Sir Francis Bond Head: A Narrative 9780773595200

Table of contents :
Cover
Title
Copyright
The Carleton Library
Contents
INTRODUCTION TO THE CARLETON LIBRARY EDITION
PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
NOTE ON THE AUTHOR
INDEX

Citation preview

SIR FRANCIS BOND HEAD

A NARRATIVE WITH NOlES BY WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE

EDITED AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY S. F. WISE

THE CARLETON LIBRARY NO. 43

MCCLELLAND AND STEWART LIMITED TORONTO MONTREAL

© MCCLELLAND AND STEWART LIMITED,

1969

A Narrative by Sir Francis B. Head, Bart., was first published by John Murray. London, in 1839. Included aro notes written by William Lyon Mackenzie in the margins of his copy of A Narrative, which is now in the Massey Library of Tho Royal Military College of Canada at Kingston.

ALL RJO HTS RESERVED

The Canadian Publishers McClell and and Stewart Limited 25 Hollinger Road, Toronto 16

PRINTED AND BOUND IN CANADA BY T.H.nEST PRINTING COMPANY LIMITED

THE CARLETON LIBRARY A series of Canadian reprints and new collections of source material relating to Canada. issued under the editorial supervision of the Institute of Canadian Studies of Carleton University, Ottawa. DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE

Pauline Jewett GENERAL EDITOR

Robert L. McDougall EDITORIAL BOARD

David M. L. Farr (History) Khayyam Z. Paltiel (Political Science) H.Edward English (Economics) Bruce A. McFarlane (Sociology) Gordon C. Merrill (Geography) Wilfrid Eggleston (Journalism) Robin S. Harris (Education)

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO THE CARLETON LmRARY EDITION l J REFACE TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION

xi

xxxiii

1 CHAPTER I Preliminary History - The Elevation of Mr. M'Kenzie, and tbe recall, by the Colonial Office, of His Excellency Major-General Sir John Colborne.

CHAPTER II 16 The H istory of my Appointment to tbe Government of Upper Canada.

22 CHAPTER III My Arrival at Toronto - Strange impression concerning meThe cond uct of the Loyalists - and of the RepUblicans - Copy of Letter fro m Mr. Joseph Hume to Mr. M'Kenzie, found among Mons. Papineau's baggage - My communication to his Majesty's Government.

32 CHAPT ER IV The Republicans are mortified - My Opinions and Policy expressed to Ihe Colonial Office - Am called upon to increase the Executive Council - Ominous circums tances attending these Appointments - The Republicans prepare to advance .

CHAPTER

v1t

39

The Prerogative of the Crown assa iled by the Executive Council - The House of Assembly furiously joins in the attack - Remonstrance useless - They stop the Supplies - Insult me in a

viii

A NARRATIVE

Petition to the King, and to the House of Commons - I appeal to his Majesty's Government for support - Solemnly warn the _ Government of their policy - Withhold assent to Money-BillsDecline to grant the Contingencies, and dissolve the AssemblyExplain to his Majesty's Government why I cannot agree with the Commissioners of lnquiry, and tender my ResignationResult of the Elections - Dr. Duncombe and Mr. Hume declare to Lord Melbourne that I have fabricated votes - Earnest Recommendation to his Majesty's Government not to surrender the casual and territorial Revenues of the Crown. 65 CHAPTER VI Return to Toronto, after a two months' Inspectional Tour of the Provinces - Submit to his Majesty's Government a Memorandum on the Political State of the Canadas - Also a Memorandum on the Indian Tribes - Remonstrate with the Government - Adhere to the opinion that the Casual and Territorial Revenues should not be surrendered - Reply to Mr. Ex-Speaker Bidwell's Accusation - Loyal Address from the Speaker of the new House of Assembly On granting the Supplies.

--"J

80 CHAPTER VI! History of the Downfall of His Excellency Lieutenant-General Archibald Campbell, Bart., Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick - Its political Effect upon me - Receive Intelligence that His Majesty's Government had assented to the Road Bills of the Old Assembly, which I had reserved - Earnestly remonstrate against Concessions to Democracy - Gratifying result of the Metropolitan Elections - Paragraph in my published Despatch against Mr. Hume cancelled by the Colonial OfficeCommuted Pensioners the Suspension of Cash Payments throughout the United States - The Legislature is convenedD espatch to the Colonial Office, explaining the Insecurity to Property of Republican Institutions - Violent Struggle in the House of Assembly. 92 CHAPTER vnr The Colonial Office again legislate on ex-parte statementsSecond Memorandum on the Political State of the CanadasCurious Questions respecting Fugitive Slaves - Third Memor~ andum on the Political State of the Canadas - Embarrassment

ix

produced by tbe Colonial Office showing their Despatches to the Lieutenant-Governor (before he has received them) to a complaining Colonist.

CHAPTER IX 106 " ~ ; Three ultimate causes of my Resigoation - 1. Dismissal of I Judge Ridout - Order from His Majesty's Government for his Restorat ion - 2. Appointments of Attorney and Solicitor-General, arrested by His Majesty's Government - 3. Reaso ns for not elevating Ex-Speaker Bidwell to the Bench - His Majesty's Government communicate their desires for his Elevation - My refusal to obey their orders - The Republica n Party unmask themselves and attack Toronto - Despatch to His Majesty's Government - Important Moral in it suppressed.

'W

153 CHAPTER X Order back the Militia - Address the Governor of the State of New York - H. S. Fox, Esq., Her Majesty's Minister at Washington - Despatch to Her Majesty's Government - American Pi rates forced to abandon Navy Island - Receive Despatch accepting my Resignation - Important Reply thereto - Allegations against one of Her Majesty's Under-Secretaries of State for the Colonies - Nature of Evidence.

CHAPTER XI

166

Captain Drew, R.N. - Desc ription of the capture of the Caroline - The Province again attacked - Farewell Speech to the Legislature - Despatch to Mr. Fox - Fresh Invasion - Support of the Legislatures of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick - Address to me from the Speaker of the House of Assembl y - Gall ant conduct of Captain Brown, of her Majesty's Thirty-second Regiment - Confession of the America n General Sutherland - Concluding Despatch to her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. CHAPTER Xli

187

Arrival in London - Interview with the Secretary of State - Letter to Lord Melbourne.

,

A NARRATIVE

199 CHAPTER xm A few Observations on three or four Paragraphs in the Report on the Affairs of British North America from tbe Earl of Durham, her Majesty's Higb Commissioner, &c. &c. &c. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING

229

NOTE ON THE AUTHOR

230

INDEX

231

INTRODUCTION TO THE CARLETON LIBRARY EDITION

"

In 1852.