transferred, and hastened to close on one side of
the vast chain of waters, that separated the descendants
of France from the descendants of England, the evening
of an existence, whose morning and noon had been passed
on the other. Among the number of these was Major
Grantham, who, at the close of the revolution, had
espoused a daughter, (the only remaining child,) of
Frederick and Madeline De Haldimar, whose many vicissitudes
of suffering, prior to their marriage, have been fully
detailed in Wacousta. When, at that period, the
different garrisons on the frontier were given up
to the American troops, the several British regiments
crossed over into Canada, and, after a short term
of service in that country, were successively relieved
by fresh corps from England. One of the earliest
recalled of these, was the regiment of Colonel Frederick
De Haldimar. Local interests, however, attaching
his son-in-law to Upper Canada, the latter had, on
the reduction of his corps, (a provincial regiment,
well known throughout the war of the revolution, for
its strength, activity, and good service,) finally
fixed himself at Amherstburgh. In the neighbourhood
of this post he had acquired extensive possessions,
and, almost from the first formation of the settlement,
exchanged the duties of a military, for those of a
scarcely less active magisterial, life. Austere
in manner, severe in his administration of justice,
Major Grantham might have been considered a harsh
man, had not these qualities been tempered by his
well known benevolence to the poor, and his staunch,
yet, unostentatious, support of the deserving and
the well intentioned. And, as his life was a continuous
illustration of the principles he inculcated, no one
could be unjust enough to ascribe to intolerance or
oppression, the rigour with which he exacted obedience,
to those laws which he so well obeyed himself.
It was remarked, moreover, that, while his general
bearing to those who sought to place themselves in
the scale of arrogant superiority, was proud and unconciliating,
his demeanour to his inferiors, was ever that of one
sensible that condescension may soothe and gratify
the humble spirit, without its exercise at all detracting
from the independence of him who offers it. But
we cannot better sum up his general excellence, and
the high estimation in which he was held in the town
of his adoption, than by stating that, at the period
of his demise, there was not to be seen one tearless
eye among the congregated poor, who with religious
respect, flocked to tender the last duties of humanity
to the remains of their benefactor and friend.