Toronto of Old / Collections and recollections illustrative of the early settlement and social life of the capital of Ontario

by Henry Scadding

In the year 1828, Commodore Barrie was in York Harbour. "His Majesty's schooner Cockburn," says the Loyalist of June 7, "bearing the broad pennon of Commodore Barrie, entered this port on Monday last, and on landing at the Garrison, the Commodore was received by a salute, which was returned from the schooner. The yacht Bullfrog was in company with the Cockburn. Commodore Barrie," it is added, "proceeds by land to Lake Simcoe, and thence on a tour of inspection at the several Naval Depots of the Lakes."

In the Loyalist of June 21, Capt. Richardson is taking time by the forelock and advertising for dry pine to be supplied as fuel for the Canada in the following season of 1829. "Steam-boat Notice. Persons willing to supply the Canada Steam-packet with dry pine for the ensuing season of 1829, will please make application immediately to the subscriber for the contract. Hugh Richardson, Master and Managing Owner of the Canada Steam-packet. York, June, 20, 1828." On the 30th of August we have:—"Until further notice the Canada Steam-packet will leave York as soon after her arrival as she has received her supply of wood, firing a gun, and hoisting colours half an hour before starting." We have also a notice in regard to the Alciope in the Loyalist of Sept. 6:—"The steam-boat Alciope will take freight and passengers from this port (York) during the remainder of the season, every Saturday morning at 6 o'clock, on her way down from Niagara to Prescott, to commence to-morrow. York, 20th August."

From the Loyalist of Sept 27, 1828, we learn that Mr. George Savage has been appointed to the Collectorship of the port of York. He himself announces the fact to the public in the following advertisement:—"His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor having been pleased to appoint me to the Collectorship of Customs for this port, I beg leave to acquaint the merchants, shipowners, and others having business to transact with this branch of the revenue after the first day of October next, that I have temporarily established an office in part of the premises fronting on Duke Street, occupied by Mr. Columbus. George Savage, Collector. York, 26th September, 1828." Bulky in form and somewhat consequential in manner, Mr. Savage was a conspicuous figure in York down to the time of his death in 1835, when he was succeeded by Mr. Thos. Carfrae. Mr. Savage was, as his office required him to be, vigilant in respect of the dues leviable at the Port of York. But the contrabandists were occasionally too adroit for him. We have heard of a number of kegs or barrels, supposed to contain spirits, confidentially reported to him as sunk in the depths of the bay, near one of the wharves, which kegs or barrels, when carefully fished up and conveyed to Mr. Mosley's rooms to be disposed of by auction, were found, on being tapped, to contain harmless water; but while Mr. Savage and his men were busily engaged in making this profitless seizure, the real wares—teas, spirits, and so on—which were sought to be illicitly introduced, were landed without molestation in Humber Bay. The practice of smuggling was, we believe, rather rife in and about the harbour of York in the olden time. In a Gazette of 1820 (Nov. 30), we observe the schooner Industry advertised for sale by the Custom House authorities as having been taken in the act; and on the 17th of October, 1821, Mr. Allan reports to the magistrates, at Quarter Sessions, that he had seized ten barrels of salt, in which were found concealed kegs of tobacco to the value of five pounds and upwards, brought to York from the United States in an American schooner, called the New Haven, A. Johnson, master. The Magistrates declared the whole forfeited to the "King." At the same time a system of illicit reciprocity was in vogue, and the products of Canada were introduced, or sought to be introduced, into the domain of the United States, sometimes in singular ways. On one occasion Daniel Lambert, a gigantic wax-figure, returned from Canada to the United States replete with articles designed for import without entry. The Albany Argus of the day thus describes the adventure:—"Daniel Lambert turned smuggler.—This mammoth gentleman of wax, who is exhibited for the admiration of the curious in every part of the country, was lately met on his way from Canada by a Custom House officer, who, remarking the rotundity of Daniel's corporation, had the curiosity to subject it to a critical inspection; when, lo! instead of flesh and blood, or even straw, the entire fabric of this unwieldy gentleman was found to be composed of fine English cloths and kerseymeres."

Towards the close of the year 1828 we have Capt. Mosier's marriage mentioned in a number of the Loyalist (for Dec. 13), thus: "Married at Prescott, on the 20th ult., Capt John Mosier, Master of the Niagara Steam-packet, to Miss Caroline F. Munro, second daughter of Major Munro, of Edwardsburgh."

In January, 1829, the schooner George Canning was plying between York and Niagara, the weather being open. In the Niagara Herald of Jan. 29, 1829, we have the notice, "Conveyance to York, Upper Canada, by the fast-sailing schooner George Canning, commanded by Capt J. Whitney. The public are respectfully informed that during the continuance of the present open season the above schooner will ply as a Packet between York and Niagara. From being perfectly new and thoroughly found, she is with confidence recommended as a safe and easy mode of conveyance to the capital of Upper Canada. For information in regard to time of departure, application to be made to Capt. Whitney on board, or at Chrysler's Inn, Niagara. January 22, 1829." The Loyalist of April 4 in this year, 1829, reports that "the steamboat Canada is ready to commence her trips to and from Niagara as soon as the ice is out of the bay. It has broken up a good deal," the Loyalist says, "within the last few days, and from its appearance after the late rain we may hope that the navigation will soon be open. Schooners have been crossing the Lake for some time past. Last year the first steamboat from Kingston arrived here on the fifth of April." The usual advertisement of the Canada's movements for the season appears in this number of the Loyalist.

In May the steamer Niagara brought up Bishop Macdonell. The Loyalist of May 9, 1829, notes his arrival at York:—"The R. C. Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Macdonell, arrived here in the steamboat Niagara on Tuesday last, accompanied by the Rev. W. Macdonell." It is added:—"The Rev. Messrs. Fraser and Chisholm arrived on the Thursday following in the Alciope." In this month the Queenston takes away troops from York. In the Loyalist of May 16, 1829, the following item appears:—"The first division of the 68th Regiment, under the command of Capt. Macdonell, en route to Montreal, left York on Tuesday last, on board the Queenston. The Alciope, from Kingston, brings intelligence of their having arrived at that place on the following day." The same paper reports that "the steam-boats have some difficulty in getting into the Niagara River from the large quantities of ice passing down from the Upper Lake." And again in the same paper, under date of Niagara, May 11:—"The ice from Lake Erie has been running most of the last week, and continues to run to-day—so much so that the river, we believe, has not been passable since nine o'clock this morning."

A notice of the opening of navigation at Buffalo this year appears in the Loyalist of May 23, copied from the Buffalo Republican of the 16th of May. The scene is graphically depicted. "The schooner Eagle," the Republican says, "was the first vessel that entered our harbour this season. She ploughed her way through three or four miles of floating ice to the gratification of about a thousand spectators." The Republican also gives the following, which presents us with even grander spectacles:—"On Thursday morning the steamboat Pioneer started through the ice on her first trip to Dunkirk, with a full load of passengers. In the afternoon the steamer William Penn, Capt. Wright, commenced her first trip to Detroit, having on board upwards of 400 passengers destined to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan." "On Friday, about noon," the Buffalo paper then adds, "the steamboat Henry Clay, Norton, having previously arrived from Black Rock, left our harbour in fine style, having a heavy and full load of passengers. The steamboat Niagara, Pease, will leave on Monday for Detroit, as we understand."

A casualty in York Bay is noticed in the Loyalist of Oct. 4, 1828. "Mr. William Crone, contractor for gravelling the streets of the town, was unfortunately drowned on Saturday last. It appears that Mr. Crone was knocked overboard from the Durham boat, in which he was bringing a load of gravel from the Island, by the sudden shifting of the boom, and, being stunned by the blow, sunk before assistance could be rendered to him."

In Oct., 1828, Sir Peregrine Maitland arrives in York Harbour on board of the yacht Bullfrog, compelled to put in by stress of weather. He was on his way from the Lower Province to Niagara. "His Excellency Sir P. Maitland, after having visited Quebec, returning by the route of the Rideau Canal, arrived at York," says the Loyalist of Oct. 18, "on Monday morning from Kingston, on board His Majesty's yacht Bullfrog, Commodore Barrie, and on landing was received by a salute from the garrison. It was His Excellency's intention, we understand, to have landed at Niagara, but the Bullfrog having encountered a heavy gale on the previous night, was obliged to make for York. His Excellency proceeded to Niagara on Wednesday by the Canada, and Commodore Barrie with the Bullfrog left the harbour on the same day on return to Kingston." Sir Peregrine, we may observe, was on the point of leaving Upper Canada, having been appointed to the Government of Nova Scotia. The arrival of his successor at New York is announced in the same paper. "The packet ship Corinthian arrived at New York on the evening of the 7th instant. Sir John Colborne and family were passengers in the Corinthian, and may therefore be daily expected at this place (York)." It is announced in the same paper that "a public dinner will be given to His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland, previous to his departure from this Province. Tickets of admission to be had at Messrs. Meighan's." In the number for November 4, we have an account of the addresses which are being presented to Sir Peregrine on the occasion of his departure, with the remark:—"The expressions of respect for his administration of the Government, and of personal esteem towards His Excellency and family, which these addresses contain, afford the most satisfactory testimonials that the sincere and anxious desire of His Excellency for the improvement of the country and the happiness of its inhabitants are duly appreciated when the period of a long and arduous administration is about to terminate. These, together with the approbation of his Sovereign, fully evinced by the more important Civil and Military honours conferred upon him, cannot but be gratifying, as well to His Excellency as to the inhabitants of the Province generally." And again in the Loyalist of the 15th Nov., it is stated that "the last Gazette contains addresses to His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland, on his departure from the Province—from the Magistrates, Grand Jury, and Bar of the London District, in Quarter Sessions assembled; from the towns of Kingston and Brockville, and from Grimsby, all expressing the same sentiments of personal regard and respect for his administration of this Government, as those which were previously presented from other places to His Excellency."