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LEAVES THEY HAVE TOUCHED ; 



BEING A REVIEW OF SOME HISTORICAL AUTOGRAPHS. 



BY HENRY SC ADDING, D.D. 



ADDENDA. 



As addenda to the series entitled " Leaves they have touched," I 

 desire to transcribe and put on record here, several autograph MS. 

 relics which have come into my hands since the papei's thus entitled 

 were read to the Canadian Institute. I should have preferred to 

 have introduced them in their proper places. 



I. (1.) The following letter from Lord Dorchester to Sir George 

 Yonge, transcribed froiii the original, dated at Quebec, 22nd June, 

 1790, belongs to the Canadian series. Lord Dorchester is more 

 generally known among us as Sir Guy Carleton, the companion of 

 Wolfe at the taking of Quebec, and the defender of Quebec, at the 

 time of Arnold and Montgomery's attack in 1775.' Sir Geor-ge 

 Yonge was " Secretary at War" in 1790. He is the personage from 

 whom our Yonge Street has its name — a communication opened, in 

 the first instance, with a view to military operations, no less than 

 commercial. A particle of warmth may perhaps be detected in Lord 

 Dorchester's letter. He had applied for a commission in the Guards 

 for his son, Guy Carleton, but a delay of four years was beginning to 

 try his patience. He possibly felt that his services deserved more 

 prompt attention. 



" Sir," Lord Dorchester proceeds, " As I apprehend that many 

 importunities have retarded the success of my application, about four 

 years since, for an Ensign cy in the Guards for my eldest son Guy ; 

 and, fearing lest the same reasons may still continue, while he is 

 advancing considerably beyond the age judged necessary for entering 

 into the military profession, I am to request you will take a proper 

 opportunity of laying my petition before the King, that He would 

 be graciously pleased (till such time as it may suit His Majesty's 

 convenience and good pleasure to honour him with a commission in 

 His Guards) to give him a Cornetcy in any of His Regiments in 



