The boast of England is her colonies, yet the statesmen of Britain at that time knew little, and, in all probability, cared less, about the hardships, dangers and perils which their countrymen were enduring while laying the foundations of a Greater Britain.

The great bulk of the early colonists were thoroughly British, and Captain Godfrey was no exception.  They suffered what most early colonists suffer, but they suffered without murmuring, because they were Englishmen in an English colony.  They possessed a sort of blind loyalty and a sincere patriotism toward their King and old England.  Their spirit is ours, and a century or more has been forming and moulding it into a purely Canadian patriotism, while the wisdom displayed for fifty years by the best ruler that ever sat upon the British throne, has strengthened the attachment British North Americans have had for English institutions and induced them to cling strongly to them, though the circumstances of a new country have required a modification in the forms of those institutions.

Queen Victoria’s good sense, excellent judgment, and consequently wise rule, have made the people of every portion of the Colonial Empire feel that they have an interest in the Mother land.

Long may she reign; and God grant that the American Republic may never be allowed to extend its institutions to our Dominion, and overthrow the foundations laid by our ancestry and on which we are building.

CHAPTER VII.

ARRIVAL AND RETREAT.

In the month of September, 1774, Captain Godfrey, after an absence of three years, arrived and settled for the second time on the estate at Grimross Neck.  He lost no time in preparing to once again try his luck in trading with the Indians and settlers.  He erected and finished a house and store, and before winter set in everything was made ready to receive his wife and family, who arrived in the latter part of November.

He commenced trading again buoyant with the hope of retrieving his losses, and for a short time he carried on a profitable business.  The Indians were comparatively quiet, and he and his family enjoyed a season of peace.  Uprightness stamped all the Captain’s dealings.  He remarked to a friend, that he had again attempted to do business in the colony, and said he:  “with the spirit of a true British soldier, I mean to do or die in the attempt, and my dealings with both the white and red man shall be guided by the dictates of an honest conscience.  I hope I shall succeed.”  He felt almost certain that the dark plots and devilish crimes of the Indians would never have occurred had Paul Guidon been near him.  He would often say to his wife:  “I wonder where Paul has gone?” Since his arrival at Grimross he often made enquiries as to Paul’s whereabouts, but none of the tribe on the St. John appeared to know where he was.  Six months had elapsed since his arrival and yet he had received no tidings of the brave Iroquois.