108 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
expect that I will enter the list with you, for believe me, I value my 
life too highly to hazard it in your speculations—Should you further 
intrude yourself personally upon me with threats, I will employ the 
Constable to deliver the necessary reply. 
Copies of your letter and my answer together with a statement of 
the circumstances that have led to the correspondence will be forwarded 
to Government— 
I am Sir, &c., &e., 
THomas ‘TALBOT. 
Mr. Simon Zelotes Watson. 
Talbot to Major Halton. 
Draft in Talbot’s writing, with numerous erasures and interlineations. 
My Dear Major Port Talbot 14th March 1811. 
two days after I had the pleasure of writing to you by Shenich 
on the subject of the Lands in Westminster Mr. Watson called upon 
me accompanied by his friend Bird and a person of the name of Brigham 
from Delaware. Watson attacked me in a most insolent tone asked me 
“how I had dared to go amongst his settlers and desire them not to 
pay him his demands on them of 100 Dollars, that he would take out 
a bench warrant against me and compel me to pay him 100 Dollrs for 
every person that refuses to give him that sum, in consequence of my 
advice—that neither the Governor, Government or any individual had 
a right to interfere with his private contracts, that the lands were 
_assigned to him to settle and he would shew the world that he would 
make such bargains as he thought fit and he was not apprehensive of 
consequences, as he was certain of the support of an honest jury ”—his 
passion increased to so abusive a strain, that I ordered him out of my 
house and by that method got rid of the fellow—McMillan one of the 
persons that His Excellency was pleased to say might remain on the 
Lots which they have occupied for several years came to Port Talbot 
the same day, with the money to pay the fees, and when Watson found 
that I accepted of them, he swore that he would make me smart for 
it, if there was justice to be had in the Province—Watson retired to 
the House of one of my settlers from whence he addressed me a letter, 
copies of it and my answer I now enclose—I cannot comprehend his 
meaning when he states the ruin of himself and family unless it is 
to be inferred by his not being allowed to realize his speculative system, 
neither can I understand how the three hundred families that he men- 
tions are to suffer and be lost to the Province as I cannot conceive it 
