Historical documents
After Battle of Fallen Timbers, Lord Dorchester reports "Western Tribes positively demanded Assistance from the British and from the Six Nations"[2]
After visiting Upper Canada in 1795, Duke de la Rochefoucauld explains Governor General Lord Dorchester's powers and their limitations[3]
Dorchester lays out moves he had to make to keep U.S. Gen. Anthony Wayne from starting war at Detroit, given British diplomatic policy and U.S. politics[4]
Indian Department official strongly recommends that Indigenous leaders not be given liquor when land deals and other business is to be done[5]
Jay Treaty gives such advantage to British traders "that American traders will not be able to maintain a competition with them"[6]
After crossing from British to U.S. lines and going to Cincinnati, William Kenny sends apology to former enslaver Alexander McKee for leaving him[7]
Lower Canada
"The general failure of the crops this year" has induced Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester to prohibit their export until December[8]
Agricultural Society offers $40 (or gold medal or silver cup) for "largest quantity of merchantable Fall or Winter Wheat" grown on 1 arpent for 1797[9]
Ships from places of "plague, pestilence or disease" must quarantine; guns may be used to compel, and captains hiding disease commit capital crime[10]
Dorchester should work out with "Law Officers" and Protestant bishop how to make Church lands and Crown land productive and lucrative[11]
Montreal notary offers cash for Lower and Upper Canada land certificates belonging to those "inclined to dispose of the same"[12]
Teenage apprentice in Gazette printing shop dies of head wound from musket ball fired through window; coroner's verdict: willful murder[13]
Apprentice "about fourteen years old, middling stout of his age, with a remarkable flat nose" is missing, but "will be well treated" if he returns[14]
Baby lies next to hole in Lake Champlain ice where sleigh fell through; mother probably threw her to safety; good start to "a heroine's life in a novel"[15]
In addition to schooling for young men and public, "Messieurs Tanswell and Son" offer young women education they cannot receive in schools[16]
Montreal pastry chef offers "sweetmeats, conserves, blancmanges, gellies, and pyes hot or cold for journies, en gras et en maigre"[17]
Upper Canada
Establishing British Constitution in U.C. offers "best method gradually[...]to disarm the spirit of democratic subversion" where it arose[18]
Thinking it conflicts with his authority, Lt. Gov. Simcoe wants reform of Indian Department, which he finds ignorant and indolent and people distrust[19]
Persons (including those born British subjects) from other countries must have lived in U.C. 7 years to be electable to legislature[20]
Settlers approved by Governor in Council may receive 200–1,200 acres of land, of which 2% must be cleared in first 3 years and 5% in next 4 years[21]
Simcoe links (pg. 349) education to "Children of the principal People[...]to qualify them for[...]leading functions in the Church and State"[22]
Simcoe wants "Protestant Episcopal University" in U.C. (or even in U.S.A.) to raise learned and united clergy favourable to Great Britain[23]
Simcoe wants pro-British newspapers "to counteract the baneful effects of the News Papers of the United States disseminated with great Industry"[24]
Temporary agreement requires U.C. not to tax goods coming from Lower Canada, but L.C. may tax goods from U.C., returning ⅛ of net to U.C.[25]
Early problems with bringing Pennsylvania Moravian Germans ("a moral, frugal, industrious, exemplary sect") to Upper Canada[26]
Simcoe told that Jay Treaty "will [concentrate] your future measures and [reduce] them to the internal Regulation and security of Upper Canada"[27]
After visiting U.C. in 1795, Duke de la Rochefoucauld alleges Simcoe's ambitions, plans and "maxims of government" at length[28]
Joseph Brant says disposing of some Indigenous land on Grand River is needed "to relieve the distressed Indians[...]not able to help themselves"[29]
Chabondasheam and three other Ojibwe chiefs agree to cede Penetanguishene region to British for £100 in goods[30]
Physician believes sickness in settlements comes from bad air emitted by rotting clearcut trees, and that they (including roots) should be burned[31]
Attempts to grow wild rice in England unsuccessful, so English visitor requests seeds (manoomin; Zizania palustris) from Upper Canada[32]
Joseph Banks reports find of "Indian earthen ware" at abandoned village near Lake Huron, and resembling pottery from Peru and Mexico[33]
Niagara woman's children escorted to New York City by her husband, travelling for one week through winter woods (accompanied by Joseph Brant)[34]
Painting: Niagara Falls[35]
Nova Scotia
Lt. Gov. Wentworth says prosperity is increasing, provincial revenue will probably not need further duties and public debt will be extinguished[36]
Agriculture Society offers prizes totalling £100 to farmers raising most or heaviest quantity of wheat, flax seed, turnips, oxen, sheep and bulls[37]
Prohibition on further export of "Wheat and other Grain, Flour, Peas, Beef, Pork, and other Provisions" for 5 months[38]
Inspector-General of Mines wants both "Country Gentlemen [and] the Poor-Man" to watch for coal, gold, silver, copper, lead and other minerals[39]
Squadron commander at Halifax offers "exemption from all punishment" to deserters who return to service and possible recovery of forfeited wages[40]
Being exempt from militia service, Quakers ages 21-50 must work 4 days each year on highways or pay 3 shilling per day fine[41]
Loyalist with 200 acres in Shelburne County wants marshy tract where he can harvest hay for cattle that will support sawmill he plans to build[42]
Petition submitted on behalf of group planning grist and sawmill, who as Protestants are wanted because district is more than ⅔ Roman Catholic[43]
After militia fail to come to their aid, local inhabitants fire on its crew to drive off French privateer and rescue two ships taken by it[44]
"This morning his Majesty sloop of War 'Lynx', Capt. Hall, with two Mast-Ships under convoy, arrived here from New-Brunswick"[45]
Man is lost going from Chester to Windsor despite warning of "extreme badness of the road" and "changeableness and extremity of the weather"[46]
Night school open to teach youth "Arithmetic, Vulger, Decimal and Logarithmic,[...]Trigonometry, plain and spherical" and many other subjects[47]
Dancing school opened in Halifax "where Young Ladies and Gentlemen may be taught Minutes [sic], Country Dances, Cotillions and Hornpipes"[48]
The Beaux' Stratagem comedy to be presented for one night only; box seats 5 shillings, pit 3s[49]
"Umberella; Whoever has got one, on which[...]Theft is written in large Characters, is requested to return it to the Owner at Prince Edward Coffee-House"[50]
New Brunswick
Letter to the editor reminds voters in House of Assembly election that "recent experience" shows men lacking "the shadow of capability" can win seats[51]
At polling place to elect new Legislative Assembly, James Glenie enlightens Sunbury freeholders on work of suddenly dissolved previous Assembly[52]
Address to Lt. Governor by Legislative Assembly notes that Saint John, St. Andrews and adjacent coast are not protected by guard ships on station[53]
Posing as French privateer, schooner Solide, "a piratical vessel fitted out of Charleston" South Carolina, is taken by British sloop-of-war Lynx[54]
Man says his wife "has, for this four years past, followed an excess of drinking, [and] left my Bed and Board, and her Family in great distress"[55]
Western interior
North West Company voyageurs are "equal to any thing" and "patient, emulous; indefatigable, and capable of performing seeming impossibilities"[56]
Unlike other Indigenous peoples, Cree receive praise from Roderick Mackenzie as "good hunters, hospitable and brave"[57]
John MacDonell gives "Grand Diable" keg of liquor and "a Chiefs Clothing" for sending so many to trade and "giving the Fort a good name"[58]
"The Brigade" finds many bison carcasses along Assiniboine River; "7360 Drown'd & mired along the River and in it; three to five files deep" on shore[59]
Hudson's Bay Company
Eleven York Factory men sent 100 miles with 5 months' provisions to fell trees and saw planks, as "the Carpenters are at a stand"[60]
York chief factor's nephew "dreadfully mutulated" when fireworks he has in shirt pockets ignite at Guy Fawkes Night bonfire[61]
Children at Moose Factory taught reading and writing mornings and evenings, and boys work at clearing snow, setting snares, assisting men, etc.[62]
Elsewhere
Moravian missionaries at Hopedale, Labrador "speak to the heathen, that [they] hearken [and] be translated[...]from the power of Satan to God"[63]
British officer reports Spanish evacuation of Nootka and turnover to British forces[64]
Chiefs of Seven Nations of Canada write to George Washington regarding return of their land in New York State[65]
St. John's Island (Prince Edward Island) legislature prohibits geese running loose in Charlottetown, and that such geese will go to public auction[66]
Dresses worn by Queen Charlotte, Princess of Wales, her bride's maids and various ladies are part of news coverage of Prince of Wales' wedding[67]
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