# 1810 in Canada

Events from the year 1810 in Canada.

## Incumbents

* Monarch: George III

### Federal government

* Parliament of Lower Canada: 6th (January 29 – March 1) then 7th (starting December 12)
* Parliament of Upper Canada: 5th

### Governors

* Governor of the Canadas: Robert Milnes
* Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton
* Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth
* Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Sir John Duckworth, 1st Baronet
* Governor of Prince Edward Island: Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres

## Events

* January – A Governor declares that, in case of hostilities, a force of regulars, adequate for the defence of Canada, will cooperate with the Militia.
* March – Le Canadien of Quebec is suppressed, for "seditious utterances." Soldiers, led by a magistrate, seize the plant and apprehend the printer. Warrants to arrest Bedard, Taschereau, Papineau, Viger and others are issued. The Governor asks: "During the fifty years you have been under British rule, has one act of oppression, one instance of arbitrary imprisonment, of violation of property, or of the rights of conscience ever occurred?"
* August : Construction of Chemin Craig.
* November 26 – Brewer and businessman John Molson asks the colonial government for the exclusive right to construct and navigate steam-boats, on the Saint Lawrence River, for 15 years.
* In the United States, War Hawks advocate war with Britain, which has been harassing American shipping.
* David Thompson builds trade houses on Pend Oreille Lake and Flathead River.
* York magistrate Alexander Wood is embroiled in a gay sex scandal.
* Loyalist colonel Edward Jessup lays out a townsite in Upper Canada's Augusta Township, which would grow into Prescott, Ontario.

## Births

* September 3 – Paul Kane, artist (d.1871)
* September 20 – George Coles, Premier of Prince Edward Island (d.1875)
* September 29 – Hugh Allan, businessman (d.1882)
* December 14 – Jean-Baptiste Thibault, missionary noted for his role in negotiating on behalf of the Canadian Government during the Red River Rebellion of 1869–1870. (d.1879)

### Full date unknown

* Aldis Bernard, mayor of Montreal (d.1876)
* Charles Connell, politician (d.1873)
* George Moffat, Sr., businessman and politician (d.1878)

## Deaths

* April 9 – Alessandro Malaspina, explorer (b.1754)
* September 12 – Joseph Frobisher, fur trader, merchant (b. 1740)

## Historical documents

If peace comes, Quebec newspaper will cover greater variety of news, but is now "in a manner, exclusively fettered to war and politics"
Madison administration is encouraging Congressional "resolutions breathing war and tending to precipitate us into immediate hostilities"
Massachusetts Legislature committee says, with territory "already too extensive," U.S. should not take Canada, "this province of Frenchmen"
Boston editorial says, "We cannot credit the monstrous idea that the administration have any intention of again recommending the embargo system"
George Rose, of Commons committee on trade, proposes resolution to raise duty on foreign timber to favour colonial trade (it passes)
"A war with the Indians of the Wabash country is considered as inevitable" as Tecumseh resolutely opposes settler expansion
Stereotypes of Indigenous people: crying and begging "Northern Indians," reserved Nootka Sound inhabitants and lofty Five Nations
Anglican missionary society wants to know temper, prudence, learning, "sober and pious conversation," zeal, diligence etc. of applicants
"His Majesty is said to have determined to undergo the operation of couching [to restore] him to the blessings of sight"
John Vincent dies, "an Indian, aged 95, [who] in 1775 espoused the American cause" though his tribe were "seduced to the British interest"

### Lower Canada

Translation of list in Le Canadien of members in Assembly elected after dissolution, showing how many more will behave "worse than ever!"
Assembly's address to Throne includes statement that L.C. prosperity will allow it to pay province's government expenditure
Assembly passes bill disqualifying judges from sitting in Assembly and sends it to Legislative Council
Council's warrants lead to arrest of P.-S. Bédard, J.-T. Taschereau and Le Canadien printer, and seizure of newspaper's presses
In proclamation, Gov. Gen. Craig calls on magistrates, militia captains and others to find authors of "wicked, seditious and traitorous writings"
Several U.S. citizens living in L.C. who want agent appointed to protect them and their trade recommend Mordecai Manuel Noah
Of 3 soldiers convicted of desertion, two are shot and one gets 450 of 500 lashes and is kept in hospital until he can receive remainder
"The public will do well to endeavour to arrest this new species of our infant manufactures" - Quebec City counterfeiters make dollar coins
"Provisions [are] very scarce" and price of "articles of life" has greatly increased, probably from increase in trade and thus population
Pointe-Lévy has so many taverns that for income some owners convince produce sellers headed for market to sell to them at low prices
Quebec City inhabitants seek relief from Assembly from high prices charged by monopoly dealing in "every kind of produce"
Wanted for British forces in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick etc.: 2,085 barrels of pork "warranted to keep good and sound for Twelve Months"
Jailed debtors petition Assembly to be relieved of inhumane conditions and indefinite terms of imprisonment
Death notice of Joseph Frobisher, fur trader and Northwest Company founder, seigneur, and pillar of Montreal society
Letter to editor contains summary of Northwest Company staff numbers from Alexander Mackenzie's fur trade history
With only 12 parishes making use of law to create schools, writer criticizes prejudice against educating "lower classes," especially Canadians
Editorial says "Canadian education" called for is merely "a pressure for keeping down thought [and] charming reason asleep"
French is "an essential Part of a liberal Education," and is more easily learned from dialogues that avoid perplexing idiomatic expressions
"Educated" Canadians have superior French "if we except the Anglicisms which have been unavoidably interwoven with the language since the conquest"
Examinations at Little Seminary of Quebec will be followed by "Plaidoyer" by third class students and another by students in rhetoric
Quebec City school owner teaches boys and girls "in the preliminary paths of science," including geography, natural philosophy and astronomy
Though only "fanciful productions of human vanity [can] suppose man capable of self-government," none are slaves except Canadian "peasants"
Soldiers being ordered to south side of St. Lawrence River to open road to Boston "must be a subject of exultation to[...]merchant and consumer"
Large reward is offered by timber business firm for information on thefts by boat of masts and timbers from its riverside property
Quebec City firm has received from England new type of threshing machine that allows one man and horse to do work of dozen men
"To make it truly valuable," commerce must, before exporting grain, relieve those short of bread because of high cost of living
Montreal trade has increased greatly in 2 years, with 40+ barks and brigs, 20 schooners and sloops and several Lake Ontario boats in port
Quebec City jurors hear that L.C.'s growing population and prosperity and especially Q.C. port's increased trade are leading to more crime
Editorial says "some [disorder] unavoidably [goes with] an increased population, an enlarged trade, and[...]intercourse with uncivilized characters"
Wreck of ship sailing from Quebec City has message in bottle saying 8 crew members survived 8 days on 1 rat before rescue by French privateer
Berthier woman, "for the support of her family," gets court-ordered separation of estate from husband to carry on boarder/traveller house
One dead after several cariole crashes, including one from which driver is thrown and runaway horse and empty cariole break person's arm
Praise in Montreal theatre world for "Mr. [John] Bernard[...]who has given an entire new coloring to what has been termed comic acting"
Journeymen shoemakers wanted; wages: 18s for "top't and back strap't" boots, 12s for Hessian and plain boots, 5s for "Gloshoes"
"For sale, Macaroni and Vermicelli, most excellent for soupe[....]"

### Upper Canada

Organizers of new bank in Kingston wish to sell 5,000 $50-shares, totaling $250,000, before seeking incorporation from Parliament
Suggested ways farming could be improved, such as dropping "prejudices" against hemp and making and preserving butter and cheese better
Road building in Lower Canada is example for U.C., where parts of main road should be improved into "a complete turnpike road"
Ogdensburg, N.Y. shipper gives notice that he will take flour, pork, whisky, potash and other goods to that city or Montreal/Quebec City
Canadian Quakers, at first combined meeting, report that most keep themselves and children "in plainess of speach behavour and apparel"
New York newspaper reports most aboard boat carrying salt were swept over Niagara Falls after they foundered in swells from strong winds
Grand jury praised for information of seditious libel against Upper Canada Guardian publisher for words "calculated to mislead [and] alienate"
John Strachan's profile of King George III is meant to counter slanderous comments prevalent in U.S.A. about him and British constitution
Letter to the editor has suggestions for improving common education, including parents discussing with students what they have learned
Call in Quebec for donations to support printing "useful books" for poor of U.C., including "children's books and moral and religious Tracts"
"A decoction of the roots of blackberry bushes[...]is a safe, sure and speedy cure for the dysentary—-The [recipe] from the Oneida Indians"

### Nova Scotia

Wilmot Township has 1,500 settlers, "a vast increase in the space of 27 years," because in 1783 there were "no more than 8 or 10"
From Boston source: 5,000 troops from Halifax have arrived in Portugal and 7,000 more are coming from England for service in Peninsular War
Anglican minister says many Rawdon parishoners "do not consider themselves members of the Church" and Baptist preacher has drawn some away
N.S. woman is cured of cataracts in New York City; disease "caused by the blotting of Phlegm between the Uveous Coat and the Crystalline Humour"

### New Brunswick

Death penalty for those even counselling or aiding administration of "any[...]noxious and destructive substance or thing" to terminate pregnancy
"From recent occurrences," Assembly members are urged to renew militia law and enable government to promptly call it into action
Black men (age 16–50) will form into company of pioneers attached to county militia regiment, but are also subject to draft for active service
"Sea-faring" men can form into companies of "Sea Fencibles" militia and are subject to same time commitment and various penalties as land forces
Certificate that John Baptist Pommeville Jr. is appointed chief of Pokemouche Indigenous people on Acadian Peninsula
Lewis Barnaby "of the Mirimachi Tribe of Indians" leases out "Barnabys Island" in Southwest Miramichi River for period of 21 years
Edward Winslow's daughter Penelope says he suffered gout for 4 months, then when he tried to walk, sustained more crippling case of it
Anyone killing, wounding, selling or buying any Grand Manan moose or moose parts will pay £15 (except Moses Gerrish, who keeps them there)

### Newfoundland

Brief introduction to Newfoundland says it "seems to have been designed by providence for a Fishery"
Lacking roads, some Newfoundlanders haven't "a knowledge of God [and have] acquired a character not many degrees above absolute barbarism"
Gov. Duckworth will reward efforts to "conciliate [Indigenous peoples'] affections and induce them to come among us and live in friendship"
"It is a melancholy truth, that out of 26 casualties [in last 12] months, 18 have been occasioned by an inordinate use of spirituous Liquors"
Meeting sets new price for fish, given state of fishery, high price of food and "precarious prospect of our foreign commercial relations"
"Society for improving the Condition of the Poor of St. John's [hears that] 56 persons had been relieved the last year"
Announcement and prospectus for new weekly newspaper "to communicate interesting intelligence with the greatest expedition"
"Wanted, from 10,000 to 15,000 Seal Skins. Apply to James Melledge & Co."
Storekeeper in Office of Ordnance solicits proposals to transport 1,000 tons of freestone from Cape Breton for royal works in St. John's
"To accelerate the progress of the Pupils [before] Examination," Newfoundland Seminary hours will be 6–8am, 9–noon and 2–5pm
"Just Imported[...]From Gibraltar[...]Spanish Red Wine in pipes, hhds. and barrels, Linseed, Olive and Salad Oils in [2-gallon] Jars[....]"
"[People] arrived[...]from Waterford [should inform Robert Hutton & Co. where] they serve in order [for Hutton] to recover their Passage money"

### Hudson's Bay Company

Churchill chief on company-wide issues like completeness of accounts, waste and "the obligations each confidential Servant owed his Employers"
Churchill chief factor argues it can become valuable to company with good support and concentration on fishery
Details of proposed boundary lines between Hudson's Bay Company territory and that of North West Company, from Abitibi to Rockies
"Northern Indians" must be turned toward HBC "while the Canadians are by their hard dealings barely enabling the poor wretches to exist"
Indigenous man thought to be planning to steal horses is bound and shot to death by HBC and Canadian traders; moral outrage follows
York Factory is misshapen in winter (with gaps emitting cold air) as soil of swamp it's built on freezes; separate winter house is proposed
"The School Master + Children [at Moose Factory] were at Maidmans Creek to day angling and caught among 'em all 13 lb Trout"
"Five of the Women have been employ'd during the Week sewing Moose Skin Jackets + Trousers for the Boys which the Tailor cut out"

### Elsewhere

New York legislature committee has begun "exploring the most practicable route" from Hudson River to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie
Alexander MacKay leads men to New York for voyage to Columbia River, where they expect to meet another Montreal party under Donald McKenzie
Missionaries describe evangelism among Labrador Inuit, including growing understanding of gospel by some and others' self righteousness