Canadian Historical Archives.

Canadian Historical Archives. We have received a copy of the report on Canadian Historical Archives, for 1884, by Douglas Brymner, Archivist. Mr. Brymer appears to be untiring in his efforts to bring to light all documents relating to Canadian History. Copyists are now at work in the Public Record office. London, on State papers from a date immediately preceding the cession of 1760. Many of these documents, although under the sub-title of “New England,” relate directly to Canadian affairs. Copies are also being made in Rome of documents transcribed from the the Archives of the Gesu, the Propaganda, ect. Mr. Brymner says very considerable progress has been made during the past year in the work of investigation, and in procuring copies of documents of historical value. The aquisition of Dr. Rolph’s papers, which include letters from Mr. Baldwin, Sir Francis Hincks, Mr. Gibson, Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie and others, are especially interesting to those studying upper Canadian history, and throw much light on the events of the rebellion of 1837-8, and the question of the “Flag of Truce.” “In a work of such magnitude as that of collecting in one central place of deposit all the documents , original or copied, relating to the history of the Provinces composing the Dominion,” continues Mr. Brymner, “it is evident that without the cordial co-operation of all interested in the various parts of British North America, no progress commensurate with the extent of the task could be expected,” and he therefore calls “the attention of the possessors of family and other papers, which throw a light on the social, commercial, municipal or political history of the country, to the importance of having these deposited among the archives, either for present, or if the contents do not admit of it, for future reference.” No doubt the most interesting part of the report for 1884, to the Maritime Provinces reader is a “General Description of the Province of Nova Scotia, and a report of the present state of the Defences, etc,.” by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Morse, Chief Engineer in Americas. Acting under instructions from Sir Guy Carleton, commander-in-chief of his Majesty’s Forces in North America, having his head quarters in New York, Lt. Col. Morse, in 1783 proceeded on a tour through the Province of Nova Scotia (which at that time included New Brunswick). This report opens with a description of the northern coast, extending from Cape Canso, the eastern extremity, to Cape Sable, the western. He then proceeds up the Bay of Fundy, and says the harbor of Annapolis Royal “is not only the best harbor in the bay, but among the best in the Province.” He next describes the north-east coast and the Gut of Canso, the Island of Cape Breton, Island of St. John (P.E.I.), Isle of Sable, Seal Islands, and Island of Grand Manan. Having gone around the coast, he crosses the Bay of Fundy, and describes Passamaquoddy Bay and the islands lying across it, and speaks of Etang Harbor as the “best harbor, in a military light, in the province, it being the easiest to defend.” Passing up the northern shore of the Bay of Fundy, he came and the “harbor which is at the mouth of the River St. John,” and his opinion of the harbor is not very favorable on “account of a bar which can only be passes at certain times of the tide.” Could Lt. Col. Morse only visit St. John to-day he would find that we possessed one of the finest harbors in America, the entrance to which is capable of admitting the largest vessel afloat and upon whose bosom hundreds of ships could ride out in safety any storm. The report also gives a description of all the rivers in the Province, and deals particularly with the River St. John, and the kind of soil that is found on its banks, which impressed him very favorably. The original or Indian name of the river (Orastook), he says, signifies a great collection of water. After giving a minute-account of the mountains, soil, productions, fruits, woods, animals, birds, fossils, climate, ect., he gives a description of “the old inhabitants,” exclusive of the disbanded troops, and Loyalists, Acadians and Indians. He adds: “Before I proceed to give the number of the disbanded troops and Loyalists, it may not be improper to observe that a great part of the old inhabitants especially the wealthy ones, are from New England, and that they discovered during the late war, the same sentiments which prevailed in that country. I think it necessary to add that Legislature is principally composed of these men, and that some of the higher public offices are at present filled with the most notorious of such characters.” Speaking of the defences of the Province the following description is given of Fort Howe: “there is only one small irregular field work at St. John’s Harbor, not far from the mouth of the river. This little work was erected in the course of the late war, but that position being low and commanded, and not so well situated for the few houses built in the cod of the bay, where two or three persons lived of a company, to whom a large tract of land had been granted, and who carried on a large trade with the Indian and persons settled up the river, the ridge upon which the new fort stands was offered by them, and a work in which there are eight pieces of cannon, barracks for 100 men and a small block house were accordingly erected, together with a large block house at the other end of the ridge. The block houses remain, but work, which was composed of [illegible], and the ridge upon which it stands is too narrow for any useful work being constructed upon it, besides the evil of the lands not belonging to the crown.” He finds fault with the authorities for not reserving lands to build forts on, “so that the principal settlement in the Province, and one that bids fair to vie with the best in America, has been disposed of, as not to leave the crown a spot to build a fortress upon for its protection, or even barracks and storehouses for such troops, as it may be necessary hereafter to send there.” It is worth noting that Col. Morse recommends the union of the Maritime Provinces with Canada, and he suggests that the seat of government be in Cape Breton, as the most central situation. Col. Morse also recommends the cutting of a canal at Baie Verte, and makes various suggestions on boundary lines, ect. Mr. Brymner publishes in his report a letter from King Charles I. to Sir Isaac Wake, Ambassador to France respecting the reddition of Quebec and Acadia, 12th June 1631. This letter commences with the following sentence: “trusty and welbeloved wee greete you well.” and is “given under of signett at or Manor of Greenwich the twelft of June in the seaventh yeare of or Raygne.” An account of the martydom of Jean de Breboeuf and Gabriel L’Allement, two Jesuit Fathers, by the Iroquois Indians, is printed in French and English. The narrative of their terrible sufferings and happy death is related by Christopher Renaut, Coadjutor Brother with the Jesuits of Caen, 1678, and companion of Fathers Breboeuf and L’Allemant. Among the “Abatracts of the Acts de Foy et Hommage” (Fealty Rolis), appears the following:- (Miramichi (Acadia) - Vol. 3, p. 219 - 1753 - Marie Fransoine rey-Gaillard was heiress of Pierre Rey-Gaillard and of Dame Francoise Caileteau, her father and mother, and of the shares of her brothers and sisters; the said Dame Francoise had firstly marries Richard Denis du Fraisac, first grantee, 1687.) The report also contains list of books, etc., presented to the archives with the names of the givers; also a synopsis of Col. Haldiman’s correspondence with Sir Jeff. Amherst, General Gage, Governor Murray, COl. Robertson, etc. This synopsis occupies 139 pages of the report, and deals particularly with the achievements of the colonial troops in their engagements with the Spaniards in Florida.