James Bicket letters, 1836-1838

James Bickett lived in Toronto at the time of the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837-1838 and wrote about the political climate preceding the rebellion, as well as the atmosphere that followed.  

His letter dated September 18, 1836, notes that "…at that time we had a Radical House of Assembly whose measures were, in my opinion, calculated not only to check the improvement of the Province but to subvert the government and separate the Colony from Great Britain. In such a state of affairs it was my wish to have my own matters brought into a small compass so that I might have it in my power to leave the Province as soon as I choose to do so. A fortunate change however as you may have seen from the Provincial Papers sent you has taken place. The House was dissolved before it had lived half its days, and the one which has been elected is decidedly of a different character, showing a favorable change in the state of public opinion. The consequence of the change, although the new House does not meet till the 22nd Nov. has been the restoration of the confidence of people of property in the stability and prosperity of the Province and a more spirited undertaking of improvements which had languished under the influence of the Radicals…”

In his letter dated March 7, 1838, he writes extensively about the dire situation with the United States and the events in Niagara that precipitated it.  He writes that "You will see by the accts from this Country that although so far as the internal peace of the Province is concerned everything is quiet, yet a strong force and great vigilance is still necessary to protect us from the attacks of American citizens who, under the pretense of sympathizing with the few rebels whom the people here put down without the assistance of a single soldier, are collecting in large numbers on various parts of their frontier and threatening to invade us. Although the government of the United States may be too weak to restrain the mob, yet if the executive would exert in a proper manner the authority which it does possess, it might at least obtain the credit of sincerity but this I do not think it does, and as the British… has a clear right to indemnification which it is not likely the Americans will grant. I do not see how a war can be avoided...."

RG 902   James Bicket letters, 1836-1838

Letter by James Bicket, September 19, 1936

This letter comments on the political climate in Upper Canada shortly before the rebellion in 1837-38.

Letter by James Bicket, March 7, 1838

Bickett's second letter describes the diplomatic crisis after the rebellion, and his fear that a war with the United States was unavoidable.