1812; the war and its moral: a Canadian chronicle

Front matter

It. CHAMBERS THE WAR, AND ITS MORAL: A CANADIAN CHRONICLE. BY WILLIAM F. COFFIN, Esquibe, FORMERLY SHERIFF OF THE DISTRICT OF MONTREAL/ LIEUT. -COLONEL, STAFF, ACTIVE FORCE, CANADA, AND H. M. AGENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ORDNANCE ESTATES, CANADA. *|ftoirtVeaI : PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 1864. Entered, according to the Act of the Provincial Parliament, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, by William F. Coffin, in the Office of the Registrar of the Province of Canada. *€o tfje fttjjfjt *gorumrabU Sit famtrab 38alket stab, ©f get Pajestg's Post foramtafrle gjnbg Conttxil, anl late ©obernor ©metal anS ffiomman'Ber»insŒIjte£ ot Brittsf) North America, ©his (tbrnUim ©htontcle of the Wat; of 1812 Es respectfully; SeiicatetJ, bn bis faitfjful ant) grateful Serbant, WILLIAM F. COFFIN.

Ottawa, 2nd January, 1864. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIE EDMUND WALKER HEAD, BARONET. My dear Sir, — I venture to appeal to your respected name as the best introduction for the little work which I do myself the honour to dedicate to you. To you, indeed, it owes its existence. You conferred upon me the appointment I have the honour to hold under the Crown in Canada, and that appointment has given life to an idea, long cherished in embryo. The management of the Ordnance Lands in this Province has thrown me upon the scenes of the most notable events of the late war. It has brought me in contact with many of the surviving actors. It has revived early recollections of my own. The achievements of 1812 were the household words of my childish days. For three years, I grew up among the men, and almost among the incidents of the time.

In the Spring of 1815, from the Grand Battery at Quebec, I had watched the slow cavalcade which bore Sir George Prevost across the ice of the St. Lawrence, on his return to England. Fifteen years afterwards brought me back to a country which, for thirty-three years, has been my home. During this long interval, the subject of the war has never ceased to be one of great interest. It has led to many enquiries, and to a gradual accumulation of material, which might have seen light earlier, had I VI DEDICATION. not been daunted by a wholesome precept of my Eng lish schooling : Si quantum cuperem, possem quoque. Non meus audet, Rem tentare pudor, quam vires ferre recusent. That I do so now, must be ascribed, in great part, to the liberality of my Publisher; in some degree to the pressure of a belief that, under the circumstances of the times, the effort had become a duty; and still more, to the opportunity and incentive you had made.

Chapter II

1812— Duration ofthe War— Feeling in Canada. The War no Canadian quarrel. Value of Canada to England at that crisis. The*feeling between the British and American people. British pretensions — Right of Search — Resisted by the Danes — The northern powers— The Americans. British dilemma. Blockade of 1806. Berlin and Milan Decrees. Orders in Council. Constructive Blockade. French and American inconsistency. Troubles of neutrals. Affair of the Leopard and Chesapeake, 1807. American exacerbation. British exclusion from American harbours. American gratitude to France. French sympathy in Canada a mistake. The Eastern States averse to the War. Affair of the President and Little Belt, 1811. Irritation increases. President of United States appeals to Congress. War declared 18th June, 1812. Futile attempt to capture British Westlndia fleet.

British disbelief in a war. 21 CHAPTER IH. State ofCanada at the outbreak ofthe war. Military force — Attitude of the people. Avatar of Brock— His character and early career— Letter from Montreal, 1808 — Takes command of troops in Upper Canada, 1810— Becomes Lieutenant-Governor, 1811. Hull invades Canada, 12th July. Proclamation— Brock's reply— Meets Parliament. Spirit of the country. United Empire Loyalists. Proctor at Amherstburg, 4th August— Detaches Tecumseh— Defeats Van Home. On 7th August, Hull retires from Canada. Affair at Magagua. Capture of Michilimacinap, by Capt. Roberts and Toussaint Pothier. Brock with York Volunteers reaches Amherstburg. Interview with Tecumseh. Capture of Detroit, 16th August, 1812 X CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. Page

Brock provides for the safety of his conquest and returns to York — Urgent for action- Controlled by an armistice between Sir George Prevost and General Dearborn. Sir George at Quebec. Energy of the Lower Canada Legislature — Provide money — Provide men. The Americans threaten Montreal — Niagara. Detroit. Inroad at Gananoque. Affair at Ogdensburg. Brock returns to the Niagara frontier. Van Renselaer and the Militia — Crazy for a dash. Capture of the Detroit and Caledonia off Fort Erie. Military ardour ofthe New York Volunteers uncontrollable. Van Renselaer resolves*o cross the Niagara frontier. Queenston Heights. Battle 13th October— Death of Brock and Macdonald— Arrival of Sheaffe— Final victory— Surrender by Scott. John Beverley Robinson. Brock's funeral. Scott and the savages 60

Chapter V

Armistice between Sheaffe and Van Renselaer. Eastern frontier— Affair at St. Regis. "Capture of a stand of colors " — Retaliation. Hard frost below — Pleasant weather west. American squadron and Commodore Earle. Gallant exploit ofthe Canadian schooner Simcoe. Chauncey and Captain Brock. Armistice between Smyth and Sheaffe terminated. Descent on Canadissti frontier. Americans repulsed. Fort Erie summoned. Bishop won't give up. Smyth retires into winter quarters, and goes south. United States disunited on the war— Canada unanimous. Sufferings and spirit of the people. Loyal and Patriotic Society 65

Chapter VI

Naval occurrences of the war. Supremacy of England on the ocean. Indifference to foreign progress. American frigates— Unrivalled in construction— Speed— Equipment— Power. Naval duels. The Constitution and Guerriere. The Frolic and Wasp. The United States and Macedonian. The Java and Constitution. Effect of these contests. Exultation of Europe. England nerved and steeled. The Hornet and Peacock. Counter-stroke. Shannon and Chesapeake. Moral effect. The balance redressed. Gallantry on both sides. Effect of these events on the war in Canada 76

Chapter VII

1813. American preparations on Lakes Ontario and Erie. British Ministry did its best —Canada its duty. Men and money voted. New Brunswick regiment marched from Fredericton on snow shoes. Major General Evans. Sir J»mes Yeo and seamen CONTENTS. XI PAGE arrive from Halifax. British and American forces on the frontier. In the West. Harrison and Proctor. General "Winchester defeated and captured at French town. Capt. Forsyth harries Brockville. Reprisals. Sir George Prevost at Pres cott. Permits a demonstration. Prescott. Ogdensburg. Colonel George Mac donnell. The Glengarries. Bishop Macdonnell. Dash at Ogdensburg — Dangers ofthe ice— The place taken. Capt. Jenkins and Lieut. Ridge. Pierre Holmes. His story. Macdonnell's courage, courtesy, and kindness 84

Chapter VIII

British armaments at Kingston and York. British force. American strength. Descent planned on Kingston, York and Fort George. Little York— What it was —What it is. Defences in 1813. York attacked 26th April, 1813. Ship of war on the stocks, on British order. First alarm. Pluck of the population. Maclean, clerk of the House of Assembly, killed. Young Allan MacNab. Sir Roger Sheaffe. 97

Chapter IX

Sheaffe. Force at his disposal. His dispositions. MacNeil of the 8th. American approach— Disembark in Humber Bay— Gallant resistance — Slaughter ofthe Grenadiers. Pike lands— Presses on the town— Enters the old fort— Explosion— Destruction of friend and foe. Pike killed. Sbeasse retires. The place capitulates. American Vandalism. Bishop Strachan. His admiraWe letter. The farce which follows the tragedy. The " human scalp " turns out to be a porriwig 106 CHAPTER' X. American programme. Modification. Fall of York. Newark threatened. Description of Newark. Fort Niagara. Fort Georgo. Climate and country. La Salle. Sketch of his exploits. Discovers the Mississippi. Fort Georgo burnt. Rebuilt by Denonville. Colonel Dongan, Governor of the Province of New York, objects to the building of a Fort at " Ohniagro."

Baron de Longueuil — Record of this family. Fort Niagara taken by the British, 1759. Surrendered to United States, 1796. Upper Canada created a separate Province, 1791. Governor Simcoe. His career. Newark his capital. Visit of Duke of Kent, 1793. Compared with that of Prince of Wales, 1860 U3

CHAPTER XL

Seat of Government removed from Newark to York. Fort George still Military Head- Quarters. American attack on Fort George and Newark. General Vincent in command. American forces. British strength. American force on landing. British retire. Fort George fells. Vincent occupies Beaver Dam. Description-,. . CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII. PAGE

Lake Ontario. Kingston. Sackett's Harbour. Expectations and preparations. Dr. ' Richardson, D.D.— His Career and Record. Departure of Squadron. Sights Sackett's Harbour and withdraws. Capture of American Officer of Dragoons. The Expedition retires — Preparations for landing. Preparations for resistance. General Jacob Brown. Colonel Baccus. Landing effected. Americans defeated — fire the stores and ships on the stocks. The British ordered to retreat. Withdrawal of the Expedition 130 .

CHAPTER XIII.

. Return to Vincent at the Beaver Dam— Retires on Burlington Heights— Colonel Harvey— Stoney Creek— British retire from, and the Americans occupy their position — Harvey's plan for night attack — The Americans surprised — Desperate fighting — Americans dispersed — Generals Chandler and Winder taken prisoners— Present aspect oi the ground — Old Lutheran Chapel — Burial place of the slain — No memorial stone— Why not ? Americans fall back on Niagara — Abandon camps and supplies 140 •

CHAPTER XIV.

New American Enterprise. Attempt on the Beaver Dam Post. Noble devotion of Mrs. Secord. Her Adventures— Roaches Decau's house in safety. Fitzgibbon. Bœrstler's Advance — Attacked by the Indians — Reaches Thorold. Present aspect Of Thorold. Welland Canal. Hamilton Merritt. Col. John Clarke. Old Isaac Kelly— Militia attack on Bœrstler— He surrenders to Fitzgibbon. Mary Secord the real Heroine. Princely generosity of the Prince of Wales. Lieut. Fitzgibbon— His career— A Military Knight of Windsor. History of the Knights. A Reverie. . 146

CHAPTER XV.

General de Rottenburg succeeds General Vincent— Dearborn retires— Boyd in command at Fort George— American Frontier exposed to attack— Colonels Bishopp and Clark— Clark's career— Hazardous and successful foray on Fort Schlosser Bishopp, emulous of gallant deeds, attacks Black Rock— Black Rock, now and then— Bishopp lands— Defeats the enemy— Captures the place— General Porter rallies the Americans— The British attacked in turn— Bishopp wounded to death —His worthy career in Europe and Canada— Influence over the Volunteers— The Americans enlist the Indians— Lake Ontario— Commodore Chauncey attacks Bur- CONTENTS. XIII PAGE lington Heights— Fails — Again sacks York. Sir James Yeo provokes the Com modore out of Niagara — Two American schooners foundered — Two taken — More expected from Yeo very inconsiderately — Yeo did his duty thoughtfully and well —From Ontario to Lake Champlain— Escapade at Gore Creek on the St. Lawrence — Death of Capt. Milne — Supplies how furnished — How transported in winter and summer— Value ofthe Commissariat— Sir William Robinson — Commissaries in Canada— Isaac Win6low Clarke— His career— Bateaux Brigades 158

CHAPTER XVI.

Montreal the centre of supply— Description of Montreal— View from top of the Mountain— Montreal of 1840 or 1864, not the Montreal of 1812— Montreal viewed as the Military Key of Canada— Country around— View of Belœil— Canadian scenery — Canadian people— The Habitants, their progress, improvement and characteristics — Strong temptation to invasion — Approach to Montreal and the Richelieu country —Description of Lake Champlain— American force on the New York frontier available for invasion 173

CHAPTER XVII.

Sir George Prevost and Sir James Craig— Sir James a good man but obdurate— Sir George politic and useful— He identifies himself with the people— They support him and British rule— The Legislature legalize the issue of army bills, and vote additiona. militia forces— Exchequer Bills — Sir George prepares for defence— English Volun teers — French Militia— The two people incline to different systems of enrolment — Both readily unite against common enemy — Isle aux Noix— Attempt made to prise this post— Capture of American schooners Growler and Eagle — Reprisals- Officers and men ot H. M. brig of war, Wasp, transferred to Lake Champlain — Plattsburg, Swanton, Champlain, destroyed— Burlington challenged— Blockade of the seaboard by the British— Increased American strength on the Lakes 181

CHAPTER XVIII.

Stung by reverses the British Admiralty acted with vigour— Ships were equipped Of a calibre to meet the Americans— Americans blockaded in their own harbours — Commerce destroyed, revenue ruined— Seamen useless on the ocean, transferred to the Lakes— Naval engagements— Dominica and Decatur— Pelican and Argus — Boxer and Enterprize — Cruise of the President under Commodore Rodgers — Detroit frontier— Unpleasant vicissitudes — Story of the Frontier— Squire Reynolds — His narrative— Early state of the Detroit Frontier— Building of Fort Miami — Who paid for it — Surrender of Michigan Territory and Detroit to Americans under Jay's Treaty 1796 — British war vessels on the Upper Lakes allowed to rot — Brock's interview with the Indians— June 1812— First scalp taken by the American McCulloch — Indian exasperation — Resolution to retaliate — Declaration of war received 28th Juno, 1812— Capture of the Cayuga Packet by Lieut. Rolette CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX. PAGE

Squire Reynold's narrative— Arrival of Brock— Interview with Tecumseh— Affairs on the Frontier 1813— Ball at Maiden— From the dance to the field — Colonel St. George — Attack on French Town — Capture of General Winchester — Retreat of Proctor— Wounded abandoned— Rolette hit — Brownstown and the scalps — Fort Meigs— British engineers— Colonel Gratiot— Major Reynolds at the "Raisin— Defeat of Green Clay — Retaliation of the Indians — Retreat from Fort Meigs — Council of war — Recriminations — Proctor, Elliott, Tecumseh — Proctor's treatment of the Militia— Second attack on Fort Meigs— A failure — Fort Stevenson attacked — Bravely defended by Major Croghan— Col. Short killed— Stormers repulsed— Proctor retires — Barclay at Maiden — Efforts to equip squadron — No men nor material —The two 24's— Calibre and character of guns in the squadrons respectively 202

CHAPTER XX.

Captain Barclay and Commodore Perry— Resources of each— Perry's difficulty — Crosses the bar at Presqu'Isle— Description of Barclay's crew and armament— 10th September — Battle of Lake Erie — Desperate contest — The Lawrence* surrenders — Perry's personal exploits — Changes his ships — Renews the contest — The British squadron captured — Officers all killed or wounded — The resistance of Barclay and his crews — Barclay's heroic character and conduct — Appearance before a Court martial — Honourably acquitted — Barclay's defeat, Proctor's doom — Position of Proctor— Nature of country— Supplies exhausted— Alternative of retreat or surrender—Retreats—Line of march— Difficulties— Followed by Harrison — Kentucky Mounted Riflemen— Tactics in the battle — Character of forest— Not impracticable to horsemen 215

CHAPTER XXI.

Proctor falls back to Baptiste Creek— General Harrison with Perry's assistance follows— 5th October— British force halts at Dalson's Farm — Colonel Maclean of Scarborough — His reminiscences — Warburton in command at Dalson's — Proctor retires personally to Moravian Town— Roused before daylight— Intelligence— Troops attacked and retreating —Warburton followed by Shelby and Kentucky riflemen — Description of these troops and mode of attack — Proctor halts his men — Nature of ground and position— Tecumseh — His last words— No abattis made — American attack — Defeat and surrender of the British 223

CHAPTER XXII.

Tecumseh— His character — Origin— Tribe of the Shawanese— From Virginia Driven into Ohio— Thence into Michigan— The Brothers Elksottawa and Tecumseh Influence of Tecumseh over Indian tribes, due. to his personal qualities— Anecdotes CONTENTS. XV 'page —Haughty conduct towards the "Long Knives"— His disinterestedness— Indian skill as draftsman— His personal appearance and costume — Stern adherence to England — Last words to Proctor — Attack of the American riflemen — Tecumseh slain by the hand of Col. James Johnston— The four heraldic supporters of Canada. — Outrage offered to his remains 232

CHAPTER XXIII.

Battle of the Thames— Its effect— In the States— In Canada. Sir George Prevost. Demonstration on Niagara. Vincent concentrates at Burlington Heights. American projects on Montreal. Generals Wilkinson and Hampton. Plan of attack from the West and from Lake Champlain. Hampton advances to Odelltown— Encountered by De Salaberry— Retires— Followed to the Four Corners. Career of De Salaberry — Attempts to surprise the Americans — Discovered— Falls back on the line of Chateauguay. Preparations for defence. Reports on the battle by the American Adjutant-General King 239

CHAPTER XXIV.

Story of Chateauguay. The " Temoin oculaire." Hampton advances from Four Corners. De Salaberry faces right about, and returns to meet him. First rencontre — Halts — Throws up breastworks and abattis. Disposition of defenders — Ford in the rear. American attack on abattis — Impracticable. Attack on flank and rear, partially successful— Repulsed— Broken by flank fire. Retreating Americans fire on each other. Hampton, daunted, withdraws from front of abattis and retreats. Force engaged. Brilliant conduct of officers and men. Honour to De Salaberry.. . 252

CHAPTER XXV.

Macdonell of Ogdensburg— The Canadian Fencibles— Descent of the St. Lawrence Running the Rapids— Night March through the Bush— "Always on Hand"— French and English "Shoulder to Shoulder "—Natural Exultation of the French Canadians— Practical Reply to Dishonouring Imputations— Gratitude ofthe British Government— Queenston Heights— Chateauguay— Chevy Chace and the " Combat des Trentes "—Beaumanoir and Bembro — Croquart CONTENTS.

Appendix

. Page Letter to Thomas Jefferson, ex-President ofthe United States of America, ". 273 Bataille de Chateauguay, THE WAR AND ITS MORAL.

Chapter I

Preamble. 19i« — like the characters on the labarum of Constantine * — is a sign of solemn import to the people of Canada. It carries with it the virtue of an incantation. Like the magic numerals of the Arabian sage, these words, in their utterance, quicken the pulse, and vibrate through the frame, summoning, from the pregnant past, memories of suffering and endurance and of honorable exertion. They are inscribed on the banner and stamped on the hearts of the Canadian people — a watchword, rather than a war-cry. With these words upon his lips, the loyal Canadian, as a vigilant sen tinel, looks forth into the gloom, ready with his challenge, hopeful for a friendly response, but prepared for any other. The people of Canada are proud of the men, and of the deeds, and of the recollections of those days.

They feel that the war of 1812 is an episode in the story of a young people, glorious in itself and full of promise. They believe that the infant which, in its very cradle, could strangle invasion, struggle, and endure, bravely and without repining — is capable of a nobler development, if God wills further trial. • Vide Gibbon, Vol. II, pp. 259, 260. CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. It is impossible for this people to ignore the portents of the time. The blast of war hurtles around them ; Its sights are in their eyes, and the sounds in their ears. They feel that they are within the edge of the fatal circle, and await the stroke of the cyclone. It is natural that, at such a time, the popular mind should revert to the experience of the past, and that the war of 1812 should be con stantly invoked as an example and as a warning.

Thus, the story of the war has suddenly become a subject of interest which it is difficult to satisfy. Fifty years have come and gone, and of the thousands who survived the contest, how few remain to tell the tale or point the moral ! Within the last few months, three honoured men, heroes of 1812, and who emphatically deserve the title, — Sir Allan MacNab, Sir John Beverley Robinson, and Major-General Evans, — have gone to their rest, full of years and well-earned distinction. The voices of those who could animate by eloquent experience, and guide by their counsels, become daily, fewer, fainter, and more indistinct ; and we turn with sorrowful respect from the living witnesses of the time, to those -who bear record to the gallantry of their deeds and the nobleness of their motives. The story of the war has been told by eminent writers on both sides of the Atlantic.

We have British and American histories ; we have biography ; and the pages of periodical literature have been, in turn, alike devoted to the events of an epoch when the world was a-glow with arms, and war seemed to be the main voca tion of mankind; but the works of the general historian are voluminous and inaccessible to the masses, and the part yielded to Canada is unavoidably small, on an arena occupied by the embat tled nations of the earth. The Canadian authorities, faithful and reliable guides so far as they go, are, mostly, out of print and scarce ; and they have been succeeded, and their places usurped at our own firesides, by a flood of American publications, sensa- OBJECT AND AIM OP THE CHRONICLE. 19 tional as they are termed, written for show, designed for sale, and, to. this end, pandering to the worst passions of a morbid nation ality.

Writers of this class run, frantically, full tilt at Britain, her institutions and her colonies, with death's-head and marrow bones for device ; and the bones are broiled, devilled, and seasoned to suit a literary taste prurient and craving as the appetite of the hungry ogre in the nursery tale, who snuffs the wind and mutters — Fe, fi, so, sum, I smell the blood of an Englishman : Be he alive, or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. The present is therefore deemed to be an opportune moment to place the following pages before the Canadian public. A new book on an old subject may offer the attraction of novelty, and, in the present instance, will possess the advantage of an anxious desire for truth. One great object will have been obtained, if it provides an antidote to the American literature of the day ; if it counteracts its influence, while it eschews its example.

Nothing will be extenuated for the solace of British pride or to palliate British shortcomings ; and most assuredly nothing shall be mali ciously charged to their adversaries. It will be the endeavor of this narration to invest the story told, as far as possible, with a Canadian character ; to present the war in Canada in a Canadian point of view ; and, while giving all honor to those to whom honor is justly due, still to impart, as far as can be rightly done, a Cana dian individuality to this Canadian Chronicle of the War. This design has been greatly aided by the kindness of some few of the survivors of the warlike scenes of " fifty years since," who have embellished by the light of their reminiscences a work which has no other claim to originality. In justice to these ven erable contributors, their names will be given in proper time and place, in gentle violation of the reluctant modesty inseparable from CHRONIOLE OF THE WAR. bravery and worth, and which never has shone more brightly and with less of affectation, than in the present instance.

And in the nights of winter, When the cold north winds blow And the long howling of the wolves Is heard among the snow ; When round the lonely cottage Blows loud the tempest's din, And the good logs of Algidus Roar louder yet within ; When the oldest cask is opened, And the largest lamp is lit ; When the chestnuts glow in the embers, And the kid turns on the spit ; When the young and old in circle Around the firebrands close ; When the girls are weaving baskets, And the boys are shaping bows ; When the gudeman mends his armour, And trims his helmet's plume ; When the good wife's shuttle merrily Goes flashing through the loom, — With weeping and with laughter Still is the story told How well Horatius kept the bridge In the brave days of old.

Chapter II

1812— Duration of the War— Feeling in Canada. The War no Canadian quarrel. Value of Canada to England at that crisis. The feeling between the British and American people. British pretensions — Right of Search — Resisted by the Danes — The northern powers — The Americans. British dilemma. Blockade of 1806. Berlin and Milan Decrees. Orders in Council. Constructive Blockade. French and American inconsistency- Troubles of neutrals. Affair of the Leopard and Chesapeake, 1807. American exacerbation. British exclusion from American harbours. American gratitude to France. French sympathy in Canada a mistake. The Eastern States averse to the War. Affair of the President and Little Belt, 1811. Irritation increases. President of United States appeals to Congress. War declared 18th June, 1812. Futile attempt to capture British West India fleet.

British disbelief in a war. The war of 1812 — so called in Canada — extended over three years, — 1812, 1813, 1814. War was declared by Act of Congress ofthe United States on the 18th June, 1812. It was terminated by the provisions of the Treaty of Ghent, 24th December, 1814 ; which, however, was not ratified at Washington before February 7th, nor proclaimed in Canada until the 21st March, 1815. Canada in 1812 cared as little, as at present, for a war with her powerful neighbor, but, as at present, cared not to evade it. The ploughshare and the broad-axe are her indigenous weapons, only to be exchanged at the call of honor, and of the public safety. Defence, not defiance, has been and ever will be her motto. The war of 1812 was no Canadian quarrel. It was forced upon the Canadian people, and fought upon Canadian soil, to gratify the antipathies of two nations, too like to be loving.

True it is, the British Canadians of the West did not belie their descent, CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. and shared, without stint, in the weakness and the strength of the British character ; nor can it be denied, that the French population of the East woke up to the fight with the gay and gallant spirit of their chivalrous forefathers. But the lot of both was to be betwixt the upper and the nether grindstone, and both faced the inevitable ordeal bravely and well. Nor is it right to admit, as some have asserted and many have believed, that the assistance of England was purely gratuitous, — that the defence of Canada brought no compensation, that it was in fact an additional burthen at a burthensome crisis ; for it is beyond dispute, that the North American Provinces, and Canada especially, were indispensable to England at this period of the Great War in Europe.

At the time that she was excluded from the ports of the Baltic, her best supplies of timber came from Canada, and the non-intercourse acts of the United States had thrown her, for this article, almost exclusively on the resources of the North American colonies. One of the strongest arguments for war in the Congress ofthe United States was that employed in 1811 by Mr. Porter, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, in reference to the conquest of Canada. " These Provinces," said the speaker, " are not only immensely valuable, but almost indispensable to the existence of Great Britain, cut off, as she now is in a great measure, from the North of Europe. The exports from Quebec only, amounted during the last year to near six millions of dollars, in ship-timber, and provisions for support of her fleets and armies."

Canada, in fact, made rich return for the expense of defending her, by the supplies afforded to the West India colonies, and to meet the home demand. The war with Napoleon proved the value of these colonies, and a war with Russia might show it again. Little heed, however, did the men of those days give to ques tions of this sort. The only question between England and her CANADIAN SPIRIT BRITISH FEELING. colony then, was one of mutual assistance. The men of the United States were shrewder calculators, but the feeling which ruled in the British heart was one of bitter irritation. The war, indeed, was, at the bottom, no quarrel between governments. The governments of the day were but the instruments of the time. The real cause of strife was to be found in the temper of the people. It was a personal " turn up " between Jonathan and John Bull.

Inter Hectora Priamidem animosum atque inter Achillem Ira suit capitalis. The animosity engendered between the British and American nations by the War of the Revolution had not been allayed by the peace of 1783. It had excoriated both parties. The people on both sides were dissatisfied with the results of the contest. Neither had had enough ; each had still an old grudge to settle ; the British were keen for a fight, the Americans were keener, and grasped at the first inviting opportunity. From the day when Burke exclaimed against " the passion which many men in very humble life have taken in the American war, and in our subjects in America, our colonies, our dependencies," and denounced " the syren song of ambition which has charmed ears one would have thought were never organized to that sort of music," * to the close of that contest, the spirit of the British people was the same ; That spirit survived the contest.

They could forgive the French Fontenoy and Steinkirk, they could exchange stern courtesy with Luxembourg or Marshal Saxe, for they had entertained with still greater courtesy captive French monarchs and marshals ; but they had no offset to the humiliations of the American War, nor to the victories of militia generals. They could not give in : their umpires had done so for them, but they were anxious for another round. • Speech previous to the election, Bristol, 1780. CHRONICLE OF TEE WAR. Since the peace of 1783 the British and the Americans had divided between them the carrying trade of the world. They met in every harbour, and in every harbour came to blows. The words " Yankee " and " Britisher," with a sanguinary expletive, were constant terms of mutual reproach, and the popular voices of New York and Liverpool swelled the chorus with accompaniments not always the most soothing ; — the feeling between the people was very bad. .