[CoYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 17 
best, as it is still one of the best, in the province. The prosperity 
of the Talbot settlers was systematically and extensively advertized. 
The government made use of it for the purpose of attracting immigrants 
to all parts of the province. Throughout Upper Canada the Settlement 
was held up as a model for imitation. 
During the war of 1812, Talbot occupied a position of responsibility 
in the Upper Canada militia as Colonel commanding the London and 
Western Districts. This brought him once more into close contact 
with military and naval officers. The settlers, then fortunately few 
in number, suffered at the hands of successive bands of raiders from the 
States, who plundered them of everything portable, and destroyed what 
they could not carry away. The progress of settlement was absolutely 
stopped by the war. With peace came progress and prosperity. [mmi- 
grants found themselves barred from entrance into Dunwich and Ald- 
borough by Colonel Talbot, who claimed these townships as his reserves. 
In other townships the usual fees were not exacted, and officials com- 
plained loudly of the discrimination in the Colonel’s favour. Contro- 
versy with the Executive Council ended in an appeal by Talbot to the 
Home Government. He was sustained, and thenceforward for many 
years he was, practically uncontrolled in the work of settlement. 
The political campaign of 1832-1833 was largely a war of petitions. 
Talbot’s great mecting at St. Thomas was an important influence in 
this connection, both in the province and in England. A large and 
important part of the Talbot Papers consists of material relating to 
this meeting. 
Owing to Colonel Talbot’s prominence in so many ways, romantic 
and practical, he was and must always remain a personage of conse- 
quence in our history. 
Anything, therefore that throws light upon his history, character 
and motives, upon his connection with settlement, or upon his rela- 
tion to the military and political events which have been mentioned, 

1The original arrangement between the provincial authorities and Talbot 
related solely to the settlement of Dunwich, the township of Aldborough 
being later added to the reserve set apart for his benefit. These townships 
may therefore be said to have formed the original Talbot ;Settlement. But 
in 1811 and later, under new arrangements, he undertook the superintendence 
of the settlement of all the townships along the Talbot Road properly so- 
called, from Long Point to the Detroit River, as well as of others along the 
River Thames. References to the Talbot Settlement during the first half of 
the last century apply almost exclusively not to the original townships, the 
settlement of which was obstructed by Colonel Talbot, but to the other town- 
ships, which prospered greatly. 
Sec. II., 1907. 2. 
