Miss Confederation

by Anne McDonald

  In contrast to the time in Prince Edward Island, with its unseasonably warm temperatures and sunny times, the conference at Quebec City involved lots of work, long hours, and incessant rain. There were still plenty of balls, dinners, and events to showcase the women; the Canadians wanted to show the Maritimers a good time in order to persuade them to join Confederation after all. The terrible weather, however, certainly affected the conference. The newspaper accounts talk of the endless rain; there was an early snowstorm when the Queen Victoria arrived with the rest of the Maritime delegates; and both the men and women fell sick and missed crucial discussions and the all-important events. Mercy Coles caught potentially deadly diphtheria.

  * * *

  * This is but a brief note on the why and how Union appealed to the people of 1864 — there is much more discussion of the topic in many history books and journals. Here, as our interest is in Mercy Coles, I am including but the briefest of notes for some context on Canada’s Confederation.

  ** Margaret Gray wrote diaries throughout her long life, and likely kept one for 1864, but it hasn’t been found. She lived to be ninety-six, and died in December 1941. The last diary in her collection is from 1937.

  Three

  The Journey Begins: The Lure of Travel, the New — and Leonard Tilley

  Here Mercy Coles’s first big journey away from home, away from Prince Edward Island and the Maritimes, starts. Here, at twenty-six years of age, Mercy would encounter the possibility of a future — of, one imagines, a desired married life, beyond the limitations of her father’s home, perhaps beyond the borders of her small island. Although Mercy wouldn’t be considered too old to marry, the fact that four of her seven sisters were already either married or about to be, and another was of marriageable age, would no doubt make her feel the pressure of time and opportunity, especially as she had no apparent suitors waiting for her.

  As the journey starts, we have our first, and rather unexpected, romantic lead. Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley — who, his biographer C.M. Wallace in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography pointedly says, has been “stigmatized as a colourless druggist and temperance advocate” — was forty-six years old, and a widower of two years with seven children. He is first (and last) up.

  Reminiscences of Canada in 1864

  By Mercy Coles

  Wednesday 5th October /64

  Left Charlottetown at 8 am. Arrived at Shediac [New Brunswick] at half past 2. I was very ill it was so rough. Monk came off in a small boat and was taken on board off Summerside. Found a special train waiting for us at Shediac, arrived at St John at 1/2 past six. Mr. Tilley and Mr. Steeves* at the Hotel to receive us. Ma, Pa, Mr. Tilley and I went to see Mrs. Perley.** Mr. Tilley did not come in.

  Thursday [October 6, 1864, Saint John, NB]

  We had a walk before breakfast and came on board New Brunswick. I am going to share a stateroom with Miss Alexander. Arrived at Eastport at 12, went on shore and dined, left at 1 for Portland [Maine].***

  Friday morning, [October 6], Portland, Preble House.

  We arrived here this morning after being 24 hours on board the New Brunswick. I went to bed at 6 and was just up in time this morning. We had an awful stormy night. We leave here in the Grand Trunk Railroad at one o’clock. We parted with Mr. Haines**** at the wharf, he was very attentive and kind.

  Saturday, [October] 8th

  We arrived at Island Pond last night at half past 9.***** We got up this morning at half past 4. We have just started in cars again and one might just as well try to write on horseback. We saw some beautiful scenery coming through New Hampshire, it was too dark to see the White Mountains. Mr. Tilley helped me admire it. It is rather a joke, he is the only beau of the party and with 5 single ladies****** he has something to do to keep them all in good humour [emphasis mine].

  Saturday Afternoon, October 8, Quebec

  We arrived here yesterday at ½ past 5. There was no person there to meet us as they did not expect us to arrive for half an hour. We drove to the Russell House first. They told us the St. Louis was taken for the delegates, so we came here. I changed my dress and when I came down I found Mr. Brown in the drawing room. Mr. Bernard******* had been in a few minutes before, in a minute Mr. Cartier, John A. Macdonald and McGee arrived. Before dinner was announced we were introduced to the Newfoundland Delegates, Mr. Shea and Mr. Carter. Mr. Cartier took Ma into dinner. John A. took Mrs. Pope. We had a splendid dinner and I enjoyed it. We had been travelling in the cars from half past 6 till half past 5. From Richmond to Somerset we only came at the rate of 9 miles an hour. A special train met us there and we came into Point Levi flying.

  How can I describe my first impression of Quebec. It was pouring rain when we landed. We were shut up in a little cab, Ma, Miss Fisher and myself. I was in dread the whole time the horse would fall down, however he brought us here all right. It is a very nice Hotel and every comfort one can wish for. I sent Mrs. Penney a letter I had for her from Mrs. Walker.

  We have been for a drive around Spencer Wood.******** It is a very pretty road. You see the valley below with the River St. Charles winding along. We saw Wolfe’s Monument on the Plains of Abraham and a monument to the brave who fell at the taking of Quebec, we did not go into the Cemetery as they do not admit carriages on Sunday and the snow was on the trees so thick it would not have been pleasant. We went to the Cathedral this morning. Bishop Williams preached. The music was very good, the organist played a very fine voluntary. Pa, Ma, Mr. Tilley and I sat just together [emphasis mine].

  Wolfe’s monument, Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, 1865. Visitors kept taking pieces of the original monument. As a result, in 1849 it had to be replaced by a new column, which was surrounded by an iron fence topped with spikes to discourage souvenir hunters.

  Place d’Armes and English Cathedral, Quebec City, 1860. This is Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, where “Bishop Williams preached” on Sunday, October 9, 1864. It was constructed in 1804, and was the first Anglican cathedral to be built outside the British Isles.

  Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec, Quebec City, 1859. Mercy Coles referred to the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec as the “French Cathedral.” The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, which she and her family attended while in Quebec, was often called the “English Cathedral” by the people in Quebec City. This reflected the ethnicity of the parishioners who attended, since the English were more likely to be Protestant, while the French were more likely to be Roman Catholic.

  The steamer******** has not yet arrived with the rest of the party but they expect them today. Major Bernard tells me we are to have good times. There is to be a reception on Tuesday and a Public Ball on Friday. The first word almost he said was, “I hope you brought the irresistible blue silk.” I am very glad I brought the lace. Mrs. Penny has just been here, she is looking so well, she has invited Ma and I to come to see her after dinner. Mr. Galt, Mr. Cartier, Mr. Couchon, Mr. Cameron******** and a lot of other gentlemen were here at the same time. Mr. Galt gave me such a warm welcome to Canada.

  Monday morning, October 10

  The Steamer arrived last night with the rest of the delegates. Such a Babel when they came in. The two Misses Gray******** Mrs. and Miss [Emma] Tupper, Mrs. and Miss [Joanna] Archibald are the ladies. All the gentlemen are gone to the Conference. Mr. McDougall brought his daughter [Jessie] to see me and we went out shopping together. I bought an Opera Cloak. Paid 8 ½ dollars******** for it. It is very pretty. I am sewing the trimming on my velvet jacket. Dr. Tupper and Mr. Henry called to see Eliza******** when they were at Ch’Town. Mr. Whelan is here, we are going to luncheon. After luncheon Mr. Drinkwater******** called and he, Ma and I went for a drive. We went to see the French Cathedral, then we went to see the Seminary Chapel where all the fine paintings are. We drove round the Battery and then went to the Province Building to see the Library. We met Mr. Bernard in the hall, he introduced us to the sergeant-
at-arms and the Clerk of the House [Mr. Lea]. The Library is nothing very wonderful. When we came back Mrs. Campbell the wife of the Hon. Mr. Campbell lunched with us.

  When the gentlemen came from Conference they brought cards of invitation to Mrs. and Miss Tupper, Miss Gray and Mrs. Alexander to dine at Gov’t House. Ma and I have a card for Wednesday. I wonder Mrs. Pope was not invited before Mrs. Alexander? We made a kind of acquaintance with the organist at the Cathedral, Mr. Peirce. Mr. McDougall and his daughter dined with us. Papa and all the gentlemen who were not dining at Gov’t House were dining at the Strathcona Club.********

  Mr. Drinkwater has promised to get me a bouquet for tomorrow night. It will be rather a stupid affair tomorrow night, so they say.

  Wednesday morning, October 12

  We all went to the Drawing Room last night******** quite a crowd when we all got together, all the ladies looked very well and were quite a credit to the Lower Provinces.******** Pa, Ma and I went together. A half dozen gentlemen wanted to take me into the room but I preferred to go in with Papa. The Governor General stood in the middle with his Private Secretary on his right hand. We did not require to have any cards. The Aides announced us each in turn. The Governor shook hands very friendly with each one. After all those who had the privilege of entrée were presented they formed a half circle, the rest of the people then walked in at one door, bowed to the Governor and passed out at the other. There were about 800 people presented and I was very tired before it was all over. Mr. Tilley took charge of me and walked about with me the whole evening [emphasis mine]. When we came home Ma and I went immediately to bed we were so tired. Ma wore her grenadine over black silk. I wore my blue silk. There were only 2 or 3 trains there.

  It was not only Mercy who found Leonard Tilley attractive and worthy of romantic interest. Tilley, as Moore writes in his seminal book on Confederation, 1867: How the Fathers Made a Deal, “has dropped almost completely off the radar screen of Canadian history.” In the 1930s historian W.M. Whitelaw noted that the little written on Tilley was “particularly distressing.”1 Leonard Tilley definitely bears a closer examination. Who was he? What was he like? And why were Mercy and Mrs. Alexander, at the very least, attracted to him? Tilley was just forty-six years old in 1864, and had been widowed two and a half years earlier. He had seven children, five of whom were still young. He was known for his good head and grasp of finances, not his charms. However, Mercy Coles’s comments provide us with new insight into Leonard Tilley, the man.

  Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, October 29, 1864. Tilley was supposed to accompany Mercy to have her photo taken, but Mercy notes that she missed this opportunity because she “was not punctual.” He went on ahead, and had his photograph done earlier that day, along with Emma Tupper and her mother, among others.

  Known to history as Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, though he never used his first name, Leonard Tilley was born in 1818 in Gagetown, New Brunswick. He married at twenty-five, and was widowed by forty-four. His wife, Julia, died of cancer, and he’d been hit hard by her loss. His friend, the politician Joseph Howe, of Nova Scotia, recommended “[u]nremitting, anxious, hard-driven work.”

  Now, in October 1864, we find him on his way to Quebec, happily playing the role of “the only beau … with five single ladies to look after.” Mercy writes of him spending his time with her, and also with Mrs. Alexander, the forty-year-old widowed sister of the PEI politician Thomas Haviland. These two were the oldest single women along for the Confederation conferences. It may be that he enjoyed the company of more mature women, or it may be that he was thinking of his five young motherless children still at home, and thought that Mercy or Mrs. Alexander seemed like the most viable options for his attention.

  There isn’t much written about Leonard Tilley. Hardly anyone, it seems, has found him or his life interesting enough to examine, which is strange, as, at the very least, he was the premier of New Brunswick pre-Confederation, in federal politics post-Confederation, and lived through politically lively times. Mercy’s writings on Tilley offer a chance to give him a second look.

  The view of Tilley that persists in history is not one of a visionary; he didn’t dream big. He was a storekeeper, a businessman, a bean-counter; in short, he was boring. But that can’t be the full story.

  Physically, he was slight and clean-shaven. Neither John A. Macdonald or Tilley had beards, moustaches, or the facial hair common in the 1860s — odd-looking to us today — the mutton chop sideburns that reach around and extend under the chin in a scraggly fashion. He was rosy-cheeked, and had an easy smile — one he often flashed. He was considered agreeable, friendly, and intelligent — attractive qualities that made him quite pleasant to be around.

  He also had an excellent head for finances, and dominated the New Brunswick legislature with his ability to argue his points. At the Confederation conference in Quebec City, he won extra money for New Brunswick during the discussion of the financial resolutions, which was one of the things that really peeved the Prince Edward Island delegates. During the Quebec conference, as Wallace points out in his biography of Tilley, a Montreal Gazette reporter said of him, “Any ordinary man can open an argument, most men can keep it up, but Mr. Tilley always knows where the matter ends.” Such persistence and persuasiveness are, of course, always good traits when courting.

  Tilley created the National Policy on tariffs and trade (to encourage and protect industry and the economy) in 1879; this policy would go on to form the basis for Canada’s trade policy for years. Speaking of the creation of a federation of the separate provinces and the railway that could bring it together, he remarked, “Statesmen … should try ‘to bind together the Atlantic and Pacific by a continuous chain of settlements and line of communications for that [is] the destiny of this country, and the race which inhabits it’”2 [emphasis mine]. In March 1879, commenting on the National Policy, he said, “The time has arrived when we are to decide whether we will be simply hewers of wood and drawers of water … or will rise to the position, which, I believe Providence has destined us to occupy” [emphasis mine]. Progress, humanity, destiny — these are all words aimed to inspire and they show the ability to dream. They reveal at least some degree of passion, even if Tilley himself is little remembered by history.

  Tilley entered politics in 1850, and had been involved in the railway and advocating for prohibition in New Brunswick since 1844. He remained in office till 1893, spending the last eight years as lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick. He died in June 1896, still writing political treatises. Fifty years in politics is no small feat. One could argue he was a visionary, and had passion — and the persistence to continue the fight to get the best for the people he represented. He had to have had presence and leadership to last fifty years. Wallace says Tilley wasn’t widely popular, that he didn’t have John A. Macdonald’s flair or earthiness. No doubt that’s true, but it is an unfair comparison. What politician has achieved the fame, or had the flair, of John A.? The closest one would be Pierre Trudeau, and that’s a different story altogether.

  Tilley loved politics. He stayed with it through thick and thin. He remained when his political colleagues had given up on him (when New Brunswickers voted against him and against Confederation in the big election of 1865); and he remained when he was frustrated at his lack of power, not getting the minister of finance position he wanted, and likely deserved, in Macdonald’s first government of 1867 (Alexander Galt was granted the portfolio). Tilley did ask to leave in 1871, after his father’s death, partly because it seemed he didn’t expect to be given the finance portfolio, even though Galt had left. Tilley did, however, stay on, and finally got the pos-ition in 1873. When in power, he didn’t back down, even when his bills met with violent opposition. For example, when Tilley’s prohibition bill was passed in New Brunswick in January 1856, it was so unpopular he was burned in effigy, his house was attacked, and there were threats to his life. Through it all, he stayed.

&nbs
p; Persistent, passionate, persuasive, as well as intelligent, attractive, friendly, and genial, Tilley must have been putting all these skills to work in his courtship of at least two of the women at the Confederation conference, as Mercy notes both she and Mrs. Alexander received his attention. He was still youngish, yet he was old enough to have a maturity women find attractive. He also possessed the aphrodisiac of power, even if he didn’t have John A.’s level of charisma. And, of course, he was a Maritimer to boot. For Mercy Coles and the other women, what was there not to like?

  * * *

  * William Steeves, a minister in Tilley’s government.

  ** It’s possible this was the widow of Moses Henry Perley, who was well-known in pre-Confederation New Brunswick as a naturalist, author, and lawyer.

  *** Edward Whelan has Mrs. Alexander (whom has here been referred to as Miss Alexander) travelling to Quebec a few days later on the steamship Queen Victoria with most of the other Maritime delegates, though it’s clear from Mercy’s diary she was with Mercy’s group. The erroneous information about Mrs. Alexander is not particularly crucial; it just points out how “official” recorded history can be wrong. (The Union of the British Provinces, 63–64)

  **** Identity unknown.

  ***** In the Guardian extract in 1917, Mercy added: “A quaint old building, the hotel was three-storied.”

  ****** Mercy, Mrs. Alexander, the two Misses Steeves, and Jane Fisher.

  ******* Hewitt Bernard, secretary of the conference.