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by Honor de Pencier
Foreword by Jim Burant
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Posted To Canada The watercolours of George Russell Dartnell 1835-1844
by Honor de Pencier
Foreword by Jim Burant
Toronto and Oxford Dundurn Press 1987
Copyright © Honor de Pencier, 1987 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except brief passages for purposes of review) without the prior permission of Dundum Press Limited. Editor Marcia Rodriguez Photographer Brian Boyle, Royal Ontario Museum (except where noted) Design and Production: Andy Tong Printed and bound in Canada by Gagn£ Printing Limited
Published with the assistance of the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture. The publisher wishes to acknowledge the generous assistance and ongoing support of The Canada Council, the Book Publishing Development Programme of the Department of Communications and The Ontario Arts Council. Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in the text (including the illustrations). The author and publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any reference or credit in subsequent editions. They also welcome any new information on Dartnell and his works. /. Kirk Howard, Publisher Canadian Cataloguing in Publication De Pencier, Honor, 1937Posted to Canada The Watercolours of George Russell Dartnell 1835-1844 To accompany an exhibition held at the Royal Ontario Museum, Sept 26,1987-Feb. 28,1988. Bibliography: p. Includes index. ISBN 1-55002-021-8 1. Dartnell, George R., 1799-1878 2. Ontario in art S.Quebec (Province) in art L Dartnell, George R., 1799-1878. H. Royal Ontario Museum. m Title. ND1942D37A41897
759.2
Dundurn Press Limited 1558 Queen Street East Toronto, Canada M4L 1E8
C87-094562-9
Dundurn Distribution Athol Brose, School Hill Wargrave, Reading, England RG10 8DY
Acknowledgements This work owes much to the contributions of others, and I wish to acknowledge and thank them here. I am particularly grateful to Mary Allodi, curator of Canadian historical art at the Royal Ontario Museum, for her constant advice and encouragement as well as her generosity in making her research available to me. She has wanted to mount an exhibition of Dartnell watercolours for over ten years, and gave me the opportunity to work on this project I have been enthusiastically supported and aided by many of Dartnell's descendants, especially Betty McQuillan, John de Pencier, Michael de Pencier, and Patty Boake, whose cheerful forbearance and support was backed up by Joan Wagner, Pat Jones, Val Girvan, Peter Vaughan, Joseph de Pencier, Stephen Boake, Ian Boake, and Brian Boake. The meticulous research on the Dartnell family carried out by the late Canon T.F.W. de Pencier has contributed greatly to this work, as have the documents kept by his brother, the late Joseph C. de Pencier. Sadly, Patti de Pencier Radley, whose constant interest in the project helped me immensely, has not lived to see the results. Thanks are also owing to Eileen de Pencier, Marni de Pencier, George Boake, Malcolm Richardson, Pam Boake, Teresa Boake, Diana Brown, Margaret Stewart, and Bernard Radley. I am also indebted to those whose special research and knowledge have significantly added to this publication. They are Jim Burant and Lydia Foy, the Public Archives of Canada, Guy Saunders of Toronto, Gwen Patterson of Penetanguishene, and Madaline Roddick of London, Ontario. In addition, Miss J.M. Aspden, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Doris E. Pullen, Michael B. Ball, the National Army Museum, and W.G. Plomer of Thomas Agnew & Sons, Ltd., all of London, gave me important information, as did Jill Bennett of Stratford-upon-Avon, Daniel Roth of Leamington Spa, and Margaret Riorden of Cork.
I received valuable assistance from the following individuals: in Toronto, John Crosthwait, Baldwin Room, the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, Dennis Reid, Larry Pfaff, John O'Neill, and Brenda Rix, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Greg Loughton and Ingrid Kalnins, the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Hugh MacMillan, the Ontario Archives, Carl Benn, Bruce Cane, and Cheryl Hart, the Toronto Historical Board, Mary Bonnycastie, Judith Burgess, Nick de Pencier, Robin Harris, Louis Melzack, Stephen Otto, and Judith Saunders; in Quebec, Claude Thibault, Mus6e du Quebec; in Ottawa, Gilbert Gignac and Brian Driscoll, the Public Archives of Canada, Rosemarie Tovell, the National Gallery of Canada, Rene" Chartrand, Parks Canada, DavidThiery Ruddel, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and Jeremy Adamson; in Montreal, Conrad Graham, the McCord Museum, John Russell, and Peter Winkworth; in Halifax, Scott Robson, the Nova Scotia Museum; in London, Ontario, Glen Curnoe, the London Room, London Public Library, Edward Phelps, John Lutman, and Guy St-Denis, the Regional Room, D. B. Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, Barry Fair, London Regional Art Gallery, Catherine Elliot Shaw, the Mclntosh Gallery, Charles Addington, Diocese of Huron Archives; in Penetanguishene, Burke Penny, the Historic Naval and Military Establishments, and in Kingston, Dorothy Farr, Agnes Etherington Art Centre. I would also like to express my gratitude to others farther afield: G. Armitage, India Office Records, the British Library; Peter Day, Devonshire Collections, Chatsworth; Knight of Glin, Co. Limerick; Marlene O'Connor, St. Mary's Cathedral, and Dr. S.C. O'Mahony, the Mid-West Archives, Limerick; E. Talbot Rice, the National Army Museum; P.S. Blunt, Margaret Green, and Kathren Morris, Warwickshire; and LlCol. J.L. Wilson Smith, the Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Edinburgh Castle.
My colleagues at the Royal Ontario Museum have helped in countless ways. I wish to thank Don Webster, Carol Baum, Barbara Chisholm, Janet Holmes, Betty Pratt, Karen Smith, Catherine Wyss, Judith Eger, Ed Keall, John Kenny, Ken Lister, and Julia Matthews. I received special advice from Jean Lavery, Hugh Porter, Mary Terziano, Margo Welch, Lorna Hawrysh, Barbara Ibronyi, and Sandra Shaul. Pat Heimbecker was particularly helpful, as were Brian Boyle and the Photography Department I am indebted to all of them, and to many others at the Royal Ontario Museum, for their support throughout the Dartnell research project and subsequent exhibition. The manuscript has been much improved by my editor, Marcia Rodriguez, who managed to do a difficult job in a very short time. I am very grateful to her, and to Gord Forstner, who is almost as proficient on the computer as he is on the guitar. My appreciation also goes to Kirk Howard of Dundurn Press. This work would have remained unpublished without the generous assistance of the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture. Finally, to Nick, Miranda, and Mark, and especially to Michael, your warm support is, as always, invaluable. H.deP. June 1987
Foreword George Russell Dartnell was an exceptional character. He was an outstanding artist as well as a military doctor, whose life and career coincided with the headiest years of European, and more particularly, British expansionism. His military service, in the Mediterranean, Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), India, and in the Canadas, reflects the global interests which Great Britain developed in the first half of the nineteenth century, and like many Britons, Dartnell took pride in recording the places he visited, and the events he witnessed. Dartnell's military career, as well as his training as a medical man, well-suited him to the task of observing and delineating his surroundings, whether they were Chatham dockyard, the interior of Ceylon, the Ganges at Allahabad, or a forest road in Upper Canada. Dartnell's landscapes are frequently picturesque, always informative, and sometimes dramatic in their compositions and colours, and may be regarded as valuable records of the countries in which he served. Much of his work, however, also reflects the spirit of a man whose character seems to have been universally admired. He was a raconteur, bon vivant, humourist, and sportsman, as well as an avid artist The sketch taken of him by his fellow artist, Sir James Alexander, (Fig. 3)*, captures much of this spirit Although Dartnell has his back turned to him, Alexander still manages to depict the intensity of Dartnell's interest in sketching the scene which was before him. Dartnell also had a more serious side to his character — one amply demonstrated by the range of his humanitarian concerns, particularly for the health and well-being of the enlisted men under his care. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Dartnell seems to have been genuinely interested in improving the lot of the common soldier. On a broader scale, DartnelTs interest in everyday life is reflected in
many of his sketches. Where other officers were content to record the sleigh parties and other sporting outings of garrison life, or the growth of the communities in which they were stationed, Dartnell recorded many of the mundane aspects of colonial existence, such as the act of tapping the maple sugar tree (53»), immigrant boats being towed by a steamer on Lake St-Louis (27*), or wagonteams at Gravitt's Public House near Penetanguishene (68*). The results are views almost unique in the visual documentation of pioneer life in Canada, and ones of enormous value to social history. This study of his life and career is long overdue, and the reader should find in the following pages much to interest, amuse and admire. JimBurant Chief, Collections Management Documentary Art and Photography Division Public Archives of Canada
*Dartnell's works are listed chronologically in the catalogue section on p. 98, and are referred to in the text by their catalogue numbers in parentheses, as (20). Those marked -with an asterisk are illustrated in the text in chronological order as far as possible; those with a dot are in colour, and can be found on p. 9-16, and on the front and back covers. Illustrations called Figures represent material related to the text, but not necessarily by Dartnell. Fig. 3 is on p. 73.
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CONTENTS Introduction: "Worthless Scraps from Many Lands"
I.
17
The Early Years 1799/1800-1835 1. 2.
A Medical Education Ceylon, India, and Home
20 24
II. Posted to Canada 1835-1844 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Montreal and Toronto Penetanguishene Quebec City and Montreal London, Port Talbot, and Environs St. Marys, Niagara, and London Toronto, New York State, and the St. Lawrence The Wreck of the Premier
31 39 50 57 67 77 81
III. The Later Years 1844-1878 10. The United Kingdom
88
Endnotes Chronology
92 97
Catalogue
98
Selected Bibliography Index
108 111
This work is dedicated to the descendants of George Russell Dartnell who have honoured his memory by preserving his works.
16. South Bridge, Cork, 1834
9
21. Ice shove at Montreal, c. 1836
10
55. Tapping a maple tree, c. 1837
60. Winter view of Little Lake, 1838
11
55. The barracks and Penetanguishene harbour, 1837
12
72. Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, 1838
13
75. Lower Town, Quebec, 1838
14
91. Floating ice on the river at Quebec, 1839
15
147. St. Marys on the Thames, 1842
16
Introduction: "Worthless Scraps from Many Lands
G
eorge Russell Dartnell (1799/1800-1878) has left us a remarkable legacy in his many watercolour sketches of early Canada. While posted to Canada as a surgeon with the British army, he sketched over 150 works between 1835 and 1844. Because Dartnell identified and dated most of these subjects, this large body of work forms a significant addition to Canada's pre-photographic visual history. Although some examples of Dartnell's work are held by various public institutions, the greatest number of surviving watercolours have remained in the hands of descendants. This study traces Dartnell's life and travels during his service in Canada through an examination of his art. To provide a context for these works, and to understand Dartnell's artistic development, details of his education and military career outside Canada are included, along with a representative selection of views. Appended to the study is a catalogue listing of all his known Canadian sketches, a short list of a few works sketched abroad, and a chronology of his life. Sketching was only a hobby for Dartnell, but his output reveals a wide range in both quality and choice of subject. His landscapes depict a pristine Canada: forests before they were chopped down, land before it was cut up by asphalt highways, and lakes and rivers before they were surrounded by buildings and spoiled by industry. His work also documents our early expansion and settlement: villages, roads, mills, canals, bridges, and cabins, all recently built by Europeans, and often accompanied by the inevitable tree stumps. Many of these views are outstanding for aesthetic reasons alone. A few small
55
but significant mementos give us unique glimpses of people or .scenes of a more personal nature. Dartnell framed some of the large and successful works for his own use and enjoyment; the rest he carefully stored in a large scrapbook.1 This scrapbook was a major attempt to keep a record of his sketches done during his tours of duty with the British army. Its title is inscribed in pale ink on the first page, "Worthless Scraps from Many Lands / by Geo. R. Dartnell." Judging by the dates of works included in the scrapbook, it was put together sometime after his return to the United Kingdom in 1844. Although now in poor condition, the book Dartnell chose had hard covers wrapped in brown, marbled silk, and measured 493 mm by 355 mm. A few remnants of goldtrimmed brown leather decorating the spine and corners remain to indicate its original appearance. Inside, many pages have been cut out and works removed over the years; these are now being brought together again in this study. Some 220 works remain in the scrapbook, most identified by the artist giving location and date. The majority of the sketches are from the early period, 1821 through the Canadian years, with very few works dated after 1844, except for a few Irish views. Curiously enough, Dartnell made no attempt to organize the material chronologically. Rather, his interest seems to have been in achieving a visual balance on each page, so that he placed sketches according to their size and geographical content (Fig. 1). The scrapbook, and the many Canadian views that have been located among the descendants living in Canada, were brought to this country by the artist's daughter Georgina
17
Mary Dartnell, who married Lt.-Col. Frederick Wells of Toronto, after he had returned from the Crimean War.2 Georgina probably met her husband in England through her father, as both men were members of the Royal Regiment at one time. Wells was the son of Lt-Col. Joseph Wells, who had fought in the peninsular campaigns against Napoleon. The elder Wells retired and moved to Toronto in 1817, where four years later he bought the house known as Davenport, on the hill just east of Bathurst Street, and west of where Casa Loma now stands.3 In preserving his travel sketches, Dartnell was simply following a fashionable British tradition. The practice of sketching landscape views in watercolour had grown in popularity during the second half of the eighteenth century and continued into the early nineteenth century. For those with talent, it was a pleasant pastime, in a medium that travelled well. Through this exercise, military officers, many of whom had been taught topographical drawing as cadets at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, contributed to the visual record of the countries they visited.Their contribution was particularly important for Canada, since, prior to 1760, the artists of New France produced few landscapes; the demand was for portraits and religious paintings. During the fourteen years that Dartnell worked as a surgeon in the ranks of the medical corps of the army in the Mediterranean, in the east, and in the United Kingdom, he also developed as a sensitive observer and gifted draftsman, recording many sights from his extensive travels. By the time he came to Canada, his general sketching style and volume of output was similar to that of such well-known British officers as Col. James Hope (later Hope-Wallace, 1807-1854), and Col. Henry William Barnard (1799-1857). They, along with numerous other military artists, were stationed in the Quebec area during some of Dartnell's tenure there.4 But Dartnell's
18
lengthy postings to other garrisons such as London and Penetanguishene gave him the chance to portray a broader range of subjects. Where he went, and what he saw, and what he chose to sketch, has given us yet another small but valuable segment of our history.
Fig. 1. Three watercolour views of Cerigo, Greece, August 1821. From a page in Dartnell's scrapbook, "Worthless Scraps from Many Lands"
49. Snowshoers with sleigh, 1837
19
Chapter 1
A Medical Education
L
ittle is known about George Dartnell's childhood. The details that are available are either unsubstantiated, or do not agree. Even his birthdate remains elusive. A small family register, written by one of Dartnell's daughters, gives his birthdate as 20 July 1800. Two separate regimental documents, listing Dartnell's service record, note two other dates: 12 July 1799, and 28 July 1799. His death certificate shows that he died 22 July 1878, at the age of "seventy-eight." All records agree, however, that Dartnell was born in the city of Limerick.1 George was the third son of John Dartnell of Rathkeale, Ireland, and Alice or Alicia Russell, whose father was a linen draper in the city of Limerick. According to a short family history (compiled at an unknown date by an unidentified chronicler), the Dartnells' Huguenot ancestors had settled in County Limerick in the seventeenth century, after fleeing religious persecution in France. John and Alice Dartnell were married in 1792 in Limerick. In 1796 John advertised in local newspapers of that city as a "woollen merchant," but by 1802 he notified the public that he was changing his line of business.2 His new occupation may have been accounting, for
20
the family chronicle tells us that John Dartnell was for many years employed as cashier by the Duke of Devonshire at Lismore Castle, County Waterford. Unfortunately, all attempts to check these stories have failed, and the Lismore papers remain unsorted at the National Library in Dublin, unavailable for consultation or reference. The above bits of information give little help in discovering where the young Dartnell attended school. His formal education began in 1814, when he was apprenticed for five years to Dr. Woodroffe of Cork, with whom he was to study medicine.3 Dr. Woodroffe was an important member of the Cork community, who in 1811 established the School of Physics and Surgery. Woodroffe also lectured to the local Society of Arts on the anatomy of expression, the philosophy of the human body, and phrenology.4 Since Dartnell was fortunate enough to be accepted as an apprentice to such an eminent person, we can safely assume mat the young man's earlier education had been good, and that the family was able to afford the best available local medical training. Dartnell studied five courses of anatomy with Woodroffe, and with other professors a range of subjects including medical chemistry, natural philosophy, and botany.
While still training with Dr. Woodroffe in Cork, Dartnell spent six months in 1817 at the Richmond Hospital in Dublin, pursuing a course of anatomy and surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons there. His student years were not without adventure. Twenty-five years later in 1843, Dartnell recounted to his travelling companion Sir James Alexander some of the risks faced by the medical students while trying to obtain corpses for their dissecting room. Alexander later retold these stories in a book on his life in Canada, L'Acadie.5 In one incident, students ventured into the night to dig up a fresh grave, but were discovered and fired upon the moment their spade touched earth. They escaped with only one man wounded, but another occasion saw a student shot dead at a graveside. To show the lighter side of such activities, Dartnell recalled another clandestine digging where the alarm was sounded by a nervous watchman sitting on a wall beside the grave. The students scattered, only to learn that the cause of the alarm was a noisy cow. On returning to the site, they found their watchman, who had fallen into the grave in the dark, emerging from under the loose earth. One corpse, successfully "borrowed" from a grave, became the subject of hasty hiding when the deceased's wife and friends appeared at the windows of the dissecting room with an angry mob. The medical students managed to get rid of their evidence, if not their guilt. Some time after the incident, Dartnell was gazing into the window of a Cork print shop, when he was suddenly hit with a blow from a cane wielded by the unforgetting widow, who yelled, "That's for the bloody doctor!" Although this story gives evidence of Dartnell's early attraction to prints, it is still not known at what stage he began to draw or to paint as a serious avocation. Certainly when he moved to Cork, if not before, he met people who were interested in the arts. At that time, Cork was a flourishing city with a lively intellectual community. Its focus was the Royal
Cork Institution, founded in 1803 to promote an interest in science and knowledge. By Dartnell's day it had already established a lecture room, a library, a botanic garden, and a laboratory complete with inventory for agricultural and other kinds of chemical experiments. Dartnell's introduction to the Institution probably came about through one of his instructors, Mr. Edmund Davy, the well-known scientist who left the Royal Institution of London to lecture at the Cork Institution from 1813 to 1826, or through his master, Dr. Woodroffe, who also lectured at the Institution. Various artists from Cork, including Daniel Maclise (1808-1870) and the sculptor John Hogan (1800-1858), are known to have attended Woodroffe's lectures, some of which were reportedly related to "sculpture and painting."6 Furthermore, with one exception, all of Dartnell's lecturers are mentioned in the Institution's papers of 1813 and 1814. One of them, Dr. Willes, may well be the artist William Willes (fl. 1815-1851), whose name was published in 1894 in a list of Cork artists.7 In any case, it is reasonable to assume that in an atmosphere that encouraged general knowledge and artistic interests, Dartnell became a keen observer of the work and ideas of other artists, and finally took up drawing himself. After six years of medical study and training at Cork, Dartnell successfully passed his examinations before the Director General of the Army Medical Department on 28 November 1820. Two days later he was appointed Hospital Assistant by commission.8 Dartnell's first employment was in England at Chatham, the largest naval centre in the country, where the hospital at Fort Pitt, originally built as an artillery barracks, stood as the only general military hospital in England.9 Coincidentally, this is also the post to which Dartnell returned at the end of his army career in 1854. Dartnell's earliest surviving sketches, dating from January 1821, are views of the area near Fort Pitt hospital at Chatham (1*, 2). These works are sufficiently tentative in composition
21
and lacking in perspective to suggest that he had not yet had a great deal of practice in landscape drawing. Just a few days after he sketched the Chatham views, Dartnell produced two architectural studies of the cathedral at nearby Rochester (3*, 4). These do indicate some skill in his general rendering of the buildings, and in his handling of light and shadow. However, as in the first two Chatham sketches, some aspects of his drawing of details are weak, as seen in the poorly sketched angles of the upper window of the cathedral (3) and the lack of foreshortening in the right-hand portal of the doorway in the close-up view (4). Three months later Dartnell sketched a charming landscape view from the village of Gillingham (5), situated on the River Medway east of Rochester and Chatham. This work illustrates a more balanced and lively drawing style, particularly in the foreground and middle ground details of fence, buildings, and
L Chatham dockyard from Fort Pitt Hill, 1821
22
bushes. Framing the composition are three types of trees, their various branches loosely sketched in pen and ink, and the accompanying foliage executed in a brown-grey wash, each with a different style of brush stroke. Although light and airy in mood, the view is still the work of a novice struggling to come to grips with the elements of drawing. After six months at Chatham, Dartnell was sent to the Mediterranean.10 According to the inscriptions of about a dozen sketches made between 22 May and 29 November 1821, he appears to have visited Malta, the Greek islands of Corfu and Cerigo (Fig. 1), Gibraltar, and Sardinia. The Mediterranean sketches suggest an emerging fluid style that contrasts with his earlier, more stilted drawings. The compositions are unified and pleasing, and the light and colour tones show that Dartnell was more confident with his medium. Dartnell was back in England by December of 1821.11 In 1822 he continued his medical training with a six-month attachment to St. George's Hospital in London, where he attended clinical lectures given by the famous surgeon Sir Everard Home. On 2 August Dartnell passed the membership exams of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, allowing him to use the letters "M.R.C.S.E." after his name.12 His formal education completed, he set out the following year for his first major period of foreign service with the British army.
3. Front of Rochester Cathedral, 1821
23
Chapter 2
Ceylon, India, and Home
O
n 3 February 1823 Dartnell left England for three and a half years of foreign service with the Army Medical Department in the British crown colony of Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka).1 During the voyage out, Dartnell sketched a view of Cape Town (6), and others of Mauritius, an island east of South Africa, where his ship seems to have stopped for at least two weeks in June. In these small works Dartnell has outlined his compositions on the paper with graphite (which produced lines similar to those of today's pencil), and then added tone with pale, coloured washes. The results indicate an improved ability to define depth and to express light and atmosphere with thin washes that allow the white paper to show through. Many of his subsequent works exhibit these desirable qualities, an indication that his long voyage to the east must have allowed many hours of practice. Three British regiments were stationed at Ceylon during Dartnell's time there,2 all occupied in the major task of establishing military posts and of building roads to connect them.3 These activities help to explain what appears to be Dartnell's constant travelling during his tour of duty there as an army "hospital assistant." Early in 1824 he visited the east coast city of Batticaloa, where he sketched an effective evening
24
scene of fishing boats returning home (7). At the same time he attempted a full-length portrait of one of the sons of the local military leader (8*). Figure studies are rare in DartnelTs work; he tended to use them only in small groups, shown from the back, to add interest and scale to his landscape sketches. Despite his medical training, he was not adept at drawing the human body. But in this case, although the figure is not in proportion, Dartnell's careful attention to detail and to the colours in the costume give the work an element of charm, as does the small-scale grey wash setting in the background. In another work done en route to Trincomalee, Dartnell sketched his travelling party resting and taking shelter from the sun under a spectacular banyan tree (9*). The mention of himself and an unknown colleague ("R.T.") in the inscription is one of only two personal references in his work; the other occurs in a sketch of the artist's luggage next to a litter, done while touring in India. Dartnell seems to have spent much of 1825 and 1826 in the interior of Ceylon, in the area of Kandy and Kurunegala, where he sketched exotic mountain landscapes and small studies of elephants. One particularly ambitious painting combines a view of elephants bathing in a lake surrounded by mountains on one side and palm trees on the other (10*). This
watercolour measures about 525 mm by 725 mm, and is the only known example of its size by Dartnell, although descendants remember other large works now missing. This picture may well have been copied in later years from a smaller sketch, as it is unlikely he would have had with him such large paper, or been able to preserve it while in the east. The pleasant activity of sketching must have provided relief from some of the unpleasant duties faced by a surgeon in this hot climate. Kurunegala was known for its particularly horrible malarial fever that attacked both native peoples and newcomers.4 Statistics show that the mortality rate of British soldiers in Ceylon was five times higher than that in Britain.5 Dartnell had many adventures in Ceylon, some of which he related to friends in later years. H.C.R. Becher was so taken with the Ceylon elephant stories Dartnell told while travelling with him near London, Canada West, in 1842, that he included them in his newspaper account of that trip published in The Albion .6 Some episodes involved the extremely dangerous single or "rogue" elephant. Dartnell described one terrifying evening when he met one of these animals guarding a narrow, steep mountain pass. He was riding horseback alone, without a gun, when the elephant charged. Luckily a native Kandian appeared, and calmed the animal so that Dartnell could proceed on his way. On another occasion it was Dartnell who saved a Kandian, this time a postal runner. The poor man had been chased up a tree by an elephant and held at bay there for two and a half days before Dartnell found him, exhausted and starved. Dartnell had to shoot the animal to save the man. We do not know whether Dartnell ever told tales of his pet elephant, "Jack," who is the subject of some small pencil sketches in his scrapbook and two other larger ones in ink and washes. One sketch shows what appears to be a room in Dartnell's quarters, with an open window and a framed landscape on the walls - perhaps his own - on either side of an open door (Fig. 2). A native person sits cross-legged under
8. Son of the military chief at Batticoloa, Ceylon, 1824
25
a thatched roof just outside, while in front of the window stands a table laid for tea. But it is the animals who are the focus of the sketch. A monkey sits on the window sill watching two little sloth bears, one eating from a dish on the floor, the other seated in a chair at a second table. In the foreground, a small proud elephant, who must be Jack, brings a kettle in his trunk to the tea table. Dartnell probably sketched this memento of his friends knowing that he would soon have to leave them. The only other reference to Jack has come down through the family. The story is told that Jack broke loose one Sunday morning and followed Dartnell to church. There he walked in the door, and promptly got stuck in the narrow aisle between the pews. In October 1825 Dartnell was promoted to the position of
Assistant Surgeon with the 41st Regiment, at that time engaged in operations in Burma.7 However, it is not clear whether he joined the regiment in India at Madras in late 1826, or in early 1827 by which time it was at Bellary in the central part of the country.8 Information about his Indian sojourn is scarce, and so the large number of sketches that he completed and preserved from this period have been used to determine his whereabouts on many occasions. For example, in October 1826 Dartnell was apparently in the north of India at Calcutta, sketching the parade square, or boats and scenes on the Hooghly River. By March 1827 he was in the southeast and listed the progress of a march to Bellary from Madras, from 23 March to 14 April.This march was recorded in a small, leatherbound sketchbook which he had received in Ceylon, and may represent the point at which he joined his regiment.9 On 25 April 1827 he sketched a litter and some luggage bearing his name and regiment, a sure sign that he was on the move again. The next set of sketches, dated September 1827, reveal that the 41st Regiment had moved to Belgaum in the northwest, where they were engaged in military action near Kholapur. Dartnell's service record states that he was present in the field and in medical charge in a campaign against Kholapur, and subsequently served in the garrison of Belgaum in the Presidency of Fort St. George.10 According to a soldier's memoirs of the time, that battle took place in October, and by December part of the regiment was back in Belgaum.11 Although this military action was minor enough not to be mentioned in Fig. 2. Dartnell's pet elephant, "Jack," and other friends, probably in his quarters at Kurunegala, the Regiment's published history, it is Ceylon, June 1825. Pen and ink and coloured washes
26
notable as the only known military action that Dartnell ever saw. His main battle was against cholera, which broke out twice in 1827, and killed forty-seven men in the 41st Regiment.12 Army medical statistics show that more soldiers died of disease in the east than from military activities.13 After what must have been an extremely busy year, Dartnell found opportunities to sketch views of the area around Belgaum, including various hill forts and the Malabar Coast to the west. Records state that he served from September 1828 to October 1830 "on the General Staff in India, as Staff Surgeon to the King's Depot in Bengal."14 Little detail is available about the latter posting, but he must have had leave prior to November 1828, as he made some fine sketches while still on the central west coast of India and in the Portuguese colony of Goa (11), a holiday resort popular with the army for relief from the heat of the interior and for its variety of historic buildings. Dartnell spent some time inland visiting and drawing some of the great Hindu and Mohammedan ruins in the area of Badami (12*) and Bijapur. Many of these are large, finely finished compositions, and reveal a competence and ease of execution. They capture the atmosphere and immediacy of on-the-spot sketches, and indicate that Dartnell had worked out the techniques most suited to his subjects. He always roughed out his compositions lightly with graphite using a loose and free drawing style. Sometimes he followed this initial step with a more finished work in graphite, but more often in these eastern views, he worked over
the sketch by outlining the important elements with pen and ink, and then adding a wide range of tonal values with brush and grey or brown washes. The scenes of Goa and the Hindu ruins, although monochromatic, are lively, sensitive, detailed, and light-filled, yet not overworked. Other small, vignette-like drawings of Malabar guns and architectural details attest to his own interest and observation of the design and workmanship that created these spectacular monuments (13*). While in India he also sketched in pencil some tiny figure and animal studies. By 1830 Dartnell was in the north, living on a barge-like boat, called a "budgerow," on the Ganges River. He also had a cook-boat, and appears to have travelled on the river in 1830
9. Banyan tree near Trincomalee, Ceylon, 1824
27
10 .Wild elephants bathing. Ceylon, c, 1825
28
Chatham, Kent, where he had been in 1821, and where in and 1831, recording river landscape views of 1833 he sketched views near Hammond Hill, Chatham, and Benares, Manikpur, and Bhagalpur, among others. One Fort Pitt There are at least two distant prospects of Rochester illustration portrays one of the annual Hindu bathing festivals Castle, and another more finished work in pen and ink and at Allahabad, where a large group of devotees waves coloured wash picturing the small Wouldham Church on the River banners (14). Medway near by (15). Dartnell was in the Brecon area of Dartnell probably rejoined his regiment in Trichinopoly in Wales after August, where he took views of its castle, church, 1831, and marched with them to Madras in December of that and environs. Other works point to Dartnell's presence in year for embarkation to Burma.15 Although the dates on which Ireland in the early part of 1834, as he sketched the fishing the troops left for Burma are confusing, there is no doubt that village of Kinsale in January, and the South Bridge in Cork in there was a serious outbreak of cholera while they were at 16 March (16»). The South Bridge sketch and another view of a Madras. Dartnell's medical duties must have kept him bridge at Milltown, near Dundrum, are both excellent works. extremely busy during this time, and he probably contracted They have been loosely drawn, without much detail, but their the disease himself, for by 18 March 1832 he was home on sick leave, and did not return to the east to rejoin the regiment17 There are no surviving sketches to document Dartnell's whereabouts in 1832, but he would have visited his family and friends at home in Ireland and in England, during and after his convalescence. The first news we have tells us that on 19 December 1832 Dartnell married Anna Maria Bennett at Lifford, County Donegal.18 The Freeman's Journal reported the wedding, but gave the groom's name as "Dartwell"; it also noted that Anna Maria was the only daughter of a G.W. Bennett of Bennettstown, County Limerick.19 Dartnell's sick leave ended 17 January 1833, and he returned to General Staff duty on exchange as Assistant Staff Surgeon, a posting that marked the end of his attachment to a regiment for the next six years.20 He was sent to 12. Hindu ruins near Badami, India, 1828
29
pleasant compositions and pale, clear colouring suggest the work of a maturing artist, one who is able to capture the essence and mood of a scene without overworking it. The Dartnells' first child, Rebecca, was born at Chatham in August 1833, but she died immediately. Although we have
13. Malabar gun and two small studies at Bijapur, India, 1828
30
no details of DartneU's career in 1834, we do know from the family record that another daughter was born that July, place unknown. She was named Alicia Isabella, no doubt after DartneU's mother.21
Chapter 3
Montreal and Toronto
A
ssistant Staff Surgeon Dartnell was ordered to Canada in 1835, along with two other army medical men, to complete the required medical staff for that command. News of their appointments was announced in a letter of 22 May 1835 from Lord Somerset at the Horse Guards in London, addressed to Lieutenant-General Lord Aylmer, Governor-in-Chief of Canada from 1831 to 1835. The men embarked at Cork, 12 June 1835, and arrived in either Quebec or Montreal 21 July.1 Two other official letters mention Dartnell in the military records that year, and indicate that by August he was stationed on the general army medical staff at Montreal.2 Dartnell's earliest known sketch at Montreal is dated September 1835 (17). It is a competent but summary drawing of unidentified buildings on a shoreline that could be anywhere. Executed in brown ink and wash, it lacks the spirited quality of many of his monochrome studies from India and Ceylon. However, Dartnell's interest in the theory of watercolour painting was very much alive that season in Montreal. In the back of the small sketchbook he had received in Ceylon, Dartnell had collected some notes on painting landscapes, including a dozen sets of instructions on the
composition of a picture, the mixing of colours, and the application of various coloured washes to achieve certain artistic effects. These notes were apparently taken from published articles by such well-known English watercolour painters and teachers as John Varley (1778-1842), David Cox (1783-1859), and Thomas Girtin (1775-1802). Although most of the notes are undated, the fifth was inscribed, "Dublin, September 1834," indicating that the previous pages were written before Dartnell's posting to Canada. Of great interest is the seventh entry, entitled "Hints for Drawing in watercolour from Major Young, 79th Highlanders," and dated September 1835, Montreal. Major Young was probably John Crawford Young (1788-C.1859), a military officer and artist, who was posted to Canada in 1825, and stationed in Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and York.3 We don't know whether Dartnell met Young, but Young's instructions could have been passed on by his fellow artists in Canada, or even by some students, if Young had taught painting there. Young's advice included such details as: In figures always use one of the primitive colours - blue, red, or yellow pure, as may be required, reducing with a mixture of the other two.
31
Ultramarine - cobalt - brown madder - for the Sea - Blue, Black, Burnt Sienna, diluted in a Saucer & poured off useful for Skies - Black & Vandyke Brown for Trees - glazed sometimes with blue and gamboge [yellow] The best director, the most perfect guide is lovely nature ... Confide in her with a bold head & feel the sentiment of drawing - If possible never let a day pass without drawing something, which if ever so little, will in the end be much A long technical treatise on colour mixing by Varley follows, dated Montreal, 22 October 1835. At the end of this Varley suggests, "For sketching from nature the colours
19. Winter road across the ice, c. 1836
32
should be in small tin boxes. A small portion of white sugar candy dissolved in water will prevent the colours from cracking, & will make them work up easily in the box." For the outdoor artist Varley advises adding a small portion of a bitter substance (Coloquintida) to watercolours, to prevent flies from sitting on the drawings. And finally he notes that a hole or blemish in a drawing may be filled or covered with pipe clay or tobacco, and tinted over by degrees. In addition to instructions such as these, DartneH's sketchbook contains some rough sketches, a tiny study of a sleigh, and one of a pale outline of a sunset at Montreal with instructions dated 31 December 1835, "Horizon glowing - fading upwards into a pale straw colour - clouds brownish grey." Dartnell soon applied his studies on watercolour painting in a series of Canadian scenes, beginning with dramatic depictions of snow and ice shoves during the winter of 1836. He was obviously so fascinated by the intense brightness and striking formations of the ice shoves surrounding the Montreal harbour and nearby areas that he sketched this subject at least five times that season (20*-24). Equally captivating were the bleak winter roads across wide rivers and lakes (18,19*), and the spectacular views of floating or berg ice (25*, 26). The contrast of these brilliant and vivid scenes with those he had sketched in the tropical heat of Ceylon and India is evident in his different artistic treatment of the locales. The eastern landscapes were rendered mostly in pen and ink with monochrome grey or brown washes over graphite, whereas the Canadian views
to Lachine, where they transferred into small steamers, or usually show a full range of colours. These, too, were large, flat-bottomed Durham boats for the journey over the originally composed using graphite in a loose and free Ottawa-Rideau route to Kingston and beyond.6 Dartnell must drawing style. Occasionally they were finished with have joined one of these groups as he made his way to his new monochrome washes, but more often Dartnell worked over the posting at the Penetanguishene garrison. According to a subjects, outlining the important features in loose, linear scrapbook notation referring to a sketch now missing, he was strokes with pen and ink. He would then fill out or build up at "Mullins" Inn at Lachine on 17 June. Like many of his his Canadian sketches with watercolour washes of various inscriptions, it is not clear whether that was the actual day he strengths to form colourful compositions. When dark colour was there, or simply the date on which he finished the sketch. tones, such as browns and greens dominated a landscape, It took longer than three days to reach Niagara Falls from Dartnell often restored a balance by adding bright, motionLachine, and yet 20 June 1836 is the date attached to two very filled skies or water. He would also use white bodycolour, or gouache, to suggest or highlight such elements as the foam on top of the waves, the crest of the snow, or the reflections on water. In some works he scraped out the paint down to the white paper, in order to articulate the action of spray, falling water, or smoke. His scraping is sometimes so carefully achieved that it resembles paint applied with a brush. A year after Dartnell's arrival in Canada, the army returns show that he was still at Montreal on 1 July 1836, but he is listed at the same time as "under orders for Penetanguishene."4 Perhaps he had some unrecorded leave owing to him, for if the dates on the following sketches are accurate, he was already en route for Upper Canada by the middle of June. On 13 June, for example, he took a small pen-and-ink sketch of some "emigrant" boats being towed by a steamer on Lake St-Louis, just west of Montreal (27*).5 From Montreal, 20. Ice on the wharf at Montreal, 1836 travellers heading west would have gone
33
£
25 .berg ice on the st. lawrence at montreal,1836
27. Emigrant boats on Lake St-Louis, 1836
35
fine Niagara views, effectively finished in brown ink and grey washes (28, 29). The following week he was in Toronto, but unfortunately there are only three sketches from that visit, two of them illustrating waterfront scenes. The first (30*), dated 28 June 1836, depicts a lantern on a pier identified as the King's Wharf, even though no lantern is known to have existed on that pier. The Queen's Wharf, which was near the garrison, did have a lantern, however, and is probably the subject of DartnelTs sketch7. The other Toronto view (31*) is similar in atmosphere to the first, although the scene is not easily identified. The date 1836, in graphite, might have been added later, since the original inscription is in ink. If it was noted in error, the view could also date 1838 or 1843, the two other years that Dartnell was in Toronto. The third sketch (32) is a rough pen-and-ink drawing with graphite of a cart with two horses. The style is loose, and the work was obviously finished quickly. According to an inscription from another missing sketch, Dartnell was at Crew's Inn, between Toronto and Newmarket, on 3 July 1836. If the inscribed date is accurate, two days later Dartnell was on the north shore of Kempenfelt Bay, Lake Simcoe, busy sketching the residence of a member of Parliament, Mr. James Wickens (33*).8 Dartnell may have stayed a day or two in Wickens' large, two-storied frame house, for he did not reach Georgian Bay until two days later.
30. Lantern on a wharf at Toronto, 1836
36
31. At Toronto, 1836
37
33. Residence of James Wickens, Lake Simcoe, 1836
38
Chapter 4
Penetanguishene
D
artnell probably travelled north to Penetanguishene from Barrie on Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching to the site of present-day Qrillia. After taking the twenty-four-kilometre portage overland from there to the Coldwater River, he could then proceed by canoe to the river's outlet at Matchedash Bay into Georgian Bay, where he stopped to sketch (34). He most likely visited the village of Coldwater, which had opened its first post office as early as 1830, and also served as Indian agency from that year until it was transferred to Manitoulin Island in 1836. From the shore near Coldwater, it was about thirty kilometres around the coast to the garrison at Penetanguishene.1 Judging by the date on another sketch, Dartnell was back in the Barrie area at Kempenfelt Bay again on 24 July 1836, perhaps to meet his wife and young children from Montreal or to pick up supplies. The depot for the military stores was at Kempenfelt, at the base of the Penetanguishene Road.2 The British garrison of Penetanguishene to which Dartnell was ordered was still a small outpost, although it had changed considerably since its founding as a naval base after the War of 1812. Originally built for shipbuilding and as a supply centre for the defence of British North America's posts farther north
and west, it was also a defence backup for the vulnerable town of York on Lake Ontario, during those years of tension between the British and die Americans. Naval personnel and their staff, including shipwrights, blacksmiths, and clerks, were the first to inhabit the post, which was operational from 1817. It was also used over the years as the home base for special expeditions. Admiral Henry Bayfield stopped there as a young surveyor, as did Sir John Franklin, who visited the post in 1825 on his overland trip to the Arctic.3 In 1828 a number of people were relocated to Penetanguishene when Drummond Island was turned over to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Ghent. This island in Lake Huron, just southeast of Sault Ste Marie, had been the site of a British garrison and an Indian Department, both of which were officially ordered to reestablish at the Penetanguishene base; their arrival marked the start of the military establishment. The remaining Drummond Island population, made up of fur traders, voyageurs, and others such as Indians and retired soldiers soon followed.4 Yet another group of people, the Chelsea Pensioners (known in Canada as the Commuted Pensioners), were moved to the area in 1835, when they were placed under the care of the garrison.5 These pensioners were British army veterans
39
who had been awarded an annual pension by the Chelsea Board of Commissioners, to compensate for disabling wounds acquired while on active service.6 The British government had allowed the pensioners to exchange their right to this pension by taking a lump sum of money, or a grant of land and money, if they immigrated to Canada or Australia.7 Many of the Canadian participants, suffering from ill-health and poverty, became wards of the local governments. After unsuccessfully seeking funds from Britain to help them, Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, decided that the worst cases in the Toronto area should be sent to Penetanguishene to be cared for by the commander of the garrison there.8 As army surgeon at the post, Dartnell would also have been responsible for looking after the health of the pensioners and their families, who eventually did receive help from the British government, although their story essentially remains an unhappy one.9 By 1 August 1836 army returns show that Assistant Surgeon Dartnell was at Penetanguishene, together with a few officers including Lieut. Frederick L. Ingall, the garrison commander, and forty soldiers.10 An article by Ingall appeared in two instalments in the Montreal Gazette, 22 and 26 November 1836, and provides a description of the garrison to which Dartnell had just moved.11 It discusses in detail the setting of the harbour and village of Penetanguishene and its connection with the military establishment: ... A very excellent road, through a beautiful wood of oak, beech, & maple, communicates with the garrison (or as it is locally called, "the Establishment"). This road is three miles in length, & runs parallel with the waters of the bay at an average distance of a quarter of a mile, & considerably elevated... Almost halfway there is at present erecting a small Episcopalian church, for the joint use of the inhabitants & garrison.
40
The houses within the precincts of the garrison are 18 in number scattered along a ridge of a mile in length, & occupied entirely with the military, with the exception of two or three families near a small tavern kept by a Mrs. Wallace ... The barracks which are situated on the flat point before noticed, as forming the eastern side of the entrance to the harbour, are built of cut stone, & admirably well finished, but the officers' barrack is a storey lower than the men's as Gov't abandoned the intention of completing them according to the original plan. They were roofed in & finished in this present state during the past summer. They are in an airy situation, commanding a fine view & the wing of the men's barrack, which is fitted up, is capable of accommodating 50 men & a guard. The officers' barrack contains 3 rooms & kitchens, & an excellent mess room. These buildings are not enclosed within a barrack yard...
Details of Dartnell's own work and stay at Penetanguishene must be gleaned from the military records of his time there, the sketches relating to this period, and the few odd papers that were handed down in the family, copies of which were deposited with the Historic Naval and Military Establishments in the 1950s and 1960s. There are still a great many gaps in the story. For example, nothing is known about the Dartnell residence. Records show that Dartnell received thirty-one pounds per annum, for lodging; wherever he settled, he had to pay for his quarters.12 He might have rented one of the small log or frame houses on the military property not far from the stone barracks, and close to the hospital, believed to have been built by 1834. According to a report of 27 July 1833, by Dr.
the middle of Penetanguishene Bay (43*).16 Views of the Joseph Skey, Inspector of Hospitals, this hospital was to be a harbour and Pinery Point (46-48*) show the undeveloped new log building built from a plan submitted to Col. John shores of those early days. One view is taken from the Ross Wright, Commanding Engineer of the district (74).13 At "Establishment" on the hill near Wallace's Inn, looking that time, Skey reported that the barracks for the men was well towards the head of the bay and the recently cleared land on arranged, but the officers' barracks was still unfinished. He the west side of the harbour (46).17 One of Dartnell's most also suggested that the ground near the barracks needed lively sketches pictures a large birch-bark canot du maitre levelling to eliminate small clay pits that would hold stagnant which he called (incorrectly) a "northwest" canoe. Manned by water and contribute to disease in hot weather. The cooking twelve paddlers and carrying two European travellers and sheds were unusable in winter, moreover the privy was too far cargo, it is shown skimming through the sparkling waves of from the barracks for use at night or in wet weather. Georgian Bay (45*). This was a common sight on the lake in Presumably these conditions were improved by the time those days, but few artists captured it on paper. Dartnell arrived three years later, but they do indicate the type These glimpses of life in the Penetanguishene area tend to of problems existing at the site. picture the happier days and to omit the incredible hardship Unfortunately there is no known image of the small and loneliness of a military post in the wilderness. We have no hospital, but we do have a particularly fine view, painted in pictures of the Establishment in midwinter, with its damp and September 1837, of the entrance to Penetanguishene Bay that shows both the officers' and the men's barracks on the land known as military point (58»). In this romantic and picturesque scene, figures in a canoe drift quietly on calm waters in the foreground, and the imaginary hills in the background set off a delicately rendered sky. Since the 1836 army monthly returns from August to December show "no sick," Dartnell was able to take time off to sketch his new surroundings. As early nineteenth-century images of the area are rare, many of these watercolours are of historical importance. His work from that period includes sketches of scows piled high with hay for the garrison animals (38),14 George Mitchell's collapsing cabin, identified as his mill (42),15 and the powder magazine on the little island in 43. powder magazine at Penetanguishene, 1836
41
45. Canot du Maitre, 1836
48. Pinery Point, Penetanguishene Bay, 1836
42
drafty buildings, cold and remote in a windswept harbour. Amusements were few, but life in the north could be eventful. One January night in 1837, a soldier froze to death after his sleigh was upset and the horse ran away.18 He and a friend were returning to the garrison after a festive evening in the village. His fellow traveller survived the ordeal, suffering only a bout of pneumonia; it was probably Dartnell who nursed him back to health. Shortly after that episode, on the evening of 25 January, Dartnell witnessed a brilliant display of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. This experience had such an effect on him, that he was moved to describe this "singular and magnificent phenomenon" in full detail on four foolscap-size pages. The sight began in the early evening, and then disappeared behind clouds. After the moon rose, the lights were visible for another forty minutes:
... Directly in the zenith was seen the same radiating focus before described, except that instead of being formed of faint rays of pale light, it was now composed of distinct streams of glowing crimson and yellow rays, variously intermingled, and constantly varying in form, size, and intensity of colour - the red, however, predominating. These columns shot actively on all sides, from the focal centre nearly to the horizon, and sometimes quite down to it, the whole firmament of heaven presenting the appearance of a radiated and gorgeously variegated dome...rapidly and continually changing, like a heavenly kaliedescope...19 Most nights, however, there would have been no such entertainment.
Dartnell was "good company" - an amusing raconteur, and a keen chess player.20 He probably spent many evenings in the officers' mess room at the Military Establishment, around the table in front of the fireplace. Perhaps it was the spirit of camaraderie that prompted Dartnell, or a group of officers together, to compose a poem about Penetanguishene. A copy of this was found among the Dartnell family papers. Although there is no proof of authorship, Dartnell's handwritten copy shows evidence of his editing and suggests that he might well have been the poet
Penetanguashene To ye who tir'd of wars alarms In Garrison or Camp, Are sighing for the many charms Of march, route, or a tramp; Or who on board batteaux or Ship, Delight to vent your Spleen, I hereby recommend a trip To Penetanguashene. Oh! 'tis the place for youthful Sprigs Whose epaulettes grow dim, With City wear, whose rose-oil'd wigs Want combing into trim, Whose elbows are a little out Such things have often been They will be better'd by a bout Of Penetanguashene. 'Tis here you learn true jollity, And scorn the march of mind
43
And live in fond equality, With beasts of ev'ry kind: The Indian, with his scalping Knife, Diversifies the Scene, Oh! tis a mighty pleasant life, At Penetanguashene You shake a wild cat by the fist, When in your path he halts, With Beavers take a hand at Whist, And gallopade & waltz, With shaggy bears - Who when you roam, Afar in forest green Remind you that your nearest home Is Penetanguashene. Upon the article of grub You must lay little stress For here with grief the starving Sub Bemoans head quarter's mess His pound of junk & Tommy bare But makes a dinner lean, For surfeits they are very rare, At Penetanguashene
During the winter of 1837, Dartnell seems to have made a few trips about the countryside, probably in the company of friends from the garrison (49*-50). Young William Ingall, son of Lieutenant Ingall, is the subject of one sketch done in March (51*). The boy was tired from his walk on snowshoes, and lay down on the snow in the warm spring sunshine to take a rest. Two other sketches done at the end of that month, one of sugaring supplies strapped to a toboggan, and the other of a man tapping a maple tree for syrup, are possibly the earliest visual records of maple sugaring in the Penetanguishene area (52,53»). A summer picture of two cows suggests further evidence of a close friendship between the Ingall and Dartnell families (55). The cows are identified as the two "Cherries," and named "Ingall" and "Dartnell." No doubt the Dartnells were sorry when a new posting came through for Ingall that season. He left for Lower Canada in July 1837, and his family followed later.22
And then for swipes, poor D-l, he Must look & feel quite glum, Since now a Sober Treasury, Has dock'd the ration rum; Unless it be with Maple juice, A drink that's thin & mean
He cannot shake a top-screw loose 21 At Penetanguashene 51. Snowshoer resting, 1837
44
At the end of August 1837, Dartnell sketched one of his few portraits, that of Mishmenanaquat, one of the Potawatomi tribe (56*). The subject is smoking a white clay pipe and wearing a Hudson Bay blanket. The Potawatomi were closely related to the Chippewa and Ottawa tribes, but certain differences in culture and dress set them apart. Those Dartnell knew were probably from Michigan, a territory fast being settled by Americans. As a consequence, some of the Potawatomi sought land and protection from the British, with whom they had fought as allies in the War of 1812.23 Dartnell was interested in their political situation, and copied out two speeches by chiefs from Michigan. One, made in 1813, pledged allegiance to the British. The second speech, made in 1836, sought permission for some of the Potawatomi to immigrate and take up their residence in Upper Canada. Copies of these speeches must have been available for Dartnell to see at the Military Establishment24 Among the signatories to the 1836 document, along with the two missionaries and two Indian Department officials, is Lieut. F. L, Ingall, garrison commander. It was that summer that Dartnell also made a tiny sketch of two birch bark lodges belonging to some Potawatomi (57). Although Dartnell was listed officially at Penetanguishene on 1 January 1838, he may actually have been in the south.25 The regular regiment from the garrison had been sent to Toronto the previous November to fight William Lyon Mackenzie's rebel forces.26 Sometime after the middle of December 1837, when Dartnell had drawn up a list of Commuted Pensioners and discharged soldiers who volunteered to take up arms for Her Majesty,27 he apparently accompanied some of these men to the Toronto-Niagara region. Letters indicate he treated one injured pensioner on 28 December in that area,28 but it is not known if he otherwise accompanied the garrison soldiers when they were away from Penetanguishene.
Only one sketch, dated 25 February, is preserved from that busy winter. It pictures a winter's outing on snowshoes to
56. Mishmenanaquat, 1837
45
59. Penetanguishene Bay, 1837
46
Little Lake (6O). The lake is not easily identified, but it was probably on the military reserves near the northwest bason, as Darmell referred to a lake of that name in a notation in his scrapbook, now separated from its original sketch. In late April and early May 1838, Dartnell apparently made more sketches of Potawatomi Indians (62*-64). Perhaps he had just received his notice of a new posting in Lower Canada, and knew that once he moved from the area he would be unlikely to have the opportunity to draw them again. The date inscribed on the scrapbook page for two of the simple figure studies is 1836, but as a 30 April 1838 date is given on the back of each of these sketches, it is the more probable time of execution. Both works are small, and unfortunately not very carefully detailed. Only one (62*) is particularly intriguing, as the subject wears a three-feather headdress and holds a featherdecorated spear. His forehead and cheeks are striped with red paint, and the lower part of his face is black. Nineteenthcentury writers, including Mrs. Anna Jameson and Lt-Col. Richard Bormycastle, commented on the ceremonial dress of the Potawatomi. Warriors often painted their bodies for special occasions and were known for their elaborate headdresses, which included the heads, wings, and feathers of birds, as well as beads and pipes.29 Dartnell's warrior subject seems to be wearing the standard dress of cotton shirt, leggings, deerskin moccasins, and over these, a draped blanket. The second figure (63) has a similarly painted face, but his headcovering is difficult to identify.30 A third figure (64) is unidentified and undated, but the work matches the first two sketches in mood. Shown from the back and carrying a gun, this man wears what appears to be a bird's nest headdress and the same general clothing. Another rough study of three native peoples (65) bears two dates and also differs in inscribed identification. On the scrapbook mount, dated 1836, Dartnell described the three as Potawatomi, whereas on the back of the sketch he called them Iroquois, and dated it 5 May 1838. As there was a great
deal of movement and interaction between tribes during this period, they could well be Iroquois. Present-day knowlege about nineteenth-century clothing is too uncertain to designate a tribe based on the peaked hoods worn by two of the men in this grouping.31 By 30 May 1838 Dartnell had bid farewell to the garrison and was en route south via the famous Penetanguishene Road. This road was constructed in the fall of 1814 under the supervision of Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop, then a young army medical officer revelling in the life of the wilderness.32
62. A Potawatomi with spear, 1838
47
68. Wagonteams at Gravitt's Public House, 1838
The Penetanguishene Road, often called the military road, served for many years as the main route to the garrison from the supply base at Kempenfelt on Lake Simcoe, but by the 1830s it had deteriorated considerably.33 Dartnell seems to have travelled over the trail in a typically rough, box-like wagon, which had little or no springs, no cover, and seats consisting of boards covered with buffalo robes. Despite the uncomfortable reality, Dartnell's views of the bone-shaking corduroy road34 appear picturesque and even romantic (69*, 70*). The route is portrayed winding up and down through dark forest areas lit by shafts of sunlight showing above and through the treetops. Some of the land adjacent to this road was settled between 1819 and 1830 by military personnel,35 and a few of the settlers became tavern keepers. Dartnell took one sketch from the ridge above Nicholl's Tavern (66), and another at Gravitt's Public House near the entrance to the Five-Mile Bush (68*), both views of small log cabins in a clearing. Although
48
70. Penetanguishene Road near Kempenfelt, 1838
Nicholl's was mentioned by LieutenantColonel Bonnycastle in the account of his travels in the area, no reference has been found to the second inn.36 According to Bonnycastle, little in the way of refreshment was offered at the best of times: water, whisky, or "atrocious brandy" were often the only beverages available.37 But no matter how small or crude, these inns provided welcome rest and refreshment for the weary travellers on the Penetanguishene Road. Dartnell reached Kempenfelt on 31 May, having been on the road for at least two days. By 6 June he was in the Niagara region, where he sketched the first Brock's monument (71*). This is a rare view of the first memorial built to honour Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock, who died 13 October 1812 in the battle of Queenston Heights. Dartnell copied on! the back of his sketch the long dedication to Brock.38 Dartnell paid another visit to the falls and sketched them that June (72«), before heading for his new posting in Lower Canada. He probably travelled by steamer, stopping off at Gananoque, where he took a rather general sketch (73). Army returns show he was in Quebec by July.39
71. Brock's Monument, Queenston Heights, 1838
49
Chapter 5
Quebec City and Montreal
D
artnell's posting to the general staff at Quebec City in July 1838 brought him back to an urban centre bustling with a full garrison. Rumours persisted of secret rebel activities and organizations in Lower Canada and New York State, in spite of Lord Durham's proclamation of amnesty for political prisoners and the exile to Bermuda of eight rebel leaders. Most of the subsequent action of 1838, however, caused by continued political unrest, was to unfold in the Montreal area, not in Quebec City.1 Judging by the pleasant, sunlit sketches of city and country houses and street scenes, Dartnell was thriving in this social atmosphere - a welcome contrast to his quiet months at Penetanguishene. He must have visited Lt.-Col. John Ross Wright, the commanding officer of the Royal Engineers at Quebec from 1837 to 1841, and the engineer who helped with the planning of the hospital at the Penetanguishene garrison, as there is a handsome view from his garden (74). Dartnell also painted the attractive house of Philippe Panet, an important Quebec figure who had become a judge by Dartnell' s time (76*). Perhaps Dartnell met some of the other artists sketching around Quebec that summer, and was inspired by their work.
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Col. Henry Barnard, Col. James Hope, J.R. Coke Smyth (1808-1882), and possibly Lieut Philip Bainbrigge (18171881), all accomplished amateur watercolourists, were there, as was the well-known artist William Henry Bartlett (18091854), whose many Canadian views sketched during the summer of 1838 were published two years later in Canadian Scenery? Dartnell's watercolours from this period are particularly fine. He achieved delicate levels of light by using transparent washes, and seems to have given greater attention to composition and detail than usual. Lower Town, Quebec (75»), and the Roman Catholic Cathedral (81*) are two large urban views, vertical in format, and notably bright and airy in mood. Urban scenes are rare in his work, especially those featuring lively figures, as these views do, instead of the static groupings he often added for balance or scale to the more conventional landscapes. But Dartnell still preferred the countryside for sketching, and the views taken that summer and autumn, such as the Montmorency River above the falls (79), Cap Rouge (80), the Ste-Anne Road (88), and Grosse Isle (84-87) are all sensitively rendered. Grosse Isle was the site of the quarantine station, established in 1832 as an inspection stop for all ships coming up the St. Lawrence.
76. Judge Panel's house, Quebec, c. 1838
79. Montmorency River above the Falls, 1838
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81. Roman Catholic Cathedral, Quebec, 1838
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Here, immigrants were examined for cholera, and those suspected of having the disease were left on the island to recuperate or die.3 Curiosity to see the facilities might have prompted Dartnell's visit, but he would also have been eager to see his old friend from Penetanguishene, F.L. Ingall, who served on the island as an immigration official during 1838. Dartnell executed at least four different views there, one of which he sketched twice. The latter shows an old, deserted farm house pictured from two different angles (86*, 87). This house may once have been occupied by Pierre Duplain, the sole resident of Grosse Isle in 1832, but it had been commandeered for use by the soldiers who built the quarantine station that year.4 Surprisingly, there isn't a view of Montmorency Falls in summer, but he did sketch a winter scene of the ice cone formed by the spray of the falls (90*). On 4 January 1839 DartneU attained the rank of Surgeon, a promotion long overdue.5 He was ordered to join the wellknown First, or Royal, Regiment of Foot, whose Second Battalion was stationed at Montreal. Commanded by Col. G.A. Wetherall, this regiment had been active during the 1837 uprisings of Lower Canada.6 Dartnell did not move to his new position immediately; he spent the rest of the winter in Quebec City.7 The ice floes on the St. Lawrence, which Dartnell had sketched three years earlier at Montreal, once again captivated him. That April he produced two fine sketches, one of which was taken from the government platform (91% 92). On 11 April he received orders to "enter regimental service" upon the arrival of his replacement and notification of his promotion. Dartnell's name appeared for the first time with the Royals at Montreal in May, but the list notes his absence with the comment, "Not joined since appointed." He may have had a month's leave, as he was listed as present with the regiment on the monthly returns for 1 June 1839.8 Dartnell's new position in the busy Montreal garrison kept him occupied during the summer of 1839. There are only five
known sketches from that period, all subjects in or near Montreal. For example, he visited nearby SL Helen's Island, from where he sketched Longueuil, one of the oldest civic parishes in Quebec, situated on the St. Lawrence opposite Montreal (93*). Farther afield, he travelled to Chambly, south of the city, where instead of drawing the famous seventeenthcentury fort, Dartnell chose a weeping elm as the subject of a watercolour sketch (97). Another view from that area pictures the green hills of Vermont from Beloeil Mountain (94). Dartnell's penchant for drawing trees is also evident in his Montreal sketches. When he was unable to travel far from home, he went to the Priests' Farm, a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city owned by the Sulpician order.9 There he sketched weeping elms and butternut trees (95, 96). The small number of sketches taken that summer suggest that Dartnell had little time to indulge in his favourite pastime or to escape from professional responsibilities. One particular area of army medicine, which Dartnell worked hard to improve, involved the health inspection practices commonly used in army garrisons. Regular inspection of the soldiers was necessary for the care and prevention of "social diseases," but instead of a private examination, a group inspection was commonly held, an event abhorred by both the men and the medical staff. Dartnell displays both his compassion and his humour in recounting the following incident dealing with the problem at Montreal's garrison.10
The mention of this mode of performing the health-inspection recalls to my memory an occurrence of a shocking nature, which took place some years ago in North America. The citizens of the southern States of the Union are frequent visitors to Canada in the hot season of the year. They resort, generally, in considerable numbers to the large garrison towns, and take great delight in witnessing the parades and exercises of the British troops, and listening to the military bands. Along the front of the principal barrack at Montreal there
86. Deserted farm house at Grosse Isle, front view, 1838
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ran, at the period to which I allude, a long wooden balcony, at one end of which was the room in which the band of one of the infantry regiments practised at a certain hour every day, and this was, of course, a point of unusual attraction to the American visitors. One day, while the health inspection was going on, a large party of ladies and gentlemen entered the barrack square, and passed on, unnoticed, towards the music-room, to take up their customary position in front of the open window. It so happened, unfortunately at the
90. Falls of Montmorency in winter, c. 1838-1839
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very moment they presented themselves at the window, that the medical officer entered the room by a side door; as he did so, the men (all stripped to their shirts, and drawn up in line to face the window) were called to "attention" by the sergeantmajor; up went the shirt tails, by a simultaneous movement, like the curtain of a theatre, and away rushed the ladies and their gentlemen friends from the barrack square, shocked and indignant... This incident might have helped Dartnell implement his newly devised system, whereby the reporting of medical problems was an individual responsibility, and all inspections were carried out privately. The monthly returns for December 1839 showed twenty-three sick out of 546 men in Dartnell's regiment at the Montreal garrison. With this large number in his charge, Dartnell was given the help of two assistant surgeons, an indication that his career had started an upward swing.11 In addition to these responsibilities, Dartnell was now the father of four children, a fact which further helps to explain the small number of sketches made during these busy months in Montreal. One unusual view, on grey paper, shows a covered sleigh (rarely seen in pictures of Canada) on a wide, snow-covered road lined with log and stump fences (98*). Other subjects include snowshoers making their way through high hummocks of snow (99«, 102), broken ice on the St. Lawrence (100), and another unusual winter
93. Longueuilfrom St. Helen's Island, 1839
98. Winter road near Montreal, 1839
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101. Windmill at Montreal, 1840
subject, a scene of a windmill in a snowstorm (101*). A more common sight in Lower Canada was the crude wooden roadside cross, and Dartnell sketched one that spring, of particular interest for its various small symbols relating to Christ's Passion (103*). The Second Battalion of the Royals, Dartnell's new regiment, remained at Montreal until the end of April 1840, when it was ordered to march to the garrison at London, Upper Canada.12
103. Canadian cross, 1840
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Chapter 6
London, Port Talbot, and Environs
O
n 20 May 1840 Dartnell wrote a description of the "march" of the Royals from Montreal to London. The regiment had travelled in two divisions by water as far as Hamilton, and then on foot, arriving in London on the fifteenth and sixteenth of that month. DartnelTs original account apparently existed only in draft form, although it seems he had intended it to circulate, having added addresses in Quebec and Montreal to the end of the document. Although his account has not turned up in military or archival records, the manuscript was published in 1903 by the Women's Canadian Historical Society, where it was described as "Leaves from an Officer's Diary." l Descendants today have no knowledge of a diary, and it is assumed that the rough manuscript from the Dartnell papers was the source of that published account. Dartnell made at least three sketches during the Montreal to Kingston portion of this trip. The whereabouts of only one original work is known, but copies for two other views attributed to Dartnell exist. The inscription accompanying these views describes them as "Copies / of sketches taken in Canada / by Capt G. R. Dartnell 1st The Royal Regiment /1840-43. / Painted and presented / to the Officers Mess 1st The Royal Scots / by / 2nd Lieut TSW Broadley 1st The Royal Scots. /
Natal 1890." Broadley probably saw Dartnell's original sketches, as well as one dated 1843 (165*), when they were in the possession of DartnelTs son John George Dartnell. Broadley himself was not only a competent artist, but also a member of the same regiment pictured in the views.2 The watercolours done by Broadley appear to be good copies, and suggest Dartnell's style. The earliest one depicts the regiment on 1 May 1840 at the village of Ste-Anne, a short distance from Montreal at the confluence of the St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers (104*). There the men can be seen crowded into large, flat-bottomed Durham boats, specially built for shallow water. They were propelled by poles, by sails, by pulling from the shore, or, in the case of large numbers such as the movement of a regiment of soldiers, by towing with a steamer. But even the luxury of a steamer did not help the problems caused by the weather, according to Dartnell's account: The embarcation at Lachine was accomplished amidst a drizzley rain - at St. Annes' a gale was encountered during which the steamer after having failed in towing up the barges, drove from her
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anchor and well nigh escaped destruction in the rapids, the Captain and all the crew but one man being employed ashore - here there was a detention of 36 hours... The second watercolour copy shows the Royals, again crowded in their bateaux, but this time waiting to enter the Rideau Canal at Bytown, now Ottawa (105*). The canal's first lock was a popular subject for artists, no doubt due as much to the inevitable delays of waiting to enter it as to the attractiveness of the scene. The Royal Engineers' building is on the left of the lock, and on the right, the stone barracks, on what was known as Barrack Hill. This view was dated incorrectly in the inscription, either by Dartnell or Broadley. According to Dartnell's account, the troops entered the canal on or about 6 May, not the ninth, by which time they would have been at Kingston. They must have arrived at Bytown about the third or fourth, for as Dartnell states, it was there they had to wait for the steamer to tow them through the canal: ... at Bytown again another provoking delay of two entire days occurred, there being no steamer to take the boats in tow. Had the weather been at all favourable, this would have been a source of gratification, at least to the lovers of the picturesque as affording an opportunity of enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Chaudiere, but snow, sleet, wind and rain and an unspeakable depth of mud left the officers no alternative but to make the most of the pleasures of a country inn, and sent the still less fortunate soldiers with their wives and children, a steaming saturated mass, into the holds of the crowded Batteaux.
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The steamer booked for the Royal Regiment was the Hunter, which had been bringing the 85th Regiment down the canal.3 The Hunter would normally tow a maximum of ten barges or Durham boats, but one entry in a canal journal recorded that it had passed by on a certain day with no fewer than twenty-four barges in tow.4 Nothing was going to endear this steamer to Dartnell: The "Hunter" at length arrived with the 85th [Regiment] going down, and from Bytown the progress tho' slow was uninterrupted except by the tedious lockage of a long line of boats. The weather was generally cold, wet & cheerless but this was perhaps in harmony with the wild & at this season dreary scenery of the Rideau, some parts of which are very remarkable. Of the discomforts of the "Hunter" I shall only say that the accommodations were wholly inadequate to the numbers embarked - (this probably could not be avoided), - the cabins dark and dirty, the berths without bedding, the fare poor & scanty... The one known original watercolour taken on this leg of the journey is inscribed "On the Rideau / 7 May 1840" (106). It pictures an unattractive river bank, and appears to be hastily sketched. Dominated by dense, brown tones, the atmosphere of the work suggests the dismal conditions of the trip. Fortunately their ordeal was soon to be over: At Kingston which was entered during a gale of wind, the regt, all but one vomiting, embarked on board that splendid boat the "William 4". After a fine run of 24 hours, the 1st. [Regiment] landed in Hamilton in sunshine on Sunday the 10th May.
The march from Hamilton to London occupied 6 days & from the fineness of the weather and the richness and beauty of the country formed a most pleasing contrast to the preceeding part of the route... Hamilton has a splendid site and must one day be a place of considerable importance. The whole line of country from thence to London is rich and varied in scenery, undulating in beautiful hill & dale, well cleared & in many parts highly cultivated. Brantford especially and Paris are delightfully situated on the Grand River and the neighbourhood of Woodstock will remind any Englishman of his home. London is a large struggling town containing already upwards of 2000 inhabitants, the streets well laid out but the buildings all of wood, Even the gaol & courthouse which are in one, is of the same inflammable material tho' plastered to represent stone. This building occupies the centre of a fine open space called the square on the high ground above the river & at a distance has rather an imposing effect notwithstanding the sorry taste of the Architects & its unhappy position in the centre instead of on one side of the square. The country immediately around is flat but elevated several feet above the level of the Lake, the soil light & dry & the climate remarkably healthy. The highest ground in the Province is found about 5 miles from the town in a S.W. direction.5 There was a certain amount of paperwork to be done as soon as the Royal Regiment arrived in London at their new garrison. Surgeon Dartnell's name appears on a list of seventeen officers who applied for travelling expenses, or
104. The Royals at the Ste-Anne rapid, 1840. Watercolour copy after Dartnell
105. The Royals at the entrance to the Rideau Canal, 1840. Watercolour copy after Dartnell
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daily allowances, for the period of their six-day march. They were allowed five shillings sterling per day, and so each would receive a total of one pound ten shillings for the time they were not otherwise embarked on steamboats.6 The arrival of the Royals in London was apparently viewed with some scepticism by the local inhabitants who had become very attached to their predecessors, the 32nd and 83rd Regiments.7 However, it didn't take long for the newcomers to settle in and become an important and popular presence in the small community. Not only was the garrison a strong boost to the commerce of London, providing a large market for food supplies, animal forage, wood for fuel, clothing, and other general provisions, but it also provided a certain amount of public entertainment, holding parades with bands, manoeuvres in the countryside, games, and colourful sporting
108. Saw mill at Delaware, 1840 (1)
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days. Most officers liked the freedom of the post, where they kept horses inexpensively, held hunting meets, went on sleighing excursions, and attended theatricals, balls, and dinner parties to keep themselves amused.8 By the time the 14th Regiment under Sir James E. Alexander arrived in 1841, WetheralTs troops were busy improving the garrison's land by clearing the parade grounds of stumps, which were then used as fences. Disorderly soldiers were also put to useful work clearing huge stumps from the roads of early London. Work passes were given out to soldiers as rewards, who could then earn extra money by working on local farms or helping with businesses in the town.9 The two hospitals at the London garrison were attached to their respective barracks, commonly known as the Log Barracks and the Framed Barracks. The latter housed the Royals, and seems to have been built by 1841.10 The hospital connected to it measured twenty-seven metres by twelve metres and was capable of holding fiftysix men. Dartnell would have been in charge of this building.11 The main ailments prevalent at London in those days appear to have been diseases of the eye and intemperance. The high incidence of alcoholism may have been attributable to cheap spirits, but the eye problems were possibly linked to crude sanitary arrangements.12 Various references to Dartnell's life in London have come to light, and together with the sketches from this period, indicate a pleasant sojourn there. As surgeon he had help in the hospital, and this gave him more leisure time to travel, sketching new places and visiting
new friends. Towards the end of July 1840, he made two sketches of a sawmill near Delaware, an attractive spot just south of London (108*, 109). He also attempted a view of a "ball practice," or military manoeuvre on the Thames at London dated 31 July 1840. The scene shows little except smoke, presumably from gunpowder, among the trees near the river (110). One of the most popular places to visit near London was Port Talbot, the residence of Col. Thomas Talbot This consisted of a log house, known as the Castle of Malahide after Talbot's ancestral home in Ireland, and numerous smaller farm buildings. Talbot, who is believed to have first seen this impressive site as Col. John Graves Simcoe's private secretary in 1793, built up and controlled a huge settlement in the area around it from 1803 until his death in 1853.13 By the early 1840s, Talbot was getting old and lonely; he encouraged visits from his family, such as his nephews, Julius Airey and Col. Richard Airey as well as from the officers garrisoned in the area. Dartnell was fortunate to be invited soon after he arrived in London. On 9 September he travelled to Port Talbot with Maj. George Bell of the Royals and the chatty Julius Airey. Airey described their trip to his friend Mrs. Amelia Harris, a good friend of Colonel Talbot's, and the best-known and admired hostess in contemporary London society: I got here a little before six on Wednesday, having remained from half after twelve, till, nearly, half after three at St. Thomas. Our drive from London was pleasant enough, as Dr Dartnell is a clever man - and Major Bell, a very amusing one in his quiet, dry, way - We had, too, a luncheon at St. Thomas which was rather fun... 14
A further revelation of Dartnell's interests shows up later in the letter: I hope that since I left, you have all been well, and the baby less troublesome... and that you have beaten poor Haddon constantly at chess. Do try your hand, against Dr Dartnell, who is held up as a scarecrow and give him one thorough defeat, so as to prove your preeminence over all your foes. I should be very glad to hear of your beating him! This is the only known reference to Dartnell's prowess at chess (although an ivory chess set preserved by the family is believed to have been brought back by him from India). We never do learn whether he played against the formidable Mrs. Harris. Port Talbot turned out to be one of Dartnell's favourite haunts in the London area. He and the Colonel shared Irish backgrounds, and the fact that Dartnell was not adverse to a little rum or whisky would have endeared him to Talbot They no doubt enjoyed many an hour walking about and viewing Talbot's property, or exchanging stories before the fire in the evenings. Sometime in late September or early October 1840, Dartnell may have returned to Port Talbot and met Col. Richard Airey (1803-1881), who was visiting his uncle at that time.15 Airey sketched some good views of his uncle's property, unfortunately undated.16 One of these, picturing Talbot's house on the escarpment with the lake showing between the trees on the left, is very similar in composition and style to a sketch by Dartnell (111*). It is possible that one artist copied the other's view, but there are enough minor differences in the two sketches to make it more likely that the men sketched together that season, each incorporating his own artistic details.
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Dartnell visited Port Talbot again in January 1841, when he sketched the house, referred to as the "lion's den," surrounded by snow (112). The composition was then tidied up and improved in a more finished work, in which the trees were changed and a sleigh placed at the front door, perhaps to please Colonel Talbot (113). Dartnell returned to Port Talbot twice in June 1841. Only three sketches are given dates, but another five works are close enough in style and size to be placed with them. Although taken from a closer position, a 7 June view of the Talbot residence (114) is similar to Dartnell's other rendering from the same angle, possibly done in 1840 (111*), and also to Airey's view of the same subject. The inscription on Dartnell's work states that it was taken from an
111. Colonel Talbot's residence at Port Talbot, c. 1840
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opening in the trees on the hillside, made by Lord Stanley and Mr. Labouchere "when on a visit to the Colonel in 1839." Dartnell's date of their visit must be mistaken, as Mrs. Anna Jameson, who met the Colonel in 1837, remarked in her book that a highlight of his somewhat lonely life in Canada was the visit of three young Englishmen of "rank and fortune" some years previously: Lord Stanley, Mr. Labouchere, and Mr. Stuart Wortley.17 Another Port Talbot sketch, also dated 7 June 1841, depicts "Mount Pisgah," identified as the intended burial spot of the "Lion of the West" (115). Although the Colonel may have wished to be buried on this hill, his final resting place is in fact at St. Peter's Church in nearby Tyrconnell. Although undated, a third sketch showing the mouth of the creek that wound around the escarpment at Port Talbot appears to have been taken at the same time (116). Dartnell most Likely visited the Port Stanley area next, where he took three views of the rural landscape (117-119). A few days later Dartnell was in Bayham Township, east of Port Stanley, where he sketched the area near Big Otter Creek and Little Otter Creek (120*, 121). A nineteenth-century writer later described the scenery along these streams as "decidedly up and down" but also romantic and interesting, remarking that the trees were not huge forest trees, but rather a mixture, in wild profusion, in which not all persons may see beauty.18 Dartnell's indifferent compositions from this particular area seem to bear out this observation. On 25 June 1841 Dartnell
was back at Port Talbot in the company of two officers of the Royal Regiment, the Honourable Charles Plunket and Capt. Trevor Davenport. Both of these gentlemen appear with Colonel Talbot in two similar sketches, shown from the back, standing and admiring the view as they look out over Lake Erie (123, 124*). Three other views of Port Talbot were probably sketched that year, either in June or September. They have all been rendered on a similar scale, with a loose and relaxed style. In particular, the coloured washes have been applied in thin layers so that all the works in this group have a light and sunny quality. Talbot's house is again the subject of one (125), this time seen from the lake side, as were the January views of 1841 (112, 113). Two picturesque meadow scenes include a few scattered sheep and a pleasantly treed landscape (126,127). Colonel Talbot described the summer and autumn of that year as being the hottest and driest that he could remember. This might account for the yellow and brown tones of the trees and meadow in Dartnell's sketches.19 Colonel Talbot may have been referring to some of these sketches when he wrote on 13 September to Richard Airey's wife in Toronto:
has taken 15 and I expect him here soon with them finished. They are quite beautiful, & if I went to Engd. I should like much to have them engraved but suppose that would cost a great deal, pray inquire the expense of such work, they are coloured, & let me know ...21 There is no way of knowing exactly which views Talbot had in mind, whether Dartnell gave all of them to Talbot, or whether he kept some for his own scrapbook. Other than the Port Talbot sketches, Dartnell's historically significant watercolours done that year include two military works. One depicts the bandfield at London (122*), which would have been part of the infantry drill and parade grounds, south of the framed barracks (154*). Another undated view portrays military manoeuvres; like the sketch of ball-practice
Dr. Dartnell of the Royals has been here all last week and took 10 beautiful views of Port Talbot wh. he has taken to London to finish for me.20 By December the Aireys were back in England, and Talbot again mentions Dartnell's visits and his sketches, this time in a letter to Richard Airey: ... I have not had many visitors, The officers come sometimes from London & St. Thomas, Dr. Dartnell, of the Royls. has been 3 times for a few days each time, to take views of Port Talbot, he
120. Near Big Otter Creek, c. 1841
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722. Band field at London, 1841
124. Visitors at Port Talbot, c. 1841 (2)
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on the Thames (110), this unrevealing work shows only vague figures in uniform in the woods (131*). These exercises were an important part of military life, however, and appear to have caused much excitement among the local residents. Judge William Elliot, whose family settled in 1837 near London, kept a journal about his days on the farm. The entry for 6 July 1841 notes that the garrison's regiments were seen marching out from London with artillery that morning for manoeuvres. That particular day it rained; if it was the same event pictured by Dartnell, the rain could help explain his blurry sketch.22 On 26 June 1841 Dartnell sketched York Street, where he lived (128*). Dartnell's view of the typical log and board and batten frame houses, all placed haphazardly on their lots and surrounded by tree stumps, depicted a scene that was actually close to the heart of early London, just one block south of the large courthouse and market square. Undated but similar in mood to the York Street sketch, are two others picturing the outskirts of London. One portrays a road past an inn, and although uninscribed, has been entitled (possibly from an original inscription) "Entrance to the West End of London" (129). Since that entrance would have been via the Westminster Bridge to York Street, this view was probably taken west of the Thames. No matter where, the condition of the road for any means of travel is abominable. The other view is identified as a bridge over the Thames (130) that resembles the old "Clark's Bridge," which was the subject of a painting by London artist James Hamilton (1810-1896). If Dartnell's view does represent this bridge, then one of the small buildings on the shore to the right could be the Westminster Abbey Hotel, also part of the Hamilton painting.23 Talbotville Royal, a small village three miles northwest of St. Thomas, was the subject of another view, as was a peculiar sign at the junction of the Talbot Road and Back Road (132,133).
Dartnell's work at the garrison hospital did not go unnoticed the following year. His regimental record of service has the following commentary: Mentioned in orders by Major Genl. Armstrong at Half Yearly Inspectn. Roy Regt. London C.W. 1842. Extract - "but the Major General's praise is especially due to the state of the Regimental Hospl. & the judicious arrangements of Surgeon DartnelL"2* In addition to his garrison duties, Dartnell tended to the medical needs of some civilians.25 Occasionally there was also the unpleasant duty of having to examine a soldier to determine whether or not he was fit for corporal punishment. On 29 July 1842 Dartnell certified that Pte. Thomas Lyons was indeed fit; luckily the court ruled that this man was not guilty of the robbery with which he had been charged, and so punishment was not necessary.26 Perhaps because of his extensive medical responsibilities, Dartnell seems to have had little time for travelling or sketching until the autumn of 1842. In early September he went back to visit Port Talbot, and took three rather dull sketches overlooking the lake. The colours are muddy, and the sketches are not carefully executed. Of greater merit are two excellent views of early London, one of which is also dated September 1842, taken from the bank of the Thames downriver from the centre of town, looking north towards the courthouse. Dartnell's dated composition (139*) is similar to views by both Richard Airey and John H. Caddy (1801-1887). Their works were done a few years later, however, when the village was more developed.27 The buildings of London in the background, framed by large, dark trees on either side, afford an attractive subject. The winding river leads from the front of the picture to the back, making the imposing white courthouse
128. York Street, London, 1841
131. Army manoeuvres near London, c. 1841
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139. View on the Thames at London, 1842 (1)
141. On the Thames near Delaware, 1842
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a focal point. Dartnell added scale and interest to the scene by embellishing it with two figures poised on the near bank and two cows standing in the river in the distance. He has also included one of his favourite motifs as a finishing touch, that of a dead branch, here hanging out over the water. This detail, or sometimes that of a blasted tree trunk, often appears in DarmelTs sketches, and according to the picturesque taste of the day, was meant to enhance the composition by adding a bit of "roughness." Dartnell's larger, undated view of this same subject was taken from slightly farther away (140). It is likely that this work was painted after the smaller view, and was intended as an improvement. Although less immediate in mood than the first, and more formal as a result, it is nevertheless impressive and lively. Dartnell added a raft on the river, as did Caddy and Airey in their views, and also another figure to the pair grouped on the riverbank in the foreground. Other details remain unchanged. A picturesque view of the River Thames near Delaware on 24 September 1842 (141*) repeats the artistic motif of the dead branch. This handsome work reflects Dartnell's talent with watercolour, as he successfully left, totally untouched, two areas of white paper in the view, representing the still water of the river. In early October Dartnell travelled northwest to the Goderich area on Lake Huron. There he made three quick graphite sketches, one of which shows the little Bayfield church (144). Another work in watercolour illustrates a fine view on the Maitiand River, identified by Dartnell as the Menissitunk (its original name). This picture illustrates a little white building on the riverbank in the distance, which is, according to Dartnell, the house of Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop (145).28 Dartnell labelled a third scene "On the Wynooski [River] near Goderich" (146). Here a figure on horseback suggests the artist's preferred mode of travel for some of his summer trips, when he was not sharing a wagon with a group of friends.
Chapter 7
St. Marys, Niagara, and London
L
ater that October in 1842, Dartnell was invited to join a little shooting party to St. Marys, north of London on the Thames. Whether or not he was the instigator of the trip, Henry C. R. Becher became its chronicler. He sent his story, almost half of which was made up of Dartnell's elephant tales from Ceylon, to The Albion, where it was published in the 7 January 1843 issue under the unlikely title, "The Pirate of St Mary's."1 Although only one known sketch survives from this jaunt (147»), the story makes such good reading, and is so revealing as a picture of travel in early Ontario, of life in a small settlement there, and of the adventures of a merry shooting excursion of 1842, that it deserves to be enjoyed in the original. Most of the inhabitants of the good town of London, in Canada West, have heard that some thirty miles north of them in the Huron Tract, there are Falls in the River Thames, in the neighbourhood of which a large settlement has recently been formed - that the country up there is very pretty, tho' from the bad roads difficult of access - and that game and fish abound.
Wishing to know more about it, D- [Dartnell] surgeon of the [First] Regt.; G- [Col. Casimir Gzowski] a refugee Polish nobleman; S- [possibly John Street, attorney at London] - and myself, one fine day last October made up a shooting excursion to this place; and having previously provided plenty of eatables and drinkables, with a host of buffalo skins, and a large lumber waggon to convey them, and, when we needed it, ourselves in, we started in the direction of the Falls. Our preparations had been on so grand a scale that to a beholder they really boded a trip to the Rocky Mountains, more than a three or four days absence from home; and these, with the bad roads and delays in pursuit of game, prevented our getting farther than twenty miles that day. We put up for the night at a lonely log-house, whose owner kindly offered us shelter. This man was the first settler in the township, (Nissouri) and had been there eighteen years; he had a very fine farm, on which with true backwoodsman's taste and judgment he had a capital barn, and a very poor house - the latter being all embodied in one room,
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and in this our party, now numbering, with a servant and driver, eight persons, besides our host, his wife and three children, and various dogs and cats, were to pass the night. However there was no help for it, and so we set about making ourselves comfortable; and after discussing a good tho' not very formal dinner, with a tin pannikin or so of wine, we disposed ourselves round the large fire for a talk. This very natually turned on sporting, and on the probability of our seeing a bear or two in the course of our ramble, and on the stupidity of a man in this neighbourhood, who, with a loaded gun in his hand, had allowed one to escape from under his very nose without a shot - and then of course we each of us gave the other particularly to understand how we would have acted under similiar circumstances, and how the certain result would have been Bruin's death. D-, who had been quartered many years in India, gave us some very amusing relations of his adventures in elephant and tiger shooting ...
After the Dartnell stories were finished, the party prepared for bed by arranging their buffalo skins on the floor. Most of them slept well, although they did complain next morning of sore shoulders and hips, not having selected a "soft plank." Becher had been disturbed all night, both by the constant draughts of cold air from the crevices of a door near by, and also by a cat who, "attracted by the savoury contents of the basket of cold meats" by Becher's side, persisted in visiting it, Becher knocking her away each time. The account of the excursion continues with details of St. Marys' founding and development, and more adventures for the London visitors there:
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The next day about noon we arrived at St. Mary's, the embryo village at the Falls. I believe we all expected to see a fine flourishing little place, with a roaring cataract beside it, and we were therefore a little disappointed when we emerged on a clearing of some twenty acres, with a large stone building on the river's edge, to our left, intended for the grist mill - behind it, and fronting it, a large well-finished log house, forming the store and dwelling of Mr. Ingersoll - farther on a saw-mill in operation, a log shanty beside it; and to the right a log-house, to which a large party of men, with many oxen and much shouting, were "raising" an addition, and then the whole surface of the clearing was dotted with stumps and logs. "And where are the Falls?" we all asked of the landlord of the log-house last-mentioned, which turned out to be the St. Mary's Hotel! "Where are the Falls?" Alas! we were shewn, in reply, the rapid by the mill, with a fall at the head of it of about two feet. And this, and two or three other rapids with similar sharp tumbles at their beginning, were the Falls we had come so far to see. "Oh! what a falling off was there!" ... The grist mill is a fine building, four stories high, and entirely of stone taken from its foundation; it is not yet in operation, but will be early in the spring. To Mr. James Ingersoll, I believe, St. Mary's owes its origin. He purchased its site from the Canada company, built the mills, and settled the village. Some idea may be formed of the probable success of his speculation from the fact that one quarter of an acre, on which the tavern
stands, was bought of him for $500, payable, however, by easy instalments. This bids fair, by-and-bye to be the richest part of Canada. The Township of Blanchard, in which St. Mary's is situated, is rapidly settling, owing to the cheapness of the land, and the easy terms given by the Canada Company for payment; and perhaps, not a little to the spirit and exertions of Mr. Ingersoll. The land is excellent - rich black loam. A bridge is now building across the river at the mill, which will open a communication to the Goderich and London road. But to proceed with our own doings. - Dremained to sketch the falls and mill, while the rest of us went out shooting, accompanied by Mr. John Ingersoll, who kindly offered to shew us the best cover for partridge - or more properly speaking, wood-grouse. We returned a little before dark with very tolerable success as to the game - but we saw no bears or deer, and only a distant and fleeting view of a flock of wild turkeys, whose style of running was melancholy to think of. I don't know what Audubon says, but really these turkeys appeared to us to run their five and thirty or forty miles an hour with ease. After a good wash we strolled about till dinner time ; and G- and D- returning together, to our surprise produced a large cock-grouse, which Gshot, they assured us, in the following manner. They were walking in the woods close to the house, when they saw the bird on the ground; they had no gun with them, so G- begged D- to whistle to the bird while he ran for his. D- accordingly whistled some lively air, which
appeared to fascinate the bird, and in about ten minutes G- returned and shot him. As the market of St Mary's produces only salt pork, we had many brace of our grouse for dinner, and after that D-'s sketches were produced; that of the "St. Mary's Hotel" was much admired by the landlord - not so much because the building was like, but because a particular maple stump before the door was duly transferred to paper. [The whereabouts of these sketches is not known.] We had some good singing, too, - glees and solos2; and I am sure "The Widow Malone, ohone!" was never sung, even by Frank Webber himself, better than by R, a young gentleman who joined our party in Nissouri. We had in the morning, after being assured by a tall Yankee chopper and some other men at the raising, that they would build us a boat, dismissed our waggon and horses, to await our arrival the next day at a ford on the river distant about ten miles from London. Our chopping friend, who by the way, was very much like Cooper's Billy in the Pioneers, acted as "Boss," as he said, over three men, and with them sat up all night making the boat in which we were to descend the river and avoid the bad roads. This gentleman, Mr. Ezra Sprague by name, certainly needed no trumpeter for his own exploits. He told us, and I believe it, that he had recently chopped and piled eight cords of wood in one day: and that for a bet he reckoned he would do ten! His vaunted exploit of having chased a "baw" [bear] in the woods and killed it with a thick stick, we were much inclined to doubt, until we were told that the animal was previously wounded. All of us got comfortable single beds; though
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they were rather damp, and no wonder, as the house had been built only ten days, and the mud and mortar between the logs was yet wet. However, this was nothing after sleeping on boards the night before and walking all day. We were all up at daylight next morning to see the boat, which was just being launched. It was built of green basswood boards just from the mill, and looked very much like an overgrown lumber waggon box. When fairly in the water it leaked at every seam; so much so that we despaired of ever being able to go home in it Not so Mr. Sprague and his friends: they soon had it out of the water and began to caulk it in right earnest About half past nine she was declared to be seaworthy, and all our buffalo robes, guns, &c., being comfortably stowed, we embarked, and with three mock cheers from the boat-builders, bade adieu to St. Mary's. Going down the first rapid was very nervous work, for we had yet no confidence in our craft, and she yet leaked terribly. Three times in the course of the first three miles we had to land, unload her, and bale out; in which operation D., with his hat, particularly distinguished himself. At one time, as D- said, we thought it was "all Dickey" with us; for after coming down a rapid, and shipping a good deal of water, which gained on us at a fearful pace, we were in a great danger of sinking in a deep spot of the river; the water was halfway up to our knees in the boat, but we managed to get in shoal water in time, and were soon all right, with the exception of my nephew, who rashly jumped overboard and of course got
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very wet After this, the worst rapids being passed, we kept the boat clear of water without landing, and our voyage was delightful; the current, and now and then a little paddling, taking us down at the rate of five miles an hour. River scenery is generally pretty; and this, though on a small scale, was very much so. Every new bend of the river brought its change; here was a high rocky bank crowned in cedar or hemlock; there a long line of thickly wooded flats, - and beyond, high undulating ground clothed with beech and maple, rich in the scarlet and golden hues of autumn. We were all now delighted with our trip; and only regretted we had not come earlier to have had some fishing, for which the season was now too far advanced. A gentleman from Woodstock, we were told, had killed 30 Ibs. of trout, with a fly, at the Falls, in one morning last June. At about six o'clock in the evening we reached the ford, where our waggon was to wait for us: and though this was only distant from St Mary's, by land, some twenty miles, we had, by following the river, certainly come forty. Our good boat was speedily hauled up the bank, and its contents transferred to the waggon, and in a couple of hours we were all at home. "But what has the Pirate of St. Mary's to do with all this?" asks some impatient gentleman, who has probably looked to the heading of this paper a dozen times to assure himself that such is really its tide. Well, perhaps it is time now for me to explain. The fact is, from Mr. Sprague's dress, whiskers,
moustache, beard, and tout ensemble, he much resembled what painters put on canvass when they wish to represent a pirate; and therefore we all, with one accord, dubbed him the "Pirate," and then as he was "Boss" in building our boat, we, out of respect to him, called that "the Pirate of St. Mary's." So, kind reader don't get out of temper. If you expected any other or better pirate than this, why, I can only add, that I am instructed by our whole party to say that you are "sold" H.B. London, Canada West, Oct., 1842. Darmell's one surviving sketch from this trip is the earliest known view of SL Marys (147»). It shows the piers for the first Victoria Bridge in the process of being built, and also the town grist mill and probably the log house, both constructed by the founders of SL Marys, James and Thomas Ingersoll.3 Another party set off early in 1843 to see Niagara Falls in winter, and to "participate for a short season" in the gaieties of Toronto, before returning to the "stumps and squirrels of the backwoods." So wrote Sir James Alexander (1803-1885), commanding officer of the 14th Regiment, which joined the Royals in London in 1841.4 His description of this trip in L'Acadie is, like Becher's story, a revealing glimpse of early Ontario as discovered by contemporary travellers: Our company consisted of two ladies and four officers, Captain and Mrs. Davenport and Dr. Dartnell, Royals, Lieutenant Paton, R.A., and ourselves, three servants, and we occupied three
horse sleighs, well provided with buffalo, fox, and racoon robes. Clothes' bags were strapped to the runners, fur caps and fur-breasted coats were donned, and, with bells ringing on the collars and breast straps of the willing steeds, the cavalcade briskly trotted over the natural railroad of snow to the sound of the leader's horn. Our way led past small log or frame farm houses, separated from the road by the everywhereseen zigzag or snake fence. The smoke curled lazily from the chimneys; few moving objects were descried about the doors; an occasional wood sleigh, or one laden with forage, would pass us on the road Then we entered the woods of tall pine, the stumps of which in the foreground were curiously topped with a foot or two of snow, like huge plum cakes "iced" with sugar. A solitary black squirrel would run across the road, and mount a tree, but no sounds, save those of our bells, would interrupt the solitude of "the bush." Alexander continues with tales of unusual accommodations and interruptions in the night, as well as rambling dissertations on the sights along their route via Ingersoll, Brantford, Hamilton and 40-Mile Creek. The group was "agreeably diversified with song and story," and he notes that tales were told about the East - a topic that always supplied a store of anecdote and adventure. Dartnell, dubbed by Alexander the "worthy Medico," took his turn, and related stories of his postings in India and Ceylon, as well as of his days as a medical student Alexander's story mentions no sketching done at Niagara, but we do have at least three very fine views of the falls in winter inscribed by Dartnell with this date (148150). Two of his views of the falls seem to have been finished
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as a pair, as they are similar in size, proportion, mood, and inscription (148,149*). One, dated 6 January 1843, shows the American falls from the British side, and has also been given, in one inscription, an official-looking "No. 6." A sleigh in the foreground probably represents one of the Alexander party vehicles. The other view illustrates the British falls from Table Rock, and is designated "No. 7." Both compositions are extremely handsome and well finished, and must be included among the best of Dartnell's work. The numbering on the back of these works suggests that at some time they were in an exhibition or a sale; both are now held by institutions. The third view from Niagara illustrates the arrival by ferry boat of some of the party at the American side (150*). It is incredible to think that these early visitors dared to cross the raging river just below the falls in such small rowboats, each manned by a single oarsman. The sketch includes figures walking up the cliff on the left shore, close to the falls, and a
149. Winter view at Niagara, part of the Horseshoe Falls, 1843
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portion of Goat Island on the right, in between the two falls. Alexander described some of the dangers and discomforts of that scene: The slippery ascent and the long stairs on the American side were trying for the ladies, and the spray from the great sheet of the American fall gave us a wetting; but they reached the top bravely, crossed the bridge spanning the boiling rapids to Goat Island... Unfortunately, we know of no other sketches by Dartnell from this trip, but a group of humorous pen and ink drawings by Alexander in a small sketchbook, now in the Public Archives of Canada, bring alive some of the trip's rare moments. From Niagara, the group continued to Toronto. Few details survive about the small towns visited en route, but once there, the party attended a ball at Stone's Hotel, and toured the local sights: New, or King's College, (the first University College at Toronto); Upper Canada College; Montgomery's Inn, and Callow's Hill; Yonge Street (incorrectly spelled Young Street by Alexander), and even Drumsnab, the large house overlooking the Don Valley. One particularly charming and historic scene in Alexander's sketchbook depicts a game of curling, which took place on a cleared strip of ice on the lake in front of Toronto. Dated 16 January 1843, it vividly reveals one of the activities during the Toronto sojourn described by Alexander. Another of Alexander's small sketches shows a back view of Dartnell, who is also drawing (Fig. 3). The scene is the yard at a West Flamborough inn near Hamilton owned by Mr. T. Mcllroy, where they spent a night on or about 18 January, on their return trip to London.
A clear, crisp London scene sketched by Dartnell that winter pictures the frozen Thames, taken from Westminster Bridge facing north (151*). This view looks beyond the courthouse towards the flats. There he pictures some buildings, one of which would be a distillery built by John Jennings in 1836. There are also some houses on the riverbank to the right, but it is difficult to identify them. The scrapbook mount for this view bears an inscription in a hand matching that of Lieut. Daniel Lysons (1816-1898), a member of Dartnell's regiment. Although Lysons was also an artist, the style of this work is clearly Dartnell's, a fact confirmed by the inscription, which, sadly, is undated. Dartnell probably gave the sketch to Lysons as a souvenir of their stay in London, along with another sketch, also undated, picturing a white, two-storey frame house in summer.5 This work is again inscribed on its mount by Lysons: "Our house: London. Up. Can: G.R. Dartnell" (155*). This sketch, and Dartnell's June 1841 view of York Street, which he described as the "street we live in," are the only clues we have about his London residence. As the white house pictured in Dartnell's sketch is quite large, it is possible that Lysons lived there with the Dartnells for the short time he was in London, an explanation that is in keeping with Lysons' inscription.6 It is often difficult to determine the chronology of many of Dartnell's undated London views. In some cases their order is interchangeable. For example, both the winter view from Westminster Bridge (151*) and the house portrait (155*) could have been sketched any time during the London posting. However, because they were in Lysons' possession, and because Lysons did not arrive in London until the summer of 1842, it is more likely that the sketches were made after his arrival. But the rare, close-up view of London's courthouse and surrounding buildings (156*) was almost certainly sketched in 1843, as the Mechanics' Institute seen on the left hand side was still under construction in the summer of 1842.7
150. Below the American Falls at Niagara in winter, 1843
Fig. 3. "Dartnell" seen sketching, by Sir James E. Alexander, 1843
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This view is actually quite significant; most others show the courthouse in a picturesque setting with the river leading up to it (139*, 140). Here, however, Dartnell makes it the focal point of a number of motley buildings, with an unattractive and untidy piece of ground in the forefront To the left of the courthouse is a three-story brick building that was used as a military barracks during Dartnell's time. Robinson Hall Hotel is on the right at the corner of Dundas and Ridout Streets. A disastrous fire broke out there in April 1845, and burned down many of the buildings on those streets and beyond, to the south and the east.8 References to the Royals' impending departure had been evident in the London newspapers for weeks. Late in March 1843 formal good-byes to Colonel Wetherall, and his replies,
151. Thames River at London in winter, c. 1843
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were published in the London Herald. 9 Numerous auctions were held by officers who, knowing they were soon to leave Canada, sold household furniture, a variety of articles such as harnesses and saddles, and even a "milch" cow.10 As the Royals prepared to take leave of their friends in London, another exciting event was planned with their fellow regiment, the 14th, commanded by Sir James Alexander. After the many sporting competitions that the two groups of officers had shared, they organized for their finale a much publicized steeple-chase, held Saturday, 9 May 1843. Lady Alexander's sketch of the race, made that day, was subsequently published by Ackermann of London, England.11 The focal point and best portrait in the picture is that of Lieutenant Lysons, seen in the lead on his horse, Red Indian. Other members of the Alexander trip to Niagara and Toronto illustrated in the print are Lieutenant Paton and Captain Davenport. Dartnell must be among the non-riders pictured in the crowd watching the race. The same white, two-storied house sketched by Dartnell (155*) is in the background of Lady Alexander's view. It is one of the few buildings out of many that she chose to include in the scene, perhaps because her good friends Lysons and Dartnell lived there. About that time Dartnell must have been in the midst of preparations to leave, although no details are known of the moving plans. He made a point of sketching the Royals' barracks for his scrapbook, one of the few early views of the framed barracks (154*). Dates on the picture are puzzling. He might have made an on-the-spot sketch on 4 May, and then
154. The Royals' Barrack at London, 1843
finished the picture with pen and ink and wash on the nineteenth, as both dates are inscribed on the work. Among the other notices connected with the change at the garrison was a testimonial to Dr. Dartnell from a grateful patient, which appeared in the London Herald of Saturday, 6 May 1843: TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON HERALD.
Sir,Hearing that the Royal Regiment is about leaving London, I take this opportunity through the columns of your paper, to testify publicly my gratitude to Dr. DARTNELL for his kind attention to me, being under Providence, the means of restoring me to health from a dangerous disease,
752. Stump study, London, 1843
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with which I have been afflicted for many years. His experience, as a professional gentleman, and his generous conduct towards the many individuals who have been under his care, during his long stay at this place, has rendered his going away a source of deep regret to all, particularly, to Yours, &c. London, May 3rd, 1843. John Sharp. On 18 May Dartnell completed five fine studies of tree stumps and cut logs, in graphite, pen and ink, and washes. These
examples of his skill as a draftsman were done on two separate sheets of paper, and join his studies of trees from many lands (152*, 153). And so arrived the end of another era for the villagers of London, and for the men of the regiments who had enjoyed their military posting there. The London Herald of Saturday, 17 June 1843 recorded that the first division of the gallant Royal Regiment left town on Friday morning, under Major Bell, marching to Toronto. The second division left "this morning," accompanied by the "hearty good wishes of their numerous friends in London."
155. House at London, c. 1843
756. Gaol and Court House at London, c. 1843
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Chapter 8
Toronto, New York State, and the St. Lawrence
T
he two divisions of the Second Battalion, Royal Regiment, arrived in Toronto on 22 and 24 June 1843, and were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to embark for the West Indies.1 Darmell wrote a letter on 1 July to the Assistant Inspector of Hospitals at Kingston, in which he asked permission for lodging allowance, normally given to the medical officer in charge of the Staff and Departments at Toronto.2 I beg to state that from the great distance at which the residences of the officers and other individuals of this Department are scattered over the City and Suburbs of Toronto, it is utterly impossible that the duties required can be performed unless the medical officer in charge be permitted to reside in some more central situation than the Garrison where both Dr. Robertson and myself are at present quartered.
After the letter had been sent on to three different departments, the Commander of the Forces approved the lodging money.3 Dartnell must have been kept very busy, as there is only one known sketch from that period, that of a block house, incorrectly labelled as being at Spadina Avenue (157*). Dartnell was granted a two-week leave of absence on 1 September.4 Knowing that his regiment was soon to be posted to the West Indies, he took the opportunity to visit New York State, where he made at least four sketches. One portrays a calm scene of a fairly built-up area on the Genesee River near Rochester, and another, a more dramatic view of the Lower Falls of the Genesee, dated 2 September (158, 159). Two other sketches picture the CatskHl Falls and River, just south of Albany. The river scene, dated 13 September, is in poor condition, but Dartnell's depiction of the Catskill Falls is a spectacular, large vertical composition executed in a strong and lively manner (160*). A heavy stream of dark blue water drops down over three levels, the lower steps steep enough to produce spray. Dartnell has highlighted the water and spray with gouache, as well as by scraping, effectively suggesting the power and movement of the falls, and intensifying the contrast of its appearance against the background of dark, wet rock. Figures gaze at the picturesque fall from both the base
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and top, giving the viewer of the work a sense of scale, as well as immediacy. At the end of September Dartnell paid a final visit to Niagara Falls. A sketch of the rapids above the falls and one of part of the Horseshoe, or Canadian falls, were taken and dated 25 and 28 September (161,162). Two other views were done in charcoal, one showing the entire breadth of the Canadian falls, and the other a close-up of the Terrapin Tower at the falls' edge, including the precarious walkway out to it (163, 164). These two are the only known views by Dartnell executed completely in charcoal. The left wing of the Royal Regiment left Toronto for Quebec on 26 September 1843, and sailed for Barbados on 2 October, where it arrived a month later. The right wing, or Head Quarter division, to which Dartnell was attached, remained in Toronto until the tenth, when it, too, left for
157. Block house at Toronto, 1843
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Quebec.5 The description of the journey that follows is from Dartnell's own book, A Brief Narrative of the Ship-wreck of the Transport "Premier"..., which also describes the subsequent misfortunes of the regiment en route to the West Indies.6 The regiment travelled by lake steamer from Toronto to Kingston, where after a delay of some hours, the officers and some of the men were embarked on a specially built schoonerrigged steamer called a "puffer." The rest of the men were crowded into two large bateaux, to be towed alongside. Their intended route was to be via the St Lawrence rather than the usual Rideau Canal route. Dartnell explained: Hitherto, in proceeding to, as well as from, the Lower Province, the troops have all been forwarded by way of the Rideau Canal; but, a few small steamers having been built, on mercantile speculation, of small draught of water, expressly for navigating the rapids of the St. Lawrence, with a view to expedition and economy, the regiments proceeding down this year have all been sent by this new route - an experiment that, if repeated, it is feared by many, will result... in some wholesale catastrophe. It is true that time and expense are both saved by this rapid mode of conveyance, which may do very well for insurable goods; but to huddle a mass of powerless human beings into small boats, and whirl them, with the speed of lightening, down these fearful rapids, seems a "clean tempting o' Providence."
The upper rapids were not overly risky, wrote Dartnell, but the lower or Lachine rapids, though shorter, were extremely dangerous and very frightening. At the approach to this rapid, the two bateaux that had been lashed to each side of the steamer were set adrift, each with its own pilot, to steer through the rushing, rock-filled, narrow course. The officers of the companies left the steamer to take up their appropriate stations in the bateaux, to "share the fortune, whatever it might be, of their men." Of those remaining on the steamer, most were ordered amidships; the others allowed to stay on the upper deck had to lie down to avoid obstructing the pilot's view, and in order not to be washed overboard during the descent of the rapid. Dartnell, the artist, preferred a picture to his own words in describing their course through this boiling rapid. As they watched from the little steamer, the other two boats disappeared behind the large waves or clouds of spray: I shall not attempt any detailed description of this thrillingly exciting and most magnificent scene, hoping that the accompanying Print may convey a more accurate idea of it than I can hope to do by mere words. The original sketch for the print, which was duly published in Dartnell's book as Plate 1, is unlocated, but it was one of the subjects copied in Natal, 1890, by Lieut. T.S.W. Broadley, who had also copied two other Dartnell sketches (104*, 105*). Broadley's copy has been included with Dartnell's work as an important record of the history of the Royal Regiment, and the difficulty of travel between the two Canadas (165*). Dartnell completed his emotional discourse on this final lap of the journey down the St. Lawrence by pointing out the insignificance of man's works when compared with the grandeur and magnitude of those of the Creator. Despite the
160. Catsldll Falls, New York, 1843
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extreme peril outlined by Dartnell, the regiment passed down the river successfully, and arrived in Montreal. The Royals who had served in that area from 1836 to 1840 had many friends there who remembered them. The following notice appeared in the Montreal Transcript on Saturday, 14 October 1843: The last of the regiment of Royals, arrived here, yesterday, from the Upper Province, and embarked in the evening on board the steamer
Montreal for Quebec, from which port they sail immediately for the West Indies. As they left the port, they were heartily cheered by their brother soldiers, assembled on the wharf and at St. Helen's ... we would feign hope that there are hundreds of loyal men in this part of the Province, in whose breasts the recollection of the Royals will long be treasured up, and whose best wishes will follow them to whatever part of the world the interest of their Sovereign and the honour of their country may call them.
165. The Royals descending the Lachine rapid, 1843. Watercolour copy after Dartnell
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Chapter 9
The Wreck of the Premier
O
nce in Quebec City, the Royals took up temporary quarters at the Jesuit Barracks. About 23 October the transport Prender sailed into harbour to pick up the right wing of the regiment. This may be the day on which Dartnell sketched a view from below the citadel, showing a three-masted sailing ship, which may have been the Premier, with the He d'Orleans in the background (167). Another small sketch (169), is clearly the Premier, with her sails hoisted, a view that was published subsequently as a vignette on the title page of Dartnell's book.1 On 25 October 1843 Dartnell sketched the St. Lawrence from Point Levis, including in the view a typical lumber raft These large rafts, built of huge logs fastened together for the journey downriver to the markets, also provided a base for the living accommodation and supplies required by the crews responsible for their safe delivery (166). Three days later on the twenty-eighth, the Royals were ordered to embark. It is a coincidence that Capt. F.L. Ingall, as Deputy Quarter-Master General, signed the embarkation return of his old friend's regiment, now destined for duty in the West Indies.2 Dartnell and Ingall must have been pleased to see each other again, but this time it was a sadder farewell, as the Dartnells were leaving
Canada forever. The ill-omened journey began as the right wing of the Royals marched proudly down to the harbour, accompanied by the bands of two other regiments stationed in Quebec. A total of 350 passengers were crowded on board the Premier, including Dartnell's friends Lieut. Daniel Lysons, and Capt Trevor Davenport After two days of preparation the Premier set sail for the West Indies on 31 October. Dartnell described the ship as a well-built barque-rigged vessel of 500 tons. He remarked that a new crew was needed at Quebec, as most of the men who had sailed her over had deserted and the captain had left to take charge of another ship. The chief mate was given command, and an inexperienced crew was picked up from the wharves at Quebec. On 3 November the Premier reached Green Island in the St Lawrence River, where the river pilot left the ship, eighty kilometres ahead of where he was meant to. The weather deteriorated into gusty winds and snow squalls. When darkness fell, the Premier began to experience serious difficulty. As the wind, the river current, and the snow increased, the captain missed a key landmark. The resulting change in course brought disaster. About three in the morning on the fourth, the ship violently struck bottom in the midst of
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the furious storm. All the passengers rushed on deck, the screams of the women and children adding to the noise and confusion. Guns were fired and distress lights burned in the hope of attracting help. There was no reply. Those in charge had no idea of where they were, but quickly realized that their greatest danger lay in the precarious angle of the masts, which could pull the ship over at any time. It was decided to cut away the fore and main masts, even though it meant that the ship would never sail again. With daylight, the ship's inhabitants could see that land was near. But the high waves and pounding surf on the beach were too overwhelming for anyone to attempt a rescue (170). In the meantime, the Premier, lying on an angle, was talcing on water at a great rate, and the situation was becoming more perilous. The crew and military personnel on board tried various ways of getting a rope to shore, but all buoys, water casks, and small boats sent off from the ship were immediately dashed to pieces in the waves. Finally, Lieutenant Lysons and five others rowed towards the shore in the ship's large launch, which capsized in the huge surf. Luckily, fishermen were able to haul the men to safety (171). Soon warning signs were set up on the beach, the first signalling "Keep Out," and later another, "No rocks - sea going down - Keep out" By about ten in the morning, the waves had moved the ship to a position closer in, less than 500 metres from shore. Although the wind was subsiding and the snow had stopped falling, waves continued to break over the ship's decks. Some of the men eventually succeeded in the difficult task of clearing and lifting a long lifeboat from the deck. Once in the water, the boat succeeded in reaching the shore, bearing a rope attached to the ship. By hauling on the same rope, a local fishing boat soon made its way out to the ship. On board was the village leader, Monsieur Louis Roy, who informed the Captain and others that they were in Cap Chat Bay, some 500 kilometres below Quebec.
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Preparations were made for landing the passengers, but with only one rescue boat bobbing about in the sea, loading and unloading was dangerous and arduous (172*). By eight o'clock that night all were safely on shore, although cold, wet, and hungry. Billeted in local fishing shanties and barns, they were fed potatoes, salt fish, and country rum. During the next few days, the men and officers, helped by local fishermen, rescued as much as possible from the wreck: provisions, dead animals and poultry, arms and equipment, government stores, and general baggage (173*). Most of the contents retrieved from the wet hold were soaked with salt water and covered with thick, black mud. Whether or not many of Dartnell's sketches were ruined in the water is not known, although one damaged watercolour of a tree trunk, later glued into the scrapbook, bears the inscription, "This sketch was under the waters of the St. Laurence for 8 days. 1843." (168).3 Dartnell did, however, make a few sketches of the site of the wreck, on the spot These, or copies of them, were the basis of the illustrations in his book; not all of them have survived in their original form. The book describes the generosity of the local inhabitants, and their help with accommodations for the ship's many passengers. Barns and huts provided shelter for most of the men and their families in the area, but the "officers' headquarters" were set up in the largest log house of the settlement, nearly a mile from the wreck (176). Almost fifty people slept there: the owner and his family, representing at least four generations, the military officers and the crew of the Premier, and the captain and crew of another ship that had been wrecked during the same storm. Closer to the ship, an unfinished shanty was used as a guard room for army supplies. Dartnell sketched this shanty, with the frozen red and white jackets of the band and soldiers hung as laundry on the fences and bushes providing "a gay fringe to a sombre picture" (174)4
The day after the wreck, Lieutenant Lysons left on foot for Quebec, entrusted with despatches announcing the Premier's misfortune to the commanding officer, Maj.-Gen. Sir James A. Hope. At dawn eight days later, the passengers of the wreck billeted along the shore were awakened by the horn of the Unicorn, a steamer coming to their rescue from Quebec.
By five o'clock that evening, all persons from the wrecked ships were safely aboard the steamer, except those left to guard the baggage. The following evening the survivors arrived back in Quebec, and marched immediately to the Jesuit Barracks, where they were warmly welcomed with a good supper and beds.
772. Rescue boat trying to land in Cap Chat Bay, 1843
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The next day, 14 November 1843, Sir James A. Hope read to the troops his appreciation for the admirable conduct of the right wing of the Royal Regiment, and thanked those involved in their rescue. Dartnell included this address in his account of the wreck, and mentioned that the Queen and the Duke of Wellington had also sent messages of a similar sort when they heard of the disaster. Dartnell closed his book with
173. Boats landing stores, 1843
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a short extract from a sermon preached by the Lord Bishop of Montreal in the Cathedral Church of Quebec, entitled "The Soldiers' Thanksgiving," and apparently given at the request of the Royals. As shipping was now over for the season, the officers of the Royals had to face the tedious business of organizing accommodations and supplies for the regiment, and settling the
requests for losses. A document of 15 November 1843 requested funds for replacement of the winter equipment sold by the members of the regiment just before embarking (their next destination was to have been the tropics).5 On the eighteenth, Major Bennett wrote to Captain Ingall to request lodging money for most of the officers under his command, including Dartnell, as there was no room for them in the barracks where the men were quartered.6 Another document of personal concern to all the officers involved was their own list of items lost or damaged in the wreck, and the accompanying values. A board of examination, set up by Sir James A. Hope, listened to the officers' testimony, checked their claims, and inspected examples of damaged articles saved from the wreck. In every case, the board proclaimed the items unusable.7 Dartnell's personal claims list included a regimental uniform, two pairs of bullion epaulettes (worth almost as much as his dress coat), embroidery for another dress coat, and a cocked hat. Among his household losses, he mentioned bedding, linen, and a canteen. One early list totalled DartneU's claims at 97 pounds, two shillings. A second list, apparently the final, added items that increased the total claim to 110 pounds, two shillings.8 One noticeable addition was a "chest of drawers with cases," valued at eight pounds, higher than any other chest on his list. It may well be the same two-tiered mahogany chest still owned by a descendant in England, which has always been known in the family as having been "retrieved from the sea." Other losses on DartnelTs list include stationery for the Regimental Hospital, sets of dental and eye instruments, and a galvanic battery "for chemical experiments." Finally, at a value of five pounds, he records "A quantity of valuable Drawing Papers, Colours, &c." There are no known sketches from this period in Quebec. Dartnell may have been working on the Premier series, and perhaps was writing his book while details of the wreck remained fresh in his mind. It is also possible that he was
confined to bed, if the chest ailment he had suffered from at Cap Chat was still bothering him.9 Sometime at the end of January or early February 1844, Dartnell learned from his wife in Ireland of the death of his second daughter, eight-year old Maria Jane.10 This sad news, combined with his recent illness, precipitated his next moves. By 12 February he was in Montreal, where he obtained a general order giving him leave of absence to England on medical certificate. Because sea passage was unavailable from Montreal at that season, Dartnell requested and received passage money to England via New York.11 Dartnell made this trip with his friend Lieut Daniel Lysons, who described their journey in his book, Early Reminiscences.^ The two men travelled with another military officer from Montreal to Albany, New York, in an American sleigh-coach. At Albany they boarded a train for New Haven, Connecticut. Half way there they came upon an accident; the previous day's train had left the tracks, and the unfortunate passengers had been forced to camp in the snow all night To keep from freezing, they had resorted to burning the railway coaches and wooden fences nearby. After taking them on board, Dartnell's train proceeded to New Haven. There the three officers caught a steamer for New York. Soon they were on board a sailing ship, the Rochester, and after what Lysons termed a "boisterous passage," safely landed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 1844.13 Dartnell must have gone straight to Lifford, County Donegal, to be united with his grieving wife and children. Dartnell's leave, originally granted to 11 August, was extended to the end of October 1844,14 giving him time to regain his health, and to work on his book and its promotion. On 23 July 1844 he sent out advertisements from Lifford for the proposed publication. These probably went to local Irish and English newspapers, and certainly to the Montreal Gazette, where a notice appeared on 26 August 1844. There,
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777. Rope bridge near the Giant's Causeway, Ireland, 1844
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under the title "Prospectus," he announced that "(fa sufficient number of subscribers be obtained," a series of six views (described in detail), illustrating the wreck of the transport Premier would be published. The views were to be "accompanied by a slight Narrative of this perilous shipwreck - embellished with numerous Wood Cuts. The Whole to be neatly bound in one Volume, folio. Price to Subscribers, 10s." That September Dartnell visited and sketched the Giant's Causeway, one of the natural wonders of the world (177*). Situated on the northern coast of Ireland not far from Lifford, it is a rocky promontory of volcanic origin and made up of thousands of vertical columns of basalt The sketch by Dartnell dated 6 September shows a rope bridge with a span of sixty feet, stretched over a chasm eighty feet above the sea. The view is a dramatic, lively work done in brown ink with varying tones of brown washes, the high breaking waves around the rocks heightened with white. On 14 March 1845 Dartnell received a promotion to Staff Surgeon First Class, but did not rejoin the Royal Regiment in Barbados.15 In the meantime, his book prospectus had been highly successful, and brought in a total of 291 orders for copies. As a result, Jeremiah How of 132 Fleet Street in London, England, published Dartnell's major work in 1845, with the lengthy title of A brief narrative of The Shipwreck of The Transport "Premier," near the mouth of the River St. Lawrence, On the 4th November, 1843, Having on board the Head-Quarter wing of the Second Battalion of The First or Royal Regiment, proceeding from North America to the West Indies. Notice of its publication was announced in the Montreal Gazette of Monday, 24 November 1845, under the rubric, "Just Received." Armour and Ramsey, agents for the publication, advertised the book at 12s 6d per copy. One of the most intriguing and potentially revealing aspects of the publication is the list of its subscribers, which usually included an identifying regiment or place of residence, along with the number of copies ordered. The alphabetical list fills
eight and a third pages at the front of the book, and must hold many clues to aspects of Dartnell's life in its catalogue of relatives, friends, and colleagues.16 Notable among these is Dartnell's cousin Edward Taylor Dartnell (1807-1892), who emigrated from Ireland to Canada, eventually settling in the St. Marys area, where he served as clerk of the peace, crown attorney, and notary public. Edward Dartnell also painted in oils, and his large canvas illustrating Toronto from Gibraltar Point was exhibited at the Mechanics' Institute in Toronto in 1851.17 Also listed as subscribers are members of the Russell family, relatives of Dartnell's mother, and other connections from Limerick and Lifford. Dartnell's professional associations are clear from the number of doctors who subscribed, many representing colleagues and perhaps good friends from his student years. Numerous survivors of the wreck, including all of the Royal Regiment officers who were on board the Premier, ordered copies. Among the other interested buyers were eminent leaders such as General the Right Honourable Sir George Murray, to whom Dartnell dedicated his publication, Major-General Armstrong, who had given Dartnell a favourable review in London, Sir James A. Hope, who had received the Royals back in Quebec after the wreck, and the Lord Bishop of Montreal, who had preached a special sermon for the wreck's survivors. Other military artists with Canadian connections subscribed, including Capt. Henry Ainslie (1803-1879), Lord Charles Beauclerk (1818-1861), Capt. Benjamin Beaufoy (d. 1879), and the great surveyor, Capt. Henry Bayfield (17951885).18 Dartnell's friends from Canada also wanted to read his book. The names of Colonel Wetherall, Captains Ingall, Lysons,19 and Davenport stand out for us, as well as those of Sir James and Lady Alexander. Dartnell must have felt emotion, nostalgia, and pride as he received these orders, and realized that the book's publication could now proceed.
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Chapter 10
The United Kingdom
F
rom 1845 to 1854 Dartnell's career took a different and more specialized direction. He was appointed Superintendent of the Military Lunatic Asylum at Great Yarmouth. Mental diseases had always interested him, for at some point he became a member of the Medical Psychology Association in England, and later returned to this branch of medicine after retiring from the army.1 Dartnell's name appears in journals at least twice during these years, as the author of articles on various problem cases.2 He published one such article in 1851, which discussed a femoral aneurism that he had cured in twenty-four hours with compression. In this particular case, Dartnell had used a modification of an improved hernia! truss, invented by himself, which was by then in general use in the army.3 In 1853 Dartnell and three other army medical officers wrote a letter for the army report section of the Medical Times and Gazette, concerning the therapeutical apparatus of a Dr. Junod, which they had used with great success on many patients at both the Fort Pitt hospital and the garrison hospital at Chatham.4 Army lists show that on 24 November 1854, Dartnell again had "rank in the army" with his new
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appointment as a Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals.5 He was also given the position of Principal Medical Officer of the Chatham garrison, the place where he had begun his army career thirty-four years earlier.6 Shortly after his move to Chatham, Dartnell was asked to prepare for a visit from Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, who was eager to see and meet wounded soldiers from the Crimean War. The date for the event was set for 3 March 1855. On that day the Queen was accompanied by her husband, Prince Albert, and their two eldest sons, and escorted by Viscount Hardinge, Commander of the British forces. The royal party proceeded by train to Rochester, and then by carriage to Chatham, where they stopped first at the Fort Pitt hospital. The visit was fully covered in the Illustrated London News the following Saturday, 10 March 1855: On arriving at Fort Pitt her Majesty was received by Dr. Dartnell, the chief medical officer, and by the other officials of the establishment, who conducted the Royal party through the hospital... In the course of the inspection, her Majesty gave directions to Dr. Dartnell to prepare a return of the
name of every patient in the hospital at the time of her visit, the nature of the wounds, and where and how received, with directions to forward the same to her... 7
Agnew and Sons on 21 April 1858 (Fig. 4).8 Both works were accompanied by roughly sketched plans, which served as keys to the persons illustrated. Dartnell might have been responsible for the original sketch for the Fort Pitt key, as a manuscript copy of one with the names listed in his handwriting has been found with an impression of the print owned by one of his descendants.9 On 16 January 1857, after just over thirty-six years of service in the army, Dartnell retired on half pay, with the privilege of keeping his title, Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals (D.I.G.H.), for the rest of his life.10 Sometime in 1857 or the following year, he purchased a property that included a small, private asylum for the mentally ifi. From
Fort Pitt was one of two hospitals visited that day, and for Dartnell it must have been a highlight of his career. The Crimean War marked the first occasion where illustrations accompanied mass journalism on a large scale. Onthe-spot photography provided quick and true images that could easily be copied into wood engravings for newspaper publication. During the war the enterprising Thomas Agnew of London had commissioned a photographer to go to the Crimea and take pictures of battlefields and of the soldiers in their foreign camps. These pictures were exhibited throughout England with great success, so much so that some became the subjects of large paintings. The Fort Pitt visit, described as Queen Victoria's/?m visit to her wounded, was one of these. The scene, which had already appeared as a photograph and newspaper illustration, was then painted in oils by Jerry Barrett (18147-1906), and subsequently engraved by T.O. Barlow, R.A. (18241889), in a mixture of methods, with a fair amount of mezzotint. The work is richly toned and illustrates the members of the official party, including Dartnell, and some of the wounded soldiers. The print was published, together with a Fig. 4. Queen Victoria visiting Crimean soldiers at the hospital at Fort Pitt, Chatham, England, companion print of Florence Nightingale 3 March 1855. Dartnell, eighth standing figure from the left, is escorting the royal party on their on a mission of mercy, by Thomas tour. Engraving, mixed methods, by T.O. Barlow after J. Barrett. Published by Thomas Agnew & S/MI.C. 1XW
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1858 to 1876 Dartnell was active as resident superintendent and proprietor of this institution called the Arden House Private Lunatic Asylum.11 The property comprised a fine Georgian house where the Dartnells lived, and an adjacent hospital wing. It was surrounded by pleasant grounds, and was situated at the southern end of Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, between Birmingham and Stratford-uponAvon. A local history described the asylum's residents as "a small number of first class patients."12 The eighteen years spent there represent the longest period in which the Dartnells were together in one place. A photograph in the family album shows the doctor and his wife, and six young women (perhaps five daughters and a daughter-
in-law), having tea on the lawn. They have been playing croquet, and the picture suggests a happy family scene (Fig. 5). The years at Arden House were productive ones for Dartnell; he had fewer professional responsibilities, but continued his interest in medical and related subjects. As well as retaining his membership in the Royal College of Surgeons of England, he was a fellow of the Anthropological Society of London, and a member of both the British Medical and Psychology Associations.13 He probably kept up with the news of these groups and participated in their discussions, in addition to writing on topics that intrigued him such as branding in the army,14 and the prevalence and severity of syphilis among the military.15 Another publication by Dartnell, undated, is listed in the medical directory as "A classified Catalogue of the books in the Medical Officers' Library, Fort Pitt, Chatham."16 Dartnell also kept up his sketching, but few of his later works were brought to Canada by his descendants, and there is no record of how many he produced. Researchers in the Stratford and Henleyin-Arden areas, however, have recently discovered that Dartnell exhibited, and no doubt sold, some of his pictures through the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists between 1867 and 1873.17 In the Society's Autumn Exhibition of 1867, for example, Dartnell has listed in the catalogue two Irish subjects, one depicting the Holy Island in Lough Derg, western Ireland, and the other Donegal Castle in the north, both for sale at eight Fig. 5. Dartnell, his wife, daughters and friends, having tea after croquet at Arden House, Henleyguineas each. Their price suggests that in-Arden, Warwickshire, c. 1858-2876. Photograph.
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the works were smaller in size than his entry the following spring, which appears to be the same very large watercolour painting of elephants bathing in Ceylon already discussed (10*). The latter was listed in the Spring 1868 catalogue for twelve guineas. In 1872 Dartnell exhibited another large work portraying Indians watching deer on Lake Huron, and a smaller one entitled "Entrance to Henley-in-Arden." The following year a view of Warwick Castle, situated not far from Dartnell's home, was shown and priced at twelve guineas.18 The location of none of these works is known today (except for the picture of Ceylon elephants), nor do photographs exist, as far as we know, of any of the other works. It is likely that the large views of Ceylon and Canada were painted at mis later period, when Dartnell had more time to work on such extensive compositions. However, no preparatory or on-the-spot sketches for those works have been discovered. One warmly coloured sketch of the back of an old house in Henley-in-Arden remains in the family, and has probably hung on Dartnell walls since the Arden House period (178). In 1876 Dartnell retired from his asylum work and sold Arden House to the Reverend W.E. Nelson, who moved his school onto the premises,19 where it continues today as a successful co-educational school under the name of Ardenhurst. The same Georgian house and grounds remain, much rebuilt and improved.20 The Dartnell family moved to Easmor Grove, Leamington, where they named their house Ardenville. It was here that Dartnell died.21 The announcement of his death appeared in the London Times of 24 July 1878: "On the 22d Inst, at his residence, Ardenville, Leamington, George Russell Dartnell, I.G.H., M.R.C.S.E., aged 78 years. Friends will please accept this intimation."
Fig. 6. George Russell Dartnell, c. 1860-1876. Photograph.
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Endnotes Full documentation for references in these notes will be found in the Bibliography. The Dartnell family papers are in private hands except where noted. Abbreviations: HNME = Historic Naval and Military Establishments [Penetanguishene] PAC = Public Archives of Canada [Ottawa] PRO, WO = Public Record Office, War Office, for Great Britain [London] RCSE = Royal College of Surgeons of England [London] RG = Record Group ROM = Royal Ontario Museum [Toronto] Notes to Introduction. 1. This scrapbook is in the possession of one of DarmelTs descendants. 2. The Times [London], 14 December 1866, reported the marriage as taking place on 12 December 1866, at Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire. 3. Austin S. Thompson, Spadina, p. 50. 4. Mary Allodi, Canadian Watercolours and Drawings in the Royal Ontario Museum, vol. 1, nos. 863-936 and 63-119. The ROM holds in its Sigmund Samuel Collection of Canadiana many watercolours by nineteenthcentury military artists. Notes to Chapter 1. 1. PRO, WO 76/238 and 25/3900, no. 757. 2. Limerick Chronicle, 31 March 1792; also issues of 17%, 1802. References courtesy Dr. S.C. O'Mahony, Regional Archivist, Limerick, letter to author, 29 May 1986. 3. PRO, WO 25/3907, D. 52. Details of Darmell's medical education are given in this document 4. Tony F. McNamara, Portrait of Cork, p. 39. 5. Sir James E. Alexander, L'Accidie, vol. 1, p. 208-214. 6. S.F. Pettit, "The Royal Cork Institution," 70-85. 7. DJ. O'Donoghue, "Cork Artists," 244. 8. H.G. Hart, Annual Army List, p. 593. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757 gives 20 November 1820 as the beginning of DartnelTs army appointment 9. Miss J.M. Aspden, Library Secretary, RCSE, letter to author, 13 December 1985. 10. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 11. Ibid. 12. PRO, WO 25/3907, D. 52.
Notes to Chapter 2. 1. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 2. Michael Ball, Department of Art, National Army Museum, London, England, letter to author, 29 May 1986. 3. Nagel's Encyclopedia-Guide, p. 35. 4. Henry W. Cave, The Book of Ceylon, p. 516. 5. Peter Burroughs, 'The Human Cost of Imperial Defence in the Victorian Age," 14-15. 6. The Albion [New York], 7 January 1843, p. 4-5. 7. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 8. A.C. Whitehome, The History of the Welch Regiment (41st), p.153. 9. On the first page of this sketchbook, Dartnell indicated that it had been received in 1824 from A. Tibeaudo at Trincomalee. The sketchbook is privately owned. 10. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 11. Colour Sergeant David Haslock, Memoirs, p. 51-54. 12. Whitehome, p. 153. 13. Burroughs, p. 8. 14. PRO, WO 76/238. 15. Michael Ball, letter to author, 29 May 1986. 16. Whitehorne, p. 153. 17. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 18. PRO, WO 76/238. 19. Freeman's Journal [Limerick], Saturday, 29 December 1832. 20. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 21. Dartnell family papers. Very little has turned up about Anna Maria, DartnelTs wife, although her whereabouts is confirmed by a family record of their children's births. Details of those births will be found in the Chronology at the back of the book. Notes to Chapter 3. 1. PAC, RG 8, C Series, (Series 1), vol. 302, p. 209; PRO, WO 25/3907, D. 52. 2. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 302, p. 212; vol. 891, p. 24. 3. W. Martha E. Cooke, WH. Coverdale Collection of Canadiana, p. 216-217. 4. PAC, MG 13, WO 17, vol. 1540, Regimental Returns. 5. Donald G. Creighton, The Empire of the St. Lawrence, p. 260. 6. Robert W. Passfield, Building the Rideau Canal, p. 177. 7. Ensign Alexander C. Robertson, Diary, p. 13. 8. Andrew F. Hunter, A History ofSimcoe County, part 2, p. 102-103. Notes to Chapter 4. 1. W. Allen Fisher, "The Road through Simcoe's County," 89. Fisher explains that this route to Penetanguishene involved the shortest amount of
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land travel, but was suitable only for light travel, because of the winding river, the shallow water of Matchedash Bay, and the water route around a hazardous point in Georgian Bay. This was the prime reason for the construction of the military road from Kempenfelt to Penetanguishene, known as the Penetanguishene Road. 2. Hunter, p. 96. Because it was the site of the supply station, Kempenfelt was more important than Barrie in the early days. The situation altered in 1837, when Barrie was named the county seat 3. HNME, "Definition of Original Personnel," 1. 4. Ibid., 1-2. The native people would have lost their British treaty rights if they had stayed on the island under American administration. 5. Barbara Aitken, "Searching Chelsea Pensioners in Upper Canada and Great Britain, Part 1 - Sources," 122-123. 6. J.K. Johnson, "The Chelsea Pensioners in Upper Canada," 273. 7. Ibid., 275. 8. Ibid., 277-283. Seventeen families totalling sixty-eight persons arrived in 1835; two years later the number had increased to 101 persons. See also Aitken, 122-123. 9. Johnson, 288. 10. PAC, MG 13, WO 17, vol. 1540, Regimental Returns. Lieut Frederick Lenox Ingall, 15th Regiment of Foot, arrived at Penetanguishene in 1834, and was the commanding officer there from 1835 to 1837. Information courtesy Burke Penny, HNME. 11. A photocopy of this article in manuscript is preserved at the Huronia Historical Parks Resource Centre, Midland, Ontario. 12. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 856, no. 1, Report, September 1836. 13. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 302, no. 2. The hospital was a "skeleton" that July 1833, but was to be completed and occupied before the beginning of winter. 14. Elsie M. Jury, "The Establishments at Penetanguishene," p. 34. Jury notes that hay for the animals at Penetanguishene was brought from the Wye marshes by scow. 15. Hunter, p. 270. 16. Jury, p. 13, 32. Originally called Dobson Island after a midshipman of the naval period, it was known as Magazine Island after the powder storage house was built on it The island also appears later as Arsenal Island, on a map by Charles A. Lancaster (PAC, P/440) dated 24 January 1852. 17. The recently cleared land was part of the military reserve that had been turned over to former Drummond Island inhabitants. Sir Richard H. Bonnycastle, The Canadas in 1841, vol. 2, p. 27, refers to Wallace's on another military reserve near the barracks. 18. Jury, p. 35, and Rev. R.T.C. Dwelly, "St James' Church, Penetanguishene," p. 6-7. 19. Darmell family papers; photocopy of manuscript at Huronia Historical Parks Resource Centre, Midland, Ontario. John Kenny, the Planetarium, ROM, letter to author, 25 February 1986; he comments that Dartnell's account describes what was probably "the result of a large solar
flare. The auroral oval expanded south, so that instead of being in the north, it was overhead. The apparent convergence of rays at the zenith is an effect of perspective." 20. Julius Airey, Correspondence, Julius Airey to Mrs. John Harris, 11 September 1840. 21. Darmell family papers; photocopy of manuscript at Huronia Historical Parks Resource Centre, Midland, Ontario. See also George R. Dartnell, "Penetanguishene. A poem written by a Subaltern. (1840.)," p. 1516. Notes in this publication describe 'Tommy" as "The nickname for the pudding which was served at dessert, sometimes without sauce." It was generally used in the army as a name for brown bread formerly supplied as rations. "Junk" was a piece or lump of anything, but sometimes stood for salt meat No particular reference to a rum ration at Dartnell's time has been found, although such rationing was common in the army. Jury, p. 6, comments on the many rum and whiskey bottles excavated at the naval and military site. Alexander, L'Acadie, vol. 1, p. 294-295, published the second and fourth verses of this poem, slightly altered. Dartnell probably showed him the poem in London, 1841-1843. 22. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 844, p. 76, Lieutenant Ingall to Colonel Rowan, 10 July 1837. 23. James A. Clifton, "Potawatomi," p. 725, 728, 731. Ken Lister, Ethnology Department, ROM, showed me this article. 24. Dartnell family papers. Also published in Women's Canadian Historical Society of Toronto, Transaction no. 4 (1903): 11-13. 26. Ibid. The number of regular soldiers listed under Lieutenant Chetwoode at Penetanguishene on 1 November 1837 was thirty; by 1 December only one sergeant was left guarding the base, together with seven men. 27. PAC, RG 5, Al, vol. 180, no. 1. 28. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 501, p. 157-159. 29. Anna Jameson, Winter Studies and Summer Rambles in Canada, vol. 3, p. 43-46; 273-275; Sir Richard H. Bonnycastle, The Canadas in 1841, vol. 1, p. 297. 30. Clifton, p. 737, fig. 10. In this photograph of 1856, a Potawatomi wears a turban resembling that worn by Dartnell's subject 31. Ken Lister, Ethnology Department, ROM, letter, 8 October 1986. 32. W.H. Graham, The Tiger of Canada West, p. 28. 33. Sir Richard H. Bonnycastle, Canada and the Canadians in 1846, vol. 1, p. 121-122. Bonnycastle notes that the road was improved after 1837. 34. Rough-cut logs were laid side by side to cover the swampy low-lying areas of the road. This method of construction resulted in a ribbed effect; hence the name corduroy, after the fabric of that name, for these roads. 35. Bonnycastle, 1846, p. 121-125. 36. Hunter, p. 118, lists a James Gravett as owner of lot 73 on the Penetanguishene Road. He was described by locals as an old seaman who wore his hair in a braid. Gravett might well have opened his cabin to travellers.
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37. Bonnycastle, 1846, p. 124. 38. Allan J. MacDonald, "Benjamin Lett," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 8 (1985), p. 501-502. This monument became such a symbol of British power and domination to the reformers during the Rebellion of Upper Canada in 1837-1838, that they tried to blow it up. It was so damaged by a gunpowder explosion 17 April 1840, that it had to be taken down, after which it was replaced with the one still standing today. 39. PAC, MG 13, WO 17, vol. 1540, Regimental Returns. Notes to Chapter 5. 1. Elinor Kyte Senior, Redcoats and Patriotes, vol. 1, p. 156, 196-197. 2. Allodi, vols. 1 and 2. John Richard Coke Smyth came to Canada in April 1838 as drawing master to the Earl of Durham's daughters, and probably returned with them in November of that year. Philip James Bainbrigge served with the Royal Engineers in Canada from 1836 to 1842. The ROM holds works of all these artists. Bartlett's watercolours are difficult to identify, but the ROM has three attributed to him. 3. Creighton, p. 260. 4. Alain Rainville, "The Grosse Isle quarantine station: 1832 to 1937," 8. 5. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. His last promotion had taken place in 1825. 6. J.C. Leask and H. M. McCance, The Regimental Records of the Royal Scots, p. 422-426. 7. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 305, p. 25-26, Dartnell to Hale, 27 February 1839. Dartnell, showing humane and personal concern, pressed for improved living conditions for one of his patients who lived in an underground apartment. 8. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 1194B. General Orders, from John Eden, Montreal, p. 164-165, 173; PAC, MG 13, WO 17, vol. 1540, Regimental Returns. 9. Stephen Leacock, Montreal: Seaport and City, p. 53-55. This large tract of land of open meadows dotted with trees and gardens was used by the Sulpicians as a quiet retreat and also as a source of fresh produce. Situated on the hills of Montreal, it occupied the land above present-day Sherbrooke Street and C6te des Neiges Road. 10. George R. Dartnell, "On the Prevalence and Severity of Syphilis in the British Army; and its Prevention," 317-319. 11. PAC, MG 13, WO 17, vol. 1540, Regimental Returns. 12. Leask and McCance, p. 426. Notes to Chapter 6. 1. George R. Dartnell, "Leaves from an Officer's Diary. (1836-1840.)," 14-15. 2. These watercolours are in the Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Edinburgh Castle. By Broadley's time, the Royal Regiment was known as
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the Royal Scots. John George Dartnell (later Major-General Sir John George, 1838-1913) served with the British army in India, and then organized and later became Colonel Commandant of the Natal Volunteers and Mounted Police, a position he held from 1881 to 1902. He received many medals and decorations and was eventually knighted for his services in India and South Africa. 3. John M. Mills, Canadian Coastal and Inland Steam Vessels, 18091930, p. 56. The Hunter worked the Rideau for at least five years, from 1840 to 1845. 4. Robert Legget, Rideau Waterway, p. 86. 5. The courthouse and jail were actually built of brick. Nancy Z. Tausky and Lynne D. DiStefano, Victorian Architecture in London and Southwestern Ontario, p. 10. 6. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 826, p. 25-26a. 7. Fred Landon, "British Regiments in London," 5-6. 8. Jim Burant and Judith Saunders, The Garrison Years, p. 9-19. Alexander, Lysons, and Landon (cited above) have also described activities for these years. 9. Fred Landon, "Colonel Wetherall in Early London, Gave Considerable Aid to Community": Landon Scrapbook, p. 29. 10. PAC, RG 8, II, vol. 49, p. 9. 11. Edwin Seaborn, The March of Medicine in Western Ontario, p. 144147. Alexander, L'Acadie, vol. 1, p. 139, wrote that the dry climate was considered healthy by most, and there was "hardly ever an officer on the sick-list, and about four or five percent of the men in hospital at one time." 12. Seaborn, p. 147-148. 13. James H. Coyne, The Talbot Papers, p. 21-44. 14. Julius Airey, Correspondence, Julius Airey to Mrs. John Harris, 11 September 1840. 15. Ibid., 3 October 1840. 16. These watercolours are in the collection of the Mclntosh Gallery, University of Western Ontario, London, (Ref. 252-1, -2, -4). 17. Jameson, vol. 2, p. 205. Stanley, Labouchere and Wortley, all members of the British Parliament at various times, were important influential friends for Talbot 18. "Bayham" in Historical Atlas of Elgin County, Ontario, p. vii. 19. Richard Airey, Papers, Colonel Talbot to Richard Airey, 3 December 1841. 20. Ibid., Colonel Talbot to Mrs. Richard Airey, 13 September 1841. 21. Ibid., Colonel Talbot to Richard Airey, 3 December 1841; Burant and Saunders, The Garrison Years, p. 15. Jim Burant discovered these important Talbot references. 22. Judge William Elliot, Diary. 23. Archie Bremner, Illustrated London, p. 11. 24. PRO, WO 25/3907, D. 52. Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Armstrong was commander of all the forces in Canada West 25. London Herald, 6 May 1843.
26. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 826, 29 July 1842, p. 94. Trial is recorded p. 95-98. 27. Frances K. Smith, John Herbert Caddy : 1801-1887, p. 37. Caddy's view was lithographed sometime around 1850 by Scobie and Balfour of Toronto for Thomas Craig, a London land agent Richard Airey had returned to Canada in 1848 to take up residence at Port Talbot, but he went back to England in 1850. 28. It is not known whether Dartnell and Dunlop met, but they would have had common interests such as medicine, service in India, and the Penetanguishene Road. Notes to Chapter 7. 1. The Albion [New York] 7 January 1843, p. 4-5. Henry C.R. Becher, a lawyer in London, Canada West, referred to this trip and article in his diary, written later in We; see "The Diary of H.C.R. Becher," Rev. M.A. Garland and Orlo Miller, eds., 123. In the diary, Becher incorrectly recalled that the trip had been taken in 1843, instead of 1842. When Becher arrived in North America in 1835, he had been given an introduction to the founder of The Albion, John S. Bartlett Bartlett's paper was meant to promote better relations between Great Britain and the U.S., and apparently was widely read in Upper Canada. 2. Dartnell family legends confirm that singing on trips was a tradition, and a favourite song passed down by generations was "In Dublin's fair city." 3. Larry R. Pfaff, Deputy Librarian, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, helped to identify the details in this work. 4. Alexander, L'Acadie, vol. 1, p. 184-236. Details about the Niagara trip have come from this account. 5. Bruce G. Wilson et al, "George Russell Dartnell (1798-1878)," and "Daniel Lysons (1816-1898)," 21-28. Most of the Dartnell works in the PAC collection are discussed in this publication, as are those of his colleague, Daniel Lysons. 6. Miss Madaline Roddick, London, Ontario, letter to author, 26 August 1986. Miss Roddick notes that this house is described in a London Assessment Roll of 1844. It was situated on Lot 26 south, York Street, and had three additional fireplaces. In 1844 it was owned by H.C.R. Becher. 7. Eleanor Shaw, "A History of the London Public Library," p. 6-7. 8. Roddick, letter, 26 August 1986. 9. London Herald, 18 March 1843. 10. London Herald, 4 March 1843; 13 May 1843. 11. The print is entitled, "Grand Military Steeple Chase at London Canada West, 9th May, 1843," engraved by J. Harris, London, England, and published by Ackermann, 1845.
Notes to Chapter 8. 1. Leask and McCance, p. 427. 2. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 827, p. 6-7, Dartnell to Dr. Shortt, Kingston, 1 July 1842. 3. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 827, various letters, p. 1-5. 4. Return of the General and Staff Officers, Canada (Royal Regiment at Toronto), 1 September 1843. 5. Leask and McCance, p. 427. 6. George R. Dartnell, A Brief Narrative of the Shipwreck of the Transport "Premier" ... p. 2-6. Dartnell states that the Right Wing left Toronto on the ninth of October, not the tenth. Notes to Chapter 9. 1. Dartnell, Premier, p. 7. The following account of the wreck in the text is taken from the book, p. 6-37. 2. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 827, p. 36. 3. It is likely that Mrs. Dartnell took most of her husband's Canadian works home with her to Ireland, or we would not have the large number in good condition that still exist 4. Dartnell, Premier, p. 23. 5. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 827, p. 37. 6. Ibid, p. 56-57. 7. Ibid, p. 106-109. 8. Ibid, p. 92, 112. 9. Although he gave few details of his illness, Dartnell mentioned in the Premier, p. 28, that he had been laid up with severe chest pain during most of the stay at Cap Chat One night an elderly woman prescribed for him a soothing potion. After finishing the drink he discovered a wick at the bottom of the bowl, and learned that the recipe consisted of a melted candle in boiling milk, sweetened with maple sugar. 10. Dartnell family papers. 11. PAC, RG 8, C Series, vol. 827, p. 147, Dartnell to Taylor, 12 February 1844. 12. Sir Daniel Lysons, Early Reminiscences, p. 192-194. 13. PRO, WO 25/3900, no. 757. 14. PRO, WO 17, vol. 2391, Strength Returns, Nova Scotia command, 1844. Information courtesy Joe Greenough, Halifax. 15. Hart, p. 593. 16. Dartnell, Premier, p. vii-xv. 17. This painting is in the ROM's Sigmund Samuel Canadiana Collection. 18. Ainslie was stationed in Canada from 1838 to 1843; Beauclerk, Royal Regiment, sketched views of the military action he saw during the Rebellion in Lower Canada; Beaufoy was in Canada as paymaster to volunteer units from 1838 to 1840; Bayfield, later Admiral Bayfield,
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surveyed Canada's Great Lakes, the SL Lawrence River, and the eastern coastlines from 1816 to 1856. 19. Lysons also gave an account of the wreck of the Premier in Reminiscences, p. 170-191, in which he described his trip overland to alert Maj.-Gen. Sir James A. Hope about the shipwreck. Two illustrations accompany Lysons' story of the wreck, both of which are very similar to two plates in Dartnell's book, and may have been copied from them. Notes to Chapter 10. 1. Aspden, letter to author, 4 November 1985. 2. Aspden, letter, 13 December 1985; Miss Aspden kindly sent copies of most of Dartnell's articles. 3. George R. Dartnell, "Femoral Aneurism. Compression - Cure in 24 Hours," 148-149. 4. George R. Dartnell et al, "Reports upon the exhausting apparatus of Dr. Junod," 258-259. 5. William Johnston, A List of Commissioned Medical Officers of the Army, 1727-1898, no. 4031. 6. Aspden, letter, 4 November 1985. 7. Illustrated London News, 26, no. 731 (10 March 1855): 236-238. The large illustration that accompanied the article was entitled, "Her Majesty inspecting the wounded troops, at Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham." 8. Mr. William Plomer, Thos. Agnew & Sons, Ltd., London, England, letter to author, 12 September 1986; Mr. Plomer sent a copy of a page from the record of the Printsellers' Association with details of the engraving and its publication. 9. Mr. Plomer has seen a key to the Queen Victoria at Fort Pitt Hospital print, but did not have one available in 1986. He suggests that the artist, Jerry Barrett, might have used Dartnell's sketch as the basis of his key. 10. Johnston, Army List, no. 4031. 11. Aspden, letter, 4 November 1985. 12. Mrs. Jill Bennett, Stratford-upon-Avon, letter to author, 15 November 1986. Mrs. Bennett was bom in Arden House in 1906, and is the grand-daughter of the Reverend W.E. Nelson who bought the house from Dartnell in 1876. 13. Aspden, letter, 4 November 1985. 14. George R. Dartnell, "Branding in the Army," 155. 15. Dartnell, "Syphilis in the British Army," 317-319. 16. Aspden, letter, 4 November, 1985. 17. Bennett, letter, 15 November 1986. The existence of Dartnell's works in Birmingham exhibitions was researched by Kathren Morris. 18. Dartnell showed his watercolours in exhibitions of 1867, 1868, 1872, and 1873. Information courtesy of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
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19. Bennett, letter, 15 November 1986. 20. Mr. P.S. Blunt, Principal, Ardenhurst School, letter to author, 21 January 1986; Ardenhurst School prospectus. 21. Aspden, letter, 4 November 1985; Mr. Daniel Roth, Leamington Spa, letter to author, 11 November 1986. Mr. Roth, who sent a copy of Dartnell's will, has seen a burial register that shows Dartnell died in Leamington Priors, and was buried 24 July 1878 by the Reverend H.C.W. Phillips, grave no. 1/62.
Chronology: George Russell Dartnell 1799/1800
Bom in Limerick date unknown 3rd, son of John Dartnell (17681820) and Alice Russell. The Dartnells had nine children, eight of whom were boys.
1814-1819
Medical apprentice at the South Infirmary hospital in Cork, Ireland. In 1817 spent 6 months training at the Richmond Hospital, Dublin.
1820
30 November, appointed Hospital Assistant in the British Army Medical Department by commission. Employed at the fort hospital, Chatham, Kent.
1821
22 May to 29 November, on General Staff, visited various Mediterranean posts.
1822
6 months study at St. George's Hospital, London. 2 August, received diploma as member of Royal College of Surgeons of England.
1839
4 January, promoted to Surgeon, Royal Regiment of Foot. 6 December, birth of daughter Anna Maria Ingall at Montreal.
1840
At Montreal; 1 May, marched to London with Royals. Made several visits to Port Talbot over the next two years.
1841
14 November, birth of daughter Georgina Mary at London.
1842
October, trip to St. Marys with H.C.R. Becher.
1843
January, trip to Niagara Falls with Alexanders. June, Royals left London for Toronto. September, visited New York State and Niagara. October, travelled down the St. Lawrence with Royals to Quebec City; 4 November, transport Premier wrecked in the St. Lawrence at Cap Chat, en route to the West Indies.
1844
6 January, death of daughter Maria Jane at Lifford, Ireland. February, returned to U.K. on sick leave. 14 November, birth of daughter Margaret Jane at Lifford.
1845
14 March, promoted to Staff Surgeon, First Class. Superintendent Military Lunatic Asylum, Great Yarmouth. Publication of DartnelTs book, A Brief Narrative of the shipwreck of the Transport "Premier" ...
1823
3 February, embarked for Ceylon.
1825
20 October, promoted to Assistant Surgeon, 41st Regiment of Foot, a regiment serving in Burma at that time.
1826
25 August, arrived in India for over five years' service.
1827
Present in field, and held medical charge of the 41st Regiment in a campaign against Kholapore. Served in garrison at Belgaum.
1847
31 July, birth of son George Bennett French at Lifford.
1850
19 October, birth of son William Abraham at Rochester, Kent
1828-1830
September 1828 to October 1830, served as Staff Surgeon on General Staff, and at the King's Depot in Bengal.
1854
24 November, promoted to Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals; became Principal Medical Officer at Chatham, Kent.
1832
Dartnell returned to United Kingdom on sick leave. 19 December, married Anna Maria Bennett of Lifford, County Donegal.
1855
3 March, received and escorted Queen Victoria and royal party around Fort Pitt Hospital at Chatham. 17 April, birth of daughter Ella Octavia Mary at Lamerton, Devon.
1833
On General Staff, by exchange, in U.K.. 2 August, birth and death of first child, Rebecca, at Chatham.
1857
16 January, retired from the army on half-pay.
1858-1876 1834
3 July, birth of daughter Alicia Isabella, place unknown.
Proprietor, Arden House Private Lunatic Asylum, Henley-inArden, Warwickshire.
1835
12 June, sailed for Canada, arriving 21 July. At Montreal.
1867-1873
Exhibited watercolours with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
1836
5 July, birth of daughter Maria Jane at Montreal. Visited Niagara, Toronto, en route to Penetanguishene.
1876
Sold Arden House, and retired to Leamington Spa, Warks.
1878
22 July, died at Leamington, aged seventy eight.
1838
2 April, birth of son John George at Penetanguishene. Visited Niagara en route to Quebec City.
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Catalogue Catalogue entries are in chronological order. Undated works have been included in the most probable or appropriate positions, and have been given circa dates. Titles have been created for easy reference. Where subjects are similar or closely related, they are listed with identical titles and designated (1) and (2). Entries marked with an asterisk are illustrated, chronologically as far as possible, throughout the text; those marked with a dot are in the colour section. The term "graphite" has been used throughout this work to denote the medium used by Dartnell for his preliminary sketches. Although we use the word "pencil" now, that term was still being used by Dartnell in its older sense, meaning a brush. All paper is white, and wove, unless otherwise specified. Measurements are given in millimetres, height before width. As many sketches were trimmed irregularly at an
The Early Years 1799/1800-1835
4.
1.* Chatham dockyard from Fort Pitt Hill, 1821 Pen and brown ink with watercolour over graphite, 157 x 216. Inscribed recto 1.1., Chatham Dockyard &c. from Fort Pitt Hill 15 January 1821 Private collection 2.
Fort Pitt, 1821 Pen and brown ink with watercolour and crayon over graphite, 158 x 218. Inscribed
recto u.l., Fort Pitt - 18 January 1821.
5.
Private collection
Rochester Cathedral 20 January 1821 Private collection
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Detail of west entrance, Rochester Cathedral, 1821 Brown wash over graphite, 186 x 163. Inscribed recto 1., 25 January 1821, and r., Great W. door of Rochester Cathedral designed by Bishop Gundulph (agreeably in the early Norman architecture) AD. 1077Within the arch is the figure of our Saviour with an Angel on either side. The 2 figures beside the door are those of Henry I and his Queen Matilda Private collection View from Gillingham, 1821 Watercolour, pen and brown ink with crayon over graphite, 166 x 218. Inscribed recto u.r.,
From the Village of Gillingham. April 1821
3.* Front of Rochester Cathedral, 1821 Pen and brown ink with brown and grey washes over graphite, 225 x 171. Inscribed
recto u.l., West end of Rochester Cathedral GRD.- 1821, and on mount, Front of
unknown time, for inclusion in the scrapbook, or for framing, the sizes given are as close as possible to the largest measurement. It was often impossible to open framed works, and so those measurements taken through the glass have been labelled "sight" Inscriptions quoted are all in the artist's hand, except where noted. These inscriptions were sometimes written on the sketching paper, recto or verso, but more often appear on the paper or card mount (usually a scrapbook page) to which the sketch has been glued; the support has been listed as a "mount." Sometimes there is more than one type of inscription, and occasionally they do not agree. Abbreviations used to describe inscription positions are as follows: u.l., upper left; u.c., upper centre; u.r., upper right; 1.1., lower left; l.c., lower centre; l.r., lower right.
Private collection
6.
Cape Town from Table Mountain, 1823 Pen and black ink with grey and blue washes over graphite, 137 x 218. Inscribed on mount, Cape Town, from foot of Table Mountain Private collection
7.
Fishing boats, Ceylon, 1824 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 189 x 285. Inscribed on mount, Fishing Boats returning - Lake of Batticolloa - Ceylon -1824. Geo. R. Dartnell Private collection
8.* Son of the military chief at Batticaloa, Ceylon, 1824 Watercolour with brown wash over graphite, 261 x 178. Inscribed recto u.l., One of the Sons of the Batticolloa Modeliar -, and 1.1., Ceylon - 1824 - , and l.r., Geo. R. Dartnell Private collection 9.* Banyan tree near Trincomalee, Ceylon, 1824
Pen and dark brown ink with brown-grey wash over graphite, 148 x 222. Inscribed recto u.l., Banyan tree at Malliative - near Trincomalli Sept. 1824., and on mount, Banyan tree at Malliative - a small Cingalese village near Trincomalli. R T. and GRD. with native attendants resting & taking shelter from the sun during the heat
of the day - Sept. 1824. Private collection 10.* Wild elephants bathing, Ceylon, c. 1825 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 525 x 725. Inscribed on original wooden frame backing, Wild Elephants bathing: a Scene in the interior of Ceylon From Nature, and Geo. R. Dartnell Arden House Henley in Arden Private collection 11. Church and palace at Goa, 1828 Pen and dark brown ink with brown wash over graphite, 173 x 335. Inscribed on mount, Goa. Church of St. Kichan, & part of the Ruins of the Palace of Alfonso de Albuquerque. GRD. March 1828. Private collection 12.* Hindu ruins near Badami, India, 1828 Pen and dark brown ink with brown wash over graphite, 222 x 325. Inscribed 1.1., GJU). ad Nat. delt, and l.r., Nov 1828., and on mount, Hindoo Ruins on a Tank near Badaamy; Ceded Districts. Sketched Nov. 1828. GJID. Private collection 13.* Malabar gun and two small studies at Bijapur, India, 1828 Pen and dark brown ink with grey-brown wash over graphite, 176 x 282. Inscribed recto u.c., One of the long Malabar Guns on a bastion of the Fort ofBeejapoor length. 22 1/2 feet November. 1828 -, and I.e., Ball and Crescent (brass gilt') on the dome of Ibrahim Adil Shah's Rosa Beejapoor Novr. -1828 Private collection 14. Annual gathering on the rivers at Allahabad, India, 1830 Watercolour over graphite, 140 x 258. Inscribed on mount, Point of junction of the Ganges & Jumna - at Allahabad - 1830 Annual Assemblage ofDevoties to wash in
the holy waters Private collection 15. Wouldham Church on the River Medway, Kent, 1833 Pen and dark brown ink with grey wash over graphite, 210 x 317 (sight). Inscribed recto u.l., Wouldham Church on the Medway - July 1833 - A Tomb Stone in this Church yard has the following Inscription "To the Memory of Mr. William Burke Purser R JV. In whose arms Nelson died At the Battle of Trafalgar." Private collection 16.- South Bridge, Cork, 1834 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 130 x 197 (sight). Inscribed on mount, South Bridge Cork - March 1834 Geo. R. Dartnell Private Collection Posted to Canada 1835-1844 17. At Montreal, 1835 Pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite, 109 x 155. Inscribed verso, Montreal 12 Sept. 1835, and on mount, At Montreal Private collection 18. Montreal from Nun's Island, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 124 x 202 (sight). Inscribed on mount, From E. end of Nun's Island looking towards Montreal. Feb. 20. 1836 Private collection 19.* Winter road across the ice, c. 1836 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, on grey paper, 157 x 235. No inscription Private collection 20.* Ice on the wharf at Montreal, 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink heightened with white over graphite, 219 x 292.
Inscribed verso, Masses of Ice thrown up on the Wharf at Montreal by the "Shove" of the St. Lawrence 26 April 1836. GRD. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (28039) 21.» Ice shove at Montreal, c.1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 231 x 347 (sight). Inscribed recto l.r., Ice Shove, Montreal Private collection 22. Mass of ice, St. Helen's Island, 1836 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 228 x 347 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Mass of Ice thrown up to the foot of the [A— J—J. Island of St. Helens, Montreal, of "the Great Shove" of the St. Laurence 26 April 1836. Snow melted off the ground Montreal in the distance. GRD. Private collection 23. Ice pile on the St Lawrence, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 178 x 247 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Ice Pile on the St. Lawrence - 27 April 1836 - (Pine branches stuck in the ice to mark the road across the River) Private collection 24. Ice shove near Bonsecours Church, Montreal, c. 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink heightened with white over graphite, 180 x 251 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Masses of ice thrown up at Montreal during "the Great Shove" of the Lawrence - GJ?.D. Private collection 25.* Berg ice on the St. Lawrence at Montreal, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 225 x 313. Inscribed verso in unknown hand, Berg Ice on the St. Laurence at Mtl April 1836. Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-107621)
99
26. Floating ice in the St. Lawrence at Montreal, c. 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 161 x 230. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Floating Ice in the St. Laurence at Montreal. Private collection 27.* Emigrant boats on Lake St-Louis, 1836 Pen and brown ink over graphite, 180 x 238. Inscribed recto 1.1., [—JLake St Louis 13 June 1836 Emigrant Boats in tow of a Steamer., and on mount, Lake St. Louis - River St. Laurence. 13 June 1836. Private collection 28. Horseshoe Falls at Niagara, 1836 Pen and brown ink with grey wash over graphite, 237 x 347 (sight). Inscribed recto l.r., Sam Patch's Monument at edge of great fall - and verso, Water on the right coloured deep ochre, Centre light green, that on the left greenish grey - water below fall dark green, with streaks and patches of white foam. Rocks very dark grey. 26 June 1836., and on mount, The Horse-Shoe Fall, Niagara, from the Ferry. Table Rock on the right. Sam Patch's Monument & Part of Goat Island on the left. 20 June 1836. Private collection 29. Rapids at Niagara, 1836 Pen and brown ink with grey wash over graphite, 228 x 340 (sight). Inscribed on mount, The Rapids & part of Horse Shoe Fall, Niagara. 20 June 1836. Private collection 30.* Lantern on a wharf at Toronto, 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 130 x 83. Inscribed recto I.e., Lantern on King's Wharf near the Garrison in Toronto - 28 June 1836. Private collection 31.* At Toronto, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 122 x 183. Inscribed on mount, At Toronto. 1836 (The
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date has been added in graphite.) Private collection 32. Cart and horses, 1836 Pen and brown ink over graphite, 72 x 228. Inscribed recto l.r., Toronto U.C. 1836 Private collection 33.* Residence of James Wickens, Lake Simcoe, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 125 x 110. Inscribed on mount, Residence of Wickens. Esq. a member of the Canadian Parliament in 1838 - ! near Barrie on the North Shore of Lake Simcoe Kempenfelt Bay I Sketched 5 July 1836 Private collection 34. Entrance to Matchedash Bay, near Coldwater, 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 142 x 230. Inscribed recto u.l, Entrance to Matchedash Bay, near Cold Water - 7 July 1836 Private collection 35. Kempenfelt Bay, Lake Simcoe, 1836 (1) Watercolour over graphite, 134 x 227. Inscribed recto 1.1., Barrie. Kempenfelt Bay. Lake Simcoe 24 July 1836, and on mount, On Kempenfelt Bay - Lake Simcoe. C.W. 1836 Private collection 36. Kempenfelt Bay, Lake Simcoe, c. 1836 (2) Watercolour over graphite, 177 x 257. Inscribed verso in unknown hand, View at Barrie on Kempenfelt Lake Simcoe 1841., and on mount in unknown hand, View at Barrie, Kempenfeldt Bay, Lake Simcoe. GA. Dartnell. Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-13305) 37. Penetanguishene, 1836 (1) Watercolour, pen and brown ink, 100 x 155 (sight). Inscribed on mount, At Penetanguishene. 1836. Private collection
38. Scows with hay from Coldwater, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 85 x 137. Inscribed recto u.l., Penetanguishene 17 Augt. 1836 Batteaus of Marsh Hay from Coldwater Private collection 39. Split tree study, c. 1836 Pen and grey ink over graphite, 137 x 103. No inscription Private collection 40. Deciduous tree study, c. 1836 Pen and grey ink over graphite, 136 x 100. No inscription Private collection 41. Pump and trough, c. 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 70 x 103. No inscription Private collection 42. Mitchell's mills near Penetanguishene, 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 135 x 222 (sight). Inscribed recto u.l., G. Mitchell's Mills near Penetanguishene 22 Augt. 1836, and on mount, Geo. R. Dartnell Private collection 43.* Powder magazine at Penetanguishene, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 179 x 277 (sight). Inscribed verso, Magazine on the little Island on the Bay Penetanguashene Oct. 1836, and on mount, Magazine on the little island. Penetanguashene Bay GJID. 10 Sept. 1836 Private collection 44. Common fence of Canada, 1836 Pen and brown ink over graphite, 63 x 212. Inscribed recto u.r., Common fence ofN. Canada, and 1.1., Geo. R. Dartnell; verso, cropped title of another view now missing, On the Little Lake near N.W. Bason, Penetanguashene, 14 Sept. 1836. Private collection
45.* Canot du Maitre, 1836 Watercolour over graphite, 188 x 331. Inscribed verso, A Northwest Canoe Penetanguishene -1836 Private collection 46. Westward view towards Penetanguishene Bay, 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 208 x 305. Inscribed on mount, Looking westward toward the head of Penetanguishene Bay - G.RD. - 12 Oct. 1836. Private collection 47. North West Bason, Penetanguishene Bay, 1836 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 202 x 287. Inscribed verso, No. W. Bason — Penetanguishene Bay from the Hill near Wallace's Inn - Oct. 12136 Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-21819) 48.* Pinery Point, Penetanguishene Bay, 1836 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 225 x 311 (sight). Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Pinery Point at the entrance to Penetanguashene Harbour - 4 Nov. 1836 Private collection 49.* Snowshoers with sleigh, 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 74 x 131. Inscribed recto 1.1., 20 Feb. 1837, and verso, On the Bay Penetanguashene 20 Feb. 1837 Private collection 50. Figure with snowshoes and toboggan, c. 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 181 x 124. Inscribed on mount, G.R.D. Private collection 51.* Snowshoer resting, 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 76 x 135. Inscribed recto 1.1., 10 March 1837, and verso, William Ingall on "the Little Lake"
N.W. Bason Penetanguashene 10 March 1837, and on mount, WJ. fatigued after a long walk on Snow shoes lays down to rest himself on the ice of the"Little Lake" which is covered with a thin coating of Snow, Penetanguishene Lake Huron - 6 March 1837 Private collection 52. Sugar-making apparatus, 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 89 x 133. Inscribed recto u.l., 25 March, 1837, and verso, Tabaugans & apparatus for Sugar Making - Penetanguashene 25 March 1837 Private collection 53.« Tapping a maple tree, c. 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 131 x 86. Inscribed on mount, Tapping a Maple tree; verso, sketch with trees with spiggots and buckets. Private collection 54. Boat in the ice, c. 1837 Watercolour heightened with white, 72 x 134. No inscription; verso, some Watercolour tests. Private collection 55. The two "Cherries", 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 98 x 144 (sight). Inscribed verso, The Two Cherries "Ingall" & "Dartnett" Penetanguashene 15 May 1838, and on mounts, The Two "Cherries" Penetanguashene 1837., and Geo. R. Dartnell Private collection 56.* Mishmenanaquat, 1837 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 253 x 170. Inscribed recto u.l., Mishe'-me-nan-a-quat Potawotamie Indian Penetanguashene 30 Aug 1837., and on mount, Mishmenanaquat. The rolling of distant thunder - a Potawattamie Indian. Private collection 57. Potawatomi lodges, 1837 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over
graphite, 120 x 199 (sight). Inscribed verso, Potawatamie Wigwams Penetanguashene 25 Sept. 1837 - , and on mount, Potawatamie Wigwams - Penetanguashene - Geo. R. Dartnell 1837 Private collection 58.« The barracks and Penetanguishene harbour, 1837 Watercolour over graphite, 208 x 319. Inscribed verso, Entrance to Penetanguashene Bay - 25 Sept. 1837., and, No 8 Entrance to Penetanguashene Bay, Lake Huron Geo R Dartnell I 25 Sept. 1837, and in unknown hand, GAD 15 Sept 1853 [or 1857] Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.5) 59.* Penetanguishene Bay, 1837 (2) Watercolour over graphite, 154 x 234 (sight). Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Penetanguashene Bay. - GJU). 10 Oct. 1837. Private collection 60.- Winter view of Little Lake, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 202 x 126. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Winter Peep at the 'Little Lake' near Deshornies Clearing, Penetanguashene, 25 Feb. 1838. By George R. Dartnell. Private collection 61. Head of Penetanguishene Bay, 1838 Pen and brown ink, 216 x 317. Inscribed recto u.l., Head of Penetanguashene Bay -1838 Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.9) 62.* A Potawatomi with spear, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 168 x 111. Inscribed verso, a Potawatomie Penetanguashene 30 Ap. 1838, and on mount, a Potawatomie - 1836. Geo. R. Dartnell. Private collection
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63. A Potawatomi with turban, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 72 x 113. Inscribed verso, a Potawatomie Penetanguashene 30 april 1838, and on mount, - a Potawatonue - 1836. Geo. R. Dartnell Private collection 64. Indian with gun, c. 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 145 x 92. No inscription Private collection 65. Indians near Penetanguishene, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 109 x 164. Inscribed verso, Iroquois Indians - Penetanguashene 5th May 1838, also, tiny sketches of deer and unidentifiable forms. Inscribed on mount, Potawatonue Indians - Penetanguashene 1836 Private collection 66. View above NicholTs Tavern, Penetanguishene Road, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 138 x 208. Inscribed verso, View from the Summit of the ridge above Nicholl's Tavern Penetanguashene Road - 30 May 1838 Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.8) 67. Settler's log cabin, 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 125 x 192. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, New log house & clearing of a settler near Penetanguishene June 1838 Private collection 68.* Wagonteams at Gravitt's Public House, 1838 Pen and brown ink with grey-green washes over graphite, 108 x 159. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Waggonteams resting at Gravitts Public house, near the entrance to the 5-mile bush - Penetanguishene road 30 May 1838 Private collection
69.» Corduroy section of the Penetanguishene Road, 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 188 x 126 (sight). Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Corduroy Road Leading into the '5 mile Bush' ... Penetanguishene, 30 May 1838. By George R. Dartnell. Private collection 70.* Penetanguishene Road near Kempenfelt, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 216 x 127 (sight). Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Girdled Pines - a deserted clearing. Near the village of Kempenfelt. Lake Simcoe - 31st May, 1838. by George R. Dartnell. Private collection 71.* Brock's Monument, Queenston Heights, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 254 x 336 (sight). Inscribed verso, General Brock's Monument, with a view of the Niagara river looking towards its mouth Lake Ontario in the Distance, from the Height of Queenston, 6th June 1838 , and, Upper Canada I has dedicated this Monument to the memory of the late I Major General Sir Isaac Brock K.CJB. I Provisional Lt. Governor I & Commander of the forces in this Province I whose remains are deposited in the vault beneath. I Opposing the invading enemy I he fell in action near these heights I on the 13 Oct. 1812 I in the 43rd year of his age I revered and lamented I by the people whom he governed I & deplored by the Sovereign I to whose service he had been devoted Private collection 72. Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 245 x 428. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, from bottom of Table Rock; 1838. Private collection 73. At Gananoque, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink, 98 x 196.
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Inscribed verso, At Gannanoque on the St. Lawrence -11 June 1838 Private collection 74. From Colonel Wright's Garden near Quebec, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 203 x 275. Inscribed on mount, From the Garden of Colonel Wright's House, near Quebec. 25 July 1838. Private collection 75.» Lower Town, Quebec, 1838 Watercolour, pen and black ink over graphite, 313 x 220 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Lower Town, Quebec - 10 August 1838 Private collection 76.* Judge Panel's house, Quebec, c. 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 175 x 252. Inscribed on mount, Judge Panel's House near Quebec Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (980.252) 77. Shanty near Charlesbourg, 1838 Graphite, 74 x 105. Inscribed on mount, A Shantie near Charlebourgh -- Quebec - 12 Augt. 1838. Private collection 78. Dog cart, c. 1838 Graphite, 80 x 97. No inscription Private collection 79.* Montmorency River above the Falls, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 228 x 333. Inscribed verso, The Montmorency River above the Falls, from the bridge., and on mount, The Montmorency River &c. above the Fall from the Bridge The St Lawrence in the distance below. GJtD. 25 Augt. 1838. Musee du Quebec, Quebec (A-67.233-d) 80. Cap Rouge on the St Lawrence, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 233 x 332 (sight). Inscribed on
mount, Cape Rouge, on the St. Laurence near Quebec, GRD. 12 Sept. 1838. Private collection 81.* Roman Catholic Cathedral, Quebec, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 347 x 251. Inscribed verso, Roman Catholic Cathedral -15 Sept. 1838 Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-70875) 82. Horses and wagon near Montreal, 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 120 x 170 (sight). Inscribed recto 1.1., At Montreal 18th September 1838, and on mount, At Montreal Private collection 83. Small boats near Montreal, c. 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 123 x 175 (sight). Inscribed on mount, At Montreal Private collection 84. At Grosse Isle, below Quebec, 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 145 x 222. Inscribed on mount, At Grosse Isle. On the St. Lawrence below Quebec - 1838. Sept. 23d Private collection 85. Grosse Isle, 1838 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 145 x 232. Inscribed verso, Gros Isle. Sept. 25 - 1838, and on mount, At Grosse Isle Private collection 86.* Deserted farm house at Grosse Isle, front view, 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 228 x 319. Inscribed on mount, Deserted Farm & Farm House at Gros Isle on the St. Lawrence below Quebec. Sep. 1838. GRD. Musee du Qu6bec, Quebec ( A-68.155-d) 87. Deserted farm house at Grosse Isle, side view, 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 191 x 282. Inscribed verso, The Farm house at Grosse
Isle - August 1838, and on mount, Old farm house at Gros Isle Sept. 1838 Private collection 88. Ste-Anne road between Montmorency and Chateau Richer, 1838 Watercolour over graphite, 234 x 350. Inscribed verso, ... the road to St. Anne's, between Montmorency ... Chateau Richer... , and on mount, On the road to St. Ann's between Montmorency (Quebec) & Chateau Richer. GRD. 1 Oct. 1838 - River St. Lawrence on the right. Mus6e du Qu6bec, Quebec (A-67.232-d) 89. Wolfe's Cove on the St. Lawrence above Quebec, c. 1838 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 191 x 271 (sight, oval). No inscription Private collection 90.* Falls of Montmorency in winter, c. 1838-1839 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, with scraping, 248 x 340. No inscription Collection of Rose and Louis Melzack 91.« Floating ice on the river at Quebec, 1839 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 203 x 270 (sight). Inscribed verso, Ice blocks floating out of the St. Charles April 1839, and on mount in unknown hand, Floating Ice on the St. Charles River from the Gov't Platform Quebec 1839 Private collection 92. Floating ice from the St. Charles River, Quebec, 1839 Watercolour over graphite, 197 x 269 (sight). Inscribed verso, Ice-bergs floating out of the St. Charles River at Quebec April 1839., and on mount, Floating Ice on the St. Charles River, Quebec. 1839. Private collection
93.* Longueuil from St. Helen's Island, 1839 Watercolour, pen and black ink over graphite, 178 x 255. Inscribed verso, From the N.E. end of St. Helen's - looking towards Longueuil - 15 Augt. 1839.; and on mount, Village & Pier ofLongueil -from St. Helens. Private collection 94. View from Beloeil Mountain near Chambly, 1839 Watercolour over graphite, 212 x 300 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Birds'-eye View from Belleisle Mountain near Chambly "Green Hills of Vermont' in the distance GRD. 27 Sept. 1839. Private collection 95. Weeping elms on the Priests' Farm, Montreal, 1839 Watercolour over graphite, 164 x 108 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Weeping Elms, on "the Priests' Farm"Oct. 8 1839 Private collection 96. Butternut trees on the Priests' Farm, Montreal, c. 1839 Watercolour over graphite, 179 x 259 (clipped corners). Inscribed on mount, Butternut trees on the Priests' farm Montreal Private collection 97. Weeping Elm at Chambly, 1839 Watercolour over graphite, 167 x 245 (sight). Inscribed verso, Weeping Elm on the Common at Chambly - 21 Sept 1839 - , and on mount, Canadian Weeping Elm at Chambly. GJU). 20 Oct. 1839. Private collection 98.* Winter road near Montreal, 1839 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, on grey paper, 138 x 222 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Near Montreal, 1839 Private Collection
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99.» Snowshoers crossing the St. Lawrence near Montreal, 1839 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, on grey paper, 157 x 230. Inscribed verso, Ice Road over the St Lawrence near Montreal. 1839 Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.6)
105.* The Royals at the entrance to the Rideau Canal, 1840 Watercolour copy by 2nd Lieut. T.S.W. Broadley, 1890, after an original sketch by George R. Dartnell, 130 x 225. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, The Royals about to ascend the Rideaux Canal, Canada. 9 May 1840 The Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Edinburgh Castle
100. Broken ice near Montreal, 1840 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 179 x 260. Inscribed on mount, Broken Ice on the St. Laurence opposite Montreal. 18 Jany 1840. Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.3)
106. On the Rideau, 1840 Watercolour over graphite, 140 x 222. Inscribed on mount, On the Rideau - 7th May 1840 Private collection
101.* Windmill at Montreal, 1840 Watercolour over graphite, with scraping, 127 x 182. Inscribed verso, Wind Mill near the Land - Montreal 4 February 1840 Private collection
107. Falls of Niagara from the ferry dock, 1840 Watercolour over graphite, 235 x 336. Inscribed recto 1.1., G R. Dartnell - 40 The Weir Foundation, Queenston, Ontario (982.712)
102. Snowshoers on the St. Lawrence near Longueuil, 1840 Watercolour over graphite, 115 x 151. Inscribed on mount, On the St. Laurence near Longeuil. 27 Feb. 1840. Private collection 103.* Canadian cross, 1840 Pen and dark brown ink with grey-brown wash, 161 x 117. Inscribed on mount, A Canadian Cross - 1840 - Geo R Dartnell. Private collection 104.* The Royals at the Ste-Anne rapid, 1840 Watercolour copy by 2nd Lieut T.S.W. Broadley, 1890, after an original sketch by George R. Dartaell, 140 x 230. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Village and Rapid of St. Annes, Canada. Royals passing up in Batteaux. 1 May 1840. The Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Edinburgh Castle
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108.* Saw mill at Delaware, 1840 (1) Watercolour over graphite, 170 x 254 (sight). Inscribed verso, Old Saw Mill at Delaware on the Thames near London. 25 July 1840, and on mount, Saw Mill on the Thames at Delaware. 25 July 1840. Private collection 109. Saw mill at Delaware, c. 1840 (2) Watercolour over graphite, 130 x 216. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Old Saw Mill on the Thames near Delaware. By George R. Dartnell. Private collection 110. Ball practice on the Thames at London, 1840 Watercolour over graphite, 126 x 181. Inscribed on mount, "Ball-practice" on the Thames at London 31 July 1840 Private collection
111.* Colonel Talbot's residence at Port Talbot, c. 1840 Brown wash heightened with white over graphite, on grey paper, 125 x 180. Inscribed on mount, Port Talbot Residence of the Horde. Col. Talbot on Lake Erie Private collection 112. Colonel Talbot's residence, winter, 1841 (1) Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 151 x 227. Inscribed verso, Port Talbot 29 January 1841 - Den of "The old Lion of the West," and on mount, The Lion's Den 29 Jan 1841 Private collection 113. Colonel Talbot's residence, winter, 1841 (2) Watercolour over graphite, 114 x 175. Inscribed recto 1.L, GJR. Dartnell 1841. Recorded from unknown source in early PAC catalogue, Old Homestead on the Talbot Tract Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-13303) 114. Port Talbot from an opening in the bush, 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 181 x 259. Inscribed verso, Port Talbot -from an opening in the trees made on the hillside near the Bridge by Lord Stanley & Mr. Labouchere when on a visit to Col. Talbot in 1839. - 7 June 1841, and on mount, Port Talbot -from an Opening in the "bush" on the hill side - cut by Lord Stanley & Mr. Labouchere when on a visit to Col. Talbot. In 1839. 7 June 1841. Private collection 115. Mount Pisgah, Port Talbot, 1841 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 134 x 219. Inscribed verso, The Giant's Grave - Port Talbot - 7 June 1841 "Mount Pisga", and on mount, Mount
Pisgah - Intended Grave of the "Lion of the West"- Port Talbot - 7 June 1841. Private collection 116. Mouth of the creek at Port Talbot, c. 1841 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 175 x 262. Inscribed on mount, Mouth of the Creek at Port Talbot Private collection 117. Port Stanley, c. 1841 Watercolour, heightened with white over graphite, 176 x 248. Inscribed on mount, 8 June 18[~] (torn) London Regional Art Gallery, Ontario (48.A.59) 118. Bridge near Port Stanley, c. 1841 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 165 x 241. No inscription London Regional Art Gallery, Ontario (48.A.61B) 119. Indians in canoe at Port Stanley, c. 1841 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 165 x 241. No inscription London Regional Art Gallery, Ontario (48.A.62) 120.* Near Big Otter Creek, c. 1841 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 174 x 244. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Near Big Otter Creek. London District. C.W. Private collection 121. Log Barn near Little Otter Creek, 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 134 x 221. Inscribed verso, Canadian Log Barn 'Talbot Street' near Little Otter Creek 13 June 1841, and on mount, Canadian Log Barn - near Little Otter Creek -13 June 1841 Private collection
122. Band field at London, 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 182 x 261. Inscribed on mount, The Band Field at London. C.W. 21 June 1841 Private collection 123. Visitors at Port Talbot, 1841 (1) Watercolour over graphite, 126 x 181. Inscribed on mount, Honble. Col T Honble. CP. - Copt. ID. Port Talbot 25 June 1841 Private collection 124.* Visitors at Port Talbot, c. 1841 (2) Watercolour over graphite, 177 x 253. Inscribed on mount, Port Talbot. Private collection 125. Talbot's house and yard, c. 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 180 x 255. Inscribed on mount, Port Talbot Private collection 126. Port Talbot meadow, c. 1841 (1) Watercolour over graphite, 174 x 253. Inscribed on mount, Port Talbot Private collection 127. Port Talbot meadow, c. 1841 (2) Watercolour over graphite, 173 x 245 (sight). No inscription Private collection 128.* York Street, London, 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 235 x 335 (sight). Inscribed on mount, The Street we live in - York Street - London - GJID. 26 June 1841 Private collection 129. Entrance to the west end of London, c. 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 165 x 241. No inscription London Regional Art Gallery, Ontario (48.A.60)
130. Bridge over the Thames near London, 1841 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 143 x 218 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Bridge over the Thames near London - 1841. Private collection 131.* Army manoeuvres near London, c. 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 147 x 226. No inscription Private collection 132. Talbotville Royal, 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 164 x 252 (sight). Inscribed on mount, Talbot Royal Canada West 5th Oct. 1841. Private collection 133. Back Road and Talbot Road junction, c. 1841 Watercolour over graphite, 179 x 123. No inscription Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-13302) 134. Tree study, London, 1842 Pen and brown ink with Watercolour over graphite, 129 x 206. Inscribed recto 1.1., London 14 June 1842 Private collection 135. The Thames from Ridout Street, London, c. 1842 Watercolour over graphite, 156 x 245 (sight). Inscribed verso, The Thames from Ridout Street near the Bank, and on mount in unknown hand, Twilight on the Thames near London C.W. Private collection 136. Port Talbot, 1842 Watercolour, pen and ink over graphite, 127 x 197. Inscribed on mount, Port Talbot. 3 Sept. 1842. Private collection
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137. View from cliff at Port Talbot, 1842 Watercolour over graphite, 120 x 206 (sight). Inscribed on mount, At Port Talbot Lake Erie - 1842 Privare collection
144. Bayfield church, 1842 Graphite, 88 x 112. Inscribed recto u.c., Bayfield Church, Goderich road. 6 Oct. 1842 Private collection
138. View from shore at Port Talbot, 1842 Watercolour over graphite, 159 x 235. Inscribed on mount, At Port Talbot, Lake Erie, 1842. Royal Ontario Museum, Sigrnund Samuel Collection (952.87.1)
145. On the river near Goderich, 1842 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 222 x 307 (sight). Inscribed verso, View on the Menissitunk from the Bridge near Goderich 6 Oct. 1842 Private collection
139.* View on the Thames at London, 1842 (1) Watercolour over graphite, with scraping, 234 x 320. Inscribed on mount, View on the Thames at London. Sept. 1842. Private collection 140. View on the Thames at London, c. 1842 (2) Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 274 x 432. Inscribed verso in unknown hand, London I Canada West by Dr. Dartnell (Cir) 1839, and in another hand, From the bank of the Thames oppossite Mr Wilson's house looking North. Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-13306) 141.* On the Thames near Delaware, 1842 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 232 x 331 (sight). Inscribed verso, View on the Thames near Delaware - 24 Sept. 1842 Private collection 142. Root study, Goderich, 1842 Graphite, 88 x 113. Inscribed recto 1.1., Goderich 5 Oct. 1842 Private collection 143. Evergreen tree study, c. 1842 Graphite, 88 x 113. No inscription Private collection
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146. On the Wynooski River near Goderich, c.1842 Watercolour, pen and brown ink heightened with white over graphite, 132 x 223. Inscribed on mount, On the Wynooski near Goodrich. C.W. Private collection 147.- St. Marys on the Thames, 1842 Watercolour over graphite, with scraping, 127 x 203 (sight). Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, New Settlement of St. Mary's at the falls of the Thames 21 Oct. 1842 - By George R. Dartnell. Private collection 148. Winter view at Niagara, American Falls, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 241 x 323. Inscribed verso, American Fall -from the Canadian side January 1843, and, Winter View at Niagara - American Fall from the British Side [?] January 1843, and, No 6 Niagara Winter View of the American Fall from the British Side Geo. R. Dartnell, and on mount, Winter View of the American Fall from the British Side Niagara. 6th January 1843 The Weir Foundation, Queenston, Ontario (982.333)
149.* Winter view at Niagara, part of the Horseshoe Falls, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 235 x 320. Inscribed verso, Winter View at Niagara Table Rock and Part of the Horse Shoe Fall 1843, and, No. 7. Niagara - Winter view of a portion of the British Fall from Table Rock Geo R Dartnell National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (28038) 150.* Below the American Falls at Niagara in winter, 1843 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, with scraping, 174 x 235. Inscribed verso, Winter Scene at Niagara View from under the American Fall at the steps January 1843 Private collection 151.* Thames River at London in winter, c. 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 137 x 223. Inscribed on mount, probably in the hand of Lt Daniel Lysons, River Thames. London: Cana West from Westminster Bridge looking N. by G. Dartnell. The Royl Regt. Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C13304) 152.* Stump study, London, 1843 Pen and brown ink with grey-brown wash over graphite, 259 x 182. Inscribed recto 1.1., London W.C. 18 May 1843. Private collection 153. Log study, London, 1843 Pen and brown ink with grey-brown wash over graphite, 257 x 180. Inscribed recto u.l., London W.C. 18 May 1843 Private collection 154.* The Royals' Barrack at London, 1843 Pen and brown ink with grey wash over graphite, 164 x 240. Inscribed recto 1.1., The Barracks at London from the Creek 19 May 1843, and verso, The Barracks at London from the Creek near the Old Saw
Mill - 4 May 1843, and on mount, The Royals' Barrack at London. GRD. 19 May 1840 Private collection 155.* House at London, c. 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 123 x 180. Inscribed on mount, probably in Lt. Daniel Lysons' hand, Our House: London. Up. Can: GM. Dartnell. Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa (C-13301) 156.* Gaol and Court House at London, c. 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 157 x 242. No inscription London Regional Art Gallery, Ontario (48.A.61(2))
161. Niagara rapids above the Horseshoe Falls, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, with scraping, 171 x 256. Inscribed on mount, Niagara The Rapids above the great Fall, from Goat Island. GRD - 25 Sept. 1843 Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.2) 162. Part of the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, 1843 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, with scraping, 127 x 216 (sight). Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Part of the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara from Goat Island ...28th Sept. 1843. by George R. Dartnell. Private collection
157.* Block house at Toronto, 1843 Pen and brown ink with Watercolour over graphite, 95 x 150. Inscribed u.l., Block House on Spadina Avenue near Toronto 24 July 1843 Private collection
163. General view of Niagara from the Canadian side, 1843 Charcoal, 230 x 320. Inscribed on mount, General view of Niagara, from the Canada side. GRD. - in charcoal- 1843. Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.4)
158. On the Genesee River near Rochester, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 163 x 254 (sight). Inscribed on mount, On the Genesee River from the level of the Fall near Rochester, US. Ano Sept. 1843. Private collection
164. Terrapin Tower at Niagara, c. 1843 Charcoal, 245 x 370. Inscribed verso in unknown hand, WA.D. Private collection
159. Lower Falls of the Genesee, 1843 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 165 x 253. Inscribed on mount, Lower falls of the Genesee, US., 2 Sept. 1843 Private collection 160.* Catskill Falls, New York, 1843 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, with scraping, 347 x 247. Inscribed on mount, Katskill Falls - New York State - GRD. September 1843. Royal Ontario Museum, Sigmund Samuel Collection (952.87.7)
165.* The Royals descending the Lachine rapid, 1843 Watercolour copy by Lt. T.S.W. Broadley, 1890, after an original sketch by George R. Dartnell, 115 x 170. Inscribed on mount in unknown hand, Descent of the Lachine Rapid by the Royal Regiment. 11 Oct. 1843 The Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Edinburgh Castle 166. On the St. Lawrence from Point L6vis, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 171 x 256. Inscribed on mount, On the St. Lawrence
from Point Levi. G.RD. - 25 Oct. 1843 Private collection 167. He d'Orleans from below the Citadel, 1843 Watercolour, pen and brown ink over graphite, 224 x 330. Inscribed, lie d'Orleans and Pt. Levis Shore Agnes Etherington Art Gallery, Queen's University, Kingston (CR 17-15) 168. Fallen tree trunk, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 112 x 139. Inscribed on mount, This sketch was under the waters of the St. Laurence for 8 days. 1843. Private collection 169. The Premier at Quebec, 1843 Pen and brown ink with brown and blue washes over graphite, 75 x 120. Inscribed recto 1.1., The "Premier" at Quebec - 1843- GeoR Dartnell Private collection 170. Wreck of the Premier, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, with scraping, 121 x 200. Inscribed recto u.l., Wreck of the Premier Transport in Cape Chatte Bay - 4 Nov. 1843. Private collection 171. Upset of the launch, 1843 Pen and brown ink with brown wash, heightened with white over graphite, 172 x 230 (oval). Inscribed verso, Wreck of the Transport 'Premier' in Cape chatte bay near the mouth of the River St. Laurence on the 4th Nov. 1843. The Premier had on board the Head Quarter Wing of the 2d Batt. 'The Royal' Regt. and was lost during a Snow Storm on the voyage from Quebec to the West Indies - In the Sketch the Ship's Launch is seen upset in attempting to reach the shore - Lt. Lysons, the Mate of the Premier, & 2 Seamen are being rescued from the Ship by a few Canadian fishermen, and on mount, The Premier - 4
107
Nov. 1843. Upset of The Launch. Private collection 172.* Rescue boat trying to land in Cap Chat Bay, 1843 Pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite, with scraping, 120 x 200. Inscribed recto u.l., Wreck of the Premier Transport in Cape Chatte Bay - 4 Nov. 1843. Private collection 173.* Boats landing stores, 1843 Pen and brown ink with brown wash and touch of watercolour, 120 x 202. Inscribed recto u.L, Wreck of the Transport Premier in Cape Chatte Bay - 7 Nov. 1843. Boats landing Stores. Private collection 174. Guard house at Cap Chat Bay, 1843 Watercolour over graphite, 120 x 200. Inscribed recto u.L, Scene at Cape Chatte Bay - 7 Nov. 1843 - Shanty fitting up for Officers covered with Blankets & Tarpaulins - Soldiers Cotaes [coats] drying on the fence. Private collection 175. Rescue of materials from the wreck, 1843 Pen and brown ink with brown wash, 120 x 198. Inscribed recto ul, Wreck of the Premier Transport in Cap Chatte Bay. R. St. Lawrence. 8 Nov. 1843. Private collection 176. View from the Head Quarter house, Cap Chat Bay, 1843 Graphite, 128 x 210. Inscribed recto ul, View from the Head Qr. House - Cape Chatte Bay -9 Nov. 1843 Private collection
The Later Years 1844-1878 177.* Rope bridge near the Giant's Causeway, Ireland, 1844 Pen and brown ink with brown wash heightened with white over graphite, 173 x 250. Inscribed verso in unknown hand, Island & rope Bridge of Carrig a Ude near the Giant's Causeway - 6 Sep. 1844 Span of the Bridge, 60 feet, height above the Sea, 80 feet., and on mount, Carrig-a-Ude Bridge near the Giant's Causeway - 1844 Geo. R. Dartnell Private collection 178. Old house in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, c. 1858-1876 Watercolour heightened with white over graphite, 220 x 294 (sight). Inscribed verso, At the back of old house in Henley in Arden - [? ] Private collection
Selected Bibliography Books Alexander, Sir James E. L'Acadie; or, Seven Years' Explorations in British America. 2 vols. London: Henry Colbum, 1849. Allodi, Mary. Canadian Watercolours and Drawings in the Royal Ontario Museum. 2 vols. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1974. Archer, Mildred, and Ronald Lightbown. India Observed: India as viewed by British Artists (1760-1860). Exhibition catalogue. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. Adamson, Jeremy. From Ocean to Ocean: Nineteenth Century Water Colour Painting in Canada. Exhibition catalogue. Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1978. Bayfield, John, and Carole Gerow. This Was Yesterday: A Pictorial History of the Early Days of Penetanguishene. Midland: BayfieldGerow, 1982. Bell, Michael. Image of Canada. Exhibition catalogue. Ottawa: Information Canada, 1972. Bonnycastle, Sir Richard H. The Canadas in 1841. 2 vols. London: Henry Colbum, 1841. . Canada and The Canadians in 1846. 2 vols. London: Henry Colburn, 1846. Bremner, Archie. Illustrated London. London: London Printing and Lithographing, 1897. Burant, Jim. Friendly spies on the Northern tour, 1815-1837: the sketches of Henry Byam Martin. Exhibition catalogue. Ottawa: Public Archives of Canada, 1981. Burant, Jim, and Judith Saunders. The Garrison Years: London, Canada West 1793-1853. Exhibition catalogue. London: London Regional Art Gallery, 1983. Cameron, Christina, and Jean Trudel. The Drawings of James Cockburn: A visit through Quebec's Past. Toronto: Gage, 1976.
108
Cave, Henry W. The Book of Ceylon. London: Cassell, 1953. Conn, Marjorie B. Wash and Gouache: A Study of the Development of the Materials of Watercolor. Exhibition catalogue. Boston: Fogg Art Museum, 1977. Cooke, W. Martha E. WJI. Coverdale Collection ofCanadiana: Paintings, Water-colours and Drawings. Ottawa: Public Archives of Canada, 1983. Coyne, James H., ed. The Talbot Papers. Toronto: The Royal Society of Canada, 1909. Creighton, Donald G. The Empire of the St. Lawrence. Revised edition. Toronto: Macmillan, 1980.
Hunter, Andrew F. A History ofSimcoe County. 1909. Revised edition edited by Martha Hunter. Barrie: Historical Committee of Simcoe County, 1948.
Miller, Audrey Saunders, ed. The Journals of Mary O'Brien 1828-1838. Toronto: Macmillan, 1968.
Jameson, Anna. Winter Studies and Summer Rambles in Canada. 3 vols. London: Saunders and Otley, 1838.
Mills, John M. Canadian Coastal and Inland Steam Vessels, 1809-1930. Providence: The Steamship Historical Society of America, 1979.
Johnston, William. A List of Commissioned Medical Officers of the Army, 1727-1898. Aberdeen: University Press, 1925. Reprint London: Wellcome, 1968.
Penetanguishene: Bastion of the North, 18141856. Museum of Indian Archaeology, Bulletin no. 12. London: University of Western Ontario, 1959.
Lafreniere, Normand. The Ottawa River Canal System. Studies in Archaeology, Architecture and History. Ottawa: Parks Canada, 1984.
Dartnell, George R. A Brief Narrative of the Shipwreck of the Transport "Premier" ... London: Jeremiah How, 1845.
Leacock, Stephen. Montreal: Seaport and City. Garden City: Doubleday, 1942.
Ermatinger, C.O. The Talbot Regime. St Thomas: Municipal World, 1904. Graham, W.H. The Tiger of Canada West. Toronto: Clarke Irwin, 1962. Guillet, Edwin C. Pioneer Inns and Taverns. Vol. 1. Toronto: Guillet, 1954. . Pioneer Travel in Upper Canada. 1933. Reprint Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1969.
Passfield, Robert W. Building the Rideau Canal: A Pictorial History. Ottawa: Fitzhenry & Parks Canada, 1982.
Jury, Elsie M. The Establishments at
Crookshank, Anne, and The Knight of Glin. The Painters of Ireland c.1660-1920. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1978.
de Volpi, Charles P., and P.S. Winkworth. Montreal. 2 vols. Montreal: Dev-Sco., 1963.
Nagel's Encyclopedia-Guide. Geneva: Nagel, n.d.
Leask, J.C. and H.M. McCance. The Regimental Records of the Royal Scots (The First or The Royal Regiment of Foot). Dublin: Thorn, 1915. Legget, Robert Rideau Waterway. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1955. Lower, Arthur R.M. Great Britain's Woodyard: British America and the Timber Trade 1763-1867. Montreal and London: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1973. Lutman, John H. The Historic Heart of London. London, Ontario: Corporation of the City of London, 1977.
Hart, H.G. Annual Army List. London: John Murray, 1878.
Lysons, Sir Daniel Early Reminiscences. London: John Murray, 18%.
Historical Atlas of Elgin County, Ontario. Edited by Ross Gumming. Toronto: Page, 1877. Reprint Port Elgin, 1972.
McKenzie, Ruth. Admiral Bay field: Pioneer Nautical Surveyor. Misc. Special Pub. 32. Ottawa: Environment Canada, 1976.
Honey, Terrance W., ed. London Heritage. London: London Free Press, 1972.
McNamara, Tony F. Portrait of Cork. Cork: Watermans, 1981.
Poole, Nancy Geddes. The Art of London: 18301980. London: Blackpool 1984. Schull, Joseph. Rebellion: The Rising in French Canada 1837. Toronto: Macmillan, 1971.
Seaborn, Edwin. The March of Medicine in Western Ontario. Toronto: Ryerson, 1944. Senior, Elinor Kyte. British Regulars in Montreal: An Imperial Garrison, 1832-1854. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1981. . Redcoats and Patriotes: The Rebellions in
Lower Canada, 1837-38. Canadian War Museum Historical Publication No. 20. Ottawa: National Museums, 1985.
Shaw, Eleanor. A History of the London Public Library. London Public Library and Museum, Occasional Paper no. 4. London, Ontario, 1941. Reprint 1968. Smith, Frances K. John Herbert Caddy: 18011887. Exhibition catalogue. Kingston: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 1985. Tausky, Nancy Z. and Lynne D. DiStefano. Victorian Architecture in London and Southwestern Ontario: Symbols of Aspiration. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986. Thompson, Austin S. Spadina. Toronto: Pagurian, 1975. White, Christopher. English Landscape 16301850: Drawings, Prints and Books from the
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Paul Mellon Collection. Exhibition catalogue. New Haven: Yale Center for British Art, 1977. Whitehorne, A.C. The History of the Welch Regiment (41st). Cardiff: Western Mail and Echo, 1932. Whitfield, Carol. British Soldiery in Canada. Ottawa: Parks Canada, 1979.
Articles & Unpublished Material Airey, Julius. Correspondence. Regional Room, D.B. Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, London. Airey, Richard. Papers. Garnons Collection, Hereford and Worcester Record Office, (G/IV/A), Hereford, England. Letters courtesy Sir John Cotterell, Bart. Aitken, Barbara. "Searching Chelsea Pensioners in Upper Canada and Great Britain, Part 1 Sources." Families, 23, 3 (1984): 114-127. Becher, Henry C.R. 'The Pirate of St. Mary's." The Albion [New York], 7 January 1843, p. 4-5. Burroughs, Peter. "The Human Cost of Imperial Defence in the Victorian Age." Victorian Studies, Indiana University, 24, 1 (Autumn 1980): 7-32. Clifton, James A. "Potawatomi." In Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 15, Northeast. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1978, p. 725-870. Dartnell, George R. "Penetanguishene.", and "Leaves from an Officer's Diary. (18361840.)", Women's Canadian Historical Society of Toronto, Transaction no. 4 (1903): 14-16. -. "Femoral Aneurism. Compression. - Cure in 24 Hours." Medical Times & Gazette (1851): 148-149. -."On the Prevalence and Severity of Syphilis in the British Army; and its Prevention." British Medical Journal. Original Communications (28 April 1860): 317-319.
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—."Branding in the Army." British Medical Journal. Correspondence (9 February 1861): 155.
O'Donoghue, DJ. "Cork Artists." The Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, 3 (1984): 244.
Dartnell, George R., Dr. Maclean, Dr. Scott, and Dr. Forrest. "Reports on the exhausting apparatus of Dr. Junod." Medical Times & Gazette. Army Medical Report, Original Communications (1853): 258-259.
Osbome, A.C. "The Migration of Voyageurs: From Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828." Papers and Records. Ontario Historical Society, 3 (1901): 1-46.
Dwelly, Rev. R.T.C. "St James' Church, Penetanguishene." Papers and Records. Ontario Historical Society, 34 (1942. Reprint, n.d.): 1-8.
Pettit, S.F. " The Royal Cork Institution: a reflection of the cultural life of a city." The Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, 81 (June 1975): 70-85.
Elliot, Judge William. Diary. Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library.
Price, Karen. "Glimpses of Soldiering at Coteau du Lac, Quebec 1780-1856." History and Archaeology. Parks Canada, 15 (1977): 6-63.
Fisher, W. Allen. "The Road through Simcoe's County." East Georgian Bay Historical Journal. 4 (1985): 69-96.
Rainville, Alain. "The Grosse Isle quarantine station: 1832-1937." The Archivist, 12, 5 (September / October 1985): 8.
Garland, Rev. M.A. and Orio Miller, eds. The Diary of H.C.R. Becher."Pflper5 and Records. Ontario Historical Society, 33 (1939): 116143.
Robertson, Ensign Alexander C., 34th Regiment Diary (1838-1841). Baldwin Room, Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library.
Haslock, David, Colour Sergeant, Grenadier Company, 41st Regiment of Foot, 18251848. Memoirs, (ref. 8109-63). Reading Room, National Army Museum, London, England. Microfilm photocopy.
Seaborn, Edwin. Scrapbook. London Room, London Public Library, London, Ontario.
Historic Naval and Military Establishments, Penetanguishene, Ontario. "Definition of Original Personnel." Descendants' Newsletter. 1, 4 (February 1984): 1-2. Johnson, J.K. 'The Chelsea Pensioners in Upper Canada." Ontario History, 53, 4 (December 1961): 273-289. Landon, Fred. "Colonel Wetherall in Early London, Gave Considerable Aid to Community." London Free Press, 31 May 1952. —. "British Regiments in London." Western Ontario Historical Notes, 13, 3 (September 1955): 5-9. —. Scrapbook. Regional Room, D.B. Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, London.
Wilson, Bruce G. et al. "George Russell Dartnell (1798-1878)," and "Daniel Lysons (18161898)." Archives Canada Microfiche, 10 (1977): 21-28.
Index Illustrations are listed in bold face. L'Acadie, see Alexander, Sir James E. Agnew, Thomas, of London, 89, 89, 96 Ainslie, Captain Henry, 87, 95 Airey, Julius, 61 Airey, Col. [Sir] Richard, 61-63, 65, 66, 95 Albany, N.Y., 77, 85 Albert, H.R.H. Prince, 88, 89 Albion, The, N.Y., 25, 67-71, 95 Alexander, Lady [Eveline Marie Mitchell], 71, 74, 87,97 Alexander, Sir James E., 21, 60, 71-74, 73, 87, 93,97 Allahabad, 29, 99 Arden House Private Lunatic Asylum, 90, 90, 91, 96,97 Ardenhurst School, 91, 96 Ardenville, 91 Armour and Ramsey, 87 Armstrong, Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard, 65, 87, 94 aurora borealis, 43, 93 Aylmer, Lord, 31 Badami, 27, 29, 99 Bainbrigge, Lieut Philip, 50, 94 bandfield, London garrison, 64, 105 Barlow, T.O., R.A., 89, 89 Barnard, Col. Henry William, 18, 50 Barrett, Jerry, 89, 89, 96 Barrie, 39, 93, 100 Bartlett, William Henry, 50, 94 bateaux, 57, 58, 59, 78, 100 Batticaloa, 24, 25, 98 Bayfield church, 66, 106 Bayfield, Admiral Henry, 39, 87, 95 Bayham Township, 62 Beauclerk, Lord Charles, 87, 95 Beaufoy, Capt Benjamin, 87, 95 Becher, Henry C.R, 67, 68, 71, 95, 97 Belgaum, 26, 27, 97 Bell, Major George, 61, 76 Bellary, 26 Beloeil Mountain, 53, 103 Bengal, 27, 97 Bennett, Anna Maria, see Dartnell Bennett, Major, 85 Big Otter Creek, 62, 63, 105 Bijapur, 27, 30, 99 Bishop, Lord, of Montreal, 87 block house, 77, 78, 157 Bonnycastle, LL-Col. Sir Richard H., 47, 49, 93
Brecon, Wales, 29 Broadley, 2nd. Lieut. T.S.W., 57, 59, 79, 80, 94 Brock, Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac, 49, 102 Brock's monument, 49, 49, 94, 102 Burma, 26, 29 Bytown [Ottawa], 58, 59 Caddy, John H, 65, 66, 95 Calcutta, 26 canot du maitre, 41, 42, 101 Cap Chat Bay, 82, 83, 84, 85, 95, 97, 107, 108 Cap Rouge, 50, 102, 103 Cape Town, 24, 98 Catskill Falls, 77, 79, 107 Cerigo, Greece, 18, 22 Ceylon [Sri Lanka], 24-26, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 67, 71, 91, 97-99 Chambly, 53, 103 Charlesbourg, 102 Chatham, Kent, 21, 22, 22, 29, 30, 88, 89, 97, 98 cholera, 27, 29, 52 Clark's Bridge, 64 Colbome, Sir John, 40 Coldwater, 39, 100 Cork, 9, 20, 21, 29, 31, 97, 99 courthouse, London, Ontario, 66, 73, 74, 76, 94, 107 Cox, David, 31 Crimean War, 18, 88, 89, 89 Darmell, Alice Russell, 20, 30, 97 Dartnell, Alicia Isabella, 30, 97 Dartnell, Anna Maria Bennett, 29, 90, 92, 95, 97 Dartnell, Anna Maria Ingall, 97 Dartnell, Edward Taylor, 87 Dartnell, Ella Octavia Mary, 97 Dartnell, George Bennett French, 97 Dartnell, Georgina Mary, 17, 18, 97 Dartnell, John, 20, 97 Dartnell, John George, [later Sir John George], 57, 94, 97 Dartnell, Margaret Jane, 97 Dartnell, Maria Jane, 85, 97 Dartnell, Rebecca, 30, 97 Dartnell, William Abraham, 97 Davenport, Capt. Trevor, 63, 64, 71, 74, 81, 87, 105 Davy, Edmund, 21 Delaware, 60, 61, 66, 66, 104, 106 Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals [D.I.G.H.], 88, 89, 91, 97 Devonshire, Duke of, 20 Drummond Island, 39, 93
Dublin, 21, 31 Dunlop, Dr. William 'Tiger", 47, 66, 95 Duplain, Pierre, 52, 53 Durham boats, 33, 59 (see bateaux) elephants, 24-26, 26, 28, 91, 99 Elliot, William, 64 Establishments, Naval and Military, see Penetanguishene garrison First Regiment of Foot, see Royal Regiment Five-Mile Bush, 48, 48, 102, back cover Fort Pitt, Chatham, 21, 22, 22, 29, 90, 97, 98 Fort Pitt hospital, 21, 88-90, 89, 96, 97 Forty-first Regiment, 26, 27, 97 Fourteenth Regiment, 60 Framed Barracks, 60, 63, 65, 74, 75, 106, 107 Franklin, Sir John, 39 Gananooue, 49, 102 Ganges River, 27 Genesee Falls and River, 77, 107 Giant's Causeway, Ireland, 86, 87, 108 Gillingham, 22, 98 Girtin, Thomas, 31 Goa, 27, 99 Goat Island, 72, 73 Goderich, 66, 69, 106 Gravett, James, see Gravitt's Gravitt's Public House, 48, 48, 93, 102 Great Yarmouth, 88, 97 Green Island, 81 Grosse Isle, 50, 52, 53, 103 Gzowski, Col. Casimir, 67, 69 Hamilton, 57-59, 71, 72 Hamilton, James, 64 Hardinge, Viscount, 88, 89 Harris, Mrs. Amelia, 61 health inspection, 53, 54, 90 Henley-in-Arden, Warks., 90-92, 90, 108 hernial truss, 88 Hogan, John, 21 Home, Sir Everard, 22 Hope, Col. James [later Hope-Wallace], 18, 50 Hope, Maj.-Gen. Sir James A., 83-85, 87, %
Hunter, 58, 94
lie d'Orteans, 81, 107 India, 26-30, 29, 30, 31, 32, 71, 94, 97, 99 Ingall, LL Frederick L, 40, 44, 45, 52, 81, 85, 87, 93, 101 Ingall, William, 44, 44, 101 Ingersoll, James, 68 Ingersoll, John, 69
111
Ingersoll, Thomas, 71 Iroquois, 47, 102 Jack, 26, 26 Jameson, Mrs. Anna, 47, 62 Jennings, John, 73 Kempenfelt Bay, 36, 39, 100 Kempenfelt [village], 39, 48, 49, 93, 102 Kholapur, 26, 97 King's wharf, see Toronto Kingston, 33, 57, 58, 77, 78 Kurunegala, 24-26, 26 Lachine, 33, 57, 79 Lachine rapids, 79, 80, 107 Lake St-Louis, 33, 35, 100 Lake Simcoe, 36, 38, 39, 48, 100 Leamington, Warks., 91, 96, 97 Lifford, Ireland, 29, 85, 87, 97 Limerick, Ireland, 20, 87 Little Lake, 11, 47, 100, 101 Little Otter Creek, 62,105 London garrison, 60, 64, 94, 105, 106, see also Framed Barracks London, 25, 56, 57, 59-61, 63-69, 64, 65, 66, 71-76, 74, 75, 76, 97, 105-107 Longueuil, 53, 55, 103, 104 Lyons, Pte. Thomas, 65 Lysons, Lt Daniel, 73, 74, 81-83, 85, 87, 96, 106, 107 Maclise, Daniel, 21 Madras, 26, 29 Magazine Island, 41, 41, 93, 100 Maitland River, 66 Malabar gun, 27, 30, 99 manoeuvres, military, 63, 64, 65, 104,105 maple tapping, 11, 44, 101 Matchedash Bay, 39, 93, 100 Mcllroy, T. 72 Mechanics' Institute, London, Ontario, 73, 76 Medway River, 22, 29, 99 Menissitunk River, 66 military road, see Penetanguishene Road Mishmenanaquat, 45, 45, 101 Mitchell, George, 41, 100 Montmorency Falls, 50, 51, 52, 54, 102, 103 Montmorency River, 50, 51, 102 Montreal, 10, 31-33, 33, 34, 50-57, 55, 56, 80, 85, 97, 99, 100, 103, 104 Mount Pisgah, 62, 104 Murray, Sir George, 87 Nelson, Rev. W.E., 91, 96
112
New Haven, Conn. 85 New York State, 50, 77, 79, 97, 107 Niagara Falls, 13, 33, 36, 45, 71, 72, 72, 73, 78, 97, 100, 102, 104, 106, 107 Nicholl's Tavern, 48, 49, 102 Nissouri Township, 67, 69 Ottawa, see Bytown Ottawa River, 33, 57 Panet, Philippe, 50, 51, 102 Paton, Lt, R.A., 71, 74 Penetanguishene Bay, 12, 39-41, 41, 42, 44, 46, 92, 93, 97, 100, 101 Penetanguishene garrison, 12, 33, 39, 40, 41,4345, 47, 48, 50, 93, 97, 101, 102 Penetanguishene Road, 39, 47, 48, 48, 49, 93, 102, back cover Pensioners, Commuted [Chelsea], 39, 45 Pinery Point, 41, 42, 101 "Pirate of St Mary's," see The Albion Plunket, the Hon. Charles, 63, 64, 105 Port Stanley, 62, 105 Port Talbot, 61-63, 64, 65, 95, 97, 104-106 Potawatomi Indians, 45, 45, 47, 47, 93, 101, 102 Premier, 78, 81-85, 83, 84, 87, 97, 107, 108 Priests' Farm, 53, 94, 103 Quebec City, 14,15, 31, 49-52, 51, 78, 81-83, 85, 97, 102, 103, 107 Queen's wharf, see Toronto Queenston Heights, 49, 49, 102 Rebellion of 1837-1838, 45, 50, 52, 93-95 Richmond Hospital, Dublin, 21, 97 Rideau Canal, 33, 58, 59, 78, 104 Ridout Street, 105 Robertson, Dr., 77 Robinson Hall Hotel, 74, 76 Rochester Cathedral, 22, 23, 98 Rochester, Kent, 22, 88 Rochester, N.Y., 77, 85, 107 Roman Catholic Cathedral, Quebec City, 50, 52, 103 Roy, Louis, 82 Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 90, 96, 97 Royal College of Surgeons of England [R.C.S.E.], 22, 90, 91, 97 Royal Cork Institution, 21 Royal Regiment of Foot, [First], 18, 52, 56-61, 59, 63, 6V71, 74-85, 75, 87, 94, 95, 97, 104, 106-108 Royal Scots, 57, 94
St Charles River, 103 St George's Hospital, London, England, 22 St Helen's Island, 53, 55, 80, 99, 103 St Lawrence River, 34, 50, 52-54, 57, 78-82, 96, 97, 99, 100, 102-104, front cover St Marys, 16, 67-71, 87, 97, 106 St Thomas, 61, 63, 64 Ste-Anne [de Bellevue] rapid, 59, 104 Ste-Anne [de Beaupr£] road, 50, 103 scrapbook, 17,18 Sharp, John, 76 Skey, Dr. Joseph, 41 Smyth, J.R. Coke, 50, 94 Somerset, Lord, 31 South Infirmary Hospital, see Cork Sprague, Ezra, 69-71 Street, John, 67 Sulpician Order, see Priests' Farm Talbot, Col. Thomas, 61-63, 62, 104, 105 Talbot Road, 64, 105 Talbotville Royal, 64, 105 Terrapin Tower, 78, 107 Thames River, 16, 61, 64-67, 66, 73, 74, 104106 Toronto, 36, 36, 37, 45, 72, 77, 78, 78, 87, 97, 100, 107 Trincomalee, 24, 27, 92, 98 Tyrconnell, 62 Unicorn, 83 Varley, John, 31, 32 Victoria, H.M. Queen, 84, 88, 89, 89, 96, 97 Wallace's, see Mrs. Wallace Wallace, Mrs., 40, 41, 93, 101 Wells, Lt-Col. Frederick, 18 Wells, Lt-Col. Joseph, 18 West Hamborough, 72, 73 Westminster Bridge, 64, 66, 73, 74, 76, 106 Wetherall, Col. G.A., 52, 60, 74, 87 Wickens, James, 36, 38, 100 Willes, William, 21 Wolfe's Cove, 103 Woodroffe, Dr., 20, 21 Wouldham Church, 99 Wright, Col. John Ross, 41, 50,102 Wynooski River, 66, 106 York Street, 64, 65, 73, 105 Young, Major John Crawford, 31, 32