C.O. (Quebec 1768-1787 Vol. I.) [LS.] George R. 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 Additional Instructions to Our Trusty & wellbeloved Guy Carleton Esq Our Captain General & Governor in Chief in & over Our Province of Quebec in America, & of all Our Territories dependent thereupon: Or to the Commander in Chief of Our said Province for the time being. Given at Our Court at St James's the thirteenth day of March 1775. In the fifteenth year of Our Reign. Whereas We did by Our general Instructions to you, bearing date at Our Palace of St James's the day of Declare Our Royal Will & Pleasure that sundry Salaries & Allowances therein mentioned, should be discharged & paid out of any Revenue arising to Us within Our said Province of Quebec, or out of such other Monies as should be granted or appropriated to the Use & Service of Our said Province; the said Salaries & Allowances to commence on, & to be payable from & after the first day of May 1775. It is Our further Will & Pleasure, that over and above the several Salaries and Allowances in the said Instructions mentioned & set down-You do pay, or cause to be paid annually out of the said Revenue or Monies granted or appropriated as aforesaid, unto Our Trusty & welbeloved Edward Bishopp Esq' or to his lawful Attorney, for & during Our Will & Pleasure, the further Sum of One Hundred Eighty two Pounds ten Shill the said annual Payment or Allowance to commence on the first day of May next ensuing the date hereof. C.O. (Quebec 1768-1787 Vol. I.) [L.S.] George R G: R. Additional Instructions to Our Trusty & Welbeloved Guy Carleton Esq Our Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over Our Province of Quebec in America and of all Our Territories, dependant thereupon, or to the Commander in Chief of Our said Province for the time being. Given at Our Court at St. James's the fourteenth day of November 1775, In the sixteenth year of Our Reign. Whereas We did by Our General Instructions to you bearing date at Our Palace of St James's, the 3 day of January 1775 Declare Our Royal Will and Pleasure that sundry Salaries and Allowances therein mentioned should be discharged & paid out of any Revenue arising to Us within Our said Province of Quebec, or out of such other Monies as should be granted or appropriated to the Use and Service of Our said Province the said Salaries and Allowances to Commence on and to be payable from and after the first Day of May last; It is Our further Will & pleasure that over and above the several Salaries and Allowances in the said Instructions mentioned and set down, You do pay or cause to be paid annually out of the said Revenue or Monies granted or appropriated as aforesaid unto Our Trusty and Welbeloved John Christopher Roberts Esquire, or to his lawful Attorney the further Sum of Three hundred and fifty pounds; the said annual payment or Allowance to Commence on the first day of May last. G. R. CARLETON TO GAGE.1 (Secret) (Copy) SIR QUEBEC 4 Feby. 1775. As this goes by Lt. Cleveland of the 7, I will venture to be more explicit about what you mention of the Canadians and Indians in your Letter of the 25th Dec 1 Canadian Archives, Q 11, p. 290. Gen. Gage had arrived in Boston on May 13th 1774, in the double capacity of Governor of Massachusetts and Commander in Chief of the British forces in North America. Upon him, therefore, rested the duty of carrying out the repressive measures enacted by the Home Government, such as the "Port Act," the " Regulating Act," the "Quartering Act," &c. The troubles which culminated in a rising of the people in Sept. induced Gage to call for more troops. He therefore, as we have seen (p. 410.) not only summoned two regiments from Quebec, but enquired as to Carleton's ability to send him a body of Canadians and Indians to assist in suppressing the colonists. 2 This letter has not yet been found among the State Papers. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 last, than I thought it prudent to do by Post, as one may naturally suppose, those, who seem resolved to force their Country into Rebellion, Jealous of the Correspondence, may intercept our Letters, to make themselves Masters of the Correspondence, and should those Disorders continue, as there is too much Reason to apprehend, I submit it to your Consideration, whether it may not be proper to send me a Cypher, for the greater Security of our Correspondence on Matters of a secret nature. The Canadians in General have been made very happy by the Act passed in their Favor, all that have spoke, or wrote to me upon the subject, express the most grateful Sense of what has been done for them; I must not however conceal from Your Excellency, that the Gentry, well disposed, and heartily desirous as they are, to serve the Crown, and to serve it with Zeal, when formed into regular Corps, do not relish commanding a bare Militia, they never were used to that Service under the French Government, (and perhaps for good Reasons) besides the sudden Dismission of the Canadian Regiment raised in 1764, without Gratuity or Recompence to Officers, who engaged in our Service almost immediately after the Cession of the Country, or taking any Notice of them since, tho' they all expected half pay, is still uppermost in their Thoughts, and not likely to encourage their engaging a second Time in the same Way; As to the Habitans or Peasantry, ever since the Civil Authority has been introduced into the Province, the Government of it has hung so loose, and retained so little Power, they have in a Manner emancipated themselves, and it will require Time, and discreet Management likewise, to recall them to their ancient Habits of Obedience and Discipline; considering all the new Ideas they have been acquiring for these ten years past, can it be thought they will be pleased at being suddenly, and without Preparation embodied into a Militia, and marched from their Families, Lands, and Habitations to remote Provinces, and all the Horrors of War, which they have already experienced; It would give an appearance of Truth to the Language of our Sons of Sedition, at this very Moment busily employed instilling into their Minds, that the Act was passed meerly to serve the present Purposes of Government, and in the full Intention of ruling over them with all the Despotism of their ancient Masters.— It may be further observed, that the Act is no more than the Foundation of future Establishments; that the new Commissions and Instructions, expected out, are not yet arrived, and that the Dissolution of the present Constitution, if it deserves the Name, and Establishment of the new one, are still at some Distance; at that Period, upon the first of May, every Civil Regulation, at present existing, is annihilated, and the whole to be cast into a new Form, a Work that must necessarily be attended with some Difficulty, and will require Time, Consideration, and great Prudence, for which it is not in our Power to prepare, untill the final Determination of the Ministry upon all these Matters is known; had the present Settlement taken Place, when first recommended, it would not have roused the Jealousy of the other Colonies, and had the appearance of more disinterested Favor to the Canadians; many Advantages might have resulted therefrom at this Juncture, which must now be deferred to a more distant occasion Since it could not be done before, this would prove a fair opportunity for raising a Battalion or two of Canadians; such a measure might be of singular Use, in finding Employment for, and consequently firmly attaching, the Gentry, to our Interests, in restoring them to a significance, they have nearly lost, and through their Means obtaining a further Influence upon the Lower Class of People, a material Service to the State, besides that of effectually securing many Nations of Savages As to the Indians, Government having thought it expedient to let Matters go in that channel, I have ever considered the late Sir Wm Johnson, to whom, I suppose, 1 The Quebec Act did not come into force until May 1st, 1775. 2 Sir Wm. Johnson, having early settled on the Mohawk river above Albany, and having acquired, through trade and the French wars, an unusual influence over the Iroquois Indians, had been appointed Superintendant of Indian Affairs for the Northern Division. He died on July 11th, 1774. Col. Guy Johnson, his nephew and son-in-law, who had also gerved in the war for the conquest of Canada, had been appointed Sir Wm. Johnson's deputy in 1762 and named as his successor. On Sir William's death he continued for a time as Indian Agent; but his conduct of the office was not very satisfactory and later he was superseded by his cousin Sir John Johnson, son of Sir William. In 1775 the position of Superintendant of Indian Affairs was conferred upon Major John Campbell. 18-3-291 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 Colonel Guy Johnson succeeds, as having their Political Concerns under his immediate Direction, with which I never interfered further, than their Commercial Interests, or the private Property, they possess in the Country, required, and upon this Principle Major Campbell's Commission was granted; however, if I am not greatly deceived in my Intelligence, not only the Domicilie's of the Province, but all the neighbouring Indians are very much at your Disposal, whenever you are pleased to call upon them, and what you recommend shall be complied with- Left to my own Speculations in this retired Corner, without Intelligence of what passes in Europe till very long after the Event, and from a knowledge of the present Continental Transactions only, I entertain no Doubt, our Army is by this Time augmenting, and that as soon as the Navigation opens, some Troops from Britain will be sent up this River, and in my Opinion, it should not be an inconsiderable Force; if we are to have a French War, this Corps will become indispensably necessary here, if not, it might effectually second your Intentions, prevent much Effusion of Blood and Treasure, and procure the speedy Decision of a Contest, rendered more dangerous by every Moment's Delay; the Strong easily find Friends, and no Doubt they might readily procure a Multitude of excellent Guides, who would lead the Way on any Service you should think right to direct--&ca (Signed) (a true Copy) H. T. CRAMAHÉ GUY CARLETON His Excy General Gage Endorsed :-Copy of a Letter from Genl. Carleton to Genl. Gage, dated Quebec 4t Febry 1775. In Lieut. Governor Cramahé's Letter of the 9th Nov DARTMOUTH TO CARLETON.1 Governor Carleton Sir, WHITEHALL 7th June 1775. I have rec1 your Dispatch of the 13th of March, N° 9, and have laid it before the King. The Enemies of the Constitution appear to be unwearied in their Endeavors to convey every Misrepresentation that may have the Effect to weaken the Hands of Gov', and to encourage Faction & Discontent. It is hoped, however, that the Firmness of the present Parliament, in Support of the Measures which the last Parliament thought fit to adopt for America in general, and for regulating the Government of Quebec in particular, will have the Effect to quiet the apprehensions, and remove the Prejudices which ill designing Men have so artfully endeavoured to create. The Attempt made to raise new Difficulties to Gov' on the ground of the Petitions from the old Subjects in Quebec, was supported by the whole Strength of Opposition:how little Impression it made within Doors, will best appear from the great Majority in both Houses against the Proposition that was moved upon those Petitions; and I have the Satisfaction to assure you, that it met with no greater Encouragement without Doors, and that, to all appearance, the People of England, in general, concur in the Measures which have been adopted for America. 1 Canadian Archives, Q 11, p. 145. 2 In this Carleton referred to the continued agitation of the British element against the change in the system of government introduced by the Quebec Act; he referred also to the circulation of a printed translation of the letter addressed to the Canadians by the Continental Congress at Philadelphia; Minutes of the Council were likewise enclosed. See Q 11, p. 129. 3 Referring to the motion made in Parliament during the session of 1775 for the repeal of the Quebec Act. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 I have also the Satisfaction to acquaint you, that an Account published here of a Skirmish between the King's Troops and the Provincials, in the Neighbourhood of Boston, of which, however we have received no Intelligence from General Gage, has had no other Effect than to increase that just Indignation, which every Friend to Government feels, for the Insult offered to the Constitution, in the rebellious Resistance to the Authority of Parliament, by the People in North America. I am &ca CARLETON TO DARTMOUTH.1 DARTMOUTH. MONTREAL 7th June 1775. MY LORD! The 19th of last Month in the Evening, I received Intelligence from General Gage by Sea of the Rebels having commenced Hostilities in the Province of the Massachusets, and Requesting I would send the 7th Regiment with some Companies of Canadians and Indians to Crown Point, in order to make a Diversion, and favour his Operations. The next morning, Captain Hazen arrived Express at Quebec, and brought me an Account, that one Benedict Arnold said to be a native of Connecticut, and a Horse Jockey, landed a considerable Number of armed men at St. John's, distant from this Town eight Leagues, about eight in the Morning of the 18th, surprised the Detatchment of the 26th doing Duty there, consisting of a Serjeant and ten Men, and made them Prisoners, seized upon The King's Sloop, Batteaus, and every other Military Store, and a few Hours after departed, carrying off the Craft, Prisoners, and Stores they had seized. From this Party We had the first Information of the Rebels being in Arms upon the Lakes, and of their having, under the Command of said Arnold, surprised Ticonderoga, Crown Point, the Detatchment of the 26th doing Duty at these two Places, and all the Craft employed upon those Lakes; Arnold told Captain Hazen, He had for that Purpose received a Commission of Colonel from the Congress of the Massachusets, with the Command of five hundred Men, that Volunteers to the Amount of fifteen hundred followed him, but he did not wait for them all. The same Evening another Express brought an Account of the Rebels having landed at St. John's a second Time, in the Night between the 18th and 19th, this Party was said to be three hundred strong, and that nine hundred more were at the Isle aux Noix; this second Party however was not near so numerous as at first reported, and most probably would have been cut off by a Detatchment of one hundred Men from the 26th Regiment, under the Command of Major Preston, had they not been advised of the March of the Troops by one Bindon a Merchant of this Town, upon which they crossed the Sorel, and were fired at by the Troops, as they went down the River. While this Party, Commanded by one Ethan Allen, said to be outlawed in the Province of New York, remained at St. John's, He sent a Letter by this same Bindon, addressed to one Morrison and the British Merchants of Montreal Lovers of Liberty, demanding a Supply of Provisions, Ammunition, and spirituous Liquors, which some of them were inclined enough to furnish, had they not been prevented. The little Force we have in the Province was immediately set in Motion, and ordered to assemble at or near St. John's; The Noblesse of this Neighbourhood were called upon to collect their Inhabitants, in order to defend themselves, the Savages of those Parts likewise had the same orders; but tho' the Gentlemen testified great Zeal, neither their Entreaties or their Example could prevail upon the People; a few of the 1 Canadian Archives, Q 11, p. 184. This despatch gives Carleton's account of the attack on Canada as the sequel to Gage's operations at Boston. It reveals also the surprising extent to which the general body of the French Canadians had adopted British ideas of personal liberty during ten years of British law and administration, as shown in their refusal to submit once more to the feudal authority of the noblesse under the restoration of the French system by the Quebec Act. Many documents of the period, In addition to the few samples given, deal with this important crisis in Canadian government. 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 Gentry, consisting principally of the Youth, residing in this Place, and it's Neighbourhood, formed a small Corps of Volunteers under the Command of Mr. Samuel Mackay, and took Post at St. John's; the Indians shewed as much Backwardness as the Canadian Peasantry. The Consternation in the Towns and Country was great and universal, every Individual seemed to feel our present impotent Situation, for tho' in no Danger of internal Commotions, we are equally unprepared for Attack or Defence; Not six hundred Rank & File fit for Duty upon the whole Extent of this great River, not an armel Vessel, no Place of Strength; the ancient Provincial Force enervated and broke to Pieces; all Subordination overset, and the Minds of the People poisoned by the same Hypocrisy and Lies practised with so much Success in the other Provinces, and which their Emissaries and Friends here have spread abroad with great Art and Diligence; had it not been for those few Troops, three hundred Rebels might have procured all the Arms, Ammunition, and Provisions, this Province can afford, and have kept Post at St. John's with great Security. We are at present fortifying a Post there and at Oswegatchie, tho' there are other Avenues into the Province, I hope the above may be made sufficiently strong to resist any sudden Attack of this Sort; a considerable Force here might not only secure ourselves, but assist General Gage in extinguishing the Flames of Rebellion in the other Provinces more speedily, I fear he has none to spare, and it may be too late in the year to have them from Europe, however I shall see what in our present Situation is further practicable for The King's Service. Within these few Days the Canadians and Indians seem to return a little to their Senses, the Gentry and Clergy have been very useful upon this Occasion, and shewen great Fidelity and Warmth for His Majesty's Service, but both have lost much of their Influence over the People; I propose trying to form a Militia, and if their Minds are favourably disposed, will raise a Battalion, upon the same Plan as the other Corps in America, as to Numbers and Expence, and were it established, I think, it might turn out of great public Utility; but I have many Doubts whether I shall be able to succeed. These Measures, that formerly would have been extremely popular, require at present a great Degree of Caution and Circumspection; so much have the Minds of the People been tainted by the Cabals and Intrigues, I have from time to time given Your Lordship some Information of, I am as yet uncertain whether I shall find it advisable to proceed in the aforementioned Undertaking; to defame their King and treat him with Insolence and Disrespect, upon all Occasions to speak with the utmost Contempt of His Government, to forward Sedition and applaud Rebellion seem to be what too many of His British American Subjects in those Parts think their undoubted Right. For my Part since my Return to this Province, I have seen good Cause to repent my having ever recommended the Habeas Corpus Act and English criminal Laws; these Laws, now used as Arms against the State, require more public Virtue, and greater Fidelity to their Prince, than is generally to be met with amongst the set of People here, that take the Lead upon all Occasions; To render the Colony of that Advantage to Great Britain, it certainly is capable of, would require the reintroducing the French Criminal Law, and all the Powers of it's Government. Our Communication with the other Provinces being entirely stopped, we run a Risk of being at a great Loss for Money, to defray the ordinary and extraordinary Expences, the Service here must be attended with, The Money Contractors, as well as Trade, as this Time of the Year, being used to procure large Supplies of Cash from New York and Philadelphia, with which Places We have at present no Intercourse; if fifteen or twenty thousand Pounds were sent here as soon as possible, it would be of great Use to Government, which must lose considerably by the present low course of Exchange, likely to fall every Day; could it be procured in Dollars, and some Part in small silver, |