Canada under British Rule 1760-1900 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 395 pages of information about Canada under British Rule 1760-1900.

Canada under British Rule 1760-1900 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 395 pages of information about Canada under British Rule 1760-1900.
sympathy with France, for whom they would naturally still feel a deep love as their motherland.  The assertion that many priests secretly hoped for the appearance of the French army is not justified by any substantial evidence except the fact that one La Valiniere was arrested for his disloyalty, and sent a prisoner to England.  It appears, however, that this course was taken with the approval of the bishop himself, who was a sincere friend of the English connection throughout the war.  Haldimand arrested a number of persons who were believed to be engaged in treasonable practices against England, and effectively prevented any successful movement being made by the supporters of the revolutionists, or sympathisers with France, whose emissaries were secretly working in the parishes.

Haldimand’s principal opponent during these troublous times was one Pierre du Calvet, an unscrupulous and able intriguer, whom he imprisoned on the strong suspicion of treasonable practices; but the evidence against Calvet at that time appears to have been inadequate, as he succeeded in obtaining damages against the governor-general in an English court.  The imperial government, however, in view of all the circumstances brought to their notice, paid the cost of the defence of the suit.  History now fully justifies the action of Haldimand, for the publication of Franklin’s correspondence in these later times shows that Calvet—­who was drowned at sea and never again appeared in Canada—­was in direct correspondence with congress, and the recognised emissary of the revolutionists at the very time he was declaring himself devoted to the continuance of British rule in Canada.

Leaving the valley of the St. Lawrence, and reviewing the conditions of affairs in the maritime provinces, during the American revolution, we see that some of the settlers from New England sympathised with their rebellious countrymen.  The people of Truro, Onslow, and Londonderry, with the exception of five persons, refused to take the oath of allegiance, and were not allowed for some time to be represented in the legislature.  The assembly was always loyal to the crown, and refused to consider the appeals that were made to it by circular letters, and otherwise, to give active aid and sympathy to the rebellious colonies During the war armed cruisers pillaged the small settlements at Charlottetown, Annapolis, Lunenburg, and the entrance of the St. John River.  One expedition fitted out at Machias, in the present state of Maine, under the command of a Colonel Eddy, who had been a resident of Cumberland, attempted to seize Fort Cumberland—­known as Beausejour in French Acadian days—­at the mouth of the Missiquash.  In this section of the country there were many sympathisers with the rebels, and Eddy expected to have an easy triumph.  The military authorities were happily on the alert, and the only result was the arrest of a number of persons on the suspicion of treasonable designs.  The inhabitants

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Canada under British Rule 1760-1900 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.