John Graves Simcoe is famous for not shooting George Washington in the back, as Washington's troops fled the battle of Brandywine. (you are very welcome, my American friends)

His wife Elizabeth Simcoe invented Scarborough.

"The [eastern] shore is extremely bold, and has the appearance of chalk cliffs, but I believe they are only white sand. They appeared so well that we talked of building a summer residence there and calling it Scarborough."

Susanna Moodie, from her introduction to the first edition of Roughing it in the Bush:

A Canada mania pervaded the middle ranks of British society; thousands and tens of thousands, for the space of three or four years, landed upon these shores. A large majority of the higher class were officers of the army and navy, with their families — a class perfectly unfitted by their previous habits and education for contending with the stern realities of emigrant life. The hand that has long held the sword, and been accustomed to receive implicit obedience from under its control, is seldom adapted to wield the spade and guide the plough, or try its strength against the stubborn trees of the forest. Nor will such persons submit cheerfully to the saucy familiarity of servants, who, republicans in spirit, thtink themselves as good as their employers. Too many of these brave and honourable men were easy dupes to the designing land-speculators. Not having counted the cost, but only looked upon the bright side of the picture held up to their admiring gaze, they fell easily into the snares of their artful seducers.

I am so tired of the saucy familiarity of servants.
- L.M. 8-04-2008 10:29 pm

A great read is "The Embroidered Tent: Five Gentlewomen in Early Canada" by Marian Fowler.

Yes. That is my idea of a great read.

- L.M. 8-05-2008 6:38 am