94 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY: 



ward, beer of good repute in the town and neighbourhood was manufactured by Mr. John 

 Doel up to 1847, when his brewery was accidentally burnt. Mr. Doel's name is associated 

 with the early post-office traditions of York. For a number of years he undertook and faith- 

 fully accomplished the delivery with his own hands of aU the correspondence of the place that 

 was in those days thus distributed. His presence at a door in the olden time was often a 

 matter of considerable interest. In the local commotions of 1837, Mr. Doel ventured in an 

 humble way to give aid and comfort to the promoters of what proved to be a small revolution. 

 We cannot at this hour afllrm that there was any thing to liis discredit in this. He acted, no 

 doubt, in accordance with certain honest instincts. Men of his class and stamp, shrewd in 

 their ideas and sturdy against encroachments, civil and religious, abound in the old Somerset- 

 shire, where he. first drew breath. His supposed presumption in having opinions on public 

 questions induced the satirists of the non-progressive side to mention him occasionally in their 

 philippics and pasquinades. His name has thus become associated in the narrative of Upper 

 Canadian affairs with those of the actual chiefs of the party of reform. In 1827, Eobert 

 Randal, M.P., was despatched to London as a delegate on the part of the so-called "Aliens'" 

 or unnaturalized British subjects of United States origin. A series of burlesque nominations, 

 supposed to be suggested by Randal to the Colonial Secretary, appeared at this time, emanat- 

 ing of course irom the friends of the officials of the day. We give the document. It will be 

 seen that Mr. Doel is set down in it for the "Postmaster-Generalship." The other persons 

 mentioned will be all remembered. 



"Nominations to be dictated by the Constitutional Meeting, on Saturday next, in the 

 petition for the redress of grievances to be forwarded to London by Ambassador Randal. 

 Barnabas Bidwell — President of Upper Canada — with an extra annual allowance for a jaunt, 

 for the benefit of his health, to his native State of Massachusetts. W. W. Baldwin — Chief 

 Justice, and Surgeon-General to the Militia Forces — with 1,000,000 acres of land for past 

 services, he and his famUy having been most shamefully treated in having grants of land with- 

 held from them heretofore. John Rolph — Attorney-General, and Paymaster-General to the 

 Militia— witli 500,000 acres of land for his former accounts as District Paymaster, faithfully 

 rendered. Marshall S. Bidwell — Solicitor-General — with an annual allowance of as much 

 as he may be pleased to ask for, rendering no account — for the purpose of "encouraging 

 emigration from the United States," and a contingent account if he shall find it convenient to 

 accompany the President to Massachusetts. The Puisne Judges— to be chosen by ballot in 

 the Market Square, on 4th July in each and every year, subject to the approval of W. W. B., 

 the Chief Justice. Their salaries to be settled when going out of office. Jesse Ketchum, 

 Jos. Sheppabd, Dr. Sxoyell, and A. Bubnside— Executive and Legislative Councillors. Joint 

 Secretaries— William Lyon McKenzie and Francis Collins, with aU the printing. John 

 Carey — Assistant Secretary, with as much of the printing as the Joint Secretaries may be 

 pleased to allow him. Moses Fish — Inspector of Public Buildings and Fortifications. 

 J. S. Baldwin — Contractor-General to the Province, with a monopoly of the trade. T. D. Mor- 

 rison — Surveyor-General, and Inspector of Hospitals. Little Doel — Postmaster-General. 

 Peter Pjeerv- Chancellor of the Exchequer and Receiver-General. The above persons being 

 thus amply provided for, their friends, alias their stepping stones, the document just quoted 

 proceeds to state, may shift for themselves ; an opportunity, however, vriU be offered them for 

 ' doing a little business' by disposing of aU other public offices to the lowest bidder, from 

 whom neither talent nor security will be required for the performance of their duties. Tenders 

 received at Russell Square [Abbey], Front Street, York. The Magistracy, being of no conse- 

 quence, is to be left for after consideration. The Militia, at the particular request of Paul 

 Peterson [Peter Paterson], to be done away altogether ; and the roads to take care of them- 

 selves. The Welland Canal to be stopped immediately,' and Colonel By to be recalled from 

 the Rideau Canal. N.B. Any suggestions for further improvements will be thankfully received 

 at Russell Square, as above." 



Mr. Doel arrived in York in 1818, occupying a month in the journey from Philadelphia to 

 Oswego, and a week in that from Oswego to Niagara, being obliged from stress of weather to 

 put in at Sodus Bay. At Niagara he waited three days for a passage to York. He and his 

 venerable helpmeet were surviving in 1870, at the ages respectively of 80 and 82. Not without 

 reason, as the event proved, they lived for many years in a state of apprehension in regard to 



