EARLY ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE THE CULTIVATION OF HEMP IN EASTERN BRITISH AMERICA.

A. Paper Read before the New Brunswick Historical Society. By JONAS HOWE, Corresponding Secretary New Brunswick Historical Society.

The cultivation of hemp wa8 early at- M. de la Ronde Denys, a oaptain of in- tempted or suggested by the first colonizers fantry in the French army, and grandson of of this portion of the American continent, Nicholas Denys, the first historian of Aca- and in nearly all of the old works relating dia, writing from Cape Breton in 1713, to the earJy settlement of northeastern says: "We are deficient in nothing re- America, reference is frequently made to quired, for we have the wood, the tar, the the importance of its cultivation and the coal, and the masting, and eventually the benefits that would in consequence result to hemp will be common there to make cordage a maritime people. Richard Hakluyfc, the and sails." industrious and enthusiastic compiler of The fall and capture of Port Royal by early voyages, in his Discourse Concerning the English under Nicholson in 1710 made Westerne Planting, written and presented to Nova Scotia a part of the British empire, Queen Elizabeth in 1584, mentions among the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, having the probable important products of "New confirmed the conquest. In 1718 Sir Alex- founde lande," hemp for making cables and ander Cairnes, James Douglas and Joshua cordage. And in another chapter of his Gee petitioned the crown for a grant of discourse, he recommends that the "multi- land on the sea coast, five leagues south- tude of loyterers and idle vagabonds" then west and five leagues northeast of Chebucto, infesting Eogland be transported and "con- now Halifax, harbor. These gentlemen demned for certain years in the western proposed to build a town, and partes, especially in Newefounde lande, in improve the country round it in sa winge and fellinge of tymber for mastes of raising hemp and in making pitch, shippes and deale boordes; in burninge of tar and turpentine. The petition was not the tirrea and pine trees to make pitche, tarr granted; and no attempt at settlement and rosen and sope ashes; in beatinge and was made at Chebucto until 1749, when workinge of hempe for cordage." Halifax was founded by English settlers Hemp was raised and apun in Virginia under Cornwallis. Three years previous to thin previous to 1648, and in 1651 its cultivation event, in the autumn of 1746, the duke was encouraged in that colony by bounties d'Anville,on his ill-fated expedition against offered by government. the English settlements on the Atlantic In the Plymouth colony the cultivation of coast, rendezvoused at Chebucto with the hemp was also attempted, as hemp-seed remainder of his fleet, where the unfortun- was ordered for that colony as early as ate duke and many of his solders died. 1620. During this period the English lords of But a species of native hemp may have trade were continually urging on the colon- been grown in the northern parts of this ies the importance of producing hemp in continent, for it is related that Jacques such quantities as to render England inde- Cartier, on his first voyage to the Gulf of pendent of the northern countries of Europe St. Lawrence, in 1534, met native Indians for a supply of that material so necessary to in the Bay of Chaleur fishing with nets a naval power, and Dr. Douglas, the author made of a kind of hemp. [Rev. B. F. Da- of a work entitled, A Summary, Historical Costa in Narrative and Critical History of and Political, of the First Planting of the America.] British Settlements in America, mentions The early French explorers attached hemp among other articles, the product of great importance to the lands visited by the colonies, on which all enumerations, or Cartier and his successors, and justly duties, be taken off to encourage trade and formed a high estimate of the vast resources navigation. of our Acadia. Sieur Borgier of Rochelle, On the 8th of April, 1752, three years one of the early grantees of Acadia, on a after the settlement of Halifax, the gover- visit to our coast in 1684, planted at Cheda- nor and council of Nova Scotia, who were bucto Bay, on the Atlantic coast of Nova vested with the powers of legislation, among Scotia, wheat, rye and barley, and in the other bounties granted to stimulate and en- autumn reaped the harvest and carried the courage agriculture among the settlers, produce to France for exhibition. offered 3d. per pound for hemp produced in Flax, hemp, peas, beans and all that province. kinds of vegetables, Sieur Borgier Vigorous efforts were made during these asserted, grew there, as well as they did in years to people the province, particularly the neighborhood of Paris. the lands from which the Acadian French were so ruthlessly driven. The fall of Que- "The lieutenant-governor informs the bec and the conquest of Canada brought house that his majesty's ministers have, in peace to Nova Scotia, as well as to all the their communications to him, pointed out possessions of the English on this continent, the importance of giving all practical en- and among the inducements offered to set- couragement to the raising ot hemp in this tlers to come and possess the rich lands near province; be therefore recommends to the the Bay of Fundy, they were assured that consideration of the house the making ot those lands had produced "wheat, rye, bar- some provision tor granting bounties for ley, oats, hemp, flax, etc , for more than 100 this purpose, being confident of their zeal to years past, never failing of crops nor need- contribute, as far as may be in their power, ing to be manured." [Murdock's History to an object so interesting to the national of Nova Scotia.] welfare." We find no record, for some years after The suggestion contained in Governor acted on, the conquest, of efforts made or suggestions Carleton's message was and on offered in reference to the cultivation of Tuesday^ March 15th, 1803, the following hemp in these provinces. The revolution- resolutions were passed by the house of ary controversy and the struggle for inde- assembly, and afterwards concurred in by pendence involved the scant population of the legislative council: Whereas, the growth and culture of hemp Acadia to some extent in that contest, and in this province would be of great national ad- the influx of the Loyalists at its close gave vantage; great impetus and growth to our industries Resolved, that a bounty of thirty pounds be witbin four years and added vastly to our commercial im- granted to the person who shall in any one year raise the greatest quan- portance, and efforts were again made by tity of merchantable hemp in this province, the British government to extend the cul- provided tbe same exceed one ton. tivation of hemp in the remaining loyal That a bounty of twenty wound s be granted to the person who within the same period as colonies. Scattered through the Haldimand aforesaid, shall raise the next greatest quan- papers (dominion archives) will be found tity of the same article in this province, pro- frequent reference to the cultivation of this vided the same exceed half a ton. bounty of ten pounds be granted to important article, and the anxiety evinced That a the person who within the same period as by British statesmen at the close of the last aforesaid, shall raise the next greatest quan- century to render the empire independent tity of the same article in this province, pro- of ton. of foreign powers for its supply of vided the same exceed a quarter a That a further bounty of ten pounds per ton this necessary and important naval be granted for every ton of merchantable hemp requisite is apparent /in all of these r ised within the same period as aforesaid in communications. And it was even sug- this province. That a bounty of twenty pounds be granted gested by some of the writers that persons to such person as shall imoort into this pro- conversant with the cultivation and prepar- vince forty bushels of *ood new, clean hemp ation of hemp be selected in Russia and seed and distribute the same to the inhabitants Poland and sent to these provinces to teach of this province in his discretion as the same may be called for. the inhabitants the best methods then in use Resolved, that this house will make provision in northern Europe. England, as mistress for payment of the bounties aforesaid, when of the seas, was soon to be engaged in a des the same may be required, aod proper vouchers and certificates from the j ustices of the common perate struggle to maintain her supremacy pleas in the respective counties in favor of the against powerful enemiee, and it was only person claiming the same, shall be produced. natural she loyal should look to her own We are unable now to state to what ex- kith and kin in these provinces for support tent the cultivation of hemp was encour- in the day of trial. aged by the bounties offered, as we have not In 1788 premiums were offered in Nova had an opportunity to search the records of Scotia for the cultivation of hemp, but little our province to ascertain, but in the pub- progress was apparently made, as the lished proceedings of the legislative council quantity produced does not appear to have — the only record to which we have had been large, and in 1801 Sir John Went- access—there is no mention of further ac- worth, by direction of the British secretary tion on the part of our provincial authorities of state for the colonies, again recommended relative to the subject. its cultivation, and the sum of £200 was On the 29th of July, 1808, Colonel voted by the Nova Scotia legislature to buy Edward Goldstone Lutwyche was ap- hemp seed for distribution among the farm- pointed agent for New Brunswick ers of that province, but we have no knowl- in Great Britain, and the Hon. George edge of the progress made or quantity pro- Leonard and the Hon. Ward Chipman ap- duced during those years. pointed a committee to correspond with No attempt of which we have any record Colonel Lutwyche. Among the subjects seems to have been made in New Brunswick that early claimed the attention of the com- to introduce the cultivation of hemp until mittee of correspondence was the cultiva- the year 1803 —twenty-five years after the tion and preparation of hemp in this prov- landing of the loyalists. On the 11th of ince. On the 5bh ot September, 1808, the March, 1803, during the session of the gen- committee wrote Colonel "Lutwyche the eral assembly at JFredericton, the following following letter, marked No. 2, on this im- message from Governor Thomas Carleton portant subject, and which has not hereto- was communicated to the house of assembly: fore been printed: St. John.N. B., 5th Sepr., 1808. liberation and inquiry, to make the requisite Dear Sir—From the royal instructions communications on the subject. that have been from time to time given We have the honor to be, etc., etc., respecting grants of land, and from the (Signed) George Leonard, intimations of government on other occa- Ward CmrMAN. sions, it appears to be an object of great E. G. Lutwyohe. magnitude to encourage the culture of hemp in these provinces; and the late interruption To this letter Colonel Lutwyohe made the of the friendiy intercourse between Great following reply: Britain and Russia must have increased the importance of having a resource within his The Hon'bles George Leonard and Ward majesty's dominions for the supply of an ar- Chipman: ticle so essential to the maritime interests of Gentlemen—I have the pleasure to ac- the nation. From the experiments that knowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2, have been already made, it has been ascer- and the duplicate, and having several times tained beyond a doubt that a great propor- conversed with Lord Sheffield on the sub- tion of the land in this country is peculiarly ject of cultivating hemp in the British col- adapted tD the growth of this article, but onies, I communicated it to his lordship as the difficulty of producing it in any consid- a probable means of furthering your views, erable quantity fit for market arises from a in answer to which he says: want of sufficient knowledge of the mode "I have repeatedly endeavored to pro- of dressing it, and a sufficient capital to mote the encouragement of the growth of procure the necessary hands and implements hemp in the British colonies, I have recom- for this purpose, no individual having it in mended the culture on various occasions by his power to engage in so expensive a specu- several applications, and particularly when lation without public aid. If the govern- I was president of the board of agriculture; ment, therefore, is desirous of availing it- but I observed among men in self of this country for a supply of hemp, office a grave distrust of the opi- some method must be fallen upon to procure nion that hemp could be raised aud send out at the public expence a number to advantage,or in any material quantity,in of settlers from the north of Germany ac- our colonies. It appears to me from the quainted with the best manner of raising, many papers I have read on the subject, curing and dressing it, and to furnish them that the g^eat desideratum would be to with seed and proper implements for the procure persons from hence and from Ger- purpose. many who understand the dressing of hemp.

There is no doubt that land already fit Ministers will object to the expense, unless for its cultivation might be procured on they were convinced of the advantage to be which to make a fair experiment, and the derived from it. I shall not probably settle produce would probably in the course of a in London till the first week in February, few years repay all the expense that the when I shall be ready to assist in a measure government would be at; and in case of suc- that may prove beneficial not only to the cess, the example would stimulate others to British colonies,but to the empire at large." engage in a similar undertaking, so as grad- Under the circumstance of his lordship ually to make this article one of the most haviog failed in his representations, and his valuable staple commodities of this and the readiness to co-operate with me, I have neighboring provinces. If these sugges- thought it most prudent to postpone the tions should be thought worthy application until his return, when it there is of attention, the commander-in-chief a chance of succeeding, it will be much in- of the province might be instructed creased. Ministers must now be convinced to look out for and provide a proper place of the necessity, as well as policy, of being whereon to fix a company of settlers of this independent of foreign states, for an article description; and the business, while in such of the first necessity to a maritime country like a course of experiment, might be managed this, and therefore they will require to be under the direction of such an overseer as convinced of the probability of deriving a he might think fit to employ, government supply from the colonies to induce them to sustaining the loss or reaping the profits afford proper encouragement. that might be derived from a speculation so I understand the matter will be referred much beyond the abilities of any person to the board of trade, and their decision here to engage in at his own risk. will most probably regulate the conduct of After considerable discussion of the sub- the ministers. ject here, the result of the opinions seems to Perhaps before the sailing of the next be that in some such way as this only can a packet I may be enabled to give you some measure of so much importance be tried further information on the subject. with any probability of success. We have, I have the honour to be, gent.'s, therefore, thought it our duty to make it Your most h'ble serv't, the subject of a letter to you that it may be E, G. Lutwyohe. fairly Drought before his majesty's ministers Kensington, 10th Jan'y., 1809. for their consideration, if no material objec- The correspondence on the subject seems tion should arise in your mind after due de- to have ended with this letter, but the dia- '

cussion continued in England. Nathaniel enterprises of this nature had to be aban- Atcheeon, F. A. S., the eminent writer on doned, and when peace was restored the colonial affairs, that year (1808) published subject of hemp culture does not appear to his celebrated book, American Encroach- have been again brought prominently before ments on British Rights, or observations our people. In the meantime the march of on the importance of the British North maritime progress and enterprise brought American colonies, and thus refers to the other materials into active competition, and efforts made to encourage the culture of the fine manilla hemp from the Phillippine hemp inthese provinces: Isles superseded that grown in northern "It has long been an object of the climes, and its cultivation no longer became government of this country to promote a matter of national importance to our naval and encourage the cultivaion of hemp authorities. and flax in the British colonies in In seeking information on this interesting America, and for that purpose bounties subject, the writer addressed a communica- have been given and various means adopted tion to Julius L. Inches, Esq , secretary of to attain an object of such importance as agriculture for New Brunswick, prob- that of raising, within the British empire, ably the best authority in this province, these two valuable materials; and there can and was favored with the following inform- be no doubt that if measures are now adopt- ation relative to the cultivation of hemp in ed to secure the home market to the growers New Brunswick during recent years: of them for a reasonable period, such ex- Office for Agriculture, \ tended cultivation and improved manage- Fredericton, N. B., March 21, 1892./ ment will take place as will render Great In regard to the cultivation of hemp in Britain in a few years independent of foreign New Brunswick there is very little inform- countries for these raw materials of her ation to be had; in recent times it has not manufactures.' been cultivated to any extent except in the French settlements bordering on the Gulf "Within the last two years proper persons of St. Lawrence and in Madawaska county, have been appointed by government to su- and they raise it for their own use only. perintend and aid the exertions of the There is no effort to make a business of it. colonists who might be induced to cultivate There is no difficulty about its growing in this article in Canada; but the encourage- this province, but I do not look upon it as ment hitherto afforded has not been consid- an industry that can be made profitable, or ered adequate or likely to induce the gener- indeed prosecuted to any great extent ality of landholders to engage extensively in under present circumstances. Labor is the cultivation of hemp. It has unfortu- too dear with us to make it remunerative, nately happened that of the hemp seed sent and it is not probable it will be more plenty out to this colony a considerable part turned in the near future. The French settlers out to be kiln-dried. The soil for hemp cultivate the plant in small patches for their should be rich, deep, light and moderately own use without any effort to make it pay dry. Of this description much can be found by selling a portion of the crop. The labor on the banks of the creeks and rivers in is principally done by the females, who do Canada, Upper Canada, from the nature of not think of trying any of the new modes of its soil and climate, has been thought to be working land or harvesting crops. I do not peculiarly well adapted to the cultivation of know of any published articles that can be hemp, and some good samples have been got from which you might obtain any in- produced and brought from thence. Whether formation. I remember, a long time back, it will ever become an article of general cul- that it was proposed to stimulate the pro- tivation in this province is dubious from the duction of hemp, but without any satisfac- high price of labor and the loss it is sup- tory results, and in recent years it is never posed a farmer would sustain by the cultiva- mentioned or named as one of the subjects tion of hemp instead of wheat and other for consideration. grain. This apprehension, however, does Note. —The writer has quoted freely from not apply to New Brunswick or Nova Sco- Beamish Murdock's History of Nova Scotia. tia, where the lands are equally good and The writer is indebted to Anthony calculated for the cultivation of this valu- Atcheson Esq , of the customs department, able article, and where it appears experi- grandson of Nathaniel Atcheson, F. A. S., ments have been made with success and for the use of the copy of American En- profit." croachments on British Rights, from which Nothing further was done in New Bruns- the quotations inserted in this paper were wick relative to this matter of hemp cul- taken. The volume was the author's pri- ture, and as trouble was even then brewing vate copy, and contains notes and correc- with our neighbors—the United States—the tions in the handwriting of that distin- subject it seems was not again referred to, guished writer, and is marked with his as matters of more vital importance to our book-plate and autograph. provincial rulers soon engrossed their atten- To I. DeLancey Robinson, Esq. , of Fred- tion at home. In 1812 war was declared ericton, the writer is also indebted for valu- against England by the United States, and able information. —

Before closing this portion of the paper a member of the house of assembly, we must refer to a phase of the question a member of his majesty's counoil, a judge heretofore omitted. After the peace of of the supreme couit, and agent on the part 1763 a number of grants were given to of his majesty before several commissions prominent persons in the other colonies of for settling disputed points of boundary large areas of land in Nova Scotia. Among with the United States, until he closed his the conditions imposed on the grantees of mortal career, while administering the gov- these early grants by government, "they ernment of this province as president and were to plant, within ten years from the commander-in-chief during a vacancy in the date of the grant, one rood to every 1,000 office of lieutenant governor. Distinguished acres with hemp, and to keep a like quan- during the whole of his varied and active tity of land planted during the successive life for superior abilities and unweariable years." (Patterson's History of the County zeal, for genuine integrity and singular

of Pictou. ) But this condition was not humanity and benevolence, his loss was uni- complied with, and a witty member of the versally deplored; and this frail tribute Nova Scotia legislature—Lawrence Doyle from his nearest connexions affords but a publicly stated before that body, three- feeble expression of the affectionate re- quarters of a century after these grants spect with which they cherish the memory were given, that there was not sufficient of his virtues." hemp raised in Nova Scotia for criminal The biography of Ward Chipman has ytrt purposes. to be written, and whoever undertakes that task, will find the materials THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE. scattered through the early records of this province and the colonial records in London, Hon. Ward Chipman, the elder, was born and the subject one of intense fascination. in the province of Massachusetts Bay, and Let us hope that a writer equal to the task graduated at Harvard University in 1770. may be forthcoming before some of the evi- Sabine says: "In 1775 he was driven from dences Of his genius and talents are scat- his habitation to Boston, and was one of the tered or destroyed, that posterity may eighteen country gentfemen who that year know what this brilliant Loyalist accom- were addressers of General Gage." He left plished for British power on this continent. Boston with the British army at the evacua- tion in 1776, and went to Halifax and from HON. GEORGE LEONARD, thence to England. But the life history of was also a Massachusetts Loyalist and was this remarkable man, whose name is so inti- connected during the revolutionary war mately interwoven in the early annals of with Edward Winslow and Ward Chipman. New Brunswick, can not been given in this He was an active Loyalist and a prominent short sketch. Rambling through the Rural member of the Associated Refugees and cemetery last autumn the writer came un- Loyalists of New York, and was second in expectedly upon the tomb of Ward Chip- command of the expedition fitted out in man, and copied the epitaph, composed that city in 1779 to oscupy Nantucket evidently by his equally celebrated son, Island. This expedition was commanded Ward Chipman, junior, and it will take the by Edward Winslow, and an account of it place of a more extended sketch: "This is given in Macy's History of Nantucket monument is erected over the remains of the Island. Mr. Leonard came to New Bruns- Honorable Ward Chipman, Esquire, who wick in 1783 and was appointed one of the was born in the province of Massachusetts agents to locate lands granted to Loyalists, Bay, on the 30oh ot July, 1754, and and in 1791 was made a member of the died at Fredericton, in this province, on the legislative council of the province. He died 8 th February, 1824. He was a graduate of at Sussex Vale in 1826. Richard Leonard, Harvard university and educated to the pro- a son of the Hon. Geo. Leonard, was an fession of the law. Retaining his loyalty to officer of the 104th regiment and served his sovereign, he was obliged to abandon with that corps of New Brunswickers dur- his native land on the evacuation of Boston ing the war of 1812, and died at Lundy's in the year 1776. Having repaired to Eng- Lane, in the province of Upper Canada, in land, and the royal bounty bestowed on him 1833. a pension, in common with a long list of his NEW BRUNSWICK PROVINCE AGENTS IN suffering fellow-countrymen. But a state GREAT BRITAIN FROM 1783 TO 1830. of inaction being ill-suited to his ardent mind, in less than a year he relinquished The first agent appointed for the province his pension and rejoined the king's troops at of New Brunswick in Great Britain was the New York, where he was employed in a celebrated Brook Watson, the Cumberland military department and in the practice of county boy who became lord mayor of Lon- the court of admiralty until the peace of don, and died a baronet of the United 1783. On the first erection of this province Kingdom. This appointment was one of in 1784 he was appointed solicitor general, the earliest made on the formation of the pro- and continually afterwards bore a con- vince by the first house of assembly that met spicuous and most useful part in its in St. John, and was proposed to the legis- affairs as an advocate at the bar, lative council on the 17th of January, 1786, by the solicitor general, Ward Chipman, pcheme of placing Nantuckett under our and Ebenezer Foster, one of the represent- government is too flimsy an artifice to take, atives for Kings county. The council con- and the Quakers must move to one of the curred with the house of assembly in the King's provinces if they mean to enjoy the appointment, and the Hon. Jonathan Odell blessings of his government and the benefits and the Hon. Edward Winslow were ap- of our commerce. pointed a committee to conduct correspond- The Province of Nova Scotia have at last ence with Mr. Watson. Brook Watson forbid the Americans to Enter their Ports; continued agent for the province until 1794, had this wise step been earlier taken she when he resigned, as his presence was re- would not have been drained of her money quired with the British forces then serving as has been the case. The States complain on the continent of Kurope, and the thanks of being treated as Aliens, forgetting they of both branches of the legislature of New made themselves such. If our Government Brunswick were tendered him for his patri- act wisely, a Governor General will soon be otic exertions on behalf of the province. sent to the remaining Provinces, who will During his long and eventful life, Brook work them to their own happiness and the Watson continued on intimate terms with good of the Empire, their neighbours, like many of the leading loyalists who made Vinager, fretting on their own Lees, will New Brunswick their home, and took a soon curse the Day which made them inde- deep interest in the settlement and prosper- pendent. ity of the province. A few months previous Farewel, Dr. Sr., to his appointment as province agent, Brook Your faithful H'ble S'en, Watson wrote the following letter to Brook Watson. the original of is Edward Winslow, which "The Gen'l Description of the Provinces still preserved among other papers by the of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick" re- descendants of that distinguished in man ferred to by the writer of this letter, and province: this furnished by a man of acknowledged talent, London, 26 kh August, 1785. as Ed ward Wins; ow, would be interesting and Colonel Winslow: valuable to every student of provincial his- Dear Sir —The Gen'l Description of the tory. Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Bruns- WILLIAM KNOX OF LONDON wick which you obligingly sent me under was appointed Brook Watson's successor, date of Ap'l ye 25th is by far the most reg- and Colonel Ludlow (Hon. Gabriel G. Lud- ular and perfect thing of the kind I ever low) to "be a committee of the legislative saw; its just the information I wanted, and council to correspond with the agent." At arranged better than any ideas of mine the following session of the legislative coun- could possibly suggest, and carries more cil, on the 5th March, 1795, the Hon. Ed- convincing proof on its face than fifty ward Winslow, Hon. Jonathan Odell and speeches may in the House of Commons the Hon John Saunders were added to the from the most respectable information. committee. And on the 16th of February, You have thereby put a Weapon, Offensive 1797, Thomas Knox, a son of William Knox, and defensive, into my hands, which may was appointed jcint agent for the province eventually intitle me to the honorable ap- with his father. T pelation of Champion for the remaining W illiam Knox appears to have performed Provinces. Mr. Lambton has also obliged his duties as agent for New Brunswick satis- me with some observations made during his factorily, for at the session of 1301 it was march to Passamaquody, by all which I "Resolved unanimously that the thanks of clearly perceive the West India Isles will this house are due to Mr. Knox for his vigil- soon be amply supplied with all kinds of ant attention to the general interests of Lumber, White-oak staves excepted, and this colony." William Knox held the posi- therein is indeed a great want, how it tion until 1808, when he resigned. On re- may be supplied I can'c conceive, tiring the thanks of the house of assembly for I much fear the fine staves expected to was again tendered him and his son, supply their want will be found insufficient Thomas Knox, for their faithful services as for the purpose; should it prove otherwise, agent and joint agent of the province. I beg to be furnished with Authenticated William Knox was under secretary of Proof of it. state for the American department in 1780, There is no reason to apprehend a free and suggested the division of Maine between trade being allow'd between the British isle the Penobscot and St. Croix rivers into a in the W. Indies and the American states. province to be settled by loyal refugees, and The eyes of this country have, thank God, to be called "New Ireland." been open'd to see the destructive tendency Colonel Edward Goldstone Lutwyche, the of such a measure, or will the duty on next resident agent for New Brunswick, was foreign oil be taken off or reduced, as it appointed on the 29 oh of July, 1808, and now stand it is an effectual Bounty to our the Hon. George Leonard and Hon. Ward own fisheries, and is severely felt by the Chipman were appointed a committee to American states. They complain, and I am correspond with Colonel Lutwyche. glad they have cause for so doing. Their Colonel Lutwyche was born in the province of Massachusetts bay, and vices, and in a letter to Lord Sheffield, in 176U, with his mother, Mrs. Sarah Lut- dated "KioRsclear, 20th August, 1807," wyche, removed irom Boston to Merrimac, thanking his lordship for the appointment, New Hampshire. He was a highly educated he makes this acknowledgement: man and a lawyer by profession, and is sup- "My worthy and faithful friend, Lu twyche, posed to have been a member of the New has communicated the particulars of Hampshire colonial legislature from 1768 to the negotiations which have been carried on 1775, as his name appears as a member of in my favor, and truly, my lord, the per- several committees of that body. At Mer- usal of 'em have excited a degree of sensi- rimac he became a deacon of the Congrega- bility beyond what I have ever before ex- tional church, and also colonel of tho Fifth perienced. Well may that good man ex- New Hampshire regiment of militia. When claim: 'Were all noblemen like Lord Shef- news reached Merrimac of the battle of field, titles would be honorable indeed."' Lexington, April 19, 1775, Colonel Lutwyche Writing to Winslow a few months before was importuned by the officers and men of his appointment as agent for New Bruns- his regiment to march against the British, wick, Col. Lutwyche gives this information which he refused to do and tried to discour- regarding the state of public feeling in Eng- age others from going. Some time during land and the perils that menaced the British the night of April 20th he left home clan- empire at that period in Europe as well as destinely and joined General Gage in Boston, America, and which a few years afterwards and at the evacuation of that city followed culminated in war on this continent: the British army to Halifax, Nova "The new state of things in Europe has Scotia. In January, 1777, Colonel affected this country in a peculiar manner. Lutwyche was at Long Island, New York, What will be the result is uncertain —tho' and during that year was married to Jane it is certain we are determined to hold out Rapelje of New York city. In 1780 Colo- to the last—there is no abatement of the nel Lutwycne, assisted in organizing in New spirit or the exertions of the country. York, among the loyalits who sought refuge "The Americans have taken a most in that city, a military organization known favorable opportunity, it must be as "The Associated Refugees and Loyal- confessed, to gain some points; but ists," and became, with the Hon. George they must not pull too hard, lest the Leonard, a member of the Board of Directors string break; for tho' this country is sin- that controlled and guided the operations cerely desirous of avoiding a rupture with of the Associated Loyalists. On the evacua- them, yet the ministry are determined not tion of New York in 1783, Colonel Lutwyche to sacrifice the honor or interest of it." went to England, and was granted a pen- Colonel Lutwyche was a close observer of sion by the English government. His pro- men, and his correspondence reveals many perty was confiscated by the state of New phases of life among the exiled Loyalists re- Hampshire, and a ferry privilege owned by siding in England during that period. His him at the crossing of the Merrimac river, letters are written in an easy, flowing style between the towns Merrimac and Litchfield, —though somewhat difficult to decipher — was granted to the Hon. Mathew Thornton, that mark the trained diplomat or a signer of the Declaration of independance, man of the world; but all of them evince a and the locality is now known as Thorn- knowledge of the subject in hand and a de- ton's ferry. The ferry privilege was after- termination to accomplish, if possible, the wards restored to Mrs, Sarah Lutwyche. matter undertaken. In 1778 Colonel Lutwyche, with other pro- Col. Lutwyche was agent for New Bruns- minent Loyalists of New Hampshire, (in- wick during a most critical period of its cluding Governor Sir John Wentwort and history. The embargo troubles with the Berjamin Thompson, afterwards Count United States began shortly after his ap- Rumford) was proscribed by the General pointment, and then the declaration of war Court of New Hampshire. followed. These events, with local provin- Colonel Lutwyche made his home in Lon- cial matters of grave importance, engrossed don, where he met many of the loyalists his attention in London, and also the atten- who visited the great metropolis, after the tion of the committee of correspondence in war, to press their claims against the gov- this province, who appear to have reposed ernment. great confidence in his judgment and abil- BETWEEN EDWARD WINSLOW ity, as the following extract from a letter, and Colonel Lutwyche there existed a strong addressed to him by the committee of cor- friendship, and for many years previous to respondence from St. John, on the 26th of the latter's appointment as agent for New March, 1810, will testify: Brunswick he had been Winslow's confiden- "We have great satisfaction in informing tial correspondent in London, and had you that the whole of the correspondence assisted him in his claims on the British between you and the late committee of the government and had pressed Winslow's ap- council and assembly was taken into consid- pointment as a judge of the supreme court eration at the late session of the General of this province on Lord Sheffield. Wins- Assembly at Fredericton, and that your low was grateful for Colonel Lutwyche'a ser- zealous attention to the interests of the 8 province, and judicious conduct in the dis- Nova Scotia, and became a barrister of charge of your duties as the provincial Lincoln's Inn, London, where he resided. agent from the time of your appointment, Mr. Bliss was the author of several pamph- met their highest approbation, in testimony lets on colonial questions, that created consid- of which the sum of £200 sterling was grant- erable discussion in the English as well as ed to you for your past services; a remuner- the provincial journals when issued. The ation, however inconsiderable in itself, ex- most valuable contribution from Mr. Bliss' ceeding the rate hitherto granted in any pen appeared in 1833, and was entitled similar instance." "Statistics of the Trade, Industry and Re- COLONEL LUTWYCHE sources of Canada and the Other Planta- tions in British America." Mr. Bliss wrote continued to discharge the duties of agent with great vigor and a keen appreciation of evidently to the satisfaction of the com- his subject, and his works are valuable as mittee until his death, which occurred in revealing an intimate knowledge of British London in the autumn of 1815. During the American colonial trade during the first years that Colonel Lutwyche held the office quarter of this century. He was agent also of province agent he had many difficult and for the province of Nova Scotia for many delicate missions to perform; but in all the years, and in his time was one of the best negotiations he conducted with the home known colonial writers in London. Mr. authorities he seems to have performed his Bliss' writings, with those of Sir Howard part to the satisfaction of such exacting Douglas, Sir Brinton Haliburton, Nathan- critics as Winslow, Leonard and Chipman. iel Gould and a host of others, On several occasions he acted in conjunction would form a valuable library tor perusal at with the celebrated Nathaniel Atcheson, this juncture, when the British possessions who was then acting as agent for the prov- on the northern portion of this continent ince of Nova Scotia in London; and his in- are assuming in the eyes of the world such timate knowledge of and acquaintance with vast magnitude, and giving strength and the leading public men in the British solidity to the British empire. metropolis rendered him a valuable official Henry Bliss died in England, regretted by for this young colony in those days of politi- many in his native province. The beauti- cal intrigue. ful window in the chancel of Trinity church the 7th of March, 1816, Thomas On (the church of the loyalists) in St John was Bonnor, of Spring Garden, was appointed placed there by a brother—Lewis Bliss—in province agent in London, and held the loving memory of the Hon. Jonathan Bliss position until 1824 And on the 27 th of and Mary Bliss, his wife, and of their sons, that month Jno.Bainbridge and Henry Bliss John Worthington Bliss, William Blowers were appointed joint agents for the province Bliss and Henry Bliss. in the room of Thomas Bonnor. John Bainbridge was an eminent London merchant, and had been for many years Note—The writer is indebted to the Rev. deputy chairman of the Society of British Henry G. Jessop of Dartmouth college, North American Merchants. He was well Hanover, New Hampshire, for all the infor- known to the province merchants of that mation relating to the early life of Colonel day, and was held in high esteem. Henry Edward T. Lutwyche contained in this Bliss was a son of the Hon. Jonathan Bliss, paper, and gleaned from rare historical chief justice of New Brunswick from 1808 works in that gentleman's possession. to 1822, and was born in St. John. He was a graduate of King's College, Windsor, St. John, N. B., April, 1892.