Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

PEOPLE MENTIONED IN A YANKEE IN CANADA:

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

“NARRATIVE HISTORY” AMOUNTS TO FABULATION, THE REAL STUFF BEING MERE CHRONOLOGY

“A YANKEE IN CANADA”: The universal salutation from the inhabitants whom we met was bon jour, at the same time touching the hat; with bon jour, and touching your hat, you may go smoothly through all Canada East. A little boy, meeting us would remark, “Bon jour, Monsieur; le chemin est mauvais:” Good morning, sir, it is bad walking. Sir Francis Head says that the emigrant is forward to “appreciate the happiness of living in a land in which the Old Country’s servile custom of touching the hat does not exist,” but he was thinking of Canada West, of course. It would, indeed, be a serious bore to be obliged to touch your hat several times a day. A Yankee has not leisure for it.

SIR FRANCIS HEAD

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1793

January 1, Tuesday: Francis Bond Head was born at The Hermitage in Higham, Kent, a son of James Roper Mendes Head and Frances Anne Burgess.

NOBODY COULD GUESS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1811

Upon his passing out of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, Francis Bond Head received a commission as lieutenant in the Royal Engineers.

DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? GOOD.

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1816

Francis Bond Head got married with his cousin Julia Valenza Somerville. The couple would produce four children.

LIFE IS LIVED FORWARD BUT UNDERSTOOD BACKWARD? — NO, THAT’S GIVING TOO MUCH TO THE HISTORIAN’S STORIES. LIFE ISN’T TO BE UNDERSTOOD EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD.

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1825

Having seen service on the island of Malta, at the Battle of Waterloo, and as engineering officer at the garrison of Edinburgh, Scotland, Francis Bond Head retired as a major on half-pay. He accepted a position as mining supervisor for the Rio Plata Mining Association, a company with South American interests.

NO-ONE’S LIFE IS EVER NOT DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY HAPPENSTANCE

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1826

Francis Bond Head’s initial production for the publishing house of John Murray in London was ROUGH NOTES TAKEN DURING SOME RAPID JOURNEYS ACROSS THE PAMPAS AND AMONG THE ANDES (henceforward his nickname was to be “Galloping Head,” on the basis of his fulsome account of riding horseyback back and forth between Buenos Aires and the Andes).

Henry Nelson Coleridge, back from his tour of the West Indies, offered to the reading public SIX MONTHS IN THE WEST INDIES, IN 1825 (New-York: G. & C. Carvill, and E. Bliss & E. White; Sleight & Tucker, Printers, Jamaica). This publication would not, unfortunately, gain for him any nicknames. HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

CHANGE IS ETERNITY, STASIS A FIGMENT

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1827

The Rio Plata Mining Association for which Francis Bond Head was serving as a supervisor lost its concession in South America. He filed REPORTS RELATING TO THE FAILURE OF THE RIO PLATA MINING ASSOCIATION, accusing the organizers of the company of having caused this costly failure.

THE FUTURE IS MOST READILY PREDICTED IN RETROSPECT

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1831

For demonstrating the potential usefulness of the lasso in warfare, Francis Bond Head was knighted by King William IV. HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1834

Under a new amendment to the Poor Law, one that created 554 new “workhouse” institutions for the better management of the improvident of England and Wales, and presumably due to the influence of Lord Brougham, Sir Francis Bond Head received preferment as an assistant to the Poor Law Commissioner for Kent.

In this year, publication by John Murray in London of his BUBBLES FROM THE BRUNNENS OF NASSAU (a piece of easy reading if ever there was one).

THE FUTURE CAN BE EASILY PREDICTED IN RETROSPECT

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1835

December: Strongly reformist members of the British cabinet, especially Lord Howick (later 3rd Earl Grey), had been greatly impressed by Sir Francis Bond Head’s performance as an administrator of the new poor law, or at least by his blowsome popular scribblings on that topic. Lord Glenelg, the colonial secretary, therefore selected him, despite his entire lack of political experience, to become the successor to Sir John Colborne as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.

I WAS GROSSLY IGNORANT OF EVERYTHING RELATING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR COLONIES:

DIFFICULTIES ABOUT A “SWEET”: HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

HARD WORK AND LITTLE PAY:

AN AWKWARD QUERY:

WHAT I’M WRITING IS TRUE BUT NEVER MIND YOU CAN ALWAYS LIE TO YOURSELF

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1836

January: On his arrival in Toronto as the new Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, Sir Francis Bond Head was puzzled to find that he was being welcomed as a “Tried Reformer” (hopefully, this innately conservative poohbah had the sense not to inquire of any Canadians “Just exactly what is it I am suspected of having reformed?”)

TAKING POSSESSION OF A NEW GOVERNOR: HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

February 5, Friday: Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head had discovered, he informed Lord Glenelg, the colonial secretary, back in England, that the Whig policy of negotiation and compromise and accommodation with Canadian reformists was mistaken, because their actual objective was not reform. It was nothing less than to sever the imperial connection, and reconstitute Canada as an independent republic. He intended, by marshaling the support of the loyal, orderly, and prosperous general public, to destroy the invidious agenda of such “Republicans.”

The Loyalist Royalist

The French Prime Minister, the Duc de Broglie, agreed to pay spoliation claims to the United States of America as required under an 1831 treaty.

Sam Houston was granted a furlough from the army to travel to an Indian parlay. There he met with Chief Bowl to arrange a treaty that would protect both the Cherokee and white residents of northern Texas.

Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 6th day Was the Meeting of the Genl Committee which I attended - the buisness got along very well. — & just as the committee was gathering for the adjournment in the Afternoon —Information was brought that Wm Almy had departed this life about half an hour before being taken Ill about 6 OClock in the Morng & lived about 8 hours Afterwards - his disorder was considerd to be an accumulation of Water on the heart. — The buisness of the committee was dispatched as soon as it could conveniently be done, as none of us felt like prolonging it under the circumstances of Wms sudden departure. — I lodged that night at the School House, feeling it to be my duty to spend a little time with them - which gave me an opportunity to discharge a duty I felt towards some that were there & I felt peace in my services - May peace & the God of peace dwell with them. — RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

March 12, Saturday: In Vienna, the publication of Die Schule des Fugenspiels op.400 for piano by Carl Czerny was announced.

Upon his arrival in Upper Canada, the new Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head had formed a conciliation Executive Council made up both of conservative leaders and of reform leaders. They supposed that he was going to ask them what he should do, and when within a couple of weeks it became obvious how politically inexperienced he was, and that nothing of that sort was going to happen, they began to protest loudly. His response was, basically, “My way or the highway,” and so on this day, after having held office for only three weeks — they all resigned. HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

April 15, Friday: The Canadian assembly had been deeply disappointed by the new Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head’s feckless inability to hold a cabinet together for more than six weeks or so. With only two dissenting votes, the Reformers and Conservatives had united to demand an explanation of the situation. They then acquired the astonishing news that at the tail end of his service as Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Colborne had endowed 57 Anglican rectories! On this date the committee of inquiry gave its report to the House, denouncing Head as a deceitful despot whose conduct in Canada had dishonored the British monarch whom he had been supposed to represent. The assembly then voted to stop payment out of the tax moneys, depriving the government of some £7,000 intended for the paychecks of officials. The new Lieutenant Governor then dug his hole even deeper, by putting on hold all money bills passed during the session, and by proroguing the legislature.

Richard Henry Dana, Jr. visited the crew of the Pilgrim, and the Kanakas on the San Diego shore.

AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, A REPORT FROM OUR SAILOR: Friday, April 15th. Arrived, brig Pilgrim, from the windward. It was a sad sight for her crew to see us getting ready to go off the coast, while they, who had been longer on the coast than the Alert, were condemned to another year’s hard service. I spent an evening on board, and found them making the best of the matter, and determined to rough it out as they might; but my friend S______was determined to go home in the ship, if money or interest could bring it to pass. After considerable negotiating and working, he succeeded in persuading my English friend, Tom Harris,– my companion in the anchor watch– for thirty dollars, some clothes, and an intimation from Captain Faucon that he met should want a second mate before the voyage was up, to take his place in the brig as soon as she was ready to go up to windward. The first opportunity I could get to speak to Captain Faucon, I asked him to step up to the oven and look at Hope, whom he knew well, having had him on board his vessel. He went to see him, but said that he had so little medicine, and expected to be so long on the coast, that he could do nothing for him, but that Captain Arthur would take care of him when he came down in the California, which would be in a week or more. I had been to see Hope the first night after we got into San Diego this last time, and had frequently since spent the early part of a night in the oven. I hardly expected, when I left him to go to windward, to find him alive upon my return. He was certainly as low as he could well be when I left him, and what would be the effect of the medicines that I gave him. I hardly then dared to conjecture. Yet I knew that he must die without them. I was not a little rejoiced, therefore, and relieved, upon our return, to see him decidedly better. The medicines were strong, and took hold and gave a check to the disorder which was destroying him; and, more than that, they had begun the work of exterminating it. I shall never forget the gratitude that he expressed. All the Kanakas attributed his escape solely to my knowledge, and would not be persuaded that I had not all the secrets of the physical system open to me and under my control. My medicines, however, were gone, and no more could be got from the ship, so that his life was left to hang upon the arrival of the California. HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

May 28, Saturday: David Henry Thoreau needed to drop out of Harvard College on account of an illness, presumably tubercular, and would presumably have been being cared for at the family home in Concord.1 THOREAU RESIDENCES

In Upper Canada, Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head dissolved the parliament and ordered that writs be issued for the election of a new legislature (and indeed, his side would win and the Reformists would lose in that new election).

Down with Reform!

Richard Henry Dana, Jr. and the Alert crossed the equator and caught the winds down the western coast of South America toward Cape Horn.

AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, A REPORT FROM OUR SAILOR: As we approached the line, the wind became more easterly, and the weather clearer, and in twenty days from San Diego,– Saturday, May 28th, at about three P.M., with a fine breeze from the east-southeast, we crossed the equator. In twenty-four hours, after crossing the line, which was very unusual, we took the regular south-east trades. These winds come a little from the eastward of south-east, and, with us, they blew directly from the east-southeast, which was fortunate for us, for our course was south-by-west, and we could thus go one point free. The yards were braced so that every sail drew, from the spanker to the flying-jib; and the upper yards being squared in a little, the fore and main top-gallant studding-sails were set, and just drew handsomely. For twelve days this breeze blew steadily, not varying a point, and just so fresh that we could carry our royals; and, during the whole time, we hardly started a brace. Such progress did we make, that at the end of seven days from the time we took the breeze, on —

Summer: Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head toured Upper Canada informally, visiting not only white settlements but also native ones. He maintained good relations with his new legislature while encouraging the conservative majority in an ambitious agenda of public improvement. Reform, but without those invidious Reformers!2

1. While recuperating over the summer he would go “to New York with Father, peddling” wholesale for the family pencil business, not returning to his education until the fall term. HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

2. However, back in Ottawa, his intransigence and lack of ability to maneuver politically was creating problem after problem. He continued to attempt to purge anyone and everyone he came to suspect of harboring secret Reformist sympathies. He continued to warn his handlers back in England of the perils of any policy of conciliation. Loyalty was everything and ability was nothing, so he refused to reinstate Ridout or to appoint Bidwell to the bench. HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1837

Summer: Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head’s Legislative Council had performed poorly during the bank crisis and financial panic. He had been roundly condemned at a special session of the House of Assembly for not allowing provincial banks to suspend specie payments as was happening in the USA and in Lower Canada. He again went off on an informal tour of Upper Canada, pressing the flesh and kissing the babies and making accommodations. Noblesse oblige was a role he played well, and was better than being in Ottawa facing the ever-growing hostility of the politicos.

The Scots nobleman William Drummond Stewart, a lineal descendant of the Cavalier poet Sir William Drummond and still proud of it, was again touring America’s Wild West, hunting “buffalo” and living the life of the “mountain man,” and this time he had brought along the Baltimore artist Alfred Jacob Miller. They would travel all the way from St. Louis up to the Green River of what would be Wyoming Territory.

CHALMERS ON DRUMMOND

November: Sir Francis Bond Head stripped Upper Canada of regular troops to help Colborne meet the Lower Canadian emergency. It was as if he were suggesting that the Reformists initiate an armed rebellion — and Mackenzie and his league would be prompt to take him up on this suggestion.

December 4, Monday: Opening of the 2d (long) session of the 25th US Congress.

On this night in Upper Canada, Mackenzie attempted an armed coup. Wakened, Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head began to behave in an alarmingly erratic and indecisive manner.

Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

2nd day 4th of 12 M / Took the Stage for Providence & at Bristol ferry got on board the Steam Boat King Philip & went the remaining distance by water arrived about two OC PM & went to Doctor Tobeys & lodged - next day 3rd day attended the Sub School Committee - & the Meeting for Sufferings in the Afternoon - lodged at the School House & on 4th day by appointment from the Meeting for Sufferings attended to the examination of the contents of the Yearly Meetings chest of Books & papers containing the records & papers which were collected & Kept by our late friend Moses Brown for about 50 Years - Lodged at Bales Harris’s his daughter Avis being a particular & much esteemed, friend & acquaintance of mine, she having from her Childhood been brought up in the family of Moses Brown & whenever I went to his house was kindly received & entertained by both himself & Avis. — RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

December 7, Thursday: When the Loyalists defeated the rebels on Yonge Street north of Toronto, Mackenzie fled from Canada across the border into the United States of America and Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head began to put to the torch the homes they had left behind.

This was personal with him, really personal. He would be greatly surprised when he learned, belatedly, that his handlers back in England had already “accepted his resignation” (to put the matter inside scarequotes). He would depart under the conviction –which he was eager to explain to anyone who would listen– that he had singlehandedly saved Canada for the empire.3 Never again would he be entrusted with public position.

Huh, I resigned?

Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 5th day returned to Service of examining the Yearly Meeting chest which is now at the Store of Almy & Brown in the City — I attended their Week day Meeting & dined with Jonathon Freeborn & in the Afternoon proceeded in the examination & lodged at 3. He would secure an audience with Lord Melbourne, and proceed to explain what a hero he had been. Lord Melbourne would be reduced to responding “But Head, you’re such a damned odd fellow.” HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

Doctor Tobeys - On 6th day forenoon We finished the examination & made report to the Meeting for Sufferings, after dining at Dr Tobeys - went to the Steam Boat in hopes to have returned that evening but she being out of order was disappointed & returned to Wm Jenkins - & spent the evening & lodged & staid there till 3 OClock on 7th day when I took the Steam Boat & returned home. —At Wm Jenkins I found our friend Thomas Howland who had returned from NYork in a very feeble state of health — The time spent with him was very agreeable & indeed I can truly say my visit was very agreeable throughout I had an opportunity of assimulating with friends whom I love & was very kindly received & entertained by them RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1839

A NARRATIVE. BY SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD, BART. (London: John Murray, Albemarle Street). A NARRATIVE

Plus, a supplemental chapter added into to 3d edition in this same year: SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER

I WAS GROSSLY IGNORANT OF EVERYTHING RELATING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR COLONIES:

DIFFICULTIES ABOUT A “SWEET”: HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

HARD WORK AND LITTLE PAY:

AN AWKWARD QUERY:

TAKING POSSESSION OF A NEW GOVERNOR: HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1847

The 5th edition of Sir Francis B. Head, Bart.’s THE EMIGRANT (London: John Murray, Albemarle Street). Henry Thoreau would copy from this into the Canadian Notebook begun shortly after his return from his trip to Canada and into his Indian Notebook #5, and would refer to it in his journal, in “A YANKEE IN CANADA”, and in “WALKING”.

SIR FRANCIS HEAD

“WALKING”: Sir Francis Head, — an English traveller, and a Governor General of Canada, — tells us that “in both the northern and southern hemispheres of the new world, Nature has not only outlined her works on a larger scale, but has painted the whole picture with brighter and more costly colors than she used in delineating and in beautifying the old world.” “The heavens of America appear infinitely higher — the sky is bluer — the air is fresher — the cold is intenser — the moon looks larger — the stars are brighter — the thunder is louder — the lightning is vivider — the wind is stronger — the rain is heavier — the mountains are higher — the rivers larger — the forests bigger — the plains broader.” This statement will do at least to set against Buffon’s account of this part of the world and its productions.

SIR FRANCIS HEAD HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1849

Sir Francis Bond Head’s STOKERS AND POKERS, OR, THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY, THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, AND THE RAILWAY CLEARING-HOUSE (London: John Murray) and his HIGHWAYS AND DRYWAYS; OR THE BRITANNIA AND CONWAY TUBULAR BRIDGES.

STOKERS AND POKERS HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1850

Sir Francis Bond Head’s THE DEFENCELESS STATE OF GREAT BRITAIN (London: John Murray). THE DEFENCELESS STATE HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

1852

Sir Francis Bond Head’s A FAGGOT OF FRENCH STICKS (London: John Murray).

FAGGOT OF FRENCH STICKS HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

FAGGOT OF FRENCH STICKS HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

Also in this year, his A FORTNIGHT IN IRELAND:

A FORTNIGHT IN IRELAND HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

February 2, Monday: Henry Thoreau returned the Loudon volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF PLANTS to the Boston Society of Natural History and checked out, from Harvard Library, Carl von Linné’s CAROLI LINNÆ ... PHILOSOPHIA BOTANICA (1751).

He also checked out Louis-Armand de Lom d’Arce, Baron de Lahontan’s NOUVEAUX VOYAGES DE MR. LE BARON DE LAHONTAN DANS L’AMÉRIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE, QUI CONTIENNENT UNE RÉLATION DES DIFFÉRENS PEUPLES QUI Y HABITENT; LA NATURE DE LEUR GOUVERNEMENT; LEUR COMMERCE, LEURS COUTUMES, LEUR RELIGION, & LEUR MANIÉRE DE FAIRE LA GUERRE. L’INTÉRÊT DES FRANÇOIS & DES ANGLOIS DANS LE COMMERCE QU’ILS FONT AVEC SES NATIONS; L’AVANTAGE QUE L’ANGLETERRE PEUT RETIRER DANS CE PAÏS, ÉTANT EN GUERRE AVEC LA FRANCE. LE TOUT ENRICHI DE CARTES & DE FIGURES. TOME PREMIER (A. La Haye, chez les Fréres l’Honoré, Marchands Libraires, 1703) MEMOIRES ... (VOL. I)

and MEMOIRES DE L’AMERIQUE SEPTENTRIONNALE, OU LA SUITE DES VOYAGES DE MR. LE BARON DE LA HONTAN. QUI CONTIENNENT LA DEFCRIPTION D’UNE GRANDE ÉTENDUË DE PAÏS DE CE CONTINENT, L’INTÉRÊT DES FRANÇOIS & DES ANGLOIS, LEURS COMMERCES, LEURS NAVIGATIONS, LEURS MŒURS & LES COÛTUMES DES SAUVAGES, &C. AVEC UN PETIT DICTIONAIRE DE LA LANGUE DU PAÏS. LE TOUT ENRICHI DE CARTES & DE FIGURES. TOME SECOND. (A. La Haye, chez les Fréres l’Honoré, Marchands Libraires, 1703), making his notes in his Indian Notebook #5 and his Fact Book. MEMOIRES ... (VOL. II)

“There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away” — Emily Dickinson HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

On this day, as is clear from entries in his Fact Book, he had perused an article in the Boston Daily Evening Traveller, by Benjamin Apthorp Gould the son, headlined “The Progress of Astronomy During the Last Half Century.” It is clear also in his journal entry, that he was concurrently reading in the 5th edition of Sir Francis B. Head, Bart.’s THE EMIGRANT (London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1847). THE EMIGRANT

Henri-Frédéric Amiel, who would be referred to as the “Swiss Thoreau,” wrote in his JOURNAL INTIME: “Still the Monologues. Critically I defended myself enough against them yesterday; I may abandon myself now, without scruple and without danger, to the admiration and the sympathy with which they inspire me. This life so proudly independent, this sovereign conception of human dignity, this actual possession of the universe and the infinite, this perfect emancipation from all which passes, this calm sense of strength and superiority, this invincible energy of will, this infallible clearness of self-vision, this autocracy of the consciousness which is its own master, all these decisive marks of a royal personality of a nature Olympian, profound, complete, harmonious, penetrate the mind with joy and heart with gratitude. What a life! what a man! These glimpses into the inner regions of a great soul do one good. Contact of this kind strengthens, restores, refreshes. Courage returns as we gaze; when we see what has been, we doubt no more that it can be again. At the sight of a man we too say to ourselves, let us also be men.” HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

KEY: existing white settlements in boldface, future white settlements in italics HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

February 2, Monday: Sir Francis Head says that in America “the moon looks larger” than in Europe Here then more moonshine is to be expected– Perhaps the sun looks larger also. Such are the advantages of the new World. The same writer says “the heavens of America appear infinitely higher” – – “the stars are brighter”– These too are encouraging facts – symbolical of the height to which the philosophy & poetry and religion of her inhabitants may one day soar. At length perchance the immaterial heaven will appear as much higher to the American mind – and the intimations that star it will appear as much brighter. For I believe that climate does thus react on man – and that there is something in the Mt air that feeds the spirit – & inspires. We shall be more imaginative– We shall be clearer as our sky – bluer, fresher, broader & more comprehensive in our understanding – like our plains– Our intellect on a grander scale – like our thunder & lightning – our rivers & our lakes – & mts & forests. Are not these advantages? Will not man grow to greater perfection, intellectually as well as physically under these influences? Or is it unimportant how many foggy days there are in his life? Sir F. Head thinks that the greater cold –equal to 13 degrees of Lat.– in this country is owing to the extensive forests which prevent the sun & wind from melting the snows –which therefore accumulate on the ground– and creates a cold stratum of air which blown to warmer ones by the N W wind condenses the last into snow– But in Concord woods at any rate the snow – (in the winter) – melts faster – & beside is not so deep as in the fields. Not so toward Spring – on the N sides of hills & in hollows– At any rate I think he has not allowed enough for the warmth of the woods. The moose (& beaver?) will perchance one day become extinct – but how naturally would a future poet imagine or sculptor carve a fabulous animal with such branching & leafy horns – (when this will in fact exist as a fossil relic) His horns a sort of fucus in bone– –or a lichen. The Elk (moose) may stand with the Gryphon & Dragon & Dodo &c. &c. The fire-flies & bright plumaged birds! do not they too indicate the peculiarities of the future American Head “felt that there was something indescribably awful & apalling in all these bestial, birdal, and piscal precautions” at the approach of winter– Going into winter quarters – migrating &c. Head coming to Canada in the winter to a house in the fields covered with snow did not know that he was surrounded by a lawn & garden – with gravelled walks – flowers & shrubbery – till the spring thawed the snow. The race that settles & clears the land has got to deal with every tree in the forest in succession– It must be resolute & industrious – and even the stumps must be got out or are– It is a thorough process – this war with the wilderness – breaking nature taming the soil – feeding it on oats The civilized man regards the pine tree as his enemy. He will fell it & let in the light – grub it up & raise wheat or rye there. It is no better than a fungus to him. It is natural that we should be enterprising – for we are descended from the enterprising – who sought to better their fortunes in the new world The Yankee has no leisure to touch his hat to you even if he were so disposed

February 4, Wednesday: Henry Thoreau attended William Blasius (1818-1899)’s lecture at the Concord Lyceum, on tornados. This lecturer was the one who would in 1875 author STORMS: THEIR NATURE, CLASSIFICATION, AND LAWS. WITH THE MEANS OF PREDICTING THEM BY THEIR EMBODIMENTS IN THE CLOUDS, a volume in which he would be paying a whole lot of attention to the tornado that had struck on August 22, 1851, a storm which he had spent five weeks studying along its entire 2½-mile track across West Cambridge, Massachusetts. Would it be possible, Dr. Bradley P. Dean asks, that Thoreau learned of Luke Howard’s cloud modifications in the course of this lyceum presentation, rather than through a direct reading of the text of Friend Luke’s ESSAY ON THE MODIFICATIONS OF CLOUDS in its 1803 edition that had just been acquired by Harvard Library, or in its 1832 edition which that library now has and possibly at that time already had on its shelf? [I] had found the existence of two opposing currents of air of different temperature, coming respectively from north-west and from south-west, acting suddenly against each other after a sultry calm of some duration, and shortly a third gyratory force making its appearance between them, traveling in their diagonal, growing to such magnitude as to obliterate all traces of the straight line forces of the opposing currents, and finally abruptly disappearing. The two currents must have been during HDT WHAT? INDEX

SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD

the period of sultry calm in a state of equilibrium, since the clouds were observed to remain for some time almost stationary. South of the tornado’s track the south-west wind prevailed until the beginning of the tornado, and from information obtained for me by ex-President Hill it appeared that a storm had traveled from north-west to south-east over the States of New Hampshire and Vermont, and that during its progress a south-west wind was replaced by a north-west wind. I was thus led to conclude that the storm announced that afternoon by the black bank of cloud consisted in the conflict of two aerial currents of different temperature — that the colder northern current displaced the warmer southern current in the direction from north-west to south-east, gradually decreasing in velocity until, north of Waltham, West Cambridge and Medford, it came to a perfect standstill, producing the sultry calm felt before the tornado. Here the two currents, being in equilibrio, exerted a great compressive force against each other. The equilibrium was disturbed by the uneven configuration of the earth around Prospect Hill. This disturbance produced the tornado, which traveled, not in the direction of the storm toward the south- east, but in the diagonal of the two opposing currents over the region of calm at their line of meeting, and in and underneath the black bank of clouds stretched out from west to east which must have marked this line of meeting. I came thus to two distinct phenomena, the tornado and the storm in the ordinary sense of the word, both different in their origin, nature, direction, progress and appearance, and governed by entirely different laws. It would therefore be an error to base theories regarding the laws of storms in general upon the tornado as a type, which Redfield and Espy have done. In order to witness, if possible, the phenomenon from beginning to end, I repaired during the same autumn and the succeeding year to Prospect Hill as often as I saw indications in the clouds of the approach of another tornado. I thus obtained many valuable experiences which confirmed me in my views, but I had not the pleasure of witnessing a tornado, because the state of the atmosphere was never entirely in the proper condition. The clouds were in these studies my principal guides. Toward the winter I found that they changed their usual form and came from a different quarter; the storms also changed in direction and nature. I became thus exclusively engrossed in these observations for about three years. Finding that the phenomena repeated themselves in regular order during this time, I became satisfied that storms in the temperate zone at least, and over the United States, are the effect of the conflict of opposing aerial currents of different temperatures, and not the cause of these currents and temperatures, as seems to be assumed by some cyclonists. The question naturally arose: Where do these currents and their conflicts originate? and I was led to find the answer in disturbances of the general circulation of the atmosphere, and in the cause of these — the origin of all life and power and motion — the sun acting in combination with local circumstances. HDT WHAT? INDEX

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In the mean time, however, after the completion of my investigation of the tornado, I had arrived at the following general results: 1. This tornado was in intimate connection with the storm I had seen approaching, but was not the storm itself. 2. The origin, mode of progress and appearance of both are totally different. 3. The storm consisted in the conflict of two opposing aerial currents of different temperature and pressure. 4. This conflict commenced at some point to the north, and shifted its place, the northern, cooler current in its course from north-west to south-east displacing the southern, warmer current. 5. This conflict was accompanied along the region of meeting of the two currents with copious rain. 6. The wind blew in straight lines from the north-west and from the south-west toward the region of meeting. 7. The long black bank of clouds had a defined relation to this region of meeting: it was parallel to it. 8. The region of conflict must have slackened its progress, as was evident by the black bank of clouds becoming almost stationary, which fact I had observed while fishing, before I knew of the tornado. 9. The tension between these two currents must have been at this time at its maximum, the opposing currents balancing each other. 10. When, in this critical condition of the state of the atmosphere, a disturbance occurred which made the colder, heavier current rush suddenly forward, or made it sink at one point, the other more elastic, warmer current rushed over that portion of the colder current upward, producing an eddy or whirl which traveled in the diagonal of the forces of the two currents along the line of meeting or underneath the black bank of cloud which indicates it. 11. This disturbance was produced by Prospect Hill, the highest elevation near Boston, and by the valley east of it. 12. The coincidence of a certain condition of the atmosphere with the peculiar configuration of the ground will not only explain the origin of the tornado, but also its gradual development and its final dissolution. Toward the end of the year 1851 I communicated these results, with the facts on which they were based, to the Academy of Science in Boston, being introduced by Prof. Agassiz, who took a deep interest in my discoveries, seeing at once their importance scientifically and practically. He proposed that my investigations should be published at the expense of the academy; but a statement being made by a member that he too was making a survey of the tornado, and had not found such a law, his impression being that “the whole was a confused mass,” it was resolved to defer the publication of my investigations until the completion of this gentleman’s survey. As, however, he unfortunately did not begin it until the destruction was two weeks old, when the debris had been largely removed and the position of fallen objects in most HDT WHAT? INDEX

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cases changed, there was little hope that he should find anything but “a confused mass,” especially as he had also fallen into my original error of beginning in the middle.

February 4, Wednesday: A mild thawy day. The needles of the pine are the touch-stone for the air– any change in that element is revealed to the practiced eye by their livelier green or increased motion. They are the tell-tales Now they are (the white pine) a cadaverous misty blue–anon a lively silvery light plays on them– & they seem to erect themselves unusually–while the pitch pines are a brighter yellowish green than usual– The sun loves to nestle in the boughs of the pine & pass rays through them. The scent of bruised pine leaves where a sled has passed is a little exciting to me now– I saw this afternoon such lively bloodred colors on a white pine stump recently cut–that at first I thought the chopper had cut himself. The heart of the tree was partly decayed–& here & there the sounder parts were of this vermillion? color alternating with the ordinary white of the wood. here it was apparently in the earlier stages of decay. The color was the livelier for being wet with the melting snow.

11 P m Coming home through the village by this full moon light it seems one of the most glorious nights I ever beheld. Though the pure snow is so deep around–the air by contrast perhaps with the recent days–is mild and even balmy to my senses–and the snow is still sticky to my feet & hands– And the sky is the most glorious blue I ever beheld–even a light blue on some sides sides–as if I actually saw into day– While small white fleecy clouds at long intervals are drifting from West N W to S S E– If you would know the direction of the wind– look not at the clouds which are such large bodies & confuse you–but consider in what direction the moon appears to be wading through them. The outlines of the elms were never more distinctly seen than now. It seems a slighting of the gifts of God to go to sleep now.– as if we could better afford to close our eyes to day-light of which we see so much. Has not this blueness of the sky the same cause with the blueness in the holes in the snow–& in some distant shadows on the snow!– if indeed it is true that the sky is bluer in winter when the ground is covered with snow. Heard Prof. Blazius Lecture on the Tornado this evening. He said that 9 vessels were wrecked daily in the world on an average– That Professor Dover? of Berlin was the best meteorologist in his opinion – but had not studied the effects of wind in the feelds so much as some here. These nights are warmer than the days; but by morning it is colder. Head’s theory of Am. Cold founded on the unmelted snows of our forests reminds me of the fish & bucket of water dispute– Is it a fact that such vast quantities of snow are slow to melt in our forests? The audience are never tired of hearing how far the wind carried some man woman or child–or family bible– but they are immediately tired if you undertake to give them a scientific account of it.4

February 5, Thursday: Alabama modified somewhat its procedure for disposing of the slaves that it had confiscated due to illegal importations. By code approved on this date: — §§ 2058-2062. If slaves have been imported contrary to law, they are to be sold, and one fourth paid to the agent or informer and the residue to the treasury. An agent is to be appointed to take charge of such slaves, who is to give bond. Pending controversy, he may hire the slaves out. Ormond, CODE OF ALABAMA, pages 392-3. INTERNATIONAL SLAVE TRADE

Again we can see that interdicting the slave trade had nothing whatever to do with the welfare of the slave. SLAVERY

4. Brooks, Reverend Charles. THE TORNADO OF 1851, IN MEDFORD, WEST CAMBRIDGE AND WALTHAM, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS., BEING A REPORT BY ... AND REPORTS OF OTHER COMMITTEES. Boston: Usher, 1852. The author described the storm and reprinted the report of the Committee on Appraisals on damage done and settlements allowed. HDT WHAT? INDEX

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February 5: Suppose that an equal ado were made about the ornaments of style in literature (as in architecture) should we be any more likely to attain to a truly beautiful & forcible style? Buonaparte said pretty truly Speak plain, the rest will follow. I do not believe that any writer who considered the ornaments–& not the truth simply ever succeeded. So are made the belles lettres & the beaux arts & their professors which we can do without. The sky last night was a deeper more caerulean blue than the far lighter & whiter sky of today. The national flag is the emblem of patriotism, and whether that floats over the Government-House or not – is even, in times of peace, an all absorbing question. The hearts of millions flutter with it. Men do believe in symbols yet & can understand some. When Sir F Head left his Government in Upper Canada & the usual Farewell had been said as the vessel moved off he standing on the deck pointed for all reply to the British Flag floating over his head – and a shriek rather than a cheer went up from the crowd on the pier, who had observed his gesture. One of the first things he had done was to run it up over the Government House at Toronto – & it made a great sensation. Time never passes so rapidly and unaccountably as when I am engaged in recording my thoughts. The world may perchance reach its end for us in a profounder thought – & Time itself run down. I suspect that the child plucks its first flower with an insight into its beauty & significance which the subsequent botanist never retains. The trunks & branches of the trees are of different colors at dif. times & in dif. lights & weathers. in sun, rain, & in the night. The oaks bare of leaves on Hubbards hill side are now a light grey in the sun and their boughs seen against the pines behind are a very agreeable maze. The stems of the white pines also are quite grey at this distance with their lichens. I am detained to contemplate the boughs –feathery boughs of the white pines, tier above tier, reflecting a silvery light– with intervals (between them) through which you look, if you so intend your eye, into the darkness of the grove. That is you can see both the silvery lighted & greenish bough –& the shadowy intervals as belonging to one tree– or more truly refer the latter to the shade behind. Read the Englishmans history of the French & Ind. wars –& then read the Frenchmans — and see how each awards the meed of glory to the others monsters of cruelty or perfidy We have all sorts of histories of wars– One omits the less important skirmishes all-together – another condescends to give you the result of these & the number of killed & wounded – & if you choose to go – further & consult tradition and old MSS — you may learn whether the parson was killed by a shot through the door or tomahawked at the well. HDT WHAT? INDEX

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1857

Sir Francis Bond Head’s DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS CONTRIBUTED TO THE QUARTERLY REVIEW (2 volumes, London: John Murray).

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS, I DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS, II HDT WHAT? INDEX

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1860

Sir Francis B. Head, Bart.’s THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER.

THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER HDT WHAT? INDEX

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1872

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE LATE FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN BURGOYNE, BART., &C. &C. &C. BY MAJOR THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR FRANCIS HEAD, BT. LATE CAPTAIN ROYAL ENGINEERS (London: John Murray).

SIR JOHN BURGOYNE, BART. HDT WHAT? INDEX

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1875

July 20, Tuesday: Francis Bond Head died near Croyden, England at his home, Duppas Hall. HDT WHAT? INDEX

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1958

Sydney Wayne Jackman’s GALLOPING HEAD: THE LIFE OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR FRANCIS HEAD, BART., P.C., 1793-1875, LATE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF UPPER CANADA (London: Phoenix House Ltd.).

“MAGISTERIAL HISTORY” IS FANTASIZING: HISTORY IS CHRONOLOGY

Mentioned in A Yankee in Canada: Sir Francis Bond Head “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In addition to the property of others, such as extensive quotations and reproductions of images, this “read-only” computer file contains a great deal of special work product of Austin Meredith, copyright 2015. Access to these interim materials will eventually be offered for a fee in order to recoup some of the costs of preparation. My hypercontext button invention which, instead of creating a hypertext leap through hyperspace —resulting in navigation problems— allows for an utter alteration of the context within which one is experiencing a specific content already being viewed, is claimed as proprietary to Austin Meredith — and therefore freely available for use by all. Limited permission to copy such files, or any material from such files, must be obtained in advance in writing from the “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project, 833 Berkeley St., Durham NC 27705. Please contact the project at .

“It’s all now you see. Yesterday won’t be over until tomorrow and tomorrow began ten thousand years ago.” – Remark by character “Garin Stevens” in William Faulkner’s INTRUDER IN THE DUST

Prepared: February 14, 2015 HDT WHAT? INDEX

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ARRGH AUTOMATED RESEARCH REPORT

GENERATION HOTLINE

This stuff presumably looks to you as if it were generated by a human. Such is not the case. Instead, someone has requested that we pull it out of the hat of a pirate who has grown out of the shoulder of our pet parrot “Laura” (as above). What these chronological lists are: they are research reports compiled by ARRGH algorithms out of a database of modules which we term the Kouroo Contexture (this is data mining). To respond to such a request for information we merely push a button. HDT WHAT? INDEX

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Commonly, the first output of the algorithm has obvious deficiencies and we need to go back into the modules stored in the contexture and do a minor amount of tweaking, and then we need to punch that button again and recompile the chronology — but there is nothing here that remotely resembles the ordinary “writerly” process you know and love. As the contents of this originating contexture improve, and as the programming improves, and as funding becomes available (to date no funding whatever has been needed in the creation of this facility, the entire operation being run out of pocket change) we expect a diminished need to do such tweaking and recompiling, and we fully expect to achieve a simulation of a generous and untiring robotic research librarian. Onward and upward in this brave new world.

First come first serve. There is no charge. Place requests with . Arrgh.