Montreal, 4 January 1817 in Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 22 April 1817
Abridged Transcript:
…It appears that the alarm of a scarcity of grain in Britain has revived, and in consequence prices have advanced considerably. … The new grain is about 30 per cent inferior to the old; supposing the quantity to be equal, the inferiority of quality, alone, is enough to create an alarm, and raise the prices. … The year which has just ended, though not so remarkable for feats of carnage and ferocity as the many which preceded it, has nevertheless been interesting. … While the greater part of the civilized world suffers from the consequences of the French Revolution, this corner of the British dominions enjoys security and prosperity in a greater degree than any other country. The last harvest, tho’ not the most abundant, will nevertheless prove adequate to the consumption of the country. Some Parishes below Quebec are no doubt in distress; but from the paternal interference of the Government, it is hoped that abundant supplies will be drawn from other parts of the Province, where grain is plenty. …
~Montreal, 4 January 1817, reprinted in Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 22 April 1817.
“Court House,” 10 January 1817 in Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 21 January 1817
Abridged Transcript:
At a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of this Town, convened by the High Sheriff, at the request of the Surrogate and Magistrates, for the purpose of taking into consideration the distressed state of the Town and the best method of relieving it. …
A Subscription List was accordingly opened, and the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds subscribed. — …
The following Gentlemen were nominated as a Committee….
…the Committee met on the 12th, and formed the following Resolutions:
1. – That the principal part of the Funds should be laid out in Peas, Rice, Fish, Sugar & Butter. –
2. – That a Week’s Ration, for one Man should consist of 3 pints Peas, 2 pints Rice, 7lb Fish, ½ lb Butter and ½ lb Sugar.—
3. – That each applicant … should be allowed a certain quantity of Rations proportionate to the number of his Family and his means of supporting them. –
4. – That strong healthy men (if Indigent) be encouraged to Labour, and although the Committee can afford no gratuitous Relief to such People, yet, as they find it is difficult for those men to make Sale of such WOOD as they may bring to the Town, they propose to purchase from them their WOOD at a fair rate, and the WOOD so purchased is to be lodged in the Court House Yard….
~W. Thomas, Sec’ry, 10 January 1817, printed in Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 21 January 1817.
Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 18 February 1817
Abridged Transcript:
… Upwards of eight weeks have now elapsed since we have had direct intelligence from any quarter – but it is not probably that we shall remain many days longer in a state of suspense – the next arrivals are looked for with much anxiety.
A schooner was seen in the offing on Saturday last, by one of the Pilots, but not being able to approach the harbor, has since disappeared.
Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 25 February 1817
Abridged Transcript:
St. Patrick’s Day. On the 17th inst. the Members of the BENEVOLENT IRISH SOCIETY, celebrated the anniversary of ST. PATRICK, at the Crown and Anchor Hotel. …
…the President rose and addressed the meeting in the following words…. We cannot be too grateful or bestow too much praise on His Excellency the Governor’s meritorious conduct. He, who was pleased, previous to his departure, to grant the means of removing from hence to their native Country, upwards of Eleven hundred distressed fellow creatures, who were totally incapable of procuring the means of support here, or removing themselves to another country.
…Two thousand persons daily participate in the bounty of our charitable institutions, among which institutions, stands eminently conspicuous, the Benevolent Irish Society ….
“Contract for Flour,” 1 April 1817 in Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 15 April 1817
Abridged Transcript:
CONTRACT FOR FLOUR. The Committee appointed …for the purpose of receiving from the Stores of the Commissariat, A quantity of Flour, to be distributed for the use of the Public, DO HEREBY GIVE NOTICE, that they will receive sealed Tenders from those Persons who may be willing to Contract for replacing the stores of the Commissariat … and which will not be less than one hundred and thirty-four thousand four hundred pounds weight, nor exceed one hundred and sixty-eight thousand pounds weight. …
Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 8 April 1817
Abridged Transcript:
FIRE!
On Sunday night last, about ½ past 10 o’clock, a distressing Fire broke out…. The principal sufferers in this conflagration, are as follow: ….
-RICHARD CURRAN-In the cellar of his building, were, it is said, upwards of 40 bbls. potatoes, which the proprietor was selling at the exorbitant price of one shilling per dozen – shameful imposition on the necessitous poor! …
THE WEATHER.
We do not recollect to have witnessed such a series of inclement weather at this season of the year, as we have experienced since Friday last – almost a continual snow storm, and blowing at intervals a gale from North to N.N.E. – During the fire on Sunday night, the drift was excessive –it was scarcely possible to face it, and the streets were nearly impassable for the Engines from the deep fall of Snow. – The following has been the state of the Thermometer for the last week.
Average state of the Thermometer (say on the barrens)
31st March, Monday 30
1st April, Tuesday, 30
2nd April, Wednesday, 30
3rd April, Thursday, 24
4th April, Friday, 30
5th April, Saturday, 16
6th April, Sunday, 19 at noon
7th April, Monday, 34
At Merchant’s Hall
This day (Monday) 39
At River-Head
This day (Monday) 40
Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 15 April 1817
Abridged Transcript:
At a Public meeting of the Inhabitants of St. John’s held at the Court-House, on the 10th January last, the following Sums were subscribed in aid of the Charitable Fund … £754 8 7.
Montreal, 1 March 1817 in Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 27 May 1817
Abridged Transcript:
MONTREAL, March 1.
An embargo will be laid by the legislature now in session, on all kinds of grain, flour, and meal of the growth of this province; but it is wisely provided, that it shall not extend to the same articles coming from Upper Canada and the United States. If the law were to be passed otherwise, we should be legislating in violation of the sister province, and barring a valuable commerce with the United States, which would put a stop to our trade with the fisheries and the West-Indies. The supply of flour from the United States, we have reason to believe, will be very considerable. We notice in a Genesee paper, that in one of the villages in that county, no less than 9,000 bushels of wheat were brought to market, and disposed of in one day, all destined for Canada: this, however, is not the twentieth part of what may be looked for from that quarter.
Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 6 May 1817
Abridged Transcript:
The weather continues extremely unfavorable to our Navigation – Masses of Ice still lie at the entrance of the harbour; which prevents several vessels that have lately been spoken, and many others that are hourly expected, from approaching the coast with safety. This circumstance is the more to be regretted, from the present distressed state of the town, for the immediate want of the common necessaries of life.
Newfoundland Royal Gazette, 27 May 1817
Abridged Transcript:
When the distressed state of this Island was known in Halifax, by the communications from hence, it excited the feelings of all descriptions of people. – His Excellency EARL DALHOUSIE, Governor of the Province, adopted measures immediately, calculated to afford us relief, with as little loss of time as possible, which was carried into effect with the greatest promptitude and dispatch by the officers of the different departments. No man could manifest more feeling on the occasion, or use greater exertion to alleviate our wants, than Capt. BALDWIN, of H.M.S. FLY. …
“Halifax, 6th May 1817. We cannot refrain from noticing to you the great interest Captain BALDWIN of H.M. Sloop FLY has taken in the loading and dispatching the GUYSBOROUGH; — he feels most keenly for your situation be assured; he has sent men to assist the loading and to bend the sails of the vessel, and now takes her down under his protection…