* A Distributed Proofreaders Canada eBook *
This eBook is made available at no cost and with very few restrictions. These restrictions apply only if (1) you make a change in the eBook (other than alteration for different display devices), or (2) you are making commercial use of the eBook. If either of these conditions applies, please check with an FP administrator before proceeding.
This work is in the Canadian public domain, but may be under copyright in some countries. If you live outside Canada, check your country's copyright laws. If the book is under copyright in your country, do not download or redistribute this file.
Title: The Scribbler 1821-07-19 Volume 1, Issue 04
Date of first publication: 1821
Author: Samuel Hull Wilcocke 1766-1833 (Editor)
Date first posted: Dec. 13, 2014
Date last updated: Dec. 13, 2014
Faded Page eBook #20141214
This eBook was produced by: Marcia Brooks & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net
| Montreal. | Thursday,19th July, 1821. | No. IV. |
To give a brief and impartial review of the few literary productions that owe their origin to, or derive their interest from, Canada, having been announced as part of my plan, I will begin that department of my labours, with the first regular original work that I believe ever issued from the press in this country.
Relation d'un Voyage à la Côte du Nord-Ouest de l'Amérique Septentrionale dans les années 1810, 11, 12, 13, et 14.—Par G. Franchere, fils.
This is what may be called a matter of fact work; one of those from which geographers, historians, and naturalists derive the materials for their systems, descriptions, and histories. It has been often a matter of surprise that so few among the many who have traversed the almost unknown regions of the interior of this Continent, have, in any shape, recorded, or rendered public, their narratives and observations. Yet when[Pg 26] it is considered that it is the love of gain, principally, if not entirely, that has led them to encounter the numerous difficulties of such enterprises; that they are little fitted by education, habits, or talents, for any thing beyond their immediate sphere of action; and that, in addition, the jealousy of commercial monopoly is ever alive to discourage, or suppress, the publication of any details connected with the lucrative pursuits which bring their traders in contact with the wonders of nature, the loci ignoti, and flumina ignota of the poet; it will cease to astonish. We ought therefore to hail with the greater pleasure, welcome with the more honour, and peruse with the more indulgence, whatever appears in such a shape as the work now under consideration. Mr. Franchere undoubtedly appears to have had some talent for observation, and to be a faithful narrator of occurrences. There is much less, however, of description both of animated and inanimate nature, than might have been expected from the extensive range of his travels, and the stupendous objects that presented themselves. In this respect his book is too scanty, whilst, it is, in other points, unnecessarily eked out with individual details, such for instance as the list of the ship's crew, in which he embarked, and the superfluous, and superseded account of New-York, etc. which would not be unworthy of a regular bred book-maker. It is nevertheless an interesting performance, giving an account of places and circumstances, known to very few individuals in this place, and entirely unknown to the rest of the world. The commercial expedition which he accompanied, sailed from New-York in September, 1810, and formed the first settlement at the mouth of the Columbia, on the North-West Coast of America; the narratives of which, and of the[Pg 27] voyage, occupy the ten first chapters. The occurrences there during the three succeeding years, take up six more. Three chapters are devoted to a brief account of the country, its natural productions, and of the natives, their manners, appearance, and language; and the seven last chapters relate the journey over land to Montreal. A great defect, and which must much diminish the value of the work as a book of reference, is the want of any kind of map, either of the River Columbia, of the North West Coast, or of the Indian territories through which the author passed. Although the narrative, neither in its details, nor its language, is such as to rivet the attention of the reader throughout, yet it is sufficiently instructive and interesting to ensure the entire perusal of it, by whoever commences it, and who has any taste for the sort of reading to be found in all voyages and travels. There is no doubt that an English translation of it would be well received in London; but it would be more so, if there were more commercial memoranda embodied in it; these the author has evidently studious avoided, not following in this respect the example of his illustrious predecessor in this career, Sir Alexander Mackenzie; but perhaps he had his reasons, and which it may not be difficult to guess. To general readers, setting aside the few chapters descriptive of the country, and the natives, the narrative of the massacre of the crew of the Tonquin, and the short account given of the expedition undertaken and completed in 1810-11, by Messieurs Hunt and Mackenzie, from the waters of the Missouri, to the mouth of the Columbia, will be the most interesting; to which may be added the following short extract recounting an adventure on the journey towards the Rocky Mountains, with which I will conclude the review of this book.[Pg 28]
"We shortly after perceived some canoes which were paddling with all their might to overtake us. As, however, we continued to proceed on our route, we heard a child's voice, calling out in French to us to stop. We landed, and the canoes having come up, we recognized in one of them, the wife and children of one Pierre Dorion, a hunter, who had been sent with a party of eight men under the command of Mr. J. Reed, to collect provisions amongst the Snake Indians. This woman informed us of the miserable fate of the whole party. She related that, in the course of the month of January, the hunters being dispersed about the country, in order to set their beaver traps; three men, one of whom was her husband, were attacked by the natives. One of them, who had only been wounded, got back to the tent, where he died in a few minutes, after having told her that her husband was killed; that she had directly taken two horses which had been left at the tent, and placing her two children also upon them, had, with the greatest expedition, proceeded to Mr. Reed's post, which was about five days' journey from the place where her husband was killed; that to her extreme surprise, and horror, she found the house empty, and perceiving traces of blood, did not doubt that Mr. Reed had been murdered: that she then lost no time in pursuing her flight towards the mountains to the south of the River Walawala, where she passed the winter, killing the two horses for the nourishment of herself and her children: that at length, being destitute of provisions, she had come to the resolution of descending from the mountains, and proceeding to the banks of the Columbia River, in the hope of meeting with more humane natives, and who might suffer her to reside with them, until the canoes arrived, which she knew would ascend the river in the spring. The Walawala Indians had in fact exercised great hospitality towards this woman, and it was they, who brought her to us. We made them a few presents, to reward them for their humanity and attention, and they went away well satisfied."
Mr. F. says, that they did not doubt that this massacre was a retaliation exercised upon them by the Indians, for the death of one of them who had been hung for a theft the preceding spring by a Mr.—— (with whose name I will not soil my page;) adding this short, but sensible reflection:[Pg 29]
"This fact, the massacre of the crew of the Tonquin, the unfortunate end of Captain Cook, and many other similar examples, evince how much those Europeans who come in contact with uncivilized tribes, ought to avoid acting towards them upon a footing of too evident inequality, and punishing their offences, according to customs and codes of law, in which there frequently exists a most extravagant disproportion between crimes and their punishments."
Another reflection can not likewise fail to present itself from this short narrative; namely, admiration of the courage, perseverance, heroism, and resources of the woman, who, emboldened by maternal love, encountered difficulties and fatigues that few men would have supported.
Upon the whole Mr. Franchere's work is deserving of more encouragement than, I believe, it has hitherto met with in these provinces, and ought to form part of every gentleman's library in Canada.
The Emigrant's Assistant, or remarks on the Agricultural interest of the Canadas; part I. by A. J. Christie, A. M. with an Appendix.
This is the latest work that has appeared on this (locally) interesting subject, and undoubtedly, as far as it goes, by far the best. The author has had abundant opportunities of becoming theoretically acquainted with his subject, and is now, it is understood, likewise practically engaged in the task (arduous to a literary man,) of settling upon waste land; hence his second part, will, when it appears, probably add considerably to the value of the first.
The feature which predominates in this publication is the accuracy and plain intelligence of the accounts given of the various modes of tenure[Pg 30] of land in Canada, and the measures to be pursued by the various classes of emigrants for obtaining their object; so that it can not but be eminently useful to them who arrive in this country with a view to settle as husbandmen. The style of the work is simple, unaffected and clear, well adapted to the capacity of that class for whose information it is chiefly intended. There are some few marks of haste (although it was announced a long while before it made its appearance,) about it, but none peculiarly prominent. It may be considered as an omission in the appendix that a notice which has been given in the Upper Canada papers, by the Executive Council, dated 7th February, 1821, has been overlooked; by which the period for completing the settlement-duty on such lands as have been granted to persons, who have from sickness, and other legitimate causes, been unable to fullfil that duty, is extended to two years from the date of the locations.
In stating the comparative advantages between the seigneurial tenures and those in free and common soccage, the, to Englishmen inestimable, privilege of a vote in the representation, which attaches to both, but from which it is contended, (and has been decided in Upper Canada,[A]) that the simple possessor of a location ticket, before the grant has been perfected, is excluded, is altogether lost sight of.
When the second part appears, it shall receive that attention, which, it will, as well as the first, no doubt, amply deserve.
"Pooh! pooh! what's all this?" says my sprightly Irish widow, who came tripping in to give me[Pg 31] an extra-official report of an immense coal-skuttle bonnet, she had just remarked upon a thin-faced lady, (though that was chiefly conjecture, as the face was as much hidden as the lady in the lobster,) "now my dare old fellow, give us something like; a sweet song, or a pretty little story that's as true as—" "as that thou art a bewitching creature," interrupted I, and as a compliment to a lady never fails to put her in good humour, I persuaded her to forego the determined resolution she had expressed to tear up my poor "Scribbler" of to-day, whilst I wrote out for her the following lines, a juvenile production of Master Lewis Macculloh, a short time after he left school.
"Thank you, thank you, that'll do, stop there; and now for your story, but let it be short for I've no time," looking at the clock, "Ah," said I, following the glance of her bright sparkling eye, "do you know that when Fontenelle was asked what difference there was between a clock and a woman, he replied, a clock serves to point out the hours, and a woman to make us forget[Pg 32] them!"—"But I've no time now to be after making you forget the time," retorted the lively beauty, and away she bounded with airy step and flying garments, that gave such glimpses as made me regret——I was not twenty years younger.
L. L. M.
N. B.—The aforesaid thin-faced lady is warned against wearing the said bonnet any more, particularly, as her features, though appearing puny under such an enormous canopy, have the most intrinsic delicacy of expression and beauty, and ought not to be buried, like Juliet in the tomb of the Capulets.
Wanted, a number of spruce young men, to stand at the church-doors, for the devout purpose of staring the ladies out of countenance. Nothing is required but a sufficient share of impudence, and a good coat. If, however, to these, be added a talent for making remarks aloud upon every lady as she passes, and for tittering so as to shew a good set of teeth, the applicant will be considered the better qualified for his station. Persons desirous of engaging in this business will please to take their stands next Sunday, for the purpose of giving a specimen of their abilities.
Memm. Those who have but one Sunday coat may have it brushed gratis on the occasion.
Also wanted,—A few loungers to parade arm in arm, no less than eight in a row, along the Champ de Mars, every fine evening, or whenever the regimental band is playing.
[A] By a majority of five, in the House of Assembly, at York, in March last.
Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors, including punctuation, have been corrected, with the exception of those listed below. All other inconsistencies have been left as they were in the original.
[The end of The Scribbler 1821-07-19 Volume 1, Issue 04 edited by Samuel Hull Wilcocke]