# 1791 in Canada

Events from the year 1791 in Canada.

## Incumbents

* Monarch: George III

### Federal government

* Parliament of Lower Canada — 1st
* Parliament of Upper Canada — 1st

### 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

* 1791–95 – British Captain George Vancouver explores Northwest Coast exhaustively with two ships, but finds no Northwest Passage.
* Edmund Burke supports the proposed constitution for Canada, saying that: "To attempt to amalgamate two populations, composed of races of men diverse in language, laws and habitudes, is a complete absurdity. Let the proposed constitution be founded on man's nature, the only solid basis for an enduring government."
* Charles James Fox declares that "Canada ought to remain attached to Great Britain through the good-will of the Canadians alone."
* Lord Grenville, denying that Canadian attachment to French jurisprudence is due to prejudice, says it is founded "on the noblest sentiments of the human breast."
* George Vancouver leaves England to explore the west coast; Alejandro Malaspina also explores the northwest coast for Spain.
* In response to Loyalist demands, the Constitutional Act 1791 divides Quebec into Lower Canada (mostly French) and Upper Canada (mostly English who recently migrated from America). In so doing, the Crown hopes to create a stable society that is distinctly non-American. Although French-Canadians retain the privileges granted by the Quebec Act, the Anglican church receives preferred status, including the clergy reserves.
An Anglo-French colonial aristocracy of rich merchants, leading officials, and landholders is expected to work with the royal governors to ensure proper order. Legislative assemblies, although elected by propertied voters, have little real power.
* Population of Lower Canada is 160,000. Population of Upper Canada is 14,000.

## Births

* January 5 – John Bethune, Anglican clergyman (d. 1872)
* February 6 – Charles Richard Ogden, Joint Premier of the Province of Canada (d. 1866)
* July 26 – Sir John Robinson, 1st Baronet, of Toronto, lawyer, judge and political figure (d. 1863)
* November 28 – John Cook, politician Ontarian (d. 1877)

## Historical documents

Bill to create two provinces in Canada is meant to end "great competition" between French and English in "various questions of law"
Act creating Upper Canada and Lower Canada provides each with council of lifetime appointees and assembly elected by property owners
British commander at Fort Niagara explains "critical situation" of Six Nations and Delaware as U.S. forces move against "Western Indians"
Defeat of U.S. offensive prompts hope that new boundary along Ohio and Genesee rivers will replace "present lines[...]of constant Contention"
List: "Warriors" in each Indigenous nation include 1,500 "Assiniboiis," 3,000 "Christianeaux," 2,000 "Messesagues," and 1,500 "Round-headed Indians"
Conservative French revolutionary calls on English to abandon "frivolous pretext" of Nootka Crisis for going to war with Spain
Despite expectations, Nova Scotia and Canada are unable to supply many products to British West Indies, which instead import them from U.S.A.
Scottish author of tour book including New Brunswick and Lower and Upper Canada says British laws drive his countrymen to "asylum" overseas
Map: "Sketch of the Western Countries of Canada; 1791" from Mississippi to Tadoussac and James Bay to Lake Erie, with Indigenous nations' names

### Lower Canada

New constitution brings hope that people will not split into parties and will reject "ridiculous distinction of old and new subjects"
Observance of holidays, labelled "idleness" costing nation and families of those not allowed to work, is declared voluntary by Bishop of Quebec
As "part of the Provisions sent out from England[...]for the Relief of this Province," sale of flour is restricted to families and local bakers only
Visitor to Lower Canada declares "Canadians are perhaps the worst farmers in the world," with worst cattle but best horses
Farmers should grow potatoes because of their long season, success in all soil types, food value to humans and cattle, etc., etc.
Elizabeth Monney, 15, guilty of stealing 16 shillings, is liable to death penalty but, on jury's recommendation of mercy, is sentenced to 15 lashes
"Young Negro Lad" for sale, about 18 or 19, "strong and very healthy, has had the small pox and measles," and speaks English, French and German
Novena held in Quebec City includes Monseigneur's "eloquent and strong sermon upon fasting[, and] nothing so pleases the people as to hear him"
Besides school with classes in English, French, geography etc., James Tanswell is to publish English grammar and exercise book for francophones
"Montreal Society united for free Debate [is founded for] the investigation and discussion of the most useful moral and political Truths"
Reader wants all lawyers to take oath to seek justice, act only on facts "founded in law and truth," and never "mislead the minds of a jury"
"Far from having an immoral tendency," young men's theatre activities prepare them "for the world, by the ease, confidence and grace they inspire"
Unusually strong earthquake followed by 10 days of aftershocks hits Baie-Saint-Paul area

### Upper Canada

Brief description of Upper Canada with its "industrious, hardy race [of] excellent farmers" and its "fish, particularly trout, of an incredible size"
Golden Horseshoe soil: "no wonder then that such an amazing [benefit] should bring to maturity every vegetable common to temperate climates"
Rich soil, warmer climate, coal and lead - "The English may certainly render West Canada through time a most delightful country"
Government to get "Civil Officers [who make their offices] respectable and useful" and governor "esteemed for[...]good sense [and] professional merit"
Joseph Brant and other chiefs agree that Haldimand Tract will be centred on straight line from "Mohawk Village" to Grand River bend near Lake Erie
Visitor to Kingston meets Captain Thomas, "the principal man" in Kahnawake, and learns about his fur trade business (including smuggling)

### Nova Scotia

Revenue now inadequate to pay government expenses and interest on debt will increase with income, profession and head taxes of 1–10 shillings
Acadian communal cooperation helps revive their society after Deportation
"Petitioner Peters" welcomes Secretary of State's announcement of plan to give Blacks land in "free settlement" in Sierra Leone, Africa
John Clarkson recruits Blacks to emigrate to Sierra Leone on basis of taking only those of good character, despite pressure to take all, or none
Clarkson notes Preston Blacks' "strong sense, quick apprehension, clear reasoning, gratitude, [and] affection for their wives & Children"
Recruiting notice to "All able bodied Free Negro Men who are willing to serve His Majesty in the Black Carolina Corps now in the West-Indies"
Readers of guide to farming warned not to dismiss printed agricultural advice as "mere Theory and Speculation, without practice"
John Clarkson describes people of poor settlement at Port L'Hebert, Nova Scotia
Description of 18–20-foot "Indian canoe" records nature and shape of various parts and interaction with Indigenous people who came in it
Detailed record of Lunenburg murder case, with charge to grand jury, arraignment of accused, and their trial and sentencing
Margaret Murphy executed for murdering Maria Ball; "black fellow" gets 6-month sentence plus pillory for "assault with intent to commit a rape"
Shelburne grand jury indicts Jesse Gray for kidnapping free Black woman Mary Postell and her daughters from East Florida and enslaving them
Bishop of Nova Scotia to deliver charity sermon for benefit of Sunday school children suffering lack of shoes, stockings and other clothing
Stud horse "Admiral," with his lengthy pedigree, advertised as available in Cornwallis

### New Brunswick

Description of Fundy coast reflects notion of "terra nullius" by calling it "in the rude state of nature, and without an inhabitant"
Many Indigenous people canoe Saint John River, taking their children to schools with teachers hired by government, which clothes and feeds children
Lt. Gov. Thomas Carleton told to look into Thomas Peters' complaint about land owed to Blacks, but also interest in Sierra Leone and Black corps
Nine Black men request Kingsclear land allotments to end their being "of little use to their family's and less to the Community"
On recommendation of Lt. Gov. Carleton, "New England Company for propagating the Gospel among the native Indians" recruits Edward Winslow

### Hudson Bay

Canoe trip from Osnaburgh House to Rainy River to Albany complicated by unusually cold weather and potential violence with Indigenous people
Joseph Colen of York Factory describes "wandering" of "Homeguard" Indigenous people and "Bungees" to detriment of Hudson's Bay Company trade
Colen suspects sailors are stealing HBC's trade goods and ship stores, including half of mainsail "to make themselves trousers"

### Elsewhere

Britain and Spain sign convention allowing trade in each other's recent and future Pacific settlements north of Spanish America
As stock prices skyrocket in U.S.A., causing fears of bubble, discussing problem may dampen "a spirit which may be productive of a calamity"
After defeating U.S. forces, Indigenous nations in "Miamis Country" ask Indian Department's help or they will "go over to the Spanish Lines"
Red Jacket tells U.S. officials his people rely on British advice because it comes with wampum, and that British explain U.S. texts they cannot read
With news of murderous riots in Paris and Birmingham, Quebec Gazette will assess "degree of anxiety the public may testify" before printing more
St. John's Island's Lt. Gov. Fanning tells Council and House of Assembly "want of cash[...]seems to be a difficulty very generally felt and lamented"
Alexander Mackenzie asks Roderick to seek trade possibilities with "Red Knives," "Slaves" and "Beaver Indians," including on "River Disappointment"
Calling practices of Labrador Inuit "heathenish," Moravian missionaries "wish to see in this poor people[...]a desire to be redeemed from sin"