The British Colonial Argus ran from 1833 – 1834, at which time it joined with the Farmers Journal from Welland to form the British American Journal. By 1835 the name was changed again, and the paper ran at the St. Catharines Journal from 1835-1915 (approximately).

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  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-11-23
    Literature “Roprecht the Robber”; Chapter 7 of “Wacousta”; a continuation of Mr. Ryerson’s correspondence with His Majesty’s Government on the Clergy Reserve Question; the King of Spain died on 29th of September, cause of death not listed; Donna Maria arrives in Portugal; Cholera on the rise in Western Europe; a copy of the speech of the Lieutenant Governor to both Houses, topics include public education; a large fire in Kingston destroys several businesses; another meteor shower witnessed in Niagara lasting several hours; a new steam packet will begin travelling from Hamilton to Port Dalhousie
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-11-16
    Chapter 6 of “Wacousta”; a continuation of Mr. Ryerson’s correspondence with His Majesty’s Government on the Clergy Reserve Question; an update on affairs in Portugal; the Marquis of Wellesley assumed the Vice Royalty of Ireland on September 25th; note of a significant meteor shower that took place the previous Wednesday in Niagara “one of the most wonderful phenomenon occurred that the world has ever witnessed, perhaps since the Crucifixion”; John Reed, a labourer on the Welland Canal drowned attempting to cross the Canal; a fire in Chippewa destroyed the black smith shop of Mr. Bond, as well as the neighbouring carriage manufacturer and tailoring establishment of Mr. Rice; “Draft of a Bill for the Election and Endowment of Provincial Seminaries and for the Establishment and Support of Common Schools”;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-11-09
    Chapter 5 of “Wacousta”; a short story “The Splendid Annual”; a continuation of Mr. Ryerson’s correspondence with His Majesty’s Government on the Clergy Reserve Question; a letter from the editor confirming reporting in the Christian Guardian and the Colonial Advocate that Mr. Ryerson has defected to Toryism with critical comments about the change; “Draft of a Bill to be Laid Before the Ensuing Parliament for the Establishment of Provincial Seminaries”
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-11-02
    Poetry, “The Sabbath Bell”; Chapter 4 of “Wacousta”; an article on the origin of the word Canada; hints for men of business; continuation of Mr. Ryerson’s correspondence with His Majesty’s Government on the Clergy Reserve question; an article from the Montreal Vindicator calling for the reform of the government in Upper and Lower Canada and the removal of the Executive Council; slavery officially revoked in England, while noting in the British colonies that slavery “improper” continues;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-10-26
    Poetry, “The Convict”; Chapter 3 of “Wacousta” nearly one full page of the week’s newspaper; from the Christian Guardian “Mr. Ryerson’s correspondence with his Majesty’s Government on the Clergy Reserve Question” in which Mr. Ryerson looks to use reserved land for the purposes of general education; from the London Weekly Dispatch it is noted that the Irish Church Bill was defeated; King Ferdinand of Spain is in poor health and expected to die soon; an article from the editor regarding the best type of government to suite Upper Canada;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-10-21
    Copy in poor quality, several blackened spots make the text difficult to make out. Poetry, “The Voice of the Flowers”; Chapter two of “Wacousta”; a list of preachers and their stations across Upper Canada, from the Christian Guardian; a letter from the editor in favour of the removal of the House of Lords in England and reforming the structure of the British government to better represent the will of the people;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-10-05
    Poetry, “Summer’s Farewell”; Chapter of a story, “Wacousta”; an article from the New York Enquirer titled “Power ought to be in the hands of the people”; a report that slaves in Cuba have rebelled; a note from the editor that little original content was included in this week’s paper due to family illness; a letter from the editor noting that future content will be focused on domestic concerns moving forward; an update from Portugal that the Miguelites abandoned their siege of Oporto;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-09-28
    Poetry, “Age and Youth”; Short story, “Romance in Real Life”; In England Sir John Kay resigned from the office of Lord Mayor, election to follow on Monday with Francis Kemble running as the only candidate; Princess Victoria’s yacht the Royal George crashed but she was not injured; Prince Dom Pedro arrived in Portugal to a warm reception while Dom Miguel fled Portugal; counterfeiters move about Upper Canada circulating fake 3 dollar notes; an article criticizing peerages in Britain; an article by the editor arguing the importance of converting Indigenous communities to Christianity; an article by the editor with a critical comparison of Upper Canada to New York; a critical report on the act of imprisoning people for debt;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-09-28
    Poetry, “The Bishop and Miguel”; Short story, “A Ramble in the Woods on Sunday and What the Writer Saw and Heard There”; an article from the Temperance Recorder noting several tragic accidents resulting in death caused by intoxicated persons; an article from Imperial Parliament noting the benefit of national system of education and using the United States as an example of its benefits; a letter to the editor promoting the importance of continuing missionary work with Indigenous communities within Upper Canada to improve their character;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-09-14
    Poetry, “The Martyr of Scio”; Short story, “Panama”; an article from the Christian Guardian by E. Ryerson advocating that the Church of England is not the established Church of Canada; from the London Times an article titled “The Propriety of Abolishing the House of Lords Altogether”; a note that the city of Lisbon had been captured by the forces of Donna Maria; an extensive fire in Liverpool left six dead; death of William Wilberforce noted; a letter from the editor promoting the embracing of common schools within Upper Canada
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-09-03
    Poetry, “Lines by a Lady”; Short story, “The Ring: An Anecdote of the Polish War”; an article in poor condition mentions controversies of supporting different religions and mentions E. Ryerson and J. Strachan and their disagreements on how to promote religion within Upper Canada; an outbreak of cholera effects London; a letter from the editor notes the preference of the newspaper for a limited monarchial government and discusses the “dangerous influence” of the church over the government in England, citing the Irish Church Temporalities Bill as an example; an instructional article titled “How to Avoid a Revolution”
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-08-27
    Poetry, “Farewell of the Soul to the Body”; Short story, “Recollections of a Sea Life”; an article describing life in London to someone who has never been there; an article on East India that notes that slavery will be abolished in India within four years, article notes the “value of slaves” and the price of an able bodied slave, one past his prime, and a child slave.
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-08-20
    Poetry, “Address to the Deep”; Short story “Sporting Adventure in Auvergne”; a letter from a student from Hamilton College named Frothingham to his parents, the student had disappeared in April and was not heard of until the letter; an update from the House of Commons references the Irish Coercion Bill of 1833 and the promotion of Protestantism in Ireland; an article by the editor comparing the settlement and growth of Upper Canada (as part of the British Empire) to that of the United States; an article on the Irish Church Temporalities bill; an article on the proceedings of the St. Catharines Temperance Society;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-08-06
    Pages damaged around the edges. A short story “The Revenge of the Rejected”; a debate in the House of Lords regarding the abolishment of the slave trade in the West India Colonies; a debate in the House of Commons regarding the convertibility of paper issued money; an article from the Farmers’ Journal noting that celebrations took place in St. Catharines for the 4th of July, much to the dismay of some residents; a hail storm in Lower Canada damages crops and property; letter from the editor that the paper will strive to act in an impartial manner; an update on the Grantham Academy Examination; minutes of the St. Catharines Temperance Society; an anecdote of the plague called “A Mother’s Grave”;
  • The British Colonial Argus

    James H. Sears, 1833-01-11
    This issue contains a New Years Address from the Farmers’ Journal of Welland; the Upper Canada Parliament met and discussed the petition of the Agricultural Society of Niagara in which the Society requested pecuniary funds to hold fairs; a motion adopted by the Imperial Parliament to qualify members of townships who pay rent of ten pounds per annum to vote; debate in the House regarding whether to make it lawful to extend the railway from Queenston to Niagara; debate in the House regarding the repair of the Welland canal and building materials; note from the printers that the paper had been on hold for several weeks due to a paper shortage; note from the printers that an arrangement has been made with Mr. Hiram Leavenworth to bring together the Farmers’ Journal and the joint paper will be published under the name “British American Journal” with a liberal political outlook; an article advocating for a national system of education; a note from the editor responding to an accusation by the Christina Guardian that the editor of the British Colonial Argus is a “Yankee”; John Gladwin establishes a Literary Resort in St. Catharines; lists of medicines available at Kissam and Tredwell;