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Events from the year 1778 in Canada.
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"War seems to them an expedient measure, and[...]a treaty with the rebels is forming" - Britain suspects France will ally with U.S.A.[3]
French and U.S. diplomats sign treaty that guarantees two nations will make "common cause" against enemy if France goes to war with Britain[4]
Congress's Board of War instructs Lafayette to capture Montreal and either attach Canada to U.S. if Canadians agree to it or retreat if they don't[5]
Report requested by Washington details possible routes, timing, and provision sources for invasion of Canada[6]
Congress approves certain preparations (laying up provisions, preparing clothing) for invasion of Canada[7]
Congress sends Benjamin Franklin at Versailles highly detailed attack plan to link U.S. troops coming from Lake Ontario with French from Quebec City[8]
With "a prospect of our wants and our weaknesses," Washington argues at great length against Congress's plan for U.S. and France to invade Canada[9]
Intelligence report from Vermont says Canadians "very Much In favour" of U.S. cause and their "Preists mouths are Shut" on U.S. dispute with Britain[10]
"Too much in the field of conjecture" - In letter to Maj. Gen. Schuyler, Washington weighs pros, cons and unknowns of invading Canada[11]
Washington to recruit "a Body of four hundred Indians" and believes Oneidas, who have "the strongest Attachment to us[,] will be most numerous"[12]
Intelligence report from New Hampshire says "Joseph Louie the Chief of Saint Francois Tribe" claims all are willing to join United States[13]
Letter with enclosures alerts Washington to security problems in New York, especially with Cherry Valley massacre (Note: "savages" used)[14]
Senecas' "predatory war" in New York makes them chief enemy of U.S. among Haudenosaunee, though Joseph Brant also cited (Note: "savages" used)[15]
Molly Brant writes she has few details of Joseph's "brush with the Rebels," and her hope is soon to "return to our habitations on the Mohawk River"[16]
Sergeant from 8th (King's) Regiment "with a party of Indians from Detroit" take five Pennsylvania riflemen, who are "conducted safe to this city"[17]
Though situation unlike that of previous war, Maj. Gen. Schuyler argues at length usefulness of Lake Ontario route for fighting British in Canada[18]
"The government of Quebec is a legal parliamentary despotism" - Governor and any "nine of the most profligate persons" can rule (Note: "savage" used)[19]
Gov. Haldimand extends deadline of former Quebec governor Carleton's order to seigneury owners to swear allegiance and register deeds or land rolls[20]
"It is absolutely necessary that the grain be got in dry" - Reader offers method of harvesting in wet weather that avoids grain sprouting[21]
Mulatto woman, 28, for sale; has had measles and smallpox; can cook and keep house, "work at her needle, and is remarkably careful of young children"[22]
Enslaved mulatto girl Bell is sold to Quebec lieutenant governor after twice escaping her Quebec City owner[23]
Montreal merchants offer $8 reward for capture of "Negro man named Jack" who has "Guinea accent" and "was lately purchased of Captain Covells"[24]
Small howitzer shell left on Handsel Monday wounds Margaret Callender's hands and eyes, for which she asks customers' and suppliers' consideration[25]
New husband's misogeny toward letter writer and his friends' "Attachment to the Bottle" leave her doleful and "terrified to death" for his welfare[26]
School to open with instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, bookkeeping, four languages etc., with emphasis on "exterior deportment and behavior"[27]
Quebec City stay-maker advertises products, skills, and knowledge of "the most early and newest fashions"[28]
"Province will be an object of the first consideration to the French" - Anticipating war with France, troops added to 2,800 infantrymen in Nova Scotia[29]
Treaty made on Saint John River by Superintendant of Indians Francklin and Wolastoqiyik, Passamaquoddy and Mi'kmaq, who warn off Machias raiders[30]
Nova Scotia Council thanks Maj. Gen. Massey for defence of province, improving Halifax defences and erecting "important post" on Saint John River[31]
Taken to Boston by privateers, Benjamin Marston is re-imprisoned after brief house arrest, but learns "that a man may enjoy himself in prison"[32]
"Inhuman and cruel; poor miserable sick; suffered and died" - Remarks from account of mistreatment of imprisoned U.S. privateers in Halifax in 1777[33]
British deserter gives much useful information to U.S. commander in New York on naval and military comings and goings, mostly in Halifax[34]
Edward Winslow feels "noble indignation" seeing "scoundrels" who persecute loyalists in committees, Congress and "places confidential & lucrative"[35]
Late Margaret Green "was so mortified to the Vanities[...]as to have little or no Relish of[...]Amusements[,] Pastimes, and useless frothy Entertainments"[36]
Accused fraudster from Canada is questioned in Charlottetown and released on his parole for lack of evidence plus his depositing "295 clipt half Joes"[37]
Map: St. John's Island, northern Acadia and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence[38]
Irish success in Newfoundland fishery "has raised such a spirit amongst them, that it is said" twice as many ships will sail from Waterford this year[39]
Privateers out of Boston, aided by Labrador locals ("traitors"), plunder £14,000-worth from George Cartwright's properties and take his Inuit servants[40]
"The finest sport that man ever had" - Cartwright hunts bears hunting salmon at rapids, pools and beautiful cascade on Eagle River, Labrador[41]
After Cartwright slaps Inuk servant Tweegock "for some sluttish and dirty tricks," he stops her from completing attempts to stab herself in heart[42]
Open Hudson's Bay Company trade to public because Indigenous people accept low-quality goods and supply skins used in wares for foreign trade[43]
Map segment of former New France from Moose Factory on James Bay to Mississauga territory on Lake Huron[44]
James Cook's Pacific expedition is in Nootka Sound, where trade with locals is conducted with "harmony and integrity," but human parts are "horrid"[45]
Indigenous people's "ingenious[...]manufactures and mechanic arts" are quite unexpected, given "what little progress they have made in civilization"[46]
Illustrations: "Drawings by John Webber of Natives of the Northwest Coast of America" (1778) include people on Nootka Sound[47]
Song: "Barrett's Privateers" has unfamiliar lyrics like "letter of marque," "list to port," "scuppers," "loose in stays," "two cables," "main truck"[48]
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