The inclosed copy of a letter I have just received from the Attorney General, in answer to an application I made to him for information on this subject being the only Document I have to transmit to Your Grace respecting it, I humbly beg leave to refer Your Grace to Major General Simcoe for such further light as he may be enabled to throw upon it, and to request that I may be honored with Your Grace's Instructions for my conduct in this very delicate Business.

I have the honor to be with
the greatest Respect
My Lord Duke

Robert Dickson of Michilimakinac, Merchant.

Stating that he has been 15 years settled in the Province, and praying for such quantity of Land as may be deemed meet. Ordered, 600 acres on Petitioner becoming a resident in the Province.

[Q 285, p 253 ]

GEN. ROBT. PRESCOTT TO THE DUKE OF PORTLAND.

[ No. 18. ]

MY LORD,

QUEBEC 29th October 1796.

I inclose a Requisition for sundry goods intended to be employed in purchasing from the Indians Lands to form new Establishments in consequence of the former Posts being given up to the Americans.

This purchase will comprehend a Tract of Land which has long since been promised to Captain Brant, and Cariboux Island on which a Post is now established, and where it is proposed that in future the Indian Traders shall hold their annual rendezvous and make their deposits as they have hitherto been accustomed to do at Michilimackinac.

I have the honor to be

My Lord

Your Grace's

most obedient and

most humble Servant

ROBT. PRESCOTT.

His Grace The Duke of Portland.

Endorsed: Quebec, 29th Octr. 1796.

Lt. Genl. Prescott.

R. 4th June. No. 18. Ansd. 20th. Copy transmt to Treasury Jan. 7 1797. (One Inclosure.)

[ Q 78, p 55. ]

SOME OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE QUARTERS FOR TROOPS IN UPPER AND LOWER CANADA.

Fort Erie,
Chippewa
Landing

1

In Upper Canada the session of the Posts this year to the states of America has reduced the accommodations for our Troops within very narrow limits: In the Posts there can be lodged only as follows vizt. Ports Erie, Chippewa and the Landing; on the Niagara River about 80 men; at Kingston & Carleton Island (the latter only Sergeants' guard) 200 men; if to these are added the Quarters at the new positions taken this year, in lieu of those given up we we shall see the whole accommodation provided in Upper Canada-vizt: Entrance of the Detroit River 100 men; Navy Hall 50 men, and a temporary hut at the Island of St. Joseph on Lake Huron 30 men making in the whole 460.

Kingston &
Carleton
Island

Detroit River
Navy Hall
St Joseph

In the meantime it may not be amiss for you to know that it is my opinion (which at the same time you will see is formed on such a very limited experience in point of time) that I consider the cession of the Posts to the Americans as likely to produce considerable Advantages to Great Britain by an extension of her commerce and an increase of the trade of both Provinces. General Waine, the Commander in Chief, whom I left at Detroit with a garrison of about five hundred men, seemed desirous by his conduct to conciliate the good dispositions of every descriptions of persons, & expressed himself well pleased at the handsome conduct of the British on evacuating the posts, and particularly of Col. England for the Liberal manner in which he had performed his duty on that occasion. There is however an event which may in its consequences lead to some disagreement between the two Governments, & in the mean time excite between the Troops in the vicinity ill humour, & that is, the British occupying an Island in the mouth of the Detroit river on which they are actually erecting blockhouses; as this spot was never occupied before as a military post-it would be well to ascertain whether it is actually within the British line according to treaty. In my mind it is clearly within the American line as the Fort & Town of Detroit; provided the words of the Treaty mean the middle of the navigable waters.

Endorsed:

Communicated by Mr. Brickwood.

[ Q. 283, p 312]

SIR,

JOHN RICHARDSON TO H. W. RYLAND, ESQ

MONTREAL, 6th February 1797.

With respect to the other Enquiry of His Excellency, there are two Channels of Conveyance from Hence to the Mississippi-one by the Grand River in Canoes, to Michilimakinac or St. Joseph's Island. The other by the Saint Lawrence and Lakes in Boats and Vessels to same places. From thence goods are conveyed in canoes to the Mississippi, (which carry each about 2-3 of what Canoes by the Grand River contain. From Michilimackinac to the Mississippi nearly opposite to some of the Spanish Posts on that River. The former Route enters it much higher. There are no English Settlers amongst the Indians except a few Traders who are fully provided with arms &c. The Settlers on the Mississippi are of two descriptions, both of which are not to be trusted for any opposition to French Machinations, viz-Canadians or descendants thereof, and Americans rather of the Renegado kind. I see a great difficulty about distributing Presents to Indians on the Mississippi, without an understanding with the American Government, else it might excite their Jealousy as it is within their Territory. The surest mode of avoiding that, would be to invite the Chiefs and influential men amongst the different Tribes to come to St. Joseph's Island to receive Presents, but that could not take place till 1798. If to be sent at Government's expence to the Mississippi and there distributed (about which there would be a great difficulty in avoiding embezzlement, or perhaps Jealousy,) the proper season season is to leave Michilimackinac in May, if the Agents are to return there same season; or with the Traders in July, if they are intended to winter in the Country. The Expence of conveyance from Michilimackinac is great, as each Canoe from thence requires six good Hands with Provisions &c.

If a more particular detail is wished for, I shall be happy to have the honor of communicating to His Excellency through you anything I know upon the subject; but in the meantime I am obliged to conclude, as the Post is upon the point of departure.

I am with much esteem & regard Sir

H. W. Ryland Esqr.

Endorsed: A-2.

Marked (B) in the Letter to Mr. Liston.

In General Prescott's No. 36. To the Duke of Portland.

[Q 78, p 245 ]

Y. M. H. S.

JOHN RICHARDSON.

SIB,

JAMES MC GILL TO H. W. RYLAND, ESQ.

MONTREAL, 7th February 1797.

On the 30th Ultimo I had the Honor of acknowledging receipt of Your Letter of the 26th. desiring by request of General Prescott that I would give my opinion "Where it would be most convenient "for the Commissioners on the part of His Majesty to meet those "from the United States and the most convenient Route for carry"ing the Provision and Baggage requisite for that Service" (a survey to be made of certain parts of the River Mississippi) "from "this Province to the Falls of St. Anthony with any other information "which I or the gentlemen concerned in the North West Trade may Judge to be of importance on the above business" and I shall now endeavour to fulfill His Excellency's request.

I conceive that the fittest Place for the Commissioners to meet will be Michilimackinac and the properest conveyance for the Provisions and Baggage as well as themselves to be the Route of the Lakes.

At Michlimakinac they must be provided with one or more large Canoes and six stout Canoe men for each Canoe, as the number of Persons to be employed and quantity of Baggage necessary may require; and I should conceive that one Canoe for each Commissioner may be sufficient; a Canoe can carry conveniently eight Persons and two Tons or two and a half Tons weight throughout the proposed voyage but not more. Provisions for the Canoe men can be readily had at Michilimackinac and generally consist of Indian Corn boiled, Flour, Pork and Grease, but the Commissioners ought to be provided with other stores from Montreal where they can be put up in proper Packages for Canoes.

The fittest season to leave Michilimackinac would be as soon as the navigation is open, that is early in May, in order to attempt performing the service in one season, but as this would render it absolutely necessary for the Commissioners to pass the winter at that Post, it may be more proper to fix on the Summer, any time previous to the 15th September at the latest; and if they could leave it with the Traders who set out in July for the Falls of St. Anthony, or rather River St. Peters which is adjacent, they would have the benefit of their local knowledge and acquaintance with the Indians who are on their Route or in the Country proposed to be surveyed.