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September 20, 2012

Lake Champlain

HUGH C. MACDOUGALL THE OTSEGO HERALD The Cooperstown Crier Thu Sep 20, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

-- — From the Otsego Herald

for Saturday, Sept. 19, 1812

Compiled, with comments

by HUGH C. MacDOUGALL

Weather: Utica 1812 Almanack: Thunder showers with heavy rain.

Proclamation

By Isaac Brock, Esq., Major General, now commanding his Majesty’s forces in the province of Upper Canada.

WHEREAS the territory of Michigan was this day, by capitulation, ceded to the arms of his Britannic Majesty, without any other condition than the protection of private property; and wishing to give an early proof of the moderation and justice of the government, I do hereby announce to all the inhabitants of the said territory, that the laws heretofore in existence shall continue in force until his Majesty’s pleasure be known, or so long as the peace & safety of the territory will admit thereof --

And I do hereby also declare and make known to the said inhabitants that they shall be protected in the full exercise and enjoyment of their religion; of which all persons, both civil and military, will take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

All persons having in theirpossession, or having any knowledge of public property, shall forthwith deliver in the same, or give notice thereof to the officer commanding, or Lt. Col. Nichol, who are hereby authorized to receive and give proper receipts for the same.

Officers of the militia will be held responsible that all arms in possession of militia men be immediately delivered up; and all individuals whatever, who may have in their possession arms of any kind, will deliver them up without delay.

Given under my hand, at Detroit, this 16th day of August 1812, and in the 52nd year of his Majesty’s reign.

(Signed) ISAAC BROCK, Major General.

COMMENT: American reports, already printed, stated that private property in Detroit had been plundered in spite of this proclamation. The provision on religion was undoubtedly intended to ensure to Detroit’s largely French population that their Catholic religion would not be interfered with.

Proposals

By John Redman Coxe, for publishing a new periodical work called THE EMPORIUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. CONDITIONS:

I. The Emporium of Arts and Sciences will by published monthly; the first number will appear in May next.

II. Each number will contain eighty pages, illustrated with not less than two, and sometimes three engravings. It will be occasionally enriched with handsome and striking likenesses of eminent men of Europe and America, from original engravings now in possession of the publisher.

III. The quality of the paper, and the style of printing and engraving will be equal to any, and superior to the greater part of similar publications in Europe.

IV. The price of the Emporium will be seven dollars per annum, one half to be paid every six months.

The names of the subscribers to the Emporium will be given at the end of the Emporium at the conclusion of the second volume. No subscriptions will be taken for less than one year. Those who procure ten subscribers will be entitled to one copy.

Subscriptions and communication, post paid, will be received by the publisher, JOSEPH DELAPLAINE; or EDWARD PARKER, No. 187 Market-st. Philadelphia. Also by S.WOOD, 357, Pearl st. New-York, and by H. & E. PHINNEY, Jun., Cooperstown.

COMMENT: Apparently only five volumes were published. Dr. John Redman Coxe (1773-1864) was a famous, and at times contentious, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He had studied in England and later under the famous Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, and was an early and active proponent of vaccination. He was joined as editor by Thomas Cooper (1759-1839), an English immigrant to America who was a close friend of Jefferson, a political scientist (and at times radical politician) and taught various subjects at the University of Virginia, Dickinson College, University of Pennsylvania, and eventually South Carolina College. In England it is sometimes wrongfully assumed that he must have been a relation of James Fenimore Cooper. The opening number began with a very dry, table-ridden, discussion of English and French weights and measures, followed by an article (from 1805) on whether manufacturing establishments that emitted unpleasant smells were injurious to health.

Lake Champlain

Plattsburgh, Sept. 4.

Five sloops on Lake Champlain have been purchased for the use of the U.S. -- the Hunter, Champlain, Juno, Jupiter, and Fox. These, with two gun boats, if properly fitted out, would constitute a respectable naval force for this station; and it is not impossible but that such a force may be necessary to secure the entire command of the lake, as the British are actively fortifying the Isle Aux Noix, and are said to have a number of gun-boats at St. Johns.

One hundred and sixty batteaux, which were lately contracted to be built for government.

A considerable portion of them are at Whitehall; 15 or 20 are lying at this place. They are 57 feet long, and 8 wide, and will carry 40 or 50 men. It is said contracts are made for building sixty in addition to the above number.

COMMENT: Later on in the war, American naval forces on Lake Champlain would prove decisive in fending off a British invasion.

Military Movements

Herkimer, Sept. 10. Yesterday passed through this village 37 artificers (Ship Builders) from New York bound to Sacket’s Harbor, where they will go into immediate employ at building of Schooners on Lake Ontario.

COMMENT: Sacket’s Harbor was the main American naval base in the war.