Chronicle & Gazette (Kingston, ON), May 31, 1834

p.1 Port Hope and Rice Lake Canal - engineer's report to Sir John Colborne. (2 columns)

p.2 We shall before long take some notice of the many reports which are industriously circulated (particulary at Montreal) to the prejudice of the Rideau Canal. Among other assertions made, we see it stated that there is not a sufficiency of water in the Canal. The Rideau steamboat, when loaded, draws at least 5 feet 9 inches water, and she has made four trips through the Canal, heavily laden, without any difficulty.

The withdrawal of John B. Marks, Esq. from being a candidate for the representation of the county of Frontenac, will be seen by his address to the Freeholders, published in our columns. While we sincerely regret that the county will lose the valuable services of a gentleman so loyal and patriotic as Mr. Marks, yet so far as his individual prosperity is concerned, we feel much pleasure in announcing that he will be placed in charge of the Government Stores at the Naval Station at Point Frederick, as soon as the reduction at that station is effected, and Commodore Barrie retires from the command.

To the Editor of the Chronicle and Gazette.

Sir - Allow me, through the medium of your Journal, to correct a mis-statement which appeared in the British Whig of yesterday, under the signature of "A Man on the Wharf," in which an officer (as he is called) of the Steamer William IV is accused of a "gross act of brutality" to a stranger who wished to go on board for the purpose of enquiring after his friends.

The position of the Boat at the wharf, which was quite on her beam-ends, owing to her being crowed with Emigrants, and carrying a very heavy deck freight, rendered it an imperative duty on Capt. Paynter, for the safety of those on board, to prohibit that promiscuous ingress of idlers which is usual on the arrival of a Steamer, particularly on a Sunday. The Mate of the vessel, who is charged with the offence, was appointed to this duty; and as respects harsh or unjustifiable means being used in the discharge of it, I do not hesitate to give the assertion the most unqualified contradiction. The urbanity of manner, and humane disposition of Capt. Paynter and his crew, is better tested by the experience of those who have travelled on his Boat than by the designing observations of any wharf lounger. In conclusion, I cannot but remark with what facility any communication inimical to the interest of the William The Fourth finds its way into the column of the Whig.

AN EYE WITNESS OF THE TRANSACTION.

Kingston, May 31st, 1834.

Notice - Whereas Letters Patent, for the exclusive navigation of all the waters within the Province and boundaries of Upper Canada, have been granted by His Excellency Sir John Colborne, to the subscriber, for his new invented plan of building Steam Boats; he therefore forbids all persons infringing on the rights of the said patent.

Nathan Sanford.

Prescott, 26th May, 1834.