N. B.: When upon application last fall to Capt. Turnbull for a Room in the King’s Barracks, which he did not grant, I then applyed to him if he would please speak to influence Mr. Cardin to give me his house for last winter. He gave himself not the least trouble about the matter, in consequence of which I was necessitated to provide for myself. [I] obtained the house from Mr. Cardin, where I lodged Comfortably last winter. As I was obliged to pass the winters preceeding most wretchedly in old houses, not habitable, notwithstanding of my Disbursements on many repeated reparations, such as thatching with Bark, Claying &c, as without these expenses I must starve of cold & every shower of rain [came] in upon me, as also snow drift[ed in] from every quarter when the wind blew high.
Upon Sunday the 1st December 1771. The officer of the day was ordered to place Centrys at different corners of the Garrison upon four or five houses, upon suspicion they smuggled some common rum to entertain them[selves] at such a particular Season, as one of the Sub-Suttlers did not Chuse to sell or had orders [not] to sell under a Dollar each quart.
A soldier and his wife with his Children [were] ordered to their barracks, tho’ there was not a drop [of] liquor found in his house. The officer of the day upon entring the room of Fiddler, one of the Royal Artillery, who was enjoying himself with one of his Comrades in garrison [with some rum] which he had purchassed from the Sub-Suttler. [The bottle of rum] was broke to pieces [by the officer] which put a stop to the entertainment tho’ they were all quite sober.
All this is supposed to proceed from the orders of the grand Suttler [Captain Turnbull], who did not Chuse that any individual should interfere in diminishing the grist which has been a long time now comeing into his Mill & which he wants to keep agoing for his own particular private interest.
December 15th. Mr. Harise, the interpreter, was committed to the common guard-house by Capt. Turnbull where he remained from eight o’Clock in the afternoon till ten next morning, for beating of a trader’s Engagee [an engagé, one of the French boatmen who were hired to paddle the traders’ canoes], tho’ many Circumstances of the most Extravagant enormitys have been overlooked in this odious garrison during Capt. Turnbull’s Incumbency.
Ensign Strickland [was] put under arrest by Capt. Turnbull’s order for useing Sergt. Lewis ill upon his Guard, & the said Ensign continued under his arrest untill he made proper Condescensions to the Sergt. & Yet Ensign Johnstone would not be put under arrest by Captain Turnbull (tho’ properly applyed to) for shedding the blood of a gentleman more usefull to the King’s service in garrison, more than both, which can be proven to a Demonstration, time & place Convenient.
N. B.: July 2d. 1772. I have now [served] going on four years here, & during that period of time have neither received wood, nor chairs, table, tongs, Dogirons, pockers, &c. from the Barrack master nor any lodgeing in the King’s Barracks or from the King, notwithstanding my frequent applications, but was obliged to Lodge in old french Houses, not habitable, at a Vast Expense out of my Pay, by Plastering, thatching &c. to preserve myself from the Inclemency of the Winter Season, which is generally very intense here, and which continues upon average about the space of eight months.
Notwithstanding so badly was I used, on account of provideing of aforesaid lodgeings, haveing not beforehand informed Capt. Turnbull of my intention of providing said Lodgeing for hire, he sent a Sergeant for me to [attend] the Publick parade, where to my surprise in presence of the officers of the Garrison & others he gave me very abusive & Scandalous Language, unbecomeing the Expressions of a gentleman, & when offering to speak in my own Defence, I was ordered Silence! & that he desired for the future I should give him no more trouble about Lodgeings. [He] ordered me about my business, that he would not put me under arrested as he knew that was what I wanted, but would not do me that Honnour. I was not worth his notice.
N. B.: Ensign Strickland & Ens. Graham were put under arrest for differences subsisting among them at his house, which Capt. Turnbull approved of till their differences were settled.