Part 24 (1/2)
Happening to have at hand a bill of Bennett's against the Government we give it here. The modern reader will be able to form from this specimen an idea of the extent of the Government requirements in 1805 in regard to printing and the cost thereof. We give also the various attestations appended to the account:--
York, Upper Canada, 24th June, 1805.
The Government of Upper Canada,
To John Bennett, Government Printer.
Jan. 11. 300 copies Still Licenses, sheet foolscap, pica type 0 16 6
March 30. Printing 20 copies of an Act for altering the time of issuing Licenses for keeping of a House of Public Entertainment, sheet demy, pica type 0 3 4
April 5. Inserting a Notice to persons taking out Shop, Still or Tavern Licenses, 6 weeks in the _Gazette_, equal to 4 advertis.e.m.e.nts 1 16 0
April 16. 1,000 copies of Proclamation, warning persons that possess and occupy Lands in this Province, without due t.i.tles having been obtained for such Lands, forthwith to quit and remove from the same, sheet demy, double pica type 4 18 4
April 22. 100 copies of an Act to afford relief to persons ent.i.tled to claim Land in this Province as heirs or devisees of the nominees of the Crown, one sheet demy, pica type 3 6 3
Printing Marginal notes to do 0 5 0
May 14. Printing 1,500 copies of the Acts of the First Session of the Fourth Parliament, three sheets demy, pica type 45 0 0
Marginal Notes to do., at 5s. per sheet 0 15 0
Folding, St.i.tching and Covering in Blue Paper, at 1d. 6 5 0 -------- Halifax currency 63 5 9
Amounting to sixty-three pounds five s.h.i.+llings and nine-pence Halifax currency. Errors excepted.
(Signed) John Bennett.
John Bennett, of the Town of York, in the Home District, maketh oath and saith, that the foregoing account amounting to sixty-three pounds five s.h.i.+llings and ninepence Halifax currency, is just and true in all its particulars to the best of his knowledge and belief.
(Signed) John Bennett.
Sworn before me at York, this 20th day of July, 1805.
(Signed) Wm. Dummer Powell, J.
Audited and approved in Council 6th August 1805.
(Signed) Peter Russell, _Presiding Councillor_.
(_Examined_) (Signed) John McGill, _Inspector Genl. P. P. Accts._ [A true copy.]
John McGill, Inspector Gen. P. P. Accts.
Bennett published ”The Upper Canada Almanac,” containing with the matter usually found in such productions the Civil and Military Lists and the Duties, Imperial and Provincial. This work was admirably printed in fine Elzevir type, and in aspect, as well as arrangement, was an exact copy of the almanacs of the day published in London.
A rival Calendar continued to be issued at Niagara ent.i.tled ”Tiffany's Upper Canada Almanac.” This was a roughly-printed little tract, and contained popular matter in addition to the official lists. It gave in a separate and very conspicuous column in each month ”the moon's place” on each day in respect to a distinct portion of the human body with prognostications accordingly. And in the ”Advertis.e.m.e.nt to the reader”
it was set forth, that ”in the calculation of the weather the most unwearied pains have been taken; and the calculator prays, for his honour's sake, that he may have not failed in the least point; but as all calculation may sometimes fail in small matters,” the writer continues, ”no wonder is it that in this, the most important, should be at times erroneous. And when this shall unfortunately have been the case with the Upper Canada Almanac, let careful observers throw over the error the excess of that charity of which their generous souls are composed, and the all-importance of the subject requires; let them remember that the task, in all the variety and changes of climates and seasons, is arduous beyond that of reforming a vicious world, and not less than that of making a middle-sized new one.”
In the number of the _Oracle_ for September 28th, 1805, which is in mourning, we have the following notice of the character of Governor Hunter, who had deceased on the 23rd of the preceding August at Quebec:--”As an officer his character was high and unsullied; and at this present moment his death may be considered a great public loss. As Lieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, his loss will be severely felt; for by his unremitting attention and exertions he has, in the course of a very few years, brought that infant colony to an unparalleled state of prosperity.” An account is then given of the procession at the funeral.
The 49th and 6th Regiments were present; also Lieut.-Col. Brock, Commanding. At the grave one round was fired slowly and distinctly by eleven field pieces, followed by one round of small arms, by regiments; then a second round of artillery, followed in like manner by the small arms; and, lastly, a third round of artillery, and a third round of small arms. The mourners were, the Hon. Thomas Dunn, President of the Province (Lower Canada). Col. Bowes, Major Curry, Hon. Mr. Craigie, Col.
Green, Major Robe, Capt. Gomm and Mr. William Green.
In 1813, during the war with the United States, Cameron is the printer of the official paper, which now for a time a.s.sumed the t.i.tle of _The York Gazette_. Mr. John Cameron also published ”The Upper Canada Almanac,” from which we have already had occasion to quote, but it put in no claim to an official character. It did not contain the Civil Lists, but, as stated in the t.i.tle page, ”some Chinese sayings and Elegant Aphorisms.” It bore as a motto the following lines:--
”Ye who would mend these wicked times And morals of the age, Come buy a book half full of rhymes, At three-pence York per page.