# 1789 in Canada

Events from the year 1789 in Canada.

## Incumbents

* Monarch: George III

### Governors

* Governor of the Canadas: Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
* Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton
* Governor of Nova Scotia: John Parr
* Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Elliot
* Governor of St. John's Island: Edmund Fanning

## Events

* 1789–93 – Alexander Mackenzie of Canada, seeking northern river route to the Pacific, travels to the Arctic Ocean; on second journey he crosses continent by land, making contact with many tribes.
* Alexander Mackenzie journeys to the Beaufort Sea, following what would later be named the Mackenzie River.
* David Thompson learns surveying from Philip Turnor.
* Lord Grenville proposes that lands in Upper Canada be held in free and common soccage, and that the tenure of Lower Canadian lands be optional with the inhabitants.

## Births

* November 13 – Denis-Benjamin Papineau, joint premier of the Province of Canada (died 1854)

## Historical documents

Wilberforce on slave trade's effects in Africa and on Middle Passage with its 12.5% death rate, plus 4.5% rate from Caribbean seasoning
Lord High Chancellor tells Secretary of State that colonies should get civil liberty without political liberty, which leads to independence
Pre-industrial status of U.S.A. makes it dependent on British goods; such status will continue while so many seek agricultural work and wealth
Letter-to-the-editor points out suffering of poor people when they can't afford price of flour in Montreal and upper Canada
Bibliographer concludes state of literature and sale of books are very low in Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

### Lower Canada

Profile of Quebec's constitution, population, laws, "circulating property," land tenure, agriculture, science, commerce and import/export
Lengthy petition to Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester with scores of signatures calls for preservation of Quebec Act and Canadian laws
Council suggests setting up free school in each parish (teaching "reading, writing, and cyphering"), county schools and "a collegiate institution"
Provision made for four remaining Jesuits in Canada and transfer of Jesuit property to Canadian citizens (Note: "savages" used)
Warning against "False Copper Coin;" supply entering province in tubs of butter with false bottoms; refuse any copper coin over 1 shilling
"Mercatorius Honestus" lays out business rules under which "Trade will flourish[...], Bankruptcy [and] Confusion will cease, and honesty [return]"
Government circulates plan for new agricultural society to raise grain quality and prevent "scarcity[...]this country unfortunately feels at present"
New bridge over Saint-Charles River is 700 ft. long, has two lanes plus walkways, and will begin replacement of Canada's inconvenient ferries
Bishop of Nova Scotia's sermon in Trois-Rivières attended by Protestants, Catholics and Jews; 100 loaves of bread distributed to poor
For sale: "Pawney Boy," about 17, "an excellent servant to attend table;" 9 years with current owner, who "has now no further use for him"
"For Sale, a Stout, Healthy Mulatto Girl, 26 years of age, or thereabouts"
"Quebec plan" to transport Newgate convicts to Canada instead of Botany Bay follows unspecified "unhappy fate" of transported Irish
Masons (in Quebec City?) to have 450 loaves of bread distributed, "considering the distressed situation of the poor in the present scarcity of flour"
Quebec City dance to be held "once a fortnight during the Season;" gentlemen are asked to retire after 2 dances to allow newcomer men to dance
Pianofortes for sale, plus strings and music (Haydn, Bach, Clementi and others) for that instrument and harpsichord, guitar and violin; lessons too

### Upper Canada

Secretary of State tells Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester that expenditures of Indian Department are too high and "abuses" by staff need investigation
Dorchester seeks "comfort of the Indians" in ending disputes among Six Nations leaders and evicting whites at Grand River
Council committee has ways to regularize shipping on Great Lakes "to establish the Empire of the British Flag upon the Fresh water Oceans"

### Nova Scotia

Provincial agriculture society to be set up especially to support knowledge of land improvement, cultivation, seeds, orchards and cattle
Students in both Latin and English divisions do well in examinations at King's Collegiate School (referred to as "academy" and "seminary")
King's College of Nova Scotia to be founded and maintained by province with annual subsidy plus fund to purchase house or grounds in Windsor
"Wants a place, a Negro Woman, who can cook and do all kinds of Household Work, and be well recommended for Honesty and Sobriety"
Halifax man seeks missing Black apprentice Hannah Thompson, who "chews Tobacco like a Man" and has legs "very much scalded" years ago
Falmouth man seeks "Negro Woman Slave, named Philis, but calls herself Betty," age 37, and Irish servant John McNeal; reward of $8 for each
Overseers of the Poor call for contractors to supply Halifax Poor House with 50 cords of wood and "Fresh Beef, soft Bread, and single Spruce Beer"
Churchwardens thank "the Managers of the Navy and Army Theatre" for £20 donated for "the distressed and indigent at this inclement Season"
Digby minister: "[T]he greater part of people seem to consider attendance on divine worship[...]as left intirely to their own choice and humour"
Halifax druggist has "a General fresh assortment of Medicines [including] Camphire and Saffron; Sago Powder [and] Essence of Peppermint"

### New Brunswick

Courts may, instead of burning convicted felon "in the brawn of the left thumb," impose fine or whipping, plus imprisonment
U.S. cornmeal is being imported because their wheat gets subsidy in France; N.B. mills at standstill though they lower price of meal about one third
Praise for production of two comedies "by a company of Gentlemen[...]with great life and humour" in province's "first dramatic exhibition"
Winter amusement in Fredericton includes sleighing, dancing, rope dancers and man "dancing on a wire"

### Prince Edward Island

Proprietors seek exemption from British law to allow them to bring settlers from U.S.A. to make Island "of that Importance of which it is capable"
Bishop of Nova Scotia surprised Charlottetown vestry has not built church; they "lament" not attending to "regular exercise of religious duties"

### Pacific Coast

Suggestion (following Pacific coast exploration summary) that Hudson's Bay Company fur be shipped to Asia by East India Co. (Note: "savages" used)
John Meares relates capture of his trading company's crew and ship by Spanish navy in Nootka Sound

### French Revolution

In Paris, "the murmurings and discontents of the people increase daily [and] divisions [grow] more alarming and violent"
Towns tell deputies sent to Estates-General in Paris to propose various principles, "and it appears[...]English Constitution is taken as a basis"
"Here [in Paris] it is astonishing to see the fermentation which reigns among the minds of people of all ranks, professions, and denominations"
"In the national assembly, the debates continue to be carried on with increasing violence, and bid defiance to monarchy"
"A National Revolution" - Bastille taken, its governor executed, Queen in flight, King detained, British ambassador threatened, etc.
Drafting declaration of rights presented to National Assembly was difficult, given how "vicious" previous French government was
"Wonderful" revolution is talk of Europe and influencing affairs in neighbouring countries; Britain "is minding her own business"
Edmund Burke hears "there are considerable emigrations from France," even to "the frozen regions, and under the British despotism, of Canada"

### Elsewhere

Notice: 2,500+ "chaldrons" of coal for sale at Spanish River, Cape Breton, with payment taken in flour, bread, pork, rum, molasses, sugar etc.
Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly rights are "silent usurpations [that bring] discredit upon an enlightened age and nation"
Description of waterways between Lake Superior and Great Slave Lake also assumes latter connects with Pacific by mistaken "Cook's River"
Travelling down Dehcho (later Mackenzie River), Alexander Mackenzie befriends Dene (Slavey and Dogrib) who at first are terrified
U.S. House hears duty on molasses will harm New England fishers, fishery and shipbuilding, and that some may move to Nova Scotia
"Gentleman [reports] that last month, at New-York, General Washington was proclaimed and crowned George I, King of America"