The Dancing Dwarf of Old Bytown, Mr. Nellis toured the Montreal-Bytown-Quebec city triangle during Sept.- Oct. 1845. (A circuit now more frequented by strippers as comics tend to go either on a "Western" tour or "Atlantic" run.) The Quebec Gazette of that year wrote, " Mr. Nellis, born without arms, performs the most extraordinary feats. With his toes he writes, winds up a watch, loads and discharges a pistol, draws a bow, plays on the accordian and triangle, cuts likenesses in paper and executes a number of other astonishing performances. "

He is also mentioned in the Diary of Alexander Muir who, when he arrived in Ottawa/Bytown, from Scotland: "Thursday 2 October 1845 - We all went to see a dwarf man without arms perform some wonder feats with his toes, the same as with his fingers-such as loading and firing a pistol, playing the violin, shooting with a bow and arrow, cutting fancy papers with a pair of scissors. I asked if he was married. He said he was and had three children. This created a good deal of amusement. Everybody was much pleased with the many extraordinary feats he performed, all with his legs and toes without anyone to assist him. After this exhibition we adjourned to the drinking shop and had a great deal of fun."