Life of Thomas Talbot

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Full text of "Life of Colonel Talbot, and the Talbot settlement, its rise and progress, with sketches of the public characters, and career of some of the most conspicuous men in Upper Canada"


OF COLONEL TALBOT,
A.ND THE
TALBOT SETTLEMENT,
ITS RISE AND PROGRESS, WITH
SKETCHES OF THE PUBLIC CHARACTERS,
AND CAREER OF SOME OF THE
r CONSPICUOUS MEN
IN UPPER CANADA,
WHO WERE EITHER FRIENDS OR ACQUAINTANCES
OF THE SUBJECT OF THESE MEMOIRS.


BY EDWARD ERMAT1NGER.


ST. THOMAS :

I at A. McLacklin's Home Journal Office.
1859.



PRESERVATION
SERVICES



F



iiir



ELECTRONIC VERSION
AVAtLABLE



NO.



'



In writing the Life of Colonel Talbot, I have had ono
object in view, namely, to transmit to posterity, whatever is
praiseworthy in his conduct and character, for their imita-
tation and example. The faults of such men as Colonel
Talbot do not vary much from those of the bulk of mankind ,
and require no biographer. But when evil, and not good, is
the governing principle of men's lives, then the picture
should be reversed. I have sketched instances of both,
with impartial hand.

The Life of Colonel Talbot must prove highly in-
teresting to a large population, which has grown up under
his auspices, and whose history is identified with his own,
in many respects. Suchalife would attract attention, from
"' nusual character, simply as a pioneer of the f-trest.
i to this, Colonel Talbot's name was associated with
'{ of those noble characters, who have contributed to
1 .me and glory of England,

The principal facts connected with Colonel Talbot's
early life, were obtained through _a friend, from himself at
my request, and although he was very ill at the time, he
was very particular, that nothing but the truth should bo
communicated. When the Colonel was supposed to be on
his death bed at Mr, Harris' in London, I visited him, and
he spoke in a very feeling manner of his past career, and
of his desire and endeavors to do right. Before 1 left, I
told him, I would endeavor to do justice to his memory
and this is my chief reason for publishing these memoirs.

Colonel Talbot's lifo in Canada, docs not present to
the biographer any of those striking incidents and startling
events, which of themselves, are sufficient to command the
attention of the world, and excite universal interest. We
have nothing but his personal character and a repitition of
the same kind of transactions to dwell on; frora'which, how-
ever, much instruction may be derived. But 'to make this
work more generally useful and interesting, I have incor-
porated tke history of the Talbot Settlement, and sketches
* he public career and characters, of some of the most
nent men of Upper Canada, friends and acquaintance*

:, (Jolonel, and others whose positions expose thetn to
i notice.

Of tb two first Bishop* of the Church of England and



IV. PRKFACE.

Ireland iu Upper Canada, whose 'exalted stations ^
(hem with so much power, for good, when proper^^^P
ei?ed, for evil, when contrariwise, 1 have spoken trul^
with no desire to exaggerate or extenuate their faults,
only are the members of that Church affected \>y the con-
duct of her Bishops, but indirectly it acts on the
community, a. d in uo partof,Upper C auada, has this
more prejudicially felt, than within the limits of theTalbot.
Settlement. But whether reflecting on the conduct of
Bishops, or other prominent men, whose names have been
introduced .into this work, I have in no ins f ance paid all
that could be said , with truth and justice, nor Lavo I
hazarded my own individual assertions or opinions; i
have carefully weighed every expression, and all that I
have written goes forth with the sanction of many friends,
whom 1 have consulted from time to time, during the pro-
gress of this work.

With respect (o the closing years of Colonel Talbot'n
life, which were FO embittered by the [differences which
grew up between him and his nephew, Sir Richard Airey,
and terminated in such an unfortunate distribution of the
Colonel's estate, I have related only as much as may convoy
to the reader an idea of the causes of those difficulties. Bu'
having had conversations separately with both Uncle and
Xephew, what I have stated is a fair and impartial view of
the whole matter.

I would further remark, that I have been reminded,
while writing these memoirs, when speaking of person?,
who have departed this life, whose character.* or career I
have sketched, to bear in mind the old Latin proverb. Do
mortuis nil nisi bonum, which is interpreted, "Let nothing
b said of the dead, but what is favorable," to truth, L
would add ; for in the same collection of proverbs there is
another quite as consistent with sound morality. onis
noeet, quisqui? pepercerit malis. '< He injures the good, who
spares the bad." To "the latter doctrine, I subscribe,
whether with reference to the dead or the living; for to re-
cord only the virtues of men, would certainly make a very
perfect pielure, pleasing no doubt to friends and family"
connections; but at the same time, a very false one; totally
valueless to posterity; would falsify all history, and biogra-
phers would only set examples which nobody could
follow.

fcT. THOMAS, NOVEMBER 1st, 1859. E. 1..



CONTENTS.

, .ii-ER I. Colonel Talbot's early life and Educa-
tion Enters the Army Aide-de-Carap with
Arthur Wel'esly in Ireland Comes to Canada,
1790 Becomes decretary to General Simcoe,
1791 Returns to England, 1794, to join hia
Regiment Rapid promotion. 1-12.

CHAPTER II. Colonel Talbot's return to Canada
Fleming's account of his first visit to the Talbot
Settlement, with General Simr.oe Settles at Port
Talbot 1803 Port Talbol Colonel Talbot's dis-
gust with the slate of Society in England... 12-22.

CHAPTER III. Plan of Settlement Terms of grants
of land from the British Government Early
Settlers Anecdotes 22-32.

CHAPTER IV. Progress of the Settlement Colonel

^.'rvvell Hardships Extent of the Talhot Settle-

>nt John Rolph Captain Matthews... 32-47.

i TKII V. American War of 1812, and war

.jries Punctuality Banking J. K. Woodward.

47-02.

CHAPTER VI. The Scotch settlers at Aldboroush
The Audience Window JeflVy Hunter Ex-
tent of land placed at the Colonel's disposal.-02 -68.

CHAPTER. VII. Letter to Earl Bathurst Remu-
neration for services Jealousy of Officials at
Little York 08-73.

CHAPTER VIIL Yarmouth Hickory Quakers Dr.
Duulop 73-79.

CHAPTER IX. Talbot Anniversary - St. Thomas
County of Elgin London District Officials The
L arris family 79-89.

TER X. London Rogers' interview wiih
'onel Talbot-.. ..80-95.



CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XI. The Buildings and Domestic economy

of Port Talbot How the wine dried out in sum-
mer Visitors Ex-Sheriff Parkins The Colonel's
PestThe Pedant ..95-101.

CHAPTER XII. Colonel Talbot at a political Meeting
in St. Thomas George Law ton 102-11 J.

CHAPTER XIII. The. Colonel's religious profession
Reasons for not subscribing fur a meeting house
George Elliott Itinerants 111-121.

CHAPTER XIV". Hon. Z. Burnham A "NVolf in
Sheep's clolhng The indignant pretender A
knowing shot 121-131.

CHAPTER XV. Colonel Talbot's reasons for not
marrying-- Matrimony A Loving couple. 131-1 38.

CHAPTER XVI. Sir A. McNab Militia training
Colonel I.ostvrick and the Volunteers. Trip to
Oakland The Queen's Birthday D. Rappleje
Bela Shaw __- 138-158.

CHAPTER XVII. Sir J. B. Robinson John Wilson
and the Lawyers of the Settlement 159-170.

CHAPTER XVIII. Bishop Strachan and Bishop
Cronvn The two first Bishops of Upper Canada.
*. 170-187.

CHAPTER XIX. The Mullinan The Colonel's atten-
tion to his sick man Long sermons Westover's
morality Emigration and old Countrymen..
187-199.

CHAPTER XX. Original Documents relating to the
'I albot Anniversary Colonel Talbot's principles
nd habits Temperance The Colonel's declin-
ing years... 199-209.

CHAPTER XXL Colonel Airey Colonel Talbot
0fc-s to England Differences between the Colonel
an d A i rey 209-214.

CIUPTER XX11. Final settlement with Colonel

Airey George McBeth 215-225

.. 226,



CHAPTER I.

COLONEL TALBOT'S EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
ENTERS THE ARMY AIDE-DE-CAMP WITH AR-
THUR WELLESLY IN IRELAND COMES TO CANADA
1790 BECOMES SECRETARY TO GENERAL SIMCOE
1791 RETURNS TO ENGLAND, 1794, TO JOIN HIS
REGIMENT RAPID PROMOTION.

COLONEL THE HON. THOMAS TALBOT the son of
Richard Talbot Esq , and Margaret, Baroness Talbot,
was born 17th July, 1771, at Malahide, inthe County
of Dublin. His ancestry are thus described in
Lodge's Genealogy of the British Peerage. "The
Talbots of Malahide, are of the same origin as the
Earl of Shrewsbury, whose progenitor, Richard de
Talbot, was a baron in the reign of William the con-
queror. His grandson, Richard, was father of Gilbert,
ancestor of the Earl of Shrewsbury, who settled in
Ireland in the reign of Henry the II. and was in-
vested with the ancient Baronial Castle of Malahide,
and the Estates belonging thereto. The time of
its erection is unknown, but supposed to be long
antecedent to the Conquest."

Young Talbo* was educated at the Manchester

public free school, but his education must have been

.-light, for we find that he obtained a Commission in

he army, in the year 1782, at the early age of eleven



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

years, and was one of the Aide-de-camps to the
Marquis of Buckingham, (a relative of the Talbot
family,) then Loid Lieutenant of Ireland, in the
years 1786 and 88, when he was not more than 16
or 17 years of age. His brother Aide, waa Arthur
Wellesly, who subsequently became the renowned
h<^ro of a hundred fights, the conqueror of the Great
Napoleon, on the fidd of Waterloo,

The two Aides, Arthur Wellesly, better known
as the Duke of Wellington, and Thomas Talbot,
were not destined to tread in the same fields of glory .
While the Iron Duke was reaping honors and glory
in the field of battle, Colonel Talbot was occupied 111
the forests of Canada, while the one was conqueiing
the armies of Napoleon, and wading thro' fields of
blood, amidst the groans of the dying and the shrieks
of the wounded, the other was combjtting the trees
of the forest, and marching in triumph over fallen
timber. One was armed with the sworJ, while the
other shouldered the axe ! which was the most use-
ful occupation and the most consonant to the dictates
of hu nanity, may be left for others to decide.

The acquaintance formed between these two
men, destined to become conspicuous in very differ-
ent ways, continued, tho' not without long inteivals
of separation, through a long life. And the great
Captain of the agp, surrounded by everything that i*



LIFS OF COLONEL TALBOT. 3

gr^at and honorable in human life, was glad to see
his early associate "Tom Talbot," and welcome him
to the hospitalities of Apsley House.

It is not often that two such veterans meet in
this world, to recount the adventures of their early
youth, at the advanced age of fourscore years, after
an acquaintance of more than 60 years! but such a
meeting took placs between these two distinguished
men. The Duke of Wellington was the first of the
two octogenarians, who fell u"der death's despotic
sway, his earthly careeer having terminated on the
14th September, in the year 1852. Colonel Talbot
outlived him only a few months.

Those, who witnessed, or read "of the magnifi-
cent obsequies of the illustrious hero of the Peninsula
when people of all nations of the world beheld a
great nation mourning over the departed conqueror,
in all the pomp and circumstance of woe, aad who
may read these memoires, will have an opportunity
of contrasting the termination of the earthly career of
these two distinguished men, whose beginning was
so nearly equal. Colonel Talbot's prospects of
military fame and glory, in his youth, were brighter
than those of the Duke, but at the close of their lives
the Preacher of England, pronouncing the funeral
oration over the latter, said -"know ye not that a
great man is fallen" while a few friends only, at-



LIFE OF (XLONEL TALBOT.

tended the remains of the founder of the Talbot
Settlement, to their earthly resting place.

In the year 1790, Mr. Talbot joined the 24th
Regiment, as Lieutenant, at Quebec. He received
his Company and majority both in the year 1793 ;
and in January 1796 was promoted to the Lieut.
Ccloiielcy of the 5th Regiment of Foot, which Regi-
ment he joined, and commanded two battalions, until
the Peace of Amiens, doing service on the Continent
and at Gibralter. He was with his regiment ii
Holland, in the disastrous expedition of the Duke of
York. Colonel Talbot appears to have been a favor-
ite with the Duke, for altho' he had committed a
breach of discipline, by marching his regiment a
different road from that he had been ordered to do, in
order as he considered, to avoid harassing his men,
and exposing them to more danger, the Duke in a
friendly note, found among the Colonel's papers
alludes to the circumstance in a very good natured
manner. This/ren&, however, as the Duke of York
termed it, may have had something to do with
Colonel Talbot's selling out of the army.

It was during the year 1791 that Mr. Talbot
became attached to the suite of General Simcoe, the
tirst Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, with
whom he continued until the year 1794, when he
returned to Europe and joined his, regiment on the



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 5

Continent. To show the high opinion which Gen.
Simcoe entertained of young Talbot's merits and
ability, we cannot do better than to transcribe the
letter, which the General wrote in his behalf, and
addressed to Lord Hobartin the year 1803, detailing
Colcnel Talbot's services and recommending his ap-
plication for a grant of land. Nothing can exceed
the warmth of friendship, and the high estimate of
Colonel Talbol'o character, which Gen. Simcoe
seems to have formed, and this is fully expressed in

his letter:

SOMERSET STREET, Poitman Square, )
llth Feby., 1803. f

Mv LORD,

In COL sequence of Mr. Talbot having acquainted
me that Mr. Sullivan, on his presenting a request for
a grant of land in the Province of Upper Canada, had
intimated it would be proper I should inform your
Lordship of Mr. Talbot's especial services, I took the
earliest opportunity of waiting upon your Lordship,
and in consequence of the interview which I had the
honor to hold with you yesterday, I obey y mr Lord-
ship's Commands in detailing Mr. Talbots view?, and
the nature of his claims to the protection of Iiis Ma-
jesty's government.

Upon my arriv .1 in Canada, to carry the con-
stitution which had been granted to that Colony
int} effect, Mr. Tdbot accompanied me as my pnvate



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

and confidential Secretary into Upper Canada. He
remained in my family four years, when ho was
called home, as Major of the *5th Regiment, then
ordered to Flanders. During that period he not
only conducted many del ails and important duties,
incidental to the original establishment of a Colony,
in matters of internal regulation, to my entire satis-
faction, but was employed in the most confidential
measures necessary to preserve that country in peace,
without violating on the one hand, the relations of
amity with the United States; and on the other,
alienating the affection of the Indian nations, at that
period in open war with them.

In this very critical situation, I principally made
use of Mr. Talbot for the most confidential intercourse
with the several Indian Tribes; and occasionally
with his Majesty's Minister at Philadelphia; these
duties, without any salary or emolument, he executed
to my perfect satisfaction.

I consider these circumstances, my Lord, as
authorizing me in general terms to recommend Mr.
Talbot to your consideration and protection. Mr.
Talbot's specific application, which I beg leave to
support to the utmost of my power, consists of two



*When the 85th Regiment was stationed in
Colonel Talbot said he had commanded that Regiment at
22 years of age but before he died he told a friend that he
was Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Regiment a e above. Thi*
must have been a mistake.



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT . I

points. The first is the grant of five thousand acres
of land as a Seld Officer, actually and bona fide,
meaning to reside in the Province for the purpose
of establishing himself therein. The King's bounty
having been extended to the field Officer*, who had
served during the American war, in grants to a
similar extent (exclusive of an allotment of land for
every individual which their families mignt consist
of,) it was judged expedient bv mvseK, Mr Chief
Justice Osgoode, and other confidential Officers of
the Crown in that Colony, to extend the provision of
five thousand acres to any Field Officer of character,
who, bona fide, should become a settler therein, it
being obvious that it was for his Majesty's interest
that a loyal set of European gentlemen should, as
speedily as possible, be obtained to take the lead in
the several districts. This principle, my Lord, was
acted upon at the time of my departure from the
Country, and should I to this momeni have remained
in the government thereof, I could have seen no
reason whatever for departing from it. In conse-
quence, had Mr. Talbot been totally unknown to me,
except by his character and the high rank he had
borne in the King's Service, I should have thought
him a most eligible acquisition to this Province, and
on this public ground, without hesitation, have
granted him i>000 acres on the same principles that



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

bad been laid down anl acted upoa, this is the
first part of Mr. Talbot's request. The second re-
quest of Mr. Talbot is, that these 5000 acres may bo
granted in the Township of Yarmouth, in the County
of Norfolk, on lake Erie, and that the remainder of
that Township may be reserved for such a period as
may appear advisible to government, for the purpose
of his settling U, ,a cii ....owing specific plan,
namely: that 200 acres shall be allotted to him fur
every family he shall establish thereon, 50 acres
thereof to be granted to each family in perpetuity,
and the remaining 159 acres of each lot to become
his property, fur the expense ard trouble of collecting
and locating them.

Mr. SuLivan, in a conversation, bad suggested to

Mr. Talbot the possibility of procuring settlers in this
Country, but many leasers oppose themselves to that
idea, in which I have the honor of perfectly agreeing
with yov,r Lordship; but should it be practicable to
turn the tide of emigration, which government cannot
prevent from taking place to the United Sta'es
ultimately to rest in this Province. I beg to consi-
der it as an object of the greatest national importance,
and that will speedily fulfil the idea with which I
undertook the administration of that government,
under my Lord Grenville's auspices of elevating thi-;
valuable part of His Majesty's dominions from the



LIFE OF COLONEL TA.LBOT.



degrading situation of a petty factory, to be a power-
ful support and protection to the- British Empire; in
some instances, such a plan in the infancy of the
government had great success, as I had the honor, of
pointing out to your Lordship, and Mr. Talbot from
habit, observation and nature, in my judgment, is
perfectly well suited to give it a wider extent.

His plan is to introduce himself amongst a largo
body of Welch and Scotch families, who arrived at
New York in the Summer of 1801, and who have
temporarily fixed themselves in the interior of that
State, many of whom are already disgusted with the
dissolate principles of the people there, and feel a
strong inclination to return under the government of
England, but do not possess the means of purchasing
land ; or paying the fees demanded by the Province
on grants. It remains only for me to add, that Mr.
Talbot having been very successful in the cultivation
of Hemp, on proper principles and to a greater ex-
tent perhaps than any other settler in tha Province,
is induced to prefer the distant Township of Yar-
mouth, as the soil is, well adapted to ths growth
of this valuable commodity. It is his object to ex--
tend this cultivation thro' ihe whole Township, and ,
by precept and example to enforce principles of loy-j
alty, obedience and industry, amongst those with)
whom he will be sui rounded. I cannot but hope,



10 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

that your Lordship will be struck with the manhood
with which Mr. Talbot, whose situation in life, cannot
l>e unknown to your Lordship, after having with
great credit arrived at the rank of Lieut. Colonel
has preferred the incessant and active employment
which he has undertaken, and that under your Lord-
bhip's patronage may lead to the highest public ad-
vantage. On this public ground, abstracted from my
j-.?rsonal affection and regard fc r him, I hope that your
Lordship will give direction to the Lieut. Governor,
or person administering the government of Upper
"Canada, that the prayer of his petition be imme-
diately granted (embraced in 4th paragraph of this
letter,) and I further entreat from your Lordship's
goodaess and benevolence, that Mr. Talbot may have
the honor of being the bearer of your despatches on
this subject, as he has for some time taken his pas-
sage on board of a vessel that will sail without fail
on Tuesday next, for New York.

I have the honor to be &c.,
(Signed) J. G. SIMCOE.

To the Right Hon.

LORD HOBART, &c, (fee, &c ,
It will be seen from the sequel of this biography
how far the high estimate of Colonel Talbot's char-
acter and ability formed by General Simcoe, has been
realized, and whether or not Colonel Talbot has ful-
filed the expectations of his exalted friend and ardent



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 11

admirer. General Simcoe was a man, from his
exalted position and commanding talent fully capable
of judging of the merits of a young officer.

It is pleasing at all times to record the opinion
of good men, such as we believe G eneral Simcoe to
have been; and his ability and foresight as the
Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada,we believe, is
universally admitted.

The Hon. James Crooks, one of Canada's re-
spected veterans, knew young Talbot well, at the time
he was attached to General Simcoe's suite. He was
then stationed at Niagara, where, with other officers,
he kept house. Mr. Crooks speaks of the young-
Secretary's gentlemanly ueportment and activity, as
is elsewhere noted, and was well acquainted with
him during the residence of a long life.

How young Talbot fulfilled the duties of private
and confidential Secretary, we learn from General
Simcoe's letter, but it is certain he was never much
addicted to writing. But what he did write was
laconic and to the point. His correspondence, how-
ever, must have been extensive, for he was on terms
of intimacy with many of the nobility cf England,
with some of whom he kept up an epistolary corres-
pondence, but nothing worthy of note seems to have
been found among his papers.

With respect to the cultivation of hemp, spoken



12 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

of by General Simcoe, it appears Colonel Talbot did
not realize his own expectations. He made the
attempt in the early days of his settlement, but must
have found it unprofitable ; which is easily accounted
for, -when we consider that the cultivation of hemp
requires considerable capital, and much labor. Both
these means could be much more profitably employed
in the clearing of lands, and in cultivating the soil.
For these purposes his people were even too few,
and the necessity of raising tte means of subsistence
would prevent their being otherwise employed. So
the cultivation of hemp was abandoned.



CHAPTER II.

COLONEL T>LBOT'S RETURN TO CANADA FLEMING'S
ACCOUNT OP HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE TALBOT
SETTLEMENT WITH GENERAL SIMCOE SITTLES
AT PORT TALBOT 1803 PORT TALBOT COLONEL
TALBOT'S DISGUST WITH THE STATE OP SOCIETY IN
ENGLAND.

It was at the conclusion of the Peace of Amiens
Colonel Talbot retired from the Army, and came to
Canada, with the intention of settling; which he did,
and remained on his estate at Port Talbot for nearly
50 years.

We are tcld that the young Lieutenant first
became smitten with the charms of Canada,
(for it is not known that he was ever smitten, like



J



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 13

ordinary men) from reading Charlevoix' history which
he did, with great delight. The idea of driving out
the wild beasts, and of peopling the forest on the
shores or Lake Erie, with hardy and industrious set-
lers, very probably may have originated in young
Talbot's mind at this time.

During the time Colonel Talbot was Secretary
to Governor Simcoe, it appears from various accounts,
that he had visited the shores of Lake Erie, and had
penetrated to the forks of the River Thames, whers
the city of London now stands. The following ac-
count of the expedition of General Simcoe and
hi s Scc'y> has been furnished by a worthy High-
lander, George Munro, Esq., who became a settler
in the Township of Aldboro' many years ago, a nd
who, from personal knowledge of Colonel Talbot,
always held him in the greatest respect, and spoko
of him in terms of the highest admiration.

The account given by Mr. Munro was commu-
nicated to him verbally, by a man of the name of
Flemming, who acted as canoe,or boatman, to General
Simcoe and his Sec'y. Talbot, from Fort Erie, on th
exploring expedition, to the unbroken forests of the
London and Western Districts, which at that time,
when General Simcoe first assumed the Government
of Upper Canada, had only been surveyed on paper.
Flemming describes young Talbot as being bo th smart



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

in appearance, and prompt and active in manner,
To use his own words, " The Colonel was the
"prettiest, tJie neatest and most active of the whole
'party,' and as soon as they landed to encamp, he im-
mediately set about collecting wood for fuel, assist-
ing in pitching the tent; and in the morning was
i'lually active in aiding the boatman across Long
Point with the boat and canoe. On one occasion,
His Excellency suggested that there were men
"tiough, and the Colonel's laconic reply was, "there
ire none more manly than I am," which the General
received with an approving smile, assenting to -the
truthfulness of the remark.

Colonel Talbot was always remarkable for his
|uaiut wit and pithy replies, which will frequently
appear in the history of his life.

Upon the party of Governor Simcoe landing at
Catfish Creek, about twenty miles below Port Talbot,
Talbot, as usual, was at the brunt end of every work,
as Flemming related, such as tent-pitching, chopping
and collecting fire- wood, and His Excellency thought
proper once more to remonstrate, "Why, General," re-

1 the Colonel, "I want to be inured to a bache-
lor's Hall life in the Forest." His Excellency asked
him if he would like to nestle on the top of the Hil!,
(the Hill is high" at the mouth of the Catfish,)" No,
Sir, was the reply, ^ am not ready to roost yet."



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 15

On landing at Kettfe Creek, now Port Stanley, to
cook dinner, the same question was asked and the
same reply was given : but early in the evening, on
arrival at the spot so deservedly called Port Talbot,
the Colonel had a tent speedily erected en the top of
the Hill, turned host at once, met the Governor at
the tent door, and with the dignity so natural to him,
invited His Excellency to the Castle of Malahide,
paying, " Here, General Simcoe, will I roost, and
"will soon make the forest tremble under the win<_rs
"of the flock I will invite by my warbliugs, around
"me."

" On the morning following, Indians who
encamped on the flats of the Creek, were hired :
pilot the party across the wilderness, to Mr.;
Town, from whence they proceeded down the Rivv
to Lake St. Clair, meeting on their way, not e
one opening in the dense forest ,that then overshad-
owed the meandering course of the River Thames.
On their_return, and arrival at the Forks, where Lon-
don now stands, General Simcoe told the Colonel,
" this will be the chief military depot of the West,
;;nd the seat of a District. From this spot," pointing
his sword to a tree that stood at or near the western
angle of the present Court house, "I will have a lin>
r a road run as straight as the crow can fly, to the
head of the little lake," where Dundas stands, which



16



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.



was done,a-. d the Road, to this day, is called the Gov-
ernor's Road.

"Flemming, the boatman, afterwards became a
Eetiler under Colonel Talbot, on d lot of land on tin-
banks of the River, in the Township of Aldboro, 1 and
lived thereon, from the year 1S02 or 3 to the year
1845. He was there buried, leaving 6 or 7 indu<-
trions sons, -who were all located by Colonel Talbot,
in the Township of Mosa, directly across the river, in
sight of their father's farm."

The foregoing account furnished by Fleming to
Mr Munro, we have been told, is incorrect in several
particulars that the Bronte pursued by General Sirn-
coe, was by boat only to Long Point, and thence by
land to the Forks of the River Thames. This we mere-
ly note, that we may not be charged with making an
erroneous statement willingly.

It was after this time, that Colonel Talbot re-
turned to Europe, and remained with his regiment
till the Peace of Amiens, when it would appear, he
determined to fulfil his intention of founding a settle-
ment in the wilds of Canada. This intention no
<";oubt was seriously entertained, while on the explor-
ing expedition with General Simcoe, and we are in-
formed that Colonel Talbot had learnt something of
the eligibility of the site of Port Talbot, from Mr.
Hamly, a gentleman who had surveyed the Town-



LIFE OF COLOX2L TALBOT. 17

ships of Duuwich and Aldboro,' wiih whom the Col-
onel had become acquainted at Niagara. Mr.
Hamly had described the beauties of Port Talbot in
terras of jrst commendation, and Colonel Taibot has
confirmed his judgment, by selecting it, as the siio
of the future home of a branch of the descendants of
the Talbots of Malahide. Mr. Hamly. brought up
and educated John and Bostwick, the sons of a
Clergyman of the Church of England, in New Eng-
land, who emigrated to Canada, and were always

conspicuous for their loyal attachment to the British
Crown.

Colonel Talbot landed at Port Talbot, on ths
21st of May, 1S03, from a boat, accompanied by sev-
eral men, (among whom was a Mr. Power,) and im-
mediately set to work with his axe, and cut down tha
mt tree, to commemorate his landing to loke pos-
session of his woodland estate. The settlement
which now bears his name, was then an unbroken
forest, and there were no traces of civilization, nearer / /
than Long Point, 60 miles east, while to the wes',
the aborigines were still the Lords of the soil, a:; L
ruled with the tomahawk.

At the time of Colonel Talbot's landing, every-~~\
tiling in nature was dressed in its best attire, and th3
.swelling stream .of Port Talbot creek, then swollen to

the dimensions of a respectable river, overh'w
b*



18 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

the deep green boughs of the surrounding forest, and
gliding through the valley, around the verdant hill
of Port Talbot, poured its limpid stream into Lake
Erie with a rapidous current. At this delightful
eeason of the year, the forest teemed with life the
.shrdy green of the trees, the chirping and singing of
numerous birds, the solitary tapping of the wood-
pecker, the lofty hills, and placid waters spread out
into an inland ocean , all wore a smiling aspect, and
cheered the Pioneers of the Forest.

There are few, if any, more charming spots
than the site of Port Talbot. The creek which gave
rise to its being named a Port, winds round the hills,
through rich flats on one side, noiselessly, without any
apparent motion, (except, as before mentioned, in
times of high water,) and its dark smooth waters
creeping under and through clumps of woods, here
:>.-.id there, gives it a beautiful appearance. The ap-
proach to Port Talbot from the east, is through an
avenue of between one and two miles, the road pre-
senting every variety of woodland scenery, now run-
ning over level land, and then diving into the valleys
between hills of various heights, and on each side of
the road the numerous trees pointing their majestic
heads to the skies, afford a grand and pleasing va-
riety. After at length winding round the acclivity of
the high land surrounding Port Talbot, the eye is



LIFE OP COLONEL TALBOT. 10

refreshed by a magnificent view of the waters of Lake
Erie, bounded only by the distant horizon. Stand-
ing then on thio hfgh land, rising from the Lake to
the height of 200 feet, the view on all sides is mag-
nificent. To the west the scenery is woodland, bro-
ken here and there, by clearings formed into beau-
tiful fields, of various dimensions; to the east tne
landscape is rich, in the highest degree ; ranges of
woods rising from the banks of the creek, one above
another, until their summits are nearly lost in the
clouds, clothed in the soft verdure of spring, or be
decked in the tinted foliage of autumn, afford a plea-
sing relief to the eye , turning from the vast expanse
of waters of Lake Erie. On the bosom of the Lak^,
Steamers, or other craft, are continually appearing,*
generally wending their way to American ports, and
add life to the scene. In the rear of Port Talbot,
the oye passes over hill and dale, until the- view
is terminated by the primeval forest; compose 1
of the maple, the beech, the stately oak, and a variety
of other trees.

Colonel Talbot being permanently located in th-i
wilds of Canada, to the great dismay of the four
footed tribe, who had SD long'held undisturbed pos-
session, his life in the woods may now be said to
have commenced 1 , and we may here pause, to reflect
on the extraordinary and peculiar character of the



20 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

individual, who could detach himself from all the
attractions of civilized life, and set himself down
alone, with the exception of a few/ 1 hired men, in the
midst of a trackless forest, inhabited only by a few
scattering Indians, and wild beasts. The resolution
which Colonel Talbot had formed, and was now
about to act upon, is the more extraordinary in an
individual, elevated at so early an age, to a rank sj
high in the array; endowed as he was, with every
qualification, apparently necessary to raise him. to
the very summit of military glory ; surround*.-
the pomp and splendor of military parade, so attni< -
tive to the votaries of fashionable life ; moving amidst
the fascinations of polished society, and the smih-s

nnd blandishments of ^outh and beauty that a man
so situated should abandon the luxuries and enchant-
ment of such a coterie, and become the immedmt -
neighbor of raccooas and howling wolves, to lead a
dull monotonous life in the untamed forests of Ca:.-
ada, with the certain piospect of hard labor and con-
tinual privation, is proof that he was a man of great

' fortitude, and of no ordinary mind.

At the time Colonel Talbot exchanged the sword
for the axe, he was young, active, and sufficiently ac-
complished, to adorn the society in which men of hi*
rank usually mix. His rank in the army was tin-
uasually high for a man of his years, being a Lieut.
Colonel at the age of twenty-two.



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 21

It is said, however, that young Talbot amidst all
the allurements of high life, the attractions of beauty,
and the pride of aristocracy, became thoroughly dis-
gusted with the corruptions and fashionable vices,
then so prevalent ; which were ill concealed by tho
polish of education, and the conventional forms of
society. At that time, about tho close of the last
century, it is well known that debauchery, dissipation
and immorality of every kind, infected the lives of
many of the aristocracy of England, having before
their eyes, the example of the sons of Royalty, and
the heir apparent to the Throne. On the vices of
those days, we nee d not dwell, they are familiar to
all who know anything of the early life of the late
George the 4th, and his royal brothers. These
sons of the good old King George the 3rd, particu-
larly the eldest, the Prince of Wales, wero distin-
guished for their handsome personal appearance,
polished manners and elegant address, and were
the theme of universal admiration ; but unfortunate-
ly, the lustre of their rank, and the poliabof thci;' man-
ners, were tarnished by the immorality of their lives ;
and the advantages of birth, education, and wealth,
were made subservient to the indulgence of the
meretricious enjoyments of vice, and to the gratifica-
tion of licentiousness. That Colonel Talbot, whose.

high rank and family connexions gave him the entrae
to the first society in England, should have looked



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

with aversion at the glazed eye of fashionable dissi-
pation, and should have shrunk with disgust from
the contamination of lewdness, nursed in the lap of
wealth and luxury, was an early indication of that
superiority of mind, which distinguished him through
the greater portion of his life.

Few men of his rank and station, would ever
have dreamt of undergoing such a change of life, and
fewer still, would have persevered through every
difficulty, like Colonel Talbot, had they undertaken
it. It has been said, that the Colonel had been crossed
in love, or otherwise dissapointed, and that this led him
tobuiy himself in the woods ;but these surmises aro
not based on reliable information.



CHAPTER III.

PLAN OF SETTLEMENT TERMS OF GRANTS OF LAND,
FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT EARLY SET-
TLERS ANECDOTES.

Some years seem to have elapsed before th.>
Colonel had attracted any number of settlers around
him, and during this time he must, (as indeed he
was, generally, during his residence at Port Talbot,)
have been left to the solitude of his own reflections ;
and, where it was difficult to get good servants, and
more so to retain them, he had not only frequently
to cook, and servo his own table, but to do his own



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 23

chores about the house. These menial offices he
often had to perform when distinguished guests
visited him.

The plan of settlement adopted by Col. Talbot,
was a wise one. The Country has long enjoyed the
benefit, which his foresight and good management ,
effected. Every settler whom he located on a lot of
Jand^was obliged to perform his settlement duties
by clearing a certain space in front of his lot, before
he could be assured o his title. This space was
uniform througout the settlement, and by this means
the sun gained access to the roads, which were soon-
er improved, than if each settler had been at liberty
to .commence clearing wherever he thought proper.
By this judicious plan, several hundred miles of passa-
ble road were made, with good and uniform clear-
ings on each side, and atteoted the soundness of the
Colonel's judgment. Another advantage resulting
from this plan was, that the idle and improvident
were stimulated by the example of the industrious.

The Colonel had made an arrangement with
the British Government, while in England, by which
he obtained a grant of 5000 acret of land. To carry
this arrangement into effect, he obtained an order
fro m the Government of England, on application to
Lord Hobart, son of the Earl of Buckingham to
General Hunter, with whom he had an interview at
Niagara. The arrangement then made with the



24 LIFE OF COLOSEL TALBOT.

home government, was, that for every settler whom
the Colonel located on 50 acres of land, he should
himself be entitled to 200 acres, to ihe extent of
5000 acres.

He afterwards obtained, through his influence
with the government, for such of his settlers as desir-
ed it, 100 acred of land each, upon condition of
performing the settlement duties, i.e. clearing -\
certain portion of the land, building a house upon i',
and paying fees on receiving patent 693. So
j poor were many of the settlers who availed them-
selves of this privelege, that they had not completed
these moderate stipulations, some of them during a
period of 30 years .

For the first twenty years of the Colonel's set-
tlement, the hardships, he, as well as his settlers had
to contend with, were of no ordinary kind, and such
only as could be overcome by industry and patient
endurance. All who were not exercised in these
virtues, either sold their claims for little or nothing,
or forfeited their land. -Many of the settlers to this
day, acknowledge themselves indebted to Colonel
Talbot's means and foresight, for enabling them to
overcome the- difficulties which they had to encoun-
ter.

At the present moment, when the country
smiles with verdant fields, blooming orchards, and
produces ihe necessaries of life in abundance-', it



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT 25

would appear that the Colonel bad been amply re-
paid for all his labors, by the valuable estate he ac-
quired, but it must be remembered that although
this be true, the liberality of the British Government
was not bestowed upon him in vain. In those early
days, many favorites and hangers on of the Govern-
ment, obtained grants of large tracts of land for a
mere song, without requiring any duties from them at
all, and some forfeited rich grarats, from their inability
to perform the stipulated duties . For instance, Mr.
Charles Ingersol obtained a grant of the whole
Township of Oxford; a 'person named Sales, the
Township of Townsend ; and another person named
Daton. the Township of Burford, on conditions of
settlement, which they were unable to fulfil, and
therefore lost their grants : each of which would have
produced a magnificent fortune, had those persona
retained them. Colonel Talbot, on the contrary,
voluntarily took the lands he acquired, on condition
,of fulfilling duties, which he performed faithfully, not
nly for his own benefit, but for that of a large num-
ber of poor settlers. Much has been said about the
many thousand acres of land awarded to Colonel
Talbot, but there is little doubt, that he might have
purchased them for the amount ho expended or lost
in settling them.

The Township of Yarmouth, nearly the pick
and choice of Canada, was Cither given away to the



,o

o



26 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

Baby's or sold for a trifle to the Canada Company .
This was Colonel Talbot's first selection, but he
found that it had already been disposed of. The
Canada Company too, it is well known, had acquired
a million acres in the Huron tract, at a cost of little
more than Is per acre, so that the liberality of the
British Government in disposing of the lands of the
Crown, was extended to much less worthy objects
than Colonel Talbot, who was instrumental in ren-
dering a large number of poor settlers independent, as
well as himself.

As has already been said , young Talbot was a
very active man, and his bodily fiame, and vigorous
constitution, enabled him to undergo great fatigue
and hardship. For several years there were no
settlers or other inhabitants than his own hired men.
In order to supply this deficiency, he distributed
large placards to attract settlers, which had the effect
of bringing a great many people into the settlement,
but many of these turned out to be very worthless
characters.

It was not until the year 1809 that settlers be-
gan to come in, and the n but few in number. In that
year two families of r the name of Pcarce and Pater-
son, took up land from the Colonel, and settled near
him in Dunwich, in which Township Port Talbot is
situated. These early settlers are among the best,
who have ever entered the settlement. Their mi-



LIFEOF COLONEL TALBuT. 27

merous connexions now hold' line farms in different
parts of the settlement; have always been conspicuous
for their loyalty, and, after a lapse of more than 4J)
years, retained the same regard for their early bene-
factor, Colonel Talbot, which they had ever manifes-
ted.

Other settlers made their way into the Town-
ship of Dunwich, after the way had been cleared for
vhern, who, as is frequently the case, became the un-
grateful recipients of favors which they neither de-
served nor appreciated. The head of these was an
Irish weaver, named Coyne, a man not devoid of
industry, but of an avaricious spirit, who toiled and
prospered in discontent. These persons as far,
as it was possible to annoy a man of Colonel Talbot's
inflexible character, left no means, such as grovelling
minds usually make use of, untried, to accomplish
their own selfish ends.

Among other difficulties the early settlers had
to encounter was, to get their corn ground, after
it had been raised among the stumps. One of
the means by which they used to render their
corn fit for use, was, by hollowing out the stump
of some large fallen tree, by means of tire, keeping
the edge all the time wet, until the fire burned down
and converted the stump, or trunk W the tree, into a
mortar, and then with a wooden beetle, serving as a
postal, the corn was pounded sufficiently for use.



28 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

However, to obviate this difficulty, Colonel Talbot
built a mill at Dunwich, in 1807 or 8, and to this
the settlers were glad to resort, till some years after,
when it was destroyed by the Americans during the
war.

In the progress of this narrative, many anecdotes
and transactions will appear, illustrative of Colonel
'Jalbot's really benevolent disposition; and, although
he has been accused of churlishness and austerity,
yet his whole life shews, that he had the welfare of
every deserving settler at heart. The solitary situ-
ation in which he had volu ntarily placed himself,
and the power he possessed of distributing lands, re-
quired him to act frequently with apparent harsh-
ness, in order to avoid being 'imposed upon by land
jobbers, and to prevent artful men from over-reach-
ing their weaker minded brethren.

Colonel Talbot was an uncompromising enemy
to can't and humbug, whether in religion or poli-
tics, but even in his early / Rolph was a smooth, oily-tongned politician, and
with his knowledge of law and physic, was well skilled
in the art of pleasing people, diseased either in mind
or body. Some of the old ladies, and vain aspiring
old men of the settlement, have a high opinion of
Rolph to this day. As a physician, he must have
excelled the famous Dr. Hornbook, immortalized by
tho poet Burns; and as a lawyer, he was no doubt



46 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBtT.

equally skillful; but as a politician, he sadly disap-
pointed the expectations of his warmest friends.
Even Wm. Lyon McKenzie, his brother in treason,
lived to stigmatize him, for his treachery and coward-
ice*/ and spoke and wrote of him, in terms of the
\)mnost contempt.

In the year 1837, Rolph, who lived in Toronto,
was considered to be deeply implicated with Me
Kenzie in the outbreak which then took place, and
fled from the Province, in order to save his neck, but
returned after 'a few years expatriation, with other
pardoned traitors, and lived in peace, practising his
profession.

After living several years in retirement, some
of his former associates in treason, having taken a
lead in public affairs, Rolph peeped out to look at
the political atmosphere, and, seeing that all was
safe, again made his appearance on the arena of pub-
lic life, and being elected a member of the Provin-
cial Parliament, became one of the ministers of the
Canadian Cabinet; in which elevated position he
(after having narrowly and undeservedly escaped the
gallows,) continued for some years, to the reproach
and everlasting disgrace of those who elected him.
In the Provincial House of Assembly, Rolph was
confronted with hi* old associate, W. L. McKenzie,
who now met him in opposition, taunted him with
his treason, and publicly held him up as one of ihe



LIFE OK COJ.OXKL TALBOT. 47

meanest traitors, who had ever graced a gibbet. The
elevation of such a man as John Rolph, to the Coun-
cil of State, is a lamentable proof o( the degrading
depth to which democracy would sink a government
when uncontrolled by proper constitutional checks. .
Rolph.it is said, gained much popularity by practis-
ing his profession, without charges, or at very low
rates.



CHAPTER V,

AMERICAN WAR, 1812, AND WAR STORIKS PUNC-
TUALITY BANKING AND J. K. WOODWARD.

During the war with the United States, in
1812, Colonel Talbot commanded the militia of the
District, a force then not numerous; and this West-
ern portion of Canada, was more indebted for safety
to the difficulty of supporting an army in it, and of
finding an enemy, than, to the force, which could be
brought together to repel an attack. Therefore,
only marauding parties found their way into the
settlement more in search of plunder, than with any
view of fighting. On one occasion, one of these
marauding parties, commanded by a man named
Walker, presented themselves at Port Talbot, and
summoned the garrison to surrender. The garrison,
it may be conceived, was not very formidable, there
being no fortifications or troops, except a few of the
yeomanry. The sudden appearance of these bri.



48 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

gands, left not much time for consultation, and Capt.
Paterson, who commanded the yeomanry or militia,
intimated to Ojlonel Talbot, that as defence was out
of the question, sauve qui peut should ba the order
of the day, and that he, (the Colonel,) of all others,
ought not to be found at home, to grace the triumph
of a lawless horde. Accordingly, as Commander
Walker and his party entered the Colonel's Log
Mansion on one side, Colonel Talbot walked out at
another door. Colonel Talbot, unlike the hero of
Trafalgar, was unostentatious in h is dress, and not
particularly fond of military display; therefore he
was not so easily distinguished from those about him,
which facilitated his escape. Captain Paterson who
lived to a good age, on a handsome farm, about five
miles above Colonel Talbot's and in almost daily
intercourse with the Colonel, gave to the writer the
following account of the taking of Port Talbot.
" The p?rty consisted of Indians and scouts from the
American army, after the battle of Moravian Town,
where the gallant Tecumseh was killed, and where
General Proctor so disgraced himself by retreating
with his army, leaving only one Company to face
the enemy, who were in consequence made prisoners.
Captain Patterson said, the Colonel had confer-
red with him, when the approach of the marau-
ders was announced, and that they both agreed,
it was in vain to resist. The first of the enemy



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 49

who entered the premises, was an Indian, and
tho following colloquy took place, between him
and the Captain : " You one officer," " Yes," " what
officer?" "Oh! b'g officer, Captain. " Other In-
dians came up, and rushed into the house, when they
saw Colonel Talbot walking off. " Who that yonder,"
said the Indian, " he big officer too?'' " No! " said
Paterson, " he is only the man that tends the sheep. "
At the same moment, two Indians had levelled ^heir
rifles at the Colonel, when tho other called to them,
not to fire on the poor man that kept the sheep, and
they dropt their rifles; but seeing the Colonel walk-
ing off at a brisk step, the two Indians were not
satisfied, and raised their rifles, but they were again
checked, and tho Colonel in the meantime dropt into
the ravine, and was out of sight. The premises
were rifled, and everything that the Americans could
lay their hands on, was carried off; some very fine
horsos formed part of their plunder. What they
could not take with them, that was either valuable
or serviceable, they committed to the flames or
otherwise destroyed. The grist mill which Colonel
Talbot had erected, and which had proved very ser-
viceable to the infant settlement, was totally de-
stroyed . His cattle were all driven off, but his gold
about two quart pots full, and some plate, that
were concealed under the front wing of the houso,
escaped notice. Colonel Talbot, during this lims,



50 LIFE OF COLONEL T.U.BOT.

pursued his walk through the woods, leaving the
sheep to take care of themselves, and thus he es-
caped .

Colonel Burwell was not so fortunate, for being
confined to his house, with fever and ague, they
gathered him up, and sent him off prisoner to Ctil-
icothe, where he remained several months prisoner of
\var. Captain Wilson was also made prisoner, but
escaped through the humanity of the chief of three
Indians, under whose charge he had been placed,
in consideration of his having a large family to pro-
vide for.

4 Cokncl Talbot, with his militia, was at the
Rbattles of Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie. At one
of these places, Major Backhouse had ordered his
men to retreat, which Colonel Talbot being made
aware of, personally rode after them, and madn them
return. During the night of the same engagement,
a droll incident occured. A man named Watson,
one of the Colonel's earliest settlers, happened to bo
without a gun, his own having been taken away from
him or lost, which the Colonel observing, reproached
him with being unarmed. Watson made the best
excuse he could. " Take that man's gun, " sa'id the
Colonel, pointing to a musket lying beside one who
had been killed, and then you won't have to say
that you have no gun. Watson, however, was in no
way uneasy about being unarmed, and very naively



LIFE OF COLONEL TA.LBOT. 51

replied, " Well, Colonel, I guess I never robbed the
living yet, and I'm sure I won't rob the dead."_

As an incident of the war of 1812, we may
mention that after the taking of Detroit by General
Brock, in the summer of that year, General Proctor
was left in command, while Brock returned to the
Niagara frontier, and in 1813 Proctor went and
fought a battle with the Americans, at tho Raisin
River, and defeated them; but afterwards, in conse-
quence of the capture of the British fleet on Lake
Erie, Detroit had to be evacuated, for want of sup-
plies. The American General, Harrison, followed
the British, and a battle was fought at Moravian
Town, where the gallant Tecumseh was killed. It
was on this occasion that General Proctor forfe ited
his reputation as a soldier, and for his disgraceful
retreat before the enemy, leaving only ono company
of regulars, as before mentioned, with their Indian
allies, headed by Tecumseh, to bear the brunt of
the battle, he was tried by Court Martial, Colonel
Talbot was one of the officers summoned to Quebec,
to try Proctor for his conduct.

General McArthur, also marched from Detroit,
with 900 men, and 250 Indians, as far as Brantford,
but without doing any other damage than killing
cattle, and taking provisions wherever they found
them. This body of men returned by way of the
Talbot Road, and the unfortunate settlers were sub-



52 LIFE OF COLONEL tALBOT.

jected to their depredations, but suffered 110 other
inconvienience, than that arising from the loss of
their cattle, and everything else fit to undergo the
process of mastication. Miny of the old settlers,
however, were as knowing as the, Yankees them-
selves; for they had lived so long near them on the
lines, in the Niagara District, that they were quite
up to many of their tricks. Of these old Major
Marlatt and John Miller, could recount quite a chap-
ter. They knew well, that it was much easier to
Lide than to defend their cattle; therefore they
granted them leave of absence, having driven them
lirst out of the way, as far as they could, so that the
half-starved, half-nakei Yankees were not likely
either to mend their clothes or to fill their bellies, by
going through the tangled thickets in search of
ihem. This was the ragamuffin army troin which
Walker's band of marauders was detached to visit
Port Talbot.

Major McQueen, who was a Lieutenant durirg
Ihe war of 1812, relates a gallant achievement of
a few militia men, near Chatham, at which he and
Major Nevill were present, and took part. A com-
pany of American regulars, 52 in number, had taken
possession of a building belonging to Mr. McOrea,
18 miles from Chatham, where the officer of the
company of militia, to which McQueen belonged,
conceived the idea of attacking th Americans by



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 53

uight, ia their quarters. The attacking party was
only 26 in number, but, so cautiously and skilfully
did they perform their exploit, that they took-
the whole company of regulars prisoners by sur-
prise, after killing only two of their number, and
wounding several others. This was done, too, in the
face of a troop of American dragoons, stationed on
the opposite side of the river; but "who could not
cross on account of the weakness of the ice. Tha
Americans were greatly mortiaed when they dis-
covered that they had been captured, and had to
march prisoners of war, under an escort of militia
half their number. But the Canadians were so
formed into companies of 6 each, as to make them-
selves appear to the Americans as ten times their
number. It appears a road to the river side from
the building, was entered by a gateway, on opening
which, a sentry challenged the first militia man
who approached, promptly seized his musket, and in
true Yankee style told the fellow, who was begin-
ning to give the alarm to his comrades, to shut up,
or he would blow his brains out the militia then
fired into the building, and took the Americans be-
fore they could recover from their surprise. Colonel
Talbot, as. soon as he heard of this achievement, and
that this gallant little body of militia were marching
down a company of Americans soldiers, ordered up
sleighs to convey the whole party to Long Point.



54 LI1K OK ( OLONKl. TAI.BOT.

As every honorable man should be, Colonel
Talbot was punctual in all his engagements, and
scrupulously exact in all monentary transactions.
The large sinus he received for many years, .from
the settlers, were duly and properly accounted for
to the Government, and this too, at a period in the
history of Canada, it is worthy of record, when men
entrusted with public monies, did not scruple to ap-
propriate them to their own use. Men moving in
the highest class of society, in every department of
the Government, seemed to consider it no dishonor
to maintain their standing and extravagance, by
making use of the monies with which they wero
entrusted ; and of this the records of the Province
furnish numerous instauces.

During a great part of the time of the Colonel's
residence, at Port Talbot, the only notes in circula-
tion, in this western portion of the Province, were
those of the Bank of Upper Canada, and none others
he would take. This was so well known to those
who had payments to make, that they did not fail
to provide themselves with Bank of Upper Canada
notes. These were carefully preserved till the time
of making his annual visit to Little York, (Toronto,)
when he duly made his returns to the Government,
and disburthened himself of all those promises to
pay. On these occasions, the Colonel travelled in
state, that is, in a good strong high-shouldered bo$



LIFE OF COCONK1 T.U.BOT. 555

sleigh, wrapped up in the well known sheep-skin!
coat, and covered with Buffalo Robes. These were
usually the only occasions when he left home, once
a year in the winter, an i then but for a short period ;
BO that parties need never be disappointed at not
finding him at home.

While the Colonel is making his deposits, and
ballancing his account with the Government, we
will glance at the state of monetary affairs in the
settlement. At that time, forty or fifty years ago,
there could scarcely be said, to be any money in this
part of the country, and all matters of business, and
even bargaining for land between settlers, were con-
eumated by barter, as is elsewhera shewn. But, to
return to the subject of money.

Money, in its nature, is one of the simplest
things or commodities ever invented or manufactured
by the wit of man ; in its use, it is the most com-
plicated. It is either a piece of metal, a shell, or
a piece of paper, improved by labor und sanctioned
by law and custom. Its use is applied to every
conceivable purpose under the sun. It cannot
always remove pain, but it can alleviate suffering; it
cannot make the wheat grow, but it can cause it to
be cultivated, and pay for it when it is grown. In
short, money is instrumental in giving pleasure to
the mind, and in producing everything which can
either adorn, nourish, or strengthen the body. But



56 I.ITT. OF COT.OKEL TALBOT.

the early settler? bad to do without money. There
was not a Bank or a Bank Office in the settlement
now, there are a dozen at least. So unaccustomed
were the settlers, to the use of Bank notes in early
times, that when Truscolt & Groen, started a bank
note shop in St. Thomas, many of the farmers
seemed to think that they got money by merely
signing their names, and set little value on a bunch
of bank notes, obtained for so slight a consideration ;
but a few months enlightened their understandings.
The first attempt at banking in this settlement
was made in the year 1834 or 35, when Mr. Wood-
ward, an Englishman, undertook to operate for
Messrs Truscott & Green, who astonished the old
foggies in Toronto, by the boldness of their adven-
ture. Those sturdy old gentlemen, the Hon. Win.
Allan, old Chewvitt, and Thomas G. Ridout, under-
stood very well how promises to pay in the shape
of bank notes, could be made to represent every-
thing else but themselves, and the public long
accustomed to the cautious signatures of these three
Bank of Upper Canada Officials, had full confidence
in their dingy oblong bits of paper, but neither
one nor the other, could discover the wisdom or
safety of allowing bank notes to circulate, which
really in first hands represented nothing; so they
determined at once, to check the circulation of these
paper strips, on tho long tail of a flying kite. A



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT . 57

kite won't fly without a tail made of strips of paper
and string, and some weight to keep them down;
nor can a bank, issuing notes, long exist without a
healthy circulation. Now, to obtain this, Truscott
& Green, or the Agricultural Bank, as it was en-
titled, employed Mr. J. K. Woodward, who, like tho
renowned Teetzel, the vender of the Pope's indul-
gences, in the days of Martin Luther, soon attracted
a crowd of needy customers, in search of batik note
indulgences, as little likely to relieve them, as
Teetzel's paper wares; and many of the farmers,
too, prided themselves on having a bank of their
own, the Agricultural Bank ; and some years after,
the greatest political schemer, after Lord Sydenham,
which Canada ever saw, Francis Hiucks, improved
the idea, and with the aid of some Toronto politi-
cians, as patriotic as himself, established the Far-
mer's Joint Stock Bank. J. K. Woodward was the
agent of these Agricultural concerns in St. Thomas,
as some of the settlers well remember 10 this day,
and if they do not, they have only to step into Cen-
tre Street, where they will see on Richard NicollV
lot, a tenant.less wooden frame, without doors or
windows, and the words Agricultural Bank, painted
in large characters over the main doorway of a
skeleton building tj refresh their memories like
tho sightless skull, described by ihe great sentiment-
alist, sans eyes, sans teeth, sans cveri/thiny. The



58 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

Bank of Upper Canada, very properly, to prevent
the Country from being flooded with their worthless
paper, took it out of the way as fast as possible, and
established an \gency in St. Thomas. This was the
first regular establishment of a Bank Agency between
Hamilton and Amherstburg.

But Mr. J. K. Woodward was too celebrated
a character to be disposed of summarily. Mr.
Woodward, in England, had moved among that
middle class of society, who are generally esteemed
wealthy, but who have acquired their riches by
many long years' prudence, and the employment of
skill and industry. To give an idea in whose hands
woalth is frequently accumulated in England. A
fellow Townsman, (C. B. Brown,) was on a visit
there last year, and in company with his brother,
met a number of tradespeople and others in a coffee
room, in the city of London, where middle aged and
elderly men usually resort, to smoke and talk over
the affairs of the nation . One person was very con-
spicuous among the number, and when he left the
room, the brother said to Brown, do you knew who

that is; he is Mr. the cats meatman; he owns

3000 stock in the Great Western Railway of Can-
ada ! That makes him talk so much about Canada.
Only fancy a great railway, built by soot and cats
meat. Woodward's position was never well defined ;
he had followed something like the trade of Hatter



I.IPE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 59

and Furrier, occasionally took a turn in the market,
or threw himself on change, among the jobbers and
stock-broke.is. By these means he came to be con-
sidered a man of wealth ; and he was even said to
be the owner of a block, or row of buildings some-
where in the borough, but what I suspect, most
helped him to fortune, was the facility with which
he could apparently throw himself heart and soul,
into the midst of a pious congregation. Woodward
was said to have a good sonorous voice, and so flex-
ible in its tones, that it would harmonize with any
voice, male or female, of the congregation. At one
time he belonged to the " Independants, " a body
peculiarly earnest in their devotions, whether in
prayer or in psalm singing, and just the sort of peo-
ple he could work on; too simple minded to dttect
in others, sins they were unconscious of, in them-
selves. Here it was, that Woodward attracted the
attention of a lady, who afterwards became M rs.
Woodward, and having taken him for better or worse*
it is believed she got the worst of the bargain. She
was said to have br ought him a considerable sum of
money. '

There are two earthly objects which men
most covet and desire, women and money. The
love of the former, cannot be two ardent, when it is
pure, and the longer and stiongei the passion be-
comes, the more does it enoble and elevate the man ;



60 LIFE OF COI.OXKL TALBOT.

but the love of money has just the contrary effect,
and when a mercenary wretch simulates the one
passion, to gratify the other, baseness can descend no
lower lust and avarice operating together beget
meaness and hypocrisy.

Woodward built an extensive range of houses
in St. Thomas, which were rented for barracks, when
troops were stationed here, and also purchased a very
fine fnrm in the neighborhood. As long as tha
Agricultural interest supported the banking interest,
Mr. Woodward, appeared to be u rich man, but as
soon as the farmers' bank notes declined in value, hia
wealth disappeared, like the baseless fabric of a
vision. But AVoodward was ready foi everything
that offered; for he was as loyal as he was religious,
and, therefore, when the outbreak occured, he joined
the St. Thomas cavalry troop, and became Lieutenant
and Paymaster, in which rank he continued till the
troop was disbanded. Nobody ever had an idea
that Woodward seriously ^ intended to fight, and
be was the butt of the whole troop. But he
made them pay for their jokes, whenever their ne-
cessities caused them to anticipate pay day.

After the close of his military career, Wood-
ward took a grist mill near Port Stanley, and lived
for some time on toll, and at length retired to Eng-
land to resume his old trade, though nobody could
exactly toll what it wa$. Some men are said to



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOf. 61

have good, and some to have bad characters, but
of Woodward, it may be said, he had no character at
all.

When Woodward terminated his banking career
for a time, bank notes were much scarcer in the
settlement, but intrinsically more valuable, and
many of the settlers had found out, that their own
live stock, were much more useful than Agricultural
Farmers' Joint Stock, or Peop'e's Bank Notes. They
were now quite willing to renew their acquaintance
with the old chartered bank notes; but Hincks and
his friends did not abandon them, for finding bank-
ing less profitable than they had anticipated, they
turned their wits and paper to better account, by
furnishing cheap news, and food for agitation, and
soon the Examiner Newspaper, circulated among
the farmers as. freely as the Agricultural bank notes
had done. From these small beginnings, we have
jarge results. A magnificent line of Canals and
Railways, and a Provincial Debt that will last longer
than either of them !

The effeet of these improvements has been to
shorten the circulation of bank notes, by hastening
the speed at which they travel ; for a bank note paid
in St. Thomas to day, may be in Montreal to-morrow.
To reflecting minds, and men acquainted with bank-
ing, this will appear no disadvantage, but rather a
protection to the public, as it must have a tendency



02 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

to keep the currency of the country in a healthy
state.

Having allowed the Colonel ample time to
transact his business at Little York, (Toronto) with
the great officials of the government among whom
he walked as a sort of independent Sovereign, we
will return with him, to his tisual routine.



CHAPTER VI.

THE SCOTCH SETTLERS IN ALDBORO' THE AUDIENCE
WINDOW JEFFERY HUNTER EXTENT OF LAND
PLACED AT THE COLONEL'S DISPOSAL.

Somewhere about the year 1818, a number of
Scotch emigrants found their way into the settlement.
These had first settled in the tfnited States, near the
Genesee River, but hearing of the Talbot Settlement,
applied to Colonel Talbot for land, and agreed to
become settlers under him on 50 acres of land each.
This was strictly in accordance, both with the en-
gagement of Colonel Talbot with the British Govern-
ment and with these settlers, and did not prevent them
from acquiring other land, by grant, through Colonel
Talbot, the same as other settlers, as though no such
bargain for the 50 acres had been made. But, after
sometime, a person named Black, artfully instilled into
the minds of these people, that Colonel Talbot had
been withholding from them 150 acres of land each,



WFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 63

which caused great excitement, at the ensuing elec-
tion, this absurd story was turned to political acsount.
All those Scotchmen, who were lead to believe that i
they had been defrauded, became inveterate oppo-
nents of Colonel T albot and of those whom he was
supposed to favor. With a piper at their head, they
marched in a body to the poll, to display their inde*
pendence, by voting against Burwell and Bostwick,
who were friends of Colonel Talbot.

A more senseless clamor, it is not easy to
conceive, than thatjwhich was raised against Colonel
Talbot by these settlers, who had only themselves
to blame if they had made a bad^bargain. They
might have had more land, if [they had chosen to
have] gone further into the interior; but no, they
chose to] take 50 acres each, on the Lake Shore.
The bargain was one only between the Colonel and
themselves; he fulfilled his part of the agreement
honorably, and these men, who were made the dupes
of others more designing than themselves, had no
just c mse of complaint. To the honor of some of
the Highlanders, be it said, they have lived long
enough to acknowledge the injustice of the accusa-
tion against the Colonel, while others have always
reprobated the conduct of their countrymen on that
occasion. Among the most respectable portion of
the Scotch settlers in Aldboro', are Angus McKay,
George Gunn, Bannerman, and others, who had



64 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

been in earlier days tempted to emigrate from Scot-
land to the inhospitable regions of Hudsons' Bay, in
order to form under, the auspices of Lord Selkirk, a
Colony at Red River. The dreadful hardships and
privations encountered and overcome by those poor
people, during their stay at Hudaons' Bay, and on
their journey to the Selkirk settlement, can scarcely
be imagined. With their wives and children, they
were frequently reduced to the greatest extremities
for want of food, having at the same time, to brave
the inclemency of the Arctic climate, and to travel
through every kind of difficulty, 1000 miles at least,
before reaching the settlement and when tlrere,
their situation was very little better. Finally, after
enduring every sort of misery for several years, they
were enabled to find their way to the United States,
and thence to Canada, and settled in Aldboro', where
they live, in comfortable circumstances. The old
people to this day, can scarcely refrain from shed-
ding tears, when they are led to speak of the heart-
rending scenes they passed through, in the North
West Territory.

As an instance of the benevolent disposition of
Colonel Talbot, and the ignorance of the people with
whom he had to deal, Mr. Munro has furnished the
following anecdote :

" In the Autumn of 1818, two or three of the
Highland emigiants arrived at the sixteen, (a creek) in



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 65

Aldboro', came to the Colonel for land, which he at
once gave, and by way of sealing the contract,
treated each of them to a good horn of real whiskey;
and while at dinner, the Colonel paced the room,
instructing his guests how to build houses, clear land,
plant corn and potatoes, with other useful directions;
beseeching them to be industrious, sober and peace-
able. At bed time, the Colonel produced a pile of
blankets, and requested his guests to make their
own bed. One of the party said, ' We never made
abed!' the Colonel took the mattras^, placed it on
the floor, before the fire, brought the back of three
chairs, to the subservient position of pillows, spread
one blanket, then turned round, and said, 'spreal
the rest of the blankets fairly on the top of that, and
learn to help yourselves, in Canada.' The men
commenced, but the Colonel getting out of patience
with their awkwardness, took the rest of the blankets
and spread them, at the same time, remarking, ' I
have often made my bed of hemlock boughs, and
considered it no hard work.' They slept soundly in
the bed made for them ; and after breakfast, left the
noble descendant of the kings of Connaught with the
impression that he was truly a good man, and that
he ought to be the Governor of the whole of British
America."

As the settlement increased in population, and
as the Colonel advanced in years, h necessarily



66 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

.became more strict in the rules he had laid down

\ for his own convenience, in transacting business with

I the many strangers who beset him for grants of

I land, and by those who could, or would not appreciate

Uhe goodness of his motives, he was represented as

harsh in his manners, and crabbed hi temper a bear

in his garden, or a lion in his den. But the fact is,

that Colonel Talbot was an excellent observer of

mankind, and the persons who expected, or thought

themselves the most entitled to attention and civility,

were those whom he did not choose to indulge in

their impertinences, or to honor in their craftiness.

Neither was he disposed to listen to the abuse of

those who resorted to rudeness and insolence, to

extort from him grants or favors, which he considered

them unworthy of.

In the course of his dealings with settlers, and
emigrants, some of them were tempted from the
loneliness of his situation, to browbeat and even to
manifest violence, towards him. On one occasion, it
is said, he was assaulted and thrown down by one
of the land pirates, as he used to call them. To
avoid these personal encounters, he adopted some-
thing like the post office system. He had one of the
panes of glass in his window made to open and shut
from within, and his interviews with strangers and
customers for land, took place at the window. Here
the Colonel confronted his visitors, and as each



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT . G7

party, had, like the Jews eating the passover, to
stand on their feet, the conversation was usually
short and to the purpose.

Of late years, the Colonel devoted the forenoon
of each day, for the transaction of all business con-
nected with land granting; which being generally
understood, parties either made an early start for
Port Talbot, or arrived there the evening before.
Besides Colonel Burwell, Colonel Talbot had, for
many years, a faithful domestic, Jeffery Hunter, in
whom he had great confidence, and who was very
useful in reaching down the maps. Jeffery was
well known to all who visited Port Talbot, for he
not only served in the capacity of house steward and
butler, but waited at table, and was frequently the
medium of communication between the Colonel and
some late arrival in the kitchen, who took this
method of breaking the matter he was upon, to the
Colonel. The guest at table, for Colonel Talbot
was seldom without one or more, was more amused
than disturbed by those short interruptions at the
festive board. A few brief sentences sufficed, and
the business was closed.

In order to understand the extent and nature of
Colonel Talbot's transactions with emigrants and
settlers, we may refer to the correspondence and
other documents; laid before the House of Assembly
in the year 1836, and published in the Appendix to



08 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

tlie Journal of the House of Assembly, for that year.

The abstract from which we quote, is headed
" Statement of Lands in the London and Western
" Districts, which have been placed in the hands of
" the Hon. Thomas Talbot, under Orders in Council,
" and Orders from the Lieutenant Governor, for the
" time being."

From this statement we learn that the total
quantity of land placed at Colonel Talbot's disposal,
amounted to no leso than 518,000 acres, lying in 28
Townships, and the population settled in these Town-
ships, was estimated by the Colonel in 1831, at
nearly 40,000 souls. These settlers were not like
many others, who found their way at that early
date into various parts of the Province, generally
having some means to begin with ; on the contrary,
the Talbot settlers were among the poorest of tho
poor, and many of them could not have struggled
through, without his help and protection.



CHAPTER VII.

LSTTER TO EARL BATHURST REMUNERATION FOR
SERVICES JEALOUSY OP OFFICIALS AT LITTLE
YORK.

In the) ear 1826 we find that Cobnel Talbot
was reduced to great straits, through his exertions to
forward the interests of his settlers, as the following



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 69

paragraph in a letter from him to Earl Bathurst will
shew:

" After twenty-three years entirely devoted to\
" the improvement of the Western Districts of this
" Province,, and establishing on their lauds, about
" 20,000 souls, without any expense for superintend-
" ence to the government, or the persons immediate ly
" benefitted; but, on the contrary, at a sacrifice of
' 20,000 , in rendering them comfortable, I find
'' myself entirely straitened, and now wholly without \
" capital."

" I gratefully acknowledge a very considerable
grant of land from the Crown," the Colonel adds, but
that his Agricultural labors had been unproductive;
we can readily imagine, seeing how much he
had otherwise to occupy his attention. In conse-~j
quence of this appeal, Cobnel Talbot obtained, by |
way of remuneration, for services, 400 per annum.
This allowance be it remembered, was not altogether I
gratuitious, but was for services which he continued
to render, in locating settlers on the waste lands of
the Crown.

It may be here remarked, that there was never**"]
a man in Canada, entrusted with, so large a power ]
in the disposal of Crown lands, as Colonel Talbot, |
and certainly none, who could have used that power j
to a better purpose. If we inquire into the manner J
in which he executed the. trust confided to him, wo



TO LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

shall find that he, on all occasions, acted as the friend
of the poor, industrious settler, whom he protected
from the fangs of men in office who looked only to
the fees, and which they would have ground put of
them, were it not for the interference of Colonel
Talbot

The independent position in which the Colonel
was placed, by the authority of the King's Govern-
ment, ai d the extensive power of granting land,
which he had acquired thereby, were not very pala-
table to the officials of Little York, as Toronto
was then called, and they began to manifest a dis-
taste for his irresponsible (to them) proceedings, as
soon, as by his exertions, the settlement was becoming
known, and had advanced in improvement. The
Surveyor General, and the Receiver General, and
the organ of the Executive Council, Wm. Dummer
Powell; appeared to be mortified to tind that there
were a class of settlers, who could get along without
dancing attendance at Little York, for a week at a
time, to obtain their patents, and wtio were shielded
from the exactions of officials by a stranger, as this
W. D. Powell, styled Colonel Talbot Desperate
efforts were made by these Officials to clip the
Colonel's wings, but, having only one object in view,
and, having fortunately obtained the means, beyond
their control of carrying out that object, Colonel
Tnlbot fo.led Mr. William D. Powell, and all his



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 71

associates, in their attempts to curb his power.
In a long Minute of the Council, addressed to
His Honor S. Smith, Administrator of the Govern-
ment of the Province of Upper Canada, &c., 'OI.>NKI. TAI.BOT.



ties for the United States market. The growth of
timber throughout the County of Elgin, is generally
of the very best quality, embracing beech, maple,
oak, walnut and butternut, with other. kinds indica-
ting a rich soil.

The number of persons assessed ia 1858 in this
County was ........................ ____ 5793

Acres of land ____ do do do 436,830

And the total value of assessed property $4,683,544

St. Thomas had been originally intended for the
County Town of the whole London District, now
comprising the Counties of Middlesex and Elgin, and
a beautiful plot of ground, now the residence of E .
Ermatinger, Esq., had been designated and was
long known as the Goal and Court-house Block, but
it was supposed, Colonel Burwell, who was certainly
of a vindictive disposition, frustrated this design,
because he had been rejected as the representative
of Middlesex; whose constituency, at that time,
generally resided on the line of Talbot road, east and
west of St. Thomas.

At the lime of which we now speak, the Court-
house was at Victoria, in the Long Point countrv,
now the Talbot District, where all the officials of the
District resided, that is the County or District Judge,
James Mitchel, Esq, a veteran who had decided the
case of many a bottle the District Treasurer, John
Harris, Esq., an old sailor, whoso blunt and jolly



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. S?

manner, was no barrier to his acquiring influence
with the great, and Jack Harris was as familiarly
known, as honest Enos Call, in St. Thomas, and J.
B. Askin, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, whose bluff
manners and abundant chop stuff, was a good ac-
companiment to Jack Harris' boatswain whistle.
Besides these, there was old Sheriff Rappleje, and
several lawyers, the present Judge Salmon among
others. All these resided in the vicinity of Long
Point, and when the court was established at Lon-
don, travelled thence, generally, along the Talbot
Road, to hold court, a distance of 70 iniles. The
first stage was to the widow Coltman's, thence to
St. Thomas, and thence to London. At these differ-
ent places all matters connected with the business of
the State, were fully discussed, and rampant toryism
was master of the ceremonies. These were the good
old times, such as Dame Quickly spoke of, and how-
ever necessity and force of circumstances may have
effected a change in mens' opinions, none will say
that there was not as much real happiness in those
days, as at present.

Of ihose personages above named, none were
more conspicuous than Jack Harris. In the naval
service he had learned to spin a yarn, and if a story
required stretching, Harris would do it. He could
draw a long boio, as the phrase goes, and on this



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

account acquired a fame which few men in the
settlement could ever hope to attain to. By degrees,
the officers of the court removed to London, acd
Mr. Harrisfwas the first to build a house of consider-
able dimensions, on a handsome piece of ground,
highly elevated above the banks of the river Thames.
This house was long the resort of the first men in
Canada, and in this house the venerable founder
of the Talbot settlement lay, during his first serious
illness, while on his way to England. Every man
of rank or distinction, who visited this part of Canada
became the guest of Mr. Harris. Mr. P. Thompson,
the late Lord Sydenham, the various Lieutenant

Governors and Governor Generals, and Mr.

now Lord Stanley, were among the number. To be
admitted at Mr Harris,' was like gaining admission to
the salon of one of the aristocracy, conspicuous in
Europe. Mr. Harris, himself, was a plain, seafaring
looking man, without much polish, either in manner
or expression, but Mrs. Harris was both handsome
and clever, and^with her accomplished daughters
rendered her house attractive to all lovers of good
society and agreeable entertainment. During the
time that London was occupied as a garrison town,
and one or two Regiments of the Line, a Company of
the Royal Artillery, and a troop of Cavalry, were
stationed there, every officer considesed it part of his



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

duty to pay bis devoirs to the Harris,' and for some
years their house was the resort of all the fashion-
able people of the neighborhood. It appears strange,
but it is no less a fact, that men with their wives and
daughters, who had or have become distinguished in
every part of the world, have been entertained at the
Harris.' Besides Lord Stanley, mentioned above,
we may name Generals Wetherall, Markham, and
Inglis, &c., &c., &c. It could not be expected^
however, that all the gallant Sons of Mars, or votaries
of fashion, would escape, unscathed, the fascinations
of Mr. Harris' fair and accomplished daughters. Nor
did they, for Cupid's darts were so true to the
mark, in more than one instance, and made such a
deep impression, that no hands could extract them,
or heal the wound, but those of the lovely Miss
Harris.' The rest may be imagined, they married in
high life. Many were the sneers and envyings of
persons, who thought themselves as good as the
Harris'; (for such feelings will accompany people
even into the woods,) but for my own part, having
experienced kindness and enjoyed the hospitalities
of Mr. Harris' family, in days when their sun shone
bright, I do not forget that it has been overcast by
the cloudo of sorrow, for the loss of the head of the
family, Mr. Harris having died some years ago.

h*



.>(. LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

CHAPTER X.

LONDON ROGERS' INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL TAL-
BOT.

The Town of London was surveyed and laid
iiout in lots, in the year 1818, partly by Colonej
f Burwell, and the lots were mostly given out to
actual settlers, by Colonel Talbot, on condition of
settlement duties being performed, and a house^
built thereon. The fulfillment of these conditions
was closely watched by the Colonel, and as the
town grew, he was continually pestered by persons
desirious of speculating on the lots. Then it was
that those levees, of which Dr. Dunlop speaks, were
held at the reception window, and the following is
a genuine anecdote of one of his mornings.

" A Patlander who had heard of Colonel
Talbot's reputed eccentricities, thought he would take
him in his own humor, and accordingly made his
/ way to the well known window, where the cackling
and fluttering of poultry soon announced his arrival,
and brought the Colonel to the spot. And, ' what
do you want! 'the first invariable salutation, con-
vinced our adventurer that he was in the right place.
' I have come, Colonel, to see, as I have a large
rising family, whether you could'nt give me 2 or
300 acros of land.' ' Devil a sod,' was the reply.



LIFE Or CuI.ONKL TALUoJ . it i

i Well, I was thinking Colonel, if I got a grant of
land I could make some improvement in the settle-
ment.' ' I dare say you could, but I have got no
land for you.' ' Well, I always heard Colonel, that
you were a good friend to the poor, and ' ' I want
none of your blarney; you can have 100 acres in
Tilberry West.' ' Faith, Colonel,' rejoined Pat, ' I
think I've come far enough west already. Per-
haps y'er honor could give me two or three lots in
the town of London.' 'They are all given out
already I have none in it, to give' ' but stop, hero
Jeffry, hand me the map.' Jeffry, who was the
Colonel's shadow on these occasions, soon spread the
town out before him, and after conning over it for
some time ' Yes,' said the Colonel, ' here are two
lots on Sirncoe Street, you can have them.' ' Simcoe
Street, where'll that be ? may be it's in the woods
yet! I'm a bit of an ould soldier, d'ye see Colonel,
and always like to face the enemy,' said Rogers, with
an arch look, ' and would thank you to give me th e
lots, as convenient as you can to the Goal and
Court-house' But the Colonel had no other lots to
give, and Rogers was about to depart, when the
thought struck him, he'd try the Colonel's patience a
little further, come what might. So he turned as
the audience window was about to close, and, ' what
do you want again,' struck his ear.' ' I was think



92 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

ing Colonel, that there are some settlement duties to
be done on the lots in Siracoe Street, and some
sort of houses to bo put on them ?' ' Yes,' was
the reply. 'If I may be so bold then, at whose
expense will this be done ? at yours or mine Colonel ?'
This was enough, the Colonel merely replied, ' at
yours to be sure, and'you may take yourself off.'
The window closed, and the interview terminated.
The lots were neglected till recently, but are now
in an improving part of the town, and becoming daily
more valuable. Rogers did not go farther west, but
settled himself in St. Thomas, where he now owns
real estate worth from 1000 to 2000.

As has been already stated, the town of Lon-
don was laid out in 1818. At this time, the site of
the town was generally known as the Forks, from
its being situated between two arms or branches of
the River Thames, which unite at the entrance of the
town from the west. London is built on the table
laud, stretching several miles east from the Forks'
The streets are laid out at right angles, and the
principal ones are at least a mile long. Twenty
years ago, there was scarcely a respectable house in
the town. It now contains long ranges of handsome
brick buildings, and a population of 10,000 souls. It
is central to a large extent of well settled country,
and all the leading roads, cast, west, north



LIFE OP COLONEL TALBOT. 93

and south, are made to pass right through it.
For many years after London hall been made
tke County town, the roads leading to it were travel-
led with difficulty. From Hamilton, the stage took
frequently three days the distance is now travelled
in twelve hours, and from St. Thomas to London, 18
miles, was sometimes a hard days march the livery
stable hacks, are now forced through in two hours.
From almost any part of the Talbot Settlement, the
traveller may go in twenty four hours to Toronto,
wiin ensf, it was then four hard days' work. Such
has been the progress of improvement and the
facilities of travelling. The Great Western Railroad
has its central Depot in the town of London, which
will make it a place of great resort, and some of its
more sanguine inhabitants fancy, that when the
Thames is made navigable, so that steamboats can
navigate its waters up to the town, it may rival its
great namesake of old England. This is too much
to expect, but its progress has been surprising, and a
few feet of ground now, costs as much as would hare
purchased the whole town, at the time Colonel
Talbot located it. Contrast London with the village
of Port Stanley, the principal shipping Port of the
whole settlement, and we see at once the effect of
his wise plan of not al lowing the lots to be bought
up by one or more speculators. Those who drew
lots in London had to improve and build houses on



94 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

them. Whereas the land at Port Stanley was all in
the hands of one individual, and its long stagnant
condition is the effect of monoply. London is now
a large flourishing town, and will soon be a city;
while Port Stanley is yet only a village.

The foregoing was written some years ago, since
which time the town of London has become a city ;
and, like many othor places in Canada, it has over-
grown itself. Not only has the Great Western
Railway, a principal station there, with large ranges
of buildings and workshops; but the Grand Trunk
and London and Port Stanley Railway Companies
have stations there, so that there is communication
with every .part of Canada and the United States by
Railway. The part of the city, which was first
built, and where the Court-house now stands, has
gone greatly to decay within the last few years, and,
in fact, it looks very much like a mortgaged estate,
which the proprietors never intend to redeem. The
imncipal part of the city is now to the eastward, and
it is a curious fact, that Dr. Elijah Duncomb of
St. Thomas, had his name entered for, the lot on
which this part of the city stands, when he first came
to Canada, at $2^ per acre, and gave it up on ascount
of its inaccesibility, for want of a bridge across the
Thames. A great part of this land may now be
valued ut $100 per foot.



LIV K ( r ('<> I." X K I. T A 1. 1!( )T . ! ) 5

CHAPTER XL

THE BUILDINGS AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF PORT
TALBOT How THE WINE PRIED OUT IN SUMMER
VISITORS EX-SHERIFF PARKINS TUB COLONEL'S
PEST THE PEDANT.

Difficult as were the roads twenty or thirty .
years ago, there were none better than those of tho
Talbot Settlement, even in the more densely popula-
ted and earlier settled part of the Country, where
the influence of government patronage, was more
felt; and neither the deep sunk ruts, nor the disloca-
ting corduroys, prevented a constant stream of trav-
ellers and emigrants from finding their way to Port
Talbot. Thither every new comer sped, not always
like the dova in search of land, returning with
oaken leaves in their mouths, but frequently, more
like the ravens going to and fro. And the Colonel,
unlike Noah, did not open the window of his ark, to
take them in, bat he usually shut it to keep them
out.

Here for the information of the virtuosi, and
all who take an interest in primitive architecture, and
the domestic economy of a bachelor's Jifb at Port
Talbot) we will attempt a description of the exterior
structure of the Colonel's domicile, and its internal
arrangement. In the construction and furniture of
his house, Colonel Talbot seemed to have adopted
s' ordinance, levelled, it is related in Plutarch,



96 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

against magnificence and expense. By this ordin-
ance it was directed that the ceilings of the houses
should be wrought with no tool but the axe, and the
doors but the saw. This was, literally, the case at
Port Talbot, for the Castle of Malahide, there erected,
(frequently the resort of the first men of Canada, as
well as of England,) was neither more nor less than a
long range of low buildings, formed of logs and
shingles. The main building consisting of three
divisions or apartments, viz., the granary and stora
room, where hung the venerable yellow dyed sheep
skin coat and cap, occupied the east end, through
this you passed to the audience chamber and dining
room, whence by an easy ttansition, Jeffry was wont
to slip out and in from the kitchen. " Here will I
roost," as said the Colonel to General Siincoe, and
hero it may be said he did roost, and he was not the
only rooster, for the Dutch piazza in front of the
building, formed an inviting lodging for numerous
heads of poultry, and these, with the dogs, gave early
notice of the approach of strangers.

In the centre room where the Colonel transacted
all his business ard received all admitted visitors, the
furniture was of the plainest kind, consisting of a
solid deal table, a few chairs with skin bottoms,
chests and a cupboard. The ample fire place was
the most comfortable looking thing in the room, in
co]d weather. This venerable npartment might



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 97

have excited the admiration of Gato the Censor, or
the praise of Diogenes, but Colonel Talbot's economy
was more in appearance than in reality, for he neither
drank bad wine, nor starved his servants or cattle.
Although his fare might be called homely, it was
good, and his wine was always pronounced excellent.
He was so very particular about his wine, that ho
always had it brought up in double casks. Having
been recommended to a particular wine merchant in
Montreal for a supply, that gentlemen (Mr. Logan)
on his first application, had told him that he had none
good enough for him then, which to gained the
Colonel's confidence, that he never applied to any

other wino merchant for the remainder of his life in
Canada.*

Besides the building we have spoken of, he Lad
another contiguous, containing a range of bed-room s,
where his guests could be made comfortable for the
night. In his latter years, he had added a suit of
rooms of more lofty pretensions, but without disturb-
ing the old tenements, and these sumptuous apart-

* After one of bis trips to England, the Colonel -was
travelling with one of his brothers on his \cay to Port
Talbot, through the United States, who like many other old
countrymen found fault with everything he met with,
pnrticularly the -wines, he pronounced to be execrable.
" Nevermind," said Colonel Talbot, jou shall have som e
good wine at Port Talbot." Accordingly, not long after thjeir
arrival, the person he had left in charge, was called upon
to produce some of Logan's best port, in order that he mipht
redeem his pledge, and c-leanse his brother's mouth O f the
villanous stuff he had drank in the United States. The



98 LIFE OF OOLONKI. TALROT.

ments wero reserved for state occasions. Before this
time numerous had been the guests of exalted rank
who had visited Port Talbot. Indeed, it was only
after the introduction of Responsible Government in
Canada, that the Governors of Canada omitted to
make a tour as far as Port Talbot. This change of
system brought a different class of men to Canada,
to preside over its destinies.

Prior to this time, every man of rank who ha I
visited Canada, had visited Port Talbot also and
not gentlemen only, but ladies were sometimes
attracted by the fame of the extraordinary individual,
who could resist their charms. Among the former
we may name the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Labou-
chere, Sir Peregrine Maitland, Sir J. Colborne, Lord
Aylmer, Chief Justice Robinson, and many other
distinguished men, besides a vast number of respect-
able emigrants, who paid their respects at Port
Talbot. These all experienced the Colonel's hos-
pitality; but, what was more to his credit, the poor
deserving settlers wera not sent empty away. These

man affected to go after some, but soon returned with the
doleful intelligence that the cask was empty that there
was none. ''None!" said the Colonel, who had never
allowed himself to be without good wine " None, why
what has become of it?" The servant being an Irishman
and having a fair share of that mother wit, for which his
countrymen arc famed, was no way at a loss for a
reply. " What none!' 1 said the Colo?icl, with evident
surprise. " Noiie, yer honor, it -all dried np with the hot
weathrr!' '



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 9'J

wore resigned to JefFry's care, who knew bow to
administer to their wants, in a manner congenial to
their rank in life.

Notwithstanding the many years, while the
settlement was in its infancy, when he was confined
to the society of the early settlers, who were neither
polished in their manners, nor refined in their tastes,
(being generally of the poor and laboring class of
people,) Colonel Talbot maintained, in a peculiar
degree, the dignity of his rank and station, and while
ho expected respect from all who approached him,
from the Governor to the peasant, he treated his
visitors in a manner suitable to their deserts. Even
while he has been obliged to superintend the culinary
department, to entertain distinguished visitors, he
has been known to throw off the cook's apron, and
preserve the same demeanor as if he were surrounded
by all the elegancies and conveniences of life. The
fact is, a well bred man is never at a loss to maintain
his self-respect.

Occasionally, however, the Colonel has enter-
tained persons, who ought not to have been admitted
to his table. The notorious 'Mr. Ex-Sheriff Parkins,
rf London, (England) was one of these. This per-
son being one day at dinner with the Colonel, made
use of language about a friend of Colonel Talbot's
which was distasteful, and upon which the Colonel
remarked that he did not permit such language to be



100 LIFE\JF COLONEL TALBOT.

made use of at his table. The Ex-Sheriff imme-
diately lifting the edge of the table cloth, which
discovered oaly a pine board, impertinently rejoined ;
" Your table ! do you call this a table ?" " Jeffry, let
Mr. Parkins' horse be brought to the door," was the
ready reply.

Of the thousands, who called upon the Colonel
at Port Talbot, a few measured their own merits by
his condescension, while others made use of forcible
arguments to obtain their ends. An old Scotch-
woman we are told, the wife of one of the early
settlers, was so impressed with the belief that the
Colonel, and all he possessed, belonged to the settlers,
that she made no difficulty about requiring one of
his horses to go to mill. " Indeed," said the Colonel,
I will give you no horse." " You won't, won't you,' '
said the heroine, seizing the carving fork, " we shall
see whether you would rather give a horse, or be
run through with this fork!" The Colonel retreated,
calling out, "Jeffry, Jeffry, order a harse for this

Scotch d 1." This was done, the Colonel's pest,

us Le termed her, went .off satisfied, and in due time
returned the horse.

A very different character once approached him, a
Pedant, who lived in the Township of Howard, and
spent much time in collecting long words from the
Dictionary. Such characters , among an illiterate
population, frequently pass themselves off for men



LIFE OF COLONEL T1LBOT. 101

of learning, and of superior wisdom , and when this
desire of distinction has root merely in vanity, there
is not so much harm in it, but when the affectation
of learning is only assumed to blind the eyes of the
ignorant, or serves to conceal the vices of a sordid
mind, it is pernicious in the extreme.

However, Colonel Talbot was not the man that
would allow himself to be smothered with long sound-
ing words, and while the Pedant was making a dis-
play of his carefully selected vocabulary, to detail a
local grievance, or rather to lay a complaint against
one of the settlers , he was cut short by the Colonel ,
who accosted him in a manner to dispel any expecta-
tion of his being imposed upon by pharasaical cir-
cumlocution. " What the hell do you mean, man !
if you do not come down to the level of my poor
understanding, I can do nothing for you." The
man profitted by the rebuke, and commenced in
plain words, but in lather an ambiguous manner, to
state that his neighbor was unworthy of the grant of
land he had obtained, as he was not working well.
" Come out with it," said the Colonel, " for I see
now what you would be at. You wish to oust your
neighbor, and get the land for yourself, but I'll be
d d if you do." The man took himself off incon-
tinently. The Colonel had discovered the truth
hidden in a multitude of words . Many attempts of
this kind were made at Port Talbot.



102 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

OH AFTER XII.

COLONEL TALBOT AT A POLITICAL MEETING IN ST,
THOMAS GEORGE LAWTON.

Colonel Talbot, although he naturally took a
/ lively interest in whatever affected the welfare of
Canada, scarcely ever interfered in politics and
personally took no part in election contests. It was,
however, very evident to all who knew him, that his
political sentiments harmonized with the principles of
the tory school in this Province, and Jeffry, who was
his alter idem at the Poll, always voted for the tory
candidate. The Colonel, being a Legislative Coun-
cillor, never voted himself, although he saldom took
his seat in the Council. The only occasion on which
he appeared personally to identify himself with any
political partv, was during the time of Sir J. Col-
borne's administration in the year 183 , when the
liberal party were agitating the Country by every
means in their power. At this time it was clearly
foreseen that the result of their proceedings would
be rebellion. In every part of Canada, the Agitators ,
of whom McKenzie was deservedly considered the
chief, had aroused a spirit of loyalty , which spon-
taneously burst forth and expressed itself in loyal
addresses, to the Throne, adopted at public meetings
throughout Upper Canada. At these meetings the
proceedings of the Agitators were universally con-



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. lu.

demned, and the administration of Sir J. Colborne
was highly approved of.

On this occasion, Colonel Talbot considered it
his duty to come forward, and declare himself openly
as opposed to the faction who were disturbing the
peace of the country, and to sustain the administrator
of the Government. He therefore called a meeting
of his settlers, to take place at St. Thomas, on St,
George's Day.

At this meeting which was the only one of a
political nature, that he ever attended, that I am
aware of, the settlers manifested by their appearance
that they still considered Colonel Talbot as the
Father of the Settlement, and worthy of their highest
regard. Among those present, were the Nevilles,
the Pearces, the Patersons, the Bobiers of Dunwich,
the Manns, the Mandevilles, and a host of others, too
numerous to mention. These men never swerved
from their allegiance to the Crown, and were never
wanting in respect to their benefactor. Many of
them have since departed this life, but the same
sentiments animate the breasts of their numerous
offspring.

The black sheep to whom the Colonel alluded
in his speech were the Teeples, some of the Davis',
and others of the Schoharie line as he distinguished
those persons who had emigrated into Canada, from
a place called Schoharie, in the United States,



MM LIFE OF OOI.ONEI,

These settlers who had come into the settlement at a
later day, did not appreciate the Colonel's exertions,
and were too ready to join in the ranks of his oppo-
nents, and the opponents of the then existing Govern-
ment. The men who at this time were so discon-
tented, had in reality little cause to complain. They
were generally the proprietors of fine farms, and all
the taxes they had to pay were a mere bagattelle.
Indeed they were among the most prosperous and
independent class of the settlers ; but unfortunately
they were acted on by such political agitators as
Rolph and McKenzie, who had commenced a politi-
cal warfare with what was called the Family Com-
pact, and who, to accomplish their objects, made
use of every means to excite the prejudices of the
people,

The Family Compact, were those who were in
possession of the most lusrative offices under the
Government, among whom there were some promi-
nent names, such as the Boultons, Powells, Robinsons,
Strachans, &c., &c., and these with their numerous
family connexions, presented a formidable array of
talent, as well as numbers. Like all men in similar
circumstances, the Family Compact were not always
as attentive to their duties as they should have been,
and their elevated positions rendeied them objects of
dislike to the popular party, and excited the envy of
man of grovelling minds, who can discover no merit



L1FK OF COLONEL TALBOT. 105

that does not centre in themselves, and who are ever
ready to endeavor to bring down others to their own
level. The McKenzie party, however, as if deter-
mined, that the predictions of the result of their
agitation and seditious proceedings should be veri-
fied, did not relax their efforts, until they had gone
through an unsuccessful attempt at rebellion.

Long before the time appointed for the meeting,
a large party went out to meet the Colonel, on the
top of Drake's hill, as it is called, from which a splen-
did view of St. Thomas, which it cornm inds from the
west, is afforded; and accompanied by a band of
music, escorted him into the town, amidst the
waving of flags and banners, enctibed, The Hon.
Thomas Talbot, Founder of the Talbot Settlement,
< and witticisms, the un-
natural offspring of vice and virtue or a double
entendre. It must have been rather a bold venture
for ar*young clergyman to come in contact with a



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 115

mau of Colonel Talbot's wit and racy humour, and
a man who would startle at the very idea of being
priest ridden ; in fact, who would be much more
likely to saddle the priest but the reverend gentle-
man bore with him a long while, till at length finding
that he was not making any progress with the old
gentleman, in a religious point of view; on the con-
trary, that his sallies of wit became more frequent
and cutting, he left him to get to heaven without his
assistance.

Colonel Talbot was never pleased with himself
for having said or done anything to provoke the dis-
pleasure of his reverend guest, but being in the habit
at table, after dinner, of smacking his lips over a
glass of good port, and cracking jokes, which extorted
from his guest a half approving smile, he was tempted
to exceed the bounds which religious or even chaste
conversation would prescribe, and came so near
proving in vino veritas, that the reverend gentleman
would never revisit him, although I believe it was
Colonel Talbot's earnest desire that he should.

Here a few remarks suggest themselves as to
the evil effects, of placing young men to rusticate in
remote parishes, almost as soon as they have entered
into Holy Orders, and there leaving them with
scarcely any earthly object to excite their ambition
or stimulate their zeal, for ten or twenty yea*-s more
or less, of that portion -_f their lives, whea they



110 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

*hould be in daily contact with men of superior
intelligence and religious experience, to correct and
remove the prejudices of Sectarian education. Too
often such young divines are set over congregations,
with an over estimate of their own acquirements,
and at a time of life when they require the wisdom
of age and experience to mature their judgment, and
when they are as incapable of receiving religious
instiuction as they are of imparting it.

But although Colonel Talbot made no outward
shew of religion, he gave sufficient evidence that he
was not void of religious feeling. His was the reli-
gion of the heart, and not of the lips. His religion
taught him to perform the pait of the good Samara-
tan, and few men have given better proof of -their
desire to do good. For many years he kept open
house for his settlers, and fed and entertained them ,
even with his own hands performing the offices of a
menial for them. To this fact, hundred of settlers
can testify.

If Colonel Talbot did not merit the character of
a devoted churchman, he could not be charged with
encouraging dissent, as the following anecdote may
serve to shew. The Rer. Mr. S a Congrega-

tional preacher, who could, like the Apostle Paul, say
these hands have labored and miristered to my own
wants, once callei on the Colonel, when the follow-
ing chanicterislic colloquy took place.



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. llY



" Good morning Colonel," said the Reverend,
and

" What do you want ?" was the reply.

" We want to make some improvement in our
neighborhood ?" said his Reverence, " and "

".There's much need of it!' r said the Colonel.

' ' We are going to build a house."

"A house for what?

" A house for the worship of God ; and I just
came to solicit a subscription."

' I'll give you nothing."

"Why not, Colonel?"

" Because you gather a parcel of you together,
sing a psalm, howl and yell like a band of wolves,
then go and cheat your neighbor, and come back
and sing a hymn over it."

The Rev. Mr. S who was really a good,
well meaning man, and certainly more like a suc-
cessor of the Apostle, than many of our Bishops and
Clergy, took the Colonel's rebuff in good part, and
was even constrained to admit the force of his re-
marks. Mr. S was one of the early settlers,

and ever entertained a sincere respect for Colonel
Talbot, who, he said was a good man ; and this was
the testimony of the most sensible an 1 loyal mon in
the settlement.

While the Settlement was in its infancy, as was
generally the case throughout Upper Canada, at that



118 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

time, the people were unable to support respeclable
religious teachers, and were exposed to the cant and
hypocracy of itinerants, who often assumed the garb
of religion, to cover their nefarious designs. The
career of one of these" is worth recording, as an
instance of wickedness and wordly prosperity, almost

without parallel.

George Elliot, was among the first of these

itinerants, and a more/jonsummate rogue, can scarcely
be imagined. He was one of those cool, calculating
wretches, who could smile, and smile and be a villian,
and who can commit frauds and extortion without
the least compunction, He was shrewd and slow of
speech, and committed the most nefarious acts in
the most calm and deliberate manner.* Licentious-
ness and avarice, were the goveining passions of his

soul, and to gratify these, he could stoop to any base-
ness-
Elliot at one time belonged to the Methodist
body, and was stationed at Long Point, whence his
circuit extended to the Talbot Settlement. At Long
Point, having been caught in an intrigue with another

* On one occasion being in debt to a man Lamed Sutton
on a note for $50, the man pressed him for payment, but
Elliot only wanted to pay him in trade that is, sell him
goods at a price without reference to value or original cost
but Sutton wanted money. " Well," said Elliot, let me
see the note." Sutton handed him the note, and Elliot very
deliberately tore it in bits. Then to appease the man, paid
him in trade. On another, occasion Elliot, for a small



LIFE OK COLOMEL TALBuT. 1 1 9

man's wife, he was degraded from the office of Minis-
ter, and he removed to Talbot Street, v.here lie
obtained land, and set up a store. Having already
committed the crime of adultery, he cdded that of
bigamy, by marrying a second wife, while the first
was living in Ireland or the United States.

By parismony, cunning, shaving and fraud, this
worthless character, accumulated a large property,
but the arm of the Lord overtook hin in the midst of
his sins, and he died, uuregretted and unhonored,
like the beasts that perish, a miserable example of
the folly and wickedness of worshipping the mammon,
of unrighteousness.

After the settlement had got into a flourishing
condition, another of these itinerant preachers came
over from the United States, to enlighten the settlers,
and the following account of his pregrinations ap-
peared in one of the local papers, cautioning the in-
habitants to look out for a uolf in sheep's clothing,

' The Rev. M a few days ago crossed over

from Detroit, and wended his way into one of the



amount bought of a minor (the heir) a fourth of his interest
in a 200 acre lot of land, a valuable farm. Made out the
deed, but instead of the 60 acres, Inserted the whole lot, and
the lad signed it. Some years alter it was found the father
had made a will, and Elliot was baffled, lie had the cool
effrontery to prosecute his claim for the money advanced, in
the Court of Queen's Bench, -where his rillany was fully
exposed.



ISO l-IFE Of COLOKXL TALBOT.

western Townships, where he preached, and was
afterwards entertained by one of the settlers. Being
in a very ragged and destitute state, the settler lent
him a new suit of clothes, which he had by him, and
in these he was to preach on a certain day; but
instead of keeping his appointment, he proceeded to
another Township, 50 or 60 miles distant, where he
collected a congregation and, preached the word.
Here he arranged to preach on a future day, and in
the meantime desired to edify some more of the
stray sheep at no great distance; but being wearied,
one of his hearers, acting the part of the good
Samaritan, set him on his beast, having only a halter
and skin saddle. Being thus clad and mounted, his
reverence proceeded a sufficient distance, and poured
the waters of life freely on another congregation
where meeting being concluded he made a fresh
jippointment, and borrowed a saddle and bridle.
Thence he journeyed eastward. By this time, the
first victim had started in search of his clothes, and
tracked the preacher to the place where he had
borrowed a horse, ths owner of which joined in
the pursuit, and the two were not very long before
they discovered the man who had lent the saddle and
bridle, and where a congregation had assembled?
according to appointment. After a fruitless pursuit,
application being made to a magibtrate in St.
Thomas, it was discovered that the reverend vag-



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 121

bond had decamped, having first sc!d the hc-rcc and
appointments

Such were some of the spiritual lights which
dawned on the settlement in early days, but as has
already been stated, when the settlers had overcome
the difficulties of opening up the forest, and had
acquired abundance of the creature comforts of life,
and the wants of the body were well supplied, the
welfare of the soul became a matter of more solici-
tude. Ministers of religion became more permanently
located, and with them, dissension and sectarian strife
entered into the settlement, and became the prolific
source of political and religious warfare.

The poverty of the first settlers and the want of
education, rendered them an easy prey to the cant-
ing hypocrites, who infested the settlement, and who
found it much easier to excite their feelings and to
work upon their prejudices, than to instruct them in
the duties of practical piety.



CHAPTER XIV.

HON. 7,. BURNHAJI A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
THE INDIGNANT PRETENDER A KNOWING SHOT.

A character worthy of a place in these memoirs,
and one of Colonel Talbot's numerous visitors, was
the IIjii. Z. Burnham.

The life of the Hon. Zaccheur, Burhain, father
k



122 LIFE OFCOLONKL TALBOi.

of the Rev. Mark Burnham, aflfords an example of
the successful career of one of the pioneers of the
forest, unsurpassed, if equalled in Canada, and holds
out an encouraging prospect to all who Tpursue the
peaceful arts of husbandry, with industry and perse-
verance. He camo first to Canada, from New
Hampshire, in the United States, about the year
1797 having followed his brother, Asa Burnham, a
land surveyor, who had preceded him. Several
other brothers settled in Canada, about the same
time, and in the same 'neighborhood, Cobourg and
Port Hope. Zaccheus Burnham, was a powerfully
built man, more than six feet high, with a fine, manly
countenance, and a clear head. His first essay in the
woods of Canada, was distressingly unfortunate, for
he nearly chopped his foot off the first winter, and
was laid up most of the year. This misfortune, to a
man who had only his axe to depend on, was very
trying and particularly unfortunate for a new begin-
ner in the woods. Mr. Burnham, however, nothing
daunted, persevered in chopping out a clearing, and
so far succeeded in settling himself in life, that in the
year 1800 he went to his native country for a domes-
tic partner, and returned the same winter, with a
young wife, with whom he continued to live between
50 and GO years, on the beautiful farm he owned,
adjoining the courthouse, at Cobourg. This farm
consists of- GOO acres, one half cleared, and in a high



LIFE OP COLONEL TALBOT. 123

state of cultivation. To have made such a property
by dint of labour alone, would have been work suffi-
cient for the life of an ordinary man, but this was a
small portion of the property he died possessed of,
after having expended very considerable sums of
money on his children, and grandchildren.

Looking back through the vista of time, we may
derive an instructive and interesting lesson, in con-
templating the results of 90 years' industry and
perseverance, in the discharge of every duty, whether
of a private and social, or of a public nature. The
difficulties to be encountered when Zaccheus Burnham
settled in the woods at Cobourg, were just such astho
early settlers had to overcome under Colonel Talbot,
but Mr. Burnham had not the advantage which the
Talbot settlers had, in having a powerful friend to
guide them, and even to provide for their wants.
When Mr. Burnham returned from New Hampshire
in 1800, with his young wife and household stuff
they travelled in sleighs as far as Kingston, but even
in those early days, as at present, the treacherous
snow in the month of February melted under their
feet, and it took them 6 days, through mud and mire,
to accomplish a journey which may now be done in
half the number of hours instead of days.

The details of a life so useful and prosperous as
that of Zaccheus Burnham, would fill a volume . To
raise a flock of sheep and collect a few cattle, was the



124 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

labor of many years. It is interesting to note from
what small beginnings such great results are pro-
duced. After several years' labor and privations, Mr.
Burnham succeeded ia purchasing two ewes. These
were either lost or destroyed; then he travelled at
least 100 miles, and brought home two more, one
of these died, the other lived to produce lambs,
but these were all destroyed by the pigs. At
last he managed to purchase half a dozen sheep,
and part of these he lost. At length he had
raised wh. -..; enough to buy a cow and a yoke of
oxen, and from this time he began to prosper.
When the war broke out with the United States in
1812, Mr. Burnham's was almost the only farm along
the road where supplies could be obtained, and
troops on the line of march quartered and provided
for. This afforded him a good market for his spare
cattle and surplus produce. A good foundation being
thus laid, everything he touched seemed to prosper*
His increasing wealth enabled him to assist others,
vand he loaned monies on mortgage on the most
equitable terms. His investments were so judi-
ciously made, that it was a settled opinion in the
neighborhood, "nd gave riso to the constant remark,
when any person became involved and ran away,
that if he owed Mr. Burnham, he would be sure to
come back and pay him.

Mr. Burnham's sterling character and wealth, as



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 125

the country became more settled, enabled him to be
very useful. He was for many years Treasurer of
the District of New Castle, and although his educa-
tion was of the most limited kind, his accounts wer
always correctly kept, and all the monies plac 3d in
his hands, were faithfully paid over whioh was
seldom the case in those early times, when money
was very scarce. Mr. Burnham was also fepnoved
with a seat in the Provincial House of Assembly for
many years, and subsequently, \as made a member
of the Legislative Council, besides being a Justice
of the Pcaco and Colonel of Militia. In all these
capacities, the Hon. Zaccheus Burnham acquitted
himself with great credit, and ranked with the first
men of the Province. Besides four daughters, he
had only one son, the reverend gentlemen before
mentioned. Having ample means, ha determined
to bestow upon this son the best education wl.ieh
the highest Institution in the world could impart, and
therefore sent him to England, to matriculate in ! o
University of Oxford, after he had gone through his
studies in Canada, under Dr. Strachan. Having
obtained his degree, he subsequently took Holy
Orders and became a clergyman of the Church of
England.

The ins'ances are rare indeed, where one man,
in the same line of life, accomplished as much as
Mr. Bunilnrn, and the same measure of success does
k*



126 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

not always attend the labors of other men, however
industrious and dilligent they may have been. But
it is certain, that in the work of clearing the forest,
and in the pursuit of agriculture, no success cau be
expected, where unremitting labor and dilligence are
wanting. It was supposed that Mr. Burnham died
worth $1,000,000, this was, no doubt, an exaggera-
tion, but even half that amount, considering that he
had expended large suras in building mills and in
other improvements for the benefit of his children
and grand-children, makes him to have been one of
the most wealthy, and certainly not one of the least
useful, men in the Province.

From a funeral sermon, preached by the Arch-
deacon of York, A. N. Bethune, with whom Mr.
Burnham communicated for several years, we extract
the following testimony to his worth and usefulness.
" He was one of those who might be said to have
come as a pilgrim to this new land, with all a
pilgrim's risks and hardships. The struggles of early
settlement, its trials and privations, he had full ex-
perience of, of all that in a social, moral, and reli-
gious view, the tillers of the soil, just reclaimed from
the wilderness, must necessarily endure.

" And his was an example of the effect of thrift
and industry, and unbending rectitude. Where God
vouchsafes health and strength, physical difficulties

give way to energy and resolution : and where



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 127

there is the will, along with help and blessing from
above, the solitude is soon made to bo jocund, and
the wilderness to rejoice and blossom. From little
beginnings there was a large prosperity, the sure
result of well directed toil and steady uprightness.
And this long ago brought him into places of
honor and trust, marks of public confidence which
would not have been accorded, were there not the
conviction of a strict integrity, as well as of clearness
of judgment and general capacity."

Such was the Hon. Zaccheus Burnham, the
wealthiest farmer in Canada, who died at Cobourg in
the 80th year of his age, honorcJ and respected by
all who knew him.

Probably few men ever had better opportunities,
or were placed in situations in which they could
study human nature, better than Colonel Talbot.
None was ever more disinterested in all his land
transactions with settlers and emigrants. The large
landed estate which he acquired, was in no instance
the fruit of bargains between the Colonel and his
settlers. Ail his land was obtained by grants from
the Crown, on terms which he himself dictated, the
speculations he entered into with the British Govern-
ment, he strictly adhered to, and he acquired a very
valuable property by so doing; but had he felt dis-
posed to take advantage of his situation, and to
increase his property by speculating' among his set-



128 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

tiers he Lad ample opportunities of doing so, and he
received daily lessons in the art from the land job-
bers who infested his window. Many were the
attempts made to outwit the Colonel, but his saga-
city never failed to detect impostors, and to frustrate
their designs, either upon himself or any of his set-
tlers.

Colonel Talbot, although many of his settlers
were native Americans, had an aversion to Yankees,
or more properly speaking, those clever fellows, who
are considered wide awake at ,a bargain or specula-
lion. Of such fellowd the Colonel used to say, that
they acquired property by whittleing chips and
barter or in his own figurative language, they began
by giving a shingle for a blind pup, which they
swopped for a goose and then turned into a sheep.

One of these clever fellows once fell in with an
imported Englishman, on his road to Port Talbot in
search of land. The old countryman, as all from the
British Tsles were called, was English from top to
bottom, or cap a, pie, as the French would say.
His low crowned hat, and thick soled half boots, well
buttoned gaiters, and well worn short clothes, with a
full breasted, worked smock frock outside of all,
stamped him as one of England's own. The other
was a half Yankee, half Canadian sort of looking
fellow, neither pumpkin nor pine apple, as a Yankee
would say, dressed in blue grey short coat, swallow



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 129

tail, and pants to match. They agreed to journey
together, and made a halt at old Waters' tavern,
where they received full instructions as to their future
proceedings. Here it was arranged that Amos, (the
clever fellow) should try his luck first, while hia
companion John, remained at the tavern to wait his
turn. As soon as Amos reached the well known
window, he was accosted a? usual by the Colonel,
with

" Well, what do you want?''

" I guess, Colonel, I should like to draw a lot
of land !"

"Well, I guess, I have got none foryju."

So Amos returned to his companion, in no very
amiable temper, swearing to be upsides with the old
coon, who had taken him for a Yankee, and that lie
would try him again, and if he did'nt give him a lot
he might do as he darned please. " But I say, friend
John," he continued, " let us change coats, and old
Beelzebub won't take me for a Yankee then, I guess."
The happy thought was soon carried into effect, and
Amos stood up in the smock frock, while the swallow
tail lodged on John's ample posteriors. Thus equip-
ped, A mos made his approach to the window, feigning
as well as he could", the manner of the burly Eng-
lishman, and without guessing at all, merely said.
" 1'ze com'd, Colonel, to axe yer honor, if your honor
could give me a lot of land, cause Mrs. and the



130 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

family want to become settlers. The Colonel looked
at him full in the face, then turned his head, and
with his old husky voice, called out. " Jeffry, Jeffry,
set on the dogs, here's a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Not only did wolves in sheep's clothing often
present themselves at Colonel Talbot's window, but
others as frequently appeared without any such dis-
guise. Some of these would put the rough side out
and try what loud talk would do. On one occasion
an Irishman, proud of his origin, and whose patro-
nimic told at once that ho was a son of the Emerald
Isle, finding that he could not prevail with the
Colonel, on the score of being a fellow-countryman,
resorted to rudeness, anl with more warmth than
discretion, stood upon his pedigree, and told the
CJoloncl that his family was as honorable and the
cjat of arms as respectable and as ancient as the
Talbot's of Malahide. Jeffry and the dogo were
always the last resource on such occasions. " My
dogs don't understand heraldry," was the laconic
retort, and if you don't take yourself off, they will not
leave a coat to your back."

At another time one of those shrewd, ready
wilted inhabitants, who had received his early educa-
tion in the United States, but ha"d made Canada his
home, and preferred to live under the British Govern-
ment, made his way to Port Talbot, in search of a
lot of land, when the following characteristic dialogue



LIFE Of I'OLuNKL f ALfeU'f.



131



look place. The Colonel, be it observeJ, although
at one time he rejected the equivocal testimony of
certificates of character, on this occasion, asked the
applicant, (Thurston) if he haj got a recommend.
The man promptly replied, that he had; "and from
whom," rejoined the Colonel. " From the Almighty,"
was the reply. " And what does He say." " Why, he
recommends me to take care of myself, and to get as
much land as I can." " Very well," said the Colonel
'* that is a good recommendation, and you shall have
a lot."



CHAPTER XV.

COLONEL TALBOT'S REASONS FOR NOT MARRYING
MATRIMONY A LOVING COUPLE.

Colonel Talbot was never married, and by many
persons he has been set down as a woman-hater, but
this was by no means the case, for he often enter-
tained ladies of the highest rank, and took pleasure
in rendering their visits to Port Talbot, as agree-
able as possible. The celebrated Mrs. Jameson
was among tlu number of his fair visitors, and she
has spoken of her sojourn there as being highly grati-
fying.

There were, as there always is, a class of
females who were the Colonel's aversion ladies,
whose curiosity rises in proportion as the object
which excite? it, is concealed "fiom their view, "I



1 '}-' r.IKU of COLONEL TALIJoT.

happens to bd be) AH 1 their reach. Helving on the
attraction of female ehurms, which they probably
never possessed, or which time, the common enemy,
had obliterated, some of these ladies errant would
fain have explored the secreis of Port Talbot; where

a man could live without the solace of female society*
u being, apparently, callous to the dictates of love,
and insensible to the finest feelings of the human
heart. But the Colonel, c msidering discretion tho
better part of valour, seemed 'determined 10 run no
risks, or to engage in unequal contests; therefore,
whenever it wns hinted that Miss So and So, pro-
posed visiting Port Talbot, he leant a deaf ear to the
proposal.

A good anecdote is told, however, relative to
the Colonel's celibacy. A friend having bantered
him on 1h subject of his remaining so long in a state
of single blessedness, took an opportunit y of ques-
tioning him about it, and in the course of a familiar
chat, asked him why he remained so long single,
when there was so much need of a help-mate.
" Why," said the Colouel, " to tell you the truth, I
never saw but one woman that I really cared anything
about, and she would'nt have me, and to use an old
joke, those who would have me, the devil would'nt
have them. Miss Johnstone," continued the Colonel,
(lie daughter of Sir J. Johnstone, was the only girl
I fvor lovoci, and she would'nt have me. For the



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 133

truth of this story we will not vouch, although it was
related by one of the early settlers.* The pro-
bability is, that Colonel Talbot, having placed himself
beyond the reach of the society of his early youth,
how much soever he might have desired it, could not
with propriety have entered into the matrimonial
state. It is no reflection on the early settlers to say,
that there was not among them any lady qualified
to support the dignity of Port Talbot. Such a per-
son he must have sought in the neighborhood of more
polished society, and had he founi a lady willing to
share the honors of Malahide Castle in Canada,
he would Lave had to build a castle, and to have
engaged a retinue of domestics to perform very dif-
ferent services, from thowe which the people employed
by him had to perform.



* Charles Gustavus Adolphua Tozer, a farmer of
Malahide, who related the above anecdote, was one of those
unfortunate individuals whom parents encumber with long
names. Tozer says that Colonel Talbot and himself were
on very intimate terms at one tiT.e, so much so, thut they
addressed each other by the familiar names of Charles and
Tom. That the Colonel was very anxious that Tozer should
build a grist mill, and offered to advance him 1000 for
that purpose; but that on consulting his mother, she
dissuaded him from undertaking it! As a warning
to parents who are fond of long names, it may be stated,
that some years ago a Mr. Gilbert, on becoming father
of a son, and heir, (to hard labor) was so charmed wtch
Tozer"s name, that he had it prefixed to his own in full.
Bo ths child was christened .Charles Gustavus Adolphua
Tozer Gilbert, a nnme long enough for a German Prince
but the child'did not long survive the operation.



134 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

Besides, Colonel Talbot was addicted to a bach-
elor's life from his early youth, which would seem
to have originated in a sense of superiority, (not the
most amiable trait in his character,) and which could
brook no equal. Many men entertain a very erro-
neous opinion that by marrying, they sacrifice their
independence, and such a sentiment may have influ-
encedjthe Colonel's conduct, but it is a great mis-
take for any man w> imagine that he is safe in
attempting to maintain a degree of independence
incompatit le with human nature, and contrary to the
order of Divine Providence.

A man who continues a bachelor beyond a cer-
tain time of life, may be considered like the barren
fig tree, of which it was said, "cut it down wJiy cum-
bereth it the ground" There may be_cases in which
it is prudent not to marry, and Colonel Talbot's may
have been one, but, generally speaking, a man
loses much more than he gains, by avoiding matri-
mony.

In the imperfect state of human nature, inde-
pendence signifies an 'habitual desire to fulfill the
design and end of our creation, in accordance with
the will of God, and in the lawful enjoyment of
what He has ordained. What bachelor ever did
this?

It is true, in many intances, the married state
ia a very miserable one, and thousands would wil-



LIFB OF COLOKEL TALBOT. 135

lingly sever the tie which binds man and wife
together, but this does not argue that they would be
better off by being disunited. In married life, the
instances are rare indeed, where there are not faults
on both sides, and there is no state where these faults
are so sure of detection and of being constantly kept
in view, as in the married state; bad indeed, must
that man or woman be, who does not endeavor to
correct the faults, which in all their hideousaess, are
daily exhibited to his or her view. Married people
may hide their faults from everybody else, but they
cannot hide them from one another; if they do not
improve under such searching scrutiny, then it may
be said that the last state of these is worse than the
first. Therefore it is rational to conclude, that where
marriage does not confer present happiness , it cor-
rects evil habits, and prevents greater degrees of
wickedness.

An amusing anecdote is told of a married pair
who had become residents of the Talbot Settlement,
and for some years occupied a respectable position.
The male partner in the concern was a professional
man, of respectable appearance and gentlemanly
manners ; the lady was handsome aad attractive ruby
lips, a mouth not too small, pretty black eyes, a
handsome countenance and glossy black hair in

short, Mrs. J was the beau ideal of a pretty

brunette, and the mother of several lovely children.



136 LITE OF OOLOKKL TALBOT.

Everything combined in these parties to render the
marriage state happy, as far as outward appearances
went, until the occurrence of which w^ are about to
speak.

It was remarkable, as it very frequently is in
other cases, what manifestations of the tenderest

affection Mr. and Mrs. J continually exhibited

towards each other, on occasions of social intercourse
with their neighbors. It seemed as if the honeymoon
had never ended. " My dear Charles!" and "Julia
my love!" were the honied words, with which they
addressed each other. Such a constant warmth of
affection, and the glowing heat of love r growing
brighter the longer it burned, did not fail to attract
the attention of the friends, whom they occasionally
met, some of whom had experienced a decline in the
ardour of their affections, and had tasted many drops
of alloy, mingled with the felicity in the cup of con-
nubial bliss. But with Mr. and Mrs. J there

appeared to be no abatement in their affections
After a whil, however, something like cross words,
and even angry expressions were heard, accidently,
to pass between this pair of doves, but these, like
drops of leinon syrup, were only considered as neces-
sary to give flavor to the cooling draught, to allay
the thirst of a love perhaps too fervid.

Oaone occasion this loving couple were travel-
ling in the direction of Hamilton, along the Talbot



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 137

Road, and stopped at Mrs. McAllister's. Mrn. Me
Allister was a well known hostess to all who travel-
led along the Talbot Road to Brantford. Her house
was at Mount Pleasant, near Brantford, and parties
journeying from Simcoe and Long Point, aa well as
from the Talbot Settlement, made it convenient to
stop at Mother McAlllister's, as she was familiarly
called. In those clays, Sovereens.was the last stop-
ping place on the Talbot Road, east of St. Thomas,
40 miles, and from thence, after pa sing through
long and dreary forests, travellers looked forward
with pleasing aoticipation to a comfortable night's
rest at Mrs. McAllister's. The old lady, like Dame
Partlet, was fond of seasoning the dishes with a lit tie

gossip, and the adventure of Mr. and Mrs. J

who had made her acquaintance sometime previous,
aided a very interesting episode to her accumulating

stock. Mr. and Mrs. J she described as a

most affectionate couple, " like love in a tub till the
bottom fell out." When they arrived first at her
house, it was "take care how you step, dear!" and
"yes love !" and " dear love." and " love dear!" began
or ended all their chat till in the middle of the night,
a violent altercation was heard in the passage,

and soon after, Mr. J rushed out of the house

in a great rage, vowing an eternal separation, and
leaving his dear Julia to the sympathies of Mrs, Mo



138 LIKE of CuLoNEL TALBuT.

Allister, to rmuru over her irreparable loss.
The angry tone and violence of Mr. J 'a lan-
guage left no doubt of his unchangeable determination*
Two nights after, the old lady, in the middle of the
night, heard somebody unfastening the outer door,
and, before she had time to reach the passage, " my
dear Julia " had rushed into the arms of her " dear
Charles." And the scene which followed, the old
woman was unequal, to. Ever after, this loving pair
found it necessary to their existence, to have such
alternations of loving and quarrelling. And for the
consolation of one half of the world, it may be said
the other half live on in the same way.



CHAPTER XVI.
SIR A. N. McNAB MILITIA TRAINING COLONEL

BOSTWICK ANH THE VOLUNTEERS TRIP TO OAK-
LAND THE QUEEN'S BIRTH DAY D. RAPPLEJE
BELA SHAW.

Among the conspicuous characters of Canada,
who were the early friends of Colonel Talbot, we may
name Sir A. N. McNab, who has played so distin-
guished a part in the affairs of the Province. Sir
Allan was the son of a British officer, who, to use
his own words, " was so good a fellow, that he did
not leave a great deal for his heirs to quarrel about."
So he had to be the maker of his own fortune. And
it would appear anomalous to say, that Sir Allan



LIFE OF COLONEL TALEOT. 139

spent it before he made it. How this was accom-
plished we must leave to some one well versed in
the science of economy to explain, but certain it is,
that Sir Allan has never been accused of living
within his income ; and the probability is, that like
his good old father, his heirs will have little to quarrel
about. At an early age he was first rated as a mid-
shipman in the navy, but shortly afterwards joined
the army, in which he became an ensign. Few men
have the same advantages of per sonal appearance,
to help them on through life. Above the middle
size, well proportioned, sparkling eyes, with a
handsome and intelligent countenance, a nd a brisk
air, his tout ensemble was well calculated to attract
attention to this, if we add a lively wit, a consider-
able share of good humour, and a devil may care
manner, we need not be surprised that he pushed
his way successfully through many scenes of public
life.

After being engaged in active service during the
American war, he turned his attention to the law,
and practised for many years ia Hamilton, where he
built the McN T ab Castle, which he called Dundurn,
a classic building covering a considerable extent of
ground, and fronting on Burlington Bay on what
are known, as the Burlington Heights. Sir Allan
was selected at an early day as one of the represent-
atives of the Upper Canada House of Assembly, and



140 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

represented the County of Wentworth, and after-
wards the City of Hamilton, for many years, both
before and after the union of the Provinces of Upper
and Lower Canada. He became Speaker of the
united Parliament, under the administration of Lord
Metcalfe, and Premier of Canada, under that of Lord
Elgin. Although a staunch conservative in principle
he had a happy faculty of conciliating all parlies,
which arose from his frank manner and skilful tact.
In the year 1837, when the rebellion broke out
in Lower Canada, followed by an outbreik in Upper
Canada, Sir Allan was prompt in rendering service
to the Government, and so rallied the militia forces
of the Province around him, that hs soon succeeded
in scattering the rebels wherever he found them. A.
troop of volunteer cavalry and a considerable num-
ber of militia of the Talbot Settlement, started from
St. Thomas on the firs\ news of the outbreak, and
joined Sir Allan at 0 military parade, than
to extinguish fires. These all made gorgeous dis-
plays on the last Queen's Birth- day, and the city of
London, C- W. which thirty years ago, contained
more stumps than people, could this year muster,
artillery, cavalry, rifle and Highland companies,
besides the regular militia, all anxious to testify
their love for the Queen, without the least fear of
provoking the jealousy of Prince Albert.

As we have remarked elsewhere, Colonel Talbot
appeared to be averse to military parade, and in fact
shunned it as much as he could ; had he lived to the



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 153

present day, he might have been astonished a t the
displays made in the settlement. He always had the
command of one regiment, the 1st battallion Middle-
sex, and although in his latter days, he took no active
part in militia movements, he did not fail to do what
his experience taught him was necessary. He held
communication with his officers, either personally
or by correspondence, and dictated what should be
done.

Captain Daniel Rappleje, was one of the earliest
settlers in Yarmouth, and at one time, owned the
two hundred acres of land on which a great part of
the town of St Thomas now stands. He commanded
a company of militia, and had for his Lieutenant,
Benjiman Wilson (the gallant Lieutenant Colonel
before mentioned, who owned the white mare,)
these officers, we are infoimed, appeared at general
training with sword belts made of bass wood bark,
and instead of the drum boy, who generally stands
with his drum in the centre of the parade ground,
Captain Rappleje stationed a keg of whiskey, which
was frequently referred to during the progress of the
training, and caused the company to break up in dis-
order. On these occasions, Captain Rappleje _did
not fail to call on his company to drink the King's
health, and before they separate 1 some of them gave
proof of their courage, by engaging in pugilistic
combat, when as one of the old settlers, quaintly



154 LIFE 0F COLONEL TALBOT.

relates, Abe -^ would knock Jehial as straight

as a loon's foot.

Captain. Daniel Rappleje was much esteemed
among the settlers, and was the first who buftt a
grist mill in St. Thomas. He WAS like many others
an easy-going sort of man, and was not very long in
getting rid of the very valuable lot of land he owned
as before mentioned. Aboui this time, a knot of
knowing persons had gathered round St. Thomas,
and gambling and speculation occupied much of their
vacant time. Chief among these was Justus Wilcox ,
.a well known character, who might have aspired to
the dignity of a black-leg, had his lot been cast in the
midst of a more enlightened community. Aa it was,
money being exceedingly scarce in those days, they
could only play for land and its produce, and in this
way Captain Rappleje got pretty well fleeced by
Wilcox and his associates.

It was about this time, that old Bigelow, (the
inventor of black salts and potash in the settlement)
Mr. Goodhue, (now the Hon. J. G. Goodhue) Dr.
Goodhue, and Dr. Chas. Duncombe, one of Me
Kenzie's Generals in 1837, commenced business in
St. Thomas; subsequently Bela Sha\v and Lucius
Bigelow, occupied the place of the two former, in
the busines of barter cf goods and physic, whether
for land, black salts or wheat Among such
deservedly esteemed clever men, Rappleje could not



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 155

have been expected to hold his own long, and there-
fore he retreated to Yarmouth heights, where he
died possessed of a good farm.

The name of Bela Shaw must long dwell in the
remembrance of the inhabitants of the Talbot Set-
tlement, for the old settlers while recounting to the
young f jlks the scenes of their earlier days, will often
repeat the name of Bela Shaw. He must have lived
and carried on business in St Thomas at least for
thirty years, either in conjunction with Bigelow, or
George Goodhue, and during that time he acquired
a very considerable and extended influence with a
large number of the settlers. He was a thorough
American, or rather Yankee, in all his ideas and
tastes, but nevertheless, a man of an amicable dis-
position, and kind hearted. His affinities naturally
inclined him to take the liberal side in politics, which
in those latter days, was considered the same thing
as being 'a rebel, and Mr. Shaw was looked on
by the tory party with a good deal of suspicion.
He attended some of the political meetings of the
disaffected, and when McKenzie hatched his scheme
of rebellion, Bela Shaw was pounced upon as one of
his parly. Poor man, he was too inoffensive to injure
any one knowingly, but this did not shield him from
the darkest suspicions of traitorous designs.. When
the volunteers and militia started from St Thomas
to Oakland, Bela Shaw was invited to join the party,



lot) LIFK OF COLONEL TALBOT.

an invitation he no more dared to decline, than a
subject, when invited to dine with the Queen ! on
pain of incurring Her Majesty's displeasure. As a
matter of personal safety, poor Shaw was but too
glad to accept the invitation, and had thus an oppor-
tunity afforded him of witnessing the miserable effects
of an unsuccessful rebellion.. He saw his friends
on every hand roughly handled, their houses pillaged
and forays in the barn yards of peaceable farmers,
who had not learned to belch toryism, and in fact,
did not know the right from the wrong side in poli-
tics. Certainly, many of the peaceable inhabitants
were shamefully robbed and abased by some of those
who acted the part of ultra tories, and who had
taken up the trade of politics on the tory side, with-
out any regard to principle. During this forced
march, Shaw had ample time for reflection, and
there is no doubt he formed the resolution of extrica-
ting himself from the British Lion's paws as soon
as he could. On his return from Oakland, however,
more misery awaited him.

Colonel Mahlon Burwell, who had by this time
recovered from the state of alarm into which the first
report of McKenzie's outbreak had thrown him it is
even said Burwell gave up all for lost, when he first
heard the astounding news, came down to St.
Thomas, determined to incarcerate Bela Shaw, for his
supposed connexion with the Liberal Newspaper,



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. , 157

which had weekly vomitted treason; but more likely
for thwarting Burwell in some of his election con-
tests, for Burwell was excessively vindictive,
Luckily for Shaw, there were magistrates in St.
Thomas, who would not commit an act of cruelity, to
gratify Burwell's morbid feelings of revenge. Among
these Magistrates was Colonel John Bostwick, who
deferrred to Colonel Burwell in everything else.
Even Bostwick would not gratify Burwell by sending
Shaw to jail, on insufficient testimony. Although
Burwell offered to make an affidavit, as strong as the
nature of the case would admit of. So poor
Shaw escaped and having settled his affairs as soon
as he could, he took his departure from Canada, and
established himself in the western States, under a
government more congenial to his feelings, t han the
knock-down, drag out sort of administration he had
recently had some experience of.

In Shaw's time, the merchant or storekeeper,
as he was generally called, was unquestonably the
most influential member of civil society, as he was the
only medium through which the settlers could barter
to supply their wants, and with few exceptions the
farmers were indebted to the storekeeper to a large
amount. On the other hand, the storekeeper was
largely indebted to the merchants of Montreal, for
Montreal was the emporium of trade in those days,



1 58 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

if it be not so still. And the merchants of Montreal
were no doubt equally liable to the merchants and
manufacturers of England. But the farmers in the
Talbot Settlement knew little of the ramifications of
trade, beyond the knowledge they acquired through
Hamilton and Warren, and Bela Shaw, or Bigelow
and Shaw. These were the principal, and almost
the only storekeepers in the settlement forty years
ago, and as each of these firms took opposite sides in
politics, they did not fail to influence their customers
by every means in their power.

Shaw's manner was smooth and persuasive, and
his store had become the rendezvous of all the dis-
affected and discontented spirits of the settlement.
How far he would have gone, had McKenzie's
attempt been successful, I cannot say, but there are
not wanting those, who believe him to have been as
guilty of treason as the ten men who forfeited their
lives on the gallows at London; but as he did not
commit himself by overt acts, it would not have been
just to have hung him on suspicion ! Instead of
joining his friends outside the court-house at London,
he has lived at Bx>ck River to become a very old man,
and to assist in working out those republican Insti-
tutions which he always cherished.



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 159

CHAPTER XVII,

SIB[J. B . ROBINSON/ JOHN WILSON, AND THE LAW-
YERS OF TUI SETTLEMENT .

Of the numerous guests, whom Colonel Talbot
entertained at Port Talbot, Chief Justice Robinson,
the learned and estimable premier of the Bench of
Upper Canada, was the most welcome, and was
frequently a visitor at Colonel Talbot's. This hospi-
tality was reciprocated by the Chief as Sir J. B.
Robinson is familarily called by all who love to do
him honor and Colonel Talbot was always an hon-
ored guest of the Chief's whenever he visited Little
York, (or Toronto). This fact speaks volumes in
favor of Colonel Talbot's standing with gentlemen of
high rank and unblemished reputation. The inti-
macy existing for many years between Colonel Tal-
bot and Chief Justice Robinson, stood on the best
footing, mutual respect. It was not an ordinary
acquaintance, or that of mere formal society, but it
was the friendship of men of mind, and of refined
manners.

Chief Justice Robinson is deservedly the pride
and ornament of the Bench of Upper Canada; and
he is one of the few, who have maintained the dig-
nity of the Bench for many years, to the universal
satisfaction of the public. In early life he was a
keen politician of the tory school, as most gentlemen
were in those clays, and served in the Provincial



160 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

Parliament, until he was raised to the Bench, which
happened more than a quarter of a century ago.
He had been previously Solicitor and Attorney
General of Upper Canada, and at so early an age, as
to warrant the conclusion that he was a young man
of precocious talents ; without, however, implying that
he has exhibited any of those signs of incapacity or
decay in after life, which so frequently mark the
career of young men who advance too rapidly. From
his first entrance into public life Chief Justice Robin-
son has never lost ground.

Like the late Lord Erskine, who was so eloquent
and distinguished a member of the English Bar, the
Chief was indebted largely in his boyhood, to the
fostering care of a good mother, for his success in
after life, as well as to the kindness and protection of
Arch-deacon Stuart of Kingston, the father of the
present venerabla Arch-deaconj but without his own
persevering application and unwearied exertions he
never could have arrived at the exalted position to
which he has attained.

Not only has the Chief distinguished himself as
a lawyer and judge, but as a subject, he has always
been prominent in the field, whenever occasion
seemed to require his services. He was with General
Brock at the taking of Detroit, and drew up the
articles of Capitulation, and at the outbreak in 1837
we well remember, he threw by the ermine, and



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 161

joined the militia, armed and equipped as a soldier
ready to lay down his life in defence of the Crown.

It is rarely we meet with men in public life,
whose characters are adorned with so many excel-
lencies, as that of the Chief Justice of Upper Canada,
and it is lefreshing to contemplate a character, amid
so many in the public service, stained with nearly
every vice, which even the cynic cannot disfigure.
As a Judge, his character stands as high as the
dignity ^conferred on him by Her Majesty, has placed
it ; as a citizen his exemplary conduct, has won for him
the respect and good opinion of all. In the perform-
ance of his public duty, the Chief's urbanity, and
even the silvery tones of his voico, and a remarkably
intelligent countenance never failed to command
admiration. In this respect' he has the advantage
of his eloquent brother, Chief Justice Draper, of the
Common Pleas who, by his florid oratory, and
powerful appeals can awaken the sensibilities of the
most stolid and hardened culprits; but he cannot so
easily soothe the ruffled passions by the beaming
intelligence of such a countenance as Sir J. B,
Robinson's, The Chief, however, can exhibit great
severity of tone and language, whenever the occasion
requires it ; but his general deportment is mild and
dignified.

But speaking in such commendatory terms of
Chief Justice Robinson, which I do with some degree

K*



It>2 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBoT.

of diffidence, considering my own inability to do jus-
tice to his legal character, and the indelicacy of prais-
ing a man to his faceas well as the suspicion of
writing his biography out of season, I am animated
not only by a desire of doing honor to the subject of
these memoirs, in whose company I have had the
pleasure of meeting the Chief, but, by what is of
paramount consideration, a just regard for that good
sense and high principle, which distinguish the man
who fears God and honors the Queen.

No man, should in the performance of his re-
ligious duties, or to prove his loyalty, seek the praise
of men, but when, from purely religious and moral
convictions, he endeavors to do his duty to God and
to his country, he is entitled to the rewards which
will inevitably follow from such a course of conduct.
Such a character will never fail to command the
respect and applause of his fellow-men. The value
of such an example as Chief Justice Robinson's life
presents, cannot be over-estimated, either by those
who are ambitious of rising to distinction in their
profession, or by these who desire to see their child-
ren grow up to be respectable and useful members
of society. Such men as the Chief are a living
testimony, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning
ofwisckm, and that the righteous shall flourish like
the palrn tree.

I never ranked myself as an associate of either



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 163

Colonel Talbot or his friend, Chief Justice Itobinsoti,
(except, perhaps like one of those figure heads, who
used former lyto adorn the Bench in the character
of Associate Judges,) but while writing, I remember
the occasion on which I met both together at Port
Talbot. One of the young GilJespies had arrived in
St Thomas, while on a western tour, and being
anxious to show him some attention, I drove him to
Port Talbot. This being late in the day, we arrived
after dinner, and found the Chief and a select party
with the Colonel taking their dessert. I was rather
taken aback, at finding myself an uninvited visitor
at such a time, and stammered out the best apology
I could make; but was completely dumfoundered on
discovering that two more greater strangers than
ourselves, were treading on our heels, and pushed
themselves into the dining room as part of our com-
pany ! However Colonel Talbot bore the intrusion
with good humor, and Mr. Gillespie, finding himself
among former acquaintances, our visit proved very
agreeable, although it was an awkward centre temps*
At the time we are now speaking of, more than
twenty years ago, Colonel Talbot was still in vigorous
health, and was then at the age of between sixty
and seventy, cheerful, and well able to entertain his
select friends within, while he kept the land sharks
at a distance without. Although Chief Justice
Robinson was, undoubtedly a great favorite with tbe



164 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

%

Colonel, it was certainly not out of any particular
regard he had for the profession; for the specime^
of lawyers, who found their way into the settlement
as soon as the settlers had anything toquairel about,
were not likely to attract the favorable notice of a
man with such a nice sense of honor as Colonel
Talbot possessed. Conspicuous among these, wag
the somewhat celebrated Mr. John Wilson, of Lon-
don. Mr. Wilson came to London between 20 and
30 years ago, when that town was thinly inhabited,
and was for many years very successful. - After the
Coynes, no one seems to Lave excited Colonel
Talbot's aversion, more than Mr. Wilson, and he
spoke of him in terms too strong to repeat here. It
is more than probable, the Coynes, George Elliot,
and some other such troublesome customers, were
Mr. Wilson's clients, and they certainly chose a
representative, who could be as offensive as them-
selves. A man, whose bold effrontery has frequently
extorted the smile of astonishment from the Bench*
as well as the vulgar laughter of the crowd.

It must be admitted, that the lawyer even when
he is a man of delicate feelings, and is only doing his
duty to his clients, apart from a certain amount of
prejudice, which exists against the profession, is very
likely to incur the displeasure of those whom he is
employed to proceed agamst, but, if in addition to
this, he exhibits a callous and overbearing disposition



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 1C5

which seems to delight in the miseries he is instru-
mental in creating, and seizes any opportunity that
may offer, as an occasion for annoying the object of
his dislike, then he justly merits the application of the
opprobrioiis epithets so frequently bestowed on law-
yers, and renders himself an object of aversion to all
honest and honorable minded men.

Mr. Wilson came to London, at a time, when
there was no lawyer of good standing there, to pre-
occupy the ground, and he had the business nearly
all to himself; otherwise, he could never havo ad-
vanced to the position he now occupies ; for his tal-
ents are certainly not uncommon, in fact, exactly
fitted for Old Bailey practice, but here he would
scarcely have attained the celebrity of Alderman

Harmer, Edwin James, or the renowned -*

Bodkin. What was the particular occasion on which
his conduct was so offensive to Colonel Talbot, I do
not recollect. It was either because he was thwarted
in some land purchase of town lots, or because he
took up some vexatious case against the Colonel, at
the instance of some undeserving settler probably
both.

Colonel Talbot, like every other honest man,
had the utmost aversion to appearing in a Court of
Justice, merely to give some unimportant testimon
in a disreputable cause; or more likely to gratify an
unfeeling lawyer's spleen and his clients malvolence.
4 #



166 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

For some such purpose the Colonel was dragged to
Court on one occasion, and Mr. Wilson exercised his
ingenuity to draw the Colonel out, and shew the
power he had over him, that there, (in Court) he
was the Colonel's equal at least, and that he could not
screen himself from his vulgar gaze, behind the au-
dience window. Wilson was never more mistaken
in life ; for although he repeated his cross questions
two or three times, the Colonel with his back turned
towards him, answered the court in his own peculiar
quaint manner, without deigning to look at him.

I have been told a reconciliatian took place
between Colonel Talbot and Mr. Wilson, before the
Colonel's death. Be this as it may, there is still a
large margin left for improvement.

Nothing has more tended to temper Mr Wilson's
conduct as a barrister, than his having continually to
confront one of his own pupils, H. C . Beecher, Esq.,
whose gentlemanly manners and playful wit, often
brings up his old master short, if it does not make him
blush.

The lawyer has privileges in a Court of Justice,
which no other man can exercise in public, and when
he abuses these privileges, no opportunity should be
lost of holding him up to public scorn and indigna-
tion. The lawyer frequently stands in the place of
the murderer, the adulterer, the robber, the thief,
and the adepts of every species of crime, yot it is not



LIFE OP COLONEt TALBOT. 167

necessary that he should transform himself into the
likeness of the hideous monster, whose case he may
happen to have in hand.

It is vain to say the Judge will stop over zeal-
ous, hot headed barristers, when they become intem-
perate or abusive, and carry their impertinences too
far. Some Judges purposely close their ears, it is
believed, to all the barristers may say which has not
a direct bearing on the case, and will not trust them-
selves to follow learned gentlemen in their wander-
ings from the paths of truth ; nor do they seem to
pay attention to frequent violations of decorum, and
that regard for propriety and proper feeling, which a
heartless barrister discards, as soon as he throws the
black gown over his shoulders, be it silk or stuff. It
is really astonishing, the length to whicn some
Judges will allow barristers to proceed in their
inquiri es, and which really appear to have no other
object in view, but to torture a witness and to display
their zeal. However this may be, certain it is, that
the license allowed to barristers in a Court of Justice,
is frequently the cause and occasion of the most bru-
tal assaults on the feelings and characters of indivi-
duals, who may be unfortunate enough to be dragged
into Court.

Mr. Wilson for sometime represented the town
of London, in the Provincial House of Assembly, but
was such an impracticable trimmer in politics, that



168 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

no parly could trust him ; and he has had to retire
without even the compliment of a peerage. His
excessive desire to distinguish himself, and to boecme
a leading man, has led him to over act his part, and
his fine speeches, and familiar expositions of the arts
and sciences, husbandry and home manufactures,
instead of attracting applause, and a wider extent of
of fame, have had only the effect of settling upon him
the soubriquet of " home spun John,."*

It is proper here to remark, in reference to Mr.
Wilson, that he has always maintained his character
for integrity as a lawyer, and that he is indebted in
some measure for his success to his promptitude in
paying over the monies he receives on account of his

* When the question of dividing the County of
Middlesex, was first brought up in the House of Assembly,
Wilson endeavored to impress the House with the belief,
that by constituting the Townships fronting on Lake Erie,
(L.OW the County of Elgin.) into a new County, the County
of Middlesex, would be deprived of egress to the Lake,
that the front of the County of Middlesex would be cutoff,
and that they (the inhabitants of the County of Middlesex)
would only be able to get out through the back door or
words to that effect, This is a good specimen of Wilson's
ability as a debater.

A discussion having arisen about Mr, Wilson's political
consistency, one of the party called him a loose fish, on
whichjold McQueen, who knew Wilson thoroughly, briskly
rejoined. " No, he is a sun-fish, and being called on for aa
explanation. " A sun-fish," said he, ' is a small fish we
sometimes see on the sandy shore of Lake Eiie, with one
side always turned towards the sun; and when that side is
well warmed, he flops over to the other eide and so he
keeps flopping over and over, from side to side, as long as
the sun shines on him," Wilson's a sunfish! McQueen
still insists.



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 169

clients. This Is a secret some lawyers do uot ap-
pear to understand, and which it would be profitable
for them to learn.

If in the early days of the settlement* lawyers
were few, because briefs and fees were scarce, the
cornucopia of prosperity, which brought on the late
commercial and monetary crisis, has increased the
number tenfold. Distress and sickness, breed law-
yers and doctors, and if they continue to increase, ,i poor soiL-aml a
hard climate, their industry and frugal habits, well
fitte3 EHem to succeed in Canada. The Nova
Scotians in the settlement, are the best maple sugar
makers, and produce large quantities annually, of the
finest^quality, both powdered, and in the cake.

Much has been said and written on the subject
of immigration, and various schemes have been pro-
posed, with the view of attracting a large number of
emigrants to Canada. It has been felt, that by far
the larger number of those who leave Europe, find
their way into the United States. But this is not to
be wondered at, for that portion of North America,
was first peopled by British settlers, whose relatives
and connexions followed, till those states became
more and more populous. Another reason why the
United (States does, and will continue to receive
larger numbers of emigrants than Canada, is, that the
climate of that portion of the continent of North

As an instance of the ignorance which prevailed in
England, not many years since, I may mention, that au
Englishman who emigrated to Canada, and has been liying
in the settlement about 20 years, being much afflicted witn
tooth ache, and apprehensive that there were no dentists in
Canada, took the precaution of having all his teeth drawn,,
before he left! and he has done without teeth ever since.



LIFE OP COLONEL TALBOT. 197

America, is more congenial to the feelings of the
people of almost every other part of the world. The
numerous harbors too, of the United States, accessi-
ble to ships from sea all the year round, is another
great reason why immigration flows more in that
direction. The climate of Canada, we know, is
salubrious, and the soil fertile, but we ought not to
shut our eyes to the fact, that the United States
possess advantages, which nature has denied to
Canada. For this, and other reasons, while we should
encourage imjirgration all in our power, we ought
not to expect that Canada can compete with the
United States in this respect, so long as they have
immense tracts of land to offer to emigrants, at nomi-
nal prices, and under climates suitable to people from
every part of the globe.

Any strained efforts to tempt emigrants into
Canada, will fail in their effect, because the emi-
grants will leave Canada as fast as they come into
it, if they find the United States more attractive.
Canada will, undoubtedjy grow and prosper, and
emigrants will continue to take up their abode in it,
but the/ will be of that class, who prefer a monarchi-
cal to a republican government, and who like the
climate. The best and most useful class of settlers
will be those, who from choice, select Canada for
their home. Twenty years ago, when Canada was
njjach less known, than at present, three times as



198 LIFE OK COLONEL TALBOT.

many emigrants came in; and they will come, in as
largo numbers again, whenever Europe has the
the same amount of redundant population, that it had
then.

The Country embraced within the Talbot Set-
tlement has received as large a proportion of the
emigrants, who have found their way into Canada, as
any District of similar extent, and the settlers more
generally have been of the laboring class. These
contribute more to the wealth of the country, than
those who bring money without labor, and spend it
on objects which do not stimulate production. This
is the case when a gentlemen with a few hundreds
or thousands of pounds, purchases laud at a high
price, near a town or city, and does not raise crops
or revenue enough from it, to pay interest on the
purchase money. The man he bought it from has
most likely gone pff to another country with the
money, and the owner, through want of proper in-
dustry, has been impoverished, the land has to be
sold for less than he gave for it, and to the same ex-
tent the wealth of the country has been diminished.
Had the original owner continued to occupy it, he
would have made it produce sufficient for all his
wants, and something more, but the gentleman
farmer has neither worked it himself, nor has he
employed proper persons to do it for him. But he
has eaten the value of it up, and becomes an incum-



LIFE OF UwLONKL TALBoT. 199

brance 011 his own land. The fewer we have of such
settlers, the more is the country likely to prosper.



CHAPTER XX.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE TAI.BOT
ANNIVERSARY COLONEL TALBOT'S PRINCIPLES
AND HABITS TEMPERANCE THE COLONEL'S
DECLINING TEARS.

Since the foregoing portion of this biography
came out of the Press, I have been fortunate enough
to obtain, through the kindness of Samuel Price,
Esq., of Port Stanley, the original correspondence
which took place at the time of establishing the
Talbot Anniversary. These original documents were
preserved by Major Nevills, the Secretary of the
Meeting, to which they refer, and of which Meeting
the notorious John Rolph was a prominent member;
and although he afterwards turned traitor to
his country, the Secretary never did. On
the contrary, Major Nevills, who is now a very old
man,, has always borne a high character in the set-
tlement, for his loyalty and bravery, and always
ranked high in Colonel Talbot's esteem; because the
Colonel knew well he could always depend on him,
in peace or in war. Major Nevills' sentiments and
conduct well accorded with his personal appearance,
which was manly and handsome He was, in earlier
life, the Captain of a loyal company of



200 LIFK OF COLONEL TALBOT.

always ready to take the field, whether in physical
warfare, or in political contests. His name was a
tower of strength in the settlement, and his beautiful
farm on Yarmouth heights, was the resort of many
of the best men of the Settlement.

The Address to Colonel Talbot, is just such as we
might expect from the men who signed it, and the note
of J. "Rolph, appended, exhibits the zeal with which
he favored the Talbot Anniversary. Colonel Bur-
well's pompous address to the People of Talbot Road,
and the way they treated it, at a meeting held by
them 21st May, 1817, as per Resolutions subjoined,
affords pretty good evidence that we have not been
mistaken in our estimate of his character, and that
Colonel Talbot had some reason to suspect his judg-
ment. It has been supposed that Burwell was jeaU
ous of Rolph's growing influence, and the result
showed he had reason to be ; for Rolph became his
opponent, and defeated him at the polls. This was
the secret of Burwell's affectation of conscientious
scruples, about interfering with solemn clays ap-
pointed to be celebrated y early , in commemoration of
the death or martyrdom of Saints, or the days when
men were wont to pray for the souls of their de-
ceased friends.' 1 Ed., 6th chap. 14th. How-
ever, Colonel Talbot had no such feelings of false
delicacy as Burwell imagined, and his frank and
manly letter bore ample evidence of this. A gener-



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 201

ous mind, which has been deroted to the welfare of
others, as well as that of self, has no reason to shrink
from the well deserved compliments of those who
have been benefitted; for the great incentive to all
virtuous actions, is to deserve well of those whom we
intend to serve, and the public acknowledgement of
such services, where many have been benefitted, is
the best reward a man can receive in this life. But
no such generous impulse actuated Burwell, and, it is
said, he found out that he had made a mistake in
addressing the People , and afterwards recanted .
Certainly, if he failed to prevent the institution of
the Talbot Anniversary, it was strongly suspected
that he succeeded in causing it to bo discontinued, by
forcing it over to London , where it was soon allowed
to die a natural death.

(OORBESPOHDEH CB. )

YARMOUTH, 6th March, 1817.

SIR

I am directed, as secretary, by a numerous meet- -\
ing on the Talbot Anniversary, ou the 8th March, to trans- \
mit the inclosed address to you. I am further directed to '
inform you, that a chair is to be left perpetually vacant in
your name, which is to be filled by you only, or by your
descendants in future ages.

In assuring you of the warmth and cordiality with
which the above motions were approved, I individually
express the very particular respect with which, I am,

Sir,

Your most obedient
and humble servant,

JAMES NEVILLS.

Secretary.
To the Hon.. Colon el Talbot

Port Talbot.



202 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

I sent the above letter in your name, aud Colonel
yalbot's answer to you is inclosed.

J. ROLPH.



SIR

Having assembled to commemorate the institu-
tion of this highly favored settlement, we beg leave to pre-
sent you with the tribute of that high respect, which we
collectively express, but which we individually feel. From
the earliest commencement of this happy Patriarchy, we
date all the blessings we now enjoy; and regarding you as
its Founder, its Patron, and its Friend, we most respect-
fully beg leave to associate your name with our infant
institution. To your first arrival at Port Talbot we refer,
as the auspicious hour, which gave birth to the happiness
and independence we all enjoy, and this day commemorate.
In grateful remembrance of your unexampled hospitality
and disinterested zeal in our behalf; and contemplating
with interested feelings the astonishing progress of our
increasing settlement, under your friendly patronage and
Patriarchal care, we have unanimously appointed the
21st May, for the Talbot Anniversary. And this public
expression of the happiness among ourselves, and of our
gratitude to you, we transmit through our children to our
latest posterity.

We beg you will accept this assurance of our regard
and veneration, not as the voice of adulation, but as the
language of conscious obligation and heartfelt sincerity.

Signed in the name of the meeting, by

J. WILSON, P.
L. Patterson, V. P.

The above address having been presented to the Hon.
Colonel Talbot, he was pleased to return the following ans-
wer.

The answer accompanies the letter inclosed to you.

The Secretary to the Talbot Anniversary, Mr Adjt.
James Nevills, should prepare a statement to be published
and he should ketp on record all the proceedings of the
day. Should pen, ink and paper be scarce, the Adjutant
knows where he can get as much as he wants by riding up
for it.

J. ROLPH.

To Mr. Secretary James Nevills,
Adjutant 1st Regt. Middlesex Militia. <



aakoioo no a in 207

Colonel was not considered by some person?, abstemi-
ous, and there is little doubt, but that the loneliness of
his situation, induced him to partake more freely of
wine and ardent spirits, than he would otherwise
have done, but his iron frame and robust constitu-
tion, enabled him to bear more indulgence of this
kind, than most other men, without apparent injury.
The writer has frequently been a guest at his table,
and partaken of his hospitality, and never observed
that the Colonel indulged immoderately, or lost hia
habitual presence of mind. Indeed his frequent
^tercourse with men of the highpst rank, during the
greater portion of his life, must go far to shew tint
he was not the slave of so debasing a vice as intem-
perance. Admitting, however, for arguments' sake
that Colonel Talbot did indulge freely in the use of
ardent spirits, or of the common beverage of the
country, Canadian whiskey, what a contradiction
does his life present to the assertions of those stren-
uous advocates of teetotalism, who contend that all
fermented liquors are poison, and that all, who either
manufacture or vend them, except to be used as
medicines, are murderers. How few of the advocates
of total abstinence can measure ther lives by that of
Colonel Talbot, who lived in full possession of his
mental faculties, fourscore years.

Temperance is commendable in all men, and at
all times, but it is questiorable whether in the earl)



208 LIFE OK COLONEL TALBOT.

part of the Settlement of Canada, many of tbe^settlera
could have struggled through the difficulties and pri-
tations that they had to undergo, without something
to stimulate and cheer them on, through the dreary
road of life in the woods. It may be quitcTeasy for
men in a more civilized state of society, with every
sort of ^luxury and comfort to pick and choose upon
to forego even the moderate use of liquor, in ex-
change for some other sensual gratification ; but place
the same men in the backwoods of Canada, half a
century ago, with a scanty supply of the coarsest
kind of food, with years of toil and privation staring
them in the face, and they would be glad to make

use ef whatever their Allwise Creator sets before

s
them, for nourishment or enjoyment. N He who told

the Israelites by the voice of his servant Moses, (14
ehap. Deui., 27 v.) " And thou shnlt bestow that
" money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for
" oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink,
" or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, and thou shall
" eat there before the Lord thy G-od, and thou sbalt
" rejoice, thou and thine household," never in-
tended that the course ana erder of his Wise Provi-
dence, should be altered by man. The Holy Scrip-
tures teem with passages authorizing the use of the
juice of the grape, and every year the earth produces
grain ^nd fruit, to be converted into fermented
Jiquors ; and yet men clothed with a little brief au-



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 201

thority poor weak men, who are incapable of keeping
the least of God's laws and commandments, such
weak fallible creatures as these, will attempt to make
a law to deprive their fellow creatures of the proper
use of those things which they possess, only through
the bounty of His Divine Providence.

It is no argument against the moderate use of
liquor, to prove that men get drunk, and commit
every sort of crime, for it is equally true, that they
commit every other sort of crime before they get
drunk; this is only an argument against intemper-
ance, which is condemned in every page of Scripture.
Intemperance, unlike most other crimes, carries with
it, its own punishment, and is most frequently re-
sorted to, to drown the sense of guilt of most other
crimes, which /nakes the picture more disgusting
and horrid, but the cure for this evil must be the
same as for all other vices, namely, Christian Moral-
ity. Any attempt to improve upon the Moral Laws
of God, must argue a very defective sense of tb
duties of Christianity.



CHAPTER XXI.

COLONEL AIREY COLONEL TALBOT GOES TO ENGLAXB
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COLONEL AND
COLONEL AIREY.

The Founder of the Talbot Settlement, as far as



-10 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

be progress of the Settlement is considered, lived to
see his work accomplished, and the prosperity of his
settlement completely established; but as far as
relates to the family estate, and his design to found
one, he seems lamentably to have failed, through
circumstances which arose in the 1 ist few years of
his life. It is a source of regret, that the mantle of
oblivion, should seem to have overshadowed his once
powerful and sagacious mind, for sometime previous
to his decease. These circumstances we shall endea-
vor to trace with as much regard to brevity, as truth
and candour require.

For many years previous to his death, it appears
to have been the desire of Colonel Talbot, a .desire
consistent with his aristocratic descent, lo bequeath
his large estate to one of the male descendants of
the Talbot family, and with this view he had many
years ago invited one of his sister's sons, Julius Airey,
to reside with him at Port Talbot. This young
gentleman accordingly came to reside there, but the
dull monotonous life he was obliged to lead, and the
Colonel's eccentricities, were ill calculated to engage
the affections of a youth just verging on manhood;
so after rusticating, without companions or equals in
either birth or education, for one or more years, he
returned to England ; and relinquished whatever
claims he might consider he had on Port Tal-
bot.



LIFE OV COLONEL TAL150T. 211

After some years, Colonel Airey, Military Secre-
tary at the Horse Guards, succeeded to the expecta-
tions of his younger brother, and came with his
family to reside at Port Talbot. Correspondence
which had taken place between Colonel Talbot, and
this, his nephew, seemed to justify Colonel Airey in
the expectation, that he was to succeed to his Uncle's
valuable estate, and the interests of a rising family,
required some sacrifice on his part. These considera-
tions it may be presumed, operated with Colonel
Airey, and led him conditionally to relinquish his
post at the Horse Guards.

Colonel Airey was no stranger to Port Talbot,
for lie had visited his Uncle there, while acting as
secretary to the then Governor General, Lord Aylmer,
and subsequently, during the outbreak of 1837, while
commanding the 34th Regiment, he was quartered
with his Regiment, for some weeks at St. Thomas,
only 12 miles distant. He now came out, it was
thought, to reside permanently at Port Talbot. From
this time Colonel Talbot's bodily infirmities and dis-
agreements of another kind, worked powerfully on <
his once vigorous constitution, and brought on the
illness from which he never fully recovered . < i

Had Colonel Talbot's intentions, when Colonel
Airey arrived in the country, been carried out, he
would have lived and died at Port Talbot. He had
intended that his nephew should occupv some part



212 LIVE OF COLONEL TAIBOT.

o f the estate at a convenient distance from hia own
residence, so that ho might continue to live on in
his own old fashioned way, and avoid those inter,
ferences and jcirrings, which -are so apt to occur
between relations. But this intention was by somo
means overruled, and in a few months the rookery
was converted into a more convenient and spacious
mansion. Colonel Talbot and Colonel Airey, how-
ever, were not altogether birds of a feather, and it
soon 'proved that they could not live together. The
former had been accustomed for the greater portion
of his life, to suit the convenience of his domestics,
;md in common with the inhabitants of the country,
to dine a noon ; the latter was accustomed to wait
for the buglecall, till 7 o'clock inthe evening. Col-
onel Talbot could, on special occasions, accommodate
himself to the habits of his guests, but to be regularly
Jiarne ssed up for the mess every day, was too much
to expect from so old a mm ; no wonder he kicked
in the traces . He soon came to the determination
of keeping up a separate establishment, and another
spacious mansion was erected adjoining Colonel Air -
oy's, where he might, he thought, live as ho pleased.
But all would not do, the old bird had been disturb-
ed in his nest, and he could not be reconciled. He
therefore determined on leaving Canada, to spend
the residue of his days in retirement, in England, or
on tho continent. With (his intention he look his






LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 213

departure from Port Talbot, but was seized with a
severe attack of sickne&s at London, 0. W., and
there remained for several weeks in a dangerous
state. Being now near eighty years of age, it was
never imagined by those who saw him, that he would
rise again from the bed on which he lay. While in
this dangerous state, he had apartments in the house
of the late John Harris, Esq., and the most marked
and unremitting attentions were paid to him, by the
members of that gentleman's amiable family. And
it is a matter of regret to the Colonel's friends, that
ho failed before his death, to make some suitable
acknowledgement, or to bequeath some memorable
token, to mark his sense of the obligation he was
under, for the great care taken of him by Mr,
Harris' family. But from this lime, all remembrance
of former friends seems to have forsaken him, and
he became as it were, a child in the hands of his
active manager, George McBeth.

To the astonishment of all who knew him, ar.d
the state he was in, Colonel Talbot rallied, and at
his advanced age, set out on his voyage for Eng-
land. By. easy stages he reached the Atlantic, ac-
complished the voyage to Europe, where he re-
mained a year or so, and then retraced his steps to
Canada.

If it were painful to witness the departure of so
distinguished a settler, after a residence of nearly



214 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

half a century, from the shores of Canada, bowed
down with ago and infirmities; it was no less dis-
tressing to see him return, to seek a humble abode
on the outskirts of the magnificent estate, which no
longer belonged to him ! Here those friends who
had been in the habit of visiting him and partaking
of his hospitality, while he remained the lordly pro-
prietor of Port Talbot, found him after his return
from England, coopod up in a small room, a lodger
in the house of Mrs. Hunter, the widow of his old
faithful servant Jeffry. This spot, with the house
upon it, the Colonel had provided for Jeffry 's family,
and 'from this spot, he could, through the woods, just
catch a glimpse of the valuable property he had
parted with to satisfy a debt due to honor only!
Port Talbot was now tenanted by strangers, an I its
former high minded proprietor, who had known no
superior in rank, in Canada, and who had maintained
his independence and dignity, till nearly the close of
an unusually long and useful life, lay a pitiable ob-
ject, as it were, on the very threshold of the splen-
did estate, which he had acquired through many
years of privation and perseverance. The cause of
this change of condition may be easily traced.



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. - t J

CHAPTER XXII.
FINAL SETTLEMMNT WITH COLOXEL AIREY GEORGE

McBETH.

Prior to his departure for England, to reconcile
differences, or to satisfy his own conscience, the
Colonel had made over to Colonel Airey, the Port
Talbot Estate, worth, it is considered, 10,000, and
13,000 acres of land, in the adjoining Township of
Aldboro'. This was not a moiety of the ests.te which
Colonel Talbot possessed, and which Colonel Airey
had reason to expect would descend to him, but the
disagreements which have been alluded to, seem to
have altered Colonel Talbot's mind on this subject
After remaining some time at Port Talbot, Colonel
Airey, seeing, it is presumed, that ho had acquired
as much of the estate as he was likely to get, while
Colonel Talbot was last in England, had rented Port
Talbot to Mr. Saunders, an English gentleman, and
returned with his family to England, to resume his
post at the Horse Guards.

We have no desire to narrate the particulars of
those differences, which arose between Colonel Tal-
bot and his nephew, did we possess all the neccessary
information. There is no doubt, Colonel Talbot was
arbitrary and self willed. At Port Talbot he had
never acknowledged any equal, and his great age,
considering the secluded and indfpen 'ent life he had



216 LIFE OF COLONEL TALUOT.

Jed, must have tended to confirm him in many pre-
judicies. He denied positively that he had held out
any inducements to Colonel Airey, to come to Can-
ada, but had assented reluctantly to Colonel Airey's
own proposition, signifing that if he did come and

settle at Port Talbot, he would leave him his pro-
perty.

To relieve himself from this pledge, would
appear to have been the reason for his dividing the
estate. Colonel Airey , onl the other hand, main-
tained that the Colonel had invited him out, and
promised that he would settle his estate upon hint,
Be this as it may, there is no doubt that from the
time of his arrival, Colonel Airey began to consider
himself as the proprietor of bis Uncle's property, and
under this impression, desired to assume the manage-
ment, and regulate Colonel Talbot's affairs. Under
ordinary circumstances, this would have been all
right, but with Colonel Talbot it was all wrong.
One incident will convey a tolerable idea, how things
went on at Port Talbot, under the new regulations.
The Hon. James Crooks, an acquaintance of
Colonel Talbot's of 50 years standing, was travai-
ling in the direction of Port Talbot, and naturally
made a halt to see his old friend . It was Sunday,
and the family were at Church, 5 miles distant.
Colonel Talbot, as was his wont, wished to offer
some refreshment, but so completely was everything



LIFE OF COLONEL T A I, HOT. 217

secured, under lock and key, that he could touch
nothing in the shape of beverage. Most travellers on

a journey, where a good Inn cannot be found for
many miles, are glad to meet with any friend, who

can afford them refreshment, and the Hon.
Mr. Crooks, was just in this situation; therefore he
could the more readily feel for the restraint under
which Colonel Talbot appeared to be placed. This
was a trifling incident, and might have occured acci-
dently, but the bulk of family disputes and disagree
ments grow out of such trifles, and the position in
which Colonel Airey had placed himself required
him to act with extreme delicacy towards his Uncle,
who had no doubt become peevish and impatient, of
anything like servoillance or interference with his
settled habits- These differences, whatever might
have been their cause, had the effect of dividing tba
Colonel's estate, and of causing him to end his days
in a position very different from what his friends
conld have wished.

George McBeth whose name has been men- '
lioned, had succeeded to the situation of Jeffry Hun- I
ter, and lived with Color. el Talbot for many years,
but being a young man of better education, than his
predecessor, and being very assiduous, in his atten-
tions to his master, ho acquired great influence over
him in his latter years. McBeth had so gained the
Colonel's good r pinion , that he stood in the relation
of a ccmpmiicn r,s well as tnvrrit. He accorrpanied



218 UKK OK COLONKI. TALBOT.

the Colonel twice in his voyages to and from En
land, and was his nurse and attendant in all his sick-
ness. In fact, the Colonel treated him more like a
son than a servant. George became his idol, and he
had been so long accustomed to call George, and re-
fer to him about everything connected with his affairs,
that it seemed he could neither live no* die without
George . The hold which George had thus acquired
on the Colonel's affections, placed him in a rosition
to defy ell competitors for his old master's favor.
He bad completely ingratiated himself vita the
Colonel, before Colonel Airey came out to reside on
the estate, and as the latter, we may very well sup-
pose, was not disposed to recogniza a rival in his
Uacle's servant, we need be at no loss to conjecture
how differences arose, and how a breach, when once
made, was kept open. McBeth's position was calcu-
lated, however unintentional it might have been on
his part, to bo very offensive to a man of Colonel
Airey's rank and expectations; and on the ecore of
interest, if actuated by no higher motive, it was
natural for McBeth to humour his old master, in all
his prejudices and dislikes. Thus, we have a key to
what followed.

The last will and testament of Colonel Talbot

was read by H. C. Beecher, Esq., joint Executor

\. with Mr. McBetb, over his grave, and the whole

,1 remainder of his estate, supposed to be worth 50,

I 000, without a single bequest to friend or relative,



LIVE 0V COLOXKL TALBOT. 219

except an annuity of 20 to Mrs. Hunter, the widow
of Jeftry, was bequeathed to George Me Beth. The
will was executed 14th December, 1852, in presence
of Messrs, Shanley, Hutchlnson and Stoneman.



CHAPTER XXIII.

DEATH OF COLONEL IALBOT REFLECTIONS FUN-
ERAL.

Having traced the career of Colonel Talbot t>
the close of what might be considered his public life,
the remaining portion of his earthly existence fur-
nishes little that is worthy of recording. We saw
him last a lodger in the humble abode of Mrs. Hun-
ter, with his attendant, George McBeth. Here he
had caused an addition to be made to the house, to
afford him more room, but so completely dependent
had he become on Georga for all his wants and com-
fort, that he had to follow wherever he led. Now it
happened that the occupant of Pert Talbot had an
interesting family, among whom, were several daught
ers, and George, or Mr. McBeth, he may now be
called, having long been intimate with the residence,
soon became so with the present residents, and while
his" old master, the hero of Port Talbot reclined on a
log in the woods, which surrounded Mrs. Hunter's,
Mr. McBeth made his toilette, and presented himself
to the ladies at the Canadian Castle de Malahide.
Durin- this state of things at Port Talbot, it may



220 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

easily be imagined the Colonel had ample time to
indulge in solitude. That Mr. McBeth's visits t'o
Port Talbot were neither few nor far between, may
be judged from the fact, that after the ordinary teruo
of courtship, he obtained the hand of one of Mr.
Saunders fair daughters, and removed with his bride
to a residence which he had purchased in the town
of London.

These changes weie no doubt agreeable to
Colonel Talbot, for he also removed to London, and
resided at Mr. McBeth's till the day of his death,
\vhich occured on the 6th February, 1853. With
the exception of Mr. Beecher, in whom the Colonel
had great confidence, nobody appears to have been
present for sometime previous to bis death, and
although he suffered great pain, he was calm and
collected, and his countenance after death, was com-
posed and placid.

In the course of this biography we have observed
that Colonel Talbot was not devoid of religious feel-
ing; on the contrary, he manifested a desire to cul-
tivate it; but unfortunately not by those means which
mankind generally consider it their duty to make use
of. And it is to the neglect of l^rduty, we may
attribute the failure of Colonel Talbot's chief design'
as far as regards his own family interests, in founding
the Talbot Settlement. Mnny m^n, lilrg rVrlnnH
Talbot T substitute their own benevolent desigpB. for
the practice of religion; they neglect tho ordinances



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 221

of religion, under the fatal delusion, that thej aje
above the rules, which regulate the conduct of ordi-
nary men. They are their own priests, and can per-
form their devotions in private, and be as charitable
as those who pay more attention to the outward
forms of religion. However that may be, they have
left the highroad to Heaven, to follow their own by-
paths which may lead to a fearful precipice. By
such a course they do not only contemn the wisdom
of men, but they reject the counsel of God !

Let us contrast the lives of the two distinguished
men, who started together on a long race, with at
least equal advantages, Arthur Wellesly and Thos.
Talbot, and what do we behold? The one scrupu-
lously exact in his observance of the ordinances of
religion, and in paying deference to the establishad
religion of different nations, while the other, under
very different circumstances, it is true, in his latter
years particularly, afforded neither evidence nor
example, of his attachment to any form of religion .
The Duke of Wellington, we have reason to conclude,
after having strode over the greater portion of the
globe, through death and slaughter the most terrific,
died with hit house set in order, bequeathing his
wealth and name to his son and heir, his frame and
glory to the British nation. Colonel Talbot died
almost beyond the reach of family or friends,
in the arras of a stranger to his race and name,
leaving the greater portion of a large and valuable



222 LIFK -OF COLONKL XALBOT.

estate to his hired servant. This was certainly aot
what ho intended to have done, till within a few
yt-a.s of his demise, but he had unfortunately placed
himself beyond the reach of counsel or advice, and
was no longer animated by these proper feelings of
pride, which are highly honorable when based on
rectitude.

From what we know, and from what has been
stated of the life of Colonel Talbot, we can have little
doubt, but that he was animated by a desire to do
good, and that his aspirations were of a benevolent
nature ; but he lacked one thing. He was deficient
in humility . He set out in life with the best inten-
tions, but he neglected the only safe course to carry
them out, L ike many other great men, he relied
too much on the strength of his own mind. We
have seen that in early life, he did not neglect the
ordinances of religion ; he did not at once abandon
those forms of devotion, wtih which he had become
amiliarized in the society of the civilized world; but
the habit of self-reliance in religion, led him astray,
as it has frequently done other men. The mind of
man is so wonderfully constituted, that no matter
how powerful the intellect, or how exalted the genius,
if he does not implicitly rely on strength superior to
his own, and habitually make use of the means which
religion places within his reaoh, his strength becomes
weakness. Of this great fact, history furnishes
nnumcrable instancea, and we have examples daily



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 2'23

before our eyes. Men may acquire wealth, fame and
earthly glory, in this life, but if they have not made
religion, tho first and chief consideration, the hour
of death is a blank space in their existence, and
they have toiled for worse than nothing.

These reflections are proper, at all times, but
more particularly so, when we are considering the
lives of distinguised or extraordinary men.

The mortal remains of the Founder of the '
Talbot Settlement, were removed from London the
day previous to their inteiment, 9ih February, and
by some mal -arrangement were deposited for the
night in the barn or granary of Mr. Lewie., Innkeeper
at Fingal. Great was the indignation and horror
of many of the old settlers, when they learnt that the
remains of their old benefactor had been so un-
worthily disposed of, for the last night they were to
remain above ground. One old settler, or rather a
son of one of the old settlers, Mr. Samael Burwell,
a faithful adherent of Colonel Talbot's, with tears in
his eyes, we are told, begged to have tho body re-
moved to his own house close by, and Mr. Partridge
a worthy settler, would have cheerfully done the
same; but this, it appears, would have disturbed the
order of previous arrangement. It is even said that
Mr. Lewis, the Innkeeper, would willingly have
afforded the best room in his house; but no; the
undertaker was inexorable, and answered to all re-
monstrances, that he had carried bigger men than



224 LIVE OF COLONET, TAT.T10T.

Colonei Talbot, and it was only after great excite,
meat had arisen in the village, that the corpse was
allowed to be removed from the hearse, and secured
for the night, under lock and key in the granary
This scene was disgraceful to the parties whose negli-
gence or heartlessness caused it. The recollection
of this indignity, offered to the remains of the Foun-
der of the Talbot Settlement, now, although a life-
less corpse, deposited in the abode of cattle, is revolt-
ing, and the whole community cry shame on those
who committed such an outrage. The undertaker
and his men, were no doubt to blame, for they are
reported to have been in a state of intoxication ; but
that the remains of the venerable founder of the
Talbot Settlement, shuold have been left in charge
of so unworthy a keeper, for the whole night pre-
vious to their interment, was an act of great negli-
gence, which scarcely admits of excuse, however
much it may be palliated. We are willing to be-
lieve that no intentional disrespect was premeditated,
but neither the annals of civilization, nor the tradi-
tions of barbarism, could probably furnish an instance
of such lamentable inattention to the unburied remains
of a departed friend ! However, from the arrange-
ments of the succeeding day, we may conclude no
such outrage had been contemplated.

On the following day the corpse was removed
from Fingal to Port Talbot, and rested for a short
time within the walls of the mansion, whore full of



LIFE OK COLONEL TALBOT. 225

life and vigor, the body had lived near half a cen-
tury. Here the mourners assembled, and the
funeral procession was formed in the following or-
der:

The Hearse containing the body, followed by
sleighs conveying George McBeth, H. C. Beecher,
Esq.. Hon. G. Goodhue, L. Lawrason, Esq , James
Hamilton, Esq., J. B. Askin, Esq., and some others
of the most respectable men in London , and other
gentlemen from different parts of the settlement.
The funeral service of the Church of ng'and, was
performed by the Rev. Mr. Holland, in the Episco-
pal Church at Tyrconnel, and at the grave adjacent
to the church, where the last mark of respect was
paid by comparatively a few friends, who travelled
many miles ou an intensely cold day, to witness the
obsequies of a man so long distinguished ihroughout
the Settlement.

The body of the deceased was deposited in a
leaden coffin, encased in one of oak, bearing the fol-
lowing incription :

THOMAS TALBOT.

FOUNDER OF THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT.
PIED 6lH FEBRUARY,



228 LlfE Or COLONEL TALBOT.

CONCLUSION.

Having followed Colonel Talbot to the grpve,
and paid our last tribute of respect to his honored
remains, a brief retrospect of the rise and progress of
the settlement founded by him, and a condensed
view of its present state, may not prove uninterest-
ing ; particularly to those old settlers, who have lived
and toiled in it, from youth to old age, and have
participated in its prosperity. Although many other
parts of Canada were easier of access, 1 and much
more favored by the influx of capital, than the
Talbot Settlemont, yet it exhibited more signs of
improvement at an early date, almost beyond tho
reach of civilization, than most of the other tracts of
rich and fertile country; as has been shewn in the
body of this work.

Talbot Street, as it used to be called, extends in
a direct line, over 160 miles, east and west, near the
shores of Lake Erie, terminating at Amherstburg;
and there are numerous, parallel and cross roads, al!
well settled, to the extent of many hundred miles,
studded with towns and villages, and other appliances
of civilzed life; altogether presenting a landscape of
rural beauty, seldom surpassed in Canada. The
Talbot Settlement, which includes the whole of the
County of Elgin, large portions of the counties of
Kent and Essex, and some of the counties of Middle-
sex, and Norfolk, in all of which Colonel Talbot,
located settlers for the Government, contains
as I have before estimated, a populition of
150,000, who are worth, in the aggregate, not less
than $20,000,000, in substantial wealth. This large
amouutof property, consists of almost everything,
which can conduce to the social welfare of man. In
this extent of settlement, there, are now about 60
Post Offices, as many churches, large and small,
and not less than 300 Common Schools, all of w



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 227

have sprung into existence during a period shorter
than the life of the oldest settler. These statistics
afford a pleasing index to the happy results of in-
dustry, guided by prudence, and may serve to teach
all who maybe disposed to settle in this, or any
other part of Canada, yet in a state of nature, how
much may be accomplished by labor and perseve-
rance. When we consider, that this large and pros-
perous population, has grown out of penury, with no
other capital but labor to start with, we may rest
assured, that such results could only spring from
well directed industry on a fruitful soil. Could the
settlers under Colonel Talbot, have looked forward
to a state of prosperity such as now surrounds them,
the anticipation would have cheered many a weary
day's toil, and have softened many a hard day's pri-
vation. All who may follow their example, will
have this cheering prospect.

The line of the Niagara and Detroit Rivers,
Railroad, runs through the whole length of the
Talbot Settlement; whether the road itself will
ever cover the line, remains yet to be seen. The
scheme of this great enterprise has been before the
public for nearly thirty years; like a floating body
betwixt life and death, it has sunk and risen, exciting
alternate hopes 'and fears, and to this moment its
fate is uncertain. Colonel Talbot with many others,
subscribed a small sum to set the ball in motion, at
the time that the Honorables W. H. Merrill and J.
Prince became its godfathers, but the Colonel never
entered warmly into the project The competition
in the Legislature, between the two rival associations,
the Great Vestern and the Niagara and Detroit,
chiefly through the adroit management of Sir A. N.
McNabb, terminated in favor of the Great Western,
which knocked the Great Southern flat for many
years.

A few years ago, however, the late Mr. Zim-



228 LIKE OP COLONEL TALKOT.

merman, having very successfully placed the
Cobourg and Peterborough, and the Woodstock and
Lake Erie Railway Companies, in a state of insol-
.yency. whereby he was enabled to establish a Bank,
and to adorn and beautify his grounds at Clifton, in
sight of the Niagara Falls where he entertained in
the most sumptuous style of magnificence, a large
crowd of political magnates and railway celebrities,
from every part of Canada, to do honor to his worthy
patroa, the Hon. Francis Hincks, conceived the
extraordinary idea of making a sufficient fortune out
of the dead carcase of the Woodstock and Lake
Krie Railway Company, by means of the Great
Southern, to support his princely establishment at the
Falls. If ever a man deserved to make a fortune by
bold unscrupulous enterprise, Mr. Zimmerman cer-
tainly did. From being a mere shanty laborer on
canals and railways, be became the Croesus, the
Railway King of Canada. His munificence was as
unbounded as the resources of his fertile genius.
These resources were brought effectually to bear on
many of tbe most distinguished men in every part
of Canada. His talismanic wand so operated on the
minds of men, whether members of the Legislature,
speculating engineers, or railway contractors, that
they could only revel in golden dreams, or swim in
champagne; and in this mesmerized state, Zimmer-
man did what he pleased with them.

The Niagara and Detroit Rivers' Ra ilway Com-
pany, had found it necessary to obtain a new Gharter,
and had applied to the Legislature for one, but this,
not suiting Mr. Zimmerman's views, by the means
above mentioned, he got the Charter of the used up
Woodstock and Lake Erie Railway Company, so
amended as to make a crooked line straight, and
prevented the renewal of the original Charter for
the Great Southern. By this twist, there can be no
doubt, ho oxi.ccied to make $1,000,000. f lh'i



Lira or COLOWEL TALBOT. 229

would have beet, a clear gain of 9CO per cent or $10,
000 for every $1000 he expended^ feaatin Cabine
Ministers, members of Parliament, and nearly all the
leading politicians and other celebreties of Canada
m honor of Francis Hinck s ,-a political adventurer'
who has so safely moored the debt of Canada, that

n never break from its anchorao-e!
_ But about this time, Mr. Isaac Buchanan, at the
instance of the Great Western Railway Company U
was understood, threw himself into the project of tho
Grrea Southern, having through Mr. Wallace, a
iCaJo Engineer, acquired a controlirg interest. As
is was an Engineering process, I shall not attempt
to explain it. No sooner, however, did Mr. Buchan
an appear as a competitor on the line, with Mr
^mmerman, than an excitement was raised by the
friends of each party, and was wafted to England as
fast as steam could carry it. Zimmerman being an
adept in the art of cooking up railway sohemesTand
bribing and feasting that indescribable class of
^eculators, expectant contractors and sub-contactors
who hang on the line of a projected railway, was

l"a?c R D i a matCh f01 ' "^ h UCSt man ' P^'-ticularly

aac Buchanan, a man ot wealth, honestly iC ouired

and who could not calculate on 900 per cent ToS

over, the Great Western Railway Company acted on

JcUoi of TT'T '^ - Li8 f " ends ' -Plated tho
Mr Ltliff ^ UCh ?r an o a ! heirb ^alf; although
Mr. Radcliffe their Vice President, had seconded ai
Mr. Buchanan s efforts to obtain control of the line'
In this state of g ling8 , Mr. Buchanan and Zim ner-
man came to an arrangement to carry on the SSE
pr.ze jointly. S matters were progressing when

' raan was kiiie , d ia tbe dr ' adfui S

cars of the Great



230 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT.

It is unfortunate for the interests of the Niagara
and Detroit River's Railway, that the understanding
which lock place in the end, was not made in the
beginning ; but this did not accord with Mr. Zimmer-
man's views at the time, and a host of cormorants,
like the insatiate vultures who hover over the bodies
of two contending armiefc, took care to keep up tho
opposition; and so the opportunity offered by Mr.
Buchanan was lost.

No man could have entered into a project with
more zeal and enthusiasm than Mr. Buchanan, and
no man in Canada, has ever risked so much of his per-
sonal means (36,000) to forward such an enter-
prise. A more enterprising merchant, or a more
generous man than Mr. Buchanan, I believe, does
not exist in Canada, and he had done much to for-
ward the interests of the Great Western ; but evil
counsels prevailed at Head Quarters, and he was
abandoned to the tender mercies of unprincipled men,
who can appreciate no talent or enterprise, which
does not promise to fill their pockets. If ever tho
Great Southern runs through the Talbot Settlorm-nt,
it will be owing to the energy and liberality of i&aae
Buchanan.

FINIS.



,



LU5



Ermatinger, Edward
5547 Life of Colonel Talbot

P73E7



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