[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 43 
Beginning with that year, the 21st of May in each year was observed 
by the settlers in commemoration of the founding of the Settlement. 
The celebrated Dr. Rolph had settled in Malahide in 1813; in 1817 
he was living in Southwold, just west of St. Thomas. He was well 
acquainted with Talbot, having acted as paymaster and military secretary 
during the war. The Talbot anniversary was instituted upon his advice 
and with his aid. The correspondence which took place before its insti- 
tution has been preserved, and is curious enough.t The first celebration 
was held at Dr. Lee’s hotel, a mile or two east of St. Thomas. It con- 
tinued to be held each recurring 21st of May, until the close of the 
Rebellion. After the first few years it was held in St. Thomas, which 
Colonel Talbot was in the habit of calling his “ capital,’ except on 
one occasion, when it was moved to London. It began with a dinner. 
The standard toasts were, “The King,” “The day and all who honour 
it,’ and “The Honorable Thomas Talbot, the founder of the Talbot 
Settlement.” The Colonel, who made a point of attending the annual 
celebration, always responded briefly, but with pride, and deeply touched 
by his uniformly enthusiastic reception,? always concluding in the most 
affectionate and emphatic manner, ‘God bless you all. The dinner 
was followed by a ball, opened by the Colonel, who selected for his part- 
ner the prettiest girl amongst the farmers’ daughters present. During 
the two years of the Rebellion, the presence of a garrison at St. Thomas 
added splendour to the festivities. On one of these occasions the 
scarlet uniforms of the officers of the 85th Regiment were conspicuous 
amongst the gaily dressed dancers. It was the same regiment Colonel 
Talbot had served with as Major on the continent of Europe nearly 
half a century before. The presence of the military proved in the 
end fatal to the anniversary. It had become too gay and fashionable 
for the guests in homespun. Their attendance fell off, and the depar- 
ture of the military deprived the festival of its chief attraction for 
the fashionable visitors. Shortly after the rebellion, the Talbot anni- 
versary was numbered with the things of the past. 
+A report of the preliminary meeting is published herewith for the 
first time. The remainder of the papers may be found in Edward Erma- 
tinger's “Life of Colonel Talbot,’ and in Judge Ermatinger’s ‘“ Talbot 
Régime.” 
*The settlers in Dunwich and Aldborough were always conspicuous by 
their absence, with the exception of the few Irish families at Tyronnel, who 
had come in in 1809-1810. 
