NORTHUMBERLAND.
Joins Westmorland on the southward, and is bounded eastwardly by the
Gulph of Saint Lawrence, and Bay of Chaleur. On the northwestward by
the Bay of Chaleur to the river Ristigouche, and westwardly by a
continuation of the western boundary line of Westmorland. The
population of this county amounts to fifteen thousand eight hundred and
twenty-nine.
This extensive county lies along the Gulph of Saint Lawrence having a
great extent of sea-coast. It includes several large bays and rivers,
and comprises more than one third of the Province. It contains the
following Parishes:--Newcastle, Chatham, Ludlow, Northesk, Alnwick,
Carleton, Beresford, Glenelg, Saumarez, Wellington, and Nelson. It is a
great lumbering county, and furnishes more squared timber annually than
the whole Province besides: The pine is of the best quality, and found
in immense quantities along the numerous streams and rivers with which
this part of the country abounds. The lumber shipped from this county
generally commands a better price in the British market than from any
other part of the Province. The principal port for shipping is
Miramichi, which is crowded with vessels during the summer and autumn.
The river has two main branches called the northwest and southwest.
Vessels load in different parts of the river, and rafts are brought to
the shipping with the greatest ease. Shipping go up the river as far as
Fraser's Island for cargoes and farther on the northwest, where there
are several trading establishments. Newcastle is a considerable place
for loading, and although it may be considered the county town, has
nothing particular. About two miles below this place there is a trading
establishment belonging to Mr. ABRAHAMS, and two miles farther down is
the establishment of RANKIN, & CO. Indeed wherever there is a
convenient cove, vessels lay and load. Chatham four miles below
Newcastle on the opposite side of the river, is also a considerable
shipping place. It has a Church with several fine stores and buildings.
There are but few places along the entrance of this river but what are
convenient for shipping. Upwards of three hundred sail load annually at
Miramichi. The timber is paid for part in specie, and part in British
and West-India goods and provisions.
A stranger would naturally suppose, that such a trade must produce
great riches to the country; and that great and rapid improvements
would be made. That large towns would be built--that the fair produce
of such a trade would be seen in commodious and elegant houses,
extensive stores and mercantile conveniences, in public buildings for
ornament and utility, good roads and improved seats in the vicinity of
the sea-ports, with Churches, Kirks, Chapels, &c.: All these with many
other expectations would be but a matter of course. But here he would
not only be disappointed, but astonished at the rugged and uncouth
appearance of most part of this extensive county. There is not even a
place that can claim the name of a town. The wealth that has come into
it, has passed as through a thoroughfare to the United States, to pay
for labour or cattle. The persons principally engaged in shipping the
timber have been strangers who have taken no interest in the welfare of
the country; but have merely occupied a spot to make what they could in
the shortest possible time. Some of these have done well, and others
have had to quit the trade: but whether they won or lost the capital of
the country has been wasted, and no improvement of any consequence made
to compensate for it, or to secure a source of trade to the
inhabitants, when the lumber shall fail. Instead of seeing towns built,
farms improved, and the country cleared and stocked with the reasonable
returns of so great a trade; the forests are stripped and nothing left
in prospect, but the gloomy apprehension when the timber is gone, of
sinking into insignificance and poverty. Formerly the woods swarmed
with American adventurers who cut as they pleased. These men seeing the
advantages that were given them, and wishing to make the most of their
time, cut few but prime trees, and manufactured only the best part of
what they felled, leaving the tops to rot; by this mode more than a
third of the timber was lost. This with their practice of leaving what
was not of the best quality after the trees were felled, has destroyed
hundreds of thousands of tons of good timber: And when this was stopped
by permitting none but British subjects and freeholders to obtain
licenses, the business was not much mended as any person wishing to
enter into the trade could, by purchasing a small sterile spot for a
small trifle (provided he was a British subject) get in the way of
monopolizing the woods. These are some of the causes that have and
still do operate against the prosperity of the country. Men who take no
interest in the welfare of the province, continue to sap and prey on
its resources.
The other sea-ports in this county are Saint Peters, Richibucto, and
Ristigouche, at which places there is a considerable trade carried on
in squared timber, &c. but they have nothing of consequence to merit a
particular description. Besides the Miramichi already described, this
county is watered by several considerable rivers, the principal of
which is the Ristigouche, which falls into the Bay of Chaleur, and
communicates by a short portage with Grand River which falls into the
Saint John fifteen miles above the great falls. The smaller rivers are
numerous, some of them have settlements along their banks and others
are but little known. The inhabitants are a mixture of Europeans and
Americans. A number of the descendants of the French neutrals are
settled in this county, particularly on the river Cocagne where there
are several villages with Catholic Chapels; they are also settled at
Buctouche, Richibucto and along the sea-board as far as the Bay of
Chaleur. They are generally agriculturalists and quiet orderly
settlers.
Having thus gone briefly through the different counties, I shall
conclude this chapter with a statement of the distances of the
principal points on the Great Road of communication from St. John to
Quebec:
From St. John to Fredericton, 92 miles on the western
From Fredericton to the Presque-Isle, 84 side of the river.
From Presque-Isle to Grand Falls, 52
Thence to the Madawaska Falls, 45
To the river Des Caps near Kamouraska, 84
Thence to Quebec, 107
---
464
making in the whole a distance of four hundred and sixty-four miles
from the sea-board to Quebec, according to the present routes; nearly
two thirds of which is along the great river St. John.
The great road of communication between this Province and Canada, has
been much neglected, particularly about the Grand Falls where the road
has been but lately cut and is but little improved, although this has
been the route for the couriers upwards of forty years; but as the
attention of Government is now turned to that object it is probable
there will soon be an alteration for the better.
In opening new roads there is not sufficient pains taken to explore the
best ground in commencing. Frequently after the roads are considerably
improved, and much money expended, better routes are discovered and
most parts of the old road are abandoned. To remedy this where the road
runs along the course of a river it would be advisible to explore the
country some distance back, for as the banks of the rivers are in many
places very high the streams that run into them indent the country and
form hollows and hills near their exit that are nearly impassable; when
by going a little back the land falls and their banks have a gradual
slope over which a good road may be made with ease. This although not a
general rule, will hold good in most parts of the country.
CHAPTER VI.
_State of Learning. Trade. Revenue. Remarks on the Lumber Business.
Population. Militia._
The state of learning in this Province is very flourishing at present
compared to what it was a few years ago. When the country was first
settled the opportunities of obtaining a liberal education were small
and confined to a few. From this cause many persons who occasionally
fill important stations in the several counties, are found very
deficient in learning, but this from the many provisions lately made
will cease in a few years, and men will always be found to fill all
public offices, with learning sufficient to enable them to discharge
their several duties with credit to themselves and advantage to the
public.
Besides the College of New-Brunswick incorporated by charter, there are
Grammar Schools established in several counties which are liberally
supported. By the bounty of the Legislature, twenty pounds per annum is
allowed to be drawn out of the Province Treasury for every Parish where
a School-House is provided, and the sum of thirty pounds raised by the
inhabitants, to enable them to employ good and sufficient teachers, and
this bounty extends to three schools in each Parish. By this liberal
public provision schooling is brought to the doors of most of the
inhabitants, who will exert themselves to partake of the public
benefit.
The College of New-Brunswick is established at Fredericton and endowed
with a block of land containing nearly six thousand acres adjoining the
town plot.
The Governor and Trustees of this College having surrendered their
charter to the King, and petitioned to have the Establishment put on a
more enlarged footing; their petition was graciously received and a new
charter granted, bearing date the eighteenth of November, one thousand
eight hundred and twenty-three. A grant of a sum of money was at the
same time made to the College out of the royal revenues in this
Province, to enable the Corporation to erect a suitable building for
the President, Professors and Students; and to procure a Library, and
Philosophical apparatus for the same. The Legislature of the Province
has likewise granted a liberal sum for the same purpose; in consequence
of which a building on a liberal scale is to be immediately erected on
a conspicuous part of the rising ground adjoining the town.
The most general seminary for the education of the bulk of the
population is the Madras School. The Lieutenant-Governor and a number
of the first characters in the Province, have the management of this
seminary, which is incorporated by the name of "The Governor and
Trustees of the Madras School in New-Brunswick." As most of the Parish
Schools in the Province are on the Madras system of education, and
under the direction of the corporation, I shall close this short sketch
of the state of learning in this Province with a statement of that
institution copied from the last report.
State of the Madras School in New-Brunswick, in July, 1824, viz.
Saint John, in daily attendance 197 -- total entered 1222
Carleton, " 96 " 143
Fredericton, " 50 " 79
Douglas, " 22 " 45
Queensborough, " " 45
St. Andrews, " 94 " 156
Grand Manan, } " 42 " 89
Grand Harbour, }
North Head, " 40 " 76
Westcock, " 45 " 118
Sackville, " 40
Shediac, " 30 " 53
Peticodiac, " 45 " 50
Kingston, 113
Springfield, " 24 " 81
Gage Town, " 25 " 117
Sussex Vale, " 38 " 114
Newcastle, " 39 " 166
Northesk, " 42 " 66
Chatham, " 40 " 51
Hampton, " 26 " 75
Norton, " 60
Maugerville, " 28 " 52
" middle district, " 39
Fort Cumberland, " 49 " 105
Point Debute, " 52 " 62
Jolicure, " 32 " 50
St. Georges, " 38 " 72
Woodstock, middle } " 36 " 135
district, }
Upper District, " 35 " 76
Dow's District, " 36
Wakefield, middle } " 21 " 90
district, }
Lower district, " 21 " 86
Northampton, " 35
Military Settlement }
No. 1, } " 38 " 140
No. 2, " 36 " 131
No. 3, " 24 " 159
No. 4, " 24 " 116
Scotch Settlement, " 20 " 36
-----
In July, 1824 4,379
Add the number in the College at Fredericton,
as reported last year 357
-----
Total 4,736
In July, 1823 3,396
-----
Increase during the year 1,340
The trade of New-Brunswick may be comprised under the following heads:
EXPORTS TO THE WEST-INDIES.
Boards, shingles, fish, and small articles. The principal return for
which is rum, sugar, molasses, &c.
EXPORTS TO GREAT BRITAIN.
Squared timber, masts, spars, oars, lathwood, deals, furs, &c.
Ship-building forms also a considerable branch of trade at present.
Some of which are built by contract for merchants in Great-Britain, and
others are built and loaded by merchants in the Province, and either
employed by them in the exportation of lumber, or sold in Britain. The
returns for this trade are British merchandise, and specie.
There was formerly a considerable trade carried on with the United
States in gypsum, grindstones, smoked salmon, &c. and for a short
period in the productions of the West-Indies from the free port of St.
John, (as well as from Halifax in Nova-Scotia.) But the trade in
West-India produce is now totally at an end, and the other branches
much fallen off, so that most of the flour, corn, and bread stuffs
imported from thence is paid for in specie, which is a great drain for
the cash of the Province: for there are nearly sixty thousand barrels
of wheat and rye flour, and from sixty-five to seventy thousand bushels
of indian corn, imported annually, besides corn meal, bread, &c.
The amount of imports in 1824 was five hundred and fourteen thousand
five hundred and fifty-seven pounds sterling, and the exports in the
same year five hundred and twenty-six thousand nine hundred and
twenty-three, exclusive of exports from the port of St. Andrews, which
amounted to about one hundred thousand pounds, besides several vessels
built at St. Peters, and other places not in the above statement. The
gross amount of the revenue collected at the different ports in the
Province, in 1824 was forty-four thousand six hundred and seventy
pounds two shillings and sixpence, New-Brunswick currency. This when
the population of the Country is considered, speaks much for the trade
and resources of the Province.
As squared timber is the great staple of this trade, I shall set down
the number of tons exported yearly at three different periods, from
which the reader may form a pretty correct idea of the quantity usually
shipped in a year.
In 1819 the quantity was 247,394 Tons.
In 1822 " " 266,450 "
In 1824 " " 321,211 "
The above is the total amount from all the Ports in New-Brunswick.
The following statement will shew the total amount of exports and
imports of every description in the year 1824.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
PORT OF SAINT JOHN, NEW-BRUNSWICK.
_An account of the total number of Ships and Vessels that have entered
inwards at this Port and the Out-Bays within the district thereof, in
the year 1824, with their Tonnage, number of Men, and the quantity of
Goods imported in the same Vessels, together with the value of said
Goods in Sterling Money.--Exclusive of Coasters._
SAINT JOHN.
432 Vessels--94,248 Tons--4,192 Men.
Wheat and Rye Flour, bbls. 32,512
Bread, ditto 1,088
Corn, bushels 37,917
Meal, barrels 3,448
Rice, cwts. 1,097
Beef and Pork, barrels 4,719
Sheep, number 26
Horses, ditto 3
Peas and Beans, bushels 1,145
Wine, gallons 14,772
Brandy and Gin, gallons 29,682
Rum, gallons 310,879
Molasses, gallons 110,579
Coffee, cwts. 248
Pimento, lbs. 9,742
Sugar, cwt. 2,988
Salt, tons 4,673
Naval Stores, barrels 2,254
Tobacco, cwts. 1,334
Tea, chests 1,415
Cordage, coils 9,406
Coal, chaldrons 3,703
Oak and Locust Wood, M. feet 62
Onions, Seeds, Apples, &c. bbls. 3,016
Staves, M. 45
Shingles, M. 27
Iron and Copper, tons 2,154
Hides, number 7,724
Mahogany, Logwood, &c. tons 192
Bricks, M. 21
Stone Ware, pieces 22,113
Cotton Wool, bales 134
Slates, M. 95
Oats, bushels 9,863
Barley, bushels 1,452
Wheat, bushels 5,418
Tallow, hogsheads 67
Wood Hoops, number 2,400
Packages of British Merchandise,
including cotton, silk
and woollen Goods, Sail
Cloth, Ironmongery, &c. 24,686
MIRAMICHI.
327 Vessels--94,601 Tons--4,274 Men.
Wheat Flour, barrels 17,285
Bread, barrels 1,063
Corn, bushels 17,262
Meal, barrels 11,598
Rice, cwt. 160
Beef and Pork, barrels 6,016
Peas and Beans, barrels 1,204
Naval Stores, barrels 212
Tobacco, cwts. 727
Tea, chests 280
Cordage, coils 1,144
Coal, chaldrons 1,063
Onions, Seeds, Apples, Nuts, &c.
barrels 710
Wine, gallons 6,493
Brandy and Gin, gallons 23,533
Rum, gallons 86,977
Molasses, gallons 23,533
Coffee, cwts. 126
Pimento, lbs. 224
Sugar, cwts. 2,462
Salt, tons 410
Iron and Copper, tons 125
Hides, number 94
Mahogany, Logwood, &c. tons 42
Bricks, M. 82
Stone Ware, pieces 60,300
Slates, M. 34
Barley, bushels 200
British Merchandise, packages 3,600
SAINT PETERS.
33 Vessels--6,143 Tons--302 Men.
Wheat Flour, barrels 184
Bread, ditto 34
Rice, cwt. 16
Beef and Pork, barrels 130
Wine, gallons 61
Brandy and Gin, gallons 1,078
Rum, gallons 2,596
Molasses, gallons 1,675
Sugar, cwts. 48
Salt, tons 250
Naval Stores, barrels 10
Tobacco, cwts. 13
Tea, chests 4
Cordage, coils 67
Coal, chaldrons 24
Iron and Copper, tons 35
British Merchandise, packages 142
RICHIBUCTO.
86 Vessels--17,490 Tons--830 Men.
Wheat Flour, barrels 889
Bread, ditto 283
Meal, ditto 631
Beef and Pork, barrels 493
Peas and Beans, bushels 135
Wine, gallons 968
Brandy and Gin, gallons 3,581
Rum, gallons 10,821
Molasses, gallons 5,967
Coffee, cwts. 15
Sugar, cwts. 202
Salt, tons 680
Naval Stores, barrels 39
Tobacco, cwts. 29
Tea, chests 36
Cordage, coils 56
Coal, chaldrons 125
Iron and Copper, tons 25
British Merchandise, packages 1,322
SHEDIAC.
19 Vessels--4,018 Tons--208 Men.
Wheat Flour, barrels 7
Bread, barrels 60
Beef and Pork, barrels 29
Brandy and Gin, gallons 120
Rum, gallons 20
Molasses, gallons 105
Sugar, cwts. 9
Salt, tons 180
Naval Stores, barrels 17
Tobacco, cwt. 11
Cordage, coils 23
Coal, chaldrons 7
Iron and Copper, tons 28
British Merchandise, packages 176
RESTIGOUCHE.
13 Vessels--2,226 Tons--118 Men.
Bread, barrels 5
Beef and Pork, barrels 7
Peas and Beans, bushels 14
Rum, gallons 972
Molasses, gallons 1,010
Sugar, cwts 3
Oats, bushels 40
Salt, tons 50
Naval Stores, barrels 5
Cordage, coils 33
Coal, chaldrons 6
Iron and Copper, tons 6
Stone Ware, pieces 3,000
British Merchandise, packages 50
DORCHESTER.
4 Vessels--841 Tons--37 Men.
Total value of Goods L514,557, sterling
CLEARED OUTWARDS.
SAINT JOHN.
417 Vessels--102,300 Tons--4,198 Men.
Timber, tons 114,116
Pine Board and Plank, M. feet 11,534
Staves, M. 1,923
Shingles, M. 491
Masts and Spars 1,918
Oars and Oar Rafters 2,103
Handspikes, number 595
Hogshead Shooks 4,461
Lathwood, cords 1,435
Dry Fish, quintals 15,102
Pickled Fish, barrels 9,868
Smoaked Herrings, boxes 6,961
Fish Oil, barrels 168
Gypsum, tons 5,183
Grindstones, number 6,013
Salt Meat, barrels 90
Potatoes, bushels 710
Flour, barrels 332
Bread, barrels 140
Rice, cwts. 23
Rum, gallons 45,870
Molasses, do. 525
Pimento, lbs. 5,442
Sugar, cwts. 166
Naval Stores, barrels 271
Tobacco, cwts. 371
Coal, tons 749
Mahogany & Camwood, &c. tons 17
Apples, Onions, &c. barrels 330
Smoaked Salmon, number 3,662
Ox Horns, hogsheads 20
Old Copper, tons 25
Salt, tons 245
Hogsheads of Furs 15
Corn Meal, barrels 50
MIRAMICHI.
331 Vessels--94,800 Tons--4,341 Men.
Timber, tons 141,384
Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 1,256
Staves, M. 304
Shingles, M. 8
Masts and Spars 1,400
Oars and Oar Rafters 702
Handspikes, number 888
Lathwood, cords 3,080
Dry Fish, quintals 263
Pickled Fish, barrels 580
Smoked Herrings, boxes 70
Flour, barrels 737
Bread, do. 7
Rum, gallons 8,627
Naval Stores, barrels 45
Tobacco, cwts. 106
SAINT PETERS.
32 Vessels--6,095 Tons--289 Men.
Timber, tons 8,308
Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 52
Staves, M. 8
Masts and Spars 191
Handspikes, number 159
Lathwood, cords 274
Dry Fish, quintals 800
Pickled Fish, barrels 155
RICHIBUCTO.
81 Vessels--17,285 Tons--820 Men.
Timber, tons 24,269
Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 134
Staves, M. 36
Masts and Spars 545
Oars and Oar Rafters 242
Handspikes, number 1,380
Lathwood, cords 625
SHEDIAC.
19 Vessels--4,018 Tons--208 Men.
Timber, tons 5,851
Pine Boards and Planks, M. feet 12
Masts and Spars 327
Oars and Oar Rafters 184
Handspikes, number 96
Lathwood, cords 184-1/2
Rum, gallons 100
Tobacco, cwts. 50
RESTIGOUCHE.
14 Vessels--2,301 Tons--121 Men.
Timber, tons 3,062
Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 7
Masts and Spars 47
Handspikes, number 32
Lathwood, cords 30
Dry Fish, quintals 2,000
Pickled Fish, barrels 403
Fish Oil, barrels 20
DORCHESTER.
4 Vessels--841 Tons--37 Men.
Timber, tons 1,246
Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 2
Masts and Spars 5
Oars and Oar Rafters 110
Handspikes, number 374
Lathwood, cords 29-1/2
Value of Exports L362,043, sterling.
N.B. To the value of exports may be added the following Ships and
Vessels built and registered at this Port within the year 1824, by
persons resident in this Province, either for proprietors in the United
Kingdom, or sent there for sale, as remittances for British
Merchandise, or for owners here, carrying on the Timber Trade.
60 Ships and Vessels, measuring 16,488 tons, at L10 L164,880
---------
Total L526,923
PORT OF SAINT ANDREWS.
_An account of the total number of Vessels, their Tonnage, number
of Men, with the quantity and quality of their Cargoes, entered
at the Port of St. Andrews in the year 1824, ending the 5th
January, 1825._
156 Vessels--29,687 Tons--1,406 Men.
Rum, gallons 104,259
Wines from Madeira, pipes 36
Ditto, Hogsheads 46
Ditto, Quarter Casks 38
Ditto, Half Quarter Casks 10
Molasses, gallons 26,768
Gin and Brandy, gallons 1,391
Wine from Great-Britain, galls. 1,476
Brown Sugar, cwt. 640
Shrub, casks 6
Coffee, barrels and bags 68
Tobacco, hogsheads 4
Bricks, M. 60
Naval Stores, barrels 327
Canvas, bolts 159
Cordage, coils 831
Made Sails, sets 3
Soap and Candles, boxes 323
Beer and Porter, barrels 118
Nails and Wrought Iron, kegs 198
Ship Chandlery, packages 13
Beef and Pork, barrels 57
Coals, chaldrons 314
Paint, kegs 439
Tea, chests 47
Chain Cables 10
Glass, boxes, &c. 120
Pieces of Earthenware & Cast Iron 873
Oak Staves, M. 120-1/2
Wheat and Rye Flour, bbls. 5,732
Biscuit, barrels 727
Rice, casks and bags 43
Corn, Meal and Grain, bushels 12,100
Peas & Beans & Rye Grain, bus. 370
Boards and Plank, M. feet 6-1/2
Wood and Timber, feet 22,750
Fruit, barrels 1,090
Sheep, number of 200
Merchandize, packages 585
Salt, tons 1,998
Iron, tons 68
Earthenware, crates 105
Cotton Wool, bales 22
Mahogany, logs 11
Green Hides 305
Linseed Oil, casks 4
Pimento, bags and casks 8
Logwood, tons 1
Tobacco Pipes, boxes 25
Copper Bolts, cwt. 47
Horses, number of 28
Piano Fortes 1
Carriages 1
Horned Cattle 678
Furs, bales and boxes 3
PORT OF SAINT ANDREWS.
EXPORTS.
175 Vessels--33,493 Tons--1,543 Men.
192 Plaster Paris Vessels--13,040 Tons--657 Men.
Birch and Pine Timber, tons 25,975
Boards and Plank, M. feet 8,386
Cod Fish, quintals 10,540
Shingles, M. 2,412
Lathwood, cords 753
Spars, number 1,559
Small Poles, number 1,542
Sawed Laths, bundles 172
Oars, Oar Rafters & Handspikes 1,093
Oak, Ash and Spruce Staves, M. 284
Ship Knees 50
Naval Stores, barrels 234
Cotton Wool, bales 22
Pickled Fish, barrels 3,132
Smoked Herrings, boxes 1,067
Beef and Pork, barrels and kits 69
Oil, barrels 69
Rum, puncheons 285
Sugar, barrels 10
Coffee, barrels and bags 7
N.B. Vinegar, barrels 40
Fruit, Onions and Potatoes, bbls. 126
N.B. Gin, barrels 37
Salt, tons 45
Iron, tons 12
Birch, M. 35
Calf Skins and Sides Leather, No. 48
Soap and Candles, boxes 1,212
Butter, firkins 2
Tobacco, hogsheads 6
Smoked Tobacco, hogsheads 21
Merchandize, packages 22
Wines, pipes 26
Ditto hogsheads 33
Ditto quarter casks 27
Ditto half quarter casks 1
Wheat and Rye Flour, bbls. 2,839
Bread and Biscuit, barrels 88
Rice, casks and barrels 22
Indian Corn and Meal, bushels 2,482
Peas and Beans, bushels 22
Plaster of Paris, tons 15,576
The Articles of Exports the Production of this Province and the
Fisheries, are considered when shipped, worth the following values,
viz.:
Pine and Birch Timber, 20s. sterling Per Ton.
Lumber and Plank, 40s. per M.
Shingles, 12s. 6d. per M.
Lathwood, 20s. per Cord.
Spars, 5s. Each.
Small Poles, 2s. 6d. Each.
Oars and Oar Rafters, 5s. per pair.
Staves, 60s. per M.
Dry Fish, 12s. 6d. per quintal.
Pickled Fish, 20s. per barrel.
Smoked Herrings, 3s. per box.
Oil, 80s. per barrel.
Plaster Paris, 10s. per ton.
The whole value of the above Exports may be about L100,000.
From the foregoing statement it plainly appears that chief of the
export trade of this Province consists of timber, which is its natural
stock or capital; and as there are many articles taken in exchange from
the mother country, which are indispensably necessary to the
inhabitants of this Province; it points out the necessity of paying
strict attention to its preservation. In this Country there is no
article, or articles, that can in any degree furnish exports equal to
the pine, which is manufactured in the simplest manner, and got to
market with but little trouble. So simple is the process that most
settlers who have the use of the axe can manufacture it; the woods
furnishing a sort of simple manufactory for the inhabitants, from
which, after attending to their farms, in the summer, they can draw
returns during the winter for those supplies which are necessary for
the comfort of their families. This being the case, the preservation of
our forests becomes of prime importance to the prosperity of the
Province.
The evils that must arise to the Province, by allowing the timber to be
monopolized and hastily cut off are many. The timber standing in the
Country, particularly on the Crown Lands, may be considered as so much
capital or stock, to secure a permanent trade, and promote the solid
improvement of the Country. Most of the lands in this Province where
pine is found are intermixed with other timber, and although the
precise spots on which the pine grows, are unfit for agriculture,
without much labor; yet there are most always spots adjoining, where a
settler may cultivate with success: so that in a lot of two or three
hundred acres, there is generally enough for tillage, and a man
settling on such land could always choose his spot for farming, and
keep his timber to cut at his leisure. His pine so reserved would as
long as it lasted serve him as a resource, from whence, after attending
to his farming in the summer, he could draw returns during the winter,
for such supplies as would be necessary for his family, and for
improving his farm.
To make this more evident, we will suppose a man settling on a
wilderness lot--like most settlers he has but little save his own
labour--perhaps he has a small family--he commences with cutting down a
small spot, and erecting a hut--say in the summer or fall, he then
moves on his family, and looks round for sustenance till he can raise
his first crop--in doing this his funds are exhausted, and he wants by
his own labour to replenish them during the winter, and provide a few
implements of husbandry, and nails, &c. for building a barn--now
supposing his lot to be back from the river, and at a distance from old
settlements where labour is wanted--what does he do?--why he resorts to
his pine--to the simple manufactory before noticed, and makes a few
tons, say twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty, according to his
ability--carefully cutting the under brush and timber, so as to put his
land where he is working in a fair train for clearing--this timber he
probably gets hauled to the water on shares, if he is very poor and has
no team; the returns for which the next spring, furnishes him with
supplies, and enables him to continue on his land and prosecute his
farming. If he cannot do without the return of his timber till spring,
he applies to a merchant, who if the man is of good fame, advances him
such articles as may be particularly necessary for his family. This
enables him to find labour on his own lot, and stay with his family:
whereas if he has no such resource, he must leave his home, and go to a
distance from his family, seeking labour; and probably they may be so
circumstanced as not to be left safely alone, and he has to take them
with him, which breaks up his family and prevents him from settling.
If a number of families commence a settlement together, where the
timber has not been destroyed, but where a fair proportion is still
growing on the land, they exchange labour with each other, and by their
joint exertions, manufacture and transport their own lumber to market.
In this way they are enabled from year to year to prosecute their
settlement and pay for their grants; the timber answering as a first
crop fully grown, and a resource to make returns for necessaries.--By
this method, as the pine disappears, houses and barns will rise in its
place, and the country, instead of a barren waste, will exhibit
flourishing settlements, peopled with a race who will know the value of
their improvements; and feel their interest identified with the
country: and whose attachment to the Government will increase with
their growing possessions. Their children, raised on the soil, from the
strong principles of early association, will feel that interest in the
welfare of the country, that no transient advantage can produce; and
grow up an ornament and strength to the Province. On the contrary, if
the lumber is cut off by mere speculators, the land will be left in an
impoverished state, much valuable timber will be wantonly destroyed,
and the places from whence the timber is taken will be left an
uncultivated waste; settlers will neither have the inclination or
ability to occupy them. While the major part of the men employed in
getting the lumber for the merchants, instead of making a comfortable
provision for their families, will wear out the prime of their days
without making any permanent establishment; and keep their families
shifting about the country like vagrants. Their children, for the want
of employment, and the direction of their fathers, brought up in
idleness--their education and morals neglected, and bad habits
acquired, will be the reverse of those before noticed: and many of them
will become a vagrant race, unconcerned or uninterested in the welfare
of the country, and in many instances a nuisance to it. While their
parents, after they get unfit for the business, will be turned off in
debt.
In short, it will be the most direct way to prevent the settlement of
the back lands, and to produce (what is the bane of all countries) a
race of inhabitants who have no interest in the soil or welfare of the
Province.
Statement of the expenses on one thousand tons of pine timber,
manufactured on the Wabskahagan, a branch of the river Tobique:--
The Secretary's, Governor's, and Surveyor General's fees of
office, including the charge for writing petition 1 10 0
Duty on 1000 tons, at 1s 50 0 0
Less by amount included in fees, &c. 1 5 0
--------48 15 0
Incidental expenses to the applicant 0 15 0
Surveyor's fees for measuring the timber berth 7 0 0
Expenses for axemen and chainmen 5 10 0
Travelling expenses thence and back, five hundred miles 8 0 0
--------- 71 10 0
Ten men at L5 per month, and an overseer at L10, say for
six months 360 0 0
Six yoke of oxen, at L30 per yoke 180 0 0
One pair draught horses 50 0 0
One boat, sail, and gear 36 0 0
Two canoes with paddles 6 0 0
Sleds, chains, harness, &c. 27 10 0
Eleven men's provisions for six months, at 85s. per head,
per month 274 10 0
Hay for oxen, &c. 30 tons, at L10 300 0 0
Grain for ditto 25 0 0
---------1259 0 0
Total expense on one thousand tons of timber, at the ----------
brow ready for rafting L1330 10 0
Expense of rafting, anchors, cables, ropes, &c. 50 0 0
L1380 10 0
Deduct for articles that may be useful another season, viz.--
Oxen, Horses, Boat, tackle, &c. 214 0 0
Canoes, sleds, harness, anchors, &c. &c. 50 0 0
--------- 264 0 0
----------
Total amount of expenses L1116 10 0
From the foregoing statement (admitting it to be near the truth) it
appears that the expenses on one thousand tons of timber got on the
river Tobique, amounts to L1116:10:0--to which is to be added the
expense and risk of taking it down to Saint John, a distance of about
two hundred and fifty miles--the loss by casualties on a rapid river,
where men and teams frequently break through the ice, and are swept
away by the velocity of the current. When all the above expenses are
deducted from the returns of the timber, it will leave but a little for
those who carry on the business, and very often involves them in
inextricable difficulties.
The preceding statement points out the necessity of adopting a more
prudent system in conducting the timber business. Not to push the trade
to such an extent--to retrench the expenses, by raising the heavy parts
of the supplies near the timber districts; and to follow up the timber
trade with the improvement of the country and cultivation of the soil.
Another great drawback to the prosperity of the Province is the great
consumption of ardent liquors--partly occasioned by the present modes
of conducting the timber business. The amount of spirituous liquors
imported and consumed in the Province in 1824, at the least calculation
was L120,000, exclusive of the County of Charlotte; and add to this
amount the cost of the transport of the liquor to the interior and the
enormous charges on the article in the distant parts of the Province,
the cost to the consumer may be fairly reckoned at treble the amount,
making in the whole the gross sum of L360,000 for ardent liquors alone,
consumed by the inhabitants of the Province, being near twenty gallons
on an average for every male over sixteen years of age.
The number of inhabitants in this Province, according to the census of
last year, is seventy-four thousand one hundred and
seventy-six--besides the large settlement of Madawaska and the parish
of West Isles; and as it is probable the numbers in the different
parishes are taken in some instances under the real amount, the whole
population may be fairly rated in round numbers at eighty thousand. The
subjoined statement will show the population of the different counties
and parishes in 1824:
Population of the Province of New-Brunswick,
IN THE YEAR 1824.
--------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| Whites. | People of Colour. |
| Males. Females. | Males. | Females. |
--------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
C
o | | A | U | A | U | A | U | A | U | i
u | | b | n | b | n | b | n | b | n | n P
n | | o | d | o | d | o | d | o | d |T a
t | | v | e | v | e | v | e | v | e |o e r
i | | e | r | e | r | e | r | e | r |t a i
e | | | | | | | | | |a c s
s | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |l h h
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
|Fredericton | 526 | 352 | 470 | 392 | 29 | 21 | 34 | 25 | 1849
|Saint Mary | 259 | 242 | 216 | 223 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 972
|Douglas | 365 | 340 | 289 | 306 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 1367
Y |Kingsclear | 226 | 173 | 190 | 155 | 15 | 28 | 22 | 23 | 832
o |Queensbury | 205 | 172 | 149 | 153 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 716
r |Prince William | 159 | 142 | 117 | 116 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 545
k |Northampton | 182 | 130 | 133 | 123 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 568
Woodstock | 267 | 181 | 186 | 179 | 1 | 2 | ... | ... | 816
|Wakefield | 217 | 276 | 267 | 218 | 1 | 1 | ... | ... | 1010
|Kent | 645 | 596 | 457 | 597 | 2 | ... | ... | ... | 2297
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
|City of
S J | St. John |2371 |1731 |2361 |1632 | 94 | 72 | 139 | 88 | 8488
a o |Portland,
i h | 1st district | 628 | 392 | 447 | 340 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1813
n n |Portland,
t | 2d district | 386 | 242 | 228 | 207 | 42 | 40 | 43 | 42 | 1230
|Lancaster | 216 | 150 | 157 | 151 | 38 | 31 | 28 | 22 | 793
|Saint Martin | 154 | 147 | 133 | 148 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 583
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
|Kingston | 503 | 386 | 382 | 365 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1655
K |Sussex | 487 | 460 | 414 | 433 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 1833
i |Hampton | 462 | 385 | 375 | 314 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 1559
n |Norton | 152 | 115 | 100 | 109 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 502
g |Westfield | 182 | 181 | 152 | 178 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 713
s |Springfield | 241 | 212 | 210 | 234 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 924
|Greenwich | 184 | 185 | 178 | 185 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 744
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
Q |Gagetown | 180 | 124 | 140 | 133 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 606
u |Waterborough | 486 | 643 | 403 | 444 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 2023
e |Wickham | 306 | 297 | 236 | 259 | 2 | ... | ... | 1 | 1100
e |Hampstead | 193 | 188 | 164 | 165 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 723
n |Brunswick | 50 | 64 | 36 | 39 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 189
s |Brunswick District Butternut
| Ridge | 24 | 29 | 19 | 28 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 100
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
|St. Andrews | 653 | 464 | 574 | 532 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 2263
|St. Stephen | 518 | 393 | 397 | 358 | 3 | 1 | ... | 3 | 1673
C |St. David | 278 | 233 | 230 | 264 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1005
h |St. George,
a | 1st district | 245 | 173 | 166 | 159 | 1 | ... | 1 | ... | 745
r |St. George,
l | 2d district | 191 | 174 | 66 | 170 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 701
o |St. Patrick | 217 | 203 | 164 | 178 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 762
t |St. James | 121 | 116 | 109 | 107 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 453
t |Pennfield | 223 | 120 | 93 | 120 | 2 | ... | ... | ... | 558
e |Campo Bello | 167 | 123 | 123 | 95 | ... | 1 | ... | ... | 509
|Grand Manan | 157 | 170 | 138 | 132 | ... | 1 | ... | ... | 598
|West Isles | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ...
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
S
u |Maugerville | 152 | 112 | 115 | 92 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 484
n |Sheffield | 227 | 139 | 187 | 156 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 735
b |Burton | 432 | 298 | 322 | 269 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1338
u |Lincoln | 200 | 167 | 142 | 158 | 1 | ... | 2 | ... | 670
r
y
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
W
e
s |Dorchester | 706 | 748 | 611 | 672 | 8 | ... | ... | ... | 2737
t |Sackville | 444 | 464 | 395 | 415 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 1744
m |Westmorland | 215 | 208 | 192 | 229 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 883
o |Hillsborough | 281 | 291 | 226 | 344 | ... | 5 | ... | 3 | 1152
r |Monckton | 85 | 94 | 82 | 79 | ... | ... | 2 | ... | 342
e |Botsford | 200 | 216 | 162 | 195 | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 774
l |Salisbury | 171 | 170 | 147 | 177 | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 666
a |Hopewell | 292 | 256 | 225 | 232 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1005
n
d
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
|Newcastle | 641 | 326 | 377 | 313 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1657
|Chatham | 451 | 296 | 319 | 382 | 1 | ... | 2 | 1 | 1452
|Ludlow,
| 1st district | 407 | 191 | 147 | 173 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 918
N |Ludlow,
o | 2d district | 286 | 38 | 29 | 37 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 390
r |Northesk,
t | 1st district | 921 | 107 | 119 | 96 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1243
h |Northesk,
u | 2d district | 47 | 60 | 41 | 52 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 200
m |Alnwick,
b | 1st district | 93 | 54 | 44 | 54 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 245
e |Alnwick,
r | 2d district | 137 | 83 | 72 | 80 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 373
l |Carleton | 757 | 429 | 376 | 402 | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 1965
a |Beresford | 327 | 294 | 225 | 228 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1086
n |Glenelg | 323 | 174 | 175 | 163 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 836
d |Saumarez,
| 1st district | 299 | 209 | 201 | 234 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 949
|Saumarez,
| 2d district | 524 | 446 | 408 | 450 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1828
|Wellington | 420 | 393 | 335 | 406 | ... | ... | 1 | ... | 1555
|Nelson | 574 | 185 | 201 | 166 | 3 | ... | 2 | 1 | 1132
----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
County of York 10,972
County of Saint John 12,907
County of Kings 7,930
County of Queens 4,741
County of Charlotte 9,267
County of Sunbury 3,227
County of Westmorland 9,303
County of Northumberland 15,829
------
Total in the Province 74,176
The enrolled Militia amount to about twelve thousand. They are divided
into twenty-three battalions; the battalions are composed of six,
eight, or more companies, according to local circumstances. The
companies consist of one captain, two subalterns, three sergeants,
and sixty rank and file, except flank companies, which are allowed
four sergeants. Where districts are in remote situations, and not
sufficiently populous to form two companies, but exceed the number of
sixty effective men, eighty are allowed to be enrolled in one company.
They assemble by companies two days in a year for drill; and by
battalions or divisions for muster and inspection, once or oftener, if
the Commander-in-Chief thinks it necessary. An Inspecting Field Officer
is appointed to inspect the battalions at their general muster. He
visits the different corps successively, and reports to the
Commander-in-Chief. He is paid a certain sum per annum, which is
granted yearly by the Legislature. The Militia Law is continually
undergoing alterations, and has not yet attained to that perfection,
that such an important branch of our provincial constitution requires.
The last year two Inspecting Officers were appointed to inspect the two
great divisions of the Province.
There are abundant materials to form a good effective Militia in this
Province. The youth are in general docile and orderly, and have a great
aptitude to attain the requisite discipline; there are also a number of
disbanded soldiers and other persons acquainted with discipline,
scattered through the country; so that there are few districts, but
where there are persons qualified to act as drills. The want of arms is
indeed a great check to the military spirit, as nothing is more taking
to boys when first put to drill, than to have arms; and although many
requisites of discipline, such as marching, wheeling, &c. can be
acquired full as well without them; yet nothing makes a young lad so
alert as to have a musket put into his hands.
To get persons to excel in any thing, it is requisite first of all if
possible to create an attachment and liking to it; and to get the youth
fully engaged in acquiring martial discipline, it is a primary object
to make it pleasing to them. If therefore the different corps were at
their musters to be supplied with arms and a few rounds of cartridges,
and taught to skirmish, it would act as the greatest stimulous to the
youth, and would soon make an alteration for the better at the
trainings; by making them a recreation and time of amusement: while it
would make the Militia familiar with the use of arms--which is at
present altogether lost sight of.
The writer is well aware that many arms formerly issued to the Militia
have been destroyed, and that this might again happen; but surely some
method might be adopted to prevent such abuses, and still to furnish
the different corps with arms while at drill, by forming depots for
lodging the arms, and appropriating some of the fines to keep them in
order. In scattered districts, one, two or more companies arms might be
kept together; and in towns Arsenals might be erected where two or
three thousand stand might be deposited. Such buildings would not only
be highly useful, but ornamental to the different places: and as there
are but few serviceable arms in the Province at present, some steps
should be taken to procure a sufficient number, and not to let the
country remain in its present naked condition. It certainly appears
like an anomaly in our preparations for defence, to expend time and
money in improving our Militia, and not provide the means of arming and
making them efficient if they should be wanted. If (as the preamble to
the Militia Law states) "a well regulated Militia is essential to the
security of this Province," it is equally necessary that the Province
should possess the means of arming that Militia. If arms could not be
procured from the Crown, it would be advisable to appropriate a part of
the Provincial revenue for the purchase of a sufficient number to
supply the Militia in case of emergency; which could be either sold to
the Militiamen, or placed in the Arsenals, and issued occasionally to
the different corps as the Government should think proper.
Should the Province ever be invaded, its defence will not wholly
consist in defending fortified posts or in engagements with large
bodies in open field, but by taking advantage of the natural fastnesses
of the country, such as woods, deep hollows, hills, rivers, brooks, &c.
with which the Province abounds.
This points out the necessity of having the Militia trained to
sharpshooting and such exercises as will be beneficial in the hour of
danger; and not merely taught a few parade movements, or how to receive
a reviewing officer.
The Indians in New-Brunswick are fast declining, and although several
attempts have been made to induce them to form permanent settlements
and become planters, they still continue their migratory mode of life.
The attempts that have been made to civilize them by educating their
children have been equally unsuccessful. The Romish religion appears to
be the most congenial to them, as well as to the French. This arises in
a great measure from its outward pomp and external forms imposing on
the uncultivated mind. They yield an implicit obedience to the Romish
Missionaries, who instruct them in religion, regulate their marriages,
and censure or approve their conduct, and so successful have been their
endeavours, that but few depredations are committed by the Indians on
property, although they are frequently reduced to the most extreme
want.--The Baron LA HOUTAN, who has enumerated forty-nine Nations of
Indians in Canada, and Acadia, names the following Tribes as the
original inhabitants of Nova-Scotia:--The Abenakie, Micmac, Canabus,
Mahingans, Openangans, Soccokis, and Etechemins, from whom our present
Indians are descended. As the customs, manners, and dress, of the
Indians have been often described, I shall not therefore swell this
article by repeating old stories. Besides the conical cap, the blanket,
leggins, and moccasins, worn by all the tribes; the women among the
New-Brunswick Indians frequently wear a round hat, a shawl, and short
clothes, resembling the short gown and petticoat worn by the French and
Dutch women. The Indian language is bold and figurative, abounding in
hyperbolical expressions, and is said to be susceptible of much
elegance. To give the reader some notion of the manner in which these
people conduct their conferences with each other, and with Europeans, I
shall subjoin an extract of a conference, or talk, held at Quebec, with
the Governor General of Canada, during the last American War.
QUEBEC, 17TH MARCH, 1814.
Thursday having been appointed for holding the Council, the Chiefs and
Warriors assembled, and after shaking hands with His Excellency, as
before, NEWASH accompanied by his Interpreter, again presented himself
in the middle of the room, and pronounced the following Speech, or
talk.
SPEECH OF NEWASH.
"Father--Listen.--You will hear from me truth. It is the same as
what the Chiefs and Warriors now here have to say.
"Father--Listen.--Open your ears to your children, to your red
children that are in the west. They are all of one mind: although
they are so far off and scattered on different lands, they hear
what I am now saying.
"Father--Listen.--You have told us by the talk of your Warriors,
twice Father, that we were to fight on the flanks and in the rear
of your Warriors, but we have always gone in front Father; and that
it is in this way we have lost so many of our young Warriors, our
women and children.
"Father--Listen.--The Americans have said they would kill you first
Father, and then destroy your red children; but when you sent us
the hatchet we took hold of it Father and made use of it Father, as
you know.
"Father--Listen.--Your red children want back their old boundary
lines, that they may have the lands which belong to them, and this
Father when the war began, you promised to get for them.
"Father--Listen.--Your red children have suffered a great deal,
they are sad, indeed they are pitiful, they want your assistance
Father. They want arms for their Warriors, and clothes for their
women and children. You do not know the number of your red children
Father. There are many who never yet received any arms or clothing.
It is necessary at present, Father, to send more than you formerly
did.
"Father--Listen.--At the beginning of the war you promised us when
the Americans would put their hand forward you would draw yours
back. Now Father we request when the Americans put their hand out,
(as we hear they mean to do) knock it away Father, and the second
time when they put out their hand, draw your sword.--If not Father,
the Americans will laugh at us, and say our Great Father, who is
beyond the Great Lake is a coward Father.
"Father--Listen.--The Americans are taking our lands from us every
day, they have no hearts, Father, they have no pity for us. They
want to drive us beyond the setting sun. But Father, we hope,
although we are few, and are here as it were upon a little Island,
our Great and Mighty Father, who lives beyond the Great Lake, will
not forsake us in our distress, but will continue to remember his
faithful red children.
"This is all I have to say. This is from our Chiefs and Warriors,
this is all they have to say."
NEWASH then advanced to His Excellency, and presented him with the
Black Wampum and Bloody Belt.
His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief then made the Chiefs and Warriors
the following answer to the talks or speeches that had been addressed
to him in their behalf.
"My Children.--I thank the Great Spirit for his protection of you on
your long journey, and I rejoice to meet you at Quebec, the Great
Council Fire on this side the Great Lake.
"My Children.--You have freely and forcibly spoken your sentiments,
and I am happy to have heard from your own mouths, your thoughts,
as I know on these occasions you always speak the truth. I am
therefore delighted to hear my red children declare their
attachment to the King our Great Father, beyond the Great Lake, and
to myself and my Warriors.
"My Children.--I have opened my ears and listened with attention to
what you have said. My heart was sore when I heard of the death of
a great warrior. It still bleeds when I think of his loss, and the
misfortunes my children have met with during the war, in the death
of many a wise chief and brave warrior, and some of your women and
children who are gone to see the Great Spirit, before whom we must
all one day appear.
"My Children.--I thank the Great Spirit that I see you in my own
dwelling, and converse with you face to face. Listen to my
words--they are the words of truth. You have always heard this from
my chiefs, and I now repeat them. We have taken each other by the
hand and fought together. Our interests are the same--we must still
continue to fight together: for the King, our great father,
considers you as his children, and will not forget you or your
interests at a peace. But to preserve what we hold, and recover
from the enemy what belongs to us, we must make great exertions;
and I rely on your courage, with the assistance of my chiefs and
warriors, to drive the big knives from our land the ensuing summer.
"My Children.--Our great father will give us new warriors from the
other side of the great water, who will join with you in attacking
the enemy, and will soon open the great road to your country, by
which you used to receive your supplies, and which the enemy having
stopped, has caused the distress and scarcity of goods you complain
of: for I have never been in want of goods for you, but could not
send them.
"My Children.--Our success in the war must depend on our bravery and
your young men listening to the advice of their chiefs--this you
must always bear in mind. I recommend to you to open your ears when
my chiefs speak to you, for they only wish for your good. Tell your
brother warriors whom I may not see, that these are my words; and
that though they are to destroy their enemies in battle, they must
spare and shew mercy to women and children, and all prisoners.
"My Children.--I have but one thing more to recommend to you, which
you will not forget--you know that the only success that the enemy
gained over us, last season, was owing to the want of provisions.
There was much waste at Amherstberg--the consequence was that you
and my warriors were forced to retreat. In future you must be
careful of provisions, and use only what may be necessary; they are
the same as powder and ball, we cannot destroy our enemies without
them.
"My Children.--You will not forget what I have said to you. This is
my parole to the nations. (Here the black wampum is presented to
NEWASH.) Let them know what I have said. Tell them they shall not
be forgotten by their great father nor by me.--Take courage my
children--be strong--and may the Great Spirit preserve you in the
day of battle." (Here the bloody belt is presented.)
After the interpreter had presented the belt to NEWASH, he with several
of the chiefs chaunted parts of the war song:
"Under the Cloud Island
With this belt I go;
By this my heart is strong,
I shall have courage to die by the foe.
"Now I take hold of this belt,
Light as birds fly in the air;
Strong is my heart, and round I go,
Seeking to die by the foe."
While this song was chaunting, several short speeches were made by the
Indians. One of them said--"There is our father--here is the
belt--there you are--the Great Spirit presides--now we are one, and
none can flinch--if we stand by our father, he will stand by us. Our
path is in the west--the war shall brighten there--the sky begins to
clear--the light falls on our lands, and soon again shall our women and
children be on them. You Saulks--you Chippeways, and all you of
different nations, we are all one. We will fight them with our father,
and never cease to fight while we have life, or until we have got back
our lands."
The names of twelve Indian chiefs, inhabiting the coast of Acadia at
the time the French peasants submitted to the British Government, will
be found in the appendix to this work.
Lands in New-Brunswick are held in fee simple or free socage. The
grants are immediately from the Crown. The subjoined table will shew
the fees on single Grants, or where a number of Grantees are included
in one patent, at present taken at the several offices.
TABLE OF FEES ON GRANTS.
+---+-------+-------+-----+---------+---------+------+-----+--------+
| |G | | | | | | | |
| |o | | | | | | | |
| |v | S | | | | | | |
| N |e | e | | | | |C | |
| u |r | c | | | p | |o | |
| m |n | ' | | A |R u | S |m | |
| b |o | y | | t |e r | u |m | |
| e |r t | | | t |c c | r |i | |
| r | h | a | | o |e h | v |s C | |
| |i e o| n | | r |i i a | e |s r | |
| o |n f| d | | n |v n s | y |i o | |
| f |c w | | A | e |e c e | o |o w | Total. |
| |l a s| R | u | y |r l | r |n n | |
| a |u r u| e | d | - |- u m | - |e | |
| c |d r r| g | i | G |G d o | G |r L | |
| r |i e v| t | t | e |e i n | e | a | |
| e |n n e| r | o | n |n n e | n |o n | |
| s |g t y| . | r | . |. g y | . |f d | |
+---+-------+-------+-----+---------+---------+------+-----+--------+
| | L s d | L s d | s d | L s d | L s d | L s | s d | L s d |
|100| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 0 13 4 | 2 0 | 5 0 |12 11 8 |
|200| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 0 13 4 | 2 0 | 5 0 |12 11 8 |
|300| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 1 4 6 | 2 0 | 7 6 |13 5 4 |
|400| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 1 15 8 | 2 5 |10 0 |14 4 0 |
|500| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 2 6 10 | 2 10 |10 0 |15 0 2 |
+---+-------+-------+-----+---------+---------+------+-----+--------+
On Grants where more than one person is concerned, His Excellency has
seven shillings per hundred acres; and the public offices have half the
above-mentioned fees for each additional name, with the exception of
the Attorney-General, who has nineteen shillings and two-pence for each
additional name. The purchase money (which is a sum of five shillings
sterling for every fifty acres above two hundred, payable to His
Majesty, and called the King's purchase money,) is included in the
above scale of fees to the Receiver-General. According to the Royal
Instructions, a single man is entitled to one hundred acres of land,
with an additional quantity provided he can produce sufficient
testimonials of his ability to cultivate more. A married man is
entitled to two hundred acres, with an additional quantity on proof of
his ability to cultivate more: but no more than five hundred acres is
allowed to be granted to any person by the Colonial Government.
The method of laying out lots in this Province, of a narrow front and
extending a great distance back, is very inconvenient to the settler.
Being confined to a narrow front when he commences, clearing,
supposing, (which is often the case,) the land adjoining to be
unoccupied, he merely makes a lane through the wilderness, not half of
which will produce a crop, on account of its being shaded by the
adjoining woods: which not only exclude the sun, but impoverish the
land by drawing the nourishment from the plants to the adjoining trees.
To obviate this, and many other inconveniences, it would be far better
to lay out settlements, where the face of the country would admit of
it, in square blocks, or parallelograms; to contain two ranges of lots,
with roads at proper distances. The fronts of the lots to be extended,
and their length contracted. The lots to abut on the road; and extend
back one-half the depth of the block:--The rear of the lots in one
range, abutting on the rear of lots in the next range. Or else, the
settlements might be divided into squares and sections, after the
method adopted by the United States in laying out new settlements, of
which the following is a short outline:
Their townships are laid out in blocks of six miles square, the whole
area containing 23,040 acres. Those squares are divided into thirty-six
smaller squares or sections of a mile square, containing each 640
acres. The sections are numbered from right to left, and left to right,
as in the following plan:--
six miles long. s
+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i
| 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | x
+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | m
+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i
| 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | l
+----+----+----+----+----+----+ e
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | s
+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | l
+----+----+----+----+----+----+ o
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | n
+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g
.
The sections are again subdivided into quarters and half quarters. A
quarter section is half a mile square, and contains one hundred and
sixty acres. The sixteenth section of each township is reserved to
maintain schools, and the sections two, five, twenty, twenty-three,
thirty, and thirty-three, are sold in half-quarters.
By this method the limits of counties and parishes are accurately
defined; the settlements are every where interspersed with roads, and
each man's field, instead of a narrow strip of irregular figure and
uncertain boundary, is a square laying compact and near a road, whose
contents are always easily ascertained. The rectangular method of
laying out settlements, cannot always be followed, on account of
rivers, &c. which will cause gores and inequalities; but whenever it
can be adopted it offers many advantages.
The estates of persons dying intestate are distributed analogous to the
custom of gavelkind in Kent. The heir at law of such intestate shall be
entitled to and receive a double portion or two shares of the real
estate left by such intestate, (saving the widow's right of dower.) The
remander to be equally distributed among all the children or their
legal representatives, including in the distribution the children of
the half blood; and in case there be no children, to the next of
kindred in equal degree, and their representatives. Provided that
children advanced by settlement, or portions, not equal to the other
shares, shall have so much of the surplusage, as shall make the estate
of all to be equal, except the heir at law, who shall have two shares,
or a double portion.
Advertisement.
_Having for reasons stated in the commencement of this Work, given up
my first design of adding a brief connected history of the Province, I
have inserted a few extracts relating to this Country, in an Appendix;
as they may be satisfactory to the reader, and useful in conveying some
knowledge of the early history of the Country. My reasons for abridging
this Description I have also stated, and have omitted many particulars
necessary in a full description of a Country, such as tables of
Animals, Plants, Minerals, Weather, &c. as I could not obtain the
necessary materials, as but little attention has been paid to these
subjects by persons qualified for the task._
_I have endeavoured to be as correct in what I have stated as possible,
but no doubt many inaccuracies will be discovered, as the information I
have collected from different sources is liable to error. But it must
be remembered that in a first Work like this many difficulties will
occur, and having no tract to guide me, I have frequently wanted the
necessary information. The Work, however imperfect, must be useful, as
giving the first general outline of the Province, and interesting to
every person who possesses a feeling of interest for his own fireside.
In short, persons who strike out a first tract in any thing, may be
compared to pioneers who trace a road for others to use and improve._
APPENDIX No. 1
_Speech of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor at the meeting of the
General Assembly, at Fredericton, February 1, 1825._
_Mr. President, and Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council,
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,_
I have much satisfaction in meeting the Legislature of
New-Brunswick--I am well persuaded that you will continue to
promote and support the Interests and Institutions of the Province
in a manner that will not fail to receive from me that ready and
cordial concurrence which it will be my greatest pleasure to bestow
upon all measures that may be calculated to advance the public
good.
It affords me great pleasure to have it in my power to congratulate
you on the very prosperous state of the Provincial Finances. The
Revenue of the last exceeds greatly that of any former year, and
yields a large surplus beyond the charges incurred, within the
corresponding period.
_Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,_
I shall direct the Treasurer's Accounts to be laid before you, I
rely upon your making the usual provisions for the Ordinary
Services of the Province; and I am happy to acquaint you that the
state of the Treasury is such as to enable you to provide for other
objects of public interest and utility, to which your bounty has
already been extended, and also to promote other important services
which I shall hereafter bring before you.
_Mr. President, and Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council,
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,_
Watching assiduously over the Public Interests, I shall have to
submit to you, by Message, various measures which it will be
necessary to bring under your consideration in the course of the
Session, but whilst I reserve matters of detail for that mode of
communication, important considerations and general views, which
require to be fully and forcibly put to the Country, and which
could not be properly treated in partial or very concise form,
render it expedient, on this particular occasion, to lay before you
such a statement of public affairs, as may embrace, generally, all
interests, and leave nothing in doubt as to our real situation, in
the more important branches of our well being.