Читать книгу The Life of John Graves Simcoe - William Renwick Riddell - Страница 3

Table of Contents

This work would not have appeared—at least in its present form—but for the diligent and successful researches of the late John Ross Robertson. My own investigations, pursued for some years, into the early history of Upper Canada, brought us together on many occasions. We found a common object of interest in John Graves Simcoe, our first Lieutenant-Governor. Mr. Robertson frequently urged me to write a life of Simcoe and I as often replied by urging him to do so. On almost the last interview we had, it was agreed that we should undertake the task together, he to write concerning Simcoe out of Canada and I concerning him in Canada. His lamented death prevented that project being carried into execution; but his son, Mr. Irving E. Robertson, has generously placed his collection of correspondence, &c., at my disposal that I might alone write what we had intended to write in association.

For the following pages I am alone responsible. Although the documents collected by Mr. Robertson have been utilized to the full, no use has been made of the chapters he wrote.

Much of the material is found in the Simcoe and Simcoe-Wolford Papers procured by the late Mr. Robertson; much collected by myself from the Canadian Archives and elsewhere, appears now in convenient form in three publications by the Ontario Historical Society—The Correspondence of Lieut.-Governor John Graves Simcoe, edited by Brigadier-General E. A. Cruickshank, LL.D., F.R.S.C. The Canadian Archives and those of Ontario with their many treasures, have been drawn on freely, as have the Parliamentary Library at Ottawa, the Reference Library at Toronto, the Riddell Canadian Library at Osgoode Hall, Toronto, and the Congressional Library at Washington. To those in charge of these institutions my sincere thanks are due and are here given for their unfailing courtesy and attention to what must have seemed at times almost unreasonable demands. Miss M. I. Sivers, who for years was closely in touch with Mr. Robertson and his work, has been of inestimable service in suggestion, criticism and correction.

While it is not to be expected that the following chapters are wholly without error, I have in practically every case given my authority, so that the error, if important enough, may be corrected.

Full credit has been given in the instances in which other accounts of Simcoe’s life have been quoted. I have in all cases gone to the original sources and owe nothing to any previous biographer.

No attempt has been made at fine writing: the facts of Simcoe’s life have been plainly stated and conjecture has been avoided.

The chapter on Simcoe as a Freemason has been added out of respect for Mr. Robertson’s well-known love of the Craft.

I venture to hope that the present work will do something to make Simcoe better known in his public and private career.

William Renwick Riddell.

Osgoode Hall, Toronto,

September 1926.