The Rise of Canada, from Barbarism to Wealth and Civilisation. Volume 1

by Charles Roger

	PAGE.
[CHAPTER I.]
Canada Discovered	4
Cartier's Arrival in the St. Lawrence	5
Commencement of the Fur Trade	6
Quebec Founded	7
Exploration of the Ottawa	8
The Cold—Lake Huron	9
Sixty White Inhabitants	10
The First Franco-Canadian	11
The Colonists Dissatisfied	12
The Hundred Associates	13
Quebec Surrendered to the English	14
The Restoration—Death of Champlain	15
The Massacre at Sillery	16
The Effect of Rum upon the Iroquois	17
Arrival of Troops—A Moon-LightFlitting	18
Swearing and Blasphemy—The Earthquake	19
The Physical Features of the Country	20
The First Governor and Council	21
First Settlement of old Soldiers	22
The Canada Company	23
Kingston Founded	24
The Small Pox—De Frontenac—Sale ofSpirits	25
Marquette—Jollyet—The Sieur LaSalle	26
The First Vessel Built in Canada	27
Voyage of the Cataraqui—Tempest on LakeErie	28
Mouths of the Mississippi—Murder of LaSalle	29
Indian Difficulties—Fort Niagara	30
Deception and its Results	31
Massacre of Schenectady	32
Education—Witchcraft	33
Port Royal reduced by Phipps	34
De Frontenac's Penobscot Expedition	35
Trade—War—Population	36
New England Expedition to Canada	37
Gen. Nicholson—Peace of Utrecht	38
Social Condition and Progress	39
Louisbourg—Shirley's Expedition	40
Siege of Louisbourg	41
Surrender of Louisbourg	42
A French Fleet Intercepted	43
The New Englanders' Convention	44
Surprise and Defeat of Braddock	45
Avariciousness of Bigot	46
Capture of Oswego by Montcalm	47
Incompetent Generals—Change ofMinistry	48
Abercrombie's attack on Ticonderoga	49
Surrender of Fort Frontenac	50
Wolfe's Invasion	51
The Repulse at Montmorenci	52
The Battle of Quebec	53
Death of Wolfe	54
Death of Montcalm	55
Canada ceded to England	56
Canada and New England	57
Quebec Act—Taxation withoutRepresentation	58
[CHAPTER II.]
Representation in the Imperial Parliament	59
Montgomery's Invasion	60
Arnold—Montgomery—Allen	61
The American Siege—Death of Montgomery	62
Independence Refused by the Catholic Clergy	63
The American Siege Raised	64
Independence—Defeat of Baum	65
The Surrender of Burgoyne	66
Western Canada divided into Districts	67
Divisions of the Province of Quebec	68
Lord Dorchester	69
Governor-General Prescott	70
Governor Milnes	71
The Royal Institution Founded	72
Cultivation of Hemp—Land Jobbing	73
The Lachine Canal—The Gaols Act	74
Trinity Houses Established—AnAntagonism	75
Mr. Dunn, Administrator	76
Upper Canada—The Separation Act	77
Debate on the Separation Act	78
Mr. Fox's Speech	79
Mr. Chancellor Pitt's Speech	81
Mr. Burke's Speech	82
Governor Simcoe and his Parliament	83
Parliamentary Proceedings	84
Simcoe's Character	85
London Founded—Simcoe's Prejudices	86
Selection of a Seat of Government	87
Simcoe and the Hon. John Young	88
The Newark Spectator	89
First Parliament of Upper Canada	90
The Hon. Peter Russell	91
General Hunter, Governor	92
Hunter—New Ports of Entry	93
Collectors of Customs appointed	94
Parliamentary Business	95
Grant and Gore	96
Lower Canada—Importance of Parliament	97
Parliament Libelled	98
The Honorable Herman Ryland	99
Mr. Ryland's hatred of Papacy	100
Romanism seriously threatened	101
No Roman Catholic Bishop of Quebec	102
Mr. Plessis and Mr. Att'y.Gen'l.—Explanation	103
A New Bishop Made—Ryland Angry	104
Churches and Education	105
Lord Bishop Strachan	106
The Church of England	107
The Dissenters and Episcopacy	108
Gift of £20,000 to the King—SpencerWood, &c.	109
Garrison Pipeclay—the Habitants	110
A Provincial Agent in London	111
A Speck of War	112
The Chesapeake Difficulty Settled	113
Feeling in the United States	114
War Preparations in Canada	115
Upper Canada—The Parliament	116
Governor General Sir James Craig	117
Ryland's Love for the New Governor	118
Services of Sir James Craig	119
Meeting of Parliament	120
The Judges in Parliament	121
Expulsion of Mr. Hart	122
Prorogation of Parliament	123
Mr. Parent and "The Canadien"	124
Dismissals from the Militia	125
Mr. Panet re-elected Speaker	126
The War—The Judges—Mr. Hart	127
Parliament Angrily Dissolved	128
French Hatred of the British Officials	129
Craig's Opinion of the French Canadians	130
Composition of the Assembly	131
Vilification of the "Gens en Place"	132
The Martello Towers	133
The First Steamboat on the St. Lawrence	134
Death of Washington	135
No Liberty of Discussion in the UnitedStates	136
President Burr's Conspiracy	137
Madison—Erskine—and Jackson	138
Washington Diplomacy—A new Parliament	139
The Speech from the Throne	140
The Address in Reply	141
The Civil List	142
Civil List Resolutions	143
The Resolutions Premature	144
Mr. Justice De Bonne	145
An Antagonism—Parliament Dissolved	146
Rumors of Rebellion	147
Seizure of the "Canadien"	148
Sir James' upon Obnoxious Writings	149
A Proclamation	150
A Warning	151
Misgovernment of the Country	152
An Apology for Misgovernment	153
The Red-Tapist and the Colonist	154
Arrogance of the Officials	155
The Craig Road completed	156
Meeting of a New Parliament	157
Mr. Bedard, M.P., in prison	158
Why Mr. Bedard was not liberated	159
Disqualification of the Judges	160
Departure of Sir James Craig	161
Mr. Peel on Canadian Affairs	162
Mr. Peel—Sir Vicary Gibbs	163
Legislation in Upper Canada	164
Brocke—Prevost—The "Little Belt"	165
[CHAPTERIII.]
Sir George Prevost	166
Opening of Parliament	167
Embodiment of the Militia	168
Declaration of War by the United States	169
The Henry Plot	170
Henry's Treachery	171
The American Minority's Fears	172
United States unprepared for War	173
The Feeling in Canada	174
Army Bills—Prorogation of Parliament	175
The Ste. Claire Riot	176
The Commencement of Hostilities	177
Surrender of Michillimackinac	178
GeneralHull.—Proclamation—Amherstburgh	179
Offensive operations by the British	180
The Battle of Maguago	181
Bombardment of Detroit	182
Surrender of General Hull	183
Hull in Montreal—His Excuse	184
Surrender of H.M.S. "Guerrière"—TheFight	185
The "Guerrière" a wreck	186
Abandonment of the "Guerrière"	187
The Northern States clamorous for peace	188
The Battle of Queenston—Death ofBrocke	189
The Victory—The Burial of Brocke	190
The "President" and "Belvidera"	191
The "Frolic" and the "Wasp"	192
The "Macedonian" and "United States"	193
The Lords of the Admiralty	194
The "Constitution" and the "Java"	195
Capture of the "Java"—Spirit of "TheTimes"	196
Generals Sheaffe and Smyth	197
The Fleets on the Lakes	198
De Salaberry—Lacolle	199
Dearborn's Retreat	200
Smyth's Attempt at Erie	201
Meeting of the Lower Canadian Parliament	202
The Prevalent Feeling—Mr. Jas. Stuart	203
Proceedings of Parliament	204
Mr. Ryland on the Press	205
The "Mercury" upon Mr. Stuart	206
Opening of the next Campaign	207
Battle at the River Raisin	208
Great Exertions on both sides	209
Imperial Misapprehension of CanadianResources	210
Assault at Ogdensburgh	211
Capture of Toronto	212
Fort George Blown up	213
The Americans Surprised	214
Black Rock—Sacketts Harbour	215
The Affair of Sacketts Harbour	216
Indecision of Sir George Prevost	217
Unsuccessful Assault upon Sandusky	218
Stupidity of the English MilitaryDepartments	219
Capture of two War Vessels at Isle Aux Noix	220
Plattsburgh Captured	221
Wisdom thrust upon the Admiralty	222
The "Shannon" and "Chesapeake"	223
The Fight—The Triumph	224
"Argus" & "Pelican"—"Boxer" &"Enterprise"	225
Travelling—The Thousand Islands	226
Goose Creek—The Attack	227
York—Capture of the "Julia" &"Growler"	228
Engagement on Lake Ontario—The Mishap	229
Barclay and Perry	230
The Battle—The Americans victorious	231
Proctor's Retreat-Kentucky Mounted Rifles	232
Death of Tecumseh—Flight of Proctor	233
General Proctor reprimanded and suspended	234
The intended attack upon Montreal	235
De Salaberry and his Voltigeurs	236
The Battle of Chateauguay	237
Excellent effect of music	238
The Canadians Victorious	239
Wilkinson's Descent of the Rapids	240
Chrystler's Farm	241
The Attack on Montreal abandoned	242
Gen. Drummond—Upper Canada	243
Assault and Capture of fort Niagara	244
Nocturnal Attack on Black Rock	245
The Retreat of the Americans	246
Termination of the Campaign	247
Prosperity of Canada during the War	248
Parliament—Upper Canada	249
The Parliament of Lower Canada	250
The Speech and The Reply	251
Proposed Income Tax	252
Mr. Ryland and the Provincial Secretary	253
Mr. James Stuart and Chief Justice Sewell	254
The Rules of Practice	255
Resolutions aimed at Jonathan Sewell	256
The Impeachment	257
An Unpleasant Position	258
Chief Justices Sewell and Monk	259
London Agents of the Province	260
The Prorogation—Russian Mediation	261
Capture of the "Essex"	262
"Frolic" & "Orpheus"—"Epervier" &"Peacock"	263
The "Reindeer" and "Wasp"	264
Prisoners—8th Regt.—Indians	265
The Attack upon Lacolle	266
The Killed and Wounded—Plunder	267
Recaptures of Plunder at Madrid	268
Capture of Oswego	269
The Sandy Creek Business	270
Riall's Defeat	271
The Battle of Chippewa	272
The Battle continued	273
Siege of Fort Erie	274
The Assault	275
A British Fleet on the American Coast	276
Admiral Cockburn & General Ross	277
The Legislative Capital of the U.S. captured	278
The Destruction of the Libraries	279
Capitulation of Alexandria	280
Death of General Ross	281
The Attack on Baltimore	282
Prairie Du Chien and Ste. Marie	283
Moose Island taken possession of	284
The Penobscot Expedition	285
Invasion of the United States	286
The British Fleet defeated in Lake Champlain	287
The Fight & the Surrender	288
The Retreat—Sir George Prevost	289
Character of Sir George Prevost	290
Accusation of Prevost by Sir Jas. Yeo	291
Fort Erie Blown up	292
New Orleans—General Jackson	293
Nature of the Defences of New Orleans	294
Pakenham—The Assault	295
Gallantry of the 93rd Regiment	296
The Defeat—Thornton Successful	297
Capture of Fort Boyer—The Peace	298
Defence of Pakenham's conduct	299
The Hartford Convention	300
Consequences of the War	301
The Canada Militia Disbanded	302
Meeting of Parliament in Lower Canada	303
An Agent—Public Opinion	304
Service of Plate to Sir George Prevost	305
Character of Prevost as a Governor	306
Close of the Session—the Lachine Canal	307
Progress—Recall of Sir George Prevost	308
Legislation in Upper Canada	309
State of Parties in Upper Canada	310
The Newspaper a Pestilence in the Land	311
The Brock Monument—Gore's Return	312
[CHAPTER IV.]
Drummond Administrator-in-chief	313
The Roads—The Inhabitants	314
The French Canadian character	315
Parliament—Waterloo	316
"My Native City"	317
The Assembly Censured	318
Dissolution of Parliament	319
General Wilson Administrator	320
Information for the Colonial Secretary	321
Sir John Sherbrooke's Notions	322
The New Parliament	323
Suspension of Mr. Justice Foucher	324
The Chief Justice of Montreal	325
"Sub Rosa" Negociation	326
Management of the Commons	327
The Banks of Quebec and Montreal	328
York and Kingston	329
First Steamers on the Lakes	330
Government of Upper Canada	331
Persecutions for Opinion's sake	332
Joseph Wilcocks, M.P.P.	333
Acts of the Upper Canada Legislature	334
The Prorogation	336
Foreign Protestants—Prorogation	337
Durand's Parliamentary Libel	338
Durand Imprisoned—Wyatt vs.Gore	339
Lower Canada Civil List	340
The Instructions—Foucher	341
Adjudication of Impeachments	342
Mr. Ryland's Opinion	343
The Chambly Canal	344
The Estimates—St. Peter Street, Quebec	345
Disinterment of Montgomery—Richmond	346
His Grace the Duke of Richmond's Speech	347
Rejection of the Civil List—LachineCanal	348
Additional Impeachments	349
Some Feeling evinced by the LegislativeCouncil	350
A Paul, Strahan, and Bate's Case	351
A Testy Speech from the Throne	352
Rideau Canal—Population—Banks	353
Upper Canada—Mr. Gourlay	354
Mr. Gourlay's schemes	355
Gourlay arrested	356
Gourlay's ejectment—Parliament	357
Governor Maitland and the Convention	358
Death of the Duke of Richmond	359
Antagonism—Maitland and the L.C.Assembly	360
Arrival of Lord Dalhousie	361
Papineau's speech at Montreal	362
Dalhousie's opening parliamentary speech	363
Facilities for manufacturing in Lower Canada	364
Honorable John Neilson—Appearance andCharacter	365
Quarrel of the Houses about the Civil List	366
Mr. Andrew Stuart—The Supplies,&c.	367
The Lachine Canal—Sinecure Offices	368
Additions to the Executive Council	369
The Civil List—Antagonism	370
Mr. Marryatt, M.P.—Stoppage of theSupplies	371
The Honorable John Richardson	372
Message from the Governor	373
Despotic conduct of the Assembly	374
Effect of cutting off the supplies	375
The Prorogation—Ryland's Advice	376
Legislative Union of the Provinces	377
Agriculture and commerce in distress	378
The Union Bill	379
The Church—Political Rights	380
Antipathies—Increasing Difficulties	381
Parliament again in session	382
Sir F. Burton—District of St. Francis	383
The Civil List	384
"Times" Libel—Emptiness of the PublicChest	385
The Finances—the Receiver General	386
The Lachine and Chambly Canals	387
The prorogation—Union of the Provinces	388
The Public Accounts of Upper Canada	389
Gourlay's Enlightened Views	390
Construction of Ship Canals recommended	391
Realization of a Dream—Mr. Merritt	392
John Charlton Fisher, LL.D., King's Printer	393
Suspension of Mr. Caldwell	394
Lord Dalhousie's Explanation	395
The defalcation—Tea Smuggling	396
Free navigation of the St. Lawrence demanded	397
Pettishness of the Lower Canada Assembly	398
Occupations Taxed in Upper Canada	399
Drawbacks on Importations	400
The Clergy Reserves	401
Parliament Closed—Tyranny of Maitland	402
The Bidwells and Brodeurs of U.C.	403
W. L. Mackenzie—Appearance andCharacter	404
Mackenzie Persecuted	405
Press Muzzlings	406
Sir J. Robinson—Patience andOppression	407
Recall of Sir P. Maitland	408
Matthews—Willis—Robinson	409
The Gentry of Canada	410
The Literary and Historical Society	411
Departure of Lord Dalhousie	412

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PREFACE.

The beauty of a book, as of a picture, consists in the grouping of images and in the arrangement of details. Not only has attitude and grouping to be attended to by the painter, and by the narrator of events, but attention must be paid to light and shade; and the same subject is susceptible of being treated in many ways. When the idea occurred to me of offering to the public of Canada a history of the province, I was not ignorant of the existence of other histories. Smith, Christie, Garneau, Gourlay, Martin and Murray, the narratives of the Jesuit Fathers, Charlevoix, the Journals of Knox, and many other histories and books, were more or less familiar to me; but there was then no history, of all Canada from the earliest period to the present day so concisely written, and the various events and personages, of which it is composed, so grouped together, as to present an attractive and striking picture to the mind of every reader. It was that want which I determined to supply, and with some degree of earnestness the self-imposed task was undertaken. My plan was faintly to imitate the simple narrative style, the conciseness, the picturesqueness, the eloquence, the poetry, and the philosophic spirit of a history, the most remarkable of any extant—that of the world. As Moses graphically and philosophically has sketched the peopling of the earth; painted the beauties of dawning nature; shown the origin of agriculture and the arts; described the social advancement of families, tribes and nations; exhibited the short-comings and the excellencies of patriarchal and of monarchical forms of government; exposed the warrings and bickerings among men; told of the manner in which a people escaped from bondage and raised themselves on the wreck of thrones, principalities, and powers, to greatness; published the laws by which that most chosen people were governed; and dwelt upon the perversity of human nature; and as other men, divinely inspired, have sublimely represented the highest stages of Jewish civilisation, so did I propose to myself to exhibit the rise of Canada from a primitive condition to its present state of advancement. My first great difficulty was to obtain a publisher. There could only be a very few persons who would run the risk of publishing a mere history of Canada, even with all these fanciful excellencies, produced by one unknown to fame. But "where there is a will, there is a way," and about the middle of the month of June last, I had succeeded in disposing of a book, then scarcely begun, to Mr. Peter Sinclair, Bookseller, John Street, in the City of Quebec. That gentleman, with characteristic spirit and liberality, agreed to become my publisher, and until the 17th day of September, I read and wrote diligently, having written, in round numbers, about a thousand pages of foolscap and brought to a conclusion the first rebellion. Then the work of printing was begun, and the correction of all the proofs together with the editorial management of a newspaper, have since afforded me sufficient occupation. Mr. McMullen, of Brockville, has, however, produced a history of this country from its discovery to the present time, almost as if he had been influenced by motives similar to those which have influenced me. His pictures, however, are not my pictures, nor his sentiments my sentiments. The books—although the facts are the same and necessarily derived from the same sources—are essentially different. He is most elaborate in the beginning, I become more and more particular with regard to details towards the close—I expand with the expansion of the country. In the first chapter of this first volume, the history of the province while under French rule is rapidly traced, and the history of the New England Colonies dipped into, with the view of showing the progressional resemblance between that country which is now the United States and our own; in the second chapter the reader obtains only a glance, as it were, at the American war of independence, when he is carried again into Canada and made acquainted with the many difficulties in spite of which Upper and Lower Canada continued to advance in wealth and civilisation; in the third chapter a history of the war between England and the United States is given with considerable minuteness; and the fourth chapter brings the reader up to the termination of that extraordinary period of mis-government, subsequent to the American war, which continued until the Rebellion, and has not even yet been altogether got rid of. There are without doubt, errors, exceptions, and omissions enough to be found—an island may have been inadvertently placed in a wrong lake, a date or figure may be incorrect, words may have been misprinted, and, in some parts, the sense a little interfered with—but I have set down nothing in malice, having had a strict regard for truth. I have creamed Gourlay, Christie, Murray, Alison, Wells, and Henry, and taken whatever I deemed essential from a history of the United States, without a title page, and from Jared Sparks and other authors; but for the history of Lower Canada my chief reliance has been upon the valuable volumes, compiled with so much care, by Mr. Christie, and I have put the essence of his sixth volume of revelations in its fitting place.

For valuable assistance in the way of information, I am indebted to Mr. Christie personally, to the Honble. Henry Black, to the Librarians of the Legislative Assembly—the Reverend Dr. Adamson and Dr. Winder—and to Daniel Wilkie, Esquire, one of the teachers of the High School of Quebec.

C. ROGER.

Quebec, 31st December, 1855.

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THE RISE
OF
CANADA
FROM
BARBARISM TO CIVILISATION.