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[coYnE | THE TALBOT PAPERS 135 
The President’s local knowledge of the Country that he will not find 
it necessary to make any change in the arrangements of Lieut. Governor 
Gore. 
I have the honor to be with great esteem and respect 
Sir 
Your very obedient 
and most Humble Servant 
THomas TALBOT. 
To 
James Brock Esq. 
Secretary &c. &c. &c. 

Draft of letter from Col. Talbot to Maj. Gen’1 Brock, March 1812. 
Private 
Dear Sir. 
I have this morning received a letter from the Surveyor Genl. of 
which the enclosed is a copy, which places me in a most humiliating 
and contemptable light after having acted solely by invitation of the 
existing Governt. and a breach of faith on my part to the poor people 
that I have induced to settle on the Crown lands would make the remain- 
der of my life unhappy—perhaps no difficulty may arise, but the anxiety 
of mind, that Mr. Ridout’s letter has occasioned, emboldens me to 
address you personally, being persuaded that your feelings, as a man 
of honour, will induce you to pardon my intrusion and that I will meet 
with every necessary support from you, should the matter be agitated 
in Council—I think my dear Genl. that I need not dwell upon the 
awkward view in which I should be seen by this odious public, were I 
to be obstructed in the plans that I pursued, under the entire approba- 
tion of Lt. Governor Gore for rendering this District populous and 
valuable, and I can with equal truth assure you, that to accomplish it 
has already led me into much extraordinary expense, without the slight- 
est profit (further than what I esteem the greatest) the advancement of 
these wilderness’s to a state of civilization. I have stated officially to 
Capn. Brock the particulars attending the foregoing, in order that 
should it be deemed advisable to have the matter before Council, that 
I might take the liberty of entreating, as a particular favour, that you 
would give yrself the trouble of, being present on that occasion, as I 
am satisfied that your explanation and support would obviate any dith- 
culties that might be introduced to check my operations—were it a pri- 
vate Emolument I would be the last person to solicit your influence or 
