TORONTO OP OLD. 519 



McGregor Rogers, Esq., Hastings and NorthumberltauJ. Angus Macdonell, Esq., Durliam, 

 Simcoc and East Riding of York. Solomon Hill and Robert Nelles, Esqrs., West Riding of 

 York, First Lincoln, and Haldimand. Isaac Sv/ayzey and Ralph Clench, Esqrs., 2nd, 3rd and 

 4th Ridings of Lincoln. Benaiah Mallory, Esq. Norfold, Oxford and Middlesex. John McGregor, 

 Esq., Kent. Matthew Elliott and David Cowan, Esqrs., Essex. 



The Mr. AYeekes who, as we have seen, was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in parliament 

 in 1804 was nevertheless a member of the House in ISOG, representing' the constituencies to 

 which he had previously offered himself. In 1806 he was killed in a d-ielAvith Mr. Dixon at 

 Niagara, another victim to the barbarian social code of the day, whicli obliged gentlemen ou 

 certain occasions of diflferencc to fire pistols at each other. In the Orada of the 11th of October, 

 1806, we read the announcement : " Died on Friday the 10th instant at night, in consequence 

 of a wound received that morning in a duel, William Weekes, Esq., Barrister-at-law, and a 

 Member of the House of Assembly for the counties of York, Durham and Shncoe." In the next 

 issue of the paper, dated October 25, 1805, we have a second record of the event in the following 

 terms, with a eulogy on Mr. Weekes' character : "It is with sentiments of the deepest regret 

 that we announce to the public the dea'hi of William Weekes, Esq., Barrister-at-law in this 

 Province ; not only from the melancholy circumstances attendant on his untimely death, but 

 also from a view of the many virtues this Province is deprived of by that death. In him the 

 orphan has lost a father, the widow a friend, the injured a protector, society a pleasing and 

 safe companion, and the Bar one of its ablest advocates. Mr. Weekes was honest without the 

 show of ostentation. Wealth and splendor held no lure for him ; nor could any pecuniary 

 motives induce him to swerve in the smallest degree from that which he conceived to be strictly 

 honorable. His last moments were marked with that fortitude which was the characteristic of 

 his life, convinced of the purity of which, he met death with pleasure." 



" His funeral was delayed longer than could have been wished, a form of law being necessary 

 previous to that ceremony. He was interred on Tuesday, the fourteenth. His funeral," it is 

 added, "was attended by a respectable assemblage of people, from the house of John MacKay, 

 Esq., in the following order: mourners, John MacKay, Esq.; Three Members of the House of 

 Assembly, of which he was a member ; viz., Ralph Clench, J. Swaj^zey, Robert Nelles : Dr. 

 West, Surgeon of the American Garrison, Dr. Thomas, 41st Regt., Dr. Muirhead, Niagara ; 

 the Gentlemen of the Bar ; the Magistrates of the place ; and a numerous concourse of people 

 from Town and Country." 



This duel, as we have been informed, was fought on the United States side of the river, near 

 the French Fort. 



Mr. Weekes, we believe, was an unmarried man. He was fond of solitary rambles in the woods 

 in search of game. Once he \vas so longmissing that foul play was suspected ; and some liuman 

 remains having been found under a heap of logs on the property of Peter Ernest, Peter Ernest 

 was arrested ; and just as the evidence was all going strongly against him, Mr. Weekes appeared 

 on the scene alive and well. 



One more of these inhuman and unchristian encounters, with fatal result, memorable in the 

 early annals of York, we shall have occasion to speak of hereafter when, in our intended pro- 

 gress up Yonge Stre8t, we pass the spot where the tragedy was enacted. 



Mr. Weekes was greatly regretted by his constituents. "Overwhelmed with grief," they say 

 in their address dated the 20th September, 1806, to the gentleman whom they desire to succed 

 him " at the unexpected death of our late able and upright Representative ; we, freeholders 

 of these Counties of York, Durham and Simcoe, feel that we have neglected our interests in the 

 season of sorrow. Now awake, it is to you we turn ; notwithstanding the great portion of 

 consolation which we draw from the dawning of our impartial and energetic administration 

 (The allusion is to Gov. Gore). Fully persuaded that the groat object of your heart is tlie 

 advancement of public prosperity, the observance of the laws, and the practice of religion and 

 morality, we hasten with assurances of our warmest support, to invite you from your retreat 

 to represent us in Parliament. Permit us, however, to impress upon you, that as subjects of 

 a generous and beloved King ; as a part of that great nation which has for so long a time stood 

 the bulwark of Europe, and is now the solitary and inaccessible asylum of 'liberty ; as the 

 children of Englishmen, guarded, protected and restrained by English laws ; in fine, as members 

 of their community, as fathers and sons we are induced to place this confidence in your virtue. 



