PIONEER SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [CONTINUED FROM VOL. 11.] COPIES OF PAPERS ON FILE IN THE DOMINION ARCHIVES AT OTTAWA, NOTE.-Care has been taken in publishing the following papers to follow the original copies as closely as possible, including orthography, punctuation, capitalization, etc. The references in brackets at the close of each paper are to the filings in the Dominion archives at Ottawa. No 100. REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. LORD DORCHESTER [SIR GUY CARLETON] TO LORD SYDNEY QUEBEC 10th January 1789. MY LORD, Since my letter No 93 I hear a road has been cleared, and made practicable for carriages of any kind, from Cayhuga Lake to Great Sodus bay, on Lake Ontario; this carrying place is about ten miles long. The bay affords a safe harbour for vessels of about fifty or sixty tons burden, and is nearly half way between fort Ontario and the Chenessee [Genesee] river about thirty miles from each. One object is, to form a communication between the settlements on this river, and the Mohawk country, without coming near Oswego. The last reports from Detroit say, Joseph Brant, with about eleven hundred Indians, besides women and children, set out from the Miamis villages to meet the American commissioners, as proposed last year, at the falls of the Muskingum, but that there is a visible desire of procrastination on the part of the Indians, and that on the other hand the Americans seem determined to admit of no longer delay, but to march in force against the Indians this year, if no settlement of their differences should be effected. The prospect of an accomodation is said at the same time to have become more doubtful of late, by an alarm spread among the Indians, while at the Miamis, of a body of Americans being on their march against them, in consequence of which Scouts were sent out by them, who actually fell in with a strong surveying party, west of the Ohio, on whom they fired, and took some prisoners. It is added that this event, and the former violence, committed by a war party from Michilimackinac, of which mention is made in my letter No 81, having induced the Americans to remove the Council fire from the place first appointed, at the falls of the Muskingum, to some spot under the protection of a fort, garrisoned with four hundred men, that Joseph Brant intends to go to the place first appointed, and there to demand a meeting, and, should they refuse, that it is doubtful, whether, under the circumstances above related, he will trust himself any further I am with much respect & esteem Your Lordship's most obedient, and most humble servant The Right Honble Lord Sydney. DORCHESTER. Endorsed :--Quebec 10th Jany. 1789. Lord Dorchester No 100. Re 14th April. [Q 40 p 207] REPORT THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Guy Lord Dorchester Governor General of the Province of Quebec &c. &c. Report of the Committee of the whole Council (the Members assembled being Mr Chief Justice Smith, Messrs Finlay, Harrison, Collins, Caldwell, DeLery, Grant, Baby, Davison, DeLanaudiere and Col MY LORD, In obedience to your Lordships Order in Council, the Committee met this day and having deliberated upon the very important object of the Reference, came to the following Resolves, as the result of the whole subject matter of their consideration. That it is the opinion of this Committee that persons competant for the administration of Justice in Civil Causes (the magnitude of the Commerce of that District considered) cannot be found in the District of Hesse. Resolved nevertheless, that supposing a fit person at the head of the Commission, there may be found in the District divers of the principal Inhabitants very proper to be joined with him, and able to afford a very useful assistance in the trust. Resolved upon due consideration of the expence of subsistence in that District, the Labor and importance of the service and the dignity of the office the income of the Chief in such Commission might not be less than the yearly sum of five hundred pounds sterling. Resolved that in the opinion of the Committee it may be hoped, that the Assistant Judges will be content with the fees and Emoluments established by the late Ordinance for that purpose made and provided, if the Chief or first Judge of the District shall be satisfied, without any allowance of fees. Resolved that it may better conduce to such establishm't for the dispensation of Justice in the said District, if provision be made by Law, that the head of the Commission may act alone, and there are two Assistant Judges authorized to aid in the trust, and Resolved, further, that the Committee are clearly of opinion against the project suggested of hearing and deciding causes and Controversies by compulsory References and Awards. All which is nevertheless most humbly submitted to Your Lordship's great wisdom Signed by order of the Committee in the Council Chamber at the Bishop's Palace, in Quebec Tuesday 13th January 1789. (signed) WM SMITH Chairman. [Q 41 part 1 page 131] Audit of the Accounts The Report of the special Committee charged to state their opinion what authority it is adviseable to Constitute on the Spot for a Stricter audit of the Collector's Accounts of the Provincial Revenue than is already provided, read: Referred to a Committee of the whole Council. Inland Navigation and interior commerce The First Report of the special Committee respect ing the inland Navigation & interior Commerce, read, viz.— To His Excellency the Right Honourable Guy Lord Dorchester Captain 1st Report of the standing Committee, nominated by Your Lordship in Council on the 29th of December 1788 to bring information to the knowledge of Government concerning the Inland Navigation and commerce to correspond with the Superintendants, Report Abstracts from time to time of their communications and returns, together with the Committees observations on the important matters suggested in Your Lordship's Order of Reference and other Consequential duties. MY LORD, It appears by the Lists and Returns of the Superintendants appointed by Your Lordship, for the Posts of Kingston (formerly Cataraqui) Niagara, Fort Erie, Detroit and Michilimackinac pursuant to the act passed in the last Sessions of the Legislative Council Chap 3rd. That there are at present four Registered Merchant Vessels belonging to those ports and navigating the Lakes as follows Kingston to Oswego The Schooner Good Intent Built at Freidricks- 15 3 Lakes Fort Erie to Detroit] The Sloop Sagina 36.5 Built at Sagina Bay in That on the 8th of September the Good Intent cleared out at Kingston for Quinti Bay, and again on the 24th from Kingston for Oswego. But it does not appear by the Superintendants Reports what her outward Cargoes constituted of. From Quinti she brought back to Kingston and entered Sep. 18th 1000 Feet Pine Boards 10 Barrels Pearl ashes That on the 20th of August The Sagina cleared out from Fort Erie for Detroit. and carried 11 cwt Shot & Ball 73 casks wine & spirits the gals. not ascertained 123 Boxes, Cases, Bales, Trunks Dry 11.207 Goods the value or contents not ascertained. Carried over 11,207. And Brought forward 11,207. And on the 21st Aug. the Esperance) 1 cwt Shot & Ball Cleared from same port & carried } 52 Casks Wine & Spirits the Gallons not known 32 Pks. viz cases Bales &c Dry |