February 4 – Francois Page petitions for monopoly of navigation of Lower Canadian Rivers, by an invention of which he produces a model.
February 18 – Mr. McCord reads a petition for the deepening of the St. Lawrence.
February 28 – One Goudie and others petition for a monopoly of navigation of Lake Champlain, in Canada, as like U.S. monopolists injure Canadian Commerce, by trading into Canada.
"Total failure of the late harvest" requires appropriating £20,000 at most to provide seed grain and potatoes to "the most indigent husbandmen"[13]
At least 1,500 people in Quebec City suburbs are "reduced to actual distress" because bread and fuel cost too much for hundreds of families[14]
Editorial: With recent revival of trade ended, wants of British labouring classes grow daily; emigration is no alternative if arranged without assistance, and even 12 months' rations leave farmers with no means of living until harvest; but potatoes yield early crop on unplowed land and wheat and rye are now well advanced; farmers should understand that many in town are just as wretched and have no harvest to look forward to; disbanded soldiers should recall privation they suffered in war service; "let them think of these things and bless their kind stars that, scanty as their fare may be, yet composed (sic) with that of many others, they live in the midst of abundance"[15]
Editorial: "Better [to] find employment for the poor than hang them for desperate acts, the natural effect of want"[16]
Up to £8,000 to be appropriated for grain, corn, flour and meal to lend by county to "indigent settlers" (Sydney and Pictou get highest amounts)[67]
Lord Dalhousie: "Government has [authorized distribution of] seed potatoes to the Refugee Negroes, to the amount I dare say of 800 families."[68]
Voter must have at least 40s/year income or own dwelling house or 100 acres (with at least 5 acres under cultivation) in fee simple[69]
"Handsome" bounty for grain farmers, and heavy duty on U.S. grain and bread, can after "a few years" make N.S. self-sufficient in bread[70]
Concern about 2,500 U.K. emigrants arriving, many of them mechanics ("Taylors, Cordwainers and Weavers") with no prospect of work[71]
Samuel Cunard and 3 others suggest settling immigrants across N.S., "that their labour may be more valuable to themselves and to the country"[72]
"O let us think of the comforts that we enjoy and of which the poor are destitute" - words of Halifax Methodist Female Benevolent Society[73]
Wealthy people need not forgo "amusements and pleasures [unless] they take such compleat possession of the mind" that they ignore poor people[74]
Mother of triplets "in very indigent circumstances" will put babies on display and "receive any small Donation with thankfulness"[75]
Army auctions about 50,000 forage cakes made of ground oats, bean meal and linseed - nutritious for horses and, as gruel, for soldiers[76]
Firefighting should include small "engines" (pumping machines) that 4 or 6 men can take into houses and even play on neighbouring houses[77]
Black servant Rino Matthews, blamed for house fire, comes from "a race [with principles] repugnant to the dictates of gratitude and morality"[78]
John Adams says Blacks settled in N.S. will provide "recruits to invade the Southern States to entice and Seduce other blacks to desert"[79]
Corporation will be formed in Halifax to put reservoir on town common and pipe water under all streets in town and suburbs[80]
Commissioner of Sable Island learns from resident of ship unable to anchor for 8 days because of gales, and his boats stove in reaching her[81]
During congregational dispute in Halifax, Thomas McCulloch says "keenness of debate" can cause debaters to miss important points[82]
Physician will take 4 students, who will use medical library, compound medicines, observe diseases and be regularly instructed and examined[83]
Reader claims temperance preserves health and cures maladies; without it, acute pain and distemper, enfeebled legs and lung pain result[84]
After receiving 1 month's wages, 5 men from ship in Antigonish steal boat with sails and oars and are last seen at Arichat[85]
Brief nature book briefly describes 13 mammals (some in predator-prey matches) and many bird species[86]
Signals, instructions and orders for Halifax to send by telegraph[87]
Halifax "Liquor Store" sells "Wines, Cognac Brandy Holland Gin, Jamaica Spirits, Rum, Shrub, Peppermint, Anniseed, Brown Stout and Ginger Wine[88]
Long review of Halifax Theatre's production of "The Tempest" praises boy playing Ariel, including his abilities, great judgment and taste[89]
Halifax production of "Macbeth" has extremely embarrassed and inconfident actor playing Macduff, but then he sings 2 "incomparably executed Songs"[90]
Praise for actor's dying scene: "the stings attending [a] guilty conscience were so forcibly exhibited that[...]the audience were delighted with horror"[91]
"And is it so?/The anxious doubting look of friendship - the enquiring how, and where,/Too soon were answered. 'Tis true, his sadden'd looks declare"[92]
P.E.I. has gained little in agriculture, trade and commerce because "the absent Proprietors of Land in the Colony and its Inhabitants" don't cooperate[103]
For sale: 10,000 acres (½-township) in Prince County, granted to late owner, to be sold together or in lots; contact Samuel Cunard, Halifax[104]
Charlottetown amateur theatre begins season in new location with box seats for 200 (gallery closed) and paintings of Thalia and Melpomene[105]
^"Halifax, Saturday Morning, April 5, 1817," Acadian Recorder (April 5, 1817), pg. 2 (6th column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 9 July 2025
^"Prince Edward Island" (July 8, 1817), Acadian Recorder (August 9, 1817), pg. 2 (5th column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 11 July 2025
^"Quebec, November 24 (sic), 1817," The Quebec Mercury (November 25, 1817), pg. 374 (left column). See also "A Hint" (pg. 3, 5th column) from Kingston retailer re rich competitors who keep prices as high as during war, when they made their fortunes while he and others "were starving." Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Halifax, Saturday Morning, Sept. 6th, 1817; The American Fishing Vessels[....]," Acadian Recorder (September 6, 1817), pg. 2 (5th column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 11 July 2025
^"Quebec, June 10," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (August 5, 1817) pg. 4 of 4 (lefthand page, 1st column). Accessed 3 July 2025
^"Quebec, June 10, 1817; We have much[....]," The Quebec Mercury (June 10, 1817) pg. 182 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 17 July 2025.
^"Notices, &c.," Notices on the Claims of the Hudson's Bay Company[....] (1817), pg. 4 Accessed 7 July 2025
^"Naval Force on the Lakes," Acadian Recorder (August 23, 1817), pg. 1 (2nd column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 11 July 2025
^"Five Minutes' Advice to Young Tradesmen," The Quebec Mercury (February 4, 1817) pg. 36 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 July 2025.
^"Intelligence never attended to," The Quebec Mercury (July 29, 1817), pg. 237 (centre column). Accessed 17 July 2025
^"Distress of the lower class of the people," The Quebec Mercury (January 28, 1817) pg. 29 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 July 2025.
^"Quebec, July 8, 1817," The Quebec Mercury (July 8, 1817) pg. 214, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also correction (pg. 6, right column) that troubles in Britain come not from diminished trade but end of demand for war articles. Accessed 18 July 2025.
^"Quebec, June 10, 1817," The Quebec Mercury (June 10, 1817) pg. 182, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also Montreal editorial (pg. 3, columns 1–2) on apathetic response to "nearly three years" of frequent burglaries and robberies. Accessed 17 July 2025.
^"Mr. McCord read in his place[....]" Journal of the House of Assembly of Lower-Canada[...]1817, pg. 524 Accessed 14 July 2025
^"Our Commerce," The Montreal Herald, June 14, 1817 pg. 2 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 24 July 2025
^"Commerce of the Upper Lakes," The Quebec Mercury (October 7, 1817), continued on pg. 318 (left column top). Accessed 21 July 2025
^"For the Montreal Herald" (May 30, 1817), The Montreal Herald, May 31, 1817 pg. 3 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also further results (pg. 2, 1st column) of "experiment." Accessed 23 July 2025
^"On Tuesday evening[....]," The Quebec Mercury (January 17, 1817) pg. 1, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 22 July 2025.
^"Quebec: Thursday, 16th January, 1817; Mr. Printer," The Quebec Gazette, January 16, 1817 pg. 3 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also "Communication" (pg. 3, 1st column) suggesting improvements to Montreal. Accessed 22 July 2025
^"The Montreal Herald; Saturday Evening, February 22d, 1817; In addition to what[....]," The Montreal Herald, February 22, 1817 pg. 3 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 July 2025
^"A question will arise to an European settler[....]," Essays on practical husbandry, addressed to the Canadian farmers, pg. 118 (frame 125). Accessed 4 July 2025
^"German Settlers," (October 14, 1817) pg. 326 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Incorporation of the City," The Quebec Gazette, December 25, 1817 pg. 2 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also editorial (pg. 3, 1st column top) advocating Montreal incorporation. Accessed 22 July 2025
^"Executive Council Office" (October 10, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (October 10, 1817), pg. 2 (left column). See also health officer's letter (pg. 325, left column) addressing fear of typhus, and elaboration (pg. 350, right column) on effectiveness of pure air. Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Mr. Editor" (February 24, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (February 25, 1817) pg. 58 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 July 2025.
^"Montreal Bathing Machine" (June 20, 1817), The Montreal Herald, June 21, 1817 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 24 July 2025
^"Quebec, November 18, 1817; Mr. Goudie[....]," The Quebec Mercury (November 18, 1817), pg. 366 (right column). Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Quebec, September 30, 1817; A new steam Boat," The Quebec Mercury (September 30, 1817) pg. 311 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 18 July 2025.
^"The Commissionmers for internal communications[....]" (June 20, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (July 1, 1817) pg. 202 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 17 July 2025.
^"Thomas Price," The Montreal Herald, September 6, 1817 pg. 3 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 25 July 2025
^"Preliminary Observations," Sketches of Lower Canada, Historical and Descriptive[....] (1817), pg. 6, Library and Archives Canada. Accessed 7 July 2025
^"A Short View of the Present State of the Eastern Townships in the Province of Lower Canada[....]" (1817), pg. 19 Accessed 7 July 2025
^"To the Provincial Parliament of the Province of Lower-Canada," The Quebec Mercury (January 14, 1817) pg. 14 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 July 2025.
^"Quebec August 28," The Montreal Herald, August 30, 1817 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 25 July 2025
^"Quebec: Thursday, 1st May, 1817; The ice is still firm[....]," The Quebec Gazette, January 16, 1817 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 22 July 2025
^"Mathematics" (September 1, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (September 9, 1817) pg. 282 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 18 July 2025.
^"Vocal Music" (January 17, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (January 17, 1817) pg. 1 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 July 2025.
^"Gooseberries]]," The Montreal Herald, August 16, 1817 pg. 2 (5th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 25 July 2025
^"Great Curiosity; The Wild African Urus" (October 3, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (October 3, 1817), pg. 1 (left column). See also "Battle; The Urus and Dogs" (pg. 326, right column bottom). Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Commerce of the Upper Lakes," The Quebec Mercury (October 7, 1817), pg. 317 (right column). Accessed 21 July 2025
^"The Montreal Herald; Saturday Evening, January 25th, 1817; Among other articles[....]," The Montreal Herald, January 25, 1817 pg. 3 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 July 2025
^"Communication; 'Extract of a letter[....],'" The Montreal Herald, October 18, 1817 pg. 3 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 25 July 2025
^"Address; Of the Grand Inquest of the District of Gore[....]" (January 17, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (May 13, 1817) pg. 148 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 July 2025.
^"Report of the Treasurer of the Society established at York for the Relief of Strangers in distress" (December 1, 1817), The Montreal Herald, December 27, 1817 pg. 2 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 25 July 2025
^"Quebec, June 24, 1817; We observe by the Upper Canada papers[....]," The Quebec Mercury (June 24, 1817) pg. 198 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 17 July 2025.
^"From the Upper Canada Gazette; York, October 2," The New-Brunswick Royal Gazette (December 16, 1817), pg. 3 (2nd column), University of New Brunswick Libraries. Accessed 15 July 2025
^"Kingston: Tuesday, December 16, 1817; Among the arrivals[....]," Kingston Gazette (November 16, 1817), pg. 3 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"From the Upper Canada Gazette; To the Resident Land Owners of Upper-Canada" (October 1817), Kingston Gazette (November 18, 1817), pg. 1 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"Kingston: Tuesday, November 18, 1817; For the Kingston Gazette," Kingston Gazette (November 18, 1817), pg. 3 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"Caution!" (June 10, 1817), Kingston Gazette (June 14, 1817), pg. 3 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"Fatal Duel," Kingston Gazette (June 22, 1817), pg. 3 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"English and French Academy" (October 6, 1817), Kingston Gazette (November 11, 1817), pg. 1 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"The subscriber proposes[....]" (February 22, 1817), Kingston Gazette (February 22, 1817), pg. 3 (5th column), Kingston Frontenac Public Library. See also ad (5th column), for another lecture series on geography. Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Upper-Canada, York, January 23," Acadian Recorder (February 15, 1817), pg. 4 (1st column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 9 July 2025
^"For the Kingston Gazette; Naval Fete at the Grand River," Kingston Gazette (March 15, 1817), pg. 3 (2nd column), Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 21 July 2025
^"Poetry; For the Kingston Gazette; On the Birth of a Son" (March 12, 1817), Kingston Gazette (March 15, 1817), pg. 1 Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Accessed 28 July 2025
^"To the Editor of the Recorder," Acadian Recorder (March 15, 1817), pg. 2 (6th column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 9 July 2025
^
"Halifax, Saturday Morning, July 26th, 1817; To the Editor[....]" (July 25, 1817), Acadian Recorder (July 26, 1817), pg. 2 (5th column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 10 July 2025
^"Halifax, Saturday Morning, August 9, 1817; Emigrants" (August 1, 1817), Acadian Recorder (August 9, 1817), pg. 3 (1st column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 11 July 2025
^"The First Annual Report of the Halifax Methodist Female Benevolent Society[....]" (1817), pg. 3 See also notice (5th column) that British consulate in New York will transfer poor arriving from U.K. to N.S. and Upper Canada. Accessed 7 July 2025
^"No. III; Mr. Holland," Acadian Recorder (February 1, 1817), pg. 3 Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 9 July 2025
^"Mrs. Munroe, with her Three Children," Acadian Recorder (July 26, 1817), pg. 3 (1st column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 10 July 2025
^"For the Acadian Recorder; On the late Fire; Engines," Acadian Recorder (January 4, 1817), pg. 1 (1st column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 8 July 2025
^"Communication; Caution to persons employing Negro Servants," Acadian Recorder (January 4, 1817), pg. 3 Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 8 July 2025
^"Theatrical; To the Editor[...]" (December 2, 1817), Acadian Recorder (December 6, 1817), pg. 2 (3rd column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 14 July 2025
^"The Fount; Lines," Acadian Recorder (August 30, 1817), pg. 4 (1st column), Nova Scotia Archives. See also letter excerpt (5th column) with details of funeral for subject of poem. Accessed 11 July 2025
^"Poor's Rate," The New-Brunswick Royal Gazette (January 28, 1817), pg. 3 (4th column), University of New Brunswick Libraries. Accessed 14 July 2025
^"Provincial Vaccine Institution--New-Brunswick," The New-Brunswick Royal Gazette (September 9, 1817), pg. 3 (2nd column), University of New Brunswick Libraries. Accessed 15 July 2025
^"Two-pence Reward" (January 13, 1817), The New-Brunswick Royal Gazette (January 14, 1817), pg. 3 (3rd column), University of New Brunswick Libraries. Accessed 14 July 2025
^"Court-House, April 3, 1817," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (April 8, 1817) pg. 2 of 2 (righthand page, 2nd column). See also editorial (pg. 3 of 3, righthand pg., 1st column) regretting ice making ships unable to enter port, given "the present distressed state of the town," and comment (pg. 2 of 2, righthand pg., 1st column) in House of Commons that apparently 5,000 out of population of 60,000 "were in absolute beggary." Accessed 2 July 2025
^"Report from Select Committee on Newfoundland Trade," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (September 23, 1817) pg. 2 of 3 (lefthand page). Accessed 4 July 2025
^"The Royal Gazette; Tuesday, November 11, 1817; Destructive Fire!!," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (November 11, 1817) pg. 2 of 2 (righthand page). See also more coverage (pg. 2 of 4) of fire. Accessed 4 July 2025
^"For Sale, In Hermitage Bay" (June 24, 1817), The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (July 8, 1817) pg. 1 of 2 (righthand page, 3rd column). Accessed 3 July 2025
^"The Royal Gazette, Tuesday, July 22, 1817; Mr. George McCawley[....]," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (July 22, 1817) pg. 2 of 2 (righthand page, 1st column). See also course (pg. 3 of 3, righthand pg., 2nd column) of classical and practical education at St. John's Academy. Accessed 3 July 2025
^"Prince Edward Island" (November 29, 1817), Acadian Recorder (December 20, 1817), pg. 2 (1st column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 14 July 2025
^"10,000 acres of Land," Acadian Recorder (June 7, 1817), pg. 1 (2nd column), Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 9 July 2025
^"The Lovers of Drama[....]," Prince Edward Island Gazette (Noverber 26, 1817), pg. 4 Accessed 4 July 2025
^Letter from Lord Bathurst to Hudson's Bay Company directors (January 16, 1817), The Collected Writings of Lord Selkirk; 1810–1820 (pg. 212, frame 308), Manitoba Historical Society. Accessed 29 July 2025
^"The Quebec Gazette; A Proclamation" (April 23, 1817), The Quebec Mercury (April 24, 1817) pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also "Red River Petition of 1817 to Bishop Plessis" from Metis "of a soft and peaceful character." Accessed 22 July 2025.
^"Advertisement," Statement Respecting the Earl of Selkirk's Settlememt upon the Red River[....] (1817), pg. (v) Library and Archives Canada. See also anti-Selkirk "Narrative of Occurrences" Accessed 7 July 2025