The professions were not well represented by the English at this time. Dr. Daniel Robertson, a retired lieutenant from the forty-second regiment, practiced medicine in the city after the conquest and there was a Doctor Huntly. Edward Antill was the only English lawyer, moving here from New England in 1770. The first Protestant school master was an Irishman, John Pullman, brought from New York in 1773. The first Protestant divine was a Swiss, the Reverend Dr. Chatrand Delisle, who came in 1766. In striking contrast with latter-day practice, this clergyman’s name heads the list of the supporters of practically all applicants for liquor licenses in the city in his time.
The traders who left Montreal for the distant posts had no license office in the city. Recourse had to be made to Quebec, and the delay was annoying, although, no doubt, Edward Chinn, who was the deputy provost marshal, did his best for his fellow Montreal merchants. The value of the cargoes taken on the up-country ventures averaged about five hundred pounds, and their destinations, recorded on the passes, were mostly Oswegatchie, LaBarge, Niagara, Detroit, Michillimackinac and the Grand Portage on Lake Superior. The canoe men were voyageurs from Montreal and the district.
[Illustration: THE HON. JAMES McGILL A prosperous Montreal merchant, the founder of McGill University. He was born in Glasgow, October 6, 1744, and died at Montreal, December 18, 1813.]
The following gives some idea of their ventures:
Monday, April 26, 1771, pass for Edward Chinn’s men--seven men--£550 merchandise, ten fusils, 500 pounds gunpowder, 350 pounds shot and ball.
No. 10--Ezekial Solomon (April 10, 1772)--two canoes to Michillimackinac, value £800; twenty men (La Prairie); 1,400 pounds shot and ball.
No. 21--Benj. and Jos. Frobisher--3 canoes for Grand Portage; merchandise £2,000, fusils 96, powder, 2,000 pounds, shot, etc., 1,300 pounds; liquor, 260 gals.; men, 28.
No. 10--Jas. and John McGill (March 10, 1773)--3 canoes; value about £1,500; 48 guns, etc.; 23 men.
No. 65--James Morrison--1 small bateau, Niagara (July 17, 1775)--4 men; 22 bales mdse.; 1 quarter cask wine; 1 bbl. loaf sugar; 1 bbl. coffee; 1 bbl. salt; 1 bbl. tea; 1 nest brass kettles.