[Footnote 18:  Owing to the difficulty, after the lapse of above forty years, of obtaining the particulars of this event from any officer present, the preceding account may be slightly inaccurate notwithstanding our diligent inquiries, but we doubt not that it is substantially correct.]

[Footnote 19:  The 10th Royal Veteran Battalion arrived in Canada the year following.]

[Footnote 20:  Afterwards Major-General Barnard Foord Bowes, slain on the 27th June, 1812, while leading the troops to the assault of the forts of Salamanca.  Monuments in St. Paul’s, to the memory of Major-General Bowes and of Sir Isaac Brock, were voted in the House of Commons on the same day, 20th July, 1813.]

[Footnote 21:  On the passage of the 100th to Quebec, in 1805, one of the transports was wrecked on the 21st October, on the coast of Newfoundland; and Major Bertram, three captains, six lieutenants, the assistant-surgeon, and about 260 men of the regiment, miserably perished.]

CHAPTER III.

Brigadier Brock to his Brothers.

    MONTREAL, July 20, 1808.

I have written to all of you since the navigation opened, and the only letters I have received from any of the family for several months came from Irving, who, to do him justice, is infinitely the most attentive and regular correspondent among you.

My appointment to be brigadier I first announced by the March mail.  Those who feel an interest in my prosperity will rejoice in my good fortune, as this distinguished mark of favor affords undeniable proof that my conduct, during the period of my command, was approved;—­a great gratification, considering the many difficulties I had to encounter.  I once thought I should be ordered to the upper province, but General Ferguson being among the newly appointed major-generals, will not now probably visit this country.  In that case, I stand a very good chance of succeeding him, both in rank and in the command of Quebec, where it was intended he should be stationed.

What will be the result of our present unsettled relations with the neighbouring republic, it is very difficult to say.  The government is composed of such unprincipled men, that to calculate on it by the ordinary rules of action would be perfectly absurd.  We have completely outwitted Jefferson in all his schemes to provoke us to war.  He had no other view in issuing his restrictive proclamation; but, failing in that, he tried what the embargo would produce, and there he has been foiled again.  Certainly, our administration is deserving of every praise for their policy on these occasions.  Jefferson and his party, however strong the inclination, dare not declare war, and therefore they endeavour to attain their object by every provocation.  A few weeks since, the garrison of Niagara fired upon seven merchant boats passing the fort, and