-
Key Events in the History of Nova Scotia: 1793.
-
[Backward In Time (1792)]
[Forward In Time (1794)]
§On January 21st, Louis XVI is beheaded. George III sent the French ambassador packing. Diplomatic relations were severed. France invaded England's ally, Holland; and, on February 1st, France declared war on England.
§A new period, one of war, started. The period lasted through to 1815 and saw the erection of "many new fortifications at Halifax."
§Austria, Prussia, Spain, and Britain form an alliance against France (the "First Coalition.") Prussia retired after gobbling up Poland; Spain made peace (July 1795); and, large parts of Holland and Belgium received France as friends. Though she picked up and lost allies from time to time, for much of the war (1793-1815), Britain remained alone against France.
§In Nova Scotia: March 1st: "A general fast."
§March 20th, 1793: The 7th General Assembly sits. This assembly sat for a total of seven sessions over its six year life (1793-99).
§An expedition, fitted out at Halifax under General Ogilvie, sailed to the French Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. These French Islands gave up without a fight and a population of 1500 French inhabitants surrendered to the English authorities. Six hundred of them were brought to Halifax that June and imprisoned.
§In England: The trials of the "Reform-martyrs" unfolded. The defendants were found guilty, Thomas Muir (1765-99) among them; and were transported to Botany Bay. These trials were part of the larger government effort to prosecute editors, nonconformists and radicals who were arguing for Parliamentary reform.
§On the 22nd of July, 1793, Mackenzie writes his lines on a rock bluff in Dean's Channel just in form the Pacific Ocean: "Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada, by land, the twenty-second of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three."
§15 August: At Liverpool: Perkins: "The Schooner Defiance ... sails for the Turks Island, for salt, that article being very scarce, and the danger over the enemy not being thought to be very great in that quarter ..."
§17 August: At Liverpool: Perkins: "The Schooner Grey Hound, Capt. James Gorham, arrived from Halifax, and brings me despatches from Government, with two 12 pound cannon, powder, balls, & every implement necessary for them. 200 stands of arms, cartridge boxes, bayonets, etc, complete, with ten thousand cartridges. I have also orders from the Governor, immediately to review the militia in companys, and orders that they hold themselves in readiness to march on service at the shortest notice. ... The news from Halifax is that there is a number of French privateers at Boston, and that from accounts at Halifax from the Boston Frigate there is reason to fear she is taken by the Ambuscade. The Governor & General having been for sometime at variance, or at least a coolness between them, are now reconciled."
§21 August: At Liverpool: Perkins: "We lay out the plan of the Battery, and make good progress. The Schooner Brisk, Capt. Christopher, arrives from St. Vincent with rum, but no salt. I take half the round shot to my old store, & the 48 case shot, 98 round, & carry 97 to Wilson's cellar. They fell short 6. Christopers came in a fleet, bound to Halifax."
§17 September: At Liverpool: Perkins: "A small schooner, Smith, Master, arrives from Boston. Two French Gentlemen are passengers. They have letters and passports from the consuls, one letter to Governor Wentworth, and have a letter from Mr. Alex. Brymer, jr. to Benajah Collins, Esq., or in his absence to me, requesting that they may be treated with & respect & assisted to get to Halifax. ... They appear to be gentlemen. One is called a Marquis. They are of St. Domingo, and are bound to England."
§19 October: At Liverpool: Perkins: "A brigantine appears in sight. I go to the Battery to observe her. She is coming in. Shows English colours, & appears to be loaded. She gets in at evening, & proves to be the Brig. Minerva, from London, eight weeks passage, with King's stores & drygoods. ... She sailed under convoy of Admiral King, for the Newfoundland Station. Brings no late news from England."
§28 October: At Liverpool: Perkins: "Capt. Tupper says there is much talk in Halifax of a war with the United States of America ..."
-
[Backward In Time (1792)]