CHAPTER XII.

1796. The assembly met on thursday, 3 March. Sir John Wentworth, in his opening speech, notices the general prosperity of the province-suggests the removal of taxes to some extent, as the public debt had been reduced-the erection of public buildings-improvement of roads and bridges, and encouragement of agriculture; alludes also to the high price of bread. In the reply of the house, the dearness of grain throughout America is mentioned. The capitation had produced in the year past £717 16s. 2d. The balance against the province is stated at £2082 16s. 7d. 18 acts were passed in this session, among which was one for drawing juries from a box in which each name returned by the sheriff as qualified should be written on a piece of paper; another to incorporate Jonathan Tremain, and others, who had projected a bridge of boats from Black rock, on the Dartmouth shore, to the Naval hospital, to cross Halifax harbor, leaving a drawbridge for passage of vessels, boats, &c.; an act for fixing the assize of bread, which continued in force to recent times; an act for sinking public wells, and an act to encourage the killing of wolves, bears, loup cerviers and wild cats, by rewards, which was continued until 1804. The assembly was prorogued on. 11th April.

In March, Mr. Ewing reached Halifax, after a tedious captivity in Guadaloupe.

Sir John Wentworth writes to the earl of Portland, 17 April. He speaks of the harmony with which the session of the assembly, beginning 3d March and prorogued 11th April, had

been conducted. He says his opening and closing speeches include the general business. "The supplies were cheerfully granted, and the revenue acts continued nearly as last year, "and I trust will be productive, altho' many of the vessels in "the West India trade have been captured, and will thereby "in some degree lessen that service." Refers to the high prices of flour, but says, "thro' the aid of messrs. Hartshorne "and Tremain, who have the only extensive manufacture of "that article in this province, we have hitherto kept the price "below that at Philadelphia or New York, and have secured "a quantity sufficient to prevent any distress to the inhabi"tants, to the fisheries or to the other navigation, until relief may arise from the ensuing crops, for the increase of which "far greater preparations are making throughout the province "than hath hitherto been done." Speaks of the "length and "intenseness of the winter," and high price of fuel. Had to aid the Miquelon French, "to preserve them from suffering. Their industry, sobriety, and regular, decent deportment, fully " "justifying their relief." The Royal charity to the Indians has saved 300 "from the extremest misery." Some families of them, whom he has supplied with tools and seed, are attending to agriculture.

St. George's day, 23 April, (saturday), was kept with great honors. A levée was kept at government house-flags of citadel and shipping hoisted. At 5, P. M., a dinner of the English society took place. Prince Edward, Sir J. Wentworth, general Ogilvie, chief justice Strange, and the field officers of the garrison, were led to a table under a canopy. When the prince left, the standard was hoisted, and a salute fired by the Royal artillery. Toasts and loyal songs formed part of the entertainment.

26 April. Sir J. Wentworth congratulates Mr. Barclay on his appointment as British commissioner for settling the boundary line with the United States on the side of Passamaquoddy.

21 May. Sir J. Wentworth, writing to the under secretary of state, Mr. King, describes the French Acadians as being of loyal and virtuous habits, and in feeling as wholly British sub

jects, and entirely changed from their former sentiments. He says: "It is no small comfort to me, that this change has "taken place during my administration, and that they are now among the most faithful and happy subjects of his " "majesty." A large ship bound from France to New York had been sent in (as prize probably), in which were 40 French emigrants, royalists, in extreme poverty, and some Irish. He says: "Here they must soon be loyal, because we have no" "other fashion among us, and full comfort, employment and " plenty under that denomination, insomuch that disloyalty "will less thrive here than, it is said, noxious reptiles do in" "Ireland." He asks for a French priest, on request of the Acadians.

The 4 June, the king's birth day, was celebrated this year with much éclat. The Royal standard was displayed. The garrison fired salutes at noon on the parade, which were repeated by the ships of war and batteries; and the militia artillery, under captain Tremain. saluted in front of government house. Levées were held at Sir John Wentworth's and vice admiral Murray's, who entertained the officers, civil and military, afterwards. The prince Edward was at Sir John's party. In the evening government house was illuminated. At the British tavern 60 or 70 chief merchants, and others, at 5, P. M. had a dinner on the occasion.

The Thetis, captain Cochrane, sailed on a cruise 21 June. In the island of Jamaica, when it was conquered from the Spaniards in the 17th century, numbers of African slaves had left the plantations and taken their abode in the mountains. There they remained in a state of wild freedom, and were known by the name of Maroons. They made treaties with the English authorities from time to time; but about this period a war took place between the English and these people, in which the Maroons were defeated, and a great number of them were transported from the island to Nova Scotia. 500 of these arrived at Halifax on the 22d July, 1796. On the 25th, the prince engaged to employ such of them as would volunteer, as laborers on the fortifications at Halifax, and to pay them each 9d. a day, besides provisions, lodging and clothing.—Messrs.

William Dawes Quarrel and Alexander Ochterlony, agents of the Jamaica assembly, arrived with the Maroons. Sir J. Wentworth, after informing the duke of Portland of the arrival of the Maroons, (23 July), proceeds thus: "The French inha-" "bitants from Miquelon, alarmed by continual denunciations, " "and fearing the cruellest punishments, should they here- " "after fall into the hands of their countrymen, have request"ed to return to France in a cartel ship, expected here in "the course of next month to carry naval prisoners, which I" "have consented to, as their usefulness can no longer be " "relied upon, and their passage is to be provided by the" "French consul at Philadelphia." Regrets their removal, they were useful in the fisheries and in fitting out vessels for merchants.

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Captain Jones Fawson, of the R. N. S. regiment, was now appointed to command the provincial snow, earl of Moira, Crosskill, who had been her commander, holding no navy rank, although an excellent officer, and Fawson having been a navy officer. The Moira had been used to convoy transports to Miramichi and Quebec, and fishing vessels from Labrador.

The chief justice, Thomas Andrew Strange, being about to go to England, the grand jury of Halifax addressed him with expressions of esteem and attachment. This address was signed by Richard Kidston, foreman, William Forsyth, Jonathan Tremain, George Grassie, William Lyon, Robert Lyon, John Howe, Joseph Davis, Hugh Kelly, Thos. Fillis, Francis Stevens, Jacob Miller, James Ewing, Joseph Anderson, George Bell, James Creighton, Edward Kerby, William Williams, John Bremner, William Lawlor, James Cochran. On the 25 July, chief justice Strange sailed for Falmouth in the Princess Royal packet, captain Skinner.

The agents, Quarrel and Ochterlony, were appointed by lord Balcarras as principal and deputy commissaries, and had a credit of £25,000, Jamaica currency, for their use. The Maroons were first quartered about two miles from Halifax, and several estates (in Preston) within five miles of the town, comprising above 3000 acres, were purchased for their settlement. The cost of the land and the buildings required were

estimated at £3000 sterling, the title of which was vested in the government of Jamaica. Sir John Wentworth suggested the escheat of a tract of 16,000 or 18,000 acres, about four miles further, in order to grant it for the use of the Maroons. He asks for an annual grant of £240, to be applied in religious instruction, and in a school, for their benefit. He says it "would reclaim them to the church of England, and dissemi"nate Christian piety, morality and loyalty among them." He sends an order to England for many things they require, among which are '40 gross coat and 60 gross vest white" "metal buttons, strong; Device-An alligator holding wheat" ears and an olive branch; Inscription-Jamaica to the" "Maroons, 1796." Sir John describes these people as healthy, peaceable, orderly and inoffensive, and highly delighted with the country. "About 50 of them slept in my outhouse at " "the farm, where I am often without a sentry, or even lock-' "ing a door or window." He expected to have them comfortably settled in Preston in the autumn, and is satisfied that they will be healthy and prosper in this climate, as they will have plenty of food, raiment and fuel.

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The 12 August, birth day of the prince of Wales, was kept with parades, salutes, and all the military pomp possible, by garrison, militia and navy; and a banquet at government house, at which the prince Edward, the army and navy officers and chief gentlemen of the town were guests of Sir John Wentworth, concluded the festival.

This summer the Active, frigate, with lord Dorchester and family on board, was shipwrecked on the island of Anticosti. The ship was lost, but all the people were saved. Lord D. and family got to Percé, a fishing village in the gulf of St. Lawrence. His lordship and family arrived at Halifax on the 15 August, passengers in the provincial vessel the earl of Moira. 30th, they sailed in the Dover, for England.

5 September, a French squadron of five or six sail of the line, with three frigates and a corvette, said to be under admiral Richery, made a descent at the bay of Bulls, Newfoundland. They destroyed the settlement, capturing vessels, plundering, taking off men, cattle and other property, and devastated the