The history of Canada : from its first discovery to the present time

Contents

INTKODTTCTION.

Page,

Social condition of the Canadian Aborigines : . n

CHAPTER I. Discovery of America by Columbus 1

Cabot visits the Gulf of St. Lawrence 2

Cartier proceeds to Canada : . 3

Visits Hochelaga 5

Cartier makes another voyage to Canada. . . . 7

Expedition of Roberval to the St. Lawrence 8

De la Roche proceeds to Canada 9

Champlain's first expedition to the St. Lawrence : . .10

Forms a settlement at Quebec : 11

Assists the Canadian Indians against the Iroquois : . . .13

Ascends the Ottawa River : 16

Accompanies an Algonquin war party to Detroit. . . .18

Illiberal policy of the Duke de Ventadour 21

Cardinal Richelieu's Canadian policy — Formation of the company

of " One Hundred Associates." 24

War between England and France — Capture of Quebec by Kirk. 25 Death and character of Champlain. 26

CHAPTER II. Governor De Montmagny arrives in Canada, 1637 — Island of

Montreal settled. . , 28

First peace with the Iroquois. 29

M. de Aillebout appointed Governor, 1647 30

Conversion of the Indians to Christianity. .... 31

CONTENTS.

Incursions of the Iroquois — Massacre of Sillery and St. Louis —

Flight of the Huron Indians. ......

De Lauson appointed Governor, 1651 — Iroquois make fierce

inroads into Canada and attack the Eriez or Cat Tribe. Jesuits establish themselves among the Onondaga Iroquois. Iroquois make a descent on the Isle of Orleans — Their haughty

tone to De Lauson.

Total destruction of the Eriez by the Iroquois.

Governor De Argenson arrives at Quebec, 1658- -Fresh irruption

of the Iroquois. .

De Avaugour appointed Governor, 1660 — Deplorable condition

of the colony. ... , Earthquake in Canada, 5th Feb., 1663

Chapter III

De Mezy appointed Governor, 1663 — The Crown assumes control of the colony

De Mezy quarrels with the Jesuits and is recalled.

Governor De Courcelles arrives in Canada, 1664 — Leads an expedition against the Mohawks. . ...

The Mohawk villages destroyed by the French.

The French West India Company receives Canada. .

Smallpox appears among the Indians. . .

Count de Frontenac appointed Governor, 1672.

Discovery of the Mississippi. ......

Expedition of La Salle :

He is murdered by his followers. . - . . - . . . 55

Chapter IV

De Frontenac recalled and De la Barre appointed as his successor, 1682.

The Iroquois again commence hostilities : ....

De la Barre makes a disgraceful peace with them, and is superseded in the government by De Denonville.

Number of Iroquois' warriors. ......

Governor Dongan of New York interferes between the Iroquois and the French.

French retaliate by capturing the British posts on Hudson's Bay.

Invasion of the Seneca country by the French.

De Denonville makes a humiliating peace with the Iroquois.

Jroquois lay waste the Island of Montreal — De Frontenac again appointed Governor, 1689.

French and Indians destroy Schenectady and massacre the inhabitants. ,*

Massacre of Salmon Falls

The British colonies determine to invade Canada.

Winthrop retreats from Lake Champlain. . . » .

Admiral Phipps is defeated at Quebec, and retreats down the St.

Lawrence with his fleet. • . . . . . . .74

Iroquois renew# their incursions. 76

De Frontenac marches against the Iroquois, and attacks the Onon-

dagas and the Oneidas. 79

Death of De Frontenac — His character. . „ .80

Chapter V

Chevalier de Callieres appointed. Governor, 1699. . . .81

Peace established with the Iroquois 82

Settlement of Detroit — Death of De Callieres. ... 83

The Marquis de Vaudreuil becomes Governor, 1703. . . 84

Massacre of Haverhill. ........ 85

Queen Anne determines on the conquest of Canada. . . 86

Capture of Port Royal in Nova Scotia 87

Admiral Walker and General Hill leave England to capture

Quebec - . . .88

A part of the English fleet lost in the St Lawrence : the remainder returns to England, 89

Treaty of Utrecht — Newfoundland and Nova Scotia ceded to

Great Britain. , 90

Charlevoix comes to Canada — His account of the country. . 92 Death of Governor De Vaudreuil — De Beauharnois appointed

Social condition of Canada. ....... 95

Capture of Louisburg by the militia of Massachusetts led by

William Pepperelh . .. . . . . . . 99.

Chapter VI

Count de la Galissoiiiere becomes Governor — His public measures, 1774." ' . . . . .

De la Jonquiere assumes the Government of Canada.

The French encroachments in Nova Scotia. .

Abuses in the Government

The Marquis du Quesne appointed Governor — He prepares for war with Great Britain, 1752

Virginia claims the valley of the Ohio : is resistsd by the French,

Washington proceeds to the Ohio valley to prevent French occupation of it. , . , . . ...

He constructs Fort Necessity, where he is besieged by Contrecour and compelled to surrender. ......

Measures of the British Government. /.

Marquis de Vaudreuil appointed Governor, 1755.

Degraded condition of the Habitants

Bradclock marches to attack Fort du Quesne : is attacked by the French and defeated. . . - . . ..

The British drive the French from the Acadian Isthmus, .

101 103 104 106

107 108

111 112 113 114

115 117

Dieskau attacks Sir William Johnson at Lake George and is

defeated 119

French and Indians harass the frontier settlements of Pensyl-

vania 121

CHAPTER VII. France and England declare war against each other — Condition

Arrival in Canada of Montcalm — He prepares for war. . .124 De Villier attacks Bradstreet near Oswego and is defeated. . 125 Montcalm besieges and takes Oswego. ..... 126

Lord Loudon prepares to besiege Louisburg. . * . 128 Montcalm invests Fort William Henry. . . * . 129

Colonel Munroe surrenders . .130

Massacre of the British garrison by the Indians. . . . 131

Pitt appoints new general officers, . . . . . . 132

Amherst proceeds to capture Louisburg — Wolfe effects a landing with his brigade. . . , . . , .133 Capture of Louisburg. . . . . . . .134

Abercromby moves against Ticonderoga. .... 135

Defeat of the British by Montcalm : their retreat. . .138 Bradstreet besieges and captures Fort Frontenac. . . . 139

Forbes marches against Fort du Quesne : and captures it. . 140 Amherst appointed commander-in-chief in America by Pitt. . 142

CHAPTER VIII. Plan of the campaign for 1759 143

Deplorable condition of Canada— Its population. . . . 144 General Prideaux advances against Niagara. He is killed3 and

Sir William Johnson assumes the command. . . . . 148 The French under De Aubrey attempt to raise the siege and are

defeated. . 149

Amherst moves down Lake Champlain. . . . , .151

Pouchot surrenders Fort Niagara. . . . . .150

The French abandon Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and retreat to

Amherst places his army in Winter quarters. . . .154

Wolfe arrives before Quebec : . . . . . .155

Establishes his head-quarters at the Montmorency. . . . 157

Endeavors to force Montcalm's lines below the town : is repulsed. 100

The British ascend to the Plains of Abraham 105

Montcalm begins the battle. . . . . . . .160

The French are defeated 168

Death of Wolfe. . • .169

Death of Montcalm. . . . . . . . .170

Surrender of Quebec, 1759. ....... 171

Great rejoicing in the British colonies. . . . \ . 171

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX. Condition of the French in Canada 174

De Levi moves from Montreal to besiege Quebec. . . . 175

The British, under Murray, are defeated. .... 176 De Levi commences the siege : the arrival of reinforcements to

the British compel his retreat. 177

Amherst captures the French fort at Ogdensburg. . . . 179 Capitulation of Montreal, and surrender of Canada to Great

Britain 180

The British nation are divided with regard to retaining Canada. 182 Death of George II. — George III. desires peace. . . .183

Vast territory ceded to Great Britain 185

Chapter X

General Murray becomes Governor of Canada, 1763. . .186 Government of Canada settled by proclamation : introduction of

English laws : colonial [abuses 187

Sir Guy Carleton appointed Governor, 1768 — Great fire in

Montreal 190

The British inhabitants desire a House of Assembly. . .192

Passage of the Quebec Bill 193

Commencement of the American War of Independence. . .196 The Habitants refuse to serve as militia — The Americans advance

towards Montreal 197

Montgomery captures Fort St. John. . . . . . 198

Marches on Montreal : General Carleton retreats to Quebec. . 199 Montgomery besieges Quebec : his death. .... 200

Succor arrives and the Americans retreat : 202 They are driven out of Canada 204

CHAPTER XL

General Haldimand becomes Governor : his administration is

unpopular, 1778. 206

Settlement of Upper Canada. (1784.) 208

Mr. Hamilton becomes Governor, 1785. .... 209 Lord Dorchester again appointed Governor, 1786. . . .210 Canada at length gets a constitution and is divided into two provinces. ... . ... . . . .211

Condition of the country. 213

General Prescott appointed Governor, 1796. , 214

Slavery abolished in Canada. (1803.) . . ^ . . . 216

Sir James H. Craig assumes the government, 180S. . . 218

The Canadien newspaper is suppressed and persons imprisoned. 221

Disagreement between the Executive and the Assembly, . 222

Death of Governor Craig : his character : deceived by others. . 223

CONTENTS.

Chapter XII

Upper Canada from 1791 to 1811 — Governor Simcoe's administration begins 224

First House of Assembly meets : its acts.! . . . . 225

Simcoe's policy : selects Toronto for his capital. . . . 227

Method taken to abolish slavery by the Assembly. . . . 229

Administration of Mr. Hunter, 1800. ..... 231

Social and political condition of the province 283

Construction of the Family Compact : political parties tn Upper

Canada in 1805 235

Administration ,of Mr. Gore. 1806 — He attaches himself to the

Family Compact — Second newspaper established. . . 237

Light taxation — Population, &c 239

General Brock assumes temporary charge of the government. . 240

CHAPTER XIII, Causes leading to the second American invasion of Canada. . 241

Sir George Prevost becomes Governor-in-chief. . . . 249

War declared by the United States : hostilities commence. * 250

Capture of Mackinaw . . 251

Hull is defeated and retires on Detroit . . . 252

Surrenders to General Brock. ' . 253

The Americans carry Queenston Heights 255

Death of General Brock 256

Defeat and surrender of Scott to Sheaffe 257

The Americans defeated : close of the campaign of 1812. . . 260

CHAPTER XIV. War measures of the Canadian Legislatures 262

Proctor defeats the Americans at Frenchtown. , . . 263

Ogdensburg captured by the British 265

Toronto is captured for the first time by the Americans. . . 266 Fort George captured by the Americans — Proctor defeats the

Americans in Ohio ' . . . 268

Expedition against Sackett's Harbor 270

The American camp at Stony Creek attacked. . . . 272 Operations on the Niagara Frontier : Boerstler's force is captured :

Black Rock captured 273

Operations of the fleets^on Lake Ontario. . . . 275

Plattsburg captured : events on Lake Cham plain. ; • . 276

British fleet captured on Lake Erie by Perry. . . . 278

Defeat of Proctor : death of Tecum sch 279

Americans defeated at Chrysler's Farm 281

Americans defeated at Chateaugay by Canadians. . . . 282

Americans burn the town of Niagara and retreat. . . . 284

Indignation of the Canadian people. 285

Americans defeated along the Niagara frontier : their towns

burned. . 286

Close of the campaign of 1813 287

CHAPTER XV. Measures of the Canadian Legislatures. ..... 290

The Americans are defeated at La Colle Mill. . . . 292

Naval operations on Lake Ontario : Oswego taken. . . . 293

England blockades the whole American seaboard. . . . 294

Battle of Chippewa : the British defeated, .... 296

Battle of Lundy's Lane : Americans defeated. . . . 299

The British under Drummond besiege Fort Erie. . . . 301

Abortive attempt of the Americans to re-capture Mackinaw. . 302

A large part of Maine captured by the British. . . . 303

Defeat of the British fleet on Lake Champlain. . . . 304

Termination of the War. . 305

Depressed condition of the United States 306

CHAPTER XVI. Lower Canada from 1815 to 1828 308

General Drummond's government. . . . . . 309

Sir John Sherbroke becomes Governor-in-chief, 1816. . . 310 Papineau is first chosen Speaker of the Assembly. . . .311

Government of the Duke of Richmond: his difficulties with the

Lord Dalhousie becomes Governor-in-chief, 1820. . . . 314 Differences between the Houses of the Legislature. . . .315

Project of the Union causes public dissatisfaction. . . . 317 Antagonism between the British and French inhabitants of Lower

False colonial policy of British ministers. .... 322

The French-Canadians petition the Crown 323

Prayer of petition sustained by British Commons. . . . 324

CHAPTER XVI!.

Upper Canada from 1815 to 1825. .

General condition of the province.

First agitation against the Clergy Reserves, 1817.

Robert Gourlay comes to Canada : his character.

Arbitrary conduct of the Executive,

Sir Peregrine Mai tl and becomes Lieutenant Governor

Robert Gourlay is tried for libel and acquitted.

He is driven out of the province.

Bishop Strachan enters political life.

Biographical sketch of Bishop Strachan :

CONTENTS.

His position as a clergyman and politician 338

Barnabas Bidwell elected for Lennox and Addington : his biography : is expelled the House. 340

Plan of the Welland Canal by William H. Merritt. . . 343

First agitation against Orange processions. . . . . 344

Wm. L. Mackenzie enters public life — First Reform Assembly. 345

Agitation on the Alien Bill. 347

Mackenzie's Printing Office wrecked 348

Presbyterians claim a share of the Clergy Reserves. . . 349

Singular proceedings on the Forsyth petition. . 350

Judge Willis is suspended by the Lieutenant Governor. . . 351

CPAPTER XVIII.

Upper Canada from 1829 to 1835 — Administration of Sir John Colborne commences, 1829 — Marshall S. Bidweli chosen Speaker of the Assembly. . . . . . ' .

First agitation for Responsible Government

Reconstruction of the Reform Party — The Family Compact displaced by the Conservative Party, 1826 to 1831.

Conservative Party have a majority in new Assembly.

Mackenzie is expelled the House

Cholera afflicts the province — Emigration, 1832.

Reformers obtain a majority at the elections — Bidwell again chosen Speaker.

Seventh Grievance Report published — Fifty-seven Rectories established. ..........

Sir John Colborne resigns — Sir Francis Head appointed as his successor. ; 364

CHAPTER XIX.

Lower Canada from 1828 to 1837. — Sir James Kempt becomes Governor- in-chief, 1828 — The financial disputes still continue

between the Assembly and the Executive 365

Lord Aylmer becomes Governor-in-chief, 1830. . . 367 Imperial Duties surrendered to the Assembly. . . . 368 Lord Stanley refuses an elective Legislative Council. . . 369 House of Commons committee report unfavorably to the demands of the Papineau Party 371

Disordered condition of the province 3*72

Lord Gosford becomes Governor-in-chief — He"opens Parliament with u conciliatory speech — Proceedings of the Gosford commission, 1835 373

The Papineau faction aim at total independence of Great Britain. 375

Assembly grants a Supply Bill for six months. . . . 376

State of public feeling — alarm. 378

Coercive measures of British Commons 377

353 355

357 359 360 361

House of Assembly refuse to transact business — Conduct of the Roman Catholic clergy 380

CHAPTER XX.

Causes leading to the Lower Canadian Rebellion. . . .381

Centralisation policy of English Parliament 382

Errors of British colonial policy '. 383

Condition of Lower Canada before the Conquest. . . . 384

Habitants unfit to exercise the franchise. .... 386

Results of the -difference of race 387

Non-progressive character of the Habitants. ...» 389

Union the true policy of united Canada. .... 391 If pursued our nationality must become aggressive. — Character of

Papineau 392

Military condition of the Canadas before the rebellion. . . 393

Affray with the Sons of Liberty in Montreal 394

Rebellion commences in Lower Canada — Attack on cavalry by

the Habitants 395

Battle of St. Denis — Gore defeated by Nelson — Murder of Lieu-

tenant Weir 397

Wetheral attacks St. Charles — Rebels defeated. . . . 398

Sir John Colborne attacks St. Eustache 400

Government of the Earl of Durham, 1838 402

Lord Durham banishes principal rebels to Bermuda — Is censured

by Imperial Parliament — Resigns. ..... 403

Government of Sir John Colborne. 1838 — The second rebellion

begins 404

The Insurgents are defeated at La Colle Mill. . . . 405

Nelson (Robert) defeated at Odelltown 406

The Glengary men move on Beauharnois — Rebellion ends in

Lower Canada 407

CHAPTER XXI.

Upper Canada from 1836 to 1838 — Sir Francis Head becomes

Lieutenant Governor : , 408

His own account of his governmental fitness : . . 409

Results of interview with Bidwell and Mackenzie : . . . 410

His singular administrative policy :..... 412

He dissolves Parliament — Reform Party defeated at General

Sir F. B. Head is directed to carry out responsible government

— he refuses 418

Commercial crisis in the United States and Canada. . . 419

Troops withdrawn from Upper Canada 421

Rebellion commences — Mackenzie threatens Toronto. , . 423

Mackenzie's narrative of attempt against Toronto. . . . 424

Sir F. B. Head's statement of attack on Gallows Hill. . . 431

The loyal militia march to save Toronto. . . . . 435

Van Rensselaer occupies Navy Island , 437

Destruction of the Steamer Caroline. . 438

The Patriots under Sutherland threaten Amherstburg . . 440

The Schooner Anne captured by militia. . 441

Patriots driven from Point Pelee Island 443.

Administration of Sir George Arthur begins. . . , 444

Burning and plunder of the Sir Robert Peel. .... 445

Affair with Patriot robbers at the Short Hills. . . . 446

Patriots under Von Schultz move against Prescott. . * . 447

Are defeated and captured . . 448

Patriots are defeated at Sandwich — Prince orders prisoners to be

End of rebellion in Upper Canada — Character of Mackenzie. . 450

CHAPTER XXII.

Military strength of the Canadas 453

Depressed financial condition of Upper Canada. . . . 455

Lord Sydenham becomes Governor General : .. , . . 456

His manly and straight-forward policy. ..... 458

The Special Council of Lower Canada consents to the Union. . 459

Lord Sydenham^ letter to Lord John Russell : ... 460

His speech opening Upper Canada Legislature : . . . 462

His difficulties — Message to the Legislature on the Union. . 464 The Legislative Council agrees to the Union — Resolutions of the

Assembly. . . . 468

The Assembly's address to the Queen. 469

Epitome of the Union Bill . . 472

CLIAPTER XXIII.

Government of Lord Sydenham continued — Settlement of the Clergy Reserves' question — Responsible Government established. . 475

Brock's monument shattered by gunpowder : great meeting

beside it 476

With Sir George Arthur ends the Lieutenant Governorship of

Upper Canada — The Legislature assembles at Kingston. . 477 Death of Lord Sydenham : his character,. .... 478

Sir Cliarles Bagot becomes Governor General: .. . 479

T3j6 forms his ministry from the Reform Party. . . . 480

Lord Metcalfe becomes Governor General : he leans to the Conservative Party : Reform ministry resign. .... 481

Lord Metcalfe forms a Conservative ministry-Great Fire at Quebec— Result of general election. . . . . . . 482

Governmentjof the Earl of Catheart — Proceedings with regard to Rebellion Losses in Lower Canada 483

Amount of claims made to commissioners — Lord Elgin becomes

Governor General 484

Reformers obtain a majority at general election. . . . 486 Baldwin and Lafontaine form a ministry — Rebellion Losses Bill

introduced into the Assembly. ...... 487

Great agitation regarding this Bill — Annexation to United Stales

advocated — Bill passes Legislature 488

Great riots in Montreal : destruction of the Parliament House :

flight of the members : . . . . 490

Mob attacks several dwellings 491

Lord Elgin is attacked : his carriage broken 492

Seat of government removed to Toronto. — Rebellion Losses Bill

sustained in England 493

Agitation subsides : condition of the country 494

CHAPTER XXIV.

Measures with regard to Reciprocity — Clergy Reserves' Agitation— Clear Grits. • 495

Construction of Railroads — Postal improvements — Mr. Baldwin resigns. . . . 496

Prosperous condition of the Canadas — Fete to Canadians at Boston— General election — Ministerial changes. . . . 497

Great Eire at Montreal — The Legislature assembles at Quebec — Reciprocity agitation 498

Period between 1852 and 1855 : all the great public questions settled — Author's remarks with regard to his literary difficulties. 499

Remarks on Canadian Literature , . 500

Extracts from articles ot capitulation of Montreal. . . . 502

The Canadian Constitution of 1791. . . » . . 503

E E E A T A.

On Page 3 of Preface, line 12 for this read these.

" 11 of Introduction, line 18, for part read point.

" 8 line 35, for fifteenth century read sixteenth.

" 19 line 12, from bottom, for being read been.

" 43 line 16, for last hour read last moments.

" 81 line 5, for was read were.

*{ 138 line 9, for were read was.

" 154 line 14, for letter read Letters of Junius .

" 330 line 6 from bottom, for adding read added.

" 384 line 13 from bottom, for Mirabeau read « Mirabeau.

" 392 line 22, for /orm read forum.

" 435 line 17, for hairbreath read hairbreadth, and line 23, for

exciting read inciting.

" 446 line 24, for routed read routed them.

" 456 in foot-note, for 1855 read 1839.

" 488 line 15, for proportion read portion.

In addition to the foregoing, there are a few ordinary typographical errors and tautologies, which any educated reader will be able to discern and correct. These in no way affect the general accuracy of the work.

r t f a c t

The present condition of Canada points to a future national greatness of no ordinary magnitude. Her inland seas and noble rivers, have already become the highways of a vast and rapidly increasing commerce. The silent forest of by-gone days has disappeared before the progress of civilization, and the matin voice of a mighty nation resounds over a scene as varied as it is beautiful. In the foreground, stand the populous cities and nourishing towns, which stud the margins of her rivers, and the shores of her lakes : in the perspective, repose the free and happy homes of her rural population. The farmer is the owner in fee-simple of the soil he tills, and rejoices in an independence of the most sturdy and complete character. In the various industrial professions, enterprize, economy, and prudence, rarely fail to secure a competence : in numberless instances they are the avenues to wealth. This country abounds with merchants, who by the exercise of these qualities, have been eminently successful : and every-day experience presents to our notice mechanics who, as the architects of their own fortunes, have won their way to positions alike well merited and honorable.

Preface

The present of Canada supplies a kaleidoscope, brit liant with promise, through which we may gaze at the future. The philanthropist discerns all the desiderata necessary to human happiness ; the patriot the true basis of national prosperity. There are, it is true, the difficulties arising from a diversity of race to be overcome ; but these may easily be removed by wise legislation. Past experience proves that identity of interests weakens the antagonism of races, as well as of individuals, and gradually wears out their mutual prejudices and dislikes. The commercial and agricultural interests of all the Canadian people are alike : in every district they stand upon the same social basis, and produce similar political results.

In these respects we occupy a much better position than our relatives of the United States ; the only people, if we except the other British American Colonies, whose social and political condition is closely assimilated to ours. With them, the interests of the South are arrayed in continual conflict against those of the North, while the West has separate and distinct interests of its own. With them, also, germs of sectional strife and disunion expand day after day into intensely antagonistic principles ; in Canada, on the contrary, the body politic presents an almost unruffled surface, and a total absence of injuriously opposing causes. With us the sun of fierce party antagonism, there is every reason to hope, has set forever ; in the United States it rapidly ascends towards the meridian of bitterness.

a A house divided against itself cannot stand," is a truism that applies with peculiar force to national dissensions. The slave interests of the Southern States, can have no sincere fellowship with Northern freedom. The breach grows wider and wider with the progress of intelligence and enquiry ; and each fresh assault, gives additional intensity to the hatred and distrust, with which they regard

PREFACE.

one another. The present century can hardly fail to witness a separation. In that case the Western States must be sufficiently old to take care of themselves ; and secure of a route to the Ocean by the Lakes and the St. Lawrence, will be wholly independent of the mercantile and manufacturing interests of the American seaboard. California has a distinct national mission of her own. Whenever a separation takes place, a result heralded by the very progress of the race itself, Canada cannot fail to occupy a prominent position in the great transatlantic family of Anglo-Saxon nations.

With events like this already looming on the distant horizon of the future, a continued connection with the mother country is our true line of policy. It involves no sacrifice of interests — no- compromise injurious to Cananadian welfare,, while it secures to us an independent national existence. Short sighted indeed must that policy be, which possibly to insure a mere temporary benefit, would involve this country in the Maelstrom of American dissension. Let us rather as a people watch sensibly and calmly the current of events; prepared when the time comes, to take that position as a nation, which the keeping of the portals of the Great West and our- other advantages,, entitle us to fill.

But, there is even a higher and holier motive to this course, than is presented by the abstract considerations of material prosperity. The interests of humanity — the preservation of our good name demand that Canada should continue to be a land of genuine freedom, and the w city of refuge" to the oppressed ' man of color, where he can fearlessly breathe the air of heaven., This po3ition may possibly entail upon us occasional inconveniencies ; but for these the moral strength, which must be the inevitable result of the vindication of a righteous principle, will be the most ample recompense.

PREFACE.

To infuse a spirit of Canadian nationality into the peo* pie generally — to mould the native born citizen, the Scotch, the English, and the Irish emigrant into a compact whole, a purely Canadian literature, aside from that supplied by the public press, however excellent, is a mostimportant element. A popular history of Canada, issued at a price which places it within the reach of every working man,* is a step in this direction. To this task have I devoted myself. If I do not accomplish all that may be looked for, I shall at least clear the way, and lighten the task of some more able writer in time to come ; and meanwhile effect a modicum of national good, in directing public attention, to a source of information and instruction too long neglected.

To enable us to judge accurately of the present — to regard Our national future with confidence, an acquaintance with the past is an absolute necessity. What can be more instructive to the lover of his country, than to watch "the small cloud like a man's hand" of Canadian existence, gradually expand itself along the St» Lawrence and the great lakes. How interesting is the .task of tracing the sorrows and the joys, the disappointments and the triumphs of that existence, as it is gradually developed down to the present time, in which it involves the destinies of two millions of human beings, and material interests of the most gigantic description.

To the great bulk of the Canadian people such a study has hitherto been almost an impossibility, from the simple fact, that what might properly be called a history of their country did not exist, I design to supply this hiatus vaHe deflendus in our literature ; and faithfully to depict the past as an aid to illuminate the present, and as an index to the future. In carrying out this (terofa, I AvA) not- re: tret isr^ff to a mcro detail

PREFACE,

of political occurrences. To illustrate the social progress of a people is an equal necessity in genuine history. The axe of the backwoodsman, and the ploughshare of the farmer, have hitherto been far more potent elements in Canadian civilization, than the wisdom of the legislator. The one was a cause, the other merely a con* sequence.

It is true, that many books have been published which supply detached portions of Canadian history ; that several excellent statistical works have been compiled from time to time ; that much valuable information, relative to this country may be gleaned from the miscellaneous writings of travellers and residents : but, it is also equally true, that these are not accessible to the gene* ral reader. I shall endeavor to arrange methodically whatever of value is to be gleaned from these sources, and to present the people of Canada with a useful and im* partial history of their country, from its discovery to the present time.

It need scarcely be said, that the compilation of a work of this kind entails a great amount of mental and physical labor ; that its publication involves a large pecuniary risk. I neither shrink from the one, nor desire to avoid the other, confident that a generous and enlightened public will sustain me in this enterprize, as it has in every other ; and, I trust, receive With favor the first complete history of this magnificent heritage of the Anglo-Canadian people*