CHAPTER XX. 1805. In the early part of this year a riotous affray took place at Shelburne, between a party of recruits for the York' Rangers,' and some of the inhabitants. Sir John Wentworth wrote to the magistrates there, (21 January), stating that lieutenant general Bowyer would order "the black recruit" "Chance, and also McEvoy, to be immediately removed from " "Shelburne, as they appear to have been the cause of the " "disturbance." If the magistrates think it necessary, he will remove the whole party. In March, Sir John Wentworth notifies Mr. George Leonard that ten families of loyalists are desirous to remove from New England, to settle upon their lands near the river Antigonish, where they had relatives and connections already settled. In April he writes to earl Camden, now secretary of state, that it is reported the French fleet, having escaped from Rochfort, was plundering in the West India islands, and was apprehensive of their visiting these coasts, and sheltering in the United States. The arrival of vice admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, in the Leander, accompanied by the gun brig 'Busy,' had re-assured him. A French prisoner having murdered one of his fellow captives, was, with some difficulty, rescued from the others, who were present and saw him do it. His excellency was requested by captain McKellar, agent of prisoners, to issue a special commission to try the case, but Sir John thought it might prove an excuse to the French to inflict sudden cruelty on English prisoners, so he declined to interfere, as the regular court would meet in July. Several deserters from H. M. service, and some escaped French prisoners, were understood to be hovering and concealed about Prospect, Aspotogon and Lunenburg. A party of Chester militia tendered their services to apprehend the deserters who were possessed of arms. Sir John (3 May) requested lieutenant general Bowyer to issue 7 stand of arms to lieutenant Covey, of the Chester artillery company. He says more than 200 men in the district of Chester are unarmed, the regiment having increased more than that number since arms were issued to colonel Creighton. A young Nova Scotian, Thomas Cochran, son of the hon. Thomas Cochran, a judge in Upper Canada, was this year drowned. [See verses in appendix.] 4 May. Vice admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell wrote to the lieut. governor, complaining that deserters from the navy were often harbored and concealed-stating that "combinations of mer- " "chants assisted therein," and that the ships under his command were deficient of men, and asked for a press warrant on this account. The governor and council referred them to the English act, 19 Geo. 2, c. 30, and the provincial law of 32 Geo. 2, for apprehending deserters and punishing those who harbored them, as they had no power on the subject, and further granted him a press warrant for 14 days, under the customary restrictions. It was so drawn as to enable the vice admiral to delegate the authority to as many officers as he should think proper. Mitchell was dissatisfied, and asked to have several press warrants issued, and made to remain in force for six months. 18 May. The council took this last request into consideration, and advised his excellency that there was no precedent to be found in this province for the adoption of the measures the vice admiral had suggested, and that if such a course were resorted to, it would, in their opinion, produce the most alarming and injurious consequences to the country, without contributing, in any material degree, to the obtaining the object sought by it. If seamen only were taken, there would not be found in the province as many as half the complement of a sloop of war. The West India trade had been almost annihilated by captures, and our sea-faring men are' "either dead or confined in French prisons, many of whom' 'have left numerous families, to be supported by the poor ' rates or private charity.' The seamen arriving here in ships from Europe are drawn hence to the United States, by the dread of impressment, and prospect of good wages. From the yet limited trade of the province, it had been found by experience, that pressing on shore had but a small effect for manning the navy, and the fisheries have been greatly on the decline from the effects of the war. They say that the captains of H. M. ships, under the admiralty warrants, exercise the right of impressment of seamen found on ships in the harbours of the province, and have ample authority by law for the apprehending and recovery of deserters. Pressing on shore is attended with much disturbance and annoyance to the laboring poor, and others, not liable to the impress or not fit for the service. Finally they advised his excellency not to extend or renew the impress warrant for the present. Some time after a difficulty arose between the captain of H. M. S. Leander and Mr. Lyon. The captain sought to prosecute Lyon, but the solicitor general said he thought no verdict could be obtained against him. The subject of their dispute is not stated. It is said Sir A. Mitchell had to pay heavy damages to Forsyth & Co., for breaking open their stores to look for deserters. The Frenchman who had killed his fellow prisoner was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death; but as the case was novel, Sir John Wentworth respited his execution-sent chief justice Blowers' report of the trial to earl Camden, secretary of state, and prayed for instructions. In July, Sir John Wentworth wrote to the poet Moore, sending him a pen and ink drawing of a landscape, (in Nova Scotia), the work of the rev. B. G. Gray. He says: "I hope "the drawing will meet your approbation, and that both it" " and the scenery it represents will be brought into favorable "notice, by being prefixed to your intended publication, "which I shall be anxious to possess, that I must now solicit " "you to send me the book as soon as it is published." The new establishment on Sable island had proved in the past winter the means of saving the crews of two wrecked vessels. The season had been very severe there, and supplies not arriving in the spring owing to bad weather, four wild horses were killed for food. Many swine and sheep were killed by the frost, which effected one good for the island in destroying an 'incredible' number of rats. Several vessels had been warned off, by signals, from running down on the island. About 40 feet in breadth and three miles in length had been washed away by the sea from the north side of the island, which increased the danger of landing. One family, settled near the middle of the island, had been withdrawn for want of funds. Oats, Indian corn and kitchen garden vegetables, prospered there. A sword, of 120 guineas value, was presented to lieutenant general Bowyer, on his leaving Nova Scotia, by the principal inhabitants of Halifax. [Sir F. W. to Mr. Bernard, 27 July, 1805.] Sir J. W. acknowledges a letter from earl Camden, and tells him that he has accordingly notified Mr. Hill that he is to have a seat in H. M. council. His excellency at all times gave much attention to the militia of the province. They were but scantily supplied with arms. Many of his letters remain, requesting of the generals who commanded in this garrison supplies of muskets-40 for one company, and 20 or 30 for another. Lieutenant general Gardiner had replaced Bowyer, and he enquired of Sir John what assistance could be expected from the militia to man the batteries in the harbor, and pointed out the necessity for such volunteers to practise at the great guns twice a week. From the lieutenant governor's reply, we find there were three battalions of Halifax militia. Of these, the companies of captains Morris, Bremner, and Fillis had volunteered, (the law requiring only 4 days duty in the year.) Fillis commanded 60 men, who had begun their artillery exercise. Captain McIntosh's company were to do duty at York redoubt, being fishermen, living near it. Sir John suggested their being instructed on sunday afternoons, as they were generally employed in their boats in the week. There were companies of artillery in other militia regiments who had been instructed by men from the force who had been discharged and settled in the province. "One company of 40 men, under captain Thompson, reside" near Chester, and from their situation may discover the " "approach of an enemy before it can be known here. This" 'company will, in a few hours, be able to join York redoubt." In many respects the province was prospering. More dried fish was preparing this summer than at any preceding season, and the pickled fish business was on a large scale. Agriculture was gaining ground. The greatest harvest was gathered in that had ever been known in the province. Provisions of most kinds were supplied for the army, fleet, dockyard, from 500 to 700 prisoners of war, and the town; and exports made to Bermuda and Newfoundland. The arrival of three ships of the line, whose companies had to be subsisted, made no difference in prices. Sir John Wentworth says that 12 years before provisions were imported from New England for the constant supply of the Halifax market. It is true that then, as now, large quantities of flour were brought here from the United States. The college at Windsor was now under the new president, rev'd. Mr. Coxe, of Worcester college, Oxford. The expences of a student there were estimated at £50 sterling, exclusive of clothing, and of a pupil of the academy attached to it at £40. On friday, 18 October, the council established quarantine for all vessels arriving from Philadelphia, New York, and other ports of the U. States and the West Indies, as an epidemic yellow fever was raging in those places. The king had referred the fate of Pierre Paulin, the French prisoner sentenced to death for the murder of his fellow prisoner, to the judgment and discretion of the lieutenant governor, who took the advice of the council. Their opinion was that he should be executed. His excellency ordered the sentence to be carried out on thursday, 24 October. Vice admiral Mitchell assumed authority to send pressgangs into the streets of Halifax, without any warrant from the civil power, and seizing men for his ships. A party of sailors and marines, armed with bayonets, being sent ashore from H. M. S. Cleopatra, a riot ensued, in which a person' was |