On June 8th, 1792 the Simcoes and their party set out by boat for Upper Canada along the St. Lawrence River.

The picture to the right portrays a scene along the river and was painted on the day of their departure.

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A Bend in the St. Lawrence, [ca. 1792], (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Wash/paper
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-39
Archives of Ontario, I0006891

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Near Quebec, 1792, (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Watercolour/paper
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-42
Archives of Ontario, I0006894

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Montreal, Quebec, [ca. 1792], (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Watercolour/paper
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-57
Archives of Ontario, I0006347

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The Sault Rapids, July 28, [ca. 1796] (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
wash/birch, grey
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-255
Archives of Ontario, I0007107

"...after passing Grenadier Island came to the Thousand Isles, the different sizes & shape of these innumerable Isles have a pretty appearance; some of them are many miles in extent, many of them only large enough to contain 4 or 5 trees..."

- June 30th, 1792

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Thousand Islands, July 26, [ca. 1796], (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Wash/paper, grey
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-247
Archives of Ontario, I0007099

The Simcoes finally arrived in Kingston on Sunday July 1st, 1792.

"Kingston is... a small town of about 50 wooden houses and merchants' storehouses. Only one house is built of stone. It belongs to a merchant. There is a small garrison here and a harbour for ships. They fired a salute on our arrival & we went to the house appointed to the Commanding Officer at some distance from the Barracks... The situation of this place is entirely flat, and incapable of being rendered defensible. Therefore, were its situation more central, it would still be unfit for the seat of government."

- July 1st, 1792

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Kingston, Ontario, 1796, (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Watercolour/paper
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-284
Archives of Ontario, I0006356

Click to see a larger version (441K)
Tree [fragment], (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Wash/paper, brown, with varnish
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-370
Archives of Ontario, I0007222

Upon arriving in Kingston, Simcoe began to make preparations to leave for Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake), which had been designated the provisional seat of the new colonial government.

Elizabeth spent much of her time sketching and exploring the area.

Click to see a larger version (204K)
Mill on the Gananocoui, [ca. 1792], (detail)
Elizabeth Simcoe, (1766-1850)
Wash/paper, full
Reference Code: F 47-11-1-0-63
Archives of Ontario, I0006915

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Simcoe was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor at Kingston on July 8th, 1792 and two weeks later, in spite of the efforts of local residents to dissuade the Governor from going to Niagara, representing the want of provisions, houses, etc. at that place, as well as the "certainty of having the ague", the vice-regal party departed.

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