Sunday, January 3, 2010

Talbot Papers

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Here is another set of Thomas Talbot papers. May be duplicative of prior post -- but appears to be different source, with different index etc.

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Full text of "The Talbot papers, including those left by the Honourable Colonel Thomas Talbot at his death, his letters to the Honourable Peter Robinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and some letters wrtitten by him to the Hon. William Allan. Edited with an introd. and some annotations"


THE HONOt'RABI.E THOMAS TALBOT

FOUNDER (F THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT
From the Original Water-Colour in the Possession of Mr*. Macbeth.



-



THE TALBOT PAPERS

Including those left by the Honourable Colonel

Thomas Talbot at his Death, his Letters to

the Honourable Peter Robinson, Com-

missioner of Crown Lands, and

some Letters written by him to

the Hon. William Allan

EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND SOME ANNOTATIONS



BY



JAMES H.' COYNE, M.A.



CONTENTS



PAGE

Prefatory 15

Introduction 21

I. The Talbots of Malahide 21

II. Thomas Talbot and Arthur Wellesley 22

III. "Westward Ho! -. 23

IV. Simcoe's Aide-de-camp 24

V. Active Service in Europe The Hermit of Lake Erie 25

VI. Talbot's Motives 26

VII. The Chosen Region 27

VIII. Skittiewaaba on Lake Erie

IX. Royal Lobbyists in London 29

X. Talbot's Scheme of Settlement 31

XI. The Talbot Settlement 32

XII. Port Talbot 33

XIII. The Terms of Contract 34

XIV. Grievances of the Reserved Townships 35

XV. Original Terms varied in Talbot's Favour 36

XVI. Extension of Talbot's Settlement 37

XVIL The Talbot Road 38

XVIII. The Beginning of Settlement 38

XIX. The War and Simon Zelotes Watson 40

XX. Effects of the War 42

XXI. Immigration 42

XXII. St. Thomas and the Talbot Anniversary 42

XXIII. The Castle of Malahide on Lake Erie 44

XXIV. Distinguished Visitors to Port Talbot 44

XXV. Personal Peculiarities 45

XXVI. Religious Observances 46

XXVII. The Sliding Window-pane 47

XXVIII. The Temperance Movement 48

XXIX. Public Duties 50

XXX. Talbot's Political Meeting at St. Thomas, 1832 51

XXXI. Talbot's Speech at St. Thomas 52

XXXII. Talbot's System of Land Transfer 54

XXXIII. Talbot and the Aireys 54

XXXIV. The Colonel's Death 56

XXXV. Colonel Talbot's Appearance 56

XXXVI. Conclusion... 58



THE TALBOT PAPERS.

PAGE

1. 1475. March 8. Grant by King Edward IV to Thomas Talbot of

Malahide 59

2. 1801. May 16. Skittiewaabaa, U. C., Colonel Talbot to H. R. H. the

Duke of Cumberland (Archives) 75

3. 1801. Oct. 11. H. R. H. the Duke of Kent to Lord Hobart ( Archives) 77

4. 1804. Entries in Talbot's note-book 79-95

James Whitton's Account 79-89

Joseph Smith's Account

Isabella Findlay's Account 84

Fanny Reed's (Myres') Account ~.
tant occasions. Among the naval officers on board the Triton was
Lieutenant John Talbot, older brother of Thomas.

Towards the close of the year, the Triton was again at Quebec,
having on board the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, lieuten-
ant-colonel John (i raves Simcoe, on his way to the western wilderness
to undertake the establishment of the new province. Among the offi-
cers in garrison he met the young Irish lieutenant of foot. Handsome
in .person, courtly in manner, full of the enthusiasm, gaiety and energy
of youth, and withal the inheriter of a great and famous name, Talbot
was a social favourite. Simcoe was endowed with an attractive per-
sonality and talents of a high order. He had won fame in the Revolu-
tionary war, and more recently rendered political service in the House of
Commons. In England, the political reaction was setting in strongly,
in consequence of the French Revolution, and " the glorious constitution
of Great Britain " was in everybody's mouth.

Both Simcoe and Taibot were sincere and fervent admirers of every-
thing British, and Simcoe, as representative of the sovereign, had come
to introduce into the new province a constitution, which, to borrow his
own language, was " the very image and transcript '' of that of Great
Britain.

Simcoe was in his fortieth year, Talbot in his twenty-first. A
strong attachment sprang up between them. Talbot's experience at
Dublin Castle, as Buckingham's aide-de-camp, had qualified him for the
position which the new lieutenant-governor now offered to him.

IV. SIMCOE'S AIDE-DE-CAMP.

To an adventurous youth Upper Canada presented at that time
powerful attractions; mighty inland seas, an almost unbroken wilder-
ness, great hunting grounds, vast unexplored regions to be opened to
civilization. Moreover, the capital of the province was to be in the
near vicinity of the world-renowned cataract. Already Talbot's mind
had been excited by Charlevoix' glowing descriptions of southwestern
Ontario, the " Paradise of the Hurons," and its wonderful forests, " the
most beautiful in the world." What more could an imaginative youth
demand? In a word, the young lieutenant accompanied Simcoe to
Niagara in the capacity of confidential secretary and aide-de-camp. Hia
name is attached to Simcoe's first proclamations. He remained a mem-
ber of the governor's family until June, 1794, when he returned to



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 23

England, being by this time a Major in the 85th foot, and summoned
to join his regiment. In January, 1796, at the age of twenty-four,
he became lieutenant-colonel of the 5th foot, a regiment well-known to
him from its having been stationed at Niagara during his sojourn there.
During his residence with Siincoe, he held that officer's confidence
and affection. He was a member of the governor's family. Employed
in several transactions of a diplomatic character, requiring tact, alert-
ness and dispatch, he acquitted himself to Simcoe's entire satisfaction.
These included visits to Philadelphia and Detroit and attendance at
two important Indian councils on the Miami. On his first visit to
Detroit as a member of Simcoe's staff in February, 1793, he found men
of his regiment, the 24th, in garrison. Mrs. Simco'e's Journal shows
Talbot's social qualities in an agreeable light. Bright, handsome, cap-
able, eager to help, ready to put his hand to any work needed, he was
indispensable at picnics and parties. Altogether, he was a young man
of more than ordinary promise, and when he went back to England
and to active service with a strong letter of recommendation from
Simcoe, a brilliant future was predicted for him by many, in his chosen
career.

V. ACTIVE SERVICE IN EUROPE THE HERMIT OF LAKE ERIE.

These high hopes were not destined to be realized. He took part
in the Duke of York's ill-fated expedition to the Low Countries, and
performed garrison duty at Gibraltar for a time. But he won no
special distinction. A circumstance affecting his military character
during this period, which has come down to us is that, in Flanders,
he was mildly censured by the Duke for disobedience of orders in lead-
ing his men by a sheltered route instead of taking the more exposed
road he was directed to follow. Towards the end of 1800 military
operations were seen to be practically at an end. The Peace of Lune-
ville in 1801 and the Treaty of Amiens in 1802 formally closed them.
On Christmas Day, 1800, Talbot sold his commission, and immediately
after withdrew from the army. The announcement startled society
and became a nine days' wonder. He had resolved to emigrate to the
wilderness of Upper Canada, and to open up a large region on the
north shore of Lake Erie for settlement.

For this change of plan, many reasons have been suggested, chiefly
of a romantic nature. He had been disappointed in love but rumour
could not agree as to the fair object of his affections. One of the
King's daughters, it was said, had fallen in love with him; but mar-
riage with a commoner was out of the question. He disliked military
service, for which he was by temperament unfitted; and there was,



26 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

perhaps, gome truth in this suggestion. Being much at Court, he had
become sated and disgusted with the artificiality, the frivolity, the vices,
and dissipation of fashionable society ; probably this had somewhat to
do with his decision. Mrs. Amelia Harris intimates that he had been
refused an appointment in the army he had thought himself entitled
to. " Others again," she adds, " said that neither Mars nor Venus
presided at his birth." This suggestion that he was not martial in his
inclinations may be connected with the story already cited of his military
experience in Flanders. As to " the lady in the case/' Colonel Talbot
is said to have stated to Tozer, a Malahide settler, " to tell you the
truth, I never saw but one woman that I really cared anything about,
and she wouldn't have me, and to use an old joke, those who would
have me, the devil wouldn't have them. Miss Johnson, the daughter
of Sir John Johnson, was the only girl I ever loved, and she wouldn't
have me."

When Mrs. Jameson told him of the surmises relative to his early
life and his motives for emigrating, he laughed, " Charlevoix," said
he, " was, I believe, the true cause of my coming to this place. You
know he calls this the ' Paradise of the Hurons,' now I resolved to get
to Paradise by hook or crook, so I came here."

VI. TALBOT'S MOTIVES.

Simcoe in an official communication ' attributed the change in
Talbot's plans to his energetic disposition, which led him to prefer to
the monotony of military' life " the incessant and active enployment
which he has undertaken."

According to Fanny Kemble. whose informant was evidently Lord
Dacre, the latter was originally a partner in Talbot's scheme of settle-
ment. She states that, " Lord Dacre, 2 at the moment of his becoming
heir to that estate, was on the point of leaving England with Colonel
Talbot .... to found with him a colony in British Canada, where
Arcadia was to revive again, and at a distance from all the depraved
and degraded social systems of Europe, under the auspices of these two
enthusiastic young reformers. Mr. Brand had completed his studies in
Germany and acquired by assiduous reading and intimate personal
acquaintance with the most enlightened and profound thinkers of the
philosophical school of which Kant was the apostle, a mental cultiva-
tion very unlike, in its depth and direction the usual intellectual culture

1 Simcoe to Lord Hobart, Sessional Papers of Upper Canada, 1836.

1 Lord Dacre Inherited his title from his mother, who had married Mr.
Brand. The citation is from " Old Woman's Gossip," by Fanny Kemble,
Atlantic Monthly. 1877.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 27

of young Englishmen of his class. He was an enthusiast of the most
generous description, in love with liberty, and ardent for progress; the
political as well as the social and intellectual systems of Europe
appeared to him, in his youthful zeal for the improvement of his fellow-
beings, belated if not benighted on the road to it, and he had embraced
with the most ardent hopes the scheme of emigration of Colonel Talbot
for forming in the New World a colony where all the errors of the old
were to be avoided. But his mother died, and the young emigrant
withdrew his foot from the deck of the Canadian ship, to take his place
in the British peerage to bear an ancient English title, and become
master of an old English estate to marry a brilliant woman of English
fashionable society and to be thenceforth the ideal of an English
country gentleman."

Doubtless Talbot was influenced by more motives than one. The
spacious free life of the woods and lakes had captivated him, as it has
captivated many others before and since. His choice of one of the most
picturesque spots on Lake Erie for his own demesne is a sufficient proof
of his aesthetic taste and discrimination.

He was surfeited with a society, which, unconcerned about daily
bread, prayed only for its daily scandal. He was yet at an age, when
young men dream dreams, and like other idealists he hoped to realize
his Utopia in the New World. The calling of the West was continually
in his ears, and he could resist no longer. But there were practical
reasons urging him to take the tide at its flood, which leads on to
fortune.

VII. THE CHOSEN KEGION.

As a member of Simcoe's staff, Talbot had followed the trail of
the winter express from Niagara to Detroit in February, 1793. He
had attended a Council of the Confederated Indians on the Kiver Miami
in August of the same year. In the following April he had accom-
panied Simcoe to the foot of the Miami Eapids, when the latter estab-
lished an outpost there to check the aggressive movements of Wayne.
He had had favourable opportunities for spying out the land, and had
become impressed with the possibilities of the region between Lake
Erie and the Eiver Thames.

Tradition relates that on one of these western expeditions Talbot
had shown himself particularly helpful and strenuous, collecting wood
for fu'el, helping to pitch the tent, drawing the boat and canoe across
the Long Point portage; and, in short, to borrow the language of
Fleming, one of Simcoe's boatmen, " The Colonel was the prettiest, the
neatest and most active of the whole party." Simcoe jocularly sug-
gested to Talbot, when they rested at the mouths of Catfish and Kettle



28 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Creeks, that he should establish himself at one of these beautiful
spots, but the young officer answered, " Not yet." When, however, they
arrived at the mouth of Talbot Creek, the lieutenant erected a tent on
the top of the cliff, turned host at once, met the Governor at the tent
door, and invited his Excellency to the Castle of Malahide. " Here,
General Simcoe," said the romantic youth, " will I roost, and will soon
make the forests tremble under the wings of the flock I will invite by
my warblincrs around mw."

There is some reason for laying the scene of the story at the mouth of
Kettle Creek (now Port Stanley) instead of that of Talbot Creek. How-
ever this may be, the main fact is fairly authenticated, that, at the age
of twenty-three, Talbot was already thinking of making his permanent
abode on the shore of Lake Eric. Here he would organize a settlement
of loyal British subjects, who should enable him to carry out, as far as
practicable, the policy of his great leader, General Simcoe. Years of
absence on military service could not obliterate the remembrance of the
lofty clifl on Lako Erie, and with the restoration of peace he was ready
to return to Upper Canada, to bury himself in the forest, and to hew
out home and fortune for himself and those whom he might induce to
follow him.

VIII. SKITTIEWAABA ox LAKE ERIE.

Talbot came out accordingly, early in 1801, with the object of
securing a township for himself. General Simcoe had promised him
lands, but owing to some neglect the necessary warrants had not been
issued previous to the former's departure from Canada. Since then,
new regulations were in force. Patent fees and settlement duties were
required, and Talbot was baffled in his desire to evade them. Making
his way to a point called by him Skittie-waaba, 1 probably at or in the
neighbourhood of the present village of Port Stanley, he began to make
a clearing. From various circumstances it is probable that this was
in the township of Yarmouth, although a reference in his earliest letter
on the subject might point to Houghton. If he could secure Yarmouth,
he shrewdly considered his fortune made. One of the king's sons, the
Duke of Cumberland, 2 had promised to lend his influence when desired.

So on the 16th May, 1801, he writes the Duke, announcing his safe
arrival in his " favourite settlement after the most propitious passage,
and, as I am persuaded," he proceeds, '' that your Royal Highness will
be satisfied, I will add, that I find my situation quite what I could



* OJIbway for " fire-water."
1 Afterward King: of Hanover.



LCOYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 29

have wished but I have one request to make, which, if your Royal
Highness will have the goodness to exert yourself in carrying into effect,
will complete my happiness in this world." Eeferring to General Sim-
coe's promise, and the expense and difficulty in the way of securing
lands, he asks the Duke's influence to have it confirmed, " as I flatter
myself, that your Royal Highness will admit that I am as loyal a sub-
ject, and equally entitled to the degree of Hidalgo as other adventurers
in a new country."

" I have to petition that you will have the goodness (I may add
charity) to ask of the King the grant of a Township in Upper Canada
for yourself, exempted from the fees to Government and obligations of
location for instance, The Township of Houghton in the County of
Norfolk on Lake Erie, or any other adjacent one" The Duke could
then transfer the property to Talbot. " Being a Royal Patent," it
would be exempt from fees. The Duke was to be the cat's-paw to pull
Talbot's chestnuts out of th'e fire.

Houghton at that time included what is now Malahide, immediately
east of Yarmouth. " I have pointed out the Township of Houghton as
it is situated near to my place of residence. Should your Royal High-
ness succeed, I will hare infinite happiness in paying my duty personally
to express my very great obligation for the protection afforded to the
once Gay Tom Talbot."

" I promise myself the enjoyment of every comfort in this Country
'excepting that material one, of seeing those I most respect and love;
a small income provides the necessary luxuries in this Province to
a Settler, as his own industry and labour procure him provisions. I
am out every morning at sunrise in my smock-frock, felling and burn-
ing the Forest to form a farm; could I bait be seen by some of my
St. James's friends when I come home to my frugal supper, as black
as any chimney sweeper they would exclaim, " What a damn'd block-
head you have been, Tom " but I say, no ; as I actually eat my homely
fare with more zest than I ever did the best dinner in London/' The
writer closes with an apology for the intrusion and good wishes
for the prince, and signs " with the most unfeigned gratitude, Your
Royal Highness's most dutiful and faithful servant, Thomas Talbot."

IX. ROYAL LOBBYISTS IN LONDON.

Nearly five months later, the Duke of Kent, at his brother of
Cumberland's request, encloses this letter to Lord Hobart, the Colonial
Secretary, whom he writes at some length, enlarging upon Talbot'e
merits. The Duke of Cumberland did not wish his name to appear



80 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

in the transaction " any further," says the Duke of Kent, " than that
your Lordship should know he is extremely anxious, that whatever
indulgence can be shown Colonel Talbot should be afforded him, and
that he will consider himself personally obliged to you, by anything
done in his favour. The object, therefore, of this application is to
solicit your Lordship's good offices, that an instruction may be sent,
if not contrary to established rules, to the Lieutenant-Governor of the
Province of Upper Canada, to make a Grant of the Township to Colonel
Talbot, and preferably of that which he himself has pointed out, ex-
empted from Government fees." The Duke adds that the application
is made on two grounds: In the first place General Simcoe's omission,
and in the second, " that the services he rendered Gen. Simcoe while
in that country, and the opinion entertained of him by that excellent
officer render him very deserving of this small indulgence/'

" I have now only to add that in meeting my Brother's wishes
upon this Subject, Your Lordship will also oblige me, and I therefore
flatter myself, that as far as in your power lays (sic), you will be
good enough to attend to this application in behalf of Colonel Talbot.
With sentiments of high regard and esteem, I remain, my Dear Lord,
ever your most faithfully and sincerely, Edward."

The strained relations between the King and his sons were at this
time aggravated by the former's mental condition. Alluding perhaps
to this circumstance, the Duke mentions Talbot's " ignorance of the
difficulty there is for any of His Majesty's sons to address him with a
request of any sort, but more especially of the nature of that which ft*
points out"

How long Talbot remained at Skittiewaaba is uncertain. It was
apparently long enough, however, to enable him to ascertain that Yar-
mouth soil was well adapted to the growth of hemp. But it would
appear that further efforts were necessary before he could secure his
grant. In October of the following year, we find him back in London.
He addresses a letter to the Government, giving information and advice
as to the soil, climate and inhabitants of Upper Canada. He extols
the character of the country, but reflects on settlers from the United
States, and complains of hardships often caused by magistrates. He
proposes, if his grant is made free of fees, to use his capital in the
establishment of agricultural works, especially the cultivation of hemp,
would like to divert emigration to Upper Canada instead of the States,
and suggests payment by government of their passage, tools, etc. Talbot
would himself provide persons to take charge of settlers to their destina-
tion. He urges that in any case he should have his grant of land.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 31

X. TALBOT'S SCHEME OF SETTLEMENT.

Simcoe was now in London, and on the llth February, 1803, he
writes Lord Hobart, Colonial Secretary, strongly pressing Talbot's claim
for 5,000 acres, and also for further lands under a new scheme of settle-
ment that he proposes. It was briefly as follows:

He desired that the allotment of 5,000 acres, to which he was
entitled as a field officer settling in Canada, should be granted in the
Township of Yarmouth, and the remainder of the Township reserved
" for him to settle with proper subjects of his own selection," according to
his plan. This was, that for every family established by him on a 200
acre lot, 50 acres should be granted to the settler in perpetuity, and the
remaining 150 to Talbot " for the expense and trouble of collecting and
locating them." Simcoe considered it "an object of the greatest
national importance to turn the tide of emigration which was then
flowing to the United States, ultimately to rest in this Province." This
would speedily, in his opinion, fulfil his favourite idea "of elevating
this valuable portion of His Majesty's Dominions from the degrading
situation of a petty factory, to be a powerful support and protection
to the British Empire." Simcoe proceeds :

" His (Talbot's) plan is to introduce himself amongst a large body
of Welsh and Scotch families who arrived in 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 dissolute prin-
ciples of the people there, and feel 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 Provinces on grants."

The cultivation of hemp in Canada, to supply the Eoyal Navy,
had been a subject of study by Simcoe, as early as 1791, before leaving
England for his Governorship. In 1792 and later years, Eussians
were introduced into the Province to instruct farmers in the proper
system of planting and gathering it, and prizes were offered to the
settlers who should be most successful in its growth. Talbot had been
very successful in cultivating it "on proper principles and to a greater
extent, perhaps," wrote Simcoe, " than any other settler in the Prov-
ince." The soil of Yarmouth was well adapted in his view to the
production of this valuable commodity, and he proposed to extend its
cultivation through the whole township. 1 Simcoe manifests throughout
the strongest affection for his former secretary, and a high appreciation
of his qualities, his ability and his record. Referring to Talbot's ser-

1 See Brymner's Archives Reports for 1891, pp. XLII-XL.III, and for 1903.

PP. xxii-xxm.



82 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

views whilst Simcoe was Lieut-Governor, the latter says, " He remained
in my family four years, when he was called home as Major of the
85th Regiment, then ordered to Flanders. During that period he not
only conducted many details and important duties incidental to the
original establishment of a colony in matters of internal regulation, to
my entire satisfaction, but was employed in the most confidential mea-
sures 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 affections of the Indian Nations, at that period
in open war with them. In this very critical situation, 1 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 ere-
cuted to my perfect satisfaction."

Simcoe defends the policy adopted by himself as Lieutenant-
Governor, of extending the King's bounty to all field officers who should
settle in the Province upon the same terras as to those who had served in
the American war, " it being obvious," he writes, " that it was for His
Majesty's interest that a loyal set of European gentlemen should, as
ppeedily as possible, be obtained to take the lead in the several districts."
He warmly commended the Colonel's object " by precept and example
to enforce principles of loyalty, obedience and private industry, amongst
those with whom he will be surrounded."

XI. THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT.

With such letters of recommendation it is not to be wondered at
that, within four days after the date of Simcoe's communication, Talbot
was the bearer of a letter from Lord Hobart to Lieutenant-General
Hunter, then Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, in furtherance
of his plans, but with certain modifications. If Yarmouth was already
appropriated, the bearer was to have his lands in any other Township
he might select. The settlers were to be either from the continent of
Europe or from America and to be placed on Talbot's original grant
of 5,000 acres. This would provide for one hundred families. A
sufficient proportion of the Township was " for the present " to " be
reserved for the purpose of hereafter appropriating to him according
to circumstances " 200 acres for every family he might induce to settle
there.

This arrangement would call for a maximum grant of 20,000 acres
for Colonel Talbot's own benefit. He actually succeeded as will appear
hereafter, in securing grants amounting to upwards of 5 aef&&J[*ihousand
acres.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 33

The letter recommended Talbot to the Governor's protection and
good offices. It professed to be based upon the hemp project.

At this time considerable grants had been made in the south of
Yarmouth to the Baby's, sons of Pontiac's friend, and Talbot chose the
Township of Dunwich as that from which his grant of 5,000 acres should
be selected. Dunwich and, at a later period, the Township of Aid-
borough, were reserved for his experiment. To Dunwich he accordingly
hastened as soon as the necessary preliminaries had been arranged with
the provincial authorities at York.

XII. PORT TALBOT.

There is a sluggish, little stream in Dunwich; which at certain
periods may be said, without too great a stretch of the imagination,
to flow into Lake Erie. At other times it is quite stagnant, being
dammed back by a sandbar across its mouth. The isthmus thus formed
is dry and solid, a thoroughfare for men and teams, until a stiff south-
easter comes along and unceremoniously tears open the channel again.

On either side are lofty cliffs of sand, extending for many miles
along the shore. Here and there they overhang the lake, which is
constantly gnawing at their feet. Huge fragments fall from the top
directly into the water. The process has been going on for ages, and
thus the lake grows ever wider and shallower. At times a tall tree
will remain for years, clinging to the very edge with its roots almost
bare of soil. But at last it yields, and topples over. If it strikes the
cliff-side, it remains reversed, its top buried in sand, its roots tending
skyward. But the lake gnaws steadily below. Sooner or later the
inexorable current seizes its reluctant prey.

The creek is bordered by rich, though narrow, flats and verdant
hillsides. Enough of the forest still remains to diversify the landscape,
which forms one of the most picturesque bits of scenery along the lakes.

It was at the mouth of this little stream that Colonel Thomas
Talbot landed with four followers on the 21st day of May, 1803. He
seized an axe, and with his own hands chopped down the first tree, thus
formally inaugurating the new settlement. Since that day the spot has
been called Port Talbot, the stream Talbot Creek, and the region the
Talbot Settlement. From it extends the Talbot Road, eastward to Fort
Erie, and westward to the Detroit River.

In the following year he brought carpenters from Niagara, and they
were employed during the years 180-i and 1805 in the erection of a
house and outbuildings. Here, except for occasional visits to the prov-
incial capital and to Europe, the remainder of his life was spent.

Sec. II., 1907. 3.



84 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

XIII. THE TERMS OF CONTRACT.

Talbot waited a year before taking out his patent for the five
thousand acres, which formed the basis of the scheme of settlement as
sanctioned by Lord Hobart's despatch of February 15th, 1803. He
selected them in one block, with the exception of a single isolated lot. 1
Tho terms of agreement required him, if he wished to claim other lands
in the proportion of 200 acres for each family settled upon 50 acres,
to place the families " upon his original grant/'

The advantage to the settlers, if he had carried out the terms,
was obvious. Although their allotments might be small only one-
quarter of the usual allowance yet they would be close together. The
construction of roads, the erection of a school and a church, the trans-
action of business, social intercourse, would be facilitated, and there
would be within a very brief period a compact society of one hundred
families. This would be the nucleus of the wider settlement to be
com posed of the reserved township. One- fourth of the reserve, it is
true, would be appropriated to the Founder as his compensation, but
the whole would he presently available for other settlers, to whom
one of the principal attractions would undoubtedly be the existence of
a compact settlement in their near neighbourhood. But the stipulation
was ignored by Colonel Talbot. He retained the original block of land
in his own hands. Tho hemp project, upon which the promise of the
Crown was founded, was dropped. No settlers came from the continent
of Europe, and very few, perhaps a dozen at most, from the United
States; and yet immigrants from other countries, by the terms of con-
tract, were excluded. Instead of settlement in the reserved townships
being accelerated, it was greatly retarded by the scheme of settlement
as actually worked out by Talbot for his own benefit. Roughly speak-
ing, the south halves of Dunwich and Aldborough were made over to
him. The settlers were scattered along Talbot Road, and in Aid-
borough the Middle Road as well, on quarter lots, the Colonel taking
as a rule the residue. As he systematically held back his lands from
settlement and sale, the result was necessarily disastrous to the settlers'
hopes. Improvements were practically impossible, where so large a
proportion of the land was unoccupied and covered with the primeyal
forest. Much of it was swamp-land, rich, but almost useless without



1 His letters patent from the Crown are dated May 7. 1804. and includ*
the following lota, all of them being In the Township of Dunwich: In Con-
cession IX. Lots 22. 23. 24; Concession X, Lots 5, 21, 22, 23, 24, and A-
Concession XI. Lots 14 to 24 Inclusive, also A and B; Concession XII, Lots
14 to 24 Inclusive, also A and B.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 38

a general system of drainage. It is little to be wondered at that good
roads in these townships were unknown until they were thrown open
after his decease, that clearings were few and scanty, and that the town-
ships began their real growth after the Colonel had passed away.

XIV. GRIEVANCES OF THE RESERVED TOWNSHIPS.

In other townships east and west, there was no one more strenu-
ous than he in denouncing the retention of reserves which inter-
fered with the rapid formation of compact settlements. He was
the champion of the resident owner against the non-resident, of the
settler against the Executive Council. But in Dunwich and Aldbor-
ough the position was reversed. In these townships he himself was
to all intents and purposes the non-resident owner ; the reserves belonged
to himself; he was the person directly and exclusively responsible for
the hindrances to settlement; and naturally and with reason the pio-
neers, mostly Argyleshire Highlanders, resented his injustice towards
them. .

Many of them had come out in consequence of proclamations pro-
mising each settler two hundred, or, at a later period, one hundred acres
of land. Their language was Gaelic. Few understood a word of Eng-
lish. When a settler found himself restricted to fifty acres and learned
that Colonel Talbot himself, who had done nothing, was to receive the
remaining 150 acres of his lot, it is easy to understand the indignation
that was aroused. .And so it happens, that while in other townships
of the Talbot Settlement his memory is treated with respect and
with a measure of gratitude, in Aldborough and Dunwich his name is
regarded with abhorrence. The exceptions are largely to be found near
Tyrconnel, where Talbot's first immigrants settled in 1809 and 1810.
They had seen the better side of his character, and experienced many
acts of kindness, for which their descendants to this day hold him in
grateful remembrance. But when the celebration of the Talbot Centen-
nial was held in 1903, there were bitter complaints from the Highland
townships, and from descendants of the first Highland settlers in other
parts of the county of Elgin, until it was made clear that the celebra-
tion was to commemorate the establishment of the settlement itself
and to honour the pioneers in general, and not to honour the memory
of the founder.

XV. ORIGINAL TERMS VARIED IN TALBOT'S FAVOUR.

The limitation of 20,000 acres as the extent of the allowance
Colonel Talbot was to receive for his services was scouted by him. He
claimed absolute control of the two townships, and to be entitled inde-



36 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

finitely to his allowance for every settler placed by him on 50 acres,
whether of the Colonel's land or the Crown Land. The Executive
Council intimated in 1817 that under his contention he could go on
claiming forever in geometrical progression lf>0 acres for every 50 acres
on which he might place a settler. At this time he had actually
received in all 15,800 acres under the scheme of settlement. The Exe-
cutive recommended accordingly that without waiting for him to com-
plete his settlement, 4,200 acres additional should be selected by him " in
the reserved townships of Dunwich and Aldborough to make up the full
allowance for 100 settlers as originally arranged, and that the remainder
of the land should be thrown open to ordinary settlement." They
mention that half of the townships named had been left at his selection,
equal to 01.000 acres; that these surveyed townships were lying idle,
whilst the ingress of settlers from the United Kingdom called for fresh
surveys. As a result of the war, United States settlers were hereafter
to be prohibited, and the source of supply, according to Talbot's original
plan was therefore cut off. They added the remark, " When the emi-
grant possessing an authority to receive 100 acres of land, finds himself
limited to the possession of 50, and that the Government actually bestows
on a stranger 200 acres on that account, no reasoning can remove the
impression of something worse than mere absurdity." Talbot did not
wait to argue, but immediately proceeded to England, and the Colonial
Secretary, whilst upholding the construction placed by the Provincial
Cabinet on the original grant, was induced by him to direct the latter
to vary the terms of it by extending the period for completion for five
years from 2f>th February, 1818. All those portions of the two town-
ships, which were vacant at the commencement of the Talbot Settle-
ment, were for this period to be reserved at Colonel Talbot's disposal,
all settlers authorized by statute were to be counted for the purpose of
his claim, not merely those mentioned in the plan of settlement as
originally agreed; and fees were not to be exacted until the patents
were called for. On account of the poverty of many of the settlers
this last point was specially insisted on by the Colonel, contrary to the
views of the provincial executive, who desired payment of survey fees
to be made at the time of location.

In January, 1820, Talbot formally notified Sir Peregrine Maitland
that he had completed the location of the lands especially put under
his direction according to the orders from the Imperial Government
above referred to. In March, 1821, he submitted a list of 185 settlers
located. Sixty other names are mentioned in his papers. This would
entitle him at most to 49,000 acres. What pretext or justification there
was for going beyond this amount 't is impossible to ascertain. No



[coYNjcJ THE TALBOT PAPERS 87

explanation appears in the archives. The bare fact remains. As his
compensation he received grants in these townships exceeding in all
Oj .000 acres.

XVI. EXTENSION OF TALBOT'S SETTLEMENT.

In addition to these two townships, the control and regulation of
settlement in the greater part of the London and Western Districts,
some twenty- two townships in all, had been entrusted to him in 1811
by the Provincial Government. He performed this work ostensibly
without compensation. It enabled him, however, to procure the com-
pletion of the Talbot Eoad, extending from Delhi in the Long Point
Settlement to Sandwich, with a branch from Port Talbot to London.
This was effected through the conditions of settlement imposed and
enforced by him. For sales of School Lands and Crown and Clergy
Reserves situated in the London District, he succeeded afterward in
getting an allowance of 3 per cent From 1st January, 1826, under
orders from the Colonial Secretary, in addition to his percentage, a
v. pension of 400 per annum was directed to be paid to him from funds
to be placed at the disposal of the Imperial Government by the Canada
Company. This was received by him annually until his death.

At this time Talbot claimed a population of 20,000 for his settle-
ment, and declared that he had expended 20,000 in rendering them
comfortable. In 1831 he puts the population at nearly 40,000 souls,
and in 1837 at 50,000. In a letter to Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant-
Governor in 1831, he asserts, " I was the first person wlio exacted the
performance of settlement duties and actual residence on the land
located, which at that time was considered as most arbitrary on my part,
but the consequence is now that the settlers that I found to com-
ply with my system are most grateful and sensible of the advantage
they could not otherwise have for a length of time derived by the
accomplishment of good roads, and I have not any hesitation in stating
tJiat there is no other settlement in North America, which can for its
age and extent exhibit as compact and profitably settled a portion of
|- the new world as the Talbot Settlement."

In all, 540,443 acres of land, spread over twenty-eight townships,
were at various times down to the year 1824 placed in Talbot's hands
for settlement by orders-in-council or personal orders from the Lieuten-
nnt-Governor.

These townships include the most westerly townships of Norfolk,
and, speaking generally, all those between the latter and. the Detroit
River. A range north of tire Thames from Zone in Kent to London
Township inclusive, are also comprised in the list.



38 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

XVII. THE TALBOT KOAD.

The Colonel's policy was to have a compact settlement of loyal
British subjects. For this purpose it was necessary to have a good road,
and the settlement duties included clearing ten acres of land and one-
half the road itself in front of each lot, as well as 100 feet adjoining the
road. It was also necessary that the Talbot Koad should have no large
blocks to obstruct settlement, and the Crown and Clergy Reserves were
accordingly shifted to the back concessions. The settlers were in most
cases poor and unable to pay survey and patent fees; therefore they
should not be molested by the Toronto officials until it was entirely
convenient to pay them; and lastly, no certificate's for patent should
issue 'except to persons who had erected a house 15 feet by 20 feet,
and been actual settlers for five years. This prevented them from sell-
ing out to speculators, and induced continuous improvements.

The Talbot Koad was the first good road of any considerable length
in the province, and in 1837 it was described by Mrs. Jameson as the
finest in the province. Situated between the lake and the ridge which
forms its watershed, it was within convenient reach of excellent gravel
on both sides. This natural advantage, and the Colonel's policy, com-
bined to make it an excellent highway: and it became an object lesson
to the settlers on the back concessions, who vied with each other in
improving their roads. The result is seen in the excellent highways
which form a network over the county of Elgin. The " Paradise of
the Ilurons " is now the Paradise of the motorist and the cyclist.

XVIII. THE BEGINNINGS OF SETTLEMENT.

The progress of the settlement was at first very slow. There is
a tradition that the Colonel resided near Fort Erie from 1803 until
180G for the purpose of learning the art of farming, but this is not
borne out by the documents. A few men came in. apparently as
domestics or mechanics, and left again after a short stay. For his
own needs apparently, for there were few or no settlers, or else in anti-
cipation of immigration, the Colonel erected a grist mill and a saw mill
on Talbot Creek, near Port Talbot, in the year 1807 or 1808. The
event was celebrated by the Indians with a war dance to which the
Colonel was invited. He became by adoption, probably at this time,
a meml>er of the Delaware or of the Munsey tribe. The mills were
burnt down by American marauders in 1814. George Crane, who came
with Talbot in 1803, and, on marrying, had a farm allotted to him in
Dunwich in 1800. was the first settler located by Talbot. He had not,
however, come in ae a settler, but as an employee.



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS . 39

In 1809 the first settlers came in with the intention of settling. .
Landing from small boats at the mouth of Talbot Creek, they were '
welcomed by the Colonel on the beach, and treated with great kindness.
It was a few miles west of Port Talbot that the Pearces, Storeys and
Pattersons, numbering thirteen in all, established themselves in Dun-
wich along the lake shore. They came from Pennsylvania, but were all
of Irish descent. Stephen Backus, also from Pennsylvania, followed
in 1810.

The settlement of the townships lying eastward was rapidly effected
after Colonel BurwelPs survey of Talbot Road. The line of this famous
highway followed generally an old Indian portage path a few miles
north of Lake Erie. The first settlers on land now occupied by the
city of St. Thomas were Daniel Eapelje and David Mandeville, both
of whom came from Long Point Settlement. 1 They were also the
first settlers on Talbot Road.

In February, 1811, thirty persons petitioned the Lieutenant-
Governor-in-Council for grants on Talbot Road, almost all claiming
to be residents of Yarmouth or Southwold. One of these, Garrett
Oaks, in his printed reminiscences, claims to have settled on his lot
(now part of New Sarum), in 1811, and to have aided in chopping out
three roads, including one from Talbot Road to Port Bruce in 1810,
the road from St. Thomas to Port Talbot in 1811, and one from Yar-
mouth to Norwich Mills in 1812.

Failure on the part of Talbot settlers to pay patent fees was a
constant source of irritation to the provincial government. In 1831
the Home Government was informed that upwards of 5,000 deeds
on which, of course, fees were unpaid, remained to be taken out
by settlers. The Colonel replied that for this he was not respons-
ible, except in so far as he made it a matter of policy not to issue
his certificate to a settler for performance of settlement duties, until
he had performed them and was an actual resident on the lot he had
located him for, and further, that he was opposed to settlers receiving
their patents until after a five years' residence on the land. After
receiving Talbot's certificate, a settler might postpone indefinitely tak-
ing out his patent, and (an important matter in the early days) paying
Ihe survey arid patent fees. In many instances a patent was not taken
out for twenty or thirty years or 'even longer.

1 They were recommended for a grant of 200 acres each by order-in-
council, December 7, 1809. Mandeville received Lot 45 on the south side of
Talbot Road in Southwold, and Rapelje the lot lying eastward, Lot 1 in the
8th Concession of Yarmouth. The lands were divided only by the township
line.



4O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Generally speaking, the three townships of AMborough, Dunwich,
and South Dorchester, and the North of Yarmouth, were settled by High-
landers; Talbot Koad Kast, including the North Branch in Southwold, by
a miscellaneous immigration from the United States, the Long Point
settlement, tin- Niagara District, Southern Kngland and elsewhere;
the south of Yarmouth by members of the Society of Friends from
Pennsylvania and Now Jersey ; Malahide by settlers from New York
State, Long Point and Nova Scotia, and Bayham by immigrants from
all quarters: London township by immigrants from Ireland under
Richard Talbot, a very distant connection of the Colonel.

XIX. THE WAR AND SIMON* ZELOTES WATSON*.

The war of 1812 was a complete bar to settlement, and the pioneers
suffered greatly from plundering bands of Americans, largely from
Kentucky, who repeatedly moved up and down the Talbot TJoad. destroy-
ing mills and farm buildings, and carrying off not only live stock and
all kinds of produce, but beds and bedding, household utensils and
everything portable. Some of these marauding parties were composed
of or guided by disaffected settlers from the township of Delaware,
amongst whom a surveyor name Simon Zelotes Watson. 1 and one West-
brook were especially prominent. These had personal grievances against
Talbot in connection with land grants, and were loud in their throats
against his life if he should fall into their hands.

1 Lieutenant -Colonel Cruikshank has kindly contributed the following
interesting note with reference to Watson and Westbrook: "In the Quebec
Mercury of July. 1812. Simon Z. Watson is described as a land surveyor and
late a J.P. for the District of Montreal. In the Registry of the U. S. army
for 1813 (See Am. State Papers, Military Affairs. Vol. I. p. 387). his name
appears as Topographical Engineer for Military District No. 8, comprising
tl.e States of Ohio and Kentucky, and the Territories of Indiana, Michigan,
Missouri and Illinois. The date of his appointment was August 20," 1813,
and he seems to have accompanied Harrison In his invasion of Canada In
September of that year. You will find other references to him In my Doc.
Hist.. Vol. 3, p 146, and Vol. 4, pp. 23 and 25. The names of Simon Z.
Watson, Andrew Westbrook and James Westbrook are included in an alpha-
betical list of persons " having landed property in Upper Canada, who did
voluntarily withdraw from the Province without license during the late war,"
of which I have a MS. copy. Andrew Westbrook seems to me to have been
the prototype of Desborough In Richardson's Canadian Brothers. You will
find references to him in Doc. Hist., Vols. 1 and 2. pp. 21, 193, 224 and 397,
and Vol. 4, p. 23. McKenney, in his book entitled " Tour to the Lakes,"
1827. found him settled on lands granted by the U. S. Government near Fort
Gratlot, and describes him as a large, red-haired, rough-featured man, and
a noted partisan during the war."



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERSJ 41

Watson had been authorized by the Governor-in-Council to lay out
a road in Westminster and place on each side of it settlers he was to
bring from Lower Canada. Watson, however, maintained that no lim-
itation had been imposed as to the origin of his settlers, until Colonel
Talbot, who was to certify to their character and fitness, notified him
that none from the United States should be admitted. Watson further
asserted that he had travelled 700 miles through the States collecting his
immigrants, 300 of whom he claimed were ready to come in and pay him
$100 each when settled, or the difference between $100 and the Govern-
ment fees of $37.50. Talbof s prohibition meant ruin to him. He charged
Colonel Talbot with duplicity in having intimated that no objection
would be raised to t the right class from the States. The Colonel
admitted that he had spoken loosely, inconsiderately and without author-
ity, but was determined to exclude all settlers from the United States.
In this he was supported by the Executive. The result was a series
of stormy interviews, letters and urgent and emphatic memorials. Tal-
bot ordered Watson out of his house, and threatened to deliver his
answer by the constable, if Watson intruded again. Watson, whose
reason would appear to have been quite unsettled by brooding over his
grievance, answered by threats against the Colonel's life. The Execu-
tive took action forthwith to put him under bonds to keep the peace.
His grant was rescinded, except as to settlers from Lower Canada who
might come in during 1811. When the war broke out, Watson, with
some other settlers in Delaware and Westminster, including one West-
brook, joined the enemy. A detachment of Hull's army of invasion
penetrated to Westminster in July, 1812, and threatened the Talbot
settlement. Watson and Westbrook were with them, assisting with
their local knowledge. About the beginning of August, Watson nar-
rowly escaped capture at Allan's house in Westminster at the hands of
Col. Bostwick and Wm. Hamilton Merritt with a few militia under their
charge.

Colonel Talbot commanded the militia of the London and Western
Districts during the war. With them he was at the battle of Lundy's
Lane and Fort Erie. He was energetic in forwarding, and to some
extent, in furnishing supplies. As commanding officer he was in con-
stant correspondence with the civil and military authorities, and many
of his letters are preserved. He directed for a time the patrol service
near Port Dover, but can hardly be called a conspicuous figure in tho
war. It is significant that while there was doubt about the loyalty of
many parts of the province, there was none respecting the loyalty of
Talbot's settlers.



42



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
XX. KFFKCTS OF THK WAR.



The clow of the war found the settlement diminished and impover-
ished. The destruction of the mills was a serious inconvenience.
It was now necessary to revert to primitive methods, to grind wheat
by hand in stumps of trees, hollowed hy fire, or else the settler had to
carry it on his hack (horses being almost unknown and oxen scarce) to
the mill at I/>ng Point, seventy or eighty miles away, wait there Jm
turn, sometimes for days, and then trudge lunar again through the
woods with the flour on his hack.

Some found it more expeditious and economical to row in an open
hoat to Buffalo, one hundred and fifty miles distant, to purchase flour.
A letter is extant from a new settler. Singleton Gardiner, who late in
October. 181 (J, after a perilous voyage in an open skiff from Port Tal-
bot succeeded in securing hut a single barrel: there is pathos in its
reference to the dangers of the return voyage over the treacherous lake
in a rowboat so late in the autumn. IT is brother, Thomas Gardiner,
was the first schoolmaster in the settlement.

XXI. IMMIGRATION.

After the war. as has already been intimated, immigration from
the United States was prohibited. A few Irish and Scotch settlers
who had lived for some years in the States arrived, however, in 1816
and subsequent years, and located in Dunwich and Aldborough. Several
famine's of the Selkirk Settlement of Kildonan in the Red River Settle-
ment came in about the same tinu. About 1819 these were followed
by a large immigration of Argyleshire Highlanders, who took up land
in Aldborough. These settlers, Scotch and Irish, formed a very desir-
able addition to the population. So numerous were those from Argyl'e-
shire, that when their descendants presented an address at St. Thomas
in 1881 to the son of the great MacC'allum More, the Marquis of Lome,
then Governor-General, they assembled by thousands at St. Thomas.
An address in classical (laelic, the composition of the late Rev. Dr.
MacXish, perhaps the most accomplished Gaelic scholar then living,
and himself an Argvleshire man. was presented to the Marquis and
fittingly responded to. It is said that the Marquis informed those
present that he had never in Argyllshire itself seen so many Argyleshire
people present at one time.

XXII. ST. THOMAS AND THE TAI.BOT ANNIVERSARY.

The village of St. Thomas dates back to the year 1817, when a
general store was opened at Kettle Creek, and another on the hill above.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 43

Beginning with that year, the 21st of May in each year was observed
by the settlers in commemoration of the founding of the Settlement.
The celebrated Dr. Rolph had settled in Malahide in 1813; in 1817
he was living in Southwold, just west of St. Thomas. He was well
acquainted with Talbot, having acted as paymaster and military secretary
during the war. The Talbot anniversary was instituted upon his advice
and with his aid. The correspondence which took place before its insti-
tution has been preserved, and is curious enough. 1 The first celebration
was held at Dr. Lee's hotel, a mile or two east of St. Thomas. It con-
tinued to be held each recurring 21st of May, until "the close of the
Rebellion. After the first few years it was held in St. Thomas, which
Colonel Talbot was in the habit of calling his "capital," except on
one occasion, when it was moved to London. It began with a dinner.
The standard toasts were, " The King'," " The day and all who honour
it," and "The Honorable Thomas Talbot, the founder of the Talbot
Settlement." The Colonel, who made a point of attending the annual
celebration, always responded briefly, but with pride, and deeply touched
by his uniformly enthusiastic reception, 2 always concluding in the most
affectionate and emphatic manner, ' God bless you all.' The dinner
was followed by a ball, opened by the Colonel, who selected for his part-
ner the prettiest girl amongst the farmers' daughters present. During
the two years of the Rebellion, the presence of a garrison at St. Thomas
added splendour to the festivities. On one of these occasions the
scarlet uniforms of the officers of the 85th Regiment were conspicuous
amongst the gaily dressed dancers. It was the same regiment Colonel
Talbot had served with as Major on the continent of Europe nearly
half a century before. The presence of the military proved in the
end fatal to the anniversary. It had become too gay and fashionable
for the guests in homespun. Their attendance fell off, and the depar-
ture of the military deprived the festival of its chief attraction for
the fashionable visitors. Shortly after the rebellion, the Talbot anni-
versary was numbered with the things of the past.



1 A report of the preliminary meeting is published herewith for the
hrst time. The remainder of the papers may be found in Edward Erma-
tinger's " Life of Colonel Talbot," and in Judge Ermatinger's " Talbot
Regime."

: The settlers in Dunwich and Aldborough were always conspicuous by
their absence, with the exception of the few Irish families at Tyronnel, who
had come In in 1809-1810. v



44 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

XX II I. THE CASTLE OF MALAHIDE ox LAKE ERIE.

His house has boon described by Mrs. Jameson, Mr. Ermatinger
and others, and the old settlers love to explain its plan and mode of
construction. A long range of l.w buildings made of logs and shinglee
was the C'astle of Malahide. Th.i approach to it from the east was
by a beautiful winding road runnirg for miles through the Colonel's
wood. Descending the high banks of Talbot C'reek half a mile from
its mouth, and ascending on the opp>site side, it wound round the
brow of the hill under an avenue of walnuts a considerable distance
to the residence. The visitor's arrival is greeted by the Colonel's doge
with loud barking. He steps on the Dutch verandah, disturbing the
poultry roosting thereon. Farm implements are ranged along it, and.
perhaps, the skin, of a panther or lynx is nailed on the wall. He
enters the granary or store-room in the east end, where hung on the
walls " the venerable yellow-dyed sheepskin ciat and cap," as well as
the host's saddle, bridle and martingales. He passes on through this
room to " the audience chamber and dining-room, whence, by an easy
transition, Jeffrey was wont to slip out and in from the kitchen." The
centre room was plainly furnished as befitted a fcvst home. A solid
pine table, a few chairs with skin or basket-7/ork seate, some chests and
a cupboard, a plain bookcase with a few books, a large map on the
wall, comprised its equipment all but the ample fire-place, whose
cheery blaze added light and warmth and life to the otherwise comfort-
less apartment.

Another contiguous frame stricture contained a range of bed-
rooms for his guests. This is described by Mrs. Jameson in 1837.
In his later years a loftier building of the same material was added,
with suites of rooms for state occasions, and distinguished guests. A
cellar well stocked with choice whisky, and a goodly supply of wine
in double casks, carefully selected from Montreal, was an important
adjunct. The wine was reserved for the higher grade of guests, the
whisky was for the Colonel and his settlers.

XXIV. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO PORT TALBOT.

Many distinguished guests were entertained at Port Talbot. For
a long period of years no visitor to Upper Canada considered his tour
complete until he had paid his respects to the autocrat of Dunwich.
Governors, visiting noblemen and gentlemen, judges, litterateurs, and
occasionally ladies of distinction, were amongst his guest*. Francis
Gore, General Brock, the Duke of Richmond, Labouchere, M.P. (after-
wards Lord Taunton), James Stuart Wortley, M.P., afterwards the



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 43

second Lord Wharncliffe, Sir Peregrine Maitland, Sir John Colborne,
Sir George Arthur, Lord Aylmer, Chief Justice Eobinson, his brother.
Hon. Peter Bobinson, Edward Stanley, M.P., afterwards Earl of Derby
("the Eupert of Debate"), Eichard Talbot (afterwards Lord Talbot
of Malahide), and William Talbot, brothers of Colonel Talbot, Eichard,
afterwards Lord Airey, Julius and John Airey (Talbot's nephews), Dr.
Howison, Dr. Dunlop, Bishops Stewart and Strachan, Mrs. Jameson,
Lady Emeline Stuart- Wortley and her daughter, now the Lady Victoria
Welby, and others of note, Vere sheltered beneath his hospitable roof.
On the other hand, in his occasional visits to England he met on equal
terms the greatest of the land. His predilection for pioneer garments
and rustic customs at Port Talbot did not preclude him from resuming
at need the habits of refined civilization; and, whether at Government
house, or the Speaker's dinner, at York, or before his own ample fire-
side, he met his fashionable and distinguished friends with the courtly
grace of a scion of the old Talbot stock. Of military visitors he
appears to have had a surfeit. In 1832 he concludes a letter to Peter
Eobinson with the curt announcement : " Pestered with half pay offi-
cers. Please don't introduce any of them to me/'

XXV. PERSONAL PECULIARITIES.

Mrs. Amelia Harris gives an interesting account of a visit paid
by him to Port Eyerse before his own mill was completed : " He had
come with a boat load of grain to be ground at my father's mill. The
men slept in the boat, with an awning over it, and had a fire on shore.
In front, of the fire, Colonel Talbot was mixing bread in a pail, to be
baked in the ashes for the men. I had never seen a man so employed,
and it made a lasting impression upon my childish memory. My
next recollection of him was his picking a wild goose, which my father
had shot, for my mother to dress for dinner." This was in accordance
with his habits at Port Talbot. Mrs. Jameson remarks, "For sixteen
years he saw scarce a human being except the few boors and blacks
employed in clearing and logging his land, he himself assumed the
blanket-coat and axe, slept upon the bare earth, cooked three meals a
day for twenty woodsmen, cleaned his own boots, washed his own linen,
milked his cows, churned the butter and made and baked the bread.
In this latter branch of household economy he became very expert,
and still prides himself on it." He dressed in homespun even on
journeys abroad. His sheepskin coat and fur cap, celebrated wherever
his name was known, was a familiar sight on the streets of York when
he paid his winter visit to the provincial capital, to present his annual
accounts and pay over his collections as Land Agent to the Govern-



46 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

merit. On those occasions he drove from Port Talbot in a "good,
ftrong, high-shouldered box sleigh, wrapped up in the well-known sheep-
skin coat, and covered with buffalo robes." In the same coat he was
frequently seen driving Lady Maitland or other ladies of the vice-regal
circle through King or Yonge Streets, an object of curiosity to all on-
lookers, to whom his name was u household word. An artist friend
painted a portrait of him, in the costume of the period, but with trousers
of homespun in broad stripes of black and red, forming a somewhat
startling and picturesque pattern. 1 His customary shabby apparel was,
as has been stated above, the means of preserving his liberty and per-
haps his life during the war of 1812, on the occasion of one of the
numerous visits of raiding parties to Port Talbot.

A tradition in the settlement, confirmed by the statements of
writers such as Mrs. Jameson, 2 and Mrs. Amelia Harris, asserts that
until a comparatively late period, he carried out his misogynist views to
such an extent that he persistently refused to have female domestics
at Port Talbot. His papers, however, show that, whatever may have
been the custom in later years, he was not so exclusive in the earlier
period, his account book showing that, from 1804 until 1800 at least,
he had one or two always in his employ. ITis famous valet and man
of all work, .TefTrey Hunter, married while in the Colonel's service,
and husband and wife resided in the house during the demainder of the
Colonel's life at Port Talbot. The exclusion of domestics of the
female sex cannot therefore have Ivon of longer duration than from
180!) until Hunter's marriage. On the other hand, not a few ladies
were from time to time welcome visitors at Port Talbot.

XXVI. RELTOTOUS OBSERVANCES.

In the early days of the settlement he was careful about religious
observances, as a sort of weekly drill, a survival of garrison discipline.
Service was held each Sunday and the settlers were expected to attend.
The Colonel himself read tire service. To insure punctuality of atten-
ance, the bottle was regularly passed around at the close. The result,
it is hardly necessary to add, was satisfactory on both sides. The prac-
tice was kept up until the erection of St. Peter's church, four or five
miles away, put an end to the Colonel's ministrations. The same
method was adopted with equal success when the militia assembled for
their annual drill on the King's Birthday, the 4th of June. Their

1 See frontispiece, which, however, shows only the upper portion of the
original.

'Mrs. Jameson speaks of his reputation as "a sort of woman-hater, who
had not for thirty years allowed a female to appear in his sight."



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 47

devotion to military exercises, it may be surmised, was only surpassed
by the sometimes startling character of their subsequent proceedings.

The Colonel's clerical duties were not confined to those just men-
tioned. As the nearest local magistrate, he was frequently called upon
to perform the marriage ceremony, there being no clergyman resident
within eighteen miles. I have seen several marriage certificates bearing
his signature, amongst others, that of the well known Colonel McQueen.

It has been said that Talbot sometimes baptized infant settlers,
but that is among the apocrypha of the Settlement. After a few year*
he abandoned all pretense of religious observance. He never attended
church, and at times he paid slight respect to such clergymen as visited
him, although he is said to have contributed to the funds of the Church
of England, and was on friendly terms with the bishops, both Anglican
and Roman Catholic.

XXVII. THE SLIDING WINDOW-PANE.

The settlers loved to tell of interviews with Talbot through the
well-known window-pane. Many were the schemes to wheedle or hood-
wink the Colonel into granting a location. Meanwhile, his temper,
always irascible and domineering, grew more surly and morose in deal-
ing with applicants. His valet, steward and man of all work was
famous throughout the settlement, and, indeed, wherever the name of
Talbot was known. It was Jeffrey Hunter, his faithful attendant and
henchman, who gave notice of the approach of the crafty settler, and
of his designs. In his choice of settlers Talbot was discriminating.
Those who took his fancy were allowed to settle in the nearer, others
were sent to remoter townships. He knew by intuition whom he could
persuade to settle on a poor farm, and whom it was impossible to put
off without a good location. The masterful settler, however, occa-
sionally had his own way, even if he had to resort to physical force.
The name of Duncan Patterson is held in honour to this day for having
thrown the Colonel to the ground, and held him there until promised
the location desired, which the Colonel had at first refused. To pre-
vent the recurrence of such inconveniences, the inventive genius of the
Colonel and the faithful Jeffrey contrived an expedient, which resulted
satisfactorily. K"o longer was the designing homesteader admitted
within the precincts of the Castle of Malahide. He presented himself
outside, opposite a window, in which a sliding pane was fitted; and
behind the open pane, at a signal from Jeffrey, the florid face and
gleaming eyes of Colonel Talbot confronted the applicant. Tradition
has preserved the Colonel's form of salutation, .even to the tones of his



48 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

hareh and husky voice. ''What do you want?" was the peremptory
inquiry which opened the interview with the trembling and anxious
immigrant unskilled in the ways of Talbot. Having made known his
desire for a particular location, the intending settler was obliged to
undergo a rigid cross-examination as to his antecedents, means and
motives. If the application was granted, he went away rejoicing that
lie had escaped so easily. If refused, the applicant exercised his
democratic privilege of abusing and cursing the Colonel and all his
belongings. Then came the conclusion of the ceremonial. The Col-
onel's rough voice called out, " Jeffrey, set on the dogs," the pane of
glass was closed, and with it the interview.

XXVIII. THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.

A hard drinker himself, Talbot was shocked beyond measure at
.the rise of the temperance movement in the early 30's. He quickly
disposed of moderate drinkers by classing them with the objectionable
triumvirate of Radicals, Ryersonians and Rebels. Sir James Alexan-
der, an officer in the garrison at London, who visited him about the
year 1842, with the regimental doctor, expecting to spend a week at
Port Talbot, was promptly undeceived. Dinner was served shortly
after their arrival. The host grew more and more observant, as the
officer passed the decanter without replenishing his glass, and, at the
conclusion of the meal, calling him into another room, said, decisively:
' ; I have ordered your horses to be got ready; you will be able to reach
St. Thomas before dark.'' In his book entitled " L'Acadie," Sir James
records the incident with much gusto; but local tradition asserts that
he was not even permitted to finish his dinner before Talbot ordered
Jeffrey to have the hors-es saddled and bridled.

His deterioration in habits and manner was owing partly to early
military and court training, but largely to his situation. He never
associated with the settlers: he lived aloof from his neighbours. Human
sympathies perished from atrophy. Mrs. Jameson was moved to tears
by the pathos of his situation as he recited it to her. She adds: "He
has passed his life in worse than solitude. He will admit no equal in
his vicinity. His only intercourse has been with inferiors and depen-
dents, whose servility he despised, and whose resistance enraged him
men whose interests rested on his favour on his will, from which
there was no appeal. Hence despotic habits, and contempt even for
those whom he benefitted : hence, with much natural benevolence and
generosity, a total disregard, or rather total ignorance, of the feelings



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 49

of others all the disadvantages, in short, of royalty, only on a smaller
scale. Now, in his old age, where is to him the solace of age? He
has honour, power, obedience, but where are the love, the troops of
friends, which also should accompany old age? He is alone a lonely
man. His constitution has suffered by the dreadful toils and privation
of his earlier life. His sympathies have had no natural outlet; his
affections have wanted their natural food. He suffers, I think; and
not being given to general or philosophical reasoning, causes and effects
are felt, not known."

An amusing story is told, typical, it would seem, of many hard
drinkers in the spacious days, when George III was king. Talbot
used to say that a man who drank in the early morning was sure to
die a drunkard. To show the sincerity of his belief, and his resolve
not to expose himself to this danger, he placed a mark on an out-
building, showing where the sun would cast his shadow at 11 o'clock.
Long before the hour, the Colonel would sit in his armchair gazing
intently at the moving shadow. Precisely when it reached the mark,
Jeffrey was ordered to produce the decanter, and the rest of the day
was devoted to indulgence. To have ample time for this dissipation,
he had an inflexible rule that no business should be transacted after
12 o'clock. Settlers who had walked scores of miles following a blazed
track in the woods to get their land, found on their arrival that they
could not see the great man, because the noon hour had struck. Back
they had to trudge to the nearest inn, two miles or more, or sleep in
the woods, so as to be on hand to interview the distinguished Govern-
nrent Agent next morning.

When the Colonel was absent from home hi& domestics could
sample the wine, and there were times when he found an empty cellar
on his return. Eeturning from England with one of his brothers, who
found the wines in the United States detestable and longed for the-
choicer brands of the old country, he consoled him with the promise-
of good wine at Port Talbot. Arrived at the castle, he called for some-
of Logan's best port, to redeem his pledge, and cleanse his brother's;
palate of the villainous stuff he had been drinking. To his horror there
was none in the cellar. " None," asked the Colonel, " what has become
of it?" The Hibernian domestic was ready with his answer, "None,
yer honour, it all dried up with the hot weather." 1



1 This, with some other anecdotes, are reproduced from Edward Erma-
tingrer's "Life of Colonel Talbot," with some additions supplied by local
tradition.

Sec II., 1907. 4.



BO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

XXIX. PUBLIC DUTIES.

The Colonel was not enthusiastic in his devotion to his somewhat
numerous public duties. He was Lieutenant for the County of Middle-
sex in 1804. A member of the legislative Council of the Province
since the year 1809, it is doubtful if he ever took his seat. A Justice of
the Peace, he took his place at the Quarter Sessions at Charlotteville for
one day in 1806, but there is no record of his doing so afterwards. In the
following year he was appointed one of the four members of the Court
of Itequcst for the County of Middlesex ; but there is no record of his
having officiated, as far as published accounts go. It was doubtless
on his advice that during this year Ebenczer Green was named Constable
for Dunwich and Aldborough; in 1808, John Quick, Constable of Dun-
wich, and Samuel Guernsey, collector; and in 1809, Joseph Smith,
Constable for Dunwich. As magistrate, Talbot never issued a summons
or warrant. His admirer, Colonel George Munro, 1 accounts for the fact
partly by the conspicuous morality of the settlers, and partly by th?
Colonel's kindness of heart. An additional cause is probably to be
found in less laudable idiosyncrasies, and especially in his indifference
and aloofness.

In 1826 Talbot, Burwell, Hamilton, Charles Ingersoll and John
Matthews were appointed by statute Commissioners for the purpose of
erecting the London Gaol and Court House, and to levy a rate therefor.
The Court House is still used for its original purpose. In its original
construction its general outlines conformed to those of the Castle of
Malahide.

An ardent Tory of the old school, before the days of responsible
government, he did not condescend to vote personally at elections. This
may have been owing to his position as a Legislative Councillor, but
it was more likely owing to his peculiar temperament. The intensity
of his views on political questions was, however, well known and tended
to produce in his pugnacious Highland neighbours an equal if not
greater fervour of opinion in the opposite direction. It is significant,
but not perhaps to be wondered at, that the Scotch township of Dun-
wich in which he lived is to-day the most strongly Liberal township
in the county. There are streets in which for miles every voter, until
a recent period at all events, cast his ballot on that side. On the other
hand, it is 'equally significant that the southern portion, including Port
Talbot, is to this day strongly Conservative. This section contains
descendants of the original immigrants from Pennsylvania who came
in 1800 and 1810, and who experienced special kindness and hospitality
at his hands.

1 In letters to the press of St. Thomas, several years ago.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS Bl

XXX. TALBOT'S POLITICAL MEETING AT ST. THOMAS, 1832.

From the considerable volume of papers preserved by Colonel
Talbot, relating to the great political meeting at St. Thomas on St.
George'8 day in 1832, it would appear that he regarded his success on
this occasion as the crowning triumph of his career. A brief reference
to the meeting and the Colonel's speech, the only political address he
is known to have delivered, will therefore not be out of place.

The accession to power of a Keform Government in England and
the passage by the British Government of the Keform Bill, greatly
extending the franchise and wiping out many " rotten boroughs," gave
the Liberals in Upper Canada grounds for hoping for a change in the
System of administration here. Anxious for the overthrow of the
Family Compact and for urgently desired reforms, responsible govern-
ment being as yet hardly dreamed of, they began to hold caucuses and
public meetings for tho formation of what were called political unions,
and to petition for the recall of the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Col-
borne, a well meaning military officer of high character, who was believed
to hav,e placed himself entirely in the hands of the Family Compact.

The Liberals included almost all Methodists, Baptists and Scotch-
men, and a very large proportion of the immigrants from the States.
They represented an overwhelming majority of the electorate. But the
Family Compact, occupying all the places in the Provincial Government,
Legislative Council and all official positions great and small throughout
the province, went on serenely vetoing bills passed by the assembly for
furthering the development of the Province, punishing the popular
leader with repeated expulsion from the Legislature, to which he was
repeatedly re-elected, and contemptuously disobeying explicit instructions
of the home government to put themselves in touch with popular senti-
ment, until the crash came in the rebellion of 1837. Then followed
Lord Durham's famous report, the introduction of responsible govern-
ment, and the downfall of the Compact.

In the spring of 1832 the spirit of reform was in the air. The
temperance question began to loom up large, and was favourably consid-
ered by religious bodies. Temperance societies were formed. Their
members were to a considerable extent, and in some places exclusively,
Liberals. The rigid conservatism of the day regarded with suspicion
all innovation of whatever character it might be.

Colonel Talbot snuffed rebellion in the air, and made up his mind
to put down the movement at once as far as the Talbot Settlement was
concerned. Fly leaves were distributed as follows:



B2 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

NOTICE.

Having seen the proceedings of different meetings held in the
Talbot Settlement, on the subject of imagined grievances, and finding
that it is now necessary to ascertain the real sentiments of the inhabit-
ants, so as at once to put down the fever (by a few only) manifested,
to encourage disaffection to the British Government, I give this notice,
recommending a general meeting of my settlers on St. George's day,
the 23rd of April next, at the King's Arms, 1 at St. Thomas, at noon,

when I shall attend.

THOMAS TALBOT,

Father of the Talbot Settlement,
Port Talbot, March 14, 1832.

The result was a large gathering of the electors, many of them
armed with bludgeons and prepared for battle. The number was
estimated at 1,500 to 2,500. E. A. Talbot, of the London " Sun," a
friendly newspaper, computed it at 2,000, of whom 800 signed an address
dictated by the Colonel and moved by the late Edward Ermatinger,
who appears to have been one of the leading spirits. Apparently the
Colonel's party did not preponderate at the meeting, but his political
friends were enthusiastic and his opponents refrained from hostile
demonstrations. At one point in his address there was some noise in
the outskirts of the crowd, which made the orator pause for a moment.
Taking out his snuff-box, giving it thje usual formal tap, he admin-
istered a large dose of the powdered tobacco to his nostrils, shook his
extended fingers a few inches from his nose, and called out : " Gentle-
men, I am an old man but tough." His admirers spoke of him
familiarly afterwards as " Tommy Tough."

XXXI. TALBOT'S SPEECH AT ST. THOMAS.

The MS. of the speech is an interesting document. The Colonel
wrote it out on foolscap, beginning economically at the top of the page.
After its conclusion he discovered that he had omitted the opening
words. But there was no line left, and he had to crowd them in close
to the upper edge of the paper, and there we read them in his own
autograph, " Silence and attention." Imagine a political orator of the
present day beginning his address to a mass meeting of electors in this



1 The Kind's Arms Hotel was at the southwest corner of Church and
Talbot streets, where the Llsgar House stood until it was torn down ?_
few years ago.



i



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS S3

fashion! But the old Colonel was on parade, and he remembered that
he was one having authority.

The reference to " the sheep with the rot," provoked shouts of
laughter. The Colonel was pleased, smiled, took snuff, and shook his
finger jocularly at the audience. So also with the reference to " the
flagstaff," by which was meant one of the Teeples of Malahide, who
was remarkable for his height. The reference to " nation and denom-
ination " was intended to apply to the Americans and Methodists. The
Colonel was clearly not prejudiced in favour of " d d cold-water-
drinking societies." As father of the settlement, he closed with the
benediction. But he was not a Universalist. Only the elect should
get the benefit of it, and the rest were cheerfully consigned to the place
of punishment they deserved for their political sins. "You that are
true British subjects " are exclusively to be blessed. The temperance
societies he had already " damned." The speech is given in extenso
from the Colonel's own draft, and the reader is referred to the text for
a complete understanding of this important episode.

The political excitement was by no means allayed by the success
of Talbot's meeting. The Government, however, profited by it through
the influence it produced in the rest of the province and in England.
Mackenzie found himself confronted on his visits to Downing Street,
as the bearer of petitions for Colborne's removal, by counter petitions,
with signatures exceeding the number attached to those in his charge,
approving of Colborne's conduct, and effusively loyal in th'eir sentiments
of devotion to the king. In the Talbot Settlement, as elsewhere, the
agitation was continued, and the parties were not content to rely upon
argument alone. Acts of violence, some of which would appear, if not
instigated, to have been approved by Talbot, followed. In a letter to
Hon. Peter Robinson in January, 1833, he exults over the riotous acts
of his henchmen from Dunwich. " My rebels," he writes, " endea-
voured to hold a meeting at St. Thomas on the 17th, Dr. Franklin's
birthday, as I am informed, but in which they were frustrated by my
loyal guards, who routed the rascals at all points, and drove them out
of the village like sheep, numbers with broken heads, leaving their hats
behind them, the glorious work of old Colonel Hickory. In short,
it was a most splendid victory. Mr. Fraser, the Westlian (sic) Method-
ist, behaved admirably on the occasion, and I scarcely think they will
venture to call another meeting, at least not at St. Thomas. Their
object was to form a political union, the articles of which were to elect
the legislative council, the magistrates, etc." But the rebels, who made
themselves obnoxious by drinking cold water and advocating revolution-
ary sentiments so startling as those specified, did not acknowledge them-



C4 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

selves beaten. On the contrary, they claimed victory all along the line,
and asserted that their meeting was an eminently successful one.

XXXII. TALBOT'S SYSTEM OF LAND TRANSFER.

The Torrens system of land transfer has well known advantages.
Questions of title are settled by it once and for all. Transfers are
effected with simplicity and dispatch, formalities are waived, and a
claimant knows exactly how his title stands. But this system was
anticipated by Colonel Talbot long before Torrens was heard of. His
townships maps were long famous. They are now preserved in the
Crown Lands Department, and in future ages will be interesting relics
of the pioneer age of Upper Canada. Copies of the Surveyor's maps
were in Talbot's custody. When an applicant's claim was allowed,
the Colonel with a lead pencil wrote the name across the lot selected.
There the entry remained for years until the settlement duties were
performed to the Colonel's satisfaction, and the certificate issued, which
would entitle the settler to his patent on payment to the Government
of the survey and patent fees. If the applicant failed to perform the
conditions, an eraser in the Colonel's hands soon cancelled the name,
and the settler's chance of reading his title clear vanished. If the
settler sold out to an approved successor, the name of the transferee
was as readily substituted by the successive use of the eraser and pencil.
What could be simpler, fairer or more effective? Let the lawyers
answer. Probably the answer would be that every Crown Land Agent
might not be as honest or as methodical as the crusty Colonel. His
merits as superintendent of settlement were acknowledged even by those
who denounced the objectionable features of his language and conduct.

He tried to discriminate between the honest and industrious appli-
cant and the crafty, shiftless or dishonest. He refused to admit bad
characters amongst the settlers, and insisted in general on a reasonable
compliance with the settlement conditions.

In receiving pay for lands, however, he was especially strict on one
point. Notes of the Bank of Upper Canada were always legal tender
with him ; but woe betide the man who asked him to accept bills of
the Agricultural Bank, or the Farmers' Joint Stock Bank, or any other
new fangled institution.

XXXIII. TALBOT AND THE AIREYS.

Being unmarried, Talbot's desire to acquire a great estate included
the wish to leave it to some near kinsman, who should thereby be able
to sustain in the New World the ancestral dignity of the Talbots de



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS SB

Malahide, and to preserve their memory. His brother William had
visited him in 1810. His sister Margaret's son, Julius Airey, had after-
wards been invited to reside with the Colonel. A residence of a year
or more had satisfied young Airey, just verging on manhood, with the
home life of Port Talbot. His experiences were anything but pleas-
ing. The youth found no suitable companions among the neighbouring
settlers. The life was intolerably dreary. Its monotony was varied
only by the uncle's eccentricities of habit and temper. For a year or
more the nephew endured it. Then he returned to England, cheer-
fully, no doubt, relinquishing his hope of inheritance of the vast estate.
Richard Airey, his brother, was Secretary to Lord Aylmer during the
tatter's Governor-Generalship. He had visited Colonel Talbot while
holding this position. Afterwards, during the rebellion, as Lieu-
tenant-Colonel of the 34th Eegiment, he had been quartered at St.
Thomas, only thirteen miles distant. Some years later, being then
Military Secretary at the Horse Guards, he removed from England with
his family, and came to Port Talbot to reside. Talbot denied that he
held out inducements to him to come to Canada, but maintained he had
reluctantly assented to Colonel Airey's own proposition. At all events,
when Airey arrived, it was with the understanding, on his part at least,
that he was to settle at Port Talbot and succeed to the estate.

The old residence was soon transformed by the new occupant. The
hours for meals were changed and new ways of living introduced, to
suit the fashion of th'e Old World. Disagreements resulted. Talbot
built a new house close by, where he might live as he pleased. " But,"
as Mr. Edward Ermatinger says, " all would not do, the old bird
had been disturbed in his nest, and he could not be reconciled." He
determined to spend the rest of his days in England or on the Continent
and actually resided in England for a year and more. 1

Before leaving Port Talbot, however, he effected a settlement with
his nephew, by conveying to him the Port Talbot estate, worth then
about ten thousand pounds, and including some 1300 acres, as well
as all his lands in Aldborough. 2 Whilst Talbot was in England,
Airey returned thither with his family, and resumed his military duties.
He became Sir Richard Airey, was Quarter-Master-General during the
Crimean War, some years before his death, and was elevated to the
House of Lords.

1 See letters of Colonel Talbot and George Macbeth to H. C. R. Becher
in the Appendix to " The Talbot Regime," by Judge Ermatinger.

*The deed is dated 16th March, 1850. It describes Aldborough lands
containing 27,650 acres, more or less, but includes expressly all other lands
owned by Talbot in the Township.



86



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
XXXIV. THK COLONEL'S DEATH.



After fifty years of residence in the forest, it was hardly to be
expected that Talhot would feel permanently at home in England. He
renewed his acquaintance with his old friend, the Great Duke, at Apsley
House, and with many others in high station, but pined for the laky
and cliffs and the winding waters of Talbot Creek. He returned to
find his old home rented by Colonel Airey to a stranger. He was
obliged to take a small room in the house of Mrs. Hunter, the faithful
Jeffrey's widow. Here for some time he lived, cooped in a small
apartment, within sight of the hilltop where he had spent nearly half
a century of his life.

Mr. George Macbeth, the careful manager of the estate, became
his sole devisee and legatee. Mr. Macbeth, having on his marriage
removed to London, the Colonel left Port Talbot, and resided at Mr.
MaclH'th's until his death, which occured on the 5th February, 1853,
only a few months after that of his friend, the Iron Duke. The
funeral proceeded on the 9th as far as Fingal. There, through the
misconduct of the undertaker, according to one account, but more pro-
bably by reason of the crowded condition of the little tavern, the coffin
was left over night in a shed or lean-to attached to the rear portion
of the building. The following day, the little procession went on to
Burwell's Corners, and thence over hill and dale by the winding road
through " The Colonel's Woods " to Port Talbot. Here the body lay
for a short time in the old familiar home. St. Peter's church is four
or five miles farther west. There the brief service for the dead
was recited. It was a bitterly cold day, and comparatively few were
present. Near by, on the high cliff overlooking the lake, is the final
resting place of many of the brave pioneers. There, in ; their midst,
pnd close to the grave of lx>rd Ai rev's little daughter, under a plain
slab, lie the nvortal remains, as the epitaph bears witness, of

" The Honorable Thomas Talbot,
Founder of the Talbot Settlement."

XXXV. COLOXEL TALBOT 's APPEARANCE.

Colonel Talbot was rather under medium height. As a youth he
must have been strikingly handsome, and he possessed an engaging and
courtly manner. His disposition was amiable, and he sought oppor-
tunities to make himself useful. Mrs. Simcoe in her journal refers
to this trait in terms of warm appreciation. Fleming, who, in the
capacity of boatman, accompanied the Lieutenant-Governor on an expe-
dition up the lake in 1793 or 1794, used to speak with enthusiasm of
Talbot's conduct on the occasion. " The Colonel," he said, " was the



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 37

prettiest,, the neatest and the most active of the whole party." Mrs.
Amelia Harris in her interesting reminiscences observes that while in
the army Talbot was regarded as " quite a dandy." Her recollection
went back almost to the beginning of the settlement, when he was
between thirty and forty years of age. William Lyon Mackenzie saw
him on the hustings at St. Thomas in 1824, and was strongly prepos-
sessed in his favour by what he saw and heard. " His air," he writes,
" is that of a military officer of distinction. In youth he must have
possessed a handsome person and well-formed features; for 'even now,
and he is nearly sixty years of age, his features have nothing harsh,
and his appearance is rather prepossessing." * Two years later, Mrs.
Stewart saw and conversed with Talbot when lie accompanied Sir Pere-
grene Maitland to Peterborough. His eccentricities were widely known ;
but they were not in evidence on state occasions, and she, like Macken-
zie, was disappointed to find that there was nothing remarkable about
his manner. Having heard from his own lips a recital of the strategy
by which he avoided capture by so-called " Indians " who invaded Port
Talbot during the war, she writes, " He gives me the idea of the most
cool courage imaginable.' f2

His portrait in water-colours, painted when he was probably up-
wards of sixty years of age, shows a full, florid face, beaming with
intelligence and good-nature, twinkling eyes, features and expression
strongly resembling those of King William IV, on the whole a striking
and attractive figure. With advancing years, he became more corpulent.
Mrs. Stewart thought him " fat and short." A pathetic picture is
furnished by one of his neighbours, 3 who remembers the Colonel as a
feeble old man, bent nearly double, and creeping about the old place,
laboriously leaning on a stout walking-stick.

Proud of the homespun, manufactured and worn by his settlers,
Talbot followed their fashion, and was hardly to be distinguished in
attire from the poorest among them, as he moved about his estate.
The portrait represents him in trousers with broad stripes of scarlet
and black, 4 the whole costume probably of home manufacture. On his
travels, even in England, and in visits to great houses, where he was
a welcome gu'est, he persisted in wearing garments of Port Talbot
manufacture, whose excellence he vaunted in comparison with English
cloths. When Mrs. Stewart saw him he wore a " greatcoat made of
sheepskins with the wool on, 'either of natural black or dyed, and a

1 " Sketches of Canada and the United States," London, 1833. pp. 113-114.

3 " Our Forest Home," pages 90-93.

1 Mr. George McKay, who still resided near Port Talbot until a few
months ago.

4 These do not appear in the frontispiece.



88 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

pair of boots of the same, which he wears over his other boots; and,"
she continues, " as he is fat and short, you cannot think what a curious
figure he is in this Arctic dress." The sheepskin coat Was famous
on both sides of the Atlantic, as was also the high box-sleigh, in which
he made his annual winter visit to the provincial capital, attended by
his almost equally famous valet and man-of-all-work, Jeffrey Hunter.
The settlers along Talbot Road watched for its coming, and often was
its progress delayed by messages to be delivered and commissions to be
executed in York or at intermediate points. To Jeffrey was entrusted
the task of keeping these in mind, that none might be overlooked.

The Colonel's coat and sleigh were familiar sights at York, where,
buried in sheepskins, he was not infrequently seen driving Lady Sarah
Maitland, and in earlier days Mrs. Gore, along King Street.

X X X V. CONCLUSION.

The keynote of Talbot's character will be found in his jride of
birth, his military and court training, his domineering temperament,
his isolation, and his desire to accumulate a great landed estate. Talbot
Road and Settlement were merely incidental to his main object. His
virtues, common to all the settlers, were unflinching loyalty and the
welcome of the open door. To religious, political and moral reform
he was blindly opposed or contemptuously indifferent. He lacked ini-
tiative: his schemes of settlement and road-building were borrowed.
His merit was that he alone exacted a strict performance of settlement
duties. His signal demerit was that he ignored his own moral and
civic duty to the two townships, for whose isolation he was alone
responsible. They found in Henry Coyne, an Irishman from Belfast,
who settled in Punwich in 1817, a sympathizing friend and champion.
Under his and his son$ leadership, public sentiment was aroused,
reforms and municipal improvements effected, wild lands subjected to
taxation, and the Colonel forced to lease portions to meet the assessment,
relieving to some extent the intolerable burden on the settlers. Talbot
never forgave, nor did the settlers. The mention of his name to-day
flushes the cheek of their descendants with anger. Who can blame
them? "Seek other cause 'g a ' ns t Roderick Dhu"?

The editor, to whose hands the irony of fate has entrusted Talbot's
papers, has approached the task in. as he trusts, the modern historic
spirit. Tf he has erred, it has been on the side of a generous treatment,
for there are few to say the kind word to-day. It is for the romance
of his career that Talbot will be chiefly remembered, apart from the
fact of his being the eponymous founder of a famous settlement.

1 " Our Forest Home," page 90.



THE TALBOT PAPERS

GRANT BY KING EDWARD IV TO THOMAS TALBOT/ 8 M'AROH, 1475.

(Indorsed). TRANSLATION of a Grant of the Manor of Mul-
laghide in the County of Dublin To Thomas Talbot Esquire dated the
8th of March 1475 in the 15th year of the Reign of King Edward the
fourth.

EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and
Lord of Ireland to all Archbishops Bishops Abbotts Priors Dukes
Earls Barrons Justices Sheriffs Portrives Ministers and to all Bailiffs
and Faithfull Subjects through our whole Kingdom of Ireland Greet-
ing Know ye that We of our special Grace and of our certain Know-
ledge and mere motion and allso on mature deliberation and with the
Assent of our Councel and with the Assent of our most dear Brother
George Duke of Clarence our Lieutenant of our land of Ireland 2 &c.
and for certain considerations Us thereunto Otherwise moveing We
have given and granted and for us our Heirs and Successors and accord-
ing to the Tenor of these presents We do give and grant and by this
our present Charter have confirmed To our dearly beloved and Faithfull
Thomas Talbot Esquire Who holds the Manner or Lordship of Malla-
hide in Our land of Ireland of us in Chief by Knights Service that he
and his Heirs may have hold and Receive All and Singular Customs
as well as Great as Small which to us our Heirs and Successors lately
were Due or Ought to come or belong to us of Woole Hides Sheepeskines
Lead Tin and all and all Manner of Other'.' Merchandize Coming to
the Town or Creeke of Mullay hide in the County of Dublin in Our
land of Ireland as well by Land as by Water .or Coastwise or by an
arm of the Sea or Otherwise from thenceforth to be Taken and applied
And that the Afforesaid Thomas and His Heirs may have all the Cus-
toms Aforesaid of all Goods and Merchandize comeing in anny Ships



1 Thomas Talbot represented the tenth generation of lords of Malahide
In unbroken male line from Richard Talbot, chevalier, who had received
the manor and lordship in 1174 directly from King Henry II. Thomas died
23rd July, 1487.

"Born in Dublin 14X9, when his father, Richard, Duke of York, was
Lord Lieutenant. Put to death by his brother, King Edward IV, in 1478.
In 1462 the latter had appointed him Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for life.
Clarence was a patron of Caxton, who dedicated his first book to him.



CO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

or Boats below or to the Town Crecke or arm of the Sea Aforesaid and
Hen-after there to be loaded or unloaded Charged or discharged and
nil such Woole Hides Sheepeskines Tin Ix i ad and other the premisses
from the said Town Creeke or Arm of the Sea Aforesaid to Anny
our Citties or Towns of us our Heirs or Successors in our said land
of Ireland may take and Carry away in Boats Barges or Lighters or
other Vessels Whatsoever or in anny other manner remove from the
Said Town of Mallaghide by land And that the Said Thomas and His
Heirs may Receive all the Customs Aforesaid and All Other Customs
or Duties Usually Accustomed to be Paid or Payable within our said
Land or in or Within any Other our Ports Cities or Towns of Our
land of Ireland Aforesaid nor may anny of the Officers or Ministers
of us Our Heirs or Successors within Our said Land Receive the Same
without the Impeachment of Is our Heirs or Successors or any of
our Justices Lieutenants Deputies or other Officers or Ministers of us
our Heirs or .Successors in anny Manner Whatsoever and that the said
Customs of Us our Heirs or Successors within our said Land of Ireland
Towards Us our Heirs or Successors or our Justices Lieutenants or
other our Deputies therefrom Shall and may be Acquitted and Dis-
charged for Ever. To Have Levy and Recieve the Customs Aforesaid
to the aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs by His own proper hands or
that of his Ministers Servants or Officers Whatsoever for Ever And
that the said Thomas and His Heirs may have a private seal or seals
for the sealing of letters of Cocquet ' for the Receipt of the Customs
on all kind of Merchandize Comeing to or Going from the said Town
Creeke or Arm of the Sea of Malb.ghide 2 as well by Land as by Water
Coastwire or by Anny Ann of the Sea from Henceforth which said
Cocquets So by the Aforesaid Thomas or His Heirs Officers or Ministers
So Sealed and under tire Seal or Seals Afforesaid Shall be sufficient
and Valid in law and of as much Authority as such Cocquets are made
and Sealed with in any other Cities or Towns of our land of Ireland

1 A custom house seal. Letters of Cocquet were sealed documents certi-
fying: that Roods had been duly entered.

'According to Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), the
Inlet of Malahlde Is four miles from Howth, and extends four miles up the
country; it Is dry at low water, but at high water vessels drawing ten or
tleven feet may enter the creek and lie afloat in the channel. At the
entrance Is a bar having one foot at low water, and the channel Is divided
by a gravel bank called Muldowney; both the channels are narrow and
tortuous, and are of dangerous navigation without the assistance of a pilot.
Malahlde Castle commands a fine view of the town and Bay of Malahide.
Contiguous to the castle are the remains of the ancient church, for ages
the place of sepulture of the proprietors of the castle.






[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 61

Or As they heretofore Were or Hereafter Shall be without any account
or Keturn thereof or by any other inday To Us our Heirs or Successors
Lieutenants Justices or other Our Officers or Ministers of us Our Heirs
or Successors to be Recovered or paid for Over Any Statute Act Orden-
ance Provision or Restriction in our Kingdom of England or Our land
of Ireland or any Mandate to the contrary before this time made or-
dained or Provided as in future to be made Notwithstanding.

And further we have given and by these presents granted for us
Our Heirs and Successors to the Aforesaid Thomas and His Heirs the
Office of our Admiral of the Seas of us our Heirs and Successors at
the Town Creeke or Arm of the Sea of Mullaghyde Aforesaid in our
County of Dublin in our land of Ireland from Moldowne to the Water-
mill of the said Thomas and Allso the Office of our Admiral and that
of our Heirs or Successors Below the Town and Place Aforesaid To
Have And Hold the Same of us our Heirs and Successors Immediately
after the death of Robert Bolde Knight or by Restitution of our paid
Letters Patent by the said Robert or by Resumpsion or Forfieture
deprivation of or any other cause matter or thing Whatsoever or by
any other lawful means to become vacant or into our Hands or our
Heirs or Successors or into the hands of our Lieutenants or Deputies
Justices of us our Heirs or Successors of our Land of Ireland or which
might Come to Happen or Belong thereto by Gift Disposial or Grant
of We our Heirs or Successors or by the Gift Disposial of or Grant of
anny our Lieutenants or Deputies or Justices of us Our Heirs or
Successors as aforesaid.

And that the said Thomas from Thenceforth for ever may be
Admiral of Us our Heirs or Successors within our Land aforesaid from
the Place and Town above specified and that no Admiral of us our
Heirs or Successors of Ireland or England for the time being from
Thenceforth any thing to the Office of Admiral belonging within the
said Town Creeke or Arm of the Sea aforesaid may Intrude them-
selves to Execute and Exercise hereafter Neether that the Vassals
Tenants or Stewards of the aforesaid Thomas or his Heirs within the
Town of Mallaghyde aforesaid or any of the Tennants or Residents
within the Town aforesaid to our Admiral or of our Heirs or Successors
whether English or Irish ^or the Time Being from Thenceforth in any
manner may be obedient or answer or in our courts or any or either
of them by any Manner of Means may answer nor be Compelled to
answer forever for any Trespasses Contracts or other Offences done or
to be done perpetrated or to be Perpetrated upon the High Sea or
Elsewhere but as well before the said Thomas or His Heirs or of his



62 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Deputies in a Court of Admiralty before the said Thomas or his Heirs
or their Deputy in the Town of Muliaghidu aforesaid held or to be held.

And that the said Thomas and His Heirs may have full power
and Authority of hearing and determining and Correcting of all and
all manner of Trespasses Covenants Contracts or any other Offences
done or to be done up the High Seas or elsewhere by the Vassals or
Tenants of the said Thomas or his Heirs or any other the Tenants or
Residents in the aforesaid Town of Mullaghyde in a Court of Admiralty
before him the said Thomas or his Iloirs or their Deputies held or to
be hold.

And that the said Thomas and his Heirs may have All and Singu-
lar Amerciments Hansoms Issues Forfictures and all Things to be
Forfieted in a Court of Admiralty before hi mor his Heirs or their
Deputies within the Town or place aforesaid to be held Adjudged or
heard to be had Levied and Recieved by the said Thomas and his Heirs
by his own propper hands or of his Servants without any account or
Return thereof or in any other manner to Us our Heirs or Successors
Lieutenants or their Deputies Justices or other Officers whatsoever
or Ministers of Us our Heirs or Successors there for to bj Rendered
or paid for Ever any Statute Act Ordinance Provision 'or Restriction
m our Kingdom of England or Land of Ireland or any our Mandate
to the Contrary made or Provided or in future to be made notwith-
standing.

And further we will and have given for us our Heirs and Succes-
sors to the said Thomas and his Heirs for Ever that they may have
hold occupy and Recieve by himself or his deputies the Offices of
Keeper of the Ferries and Water-bailiff and allso of (Jauger or searcher
within the town or Creeke or Arm of the Sea of Mullaghyde afforesaid
and all advantages and Profits to such Citie officers belonging after
such Officers or either of them by the death of William Armover or
by the Restitution of letters Patent to the said William made thereof
or by the Resumpsion or forfieture or deprivation or by means of any
other cause matter or thing whatever or by any means become Vacant
or into the Hands of us our Heirs or Successors or into the Hands of
our Lieutenants or their Deputies or Justices of us our Heirs or Suc-
cessors of our said Land of Ireland may Come fall into or belong or
be in the Gift disposal of or grant of Us our Heirs or Successors or
the Gift disposial of or Grant of our Lieutenants or their Deputies
or Justices of us our Heirs or Successors. To Have Levy and Recieve
the Same to the said Thomas and his Heirs by the propper hands of tihe
said Thomas or his Sen-ants without any account or any other Return
thereof in any manner to us our Heirs or Successors or our Lieutenants



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 63

or Deputies or Justices of Us our Heirs or Successors or any other
our Officers or Ministers of Us our Heirs or Successors there for to
be Rendered or made for Ever any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or
Restriction in our Kingdom of England or in our land of Ireland by
our Mandate made Ordained or Provided to the contrary or in future
to be made Notwithstanding.

And further we have given and granted for us Our Heirs and
Successors that the said Thomas and his Heirs for ever may have hold
Occupy and receive by himself or by his Deputies . officers or Gaugers
within the Town Creek or Arm of the Sea aforesaid of Mullaghyde
aforesaid and all other advantages and Profits to such Officers belong-
ing Immediately after the said Officers become Vacant by the death of
Richard Ellis or by Restitution of our Lieutenant by the said Richard
made thereof or by the Resumption forfieture or withdrawing thereof
or by any other cause matter or thing whatsoever in anny other manner
become vacant or come to our hands or that of our Heirs or Successors
or to the hands of our Lieutenants or other our Deputies or Justices
of us our Heirs or Successors in our Land of Ireland or which might
happen to Come fall or belong to us by means of the donation dis-
position or Grant of us our Heirs or Successors or to the Gift Dis-
position or Grant of our Lieutenants Deputies or Justices of us our
Heirs or Successors.

To Have Levy or Recieve the Same by the said Thomas and his
Heirs to his own propper use or that of his servants without any account
or Return thereof or by any other means made to us Our Heirs or
Successors Lieutenant or Deputies or other our Officers or Ministers
to be Rewarded or made for ever anny Statute Act or Ordinance Pro-
vision or Obstruction in our Kingdom of England or land of Ireland
or anny other Mandate to the contrary made ordained or provided or
in future to be made Notwithstanding.

And further we do grant and give for us our Heirs and Successors
to the afforesaid Thomas and his Heirs for Ever all that Sea-coast
from the place called Moldowne to the Water-mill of him the said
Thomas at Mullaghide Together with all and every profits thereof
whatsoever comeing Thereto in manner and form and as We had if
this Grant had never been made To Hold Levy and Receive the same
to the said Thomas and his Heirs by his own propper hands or of his
Servants So that no person coming in Ships or Boatts into the said
Arm of the Sea at Moldowne aforesaid or to the mill aforesaid may
for Ever Pay anny of the Customs To any Person or Persons but only
to the said Thomas or his Heirs without any account or any return or
in any other manner to us our Heirs or Successors or Lieutenants or



64 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

other our Justices or Deputies or any Other Ministers or Officers of us
Our Heirs or Successors there for to be Rendered or made for Ever any
Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Mandate of us to the contrary
made or ordained or provided or in future to be made notwithstanding.

And further we do give and grant for us our Heirs and Successors
to the AfToresaid Thomas Who of us Holdetli in Chief by Knight's
Service the Mannor of Mullaghyde aforesaid in our County of Dublin
in our Dominion of Ireland and who now oweth Homage to Us for
his Mannor aforesaid by reason of the Toanure aforesaid that he may
have the respect of his Homage for the term of Fifty years next after
the date of these presents So that neither we our Heirs or Successors
Sherriffs Kscheators or any other of our Officers or Ministers of Us
our Heirs or Successors the said Thomas for his homage aforesaid
during the term aforesaid many not bo disturbed nor in any manner
molested.

And also we grant for us our Heirs and Successors that the afore-
said Thomas by us our Heirs or Successors or Officers or Ministers of
us our Heirs or Successors whatsoever may not be obliged nor Com-
pelled to take upon him the Order of Knighthood contrary to his will.

And also we give and grant to the aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs
for Ever that they may have Out fangthoff 1 and aff ree warren 2 in
his manner or Lordship of Mullaghyde aforesaid So that no one may
Enter the Mannor or Lordship aforesaid to Hunt therein or to take
any thing which to afree warren belongeth without the Licence of the
said Thomas under Forfieture of Ten pounds one half of which we
Will to be Leveyed and Retained to our use and the other half of us
our Heirs and Successors to be levyed and applied to the use of the
said Thomas and his Heirs.

And allso we do give and grant for us our Heirs and Successors
that he the said Thomas and his Heirs and all his Vassals and Tenants
or any other Residents in the said Mannor or Lordship that whether
he or they shall or may be Compelled or Restrained to answer the Sher-
rifTs Court in the County of Dublin.

And further we give and grant for us our Heirs and Successors
to the aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs that he and his Heirs may have



1 Or outfanfrthefT. A privilege whereby a lord was enabled to call any
man dwelling on his manor, or taken for felony in another place, to answer
In his own court.

'Warren, a franchise, either by prescription or royal grant, to keep in
an enclosure "beasts and fowls of warren." that Is. animals that are by
nature wild.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 63

and hold in the aforesaid town of Mullaghide a View l of Frank pledge
by his Seneschal and Leet and Landays together with all things to
them or either of them Appertaining and with all other Advantages and
profits Arising therefrom and to a view of Frank pledge Appertaining
or to 'either of them Belonging To Hold Levy and Receive the same
to the use of the said Thomas and his Heirs for their own propper
hands or that of their servants without any account or any other return
thereof or in any other manner to us our Heirs or Successors or any
or Either of our Deputies Justices or Servants of us our Heirs or
Successors there for to be Rendered or made for Ever anny Statute
Act Ordinance Provisoe or Mandate to the contrary made Ordained or
provided or in future to be made Notwithstanding.

And further we do give and grant for us and our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs that he and his Heirs
as well in our presence and of that our Heirs and Successors as in our
absence and that of our Heirs and Successors by themselves or by their
servants in the Mannor or Lordship aforesaid may have and hold an
Assize 2 for Strengthening and Correcting the Assize of Bread Wine and
Ale and of all other kind of Victuals and of Measures and "Weights
Whatsoever and All other Matters to the Office of Escheator 3 or Clarke
of the Market and Inns of Us our Heirs and Successors thereunto
belonging and Punishing for the same and of Doing and Exercising
whatsoever to the same belongeth when and as often as shall be found
necessary so farr and as fully as any Clarke of the Market of us and
our Heirs might or ought to do in our presence or that of our Heirs
And that the aforesaid Thomas and His Heirs may have all Amerce-
ments Fines and other Profits therefrom Arising to be received and
levied by him and his Servants without Impeachment of us our Heirs
and Successors or our Ministers whatsoever without any account or
Return thereof or by any other means to us our Heirs or Successors
or our Lieutenants or their Deputies and Justices or any other officers
or Ministers of us our Heirs or Successors whatsoever there for to be



1 Vieio, an official inspection; Frank pledge, a system of mutual surety-
ship that required all men to combine In associations of ten to stand as
sureties for each other's good behaviour; Seneschal (etymologically, old
servant), steward, presiding officer or military commander; Leet, petty crim-
inal court for manor; Landays (Land-Tag), a local representative council.

* Assize, standard of weight, measurement price, &c.; hence size, mea-
surement, dimensions.

* Escheator, a county official, who looked after escheats (or forfeitures),
and certified them to the treasury.

Sec. II., 1907. 5.



66 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

tendered or made for Ever any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or
Mandate of us to the Contrary made ordained or Provided or in future
to be made Notwithstanding So that the aforesaid Clerke of the Market
Or Escheator in Ireland of us our Heirs or Successors may not enter
into the Mannor or Lordship aforeside of Mullaghyde to do or Execute
there any thing to the said office or Ollicer in Any manner Appertaining

We have given moreover and granted for us our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs that he and his Heirs
may have forever the Return of our Writts or Precepts and of our
Heirs and Successors and the Execution of all such Writts or Precepts
as well as of those which touch us our Heirs and Successors an deither
of them at the Suit of us our Heirs or Successors as any other Writts
or Precepts whatsoever in the said Mannor or Lordship So that no
Sherriff Bailiff or Minister or any other officer Whatsoever of us our
Heirs or Successors may enter the said Manor or Lordship for the
Execution of any Writt or Precept Summons or any Attachment Pleas
of our Crown or of any other pleas Whatsoever to be there done unless
in default of the said Thomas or His Heirs or Ministers.

And further of our special grace We have given and Granted for
us our Heirs and Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs that
he the said Thomas and his Heirs and the Tennants of his said Mannor
or Lordship shall not be Collectors of any of our taxes or Subsidies
granted or to be granted to us our Heirs or Successors or to the
Lieutenants Deputies or Justices of us our Heirs or Successors- how-
Foever.

And further of our special grace we have given and Granted for
us our Heirs and Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs for ever
that no Sheriff Bailiff or other Ministers of us our Heirs or Successors
or Either of them may Attach Take or Distrain any of the Vassals
Tenants or Servants of the said Thomas or his Heirs or any of his
Dwellers or Residents whatsoever or any of our Leigemen or Foreigners
at that' time dwelling in the said Mannor by virtue of any precept
or other warrant Cause or thing whatsoever within the County where
they are resident So that the Execution of such Writts precepts or other
warrants Whatsoever within the Mannor or Lordship aforesaid be done
by the said Thomas and his Heirs or Servants in due form if not made
by failure of the said Thomas his Heirs or Servants and although of
our officers or Servants aforesaid or the Servants of us our Heirs or
Successors Enter the said Mannor or Txirdship aforesaid to do and
perform any thing contrary to the Previleges and Liberties by us in
our Letters Patent Granted to the said Thomas and his Heirs in form
aforesaid then it shall be lawful for the said Thomas his Heirs Ten-



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 67

nants and Servants in such case to oppose and Resist them without
impeachment of us our Heirs or Successors or Either of them What-
soever.

And further we do give and grant for us our Heirs and Successors
to the said Thomas and his heirs that they may be for Ever exonerated
and discharged of all fines as well by Grant of Confisiation of us our
Heirs and Successors as by all other Charters Letters Patents and
Writts of us our Heirs and Successors to the Aforesaid Thomas and
his heirs Made or to be made and allso for all Fees for our Sealing
thereof and of our Heirs and Successors Whatever in all our Courts
in our Land of Ireland as before as our Heirs and Successors in Our
Chancery of us Our Heirs and Successors or the Justices of our Com-
mon Bench and others as before the Treasurer and Barrons of us our
Heirs and Successors.

And further of our more abundant Grace We have given and
Granted for us our Heirs and Successors to the said Thomas and his
Heirs for Ever that they shall not be Sherriffs nor Coroners or Eschea-
tors of our Counties of Dublin Meath Kildare or Louth in our Land
of Ireland for Ever against their will.

We have granted moreover and given for us our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs for Ever that they may
Have and Hold and from Thenceforth for Ever may have power to
determine according to Law all Matters within the Courts of him
the said Thomas and His Heirs within the Manner or Lordship of
Mullaghyde aforesaid in Our Land of Ireland and County of Dublin
before the Senischall of him or his Heirs all and All manner of pleas
as well real as Personal of Assize or Mixet whatsoever or Whatever
sums they may account Hereafter there to be held. And that the said
Thomas and his Heirs all such like Pleas in his Court saforesaid and
may have hold hear and determine the Same by Plaints or by Bill
before the Senischall of him or His Heirs for the time being and from
Time to Time and as often as to them shall seem expedient and that
they may have power to prosecute all persons who by such Plaint or
Process of Law may be moved against and may allso have power to
Arrest and Attach their Bodies Goods and Chattels within the Liberties
and Precincts of. the Lordship or Manor Aforesaid and Such their
Bodies may commit to prison for Ever and may have Authority to
make due Execution thereof.

We have granted also and given for Us our Heirs and Successors
that the aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs from Henceforth for Ever
may have and hold all and every the places aforesaid before his Senes-
chall or Seneschalls and also a View of Frank pledge Leets and Landays



68 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

as afforesaid iind a C'ourt Barron ' together with all Things to the Same
or Either of them Belonging as often as to them or Either of them
shall seem expedient within the Manor or Lordship of Mullaghyde in
our County of Dublin and Land of Ireland aforesaid (altho the Justices
of us our Heirs or Successors or the Itinerant Justices holding pleas
before us our Heirs or Successors or any other our Justices who may
there come or there may ajied up the Holding of any Pleas Whatever)
without the Impeachment of us our Heirs or Successors or any other
officers of us our Heirs or Successors Whatsoever.

And that the said Thomas and his Heirs may have hold and
Receive all manner of Fines and Amendments Issues and by means of
any Forfieture Whatsoever in the Court aforesaid made before any his
Seneschall or Seneschalls from thenceforth to him and his Heirs to
his own propper hands or that of his Servants to be Taken without
any account or any other Return therefor or in any other manner to
us our Heirs or Successors Lieutenants Deputies or Justices or other
our officers or Ministers of us Our Heirs or Successors to be Rendered
or paid for Ever any Statute Act Ordinance provision or Restriction
to the contrary made ordained or Provided or in future to be made
Notwithstanding.

And also We have Given and Granted for us our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs that he the said Thomas
and his Heirs from Henceforth for Ever may have Cognizance of
All and all manner of Pleas as well Real as Personal and of Assize
and Mixt in and from. Every our Courts and before All our Justices
as well before us our Heirs and Successors in the Chancery of us our
Heirs or Successors of our Bench and any of our treasurers or Barrons
of us our Heirs and Successors of our Exchequer SherrifFs Escheators
Admirals Coroners Clerk of the Market as before the Keepers of the
Paie of us our Heirs or Successors in our land of Ireland of anny
other Cause matter or thing within the Manor aforesaid or the Pre-
cincts thereof Howsoever arising or happening and upon Such their
pleas in the Courts afforesaid before his Seneschall may hear and deter-
mine and may have authority to put the same in due Execution from
Thenceforth and from time to time According to the Laws and Cus-
toms of our Kingdom of England there to be done though the said
Thomas and his Heirs may be Parties Complainants or Defendants.
And also we have given and granted for us our Heirs and
Successors for Ever to the afforesaid Thomas and his Heirs for Ever
that they may Take and Receive in their Courts aforesaid by his



1 A Court held by a steward of a manor for settling controversies between
tenants, punishing misdemeanours, &c.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 69

Seneschall or Sen eschalls aforesaid and before such Seneschall or
Senischalls may take cognizance of all Complaints of Menaces against
us or our people or of us Our Heirs or Successors of Assaults of their
Bodies or of House Burning and may make them give good and sufficient
security for their Paie and Good Behaviour Towards us and our people
and of our Heirs to be taken before our S'eneschall or Seneschalls afore-
said for the time being and if such securities shall be found Insufficient
then there to Keepe in Prison within the Manor aforesaid until they
find such security may Keepe them in safe custody when and as often
as it shall be found necessary.

And also we have given and granted for us and our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs all Amerciments Eansoms
for any escapes of Fellons Fugitives or Murderers done or to be done
in the County of Dublin assessed or to be assessed presented or to be
presented by the said Thomas or his Heirs Vassals Tenants or
Residents within the Manor or Lordship of Mullaghide to the use of
us our Heirs or Successors on that account Shall be had Levied and
Received by the said Thomas and his Heirs by his own propper hands
or that of his Servants without any account or Return thereof to us
our Heirs or Successors to be Rendered or made there for So that
Neither the said Thomas nor his Heirs nor anny of his Tennants or
Residents within the Precincts of the Lordship of Mullaghide aforesaid
of any part of such Redemption or Amerciments or any such like Escape
Towards us Our Heirs and Successors in any Manner shall or may be
charged or any of them shall be charged but from all such Escapes
against us Our Heirs or Successors may be for Ever acquitted for Ever.

And moreover we do give and grant for us and our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his heirs Liberty of going out of
our Land of Ireland to any parts he pleases to Reside in and out of
our said Land of England to go and at his pleasure to Reside in and
Therefrom in Return as often as to him shall Seem meet without' any
Hindrance or Disturbance of us Our Heirs or Successors or the officers
of us or Servants of us our Heirs or Successors whatsoever any Statute
Act Ordinance Provision or Restriction of us to the Contrary time
heretofore made ordained or Appointed or in future to be made Not-
withstanding.

And further we have given and granted for us our Heirs and
Successors to the said Thomas and his Heirs all Amercements Fines
and Redemptions Issues Forfietures and all to be Forfieted as well
of the said Thomas and his Heirs as all his Vassals and Tenants and
Others as well Tenants as Residents of and in the Lordship Town and
Manor aforesaid in any Courts or before any our Judges within our



7O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Realm of Ireland forfietecl adjudged or determined or held or to be
held in any other manner as well before us our Heirs and Successors
in the Chancery of us our Heirs and Successors and the Justices of our
Common Bench and of our Treasurers and Baronns of us our Heirs
and Successors of our Exchequer Kheriffs Escheators Admirals Coroners
Clarkes of the Market as before any of our Keepers of the Paie of
us our Heirs and Successors in our said Land of Ireland to be held
levied and recieved to the use of the said Thomas take all the afore-
said Amerciments Fines Redemptions and Issues for ever by his own
propper hands or that of his Officers or Servants without any account
or any Keturn thereof or in any other manner to us our Heirs or
Successors or Lieutenants Deputies Justices or any other Officers or
Ministers of us Our Heirs or Successors there for to be Rendered or
made for Ever Any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Restriction
of us to the Contrary made Ordained or Provided in our Land of
England or in our Land of Ireland in Future to be made Notwith-
standing.

And moreover of our more abundant grace We have Pardoned
Remitted and Released the said Thomas and his Ameftors from all
manner of Gifts Alienations and Provisions by them or Either of
them Arising out of any of their Lands Tenements or held by us or
our Progenitors heretofore Kings of England by means of any other
Defect or not held by Right of any other our Kings in Capite.

And we have further of our more abundant grace Granted for us
our Heirs and Successors to the Aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs that
they may have hold and for ever Take and may allso have power and
Authority to take and Recieve for all kinds of Wares Comeing for
Sale to the said Town of Mullaghide as well by Land as by Sea or
Arm of the Sea aforesaid and from Thenceforth Issuing out of the
Same the Duties and Customs under Written To Witt for Every
Cramock of Corn Meal or Salt Comeing for Sale one Halfpenny for
Every Cramock of Wode for Sale Two j>once for Even' Cramock of
Corke or the like for Sale One Penny for Every Cramock or Barrel
of Tan or Bark Comeing for Sale One Farthing for Every Twelve
Cramocks or Barrels of all manner of Coals fourpence for Every Twelve
Barrels of Lime for Sale one penny for Every horseman Hobby l Ox
or Cow comeing for Sale One penny for 'every five Hoggs for Bacon
one penny for Every dozen of Fleeces of Woole for Sale one halfpenny
for Every Twenty Gross of Fish for Sale one halfpenny for every
hundred groce of Fresh Water Eels one penny for Every Salmon for
Sale one farthing for Every Lamper for Sale one farthing for Every

1 Hobby, an ambling nag or pony.



[COYNE! THE TALBOT PAPERS 71

hogs'ed of Wine or Cyder for sale fourpence for Every Cask of Honey
for Sale one penny for Every horse Hobby Bull or Cow hide fresh
Salt or Tanned for Sale One farthing for every hundred Skins of
Lambs Goats Hares Foxes Catts or Badgers for sale One Halfpenny
for Every Hundred Skins of Sheeps Goats Staggs Bissons or Does for
Sale One penny for Every dozen Martin Skins for Sale one penny
for Every Millstqne for Sale two pence for two Hand Millstones one
halfpenny for Every Groce of Sacks for Sale four pence for every
Horse Load or Mease * of Herrings for Sale one Halfpenny for Every
Horse-load of Ashes for Sale One penny for Every whole Cloth of
English Assize two pence for every twenty peices of Striped Cloth made
of Irish Woole Salewith or Worsted one halfpenny for Every Twenty
pieces of Striped or Streaked Cloth or Flax for Sale one penny for
Every Twenty peices of Striped Canvass for Sale one farthing for
Every Ten Caps made of Goats Hair for Sale one halfpenny for Every
peice of Tapestry Shalens or other coverings for Beds for Sale one
halfpenny for every cloth of Gold one penny for every peice of Cloth
of Cerue Bawdkyns 2 or Camblets for Sale One halfpenny for every
peice of Irish cloth for Sale one halfpenny for every Horse-load of
Cloth or other Wares one halfpenny for every Bundle 3 of Iron for
Sale one halfpenny for every hundred Gadds 4 of Steel one halfpenny
for Every hundred pounds of pitch or Rosin for Sale one halfpenny
for every stone of Onions Tallow Butter or Cheese for Sale one Half-
penny for every Ten pounds of Onion Seeds or Leeke Seeks for Sale
one penny for every thousand of Onions for Sale one farthing for every
bundle of Boards of any kind for Sale one Farthing for every hundred of
Small Boards for Sale one Farthing for every hundred of large Boards
for Sale one penny for every thousand of nails for Sale one halfpenny
for every hundred of Horse nails or Clouts for Carrs one halfpenny
for Every new basket or Hamper for Sale one farthing for every thou-
sand Wickers of Wood for Sale one halfpenny for every dozen Cordwans
Corwayes and Basyns 5 for Sale one halfpenny for every hundred weight
of Brass or Copper for Sale Two pence for every hundred of Knives

1 A measure of 500 herrings.

* Cerue Bawdkyns, a rich brocaded silk fabric, with warp of gold and
silk filling; Camblets (camlets), camel's hair, imitation or substitute (as
mixed wool and silk), once much used for cloaks; Bolt of Syndons, a parti-
cular number of yards of a woven fabric of fine texture (muslin, cambric
or shawls, &c.).

3 A definite measure or quantity.

4 Spikes, pointed bars, or wedge-shaped bars.

5 Cordwans, Corwayes and Basyns (Cordovans), Spanish leather for boots
of the wealthy.



72 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

I^anccts &c for Sale one penny for every Ten Stone of Hemp or Flax
one Penny for Even' hundred of Flaxen yarn one penny for Every
Ten Flaggens of Olive or Rape Oile for the Use of men for Sale Two
pence and for every Ten Flaggens of Lamp Oile for Sale One Half-
penny for every dozen of Hal tains for Sale one halfpenny for every
hundred of Sale Wode for Sale one penny for every hundred of Vitriol
for Sale one penny for 'every hundred of White Vitriol for Sale one
penny for all manner of Wares of the Value of two shillings one half-
penny for even- dozen of English Cloth or others Corneing from beyond
Sea for Sale Two pence for every kind of Carre Carts or Tables of the
Value of Two Shillings for Sale one halfpenny for every dozen Pounds
of Wax for Sale one penny for every pound of Ginger for Sale one
halfpenny for every pound of Saffron for Sale one penny for every
pound of Pepper for sale one farthing for every pound of Galingal
cloves Mace Grains of Paradise for Sale one halfpenny for all kinds
of Spice of the value of Twelve pence one farthing for every hundred
pounds of Almonds or Raisins Two pence for every Traile of Figs or
Raisins for Sale One halfpenny for every hundred of Alum for Sale
Two pence for every Bolt of Elisanders for Sale one Halfpenny for
every Groce of Hinges for Sale one penny for Every hundred Stone of
Iron for Sale Two pence for every hundred Slabbs or Piggs of Iron
for Sale One penny for every hundred Stone of Spanish Iron for Sale
Four pence for every Load of Tin for Sale one penny for Every leaden
Vessel for Sale one Halfpenny for every hundred pound of Scroos for
Sale one penny for every Dozen Coulters or Ploughshars One Penny
for every Pipe of Wine for Sale Two Pence For every half pipe of
Wine One penny for Every Calf for Sale one farthing for every Hogg
or Goat for Sale one farthing for Every Cramock or Barrel of Salt
for Sale one halfpenny for every last or Dicker * of Hides for Sale
sixpence for every Hide of Leather of the Value of Twelve pence for
Sale one farthing for every Hyde of Tanned leather for sale one half-
penny for every kind of ware of the value of twelve shillings of which
no mention is made for sale one penny for all kinds of Goods not
above mentioned of the value of Ten shillings for Sale One Halfpenny
To Have Recieve Ix>vy and Collect the Customs of all the afforesaid
wares To the said Thomas or his Heirs for Ever by his own propper
hands or that of his Servants without any account or other Return
or in any other manner to us our Heirs or Successors or our Lieutenants
or other our Deputies or Justices or any other our Officers or Ministers
of us our Heirs or Successors to be Rendered paid or made therefore

1 Dicker. Ten.



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 73

for Ever any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Eestriction in onr
Kingdom of England or in our Land of Ireland or any other our
Mandate to the contrary thereof Made Ordained or Provided or in
future to be Made Notwithstanding.

And further of our special grace aforesaid we have granted for
us our Heirs and Successors to the aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs
and Tenants of the Lordship or Manor aforesaid that none of them
from Henceforth may be put or impanneled upon any Juries Inquisi-
tions Eecognizance or other wise However touching us our Heirs or
others Whatsoever for Ever out of the said Town or Lordship.

"We will allso and do give and grant for us our Heirs and
Successors that it Shall be lawful for the aforesaid Thomas and his
Heirs that Notwithstanding the Liberties or Previleges aforesaid or
anny or Either of them have been abused or not used through mischance
or Negligence or from any other cause arising as to then may geeme
expedient on account of such misusing of such the Liberties and
Previleges aforesaid or anny or Either of them they shall not be
hindered impeached molested or in any manner aggrieved Whatever.

Wherefore we Will and firmly enjoining Command for us our
Heirs and Successors that the aforesaid Thomas and his Heirs for
Ever May Have and Hold all the Liberties and Previleges aforesaid
will Truly and in Paie and that they and every of them may fully
enjoy the same as aforesaid without any other occasion or Impediment
of our Heirs or Successors or our Justices Escheators Sherriffs Coroners
or any other our Bailiffs or Ministers.

We grant also for us our Heirs and Successors to the said Thomas
Talbot and his Heirs that if these our present Letters patent as to the
Premisses or any of them' shall be found Invalid or Insufficient jn Law
or for any other Cause or Hereafter jnay happen to be found Invalid
or Insufficient in law by reason of any resumption or Authority of
Parliament in England or in our land of Ireland hereafter to be held
or for any other cause Whatsoever that then our Chancellor of England
or Chancellor of Ireland of our Heirs and Successors for the Time
being to the said Thomas or his Heirs Such the like and as many
Letters Patent anew to be made Valid Sufficient and in due form of
law bearing date year and day of the perfection of the Same under
our Great Seal of England or under the Great Seal of our Kingdom
of Ireland Shall cause to be made and delivered without any prosecu-
tion by Bill under our Privy Signet or Signets there for by Command
of us our Heirs and Successors we cause to be made Such and so many
as to him the said Thomas or his Heirs Shall seeme necessary on his
behalf and this Without any fine to us our Heirs and Successors to be



74 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

made or paid Except only the Sum of Twenty Shillings and four pence
for the Fee of the Great Seal of us our Heirs or Successors So that
Express mention of the true annual value of the Premisses or any other
value of Premisses of any other Gifts or Grants to the aforesaid Thomas
or his Ancestors by us or any of our Progenitors heretofore made by
these presents or in no wise made any Statute Act Ordinance Restric-
tion Use Custom or provided in our Land of England or in our Land
of Ireland to the Contrary thereof made Ordained Used or Provided
or any other cause matter or thing whatsoever Notwithstanding.

Witness to those the most Venerable Father in Christ Thomas l
Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Bishop of Lincoln our
Chancelor of England and our most Dear Brothers George Duke of
Clarence and Richard Duke of Glocester and allso of our most Dear
Cousin Ilenry Essex our Treasurer of England and Anthony Rivers
Chief Purveyor of England Earl Delewere and To our Faitrfull Thomas
Russel Clerk Keeper of our Private Seal and Thomas Stanly of Stanly
S^nischall of our Household and William Hastings Chamberlain of our

'Thomas Bourchler, born 1404 (?), died I486; Archbishop of Canterbury.
1454; Chancellor of Oxford University 1434; Lord Chancellor. 1455-56; a
Lancastrian, but crowned King Edward IV, 1461 and his queen, Elizabeth,
1465; nominated Cardinal 1467. installed 1473; one of the four arbitrators
to whom the differences between England and France were referred by th*
Peace of Amiens, 1475; officiated at coronation of Richard III, 1483, and at
marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, 1486.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard III.

Henry Essex, i.e., Henry Bourchler, first Earl of Essex, brother of the
Cardinal Archbishop, was lieutenant-general under the Duke of York In
France. 1440. He married Isabel, aunt of King Edward IV. Treasurer of
England. 1455-6* and 1471 to 1483; created Earl of Essex, 1461; died 1483.

Anthony Rivers, i.e., Anthony Woodvllle, 2nd Earl Rivers, born 1442 (?);
succeeded his father. Richard, 1st Earl 1469; died, 1483. His mother was
Jacquetta, widow of John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. A Lancastrian,
he went over to Edward IV, who loaded him with honours.

He wrote several translations from the French, which were Issued by
Caxton.

Thomas Stanly, 1st Earl of Derby, born 1435 (?), died 1604; succeeded
his father, Thomas, as 2nd Baron Stanly, 1459; married Eleanor Neville
before 1460. Held commands In France, 1475, and Scotland, 1482; married
for second wife about 1482, Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond; held
various offices and honours under both Yorkist and Lancastrian kings; neu-
tral at battle of Bosworth Field, 1485; but crowned the victor, Henry VII,
who created him Earl of Derby.

William Hastings, born 1430 (?), created a peer 1461 by Edward IV;
Lord Chamberlain, 1461-1483; commanded troops In France 1475; opposed
Rivers on accession of Edward V; beheaded by Richard of Gloucester, 1483.
(As to\ circumstances of his execution, see the various histories, and espe-
plally Shakespeare's Richard III).



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 78

Household Knights and others Given under our Hand at Westminster
the Eighth day of March in the fifteenth year of our Reign.

Fryston.

By the King himself and of the date aforesaid by Authority of
Parliament.

L. S.

In rolled among the Rolls of the Chancelor of the Exchequer of
our Lord the King the Eigth day of March in the Fifteenth year of
the Reign of King Edward the Fourth Pleaded and Allowed that
William Talbot now of Mullaghide Shall not be made Sherriff Coroner
Escheator of the Counties of Dublin Meath Kildare or Louth. Among
the Memorandums of the Exchequer of our lady the now Queen of
Ireland To Witt Among the Records of the Term of Saint Hillery in
the year of the reign of our Lady Queen Elizabeth the fifth On Behalf
of the Chief Remembrances of the Exchequer aforesaid.

DRAYCOTT; R R.

Colonel Talbot to H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland.
Archives Series Q, Vol. 291 2 p. 517.

gj r Skitteewaabaa, 1 Upper Canada, May 16th, 1801.

Although I am separated from England by some thousands of miles
Your Royal Highness will find that I am not beyond reach of proving
troublesome, to which intrusion I am led, by command of Your Royal
Highness, when you condescended so far to interest yourself in my
welfare, as to desire that in whatever manner I could find your influence
necessary to solicit it. I am now to have the honour to acquaint Your
Royal Highness of my safe arrival in my favourite Settlement after
the most propitious passage and as I am persuaded that Your Royal
Highness will be satisfied, I will add, I find my situation quite what
I could have wished but I have one request to make which, if Your
Royal Highness will have the goodness to exert yourself in carrying
into effect, will complete my happiness in this world.

Owing to somvi neglect of General Simcoe's, I find that the neces-
sary Warrants for my lands, were not issued previous to his quitting
the Government of this province, and since then there have been new
regulations adopted which renders the possession of lands more expen-
sive and difficult of obtaining than when I left the Province in 1794,*

* Probably the mouth of Kettle Creek, where Is now the Village of Port
Stanley.

'Talbot left Upper Canada about the 20th June, 1794, to Join his regi-
ment, the 86th, of which he was Major.



76 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

and as I flatter myself, that Your Royal Highness will admit that I
am as loyal a Subject and equally entitled to the Degree of Hidalgo
as other adventurers in a new country, I throw myself on Your Royal
Uighness's power to have it confirmed, and to prevent its producing
discontent, I will beg leave to point out a mode for its execution. There
are parcels of land under the name of Townships granted in this coun-
try to Heads of Societies, which possibly may in time prove beneficial
to the proprietor, now what I have to petition to Your Royal Highness,
is that you will have the goodness (I may add charity) to ask of the
King the grant of a Township in the Province of Upper Canada for
yourself, exempted from the fees to Government and obligations of
Jocation for instance, The Township of Hovaliton 1 in the County of
Norfolk on Lake Erie, or any other adjacent one, which may not be
already granted. "vYliich, when Your Royal Highness has procured His
Majesty's Patent for, it must be transmitted through the S'ecretary of
State for the Home Department to the Governor and Council of the
Province of Upper Canada, in order that the necessary Provincial
Deeds may be made out for possession Your Royal Highness can on
receiving the Royal Patent, make a legal tranfer of the Grant to me,
and permit me to request that you will have the goodness to cause
duplicates to be made of the transfer, as the conveyance of letters to
this Country is irregular and uncertain. My Sister Barbara 2 will
take charge of them or any other Communication Your Royal Highness
may honour me with, she having the directions how to forward them.

I have pointed out the Township of Houyhton as it is situated
near to my place of residence. Should Your Royal Highness succeed,
T will have infinite happiness in paying my duty personally to express
my very great obligation for the protection afforded to the once Gay
Tom Talbot, it will materially assist me, Your Royal Highness's man-
aging so, that the Grant is exempted from the usual fees to Govern-
ment, which there cannot be any difficulty in effecting, it being a Royal
Patent.

I promise myself the enjoyment of every comfort in this Country
excepting that material onv?, of seeing those I most respect and love,
a small income provides the necessary luxuries in this Province to a
Settler as his own industry and labour procures him provisions. I
am out every Morning at Sun-rise in my smock frock felling and burn-

1 Houghton was then understood to Include not only the township now
so-called, but also Bayham and Malahlde. The adjacent one, which was
then In Talbot's mind, was Yarmouth, as appears by the correspondence pub-
lished In U. C. Sessional Papers for 1836, No. 22.

1 Talbot's eldest sister, who married Sir William Young, Bart., M.P. Sir
William was appointed Governor of Tobago, where Lady Young died in 1830.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 77

ing the Forest to form a farm; could I but be seen by some of my
St. James's friends when I come home to my frugal supper as black
as any chimney sweeper They would exclaim, " What a damn'd block-
head you have been, Tom/' but I say, no, as I actually eat my homely
fare with more zest than I ever did the best dinner in London it is
time that I should beg a Thousand pardons for this intrusion, but I
am satisfied of the goodness of Your Royal Highness's heart, and sin-
cerely praying that you may experience every blessing of this life, I
have the honour to be with the most unfeigned gratitude,

Your Koyal Highness's

Most Dutiful

and Faithful Servant,

THOMAS TALBOT.
To H.K.H. The

Duke of Cumberland, 1
In H.R.H. the Duke of Kenf s, of
llth October, 1801.



H.R.H. the Duke of Kent to Lord Hobart,
Archives Series Q, Vol. 291, p. 514.

(Indorsed.} *

His Royal Highness
The Duke of Kent.

Castle Hill Lodge, Middlesex,
My Lord, llth October, 1801.

It is at the request of my Brother, the Duke of Cumberland, that,
as Secretary of State, for the Colonies, I trouble Your Lordship with
the inclosed. 2 It is a letter to him from Colonel Talbot, late of the
5th Regiment of Foot, 3 who was very useful to General Simcoe, when
that respectable Officer was Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Up-
per Canada. Your Lordship must understand that he is now retired
from the Service, and is busily occupied establishing himself as a settler
in Upper Canada. It appears he had a promise from General Simcoe
of Lands, at the time they were together in that Country, but from
some oversight, the "Warrants for putting him in possession of them,
were not made out, previous to the General's leaving North America,

1 The Duke of Cumberland, son of King George III, became King of
Hanover, on the death of his brother, William IV, In 1837, the Salic law
preventing the accession of Queen Victoria to the Hanoverian throne. "A
harsh and narrow-minded despot" (Encycl. Brit., XI, p. 447).

* See the preceding letter, pages 75 to 77

1 Talbot had sold out on Christmas Day, 1800.



78 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

in consequence of which, instead of obtaining the Lands, as would then
have been the case, exempted from fees to Government, and the Obliga-
tion of location, he will now be compelled, unless there is a special
order in his favour from the Secretary of State to the contrary, to
incur a considerable expense in order to get possession of his grant To
obviate this, from his ignorance of the difficulty there is for any of
His Majesty's Sons to address him with a request of any sort, but more
especially of the nature of that which he points out, he has made an
Application to my Brother to ask for a Township in his own name,
to be hereafter transferred to him. But this is quite out of the ques-
tion, for the Duke of Cumberland by no means wishes, that his name
should appear in this Transaction, any farther, than that your Lordship
should know, he is extremely anxious, that whatever indulgence can
be shown Colonel Talbot should be afforded him, and that he will con-
sider himself personally obliged to you, by anything done in his favour.
The object therefore of this application is, to solicit your Lordship's
good offices, that an instruction may be sent, if not contrary to estab-
lished rules, to the Lieut.-Governor of the Provinces of Upper Canada,
to make a Grant of a Townships to Colonel Talbot and preferably of
that which he himself has pointed out, exempted from Government
fees. The grounds, on which such an application is made in his favour,
are, in the first place, that had General Simcoe not omitted doing what
was' necessary to complete his promise, before he left Canada, the Colonel
would then have become possessed of his lands on these terms, and in
the second, that the services he rendered General Simcoe while in that
Country, and the Opinion entertained of him by that excellent Officer
render him very deserving of this small indulgence.

I have now only to add that in meeting my Brother's wishes upon
this Subject, Your Lordship will also oblige Me, and I therefore flatter
myself, that, as far as in your power lays, you will be good enough to
attend to this application in behalf of Colonel Talbot, with sentiments
of high regard and esteem.

I remain,

My Dear Lord,

ever yours

most faithfully and

sincerely,

EDWARD. 1

The Right Honorable

Lord Hobart,

&c., &c., &c.

1 Edward. Duke of Kent, fourth son of Kins George III. and father of the
late Queen Victoria.



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 79

(The following are copies of entries in one of Colonel Talbot's note books,
all in his handwriting) :

(On inside of cover, at opening of book)

Credit Sorter, six Dolrs, 4s. York for Hinton.

llth July 1804 lent Sorter to buy Tobacco, one Dolr.

13th July Sorter and Chase went to Kettle River to mow at a Dolr. per day

23d Sorter & David went to mow in the Ever. 1

15

4

20th July settled with Sorter, balance due him Is.
22d July 1804 lent Sorter 2 Dolrs.

The following are the entries in the notebook.

N.Y.C.*

1804 JAMES WHITTON s 8 . d.

25th June two pr of Socks 10

26th June to cash at Chippawa 8

Do. To Mr. Muirhead for chisels 10

28th June. Fort Erie, chalk lines 2

Do. Do two knives 4

6th July to cash 16

28th June to a pr. Shoes from Tim 10

15th Augt. cash 8 . - t -.

18th Do Do 8

llth Sept. Credit Corney Ellis * 11

4th Octr. To cash 5 10

24th Novr. To Youngs 5 bill of Sundries 5 12 6

Do. To Crooks Do Do 89 19 7

Do. To Cummings Do 3 15 g

Do. To Nichol 7 fr Ser't Troute 3 8 6

Do. To an axe 18

28th Novr. To 130 Ib of beef @ 3d 1 13 6

Do. To 1 Bushl. of Salt .- 16



1 Abbreviation for Kettle River probably.

a New York Currency, 8 shillings to the dollar.

8 A Niagara carpenter and builder, employed by Colonel Talbot, to go to Port
Talbot to erect a dwelling, &c.

Cornwall Ellis, first settler at Port Rowan (about 1802), a great hunter and
trapper.

8 Probably " Young's Store," Vittoria.

* Crooks Brothers, merchants of Queenston.

7 Probably Robert Nichol of Port Dover, afterward M.P.P. and Quarter Master
General of Militia during the war of 1812.



80



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



Dr.



JAMES WHITTON. N.Y.C.



1804 Brought forward


116


7


4th Deer. To 1 Ib. Putty, 2s. & 1 Ib. Nails 2s


4




7th Deer. To Ca.sh


2




18th Deer. To 1 Bushl. Indian Corn


4




19th Deer. To a IXJR of Venison.


2


6


28th Deer. To Whehui for Shoes


1 12




31st Deer. To 1 Bushl. Corn 4s


4




Do. To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea


14




1805






14 Jany. To Cash


1 8




12 Jany To 1 Bushl Corn


4




17th Janv. To an axe


18




Do. To Credit Corney Ellis


1 16


6


27th Jany. To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea


14




29th Jany. To 1 Bushl. Indian Corn


4




31st Janv. To 1 Ib Nails


2




2nd. Febr. To 17 Ib. Beef @ 6 d


8


6


7th. Febr. To Cash


5 4




26th. Novr. To 217 Ib. of flour in Bar'l


2


li.',


Do. " To Transport of Bar'l


1 2


3


12th. Febv. To 1 Bushl Corn


4





133



Dr.



JAMES WHITTON. N.Y.C.



1805 Brought forward 133

14th Feby. To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea

18th Feby. To 1 Bushl. of Wheat

20th Feby. To 1 J^ Ib of Hogs lard

27th Feby. To 1 Bush of Wheat

2d March To 2 Bushl. of Wheat

2d March To 1 peck of Corn

Do. " To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea

3rd March To Cash 1

4th March To 9 Ibs. of Salt Pork @ 9 d

20th March To 52'^ Ib. of Flour @ 3d. %

25th March To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea

30th March To 47 Ib. flour @ 3%

30th March To 4 3 Ib. of Muttn Suet @ Is

3d Apl. To 3 Bushl. of Potas. @ 8s 1

4th Apl. To 17 Ib. Pork @ 9d

6th Apl. To 1 Barl. of Flour 2

13th Apl. To 5 Ib. Pork @ 9d

15th Apl. To 4J^ of sole Leather, 3d

16th Apl. To 5 Ib. Pork @ 9d



8

d.



8


8


14




6




2


3


6




12




1




14




4




6


9


16


5


14




14


8J


4


9


4




12


9


8




3


9


1


U


3


9



144



17



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS




81


Dr. JAMES WHITTON


; 8.


d.


Brought forward


... 144 17


\\\i


1805






19th Apl. To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea


14




22nd Apl. To Hinton for Potas


... 1 4




2nd May To 2^ Ibs hard Soap @ 2s


5




7th May To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea


14




9th May To 1 Barl. Flour


... 2 8




15th May To Cash for a Hoe


6




18th May To Duncan McCall l


1 4




23d May To 15 Ib. Indian Meal @ 4d


... .-. 5




28th May To Cash


16




28th May To 13 Ib. Pork @ 9d


... ., 9


9


31st May To Cash for a cow


... ., . 16




1st June To Mr. Nichol for sundries in Ocr, 1804


17


10H


4 June To 20^ Ib. Pork @ 9d


15


4 H


llth June To Cash


... . . 14


6


13th June To 46 Ib. Flour @ 3 d. ^


13


5


13th June To 14 Ib. Pork @ 9 d


10


6


15th June To 1 pr. Stockings


8




1


157 19


4*


Dr. JAMES WHITTON. N. Y. C.


8.


d.


1805 Brought forward


... 157 19


4^


17th June To 2& ^ Cotton check @ 6s. 6


13


10


17th June To 4yds. Shirting @ 6s. 6d


.... 1 6




17th June To 8 yds. cotton Shirting @ 6s


... 2 8




17th June To 1 oz. No. 18 & 1 oz. No. 8 @ 2s


4




19th June To 1 Ib Souchong Tea


14




19th June To 5 yds Shirting @ 6s


1 10




20th June To 20 Ibs. Flour @ 3^d ,


5


10


22nd June To Hinton for Bar'l Flour


2 12




26th June To 17 Ibs. Pork @ 9d ,


12


9


1st July To 12 Ib. Pork @ 9d


9




3rd July To an adze


... .. 12




3rd July To 4 yds. mixed cloth @ 16s


1 12




3d July To \y z yds. B. Holland @ 4s


, 6




3d July To 24 Coat Buttons at 2d


4




5th July To 2 yds. Mixed cloth @ 16s ,


1 12




5th July To 1 yd. B. Hol'ds 4s. & list thread 2s


6




6th July To 17 Ib. Pork @ 9d :


12


9


9th July To 1 Ib. Coffee


4




llth July To 9 Ibs. Pork @ 9d


6


9


-


174 10


*M



1 Of Vittoria.

Sec. II., 1907. 6.



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



Dr.



JAM > WHITTON N. Y. C.



d.



1805 Brought forward


. 174 10


3^


13th July To Wilson ye. Taylor


1 4




15th July To Hinton for 1 Barl Flour


.3 4




Ifith July To 9 Ibs. Pork (d\ 9d


... 6


9


17th July To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea


. .. 14




20th July To 10 Ib. Pork (ft !)d


.. .. 7


6


25th July To 12 Ib. Pork (a. 9d. .


.. .. 9




30th Julv To 12 Ib. lieef (ft* fid


.. .. 6




2d Augt. To 12 Ib. lieef (fa fid


.. .. 6




7th Augt . To 1 Ib. Coffee


. . .. 4




8th Augt. To Ifi Ib. Beef (ft, fid ...


.. .. 8




12th Augt. To Yi. Bushl. Wheat


4




13th Augt. To 10 Ib. Beef fid


.. .. 5




15th Augt. To Cash


1




16th Augt. To 1 Bushl. of Wheat


.. .. 8




22nd Augt. To 13 Ib. lieef (a fid .. .


6


6


24th Augt. To 9 Ib. Beef (S fid .. .


4


6


24th Augt. To 1 quart (Jnandaso Salt




6




184 8


M


I>r. JA.MKS WHITTON.


s.


d.


1805 Brought forward


..184 8


y*


24th Augt. To Cash to Mirich


1




27th Autg. To 15 Ib lieef (ft Gd


. . . . i


6


27th Augt To Yi Bushl. of Wheat...


4




30th Augt. To 17 Ib. lieef (ft 3d


4


3


30th Augt. To 10 Ib. lieef (ft (id .


.. .. 5





4th Sepr. To Iti Ib. lieef (ft fid


. . . . 8





8th Sepr. To Hinton


.... 8




10th Sepr. To 6 Ibs. lieef (it. (kl


.... 3




10th Sepr. To Yi Bushl. of Wheat


4




12th Sepr. To 5^ Ib. Salt lieef (a} (id


2


9


14th Sepr. To 11 Ib Salt lieef (ft (kl.


.... 5


6


14th Sepr. To Wheat 1 peck


2





16th Sepr. To 8 Ib. Salt lieef (a, fid


4





18th Sepr. To Y* Bushl. of Wheat


4




19th Sepr. To 17^ Ib. lieef (a. fid. & fi>^ Ib. Suet (ft Is


15


3


25th Sepr. To 14 Ib. Salt lieef (ft. (id.


7





28th Sepr. To 1 Ib. 13 oz.. of Sole leather


5


6



1X9



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS




83


Dr. JAMBS WHITTON, N. Y. C.


s-


d.


1805 Brought forward


189 17


9>i


30th Sepr. To Mr. Bostwick for Lines


8




1st Octr. To 1 Barll. Flour


2 12


f ,


3rd Octr. To Cash


1 4




19th Octr. To 2 Pr. Socks @ 6s


12




21st Octr. To 1 pr. Stockings


8


. ,


25th Octr. To ^ oz. Thread


1


. .


29th Octr. To 1 Bushl. of Wheat @ 8s


; s




30th Octr. To 2 Bushl. of Wheat @ 8s


16




Novr. 2d To Cash


8




Novr. 5th To 10 Ib. Salt Beef @6d


5


, .


Novr. 6th To 4 yds Forest Cloth @ 18s


3 12


. .


Novr. 6th To 3 Skeins Cold. Thread @2d




6


Novr. 7th To 2 yds. Forest Cloth @ 18s


I 16




Nov. llth To 11 Ib. Salt Beef @ 6d


5


6


No. 12th To 14V6 Ib. of Beef Tallow @ 6d


7


6


Novr. 12th To 1 Ib. Nails


2


t ^


Novr. 14th To pd. Cramer yr Debt


... 9 9


3




212 12


6 X


Dr. JA.MES WHITTON N. Y. C.


s.


d.


Brought forward


212 12


6^


Novr. 17th To 8 Skeins Col'd Thread @ 2d


1


4


Novr. 18th To Hinton


6


. .


Novr. 22nd To 1 Ib. Souch'g. Tea


14




Novr. 22d To 12 Ib. Beef @ 6d


6




Novr. 30th To 25 Ib. Beef @ 6d


12


6


3d Deer. To 2 quarts Salt @ Is


2




7th Deer. To 12 panes glass 7 by 8 @ 2s


1 4


, ,


12h Deer. To 10 Ib. Beef @ 6d


5




14th Deer. To pd. John Smith* for work


9


9 m


17th. Deer To 3 Skeins of thread @ 2d




6


19th. Deer To Cash to Kitty


16


B ,


21st. Deer To 11 Ib. Beef @ 6d


5


6


23rd. Deer To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea


14


. .


23rd. Deer To 1 peck of Salt


8




24th. Deer To 2 Promal Hand fs. @ 4s


8




27th. Deer To 1 Bushl. Indian Corn


6




31st. Deer To 17 Ib. Beef @ 6d. & 10 Ib. Suit @ Is..


18


6




220 8


10J4



1 On 19th May 1807, Talbot claimed 200 acres on account of having sur-
rendered 50 acres of his original grant to John Smith, and the claim was allowed
by Order in Council.



84



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



JAMES WHITTON. Dr.



d.



1SOG Brought forward


. 220 8


10^


4th Jany To 1 Bushl. Indian Corn


6




To Mr. Fxlwards of Niagara yr. debt


.27 10




13th Jany To 14 Ib. Beef Suit rcnd'd (n> Is


14




15th Jany To V 2 Bushl. Indian Corn


3




17th Janv To 1 Bushl. Indian Corn


6




ISth Jany To Y Ib. (Hue 6/


1


6


20th Jany To. 1 Ib. Nails 2.1


2




22nd Jany Ml- for 1 pr. Shoes ....


17




Do. To Soling 1 pr. Shoes Jas. Now 'd


3




23rd Jany To 11 yds. Printed calico (S> 8s


4 8




Do. To 1 Ib. Souchong Tea 14s. & 2 Ib. Wool Ss


.1 2




Do. 6 Skeins Col'd thread Is. & 3 skeins White 9d.


1


9


25th Janv To 1 Bushl. Corn 6/-


6




27th Janv To 3 Ib. Hogs Lard @ 1/6


4


6


1S06 JOSEPH SMITH.' Dr.






4th Febr. To 1 Bush. Corn 6/-


6





Do. To 1 Ib. Tea @ 14/-


14




1S06 ISABELLA FINDLAY.


6.


d.


June 2Sth To 2 yds. cotton check (a) 9/-


. . .. 18




1 )o. To a paper pins 3/6


3


6


July 9th To 4 yds. Turkey cotton (3i 9s


.1 16




Ditto to 2 Skeins Nun's thread (a; 3d




6


July 10th To 3 yds. Indian callico @ 4/6


13


6


July 10th To 1 Skein thread




3


July 19th I'd. Mrs. Lockard 6/-


6




16th Augt . To 8 vds. Prin'd. Cal'o @ 6/6


2 12




Do. To 4\i vds. Dimmity (m 10/-


2 5




Do. To 1 crooked comb 2/.


2




ISth Augt. To 1 Yi yd. Irish Linen @ 6/-


6


9


26th Augt. To I'd. Mrs. Lockard 3/-


3




30th Augt . To 3 vds. B. Hol'ds (5) 4/-


12




Do. To 1 skein Nuns thread 3d




3


9th Sept. To 1 Skein Nuns thread @ 3d




3


Do. do. To pd. Mrs. Porter 10/-


10




j


10 9





> One of Talbot's men. who received a grant of 400 acres by Order in Council of
3d April 1S06, and on Colonel Talbot's particular recommendation a further grant
of 800 acres by order dated 26th Jan. 1808. In 1809 he was appointed Constable
for Dunwich. On May 19, 1S07 the Executive Council ordered a grant to Talbot
of 200 acres in respect of Joseph Smith, a settler to whom he had surrendered 50
acres of his original grant.



[COYXK] THE TALBOT PAPERS 85

1806 ISABELLA FINDLAT

hired 12th May @ 5 Dollrs pr month.
12th July hired for six months @ 5 $.
absent from work from 20th to 24th July.



I hereby engage to hire with Col. Thos. Talbot for space of three months from
the hereof. Given under my hand

Witness This 7th day of Augt. 1806

present her

Jos Smith Isabella X Findlay

mark

left my service the 13th Dec 1806

T. T.



Dr.


FANNY REED. N. Y. Cy.


s.


d.


June "


To 1 pr. Slippers 12/-


12




June 19th


To 4 Sk'ns. N. Thread @ 3d


1




June 23rd


To 1 yd cotton check 9/6


;.. '.. 9


6


July 16th


To 2 yds. white calo. @ 4/6


.. .. 9




July 22d


To 3 yds. white calo. @ 4/6 thread I/-


. . . . 14


6


Augt. 19th


To YI Ib. Tobaco. @ 4/-


.j. .. i 2




Augt. 22d


To 1 Banda. Handf . 12/-


fo ..*.' i 12




Sepr. 9th


To Cash 8/-Oct. 1 Ib. wool 4/-


12




Octr. 23rd


4 Skns. N. Thread @ 3d


1




Octr. 29th


To ^ Ib- pepper 3/- Knitg needls I/-


4




Novr. 7th


To Cash 4/- ^ Ib. Ginger I/-


.. .. 5




Novr. 16th


1 Darning needle 3d




3


Deer. 3d


To 1 Set Knitting needles I/-


1




Deer. 5th


To pd. Jo. Cook 9/-


.. .. 9




Deer. 8th


To 1 pr. Shoes 17/6 ^ ib. Tobo. @ 4/-


. . . . 19


6


Deer. 31st


To 2 yds Iran. Sheeting @ 6/6


,, -,.-.. 13




1808








Jany. 6th


To 7"yds. im. Sheeting @ 6/6


..2 5


6


Jany. 9th.


Yz Ib. Tobao. @ 41-


.. .. 2




Feby. 4th.


To 4 Skeins N. thread @ 3d


..' .. 1




Feby. 5th.


To 2 Ib. Hogs Lard @ 1/6 -. .


... .. 3





16



8*3



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



I)H. FRANCES REED


d.


d.


1HOS To nun Mini brought forward


8 16


3


Feby . 20th To 1 Shawl 16/


16




Feb. 20th To 1 pr. Slippers 12/6


12


6


Feb. 27th To Cash 8/


8




March 14th ^ lb. Tobacco @ 4/


2




March 17th To pd Archtniler 2 q'ts whis'y 5/


5




March 20th pd T. Coates Cash 16/


16




March 29th 1 pr Wool cards 7/6


7


6


Apl. 1st pd Dunbar Davis 3/


3




April 6th Cash to Myres 16/


16




April 18th To 1 lb B. Tea 8/-H lb pepper (5) 6/ .


11




Do 7M M. Sugar (81 I/ 1 Qt Mug 6/


13


6


Do % doz. Knives & Forks @ 8/


4




Do \\i yd Blue Cloth (c. 36/


2 5




Do Yi yd B. Hold @ 4/ Silk 2/ thred I/


4




April 19th Two Ibs Salt @ 9d


1


6


April 20th 1 lb Nails 2/


2





April 20th Cash 24/


1 4




May 12th Cash 41


4




May 19th To 6^ lb Sugar @ I/ .


6


3




18 17


6


DR. FANNY MYRES


s.


d.


1808






May 28th To pd Thos. Coates 16/


16




To amount brought ford


... 18 17


6


June 2nd 1 Qr Rock Salt 1/6


1


6


June 18th To Pd Thos Coates 4/


4




June 29th To 71b Wool (3) 4/


1 8




June 30th To 4 lb Sugar (5) I/


4




Julv 28th To 2 yds check @ 10/


1




Augt . 15th To 2 Skns thread 3d




6


Augt. 16th To 1 yellow Shawl 12/6


12


6


Augt. 20th To 4 Baskets 8/


8




Augt. 22nd To 1 Skn thread 3d




3


Sepr. 5th 3 yds white calo (5) 4/6


13


6


Sepr. 5th 1 lb. Bohea Tea @ 8/


8




Sepr. 7th ^ lb. Tobao @ 4/6


2


3


Octr. 1 1th 1 Set knitg needles I/


1




Do J/6 paper pins 1/6


1


6


Octr. 22nd 6 lb Beef (ft 6d thread I/


4




Novr. 12th To 7 yds White Calo (ft 4/6


1 11


6


Novr. 12th To 4 Skns N. thread @ 3d


11




Nov. 29th To \^ yd White cotton (ol 8/


4





FANNY MYRES.

Acct ae foregoing settled to Apr. let 1809

T. T.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 87

CR. _ FANNY REID s. d.

1807 To 2 days work @ 4/ 8

May 28th hired @ 4$ pr. month

To cr for Ann Lawler 4/ 4

Sept. 19th Cr pr Cummings ll/ 11

Octr. 7th Cr pr Henry Berger 18/ 18

1808

March 16th Cr H Berger 6/ 6

March 16th To cash reed 8/ 8

Apl. 19th Went away. Wages to this date 17 4

April 19th cr pr Henry Berger ' 3/ 3

April 25th 26th, 27th June 1st, 2nd @ 2/ 10

June 3d. 4th, 17, 18th, 21st, 22nd @ 2/ 12

July 8th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 18th, 23rd @ 2/ 12 ; .

brought forward

July 25th 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, @ 2/ 12

Aug. 1st 2nd, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, @ 2/ 18

Augt llth Cr pr Caleb Turner 8/ 8

Augt 10th llth, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, @ 2/ 16

Augt. 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, @ 2/ 10

Augt. 29th @ 2/ 2

Sepr. 19th To Sping 4 Ib Wool @ 4/ '. 16



25 18



CR. FANNY MYRES. s. d.

1808 To amount brought forward 25 18

Sepr. 20th, 21st, 22nd, Octr. 7th, llth, @ 4/ 1

Octr. 12th 13th, 14th @ 4/ 12

Octr 22nd % 24th @ 2/ 3

Oct 28th 29th, @ 4/ Octr. 30 @ 2/ .. , 10

Novr 1st 2nd, 3d, 4th, 5th @ 3/ 15

Novr. 12th 26th @ 2/ ... 4

Novr. 26th to run'g 2 prs stockgs 2

Nov 28th 29th. Deer 1st 1/2 2nd @ 3/ 'C'l 7 6

Deer. 3d To mending 2 pr Stockgs I/ 1

Dcr. 12th 13th, 14th, 1/2 15th @ 3/ 10 6

Deer. 13th To Knit'g 3 pr socks @ 2/6 7 6

1809

Jan. 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, llth @ 3/ . . 18

Jany ^ 20th ^ 21st March 24th @ 3/ 6

Apr. It Settled T. T.



April 4th returned to pr. month.

Ap'l 5 By over paid Tobaco 2d 2

1 On 9th Feb 1809. the Executive Council ordered a grant of 200 acres to Talbot
in respect of Heinrich Beirgar, a settler on 50 acres (in Dunwich).



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

ACCOUNT OF JAMES WHIT-TON'S WOHK AS A CARPENTER.

Days. Yi, Days.

1st July 1804. Sunday . 1 . .

1*11(1 Do. Monday 1

3rd Tuesday on board Ship... .

4th Wednesday do

5th Thursday arrived at Port Talbot 1

6th Friday 1

7th Saturday 1

8th Sunday

9th Monday . 1 . .

lOt h Tuedsay 1

1 1th Wednesday 1

12th Thursday 1

13th Friday 1

14th Saturday ! ^

loth Sunday

16th Monday 1

17th. 18th. 19th, 20th, 21st. July 5

22nd Sunday 23rd. 24th, 25th, 20th, 27th, 28th, July .... 6

^804 Days. ^ Days.

29th Sunday 30th Monday Wet. two Stools . 1

31st Tuesday 1st Augt Wednesday 2nd Thursday 3

3rd Augt arrived ye Camden. . . 1

4th Augt. Saturday 5th Sunday 1

6th Monday 7th Tuesday, Sick 1

8th Wednesday 9th Thursday 2

10th llth 12th Augt. Sunday 2

13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th Augt Sunday 6

20th. 21st, 22nd, 23rd. 24th. 25th. 26th Augt. Sunday 6

27th. 28th, 29th. :)th. 31st, Augt. 1st Sepr, 2nd Sunday . 6

3d, 4th. 5th, 6th. 7th. 8th, 9th Sepr. Sunday 6

10th, llth Sepr. Two half days 1

12th. 13th. 14th, 15th, 16th. Sunday Sepr 4

17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd Sepr Sunday 6

24th. 25. 26. at the boat 27th, 28th, 29th Sepr . 6 . .

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Octr set off for Niagara 4

6th, Deer, recommenced work 1

7th, 8th, 10th, llth, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15, 17th, 18th, Deer 10
19th, 20th, 21st, 22d. 27th, 28th. 29th Deer. .



[COYXE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 89

JAMES WHITTON.

1804 Days. Yi Days.

31st December 1

1805 1st, 2nd, 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, Jany 7

9th, 10th, llth, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, Jany 7 ...

19th, 21st, 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 26th Jany . 7 "' : .

28th, 29th, 30th, Jany. ^ of 31st Jany 3 Y

1st, Yz 2nd Feby. 4th, 5th, Y 2 6th Feby 4

8th, 9th, 10th, Apl making north fence @ 4d 2

llth, 12th, 1-3 13th making Tables 2 1-3

13th May. making Door & Table for Jo 1

5th Augt to 2-3 of a day laying thrashing floor 2-3

Sepr. 6th, 7th. 9th, 10th, llth, }^ 12th making Harrow.. . 5 %

Sepr. 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 2-3d, 28th 5 2-3

Sepr. 27th To credit for Bark 5 Dolrs

Sepr. 29th, Octr 1st, 2d 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, llth, 12th ... 9

Oct. 17th, 18th, 19th.. 21st, 22d, 23d, 24th, % 25th 7 ?4

Octr 21st. To 1 pr Socks returned by Smith 6s 1

9th July To credit for McLaughlin, Kitty 16s

27th Octr To making Shirt for Root, Kitty, Davy, Min 4s.

Octr 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, Yv 5th Novr 4 Yz

Novr. 6th, 7th, % 8th, 9th, Yz 10th, 21st, 22d, 25th, 26th 7 %

Days. Yz Days.

Novr 27th, 28th, Yz 29th Deer. 2d, 3d, 4th 5 1

Nov To 5 Turkeys @ 4 s 1

12th Deer. To Kitty for making one of Roots' Shirts 4s ..

Deer. 19th commenced @ 5s. pr day 1

Deer. 20th ^ 21st, 23d Yz 24th @ Do 3

1806

23rd Jany credit for Crane 20s & Gamble 40s

24th Jany 1

25th Jany. To a dressing Table 1 Dolr . . : . .



1808.

Jan'y 21st hired Elizabeth Meridith @ $6 pr month.

Jany. To Sundries at Mr. Hatts ..'. 14

Febry. 13th To 1 pr Soles 1/6 .' 1 6

Febry. 15th To pd Jas Whitten 2 chairs 7/ 7

Feby. 15th To pd Geo. Craue soling pr. shoss 3/ 3

Febry. 20th To pd Dr. Archmiler 1 Qt Bran'y 5/ 5

Febry. 26th 1 Sken Silk I/ .:,,. . 1

Apl. 2nd Pd Archmiler 1 pint Brandy 2/6 2 6

April 4th Yz yd Check @ 10/ 1 skn thread 3d 5 3

April 9th 1 pr Slippers 10/ 10

June 4th 1 Skn N. Thread 3d. . 3



2 10

June 18th To pd 4 months & \ 8 18

3 weeks wages / '



11 8

Settled T. T.



QO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

ELIZABETH MEREDITH.

N.Y.C.



June 18th. To wages for"|

4 months ...................... 11

at $0 pr month j



8 18
Settled T. T.



(On Separate sheet of paper)

Received of Thomas Talbot Esqr. the sum of seven pounds two shillings and six
pence provincial currency (being the amount of wages at the rate of one pound Ten
Shillings per month) for four months and three weeks wages.
Port Talbot June 18th 1808

her

ELIZABETH x MEHIDITH
mark



N. Y. C.
d.



Dr.


ANN LAWLER.


s.


1S04






5th. Octr.


To order on Crooks by Whitten


1 12


1805






31st May


To Whitten for a cow


7 4


12th June


To pr Shoes


16


13th June


To pr. Stockings Wortsed


8


14th June


To 1 ^2 yd. of Striped cotton (ff, 6s


9


17th June


To Yi yd. of Do. @ 6s


3


17th June


To 1 Skeine No. 8 thread (S 3d





14th June


To 1 yd Cotton check (a 6s. 6d


6


9th July


To Cash


8


At Niagara




2


12th July


To 2 yds. Mixed Cloth. @ 16s


1 12


24th July


To 2 Skeins of thread




24th Aug.


1 Promat Handf


4


Sepr. 17th


To Cash 16s. <{$


6^


28th June


To 1 yd. Cot. Check


9




Do.


To 1^4 Bengal Striped cotton @ 9/-


11




Do.


To 1 paper pins 3/6


3


6


30th June


To \Y yd. Ben Gal Cotton @ 9/-


11


3


Do.


To 4 yds White Baize @ 5/-


1


..


Do.


To 1 Skein Nuns Thread 3d




3


Do. "


To 2 yds. Bengl. Cotn. @ 9/-


18


..


Do.


To 2 Skeins Nuns thread @ 3d




6


July 8th


To Pd. Nancy Kingsland


8




10th Augt.


pd. Dixon Shoe maker


2




15th Aug.


To 1 Iron Pot 151b. @ 1/6


1 2


6


16th Aug.


To 6 yds. Prind. Calo. @ 5/6


, .... 1 13




21st Aug.


To 1 opend. & 1 Crookd. Comb @ 2/-


4




30th Augt.


To 3 yds. B. Hold. @ 4/-


12




Do.


To 1 Skein Coloured thread @ 4d




4



15



92 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



Dr. ANN LAWLER. s. d.

1H06 To amount brought forwd... . 15 15 10]

9th Sept To 14 Ib. Hyson Tea @ 24/- 6

15th Sept To 7 needles 8

17th Sept To pd. Mrs. Porter 17/-.. 17

6th Octr To Cash S/- 8

Novr. 5th To 1 pr. Socks 6/- 6

Nov 12th To Kingsland for Bail 4

1st Deer To 1 Ib. Wool Mrs. (larnsay 4

4th Deer To 8 Ib. Fresh Pork (3) 6d. . . 4

12th Deer To 2^g Benl. Cottn. @ 9/- 11 4)

Do. To 1 Skn. Cold. Thread 4d 4

Deer. 17th To Pd. Mrs. Garnsey 5/- 5

Deer. 30th To 5 Ib. Fresh Pork @ 6/- 2 6

Do. To Yi lb. Tea To Mrs. Woodin 4/- 4

1807

Jany. 9th To 5 lb. Fresh Pork 6d 2 9

Janry.Hth To 5^ lb. of Fresh Pork

June 4th 1 skn. N. thread 3d.. 3

June . 8th To Pd. Creamer for Whitten . . 11 4

June 9th To 1 pr. Shoes for Nancy 6/- 6

June 10th To 4 Skns. N. thread @ 3d 1

June 17th To Cash $10 4



50 16

June 17th. To Pd. Fanny Reed 4/-. . 4

1.808
Feby. " Pd. James Whitten pr. yr. order. 28



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 93

Cr. ANN LAWLER s. d.

hired to Mrs. Powers the 26th July 1804 at Niagara at
6 Dolrs per month.

To lent Mrs. Powers 3/- 3

1805

28th. June. ^ Dolr. lent self 4

28th. June. % Dolr lent self 4

1st. Augt. To Cret . for 2 yds cloth & thread to Reed 1 12 4

15th. Aug. To an Iron Pot returned 1 2 6

8th. Sept. To Cr. for Davd. Phillips 8/ 8

1807

June 5th. To 4 plates taken back 4

June .10th. To 1 Stick Silk returned \ 1

June 17th. To Wages for 34^ months 82 16



86 14 10



Acct. of James Newlands Work as Apprentice to Whitton.

Days ^2 days

5th. July 1804 Thursday 1

6th. Friday 1

7th. Saturday 1

8th. Sunday

9th. Monday 1

10th. Tuesday : 1 : .

llth. Wednesday 1

12th. Thursday -. 1

13th. Friday 1

14th. Saturday %

15th. Sunday .,

16th. Monday 1

17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, July 5

22nd. Sunday 23d, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, July 6

29th. Sunday 30th, Monday Wet

31st. July Tuesday 1st., 2d. & ^ 3d Augt 3 1

4th. Augt. Saturday 5th Sunday 1

6th, 7th., 8th., Augt 3

9th, 10th, llth, 12th, August Sunday 3

13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, Augt. Sunday 6

20th, 21st, 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 26t Augt Sunday 6

27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, Augt. 1st Sept. 2d Sunday 6

3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, Sepr. Sunday 6

10th, llth, Sepr. no work 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, Sepr 4

16th, Sepr Sunday 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22d 6

23rd Sepr. Sunday 24th., 25th., Sepr no work

26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, Sepr. Sunday 4

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Ocr set off for Niagara 4

1805 Sept. 5th., 6th 2



94 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Amount of Flour tc from Mill.

Apl. 26th 1 Bunhl. Wheat return goods.
Apl. 29th.. 10 Hushl. 17 Ib. Wheat
return
ll> Ib Ib

Hour 551V$ Shorts 100 Bran 216

Ib Ib

Toll 41 Ib. Total 908)^ wt of Wheat 977

Ib

deficiency 69 ^
May 3d. 56 Bushl. 34 Ib.

Memn. of Bond's Wheat Sown in ye Garden 13th. Sepr. 1809 from the
fence of the dully.

5 Hows Yorkshire red wheat.
6J Do. Do. round Do.

(On separate slip of paper.)
Amount of things of Lawler. delivered to Mr. Smith.

6 cups & > Saucers.

1 Sugar Bowl & Cover.

2 pint Bowles.
2 Soup Plates.
1 Cream Ewer.
1 Tea Pot.






(On inside of cover at end of book)

Amt. of wheat sent to my Bin at the Mill, 1809.

Bushl. Peck.

Apl. 1 2th.... 74 45

April 20th.. 54 1311).

April 21st.. 80 41b.

May 3d. 56 3411).

May 6th . 14 3511>.

May 7th.. 18 10

May 9th.. 44

May 15th.. . 6

May 19th.. . 62 27

May 29 30 52

June .5th.. 57 30

June 13th 89

June 17th 67

June 22d. .. . 105 44

June 23d. 85

June 26th.. 67 47

June 30th.. 39 38



954
Col

Thomas Talbot



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 93

Amt. of wheat ground from the bin.

Bushl. Ib.

April 26th 1 11

April 29 16 17

813 41
39 38



853 19
Bushl

| S June 3d 1J taken for house 974

Bushl. Ib

588 10
67

655 10

190 44

745 54

67 47

813 41



96 ItnYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Colonel .James Archihtild Stuart-Wort ley ' (afterwards Baron Wharn-
cliiTe of Wortlev) to Colonel Talbot.

Addressed.

44 Thomas Talbot, Esq., Port Talbot, Niagara, New York State, North

America :

" Immediately forward to the care of Messrs. Crooks, merchants,
Niagara :

"Wort ley Hall. Dec. 1, 1806.

"My Dear Tom, Amidst all the miserable events that Europe
furnishes it gives one considerable relief to think that one has a friend
in America at so great a distance as to be totally out of the reach of
their influence and to be able to look upon them, comparatively, at
least, with indifference. You will see by the papers that after a cam-
paign of three weeks only the Prussian army has been either entirely
taken prisoners or destroyed, that the King of Prussia himself is wan-
dering, God knows where, and that his kingdom is no longer to exist
as a separate State. It really appears to he a fatality, and a person



'James Archibald Stuart Wort ley Mackenzie, the writer of this letter,
oldest surviving son of James Archibald Stuart, was born 1776, died 19th
December. 1845; entered the army 1790 as an ensign In 48th foot: exchanged
into the 7th Royal Fusiliers in May following, and accompanied his regiment
In August to Quebec. The 7th was commanded by H.R.H. Edward, Duke of
Kent. Talbot was already in garrison at Quebec as lieutenant in the, 24th
i-'oot. Stuart was grandson of John Stuart, 3rd 1 Earl of Bute, and nephew
of John, 1st marquis of Bute. The names Wortley and Mackenzie were
added to that of Stuart on succeeding to estates of relatives; that of Wortley
t-omlng from his great-grandmother, the famous Lady Mary Wortley Mon-
tagu, whose letters were afterwards edited by the subject of this note. He
spent three years in Canada, He became Colonel of the 12th Foot, and
quitted the army at th peace of 1801. Fromt 1797 until 1818 he was M.P.
for Bosslney, a family borough; from 1818 until 1826, M.P. for Yorkshire.
In the latter year he was created Baron Wharncliffe of Wortley. Wortley
Hall Is In Yorkshire. In 1834 he was Lord Privy Seal in Peel's cabinet.
From 1X35 until 1841 he was in opposition. In the latter year he was chosen
L rd President of the Council. He married in 1799 Lady Caroline, daughter
of John. 1st Karl of Erne, by whom he had three sons and one daughter.
The daughter married Hon. John Chctwynd Talbot (of the Shrewsbury
Talbots, not the Talbots of Malahide). The present Marquis of Wharncliffe,
the Right Hon. John Chetwynd Talbot, M.P., for the University of Oxford,
and the Bishop of Southwark. are. grandsons of the first Lord Wharncliffe.
Col. Talbot gave the names of Wharncliffe and Wortley Roads (now in Lon-
don, Ontario) in honour of his early friend. Lord Wharncliffe was able to
render valuable assistance to Colonel Talbot through his influence with the
horn governments.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 97

can scarce persuade himself that he is not dreaming, nor does one see
how the sort of progress the French make is to be stopped by any
means short of the interposition of Providence.

" Bonaparte already threatens the Emperor of Eussia to drive him
also from his capital. To-day, too, we hear that Hamburg and all tb.0
posts in the north of Germany are occupied by him and that he has
confiscated all the English property he can find anywhere and put the
merchants into prison. I don't think your American neighbours will
very much admire this last intelligence. There is but one consolation
in it all, namely, that Prussia has brought it all upon herself. Her
conduct last year in not joining the coalition at that time formed against
France has been the cause of all her misfortunes, and that policy that
has all along led her to refuse doing anything for the common cause
has proved the means by which her own punishment has been effected.

" For my part I am not joking when I say that I really become
quite low-spirited at thinking over all this and rather envy you your
situation beyond the reach of it all. For our parts, here in Eng-
land, we have had a general election to amuse us and that has served
not a little, I can assure you, to take our thoughts off the events upon
the continent, The new Parliament will, however, meet on the 15th
-and then we shall see what this will produce, and how the taxes are
to be raised to carry on the war. I am afraid I give you too gloomy a
picture of the state of this part of the world, and perhaps I do. With
regard to myself and my family concerns, I go n as well as usual.
My dearest wife and three boys are in good health and they grow
as stout as they ought to grow. My father and mother and all my
family are quite well, too. I am again a member of Parliament, and
BO is my father also, his brother, Lord Bute, having returned him for
the county of Bute.

" My farm and all my occupations here go on as well as usual
and give me great plenty of employment. By-the-bye, talking of farm-
ing, puts me in mind of your clover seed, which I trust the fall ships
have carried to Quebec for you. I got it from Mr. Gibbs, the most
famous seedsman in London, and I don't doubt he will send it to you
good. I would have sent you some from here, if I had thought this
a good soil for growing it, which I do not, and in consequence I always
buy it for my own use. By the time I am forced to emigrate I suppose
I shall find your farm a pattern for the whole inhabitants of the old
world to copy after, and the border of Lake Erie as highly cultivated
as the banks of the Tweed. I have not heard of it from you, though,
these five or six months past, and perhaps you answer me the same

Sec. II., 1907. 7.



98 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

way, but don't let that prevent you ; the more letters the more chance
there is of their coming to hand. Lady Erne is well and desires to
be most kindly remembered to you. She has been very ill this summer,
but has got quite stout again, and I hope Wortley air will set her quite
up. Corbett and his six children are quite well, and he desires every-
thing kind to you. Caroline herself sends you her kindest love, and
I am ever, my dear Tom,

Your affectionate friend,

J. A. S. W.

" Pray do you ever intend to comB and pay us a visit ^ere in
England again? I think the poor old country is still worth looking at,
notwithstanding all her misfortunes and the losses of her greatest
men that the last year has produced. Poor Fox, you see, could not live
to enjoy the power he had so long and so eagerly coveted. He now
lays within eighteen inches of his great political rival. 1 Most certainly
two such men are a great loss at any time, but more when times are
such as we live in. Once more good-bye, my dear Tom. Let me hear
from you as often as you can, for your letters from your quiet corner
of the world are quite a relief to me. I am afraid you think me grown
a complete croker."



Thomas Clark - to Colonel Talbot.

Queenston, June 7th, 1808.
Thomas Talbot, Esqre.,

Dv?ar Sir:

The bearer Le May, Conductor of four Boats going round the Lake
will deliver you three parcels one containing news papers, one clover
and Rye grass seeds the other One hundred Dollars. By the Boats
at this time T was in hopes to have sent up your other articles, but from
8 of them having been siezed at Fort Niagara by the American Col-
lector & 5 from desertion of the men being left at Kingston, puts it



1 Pitt ar.d Fox HA side by side In Westminster Abbey.

* As Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd Lincoln Militia during the war of
1812, Thomas Clark won considerable distinction. He was for many years
"a member of the firm of Street and Clark, engaged In the Indian Trade,
In which life he had much experience" (Kingsford, Vin. 339). He married
a daughter of Robert Kerr, surgeon, and died in 1837, aged 67. Thomas
Clark Street was named after him. Colonel Clark was for more than twenty
years a member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 99

out of my power, having had to load the others deeper everything
shall be sent to Fort Erie, and can easily be taken to Long Point by
Loders * vessel, that is should no direct opportunity offer for Port Tal-
bot the articles are as under

4 wing gudgeons
3 casks pease
1 Barrel liquor

1 Barrel Tar

2 small Kegs
1 case

1 bundle contg. saddle, &c.
11 Bars Iron 5901b.
and 3 Barrels Onondago Salt.

For public news I must refer you to your newspapers local we
have none.

Eobt. Nichol 2 has gone to Washington, to endeavour to get his 8
Boats & goods released. I expect to hear of him in the publick papers
before he returns. Wishing you health and happiness.

I am, Dear Sir,

Yours truly,

THOMAS CLARK.

I have promised Le May that you will give him a Dollar for his
trouble.

Inclosed is a statement of /your account with me which I presume,
you will find right, Yours, once more

T. CLARK.
(Addressed Colonel Talbot,

Port Talbot.)

*Job Loder was a mill-wright, house-builder, vessel-owner, tavern-
keeper, miller ana merchant, who resided successively at Charlotteville, Tur-
key Point, Waterfor.l, Ancaster and Hamilton. He was from New Jersey.

*"In his young I'ays he worked as a clerk for Colonel John Askln of
Detroit,, and after leaving this service he established a milling and mercan-
tile business at Port Dover." He distinguished himself greatly during the
war of 1812, as Lieutenant -Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Norfolk Militia,
and as Quarter-Maste- General of Militia. He served in the Legislature
for three parliaments :.'rom 1813 until his death in 1824. (See Casselman'a
note, page 66 of his ed.tion of Richardson's War of 1812.)



1OO KOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Draft of Memorial in Colonel Talbot's Autograph.

To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire Lieutenant Governor of Upper
Canada &c. &c. &c. in Council.

The Memorial of Thomas Talbot Esquire *

Humbly Sheweth

That your Memorialist was authorized by a report of the Honorable
the Executive Council approved by His Excellency, the late Lieutenant
Governor Hunter in September 1804 to lay out one thousand do.lare
appropriated by the then Legislature for that purpose on a Road marked
on a plan annexed to the above Report by which a better and shorter
road to the Westward would be obtained to the great advantage of the
1 Public.

That although the above sum has been advantageously expended
yet the distance is so great as yet to require considerable expense. Your
Memorialist under these circumstances presumes to offer a plan to Your
Excellency which on a due consideration he has reason to believe will
effect this desirable purpose without any other than the ordinary aids
which may be hereafter afforded to oth^r Districts. Several of the
Townships through which the proposed Road is to be made are reserved
by the Crown and must in consequence of that reservation be altogether

'This memorial, received 9th Feb., 1809, was acted upon by the Executive
Council recommending, on 19th December, 1809, that the Crown, School and
Clergy Reserves be removed from Talbot Road. The report was taken to
the Governor's Office on 21st March, 1811. On 7th December, 1809, grants
of 200 acres each on Talbot Road w< ~e recommended In favour of Daniel
Rnplje and David Mandevllle, both of the Township of Woodhouse. They
were the first settlors In what Is now St. Thomas. Similar grants were
ordered on 10th August, 1810, In favour of Garret Smith. Aaron Spurgln
and David Record. Jr., of Charlotteville. On the 16th February, 1811, peti-
tions for lands on Talbot Road were received from the following persons,
all being described as of the township of Yarmouth, unless otherwise spe-
cified: Stephen Barton, Hosea Baker, Josephus Barber, James thrown, Asa
Bradley (Malahlde), John Barber, Benjamin Wlllson, Abraham House.
Richard Mlzner, James Gibbons (Bayham), David Watsor (Southwold),
James Watson (Southwold), Thomas Curtis, William Da^ is (Southwold),
Alex. Cascadden (Bayham), William Cascadden (Townsh'p of Wllloughby),
Wm. Merrill, John Backen, Garrett Oakes (Charlotteville), John Axford,
Burges Swlsher (Southwold), Samuel Axford (Wln'.ham), Isaac Lowell,
David Brush. Henry Remy (Southwold), Samuel N. Yorke, William S. Yorke,
John T. Woolley, Frederick Eveland, William Prlrre Shaft (Southwold).
These were the original settlers on the Talbot Road- east of the Townships
of Dunwlch and Aldborough, which were reserved for the benefit of Colonel
Talbot under his arrangement with tho Government



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O1

unproductive and useless for many years. Your Memorialist therefore
humbly submits to your Excellency to grant Lots on each side of the
intended Eoad in the same manner as Younge Street to grantees per-
forming their settlement duty before their deeds are issued^

The good effect already experienced by the adoption of this plan
will (Your Memorialist hopes) induce Your Excellency to pursue it
yet further as it must greatly add to the value of these reserved Town-
ships and be a powerful means of gaining a considerable population
in a part of the Province where there seems no other means of obtain-
ing it.



Thomas Clark to Colonel Talbot.

,. Queenston May 4th 1810.

Dear Sir,

By the Governor's two Canoes I have taken upon myself to send
up your seine (in a cask) and two coils of Eope should His Excellency
find fault with my doing so, you must make the best appology for mje
that you can.

I am, Dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

THOMAS CLABK.
Col. Talbot.

Addressed on back

Thomas Talbot Esqr.

Port Talbot.



Eobert Talbot 1 to Colonel Talbot.

* r -r\ rrn. London Augst. 9, 1810.

My Dear Thos.

It is a painful reflection that two successive letters of mine to you
should each of them have to announce the death of a brother or sister.
You will probably have learnt from other quarters the fate of poor Neil
before this can reach you. Nobody certainly could be more sincerely
lamented by all who knew him both as an officer & a man.

Henry Brand's 2 account of the affair is this that the enemy having
formed a hollow square, the Hussars attempted to break them, but could
not make good their charge ; upon which he led on one of his squadrons,
and got in amongst them, when he received several shot in different

1 Robert Talbot, Barrister-at-Law, was the fifth son of Richard Talbot.
Born, 1776.

* Henry Brand, afterwards Lord Dacre, an early friend of Colonel Thomas
Talbot.



102 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

parts of his body, and expired instantly. It has always appeared to
ine the highest absurdity to attempt to charge Infantry in close order
with Cavalry. I conclude it was the work of that coxcomb (Cotton)
who at present commands the cavalry in Portugal. They might, one
would have thought, have taken a lesson from what happened to the
23d at Talavera, when they were not able to touch a hair of a French-
man's head.

Brand says Ld. Wellington has written in the handsomest manner
on the subject to some part of the Family probably my mother or
Richard. I tremble to think of the effect this intelligence may have
on my poor mother, coming so recently as it does too after the death
of poor Margaret. It is my intention to set out for Ireland by to-
morrow night's mail, as she is at present almost left alone.

I hope your concerns are going on prosperously, and that William
has a chance of doing something for himself in your country. I heard
an account of your manner of living some time ago from Whitehead
who had it [from] somebody who had seen you [and it] amused me
not a little.

[God bless] you, my dear Thos.

every very sincerely yours

(sgd) ROBT. TALBOT.

Love to William if he should be still with you.

(The letter is addressed:)

Thos. Talbot Esqr.

Port Talbot

Niagara

New York State

N. America.

(There is a memo, in Colonel Talbot's writing on the back:)
Bond in favour of Mr. Selby, payable 18th Feb'y 1812.



The following is from a brother of Colonel Talbot, either Sir John
Talbot, afterward Admiral, &c., &c., or James, who afterwards
succeeded Richard in the title Baron Talbot of Malahide, to
William Talbot.

My Dear William, ^ ear Hatfield, Herts, 2d. Octr. 181U.

By your letter of the 20th July you seem not to have received my
letter wherein I announced to you that I had. settled the demand of
Lawson's Executors amounting to 70. and that I had a balance of



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O3

upwards of twenty pounds coming to you in my hands. Mr. Wat
Wheldale the Executor with whom I transacted this business could not
inform me who your other creditors at Manchester were, consequently
1 was obliged to postpone any further steps on that subject in the
expectation of your early arrival in England which I had so much
reason to look for in consequence of what you wrote to me.

I am much mortified to find, you have been disappointed in the
situation which you had entertained hopes of obtaining in Canada. The
new Township of Malahide seems by your description to be well situated
and a promising speculation. To make such projects completely fully
answer it appears to me that we all labour under a deficiency of dis-
posable capital. Under these circumstances perhaps it might be
advisable to retain the controllership until you found the absolute
necessity for resigning it. As I have written to Thomas by this post
and have communicated to him all that occurs to me in which you
could feel interested you will not expect me to reiterate it. I shall
therefor wish you every happiness & success begging to believe me to
be ever very affectionately & truly yours,

J. T.
P.S.

I know of threshing machine which I saw a few days ago for the
first time at work. It seemed to answer the purpose perfectly, thresh-
ing out the grain, but it breaks, as they all do, the straw very much.
The expense of erecting it can not be very heavy. I shall not fail to
procure a model of it, as I do not apprehend that a drawing on paper
would be sufficient for your workmen.

via New York.

(Addressed) William Talbot Esq.
Port Talbot,

Niagara,

North America.
(Stamped) Paid 3, Oct. 3, 1810.



W. M. Smyth to William Talbot.

Dublin, 20th October, 1810.
My Dear Talbot.

I was much gratified and indeed surprized (most agreably) by your
last letter of the 10th July. As to the one you speak of having written
last October I have never received it & indeed as I feared my letter to



104



KOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



you had miscarried I began to think you had droped the correspondence,
which I should regret very much, as I have always had very great
pleasure in hearing from all my friends & from you in particular. I
shall do what I can for you about the plan of the threshing machine
& when I procure it shall send it off to you without delay. I am very
glad you are settled so much to your satisfaction & seem happy & con-
tent. When I received your letter I little thought you had determined
on remaining in Canada as the Governor who I saw last July told me
you were coming over immediately by Gad & indeed I felt much pleasure
in thinking to see you once more. But fate has decreed otherwise.
My plans & intentions are also much altered since I last wrote. It
has pleased God to remove my dear Father from this world; he died
quite suddenly last March & left us all & my poor Mother particularly
in sad affliction as it was a shock we were by no means prepared for.
However Religion A an almost certainty that he is now" enjoying the
blessings of a well spent life has resigned us all & my Mother is thank
(Jod getting on. I am to live in future with her & my Sisters; sh,e
has purchased a house Xo. G Merrion Square (South) which will in
future be my residence. My Brother Ralph dont go to Barba Villa
lill May next & he intends disposing of the Hospital to the best advan-
tage. Tt has been determined by all my friends that it would be a bad
place for me & besides I neither could or would give him as much as
he may get elsewhere so I suppose we shall have quite done with it in
a little time he has many looking out for it; but every body thinks I
must have it of course, people like to meddle so much in other peoples
a flairs. As to my going to Canada 'tho your being there is a great
temptation T fear it is among the improbable events of my life, but I
hope you will some time or other take a peep at your friend this side
the Atlantic unless Bony sinks us in the sea. Everybody here is meet-
ing to adress the Throne to repeal the Union, this now is all the talk
& the fate of Lord Wellington in Portugal which is not yet decided.
1 was sorry to see that your brother Neil fell a sacrifice to his country's
(I lory in a late engagement. I suppose you have had the accounts long

since You may remember Jones who was in your Shop

he is now in Dublin in a Shop here he tells me your houses are going
on famously. Whitehouse & Gaton are bankrupts & poor Mrs. Lake
is dead this all the Liverpool news I know. I have no idea I promise
you of going thear; business never was my delight but I am not the
less obliged to you for your friendly offers; The Governor's face is
again in the old way I think it will be the death of him he has a
great Horn out of one cheek I hope in God he may leave you some-
thing that will tempt you to leave those deserted regions (or rather



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1OB

solitary) as they have never been peopled. My Uncle Win. is very
well & at Bath where he is entirely confined with my Grandfather who
is declining I think very fast. We had letters from Henry last month
he is very well & has been kept marching and fighting ever since he
went out. I fear our possessions there are in a very bad way & our
tenure very uncertain. But I am sick of Polyticks. I suppose you
know Gobbet is in jail; he is writing away more bitter than ever. I
hope you will write often to your very sincere friend

W. M. SMYTH.

Since writing the enclosed, I have received a note from Miss Beau-
fort which I enclose you as you have there all I can do for you. I
am truly sorry your request cant be granted, but it cant be helped.
Lord Wellington I find has had an engagement with Massena in which
he killed 2000 french Men. Our loss is small, but another battle is
daily expected. I hope you will not again let so long an interval
elapse without writing to me & you know I dont mind postage. Jackson
is settled in Jamaica. I forget if I mentioned it before he is in a
house of his Uncle's. I know of nothing new to tell you as I am
entirely 'engrossed by my own business at present. This will travel
many a mile before you touch it, & when I think what a miserable pro-
duction it is I am tempted to put it on the fire, however I depend on
your good nature for my excuse and remain as always your sincere
friend,

' , W. M. SMYTH,

23d. October, 1810.

(Enclosed in letter of W. M. Smyth, dated 20-23 Oct., 1810.)

My Dear Maria,

When my father came home last night I propounded your request
he says it would be impossible for him to draw a threshing machine,
as it is rather too complicated for a drawing to explain so as to be of
use for erecting. A model he thinks would be very expensive and of
little use, as the proportions are selcTom properly preserved, he thinks
that the best method would be to buy a threshing machine, to be worked
by hand, which are tq be had exceeding good for 20 guineas at Mr.
McDougal's, in Coventry Street, Hay Market, London. One of these will
thresh at the rate of 20 barrels of oats and 8 barrels of wheat pr. day &
tho' made to be worked by men, can at a triflng expense, be made to



1O6 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

go by horses or by water from one of these small ones, one of the largest
size can readily be made. I return Mrs. Smyth's sketch of the book-
case we hope she is pretty well to-day.

Best love to A. M. & A.

from yrs. affectly,

L. C. BEAUFORT.
W. M. Smyth's Tetter is addressed on outside,

Wm. Talbot Esqr.,
Care of Messrs. Crooks,

Niagara,
New York State,

North America.
(Stamped) Paid Oct. 25, 1810.



Simon Zelotes Watson to the Executive Council.

The Honorable Members of His Majesty's Executive Council of the
Province of Upper Canada, &c. &c. &c. in Council

The Petition of Simon Zelotes Watson of the Township of West-
minster Most Respfully Sheweth

That your Petitioner having been permitted to settle the broken
front and two Concessions in the said Township of Westminster by
himself and followers; that many of his said followers with their
families will be obliged to come into this Province (some by land and
others by water) via Niagara ; that to be obliged to come to the Seat
of Government of this Province to report themselves will greatly add
to the Expense, hardships and delays of a long and tedious journey;
that Port Talbot being in the vicinity of the said Township of West-
minster

Your Petitioner humbly prays that he may be permited to report
his said followers to Thomas Talbot Esquire and that his approbation
of their being fit persons to become settlers on ttoe vacant Lands of the
Crown, shall be a sufficient authority for your Petitioner to return them
to the Government as his followers to settle on th lands alloted to him
and them in the said Townships.

And he aa in duty bound will
ever pray

SIMON ZELOTES WATSON.
York 15th February 1811.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O7

Colonel Talbot to S. Z. Watson.

Westminster 2nd March 1811.
Dear Sir,

In consequence of its having been understood at York, that several
families were about to place themselves on the Koad Lots in Westminster,
whom you had engaged in this Province, and further that you required
that each settler should bind himself to pay to you the difference
between the established fees and $100, for your permission to locate
His Excellency the Lieut. Governor has commanded me to inform you,
that no recommendation for a grant of Land on the tract surveyed for
the accommodation of the families which you reported to The Council,
were disposed to move into this Province, will be attended to but for
such applicants as shall actually have moved direct from Lower Canada,
adding that I must explain to such persons that no extraordinary
charges are to be imposed upon them, as His Majesty will in every
instance prevent all manner of speculation upon the Crown Lands. I
had hoped to have found you in Westminster but on my passing thro'
Oxford I was informed that you had stoped at the Head of the Lake.
I have therefore felt it particularly my duty to make known to all con-
cerned the intentions of the Government with respect to the Lands' in
Westminster so that ignorance may not be offered hereafter as a plea,
and at the same time to state positively for your information, that I will
not recommend any of your followers but such as conre under the
description that His Excellency in Council has thought fit to receive.

You no doubt will perceive the necessity of a strict compliance
on your part with the wishes of His Majesty's Government in this
Province.

I am Sir

Yr. very obt. St.

THOMAS TALBOT.
S. Z. Watson Esqre.

Colonel Talbot to S. Z. Watson.

Port Talbot 12th March 1811.

Your extraordinary letter dated the 8th int. would have much sur-
prised me, had not your violent manner on the preceding day in a great
measure prepared me for its reception. In answer, you are assured
from me, that I have not any intention of complying with your desire
of going to Westminster, to retract the orders entrusted to me, by
Government, to promulgate you are likewise equally in error if you



1O8



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



expect that I will enter the list with you, for believe me, I value my
life too highly to hazard it in your speculations Should you further
intrude yourself personally upon me with threats, I will employ the
Constable to deliver the necessary reply.

Copies of your letter and my answer together with a statement of
the circumstances that have led to the correspondence will be forwarded
to Government

I am Sir, &c., &c.,

THOMAS TALBOT.
Mr. Simon Zelotes Watson.



Talbot to Major Halton.
Draft in Talbot's writing, with numerous erasures and interlineations.

My Dear Major Port Talbot 14th March 1811

two days after I had the pleasure of writing to you by Shenich
on the subject of the Lands in Westminster Mr. Watson called upon
me accompanied by his friend Bird and a person of the name of Brigham
from Delaware. Watson attacked me in a most insolent tone asked me
" how I had dared to go amongst his settlers and desire them not to
pay him his demands on them of 100 Dollars, that he would take out
a bench warrant against me and compel me to pay him 100 Dollrs for
every person that refuses to give him that sum, in consequence of my
advice that neither the Governor, Government or any individual had
a right to interfere with his private contracts, that the lands were
assigned to him to settle and he would shew the world that he would
make such bargains as he thought fit and he was not apprehensive of
consequences, as he was certain of the support of an honest jury" his
passion increased to so abusive a strain, that I ordered him out of my
house and by that method got rid of the fellow McMillan one of the
persons that His Excellency was pleased to say might remain on the
Lots which they have occupied for several years came to Port Talbot
the same day, with the money to pay the fees, and when Watson found
that I accepted of them, he swore that he would make me smart for
it, if there was justice to be had in the Province Watson retired to
the Rouse of one of my settlers from whence he addressed me a letter,
copies of it and my answer I now enclose I cannot comprehend his
meaning when he states the ruin of himself and family unless it ia
to be inferred by his not being allowed to realize his speculative system,
neither can I understand how the three hundred families that he men-
tions are to suffer and l>e lost to the Province as I cannot conceive it



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O9

probable that if such families are about to emigrate into this country
that they can make any reasonable demur at not being charged more
than the usual fees for their grants of land from the Crown.

he however soon after expressed his desire that I would get as
many settlers on the road in Southwold as I could as he proposed
placing those that he might bring from Lower Canada, in Westminster
of course had he intimated his intention of bringing forward such per-
sons as chance should' offer to him in this Province and the demand
of the douceur of sixty two Dollars and a half for himself, I should
not have given him any encouragemjent. from all that I can learn
the check that he has met with in levying the contribution gives uni-
versal satisfaction as it effectually proves to the good people of this
Country the fostering care of the Government in preventing such
impositions as many individuals would be disposed to burthen the
Crown lands. Watson also assorts that I advised him to encourage!
settlers from the U. S. the whole that occurred on that subject is as
follows, on his first visit to Port Talbot he remarked that the Govern- '
ments of Lower and Upper Canada granted Lands to Persons from the
States, that he was acquainted with numbers who were in every respect
Loyal to Great Britain but who resided within the United States and
contiguous to Lower Canada he asked if I thought that such persons
would b received into this Province ? My reply was that if They were
actually as he [torn] described, I did not apprehend any objection being!
made to them I [torn] I am heartily tired of [torn] and trust that I
will not again have to trouble you on his subject, but considering myself
acting for the Government I am desirous that His Excellcy. should be
made acquainted with every step that I have taken in the business at
the same time it is a good lesson to me to be more reserved and on
my guard with the straglers of America in future.

The Bearer of Watson's letter is a young man, who has arrived
within a few days from Lower Canada, he states that there will be
upwards of sixty families remove from thence to Westminster in the
month of June or July next, which if correct, may possibly induce
The Lieut. Govr. not to take any notice of the transactions that has
passed between Watson and myself further than by giving him to
understand that the persons to be brought forward by him for land
must unquestionably be from Lower Canada as shd. The Government
not think fit to continue him as the Leader of the body that employed
him in the [torn] first place to apply for a Tract, They might possibly
conceive that Land would not be granted to them and in consequence
not remove to this Province.



11O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

W. Halton to Colonel Talbot.

York 15th March 1811.
My Dear Colonel,

The Governor having desired your friend Mr. Shenich to call at
a very barbarous hour tomorrow morning I must steal a quarter of an
hour before Dinner ready to acknowledge and answer your Dispatch
brought by the above named Messenger.

First we all rejoice that the most valuable Person in thw Province,
was safely restored to his Domestick Comforts. Next, His Excellency
desires me to say, he approves entirely of what you have done, and
requests you will continue rigidly to enforce His Orders as contained
in your Letters. I regret very much the conduct of my friend S.
Zelotes. He seems to be rather more attached to the Concerns of this
world, than the Original Person from whence he took his name But
1 suppose its all fish that come to His Net. Mrs. Gore is considerably
better and desires her kindest Regards I have nothing new & hope
you have received my letter by Sovereign. He took Mr. Rolph's Com-
mission & I put one ,into his Hands app. Him Surrogate on which the
Beast never uttered a single word. Should your brother marry into
the Honble family of the Rolph's We'll displace Sovereign if you should
wish it. To convey to you everything, that's interesting, I enclose the
last York Gazette, to which I also add the last from Kingston, The
Toronto sailed to-day with the Niagara Members. Believe me ever my,
dear Colonel very faithfully yours,

W. HALTON.
The Hon'ble Colonel Talbot.



Lieutenant-Governor Francis Gore to Colonel Talbot (1811).

Saturday Morning 16 March

8 o'clock P.M.
Major snoring.
My Dear Talbot,

You must take small scraps from me and give me credit for good
intentions towards you I am to have leave to visit England, therefore
impose your Commissions I shall send you the most improved Imple-
ments of Agriculture.

Do not let that Rascal Watson slip through those delicate hands
of yours You acted most prudently and judiciously by warning him
of his danger in my nam Would to God every one in the Province
would use it to so good a purpose.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 111

The House of Assembly are likely to facilitate my plan of seeing
England by taking the Government into their own hands. At least
Joe's party have given notice of a motion to be made early in the ,next
session to enquire into the conduct of the Executive Government. I
am sorry to say the Rascals have given nothing towards the culture of
Hemp but have appropriated 3500 for Roads & 400 for printing
the Laws the latter sum is waste.

Sir James Craig has undergone the operation of tapping, and had
four gallons & a half of water taken from him he is much relieved,
and I fear the poor fellow flatters himself with some Years of life
to come.

I really am serious in my wish to execute your commissions in
England therefore consider how far I may be useful When I am
gone, for God sake look occasionally upon the Chief x and take care of
the Surveyor Generals & Clerk of the Council,

Adieu My Dr. Talbot,

Most truly and faithfully yrs.

F. GORE.



S. Z. Watson to Colonel Talbot.
Copy.
Sir Westminster 22nd March 1811.

I have just compleated a true statement of facts relative to the
whole of my proceedings in obtaining lands for myself and followers
in this Province, with an exposition of all my intercourse with you on
the subject, with copies of your letters to me and my remarks thereon;
the whole accompanied with an address to the Lt. Govr. of this Province ;
all which I mean to lay before His Excelcy. ere long, and as all the
facts that I have stated regarding you (every one of which I can and
will prove to His Excellency's satisfaction) will bear hard upon you,
it therefore highly concerns you to prevent my laying them before His
Majesty's Representative (for you will find him no longer your friend
when he is convinced you are not an honest man) by repairing the
serious injuries you have done to me and my settlement. You must be
sensible that your late conduct does not merit this nor any other atten-
tion from me; but from a retrospective view of your hospitality and
friendship to me when I was a stranger in the Province, has induced
me once more to offer you the hand of friendship under the hope that
you will by your future conduct, merit it in atoning past offences. It

1 Chief Justice Thomas Scott.



112



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



gave me real pleasure to speak honourably of you and exert myself to
the utmost in obtaining as many pood people as possible to settle and
make valuable the country adjoining and near you, thro the whole
course of my journey of seven hundred miles in the States and among
my friends in Lower Canada, last summer and autumn when I thought
you the best of men and my real friend ; and I wish you to be assured
that no occurrence of my life has ever given me such real pain as to
be obliged to think otherwise of you. I am therfore still willing to
forget and forgive the serious injuries you have done me upon the
exprinciple that I hope there is yet a latent spark of Honour in your
Soul, (which pride and other passions have hitherto kept in a state of
dormantry, which will now be awakened, and induce you to acknowledge
with the immortal Pope that an honest man is the noblest work
of God.)

Under this hope I am still willing to go hand in hand with you
as we had agreed in pursuing and effecting the laudable and pleasing
task of adding to the strength by augmenting the numbers of His
Majesty's Subjects with thousands of Industrious Inhabitants and real-
ize the pleasing anticipation which I have kept in view from the begin-
ning of co-operating with you in trying induce them, to be dutiful and
Loyal as well as usefull and industrious subjects.

In addressing you as above I have repressed my feelings aa an
injured man, and it will depend on your answer by the Bearer whether
they will ever be called into action again. If he returns with a written
statement from you, in any way your good sense may dictate, placing,
me and my Settlement in that favourable and prosperous point of view
we we rv in previous to your last journey to Yorke and your memorable
return via Westminster, well, if not I shall immediately proceed to
Yorke and lay the whole before the Lieut. Govr. and should any unfor-
peen cause induce TTis Excellency to decide against me, that will fix an
indelible seal upon your fate and mine. I shall then turn to you the
primary and ultimate cause of all my misfortunes, my present enter-
prize having placed me in a situation that all my present and future
prospects for myself and family must depend upon the event of it. I
am therefore most solemnly and decidedly determined that the only
means I will leave in your power to prevent me from effecting it, will
be to deprive me of life ; and the strongest motive that has induced me
to send you this, is to put it in your power to avert a resort to awfull
and momentous alternatives, thus have I made up my mind and await
your answer and as it may be, I am Sir,

Yr. Humbl. Sert.

sigd. S. Z. WATSON.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 113

Report of Executive Council to Lieutenant Governor Gore.
Copy.

Executive Council Chamber, in the town of York, Saturday the 27th
of April, 1811.

PRESENT

The Honble Thomas Scott Chief Justice Chairman

The Honble John McGill

The Honble Mr. Justice Powell.

The Honble Prideaux Selby.

To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the
Province of Upper Canada, &c. &c. &c.

May It Please Your Excellency.

The Committee of the Executive Council to which your Excellency
was pleased to refer the Memorial of Simon Zelotes Watson, state- '
ment of facts, and the Correspondence between him and Mr. Talbot,
has considered with great attention the subject referred, and admitting
the veracity of the statement, so far as it is supported by evidence, sees
no Cause to advise Your Excellency to withdraw the Trust reposed in
Mr. Talbot at the express desire of Mr. Watson. The Committee is
sensible of inadvertence in not requiring from Mr. Watson the Names
and Description of the Settlers in Lower Canada for whom the Tract
in Westminster was to be appropriated, on his recommendation; and
therefore, now humbly submits to your Excellency, the expediency of
withholding all future Grants on such Recommendation, until Mr.
Watson shall have deposited in the Council office, Lists of the Xames
and Descriptions of the Persons resident in Lower Canada denominated
his followers, and then only to such as shall appear to the Council, oij
be certified by Mr. Talbot, to be of that description. In thus offering
its Opinion and Advice, on Mr. Watson's Memorial, the Committee is
desirous to mark with the strongest reprehension, the Memorialist's
Declaration, that the first idea he entertained of Restriction as to his
followers, was from the Correspondence of Mr. Talbot. Whereas his
Application was specific, and the Pledge of the Executive Government
equally so, for British Subjects settled in Lower Canada.

The Committee perceives so much disingenuity in this disavowal
by Mr. Watson, of the Essence of his C'ontract, that it would recommend
to your Excellency, to rescind the Order on his first Memorial, but from
possible injury to his original Employers contemplating an immediate

Sec. II., 1907. 8.



114 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

settlement in this Province. On their account, and to obviate any
Injury to Individuals from even an abuse of the Confidence of the
Kxecutive Government it is humbly submitted, that the Tract in West-
minster (except such lots as wen- in part, or wholly occupied before
the Survey) should be kept open for the arrival of such Settlers, until
the first of .January next.

The Committee begs leave to observe to Your Excellency, that it
was not in its contemplation to recommend any interference between
Mr. Watson and his followers, as to any private Contract they might
have entered into for remuneration of his services but merely that Mr.
Talbot should be authori/ed to communicate to actual Settlers, and
others recommended, that Government would not withhold the Tx>cation,
or Patent, for any such Private Consideration between them and Mr.'
Watson. Nor does it appear necessary to give any larger construction
lo the Terms of Mr. Talbot's Letter of the 2nd of March 1811.

The Vindictive Spirit of Mr. Simon Zolotes Watson is so manifest
in his several letters to Mr. Talbot, and holds forth such Menace of
his Life, that the Committee cannot but apprehend personal Danger
to Mr. Talbot. unless Measures be taken to bind Mr. Watson in recog-
nizance, with Sureties, to keep the Peace, which, have aceo-dinjly been
directed.

All which is humbly submitted

Approved (signed) Tuos. SCOTT,

(signed) FRAXCIS CORK Chairman.

Lt. Governor. (a true copy}.

(signed) JOHN SMALL,

Clk of the Executive Council

Indorsed.

Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Executive Council relative to
the Memorial of S. Z. Watson &c. Dated 27th April, 1811.



Lieutenant Governor Gore to Colonel Talbot.
Private.

York 3rd May, 1811.
Dear Talbot.

Altho' ITalton who sailed for Niagara yesterday, promised to write
to you from thence, and transmit to you Duplicates of the enclosed
Proceedings of Council, and of his letter to Mr. Simon Zelotes Watson
I shall forward my enclosures to Major St. John.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS US

Mr. Watson was very lengthy in his statements, so much so that
it would be consuming too much time to have them copied therefore
you have instead the Essence of our determination respecting his Set-
tlers I hope you perfectly understand, that this Government never
intended to interfere, with Watson's private arrangements with those
Persons, who he may bring from Lower Canada as settlers

It now rests with yourself whether or not you will continue to act
for Watson if your Agency is withdrawn, all his People must appear
before the Council at York, and perhaps (as Watson has very much
altered his tone) you may show your magnanimity by continuing to pass
his Kecruits

The case of Jacobus Shenich and Leonard Westbrooke, I wish you
to consider, as I think they may be 'entitled to some indulgence I
think however it may give Mr. Watson a ground of complaint, if they
are permitted to settle on any of the Lands kept open for Watson's
followers great caution will be necessary on your part, so that no open-
ing may be made for his complaints

Mr. Stanton has just come into the Room to inform me, that Mr.
S. Z. W. told him he meant to prosecute you, but added provided the
Colonel did not interfere again with him You will laugh at and despise
all such puerile nonsense and I feel assured that you will protect the
character of the Government, both as to its faith with Mr. W. and the
treatment of his Settlers.

My plans are not yet decided, but I fear I shall not be able to
make my escape from this delightful country quite so soon, as I had
anticipated

Mrs. Gore has been tolerably well, but is I fear relapsing.

I am writing in a great hurry therefore cannot detail all tire
interesting incidents which have lately occurred here.

Yours truly

F. GORE.

The Chief is well.
Col. Talbot.



Colonel Talbot to Lieutenant-Governor Gore.
Private.

Port Talbot 13th May 1811.
My Dear Governor.

I had the honour of receiving your letter of the 3rd Int. last night
by the conveyance of a faithful Morevian Indian enclosing copies of
the report of the Executive Council relative to Mr. S. Z. Watson's



116 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Memorial, and Major Halton's letter, communicating your Excellency's
decision in Council to that person Nothing could in my humble opinion
be more judicious and (necessarily) explicit, than the determination
therein contained as had Mr. Watson not have been checked in the
manner he had been, the extravagance of his projects would shortly
have produced serious cause of complaint from such as might unwarily
submit to his impositions and also create a discontent amongst a certain
description of persons, who fancy that from their former services or
other pretentious they may be more entitled to the benevolence of QOT-
ernment, than a stranger. For instance on my way home from York
last winter Mr. Kichd. Hatt remarked in my presence, "that he would
apply for 20 or 30 miles of road to settle as he felt from his situation
that he had a better claim to the aid of Government than that Watson
ami that he could with little difficulty find a sufficient number in the Pro-
vince willing to pay him 100 Dolrs on each lot." I of course corrected
him, as there were several persons present, particularly a merchant
from Mtfteal, adding that none would be accepted of by Government
as the followers of Mr. W. but such as actually came from Lower Can-
ada Your Excellency directs rny attention to the two cases of Jacobu?
Shenich and Leonard Westbrooke from what I can learn Wataon, a
few days previous to his last journey to York went to the above persons
(whom he had himself placed on lots in Westminster) and declared to
them that he would turn them off and put some of his Lower Canada
people on the lots they occupied, unless they each of them gave their
bond for the payment of his demand of the difference between the
established fees and 100 Dollars which they accordingly complied with,
with this proviso, that they shd. obtain the grant of their land thro'
his recommendation, and altho' I cannot hut censure Shenich & West-
brooke for involving themselves with Watson, as they were perfectly
sensible that th'oy were not of the description for whom the Land in
Westminster was appropriated yet any indulgence and protection which
your Excellency may be disposed to extend them, would afford mo real
pleasure, as T consider them to be honest and industrious men and if
your Excellency will take the trouble to examine Mr. Watson's survey
of Westminster you will perceive that it includes three Concessions from
the Ri\vr Thames, whereas if I properly comprehend the intentions of
Governt. towards Mr. W. he is confined to the two Concessions, butting
upon The Road and I believe that Shenich and Westbrooke are both of
them settled in the third Conn, consequently it will admit of the con-
sideration of yr. Exy. the Council, whether Watson followers are to
extend to the 3d Conn, or not.



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 117

I have the honour of perfectly coincide with Your Excellency in
the propriety of my continuing the agency for Mr. Watson's Settlers,
as, shd. I decline acting, ife would have the appearance of timidity on
my part, and also occasion such serious additional trouble and expense
to his people in being compeled personally to attend the Executive
Council, that it might deter many valuable subjects from settling in
the Province. I can 'execute the trust reposed in me, without occa-
sioning any further invitation, and permit me to assure your Excellency
that my endeavours will ever tend to the support of that character of
dignity which the Government so justly merits and I am confident
that not any instance of my abusing will ever occur of the Crown pro-
perty committed to my guardianship.

Permit me now my dear sir, to express to you, that it is with real
grief, that I am led from yr. letter to apprehend a change for the worse
in the state of Mrs. Gore's health perhaps the uncertainty of her revisit-
ing England so soon as she had anticipated may in a great measure
occasion her depression, have the goodness to present her my kindest
regards and sincere prayers for her happiness. I have judged it pru-
dent to forward the Indian who brought your dispatch with this letter
and beg leave to recommend him to the bounty of the Indian Depart't.



Surveyor General Ridout to Colonel Talbot.

York 15 May 1811.
MY dear Sir

Agreeably to your request I commit to the care of Mr. Nichol
this Letter & a sketch shew'g the Location of Francois & Denis Drouil-
lard in Harwich. I should also have given you in charge to Mr. Nichol,
the Inspection and plans for Mr. Burwell's Survey but Mr. Chewitt
having been confined for the wsek past by lameness, I shall not have
them ready till some next week when I will send them under cover
to Mr. Crooks at Niagara for M. Burwell as he desired

I write in haste, but

am Dear Sir

Very truly yours

T. RlDOUT.

S.G.
The Honble. Col. Talbot

Port Talbot

on Lake Erie.



118 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Lieutenant Governor (Jore to Colonel Taibot.
I'rivate

(iovernnient House

York 25th May 1811
My Dear Taibot,

1 have received your letter of the l.'Jth (on tin- 2 'en making every
inquiry about the laying out of Westminster, and find that there is as
yet no third Concession, but Mr. Watson having discovered after he
had run out a Road, and a Concession on each side, that he was more
remote from the River than he expected applied to me for permission
to locate the broken front of the two Concessions for him and his
settlers When this Indulgence was granted 1 certainly entertained a
different view of this persons speculation, from that in which I now
behold it, yet having directed the reserve of the Front to be communi-
cated to him, it must be strictly complied with, but I shall authorize
no location on the broken Fronts, untill every lot on the street is occu-
pied, and they will be kept open exclusively for Mr. Watson's settlers
no longer than the first of .January next, confirming to the re-
solution adopted in Council. Mr. Watson shouH al^o expressly
understand, that no location on his recommendation will be permitted,
on Lots, or Parts of Lots, occupied by others (however improperly)
before he went to the ground. It must remain with the Government
to exercise favour, as strict justice to those. Intruders may be advisable.

I had forgot to mention to you, that I consider it absurd to extend
Watson's location out of the Road until that object is accomplished,
more particularly as the Crown & Clergy Reserves were removed ex-
pressly for the purpose of facilitating the completion of this Koad
Nothing further occurs to me respecting Mr. Watson.

Mrs. Gore is certainly much better, although our hopes are
damp'd as to seeing England for some time Perhaps we may get
away in October she says she will not permit me to say all the pretty
things, which your prettier deeds towards her deserve (for she has got
the matte from Bobby) but will write to you herself Hal ton is em-
ployed in a most important concern viz cotonning the Floor of the
Ball Room for our elegantes to shove away on the 4th of June

I have sent you two John Camerons The French (Boston Papers
say) have entirely evacuated Portugal Graham's action near Cadiz was



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 119

most glorious My friend Col. Barnard is particularized in the Dispatch,
and received two wounds The English Papers seem more hostile
towards our neighbours, than our neighbours are towards us

I hope we shall see you soon Brock is gone to Quebec, to toady
whoever may succeed Sir James Craig, as he I think will not survive
the voyage to England All your friends desire best regards have you
heard from your Tortola Brother.

Believe me

My Dr. Talbot

Most truly

F. GORE.

Ye Indian has had most liberal Presents a complete suit of cloathing
&c. &c. Thank Givins.

Col. Talbot.



Colonel Robert Nichol to Colonel Talbot.

May 311811
My Dear Colonel

I have been some days returned from York but have not had before
to-day an opportunity of writing to you At York I was very temperate
everyway & the Governor and myself parted I hope mutually satis-
fied with each other The Governor was exceedingly civil and I found
there my friend General Brock then on his way to Lower Canada to
take his farewell of Sir James Craig I am so much engaged that you
must be satisfied with a hasty sketch of news Sir James it is said is
to be succeeded by Popularity Jack alias Genl. Doyl'e Sir George
Nugent was at one time talked of but he has since been appointed to
the East Indies

^_ _ f

You will see in the papers the official account of a glorious Victory
gained over a very superior French Force near Cadiz in which our old
acquaintance Bernard had a conspicuous share and also the Official
account of the Capture of the Isle of France with very trifling loss

Just before I left Niagara an intelligent gentleman of my acquain-
tance arrived from Albany he said that the morning of his departure a
paper was received from New York mentioning that Lord Wellington's
dispatches detailing the retreat & pursuit of the French till their final
expulsion from Portugal were received & would be published the fol-
lowing day and that the loss of the French in killed & wounded &



120 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

prisoners was immense I shall lose no time in forwarding you the
confirmation when it arrives

I send you some garden seeds also some packets addressed to you
from Niagara & York

The Governor says you are in part mistaken in Watson's business
& that he is still to have the recommending & settling of the Lower
Canada settlers By the Bye he is a most infamous rascal lie represented
you at York as concerned with him in the speculation and dwelt much
on a letter which he had induced you to write to him which of course
was merely to shew that he was not an impostor.

The following persons have paid fees on Lands Moses Plant,
Isaac Crane, Jesse Tyrrel or Turrel has also lodged money but it was
in my absence & Mr. Bell (?) gave him a transferable receipt I expect
him to call soon when his business shall be done

I shall forward Crane's & Plant's Petitions & Certify that they
have been accepted by you

Xo accounts as yet of your Brother

Adieu always very faithfully
Yours

ROB. XICHOL.
T have no tea kettles at present.

The TTonble Colonel Talbot

Port Talbot.



Colonel Talbot to Surveyor General Hidout (Draft of letter).

Port Talbot 4th June 1811
My Dear Sir

I had tbe pleasure of receiving your letter dated the 15th and
and 17th of last month with their enclosures for which I return you
many thanks Mr. Burwell left Port Talbot on Sunday last for York
for the purpose of receiving his instructions I understood from him
that there had some mistake occurred respecting the particular surveys
that I had submitted to the Lieutenant Governor's consideration and
which His Excellency was pleased to approve of, and direct Major
Tlalton to communicate his orders on the subject to you I am almost
positive that Major Halton wrote the notes (I think) which I carried
myself to The Surveyor General's office Xo. 1 that Mr. Burwell shd.
run a line and lay out lots thereon under mv direction to connect the



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 121

Talbot Eoad with the Eoad thro' Westminster No. 2 to continue my
Road as stated by you to Amherstburgh. No. 3 that the vacant Lots
in Yarmouth shd. be reserved for me to recommend settlers for, No. 4
that Mallahide & Bayham shd. be reserved in like manner for my
recommendation To connect the Talbot Road with Westminster is of
the first consequence as without that all my exertions for affording
facility of communication thro' this western part of the Province will
be incomplete, as the country situated to the north has not any other
vent or means of transporting its produce but by Port Talbot without
the lengthy land carriage from Westminster thro' Dorchester Oxford
Burford &c. to the Head of Lake Ontario or else by the River Thames
which is also attended with much loss of time and expense whereas
the distance by the route that I contemplated to run the road, will
not far exceed 20 miles I have directed Mr. Burwell to proceed to
York and request of you to examine the Office Books for His Excellency's
Order on the subject and shd. you not be able to find it, 1 I am to entreat
that you will wait upon the Lieut. Govr. and explain to His Excellency
my anxiety for carrying into effect the connection of the Talbot Road
with that thro' Westminster with as little delay as possible having at
the present time an opportunity of placing a most valuable description
of settlers upon it, who have lately arrived from Nova Scotia, in fact
there are some there actually at work on the ground where I had pro-
posed the road to pass. I was led to allow them to go on it from not
harbouring a doubt bait that Mr. Burwell would have long ere this had
his orders to run the line agreeably to the Governor's directions given by
whilst I was at York last winter.

I have received the mem'n describing the placing of the reserves
in the rear of those that would have fallen upon the Talbot Road and
would be glad if you would defer the final arrangement of them till
after Mr. Burwell has completed his survey when



Surveyor General Ridout to Colonel Talbot.
Surveyor Genl. Office

York 19 June 1811
My Dear Sir,

I am this day only, favoured with your letter of the 4th Instant,
but am pleased to think, that ere this time you may have seen Mr.

1 The remainder of this draft of letter is written on the back of Col.
Nichol's letter of May 31.



122 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Burwell, since ho was here on the 12th instant, when he received the
Instructions to connect the Talbot Road with the Road through West-
minster, as well as to lay out the Koad from Southwold to Auiherst-
burgh.

In copying the Governor's orders into our books, a line was omitted
(but without injuring the sense of the paragraph) which directed the
connecting of tho Westminster Koad with Port Talbot, and thought it
was impressed on my mind, that such were His Excellency's Intentions
I was about to make application to Major Ilalton on the subject, when
I was induced in the first place to refer to the original orders. I am
very sorry you should have a moment's anxiety on the subject.

Mr. Burwell took with him all the Plans excepting two & they
are now sent under your address, which he may want to direct him in
opening the Roads under orders of Survey, the plans omitted and now
sent, are of Mersea and Maiden I likewise send you a reduced Plan
of Mr. Chewett's of the western half of this Province beginning at the
eastern boundary of the County of York. From this plan be so kind
as to allow Mr. liurwell to take such copy as he may find necessary to
facilitate his operations.

T have made a minute to remove the Clergy Reserve from No. 14
3rd Concession of Bayham to Lot No. 1 in the same Concession, agree-
ably to your request, and which I shall submit to His Excellency as
soon as he returns from Niagara, which we expect will be tomorrow.

The final settling of the Reserves, till the Road is laid out, I shall
also recommend, in manner as you suggest as the best means of pre-
venting injury being done to the settlement.

Altho' the settling of the extensive Tract around you will unavoid-
ably give you some trouble & much anxiety, yet the peopling of so fine
a country, with loyal & industrious inhabitants, will bring its own
recompense in the satisfaction you must feel, in being so instrumental
in accomplishing the best wishes of the Government. Mrs. R. is much
obliged in yr. remembrance of her.

I am my dear sir

very faithfully yours

THOS. RIDOOT,

Sr. Gen'l.

The Honblc

Col. Talbot
v Port Talbot



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 123

Colonel Robert Nichol to Colonel Talbot.
Dear Sir.

Adolphus Bostwick goes up to settle in Westminster I have
referred him to you for a location trusting that no difficulty would
arise I have received his fees he has sold out here and intends
becoming an immediate settler.

A man named Townsend who spoke to us in York went on to the
same place some time ago he appears to be a decent man.

I am Dr. Sir,

Yours truly

ROB. N"ICHOL.
(addressed on the back)
The Honble

Colonel Talbot

Port Talbot.



Adjutant-General Shaw to Colonel Talbot.
Adjutant General's Office

York 12th February 1812.
Militia General Orders.

His Honor the President l has been pleased to make the following
appointments

1st Regt. Middlesex

Samuel Edison * Esqr. to be Captain 17th Feby. 1812

Samuel Axford Gent, to be Lieutenant .... 17th Feby. 1812
Samuel Harris, Gent, to be Ensign 17th Feby. 1812

./ENEAS SHAW, 3

Adjt. General Mili'a U.C.
Colon-el Talbot

Command'g. 1st Regt. Middlesex Militia.



1 Major-General Sir Isaac Brock

2 Of Vienna, U.C., grandfather of the celebrated electrician nd inventor,
Thomas A. Edison. Born in New Jersey, 1760, died at Vienna, 1864. He
was the father of eleven sons.

' Member of the Legislative and Executive Councils. Died, 181$.



124 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Adjutant-General Shaw to Colonel Talbot.

13th Feby. 1812.
Dear Talbot

In tho hurry of transcribing your list, 1 omitted the name of one
Captain one Lieut, and one Ensign, in the order sent to you. I now
send you them.

Yours always,



SHAW.

Indorsed :

On Service
Colonel Talbot

Command'g 1st Kegt. Middlesex Militia.

To go by I*. Souvereign M.P.
Adjts. Genls. Office.



Captain James Brock to Colonel Talbot.
President's Office

York. 27th February 1812.
Sir.

I have the honor to transmit to you by command of the President,
a Commission empowering you to carry into effect an Act passed in the
fourth Session of the third Provincial Parliament of this Province,
entitled "an Act for the better securing this Province against all sedi-
tious attempts or designs to disturb the tranquillity thereof" which
His Honor makes no doubt you will readily undertake to enforce
a Copy of the Act is herewith transmitted.



To

Thomas Talbot Esq.



Sir
Your most Obedient

Humble Servant

JAMES BROCK.



[COY.VE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 12B

By ISAAC BROCK, Esquire, President administering the Govern-
ment of the Province of Upper Canada, and Major-General

Commanding His Majesty's Forces therein, &c., &c., &c.

i

To Thomas Talbot of Port Talbot in the District of London, Esquire

Whereas by an Act of the Parliament of this Province, passed in
the Forty-fourth year of His Majesty's Reign, intituled " An Act for
" the better securing this Province against all seditious attempts or
" designs to disturb the tranquillity thereof," it is among other things
provided, " That it shall and may be lawful for /the Governor, Lieu-
" tenant Governor, or Person administering the Government for the
" time being, to appoint such Person, or Persons as may appear to him
" proper, for the purpose of arresting such Person or Persons not hav-
" ing been an Inhabitant or Inhabitants of this Province for the space
" of six months preceding the date of his Warrant, or not having taken
" the Oath of Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord the King, who by words
"or actions, or other behaviour or conduct, hath or have endeavoured,
" or hath or have given just cause to suspect that he, she, or they, is
" or are about to endeavour to alienate the minds of His Majesty's Sub-
" jects of this Province from His Person or Government, or in any
" wise with a seditious intent to disturb the tranquility thereof."
NOW, KNOW YE, that I, ISAAC BROCK, Esquire, President, and
Major-General Commanding His Majesty's Forces within the said
Province, by virtue of the powers so vested in me under the authority
of the before recited Act, have appointed and deputed, and do by these
Presents appoint and depute you the said Thomas Talbot of Port Talbot
in the District of London Esquire, to carry into Execution the several
Provisions in the said before recited Act contained, strictly conforming
3'ourself in every particular thereto.

Given under my Hand and Seal, at Arms, at the Govern-
ment House, at York, this Twenty seventh day of February
in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Twelve, and of His Majesty's Reign, the fifty second.



ISAAC BROCK,

Presid't.



By His Honor's Command

JAMES BROCK.



12C ROYAL SOCIETY OK CANADA

Surveyor General Kidout l to Talbot.
Surveyor General's Oflice,

York, 5th March 1812.
Poor Sir,

Although Lieut. Governor Gore was pleased to order a line to be
run for a Road through Westminster to join Your Road, (so caJled),
and also a Road from Southwoid to Amheretburgh, 8 and lots to be laid
out on the above mentioned Road, similar to those on Colonel Talbot's
yet as I do not find that this has been confirmed by any Order in
Council, as was the case, when the Road, called by your Xame was
>rdenxl to be surveyed. nd laid ofl' in Lots from Middleton to Port
Talbot I am therefore to request, you will be so good as not to place
any settlers upon any lot on the Road surveyed by order of Lieut. Govr.
Gore, & leading from Westminster to Port Talbot, or from thence to
Amheretburgh, until it shall have been sanctioned by His Honor the
President in Council.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient

humble servant

THOS. RIDOUT,

Sr. Genl.
The Honble. Thomas Talbot

at Port Talbot.



1 Thomas Ridout (born in Devonshire in 1774, died 8th Feb.. 1829), was
in the service of the fJnvornment of Upper Canada from the year 1792.
Among various offices held by him were those of Notary, Sergeant-at-Arms
to the House of Assembly. Registrar of the County of York, Captain of the
York Militin. rirrk of the Poace, Clerk of the District Court, Surveyor-
Ooneral, etc.. etc. He was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly
in 1812. and appointed member of the Legislative Council in 1824. (See "Ten
Years of Upper Canada. 1S05-1815," by Lady Edgar.

: The first mentioned Road is known as the North Branch rf Talbot Road.
It extends from the town-line between Dunwich and Southwoid just north
of the village of lona. parallel to and at a distance of two and a half miles
from Talbot Road, to Talbotville, where it turns to the northward and is
continued to London. A short extension or branch ran from Talbotville to
connect with Talbot Road at St. Thomas. The road from St. Thoniaa t{>
London is known as North Street. The North Branch was surveyed in 1811
by Mahlon Burwell. The road from Southwoid to Amherstburgh is known
as Talbot Road West.



[COYNE! THE TALBOT PAPERS 127

Printed Sheet.

An ACT to extend the Provisions of an Act passed in the forty-eighth
year of His Majesty's Reign, intituled, "An Act to Explain,
Amend and Reduce to one Act of Parliament the several Laws
now in being for ike Raising and Training the Militia of this
Province."

(Passed 6th March, 1812.)

WHEEEAS an Act passed in the forty-eighth year of his present
Majesty's reign, intituled, "An Act to explain, amend and reduce to
one Act of Parliament the several Laws now in being, for the raising
and training the Militia of this Province," is found insufficient
for the purposes thereby intended; Be it therefore enacted by the
King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of the Province of
Upper Canada, constituted and assembled by virtue of and under
the authority of an Act passed in the Parliament of Great Britain,
intituled, " An Act to repeal certain parts of an Act passed in
the fourteenth year of his Majesty's Reign, intituled, " An Act
for making more effectual provision for the government of the Pro-
vince of Quebec, in North America, and to make further provision
for the government of the said Province." and by the authority of the
same, That there shall be to every Battalion of Militia now or hereafter
to be formed in this Province, (the strength of which will admit
thereof) two flank Companies, to consist of not more than one hundred
men each, nor in any case to compose more than one third of the
strength of such Battalion, and also all Independent Companies belong-
ing to any County, Eiding or Place, shall provide their quota, to com-
pose one or more flank Company or Companies, but in no case to exceed
one third of such Independent Company or Companies, to be selected
and formed from among such Militia men as shall at any meeting or
meetings of any such Battalion or Independent Companies, volunteer
for that purpose. And if it should so happen that a sufficient number
of persons shall not at any such meeting or meetings, volunteer for the
purpose aforesaid, then and in such case the deficiency shall be made
up by ballot from the Militia men of such Battalion, or Independent
Company or Companies, who shall be under the age of forty years.

II. Provided always nevertheless. That when it shall happen that
two or more persons shall be called upon service from, one family, that
one of them shall be excused for that time unless it shall appear to the
Officer Commanding such Company of Militia, that there is another
person living in the same house, capable of taking care of the said



128 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

family, who is not then called into actual service; and also that when
a widow or aged person, shall at the* time of making the said ballot,
depend for her, or his maintenance on a Son, Grandson or Apprentice,
such Son, Grandson, or Apprentice, shall he excused from service while
supporting such widow or aged person.

III. And be it further enabled by the authority aforesaid, That
when any such flank Company shall be formed, it shall and may be law-
ful for the Captain or Officer Commanding the same to call out such
Company, and he is hereby required so to do, six days in each Month,
for the purpose of l>eing trained and exercised, as may be directed by
the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Person administering the Gov-
ernment, and such Company shall continue its training not exceeding
the said six days in every month, until it is found that the men compos-
ing the same, are duly instructed in their exercise. Provided always,
that the Officer Commanding such Company, shall always after the said
Company shall be pronounced duly instructed, have it in his power to
call out such Company one day in each month to be exercised and
reviewed, and oftener if he shall be. so directed by the Governor. Lieu-
tenant Governor, or person administering the Government. Provided
also, that such flank Company or Companies being called out for the
purpose of training, it shall not be lawful for any Field Officer, except
such as may be specially appointed for that purpose, by the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, or Person administering the Government, to com-
mand or otherwise interfere in the said training or exercising.

TV. And be H further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
it shall and may be lawful to and for the Governor, Lieutenant Gov-
ernor, or Person administering the Government, from time to time,
as occasion may require, to appoint such and so many Staff Officers to
the Militia of this Province, as he may think necessary, and also from
time to time to remove anv Militia Officer, now or hereafter to be
appointed, and arVpoint another in his stead.

V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it
shall and may be lawful to and for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
or Person administering the Government, as often as occasion shall
require, to order any and every of the said Companies, to march to any
part of this Province, upon any such duty as he shall think necessary.

VT. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
it shall and may be lawful for the Captain, or other Officer commanding
any company of Militia, if he shall think necessary, to divide his Com-
pany into squads of such numbers as to him shall swm proper, and the
convenience of the men of such Company shall require, and that the
Captain or other Officer commanding any such Company as aforesaid.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 129

shall always appoint some fit and proper person to exercise and instruct
in Military discipline, the men to be assembled at each of the said squad
meetings, and that if any non Commissioned Officer or Private shall
refuse to obey the lawful orders of his superior Officer when employed
on Militia duty, or shall quarrel with, or insult by abusive words, or
otherwise, any Officer, or Non-Commissioned Officer, being in the exe-
cution of his duty, or otherwise misbehave himself whilst on duty as
aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Commanding Officer
then and there present, to order every such offender or offenders to be
taken into custody, and forthwith tried by a Court Martial, to be com-
posed of three or more Officers of the said Militia, who, upon proof of
the offence by the Oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,
(which Oath the President of the said Court Martial is hereby author-
ized to administer) shall and may order and sentence every such offender
to pay a fine, not 'exceeding five pounds, nor less than five shillings,
at the discretion of the Court, and according to the nature of
the offence, and in default of payment, commit such offender to the
common Gaol of the District, for a term not exceeding one month, nor
less than three 1 days, or until the amount of such fine shall be paid,
any law to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
in all trials by any Court Martial, other than General Courts Martial,
the person appointed to be President thereof, shall administer to each
of the other Members, the following Oath: You A. B. do swear that
you will administer Justice to the best of your understanding in the
matter now before you, according to the Militia Laws of this Province,
and the evidence which shall be produced before you, without partiality,
favour or affection. So help you God. And as soon as the said Oath
shall have been administered by the President to the other Members,
any one of the said Members shall administer the said Oath to the
President.

YIII. And be it further enacted' by the authority aforesaid, That
whenever it shall so happen that there shall not be a sufficient number
of Officers present to compose a Court as aforesaid, it shall and may be
lawful to and for the Commanding Officer to. detain such offender in
custody, until a Court can be assembled for the trial of such offender.
Provided such Court can be obtained within twelve hours from the
time of such confinement, and in case a Court as herein before directed,
cannot be assembled within twelve hours, such offender shall be released
from such confinement, and tried under the provisions of the Act of the
forty-eighth of the King, intituled, " An Act to explain, amend and

Sec. II., 1907. 9.



180 ROYAL SCJCIETY OF CANADA

reduce to one Act of Parliament, the several Laws now in being, for the
raising and training the Militia of this Province/'

IX. And be it further enacted by the autliorily aforesaid, That
if any person or persons shall presume to disturb, interrupt, or molest,
any party of Militia, whilst on duty, it shall and may be lawful to and
for the Commanding Officer of such party, to order any such person or
persons to be carried before any one of his Majesty's Justices of the
Peace, who shall be next to the place where the offence may be com-
mitted, who upon proof of the offence by the oath of one or more witness
or witnesses, shall and may order and adjudge every such offender to
pay a fine not exceeding five pounds, nor loss than ten shillings, and
in default of payment, to commit him to the common Goal of the Dis-
trict, for a term not exceeding one month, nor less than ten days, unless
tin- line is sooner by him paid.

X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That it
shall and may be lawful to and for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
or Person administering tlu? Government, from time to time, and as
often as occasion shall require, to make such regulations as he shall
think necessary, for the care and custody of any Arms and Accoutre-
ments provided and supplied in order to the instruction of the Militia
men to be trained and exercised; and also from time to time as occa-
sion may require, by any order or order? to be made and issued for
that purpose, to declare and establish the dress and uniform, to be worn
by any and every part of the Militia of this Province. Provided always.
that nothing heroin contained, shall be construed to oblige any Militia
man to provide any uniform at his own expense.

XT. And lif it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
so much of the said Act passed in the forty-eighth year of the King,
intituled. "An Act to explain, amend and reduce to one Act of Parlia-
ment, the several Laws now in being, for the raising and training the
Militia of this Province." as directs that no Company of Militia shall
consist of more than fifty men. shall be and the same is hereby repealed,
and that every Company shall and may consist of {i number not exceed-
ing one hundred men.

XTT. And whereas it may be convenient to form one or more
Company or Companies of "Riflemen in this Province, Be it enacted by
the authority aforesaid. That it shall and may be lawful for the Gov-
ernor, Lieutenant Governor, or Person administering the Government
of this Province, to form and embody such Company or Companies,
and employ the same on such duties as the necessity of the service may
reonire.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 131

XIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
every Officer of the Militia of this Province, shall on or before the
fourth day of June next ; and, every Officer who may after that day be
appointed, within eight days after he shall have received his Commis-
sion, before one) or more of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the
District to which his Regiment, Battalion or Company shall belong, take
and subscribe the following Oath, to wit: I, A. B. do sincerely promise
and swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty,
King George the Third, as lawful Sovereign of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, and of this Province, as dependant thereon,
and that I will defend him to the utmost of my power against all traitor-
ous conspiracies and attempts whatsoever, which sho,ll be made against
his Person, Crown and Dignity, and particularly his Dominions in
North America, and 1 that I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and
make known to his Majesty, his heirs or successors, all treasons and
traitorous conspiracies and attempts, which I shall know to be against
him, or any of them, and to all this I do swear without any equivocation,
mental evasion, or secret reservation, and renouncing all pardons and
dispensations from any person or power whatsoever, tb the contrary.
So help me God.

XIV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
it shall and may be lawful to and for the Governor, Lieutenant Gov-
ernor, or Person administering the Government, to order and direct
that the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of any and every
Eegiment, Battalion, Company or body of Militia in this Province,
shall be called upon to take and subscribe the said Oath of Allegiance,
and that upon receiving any orders for that purpose, it shall and may
be lawful, to and for the Commanding Officer of such Regiment, Bat-
talion, or Company, and he is hereby required to call upon every Non-
Commissioned Officer or Private of his Regiment, Battalion or Company,
to take and subscribe the said Oath, before one or more of his Majesty's
Justices of the Peace' for the District to which such Regiment, Battalion,
or Company shall belong, which Oath shall be administered free of
expense, and that every Justice of the Peace administering such Oath,
shall forward a Certificate thereof, to the Clerk of the Peace of the
District to be enrolled, which such Clerk of the Peace is hereby required
to do free of expense, and if any Officer,, Non-Commissioned Officer,
or Private, (having been required so to do) shall refuse or neglect to
take and subscribe the said Oath, in manner hereby directed, upon con-
viction before any General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, or in time of
actual Invasion or Insurrection, before any Court Martial, every such
person or persons shall be deemed and taken to be an alien, and shall



132 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

be liable and subject to any law or laws now in force, or hereafter to
be made, respecting or against aliens.

XV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
?o much of the said Act as directs that any Body or Detachment of
Militia, which may be called out by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
or Person administering 1 the Government, shall and may be detained ou
such service, for and during the space of six months at one time, and
no longer, shall be and the same is hereby repealed.

XVI. .1m/ be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
at the expiration of six months, from the time of any such Detachment
being called, out as aforesaid, one third of the men of such Detachment
shall be selected by ballot, and if relieved, by an equal number of men,
shall be discharged, and at the expiration of seven months from the
time of calling out such Detachment, another third shall be selected,
and if relieved, discharged in like manner, and at the expiration of
eight months, the remaining third, if relieved, shall be discharged.

XVII. And be it further enacted by lite authority aforesaid. That
it shall and may be lawful to and for any Colonel or other Officer Com-
manding any Regiment, Battalion, or Company, and he is herein- re-
quired to call out his Kegiment, Battalion, or Company, whenever he
shall be directed so to do, for the purpose of being Inspected or Reviewed,
by any Inspecting Field Officer of Militia, or other Field Officers of
the line, who may be sent for that purpose; and that Lieutenant Col-
enels in his Majesty's Army, serving with any part of the Militia in
this Province, shall command all Militia Officers whatever, any thing
in the said in part recited Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

XVIII. And be if further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
That every Militia man whose services may be accepted of in any volun-
teer Corps, now or hereafter to b<> raided, shall be exempted from serving
ns a Militia man under this or the before mentioned Act, whilst he
shall belong to any such Corps, as aforesaid, and also that every person
serving in any flank Company, shall not be liable to any personal Arrest
on any civil Process, or to serve as Juror, or to perform duty as a
Town, or Parish Officer, or Statute labour on the High-ways, during
the time he shall continue in such flank Companies, any law to the con-
trary in any wise notwithstanding.

XIX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
any Xon-Commissioned Officer or Private Militia-man, who in any
engagement with an enemy, or by any accident or casualty which may
recur while on, or performing any duty in actual service, shall be killed,
and shall leave a Widow, or Child or Children lawfully begotten, his
said Widow shall be entitled to receive during her widowhood, and in



[COYJJB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 133

case of the death of such Widow, then the eldest Child, or Guardian,
for the use of the child or children of such Non-Commissioned Officer,
or Private Militia-man, until the youngest thereof, shall have attained
tire age of sixteen years, an annuity of five pounds lawful money
of this Province, and also that every Non-Commissioned Officer,
or Private of Militia, who in any engagement with an enemy, or by any
accident or casualty which may occur while on, or performing any dutv
in actual service, shall be wounded or disabled, so as to be, rendered in-
capable of earning his livelihood, shall be allowed an annuity of nine
pounds lawful money of this Province, during the time he shall con^
tinue under such incapacity.

XX. And l)e it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
so much of an Act passed in the forty-eighth year of his Majesty's
reign, intituled, "An Act to explain, amend and reduce to one Act of
Parliament, the several laws now in being for the raising and training
the Militia of this Province," as directs how Militia fines are to be
disposed of, be and the same is hereby repealed.

XXI. And it be further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
all sums of money arising from fines, forfeitures and penalties, by this
or the above recited Act imposed, together with a list of such fines, for-
feitures and penalties shall, as scon after the thirty first day of Decem-
ber in every year, as practicable, be transmitted by the Magistrate or
Officer respectively receiving the same, to the Eeceiver General of this
Province, to be disposed of as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or
Person administering the Government, shall direct, to purposes only
that shall respect the said Militia, and which shall be accounted for to
the Crown, through the Commissioners of his Majesty's treasury, for
the time being, as the Crown shall direct.

XXII. Provided always, That this present Act shall continue and
be in force until the first day of January next, and from thence to the
end of the then next ensuing Session of the Legislature of this Province,
and no longer.



Draft of letter, 1 Col. Talbot to Capt. Jas. Brock, March, 1812.
Sir.

I have the honor to state for the information of Major General
Brock that I have this day received a letter from The Surveyor Gonl.

1 The draft is in substantial accord with the letter sent, which is now
in the Archives at Ottawa. The draft contains only the first paragraph.
What follows it is taken from the letter In the Archives.



134 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

directing that I should not for the present allow settlers to occupy Ix>ts
on a Koad which Lt. Govr. Gore pave orders for the Survey of under
my direction (for actual settlers) to connect Talhot Koad with the Hoad
thro' Westminster which survey was performed during tlio last sum-
mer, and feeling confident tliat no dilliculty would occur. I was induced
by the application of several persons who had come from Nova Scotia
and thr lower parts of this Province to allow them to go on the Koad
referred to. who have done a considerable of labour on the lote they
occupy I had the honor to recommend to Lt. Governor Gore, that such
a communication was absolutely necessary for the pood of this part of
the Province, as the routa of trans|>ortation by Land from Westminster
was a distance 1 of above eighty miles and by Hie Koad that has l>en
purveyed under my directions, it does not exceed 24 miles to Port Talhot,
from whence the produce of the country can be sent in vessels. Lt.
Governor Gore in the first instance without any solicitation whatsoever
on my part, proposed that I should undertake the settlement of Talhot

1 Koads. I complied soly. for the benefit of this part of the country,
in order to prevent improper characters from petting possession of the

I Grown Lands and to see that each lot should l>e occupied by an actual
settler, having been aware of the serious injury that many points of this
Province has sustained in consequence of Individuals holding grants of
large tracts, who never intended to he actual settlers & by which means
the extents they owned remains unimproved, so that Koads. a primary
object of importance, can not be worked to any general advantage- I
had the honor to recommend to Lt. Gr.vr. Gore (who was pleased t/>
nssent) that an appropriation of an equal quantity of land which the
Talbot Koads took from l the Townships of Southwold slid, be made in
the Township of Deerham whose situation would not interfere with the
convenience of Koads of communication through this District, as from
the manner in which this particular part of the Province was shut up
before T settled at Port Talbot. by reserving whole Townships pro-
tracted the population and consequent improvement of this most excel-
lent tract of territory, at the same time by opening roads that Govern-
ment was insuring those whenever it might be the pleasure of the Crown
to dispose of the lands that, were reserved for the establishment of
Seminaries, they would acquire hy the acquisition of these well s -ttled
Koads traversing them, very great additional value.

T have thus far. done myself the bonor of observing upon the
particular situation of this part of the Province, trusting that from



' In the letter as sent appear the words, " the reserves through," between
" from " and " the." These words are necessary to complete the meaning.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 13B

The President's local knowledge of the Country that he will not find
it necessary to make any change in the arrangements of Lieut. Governor
Gore.

I have the honor to be with great esteem and respect
Sir

Your very obedient

and most Humble Servant

THOMAS TALBOT.
To

James Brock Esq.

Secretary &c. &c. &c.



Draft of letter from Col. Talbot to Maj. Gen'l Brock, March 1812.
Private

Dear Sir.

I have this morning received a letter from the Surveyor Genl. of
M'hich the enclosed is a copy, which places me in a most humiliating
?nd contemptablet light after having acted solely by invitation of the
existing Governt. and a breach of faith on my part to the poor peo*ple
that I have induced to settle on the Crown lands would make the remain-
der of my life unhappy perhaps no difficulty may arise, but the anxiety
of mind, that Mr. Eidout's letter has occasioned, emboldens me to
address you personally, being persuaded that your feelings, as a man
of honour, will induce you to pardon my intrusion and that I will meet
with every necessary support from you, should the matter be agitated
in Council I think my dear Genl. that I need not dwell upon the
awkward view in which I should be seen by this odious public, were I
to be obstructed in the plans that I pursued, under the entire approba-
tion of Lt. Governor Gore for rendering this District populous and
valuable, and I can with equal truth assure you, that to accomplish it
has already led me into much extraordinary expense, without the slight-
est profit (further than what I esteem the greatest) the advancement of
these wilderness's to a state of civilization. I have stated officially to
Capn. Brock the particulars attending the foregoing, in order that
should it be deemed advisable to have the matter before Council, that
I might take the liberty of entreating, as a particular favour, that you
would give yrself the trouble of, being present on that occasion, as I
am satisfied that your explanation and support would obviate any diffi-
culties that might be introduced to check my operations were it a pri-
vate Emolument I would be the last person to solicit your influence or



136 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

interference, but my exertions & perseverance to promote the welfare of
this infant colony are the only sources of gratification that I look for
and when it is considered that the Crown Lands will he prodigiously
benefited by having good & populous roads passing thro' them I am
inclined to feel confident that no dilliculties will occur, especially as the
qual quantity of land that I have reonmiended appropriated for the
reserves that would have fallen on Talbot 1'oads thro' Southwold should
be placed in the Township of Deerham which is so situated as not to
interfere with the convenience of lioads of communication thro' this
part of the Province however to acquire a more perfect knowledge
of the facts I will humbly request that you will have a conference with
the Surveyor flenl. who can show to your satisfaction on the plan of the
Province the propriety of my scheme should nothing have been brought
into Council relative to this subject before this reaches you, I humbly
apprehend that there is not any occasion for it.



Captain J. B. (Jlegg, A.D.C., 1 to Talbot.
Private.

My Dear Sir. York 12th March 1812.

T was favored with your letter a few days ago, and availed myself
of the first opportunity that Mr. Burwell gave me, for presenting him
to the General, who has in consequence of your introduction atforded
him every facility in the accomplishment of his business Agreeably
to your request, I send you a few ol' the new supplementary Militia
Bills, which came from the Press this morning, a circular letter will
be addressed immediately to Officers commanding Corps calling upon
them, to explain distinctly to their officers, and men. its different pro-
visions The General received a letter from Xicholls this morning,
written T believe from the- head of the Lnke, and he reports that in
consequence of efforts made bv \\ il cocks Mallory ~ and others to create



1 Captain Glegg was General Brock's aide-de-camp. He lived to the age
of ST. dyinp in 1S61. He \vas successively Major and Lieutenant Colonel of
the 43d Regiment in which ho served for 39 years.

"Joseph Wilcocks. an ex-United Irishman, editor and publisher of the
I'pprr Canada (luardian. " practically the first real organ of puhlic opinion
in Upper Canada," M.P.P. for the East Riding of York, leader of the Oppo-
sition. He fought under Brock at Queenston Heights, but afterwards went
over to the enemy, and was killed in action at Fort Erie in August. 1814.
(Si-e page 111. Gore to Talbot. "Joe's Party"). Penajah Mallory. M.P.P. for
Norfolk, Oxford and Middlesex (from 1804), born in the United States, went
over to the enemy during the War.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 137

apprehensions respecting the intended operation of the Militia Bill,
the young men of the country appear much alarmed, and emigration
is already in their contemplation This must surely either be false
alarm or intended merely as an electioneering trick by those notorious
Characters The General's head is at present too much occupied with
preparing the required official report of his Parliamentary proceedings
to think seriously of anything else.

In a few days 1'abrege d'un Code d'instruction Militaire will be
thought of, as applicable to the Provincial Militia, the moment it is
completed you shall hear again from me The last mail from below
brought us His Excellency's Speech to the Houses of Assembly, which
like all other compositions of that description, contains nothing but
what we have all of us heard before I fear Sir George- 1 will not be
so fortunate in carrying his' measures as his family expect, the Can-
adians are not partial to innovations of any kind, they are ^stubborn
dogs, and are only to be moved by la force majeure The Glengarry
Levy seems to engross the whole of their attention, and is now com-
menced in good earnest. Colonel Baynes the Adjt. Genl. is to be the
Colonel and to ensure its success in the Holy wars, a Priest 2 is already
appointed As they look to our acres, as inducements for enlistments,
the patronage of two Companies is given to Genl. Brock, who has
offered the commissions to some of his young friends Instructions
are received for putting all the Forts and defences in this Province
in the best order Captain Yigoureux is to have charge of the pro-
jected works from York to Fort Erie, and Assistant Engineers ane
already named for each Post Captain Dixon is gone to Amherstburg
to superintend the works at that Port and St. Joseph's In a few
weeks we shall commence our grand plan of fortification for this Point,
and the Marine Department will not be idle Mr. Fish being just
returned from Albany with a Master Builder and party of Shipwrights
we are promised one of the finest schooners that has ever appeared on
this Lake. I send you a Montreal paper which contains a well written
reply or rather commentary on the flaming speech of Govr. Gerry. It
is esteemed by our Peripatetic Philosophers a production of considerable
merit I rather think it was brought very lately from the States by
one of Sir George's family, and it is not improbable but it came from
pome person near our Minister.



1 Sir George Prevost, Governor-General.

1 Reverend Alexander Macdonell, afterwards Roman Catholic Bishop of
Regiopolis (Kingston), with jurisdiction extending over Upper Canada, and
a member of the Legislative Council.



138 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

The very communicative temper of our friend Xicholls, will, there
is no doubt ore this arrives, have put you. in full possession of the eclat
that his name or rather his imprisonment has created The Burdett
business, is a mere farce when compared to it, badinage apart, he has
been most infamously treated, and I sincerely hope redress may be
obtained for him. He may with truth exclaim in the words of
the Celebrated Lord Chatham (altair of Wi Ikes in 1<70) "that an
outrage has been committed which struck at everything dear and sacred
to the Liberties of Englishmen " I can make every allowance for
his indignant feelings, tho' I sincerely regret his having made such a
IH'rsonal attack upon (Joff and Kogers the day before he left York, as
it has produced an address, which subjects his lest friend to trouble,
which ought to have been avoided.

The Cioneral enters warmly into his hard case, and was not to be
dictated to by such ({entry, nor was he to be humbugged by the repre-
sentation of the attack having Uken place in the " Speaker's appart-
ments"- He was well aware that it happened at Jonlnn's and
declined interfering in the squabbles of a Tavern I think it is
probable we shall pay you an early visit, allow me in the meantime 10
make an unconditional offer of my services Mr. Burwell will be the
Bearer of a few cuttings of our best gooseberry trees, tho' I fear from
Mr. Hunter's ' report that the season is not favorable to them, he says
a month hence some good might be expected from them The (ieneral
and Mr. Secretary Brock desire to be kindly remembered.

Believe ine My Dr. Sir,

Most faithfully yrs.

,T. B. GLKC.G.

/*>'. The Xicholl cause- has given a terrible shock to your Learned
Friend.' 1 who I understand declares, he has done more harm by dis-
cussing the question than he can do good, if he lives 100 years ! ! !



1 The well-known Jeffrey Hunter. Talbot's confidential servant.

5 Colonel Niohol, arrest' <1 by order of the House of Assembly, was car-
ried off from his home In the I-ong Point District to gaol at York. He was
released by order of Chief Justice Scott, against whom a resolution of cen-
sure was, In consequence, passed J>y the House, and the Prince Regent was
addressed with a formal request for his removal. Nichol brought actions
for damages against the Speaker and Sergeant-at-Arms. The grounds for
his arrest were words spoken by him at Jordan's well-known hotel on King
Street, with reference to Gough and Rogers, members like himself of the
House of Assembly.

1 Probably Chief Justice Scott.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 139

Lieut. Col. Nicholl to Col. Talbot.
My Bear Colonel.

Ostrander one of the Davis party has just Called and paid the
fees I have told him that he must positively go to you before he
takes up his lot He will deliver you this letter which encloses
extracts of my letters to the Adjnt General & to Captn Glegg I have
exhibited seven charges against Rapalje x One of which for asserting
and persisting in it that I had said no American could be a loyal sub-
ject Another for attempting to call out his Company after he had
been informed that he was no longer to Command it in direct and open
defiance of his Commanding Officer Another for propagating a story
that I had been the cause of turning him & Anderson out of the Mil-
itia You know how foul a lie that is and another for telling me a
downright falsehood.

I shall by next Opportunity send you a correct copy of the
Charges Mr Joe Eyerson - is a sly old Fox but 1 have now taken
the right method to unkennel him. I am determined to ferret him
out And that the 'exposure of this band of back biters and Slanderers
shall be complete.

I send you the last papers 1 received I expect Steel back this
evening and if an opportunity offers afterwards - - I shall send you
all the news

God bless you My Dear Colonel believe me very faithfully,

Yours,

ROBT. NICHOLL.

N.B. The Henry 3 mentioned in the paper is the Irish Renegado



Captain Abraham A. Rapelje, born on Long Island, 1776, died in 1841.
He lived at Port Dover until after the war, when he removed to the neigh-
bourhood of Vittoria. He raised a company, and served during the war.
He succeeded Colonel John Bostwick as Sheriff of London District.

3 Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Ryerson, first Sheriff and Treasurer of th?
old London District, father of the celebrated Reverend Doctor Egerton Ryer-
son, Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada and afterwards
Ontario. Five of Colonel Ryerson's six sons entered the ministry, and all
were more or less distinguished.

'John Henry, employed in 1808, and 1809, by Sir James Craig, Governor-
General, to ascertain the state of feeling in the Northern States. His letters
written in the capacity of commissioner or reporter were of no great im-
portance in themselves. He was desirous of obtaining office that of Judge
in Upper Canada in 1808, that of Judge Advocate in Lower Canada in 1811.
Failing in his attempts, he sold the correspondence to President Madison in
the winter of 1811-12. It was laid before Congress and used to inflame
the feeling against Great Britain. (See Kingsford, Vol. VIII, pp. 66-69.)



140 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

that McGillivray & the Furr Gentry in Montreal wanted to thrust upon
us here as a Judge I have no doubt the correspondence is genuine
but I am not disposed to think that either tho Govt or Sir James * can
be fairly blamed.

R. N.



(The following extracts were enclosed in Colonel XicholFs letter to

Colonel Talbot.)

Extract from a letter of Lt. Col. Xichol to the Adjnt General.

While however T am using my utmost exertions and discretion to
carry into full effect the intentions of his Honor Major General Brock
T feel that T shall require the Countenance and support of the Execu-
tive Government to enable me to Check those habits of insubordination
which I am sorry to say have been but too prevalent in this part of
the Province

I do not moan to attach the smallest blame to the men on the
Contrary they are exceedingly well disposed hut some of the Ancient
Officers have conducted themselves in such a Manner as to render it
imperative on me to exhibit Charges against them which are enclosed
and which will I trust appear to His Honor Major General Brock of
sufficient consequence to induce him to order a Court of Enquiry to
investigate the conduct of Lt. Colonel "Ryerson Captn Rapalje and
myself.

Tt is T assure you Sir with the greatest reluctance that I trouble
the Government on this occasion but the circumstances are such as to
lenve one Xo Option His Honor Major General Brock having been
pleased to Confer on me an offer of high trust and responsibility
requiring both Prudent Zeal and sound discretion in the exercise of
it and great integrity of character and Conduct T felt T should be
wanting both in duty to the Government and respect for myself
Should T suffer my authority to be invaded and 1 my Character to be;
aspersed without a promt endeavour on my part to vindicate and defend
both.

"Whenever it shall please His Honor to think that my remaining
in my present situation will be prejudicial to the publick interests T
shall ol^y without a murmur his order to retire from it but while I
retain nn Office of such high trust and responsibility T am determined
to perform without Shrinking and to the best of my ability all the
duties which are attached to it so that when I yield up my Command

1 Sir James Craig. Governor-General.



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 141

to a Successor I may deliver over to him a well regulated E'egiment
and not an Unruly Mob, &c., &c., &c.

R. N.
Extract to Captn. Glegg.

It is my wish that the General may perfectly understand the Motives
which have induced me to prefer these charges and I beg leave to
assure him, through you that they are entirely of a publick Nature.
Publick considerations alqne have been my motives for I feel that while
these reports circulated by Rapelje & Ryerson are circulated uncon-
tradicted they will be believed and consequently will render it impossible
for me to be of the smallest service to the Government or Country as
the head of the Second Regiment of Norfolk Militia.

It is a well known fact that almost ever since the first Establish-
ment of a Militia in this Country it has been little better than a legal-
ised Mob the Officers without respectability without intelligence, and
without Authority and the men without any idea of Subordination
Now Sir I am desirous of putting an end to such a state of things
in my part of the Country My wish is to Command a Regiment nnd
not to be the leader of a Mob. To Enable me to reform abuses and to
bring both officers and Men into those habits of regularity and sub-
ordination so necessary in all Military Service I shall have occasion
for all the Popularity and Influence over Publick Opinion that I pos-
sess and had I ten times more it would not be too much and there-
fore I do conceive it to be my bounden duty to resist and punish on
the threshold every attempt of my immediate Officers to weaken or
destroy these You know well Sir that in a Militia Composed as
ours is of Independent Yeomen it would be both impolitic and useless
to attempt to introduce the strict discipline of the line they must in
a great Measure be goverened by Opinion Just and Firm Conduct
with a Conciliatory. Disposition on the part of their Commanding Officer
will do much and this was the line of conduct I had marked out for
myself but if before the Regiment is organised which is composed
almost entirely of Native Americans and before I have assumed any
command the Officers appointed to serve under me Circulate such
reports and make such assertions And if these reports and asser-
tions are not immediately investigated and proved to be unfounded
I feel that I cannot with justice to the Government and respect for
myself remain in the Command "

I have no hesitation in denying most unequivocally the truth of
all and every one of the reports circulated and my only wish is to have
a publick opportunity of vindicating my Character from such infamous
and foul aspersions.



142 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Henry Boelwick ' to Hobert Xichol.
2 Copies.

o- (I'rinted Circular.)

Having heard that it is currently reported, that you have made
use of the following expression in my presence, that is " That no
American can he a Loyal Subject." And conceiving that the report is
circulated for the purpose of influencing the Minds of the Electors in
this Riding at the approaching Election to your prejudice I think it
but justice to you, positively and unequivocally to declare, that I never
heard you express yourself to that effect: nor did I ever hear any
language made use of by you, which could possibly boar that con-
struction, or anything like it : And I may further add. that I have
frequently heard you deprecate every system of exclusion as it respects
Official Situations in this Province, and your conviction that it would
be sound Policy in the Government to permit Emigrants from the
United States to participate in the different Offices of Honor and Em-
olument in this Province, as it would, in your opinion, effectually tend
to rivet their Attachment to this Government, and dispel any ill-
grounded jealousies You are at liberty to give what publicity you
may think proper to this letter.

I am, Sir,

your obedient Servant,

H. BOSTWICK.

Woodhouse. 31st March 1812.
To

T\. Niehol, Esq.



Captain James Brock to Talbot.
Pear Sir. York 1. April 1812.

Mr. Bird dreading an approaching storm is anxious to be gone,
I have therefore only just time to acknowledge the receipt of your Tx?tter
forwarded by him. and which T immediately submitted to the President,
who desires me to inform you that he will take the first opportunitv to
lay it before the Executive Council T had hoped Mr. Bird would



1 I.if-ntenant Colonel Henry Bostwick of the Oxford Militia served dur-
ing tlie War. His brother, Captain (afterward lieutenant Colonel, and
Sheriff) John Bostwick. was the first settler at Port Stanley. The latter
married Mary, eldest daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Ryerson. Col-
onel Bostwick died in 1816.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 143

have waited a few hours as I had sent to the Surveyor General to enable
me to give you every information on the subject, but I must defer it to
another opportunity.

\Ve have nothing new in politics but what you will see in the news-
papers I herewith send you. Mr. Henry was a particular acquaintance
of mine and the last person I would have suspected of such a villainous
act but alas poor human nature. !

The General desires to be particularly remembered and believe me

[torn.]
Colonel Talbot



Prideaux Selby l to Talbot.
My Dear Sir York 4th April 1812.

In answer to yours of the 22d. March received this morning I can
only say there 'was a further sum appropriated by the Legislature for
the purchase of Hemp amounting to 1000 and that your only way of
obtaining a share of it is by application to the President stating the
sum wanted and I would recommend to you to send him at the same
lime a statement of your Hemp acct. & praying his directions how to
dispose of what you have in store.

Mills, I understand, has the Contract for the Govt. Vessels & I
think it would be right for you to write him again, if you have an
opportunity of doing so before you write to the General.

It is with great pleasure I inform you of the safe arrival of the
Governor, Mrs. Gore & the Major/ they had a short passage of 26 days
to Torbay, they did not however land there but proceeded to the Downs
where they landed on the 14th Deer. Mrs. Gore bore the passage
remarkably well, but in going to Town she caught cold & brougnt on
her nervous fever which kept her at the hotel in Jermyn Street 4 days
they then went to a House No. 25 Upper Grosrenor Street which the
Govr. has taken ready furnished & they are mightily pleased with the
situation which looks into Hyde Park. His Excelly's Letter to me was
very short but he promises to write again by the next Packet.

We are making fortifications at all the Posts and building armed
ships on both the Lakes as if War was 'expected ; but my opinion is
that all Jonathan's blustering will end in nothing of that sort. *:.



1 Hon. Prideaux Selby, Receiver General, and member of the Executive
Council, died at York in April, 1813, shortly after its capture by the IT. S.
troops.

2 Major Wm. Halton, Gore's secretary and aide-de-camp.



144 ROYAL SOC1KTY OF CANADA

You will see by the Papers that Sir Jas. C'raig employed (that
same Mr. Henry who was recommended to the Govr. as a Judge in the
place of Thorpe) as a confidential agent in the States; the Treachery
of the fellow fully justiiies Governor Gore's opinion of him. He has
made public everything that was entrusted to him & he gives as a reason
for it that he was disappointed in his reward. Mr. Maddison however
lins taken care to send Henry oil 1 to France before he laid his Com-
munication before Congress, afraid most probably of his being too closely
f-ifted by some of the members.

I am Dear Sr. with great sincerity

Most faithfully Yours

P. SELBY.
Miss Selby desires her compliments.

Note John McDonell ' & Dr. Baldwin 2 crossed the Ice this morng
to the Point & amused themselves with a Brace of Pistols but no harm
was done some expressions in Court was the cause.

COL. TAT.TIOT.



Surveyor General Ridout to Talbot.

Surveyor Gens. Office

York !)th April 1SK'.

Since my writing to you on the 3rd instant acknowledging the
Receipt of your Letter of the 2 5 ml March, I have received orders from
His Honor the President to report to him respecting the Road Sur-
veyed by Mr. Burwell in the course of last year under your direction,
and communicating between Westminster and your road surveyed in
1800.

In performing this Duty. I have to my extreme surprize discovered
that Mr. Burwel!. instead of running *' a line for a Road, from the Road
through Westminster to join Colonel Talbots Road as the Ground m;ty
best suit for that purjMse " as ordered by Lieut. Governor Gore, and
agreeably to my instructions to him dated the 8th of June last, has
begun his survey in the limits between Dunwich and Southwold at the
distance of 200 chains or thereabouts in rear of the Road, called Talbot
Road run by him in ISO;), and has run parallel thereto, at the before
mentioned distance, another line for a Road nearly through the whole



1 Appointed Attorney General 2Sth November. 1811, and afterward Lieu-
tenant Colonel and Provincial Aide-de-Camp to General Brock. Killrd in
action at Queenston Heights. 13th Oct., 1812. at the age of 27.

' Dr. William Warren Baldwin, father of Hon. Robert Baldwin.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 145

Township of Southwold, and then running almost due north, has run
another line which he has extended to the Road heretofore run, through
Westminster, and has laid off a row of Lots on each side of the last
mentioned line, throughout, by which means, there are two roads
through Southwold, parallel to each other, with a row of lots on each
side of both the roads, which Roads are each about Ten miles in length
Whereas, a Road of about Five miles in length, would have reached
from the Southern Boundary line of Westminster, to the Talbot Road,
and I perceive that this last mentioned Road of Five Miles, ha also
been surveyed and lots laid off on each side, till we meet with the Lots
of the former survey in 1809. I perceive also that the road last run
through Southwold, and the lots laid off upon it, break in upon the
Reserves that were made in consequence of the Road and Lots surveyed
in 1809, which Reserves, having been approved of by Lieut. Governor
Gore, I sent you their numbers and names on the 17 May 1811.

As the Township of Southwold is particularly reserved for schools,
any surveys or locations to be made therein, require, the special inter-
ference of the Council. Had the line of Road been continued in the
most strait and direct line -from the Road in Westminster to the Talbot
Road, a distance of about twelve miles, the difficulty would probably
have been less to surmount, but as it now is, I cannot give you the
smallest hopes, that the parallel new Road will be confirmed, and hope
you will not place any one upon it.

Not doubting that Mr. Burwell had taken the shortest distance
from the Road through Westminster to the Talbot Road, for his survey,
or line of communication especially as he told me the distance would
be about Twelve miles, as it appears to be, I did not, when the Return
of survey was made, especially as, from the then sitting Legislature,
the pressure of business was extremely great, examine and compare his
survey & Field Notes.

As soon as the President shall have sat upon the Report ordered,
yon shall be made acquainted with such orders as may be the result-
thereof.

I have the Honor to be

Sir
Your most obedient

& very humble servant

THOS. RIDOTJT,

The Honble. Surveyr. Genl.

Thomas Talbot

Port Talbot.

Sec. II., 1907. 10.



146 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Major General Brock to Talbot.
My Dear Sir, York April 20th 1812.

I enclose for your information the report of C'ouncil upon tho
several points contained in your letter I regret very much it is not
more satisfactory not an idea existed of any survey having been made
of the land parallel t Talbot Koad. and no document can be found
authorizing that service you may probably be possessed of a letter
from Governor Gore on the subject and if you can by any means make
it appear that he was privy and sanctioned the measure, I still hope
the Council may bo induced to meet your wishes in every particular I
oth an increase
to their salaries. Cartwright 3000 additional acres &c.. &c. Mrs. Gore
was very ill. TTalton thought in imminent danger. The Prince "Regent
has surprised the world and disgusted his old friends T hope Lot
by Express & at the same time enclose copys of the General orders
enclosed to you by this opportunity.

Extract from a General order issued June 28th

" Colonel Talbot is appointed to the Command of the Militia in
" the London District and will bo pointed in his directions to the Militia
" of Oxford & Middlesex "



Bill for Supplies furnished by Albert Berdan Sr.

Commissary General Dept.

To Albert. Berdan Senr. 1

For Provisions furnished the Norfolk Militia between the ! July
LSI 2 and Ifi Tnst. Inclusive viz.



Three hundred & fifty two pound? of Flour at four dol-

lars p. Cwt. is .................................... 3 10

Fifty two pound* of Pork 7> <. ......................... 1 13 G

Two hundred & Eighty one Ibs Beef 3d ................. 3 10 3

Thirteen Gallons Whiskev at 5s.. 3 5



Halifax Currenrv. , . 11 17



1 Albert Berdan. Tf.E.L., was during tho Revolutionary War sergeant In
the 2nd battalion of New Jersey volunteers. He settled in New Brunswick
on the conclusion of peace, but came west in 1798. settling in the township
of Woodhouse in the county of Norfolk. When the Courts of Quarter Ses-
sions were organized in ISOO. Berdan was sworn in as the first constable of
Woodhouse. and was appointed first court crier. The Berdans of Southwold
are of the same family. (See Tasker: The United Empire Loyalist Settle-
ment at Long Point. Ont. Hist. Society Papers and Records, Vol. II. p. 99).



[COTNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 151

The following letter is copied from the original, in the Askin
collection, now in the Archives at Ottawa. For the copy the editor is
indebted to Mrs. J. H. Wilson of St. Thomas.

Talbot to Major General Brock.
Archives: Askin Collection.

Oxford Monday 27th July 1812.
My dear General

I arrived at this place this morning from Long Point where I had
been two days, one spent in endeavouring to secure 100 Volunteers from
the Norfolk Militia and I am sqrry to inform you that notwithstanding
the apparent readiness manifested by the Flank Companies of those
Battns. on former occasions, that when it was understood that the men
requiredj were absolutely to proceed to The Eiver Thames, very few
turned out for that service, after much explanation of the expectations
of the Government and the disgrace that would attend their Eegts.
I made out about 60 men, I then ballotted 40 more and ordered the
detachment to march to join Major Chambers * as yesterday morning
When I reached the ground from whence the Detachment was to march.
1 found a large assembly of the Farmers with their women, who upon
my approach addressed me, by declaring that their men should not
march, upon this I enquired, if there were any Magistrates present,
the answer was, several, I required one to come forward, on which Mr.
Bemer - appeared, I asked him, how he as a Magistrate could permit
such proceedings, he offered no excuse, but said that he conceived the
measure of withdrawing any of the Militia from Long point was highly
improper. I then ordered the party to march, when about a half
obeyed and after proceeding a short distance the men fell out, all but
about 20, who continued their march, and even those few appeared
unwilling, I therefore thought it most prudent to allow those few to
return as I could not flatter myself with any material benefit that could
result from their weak and uncertain assistance. Major Salmon who
was present, I directed to proceed to Head Quarters and state the ciiv



1 He had been directed by General Brock to proceed with 50 men of the
41st Regiment to the Moravian town, where 200 militia were directed to join
him, for the purpose of checking the inroads of the enemy along the Thames.
Major Salmon was to command these militiamen. (See Cruikshank, Doc.
Hist., Part 3, page 138.)

2 John Beemer, born in New Jersey, 1762, came to Upper Canada, 1787,
settled in the township of Townsend, Norfolk county, in 1797; justice of the
peace, 1800; ensign in 2nd Norfolk Militia, 1812; captured by the U. S. troops
in McArthur's raid; died, 1848. (See Owen: Pioneer Sketches of the Long Point
Settlement.)



182 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

cumstances as they occurred to you. Major Chambers is at this place
with the Flank Companies of the Oxford Militia, Lt. Col. Bostwick
re]x>rts that they have generally volunteered, there are about <>0 Rank
& tile, but I confess I am not disposed to place much reliance on their
offers or services. Not an Indian as yet and Major Chambers informs
me that Norton gave him to understand that 40 or 50 men would be
the utmost that he could promise himself from the Grand River Tribes.
Middlesex might furnish about <>0 men but from Mr. Bostwicks inform-
ation, that those of Delaware and Westminster had sent a petition to
Genl. Hull for protection, you will be enabled to value the support that
may be expected from that part of Middlesex. In fact, my dear Genl.
the prospect is dismal, unless there is some other resource that I am
not acquainted with. I have advised Major Chambers not to advance
his small and valuable party until he received orders from you or ob-
tained such strength as might justify such movement. I have thoughts
of going to Port Talbot for a day to oversee my affairs there. I'm
most anxious to know your determination if you should be forced to
send to Genl. Hull do let me know as those in promise of land on per-
forming their settlement duties should be included in such condition
as may IH> entered into and something relative to myself. Mr. Crooks
who is begging to be off requires my concluding by assuring you my
dear Genl. that I am ever with truth

Most faithfully Yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.
To

His Honor

Major Genl. Brock,
&c, &c, &c,
(Endorsed)

Oxford 2? July 1812

C..1. Ta'lhot
Reed. 20. -\ P.M.
Copy to Gonl. Brock-
No. 2. 20 Julv 7 P.M.



Lieut. Col. Macdonell P.A.TXC. to Talbot. Militia General Order.

Head Quarters
M. G. 0. Fort George 26th August 1812.

Major General Brock has ever felt anxious to study the comfort
nnd convenience of the Militia, but the conduct of the detachments



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 153

which lately accompanied him to Detroit lias if possible increased his
anxiety on this subject the present cessation of hostilities enables him
to dispense with the services of a large proportion of them for a short
period.

Officers commanding will grant permission to any number of the
Flank Companies now doing duty not exceeding four fifths of the whole,
to return to their homes; but the men will be particularly directed to
hold themselves in readiness to return at a moment's warning.

The Major General is pleased to direct that a general inspection
of the Regiments in the Home Niagara & London Districts be imme-
diately made.

Major General Sheaffe will inspect those in the Home District
(except Colonel Beasley's Eegiment).

Major General Shaw will inspect the 1st 2d 3d 4th & 5th Jtegi-
ments & the 2d Regiment of York Militia, and

Colonel Talbot the different Regiments in the London District.

At these Inspections every man liable to serve is expected to be
present, and such as are absent are to be accounted for under the fol-
lowing heads

It Age and infirmity

2d Quakers, Menonists & Tunkers.

3d Absentees, distinguishing for what cause.

It is expected that every individual residing within the limits of
a Regiment shall be accounted for.

A Regular roll of each company will be prepared by the Respective
Captains and countersigned by the officers commanding the Regiment.

The greater the improvement made by the Militia in acquiring a
knowledge of Military discipline, the less necessary will it be to call
them from their homes. The Major General therefore is pleased to
direct that officers commanding will call out the men of their respec-
tive regiments or companies for the purpose of drill once in every week.

Officers commanding corps are directed to call upon the Militia
men of their respective Regiments, battalions and companies to take
and subscribe the oath of allegiance, as directed in the last Militia
Act previous to the day of inspection anrl they will furnish the inspect-
ing officer with a list of the names of such persons who may have refused
'to take & subscribe the same if any such there be.
By order of the Major General.

J. MACDONNELL Lt. Col.

Militia P.A.D.C.
To Colonel Talbot

Commanding London District.



154 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Bill for Supplies Furnished by Captain White.

Captn. White has furnished provisions & liquor to a party of
Indians under the Command of ('apt. Tuck on their way to Niagara
to amount of Ten Pounds Nineteen Shillings

31st August 1812.

H. BOSTWICK.
Burford 31st August 1812.
Capt. White furnished

342 Ib Beef at loO 7 10 7

From Peter Teeple.

3fi8 Ibs of Beef at od.
1-1 th August 1812, for Indians,
from Wm. McCartney
1048 Ibs of Beef at r>d.
109 Ibs of Pork at I/
Sale for 18 /

Provisions for a party of Capt Springers Company Middlesex 16/
Ib. Beef.

Militia 1S2 Ibs Beef at /id. one half B. Salt !(>/
Middlesex i/o do do 1(J/

Oxford 3o4 Ibs Beef od.
do 4(50 Ibs Beef
do 2GS Ibs Beef ,
do 22? Ibs Beef

McCartney about !>0 $ beef,
do (54 U Us Mutton

do 232 Ibs Beef
do fM Ibs Beef

do JI9 Ibs Flour

do 287 Ibs Reof
do 30 Ibs Flour

do 48 Ibp Mutton

at the rate of 7d Ib.



Major (Jencral Brock to Talbot.
My dear Col. Monday ? Sept [1812].

I returned yesterday from Kingston At twelve tomorrow hostilities
are to recommence. Madison must be mad or so deeply involved in



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 138

Bonaparte politics/- that he cannot recede 1 have a letter from Isaac
Todd from N. ^ ork dated the 21st Augt. a determination to cmupei
government to make peace prevails

The enemy is most active in his line opposite. An attack with
his artillery will probably commence in a few days He is strong in
numbers The prodigious quantity of ammunition and provisions
which the cessation of hostilities has enabled him to collect gives him
an advantage he would not easily have acquired otherwise. I wish at
this moment to assemble as strong a force as possible Lieut. Bird
encourages me to expect 2 or 300 men from the district under your
command!. Do what you are able in that respect sending to let me
know the number that are likely to volunteer their services that arrange-
ments may be made for their reception.

Yrs always

ISAAC BROCK.

You cannot send a better Capt, than Bothwick. 1 I cannot think
a force at Longpoint at this time is at all necessary.

I. B.
We have arms in tolerable plenty.



Lieut. Col. Henry Bostwick to Talbot.

Oxford 10th Sept. 1812.
Sir

Mr. Bird arrived at this place last evening from Fort George, and
informs me that he is taking instructions to you to send to Niagara
: all the Militia of the District without delay should that be the case,
I should be glad to receive the order from you as soon as possible and
shall hold myself in readiness and shall prepare the Militia of this
Regt. also to be in readiness in the meantime.

I sent Major Tousley on with a detachment of Militia day before
yesterday. I understand that he was joined in Burford by more than
I had reason to expect, so that his force will consist of about 100 men.
I shall send Mr. Brigham on tomorrow with his "Rifle men his company
will consist of about 30 men. I think most of them will be furnished
with good Rifles.



1 Captain (afterwards Lieutenant Colonel) John Bostwick of Port Stanley.



136 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

I have not heard whether the Norfolk Militia h vo moved towards

Niagara or not I sent but one C'aptn and 3 subalterns with

Major Tousley, my directions to him were to take 80 Hank & file. I
am however very glad to hear that it is more.

I am Sir

Your most obt. St.

II. BOSTWICK Lt. Col.

Oxford.
To

Tin- Rouble T. Talbot
&c. &c. &c.

Port Talbot

(Endorsed)
To

The Honble Thos. Talbot
Col. Commanding

London District.



Captain Daniel Springer 1 to Talbot.

Dear Sir. Delaware 10th Sept 1812.

Agreeable to your request I delivered your letter to Col. Nichol at
detroit. and he was much engaged with publick business, and did not
write, but told me that he would set off for niagara on the Eighth
Instant. I found persons in detroit of respectability who was willing
to give their depositions respecting Andrew Westbrook, while at dertroit
the purport is that, he requested fifty men from General Hull to return
back to Delaware and take his property, and that Simon Z. Watson
n.= to be on>-> of the number. General Hull Doubted his integrity,
asked the opinion of those persons, as they were acquainted with him.
what kind of a man he was wether or not he Could be intrusted and,
he was in detroit at the time of the Capatnlation, and as there where
no Magistrates appointed to take depositions T Could not get them, but
Col. Nichol promised me that they. should be appointed, and the depo-
sitions would be taken and would get them forwarded on to niagara,



1 Of Delaware. Taken prisonor 31st January. 1S14, at Delaware and sent
to General Harrison's headquarters. After his release he took part In the
closing scenes of the war.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 137

the day before I returned to delaware, Mr. B. Bruster Brigham * had
assembled my Company of Militia and told the men, that he had orders
from Lieut. Col. Bostwick, to take a Certain number from among them
to fill up his rifel Company, and if not that he should select a Certain
number of musket men. I asked him by what authority he intenaired
with my Company he made answer by orders of Lieut. Col. Bostwick.
I tould him if such measures were legal that, I was not acquainted
with it, and that I would acquent your Honor with the proceeding,
and yesterday he marched them off and likewise told the men if thtey
did not go that Col. Bostwick would fetch them with a file of men,
what number he tuck I cannot say Mr. Dingman Can perhaps give
you some account as he saw the men.

I have the Honor to

be your Honors most

obedient and Very
Humble Servt.

DANIEL SPRINGER.
Colonel Talbot.



Chief Justice Scott to Talbot,

My Dear Sir-, \ Yorke Se P r 12 ' 1812 '

I return you my sincere thanks for your letter of the 29th of
August. The loss which you have sustained I most truly regret. It
is certainly no reasonable consolation, yet we all take some degree of
comfort to ourselves, when we find that we are not the only sufferers,
and that others share with us in our misfortunes. The rains here
have done great mischief here, where we had no Enemy but the season
to contend with.

I consider myself equally interested with you in the return of our
worthy friend the Govr. I have not heard from him since I wrote
to you last, he was then in great hopes of returning soon amongst
us, but alas in this world what -are hopes Mrs. Gore was much
better they both have found every attention from their Friends hut
they both wish to return. The Prince Regent in the most familiar
manner acknowledged the Govr. as an old acquaintance & put him in
mind of their having served together. I had yesterday a Letter from
Genl. Brock who seems to expect that matters would soon be brought

1 Captain Bela Brewster Brigham of Delaware, captured 31st January.
1814, along with Captain Springer.



158 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

to a crisis at Niagara. Since the beginning of the troubles (for so I
must call them) the Genl. never was so strong we expect a few, &
but a few, Kegular Troops to this place under it is sd. Col. Short
Majr. Fuller has been perfectly deranged Allen your old acquaint-
ance, as Major in the Militia, has in effect the command of the Gar-
rison and has acted with much judgt & discretion. There is an ugly
report of a Frigat of our La Guericre having been taken by the Consti-
tution an American Ship Our vessel it is said was so much battered,
that she sunk the moment she was taken but this is American News
conveyed to Xiagara it may be a lie but I am somewhat apprehensive
of its truth.

They, the Americans, have taken off the roof from their fort at
Xiagara and have erected a Battery on the Stone-work which remains
Xumbers are leaving the American Camp but whether from a faint
or by TVsertion we do not know it is said they are sickely &c. &c.
l>ut we ought not to be too credulous. An American vessel was taken
on the T.ake near us, but alas our men of war were not good calculators,
for upon examination it was found that at the time of the capture.
Hostilities had ceased. & were not to be renewed till two days after.
Tt is strongly reported that part of the Militia at Albany have refused
to march out of their state \ that blood has l)e;-n spilt on the occa-
sion. The repeal of the. orders in Council by G. Rn. ought to satisfy
the American Government but the leaders will not be satisfied but ird Wellington on the 22d.
July near Salamanca, defeated the enemy under Marmont, taking
killing and wounding from 10 to 12,000, & all his artillery. The enemy
was in full retreat & His Lordship in close pursuit we have not the
official letter but there is no doubt of the fact. Sir John B. Warren
has arrived with part of his fleet, which consists of six sail of the line
& ten frigates. I remain with much respect Dr. Sir very truly yours.

(sgd) J. MACDONELL

P.A.D.C.
Colonel Talbot.

(The address is as follows)



H. M. S.

To Colonel Talbot

Comm'g Militia London District

Port Talbot
J. Macdonell

P.A.D.C.



(Col. Talbot endorsed the letter with the words) " Rec'd Oct 19th
nt 11 o'clock A.M."



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 161

Major General Sheaffe to Colonel Talbot &c.

Fort George 16th Octr. 1812.
I). G. 0.

Two thirds of the whole establishment of the 1st & 2nd Norfolk
1st Oxford and 1st Middlesex Kegt. of Militia officered agreeably to
former regulations are to repair with the greatest possible dispatch to
the following points.

1st Norfolk I

o j AT ~t n f Chippawa
2nd Norfolk J

1st Oxford ) ~

I Queenstown
1st Middlesex j

A Blanket each is recommended to be brought by each man, and
all arms and ammunition in possession are also to be brought.

K. H. SHEAFFE

M. General Commg.
Colonel Talbot

& Officers Commg.
&c. &c. &c.

(Indorsed)
Mem.

Colonel Bostwick will desire that the men required by the fore-
going order shall be marched in by their officers without losing the
time that it would require to wait for orders from Colonel Talbot

E. H. SHEAFFE

M. Genl. Commg.



Capt'n Glegg A.D.C. to Talbot.

Fort George, 19th October 1812.
Dear Sir.

Since writing to you on the 14th and giving verbal instructions to
Lieut. Colonel Bostwick respecting the movements directed to be made
by the different Regiments of Militia under your command, some cir-
cumstances have arisen which induce Major General Sheaffe to make
some changes in the former arrangements. The Enemy having been
foiled in his late attempt upon this line, and an indefinite armistice
having been agreed upon by Major General Sheaffe and Brigdr. General
Smyth which extends only between the Lakes Erie and Ontario or in

See. II., 1907. 11.



162 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

other words the extremities of our mutual Posts along this communi-
cation, it is not improbable thai he may make some efforts to effect a
lauding either above or below Forts Krie and Fort George. Major
General SheaiTe requests you will distribute the proportions of Militia
directed to be inunediately called out, consisting of the 1st & 2nd Nor-
folk 1st Oxford mill 1st Middlesex Jlegiments between Long Point
and point Abino making such intermediate arrangements for other
points along that communication, as your superior local knowledge may
suggest.

Major General Sheail'e begs that you will station strong detach-
ments at the following places At or very near Long Point, Dover
Mills, Grand Kiver, Sugar Loaf and a small party distributed from
the latter place to Fort Erie. You will be pleased to make an early
communication of your aggregate effective force, and your distribution
of it, you will be so good at the same time to transmit a statement of
your wants, and means of supplying them. Every effort will be made
to give the most immediate efficiency to the force under your com-
mand, and the Major General recommends the establishment of jrour
Head Quarters at the most convenient point, for a quick communication
with this Post.

I have the honor to be
Dear Sir

Yours very faithfully,

J. B. GLEGO Captn. A.D.C.

P.S. Arrangements have been made this morning for facilitating
your eomTminiontion by placing a proper proportion of Dragoons between
this Port and Long Point.

J. B. G.

I have not a moment to devote to you on the subject of our late
glorious tho' melancholy proceedings, I will not forget my dear sir the
interest you have ever taken in everything relating to our ever to be
lamented friend.

At a moment of more leisure you shall hear from me on this subject.

J. B. G.

(Addressed on outside)

Service

Colonel Talbot
J. B. G. Commanding

A. D. C. London District



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 163

Major General Sheaffe to Talbot.

Fort George 7th Novr. 1812.
My Dear Colonel,

It having unfortunately fallen to my lot to read the letter you
addressed to M. Genl. Brock respecting the locations in Bayham and
Malahide, I caused certain queries relative thereto to be put to the
Surveyor General, which have produced the voluminous statement in-
closed herewith you will be so good as to return it when you have
read it, and noted any extracts you may deem necessary. You cannot
doubt that it will afford me great pleasure if my public duty will per-
mit my favoring your wishes on the subject; at present, I confess that
1 do not fully understand the case.

Your letter from Dover Mills has been received We have few
if any arms to spare if any can be mustered they shall be forwarded
with ammunition there being some Eifles in store, I have authorised
Lt. Bingham to form a Company of Riflemen.

The Simcoe is just arrived with clothing and bedding the Moira
approaches with other stores for the Militia &c. &c.

Six Companies of the Glengarry levy are expected at Kingston
two come here one to York two of the 49th also come here.

The Simcoe brings a report of a fleet with several regts. being
in the river the Q.M.G. is in the Moira he brings money. C.
Glegg & Mr. Brock are here they go to York to-day B. proceeded by
land to Kingston G. comes back to go by water to join Sir G. P as
Extra. C. Fulton has been sent home with despatches. I have some
intention of going to York, I wait for the coming in of the Moira,
M. Genl. Shaw who acts now only as A.G. will send you further in-
formation. Adieu, my deal Colonel, and believe me

Truly yours,

E. SHEAPFE.
Colonel Talbot

&c. &c. &c.



Major General Sheaffe to Talbot.
My Dear Colonel Ft, George, Nov 25, 1812.

It would give me great pleasure to meet you at York, but I fear
that the enemy will not give me leave. I opened a fire on Fort Niagara
the evening after the termination of the Armistice. It was returned
with spirit, and continued with but little intermission during the day.



164 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

The effect of our fire was not what 1 expected after the experience of
the 13th Oct, though we did them more damage than we suffered our-
selves. I went to the right expecting an attack to follow, the notice
of the rupture coining from them, but all has as yet remained quiet on
our Hanks. This battery may have disconcerted their plan, which was
one motive for it.

Paymaster Brock was taken in the Elizabeth, preferring her to the
Review, which arrived at Kingston, escaping the Flotilla that attacked
the Royal George in Kingston Harbour, the Oncida, and six other ves-
sells carrying each thirty-two privates and four sixes. A frigate of
thirty-two guns (keep it to yourself) was nearly ready to be launched
it was said that it would take place on the 17th a rapid fire progress!
1 have much more to do than I am able to accomplish. Mr. Ross waits.
Believe me, dear Colonel,

Most truly yours

K. H. SHEAFFE.
Col. Talbot.

Mr. Ross has copies of orders for you.

(From an old copy of the St. Thomas "Evening Journal.'')



John Eakins to Talbot.
1'ear Col. Talbot Port Talbot Nov. 171812.

I have received from Mrs. Story 57 yd of Shurting & full Cloth
flannel 10 yd to Chase. GV 2 to Cook of the full Cloth flannel. Chase
wishes to have more, f> yd to Richard & Bunker & 5 to Jim veal of the
shnrtin flanal. Huntley has Returned and Says that he will do the
p arls. I have Killed the 2 Hogs and the big one Weighed 2 hundred
nd 73

Henry Wishes you to Send him a Wool Hat and Vest Pattern &
Cap lie is very attentive to the L'attle 1 will .Let out the Kams to-
morrow.

Capt. Wilson has Killed a large Bare and Buck the Bare Weighed
4 Hundred and 2 Pound

I hope to see you home before Long. I Remain your very Humble
Servant

JOHN EAKINS
To

The Honble Colonel Talbot

Commg. the London District
Dover Mills



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 165

Adjt. Gen. Shaw to Talbot,

Adjutant General's Office /

Fort George llth Decemr. 1812.
Sir.

His Honor Major General Sheaffe taking into his consideration
the advanced season of the year and the many domestic calls on the
Militia who are now on the frontiers, is pleased to direct that all those
of your District, with the exception of such as are at Fort Erie, be
permitted to return to their respective homes. As there are no Public
Depots the men will carry with them their arms accoutrements and
ammunition, for the due preservation of which the officers of 'each com-
pany will assemble their Men once in a fortnight in such manner as may
be least inconvenient, for the purpose of their being carefully inspected.
Alarm posts will be assigned for the reassembling the men should there
be occasion, and proper signals established.

I have the honor to be

Sir
Your most obedient Servant

^]NEAS SHAW

Adjt. Genl. Mila.
Colonel Talbot

&c, &c. &c.

Port Talbot
(Addressed on the back)

On Service
Colonel Talbot

Commandg the Militia in the District of London
M. S.



Talbot to Maj. Genl. Sheaffe. (Draft letter.)

i

Dover Mills 12th Deer. 1812.
My dear General.

Mr. Eoss arrived here yesterday and delivered me your Letter
dated the Also the copies of the Genl Orders of 9th July, 1st

3d Augt, 18th, 19th & 25th N"ovr. which I had not before seen. Mr.
Ross further informs me that he did not receive pay for some of the
officers whose services were included in the estimate which he took
down to Head Quarters, viz Lt. Col. Burwell 1st Eegt. Middlesex, Lt.



166 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Col. Bostwick 1st Regt. Oxford, Major Bowen 1st Regt. Norfolk, Major
Salmon 2nd Regt. Norfolk and Adjutant Eakins of the 1st Oxford
Uogt I must beg leave to explain the reasons and authority by
which those officers were placed on duty trusting that they will be
considered sufficient to enable you to issue an order that they may
receive pay for the time specified in the estimate Lt. Col. Bunvell
I ordered on Duty in consequence of receiving information of parties
from Genl. Hulls army having penetrated into the Province to within
a few miles of Port Talbot being myself on duty at Longpoint and
Fort George with Genl. Brock to whom I reported the particulars
Lt. Col. Bostwick was put on duty by a verbal order to me from Major
Genl. Brock on the day of his sailing with the expedition from this
place for Detroit, and the last time I had the pleasure of seeing that
Lamented General he expressed to me his desire that Lt. Col. Bostwick
should be continued on duty Major Salmon was likewise placed on
duty by Major Genl. Brock and was ordered to proceed down the River
Thames under Cap'n Chambers of the 41st and afterwards served in
the expedition agains Detroit. District Major Bowen, from being an
exceedingly good drill officer, was ordered to be stationed at Turkey
point by approbation of Genl. Brock for the purpose of instructing the
quotas of Militia that were assembled at that station, and I can with
great justice assure you, that Major Bowen has been indefatigable in
his attention and exertions to form the Militia for service Adjutant
Eakins was also put on duty by order of Major Genl. Brock should
those deserving officers be refused pay after devoting their time to the
good of the Province much to the prejudice of their private affairs
and exposed to considerable expense I am confident it would have a
\CT\ unfavorable tendency in lessening the unquestionable loyalty &
ardour at' present manifested and destroy all faith and confidence in
the Government for the future.

*

as there cannot be any apprehension retained of an attack on
this part of the country during the winter season, I will beg leave to
recommend the propriety of allowing the detachments stationed in this
neighborhood to be dismissed, as the men are most wretchedly provided
with clothing, so much so as to render their marching to a distance
almost impossible and their families are suffering the utmost distress,
during their absence, being chiefly new beginners in the woods and
dispersed through a great extent of country.

As far as I can collect from the information of some of our men
that have been Prisoners with the Enemy, I am disposed to hope that
the Enemy have given up the idea of further disturbing the Province



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 167

during the winter I hope that you will strongly urge Sir George to
strengthen you by every means that he can spare from below so that
we may be prepared to meet the foe in the spring should no accommo-
dation take place between the two Governments previous to that time
but I most ardently pray may be the case, what an neglect and infatu-
ation it has been in our Kulers at home, not having immediately on
receiving the declaration of War expedited a force sufficient for the
defence of these Provinces, such, a measure would have effectually sup-
ported the powers vested in Sir John Warren's mission.



Lieut. Col. Nichol to Talbot,

Pec. 12. 1812.
Dear Colonel.

I am so busy that I can not .write you, as I could wish I however
enclose you Genl. Smyth's proclamation. I shall write you by the very
next opportunity a very long and I trust a very satisfactory letter.

Believe me dear Coll.

very faithfully yours.

EOBT. NiCHOL.

P.S. I have got the Genl. to pass your estimates Couche should
be hanged.

Addressed

Coll. Talbot

Dover Mills.



Printed fly-sheet.

AT A MEETING OF THE PRINCIPAL INHABITANTS OF THE
TOWN OF YORK AND ITS VICINITY, HELD AT YORK
ON TUESDAY THE 15th DAY OF DECEMBER, 18lz, pur-
suant to PUBLIC NOTICE. THE HONORABLE CHIEF
JUSTICE SCOTT, Chairman, it is RESOLVED,

1st That a select Society be established by annual Subscription .
throughout the Province, to , be called THE LOYAL AND !
PATRIOTIC SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA, for the fol- j
lowing specific purposes:



168 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

1st To afford aid and relief to such Families of the Militia in all
parts of the Province, as shall appear to experience particular
Distress in consequence of the Death or Absence of their Friends
and Relations employed in the Militia Services in Defence of
the Province.

2d To afford like aid and relief to such Militia Men as have been
or shall be Disabled from Labour, by Wounds or otherwise, in
course of the Service aforesaid. Provided it shall appear to
the Committee hereafter to be named, that over and above tue
Aid afforded by the legislature, to some of the cases above men-
tioned, some further Relief is necessary.

3d. To reward Merit, excite Emulation, and commemorate glorious
Exploits, by bestowing Medals or other honorary marks of public
Approbation and Distinction for extraordinary instances of per-
sonal Courage or Fidelity in defence of the Province, by Indi-
viduals, cither of His Majesty's Regular or Militia Forces or
Seamen.

2nd. That the Society shall continue during the present War with the
United States of America, and shall be under the special pro-
tection and patronage of His Honor Major General SHEAFFE,
or the Person Administering His Majesty's Government in this
Province, for the time being.

3d. That every Person throughout the Province, whose' annual Sub-
scription shall amount to One Pound or upwards, shall be
admitted to the honor of being a Member of the Society, ana
have the privilege of recommending Objects to its charitable
Bounty, and also of Voting at all General Meetings and Deliber-
ations of the Subscribers. And that the Members of His Ma-
jesty's Executive and Legislative Council, Judges of the King's
Bench, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Clergymen of
the Established Church, together with every other Person vvnose
annual Subscription shall amount to Ten Pounds or upwards,
shall be Directors of the Society for the purposes hereinafter
mentioned, and all General and Field Officers of His Majesty's
Regular Forces serving in the Province, are invited to be Hon-
orary Members of the Society.

4th. That the affairs of the Society be Governed and its business
Conducted by the General Board of Directors to assemble
Quarterly, that is, on the first day of the Quarter Sessions, in
the Town of York, which Board shall consist of a President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and any number, not less



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 169

than five of the other Directors, and that the Chief Justice and
the Members of His Majesty's Executive Council for the time
shall be President and Vice Presidents of the Society, without
the presence of one or more of whom such General Board cannot
be held or business transacted.

oth. The General Board of Directors shall, by the Secretary and
Treasurer, make regular entries of their proceedings, and state-
ments of their Keceipts and Disbursements, in Books to be kept
for that purpose, in order that the same be occasionally Pub-
lished and submitted to the inspection of the Subscribers. And
to facilitate the objects of the Society, the said Board shall
appoint Committees of their own Members residing in the dif-
ferent Districts, who may apply to the relief of cases of Dis-
tricts arising therein, the whole amount of the Subscriptions
obtained in such Districts, except three per cent on the said
amount, to be appropriated by the Directors towards effecting
the third object of the /Society; and that the said Committee
shall from time to time transmit to the Secretary of the General
Board at York, an account of their proceedings and expenditures,
that unity may be preserved in the Society throughout the Pro-
vince, and a full Statement of its Transactions may be prepared
for the satisfaction of all the Subscribers and the Public at
large.

6th. That the respective Sums at first to be Subscribed shall be con-
sidered the Sum to be paid annually by each Subscriber during
the continuance of the Society, (unless in cases of leaving the
Province or some material alteration in the circumstances of
the Subscriber), and shall for the present year, be paid within
one Month after the Subscription, and in the following years,
at such periods as the General Board of Directors shall appoint,
in order to enable the Board to provide Supplies, best adapted
for Relief of Distress, on the most advantageous Terms. And
that the Money accruing from such Subscriptions, shall be con-
sidered as constituting the Funds for the purposes of the Society.

7'th. That exclusive of the Annual Subscription, the Society will accept
of Donations of any extent whatsoever from those who may not
choose to become Annual Subscribers or Members of the Society,
and the Names of such Benefactors and the sums they have given,
shall be Published Quarterly in the York " Gazette."

8th. And whereas it is the opinion of this Society, that no personal
Merit whatever in Military Service, can compensate for insub-
ordination and breach of Discipline, it is hereby particularly



17O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Resolved, That the Board of Directors shall not be at liberty to
bestow Medals or other Honorary marks of Distinction upon any
Militia Man or Soldier who shall be convicted of Desertion or
absenting himself from his Duty without leave from his Superior
Officer, or to afford any Relief whatever from the Funds of this
Society, to the Family of such Person.



Lieut. Col. Xichol to Talbot.

My Dear Colonel Xia ara 1)ccl ' 18 ~ 1812 '

You must think me the worst of men for the apparent neglect of
you since my return from Montreal but when you know that I have
not had time even to see my own wife you will not I am sure think me
much to blame This cursed oil ice to which for my sins I have been
appointed engrosses all my time and if I dont soon get leave to resign
it 1 believe I shall go crazy.

I have not had it in my power to attend as yet to either your
ail'airs or my own

Alas my Dear Colonel we are no longer commanded by Brock
& our situation is most materially changed for the worse Confidence
seems to have vanished from the land and gloomy dispondency has
taken its place I dare not trust myself to write you all I feel the
Field Officers of the Troops & Militia have saved the country for a
time but their efforts will be unavailing against bad management and
despondency in those who are at our head and who ouglit to be better
qualified to fill energetically tJie liigh and important situations they
hold. You may however depend upon it that those on this line will
not relax in their exertions to save the country. I enclose you the
only scrap of Paper I have I have no longer access to the Staff papers
i however learn, by the mail just arrived that a body of about 700 of
the Enemy attempted to surprise one of our Pickets at Odell Town
they retired without doing us any damage loosing GO or 70 in killed
and Wounded we took five Prisoners

It is a long time since we have had any Continental intelligence
hut there is no doubt our affairs will continue to prosper in Spain
Tn Russia I fear matters are not so favorable. Gray the Assistant
but now acting Depy Q. M. General arrived here a few days ago he
goes off this morning to lay down the keel of a Frigate at York and
a sloop of War at Kingston the one to carry 30 guns viz 24 32 Pd.
Canonades & G long 18s the other of the class of the Royal George



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 171

an establishment from the Eoyal Navy is to man them so I hope
we shall yet hold up our heads I have really had no time to attend
to your Concerns Your coat is with my Baggage at Kingston for
which I have sent by land

Young Rolph 1 just come in will tell you all the American News.

Adieu my Dear Colonel believe me most faithfully

Yours. Eos. NICHOL.

P.S. Couche will not pay me for the provisions & other things
furnished by your orders

R. N.

P.S. Maddison re elected Lord Wellington at Burgos The
Russians according to the French Bulletins defeated with immense loss
say 50,000 they (the French) acknowledge to have lost 10,000 several
Genls killed on both sides

(Addressed on the back)
Colonel Talbot
Dover Mills



Draft Report, Col. Talbot to Gen. Sheaffe.
Sir

I am commanded by His Honor the President and Lieutenant
General to relate such particulars, as I am acquainted with in explana-
tion of the Enclosed Papers.

Soon after the irruption of the U. States Troops under the' com-
mand of Brigadier General McArthur, thro' the Western & London
Districts, in the beginning of the month of November last, Deputy
Commissary General Turquand paid a visit to Long Point, at which
place I then was, for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of the
injury committed by the Enemy. It was found that the London Dis-
trict had still a quantity of Grain and other Provisions. Mr. Tur-
quand being very anxious to secure for the supply of His Majesty's
Troops 'every description of Provisions and Forage, Consulted with me
as to the prices, that would be proper to offer on the part of Govern-

'John Rolph, born 1793; died, 1870. He arrived at New York from
England after war was declared. This occasioned his detention in the
United States. The letter apparently refers to his arrival from the States.
His subsequent career is well known. He greatly distinguished himself at
the Bar, in political life, and as a medical practitioner. (See Canniff, The
Medical Profession in Upper Canada; Dent, The Story of the Upper Canada
Rebellion, etc., etc.)



172 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

mcnt for the same, ' My opinion was (considering the sufferings &
losses sustained during the War by the Inhabitants of the Western &
London Districts, tdgether with their remote situation, which added
greatly to the prices of all Articles they were under the necessity of
procuring from the Lower Canada) that they ought to receive favorable
price's for their produce as were given in other parts of the Province,
therefore recommended the Deputy Commissary General to adopt the
same rate that was established by the Magistrates of the District
of Niagara which was accordingly done, and notifications put up at the
most public places through the District of London signed by Deputy
Commissary (leneral Turquand, offering his prices viz. Fourteen Dol-
lars per barrel for Flour, and for other Articles as established at
Niagara The foregoing arrangement gave universal satisfaction, and
considerable quantities of Provisions were brought in to the Commis-
sariat Stores at Long Point. On my return from Montreal to Long
Point a short time back in Company with Commodore Sir James L.
Yeo. we went to the House of Major Salmon, of the Norfolk Militia
In the course of conversation with Major Salmon I enquired how the
Commissariat was getting on, & whether the Inhabitants had brought
in much provisions, his answer was that matters were not going on well,
that Mr. Ilaly who had charge of the Commissariat at Long Point,
& who had, by his mild behaviour & punctual payments for all supplies,
acquired the Confidence, and esteem, of that part of the country, was
removed, and a Mr. Clark was then in charge, whose manner was
entirely opposite, that Mr. Haly had requested of Major Salmon to
urge the fanners to thresh & bring in their Wheat to the Mill, with
all possible expedition, in order that it might be ground & the flour
sent off whilst the sleighing was good that the inhabitants in com-
pliance with Major Salmon's request, were bringing in their Wheat to
the Mills, & when the Miller had packed a number of barrels of flour,
he gave in a return to Major Salmon, of the same, with the Names of
the several persons that Flour belonged to This return Major Salmon
took to Mr. Ilaly, who when he had money by him, paid each person
for his lot of Flour, & when he was without gave certificates to the
amount, which he discharged on getting a further supply of money
a day or two previous to the departure of Mr. Haly from Long Point,
Major Salmon had taken to him a return of the above description, when
Mr. Haly said that he was removed from that Post, but that Mr. Clark
who relieved him would no doubt attend to the same arrangements,
& receive & pay for the Flour as he had done.. Major Salmon accord-
ingly waited on Mr. Clark with a return of Flour, when Mr. Clark



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 173

refused to receive it observing that he had contractors who furnished
all the Flour he would require for His Majesty's Service, & at all events
he would not give more than twelve Dollars per Barrel for Flour. This
information from Major Salmon



Major General Sheaffe to Talbot.
My Dear Colonel, Fort George 19th Deer. 1812.

In consequence of the explanations furnished by you and Lt.
Colonel Nichol I shall authorise the payment of the sums disallowed
in the Estimate to the 24th Septr. for the pay of the Norfolk, Middle-
sex and Oxford Eegts.

I received Dispatches yesterday from Head Quarters to the 6th
Deer, a superintendent & store keeper for our Dock Yard is arrived at
Kingston a Mr. Plucknett who has been in one of our Dock yds at
home from 100 to 120 Shipwrights & 30 seamen are by this time
near Kingston Naval Officers and Seamen are expected from Halifax
a frigate and a sloop of war are to be built on this lake, and another
vessel like the Lady Prevost on Lake Erie Some gun boats with heavy
guns are to be added to the list.

The Royal George and Moira winter at Kingston.
There has been a rediculous affair near Champlain 6 or 700 Ameri-
cans attempted to surprise a picquet of ours of 20 Voyageurs & 12
Indians who were placed in a ditch by Mr. McCoy Commg. the Ameri-
cans so completely surrounded the post that had been occupied by our
people that in firing, as they supposed on them, they only injured one
another and our men joined in the fire without having a man hurt
the Enemy retired after having 50 or 60 killed & wounded a few of
the latter were taken.

T. Coffin is appointed temporary acting Asst. Commt. Genl. lid.
W. has taken Burgos the French say they have beaten the Eussians on
the River Maskwa 25 leagues from Moscow they own the loss of
10,000 and estimate that of the Russians from 40 to 50,000 it is said
that the latter were joined after the battle by 40,000 from Moscow
which City an uncredited report states to have been taken by the
French.

Madison is elected by a majority of 47 ; rumour says that the
United States frigate has been taken. Parliament is dissolved.

Massena advancing with 10,000 men towards Spain Suchot &
Joseph have retired from Valentia Seville taken by assault with
little loss one of the large french mortars employed against Cadiz and



174 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

deserted by the Gauls, has been sent to England as a present to the
1>. O f \v. The Govt. of Spain has published a declaration of pardon
to all who have acted with the French.

I send you a copy of a paper I reed, yesterday from York dis-
seminate a knowledge of it it will soon be done in print.

It' vou knew but all that I have to say, to write, and to do, you
might be able to estimate the value of so long a letter from

My dear Colonel,

Yours ever faithfully

1J. II. SHEAFFE.
Local intelligence I leave to Lt. Col. Hostwick.



Talbot to Captain John Ilaviland.

Colonel Talbot sends the deposition that he was ^mentioning for
Captain Ilaviland to sign, and the Colonel will thank Captn. Haviland
if he will send it back to him tomorrow.

Dover Mills

20th Deer. 1812.

(addressed on the back)

To Captain John TTaviland, Townshend,

forwM by Squire Springer
(This address cancelled. l{e-address( d :)
To the Ilonble

Thomas Talbot
Dover.



London District
to Wit

Personally appeared before me Daniel Springer

Esquire one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace

for the said District, Captain John Haviland of

Townshend, in the said District, who being duly sworn deposeth and

saith, that he, being in possession of nn Order of Council for 2,600

acres of Land for his services during the late American Revolution,

and being desirous to obtain the said lands in the western parts of the

said London District in the month of March 1811, he humbly made

application to His Excellency Lieut. Governor Gore for permission to

locate the same in the Townships of Malahide or Bayham, to which



[COYNE]



THE TALBOT PAPERS



173



His Excellency was pleased to return the Deponent an answer thro'
Major Halton that those Townships, were subject to Settlement Duties
and were under the care of Colonel Talbot, he therefore referred the
Deponent to Colonel Talbot And the Deponent further saith, that
Major Halton communicated His Excellency's answer (as stated above)
to him, in the Surveyor General's office, and as he believes in the pre-
sence of Mr. Eidout the Surveyor General.

JOHN HAVILAND.
Sworn before me this

20th day of Decemr. 1812.

DANIEL SPRINGER J.P.



Quarterly Eeturn of the first Regiment of the Militia of the
of Middlesex in the London District, in the Province of Upper Canad*
for the twenty fourth December 1812.

























'o


oj,


Companies




1

o







S

03


00


s


t*

B

-s


00


05


Is'


3 fc




i


o
O


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bJQ


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CD


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"o^


"0^




8


A


'3*
S


H,
O




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1


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O"


1


M


6


0*3

S5


Colonel


^
























Lieutenant Colonel . .




1






















Major






1




















David Secord.








1


1


1






3


R7


60


600


Daniel Springer








1


1


1






2


50


10


100


Oilman Willson








1


1


1






2


22


10


100


Leslie Patterson. . . .








1


1


1






2


28


10


100


Samuel Edison








1


1


1






2


30


10


100


Total


i


1


1


. 5


5


5


i


1


11


18?1 100


1000



COLONEL.
Thomas Talbot.

CAPTAINS.
David Secord.
Daniel Springer.
Gilman Willson.
Leslie Patterson.
Samuel Edison.



and Names of the Officers.

LIEUT. COLONEL.
Mahlon Burwell.

LIEUTENANTS.
William Bird.
William Saxton.
Gideon Tiffany.
Moses Eice.
Samuel Axford.



MAJOR.
John Eakins.

ENSIGNS.
Daniel Mclntyre.
David Davis.
Joseph Defields.
Benjamin Willson.
Samuel Harris.



ADJUTANT, John Potts.



QR. MASTER, Sylvanus Reynolds.



176 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Lieut. Col. Myers, Acting Q.M.G., to Talbot.

Fort George Jany. 2nd 1813.
Sir

It having been determined to build for His Majesty's service on
Lake Eric, a Vessel of War to carry Eighteen Guns as also several
Gun Boats, and understanding that in Your Vicinity, there may be
procured some Artificers, who could be successfully employed upon those
Worka, I have to request you will be pleased to exert your influence,
to obtain as considerable a portion as in your power of the description
in the Margin, 1 in order that they may be forwarded to Amherstburgh.
You will please to cause it to be explained to such persons as are will-
iriir to be thus employed, that they will receive the same pay, &c. as
was given to the several classes of those who were employed in building
the Lady Prevost, or at the rates given to those now employed in similar
Works, at York and Kingston, on this Subject I have written for
Information and when received I will forward it to the Dy. Asst. Qr.
Mr. General at Amherstburgh, for his guidance, the Artificers must
carry with them as far as possible tools.

As it is essential that the utmost dispatch should be used, in for-
warding such Artificers as can be procured to Amherstburgh, and as
they will proceed on the King's Service, it. will be requisite that the
Magistrates should give the Necessary authority for the impressment of
Sleighs, for their Conveyance, and it would, be very material in for-
warding this measure, if an intelligent Militia Officer can be directed
to take a general charge of the Artificers on their way up, for the pur-
pose of assisting in procuring the necessary Carriages for them, and
defraying the expense, for this purpose he will be furnished with a
rum of money adequate to the probable amount, and for which he
would finally account with the Assistant Commissary at Amherstburgh
en his Arrival, to whom Instructions on tlie Subject will be transmitted.

I have the honor to be

Sir
Your Most Ilumbl Svt.

CHRISTO MYERS Lt. Col.

Acting Qr. Mr. Genl.
Colonel Talbot

&c. &c. &c.

Port Talbot.



'The marginal specification is: Ship Carpenters, Boat builders, Joiners,
Blacksmiths.



[COINE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 177

His HONOR THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.

At the opening of the present Session of the Legislature The
answer of both Houses thereto the Address of the House of Assembly
to his Honor the President, congratulating him upon his accession to
the Government, &c. with his Answer the Address of the Inhabitants
of York to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart, with his Answer.

York, 8th March, 1813.

On Thursday the 25th February, His Honor Roger Hale Sheaffe,
Esq. President, administering the Government of Upper Canada, and
Major General Commanding his Majesty's Forces therein, accompanied
by a numerous suite, proceeded to the Government Buildings and opened
the present Session of the Legislature, when he was pleased to deliver
the following Speech to both Houses:

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, And
Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

It affords me the highest satisfaction that the first time I am called
upon to address you in this place, I have to offer you my cordial con-
gratulations on the uniform success which has crowned his Majesty's
Arms in this Province. The enemy has been foiled in repeated at-
tempts to invade it. Three of his Armies have been surrendered, or
completely defeated, and Two important Fortresses have been wrested
from him.

In this Glorious Campaign, the Valour and Discipline of his
Majesty's regular Forces, have been nobly supported by the Zeal and
Bravery of our Loyal Militia.

Succeeding in the administration of the Government of this Pro-
vince upon the lamented death of Major-General Brock, who so nobly
fell in its defence, it is grateful to me to announce to you the high
sense of the Services of that able and Gallant Officer, manifested by
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who has been pleased in his
Majesty's name, to associate him to the most Honorable Military Order
of the Bath.

I have also the gratification of communicating to you, that his
Royal Highness has been graciously pleased to signify, " That the liberal
appropriations which have been made by the Legislatures of both of
the Canadas, to meet the expenses of the occasion, and the determined
spirit of resistance manifested by the loyal inhabitants, leave little
apprehension on the result of any trial in which they may be called to
prove their courage and perseverance."

Sec. II., 1907. 12.



178 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Gentlemen of the House of Assembly.

I shall direct to be laid before you, the ordinary accounts of the
Public Receipt and Expenditure, as also of the Fund granted in the
last Session, to be disposed of in the Defence of the Province against
his Majesty's enemies; and I feel confident that you will continue an
appropriation for a similar purpose.

Honorable Gentlemen and Gentlemen.

Doubts have been suggested as to the sufficiency of the late Crops
to supply the probable wants of the Colony, it may be a proper object
of your consideration to devise some means to controul the export of
grain, and the consumption of it in distillation should circumstances
require it during the recess of the Legislature.

The meritorious services of the Militia, under privations which
they unavoidably suffered in an arduous and protracted Campaign,
entitle them to the gratitude of the Country and to your particular
attention.

His Excellency the Commander of the Forces, has been pleased to
order clothing for a considerable proportion of the Embodied Militia of
this Province; but as this does not extend to all the necessaries requisite
to the Soldier's comfort, I recommend to you the allowance of a sum
to each Volunteer on Draft from the Militia, to provide an Outfit.

I think it proper to call your attention to the continuation of
certain laws of essential importance to this Province, now about to
expire, and to recommend to your consideration whether a revision of
some parts of the Militia Act now in force, may not be necessary to
render it more efficient. I particularly request to be authorized to
pay in advance, half yearly, the annuity granted to Widows and children,
and to Persons disabled in the Service.

You will learn with great satisfaction, that the most vigorous
measures have been adopted under the direction of the Commander of
the Forces, and are now in operation, to strengthen the Provincial
Marine, and preserve the superiority of the Lakes so essential to the
safety of the Province.

It must be unnecessary for me particularly to recommend dispatch
in your deliberations, I will only adl that you may rely on my hearty
co-operation in any measure which may conduce to the welfare and
security of the Province.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 179

ADDRESS of the Legislative Council in Answer to his Honor the
President 5 a SPEECH.

To His Honor Roger Hale Sheaffe, Esquire, President Administering
the Government of Upper Canada, and Major General Com-
manding His Majesty's Forces within the same.

May it please your Honor,

We His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative
Council of the Province of Upper Canada, in Provincial Parliament
assembled, offer to you our thanks for your Speech at the opening of
this Session of the Legislature.

"We participate with your Honor in the satisfaction which every
loyal subject must feel, from the uniform success, which has crowned
his Majesty's Anns in this Province. The armies of the enemy that
have been defeated, and the Fortresses which have been taken, are
glorious proofs of the valour and discipline of his Majesty's Regular
Forces, nobly supported by the bravery of our loyal Militia.

It is with the deepest regret that with your Honor, we lament the
death of your illustrious Predecessor, Major General Brock, who glori-
ously fell, in the defence of this Province, and whose achievements
there, have left impressions never to be effaced. We rejoice that the
services of that able and gallant officer, have been highly appreciated
by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who has been pleased in
his Majesty's name, to associate him to the Most Honorable Military
Order of the Bath.

It affords us additional satisfaction, that his Royal Highness has
been graciously pleased to signify, that the liberal appropriations which
have been made by the Legislatures of both the Canadas, and the deter-
mined spirit of resistance manifested by the loyal inhabitants, leave
'little apprehension of the result of any trial, when they may be called
upon to prove their courage and perseverance. We hope and trust
that the sentiments expressed by his Royal Highness respecting us, will
be fully verified by our conduct.

Our warmest acknowledgements are due to his Excellency the
Commander of the Forces, for having ordered clothing for a consider-
able proportion of our embodied Militia, and we are confident that this
mark 'of his humanity and kindness, will still further excite that deter-
mined spirit of resistance, which that body of men have hitherto so
nobly manifested.

Highly sensible of the meritorious services of our Militia, labouring
under privations which they unavoidably have suffered in an ardous



ISO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

and protracted campaign, we will most heartily concur with the other
branches of the legislature, in such measures as may best contribute to
their comfort, and administer to their necessities.

We will pay particular attention to the continuations of such Laws
as are of essential importance, and are about to expire, and will care-
fully revise such parts of the Militia Act now in force as may be
necessary, to render it still more efficient and salutary.

It is with th< greatest satisfaction that we learn, that the most
rigorous measures have been adopted under the direction of his Excel-
lency the Commander of the Forces, and are now in operation, to
strengthen the Provincial Marine, and to preserve the superiority of
the Lakes, so essential to our safety and protection.

A co-operation with your Honor in such measures as may conduce
to the welfare and security of the Province, animates us with the hope,
that we shall be enabled to continue in that glorious career of victory
in which we have begun, and by the blessing of God, defend our Coun-
try against our enemies, and transmit our Laws, our Liberty and our
Constitution to the latest posterity.

Legislative Council Chamber, THOS. SCOTT,

March, the 2nd, 1813. Speaker.

To which His Honor was pleased to make the following Eeply:

Honorable Gentlemen,

Accept my thanks for your Address, it manifests a spirit of loyalty
and patriotism which cannot fail to be highly gratifying.

I feel confident of your cheerful aid and concurrence in whatsoever
can promote the Public welfare, and that your attention will be par-
ticularly directed to those measures which can most effectually contribute
towards the security of the Province.

2nd March, 1813.

Address of the House of Assembly in Answer to His Honor the
President's Speech.

To His Honor ROGER HALE SHEAFFE, Esquire, President Administering
the Government of the Province of Upper Canada, and Major-
General Commanding His Majesty's Forces therein,

May it Please your Honor,

We his Majesty's most dutiful and Loyal Subjects, the Commons
of Upper Canada in Provincial Parliament assembled, request your
Honor to accept of our humble thanks for your most gracious Speech.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 181

"We participate in the satisfaction expressed by your Honor at hav-
ing it in your power on the first time you are called upon to address
us, to offer your cordial congratulations on the uniform success which
has crowned His Majesty's Arms in this Province.

That the Enemy has been foiled in his machinations against it;
that three of his Armies have been surrendered or completely defeated,
and that two important Fortresses had been wrested from him, are to
us sources of the highest satisfaction.

It is with pride and exultation we learn, that the valour and dis-
cipline of his Majesty's regular Forces (so nobly displayed) in the
defence of this Province, have been ably supported by the zeal and
bravery of our Militia, and we feel confident, that while the Enemy
shall continue his hostile attempts the exertions of our Regular and
Militia Forces under the direction of your Honor, will be attended with
uniform success.

The death of our late most Gallant and lamented President, Major-
General Brock, who so nobly fell while contending against a superior
force of our enemies in defence of this Province, has excited in us
feelings of sorrow and regret, and while we lament our inability to
bestow on h}s great and distinguished merits, any other reward than
our praise; we learn with the greatest satisfaction the high sense of
the services of that able and Gallant Officer manifested by his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, who has been pleased in his Majesty's
name to associate him to the most Honorable Military Order of the
Bath.

We are happy to perceive the favorable impression which the liberal
appropriations of the Legislature of the two Canadas, and the deter-
mined resistance manifested by the loyal inhabitants have made on his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and with him we think that little
apprehension need be entertained of the result of any trial in which
they may be called to prove their courage and perseverance.

When the Public Accounts are laid before us, we will pay that
attention to them that the nature of the subject requires, and shall
always be happy to afford every means in our power, to assist in the
defence of the Province.

We are much concerned to learn that doubts have been suggested
as to the sufficiency of the late Crops to supply the probable wants of
the Colony, if the exportation and distillation of Grain be uncontrolled.
We shall give to such a subject of so much moment, our most serious
consideration, and shall endeavour to provide such remedy as the emer-
gency may appear to require.



182 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

We are perfectly sensible of the meritorious sen-ices of the Militia
of this Province, and although they must, in a contest like the present,
unavoidably suffer privations, still when they consider the great object
for which they contend, they will be convinced that their sufferings
are inevitable. Their situation demands our most serious attention.

We feel highly gratified to learn that His Excellency the Com-
mander of the Forces has been pleased to order clothing for a consider-
able proportion of the Militia, and we will be happy to contribute every
thing in our power towards their comfort.

We shall direct our attention to the Laws about to expire, and
shall endeavour to make such amendments to the Militia Act now in
force, as may be necessary to render it more efficient.

Your Honor's request to be enabled to pay in advance half yearly,
the annuity granted to Widows and Children and Persons disabled in
the Service, is a proof of the humanity so conspicuous in your Char-
acter; and it will be highly pleasing to HS to comply with your Honor's
request.

We learn with the highest satisfaction, that the most vigorous
measures have been adopted, under the direction of the Commander
of the Forces, and are now in operation to strengthen the Provincial
Marine and preserve the superiority on the Lakes so essential to the
safety of this Province.

We are perfectly sensible that dispatch in our deliberations is at
this juncture particularly necessary, and we beg leave to assure your
Honor that we have the utmost confidence in your Honors adminstra-
tion and in your well known exertions for the defence of the Province,
and the safety and prosperity of its inhabitants.

ALLAN M'LEAN, Speaker.

\

Commons House of Assembly, York. 2f>th February, 1813.

To which His Honor was pleased to make the following Reply:
Gentlemen,

I thank you for this Address, so cordially responsive to my own
sentiments.

The confidence you express in the successful resistance to any
attempts of the enemy on this Province, is a further pledge of the
loyalty and bravery of his Majesty's subjects, and which, with the assur-
ance you give of contributing every means in your power to aid them
in its defence, cannot but be highly satisfactory.

27th February, 1813.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 183

ADDRESS from the House of Assembly to his Honor the President, con-
gratulating him upon his accession to the Government and his
success in repelling the attempts of the Enemy upon this
Province.

To His Honor Roger Hale Sheaffe, President, administering the Gov-
ernment of the Province of Upper Canada, and Major General
Commanding his Majesty's Forces therein, &c. &c.

May it please your Honor,

"We his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects the Commons
of Upper Canada in Provincial Parliament assembled, deeply impressed
with the highest sentiments of respect towards your person, beg leave
to approach your Honor at a juncture so interesting and important to
the welfare of this part of his Majesty's dominions, and to congratulate
your Honor upon your accession to the supreme executive authority
of the Civil as well as the Military administration of the Government
of this Province, at the same time we cannot refrain from deploring
the event which deprived this much favoured Colony of one of its
brightest ornaments, and our Mother Country of an invaluable Officer
in the death of your Predecessor. It affords us however, a consolation
and alleviates the poignancy yf our sorrow for the loss of so esteemed
a Chief, that in his Successor those qualities are found which have
been so successfully exerted by him to repel an inveterate invading
Enemy, conciliate the affections of all and maintain the true spirit
and character of Englishmen.

We are not insensible to the many arduous and perplexing diffi-
culties which have pressed upon your Honor, in civil as well as military
concerns, and it is with the most lively heartfelt satisfaction we express
our sincere conviction of the wisdom and policy with which you have
performed them since the reins of Government devolved upon you
and in a particular manner we feel it a duty incumbent upon us as
the Representative Body of this Colony, to set forth to the People at
large our warmest approbation of the military skill displayed by your
Honor on every occasion, and the great solicitude always manifested
on your part to mitigate the hardships to which our loyal and brave
Militia were inevitably exposed and further to state to your Honor,
that we feel the strongest and most unlimited confidence in your future
exertions of energy and of conduct to preserve to us unimpaired the
happy Constitution under which we have so long lived, and so long
been prosperous. 'That your efforts will be seconded by every individual
in this Province to the utmost of his ability, we can have no reason



184 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

to entertain a doubt; and that continued and ultimate success may
crown them under the peculiar guidance of Divine Providence, is our
most sincere and ardent hope. Since thus we shall be enabled to
transmit to our Posterity in their purity, those invaluable rights, priv-
ileges and immunities which our ancestors bled to establish, and so
cherished by their descendants, who know as well how to appreciate as
to enjoy rational and solid Freedom.

(Signed)

ALLAN- MACLEAN, Speaker.

Commons ITouse of Assembly, 3d March, 1813.

To which his Honor was pleased to make the following Keply:

Gentlemen,

I receive with the most lively sensibility your congratulations on
my having succeeded to the Civil and Military administration of the
Government of this Province. I condole with you on the event which
you so justly deplore, having served too long at the side of my able
i.nd gallant predecessor, not to have learnt how to estimate his high
worth, and to be sensible of the irreparable loss which the Province
sustained in being deprived of his services at so important a juncture.

Accept, Gentlemen, my warmest thanks for the expression of your
favourable sentiments towards me, and for the confidence you repose in
me by the aid of a kind Providence the designs of the Enemy have
hitherto been baffled, and I trust uiat it will still continue to grant
its support to us, and to smile on the efforts of a brave and loyal
People, who are engaged in the noble task of resisting unjust aggres-
sion and of struggling to protect their families and their farms, and
TO preserve for themselves and for their posterity, not only their pro-
perty, but ail those precious and inestimable privileges which are en-
joyed in this Province as a member of the British Empire; May their
exertions in so glorious a cause be crowned with success, and may the
blessings of Civil Liberty, Social Order and Happiness flow through
successive ages to your descendants pure and uninterrupted.

5th March, 1813.

To Lieutenant General Sir GEORGE PREVOST, Bart, commander of the

Forces, &c, &c. &c.

May it please your Excellency,

We the Magistrate? and other Inhabitants of the Town of York.
are happy in having an opportunity of paying that respect which we



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 183

owe to your Excellency, & of offering our most sincere thanks and
acknowledgements for the attention you have been pleased to shew to
this Province.

The pride and pleasure which we feel from the behaviour of our
gallant Militia, is greatly heightened when we consider that their con-
duct is honored with your approbation, and that you are pleased to
testify your sense of their services in ordering clothing for a considerable
proportion of their number ; an act of benevolence and humanity, which
will make a deep and lasting impression on their minds, and stimulate
them to preserve that high character which they have always acquired.
But we should indeed be much wanting to your Excellency, as well as
to ourselves, if we did not on this occasion with gratitude acknowledge
the obligations which this Province lays under to the valor and dis-
cipline of his Majesty's regular Forces, whose courage and conduct on
the most trying emergencies, have done honor to the name and to the
character of a British Soldier.

We are particularly gratified (and offer our most sincere thanks
and acknowledgements) for the vigorous exertions which have been
made, and are still carrying on towards the strengthening our Provincial
Marine, by order of your Excellency, fully convinced that to maintain
a superiority on the Lakes is an object of the first importance to this
Province.

Thankful for that success which has hitherto crowned his Majesty's
arms under your command, we earnestly wish for its continuance, enter-
taining the pleasing hope, that by our own conduct, and the exertions
of our brave defenders, we in this Colony, by the blessing of God, may
long remain under the protection of our Parent State a free, brave,
and loyal People.

To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following
Answer :

To the Magistrates and other Inhabitants of the Town of York.

Gentlemen,

I am highly sensible of your sincere thanks and acknowledgements
for the attention which you consider me to have evinced to the welfare
and preservation of this valuable Province.

Not only my duty, but also the express Commands of his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, govern my conduct, in regulating and
improving those objects which excite your approbation, and in express-
ing the high respect I 'entertain of the gallant and patriotic behaviour
of your Militia, I express the Sentiments of your Sovereign, and your



186 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

fellow subjects throughout his Majesty's empire, who admire and
applaud the exertions of a free, brave and loyal people, manfully con-
tending td preserve for themselves and their children the fostering
protections of a virtuous, vise and powerful State.

Government House,

York, Upper Canada, March 3d. 1813.



Talbot to Lieutenant Governor Gore.
Duplicate.

Port Talbot 20th March 1813.
My Dear Governor

I am well aware that you will exclaim how provoking to be at
this distance pestered by that fellow Talbot, even so, but be assured that
you did not leave a more steady and sincere friend or one who has
more frequently prayed for the speedy return of yourself and my dear
Mrs. Gore to Upper Canada than him. Nothing but urgent necessity
could impel me to break in upon your time and comforts to describe
the distress of mind, that has almost continually harassed me, since
your departure, is beyond my ability, arising from the joint impertinence
and contempt of the late General Brock and Ridout The Surr. Genl.
to your orders and arrangements in respect to the Lands which you
were pleased to place under my care. I am confident that your own
recollection of circumstances will confirm my assertions that you had
directed that in addition to the Talbot Road the Townships of Malahide
and Bayham should be reserved for me to recommend actual settlers
for who should be liable to the same settlement duties as those imposed
on the Talbot Road. I was accordingly in the winter of 1811 fur-
nished by the Surveyor Genl. with plans of the aforesaid Townships
and shortly after assigned a great proportion of the Lands to a valuable
description of settlers who had removed into this Province from Xova
Scotia not for a moment suspecting that any interference would have
occurred between the Government and myself, when to my unspeakable
surprise and mortification, I was informed by accident, in the month
of July last, that General Brock had granted to Mr. Hale the Paymaster
Genl. at Quebec 5.000 acres, Mr. Stanton, a clerk in your office 600
acres, and to a Presbyterian Scotch Priest 400 acres in Malahide &
Bayham. without any condition of settlement, and which grants com-
prehended the land actually occupied by the Xova Scotia settlers. I
immediately remonstrated and applied to Genl. Brock for an explana-
tion, requesting that he would have the injury repaired, by calling



LCOYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 187

upon those who had received grants to surrender the Deeds, for Lands
elsewhere. Genl. Brock assured me that he was unacquainted with
the circumstances of the lands having been placed under my charge,
adding at the same time, a censure upon his Predecessor for transferring
the most essential prerogative of the person administering the Govern-
ment. I then addressed a letter to Bidout, requiring his reasons for
recommending locations in the Townships of Bayham & Malahide
without consulting me, as he was in possession of your Excellency's
orders on their subject, in reply Eidout, boldly declared that he had
never received any instructions from you, placing such lands under my
care. You may easily imagine my indignation at the humiliating situa-
tion in which I found myself innocently involved with the poor people
that I had induced to settle on the land and who had expended their
time, labour and property in performing the duties attached to each lot.
Wherefore I humbly and earnestly entreat that you will contrive to re-
lieve my anxiety by having the goodness to transmit to me, with as little
delay as possible an authority for the steps I have taken in placing
settlers in Malahide and Bayham. The particular situation of those
Townships cannot so soon have escaped your recollection, and that the
first proposal actually came from you, that I should take charge and
watch over the settlement of that Part of the Province likewise that
I did not derive the smallest emolument from the power given to me,
but on the contrary incurred much expense and trouble, by having my
house constantly filled with applicants for Land. Should your superior
Judgment not conceive it incompatible it strikes me as a judicious
measure, for your Excellency to explain to the Secretary of State for
the Colonial Department, the motives that induced you to entrust me
with the settlement of the Tract in question, proceeding from the
injurious system of your Predecessors in burdening the most delightful
and valuable part of the Province, with all the reservations, that the
Government found expedient to lay apart for the establishment of
Seminaries &c. &c. and that



Captain J. B. Glegg to Talbot.

Burlington Heights,
Dear Colonel 30 Mch. 1813.

During the last two days I have been so much indisposed as to be
incapable of doing anything, the application of a blister to my chest
has relieved me a good deal, and will I hope equal Doctor Kerr*g



188 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

expectations, but my arm is of little use to me I did hope that it
would have been in my power to send you an acceptable Bulletin by
Lt. Metcalf, as Col. II. wrote me on the 27th that the army were to
cross the river that night for the purpose of advancing against Genl.
McClure who it was expected had taken up a position at the Eleven
mile Creek beyond Buffalo. On the way Buffalo and Black rock were
to be reduced to ashes I hope in Clod their hearts did not fail them,
for such an expedition consisting of one thousand Regulars, and 500
Indians could not fail meeting with success I hope you and oUiers
received the letters sent on a few days since thro' Lt. Col. Stewart
containing Bills for paying the Militia.

I sent them in the first instance after you to S. Hatt's but yon
were gone Do let me have the earliest possible intelligence if there
is any truth in the report of an Enemy being still on the Thames

You may rely on hearing punctually from me when there is any
good news to relate and my health enables me to write I can scarcely
now hold my pen I have written in very strong terms to Lt. Genl.
Drummond respecting the merits of Lt. Metcalf and Ensign McGregor.

Yra. faithfully,

J. B. GLEOQ.

Genl. Vincent and Barnard are here waiting anxiously for snow.
I send you a Quebec newspaper.

(Addressed on the back)
To Colonel Talbot

&C. &C. &'C.

Dover Mills
Forward by Lt. Metcalf.



York 31st March 1813.

Received from Edward Couche Esqr. Dy. Corny. General by the
Hands of Colonel Talbot a Parcel containing one thousand Pounds
Currency in army Bills.



GEO. CROOKSHAXK

I). A. C. Genl.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 189

Lieut. Col. Nichol to Talbot.

Niagara April 29

My Dear Colonel y% past 3 A.M.

An Express arrived about an hour ago with very distressing
accounts from York in Short it appears that York was aDout to
surrender to the Enemy after having had both its Magazines exploded
& suffering very great loss in killed and wounded We know not what
has become of Sir Koger but suppose he is a prisoner. In such a
juncture it is necessary that every prompt and decisive measure should
be adopted to remedy this disaster to prevent the Enemy profiting in
any great degree by this Success. You are so much better acquainted
with the localities of the Country than the General himself that every-
thing in your District is left to Your own discretion & it is hoped
that the Enemy may yet be prevented from penetrating into the Country
on the Side of the Head of the Lake. It will be necessary that you
. keep up a regular Communication with Ancaster & regulate your move-
ments by the Accounts you may receive from thence, keeping an eye
at the same time upon the Lake from whence however it is not sup-
posed the Enemy can commence operations for some time yet. Arms
and ammunition are on the way for you.

In great haste,

faithfully yours,

EOBT. NICHOL Lt. Col.

Q.M. Genl. Militia.
Col. Talbot.

(The address is as follows, endorsed:)
April 29 On Service

1813

Coll. Talbot

Coming

London District.
To be forwarded immediately

Lt. Col. Xichol.



Draft letter, Col. Talbot to Brig. Gen. Vincent.

My Dear General. Dover Mills 18th May 1813.

Your favor of the llth instant reached me at a late hour last
night. I had for two days been anticipating much gratifying com-



19O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

munication from you, in consequence of reports having been current
that Genl. Proctor had obtained a complete and brilliant victory over
Harrison, likewise accounts stating that the officers and Seamen had
actually arrired at Kingston and that the most active exertions prevailed
in the dock yard at that place, and as if good news was not to have
an end, it was said that Sir George Prevost intended to assume the
command in this Province, and was on his way up with a powerful
reenforcement from the source, I have received the foregoing. I am
in hourly expectation of having my anxiety relieved by a confirmation
of those desirable events from you. As to the York affair, as yet, all
my accounts of the disastrous and I fear, disgraceful, proceedings,
attending its capture have been by fragments. The Governing Heads
must have been in a shite of Torpor, not to have made arrangements
for securing the office papers.

I will immediately attend to your instructions regarding the
appointment of fit persons to be bearers of dispatches between myself
and Major Hatt. Have the goodness to instruct me as to the pay of
persons on express service.

The Militia of the larger proportion of this District shew great
promptness in turning out, but there is a part, The County of Oxford,
*hat with a very few exceptions, is I am sorry to say, composed of a
more violent and systematic band of Enemies than those that compose
the American Army Should Sir George reach the Lines with a strong
Force I will recommend that all the Aliens should be sent out of the
Province, with as little delay as possible, as they are indefatigable in
spreading discord and alarm amongst the Inhabitants, and it would be
a most salutary measure should circumstances admit, to send 100 or
even 50 Regulars to be stationed at Turkey Point under an active and
steadi, oilicor as the j-n-sewr of sudi n force would create the necessary
confidence in the well disposed and traitors would be intimidated into
subordination.

I have every difficulty in procuring a correct return of the arms
distributed thro' the District the Militiamen have been so careless of
their arms, the chief of such as were on duty during the last autumn
and winter on the lines and deserted or ran home, left their arms
behind him and others had orders from Col. Bishopp to deliver in
their Arms on being dismissed from Fort Erie. I am able to account
for 350 stand including the 100 which you ordered up lately. I should
have

Brigadier General Vincent
&c. &c. &c.



THE TALBOT PAPERS 191

Lt. Col. Burwell to Talbot.
My Dear Colonel. Port Talbot 21st May 1813.

Yours of the 19th inst. I have just reed. Lt. Col. Bostwick had
informed me of Genl. Proctor's success, on his way down. I regret
that the victory was not more complete I did hope that that expedi-
tion would have finished the Western Campaign for this year Then
we might have sent the Regulars below again I had not heard before
that Sir Eoger retreated to Kingston A report was circulated here
which I was inclined to believe, that he only retreated to the river
Don I lament the death of poor Donald McLean I think he was
a good person I fear many more of the good people of York are
gone also, but I am happy to learn that the Provincial Papers are not
destroyed As that excited considerable of alarm in me Our loss
must have been great but I hope the enemy will not be much benefited
by it We must have had considerable stores of Provisions there, but
I shall be content if Sir Roger had them all destroyed previous to
his retreat What a wanton, ferocious & savage proceeding, that was
to burn the Govt. House at the Beech A House they must have known
purely for the accommodation of travellers I am glad to hear that
Sir George Prevost is a little aroused for the security of this Province
If the arrival of the reinforcements should be pretty prompt & that
account of the Seamen arrived, and preparations making at Kingston
true we may still prevent them from destroying our settlements about
Lake Ontario Their thinking that they have such a complete mastery
of the Lake may lull them into such a confidence of their superiority
that I should not be at all surprised to hear that our Vessels have
lessened their Flotilla The Inhabitants are now in the midst of
their planting, & it will be like drawing their eye teeth to call (them
out until they have done I hope to see you here in a day or two
Tomorrow according to Agreement I am going to survey the Road to
Ireland You have 193 Bbls. Flour Packed 100 Bushels of Wheat to
grind yet & Chase has not brought down your share of his Wheat
yet The Water has failed all at once so that we cannot get a morsel
ground Many of the settlers have no Flour at all The weather
was so wet only a few days ago, that nobody thought of a scarcity of
"Water Indeed if they had come to Mill Walter could not have ground
for them until yours was finished I however hope that there will
be rain soon The Water got so low that they could not grind any
& they took it into their heads to draw it entirely off & stop all leakage
which was but trifling Your Cornfield is Ploughed You had only
6 Bushels Pease, which are sowed Barley is sowed Barbers Pota-
toes are rotten Kerr does not know where to get more for seed



192



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



Maybe 1 have a few Mrs. Ilenly is gone She had a very sore
finger two weeks & then went to old Mr. M'Intire's to get Doctored
Jem Vail has a bad finger & cant do anything Kerr has to do all
the cooking himself which hinders him from work he wish you at
home very much Cook has had one Agriculture

I have the Honor to be

My Dear Colonel

Yours truly
MAHLON BURWELL.
To

The Honble

Col. Talbot
(Addressed on the back)

On Service
To

The Honble

Thomas Talbot Esquire

Colonel Gommg. London
District
Dover.



Muster Roll of a Detachment of the 2 Regt. Norfolk Militia under
the Command of Lieut. Titus Williams captured by the (Enemy at
Sugar Loaf Hill the 17th June, 1813:





Periods.


$


V




Names




O


s.


Amount.




From To


O


1




Lieut Titus Williams


1813
25 May


1814
9 July


410


6/6


133 5


Privt John Wjdner




24 Feb.


269


6


6 14 6


Jeremiah Green ... .


u


24 July


425




10 12 6


Sobriqui Dominique... .


2 July


24 July


387


a


9 13 6




1814










Angus Mclntire


16 June


24 July


39


u


19 6


Charles Knight




u


39


u


19 6


Klija Montoure ....


a


u


39


u


19 6


Alex. Logan





u


39


u


19 6


John Furry


u


u


39


u


19 6


Samuel Troup


u


"


39


u


19 6


Army Sterling Dollars at 4/3








L.


166 2 6



TITUS WILLIAMS, Lt.



Certified

Thomas Talbot
Col. Commandg. Militia.
London Dist.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 193

General Procter to Talbot.

Sandwich September 23d. 1813
My dear Colonel.

I have to thank you for your Letter, by Captain Blackhouse. As
our ill fated Fleet has certainly been all taken or destroyed It would
be the almost certain Loss of any Boats to send them to you by the
Lake; tho' the 150 Barrels of Flour you sent by Mr. Smith are for-
tunately arrived safe at Amherstburg. If Boats can be sent you from
the Thames it shall be done. I hope Sir James Yeo may be able to
effect Something to counterbalance our Disaster on this Lake. He
was at Anchor on the 15th inst. in the Bay of Quentee. He was to
sail next morning to meet the Enemy. You are aware that I cannot
remain in my present Position without the Eisk of being cut off from
all Supplies. I have with much Difficulty brought the Principal Part
of the Indians to reason. I have much to say to you, but I am much
pressed for time, and Captain Blackhouse is very anxious of being off.
The State of the Roads and the Bridges are a primary Consideration
at present, especially those thro' the wilderness. I conceive mat a
couple of good Huts, two Rooms in each, should be constructed in the
wilderness, also Cover for a few Horses, at the 14 Mile Tree, where
there is a Creek of tolorable good Water. If you will cause it to be
done, I shall sanction the Expense, and the Public and I will be obliged
to you. Many would be glad of such a Situation to keep a House of
Accommodation. The Bridges are bad some of them on this Side of
the wilderness, and also between Delaware and Dorchester. Our Prin-
cipal Depot of Flour should be I conceive at Delaware. I shall direct
accordingly, if you see no Reason to the contrary. Pray let me often
hear from you. I shall feel obliged to you for any Suggestions you
may favor me with, for the forwarding the Service or the public Good.
My Sick are on the Thames as are my women. I have also removed
the little heavy Ordnance I have left. It was taken on Board the
unfortunate Detroit. Poor Barclay ! I have sent Mrs. Proctor off and
fear she will have much to encounter. My eldest Daughter was ill,
and but little recovered when she set off, three Days since. What a
sudden, what a. complete Reverse! If Poor Barclay & I had been
attended to our Reverse would not have happened.

Believe me,

with much esteen & Regard
faithfully yours,

(sgd) HENRY PROCTER.

Sec. II., 1907. 13.



104 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

A List of the Men on Duty at the House of Andrew Westbrook
in Delaware From the Twenty-seventh January to the first February
1814 under the Command of Captain Daniel Springer.

1. Benjamin Schram, Sergeant

2. Joseph House, Do

1. William Dingman, Private

2. Lawrence Dingman

3. William Schram

4. David Dingman

5. John McClemings

6. Joseph Davy

7. Joshua C'hamberling

8. John Crandell

9. Frederick Sheneck

10. Samuel Stiles

11. Frederick Stroback

London District. Personally appeared before me Thomas Bowlsby
Esquire one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said
District Benjamin Schram Serjant in the 1st Regt. Middlesex Militia,
"Who Being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that the persons above
stated was actually on Duty at the House of Andrew Westbrook in
Delaware on or about the first day of February last, under the Com-
mand of Captain Daniel Springer.

BENJAMIN SCHRAM

Serjant Middx. Militia.
Sworn before me 23rd day
of November 1814.

THOMAS BOWLBY J.P.



Dr. John Rolph to Talbot.

(Memo, by the editor. The following letter relates to the death
of Dr. Thomas Rolph which occurred on March 24, 1814. He was
buried on the Rolph, later known as the Treadwell farm, on the south
side of Talbot Road, just west of St. Thomas. His grave was long
afterwards ploughed over when the land had passed to the possession of
others. This information is given on the authority of one of his descen-
dants. He died at Charlotteville, according to the Surrogate Court
records.)
My Dear Sir. Monday Morning

You will, I am sure, in a degree participate the sorrow I feel in
a very great loss wh. we have so recently sustained Independent,



[COYNE 1 THE TALBOT PAPERS

my dear sir, of those feelings wh. nature has implanted and education
improved, a family of such extent as ours, must necessarily feel the
privation with peculiar severity I am obliged to you for the concern
you expressed for his illness and lament that it must extend to his
death at present I scarcely know my own feelings for the last and
highest duty I can perform to so valuable a friend, is to check my own
filings and direct my exertion for the comforting a disconsolate mother
and to protect those in the crisis about to happen who are unable to
protect themselves My father seemd quite unconscious of his ap-
proaching dissolution. He expired on the sofa and sunk as he thought
into sleep. It is. I assure you not a trifling consolation to me that
he died with so much ease and without those distressing reflections wh.
a Father must experience when about to leave such a retinue behind.
Had he lived his life wd. Have been very unhappy during the trouble-
some times we shall probably witness. He is now much happier, and
I even sometimes hope He may occasionally glance upon us from Heaven
and smile upon a more fortunate issue than the aspect of affairs will
allow us to anticipate.

The inclosed letter is the last He wrote and was omitted in the
last dispatch to you. I have kept it sacred and send you a Relic wh.
I wd. willingly have preserved myself.

Excuse me, my dear sir, from sendg. you the particulars you
requested when the awful ceremonies of tomorrow are over, I shall
be better able to attend to such duties/

With great Respect, believe me, Dr. Sir,

Yrs obliged & truly

J. ROLPH.

My Brother just arrived from York to follow my Father with me
to the Grave. He desires his respects to you.

R.

To

The Hon. Thomas Talbot
&c. &c. &c.

Port Talbot.



Lieutenant Colonel Mahlon Burwell to Talbot.

My Dear Colonel. Oyster Creek, 5th April 1814.

On my way to Port Talbot I last evening met Geo. Coltman at
this place who has informed me that you have gone to Long Point



196 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

I intended to have brought my family away immediately but Wallace
tells me that you went away in Huntley's Skiff, which I depended upon
as my only means of getting my family from Port Talbot Coltman
says that Captain Secord has gone to Scrams on the Xorth Branch
for a Box of Arms I shall go to Kettle Creek to-day & get some
person to go to Port Talbot tomorrow & see Willson & Patterson, & if
Secord gets the arms & I can get word of the approach of the Enemy,
I shall call out the Militia from the Street, & meet him at Port Talbot
If there should he no more than 30 Dragoons & one Company of Men,
I trust we would have no great difficulty in managing them I beg
that you will send back the Skiff as soon as possible that I may take
my family away, for I can never think of leaving them alone, which
I shall be forced to do, if I cant get them away before the Enemy's
approach. The travelling is so bad that I dont believe the Yankies
will be there for several days.

I have the Honor to be
&c. &c. &c.

MAHLON BURWELL.
The Hon.

Col. Talbot,

I shall send you an express in a day or two.
(Endorsed)

On Service
The Honble

Colonel Talbot
&c. &c. &c.

Long Point.



For Detachments of the Middlesex & Essex Militia stationed at and
in advance of Port Talbot.

Memm of Provisions issued at Port Talbot.
from 25th Oct. to 24th Novemr. 1813.

1 Colonel 4 Rations.
1 Capn.
25 Privates

from 25th Xovemr. to 24th Deer. 1813.
1 Colonel 4 Rations.

1 Capn.

2 Subalns.
70 Privates

3 Women
6 Children



[COYNB] THE TALBOT PAPERS 197

from 25th Decemr. 1813 to 24th Jany. 1814.

1 Colonel 4 Eations.

1 Capn.
30 Privates

3 Women

6 Children
from 25th Jany. to 24th Feby. 1814.

1 Colonel 4 Rations.

1 Capn.
23 Privates

3 Women

6 Children
from 25th Feby. to 24th March 1814.

1 Colonel 4 Eations.

2 Capns.

2 Subalterns
63 Privates

3 Women
6 Children

from 25th March to 24th April 1814.

1 Colonel 4 Eations.

1 Capn.

1 Subn.

35 Privates

3 Women

6 Children

N.B. Eations were Field Eations in Pork and flour.

Womens Names. Children

Margt. Craford Thos. Craford

Mary Crafor Magnus Craford.

Elizth. Mitchel John Mitchel

Wm. Mitchel
Jane Mitchel
Mary Mitchel

Head Quarters, Kingston,
Militia General Orders. December 2d, 1814.

1. His Honor the Prefident, and Lieutenant General Command-
ing, has been pleased to direct, that all the Sedentary Militia, at prefent
on duty, be forthwith di {miffed, and permitted to return to their homes ;
with the exception of thofe only, employed on a particular service,



198 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

under the fupcrintcndancc of Ai'fiflant Commiffary General CrooK-
/hank, near York.

2. In future, when any ]>ortion of Militia, however (mall, is
called out on the Public Sen ice. a copy of the Order?, iffued on the
occafion. a return of the strength of the detachment, with a Xominal
Lift of the Officers thereof, the Duty to be performed, the Station
where to be employed, and the Probable Duration of the Service, are
to be transmitted to the Adjutant General of Militia, at Head Quarters,
for the Information of His Honor, the Prefident.

3. Thefe Returns, and Communications, are not onlv to be trans-
mitted, by the officer commanding the Regiment, from whence the
Drafts are made, but alfo, by tho Officer in immediate command of the
Detachment.

4. A Monthly Return will alfo be required, from Commanding
Officers of Corps, on the 25th of each Month ; agreeable to a form which
will be transmitted to them : feveral copies of which will, in the firft
inftance. be iffued. to each Commanding Officer.

By Command of His Honor the Proficient and Lieutenant General
Commanding.

C. FOSTER.

Adjutant General of Militia,
Upper Canada.



List of Xames of the Persons who turned out at a moment's
warning to oppose the Plunderer? upon hearing that they had advanced
to Port Talbot 20th May about G o'clock P.M. stating some cir-
cumstances

Lt. Col. Burwell



McLemena gave half an Hours notice
of their approach



Noil McNair 1 were all on their way in time to have completed the de-

John Harwell st ruction of the Enemy but were turned hack by Lt. Col.

Rob. Harwell Burwell to Xeal's place to wait for a reinforcement, when

David Wallace ^ he was frustrated in his first plan.

(Jeo. Colt man

Charles Benedict

Benjn. Johnson J

Benjn. Willson Junr. taken away by his father.

10

Jesse Pajjn Page was sent to warn and reports that they were

Mark Chase ready in a moment Lt.Col. Burwell saw some of them since

deo. Crane & is convinc-d that if he had not been deprived of Ben

James Chase > Willson would have formed a junction with him before

Stephen Backus dark.

Walter Story &
John Pearce



[COYNE]



THE TALBOT PAPERS



199



Captain Willson made prisoner at the Mill.

Captain Patterson Do. B. Smith's Shop.

Walter Galbraith Do. at the Mill.

Thos. Mathews Do. on his way to oppose the Enemy.



Timothy Neal
B. Swisher
O. Pettit
K. Neville
Jno. Neville
M. Cowell
A. Ross



When Lt. Col. Burwell was defeated in his first plan he
halted those above mentioned whom he met on their
march until he could have time to bring them forward to
act with them ; but it was too late, being break of day when
they arrived at Town Line.



Wm. Johnson sent to Mr. Rapleje in the night with a verbal acct. of the alarm.



Mr. Daniel Rapelje
Ensign B. Willson
James Neville
Jeronimus Rapelje
George Rapelje
Thomas Curtis
Wm. P Shapp
Jere Cranmer
Henry Mandeville
Samuel York
Wm. Lee
John W. Clack
Wm. Toles
Geo. Lawrence
Archi. McNeal
Justus Willcox
Finley Grant
David Everitt
Henry Ramey &
John Caesar

20

Captain Secord
Lt. Rice
William Rice
Wm. Peter Secord
Roe

George Wood
James Stokes
Frederick Efeland
Henry House
William Gregory
William Willcox
David Brush
James Browne
John Marlatt



These were all at Ross's by
the 21st but hearing that



past 10 in the morning of



the Enemy had retreated & that Lt. Col. Burwell's party
was dismissed they returned to their homes.



Captain Secord got the intelligence by mere chance on the
morng. of the 21st. He however spread the alarm im-
mediately and arrived at Mr. Rapeljes with these men at
12 o'clock.



14

20

8

7

10

59



200



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CADADA



Periods of Service for allowances due to the Militia Officers of
the first Middlesex Kegt. actually on duty in the District of London
between the 28th of June 1812 and the 24th day of Dec. 1814 both
days inclusive.



24 Sept.
24 Oct.
24 Nov.
24 Dec.
24 Jany.
24 Feby.
24 March
24 April
24 May
24 June
24 July
24 Aug.
24 Sept,
24 Oct.
24 Nov.
24 Dec.


1812
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
1813

1814





u
u
u
u
u
u
a

u


80


74


16


69


42


a


16


16


12


50


50


21


26


53


181


181


115


27


32


u


13


171


171


171


79


83


47


184


43





J< -



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA




[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 2O9

Lieut. Col. Coffin to Talbot.

Head Quarters, York

Feby. 14 1815.
Circular
Sir

I have the Honor of enclosing you Twenty Printed Forms for
Lodging Money and Barrack Allowances conformable to the Militia Gen-
eral orders of the 28th December last and request you will have the
goodness to acknowledge the receipt of the same 1 have

the Honor to be Sir

Your most obedient

humble Servant
(signed) N. COFFIN Lieut. Co.

D. A. G. of Militia
Officer Comg.

1st Eeg. Middlesex Militia
Certified

J. CLARK

A. A. G. M.



Adj. Gen. Foster to Talbot.

Head Quarters, York,

Feby. 14th 1815.
Sir

It appearing by Returns from Turkey Point, that a number of
Militia of the London District have been for some time past called out
on duty there, without the knowledge or sanction of His Honor, The
President, I am commanded by him to transmit to you the accompany-
ing Copy of Militia General Orders of the 2nd. of December last,
together with a Copy of District General Orders of the 1st of the
same month ; and to direct, that you be pleased to call upon the Officers
concerned for a full and specific explanation of their conduct, in the
total disregard which they have evinced to paragraphs No. 2 and No. 3
of the former.

The President approves of Three Officers, (either Subalterns, or
one a Captain and two Subalterns) Four Sergeants, and Eighty-eight
Rank and File, being called out for duty at Turkey Point, until fur-
Sec. II., 1807. 14.



21O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

ther Orders; and His Honor sanctions those already employed on this
duty receiving the usual Pay and allowances; feeling satisfied, as he
does, that the neglect of his Orders originated in a laudable motive,
a zeal for His Majesty's Service.

I have the honor to be

Sir,
Your most obedient

humble servant,

C. FOSTER
Adjt. (Jenl. of Militia.

P.S. I had nearly omitted to mention, that it is Lieutenant Gen-
eral Prummond's desire, the Militia be called out in proportion to the
strength of each Corps, not pressing more heavily on one Regiment
than another, and that Volunteers be always employed if possible.

C. F.
A. G. M.

Colonel Talbot

Comg. London District of Militia
&c. &c. &c.



NOTE BY THE EDITOR: The papers subsequent to the War of 1812-1815
will appear In the Transactions for 1908.



SECTION II., 1909. 87 TRANS. R. S. C.

IV. The Valbot Papers.
By JAMES H. COYNE, M.A.

(Read May 27, 1908.Q

PART II.
u/ji fs t BliA niBclii

PREFACE.

1 s.

Part I of the Talbot Papers brought them down to the end of the
War of 1812-1815. Part II includes those of later date.

'A small memorandum book used by Talbot from 1794 until as late
as 1811 has recently come into the editor's hands. Many of the notes
do not mention the year or the precise date. The interest of some is but
slight. On account, however, of their relation to Talbot's movements
and the beginnings of his settlement, it has been thought well to err
rather on the side of inclusion than of exclusion. From this book, for
the first time, we learn his full name, Thomas Hans Talbot, and the
names of the four men who accompanied him, when he inaugurated the
settlement .at Port Talbot on the 21st May, 1803; and it appears that
he was in New York in September, 1802, having probably spent fifteen
or sixteen months near Port Stanley, where he began his original clear-
ing in May 1801, before proceeding to England to ask for the township
of Yarmouth, which was his original preference.

In the Appendix will be found some illustrative material. The
letter from Singleton Gardiner to Henry Coyne in 1816 is perhaps the
earliest existing letter from a Talbot settler. It furnishes a graphic pic-
ture of the privations and perils of that hungry year. Other papers
show Talbofs- grants from the crown, his settlement with Airey and his
will. The Talbot Documents in the Sessional Papers for 1836 (Xo. 22)
U. C. are so important, and their arrangement so confused, that the
Editor has furnished a chronological index, in order to make them more
intelligible.

Part II may be roughly divided, according to the subject matter,
as follows :

(a) The institution of the Talbot Anniversary in 1817. (

(b) The settlement in the reserved townships of Dunwich and |

Aldborough, and Talbot's grants from the Crown of more]
than 65,000 acres as his compensation.

(c) The Talbot Dispensatory, the first medical college in Upper

Canada, which appears to have had a brief existence at
St. Thomas in 1824.



68 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

l(d) Talbot's political meeting at St. Thomas on St. George's Day,

* 18.T<>, to counteract the effect of the agitation carried on

throughout 'the province under the leadership of Egerton

Kyerson and Win. Lyon Mackenzie respectively, for the

reform of grievance?.

(e)J Letters to lion. Peter Hobinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands,
and correspondence with Hon. William Allan, abounding
in interesting personal details, as well as giving Talbot's
views as to roads, settlers, political riots and other sub-
jects. The game of politics was a rough one in 1S33 and
I 1HH), and Talbot boasted of ,the -achieve nents of his
henchmen, his "Loyal Guards,"' in breaking up the meet-
ings and breaking the heads of the Reformers of the day.
" Lord Elgin has been prowling through the West," he
writes after the London riots in October, 184!), and there
is a triumphant note in his account of the destruction of
the arches erected in honour of the Governor-General. Two
months later, his triumphant tone was altered. He was
''dismayed with the frightful state of the country."
" Little did 1 think when I first arrived with Governor
Simcoe in 1702, that 1 should live to see the present times.'"
It is thus he writes his old friend Chief Justice Robinson,
adding: " I believe that our friend Allan (the Honor-
able William Allan) and myself are the only two left to
witness the works of the Devil." Evidently Lord Elgin
and the new ways were not to his mind. In earlier let-
ters, he shows the kindlier side of his nature, interesting
himself on behalf of settlers who were unfortunate, and
endeavouring to have their grievance? redressed by the
government. It is these human touches and such as these,
that give life to the documents, and help us to see the
lonely old man as he was, with his likes and dislikes, his
tastes and his foibles, his achievements and his failures.
his good qualities and those idiosyncrasies of character,
which, while they created many enemies, did not often
succeed in alienating his friends.

Attention is called to ih- list of , rnifn at the end of the Table of
( 'ontents.

An alphabetical index has been ::ddcd. which will it is Ixpol be
found reasonahlv complete.

In binding together Tarts T nnd II. it will be uvll to place the ac-
companying Title |';!i_v and Table of Content* at ine beginning.



{COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 69

Lieutenant-Colonel Burwell to Colonel Talbot.

Limit between Romney & Mersea.

Monday 26th August 1816.

I have the Honor to inform you that I have explored the Ground
through the Western Division of Romney & Mersea to ascertain the most
eligible scite for Talbot Road to pass.The land in the vicinage of the
Two Creeks and their Branches, which are near Mersea, is very wet and
swampy near the Lake-The Branches of the two Creeks are very wide,
and full of deep dead water-They would be exceedingly difficult and
expensive to Bridge, in short the nature of the Ground requires the Road
to intersect the Limit between Romney & Mersea a considerable distance
from the Shore of the Lake from which intersection ft will be impos-
sible to lay the Road Westerly through Mersea upon Ground on which
it will be practicable to make a good Road without interfering with the
Blocks of Crown and Clergy Reserves indeed I have examined all
through Mersea in rear o*f the Swamps & Marches of Point Pele and
find that Hazle Piloted me through the Reserves when I was exploring
for the Road in 1812. As the instructions I received for the survey of
Talbot Road thro' the Western Dist. placed me under your directions,
I am to request that you will advise me on the subject. Be pleased to
advise me on the subject by the bearer.
I have the honor to be
Sir

Your obdt. humble Sevt.

M. BDRWELL

Dy. Surveyor.
THOMAS TALBOT Esquire
Port Talbot.

(Endorsed) : Copy Letter to the Hon. Col. Talbot 26th Augst
1816. Official letter. Please to return this, as I have no copy of it.



Dominion Archives,
Q. 322, pt. 2, p. 370.

Talbot Celebration. 1 \

On the 8th of March, 1817, was held in Yarmouth, at the Talbot
Hotel, the Anniversary to commemorate the institution of the Talbot
Settlement. It was the most numerous, interesting and respectable
meeting ever collected in this district. About one o'clock the room be- 1



1 See Appendix B. page 185.



70 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



came crowded: and Captain Wilson, a very old and most respectable
settler, was unanimously called to the Chair. In a short and very im-
pressive manner he explained the nature of their meeting

commencing from the 21st of May 1803 (on which day our worthy-
patron first landed at Port Talbot). lie mentioned many interesting
particulars from that date, down to the present anniversary. He stated
the rapid increase of the settlement, and pointed out their acknowledged
superiority from the fertility of the soil, and from the happy union of
the Settlers. He was heard with great attention: and was interrupted
with frequent bursts of applause. He closed with proposing that " An
anniversary be instituted to commemorate the establishment of the
Talbot settlement " It was received with the greatest acclamation.

It was then proposed by Mr Parker, and seconded by Mr Ross that
a Committee be appointed, consisting of Captain Rapelje, Wilson, Pat-
terson, and Secord; and Adjutant Nevills as Secretary that they issue
the necessary notices, and make the arrangements and regulations for
future anniversaries It passed unanimously.

Captain Wilson, seconded by Captain Patterson, proposed that the
following address be presented to the Honourable Col. Talbot:

Address.

Sir,

Having assembled to commemorate the institution of this highly
favoured settlement, we beg leave to present 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 respectfully 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 of May
for the Talbot anniversary, And this public expression of the happiness
amongst 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.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 71

Upon the Address being read, the whole Assembly seemed affected
with strong emotion; and the acclamations which followed were pro-
longed with the greatest ardour it amounted to enthusiasm. Every
Individual present seemed to date the happiness and prosperity of its
family, from the resolution of respected patron, so boldly designed and
so generously executed. Upon its being put to the vote, the applause
was renewed with the utmost zeal and cordiality; and the proposition
was unanimously carried amidst a fervent expression of feeling.

It was immediately moved by Mr Page, and seconded by Adjutant
Nevells, that upon all future anniversaries, a Chair be left vacant for the
Honorable Col. Talbot; to be filled by him only, or by his descendants
in future ages. In support of the motion, Adjt. Nevells observed ; " not
many years ago the flourishing and productive farms, upon which we
now live, were comprehended in the common wilderness."

When the Honourable Col. Talbot first landed at Port 'Talbot, and
founded the settlement which is even now only begun, there was no trace
of a human footstep from Long Point to our Eastern extremity. With
a Eesolution which few could have summoned, with a perseverance which
none could have exceeded, and with a steady zeal which cannot be sur-
passed, our Patron landed at Port Talbot, and with the Axe as an em-
blem, invited industry with the powerful rewards of a well selected
neighbourhood, and of a luxuriant soil. We have felt as recent settlers,
those difficulties which are somewhat severe in the beginning, but which
are amply rewarded in the end. We therefore can duly appreciate the
firmness which has been displayed and' can estimate the worth of that
patronage, which has led to all the happy privileges and social harmony
we are now commemorating. Many meet to drink in the New Year,
we can celebrate the New Year within this United Circle. We joyfully
collect on the 4th of June, because another year has been added to the
life of our revered Sovereign. But we assemble on the Talbot Anniver-
sary to commemorate his bounty in the free disposal of this fertile tract.
In thus meeting we become the more fully sensible of the support and
patronage afforded by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, and the
Executive Council. This anniversary, as the name imports, is not the
meeting of one year but it is the meeting together every year. It is not
to last merely while we live ; but it is to be transmitted to our children ;
and by them to their children to the latest posterity. Proudly regarding
the growing prosperity of our harmonious settlement, we consecrate this
anniversary to its memory, that while we rejoice in its Infancy, our
descendants may rejoice in its maturity so long as years shall be num-
bered, so long as time shall run.

I



72 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Under a lively recollection of what our great and faithful founder
has accomplished, and viewing him as so nearly and so intimately allied
to the institution we have formed. I do most cordially second the mo-
tion, " that at all future anniversaries a chair be kept vacant for the
Honourable Col. Talbot, to be filled by him only or by his descendants
in future Ages."

(This was received with hearty cheers, which continued for some
minutes with the utmost warmth of approbation. The Secretary was
requested to forward a copy of the address to the Honble. Col. Talbot,
and to record the proceedings of the day. Thanks were then voted to
the Chairman, and dinner being announced, the Assembly sat down to
a plentiful Table. After the Cloth was removed, the president proposed
the following Toasts: "The King God Bless his Majesty," The
Prince Regent. The Royal Family, the Army, the Xavy," and many
distinguished characters, then followed amidst hearty cheers. Lieut.'
Governor Gore, the Executive Council, and the Province of Upper
Canada, were received with great applause, and separately drank, three
times three. 'Man}' toasts particularly interesting to the occasion then
followed.

1st. By Adjt. Nevells. The Honourable Col Talbot, the founder
of our settlement may he live many years to be its patron and its
friend.''

yd. By the same. '* Lieut. Col. Burwell, our assidious Repre-
sentative.''

3d. By Mr Ross. " The -Talbot Settlement, may it ever remain
the seat of Agriculture, and a monument of its founder."

4th. By Capt. Patterson. "Mr. Win. Talbot, May he return to
the Talbot Settlement."

Many other appropriate toasts were given, and the evening was spent
with the utmost friendship, cheerfulness and conviviality. Mr. Wade
sang God save the King, and several patriotic songs with much taste.

oth. By Lieut. B. Wilson. " The Memory of General Brock, the
Hero of Upper Canada.

Upon Sir Gordon Drummond's health being drank, Mr Weishuhn
with a most musical voice, gave those well known verses, which detail the
achievements of that distinguished Oilicer. Captain Patterson, favoured
the Company with an Irish Song, and with so much character, that it
would have given pleasure to a more critical audience. When the health
of the Honourable Col. Talbot, had received every expression of public
applause, Capt Patterson Sang with great animation an Irish Song
which recounted the eminent Services, of our founders illustrious an-



THE TALBOT PAPERS 73

cestors, Mr Parker and several other Gentlemen also gratified the Com-
pany (with) many loyal and appropriate Songs.

The most respectful attention was uniformly paid to the president,
when the party was dissolved the health of the president and vice pre-
sident was drank: and every individual returned to his family without
one exception to correct conduct and sobriety. It is indeed, an observa-
tion, which can be applied to few public dinners of the above description
so numerously attended.



The above address having been presented to the Honourable Col.
Talbot, he was pleased to return the following answer: l

To the Inhabitants of the Talbot Settlement.

Gentlemen Accept my hearty thanks, in return for the flattering/
Address which you have been pleased, so unexpectedly, to honour me J
with.

I am highly gratified to learn that you are not insensible of the
exertions I have made to advance the welfare of this part of the Pro-
vince, for which I am amply compensated by witnessing this day the
assemblage of so loyal and respectable a body of settlers; and I have not
any doubt, but that in a very few years, our country will exhibit in a
conspicuous degree, the superiority of our soil and labours. The surest
pledge we can give for its confirmation, is to preserve the continuance
of the admirable industry and harmony which have hitherto so happily
prevailed throughout the Talbot Settlement, and you may be assured that
there shall not be any want of attention on my part to promote, as far
as lies in my power, your general interest.

You do me infinite honour, by associating my name with your infant
institution, which I most ardently trust, may be productive of social and
virtuous enjoyments, and never become the vehicle of calumny or party
intrigue.

I entreat you individually ta receive my sincere wishes that you
and your families may long partake of every comfort that this life
affords.

I am Gentlemen, ever,

Your faithful friend,

(signed.) T. T."

i In the original, Talbot's reply is dated Port Talbot, 10th March, 1817.
Pool of Westminster to go with me, and the result is that he pronounces
them capable only of making Sulphur, Allum, and Salt Petre, I have
taken his affidavit which you will find inclosed You will also find in-
closed several pieces of the sulphureous matter which had congealed
upon the Eocks by the Water passing over them into the Sable And
beg leave also to inclose to you a map which I have made of the country
from where the River Sable leaves Lobo to Lake Huron. The informa-
tion given me on this subject was by Polly Allen or Polly Crow, and
my Old Axeman Orrin Lewis, the latter of whom was through to Lake
Huron with a Pocket Compass in July last; And although the Map
may differ a good deal from the true courses of the Sable, and the Dis-
tance to Lake Huron, it may notwithstanding be useful should you
think proper to transmit it to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor.

I have the Honor to be
Sir

Your obdt. Sevt.

M. BUEWELL

Dy. Surveyor.
To

The Honble

Thomas Talbot Esqr.
&c. &c &c.

(The letter is endorsed) : Respecting a sketch of the Sable and a Memo-
randum respecting a Salt Spring.



Richard Talbot to Thomas Talbot.

My Dear Thos. London Sept 16th 23.

I am just come up from Leamington Spa, where I received your
letter of the 19th June, about a fortnight ago. I immediately wrote to
Mr. Wilmot Horton, to request a copy of his paper on Emigration, and
received a civil answer from him, stating that he was in the country for
some time, and that the paper could not be got at, till he returned to

i Afterward first Baron Talb >t of Malahide.



86 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Town. AB it may be some time before 1 can procure this document, I
recommend you to write him your observations on his plan, without
delay. Indeed, you had better, I think, have done so at once, or at least
allowed me to send him extracts from your letter; as it requires so long
a time to send a letter to Port Talbot and receive fin answer to it. You
need not have felt at all distrustful of the manner, in which your re-
marks were expressed. There was no fault to be found with them.

I sincerely hope you may succeed in the affair of the Pension
Wortley, 2 whom I saw a few days before I went to Leamington, assured
me that he had seconded your views, to the best of his ability, with Ld.
Bathurst. T wrote to Fanny, 3 to beg she would remit a subscription of
Ld. Ormondes for your church, of 5 Irish, to Morland. When I hear
that it has been paid in, I will make them! send you a credit for the
small Balance due.

1 believe you know, that on my return from Holland, about ten
weeks ago, I proceeded for Leamington, to meet my Mother and Eliza, 4
who had come over on a visit to Charlotte. 5 I found, my Mother's
memory a little confused at times; but in other respects she is wonder-
fully well. They all three go on a visit to Stowe in a day or two. from
whence my Mother and Eliza will return to Ireland, Charlotte proposing
t"> leave England, for Sienna (where she will join James's family) on
the 1st of next month. She is surprisingly improved in health and
spirits. James's eldest boy 6 ought to be now setting out on his way to
Cambridge, where he must be on the 15th of Octr. I conclude my mo-
ther will pay his expenses, tho' she has not said a word on the subject
to me.

We met the Buckinghams 7 at Leamington ; and they were all civil-
ity; the Duchess particularly kind to Charlotte. He told me how
anxious he was to find an opportunity of sending you out the blood-
hounds, and assured me that they should be taken the greatest care of,
till either he or I could hear of somebody, who would take charge of



2 Jamos Stewart Wortley. M.P., afterv.-ard Lord Wharncliffa, son of Tal-
bot's early friend. See ante, page 96.

s Frances Gahrlella, a sister, afterwards countess of the Austrian empire,
and chanolnesse of the royal order of Ste. Anne of Bavaria.

A sister, who married. 1st Gcorpre Mellifont, and 2ndly., in 1844, Ellis
Cunliffe Lister Kaye.

s Youngest sister, married 1st Lieut.-Col. Cutcliffe, 2ndly Gerald Fitz-
gerald.

Both James and his son became successively Barons Talbot of Mala-
hlde after Richard's death.

* The ducal family. When the duke (then marquis) of Buckingham was
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Talbot had been on his staff. See ante, page 23.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 87

them out. If you can pick up any scraps of fossils &c for his collection,
I recommend you to send them to him.

A letter was received some time ago from Van Diemen's Land, an-
nouncing that William had got over his difficulties, with the Lieut.
Governor, and was in a fair way of doing well. From a cor-

respondence, however, which I have lately had with Mr. Wilmot Horton
on the subject, I have great doubts about the first part of the story.
Should William fail, he will owe it entirely to his own neglect in not
sending over the documents in support of his claim, when he ought to
have done so. Both Ld. Dacre 1 and myself have done everything in our
power to assist his views. Ld. Bathurst is extremely anxious to bring
the affair to a conclusion ; but here we still are without anything to shew
for him ; altho' his papers ought to have been received about a year ago,
I go to the Hoe tomorrow, where, if I cannot get a frank in London,
this should be franked for Liverpool. God bless you always.

E. T.

I have never seen, or heard more of your man, who brought me a
letter from you last year, and who, you said, was about to publish re-
marks on U. C. He never has come near me. 2

('Addressed on the back.)

To Ship 9 & i/ 8

Honble Thos. Talbot Esqr. 2/5 Q.O.

(Postmarked) Port 'Talbot 6/

NEW YORK Niagara

Nov. N. York State 27

1. N. America

via

New York.



1 See ante, page 26.

2 This may have been E. A. Talbot, author of " Five Years in the Talbot
Settlement," printed in London in 1824.



88



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



STATEMENT or THE POPULATION OK THE TOWNSHIPS IN THE LONDON DISTRICT

OF UPPER CANADA AS RECEIVED FROM THE SEVERAL TOWN CLERKS

AND FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE PEACE

FOR THE YFAR 1823.



Heads of
Families


Children


o

op" -

Jl
~ "?


2 P
5

^ g


eg


TOWNSHIPS

1 I

~ r o>


u

9

J

3s


u
"O

c3


h

o
x J5

sS C>

&> s
UH


TJ

5


Aldbonmgh.... .. !>3
Bavham


103 66


130


47


1.50




589
982 f
672 '
318

943
511
1148
1316
185
299
968
941
256

240

740
311
210
1011
1119
757
172
582
438
865
80
21
125
385


Burford. . . 115


111

48

138

87

239
35
44
174
152
44

42

116
48
34
145
167
112

72
* 68
146
9
2
23
71


45
11

85
36
71
15
11
28
35
60
23

20

68
13

9
59
252
42

A

110
25
44

6

9
10


140
94

204
117
296
314
27
66
260
211
71

56

202
91
61
255
141
186
38
106
99
226
27
4
30
96


28
12

65
15
69
29
10
26
20
51

21

32
10
5
45
172
33
5
102
33
26
4

"l
18


155

84

191
121

268
281
40
85
265
208
70

51

189
74
60
279
157
152
37
98
115
216
14
9
19
107


36
12

71
24

78
29
7
2
22
63

1

14
18
2
12

81
6
13
14
37
9
1
4


42
9

41
17
36
11
4
3
12
43

1

6
9
3
11

37
9
15
10
18
2

1
3


Blenheim 48


Deleware and Dor-i
Chester and'
\\ est minster 150
Dunwich 94


Charlotteville 166
London 398


Lobo 48


Middleton. 45


Mallahide 180


Norwich 153


Nissouri 48
Oxford Eastern
Div 48


Oxford Western
Div.. ]13


Oakland 48


Rairiham 36
Southwold... 105


Tow nsend. 230


Wooflhouse. 114


Walpole . 33


Walsingham 66
Windham 74


Yarmouth 152
Carradoc 9


Ekfred. 4


Mosa 30


Zora. 83


Total ...


16186
15277


Am"unt of Popu-
lation for the
year 1822


Increase of


909








J. B. ASKIN.
C.P.I..D



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 89

Hillier to Talbot.

Government House

York February 1, 1824.
Sir

By Command of His Excellency the Lt. Governor I have the Honor
to enclose to you Copy of the proceeding in Council on the Petition of
Wm. Henderson and I have to request you will signify to the present
locatee in Bayham the necessity of his speedily making out his Patent as
the only means of refunding the original locatee.
I have the Honor to be

Sir
Your most obedient

Humble Servant

The Hon. G. HILLIER.

Thomas Talbot

Port Talbot

Petition of William Henderson to Sir Peregrine Maitland Lieutenant

Governor.
Copy

To Sir Peregrine Maitland Lieutenant Governor of the Province

of Upper Canada &c. &c. &c.



The Petition of William Henderson of Charlotteville in the District
of London, Yeoman,

Humbly Sheweth,

That Your Petitioner is the only Son and Heir of the late
Eobert Henderson, deceased. That the said Eobert Henderson did
on the Year 1812 pay to Col. Robert Mchol as Agent for Govern-
ment, the Fees on 200 acres of Land in Bayham which said Land
was afterwards taken from Your Petitioner's Father by Col. Talbot,
but that neither Your Petitioner's Father nor Your Petitioner has
ever been able to obtain the fees paid on the said Land. Wherefore
Your Petitioner humbly prays that Your Excellency will be pleased
to order the said Money to be repaid to Your Petitioner, or allowed
in his account for the Eents of Reserve Lot Number 23 "in the 3rd
Concession of Charlotteville aforesaid.

And Your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray,
signed WM. HENDERSON

by his Attorney

G. RYERSON.



90 ROYAI, SOCIETY OF CANADA

In Council 7th January 1824.

The Lot which he paid the fees for, has been taken fiom him and
located to some other persons many years since who have not received
the Patent and paid no fees for the Patent which he is under no con-
straint to pay untill issued.

Great difficulty may occur in refunding the payment of the fee,
accounted for in the Public Account, and it may be just to re-assign the
Land if the present Locatee does not in a limited time perform the Set-
tlement Duty and pay the fee for his patent

which is humbly submitted,
Signed WM. DFMMER POWELL C.J

Signed P. M.

A true Copy

JOHN BEIKIE,

Confl. Clk.
(Endorsed)

Copy William Henderson Petition

Referred for the consideration of the Hon Ex. Cl.
Govt. House,

Nov. 12, 1823,

By Command
Signed, G. HILLIER.



Dr. John Rolph to Talbot, 1824.

My Dear Sir.

Everything that is great and useful should begin in the Talbot
Settlement under your auspices. It was proposed by Dr. Duncombe
more than a year ago, to form an institution at the City of St. Thomas
for the instruction of Candidates in Medicine and surgery. No school
of that description has yet been formed in any part of the Province nor
is the hospital at York ever likely under its sleepy patrons to become a
source of public usefulness.

We propose to call it "The Talbot Dispensatory "The Honble.
Col. Talbot to be its perpetual Patron with visitorial Power. Colonel
Burwell President, without such Power, with privileges ascertained by
the bye Laws and Captain Matthews and Col Backhouse Vice Presi-
dents so that there may be evidently nothing of a political nature in it
and I hope you are sufficiently acquainted with the state of public feel-
ing, to be satisfied of my engaging in nothing with the mere view of



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 91

conciliating the further favor of your settlement Col Hamilton, Treas-
urer and Col. Bostwick, Secretary.

A Committee to examine the funds and state of cleanliness pro-
priety of the institution John Warren, Ira. Scofield, Joseph Defields,
J. C. Goodhue, Bela Shaw, James Nevills, J. Smith and W. Philan.

Advice to be given once a week at the dispensatory, gratis, wh.
judging from my daily habits, will be much frequented and an exact
Eegistry to be kept, and submitted to the committee and everything
open, of course, in an unlimited manner to your visitorial power.

Dr. Duncomb and myself will join our Libraries for the institution ;
wh. I am satisfied, will exceed very far, any in this or ye sister Province.
To it we will add other valuable works and periodical publications To
these I shall add the anatomical preparations, wh. were the work of my
own Labor, when a pupil of Sir. Astley Coopers.

TTiis institution, like the Talbot anniversary, will, under your pa-
tronage, be supported with equal zeal.

In naming the above appointments, you are requested to regard it
as a suggestion; it being understood that all nominations shall emanate
from you. It is further hoped you will consider St. Thomas's as the
most proper place. There will be about 12 pupils to begin with.

The Committee presidents are to be for the future annually elected
by subscribers. During the concourse of the election under your patron-
age, and the conjunction of all the Candidates, it is thought we can
commence it with advantage, give an impulse to public feeling on the
subject, and to receive annual subscribers as a bushel of produce. The
introductory Lectures might then be given with advantage in Public.

Dr. Buncombe will call upon you to learn your pleasure on the
subject.

There are many arrangements as to the nature of the Lectures and
wh. cannot be well suggested in this Letter.

I have the honor to be, my dear Sir.

Your most faithful servant,

JOHN KoLPH. 1

Dr. Duncombe and myself are modestly recommended as the Teachers
and Lecturers.



i In the general election of 1824, Rolph, Matthews and Burwell were the
candidates for the county of Middlesex. Burwell, who had represented the
constituency since 1812, was defeated, the two first-named becoming the first
representatives under an amendment increasing the representation of the
county from one to two members. Hamilton and Warren were the first mer-



92 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

(addressed on the back)
The Honble

Col. Talbot

Port Talbot.

(The following memo, is endorsed:)

To write to the Survr. Genl. to return certificate to Elizth Hufman,
Daughter of Jacob Hufman of Bertie U. E. for Lot Xo. 12, 5th Con. of
Malahide.

(KG.)



Talbot to E. Wilmot Horton.
Private

Port Talbot 9th February 1824.
Dear Sir.

On my return to this place, yesterday, from York, where I had
been spending some weeks, I had the pleasure of finding your letter of
the llth of November, enclosing a communication, signed .Tas. Stephen
Junr. on the subject of Mr. Wilber force's finding a Clergyman for my
settlement.

I hasten to assure you, on my honour, that when I solicited your
assistance in procuring such a Character, I had not the slightest inten-
tion of interfering with the prerogative of the Lieut. Governor of this
Province, as 1 considered the business altogether of a private nature,
otherwise I would not have forwarded the notes from Miss Simcoe l and
Mr. Kennaway, but had it appeared to me in an official light, I would
have made my application formally through the Bishop of Quebec.

I sincerely thank you for your friendly hint, and you may rest
assured, that you \\ill not find me henceforth trespassing.

The November Mail arrived at York, the evening before I left that
Town, by which conveyance I received your very obliging note, accom-
panying a Report of the Irish Poor Committee of the House of Corn-



chants at St. Thornns, where they opened a general store In 1817. James
Hamilton, one of the brothers, well known in the Niagara District, another
of whom gave his name to the city of Hamilton, was Sheriff of Middlesex.
Warren was Returning Officer for Middlesex In the election mentioned. The
other persons named in the letter lived at various places in tho Talbot
Settlement. The connection of Drs. Rolph and Buncombe with the Rebellion
of 18:57-1838 is well known. From an advertisement in the Advocate of
Queenston, it would seem that the Talbot Dispensatory was in actual opera-
tion for a few weeks at least. If so. it wa's the first medical college in wl.at
is now the province of Ontario, and perhaps in British North America
i Daughter of the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.



[COYNK] THE TALBOT PAPERS 93

mons for which I request you will accept my best thanks, the perusal of
the Report has made me shudder, to find the inhabitants of any part of
the British Isles in such a deplorable condition, as those of the South
of Ireland, are represented to be in; your evidence and valuable com-
munications will, I fervently trust, have the effect that they deserve and
prove a relief to many thousands of those distressed People.

Believe me

Yours very truly,

THOMAS TALBOT.
E. Wilmot Horton Esqr.
&c. &c. &c.



Taibot to Hillier.

Port Taibot 17th Febr. 1824.
Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
1st inst enclosing the copy of "William Henderson's petition, with the
minute of Council, on the subject, and feel exceeding pain at the idea,
that the persons by whom the settlement duties have been performed,
should run any risk of losing the Lot by its being granted to the original
locatee, and have only to observe that I would infinitely prefer paying
Henderson tfte fee money myself than that such a occurrence should take
place. I found it absolutely necessary in the early stage of the Taibot
(settlement) (torn) to make an example of some (torn) other wise I
could not have accomplished (torn) this flourishing settlement that I
can at present part of, there are but 2 persons altogether besides Hen-
derson in the same predicament. I will send to urge the person occupy-
ing the lot to endeavour to get the fee money, so as to enable him, to
take out the patent.
Major Hillier T. T.

(Addressed on fly leaf of letter.)

The Hon Thomas Taibot
Port Taibot

Upper Canada

(torn) DICKSON Er. Queenston
Lewiston N. Y.
N. Y (torn)
Js. Bur (torn)
17 Feb (torn)



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



Order of Lieutenant Governor in Council.
In Council 1st April 1824.

The Committee of the Executive Council to which was referred the
letter of Colonel Talbot covering a Report of a Surveyor on the State
of the Road through the long Woods respectfully submit; that on due
notification to the locatees that such locations as have not been improved
according to the strict condition of settlements in the Warrant within
the period assigned are hereby declared open and will be regranted after
the 1st July next if satisfactory evidence be not then lodged with the
Surveyor General of the due performances of the settlement duty.

(signed) WM. DUMMER POWELL C.J.

(signed) P. M.

A true copy

JOHN BEIKIE,

Coufl. Clk.
Endorsed.

The Surveyr General is requested to report what persons have com-
plied with the letter of this order.

Govt House

December 8th 1824

By command

G. HILLIEB.

Descriptions have issued to the following persons as having com-
plied with the conditions of Settlement between the date of the within
order in council and the first Julv last.



Jacob Suverus S. E. V 2 13 X. of the L.W. road

Mary Suverus S. E. V 2 14 do

John Goodall S. E. pt 21 do

Jacob Cazed S. E. % 23 do

Justus Wilcocks S. E. J/o 6 do

James Martin S. E. i/o 19 do

Levi Doan S. E. i/ 2 10 do

Sevr. Gens Office
8th Deer. 1824.



V Carradoc



Mosa



T. RIDOUT,

S. Genl.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 98

Surveyor General Eidout to Talbot.

Survey Gens. Office,

York llth December 1824.
My dear Sir:

I am to apologize for having so long deferred replying to your letter
of the 24th November, but I previously wished to be well informed re-
specting the Crown & Clergy Eeserves on the Long Wood Boad, and I
have seen Major Hillier on that Subject. 'The Crown Eeserves are under
your location, but those of the Clergy remain with the Corporation

all pieces of land containing less than One Hundred acres

are specially reserved of which description are the N. W. parts of the
Lots 12, 13, & 14 on the Eoad in Carradoc.

I am much obliged to you for entering me for the Lot 18, 4 Cons.
Zora. I will write to Mr. Burwell to get the settlement Duty done.

I remain my dear Sir

Very truly yours

THOS. EIDOUT,

Sur. Gen.
The Honble Col. Talbot.



Bishop Mountain to Talbot.

Marchmont 6th April 1825.
My Dear Sir,

If it were proper to trouble } r ou with an account of all the obstacles
which have hitherto prevented my answering your letter, you would I
persuade myself forgive my apparent inattention for no idea can have
entered your mind I trust, that I should not at all times have great
pleasure in obeying your commands, as far as may be in my power to
do so. .

Your recommendation of Mr. Burwell l shall be considered as far
as you yourself would wish it to be so ; for you would not I am confident
desire that injustice should be done to them, in order to promote his

interest The Candidates for Orders in these Provinces are extremely

numerous. Of these, four are Students with allowances from the So-
ciety, and these, of course, as they successively come of age, stand first



i Burwell was 42 years of age at this time. He had been defeated In the
general elections, and may have decided to enter the Church. Possibly, how-
ever, the reference may be to his son Hercules, who afterwards succeeded
his father as Registrar of Middlesex. Talbot's recommendation was, however,
not acted upon.



96 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

upon the list. Of the rest there are some few who have been formally
accepted as Candidates, and encouraged if duly qualified, to look for
ordination as opportunities phall offer; and the remainder, among whom
is Mr. Burwell, are persons to whom no direct encouragement has been
given, or rather, who have only not been forbidden to look forward, at
their own risk, to entering into the Ministry. The impossibility that
exists that the Society should furnish Missionaries, to the extent in
which the country requires them, and their having of late rather outgone
their means, in their benevolent desire to serve us, made it necessary that
all such persons should be apprised, that nothing specific could be said
lo them, and that they must exercise their own judgment, as to the ex-
pediency of continuing their studies.

Under these circumstances it will be obvious to you that I cannot
give any direct encouragement, much less any immediate hopss to Mr.
Burwell; neither do I wish to discourage him. Your recommendation
phall be constantly kept in mind; but unless he is endowed with great
patience and steadiness, he may be weary of waiting, before I shall be
able to meet it as I wish.

I am, dear sir,

with much regard,
Ool. Talbot. your faithful servant

J. QUEBEC.



Adjutant General Ccffin to Talbot.

Adjutant General's Office
York, Upper Canada
3d. May 1825.
Sir,

I have this day been officially informed that in consequence of a
Resolution of the House of Assembly passed during its last Session no
further charge will in future be allowed for the Contingencies of this
office than what is fixed by Law.

As that allowance is inadequate I have to desire that in future all
your Letters, Returns, or other Communications to this Department shall
either be post paid or transmitted in some other way free of Expense.

I have also to acquaint you that Letters transmitted from this office
can no longer be post-paid here.



THE TALBOT PAPERS 97

For means to enable you to defray this incidental expense I refer
you to the 48th Geo. Illrd. Chap. 1. Sec. 40.

I have the honor to be

Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant

N. COFFIN

Adjnt. Genl. Militia forces.
To

Colonel The Hon. Thomas Talbot
an officer commg. 1st Begt of
Middlesex Militia.



Burwell to Taibot.

Talbot Eoad (De Fields)
Private 10th Augt. 1825.

My Dear Col.

De Fields was not indicted, as Dr. Duncombe told me he had heard
the Grand Jury did not believe the oath of the Complainant The old
man is not sick as he has given out, but intends no doubt to do mischief
with the assistance of the Northern person.

Mrs. H . from Fort Erie is now at Thomas in Yarmouth The ob-
ject of her visit is to lay hold of Mr. P . John Laur the father of
the young men who are settled on your Eoad brought her up I over-
took him last evening on his return, & he informed me, positively, that
the object of her visit was to secure P ., but she does not know how to
conie at him She intends remaining his near neighbor, at 'Thomas for
some time in the expectation that she will attract his notice, but in that
she may be disappointed as he may not think that she would be dis-
posed to marry, when at the same time he might make her proposals if
he was aware that she would I feel for the woman's situation May
be it would be as well for P . as to go to Ireland She certainly
would not have more than one child more, if she would have any, and I
suppose that she would bring 5 or 6 to his House If under these cir-
cumstances you should think that it would not be wicked to further her
views how would it be for you to order Smith to send him to make love
to her? She is certainly to receive 500 in money at her marriage &
that might enable him to do some good in your neighborhood Her

Sec. II , 1909. 7.



98 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

children are all provided for She is afraid that Thomas H . will sus-
pect her object.

I got through with the Malahide people very well and arrived here
a little after dark last night.

I have the honor to remain
My Dear Col
Yours very faithfully

M. BURWELL.

Hon. Col. Talbot

&c. &c. &c.
P.S.

I go down today & pay the Militia tomorrow. The Bridge over Otter
Creek is planked, but the butments are not made De Fields will assist
the Judge over the creek & the Road he informs me is opened to Big
Creek.

M. B.
(addressed on the back)

To

The Honorable

Thomas Talbot Esquire
&c. &c. &c.

Port Talbot



Rev. Alexander Mackintosh l to Talbot.

St. Thomas 18th Augt. 1825.
Dear Coll. Talbot.

Here I am after a month's wandering to and fro. I went as far
south as Phila in order to experience effectually the change of diet and
climate. They proved beneficial, for that obstinate indigestion under
which I so long laboured is removed I hope forever ! I send you herein



i Rev. Alex. Mackintosh was the first Incumbent of St. Thomas' Church
at St. Thomas. He arrived in 1824. The St. Thomas Academy, situated near
the southeast corner of Talbot and Stanley Streets, existed for several years.
The building was also used for other purposes. The Methodists and Roman
Catholics had their services, and the Assizes were held in it. Afterward a
new building was erected on the southwest corner of Walnut and Stanley
Streets. It is still in existence, removed however to Ann Street.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 99

Boss's account discharged by Grant & K. I called on the General last
week; gave your letter to Mr. Maitland, who introduced me. Sir. P.
very agreeable, asked me to wait dinner, which I declined, being on my
way to Niagara for home. He desired me to remember him kindly to
you. The many things I had in the small waggon, together with the
misfortune of my servant (an Englishman, Sussex Co. whom I brot.
from N. York) having reed, a very bad kick from the horse in coming
down a hill in the G. Eiver swamp which will render him useless for
two or three weeks, prevented my calling at Major Salmon's for your
saw. I came on by Kirkpatrick's & did not go nearer the Court, Had I
been better fixed, I need not say that I would most cheerfully have done
the needful for you. Your letter for Mr. Stanley, I put into the Packet
bag with my own hands, and those for Phila I put into the Post Office
there, so that yr. postage is saved and I will have much pleasure in re-
turning you $2. of the money handed me by Jeffery, when I get to Port
T. which I hope will be in a few days.

Yours always

A. MACKINTOSH.

P.S. When I arrived last night I had just five min's talk with Mr.
Eandal who has come forward for the Academy. I am now going to
call on him, and see how we can get him settled. Dr. S. sailed from
Quebec on the 19th nlto.

A. M.
(addressed on the back)

The Honble

Colonel Talbot

Port Talbot.



iOO



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA



AOOREGATK STATEMENT OK THE POPULATION OF ToWNBHH'8 IN THE LONDON
DISTRICT TAKEN FROM THE RETURNS OF ASSESSORS OK TOWN-
surrs FOH THE YF.AR 1S25.



TOWNSHIPS


Number in each Township


Males

under
16


Females
under
16


Males
above
16


Total
Females Amount
above
16


Aldborough


151

174
99
290

26!)

62
133
288

444
57
305
243
211
64
101
83
54
61
270
312
52
126
125
129
294
152

4546


170

187
96
265
249

66
137
273

387
44
304
240
194
57
85
75
65
58
301
241
68
195
117
137
278
136


174
175

78
280
297

105
154
302

439
62
262
231
196
58
85
85
58
53
305
281
53
221
114
120
309
131


127
139
68
215
259

41
108
260

336
43
211
207
170
70
70
65
50
49
224
226
44
166
111
121
270
102


622
675
341
1056
1065

274
532
1123

1606
206
1082
921
771
249
341
308
227
221
1100
1060
217
708
467
507
1151
521

17351


Burford


Blenheim


Bavham


Charlotte ville


Carradoc 1
Ekfred [


Mosa
Dunwich


Delaware ]
Dorchester >


Westminster
London


Lobo


Malhihide .


Norwich


Oxford Western Division


" Eastern Division


Oakland


Nissouri


Middleton and Houghton


Rainham


Souths old


Townsend . . ...


Walpole


Woodhouse .


Walsingham


Windham


Yarmouth .


Zorra


Total


4425


4628


3752





Giving an'^Encrease of 740 since last Return.



JOHN B. ASKIN.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O1

Lieutenant Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland to Talbot.

Government House

York April 7th 1826.
Dear Talbot

'Taking pity on your desolate situation I take upon to let you know
what is going on in this world and first and foremost you shall hear
of the departure of Lady Sarah and the children to Stamford I took
them over on Monday and had the pleasure of their society on the lake
for 22 hours I kicked your friend Wardlaw out of bed at 6 in the
morning and was saluted with " monstrous what brought you here "
I left them at the cottage at three the same evening. Lady Sarah though
a good deal fagged is not I hope the worse for the journey. Gordon
I saw at the mess. He made tender enquiries after you Sir. Thomas.
He is in the Sergeant Major's hands and is not yet disgusted.

Captain Franklin l and his arctics arrived here the other day. They
are all gone with the exception of Back who is left behind I am told
they are all as fat as butter, which I think an advantage for more rea-
sons than one The Lords Commission still talk about getting away
in three weeks this a favorite space of time with them as they have from
the very first been going in three weeks. They are in great want of a
Knightly President.

I had a letter from Arthur yesterday. He says he is coming early
in the spring, and is much pleased with our projected journey to Port
Talbot.

How often has the faithful Jeffrey had to put you to bed ? If you
got to Salmon's on the night of the storm I have no doubt you wanted
a little assistance in that way Hillier is coming to bother me.

Yrs

P. MAITLAND.



Edward Buller to Talbot.

Farming Woods Octr. 1st 1836.
Dear Sir.

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th ult which
did not come to hand until the 27th owing to the distance I reside from
the post office; and it not being just at this period of the year con-
venient to send every week.

i Franklin and Back were the distinguished Arctic explorers, afterwards
known as Sir John Franklin and Sir George Back.



1O2 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

In respect to the substance of your letter I beg to inform you that
the 28. 3S. C'y paid to your credit in the Bank of Upper Canada was
intended as the fourth and last instalment on Lot No. 9 in the Ninth
Concession of the Township of Blandford, 172 acres at 12S. 6d. C'y
per acre. The instalment on which was due on the 24th of June, but
from my not -being in the country was not paid until a later period;
upon a reconsideration of the Interest I find that the sum total amount
is 28. 15S. instead of 28. 3S. C'y leaving a sum of 12S. still due, &
which I have this day written to the Bank of Upper Canada desiring
' them to place the same to your account. Blandford has not been honored
with many new settlers the last twelve months, those that have located
are generally speaking persons of capital & have it in their power to
make extensive improvements the want of which is much felt in other
parts the lapse of a few years can make as I can avow great alterations
in the features of the bush, tho' I have as yet no neighbours in view, but
two families within hearing. The lots generally speaking are settled
around me, but with the exception of two Scotch gentlemen, the settlers
are of the labouring community, which I consider of the two the latter
to be the most desirable. It is rumoured here that you are upon the
eve of your departure for old England, if my memory does not deceive
me I think you stated when I had the honor of staying with you at Port
Talbot, that you generally crossed the Atlantic every fifth year which
would arrive about this period.

Wishing you prosperous winds and a speedy voyage as well as a safe
return.

Believe me

to be Dear Sir

post paid Very truly yours

BULLER. EDWARD BULLER.

To Woodstock (cc

12 Oct 3d. (Addressed on the back)

To

The Honble To The Honble Thomas Talbot

Thomas Talbot Port Talbot.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O3

Ridout to Hillier.

Surveyor Gens. Office,

York 12th October 1826
My dear Sir:

I have just received a letter from Capt. Matthews * of which the
enclosed is a Copy ; and I send you also a Copy of my letter to him in
reply.

The Survey of the Town Plot of London which was reported to me'
by Mr. Burwell in July last shewing the proposed Reservation for the
Gaol & Court House, was submitted by me shortly after, to you, for the
pleasure of His Excellency the Lt. Governor thereon, which, until the
receipt of, I conceived, I had no authority to make & report to the Com-
missioners and understanding from yourself, that you had written to
Col. Talbot on the subject, the matter has rested over, until now, when
it would seem that I have misunderstood the Act, by not designating
the Reserve & sending the Plan forthwith to the Commissioners.

I beg leave therefore to transmit a copy of Mr. Burwells survey of
the Town Plot of London shewing the projected Reserve in Question, to
meet you at Port Talbot, requesting you will have the Goodness to sub-
mit the same to His Excellency the Lt. Governor, and to make such
order thereon, as it may be His Excellency's pleasure to give.

I am my dear Sir

Your faithful Servant

THOS. RIDOUT
To George Hillier, Esq. S.G.



Copy of letter Ridout to Captain Matthews, M.P.P.

Copy. Surveyor Gen. Office,

York 12th October 1826.
Dear Sir:

I am just favored with your letter of the 4th Inst. the contents of
which I shall immediately communicate to Major Hillier who now ac-
companies His Excellency the Lieut. Governor on a Tour to the western
part of the Province, and who intends, as I am informed, to return by



i Captain Matthews as M.P.P. for the county of Middlesex, was naturally
interested in the location of the New Courthouse. Colonel Talbot, Matthews
and Charles Ingersoll were the Commissioners for its construction. In its
architectural lines it imitated Malahide Castle, the ancient seat of the Tal-
bots of Malahide. The building is still used for the original purpose.



IO4 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Port Talbot on or about the 28th Inst., when, I have no doubt, the Re-
servation submitted for the Gaol & Court House at London, will be
settled to the satisfaction of the Commissioners.

I have the Honor to be Dr Sir

Your most obed. Servt
(signed) THOS. RIDOUT.

Copy. T. Ridout
S. G.



Archibald McArthur to Talbot.

Aldborough. D-26. 1827.
To Colonel T. Talbot

My Dear Sir

Your humble petitioner has the honour to request that you would
have the condescension to grant him -a deed for his own and his Son
John's fifty Acres, in one deed as his son has granted to him his fifty
Should You think it worthy Your Consideration to grant him one deed,
including both the fifty Acre lots. You will confer an unbounded
favour

On Your Most obedient
humble Sert.

ARCHIBALD MCARTHUR.

This is to certify that I have granted to my father Archibald Mc-
Arthur My right and Claim to the fifty Acres I have drawn.

JOHN McARTHDR.



William Lewis to Dr. Lee.

Gaines, Orleans County, New
York June 13th 1828

Dear Brother, I avail myself of this oppertunity to inform you of
my place of residence, and my prospects, my business, and health.

The state of my health is bad. I have had the fever and ague for
five week about, and am quite low and not yet got rid of the complaint
On my journey from Westminster to this place I sold the jolly mare very
happily, for the fair sum of One hundred and five dollars. I still keep
my waggon and a good horse. Dear Brother it is not very likely that
you will see me again very soon in that place, as I have bought me a



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS iOB

farm in the town of Carlton in this County, about two miles from this
village, (Gaines). You will recollect that you was speaking to me last
fall about the land which joins you of one hundred acres. I now refer
you to Dr. Lee, Joseph Odle & Mr. Eoberson and if you will pay their
demands against me, I will sign to you the hundred acres joining to
your farm, being lot No. 66 on the west side of Talbot north road and
the sum of all those demands, does not exceed eighty five dollars I think.
If you will see these men and can arrange it with them I wish you to
write to me as soon as possible. I am happy to inform you that I am
well pleased with the people and society, they are friendly to honest and
industrious folks and good to strangers. I must now conclude to you
wishing you all the prosperity that you can desire in all your laudible
undertakings before however I close this letter I must say something
to the good people of Westminster. Give my Compliments to all who
feel interest enough to inquire after your affectionate brother in truth.

WM. W. EUGGLES for WILLIAM LEWIS By request.

To the People of Westminster

It may have been reported among you that when I left your place
last fall that I had run away; if so I now take the liberty to state to
you that I did not, but on travling to this place I found money more
plenty and better jobs than clearing roads on subscriptions. I therefore
thought proper to stay in this place, and let those who had the magnani-
mity to sign ten shillings for publick benefit and see a poor hard
working man, labor, toil, and sweat, for the pittance without contribut-
ing upon the subscription, which had been duly signed, and aught in
honesty, and good Concience to be paid, the small amount of one plug
of tobacco Know Gentlemen, that I shall return to Westminster and
see you all, many of you I count as friends and am hapy to say have ever
treated me as kindly as I desired, to those I tender my warmest senti-
ments of gratitude; but to those who have had the ineffable meanness
to abuse and try to injure me, and those only, and their Conciences will
truly tell them who they are, I say, go on ye workers of eivl reports, and
Covetiousness, I soon shall face you, and honesty and truth will triumph.

I now say to the people of Westminster that they are perfectly wel-
come to the whole labor I performed for them on the job of Cutting out
the road, and I shall never call on a single man for one fraction of the
money signed for that purpose, I make my services a free gift to the
town of Westminster.

WILLIAM LEWIS.



100 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

P.S. Dr. Lee, Sir, you will excuse me for directing this letter to
you, in it you will find sufficient to pay you for your trouble, and 1 wish
you to get it to my brother as soon as possible. And if my brother should
not see proper to take the land on those conditions, you may rest assured
that I shall pay you every cent. Please write me yourself how business
is, and how my brother is, and his family on receipt of this.

I remain Yours &c. &c.

WILLIAM LEWIS.
Dr. Lee, Westminster, Upper Canada.



Win. Hamilton Merritt to Talbot.

Dear Sir London July 2nd 1828.-

I am precisely in the same state of forwardness you left me, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer appears determined not to bring the meas-
ure forward his Secretary has promised me for the last three weeks
that it would come on the next Monday or Wednesday and altho the
Cabinet determined on 13th May we should have the money we remain
in the same situation still I have wrote & called & stated, that delay
would ruin us as effectually as denial it produces no effect I am out of
all patience I hope to have nothing more in future to do with Govern-
ment.

I had a letter from the Attorney General dated 17th May men-
tioning His Excellency the Lt. Governor & the Directors went from St.
Catharines to the Lake, in a Schooner, which was laden at the former
place and passed through the Canal Locks, Harbor &c. in fine style she
carries 900 Bbls Flour under Hatches-equal to about 125 Tons burden.

The work is all going on with great rapidity the onlp thing they
want is money.

I showed the Letter to the Chancellor in hopes it would stir him up.

You will see by the Papers when the Question comes on am in
hopes it will be this week.

I am

Dear Sir

Most truly yours

WM. HAMILTON MERRITT.
(addressed on the back)

Hon. Thomas Talbot

Ballinclear, Black itock,
County of Dublin,

Ireland.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O7

John Bostwick to Talbot.
Dear Sir, Port Stanley 2d. May 1829.

Agreeable to your request I give you a statement of the sales I have
made of Lots in this place. I have sold two lots bounding on the waters
of Kettle Creek at 20 & 25 rear lots not touching the water contain-
ing not more than one fourth of an acre (some of them less) from 15
to 12. 10. The water lots above mentioned contain about the tenth
part of an acre each I shall not however dispose of any others at the
same rates. I consider the remaining water lots to be worth 100 and
should with reluctance take a less sum for one of them.

I am

Dear Sir

Yours truly

Colonel Mahlon Burwell. JOHN BOSTWICK.

Indorsed :

Colonel Bostwick*s Letter
stating the prices at which he has
sold lots in the Town of Port
Stanley Dated 2nd May 1829.



Account of George Munro * against Talbot.
The Honble. Thomas Talbot

Bought of GEORGE MUNRO. a d.

Ibs. Pekoe lea 7/ 4 14 6

22 " Hyson Skin Tea 3/6 3 17

3% Gallons Bourdeaux Vinegar 5/ 18 9

12 Gallons Cognac Brandy 9/ 5 8

12 Ibs. Coffee I/ 12

12^ Ibs. Soap /6 63

26 Ibs. Sperm Candles 2/ Box 1/3 2 13 3

5" Starch 1/1 5 5

12 " Rice /4 1/2 4 6

6 Pearl Barley /7 36

3 Sauce Pans. 4}, J, \ 16 4

4 Large Bottles Blacking 1/8 6 8

2 Ibs. Epsom Salts I/ 2

4 Loaves Sugar 35^ Ibs I/ 1 15 6

14 Ibs. Shot : /6 7

Paid for Powder 3 9

Paid for Tar Emetic 9

1 Bottle Snuff 3 2

6 Dishes 2/9. 1/10. 1/2 -11 6

1 Dozen Plates 4 6

2 Bottles Pickles 2/3 4 6

Paid for 2 Brass Cocks 2/6 5

Holliwells Bill for Beer 2 3 1

2 New Boxes for Tea 1/6 3

2 Kegs for Brandy and Vinegar 5/7 1/2, 4/4 1/2. . 10

York Uune 1829 26 19



1 The late Lieutenant-Colonel George Munrc, J.P., who lived through al-
most the whole of the last century, was one of the best-known and most high-



1O8 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Holme to Talbot. Memorandum of proposition.

Mr. Holme proposes to cut a canal 20 ft. wide at the surface and
sufficiently deep for all useful purposes in the erection of a Grist Mill,
and other machinery the Canal is to be made in the track marked in
Pencil on the Map of the Town Plot of London The water to be dis-
charged into the River at the foot of the marshy place. To have all the
land between the Canal and the River the Ground on which the Canal
ir, to belong to him, and one Road along the Xorth side of it, PO as not
to have any one interfere with him The Mill to be a Merchant Mill with
two pairs of Burr Stones, and a Saw Mill and a fulling and carding
Mill He will have to erect a Dam across the River at the upper end
of the River mark 5 ft. high with an inclined plain according to Law
He thinks his outlay in expenses of the Canal & erections would be
1250 Cy. All these advantages he wishes to be granted him free of
expense He wishes to commence the Canal, and preparing timber for
the Mills immediately about 14 acres.

Port Talbot 29th Augt. 1829.

(Endorsed)

Memm. frrm Mr. Holme respecting a

mill site in the Town Plot of

London For Col. Talbot

29th Ausrt. 1829.



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson. 1

Port Ta]bot, April 12, 1830.

My Dear Sir : Tt has occurred to me that Clergy and Canada Com-
\ pany's Block? of Reserves in the Township of Harwich would be much
I advanced in value by cruising a line for a road to be surveyed thro' them,



ly respected residents of the township of Aldborouffh. In his early years he
was an outspoken opponent of Colonel Talbot, but he became his champion and
defender. Towards the close of his lonp life of more than ninety years, he
published in the St. Thomas press letters in which he testified to Talbot's
kind heartedness. and defended him from the charge of Intemperance, as to
which, however, see Mrs. Jameson's Winter Studies and Summer Rambles,
and Edward Ermatinper's Life of Colonel Talbot, which confirm the local
tradition.

i The Honorable Peter Robinson, elder brother of Chief Justice Robinson,
was the oldest child of Christopher Robinson of the Queen's Rangers. He was
born in New Brunswick In 1785. He represented the county of York for



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 1O9

with lots laid out abutting on each side of the road, to connect with the
Middle Eoad leading to Sandwich. At the time I had the Middle Road
surveyed I did not instruct Col. Burwell to ran it thro' Harwich, as the
whole of that township was locked up from me by the Blocks of. Crown
and Clergy Reserves, and the remainder had been deeded for many years
to Non-residents. Harwich is composed of excellent land and I am
persuaded that the lots on the road would in a short time readily sell
for 12s 6d. currency an acre, and when the Road Lots were all settled
the residue of the Blocks would likewise come into demand at the same
price.

There is a ridge which traverses the township, naturally adapted to
form an admirable Road, and indeed it was that circumstance that in-
duced me to have the Middle Road established, and I have completely
settled it thro' Orford, Howard and Raleigh and expect during the
course of the present year to have settlers on the whole line, with the
exception of Harwich, which can only be accomplished by the Clergy
and Canada Company. Therefore I am to request that you will present
my best regards to Mr. Allan, and hope that you both will take into
consideration the subject of this communication, and see the benefit that
must result to your conceders, by adopting the measure suggested. The
Expense of the Survey, divided between the two parties, would amount
to but a trifle, and the person most competent to perform the work is
Mr. Burwell, as he is personally acquainted with the ground having
Surveyed all the townships west of Port 'Talbot, to Sandwich. Harwich,
owing to the particular causes mentioned, has been and will continue a
great obstruction to my labours in this portion of the Province, unless
relieved by your exertions and assistance, and pray assure Mr. Allan,
that I should not have omitted doing myself the pleasure of writing to
him on this subject, had I not conceived that as it related to both par-
ties, that one letter would answer. And you will add to the favour, by
letting me hear your decision. You will be enabled to understand all
the circumstances combined with my plan, by examining the Map of the
Western Div*n in the Surveyr. Gen's office.

I remain, Dear Sir,

Very truly yours,

THOMAS TALBOT.
Prom the Crown Lands Department.

several years in the House of Assembly. Upper Canada, was a member both
of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and Commissioner of Crown Lands.
He took a great interest in emigration, and In the settlement of Peterboro,
which is called after him. During the war he rendered good service at Detroit
and Mackinac. Died unmarried in 1838. (See Life of Sir John Beverley
Robinson, by Major General C. B. Robinson, page 448.)



110 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.

Port Talbot, April 15, 1830.

My Dear Sir: Patrick Brcen brought me your note of the 5th
inst., yesterday. I think that Breen acted unfair as he knew that Clark
was desirous of purchasing the Clergy Reserve B. in the front of South-
wold, and as far as I can learn lias forwarded by post to you what he
considered as the amount of the first payment, at 12s 6d cur'y an acre.
Breen, however, informs me that you asked 14s cur'y an acre. There
are two other persons of the name of Alvin and Montgomery Smith who
have resided on 'and made improvements on two other Clergy Reserves,
a statement of which I think you will find in Mr. Wilmot's return.
They have the first payments ready, but from what Breen says about 14s
an acre they are at a loss as to what sum they should forward, and also
wish to know if it would be safe to send the money by post, to save them
the expense and loss of time of going themselves to York. If you will
have the goodness to inform me I will instruct them. I did myself the
pleasure of writing to you last Monday, respecting a plan for Harwich,
which if carried into effect will prove beneficial. The navigation has
opened earlier than I ever knew it, but I have not heard how it is at
Fort Erie, where most seasons the ice takes a stand.

The Jews of merchants of the Talbot settlement will make their
fortunes at the expense of my industrious farmers, having given but 4
yorkers a bushel for wheat, and Hamilton and Warren 1 have taken in,
I am told, near 20,000 bushels, most part of which for old debts, on
which they no doubt had a profit of 700 per cent.

With kindest regards to the Chief and Mrs. Robinson, believe me,

Very truly Y'rs,

THOMAS TALBOT.
The Honblo Peter Robinson
&c. &c &c.
York.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)






Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.

Port Talbot, March 17, 1831.

My Dear Commi>s*r: The enclosed T received yesterday respecting
the Mill Site in London. Pray have goodness to write the person an
answer.

i Merchants at St. Thomas and Port Stanley. At the latter place they
had The Talbot Mills.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 111

Should the Government at home decide on sending out Emigrants
this year, and that Cattle may be required for their use, I will request
you to keep my Stocks in view, being at a great loss how to dispose of
them, besides the wintering of so many as I have, is a great expense in
every way. I find that I was nothing too soon in leaving the chief's
hospitable quarters, and hope that Mrs. Eobinson is doing as well as you
could desire.

Believe me, very sincerelp y's,

THOMAS TALBOT.
The Honble

Peter Eobinson
Commissr of Crown Lands.
&c. &c. &c.
York.

(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Talbot to Hon. Peter Eobinson.

Port Talbot, April 3, 1831.

My Dear Sir: I have had the pleasure of receiving yours of the
28th of last month, and am charmed to hear such good accounts of Mrs.
Eobinson and the young Lady. 1 I decidedly approve of your plan for
laying out a road from the N". E. corner of Carradoc to the Mouth of the
Eiver aux Perche, and am quite delighted that such a measure occurred
to you, as I know of no part of the Province possessing greater capability
for forming a good settlement than that tract affords, situated as it is
between two noble rivers, the Sable on the north and Big Bear Creek on
the South, which can furnish the Settlers with excellent Fish to feed them
the greatest part of the year, besides- the Land is of a very superior de-
scription, and in fact, when the communication is established, the dis-
tance from that part of Lake Huron to York will not be more than from
Sandwich. The mode I recommended you to adopt is, in the first place,
to employ an intelligent and interposing surveyor, to explore minutely
the Tract, commencing at the N. E. corner of Carradoc, not to take a
Westerly course until he had crossed the Bear Creek, for it is evident
that there must be an elevation or Eidge separating the waters that run
into these Eivers, and when he finds such Eidge to follow it faithfully

i Mary Amelia, seventh child, and daughter of Chief Justice Robinson
Married Hon. Donald Mclr.nes, of Hamilton, Ont., a member of the Senate
of Canada, who died in 1900. She died in 1879.



112 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

until he gets to Lake Huron. It is notorious that all the surveyors of
the Province have most corrupt taste and conceive it worse than murder
to nm any other than a straight line. On the contrary he must keep
the middle of the ridge, let it wind as it may. And in the commence-
ment I would not exceed two Ranges of Lots on each side of the Road,
and when these are all settled to run out more, and no deed to issue till
the settler had actually completed his settlement duties and resided on
his lot 5 years. This is enough for the present.

My next scheme i? to endeavor to prevail on the Chief and yrself to
get on your Horses the latter part of May and visit Port Talbot, for I
eh'd despair of seeing you, if you put off the trip until the summer, when
most probably you will be constantly busy in receiving and disposing of
emigrants. If you are disposed to confer a compliment, be with me
before the Talbot anniversary, wh will be on Monday, the 23rd of May,
the proper day is the 21st wh will be Saturday this year, consequently
the Festivity would interfere with Sunday and I hope that the Roads
will be in good order by that time. As yet, we have had a most back-
ward and wet Spring, constant rain and cold weather, such as I have
not experienced since I settled here.

A few days ago, I received a letter from Mr. David Browne, which
surpasses those he wrote to Sir John Colborne in point of oddity. You
will much oblige me by enquiring in one of your walks how they sell the
Lathing whicli I saw in bundles at York, how much a 1,000 or bundle,
and let me know, when you next write. Now with kindest remembrances
to the Chief & Mrs. Robinson believe me very sincerely yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.

I forgot to mention that I told the person who enquired about the
Clergy lot, No. 3, 4th concession of Southwold, that the price was twelve
shillings six pence per acre.

The Honble Peter Robinson

Commisr. of Crown Land
York.

(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.

Port Talbot, May 2, 1831.

My Dear Commissioner : I have received yours of the 24th of April,
and regret sincerely to hear that you have been such an invalid, and
hope that this may find your health restored.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 113

In compliance with your wish I have engaged a person to accom-
pany the Surveyor in exploring the proposed ground for r the New Eoad.
Mr. James Nevilles is the person, a Capt'n of Militia, an intelligent and
active man, who will, 1 have no doubt, be of much use. I have not in-
fornied him what his pay is to be, but think he ought to have four dollars
a day and find himself, for it will be a laborious service. You have not
said who the surveyor is to be, should you not have engaged one, I will
recommend one who is active, intelligent and correct, Mr. Peter Carral,
of Oxford. If you approve of him, pray write to him as soon as possible
and direct him to come to Port Talbot, so that I may explain to him &
Nevilles when together the nature of our plan, so that they may not be
puzzled, it would be proper that he should be furnished with the Southern
Boundary line of the Canada Company's Huron Block, that is, if it
crosses the River Sable in any part. Two axemen will be necessary with
the party to carry provisions &c. &c. pray let me hear from you on the
subject by return of Post I shall indeed be greatly mortified if any
circumstance should prevent your visiting Port Talbot this month, and
am Provoked at the bad prospect you give of the Chief's accompanying
you, so tell him, and I cannot forgive his laziness, however I am de-
lighted to hear that the family are in such good health.

Believe me very Truly Yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.

P.S. Mr. Mount, the Depy. Surveyor, is and has been dangerously
ill ever since his return from York.

T. T.

(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.

Port Talbot, July 4, 1831.

My Dear Commissioner: I sincerely hope that this may find you
on your Legs, after having discarded that Vagabond companion, The
intermittent, who I have sworn vengeance against for having prevented
your visiting Port Talbot, as I do not now look for the pleasure of seeing
you here for this year. Your Head and hands must be fully occupied
by the numerous arrivals of Emigrants, many of whom are finding their
way into my Territory, several by New York.



114 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

1 have now to inform you that our Surveyor and Explorer have re-
turned from the iN'ew Tract of Country, and I am happy to add that they
have been quite as successful as I could have wished, in finding an Ex-
cellent line for the Road from the N. E. corner of Carradoc to Lake
Huron, as you will perceive from this joint report to me, a copy of which
1 now enclose to you. A magnificent settlement may be accomplished in
the Extent, and it now remains with you to do it, but I must caution
you, in the Yauky style, to be wide awake in guarding against imposi-
tion and speculation, and to have a proper person to watch over the
Settlers being actual residents and that they faithfully perform the
duties that may be required of them. The Surveyr. Carral said that he
expected to be able to complete the Survey, in about Six weeks, in which
case you can commence work, this Autumn.

The best and cheapest route for Settlers to get to the Road will be
by vessels from Chippawa or Fort Erie to Port Stanley, the mouth of
Kettle Creek, from thence there is a good road and plenty of wagons to
be hired to Lobo or Carradoc, and there is a road thro' one of those town-
ships to the N. W. corner of the former.

What a melancholy end poor Mudge l made of himself. He was
one of the last persons I should have suspected of committing so rash
an act. It will give me great pleasure to hear that the Chief, Mrs. Ro-
binson and all the young folks are well and quite free of Ague.

The weather is now delightful, I am cutting my Hay, which is an
excellent crop, but for Fruit it is a sad year, no stone fruit whatever.

I shall take constant interest in the road, and should like it to be
called William the Fourth's Road, and my advice is that you should, as
much as possible, avoid placing Highland Scotch on it, as of all descrip-
tions they make the worst settlers for New Roads. English are the best.

Have the goodness to let me know when you write if the whole or
part of lot No. 9, on Kdgeware Road in Yarmouth, a Clergy Reserve, is
for sale, as a person wishes to purchase it and state the price. I likewise
send herewith Mr. Neville's account of his service amounting to 23.
Cury. which I wish you to send me the amount as soon as you can, as he
is in want of it. I have nothing more to say but to wish you good health
and believe me very Sinly Yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.

(From the Crown Lands Department.)



i Lieutenant Mudge, confidential secretary to Sir John Colborne, Lieu-
tenant-Governor of Upper Canada, and nephew of Lady Colborne, committed
suicide in a fit of insanity. See Wm. Lyon Mackenzie's Sketches, pp. 223-228.



{.COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS IIS

Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.

Port Talbot, Oct. 10th, 1831.
My Dear Commissioner:

I hope this may find you returned to York with health restored. I
felt not a little uneasy about you, until I saw Mr. Consul Buchanan,
who relieved me by telling me that yOur condition was much more
favorable than the chief's last letter stated it to be. I hope that you will
not confine yourself too much to your office, and take moderate exercise
daily. The weather for the last week has been most aggravating, nothing
but rain. I inclose Neville's receipts for his wages. When you write
pray inform me if Clergy Lot No. 9, on Edgeware Road, in Yarmouth,
is for sale, as there is an applicant for it. Every Vessel brings Lots of
Highland Scotch, many of whom possess the means of purchasing. I
sell the school land in Yarmouth for 12s 6d Cury the acre. I shall not
tire you, so with kindest remembrance to the Chief & Mrs. Robinson,
believe me very Sincerely Yrs

THOMAS TALBOT.

I forgot to trouble you with a commission.

I wrote to Butcher Elliott two or three weeks ago to say that I had
a number of cattle that I wished to sell, and requesting him to let me
know, if he wanted to purchase. Pray have a conversation with him
about them and tell me what he says, and if he will come to Port 'Talbot
to inspect my stock. My nephew, Capn. Airey, left me last Wednesday
after spending nearly a fortnight at Port Talbot.

T. T.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.
Private.

The Honble Peter Robinson
&c. &c. &c.
York.

Port Talbot, Dec. 4th, 1831.
Dear Commiss'r.

I was much obliged and gratified by the receipt of your letter, giving
the fate of the Reform Bill, and sincerely trust that there may not take
place any violent agitation. Lord Wharncliffe, in his last letter, told
me that the middle class was not generally in favor of the measure. The



116 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

consequence, in my opinion, must be a change of the ministry, if so, I
hope that Sir George Murray mnv not be again our Master.

I was greatly disappointed in not getting better accounts of your
health, as your former report was far more flattering; if cold weather
agrees with you, you have it in perfection, it beats any season at an early
stage that I have experienced in Upper Canada, and I never was worse
prepared for it, my House more open than a Barn, and the part I feel
most the loss of is the cellar, having for the first time sent my Pears and
apples this year to the press, and after paying the 3d I got ten Barls of
Perry and fifty of Tide' 1 , and I now am aggravated to the greatest degree
by the whole being hard frozen. Also my Cattle gives me much an-
noyance, in consequence of Elliott not taking them, he wrote that if I
would keep them until Xss that he would come for them, but that i
quite impossible, for the feed it would require to keep them in Beef
order, I should consume all my May and the remainder of my Stock
die before Spring. T had thirty good Beeves for him, so much for
grievances.

My intention is at present, wind and weather permitting, to set out
for York the 2nd or 3rd of Jany., and I feel impatient to see and con-
verse with you, I have not any faith in Sir John's plans for the) new
Surveyed Tract. This 1 hope will find all my flourishing to all of whom
I send my best regards. I wrote to the Chief and he must have g*ot my
letter very soon after he wrote to me. Believe me very faithfully yrs

THOMAS TALBOT.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Talbot to TTon. Peter Robinson.

Port Talbot, Feb. 2nd., 1832.
My Dear Commissr. :

A poor Scotchman has just left me (Malcolm Galbraith) who states
that thro' a mistake and ignorance he took possession of a wrong lot
the Xorth half of lot 24. Xorth on the Longwood Road, in Ekfrid, where
he has been clearing. T apprize you of this, hoping that you will not
disturb him. T wrote to Cnl. Rurwell some days ago requesting that he
wd. call on you and say that I would thank you not to dispose of any
of the Xorth halves of the Lots on the Xorth side of the Longwood Road
until I have the pleasure of seeing you at Port Talbot, when I shall be
obliged to you to bring with you a list of such Lots as may have been
thrown open by the Council, when you and myself can compare plans
so as to prevent anv future difficulties.



[CO*NE] THE TALBOT PAPERS LIT

I hope that the two Houses have adopted a favorable decision as to
the supply bill, and that they have parted in peace.

The Winter appears to be again at Anchor, if it should last all this
Month so much the better.

I am still an invalid, confining myself to my House and living on
broth. It will add greatly to my happiness to hear that my friends at
the Chief's and also yourself are quite recovered but nothing can more
effectually contribute to your restoration than a Month's residence at
Port Talbot. So 'Adieu, my dear Robinson, and believe me very sin-
cerely yrs,

THOMAS TALBOT.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Proclamation. Talbot to his settlers.
(Printed fly-sheet 7 inches by 5% inches.)

NOTICE.

HAVING SEEN THE PROCEEDINGS of different Meetings
held in the Talbot Settlement, on the subject of imagined grievances,
and finding that it is now necessary to ascertain the real sentiments of
the Inhabitants, so as at once to put down t"he fever (by a few only)
manifested, to encourage disaffection to the British Government, I give
this notice, recommending a general meeting of my Settlers on St.
George's day, the 23d. of April next, at the King's Arms at St. Thomas,
at noon, when I shall attend.

THOMAS TALBOT,
Father of the Talbot Settlement.

Port Talbot, March 19, 1832.



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.
Private.

The Honble

Peter Robinson
Commissr. of Crown Lands
&c. &c. &c.

York.

Port Talbot, April 15th, 1832.
My Dear Commissioner,

The spring has commenced, and so dry that the Roads are now quite
as good as they are in Summer, therefore I sincerely hope that this may



118 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

find you in health sufficiently good to admit of your paying me the so
long wished for visit. Provide yourself, therefore, with a strong one-
horse Waggon, in which you and your Servant will travel more com-
fortably than on horse-back, and set off immediately after the receipt
of this for Port Talbot, where you must make up your mind to remain
one whole month, at the least, and I promise you that you shall live as
quietly and regularly as you please ; 1 shall not give you the Blue Pill,
simply my fine Southern air will do the needful by sending back another
man. I am particularly anxious for your being with me the first week
in May so that you may not feel any impatience to be in York before the
middle of June, when Emigrants may be expected to begin to arrive.
Pray write by the return of Post informing me of your movement. The
route T recommend is : 1st day to Sumner's 2nd to 3 ran tford. 3rd to
Willson's at Simcoe (Long Point), 4th to Winan's in Bayham, or if you
can to Loders' at Little Otter Creek, and 5th day to Port Talbot. Those
are easy stages and will not be too much for you. Should the Deed for
the Lot which I purchased of you be made out, pray bring it with you
and have the goodness to say to Mr Markland that I am pestered to
death for the Deeds of the persons I left the memm. I left in his office
for, and if executed bring them also.

I take it for granted that the navigation is now open from York to
Quebec. If the Chief or yourself shd. hear of a safe opportunity to
forward the little Dog to Capt. Airey, at the Castle of St. Louis, pray
do, for every letter I get from my nephew expresses much impatience to
have it. I expect some hot work at my Benefit on the 23rd, Squibs flying
in all directions with my kindest regards to all the Chief's family
believe me very sincerely Yrs

THOMAS TALBOT.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.

The Honble Peter Robinson
&c. &c. &c.
York.

Port Talbot. April 23rd. 1832.
My Dear Robinson :

Mr. Saml. James is now with me, and I have recommended him to
take No. 17 in the 1st Con. of Carradoc, a good lot. I will recommend
that I should locate him on the above Lot on the same regulations that
I locate Land, which will save him from the expense of purchasing. He



[COYNE I THE TALBOT PAPERS 119

will return to York with this, and pray let me know by Post if my re-
commendation will be allowed.

I had a most splendid Victory on St. George's Day, and nothing
could have gone off better. I long to see you.

Very sincerely Yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)



(Printed fly-sheet relating to the St. Thomas Meeting, 1832.)

To the inhabitants of the Talbot Settlement ! ! !

It appears that the Pedlers of William Lyon Mackenzie's grievances I
in this quarter, have taken the alarm at the aspect their cause has as-
sumed throughout the Province, and having in their zeal, when " hopes
were bright," exposed their secret views in such a manner that they
cannot now retract with any colour of decency, they are making the most
desperate exertions to mislead the Talbot Settlers.

The Committees of Vigilance, from the two meetings held in Mala-4
hide and Yarmouth, assembled at Burbee's Inn, in St. Thomas, on Tues-1
day the 27th ultimo, resolved in secret conclave to entrust their cause
tc a " Committee of Talent," consisting of Messrs. Lucius Bigelow,
A. B. Lewis, and George Lawton, which no doubt after an arduous but
certainly a very protracted labour gave to the world on Saturday last the
production signed A Freeholder, entitled " A Circular to the Inhabitants
of the County of Middlesex," typical no doubt of those circulating Free-
holders who have so busily peddled grievances throughout the County.

'This Freeholder, the offspring of those Talented Individuals, (two- \
thirds of whom most likely have never taken the oath of allegiance,) j
most shamefully slanders the Honourable Colonel Talbot's character
misrepresents his motives in calling the meeting on the 23rd Instant, and
insults the inhabitants themselves by asserting that " an attempt is about
to be made to overawe and brow-beat them into into a publick expression
of sentiments different from their real political feelings."

Now it is proper to inquire what motives induced this " Talented
Committee" to question Colonel Talbot's right to call a meeting and
advise his settlers as to their best interests, and also to examine how
the Freeholder has discharged the task he has gratuitously assumed of
exposing the conduct of designing men, and of representing the present
political state of the country.

Before the Committees of Vigilance assumed their offices, the Talbot I
Settlement was in a state of peace and harmony. Its inhabitants felt/



120 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

that somehow or other they had become as happy and as comfortable,
within a very short space of time, as most of the other inhabitants of
the Province had done in a much longer period ; that they enjoyed per-
fect liberty, and were free from restraint unless they chose to run their
heads into trouble; that their country was becoming one of the most
flourishing, productive, and conspicuous portions of the Province. Com-
petence and Independence presented themselves as the guerdon of their
exertions; a tide of emigration was setting in, of people of wealth and
respectability, who had left the land of their nativity on account of the
popular commotions which existed there, to seek an Asylum in a portion
of Hi* Majesty's Dominions where they might enjoy the advantages of
a Constitution, which had raised Great Britain to its present glory;
free from the imperfections which a surplus population, and many evils
peculiar only to Great Britain, have naturally occasioned. Was this
contented and happy state to be attributed to the enterprising exertions
of Mr. A. B. Lewis, to the agricultural and political schemes of Mr.
George Lawton, to the immaculate system of mercantile policy pursued
by Mr. L. Bigelow or to the judicious arrangements in settling the
country and the unwearied zeal in promoting its interests, both at home
and abroad, in the Honourable individual who called the meeting.
Again we now see disaffection disseminating the doctrines of a design-
ing demagogue who aims at engrafting Republicanism on a British
Constitution, and disturbs the tranquility of our peaceful abodes with
factious broils.

Is this to be ascribed to the Honourable Colonel Talbot, or, to the
exertions of the Committee of Talent ; let the reader answer. It is,
however worthy of remark, that most of those who have been industrious
^nd unwearied in their exertions to disseminate discontent in this quar-
ter, are a discription of inhabitants coming under the head of emigrants,
lately from the United States; and although many of our respectable,
wealthy and loyal inhabitants are of this class it is painful to observe
that others are ever ready to catch at popular commotions in the hope
of forwarding schemes, which they seemed to cherish at their hearts.

I feel happy that the Freeholder has completely exposed the conduct
of " designing men ;" for in all cases of Faction there are revealed rea-
sons and reserved motives. " By revealed reasons I mean a certain set
of plausible doctrine styled the creed of the party, but the reserved
motive belongs to Faction only and is the thirst of power, though
generally covered with the specious pretences of self-denial, and that
vehemance referred to zeal for the publick, which flows in fact from
avarice, self-interest, resentment, and other private views." Thanks to
the Freeholder for his Circular, for in it we have their set plausible



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 121

doctrine ; the reserved motive is seen in the 'Trifling Kef orm he proposes,
and in order more clearly to show the " revealed doctrine and reserved
motive " let me ask ;

What has the Reform in England to do with the people of this 1
country? What authority has the Freeholder for applying the terms j
Whig and Tory, to the inhabitants of this settlement? Is it because
William Lyon Mackenzie wears an enormous red wig, that his partizans
should style those people Tories who do not follow that fiery beacon of
dissention ?

Where is the necessity of a Legislative Council at all if it is made I
elective? If it is contended that Great Britain should not pass Laws
affecting our internal economy, why apply to the King to remedy what
we are capable of doing ourselves ?

Who let the Committee of Talent into the secrets of Government,
and informed it of the Despatches Sir John Colborne has received?

To which member of the Talented Committee did Colonel Talbot
relate his private history? Have not the absurd grievances complained
of, made the Province the ridicule of its neighbors ?

Is the Freeholder's idea of Colonel Talbot's children being of agetl
taken from the story of brother Jonathan throwing the 'Tea Kettle at I
John Bull's head?

TALBOT SETTLERS ! designing men are among you, attend the \
meeting of the 23rd, and show your loyalty to your King and Country. *

A TALBOT SETTLER.

Talbot Settlement, April 12, 1832.



(Printed fly-sheet in support of the St. Thomas Meeting 1832.)

A Word to the Men of Middlesex.

When you attend the meeting on the 23rd, remember, that neither I
Reform in England nor Col. Talbot's 60,000 acres of land nor his \
400 L. per annum nor Burwell's and Mount's Parliamentary conduct, '
have anything to do with the object of the meeting. The squib signed
A Freeholder has dwelt on these topicks but be assured that they have
nothing whatever to do with the meeting.

Men of Middlesex, on the 23rd two parties will present themselves.
The one will be composed of Loyal men the other of Disaffected men,
of Republicans, of Revolutionists, and of Rebels. Let every man there-
fore ask himself this question. Shall I stand up on the same side with
these Revolutionary Republicans on the same side with these Rebels



122 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

or shall 1 stand up on the side of Loyalty? This is the question, ye men
of Middlesex, which every one of you must ask himself at the day of
Meeting, paying no regard to what the "Nasty Fellows," alias the Re-
publicans, may say in their squibs. Again I tell you that you are to
meet on the day, for the express purpose of showing your Loyalty and
to tread Disaffection under foot.

Ye Loyal men fail not to attend remembering that he who calls
himself Loyal and stays away, is no better, nay, worse than Rebels.

j Neutral people are worse than Rebels, suffer no such persons to be

' among you.

ANOTHER OF THE PEOPLE.



St. Thomas Journal Extra.

St. Thomas, Thursday, April 19, 1832.
To the Inhabitant* of the Talbot Settlement.

Fellow Subjects,

The ?tate of the Province having arrived at that alarming crisis,
when it is the indispensable duty of every lover of happiness, as well as
admirers of celebrity and good order, to come forward on the 23d inst.
to endeavor to put down by your voice, a rebellious faction that infest
our land, delays are dangerous think not that it will all blow over
without your exertions to suppress it, but come forward as true British
Subjects, and show by your conduct that you are a subject in reality,
ever ready to trample rebellion and disaffection under foot is it not
easier to hack down a plient sapling, than fall a sturdy oak? We have
dangerous men among us, hark what one of them says, their leader,
Mackenzie.

"We come at last to the leading question, WHAT IS TO BE
DONE?"

" Meet together from all sections of the country at York on Thurs-
" day next 10th inst., in this town, on the area in front of the court-
" house let the farmer leave his husbandry, the mechanick his tools,
" and pour forth your gallant population animated by the pure spirit
" of liberty be firm and collected be determined be united never
" trifle with your rights show by your conduct that you are fit for the
" management of your own domestick affair?, ripe for freedom," &c.

Now, who can deny but rebellion, and the establishing of a republican
government in this province, is intended, by this notorious hypocrite,
although he may deceive thousands, by telling them that it is to
strengthen and secure their more permanent attachment to the Mother



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 123

Country. Fellow Subject, put no confidence in what this noted mealy-
mouthed rebel tells you, for he is all conceit and conception, and polluted
with rebellious and selfish motives, as many of his warmest friends in
this part of the country hear what one of them said immediately after
our late meeting ; in speaking of Washington, he said that he " wor-
shipped his very image whenever he saw it" also several toasts were
drank to " Washington," " Jefferson," " Adams," " Maddison," " Perry,".
&c. does this sound like the true sons of British Freedom ? We answer 1
no! and we are ready to admit you will give the same answer then
come forward on Monday next and make good your assertion.

A TRUE BRITISH SUBJECT.
Middlesex, April 18, 1832.



For the St. Thomas Journal.

The following is the copy of an anonymous letter received by the
Honourable Col. 'Talbot, dated on the same day with the Circular signed
A Freeholder.

April 9th 1832.

Sir You will never know who writes this for the best reasons be-
cause the writer only knows and he will never divulge it.

The hand you cannot detect I am a Lover of Good Order and Hap-
piness although deferring from you as it respects the Politicks of the
Province I regret that you have allowed a designing and angry man to
persuade you into the belief that an expression of publick opinion can
be fairly obtained in the county of Middlesex in favor of the Tory party
of this Province or (if you Like the expression better) of the majority
of the present House of Assembly. I know the county and its Inhab- ,
itants & whatever Burwell may tell you I know that such an expression!
cannot be fairly obtained and I also know that the Liberals are taking J
efficient measures to prevent it from being taken ever fairly, a Circular
has appeared to day which I send to you, one Thousand Copies of it will
be circulated and Middleses will turn out En Masse.

'The last meeting caused the worst feelings of the parties and on
the 23rd they will meet together with their passions highly excited I
am of opinion that three quarters of the males over sixteen years of age
in the county will be at St. Thomas on that day and out of a population
of Fifteen Thousand these persons will not be a despicaple number I
assure you. Now Sir for what are you calling together this Great Mul-
titude whom you know have the worst of feelings toward each other?
Can you expect any good to arise from it ? On the contrary how much



124 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

evil will it produce? I have already said you will not accomplish your
object and depend upon it that on the 24th of April you will be obliged
to admit that I said truly what you say about the disaffection to the
British Government is a false charge and you know it is, Shame Shame
that a man in you standing and at your age should thus Lend himself
as a tool to do dirty work Recall the notice of your meeting the object
of your Party can be accomplish as well by circulating your address for
signatures which you can do without bringing a multitude of angry
men together I heard officers and privates of your Regiment say that
your Summons authorizes them to appear on the day with their Weapons
of War, and that they should do so what will be the event God only
knows I fear that you and a few others will find it more difficult to
direct the storm than to raise it Recall your Notice

This is from a Friend.
To the Hon. Thos. Talbot.

If this puerile and contemptible production is from a Friend, he
may be safely classed among those friends with whom the Hon. Col.
converses through the window when they come to visit him, instead of
allowing them to come within his doors. A man's affecting nerves must
be very blunt indeed if he cannot smell the pill box in this ungram-
matical, unpunctuated, and wrong spelt letter. There is no need of
spectacles to discover that more than one person was engaged in facili-
tating this bullying, nonsensical piece of stuff. Did they for one moment
imagine that they would induce Col. Talbot to withdraw his notice?
Col. Talbot is not a man who looks back when he has once put his hand
to the plough. Their very letter would rather have a tendency to en-
courage him to let the notice continue: for the whole tenour of their
grovling epistle plainly evinces that not Col. Talbot, but themselves
have everything to fear from seeing three-fourths of the male population
above sixteen meet together on the 23d. Towards the conclusion of their
filthy tirade these ingenious gentlemen are pleased to observe with re-
spect to the meeting " what will be the event God only knows." Now I
have only to say that it is as easy to conjecture the event of the meeting,
as it is to distinguish between a pill box and a pair of spectacles.



(Draft fn Colonel Talbot's writing of his speech at St. Thomas,)

April 23, 1832.
||( Silence and Attention.

I find it necessary to begin by contradicting an assertion that was
published in a production addressed to the Inhabitants of Middlesex
signed Freeholder which was from bezinning to end nothing but trash,



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 128

sedition and lies, which stated that my object was overawe and browbeat
my settlers into an expression of my own choice that I deny for
puch a measure would have frustrated the main object I had in view in
calling this meeting for I am too well acquainted with the nature of
mankind to suppose for a moment that any sound or honest man would
allow himself to be overawed or browbeaten as regarded the question
upon which we meet as they would naturally be governed by the dictates
of their own consciences I have chosen this day as being St. George's
day the Champion of the greatest nation on earth, and all who claim
to be her sons either by birth or adoption should feel proud accordingly
and with hands and hearts under the sacred banner that is now waving
over our heads, determined with our lives to defend our King our rights
and our glorious Constitution against all Conspirators and rebels of
every nation and denomination whatsoever When I undertook the
formation of this Settlement between 20 and 30 years ago it was in the
hope that I should have none other but sound British subjects for my
settlers so as to ensure peace and good fellowship amongst us, and I took
every pains to select characters of that description but in spite of all my
vigilance I am sorry to find I have not been successful, for some black
sheep have slipped into my flock and very black they are and what is
worse they have got the rot a distemper not known in the Talbot Settle-
ment to have shown itself openly until within the last six or eight
months when these (which I shall call for shortness Rebels) com-
menced their work of darkness underjthe JRO ver of organizing Damned
Cold water drinking Societies, where they met at night to communicate
their poisonous and seditious schemes to each other and to devise the
best mode of circulating the infection, so as to impose upon and delude
the simple and unwary After practising this game they fancied they
had acquired strength and assumed a more daring aspect, and appeared
openly under the mask of the G-rievenee Petition which I have never
seener-heaTd the particular contents of and was it placed before me T
should not take the trouble of reading it being aware that it wa? a thing
of trash and sedition founded on falsehood fabricated for the purpose
of creating discontent, and in the end rebellion in this Province The
only part that T paid any attention to is that which prays His Majesty
to remove Sir John C. from the Government of the Province for my
part, I cannot account how that gallant and distinguished officer incurred
the displeasure of this faction other wise than by showing himself openly
to the world, a straight forward, honest, faithful and loyal servant to
His King and Country Such qualifications were indeed sufficient to
render him odious in the sight of Rebels I have not the honor of being
very intimately acquainted with His Excellency as a private gentleman,



126 KUVAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

but I have watched his conduct iu- a public officer during his adminis-
tration and 1 solemnly declare that there could not have been a person
selected who could have more indefatigably exerted himself to promote
the best interest of the Province than he has done And as such lie has
a just claim to the respect and gratitude of every honest man and well
wisher to the well doing of Upper Canada.

These incendiaries opened their campaign judiciously by having
their lirst Held day in Malahide where their greatest strength prevails,
where 1 am told the old Schohane line turned out in full force, having
a Van key deserter for their drill sergeant, and a long sprout from a
U. E. for their Hag stalf there can be no doubt that they went through
their manceuvres of that day with entire satisfaction to themselves, and
that they did not disperse until they had devoutly chauuted their pa-
triotic hymn which they used to sing during the late War after every
little advantage the enemy obtained 1 do not recollect the words of
the Hymn, but the conclusion of the chorus after each verse was hurra
for the new State Now these diabolical wretches were total strangers
when they came into this Province and in every sense of the law as much
foreigners as turks would be that came into any part of the British
dominions nevertheless they were received with every kindness, and as
much favor conferred on them as could be on British born Subjects
and now that they have acquired wealth independence and valuable
estates they (sheet missing) Party So that whenever any of you hear any
scoundrel utter treasons or endeavour to excite rebellion by act or deed
that you will give him a keepsake that he will recollect during his life
This day I hope may be kept in remembrance by you all as a day of
salvation and mercy, and that you will implant it in the hearts of your
children and to the latest posterity as a day of examination of your
actions for the past year so that all corruption may be cast out.

Now God of his infinite goodness and mercy bless and preserve all
you that are true British subjects and keep your hearts and minds un
tainted by sedition or corruption.



John Harris to Colonel Burwell.

Woodlawn 25th 'April, 1832.
Dear Sir:

The following is a statement of the Monies I paid Colonel Talbot
for Aldbrough & Dumwich.

Aldbrough E . f,0 Oi

Amount for Dumwich . . . 31 )



[COYNE J THE TALBOT PAPERS 127

I have in my hand 9 for Dunwich which you can lay
out and if the Colonel should have exceeded the above sums it does not
matter his own Land Tax can cover it his own Eoad Tax for Ald-
brough is . 13 6 8 per annum. If I could get the Sheriff to a settle-
ment for Aldbrough there would be several pounds more. He has not
yet accounted for the Monies at the first sales notwithstanding he pledged
himself at the last assizes {o do so, which you perhaps recollect. There
was . 37 10 which he laid out on the Swamp Eoad in Dunwich.
I am not aware of any other sums we have had account of the Cholera
at London. I rather think there will be a thin Court and I question if
a jury will be there several of the Grand Jurors here declare they will
not attend.

Yours truly,

JOHN HARRIS.
Mr. Burwell Sr., (Free)

P.M., (Postmark)

Talbot Eoad. York. 28 July 1832. U. C.



FROM THE ST. THOMAS JOURNAL.

St. Thomas, Thursday, April 26, 1832.
Talbot Settlement Meeting.

St. George's Day, April 23, 1832.

Early in the morning British Flags were displayed from the two 1
Iniis of this village, and soon, were seen arriving in every direction,
groups of Yeomanry, to attend the great Meeting ; all, apparently, show-
ing their desire to be conspicuous in evincing sound loyalty to our
Gracious King, and firm attachment to our Glorious Constitution. After
ten o'clock the throng rapidly increased : large parties on horse-back, from
the most distant parts of the settlement, made their appearance; then,
came a noble body of loyal subjects, who had commenced their route from
Middleton, and were joined by large parties on the Talbot Eoad from
thence to St. Thomas ; they arrived on the ground horse and foot, bear-
ing a beautiful banner enscribed, " STE JOHN COLBOENE AND THE
CONSTITUTION," and preceded by a band of Musick. Upon their
arrival they were joined by a large party on horse-back in readiness to
escort the Hon. Col. Talbot as soon as his approach could be discovered.
About half past 11 A. M. the venerable father of the Talbot Settlement,

_i " '

accompanied only by hi5~servaht, wasmet by the escort on the summit |



128 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Icf the hill opposite the village, where his advance was greeted by the
most enthusiaslick and continued bursts of cheering. The sight now
became truly imposing the assembled multitude manifested the most
joyous feelings upon the Hon. Col's entrance into the village; an Ama-
teur Band struck up the British Grenadiers; the Highland pipes, too,
sent forth their martial notes, and every thing tended to inspire the
friends of the Constitution with the fullest 'confidence that their laud-
able exertions would this day be crowned by a glorious triumph. On
his arrival opposite the King's Arms the Hon. Col. was again saluted
by the most deafening and tremendous cheering of the whole multitude,
and being handed up to the hustings by a number of the oldest and most
' respectable Settlers, the area in front of the Inn, Church Street, and all
the avenue, were filled. Then was witnessed an interesting moment of
the most quiet anxiety and intense feeling; the venerable Patriarch
who had excluded himself from the society in which he had been nur-
tured, and expended the prime of his life, and his fortune, in superin-
tending the formation of, and maturing the settlement which bears his
name, standing for the first time upon a hustings to offer his opinion
en the subject of the agitations which exist in the country. The moment
was truly interesting to see him surrounded by a dense crowd of intel-
ligent wealthy and indcpendant yeomanry, deeply sensible that they were
in full possession and enjoyment of all the proud advantages which they
should inherit as the descendants of Britons, and which are inherent
rights of all who have the happiness to be under the glorious influence
of the British Constitution. All, apparently were anxious to hear the
opinions of the Hon. person who had identified himself with the pro-
vince at the commencement of the constitution; who came to it as Pri-
vate Secretary to Gen. Simcoe in 1791, to assist in carrying that consti-
tution into effect, and who from that time to the present, has been an
active and industrious observer of its wholesome operation a term of
more than forty years.

The Hon. Col. addressed the meeting in a strain both pathetick and
eloquent, (and after briefly explaining the object for which he had called
his settlers together, and commenting in strong terms on the conduct of
those individuals who had been foremost in fomenting the discontent
excited by artful and designing men, requested Mr. Ermatinger to read
the following address which he (the Hon. Col.) approved of:

Address.

To The King's Most Excellent Majesty;
Most Gracious Sovereign,

WE, Your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, inhabitants
of the Talbot Settlement in the Province of Upper Canada, beg leave



[COYNE I THE TALBOT PAPERS 129

to offer our humble expressions of sincere attachment to your Koyal
Person and Government.

Actuated by the most honorable feelings, a true love of country and
of that excellent constitution under which we live and prosper; we come
forward with heartfelt satisfaction to join our loyal fellow subjects
throughout this flourishing and highly favored Colony, in those senti-
ments of unmingled affection, unabated zeal and devoted attachment to
our King and Country, which have been so generally expressed in the
numerous Addresses to Your Royal Throne.

Deeply impressed with a lively sense of the manifold blessings we |
enjoy under the protection of Your Majesty's Government established in \
this Province; we beg to assure Your Majesty, that the inhabitants of
the Talbot Settlement (with the exception of a few only) in no wise
participate in those feelings of discontent so recently manifested by a
few disaffected individuals, who, making religion subservient to their
political designs, have, by the most insidious arts and flagrant misstate-
ments, endeavoured to eradicate every true British feeling from the
hearts of Your Majesty's loyal subjects. But, most Gracious Sovereign,
we are too sensible of the advantages we derive from our connection with
the British Empire, to permit the seeds of disaffection so abundantly
scattered, to take root in our hearts.

We are the more anxious at this time to express our sentiments and
testify our zeal in support of Your Majesty's Government, as these polit-
ical delinquents, while professing equal attachment to Your Eoyal
Person and Government, are unwearied in their exertions to implant
into the minds of their deluded followers sentiments totally at variance
with the principles of the British Constitution so happily established
in this Province.

Although much pains has been taken, and every effort used by these
designing men, to disseminate disaffection and discontent to the existing
Government of this Province, under colour of Grievances, it affords us
great pleasure to observe, that as soon as the tendency of the various Peti-
tions to Your Majesty, craving unconstitutional concessions, became ap-
parent; all Your Majesty's intelligent and well disposed subjects of this
Colony, emulous to manifest their loyalty, sprang forward to the stan-
dard of their King and Country, resolutely determined to oppose every
attempt of a disloyal faction to bring the Government of this Province
into contempt.

Upper Canada yet in its infancy stands much in need of the foster- *
ing care of the Mother Country, which has ever been so beneficially \

Sec. II., 1909 9



ISO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

i- extended towards it; and the paternal solicitude which Your Majesty
f so eminently evinces for the welfare of all Your subjects, leaves us as-
sured, that whenever any change, essential to its happiness, and com-
patible with the principles of our admirable constitution is required,
our humble Petitions will not be neglected.

Whilst the subjects of Mighty Empires are borne down by the
weight of heavy taxes, distracted by internal commotions, and afflicted
with many real grievances; the inhabitants of this settlement, in com-
mon with their fellow subjects of Upper Canada, gratefully acknowledge
that they enjoy, through the blessing of their Almighty Father, a greater
portion of rational freedom, civil and religious liberty, and peaceful
contentment, than as they believe, any other people on earth. Their
Taxes are light and applied to useful purposes; their Laws contitution-
ally made with the assent of the representatives of their own free choice,
impartially administered, and their commerce encouraged and protected
by the Mighty Arm of Britain. ,

The Talbot Settlement, Your Majesty, comprises a large extent of
Country, the soil of which is inferior to none in the Province of Upper
Canada; many parts of this valuable tract present a cheering prospect
of successful industry, and many improvements are in progress to deve-
lope its abundant resources. Thus happily situated, we view with satis-
faction the increase of population arriving from the land of our Fore-
fathers to share with us the plenteous gifts of Heaven.

The Administration of His Excellency Sir John Colborne, we beg
most respectfully to state to Your Majesty, has ever been marked by the
most conciliating deportment l the most unwearied zeal and the most
indefatigable exertions to promote and maintain the true interests of the
Country over which Tie so ably presides.

Fully relying upon the wisdom of Your Majesty's Government for
a continuance of the great privileges we possess as British Subjects, and
duly appreciating the prosperity we have thereby attained to:

We pray, the Almighty Dispenser of every blessing, that Your
Majesty may long continue to wield the Sceptre of Your Royal An-
cestors r^i'jrning in the hearts of all Your Subjects.



This address was answered with the most enthusiastick and reiter-
ated cheers, not one of the Black Sheep adverted to in the Hon. Colonel's
Speech daring to raise his voice against it. It was unanimously
adopted! ! ! When the cheering had ceased Col. Talbot signified to his



i For examples of thin " most conciliating deportment " gee Dr. Egerton
Ryerson's Story of My Life, papes 98-99.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 131

settlers that at certain places, named, the address would be ready for
signatures, and that those who were disposed might sign it. After the
usual cheering for the King and the Constitution, the Hon. Col. having
expressed his opinion of .the administration of his Excellency, Sir John
Colborne, proposed a cheer for that worthy individual a hearty burst
from the multitude re-echoed the sentiment.

When the cheering had ceased, the venerable Patriarch gave an
affectionate benediction to his Loyal Settlers, and the meeting broke up
in the greatest harmony not, however, before a spontaneous desire from
the multitude called forth a general burst of cheers for the Hon. Col.
Talbot.

The greatest anxiety prevailed amongst the People to sign the
address, and immediately after the meeting had broken up, nearly seven
hundred names were affixed many persons from a distance having been
unavoidedly constrained to depart before an opportunity of signing it
occurred.

We are happy to observe, that during the whole time of the meeting
not an instance of tumult or disorderly conduct occurred. This pleasing
result is mainly attributable to the determination of the Constitution-
alists to maintain good order and effect the object of their meeting, to
show in the strongest light that the adverse party, who had used every
means of intimidation, formed a very inconsiderable part of the Talbot
Settlers, and to prove that their loyalty was notto be shaken by a few
daring adventurers.

In the evening a large party of good loyal subjects sat down to
dinner at the King's Arms in company with the Hon. Col. Talbot, when
the utmost hilarity prevailed Loyal Toasts were drank, and St. George's
day passed off in a style unprecedented in this part of His Majesty's
dominion?.



FROM THE COURIER OF UPPER CANADA, May 5th, 1832.

PROVINCIAL.
Reprint from the London Sun. 1

On Monday last, as we previously announced, the Talbot settlement
meeting took place. The morning was dark and lowering, and as we
slowly drove along through mud and mire, alternately overtaking bands of
hardy predestrians, and being overtaken by troops of gallant equestrians,

i Edited by E. A. Talbot, author of Five Years' Residence In Canada, a
distant relative of Colonel Talbot.



132 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

we endeavored to induce old time to pass as pleasantly as possible, by
testing our skill in phreneology. P>ery phiz afforded a touch stone, but
then the difficulty was to ascertain whether or not we could distinguish
a Radical from a constitutionalist. To put the question to strangers
was rather too yankeefied for our notion, and to retain every face in our
" mind's mirror," until " the hour of demonstration should arrive " was
a pretty considerable difficult task. Long faces, smooth brows, and lank
hair were in our opinion characteristic traits of grievance mongers;
while innumerable bluff chops, well grown whiskers and bushey noddles
were evident proofs that the British Lion would that day be lord of the
ascendant. As we approached the town, the sun hitherto enveloped in
clouds, suddenly burst forth in meridian Majesty, a c if to exhibit to our
view, in more brilliant colors the innumerable British flags that now
presented themselves on the hill beneath which our carriage slow rolled
along. As we entered the town we were met by a number, in carriages
heavily laden by true British timber, in the first were about 15 passen-
gers, one of whom gracefully waved a splendid scarlet flag in the centre
of which was a crown, around which were the words Sir John Colborne
and the British constitution. Almost immediately after a gallant band
of 2 or 300 footmen appeared preceded by a fife and drum, playing Rule
Britania. At about a quarter before 12, upwards of 200 horsemen with
a bugler at their head proceeded towards Port Talbot to meet the Col
and accompany him to Town; while an immense assemblage placed
themselves on the top of Sterling Hill to await his arrival. Between the
Hill and the town, at the residence of Col Warren a party of gentlemen,
with a band of music " of no ignoble blood," prepared to greet his com-
ing. On his appearing on the Hill west of the creek, his approach was
announced by a thousand tongues: the party at Col Warren's of which
we had the honor to be one, then drew up in front of his house to salute
him as he past, just as we had formed we observed the Col ascending
the hill, uncovered, amid the most deafening cheers, the bands playing
the British Grenadier's march. As he passed our party, he again un-
covered, and with a look of conscious victory eyed every individual as if
to ascertain if an enemy to Britain could be found in such company.
He then rode up to the King's Arms Hotel, where a platform, was
erected for his reception. On one angle of the platform proudly waved
the British Union Jack and on another a splendid merchant flag and on
the third the one to which we have before alluded, with the words Sir
John Colborne and the British constitution, splendidly guilded on both
sides.

Innumerable flags were interspersed among the crowd, and on the
whole the scene was the most grand, and exhilerating of any, which dur-



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 133

ing 13 years of exile, has fallen to our lot to behold. For the first time
were we fully, fairly, and unequivocally convinced that we lived in a
truly British colony for the first time were we entirely satisfied, that if
the day should ever come when it would be necessary to support those
principles, sword in hand which has been the study of our life to instil
into the minds of our children we could enter upon the task with un-
shaken confidence for the first time were we . satisfied that the people
knew how to appreciate the inestimable political blessings which they
enjoy and for the first time did we hurl from our mind the bitter
thought that rebellion might yet desolate the land of our adoption, and
lay waste the fair fields of this highly favored colony.

The Col. on ascending the platform raised his hat from his head,
and after viewing the immense assemblage which crowded around him
commenced his address in the same original, eccentric, and peculiar
strain in which he is wont to indulge in his own mansiojn. We :regret
exceedingly that we had not taken notes of his speech, and still more
that we were unfortunately placed " hip and shoulder " by the only
drunken man which we saw at the meeting, for by his braulings we were
frequently precluded from catching many expressions which we doubt
not, are essential to a true report of this pithy orration.

Proceeding to the front of the platform he said gentlemen I feel
it to be necessary before we enter into the business of this meeting, to
refute, a base slanderous and unprinciple calumny which has been cir-
culated about me, by a set of infamous and worthless ruffians, who from
motives of disaffection and rebellion have labored to convince you that I
called this meeting for the purpose of overawing and browbeating my
settlers into the adoption of such sentiments as I might think proper to
propose to them. This is a base and infamous falsehood I called this
meeting not with a view of attempting to influence you to adopt my
sentiments, but with a view of ascertaining the nature of your own I
called it in order that every man of you might have an opportunity of
publicly declaring what he is, in order that I may know who to trust in
the hour of danger, in order that you may well know who you may safely
esteem as friends or regard as enemies to your peace and happiness
(loud cheers.)

When I commenced the settlement of this country, between twenty
and thirty years ago, my most anxious desire was to form a truly British
Colony. To the attainment of this object I have devoted all the energies
of my mind, but notwithstanding the most vigilant exertions, I find
that some black sheep have crept into the flock, and that many of them
have got the rot too; laughter and much cheering, while the colonel
paused, took his snuff box from his pocket, and giving it the usual tap,



184 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

raised the lid and taking out a pinch, shook his fingers about six inches
from his nose as if to hide the smile that evidently played on his count-
enance.

But he continued, it was not until very recently that those intruders
openly declared themselves. It was not until they formed a d d cold
water society here, at which they met night after night in secret con-
clave to concoct measures for the subversion of our institutions, that I
was aware of the prevalence of such principles. This well organized
band first commenced the study of their tactics at Malahide where they
had the greatest strength and where they had the advantage of the
military ekill of a Yankee deserter for a drill serjeant, aided by a tall
strippling. the son of a IT. E. Loyalist, whom they transformed into a
flag staff. (Immense cheers and laughter.) Here the old' Schoharrie
line for a while drove a pretty considerable trade. (Continued laughter.)
They next tried their ' strength in Yarmouth, where, aided by a few
Hickory Quakers, they succeded in organizing a committee of vigilance
whose duty I suppose was to sound " the conchshell of sedition in every
valley and on every hill, and where aided by certain characters who
making a cloak of religion to cover their seditions purposes, and who
secretly lent them the light of their countenance, they prospered to the
present time. It is not a little surprising that in a country like this,
in a country enjoying the noble laws and the noblest constitution on
earth, in a country preserved to us by the most powerful, the most vir-
tuous, and the most glorious nation on earth. Men can be found to
prostrate the sacred name of religion and make it subservient to pur-
poses so base and so treacherous. What do the people want? to put Sir
John Colborne out of the Province? What has Sir John Colborne done
to merit their displeasure? Has not the country prospered under his
administration to an extent before unprecedented Has he ever turned
an inattentive ear to the complaint of the humblest man in the Pro-
vince? There exists not I believe, a man more fitted to represent his
patriotic sovereign in this colony. Active, enquiring and vigilent: easy
of access: bland in his manners, and possessing great decision of char-
acter he is peculiarly fitted to govern a free and generous people. Here
the Col. was interrupted by the chattering of some persons whose words
we could not distinctly hear he paused for a moment and playfully
tapping his snuff box and again shaking his fingers before his face he
said, I am an old man, gentlemen, but tough.

'After speaking for about half an hour, he said, Mr. Ermatinger
will read to you an address which if you approve you will sign and by

i Edward Ermatlnger, author of the Life of Colonel Talbot, died 1876.
father of Judge C. O. Ermatinger.



THE TALBOT PAPERS 138

so doing enable me in future to separate the tares from the wheat, the
sheep from the goats, the true Briton from a he rebel, who would lay
waste and desolate your happy homes.

In the mean time I should like to form some idea of your feelings,
and desire that every one who is in favor of the King and constitution
should hold up his right hand. Instantly almost every man at the meet-
ing rose his hand and lifting with it his hat cheered and re-cheered
until the woods resounded with the echo. Three cheer were then given
for Sir John Colborne and three cheers reiterated for Col. Talbot. At
rhis unequivocal demonstration of loyal feeling the Col. seemed pleased
beyond the power of expression and approaching again to the edge of
the platform he said such of you as are in favor of a republic will be
pleased to hold up your hands, upon which a young man who stood on
the platform simultaneously lifted both hands as if his very heart were
ascending with them ; being the only person that was willing to acknow-
ledge his republican principles, the circumstance created much laughter,
with cries of toss the Jackson man overboard. But we are informed tha,t
the young man had committed a fauxpas from a mistaken idea of the
motion, and we believe it to be the case, for he looked as if he had been
rocked on the tail of a thunder bolt for the last half hour. After this
Mr. Ermatinger read the address, a copy of which shall appear in our
next. It was a lengthy argumentative, and as far as we could judge
from hearing it read, a well written document ; it was received with un-
bounded applause and in about an hour after the meeting, concluded, we
saw upwards of 800 signatures to it. We have heard the number of
persons at the meeting, variously estimated at from 1500 to 2500, we
think the number exceeded 2000, but what proportion of that number
may have been Canadian reformers, (if we may so polute the term) it is
impossible to determine till we ascertain the exact number of names
affixed to the address. If however we can form any estimate of the
strength of that party, from its silence, it must be weak indeed. Not a
breath did we hear breathed in favor of their principles for nearly an
hour after the meeting was concluded, when Dr. Goodhue attempted to
address the people from the Balcony of Burbee's inn, he was listened to
for about 5 minutes, during which time he eulogized the King and the
British Constitution, but finding it impossible longer to obtain a hearing
he desisted; and thus terminated we hope forever that agitation which
has so long disturbed the peace, harmony and happines of the Talbot
settlement. A more triumphant, a more unequivocal, a more glorious
victory was never achieved in favor of British Constitutional principles
in any part of the world. Not a man ever dared arraign them. We
heard one man and only one, a stout looking Tennessee Negro, hurra for
Mackenzie all else was order unanimity and triumph.



186 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANAUA

FROM THE COURIER.

York, Saturday, May 5, 1832.

THE GREAT MEETING AT ST. THOMAS We have copied
from the Ixmdon Sun a vivid and interesting sketch of the proceedings
of the great meeting of the inhabitants of the Talbot settlement which
was held on St. George's day at the village of St. Thomas.

During the past winter the Ryersonian strolling priests, and a few
other emissaries of that faction have used the most indefatigable exer-
tions to excite a feeling of disaffection among the inhabitants of that
settlement, and three or four meetings have been got up, and held by
them at the meeting or school house of Yarmouth, Malahide &c; the
proceedings of which have been blazoned forth in the columns of the
Guardian, and Advocate, as exhibiting the sentiments of the people of
that part of the country. As we happened to be in that neighborhood at
the time these meetings were held, we had an opportunity of observing
by whom they were called, and by whom attended : and we know there-
fore that the representations of the Guardian and advocate were totally
destitute of truth ; as those meetings were attended by very few persons,
and those, chiefly, transient people, mostly from the United States;
scarcely a single respectable icsident yeoman of the country being present
at any of them. When we heard therefore that a general meeting of that
flourishing and highly favored settlement had been summoned by the
Hon. Col Talbot; who is called justly and emphatically called the
'' father of the settlement ;" for the purpose of taking the general senti-
ments of the people, relative to the government, and political affairs, of
the Province, we were convinced that the result would be a triumphant
and overwhelming demonstration of public opinion in favor of existing
political institutions, and local government; and against the mischievous
and republican doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal faction.

So, it will be seen, it has turned out. The Ryersonian strolling
demagogues, and their secret and somewhat influential co-adjutors in the
village of St. Thomas, who indirectly encouraged and promoted the " hole
and corner meetings," had not, one of them, the courage to come forth
in the open light of day, and meet the " father of the settlement " and
the other advocates of the British principles, face to face, at the great
meeting : but when they witnessed the proud and triumphant display of
patriotism and true loyalty, which was exhibited at the meeting they
shrunk into their native nothingness alike, as it would appear, ashamed
of their cause, and afraid to advocate it : and the friends of " Sir John
Colborne and the constitution," in consequence, carried every thing before
them, unopposed and uninterrupted.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 137

No meeting has been held in the Province, the result of which has
been more gratifying to the friends of the country than the meeting in
question. No people in the colony have been more generously and favor-
ably treated by the Provincial government, and by its representative
the Hon Col. Talbot : no people have been more uniformly successful and
prosperous than the inhabitants of the Talbot settlement: and it is
gratifying to perceive that no people are more sensible of the advantages
which they enjoy; or more attached to the government of the country
which has conferred and secured to them those advantages.



(Printed fly-sheet.)

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF BILL CAUGHELL TO HIS BRETHREN:

My Brethren: As there is a whole shoal of us down the street, I
am determined to write an Epistle to you once in a while, for your edifi-
cation, as ye are numerous. It will also amuse the Public generally to
read letters written by a cockle for a cockle -you must know, and Bill
Cockle, in particular, is a queer little fish. He is very inquisitive, always
asking questions about the Rebels, and Republicans, alias the "nasty
fellows " or as they call themselves the " Liberals." Did you, my
Brethren, ever know one of these fellows who could procure an unblem-
ished character 3 Did you ever hear of one who had arrived at the age
of twenty-five, who had not some time or other in his life been guilty of
some dirty action? Besides being a Hypocrite, did not the Republican
Merchant leave his creditors in the lurch, just before he came to St.
Thomas ? How knavishly after he came did he put off the person who
was authorized by those creditors to demand what was due to them ? Is
not this hypocrite merchant ;* or as he is sometimes termed " Belial," the
corruptor of his own offspring, making him a pander to his traitorous
purposes? Does he not prostitute his own son by making him patrol
the streets of St. Thomas, looking into the yards and windows of houses,
and dropping into shops to see who are there, and to hear what they
are talking about in order to report with proper additions to his
hypocrite parent, which information the hypocrite parent receives and
communicates with further additions to his infidel associates, and which
his infidel associates and himself manufacture into calumnies against
their neighbors ? Has not the spectacled rogue achieved rogueries with-
out number, and within the knowledge of every inhabitant of the Talbot
settlement? Is he not an Atheist and Fanny Wrightist? Has not
Corporal Skin, alias the Republican Doctor committed perjury by

i Bela Shaw, a highly respected merchant of St. Thomas. The defamatory
personalities in this 'epistle are hardly to be taken seriously, of course.



188 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

endeavoring to overturn the government which he has sworn to support.
Did not Black Gabriel 1 run away from his master in the Southern
States? Did not Serjeant Editor basely desert his colours when he left

tie United Stct-js Army, h not G.T ff y of Delaware an old

Blasphemer? And was he not pilloried and pelted Vith rotten
eggs for his blasphemy ? Did not B .... d .... ll's father escape for his
crimes? Did not the American government set a price on his head?
And is not his son a chip of the old block? Did not the Radical Eng-
lishman of Yarmouth leave England for capital crime? Does not
Ryerson calumniate every denomination of Christians whilst he pretends
to preach the gospel? Has not his preaching altogether a political
tendency? Is it possible to find one among the faction who is not a
run-away, a hypocrite, a blasphemer, a calumniator, a rogue, a
corruptor of one's own offspring, or a murderer? Is it not evident,
I'-jit they were compelled for fear of punishment to leave their respective
countries? Will the people of this colony submit to be influenced by
puch base characters? Will the people of this settlement be
influenced by a publication conducted by Infidels and Blasphemers?
To convince you that it is conducted by such persons Is not the
spectacled rogue an Atheist? Is not the man of rotten eggs notoriety
a blasphemer ? Is not " Belial " a hypocrite ? Is not the Quack a Deist ?
Is not the old hoary Seamster an unbeliever? And is the Sergeant any
better? What think ye of this, ye pious Methodists, Baptists, etc., who
give your support to the Liberal ? It is curious enough, my brethren to
see " the nasty fellows " when they pass by on our street ? They are
obliged to run the gauntlet from the first to the last lot in Yarmouth
for we are so loyal that they will not venture to turn aside from the
time they leave the Post Office, Lot No. 1, till they arrive at Rebel
Robert L. 'S. The rogue ventures now and then to peep over his
spectacles as he sneaks along ; but Corporal Skin, that is to say the Pill
Box man, cuts the most ludicrous figure. He scuds along through us
Cockles like greased lightning, as if he was afraid of catching the
cholera poor wretch, he need not be afraid, we have too sovereign a
contempt for him, to do him any harm. Let us not employ him to kill
or cure because were he called to visit any of our families he would
bring his pockets full of the " Liberal," to poison those whom he miglit
fail to kill. The Liberal is the chief drug he carries about with him,
but he will find that it is not the sort of bait to catch fish of my de-
scription.

BILL CAUOHELL.



iQabrlel Long, a well-known negro resident of St. Thomas.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 139

Talbot to the Hon. Peter Robinson.

Private
The Honourable

Peter Robinson, C.C.L.

&c. &c. &c.

York.

Port Talbot, May 13th, 1832.
My Dear Commissioner:

Yours of the 7th instant reached me by the last post. The weather
for the last three days has, been charming warm springs days, and I hope
that the same may continue. This letter will get to York on Saturday
next, therefore trust that the Chief and yourself will be ready to set
out for Port Talbot about the middle of the following week. Monday,
the 21st of this month, will be my Anniversary, so that I shall have
recovered from the pains and penalties of that meeting by the time
you come.

I find that amongst my forgets last Winter, I did not provide myself
with a supply of Mushroom Ketchup, which is absolutely necessary for
Fish. I shall therefore be much obliged by your sending to Smith, the
Grocer, for two bottles of Ketchup to bring with you, but don't pack
them up with your Shirts, etc., for the bottles might break. Pack them
with some Hay in a small box or basket.

To be sure, Lord Goderich is most provoking in %ll his arrange-
ments, and that of appointing that Beast, Buchanan, 1 to the charge
of the Emigrants in both Provinces, is not the least of His Lordship's
mistakes.

When at St. Thomas stop at Miller & Kent's Inn.

My grass and spring crops begin to look green. With my kindest
regards to all the Chief's Family, I remain,

Very sincerely yrs,

THOMAS TALBOT.
(From the Crown Lands Department.)



iBritish consul at New York.



14O ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.
Private
The Honourable

Peter Robinson, C.C.L.

&c. &c. &c.

York.

Port Talbot, July 2nd, 1832
My Dear Commissioner:

Your letter of the 25th of June gave me much pleasure, so far as
to assure me that you reached York well and without meeting with
much difficulty, but all public matters appear to be in a most dolesome
state, as relates to Cholera, and the disturbed situation of England.
Dr. Roll was with me this morning, just from old London, and informed
me that the last New York papers state that Lord Grey is again Premier,
and that there have been alarming meetings in the large towns of Eng-
land addressing the king in favor of Reform, 100000 in London express-
ing a desire that Willm the 4th would abdicate as he had not resolution
to create the Peers required to carry the favourite measure. I am quite
in the dismals, and almost dread the arrival of the post which probably
will be here in less than an hour.

His account also of the sufferings of the Emigrants, between Mont-
real and Prescott, is dreadful by the desertion of the Boatmen and the
cruelty of the Inhabitants, who will not admit any of the Emigrants
into their houses or furnish them with provisions, so that in fact the
poor creatures % are dying on the banks) of the St. Lawrence by starva-
tion. I was much relieved by your account that only 7 deaths had oc-
curred at York of Cholera on the 25th. Dr. Roll is a gentlemanly per-
son and practised some years in London. I am in hopes that he and a
Mr. Johnston from Ireland have made a purchase between them of a
lot on Talbot road, two miles this side of St. Thomas. Some of the
English Emigrants arrived at Port Stanley last week and one, a Boy
of 10 years old, died the Evening he landed, which has been, of course,
decided to be Cholera.

The post is just come, but no letter, therefore adieu.

Yrs very sincerely,

THOMAS TALBOT.

P.S. Did you mention to the Archdeacon about the Reserve ad-
joining the village of London for the College, to be surveyed and sold?

T.T.

(From the Crown Lands Department.)



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 141

Talbot to Hon. Peter Kobinson.

Private
The Honourable

Peter Robinson, C.C.L.

&c. &c. &c.

York.

Port Talbot, July 8th, 1832.
My Dear Commissioner:

Your letter of the 2nd was a great relief, as I was most anxious to
hear how all my Friends in York were at this alarming time. I am
quite dolesOme at the state of things in England, as the consequences
may involve us all in misery. William the 4th has much to answer for,
for had he been spirited after the first rejection of the Reform Bill and
called in the Wellington party, order and security might have been
restored, but as matters now are there is no saying the lengths reform
or change may be carried. However, it cannot avail any good croaking.

Some of the English Emigrants have arrived and proceeded with
Mount to their locations. I am told a very healthy, well looking people.
By the way, when you write to Mount, pray have the goodness to say
that should he be authorized to purchase Beef Cattle for the Emigrants
that I have several head to dispose of, and now that I am giving you
trouble, I have another favor to ask of you thro' the careless or wil-
fulness of the Surveyr Genls office, a poor fellow, Tunis Swart, who I
had located on a lot on tl>e Longwood Road in Carradoc, who had made
a large improvement and built extensively, lost his lot by a description
having been issued for another person, without the necessary authority
from me, when I was in York last winter Radenhurst gave me the num-
bers of several lots in Caradoc, as thrown open by the council for locat-
ing so that I might provide for Tunis Swart. He made choice of No.
19, in the 10th Conn, which I reported to Radenhurst, but to my morti-
fication and surprise he wrote that Swart could not have the lot in
consequence of Sir John in Council having extended the time for Colonel
Bostwick to perform the settlement duties on his Militia Grant. My
request is that you will enquire of Radenhurst for lots that may be
vacant in Caradoc, and send me the numbers but be careful not to send
any numbers that are doubtful, for that I cannot run any more risk.

The weather for the last week has been very hot, and I am sorry
to say that a few persons have died after a very few hours sickness,
which the Quacks pronounce to be cholera.

However, within the last week I have had an addition of two regu-
lar bred physicians, who are establishing themselves in London, Dr.



142 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Donally, of the navy, and a Dr. Rolls, a very Gentlemanly young man,
who practiced in Old London for some years.

I think it very doubtful if Mercer and Wilson will settle, they ap-
pear so difficult. Pray contrive to let me hear from you soon & often
& say as much to the Chief with my kind regards, as also Mrs. Robinson,

ndieu.

Very Sincerely yrs,

THOMAS TALBOT.
(From the Crown Lands Department).



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.
Private
The Honourable

Peter Robinson, C.C.L.

&c. &c. &c.

York.

Port Talbot, Monday, 16th July.
My Dear Robinson:

Those Scotchmen, Galbraith, St. Clair, Graham and Curry, are
with me, to enquire if you had written to me about them. They are
the men who were here whilst you were with me, and you took a Memm.
of their case that is, that they went by mistake on wrong lots in Ekf rid,
and the poor fellows are most anxious to hear how the matter will be
settled. 1 have not a moment to say more as the Post Boy wants to be

Ioff. I hope to hear that the Chief's youngest child is recovered. I am
sorry to add that the Cholera increases. 3 deaths in London, some at
Port Stanley and St. Thomas. God preserve you. Ever sincerely yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.
(Prom the Crown Lands Department).



Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.
Private

Port Talbot, July 23, 1832.
My Dear Robinson:

I have this moment received a letter from my nephew, Capt. Airy,
telling me that he has been very dangerously ill, supposed cholera, and
is ordered to Engd for the benefit of his health, therefore if you should
not have pent off his dog may keep him for me until I visit York. I






[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 143

was much grieved to hear by your last that the Chief's little girl was
not recovered. 'The Cholera has carried off 8 in London, 4 at Port
Stanley, as many at St. Thomas, and some few in the country parts. I
trust it is declining with you. Nothing new, pestered with half pay
officers, pray don't introduce any of them to me God bless you and all
my friends at York.

Ever faithfully yrs,

THOMAS TALBOT.
The Honourable

Peter Eobinson, C.C.L.

&c. &c. &c.

York.
(From the Crown Lands Department).



Talbot to Hon. Wm. Allan.

The Honourable
William Allan,

&c. &c. &c.

York.

Port Talbot, Augt. 12th, 1832.
My dear Allan

I should have written to you long since, but I was actually afraid
to write to any of my friends in these frightful times I now thank
you for your kindness and the trouble you have taken in getting my
money and placing it in the Bank.

I had heard to my sincere regret of your & Mrs. Allan's serious
illness but was relieved by the Chief's writing that you were both recov-
ering, and I trust in God, that this may find you restored to health and
that you may long continue so.

I was grieved to see in the last York Courier that poor McMurray
had been carried off by cholera, that dreadful scourge has for some weeks
been stalking thro the Talbot settlement, upwards of 100 cases half of
whom have been fatal. My house has escaped & I flatter myself the dis-
ease is taking itself away. With my kindest regards to Mrs. Allan
believe me my dear Allan ever faithfully yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.

(Allan Papers).



144 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Talbot to Hon. Peter Robinson.
Private

Port Talbot, Sept. 17th, 1832.
My Dear Commissioner:

It appears an age since I have received a letter from you, although
I have heard of you through your Brother, the Chief, which gave me
mucli pleasure to understand that you were improving in strength, and
of course, health. This part of the Province is also in a better state as
to health however, I was sorry to learn by a note from Mount, that
one of the Emigrants died last week of Cholera.

1 have been tormented by those poor Scotch, Galbraith, Currie, St.
Clair and Graham, of who you made a Memm. when here, as to their
having by mistake gone on wrong lots in Ekfrid, you will greatly oblige
me, by again looking over the notes you took, and inform me as soon as
ycu can conveniently how they can be relieved. Mount has taken all
the Beef Cattle I had to spare which makes me feel very comfortable,
and will prove of much assistance in paying my Carpenters and Masons,
and when Mount sends you the amount of the Beef, I'll thank you to
pay it into the Bank to my credit.

'The weather is now charmingly warm, and will, I hope, ripen my
Indian Corn, mine has escaped Frost, but the severe Frosts which so
untimely occurred in 'Augt killed all the Corn, Potatoes and Buckwheat
in the Northern Townships, which must be a dreadful loss to the new
beginners, who had nothing else to look to for their winter's provisions.

What has become of Major Mercer, Mr. Hall and Mr. Nicol ?

1 am at this moment busy sowing my wheat, thirty bushels, ray this
year's crop has turned out excellent, only nine or ten acres. Remember
me most kindly to the Chief and Mrs. Robinson, who I trust with the
rest of their family are enjoying good health.

I hear that the bishop is to be up this week.

God bless you, ever faithly yrs.

THOMAS TALBOT.
Have you recovered Bully.

The Honourable

Peter Robinson, C.C.L.

&c. &c. &c.

York.

(From the Crown Lands Department.)



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 143

FROM THE TRUTH TELLER.

New York, Saturday, December 1, 1832.
THE LAST OF THE OLD SCHOOL or IRISH WAIIKIOES.
Andrew, Count O'Reilly (not the same mentioned by Lord Byron)
died lately at Vienna, at the patriarchal age of 92. He was a General
of Cavalry in the Austrian army, Chamberlain, Commander of the Mili-
tary Order of Maria Theresa, Colonel Proprietaire of the 3rd Regiment
of Light Horse, &c. This venerable soldier may be considered as having
been the last warrior of the distinguished class of Irish Officers, the
contemporaries, or eleves of the Lacys, Dauns, Loudons, Browns, and
Bradys, so renowned in the reign and wars of Maria Theresa, and Joseph
the Second that is during the seven year's war, and the campaigns
against the Turks. Count O'Reilly was the second son of James
O'Reilly, of Ballinlough, Co. Westmeath, (Ireland) and Barbara, daugh-
ter of Thomas Nugent, Esq. of Dysart (granddaughter of Thomas, 4th
Earl of Westmeath. His brother, Hugh, was created a Bart, by Bang
George 3rd, and subsequently assumed the name of Nugent. His sister
is the present Lady Talbot de Malahide. General O'Reilly rilled in
succession all the military grades in the Austrian service with the excep-
tion of that of Field Marshall. Of the events of his life, which led to his
elevation, we mean not to give even an outline, but cannot omit men-
tioning the fact, "to the brilliant charges made by the Dragoons of
O'Reilly, were the remnants of the Austrian Army saved from annihila-
tion, at the close of the fatal fight of Austerlitz. We find him subse-
quently, that is on the 12th May, 1806, Governor of Vienna. The dis-
comfiture of the Archduke Ferdinand's force, by Napoleon, having
brought the conqueror under the walls of the capital of the Empire, on
General O'Reilly devolved the trying and difficult task of making an
honorable capitulation with an enemy flushed with pride and victory.
He accordingly deputed the Prince of Detrechstein^ the Burgomaster,
and the principal citizens, to Napoleon, who, after discharging an in-
vective against the obstinacy of the intrepid Archduke Ferdinand, and
after lauding the wisdom and presence of mind of "le respectable
General O'Reilly" (His very words), accepted the terms proposed by
him; but in the 14th article, stipulated that General O'Reilly should
be the bearer of the treaty to his master in order to his honestly exposing
to the Emperor (Francis) the true position of the Austrian Empire,
&c. An important incident in the early part of General O'Reilly's
career is not unworthy of notice. Illustrative as it is of the manners
of the period, termed chivalric, but which the fastidious of modern times

Sec. II., 1909. 10.



146 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

would call semi barbaric. He and a brother officer the Count de Kleb-
esberg were rivals in their pretensions to the hand of a rich and beauti-
ful Bohemian heiress, Countess Wuyrbna. As both could not succeed,
they determined on removing any difficulty the lady might feel in
selection by a duel a entrance. The intended affair was, however, re-
ported to the authorities, and they were both placed under arrest. Their
purpose was not, however, to be thus summarily defeated; they accord-
ingly betook themselves to Poland and there, in the neutral territory
of Cracow, met and fought. For a considerable time victory was doubt-
ful ; at length, however, the antagonist of O'Reilly bit the dust, but not
until the latter had received many dangerous wounds. The lady's affec-
tions, hand, and fortune, were the reward of the conqueror.



FROM THE ST. THOMAS JOURNAL.

St. Thomas, U. C. Thursday, December 13, 1832.

Historical Sketches of the Stewardship of Thomas Tough showing the
origin of " Liberalism " &c.

" Now these things are facts, mind I tell ye/'
Chapter 1st.

In the District of Lunenburg in the Upper Province of Canada,
within time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary,
a jolly plethorick rubicund aristocratick Steward, was deputed by one
Guelph to superintend a great part of the District the aforesaid Guelph
being sole owner of the whole Province. This man whose name was
Thomas Tough was a thorough going man of business; and although
by many considered Despotick self-willed and arbitrary he was admitted
by all to be possessed of a kind and benevolent heart: moreover it soon
became manifest that he was thoroughly acquainted with what sort of
folks the world was made of He could deal with, and knew how to
treat people of all Countries on the face of the Globe, but a thorough
going Yankee he abominated from the bottom of his heart The manner
in which he administered justice among the Tenantry by encouraging
the loyal and industrious ; and by rejecting -the idle and discontented
soon got him the good will of every honest man and the fear and hate
of every nave.

Now it happened about the time when the Estate first began to
smile under the fostering influence of Thomas Tough there came to
reside upon it a miserly old caitiff of the name of Bilge* This Bilge

i Lucius Blgelow appears to have been the person Intended.



LCOYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 147

at first gained a livelihood by scraping together the ashes which he gath-
ered from the different farms on the Estate. Of these he manufactured
a commodity which he exported abroad and by imposing upon the
ignorant Tenantry he by degrees acquired enough to establish a small
Grocery exactly upon the plan of many which are kept in the United
States Thus by selling Whiskey and Spirits under the name of " Gro-
ceries " and by taking advantage of the necessities of the poor tenantry
he in time acquired a good deel of property and among other things
the very distinguished Cognomen of "man skinner."

Thomas Tough as we have befo.re hinted was a very close observer
of human nature and of the actions of men, and therefore it is not to
be supposed that he was ignorant all this while of the tricks and carry-
ings on of old Bilge, who became more and more mercenary and grind-
ing every day, and was constantly playing the Yankee with the Tenants
Yet Thomas was fain willing to let things proceed as they did ; know-
ing that the good sense of the Tenantry would of itself in time afford
a cure and he was more confirmed in this opinion from a circumstance
which shortly after occurred, and which shall be related in its proper
place.

It seems that Bilge had got over from the State of Vermont a
number of minions and poor relatives, to help him in prosecuting his
nefarious schemes upon the poor Tenantry There was one Billy a
smooth faced smiling fellow who was an excellent adept at wheedling
and coaxing folks, and was therefore considered by Bilge the more fit for
his purpose.

Old Bilge had two sons one of whom was named Lucifer, whom
he took care to train up in the way he should go, and who it will be
found makes a considerable figure in this History There were also two
Nephews of old Bilge whose names were Badshade, 1 they came in as
adventurers and having the vanity to suppose themselves possessed of a
deal of address; thought that they might in time ingratiate themselves
with the old Steward. Now these men were Vermonters and although
among the Tenantry they talked of nothing but the United States and
how things were managed there; they pretended to the old Steward that
they were regenerate and good subjects of King George; and even did
succeed in obtaining some favours from Thomas Tough.

About those days a little village began to spring up in the neigh-
bourhood of where old Bilge lived and Bilge, who was always more fond
of Yankees than any other people, induced as many as he could to con-
gregate there By this means a pretty considerable Yankee association

i Badshade evidently stands for Goodhue.



,4 > ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

was formed right in the heart of the estate of which Thomas Tough was
Steward. These fellows would meet together Saturday Evenings at
Josh Badshades where they boarded and there they would discuss the
measures of the Steward call him a surly old fool for not doing as
they did in the United States, & drink success to the Yankee constitution
& darnation to king (ieo. At these meetings as it may be supposed
Hilly and Badshade were great oracles being understrappers to old
Bilge- History leaves us in the dark as to whether old Bilge coun-
tenanced these proceedings or not, but one thing is certain they were
kept a profound secret from Tlibmas Tough for they weJL knewr if
he found them out that he would curse and swear and blow them
all t October 27th 1816 '

I arrived here yesterday after 10 days passage from Port Talbot,
a place I never would again see. was it not for my family; but I was
obliged to come here for flour, and I am afraid I will not get what I
want. I got one barrell and had to give $12 for it, but when done it is
much cheaper than I can get it at Port Talbot. Just before I left home I
had 104 Ibs which cost me $16., viz. I had 4y 2 bushels of wheat, cost $9,
and a hired man at $12. per month was 7 days to mill to have it ground,
so the expense in all was $16. So you may judge what a comfortable
place I am in. No, it is the hardest place I ever saw to get the necessaries
of life, and I believe, according to the number of inhabitants, they have
suffered more for the want of bread, than any other place I ever saw or
heard of. Many persons here, I believe, have not tasted bread for 2
months; for they had not the grain, and if they had, they could not
have it ground.

I have bargained for 100 acres of land off Colonel Talbot at 3
Dollars per acre, and have got a log house 24 by 16 feet not half finished,
and it has cost me about $200 ; for we cannot get a board without fetch-
ing them 130 miles, and no stone nor brick to build chimneys, nothing
but. clay.

All the money I got for my place would not build such a house
as I had in P. Talbot. But God only knows whether I will get home
or not for the lake is so dangerous at this season of the year, that I
dread the journey of going 150 miles in an open boat. It is a great
undertaking, but I must either do it or my family suffer for want of
bread, which they have never done as yet. Things were cut off with the
frost of the 6th of July last, and, about the 24th of August, there was
another which killed the Buckwheat and Corn, that grain is scarce and
dear ; so there has not been one month this summer but there has been
frost. I made a mistake in the firm of Townsend & Co. N. York, in
my last letter. It is K. and E. Townsend, No. 123 Pearl St. New York ;
and get an order on Townsend, Brunson & Co. Lewiston; and send the
order in a letter to me to the care of John Warren, Merchant, near



1 Henry Coyne was then residing near Poughkeepsie In the State of New
Yorff. He settled In Dunwich In the Talbot Settlement in October. 1817.
He 'came from Belfast in Ireland. His descendants are numerous.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 185

Fort Erie, Upper Canada. But the money is not to be paid to any per-
son but Tbos. or Singleton Gardiner, and to have a certificate from Mr.
Warren that they are the person for fear of fraud. I reed your letter
of August 4.

Remain your affectionate Brother^

SINGLETON GARDINER.

Take all the expense and trouble you are at out of the money before
you send it, postage of letters and the like. My family were all in good
health when I left home, and I hope this will find you in the same.



APPENDIX B.
The Talbot Anniversary.

The Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute possesses a number
of original documents relating to the institution of the Talbot Anni-
versary. These papers were presented to the Institute by John Price
J.P. of Port Stanley, grandson of Adjutant James Nevills, secretary
of the original celebration. They were printed in 1859 by the late Mr.
Edward Ermatinger in his Life of Colonel Talbot. The minutes of the
preliminary meeting of 8th March are not amongst them, having evi-
dently been carried by Colonel Talbot to England and deposited with
the Home Government for the purpose of helping him in his contro-
versy with the provincial executive. (See Sessional Papers of U. C.
for 1836. No. 22, and pages 69-73. Part II. supra).

John Rolph, who took an active part in the proceedings, was at
this time twenty-four years of age and a resident of the .township of
Southwold. He was the original patentee of Lot 41 South of Talbot
Road East, about a mile west of Kettle Creek and twelve miles east of
Port Talbot. Talbot Road was surveyed in 1809 by Mahlon Burwell,
and settlers immediately began to come into the townships east of Port
Talbot, chiefly from the Long Point Settlement, of which Rolph's
father, Dr. Thomas Rolph, was then a resident. During the war, Colonel
Talbot commanded the militia of the London and Western Districts,
and made Turkey Point his headquarters. He was thus fi frequent
visitor at the Rolph homestead in Charlotteville, whose hospitality was
always open to persons of distinction. Lieutenant Governor Gore had
regarded with approval the possibility of a marriage between Talbof s
brother William and one of the Misses Rolph (see ante, page 110) ; and
gossip connected Colonel Talbot'f own name with matrimonial inten-
tions in the same quarter.



186 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

John Holph held the omce of Paymaster, from Sept. 25, 1813, to
Dec. 24, 1814, in the Norfolk Regiment of Militia, and is said also
to have acted as clerk or secretary to Colonel Talbot. The confidential
relations thus established between the two men continued for many
years, until severed by the wide divergence of their political views, Rolph
becoming prominent among the Reformers, to whom Talbot was fiercely
opposed. Rolph's acquaintance among the settlers was a wide one, as
may be supposed; and therefore his connection with the Talbot anni-
versary is easily understood. At the same time, Burwell, who was the
representative of Middlesex in the legislature, had ample reason for
regarding with suspicion the growing influence .of his youthful rival in
their patron's confidence and in popular favor. At the second general
election thereafter, Rolph began his parliamentary career by defeating
Burwell at the polls.

It was Rolph who was the moving spirit in the institution of the
Talbot 'Anniversary. He was the medium of communication between
Talbot and the settlers. The address printed in the text purports in
the original M.S. to be " Signed in the name of the meeting by J. Wil-
son P., L. Patterson V. P." But the voice was the voice of Rolph.

It was Rolph who transmitted it to the Colonel, accompanied by
the following letter:

Yarmouth. 6th March 1817.
Sir

I am directed, as secretary, by a numerous meeting on the Talbot
Anniversary, on the 8th March, to transmit 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 de-
scendants 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. Colonel Talbot
Port Talbot.

Rolph writes Xevills, " I sent the above letter in your name/'
Colonel Talbot's answer, given in the text without date, but which bears
date Port Talbot, 10th March 1817, was also delivered to Rolph, who



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 187

forwarded it to Nevills, with the following interesting observations:

" The above address having been presented to the Hon. Colonel Tal-
bot, he was pleased to return the following answer.
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 keep 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. Kolph
To Mr. Secretary James Nevills

Adjutant 1st Regt. Middlesex Militia &c. &c. Yarmouth."
Colonel Burwell was opposed to the celebration, and placed himself
on record by the following manifesto :

To the People of the Talbot Eoad :
Gentlemen.

Having seen the Prospectus to an Anniversary lately instituted at
Doctor Lee's Hotel ; and the copy of an address to Colonel Talbot on the
subject; I think it my duty to inform the public that I am decidedly
opposed to the institution. It is certainly premature.

I am never inclined to make opposition to anything, without being
capable of rendering reasons for so doing. At the same time, I beg to
be understood as not meaning disrespect to the gentlemen who com-
posed that Association. On the contrary, I have a high respect for most
of them.

The Law of A he Land, defines Anniversary days to be " solemn
days appointed to be celebrated yearly in commemoration of the death
or martyrdom of Saints, or the days whereon, at thei return of every
year men were wont to pray for the souls of their deceased friends."
1 Edw. 6. chap. 14th.

If the worthy personage to whom the Address was presented, had
departed this life If he was no more I will not now inform the world,
nor insult his sense of delicacy by saying what part I would take in the
foundation of such an Institution. At present he is amongst us, We
know his exertions to get the fine tract of country we inhabit, setfled.
And he knows what our exertions have been to settle it. Without saying
anything more respecting him, we know him. And from the progress
we have made, not in fine Anniversary addresses, but in meliorating the
rude wilderness; the world may judge whether we have not such feelings
and understandings as we ought to have. And whether we can appre-



188 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

ciate its worth, without proclaiming it on the housetops and making
ourselves ridiculous.,

However high and respectable any person may be, and whatever his
exertions may have been for the public good the industrious population
ought not to permit an act, which by its fulsomeness, would be infulting
to him, or beneath their own dignity. And whatever may be the object
of designing persons, the Yeomanry of the country should never do any-
thing that the observing world would be obliged to call prostitution to
flattery.

The inhabitants of this new and extensive chain of settlement, are
bearing the burden in the heat of the day. Most of us have increasing
families, and must exert ourselves to support them. We can therefore
but ill afford to pay our cash for attending far-fetched Anniversaries,
public festivities, cordial unions &c., as they are called in the Prospectus
before alluded to; knowing, at the same time, that such Associations
would have a tendency to lead us imperceptibly to scenes of dissipation,
and must like the baseless fabric of a vision, fall to the ground.!

I am, with sincere regard,

Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and humble serv't

M. Burwell
Soulthwold, Talbot Road, 18th April, 1817.

The record of the celebration, held in pursuance of the prospectus,
is as follows:

On the 21?t May, was held at Doctor Lee's Hotel, in! Yarmouth,
the Talbot Anniversary, to commemorate the Institution of the Talbot
Settlement, the President and Vice President, Capts Secord and Bap-
pi oje directed the Address from Lieut. Colonel Burwell to the People
of the Talbot Settlement, in opposition to the Anniversary, as- well as
his letter to the Secretary, on the same subject, to be submitted to the
meeting. The Anniversary was attended by seventy-five persons. The
above papers being read, the resolutions were discussed, and unanimously
adopted.

1st Resolution. It is the opinion of this meeting, that it was
highly unbecoming for Lieut. Colonel Burwell, in such a manner to ob-
tiude his opinion on a subject respecting which, every man should think
for himself ; his individual voice is not to sway the public mind, or over-
rule the popular opinion.

2nd Resolution. It is the opinion of this meeting, that Lieut.
Colonel Burwell's remarks upon the address voted to Colonel Talbot,
merely on account of his being the friend and founder of this Settle-



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 189

ment, are most indelicate and obtrusive. From Colonel Talbofs address,
it is very evident he was himself too liberal to insult us with such gross
and illnatured animadversions, and it is again unanimously repeated,
that Colonel Talbot is deserving of our respect, for his uniform zeal and
exertions in behalf of this settlement.

3rd Eesolution. It is the opinion of this meeting, that Lieut.
Colonel Burwell's letter to the Secretary, is written in the most dis-
respectful manner, but as it is the unanimous wish of this meeting to
prevent the Anniversary from any further becoming the vehicle of cal-
umny or party intrigue, the Secretary is directed to rigidly forbear
entering into any future discussion with Lieut. Colonel Burwell, on the
subject of his unbecoming interference, being most fully convinced that
a reference, even to Johnson's Dictionary, will correct his strange and
unaccountable mistake, as to the nature and design of Protestant An-
niversaries. 4th Eesolution. The thanks of the meeting are presented
to the Committee for their highly honorable and independent conduct.

(A true copy).

James Nevills

Secretary.

Colonel Burwell's manifesto is interesting for more than one rea-
son. To do honor to the founder of the settlement was clearly, in his
view, not the only " object of designing persons." His own position
as member of parliament and confidential friend of the all-powerful
founder of the settlement was imperilled. The wisdom of his animad-
versions was more than open to question. He played into his adver-
sary's hand ; his weapon was turned against himself ; and the first regu-
lar celebration of the Talbot Anniversary was signalized by a counter-
manifesto directed against the strongest personality in the settlement
after Talbot himself, the parliamentary representative of Middlesex,
Colonel Burwell.

Burwell's letter would seem to have had something to do with the
naming of Talbot's " capital." It was in the same year, 1817, that it
began to assume the proportions of a village. Two stores were opened
near the Kettle Creek crossing of Talbot Eoad one in the hollow by
Hamilton & Warren, and the other on the eastern hill by Horace Foster.
A masonic lodge was instituted, of which Foster was a member. It is
Foster who is said to have suggested the name St. Thomas, which was
already in use early in September, 1817. It is quite possible that Bui-
well's allusion to the anniversaries of saints, by way of contrast to the
proposed anniversary, gave occasion and point to the suggestion. Tal-
bot's saintliness was never a conspicuous quality in his character; but



190 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

the name was adopted at once. Whether originally hestowed in jest or
in earnest, it was no doubt equally displeasing to a man of BurwelPs
serious and reverent cast, aside- altogether from his personal attitude
toward the youthful rival who engineered the celebration of the anni-
versary.

It is only necessary to add that none of the original settlers stood
higher in the estimation of the community than Colonel Burwell, who
possessed the respect of all, without regard to political or religious
affiliation. ( See Sketch of Colonel Mahlon Burwell by Archibald
Blue).

APPENDIX C.

Lands granted by the Crown to Colonel Talbot in the Reserved Townships,
Dunwich and Aldborough, down to the year 1821 inclusive.

Township Date of Grant Number of acres.

Dunwich. 1804 May 7 5000.

1806 Aprils 1200.

1807 May 21 2000.

1808 Jan 27 800.

1813 Apr8 400.

1820 May 1 3500.

1821 Mar 22 3350.

July 25 14514. Total.. 30,764

Aldborough: 1816 Oct. 20 . 2800

Nov20 800

1821 Mar 22 5950.

July 26 25,256 Total. . 34 806

Agregate. 65,570
APPENDIX D.

Chronological Index to Sessional Papers. Documents relating to the Talbot
Settlement. Upper Canada. 1836. No.22.

(Note : The pages are as in the Sessional Papers)

Page

1803. Feb. 11. Lieut. General J. G. Simcoe to Lord Hobart 4.

15 Lord Hobart to Lieut. Gen. Hunter 4.

May 4 James Green, Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, to John

Small enclosing extract from Lord Hobart's letter of Feb. 15. 1.
7 Minute of Executive Council thereon .
1804 May 4 Minute of Executive Council recommending grant to Talbot

of 5000 acres in Yarmouth 1.

1816 Aug. 10. Minutes of Executive Council concerning Talbot's Settlements

referred to (not printed) 7.

1816 Oct. 3, Earl Bathurst to Lieutenant Governor (not published) re-

ferred to 8.

1817 June 5, Report of Executive Council to Lieutenant Governor Gore,

as to extent of reserve to be made for location by Colonel

Talbot 11.

17, Order of Lieutenant Governor thereupon 12.



[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 191

Page

Nov. 6, Memorial of Talbot to Samuel Smith, Adm'r of Upper Canada

expressing dissatisfaction etc 12.

8. Report of Executive Council on Talbot's Memorial 12.

Memorial of Talbot to Lord Bathurst (not printed) referred to 6.

18. President Smith to Bathurst transmitting report (not

printed) Referred to 6.

1818 Feb. 18. Talbot to Henry Goulburn, under Secretary of State for the

Colonies 8.

26. Bathurst to President Smith, Adm'r. of Upper Canada allow-
ing Talbot 5 years longer 6.

28. Bathurst to President Smith 7.

1820 Jan. 24. Talbot to Sir Peregrine Maitland (location completed) and

with further recommendation 2.

Mar. 26. Minute and Report of Executive Council thereon 2.

Oct. 6. Talbot to Hillier, Private Secretary to Lieut. Governor (not

printed) referred to 9.

1822 Mar. 22. Talbot to Robert Wilmot re. 50 Highland Settlers 11.

Apr. 3. Do. to Do 11.

9. Bathurst to Maitland 8.

(Undated) Memorial of Talbot to Bathurst enclosed 9.

(Undated) Recommendation of Executive Council on reading extract from

letter Bathurst to Maitland of Apl. 9, 1822 and Mayor
Hilliers' letter of " the 15th instant." 3.

1825 Mar. 15. Talbot to Maitland, for commission on moneys received

in respect of sales of Crown lands 3.

15. Hillier to the Presiding Councillor with Talbot's letter and

recommendation 2.

16. Talbot to Hillier. re Longwoods Road 14.

16. Surveyor General T. G. Ridout's report thereon 14.

17. Recommendation of Executive Council 15.

1826 Feb. 18 Memorial. Talbot to Bathurst 15.

Apr. 3. Maitland to Bathurst transmitting Talbot's memorial 15.

June 8. Bathurst to Maitland (authorizing pension of 400) to Talbot 16.

1828 Apr. 21. Talbot to R. W. Hay (not printed) referred to 17.

1828 Apr. 28. Talbot to R. W. Hay 16.

1828 May 7. W. Huskisson to Maitland 16.

1829 Mar. 1. Talbot to R. W. Hay 17.

May 7. Colonial Office to Maitland (not printed) referred to 17.

Sept. 25. Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor, to Sir Geo. Murray

G. C. B 17.

1831 (Undated) Richards to Lord Goderich, re 5000 patents not taken out

by Talbot, letters (not printed) referred to 18.

Feb. 5. Lord Goderich to Colborne 18.

July 23. Colborne to Talbot enclosing copy of Goderich's letter (not

printed) referred to 18.

July 29. Talbot to Colborne. 18.

1835 April 11. Talbot to Lieutenant Colonel Rowan, Secretary to Lieutenant

Governor 19.

1836 Feb. 8. Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head to Upper Canada

House of Assembly transmitting papers in compliance with

address of 3d inst, and replying to inquiries 1.

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, (with other particulars as
to acres patented, located, and not yet returned by Colonel

Talbot) 20.

Schedule of Townships that at present compose the Talbot
Settlement .24.



192 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

APPENDIX E.

Memorial of Conveyance by Talbot to Lieutenant Colonel Airey.
Recorded the 5th day of August'



A. D. 1850 at 2 o'clock P. M. in Liber
A for Aldborough Folio 89, and in
Liber "A." for Dunwich Folio 73, on
the oath of Charles Hutchinson of Lon-
don Gentleman.

(sd) H. Burwell
Registrar.



A Memorial to be regis-
tered pursuant to the Statute
in such case made and pro-
vided of a certain Indenture
made on the Sixteenth day of
March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred



and fifty in pursuance of the Act to facilitate the conveyance of real
property Between The Honorable Thomas Talbot of Port Talbot in the
County of Middlesex in the Province of Canada Esquire of the first part
and Richard Airey of the same place Esquire a Lieutenant Colonel in
Her Majesty's Forces of the Second Part

Whereby after reciting a certain understanding between the said
parties to the effect that the said Thomas Talbot should devise certain
lands to the said Richard Airey and a certain consideration that it had
been considered more desirable that a conveyance should be made of the
lands thereafter mentioned to the said Richard Airey during the life time
of the said Thomas Talbot as by reference to the said Indenture will
more fully appear It was witnessed; that in pursuance of such under-
standing and consideration and at the request of the said Richard Airey
testified by his sealing and delivery thereof and also in consideration
of the sum of Five Shillings of lawful money of Canada then paid to
the said Thomas Talbot by the said Richard Airey the receipt whereof
is hereby by him acknowledged he the said Thomas Talbot did grant
unto the said Richard Airey his heirs and assigns forever All and Singu-
lar those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate lying
and being in the Township of Aldborough in the County of Middlesex
in the Province of Canada containing altogether by estimation twenty-
seven thousand six hundred and fifty acres, be the same more or less
;ITK! being composed of the southerly half of Lot A and the southwesterly
part of " B " (being the whole of the said lot " B " granted to the said
paid Thomas Talbot) in the first concession Lot A and the south-westerly
part of " B " (being the whole of the said lot " B " granted to the said
Thomas Talbot) in the second concession Lot "A " in the third con-
cession, Lot "A" and the south-westerly part of " B " (being the whole
of the said lot " B " granted to the said Thomas Talbot) in the fourth
concession L~ot "!A" and the south-westerly part of " B " (being the



[COYNK] THE TALBOT PAPERS 198

whole of the said Lot " B " granted to the said Thomas Talbot) in the
fifth concession Lot "A." and the south westerly part of " B " and the
south easterly parts of Lots eleven and twelve (being the whole of the
said lots B eleven and twelve granted to the said Thomas Talbot) in the
sixth concession. Lots A. B. D. two sixteen and seventeen the Seventh
Concession. Lots A. C. one and three and the north half and south
westerly quarter of Lot four and the northerly halves of Lots five and
Six and the whole of Lots seven eight nine ten eleven, twelve, thirteen,
fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen Twenty, twenty two twenty three and
twenty four in the eighth concession. The southerly half of Lot "A."
The whole of Lots " B " D and two. The southerly half and north
westerly quarter of Lot four, the southerly halves of Lots five six and
seven and the whole of lots Nine ten eleven Twelve Fourteen Sixteen
Seventeen Ninteen 'Twenty one Twenty two and Twenty four in the
ninth concession. The northerly halves of Lots A. B. C. one, three four,
five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven twelve, sixteen and seventeen and
the whole of lots thirteen fifteen eighteen 'Twenty, Twenty two, twenty
three, and twenty four in the tenth concession The southerly halves of
Lots A. B. D. two four, five, six, seven, nine, ten, eleven, Twelve sixteen
seventeen and nineteen The north easterly quarter of nineteen and the
whole of Lots fourteen Twenty one Twenty two and Twenty four in the
Seventh Concession 'The northerly halves of Lots A. B. C. D. one, two,
three, four, five, six, seven, eight nine, ten, eleven, Twelve thirteen
fourteen fifteen, sixteen, seventeen eighteen nineteen Twenty, Twenty
one, twenty two, Twenty three and Twenty four and the south easterly
quarters of Lots three six and seven in the twelfth concession, The
southerly halves of Lots A. B. C. D. one. two, six, seven, eight nine,
ten, eleven, Twelve, thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen sixteen seventeen eigh-
teen nineteen Twenty, Twenty one Twenty two, Twenty three and
Twenty four and the north easterly quarter of six and the north west-
erly quarter of Fifteen in the thirteenth Concession Lots A. B. C D. nine,
ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen, sixteen, Seventeen eighteen
Nineteen twenty, twenty one, Twenty two twenty three and twenty four
in the fourteenth concession and the broken lots one and two, 'The east
half of lot seven and the whole of lot eight in the fourteenth concession
on Lake Erie and Lots A. B. one two four, six seven, nine, eleven twelve
fourteen and fifteen in the Gore between the sixth and Seventh con-
cession of the said Township of Alborough which said lots are more
particularly described in the (patents therefor from the Crown to the
said Thomas Talbot as by reference thereto will appear and all other

Sec. II., 1909. 13.



194 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

lands of him the said Thomas Talhot situate and being in "the said
Township of Aldborough excepting always any lots or parts of lots he
might have located to settlers and reserving out of any of said parcels
above enumerated any and every lot and lots part and parts of lots that
might have been so located to settlers or conveyed by the said Thomas
Talbot at any time therefore And also all and singular those certain
other parcels or tracts of land and premises situate lying and being in
the Township of Dunwich in the County of Middlesex and Province
aforesaid containing by admeasurement together one thousand three
hundred acres be the same more or less and being composed of Lota
numbers, Twenty two Twenty three and Twenty four in the broken front
or twelfth concession. Lots numbers twenty one twenty two twenty
three and twenty four in the eleventh concession and lots numbers twen-
ty one and Twenty two in the tenth concession of the said Township
of Dunwich, To have and to hold the said lands and premises and every
of them and all appurtenances and rights thereto pertaining except-
ing and reserving as aforesaid and subject to any lease or agreements
for sale and conveyance then already made (the monies thereafter to
accrue or be paid on which leases or agreements are to belong to the
said Richard 'Airey his heirs executors administrators and assigns)
unto the said Richard Airey his heirs and assigns to and for the sole and
only use benefit and behoof of the said Richard Airey his heirs and as-
signs forever subject nevertheless to the reservations limitations pro-
visoes and conditions expressed in the original grants thereof respectively
from the Crown

Which said Indenture is witnessed by Charles Hutchinson of the
Town of London Gentleman and Henry C. R. Becher of the same place
Esquire

And this Memorial is hereby required to be registered by me the
grantee therein named ',

As Witness my hand and seal this fifth day of August in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty

Signed and sealed
in the presence of

(sd) Charles Hutchinson
(ad) Robert C. Stoneman

(sd) Richard Airey (Ls)
Lieut. Colonel.

Register Office I Charles Hutchinson of London in the

County of Middlesex County aforesaid Gentleman maketh oath.

To Wit and paith that he was present and did see

the due execution of the Indenture of Bargain and Sale of which the



[cOYNBiJ



THE TALBOT PAPERS



198



annexed is a Memorial and also that he was present and did see the
grantee in the said Indenture named duly signj and seal the annexed
memorial for the Registry thereof To each of which he is a subscribing
witness

I hereby certify that Charles Hutehinson 1
in the above affidavit named duly made oath
to the same this Fifth day of August A D
1850

(sd) H. Burwell,

Registrar



,/sd) Charles Hutchinson



APPENDIX F.

Memorial of Colonel Talbof s Will.



To the Registrar of
the United Counties of
Middlesex and Elgin

A Memorial to be
registered pursuant to
the Statute in such
case made and pro-
vided of a Will made by
the Honorable Thomas
Talbot of The Town of



Recorded the 21 day of February A. D.
1853 at 35 minutes past 2 o'clock P. M.
on the oath of C. Hutchinson of London
Esquire in Liber A. for Dunwich Folio 148
in Liber " B." for Township of London folio
687 in Liber " B " for Southwold Folio 256.
in Liber " B." for Malahide folio 46 and in
liber " B " for Bayham folio 223.
(sd) For M. Burwell Reg.

W. C. L. Gill Dep'y
London Esquire deceased in the words and bearing date as follows that
is to say

This is the last Will and Testament of me The Honorable Thomas
Talbot formerly of Port Talbot but now of the Town of London in the
County of Middlesex in the Province of Canada Esquire made at the
town of London aforesaid this fourteenth day of December in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two

First with the exception of the Legacy hereinafter mentioned I givei
devise and bequeath unto my faithful young friend George Macbeth who
now is and for some years past has been living with me all and Singular
the estates and property both real and personal, of which I may die pos-
sessed whether in Canada or elsewhere,- including and comprehending all
my lands moneys, stocks securities and chattels of every nature and de-
scription whatsoever and all my rights thereto and therein, To have and
to hold the same and every of them fully and absolutely unto the said



196 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

George Macbeth his heirs Executors administrators and assigns forever
according to the nature of the same respectively

Secondly, I give and bequeath unto Jane Hunter the widow of my
old servant Jeffrey Hunter an annuity of Twenty pounds of lawful
money of Canada during .her life to be paid to her yearly by my execu-
tors out of part of my estate to be by them set aside for that purpose
and which durinjg her life time I make chargeable with her said
annuity

Lastly. I nominate and appoint the said George Macbeth and my
friend Henry C. R. Becher of the said Town of London Barrister at
law. Executors of this my last Will and Testament 1 hereby revoking
and annulling all former and other wills by me made and declaring
this to be my true and only last Will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof I the said Thomas Talbot have to this my last
will and Testament written on the first page of a sheet of Foolscap paper
set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of December in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two which said Will is
witnessed by James Shanly the younger of the Town of London in the
County of Middlesex Esquire, Charles Hutchinson of the same place
Esquire and Robert Cleobury Stoneman of the same place gentleman,
and this memorial thereof is hereby required to be registered by me
George Macbeth the Devisee in the said will named as Witness my
hand and Seal this twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Signed Sealed and Delivered

in the presence of (pd) Q Macbeth

(sd) Charles Hutchmson
(sd) John Clark



BINDING ~cy. OCT 2 1978



PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY



Coyne, James Henry
5547 The Talbot papers

P73C6

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