John A (56 page)

 

A Note on Sources

These source notes are comparatively short. One reason is that the bibliography of books and articles used during the research is so long. More to the point, the endnotes that customarily identify the sources for quotations and other information in the text have been placed on the website of Random House Canada—to save some trees and to lighten this book's heft.

The purpose of these source notes is comparatively modest—to steer readers who are interested in going more deeply into particular topics towards material that should be useful to them. As a side benefit, this approach enables me to identify writers whose insights set me off in especially productive directions. These notes are therefore indicative rather than definitive. They also use the short-form reference style, so readers should consult the bibliography for the full reference.

For the detailed source notes, see the website at
www.randomhouse.ca/johnamacdonald
.

Overview

The essentials of John A. Macdonald's story can be found in fewer than ten books. The times themselves—political, social and economic—are recounted in the Canadian Centenary Series, the relevant volumes being Careless's
The Union of the Canadas, 1841–1857
and Morton's
The Critical Years, 1857–1875
. Two contemporary works are invaluable: Biggar's
Anecdotal Life
and Pope's
Memoirs
. The foundation text is, of course, Creighton's
The Young Politician
. Johnson's
Affectionately Yours
is insightful
about relationships within the family. Waite's
Life and World
is an elegant essay that includes some interesting information about daily life. Waite, again, in his
Life and Times of Confederation
has provided the best detailed account (if rather Maritime-centric) of the way we were made.

Chapters 1–3 (Youth)

Besides Pope, Biggar and Creighton, there's some useful information in Pennington Macpherson's otherwise vacuous biography. Johnson's article, “British Immigration to North America, 1815-1860,” is a good source for that topic, with reinforcement provided by Harper's article, “Image and Reality in Early Emigrant Literature.” The best review by far of Kingston's past is Tulchinsky's
To Preserve and Defend
. On conditions in early-nineteenth-century towns, nothing comes close to Fingard's article, “The Winter's Tale.” A good account of pioneer life is contained in Harris's
Canada Before Confederation
; Susanna Moodie, Catharine Parr Traill and Anna Jameson are musts. About the Scots, Herman's
How the Scots Invented the Modern World
is a captivating read in itself.

Chapters 4–5 (Young man)

The best source for Macdonald's years as a full-time lawyer is Teatero's thesis, “A Dead and Alive Way Never Does.” Sources about the general state of nineteenth-century law and of crime and punishment include McGrath's
Crime and Its Treatment in Canada
and Waite's
Life and World
. Information about Macdonald's business ventures comes primarily from Johnson's long article, “Macdonald, the Young Non-Politician.” Family information is available in Phenix's
Private Demons
. Macdonald's February 1, 1845, speech on primogeniture is in the
Debates
of the legislature, as are all his other contributions up to 1856.

Chapter 6 (Marriage)

The prime source is the family letters in Johnson's
Affectionately Yours
. Additional material is in Phenix's
Private Demons
and in Cohoe's articles in
Historic Kingston
. Prevailing attitudes towards death are well described in Luella Creighton's
Elegant Canadians
.

Chapters 7–8 (Early politics)

Donald Creighton is especially good on this period, while Stewart's
Origins
serves almost as a foundation text. The “miracle” of the revival of post-Durham French Canada is recounted well by Wade's
The French Canadians
, by Monet's
The Last Cannon-shot,
and by Heintzman in his article “The Political Culture of Quebec.” A good comparison of French and English attitudes is contained in Morton's
Shield of Achilles
. Bodelson's
Studies in Mid-Victorian Imperialism
and Shippee's
Canadian-American Relations
are useful (if a bit dated) on issues such as Responsible Government and Reciprocity; up to date is Hyam and Ged Martin's
Reappraisals
.
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography
is the place to go for mini-biographies, amplified by sources such as, on Ogle Gowan, Akenson's biography,
Orangeman
; and, on Baldwin, Careless's essay in
Pre-Confederation Premiers
. Ged Martin's “Sir John Eh?” explores Macdonald's speech habits, including whether he had a Scots accent.

Chapter 9 (The “Big Tent”)

The (former) National Library's two volumes of Macdonald's letters to the end of 1861, and its third, unpublished, one are an essential source in the years up to Confederation. Much of the argument about Macdonald's ability to speak French is in Ged Martin's “The Canadian Question.” The principal source on George Brown is, of course, Careless's
Brown of the Globe
. Willison's
Reminiscences
are a wonderful read.

Chapter 10 (“Forms Are Things”)

The argument that Macdonald was a competent administrator is made by Sowby in her thesis, “Macdonald the Administrator,” and by Johnson in his article, “John A. Macdonald.” Bellomo's “Upper Canada Attitudes towards Crime and Punishment (1832-1851)” is a fine source on exactly
that topic. Good material on Macdonald's judicial appointments is contained in Stewart's article “Macdonald's Greatest Triumph.”

Chapters 11 and 13 (Political manoeuvres)

Macdonald's political stratagems, especially those concerned with patronage, draw substantively on Noel's
Patrons, Clients, Brokers
, Stewart's
Origins
and Simpson's
Spoils
. The development of organized parties is well described in Underhill's article “National Political Parties.” The expansive mood of nineteenth-century Canada is covered exceptionally well in Fallis's essay in Morton,
The Shield of Achilles
; McKillop's
Disciplined Intelligence
is good here, while Keefer's
Philosophy of Railroads
is a delightful read in itself. Macdonald's extravagant Valentine's Day ball is well described in Lena Newman's
Album
. For Macdonald's relationship with women, turn to Willison's
Reminiscences
and to Waite's essay “The Man.”

Chapter 12 (The death of Isabella)

Johnson's
Affectionately Yours
is the principal source. Dr. McSherry's two articles on Isabella's ailments are a fascinating exercise in historical medical sleuthing.

Chapters 14–15 (The Americans)

For a fuller understanding of D'Arcy McGee, see Slattery's
McGee
, along with Burns's article, “The Economic Aspects of the New Nationality.” For Galt, the source is Skelton's biography. A fine description of the West's first entry onto the Canadian scene is contained in Zaslow's
Canadian North
and Morton's
The West and Confederation
. The early notions for some form of confederation are reviewed in Upton's article, “The Idea of Confederation.” The Prince of Wales's tour is well covered in Radforth's
Royal Spectacle
. For Canadian attitudes to the United States, the essential source is Wise and Brown's
Canada Views the United States
, its one defect being that it's too brief. The source for facts and details on this topic is Winks's
The Civil War Years
. On liquor, Ged Martin's “Macdonald and the
Bottle” is an excellent summary. Burnet's article “The Urban Community and Changing Moral Standards” provides a good overview of the social consequences of widespread drinking.

Chapter 16 (The Brits)

The prime source for Canada-British relationships throughout this period is Ged Martin's
Britain and the Origins of Canadian Confederation
. Farr's
Colonial Office and Canada
provides good supporting material. Useful also is Waite's “Cardwell and Confederation” and his
Life and Times of Confederation
.

Chapters 17-18 (The start of the Confederation project)

The best sources for the creation of the Great Coalition are Careless's
Brown
, Waite's
Life and Times
and Creighton's
The Young Politician
. Ged Martin's
Britain and the Origins of Canadian Confederation
is also useful. The discussion of Macdonald's ideas is drawn from Preece's article on “Political Philosophy” and from Waite's articles “Political Ideas” and “The Man.” The
Reminiscences
of both Willison and Cartwright are useful. The story to Charlottetown can be followed in Morton's
Critical Years
and in Waite's
Life and Times
. Louella Creighton provides some delightful fresh details in
The Elegant Canadians
. Careless's “George Brown and the Mother of Confederation” is first class. At the Quebec Conference, Feo Monck in her journal was an astute observer, as was Mercy Coles, while Waite's “Ed Whelan's Reports” is a lot of fun. A fine overview is provided by Moore's
1867: How the Fathers Made a Deal
. Munro's small work,
American Influences
, has good material on Macdonald's thought processes. Smith's “Canadian Confederation” provides some good insights. Useful also is Ged Martin's
Causes of Canadian Confederation
.

Chapter 19 (Democracy)

The familiar sources, such as Waite's
Life and Times
, Whelan's
Confederation of the Provinces
, Careless's
Brown
, Ged Martin's
Britain and the Origins of Canadian Confederation
, are all relevant. A new source of great value, espe
cially on the debate about democracy, is the insightful
Canada's Founding Debates
, edited by Ajzenstat.

Chapters 20–21 (The Maritimes)

The Maritime scene is well described in Beck's
Howe
and in Pryke's
Nova Scotia and Confederation
, as well as in Waite's
Life and Times
. There's considerable useful material in Chester Martin's
Foundations of Canadian Nationhood
. The nature of the loyalty issue in Canada is well covered in Berger's
The Sense of Power
, and Mills's
The Idea of Loyalty
is a useful supplement. The Fenian threat is described in Senior's books as well as in Stacey's article “Fenianism.” The best way to keep tabs on what Monck was doing is Batt's
Monck
.

Chapter 22 (The London Conference)

Moore's
1867
and Waite's
Life and Times
are useful, as is Batt's
Monck.
A good overview of the Confederation pact is contained in Frank Scott's long article, “Political Nationalism and Confederation.” The magic moment when “Peace, Order and good Government” became the essence of Canada is in Morton's
Canadian Identity
.

Chapter 23 (“Two Unions”)

The best source on Macdonald's second courtship and wedding is Reynold's
Agnes
, the first-ever biography of a prime ministerial wife. On matters constitutional, good sources are Peter Russell's
Constitutional Odyssey
and, from the British perspective, Hyam and Martin's
Reappraisals.

Chapter 24 (Confederation Day)

The prime source for descriptions of life in early Ottawa is Sandra Gwyn's
Private Capital
. The rise in cross-border tensions prompted by the purchase of Alaska and by Confederation is well described in Shippee's
Canadian-American Relations
. Skelton's
Galt
contains important relevant material, while Louella Creighton has some charming anecdotes in
The Elegant Canadians
about the celebrations.

 

Notes

These notes provide source citations for quotations and facts contained in the text. The specific sources are described here in summary form. Thus, the first entry below, referring to a quotation on page 1 of the text, reads: “P. 1 Moodie, “The spirit of past ages”: McKillop,
Intelligence,
p. 4.” The full entry would be: “Susanna Moodie, quoted in A.B. McKillop,
A Disciplined Intelligence: Critical Inquiry and Canadian Thought in the Victorian Era
(Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1970), p. 4. A complete listing for McKillop,
A Disciplined Intelligence,
is found in the bibliography in
John A.,
under Secondary Sources, General Works Consulted. The notes provided here are thus a companion piece to the book's Note on Sources and Bibliography.

INTRODUCTION

Moodie, “The spirit of past ages”: McKillop,
Intelligence,
p. 4.

Smith, “crazy quilt”:
The Week,
April 10, 1884.

“This frail-looking man”: MacLennan,
Scotchman,
p. 108.

“species of heiress”: Prentice,
Canadian Women,
p. 86.

CHAPTER 1: LAIRDS OURSELVES

Macdonald birthdate: Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 2 (n).

Macdonald birthplace: Gibson and Patterson,
Historic Kingston,
p. 71, letter from Dr. Govin White, University of Glasgow.

Macdonald grandfather: Pope,
Memoirs,
pp. 2–3; and Creighton,
Young Politician,
p. 9

Shaw-Clark-Macpherson-Macdonald clan: Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 3.

Helen Macdonald description: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 82; and Creighton,
Politician,
p. 13.

(fn) Dornoch trial of “witch” in 1727: Ged Martin,
John A. Macdonald: Scotsman or Canadian?
Standard Life Lecture in Canadian Studies, 2004, p. 5.

Helen Macdonald's love of jokes: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 82.

Helen Macdonald dances jig in street:
Weekly British Whig,
June 4, 1891.

Helen Macdonald's love of Gaelic: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 83.

Helen Macdonald's prediction of “more than an ordinary man”: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 28.

George Forbes, “we are lairds ourselves”: Peter Russell,
Attitudes to Social Structures and Social Mobility in Upper Canada
(Lewiston, NY: E. Mellen Press, 1990), letter to John Forbes, April 20, 1840, Forbes Papers, Edinburgh.

Moodie on servants:
First Drafts,
pp. 54–55.

CHAPTER 2: A BOY'S TOWN

“I grow weary of its immensity”: Parr Traill,
Backwoods of Canada,
p. 34.

(fn) feeding porridge to passengers: Harper,
Image and Reality,
p. 7.

Sydenham's ride to Montreal: Robertson,
Old Toronto,
p. 295.

Kingston epidemics: Angus, “Health, Emigration and Welfare,” pp. 120–25; and
Preserve and Defend,
p. 188.

Dickens, Kingston a “very poor town”:
Preserve and Defend,
p. 109.

Galt, “settlement in the backwoods of Canada”: Skelton,
Galt,
p. 48.

Fingard, “absence of mass demonstrations”: “The Winter's Tale,” p. 341.

Preston, Kingston as “stragglingly built”: Lockhardt, “Early Life,” p. 26.

Kingston Council, one drink shop for every seven or eight men:
Preserve and Defend,
p. 107.

Hugh Macdonald's ad for “groceries, wines, vinegar, powder”: Phenix,
Demons,
p. 12.

Death of James Macdonald: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 4; and Macpherson,
Macdonald,
p. 78.

Montreal survey on children's deaths: Silver, “An Introduction,” in Monet,
Canadian History,
p. 340.

Three-mile walk to school with sisters: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 23.

Louisa Macdonald compared to her brother, “the ugliest man”: ibid., p. 84.

Macdonald, “never had a boyhood”: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 6.

Macdonald, “university education”: ibid., p. 5.

Macdonald, “the fascination of the turkey”: Macpherson,
Macdonald
, p. 81.

Macdonald as compulsive reader, ibid., p. v.

CHAPTER 3: THE RIGHT TIME TO BE A SCOT

St. Andrew's preceptor takes liking to Macdonald: Creighton,
Politician
, p. 39.

Edinburgh as “self-consciously modern”: Herman,
How the Scots
, p. vii.

Scots “deal[ing] with a dominant culture”: ibid., p. 115.

Disraeli on Scots at head of poll: ibid., p. 347.

Ross, “entire educational system of the country”: McKillop,
Intelligence
, pp. 25–29.

Macdonald in “Macdonald Soft Tartan Kilt”: Martin,
Macdonald: Scotsman or Canadian
, p. 10.

Campbell on Macdonald's “tone of voice & manner”: Martin, “Sir John Eh?” p. 2.

Journalist on “moot question where he was born”: ibid., p. 3.

CHAPTER 4: HORSE DEALING, TAVERN KEEPING AND THE LAW

Hugh Macdonald on demand for lawyers: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 28.

John Langton, “I know of no money-making business in Canada”:
Early Days,
p. 201.

George Mackenzie, “say nothing on business” and “A dead-and-alive way with them never goes”: Lena Newman,
Album,
p. 25; Teatero, “Dead and Alive,” thesis; and Creighton,
Politician,
p. 27.

Macdonald, “The one thing I have always admired”: Lockhardt, “Early Life,” thes jis, p. 25.

Pp. 49–54 Macdonald law cases: Teatero, “Dead and Alive,” thesis; and Creighton,
Politician,
pp. 43, 55–68.

Macdonald in real estate in 1842: Johnson,
Macdonald,
p. 200.

“Join the Orange Lodge and become an alderman”:
Kingston Daily News,
June 8, 1891.

Wilson, “Secure a handsome independence first”: LAC, Macdonald Fonds, vol. 544, p. 257.

CHAPTER 5: A CONSERVATIVE IN A CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY

Macdonald's wedding, exchanges gold rings with Isabella: Phenix,
Demons,
p. 60.

Macdonald, “To fill a gap”: Parkin,
Macdonald,
p. 12.

Disraeli, “I love fame”: Aldous,
Lion and Unicorn,
p. xiv; and Trudeau, “a great man”: English,
Citizen,
p. 78.

Macdonald's reply to nomination as candidate: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
pp. 56–57.

Macdonald election manifesto: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 34.

First statute of Upper Canada re the poor: Malcolmson in Tulchinski,
Preserve and Defend,
p. 45.

Estimate of 9 per cent government spending on social programs and education: Wallace, “Origins of Social Welfare State.”

Liberal MP, “The moment a Government is asked to take charge”: Waite,
Life and World,
p. 37.

Bishop Strachan on national debt “consistent” with interests of country: Martin,
Causes of Confederation,
p. 170.

Insults in Legislature debates: Skelton,
Galt,
p. 203.

Legislature debate, De Bleurey, et al.:
Debates,
May 8, 1846, vol. IV, part II, pp. 1296–97.

Macdonald-Blake duel: Creighton, “Macdonald and Kingston,” p. 75; and Swainson,
Macdonald of Kingston,
p. 36.

“His walk, then, as ever, was peculiar”: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
p. 61.

Langelier, “qui faisait toute sa gloire”: Waite,
Life and World,
p. 6.

Pp. 72–73 Macdonald, “The law of primogeniture”:
Debates,
Feb. 1, 1845, vol. IV, part I, pp. 1235–38.

Macdonald's activities on behalf of Kingston: Johnson,
Macdonald,
p. 205.

CHAPTER 6: GOING HEADLONG

Macdonald's letter to Margaret Greene, July 12, 1845: Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 35.

Isabella's second letter of 1848: ibid., p. 54.

(fn) patent medicines containing opium: Newman,
Album,
p. 41.

Macdonald, “The weather here is so fine and warm”: Nov. 20, 1848, Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 42.

Macdonald, “The
Boy
is flourishing,” and “I feel quite solitary”: Montreal, Sept. 28, 1847, ibid., p. 53.

Macdonald, “he is now however great friends with her”: Kingston, July 9, 1848, Johnson, ibid., p. 56

“grey, unrelieved tragedy”: Creighton,
Politician,
p. 260.

CHAPTER 7: NEW GUYS WITH NEW IDEAS

“failed, with astonishing uniformity”: Creighton,
Politician,
p. 69.

Campbell and Macdonald rewrite law partnership: ibid., pp. 100–101; and Phenix,
Demons,
p. 61.

Pp. 89–90 “The key to understanding the main features of Canadian national political culture”: Stewart,
Origins,
p. 85.

Descriptions of Lord Durham: Wade,
French Canadians,
pp. 180–83; Hyam and Martin,
Reappraisals,
pp. 73–74.

Pp. 92–93 Quotations from Durham Report: Bliss,
Documents,
pp. 50–62; Wade, pp. 184–96.

Pp. 94–95 “Miracle” of French-Canadian revival: Wade,
The French Canadians
, pp. 284–308; also in Heintzman, “Political Culture of Quebec” and Dickinson and Young,
History of Quebec.

“clergy was as much a means of national unity”: Trofimenkoff,
Dream,
p. 115.

Durham Report as “the greatest state document”: Hyam and Martin,
Reappraisals,
p. 75.

Lord Russell, “impossible for a Governor to be responsible”: Finlay,
Structure of History,
p. 138.

Sydenham election tactics: Abella, “Sydenham Election.”

Bagot, “Whether the doctrine of responsible government is openly acknowledged”: McInnis,
Canada,
p. 237.

British attitudes to Responsible Government: Bodelson,
Studies in Imperialism.

Baldwin descriptions: Careless,
Pre-Confederation Premiers;
and Cross, “The Waste that Lies before Me.”

Pp. 98–99 LaFontaine description:
Dictionary of Canadian Biography,
vol. XII.

“With a kind of bacterial thoroughness”: Monet, in Hamelin,
Political Ideas,
p. 27.

CHAPTER 8: A SHORT TIME BEFORE THE LONG GAME

Macdonald, “it would make me too dependent on Govt”: letter to Margaret Greene, Jan. 20, 1847, Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 48.

“could not be called a great speaker”: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 647.

Pp. 104–105 journalist, “careless utterance”: Martin, “Sir John Eh?” p. 2.

Fabre, “he is languid at times at stating his case”: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 658.

“not infrequently contrived to mislay”: ibid., p. 658.

Fabre, “too clever and too well-versed”: ibid., p. 658.

Pp. 105–106 Macdonald's memory for names: Biggar,
Anecdotal Life,
pp. 206–209.

Patteson literary argument: Waite,
Macdonald,
p. 40.

Pp. 106–107 Macdonald, “an Indian once said to myself”: Smith, “John A. Macdonald and Aboriginal Canada.”

Macdonald, “I returned last week from Toronto” and “She had as much to do as she is able for”: Dec. 3, 1848, Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 60.

Macdonald, “She is like the ‘Invisible Lady'” and “Since September last I have been alone”: Jan. 20, 1850, ibid., pp. 67–68.

Campbell-Macdonald partnership negotiations: Johnson,
Letters of Sir John A. Macdonald,
vol. 1, p. 158, and (fn) pp. 158–59; and Creighton,
Politician,
p. 148.

Macdonald, “I am more than usually
tight
now”: letter to Benson, Johnson,
Letters of Sir John A. Macdonald,
vol. 1, p. 178.

p. 110 Macdonald, “I haven't got a shilling to jingle”: letter to Saddler, ibid., vol. 1, p. 260.

Buchanan, “I would not have supposed it possible”: Waite,
Life and World,
p. 17.

Macdonald, “I thoroughly understand that business”: Johnson,
Macdonald: Young Non-Politician,
p. 144.

Campbell, “You will remember”: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 148.

Macdonald, “If I don't carry a thing” and “There's no use crying”: Waite,
Life and World,
p. 22.

Pp. 113–14 Rose, description:
Dictionary of Canadian Biography,
vol. XI; and Frankfurter,
Baneful Domination,
pp. 210–12.

“personally, he was most attracted to Rose”: Pope,
Memoirs,
p. 422.

Ogle Gowan, relations with Macdonald and rape charge: Akenson,
Orangeman,
pp. 249, 295–300.

Effect of Canada of British free trade: Finlay,
Structure,
pp. 148–50; and Shippee,
Relations,
pp. 3–6.

Elgin, “property in most Canadians towns”: Shippee,
Relations,
p. 6.

Montreal manifesto calling for annexation: Macpherson,
Macdonald,
p. 201; Finlay,
Structure;
and Skelton,
Galt.

(fn) Carnegie, “trade follows the lowest price” Hyam and Martin,
Reappraisal
s, p. 4.

Kingston meeting: Creighton,
Politician,
pp. 140–45; and Stewart, “Imperial Policy,” thesis.

Macdonald, “all arrangements have long been made”: Johnson,
Affectionately,
p. 66.

Macdonald, “We have got Johnnie back again”: ibid., p. 71.

CHAPTER 9: ENLARGING THE BOUNDS

Macdonald, “We are a good deal hampered”: Feb. 9, 1854, Johnson,
Letters of Sir John A. Macdonald,
vol. 1, pp. 200–203.

Formation of Grit party: Careless,
Union of the Canadas,
p. 167; and Underhill,
National Political Parties.