History of Halifax City Part 26

=============================+=========+=====+=======+=====+=======+====== |Families.|Males|Females|Males|Females|Total.

| |above| above |under| under | | | 16. | 16. | 16. | 16. | -----------------------------+---------+-----+-------+-----+-------+----- Within the Pickets of Halifax| 468 | 846 | 622 | 279 | 285 | 2032 Within the North Suburbs | 169 | 317 | 205 | 105 | 138 | 765 Within the South Suburbs | 151 | 429 | 169 | 115 | 105 | 818 Within the Town of Dartmouth | 53 | 81 | 47 | 29 | 38 | 195 On several Islands and } | | | | | | Harbors employed in } | | | | | | Fishery, etc. } | .... | 168 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 202 On the Isthmus and the } | | | | | | Peninsula of Halifax } | 65 | 73 | 66 | 38 | 39 | 216 +---------+-----+-------+-----+-------+------ | 906 |1914 | 1122 | 584 | 608 | 4248 =============================+=========+=====+=======+=====+=======+======

906 families.

1914 males over 16.

1122 females over 16.

584 boys under 16.

608 girls under 16.

1914 1122 ---- 792 excess of males over females (over 16).

The foregoing is copied from a book in the Crown Land Office, having been in the Surveyor General's office, apparently, since 17th May, 1779, as the blank leaves contain memoranda of different warrants of survey from that date to June, 1781. Copied 4th December, 1862.

G.

_From the Gentlemen's Magazine, Vol. 20, 271._

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, December 7, 1749.

DEAR SIR,--I have at various times given you the last account I was able of the state of affairs in this Colony. The summer was beautiful beyond description and even the conception of those who are always confined within the liquid walls of Britain. As to the winter, which you know I always dreaded, I do a.s.sure you I have felt severer weather in England.

The people acquainted with this climate say that it began this year sooner than was ever known in the memory of man, and a.s.sure me likewise that it will not be more severe than it has been already; if so, there is no danger to be apprehended from it. This you will readily grant when I tell you, notwithstanding the tenderness of my const.i.tution, to which you are no stranger, that I have not added a single thing, not so much as a great coat, to my dress since I have been in this Province. When I look back upon the 21st June, the day of our arrival, I am astonished to see the progress made; there are already about 400 habitable houses within the fortifications and not less than 200 without. So surprising is the growth of this colony, so great the happiness of being ruled by one who has no other interest at heart but that of making thousands happy.

From my soul I wish that all other governors would copy such an amiable example of imitation; he does not, like most others gripe and squeeze to acc.u.mulate a fortune; on the contrary, he derives no profit to himself from anything, but, with the most unexampled generosity, gives all places and commissions gratis to the most deserving, nor suffers his officers to take any fees at present. You know what an English rabble is (and the greatest part of this colony was such.) You know they are generally tumultuous, refractory, full of discontent and murmuring, capricious in demanding favors, not long satisfied with present concessions, and not seldom abusing them by restless importunity for more. Such generally is the rabble of mankind, and such were many of the settlers of this province, but by his prudent management and proper generosity, by his condescension, candor and affability, the Governor has charmed the tiger's fury and turned a sad tumultuous rabble into a tractable and quiet people. They now work with ten times the alacrity they did at first, are patient under disappointments, and when they meet with a repulse, they conclude their pet.i.tions to have been unreasonable, from a firm persuasion that His Excellency has their true interest at heart; they cannot ask with reason, but what he grants with pleasure.

Yours, etc., etc., * * * * * *

H.

COPY OF MINUTES OF COUNCIL OF 12TH JUNE, 1752, REGARDING THE ERECTION OF A LIGHT HOUSE AT SAMBRO.

At a Council holden at the Govrs. House at Halifax, Fryday, June 12th, 1752.[105]

PRESENT--His Excellency the Govr.

Benj. Green, Wm. Steele, } Esqrs.

John Collier, Geo. Fotheringham, }

Resolved, That, Whereas a Light house at the Entrance of the Harbor of Halifax, would be greatly beneficial to the Trade, Navigation, and Fishery of this Colony, and might be the means of preserving the Lives and properties of many of his Majesty's Subjects, and whereas altho'

many persons might willingly contribute towards so good a Work without any Expectation of a Reimburs.e.m.e.nt, yet probably many may more readily be concerned therein, when attended with any hopes of promoting their own Interest at the same time.

A Lottery, according to the following Scheme, be set on foot for raising a sum of 450 towards building a Lighthouse at or near Cape Sambrough, (whereby, besides the advantages before mentioned,) a considerable number of Settlers will be usefully employed for some time, and a great & lasting Benefit to the province be gained, by a voluntary Tax upon those persons (amongst others) who at present contributed nothing towards the Expence of the Government whose protection & favour they enjoy.

Scheme of a Lottery for raising 450 towards building a Lighthouse at or near Cape Samborough:--

The number of Tickets to be 1000 at 3 each, 3000.

The number of Benefit Tickets to be 200, vizt.:

1 Prize of 500 500 1 Ditto of 300 300 2 Ditto of 100 each 200 5 Ditto of 50 each 250 10 Ditto of 30 each 300 40 Ditto of 10 each 400 140 Ditto of 7 each 980 1 The first drawn 70 --- ----- 200 prizes. 3000

[Footnote 105: At a previous meeting of the Council held on the 3rd of February, a public ferry was established between Halifax and Dartmouth, and John Connor of the latter place appointed ferryman, with the exclusive privilege for 3 years to keep boats constantly pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing, between Sunrise and Sunset, every day in the week, except on Sunday, when the boats should pa.s.s only twice--the ferriage to be 3d., and 6d. after hours, for each Pa.s.senger, and a reasonable price to be paid for goods, other than baggage, etc., carried in the hand, which pa.s.sed free.]

Fifteen per cent. to be deducted from the fortunate Tickets, and the remainder to be paid, without any other Deduction, to ye possessors of the sd. Tickets, as soon as the drawing shall be over--To be drawn publickly in the Town House, at Halifax under the Direction of managers to be appointed by his Excelly. the Govr. as soon as all the Tickets shall be disposed of, and in case the said Tickets shall not be all disposed of, before ye 31st Augt. next, the money recd. for any sold to be repaid to the possessors thereof on Demand.

ED. CORNWALLIS.

I.

_Governor Cornwallis[106] to Duke of Bedford._

(COPY.)

CHEBUCTO, 22nd June, 1749.

MY LORD DUKE,--

I arrived here yesterday,--this morning a Sloop arrived from Mr. Hopson, which I am obliged to send to Boston in case any s.h.i.+p should be going thence to England. I would not neglect an opportunity of writing to your Grace. I met the "Fair Lady" stores.h.i.+p at sea the eleventh, after we had been from England four weeks, who told me the Transports arrived at Spithead the day before he sailed, and were to sail in three days after him, we were then off the island of Sable, and except the first eight days had met with contrary winds all the pa.s.sage, besides we had steered our course for Cape Race but was forced off the banks by a gale of wind from the North West so that I had reason to think the Transports might be soon at Chebucto--we had n.o.body on board that knew anything of the coasts nor of the Bay of Funday, so were to cruize off the coasts till we met with a pilot, we made the Coast of Acadie the 14th, but met with no pilot till the 20th, when we met with a sloop from Boston to Louisburgh with two pilots on board, for the use of the Governor,--the wind not serving for the Bay of Funday, and the officers a.s.suring me in case of foggy weather (not unusual upon those coasts) we might be a fortnight getting to Annapolis. The wind was fair for Chebucto, so I thought it advisable to go in there rather than risk the being some weeks, perhaps, after the settlers arrived. I could save the garrison of Louisburgh the bad and long navigation to Annapolis, so I sent to Governor Hopson that I was going for Chebucto and desired him to transport the garrison thither, imagining he had transports ready; by his sloop that came in this day I find him in great perplexity, the French arrived, and he no transports.--The Council of War it seems were of opinion that the orders from the Secretary at War did not empower him to hire transports, but to wait my arrival and that I was to send the transports that brought the settlers here. As I cannot know when the transports will arrive, in what condition, nor how many I can spare, I think it absolutely necessary for the service to send the sloop to Boston with orders to Apthorp and Hanc.o.c.k, who Mr. Hopson has recommended as the persons who have been always employed on the part of the Government, to hire vessels with all expedition for the transportation of these troops from Louisburgh to Chebucto. I send a letter by the same sloop to Colonel Mascarene in case he should meet at sea any vessel going to Annapolis. I likewise send a Frenchman that knows the country over land, by Minas to Annapolis. I have ordered Colonel Mascarene to come here with a quorum of the Council as soon as possible that I may open my commission, take the oaths and appoint another Council, according to His Majesty's instructions.

[Footnote 106: The Honorable Edward Cornwallis was fifth son of Charles, third Baron Cornwallis, by Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of Richard, Earl of Arran, and uncle to the celebrated Duke of Ormonde. He was born 22nd February, 1712-13. He was Member of Parliament for the borough of Eye in 1749, and in 1753, shortly after his return from Halifax, he was elected for the city of Westminster. He married, the same year, a daughter of the late Lord Townshend, but left no family. In 1759 he was made a Major General, and was afterwards the Governor of Gibraltar.

General Cornwallis was twin brother of Dr. Frederick Cornwallis, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and uncle of the Lord Cornwallis who defeated General Gates at Camden, South Carolina, in 1780, and afterwards surrendered at Yorktown, to the Revolutionary General Lincoln.--_Collins' and Debrett's Peerages._]

I can give Your Grace little information as yet as to this country--the coasts are as rich as ever they have been represented. We caught fish every day since we came within fifty leagues of the coast, the harbor itself is full of fish of all kinds; all the officers agree the harbor is the finest they have ever seen--the country is one continual wood, no clear spot to be seen or heard of. I have been ash.o.r.e in several places--the underwood is only young trees so that with difficulty one might walk through any of them; D'Anville's fleet have only cut wood for present use, but cleared no ground, they encamped their men upon the beach. I have seen but few brooks nor have as yet found the navigable river that has been talked of--there are a few French families on each side of the bay about 3 leagues off; some have been on board. As to the disposition of the French or Indians I can give Your Grace no account till I see Colonel Mascarene, when I shall write more fully and continue from time to time to acquaint Your Grace of our proceedings. I wish the French may not be uneasy at waiting so long on board for the evacuation of Louisburgh as it may be some time before Mr. Hopson will get transports--it will, I fear, r.e.t.a.r.d the settlement.

I am &c., ED. CORNWALLIS.

P. S.--I expect the transports daily.

His Grace the Duke of Bedford.

(From the Duplicate.)

We came to anchor in Merliguiche Bay, where I was told there was a French settlement. I sent ash.o.r.e to see the houses and manner of living of the inhabitants--there are but a few families with tolerable wooden houses covered with bark, a good many cattle and clear ground more than serves themselves--they seem to be very peaceable, say they always looked upon themselves as English subjects, have their grants from Colonel Mascarene, the Governor of Annapolis, and showed an unfeigned joy to hear of the new settlement. They a.s.sure us the Indians are quite peaceable and not at all to be feared--there are none hereabouts.

I have, &c., ED. CORNWALLIS.

(From the Duplicate.)

This Frenchman will be there in three or four days--'tis 25 leagues from hence to Minas, and the French have made a path for driving their cattle over here.