The Seventh Report From the Select Committee of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada on Grievances

MACKENZIE, W. L., Chairman

Published by M. Reynolds, Toronto, 1835

About this Item

Various paginations. 22 cm. Bound in half blue leather with blue cloth. Burgundy and black labels with gilt trim. A bit of wear to corners and spine. Spine faded with some faint marks. Small label on front pastedown. Ink signature on half title. Small ink mark on title. Exceptionally clean interior with only an occasional spot. Some rough edges and tiny tears. Text continues: "To whom were referred Lord Viscount Goderich's Despatch, to His Excellency Sir John Colborne, of the 8th November, 1832. To which is added, the report from the same committee, on the petition of William Forsyth, late proprietor of the Niagara Falls Pavilion." A document detailing the problems in Upper Canada that led to the Rebellion of 1837. Note the section on William Forsyth, one of the most colourful characters in early Niagara Falls. Forsyth became known as the "King of Smuggling," using his extensive profits to become a leader in the fledgling tourist industy. In 1818, he began the first rowboat ferry service, crossing the Niagara River below the Falls. In 1820, he began a stagecoach service from Buffalo to Queenston, later expanding his service to bring visitors from Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie to stay at his Pavilion Hotel. Not making enough money that way, he bribed other stagecoach operators to deliver visitors to his hotel. Until 1836, the Pavilion Hotel was the best hotel available, with balconies which offered the very best views of the Falls. Forsyth also staged the first tourist stunt at Niagara when he nastily sent the lake schooner "Michigan" over the Falls with a cargo of live animals. Finally, Forsyth received his comeuppance. In an attempt to monopolize tourism to Table Rock, he enclosed a 66 foot military reserve bordering the Niagara Gorge. By doing so. he prevented anyone other than his customers from getting the best possible view. By excluding the general public from Table Rock, Forsyth put himself on a collision course with the colonial administration led by Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland. In 1832, the government ruled against Forsyth, resulting in the latter losing all his assets and moving to Fort Erie. Forced to give up his Pavilion Hotel and 400 acres of land, he sold all his property to a group of businessmen for the "City of the Falls" development. 2000 copies printed by the House of Assembly.

Seller Inventory # 145501

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Seventh Report From the Select Committee of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada on Grievances
• Publisher: M. Reynolds, Toronto
• Publication Date: 1835
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Rare & Antiquarian