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ACTION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

EXHIBIT 238.

Sir George Prevost to Earl Bathurst.1

HEAD QUARTERS QUEBEC 13th March 1815.

MY LORD: I had yesterday the honor to receive Your Lordship's despatch of the 27th December last, enclosing the Copy of a Treay of Peace signed at Ghent on the 24th of that Month, by His Majestys Commissioners, and by the Commissioners of the United States of America; and at the same time Your Lordship's separate dispatch of the 27th Decembr. reached me:

I have now the honor to acquaint Your Lordship, that on the 1st Instant I received from Mr. Baker an official notification that the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and the United States of America had been exchanged at Washington of the 17th of February, and transmitting to me in obedience to the instructions of His Majesty's Government a Copy of the Treaty.

I lost no time therefore in promulgating throughout the Provinces under my Command that a Treaty of Peace had been ratified, and in causing an immediate cessation of Hostilities.

In communicating this intelligence to Lieut. Genl. Drummond commanding in Upper Canada, I did not fail in calling his attention to the two Articles of the Treaty which relate to the Indians, in order that every precaution might be used to prevent any cause of reproach or complaint from them against His Majesty's Government, and I furnished that officer with the Speech of which the enclosed is a Copy, to be delivered to the Several Nations or Tribes in announcing to them the conclusion of the War with the United States:

The Lieut. General has been instructed to select a deputation to consist of such officers of the Regular Army, Staff or Indian Department as he might think necessary for the purpose, who were to proceed without delay and to convene meetings of the Indians for the delivery of the Speech at the following places, vizt.

Burlington Heights
Saquina Bay

Michilimackinac

Green Bay,

Prairie des Choin.

1Canadian Archives, Q. 131, p. 75..

As it will be a considerable Time before the Indians can have Traders among them with Goods, I have directed that the Presents for the present year, should be distributed to them with a liberal hand: and until the Trade is restored which will afford them those Necessaries essential to their subsistence.

In regard to any Treaty of Peace, which it may be expedient to enter into with Indian Nations or Tribes which have been acting with the Enemy, for I am not aware of our being at War, with any distinct Nation of Indians, the Instructions contained in Your Lordship's despatches of the 27th Decemr. shall be strictly attended

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The good Spirit has moved the heart of our great Father beyond the great Lake to give Peace to the Nations.

The last of his Enemies with whom he had to contend were the Big Knives-with them he has also made Peace.

This Event of so much importance to you and to all my children & Warriors, on this side of the Waters. I hasten to communicate to you-in order that you may bury the Hatchet, as I have ordered my Warriors to do return to your Lands & there remain in Peace for our great Father has not only made Peace for his White Children-he has also thought of you, as had been promised

you.

Rivers of blood have been shed in the late War-all Parties grow tired of it-it has therefore been agreed that it should cease, and that every thing should be put on the same footing as before the War.

This condition my children, will be understood by you all-it means that you are to return to your lands, plant your corn & hunt the Deer. Traders will bring you your supplies as formerly --and I shall take special care that the Presents sent to the Frontier Posts, shall not be diminished, whenever the Roads shall be opened for that purpose.

My children I hope you will keep in mind that this Peace is to last for ever, with the Big Knives, if it is broken it must be by their fault for the Heart of your Father is spotless. Keep yourselves quiet therefore and as you have all bravely combated under the same banner, I earnestly as your Father, who highly prizes the Welfare of his Children desire that you will bury deep in the Earth, all private quarrels & animosities, that may have subsisted among your respective Tribes before the War.

My Children! live in peace and may the great spirit give you long life.

March 1815.

Recd April 29.

EXHIBIT 239.

Lieutenant-Governor Gore to Colonel Claus.1

YORK, 17 January 1816.

Copy.

SIR: On your arrival at Amhertsburg you will communicate to the Officer Commanding at that post, the accompanying Extract of Lt. General Sir Drummond's Letter of the 25 November last, in which he informs me, that orders have been given to prohibit the interference of the Military Officers, with the Indian Department under your Superintendence, and that every facility shall be afforded, as well with regard to provisions and pay, as in every other matter connected with the Department.

As the past interference appears to have been sanctioned by Sir Gordon's Orders, in ignorance that the Affairs of the Indians were exclusively under the direction and control of the Civil Authority. It is desirable that there should be no other retrospect on that Head, than to enquire into the State of the stores and ascertain by what orders, and for what purposes they have been

'Canadian Archives, Q. 174, p. 174.

consumed, so as to meet the representation of the Officer commanding at Fort Amherst. In this enquiry you will be very Minute, and in the event of any misconduct in the Superintendent or Store Keeper, report particularly and fully for my information.

As the Commander of the Forces assures me, that whilst he administered the Government of this province, he had full personal conviction of the incapacity of Colonel Caldwell, for the superintendence of that post. I cannot justify myself in exposing His Majesty's Interest, by returning him to the functions of that Office: and that as it is essential that so important a branch of the Department should not be without an efficient Superintendent I shall be constrained to appoint another person to that Duty, of which you will apprise Colonel Caldwell.

It will require great delicacy in any Councils you may hold with any of the Indian Tribes, whose residence is within the Territory of the United States, to make them Comprehend the subsisting relations. It may be proper to let them understand, that their Great Father will extend his patternal attention to their Comforts and that his Traders will continue their usual Traffic, within their respective districts. The reservation made by Lt. General Hunter of the then existing Rules, for the Government of the Indian Department in Upper Canada, was not found inconvenient so long as the Civil and Military Authority was United in the same person; but the two Commands being now distinct, it is necessary to provide for the contingency.

The Instruction of the 27th March, 1787, were founded upon so just a view of the subject, that I shall sanction the least possible deviation for the present, merely substituting the attendance of two or more Magistrates or principal Inhabitants, in the event of any commanding Officer declining to Sanction by his presence when required the issue of presents or provisions to the Indians.

You will obtain the most correct information possible of the probable demand for Rations to Indians connected with the Fort Amherst branch of the Department, and endeavour to reduce the demand-Upon this subject you will report to me the excess, if any, in the quantity issued, and the causes of that excess since 1811 and how far it may be expedient to authorize an Issue of Provisions for a given period in Gross, to be re-issued to the Indians, at the discretion of the Superintending Officer without resort to a formal and regular diminution of the Ration.

That no doubt may arise on the construction of the Orders of the Commander of the Forces to the Commissariat, you will furnish the Commanding Officer and the Commissary with a Copy of my Order of the 15th Inst. explaining, who is to be considered the Senior Officer of the Department for the purpose of making requisitions. You will not fail to impress upon the Superintendents, Agents, and other Officers of the Department, the most respectful demeanor to the Commanding, and other Military Officers, upon all occasions, and especially when their presence is required to give solemnity to any Transactions with Indians. I have the honor to be, Sir,

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Lieutenant-Governor Gore to Major General De Watteville.'

Copy.

YORK, 15th March 1816.

SIR: The Dispatch of Lt. Col. McDonall, of the 2nd of December, and that Officers letter of the 10th January addressed to Sir Frederick R. Robinson, which you did me the honor to transmit, have called for a communication from me to the Dy. Superintendant General of Indian Affairs, discountenancing all correspondence on Indian Affairs with the Servants and Officers of the United States, and expressly disavowing any interference in behalf of Individual Traders, who choose to continue their residence within the American posts.

Questions respecting Titles to Land, where the right of territory is not disputed, which is not pretended to be the case, in respect to Isle Ronde, must abide the decision of the Municipal Laws of the Country in which they may be situated.

1Canadian Archives, Q. 320, p. 75..

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