Letter from James Dawson to Joseph Howe regarding title on lands occupied by Mi'kmaq at the mouth of Pictou Harbour. Also includes abstract of title.

Letter from Dawson to Howe regarding his visit to the Mi'kmaq settlement at Merigomish Island. Notes unfavourable reaction of the Mi'kmaq to having their children taken from the settlement to go to school. Discussion of Chief Lapier [Sapier?].

Letter from Dawson to Joseph Howe regarding the request of Fr. O'Reilly for medical aid for Pictou Mi'kmaq. Includes Howe's response advising Dawson to spend as necessary for health care.

Letter from Dawson to Howe asking if the Mi'kmaq of Pictou County can expect any "Royal Bounty" this year. Tell of the need for relief, particularly clothing. There are about 62 families: 150 individuals. Says the government must purchase or otherwise acquire land in Pictou for a Mi'kmaq reserve. "Untill this be done they will not believe that Government intends doing them any good, and they will not fall in with your measures..."

Letter from Howe to Dawson. Howe will be sending down coats and blankets for distribution to the aged, infirm and poor only. Asks Dawson to scout around to see if there is any Crown land suitable for a reserve in Pictou; if there is, there will be no difficulty in creating a reserve of 500 or 1000 acres.

Letter from Dawson to Howe regarding Howe's letter of 5 Dec 1842 [see RG 1 vol. 432 pp. 145]. He will distribute coats and blankets as per directions. Complains that Mi'kmaq were promised liberty to cut firewood about Fisher's Grant, Boat Harbour, and now the owners have broken their promise. Firewood is scarce. A reserve is needed. Recommends land at headwaters of Barney's River, including the whole of Brown Lake and lots 12, 16, 17, 18 and other property on the map prepared by Crerar, the Deputy Surveyor. Also necessary to purchase 50-100 acres at Fisher's Grant, the favoured summer campsite of the Mi'kmaq.

Letter from Joseph Howe to John Whidden regarding Pictou Mi'kmaq requesting Whidden bring Dawson's recommendation for a reserve at Barneys River to the attention of the Lt. Gov. to get him to do a survey as quickly as possible.

Letter from George E. [Ican?] of Arichat to Joseph Howe requesting payment for conducting a census of Mi'kmaq in Richmond County the summer before. He notes that he took the trouble to travel to the Indian Mission on Bras d'Or last summer on St. Ann's Day.

Letter from Abraham S. Harris of Pictou to Howe regarding earlier request for agricultural implements for the Mi'kmaq. In postscript, he says that any lands secured for the Mi'kmaq must have title so secured so that they cannot alienate the lands.

Letter from Samuel Creelman of Stweiacke to Howe responding to Howe's letter of 13 Sept. Discusses land around Stewiacke settlement.

Letter from Howe to Cruickshank of Napan advising that the bearer of the letter, Alex Thomas, lives near the school and if Cruickshank will teach Thomas' children, he will be reimbursed by the Indian Affairs Commissioner.

Handwritten report [probably by Howe] regarding the Mi'kmaq cutting firewood on farms near Dartmouth and requests of farmers n the area for the Indian Affairs Commissioner to do something about it.

Letter from Thomas Irwin of Charlottetown, PEI, to Joseph Howe regarding a book in Mi'kmaq written by Irwin as a grammar/textbook and urging Howe to purchase copies for use among the i'kmaq of NS.

Letter from Howe to Irwin agreeing to assist Irwin in publishing his Mi'kmaq grammar/textbook by subscription; he will not subsidize the publication from the Indian Affairs budget.

Letter from Daniel Krolland of Chester Basin to Joseph Howe regarding Mi'kmaq at Gold River and services as a teacher rendered by him. Mentions John Pennall. Includes Howe's response agreeing to pay Krolland upon receipt of proper paperwork.