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The loyalists of America and their times

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A chronological narrative examines the experiences of colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the revolutionary and early national eras, tracing political maneuvers, failed reconciliation efforts, and the impact of foreign alliances on the conflict. It details punitive legislation, displacement and migration of loyal populations, and the military contests that ensued, including the defense of British North American provinces during later Anglo-American hostilities. Eyewitness incidents and official correspondence illuminate leadership decisions, frontier alliances with Indigenous leaders, and the organization of local militia, while chapters alternate political analysis with campaign narratives and regional responses.

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Title: The loyalists of America and their times

from 1620 to 1816, Vol. 2 of 2

Author: Egerton Ryerson

Release date: February 20, 2008 [eBook #24658]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Jason Isbell, Graeme Mackreth and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOYALISTS OF AMERICA AND THEIR TIMES ***

THE

LOYALISTS OF AMERICA

AND

THEIR TIMES:

From 1620 to 1816.

BY EGERTON RYERSON, D.D., LL.D.,

Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada from 1844 to 1876.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

Volume I is also available from Project Gutenberg

TORONTO:
WILLIAM BRIGGS, 80 KING STREET EAST;
JAMES CAMPBELL & SON, AND WILLING & WILLIAMSON.
MONTREAL: DAWSON BROTHERS.
1880.

Entered, according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year One thousand eight hundred and eighty, by the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D., LL.D, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture.


CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVII.

  • Alliance between Congress and France not productive of the effect anticipated; efforts
    of the British Government for reconciliation with the Colonies
    1-16
  • Alliance deferred twelve months by France after it was applied for by Congress, until the King of France
    was assured that no reconciliation would take place between England and the Colonies 1
  • Lord Admiral Howe and his brother, General Howe, Commissioners to confer with Congress with a view
    to reconciliation; their power limited; Congress refuses all conference with them, but the vast majority of
    the Colonists in favour of reconciliation 2
  • Reasons of the failure of the two Commissioners 4
  • New penal laws against the Loyalists 5
  • Three Acts of Parliament passed to remove all grounds of complaint on the part of the Colonists, and the appointment of five Commissioners; Lord North's conciliatory speech; excitement and opposition in the
    Commons, but the bills were passed and received the royal assent 6
  • Lord North's proposed resignation, and preparations for it 8
  • Opinions of Lords Macaulay and Mahon as to the success of a commission; proposed terms of reconciliation
    if appointed and proposed by the Earl of Chatham 8
  • The large powers and most liberal propositions of the five Royal Commissioners for reconciliation between
    the Colonies and the Mother Country 11
  • The refusal of all negotiation on the part of Congress; bound by treaty to the King of France to make no
    peace with England without the consent of the French Court 12
  • The three Acts of Parliament, and proposals of the five Commissioners of all that the Colonists had desired
    before the Declaration of Independence; but Congress had transferred allegiance from England to France,
    without even consulting their constituents 12
  • Appeal of the representative of France to the Canadians to detach Canada from England (in a note) 12
  • Sycophancy of the leaders of Congress to France against England 13
  • The feeling of the people in both England and America different from that of the leaders of Congress 14
  • The war more acrimonious after the alliance between Congress and the Kingof France and the failure
    of the British Commissioners to promote reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies 16

CHAPTER XXVIII.

  • Complete Failure of the French Fleet and Army, under Count D'Estaing, to assist
    the Congress
    17-32
  • Count D'Estaing arrives in America with a powerful fleet and several thousand soldiers 17
  • Anchors off Sandy Hook for eleven days; goes to Long Island by Washington's advice, and sails up
    Newport River, whither he is pursued by the Lord Admiral Howe with a less powerful fleet; the ships,
    with 4,000 French soldiers and 10,000 Americans, to land and attack the British on Long Island, who
    were only 5,000 strong 17
  • The two fleets separated by a storm; only fighting between individual ships 18
  • Count D'Estaing, against the remonstrances and protests of American officers, determines to sail for
    Boston Harbour for the repair of his ships 18
  • Bitter feeling and riot between the American sailors and citizens and French seamen and soldiers in the
    streets of Boston 19
  • Raids in New England by British expeditions (in a note) 19
  • Differences between Count D'Estaing and the American officers as to the mode of attacking the British on
    Long Island 19
  • Early in November Count D'Estaing with his fleet quitted the port of Boston and sailed for the West Indies,
    thus disappointing the hopes of the Americans from the French alliance 20
  • Count D'Estaing, though strengthened by the fleet of Count De Grasse, could not be induced to come to
    close fight with Admiral Byron 21
  • The French take St. Vincent 21
  • Count D'Estaing complained of by the Americans to the French Court, which orders him to return to the
    American coasts and assist the Colonists 22
  • D'Estaing arrives suddenly on the American coasts with twenty-two sail-of-the-line and eleven frigates and
    six thousand soldiers; his magnificent plans and expectations 22
  • D'Estaing arranges with General Lincoln to attack Savannah and rescue the province of Georgia, and
    afterwards other Southern provinces, from the British 23
  • Account of the Siege of Savannah, and the defeat of the French and their American allies; result of the contest 24
  • Mutual recriminations and jealousies between the French and American officers; Count D'Estaing sails
    with his fleet for France 25
  • Why this minute account of Count D'Estaing's abortive expeditions to America; the barren results of the first
    two years' alliance between Congress and the King of France, by Dr. Ramsay 27
  • Spain joins France against England in 1779 28
  • Low state of the American army and finances; discouragement and despondency of the Americans in 1780 28
  • The degeneracy of Congress in 1778, as stated by General Washington 29
  • Depreciation of public credit; sale of the confiscated property of "Tories" 30

CHAPTER XXIX.

  • 1780—A year of weakness and disaster to the American cause, and of success to
    the British
    32-41
  • Depression of American finances 32
  • Weakness of Washington's army 32
  • La Fayette returns from France with a loan of money and reinforcements of naval and land forces 33
  • The British receive naval reinforcement of war ships, and become superior to the French 33
  • Failure of the French reinforcements 33
  • Sir Henry Clinton goes South; besieges and takes Charleston 34
  • Conditions of the surrender and treatment of the inhabitants, as stated by Dr. Ramsay and misrepresented
    by Mr. Bancroft 35
  • Sir Henry Clinton's bad administration and bad proclamation in South Carolina; his exaggerated statements
    of his success; re-embarks at Charleston for New York 36
  • Expeditions to secure the universal submission of the people; but they weakened the cause of the British
    in the hearts of the people 36
  • The military power of Congress reduced and crushed in the Southern States 37
  • Lord Cornwallis's antecedents, and those of Lord Rawdon (afterwards Marquis of Hastings); but their
    severe policy unjustifiable and injurious to the British cause 38
  • Military proceedings in the North also unfavourable to the Congress; its confessed weakness and gloomy
    prospects 40
  • Appeal of Congress to France for men and money as their only hope 40
  • Washington's despondency without French aid (in a note) 41
  • Mr. Hildreth, the historian, on the gloomy state of American affairs at the close of the year 1780, though
    the English victories and rule did not attract the hearts of the people to the British cause 41

CHAPTER XXX.

  • The French and Congress Allies recover Virginia; surrender of Lord Cornwallis; results 42-52
  • General Washington and the French Commander plan an expedition to the South 42
  • Sir Henry Clinton deceived as to their design 43
  • Count De Grasse sails for the Chesapeake with a fleet of 28 ships and 7,000 French troops 43
  • Remarkable march of the allied army, five hundred miles from New York to Virginia, without committing any depredations whatever upon the inhabitants, even in the season of fruits 43
  • Plan of the siege of York Town 44
  • Earl Cornwallis's measures of defence 44
  • Position and strength of the allied forces, and their process of operations 45
  • Lord Cornwallis's courageous and protracted defence; is disappointed of promised reinforcements from
    New York 45
  • Lord Cornwallis capitulates to superior forces 45
  • Conditions of capitulation 46
  • Circumstances of the Loyalists 46
  • Groundless boastings of American orators and writers over the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, commanding
    but a small part of the British forces 47
  • The unrivalled skill and courage of Washington undoubted, as well as the bravery and endurance of his
    soldiers; but the success of the siege of York Town chiefly owing to the French, but for whose ships,
    artillery and land forces, Lord Cornwallis would have been the conqueror, rather than conquered, in
    this famous siege and battle 47
  • The resources of England; the peace party opposed to the continuance of the American War irrespective
    of the Battle of York Town 48
  • The war party and corrupt administration at length defeated in the House of Commons, after repeated and protracted debates and various intrigues 50
  • Change of Government, and end of Lord North's twelve years' administration 51
  • Seven years' war and bloodshed, and an unnatural alliance would have been prevented, liberty secured,
    and the united life of the Anglo-Saxon race saved, had Congress, in 1776, adhered to its previous
    professions (in a note) 52

CHAPTER XXXI.

  • Change of administration in England; change of policy for both England and the Colonies;
    peace negotiations at Paris; cause of the United Empire Loyalists; change of ministry;
    the King compelled to yield
    53-65
  • Names of the new Ministers; death of the Marquis of Rockingham, the Premier, succeeded by the Earl
    of Shelburne, in consequence of which several Ministers resign, and are succeeded by others, among
    whom was Pitt, as Chancellor of the Exchequer (in a note) 53
  • Correspondence between Dr. Franklin, at Paris, and the Earl of Shelburne, which led to negotiations for
    peace 54
  • Parliament does not pass an Act to authorize peace with America until three months after the accession of
    the new Ministry 54
  • Dr. Franklin proposes to include Canada in the United States 54
  • English and American Commissioners meet at Paris and hold protracted negotiations, with many delays,
    in regard to terms of peace 56
  • Two most difficult questions of the treaty—The fishing grounds of Newfoundland and the Loyalists 56
  • It was agreed that the Americans should have the right to take fish on the Banks of Newfoundland, but
    not to dry or cure them on any of the King's settled dominions 56
  • Preamble and articles of the treaty (in a note) 56
  • The most important question of the Loyalists 57
  • They constituted the majority of the population of the Colonies at the beginning of the contest 57
  • It was at length agreed that the Congress should recommend to the several States to compensate the
    Loyalists; but Dr. Franklin anticipated no success from it, as of course he did not desire it 58
  • Dr. Franklin's counter-scheme to defeat the proposition of the English Commissioners, who gave way 58
  • Dr. Ramsay on the Loyalists being "sacrificed" to their sufferings 59
  • Mr. Hildreth on the same subject 61
  • What was demanded for the Loyalists had been sanctioned by all modern civilized nations in like circumstances 61
  • How honourable to the United States to have imitated such examples 62
  • The fallacy of the plea or pretext that Congress had no power to grant an amnesty and compensation
    to the Loyalists 62
  • Severe censure of the royal historian, Dr. Andrews, upon the English Commissioners for having agreed
    to sacrifice the Loyalists (in a note) 62
  • "All parties in the Commons unanimously demand amnesty and indemnity for the Loyalists."
    (Bancroft, in a note) 62
  • Dr. Franklin and his colleagues outwitted the English Commissioners not only in regard to the Loyalists
    but also in regard to immense territories 63
  • Deplorable condition of the Loyalists during the war; utter abandonment by the English Commissioners 64


CHAPTER XXXII.

  • Origin of Republicanism and hatred of Monarchy in America; Thos. Paine, sketch of his
    life, character, and writings, and their effects
    66-71

CHAPTER XXXIII.

  • The hiring of Foreign soldiers and employment of Indians in the Civil War 72-84
  • The policy of the British Ministry in employing foreign soldiers and Indians in the war with the Colonies
    deprecated by all classes in England and America and throughout Europe 72
  • Violent opposition in Parliament to the hiring of foreign troops; exasperation in the Colonies (in a note) 73
  • Unreliable and bad character of the Hessian mercenaries 74
  • Remarks upon the bad policy of employing them, and their bad conduct, by the royal historian (in a note) 74
  • The employment of Indians still more condemned and denounced than the hiring of foreign troops 74
  • Employment of Indians by both the French and English during the war of 1755-63, between France
    and England 75
  • At the close of the war the French authorities recommended the Indians to cultivate the friendship of England 75
  • Both Congress and the English sought the alliance and co-operation of the Indians; misstatements of the
    Declaration of Independence on this subject (in a note); the advantages of the latter over the former in
    conciliating the Indians 75
  • The employment of the Indians in every respect disadvantageous to England 76
  • English Generals in America individually opposed to the employment of the Indians in the military campaigns 76
  • Failure, if not defeat, of General Burgoyne's army by the bad conduct, and desertion, of his Indian allies 76
  • But Washington and Congress, as well as the English Government, sanctioned the employment of the
    Indians in the war, and the first idea of thus employing them originated with the first promoters of revolution
    in Massachusetts 77
  • Omissions of American writers to state that the aggressions and retaliations of the Congress soldiers and
    their coadjutors far exceeded in severity and destruction the aggressions and retaliations of the Indians
    on the white inhabitants 77
  • Many letters and biographies of actors in the Revolution show that very much of what was written or
    reported during the Revolution against the English Loyalists and Indians was fictitious or exaggerated 78
  • Proceedings of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts (before the affairs of Concord and Lexington)
    to enlist and employ the Indians against the British 79
  • General Washington, under date of July 27th, 1776, recommends the employment of Indians in the
    revolutionarycause 80
  • The Americans have no ground of boasting over the English in regard to the employment of Indians and
    their acts during the war 81
  • Efforts of General Burgoyne to restrain the Indians, who were an incumbrance to his army, and whose
    conduct alienated great numbers of Loyalists from the British cause 82
  • The conduct and dread of the Indians roused great numbers to become recruits in General Gates' army,
    and thus rendered it far more numerous than the army of General Burgoyne (in a note) 83
  • American invasion and depredations in the Indian country the latter part of 1776, as stated by Dr. Ramsay 84
  • The invasion unprovoked, but professedly as a "precaution" to "prevent all future co-operation between
    the Indians and British in that quarter" bordering in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia 84
  • Complete destruction of Indian settlements; their country a desolation 84

CHAPTER XXXIV.

  • The massacre of Wyoming; four versions of it by accredited American Historians, all
    differing from each other; the facts investigated and false statements corrected
    85-98
  • The original inflated and imaginary accounts of the "Massacre of Wyoming" 85
  • Four versions of it by accredited historians 85
  • The account given by Dr. Ramsay 87
  • Remarks upon Dr. Ramsay's account 88
  • Description of Wyoming 88
  • Mr. Bancroft's account of the "Massacre" 88
  • Mr. Tucker's brief account of the "Massacre" 90
  • Mr. Hildreth's more intelligible and consistent account of the "Massacre" 90
  • Remarks on the discrepancies in four essential particulars of these four accounts 94
  • Supplementary remarks, founded on Colonel Stone's refutation of the original fabulous statements of
    the "Massacre," in his "Life of Joseph Brant, including the Border Wars of the American Revolution" 98

CHAPTER XXXV.

  • American retaliation for the alleged "Massacre of Wyoming," as narrated by American historians 99-122
  • Destruction of Indian villages and settlements for several miles on both sides of the Susquehanna by
    the Americans 99
  • Attack in retaliation "by Indians and Tories" on Cherry Valley, but more than revenged by Colonel
    G. Van Shaick on the settlements 99
  • The destruction of Indian villages and other settlements to the extent of "several miles on both sides of the Susquehanna," more than an equivalent revenge for the destruction of Wyoming (in a note) 100
  • This only the beginning of vengeance upon the Indian settlements on the part of the "Continentals;" cruelties compared 100
  • General Sullivan's expedition, and destruction of the towns, settlements, crops, and orchards of the Six
    Nations of Indians, as stated by Dr. Andrews 100
  • The same expedition, as stated by Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Hildreth, Mr. Holmes, and Dr. Ramsay 102
  • Further examples of "retaliation," so-called, inflicted upon the Indians and their settlements (in a note) 106
  • The "Tories," driven among the Indians as their only refuge, treated as traitors; their conduct and duty 108
  • Colonel Stone's account in detail of General Sullivan's expedition of extermination against the Six
    Nations of Indians 108
  • Dr. Franklin's fictions on the massacre and scalping of the whites by Indians, in order to inflame the
    American mind against England; his fictions recorded as history 115
  • Injustice done to the Indians in American accounts of them; their conduct compared with that of their
    white enemies 119

CHAPTER XXXVI.

  • Situation and treatment of the Loyalists during the War 123-138
  • Summary of the condition and treatment of the Loyalists 123
  • The relation of both parties before the Declaration of Independence 123
  • How the Declaration of Independence changed the relations of parties both in England and America 123
  • At the Declaration of Independence the adherents to England the largest part of the population of the Colonies 124
  • Elements of their affectionate attachment to England 125
  • Their claims to have their rights and liberties respected 125
  • Their position and character stated by Mr. Hildreth; abused by mobs and oppressed by new Acts
    and authorities 125
  • John Adams the prompter and adviser for hanging "Tories;" his letter to the Governor of Massachusetts on
    the subject 127
  • First scene of severity against Loyalists at Boston; new American maxim of morals for not forgiving "Tories" 127
  • Treatment of Loyalists in New York, Philadelphia, Virginia, and other places 128
  • Kindness of the French officers and soldiers after the defeat of Lord Cornwallis 129

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XXXVI.

  • State Legislative and Executive acts against the Loyalists 130
  • Rhode Island; Connecticut 130
  • Massachusetts 131
  • New Hampshire; Virginia; New York 131
  • New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Delaware 132
  • Maryland; North Carolina; Georgia 132
  • South Carolina 134
  • Remarks on the Confiscation Acts and policy of the several States mentioned 136

CHAPTER XXXVII.

  • Treatment of the Loyalists on their applications for redress after the Revolution 139-144
  • Impolicy of such persecuting proceedings on the part of the States, by an American writer 141

APPENDIX "A" TO CHAPTER XXXVII.

  • Review of the principal characteristics of the American Revolution, and remarks on the feelings which
    should now be cultivated by both of the former contending parties, by Mr. J.M. Ludlow 145

APPENDIX "B" TO CHAPTER XXXVII.

  • Reflections of Lord Mahon on the American contest; apology for George III.; unhappiness of Americans
    since the Revolution; unity of the Anglo-Saxon Race 154

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

  • Treatment of the Loyalists by the British Government and Parliament after
    the Revolution
    159-182

PART FIRST.

  • Proceedings in Parliament; refusal of the States to compensate the Loyalists, as proposed in the
    Treaty of Peace, and contrary to the example and practice of civilized nations 159
  • In the House of Commons, Mr. Wilberforce, Lord North, Lord Mulgrave, Secretary Townsend,
    Mr. Burke, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Norton, Sir Peter Burrell, Sir William Bootle, and other members
    of Parliament, spoke on the subject 160
  • In the House of Lords, Lords Walsingham, Townsend, Stormont, Sackville, Loughborough and Shelburne,
    also advocated the claims of the Loyalists 163
  • Grounds of the responsibility of Parliament to the Loyalists for compensation 164
  • Unpopular and unprecedented omissions in the terms of Peace 164
  • Fallacy of the argument of advocates of the Treaty 165

PART SECOND.

  • Agents in England of the Loyalists; proceedings of the Parliamentary Commission; results 166-182

CHAPTER XXXIX.

  • The Loyalists driven from the United States to the British Provinces 183-190

CHAPTER XL.

  • Brief sketches of some individual Loyalists in the British Provinces; first settlers
    in Canada, and how they travelled hither
    190-208
  • 1. Samuel Anderson; 2. Rev. John Bethune; 3. Doanes—five brothers; 4. Stephen Jarvis;
    5. Wm. Jarvis; 6. David Jones; 7. Jonathan Jones; 8. Captain Richard Lippincott; 9. The McDonalds;
    10. John McGill; 11. Donald McGillis; 12. Thomas Merritt; 13. Beverley Robinson; 14. Beverley
    Robinson, jun.; 15. Christopher Robinson; 16. Sir John Beverley Robinson; 17. Sir Charles
    Frederick Phillipse Robinson; 18. Morris Robinson; 19. John Robinson; 20. Roger Morris;
    21. Allen McNab; 22. Luke Carscallen; 23. John Diamond; 24. Ephraim Tisdale; 25. Lemuel Wilmot
  • Dr. Canniff's account of the migration of the first Loyalists from Lower Canada, and settlement on the
    North Shore of the St. Lawrence, and in the country round and west of Kingston 204

CHAPTER XLI.

  • First settlement of Loyalists in the British Provinces—especially of Upper
    Canada,—their adventures and hardships, as written by themselves or their
    descendants
    208-270
  • First settlement of the first company of Loyalists at the close of the Revolutionary War, in and near
    Kingston, Upper Canada, by the late Bishop Richardson, D.D. 208
  • First settlement of Loyalists in Nova Scotia, by a gentleman of that Province 211
  • Colonel Joseph Robinson, his adventures and settlement, by the late Hon. R. Hodgson, Chief Justice
    of Prince Edward Island 213
  • Robert Clark, his sufferings in the Revolutionary War, and settlement in the Midland District, U.C.;
    by his son, late Colonel John C. Clark 216
  • Captain William B. Hutchinson, his sufferings and settlement in Walsingham, County of Norfolk, U.C.;
    by his grandson, J.B. Hutchinson, Esq. 218
  • Patriotic feeling and early settlement of Prince Edward County and neighbouring Townships; by
    Canniff Haight, Esq. 219
  • Colonel Samuel Ryerse, his adventures, settlement, and character, in the County of Norfolk; in letters
    by his son, the late Rev. George J. Ryerse; and in a memorandum, including a history of the early
    settlement of the County of Norfolk, and recollections of the war of 1812-1815; by Mrs. Amelia Harris,
    of Eldon House, London, U.C. 226
  • Colonel Joseph Ryerson, his adventures, sufferings, and settlement in the County of Norfolk, U.C.;
    by an intimate friend of the family 257
  • Note.—Colonel Samuel Ryerse and Colonel Joseph Ryerson were brothers, and both officers in the
    British army during the Revolutionary War; but in the commission of the former, his name was spelled
    Ryerse; and it being difficult at that time to correct such an error, he and his descendants have always
    spelt their name Ryerse, though the original name of the family, in the records of New Jersey, in Holland,
    and previously in the history of Denmark, is Ryerson.
  • Interesting piece of local history; by the Rev. Dr. Scadding 259
  • Loyalty and sufferings of the Hon. John Monroe; by his son 261
  • Sufferings of the U.E. Loyalists during the Revolutionary War; vindication of their character—including
    that of Butler's Rangers—their privations and settlement in Canada; by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Bowman
    Spohn, of Ancaster, in the County of Wentworth, U.C., together with an introductory letter by the writer
    of this history 264

CHAPTER XLII.

  • Origin and Character of the Governments of British North America.—Nova Scotia 271-276

CHAPTER XLIII.

  • New Brunswick 277-280

CHAPTER XLIV.

  • Prince Edward Island 280

CHAPTER XLV.

  • Government of Lower Canada 281-306
  • The famous Quebec Act, 14th Geo. III.; its provisions; why and by whom opposed; opposed in the
    Lords and Commons, and in the Colonies; supposed to have promoted the American Declaration
    of Independence 281
  • Constitutional Act of 1791—Act 31st George III., chapter 31 285
  • Mr. Pitt explains the principal provisions of the Bill; provided against the imposition of taxes in the colonies
    by the Imperial Parliament; opposed by some members in the Commons; rupture between Burke and
    Fox (in a note); Pitt's defence of the Bill 285
  • The Bill becomes an Act; separates Upper from Lower Canada; constitutes a legislature for each province;
    how the two branches of the legislature were constituted; the representative form of government obtained
    by the United Empire Loyalists 286
  • The Administration of the Government and Legislation in Lower Canada under the new constitution 288
  • Lord Dorchester Governor-General; first session of the Legislature; Speakers of the two Houses;
    a Speaker elected in the House of Assembly who could speak both the French and English language 289
  • The Governor's first speech to the Legislature 290
  • The cordial and loyal response of the House of Assembly
    290
  • Useful and harmonious legislation; a noble example and illustration of loyalty by the House of Assembly
    before the close of the session 292
  • The Governor's speech at the close of the session 294
  • Unjust statements against the French corrected (in a note) 294
  • Second session of the Legislature called by Lord Dorchester on his arrival from England; his cordial
    reception; beneficial legislation; Canadians recoil from the horrors of the French Revolution 295
  • French Republican agents endeavour to incite Canadians to revolt, and to excite hostilities against England
    in the United States 297
  • Mutual cordiality between the Governor-General and the House of Assembly 297
  • Visit of the Duke of Kent to Lower Canada as Commander of the Forces; his wise and patriotic counsels;
    beneficial influence of his visit and residence 297
  • Lord Dorchester lays the public accounts before the Assembly; their contents; this proceeding highly
    satisfactory to the Assembly; bills passed and assented to 298
  • Interval of quiet between the second and third Sessions of the Legislature; Lord Dorchester's practical
    and noble speech at the opening of the third Session; Mr. Christie's remarks upon it; cordial answer of
    the House of Assembly, to whom the public accounts were transmitted, even more comprehensive
    and complete than those sent down the previous Session 299
  • Commissioners first appointed to adjust the revenues between Upper and Lower Canada; their courteous
    and fair proceedings on both sides 301
  • Gratifying close of the third Session 302
  • Auspicious opening, useful legislation, and happy conclusion of the fourth and last Session of the first
    Parliament of Lower Canada 302
  • Termination of Lord Dorchester's thirty-six years connection with Canada; review of his conduct and
    character by the historian Bancroft; cordial addresses to him, and his affectionate answers 303
  • Meritorious conduct of the French Canadians 305

CHAPTER XLVI.

  • Government of Upper Canada 307-315
  • How governed and divided by Lord Dorchester before the Constitutional Act of 1791 307
  • The Constitutional Act of 1791, 31 George III., chapter 31, and construction of governments under it 307
  • General John Graves Simcoe the first Governor; character of his government; arrives at Kingston 8th
    July, 1792, where the members of the Executive Legislative Councils were sworn into office, and writs
    issued for the election of members of the House of Assembly 308
  • The seat of government first established at Newark, now Niagara, where a small frame house was built
    for the Governor, and in which also the first Session of the Legislature was held 308
  • Number of members of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly present at the opening of the
    Session; their character 309
  • Number and character of the population of the country, including the Mohawk Indians, headed by Joseph
    Brant 309
  • First Session of the first Parliament and its work 309
  • Remarkable speech of Governor Simcoe at the close of the Session, explanatory of our constitution of
    government 310
  • Change of the seat of government and reasons for it 311
  • Governor Simcoe's work and policy; removal to the West Indies, and abandonment of his wise policy 311
  • Parliament meets at Niagara until 1797; its legislation; Governor Simcoe's successor, the Hon. Peter
    Russell and General Hunter; population of Upper Canada in 1800 312
  • Legislation, progress, trade, custom-houses 313
  • Provision for one Grammar School Master in each of the eight districts 314
  • Emigration; legislation; experience of the country during sixteen years under the new constitution 314
  • State of the country in 1809 314
  • Anticipated hostilities between Great Britain and the United States; concluding remarks on this period
    of Canadian history 315