Part 5 (2/2)

It has also been most positively affirmed that McNab has pa.s.sed great quant.i.ties of timber as having been cut in McNab towns.h.i.+p, taken from the adjoining towns.h.i.+ps; and that on one occasion he pa.s.sed a whole raft as such, which came down the Ottawa far above McNab. This last, though convinced in my own mind on the subject, would be very difficult to prove, seeing that the lumberers, the princ.i.p.al witnesses, were implicated in the fraud.

It is also beyond all question that the McNab has collected rents of all settlers from whom he could obtain it, whether brought out by him or not. There are only about 15 or 16 families in the towns.h.i.+p that he brought out. It is also certain that he has sold land at high prices. He sold No. 17 and 18 broken lots in the 13th con. to Alexander McDonald for 120. He sold No. 20 and 21 in the 13th con. to Michael Roddy, for 150, as appeared from written evidence produced to me. And written evidence was also produced that Duncan Anderson sold No. 25 in the 11th con. to Michael Roddy, with the improvements, for 500, and that McNab got one half, and Anderson the other. And several other lots he had sold, or attempted to sell, for clearing land to him. To my certain knowledge, Anderson drew 100 acres of a free grant previous to his going to McNab, in the towns.h.i.+p of Beckwith, and afterwards sold it. Two other persons have also received grants from the McNab, viz.: Donald Fisher in the 1st con., and John McCallum in the 4th con., who formerly received free grants from the Government. Those two last, however, deny having paid McNab any consideration for their present possessions.

That very many of the settlers have been hara.s.sed with law, is also incontrovertible; and many more kept in constant alarm by threats of being sued by the McNab. In the case of John Campbell, located on N. E. half of 13 in the 7th con., by trade a blacksmith, came into the country at his own expense, refused to pay the Chief rent, or grant a mortgage on the lot. The Laird therefore, upon what authority I know not, seized his tools and kept them for a great number of years.

In another case, an illegal doc.u.ment was shown me, purporting to be a Declaration by the McNab regarding some alleged debt, stated to have been an extortion annexed to which was a warrant signed by another magistrate of the name of Richey, for the purpose of arresting a sum of money in the hands of a third person; and I was informed that this illegal conduct was actually carried into effect.

Another case it is particularly my duty to mention.--Duncan McNab, who was originally located on No. 13 in the 1st con., and Duncan Anderson, mentioned above as having sold 200 acres and was again located on another 100 acres in the 4th con., thought proper to exchange lots. The Chief, as is alleged, being offended with Duncan McNab, sued him with the intent of putting him off the lot. D.

McNab gained his suit and in order to get the better of him, the Chief upon some pretext or other got out a patent for the lot, brought on the suit again, and now having the Government patent to produce, gained it, thus utterly ruining a poor man with a young family. Anderson, however, remains in undisturbed possession of D.

McNab's lot.

To conclude, I beg to report that the McNab has drawn or procured the deeds of the greater part of the most valuable lots in the towns.h.i.+p; and also to record my opinion, that independent of the _wanton_ oppression and outrages of humanity which the settlers allege against him, McNab has conducted the affairs of the towns.h.i.+p in the worst possible manner for the interests of the settlers or the country. There is not a grist-mill at present in the towns.h.i.+p and many of the settlers have to travel fourteen, fifteen and sixteen miles to mill, through roads which in any part of the country as long settled as McNab would be deemed disgraceful. The system of rent and mortgage, added to an arbitrary bearing and persecuting spirit, seems to have checked all enterprise, and paralyzed the industry of the settlers. In fine, had the McNab studied it he could not have followed a course more calculated to produce discontent and disaffection amongst a people. The devotion of Scotch Highlanders to the Chief is too well known to permit it to be believed that an alienation such as has taken place between McNab and his people, could have happened unless their feelings were most grossly outraged.

All of which I have the honor to submit to Your Excellency's consideration.

(Signed) FRANCIS ALLAN, _Agent Bathurst District_.

We publish the reply of the Chief to Mr. Allan's remarks. It is antic.i.p.ating the history for two years, but necessity requires us to insert it, so that the occurrences which follow may be believed.

M'NAB'S REPLY.

Remarks by the Laird of McNab upon the report of Francis Allan, Esq., on the Towns.h.i.+p of McNab:

Broken lot No 12, concession 1, Thos. McLachlan:--This agreement is cancelled, and these lots open.

Lot 15, con. 1, Donald Fisher:--This lot was originally granted and deeded for a carpenter establishment, for encouragement of settling the towns.h.i.+p.

Lot 16, con. 1, John Wallace:--McNab has received no duty of timber as yet.

Lot 18, con. 1, A. D. McNab:--McNab reserved the timber upon this lot.

Lot 26, con. 1, Andrew Hamilton:--False statement: paid all the expenses of pa.s.sage from Montreal.

Lot 18, con. 2, Dugald Stewart:--False statement: reserved the duties.

Lot 19, con. 2, A. C. McFadden:--False statement: the son has fled, accused of rape.

Lot 25, con. 2, James Morris:--This is one of those who would not grant a mortgage upon his lot: conform to location ticket after the patent was taken out for him.

Lot 5, con. 3, Duncan Robertson:--This agreement cancelled, as mentioned above.

Lots 6 and 7, Smith Luth and Allan McNab respectively:--Originally granted to Gregor McNab and Allan McNab, with broken front of No. 6 of the 14th con., for erecting mills for the benefit of the towns.h.i.+p. Gregor McNab went home to Scotland to realize funds, where he died; and these broken fronts were deeded to Allan McNab.

The saw mill has been in operation some time, and the grist-mill will be completed next year; McNab got no value for them.

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