Correspondence, press clippings, wedding invitations and typescript of family trees relating to the Auchinvole and MacMurchy Families and the early history of Gananoque.
The fonds consists of a manuscript narrative (21 pages) together with 22 supporting documents presenting the official British case concerning the Anglo-French boundary disputes in North America and the course of diplomatic negotiations, 1754-1755. The narrative begins with George Washington's expedition to Fort Duquesne and his surrender at Fort Necessity and ends with Admiral Boscawen's ambassador's subsequent departure from London. These important manuscripts deal with the struggle between the French and English on the Ohio. In 1756, the French ministry published the following: "Memoire contenant le precis des faits, avec leurs observations envoyees par les Ministers d'Angleterre, dans les Cours de l'Europe." Sabin records this publication and notes: "The very curious history of this "memoire" deserves special attention. At the surrender of Fort Necessity by Washington, his Journal of the Expedition, together with the letters of Braddock to the British Ministry, and his instructions to Washington, were seized by French victors. They were immediately transmitted to France, and by order of the French king, printed and sent to every court of Europe as indicative the agressive character of the British. Drawing from these documents, they charge Washington with the murder of Jumonville. From the "Memoire" it will be seen that it is an answer to the "Observations" from the English Ministry sent to the Courts of Europe. It is suggested that "Narré des hostilités ..." with the supporting pieces are the English "Observations."
The collection consists of letters from Robert Service to Constance MacLean and Isabel MacLean, holograph poem, The Coming of Miss MacLean, early typescript, The Cremation of Sam McGee, several variations from published versions of the Cremation of Sam McGee, photograph and news clippings relating to E. Pauline Johnson.
The collection consists of correspondence of explorers who surveyed the boundary zones between Canada and the United States, and of several other diplomats, officers and aids who became involved in the arbitration of the border. There are also several bound and unbound manuscripts, including various treaties, arguments, awards, memorials and commissioners' proceedings relating to settlements of the Canadian-American border.
