Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart Part 14

_To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart.

Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. &c._

"We the undersigned representatives for the county and towns.h.i.+ps within the county of Hants, as well for ourselves as our const.i.tuents: the clergy and magistrates in the same county, beg leave to address your Excellency upon your departure from this government.

"We have recently heard with mingled joy and concern, that His Majesty has raised you to the distinguished, but well-merited favour of being appointed Governor-General of the British Provinces in North America, and that your Excellency will immediately proceed to your government. Upon this occasion we cannot forbear expressing our grateful sense of your wise and mild administration.

"The ardour manifested by your Excellency, in promoting the true interests of this province, has made a deep impression upon the minds of the people of this happy and highly-favoured colony.

"Under your government, Sir, though a short one, the agriculture, commerce, and fisheries of the province have rapidly increased; religion has been cherished, schools established, extensive roads of communication with the capital opened and improved, the militia organized and disciplined, and under the most salutary regulations rendered efficient.

"The inhabitants of the county of Hants, deeply impressed with a sense of the benefits they have received, will ever retain a grateful recollection of them, and while they lament the departure of your Excellency from this government, are made happy by the consideration that your Excellency has experienced an additional mark of the Royal favour.

"We earnestly pray that your Excellency, Lady Prevost and family, may have a pleasant voyage, and arrive in safety at the seat of your government, and be attended throughout life with the choicest blessings of Providence.

[Signed by the Representatives, Magistrates, Clergy, and other princ.i.p.al Inhabitants.]

"_Windsor, 13th August, 1811._"

_Reply._

"Gentlemen,

"With feelings of satisfaction and grat.i.tude, I return you my best thanks for the warm a.s.surance of your regard, so kindly manifested in your address upon my departure.

"Your high approbation of my measures I shall ever retain as an additional pledge of the general esteem of this province, which it has been my ambition to acquire; and, believe me, that among those of His Majesty's subjects, who have favoured me with their good opinion and good wishes, I feel much pleasure in receiving the affectionate address of the flouris.h.i.+ng county of Hants.

"GEORGE PREVOST.

"_Government House, 16th Aug. 1811._"

_To His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, and its Dependencies, &c. &c. &c._

"May it please your Excellency,

"The magistrates and militia officers of King's County, humbly intreat, that they may be allowed to offer their a.s.surance of high respect and unfeigned esteem to your Excellency, on your departure from Nova Scotia.

Your Excellency's unwearied attention to the welfare and best interest of this province, have engaged admiration, and given you a strong claim to our grat.i.tude; while the wisdom, mildness, and firmness of your administration have commanded general confidence; and such are your military talents, that, though storms have been hovering around us, and threatened to burst over our heads, with dependence on Divine protection, we have felt secure, while our armed force was under your direction.

"The virtues of your character have endeared you to the inhabitants of Nova Scotia, and we cannot but feel regret at your departure: but a higher and more important station requires your talents and abilities; and we beg leave to congratulate you on the flattering testimony you have received of royal favour and approbation.

"Permit us to say, that we shall ever feel a lively interest in every thing that regards your Excellency, and that the name of Sir George Prevost will ever be dear and honoured among us.

"To Lady Prevost we beg leave to tender our best respects, and sincere wishes, for her future happiness.

"May a pleasant pa.s.sage await you, and may you continue to receive, from our gracious Sovereign, those rewards which your services so justly ent.i.tle you to.

[Signed by the Magistrates, Clergy, Militia Officers, and other princ.i.p.al Inhabitants.]

"_August 15th, 1811._"

_Reply._

"Gentlemen,

"Feeling a sincere regard for every cla.s.s of people within this happy colony, I need not say that your kind address cannot but add to my gratification.

"I have made it my study to become acquainted with every part of the Province, with its views, its resources, and its advantages; but of your county I have had the satisfaction to obtain a more particular knowledge.

"The high state of its cultivation, and the agricultural benefits attending it, should make you proud of the land on which you live.

"Permit me, in return for your cordial address, to express my sincere wishes that your prosperity may continue, and that you may long live a free and happy people, under the best of governments.

"GEORGE PREVOST."

"_Government House, 16th Aug. 1811._"

No. XXI.[105]

_Address from the House of a.s.sembly of Upper Canada to Sir George Prevost, March 1813, p. 75._

"May it please your Excellency,

"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Upper Canada in Provincial Parliament a.s.sembled, beg leave to congratulate your Excellency on your arrival in this Province, and to express the unfeigned satisfaction it affords us in as much as it is an additional proof of the high interest your Excellency takes in the general welfare of this colony.

"We should be wanting to the sovereign, under whose paternal care we have so long lived, to our country and to ourselves, were we to neglect to offer to your Excellency at this time, the sentiments of grat.i.tude with which we feel inspired for the marks of your attention manifested in providing clothing for a considerable portion of the loyal and brave militia of this Province, as well as for the active and vigorous exertions which have been made, and are now making for strengthening our marine force upon the Lakes, which will enable us to secure and preserve that superiority upon that favourite element to which Great Britain is indebted for her prosperity and glory; and on which our safety so materially depends.

"Emerging from a state of infancy, the inhabitants of this province have been enabled, by the aid afforded them by your Excellency in his Majesty's regular forces, to defeat the designs of the enemy; although his numbers have been in every instance so superior.

"To suppose your Excellency will not continue to extend every a.s.sistance to us in this emergency, would be the height of incredulity, after the testimony we have already witnessed of your vigilance and affectionate solicitude for our preservation. It would be superfluous, therefore, to suggest how much we stand in need of the fostering hand of our mother country--to be directed by the wisdom of your Excellency, in order that we may maintain the laws and const.i.tution so dear to us, and which it is our sincere hope we may transmit unimpaired to our posterity.

"We hesitate not to say, that the energy your Excellency may exercise towards the attainment of this great end, will be zealously seconded by the people of this Province, and that their efforts under the influence of an omnipotent power, and the devotion of your Excellency's military skill, will be eventually successful.

"ALLAN M'LEAN, Speaker."

_Address from the Inhabitants of York to Sir George Prevost._

"May it please your Excellency,

"We the Magistrates and other inhabitants of the town of York, are happy in having an opportunity of paying that respect, which we owe to your Excellency, and of offering our most sincere thanks and acknowledgments for the attention you have been pleased to shew to this province.

"The pride and pleasure which we feel from the behaviour of our gallant militia, is greatly heightened when we consider that their conduct is honoured with your approbation, and that you are pleased to testify your sense of their services in ordering clothing for a considerable proportion of their number; an act of benevolence and humanity which will make a deep and lasting impression on their minds; and stimulate them to preserve that high character which they have already acquired.