Part 48 (1/2)
In the _Gazette_ of Sept. 11, 1796, a proclamation from Peter Russell announces that ”His most gracious Majesty has been pleased to grant his royal leave of absence to his Excellency Major General Simcoe,” and that consequently the government _pro tem_. had devolved upon himself.
In the November following, Mr. Russell, now ent.i.tled President, comes over from Niagara in the _Mohawk_. The _Gazette_ of Nov. 4, 1796 (still published at Niagara), announces: ”Yesterday (Nov. 3), his Honour the President of the Province and family sailed in the _Mohawk_ for York. On his departure he was saluted with a discharge of cannon at Fort George, which was answered by three cheers from on board.” (Fort George, afterwards famous in Canadian annals, and whose extensive remains are still conspicuous, had now been constructed, on the west side of the river, close by Newark or Niagara, as a kind of counterpoise to the French Fort on the east side of the river, immediately opposite, which had just been surrendered to the United States.)
It is briefly noted in the _Gazette_ of the 26th of January in the following year (1797), that the President's new house at York had been destroyed by fire. This may account for his being at Niagara in May (1797), and sailing over again in the _Mohawk_ to York, apparently to open Parliament. The _Gazette_ of the 31st of May, 1797, says: ”On Sat.u.r.day last, sailed in the _Mohawk_ for York, his Honour the Administrator, and several members of the Parliament of the Province.”
(The _Mohawk_ had come up from Kingston on the 27th of April. On the 28th of that month a vessel had arrived at Niagara, bearing the name of the late Governor. The _Gazette_ of May 3, 1797, thus speaks: ”On Sunday last, arrived from Kingston his Majesty's armed vessel the _Mohawk_; and on Monday last, the _Governor Simcoe_, being their first voyage.”)
The _Gazette_ of the 31st, in addition to the departure of the _Mohawk_ for York, as above, gives us also the following piece of information whence we learn that in the trade of the Lake, a compet.i.tion from the United States side was about to begin:--”On the same day (the day when the _Mohawk_ sailed for York), arrived here (Niagara) a Deck-boat, built and owned by Col. John Van Rensselaer, of Lansingburg, on the North River. This enterprising gentleman,” the _Gazette_ says, ”built and completed this and one other of the same bigness (fifty barrels burden), and conveyed them by high waters to Oswego, and arrived there without injury this spring. They are to ply continually between Oswego and this place and Kingston.”
On July the 3rd, 1797, the return of President Russell to Niagara in the _Mohawk_ is announced. (The exact situation of Mr. Russell's house at Niagara may be deduced from a memorandum in the papers of Augustus Jones, the surveyor, dated Aug., 1796. It runs as follows:--”S. 61 W., 34 chains, 34 links from the north-west corner of the Block-house above Navy Hall to the S. E. angle of the Hon. P. Russell's house: at 24 chains, a fence.”)
During the stormy season at the close of the year 1797, a momentary apprehension was felt at Niagara for the safety of the _Mohawk_. In a _Gazette_ of December in this year we read: ”West Niagara, Dec. 2. Fears for the fate of the _Mohawk_ are entertained. It is said minute guns were distinctly heard through most of Thursday before last; but we hope she has suffered no further than being driven back to Kingston. The _Onondaga_,” it is added, ”which was aground in Hungry Bay at our last intelligence, was in a fair way of being gotten off.” In the next _Gazette_, the number for Dec. 9, it is announced that ”since our last, arrived here the _Simcoe_, from Kingston, by which we learn that the _Mohawk_ had returned there, after having her bowsprit and a considerable part of her sails carried away in the storm.” It is also stated of the _Onondaga_, that ”she had gained that Port without material injury sustained in Hungry Bay.”
In the _Gazette_ of May 19, in the following year, 1798, the _Simcoe_ again appears. At the same time the name of the commander of the vessel is given. ”West Niagara: By the arrival of the schooner _Simcoe_, Capt.
Murney, from Kingston, we are informed that upwards of a hundred houses in the Lower Province have been carried away by the ice this spring.”
The Capt. Murney here mentioned, as being in command of the _Simcoe_, was the father of the Hon. Edward Murney, of Belleville. He built and owned in 1801 another vessel named the _Prince Edward_, capable of carrying 700 barrels of flour in her hold. We are told of this vessel, that she was built wholly of red cedar.
In the _Gazette_ of May 26, 1798, we hear of a ”good sloop” constructed of black walnut. She is about to be sold. ”To be sold,” the _Gazette_ says, ”on the stocks at the Bay of Long Point (near Kingston), at any time before the 28th of June next, a good sloop ready for launching, in good order, and warranted sound and masterly built. She is formed of the best black walnut timber, 38 tons burden, and calculated for carrying timber.” We are told further in respect to this sloop, that ”she will be sold by consent of Mr. Troyer, and a good t.i.tle with a warranty given on the sale. The conditions are for cash only; one-half down, and the other in three months, with approved security for payment. Wm. Dealy.” J.
Troyer adds: ”I approve of the above.” Again, it is subjoined: ”All persons having demands on said Dealy are requested to exhibit them before the 28th of June, that the same may be paid one month thereafter.
May 24, 1798.”
On Monday, the 14th of October, in the year just named, a Mr. Cornwall was drowned by falling out of a boat into the Lake, near the Garrison at York. In the _Gazette_ of the 27th it is noted that ”on Monday last the body of Mr. Cornwall, who was unfortunately drowned the 14th instant, by falling out of a boat into the Lake, near the Garrison, was taken up at the Etobic.o.ke. The coroner's inquest sat on the body,” it is added, ”and brought in a verdict 'accidental death.'” (In this _Gazette_ Etobic.o.ke is curiously printed Toby Cove.)
Boisterous weather gave rise to the usual disasters and inconveniences in the autumn of 1798. ”During the heavy gales of wind,” says the _Gazette_ of Nov. 24, ”which we have had, a vessel loaded with sundry goods was drove on sh.o.r.e at the Mississaga point at Newark (Niagara), and another vessel belonging to this town (York) was drove on a place called the Ducks, where she received considerable damage.”
In August, 1799, Governor Hunter, lately appointed, arrived in York Harbour in the _Speedy_. The Niagara _Constellation_ of Aug. 23, 1799, gives us the information. It says: ”His Excellency, Governor Hunter, arrived at York on Friday morning last in the _Speedy_. On landing,” we are told, ”he was received by a party of the Queen's Rangers; and at one o'clock p.m. was waited on at his Honour's the President's, by the military officers, and congratulated on his safe arrival and appointment to the government of the Province.”
On the 5th of September he has gone over to Niagara. The _Constellation_ of the 6th thus notices his arrival there: ”Yesterday morning, arrived here from York his Excellency Governor Hunter. He was saluted by a discharge of twenty-one guns from Fort George. His early arrival in the morning prevented so great an attendance of inhabitants to demonstrate their joy, as was wished by them.” He probably crossed the Lake in the _Speedy_.
The departure of Governor Hunter from Niagara is noted in the _Constellation_ of the following week. ”On Sat.u.r.day last,” the _Constellation_ of Sept. 13 says, ”His Excellency sailed for Kingston and the Lower Province (probably again in the _Speedy_). On embarking,”
we are informed as usual, ”he was saluted from the Garrison;” and it is also added that on pa.s.sing Fort Niagara ”he was saluted by the American flag, which had been hoisted for the purpose.” On which act of courtesy the _Constellation_ remarks that ”merit is respected by all countries.”
It is then added: ”We learn that his Excellency has committed the administration of the Government, during his absence, to a committee composed of the Honourable Peter Russell, J. Elmsley and aeneas Shaw, Esquires; and the Hon. J. McGill, Esq., in the absence of either of them.”
Under date of York, Sat.u.r.day, Sept. 14th, 1799, we have mention made in the _Gazette_ of a new vessel. ”The _Toronto Yacht_, Capt. Baker,” the _Gazette_ announces, ”will in the course of a few days be ready to make her first trip. She is,” the _Gazette_ says, ”one of the handsomest vessels of her size that ever swam upon the Ontario; and if we are permitted to judge from her appearance, and to do her justice, we must say she bids fair to be one of the swiftest sailing vessels. She is admirably calculated for the reception of pa.s.sengers, and can with propriety boast of the most experienced officers and men. Her master-builder,” it is subjoined, ”was a Mr. Dennis, an American, on whom she reflects great honour.” This was Mr. Joseph Dennis; and the place where the vessel was built was a little way up the Humber. (The name Dennis is carelessly given in the _Gazette_ as Dennison.)
The effects of rough weather on the Lake at the close of 1799, as detailed by the Niagara _Constellation_ of the 7th of December, will not be out of place. ”On Thursday last,” the _Constellation_ says, ”a boat arrived here from Schenectady, which place she left on the 22nd ult.
She pa.s.sed the _York_ sticking on a rock off the Devil's Nose: no prospect of getting her off. A small deck-boat also, she reports, lately sprung a leak twelve miles distant from Oswego. The people on board, many of whom were pa.s.sengers, were taken off by a vessel pa.s.sing, when she instantly sank: cargo is all lost.” The narrative then proceeds to say: ”A vessel supposed to be the _Genesee_ schooner, has been two days endeavouring to come in. It is a singular misfortune,” the _Constellation_ says, ”that this vessel, which sailed more than a month ago from Oswego, laden for this place, has been several times in sight, and driven back by heavy gales.”
In the same number of the _Constellation_ (Dec. 7th, 1799), we have ”the well-known schooner _Peggy_” spoken of. A moiety of her is offered for sale. Richard Beasley of Barton, executor, and Margaret Berry of York, executrix, to the estate of Thomas Berry, merchant, late of York, deceased, advertise for sale: ”One moiety of the well-known schooner _Peggy_: any recommendation of her sailing or accommodation,” they say, ”will be unnecessary: with these particulars the public are well acquainted, and the purchaser will, no doubt, satisfy himself with personal inspection. For terms of sale apply to the executor and executrix.”
In the _Constellation_ of the following week is the mysterious paragraph: ”If Jonathan A. Pell will return and pay Captain Selleck for the freight of the salt which he took from on board the _d.u.c.h.ess of York_ without leave, it will be thankfully received and no questions asked.”
The disastrous effects of the gales are referred to again in the _Gazette_ of Dec. 21st, 1799. ”We hear from very good authority,” the _Gazette_ says, ”that the schooner _York_, Captain Murray, has foundered, and is cast upon the American sh.o.r.e about fifty miles from Niagara, where the captain and men are encamped. Mr. Forsyth, one of the pa.s.sengers, hired a boat to carry them to Kingston. Fears are entertained for the fate of the _Terrahoga_.” (A government vessel so named.)
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