At this time one of Brock’s most intimate friends—­his chosen adviser—­was Mr. Justice William Dummer Powell, later Chief Justice of Upper Canada, and former Speaker of the House.  At the judge’s house and at Tordarroch, the log mansion of General AEneas Shaw—­another intimate, and Adjutant-General of Militia—­Brock was wont to repair for a few hours’ rest from official cares.  It was at Tordarroch (Oak Hall), on the outskirts of York, that the great Duke of Kent had been a guest.  When at Fort George our hero usually lived with Colonel Murray, of the 100th, and “charming Mrs. Murray,” as he was fond of calling her, in their “pretty cottage,” and if not there he was a constant visitor at the house of Captain John Powell, a son of the judge and son-in-law of General Shaw, between whose daughter, Sophia Shaw, and Isaac Brock there had developed a deep attachment.  Here he whiled away spare moments with whist and cribbage, “diversions,” he said, “that sharpened a man’s wits.”  He would shoot wild pigeons and spruce partridges in the adjacent bush, or take long gallops, frequently alone, over the plains beyond the Heights of Queenston, ever on the lookout for new bridle-paths and point-to-point trails.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECLARES WAR.

It came at last!  On June 18th, 1812, after weeks of preparation, placing an embargo on shipping, putting 100,000 militia on a war footing on the pretence of hostilities among the Indians, calling out the volunteers and raising a special public fund, Congress under President Madison declared war against Great Britain.

This did not end Brock’s suspense.  Not until five weeks later did he receive official notice from Prevost.  Despite opposition from many states, which declared their detestation of an alliance with Bonaparte, after a stormy debate behind closed doors at Washington, Congress voted for war against England, with Canada as the point of attack.  The United States placed itself on record as approving of “forcible invasion of a neighbouring peaceful country and its rights, and of taking property on which it had no shadow of claim.”

The offensive “right of search” of American ships by British warships for deserters was, of course, given as the excuse for war.  The United States Government contended that a nation’s flag protected the cargoes of the vessels of that nation.  To search for contraband or for deserters on such ships, President Madison declared, was a violation of international law.  In direct violation of the United States’ own interpretation of this decree, her war-frigate President blew the British gunboat Little Belt, half her own size, almost out of the water because of the refusal of her commander to allow such search.