than our
grandfathers possessed; and be encouraged in the hope that the
same rate of progress will develop still higher standards in the
future.

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

e>3

WRECK OF THE VICTORIA.

The construction of the London Water Works System in
1878-79, by building a dam at Springbank had the effect of
raising the water in the river, and providing a beautiful stretch
of some four miles for boating purposes. Some enterprising
citizens took advantage of this by placing a couple of small
steam boats on the river, which ran regular trips through the
summer, and were especially patronized by excursion parties.
The 24th May, 1881, was a very pleasant spring day, and large
numbers of people availed themselves of the river ride. About
five p.m., one of the boats — the Victoria — left Springbank for
the city, crowded with passengers, probably seven or eight
hundred. The boat was of 43 tons burthen, 70 feet long, with a
26-foot beam. It was probably loaded to three times its normal
capacity. Besides which it is said to have been very lightly con-
structed; and, further, its timbers had been wrenched in the ice
the previous winter. As the boat neared the Cove Bridge,
about two hundred yards below the bend, it careened, the boiler
broke loose, and carried away the pillars supporting the upper
deck, and the entire structure sank to the bottom in some twelve
feet of water. Estimates varied as to the exact number drowned,
from 200 to 215. Four-fifths of these were residents of London,
and the remainder from the immediate vicinity with very few
exceptions. To mark the event, and the scene of the disaster,
the London and Middlesex Historical Society has erected a mem-
orial boulder. It is on the north side of the river within a few
feet of where the Victoria was wrecked.

r,4 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

VICTORIA" MEMORIAL

by tlj?

London and Middlesex
Historical Society *

PART VIII.

GOVERNOR SIMGOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN

ONTARIO

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART IT.
THE SETTLERS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP

By D. J. Campbell, Esq.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP

By Edgar M. Zavitz.

1917
Published by the Society.

OFFICERS 1916-17.

A. STEVENSON, M.A., President

THOS. BRYAN 1st Vice-President

MRS. G. F. BRICKENDEN 2nd Vice-President

MISS S. MACKLIN Secretary

MISS E. L. EVANS, Assistant Secretary

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D., Treasurer

DR. S. WOOLVERTON, Curator

MAJOR MURPHY, J. DEARNESS, M.A., H. MACKLIN, J.P.,
D. ROGER, ESQ., ALEX. HARVEY, ESQ., MISS
PRIDDIS AND MRS. EVANS . . . Executive Committee
Messrs. H. MACKLIN and T. BRYAN, Auditors

PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY.

CL. T. CAMPBELL, M.D., 1901 to 1904

JOHN DEARNESS, M.A 1904 to 1906

FRANK LAWSON, ESQ., 1906 to 1907

H. MACKLIN, ESQ., ,1907 to 1909

A. W. FRASER, ESQ., 1909 to 1911

CAPT. T. J. MURPHY, 1911 to 1913

T. H. PURDOM, K.C., 1913 to 1914

D. RODGER, ESQ 1914 to 1916

A. STEVENSON, M.A., 1916 to 1917

TRANSACTIONS — 1916.

Jan. 18— The Village of London — Part I.

Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.
Feb. 15 — The Indian As He IS and Ought To Be —

Rev. Walter Rigsby.
March 21 — Growth of an Ontario Village —

Prof. A. Stevenson.
April 18 — The Cornell Family—

B. S. Murray, Esq.

Duelling in London--

Cl. T. Campbell, M.D.
May 16 — The Weatherby Grave- —

Miss H. Priddis.
Oct. 10 — Canada in Peace and War —

Frank Yeigh, Esq.
jXov. 21 — The Society of Friends of Lobo Township —

Edgar M. Zavitz.

•
Dec. 19 — More Proudfoot Papers —

Collected by Miss H. Priddis.

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO

GOVERNOR SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN

ONTARIO

On the division of old Canada into two provinces — Upper
and Lower Canada — in 1791, Col. John Graves Simcoe was ap-
pointed Lieut. -Governor of the Upper Province. He had been an
officer of the British army during the American revolution, and
was of the opinion that another outbreak of war might be ex-
pected. His first object, therefore, was to provide for the defence
of the province over which he was to be governor. From maps
consulted at the home office he received the idea that the River
La Tranche was a large navigable stream, connected by a short
portage with the Ouse (Grand River). On arriving in Montreal
he consulted the records there; and we find him. writing to the
Colonial Secretary, under date December 7, 1791: "I am happy
to have found in the surveyor's office an accurate survey of the
River La Tranche. It answers my most sanguine expectations,
and I have little doubt that its communications with the Ontario
and Erie will be found to be very practicable, the whole forming
a route which in all respects may annihilate the political conse-
quence of Niagara and Lake Erie My ideas at present

are to assemble the new corps, artificers, etc., at Cataraqui (King-
ston), and to take its present garrison and visit Toronto and the
heads of La Tranche, to pass down that river to Detroit, and
early in the Spring to occupy such a central position as shall be
previously chosen for the capital."

The governor did not make his trip in the Spring following
as he intended; he was unable 011 account of business to leave his
temporary capital at Niagara. But in February of the year 1793
he made up his official party, and went west through the prac-
tically unexplored territory between Niagara and Detroit. No
official account had previously been given of this section. French
trappers and missionaries had gone through ; but very little if
any record had been made ; and any maps the governor may have
seen could not have been much better than incomplete sketches,
made from the statements of transient observers. Lord Edward
Fitzgerald, a young Irishman, in the summer of 1789 had travel-
led across the peninsula ; but all the references to the country
in his letters home were vague and indefinite. Of settlers in the
district there were very few between Ancaster and Detroit, and
nothing in the shape of a village except Fairfield, -the original
site of the Moravian mission field in Kent county, almost ex-
clusively Indian, and the Mohawk settlement in Brant county.

Mrs. Simcoe kept a diary during their stay in Canada; and
from it may be gathered some references to the Governor's tour.
Under date Monday, February 4, 1793, she writes: "The Gov-
ernor set off from hence in a sleigh, with six officers and twenty
soldiers, for the Mohawk village on the Grand River, where Capt.
Brant and twenty Indians are to join him, and guide him by the

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

La Tranche River to Detroit — no European having gone that
track — and the. Indians are to carry provisions. The Governor
wore a fur coat, tippet and moccasins, but no great coat. His
servant carried two blankets and linen. The other gentlemen
carried their blankets in packs on their backs."

Of the officers accompanying Governor Simcoe on his tour
several subsequently became persons of considerable importance.
Lieut. Talbot went to England with the Governor after the latter
had served his term in Upper Canada; but returned here in 1801.
as Col. Talbot, and became the founder of the well-known Talbot
Settlement. Lieut. Givens remained here, held a government
office, and became Superintendent of Indian Affairs. His son,
James, wras one of the first lawyers in London, and died a county
judge. The house he built and occupied still stands — No. 1 Stan-
ley Street. D. W. Smith became Surveyor-General of Upper
Canada, secured large grants of land, represented Essex in the
first legislature of the province, and was made a baronet in 1821.
Mr. Grey became Solicitor-General; he perished in the wreck of
the schooner Speedy on Lake Ontario in 1804, along with a
number of legal and court officials.

Major Littlehales was the Governor's secretary, and served
in that position during his regime; after which he returned to
England; entered public life; was Secretary of War for Ireland
during the Lord-Lieutenancy of Lord Cornwallis; married a
daughter of the Duke of Leinster; succeeded to the estate and
name of the Baker family ; became a Lieut. -General in the British
army, and a baronet. lie kept a journal of the Governor's tour,
which follows these notes. There seems to have been two or
more copies of this journal written. One was in the possession
of Col. J. B. Askiii, and at his death passed into the hands of the
late Col. Shanley. This has been secured (in a slightly mutilated
condition) through the efforts of our Curator, Dr. Woolverton,
and is now owned by the Society. Another copy was the pro-
perty of Mr. Scadding, a personal friend of Col. Simcoe, and on
his death was found among his papers by his son, the late Dr.
Scadding, of Toronto, and was first printed in 1833, in the Can-
adian Literary Messenger, a short-lived journal, published in
York. It seems to have disappeared after being used by the
printer. Which of these two copies was the original it is now
impossible to say; the presumption is that they were contem-
poraneous.

David Zeisberger, the Superintendent of the Indian mission
at Fairfield, across the river from the present Moravian reserve,
kept a diary of his life, in which appear references to the Gov-
ernor's visit to his settlement. These will be found in the notes
appended to the journal.

Major Littlehale's Journal.
Feb. 4 — On Monday his Excellency Lieut. -Gov. Simcoe, ac-

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO

companied by Capt. Fitzgerald, Lieut. Smith of the 5th Regiment,
Lieuts. Talbot, Gray, Givens and Major Littlehales, left Navy
Hall in sleighs, and proceeded through the concession parallel
with Lake Ontario to the twelve-mile creek. The roads being
very indifferent and wet, owing to the unusual mildness of the
season, we were obliged to stop there a short time. Reached the
twenty-mile creek in the evening. Slept at one of Col. Butler's
houses.

Feb. 5— Upon arriving at the forty-mile creek, an express
arrived from Kingston, brought by two Mississaga Indians. This
circumstance detained the Governor till the next day, when we
with some difficulty reached Nelles, at the Grand River (or
.Ouse), being obliged to cross the mountain which bore sad relics
of a devastating hurricane the previous autumn.

Feb. 7 — About 2 o'clock we arrived at Capt. Brant's at the
Mohawk Indian village, going along on the ice on the Grand
River with great rapidity for a considerable way. The country
between this place and Niagara, a distance computed about 70
miles, previous to ascending the mountain (considered a' branch
of the Alleghaiiy). The settlement is in a tolerable state of im-
provement, the mountain is well timbered and richly dressed with
pine, oak, beech, maple, etc. The torrents of rain issued from
its summit from the several creeks which run into Lake Ontario
break the ground, making deep ravines, and thereby much diver-
sify the scene. The mountain runs parallel with Lake Ontario.

On our arrival at the Mohawk village the Indians hoisted
their flags and trophies of war, and fired a feu-de-joie in compli-
ment to his excellency, the representative of the king their father.

This place is peculiarly striking when seen from the high
land above it — extensive meadows around it. the Grand River
rolling near it, with a termination of forest.

Here is a well-built wooden church with a short steeple and
an excellent house of Capt. Brant's. The source of the Grand
River is not accurately ascertained, but supposed adjoining the
waters which communicate with Lake Huron. It empties itself
into Lake Erie, and for 50 or 60 miles is as broad as the Thames
at Richmond, in England. Some villages of the Onondagos, Del-
awares and Cayugas are dispersed on its banks. While we were
at the Mohawk village we heard divine service performed in the
church by an Indian. The devout behaviour of the women
(squaws), the melody of their voices, and the exact time they
kept in singing hymns, is worthy of observation.

Feb. 10 — We did not quit the Mohawk village till noon, when
we set out with J. Brant and about twelve Indians. Came to an
encampment of Mississagas and slept at a trader's house.

Feb. 11 — Passed over some fine open plains said to be fre-
quented by immense herds of deer, but as very little snow had
fallen this winter we did not see them. We crossed two or three
rivulets, through a thick wood, and over a salt lick, and stopped

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

at 4 o'clock to give the Indians time to make a small wigwam.
The dexterity and alacrity of those people habituated to the
hardships incidental to the woods is remarkable. Small parties
with the utmost facility cut down large trees with their toma-
hawks, then bark them, and in a few minutes construct a most
comfortable hut capable of resisting any inclemency of the
weather, covering it with the bark of elm. During the day's
march we saw the remains of several beaver dams.

Feb. 12 — We went through an irregular woody country.
Passed an encampment said to have been Lord E. Fitzgerald's
when on his march to Detroit, Machilimacinac and the Mississippi.
We passed a fine cedar grove, and about 1 o'clock crossed on
the trunk of a tree, a small branch of the La Traiich (Thames),
and soon after crossed the main branch in the same manner.

We met a man almost starved, who was overjoyed to obtain
a temporary relief of biscuits and pork. He was going to Niagara
from the conductor of the annual winter express from Detroit,
who we afterwards met. We learned that the above man had
been guilty of theft. We halted in an open part of the wood and
hutted as the last night. We were much fatigued, and refreshed
ourselves with soup and dried venison.

Feb. 13 — Early this morning the express from Detroit, with
Mr. Clarke, a Wyandotte and Chippawa Indian, parted from us
on their way to Niagara. We went between an irregular fence
of stakes made by the Indians to intimidate and impede the deer,
and facilitate their hunting. After crossing the main branch of
the Thames we halted to observe a beautiful situation, a bend of
the river, a grove of hemlock and pine, and a large creek. We
passed some deep ravines, and made our wigwam by a stream on
the brow of a hill, near the spot where Indians were interred.
The burying-ground was of earth neatly covered with leaves,
raised and wickered over. Adjoining it a large pole with painted
hieroglyphics on it denoting the nation, tribe and achievements
of the deceased either as chiefs, warriors, or hunters.

This day a raccoon was discovered in a very large elm tree.
The Indians gave a most tremendous shout, and all set to work
with their tomahawks and axes. In ten or fifteen minutes the
tree was cut down. The way of, entrapping the animal was
curious. Judging correctly of the space the tree would occupy
in falling, they surrounded it, and closed in so suddenly that the
raccoon could not escape and was killed. The Indians at first
amused themselves with allowing a Newfoundland dog to attack
it, but it defended itself so well that I think it would have escaped
from the dog but for the interposition of the Indians. Several
more raccoons were traced in the snow and two of them taken by
the same mode. The raccoons roasted made an excellent supper.
Some parts were rather rancid, but in general the flesh was ex-
ceedingly tender and good.

Feb. 14 — This day brought us within a few miles of the Del-

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO

aware Indian village, (a) where we camped. The Indians
brought us in some black and other squirrels. I observed many
trees blazed and various figures of Indians (returning from
battle with scalps), and animals drawn upon them, descrip-
tive of the tribes, nations and numbers that had passed.
Many of them were well drawn, especially a lion.

This day we walked over very uneven ground and passed
two lakes of about four miles in circumference, between which
were many fine larch trees. An Indian who carried a heavier
pack than the rest was behind and on overtaking us said that a
white man was coming with dispatches to the Governor. This
person proved to be a wheeler, who, (as we afterwards heard)
made use of that plan to get supplied with provisions and horses
to the Grand River, and from thence with an Indian guide to
Detroit. He quitted us under the plausible pretence of looking
for land to establish a settlement.

Feb. 15 — We breakfasted at the Indian Delaware village,
having walked on the ice of the La Tranch for five or six miles.
Here we were cordially received by the chiefs of that nation and
regaled with eggs and venison. Capt. Brant being obliged to re-
turn to a council of the Six Nations, we stayed the whole day.
The Delaware castle is pleasantly situated upon the high banks
of the Thames. The meadows at the bottom are cleared to some
extent, and in summer planted with Indian corn.

Feb. 16 — After walking 12 or 14 miles this day, part of the
way through plains of white oak and ash, and passing several
Chippewa Indians upon their hunting parties and in their en-
campments, we arrived at a Canadian trader's, and a little be-
yond in proceeding down the stream the Indians discovered a
spring of an oily nature, which upon examination, proved to be
a kind of petroleum. We passed another wigwam of Chippewas
making maple sugar. The mildness of the winter compelled them
in a measure to abandon their annual hunting. We soon arrived
at an old hut, where we spent the night.

Feb. 17 — We passed the Moravian village this day. (b) This
infantine settlement is under the superintendence of four mission-
aries, Messrs. Zeisberger, Senneman, Edwards and Young, and
principally inhabited by Delaware Indians, who seem to be under
the control, and in many particulars under the command of these
persons. They are in a progressive state of civilization, being
instructed in different branches of agriculture, and having al-
ready corn fields at this place. Every respect was paid to the
Governor, and we procured a seasonable refreshment of eggs,
milk and butter. Pursuing our journey eight or nine miles we
stopped for the night at the extremity of a new road cut by these
Indians, and close to a creek.

Mr. Gray missed his watch and being certain that he left
it at our last encampment two of the Indians observed his anxiety
about it, proposed and insisted on returning for it. They ac-

10 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

cordingly set out and returned with it the next morning. The
distance there and hack must have been twenty-six miles.

Feb. 18 — Crossing the Thames and passing a new log house,
belonging to a sailor named Carpenter, passed a thick, swampy
wood of black walnut, where his excellency's servant was lost
for three or four hours. We came to a bend of the La Tranch,
and were agreeably surprised to meet 12 or 14 canoes coming to
meet and conduct the Governor, who with his suite,, got into
them and about 4 o'clock arrived at Dolsen's, but previously
reconoitered a fork of the river and examined a mill of curious
construction erected upon it.

The settlement where Dolsen resides is very promising. The
land is well adapted for farms, and there are some respectable
inhabitants on both sides of the river. Behind it to the south,
are a range of spacious meadows; elk are continually seen upon
them, and the pools and ponds are full with cray fish.

From Dolsen's we went to the mouth of the Thames in
canoes, about 12 miles down and we saw the remains of a con~
siderable town of the Chippewas, where it is reported a desperate1
battle was fought between them and the Senecas, and that the
latter were totally vanquished and abandoned their dominions
to the conquerors. Certain it is that human bones are scattered
about in abundance in the vicinity of the ground; and the Indians
have a variety of traditions relative to this transaction.

Going along the bordage of the Lake St. Clair we came to
the northeast shore of the River of Detroit; Canadian militia fired
a feu-de-joie. Soon afterward we crossed the river in boats,
but were much impeded by the floating ice, and entering, the
garrison of Detroit, which was under arms to receive His Excel-
lency Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe upon, his landing, fired a royal
salute.

Detroit is situated in the strait between Lake Erie and Lake
St. (lair. The Canadian inhabitants, who are numerous, occupy
both sides of the river. Their property in land is divided into
3 or 6 acres in front, on which their houses and barns are built,
by 50 in depth, which constitutes their farms and apple orchards.
This writh a few large windmills dispersed on the banks of the
strait, give an appearance of respectability and population. Many
beautiful islands enrich the view. The country about Detroit
is. perfectly level and flat. We had bad weather the whole of
the time we stopped here — sleet and snow storms. Governor
Simcoe reviewed the 24th Regiment and the garrison, examined
Fort Lenault and the rest of the works, and then went in a calash
to the River Rouge, where we saw a compact, well-built sloop
almost ready to be launched.

The merchant vessels are here laid up in ordinary during
the winter months (when the lakes are not navigable), in the
same manner as his majesty's ships, which are placed under the
protection of the guns of the fort.

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO 11

We went to see the bridge where the Indian chief; Pontiac,
after being unsuccessful in his treacherous attempt to surprise
Detroit made a stand. So much slaughter ensued of British troops
that it is distinguished by the name of the Bloody Bridge.

The distance between Detroit and Niagara, by the route we
came, is about two hundred and seventy miles. The distance is
jgreater by Lake Erie.

Feb. 23 — Early on Saturday morning the Governor left De-
troit, and the same firing and ceremonies as on his arrival, took
place. We returned by Lake St. Clair, and in the evening reached
Dolsen's, about forty miles.

Feb. 24 — The weather was very bad. Lieut. Smith read
prayers to the Governor, his suite and those of the neighborhood
who attended, and we stayed at Dolsen's the whole day.

Feb. 25 — It froze extremely hard, which enabled us to go
on the ice in carioles up the Thames to the high bank, where we
first met the carioles on our way to Detroit.

Col. McKee, Mr.. Baby, (c) and several of the principal in-
habitants accompanied the Governor thus far. Here we separated
and each taking his pack or knapsack on his back, we walked
that night to the Moravian village.

Feb. 26 — We were detained at the Moravian village till noon
to hear divine service performed by two of the ministers, one
speaking extempore from the Bible, the other expressing it in
the Indian tongue, (d) Today we went a little beyond one of our
former wigwams, crossing some runs of water, ravines, and
through lands which abounded with basswood, hickory and ash.

Feb. 27 — We continued our journey and reached the Dela-
ware village; some chiefs returning from their hunting wrere as-
sembled to congratulate the Governor on his return, and brought
presents of venison, etc. In the evening they danced, a cere-
mony they never dispense with when any of the King's officers
of rank visit their villages.

Feb. 28 — At six we stopped at an old Mississagua hut upon
the side of the Thames. After taking some refreshments of salt
pork and venison, well cooked by Lieut. Smith, who superintended
that department, we, as usual, sang "God Save the King," and
went to rest.

March 1 — We set out along the banks of the river; then,
ascending a high hill, quitted our former path and directed our
course to the northward. A good deal of snow having fallen and
still on the ground, we saw traces of otters, deer, wolves, bears
and other animals, many of which being quite fresh, induced the
Mohawks to pursue them, but without success. We walked 14
or 15 miles and twice crossed the river and a few creeks upon
the ice. Once close to a Chippewa hunting camp, and opposite to
a pine terrace, we encamped on its banks near a bay. The Gov-
ernor and most of the party wore moccasins, having no snowshoes.
These he had before found necessary on the course of his journey.

12

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO 13

March 2 — We struck the Thames at one end of a low, flat
island enveloped with shrubs and trees. The rapidity and
strength of the current were such as to have forced a channel
through the mainland, being a peninsula, and formed this island.
We walked over a rich meadow and at its extremity came to the
forks of the river.

The Governor wished to examine this situation, and its en-
virons, therefore we remained here all the day. He judged it to
be a situation eminently calculated for the metropolis of all Can-
ada. Among many other essentials it possesses the following ad-
vantages : Command of territory, internal situation, central posi-
tion, facility of water communication up and down the Thames
into Lakes St. Clair, Erie, Huron and Superior, navigable for
boats near its source and for small craft probably to the Morav-
ian settlement to the southward ; by a small portage to the waters
flowing into Lake Huron to the southeast; by a carrying place
into Lake Ontario and the River St. Lawrence. The soil is lux-
uriantly fine, the land rich, capable of being easily cleared and
soon put into a state of agriculture, pinery upon an adjacent high
knoll, other timber on the heights, well calculated for the erection
of public buildings; a climate not inferior to any part of Canada.
To these natural advantages an object of great consideration is
to be added that the enormous expense of the Indian department
would be greatly diminished if not abolished. The Indians would
in all probability, become carriers of their own peltries ; and they
would find a ready, contiguous, commodious and equitable mart,
honorably advantageous to the Government and the community
in general without their becoming a prey to the monopolistic and
unprincipled trader.

The young Indians, who had chased a herd of deer in com-
pany with Lieut. Givins, returned unsuccessful and brought with
them a large porcupine, which was very seasonable, as our pro~
visions were nearly expended. This animal afforded a very good
repast and tasted like a pig. The Newfoundland dog attempting
to bite the porcupine, his mouth was filled with the barbed quills,
and gave him exquisite pain. An Indian undertook to extract
them and, with much perseverance, plucked them out one by one,
and carefully applied a root or decoction, which speedily healed
the wounds.

Various figures were delineated on trees at the forks of the
River Thames, done with charcoal and vermillion; the most re-
markable were the imitation of men with deer's heads.

We saw a fine eagle on the wing and two or three large
birds, perhaps vultures.

March 3 — We were glad to leave our wigwam early this
morning, it having rained incessantly the whole night; besides
the hemlock branches on which we slept were wet before they
were gathered for our use. We ascended the height at least 120
feet into a continuation of the pinery already mentioned ; quitting

14 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

that we came to a beautiful plain with detached clumps of white
oak and open woods; then crossing a creek running into the
south branch of the Thames we entered a thick, swampy wood,
where we were at a loss to discover any track; but in a few
minutes we were released from the dilemma by the Indians who,
making a cast, soon discerned our old path to Detroit.

Ascending a hill, and crossing a brook, we came at noon to
the encampment wre left 011 the 14th of February, and were agree-
ably surprised at meeting Capt. Brant and a numerous retinue,
among them four of the Indians we had dispatched to him when
we first altered our course to the forks of the River Thames.
Two of the party had just killed a buck and a doe. One of the
Indians wishing to preserve the meat from the wolves — or to
show his activity — climbed up a small tree of ironwood which,
being elastic bent with him till it nearly touched the ground;
then hanging the meat upon the tree it sprang back into its
original position. The meat was secure till the morning, when
he cut down the tree. During this day's march it rained without
intermission, and last night it thundered and lightened severely.
The brooks and rivulets were swollen considerably, and we were
obliged to cross these on small trunks or logs. In the afternoon
we passed the hut where we slept on the 12th of February. I
noticed very fine beech trees.

March 5 — Met Mr. Clarke, and the winter express returning
from Niagara, and Mr. Jones, (e) the Deputy-Surveyor. We
again crossed one of the branches of the southeast fork of the
Thames, and halted in a cypress or cedar grove, and were much
amused by seeing Brant and the Indians chase a lynx with their
dogs and rifle guns; but they did not catch it. Several porcu-
pines were seen.

March 6 — This morning we arrived at the Mohawk village—
the Indians having brought horses for the Governor and his
suite to the end of the plains near the Salt Lick. It had frozen
exceedingly hard last night, and we crossed the Grand River at
a different place from that wre crossed before, and by a nearer
route. In the evening all the Indians assembled, and danced
their customary dances — the War, Calumet, Buffalo, Feather
Dance, etc. Most of His Excellency's suite being equipped and
dressed in imitation of the Indians, were adopted as chiefs.

March 7 — This afternoon we came to Wilson's Mills (f) on
the mountain.

March 8 — A very severe and unremitting snow storm pre-
vented our going farther than Beasley's, at Burlington Bay, (g)
the head of Lake Ontario.

March 9 — Late this evening wre arrived at Green's, (h) at
the Forty Mile Creek.

March 10 — Sunday — the Governor arrived at Navy Hall. (i).

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO 15

NOTES

(a) Thursday, Feb. 21 — "I received a letter from the Gov-
ernor, dated Upper Delaware Village, on the La Tranche. He
had a pleasant journey — passed a fine open country without
swamps. Tile La Tranche, at 150 miles above its mouth is as wide
as the Thames is at Reading." —Mrs. Simcoe's Diary.

(b) "Governor J. G. Simcoe and party arrived here this
morning. He examined everything, and was well pleased there-
with. We entertained him to breakfast. We told him that none
of us missionaries had either renounced our allegiance to the
King nor sworn it to the States." — Zeisberger's Diary, Satur-
day, February 16.

(c) Alexander McKee took a prominent part in securing the
allegiance of the Indians to England during the American revo-
lution, and was the founder of a prominent Windsor family.
There were several of the Baby family in Essex ; the one referred
to in the Journal was probably Judge Jas. Baby, appointed by
Simcoe to the Legislative Council in 1792.

(d) "Governor Simcoe and suite arrived and passed the
night with us. We presented him with an address. He ordered
his Commissary to draw for us an order on the King's stores at
Detroit, because of our crop having been frozen. Wrote an
answer to our address. After asking permission he, with his
suite, attended our early morning service and worship. He ex-
pressed his satisfaction with the devout worship of the Indians.
He and his party then continued his journey to Niagara."

— Zeisberger's Diary, February 26.

(e) Augustus Jones made the original surveys of a large
portion of Upper Canada, including the village of York. His
field notes are in the Crown Lands Department at Toronto.

(f) Wilson's grist and saw mills, owned by Jas. Wilson, a
U. E. L. refugee from Pennsylvania; site of present Ancaster.

(g) " Beasley V -residence of Mr. Beasley, subsequently
better known as Col. Beasley.

(h) Green was an influential early settler; Forty Mile Creek
is the present Grimsby.

(i) From Mrs. Simcoe's diary, Sunday, March 30, 1793—
'•The Governor and Mr. D. W. Smith returned. It is exactly
five weeks since he left this place. He went part of the way in
sleighs, but walked the greater distance. The Journal does* not
contain many incidents. The map which accompanies it shows
the vaiious creeks they passed on fallen trees, which require
some care and dexterity to cross. His Excellency's leaving De-
troit under a salute from all His Majesty's ships lying there is
mentioned. As also that His Excellency ordered prayers to be
read in the woods on Sunday, and forty people attended. * * *
The Governor rose early on the march, and walked till 5 o'clock.
A party of Indians went on an hour before to cut down wood for

16 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

a fire, and make huts of trees, which they do so dexterously that
no rain can penetrate; and this they do very expeditiously. When
the Governor came to the spot the Indians had fixed upon as a
lodge for the night, the provisions were cooked. After supper
the officers sang God Save the King, and went to sleep with their
feet close to an immense fire, which was kept up all night. The
Governor found his expectations perfectly realized as to the
goodness of the country on the banks of La Tranch, and is con-
firmed in his opinion that the forks of the river is the most pro-
per site for the capital of the country, to be called New London,
on a fine dry plain, without underwood, but abounding in good
oak trees. A spring of real petroleum was discovered on the
march by the offensive smell."

In 1792, Governor Simcoe issued a proclamation changing
the name of the River La Tranche to Thames. During the sum-
mer of 1793 he sent Mr. Patrick McNiff to make a survey of the
forks of the Thames and in forwarding his report to the Home
Office on the 30th September he wrote Mr. Dundas : ' ' The tract
of country which lies between the river (or rather, navigable
canal, as its Indian name and French translation import) and
Lake Erie is one of the finest for agricultrual purposes in North
America, and far exceeds the soil and climate of the Atlantic
States. There are few or no interjacent swamps, and a variety
of useful streams empty themselves into the lake or river. * * *
They lead to the propriety of establishing a capital of Upper
Canada wrhich may be somewhat distant from the centre of the
colony. * The capital I propose to be established at New

London."

The Governor's Second Tour

In March, 1794, Governor Simcoe made another journey
across the peninsula. This was mainly in connection with official
business undertaken, by order of the Governor-General, Lord
Dorchester; but gave him also opportunity to further examine
the site of his proposed capital at the forks of the Thames. No
record of this journey seems to have been kept by anyone. It
would appear that he went overland to the river, striking it
about Ingersoll ; there took boats, and followed it down to De-
troit, stopping at the forks; the return trip was made by way of
Lake Erie. The following extracts from Mrs. Simcoe 's and Zeis-
berger's diaries give all that is known about this second trip.

"Saturday, February 1, 1794 -- I am in great spirits today
as the Governor talks of going to Detroit in March, and spending
a month there very gaily. But the greatest amusement will be
the journey. We shall ride to the Grand River; from thence to
La Tranche, where canoes will be built, in which we shall go
down to Detroit in a few days; and we shall take Lake Erie on
our return." — Mrs. Simcoe 's Diary.

"Saturday, March 15 — An express has arrived from Lord

GOV. SIMCOE'S TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO 17

Dorchester, who orders Governor Simcoe, as soon as the lake
navigation is open, to go and establish a fort on the river Miami,
in a country claimed by the Americans, some distance below
Detroit. The Governor thinks the order may be put into execu-
tion so much earlier if he goes down the La Tranche to Detroit,
that he intends setting out tomorrow for the Grand River. This
order of Lord Dorchester puts an end to my scheme of going to
Detroit, which is an exceeding great disappointment to me."
— Mrs. Simcoe 's Diary.

" April 31st — Towards evening Governor Simcoe arrived
with a suite of officers and soldiers and eight Mohawks, by water
from Niagara. He at once asked for our school-house as a lodg-
ing. It was cold — having snowed during the day. He was much
pleased when Bro. Sennemann offered his house, where together
with his officers he then lodged. Two of his officers had been
here with him last year. Our sisters entertained them. The
soldiers lay close by the school-house; and the Mohawks were
divided between two Indian houses, whom also our Indian breth-
ren supplied with food. The Governor was glad to see so many
houses built since he was here before; also that our Indians had
cleared so much land ; and he praised their industry and labor.
Still more he wondered at seeing in the place such a great pile
of lumber; and when he learned that it was destined for our
meeting house, and also that the Indian brothers and sisters had
brought it on sleighs without horses, he said: 'Would that I
could have seen this.' : — Zeisberger's Diary.

"Friday, May 2 — Governor Simcoe arrived at six this even-
ing from Niagara. He rode from the Grand River to La Tranche,
where he embarked on the 29th March in canoes, and that day
he reached the site intended for New London. The 30th he spent
at the Delaware village ; the 31st at the Moravian village ; the 1st
April at an Indian traders; the 2nd arrived at Detroit. * * *
The Governor stayed four days at Detroit, and then went to
Captain Elliott's, on the River au Raisin; from thence 30 miles
to the river Miami, in Ohio, and stayed at Col. McKee's, of De-
troit, a little distance from thence." —Mrs. Simcoe 's Diary. (The
Elliott referred to here was Matthew Elliott, an Irishman, edu-
cated for the priesthood, turned soldier, emigrated to Virginia,
fought in the revolutionary war, then emigrated to Canada, with
all his slaves, received a grant of 2,500 acres from the govern-
ment, and took up his residence in Maiden township in 1784.
He became Superintendent of Indian affairs; was in the battle
of Queenstown Heights, and died a few days after as the result
of exposure).

Governor Simcoe 's views as to the location of the capital of
Upper Canada at the forks of the Thames were over-ruled by the
Governor-General, who seems to have preferred a site more con-
venient to Montreal, and more accessible by lake. Simcoe was
required to move his temporary capital from Niagara to Toronto

IS LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

(which he christened Yprk). and the construction of public build-
ings was commenced there. But, that did not change Simcoe's
opinion. We find him writing to Lord Portland, February 27,
3796: "Should the seat of government be transferred to the
Thames, the proper place, the buildings and grounds at York can
be sold to lessen or liquidate the cost of their construction." He
left Canada this year, and his successor in the administration,
Peter Russell, inherited his views, speaking in his reports to Eng-
land, of York, as "'the temporary seat of government." Finally,
Portland, in 1879, gave him distinctly to understand that the
matter wras settled, and that "the selection of York has been
made on mature reflection."

The

Proudfoot Papers
Part II.

20 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II.

. Diary of Rev. J. Proudfoot — Continued.

January 28, Monday, 1833, Brantford. Rode down this day
with Mr. John Wilkes in the sleigh about 10 miles along the
Grand River to attend a general council of the Six Nation In-
dians, who have been convened for the purpose of deliberating
upon some proposals which government had made to them about
selling their lands. The Superintendent, Major Wingate, was
present. The Indians and he spoke through an interpreter (Jacob
Martin, a native). The council room is a squared log house be-
tween 50 and 60 feet long — floored. All around the sides and the
end are low benches. On these sat the chief and his friends. At
each end of the room was an enormous fire. On a cross form at
one end sat the major. I sat on a short bench near him. The
appearance of the Indians was very striking. Some of them had
faces that were as mild and intelligent as those of civilized Euro-
peans; but the majority had in their look that fierce savageness
which is seen in the drawings of savages in books of travel. Some
of them had painted their faces with ochre to make them look
horrible. Two of them wore silver ornaments which hung from
the cartilage of the nose and some of them had the outer rim of
the ears slit for more than two inches, from which hung dang-
ling a bunch of silver ornaments. Their dress was very varied
and very fantastical. Some had a deerskin dress; some wore the
European dress, trousers and surtout; some wore a hat; and
many had a shawl or handkerchief tied around their heads like
a- turban, leaving a tuft of hair to assist their enemies in taking
the scalp. The common Indian dress is first a shirt, sometimes
frilled at the breast; then a pair of trousers half high up and
held by strings around the waist, then a surtout, generally made
out of a blanket, its skirts behind fall down to the calf of the
leg; it meets in front down to the knee. Over all this is a blanket,
when the day is cold, the whole fastened by a sash, some of silk,
some of worsted. All wear moccasins. One man, called "Steel
Trap, ' ' had feathers and porcupine quills stuck in his cap or
turban, to make him look a great warrior. In the sash was
stuck a knife before, and at one side a pouch of marten or weasel
skin. Many of them smoked all the time of the council — all kept
on their hats. There were some Methodist Indians present, who
were better dressed. The council was opened by a very fine look-
ing Indian called "Echo," who got his name for being a speaker.
His speech opened to this effect :r The Indians of the Six Nations
had met by appointment — they had opened the council house —
they had provided plenty of fire wood which would burn clearly
and well, and be peaceable (not crackle). They were thankful
to the Great Spirit, who had spared so many in health and brought
them together in comfort, and also that the Chief was brought in
health to preside. The Major, after returning the compliment.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II. 21

read out the propositions of the government respecting the lands
on which they were to deliberate. The chiefs sat nation by na-
tion and they were desired to deliberate each one by itself. There
were several speeches made by different chiefs not bearing di-
rectly on the subject as it was the design to say nothing today —
to talk during the night on it, and to answer tomorrow. During
the deliberations there was carried into the room and set in the
middle of the floor, a large brass kettle of boiling Indian corn
with venison in it, to stand eo cool and then eaten by all.

From Brantford drove to Gait. The country around here
is peopled principally by Scotchmen from Roxburgh and the
North of England. I fancied myself in Scotland; for everything
I saw was just as things are in Scotland. Many persons wore
the Scotch plaid, all spoke with the Scotch accent. Gait is a
thriving village, not well built, but well situated on the Grand
River. It has a fine stream of water, which runs a saw-mill, a
large flour mill and a fulling mill. On the opposite side of the
river is Mr. Dickson's house, built on a rising ground command-
ing a fine view of the bridge, of the village and river. Saw some
stone dykes — a great rarety in Canada. There are plenty of
stones lying on the surface — almost all lime stone, and generally
small. Returned to London and called on Dr. Lee and Wm. Lee,
A. Robertson, Mr. Ross Robertson, Mr. Talbot, Schoolmaster,
Squire McKenzie, and some other friends.

February 28, 1833. Left London in a sleigh drawn by two
horses .which cost eight dollars. The style in which we started
did not augur well for the rapidity of our journey. Dined at
McConnel's on the 16th Concession of London. We were well
treated, dined on venison and tea for 1/6 York. Shortly after
leaving there we entered Biddulph. The black settlement, called
by the blacks " Wilberforce. " The soil is very good. The dwell-
ings of the negroes, wretched, badly built and very small. Saw
very few of the blacks. At a slow rate we proceeded grumbling
at our driver all the way. About 7 p.m. arrived at McConnel's, a
son of the man, where we dined. It is near the North side of
the Township of Usborne. This tavern was ordered by the Can-
ada Co. to accommodate travellers. It is one of the most wretched
places I ever spent a night in. The logs were not well built; the
interstices carelessly filled up, no clay, no lime; and the wind
finds its way at almost every place. The door did not fit by three '
or four inches. There was an enormous fire kept up, which
caused such a draught of air up the chimney that made us colder
before the fire than out of doors. There were nine lodgers in
the house. My friend and I occupied one bed, such as it was.
The innkeeper and his wife the other, all the rest got round the
fire in a lump with their feet to the fire and wrapped in such
as they could get, or had brought with them. We could not keep
warm and were forced to rise and warm ourselves. We were
none the worse for our sleep in the shanty. We only saw two

22 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

dwellings on the road and no living creature in the wood, though
we were anxious to see a bear or a wolf. About 8 o'clock a.m.
left McConners and reached Vanderburgh's Inn about two. It
is situated on the corner of the Township of Tuckersmith, and at
the point where the corners of Stanley, Goderich and Huron
meet. The Inn is a new and good house. Came in a Mr. Lizars
from Edinburgh, brother to the bookseller, the surgeon and the
doctor of the same name. He is a surveyor. The land here is
good, which the Canada Company sell for one and a half dollars
an acre. Saw two birds, large woodpeckers, and what we sup-
posed to be footmarks of a wrolf in the snow. Saw many foot-
marks of the squirrel. What a desolate place the forest must be.
Saw very few houses on the road side, and they were wretched
cabins. Got to Goderich at 8 o'clock. On our way called at the
house of Mr. Cook who has a number of paintings hung around
the walls of his log house. They had once figured on the walls
of a house in Princess Street, Edinburgh. Called to warm our-
selves at the house of Mr, Papst, three miles from Goderich. Put
up at Mr. Reid's in Goderich. After tea called on Mr. Gooding
and Mr. James Ha}r, from whom I received a hearty welcome.
Was informed there were about 1,500 souls in the Township of
Goderich. Goderich is situated on the point of land where the
River Maitland pours into Lake Huron. The ground on which
it stands is very nearly level. It is at least 120 feet above the
lake. The bank is quite as preciptous as a sand and gravel bank
could be. The mouth of the Maitland forms a kind of harbor,
where there lie tied up by the frost three schooners, the whole
craft of the place at present. They sail to Detroit chiefly; but
they sometimes go as far down the river as Prescott. It is pro-
posed this season to have a steam boat on the lake, both for pas-
sengers and to make the voyage or trips for trade shorter and
more sure. The people here are all very poor. The trade is done
chiefly by boat. There is still a considerable trade done with
the Indians for furs, which still pays well, but, which in conse-
quence of competition produces far less return than in former
years. The sales of storekeepers are to a great extent among the
Indians. All complain of being poor. The town contains about
40 houses, scattered along the line of the projected streets. There
is not a street free from stumps of trees. The office of the Canada
Company stands on a point between the Maitland and a steep
road which leads down to the wharf. There are few finer situa-
tions in Canada. All around it is being planted tastefully with
trees and shrubs, and it will one day be a beautiful spot. Lake
Huron is a splendid sheet of water. It is frozen over as far as
the eye can see. The Indians catch quantities of white fish by
spearing them through the ice, sometimes 100 in a day. There
are three taverns, Reid's, Fisher's and McGregor's — the first sup-
posed to be the best. There is nothing to boast of. The kitchen
K good, but there are few cooking utensils to be seen ; but this is

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II. 23

of no consequence as all Canadian cooking is done in the frying
pan. The house is only weather boarded, some parts lathed and
some plastered. The room we occupied let in the light and the
cold and the snow at a hundred places, and it is very hard to
keep warm, though we slept in one bed and had a buffalo skin
for a cover. After breakfast settled our bill — 4/8% each. We
started back — got to Vanderburgh's, and after considerable
trouble about conveyances got as far as Malcolm McLeod's on an
ox sleigh, where we slept on the floor. As this was my first ex-
perience of such I must give an account of it. The house is a
shanty begun to be built this winter after there was a foot of
snow on the ground. The seams, however, were all well closed
with clay that had been dug out of the floor. It is not more than
15 feet square. I saw only one bed and that very badly furnished
so we determined that we would not sleep in it. Mr. McLeod,
his wife and her sister and three children slept in it. A bunch of
straw was placed on the floor, and we were given a sheet and a
blanket, so Mr. Christie and I lay down with our feet to the fire
and with our clothes on, and enjoyed a few hours' comfortable
sleep. A chair was inverted at the head, on its sloping back a
pillow was laid, which answered the purpose very well. We
were surprised that we rested so well and had not got colds.
The above is the way in which some parts of the many families
always sleep ; and they are a healthy race. I observed that the
Canada Company had driven in mile posts, which is a great com-
fort to travellers in this dreary region. In the course of the day
saw five red squirrels and two deer ; saw many wolf foot marks in
the swamps and in not a few places saw their track after deer.
Alex. McKenzie told us a strange story. He said that generally
a pack of wolves go in chase after a deer. All proceed slowly
except one which follows as close as it is able, that when it has
turned the deer, the simple creature returns the way it came,
that it stops to drink where there is water, and that the remain-
ing wolves are waiting in expectation, they being untired fall
upon the exhausted innocent and devour it. We stopped at a
black man's house in Biddulph. He is an old man — a cabinet
maker — very discontented. He begged tobacco, and hinted he
would like some bread. He says there are just 16 families ; that
each has 50 acres ; that they are not very comfortable. When we
arrived at McCombs', all were in bed, but they rose very cheer-
fully and got an excellent supper of venison, pork, potatoes and
tea and then showed us to a bed with curtains.

Got back to London, March 7, 1833. Mr. Boston, of Lobo,
called on me and chatted for a long time. Mr. John Talbot,
school-master, also called. He told me that Mr. Cronyn had re-
turned from York ; that the Governor told Mr. Cronyn that
Upper Canada will probably be divided and that London will be
its capital; that it is his intentions to send respectable loyalist
emigrants who may apply to him to this district. He wished Mr.

24 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Cronyn to send him a list of unsold land in London and West-
minster, that he might be able to direct emmigraiits where they
might find locations. That it is the intention of the government
to raise up such a body of persons attached to the Constitution
of Great Britain as may counteract the influence of Yankeeism
so prevalent about St. Thomas and along the lake shore. Further
that the large Episcopal Church is to be finished this year from
funds in. the hands of the government.

March 10. This morning attended the Episcopal service and
heard Mr. Cronyn preach. I preached myself in the afternoon
to a packed house.

March 20. On the evening of thi sday Mr. Christie and I
supped with Mr. Alex, and Mr. Ross Robertson, Rev. Mr. Cronyn.
his wife and a Miss Armstrong were of the party.

March 21. Left London today in the mail coach for St.
Thomas, the charge, $1.00. The road very bad, and we moved
at the rate of little more than two miles an hour. We started
at 8 and arrived at five-thirty. We dined on the road, had a good
dinner which put us in good humor. When we went into the
town we met a gentleman whom we had seen in London, a Mr.
Chadwick, who is a grandson of Jonathan Edwards on his
mother's side. Pie is intending to commence an iron foundry.
St. Thomas is beautifully situated just where the two branches
of Kettle Creek unite. It is a place of considerable business and
there are wealthy people in it. It has two newspapers. The one
a violent Tory, the other a Liberal, and represented as favoring
Yankeeism, which I think, from all I have seen, is not true. It
is Whiggish, but not Republican. St. Thomas has a general air
of taste, the buildings, the signs, the stores all indicate that the
people have a taste for the elegant, that is compared with other
places. It resembles Brantford more than any place I have seen,
perhaps because Americans prevail in both. Like Brantford too.
it is situate on the bank of a river on high ground, and is cleared
to a considerable way round. There was no conveyance in the
place, even for hire; and as we did not want to stay longer than
we could help when our mission was accomplished, we resolved
to set forward and walk. So I sent my trunk to London; took
my valise on my back strapped on with my comforter, and in
this way we set out to walk 50 miles. The road beggared de-
scription. The mud deep in some places soft, and in others tough
and adhesive. We could hardly get through creeping along at
a little more than a mile an hour. Many times had I to leap the
fence to get a few yards where I would not be mired. We started
from St. Thomas at half past eleven and got to Hiram Brown's
tavern in Mai abide at half -past six, ten miles in seven hours.
The country is the best cleared in Canada that I have seen. The
fields have not a stump in them, the houses good, remarkably
tasteful and even elegant. The forest half or three-quarters of
a mile from the road. 'This part seems adapted for the raising

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART IT.

of fruit. There are on the street many fine orchards all of bear-
ing age. Left Brown's this morning. Last night there had been
a sharp frost so that the roads were so hard that they bore us
for several miles until the sun acquired sufficient strength, and
then we had mud as usual, but not so deep ; then came the pine
lands where the roads were sandy and good. The country
through which we came today is irregular in its surface and for
the most part pine ridges. We noticed that where the timber is
hard-wood the land is flat and rich; where pine prevails it is ir-
regular and poor. We saw on the road some beautiful spots ;
but the houses had not the same elegant and comfortable ap-
pearance as those we saw yesterday. Upon entering Bayham
we crossed the Big Otter Creek. About half-past three we ar-
rived at Mr. Lalor's house of entertainment on the bank of the
Big Otter, where we were compelled to stop on account of fatigue.
A house of entertainment differs from a tavern in that it has no
license for the sale of liquor. There are several of these in Can-
ada. They have all the appearance of a family concern, and
none of the irregularities or noise to be found where liquor is
sold. The accommodation is not so business-like, but the sober
traveller gets what he wants -- rest and food. We walked ten
miles this morning for breakfast, which we got at Cook's about
half-past eleven. Cook's father-in-law is an old Dutchman whose
father was robbed of £8,000 in the Amreican war. He remem-
bered the war. I said I suppose you are a U. E. Loyalist? I
am a Loyalist, but not a II. E. Loyalist; we did not draw land
from the King, when we came to the country. Our host, Mr.
Lalor, is a staunch Tory. Col. Talbot had once stayed a night
in his house; and he seems to have made him his friend. He be-
lieves that the bad things said about the Colonel are all lies of
the Liberals. Col. Talbot 's plan with the Liberals is to trample
them down ; and Mr. Lalor thinks that is the only way with them,
and the only way they deserve.

Left Mr. Lalor's this morning in a waggon which we en-
gaged to take us 18 miles for $2.00. Upon leaving his house we
entered upon the sandy ridges which extend over the remainder
of Bayham. The part of IToughton through which the Talbot
Street runs, and the whole of Middleton, the timber is all pine,
not very heavy but closely set; now and then we saw a little
hard-wood. The soil is the worst I have seen. During the day
saw about 20 deserted houses. The small clearings which we
passed begun to be covered with pine, and were fast relapsing to
the domain of the forest. Mr. Mitchell explained how it w*is.
Col. Talbot, the government agent, was resolved to have the
road opened ; and when, settlers applied to him for land, he would
not grant it to them, except upon the side of what was destined
to be a road. They were thus obliged to take the lands he gave
them or want. These poor unfortunates, who, after building a
house, clearing ten acres, cutting out a portion of the road, found

26 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

what they might have known at first, that the place would never
repay them, and that they must go in quest of other settlements.
The Colonel and his friends call this the true way of settling a
country ; but a more heartless way I cannot conceive. While we
were at Sovereign's tavern there was a man going to Vittoria
with a waggon and two horses, and he took us for $1.00. The road
here is all down hill. At first it was oak plains, where the soil
is sandy but good for wheat, then pine fiats, where we saw some
of the handsomest pine trees I had ever seen. We saw some fine
clearings, and a field of at least 50 acres of fine wheat. Vittoria
is a beautiful place; and will when the trees are cleared off, be
one of the sweetest in Canada. The approach to it from the
North is down a small glen, which if it were tasefully laid out
would resemble the finest kind of pleasure walks in the neigh-
borhood of the best laid out gentleman's seats in the old country.
Eight miles from Vittoria is Simcoe, a very thriving, smart little
village. Next we came to Waterford, where there is a grist mill
and a saw mill. There were more saw logs drawn to the mill
than ever I saw before. All the villages in Canada are situate
on creeks; and the finding of a water privilege is the first re-
quisite in the formation of a village. Arrived at Mt. Pleasant,
where we received a most hearty welcome from Mr. Bryning. He
told us many of the difficuties he had to encounter coming into
the country. His story was well fitted to make us think that we
have no reason to complain. Started from Mt. Pleasant. The
roads were very heavy walking, but nothing worth notice after
what we had encountered for some days back. When we came
down to the flat on the side of the Grand River the road was
overflowed with water. We had to walk on the fences, there
was no other way, for about 100 yards. As we came in sight of
Brantford I was exceedingly struck with the beauty of the scene.

March 30. Got home to York, and began to get ready to
take my family to London.

April 28. We left York this morning in the Great Britain
steamer for Niagara and Queenstown. We were just about four
hours and fifty minutes getting to Queenstown. The banks of
the river are steep and very high. Went to see the place where
General Brock fell, it is in a field behind the village. His body
rests in the monument.

April 29. Chippewa. Rose by four o'clock this morning
and got my luggage out of the steamer. I bargained to have it
and us all taken to Chippewa for $8.00, viz., 3 waggons and one
pleasure waggon, I and my wife and the three youngest children
rode in the pleasure waggon, the rest rode on the luggage waggons.
At a point where the road approaches the river, the falls burst into
view. What a sight. Got into Chippewa and got the luggage
stored in a warehouse where it will lie without charge till the
boat sails.

May 1st. Had to get my luggage on board the boat, as there

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II.

27

was scarcity of help. I had to put my shoulder to the wheel
and toil like a porter.

May 2nd. On board the Adelaide in the Niagara River op-
posite Black Rock. In sailing up the river was very much inter-
ested in the scenery on both sides. The Grand Island belongs to
the U. S. The current is very strong, running at the rate of
seven miles an hour. It was too strong for the Adelaide, and
fairly mastered her at a mile above Black Rock. After struggling
with the current for half an hour the captain gave up and turned
to the Canadian side at a place called Waterloo where he an-
chored. We stayed here some time, which was very wearisome.

May 4. When I awoke this morning found the crew getting
up steam. I was afraid the boat would not be able to round the
ice breaker. This is a projection of ten or twelve feet from the
embankment of the Erie Canal for the purpose of throwing the
water off the embankment and for breaking the force of the ice
floated down from the lake. By a great effort the boat was got
past the breaker and out of the strength of the rapids. We
crossed over to Fort Erie and then dropped anchor. Fort Erie
is a dilapidated fortification. The position is an important one.
The village is small, but rather pleasant. At length we got into
the Erie Canal and came up to Buffalo, which is a place I have
heard a great deal of, and was very desirous to see. It is an
astounding place.

May 6th. We awoke this morning about four o'clock in the
hope of being landed at Kettle Creek; but there had been such
a heavy fog that we had lain to for three hours during the night,
and we found we were in Ryersee 's Creek ; so we had very little
progress during the night. We had still to double Long Point,
and had before us a long day's sailing. The weather was fine,
and the lake smooth as a mill pond ; so sailing was very pleasant.
As we sailed along the bank of the lake we observed a few cleared
spots, on all of which the wheat, so far as we saw it, was a
beautiful healthy green color. About six o'clock in the evening
landed at Kettle Creek Harbor, bearing the name of Port Stanley,
a small place writh a miserable pier. In consequence of the water
of the lake being so low the steamer could not get up to the
warehouse so I had to land my luggage on the quay, and then
had to employ men to get it cnnveyed to the warehouse of Mr.
Chase, as there was every sign of rain, which came on about
dark, with vivid lightning. Paid for our conveyance in the
steamer from Chippewa, $2*4.00 for cabin, $8.00 for luggage. I
was glad to be once more on terra firma, with my family, all well.
Put up at IV^r. Birch's where we got good entertainment and all
the beds the house could afford ; some of those who, withourselves
stayed in the Inn sleeping on the floor on buffalo skins. All passed
off very well, and were thankful to get our heads into a house.

Tuesday, May 7th. Rose early and engaged Mr. Birch to
take us all to London in his waggon for $8.00. Mr. Black, who

28 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

had come in the boat with us, went off to St. Thomas early, and
sent down to Port Stanley two teamsters to take my luggage to
London for $5.50 a load. Had lunch in St. Thomas, which cost
us $1. The country on the road to London looked very beautiful;
the day was fine; the horses were good, and Mr. Birch willing to
get forward. Our journey was therefore a pleasant one, and we
were in high spirits. Arrived at London about sundown, and
very thankful that I and my family had got so far on our journey
in health. Received a hearty welcome to London from my ac-
quaintance whom I met. Well does it become me to unite in
thankfulness to Almighty God for His tender mercies toward us.

Tuesday, June 4th. This is a great day in the township. It
is the day fixed for the military training. The people began to
pour in from all quarters, some on horse-back, some on foot; and
by 11 o'clock every one of military age was assembled. The
training was a very awkward business; all were in their ordinary
dress; some of the officers had peeled sticks in place of swords,
none had guns. The training consisted in marching; and the
principal part of the time was spent in giving directions, in lec-
turing, and in swearing at the men for not performing the direc-
tions. The whole was under the command of Major Schofield.
The officers did me the honor to invite me to dine with them.
The dinner was in Traver's Inn. Bought from Mr. Boston, Lobo,
ten bushels of potatoes for seed at fifty cents a bushel. Mr. Rob-
ertson told me today that as Mr. Jackson had left off preaching
in London, that Mr. Cronyh and I may have the schoolhouse be-
tween us.

November 13. Went into London today to attend a meeting
of a committee that had been appointed to take measures to ob-
tain a classical teacher for London. We met in Dr. Lee's labora-
tory. There were present Dr. Lee, Mr. Askin, Mr. Parke, Mr.
Scatcherd and myself. We settled all the preliminaries for the
school.

August, 1834. A trip through Aldborough and to Tilbury.
I and my eldest son, Mr. Morrell, and the two Stratheys, and Mr.
Dobie, started on Monday morning in Mr. Jess Wilkes' waggon
at 7 a.m. The desire of the whole party was to go and draw land
(as it is called) in Tilbury. It was therefore requisite to call for
Col. Talbot in order to get the number of lots not yet taken up.
We got to his house about 3 p.m. We were all well aware that
it would not be safe to call for him after dinner, it being his con-
stant practice to take too much brandy, but we had no alterna-
tive, and besides, I was not at all unwilling to see the far famed
Colonel in his peculiar mood. The man who acts as secretary
and everything else, intimated to us that it was not safe to call
for him. When we went to the house he was at his window and
spoke to us out of the window. He was evidently half drunk,
and his manner was exceedingly rude and insulting. I have
seldom seen a man more contemptible in his appearance, short

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II.

29

and ill made, his face fiery and stormy and his manner the very
opposite of what is found amongst all who have the smallest pre-
tensions to the name of a gentleman. It is my wish to see him
before dinner on my return. Leaving him we came into the town-
ship of Aldborough, and lodged at the house of Mr. Coyne, a
very comfortable house where we got a good bed and a good sup-
per. The country through which we travelled is of various char-
acter. Dunwich is still in a very wild state. The most part of
it being, I suppose, the private property of Col. Burwell and Col.
Talbot. These men, according to report, do not appear to be do-
ing anything for the good of the country. Their immense pro-
perties lying in a state of nature. With regard to the place
where Col. Talbot lives, it has all the appearance of carelessness.
The houses are in. a dirty tumble-dowTn state, placed without the
remotest regard to taste. His farming has been much talked
about but on what grounds I could not see. The place where
his house is situated affords a very fine prospect of Lake Erie, and
yet, his house is not within view of the lake. A man of the most
ordinary judgment would have taken advantage of the capabili-
ties of the position, bat not so Col. Talbot. Aldborough is a
township I do not like. The crops seem to have been very in-
ferior. The houses and barns are all ill made and carelessly kept.
The sod for the most part sandy and very light. The surface is
much cut up into deep ravines, by which the ground is not only
very much broken but makes the road very bad. Many were the
times we had all to leave the waggon, it being dangerous to ride
down on the one side of the ravine, and very hard for the horses
to get up the other side.

September 2nd. Harwich. This township seems to ~be better
soil, and better farmed. There are many fine fields and some
well filled barns. The next township, "Howard," is better land
than any we have seen since leaving Southwold. The land in
Raleigh seems to be sandy, or rather gravelly, and is well fitted
for corn and tobacco, of both of which we saw some very large
fields. One field of corn, about 40 acres, and some of tobacco of
8 or 9 acres. This is a profitable crop. It produces about 1,000-
Ibs. per acre dried, and brings $5 in cash for 100 Ibs. The corn
is used to fatten hogs, and they bring cash. Saw a grist mill
moved by horses — grinds 30 bushels a day. There are no streams
for many miles which could move a mill, and the people seem
badly off for mills. For a few miles the way was along the lake
shore, all the way between Tilbury and Romney. The view was
a grand one, and the roads excellent and we enjoyed ourselves
very much. Mr. Smith's house was five miles back from the lake,
the road to it through the bush and not cut for a waggon, we had
therefore to walk. Coming back I joined my party at Col. Tal-
bot's. They had gone on before each of them had got 100 acres
of land in Tilbury and contrary to my expectations my son had
got 100 too. Leaving the Colonel's wre came to Fowler's tavern

30 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

in Southwold where we had breakfast, and got home to my own
fireside at 8 p.m.

September 14, 1834. Preached today, the audience smaller
in consequence of this being the first day in Mr. Cronyn's new
chapel.

EXTRACTS FROM THE ACCOUNT BOOK OF MISS MARY
PROUDFOOT, LONDON, C. W.

BY MISS H. PRIDDIS.

On the completion of their education in Scotland, Mary and
Anna joined the family in their Farm Home, London TVwnship ;
and Mary, under the supervision of her father, opened a private
boarding and day school in the village, on Bathurst Street. From
the record of the account book she began work on the 18 August,
1835.

The first name entered is that of Miss E. Lee, well known
to Londoners of a later generation as Mrs. J. B. Strathy. and at
95 years of age is still living in Toronto with her daughter, Miss
Louisa Strathy. (1915.) The items are — "to copy of Goldsmith's
Geography 4/9; and to pencil and drawing book 3/." For nine
quarters' tuition in English, French, Music and Drawing, the
charge was £6.15, received £3.15; then cordwood with the entry
below £7 5s. Evidently the wood came to £3.10, 2/3 more than
was due.

Miss Jane Wright, the second pupil came for one quarter
in 1835, and again for a quarter in 1836. In addition to the Geo-
graphy and Drawing material is 1/6 for copy of Murray's Gram-
mar. "Phrase book and French Grammar" no price given.
Signed, "paid in full."

The next entry must have been a bonanza, a whole school in
itself. The Misses Sarah, Amelia, Eliza, Mary and Charlotte and
Master John Harris. The books here amounted to £1.3.3. Primer.
Telemaque 6/9. A shorter Catechism 4d, a rather noticeable item
in the account of several staunch episcopal families. Six paint
brushes 6d. Also on this memorable August day the Misses Anna,
Maria, Theresa and Cynthia Askin. Their names remain with us
in Cynthia, Theresa and Askin Streets, London. South.

Goldsmith seems to be always the Geography used, Scot the
Arithemetic, Nugent the Dictionary, and Murray the Grammar.
They remained at school till NoA^ember 18, 1836, which was five
quarters and paid in full.

The next entry is the names of Mary Clark and Louisa Law-
rason. They remained five quarters; part payment in goods;
five bushels of flour, two pairs of blankets, 1 lb of coffee. Un-
fortunately the money value of these articles not entered.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II. 31

Miss Margaret Morril also arrived the first day. Telemachus
and Levezae's grammar, and the phrase book, are among her
books. She is evidently advanced in French ; also in art as shown
by "one cake of carmine paint, 6/."

Miss Matilda Robertson and her brother Ross are the last
entered for the day. Sixteen pupils to start with for an ex-
pensive school in a town of 300 inhabitants must have been a
very encouraging beginning for the young Scotch girl. Matilda
left the 7th of October and returned in June to remain till the
end. Ross did not return at all. The simple remark "not paid,'7
after the October notes, opens a door to the young girl's worries.
We can hear the sigh of relief with which she writes at the bot-
tom of an account after some delay "paid in full;" and there
are many such.

On the 19th August came Eliza A. Smith. Many of the
pupils evidently left for the winter. There is a note E" came
back June 7th."

On the 19th August also came Marion Robinson.

On the 20th August Miss Anne Cronyii is added to the list.
Already the record of accounts is dropping off. I think the good
minister must have helped his young daughter at the very begin-
ning, and then turned back to his beloved theology and parish
work. We now have a bare list of names and books, no remarks.
"Not paid" written at end of term, and no "paid in full" when
the account closed. (The artistic temperament is opposed to the
methodical). Miss Sarah Styles arrived August 25, needed no
books but Murray's Grammar. Does not state when she left,
but she came back 18th May. Miss Annie Kent came the 26th.
Those two names are associated in our generation. Miss Tacka~
berry, with a list of books including Mavors Spelling Book and
Butler's Atlas. Fees paid in instalments which worried the young
teacher.

September 14th. Miss Sarah Tackaberry, also "NMiss Jane
Jennings. Fees paid in goods.

October 26th. Miss M. Park, paid by instalments in flour.
Remained a year; account wound up with "paid in full."

October 28th. Miss M. Hall. Same list of books including
the Shorter Catechism. No account of tuition fee, but general
receipt, "paid in full."

October 26th. Henry Marsh. Evidently pupils' names not
put down as they arrive now, for the dates jump back and forth.

November 5th. James and Simcoe Lee, names only. Miss
Ball, some books and accounts rendered.

January 11, 1836. The Misses Robb. Flour and straw tick
towards payment. The Misses Kearns, nothing but names. Miss
Rapelje, £15 out of £28 taken out in goods. Miss Carrol went in
for art, and remained till the end.

32 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

February 23rd. A list of books, no other account for .Miss
Nelson. A quarter's tuition and Murray's Grammar for Miss
Fennel. No other account but "paid in full" written all over
the page. Looks as though the book was no longer treasured,
and some of the small brothers were allowed to scribble.

Miss Elvira Flanigan's quarter begins in June, "paid in full."

August 8th. Miss Williams. £1.5 for quarter's tuitions. Re-
ceived payment £1, with a scribbled "made in haste" under it.

Miss House came 8th August, left 8th September; "paid in
full T1/^." Miss Davis came 16th June. Miss Putman from Dor-
chester the 28th of November. Miss McFadden the 30th of Nov-
ember. Miss Talbot from London in August. No lists of books
or accounts settled or unsettled on the pages devoted to any of
these names; but in a list of names for fees further on, they all
appear, even "papa," for Jessie Proudfoot was among the pupils.
It was anxious times, and no doubt difficult to centre one's
thoughts on routine, for the clouds of the coming rebellion was
darkening the sky. It was not considered safe for children to
run about the streets, and Mr. Proudfoot objected to his pretty
young daughter being away from home; so the school closed.

Miss Coyne, first wife of Robert Wilson, entered in Septem-
ber; another warning of coming events; for Miss Mary Proud-
foot was married to her brother, James Coyne, 1841.

The tuition fee was evidently £1.5 a quarter for English, and
£1 extra for French, Music arid Drawing. The first piano in
London has been a disputed question. Miss Proudfoot 's books
show that she paid out for piano on the 18th August, 1835. Her
father writes to her on the 5th of April, 1833, that there are
several pianos in London.

Throughout the book are pages devoted to personal and
household accounts, which give interesting information as to the
necessities and prices of pioneer days. Several lists of twelve
numbers would suggest that they are a year's statement of
monthly accounts. One to Marjory, whose name crops up every
now and again, is evidently a charwoman, at Is a day, in all 49
shillings.

The first six months is from one to three shillings — econo-
mizing till we see how things go, then four and five shillings, a
weekly scrubbing, with ten shillings for house cleaning about
the middle of June. 9/6 usually paid for a month's wood and
"drippings." One month as low as 5/6, another as high as
£1.13.3. Meat bought from O'Brien or Peters: beef, 6d; mutton,
7%d ; groceries from Smith or Lawrason. The old-fashioned bees
wax and turpentine furniture polish. Sugar I/ per fb (probably
loaf), coffee, 2/, candles, 1/6, apples, 1/3 bushel. She very pru-
dently bought butter by bulk and veal by quarter from Mrs. H.

A list "for myself out of school money" is interesting. Bon-''
net, cleaning, 2/6, dressmaking 5/, pair walking shoes.

THE PROUDFOOT PAPERS — PART II.

33

7/, two pairs prunella, 20/, spool of cotton. 8d, 2 yds. of cotton
cloth, 2/, four of tartan, 8/. I wonder what "a diamond 10$"
means in the midst of all this practical economising.

A confusing part of the account keeping is the mixed cur-
rency of the day ; one never knows whether a sterling shilling
(25c), or a currency shilling (20c), or a York shilling (121/^c),
is intended, as the same sign is used. When SS is written I have
read sterling, for decimal currency $ the dollar mark is always
used. There are several lists of furniture, but the price is not
often stated. Half dozen chairs, 25/s, water pail, 5/, four forms
for school, 7/6, and lastly, "advertising paid to Grattan's, 17/6."

The

Settlers of Lobo
Township

36 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE SETTLERS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP

Before the Society April 19, 1904.
BY D. J. CAMPBELL, TORONTO.

Lobo Township was surveyed in 1819, by Col. M. Bnrwell,
and immediately thereafter immigration began, very largely from
Argyleshire, Scotland. Among them were the following: Dougal,
James, John and Daniel McArthur, from near Invermay ; Archi-
bald and John McKellar, from Finachairn ; Alexander and John
Sinclair, and John Mclntyre. from Clack-a-Dubhe ; another John
Sinclair, who located on lot 6, con. 6, from Coira Budhe ; Daniel
Lament, Alex. Johnston, Daniel Johnson and widow Johnston,
from Caolasralde ; Robert Morrison, from Ilormid; In 1823 came
two more Scotchmen, Charles and Hugh Carmichael, from Craig
Filheach. In 1824 came another Scotch contingent, also some
from England. Among the Scotch settlers, not Argyle men, were
two brothers, John and Andrew Ferguson. They left Melrose,
Koxburyshire, June, 1819, and settled first in the Township of
Charlotteville; but in February, 1821, they came to Lobo, pur-
chasing lot 14, con. 3, from Daniel McCrea. Before leaving Scot-
land, Andrew married Janet Boston, some of whose people fol-
lowed to Lobo later.

Among those who were not Scotch, the first were Jesse and
Jonas Zavitz. from Humberstone, in the County of Welland, in
1824. They were originally from Pennsylvania. In 1823 came
Ebenezer Perry, also from Welland. Isiah Gustin came from
Long Point, in the same year. His father was a IT. E. L., from
New York, who settled near Vittoria in 1794, and built and oper-
ated one of the first mills in that section. After his deeath, his
two sons, Isiah and Eliphalet, disposed of the mill and came west
—Isiah settling in Lobo, and Eliphalet in London Township, on
the town line opposite Lobo. Richard Edwards, an Englishman,
from Baiibury, Oxfordshire, came in 1824; and S. Bullen, another
Englishman, about the same time.

Aaron Allen, so far as can be learned, may have been a rela-
tive, possibly a son of Ebenezer Allen, one of the first settlers in
Delaware, who came from Ancaster, and became the notorious
head of a family (some of them half-breeds) well known in the
county in earlier days.

The largest landowner among the pioneers was Capt. John
Matthews, an Englishman, an officer in the Royal Artillery, and
one of the staff of the Governor-General, the Duke of Richmond.
On the death of the latter, in 1819, Matthews retired on a pen-
sion (his own corps having been disbanded), and settled in Can-
ada. He located first at Long Point; then secured a grant of
1,000 acres in Lobo, and settled on lots 7 and 8, on the first con-
cession.

Col. Burwell, who surveyed the Township, together with
other favored parties, secured large sections of Lobo before the

THE SETTLERS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP 37

settlers came in. AS the latter arrived, much of this pre-empted
land was transferred to them — of course, for a consideration.
To these latter, in most cases, the original crown deeds were is-
sued directly.

The adjoining' Township of Caradoc was surveyed in 1821.
and its first settlers were of the same class as their neighbors in
Lobo. Among them were Archibald and Malcolm Campbell, lot
23, con. 6, from Achacoish ; Duncan McKellar, lot 23, con. 6, from
Finaehairn; Lachlan, Peter and Duncan Sinclair, from Coira
Buidhe. The Bartlets, Sutherland s arid Batemans came in 1820 ;
the Lockwoods and Penwicks in 1821; Hugh Anderson in 182-5:
and the Degraws in 1836.

The pioneers of 1820 and 1825 who were heads of families
and had sons not old enough to take up a grant for themselves,
purchased 100 acres, and some even more, getting a certain time
to. make their payments. They found the time too short for the
length of their purse, however, the required settlement duties too
onerous, together with the arduous labor of clearing their own
locations and providing the necessaries of life for their families.
In those days they had long tedious walks to the grist mill — no
roads excepting paths blazed through the woods — and often car-
ried the grist on their back, sometimes, especially in the winter,
having to make a second trip to take the grist home. They often
helped the miller to cut the ice off his water wheel to get the
mill started. No wonder they found the time too short to pay
for their extra lands, and perform the duties imposed upon them
by the government. There were no public works, or any means
to get cash in those early days. There were no immigration
agents, no one to lead and guide the pioneers to their locations,
which were chosen and taken up in Little York without even
seeing them. They did not know the character of the lots, ex-
cepting that the surveyor's report spoke favorably of the land
in the Township of Lobo. They had to find their way to their
new homes as best they could. The Lobo people, utter strangers.
in a strange land, started into the woods westward, 90 or a 100
miles, from the end of their boat travel, from Little York or the
Square, without any guide to direct them, with very few general
directions as to wrhich way to go. We may be sure that they
suffered many trials, privations, hardships and difficulties coming
this distance, but their real difficulties had only no^, commenced.
They were men and women of iron will and indomitable courage
or they would have broken down under the load of hardships
and trouble they encountered.

Compare those hardy pioneers, who left their native land of
their own accord, without any assistance, crossed the Atlantic in
sailing vessels taking six to eight weeks, and the St. Lawrence
and the lakes, made their way on foot to their several locations
without any guide. Compare these trials with the trials of the
immigrants of today, who are chaperoned to locations, govern-

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

nieiit agents to go before them, agents with them on swift
steamers on the Atlantic, agents with them on fast railway trains
to their journey's end, agents to look after their welfare and
comfort after having located. One would think that today's im-
migrants were put into glass cases to keep them from harm, or
to keep the wind from blowing on them during the passage.

The First Tax Roll

Whether, or not the early settlers in Lobo Township were
called on to pay taxes before 1825, is not quite certain. At all
events, the earliest tax roll found to date is for that year; and
is given below. The names on the list constituted the taxable
population of the township in that year, and were unquestionably
the pioneers. Of some of them no information can now be ob-
tained. Of others, better remembered, or whose descendants are
still in the township, are the following : Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 40, 43.
came in 1824, from Leas Mor ; No. 7, in 1820, from Hormid ; Nos.
8, 9, 10 and 35, in 1820, from near Inverary ; Nos. 14, 15, 23, and
24, in 1824, from Craignish; Nos. 19 and 20. in 1820, from Fina-
chairn: Nos. 21, 25, 26, 27, in 1820, from Caolosraide; No. 36, in
1820, from Coira Budhe; Nos. 37, 38 and 39, in 1820, from Clach
a Dubha; Nos. 41 and 42, in 1823, from Craig Fitheach; Nos. 33
and 48, in 1823, from Roxburyshire ; No. 31, in 1824, from Han-
bury, England; Nos. 45 and 46, from England; Nos. 11, 12 and
13, from Welland County.

It will be noticed from the roll, that at this time the settlers
were mainly grouped in the lower part of the township. Nearly
all the Scotch were in a space bounded by lots 5 to 15, on the
4th, 5th and 6th concessions. The Zavitzes were the farthest
away from "The Forks," — on lots 6 and 7, on the 10th and llth
concessions. The English were mostly around what is now
Komoka ; the exceptions were Edwards arid Gustin, who got in
among the Scotch.

COLLECTION ROLL

For the Township of Lobo, in the County of Middlesex, for the

year 1825.

Anit. to
be col-
lected.
s. d.
4 9

No. Names of inhabitants.

Lot. Con.

1 Aaron Allen . . .

2 Duncan Mclntire

3 Neal McKeath . .

4 Simon Vanmier

5 Duncan Mclntire

6 Duncan McKeath

7 Robert Morrison

8 Dougal McArthur

9 James McArthur

10 John McArthur

11 Ebenezer Perry

12 Jesse Zavitz .

2
4
5
6

12

13

2

13

14

14

7

7

I

2
6
6
8
5
5
4

10
10

Value of
property
assessed.
£ s.
45
58
20
34
30
44
38
68
31
25
27
73

16

4
4

6 1

2 1

3 7

3 2

4 7

4 %

7 iy5

O O I/

2 8%

2 10

7 8V,

THE SETTLERS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP

3)

No. Names of inhabitants.

Lot. Con.

13 Jonas Zavitz

14 John McDougal

15 Alexander McDougal
1 6 John Meek

17 William Powers

18 Joel Westbrook

19 Archibald McKellar

20 John McKellar

21 Daniel Lemone

22 James Tomlinson

23 Duncan McCall

1
1
1
4
15

24 Dugal McCall ........... 16

25 Widow Johnson

26 Alexander Johnson

27 Daniel Johnson

28 William Vancurin

29 William Markle

30 Samuel Ramey

31 Richard Edwards

32 Esias Gustin

8

10
8
7
9

12
12
12

33 John Ferguson ......... 14

34 John Reynolds ..........

35 Daniel Me Arthur ........ 6

36 John Sinclair ........... 6

37 Alexander Sinclair ...... 7

38 John Sinclair ........... 9

39 John Mclntire .......... 13

40 John McCall ............ 9

41 Charles Carmichael ...... 11

42 Hugh Carmichael ........ 11

43 John McLaughlin ........ 9

44 Thomas Earl ...........

45 Simeon Bullen .......... 5, 6

46 Capt. John Mathews ..... 7, 8

47 Ira Jarvis ..............

48 Andrew Ferguson ....... 14

49 Marvel White 1

11

5
5
1

Value of
Propertj

Amt. to
r . be col-

assessed

lected.

£

s.

s.

d.

68

4

7

1%

40

8

4

2%

20

2

1

134

14

57

5

4

3

4

41

4

4

4%

33

4

• 3

6 M>

76

12

7

10%

165

17

3

32

8

3

4 % •

38

16

4

4/5

32

8

3

4%

31

4

3

3%

23

2

5

24

12

2

6%

91

9

6

31

4

3

3V5

36

8

3

9%

27

8

2

10%

34

4

3

7%

6

8

42

4

5

42

4

5

47-

4

4

Iiy5

44

4

4

7%

30

16

3

2%

20

16

2

1%

35

3

8

29

4

3

1V5

26

12

2

5%

20

2

1

176

18

5

311

£1 12

5

164

12

17

1

39

4

1

107

11

2

£2675

8

£13 19

9%

Amounting to thirteen pounds, nineteen shillings and nine pence
%, currency, including one-fourth of a penny per pound, which is
added to pay Members of Assembly for the year 1825, avoiding fractions.

Sir — It is ordered that you collect and pay, into the hands of the
Treasurer of the London District, the sum of thirteen pounds, nineteen
shillings and nine pence %, currency, on or before the first day of
August next, ensuing the date hereof.

JOHN B. ASKIN,

C. P. L. D.
Woodhouse, 1st June, 1825,

To the Collector for the Township of Lobo
for the year 1825.

The sums mentioned in the roll are in Halifax currency
— a pound being four dollars.

40 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE VETERANS OF ARDRISHAIG

My grandfather, Malcolm Campbell, of Achalioish, North
Knapdale, and his brother Archibald, from adjoining Coshindro-
chaid, with their young families, came to Canada in 1820, and
settled in Caradoc in 1821. My mother, Christina Smith, was
born in Ardrishaig; so we will for convenience call this little
spot on the town line between Lobo and Caradoc, taking the first
school house as a centre, by the name of "Ardrishaig;" though
it really never had a name. It never had a post office, mill, store,
or shop of any kind. No business was carried on but farming.
In 1818, no single white person lived there, nor north to Lake
Huron. As late as 1828, Archy McGugan, who located on lot 1,
concession 9, of Lobo, was on the western limits of civilization,
or habitation.

The early Scotch settlers had little capital to invest in the
new country. My grandfather brought with him a wife and four
children; sixteen shillings sterling; a silver watch; a soldier's
gun, and sufficient good clothing for the family. And that was
a good average degree of wealth for the pioneers. But they
worked hard, and prospered. Hard work agreed with them. And
the following list of the more prominent who reached old age,
despite all the hardships they suffered, or were still living in
1903, will be of interest:

Grandfather Campbell came in 1819, died at 80. His wife,
Mary Smith, from Baile Baigh, at 95; his mother, Isabella Mc-
Lellan, 84; his daughter, Christena MacArthur, 84; his brother
Archy 's second wife, Isabella Morrison, daughter of Dugald Mor-
rison and Mary McKellar, from Hormid, came in 1820, was 86;
John, Duncan and Archy McKellar, sons of Alex. McKellar and
Mary Muir, from Finachairn, in 1820; John died at 80, his wife
at 84 ; his son, Alexander, at 81 ; his son John, living, 80. Duncan
died, 87; his wife, 97; Archy 's wife was Nancj' McLean, daughter
of Donald McLean, of Lecknabaan, Crinan. She came in 1818 to
Aldboro. Donald McGugan came in 1828 from Barnagadd, died
at 88; his wife, Nancy Campbell, at 88; his son, Donald, at 80;
his wife, Mary McNeill, 88 ; their son Malcolm, is an M. P., past
ten years. John McGugan died at 83 ; his wife, Sarah, daughter
of Godfrey McTaggart, at 88; Lachlan, Duncan and Peter Sin-
clair came from Coire Buidhe, in 1824; Lachlan died at 85; his
wife, Sarah Mclntyre, at 91 ; his daughter, Mrs. Duncan McLean
(Mor Mhor), came in 1829, died at 93; Duncan at 92; Mrs. Peter
Sinclair at 90. Elder Dugald Sinclair, Baptist minister, preached
70 years, in Lochgilphead, 1820-1831, whence he came to Lobo,
died in 1870, aged 93; his wife, Christena Sinclair, from Oban, 85;
her sister, Elizabeth, 90. Mrs Duncan McDonald, from Coshin-
rlrochaid, came in 1829, died at 92. Donald and Archy McLellaii
came in 1828, died at 84 and 80. Peter, Archy (tailor), and
Duncan (liath) McKellar, came in 1825, 1830, and 1828. Mrs.

THE SETTLERS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP 41

Duncan (liath) is yet living at 98. Peter Me Vicar came in 1830.
These four families came from near Finachairn. The Laments
came in 1820 from Coalasraide — John died at 90. Neil McCal-
lum's family came from Kames, Lochgair, in 1835. Archy
Fletcher came in 1843, from Greenock; he died at 80; his wife,
Margaret, 81. Malcolm Crawford came in 1843, from Caolosraide.
Peter McBean came in 1839, from near Inveraray; died at 85.
Mrs. Christy Graham, daughter of Duncan Smth and Isabella
Smith, Baile Broaich, came in 1829, died at 81; her sister, Cath-
erine, and brother, Archy, still living at 83 and 88. Mrs. Duncan
McFarlane came in 1842, from Baliver, near Tarbert, died at 80.
Capt. Marvel White was about 90, and William Ticknor over 80.
Mrs. Betsy McKellar came from Ardrey, 1828, living at 83; and
my mother, living at 82. All the above are within the three-mile
limit in "Ardrishaig. "

THE ARGUMENT OF THE HAT

This is the story as told to me by Archibald Sinclair, of lot 6,
con. 6, one of the pioneers ; and corroborated by Alex. McKellar.
of Sault Ste. Marie, who had it from his mother. The principal
character, Capt. Matthews, as I have already mentioned, was one
of the largest landholders in the township. He was very popular;
and in 1825 was elected with John Rolph to represent the county
in the Provincial Legislature. Though his social and political
ties naturally connected him with the supporters of what was
termed "The Family Compact," he became dissatisfied with their
conduct of public affairs ; and was one of the first men in the Leg-
islature to advocae reforms. As a result he was subjected to con-
siderable persecution by the ruling powers; was deprived of his
pension; and went to England (where he died), in the vain hope
of recovering his standing in the army. Long after he had fallen
a victim to the assaults of his enemies his kindly deeds were fav-
orite topics of conversation at the pioneers' firesides. Among
others wrere the following:

In 1825 the government officials were very persistent in de-
manding payment by the settlers of the dues accumulating on
their land purchases; and a movement was started among the lat-
ter to secure an extension of time of payment. In this the captain
naturally interested himself, for it seriously affected the well-
being of many of his constituents. 'One day, shortly before leav-
ing for Parliament, he was discussing the matter with one of them
—Archie McKellar — when an idea came to him, and he said:
"Archie, give me your hat."

Archie was rather astonished at this request. The hat was
an article made out of oat straw by Mrs. McKellar, who was only
an amateur at that kind of work. It was useful as a sunshade,
but certainly not ornamental.

"What under the canopy do you want with my hat?" asked
Archie.

42 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

"I am going to wear it in parliament," was the answer.

"Oh, no," cried Archie; "you could have it if you wanted to
wear it in the bush; but you must be crazy to think of wearing
it when you go to parliament."

Then Mrs. McKellar put in her objection; "Indeed, and I would
not let Archie wear that hat to 'The Forks,' " she said.

"No, indeed," added Archie; 44I would not wear that hat to
'The Forks' my self."

But the captain insisted, and carried off the hat. When the
proposition for an extension of time for the .delinquent settlers
was before the Legislature he explained the circumstances, and
made an urgent appeal on behalf of the people, most of .whom
were absolutely unable to meet the demands of the officials.
"These men," he declared, "are not beggars, but men of sturdy,
independent, loyal spirit, who do not want to be relieved of any
of their obligations, and only ask for a liberal extension of time,
when they will pay the last farthing they owe." And holding
up Archie's hat, which he had been wearing, he said: "That is
an ocular demonstration of what I have been telling you. That
is the best kind of hat I could get among the farmers of my dis-
trict. It shows I am not exaggerating the condition of these
people."

The captain's eloquence, backed up by Archie's hat, had the
desired effect. A liberal extension of time was granted; and
when any of his constituents expressed their gartitude for his
efforts on their behalf, he always insisted on dividing the credit
with the old straw hat which Archie would not wear at "The
Forks."

A GLIMPSE OF REBELLION DAYS

When the militia were being called out, pressed for frontier
service, from the 4th to the 8th concessions of Lobo and Caradoc
Townships, the able-bodied militia men on both sides of the town
line, held, on February 5th, a midnight meeting — a council of
peace — and decided that self-preservation was the first law of
nature, and concluded that they would retire for a period to the
middle of the big swamp, south of No. 20 S. R., Caradoc. They
all tramped south on the 8th line to the creek that flows west
from the swamp, then, taking off their shoes and stockings,
marched up the creek channel to where they built their camp of
poles and brush and stayed there a number of weeks in the winter.

They carried on their backs the necessary provisions, camp
utensils and bedding. The next morning before daylight, Mrs.
Alex. Fisher, lot 1, con. 3, Lobo, followed, taking a sheaf of oats
under each arm, she coaxed her cows to follow her as far as the
creek, so as to obliterate the refugees' tracks, and then turned
home.

As often as their supplies ran short, a couple would come
out at night for a supply, and next morning one of the faithful

THE SETTLERS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP 43

I

women — home reserves, would take the cows to cover any tracks
to the creek.

The older men who were exempt from military service stayed
home, and a number of families were apportioned to each to look
after their welfare and comfort. One refugee was not pleased—
was quite indignant at old Squire Duncan MeKellar's non-atten-
tion to his family. His wife and baby daughter were nearly
famished with the cold for the want of fire-wood.

Mrs. Hector McNeil (Mairi Eachran) lived on the Mt.
Brydges road, and made two visits yearly to tailor McKellar's,
and had him write a letter to her brother Peter at home. The
blaze-trail was through a part of the swamp. She made an early
start, but soon lost sight of the blaze and was lost. To use her
own words, "I was like a ship on the wide ocean, without a com-
pass, and I didn't see the rooting of a hog, or hear the crowing
of a rooster all day. ' ' She wore a scarlet cloak with a hood. When
getting near dark she was still plodding through the underbrush
as best she could, and happened on to the barracks. The refugees
heard the rustling and saw the red cloak, and all retreated in
haste, thinking that the red-coat pressmen had discovered their
lair. "Come back here, I am lost, I heard of you before." Hear-
ing a woman's voice they returned, and perforce were obliged
to listen to her impromptu lecture on loyalty, and their getting
the country all "up-side-down." She related her lost-in-the- woods
experience, and after supper two of the men piloted Mary to the
8th line. She had, like the men, to take off her shoes and stock-
ings and walk down the creek channel to the 8th line, then along
tin open road north to the town line. They did their best to get
her promise not to tell what or whom she saw, or what was said.
Her only reply was, "A Dhia cuidich mi," (God help me). The
next week the camp was abandoned.

Mary arrived at the tailor's about nine. The very first thing
she told was her lost experience, the refugees' barracks and her
cold walking in the creek. She stayed a couple of days with the
tailor's family. He wrote her letter and she insisted on adding
a postscript, "I am working hard every day since I came into
this world, and will leave it just as much up-side-down as the day
I came into it."

One night, one of the men took a short cut to the barracks
and backed a chaff mattress from home. There was a small hole
in the lower end, and through it the chaff dribbled on the snow
all the way. A hunter crossed the track, and from curiosity
traced it back to the owner's barn. He called on Squire McKel-
lar, a near neighbor, who explained the matter. The next time
a couple came out for provisions, the squire told them of the
chaff track, when he of the mattress, was court marti ailed, and
though he was exonerated, he was severely reprimanded, and or-
dered in future to take the safe, though long road down the 8th
line to the creek. The now only living man that took part in this

44 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

drama, of 60 years ago, is Angus McDonald, of Mandaumin,
Sarnia Township.

Very many -of these same fellows, after all, did service at
the front, and the privations they had to endure were often more
severe than their monotonous «wa«ip experience, Donald Smith
(not a refugee) was threshing oats with a flail in the log barn,
when the red coats pressed him into service, and gave him only
time to eat his dinner, but no time to prepare anything for his
mother and sixteen-year-old sister. The neighbors looked after
their welfare during his absence. While on duty he contracted
a severe cold and sickness, of which he died two years later.

The men received no clothing of any kind and had to wear
their own. One of them, Mr. McGugan, from near the town line,
one cold drizzty night, was on sentry near Maiden. His shoes
were sadly worn, and his good home-made stockings the same.
His feet were sore, wet and tired. He unstrapped the basswood
strings that tied them to his feet, removed his stockings and
wrung them as dry as he could, and was changing them upside-
down for his sore feet, when unexpectedly an officer came along.
In his hurry and in the dark he lost his musket lost his shoes and
worse, forgot the countersign. He, however, boldly challenged
the man on horseback, "Who goes there?" The officer replied,
"Chippewa." "Yes, yes, thank you, an' gosh bless mi," and
never again to his dying day, forgot that countersign, "Chip-
pewa. " He was not disturbed any more that night, but he failed
to find his musket or shoes till daylight.

The

Society of Friends of
Lobo Township

46 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BEN; AM N CUTLER.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP 47

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP

BY EDGAR M. ZAVITZ.

There is in the centre of Lobo Township, in the centre of
Middlesex County, a small body of people known as the Society
of Friends, or Quakers. They were pioneers, not only in the
clearing of the primeval forest, but they were pioneers in the
clearing of people's minds from old superstitions, and ancient
barbarisms. There have been no reform movements in the Town-
ship in which Friends have not been either leaders or staunch
supporters. No matter in what form the temperance cause came
up, they used it in driving out alcohol. If they could not get
just what they wanted, which was total prohibition of the sale,
traffic and use of all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, they took
as much of it as they could get (I mean as much of the prohibi-
tion) from whatever political party, and ever worked and hoped
for more.

It was their creed to follow peace and practice love with all
men and all nations, believing that to be the only way to end
wars. The typical Quaker would not fight. They could strap
the gun on his shoulder, and march him in the battle's front, but
they could not make him shoot. He obeys Christ, both the spir-
itual and the historical, which are one in their teaching, and
would follow Him even to the Cross for love's sake.

As to their religious assemblies, they worship in the Temple
of Silence, where every soul is a priest or a priestess, and there
is no need of a mediator. The outward voice is often heard, but
the ordination and the anointing is of God, not man.

I present these facts of the Friends' faith, that their acts,
which make their history, may be read in a truer light, for if a
Friend is anything he is sincere, and his acts and life reflect his
faith. He does not trust in hope for any vicarious salvation, but
rests his soul in its attitude of love towards God and good-will
and forgiveness towards his fellow men.

With this introduction and explanation I will endeavor to
give a few facts that might pass as history concerning that little
community selected, at your request, from all the world.

If I over-estimate and over-praise I ask you to judge with
the leniency of Goldsmith where he screens the pastor, his father,
by saying:

"Even his failings leaned to virtue's side," for I am conscious
of a feeling akin to that which Scott describes in those noted
lines —

"Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said
This is my own, my native land?"

The place of our birth, and the scenes of our childhood, un-
wittingly bias the most of us, more or less, but it is a fault that
we can condone, or, with Goldsmith, pass as a virtue.

48 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The first Monthly Meeting of Friends in Canada was estab-
lished at Pelham, Welland County, in 1799. Norwich M. M. was
established in 1819. The Preparative Meeting, which forms a
unit of the M. M. was established in Norwich in 1816, Yarmouth
in 1819 and Lobo in 1857.

Thus as "Westward the course of Empire takes its wray,'r
so the Society of Friends penetrated westward into the wilderness
of this western peninsula of Upper Canada. Previous to the Pre-
parative Meeting an Indulged Meeting had been granted to Lobo
Friends back in 1849, several families, at different times, having
taken up land and made for themselves homes in the vicinity.

John D. Harris and wife were the first settlers that after-
wards formed a part of the meeting. They came in 1834. Ben-
jamin Cutler came in 1837. John Marsh in 1839. My father,
Daniel Zavitz, came in 1843.

Pardon me if I narrate some of his trials in love and home-
making. I do so just to give you a general idea of the experiences
of those pioneer times. He purchased a hundred acres at about
$4.00 per acr'ey on which not a tree had been cut in the way of
clearing. He bought an axe and resolutely went to work. He
says: "At first it went very slow and discouraging, but I hacked
away, cleared seven acres, and sowed to wheat, which looked
very promising the next spring, but the late frosts caught it, and
it was fit only for chicken feed." But he had no chickens, and if
he had, eggs were only 5 cents a dozen.

Batchelor's life under such discouraging conditions and
alone in the wilderness could be endured only by the prospect
of its coming to a happy conclusion. So after four years of chop-
ping and building and longing he went back to get a companion.
She was Susan W. Ya^5 living at Oakfield, New York State, about
40 miles east of Buffalo, having been born in New Jersey, at the
foot of the Green Mountains, within sight of "Washington's
Rock."

Their honeymoon lasted five days. The bride and groom,
perched on a lumber wagon loaded with their household goods,
from his father's home in Bertie, took their way through the
forests to their tiny home hewn in the wilderness. Their pilgrim-
age might read as charmingly as the journey homeward of Hia-
watha and Miimehaha, "through interminable forests," or of
Alden and Priscilla, as "through the Plymouth woods passed on-
ward the bridal procession." After some time of winding their
devious way along the blazed trail they came upon the little
cabin which was henceforth to be their home. Just the very spotr
one might think, that Cowper imagined, and longed for, and
sang about,

"0 for a lodge in some vast -wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade."

Having arrived at their destination they unpacked their
goods, with joyful hearts, thankful for their safe journey over

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP 49

the -hazardous way; for the road was very icy, and the hills were
much steeper than at present. On the steepest ones the horses
would slide from top to bottom. A rail was put through the
hind wheels to lock them so they would not try to get ahead
of the front ones, and upset the precious load down the em-
bankment.

Lobo Meeting was mostly composed of removals from Pelham
Monthly Meeting, to which place their forefathers had immi-
grated from Pennsylvania, there known as the Pennsylvania
Dutch. The original stock we used to think came from Germany,
but now we think maybe they came from Holland. The name
Zavitz may have been a corruption of Zuider Zee. I give this
merely as a suggestion of mine.

In 1850 one acre of land was given by Benjamin Cutler, and
half an -acre by John Marsh for a Meeting House and burying
ground. The house was built of wood. In 1859. so many Friends
having moved in, this house was found to be too small and a new
building was erected of brick, size 32 ft. by 50 ft., at a cost of
$700.00. This building is used at present, always being kept in
good repair, w^ell painted, plain but useful, serving still the
community even more variedly and fully than ever in its history.

Besides the families named above we might mention the
Shot wells, the Mumas and the Wilsons, as old familiar names of
the neighborhood.

The grounds also have been enlarged by the gift, in 1887. of
half an acre by Caroline V. Cutler. They now contain two acres.
It is an ideal, quiet, Quakerly spot, inviting repose and medita-
tion. Beautiful shade trees, preserved from the ancient woods,
cast their welcome shade here and there over the lawn, while on
the south and west of the house protecting it from the piercing
blasts of winter and the scorching suns of summer rise a stately
grove of pines, planted there nearly fifty years ago by young
Friends who were not too much wrapped up in their own selves
and their own times that they could not think of other people
and times; which thought may be laying up treasures in heaven.

I have spoken of Friends' interest in temperance. I shall
relate two occurrences in the early days of the settlement that
indicate their stand on the subject, and exerted a wide influence
in placing the ban on whiskey. In 1838, when Benjamin Cutler
had the timbers hewn out ready to erect his 'grist and saw mill,
word got around that there would be no whiskey provided. This
was an innovation on their festive and hilarious occasions and
the people said they would not come unless they could have their
accustomed drink. "All right," he told them, if they would not
put it up without whiskey the timbers would lie there and rot.
But when the appointed day arrived there were plenty of hands
and less wrangling and swearing than usual. They wanted the
mill even more than their afternoon of whiskey, for many of
them had to carry their Avheat on their backs eight or ten miles

50 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

to get it ground, and then carry their flour home, and they knew
it was no holiday.

At another raising John Marsh and James McCollom were
present and before it commenced the bottle was passed around
a couple of times, when they said: "Gentlemen, if that bottle
appears again, we shall go home." Their help was indispensable
and the bottle didn't appear again.

In those early days there was big game in the woods. Bears
were frequently seen prowling around in the day time. The
howling of wolves often was heard at night, and the mild eyed
deer would sometimes graze in the clearing with the cattle. They
were known even to go witth the cows up to the barn.

The Indian too was there. And they were tamer even than
the deer. They often erected their wigwams on the flats of the
creek, - - the squaws plying their basket trade, and the men
making axe handles. If their sojourn in the settlement was too
brief to erect their camp they would spend the winter's night by
the kitchen stove or preferably the open fireside in the white
man's house. They were trustworthy and honest, except when
they would steal back the Black Ash and Hickory from the woods
the white man's government had stolen from them. But if they
would not forget an injury neither would they forget a kindness.
I shall mention one occasion typical of their honesty. There was
an old Indian whose name was Simon. His wife's name was
Rosy. They 'came to my father's one day and begged $2.00 to
buy Rosy a calico dress as the one she wore was getting rather
shabby. They said they would pay it back, bye and bye. Soon
afterwards Simon died. As soon as possible Rosy, came back with
$2.00 saying, "My ole man made me promise to take that $2.00
we had saved up and pay our debt to you." My father com-
mended her on their honesty and told her to keep it. He had
intended it as a present.

Many people think the Indian savage and blood-thirsty, but
treat him kindly and he was always your friend. The spirit of
Penn's Treaty with the Indians was lived over and over again
in every Quaker settlement in the New 'World, and amid all the
guerilla warfare between the Whites and the Red men on this
continent not a drop of Quaker blood was ever shed, except in
two or three cases when the Quaker lost faith in his peace princi-
ples and sought armed protection. Such is the fruits of kindness.
Would not that peace policy of the Quakers end all wars through-
out the world? 0 Christ, that men only knew the power of love
that led Thee by the way of the Cross into glory !

The Society of Friends in Lobo was early interested in the
intellectual as well as the spiritual welfare of their younger mem-
bers. In the winter of 1875-6 a literary society was organized
-which afterwards obtained the name of "Olio." The Olio be-
came famed far and wide and many of tho^3 who had the good
fortune to attend it attribute much of their after success to the

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF LOBO TOWNSHIP 51

opportunity for culture it afforded them. It ran its brilliant
course for a quarter of a century. The number at its meetings
varied from the teens to nearly two hundred. A history of its
first decade was compiled and printed and a copy has been de-
posited in the Archives at Ottawa. The good work of the Olio
is being perpetuated by the "Young Friends' Association" which
started soon after the Olio ceased and is at present a flourishing
organization furnishing to the young members opportunity in
public speaking, reciting, short story and essay writing, debating
etc. Thus there has been a continuous means for the develop-
ment of the intellectual and spiritual life of the succeeding gen-
erations that have come and gone for the last forty years.

The "First-day School," too. has been running since 1880.
It takes the child soon after it begins to walk and endeavors to
instil into its mind, in a simple way, the basic principles under-
lying true Christianity. The gray haired fathers and mothers
likewise attend. We claim that there is no age limit shutting out
the learner from the school of Christ. We believe that every
child is born in purity, that it never passes, wThile on earth, be-
yond the possibility of losing it. Therefore we are interested in
all, from the cradle to the grave. Our school has always taken
an active part in the Lobo Township Sunday School Association
which held its twenty-fifth convention this summer, 1916.

From 1886 until 1900 tthe Monthly Magazine called the
"Young Friends' Review," was edited and published by Friends
at Coldstream, being printed by A. Talbot & Co., of London. It
was greatly appreciated by many, but the arrangement of being
farmers first and editors at leisure, or rather at pressure, did
not always work harmoniously, and the little paper was given
up, or rather transferred to Friends in New York, and after a
few years it merged into the "Friends' Intelligencer," of Phila-
delphia.

In a purely literary sense I might mention two movements
Friends were largely active in inaugurating. In 1882 there was
formed the "Lobo Lecture Club." Its object was to bring to
the rural community the best lecturers and elocutionists obtain-
able. It ran successfully for five years. Among the many noted
entertainers we migh mention, J. W. Bengough, Dr. Wilde, Man-
ley Benson, A. A. Hopkins, Professors Meeke^and Bell-Smith^ Dr
Sippi and Senator G. W. Ross. One of the first "Farmers' In-
stitutes" ever held in the Province was handled by the L L C
when President Mills, Professors Panton and Shuttleworth ' ac-
companied by the Globe reporter, held a series of meetings in
the Town Hall at Coldstream.

Some time back we mentioned the Olio. In 1887 the "Cold
stream Public Library" had its birth in the Olio. It ran on pri-
vate subscriptions and members' fees until 1892, when it was in
corporated into the g-eat Provincial System. It contains some
volumes and is much used and appreciated by the public.

52 LONDON AND MIDDLESEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY

It is considered by the Department one of the best rural libraries
in the Province, particularly commended for its choice selection
of books.

As 1 intimated in the beginning, the history of Friends has
been greatly influenced by the code of rules laid down for their
conduct in the "Book of Discipline." Twice a year the Society
queries after its members and advises them as to their diligence
in attending our religious meetings: as to their love and fellow-
ship towards each other; as to their total abstinence from the
use of all intoxicating liquors as a beverage, or abetting its traffic
in any way, also from the use of tobacco in any form; as to help-
ing their fellow members who require assistance; as to providing
all children under their care with school learning sufficient to tit
them for business; as to bearing a faithful testimony against war;
as to the non-use of oaths both profane and judicial ; as to the
paying of their debts and dealing justly with their^ fellow men;
as to plainness in speech and apparel; summarizing the whole
matter up in the injunction of Jesus to "let your light so shine be-
fore men that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father which is in heaven," with the added admonition to our
ministers of the gospel "to dwell in that life which gives ability
to labor successfully in the Church of Christ, adorning the doc-
trine they deliver to others by being good examples in deed, in
"word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity
of life."

Other Publications of the Societ

PART I.

The Founding of London
The Pioneers of Middlesex

PART II.

The Streets of London

Opening of the G. W, R. at London

The Caradoc Academy

PART III.

The Settlement of London
The First Bishop of London

PART IV.

The Battle at Longwoods
Reminiscences of Mrs. Gilbert Porte
The Mackenzies of Hyde Park

PART V.

Robert Wilson, the Pioneer Teacher
London Public Schools 1848-70
London Collegiate Institute
The Western University

PART VI.

The Proudfoot Papers — I.

PART VII.

The Fathers of London Township
Bench and Bar in the Early Days
Gleanings from the Sheriff's Records
Pioneer Politicians
The Wreck of the Victoria

A. T*n»«t * 80,, London

F

5545
I46L6
pt-4-3

London and Middlesex

Kiotoricitl' Society, London,
Ont.

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