Historical documents
Wilberforce on slave trade's effects in Africa and on Middle Passage with its 12.5% death rate, plus 4.5% rate from Caribbean seasoning[6]
Lord High Chancellor tells Secretary of State that colonies should get civil liberty without political liberty, which leads to independence[7]
Pre-industrial status of U.S.A. makes it dependent on British goods; such status will continue while so many seek agricultural work and wealth[8]
Letter-to-the-editor points out suffering of poor people when they can't afford price of flour in Montreal and upper Canada[9]
Bibliographer concludes state of literature and sale of books are very low in Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick[10]
Lower Canada
Profile of Quebec's constitution, population, laws, "circulating property," land tenure, agriculture, science, commerce and import/export[11]
Lengthy petition to Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester with scores of signatures calls for preservation of Quebec Act and Canadian laws[12]
Council suggests setting up free school in each parish (teaching "reading, writing, and cyphering"), county schools and "a collegiate institution"[13]
Provision made for four remaining Jesuits in Canada and transfer of Jesuit property to Canadian citizens (Note: "savages" used)[14]
Warning against "False Copper Coin;" supply entering province in tubs of butter with false bottoms; refuse any copper coin over 1 shilling[15]
"Mercatorius Honestus" lays out business rules under which "Trade will flourish[...], Bankruptcy [and] Confusion will cease, and honesty [return]"[16]
Government circulates plan for new agricultural society to raise grain quality and prevent "scarcity[...]this country unfortunately feels at present"[17]
New bridge over Saint-Charles River is 700 ft. long, has two lanes plus walkways, and will begin replacement of Canada's inconvenient ferries[18]
Bishop of Nova Scotia's sermon in Trois-Rivières attended by Protestants, Catholics and Jews; 100 loaves of bread distributed to poor[19]
For sale: "Pawney Boy," about 17, "an excellent servant to attend table;" 9 years with current owner, who "has now no further use for him"[20]
"For Sale, a Stout, Healthy Mulatto Girl, 26 years of age, or thereabouts"[21]
"Quebec plan" to transport Newgate convicts to Canada instead of Botany Bay follows unspecified "unhappy fate" of transported Irish[22]
Masons (in Quebec City?) to have 450 loaves of bread distributed, "considering the distressed situation of the poor in the present scarcity of flour"[23]
Quebec City dance to be held "once a fortnight during the Season;" gentlemen are asked to retire after 2 dances to allow newcomer men to dance[24]
Pianofortes for sale, plus strings and music (Haydn, Bach, Clementi and others) for that instrument and harpsichord, guitar and violin; lessons too[25]
Upper Canada
Secretary of State tells Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester that expenditures of Indian Department are too high and "abuses" by staff need investigation[26]
Dorchester seeks "comfort of the Indians" in ending disputes among Six Nations leaders and evicting whites at Grand River[27]
Council committee has ways to regularize shipping on Great Lakes "to establish the Empire of the British Flag upon the Fresh water Oceans"[28]
Nova Scotia
Provincial agriculture society to be set up especially to support knowledge of land improvement, cultivation, seeds, orchards and cattle[29]
Students in both Latin and English divisions do well in examinations at King's Collegiate School (referred to as "academy" and "seminary")[30]
King's College of Nova Scotia to be founded and maintained by province with annual subsidy plus fund to purchase house or grounds in Windsor[31]
"Wants a place, a Negro Woman, who can cook and do all kinds of Household Work, and be well recommended for Honesty and Sobriety"[32]
Halifax man seeks missing Black apprentice Hannah Thompson, who "chews Tobacco like a Man" and has legs "very much scalded" years ago[33]
Falmouth man seeks "Negro Woman Slave, named Philis, but calls herself Betty," age 37, and Irish servant John McNeal; reward of $8 for each[34]
Overseers of the Poor call for contractors to supply Halifax Poor House with 50 cords of wood and "Fresh Beef, soft Bread, and single Spruce Beer"[35]
Churchwardens thank "the Managers of the Navy and Army Theatre" for £20 donated for "the distressed and indigent at this inclement Season"[36]
Digby minister: "[T]he greater part of people seem to consider attendance on divine worship[...]as left intirely to their own choice and humour"[37]
Halifax druggist has "a General fresh assortment of Medicines [including] Camphire and Saffron; Sago Powder [and] Essence of Peppermint"[38]
New Brunswick
Courts may, instead of burning convicted felon "in the brawn of the left thumb," impose fine or whipping, plus imprisonment[39]
U.S. cornmeal is being imported because their wheat gets subsidy in France; N.B. mills at standstill though they lower price of meal about one third[40]
Praise for production of two comedies "by a company of Gentlemen[...]with great life and humour" in province's "first dramatic exhibition"[41]
Winter amusement in Fredericton includes sleighing, dancing, rope dancers and man "dancing on a wire"[42]
Prince Edward Island
Proprietors seek exemption from British law to allow them to bring settlers from U.S.A. to make Island "of that Importance of which it is capable"[43]
Bishop of Nova Scotia surprised Charlottetown vestry has not built church; they "lament" not attending to "regular exercise of religious duties"[44]
Pacific Coast
Suggestion (following Pacific coast exploration summary) that Hudson's Bay Company fur be shipped to Asia by East India Co. (Note: "savages" used)[45]
John Meares relates capture of his trading company's crew and ship by Spanish navy in Nootka Sound[46]
French Revolution
In Paris, "the murmurings and discontents of the people increase daily [and] divisions [grow] more alarming and violent"[47]
Towns tell deputies sent to Estates-General in Paris to propose various principles, "and it appears[...]English Constitution is taken as a basis"[48]
"Here [in Paris] it is astonishing to see the fermentation which reigns among the minds of people of all ranks, professions, and denominations"[49]
"In the national assembly, the debates continue to be carried on with increasing violence, and bid defiance to monarchy"[50]
"A National Revolution" - Bastille taken, its governor executed, Queen in flight, King detained, British ambassador threatened, etc.[51]
Drafting declaration of rights presented to National Assembly was difficult, given how "vicious" previous French government was[52]
"Wonderful" revolution is talk of Europe and influencing affairs in neighbouring countries; Britain "is minding her own business"[53]
Edmund Burke hears "there are considerable emigrations from France," even to "the frozen regions, and under the British despotism, of Canada"[54]
Elsewhere
Notice: 2,500+ "chaldrons" of coal for sale at Spanish River, Cape Breton, with payment taken in flour, bread, pork, rum, molasses, sugar etc.[55]
Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly rights are "silent usurpations [that bring] discredit upon an enlightened age and nation"[56]
Description of waterways between Lake Superior and Great Slave Lake also assumes latter connects with Pacific by mistaken "Cook's River"[57]
Travelling down Dehcho (later Mackenzie River), Alexander Mackenzie befriends Dene (Slavey and Dogrib) who at first are terrified[58]
U.S. House hears duty on molasses will harm New England fishers, fishery and shipbuilding, and that some may move to Nova Scotia[59]
"Gentleman [reports] that last month, at New-York, General Washington was proclaimed and crowned George I, King of America"[60]
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