days at York, now Toronto; going thence to Niagara and then sailing back to Kingston.  At Kingston there are 1,000 militia and Carleton Island, (where Tom’s father had commanded in the War of the American Revolution) has been taken by the British—­an inglorious success for its garrison consisted of but three veterans and some women.  The adjacent Indians, says the young Captain, “are anxious to be at the Yankees with their Toma-hawks.”  Altogether some exciting campaigns were in prospect and Tom was glad that his family was “snug at Murray Bay.”

[Illustration:  SKETCH MAP OF LAKE ONTARIO AND R. ST. LAWRENCE TO ILLUSTRATE WAR OF 1812]

There, remote and isolated, they seemed indeed safe—­so safe that, to share the security, a general descent of their friends seemed imminent.  At Quebec there was, for a time, something like a panic.  “Every one here,” wrote Mrs. Hale to Miss Nairne “is in a complete state of anxiety and suspense, not at all knowing whether we shall be attacked, or what may become of us.  I have just now seen Colonel Fraser, who assures me I shall be welcome at your mother’s house, in case we should be obliged to leave Quebec. [He] advised my writing for fear you should have applications from other quarters....  Many ladies are going to England....  My spirits are so depressed that I cannot pretend to amuse you with any anecdotes.”  Murray Bay offered its hospitality with great heartiness and Mr. Hale wrote, “I believe all Quebec mean to move towards you if necessary, so you must prepare.”

Quebec was in a flutter of successive excitements, now certain that it was invulnerable, now fearing an immediate descent of the enemy, and always longing for peace.  In England the Orders in Council which provoked the war were now revoked, and Malcolm Fraser wrote that this must soon bring peace in America, especially since New England and New York were against the war.  Miss Nairne’s friend in Quebec, Judge Bowen[23], wrote to her in November, 1812, announcing the armistice for six months, arranged some time before, and assuring the ladies at Murray Bay that all cause for anxiety was now past,—­an illusive hope for the armistice was not ratified by President Madison and the war went on.  We get echoes of social jealousies that may now amuse us.  Sir James Craig, the late Governor, had repressed sternly the aspirations of the French element and had been specially friendly with the Nairne circle; he was indeed a cousin of the Nairnes’ relative by marriage, James Ker.  But now with Sir George Prevost as Governor things were changed.  Sir George came from Halifax and Quebec society looked with green-eyed jealousy upon his “Halifax people.”  “They are not the right sort,” Judge Bowen wrote to Christine Nairne: