28 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Creeks, that he should establish himself at one of these beautiful 
spots, but the young officer answered, “ Not yet.” When, however, they 
arrived at the mouth of Talbot Creek, the lieutenant erected a tent on 
the top of the cliff, turned host at once, met the Governor at the tent 
door, and invited his Excellency to the Castle of Malahide. “ Here, 
General Simcoe,” said the romantic youth, “ will I roost, and will soon 
make the forests tremble under the wings of the flock I will invite by 
my warblings around me.” 
There is some reason for laying the scene of the story at the mouth of 
Kettle Creek (now Port Stanley) instead of that of Talbot Creek. How- 
ever this may be, the main fact is fairly authenticated, that, at the age 
of twenty-three, Talbot was already thinking of making his permanent 
abode on the shore of Lake Erie. Here he would organize a settlement 
of loyal British subjects, who should enable him to carry out, as far as 
practicable, the policy of his great leader, General Simcoe. Years of 
absence on military service could not obliterate the remembrance of the 
lofty cliff on Lake Erie, and with the restoration of peace he was ready 
to return to Upper Canada, to bury himself in the forest, and to hew 
out home and fortune for himself and those whom he might induce to 
follow him. 
VIII.—SKITTIEWAABA ON LAKE ERIE. 
Talbot came out accordingly, early in 1801, with the object of 
securing a township for himself. General Simcoe had promised him 
lands, but owing to some neglect the necessary warrants had not been 
issued previous to the former’s departure from Canada. Since then, 
new regulations were in force. Patent fees and settlement duties were 
required, and Talbot was baffled in his desire to evade them. Making 
his way to a point called by him Skittie-waaba,' probably at or in the 
neighbourhood of the present village of Port Stanley, he began to make 
a clearing. From various circumstances it is probable that this was 
in the township of Yarmouth, although a reference in his earliest letter 
on the subject might point to Houghton. If he could secure Yarmouth, 
he shrewdly considered his fortune made. One of the king’s sons, the 
Duke of Cumberland,? had promised to lend his influence when desired. 
So on the 16th May, 1801, he writes the Duke, announcing his safe 
arrival in his “favourite settlement after the most propitious passage, 
and, as I am persuaded,” he proceeds, “ that your Royal Highness will 
be satisfied, I will add, that I find my situation quite what I could 

* Ojibway for “ fire-water.” 
7 Afterward King of Hanover. 
