Col Richard Mudge RE son of William Mudge and Katherine Williamson
From the Memoirs 4.9 General William Mudge married Katherine Jane Williamson the daughter of Col John Williamson.
Their children were
1. Col Richard Zachary Mudge 1790 - 1854 m Alice Watson Hull
2. Jane Mudge 1792 - 1861 m O'Hara Baynes of Royal Arillery
3. John Mudge RE 1794 - 1825 m Sarah Dugdale
4. Capt William Mudge RN 1796 - 1837 m Mary Miranda Rea
5. Zachariah Mudge RA 1800 - 1831
4.9.1 RICHARD Z. MUDGE,
Lieut.- Colonel R.E., F.R,S, RICHARD ZACHARIAH MUDGE, the eldest son of Major General Mudge, was born in 1789. He was educated first at Blackheath, and after having passed through the Academy at Woolwich, he entered the Royal Engineers in 1807, and served for some years in the Peninsula. Like his father he was employed as one of the directors of geodesical operations, connected with the Trigonometrical Survey of Great Britain, and the production of the Ordnance maps, and for some years was entrusted with the important charge of the drawing department in the Tower of London. In 1818, then Captain Mudge, he visited Lincolnshire in order to superintend the survey in that part of the country, furnished with a letter of introduction from Sir Joseph Banks,
About 1830, the question of the boundary line between Maine and New Brunswick came prominently to the front. The United States claim of certain highlands, running from the heads of the Connecticut River to within 20 miles of the River St. Lawrence, thereby cutting off the direct routes from Quebec to New Brunswick, and occupying positions which commanded Quebec itself, was felt by Great Britain to be incompatible with the terms of the Treaty of 1783. The question was referred to the arbitration of the King of the Netherlands ; but the United States would not abide by the compromise he proposed, and the subject assumed a more serious aspect.
The States declared that they would maintain their extreme claim, and the Government, wishing to bring the matter to a final and satisfactory issue, appointed two commissioners, Mr. Featherstonehaugh, who was well acquainted with America, and Colonel Mudge, to examine the physical character of the territory in dispute, and bring home such information as might enable the British Government to understand clearly, whether the boundary claimed by America was, or was not, in accordance with the language and intentions of the Treaty of 1783. In the spring of 1839 the commissioners prepared their expedition, and reached New York in July of that year. A letter written by Colonel Mudge from this place gives all the incidents of his journey from England, a few extracts from which will be sufficient. It is dated July 30th, 1839. " I intend this as a sort of journal of our proceedings after quitting London, or rather reaching England from Paris. Having to see to the embarkation of our men and instruments, which occupied me until late on Tuesday evening, I found it impossible to go to High wood. I wrote to Sophia in the evening to tell her how I was circumstanced.
Sir Robert Inglis had written me many letters, inviting me to breakfast, and appointing Sir Francis Head to meet me; some arrived while I was in Paris, and others when I could not accept them, but on the morning I left London I breakfasted there unexpectedly ; as soon as I arrived Sir Robert sent off a servant to Sir Francis Head, but he was unluckily absent from home, and I missed seeing him. He had been very anxious of meeting me, and wrote some hints which he thought would be useful.
After dinner I went in a coach with Thomas, and the three corporals attached to me, in another conveyance, and met Mr. Featherstonehaugh at the Southampton Railway, on which we went about 30 miles, and then took a coach to Portsmouth. I stopped at Guildford to sleep, and Mr. Featherstonehaugh at Petersfield a few miles further on, that he might go early in the morning to Up-Park, a fine place belonging to Sir H. Featherstonehaugh his relative. I called for him at Up-Park and we went on to Portsmouth.
When we got there, no news of the British Queen; we had not been there many minutes before we met Mr. Edward Ellice, the member who advised Lord Melbourne not to resign, and his brother Captain Ellice, Flag Captain, who invited us to dinner. The party was Lord Yarborough, the two Ellices, and the Flag Lieutenant, and the ladies.
At six next morning I got up, and from the Point saw the British Queen just come in, and fire a gun as a signal for sailing ; a small steamer took us on board in about half an hour, amidst all the discomfort of confusion and bad weather. The Port Admiral, and the party of the day before, came to see us off; and at one o'clock we were outside the Isle of Wight, not venturing by the needles on account of the
heavy sea. Amongst the passengers I made some pleasant acquaintances. Mr. Ellice introduced me to Mr. Grattan, the author of Highways and Byeways," going out as Consul to Boston, Mr. Tancred, M.P., and Mr. Kinnaird, who has contracted with the Government to build 4 great steamers, larger than the Great Western, to carry out the mails next year to Halifax.
We formed a little party amongst ourselves; but in a cabin where 150 sat down to breakfast and dinner, you may suppose there was a good deal of mixture. We had in fact people from all parts of the world, Russians, the Neapolitan Consul to New York, Germans, Austrians and Prussians, French, English, many Americans and one Turk. Such a confusion as our cabin was at dinner nobody can conceive ; the wine, champagne, claret, and ale, ad libitum ; the champagne corks flying about were like a fusillade of light infantry. Imagine the vast consumption on board, 400 dozen of soda water were expended before we had been ten days at sea!
The incidents of the voyage were few, until the 20th, when in the morning of a tolerably fine day, we saw a vessel in the midst of the great Atlantic, without any sails set, as if at anchor ; that being impossible, our speculations were great, until we came up to her ; there she lay a beautiful brig the Bethel of Bideford, abandoned to the mercy of the waves. Our boat went on board, and found her completely stripped of everything, sails, cordage, furniture, papers, without a vestige of property of any sort, except some railroad iron on board and a little water in the hold ; the hatches were off and with every prospect of foundering should a gale come on.
After losing an hour in deliberation, it was determined to abandon her ; we had no men to spare to put on board of her, and to have pumped out the water and got some rigging up would have taken six hours at least ; so we had nothing else to do, but to leave the poor ship to her fate, uncertain whether she had been robbed by pirates, or abandoned purposely by the crew to defraud the underwriters ; the latter supposition would hardly account for the plundered state of the ship ; and the thing is a mystery, and will probably never be cleared up, as a gale came on that night, and no doubt she filled and went down. This circumstance threw a damp on the spirits of many of the party. The night following was that of the fire, of which I have already written ; taken altogether, you may imagine that my dislike to the sea has not diminished.
We made the lights at the mouth of this harbour on Saturday or rather Sunday morning at 1.30; we kept on firing guns, letting off rockets, blue lights, &c., all night, and at 8 in the morning a Pilot came off ; if it had blown hard, we should have been in an awkward situation ; we ought to have had with us a pilot from Portsmouth. Everything in the British Queen betrayed overhaste, want of foresight and precaution, notwithstanding the obvious danger from fire by carrying about naked lights, there was but one lantern on board, and that broken!
The entrance from the harbour to the city is beautifully dotted with green islands ; it is a magnificent harbour, large enough for all the vessels in the world to lie in perfect safety. I know little of New York yet; it is evidently a commerciality, and inhabited solely by commercial people ; the houses are good,
not fine. The heat is intense, for which I was not prepared, night and day alike, all yesterday 88 in the shade.
The people are always drinking some rubbish or other, Sling, Bang, or Sherry Cobbler, compounds suited to the heat. The hottest day I ever remember in England was nothing in comparison with the heat of to-day, all my wax fire lighters, warranted to keep in any climate, are no good here. We have arranged with Sir John Harvey to be at Frederickton on the 8th of August. I do not know whether we go to Boston or to Washington in the first instance."
From Frederickton commenced the journey, which was the object of the Expedition ; the incidents of it are recorded in Colonel Mudge's Private Journal, which he kept separate and distinct from his scientific and official memoranda.
Tuesday, 24th Sep., 1839. Still water at the head of the stream running into the lake at the head of the Manasagan River.
" Our voyage was commenced from Frederickton on the 24th of August, in a horse boat, in company with Mr. Featherstonehaugh and his son. The boat was drawn by two horses, one ridden by a mulatto, who seemed indifferent to danger and depth of water, as well as seasoned against cold. One boat was provided with a covered tent in the middle, and was comfortable enough. Our instruments were carefully suspended in it by hooks and nails.
The first day, as we started late, we got but a few miles. The first ferry occurred in the St. John's, from whence we walked to a public house about a mile distant, where we got a tolerable supper. The next morning, starting at six, we got about 20 miles to another public house where we slept, and started again the next morning.
The third day we reached Woodstock, an unpleasant town, full of lumberers, and slept at a house dignified by the name of the Woodstock Hotel, noisy and full of people, all engaged, or interested, in the lumbering trade. We started the next morning at five, in heavy rain, by a small wagon, holding F. and myself, to the boat 2 miles up the river ; and after two more days' voyage, arrived early in the
morning of the 30th at a small house near the river, where we breakfasted, and afterwards ascended the neighbouring hill on horseback for about 2 miles, walking the remainder.
The ascent was difficult over swamps, and then climbing to the summit, from whence we had an extensive view over the disputed territory. This hill is apparently unconnected with any of the highlands; but Featherstonehaugh is of opinion, that it belongs to the Ridge, extending from the head of the Chaudiere River, and forming part of the great chain of the Allegany Mountains. We returned to house from whence we started about 4 ; and after a hearty dinner embarked again, and arrived at a miserable house at the Riviere de la Chute after 6 in the evening. Our bedroom was a miserable loft, scarcely water-tight, and containing besides ourselves numerous children of the family.
Pursuing our journey as usual next morning, we reached the Tobique River, where we hired two wagons, and after crossing the Roostook River in a horse boat, and stopping for an hour at a small town by the way in the woods, reached the Grand Falls at 6.30 in the evening, the distance, 20 miles, having been performed in 6 and a half hours. Our miserable, wagon in which I drove young Featherstonehaugh, broke down two or three times by the way, and we had great difficulty in reaching the end of our journey. We were received in the kindest manner by Sir John Said well, who has an extensive saw-mill at the Falls, and remained with him under his hospitable roof for a fortnight. Featherstonehaugh made his arrangements for our further proceedings ;
and his expectations of proving the highlands being entirely geological, I have agreed to act entirely according to his views, supposing his knowledge of the geology of America to form the best guide for our further proceeding. He despatched persons from hence for the purpose of procuring the assistance of Canadians, and Indians, and a canoe. I also directed Mr. Wilkinson, the quartermaster of our expedition, to secure me an Indian and a canoe at the Tobique.
"The Falls of the St. John's are not so striking as I had expected. The river falls over rocks about 70 feet, and thence downward about 50 feet into a small basin. What interest or grandeur might have attached to the Falls has been injured or destroyed by the erection of Sir John's saw-mills and railroad. The view is quite confined, and limited to the banks on both sides, which are covered with wood, as are all the summits in this country. The only clearings are on the banks of the river. Sir Johns cottage
is very small, built entirely of wood, and comfortable enough.
My bedroom was under the roof, pannelled with wood, as was also the ceiling. During our stay Colonel Ashburnham of the Guards arrived on his way to Quebec ; and being unwell, remained two days at the Falls.
Having started our party for the Allegash River, under Mr. Hansard, to form a deposit of provisions there, and to wait our arrival about the 23rd of September, we left the grand Falls on the 9th, Featherstonehaugh in his canoe with his Indian, young F., with Thomas, in a wagon of the roughest description drawn by two horses, while I rode on horseback, as there was not room for more than two
in the wagon. We reached the Tobique Ferry at dark.
The whole day it rained with great violence, but my coat and trousers were waterproof We found our party in camp at the mouth of the Roostook River, and proceeded to the Inn opposite to the Tobique, where we slept. An attack having been made on the American Fort, Fairfield, by a party of lumberers, two nights before, we were apprehensive that our voyage up the river might be interrupted in consequence. Featherstonehaugh therefore rode to the Fort on the following day to visit the Commandant ; and we were glad to find that a complete discomfiture of the lumberers had put the Commandant in such good humour, that he made no objection to our going up the river.
"After breakfast on the loth, young Featherstonehaugh and I walked by the portage road 6 miles to meet our party, to the spot intended for our camp. The weather was hot, and we arrived much fatigued at the River. Unfortunately I missed my footing in crossing a wooden bridge made of a tree, barked on the upper side to form a footing, and fell into the water, wetting myself thoroughly, and worst of all, my chronometer given by the king of Denmark to my father. I had to remain for two hours in my wet clothes till the baggage came from the St. John's River.
Happily I did not take cold in consequence, feeling more severely the want of good and wholesome food than anything else, our provisions being slices of very salt pork and biscuit, without bread or vegetables. Our tent, in which we slept for the first time, was comfortable enough, with a good fire in
front, and plenty of spruce boughs to lay our beds upon. Our breakfast, like our dinner, consisted of the same fried pork and biscuit; and we remained waiting for Featherstonehaugh till past one o'clock. When he arrived, we went down the river to carry the barometers and other necessary articles to an elevation, which he considered belonged to the Ridge.
This occupied us till 4 o'clock, when we started to proceed up the river. On an exploring expedition in the morning, I paid a visit to the Commandant at the Fort, to whom I had previously sent my card, and was received by him with much civility. His apartment was the upper story of his log house, forming the living and sleeping apartment of himself and several others. I remained half-an-hour talking on indifferent subjects, and carefully avoiding the Boundary question altogether. Shortly before leaving our camp, a young Indian arrived in this canoe for my use.
Unfortunately I had left the selection to others, and" regretted when too late, that I had not taken the advice of Sir John Harvey to send from Frederickton to secure a good and experienced Indian, as Featherstonehaugh had done for himself.
After passing the Fort, it began to rain violently, and we arrived at our second camp very wet and uncomfortable. Our tent was erected in the rain, we soon however had a good fire. I was glad to get under it, have some supper, and go to bed.
The next morning we started at 6 without breakfast, to which the men had not been accustomed, and there was much grumbling in consequence. My Indian stopped, and took all my things out of the canoe, refusing to go any further, but after some time he came round, on the promise of a good breakfast and the assurance that another morning he should have his breakfast before starting. The following morning Featherstonehaugh and I went to a neighbouring eminence with the barometers, and returned to breakfast at 8 o'clock.
The weather was fine, and during the day I killed three partridges on the trees, near the river, and, on the following day, one. Proceeding in this manner without much interest or variety, we arrived on the 19th instant at the Forks of the Aroostook, where we camped. The River here loses its name, and the two streams which form it are called the Millekenaak and the Minnesagan. On the 20th Featherstonehaugh and I started up the former river, he in his canoe, and I in a log one, to trace the river to its source.
We took 4 other canoes with us to hold the Tent and baggage, and with great difficulty forced them up a rapid and shallow stream to a large lake, forming the head of the river ; from whence we had a view of a distant range of hills of some height. The following morning Featherstonehaugh went on the lake, and I went with a party down the stream to the commencement of a run of still water, where we fished for three or four hours. I caught a great many fine trout and some chub. One trout was about 3lbs., the finest and most beautiful I ever saw, spotted in the most lovely manner with gold and crimson, scarlet belly and fins, and most beautifully variegated, surpassing anything of the fish tribe I had ever seen.
When Featherstonehaugh arrived, we proceeded down the river ; and at the very first rapid we came to, my canoe was swamped, and we just contrived to get her to the shore without sinking quite, though full of water. All my kit was in her, bed, clothes, bag, fishing tackle ; all my spare shoes and boots were full of water, but my clothes and bedding happily escaped, being well wrapped up in my mackintosh hammock, which is invaluable. The injury otherwise sustained was however considerable. We reached the camp in the evening at near six o'clock, instead of performing the voyage as Featherstonehaugh had calculated upon in an hour and a half; I found F. had arrived some time before me.
My fish made a capital supper, which with the addition of Irish stew, made of pork, potatoes, and soaked biscuit and butter, enabled us to make a good meal. The Irish stew and soaked biscuit were introduced by myself, and are a very agreeable alteration of the usual fare of fried pork and biscuit.
" The next morning, Sunday, we started as usual and arrived at one o'clock at a chain of lakes, three in number, on the shore of the longest of which we dined. During the day we caught several large fish of the trout species, weighing from 2 to 6 lbs. and one or two much larger. They are rather dry and inferior to river trout, though very acceptable in our condition, not finding moose, deer or game of any kind, or birds either of any sort, with the exception of a few ducks and crows, which are the sum of all the birds we have seen since we left Frederickton. Featherstonehaugh's Indian Peter has been out looking for moose deer without success, though the traces and footmarks have been very frequent.
"Wednesday, 25th September. Yesterday we succeeded only in cutting through a portage of one mile and a half and camped at the end of it. Towards the afternoon two guns were heard and answered ; they proved to be the signal of the arrival of Mr. Hansard and his party at the Fourth Lake, about ten miles distant, after ascending the St. John's River and the Allegash to meet us.
The signal was fired by Louis, the Indian guide, who had conducted a party of eight men to meet us, leaving Mr. Hansard at the Fourth Lake with the remainder of the men of his party.
" Featherstonehaugh is dissatisfied with our progress.
" This day we started, F., I and his son, our birch canoes in advance of the party with four other canoes, and our tent and baggage. After cutting through the first portage of half a mile, and passing through some still waters, we came to another small portage, and then a lake of a mile in length. The wind was high and the navigation unpleasant, but the weather was otherwise fine and dry.
After exploring this lake, which did not appear to contain many fish, we came to another portage of two miles and a half, about a half of which we cut through, and camped near the cutting. The method of cutting and passing through these portages, which are all through woods, is to have from four to five axemen in front cutting down the trees and bushes, to make way for the people and canoes to pass.
The woods are not only full of timber of the largest size, but are covered also with undergrowth of timber of all sizes, forming a complete obstacle to anything but wild animals.
" On our arrival at the termination of this day's labours, we were gratified by the arrival of Mr. Hansard with the intelligence of two moose having been killed on the Fourth Lake by himself and his party.
The moose were heard bellowing in the woods, and were surprised late at night, as they were feeding on the margin of the lake. The party fired three shots at the old moose bull, who fell into the lake and in its struggles nearly upset the canoe; the other, a small one, was easily killed, and the cow was wounded but escaped.
The moose are expected to be plentiful ; this addition to our stores is very acceptable, as great inroads have been already made into the depot of provisions brought up by Mr. Hansard for the remainder of our journey.
" After completing as much of the portage as the time of day would allow, we formed our camp as usual, by selecting as dry a spot as could be found, cutting away the trees for room for our tent, and building a large fire in front with the trunks of large trees. The best trees to burn are the maple, birch, and beech. For all encampments the choice depends on the quantity and quality of the timber for fuel. What is called hard wood are best fit for the purpose, while cedars and pines, which are the wood of
the country, are not suitable for burning. The bark of the cedar is however invaluable for some purposes ; smouldering slowly away when set on fire, it keeps off the black flies most effectually ; the frost has however completely dispersed them for the season, or nearly so, but the mosquitoes are still a little troublesome.
After pitching our tent, our dinner or supper was prepared as usual by our servants, of salt pork, soaked biscuit, a few potatoes, which latter are almost expended, and some tea. I slept comfortably during the night, hearing the rain pattering on the roof of our sleeping tent, and within a few inches of my head : but the tent is happily water-proof.
Thursday 26th. Rain with a prospect of its continuance. Breakfasted as usual about 7. As for dressing I have not changed since leaving the St. John's, or had an opportunity of drying my clothes, boots, and shoes ; shaving is out of the question. I have now a beard, growing since we left the Falls on the 9th instant; my razors have been wetted so often that they will hardly perform their office when called upon. My watch I am glad to find goes tolerably, and has not stopped for some days.
"Friday 27th. Our camp is on the North side of the Fourth or Windy Lake. Yesterday was a terrible day indeed, but by the mercy of God we are none of us the worse for it. We started from our last camp soon after breakfast, the rain pouring down and continuing without intermission during the whole day. We crossed three lakes and five portages, before reaching the south shore of this lake in the evening, the rain blowing from the North East, very cold and stormy. I crossed the largest lake in a birch canoe with Mr. Hansard and Louis an Indian, leaving mine to follow; happily we all got over safe. Between this and the Fourth Lake we had portages of a mile and more, to carry the canoes and baggage. We were so wet in landing, that we were forced to build large fires to dry ourselves, a practice in this country indispensible to supply heat, proportionate to that carried off by wet, and cold, and exhaustion.
" We reached the last portage about 4, and arrived at our camping ground on the other side of the lake wet and cold, without a change of clothes, or a tent to cover us till long after dark, the bearers of the camp equipage and baggage not having been able to find their way through the woods. We fortunately possessed a lantern which I had brought from London ; this we despatched to their aid, and soon afterwards we had the comfort of Queen Victoria " over our heads again, (Her Majesty's cypher and crown surmount the entrance of our tent), and with a large fire blazing in front we were soon comfortable and warm.
Our supper was ready at 8 o'clock, which consisted of five partridges, three I killed, and the other two were knocked down by the men with a stone ; they were stewed with a few potatoes, and a little pork, to make an Irish stew, the favourite dish of my invention.
As soon as the men had finished their supper, we set to work to make our comfortable beds of spruce branches and mattresses laid on them ; most thankful was I to lie down, and I slept soundly till
daylight this morning.
" The opening of the day had an unpropitious aspect ; but a happy termination of the rain enabled me after breakfast to spread out my clothes, baggage, and instruments in the wind and sun to dry, after having been wet and damp for a fortnight, swamped in canoes, tumbled into the river, and dragged in the rain through wet leaves and cedar swamps. Our camp was close to the lake, and we were soon on board, Featherstonehaugh, and I in our canoes, Thomas and F's servant following. We crossed the lake, which we had been unable to do yesterday on account of the wind, in half an hour.
Shortly after reaching the beach where our depot was placed by Mr. Hansard, we heard a doleful cry from whence we had come ; my glass was in a moment to my eye, and I saw that of two canoes containing our servants and the sappers, only one remained on the water. Soon after I perceived two men hanging on to the canoe that still preserved its position ; and instantly one of our canoes was pushed off from the beach with men to render assistance ; we remained in suspense and alarm for more than half an hour.
''When the boats, as they returned, approached near enough for me to distinguish who was in them with my telescope, I was gratified to perceive Thomas and Featherstonehaugh's servant, and the two sappers, and to find afterwards that nothing was lost by the upsetting of the canoe, but my fishing rod and umbrella, which are now deposited at the bottom of the lake. Another of our canoes was missing until within the last half hour, and we were apprehensive that the boatman, Michel Carran, one of our best men, was lost. I had long perceived with my glass what I thought to be a canoe with a man in it, on a bend of the lake opposite; and it turned out that I was right, though all the others declared it was only a piece of timber. The poor fellow had been driven by the force of the wind and swell, and was only rescued by our men, when at last perceived by them, attempting ineffectually to make his way to the shore. So end our day's disasters.
We are encamped at our depot with plenty of provisions, and waiting for Mr. Wilkinson's party, whom we left the day before yesterday; they will probably not be here till to-morrow at least. We have however sent them provisions, which were nearly all expended when we left them. Featherstonehaugh proposes to discharge a number of men, so as to augment the means of supporting the remainder.
" There are plenty of fish in the lake, which are taken with a spear and by angling. Two are this instant brought to me to look at, weighing 8 pounds a piece. What a loss is my fishing rod ! But I scarcely regret it, as no loss of life occurred. My umbrella, which I had taken out from the inside of my mosquito tent, and which was a comfort to me many a rainy day, will prove a more serious loss. I am so thankful however, under all circumstances, for unlooked for health and strength, after all the hardship and bad weather I have endured, that I have not a wish to repine at anything.
" Saturday 28th. A day's rest is a joyous thing after such long fatigue, and without an opportunity of changing anything, or even drying our wet clothes and shoes, which were effectually displayed yesterday to the sun's rays for 3 or 4 hours, while I employed my morning in cleaning my instruments, keeping a watchful eye, that the high wind did not disperse them over the beach. In the afternoon, we prepared our tent in a very superior manner, the usual covering of birch boughs being laid over the whole, and round the sides, to keep out the wind. Our dinner was served in a much better style, and consisted entirely of hunter's fare. Fish from the lake, boiled, and fried in fat pork, moose meat fried in the same, and a brace of partridges with soaked biscuit for bread, and a couple of potatoes apiece.
We were all in bed by eight. The wind blew very hard during the night, with rain; I rather apprehended that some of our neighbouring tall pines might fall upon us, like those at Beech wood some years ago under similar circumstances; our men however had cut down a good many for firewood. I enjoyed the rest much, listened for some time to the wind and rain, thought of my dear home, and of those who I trust are well there, and recommended us all to the protection of God, with the hope of a happy and early meeting.
This morning we were rather later than usual, breakfasting at eight o'clock. After breakfast I walked to the beach to look after my line, which I set last night, but found nothing on it. On returning, I saw a small fleet of birch canoes on our little beach, which turned out to belong to a party of Indians on a hunting expedition from the Penobscot River, a wild set, but most of them speaking a little English ; they had killed one moose two days since and two ducks; they were provided with good guns, and two dogs, one of which I tried ineffectually to purchase. They had been to our tent to give information as to our future route, which appears perfectly satisfactory.
The winter is now evidently approaching, and I look forward to get to the end of our journey with much anticipation of pleasure. This morning on rising, I found the thermometer below freezing point; and a little snow fell for the first time. The air seems to have had full effect on the appetites of our people, who have been stuffing on the heads of the two moose lately killed, stuck on a pole, roasting before the fire, cutting out the favourite bit with their knives, without ceasing, nearly the whole of yesterday and to-day.
Sunday 29th. Yesterday was another delightful day of rest waiting for Mr. Wilkinson and his party, and this day we hope to enjoy another, with the comfort of prayers. Yesterday produced another incident, not less alarming than that of the day preceding. Hearing a moose bellowing on the opposite side of the lake, about a mile distant, Mr. Hansard went over with my Indian, John Michel, in his canoe, wanting me to accompany them, and proceeded with two muskets to shoot the unfortunate cow, supposed to be crying for her calf.
I declined going in the canoe, and walked round the shore of the lake to meet them on the opposite side. Going through the wood by the lake, I was tempted to amuse myself with trying to catch a very young squirrel, smaller and more beautiful than the English species ; and I had almost frightened the little thing into my hands, when I heard a gun fired ; thinking it was the signal of the death of the unfortunate moose, I waited still to catch the squirrel for nearly half an hour more ; then a loud crying and shouting alarmed me, which I still thought announced the death of the animal, and walked to the shore to see what was going on. I put up my glass to my eye, and perceived to my surprise, and alarm, the canoe upset, and the men hanging on to it, at some distance from the shore.
My first impulse was to fire both barrels of my gun to encourage them, and alarm the camp, and then to run as fast as I could to procure assistance. The gun brought out several men, and I shouted as loud as possible to tell them what was the matter. Shortly two canoes put off, but with little appearance of arriving in time to do any good. However we soon had the comfort of seeing Mr. Hansard and the Indian arrive at the shore, half dead with cold and exhaustion. The gun, I heard fired, was the cause of the accident, being overcharged ; in firing at some ducks Mr. Hansard overturned the canoe.
He could swim, but the Indian could not, and after swimming a little way towards the shore, the Indian cried so much for help, that Mr. Hansard returned and encouraged him to hold on, whilst he got on the top of the canoe and by slow degrees paddled to the shore, which they reached at last, rejoicing at their happy escape, which indeed was a most narrow one. From the time I heard the gun when the canoe upset, to seeing them holding on by its bottom, must have been at least half an hour, during the whole of which time, and for half an hour after, they were in the water. A little rum and water hot soon restored them. The Indian complained sadly of Mr. Hansard upsetting the canoe. This has for a time put an end to our canoe shooting; but the Indians went out last night and saw a moose, to which they could not get near enough for a shot.
'*The night air was very cold, and this morning the thermometer was 29°, we have therefore no expectation of any more fine weather. This morning we had the prayers after breakfast, Featherstonehaugh reading the prayers, and I the responses. No one attended but our servants and the sappers. About one o'clock I descried our party under Mr. Wilkinson approaching from the other side of the lake. They arrived in eleven canoes, an hour after, bringing the rest of our provisions, and some potatoes which we have missed much these last two days.
Monday 30th. It rained much yesterday evening, and all night, but to-day is fine and tolerably mild for the season. We had a little snow on Saturday, but not enough to lie on the ground. The ice has been as much as two inches thick in the morning, after having been drawn in shore during the night. To-day our party has been numbered, and twenty men discharged. Featherstonehaugh has determined to go to the north with a small party, with the best men and all the birch canoes. I go down the Alegash River to the St. John's River with another party; then ascend the St. John's to Baker's Lake, where we meet
again.
My canoe unfortunately is the worst of the whole lot, unfit for lakes ; and my Indian boy again refused to proceed, fearing, as he said, to be upset ; threats and promises from Featherstonehaugh, and a little additional coaxing from me, have at last induced him to proceed. The men thought it was unfair. I, however, made no remark and suffered the matter to be so arranged, though certainly the boy had cause for apprehension, as this canoe was the one which was upset two days ago, and nearly drowned Mr. Hansard and my Indian. We left our camp, which has been a home to us for some days, at one o'clock, Featherstonehaugh to the north, and I to the south, with the provisions and discharged men, who are bound for Frederickton and the Great Falls. The day has been uncommonly fine and calm, so that we have passed happily the Windy Lake, which I hope never to see again, in safety and comfort; but I had my swimming belt close at hand, and saw that Thomas had his on. If he had put it on before being upset on Friday, he would have been in comparatively little danger. I am now in my canoe, waiting for the signal to make the portage into the Allegash River.
Thursday, October 3rd. After receiving the signal, we began to descend the river, and disembark the heavier baggage, to be carried through the portage by land. We encamped at the end of it. I amused myself with my fishing rod some time, and in the space of an hour or better I caught a quantity of trout and chub, the former most beautiful fish, especially two of about 2 lbs. each, like those I caught at the end of the lakes on the Aroostook River, scarlet fins and belly, speckled on the body with green, gold and carmine, black mouth and lips as a Blenheim spaniel, and the flesh as red as that of a salmon.
The comfort of the quiet which we now have is indescribable; and everything is arranged quietly by Mr. Hansard to my entire satisfaction. The fire placed properly at half the usual distance makes the tent most comfortably warm, and avoids the necessity of our going so close to the fire to get warm, according to Featherstonehaugh's system and practice; thanks to which I have already destroyed both pairs of my waterproof shoes, and a pair of waterproof trousers, so that unless our campaign draws to a close soon, I shall be without clothing to encounter the cold and wet. We passed a most comfortable night, and I enjoyed my breakfast as much next morning.
" We started about 9 o'clock, and ascended the river Allegash by several rapids. My Indian boy, who was imprudently selected for me, became alarmed, and was obliged to be removed to another and a larger canoe. His place was supplied by an old and experienced Indian, called Bernard, but rendered feeble by age and recent sickness, and unable to sustain much fatigue in crossing the portages.
After ascending the rapids, we got into still water, and passed down a succession of lakes. In the first lake we were caught by a storm, but happily we got over in safety with a good deal of tossing though, and a heavy swell.
After passing through the chain of lakes, one of which was six miles long, we got again into the River Allegash, a fine broad stream, with a few rapids not dangerous, and landed on the left bank at 3 o'clock. Our supper was as comfortable and nicely arranged as that of yesterday. No incident of any interest occurred during the day, no game or birds were to be seen, except a baldheaded eagle, at which I fired, of course without effect, and should not have wasted powder and shot, but in the faint hope of getting some quills. The scenery is everywhere similar, and one description might serve for all. Cedars and pines grow to the edge of the water, and nothing is to be seen beyond them, either on the lakes or the rivers. Of course there is no want of good fuel, though the men are careful about that in the selection of a place for camping ; they prefer the hard woods, as birch, or beech, to the pines and cedars. It is curious, and would be interesting to our friends at home, to see our preparations for camping. Immediately the word is given, my canoe pushes to the shore, and all the men jump out of their canoes with the greatest alacrity.
The ground is so encumbered with growth, that many a noble tree measures its length on the earth in a few minutes, to afford room for our tent, and ' a, fire beyond it. The first thing is a fire, which is soon made with birch bark, sticks and thin trunks of trees; and in half an hour we have fire enough to roast an ox, which is kept continually burning by additional fuel throughout the night.
1 amused myself till dinner time in fishing, and pulled out the chub as fast as my line was put in. One of the Indians took my canoe in the evening, and caught a trout, and a gray ling, the first I have seen.
*' We arrived at the last of the lakes about 12. Beautiful water, gentle, still, and calm. Our party, who were dismissed from the North Lake, were here waiting for us, as desired by a special message sent in advance ; and we took from them a canoe to replace one which was injured in the rapids yesterday. We left her alone in the midst of the waters to swim as long as she could ; nearly full of water she was then. If I had known what we had to encounter immediately afterwards, I would certainly have taken her on, to see her go alone down the rapid. After crossing the lake, we came to a rapid about half a mile, and then to another stile on the water two miles long. The mode of navigating these rapids is by one or two boatmen standing up and guiding the canoe with their long poles, to prevent it from touching the rocks, which would demolish it in a moment. As soon as the boatmen come near the rapid, they lay aside the paddles, and lay hold of the long poles they have ; which are about 20 feet long, and as thick as a man's wrist.
We came down these hills in the water in a very fine manner, and the men stopped at the bottom to dine. Here comes another Fall, but I am now almost accustomed to it, and see without concern the huge rocks, rising on either side, with the water apparently ready to
tumble into the canoe, knowing too that, in case of an upset. it would roll over the occupants to the bottom, if nothing worse came of it.
"Saturday, Oct. 5th. We left our camp yesterday after breakfast, the morning was cold with snow and hail. The distance from the camp to the Falls was about five miles ; at the Falls we overtook our party who had encamped there all night. After leaving the Falls it began to blow a heavy gale of wind, with some showers and hail ; so intensely cold was it, that to write in a canoe was impossible. My corporal, an active able bodied man, complained of being colder than he ever was in his life. Added to this, the wind was north east, directly in our faces, making so much swell that we could not see the rocks ; the consequence was we had a perilous time of it, especially as from the Falls to the junction of the Allegash and the St. John's River, it was one continued rapid, so bad in some places that the Indians and Frenchmen called out, " Bien mauvaise cette rapide la."
This was about a mile long, full of rocks, and breaking water, and the velocity very great. The danger perhaps appeared greater than it really was, though at the bottom we found the party before us had lost one canoe, and upset others, the men belonging to which had made a fire on the bank to dry themselves. Our party were also suffering so much from the cold, that we were obliged to stop for half an hour to get warm by a fire also. After entering the St. John's River, we turned our heads up the stream, and encamped a little inside the woods, near the river about half a mile above the Allegash, on the same side. Our fires were lighted in a few minutes, and we were all comfortably under shelter from the rain and wind in about half an hour. Our dinner consisted of the beautiful trout, and moose meat made into Irish stew.
''This morning my Indian, John Michel, was dismissed. We purchased his canoe, in which I am now writing, going up the St. John's with a cold north wind, but the sun shining bright. Last night was cold, the thermometer this morning was at 17° at seven o'clock. The walls of the tent were covered with snow, within a few inches of my head, yet, thank God, I have not yet suffered from the severe work of yesterday, which the Indians pronounced to be the first day of winter. I have made a different arrangement to-day: sitting with my back to the head of the canoe, the wind having also turned, and with the sun before me, I am enabled to hold a pencil.
"Saturday, Oct. 6th. Yesterday was a charming day, though a cold wind, the sun was shining bright all day. The snow afforded the means of walking the rapid, which I did, along the shore, where it was so warm as to heat me a good deal. I measured the height of the rapid, but it was nothing like that we descended on the Allegash the day before.
"We encamped as usual about 5 o'clock; we had a trout for dinner, the fellow to that of yesterday, and one which I caught before dinner, cleaned it myself, and actually put it warm out of the river into the boiling water ; it was delicious. This life is not unpleasant; its only drawback is
it is the wrong side of the Atlantic, which separates me from those I never wish to leave again.
" This morning I arose fresh and hungry, and enjoyed my breakfast of soaked biscuit and moose meat. It froze very sharply in the night, the thermometer when I arose at half past 6 being under 22°. It was cold certainly, but much less than might have been imagined ; we had however, it must be confessed, a fire large enough to roast a sheep. After despatching our breakfast, which was over by half past seven, Thomas came running to me with the intelligence that a herd of carriboos were on the other side of river. I quickly got rid of the shot in my gun, and put in two balls, and ran down to the side of the river.
The carriboos had taken alarm, I found, at some stupid Frenchmen, who instead of hiding themselves in the bushes, had crowded down to look at them; the animals however strode away, quietly feeding within 200 yards directly opposite our camp. Before I could get into the canoe to run over to them, they began to move off, and I was obliged to fire twice ineffectually at the bull, after which they started off, but not very fast. The herd consisted of a male, female, and a young one. The bull as big as a two year old heifer, with magnificent antlers, it was marked white on the side.
"I wrote this journal in my canoe, with the thermometer 32°, without gloves, and my fingers scarcely cold! My journal has been interrupted by a chase after wild ducks; I longed to have killed two, but the motion of the canoe shakes my hand dreadfully ; as it was, I had one, but it saved itself by diving and sliding under the rocks. We stopped to dine just before 12, which gave me an opportunity of taking an observation to ascertain the time, as we have no watch, which goes even decently, including my chronometer which stops when exposed to the cold. I am obliged to put it under my head at night. We dined where old Louis encamped on a hunting expedition two years since; his wigwam was still standing, and the old fellow cooked his dinner before me in his former home. The wigwam was constructed by a forked stick in a leaning position, with others resting upon the fork, forming about three-fourths of a circle, with flat layers of birch bark covering all from top to bottom, just as he had lived in it with his squaw two years ago, by no means an uncomfortable dwelling.
Louis told me it did not take more than half an hour to make ! How easily are our actual wants supplied! I could have slept in the wigwam with comfort, and would much rather do so than in a tent.
We continue as pleasant a party as ever ; there is but one Englishman besides myself ; amongst the rest are Canadians, and my old Indian. The Canadians are a cheerful set, always singing French songs and laughing, far better company than the blue-noses we have dismissed.
''Sunday, October 7th. Although the subsistence of the party, we expect to meet at the lake at the end of this river (Bathurst Lake), depends on our meeting them at the easiest possible time, I have not forgotten that this is a day which ought to be kept sacred, and trust that the urgency of the case will justify our proceeding as usual this day. It is a comfort to me, that having lost our lumbering friends, the Irish blue-noses of Frederickton, we are no longer annoyed with their swearing and noise, which continued without the slightest provocation or cessation from morning till night. My Indian, who left us yesterday, was sensible of the disregard paid to the Sabbath ; he amused himself and pleased me, by singing a hymn in Indian, which he had learnt at the chapel, all the Mohawks being Catholics in this part of America. An Irishman began to abuse him one day for singing on Sunday ; his reply was, " Indian sing song he learn in chapel ; Englishman swear, swear, all day Sunday ; this no good." This lad was only 18.
We encamped yesterday at the head of a rapid early, to allow the heavy canoes to come up before dark. I ventured, for the first time, to choose the camping place, which was approved of, as the most comfortable place we have met with during all our long journey. It was situated on the left bank of the river, looking down it, about 10 feet above the river on a level bank, covered with wood fit for fuel and bedding.
A beautiful clear brook ran close to it from the hills behind, and immediately beneath our feet a rising hill in the wood, covered with silver and spruce firs. As soon as the camp was fixed, I took my fishing rod, a very rough piece of work, manufactured to supply the place of the one now at the bottom of the Fourth Lake, and in an hour caught a number of beautiful trout, which came in very well for breakfast next morning ; the servants had their share of them.
Our Indians are lazy, having plenty to eat. It is a characteristic of the North American Indians to eat as long as anything is left, and only to hunt when hunger presses, or when everything eatable is gone, even to a lump of sugar.
''Accordingly, although the river is full of trout, I cannot get anybody to go and catch them, though an hour's fishing by torchlight would probably supply us with enough for some days. I must trust to my own rod, I believe, for so acceptable an addition to our dinner.
Yesterday we opened a case of haricots, but which we found to be indifferent French beans, and a case of ox-tail soup, pretty good, which we deal out a spoonful at a time to put into the Irish stew.
"My scientific journal contains all matters of a scientific nature, not included here, but I cannot refrain from remarking that, from my own observation, I am more than ever convinced that my friend Featherstonehaugh's theory will never settle the question. Louis and I get on very well together jabbering French; he speaks English a little, but prefers French. In talking to me, some of the French
men speak a little English, but I have to act as general intrepreter ; as Mr. Hansard, to whom I commit the entire management of the expedition, does not speak French. This day has been indifferent, but on the whole we have nothing to complain of, and everything to be thankful for. Good health beyond my most sanguine expectations, and plenty of good food, which I suspect however, may become
scarce before we reach Quebec, so that I consider it necessary to fish as much as possible to save our moose, pork, and biscuit. If I had brought down the bull carriboo yesterday, we should have had a fine feast and abundance. But we are in a fine hunting country, and approaching a better both for moose meat and fish.
" I have had some pleasant exercise today in walking up the rapids, it rained a little at times but not much, a little however, is nearly as bad as a good deal, on account of the long grass and trees by the side of the river, through which we have to pass. This part of the country is all under water in the spring ; and the roads, such as they are, are then close to the river s edge, and I expect it would be a matter of great difficulty to get through them, as trees upon trees lie in every direction one upon another, which have fallen unnoted from the earliest ages. The cedar forms the great majority of these; it is a wood which takes many years to rot; it may be called the wood of the country. The Indians use it much to make canoes, the one I am now writing in is made of it, except the outside covering which is of birch bark.
" Tuesday, October 8th. By a mistake in our reckoning, very possible in our present mode of life, I made yesterday Sunday, instead of the day before; but I shall keep my almanack now always at hand, and shall guard against a similar error in future. We proceeded, as usual, yesterday till five, when we camped in a pleasant spot in the woods near the river, but no beautiful brook to supply us with delicious cold water. The river water is not unwholesome, but it has a flavour. Our dinner, as usual, of
beautiful trout, and a hotch potch of pork potatoes and part of the contents of a can of mock turtle; but we voted my old mixture, the Irish stew, more simple and preferable. The trout are certainly a great luxury, and far finer flavoured than any I have ever met with in Europe, except in Loch Leven, where they are as good. When caught I give them a blow on the head, saw them immediately into three or
four pieces, afterwards clean them, and hang them on a forked stick ready for cooking.
We have not seen any cariboos or game of any kind, yesterday or to-day ; but moose abound, as is evident, on the banks of the river, and by the sides of the rapids.
''We stopped for the men to dine, and to get the latitude at half-past one. Notice was given of partridges drumming in the woods, and I went with Louis to look for them, but without success. The drumming of the partridges is the noise made by the cock, who sits on a stone or the branch of a tree, something Like the faint tapping of a muffled drum; he does it most probably to give warning to the brood of danger. The Canadians and the Indians consider the drumming of the partridges to be the prelude of a fine autumn. This country seems to be an exception to the general character of North America, as regards the animal creation.
The aquatic and other migratory birds, which periodically visit all the rest of the continent in vast numbers, appear to avoid this district, either because it is out of the track towards their southern destination, or from the unfavourable nature of the climate. I do not believe we have even seen 20 pigeons altogether, and above half as many ducks. No rabbits we have met with, and but a few hares, which are white in the winter. There are a few squirrels also, which are shot, as well as the rats, for food.
These rats are of a large species, as large nearly as a cat, which frequent the banks of the rivers and are distinguished from the common rat, not only by their size, but by the form of the tail, which is vertically flattened, like that of the beaver, but not so broad. The rats build themselves houses in the water, much in the same manner as the beaver, where rushes abound, as large (and not unlike also in appearance) as a large potato cave in Devonshire.
Twenty or thirty are sometimes killed by the Indians in one of these houses.
Almost the only bird which frequently disturbs the stillness of the woods, is the large woodpecker, whose tap sounds like the blow of a large hammer. Whilst in the woods looking for the partridges, I observed frequent tracks of the moose and bear; the latter is very fond of the bark of the spruce fir, and from the number of trees barked it would appear to be a very favourite food.
" Our little fleet of canoes goes merrily up the river, all in good humour, good spirits, and good health. Some of the boats are heavily laden still, with barrels of pork and biscuit to last us during the remainder of the expedition. My canoe is the only one not laden with provisions, being the only birch one ; I carry in it only my bag and bundle of clothes ; my bag holds little more than a pair of shoes and the remnants of my burnt boots, which Thomas is now converting into a case for a hunting knife, to hang at my side, like Louis the Indian, and which I need much for many purposes, particularly for preparing my fish dinners.
My bundle, containing all my clothes and a few silk handkerchiefs, is enclosed in a macintosh hammock, and covered with an oil cloth ; my bedding is in another canoe, and consists of a buffalo skin, hair mattress, and blankets. Besides this my canoe contains my fishing rod, of native manufacture, my gun by my side in an india-rubber case, and a barometer fastened to the front of the canoe, that it may not be lost like the former by an upset. I sit with my face to the head, and Louis stands up behind me with a long pole, pushing it forward up the river, and paddling in
Still water, sitting down. Louis' figure is very good, with an old red night cap on his head, his long black locks hanging below it, and a sort of Indian frock with leggings, made of deerskin ; his costume and his marked expression of countenance, and skin of darkest yellow brown, give him a picturesque and striking appearance. All his baggage is likewise in the canoe ; it consists of a small iron pot for cooking, a little flask holding gum for mending the canoe, and a blue bundle containing gunpowder, balls, tobacco, charms, in short the whole of his campaigning kit.
I sit in considerable comfort at the bottom of the canoe, with thin planks spread under me on the bottom, then spruce boughs, then a tarpaulin, and on the top a cushion ; pretty well taken care of, it might be said, yet I have had the water over all, more than once. It is a curious sensation going up hills in the water, though not such nervous work as going down. Pushing up against the hill, passing the huge rocks, which you may often touch with one finger, and which I have often done, to keep the canoe off, is startling enough ; and though writing with considerable ease and ^security, I am often reminded that I am not in a mail coach in England. The most difficult thing to maintain in canoeing is the balance, to keep exactly in the centre, and happen what may, never to lay hold of the sides, which
would infallibly upset it. I am as knowing as an Indian now in finding out a good camping place.
The first thing is the choice of a place with plenty of wood, birch, maple and beech, the next to select a level spot, shelter from the winds and near the river, and the last to have a brook or a spring near; which, though not so needful as the other requisites, is a pleasing luxury. With attention paid to these particulars, one is free from cold even in severe weather. Last night the tent was too warm, and this
morning I sat at breakfast without my coat at 8 o'clock. Thomas has made an admirable job of my burnt boots ; the hole is capitally cobbled up with a piece of the other.
" Nothing but rapids — up, up, up all day long ; but to-morrow I am comforted with the promise of 'I'eaumoste,' which means still water.
steak of the bull is like very coarse beef, that of the calf somewhat like veal, but both have a decided flavour.
This morning we started about nine o'clock, and soon after arrived at an open expanse of the river, containing eight large islands. This is a favourite hunting ground of the Indians ; and the fresh marks of moose and Other wild animals, were all along the banks.
We found a party of Indians hunting amongst these islands, the same we met on the Fourth Lake. They had just caught a beaver, which we found scarcely dead in the canoe, and quite warm. I purchased the tail to take home, and also the tail of a musk-quash. The bargain was made with a little maple sugar, and some gun-powder, with one of my flasks.
Our Indian friends are again come up to us hunting for a beaver trap. One, lost when last we met, has since been found with a beaver in it. I am trying through my interpreter Louis to get a bit of the animal for dinner ; but it seems that they have left it on shore as they came up, or we might have had some. While writing I am watching them hunting in the long grass and rushes by the side of river for the unfortunate beaver and trap. This is an incident which may not occur again in the journal of an European in these parts of North America. The distance of the beaver lakes from the settlements is so great that few persons are likely to undertake the journey; and the animal is also nearly exterminated, and will be entirely so before long, owing to the avidity with which it is pursued by the Indians, who do little besides hunting, not even taking the trouble to fish, although great quantities of fish might be taken in any of the rivers. In all the rivers of this country there is not a single net, except at one or two places on the St. John's and the Aroostock.
The tribes are diminishing rapidly without apparent reason ; those at least of this part of the country are evidently well off, always able to maintain themselves, and universally trusted by the whites. My Indian has five children, an unusual number.
*'No rapids today up to half-past eleven, when we stopped for the men to dine, while I spent my time in catching a fine dish of trout for supper. My hunting knife came into great requisition for cleaning the fish. It would also serve to put an end to a poor moose, if we were to meet with one, and I should be glad to take a pair of horns home, of my own killing, they are great weight and size.
Thursday, October 10th. We camped last night about half way up a long rapid, at least two miles long; no incident occurred beyond the usual routine.
''Friday, October 11th. The journey yesterday produced nothing interesting, except that we did not catch any trout and felt the loss of them at dinner. In the morning Louis pointed out a spot in the woods near the river, where a couple of years since he buried two of his children, who died of the small-pox. The weather cleared up in the afternoon and the sun shone out, but there was a cold wind, and this morning the thermometer was down again to 22° at 7 o'clock.
"We arrived at the forks of the St John's, where the river divides into two branches, at 9 o'clock. The south-west branch leads directly to Quebec, a two days journey by portage and canoe. We are now penetrating the interior by the other branch, in order to reach the source of the Chaudiere.
Louis has just called out to the Canadian boatmen. Si on vent manger du regnal (moose) il ne faut pas
chanter pour le jour," so on we push. The wind is so cold, though the sun shines, that 1 can write no longer, and must put on my gloves. Our canoe leaks most abominably from the numerous thumps the fragile surface of the bark has sustained, against the sharp rocks. I have delighted my Indian, by producing my large sponge, which at this season, alas indeed any season in these parts, is of no use; for its original purpose of cold water sponging from head to foot, is not practicable in the woods during the summer on account of the mosquitos and flies, which would soon make one blister from head to foot, and in the autumn and winter the cold renders it out of the question ; my sponge is
therefore applied to emptying the canoe to Louis' great delight, who never saw such a thing in his life before.
I hear the partridges drumming again. What a bore it is to be without a dog ; this comes of trusting to
others. Instead of an old experienced Indian, and an active young dog, I found myself with an old dog half blind, and quite deaf, which was useless and soon lost, and a young boy of eighteen. I had plenty of exercise yesterday by walking along the shore. If it was not for the numerous moose, it would be extremely difficult to make ones way. These animals have cleared a path everywhere through the bushes and long grass; and the tracks and foot marks by the side of the river on the sand are like those of so many oxen constantly passing and repassing.
Saturday, October 12th. Here I am, thank God, in my canoe again, a result I had much reason to doubt two hours ago. We camped as usual last night, our progress during the day having been much impeded by bad rapids, which obliged us to walk through the woods, and the men to carry the canoes up the stream by going into the water. This morning we started early, anxious to reach the lake about five miles before us. I walked for some time, guided by Mr. Hansard, who having been accustomed to the business of exploring, I considered was a safe pioneer. After a time I fancied that we seemed to be going away from the river, and accordingly insisted on gaining the bank to ascertain the position of our party, who are always making noise enough to be heard a mile off. When we arrived at the river, we saw or heard nothing of them; I fired off my gun several times, and then we became alarmed, and uncertain whether we had not fallen on the course of some tributary stream, the least of the consequences of which would have been perhaps, a night or two in the woods, without food or shelter; and I confess, I never was more seriously alarmed. In this dilemma I asked Mr. Hansard if there was no way of ascertaining by signs on the stream or rocks, whether the party had gone up or not.
He shook his head, and I agreed to remain on the spot with my corporal, a capital fellow, whilst Hansard should return on our steps to where the party was last seen, and trace the river upwards, to ascertain whether we were on the right river or not. After he left us, I tried to light a cigar, to pass away the time till his return, with a piece of bark taken from a birch tree, not to use one of the five matches I had left, which might be needed for lighting a solitary fire at night. It then occurred to me, that as the river was remarkably still, without any ripple or current, that in passing up, if the canoes were before us, the agitation of the water must have wetted the rocks far above the water mark. On examination I found this to be the case ; and the discovery, which I communicated to my companions, was a great relief to us, as we were now certain that the canoes were before us on the same river. Again I fired off my gun twice, and we all shouted as long and as loud as we could.
In about half an hour, we thought we heard a shout coming down the stream, and to that answered by another 'un and shouting ; we soon became certain that we were heard, and shortly after one of the men joined us with the information that the rest of the party were about a mile ahead. I despatched him after Mr. Hansard, and waited on the spot for the return of Hansard, who came back to us in about half an hour afterwards, without ascertaining further than that we were on the right stream. No one, who has never been under similar circumstances, can ever estimate the extent of mental distress we endured at the thought of being lost in a wilderness with the prospect of ultimate starvation. But thanks to God, who has preserved us hitherto, we overtook our party soon after, who received a severe rebuke for leaving us, though perhaps we only were in fault for losing sight of the river.
''Sunday, October 13th. Sunday again in the canoe, where to-day I must offer up my prayers, heartily, as I trust, thanking God for his past mercies, and praying for a continuance of them, and blessings on those I so dearly love at home.
" Yesterday our progress was so much impeded by the rapids, that we made but little way, and are now at least three miles from the lake, with a very bad rapid of a mile and a half before us. Yesterday I killed a beautiful partridge,^ nearly as large as a pheasant, different from any I have ever seen. The back was like that of the Azores partridge, and altogether with the exception of the eyes very similar in appearance to it. The legs feathered like a grouse, with two black plumes on each side of the head.
I mean to have it stuffed when we get to Quebec.
"In the afternoon we observed a stick, stuck up on the side of the river, with a piece of burnt bark folded, and black on the inside. On examination I made out an Indian inscription, well written and perfectly legible, purporting that, Andre Thomas, an Indian chief, had there killed a moose, whose remains and bones we found lying on a frame and dried. Shortly afterwards a boat, which had advanced in front of mine, made a sign to approach, as the men had seen two moose just before the head of the boat ; my gun, in which I keep neither shot or balls, both of which are kept in my waistcoat pocket, was ready with balls in both barrels in a moment, but Louis not being quite so quick, detained us for a minute or two, which gave them time to go off ; this they did very quietly however, staring some time at the Indians.
" They were both cows, in fact the banks of the river are trodden by them, like cows in a farm yard, and if the Frenchmen can be made to hold their tongues, we cannot fail to get one. This morning Hansard whilst washing by the side of the river before breakfast, heard one lowing very near, Louis went after it, but unsuccessfully. We have already passed the carcases of three, hung up by the Indians, since we left the camp this morning. I had a great inclination to take the skins, but property in these wild regions is more respected by the Indians, than by us whites.
"Monday, October 14th. We toiled all yesterday till near one o'clock, pulling the canoes up the rapids by main force, my canoe being almost torn to pieces ; we despaired almost of ever reaching the lake. About two or half past a party was descried on the river, which proved to be a party of Indians with Featherstonehaugh and his party. The Indians had killed a large moose the day before, and Featherstonehaugh's Indian one also, left about three miles off This occurred very fortunately, and relieved them from the apprehension of being without food, they having nearly expended all their stock.
This journey had taken them the same time to perform forty miles, that had taken us two hundred. In
coming up the rapids this morning, in as short a time as possible with provisions for the maintenance of our new party, my canoe got so much injured that it would not swim; and my Indian was obliged to search for gum to patch it up. The consequence was that the party had two or three hours start of me; happily I detained the canoes containing my tent and provisions, and I had reason afterwards to rejoice at my determination to do so, for when the canoe was mended, it began in half an hour to leak again, and was completely swamped, so that Louis had to return to his patching. Featherstonehaugh is now four hours ahead, and we may not overtake him, till he reaches the lakes, where we meet to go to Quebec.
The Indian hunters left us this morning and returned again this afternoon ; they overtook us as we came down the river bringing with them a fine pair of moose horns and head, which I intend to present to the Natural History Society of Plymouth.
By a curious coincidence our camp is pitched on the very spot, where we were lost on Saturday; if Featherstonehaugh had carried off my tent and provisions, we should have had to camp on this spot with nothing but the sky over us.
"Tuesday, October 15th. The damaged state of my canoe which obliged us to leave the carcass of a moose, at the head of one of the rapids, prevented our moving to-day till near one o'clock. We were obliged to engage our Indian friends, who camped with us last night, to assist in putting on a sheathing to the birch canoes. We dined in comfort last night, with our usual allowance of trout caught by me, in about an hour, whilst the men stopped to get the canoes patched, and delicious moose meat, of the best flavour, and tender as a chicken.
Our Indian friends supplied us with some game, amongst them six wild ducks very large and fine, (a drake and a duck of a rare species I intend for the Natural History Museum at Plymouth), in return I gave them a pound of gunpowder and some shot, for which they said, Thank you," a very unusual thing for an Indian, who usually gives and receives without the least sign or expression of emotion or pleasure. This indifference, which is real and not affected, is the most striking mark in their character. A friend told me he went to a wig- warn with a hunter after a long absence to witness his meeting with his family. He scarcely noticed his squaw; and the only notice she took of him was to cook sufficient meat for the food of both.
We are now supplied with abundance of provisions, so that I would not kill a poor moose if it were to cross my path, which is very probable. The dogs have just put up some partridges, which are settling on the trees close to me ; but I have no pleasure in killing, when we do not want for food, though I have a loaded gun by my side, and ammunition in abundance.
We are now out of the rapids; for about six miles we have been going steadily down the stream ; warm as summer it is, yet to-morrow may bring ice, so uncertain and variable is the climate. This is the only time of the year when the woods are endurable, the flies in the warm weather destroy all comfort. Cedar bark is the only protection.
''In the fly season those who enter the woods, carry a small switch, smouldering away like a slow match, giving a good deal of smoke and a most agreeable aromatic odour, which the flies cannot bear.
*' I am now looking forward to reach Quebec in about a week, trusting that the most diflicult part of our arduous undertaking is at an end, and perfectly satisfied that the British claim is founded upon truth and justice, but equally certain that the Americans will never allow it. In fact the present generation of Americans have been led by their parents to think their cause a good one; and such impressions are not likely to be erased by the most indisputable arguments. A compromise is all that can be effected without going to war, which would be ruinous to all, and more especially to the people of New Brunswick, who would soon be overrun by swarms of vagabonds from all parts of the States, if even they were capable of coping with the population of Maine, the hardiest and best set of people in America.
Wednesday, October 14th. Yesterday shortly after three we overtook Featherstonehaugh and his party; and are now encamped at the forks of the river, preparing to ascend the river Dougnen, being the nearest road to Quebec,
" Praise and thanks to God, that he has given me health and strength to arrive thus far, and to have succeeded in almost completing our expedition, which the most healthy and robust might occasionally have looked at with apprehension, not so much from personal fear on the score of health or strength, but from the certainty, that a failure in either must interrupt and impede the operations in which I have been engaged.
I have had a most satisfactory conversation with Featherstonehaugh, and we are
quite agreed as to the mode of proceeding, and of our report, which has given me more pleasure than anything else. He is so heartily tired of the expedition, that he declares no temptations of any kind, shall induce him to undertake another; and if I can reasonably and honourably get off, I shall feel inclined the same way. Not that any future expedition would be attended with one half the hardship and expense that this has been.
We have arranged that I go from Quebec to New York and meet him
there on November 20th ; he returns first of all to Frederickton to settle some affairs. I propose to remain a day or two at Quebec to rest and go to Church, and then to proceed to Montreal and Niagara.
We are now proceeding up the River Dougnen, I in my canoe as usual ; some of the party are walking by the portage to meet the canoes at a fork, about five miles up. I have had much praise from my Indian Louis, for finding by the marks of the water on the rocks, that the canoes had passed up, when we were lost the other day. This morning it threatened to rain, but it cleared off, and the fine weather continues. The river is tolerably free from rocks and shoals.
We stopped for the men's dinner at a point terminating a portage, it was the site of an Indian camp, the walls on two sides of which were left standing and complete. It is the most complete thing that could be imagined or contrived, composed of upright stakes driven into the ground, with rafters on them, tied with cedar thongs stripped from the bark, and covered, front, top, and sides with bark from the spruce fir, tied on neatly and firmly with cedar thongs. The whole had a symmetrical and comfortable appearance. The door-way was cut in a semi-circular form. These wig-wams were 12 feet long, by 10 feet wide, and about 7 feet high in the middle, with a hole in the top to let out the smoke. The fire is placed in the centre, and a door at each end.
A sort of rail-work was arranged in the roof over the fire, of sticks, and skins placed there to dry; many of which still remained, as those of the musk-rat and the moose ; there were remains also of a deer and a moose, long strips of the flesh of each being hung up to the roof; in this way the Indians cure by smoke only, without salt, moose and other meat, which will keep a year or more.
Two rough canoes also remained, one made of the light branches of cedar, covered with bark, and tied together with thongs, and the other hollowed out from the trunk of a large tree, both apparently made for mere secondary purposes to cross the river; from which it appears, according to Louis' inference, that these Indians came without canoes of their own, and made them somewhere up the river, that they came down the river in these canoes, and afterwards when they left the spot started off on their journey by land. There were some wooden stools in the building, and numerous contrivances for drying various skins of value, such as beaver and others, which showed that the hunt had been successful, and a small sieve, which, notwithstanding the prohibition, I took the liberty of carrying away as a relic of the camp.
The prohibition alluded to was written on a tree near, on a large piece of bark sliced off for the purpose ; the crown above was well drawn, and the letters remarkably well formed, the matter used in writing was apparently red chalk. Here are two interesting proofs of a considerable advance of education amongst the Indians. The language has the appearance of some identity with that of the South Sea Islanders. It appears from Louis account that the Indians were first taught to write by the French, and that subsequently this most useful acquirement has been carefully transmitted, amongst some of the tribes, from father to son.
The Indians of this country are certainly a most respectable class, honest, always holding property in the utmost respect ; the mere claim, as the inscription shews, being a sufficient security except from white thieves, such as myself ; I believe, however, that my character stands sufficiently high amongst them, to make me welcome to what I may take away. A very remarkable instance of Indian honesty occurred the other day. One of our Indian hunters, Andre Thomas, the same who wrote and left the inscription over the remains of the moose,, which we found when ascending the lakes last week, and who has subsequently been employed by us, had killed in a
short time six fine ducks, which I purchased from him for about four shillings. During the negotiation he caught sight of a telescope which belonged to Hansard, of superior make, and was anxious to purchase it at any price ; but I explained to him, as he very well knew, that it was one of the most useful articles we had.
On leaving the camp next morning Hansard left it behind, and did not miss it till the evening, when Andre Thomas brought it to him. Andre had remained in the camp after we had left, and found what he most coveted. I did not know this till afterwards, or he should have had at least another pound of gunpowder, which next to the telescope would have pleased him most.
" Old Louis will make quite a fortune by his journey with us ; already he has amassed riches in abundance, empty bottles, jars full of oil, pots and pans, all of which he has placed in a cache by the side of the river, like our dog Pucksey hiding a bone! I intend to send him a present of blankets with some other little things, from Quebec.
Although the weather is so fine, the Indians were right, that the cold we had so severely nearly a fortnight ago, was the first day of winter. It has frozen more or less every night since ; and almost all the leaves are gone from the trees, the first change after this Indian summer, as it is termed, and ice and snow will soon be in abundance. Moose tracks still continue as frequent as ever, with those of the deer and the bear. Yesterday I am sure there was a bear concealed on an island, where I was, from the tracks and the freshness of the peeling of the bark from the trees. I did not have my gun in my hand, and did not care to examine the cover too closely.
A man with presence of mind, and a knife, may almost always kill a bear, by suffering the animal to take him into his paws without struggling. It is their habit to convey off their prey to their haunt without injury, except in case of resistance. The young Indians are taught never to struggle in such cases, if a bear should surprise them, which is not an uncommon occurrence, but to use the knife, which they always carry about in a sheath by their side, firmly and vigorously on the first favourable moment, against the soft part of the belly, cutting up to the heart; they are also frequently killed by the tomahawk.
" I could have caught any quantity of trout to-day, if I had had proper tackle ; all my hooks are gone, except some small ones, which would not hold the fish. I am only surprised that this country has never been visited by English-men — a party from Quebec or Frederickton, with their canoes, three officers for instance — with two servants, one for cooking, and another to look after the camping ; provisions for two months, three Indians for the three birch canoes, and two Canadians for the two log ones. In about a fortnight such a party might reach the hunting grounds on the Allegash or the St. John's, where they could subsist entirely on game and fish. Any number of trout might be taken with the spear, used for the purpose in these parts ; it is made of two pieces of wood, tied together so as to form a spring, and opening to admit the fish, and having a spike in the middle which goes through the back and gills of it immediately. The spear handle is usually about ten or twelve feet long. This is a much better contrivance than anything we have in England. The size of the spear is regulated by the size of the fish intended to be taken, so that the body of the fish should be enclosed in the opening,
and tightly compressed.
We have again met with another production of Andre Thomas ; three canoeing poles were left standing up, by the side of the river, with a birch bark letter stuck on a cleft stick as before, intimating that they were to be left alone. I am afraid our people have not respected his injunctions this time.
"Quebec, October 22nd. This journey concluded, as regards our voyage by boats. We proceeded up the river to its source nearly, and then twelve miles through the woods to the Lake Echemin, which was fifty miles from Quebec ; from thence we walked a greater part of the way, and arrived here safe and well, through God's protecting Providence, yesterday at two o'clock."
Colonel Mudge did not continue his journey any further.
From Quebec he went to Niagara, and thence to New York, where he met the remainder of the expedition, who returned together to England at the end of the year. The Commissioners possessed of the required geographical information, proceeded to examine the whole history of the boundary
question, and reported to Her Majesty's government in 1840, that the line claimed by America was entirely inconsistent with the physical geography of the country, and the intentions of the treaty of 1783, whilst they had discovered a line of highlands south of the one claimed, which was in accordance with the language of the treaty.
The report was accepted by the government, and was laid before parliament in 1840. The result was a compromise, such as Colonel Mudge suggested in his journal, which was effected in the Treaty of Washington in 1842.
In consequence of the feeling in the country against the concessions made to America, Mr. Featherstonehaugh took the opportunity of explaining the circumstances, which had led to the completion of the treaty, at a meeting of the Cornwall Polytechnic Society held at Falmouth in October of the same year. He pointed out that the Ministry had to choose between three lines of conduct, first, to adhere to the extreme right of Great Britain, at the certain risk of endangering the peace between the two countries ; secondly, to enter upon a second negotiation with the United States, which would necessitate a considerable delay and extra expense ; or lastly to attempt to settle the question by compromise. This was done by America withdrawing her claim, and Great Britain ceding
that portion of the disputed territory south of the St. John's River.
The government approved of Mr. Featherstonehaugh's exposition of the principles of the treaty ; and in a letter to Colonel Mudge, he refers to the good opinion they entertained of the work of the Commissioners.
Foreign Office,
October 17th, 1842.
My dear Mudge,
I deferred answering your letter of the 4th in the hope that some decision would be come to here, about ulterior measures; but although there has been a great deal of stir at the Foreign Office, I cannot yet speak positively. You may have seen a speech I delivered at Falmouth in vindication of the Treaty. It produced a salutary effect in Cornwall, for Sir Charles Lemon, and all the Whigs at the dinner, declared themselves satisfied, and that they would support the Government in the particular matter of the Treaty. Indeed I had a letter from Lemon yesterday, saying it was the general opinion and wish, that that course should be taken by Lord John Russell. I now regret I did not go to see Lord John,
but really I was afraid of reaching London too late. This speech got into the Times, with commendations, and the Standard came out largely in praise of it.
The Globe sneered at it, and on the 9th of October the Chronicle, that had been fighting the Times with our Report of 1840, came out with an exceedingly clever, but rather too long an Article, taking what I said to task, in a courteous manner however, although exceedingly unfair, drawing conclusions from arguments I had never used, and reproving me for not saying, what I had said, but which it had suppressed.
The gist of the paper was, that I had greatly disappointed my friends, by consenting to go down to Cornwall at the instance of the Government, to vindicate them, and unsay my own opinions. Every line of this Article was written by Lord Palmerston, which is well known to everyone. I thought of answering that article ; I could have smashed it, for it was very disingenious, and indeed I did draw up an answer, but I suppressed it for various reasons.
I thought it was best to let well alone, and although the article would have told amazingly against Lord Palmerston, with those who were up in the subject, yet with the mass it would have appeared a contest between myself and the Chronicle, and I would not stoop to that.
I had too many kind recollections of Lord Palmerston to wish to annoy him ; I therefore preferred to let him have his shot at me, and to return it in a friendly manner, when we should meet again. But I was also governed by .another reason, whilst all this newspaper work was going on, and everybody talking about it, Lord Aberdeen sent for me ; and I went to the interview not without some apprehension, that he might think I had transcended the precise line of my duty. He received me, with a most agreeable smile and a hearty shake of the hand, "I have read your speech, "said he," and if we really had, as the Chronicle says, sent anybody down to Cornwall to justify us, we never should have expected it to have been so well done, as you have done it. It would do an immense deal of good, coming from such an authority, as you are, in the case.
You say in the speech, that you had the confidence of two Administrations ; and I have great pleasure in telling you, that you enjoy our confidence perfectly."
I remained an hour with him, during which time I had most interesting conversation with him.
He desired me to prepare everything for the execution of the Treaty in the spring, still without saying anything about my going out as Commissioner. Nothing is more clear however, than that it will be left to me to do as I please, nor can I desire to be on better terms with the Government, for on Saturday evening, Lord Aberdeen told me he had just received a letter from Sir Robert Peel, saying he had read my speech; that he approved of every part of it, and that it deserved more praise than he could give it. Lord Ashburton, I am sorry to say, has rather suffered by the publication of the correspondence with Webster.
He is not thought to have sustained a proper tone, and all see that he began by showing his
hand too soon. Hugh Mildmay, his Secretary, has written me a very complimentary letter about my ' able and eloquent speech,' and I have answered it saying, that whilst I could sincerely congratulate the public on the termination of the Boundary dispute, I would not call upon them to be proud of the Treaty, after having seen the correspondence. Lord Ashburton has shown talent in his letters, but he appears to have sunk the Englishman as soon as he got into American waters. I am satisfied.
And now let me tell you with how much pleasure I remember my visit to Beechwood.
Very faithfully your's,
G. W. FEATHERSTONEHAUGH.
During his visit at Falmouth, Mr. Featherstonehaugh was the guest of Sir Charles Lemon ; from Carelew he wrote to Colonel Mudge, " I wish you had accompanied me. This is a magnificent place, very much in the style of Up- Park. The deer run about in every direction, and nothing can be more perfect in the way of a country residence on a grand scale. Everything too inside corresponds, ceilings eighteen feet high, and a most sumptuous table, — of rich, and good, and excellent things, the greatest profusion. You would have been made very welcome, and would have found agreeable people here, who laugh and talk, and are exceedingly obliged to you, if you talk nonsense to them, now and then, in an agreeable manner. Certainly there is no ceremony here ; everyone does as he pleases, and Sir Charles Lemon, who is one of the best bred men, is full of kind and unobtrusive attentions.
Amongst others Captain Ellis and his wife, and Mrs. Greville are here ; we dined with them, you know, at Portsmouth ; they made very kind enquiries after you.
Delightful as all this is, yet society upon so busding a scale rather oppresses me, and I feel a great want of the quiet enjoyment, and the, to me, all sufficient society I left at Beechwood, where the hours passed in so noiseless and satisfactory a manner, that I still feel as if I had awakened from a pleasant dream, not easily forgotten, and not easily renewed.
Although everything is so inviting, I shall leave it without regret, so insufficient are the luxuries
of Carelew to produce those true feelings which are akin to perfect content. I rejoice to have had a peep at your domestic happiness."
Mr. Richard Rosdew, of Beechwood, had died in September 1837, and Colonel Mudge, who had married in 1817 Alice Watson, daughter of J. W. Hull, Esq., took up his permanent residence there, previous to his joining the New Brunswick Expedition. On his return he resided continually at Beechwood, till he removed to Teignmouth, where he died September 25th, 1854, at the age of 66.
He was buried in the Churchyard at Denbury.
4.9.1. Col Richard Mudge and Alice Hull had two daughters. His wife Alice was the sister of Dame Sophia Raffles, wife of Sir Thomas Sandford Bingham Raffles
1. Jenny Rosdew Mudge 1818 - 1883 She married Rev William Charles Raffles Flint. 1819 - 1884
2. Sophia Elizabeth Mudge 1819 m Rev John Bogue
4.9.1.1 JENNY ROSDEW, dau. of Richard Zachariah and Alice Watson Mudge, b. 1818; d. 1883; m. 1845, Rev. William Charles Raffles Flint, M.A. Trinity Coll., Cam., b. 1819, son of William Flint, Capt. R.N., Nephew of Sir T. Stamford Raffles.
1. Alice Jane Flint b. 1845 ; d. 1847.
2. Stamford Raffles Flint b. Feb. 6th, 1847. m Ethel Maud Quinten
3. Ella Sophia Flint b. Apr. 8th, 1848; d. Jan. 29th, 1863.
4. Gertrude Elizabeth Flint b. July 9th, 1849.
5. Edward Montagu Flint b. December 18th, 1850. m Mildred Salome Kekewich
6. Bertha Mary Flint b. December 5th, 1852.
7. Constance Flint b. May 24th, 1854.
8. Jane Flint b 1855 ; d. 1855.
9. William Raffles Flint b. December 9th, 1855.
10. Charles Walter Flint b. December 9th, 1855.
11. Annette Beatrice Flint b. June 9th, 1859.
4.9.1.1.5 EDWARD MONTAGU, son of Jenny Rosdew and W. C. Raffles Flint, b. 1850; m. 1883, Mildred Salome daughter of Trehawke Kekewich, Esq., of Peamore.
4.9.1.2 SOPHIA ELIZABETH, dau. of Richard Zachariah and Alice Watson Mudge, b. 1819; m. Rev. John Richard Bogue, M.A., Vicar of Denbury, b. 1808; d. 1857 (he married previously Mary, dau. of Rev. Hurrell Froude, Archdeacon of Totness).
1. Alice Sophia Bogue b. 1841.
2. Richard Bogue b. 1843 ; d. 1846.
3. Charles Barter Bogue b. 1844.
4. Mary Isabella Bogue b. 1845.
5. Margaret Bogue b. 1847.
6. Richard Bogue b. 1849 ; d. 1867.
7. Frances Jane Bogue b. 1851.
8. Helen Bogue b. 1852.
9. Francis Reginald Bogue b. 1855 ; d. 1863.
10. Edith ElizabethBogu b. 1857; d. 1863.
4.9.1.2.3 CHARLES BARTER, son of Sophia Elizabeth and John Richard Bogue, b. 1844 ; Captain 49th Regiment; m. Sarah Jane Luttrell Bailey.
1. Edith Mary Sophia Bogue b. 1872.
2. Arthur Charles Bogue b. 1875.
4.9.1.2.4 MARY ISABELLA, dau. of Sophia Elizabeth and John Richard Bogue, b. 1845 ; m. Walter Barrington, son of the Hon Percy Barrington.
1. Maude Louisa Barrington b. 1871.
2. Violet Mary Barrington b. 1872.
3. William Reginald Shute Barrington b. 1873.
4. Hilda Margaret Barrington b. 1874.
5. Bernard Louis Walter Barrington b. 1876.
6. Rupert Edward Barrington b. 1878.
4.9.1.2.5 MARGARET, dau. of Sophia Elizabeth and John Richard Bogue, b. 1847; m. Augustus Booth, Commander R.N.
4.9.1.1.2 Family of Ven. Stanford Raffles Flint Author of the Memoirs
4.9.1.1.2 Stanford Raffles Flint
His father, was Rev William Charles Raffles Flint.
Born at Cheltenham, son of Captain William Flint and Mary Ann Raffles and thus nephew of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (q.v.); brought up from the age of four by Sir Thomas and Lady Raffles; in 1845 married Jane (Jenny) Rosdew Mudge, eldest daughter of Lady Raffles' younger sister, Alice Hull. On the death of Lady Raffles in 1858 her property was bequeathed to William Charles' wife, and devolved on him. He donated the collection to the Museum in 1859.
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles was born on board the ship Ann, off the coast of Jamaica on 6 July 1781. He was the son of Benjamin Raffles and Anne Lyde. He married, firstly, Olive Marianne Devenish on 14 March 1805. He married, secondly, Sophia Hull, daughter of James Watson Hull and Sophia Hollamby, on 22 February 1817 at St. Marylebone Church, Marylebone Road, Marylebone, London, England.
He died on 5 July 1826 at age 44. He held the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Java in 1811.
He founded the city of Singapore.1 He wrote the book History of Java, published 1817. He was appointed Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) He was appointed Fellow, Zoological Society (F.Z.S.)1 He was appointed Fellow, Royal Society (F.R.S.)
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS (6 July 1781 – 5 July 1826) was a British statesman, Lieutenant-Governor of British Java (1811–1815) and Governor-General of Bencoolen (1817–1822), best known for his founding of Modern Singapore.
He was heavily involved in the conquest of the Indonesian island of Java from Dutch and French military forces during the Napoleonic Wars and contributed to the expansion of the British Empire. He was also an amateur writer and wrote a book, The History of Java (1817).
Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles was born in 6 July 1781 on the ship Ann off the coast of Port Morant, Jamaica, to Captain Benjamin Raffles (d. June 1797) and Anne Raffles (née Lyde). His father was a Yorkshireman who had a burgeoning family and little luck in the West Indies trade during the American Revolution, sending the family into debt.
The little money the family had went into schooling Raffles. He attended a boarding school. In 1795, at the age of 14, Raffles started working as a clerk in London for the British East India Company, the trading company that shaped many of Britain's overseas conquests.
In 1805 he was sent to what is now Penang in the country of Malaysia, then called the Prince of Wales Island, starting his long association with Southeast Asia. He started with a post under the Honourable Philip Dundas, the Governor of Penang.
He was appointed assistant secretary to the new Governor of Penang in 1805 and married Olivia Mariamne Devenish, a widow who was formerly married to Jacob Cassivelaun Fancourt, an assistant surgeon in Madras who had died in 1800.
Brigadier General Edward Montagu Flint married Mildred Salome Kekewich. Her father was the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon.
4.9.1.1.5 Brigadier General Edward Montagu Flint was educated at Royal Military Academy Woolwich, and became a Brigade General in Royal Artillery.
4.9.1.1.5.1 Major Eric Charles Montagu Flint born 1883. He graduated from Oxford, and admitted to the Inner Temple 1909 as Barrister At Law. rank of officer in the Loyal Suffolk Hussars, seconded to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry). First World War, in Gallipoli and Palestine. In 1919 Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) He fought in the Second World War between 1940 and 1942, in the Pioneer Corps
4.9.1.1.5.1.1 Colonel John Montagu Flint was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England He was commissioned in 1937, in the service of the Royal Engineers. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) He fought in the Second World War, in Italy and the Middle East, where he was mentioned in despatches.2 He was appointed Member, Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in 1954.1 He gained the rank of Colonel in the Royal Engineers.
There is a tablet in St. Paul's Church, Halifax, N.S., to the memory of Sarah Jessy Henrietta Mudge, wife of John Mudge, Esq., of H.M. Ordnance Department.
"It pleased God to remove her from this world, on the 26th of November, 1818, when she closed a virtuous life, in the 24th year of her age."
4.9.3. WILLIAM, the third son of Major General Mudge, born 1796, was a Captain in the Royal Navy, and lost his life in 1837, while surveying the coast of Ireland. He married Mary Marinda Rea
4.9.3.1 William Tertius Mudge who was also in the Navy, was likewise drowned at sea. He was lost in the wreck of H.M.S. Orpheus, of which ship he was Flag Lieutenant, on the Mainakan Bar, New Zealand, the 7th of February, 1863.
4.9.4. ZACHARIAH, the youngest son of Major General Mudge, was born in 1800. He followed in the steps of his father, and passed from Woolwich into the Royal Artillery. He served in Canada, where he was private Secretary to Sir John Colborne, afterwards Lord Seaton, the Lieut-Governor of the Province, and died at Toronto on June l0th, 1831, aged 31.
One evening in early June 1831 Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge, Sir John Colborne’s private secretary, made his way home from Government House to his rooms. Lieut. Mudge’s residence was situated midway between Colonel Nathaniel Coffin’s house and Mr. Edward Wright’s tavern "The Greenland Fisheries," about 15 or 16 feet distant from each. This would place it somewhat in from the northwest corner of modern John and Front Streets—now, unfortunately a parking lot. Lieutenant Mudge made ready for bed. Undressing, he placed his clothes on a chair, his boots to one side; he wound up his watch, carefully placing it in its usual place at the head of the bed. The room in perfect order, he retired.
In the middle of the night, as June the 9th passed to June the 10th, Mr. Wright was up attending a sick child–he lived with his family above a wing of the Greenland Fisheries Tavern on John Street.
The child’s room, at the back of the building, was opposite Lieutenant Mudge’s.
At about midnight, Wright heard a report which he mistook for thunder until he looked out the window at the clear starlit night. Early the next morning the Rev. Mr. Matthews, first classics master at what was later to be Upper Canada College, and close friend of the Lieutenant, arrived at Mudge’s lodgings on an appointment for a morning’s bathing in the lake.
The Lieutenant was dead, his whole head and face shattered beyond recognition—the rifle ball was eventually found in the bolster at the head of the bed. As a suicide, strictly speaking, one was denied Christian burial, though this was usually circumvented with a ruling of temporary insanity. In Lieutenant Mudge’s case it seems Archdeacon Strachan decided on the letter of the law and forbade a clergyman to be present at the burial. It is just possible that the blank in the Garrison Burial Register was Rev. Hudson’s way of honouring the Lieutenant without crossing Strachan.The blank appears between the April 27th entry for Anne Milton and the July 18th one for Barbara Mary Hudson. Nowhere else in the tightly written burial record is there a blank entry, and Rev. Hudson, as chaplain to the Forces, was in charge of the register.
Lieutenant Mudge’s death created quite a sensation in the town of York. To this day it has never been satisfactorily explained. What do we know of the man? He was 31 years old, of middle height and very fair complexion. The obituary in the Colonial Advocate (June 16, 1831) states, “... his countenance though not what would be termed handsome was mild, agreeable, and indicative of a contemplative mind.” Yet he knew how to enjoy himself - from Mary O’Brien’s Journal (September 3, 1829): "Fanny and Richard seemed very merry at the top of the table with the secretary." I think we can fairly say that he was a compassionate person. At the inquest it was discovered that for a long period he had allowed a former servant who had fallen into a lingering illness the same wages as when he was well and in his service.
According to the Canadian Freeman (June 16, 1831), “. . . no man, we believe, that ever entered this colony, was more universally beloved, by all parties, than Mr. Mudge.” He was very much respected for the manner in which he discharged his duties as private secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor. Always prompt and fair-handed, he "studiously avoided all interference in party politics." The Lieutenant’s income, about 600 pounds a year, was evidently far beyond his expenditures, so financial embarrassment would not have been a contributing factor in his death. On the day of his death, a certain Captain Blois, recently returned from England, delivered a letter to him. Mr. Augustus Jones told the jury at the inquest that "he understood the deceased had, not long before, received tidings of the death of a dearly beloved friend in Europe, who had put a period to his own existence." He spent his last evening dining in company at Government House, where, at about eight o’clock it was observed that his mood changed abruptly. This gave rise to rumours that he had been insulted at table. So many clues, but no answers.
On Saturday the 11th of June, 1831, Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge was privately laid to rest in Garrison Burying Ground. Sometime later a large marble tombstone, still to be seen at the base of the cenotaph, was placed over his grave.
These and so many others now rest beneath the pleasant walks of Victoria Square Park in Toronto. If you ever chance to visit the park I hope you will take a moment to remember them, for it is in our remembering that they, like Wordsworth’s dalesmen, will “possess a kind of second life.”
[In the five years since this article was written there have been a number of changes at the Old Garrison Burying Ground and surrounding area: the grave markers have been removed from the foot of the cenotaph and taken away for conservation and eventual reinstallation in another location in the park; the church schoolhouse north of the site has been demolished to make way for a condominium; and plans are fairly far advanced for the relandscaping of the park. Research continues to turn up new information on the history and significance of the site).
Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge, private secretary to Sir John Colbourne (Lord Seaton), committed suicide by placing a gun to his chest. He died at age 31 on June 10,1831.
His is the tallest tombstone. As well, the 1831
suicide and burial of Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge recently moved Torontonian Michael Rudman to compose an opera, set in Victoria Square and inspired by the tragic story. Rudman, Michael J. "The Burying Ground: An Historical Fantasy in Two Acts.
Unpublished opera libretto inspired by the last days of Lieut. Zachariah Mudge, 1997.
Michael J. Rudman is a composer and writer living in Toronto.
The tombstone of Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge (Source: John Ross Robertson’s, Landmarks of Toronto, Vol.1
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