are the following : " We announce with much pleasure an acqui-
336 Toronto of Old. [§ 22.
sition to society in this place by the arrival of Prideaux Selby, Esq.,
and Miss Selby. — Gazette, Dec. 9, 1807. The York Assembly which
commenced on Thursday the 17 th instant, was honoured by the
attendance of His Excellency and Mrs. Gore. It was not nume-
rous. We understand that Mrs. Firth, the amiable Lady of the
Attorney General, lately arrived, was a distinguished figure." —
Gazette, Dec. 23, 1807.)
The family of Mr. Stanton, senior, was large. It was augmented
by twins on five several occasions. Not far from Mr. Stanton's
house, a lesser edifice of brick of comparatively late date on the
north side of Richmond Street, immediately opposite the premises
associated just now with the memory of President Smith, may be
noted as having been built and occupied by the distinguished Ad-
miral Vansittart, and the first example in this region of a cottage
furnished with light, tasteful verandahs in the modern style.
We now return from our digression into Richmond and Adelaide
Streets, and again proceed on our way westward.
The grantee of the park-lot which followed Solicitor-General
Gray's, was the famous Hon. Peter Russell, of whom we have
had occasion again and again to speak. A portion of the property
was brought under cultivation at an early period, and a substantial
farm-house put up thereon — a building which in 1872 was still in
existence. The name attached to this house and clearing was
Petersfield.
Human depredators prowled about a solitary place like this. At
their hands in 1803, Mr. Russell suffered a serious loss, as we learn
from an advertisement which about midsummer in that year ap-
peared in several successive numbers of the Oracle. It ran as
follows: "Five Guineas Reward. Stolen on the 12th or 13th
instant from Mr. Russell's farm, near this town, a Turkey Hen,
with her brood of six half-grown young ones. Whoever will give
such information and evidence as may lead to the discovery of
the Thieves shall receive from the subscriber the above reward
upon conviction of any of the delinquents. Peter Russell, York,
Aug. 15th, 1803." Another advertisement has been mentioned to
us, issuing from the same sufferer, announcing the theft of a Plough
from the same farm.
Similar larcenies were elsewhere committed. In the Gazette of
June 12, 1802, we read: "Forty dollars reward. — Mr. Justice All-
cock offers a reward of forty dollars to any one who will give informa-
§ 22.] Queen Street — College Avenue to (Brock St. 337
tion of the person or persons who stole and carried away from his
farm near the Garrison a number of iron teeth from two harrows.
The same reward will also be given to any one who will give such
information as will convict any person or persons of having bought
such iron teeth, or any part of them, knowing the same to be
stolen. If more than one was concerned, the same reward will be
given to any accomplice upon his giving such information as will
convict the other party or parties concerned with him, and every
endeavour used to obtain a pardon. Note. It has been ascertained
that two blacksmiths in the town did, about the time these teeth
were stolen, purchase harrow-teeth from a soldier, since deserted,
and that another soldier was in company when such teeth were
offered for sale. 28th May, 1802."
Again, in the same paper we have : — " Twenty dollars reward
will be paid by the subscriber to any person who will discover the
man who is so depraved and lost to every sense of social duty, as
to cut with an axe or knife, the withes which bound some of
the fence round the late Chief Justice's Farm on Yonge Street, and
to throw down the said Fence. Independent of the above induce-
ment, it is the duty of every good member of society to endeavour
to find out who the character is that can be guilty of such an in-
famous act, in order that he may be brought to justice. Robert
J. D. Gray, York, June 28th, 1803."
Occasionally notices of a reverse order appear. A homely arti-
cle picked up on the Common was judged to be of sufficient im-
portance to its owner to induce the finder to advertise as follows
in the Oracle of Saturday, Aug. 14th, 1802 : — "Found lately near
the Garrison, a Cow-bell. Whoever has lost the same, may have
it again by applying to the Printer hereof, on paying the expense
of this advertisement, and proving property. York, Aug. 7, 1802."
Again, in the Oracle of Feb. 25, 1804 : — " Found on Saturday
last, the nth instant, a Bar of Iron. The owner may have it
again, by applying to the Printer hereof. York, Feb. 8th." And
again : " Found on Friday, the 5th instant, two silk handkerchiefs.
The owner can have them again by applying to the Printer, and pay-
ing the expense of this advertisement. York, Oct. 12th, 1804." In
October, 1806, an iron pot was picked up : " Found, on Sunday
last, the 1 2th instant, on the beach opposite Messrs. Ashbridge's,
an Iron Pot capable of containing about two pails full. Whoever
may own the above-mentioned Pot, may have it again by proving
338 Toronto of Old. [§
22.
property, and paying charges, on application to Samuel Lewis or
to the Printer hereof. York, Oct. 16th, 1806."
A barrel of flour was found on the beach near the Garrison in
1802, and was thus advertised : " The Public are hereby informed
that there has been a barrel of flour left on the beach near the
Garrison by persons unknown. Whoever will produce a just claim
to the same may have it, by applying to the Garrison Sergeant-
Major, and paying the expense of the present advertisement. J.
Petto, G. S. Major, York, March 22, 1802."
Once more : in the Gazette of Dec. 3, 1803 : " On the 26th ult.
the subscriber found one-half of a fat Hog on the Humber'Plains,
which he supposes to be fraudulently killed, and the other half
taken away. The part which he found he carried home and
dressed, and requests the owner to call, pay expenses, and take it
away. John Clark, Humber Mills, Dec. 2, 1803."
Peter Russell's name became locally a household synonym for a
helluo agrorum, and not without some show of reason, as the fol-
lowing list in successive numbers of the Gazette and Oracle of 1803
would seem to indicate. Of the lands enumerated he styles
himself, at the close of the advertisement, the proprietor. We
have no desire, however, to perpetuate the popular impression,
that all the said properties had been patented by himself to him-
self. This, of course, could not have been done. He
simply chose, as he was at liberty to do, after acquiring what he
and his family were entitled to legally, in the shape of grants, to
invest his means in lands, which in every direction were to be had
for a mere song.
The document spoken of reads thus : " To be sold. — The Front
Town Lot, with an excellent dwelling-house and a kitchen recently
built thereon, in which Mr. John Denison now lives, in the Town ot
York, with a very commodious water-lot adjoining, and possession
given to the purchaser immediately. The Lots Nos. 5, 6, and 7
in the 2nd, and lots No. 6 and 7 in the 3d concession of West
Flamboro' township, containing 1,000 acres, on which there are
some very good mill seats j the lots No. 4 and 5, in the 1st con-
cession of East Flamboro' with their broken fronts, containing,
according to the Patent, 600 acres more or less; the lots No. 1,
3 and 4 in the 2nd, and lots No. 2 and 3 in the 3rd concession of
Beverley, containing 1,000 acres ; the lots No. 16 in the 2nd and
and 3rd concession of the township of York containing 400 acres ;
§ 22.] Queen Street — College Avenue to (Brock St. 339
the lots 32 and $$ with their broken fronts, in the 1st, and lots No.
31 and 32 in the 2nd^concession of Whitby, containing 800 acres ;
the lots 22 and 24 in the nth, lot 23 in the 12th, and No. 24 in
the 13th and 14th concessions of Townsend, containing a 1,000
acres; the lots No. 12, 13 and 14 in the 1st and 2nd concession
of Charlotteville, immediately behind the Town plot, containing
1,200 acres ; the lots Nos. 16 and 17 in the 1st concession of Dela-
ware township, on the river Thames (La Tranche) containing 800
acres; the lots Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 in the 10th ; No. 1, 2, 4, 6,
and 7 in the nth, and Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 7 in the 12th concession
of Dereham, containing 3,000 acres, with mill-seats thereon ; and
also the lots Nos. 22, 24, 25, 26, and 28 in the 1st, Nos. 22, 13,
25, 27 and 28 in the 3rd, Nos. 22, 24, 25, 26 and 28 in the nth,
and Nos. 22, 24, 25, 26 and 28 in the 12th concession of Norwich?
containing 600 acres, with mill-seats thereon. The terms are either
cash, or good bills of exchange on London, Montreal and Quebec,
for the whole of such purchase, in which case a proportionably less
price will be expected, or the same for one moiety of each pur-
chase, and bonds properly secured for principal and interest, until
paid, for the other. The prices may be known by application to
the proprietor at York. Peter Russell. *
Clearly, an idea of the prospective value of property in Canada
had dawned upon the mind of Mr. Russell in the year 1803 ; and
he aimed to create for himself speedily a handsome fortune. His
plans, however, in the long run, came to little, as in another con-
nexion, we have heard already.
Survivors of the primitive era in Upper Canada have been heard
sometimes to express, (like Lord Clive, after his dealings with the
rajahs,) their surprise that they did not provide for themselves more
largely than they did, when the broad acres of their adopted coun-
try were to be had to any extent, almost for the asking. But this
reflection should console them ; in few instances are the descend-
ants of the early very large land-holders much better off at the
present hour than probably they would have been, had their fathers
continued landless.
Mr. Russell died at York on the 30th of September, 1808. His
obituary appears in the Gazette and Oracle of the following day.
" Departed this life on Friday, the 30th ultimo, the Hon. Peter
Russell, Esquire, formerly President of the Government of the
Province, late Receiver General, and Member of the Executive and
340 Toronto of Old. [S 22.
Legislative Councils : a gentleman who whilst living was honoured,
and sincerely esteemed ; and of whose regular and amiable con-
duct, the Public will long retain a favoured and grateful remem-
brance."
Of the funeral, which took place on the 4th of October, we have
a brief account in the paper of Oct. 8, 1808. It says : " The
remains of the late Hon. Peter Russell were interred on Wednes-
day the 4th instant with the greatest decorum and respect. The
obsequies of this accomplished gentleman were followed to the
grave by His Excellency the Lieut. Governor (Gore) as Chief
Mourner ; with the principal gentlemen of the town and neighbour-
hood ; and they were feelingly accompanied by all ranks, evincing
a reverential awe for the Divine dispensation. An appropriate
funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Okill Stuart. The Gar-
rison, commanded by Major Fuller, performed with becoming dig-
nity the military honours of this respected veteran, who was a
Captain in the Army on half-pay." The editor then adds :
" deeply impressed with an ardent esteem for his manly character,
and the irreparable loss occasioned by his death, we were not
among those who felt the least at this last tribute of respect to his
memory and remains." (The Major Fuller, above named, was the
father of the Rev. Thomas Brock Fuller, in 1873 Archdeacon of
Niagara.)
As we have elsewhere said, Mr. Russell's estate passed to his
unmarried sister, Miss Elizabeth Russell, who, at her own decease,
devised the whole of it to Dr. W. W. Baldwin and his family. The
Irish family to which Mr. Russell belonged was originally a trans-
planted branch of the Aston- Abbotts subdivision of the great Eng-
lish family of the same name ; and a connexion, through intermar-
riages, had long subsisted between these Russells and the Bald-
wins of the County of Cork. Russell Hill in the neighbourhood
of Toronto, is so called from a Russell Hill in Ireland, which has
its name from the Russells of the County of Cork. — During the
Revolutionary war, Mr. Russell had been Secretary to Sir Henry
Clinton, Commander-in-chief of the Army in North America from
1778 to 1782.
At the beginning of Peter Russell's advertisement of properties,
it will have been observed that he offered for sale " an excellent
dwelling-house in the town of York," described as being in the occu-
pation of Mr. John Denison. The building referred to, situate, as
§ 2 2.] Queen Street — College .Avenue to (Brock St. 341
it is further mentioned, on a " front town lot, with a very conve-
nient water-lot adjoining," was the ornamental cottage " noted in
our journey along Front Street, as having been once inhabited by
Major Hillier, of the 74th. On its site was afterwards built Dr.
Baldwin's town residence, which subsequently became first a Mili-
tary Hospital, and then the head office of the Toronto and Nipissing
Railroad.
But Petersfield was also associated with the history of Mr. Deni-
son, who was the progenitor of the now numerous Canadian family
of that name. Through an intimacy with Mr. Russell, springing
out of several years' campaigning together in the American Revolu-
tionary war, Mr. Denison was induced by that gentleman, when
about to leave England in an official capacity in company with
General Simcoe, to emigrate with his family to Upper Canada in
1792. He first settled at Kingston, but, in 1796, removed to
York, where, by the authority of Mr. Russell, he temporarily occu-
pied Castle Frank on the Don. He then, as we have seen, occu-
pied " the excellent dwelling-house" put up " on a front lot" in the
town of York by Mr. Russell himself; and afterwards, he was
again accommodated by his friend with quarters in the newly-
erected homestead of Petersfield.
We have evidence that in 1805 a portion of Petersfield was
under cultivation, and that under Mr. Denison's care it produced
fine crops of a valuable vegetable. Under date of York, 20th
December, 1805, in a contemporary Oracle, we have the following
advertisement: "Potatoes: To be sold at Mr. Russell's Farm
at Petersfield, by Mr. John Denison, in any quantities not less than
ten bushels, at Four Shillings, York Currency, the bushel, if de-
livered at the purchaser's house, or Three Shillings the bushel, if
taken by them from the Farm."
And again, in the Gazette of March 4, 1807 : " Blue Nose Po-
tatoes. To be sold at Mr. Russell's Farm near York. The
price three shillings, York currency, the bushel, if taken away by
the purchasers, or they will be delivered anywhere within the pre-
cincts of the Town, at Four Shillings, in any quantity not less than
ten bushels. Application to be made to Mr. John Denison, on
the premises, to whom the above prices are to be paid on delivery.
Feb. 14, 1807."
Our own personal recollection of Mr. Denison is associated with •
Petersfield, the homely cosiness of whose interior, often seen" dur-
342 Toronto of Old. [§ 22.
ing its occupancy by him, lighted up by a rousing hospitable fire
of great logs, piled high in one of the usual capacious and lofty
fire-places of the time, made an indelible impression on the boyish
fancy. The venerable Mrs. Sophia Denison, too, Mr. Denison's
better half, was in like manner associated in our memory with the
cheery interior of the ancient Petersfield farm-house — a fine old
English matron and mother, of the antique, strongly-marked, vigo-
rous, sterling type. She was one of the Taylors, of Essex ;
among whom, at home and abroad, ability and talent, and traits
of a higher and more sacred character, are curiously hereditary.
We shall have occasion, further on, to speak of the immediate de-
scendants of these early occupants of Petersfield.
On the south side of the expansion of Queen Street, in front of
Petersfield, and a little beyond Peter Street (which, as we have
previously noticed, had its name from Peter Russell) was the abode
of Mr. Dunn, long Receiver-General of Upper Canada. It was
(and is) a retired family house, almost hidden from the general
view by a grove of ornamental trees. A quiet-looking gate led
into a straight drive up to the house, out of Queen Street. Of Mr.
Dunn we have already discoursed, and of Mrs. Dunn, one of the
graceful lady-chiefs in the high life of York in the olden time. In
the house at which we now pause was born their famous son,
Alexander Roberts Dunn, in 1833 j who not only had the honour
of sharing in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1856,
now so renowned in history and song, but who, of all the six hun-
dred there, won the highest meed of glory.
Six feet three inches in stature, a most powerful and most skil-
ful swordsman, and a stranger to fear, Lieut. Dunn, instead of con-
sulting his own safety in the midst of that frightful and untoward
m£16e, deliberately interposed for the protection of his comrades in
arms. Old troopers of the Eleventh Hussars long told with kindling
eyes how the young lieutenant seeing Sergeant Bentley of his own
regiment attacked from behind by two or three Russian lancers,
rushed upon them single-handed, and cut them down ; how he
saved the life of Sergeant Bond ; how Private Levett owed his
safety to the same friendly arm, when assailed by Russian Hussars.
Kinglake, the historian of the Crimean war, records that the Vic-
toria Cross placed at the disposal of the Eleventh Hussars was
unanimously awarded by them to Lieut. Dunn ; the only cavalry
officer who obtained the distinction.
§ 22.] Queen Street — College Avenue to (Brock St. 343
To the enthusiasm inspired by his brilliant reputation was mainly
due the speedy formation in Canada of the Hundredth Regiment,
the Prince of Wales' Royal Canadian Regiment, in 1857. . Of
this regiment, chiefly raised through his instrumentality, Mr. Dunn
was gazetted the first major ; and on the retirement of the Baron
de Rottenburg from its command, he succeeded as its Lieutenant
Colonel.
In 1864 he was gazetted full Colonel : at the time he had barely
completed his twenty-seventh year. Impatient of inactivity, he
caused himself to be transferred to a command in India, where he
speedily attracted the notice of General Napier, afterwards Lord
Napier of Magdala ; and he accompanied that officer in the ex-
pedition against King Theodore of Abyssinia. While halting at
Senafe in that country, he was accidently killed by the sudden
explosion of his rifle while out shooting deer. The sequel can
best be given, as well as an impression of the feelings of his im-
mediate associates on the deplorable occasion, by quoting the
touching words of a letter addressed at the time to a near relative
of Colonel Dunn, by a brother officer :
" In no regiment," says this friend, " was ever a commanding
officer so missed as the one we have just so unhappily lost : such a
courteous, thorough gentleman in word and deed, so thoughtful
for others, so perfect a soldier, so confidence-inspiring a leader.
Every soldier in the regiment misses Colonel Dunn ; he was a
friend, and felt to be such, to every one of them. The regiment
will never have so universally esteemed a commander again. We
all feel that. For myself I feel that I have lost a brother who can
never be replaced. I can scarcely yet realize that the dear fellow
is really dead, and as I pass his tent every morning I involuntarily
turn my head, expecting to hear his usual kind salutation, and to
see the dear, handsome face that has never looked at me but with
kindness. I breakfasted with him on the morning of the 25th,
and he looked so well as he started off with our surgeon for a day's
shooting. Little did I think that I had looked on his dear old face
for the last time in life. ... I cannot describe to you what a
shock the sad news was to every one, both in my regiment and in-
deed in every one in the camp. Our dear Colonel was so well
known, and so universally liked and respected.
"Next day, Sunday, the 26th of January, he was buried about
4 o'clock p.m.. I went to look at the dear old fellow, before his
344 Toronto of Old. [§ 22.
coffin was closed, and his poor face, though looking so cold, was
yet so handsome, and the expression of it, so peaceful and happy.
I cut off some of his hair, which lately he wore very short, a lock
of which I now send you, keeping one for myself, as the most
valuable souvenir I could have of one I loved very dearly. And
I knelt down to give his cold forehead a long farewell kiss. He
was buried in uniform, as he had often expressed a wish to me to
that effect. Every officer in the camp attended his funeral, and,
of course, the whole of his own regiment, in which there was not
a single dry eye, as all stood round the grave of their lost com-
mander. He has been buried in a piece of ground near where our
camp now stands, at the foot of a small hill covered with shrubbery
and many wild flowers. We have had railings put round the grave,
and a stone is to be placed there with the inscription : In memory
of A. R. Dunn, V. C, Col. 33rd Regiment, who died at Senate on
25th January, 1868, aged 34 years and 7 months."
Thus in remote Abyssinia rest the mortal remains of one who in
the happy unconsciousness of childhood, sported here in grounds
and groves which we are now passing on Queen Street. In numer-
ous other regions of the earth, once seemingly as unlikely to be
their respective final resting-places, repose the remains of Cana-
dian youth, who have died in the public service of England. We
are sharing in the fortune and history of the mother country, and
like her, or rather like the ubiquitous L Roman citizen of old, we
may even already ask " Quae caret or a cruore nostro?" — sadly as
individuals, perhaps, but proudly as a people.
The occupant of Mr. Dunn's house at a later period was Chief
Justice McLean, who died here in 1865. He was born at St.
Andrews, near Cornwall, in 179 1. At the battle of Queenston, he
served as Lieutenant in Capt. Cameron's No. 1 Flank Company of
York Militia, and received a severe wound in the early part of the
engagement. He was afterwards for some time Speaker of the
House. An admirable full-length painting of Chief Justice Mc-
Lean exists at Osgoode Hall.
XXIII.
QUEEN STREET, FROM BROCK STREET AND SPADINA AVENUE TO
THE HUMBER.
MMEDIATELY after the grounds and property of
Mr. Dunn, on the same side, and across the very
broad Brock Street, which is an opening of modern
date, was to be seen until recently, a modest dwell-
ing-place of wood, somewhat peculiar in expression,
square, and rather tall for its depth and width, of dingy
hue ; its roof four-sided ; below, a number of lean-to's and
irregular extensions clustering round ; in front, low shrubbery, a
circular drive, and a wide, open-barred gate. This was the home
of one who has acquired a distinguished place in our local annals,
military and civil — Colonel James Fitzgibbon.
A memorable exploit of his, in the war with the United States
in 1813, was the capture of a force of 450 infantry, 50 cavalry and
two guns, when in command himself, at the moment, of only forty-
eight men. He had been put in charge of a depot of stores, at
the Beaver Dams, between Queenston and Thorold. Colonel
Boerstler, of the invading army, was despatched from Fort George,
at Niagara, with orders to take this dep6t. Fitzgibbon was ap-
prized of his approach. Reconnoitring, and discovering that
Boerstler had been somewhat disconcerted, on his march, ' by a
straggling fire from the woods, kept up by a few militiamen and
about thirty Indians under Captain Kerr, he conceived the bold
idea of dashing out and demanding a surrender of the enemy !
Accordingly, spreading his little force judiciously, he suddenly pre-
sented himself, waving a white pocket-handkerchief. He was an
officer, he hurriedly announced, in command of a detachment : his
346 Toronto of Old. [_§ 23.
superior officer, with a large force, was in the rear ; and the Indians
were unmanageable. (Some extemporized war-whoops were to be
heard at the moment in the distance.)
The suggestion of a capitulation was listened to by Colonel
Boerstler as a dictate of humanity. The truth was, Major DeHaren,
of the Canadian force, to whom, in the neighbourhood of what is
now St. Catharines, a message had been sent, was momentarily ex-
pected, with 200 men. To gain time, Fitzgibbon made it a mat-
ter of importance that the terms of the surrender should be reduced