LIFE OF 
 COL. TALBOT 
 



LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT, 
 
 AVD T3a 
 
 TALBOT SETTLEMENT, 
 
 ITS RISE AND PR0&EES5, WITH 
 
 SKETCHES OP THE PUBLIC CHARACTERS, 
 
 AND CAREER OF SOME OF THE 
 
 MOST CONSPICUOUS MEN 
 
 IN UPPER CANADA. 
 
 WHO TTERl EIiaEB FtHB^TDa OB AOQaA fNTAlfCeB 
 OF THE SUBJECT OF TITEaE UEUOlEiS. 
 
 BY EDWARD ERMATiNGER. 
 
 ST. TH0M4e : 
 
 ^rwitfd at A. MtLerkliii’t Homi J^mrnal 0§kte. 
 
J 
 
PKKt'ACE. 
 
 Ill wnlldg ihf Life of CySijnel Talbot I hare Lail otio 
 object ini iowp nftmeljc to trarii^rait to postci'ity, wbatovcr 
 pi‘aLficwo!'tb ;7 it] liis C4>r] duct ami cliafaclcr, fm- t^eir 
 taCiOTi ami exampicr The ftiultj? of Bi.icli: rrieis as Colonc*. 
 Talbot do aot Taty much from tboae of the bulk of maiikiiid, 
 Aad rgcjciire no bioi^Hipber. But wlien fivh., iitd ciot^^oodp 
 the ji.^'jveiinnj^ pl-iucip(t; of to fail's liv-esp tlien Elie picturo 
 fchoiLild be reversed. I hare yk etched instaiic« of botb^ 
 iritL impii'tial bami. 
 
 The Life of t!7olontl Talbot must proTs liighly in- 
 teresting to a laj-ge popul at ion, wlticli has gj'uwi] up under 
 his fto spices, and Trhose Insbirj is jdeaitirind ^itli his n^v ii^ 
 
 I n many respects, y u c! l fi life would attract atte i it. i c^m . fr tym 
 its unusual character. s>inflplT as a jsionctr of the f -I'CHit. 
 Addeil la this, Colonel Talbot's name ft" ns associated wttli 
 i5ome of those ooblc ebarnater^^ who bare contrlbLiLfil to 
 the fame and g)oiy rf Knglandi 
 
 The principal facts connected with Colonel T4Ln>i'jL's 
 earlj life, wore obtained tliroLig]! h frieinl. from birnsetf at 
 my requcHt, and aUliongh lae was veiy ill at tlie Wnh', ho 
 was parLioular, that uothing but tbo truth should ba 
 eomtuunicated. When tiio Colouol was to 
 
 Jiis death bed at Mj'f Iferji^’ iu London. J visited hinip and 
 he spoke in a very feeling mannei' of bi?^ pasf Career^ nantL 
 of his desire and endcarors to do riglit, l^eforc J Jeftj J 
 told hi mi 1 would emicavor to aJo ju^rtiC'ft to his ruemory 
 and tb ie in j ob fef reason for pubi i n g t lie se m e moi r*. ' 
 
 thilonel Tfilb^t's life in C! in ml a, does not prcpcjit lo 
 the biogiapbei any of those si^Liikiug jncideuls mid sUirUdig 
 OFGiits, which of tbenfiF^elve-'. [U'e ^-nffielent (o CornniaTid the 
 atteutioo of the wm id^ and excite uD^T^Tsal intei'cst. Wo 
 have nothing but his personal character and a repilition of 
 the fiamo kind of tran3:tctioTLsCo rLvell on; fioiTi’fthich, how- 
 ever, Tuoch iastiitction may bo dcrivccU But to make this 
 work more generally nSicd'ul and interesting, I have Incor- 
 porated tfac history of the Talh«.iL SotlTBrnCEit, and skclcheFi 
 of tho public cai'Mr and characters, af j^onig! of tije most 
 prominen t- m en of C ppcr Can ad ai f I'i en ds an d no q uain tan cr^ 
 of the Colonel, and otliei'F, whose positions expose fhcira to 
 public not ice L 
 
 Cf tbn two first Bishops of rlic Church of Englatul ami 
 
Fr.ariCJit^ 
 
 Irelaisj Jii rpiKi- Cftfwda. wloFS puiltcd ttaUoQS 
 
 ihaui ’^itb mnr.h pc?wc-r^ foi- prnjvfirlyB^^-er- 
 
 ri-ed.foj'HiTjl. wTien ccT)i 1 ha^e ftpr^keij (rulT.aiid 
 wFtli tso dc^ii-e ot -c^^t^Tbuat^ Shcir rinut^. 
 
 fsnily riTc tlie mribiberi uf Ibat CSiiireb affcetcd Uj tb^ cnii^ 
 di]ilt Df h(?T Bisbnp.^ , but imlnccTly it aflts on tbe whtjlo 
 cunimrinily. rti d ill lio i«irt of .Upper ianadfi. 
 uinr€. prejuditiiilly fflt. than TPiihLn tK^ iiiEiLs oC lli^ Titlbot 
 FirtMernGiiL But wb other reflect in oft the conduct of 
 JiLKboj^ap oi' otliC]' proruiinL'ut meisj wIiobg fiiinrieB have beth 
 introduced into [hi^ la'orkj I bjn’O in uo ili&htitce said all 
 chat could' be aaid, with troth and justiccp nor bare I 
 liAicaided tny own indifidTU-tl a-ssertioni^ or opiniijnR; but 1 
 baTG careful I V wtoghod evei'j express ion,, and all that I 
 hare wriften goes ftirLli witb tbu sauefion of luanr frienrjji* 
 whom J hare consulted from time lo tEnaer dni'ing tbe pro- 
 gresF? of this work. 
 
 With Inspect to the do? in" year?^ of Colonel Talijura 
 iife, wl>ic3i T,‘Eire ?o embittn^a by the MifTefOLicoB whiob. 
 grew np betw^’en him and tilii. nephew. Sir Richard Airey, 
 and tciTiiitiatial in ftuch an unfort OTiate diiStribu lion of the 
 Colon«^l'a eytale-K I bare related only as much as may convey 
 to ihe roadci an idcfi of tbo c-aiiFe^ of ihofo diflicnlties. But 
 having had Conversations separately with both LTjiele aud 
 If^phewj what I have ss-tated ia a fair and irnj5ai"tial xiew of 
 the whole matter. 
 
 I wo old further jcmarh^ that I hjLve been I'Circmdedd 
 whila WTiiii^ these luomoirB, when f^pc-ahing of person ^ 
 have departed tbiis life, wbot-e characters or caieer 1 
 bavo sketch tda to besr in mijid tbc old L^^tin pretverb, J}^ 
 morlttifi nii nm borntm, ■whicSi if? iutoi'preted, Letnolhin^ 
 be Fairl of tho dead, but bat is favyrahlo?^' — io 1 
 
 wo^ild add for in the same eollcctioti of proverbs there ii 
 anotlier cpiBc a?i consistent with Found mos'ality, JSonii 
 nocet.. g-fmqim pcp^rtrf^rilfna.^ is. *'■ lie injure:? i-be I'liod, who 
 fpaTu^ tho^ lifid-'"' To tbc bftcr dDCirine, I aubs.ci.'ibe, 
 w hot her Wilh lofereuce to the dencl or the tiviiig-; for ti> ro* 
 cord only l]ic virtues of lueii, would ceitalnly hiiake a Tf ry 
 perfect pie(n re. pleasing no doubt to fdouds aiid l.imily 
 ton n fictions; but at the i^ame time, i very false one; IoIaIIj 
 T alueJos^ to^pojLtc-nty; would faJsify aSi bistcny^ and blogra- 
 cinJy ?{ t csamplfea wbicb nebody could 
 
 J- T. TnoM^r, XciTTf:r:r,rn Ipt, 1859- S. F, 
 
COJS^TElSrTS- 
 
 C?HAPT£R I,— Colonel Talbot’s early life and Educa’ 
 ticin — Enters the^ Army-- Aide -cte-Camp with 
 Arthur Wel'csly in IrelanJ — Comeg to Canada, 
 ITSO — Becouies ijecretary to General Simcee, 
 l?fll — Returns to England, 1794, to join Lis 
 Regiment' — Rapid promotion.,.^ 
 
 Chapter II < — Colonel TcilbolVrctorn to Canada—. 
 Flemiijg's account of bit first visit to the Talbot 
 SelilemeTiC, with General Simcae — Settles at Port 
 Talbot 1603— Fort Talboi — Colonel Talbot’s dis- 
 gust witli the stale of Society in England T2'22. 
 
 Chapter IJL — Plan of Se tleinent — Terms of grants 
 of land from the Britisli Gorerntnent — Earlj’ 
 Settlers — Anecdotes 22-32 . 
 
 Chapter IV.— Progress of the SettlciMent — Coluiiel 
 Burvr’cll — Hai'dsliips — Extent of the Talhol Settle- 
 iTt'Orit — Jolin R'jljdi — Captulri ilattliows,. . 33-47. 
 
 Chapter V. — xAnierican War of 1812, and war 
 stories — runctuality— Banking — J. K, Woodward. 
 J 47-C2, 
 
 CtiAPTRR Vl. — ^The Scotch settlers at Aldborotigh 
 — TTie Audience Window — JcflVy niinter — Ex- 
 tent of [find placed at the Colonel's disposaL-32 CS. 
 
 Oil a PTE r, VII, — Letter to Earl Eatburst — ^Remu- 
 rienitioQ for services — Jealousy of Officials at 
 
 J.ittle York, 33-73, 
 
 CRAPrERVIIL— Yarinoiitb — Hickory Quakers — Dr. 
 Dunlop — __--7 3-79. 
 
 C HA PTE a 1 X. — albo t An ni ve rsary — St. I’homaa — 
 County of Elgin — London District Officials — Tbo 
 Harris family , .,79-89, 
 
 Cfapter X, — Tiondon — Rogers’ intervbw with 
 Colonel Talbot' — - ..B 0-9 ft. 
 
CONTE 
 
 CwAt^TEH XL“— Tlie BuilJiilga find Uonie^tic economy 
 of Port Talbot — Row tbo wine dried out in siira- 
 me r — Visito ra ’--E x-S Iierifl' Parti ii r — T lie Coloti er^ 
 
 PeRt~Tb<s Pedfttit 95-101+ 
 
 Chapter XlL — Colonel Talbot a La political Meeting 
 in Su Thomas— George Lawton. ...,-,>102-111* 
 Chapter XIIL — Tlie- fJolonera religioua profession 
 lieaeons for not subscribing for a meeting hotiae 
 
 — George Elliott — ItiDemni.a, 111-12K 
 
 CiiAM'Eft XIV.^ — Hon. 2. Bumlisiin — Wolf in 
 Sheep’s doth ng— The indignant pretender — A 
 
 knowing shot.,, - 121-131* 
 
 CiJAi’TER XV. — ColoQfeil T&lbnCs reaaans for not 
 marry[[jp — Matilmgriy— -A Loving I -1 38- 
 
 Chapter XVL— Sir A. McNab — Milida training — 
 Colonel Ej|Lwick and the Volunteers. — Trip to 
 Oakland — ■Tlie Queen^s Birthday — I >k Rap|>leje — 
 
 Bda SIj?i?r, 188-150, 
 
 Chapter XVIL — Sir J. B. Eobinson — John Wilson 
 
 and the Lawyers of iLe SeKlement, ,159-l70x 
 
 CiiAPTER XVI 11. — Bishop SLraehan and Bishop 
 Crotivn— Tbo two first JJi&lioiis of Upper Canada, 
 
 ....1,--., *170167* 
 
 CHAPtitR XIX,— 'The Mkillman — The ColoueFsatten^ 
 lIoD to his sick man — Long sermocsi — Westover's 
 moral ity—Einigr at ion and old Country nien_ 
 
 ___187 199. 
 
 Cl] APT EH XX, — Original Documents relating to the 
 7albol Anniverbarj’ — ^Colyiiel Talboi’s principles 
 and habits — Ternpriance — Thu ColoncTe dedin- 
 
 irjii ycws.____^, .„19&-20!)+ 
 
 CuAPTEK XXL- — Colonel Airey — Colonel T&lbot 
 to England — Differences between the Ooloiid 
 
 and Airoy 209-214.. 
 
 Chapter XXI I, — Pinal settlement with Colon d 
 
 Alley — George McBeth,, 215 225 
 
 ( J Ol^CLL ElON. ...220, 
 
CHAPTER L 
 
 CoLOKBi. Talbot’s earli^ Lira AtiO BnucAnoN — 
 Enters the — AtDE-DE-CA.yi» ’vvirn Ar- 
 
 thur Welleslyis Ibelamo — Comes to Canada 
 179D — BhCOMKS f^ECRETARY TO CeSERAL SiMCOE 
 1791 — Returss ToEKCLANr*, 1791, to JOi;f ins 
 RECiAiEST — it A PIP Promotion. 
 
 Colonel the Hon. Thom a a Talbot tho son of 
 HieLaTJ Talbot Egi|, and Margiiretj F a ronoas Talbot, 
 TTBS bom I7tli July, 1771, allfalahide, intbc County 
 of Dublin, ills arcOitry Ri'e tbua (IcaoTibE^d in 
 Loilgfc’a Gcnealojjfy of (ho Bi'ilisli Peerage. *'The 
 Talbots of Mnl abide, are of tbe same origin as the 
 Dari of Shrewsbury, whose progenitor, Rieb»rd de 
 Talbot, was a ba-on in the rctgn of William the con- 
 queror. His grandson, Richard, was fat lie r ot Gilbert, 
 ancestor of the Earl of Shrewsbury, bo settled in 
 Ireland in the reign of Henry the IL and was iii- 
 vesied with the ancieiu Baronial C.astle of MalabiJe, 
 and the Estates belongiiiir thereto. The time of 
 its erection is unfcnown, but supposed to be long 
 antecedent to the Conquest*’’ 
 
 Young Talbo* was educated at the MancSiesier 
 public free school, but bis education mu st bave been 
 slinfht, for wo find that he obtained a Ccmmissioti in 
 the HTniVi in the year 1 ^83^ at tho early age of eleven 
 
2 
 
 tIt'E OFCOLOSEL TiLBOT. 
 
 v0fire, and was one of tlie Aide-da-camps to tie 
 -Marqiiifl of Buckinglrnm, (a reliitive of the Talbot 
 f'ainilv,) then Loitl Lieutenant of Ireland, in tlie 
 ycar3 1 786 snd 8S, ’when he ^vae not more th^n 1 6 
 or 17 years of age. His brother Aide, wae Arthur 
 Wellesly, who subsequently teeame the renowned 
 hero of a hundred fights, the conqueror of the Great 
 Napoleon, on the field of Waterloo. 
 
 The two Aides, Arthur Weilesly, better known 
 as the Duke of Wellington, and Thomas Talbot, 
 were not destined to tread in the same fields of glory. 
 While the Iron Duke was reaping honors find glory 
 in the field of battle. Colonel Talbot was occupied in 
 the forests of Canada, while the one was conquering 
 ihe armies of Napoleon, and wading thro’ fields of 
 blood, amidat the groans of the dying and the shriclis 
 of the wounded, the other was combatting the trees 
 of the forest, and marching in triuTuph over fallen 
 liraber. One was armed with the sword, while the 
 other shouldered the 'trhich was the inoel uaO' 
 fill occupation and the roost consonant to the dictates 
 of bu inanity, may be left for others to decide. 
 
 The ncquaiutance formed between these two 
 men, destined to beccuue conspicuous in very differ- 
 ent ways, continued, tho’ not without long lui-ervals 
 of Beparation, thTough a long life. And the great 
 Captain of the age, suTroimded by everything that is 
 
LIFE OF COLO!fEL TALBOT. 
 
 3 
 
 great aod lionorable in hvimnn life, was glad to see 
 his early associate ^*Tom Talbot/' and v^eleome him 
 to the hospital ities of Apelcy lloiasc. 
 
 It is not often that two such Tetmna meet in 
 this world j to recount the adventures of tbeir early 
 youth, at the advanced ago of fourscore ycara, after 
 an acquaintance of more than 60 years! but such a 
 meeting took place between tbeee two diaijtigniehed 
 men. The nuke of Wellington was the fiist of the 
 two octogenarians, wlio fell under dcath^a despotic 
 away,— his earthly careecr having ternainaied on the 
 I4tb September, in the year 18^2. Oolonel Talbot 
 outlived him only a few months. 
 
 Those, who witneased, or read of the magnifi- 
 cent obsequies of the iltustrions hero ot the Peninsula 
 when people of all nations of the world beheld a 
 great nation mourn ing over the departed conqueror, 
 in all the pomp and circutnstanco of woe, and who 
 may read these momoires, will have an opportunity 
 of contrasting the terminatiun of the earthly career of 
 these two distinguished men, whose beginning was 
 so nearly equal. Colonel Talbot’s pro&pects of 
 military fame and glory, lu his youth, wore brighter 
 than those of the Puke, but at the close of their lives 
 the Pi'eacber of England,, pronouncing the funeral 
 oration over the latter, said— *'know ye not that a 
 great man is fallen" — while a few friends only, at- 
 
4 
 
 Lit’E OPCi-'LONEL TALBOT* 
 
 tvuded tli<3 renaaitis of the founder of tLe Talbot 
 ScUlemenb to ibeir earthly renting place. 
 
 In the year I79tl, Mr* T^lboE. joined tbo 34tli 
 Kegiinent, a& Lkij tenant ai Quebec. He received 
 li]5 Company snd majarity both in liie year 17D3; 
 ai]d in, January 1736 was promoted to the Lieut. 
 Ccloiielcy of tbe 5th Eegimmt of Foot, irhicli Regi- 
 ment be joiiied, and com fn an (led two battalioas^ until 
 tbe Peace of Am iena^ doing service on ibe Continent 
 a.nd at Gibraller, He was with Iiia Tegiixiecit j i 
 Ilolkudj in the disastrous expedition of the Duke of 
 York Colonel Talb:it appears to Lave been a favor- 
 ite wii!i the Duke, for altho* ho had commiLted a 
 breach of discipUnc, by m.^rehing his regiuicnt a 
 dijffcrcnt road from that he had been ordered to dO;^ in 
 order as ho eon^iJered, to avoid hirassitig his menj 
 and exposing them to more datigor, the Duke in a 
 fijcndly note,, found among Colonel’s papers 
 aSlmJes to the cSrcuinsunco in a very good natured 
 manner. TiiiayVeaij however, as the Duke of York 
 termed id may have liaJ something to do with 
 Colonel Talbofs selling out of ihearniy. 
 
 It was during the year 1791 that Ur. Talbot 
 hecame atLaclied to tbe suite of General SEmcoej the 
 ih'^i LieiilenanS -Governor of Upper Canada, mth 
 whona he continued until the yeur 1704, when he 
 retnrn^id to Europe and joined his, regiment on the 
 
UFr OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 5 
 
 Dontia^tit^ To show the high opmbu wliich Geup 
 Simcoe entertained of young Talbot’s merits and 
 ability, oannot do better xhan to traoscribo 
 letter, which the General wrote in his behalf and 
 addressed to Lord Hobart in ibeyear iStiSp detailing 
 Colonel Tulbofs semcea and recommending bia ap- 
 plication for e grant of land. Nntbiug can eioeett 
 the warmth of ftieodship, and the high eetimate of 
 Colonel Talbotts eharacterp which Gen* Simeoe 
 ^eems to have formed, and this is fully c^rpreSBed in 
 hh letter : — 
 
 Somerset Street, Port man Square, } 
 
 11 lb Feby.p 1303, f 
 
 My Li>aDp^ — 
 
 In co;-srqiJcnee of Air, Talbot having aeqita in led 
 me ihat Mr^ Stiliiran, on hts presenting a requcEt fur 
 a grant of land in the Pruvince of Upper CanadUp had 
 intimaUd it would be proper I should inform your 
 Lordbuip of Mr. Talbot's especial services, I took the 
 earliest oppoTtirnity of waiting mpon your Lordship, 
 and in cori^tquence of the interview which T had ibe 
 honor to hold TVitli you yeeterJa^^ I nh^-y y jiir Lord- 
 sLi3|.’s Commands in detaidng Mr Tdbots views^ aul 
 the tiature of his claicne to the protection of bia Ma- 
 j(?siy'S government* 
 
 Upon my arriv d hi Canada, to carry tho con- 
 Etilution which bad buen gFii cited to that Colony 
 into effect, Mr. T;dbot accotnpa-nied me as my private 
 
LIFE OF C0LO15KL lALBOI, 
 
 an :i con lit] anti al Seer star y mto Upper CMaJa. fJo 
 rgmainod in my family' four yearE, it Ken he 
 calbd homa, as Major of the *5th Ragiment, then 
 ordered to Fiandert. During that period he not 
 only conducted many derails and inn porta nt duties, 
 incidental to t[ie original catablishment of a Colony, 
 in matters of internal regulation, to my entire satts- 
 faetion^ but employed in the moat oonfideoiial 
 isteasures necessary to preserve that conntry in peace, 
 Twiihoul violating on the ono liand, the relations of 
 amiiy wiLh the United Stales ^ and on the other, 
 alienating theaffbetion cf the Indian nations^ at that 
 period in open war with them. 
 
 In this very critical si tual ion, I principally ma^le 
 use of Mr. Talbot for the most confidcnlial intercourse 
 with tlie &cveral Indian Tribes; and occasiondlly 
 with his Majosty'^s Minister at Philadelphia Lb es-c 
 dutieSp without any salary or cmoUiment, he eseouted 
 10 iny perfect satisfactiou* 
 
 1 consider those cireumstanceE, my Lord, as 
 authorising me in general terms to recommeml Mr. 
 Talbot to your copsSdemtion and protection, Mr* 
 Talbotts specific ^^ppUi’^atlon, which I beg leave V* 
 support to the utmost of my power, consists of two 
 
 ^ WLtn tlic05tla Flegi merit was fitafioned in St-. TKorLa^^ 
 Oolciiu:! TaibuiL said he bad epm maided that rtegiiuent at 
 ^ yiwirg f]f age — but befbve he died he told a friend that 
 w ai LicntenaD t Colenel of the Sth Regiment ft t . Th i ji 
 liavc been a raiiitake. 
 
Lire 0K<30LON£L TALHOT . 
 
 ih' 
 
 i 
 
 poinK Tlio first is the grant of live tl'.ousanJ nCros 
 of land as d 3eld OfBcei', actually ami Iona 
 meaning to reside in the Provmco for tba purpose 
 of estatlishing liimEclf tberoin* The King’s bounty 
 having becu extended to the field Officers, wlio had 
 served during the American war, in gi'anls to a 
 similar extent (exclusive of an allutoieDt of laud for 
 every individual which tboir taminos roigut cOUfiifil. 
 of,) it was judged expedient bv mvseJf, Mr Chief 
 Justice Osgonde, and other cOnfiJentiai Officers of 
 the Cfomn iu that Colony, to extend the provision of 
 five thousand acres to any Field Officer of character, 
 who, Iona fidf, should become a settler therein, it 
 belug obvious that it wag for his Majesty’s into re &t 
 that a loyal set of European genllenien should, as 
 speedily as possible, be obi ai tied to lake the lead in 
 the several districts, This principle, my Lord, wan 
 acted upon fvt the time of my departure from the 
 Country, and should I to this momeni have remained 
 in the iTOverilraent thereof, I could have seen no 
 reason whatever for departing from iL In conse- 
 quence, bad Mr. Talbot been totally unknown to me, 
 except by his character and the high rank he had 
 borne in the King’s Service, I should lave thought 
 him a most eligible acquisition to this Province, and 
 on this public ground, without hesitation, have 
 granted him hOOO acres on the same principles that 
 
3 
 
 LIFB OT COLONEL TALEOT. 
 
 hud been laid dawn and noted upotij — tLLs h tiio 
 first part of Mr. Talbafs request. The re^ 
 
 quest of Mr* Talbot H that these SOOO aorea may ba 
 granted in theTownahSp ofYarmonthj in the CouEity 
 of Norfolkp on lake Erie, and that the ram^nJer of 
 that Township may be reserved for such a period 
 may appear ad visible to government^ for the purpose 
 of his settling it, on xht following specs Sc pla^n, 
 namely: that 300 acres shall be allotted to him for 
 every family he eh all establish thereon, —50 aer$i 
 thereof to be granted to each family io perpetuity, 
 and the reoiaining 150 acres of each tot to becomo 
 ids property j for the expetiac and trO'jbla of col toe Ling 
 and locniing them. 
 
 Mr^ SulSivan, in a cooversaUnOj Irad suggested io 
 
 Mi'+ Talbot the p^^sibilit v of procuring seuler^ m this 
 Covintryp but many reasc^s oppot^e lb chq selves to lliat 
 idea, in which I bave tlie honor of pojfectly agreeing 
 wirb your Lordship; but fthoobJ it be praetieablo to 
 Lnrn the tide of emigravion, which government cannot 
 prevent from taking place to the Uaited SLa^.e^ 
 uHunaidy to Test in tliie Province. I beg £j coasi 
 der it as an object of the greatest national importance, 
 and that will sfjeedify fulfil the ide^i wiih which I 
 uf*d<^rtoc>k the adininietration of ihat govorument, 
 under my Lord Grenville's aaspices of eltvadng thi^ 
 valuable part of Ilia Majeaty*g domin lone from the 
 
LIPS OF COLONEL tALBC*T, 
 
 9 
 
 degraUbg tituation of a petty factOfy, to be a power- 
 ful support and protection to tho Brilisli Empire; ia 
 some iiisti'LticeSj Slleh a plao in tha Infancy of tte 
 government had great sncecss, as I had tho honorjof 
 pointing out to joLir Lord^bip, and Mr. Talbot from 
 liabit^ obfiOTvation and nature^ in my juJgmcntj h. 
 porfectly well suited to give it a ’wider eiteni. 
 
 His plan is to introduce Ltmsolf amongst a large- 
 body of Welch atid Scoteh families^ w ho arrived at 
 Neiv York in the Summer of 1801^ and who have 
 temporarily fixed themsdvos in the interior of that 
 StatOj. many of whom are alresidy disgusted with the 
 dissolute principles of the people ihcre, and feel a 
 strong mciinatjon to return under the governmeiil of 
 E c gland j but do not posaosa the means of purchasing 
 land; or paying the fees demanded by the Province 
 on granta- It remains only for :ne lo.add, that Mr* 
 Talbot having been very successful in the cultivation 
 of Ilempt cin proper print iples and to a greater ex- 
 tent perhaps than any other seUtei- in the Province, 
 ii induced to prefer ihe distant Township of Yar- 
 mouth^ as the soil isj well adapted to the growth 
 of this valuable commodity. It is his object to ex- 
 tend this cuhivatlon thro’ the whob Towaahip, and 
 by precept and example to enfurce principles of loy- 
 al ty^ obedience a ti i industry atnonget thoae with 
 whom he will be surrounded. I cannot but hopej. 
 
10 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 LhAi your Lords I Lip will be struck wiih ihe mauhood 
 with wbi^b Mr. Talbot,, 'wboso situiition io lire, cannot 
 be unknown to your Lordship, after hnviDg with 
 ^roat credit arrived at the rank of Lieut. Colonel 
 bai preferred the incessant and active employment 
 which he ha^s undertaken, and tbai under vour Lord* 
 ship’s patronage may lead to the highest public ad- 
 vantage. On this public ground, abstracted from my 
 personal adhetion and regard fcr him, I hope that yow 
 Lordship will give direction to the Lieut, G-overnor, 
 or person admlnkteriug the government of Upper 
 Canada, that the prayer of his petition be imme- 
 diately granted — (embraced in 4th paragraph of this 
 letter,) and I further entreat from your Loidsbip's 
 goodness and benevolence, that Mr. Talbot inavliave 
 I he honor of being the bearer of your dcspaCcbes ou 
 this subject, as he Las for some time taken Lia pas- 
 sage on board of a vessel that will sail without fail 
 on Tuesday next, for ivew York. 
 
 I have the honor to he &c,, ■ 
 (Signed) J, G, SIMCOE. 
 
 To the Right Hon. 
 
 Loan Hobart, <Jcc, dtc, icc., 
 
 It will be seen from the sequel of this biography 
 Low far the high estimate of Colonel Talbot's char- 
 acter and ability formed by General Simeoe, has been 
 realized, and whether or not Colonel Talbot has ful- 
 fil ad the ospectations of Lis exalted friend and ardent 
 
LTPE OF COLOSEL TALBOT. 
 
 H 
 
 adinirer. General Simcoe was a man, from 
 exalted position and comraaoding talent fully capalle 
 of jndgiDg of ihe merits of a young officer. 
 
 It is pleasing at all times to record tLe opinion 
 of good men, such as we believe General Simcoe to 
 have been? and his ability and foresight as the 
 Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, we believe, is 
 universally admitted. 
 
 The Hon. James Crooks, one of Cauada^a re- 
 spected veteranSj knew young Talbot well, at the time 
 he was attached to General Simcoc’s suite. He was 
 then stationed at Nitigara, where, with other office ra, 
 he kept house. Mr. Crooks speaks of the young 
 Secretary’s gentlemanly Jeportmecl and activity, as 
 is elsewhere noted, and was well acquainted with 
 liitn during the residence of a long life. 
 
 How young Talbot fulfilled the duties of private 
 and confidential Secrclaiy, we learn from General 
 Simeoe’s letter, but it is certain he was never much 
 addicted to writing. But what he did write wav 
 laconic and to the point. His correapondcnce, how- 
 ever, must have been extensive, for ho was on term.^ 
 ijf inlimacy with many of I he nobility of England . 
 with Eome of whom he kept up an epistolary eorres- 
 poti dance, hut nothing worthy of note seems to have 
 been found among liis papers. 
 
 With respect lo the cullivation of hemp, apokeu 
 
12 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT, 
 
 of by Genera] Simeoe* it gpper^ra Colonel Talbot did 
 not realise bis own espeotations. He made th^J 
 itten-ipt HI tlie early days of bis settlement, but must 
 b^ve found it unprofitable; ^hicb is easily necounteJ 
 for, ’when we consider thiit tlie cnltivatSon of hemp 
 requires consiclerabk cap stab ftnd muck labor. Both 
 these means could be much more proOtably employed 
 Jn llie dealing of lands^ and in cultivaijng the soil. 
 For these purposes his people were even too few, 
 and the neceaeity of raisiog the meau$ of subsistence 
 would prevent their being otherwise employed- So 
 the cultivation of hemp was abandoned* 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 Colonel TiLSOT^a return to OAXAD,i— FLtiiiMG's; 
 ACCOUNT OF Hie V] RST VISIT TO THE TaLsOT 
 
 Settlement with General StMCOE — S ettles 
 at Port Talbot 1803— Port Talbot— Colonel 
 
 TALItOX'ia DISGUST WITH THE ^TATE OF SoCIRTT IN 
 
 England. 
 
 It wasat the conclusion of the Peace of Amicus 
 Colonel Tdbot retired from the Army, anEl came to 
 Canada* with the intcDlion of settling; which he did* 
 and remained on his estate at Port Talbot for nearly 
 50 years, 
 
 We are tcld that the young Lieutenant first 
 became smitten with the charms of Can a da ^ 
 (for it ia noE hnowo that he was e\'er smitten, like 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT- 
 
 13 
 
 ordinary me n)from reading CharlCToix’ Liatory^ whicli 
 lie didj with great delight. The idea of diiviug out 
 the wild beasts, and of peopling the forest on the 
 shores or Lake Erie, with hardy and ioduatrSouseet- 
 lers, very probably may have originated in yoang 
 Talbot’s mind at this time. 
 
 During the time OoloDel Talbot was Secretary 
 to Governor Simcoc, it appears fronoi various tv'eounts, 
 that he bad vi^ied the shores of Lake Erie, and had 
 penetrated to the forks of the River Thames, where 
 the city of London now stands, The following ac* 
 count of the espeditiOQ of General SlTncoe and 
 hi s Sec’y, has been furnished by a worthy High- 
 lander, George Munro, Esq., who became a settler 
 in the Township of Aldboro’ many years Ago, and 
 who, from personal knowledge of Colonel Talbot, 
 always held him in the greatest respect, and spoke 
 of hina in terms of the highest admiration. 
 
 The account given by Mr. Munro was eofumn- 
 nicated to him. verbally, by a man of the name cf 
 Flemming, who acted as cinoe,or boatman, to General 
 Simeoeand liia Sec’y. Talbot, from Fort Erie, on tLo 
 exploring expedition, to the unbroken foresta of the 
 London and Western District*, which at that lime, 
 wlieo General £imcoe first aesumed the Govcrnmeiit 
 of Upper Canada, had only been surveyed on piper. 
 FJemm log describes young Talbot as being bolh sniuit 
 
J i , LTFS OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 ill api>earanoe, and prompt and active in manner. 
 To U 30 1u9 own words, “ The Colonel was tlie 
 ‘‘preitiesi, neatest and m&sl active of the who! c 
 ‘party* and M soon os they landed to encamp, he im- 
 mediately set about collecting wood for fuel, assist ^ 
 iiig in pitching the tent; and in the morriing was 
 equally active in aiding the boatman across Long 
 l*oiul with tho boat and canoe. Ou ona occadon, 
 Jlis Excellency suggested that there were men 
 enough, and the Coloners lajconic reply was, “ there 
 are none more manly than 1 am,” which the General 
 recci7ed with an approving smile, absenting lo the 
 truthfulness of the remark. 
 
 Colonel Talbot was always remarkable for Lis 
 quaint wit and pithy replies, which will frequently 
 appear in the iustoi j of his life. 
 
 Upon the ^Mirty of Governor Simcoe landing at 
 Catfiih Creek, about twenty miles below Port Talbot, 
 Tall>oi:, as usual, was at llie brunt end of every work, 
 as Flomming related, such as tent- pitching, chopping 
 and collecting fire- wood, and Hie Exeellency thought 
 proper oiice more to remonstrate, “"Why, General,” re-^ 
 piled the Colonel, want to be inured to a bache- 
 lor's Hall life in the Forest,” liis Eseelicncy asked 
 him if he would like to nestle on the lop of the Hill, 
 (the Hill is high at the mouth of the Catfish, )“ Xo, 
 ^ir, was the reply, I am uot ready to I'pooat yet,” 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALDOT. 
 
 15 
 
 On landing at Kettle Creek, tow Port Stanley* to 
 cook dinner* tbe same qitesllon was asked and tlie 
 sarae reply was given; but early in tho evcolng, on 
 arrival at the spot so deservedly called Port Talbot* 
 the Colonel had a lent Rpeedily erected on the top of 
 ihe Hill, turned host at once, met the Governor at 
 the tent door, and with the dignjly so natural to him, 
 inviiod His Excollenoj to the Castle of Makhide, 
 saying, ** Here, ^General Siincoe, will I roost, ari'l 
 "will soon naake the forest tremble under the wings 
 “of the flock I will invito by my warblings, around 
 "mo.” 
 
 ** Oq the morning following, Indians wlio were 
 encamped on the Sats of the Creek* were hired to 
 pilot tho party across the wilderness, to Munsey 
 Town, from whence they proeccdod down the River 
 to Lake St Clair, meeting on their wav, not even 
 one opening in the dense forest ,ihat then overshad- 
 owed the meandering course of the River Thanoes* 
 On their_rcturn, and ari'ival at the Forks, w'here Lon- 
 don now stands, General Simeoe told the Colonel, 
 “^his will be the chief military depot of the '\Vest, 
 and the seat of a District. From this spot,” pointing 
 liis sword to a tree that stood at or near the western 
 single of the present Court house, “I will have a line 
 for a road run as straight as the crow can fly, to the 
 head of the little lake,’’ where Dondas stands* which 
 
10 
 
 LIFE OF COLON EL lALBOT. 
 
 ’W'a'3 doDe.arxl tLe Road, to ttis day, is called Ojc Cjov^ 
 ernor’s Road. 
 
 “Fletanaiog, ibe boatmaw, afterwards became a 
 settler under Colonel Talboi, on a lot of land on tlie 
 banks of the River, in the Township of Aldboro,* tmtl 
 Jived iLereon, from the year 180S or 3 to the year 
 184-5. He was tltore buiied, leaving 0 or 7 indus- 
 trious sorts, who were all located by Colonel Talbot, 
 in the Township of Jlosa, directly across the river, in 
 sighr. of their father's farm.” 
 
 The foregoing acoouat furnished by Fleming to 
 Mr Miinro, wo have been told, is incorrect in several 
 particnlara- — that tbe route pui-sued by General Sim- 
 eoe, was by boat only to Long Point, and thence by 
 land to the Forks of the River Thames. This we meie- 
 ij note, lhat we may not be charged with mating fin 
 eiToneous stateineut willingly. 
 
 It was after Ibis lime, that Colonel Talbot re- 
 tmaed to Europe, and remained with hia regiment 
 till tile Peace of Amiens, when it tvould appear, ha 
 determined to fulfil ins intention of founding a settle- 
 ment in the wilds of Canada. This intention no 
 doubt was seriously entertained, while on the eiploi'- 
 ing esped Elion with General Simcoe, aud wo are iu- 
 foi'med that Colonel Talbot bad learnt something of 
 the eligibiliiy of the site of Port Talbot, from Mr* 
 H amly, a gen tie man who had surveyed tlie To wit- 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT* 
 
 It 
 
 ^liip3 of Dunwich aud AHboro,* with whom the Col- 
 onel had hecomo acquainted fxt Niagara* Mr. 
 Hamly had described the beauties of Port Talbot in 
 terms of just commeDciation, and Colonel Talbot has 
 confirmed his judgment* by selecting it, as the site 
 of the future home of a branch of the descendants of 
 the Talbots of Malahide, Mr, Hamly brought up 
 and educated John and Boftnrick, the sofis of a 
 CIcfgyiTiaii of tho Church of England, in Ivew Eng- 
 land, who emigrated to Canada, and were always 
 conspicuoug for their loyal attachment to the British 
 Crown . 
 
 Colonel Talbot landed at Port Talbot, on the 
 21 si of May, ISOs, fioma boat, accompauiad by sev- 
 eral mci), (among whom was a Mr, Power,) andim- 
 jucdiatolj set to woik with bis ase, and cut down the 
 fimt tree, to commemorate bis landing to talie pos- 
 Eessioa of hta woodlEniJ estate. The settlement 
 w’bich now bears his name, was then an unbroken 
 forest, and there were no traces of civilization, nearer 
 than Long Point, 60 miles east, while to the west, 
 the aboi'iglnes were still the Lords of the soil, and 
 ruled with the tomahawk. 
 
 At the time of Colonel Talbot’s lauding, every- 
 thing in iiaturo was dressed iu its best attire, and the 
 swelling stream of Port Talbot creek, then swollen to 
 the dimendons of a respectable river, overhung with 
 
 h* 
 
1? 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TilLEOT. 
 
 ihe (Jeep green' tougJjs of ibe surrounJiBg foiest, and 
 gliding [brougli tlie vallej', aiiound the verdant hill 
 of Port Talbot, ponred iU limpid streain into Lake 
 Erie ’(viih a rapidone current. At this (delightful 
 Ecason of the year, the foi'est teemed with life — the 
 bhr.dy green of the trees, the chirping and singing of 
 nuinefoiis birds, the sol i tar j tapping of the wood- 
 pcciier, the lofty hills, and placid waters spread out 
 into an inknd ocean , all wore a smiling aspect, and 
 thccfcd the Pioneers of the Forest. 
 
 There are few, if any, more charming spots 
 thau the site of Port Talbot. The creek which aave 
 ijse to its being named a Port, winds round the hills. 
 tJirouivh rich flats on one side, uoUcIesslv, without anv 
 apparent motion, (except, as before mentioned, in 
 times of high water,) and its dark smooth waters 
 creeping under and through clumps of woods, hero 
 and there, gives it a beautiful appearance. The ap- 
 proacii to Port Talbot fiom the east, is through an 
 barenue of between one and two miles, the road pre- 
 senting every variety of woodland scenery, niw run- 
 ning over level laud, and then diving into the valleys 
 between hills of various heights, and oa each side of 
 the road the numerous trees pomtlrtg their majestic 
 heads to the skies, aflbrd a grand and pleasing va- 
 riety. After at length wi((dirg round the acdiviLy of 
 the high land surrounding Port Talbot, the eye ia 
 
LIFE OF COLOTiEL TALBOT. 
 
 19 
 
 rtifrcslied by a naftgDjficent view of tlie waters ofL^ilic 
 Erie, bounded only by the di&taat liori^oi^* Stand- 
 iiig tlion 6n this high land, rising from the L^ke to 
 the height of 200 feet, the view ou all &ides is mag- 
 nificent, To the west the scenery is woodland, bro- 
 ken here and there, by clearings formed into beau- 
 Uful lieldSj of variniis dicaensioiis; to the east the 
 landscape is rich^ in the highest degrao; ranges of 
 woode rising from the banks of the creek, one above 
 another, until their Bum mi is are nearly lost iti the 
 clouda, clothed in the soft verduro of springj or be- 
 decked in the timed foliuge uf auLumn, afibrd a plea- 
 sing relief to ihe eye, turning from tho vast ci^poiiso 
 of^’s^aters of Lake Erie. On the bosom of the Lake , 
 Steamers, or other craft, are eoiiti Dually appearing, 
 general ly wending theis' ivaj to AmeiicaQ ports, and 
 add* life to the sceDC- In the rear of Fort Talbotj 
 the ej^e passes over hiil and dale, until the Fieiy 
 k tercninateil by the primeval forest; composed 
 of the maplo, the tjcecht the stately oak, and a yaiiety- 
 of other trees. 
 
 Colonel Talbot being permanently located in the 
 wilds of Can ad a j to the great dismay of the four 
 fooled tribe, who had s> long held undisturbed p(>s- 
 Res^^ioot his life in tho w’oods may now be snid to 
 ifcave commenced, and we may here pause, to redact 
 on the estraordinfj'y and pecidiar character of the 
 
3L1FE OT TALBOT p 
 
 individual, tfIio collUI dijtncli LiDa&elf from ^11 the 
 ^ittractions of civilized life, nnd set himself dawn 
 alone , with the excoptiao of a few hired raen, in the 
 midst of a traekles& forest, ialiabited only by a few 
 scattering Indians, and wild beasts. The reaohitiotk 
 which Colonel Talbot had farmed, and was now 
 about to act upon^ h tho mare extraordmary in an 
 individnah elevated at so early an age, to a rank so 
 Ljgb in the army; endowed he iva&j with eve?}" 
 qualificaLion, apparently necessary to raise him, to 
 tlie very surniiait of military glory; surrourded by 
 the pomp and splendor of military parade, so nttraC' 
 T i ve io t b e TOtriries a f fas! j io n ;ible 1 ik ; mov ing am ^ dst 
 the fa£.<rrria[ions af polished society, and the smiles 
 ■Hid blandisliLnents of youth and beauty — tlmta man 
 so situated should abando]! the luxuries and eiichant- 
 iiient of sueh a coterie, and become- the immediate 
 ivjlghbor of raccoons and bowdiug wolves, to lead a 
 dull manotanons life in tho untamed forests of Car:- 
 ada , wdtb the certain ptospcct of hard labor and con- 
 tinua.] privation, is proof that be was a man of groat 
 Ibrlitude, and of no ordinary mind. 
 
 At the time Colonel Talbot exchanged the sword 
 fur the axe, he was young, active^ and sufliGiently ac- 
 complished, to adorn the society in which men of his 
 ranlt usually mix. His rank in the artny was uq' 
 nasually high for a man of his yeursj being n Lieut, 
 Colonel Til tl)e ago of twenty-two, 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALlOT, 
 
 21 
 
 It IS said, however, that young Talbot amidst all 
 the i^lkrementj of high life, the attraotiona of beasity, 
 and the pride of a ristocTEw; j, became thoroughly dis- 
 gusted with the corruptions and fashionable vices, 
 then SO prevalent; which were ill onncealed by the 
 polish of education, and the conventional forms of 
 society. At that time, about the close of the 1 ait 
 centurTi It is well known that debauchery, dissipation 
 and immorality of every kind, infected the lives of 
 many of the aristocracy of England ; having before 
 their eyes, the example of the sons of Royalty, and 
 the heir apparent to the Throne. On the vicee of 
 those days, we need not dwell, ihey are familiar tn 
 all vfho know anything of the early life of the late 
 George the 4th, and hia royal brothers. These 
 sons of the good old King George the SrJ, particu- 
 larly the eldest, the Prince of Wales, were distil - 
 guiahed for their handsome personal appearance, 
 polished manners and elegant address, find were 
 the theme of universal admiration ; but nnfortunale- 
 ly, the lustre of their rank, and the pcUsbof their man- 
 ners, were tarnished by I he immorality of their lives; 
 and the advantages of birth, education, :ind wealth, 
 tvei'G made subservient to the indulgence of tlie 
 me re trie iou 3 enjoyments of vice, and to thegratifica- 
 tton of licentiousness. That Colonel 7 albol, whose 
 
 high rank and family connexions gave him the entrirt 
 to the first sodety "in England, slioiild have Ipoke'l 
 
22 
 
 UFE OP C^;LO:rKI. TALHiJT. 
 
 with aversion a I tte glazed, eye of fftsliiojjable dissi* 
 })atioii, and sbould have slirunk wilt disgust from 
 tlic con tarn ination of le,wdiiessj nursed in the lap of 
 vi'ealih and luxury, was an early indication of that 
 Enpci'iofity of mind, which dlulinguisted him through 
 the greater portion of his lifei 
 
 Few men of his rank and • station;, would e^er 
 have dreamt of undergoing sutha change of life, and 
 fewer eliU, would have persevered through every 
 difficulty, like Colonel Talbot, had they undertaken 
 iu It has been said, that the Colonel bad been eroaaed 
 ill love, or otherwisedissapointed, and that Ibis led him 
 to bury himself in ihe woods ;but these surmises ai'e 
 ii-jt bssed on .reliable iuformation. 
 
 CHAPTER III, 
 
 P-LAN OF SeTTLEMEUT— TbIIWS OF GRASTS OF LASD, 
 FKOU TUB British Goveshmekt— Eaklt Sti- 
 
 Tl, E H3 A N E C I) 01' jeS. 
 
 Some years seem to have elapsed before the 
 Colonel liad attracted any number of settlers around 
 him, and during thk time he must, (as indeed be 
 was, generally, dui'ing his residence at Port Talbot,) 
 have been left to the solitude of Lis own reflections ; 
 and, where it was difficult to get good servants, and 
 more so lo retain them, ho Lad not onlj' frequently 
 to cook, and seive his own table, but to do his owe 
 
LlfE OF CO LOSE t TALBOT. 
 
 23 
 
 cJiorts about tho house. Thcao menial o^ees he 
 often bad to perform when distin^uishod guests 
 visited bind. 
 
 The plan of EettlemeDt adopted by CoL Talbot, 
 was a wise one, Tbc Country has long enjoyed the 
 benefit, which his foresight aud good management 
 effected. Every settler whom he located on a lot of 
 ioudj was obliged to perform hU selilement dudes, 
 by clearing a ceriaiti space in front of bis lot, before 
 he could bo assured of his tide. This space was 
 umforiii throngout the settlement^ and by this means 
 the sun gained access to the roads, which were soon- 
 er iraprovod, than if each settler bad been at liberty 
 to commence clesrirg whereyer he thought proper. 
 By this judicious plan, several hundred miles of passa- 
 ble road were made, with good and uniform clear- 
 ings on each side, and attested the soundness of the 
 ColonePs judgment , Another advantage resulting 
 fjom this plan was, that the klic and improvident 
 were stimulated by the example of the industrious. 
 
 The Colonel Lad made au nr range meat with 
 the British Government, wliile in England, by which 
 he obtained a grant of 5000 acres of land. To carry 
 this arranfremeni into etfect, he obtained an order 
 fro IQ the Government of England, on upplScaliou t<> 
 Lord Hobart, son of the Earl of Buotingbam to 
 General tlunter, with whom he had an intei'view at 
 Jling-ara, The arrangement then made with the 
 
24 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT* 
 
 Iioiiie govorniriGnt, was, that for every settler wliom 
 the Colotiel locale J on 50 acres of lanJ, he sliouM 
 himself be enlitled to 200 acres, to the exteel of 
 5000 acres. 
 
 Ho aftonrards obtained, through his influence 
 with the goVerumenh fof such of bis Esetllersas desir- 
 ed it, 100 acroi of land each, upon condition of 
 performing the settlement duties, i,e, dearbig a 
 certain portion of the land, builditig a house upon it, 
 and paying fees on receiving patent £6 S 3. So 
 poor were many of the aettlerss rv’ho availed thetO’ 
 selves of this privdege, that they had not completed 
 these moderate stipulations, some of theca during^a 
 period of 30 yenrs. 
 
 For the first twenty years of the Colonel's set- 
 tlement, the hardships, he, as well as his settles bad 
 to contend with, were of no ordinary kind, and such 
 only as could be overcome by industry and patient 
 endurance. All who were not exercised in these 
 virtues, either sold their claimB for little or nothing, 
 or forfeited their land. ^Many of the settlers to this 
 day, acknowledge Ihem selves indebted to Colonel 
 Talbot's means and foresight, for enabling them to 
 overcome the diflSculties which thev had to cacoun- 
 
 m 
 
 ter. 
 
 At the present moment, when the country 
 smiles wiib verdant fields, blootnirg orchards, and 
 produces the necessaries of life ia abundances, it 
 
LIFE OF OOI-OI^EL TALBOT . 
 
 25 
 
 woiilJ fippeat tliiit the Colonel 1];iJ bocn ampty j'a* 
 paid for all bis labors, by the valuable estate lie dc- 
 quire it, but it must be rertismbered that aUTioiasfh 
 Uiii be true, the liberality of tho DritisU Govern meat 
 was not bestowed upon him in vain. In tiiosc early 
 days, many favorites and liangets on of the Govern- 
 ment, obtained graut^ of large tracts of laud for a 
 more song, without requLiiig any duties from them at 
 all, and aonoc forfeited rich gracits, from thoir inability 
 to perform the slipulated duties . For instance, Mr. 
 Charles Ingeraol obtained a grant of the whole 
 Township of Oxford; a person named Sales, tho 
 Township of Towoscfid ; and another person named 
 Dalou, the Township of Burford, on conditions of 
 settlcmcDt, which they wero unable to fulfil, and 
 therefore lost their grants r each of which would have 
 produced a magnificent fortune, liad those persons 
 retained them. Colonel Talbot, on the contrary, 
 volunlarily took the landa he acquired, on cociJition 
 of fulfilling duties, which he performed faithfully, not 
 only for his own benefit, but for that of a large num- 
 bor of poor settlors. Much has been anid about (lie 
 many tbcusaiicl acres of land awarded to Colonel 
 Talbot, but there Ls little doubt, that bo might have 
 pui'chased them for the amount he expeniled or lost 
 in settling thcin. 
 
 The Township of Yarmouth, nearly the pick 
 
 and choke of Canada, was either given away to thg 
 
 c 
 
2 ^^ 
 
 HE’Jg W OOI-ONEL TALfifiT, 
 
 or .soM for n (nQe to Utc Camubi CymiJ.aEiy . 
 TLIe was Cobncl Tslboi’a first selection, but lie 
 founJ tJjflt it liad already been dispctsed of. Tie 
 Can ad ^ Coiopany loo, it is well knowu, Iiad ac^^iiired 
 a mil lion acres in tbo Huron tracl^ at a cost of little 
 jnoro lb an Is per aero, so that ibe liberality of tlie 
 Et itisb Govermuent in disposing of t!ie landf^ of the 
 Crown, was exLencled to inutb loi^s wortliy objects 
 than Cobucl Talbots wbo was instrumental in ren- 
 dcrbiga krgo number of poor settlers independent as 
 well as binisolf. 
 
 As already Ijccq said, young Talbot was a 
 very active man, and Lis bodily fiame^ and vigorous 
 constitution^ enabled bitii to undergo great fatigue 
 .and Lard ship* For several years tbcrc were no 
 setilorsor other inliabitants than his own hired men, 
 III order to supply this dcficicocy, he distributed 
 large placards to attraei settlers^ which bad the cflfect 
 of biinging a great many people into the sclLlement, 
 but many of ibeso Lumed oni to be very wortble^s 
 cbaracters- 
 
 Jt w^as not until the year 1809 that eeUlcrs be- 
 gan to cotno in, and then but few in number. In lliEtt 
 year two families of ibe name of Pearce and Pater- 
 son, took up htnd from the Colonel, and settled near 
 liiiji in Duowkb^ in wliich Tow- n ship Perl Talbot is 
 situated, T^'hosc early seUlcrs are among the best^ 
 who have ever entered thr^ ^eNlemcnt, Their nii- 
 
l.tFE.^P CCtLil.^SJ. T.AIBy r. 
 
 2 '/ 
 
 merous coniiicxicitij tioiv IioiIlI fine ffirnns in liifl'eiaiit 
 pai'ts of the setticmeiit; liavc nl'Vflys been con?j)itMioit': 
 ftir Uieii' bjaltj, and, after a lapse of more ihaii 40 
 years, I'etaincd the eame ivgaj'd for tlicir eatfy bene- 
 fftctorj Colcnicl lalbot, wliicb Lliey had ever manifes- 
 ted. 
 
 Other set Llei's made their way b to the Town- 
 ship of Datiirkh, after the way had been dsared fat- 
 them, who, as Is frequently tlie case, bccfirae the iiii- 
 graiefii] recipients of favors wliicJa they neither cle- 
 fiorveH.! nor appreckiod. The head of Lb esc was m 
 Iiish weaver, named Ooyno, a man not devoid of 
 industry, but of an avaricious spirit, who toiled and 
 prospered in disttontent. Those persons as far, 
 as it was possible to annoy a man of Colonel Talbot’s 
 inflexible chaiaetftr. left no moans, such as grovelling 
 imind.-i usually make use of, iinlrioij, to accomplish 
 Ihoir own selfish ends. 
 
 Among other difficulties the eavly settlers haii 
 to encounter was, to get their corti ground, aftei' 
 it had been raised among the slumps. 0(je of 
 the means by wliioli they used to render their 
 corn fit for use, was, by hollowing out the stump 
 of some largo fallen tree, by means of tire, keeping 
 tlio edge nil the time wet, until the fire burned down 
 and Converted the stuuip, or trunk ^of the tree, into a 
 mortar, and than with a, wooden beetle, sorving as a 
 |iestr.l, the cjin was poriiidcd sufTicicDtly ftr iise. 
 
2a 
 
 Llt' E OV UOLOii EL TALBOT* 
 
 Howev(Jr, to obviate tlii^ dilljeuityj Culunel Tfilhot 
 luitlt a mill at Dunwich, in 1807 or 3, and to this 
 Use a“itler$ w<sjra glad to resort, dll some yoars after, 
 ‘when it Tvag destroyed by tlie AmericaRs during the 
 vrar* 
 
 In the progress of this narrativej many anecdotes 
 and transacLions will appoai-j Ulustr^ttvc of Colonel 
 lalbot's really benovoloat dispoaitioi; and^ although 
 he Las been accased of ehuilisbncss and austerity, 
 yet Ids whole Jife shews, that he had ibe welfare of 
 every deserving settler at heart. The solitary si lu- 
 atbn in which he had voluntarily placed himself, 
 and the poiver he possessed of distributing lands, re- 
 qqired him to act froquenlly with apparent harsh- 
 ness, in order to avoid being "i[nposed upon by land 
 jobbers, and to prevent artful men from over-rc-ach- 
 ]jig tbeif weaker minded brethren. 
 
 Colonel fill bo t was an uncompromising enemy 
 to can't and humbug, whether in religion or poli- 
 tics, but even in his early d^ys, ho desired to bold 
 religion in respect* and to set ^ proper exatnplo to " 
 hlsaeulers; for we are told that he assembled his 
 j'ioople on, the Sabbath^ and read Divine Service 
 After Service,, wine being a scarce article in those 
 days, the whiskey bottle was regularly produced to 
 regale hh congregalioti, which had tho effect of en- 
 suring pimctual ftttendance. 
 
 The Colonel, too, was nece&sarily called upon to 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL T AID Of. 
 
 29 
 
 officiate in oilier ivaya than in tlie (lerfoi'nianccs of 
 diviae serviofl* He had oecaaloftaliy to unite parties 
 ill tlic boncU of raatriaiDny, and even it iss said, to go 
 through the ceremony of baptism. One of liie set- 
 tler 3 children, Talbot St John WainJ, christened by 
 him, is now an old man. For this latter fact, tve do 
 not rofieh, it is probable, Holonel Talbot mcroly 
 named Mr. Ward, vcitbout goisg I trough the cere- 
 mony of EiiptiBni. 
 
 The following anecdote furnished by Mr. Muti’ 
 ro, of whom we have already made mention, depict? 
 in simple language, the humble sHuntioti in which 
 the pioneer of Port Talbot bad placed himself, an<l 
 the hai^lehips and privations, he cheerfully mitJer- 
 wenh 
 
 “ Iti the fall of Z903 or f>, a rigid Presbyterian 
 wns located on 200 acres of Und, witliin a -CW miles 
 of Port Tulbot, who observed, and strictly kepi (ij 
 Sunday, from sunset on Sstiu'day to sunrise on 
 Monday, and in the OulonoPs log castle, spent Ilia 
 pSabbalb, consistently rending Lis Eiblo, On tbo 
 Monday morning, lio carried on his back a week’s 
 proviKioii of bread, the joint manufacture of Colonel 
 Talbot and his eettler Johnny, as the Colonel used 
 fiLtiiiliarly to cull him. One Sat'irday evening, as 
 tho Colonel himself humoiicnisly rehited, '‘Johnny did 
 not ai’j'ivo at Port Talbot, as usual , by sunset, and E 
 began trt four Fill was -not right with him. I prepared 
 
30 
 
 LIFE L>P COLON KL tALUOr. 
 
 so^ne loi>i]( iind curried it Lijrougli tlie wooJs to 
 -f olinny’s slaaiity of bass-wood Laa-k, wliGjre I found 
 him ha.fo anti soliulI To my qucslion^ why li<j did 
 not eouio home as usual, I received foi* reply, lliaE 
 lie had worked till sunset on Lite Saturday^ ainl of 
 course, would nol break the Sabhatli^ by walking t> 
 Port Talbot. I oursed him for his prejuilice,, threw 
 down tho pi'o visions^ entreafed Itim not to overwork 
 liimseJf any more on the Saturday, as he was fooi 
 enough to starve, in pi-cfereiicc to coming home as 
 Iic ought to do,” The person hero design E'.tcd 
 Johnny, was Mr* Barber, who lived many yofivn 
 afLcrward&on a fine farm, opposite to CoL Biirwcirs, 
 where he erected a substalltEal brick dwellings and 
 died, leaving several sons and rt daughter, all ^^ell 
 provided for, Mr. Harhor’s eldest son has recently 
 conEirmed this auBcdote, and has told the writer that 
 on another occasion, during the war, after marauders 
 had pillaged hi$ fuLher's house, the family \T?as in- 
 ti ehtoil to the Colonel for blaukots and other neees- 
 snties^ of which they w^ere in the need. This 
 
 avowal k creditable to Mr. Barber; for it is well 
 know^n, that lie had disapixiinted Colonel Talbot, in 
 the coiu'so he aftenvards took iu pel hies, by joininjof 
 the liberal pai'Ly, which Uxit every opportunity of m- 
 noying Colunel Talbot^ by aspersing his cliarac-teit in 
 or-ler to louder him in Llie esliroatioa of liis settlers, 
 Mr. Barber s^iyg, ibat ifir CqIoucI was full of wit nnd 
 
LiFU OF CU-LOXEr- TALBOT. 
 
 31 
 
 jtjlie iit Viis early days, and tells how, on One occasion, 
 lio fi'lglUenod a man out of liis name and money, 'ro 
 sti'angers, tlic Oolonol was aotiicLimce, cci'tuinl]', an 
 object of tei'i'or On this occasion, the ni>p]ieant for 
 land, Jci'cuiy Craudcll, had wished Mr. Uarber's 
 fatlicr to accompany him, as ho was in ihe habit of 
 doing others, to smooth the way, but OraudeH was 
 impatient, nod made his way IIo was iiah- 
 
 cved ill by Jeffery, when the Colonel turned round 
 upon him, with a highly flushed countenance, and 
 demanded Jus nain&. The man hocanie so terrified, 
 that he reniaiiied speechless, the Colonel then asked 
 him if he had any money, to give It to him; the 
 man ini mediately put his iiaiid Into his iwclict and 
 gave him what money he had. C ran dell was then 
 led off by Je fiery, to the kitchen, where he was cotu- 
 fislahly cntertfiineiJ for the night., Tho next morn* 
 jpg the Colonel settled hia business, satisfactorily, 
 returned him hia money, telling him that he bad 
 taken il h'oni him, to pro rent liis being robbed by 
 Eoinc of Lis raaeallj servanta, — sueb being the char- 
 acter of Bomo of the persons be was obliged to em- 
 ploy. It was a standing joke, against Gfandel), in 
 the sotllcment ever afterwords^ that he had lost bio 
 name at Port Talbot, 
 
 An Englishman, it -is said, should alwai’s bo 
 approached u/ter dhmer, if you ward U> obLaiii a 
 favor from hhn , I'lit noJ^jncl Talbol was an Irishman’ 
 
S2 
 
 LIFE OF GOLONF-L TiLEOT. 
 
 And could out bear to bo dUlurbed at Ibat linio of 
 day. 
 
 CII APTEII lY. 
 
 FftOCKESS OF THE SbTTI-EMENT — C oLOSEL BL’RTFELrj 
 
 — IIaKDSHIFS EiTEST OF THE Q’aLBOT SkTTLE- 
 
 iiEST — J diin ILolph— Captain IJattiiews. 
 
 TIjc progress of tbe Eettlemcnt "was slow, till 
 after tba year 181 Cl, About this time Colonel 
 Bufwe)], wbo ]iad been employed to sttiTcy llio 
 Townijbipg of Makbide, Bayliam, and pat't of tbc 
 city of London, paid Colonel Talbot a visit, and' 
 nfte wards becama a settle roa fi tract of land adjoiti" 
 iii^ Colonel Talbot’s, where be resided to the day of 
 Lis death. Dining the greater part of this time, 
 Colonel Bunvfill was a privileged guest at Port Tab 
 Lot, and from bis practical businesa talents, a-nd pre- 
 f. ssinnp.l knowledge, renilcred himself very useful to 
 Colonel 'Talbot, who made referenee to him In nl] 
 matters roqniritig nritlimetical calculation, bevond 
 pencil figuring OD ibc maps. 
 
 The maps made use of by Colonel Telbot, b d 
 all tlic lots ill tlie dlllcrieitt Townships laid down and 
 n umbered, anii the bargain belw'een the Colonel and 
 any new settler was recorded, by noting the name 
 of the settlor on the lot in lLc map. The name once 
 jdaced 01] tlio map, tbe .settlor was at liberty to lake 
 possession of the Ian.], and WiUt for a moi'p huleliblc 
 
Liri: or colo,\ei- TiLeuT. 
 
 33 
 
 litli?,— till lie hnJ performed ).he settlement duties and 
 paid the fees for ihe patent; when, as wns soinetiines 
 llie case, the grant was not entirely free. This mode 
 of pencilling down men’s titles* and the very tctontive 
 memory, ttIiLcIi the Colonel possessed, enabled him 
 to m Like transfers with the ns most fadlily. Instead 
 of long written documents, with words repeaUfd a 
 hundred times, reeapitnlatirig the bargain of sale or 
 tranafor between A and B, the tivo pai dcs had only 
 to appear ai Port Talbot, and state the natnre of the 
 transaetion, when, if it appeared to ho honest and 
 fair, tlie Colonel approved of ths change, and a 
 piece of India nibbsr, displaced A to iiinke roi.m for 
 li, but if the Colonel detected, which was often the 
 case, that B was eudeavorhig to overreach A and to 
 inveigle or cheat him out of his land, the bargain 
 was at an end. 
 
 Ah long as the settlers had all the diffletiUics of 
 new comets in the w'oods to contend with, the inflii- 
 cnee of Colonel Talbot was all powerful, and mainly 
 Cirntribuicd to place Colonel Burwcll in the elevati d 
 position, he for many years occupied, as a memher of 
 tJie Proviucial Pailiamciit, but in the course of time 
 political adventures got into the ^ettloraent, and suc- 
 ceeded in creating divisions and strife nmong the 
 s-ct tiers, many of whom had outlived their poveity 
 and their regard for their benefacto]'. 
 
 Colonel Burwell was first elected member for 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 3-i 
 
 t!io luiilud (JoLintiea of Mijldloses and Oxfoi'il, in op- 
 positiun lo the well knowo Mi'. Mallory, who aflcr- 
 warfla turned tr.i,ltor, Tlio contest was teon, nod 
 suatamed with great spirit. Alt persons having, 
 what were called Land lioar'l promises, as woU as 
 Dcjds, were entitled to vote ; .‘nul It w.as a joke amoiig 
 the electors, to tit tint their opponents with voting on 
 Lircli bark cerlineaics. This election vvas held at 
 the Log House of David Secord, and the electors L.ad 
 to cncantp in the wools, so few were the hahitatioiis 
 
 in those davs. 
 
 ¥ 
 
 Colonel Borwel] might he considered Colonel 
 Talbot’s reafly reckoner, and a more obsef^nloiis friend 
 it would have beau difficult to find. Although of 
 an imperious natiiro, and little disposed to submit to 
 the niillcry of olhes'^ BurwelJ bore with great erpra- 
 niinity, Colonel Talbot's CiLt fug sallies and sarcastie 
 remarks, winch frequently nppoaredag if the Colonel 
 held IjJs Judgment in contempt Burwell was a na- 
 tive of New Jersey, and came at ati early day Jo this 
 ProviiieOi His first residence was at Fort Erie, 
 ■whence he went lo live at Long Point. Here bo ro- 
 sided for sometime, with Daniel AIcQuccn, t!ie fa- 
 ther of -Major McQueen, au early settler under CoL 
 otiel Talhol. Jle was very assiduous, and ambitious 
 of becoming a scliokr, and although .self taught ho 
 wa-s never i-ery briglit By tliose who knew him, he 
 was even considered dull. Old McQrieen used (o 
 
LTPB OF (.'nLOifEL T/LUOT. 
 
 {35 
 
 say to liim, as be over liia lioctlis, HLirvvt'll 
 
 “ you are a calf's head of a fellow, any way . You 
 “ have a calP-s head, there is Jiotbing in iL, but wbat, 
 *' is driven in.” For many years, in Ihc infancy of the 
 seltlerrient, arul after it bat.1 grown to a oonsidorablc 
 extent, Colonel Bur well was a very useful uianj his 
 Knowledge as a surveyoi', and other acquirenaeuts 
 well filled Etim to render services to the people 
 nmong whom he was settled, as well as to Colonel 
 Talbot, wiio had use for all his talents; but to what- 
 ever degree of learning and usefulness he might have 
 arisen, his vanity and egotism were equal to Loth . 
 As ho grew older, and when inoic inteiHgeni people 
 had found tlieii’ way into the setllement, Bur well’s 
 useful qualilies becjuno loss conspicuous, and were 
 Jess called into retjtiisitioii, but his foibles became 
 more apparent. Perhaps we should be al a Josa to 
 bIicw his weakness more conspicuously than he has 
 done himself, by the names he iiiiposed on his sons, 
 1 le commenced with the groat hero of healtien my- 
 thology, Hercules, (ibo name of his eldest son,) to 
 whom suecccJcd llannibalj the great Carthage nian 
 General/ and by regular dfiscent Leonidas, 
 
 ■' The TirtuouB Spar laa, w'ho rcsigntd liislite. 
 
 " To BaTc Lis CDimtry, at tl>c Qcticau tjl.iflights, 
 
 " Tljcrniopy Jic” — 
 
 but the SOU, who had the most pretensions lo a nnme 
 indicating magnaniniity and Leave »y, was Hrciek; 
 named after th'^ iTmdrin hero '^f Qiieenist''W]i Height'^, 
 
LIKt COFjOSEh TAtiJiJti 
 
 U 
 
 General Brock! However, children are not respoTi 
 ^ible for the weakness or vanity of their parenL^, nor 
 are tliej hound to a^t up to ibc character of rciiown- 
 ed licroe^j afLer whora they may happen to bo naineth 
 The most promising children too often diBappoint the 
 evpcctntLona of their parents. 
 
 Colonel Biirweire indtiitry and porsevernnee 
 long enabled ham to hold a high pliico^ lu the minds 
 of the people of the settlement; added to wliich, he 
 enj^jyed the reflectioo of Colonel Talbotts high aaid 
 beuevolent chmeter. As a jhditiemn, he was con- 
 sistentj and for many years, retained the oonfideoco 
 of the people; but hi^ cold manner and apparent want 
 of nympatliy witli the peoples lost him ihcir coafi* 
 deuce. Ho was in a position to have attained to the 
 highest rant as a statcsnciati m Catinda; but instead 
 of rr^ng, he sank, from being the ropresentativo of 
 the County of Middlesex, to he the member for the 
 then infant Town of London, Even this honor he 
 Jo£t. He was many years Ciiairman of the General 
 Quarter Se^siona; but w^as fjuietly allowed to resign, 
 some y cal's before his death, lie waa also Registrar 
 of the County till the day of tis death; to which 
 situalion, Lia eldest son, Hercules ijuccecedcd. 
 
 Ill the height of his popularity, it was with 
 Bunvelh fiui Cf^sar arzt nildl^ and he was neither. 
 Truth demands Ihis notice of a man, whom circum- 
 $tarrcC5 placed in a position io hn\^ played a con- 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL T^LLDOT . 
 
 37 
 
 S{.ueuou$ part in the afliuis of CuD»da, bad bo poa- 
 aeeaed ibe uece^eary qiialLficatiotia of a groai sUitca- 
 DiaU) and bad ho respocUd the opiaioiifi of others as 
 mivch ns ho did his own. 
 
 The foregoing is certainly, not a Fery fialteiing 
 likeness of Colonel Ua-hlon Burwell) but hia friends 
 'will admit ii is a true one. IIo was tall in stature 
 and dignided in appearance; and, as has been before 
 intimated, exceedingly ambitious. He was n pro- 
 fessed member of the Church of England, aud, in 
 vai'ious iTays, extended his patronage to advance tbe 
 temporal interests of the Oliurch, At Port Bur well, 
 he built a Church, and endowed it with GOO acres of 
 land. 
 
 11c also made a grant of land to the Church 
 Society of the Dloceae of Toronto, of 100 acrea, to 
 the town of London, he gave a plot of ground of 
 considerable value, for a park or garden, besides 
 making gift^ of various kinds, for oducational and 
 other purposes. 
 
 Colonel Burwell, like most men who rise by 
 their own merit and industry, determined to give 
 Hercules bis £rst-baru, a Suished cditcatio'i, and 
 eent him to York (Toronto) accordingly, where he 
 mio-ht have the best instruction the Frovinen afforded. 
 There be acquired, along 'with echolastie education, 
 the habits of fashionable dissipation, and became au 
 inebriate. He was obliged to return home, and Linder 
 
 D 
 
Mf’K Of CQiONKL TALUOT. 
 
 as 
 
 parents] eurvei Hauers became more steady 
 hts fttbet rosigDed tbc Regialrarsbipp Hei'CulfiB was 
 appointed [{egistrai of the- County of Middlfse^r 
 which office he held for some ycar^, but hia evil pn> 
 peudiiiea again got the boUer of hlrUj he became a 
 ftot, and at last died in a melancholy state in Boston:- 
 
 It is lamentable that young men with the beat 
 prospects before them, so frequently forfeit thera^ by 
 yeildiog to the debasing habit of drinkings the con- 
 fteq!icncp, too frc^quently — of parental fondness and 
 partialily. Hercules Burwell had the best oppor- 
 tunity of acquiring distitictiou, had he been steady. 
 Hia broLlier Leoaldas, fortunately for hiitiself* was 
 not drawn into the same vortci of dissipation^ but 
 Lius maintained a steady and respectable character^ 
 and his capacity would "never have baeo que$tioncd, 
 had he not, through the support of reformers on one 
 side, and of conservadves on the other, and through 
 ihe iofluence of his father^ a name, arrived at the dLS' 
 tinction of an M. P* P.^ havbg been elected to the 
 House of Assembly j as representative for the East 
 Hiding of the County of Elgin, Hero he has only 
 difiliQguiahed hiitj-sclf by taking an extreme course, 
 and has succeeded io satisfying neither friends nor 
 Ibes, 
 
 Here a few refleciions suggest themselves on 
 the advantuges and disadvantages of scholastic edu- 
 cation, for how^ever paradoxiea,! it may appear^ a 
 
1.1P£ OF COLOlTEL TALDOT. 39 
 
 bxgli bUU of Duontal cultivation , in inuumerablo in> 
 stances, has proved a curse iugtead of a blessing 
 This ie easily accounted for, when we reflect that 
 education only dovolopes, but does not Create, the 
 faculties of the mlud. The more a weak mind is. 
 educated, the more its defects are ojihibited, and the 
 more a strong mind is polished by education, the 
 more its strength ig developed. Many young tuen, 
 who would have made good ploughineu, and indtia- 
 triouB laborers, bad they been taught to work, in- 
 stead of being sent to school or to college, till tha 
 age of maturity, have been totally ruined, through 
 the ambition and desire of parenta to elevate iheir 
 chUdrcn above the common level. It is not for ua 
 to say why it is so, but most assuredly the qualities 
 ot mind in children are as various as the qualities 
 of minerals or metals ; and the more you attempt to 
 polish them, the more their native inferiority becomes 
 matiifesl. Hence, thousands of highly educated meti, 
 who had been elevated to a standard, which the 
 capacity of their minds were unequal to, have sunk 
 to the level of the basest and most abject of man- 
 kind. 
 
 When children ore born to fortunes or entailed 
 estates, as is often the case in Europe, die evil con- 
 sequences of too high a standard of soholaatic educa- 
 tion, to youths of inferior Tninds, are not so appa- 
 rent, because these sprigs of fortune are not obliged 
 
40 
 
 LlFe: OF UOUONEL T^LCOT. 
 
 lo exercise their ’wits, and their place in society is 
 always kept for them ; but the poor youth, with a 
 (lull or weak mind, who has been polished up by 
 education, and who has to live by his talents, most 
 sink below the state from which he has been forced 
 up. Therefore, it behovee parents to afford their 
 chtldron just as much educ'clion, as their after pur- 
 suits in life are likely to require, whenever they can 
 discover iLe qualities of their tninds. 
 
 Mr. Secord was oue of few settlers who had 
 arrived from the Niaomra, District, and who bet^’an to 
 settle on Talbot road in tlie year IBlL Amorj 
 iheae TYQrc Benjamin Wilson, Esq.y Daniel Rappleie 
 
 CaptEtin D- Secord, Mosea Pk^ice, and tha 
 
 all of wliom remained Jojal lo Iheir reign, and 
 faitiiful to thoir benefactor, to the last, Others 
 again, proved themselves lesa deserving, and as they 
 grew independent, they became discon I ended and nn- 
 gratefiiL Such ’were the Teeple^j some of the Davis”,,, 
 and many others* as will hereafter appcar. 
 
 For a number of yearsy the setllementy we may 
 very well believe, progf-essed slowly^ as in thosa 
 early days few could be induced to icnniura them- 
 selves in the forests of Canada, remote from all the 
 comforhaand advantages of clvilbadou; anj it waa 
 not till tho year ISltp that euytbiog like a regular 
 sfxjro or eh op, was esUblifibcd b Ihe settlmncntp 
 During the intermediate time* the wants of tho 
 
LIFP. OP COLOS’WL TALJIOT. 
 
 41 
 
 tiers TTGre fre<jueullj supplied from tli$ stores of Col, 
 Talbot, wbo provided necessaries fjr LEa own uae, 
 Sind for tlie men tpliom ho empiojed- From ibesa 
 stores lbs EOtllers were glad to supply themselves, 
 at any p lie ^ but many of them were unablo to pay* 
 Fevf persons, who have not experienced life in 
 the backwoods, can form an adequate idea of the 
 sufife rings and hardships, 'which the eariy settlers l)ad 
 to endure. The roajs newly made, were full of 
 stunts and fallen timber, and to wind round and 
 through these, with a yoke of oxen and a rude cart, 
 frequently through morasses, over ruddy ctmatructed 
 causeways, commonly called tcrduroys, with very 
 broad stripes, could only be accomplished with much 
 labor and pa Lienee. Wliat was the TTOrk of a 'week 
 then, with heavy labor, and much privation, can 
 now be performed with ease in one day, locleed 
 for many years, with all tbo assiduity of Colonel 
 Talbot and his system of improvement, it was with 
 the gi'cate?t difficulty hia settlers, could get their 
 corn ground, after they had gone th rough the labor 
 of clearing a patch of land, and the auxicty of I'aising 
 a crop from it. Frequently they preferred going by 
 'water, a distance of GO or 70 miles, in a boat, along 
 the ehorcB of Lake Erie to Long Point, to get a few 
 basil els of wheat ground. 
 
 The inconveniences of trade, the mode of bnrlcr 
 and the exQibitnat prices paid for nccesearies, werg 
 
42 
 
 LIFE OFCijLONEL TJtLSOT, 
 
 ^iCQong the diflkullies tbo early setlkta had to con- 
 tend wllb. For instance, a settler, in tboso days has 
 bad to carry 18 buebels of ^heat, Sn payment of a 
 barrel of salt! and it cost bim a bushel of wheat to 
 pay for a yard of eoiton. The same"qlTantitj of 
 wheat, would now bring 8 bamslsof salt at least, wbilo 
 the cotton may be bad for 6d. On the other band, 
 Fometimes, those who had to buy com or provisionsi, 
 were compelled to pay monstrous prices^ and it waa 
 a favor to get any, even then, "WLeat cost Amo- 
 times, $2 por husbd, and other articles in proportion. 
 In tracing tbe early life of Colonel Talbot, in 
 the woods of Port Talbot, the biographer finds little 
 to interest the general reader, end few events worth 
 recording. The cheerless toil of the backwoodBrnau 
 atTords little to attract Oar aUeotlou, or to divert the 
 miqd from the dull and dreary realities of life. But 
 after some years of privation and patient endurance, 
 we emerge from the solitude of the woods, a brighter 
 prospect breaks upon the view, and we behold the 
 once tracklcsa forest, cut through in every direction 
 by good roads, exhibiting long lines of beautiful 
 farms, teeming with life, and diversified by scenery 
 (tf the most charming description. 
 
 The tract of country Settled under Colonel Tal- 
 bot’s superintendence, and of which he steadily 
 watched for half a century the growth and improve- 
 menC, comprises about 28 Township*, containing, 
 
LIFE &r C'cHX>!fFr. TaI.BhjT. 
 
 43 
 
 prtibably, not k?9 at tbie time, tban 1 50,000 Inhabi* 
 tnnts. The majoritj oT tbe Jii^t seukra, or their 
 cle&cendanta, are the proprietoR of fine far in a, well 
 stodieii atid improved, and worth £500 to £S0OO 
 each. Many of these settlers hud little more than 
 the axe on t^eir shoulderB, when they commenced, 
 Mr, James Hamilton, one of the sons of R. 
 Hamilton, and brother of the TIou John Hamilton 
 ih the jenr ISlT, landed a few goods at the mouth 
 of Kettle Creek, now Port Stanley, and for many 
 years kept a store in connexion with Mr* John War' 
 ten, under the style and title of Hamilton & Warren, 
 at St. Thomas, they afterwards built the Talbot 
 Mills, near Port Stanley, which were unfortunately 
 undermined by the current of the Creek, and went 
 to destruction. Afr. Hamilton was the first person 
 who establhbed a regular store in iho seldemeut. 
 TIo afterwards rcCirod from busluess, and beoame 
 Sheriff of the London District. 
 
 From the year 1810 settlers increased annually 
 and among others, who came to the scltleincnt, waj 
 the well known John Rolph, an Englishman, Afr. 
 RoTph located himself on a lot of land at Catfish 
 Creek, in the year 1813. For some years, it would 
 appear, Air. Rolph was a frequent glicst at Port Tab 
 hot, and enjoyed the good will and liospitality of the 
 Colonel. Indeed, he was at Chat time so great an 
 admirer of Colonel Talbot, or affected to he so, th.'it 
 
44 
 
 LirE OF COLON* EL TAT. HOT, 
 
 lie was tLe originator in the year I3l7j0f the Talbot 
 Annivorsarj, which was kept up foi' more than SO 
 years, to celebrate the <lay of Colonel Talbot’s arrival 
 at I’ort Talbot. Some further account of the Talbot 
 ^imiv’ersary will bo given hereafter. 
 
 Some yeata after, it would appear, Rolpb com- 
 menced that career in poliiics^ which Lurried him 
 into rebellion. While living in the Talbot settlement 
 he hatl so ingratiated himself with the popular party, 
 in opposition to Colonel Talbot and his nominee, 
 Burwell, that he was returned member of the Pro* 
 vinclftl Parliament, in conjuuciion with Capt. Mat- 
 thews, a retired officer, who became ¥ery dissipated, 
 and courted popularity by bar-room or mob oratory. 
 
 The following anecdote will shew the estima- 
 tion in which Matthews' character was held among 
 gen tie men, “ Having been fined 5s for swearing in 
 Court, Captain Matthews objected that the fiuo 
 ought jiot to be mere than Is, Mr. Tenbrook n 
 facetious lawyer, immodiaLcIy rose, and, addressing 
 the Court, said, Captain Matthews is right, the fine 
 of 5s is imposed on gentlemen, but, for blackguards, 
 the fine is only Is! 
 
 The secret of Eolph’s real or affected veneration 
 for Colonel Talboh is said to Lave grown out of n 
 desire to unite the names of Rolph and Talbot, by 
 family connexion, Rolph had sisters, and Colonel 
 Talbot had no wife. Tlic silken net was supposed to 
 
LIFE or COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 45 
 
 t.'iva bocn sprend^ Find itiraa vainly initigmod 
 
 that the Colonel would aoon feel, lha lonelioessi^of bSs 
 situation^ and become entangled in llie me&hes of 
 love. The Colonel^ Lowaverj it may vr ell be ima- 
 gimdt too old a bird to be canglit in this sort 
 of way. He had wa-ked among th-^^ fair of England^ 
 in the heyday of life, bedeckod ia brilliant plumuge, 
 hands^orae in appearance, and polished in mantierSj 
 and in every way adapted to attract the smiles and 
 fr-uscinations of youth and beauty; Eind ho had oome 
 off Hnscalhed. It was nut likely ll^at in after 
 he would allow othera to cater for blm^ or to ap- 
 proach near enough to put on the salt. Ho was too 
 old a bird for that* and ibh^ it la supposed, Roliih 
 found out, and therefore drew off his forces. It is 
 not here intended to insinnato that the Misses Rolph 
 were any party to the schemes of tl eir brother. In 
 ordinary Caines, the unpre meditated display of female 
 charms, would have sufficed for the carrying out of 
 Hulph'ft views* 
 
 Rolph was a smooth, oily-tongiied politician^ and 
 with hia knowledge of law and physic, was well skilled 
 in the ml of pleasing pcoplcj diseased either in mind 
 or body. Some of the old ladies, and vain aspiring 
 old men of the eeUletdont, have a high opinion of 
 Rolph to this day. As a physician, he must have 
 c.vcelled the famous Dr* ITornbook, immorLali^cd by 
 the poot Bums; and as a lawyer, ho was no doubt 
 
40 IIPK OF COLONEL TALBOTh 
 
 equally akillfd; but aa a politidati^ he eadly disap- 
 paiatad tte expecUCioae of hi a warmest friends, 
 Ev«]i Wm. Lyoti MeKenzie, bis brolher in trea^onj 
 li^^ed to stigiiiatizo bim^ for his treachery and coward- 
 ice, and spoke and wiote of him, in terms cf the 
 utmost contempt- 
 
 In tho year 1937, Eolpb, who lived in Toronto^ 
 was considered to be deeply implicated with Me 
 Kenzio in the ontbreah wbicb thou took place, and 
 fled from the Provinoej in order to save his neck^ but 
 returned after a few yeai^ ex^patriaibn, with other 
 pardoned traitors^ and lived in peace, prajeUaiug his 
 profeBsioELp 
 
 After living several years in retiremontj aome 
 of his former associates in tiieason, having taken a 
 load in public affairs, Rolph peeped out to loot at 
 the poi ideal flLtdospherCj and, seeing that all waa 
 safe, again made his appearance on the arena of pub- 
 lic life, and being elected a member of tha Provin- 
 oial Parliament, beeame one of the mmistera of the 
 Gatiadian Cabinet; in Tts'hich elevated position he 
 (after haring narrowly and undeservedly escaped the 
 gabows,) con ti tilled for Some years, to the reproach 
 and e-veirla&ting disgrace of those who elected him. 
 In the Provincial House of Assembly, Rolph was 
 confronted with lil^ old associale, W. L. McKenzie^ 
 who now met lum in opposilion, taunted him wilh 
 bis treason, and publicly held him up ae one of ihe 
 
LIFi: OF COLO\EL TAI.fsOT. 
 
 47 
 
 meanest liti I tore, nlio haj ever graced a gibbet. Tho 
 elevation of mch a wm aa John Rolph, to the Coun- 
 cil of StatOj is a lanientFible proof ol Iho degrading 
 depth to which detoooraey sink a gave in m cut 
 
 ’n'hen imconlrolled by proper constiLutioiial eheckd, 
 Rolplijc ie 6ald^ gamed much popylaiUy by praE^tb- 
 ing bis profe^wSiom ’Pidlhout charges, or at very lyw 
 rates. 
 
 CHAPTER V, 
 
 Amf^rican War, 1812 * and War SxoRiiia— P tjnc- 
 
 TOALITV ^BANKirfO ASTD J, K- WoODWMtD^ 
 
 During the war with the United State?,- in 
 1812s Colonel Talbot commanded the mill da of the 
 Distrietj ft force then not numerous; and this Weat- 
 em portion of Canada, was more indebted for safety 
 to the difficuUy of suppoTting an array In Itj and of 
 finding ati enemy* than to The force, which could ba 
 broughl together to repel an attack Tliereforc* 
 only maraiidiug parties found their way into the 
 fiettlcment — more in eearcU of plunder^ thari with any 
 view of fighting. On one occa^^ion, one of these 
 jiaataudlng parliea, commaiided by a man named 
 Walker, presented tbeniBelves ab Port Talbot, and 
 summoned the garrison to surrendf^r- The garri.^on* 
 it may be conceivedp was not very formidablej tbera 
 being no fortificatiuns or troops^ except a few of tlio 
 ycomatiTy. The sudden appearaiico of these bri- 
 
4^ Lira OF TALBOT. 
 
 gatidsj left not Hiacli timo for consultation, and Capt. 
 Paterson, ivlio coiutnanded the yeomaary or nailitiai 
 intimated to Gjlonel Talbotj that as defence was out 
 of the question, sctvv^ peut eUould bo llie order 
 of the day, and that ha, (tJie Colonel,) of all others, 
 ought not to be found at home, to grace rlie triumph 
 of ft lawless horde. Accordingly, as Commander 
 Walker and Lis party entered tlio Colonel’s Log 
 hlansioa on ono side, Colonel Talbot walked out at 
 another door. Colonel Talbot, iinl ike the hero of 
 Trafalgar, was unosteiitatious in bis drees, and not 
 particiaUrly loud of military display j therefore ha 
 w^s not so easily distinguished frona those about him, 
 whicU fadlitated his escape. Captain Paterson who 
 lived to a good age, on a handsotne farm, about £ve 
 ijilks above Colonel Talbot’s and in almost daily 
 intcrc inrae with the Colonel, gave to the writer the 
 following account of the taking of Port Talbot, 
 The pprly consisted of Indiairs and scouts from the 
 American army, after the battle of Moravian Town, 
 where the gallant Tccuniseh was killed, ^vnd w-hero 
 General Proctor so disgraced hitoBelf by retreating 
 with his army, leaving only one Coinpjiny to face 
 the enemy, who were in consequence made prisoners. 
 Cuptain l^stterson said, the Colonel had confer’ 
 red with him, when the approach of the maiau’ 
 ders ivas announced, and that they both agreed, 
 it was iu vatu to resist. The first of the enemy 
 
LlfE OF CO LOS EL Til.fiOt. 
 
 43 
 
 who cti tiered the premist^is, wne bu lodiao, and 
 the following colloquy look place, between him 
 and the Captain: — '* You one officer/’ “ Yes/' “ what 
 officer?" “Oh! b'g officers— Captain. ” Other In* 
 diaciE came up, and rushed Into the houac, when they 
 saw' Colonel Talbot walking off. ** Who that yooder/’ 
 aaid the Indian, “ he big officer too?" “ STol " said 
 Paterson, " he is only the man that touda the sheep. " 
 At the same raornent, two Intliaus had levelled their 
 rides St the Colonel, when the other eilled to Lhem, 
 nob to hre on the poor man that kept the sheep, and 
 they dropt their rifles ; bat seeing the Colonel walk- 
 ing off at a brisk step, the two Indians were not 
 satUhed, and raised their rifles, but they were again 
 checked, end the Colonel in the meantimo dropt into 
 the ravine, and was out of sights The premises 
 were rifled, and everything that the Americans could 
 lay their Lunds on, was Carried off; some very hue 
 horses fornaed part of their plunder. "What they 
 could not take with them, that was cither valuable 
 or Berviccable, they committed to the flames or 
 otherwise destroyed. The grist mill which Colonel 
 Talbot had erected, and which had proved vary ser- 
 viceable to the inWt settlement, was totally de- 
 stroyed. Hia cattle were all driven off, but his gold^ 
 about tvjo quart pots full, and some plate, that 
 were concealed under tho front wing of the house, 
 cscafied notice. Colonel Talbot, during this xime, 
 
30 
 
 ut^t: c^F fiyl.ONKt. TM rrf’T. 
 
 ptU'sued Lis walk through the wood&j. leaving tha 
 ^hi^p t* trtk&care of theTnsdvts, thua es- 
 caped ^ 
 
 Colonel Bunvell was not &□ fortunate, for be mg 
 confined to lib house, with fever find ngue, thej 
 gatiioreil him up, and fent htm off pvboner to CHl- 
 icothe, ■where he remain ed several months prisoner of 
 war* Captain Wilson wae al&o snade pri-sonert but 
 ^£Ciiped Ih rough the humanitj of ibe chief of three 
 Indians, under whose charge he had been placed, 
 in oon&ideration of hia having Ji large family to pro- 
 Tide for. 
 
 Coknul Talbot, with bis militia, was the 
 battles of Lundy's Lane and Port Erie. At one 
 of ilicBe placeSj Major BuckhoiiBc had ordered hk 
 Toen lo retreat, Tvliicb Cnloacl Talbot being made 
 awar^ of, personally rode afEer tbem^ and made tLeuj 
 relump During the ni^ht of the same eDgagement, 
 a droll incident occured. A man named Watson, 
 one of the ColoneP^ earliest settlors, happened to bo 
 without a gun, his own having been taken away from 
 him. or lost, which the Colonel observing, reproached 
 him with being unarmed. Watson made the best 
 excuse ho could. ** Take that man's gun, ” snid the 
 Colonel, poititing to a mnsket lying beside one who 
 had been tilled^ and then yon won't have to say 
 that you have no gun. Walspn, howevor, was in no 
 way Uneasy about being nnnrined, and very naively 
 
LIFS Cl? CULaNE.L TAl.BOi'. 
 
 51 
 
 replied, “ Well, Colonel, I guess I nerer robbed tbe 
 living yet, and I'm sure I won’t loL the dead.” 
 
 As an incident of the war of lSl?j we may 
 ineutiou that after Ibe taking of Detroit by General 
 Brock, in the stimmei' of that year, General Proctor 
 was left in command, while Brock returned to the 
 Fiagara frontier, and in 1313 Proctor went and 
 fought a battle with the Araericans, at the Raisin 
 rdver, and defeated them; hut afterwards, in couse* 
 quence of the capture of the British fieet on Lake 
 Erie, Detroit had to be evacuated, for want of sup- 
 plies, The .\TiQcricaii General, iJarrison, followed 
 the Dritisb, and a battle was fought at Moravian 
 'I’own, where the gallant Teciimseh was killed. It 
 was on this occssion that General Proctor forfeited 
 his reputation as a soldier, and for his disgraceful 
 retreat before the enemy, laaviog only one comp any 
 of regulars, as before meDlioued, whh their Indlau 
 allies, headed by Tecumaeli, to bear the bmnt of 
 iho battle, he was tried by Court Martial,— Colcnie I 
 Talbot was one of the ofiEcers auramoned to Quebec, 
 to try Proctor for bis conduct. 
 
 General McArthur, also marched from Detroit, 
 wiih 900 men, and 250 ludiuns, as far as Bi'antford, 
 blit without doing any other damage than billing 
 cattle, and taking provisions wherever they found 
 them. This body of men ic turned by way of the 
 Talbot Road, aud the uiiformnatc settlors wot^i^suIj- 
 
32 
 
 Lira or colonel T^iLBOt. 
 
 jeeted to their deprcditiions, but sufTwed no other 
 inconvieniencej tban that aiiaiog from ibo loss of 
 their cattio, and ever^'Lhiog elan fit to undergo the 
 process of ranstication, llir.j of the old settlers, 
 however, were as knowing as the Yankees them* 
 selves; for they had lived so long near them on tha 
 lineSi in the Niagara Distiict, that tliey were quite 
 up to many of their tricks. Of thesa old Major 
 Maitatt and John Miller, could recount quite a chap- 
 ter. They knew well, th&t it was mueb easier to 
 hide thau (o defend iheir cattle; therefore they 
 granted them leave of absence, having driven them 
 first out of tha way, as far aa they could, so that the 
 balf-starvecl, half-nakei Yankees were not likely 
 either lo metid their clothes or to fill their bellies, by 
 going through the tangled thickets in search of 
 them. This was the ragamuffin army trom which 
 Welker’s band of marauders ivas detached to visit 
 Pert Talbot, 
 
 Jlajor McQtleen, who was a Lieutenant durirg 
 the war of 1312, relates a gallant achieve ment of 
 R few militia men, near CLatham, at which he and 
 Miijof Nevill xvere present, and took part* A com' 
 psny of Ataerican regulars, 52 in number, had taken 
 possession of a building belonging to ilJr. McGrea, 
 18 miles from Ghathan), where the officer of the 
 compacy of militia, to which McQueen belonged, 
 conceived the idea of nttaeking the Americans by 
 
ITFE 07 COT.ONEL TALBCJT- S3 
 
 aight^ ill th^ir quartiars. Th^ aLUcking party Vt^ 
 only 26 in niimberj but, so caiitbusly and Eki] fully 
 did they perfoTm their esploit, that they took*^ 
 the whole company of regular-s prisoners by Bnt- 
 piise, after kiillng only two of their niimbarj and 
 woundiog savenil othera. This was done, t-ooj iti the 
 face of a. troop of American dragoons, stationed on 
 the opposite side of the river; but Vho could not 
 oross on account of the weakness of tie ice, Tha 
 Americans were greatly mortiSed when they dis- 
 covered that they had been captured, and had to 
 march prisoners of war, under an escort of tuilhia 
 half their number- But the Canadians were bo 
 formed into companies of 6 cacb^ a& to make them* 
 selves appear to the Americans as ten times their 
 number- It appears a ro^^d to the river aide from 
 the building, was entered by a gateway, on opening 
 which, a sentry challenged — the flrat militia man 
 who approached, promptly seised his musket, and in 
 true Yankee style told the fellow, wlio was begin- 
 ning to give the alarm to his comrades^ to shut vp, 
 or he would blow hia bmbe out—the militia then 
 fired irtto the building, and look the Americans be- 
 fore they could recover from their aurpri^Oi Colonel 
 Talbot, aa eooq as be beard of this achieve cnenh aud 
 that this gallant little body of militia w^ere marching 
 down a company of Americans soldiers, ordered up 
 skiglifi to convey the whole party to Long Point- 
 
5i 
 
 LIFE OF COLOXFJ. T A I- HOT, 
 
 Aft e^ery liOTor^ibla mau. sliould LSi Cdotii^l 
 Talbot punctual in all his engagetncntSj and 
 scrupulously exact in all tnonenEery transactions. 
 Th^ lai'ge sum a be received for many joare, from 
 tbe setllers^ Tvers duly and properly accounted for 
 to the Govern Tuent, and tbia too, at a period in tbc 
 history of Can ad it h worthy of record, when men 
 entruated with public monies^ did not scruple to lip- 
 prupriatc them to their own use. Men moving in 
 the higheftt class of society, in every department of 
 the GoTCrnmCDb seemed to consider it no dishonor 
 to main tain tbeir standing and cxtrayagance,, by 
 ‘making uso of the monies with which they 
 et trusted; and of tbia the recerde of the Province 
 furnish numerous instances. 
 
 During a gre^t part of the time of the Col oners 
 residence, at Port Talbot, tha only notes in circula- 
 tion^ in this western portion of tbe ProviiiCCi were 
 those of the Banh of Upper Canada, and none others 
 he would take. This was so well known lo thoae 
 who had payments to make, that they did not fail 
 to provide them^elvoe with Bank of Upper Canada 
 note?* Theee were carefully preserved till the time 
 of making his annual visit to Little York, (Toronto ) 
 when hn duSy made hU returns to the Governmentp 
 and disbnrthened binaself of all those promises to 
 pay. On ihege occasions, the Colonel travelled hi 
 that iti a good strong hlgb-shouSdered boi 
 
II r F. CO ! . fA' E T. T A iri OT. 5 1} 
 
 ^V]'.LippeL| up in ibe til Lufmu diteji felon 
 coat^^ird ccr^ne-d with Bufl'tiio Robc^H Tliese wore 
 uauallj the only oecii^ions when he left homej ODce 
 ^ ye^ii- in the mnterj atii Xh^xi but fora short period^ 
 BO that pJirti^^s need never be disappointed at not 
 God mg him at home. 
 
 AVliile the Colonel is making hl^ deposits, and 
 bal lancing his account with the Govern me nt^ wo 
 will glance at the state of moucL^ry affairs In the 
 settlement. At that time, forty or fifty years ago^ 
 there could scarcely be said, to be tiny money in this 
 part of the country ^ and all matters of bus! ness, and 
 even bargaioing for land between Eettlers, were eon- 
 eu mated by barter, as is elscwhero shewn, Botp to 
 re turn to the subject of money. 
 
 Money^ in its nature ^ is one of the slmpleat 
 things or commoditiee ever invented or uiaiiufaclured 
 by ihc wit of man; in its ueSj lE Is the most com- 
 plicated. It is either a piece of metal, a ahellt or 
 n piece of paper, improved by labor und sanctioned 
 by law^ and ctistom. It^ use is applied to every 
 conceivable purpose under the sun* It cannot 
 aln^ays remove pain^ but it can alleviate aufft^iing;i it 
 cannot make the wheat grow'j but h can tjauss it to 
 be cultivated, and pay for it \v hen it is gtowQ.i In 
 ^lior^ money is Jn3tni menial iu giving pleasure to 
 the miudj and In producing evcryiljiiig which can 
 eii-her iidoin, iioiirish, or fetrengtben the body. But 
 
LIVE or COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 the fitUlers hriit to tlo wiltiont donfiy. There 
 was not a UsLk or a Bank Office in the aeltlenicnt^- 
 now, there are a dozen at. least. So uDaccustotned 
 were the settlers, to the use of Bank notes in early 
 limcSj that when Truseott ds Green, slai'ted a bank 
 note shop in St. Thomag, macy of the farmers 
 eeerned to think that they got money by merely 
 signing iLeir names, and set little value on a bunch 
 of bank notes, obtained for 80 slight a consideratiou ; 
 but a few months enlightened their iimlerctaiidingSt 
 The first attempt at banking in this settlement 
 was made in the year 1634 or 35, when, Mr. Wood- 
 ward, an Englishman, undertook bo operate for 
 hlessra Truscoti d; Green, who astonisbed the old 
 foggies in Toronto, by the boldness of their adven- 
 ture. Those sturdy old gentlemen, the Hon, Win. 
 Allan, old Chewvitt, and Thomas G. Kidout, under- 
 fitood very well how promises to pay in the shape 
 of bank notes, eould be made to represent every- 
 thing else but themselves, and the public long 
 aceastomed to the cautious siguatures of these throe 
 Bank of Upper Canada Officials, bad full eoufideuoe 
 in their dingy oblong bits of paper, but neither 
 one nor the other, could discover the wisdom or 
 safety of allowing bank notes to ciiicukte, which 
 really in first hands represented Dothing; so they 
 determined at once, to check the circulation of these 
 paper strips, on the long tail of a dying kite, A 
 
UPE yf COLuJfEL TALltOTi 5T 
 
 kita won^'t fly -without a tail made of strips of paper 
 and strings aud some weight to Wp them dowa; 
 nor can a bank, i^uing Dotee^ long exist wiLhont a 
 healthy circulation. Now, to obtain thia, Truscolt 
 & Green^ or tho Agricultural Bank, a a it was en- 
 ikhdf employed Mr^ J. Kh Woodward, vybo, like the 
 renowned Teeteeh tLo render of the Pope^s indul- 
 gencfis* id the days of Martin Luther* aoon attracted 
 a Crowd of needy customei'a^ in search of bnok note 
 indulgences* as little likely to relievo thenii aa 
 TcetieFa paper wnree; and many of the fannera^ 
 toop prided Iheinedveft on having a bank of their 
 own, the Agncultaral Bank;, and Bome years after, 
 the greatest j>oliticaI Bchenierf after Lord Sydenham^ 
 which Canada ever saw, Francis Hiucks, improved 
 the ide^j atiii with the aid of some Toronto polSti' 
 dana, as pa^trsotic as himself, established the Fiir- 
 meffl Joint Stock Bank. J. K, Woodward wa^ the 
 agent of theBo AgTkuUnral concerns in St* Thomas,, 
 as mTYiQ of the settlers well remeniber lo thb day, 
 and if they do noL they have only to step into Cen- 
 tre Street, where they will see on Richard Kicoirs 
 lot, a tenantlesa wooden frarae, wiLboot doors or 
 windows, and the words Agricultural Bank, painted 
 in large characters over the mfiin dooaway of a 
 skeleton building tj refresh their memories— like 
 the sigh dess skuh, described by ihe great senLiment- 
 ali^L safis teefh^ sans everf/thing. The 
 
fiS LlFt OF COLONEL TALHOT, 
 
 ]jaak of Upper Canadat very ]iropeTly, lo prevent 
 the Oomitry from beio^ flooded witli tbeir worthlefis 
 paper, took it out of tlio way aa fast aa possible, and 
 esiablisbad an igeney in St. Thomas, This was tho 
 first regular e^lablUbmcnt of a Bank Agency between 
 ElainiUon and Amberstburg. 
 
 BlU Mr. J. K, Woodward was loo celebrated 
 a character to be disposed of sumoiarily. Mr, 
 Wood^vard, in England, had moved among that 
 middle ckiss of society, w'ho are generally esteemed 
 wealthy, hut who have ae-quired their riches by 
 many long years’ prudence, and the etnployuaent of 
 skill and industry* I'o give an idea in whose hands 
 wealth is frequently accumulated in England. A 
 follow TowasmaUj (C. B. Brown,) was on a visit 
 there last year, and in corupany with his brother, 
 met a number of tradespeople and others in a eoffee 
 room, in the ci‘y of Loudon, where middle aged and 
 eMerly men usually resort, to smoke and talk over 
 the ailhii'a of llm oation . One persen was very con- 
 spiouOLis ainong Iho t) umber, and when he left the 
 room, the brother said to Brown, do you know who 
 that is; he is Mr. — ^the cats meat luau; he owns 
 £3000 stock in the Great Western Railway of Can- 
 ada ! ThnC makes him talk so much about Canada. 
 Only fancy a great railway, built by spot and cats 
 meat. VVoodwMr J’a positioQ was nt^ er well defintd ; 
 he had followed sonietbiiig like the trade of Ilatier 
 
UFV or COLONRT. TALUnr, 
 
 55 
 
 ond Fiinitr, ocoahioiuilly took :% tni'D iti the iTjiitkcf* 
 01 ' thr^ew him&elf on chan^^-Cj among tbe jobbei'^ and 
 &t0ck-hroli€js. By moans ho came to be con- 
 Kidored a roan of wenUh; acd he was even &aid to 
 be the owner of a block, or row of bilsldingfi some* 
 where m tho borough, bnt wbtit 1 eiispect, most 
 helped him to fortune, w’hIS ihe facilily widi w^lilch 
 he could apparently throw himself hoart and aoub 
 into the midst of a pious congregation. Woodward 
 was said to have a good sonorous voice, and £o flex- 
 ible in its tones, that it won Id harmonize with any 
 voice, male or female, of ths congregation. At one 
 time he belonged to the IndepeudantSj. a body 
 peculiarly earnest in their devotions^ whether in 
 prayer or in psalm’ singing, and jn^t the sort of peo- 
 ple he could ivofk on; too simple minded to dttect 
 in others, fiini they were unconscious of, in them- 
 selves. Here it was, that Woodward aL true ted tbe 
 attention of a lady, who afterwards became M r^- 
 Waodw ard, and having taken him for better or worker 
 it b believed she got the worst of the bargain. She 
 was said to have brought him acon^derable sum of 
 money. 
 
 There nre two earthly objects wliioli men 
 most eqvet and desirat womcD and money. Ttie 
 love of tbe former, cannot be two ardent, when it is 
 pure, and the Ion ^r and stiongei the passion be* 
 come.s, the more does it cnoble and elevate the man ; 
 
60 l.TFii QF rOLr>NKL TALBOT^ 
 
 but the. lyve of mox^^y lias just Use contisiry efFcctj 
 aud wbea a mercenary wretch emulates the one 
 passion, to gratify ibo olber^ b?i5eiae£s can descend no 
 bwer^ — lust and avarice oper<atifig together beget 
 meatless and hypocrisy. 
 
 Woodward built an e:steij&ive range of bouses 
 in SL Thomas, which were rented for barracts> when 
 troops were stationed here, and also purchased a very 
 fine farm in the neighborhood. As long as tba 
 Agricultural interest supported the banking interest, 
 Mr. Woodward, appeared to be u ricli fnaCj but as 
 £oon aathe farmers’ bank notes declined in value , hia 
 wealth dieappearodj like the baseless fabric of a 
 vision. But Woodward was ready foi everyLhing 
 that offejed;for he waeas loyal as he was rdigiotis, 
 aod, theneforCj when the outbreak occur ed, he joined 
 the St, Thomas cavalry troop, and became Lieutenam 
 and Paymaster, in which rank he continued lill the 
 Iroop was disbanded. Nobody ever had an Idea 
 that Woodward seriously ^ intended to fight,, and 
 he was the butt of the whole troop. But he 
 made them pay for their jotes^ wheu^ver their 
 cessiliea caused ihem to aiilicipate pay day. 
 
 After the ckse of his uiilitary career^ Wood- 
 ward took a grist miil near Port Stanley ^ and lived 
 for fiome time on tolJ^ and at length retired to Eng- 
 land to resume his old trade, though nobody could 
 exactly tel! wh^i it was. Some men are said to 
 
LlfE DF CULONEL TALBOT, 
 
 61 
 
 Lave good, and eomo to Lave Lad cLaractsrs, but 
 of "Woodward, itiaaj be eaid, he had no character at 
 all. 
 
 When Woodward terminated Lie banking career 
 for a time, bank notes were much scarcer in the 
 settlement, but intrinsically more valuable, and 
 many of the settlers had found oat, that their own 
 live stock, were much more uBeful than Agricultural 
 Farmers* Joint Stock, oi People's Bank Notes. They 
 were now quite willing to renew their acquaintance 
 with the old chartered hank noleB; but Hincks and 
 hifl friends did not abandon them, for finding bank- 
 ing less profitable than they had anticipated, they 
 turned their wits and paper to better account, by 
 furnishing cheap news, and food for agitation, and 
 aoon the JSs^mhter — Newspaper, circulated among 
 the farmers as freely as the Agricultural bank notes 
 had doDO. From these small bcgimiitigs, we Lave 
 ^arge results, A magnificent line of Canals and 
 Railways , and a Pfovincial Debt that will last longe r 
 than either of iLem ! 
 
 The efiest of these improvements has been to 
 shorten the circulation of bank notes, by hastening 
 the speed at which they travel ; for a bank note paid 
 in St- Thomas to day, may bo in Montreal to-noorrow. 
 To reflecting minds, and men acquainted with bank- 
 ing, this will appear no disadvantage, but rather a 
 protection to the public, as it must have a tendency 
 
Llf E or TALlJOT. 
 
 rrZ 
 
 to keep ihs currency o( tho country in a fat:atihy 
 £tate. 
 
 Ha^'‘jDg iilluwed the Colonel ample timo to 
 Lramitict his buaiiiess at LiUle York, (Toronto) willi 
 the fTTeat ofBeiiil& of tlia goternineiit — among whom 
 he ^^alked sort of independent Sovereign,— Tira 
 will return with him, to hla usual routine. 
 
 CIT AFTER VL 
 
 The ScotcuSetrLEttsi^ Aluboko'— The Audience 
 Window — J uFrEftY Huster — E iXEst oe Land 
 
 PLACED AT TIIK CoLONEL'S DiaPOSAl^ 
 
 So [new here about tho year 18 IB, a n Limber of 
 Scotch emigrants found their way into tho settlement. 
 These had first settled iti tho United States, near the 
 Genesee River, but heariDg of the Talbot Settlement, 
 applied to Colonel Talbot for land, and agreed to 
 become settlors under him on SO aeree of land each. 
 TJiisi WA3 strictly in aceordafice, both with the en- 
 gage mont of Colonel Talbot witli the British Govern- 
 ment and with these settlers, and did not prevent them 
 from acquiring other Jand, by graot^ through Colonel 
 Tilbot, the same as other settlers, as though no such 
 bargain for the 50 acres had benp made. But^ after 
 sometiruej a person named Bkekj artfully iustiiled into 
 the roinds of these 'people, that Colond Talbot had 
 been withholding from them 150 acres of land each j 
 
ITFS OF OOLONFIL TALBOT. 
 
 €3 
 
 TThich caused great excitement, at the ensurEg elec- 
 tion, this absurd story was turned to political aciount. 
 All tbose Scotch meo, who were lead to belieca that 
 they had been defrauded, became inveterate oppo- 
 BeDts of Colonel Talbot and of (Lose wSiom he wae 
 supposed to favor. With a piper at their head, they 
 maTcbed iu a body to the poll, to display their inde- 
 pcndeoce, by voting against Bor well and Bostwick, 
 who were friends of Colonel Talbot. 
 
 A more senseless clamor, it is not easy to 
 eonceire, tban tbiit which was raised against Colonel 
 Talbot by these settlers, who bad only themselves 
 to blame if they had made a bad bargain. They 
 might have had more land, if they had chosen to 
 have gone further into the interior; but no, they 
 chose to lake 50 acres each, on the Leke Shore ■ 
 The bargain was one only bet wee □ the Colonel and 
 themselves ; ho fuldlled his part of the agreement 
 honorably, and these^inen, who were made the dupes 
 of others more designing than themselves, bad no 
 just Cl use of complaint. To the honor of some of 
 the Highlanders, be it said, they have lived long 
 enough to acknowledge the injustice of the aocuBa- 
 tion against the Colonel, while others have always 
 reprobated the Conduct of their countrymen on that 
 c-ccasioti. Among the most respectable porhon of 
 the Scotch settlers in Aldboro’, are Angus McKay, 
 Ceoige Gunn, Bannerman, and others, who had 
 
6^ 
 
 LUE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 bd0u in earlior days tfiinpted to ouaigrats from Scot- 
 land to tie inhospitable regiona of Hndaons’ Bay, in 
 order to form iindci, the auBpices of Lord SelTtirk, a 
 Colony at Eed EiTer. The dreadful faard&bips ond 
 privations encountered and oveioome by tioBe poor 
 people, daring thoir stay at Hudions’ Bay, and on 
 tieir journey to the Selkirk settlement, can scarcely 
 be irmagined. With their wives and children, they 
 were frequently reduced to the greatest extremities 
 for want of food, having at the same time, to brave 
 the inclemency of the Arctic climate, and to travel 
 through every kind of difficulty, lOOO miles at least, 
 before reaching the settlement — and when It ere, 
 their situation Was very liitle better. Finally, after 
 enduring every sort of misery for aeveral years, they 
 were enabled to find their way to the United States, 
 and thence to Canada, and settled in Aldborc*, where 
 they live, in comfortable circumstanoes. The old 
 people to this day, can scarcely refrain from shed - 
 ding tears, when they are led to spcEik of the heart- 
 rending scenes they passed through, in the IXorth 
 West Territory, 
 
 As ail instance of the benevolent disposition of 
 Colonel Talbot, and the Iguoratice of the people with 
 whom he had to deal, Mr, Muuro has furnished the 
 follewing anecdote; — 
 
 In the Autumn of 1818, two or three of the 
 Highland emigi nuts arrived at the sixteen, (a creek) in 
 
LIFE OF fJOLONKL TALBOT, 
 
 65 
 
 Aldboro’f came to tlie ColoBel for land, TrbicU Le at 
 once gave, Bud by "way of sealing tbe contract, 
 treated each of tbom to a good horn of real whiskey ; 
 and while at dinner, the Colonel paced tho room, 
 instructing his guests how to build houses, clear land, 
 plant corn and potatoes, with other usiefnl directions ; 
 beseeching them to be industrious, sober and paacO' 
 able. At ^bed tame, the Colonel produced a pile of 
 blankets, and requested his guesU to make their 
 own bed. One of tbe party said, ' We never naade 
 abedl'’ — ^the Colonel took the mattra^s, placed it on 
 the floor, before the fire, brought the back of throo 
 chairs, to the Biibservient position of pillows, spread 
 one blanket, then turned round, and said, 'spread 
 the rest of the blankets fairly on the top of that, and 
 learn to help yourselves, in Canada/ The men 
 commenced, but the Colonel getting out of patience 
 with their awkwardness, took the rest of the blankets 
 and spread them, at the same time, remarking, ' I 
 have often made ray bed of hemlock boughs, ami 
 considered it no hard work/ They slept soundly in 
 the bed made for them; and after breakfast, left the 
 noble descendant of the kings of Connaught with the 
 itnpreEsioii that he was truly a good man, and that 
 he ought to be the Governor of the whole of British 
 Aiu erica." 
 
 As the settlement increased in population, and 
 as the Colonel advanced in years, ho uocowarily 
 
 *r 
 
60 LIFE OF COLOSJIL TALBOT. 
 
 bt’niiine uior<i sljitl in tbe rules Le had laid doWi’li 
 for Uis owu cQuveniencef in transaction business iriih 
 tlie m?iny strange rs who beset him for grants of 
 land, and by those who could^ or would not appreciate 
 the goodness of his matiFes, he was reprceontod as 
 harsh in his oi a:; tiers, and crabbed in totnpor-^a bear 
 in his garden, or a lieu in his den. But the fact is, 
 that Colonel Talbot was an dKcellcat observer of 
 mankind, aud the persons who expected, o' thought 
 themselves the most entitled to atLention and civility, 
 were those whom he did uot choose to indulge in 
 their imper tine aces, or to honor in their craftiness. 
 iTeither wag he disposed to listen to the abuse of 
 those who resorted to rudeness and insolence, to 
 estort from him grants or farora, which be considered 
 them unworthy of. 
 
 In tile course of bis dealings with settlers, aud 
 emigrants, some of them were tempted from the 
 loneiinegs of Lis situation, to browbeat and even to 
 luanifost violence, towards him. On one occasion, it 
 !s said, lie was aeeaiiltcd and thrown down by Oiiie 
 of the land pirates, as he used to call them. To 
 avoid these personal encounters, he adopted eome- 
 thing like the post office Ejateni, He had one of the 
 panes of glass in hU window made to open and shut 
 from within, and hi 3 interviews with strangers and 
 eustomerg for land, took place at the window. Here 
 the Colonel confronted his visitors, and as each 
 
Life ot colonel taleot , <17 
 
 II ihe Jews *Liijtig Uie to 
 
 titand on their feet, the c^nvorsadoii was iisufLjlj 
 short imd to the piiriiiose. 
 
 Of ble years, the Colotiel devoted lLg forenoon 
 of each day I for the transaction of ail biisinoAs con- 
 nected ’VvitU land granting ; which being genei-ally 
 underalood, parties either made an early start for 
 Port Talbot, or arrived there the evening before. 
 Besides Colonel BurwelJ, Colonel TalboE had^ for 
 many years> a faithful domestic^ JefTery Hunter^ in 
 whom he bad great confidence ^ and who was very 
 useful in rcachiog down the maps., Jeflfery was 
 well known to all who visited Port Talbot, for he 
 not only served in ihe capacity of house steward and 
 butler^ but waited at table, and was frequently tLe 
 medium of commnnication between tbo Colonel and 
 some Jate arrival in the kitchen, who took this 
 method of breaking ihe matter he was upon, to the 
 ColoncL The guest at ta,b!e, for Colonel Talbot 
 was seldom, without one or more, was more amused 
 ihati disturbed by those short in!cmiptions at the 
 fcitEvc- boards A few brief aentencea sufficed^ and 
 the business was closed. 
 
 In order to understand the extent and nature of 
 Colonel Talbotts transactions with emigrants and 
 settlers, we may refer to the correspondence and 
 other documents; laid before the House of Assembly 
 in the year is3fij-.and publi&licd in ihc AppendESL to 
 
LIFE OF rOLOXEL TAJ.BlJT, 
 
 GS 
 
 tLe JournEil of the House of Assenibly, for that year. 
 
 Til a abstract from ffilieb Tve quote, i$ beaded 
 “ Statement of Lands in tlie Loudon and Western 
 “ Districts, xrhich Lave been placed in the bauds of 
 “ the Hon. Thomas Talbot, under Orders iu Ooundl, 
 “ and Ordeta from tbo Lieutenant Governor, for the 
 time being/’ 
 
 From ibis statement we loam, that tbo total 
 quantity of land placed at Colonel Talbot’s disposal, 
 amounted to no less than 518,000 acres, lying in 33 
 Townships, and the population settled in these Town- 
 ships, was estimated by the Colonel in 1831, at 
 nearly 40,000 souls. These settlers were not like 
 many others, who found thair w'ay at that early 
 date into variona parts of the Province, generally 
 having soma means to bogia with \ on the contrary, 
 the Talbot eeitlers were amoug the poorest of the 
 poor, and many of them could not have struggled 
 througli, without his help and protection. 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 Letter to Earl RATHUiisT — RBMnjfaaATioH' for 
 
 BER VICES — Je ALOVS V Of OFFICIALS AT LITTLE 
 York. 
 
 •In the jear 1828 we find that Colonel Talbot 
 was reduced to great straits, through ha exertious to 
 forward the interesLs of his settlers, as the following 
 
LIFE Or talbot. 
 
 69 
 
 paragraph in a letter from him to Earl Bathurst wiil 
 shew : — 
 
 After twenty^three years entirely devoted to 
 tba improvement of the ’Western Districts of this 
 “ Province, and establishing on their lands, about 
 “ 20,00 0 sokilg, without any espenge for superintend- 
 “ ence to the government, or the persona immediately 
 *• benefittedj but, on the contrary, at a sacrifice of 
 £23,000 , in rendering them comfortable, I find 
 ‘‘ myself entirely etraitensLl, and now wholly without 
 “ capital.*’ 
 
 '* 1 gratefully acknowledge a very considerable 
 grant of land from the Crown,” the Colonel adds, hut 
 that his \gricuUural labors had been unproductive; 
 we can readily imagine, seeing how much he 
 had otherwise to occupy his attention. In conss- 
 quonce of this appeal, Col>nel 'I'albot obtained, by 
 way of remuneratiau, for services, £400 per annum. 
 This allowaneo be it remembered, was not altogether 
 gratuitioua, but wag for gervices which be continued 
 to render, in locating settlers on the waste lands of 
 the Crown. 
 
 It may be hera remarked, that there was never 
 a man in Canada, catmsted with so large a power 
 in the disposal of Crown lands, as Colonel Talbot, 
 and eertainly none, who could have used that jxiwer 
 to a better purpose. If we inquire into the manner 
 in which he executed the trust confided to him, we 
 
T<l tli'E OF C&rXfSEL TALBOT. 
 
 3li.aU firid that he, on all occasiotis, acted as the friend, 
 of the poor, induBtriona get tier, wlitnn he protected 
 fi'om the fangfi of men in oflSce who looted only to 
 the fees, and which they woliM have ground out of 
 Ibem, were it not for the interference of Colonel 
 Tulbot 
 
 The independent position in which the Colonel 
 WEIS placed, by the auihority of the King’s Gevern- 
 nient, ar d the extensive power of granting land, 
 which he liad acquired thereby, were not very pala- 
 table to the ofSciala of Little York, as Toronto 
 was then called, and they began to manifest, a dis- 
 taste for hia inresponsib'e (to thetn) proceedings, as 
 soon, aft by Ids exertions, the sotilement was becoming 
 known, anti had advanced in improvement. The 
 Surveyor Genenll, and the Receiver General, and 
 the organ of the Executive Council, Wm. Diimmer 
 Powell ; appeared to be mortified to dnd that there 
 were a class of settlers, who could get along without 
 datcing attendance at Little York, for a week at a 
 lime, to obtain their paten is, and w bo were shielded 
 from the exactions of oITicials by a stfanset', as this 
 W. D. Powell, styled Colone] Talbot. Desperate 
 efforts were made by these Officials to dip the 
 Colonel's vviTigs, but, hsviog only one object in view, 
 and, having fortunately obtained the means, beyond 
 their control of carrying Out that object. Colonel 
 Talbot fo led .Mr. WiUiam D, Powell, and all his 
 
Lift OF COLOXKL TALBOT. 
 
 71 
 
 associates, jq their attempts to carb L1& power. 
 
 In a long Alinute of the Counci], addresseJ to 
 Hss Honor S* Siuitb, Administrator of the Oovern- 
 manEof tho Province of Upper Cimaclfi, &c,, tlcc-p&c-t 
 ond iQ a previous adikess to Governor Goi-Oj we find 
 detailed statements of Ootonel Talbot's proceedings^ 
 and sufficient indications of the jealousj which exist- 
 ed at the Council Board in coaseqa-jDce* In the 
 Litter document, llr, W. D. Powell says, *^It is appar- 
 ent under this 1 attitude that the Province is at tlio 
 disposal of Colonel Talhot— by being allowed to re- 
 eeive 150 acres for himself for every sssLLler ha 
 placed on 50,^’ But it is evident that Mr* Powell 
 and the Council were out of their latltu'.k, beoaij;aa 
 Colonel Talbot acted all along under limited authority^ 
 and by ihe sauetton of the Home Goveinruent^and 
 by Orders in Coti'icih 
 
 Uudoubtcdly, granting to an indtvidiial 150 acres 
 of land for every 50 which he furnished with a settler* 
 waa a large allowL^nce, but it will be seen by tho 
 following parijgrapb boTi the Minute Abo\"e referred 
 to, that Bcltlers preferred these tenn^j to the more 
 liberal grains of the Pfovineial Government. 
 
 '“Ilis Majesty Government (says the report) had 
 J prohibited the inundation of settlers from the Unite J 
 States, and had authorised tho Cooeol of 
 York to grant Certificates lo cTDigrants from the 
 United Kingdom for 100 acres of land in Upper 
 
'J2 
 
 LIFE OF COLOr^EL TALBOT- 
 
 OanadA. Wbeii these people dlflcovered that the soil 
 *■' ftnd climate near to fjolonel Talbot’s settlement were 
 “ favorable, many flocked there irithout ever pre- 
 “ seating themselves to the Govenitnent— and there 
 ** found either a location of 50 acres as Oolonol Talbot’s 
 ‘‘ settler, for which, he in return, claimed a grant of 
 '*200 acres: or they foimd a localiou of 100 acres in 
 “ certain lands eubmitted to the sup erin ten deuce of 
 “ that gentleman, as will be proaently explained, and 
 “ in cither case tha interests of the Colonial Govern- 
 “ ment are implicated. When the emigrant, pos_ 
 ** sessing au authority to receive one hundred acres of 
 ” land, finds himself limited to the possession of flfly, 
 and that the Government actually bestows on a 
 strange}' 200 acres on that account, no reasoning 
 “ can lemove the impression of something worse than 
 “ mere absunlity*" 
 
 The entire paragraph here quoted from Mr. W. 
 D. PowelPfi report to His Honor Mr. Smith, intended 
 at the Ume as a reflection on Colonel Tolbot’s proceed* 
 iogs, exhibits pretty clearly the by which 
 
 the then Executive Council was governed. To de- 
 signate Colonel Talbot, who we have seen had deaerv- 
 edEj risen high in His Majesty's service, and had 
 merited tbe warm eulogiiim of bis re press nta five p 
 General Simcoe, as a stranger, in contrast with the 
 newly arrived emigrant, was an expression ill chosen, 
 by the organ of the Executive Conneit, &c,, and im- 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT* VS 
 
 properlj api^Iicd* WJiat, after all, does tLe complaint 
 amount to, why, merely ttat tte emigrant preferred, 
 settling under GoIodcI Talbot, and the reason i& given 
 in the promised explanation of Mr. Powell, namely, 
 hecfuise,- — “ The emigrant, applying to the Govern,- 
 “ or in Council, received it ; is true, an order for 
 “ LOn acres of land, but he could not talce possession 
 " until the 9urve]f mone^j if not the patent was 
 “ paid, when if he passed by the Talbot Scliool town- 
 “ ship road, he found JOG aerca to enter uodn 
 “ without advance.’* Here we perceive that envy arid 
 jealousy operated with th* Executive Ooundl, q[uite 
 as much as a desire to benedt the emigrant, envy 
 at Colonel Talbot's acquiring £ 00 acres of land, for 
 placing a F-et tier on 5C, and jenlonsy, because the 
 emigrant preferred Set ding under hiir, beyond the 
 reach of their control, , The fact ie, in Colonel Talbotf 
 the poor emigrant found a protector, who took an 
 interest in his wclfaiie, and who nourislied hira m hia 
 pover ty. 
 
 CHAPTER Vlll, 
 
 yjiMif.Eui — H ickory Quakees— H a, Dunlop. 
 
 With respect to the inundation of settlers from 
 tbo United States, which is spoken of in the foregoing 
 quoted paragraph, the loyalty of the Bettlement 
 under Colcnel Talbot’s tupfrinttndcncf, was not 
 
•74 
 
 LIFE Of COl.ONEI. tALUOTr 
 
 impaired throngli hU tneans,. The greater part of 
 those who found their way into Canadaj and settled 
 under hj£n,5did ao, becauae they preferred living 
 under the British CrowOj and. the iohabitanta of the 
 Talbot Settlement, have ever been as loyal, at least, 
 as any portion of the Canadian coininunity. It is 
 worthy of remark, that the moat of these who took 
 any ptvrt in the oulhreat of 1637, ware settlers who 
 had acq^uired their lands by purchase from those 
 partita to whom the Crown had granted them’ 
 before Colonel Talbot made his application; and 
 til (f so very lands, loo, are those which he had 
 selected for settlement, in the Township of Yar- 
 inoutb* 
 
 The forerunner of these settlers was a man 
 named Doan, who became agent for the side of the 
 Baby lands^ The settlers, who followed Jonathan 
 Doan into the Township of Yarmouth, cmigraied 
 from Penuajlvania and Jersey, They were a siiecies 
 of h'oxifces, id religion and craftiness, called ki(h}ry 
 Quakers* As tho religion of this sect is guided by 
 the motions of the spirit, so iheir conduct is good 
 or bad, just as the spirit of good or evil prevails. It 
 woudl appear, that tho nr mo Hickory Quakers, was 
 applied to the Yarmouth fiieuds, as a term of re- 
 proach ; not because they were Quakers, but because 
 lliey w^ero many of them counterfeits, or bastard 
 Quakers. A portion of this quiet fraternity, weie 
 
LIFE OF COLONS t TALBOT. 
 
 
 uot recogtiized ^ &ucb^ by their moi'd oithodoK 
 bnethien but h ia a tiolorious faot^ that in the wort 
 of sedition and treason, the spirit mo\"ad them to pull 
 together ua one man- 
 
 In tbo year 1337^ Tfrhen McKensie and Rolph 
 in Upper Canada^ and others, rmaed the ataudrird of 
 rebellion BimultEiDeoiisly with PapinoaUj Kelson and 
 others in Lower Canada^ a mysterious charncterj 
 mounted on a largo cream colored horse was seen 
 peaeeablj riding through thq south of Tamioutht 
 and wherever he appeared a silent commolion arose. 
 Aa tho smooth stream glides noiselessly along in 
 proportion to the deplli of iU waters, so the friends 
 of psaecj impelled each other forward, to intereept 
 the ruabing tide of loyalty* Trained to the doctrine 
 of passive obedience, and non-resistance^ they might 
 be supposed as intending to throw thenaaelves in the 
 wajt between two contending forces, to prevent 
 collision- With, ibis pious view, it may bo further 
 
 * Aithouch the ownei' rnaile hia eF?capo afterwardH, tli^ 
 Ci-TCJaia colorcilnorae did not^ fvr he was Been fi-cqueutly iu 
 tho ranks cf the IcjaliaLe and appeared quite ready and ftir- 
 'ft'ai'd to Cl noli the rehclli-on as bis rider! He was a noble 
 looking an i no ah and belon^^ed foTmcrly to the celebrated 
 Spar tan F Doctor Wilhion, who aubfe^qaeoLly put in a claim 
 for bim befor* tho CotianiiBF?ionpi’ Appiiinted to settle for re- 
 bclUon Icsiies and supplies furnished, Thoae who ?aw 
 
 CdIoucI B mounted on the DnctDS 'fi thai'^r, wbiSethty 
 
 admired his itu proved tuartial appear aoce, did not care to 
 soratlniao too elosely, bow bo came by the hgi ge! Thoy 
 tncrely loCNked upon it aa one of thoao pi-cJatory acts. ju^itL- 
 fiiblc in times of waf and rebellion. 
 
1& 
 
 LIPS Of Vt}LO'!iilU TALBOT, 
 
 BuppoBfid, iliat they equipped a party of iheir young 
 men to march to Oakland ^ the rendcTOuz of Dun- 
 comh’s rebel force, to act aa a Trail of parti non 
 betw een tbcm and the fast appro achiog loyalbts of 
 the west. Their good intentiona wero misinterpreted - 
 Their Conitnissaiies^ Elias end Johuj wkh beef far 
 the supply of the sons of peace were seized and their 
 young meu scattered^ 
 
 Among the young men, thna trained in tSje art 
 of peace j Tvere the sons of Jonathon Doan, the fit^t 
 settler in the Township of YarmouLb, Of these, one 
 was hung as a traitor in London, and another lived 
 a pardoned rebel, despised by all who knew him. 
 
 As a^n introdncUort to the scenes which occurred 
 
 at Port Talbot, after tho settlement was far advanced 
 
 In prosperity^ wa w^Ill hero quote a paragraph from 
 
 the Bacii<;oo<kman^ a small work 'replete wilh wit 
 
 and sage remarks, written by tho ivell known Dr. 
 
 Dunlop,* a man. gigantic both in mind and stature, to 
 
 whom the words of tliC inliiaittible Sterne, now that 
 # * 
 
 the Doctor h deaJ and gone, are peculiarly appli- 
 cable, ** Alas, poor Yotiek 
 
 "^The Doctor wa? one of those tc^dy^ wita, wLo may bs 
 aaid never to be at tlitir vrils end. His conrenfatinn Trag 
 full of lium-Qroiia atJECtloles and droll witticisms, wdiicli 
 never fkile^l to eiEcItc laugbtcr, and wLielilost uotbingof its 
 iHLi th from bis join ing in'the lau^b, Hb three reasons fgr 
 EOt goinf^to Cnurcli, sa.vonre.d more of fun than religion — 
 1st, Said he, Bwiause one man lias all the talking. 2ud> 
 Bfifiausethej siiig witliout drinkhig. 3rd, DeCEiiiSe a man 
 IS sure to meet Lia wifethei'C. 
 
LIFE f>F CO LONE L TALROT- 
 
 v7 
 
 ''Tbis country/^ sAjs Dr. Dunlop, “owes its 
 aetiilemeiU to llie persovericg indusLiy of my worthy 
 (in cl cicollont friend j Colonel Talbots Forty yeiTs 
 ego, wbilc eicplot-iDg the about lo he Proviticc, on 
 staff of its Governorp General Siincoo, h& was 
 struck with the beaoty and fertility of this tract; 
 end afterwards observing that from tbe improvident 
 grants of the Colonial Govemm^^ntj, to friends and 
 favonteSj this fertile country, if left in their hands, 
 wotild continue for ages a howling wilclei'uess, he 
 procured from the authorities at home, an ejcclusivc 
 power of settling it, For this purpose he set himself 
 down in the very midst of tlie lerritory, without any 
 other human habitation within 50 miles of him^ and 
 commenced his arduous undertaking by cutting out 
 roads ^ amidst mncli headrshakiag from the aagd and 
 sneering from the ignorant/’ “I spent a fortnight 
 with him, some 18 months ago, and certainly ono of 
 his Icvccs with his settlers, would, If well reported, be 
 quite as amusing as one of those mornings at Bow 
 Street — that about the time I left London, wero 
 
 The Boclor was a niembci' of the of Aes^mblj, 
 
 He had for bis JtscM, Jemmy Johnston, a hii-mruroil^ little 
 Ii'ifiliraatij and the lion was John Pi inca. Tht^e formed Ji 
 CommLtteo of Lliiw appoiuted to test the qnaUtiea of malt 
 and $,piTiUions liquor. Biv Dunhhp and Jemtny Johnston 
 decided in favor of thclalLer, Colonel Fiince pi'cferi'ed Malt. 
 RH the most wholcsomCj wlikh ho lia;? proved hr onttiviji^ 
 h h i wo ji>S Jy companion a. 
 
73 
 
 LIFE OT COLONEL TALBOT- 
 
 sljled by sorat 'fiig'j tbe leading articles of the 
 MorninE Herald.** 
 
 ‘^The vrbole of this tract i« Tvatered by beaU’ 
 tiful eti'eams and rivers, cnany of which are cvsn 
 majestic. Among these may be emnneratet) the 
 Thames, which originating within 40 miles of Lake 
 Ontarioj runs parallel <o Lake Erie, and discharges 
 itself into Lake Sl Clair.” 
 
 Acoorditig to Doctor Dunlop, the oflBctals of 
 Little York, to whom reference has already been 
 made, seeing what a valuable tract of Country 
 Colonel Talbot bad got into, and had opened up, 
 became deBirous of acquiring a portion for them- 
 selves, their kith and kiu, and gave him much trouble 
 and aoaoyance ; but the Colonel's inSuence and 
 energy defeated all their projects, and the country is 
 now filled with valuable settlers and iudustrious 
 farmers, instead of its lying for many years a '' howl- 
 ing witdernesa,” as the Doctor expresses it, kept in 
 that state, in order that some day it might risa in 
 value to feed the folly of upstart IisIts of needy and 
 grasping courtiers. 
 
 The indopeudent situation in which Colonel 
 Talbot was placed by the Homo CoTcrnment, was 
 no doubt a source of annoyance, occasionally, to the 
 Provincial Government, and it must be coufessed, 
 that his manner and bearing towards thoee officials 
 who were in authority, was not always the most 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALliOT- t 
 
 or even ^^oiirUo'ia. SjuiJified wiili ilio 
 correctoesJi of bis proceedtogs^ under the arrangement 
 he had entered into witb. the British Government, 
 Colonel Talbot Tvas little diapowed to submit to any 
 interference on the part of Provincial OfficialSj wlio 
 derived their authority^ a?5 it were,, second hmd^ while 
 his sprung from the Fountain Head, renewed from 
 time to time as occasion required. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Talbot A^'T^^vE^tsA1lY—ST. TfioMAs — Gou^eiv of 
 Elgin— London District Officials — Tun IIar- 
 E13 Family. 
 
 While the eettlement was peopled gene rail v,. 
 only by those peoplcj who might be termed the fust 
 setiierftt belonging to the venerable corps of pion- 
 eers of the forest, ond who Lad been witnesses of 
 Colonel Talbotts valuable exertions, while participa- 
 ting in the labors and privations he liud undergonos 
 these settlers did not fail to commemorate the day 
 of hia fu-^t arrival^ aa a day of fesiivily, by dmSng 
 togeltor and by u ball. In the first years of this 
 celebration, the Talbot anniversary wus Comraeiuo- 
 rated in a style of rustic conviviality, tho company 
 being composed almost exclusively of men , who had 
 chopped out their own fortuneg, and of women fit 
 to re&r and nurBc their hardy sons and daughters. 
 Among these the Colonel never failed to appoar, ty 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TAL130T, 
 
 RO 
 
 sliare in tlie Joy of the occasion, and invaiiaWy led» 
 oft’ llie first dance, even at the advanced age of tbi'Ce 
 ecore and ten years. 
 
 On tlie 21st day of May in each year, the hack- 
 woodsman abandoned his toil, threw by his aie, and 
 took his partner under his arm to the anniversary 
 The ample hoard groared under such sT\b.stantbi.l fare 
 as the settlement cenld aftbrd. and after tho clotli 
 was removed , a hundred rustic voices responded to 
 llie King’s beallli. “ The day and all who honor it/' 
 elicited a stentorian shout, which made the welkin 
 ring, and tbs “ Hon. Thomas Talbot, the founder of 
 the Talbot Settlement," was drowned in bauipers 
 amidst deafening cheers. 
 
 When the etorm of voices had subsided, the 
 1 onored guest. Colonel Talbot, rose amideit the rattle 
 of the table, the gingling of bottles and glasses, 
 startled by such vigorous thumps as men daily eser- 
 cised in wielding the axe only could give, and with 
 manly pride peering through liis bright eyes, returned 
 
 thanks in a neat short speech, always concluding in 
 the most affectionate and emphatic manner “ C^d bless 
 YOU all.” 
 
 -V 
 
 After tho dinner was concluded and all the 
 loyal ttjasfa bad been gone through with, the ball 
 commenced. Thou it wris;, that the rustic youth 
 bowed to the blooming lass whom be selected for 
 liis partner, mi'l soon the eigbtsonio reel, the country 
 
LJ 1-‘E 01’ OOLDNEL TALfiO'l-. 
 
 SI 
 
 dfiiice or iLc cotillon, employed the kg5, ^vliiie the 
 arms enjoyed a holiday ; tJ:io lads amusing iheinselves 
 erer and anon, dipping something in Lho style of 
 the Spanish Fandango ^ lo cheer up the dance. But 
 in progress of liroOi as ilae population became 
 lesa liomogeneousi and strangers to the feelings of 
 the early settlers became mote numorgus, the 
 spirit of the aiiniversj:iry waa lost- The peasantry 
 found themselves elbowed out of society, by their 
 consuiners^ and Iiomespuii grey and bluo stoc-kings 
 had to give pJace to silks, scarlet and gold^ and 
 every variety of Mdon! Instead of shewing their 
 pai'lners bo-sv to cut tho figure of eight, crossing 
 bands without gloves* casting them off to dance 
 outside, and then inside the ro^v, down the middle 
 and back again^ catching a glance at each other 
 through a long line of broad shoulders, and all this 
 tothe in^^plriog mnsic of Soldiars Jo 7 /^ Greig's 
 Pipes or the Triumph, uow they bad to look on 
 with astonishment nt the khorinlb of quadnllo-i, 
 acd fill the comers of the Ball room, to avoid being 
 run through by a gall#pade, to stand round, as 
 the ]ihrase goes iimong farater^t for fear of a soft 
 tbiimp, from ^onjo oh arming dear creatuE’e, or of a 
 poke from some moustached Sou of Mars* who 
 formed one pair of a long chain* rapidly whirling 
 each other round to the music of Straus. This is 
 no funded picture. The unnivoriiary was celebrated 
 
82 
 
 LIFE OF COLOHEL TALUOT. 
 
 liistj during the two year^ of the robelhonj when 
 the tnilitfiry had been introduced into the wooh^ 
 with a degree of splendour unknown to the OJwmMffi 
 ffath^riim^ of former days. At firsl, the admixture 
 of scarlet and gold, and blue and red, with a corros^ 
 ponding display in the dress ^ of ih^ l^di^s of the 
 fiettlement, and a full military band^ diseoundng 
 sweet musicj dassled the eye and delighted the 
 ear. Bui it wm observed that the old settlers 
 dropt off, the anniver^Sary had become too refined for 
 them. The display of military uni forma interlaced 
 and surrounded by all the votaries of fashion, which 
 tho settlement eould produce^ were indeed novel 
 sights for them, but the gee and hawing of quad- 
 rilles^ waltziugt ^-bey had no taste for — and they 
 were Letter pleased to see their wives and mo+hers, 
 smolpiig a pipe than the fashionable belle snifHug a 
 vii:iaigrette. The original purpose of the anniver' 
 sary was in a meaaure bat sight of, it languished in 
 consequenee, and after being kept up for quarter 
 of a contury, was diacuntinued, 
 
 Th& gallant Coloneh flow Gcuetal Wethsralf^ 
 and ihe other officers of the garrison at London^ 
 were among the guesEs, on one occasion ; and^ what 
 was a strange eoincidcncs, on another ocoasioQj the 
 officers of the 95th Kegiment, whose Head Quarters 
 were established in St, Thomas^ in the year 1838, 
 ad'Ied bi'illiancy to the reene and festivities of ihe 
 
LIFE OF C?OLOMT:L TALBOT. 83 
 
 ^iQi3iveLis:iry. Thh Ee^imsnt Colonel TalboL lia.cj 
 commai^dcd at tho early ago of 22 years^ w ben ibc 
 spot on whEcfi tiicy now joined ^ with hia aettlor^^ to 
 do him honor^ wae a donae forest. 
 
 Tho Talbot Anoiversary Tvas always held at 
 St. Thottiaa, after the first few year^^ e^ccept om 
 year when it wns celebrated at London, FjOtidon 
 had now becomo tx town of oonsiderahlo import ance^ 
 and the predictiors of General Shneoe was Terified. 
 It had bcGome the chief military depot of the west 
 Its garrisDn tben being composed of two rcgimodt$ 
 of inf au tty, a company of artillery, and a well ap- 
 pointed troop of Provincial Cavelry; and the old 
 settler bad lived to witness the predictjoii realized. 
 
 The town of St Thom^Sj where tno annivci'sary 
 was celeb rated for ss many years, now the capital of 
 the Connty of Elgia, wa& named after the Coboc-l; 
 alibougli ho never appears to have aspired to the 
 ranlc of a Saint in the Calender. The scene ly 
 around St. Thomas is lovely from every point of 
 vievTj except where art has spoil’ t tha face of nature, 
 The Kettle Greek pur^uci its silent course through 
 the deep valleys, vrhich nearly surround the town^ 
 and from the highland, on which it is built, the eye 
 is refi'cshed by rural landscapes, of the most pleasing 
 description* For many year^ this delightful spot 
 was thinly inhabited, and although na ture Lad done 
 flo much for it, art had done little, and that little very 
 
84 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALUOT. 
 
 nwkwfti'<]]/ ; tha principle slraet being erooted^ and 
 wooden buildings percbed end way a and lengthwaja, 
 on tbe bi'ow of tbe steep banks of the cTeek, eibibiling 
 all theiir poateiior irregularities to one ftnotHef, and 
 to the tmveller from London* But, since it has 
 become the County Town it has improved rapidly. 
 The eon f thou se lately erected is a very handsome 
 buildings and coiamands a msgnifioent view of the 
 surrounding country. Substantial brick stores and 
 elegant dwellings have displaced or overshadowed 
 many of_ibe rletetty wooden frames, which are railing 
 into disuse} and uumereus sidewalks, now planked, 
 enable the inliabitants to per ambulate ihe town, 
 without fear of having their boots wrenched off their 
 feet, by the Stiff mud, throngh which they bad to 
 pick their way, in times prior to the last Talbot 
 Anniversary* 
 
 At the present time a railroad, the Loudon and 
 Port Stanley Railway crosses the town, and passen- 
 gers can travel in less than an hour, the distance 
 f rom St, Thomas and London* about 17 miles which 
 in early times it took them a day to accomplish, By 
 means of this isilroad, the Town of St. Thoraae has 
 rapid communication with every part of North 
 Amerioa, and travellers can reach Quebec, New York 
 in the Bast, and Detroit and Chicago in less time 
 than it tHDok thstn tea yeaai'S ago, to stage through t^ 
 Hamilton between BO and 90 miles. 
 
Lir^ Of COLONEL TAllOX, 85 
 
 Tlte County of Elgin eamprises Seven Townsliips, 
 forming tho mo&t compact portion of the Talbot 
 eettlementp namely, AldboroLigh^ Dunwicb, South - 
 woldj YarmDutb, MakhidCp Somli Dorcliepter and 
 Baybanij and eitenda from caist to about 60 
 
 milcfl, and from north to eoutli about 15 milest 
 througliout its tv bole length fronting on Lake Erie. 
 With the exception of some portions of tlie Town- 
 flbips of Bay Lam nod Mnl abide, the lands in this 
 County, as a whole, are scarcely equalled In atiy 
 part ef the Province, as tested by the superEor 
 quality of winter wheat raised on them. It has also 
 the advantage iei point of climate, over the interior 
 part of the settlement* from i£s esposuro lo the 
 refreshing breezes of Lake Erie. All the fruits 
 indigonaoiis to the north crly parts of America, and 
 many of those of moro southern climes, are grown in 
 abundance^ Even penclica were in ahuB: dance for 
 some ycais, and no doubt will be to again ; but [he 
 severity of the winter a few years ago, destroy ed the 
 trees, and none have since grown. Tn tho&e parts of 
 the Townships of Bayham and Mai abide, whore the 
 soil b light and sandy, Pines, are the principal tices 
 and afford a large quantity of the best qualities of 
 square timber and lumber for market. The viJlagca 
 of VicntiJi and Port Butwell are chiefly engaged in 
 the lumber trad#, of which they supply large quanti- 
 
 h 
 
Hd LIFE OF COLOKKJ. TALDQT. 
 
 Lies for the Uniteil Statoa market. Tbo growth of 
 tifflbeT throughout the Coirnty of Eigiu, is generally 
 of tho very be&t quality^ embradug beech, maplet 
 oak, walnut and buttcrout, with o-tbor’ ksnd^ indita- 
 ting a rich soil. 
 
 The number of persons assessed in 195S in this 
 
 County ^ 57&3 
 
 Acres of land ..do do*' do 436,830 
 
 And the total value of as-sessed property ^^4j.6 8 3 ^544 
 
 Sj. Thoida$ had been originally intended! foi^ the 
 County Town of the whole London DiRfrict, now 
 com[>risLDg the Countieaof Middlesex and Elgin, and 
 a beautiful plot of ground, now the residence of E* 
 Ermatiiiger, had been designated and ivas 
 
 loTig known as the Goal and CourHious^ Block, but 
 it was suppoaod. Colonel Bur well, who was certainly 
 of a viudicsive disposition ^ frustrated this design. 
 
 lie bail been rejected as the representative 
 of Middlesex; whose constitn^icy. at that time, 
 generally resided on the line of Talbot road, cast and 
 west of St, Tbomacfi. 
 
 At the timo of wbich wc now speak, the C^urt- 
 lionse was at Victoria, in the Long Point country j 
 now the Talbot District, where all the officials of the 
 District resided, that is the County or District Jnjgo, 
 James Mitchcl, Esq ^ a vetcrAii who had decided tho 
 case of naany a botLlc~thc District Treasurer, .Fohti 
 Harris, Esq., m old sailor, whoso blunt and jolly 
 
life tsF COLOlfEL T ALSOT, 
 
 87 
 
 manner, na barrier to Lia acquiring inliuonco 
 wjtli the great, and Jack Harris was aa famiUarljif 
 known, as honest Call, in Sl Thomas, and J. 
 B, Aekia, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, whose bluff 
 manners and nhi^ndaiiit chop stuff, was n good ac- 
 companiment to Jack boatswain whistle. 
 
 Besidee these, there was old Sheriff Rappleje, and 
 several lawyers, the presjent Judge Salmon among 
 others. All those resided in tho vicLnity of Long 
 Point, and when the court was established at Lon- 
 don, travelled thence, generally, along the Talbot 
 Road, to hold court, a distance of 7 g iDiles. The 
 first stage was to the widow Coltman's, thence to 
 St. Thomas, and thence lo London. At these differ- 
 ent places all matters connected with the bn&iuess of 
 the State, wore fully diseuased, and rampant toryism 
 was master of the ceremonies. These wero ihe good 
 old tfniaa, sfuch as Dama Q,niclily spoke of, and how- 
 ever necessity and force of circumstances may have 
 effected a change in mens’ opinione, none will say 
 that there was not as much real happiness iu those 
 days, as at present. 
 
 Of those personages above named, none were 
 more conspicuous than Jack Harris. In the naval 
 service he had learned lo spin a yarn, and if a story 
 required stretching, Harris would do it. He could 
 draw a long low, as the phrase goes, and on this 
 
83 
 
 Llffi UJfe- C0L0>:EL TALaOT. 
 
 AccfUQt acq^uired a fanio whieli feiy men in the 
 settlement could ever hope to iiLtam to* By degrees, 
 the officers of the court roraoved to London, a:.d 
 Mr. Harris liras the first to butld a honae of consider- 
 able dimensions j on a handsome piece of ground^ 
 highly elevated above the banka of the river Thames^ 
 This house vp as long the resort of the first men in 
 Canada, and in this house the venerable founder 
 of the Talbot settlomont laj^ during hig first acrions 
 illness^ ivbile on his “^vaj to England* Every man 
 of rank or di^tinciion, who visited this part of Canada 
 became the guest of Mr. Harris. Mr* P, Thompson, 
 the late Lord Sydenham^ the varioua Lieutenant 
 
 Governors and Governor Gunerals^ and Mr. 
 
 now Lord Stanley, were among the number* To be 
 fidinitted at Mr Harris,^ was like gaining admission to 
 the sfetopi of one of the aristocracy* conspicuous in 
 Europe. Mr. Harris, himself, was a plfiin, seafaring 
 looking man, without much polish, either in manner 
 or ejtprcssignp hut Mt^. Harris w'as both hatidsoma 
 and clever, and wiih her accomplished daughters 
 rendered her hpu$e attractive to all lovers of good 
 society and agreeable entertainment During the 
 time that London was occupied as a gariison town, 
 and one or two Regiments of the Line, a Company of 
 the Royal Artillery, and a troop of Cavalry, were 
 stationed there, every officer considered it part of his 
 
LIFE OY COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 duty to pay liU d6voir$ to the Hatria/ and for eotne 
 jear 3 tLeir house was the resort of all th^ fjiehion- 
 abla people of the noigtiborhood* It appears atrflYigej 
 but it mno lea$ a fars^tliat uion wiih their wivea aud 
 claugbterit ^ho bad or have beeotue distinguished in 
 every part of the world j have been entertainod at the 
 1 1 arris/ Bessdf^s Lord Stanley, mentioned above, 
 we may name Generals Wether all, Markham, and 
 Inglisj &c., Tt could not be expected , 
 
 boweverj that all ihe gallant Sons of Mare^ or votarieB 
 of faahiotii would escape, unscathed^ tbo fascinationa 
 of Mr* Harris' fair and nccompliahed daughtere. Nor 
 did they, for Cupid's darli were so true to the 
 mark, in more thitn ono ins-Unce, and made inch a 
 deep impression, that no handa could extract them, 
 or heal the wound j but those of the lovely Miss 
 Harris/ The rest may be imagined, they Ttiarried in 
 high life. Many were tbo sneers and envyings of 
 peraonaj who thought themselves as# good aa tho 
 Ilarrie^; (for such feelings will accompnoy people 
 oven into thi w:)oa9,) but for my own part, having 
 experienced kindness and enjoyed the hospitalities 
 of Mr^ Harris^ family, in days whou their aun shone 
 bright, I do not forget that it has been overcast by 
 the cloudr, of sorrow, for the loss of the heed of the 
 family^ Mr, Harris having died some yeara ago. 
 
LIFi: CiJ COI^OPBL 'rALBt>l'. 
 
 UD 
 
 CHAPTER X* 
 
 iONDoif — Rogers' ihtebvibw witu Colosel Tal- 
 bot, ^ 
 
 The Towd of London was Survoyed and laid 
 out in lota, in the year 1818^ pai tly by Cobuej 
 IBurwcll, and tlie lou were mrstly given out to 
 actual settlers, by Colonel Talbot, on condition of 
 settlement duties being performed^ and s. Iioiise^ 
 built thereon. The fulfillment of these coiiditioDs 
 was closely watched by the Colonel, and as the 
 town grew, he was continually pestei^ed by persons 
 desiriouB of speculating on the lots. Then it was 
 theit those levees, of which Dr. Dunlop speats, were 
 held at tbo reception window, and the following is 
 a genuine anecdote of one of his momings. 
 
 A Patlander who had heard of Colonel 
 Talbotts reputed eccentrioities, thought he would take 
 him in his own humor, and accordingty made his 
 way to the well known window, where the cackling 
 and fluttoriug of poultry sooo announced his arrival, 
 and brought the Colonel to the spot. And, ‘ wbut 
 do you want! * (be first invariable salutation, con- 
 vinced our adventurer that ho was in the right place. 
 * I have come, Colonel, to see, as I have a large 
 rising family, whether you could’nt give me 3 or 
 SCO Acres of land/ ‘ Devil a sod,* waa the reply. 
 
LIFE flr COl-ii.VFf. yi 
 
 1 WelJ, 1 was thinking Colcmel, if 1 got a grant. lA 
 lariii I Could inak« socne iiaprovemciil in the seLlto- 
 Tucnt’ ' I dare say you could, *but I Lavo got no 
 land for you.* ‘ Wei!, I always heard Colonel, tliat 
 you were a good friend to the poor, and—’ ‘ I want 
 none of your blarney; you can have iPO acres in 
 Tilberry West/ ' Faith, Colonel,’ rejoined Pat, * I 
 think I’ve come far enough west already. Per- 
 haps y’er honor could give me two or three Jote in 
 ihe town of London.' ^They are all given out 
 already — I have none in it, to give* — ‘ but stop, here 
 Jeffry, hand rue the map.’ Jeffry, who wae the 
 Colonel'^ shadow on these ocensions, soon spre.id the 
 town out before him, and after oonniug over it for 
 EOme time — * Yes,* aaid tliQ colonel, ‘ here are two 
 lots on Simcod Street, you can have them/ * Simcoo 
 Street, where’ll that be? msy ho it’s in the woods 
 yeti Pm a bit of an ould soldier, d’ye see Colonel, 
 and always like to face tha eneoiy,' said Rogers, with 
 an arch look, *• and would thauk you to give me tbo 
 lota, as convenietit as you can to the Gaol a'^-d 
 Gou/rt-home.' £ut the Colonel bad no other lots to 
 give, and Rogers was about to depart, when the 
 thought struck him, he’d try the Colonel’s patience a 
 little further, come what might, So be turned as 
 the* audience window was about to close, and, ‘ what 
 do' you want again,' struck bis car.' * T was thinks 
 
5-2 
 
 LTTE OF Oiit-ONeL TALEOT. 
 
 ing tliJit tilers are some sstLlement duties to 
 
 be done oa the lota iti Simeoe Street* itnd some 
 sort of bouaes to te put on Lhem?^ * Yea^* T?Eia 
 tlie reply. * If I may be ao hold theni whose 
 espenso will this ho done ? at youra or mine Colonel V 
 Tbia was enough, the Ooionel merely replied, * at 
 you fa to be aurej and you may take yourself ofE^ 
 The window closed j and the interview terminated. 
 The lots were negleoied till recently^ but are now 
 in an tniprovirifF part of tho town, and becoming daily 
 more valuable. Rogers did not go farther west, but 
 settled hlnTsolf in Sl Tbomas, where he now owns 
 real estate worth from £1000 to ^2000. 
 
 As has been already stated, the lowii of Lou- 
 don was laid out in 1818, At this timej tbs site of 
 the town wa^ genert lly known as the Forks, from 
 its being simated between two arms or branches of 
 the River Thames, which unite at the entrance of the 
 to wit from the west* London h built on. the table 
 landj slrotching several miles east from lha Forts' 
 Tlte streets are laid out at right anglos^ and the 
 principal ones are at least a mile long. Twenty 
 years ago, there wae scarcely a respecfable house iu 
 the town* It How cod tains long ranges of handsome 
 brick build ingfi, and a population of 10,000 souls. It 
 i& Central to a large ex Lent of well settled country* 
 anil all tbo leading roads* east* west, north 
 
OF COLONEL TALliOr. 
 
 ^[iJ souLlij are made to pasa right tiirough it- 
 For many jear£ after London haii be fin raado 
 tlio County tow the roadn leading to it were travel- 
 led wiih difficulty. From HamilLoo, the st^igo took 
 ftequendy threo day 3 — the distance is novr travelled 
 in twelve hours, and frotn St- TLointka to London^ 18 
 miles, was sometimes a hard days mai'cli— the livery 
 stable Lacks, are now f.jrced through in two houtSp 
 From shnost any pirt of tlto Talbot Settle me tit, tfie 
 traveller may go io twenty four lioun? to Toronto, 
 with easp, it then four Lard day^j' work, Saeli 
 has been the pEogreas of improveineot and the 
 facilities of Lravfilliug, The Great Western Railroad 
 has its central Depot in the town of London, which 
 will make it a place of great resort, and some of its 
 more sang nine inhabitants fancy ^ that wheti the 
 Thames is made navigable, so that; steamboats can 
 navigate its waters up to the town, it may rival its? 
 groat naraesjake of oM Eugland- This is too mueli 
 to espoetj biitita progress lias been surprising, and a 
 few foot of grojsnd now, costs as much as would haTO 
 purchased the whole towQj at llie time Colonel 
 Talbot located it. Contrast London with the village 
 of Pott Stanley, the principal shipping Port of the 
 whole Bettlement, and w’e see at once ihe effect of 
 his wsBe plan of not allowing the lots tO‘ be bought 
 up by one or more speculaLoi'Sp T-hose wffio drew 
 lots in LonJoti had to improve and build houses on 
 
9 t hlif K 0¥ COLON BL liLliOT. 
 
 them. WlierC!?i5 the land at Port Stanley -nfas all in 
 ihe hands of one individual, and ita long slagnnnt 
 condition is the effect o^ monoply. London is now 
 a large floiirishm.g town, and will soon be a city; 
 while Pml Stanley is yet only a yilbge. 
 
 T[ho foi'ogoiDg was writton some years ago, since 
 wdiieh time the town of London huH becotoe a city; 
 andj like many oth^^r places in Canada, i£ has ovor- 
 grown itsdf. Not only has the Great WeEtern 
 Railway, a. principal station there, with large r^ngee 
 of buildings and workshopa; but the Grand Trunk 
 and London and Poi't Stanley Railway Companies 
 haveBtationa there, so that there is comnitimcation 
 whh every part of Canada and the United States by 
 Railway. The- part of the city, which was fir^t 
 hiiilt^ and where ths Court-hoiiao now stands, baa 
 gone greatly to decay within the last few yearn* and, 
 i[i factp it looks very much like a mortgaged estate, 
 which the proprietors never intend to redeem. The 
 pcindpal part of the city is now to the eastward, and 
 it U a enriotis fact, that Dr. Elijah Dun comb of 
 SL Thomas, had Lis name entered for the lot on 
 wluch this part of the city stands* when he fir^jt came 
 to Canada, flt per acre, and gave it upon j^^onnl 
 of ks inaecesibihty* for want of u bridge across the 
 Thames. A great part of this land may now be 
 valned ut f^lOO per foot* 
 
LEFF; (}¥ COW'SFJ. TALIinT- 
 
 '■i5 
 
 on AFTER XL 
 
 Tjik Build in os and Domestic Eoono^jt of Port 
 Talbot— How thb: wine phied out in Summer — 
 Visitors — Ek^Sheriff Parking — The Oolonel^s 
 Pest — The P^uant. 
 
 Diflieult its woro tJio rojidg twenty or thirty 
 years ftgD„ th-ere wore none better ihm those of tho 
 Talbot SeEtlement, even in Ihe more densely popub- 
 lad and earlier se tiled part of tbo Conn try* where 
 the influence of j^overnraeol patronage, was more 
 felt; and neither the deep aunk rats, nor the dialoca' 
 ting corduroys, pr a vented a con^iitant stream of trav- 
 ellers aud emigrants from Gcidbg their way to Port 
 Tftlbol. Thither every new comer sped, not always 
 like the dove in search of land, returiiititr wkh 
 oakoti leaves in their mouthB* but frequently, more 
 like the ravens going to and fro. And the Colon©], 
 unlike f^oab, did not open the \^indow of bia ark, to 
 take tiiem in, bat he iisually stint it to keep them 
 out. 
 
 TTere for Ihe information of ihfi -ifirtuon, and 
 all who Uke an intereist iu primitive arohitccturo. and 
 tho domestic ecoDomy of a bachelor’s life sil Port 
 Talbot, we will attempt a description of the ei^teiior 
 etructnro of tho Colonel’s domicile, and its internal 
 arrangement. lu the construction nnd furniture of 
 Lis house, Colonel Talbot seeined to have adopted 
 T.ydiirgus’ ordinance, levelled, it is relatcfl in riiUai ch, 
 
fiC 1,tFE OF OOLO^ET. TALDOT. 
 
 magniliccoce acid Bj thiii ordin- 
 
 iinCo it wsb} directed that the ceilings of the houses 
 should bo wrought with no tool but the aao, and the 
 doors hut the saw. This was, literullj, tbo case at 
 Port Talbot, for tbo Caatlc of Malabido, there erected, 
 (rrcqueiLtiy the resort of the first men of Canada, as 
 well as of Ertglatid,) was nejiber more nor less than a 
 long range of low buildings, formed of logs and 
 shingles, Tbo main buildiog consisteng of three 
 divisions or apartments, viz., the granary and stOT3 
 room, where hung the venerable j-ellow dyed sheep 
 skin coat and cap , occupied the east end, tbrongk 
 this you passed to the audience chamber and dining 
 room, whence by an easy trangition, Jeffry was wont 
 to slip out iuid in from the kitchen, “Here will 1 
 roost,”' ns said the Colonel to General Simeoe, and 
 here it may be ssid he did roost, and he was not the 
 only roofltcr, for the Dutch piazz t in front of the 
 building, formed an inviting lodging for minierous 
 head-s of poultry, and these, with the dogs, gave early 
 notice of the approach of strangers . 
 
 In the centre room where the Colonel transacted 
 all his business ai d received all admitteLl victors, the 
 furniture was of the pUinosf kind, consiating of a 
 solid deal table, a few chairs with skin bottoms, 
 chests and a cupboard. The amplo fire place waa 
 the most oomfor table looking thing in the room, in 
 cold weather. This venerable apartment niight 
 
LIITE OF COLONEL TALEOT. 
 
 27 
 
 liave oxciteil tho Admiration of Oato tho Cen^rt or 
 tho prai^so of DiogonoB^ but CoIon-el Tjilbot^s economy 
 waB more in appearance than in lesility, for he nouher 
 drank bad v-^ine, nor starved hh aorvanta or cattle. 
 Although hia fare might bo called homely t it 
 good, and his wino Tvna always pnonoiillccd cxcellenr. 
 He ’ivae sp very parUonlar about Li& winej that be 
 always bad it brought up in double casks. [laving 
 boen reoommetided io a particular wine mcrchaiU in 
 Montreal for a supply, that geullemcn (Mr. Logan) 
 on luB application, bad told bim that be had none 
 good enough for him then, which so gained the 
 fSoJoners confidence, that he never applied to Any 
 
 other wine merchant for ibe remainder of bis lifo in 
 Canada.* 
 
 Besides tho building ws have spoken ofi ho had 
 another oontiguoits, containing a range of bed -room 
 where his guests could be made comfoi'table for the 
 nightK In his latter years, he had added ^ sutt of 
 rooms of more lofty pretenaionSj but without disturb- 
 ing the old tenementa, and these sumptuous opart 
 
 * After one wf trips (o En;^laiid, the ColnmeJ ysnB 
 t 3 *&VGllmg with one of his Irt'otheia on hig way to Port; 
 Talbnt^ through the United States, who like lusny other oltl 
 couutrymeu found fault with everything he met wiih. 
 pnrticuJarly the wines ^ bo pronounced to be extcj-ahlc. 
 
 ifeTer mindp^* said ColoHel Talbot, “you ehaJl Krv. ioiiiG 
 good wine at Port Talbot” Accordingly, not long after tbeir 
 arrival^ the person be bad left m siii!iigOp was ealled upon 
 to pled 13 Co &Oioe oi Logu-u'& bestporb in order that lie jiiight 
 rcdetTu his pledge^ and cleanse his brother'* mouth of the 
 vilianouH^ fttuft’ he bad dr^nk iu The Ursitefl Ike 
 
 i 
 
OF frOLONEL TALEOT. 
 
 b6 
 
 ments were rescvvci] fox state occasion JJelore thh 
 time niinaciTiUS h.wl been the guest$i of exulted rank 
 ’^vbo liaJ visited Port TalboL Indeed, it s^aa only 
 aflGt the intro Jnetion of Responsible Government in 
 Canada^ that the Governors of Canada oraiLted to 
 inahe a tour as fdr as Port Talbot. This change of 
 gysLem brought a different class of to Canada, 
 to p.'Osido over its. deatinios. 
 
 Prior to ihU time, every m?in uf ]-ank ivho bal 
 visited Ca3>^lda^ hnd visited Port Talbot also — nod 
 not gen tic men. only, hut ladies were soinetimea 
 attracted by the fame of the extraordinaiy individual 
 who could re?-ist ihoir chaf’ni&. Among the former 
 # we may name the Duke of Richmond^ Mr. Luboa- 
 cherc, Sir Peregrine Maitlaudp Sir J, Colborue^ Lord 
 Aylmeiv Chief Justice Robinson, and many otlier 
 distinguished besides a vast miinbcr of respect' 
 able emigrants^ Vfbo paid their respeeUi at Port 
 Talbot. These all experienced the Colon oPs hos- 
 pitality; but, wLat was more to bia credit, the poor 
 dcseivirg sfilLlci'S wero not. sent empty away. These 
 
 TiiftQ rtfft’CTcd TO go after but .Soo-Ji letiLrnod witli the 
 
 Llolefiil tbe ^Tupty — tliat there 
 
 wsi^ no]ie. ^ ^=aid tlie Colouei wdju hjtd iioror 
 
 Elbowed himself to be witlioat good wine — “ Xon^, why 
 wliTir. liaft becoinn of iti” The servant being an IrishiufiTi 
 undhaviE 3 ga fair r^liavf of that mother it, for whioh Iijj^ 
 eimutiymen ?n'c fameiL wflii no w;ty at a loss for a 
 reply.' Wliat 00110!“^ jaid ibe Col on eh Tfitli evident 
 snrprl??c, Non p, y&r honor i iL id! <.]ried iip trith (he liot 
 weFitliir rl' ' 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 GO 
 
 \vt!i-e rebignecl to JtiJflfry^s c-FirOj who knew liow Ui 
 mlminUl^r to tb^ir waiiCSj m n manner congeni^il to 
 :heir rank in life. 
 
 Not with Stan ding tbe many years^^ while the 
 settlemGnt wa^ in its iisfaiicyj wficn ho was oonfinod 
 to the pocietf of tho eaily settlors, wiio were: neither 
 pcilished in i heir toannerii, nor refined in their taatei^, 
 (being generally of the poor auil khortng class of 
 people J Colonel Talbot uiainiainedj in a pecidiar 
 degree, the Jigiiiiy of his rant aiid stuLiou, anJ whilfi 
 he expected respect from all who approached him, 
 fVoni the Governor to the peasant* he I re a Led hiH 
 visitors in a manner suitable to their desertg, Even 
 vi liile hebas been obliged to &nper»ntend the culinary 
 depart men to enter tain distlDgni&hed visitors, he 
 lias been Imown to ihvow^ off the cook *k apron and 
 preserve ihefiame demeanor as if lie werestirrouuded 
 by all the elegancies and eouveiiiences of life, T'hc 
 fnct IS, a well bred man is never at a loss to mtjiiitaiD 
 Ijle self-i espect. 
 
 Occaiioiiallvj iio'-vover, the Colonel has enter- 
 tained persons, who ought Jiot to have boen admitted 
 to Ills table- Tho notorious ’Mr* Ex-Sberiff Parkins, 
 rf London, (England) wa$ one of tbe&e. This per- 
 son bein^^one day at dinner wdth the Golo-neh made 
 
 D * 
 
 use of language aWit a friend of Colonel Tislbot's 
 which was distastefiiJ^ and upon wliich the Celoncl 
 remarked that Lc dkl not permit fcuch languagei to be 
 
J OO Lli'E 01’ TAIBOI- 
 
 made use o/ at hU tA^lo. Tho Ejf-Sberiff inline' 
 diatolj Uftiuj;; the edge of the table cloth, 'ahich 
 discovered only a pine board, impertinently rejoined ; 
 
 0 Your table ! do yon call (bis a table?" “ JaSry, let 
 Mr. Parkins’ horse be brought to the door,” waa the 
 ready reply. 
 
 Of the thousands, who called upon the Colonel 
 at Port Talbot, a few measured tbeir own moiits by 
 his coudeaoension, white olbors made use of forcible 
 argumentB to obtain their ends^ An old Sootch" 
 vroman we ai'e told, the wife of one of the early 
 settlers, was so impressed with the belief that the 
 Colonel, and all he possessed, belonged to the eettlerd, 
 that she made no diBBeulty about requiring one of 
 hts hoi'ses to go to mill. Indeed,” said the Colonel, 
 
 1 will give you no horse.” *' You won’t, won’t you,” 
 said the heroine, seizing the carving fork, “ we shall 
 see whether you would rather give a horse, or be 
 run through with this forkf” The Colonel retreated, 
 calling out, “Jeffry, Jeffry, order a harae for this 
 
 Seoul) d ^3.” This was done, the Colonel’s pest, 
 
 us be termed her, went off satished, and in duo lime 
 lOtuvned the Loi-se. 
 
 A very different character once approached hioi, a 
 Pedant, who lived in the Town ship of Howard, and 
 spent much time in collecting loug words from the 
 Dictionary. Such cbaracleiie ; among an illiterate 
 pojmlrttioOj frequently pass themselvos off for meii 
 
r.lFK (JOLO^EL iALBOi. 
 
 101 
 
 of learaiagp and of anperjor wUdoiii, and wben this 
 desire of distinction bas loot mciclj in vanity, ibcro 
 is not so imich harm tu it^ but wb«D tlio afToctatlon 
 of loarning Is only assumed to blind the eyes of llio 
 ignorant, or serves to coucoal the vices of a sordid 
 nund, it is pernicious in the extreme. 
 
 tIoweveT> Colonel Talbot W^ae not the man that 
 would allow blmaelf to be smothered with long sound- 
 iog vrordsj and while the Pedant w.as making a dis- 
 play of bis carefully selected vocahniaiy, to detail a 
 local grievauee, oi‘ rather to lay a complaint against 
 one of the settlers, he waa out short by the Colonel, 
 who accosted him in a manner to dispel any DEi>ccta- 
 tion of hU being imposed upon by pharasaical cir- 
 eumloeutien. What the hell do you mean, man ! 
 if you do not come down to the level of my poor 
 understanding, I can do nothing for you.’' The 
 man profilted by the rebuke, and commenced in 
 plain words, but in tather an ambiguous mEuiiici', to 
 state that his neighbor vfos unworthy of the grant of 
 laud he bad obtained, as he was not working well. 
 
 Come out with it," S£ud the Colonel, ** for I see 
 now what you would be at. You wish to oust your 
 neighbor, aud get the laud for yourself, but I’ll he 
 
 d d if you do.’* The man took himself off incou- 
 
 iinently. The Colonel had discovered the truth 
 hidden in a multitude of words- Many attempts of 
 this kind wore made at Port Talbot, 
 
1. T P E OF CO 3 -ON E; i T.U 'K,>T . 
 
 ll>2 
 
 OPTAPTKIiXlL 
 
 CoLOyEf. TalHOT At A PailTIDlL MeTTIN'U ly 
 
 Thomas— GeorGi: Lawton^ 
 
 Colonel Talbot, althoiigli ho naturally toolc a 
 liv&ly iTitorest in wliatuver affected the welfare of 
 Ganacla, scarcolj?' ever interfered in pol sties and 
 personally took no part in eleotioii con lea td. It was, 
 however, veiy evident to all who knew lism, that hia 
 j.soliLical sentiaienta harmonized with the principles of 
 the tory scliool in this Provincej. and JetFry, who was 
 (iis alley ide7/i aL the Poll, always voted for the toiy 
 candidate, Thq. Colonel^ being a LogislatiTo Coun- 
 cillor, never voted himself^ altbough he seldom took 
 Ilia seat In the Coimdl, The only occasion on which 
 he appeared personally to identify biiuself with nny 
 political party, was during the time of Sir J. Col- 
 borne^fi admiuistration in the year JS3— , when the 
 liberal parEy were agitating the Country by every 
 means in their power. At this time it clearly 
 foreseen that the resnll of their proceedings would 
 be rebellion* In every part of Cuiiada, the Agitators, 
 of whom McKengie waa deservedly considered the 
 chief, had aroused a spirit of loyalty, which spon- 
 taneously burst forth and expressed itself in loyal 
 addresses, to the Throne, adopted at public meetings 
 throiighont Upper Canada. At ihesa meetings the 
 proceed irigR of the Agitatoi's ivere universally com- 
 
[i.lFb. lilt’ dOlJiXEL r.U.l’iH-. 
 
 dcJiincL-lii :ui'.i aLlmhiUtralioTi of Sir J* CulbuiJH" 
 vf-ds ifcigiily iipproveJ oi\ 
 
 On this occasion, Colonel tnlbot considered it 
 hifldaty to como for^-^rd^ and declare Inraaelf openly 
 as opposed to tha faction who were disturbing tlie 
 peace of the country, and Iq sustain the adtninistrator 
 of die Govei-ninenb He therefore called a ineetinig 
 of hie settlors, to take place at St. ThotnaSp on 
 George’s Day. ^ 
 
 At tli]3 meetiog which was the only ono of a 
 political nature, that he over attended, that I am 
 aware of, the settlors tnamfested by their appearance 
 that they stilt considered Colonel Talbot as tho 
 Father of the Set dement, and worthy of their highest 
 regard- Among tiiose present, were the Nevilles, 
 the Pearces, the Patersons* the Bohiers of Dunwicb, 
 the Mannsj the Mand-evilJt^, and a host of othera, too 
 numerous to mention. These men never swerved 
 from their allegiance to the Crown, and were never 
 wanting in respect to theh' hcaefactOTi Marty of 
 them have since departed this life, but the samo 
 sentiments auiEnate the breasts of their numerous 
 ofFspdng. 
 
 Tlie black $heep to whom iho C^olonel alluded 
 in his speech were tlie Tcoplefej^ soane of the Davis^ 
 and others of the Schoharie line as hcdi&dngutBhcd 
 those pemoTis wlio li^icl e migrated into Canada, from 
 a place called Schoharie^ in (he U id ted St a E ess. 
 
104 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TAL^Ol' 
 
 Tlio$e seltlers 'irho liad eomc intu tlio stttlwuioiil. al a 
 later day, did not appredate tbo Colonel's exertions, 
 and were too ready to join in the ranks of his oppo- 
 nenls, and the opponents of the then esiatiog Qovern- 
 ment. The men who at thia time were ao discon- 
 tented, had in reality little cause to complain. They 
 were generally the propjietora of fine farms, and all 
 the taxes they liad to pay were a mere bagatlGlle, 
 Indeed they were acnotig the most prosperous and 
 independent class of the settlers; but unfortunately 
 they were acted on by such polideal agitators as 
 fiolph and McKenzie, who had comrnenced a politi- 
 cal warfare with what was called the Family Com- 
 pact, and whO] to aocomplish their objects, made 
 use of every means to excite the prejudices of the 
 people, 
 
 The Family Oompact, were those who were in 
 possession of the most lucrative offices under the 
 Government, among whom there wore somo promi- 
 ne rt names, such as the Boultons, Pow'dla, Robinsons, 
 Strachaus, die., dec., and these with their numerous 
 family connexions^ presented a formidable array of 
 tflknt, as well as numbeis. Like all men in similar 
 drcumElancGS, the FumUy Compact wore not alwaya 
 as attentive to their duties ns they should Lave been, 
 and their elevated positious rendeied them objects of 
 disHko 10 the popular party, end excited the envy of 
 tnon of grovolling minds, who erm discover no merit 
 
ILFE OF OOLO.VEL TALUOT. 
 
 105 
 
 tbfit dooe not centre in Ih enamel v^esj and who are ever 
 ready to ende^or to bring down others to Iheir own 
 lovoh The McKeniie ]>artyj however, as if deter- 
 mined, that tho predietiona of the reenlt of their 
 agitation nmi seditions procaedings should be veri- 
 fied, did not rehix their effortB, iintil they Imd gorte 
 through on unsuccessful attempt at rebel lien* 
 
 Long before the titnenjJi^Qted for the meeting, 
 a large party went out to moot the Colotic], on tlio 
 top of Drake^s hill, as it is called, from w'hich a splen* 
 drd view of St. Thomas^ which it eomm^nda from the 
 we&t, ia afforded! ^nd accompanied by a band of 
 music, cscorled him into the town, amidst the 
 waving of flags and baanera, encribed. The HoDp 
 T homas Talbot, Founder of tho Talbot Sctllemenb 
 &c., &c. Tbs roada leading to St* Thomas, were 
 alive with people from every part of the Settlementj 
 many coming forty or fifty miles to reapond to the 
 call of the Founder of tho Tnlbot Setlkrri<irii. Aa 
 the hour of meetiug approached, one dense crowd 
 surrounded the phitfonn, which hiid been erected 
 outside of the St. Thomas Hotel, and wdien th^ ven- 
 erable Pioneer of l^ort TaJbot, m^de hia appearuncs, 
 the joyous multitude greeted him with cheers, long 
 and loud; but thera were some who ranged them- 
 fielvcH in knoU a distance, and locked upon these 
 inanifo&lations of respect with no favorablo oye, nnJ 
 some of these individuals iificrwards turned traitors 
 
100 
 
 LIFE or colonel TAL^eOT. 
 
 to llieir iioveresgiij atid ihm fulfilied the pr<idiclloi]ft 
 foretold at this tiTne. » 
 
 Colonel Talbot might well feel piouJ of the 
 large as^^mblnge of independent yeoTnanry^ which 
 greeted him on Ehia occasion, and the address which 
 be inaie to them, was replete with wit and sage 
 remarks^ Nothing could exceed the eolbiisiam which 
 animated the crowd of lif^toners., There were pres- 
 ent old Tiien^ who bad toiled bj IjiAside, from poverty 
 to wealthy and their hardy sons wej'e with iLenn 
 Some of these veteran??, clad in tho manufactiired 
 pi'oJuco of the if own farmSt ^vitLi thair Lands stuck 
 deep into their aaipLo waistcoat poctel^j stooii looking 
 lip at their venerated friend, as If they would $wallow 
 hia words; and when ha refapred Lo the puias he had 
 taken to premier ve santinients of loyalty in the settle- 
 ment, “ thal'!^ tnic Colonel," ivas the rcaj^onsQ from 
 many a manly voice. The writer wari preseat, and 
 therefore cati speak from personal knowledge. 
 
 After lie had a^'ciided the platform, wiih sev^ 
 cial fnends, the Colonel addressed the meeting in u 
 ^l^eech which eliciied a tumult of applause. He 
 began by tracing bnelly the history of the seltlernent, 
 and adverted to tlio pains he Iiud t^ikeu to people it 
 with honest, industrious, and loyal seltler^, such as 
 tlicn stood] before hini. But,^^ eaid lie, ** in Kpite 
 of all my effort^, some black sheep have got into llie 
 n-K:k“aye! and they have gnM the rot too!’^ 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL T.VLBQT. IQV 
 
 As an instants of (he great irOFpcet in wliich Ijo 
 was lidtl by tliC? iiinny settlers^ who ra&pon- 
 
 ded to liis call ou this occasion^ it may be stated that 
 boing aware oftlie ColonGpa aversion to political dis- 
 eussiori or altercation, do other persop attempted to 
 address the met tin". All felt satisfied with the 
 sGntimGnts lie liad expressed, and appreciated tbe 
 advice be bad offered. As Jio had arraiig^ed, a loyal 
 address dictated by bimself, was tbeii read to Ibe 
 Tueeting, and sub mi f ted for their adoption. Tbo 
 folio wing paragrapiis from tlie address will afford a 
 tolerable idea of the pte vailing political sentiments of 
 bis settlei'S at that lime. — at least all those who were 
 noi infected wtib tbe rot 
 
 “ Deeply impresseiJ widi lively sense of tbo 
 nnaiiifold blessings we enjoy under tbe proieotioii Of 
 j'our Majesty's Government, established in this Pro- 
 vince, we bag to assure Your Majesty, Ibat the in- 
 habitants of the Talbot Settlement, (with the cxccp- 
 tloa of a few only,) in no wise participate in those 
 feelings of discontent so recently luanlfaeted by a few 
 disaffected individuals, who, making rcLgion sub- 
 servient to their political designs, have by tile moat 
 insidious arts and Hnsrant misstatements, endeavored 
 to eradicate Every true Britliib feeling from theb^arts 
 of Your Majesty's loyal subjects.^^ 
 
 ^Ybiht tbo subjects of miglity Empires aro 
 boriac down by tbe weight of leavy distr^ictod 
 
108 
 
 HFB OF COLONEL TALBOT, 
 
 by ititorDDil e(»mrfiotione, aBd alflicted with many rerti 
 griorances, the I'nhabitaDta of Saltlement, in 
 comTnon with tbeir fellow subjects of Upper Canada, 
 gratefully acknowledge that tliey enjoy, through the 
 blessing of their Almighty Father, a greater portion 
 of rational freedom, civil and religious liberty, and 
 pcacofalcontoDtEneDt, than, as they believe, noy other 
 people on earth. Their taxes are light, and applied 
 to useful purposes; their Laws, constitutionally 
 made, with the assent of the representatives of their 
 own free choice, impartially administered, and their 
 comnierce encouraged and protested by the mighty 
 arm of Britain.’* 
 
 Such w’ere the ferveut feelings of loyalty which 
 animated tho breasts of the great majority of the 
 settleis at that timo, but, the Colonel was right, the 
 black sheep were infected with the rot, and they 
 never recovered. Tbo disease, looi spread till it 
 broke out into overt acts of treason, and involved 
 some of those who had found their way into the 
 Settlement, without the Colonel's advice or assist- 
 ance, in ruin and misery, even to death on the gal- 
 lows. The beautiful Township of Yarmouth, which, 
 as we have already made nieudon, was the land 
 first selected by Colonel Talbot to found a Settle- 
 ment in, had been granted to tha Baby family, and 
 others, and had bcea sold by tho proprietors to a 
 different class of settlers to those iiUcuded by the 
 
OF COLONEL T4LEOI, lOW 
 
 Colorielt ^ society of Friends, wbo set up tbdr 
 own narrow Tier's of leligiod^ in oppoeitioQ to the 
 great bulk of fill civiliased nattonSf and set at nought 
 the commandment of fjod, to keep holy the Lord’s 
 Day, Alttiough they d aimed the privilege of being 
 eienapt from war, they did not fail to encourage 
 sedUion, and in tlie meek garb of friends of pcace^ 
 enrolled themselvea in the ranka of faction, and 
 quitely lent a willing band to uproot the instituliona 
 of the country- 
 
 Among ihis band of meek brothers^ an EngU&h- 
 raan, n&med George Lskwton, had purchased a lot of 
 landi and although a hard working man, made it hia 
 business to sow disconEcnt among his neighbors. 
 Lawton waa a man of strong mind with a yoluble 
 and boisterous tougue, and wa^ well educated in tha 
 MfiQ Chester school of politics. At tha tdeebng wo 
 have been speaking of, he was one who stood aloof^ 
 hnt the rancour of his tongue,^ after the proceedings 
 were over, did not fail to create a row, and Lis life 
 seemad in danger^ his heels, however, saved him; 
 and thiH was not the only lima^ for, like the deer in 
 the fable, the member which he prided most, lod 
 him frequently into daDgcr, while the limbs which 
 he made no account of, (hig IcgE) ciiTriecl him out of 
 iL In McKenaic’s outbreak of 133Cp Law-ten 
 hecamo a leader nmoug the Spartans, ns the Sooth 
 Yarmouth troop of rebels were called j and tnairched 
 
liiO tlFB OF OOLOinirL TALBOT. 
 
 to join General Dr. Durconab’s « my, assembled at 
 Oaklaiid. The troop reached tho place of rcoilezvoua 
 in time to fly before McKab’s forces, which wer* 
 in pureuit, and Lai? ton escaped the gallows by run- 
 ninj^ away, A. cunoosi anecdote is told of Lavrlon. 
 Being implicated in ibe Bristol liots, while the offi- 
 cers were in Ecarcb, be fell eick in the place of con- 
 cealment, and it was reported that ho bad died. To 
 put this beyond doubt, the fiiDeral soleoinilies took 
 place, and in the Eneantime Lawton escaped to 
 America. After some time, hefoond his way to 
 Port Stanley, where among the pereont be first met 
 was one of the mourners, who thought he had fol- 
 lowed him to the grave 1 So the story was related 
 to the writer. 
 
 True is the adage, a man that is born to bo 
 drowned, cannot be banged. Lawton was neither— 
 for after having remained in exile, for several years 
 in the United States, he was allowed to rot urn, to 
 live in peace once more, under the Government he, 
 with others, would have overturned!, aud died a nat- 
 ural death, the possessor of s^ valuable property 
 wbicb he left to bis oflspritig. 
 
hJFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 The Colonkl^s Religioub Profession — Reasons 
 
 FOE NOT SUDS CillBlNG FOR A MkeTJNO HoUSE — 
 
 George Elliot 'ss Itinerants, 
 
 Varbua conjecturos and surmises were enter- 
 tained of CoTonel Talbotts religions beliefs By some 
 he was considered to bo a Hotnati CathoUc; by others, 
 not far from a free thinker; and some set him down, 
 AS a mao of no religion at all* Butj we ha^e his 
 own words and acta to shew that he was a professed 
 member of the Church ot EngHud^^and we know 
 that he contributed liberally towards her s upper L 
 He was the owner of two pews in the cburcli of SL 
 Thomas, and subsciibed, and paid toward the sup- 
 port of the clergyman when called upon. That he 
 was- laFi in the performance of Lis religious duties 
 publicly^ for many yeAts of hts life^ cannot bo denied ^ 
 but thig will less excite our surpnse, when we con- 
 sider the isolated situaiion iu which he wa$ placed, 
 » and the total ali&enco of all example to influence his 
 coaductf in a religious point of view. Besides this, 
 there can be no doubt that there was a peculiarity 
 iu the disposition of Colonel Talbot^ which led him 
 to esbew all appearance of being controlled by others^ 
 eltlicr in Ilia religions or political sentimenls, 
 
 In this Tfi^pe^t, we have reason to believe^ 
 Colonel Talbot was no wome than many of hif; early 
 associateKj and that he wag quite as religious afl a 
 
112 
 
 OF CQLOllEL TALBOT. 
 
 Tast dumber, wbo make gfreater pretensions anj who 
 are at all times within reach of places of worship, 
 where the very first order of talent is employed to 
 conduct tbe services. la religious as well as civil 
 society, there is a very marked dlsiinction of classes, 
 parlieularly ia the Church of England; (although 
 there is no positive necessity why U ahonld be so) 
 fashbd governs the attendance of a great portion of 
 tVie aristocracy i and all who follow in tbeir wake- 
 For instance, if you go to any of the churches in the 
 most fashionable parts of the great city of London, 
 (and it is a good deal so in the cities of Canada,) the 
 attendance at Divine worship la the foreaooo ia 
 highly respectable, the church U suirounded by 
 carriages, so that there is scarcely room for the poor, 
 but goto tbe san^e churches i □ the aflc moon, and you 
 find^moro than half the pewa are empty, with a few 
 setvaala scattered here and there; while the matin 
 worshipper.'! are disporting themselves in Rotten Row 
 07 Hyde Park, by thousands, on horseback or in * 
 carriages of the most elegant description, and of every 
 conceivablo form, to suit the taste, pride, or vanity of 
 tho owners. Such scenes are more attractive than 
 half empty churches, therefore it is no wonder that 
 thousands of pedestrians, who Lavo nothing but their 
 beat dollies to exhibit, throng the Parks to walk and 
 criticise their superiors in rank. When men of rank 
 do condeecend to attend Divine worship in the after- 
 
Lll'E Ob' COLON FI, TALBOT. J J3 
 
 noon tUey may be set down as truly evangelical wor- 
 ahipnei's, who are governecl by religious motives 
 rather than ^sblonable ones. 
 
 Colonel Talbot was an aristocrat, there can be 
 no doubt, in the highest seuse, or perhaps it would 
 be more applicable and espiesa the meaning batter 
 to say, he was an aristocrat of the Whig school— that 
 is a school formed of younger sons of noblemen, aad 
 men of high contieKions, who have to support a high 
 rant with slender means. To do thi& they often 
 quarrel with their fathers, and shew their independ-, 
 ence by differing with them in politjca. But whea- 
 ever men of this stam p come to Canada, although 
 they always profess to have been Whigs in the old 
 country, they become Tories here, lest they sliotild 
 lose their identity altogether. For in England 
 Whigs and Radicals, are distinct classes; but in 
 Canada, there is no eneb distinction, and a man must 
 be either Tory or Conseivative, or Liberal and Radi' 
 cal, and in the latter case, he must avoid every 
 appearance of aristocracy, if he wishes to succeed iu 
 politics. 
 
 Now, at Port Talbot, the same opportunity of 
 attending religiouB service iu the company of fashion’ 
 able associates, and men of rank, did not occur, aud 
 there wai nolhing attract iva enough as a mere mat- 
 ter of form, to draw him once every thiffi Sunday, 
 several miles from Iwoe, to lieai only, peril a a 
 
114 
 
 Ln^-IS OF colonel I’ALBOT. 
 
 dull and dj'o^'Ry gerfifiMt oi; tb-e aervyjo ijeifm/iieJ iti 
 
 the cold listless iiiannei', fio usual ia reoaote country 
 parUhes. Hero Colonel Talbot erredp ior bis alteiid- 
 ancc at cLutcIi, (and so with every other irtau of riink 
 in isolated positions,) would materially tend to stim. 
 nlate the zeal of a clergyman, in the correct perfora- 
 ance of hia dutiet. 
 
 But| although Colonel Talbot did not habitually 
 attend public iTorsbip, he was not altogether without 
 the benefit of clergy, for the Rev, Mart Burnhanit 
 who officiated at the church in Bunwich, tire miles 
 above Port Talbot, every third Sunday, where 
 dwelt a few famtlies, the Patersons, Pearces, Bachua’ 
 and Bobiers, — some of the Colonel’s most steady 
 friends and ablest setilers— for many years never 
 failed to visit Port Talbot on his return home, the 
 Monday following, where he was always an eipected 
 and welcorao guest. The Colonel was fond of com- 
 pauy, when he could have visitors on bis own torins, 
 which were geneiially adapted to suit the q^nality of 
 his guests^ and liko most great men, who have to 
 bottle themselves up from ordinary visitors, the 
 Colonel could relax, and lay his ears open for news 
 from different parts of bis estenai ve settlement. He 
 could also indulge in jok*' and witticisms, the un- 
 natural offspring of vice and virtue— or a double 
 entendre. *It must have been rather a bold venture 
 for a young clergyman to corac In contact with a 
 
LIFE iJuL-CJKEL 1 1 B 
 
 rnau of Co lull ei lybot'a wli niid r:ifv buiijoui-, aiul 
 a wlio would atari te at tljo vej-y idea of being 
 pfieaL j-iddeii; in fEiet;^ wlio ^voiiild bo xmxdi more 
 likely to saddle tbe priest — bat the revjrend gootle- 
 man boro wiiti him a loner while* till at lenarth findinsr 
 that be was not making any pregress? with tlie old 
 gentleman, ia a religious point of view; on the con- 
 trary, that his sallies of wit became more freq^uent 
 and cutting, he left him to get to heaven without lij$. 
 rLgsistancc, 
 
 Colonel Talbot was never plee^d with himself 
 for having said or done anything to provoke the dU-^ 
 jdeasure of his reverend go^t, but being in the habii 
 at table, after dinner, of smacking his lips ovei' a 
 glass of gicjodpoi’t, and cracking jokes, which ejelorted 
 from his guest a liEiIf approving smile, he was tempted 
 to exceed iho bounds which religioui^ or even chaste 
 conversation w^oiild presci'ibe, and came so neat 
 proving in vino ventas, that the reverentl gentleman 
 ivcnild never revisit himp aUhough I believe it was 
 Colonel Talbot’s earnest desire that he should* 
 
 Hero a few re marks suggest themselves as to 
 tbe evil effects^ of placing young men to rusticate in 
 remote parishes, almost as soon as they have entered 
 into Holy Orders, and tl lei's leaving thein with 
 seai-cely any earthly object to excite their ambition 
 or stinuilate ibeir zeal^ for ten or twenty yea'^s more 
 Of Iciss^ of that p or Li Oh i^f the if lives, when tliey 
 
1 I {j LIFP OF fOLONEL TALBUT. 
 
 i^Eioiiie] be iiiilaity coniact witL merj of uuporior 
 intelligence and religions osporfcnco, to correct aad 
 remoFu tho prejudices of Sectarian ediicatioo. Too 
 often such young divines are act over congregationsj 
 with an over estimate of llieLr own acquirements, 
 and at a time of life when they require the wisdom 
 of age and eKperieneo to mature tbeir judgment, and 
 when they nre as incapable of receiving religious 
 instiiieticin as tbej are of imparting it. 
 
 But althougli Colonel Talbot made no outward 
 shew of religion, be gave stifficient ovidence that he 
 was not void of religious feeling. Hk was the reli- 
 gion of the heart, and not of the lipa. His religion 
 taught him to perform the p&it of the {good Samara- 
 tan, and few men have given better proof of their 
 desire to do good. For many years he kept open 
 house for hi& settlers, and fed and entertained them ; 
 oven with Lie own hands performing the ofitcee of a 
 ineniftl for them. To this fact, hundred of settlers 
 can testify. 
 
 If Colonel Talbot did not merit the character of 
 a devoted churchman, he could not be charged wiib 
 oncouraging dissent, as the following anecdote may 
 serve to shew. The Iter, Mr. S — —— a Congrega- 
 tional preacher, wlio could, like the Apostle Paul, eay 
 these bands have labored aud mirUtered to my own 
 wants, once calls :1 on the Colonel, when the follovr- 
 ing charactrrisiie colloquy took place. 
 
LI PE OF COLONEL TAl. ROT. 
 
 117 
 
 “ Good Eiiorning Colonel/’ said tlie ReveieiiJ, 
 and — 
 
 Wbat do you wanl?" was tho roply. 
 
 “ We want to make Bomo impiovemeut in our 
 neighborhood?” said hie Kevereiictf, ♦‘and — ►*’ 
 
 “^There's much need of it 1” said the Colonel. , 
 
 ‘ ‘ Wa are going to build a house.” 
 
 " A house for what ? 
 
 ** A house for the worship of God ; and I just 
 came to solicit a siibgcription,” 
 
 ** I’ll gire you nothing/' 
 
 ♦♦Why not, Colonel?’* 
 
 “ Because you gather a parcel of you together, 
 sing a psalm^ bowl nnd yell like a band of wolvea, 
 then go and cheat your neighbor, and come back 
 and slog a hymn over iL” 
 
 The Kcv. Mr. S who was really a good, 
 
 well meaning man, and certainly more like a suc- 
 cessor of the Apostle, than many of our Bishops and 
 Clergy, took the Colonel’s rebuff in good part, and 
 was even constrained to admit the force of his re- 
 marks. Mr. S- ^ — was one of the early settlers, 
 
 and ever entertained a aincci'e respect for Colonel 
 Talbot, who, he said was a good man; and this was 
 the testimony of the most sensible an 1 loyal men in 
 the seUlement- 
 
 While the Setllemeiit was in its infancy, as was 
 genoially the case tbroughont Uppoi Canada, at that 
 
113 
 
 LIFE OF OOLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 time^ the i>eopk "were unable to aupport respectable 
 rcUgbus teacber^?, and wore exposed to ibe cant and 
 lijpocracy of itiaerantSj who often a^&unied the garb 
 of religioWj lo cover their nefarioua designs. The 
 career of one of these' i& worth leoording* aa an 
 instance of wickedness and wordly prosperity, almosi 
 without parallel. 
 
 George Elliot, was among the first of these 
 itiuerants^ and a more consummate rogue, can scarcely 
 be imagined. He waa one of thoBc cool, calculating 
 wretches, who could smile, and emile and be a villiAn, 
 Mild who can commit frauds and extortion without 
 ihe least compunction, He was shrewd Ahd slow of 
 speech, and committed the most nefarious acts in 
 the most calm and deliberate manner.* Licentious- 
 ness and avarice, were the goveilliug passions. of bis 
 
 gouh to gratify these, he conld stoop to any base- 
 noss^ 
 
 Elliot at one time belonged to the Methodist 
 body, and was stationed at Long Point, w^heuce his 
 circuit extended to the Talbot Settlement At Long 
 Point, having been caught in an intrigue with anothoi 
 
 ^ On one -oee^isioa being in debt to a man named Sutton 
 on a note forSiijOp the man premised bim for payment, but 
 Elliot onlywanfeJ lo pay liicii iu liadfr — Ebai liirn 
 
 ^ixhIa at a price wicliiiut reference tc value or original Cost— 
 blit Sutton wanted inoiiev. Well>” said ElLot, let mo 
 see the note.^^ Sukton banded liiui tbo note, and Elliot rery 
 delitherritx^ly tore it in Then to appease the nian, paid 
 
 him in trade. On anothpr^ occasion Elliot^ for a ^mall 
 
UFH flff C^jLOJTBL TiLBOT. 
 
 no 
 
 mati’a he was from ihe ofEico of IJijrla- 
 
 lcr» siTtd he rernoved to Talbot Slrectj Avhere ho 
 ohlained land, and set up a store* Having already 
 committed the crlnie of adultery, ho added that of 
 bigamythy marrying a second wife, while the first 
 waa living in Ireland or the United States. 
 
 By pRrE™ony^ cunning, shaviag and fraud, this 
 worthlesa character, accumulated a lare:e f ropo:1;yt 
 but the arm of the Lord overtook him in tho midst of 
 hk SLDS, artd he dSed^ iiu regretted and uuhonoredj 
 like the beaels that perisbp a miepfahle e^emple of 
 tbo folly and wickedness of worshipping llie mammon 
 of UTirighlcousnc£s. 
 
 After the GctlkmenL bad got into a flounsbiDg 
 ooDdition^ another of these itinerant prcacliera came 
 over from the Unilcd States^ to enligbttn the sel tier ?t 
 and the following account of his pregrinations ap- 
 peared in one of the local papers, caul ion ing tho in- 
 habitants to look out for a ifi sheep^s doihing. 
 
 ^ TiiO Rev. M a few days &go crossed over 
 
 from Detroit,, and wended his way mLo one of the 
 
 amount bought of a lutnor [tbe heir) a fourth of Lis interest 
 in A lot of hiiiidi a valaabld fiiirin. out tba 
 
 f]e^d« but in “lead of the 60 acre^, Inserted I lie wbcTq lot and 
 I ho lad signed lU Some y eai s aher it Tvaf^ fyimd tho faLber 
 had made a wilhand Elliot was baffled^ Ho had the cckj! 
 flffrotitery to prDsi^eule hia el aim for the money advanced^ in 
 tiie Cotirt of l^rfichp whero his villany wa'^ fully 
 
 expf4«iir 
 
120 
 
 iitL; or coiowKL talbot. 
 
 w^Atei'L. TQii>'ns.liips, where Jie pme ached, a lid was 
 nftci wardis cntciuioed bj one of the settlers. Being 
 in a very tagged and destitute 'state, the settler letc 
 Ltm a new suit of clothes, which be bad by bim, and 
 bi these be wiis to preaeb on a oertaJn day; but 
 Inatead of keeping bis appoiutmont, he proceeded to 
 another Township, dO or 00 miJea distaot, where ha 
 colkcted a congregation and, preached the word. 
 Here ha arranged to preach on a future day, and in 
 the moantimo desired to edify eonae more of the 
 «tmy sheep at no gieat distance; but being wearied, 
 one of bis hearers, acting the part of the good 
 Samaritan, set him on his beast, having only a halter 
 and skti] saddle. Being thus clad and mounted, his 
 reverence proceeded a sufiidenl: disCance, and poured 
 the waters of life freely on another congregatjou 
 where mccriug being concluded be utadc a fresh 
 appointment, and borrowed a eaddle and bridle, 
 T'iieiice be Journeyed eastw'ard. By this time, the 
 first victim had started tu search of his cloth^a, and 
 tracked the preacher to the place where he had 
 boirowed a horse, tbj owner of which joined in 
 the pursuit, and tlse two were not very long before 
 they discovered the man who had lent the saddle and 
 bridle, jvad where a congregatiou had assembled t 
 according to appointment. After a fruitless pursuit, 
 iipjdicatiijii btii:g made to a magistrate in St, 
 'Ihumas, it was disco vcied that the icvcTcnd vaga- 
 
At HI Ot'OOIjONEL tALliOX. 
 
 VII 
 
 bund bad d^ac^TllpedJ having first soM the Iigj^g dL,J 
 appomtmeRfcs 
 
 Such wera aome of ihe spiritual lighL^i which 
 dawned on the settlement in early days, but 
 already been stated, when the settlers had overcome 
 the diffienlties of opening up the forest, and had 
 ao<puted abundaMS of the Creature comforts of life^ 
 and the wants of the body were well sopplied, the 
 welfare of the soul became a matter of more solici- 
 tude* Mi ulsters of re I igion became more per m an e nt ly 
 locate dj and with them, dissension aud ^tiirian strife 
 entered into the settkmout, and bocamo the pi-olifit: 
 source of political and religions warfare* 
 
 The pererty of the first settlers and the want of 
 education, rendered them an easy prey to the maul- 
 ing by ^>oc rites, who info&tedtho settlement, and who 
 found it mneh easier to excite their feelings and to 
 work upon their prejudice^ than to instruct tliem in 
 the duties of practical piety* 
 
 CHAPTER XI V\ 
 
 Hon. Z. Buunham:— A Wolf m Sleep's clotiiini^ — 
 The iNUIONAiNT PnETENUEU — A 1CNOWIJ2G ^\m\ 
 
 A character worthy of a place in these me mob's , 
 and one of Colonel Talbot's imme roue was 
 
 tlio II jLi. Z. Bumhium 
 
 Tl]c life of the Hoii. Zac'djcu- FiLJiliaiUj fathni- 
 
 k 
 
i23 
 
 LII’E OF tOI.OKEL TA.tJJOT. 
 
 of llio Rev, Mark Burntiaia, affords air exatnple of 
 tire auocesafol career of one of the pioneers of the 
 forest^ unsiir passed, if enpualled in Canada , atld holds 
 out an encouraging prospect to all who fpursue the 
 peaceful arts of husbandry, with industry and peiac- 
 verance. He caime first to Canada, from New 
 Hampshire, in the United States, about the year 
 179T — having followed bis brother, Aaa Burnham, a 
 land surveyor, who had preceded him. Several 
 other hrctheTs -settled in Canada, ^bout the same 
 time, and in the same [neighborhood, — Cobourg and 
 Port Hope. Zaocheus Burnham, w-as a powerfully 
 built muD] more than six feet high, with a fine, manly 
 conntenanee, and a clear head. His first essay in the 
 woods of Canada, was dfstresfiingly unforlunate, for 
 he nearly chopped his foot off the first winter, fmd 
 Tft'as kid up most of the year. This misfortune, to a 
 man who had only his ase to depend on, wns very 
 trying and particularly unfortunate for a new begin- 
 ner in the woods, Mr. Burnham, however, nothing 
 daunted, persevered in chopping out a clearing, and 
 so far succeeded in settling himself in life, that in the 
 year IS 00 he went to his native country for a domes- 
 tic partner, and returned the same winter, with a 
 young wife, with whom he continued to live between 
 50 and GO years, on the beanuful farm he owned, 
 adjoining the court-house, at Coboiirg, This farm 
 consists of 000 acres, one half cleared, and in a high 
 
LIP1£ of colonel TALBOT. 
 
 123 
 
 of cuHivallon. To Iiave mado eucli a properly 
 by dint of labour alone, would have been work auffi’ 
 cient for iLo life of au ordinary man, but this was a 
 small portion of the property be died posseesed of, 
 after having expended very consider able sums of 
 money on hi* children, and grandchildren. 
 
 Looking back through the rkta of time, wc may 
 derive an instructive and interesting lesson, in con- 
 templating the results of ^ years^ industry and 
 peraeverancoi, Ip the discharge of every duty, whether 
 of a prlvatt^and aoeial, or of a public nature- The 
 difficulties to be encountered wbon Zacebeus Burnham 
 settled in the woods at Cobourg, were just such as the 
 early settlers bad to overcome under Colonel Talbot, 
 but Mr. Buriihain bad not the advantage wbicb the 
 Talbot settlers had, in having a powerful friend to 
 guide them, and even to provide for their wants. 
 When Mr. Burnham returned from New Hampshire 
 in 1800, with his young wife and household stuff 
 they travelled in sleighs as far as Kingston, but even 
 in those early days, as at present, the treacherous 
 snow in the month of February melted under ibeir 
 feet, and it took them 6 days, through mud and mire, 
 to accomplish ft journey whieti may now be dono in 
 half the number of hours instead of days. 
 
 The details of a life eo useful and prosperous as 
 that of Zftcchclls Burnham, would fill a volume. To 
 raise a flock of sheep and collect a few cattle, was the 
 
r>.i 
 
 Hi’E OS’ Colonel taluot- 
 
 labor t)f man^ years. It is iuleresting to note from 
 what small heglDniog!^ gucb great re suits are pro- 
 doced. After several years' labor aad privatioDs, Mr. 
 Burnharn succeeded in purcbasing two ewes. Thess 
 were either Jost or destroyed j fheo he travelled at 
 least 100 niiles, and brought home two more, on* 
 of these died, the other Uved to produce lambs, 
 but theso were all destroyed by the pigs. At 
 last he managed to purchase half a doseu sheep, 
 and part of these he lost. At length he had 
 raised wheat enough to boy a cow and' a yoke of 
 oxen, and from this time he began to prosper- 
 Whet) the war broke out with the United States in 
 1812, Jlr. Bumhatn’s was almost the only farm along 
 the road where supplies could be obtained, and 
 troops on the line of march quartered and provided 
 for. This afforded him a good market for his spare 
 cattle and surplus produce. A good foundation being 
 thus laid, everything he touched seemed to prosper- 
 1 1 is increasing wealth enabled him to assist others, 
 and be loaned monies on mortgage on the most 
 equitable terms. His investments w'eie so judi- 
 ciously made, that it waa a settled opinion in the 
 neigliborhood, fnd gave rise to tho constant remark, 
 when any person became involved and ran away, 
 iliat if he owed Mr. Burnham, he would be sure to 
 como back and pay him. 
 
 Mr, Burb barn’s sterling character and wealth, as 
 
LIFE OF CULOXEL TALliyX. 
 
 125 
 
 the cOlUitry becamo more setdeJ, enEibied hitq Us be 
 very u^ful. He was fur maoy years Treasnrei- of 
 the District of New Caaile* arjcl nlthon^h his e^liiea- 
 tbii^was of the moet limited kind, bis aceDunts wcie 
 al\7ays correetJy kept, and ail the monies placed in 
 Lis hands, were failrifully paid over^ which u-aa 
 seldom the case in those early times, when money 
 was veiy scarce. Mr. BiirnhaiD was also honored 
 with a seat in the Provincial Honae of Assembly foa- 
 many years, and subsequently, \qas made a ineinber 
 of the Legislative Council, besides being a Jaetico 
 of the Pea^se and Colonel of Militia, In all these 
 capacities^ the Han, Zaceheua Burnham acquitted 
 hirriE^elf with great credit, and ranked with the first 
 mcTi of the Province^ Beddes four daughter?, he 
 bad only one son, the reverend gentlemen before 
 inetitjoiiod+ Having ample moans, he determitiod 
 to bestow upon this son the best education wijich 
 the highest Institution in the world could impai-t, ajid 
 therefore sent him to England^ to matriculate in the 
 Uni versify of Oxford, after he had gone through Ids 
 studies in Canada, under Dr; Strachan, Having 
 obtained his degree, hi; subisoquenfcly took Holy 
 Orders and became a clergyman of the Chiiich of 
 England. 
 
 The instances are rare indeed, where one maiu 
 in the same line of life, accoinpli-shed ;is mu eh as 
 Mr. Buj Ilham, and tho sanio nioajsuL'.; of succghw d-ies 
 
T 2 C L IFE o v CO LQ^I S I. T A LBOT* 
 
 not attond the labors of other men, however 
 
 industrious anti dilligeiit they may have been, But 
 it is certain, that ia the work of clearing the forest, 
 and in the pursuit of agriculture, no success can be 
 expected, where unremitting labor and dilligence are 
 wanting. It was supp'^sed that Mr. Darnliain died 
 worth ^1,000,000, this was, no doubt, an exaggera- 
 tion, but even half that amount, considering that he 
 bad expended large sums in building mills and ia 
 other improvetnenfs for the benefit of his children 
 and grand-childj'eji, makes him to Lave been one of 
 the most wealthy, and certainly not one of the least 
 useful, men in the Province, 
 
 From a funeral sermon, preached by the Arck- 
 deaeon of York, A, N. Bethune, with whom Mr. 
 Burnham communicated for severtl years, we estmet 
 the following testimony to his worth and usefulness. 
 “ He was one of those w'Lo might be said to have 
 come as a pilgrim to this new land, — with all a 
 pilgrim’s riske and hardships. The struggles of early 
 settlement, its trials and privations , he had full ex- 
 perience of, — of all that in a social, moral, and reli- 
 gious vtcw, the tillers of the soil, just reclaimed from 
 the wilderness, must necessarily endure. 
 
 “ And Ills was an example of the effect of thrift 
 and industry, and unbending rectitude. Where G-od 
 vouchsafes health and strength, physical difficnltlcs 
 soon give way to energy and resolution; and where 
 
LIFE 01!’ COWSfCr- TALBOT. 
 
 127 
 
 there is the will, along witb help and Llcseing frum 
 above j the solitude is soon made to be jocund, and 
 the wildornees to rejoice and blossom. From little 
 beginnings there waa u large prosperity, — the sure 
 result of veil directed toll and steady uprightness. 
 Ami this long ago brought hitn Into places of 
 honor and trust, — marks of public eoulideuee which 
 would not have been accorded, were there not the 
 conviction of a strict integrity, as well as of clearness 
 of judgment and general capacity,” 
 
 Such was the lion- Zaccheus Burnham, tlio 
 wealthiest fartner in Canada, who died at Cobourg in 
 the go til year of his age^ honored and respected by 
 all who knew him. 
 
 Probably few men ever had better opportunities, 
 or were placed in eiluatSons in which they could 
 study human nature, better than Colonel Talbot. 
 None was ever more diiinte rested in all his lard 
 transactions with settlers and emigrants. The large 
 landed estate which he acquired, was in no instance 
 the fruit of bargains between the Colonel and his 
 settlers. All his land was obtained by grants from 
 the Crown, on terms which he himself dictated, the 
 speculations he entered into with the Bdtii^h Govern- 
 ment, ho strictly adhered to, and he acquired a very 
 valuable property by so doing; but had he felt dis- 
 posed to take advantage of his situation, and to 
 increase his property by speculating among hie set- 
 
12S 
 
 LIt’E 0-F CnNONEJ. TALHOT. 
 
 he Lad ample opportunities of doing and ho 
 received daily leasone in the art from the land job- 
 bei'.s who infested his window^ Many were the 
 made to outwit ihe Colonel^ but his aaga- 
 city never failed to detect imposterSj, and to frustrate 
 their designs, either upon himself or any of Lis set- 
 tiers. 
 
 Colonel Talbot, aULough many of Lla eettlera 
 Were native Amei'ieans, bad an aversion lo YankeeSi 
 fsr more properly speak [ag, those clover fellows, who 
 arc considered wide awake at ,a bargain or specula- 
 tion. Of such fellows the Colonel uaed to say, that 
 they acquired property by wblttleing chip^ and 
 bartt^r — or in hi^ own figurative language, they began 
 by giring a shingle for a blind pup^ which they 
 swopped for a goose and then turned into a shcep^ 
 
 One of these clever fellows once fell in with an 
 imported Engliiliman, on fiis road to Port Talbot in 
 seaicli of hind. Tli^ old eountryman^ as all from the 
 British Isles wore called, was English f^om top to 
 bottom, or cap a jRte, m the Frendi would say. 
 Fife low crown eel hat, and ibick soled hall boots, well 
 bu [.toned gaiters, and well worn short eloEbes, with a 
 full breasted, worked smock frock outside of all, 
 stamped him ns one of England's own. The other 
 was a half Yankee^ half Canadian $ort of looking 
 fellow, neither puinpkiu nor pine apple, as a Yankee: 
 would BFiy^— drCBsecl in blue grey sliori coat, sw^allow 
 
LtPE OP COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 1213 
 
 tail, and pants to match, Ttiey agi'eed to joumoy 
 together, and made a bait at old Waters’ tavero, 
 where they received full instructions as to their future 
 proceeditigR. Here it waa arranged that Arnos, (the 
 clever fellow) should try his Lick first, while his 
 cocapanion John, remained at the tavern to wait his 
 turn. As soon as Amos reached the well known 
 window, he was accosted as usual by the Colonel, 
 W'lLh — 
 
 " Well, wLat do you want?” 
 
 " I guess, Colonel, I should like to draw a lot 
 of land 1” 
 
 “Well, I guess, I hnvo got none for you.” 
 
 So Amos Tettirned to Lis ooinpanion, in no verv 
 amiable temper, swearing to be upsides with the old 
 coon, who had taken him for a Yankee, and that he 
 would try him again, aad if he did'ot give him a lot 
 he might do as he darned please. ■“ liut I gay, friend 
 John,*’ he cocitinued, let ns change coals, and old 
 Beelzebub won’t take me for a Yankee then, I guess.” 
 The happy thought was soon carried into effect, and 
 Amcks stood up iu the smock frock, while the swallow 
 tail lodged on John’s ample posteriors. Thus etpuip- 
 ped, Amos made his approach to tho window, feigning 
 as well as he could, the manner of the burly Eng- 
 lishman, and without guesEing at all, merely said. 
 “Tito enm’d. Colonel, to axe yer honor, if your honor 
 Could give me a lot of land, cause Mrs, and the 
 
130 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 family want to become settlers. The Colonel looketl 
 tit liiin full ia^tbe then turned his head^ and 
 with hi$o1d busty voice^ called out^ Jeffry, J effiy, 
 set OQ the dogSj here a a wolf ia sheep’ s cloth 
 
 Not only did wolves in sheep’s clothiug often 
 present themselves at Colonel Talbofs window, but 
 others as frequently appeared without any such dis- 
 guise- Some of tbc&e would put the rough side out 
 and try what loud talk would do. On one occasion^ 
 an Irifihmarij proud of his origio, and whose patro- 
 niinie told at once that ho wag a son of the Emerald 
 Isle, finding that he could not prevail with the 
 Colonolj oti the score of being a fcllow-countTyman, 
 resorted to rudeness, ani with more warmth than 
 discretion, stood Upon his pedigroe^ and told the 
 Ooloncl that his family was m honorable and the 
 ooat of arms a$ respectable and as atlcieot as the 
 Talbot's of Mr I abide, Jeffry aud the dog a were 
 
 always the last resource On such occasions. "'My 
 dogs don’t nnderatimd hern^ldry,’’ was tho laconic 
 retort, and if you don’t take yourself oft', they will not 
 leave a coat to your Lack/* 
 
 At Ritother dnie one of those shrewd, ready 
 wilted inhabiLanls^ who had received his early educa- 
 tion in the United States, but had made Canada his 
 homo, and fn-eferred to livo under the BiitisU Govern- 
 inent, made his way to Port Talbo^ in search of a 
 lot of laud, when die following characteristic dialogue 
 
OlT COLONEL TALEOT. 
 
 131 
 
 look plaoe. The Colonel, he it observed, dibotigli 
 at ooe time ho rejected the equivocal tosttuioriy of 
 ccrtificatpis of cbaracter, on this occasion j a^ked the 
 tipplicnot, (Thurston) if he haJ got a 1*000111 mend. 
 The mm promptly repUod. that he had; ^*and from 
 ^thoiTip" rejoined ihe Colonel. ■* From tho Almighty/^ 
 was the reply. And what does lie sayj' "Wiiy, ha 
 recommends me to tske cptreuf myaelTj and lo get as 
 much land as I can^” Very wcll/^saEd the GoIoecI 
 that h a good recommendation, and you shall have 
 li lot/' 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Colo hr EL Talbot's hbaeons foe. not maeeyiho — ■ 
 Matrimony — A Lovino Couple. 
 
 Colonel Talbot was never tnunied, and by many 
 persons he lias been set down ns a wc man-hater, but 
 this wa 6 by no moans the oaee, for he ofen cntei'- 
 tained ladies of tho higho-St rank, and took pleasure 
 ill rendering their ytsils to Port Talbot, aa agree- 
 able as poffiiblc- The celebrated Mrs. Jameson 
 waft among tlia number of his fair visitoi^, and she 
 has spokon of her sojourn there aa being highly grati- 
 
 fyiDg. 
 
 There were, as there always is, a class of 
 females who wore tho ColoneTa aversion — iadicR^ 
 whcKO ouriosily riso^ in proporlion as ihd object 
 which eicilcs itj k concpakd fjoni their yhvr^ r-i 
 
1 .1 2 r. 1 bi UV 00 Lt t S K L T A L H 0 ‘ [' , 
 
 io be 3 bi.^3 0Jil Llieir rosich- ll-Blyiiig on tho 
 attracLion of fora tile chiirm-^^ wbicli they prob^ibly 
 iiGvor OT which timep (he c^irtmoi eneray, 
 
 liFid ohliLciratod^ soiiio of Lbese /czc/ttfs erratit would 
 thin have explored the setreis of Port Talbot; vrhere 
 a inau could live without the solace of female Eo^ietj? 
 a beingp apparently p callous to the dictates oflovci 
 and iuseniible to tlie finest feeling of the human 
 heart Blit the Coloneh emddmog di&cretioQ Ehc 
 better pari of valour, EcemeJ determined! to run no 
 iisks* or to engage in unequal conlostB; therefore, 
 w^henev^r it w.is hinted that Miss So and So, pro- 
 posed visiting Port Talbot, he Iciut a deaf ear to ibe 
 proposiit. 
 
 A gool atiecdote is told, bow^ever, relative iQ 
 the (jolopoPs celibacy. A friend having bantered 
 him on tli ^ subject of his reinaining so long in a state 
 of single blessedness, took au opportunity of ques- 
 tioning liiiD 3ibout it, and in the course of a familiar 
 chat, asked him why he remained so bug ^ingle^ 
 vhen there was &o much need of a help-mate. 
 ** Wliy,^' saidiha Gobnel, " to tell you the truths I 
 never siiw but one worn an that T really cared anything 
 sibout, and she would 'nt huve me, and to use an old 
 joke, those who would hiive me, the devil wouldbt 
 have them. Miss Johns Lone/' con It itued the Colonel, 
 the ilaiTghter of Sir J. Jolmstonc* the only girl 
 T ever loved, jiiid she ivoiilirtil have For 
 
Lirs oiF COLON m talbotv ]8S 
 
 ^ truth of tbia story we ^iW not v ouch j although it n'aa 
 rein Led by on^ of the early $et tiers, * The pro- 
 bability ia, that Coloiiel Talbot, baving placed himself 
 beyood tlie reaeh of tbe society of his early youth, 
 how much soever he might have desired could not 
 with propriety have entered into the matriLnonial 
 state, it IS no reflection on tbe early, settlers to .say, 
 that there was not among them any lady qualified 
 te support the dignity of Port Talboc. Such a per- 
 son he must have sought in ibe neighborhood of more 
 polished society, and had be foiiu I a lady willing to 
 shave tbe honors of Mai abide Castle in Canada,, 
 he would have had to hudd a castle, and to havs 
 engaged a retiiiue of do meatier to perform very dif- 
 ferent services, from Lhose which the people employed 
 by him had to perform, 
 
 * Charl^^A GiifitsArua Adalphua Tozer, a farmer of 
 MaLahide^ who related the above iiuecdota. vm one of those 
 unfortunate iudiTiduals whom pM unti^ uneuTober with long 
 Durnes. Toicsr says that Colonel Talbot and hiEnself were 
 OD vpry hirirnate tornfii at one time, so much 6Ci> that thew 
 addressed eiioli t^iber by che familiar names of Chailea and 
 Tom- 'I'hat the Colojiel was vsry aaiious lhat Tozer should 
 build a ^risc mill, and offered to advAUC^i Sum £1000 kvt 
 tliLil [jurposej but that on consultiug UiK nootber, ahs 
 difisuaded him from undrrtakiLg it I As s warning 
 to parenLa who nra fond of long names, it may be stated, 
 tiiat Mune years ago a Mr. Gilbeit on becoming father 
 of *i^on>aiid heir, (to hard labor) wna so charmed wjib 
 Tozei.'^a nsLiun, that be bad it prefljced to his own in full 
 £50 tb? child was ebri? t cued ^Cbailes Gustavus Adelpliud 
 Tozer Gilbert, a m^me long fioongb for a German t'rnsce— 
 but the ciuld did uotloDg aurvire the upetatiun. 
 
 b 
 
134 
 
 LIFE OF COLONflL TAL«OIr 
 
 Besides, ColoQ-sl Talbot was addicted to a baeb- 
 elor^s life from hia early youth ^ which would seem 
 to have origiuaL&d io a seuse of superiority , (aot the 
 moel amiable trait iri his character, ) and which could 
 brook DO equal. Many men entertain a my erro- 
 neous opinfeti that by marrying^ they sacrifice their 
 iDdepcndcncet and such aaenciment may have influ- 
 enGed|the ColoueFs conduct, but it is a great mis- 
 take for BDj mao to imagine tliai he is safe in 
 attempticg to maintain a degree of independence 
 incompatible with human a^ture, and eontrary to the 
 order of Divine Providence* 
 
 A man who contiouea a bachelor beyond a cer- 
 tain time of life, may be considered like the barren 
 fig tree, of which k was saidj cut it down cum- 
 ber eih it the ground*^ There may he casce in which 
 it is prudent not to marry, and Colonel Talbot'e may 
 have been one^ hut, generally speakings a man 
 loses much more than hs gains, by avoiding matri- 
 mony* 
 
 In the imperfect state of human nature, inde- 
 pendence signifies an [habitual desire io fulfill the 
 design and end of our ereationi in accotdanea with 
 the will of God, and in the lawful enjoymeut of 
 wbat He has ordained. What bachelor ever did 
 this t 
 
 It ia true, in many intances, the married stale 
 is B mieef^ble one, and thousands would wil- 
 
Utt OT COLOlfXL TALBOT. ISj 
 
 lingly tte tio trliicLi binds man and wife 
 
 tog^ther^ but this does not aTgos that they would be 
 better off by being disauitsd. In married life, the 
 instauees are rare indeed, where there are not faults 
 on both sides, and there is no state where these faults 
 are so sure of detaetion and of being conitantly kept 
 in view, as in the married state j bad indeed, must 
 that mao or woman bo, who does not endeavor to 
 correct the faults, which in all their bideousness, are 
 daily ejfhibited to his or her view. Married people 
 may hide their faults from everybody else, but they 
 cannot hido them from one another; if they do not 
 improve under such searching sorutiEiy, then it may 
 be said that the last state of these is worse than the 
 firsL Therefore it is rational to condude, that where 
 marriage does not confer present happiness , it cor- 
 rects evil habits, and prevents greater degrees of 
 wickedness. 
 
 An amusing anecdote b told of a married pair 
 who had become residents of the Talbot Settlement, 
 and for some years ocoupied a respectable position. 
 The male partner in the concern was a professional 
 man, of respectable appearance and gentle ruanly 
 manners; the lady was handsome and attractive— ruby 
 lips, a mouth noL tco small, pretty black eyes, ft 
 handsome countenatlce and glossy black hair — 'in 
 
 short, Mrs, J waa the beau ideal of a pretty 
 
 bruftstte, and the ra other of several lovaly children. 
 
136 
 
 LirK OF COMWaL TILBOT. 
 
 Everytbiog combined in these parties to reTider the 
 marriage state happ^i es far as outward appearance* 
 weot until the occurrence of which we are about to 
 speak. 
 
 It was remsTltable, as it very frequentlj ia in 
 other cases, wbat manifestations of the tender cat 
 affection Mr. and Mr*, J — — continually exhibited 
 towards each other, on occasions cf social intercourse 
 with their neighbors. It seemed as if the bonejmoon 
 had never ended, “ My dear Charles! "and “Julia 
 tny love [" were the Louied word*, with n hieh they 
 addressed each other. Such a constant warmth of 
 affection, and the glowing heat of love, growing 
 brighter tiie longer it burned, did not fail to attract 
 the attention of tbo friends, whom they oocasiouiiily 
 met, Bome of whom Lad ciperianced a decline in the 
 ardour of their affections, and had tasted many drops 
 of alloy, mingled with the felicity in the eup of enu- 
 
 ouhlal bliss. But with Mr. and Mrs. J tbera 
 
 appeared to be no abatement in their affections 
 After a whik, however, some thing like cross words, 
 and even angry expressions were heard, accidently, 
 to pass between this pair of dovea, but these, like 
 drops of lemon syrup, were only considered as neces- 
 ftnry to give flavor to the cooling draught, to allay 
 the tbiL-fit of ,a love perhaps loo fervid. 
 
 On one occasion this loving couple were travel- 
 ling ID the directioD of HBmilton, along the Talbot 
 
llffji 0*’ COLO.'illit, TALBOT. 
 
 13 ? 
 
 Eoild, and stopped at Mrs. ticAliis‘tor*9. Miei, Me 
 AlitsCer wjis a well bDowu hostess to all who iravet- 
 led along the T'llbot Road to Braotford. Her house 
 was at Mount Pleasant, near Brantford, and parties 
 journeying from Simcoe and Long Point as 
 frotu Lho Tsilbot Settlement, made it convenient to 
 stop at Mother McAlllieter’s, as she was familiarly 
 called. Id those days, SaveTeens,was the last stop- 
 ping place OQ the Talbot Itoad, east of St. Thnmas, 
 40 miles, and from thence, after parsing thiougli 
 long and drcaiy forests, travellers looked forward 
 with pleasing anticipation io a comfortable night’s 
 rest at Mrs. McAllister’s. The old IeiJt, like Dame 
 Partlet, was fond of seasoning the dishes with a little 
 
 gossip, and the adventure of Mr. and Mrs. J 
 
 who had made her acquaintance sometime previous, 
 aided a very interesting episode to her accumnlating 
 
 stock. Mr. and Mis, J— she described as a 
 
 most affectionate couple, like love in a tub till the 
 bottom fell out.” "When they arrived first at her 
 house, it waa ** take care how you step, dear!*' and 
 “yes love t” and dear love.” and “ lo%‘e dear!” bfgan 
 or ended all their chat — till in i.he middle of the night, 
 a violent altercation was heard in the passage, 
 
 and soon after, Mr. J rushed out of the house 
 
 in a groat rage, vowing au eternal separation, and 
 leaving his dear Julio to the aympatbioB of Mrs, Me 
 
 L* 
 
)3S 
 
 LIFE OP COI ONEL TAUHOr. 
 
 Alliator, to otoiira ovar irrepirabla loss. 
 
 The angry tone and violenca of Mr, J-i-^ 0 
 
 guago left no doubt of bis oDcba ngeable deierminatioii' 
 Two Diglits after, tbe old lady, iti the middle of the 
 night, heard Bomebodj uafa&te&iiig the outer door, 
 andj before she had tiiue to reach the passage, “my 
 dear JuUa ’* bad rushed into the anas of her '* dear 
 Charles.” And the scene which followed, the old 
 woman was unequal, to. Ever after, this Joriog pair 
 found It necessary to their existenoe, to have such 
 alternations of loving aod quarrelling. And for the 
 ooneolation of one half of the world, it may be aaid 
 the other half live on in the same way, 
 
 CHAPTEEXYL 
 
 Sm A. N. McNab — Militia TBAi3fis&-'CoiwcisBL 
 Bobtwice Asn the Volomteess — Trip to Oak- 
 la wn — T he QiTEBy’s Eirte Dat — D. Hapflbjb 
 — Bela Shaw, 
 
 Among the conspicuous characters of Canada, 
 who were the early friends of Colonel Talbot, we may 
 name Sir A, W. McNab, who has played so dUtin- 
 guished a part in the affairs of the Province. Sir 
 Allan was the son of a British officer, who, to use 
 bifi own words, “was so good a fellow, that lie did 
 not leave a great deal for his heirs to quarrel about." 
 So he had to be the maker of his own fortune. And 
 it would appear anomalous to say, that Sir Allan 
 
LIFE OF flOLONEl TAl.DO T- 
 
 ISiJ 
 
 it before tie imido it. How this rraa sLccom- 
 plisbed we mtiaL leave lo aorne one well versed in 
 the scEenea of economy to explain^ but certain it ia* 
 that 3ir Alba has never been accused of living 
 within hb income ; and the probability is, that like 
 his good old father^ lib lieir^ will have little to quarrel 
 about* At an early age he was first rated as a mid- 
 fibipman in ibe navy, bul shortly af[er wards joined 
 the army, in which he beoanio an. ensign. Few men 
 ba?e tha same advantage^ of personal appearance, 
 to help them on through Ufe* Above the middle 
 size, well proportioned, apai'kling eyes* with ft 
 handsome and intelligent countenaneep a nd a briBk 
 air^ hie tout enseu^e was well calculated to attract 
 attention — to thb- if we add a lively witj a consider- 
 abb share of good humour, and a devil may care 
 manner, we need not be surprised that he pushed 
 his way succesjsf Lilly through, masiy scenes of public 
 life. 
 
 After being engaged in active acrvlco during the 
 American war, he turned his attention to tbe law, 
 and practised for many years in Hamilton, where he 
 built the Me 0a$ tie, which he called Diindurn, 
 ft claasifl buildiEig covering a eonaiderablo esteat of 
 grouod, and fronting on Burlington Bay — tq what 
 are knownj. as the Burlington Heights. 3k Allan 
 was selected at an early day aa one of £he represent- 
 alive* of the Upper Canada House of Assembly* and 
 
ISFE Of c<>lohh:l xAT-iaoTi. 
 
 140 
 
 represented the County of We at worth* and aftet- 
 wdrda the City uf HLiialltoEij for years, both 
 
 before and after the uaion of the Proviuoea ofLpper 
 and li’iwer C a uadi. He beta cue Speaker of the 
 united Parliamentp under the administration of Lord 
 Metcalfej and Premier of Canada, under that of Lord 
 Elgin. AUhough a gtauneh conservative in principle 
 he had a happy faculty of concil Eating all parties* 
 which arose from hia frank manner and skilful tact- 
 In the year 1837* when the rebellion broke out 
 in Lower Canada, followed by an outbreyik in Upper 
 Canada, Sir Allan was prompt in rendering service 
 to the Grovemment, and so rallied the nailitia forees 
 of the Proviace around hirti* tb^t ha soon succeeded 
 in scitte-rbg the rebels wherever he found them, i 
 troop of volunteer cavalry und a cunslJerab!a num- 
 ber of milidu of the Talfnt SctLlement, started from 
 SL Thomas on the firs', news of the ORtbreab, and 
 joined Str All in atOikiaoL where they expected 
 to e neon titer a large bo ly of the reiel fjrces under the 
 oOTnurind of Or. or General Duncombe,. us he was 
 callecb bu!: the rebels decamped on the approach of 
 tlie loj uliJ^t:^, and could not be overtaken* After' 
 wards* Sir Allan took up his position on the Niagara 
 frontier, opposite to Navy TslanJ, in ihit River, 
 W'here the vcbdl-in-chief, McKenzie, was concentrating 
 all his forces^ chiefly sympathizers from Bufiklo, in 
 ^be Lniied States, with a vEew to make a descent on 
 
LIFE Olf C0LC>3fKL TALBOT, 
 
 141 
 
 CaDsda, McKenzie, having been defeated near 
 Torontoj had made his escape* and was now collect- 
 ing all the forcea he could nriustet to reltieve hja 
 fortunes; for th\^ purpo^a^ he had g'lthered a con- 
 eiderdbie amount of amui::iiii(,ifij &otne can no and a 
 crowd of the most worthless oftlia Tree and enliff^ht- 
 
 o 
 
 eoed poi'^dan of the United State** He had ako ob- 
 tained a steamer called the foT th^ tran- 
 
 sport of the mEinitions of war, from EuDhlo to the 
 Island* The Crinadian Militia* with Sir Aik a at 
 their hoadt were encamped opposite the b’aiid ready 
 toglv^ tli.0 rebels and^iympathizers a warm reception j 
 should they attempt to crosn*— bat after waiting 
 several week.-^, in expi^tadon of itielr doing so, a plan 
 was adopted of cultiug ou| steauior Uaroline, 
 and pending her pFCir the falls of Niagara* and thus 
 destroy their only means of coinnaunbation wi th 
 Buffalo. This servioe was g:il'aut!y performed by 
 Captain Draw, atu! a party of volunteers, to the 
 great dismay and consternattou of McKenize^ and his 
 band of rebels and sympathisers; who very soon af'er 
 d aspersed. At this time j. Sir Allan comma tided the 
 whole Mill! fa force of Uppor Canada, For his dis- 
 tinguished services on this occasion, he received the 
 thanks of her Majesty, the thanks of the G-overnor 
 Gerjcral of Cnnada, and of the respective Legislative 
 bodies in Canada, as well in the ei^ter Frovineoa, 
 
Hi 
 
 LIFJt OF COLONEL TALBOT* 
 
 Her Maje&ty conferred llio honOf of knighthood upon 
 him, and auhscqueoUj a 
 
 It was in the year 1654, that Sir Allan McN^b 
 became [>rime Miniater of Gao ad a* Sir Allan, aa 
 has already been statedi is conser^atEFe, and has 
 always been identified with that party in politics, but 
 a great re elution in the state of parties had taken 
 placcj at and from the time of Lord Sydenham^a 
 advent to power in Canada. That clever hut un- 
 principled statesman, who aoled ou the Imiriaral 
 apliorism, that every man has his price^ so adroitly 
 mtmaged affiiirej that he paved the way lo a complete 
 fusion of parties- This he did^ hy drawing over ths 
 leading men of the Province to worship the golden 
 calf. The grand schema of public works, which he 
 either initiated or encooragedjr afforded a bait to 
 tempt every prominent man in the Province* To 
 one, patronage was e^tetirfed, to another an introduc- 
 tion to the Board of Works, and to everybody else 
 something was prolferred; eome improvement or 
 other was to pass their doom. The seeds of public 
 immoTality find corruption, were so skilfully planted 
 by this astute statesman, and the fit tools which ha 
 employed to carry cot his plans, that the whole Pro* 
 vince was dazzled by the glare of his magnificent 
 schemes, and the country feels to this day, the 
 effects of the cstraTagance into which it was precipi- 
 tated by Lord Sydenham fliod his mitiious. Tories, 
 
LIF* OF COLONEL TALBOT. HS 
 
 Comerva Lives, Reformers and Radicals, commingled, 
 '* bowed the knee to Baal, and worshipped the golden, 
 image vfkich N’ebw^aduczar the king had set ” 
 It is creditablei however, tc^ Sir Allan McKah’s con- 
 eiEitencj^ that neither the teroptatiooSt which Lord 
 Sjdeoham hold out to hinij nor the threats with 
 which ho menaced hiiBp were powerful enough to 
 make him awerve from the path of duty^ which he 
 was disposed to follow, That waa at the time Lord 
 SjdcDham was effecting the uuEon of the ProvinoeSj 
 and we have reason to knoWp that he plied Sir Allan 
 by every means in hk power, to come into his plans^ 
 but without effect Sir Allan was too powerful* even 
 for Lord Sydenham ; ends efler having worked his 
 way in the Assembly of United Canada^ to be tlio 
 first Ccjminoner; on the disruption of Lbe Kmck 3 
 Mim&tty, he became Prime Mi da ter, in ihe year 
 above meuiioned. 
 
 In some rc^^pectft, the career of Sir Allan hiis 
 been like that of ibc late Sir Robert Peek Both 
 had entered political life Toriee, and h ad adopted 
 the subdued tone of Comervatives^ and both were 
 called to ofHcc, to complete thc&e great reform meaa- 
 urcB, which Eeformera themBclves failed to accom- 
 plish ^ The Clergy Reserves questions which had 
 agi tatted the loinds of the people of Canada, for 
 tooro than a quarter of a century, was only set at real 
 by the Minis try > of which Sir Allan McNab waa the 
 lejuler. 
 
144 
 
 IJFS. OF T^LSOT. 
 
 The Eecret of Sir Allan's euccees as a politician, 
 lay ill his lact. Asa tactician irt politics, he waa 
 UQtivallecJ; and as has aheady been noted, his i>on- 
 manner, and frank address, gained him par- 
 tizaii!?, where others, with equally sterling principles, 
 would frilled- As a speiiker, he always 
 
 commanded attention iu debate, because be neTer 
 exhausted his subject, anrl aeldom occupied the floor 
 of the House long at a time. 
 
 Ho was excessively fond of perpeirating praotioal 
 jokes, Tu his early youth, he distingnished himself 
 by fl very ludicrous perform suice of this Hod* Th& 
 Colonel of his regimeDt’a Jady was at church, and 
 wore a handsomo plume of feathers in her bopnet; 
 young McNabj. while ihe lady was absorbed in her 
 devotions-, look the oppopiunity of fitiipiiiiig the 
 fealhcrs wdtb a penknife, and aSJowed the lady, who 
 was quite ignoract uf what had b appended, to walk 
 out of churph, ainidst the whistierin^ and tittering 
 of the whole congregation, under “ bare pole^' wiih 
 IIS much digoily aa if the quill slalka were still pen- 
 dant with feathers. He only got out of this scrape by 
 conleasing and begging pardon- Retaruing from 
 the House of ABsembly one night, in w inters 1 found 
 a C^^rtier, with a candle groping iu the snow about 
 one o^clock in the morning, and asking him what be 
 was searching for, he eaid hi^i had dropped a trent 
 sous, and ho had knocked the people up, ucit door 
 
LIFli OP COLONEL TALBOT, 
 
 145 
 
 to where Sir Allan lodged, Afid borrowed a light to 
 look for it Mentioning the drco instance next mom- 
 ing &t breakfast, Sir Allan said, “he got that by 
 grtitubliDg, I gave him a sbilUrg, but he wanted 
 more, I took back tbo abilUng, and held out my 
 hand, and in a sharp tone aaid, here’^s a quarter for 
 you — but there was no thing in iny hand , tkns, says 
 the follow, pertfu” Sir Allan alammod to the 
 door, and the Cartier searched iu vaiii. But Sir 
 Allan’s fun seems now to be pretty near over, for he 
 has been of late years a good deal affiicted with the 
 gout, which caused him ta resign his scat for Ham- 
 ilton, and it Is doubtful whether he will evjcr take 
 part In public affairs again. H« has had Ida day 
 and often a jolly one too. 
 
 Any person who witnessed the militin training 
 in various places in the Talbot Settlement, on the 
 last Queen’s Birth-day, can imagine what such 
 gatherings were like in oarliordays, bearing in mind, 
 however, that the whole regiment mustered on ono 
 spot, whereas they now train by com panics, at a 
 given place, central to the men of each company. 
 By this plan, convenience is consulted, more than 
 appearance. For although tho larger the body of 
 well drilled troops, the mo-ra imposing the appear- 
 aiico, it can scarcely bo be said of milUia. For in- 
 stance, a full regiment of regular soldiers, well equip* 
 pod in uniform and appointments, wheeled into line, 
 
1 LIFE or ODLONBL TALBOT* 
 
 With a aplsndid band atth^ir beadt has amuc-H mors 
 impodng appcsrancs tlian a single company^ bnlU 
 would be a misapplioatioa of terms to say tlic same 
 of irregular milida, dresfiedin every conceis^able sort 
 of garment, from the jacket to vbo swallow -tailed 
 eoat downward, particularly if the non-oamiziisTsiooed 
 office ra happen to be Irishment who inheriLed from 
 tbdr aneestors, long tail bine lapel coats, with flam- 
 ing brass buttons* 
 
 We have already notetl, it wag not tril the joar 
 1809 that aetilers began to come into the settleTaeat^ 
 and theTeforej anything liko militia traioing could 
 not have been practised before tbe war of 1812 with 
 the United Sta[e5, From tho Listory of that, war, it 
 appears the renowned ffcnoral Brock ^ could only 
 muster 300 regulare, 000 militia and Indknsj for the 
 defence of the western frontieir^ and for the tf^king of 
 Detroit* Among those j were ^ party of the Talbot 
 settlers, commanded by Major Salmon, of the 1st and 
 2Dd Norfolk — to which the Talbot tnilitia wore 
 Attached— and men from ihe Niagara District, Fort 
 Erie, and the Long Point country. ITow the geU 
 lanE General and the force under his comoiaDJ, 
 walked into Detroit, to the everl^usting disgrace of 
 General Hull, need notherobc repeated, but wbat could 
 be expected of Generals or Cotoncls, who are more 
 efiicicut in the duties of llie bar of an liotdf or 
 twarn, than in the science of military tactic^* 
 
tlFW OF OOLOMkL tAlBOr, lit 
 
 After tho wsir of 1812, Lho regulai' tromJng day 
 of the militia was the ^th of Juno, the King’s Birth' 
 day, and then something like an attempt at military 
 parade was practised. On tlieaa occasions, to a by- 
 stander, vie training was ladictoufl in the extreme; 
 but not more so ihan the descriptions wo have seen 
 of similar gatlerlngs in tbo United States, and it 
 may bo romartod, ho wore r ridiculous the militia 
 might appear, the body was composed of real men; 
 many of whom had brarely done their duty during 
 the war, and were aOw giving others the bene Fit 
 of their cipcrionce. 
 
 Foremost among these was Colonel John Best- 
 wick, meniionod ebo where, a man of child-like sIm' 
 pltcity, but of aterling principlee, and undoubted 
 bravery. Colonel Boetwick was ns prompt to obey 
 as to com maud, and wo contemplate his charaetor 
 after the lapse of many years, while his remains lie 
 mouldering in the grave, with mingled feelings of 
 wonder and ndmimtion. Unlike bis senior in com- 
 mand, Colonel Bur well, there waa^ no ostentatious 
 display of courage about Colonel Bostwich. When- 
 ever the occasion required his services iu the field 
 or elsewhere, ho appeared quiet but collect ed, docile 
 but resolute, and of such an even temper, that the 
 pTOvocation roust be strong indeed, to rouse his ire. 
 There was, it is true, a degree, of heaitsncy about 
 Colonel Bust wick, which marred his usefulnesa, and 
 
148 
 
 J-tlfS or TALBOT. 
 
 maide hiia eubeervieat to mou of inferior merit, in 
 ererythin^ which constitutes the character of a noble 
 man. This deference to others, arose from innate 
 modesty, seldom met with in men. As an Instance 
 we will relate what tooh pUce in St. Thomas, at the 
 time of the outbreak of 1837, 
 
 Id tho middle of a hard winter's night id De- 
 cember, the writoi leceired an express, oommunicating 
 intelligenco of McKenzie’s outbreak. The same ex* 
 press pinceeded to Colonel Burwell’s and Port Tal- 
 bot, We sent to advertise Colonel Bostwick at Fort 
 Stanley, and Major Neville, at Yarmouth Heights, 
 and requesting the Colonel to come to St, Thomas 
 to advice what steps it were beat to take--prompt and 
 early in the morning he was in attendance. We 
 urged him to call out the ta Uitiabut be hesitated ; he 
 would wait for instructions from Port Talbot and for 
 Colonel Burwell — no word or person came from that 
 direction, and at length he yielded. The militia 
 were called out, and old Isaac Biley was soon eeen 
 marching in under the shadow of his own musket! 
 The militia-meu came iu freely from the surrounding 
 Townships; for there w’aa a feeling of insecuritv pre- 
 valent, owing to the supposed number ofdUaQeoted 
 men in the settlement, many of whom were from the 
 United States, and only watched, it was thought, for 
 an opportunity to shako ofi the yoke of British 
 ■upromEwy. The south of Yarmouth was cousiderod 
 
UrE OF COLO^VBL TALBOT. 
 
 140 
 
 id a state of rebell ioD, and tbe Scotch in the north, 
 it 'nras saii, under the delueive hope of eecapiog pay- 
 meat of arrears on their lands to the Canada Com- 
 pany, were equally uneouad. Therefore, the loyalists 
 rallied, and determined to be prepared to prevent 
 the junction of rebels frO(® without, from joining foes 
 within. A cop^derahJe number of volunteers, horse 
 and foot, and as many of the militia as could be mus- 
 tered, were dispatched to join Sir A. McKab’s forces, 
 at Oakland, and disperse tbo rebels under Dr. Bun- 
 combe, who were concentrating at that place. 
 Everything was put in requisition, teams were pressed 
 and provisions provided to accompany the militia to 
 tire scene of apprehended danger. Mr Askin, who 
 had come over from London, to seize the press of the 
 Liberal Newspaper, in the interest of the disaffected 
 parly, and the Editor, John Talbot, (who made 
 hie escape) managed by some mcaas, to supplant 
 Colonel Bostwick, and headed the party at Oakland, 
 where mooting with Sir A. MoNab, he was placed in 
 command of the militia of the London District. 
 Colonel Boslwick was blamed by hia friends for not 
 commanding in person, but he was led to believe ho 
 could bo of more service in St. Thomas, by directing 
 aShirs, and therehy lost the command he was entitled 
 to, and which’ho was the most compelent to hold. 
 He afterwards, however, proceeded with the militia 
 and cavalry troop to the wget, when they had re- 
 
150 
 
 LIFE OF COUtNEL XALtlOT. 
 
 tumoij from Oaklaml. Colonel Bost'trick was h true 
 eoIdiCT of the cross, a& trell as of ihe field, and the 
 worst that can be said of him, is that ho had no turn 
 for spoculatlon, and no faculty for motiey-mafeiitg. 
 
 The militia who went to Oakland, were not 
 CEclusiTCly of Colonel Boelwick’s regiment, but vol- 
 unteeirs from the 1st and 2Dd botallions, and among 
 tho officers who accompanied them were Major 
 Neville, Captain Shoro, and others, equally active. 
 Either of those, p-orticuktiy Captain Shore, wera 
 quite as well qualified, and better entitled than Col. 
 Aakin, to have the cotnmand, hut that gentlemen 
 adroitly pieced himself in the van, and reaped the 
 reward due to their exertions. 
 
 Whoa the Talbot Settlomont had greatly Jq- 
 creased in population, the militia force increased to a 
 corresponding extent, and the field near McGregoifs, 
 in Westminater, waa the parade ground of the crack 
 regiment of hliddlceex. By this time, some of the 
 officers came out in uniform, and each company bad at 
 least more than one gun. Here the tubs displayed 
 their politesse; they Lad ndthing of the drill sergeant 
 tone about them , but when the opealnga in the ranks 
 were too wide apart, Mr, So and So, was civilly 
 requested to close up. Won't ijou be Miid enough 
 to step nearer this or to 4/<5> fariker hack as the 
 
 cage might bo. Nbto you ntert be good enough fo 
 keep your placet^ or ftaih and lei the others come 
 
LIFE OF COLOyBL TALlwr. 
 
 151 
 
 »;>, can* I you ; were about the aliorptjst oxprea&iona 
 made ustj of. But tha wliticllng into lino. aiiJ drcee.. 
 ing up of A rCgimODtof militia in a Qe^tdi of rough 
 siubblOj is Dot so easily aoeomplishcdt *3 noight bo 
 imagined, and the line would comt: up as zigssag as 
 thcfenca round the fiold, And the marching in 
 quick time with a bagpiper, a Eddlor, or a single 
 drum and fife at their head, made no ^cry grand 
 impression. But the me^s at MeOregor’a or CorsoiWi 
 maiie up for all deficiencies, and tho heroes of Sebas- 
 topol could not display a more martial spirit, than 
 did the officers of the 3rd West Middlesex, on these 
 occasion^. Who tliat remerabera the Lieut, Colonel 
 when he first appealed in his Dew blue frock, and 
 white trousers shoved up from his boots, a round hat, 
 hiinselfgroi'viug fatter aa he advanced in years, seated 
 in unostonfaiiqua diernitv, on the venerable white 
 marai her head ami nect sidomed ^lih ^irope lialterT 
 find h^r sides blown out with grass. Who that ever 
 saw his good Matured looking face on itieae occasions, 
 when he would say, now men, won^l you fall in — ^cao 
 EivoJd the smile of recognition — the quift attitude of 
 the mare in keeping witli the lumpy figuro of 
 her rider, and their venerable feces hidifiatcJ that 
 they had been co cop anions in mmj n w@]l trod field" 
 The Colonel too was one of thosa who marched with 
 General firock jnlo Detroit. 
 
 Btil the militia trainings of the (Jueen's Birth- 
 
15^ 
 
 LIFE OF COLOSBL TALBOT, 
 
 day, 24tli May, are of & very fUfTereut cbarflcter from 
 these of former years, TLad the militia men, from 
 recent experience, could not only appreciate the 
 value of British connexiou, but many of them being 
 U. E. Loyalieta, (United Empire Loyal iate) who 
 had made large Bucridees to maintain the connexioD 
 determined by every mean a to strengthen it. The 
 miliiia trainings as of former days, have fallen into 
 desuetude, and instead of the rough and ready sort 
 of fellows, who then exclusively composed the militia 
 force of Canada; we have in almost every village 
 and town numereus bodies of volunteer corps, or com- 
 panies, troops of cavalry, artillery, besides companies 
 of every class of birds and beasts, from the Fhcenbc 
 to the Beaver, whose ammunition is water, instead of 
 powder and shot, all in uDiform, with bands of music 
 which serve better to keep up military parade, than 
 to extinguish fires. These all made gorgeous dia- 
 plaj'9 on the last Queen’s Birth- day, and the city of 
 London, C- TiV, which thirty years ago, contaiaed 
 more stumps than people, could this year muster, 
 artillery, cavalry, rifle aud Higblaud eompaTiies, 
 besides the regular militia, all anxious to testify 
 their love for the Queen, without the least fear of 
 provoking the jealousy of Prinoa Albert 
 
 As we have remarked elsewhere, Colonel Talbot 
 appeared to be averse to military parade, and in fact 
 i^hunned it ns much as ha could ; had he lived to the 
 
LIFE OJ COLOWFL TALBOT < 
 
 153 
 
 pre&eB( daj, ha niight haFo been ^Blonkhed al tbe 
 di&pTaya made in the Bettloment. He always had the 
 comniand of one regiment, the 1st batt allien Middle- 
 sex, and allhough in hk latter days, he took no active 
 pift in militia movements, he did not fait to do what 
 Lift experience langht him was necessary. He held 
 communication with hk oflicers^ cither personally 
 or by eorrespondenee, and dictated what should be 
 done. 
 
 Captain Daniel Rappleje, was one ef the earliest 
 settlers in Yarmoiilhp and at one time, owned tho 
 two h kind red acres of land oa which a great part of 
 the town of St Thomas now stands. He commanded 
 a company of militlaj and had for his Lieutenanfj 
 Benjiman Wilson (the gallant Lieutenant Colonel 
 before rnentioned, who owned the white marCp) 
 these offieerSj we are infoinacd^ appeared at geneml 
 train i Jig with sword bclta made of bass wood bark, 
 and instead of tho drum boy^ who generally stands 
 with bis drum in the centre of the parade groundt 
 Captain Rappleje stationed a keg of whiskey, which 
 W’as frequently referred to during the progress of the 
 irflidingp and caused the company to break up in dis- 
 order. On these occaeionB, Captain Bappleje ^did 
 not fail to call op his company to drink the King^s 
 health, and before they separata 1 some of them gave 
 proof of their courage, by engaging in pugilistic 
 combat, when as one of tlie old set tier quaintly 
 
154 
 
 LIFE. 0F T^BOT. 
 
 relates, Abe * — would knock Jehial aa atraiglif 
 
 aa a loca'a foot* 
 
 Captaia Uaiuel EUpploje was much estoetned 
 among ihe nettlers, and wa$ iha firat who buih n 
 grist mill in Su Thomas^ lie was lib^ manv others 
 an easy-going sort of man, and was not very long in 
 getting lid of the verj valuable lot of laud Le owned 
 aa before montioned- About this time, a knot of 
 knowing persona had gathered round Sl Thomaaf 
 and gambling and speculaUou occupied much of their 
 vacant time. Chief among these was Justus Wilcox, 
 a well known character, who might hare aspired to 
 the dignity of a black-leg, had his lot been east in tbo 
 midst of a more enlightoued community. As it was, 
 money being csoeedingly scarce iu those dayi^ they 
 could only play for land and its produce, and in this 
 way Captain Bappleje got pretty well deeced by 
 'Wilcox and hia associates* 
 
 It wAf! about this time, that old Bigelow, (the 
 inventor of black salts and potash in the aettlement) 
 Mr. Goodbue, (now the ilon. J, G. Goodhue) Dr. 
 Goodhue, and Dr. Chas. Duuooiinbe, one of Me 
 Kenzie’s OeneralB ill 1S37, commenced buslDeGs in 
 St. Thomas; subsequently Bek Shew and Lucius 
 Bigelow, occupied the place of the two former, in 
 the busines of barter of goods and physic, whether 
 for land, black salts or wheat Among auch 
 deservedly esteemed clever men, Happkje could not 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBO^. 
 
 155 
 
 fiave boi^Ti cxpc^ctcd to liold hia own long, and there- 
 fofo Le I'c treated to Yarmoiuh hei[;hts> whero Iio 
 died possessed of :i good fnrro* 
 
 Tha oJitae of Gela Shaw must long dwell in ihe 
 retoernbrJinoo of tfie inhahitanla of ihe Talbot Set- 
 tlement^ for the old setilars while recotitiiing to tho 
 young fjIkR tha eaenes of ihair carllar days, will often 
 repeat the name of Dcla Shaw. He mnstha^s lived 
 and carried on business in St Thomas at least for 
 thirty years, either in oonjunctloii with Bigelow, or 
 George Goodhue, and during thal time he acq^uired 
 a Tory considerable and extended influence with a 
 large number of the Eettlers,. He was a thorough 
 American, or rather Yantee^ in all bis ideas and 
 UGtes, but nevarthotess^ a tnnn of ^an amicable dis- 
 position, and kind hearted » His afllnities naturally 
 lualined him to lake tho liberal side in politicg, which 
 in those latter day^, was considered the same thing 
 as being *a rebel, and Mr. Shaw looked on 
 by the Lory party with a good deal of suspicion* 
 He attended pome of the political meetings of the 
 disaffected, and when McKengie hatched his scheme 
 of rebellion, Bela 8baw was pounced upon ns one of 
 his party. Poor man, lie was too inoflbneive to injure 
 any one knowingly, but this did not shield him from 
 the darkest s-nspiciona of traitorous designs. When 
 the voluntoera and militia started from Sl Thomas 
 to Oak land, Bek Shaw was invited to join the party. 
 
1 CO LIFE OF colonel taldot. 
 
 an iWtVa/ion he no moro dafed to deolioe, than a 
 Bubject, 'wbeo invited to dine wiih Ibe Quceo I on 
 pain of iiietirring Her MaJeatj-'a dk pleasure. As a 
 matter of personal safety, poor Sbawf waa but too 
 glad to accept tbe invitaticni, and bad thus an oppor- 
 tunity afforded him of witnessiug the miserable eileclj 
 of an imsiiceessful rebellion- He eanr bis friends 
 on eTerj hand roiiglily handled, their bouses pillaged 
 and forays in the bam yards of peaceable farmers, 
 who bad not learned to belch toryinin, and in fact, 
 did not know tbe right froni the wrong side iu poli- 
 tics. Certainly, many of the peaceable inbabitanta 
 were sbamefully robbed and abused by some of those 
 who acted the part of ultra loricfi, and who had 
 taken up the trade of politics ou the tory side, with- 
 out any regard to principle. During IbU forced 
 march, Shaw had ample time for reflection, and 
 there is no doubt he formed the resolution of extrica- 
 tiog himself from tbe Brili&H Liou'a paws as soon 
 as he could. On his return from Oakland, bowcrcr, 
 more nibory awaited him, 
 
 Colouel Mahlon Burwell, who liad by tbia time 
 recovered from tbe state of alarm into ivhich tbe first 
 re|X>rl of McKenzie’s outbreak bad thrown him, — it is 
 even, eaid Burwell gave up all for lost, when be first 
 heard the astounding news, came down to St. 
 Thomas, determined to incarcerate Bela Shaw, for bis 
 supposed connexion with the Liberal Nowspapor, 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TAlDOT. 16? 
 
 wlucli had woijlily vomitted treaaoti; but more likely 
 for thwartiug Bill well id some of his election con- 
 tests^ for Burwell Tvas exceasiTOly vindictiye^ — 
 Luckily for Sba^Tj there were tdagii5trate& b Stp 
 Thomas, who would not commit ao act of cruelitjj to 
 gratify Burweirs morbid feelings of revenge. Among 
 these Magistrates was Colonel John Bostwickj who 
 deferrred to Colonel Burwell in everytliiog else^ 
 Evan Bostwick would not gratify Burweli by eendbg 
 Shaw to jailj on insufficient testimony, AUhoiigU 
 Burwell offered to make an affidavit^ as strong a$ the 
 nature of the case would admit of. So poor 
 Shaw escaped — and having settled hU affairs asaoou 
 aa ba could, ha toot his departure from Canada, and 
 e&tabliahed himself in the western States^ under n 
 governmont more ODugcni-il to hia feelings, than tho 
 knock-down, drag out sort of administration he had 
 recently had some eapeiience oL 
 
 In Shaw’s time, the merchant or storekeeper, 
 as he was generally called, was unquestooably the 
 mo^tinhuenlial member of civil society, as he was the 
 only medium through which the settlers could barter 
 to supply tbeir wanta, and with few esceptiona the 
 farmers were indebted to the storekeeper to a large 
 amount. On the other hand, the storekeeper was 
 largely indebted to the merchants of Montreal j for 
 Montreal was the emporium of trade in those days. 
 
 N 
 
iSa LIFE OF COLONEL TALEOT. 
 
 if it be LLOt &0 still. And ihe cacrcbatit^ of Montreal 
 Tpseife no doubt equally liable to the merchants and 
 mamifactureTs of Engl and. But the farm era in tho 
 Talbot dottlement knew little of the ramificjitbns of 
 trade, beyond the knowledge they acquired ihrough 
 Hamilton and Warren^ and Dela Shaw, ot Bigelow 
 and Shaw. Theae were the principal, and almost 
 the only storekeeporfi in the aettlement forty years 
 BgOj and ae each of these firms took opposite sides in 
 politicSj they did net fail to infiuenoe their customers 
 by every means in their power* 
 
 Sbaw*H man her was smooth and persu^ivo, and 
 his store had become the rendezvous of all the dis- 
 affected and disaonteated spirits of the settlement. 
 How far he would have gone, had McKeuzie^e 
 attempt been successful , I cannot say, but there are 
 n9t wanting tho^, who believe him to have been as 
 guilty of treason as the ten men who forfeited their 
 lives on the gaUows at London ; but ^ he did not 
 commit himself by oven acts, it would not have been 
 just to have hung him on suspieionl Instead of 
 joining his friends outside the court-honse at Lopdon, 
 ho lias lived at Rock Itiver to become a very old maup 
 and to assist in working out those republican Insti- 
 tutions which he always cherish e 4 
 
ttE'E OF tXlBOT. 
 
 169 
 
 CHAPTEE XVII, 
 
 S[R J. B . HoBiiraoK — J ohn Wilson, ^nd the Law- 
 YERB OF THB SrTTLBMSNT. 
 
 Of the numeioua gueat^ whom Colonel Taltot 
 enlertained si Port Talbot, Chief Justice Robioaou, 
 the losmod and oatimabls pTamier of the Bench of 
 Upper Canada, was the most welcome, and was 
 frequently a visitor at Colonel Talbors, This hospi- 
 tality was reciprocated by the Ohief as Sir J, B. 
 Eobinson is faniilarily called by all who love lo do 
 Lira honor — and Colonel Talbot was always an Lou- 
 OTcd gnosl of the Chief’s whenever he visited Little 
 York, (or Toronto), This fact speaks volumes in 
 favor of Colonel Talbot's standing with gentletnen of 
 high rank and unblemished reputatioD, The inti- 
 iiiaey eiisting for many years between Colonel Tal- 
 bot and Chief Justice Eoblnson, stood on the best 
 fooling,— mutual respect. It was not an ordinary 
 ucquaiDtaoce, or that of mere formal society, but it 
 was the friendship of men of mind, and of refined 
 manners. 
 
 Chief Justice Robinson is deservedly the pride 
 and ornamenli of the Beuch of Upper Canada; and 
 he is one of the few, who have maintained the dig- 
 nity of the Bonefa for many years, to the universal 
 satisfaetion of the public. In early life be was a 
 keen politician of the lory school, as most gentlemen 
 were in those doys, and eerved in the Provincial 
 
100 
 
 LlFJi 01’ COLO NHL TALBOT. 
 
 Parlifliuent, until bo was raised to .the Bencb, wlikb 
 happened more than a quarter of a century ago. 
 He Lad been previonsly Solicitor and Attorney 
 General of Upper Canada, and at so early an age, aa 
 to warrant the concluGiou that be (t as a young man 
 of precocioTiB talents; without, Loworer, implying that 
 he Las exhibited any of those signs of mcapacUy or 
 decay in after life, which so frequently marli the 
 career of young men who advance too rapidly. From 
 his first entrance into public life Chief Justice Robin- 
 son has never lost ground. 
 
 Like the late Lord Erskiue, who 'wcis so eloquent 
 and distinguished a member of the EnglUh Bat, the 
 Chief was indebted largely in his boyhood, to the 
 fostering care of a good mother, for his fiucGees in 
 after life, as well as to the kindness and proteciiou of 
 Arch-deacon Stuart of Kington, the father of the 
 present venerabli Arch-deacoiij but without his own 
 persevering application 'ind unwearied exertions he 
 never conid have arrived at the exalted position to 
 which he has attained. 
 
 Not only has the Chief distingukbad himself 
 a lawyer and judge, but as a subject, he Las always 
 been prominont in the field, whenever occasion 
 seemed to require his services. He w:is with General 
 Brock at the taking of Detroit, and drew up the 
 articles of Capitulation, and al the outbrealv in 1 83T 
 -sve well remciuber, he threw by the crmlue, and 
 
LiFE OJ? COtOSEL TALBOT. ICl 
 
 joined the luiliiLi, armed and equipped ae a aoldier 
 veady to lay dewEi hia life ia defence of tbe Growu. 
 
 It is rarely we tueet with men in public lifcp 
 whose characters arc adoraed with so many exceb 
 Icucics, ns that of the Chief Jusiice of Upper Canada, 
 and it is lefreshiog to contemplate a character, amid 
 BO many in the public sorvicc, stained with nearly 
 BTery vice, which even the cynic cannot disfiguic. 
 As a Judge, bis character stands as high as the 
 dlgniiy’eorjfeiTed on him by Her Majesty, has placed 
 it; as a citizen his esemplary conduct, has won for liim 
 the respect and good opinion of all. In the perform- 
 ance of his public duty, the Chief’s urbanity, and 
 oven the silvery tones of his voice, and a I'Cmarhably 
 intelligent countCDance never failed to cominind 
 admiration. In this respect' ho has tlic advantage 
 of his eloquent brother. Chief Justice Draper, of the 
 Common Pleoa — ■'who, by his florid oratory, and 
 t>owerful appeals can awaken the sensibilities of tha 
 most stolid nnJ hardened culprits; but he cannot so 
 easily soothe the ruffled passions by the beaining 
 iDtelligcnce of such a countenance ag Sir J. B. 
 Robinson’s. The Chief, how'evei*, can exhibit great 
 flcverity of tone and language, whenever the occasioti 
 rcquii'cs it ; but his general deportment is mild and 
 dignified. 
 
 But speaking in such commendatory terms of 
 
 Chief Justice Robinson, which I do with somedegreo 
 a* 
 
1C2 
 
 OF COI-ON1!L TILBGT, 
 
 of diHlJdnce, considcfiug my ioabiliLy to do ju^ 
 tice to his legal oliajaetGr, and the indeiicacj of prais- 
 iQg a mao to bis face — as well as the auspicbo of 
 writing his biography out of season, I am animated 
 not only by a desire of doing honor to tbo subject of 
 these memoirs, in whose company I have had the 
 pleasure of meeliag the Chief, but, by what is of 
 paramoutit consideration, a just regard for that goo<l 
 seuse and high principle, which distinguish the man 
 who feats God and honors the Queen. 
 
 No man, should in the performance of bis ro' 
 ligioua duties, or to proro his loyalty, seek the praise 
 of men, but when from purely religious and moral 
 convictions; he endeavors to do hi^ duty to God and 
 to bis country, he is entitled to the rewards which 
 will inevitably follow from such a course of conduct. 
 Such a character will never fail to command the 
 respect and applause of his fella w-men. The value 
 of such an ea ample as Chief Justice Robinson's Hie 
 presents, cannot be over-eati runted, either by those 
 who are ambitious of riaiig to distinction In tbeir 
 profession, or by these who desire to see their child- 
 ren grow up to he respeetahle and tisefal members 
 of society. Such men as the Chief are a living 
 testimony, that the /ear ^ tfte Ltfrd u the begirthing 
 of wisihmy and that the righteous shrall jiouri^k like 
 the paljft tree, 
 
 I never ranked myaelf as an associate of either 
 
liVU OF ilOLoNSL TALBOT- 163 
 
 Colonel Tiilbvt OT liLs friend, Chief Justko Kohinfcni, 
 (eiceph peril Aps like one of ilw^ Jig^ire heads^ who 
 uised former Jj to adorn the Bench in Ibo chsifncLer 
 of Associate Judges,) but while writing, I remember 
 tho occasion on which I met both together at Port 
 Talbot, One of the young Gill espies had arriFed in 
 St Thomas, while on n western tour, and being 
 ntixious to show him some attentiODj I drove him to 
 Port Talbot. This being kte in the day, we arrived 
 after dinner, and fotind tlie Chief and a select party 
 with tho Colonel taking their dessert. I was rather 
 taken aback, at finding myself an uninvited viailor 
 at such a time p and stamnicrcd out the best apology 
 I could make; but was completely dnmfoundercd on 
 discJoverifig that iwo more greater strangers than 
 Qumlvos, were treading on oiir heels, and pushed 
 themselves into the dining room as part of our com- 
 pany! However Colonel Talbot bore the intrusion 
 with good huinor, and Mr, Gillespie, finding himself 
 atuoDg former acquaintanee?, oor visit proved very 
 agreeable^ although it was an awkward wntre 
 
 At the time we are now speaking of, more than 
 twenty years ago, Colonel Talbot was still in vigorous 
 health, and then at tho age of between sixty 
 and Ecventyt cheerfuk and well able to entf^rlain his 
 fcolcct friends wUbin, wbile ho kept tho hmd shaE'ki!i 
 at a distance wiihout. Althongh Chief Jii.^tEco 
 Robimson was, undoubtedly a great favorite with Lbe 
 
164 like OF COtONEL 
 
 Colonel, it was certainly not out of any jjarticulni 
 I'ogard be lunj fqr tte profession; for the specitnens 
 of lawyers, who found their way into tho seltlemont, 
 as soon as the settlerB had anything tor^usirel about, 
 were not likely to attract the favorfihle notice of a 
 man with such a nice sense of honOE as Colonel 
 Talbot jjossessed- Conspicuous among these, wa* 
 the somewhat celebrated Mr. John WilsoUj of Lon- 
 don. Mr. Wilson came to Loudon between 20 and 
 30 years ago, when that town was tninly inhabited, 
 and was for many years very successful. After the 
 Coynes, do one acerua to bare excited Colonel 
 Talbot's aversion, more than Mr. Wilson, and he 
 spoke of him in terms too strong to repeat here. It 
 h more than probable, the Coynes, George Elliot, 
 and some other siicb troublesome customers, were 
 Mr. Wilson's clients, and they certainly chose a 
 i-epreseuiative, wlio could be as offensive as them- 
 selvos. A man, whose bold eHmutery has frequently 
 estorled the smile of astonishment from the Bench* 
 as well aa the vulgar laughter of the crowd- 
 
 rt must bo admitted, \hi\t the lawyer even whtn 
 Jie is a mail of blelicate ftelingSp and is only doing his 
 duty 10 his clLent-i, jipart from a ceriaia amount of 
 prejudice, which exists against tha profossiOQ, b very 
 likely to incur the displeasure of those whom he is 
 employed to proceed agait^s^ but,, if m addition to 
 h^. exbibiisi ueallous and overbearju^ di^po&iliont 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL 'TALBOT* 
 
 lOo 
 
 Yfhitb seems lo dcligkt in the raiseries lie is instiu- 
 luentsl in creating, and seizes any opportunily tliat 
 may offer, as an oocaBion for annoying the object of 
 his dislike, then be justly morite the application of the 
 opprobrious epithets ro frequently bestowed on law- 
 yers, and renders himself an object of aversion to all 
 honest and hcnorable minded men. 
 
 Mr* Wilson came to London, at ft time, when 
 there was no lawyer of good standing there, to pre- 
 occupy the ground, and ho bad the biiaiuesfi nearly 
 all to himself J otherwise, he could never have ad- 
 panced to the position ho now oeenpies; for his tal- 
 on ta are certainly not uncommon, in fact, exactly 
 fitted for Old Bdliey practice, but here he would 
 scarcely have attained the celebrity of Aid ei man 
 
 Harmer, Edwin Jamee, or the renowned 
 
 Bodkin. \lfLat was the particular occasion on which 
 his conduct was so offenrive to Colonel Talbot, 1 do 
 not recollect- It was either because he was thwarted 
 in Bonio land purebaso of town lots, or because he 
 took up fiome vexations case against th© Colonel, at 
 the instance of some undeserving settler — pnobably 
 both. 
 
 Colonel Talbot, like every other honest man, 
 had the utmost aversion to appearing in a Court of 
 Justice, merely to give some unimportant testimony 
 in a diii'epuiahle causa ; or more likely to gralify an 
 tiu feeling lawyer^s spleen and his clients malvoknce. 
 
LIFE, OF colonel TALBOT. 
 
 166 
 
 For some such purposs tiio Golonol cliaggGil 
 Gourt on onft occasion, and Mi*. Wilaon eterciscd his 
 ingenuity to draw tho Colonel out, anti shaw tha 
 power he had over hnn, that there, (in Couft^ he 
 was the Colonel’s equal at least, and that he could not 
 screen himself from hie vulgar gaze, behind the au- 
 dieneo window, Wilson was never more mistaken 
 in life; for although he repeated his cross questions 
 two or three limes, the Colonel with his back turned 
 towards him, answered the court in his own peculiar 
 quaint manner, without deigning to look at him. 
 
 I have been told a reconcitiatian took place 
 between Colonel Talbot and Mr. Wilson, before the 
 Colonel’s death. Be this as it may, there Is still a 
 large margin left for improvement, 
 
 Noihing has raH>re tended to temper Mr Wilson’s 
 conduct as a barrister, than his having contioualiy to 
 confront one of hia own pupils, t£. C . Beecher, Esq., 
 whose gentleinaoly manners and pliyful wit, oflon 
 brings up his old master short, if it does not make him 
 blush. 
 
 Tho lawyer has privileges in a Court of Justice, 
 which no olher man can esereiae in public, and when 
 be abuses these piivileges;, no opportunity should be 
 lost of bolding him up to public seom and indigna- 
 tion. The lawyer frequenlly stands in the placo of 
 the murderei', the nduiterer, the robber, the thief, 
 and ihc ade[tt» of every species of crime, yel it 13 not 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL XALBOr, 
 
 107 
 
 nocesinry that i)& sliould. transform biniselt into ibc 
 Jikeneas of tbe hideous monster, wliose case he may 
 happen to have b hand. 
 
 It IS vain to say the Judge will step over zeal- 
 ous, hot headed baiiistcrs, when they become intem- 
 perate or abusive, and carry their impartinenccs Loo 
 fut- Some Judges purposely dose their eaie, it is 
 bolioved, to all the barristers may say which has not 
 a direct benring On the case, and will not trust LheiU' 
 selves to follow learned gentlemen in their wander- 
 ings from tbe paths of truth ; nor do they seem to 
 pay atteniion to frequent violations of decorum, and 
 that regard for propriety and proper feeling, which a 
 heartless banister discards, as soon as he throws the 
 black gown over his shoulders, be It silk or stulF. It. 
 is really astonish ing, tbe length to wbict some 
 Judges will allow barristers to proceed in their 
 inquiries, and which really appear to have no other 
 object in view, but to torture a witness and to display 
 their zeah However this may be, cerLain it is, that 
 the license allowed to barristers in a Court of Justice, 
 is frequently the cause and ocqafiion of the roost bru- 
 tal assaults on the feelings and characters of indivi- 
 duals, who may be unfortunate enough lo be dragged 
 into Court. 
 
 Mr- Wilson for sometime represented the town 
 of London, iu the Provincial House of Assembly, but 
 was such an impracticable trimmer in politics, lhat 
 
lOB 
 
 LlF-a OF COLONEL TALriiJt. 
 
 no party could tniEt hitn;]! asd li6 haa bad lo retiro 
 witbont eveo the compliinetit of a peerage* His 
 e>cces^iYe desire to distittguiah' and toboecme 
 a leadiogTinaiij has led him to over act hia part, and 
 Li$ fine speechesj and familiar eipositions of the arts 
 and sciences^ busbandry and home manufactures, 
 instead of attracting applause^ and a wider extent of 
 of fame, bavc b&d only the effect of set thog upon bim 
 the soubriquet of homo spun John./* 
 
 It is proper here to remark, in reference to Mr. 
 Wilson, that Eje haa always maitilained his character 
 for integrity as a lawyer, and that he is indebted in 
 some measure for bis success to his promptitude in 
 paying over the monies ho receives on account of his 
 
 * Wbe]i the q^oes-tion of diTidtBg the County of 
 iliddlesex/wai> first Drought iip in t^e House of As^mblj^ 
 Wilson endeavored to ingress the House with the bollefr 
 that bj constiCtiting tliia Townships fionting on Lake trie? 
 (ijOW the County of Elgin.) Lota a new County^ the Gounty 
 of Middlese^i, would he deprived of egTe&a< to tbe Lako. 
 that tbo Irout ofthe Goucty of Middlcs^jc would be Cutoff^ 
 and that they (the inhabitants of the County of Middleseci) 
 would only ho ahlo to get out tlirougli tli^ back door — or 
 worda to that effect. This ia a good specimen of Wilson’s 
 ubility as a debater. 
 
 A discii ^^'^ioll having ai'isen about Mr> Wilson'^ political 
 consistonoy^ one of the party called him a loose ffsh^ on 
 ^ hiclibld MiiQuc^n, who kiiew Wilaon thoroughly^ briskly 
 rejoined, ^N'o, he is a aiad being called on for an 
 
 explanation. A sun^fiahi.^^ said he, ** a small fish we 
 soraetiTnessee on the sandy shore of Lake Eile, irith one 
 side always tnmed towards the suji; aud when that aide ia 
 w-cU warmed, he fitps over to the other lidc — aud so he 
 keeps iloppiijg ovei^nd over, f|‘ora side to able, as long as 
 the mm HbiaoEj ou hiiur^^ Wikoa’a a fliiufigh! McQueeii 
 still insist^. 
 
LI f E OF CO LC'NE [. T.^ 1.BOT, 1 & 
 
 tlieuts. Tl'is ia a EOCict tooie lawyera Jo not ap- 
 pear to lindcrstaiitTfand wliich it would beprofitaMo 
 for (bem to Icaro, 
 
 If in tbc early days of tbo solttemontf lawyers 
 were few, because briefs and fees were scaTOO, llie 
 cor«iwy>iu of prosperiiy, vrbich brought on llio late 
 commercial and monetary crisis, has increased Lbe 
 tnunber tenfold. Distress and sicknesa, breed la^V"- 
 yers and doctors, and if they continue to inorcdiSaj as 
 lliey have done within the last feiv years, farmers 
 will have sometbing as destructiye to complain of, as 
 the midge and weevil I Our towiiB and villages, are 
 filled with law and medical students. The great 
 eoHi plaint is now, that our legislative balls are 
 crowded with lawyers, who live on politics, that 
 evCry nveruc to preferment or profit is choked with 
 tUetn; but what is to support the multitude of youug 
 men , who have abandoned the tvool in hopes of 
 reaching the wool sack? nobody can tell; but they 
 must feed on somebody! To ■maintain the number 
 of lawyei's and doctors now training, one half the 
 community at least, must bccoma sick or insolvent, 
 and there may be no escape fiom the danger which 
 Ihrcntons the country on this acoountj but by adopt- 
 ing ihe plan of the Captain of the Tonqin as re- 
 lated by Washington Irving. That ship, while on 
 the Pacirtc near Astorb, was hoarded by an irn- 
 
 monse number of Indinhs, who took possscBsion of 
 
 o 
 
iTp or iJO lone L TALBOT. 
 
 ber, iiiid would Lave put lli9 whole of tLe cjew and 
 p^sseogerB to doalli ; the Captain conceived iho bold 
 idea of blowiug up tbe ship, which he did by BetUrig 
 firo to tho tnuga^ine. By £omo such desperate act 
 we might oipect to rid ourselves of tha lawyers, who 
 most as^uredly^ if they go on increasiog and multi* 
 plyiDg as they are now doing, will in die end^ ruin 
 ihemseh es and the couulry too I Our young genlk- 
 men should begin to turn their attention to aome 
 other oocup&tion. 
 
 CHAPTER XWIL 
 
 BisiiOF Stuacuan akd Bishop Cjrokvk— 'Tije two 
 PIBBT Bishops or Upper Canada, 
 
 A man of a very different stamp from Chief 
 Justice RobiosoUp with whom Colonel Talbot occa- 
 sionally cTme in contaeSp and to whom he paid every 
 outward mark^of respeclp Dr. Straeban, who may 
 be considered the CardiDal Wol&ey of Canada- From 
 the Arch-deacon ry of Little Yorkp. ho emerged into 
 tho Bisbopric of the Diocese of Toronto. Colonel 
 Talbot always doubted his Apostolic dfscentp The 
 life of llus eminent but self-willed prelat^^^ should 
 be the subject of a separate biography, whenever a 
 a more meek successor, may be permitted to occupy 
 the oi^iscopal chair; and whenever the glare of bis 
 exalted position p shall permit the still $uiall voice of 
 intlh, to serntinize the actions of n long and labor- 
 
LIFE or COLOrtfiL TiLEOT, 
 
 171 
 
 buij tifo, will the iup^irtLai voice of candour, unbiased 
 by tlio oU%eq^uiou» mouth of flattery. If Colonel 
 Talbot may be considered the pioneer of the forest 
 in the Talbot Settlement, Dr. Stracliao may justly 
 bo considered the pioneer of the Church in Upper 
 Canada. 
 
 The circamstancee of Dr. Strachan’e lifb, in bis 
 eatiicr days, resemble those of the Cardinal, Id many 
 particulam, alJowin^ for the ('iflerence of the limes, 
 and for the prejudices of education. Both from a 
 humble condition in lifo, rose to the highest point of 
 ascendancy in Church and State. Bo:h lavished Iho 
 means placed at their- disposal by lire favor of the 
 Court, to carry out their own magnifleent designs, 
 and 4hc one lived, as the other has lived, to feel the 
 instability of huuao greatness, Wc do not desire 
 to do Dr. iSirachan injustice ; wo believe him lo bo 
 the belter man of tbo two. He has many sincere 
 admirers and friends, and some of tbo first and most 
 distinguished men in the Provinc e were reared and 
 educated under his hand, but this was before he 
 ns3ii«eJ Iho staff and mltro; and tofora hia powerful 
 intellect and uncurbed ambition, had impelled him 
 in Churcli and State, to usurp and oiercisa despotic 
 sway. 
 
 Dr. Strachan came to Canada as tutor to tho 
 family of Mr. Carlright, of Kingston, ono of tho best 
 ffimilfes ranHida lias ever known, and he afterwatdg 
 

 JLlf K OF (;01.0^£.L lAiBO'f. 
 
 liecuoie Iko iiiJlt'iictO'J' of tlxa mo£»t ciniiiOul men in 
 i’jfoviuee; c Lief among ivliom, we may name Sir Ji 
 li. Rolingon, llio [Ion. Eubcil Baldwin, and many 
 olliorei, ell men of distineiiort, wore or less. To t ave 
 been tbc ebosen inalructoi of sllch men, waa in itselj 
 a great compliment to llm Doctor^a rucrJl^ but 
 a U Lough they were educated by Ibo same mind, and 
 we may assume were mdoctrinated in the same 
 prkciploa, the two leading men above named, became 
 diametiicalTy opposed in their views of Church and 
 State polity, yet it is a fact, that ilicy both cLciishcd 
 the highest regard for Dr, Strachati, and Mr. Baldwin 
 tias been heard in the Hall of the LegLktlve Assem- 
 bly, when he w'aa stfenuously opposing the Biiiliop of 
 Toronto'g xneasareit to de claio that he liel'd the char- 
 acter of Lis venerable instructor in the highest cstccm- 
 This is a cieditabk feet, and may eei ve to aofleti 
 some of the apparently harsh expressions we may 
 have to employ in deiineafing hU public character. 
 Dr- Straekm cnlcied into Holy Ordcra, in the 
 Church of England, at an curly date, having, it h 
 said, abandoned tUo religioua faith of his forefalhers, 
 (pFCshytcnau) whether from conviction or from 
 motives of wordly amhitiou, iia has been alleged 
 against him, wo shall uot presume to decide,'*^ but 
 
 * tVe liuve Gc,ei3 itie fullowiDg anecdote quoted os 
 applic.vbtc to Dr. iStrnclian. *' When Cowper was iraude 
 J'i^hop of GalTi’fly, an old Tromnu who had bee& one of 
 
LfFE OF C'CiL'>l.''Ei. TAlBuT- 
 
 173 
 
 li'ojii t]ii$ tiiiiiJ, lie seems never to linve lost sight of 
 PaiiFfl advice to Timothy, clifip, lii, 1 vfii'.. “ If a 
 man desire the office of Bishop, he deeiifcth a good 
 ■\Vort *' Zealously and energetically did Dr. Strachan 
 strive for the office of a Bishop, the spirit of the 
 Apostles’ text carried him through every difficulty ; hit 
 firm and onward step to the episcopate, never fal- 
 tered, and he relaxed no efforte till he grasped the 
 rai^re ! Ho was at orte and the same time, a moin- 
 ber of the LegU: Council and Arch-Deacon of York, 
 and in the Church and Council, his determined will 
 could brook no opposition: if he wore opposed ha 
 mauifeated by It is language great violenee, and for a 
 considerable time he had things all his own way; but 
 while he sttccecdod in establishing his own power in 
 the Church, and in enlarging her borders, he equally 
 succeetled in raising a storm of opposilbn, and ia 
 engendering in ^tha minds of Ihe great luajojity of 
 the people of Canada West, a strong delcriuination 
 
 Ilia par ifsliohci'Sj ftncl afaYcrltCF cQuTdnot bo ^MrsuaJocl tbat 
 her th inis tor had de&cr tod the Prefebyteriau Ciins&j ne&ulvod 
 to satisfy- bftT&clf, pnid bira n yisit at the CniDongatCn 
 ■whei'O he tad hia roHidcncot Eean of Cliap^l R<Kyal . 
 TIio retiQue of seiTaut^^ which tad to 
 
 Cfinlidcne^J^ and being iiBbered 
 iot£ia tFlieTa the Bisliop eat. filio Gsclaimcd. ■OLE 
 Sri'E wliat^stbiir— and ye ba^ really left the aid cauF5^s mid 
 tui-ned prelate,- ■ Jariet/ Paid Ehe Bisb^pj * I liave anew 
 liglit on r Sy { see.- reV'^jed .Jftiiet, * toi wLcii 
 
 ye’ wa.-^ at Penli, yehadljatae candle^ noo yehac 
 beft'i e Tlmt's your ti*?w 
 
174 
 
 life or COLOSEt TALBOT. 
 
 iievfer to- tolei'ate a dominant Cborcti aucL as ho 
 would have eiitabliabcd. 
 
 Jn instituting a comparison between Dr, Slractan 
 and Cardinal Wolsey, liis biograpber^ whoever Le 
 m.Tj be, will have to concede the palm of merit to 
 the Card Inal 's distant Buccessor, If the latier ha s no t 
 eifhibited the meekneas of the dove, — he has dis- 
 played consticnmate skitl, in averting hie downfall ; 
 for eeeiog that the current of popular feeling was 
 eetting strongly against him in the Chui'cbi he has 
 bad the good sense, to recede from the lofty position 
 he strove to maintain, and to eoaeede to the mem- 
 bers of the Church, clerical and kyical, a voice in the 
 administration of her affairs. This concession, 
 although in a manner forced from him, while the 
 atorraa of dissent raged, without, and internal coiU' 
 motion was springing up within the Church, is never, 
 ibeless creditable to his sagacity and judgment; 
 and in this respect, he baa proved himself superior 
 to his great prototype the Cardinal, and more yield- 
 ing than his oouiltryman James! 
 
 Hut by the establiahment of the Synod, he has 
 lost none of his power as Bishop, on ihe contrarj^ he 
 has rather strengthttied in ; for noihing in Synod can 
 pass mthouE Lis approval; consequently things must 
 renaain in statu, quo, unless tlie bishop chooses. 
 
 The life of ft man like Dr, Straehaii, must attract 
 notice, and should be held up to the public as [i 
 
like of i-'uLy^Ivf. TAi-iJu'J'. 
 
 1 
 
 patteiD Uj bij imitate J, or at) tsaiui.ilu tu Lie avuideJ ; 
 or it may be anid, Lig virtues aliould be liomiii ended , 
 and Lis faults condemned. faUbfulness and 
 
 porsevemnee in whatever oonaerned the interests of 
 tbe CbuL'ch. arc entitled to praise; but his intemper- 
 ate zeal for her temporalities, has frequently exhibited 
 a warmth incompatible with the habitual exercise of 
 chrktian humility. Ilis Lasty lemperament lias 
 frequently betrayed his judgment, in liis' conduct 
 towards his clergy, Some have been too hardily 
 treated, while others have been too IcntcnUy dealt 
 with, wbeu tbeir faults were Inexeusuble. In eilliev 
 case, the membeni of the Church have suffered. At 
 the same time, his indpmitahlo energy and porsc- 
 , vemneo have preserved for him a 'lasting iiiouuinetit 
 in the establishment of Trinity Collogo. 
 
 Ilefc wo have something to admire, if we rlonot 
 approve of the exclusive spirit of its fouadation- Tho 
 Bishop of Toronto, was fin old man when he uuder- 
 tooh to raise tbiu linstitutiou, and be has cerlainly 
 accouaplished what no other man in tho Province 
 could have done. He went to England, and raised 
 fimda at a time of life when other mon would havo 
 gone to rest, and what he raised has been applied 
 to the purpose for which it was intended. How 
 differouL in its object and rcsulls, w;^ this from 
 the itiiision of two rhslinguisheil clergyiinen of 
 hiii Dincese, several years previous. Thr'y wert 
 
LIFE OF LuL&iiEL TALBOT. 
 
 ITO 
 
 to Eiigliiiia ainl TrolinJ, o:i a niisi&ioii to iiisc 
 funds in liclL'ilf of ihe Churcli, liLit what they real* 
 ij!od or wbat become of Uig momey, biia always 
 been n myalery. So wo may concluda tbeve arc 
 worse 103(1 in ibc Cliurcli than the Bishop of Tor- 
 onto, 
 
 It Is surprising what a strong Ssottigh aiicent 
 Bishop Straqh an has always rcLoIned, of which, pro. 
 Iiably ho was never dosirous of divesting Iiitnself — it 
 hns a tlfoil eSect, both in his preaching and convorsa- 
 tion. At a Ute tncctiag of the Synod, one of the lay 
 delegates^ who was never suspected by those who 
 know him best, of tronhliog himseli about the affairs 
 of religion —took the opportunity of making what he 
 considerod, no doubt, a telling si>cccli. lie began 
 by taking the moat popular side of tbo question, and 
 was for sometime lisLoncd to wllli marked approba- 
 tion. As he proceoded, however, after a Lengtlioned 
 delivery, he diverged, and sigua of impatience began 
 to manifest tliemselves in no unmisiakable forms. Stil I 
 lIjq delegate continued with as much lErpertuibability 
 ns ft man walkings thoiiiiaiid miles'in a thousand hours 
 — the Bishop got out of patience too — and soon 
 brought the orator up uH slaiuling. " Doctor,” siiid the 
 Bbhop, “ you spak vera wool, when you began, hut 
 iioo ye’i'G tawVidg tionscnse.” This elost.d die doctoi’’!) 
 r^peevb. 
 
life of COLOa tL TALBOT, 
 
 I*?? 
 
 'i'bc Oiooeao of JIui'oii ombraces tbo whole of the 
 Talbot SettJenieut, and a vefy extensive tract of 
 country besides. This cxieBfiivo Diocese, fa at 
 picsent, prosided over by Dr, Cfonyn, its first Dishopi 
 At a late meeting of Sy no J, tliero were present— — 
 of the clergy, and a proportionate number of lajman. 
 As Syuoda appear to be assembled more for I be 
 purpose of sanctioning and giving enbet to Iba views 
 of t he Bishop and hit) clergy in each Diocese, tlian 
 for indcpGEilent deliberation, we may judge what the 
 uatute of tbdr proceedings will be, from cons ideritig 
 the charaeter and ability of the Bishop, in whom oil 
 the power of the CLuveh is centered. 
 
 Dr. Cronyu bccauie a missionary of the Cburch 
 of England and Ireland, in the town of London, moro 
 than <1 quarter of a century ago, and boing a provi- 
 dent man, had nob like many of bis poorer bfethron, 
 eomo into the wildorness nmpiy Landed. On the 
 eoiiitrai 7 , ha brought witli him, wherewith to purchase 
 l-ind, and to*build a very comfortable Louse, near to 
 the Church. Idoro he resided for * some yeara, 
 until he was enabled to build ft moro substantial 
 house— a handsome stone huildiug, still nearer to 
 the Church. When, howevor, the rago of specula- 
 tion had reached Its height, the Doctor was tempted 
 to part with this mansiou and the grounds adjoining, 
 for tbo handsome sum of £13,000, as we were in- 
 formed, to two young gentlctnen, who parcelled the 
 
1?8 
 
 LIFB OF COLONEL TALHOT. 
 
 property out — into lotA, and made a lottery of tUem. 
 How inueb they made by the speculntion is not 
 knowD, and we Dieotion this matter of bargain and 
 sale, to refute the elander so often repeated, that 
 ivhen a man enters the church, he ie precluded from 
 thoae eourccs of raoney-making, by which otft^r tuetj 
 grow rich; aud as an instance of the enormous 
 value, to which property had risen in the exciting 
 days of Bpeculation. 
 
 The Church in Ijoad on, of which Dr. Crony n 
 was, and is rector, had attached to it a glebe of 200 
 acres of land, in such a locality, of course exceedingly 
 valuable; indeed, too valutahlo to be let alone, so the 
 Church obtained an act of ParlLament, authorising 
 the sale and conversion of thU glebe into another 
 glebe, by the purchaec of another lot of laud iu a 
 sitimtion more remote. The trausaction was some- 
 thing like this. By csctling the lot in London, say 
 for £10,0 on, and buying anoiher for £5000 — this 
 sum would be obtained to pay off the debt of the 
 Uliutch— though evidently uafair, if not a dishotieiit, 
 act towards sucoceding Hectors— for it must have the 
 effect of shortening his iucome — but the object for 
 wliieh this conversion of property was made, was not 
 accomplished, the Church is still in debt I This need 
 not surprise members of the Church] for there are few 
 Churches in Canada, thatare not involved in dcbt,nQore 
 or less; but die history ofthe Oluircfi in London, durirg 
 
LIFE of CULOKEL TiLiSiJ'f* 
 
 iiy 
 
 Uf. Oi'ODjii’a incumbency, presents a scries oi (-ran sac - 
 tioDH in tlie managomenl ofCJiiirch property and glebo 
 lands, dispfaying sucii consumniaie skill, ninl adroit 
 fiAsm, as not only to defy espoaure, but even to claim 
 and obtain from unwilling members their apprOvaL 
 Did we live in the times of such men as George of 
 Cappadocia, such transaclions might pass unnoticed, 
 but ill the present enlightened ago of the Church, to 
 stigmatize them as disreputable, is employing the 
 mildest terms, ivliicli such trafficking witli Churoli 
 property can admit of*^ 
 
 1 am not aware that Dr, Cronyn ever found bis 
 way to Port Talbot, or became aetpuainteJ with 
 Colonel Talbot personally. TJic Colonel had such 
 an instinctive horror of wordly-inindcd priesU^ that 
 such an ac<[uainiai:ioe eoukl never have ripcneil into 
 intimacy. Men arrive at distinction many ways, and 
 often by tho employracuL of infioiie skill, and a vast 
 amount of labour; but from an humble origin, (Bishop 
 Cronyn’e father wae a successful Ehoemaker in the 
 City of Kilkenny, in Ireland,) to have attained the 
 staff and mitre, by the voice of a learned body of 
 clergy mo n, and a still larger body of laymen, was 
 the work of an nstutc luind, and an clor[Uent (oDgue, 
 
 * WhcQ tbiDkiag or writLug of the aff'nirs of the Chtirdi 
 ia Loudao, Our Saviour’s indiguuut leljuko of those who 
 traffickeil in the Ten: pic of God, always presents itself 
 to my mind, Vide xsi. Matt., 13 v. 
 
18M life OF ClOIiONEL TALUOT- 
 
 beaults much perseverance aucl viligaiice. Tin- es- 
 sential qualifications to acoOiApltsh such a t8wk, Di'- 
 Cronjq pOMCeefis la an eminent degree* Doetoi' 
 Cronjn is undoubtedly, considered to be a clever 
 niaii, wbicii is but an equivocal compUment, but no 
 amount of talent can atone for the want of that 
 singleness of purpose and unostentatious piety, which 
 should distinguish a Bishop. 
 
 Doctor CrooyD is the first Bishop elected in 
 Canada, and prior to the time of election, his char- 
 acler was publicly assailed by many of the clergy, as 
 well as laity. His neglect of his parochial <luties, and 
 turn for speculation, were freely discussed; and his 
 qualifications, as contrasted with those of the rival 
 candidate for tho episcopate^ the Yenerable Arch- 
 deacon of Yort, Dr. Bethume, were diaparaglngly 
 epohen of; but as soon as the election was decided in 
 hie favor, the whole Synod, by a generous impulse 
 cactldg iu the spirit of Church Unity, congratulated 
 him on bis elevation to the episcopate, as warmly and 
 with as much apparent satisfaction, as if by tho pro* 
 ces3 of election, they conEiccied the mart whom they 
 liad branded as an unfaithful steward, and worldly 
 minded piicst, could he converted into a heavenly- 
 minded Bishop. Such want of consistency and prin- 
 ciple, is iudefensible. 
 
 A Bishop of the Church, is too important a 
 personage te escape public notice, and bis character, 
 
LIFB of COtOSEL TALBOr* IflL 
 
 ought to shine na a beacon light to the whole body 
 of the Cliui-ch, bat l3ie right man to put in the right 
 place is not hkclj' to present himstitfj, to pass llirough 
 the ordeal of Sytiodkal declioDt constiluted aa Our 
 Synods are. At this first eleciion of a bishop, for 
 Ihe Lfioceso of Huron, the evil effect of the jxtpular 
 election, was dearly manifest, for the tnan ohoeon, 
 has been too aotoriously suspected, and accused of 
 being more governed by motives of worJIy uiatioc- 
 tion than by spiritual eonsLderations, 
 
 If we contras^t the characters of the two first 
 Bishops in Upper Canada, we must in fairness con- 
 cede the superioiity to Dr. SlracLan ; for although 
 he has lived and enjoyed unbounded iufluencG in the 
 Councils of the State, aa well as of the Church, and 
 has had opportunities of enriching bimeelf far beyond 
 those of any other Bishop of the Church of England 
 in Canada, he has never betrayed a diEposition to 
 mL£ up his purely temporal intcresta with those of 
 the Church. His ohaiactenadce vire of a higher 
 order. His amhitioa waa lofty, if hus condnct were 
 arbilrary; hia love for wordly diatinction did not 
 oats trip hia desire to extend the interests and use- 
 fnlne&s of the Cturch. Hia great ^aim was to 
 aggrandize the Chureb, andhimself aa the head of it, 
 in hia extensive Dioceee. Dr. Strachan has not 
 sought to make hia own temporal concerna the iiret 
 consideration; but tbo object of Dr. Croiiyn’s amli- 
 
 P 
 
182 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT, 
 
 tion apptiir to be of inferior description, anti we 
 . cannot convoy our e^'irnate of bia character, in tci'ins 
 inone applicalile, tlian will be found in the following 
 extract from Milaei^a History of tbo Church of Christ, 
 ae applied to MacedoniuB : — 
 
 “ At the same time died Alexander of Constan- 
 tinople, aged 99 years. His clergy asked him in his 
 dying momerils, whom he would recommend as LU 
 Ruccesfioi-. ‘ If you seek a man of esexnplary life, 
 and able to instruct you/ says he. ‘ you bave Paul; 
 it you dcsSr'c o man of seculer tkill, rod one wlio 
 knows Low to maiiiSaiu an interest among ihc great, 
 and to preserve an appearance of religion, iMaeedonius 
 13 preferable/'^ 
 
 The Church of England in Upper Canada, is 
 said to number one iliird of the population, but in 
 the Talbot Seltlerncut, and in the Rural Districts 
 generally, one fifth would be an over estimate, and 
 
 * Jlishop Slewaitj of Quebec, was a. perfect contuMt to 
 the Bishops l Jiave been speaking of, He was the embodi- 
 ment of simplicity itselt. He visited tie Settlement miinv 
 years ^o, on a tour of supervision. One dav be came tq 
 me to inquire about the character of a man named E&bon, 
 
 -POQI Jj[*S p p lit! t.L l[F> Hlfi is 't'C-r'y 
 
 much IQ want of money, and that le oouid get some from 
 Hiagwa. if 1 would efirfpj'se a bill for hi cn. I should like 
 to serve t ha rwor man, if—” I lold tie Bi^iho-p that he 
 might depend upon bavins to pay tbo immey— if he ec- 
 dorsrd I he Bill, nddir^g quite enough to deter lie old eentle- 
 man from putnufr hia name to Uie pa|>cf, Eb^on would 
 lave asked tlie angel Oabri&l to endorse, Could he have met 
 
Lite orcoLoKEL TAiCor. 
 
 183 
 
 this I0O5 during a pcdod when her wealth more 
 than ^^qual to that of alJ other sects put together 1 
 How is this accouu ted for? Her docUio'.s aro held 
 to be more pure, her Liturgy unequalled j and her 
 clergy more learuetip and equally pious* to say the 
 leastw Then how is it that she does not gain ground 
 with the rural population? The tanlL is in the aris- 
 tocratic bearing, and worldly estate of her Hierachy ; 
 and in the irresponsible character of her goverooient; 
 which, froEU the time of the Re formation, through the 
 power vested in BlsbopsH has resisted all attempts 
 to amend her constitution. This may be all right, 
 but is the Church satisfied with the progress she is 
 making among the people! 
 
 In tha government of the State, every subject 
 can indulge in the hope of having his or m plaints 
 listened to^ and the evils of which he complaina rec- 
 tified ; not so in the Churchy for there he must not 
 only feubmlt to the powers that be, but should ha be 
 rn^h enough to object, and say, that these powers are 
 not as they ah^uid he will very likely be branded 
 as a Echismatic or pestilent fellow^ and left 10 seek 
 relief* by joining so mo other Church. Bow, however. 
 We may sympathize with weak memhers^ who apos- 
 tatize, because theh giievancBS are. not i^edr eased at 
 once, it is, nevertheless, the duty of the Church, ^nd 
 those who administer her affairs, to criva as little cause 
 of CQmpbint '13 possible. Rather they should he 
 forward to rectify exi&liu^ abuses. 
 
184 
 
 LIFE or COLONS L TALBOT* 
 
 Id the Church of England, Biahops as well as 
 oihejftj &re held to be fa]iiblai itts, therefore, not sur- 
 priaiog that they ^ould frequently err, supported aa 
 they generally BrC| in any course they may think 
 proper to lake, in the eierci^ of their episcopal 
 functions, by prominent men of the Church in every 
 Diocesfip In the Diocese of Huronp it is difficult to 
 say whether the Bishop is as much tolJame for the 
 scandalous state of thirigs esisiingin the Church in 
 London^ as sonic of those lajmcn who have always 
 rendered themselves can6picuou& in supporting his 
 viewst or may be in carrying out their own- lo 
 either cafiCt the stable ought to be cleansed^ 
 
 but it requires an Hercules to do it. 
 
 In every Diocese, nay* iu every parish, there 
 are always particular indinduakp who will consider 
 thai they are fulfilling their religious duties when 
 they are carrying out the views of the incumbent, 
 wiLhoiiE seemingly exercising their own judgment^ 
 or stopping to considei whether he ia right or wroDg- 
 but in LondoUp lor many years, there have been 
 prominent men, who have distinguished themselves 
 by their determination to maintain a corrupt admin- 
 istration of Church affairs, almost without parallel in 
 the Church. These individuals, although men of 
 BEanding, and some of them wealthy, have acted £s if 
 they coL&idered, that so long as they keep up an 
 ^ppeftfauce of roligion, and aecond the views of the 
 
LIFK DP COLONEL TALBOT* 
 
 185 
 
 BlsUopt they are ki liberty to indulge b evory 
 sort of iniquity^ which scandalises ereo the very 
 Dame of reUgion. These unsound pillars of the 
 Church atop the moutha of less pretending Chuicli- 
 men, whenever they presLima to raise their voices 
 against the disrotmtable traihe and jobbing which 
 have been going on there for so many years* These 
 are strong exprejisions^ but what language can be too 
 stroDgj to apply to men who make religion a cloak 
 for every sio. It is true in this world, tho evil is 
 evor mingled with the good, 'but it is nevertheless 
 our duty, on all occpsbns when the opportunity 
 serves, to reprobate vice and enltivate virLue* The 
 progress of religion^ however, will ba very while 
 the heads of the Church act on the principle that 
 the end jiistidos the means» and pf^y Httfo aLtentioa 
 to the moral conduct of individuals, so long as Ihey 
 do not oppose the flchemes of the Bishop a.qd his 
 clergy. If this be the atata of the Church, at the 
 fountain head, mu9t it be in tbe repaote 
 
 pansho^. However, in theec, thti moaej tcmpiutiou 
 ia Dot so groat. 
 
 It is in tio eaptious spirit wo make tbei^e remarks. 
 Tbe Id teres ts of leligiou era too iunportant, to be 
 trifled witb, or to be dealt with as merebaatfise or 
 real estate spcculstiotis E What is (Le oonsequencQ 
 of all the contest for worldly estate in tbe Cburoht 
 IliflUopa and clergy must live, and be respectably 
 
1B0 
 
 IIFE OT COLOKEL TALPOT* 
 
 supported; but do ib^y Ik^, and are they ho sup- 
 ported? Half the ckrgy* it is well kuown, only 
 subsist on a miaembly k adequate maioteDance. Yet 
 the revenues of the Church, from all aources would 
 be ample^ il her affairs were properly, I might say 
 honest) jf administered^ More equal i^atiou of m- 
 come&^ is one of the chief things required. But 
 the full diecusdon of ibh subject would be out of place 
 here* 
 
 I have elsewhere said, the Church of England 
 members, in the Talbot Settlement, do not number 
 om one fifth of the population, and 1 have estima- 
 led the population at 150,000. Kow, if 'we deduct 
 the n&mihalf that ia thoae who contribute nothing, 
 not even their prayers m Church, towards her sup- 
 port, from the real members, that is those who do 
 contribute somelhiug, and who do support reli* 
 gion by their presence in church, one tenth would 
 not be loo low an estimate^ Wiili these remarks we 
 may leave the subject to over zealous mcmberB of the 
 Cburck consider where the fault liea. 
 
 It is pleasant to turn from the contemplation of 
 whatever derorm?^ and disgraces the cause of religioti, 
 to review the characiere of clergymen, who adorn 
 their profession. Offincb charactors ihere are many 
 in ilie Cljuich. In the THibot SeUlemetit there are 
 some, who Lave pomued the even tenor of their ways 
 with ejccinpliiry fidelity aud utiostenLadous piety* 
 
LIFB OF COLOlflil. 1A[,P0T. IST 
 
 The Rev. Richard Flood of Criradoc, baa labor jd with 
 unvorjipg zeal for thirty yearSj among the Todiana 
 It Mutisey Town, nod bia paiiahoDora iti Oaradoo 
 and Delaware, without our even once hearing of 
 such disgraceful squalls, as frequently occur ia other 
 paHahea, Aud the Eat. Mr. Holland, (now at Fort 
 Erie) for matiy years the iDcuiubent of Dutiwich, 
 above Fort Talbot, lived in peace and harmony 
 among hU parishoners, without creating any of those 
 religious feuds in his cougrcg^ition, which are else- 
 where of such frequent occurrence, Such men do 
 milch towards fostering the true spirit of Christ- 
 tianity. 
 
 CHAPTER X 15 , 
 
 TaE Mulluan — The Colonel’s attention to his 
 
 BICE MAN — LONO SaSMOKS — WpbtoVKb’s AToB.tL^ 
 jTx— Esiiobatjon and Old Ccukteteen. 
 
 Colonel Talbot, like many other persons who 
 are supposed to livi? out of the world, was never at 
 a loss for news, and was not easily taken by surprise, 
 Whenever any unwelcome visitor or rough customer 
 meditated a descent on Port Talbot, the Colonel was 
 made aware of it, and prepared accordingly. Many 
 persons who had taken up lots of knd, were ^low to 
 fulfil the condidcjns of the contract, and make the 
 stipulated miprovement; in such cases, after waiting 
 
183 
 
 UTE OF OOLONfiL TALBOT. 
 
 mor^ than a r^asonublo time, tbe laud was given out 
 to others. The parties who thus lost their claims » 
 were generally undeserving characters, and con- 
 eiJered theraaelvea hardly treated, when they wore 
 only justly served* One cf these persons, hearing 
 that he had been reported as a defaulter to the 
 Golonel, anticlpatiug whal would follow, determined 
 to save bis land, if possible; and therefore proceeded 
 at once to Port Talbot. On his way up he stopped 
 at old Water’s Inn, and having imbibed a doze of 
 courage, in the shape of brandy, made it known to 
 all theu and there present, that he was on hi» way 
 to scold Colonel Talbot for taking bis land from bim 
 and giving it to an Irishman. On the following day, 
 Ufl the Colonel was sitting in bis room, conversing 
 with two of his acquaintance, be eepied the Itlullman 
 (an Highlander from the Island of Mull) in the dis- 
 tance, and shortly after, as he accompanied his friends 
 out to take leave, he saw him still approaching, and 
 called out, “ halt, you d— — d rascal, did you not 
 threaten yesterday, to break every bone iu ray skin,’' 
 — then turned quickly, and walked back into bis 
 room. The cool effrontery of tbo MLillmnn was inim- 
 itable. He walked boldly into the kitchen, drew a 
 chair to the table, where the servants were at dinner, 
 and took a hearty meal. At night be poked himself 
 very comfortably into one of the men -servants beds, 
 with as little ceremony as 0 pOBsenger in a stcarabt^at, 
 
OS’S OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 180 
 
 in want of a tn^rth ^ and m the morobg took Lis seat 
 at the break fas E table, and helped himself bounti- 
 fulTy. He then stretched himijelf out on a settee 
 till dinner-time, when, having made Lis bow to the 
 beef and greens^ he wais about to resume his couebj 
 but Jeffry beginning to consider that ibe Mullman 
 was an uninvited guest, reported progress to tbo 
 Coloneh Sir/’ says he, here's s ^trarge sort of 
 man in the Ititchen.*^ WtJ), what does he want?'* 
 eaya the CoioneL Why+ he belp^ himself^ seem- 
 everyibin^ ho wants. “ I know what he 
 don't wan’ t'’ ■* VVhat^a that* Jeffry?'' A good 
 
 ^ appetite, Sir— he eats as If he liad been iiaed eo it 
 all his life,’" Call him here/’ says tha Colonel, 
 who psimved that his old favorite Jeffry, had only 
 just began at the first end of a long sEory. When the 
 mau ap|>eareLb the Colonel a^ked him w-hsit ihe 
 deuce he tnean't by quartcjing himself upon him so 
 anc^rraoniously. The Scotsman very composedly 
 replied. I will na gangawa iLe year, nor tievcri 
 until you gie me my land hack again. Take it" 
 said the Colonel, “ and go to the deil with it, a.nl 
 if ever 1 see you back here, it Tvill be my turn to 
 break bonesi." 
 
 The U ulhoan went away satis Ged, telling every 
 one he met^ that ihe only plan to get along with 
 the Colonel, wae to stick to him m a barnado to the 
 rock. This is one of many ib$tancest where persons 
 
LIFE or COLONEJ. TALEOT. 
 
 t90 
 
 m&aEured the Colonel’s benevolent di^pcsition, by 
 their own desem, find represented hinij like the noble- 
 men in the go&pel, as an austere maiir Whereas the 
 love of justice was the ^nost predomiDant 5 q Lis char- 
 acter* 
 
 Iq the year 1840^ as related by Mr. MunrOt 
 iDcidect occured at Port Talbo^ which eshibits the 
 goodness of the Colon el's heart. Oce of hh hired 
 men fell but had a strong prejudice against 
 
 Medical men!, and their mediemes. The Colonel 
 knowing this^ and being aware that the young ins a 
 had no rolatioDS in the country, admiDistered some 
 medicine himself, and attended him in the capacity of 
 nurse as weJJ as doctor* Ey the Colonel's assiduous 
 aid and attentions, the dad scon, recovered hks health 
 and strengtht liud faithfully served his benefactor for 
 a j^ear after, when he received every fraction of his 
 wages, without abntenfient for the iitne he had been 
 sick, and left the Colonel with feelings of reverenc 
 and gratitudCi arnounling almost to idolization. To 
 this day, the young man’s estimation of the Colonel’s 
 goodness, is such, that he will permit nobody to say 
 adisroepcctful word of his master, doctor and friend, 
 with iinpuuhy, 
 
 Many amusing anecdotes of the Colonel’s ready 
 wit and sarcastic humour, are related ^raong the set- 
 lei's. Among others, the proverbial penurlousneiiS of 
 Scotchmen, did not escape hk observation. A young 
 
life: or COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 191 
 
 clergy Daen was sent as a missionary into the Township 
 •whero he liv^od, aod like too many of the cloth p knew 
 bettor how lo begin his $emon than when to stop. 
 Colonel Talbot being at dinner with the Bishop, 
 hims?elf a Scotch man, a friend remarked that the 
 Kev. — —pthe yoiirg mksionarys preached intolerably 
 bog sermons, which was a matter of complaiot 
 among his itearei's. Aye^ rny Lord/’ said the 
 Colonel, “ and I never tn civ anybody that could bear 
 a long sermon, bnt a Scotcluuan when he pays for 
 
 It may very well be imagined, that in the early 
 (lay 6 of the Settlement, mcrality was ot a very low 
 ebb. As far as common honesty goest the peoplOj 
 generall/j were toba-ably n^oral. That k to say, 
 they would neither steal their neighbor’s propertys 
 nor tell a direct he; nor would Ctiey allow a stranger 
 to starve at their doorfs; but the ^nore enlarged vir- 
 tues of Christian morality, such as benevolence and 
 honor, it was scarcely to be cspectcd, under the in- 
 structions of the I'eligions teachers we have describedt 
 that the early aetlkf^ should excel ill An instance 
 of iLe lax state of inoraHty wliich prevailed in tliose 
 days, may be mentioned- A friends who had been 
 requested by a distant proprietor to hare an, eye to 
 some land which he owned, in die settlement, and 
 onwhicb tresspassers were cutting ofi" the timber to 
 tnnke staves, upbraided a ncigltbor who lived on 
 
1E>2- LIFE OF COLON'S L TiLBQT^ 
 
 land afijoining, for allowing a man’s land to be rob- 
 bed in Unit wrt of way, wiihoot doing anyebing to 
 stop such glaring raficality, “ Why, wbat can 1 do/" 
 #aid We stover, and why i^hould I trouble -myself about * 
 it? ‘‘ At least/’ said Lie frieudj you can inform 
 tho^ who are more intcres+edj so that they may 
 detect the theive?/^ Oh, b's uone of my business^” 
 or some such Tpply followed. says the other, 
 
 donH you know that you are bound by the golden 
 rule, w'hieh requires that yoii thould do ufdo t^iherSf 
 as you would they skoitld do ^loyoiL^' That's true j* 
 naively retorted Westover, but I guess that rule 
 work^ both way®, why* look here, aeighhorj 1/ I was 
 taking the timierj I shoiiM'ut want you ta inform 
 agin 
 
 During tho early period" of the Talbot Settle* 
 ment when the country was hut little improved, the 
 most of those who found their way into it were emi- 
 grants from the UnLled States, and a good many of 
 the settlers from the Niagara District: but in process 
 of time, old countrymen from England^ Ireland and 
 Scotland, came in considerable numbers. Among 
 tbepo emigrants, foremost were many Highland 
 Scotchmen, who purchased their l^uds from the 
 Canada Company, in the Township of Yarmouth, aud 
 others who took up lands ia Ehfrid and Mosa* Theee 
 were among the very pooreit ckia of settle ra^ and 
 for many year* had to wort very hard, not only in 
 
LlfE OF COLONKL I’ALtSOT. 
 
 193 
 
 cleariDg their JaaJ, and in raiiing crapa and caulu, to 
 subsist their families; bnt to obtain motiey to pay 
 tUe inslalmenls due od tbeir lands. These poor peO’ 
 pie, were no doubt inured to hardships and priva- 
 tions in their own native country, and therefore were 
 no strangers to misery. Of this, they had quite 
 enough to con lend with in Canada, but after many 
 years, hard struggling, they have made them selves 
 independent, having fine farnas scattered throughout 
 the Settlement, and on the occasion of either b wed- 
 ilOg or a funeral, old and young, lads and lasses, dis- 
 play no inconsiderable amount of wealth, in horses, 
 carriages, and personal adoinmeuts. The old folks 
 apeak little but the Gaelic, but the young people are 
 quite as good in English as Gaelic- 
 
 The Irish emigrants have been of a more misced 
 class, and have not been altogether so prudent and 
 prosperous as the Scoloh. Still most of tbena have 
 improved their condition by coming to Canada. 
 Those of them who have had most to endure and 
 aufihr, were the educated class, with slender meortis 
 and loo much pride. Descriptive of this class, was a 
 remark of John Harria’. Once Mr. Harris mat with 
 Rome gentlemen from v^arious parte of the Province, 
 in Toronto, and the oouversatioii turned on the num- 
 ber and quality of the emigrants, who had become 
 settlors within a few years, Each was contending 
 that hie part of ' he country had received the great- 
 
 q 
 
194 
 
 LIFE OF COLONEL TALEOT- 
 
 e6t Rccessioti ot re^peetable settlors, but Harm set- 
 tled the point bejond dispute, by the following 
 
 la.canio retort. Why, d -n toe,^’ eaid he. “in 
 
 the London Dietrlct, we have one Township all 
 getitlenien.'’ This was the Township of Adelaide, 
 where a large number of old soldiers, who Lad com- 
 nuled for their pensions, and had received land in 
 exchange, had settled themselves, or rather tried to 
 doso^ and if they had not the education and man- 
 Here of gentleman, they did not want for independ- 
 ence of feeling, and thriftless habits. Among them 
 were settled mnny respectable Irish families, whose 
 members were well dtted to adorn a drawing room, 
 and display their eloquence, garnished with the rich 
 flavor of accent, for which Irish ladies and gentle- 
 inctL are ao conspicuous. A nephew of the great 
 Curran, Captain Curran , was among ihe number. 
 But the discipline of civilized life, was soon lost in 
 the woods, and neither the Irish gentleman nor ihe 
 old soldier afforded any quarter to the prostrate 
 poi'ker, who came Under the operation of his knife. 
 However, a number of these settlers have been 
 tfoww, and the probability is, that a more 
 industrious race, tho’ less polished, will have ariseu 
 iu their stead. 
 
 At one time, St. Thomas, which might very welt 
 be considered the Capital of the seltlement, was the 
 head -quarters of a Dumerous party of English emi- 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 1&5 
 
 graoLs, wLo had been teoaDt faiiners, etnall ]atided 
 proprietors, and tradeamon. There could be no mis- 
 takitig iheiu, they were geuuiae EngliBhmeii; for if 
 their dialect did not convince you of thi&j their John 
 buUisuQ 'nas sure to do it. They Lad grujobled 
 themaelvcs out of England, and the same spirit 
 accompanied them to Canada. They blustered and 
 swore in a noaiinor, quite novel to the old settlers. 
 These, it is true, could too frequently indulge in 
 profanity much more wicked, than Englishmen are 
 accjstonaed to, but their oaths did not seem to apiing 
 from such a full stomach. Then the hearty contempt 
 which they appeared to entertain for everything out- 
 side of England, except themselves, would have 
 been imsuSerable, bad erperieuce not taught the old 
 settlers that nil this AnglO'pairioiisiti , would soon be 
 subdued by the frosty and healthy climate of Can- 
 ada. 
 
 Many of the English BOUlors, however, are 
 among the beat, and mest ’wealthy farmere of this, 
 and every other part of Canada. They soon become 
 acclimated!, and enjoy a degree of freedom and inde- 
 pendctice hot exceeded, if attained, in any other part of 
 the world. Thousands of them , who might have 
 lived in the old country all their lives, without ever 
 being the owners of horses and cattle, have tliern 
 here in abun dance, besides being the proprietors of 
 valuable freehold estates. It is astonishing however, 
 
106 
 
 LIFE OF COLOWKL TjI LbOT. 
 
 till very receiatly, bow ignorant people in EnglanJ 
 werej of everything rebting to Canada** 
 
 Ollier emigrants came into the settlement from 
 Ifova Scoiia^ and have^, generally, done well- Ac- 
 costomed their own country, to poor eoil and a 
 Lard climatej their indue^try and frugal habits, well 
 fitted them to eueceed, in Canada. Th,o Nova 
 Scotians in the settlement, are the best maple sugar 
 inaliere, and produce large quantities annually, of the 
 fineBt^qualitjp both powdered , and in the cake* 
 
 Much Las been said and writteri on the subject 
 of im migration p and various schemes have been pro- 
 posed, with the view of attracting a large number of 
 emlgranie to Canada- It has been felt, that by far 
 the larger number of ihose who leave Europe, find 
 their way into the United States* But this h not to 
 be wondered a(, for that portion of North America, 
 was first f copied by British ec tilers, whose relatives 
 and connexions foKowed, till ihose etatea became 
 more and more populous^ Another reason why the 
 United ritatea does, tind will continue to receive 
 larger numbere of eiwigrarte than Catiadn^ is, that the 
 cUtnabe of that porliou of the continent of North 
 
 * Aa au iristauceof the igDorance which prevailed in 
 
 England# not mapj yfiars tpinc^pl mav mention, that an 
 Englishman who einigTated to Canada, and, has been living 
 in the ettUem-ent about SO jears^ being mueb afiiicted with 
 tooth achoj and apprehensive that there were no dentists in 
 Canada, toek the precaution ef liaviiig ^11 hia teeth drawn, 
 before he left! aim he lias done withotit teeth ever sibiee. 
 
LIFE OP LmOHPL 'f ALEOT. 
 
 19T 
 
 America, tnorti cotigeuial to L]ie t'coliiiga of th« 
 people of almoiEt every otber part of the world. The 
 numerous barbora too, of the United States, neceBsi’ 
 ble to ships from aea alt the j'Oar rouud, la anothci' 
 great reason why immigration flows more in that 
 direction. Tho climate of Canada, we know, is 
 salubrious, and the eoil fertile, hut wo ought not to 
 shut Our eyes to the fact, that the United States 
 possess advantages, which nature has denied to 
 Canada, For thk, and other reasons, while we should 
 encourage imiLl'’gi'atioa all incur power, we ought 
 not to expect that Canada <^n compete with tho 
 United Statea in this respect, so long as they have 
 Immenso tracts of land to offer to emigi'ants, at uoml- 
 
 tial prices, and under climates suitable to people from 
 every part of the globe. 
 
 Any strained efforU to tempt c migrants into 
 Canada, wijl fail in their effect, because the emi- 
 grants will leave Canada as fast as they come into 
 it* if they find the United States more attractive. 
 C,atiada will, undoubtedly grow and prosper, and 
 emigrants will continue to take up their abode iri it, 
 but they will be of that class^ who prefer a mooarchi’' 
 cal to a ropubUcan government, and who like the 
 climate. The best and most useful class of settlers 
 will be those, who from choice, select Canada Pjr 
 their home. Twenty years ago, when Canada was 
 mtich loss known, than at present, throe limes as 
 
 < 1 * 
 
198 
 
 LITE OF COtOKEL TALBOT, 
 
 many emi|ranU came in; and tliey will come, in 
 largo nuinl>crA again, whenever Europe has the 
 the Eame amount of redundant populaiioo, that it had 
 than. 
 
 The Country einhraccd within the Talbot Set- 
 tleEuent has recdved a* large a proportiou of the 
 emigrants, who have found their way into Canada, as 
 any District of similar extent, and the scttleia more 
 generally have been of the laboring daas. These 
 ooft tribute more to the wealth of the country, than 
 those who bring money without labor, and spend it 
 on objects which do not stimulate production. This 
 is the case when a gentlemeD with a few hundreds 
 or thousands of pounds, purchases land at a high 
 price, near a town or city, and dees not raise crops 
 or revenue enough frotn it, to pay iDterest on the 
 purchase money. The man he bought it from has 
 tno&t likely gone off to another country with the 
 money, and the owner, through want of proper in- 
 dustry, has been impoverished, the laud has to be 
 sold for less than he gave for it, aud to the same ex- 
 tent the wealth of the country has been dimiDished. 
 Had the original owner continued to occupy it, he 
 would have made it produce sttfhetent for all his 
 wants, and something more, hut the gentleman 
 farmer has neither worked It himself, nor has he 
 employed proper persons to do it for him, But he 
 has eaten ihe value of it up, and becomes ait inemm' 
 
Llh’K OF L:uLU>i.KL TAI.ROT. 
 
 190 
 
 brauce on liis own laiul. Tlie lower wc hiivc of^nelt 
 set tie re, the tciore i:3 the cots n try lilsely to prosjjer. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 OltiaiNAl Doc U WESTS R15LATISG TO T31E TaI.BOT 
 ANNIVRRSATiT’ — CoLOSEL TaLBOT’S FRlNCTFLES 
 
 AND HaDITS TEMPBKA^^CE TlJE CoLONEL’3 
 
 DECLIKINO TEARS. 
 
 Since the foregoing portion of this biography 
 came out of the Press, I have been fortunate enough 
 to obtain, through the kindoeBs of Samuel Price, 
 Esq., of Port Stanley, the original correspondence 
 which took place at the time of eBtablisbiug tha 
 Talbot ADDiversary* These original documents wero 
 preserved by Major Ifcvills, the Secretary of the 
 Meeting, to which they refer, and of which Meeting 
 the notorious John Ptclph was a prominent member; 
 and although he afterwards turned traitor to 
 bis country, the Secretary never did. Ou 
 the contrary, Major Kevills, who is now a very old 
 man,, has always borne a high character in the set- 
 tlement, for bik loyalty and bravery, and always 
 ranked high in Colonel Talbot 'a ealeetc ; because the 
 Colonel knew w'ell he could always depend on him, 
 In peace or in war. Major Xevilla* sentiments and 
 conduct well accorded with bin personal appearance, 
 which was manly and handsome He was, in earlier 
 life, the Captain of a loyal company of settlers, 
 
2 oil LIFE OF CuLOHEL 'VALBOT. 
 
 ulwiiys ready to take tlie field, whether in plijaitiil 
 warfare, oi ill political eontetits. His name a 
 tower of sire ug ill in tlie settlemenl, and Lie Leauiiful 
 farm on Yarmouth Leiglite^ was the resort of inatiy 
 of the best men of the Settlement, 
 
 The Address to Colonel Talbot, is just such as we 
 might esrpect from the men W'bo signed it, and the note 
 of J* Rolph, appended, exhibits the seal with which 
 lie favored the Talbot AcDiversarj » Colonel Bur- 
 welPa pompous address to the People of Talbot Road, 
 and the way they treated it, at a meeting held by 
 them 21st May, 181^, as per Resoluliona subjoined, 
 affords pretty good evidence that we have not been 
 mistaken in our estimate of his character, and that 
 Colonel Talbot had some reason to suspect bisjodg* 
 tneuL It has been supposed that Burwell was jeal- 
 ous of RolpL’fi growing inlltience, and the result 
 showed Lc bad reason to be; for Bolpli became Lis 
 opponent, and defeated him at the polls. This was 
 the secret of Butweira affectation of conscientious 
 scruples, about interfering with solemn d<iys ap- 
 pointed Z(} he celehruiedymrltf , in commemoration, of 
 the death or martyrdom, of Saints^ or the days when 
 men were vmit to pray for the souh of tJteir de- 
 ceased friends/ 1 Ed., Gth chap. I4lh. How- 
 over, Colonel Talbot had no such feelings of false 
 delicacy as Burwell imagiaed, and his frank and 
 ijianly letter bore ample evidence of this, A gencf’ 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 201 
 
 OU9 wLich hM beeo deToted totbe welfare of 
 
 others, as well aa that of self, has no reason to shrink 
 from (he well deserved eomplimenU of those who 
 have been ben$fitted; for the Incentive to all 
 
 virtuona actions^ is to deserve well of tho&e whom wo 
 intend to serve, and tho public acknowledgement of 
 such services, where many have been benefiUed, ie 
 ibe best reward ft man can receivo in this life. But 
 no such geueroae impulse actuated Burwell, and, it is 
 said, he found out that he had made a mistake in 
 addressing tho People, and afterwarda recanted. 
 Certainly j if he failed to prcv 0 nt the inetitutioQ of 
 the Talbot Anniversary , it was slrongly suspected 
 that he succeeded iu eausing it to be diaconti nued, by 
 forcing it over to London, -where it was $oon allowed 
 to die a natural death. 
 
 ( COEBEi^FOirntl Cff. ) 
 
 TABMouTE>Cth Maicb, 1317, 
 
 Sir— 
 
 I am directed, as secretary ^-by a numerous Tncet- 
 ing- on tbe Talbot Anniver^ry, an tie Sib MarcTi. to trans- 
 mit the inclosed address to you. T am furlhei' dircsted tn 
 inform yon, that n chair ig to bo left peijetually vac-ant in 
 your name, which is to be filled by you only/or by your 
 descenclaats in future ages. 
 
 la aseuring yo^i of tho warmth aod cordiality with 
 which the above moliona weio approvedi I individuttlly 
 espr ees the very particular rcBpcct with whiclij I nni, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Ynur most obedient 
 and humble eervant. 
 
 JAMES KEVJJJ.S. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 To ths riouh Ctilonel Talthot 
 
 Port Talbot. 
 
2(12 
 
 LIFE OP COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 die letter in 
 
 y'jilbot^e ftnstrej’ to you ia inclose 
 
 
 our naiBOp and Colotiol 
 J. ROLPH. 
 
 SlE 
 
 Haring a^jBembloJ to ootnmeinorato ths inatitu- 
 tion of tLlB liif^Lly favored fiettlemenL we beg lea re to pre^ 
 seat jDU witn the tribute of thattij^b reapectp wLbh we 
 colleetively espi'e&Sp butw^hicL we individually foeL Prom 
 the earli^t comiaenceiaent of this bappy Patriarchy ^ we 
 tUto all the blofisiags we now -ei^oyj and regarding you as 
 ita Koonder, its Patroa, and ita Friend , we moat re&pect^ 
 fully beg leave to aseociate jonr name with our infant 
 institntion. To your first arrival at Port Talbot we rsler, 
 asi (he au^pi-cioxii^ bom% which gave biiib to idie bappine^g. 
 and independence we all enjoy, and this day commetnotale. 
 In grateful remtmbronce of your unexampled hospitality 
 and di^int^i'e^tod zeal in our behalf; and contemplating 
 with intete^tf’d feelings tbe attoui^hlng progresa of our 
 increaeing settleraenU undor jonr friendly patronage and 
 Patriarchal care, we havo unanimouEly appoints tbe 
 2l&t May, for the Talbot Anniversary* And this pnblie 
 expreifsion of tbe happine^ among our^elvefc, md of our 
 grutitude tnyou, we tranf^mit thfoogb our children to our 
 latestjfostentj. 
 
 We beg you will accept this assurance of our regard 
 and Tcueiarion, not as the voice of violation, but aa tho 
 language of con&cious obligation and heartfelt ainceilty, 
 
 Signed in the name of the meeting, by 
 
 J, WILSON", P. 
 
 Pntterion, Y. P. 
 
 The above addj'tii having been pr^ented to the Hen* 
 Colonel TalhoL bo waa pleased (so retiOTi the fijlloiE^'ing ane- 
 wer. 
 
 The answer accompani&B the letter inclosed to you, 
 
 The Sfcretary to the Talbot Anniversary, Mr AdjL 
 James hT^villa, should prepaie aetaTement to be pnbli!<hed 
 — and he should hetp on record all iJie prfjc^dings of ihc 
 day. Should pen^ ink and paper be Bcaroe, the Adjutant 
 knows whci'o b& can get m much as he wants by riding up 
 f'>r it* 
 
 J. ROLPH. 
 
 To Mr. Secretary James if evilly. 
 
 Adjutant 1st R^gt. Mlddlosiex Mihtja. Ac,, VarroOuth 
 
MFt; OF COLONEL TALUOX . 
 
 2QS 
 
 To the InfmltitaHis of the ^dthmsat:^ 
 
 GeDtlomen.— 
 
 Accept iti j beni'ty tbankB, !□ I'ctuni fur 
 the flittering Wliic:]! you lu^e been pl&fis«d, sc uu- 
 
 esrp^ctedlT. to hoDov me 
 
 larofiighlj gratified to hear that yon afe not ioEenBible 
 of the esertionfl 1 have made to advance the welfare of thia 
 part of tb-& Fi'oviiiCje, for which lam amply conap&nEated 
 by ’sritnessing this day the aap^nihlage- of m Loyal ?ii]d 
 rcspectahlfl a body of settlors; and I nave not any doubt 
 blit t il at hi a very few yealiS^ our oountiy will exliibit in a 
 conspicuoua dc^ee, tbc superiority of our scil find labors. 
 The Buregt pled^ _ w& can give for its cotifirTnatiou , is to 
 prwrve the coutinuauee of th^ admirable industry and 
 hannony which has bitberto so happily prevailed tb rough- 
 out the Talbot Settle men t^ and you maybe aasured that 
 thero shall not be any want of attention on my part to pro^ 
 mote ag far lies in ray power, jour general iutereiit^ 
 
 You do me infinite lionorF by as^iatiog my luiTue 
 with yoar infant ingtitution, which, I most ai'3eutly trir^t 
 may m piuductiy* of social and virtuous enjoy raentSp and 
 never become the vcbiclc of CEilumiiyp ntid p?d ty iutriguc. 
 
 1 intreat. you iudjiyidnany to receive rny i^incere wishes 
 that you and yemr families may long partake of every com- 
 fort that tbis life affoj'dg. 
 
 I arur Gentlemon, 
 
 over, jour fai thful friend ■ 
 THOMAS TALBOT. 
 
 Port Tjurot, 
 
 10th Almuh, lgl7. 
 
 3o ths Psapic of Talbot Ro&d ^. — 
 
 GeJitlemen. — 
 
 Saying; seen the Prospectus to an 
 versal’j lately in sti Luted at Di^ctor Lee^s Hotel j and the copy 
 of an address to Coionel Talbot, on the fiubi[>&ti i think it 
 my duty to inform the public that I ara decidedly opposed 
 to the Jusdtution. It is certain] y per mature. 
 
 lam never inclined to make oppotilticm to anything, 
 wiihout being capable of J■ende.^ing reatona for so doiug. 
 At the aatno time^ 1 beg to be understood as not roeauing 
 disrespect to the gentleTncn who composed that AsHocia- 
 tion. On the contrary, I bare a high respect for most of 
 tbs in. 
 
 The Law of the Lands defines Anniversary days to be 
 
2Q4 
 
 LllfE or COLO 5? EL TALIJOT- 
 
 '^Bcslemn dAjT-s to he celebrated yerirly^ in corn- 
 
 nien^orali^jTi i-tc death fat laartyrdona of Sainta. or tbe 
 dftyfi wliereorih at the return of every year men were wont 
 topray for tliG ao«lta of tbeir deceased friend^/’’ 1 £Jd. 
 chap. I4th. 
 
 If the worthy peraoDige to wliom tko Addi'etifi was 
 preseutedj had dKfjarted tliirt life. If be waa no more — I 
 Will not aioft- inrarrnthe world, nor insult Lia sen&e of deli- 
 cacy by ssayins what part I would t^ke iu the fouDdation 
 of such an InstitatioD. At pneFjent he among^it na,— We 
 know his exertions to rsC the fine tract of counti-y we 
 tahabit, aettleii. And nc knows what our cxer dona ha^e 
 been to setdo it Without ssa^iiij^ anything more resjx^t- 
 ing bim. — wa know him. And b om the piogross we have 
 madct oot in due Auniversarj addresses, but in meliorating 
 the j'udc wildcrnosa ; the world may judge whether we have 
 not Riich feelings and iindersEandiug.^ aft ought to havo- 
 And whether w^ can appreciate its worthy without pro- 
 claiming it on the house tops — and making ou’niielTes ridi- 
 culous. 
 
 However bigh and respectable any persoik niaj' be, and 
 whatever hi(^ €:xerl^ouf^ may have been for tlie public good^ 
 the inilust-lioijs pppulation ought not to permit an act, whicli 
 by ]ta fulsomcnesB, w^ould bo inaulLingto him, or beneath 
 their own dignity. And whatever may be the object of 
 dosiigning pei t^ons, the YeoTBanry of the country should 
 never do stitylbiog that the observing world wouJd be 
 obliged to call prostitation to flaltejy. 
 
 Tbe in habitants of this new aud extensive chain of 
 f^ttlOEnenU are bearing the burden in the hcatof _tbe day. 
 ilost of us have increasing fa itiiliesp and must exert oiir- 
 selves to supptir!: them. We Can therefore but ill iltford to 
 5*Ueuding far-fetched Auiiivei sarLesjpublio 
 festivities, cordial unions, aa ibey are called in the 
 Pro6pectut5 before alluduEl to; knowing, at Ihe ^amo tiro#, 
 that Such A^flociaiions would have a teiideney to lead ns 
 imperoepUbly to scenes of dissipation, and must like thp 
 bascloas fahneofa TisioDp fall to tho ground. 
 
 I anii with sincere regard. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedieut and ho mblo fiei'v’t. 
 
 A!. BUftWELL, 
 
 J^onriiwoLn, Talbot itoad, iStb April 1B17. 
 
LITE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 205 
 
 On the 21 at J/aj, was held al DtHitor ’ Le-e"^ IloteV sn 
 Yarmouth, th-j Taibjt AnniTerfiarj^ to commemDrat-e tb* 
 J nstitiitioD of the Talbot Settleracnb the President ■uhI 
 Vi CO President^ Oapts Sccord and Rappkje dirgcted ih^ 
 Address from Lieut. ColeueL Bur well to ibe Teople of the 
 Talbot Settle men^t m tippoiition to the Anuirersarj.as well 
 aa his letter to the Secr^tai'Vj oa the same feubject-j Lo bo 
 pubmlited to the meeting, ■■I'lie Anrii%^ersary attended 
 by Sret'^iity-dve persons. Theabore papers being lead, the 
 resolo tieu's were discussed ^ and unauimously adopted. 
 I at Resolution. — It is the opinio ti of tbH meeting, i-bai it 
 was kighlj uc becoming for Lieut. Colonel BurwelL in 
 anch a m^riaer to obErudehis opLoioa on a subject respc&E » 
 ing which, every mao should thiol: hir Lirnfiolfj bis indi- 
 vidual voice is not to the public mind^ or oven ule 
 
 the popular opinion. 2nd He^olutioD*^- It is the opinion of 
 this raee ting, that Lieut. GoLoi^ol HuiwelCs remarks iipion 
 the address" Toted to Oglonel T»lbot. merely ou uccouQt of 
 hisi the fnead and founder of this Settieraeab -33 
 
 most indclicalo ^od obErusive. From Oolonel T^bot'a 
 addresst it ia very evident he was hi eu self too Ijber.al to 
 insult us with such ^roas and illuatiiied uuiraHdTer^ioni, 
 and it js again uiianiEuously repeated, tbaE Colonel Talbot la 
 de^TTJD^ of our i e.specL. ibr hjs uiiifoJ m zeulatid exeitious 
 111 behalf of this settlement.- 3rd Kcsoliition. ■ — Ic is the 
 opinio □ of this mce:ing, tbac Liont. Colonel Rurwcli’s 
 letter to the l^ocrelary, is wilttoo bi Iho most dierespectfu L 
 Tnauner, but as it is ihe unauimoiEs wish of this niE^cting to 
 prevent the AitniYorsary fmm auy further becoming Ehe 
 vehicle of calumny or ]wty intrigue, the Secretary is di- 
 rected to rigidly foi'bear entering into ao j fiitui-e diBciiEeiou 
 with Lieut. CoIoDoi Biirwell, on the aiitijeet of his unbe- 
 coming interfere aco, Ltiug luost fully cooviuced that a 
 refei'&Dco, eveo to Johustiii’s LboLimiatly, wjll eorret. iiii 
 stltmge and unaccoun table mistake^ as to the nature aud 
 design of Pi oieHtaiifc AnniveimriGs. dth Rfiaolution. Tug 
 tbataks of the mceiiijg al e p^fesiettLeJ lo the Com iuit.ee for 
 their highly Lonoiablo and indepeudont conduct. 
 
 (A true copy.) riTLYlLL’d,. 
 
 Scicratary.. 
 
 In tho progress of this narradve we liave saen 
 
 that Colonel Talbot was governed ita all Lis transac- 
 tions by the highest prt^ciplaa of honor, and by tha 
 TinawerYing nilea of justice, tempered ^ wit hi ben^vo- 
 
 r 
 
200 Lirp OP C01,t]pLjf(. TALBOT. 
 
 koce. till perseverance wflB I tidefiitigable. No«ci of 
 nieaTie£& could ever be laid to his charge. His am- 
 bittoii was that of a noble diaracter, and of a useful 
 kind. He sought^ no doubt, to acquire an estate, to 
 support the dignity of the Talbots do MalaliiJe, but 
 while doing su, be was never Unmindful of the wel- 
 fare of all who bad settled under his auspices. Noth- 
 ing affecting the welfare of his settlers escaped his 
 notice, and, unlike many other men of ciznlted rank, 
 his judgment was never swayed by Snttery, nor bis 
 favor won by obsequioueDeja. His lofty pride was 
 sustained solely by a consdoosness of right. He 
 acquired a large estate, it ib true, but eo man ever 
 acquired one by fairer or more honorable means. Of 
 this, we have the most incontestibie proof, from the 
 fact, that while Colonel Talbot expended a fortune 
 p the acquisttion of hts property, thsi poorest of his 
 eottlers, who were even mederately prudent and 
 industrious, beenme independent too, and have be- 
 queathed to their offspring valuable estates aur- 
 rounded with all the elements of prosperitv- 
 
 in tbe sequel of this biography, we have 
 ocoofiion to narrate occurences, which may seem to 
 militate against the high estimate we have formed of 
 Colonel Talbot's judgment and character, the cause 
 will be found in the in^rmities of old age, and in the 
 fallibility of buman nature. During ihe latter par- 
 ti >n of his Ufa, indeed for many years previous, the 
 
'lOftivx niMoios fo ajii 
 
 307 
 
 Ooloqel iTM not coD»id«rod by some {>ersi:iti!>, abstemi- 
 DUBi and there is little doubt, but that the loneliness of 
 hU situation, mduced bicn lo partake more freely of 
 wine and ardent spirits, than he would otberwbe 
 have done, but his iron frame and robust oonsUtu- 
 tion, enabled him lo bear more iodulgence of this 
 kind, than moat other men, without apparent injury. 
 The writer has frequently been a guest at bis table, 
 and partaken of his hospiUhty, and uevor observed 
 that the Colonel indulged immoderately, or lost his 
 habitual presence of mind. Indeed hi$ frequent 
 iutercaurae with men of the highest rank, during the 
 greater portion of his life, must go far to shew thit 
 he was not the slave of so debusing a vice os intein- 
 pe ranee. Admitting, however, for argumonts’ sake 
 that Colonel Talbot did Indulge freely in the use of 
 ardent spirite, or of the commoD beverage of the 
 country, Canadian whiskey, what a contradiction 
 does hie life present to the assertioos of those stren*^ 
 uous advocates of teetotaliam, who contend that all 
 fermented liquors are poison, and that all, who either 
 manufacture or vend them, except to be used as 
 medicines, arc murdererg. Mow few of the advocates 
 of total absLmonce can measure ther lives by that of 
 Colonel Talbot, who lived in full poascBsion of his 
 mental facuUiea, fourscore years. 
 
 Tempo ranee U commendable in all men, and at 
 all limci, but it is qiicBiior.ahle whether in the earlv 
 
20S 
 
 Ltrs OF COLOJJ^JJj TALEOT. 
 
 purl of Settlemeut of C^E&dii, rnauy of tbe settlfli* 
 could have struggled itiroiigh the difficulties and pfi' 
 vatioDB tbat they h^d to uiideigOj without something 
 to stimulate) and cheer tliera on, through the drtary 
 road of life in the woods. It may be quite easy for 
 men In a more civilized state of society, with every 
 sort of J titty ry and comfort to pick and choose upon 
 to forego even tlio moderate use of liquor, in ex* 
 change for aome other sensual gratificatioD ; but place 
 the same luen in the backwoods of Canada, half a 
 century ago, with a scanty supply of the coarsest 
 kind of food , with years of toil and privation ataiing 
 them in the face, and they would be glad to make 
 use of whatever tlieir Allwiae Creator sets before 
 them, for nourishment or enjoyment. He who told 
 the Isniolitos by the voice of his servant Moses, (14 
 chap. Deui,, 27 v,) '* And thou shall bestow that 
 “ money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for 
 " oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, 
 **or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, and thou shall 
 '* eet there before the Lord thy God, and thou sbaU 
 rejoice, tbou and thine household,” never in* 
 tended that the course and n'der of his Wise Provi- 
 dence, should ho altered by man. The Holy Scrip* 
 turcs teem with passages authorizing the use of the 
 juice of ihg grape, and every year the earth produces 
 grain and fruit, to be converted into feriticntod 
 fiquoTe ; and yet men clothed with a little brief au* 
 
LIPE of f (lLOSF;T- TALROT. 
 
 20i 
 
 thorily— poor wcnk men, wLoiire iBcapablu of keeping 
 the least of Goif'fi laws a ad cOEqmaodmoata, — auch 
 weak faliiblo creatures as these, will attempt to mako 
 n law to dcpiive tbeir fellow creatures of the proper 
 use of those things which they possess, only through 
 the bounty of His Divine Providence. 
 
 It is no argument against the moderate use of 
 liquor, to prove that mea get drunk, and oomiolt 
 every sort of crime, for it is equally true, that they 
 commit every other sort of crime before they get 
 drunk; this is only an argument against intttnper- 
 atiee, which is cotidemued ia every page of Scri[)tUTe> 
 Intemperance, unlike most other crimes, carries with 
 it, its own punishment, and is moat frequently re* 
 sorted to, to drown Ibe sense of guilt of most other 
 crimes, which makes the picture more disgusting 
 and horrid, but the curs for this evil must be the 
 same as for all other vices, namely, Christian Moral- 
 ity. Any attempt to improve upon the Moral Laws 
 of God, must argue a very defective souse of the 
 duties of Christiauitj. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 Colonel Airet — Colonel Talsot goes to EkOland 
 — Difperenoes between the Colonel and 
 Colonel Airkv. 
 
 'j'he Founder of the Talbot Settlement, as far as 
 r 
 
210 
 
 LTFE of rOLO>£L I'AtBOT. 
 
 he progress of tbo Sotllemeut is coDtidored, UT«d to 
 360 hie work Bccompltehedr and the prosperity of hta 
 eeUlemenl completely establigted ; but as far as 
 relates to the family estate, and his design to fotidd 
 one, he seems laoiecitahly to have failed, through 
 circumstances which arose in the 1 ist few years of 
 his life. It ia a sourcs of regret, that the mantle of 
 oblivion, should seem to have overshadowed his once 
 powerful acid sagacious mind, for sometime previous 
 to his decease. These eircumatances we shall eadea' 
 vor to trace with as much regard to brevity, ae truth 
 and candour require. 
 
 For many years previous to his death, it appears 
 to have been the desire of Oobnel Talbot, — a desire 
 ooDsistent with his aristocratic descent,— -to bequeath 
 his large estate to one of the male descendants of 
 the Talbot family, and with this view be hud many 
 years ago invited one of his sister’s sons, Julius Airey, 
 to reside with him at Port Talbot. This yoiicg 
 gentleman accordingly came to reside there, but the 
 dull monotonous life he was obliged to lead, and the 
 Colonel's eccentricities, were ill calculated to engage 
 the affections of a youth just verging on manhood; 
 so after rus denting, without companions or equals in 
 either birth or edncaiion, for one or more years, he 
 returned to England; and retinquiehed whatever 
 dniuiB he might consider bo had or, Port Tal- 
 bot. 
 
1,1 If il OF CO LOS El. T .L Liao T . 211 
 
 Aftei'sotne yeairij Colonel AirevT MiliUry Secre- 
 tury at th^ Hons& Gunrd^t ^noceoded io tba ^xpecta- 
 tiooa of his younger brother, and came with hU 
 fpinily to reside at Port Talbot. Co rrcspon donee 
 which had taken place between Colonei Talbot, and 
 this, hia depliew^ seemed to justify Colonel Airey in 
 the eacpeelotionj that he was to succeed to hSs Un^le-a 
 Talutible estate^ and the lutereftta of arisinjT family^ 
 required soiuej ^aorific^oon hk part. These considera- 
 tions it may be presumed, operated with Colonel 
 Airay, and lad him conditionally to relinquish hb 
 post Bt the Horse Guards. 
 
 Colonel Airey was uo stranger to Port Talbot, 
 for he bad visited hfs XJnela there^ while acting as 
 secretary to ihe then Governor General, Lord Aylmer, 
 and subsequently, during the outbreak of 1S37, while 
 coiu man ding the 34 th Regimen ba was quarto if 0d 
 with his Regimeot^ for some weeks at St, ThomnSp 
 only 12 rrjiiea distant. He now came out, it was 
 ihoughtj to reside permanently at Port Talbot. From 
 thifl time Colonel Talbot's bodily infirmities and dk- 
 agree meets of another kind, worked powerfully on 
 his once vigorous constitution, and brought oti tho 
 illness from which be never fully recovered. 
 
 Had Colonel Talbot’s intentions, when Colonel 
 Airey arrived in the country^ been carried out, he 
 would have lived and died at Port Talbot. He had 
 intended that his nephew should occupy some part 
 
2 I 'i fJF COl/>yKL ^I'ALBOi; 
 
 of ib0 cstiite eU a conveoieDt distance from bia own 
 lesidenoe* so tliat bo mfglit conttmie to live on in 
 h\s own. old fesbioned way, and avoid lhaso inter, 
 ferencoe and jaiTifiga^ which are so apt to occur 
 Uelwecn relation^?. B«t this iDteution wa& by aomo 
 means OYcrruledj and in a few months Iherootery 
 wa^ converted into a more convenient and spacious 
 mansion^ Colonel Talbot and Colonel Airey, bow* 
 aver^ were not altogether birds of a feather,^ and it 
 soon proved that they could r;ot live togetlierH The 
 former bad been aoeuetomed for the greater 2>ortioG 
 of his life, to snit the tonvenience of his domestics » 
 nnd in common with iho iohabiLaiiis of the country, 
 to dine at noon; the latter vf as accustomed to wait 
 for the bugleeallj till 7 o’clock intho evening. Col- 
 onel Talbot could, on special occas-ioas, accommodate 
 Idmself to the habits of Ids guests, but to be regularly 
 barnoBsed up for the mcs$ every day, was too much 
 to expect from so old a man; no wonder ho kicked 
 in the tracer. He soon came to the detcrmiuatba 
 of keepiog up a separate establishment, and another 
 fipaciousmatiaion was erected adjoining Colonel Air’^ 
 cy’s, where be might, he thought^ live as he pleaded- 
 Biii all w^ould not do, the old bird had been- disturb- 
 ed iu kis nest^ and be could not be recouiiled. He 
 tbercforc determined on leaving Canada, to fspeiid 
 the residue of his day$ ia retirement, in England, or 
 on tlji-i coutlncnt. With ihi^i intpntion be look his 
 
Llb% CF C13J.ONEL TAX BOX, 213 
 
 dopartute fro:n Port T^slbol, but was seized wilL a 
 wvere attack of sicknr^bs at Loudon^ 0^ W,, and 
 thero reinained for jse Feral weeks iti a dangerous 
 fltate. Being now near eighty years of age, it was 
 never imagined by those who saw him, that he would 
 riae again, from the bod on which he lay* While in 
 thia dangerous statSp he had apartments in the house 
 of tlie late John n^irria, and the most niarked 
 
 und unrein it ting alteotions were paid to him^ by tha 
 memberB of that gentleman’s amiable family. And 
 it is a matteT of regret to the ColotieTs frienda, iL^xt 
 lio failed before his deaths to make some suitable 
 acknowledge merit j or to bequeath eome mernorable 
 token, to mark hi$ aonse of tht^ obligation ]i& wrg 
 under, for the great caro taken of hitn by Mjv 
 H arris^ family. But from tliis limep all remenibi'anoe 
 of former friends seems to have forsaken hinip and 
 he became as it were, a child in the handa of his 
 aoLive tnaoager, George Mu Beth, 
 
 To the astomshment of all who knew him, ard 
 the state he was in, Colonel Talbot riillled, and at 
 his advanced age, set out on his voyage for Eng- 
 land. By easy stages he reached the AtlautiCt ac- 
 complished Lhe voyage to Europe, where he re- 
 iriained a year or so, and then retraced his sfeps to 
 Canada. 
 
 If it were j>aiufal to vriLnese ihe departure of so 
 distingui^^hed a settler, after a rcfeidenoe of msarly 
 
214 
 
 LIF& OF COLOIVSL TAtBOT. 
 
 lifllf a century r eboree of Canada, bowed 
 
 down with ago and infirmities; il was no less dis* 
 tres&ing to sea him return, to seek a humble abode 
 DU the OLitskirta of the miiguificent esiate, which no 
 loDgor belonged to him t Here those friends who 
 bad been in the habit of visiting liim and partakiDg 
 of his hospital it j, while ho remained the lordly pro- 
 prietor of Port Talbot, found him after his return 
 from England, cooped up in n small room, a lodger 
 in the house of Mrs. Hunter, the widow of hie old 
 faithful servant Jeffry, This spot, with the bouso 
 upon it, the Colonel hud provided for Jeffry’a family, 
 and from this spot, he could, through the woods, just 
 cutch a glimpse of the valuable property ho had 
 parted with to satisfy a debt duo to honor ouly ! 
 Port Talbot was now tenanted by strangers, ani its 
 ronuer high miuded proprietor, who had known do 
 soperiar iu rank, in Canada, and who had maiotaiued 
 his independence and dignity, till nearly the close of 
 an unusually long and useful life, lay n pitiable ob- 
 ject, as it were, on the very threshold of the splen- 
 did eeiale, which he had acquired through many 
 years of privation and perseverance. The cause of 
 lbi.s change of oondidon may be easily traced. 
 
LIFE OF COLC.NEL TAJ.Bo r 
 
 ■2irt 
 
 chapter XXII. 
 
 Final SETTLeJUNT ColonbLi. Airky "Ggorob 
 McDetit. 
 
 Prior to LU departure for Englaudt lo reconcile 
 differences^ or to satisfy his own conscience, the 
 Colonel Lad made over to Colonel Airey, lLc Port 
 Talbot Estate, worth, it is considered, J6 10,000, and 
 i3,0O0 acres dt land, in the adjoining Township of 
 Aldboro’, This was not a moictv of the estf to which 
 Colenel Talbot possessed^ wbicli CoJonel Airey 
 had reason to expect would descend to hivn, but the 
 disagreemecita which have been alluded to^ aeeto lo 
 have altered Colonfel Talbo^B mind on this subject 
 After remaining some time at Port Taibot, Colonel 
 
 Airey t presumedj thA^t he had acAjuired 
 
 much of the estate as he was Kkelj to geL» while 
 Colon el Talbot was hist in Engl an d^ had rented Port 
 Talbot to iVIr. Saunders, an Eufrlish genllemarip and 
 returned with his family to Engtand, lo rc&utno his 
 poi&tat the Horse Guards. 
 
 We have no desire to narrate the particulars of 
 those differences, wbidi arose between Colonel Tal- 
 bot and his nephew, did we possess all the necccssary 
 infoTDiatioD. There is nodoubtj Colonel Talbot waa 
 arbitrary and self willed. At Port Talbot ho had 
 never acknow]edg«=d any equal, and great age, 
 considering the aecludednpd indepen ^ent life he had 
 
^10 
 
 Lll^E UF COLUNEL IMLUPT. 
 
 must hfive tended to confirm him in many jjre^ 
 judicies. He denied positively that he bad held out 
 any inducemeals to Colonel AErej\ to eoiru? to Can- 
 ada, but had assented reluctaDlly to Colonel Aii'ey^s 
 own propoEitionH eignifiog th t if be did come and 
 
 Bcttle at Port Talbot ^ he would leave him bis pro- 
 perty. 
 
 'Po relieve himfself from tbk pledge, would 
 appear to Imve been the reason for his dividing the 
 estate* Colonel Airey,ou the other band^ main- 
 tamed that the Colonel had invited him out, and 
 promified that be -would settle his estate upon hi a. 
 Be this as it may, there is no doubt that from the 
 time of bis arrival, Colonel Airey began to consider 
 Linasdf as the proprietor of bis Cucte’s properly, and 
 under this impressioDp desired to assume the manage- 
 ment, and regulate ColoneJ Talbot^a atfairsF Under 
 ordiriciry oircumsUinces, this WdukThave been all 
 jfigbtt but with Colonel Talbot ib w'as all wrong* 
 One incident will conveys loUrfible idea, bow Ehings 
 went on at Port Talbot, under the new regulations. 
 The Hon* James Crooks, an acquaintance of 
 Colonel TalboL*s of 50 years standing, was travel- 
 ling in the direction of Port Talboti and naturailv 
 made a halt to see his old friend. It was Sunday, 
 and the family were at Church, 5 miles distant. 
 Colonel Talbot^ as was liis woot, wished to offer 
 smiio refresh rti cut, but so completely was evcTything 
 
I.IFK OF COLOKEI, TALUOT- 
 
 217 
 
 Secured, uader lock ar;d key, that he could touch 
 nothing ID the shspe of beverage, Most traveilere oti 
 
 a journey, where a good Inn eannot be found for 
 many milos, are gbd to meet with any friend, who 
 
 can afford them refresh meni, and the Hon. 
 Mr Crooks, was just In thia situation; therefora he 
 could the more readily feel for the restraint under 
 which Colonel Talbot appeart-d to be piftced. This 
 was a trifling incident, and might have occured acci- 
 dently, but tbe bulk of family disputes and disagree 
 meiits grow out of such trifles, and the position in 
 which Colonel Airey had placed himself— required 
 him to act with e:^tr0mc delicacy town ids his ITnda, 
 who had no doubt baeonio peevish and impatient, of 
 anything like servcillance or interference with bis 
 settled habits- These ditferences, whatever mi^bt 
 
 been their csiiiso, had the effect of dividing the 
 Co!i>ner& estate, and of causing him! to end lib dayp 
 in aposlLian very different from what Lis friends 
 eonld have wished* 
 
 George Me Beth wLoae na-me has been men- 
 lioned^ had succeeded to tha situation of Jeffry Hliu- 
 ter, and lived with. Colonol Talbol for many years, 
 but being a young man of better education, thau Lis 
 predecestsor, and being very assiduous^ in bis aLLen^ 
 tions tubis master^ he acquired great influence over 
 him ill bis latter ycara. McBetb bad so gained the 
 Colonel^s good cpinion pthnt he e-food in the relmiou 
 of a corripcmien as well uf fCJVcint, lie seceirpankd 
 
2TS LTm ot coLo:fiii, tALWf. 
 
 the Colonel twice jo his voyages to acid from En^- 
 land) and wae bib njiao and attendant In all his sick* 
 nesa. In fach tbc Coloud treated blm more like a 
 son than b servant. George became hia idol^ atid he 
 bad been so long accustomed to call George, and. re* 
 fer to him about everything connected with his affairs, 
 that it seemed be could oeither live nor die without 
 George, The hold which George had thus acquired 
 on the Coloiiet's affectioog, placed him in a [osilion 
 to defy fill compctitorri for bis old master's favor. 
 Ho bad completely ingratiated himself with the 
 Colouel, before Colonel Alrcy came out to reside on 
 the estate, and as the latter, we may very well sup- 
 po&o, was not disposed to recognize a rival in his 
 Uncle's aervant, we need be at no loss to conjecture 
 how differences arose, and huw a breach, when ooce 
 made, was kept open, Mc&cCL’s position was catcu- 
 fated, however uninleDtiGJiia] it might have been on 
 his part, to bo very offeuslve to a man of Colonel 
 Airey’a rank and expects lions; and OU the score of 
 interebU if actuated by no higher motive, it was 
 natural for McBeth to humour his old masier, in all 
 luB prejudices and dislikes. Thus, we have a key to 
 what followed. 
 
 The last will and lestument of Colonel Talb?t 
 was read by H, C. Beecher, Esq., joint ExEcutor 
 with Mr McBeth, over his grave, and the whole 
 rejnaiodcr of his cs^laU, suppcised to be worth £,5Q, 
 000, without ft single bequeji to friend or relative' 
 
LIFE UF tOL'W EL TALDOT. 
 
 219 
 
 except an anmiity of -£20 to Mrs. Huntor , the widow 
 of Jeftry, was bequeathed to George McDoth- The 
 will was executed l+ili Decamberj iao’2, in presotica 
 
 of Messrs. Shatiley,5HutchlnsOD and Stoneinan. 
 
 CHAPTER SSIH. 
 
 Death of Colonel Talbot— REF i.EorioNS — FtJPf- 
 EHAI. 
 
 Haviu'T traeed the career of Goluiiel Talbot t j 
 the do^e of what might be considered Li? public life, 
 tlic Temainiag poriten of his eartlily exist enea for- 
 insLea litlb that is ^vorthy of recording. ■ We saw 
 him last a lodger in the htiinble abode of Hrsa- 
 tor, with his at teodantj Ch^orge MoBetL. Here he 
 Lad caused an addliEoii (o bo made to the house, to 
 afford Lim more room, bat so completely dependent 
 Lad he become on George for all bia waats and com- 
 fort, that be had to follow whereror he led. Novif it 
 happened that the ocenpant of Port Talbot had an 
 interesting familyj among wbottij were^several daiigbt 
 era, and George* or Mr, McBeth, he may now be 
 called, having long been intimate with ihe residence* 
 &CHQin became so wilL ihe"p resent residents., and while 
 hb old niasiert d:ie hero of Port TrJbot reclined on a 
 log in the woodii, which sun-on nded Mrs. ^Hunter^^s, 
 Mr. McBcth made hk toilette, and presented himself 
 to the at. the Canadian Cestie dc Mhlahide* 
 
 During ^hU of thiiiga at Port Talbot, it may 
 
220 
 
 LlFfi OF CULOXliL TALIiO'f- 
 
 easily be imagined the Ooloneli had ample time lo 
 indulge in solitude. That Mr. McBe£.h*s vi«ila to 
 Port Talbot wers noUher few nor fur between, may 
 be judged from tlie fiict, that after tbe ordinary term 
 of courtsldp, lie obtained the band of one of Mr. 
 Saunders fair daughters, and removed with his bride 
 to a residence which he bad purchs^cd b the town 
 of Lntidon. 
 
 These changes were no doubt agreeable to 
 Colonel Talbot, for he also removed to London, and 
 I'esidcd at tfr. MoBeth’e tit! the day of his death, 
 which occuted on tho 6th February, 1 & 5S. With 
 the eKoeplion of -Mr. Beecher, in whom the Colonel 
 had groat confidence, nobody appears to have been 
 present for aometiiue previous to his death, and 
 although he suffered great pain, he was calm ard 
 collected, and his cooutonance after death, was coin* 
 poead aiul placid . 
 
 In the coarse of this biography vre have observed 
 that Colonel Talbot was not devoid of relibons feeh 
 mg; ou the contritiryj h€ maiiifesLeJ a desire to cul- 
 tivul-e it j blit LiEifwtiiEitiEely not by those iijearta wtich. 
 irtank[Qd gcDonilly coositlerit their dirty to make use 
 of. And it 13 to tbo uegkct of tbis duty, wo may 
 attribuls the fLiiliire of Goionel Ttilbot^a chief Jeaige* 
 as far aa regards his own family interests, in founding 
 the Talbot Settlement Manv metij like fJoloeel' 
 Talbot, substitute their own beuevolent desigosi for 
 the practice of religion ; they neglect Hie orJiuancc's 
 
1.1 PE OP f'OTjOS'K). TAI.ISOT. 
 
 221 
 
 of rcligiou, uticler tbe fatal delusion, that tLey ari) 
 above- the rules, whieb regulate the conduct of ordi- 
 nary ineff They are tlieir owu priests, and can per- 
 form their devotions In private, and bc as ebaritablp 
 as thoee Tvlio pay more attention to the outward 
 forms of religion. However that may he, they Lave 
 left the highroad to Heavea, to follow their own by- 
 paths — which may lead to it fearful precipice. By 
 such a course they do not only contemn the wisdom 
 of men, but they reject (he counsel of God f 
 
 Let us Contrast the lives of the two distinguished 
 men, who EUiited together on a long racCi '^ith at 
 least equal advantages, Arthni’ Wellesly and Thoa. 
 Talbot, imd what do we behold ? The one Bcrupu- 
 lously exact in his observance of the ordinances of 
 religion, and in paying deference to the established 
 religion of different nations, while the other, under 
 very different circii instances, it is true, in hia latter 
 years parhcularly, afforded neither evidence nor 
 osample, of hia attachment to any fijrtn of religion . 
 The Duke of WelUugtoo, we have reason to conclude, 
 after having strode over the greater portion of the 
 globe, through death and slaughter the most terrific, 
 di^with hia hou&e set in order, bequeathing his 
 wealth and nanie to his son and heir, his pfrnie and 
 glory to the British natiou. Colonel Talbot died 
 almost beyond the reach of family or friends, 
 in the arms of a stranger to his race and oams, 
 
 leaving the greater portion of a large and valuable 
 
 &* 
 
LliJi OF CtfLONfiL TALKOV. 
 
 estabe li hi(i liirotf iervwut . This was cciUviBly uot 
 wtiat ho iniondo4 to liavti dotift* lili within a few 
 ytnrs of his dfeiaistj, but he iiad unfortunat9y planed 
 lutnaelf beyond the reach of counsel or advice, and 
 was no longer animated liy these proper feelings of 
 pride, which are higlily honorable when baaed on 
 recthiide. 
 
 Trom what wo know, and from what has been 
 stated of the life of Colonel Talbot, we can have little 
 doubt, but that he was animated by a desire to do 
 good, and that his aapiratiotis were of a beneTolfliit 
 nidure; but he lacked one thing. He was dcfcioni 
 in hurnllitj . He set out in life with the beat inten* 
 tionfi, but he neglected the only safe course to carry 
 them out- L ike many other great men, he relied 
 too much OD the strength of hie own miad. 'We 
 have seen that in early life, he did not neglect the 
 ordinances of religion; he did not at once abandon 
 those forms of devotion, wtih which he had become 
 amiliarized in the society of the civilised world ; but 
 the habit of self-reliance in religion, led him astray, 
 as it has frequently done other men. The mind of 
 man is so wonderfully constituted, that no matter 
 how powerful the intellect, or how exalted the genius, 
 if he does not impticiily rely on strength superior to 
 his own, and habitually make use of the means which 
 religion places within bis rea^h, his strength becomes 
 woaknesfl. Of this great fact, history fumiabes 
 innumerable instances, and we have examples daily 
 
lire CiF CiiiOSEl, VO.Mr. 
 
 Lcfovo oul' (itleD mny Acquire wealUi, fume end 
 
 earlfilj glory, in this life, bni if they hfiFe not made 
 raligioDt the 6m nnd chief cod side ration, the hour 
 of death b a blank space in their existence, and 
 they hav’d tolled for worse tlian noibing. 
 
 These refiecdona are proper, at all times, but 
 more particularly so, when we are considering iba 
 lives of diatinguiged or cstmordinary men. 
 
 The mortal rdmains of the Founder of the 
 Tttlbot Settlement, were removed from Loadon (ho 
 day previotia to their intei merit, fiih Fobruary, and 
 by some m a1 • arrange me nt were deposited for the 
 night it) the barn or granary of Jtr- Leww, lurikccper 
 at Fingal. Great was the iadignation nnd horror 
 of many of the old seUlers, when they learnt that the 
 remains of their old benefactor had been so un- 
 worthily disposed of, for the last night they were to 
 remain above ground. One old settler, or rather a 
 son of one of the old settleis, Mr-Sauuel Burweli^ 
 a faith fill adherent of Colonel Talbot's, with tears in 
 his eyes, we are told, begged | to have the beniy re- 
 moved to his own house close by, anil Mr, Partridge 
 a worthy settler, would have cheerfully done the 
 same : but this, it appears, would have disturbed tho 
 order of previous arrangement. It is even said tbet 
 Mr. Lewis, the Innkeeper, would willingly have 
 afforded the best room in his bouse; but no; tho 
 undertaker was inexorable, and answered to all re- 
 monstrances, that he had carried bigger men than 
 
^^4 
 
 1,11“*^ t^FCOT.ON'F.r. TALUDT, 
 
 Coloiici Talbot, aud it was only after great cicitc. 
 meat bad ari55en in tbe ySllage, that the corpse ^yas 
 allowed to be removed from the hearse, aocl secured 
 for the nighty under lock and key in the granary 
 This rcene was disgraceful to the parties wlioaa Ticgll* 
 gence or heartlcssness caosed it. The recollecLbn 
 of this indtjnhy, offered to the remriiTia of the Fouo* 
 der of the Talbot Setdeiiientj now, shhoiigh a life- 
 Icsaa corpse j deposited iu the abode of calde^ is revolt* 
 ing^ and the whole com ni unity cry eharae on those 
 who Committed such an outrage. The undertaker 
 and his men, were no doubt to blame, for they are 
 reported to have been iu a stale of intosication ; but 
 that the remains of the venerable fourader of fhe 
 Talbot Sellleracnt, sliuotJ have been left in charge 
 of so unworthy a keeper, for the whole night pro* 
 %tous to their iuterm^ntp was an act of great ueglb 
 gonoej which scarcely ndtnils of ozeuse, however 
 much it may be palliated* We are willing to be- 
 licvo that DO inteuUoual disrespect was premeditated, 
 but neither the annals of civiJizaLion, nor the tradi- 
 tions of barbarism, could prybaljly furnish an josiance 
 of such lamentable inattention to the iin buried remains 
 of ^ departed friend! However, from the arraege- 
 menta of the succeeding day, we may conclude no 
 sueli outrage had been contemplated^ 
 
 On the following day the eorp-se wa3 removed 
 from Fingal to Port Talbot, oiid rested for a short 
 time witljin the walls of the mansion, where fid I of 
 
LIFE OF COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 225 
 
 life And vigor, tbo body had lived near half a cen- 
 tur>'> Here Ihe mourners assembled^ and the 
 funeral procession was formed in the following or’ 
 der: — 
 
 The ITtarse contaiuing the body, followed by 
 sleighs conveying George HeBetb, IL G, Eeecber, 
 Esq.. Hon. G. Goodhue, L. Lawrason, Esq , James 
 Hamilton, Esq., J B. Askin, Esq., and some othera 
 of the most respectable men in Loudou , aad other 
 gentletiiaQ from dittbrent parts of the fioltlcmetjt. 
 The funeral service of the Ciiurch of ngland, was 
 performed by the Uev. Mr, Holland, in the Episen- 
 pal Cburch at Tyrconncl, and at the grave adjacent 
 to the church, w lie re the last mark of respect was 
 paid by compai'iitively u few friends, who trn veiled 
 many miles on ud intensely cold day, to witness the 
 obsequies of a mitn eo long distitignlshei.l tlirougliout 
 tho Settlement. 
 
 The bod j of the deceased was deposited in a 
 leadon cofijn, encased fn one of oak, beaiing tho fol- 
 io wing iocription ; — 
 
 THOMAS TAEBO F. 
 
 FOUSTDER of the TALBOT SBlTLEMENT. 
 piEU Gfji relsutrAKT, 10-j^, 
 
22S 
 
 LIFE or COLONEL. TALlipT. 
 
 COWCLUSIOK. 
 
 Having foJlowed Colonel TalLot to tba grrre, 
 anil jjiiid oiir last tribnto of respect to hie honored 
 reniiiLne, a brief retrospect of ibe rise and progress of 
 tlie scttleincijL founded bj' him, and a condensed 
 view of its present state, Illiiy not prove iin interest- 
 iii j; parliciilaH}' to those old settlers, who have liied 
 and toiled in it, from youth to old age, and have 
 participated in its prosperity. Altbougli many other 
 ]>ai ts of Canada svere easier of aeeess, and much 
 more favored by tho influx of capital, than the 
 Talbot Settlement, yet it exhibited more signs of 
 improvement at an early date, almost beyond the 
 reach of cirilizstioTr, than most of the o-tber tracts of 
 rich and fertile country ; as has been shown in the 
 body of this work. 
 
 Talbot Street, as it used to be called, extends in 
 a direct Hue, over 160 miles, east and west, neartbo 
 shores of Lake Erie, teririnnting at Amberstburg ; 
 and there are numerous, parallel and cross roada, alJ 
 well settled, to the extent of many hundred miles, 
 studded with towns .tnd villages, and other appliances 
 of civtlzed life; altogether presenting a landscape of 
 rural beauty, seldom surpassed in Canada. Tho 
 Talbot SelUement, which includes the whole of the 
 County of Elgin, large portions of the counties of 
 Kent and Essex, and some of ihg counties of Middle- 
 sex, Slid Norfolk, ill all of which Colonel Talbot, 
 located settlers for the Government, cod tains 
 ns I have before estimated, a popuUtion of 
 150,000, who are worth, in the aggregate, not less 
 than $20,(,iOf>,ooo, in substantial wealth. This large 
 umouKt of property, consieU of almost cverythiog, 
 which can conduce to the social w elfare of luac. In 
 this extent of ee.iiemcot, there are now about 60 
 Post Offices, as many churches, large and small, 
 and not 1 r^ than 300 Cornmon Schools, all of which 
 
.n k OF COliQXEt- TAltOT, 
 
 bftve epruTiig icito exi&tence during a p^sriod stiorter 
 than the life ef the dJest settler, Thcso staiistSca 
 afford a pleasing mdes to the happy result? of in- 
 dustry, guided bj prudencet and may ser^e to teach 
 alJ who may be disposed to settle in tbis, or any 
 other part of Canuda^ yet in a state of nature, how^ 
 tuudi may be accompliahed by labor and perseve- 
 rance. When we consider, that ibis large and pros- 
 perous population,, has grown out of penury, with no 
 other capital but labor to stan with, we rest 
 
 R$$ured, that such results could only spring from 
 •well directed industry on a fruitful sail. Could the 
 settlers under Colonel Talbot, ha^^e looked forward 
 to a stale of prosperity such ae^iiow surrounds them* 
 the anticipaiion would have cheered many a weaiy 
 day^a toil^ and have aoTLened many a hard day’s pri- 
 vatioQ, All who may follow llicir eiampfep will 
 have i his cheering prospect. 
 
 The line of tfje iJiagara and Detroit Rivers^ 
 Railroad, runs through the whole length of the 
 Talbot Settle inent; whether the road itself wilt 
 ewer coFer the Ime, lemaius yet to be seen- The 
 Echeme of this grtat enlerprise has been before (he 
 public for nearly thirty yea raj. like a lioating body 
 betwixt life and death, n has sunk an<l ri^en, eKcking 
 alternate hope$ and feaia, aud io thb moment iu^ 
 fate is ancerLain. Colonel Talbot with many others, 
 subscribed a suiall snin to5?%t the bull in niOLion, at 
 the time thai the houorablea W* H, Merritt and J. 
 Pfinc-e became godfalhers, but the Colunel nover 
 entered warmly into ibe project The compeUtion 
 ill the LegiHhitnre^ between the Iiyo rival assuciations, 
 die Great \^festel■Q and titc Niagara und Detn^it, 
 chiefly through the ailroit management of Sir A. N i 
 McNabbt termitiaied in favor of the Great Wesienip 
 which knocked the Great South etn tlrtt for rnuuy 
 jearSi. 
 
 A few years ^go. howwer^ the late Mr- Ziin- 
 
L1F+. yp rtiLONJiL ’i A LlJf J'l* 
 
 228 
 
 merniaDp L&ving vei-j placed the 
 
 Cobourg And 'Peter borough, and Lhe Wc^odalMk and 
 Lak^ E.ie Kiiilway Companicsj in a &tate of iu sol- 
 vency. whereby he was enabled to estabJisli a Bank^ 
 and to adorn and beautify bis grounds at Clifton, iti 
 eight of the Niagara Pahs — where he enterLaincd in 
 the mest siimpLuOiis style of niaguifieence, a large 
 crowd of political magnates and railway celebrities, 
 from every part cf CaEiada, to do honotr to his worthy 
 patroo, Lho lion* Francis H in eki,— conceived tho 
 eiLra ordinary idea of makiog a sufficient fortune out 
 of the dead carcase of the Woodstock and Lake 
 Prie Railway OompaDv, by means of the Great 
 Sonthern, to support bis princely eetablishment at the 
 Falk* If ever a man deaeri^ed to innke a fortune by 
 bold unsciupuloua enterpiisct Mr. Timmerman cer- 
 tainly did- From being a tnere Liborer on 
 
 canals and i ail way be became ibe Croesus, — the 
 Railway King of Canada, Hia munificenC4 was as 
 unbounded an the resourcefi of his fertile geniua. 
 These resources were brought effecLn ally to bear on 
 many of ti..e most distjnguJKhe:.! men in every part 
 of Canada, His talisinanic wand so operated on the 
 minds ofmen^ whelher members of the Legislature^ 
 ^p.^culating engine era, or railway contractors^ that 
 they could only revel in golden dreams, or swim in 
 chsimpagne; and in this ities&merlaed state^ Zimmer- 
 man did what he pleased with iheoi. 
 
 The Kiaguja and Deiroit Rivers’ Railway Com- 
 pany, had found it necessary to obtain a new' Oharter* 
 and had applied to the Legislature for one, l>ul this, 
 not suiting Mr. Zimmerman's viewsj by ihe means 
 above naennoned, he got the Charter of the used up 
 Woodstock and Lake Erie Railway Company^ so 
 amended as to make a crocked line and 
 
 jj re vented the renewal of the original Charter for 
 the (ireat Southern, By this there can be uo 
 
 dorbfy he expected to make $I^OOD,()00, 'ih>s 
 
L3PE or coloxel Talbot. 
 
 22Q 
 
 would }]Hvo betsii H cle?ir gairt of 9G0 per cent or 51 0^ 
 000 for erery $1000 he e^poDded in Cabinet 
 
 M misters?^ of Porliameotj and nearly all the 
 
 leading politicians and other celehretics of Canada, 
 in hoTior yf Fr^tncis Hineks*^ — a paliikal adventurer, 
 wlio has so safeij rnoored the debt of Cas-iH-\da ^ that 
 it e-fin never break fmm ils anchorage! 
 
 Hut about this timej Mr. Isaac BiicliananH at the 
 ins La nee of the Great Western Railway Company, il 
 was untieisLoodj threw himself into the project of the 
 Great Soutlicni* liaving through Mr. WfiVacs, a 
 Buffalo Rngi nee acquired a eonSroling interest . As 
 this an Eiigineejing proecsijjl &ball not nttompt 
 to explain it. No sooner, however, did tSuoliani- 
 Mi appear as a competitor ou the lincj with Me. 
 Zimmerman^ t]3nn an eKcite’fi ent was raised by th# 
 friendaof each party^ was wafted to England an 
 fast as stean’L could carry it. ZiminermaEi being an 
 adept, in the art of cooking up railway schemes^ and 
 of bribing and feasting that iDdeEciil^ahle class of 
 gpeentafora* espectatiL contractors ^nd Eub-coDt^actgrfi, 
 who hang oil the lino of a projected raitwdy^ was 
 in ora tlian a match for any honest inati, partic-iilai'ly 
 Isaac Buclianarj, a; lunn of wealth, honestly ?icquirecl, 
 and who could not caicukle on 000 per cent. More- 
 yrer, Lbe Gre^it Western Railway Company, acted on 
 hv Mr, Zimmerman tind his friends, repudiated tha 
 action of Mr. Buehauan in ihcir behalf; nl though 
 Mr, Uadeliffe, their Vi eft President^ had seconded all 
 Mr, Buchantni^f^ cflosts to obtain control of the line I 
 Id this state of things, Mr, Buchatian and Zimmer- 
 man came to an arrangement to carry on the enter- 
 prise jointly. So matters were progressing, when 
 Mfr Zimmerman was killed in tho dreadful catetro- 
 phft, wfkich happened t j ibe cars of the Great WeKt.- 
 #rn ai tb^ D^i.i^iruxliD'^ Csinal* 
 
LIWJL CCU.O:t£L TAUC^T. 
 
 
 It ia tiiifrirttinale for ih^ intareftt* of iht 
 and Detroit Riveras Itailwajp that the understarctii'^ 
 Tvhkb lock place in the enM*! wiis uot imudo fii 
 begiQning- but Uiis did not accoid with Mr- Zimnier- 
 man ’a views at the time, and a host of cormorauts, 
 like the infaliate vultures wbo hover over the bodies 
 of two contendirig armbi, took care to keep 
 oppotidon; andsotha opporiumtj offered by llr- 
 Buchanan wits lost, 
 
 Ko man could have entered into a project with 
 more zeal and enthufiksm than Mr. Buohiinai:i| ond 
 no man in Canada, has ^TcrrtHked &o much of his per- 
 EOiial means (J£S6,000) to forward such an enier- 
 priBO. A more enterprising mesebant, or a more 
 generous man than Mr. Enchanam I helievo, does 
 not exist in Canada, and he had done much to for- 
 ward the interests of the Great AT extern; but evil 
 counsels prevailed at Head Quarters ^ and he was 
 abandoned to the tender mercies of unprincipled meUp 
 who can appreciate no talent or enterprise, which 
 doei not piomhe to fill their pockets. If ever liio 
 Great Southern ruas through the Talbot Bettlerti cut, 
 it will be Offing to the energy and liberality 
 Buchanan. 
 
 imia. 
 
ERRATA: 
 
 Fag« — 18 nii]€(!i from Ctatbam, sbotiM bo — at 
 
 Cliathani. 
 
 Page 56^ — for Cbewvitt, read—Cbewitt, 
 
 P&ge 94— for 82^, road — 
 
 Page LIL — read-^^cHCtige Elliot— TtiaerantSi 
 Page 123— for 90, reao — dO. 
 
 Page 12y — otb line from tbe bottom, for Specula- 
 tiona, read — Stipulations. 
 
 P&ge 100 — for Areh deacon Stuart read — Dr. Stewart 
 Page 221 — ftixth line from the bottom, for did,re«l 
 died. 
 
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