A great many American Indians returned to day with Horses loaded with Plunder taken from The Settlers of the river Thames, but no Prisoners nor Scalps.

A Saluit given at Detroit this afternoon for the Arrival of General McArthur. Mrs. Park Buried this day.

20th. A Party of American Indians Arrived Early at my House with Lt. Col. Burwell of the Militia Prisoner, taken in Bed at Col. Talbotts. the Col. narrowly Escaped. They had taken young little, one Crawford and an other all three of whom made their Escape last night, However they had a Son of old Simon Gerty's a Prisoner, they killed no body but Plundered a great many Houses & brough off Horses, a Son of Mrs. Walkers of Browns Town and a Indian Capt. Montieur-Lieut. Col. Burwell says he was in the Battle of the 25th near Chippewa, that he afterwards seen Charles, James, Johney, Mr. Francis Baby & Doc. Richardson all well. That we were very successfull killed & took many of the Americans and lost but a few. Our General Rail lost an arm & one or two officers was taken with him. The Americans retreated to Fort Erie & General Drummer followed. Mr. Burwell had only gone Home to Fort to Port Talbot, & was taken in his bed.

20th. A large Armed Vessell with a middling sized one & a small Vessell taken at St. Mary's passed down from Mich.

Sept. 11th. A number of American Soldiers who went up in a small Vessell a considerable time passed returned last Evening with all the Watter Craft they could collect at Bell & in that quarter.

*

14th. The remainder of the party of Americans who went toward, the river Thames, the 5th returned to day & say they took several prisoners near fort Talbot to whom they Administered an Oath of Neutrality, but that they burnt Col. Talbott's mill & destroyed the Settlement.

21st.

For several days past there have been great alarms About Indians at Detroit, two or three People were killed by Indians near Detroit, a great press for Horses on this side.

22d.

This day counted about 150 Americans on Horse back pass Mr. Meldrums upward, there may have been more, passed before & afterwards, I heard they were going against Indians toward the River aux Hurons of Lake St. Clair.

24th- The above party returned to day, I believe met with no Indians.

Oct. 14th. Yesterday heard that Capt. Drake was Dead & Burried at R. Thames. 23d. This day seen About 150 American Horsemen around riding past Mr. Meldrum's upward on some Expedition.

Nov. 16. Some of the Indians who went to the River Thames long since now returned. I think the 10th Inst. Mr. George McDougall with Jacob Smith & the Detroit Volentiers who had went with General McArthur left him & returned back by this route.

17th. The Remainder of the American Army under General McArthur returned today this way. Most all of them on Horse back with some plunder. they seemed to be between 7 & 8 hundred men. they say they were as far as the Grand River & had some Scrimages in which they talk of having lost four or five killed and wounded & that we lost nearly the same.

25th. Went with the two Mr. McIntoshes to General M'Carters at Detroit by his Orders.

I, William Richardson an Inhabitant of the Upper Province of Upper Canada do hereby Pledge my word of Honor that I will not give the Enemies of the United States any Information as respects their situation, strength, condition or Instructions, neither will I Aid or abet said Enemies in any Opperation Against the United States Signed William Richardson. William Richardson Inhabitant of the Province of Upper Canada has permission to pass Unmolested to Burlington be the way of the river de Tranche.

Fort Maldin Oct. 30, 1814.

by Order.

Signed Lewis Morgan
Lt. Artillery
A. A. A. Genl.

Feb 20 A few American Horses passed Upwards.

Mr. Robert McDougall called & said That the President of the United States had sent Information to the Governor at Detroit saying that the Peace was signed at London on the 24th Dec. & by the Regint on the 30th. the news reached Washington or the 14th Inst.

The 21 American Horses that passed up ye 26th Feb. today returned. Dr. Brown called and dined.

Yesterday 5 Slays loaded with Carriage Wheels & other Impliments of Warr (sup. to have been left at River Thames when General Proctor returned) passed for Detroit.

March 10th.

At 2 oClock Capt. Willson of the Indian department with a flagg arrived from Burlington.

lith.

The Flagg of Truce which passed with Mr. Willson, now returned with Mr. Allans Son who, carried it with Mr. Willson yeseterday.

13th. The river full of floating Ice.

*

The Treaty of Peace arrived at Detroit this afternoon.

29th. a Public Dinner & Ball given at Detroit on account of a Peace having taken place.

ASKIN PAPERS.

My dear Askin

Montreal, 6 September, 1811.

I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 15th July, and happy to find you and Mrs. Askin enjoys the first blessing which can be bestowed on us poor mortals, in the world, which is Health, for my part I have great reason to be thankfull, at my age to have no cause of complaint, however when we look forward, we find the road very short, and must expect a change soon, what that will be is hid from us, but we must hope that that good being who has done so much for us in this world, will not forsake us in the next.

Vol 16, p. 144. This and following foot-notes refer to volume and page of article in the Burton Library Detroit.

You wish to know how your old friends in Canada are. I know only McGill,* the rest here are all dead, except Todd † who winters in England but promises to return next Summer. Your friend McGill is reconed the Richest man in Montreal and can command more cash than anyone, and has no person of his family alive to leave it to, but must give it to Strangers-Canadians, his wife's Children, who will not thank him. I think he should allow you advances to speculate, perhaps were you to mention it to him he would-for my part I find it difficult to make both ends meet. The scarcity of cash is such that business is at a stand, bills at 20 p C discount-and if 50 cash cannot be got-Government sent a quality of Bills to the States, a few was sold there at 22 discount, they are as bad for cash as we are. Bankrupts every day there, and I am Fearfull the disorder will reach us. as many articles which sold high is reduced-Ashes pot sells at 20-best shares 25 £ per M -Pine timber 2 a foot, however we have a good crop therefore will not starve for Bread.

Wee talk much of War, but I hope never to see it, as our part of the country must be ruined, however the Americans are doing all they can to provoke Great Britain to commence hostilities, and I am afraid they will not bear their insults much longer.

Pray is Mr. Brush at Detroit. I have not heard from him sometime, he has some Cash on Hand belonging to Williams Estate, which he retains, for what reason I cannot say-you mention James Frazer being here. I never heard of him, whether he is in the country or not

by a Jew who brought your letter I received two silver fullers and spoons-which he said was given him by you, to deliver to me, My dear friend, I received them as a keepsake, or remembrance of an old friend, but I had no occation for anything to put me in mind of you, who are the only friend living, all the rest are dead, or forgot me.

I am a great stranger even in Montreal, the Town all Americans.

My family join in wishing you and yours all happiness the world can give, and Heaven hereafter, where I hope we may meet, where our friendship will never end. Alexander Henry.||

John Askin

Strabane
Detroit.

York 24th February 1812.

Dear Father

I have been here some days on business part of which is to try and get some money from the Legislature to be laid out on a road passing through the place where I live: and to get exchanged from the Regt. of Militia to which I now belong into one in the district of Niagara, which I believe I will have no difficulty in doing as the President has no objections to it. I had the honor of dining with him the day after my arrival here: and have an invitation to a Ball he gives to night, to which I intend going. The Legislature have not done much yet a bill has passed the lower House respecting the Militia. In every district there are *James McGill, founder of McGill University at Montreal.

+Isaac Todd, a wealthy Irish gentleman temporarily living in Montreal, engaged in trade.

Edmund A. Brush, son-in-law of John Askin, a Detroit lawyer, left a large landed estate in Detroit, still owned by his descendants.

§Williams Estate, estate of Thomas Williams, who was the father of General John R. Williams, Detroit's first elected mayor.

Alexander Henry, the noted traveler.

Vol. 16, p. 179.

to be two light companies to consist of one hundred men each who are to be called out six days in every month untill they are perfect in their exercise. The law gives the power to the President or persons administering the Government to suspend such Officers of Militia as he thinks proper. A Law respecting carriages meeting on the road has also passed the House, all carriages meeting are to turn to the right* and give half the road whether going or coming from Market.-A few days before I left home I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you and one from Johny.-I cannot answer yours till I return home but hope I shall soon have an opportunity of doing it after I get there-I expected James all winter but begin to fear now I shall not see him till next Summer.

Please give my love to my Dear Mother, my brothers and sisters & believe me
Dear Father

Your dutiful & affectionate

Feb. 25th, I saw Capt. Elliot last night at the Dance, who told me he had a letter from Archange to Theresa

Son Charles Askin.

I am now on my way home from York where I have been some time and from which place I wrote to you a few days ago. A person who I have met here on his way to Detroit gives me a favorable opportunity of writing to you which I embrace; tho' I have little to say-The Legislature have done little this Session as yet and as the house is soon to be dissolved there will not be much done. A new Militia Act has passed. In every Regt. there are to be two flank companies, to consist of one hundred men each which are to be out six days in every month for the purpose of training until they are perfect in their exercise. regular soldiers will be employed to drill them I believe the house has voted £8000 to the President to be laid out in such manner as he thinks best; for having the Militia trained

A law respecting travellers on the road meeting has also passed the house, all persons meeting in carriages or sleighs are to give half the road and after December next no one is to drive a sleigh without Bells.-

M. Nichol was committed to Goal in York by a warrant from The Speaker of the house Common the day before I left it. this was for writing something to Major Hatton offensive to them in justification of his conduct when wrongfully accused by that House of not having accounted for Public money in his hands.-it's so lengthy a business that I shall not enter more fully into it, as I should then not be able to give you all the particulars of it-and you will have the whole of it, from the members when they return home, which will be soon.

At present carriages in Canada pass to the left. +From the Burton Library, Detroit, Vol. 16, Page 180.

Orders have been received lately from Below to fortefy York. I met the Engineer here this evening from Niagara on his way there (probably for that purpose)

The only letter I received from you since you got home, was on the 24th November last, and was dated at London the 15th June; by it I was happy to find that you did not complain of bad health, and you gave hopes of returning to Canada this Spring; but I'm very sorry to learn by a Letter of Mr. McGills dated the 14th February last, that he has no such hopes, which seems to effect his spirits much; he says you are the only one of his first acquaintances left, & now he dispairs of Miss Porteus living long; All his & Mrs. McGills pleasure in this life seems to be at an end; how seemingly hard is this good mans Lot; yet as infinite wisdom directs all for the best, it must be so, and so he thinks it; for the more friends we lose by death or absence, the less our attachment is to this World, & the better we prepare for the next. Nothing could be a greater loss to Mr. McGill, than your Society; he loves you as a brother & you always brought him home dayly news, interesting and amusing which he otherwise could not have; his natural turn being, not to mix, but with a few chosen friends. He wrote me once his intentions respecting Madelain's children; but their father marrying again, rather soon, he never since has said anything on the subject; being pinched for about 600 dollars, I wrote him to know if he could accomodate me with that Sum, & take Land to eaqual value in payment; his money seems so placed that he could not, but desired me to Sell half his land in Michigan Territory and apply this money where I wanted it; his friendship to me & family has no bounds, however there is no money in or about Detroit, for purchasing Lands, or payment of Debts, all in confusion with preparation for war, I fear you & Mr. McGill will not receive next month, your payment from Mr. Brush, not that I think he would take advantage, of the misunderstandings between the two Governments, but until the appearance of war blows over, (if it should) I don't think he can Sell his Land, or raise the money by other means. I wrote Mr. McGill on the 30th December last, that 3 patents were arrived for you, & I fear they are all you will ever get, from your large and fair claims, there could not in my opinion be done more injustice, ever pointed at some of your claims, than what was shewn by the Commissioners; one instance in a large field near River Rouge, they confirmed Mr. McGills claim & rejected yours, though the Surveyor offered to make oath, that they were under the same inclosure: They rejected the claims from the Windmill Seat to the River Rouge (Mr. McGills Lot excepted) Lands I have had possession of, for perhaps 20 years, before I sold them to you; I memoriated the Secretary for redress, but get none; what the Commis. sioners did, (though many of them glaringly partial & unjust) & even remonstrated against (was confirmed or approved by Congress; The Commissioners were Mr. Atwater the Secretary, Mr. Audrian Recorder & Mr. James Abbott, the latter seemed to do all the business & rule the others perhaps you had some misunder*Vol. 16. p. 194.