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removed his headquarters to Williamsburg. Alexander Aitkin was the surveyor placed in charge at Kingston, and Philip Frey at Newark. He was transferred shortly afterward to Hesse (Detroit) and was succeeded at Newark by Augustus Jones.
To expedite the settling of the United Empire Loyalists, Land Boards were also established in each district in 1789, these boards directing the deputy surveyor as to the surveys to be performed, but the Surveyor-General's department prescribed the detailed methods of survey to be followed. These Land Boards continued to function until abolished by Order-in-Council dated November 6, 1794. It was during this growing pioneer period that the townships along the upper St. Lawrence, the lower Ottawa, the Bay of Quinte, the north shore of Lake Ontario, the west bank of Niagara River, the north shore of Lake Erie and along the Detroit River were outlined and the front portions surveyed into farm lots and in most instances settled upon.
In some sections the surveys were extended beyond the first tier of town- ships, more particularly in Luneburg between the Rideau River and the St. Lawrence, in the Niagara Peninsula, and up the Grand River.
The subdivision of the Province of Quebec into the two Provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada was provided for by an Act of the Imperial Parlia- ment in May, 1791. The Royal Proclamation giving effect to the Act was dated from Quebec November 18, 1791.
Colonel John Graves Simcoe, who had served in the Revolutionary War, was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Upper Province on September 12th, and Major General Sir Alured Clarke, of the Lower Province. Clarke was then acting as administrator during the absence in England of Lord Dor- chester, the Governor-General and Commander of the Forces. Simcoe, with his wife and two children sailed from Weymouth on H.M.S. Triton, 21 guns, on September 26, 1791, and arrived at Quebec on November 11th. Simcoe made a short visit to Montreal in December, but spent the winter and the following spring at Quebec.
Mrs. Simcoe notes in her interesting diary that on December lst she walked nearly three miles to Major Samuel Holland's, where she saw some fine prints of Italy and Mount Vesuvius.
On December 26, 1791, the Royal Proclamation respecting the new con- stitution for Upper Canada was issued. To commemorate the event dinners were given in Quebec and illuminations at night. Mrs. Simcoe states that Edward, Duke of Kent, who was stationed at Quebec from 1791 to 1794 as commander-in-chief of the forces, was present at a ball at the Chateau St. Louis on December 28th, which was also attended by the Simcoes. There can be little doubt that Major Holland’s family was well represented at this brilliant function. During the long winter Quebec was gay with balls, dinners, concerts, theatricals and cards. Mrs. Simcoe notes on April 20th, ”As the cold weather and the short days leave us, people cease to be sociable and no kind of gaiety is continued but a few dinner parties. I have been so unaccustomed to passing evenings alone this winter that I do not like relinquishing balls, concerts, suppers and cards.”