Add MS 89674/2

One journal containing details of two voyages taken by Sir Stafford Northcote.

This small book with a pale blue cover and red marbled end pages is titled on the cover and inside the front cover with handwritten labels. This journal contains details of a voyage to Canada on the Hudson's Bay Commission in 1870 and details of a voyage to the United States on the Alabama Commission in 1871.

These trips relate to Northcote's role as Chairman of the Hudson Bay Company and his work with the Foreign Secretary, Lord Granville, to resolve ongoing disputes between the United States and Great Britain.

The first part of the volume begins with Northcote's report on a committee meeting of the Hudson Bay Company on 5 Apr 1870 discussing whether he should be sent to Canada assess the situation on behalf of the Company. He set out the next day, embarking from Liverpool on the Moravian steam ship on 7 Apr. He reached Portland on 18 Apr after an uneventful voyage, and took the train to Montreal. Northcote met Mr Brygdes there and discussed the political situation in Canada, especially in relation to the execution of Thomas Scott and the rebellions of the Finians. In Montreal he met General Lindsay, Major Elphinstone, Donald Smith, and Doctor Schultz. Northcote then travelled onward to Ottawa, arriving on 22 Apr, and exploring the local sites the following day. Northcote began gathering opinions from various important figures regarding the political situation, especially concerning the Red River rebellion and proposed establishment of the province of Manitoba. Individuals Northcote worked with included Judge Black, Sir John Macdonald, and Sir Cartier.

Northcote returned to Montreal by steamboat on 5 May before travelling on for a short visit to Quebec. He travelled to New York on 12 May where he explored the local area with Dudley Field. He visited charitable institutions up-river, including the penitentiary, which he criticised as too lenient, and then to Niagra Falls on the 18 May. Northcote returned to Toronto the next day by train and visited some local sights, including a trip to Lake Simcoe. He set off back to Montreal by river, passing through the Thousand Islands, and arriving at the city on 25 May to hear news of a Fenian attack nearby. Northcote appointed Sir Alexander Galt to compile a report on the current political situation, then returned home on 28 May on board the Scandinanvian.

This section of the journal is followed by a transcription of a short report from Cyril Graham on the Quebec and Gosford Wooden Railway.

The second section of the journal describes Northcote's role as a member of the commission tasked with drafting the Treaty of Washington in 1871. It begins by recalling Lord Granville's request that Northcote join the commission on 13 Feb 1871. He then travelled by steamship to New York from 18 Feb to 1 Mar, before travelling on to Washington, arriving on 2 Mar. The English commissioners were led by Lord de Grey and included Sir Edward Thornton, Sir John Macdonald, Mountague Bernard, and Northcote. The American commissioners were led by Hamilton Fish, General Robert Schenck, Judge Samuel Nelson, Judge Ebenezer Hoar, and George H Williams. The journal of this visit does cover some points of the negotiation, namely the issues of inland fishing rights and the border dispute at the island of San Juan, but mostly focuses on other activities undertaken by Northcote when the committee were not in session. Northcote details many of the dinners and dances held by the society within Washington, as well as his meetings with the president, Ulysses S Grant. He also describes some of the political processes he witnesses, including the close of Congress and an election. In addition, he describes a number of trips taken to local sights including the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, General Lee's house in Arlington, Mount Vernon, the Great Falls of Potemac, and Richmond, Virginia. Following the signing of the treaty on 8 May, Northcote began travelling home before it was presented to the Senate, he reached Ireland on 1 Jun.