Canadian Scenery, Volume 1 (of 2)Willis, Nathaniel Parker
History
Canadian Scenery, Volume 1 (of 2)
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
Canada -- Description and travel; Canada -- History
Vehement objections have been taken against the religious body by whom
this change has been effected. They are accused of propagating the
political creed of their own country, accompanied with sentiments of
hostility to the established church. It does not appear, however, that
any disloyal or turbulent proceedings have resulted; and when they are
doing so much good, it would certainly be very inexpedient to obstruct
their operations, until some efficient substitute shall be found. Sir
John Colborne expressly says, “that the established clergy have not
effected any Indian conversions;” and the worthy bishop of Quebec
candidly observes that, whoever were the instruments, the effect must be
a source of satisfaction; and that the hand of God seems to be visible
in it. The Society allow 40_l._ or 50_l._ a-year to their missionaries,
and maintain ten schools, attended by 251 pupils.
The Indians, as already observed, have certain fixed stations, to which
they resort for the purpose of receiving their annual presents. These
are, in Lower Canada, Quebec, to which, in 1827, there came 652; St.
Francis, 541; Caughnawaga, 967; Lake of Two Mountains, 887; and St.
Regis, 348. In Upper Canada, they are, Kingston, 859; York, 781; Fort
George (Niagara), 1857; Amherstburg, 5906; and Drummond Island, 3516.
The expense became very large during the war, when their services were
so valuable. Between 1813 and 1816, it averaged 150,000_l._ a-year.
Since that time it has been reduced to about 16,000_l._, which, with
4,400_l._ for management, raises the Indian department to 20,400_l._
a-year. This, in Upper Canada, is estimated at 18_s._ 9_d._ to each
individual, for which slender remuneration some travel 500 miles.
References have been made from the Colonial Office, to ascertain whether
this sum might not be still further reduced, and paid in money, by which
the estimates could be formed with greater precision. To the first
point, it has been replied by the governors, that the donation is one to
which we are bound by the faith of treaties, made in return for
important services; and its discontinuance would excite the deepest
indignation, and provoke an hostility which might be attended with
disastrous consequences. Probably like all rude nations, the Indians,
instead of viewing these gifts as in any degree humiliating, pride
themselves upon them as testimonies of respect, perhaps even as a
species of tribute. As to the payment in money, it was deprecated in the
strongest terms by almost all the chiefs, and those interested in their
welfare; because the immediate consequence would be its conversion into
spirits, thereby causing a serious injury instead of a benefit. The
principle articles presented to them in 1832, were 35,700 yards of
different kinds of cloth, the prime cost varying from 1_s._ 1_d._ to
3_s._ 4_d._; 4,200 yards of linen; 33,800 yards of cotton and calico,
7_d._ to 1_s._ 7_d._; 84,500 yards of gartering, of scarlet, green, and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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