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  REMINISCENCES

  OF A

  Canadian Pioneer.




  REMINISCENCES

  OF A

  CANADIAN PIONEER

  FOR

  THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.


  AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.


  BY

  SAMUEL THOMPSON,
  _Formerly Editor of the "Toronto Daily Colonist," the "Parliamentary
  Hansard," &c., &c._


  Toronto:
  HUNTER, ROSE & COMPANY.
  MDCCCLXXXIV.




    Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the
    year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, by Samuel
    Thompson, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture.




  PREFACE.


It was in consequence of a suggestion by the late S. J. Watson,
Librarian of the Ontario Legislature--who urged that one who had gone
through so many experiences of early Canadian history as myself, ought
to put the same on record--that I first thought of writing these
"Reminiscences," a portion of which appeared in the _Canadian Monthly
Magazine_. For the assistance which has enabled me to complete and issue
this volume, I am obliged to the kind support of those friends who have
subscribed for its publication; for which they will please accept my
grateful thanks.

In the space at my disposal, I have necessarily been compelled to give
little more than a gossiping narrative of events coming under my own
observation. But I have been careful to verify every statement of which
I was not personally cognizant; and to avoid everything of a
controversial character; as well as to touch gently on those faults of
public men which I felt obliged to notice.

It has been a labour of love to me, to place on record many honourable
deeds of Nature's gentlemen, whose lights ought not to be hidden
altogether "under a bushel," and whose names should be enrolled by
Canada amongst her earliest worthies. I have had the advantage, in
several cases, of the use of family records, which have assisted me
materially in rendering more complete several of the earlier chapters,
particularly the account of Mackenzie's movements while in the
neighbourhood of Gallows Hill; also the sketches of the "Tories of
Rebellion Times;" as well as the history of the Mechanics' Institute, in
which though a very old member, I never occupied any official position.

Since the first part of these pages was in type, I have had to lament
the deaths of more than one comrade whose name is recorded therein;
amongst them Dr. A. A. Riddel--my "Archie"--and my dearest friend Dr.
Alpheus Todd, to whom I have been indebted for a thousand proofs of
generous sympathy.

  THE AUTHOR.




  CONTENTS.

                                                      PAGE
           Preface                                     iii
  Chap. I. The Author's Antecedents and Forbears         9
       II. History of a Man of Genius                   14
      III. Some Reminiscences of a London Apprentice    19
       IV. Westward, Ho!                                21
        V. Connemara and Galway fifty years ago         27
       VI. More Sea Experiences                         33
      VII. Up the St. Lawrence                          36
     VIII. Muddy Little York                            39
       IX. A Pioneer Tavern                             42
        X. A First Day in the Bush                      46
       XI. A Chapter on Chopping                        52
      XII. Life in the Backwoods                        65
     XIII. Some Gatherings from Natural History         69
      XIV. Our Removal to Nottawasaga                   78
       XV. Society in the Backwoods                     84
      XVI. More about Nottawasaga and its People        91
     XVII. A Rude Winter Experience                     93
    XVIII. The Forest Wealth of Canada                  98
      XIX. A Melancholy Tale                           101
       XX. From Barrie to Nottawasaga                  104
      XXI. Farewell to the Backwoods                   107
     XXII. A Journey to Toronto                        109
    XXIII. Some Glimpses of Upper Canadian Politics    116
     XXIV. Toronto During the Rebellion                119
      XXV. The Victor and the Vanquished               134
     XXVI. Results in the Future                       140
    XXVII. A Confirmed Tory                           