in Montreal, whose brother was one of the leaders of the NorthWest Fur Company, after whom the first ship to the Columbia River on the Pacific was called. In a letter dated Montreal, 20th of October, 1812, he writes to his correspondent at Liverpool, that, as he knew, his object in coming here was to sell property, "but the unfortunate war makes property of no value here, nor does there appear any business but soldiering." In a previous letter dated the 23rd September, 1812, he says: "There seems a determination and spirit in English and Canadians to defend their Province. The Americans are advancing with ten thousand men (Dearborn's) by report, and are now near the line which separates this Province and the United States, about thirty miles from the opposite side of the river. What may be the event God knows, or what can influence the President to persist in a war when the great part of the pretended cause (the Orders in Council) is done away, and when he must know it is reprobated by almost all the good men in the United States. There is still hope that he will not be re-elected President, or that when Congress meets there will be a majority for peace." Having pointed out that the two countries should, though separated in government and laws and empire, be united "from nature and interest," he goes on to say: Although at my time of life I can do little good as a soldier, yet as this place is threatened with invasion I don't like to leave my friends. I have therefore determined on waiting the event and wintering here."

Smyth had meanwhile issued a proclamation to the men of New York, and addressed his soldiers in a melo-dramatic style; had embarked and re-embarked, irresolute one should say, rather than resolute to conquer; and terrified by a bugle horn, had given up the enterprise. "I must not be defeated," he said, when putting himself at the head of his troops. Nor was he. To fight is as necessary a preliminary to defeat as to victory. The people of the United States nicknamed Smyth, General Van Bladder, and the tavern keepers thinking him unworthy even of a cock-tail, shut their doors in his face. *

In his address to the men of New York, this braggart had said: (the italics are mine) "The valour of the American people has been conspicuous; but the nation has

Acadian" pours forth all the vials of his scorn on the unfor

tunate General :—

The welkin now was still-the air serene,

The General roused once more his sleeping spleen,

His courage rose- -"for Canada push on,

The way is clear-the heavy clouds are gone,"

He spoke, as bray'd along the distant range

The haughty bugle with its warlike change.

Still stood the knight, of all his honours shorn
Forgetful hero-why not have spiked the horn?

"Back! back!" he cried, "Row! row! with speed away,
That Canada, I cannot take to-day.”

When the armies had gone into winter quarters, the Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada was formed to provide for those on whom the brunt of the war had fallen. This fund was warmly supported in Canada, in the West Indies, in the old country, and in Nova Scotia, a statement in which Irishmen may feel a personal pride as well as their brethren of the same blood from England and Scotland. By the Legislatures of both Provinces large votes were passed for equipping and embodying a strong force of militia. Recruiting was responded to so readily that for the campaign of 1813 the offensive force, including regulars and militia, amounted to 8,000, which had, however, to face three times their number-making a combined movement on the three keys of Canada's safety, Amhertsburg, the Niagara frontier, and the St. Lawrence. Early in the year Proctor gave a good account of Harrison in the Far West; the Highland Glengarries,

been unfortunate in the selection of those who have directed it. .. Must I turn from you, and ask the men of the Six Nations to support the Government of the United States. Shall I imitate," he asks with admirable Pistol eloquence, "the officers of the British king, and suffer our ungathered laurels to be tarnished by ruthless deedsshame where's thy blush-no-advance then to our aid-I will wait for you a few days -I cannot give you the day of my departure-but come on-come in companies, half companies, pairs or singly-I will organize you for a short tour; ride to this place if the distance is far-and send back your horses."

In his address to the soldiers, he told them they were about to conquer Canada; that they were superior in number and in personal strength, and activity to the British; that the British soldiers were old and sickly, and quite unfit to endure their charge. He little knew he was speaking of men, who, if Napoleon's picked troops were charging them, would not reel.

In his despatch, he said: "The affair at Queenston is a caution against relying on crowds who go to the banks of Niagara to look at a battle, as on a theatrical exhibition."

while the ice was still on the river, had distinguished themselves on the St. Lawrence, by a brilliant demonstration against Fort La Presentation. When the ice had disappeared from the river it was determined to assault York. On the 27th of April, the fleet stood before the capital of Upper Canada. To the landing of the enemy a most determined resistance was made by a small force. In this force were the Rogers, the Duggans, the Wrights, and the like. Overpowered by numbers, they were obliged to retire. The Americans, commanded by General Pike, having effected a landing, advanced to the fort, situate where the Great Western freight depot stands to-day-a spot which, in 1812, was two miles to the west of the town, in the midst of a country thickly wooded,* unburdened by asylums, and unbeautified by princely mansions. They formed into two lines, and carried the battery by assault. They then advanced towards the citadel in the same order, and in doing so captured a small intervening battery. There they halted to dress their lines for the supreme attack on the mainworks, when a magazine was fired by an Irish Artillery Sergeant, named Marshall. The explosion killed and wounded a good many on both sides, and amongst the killed was General Pike. After a brave struggle, there was nothing for it but that the little band should retreat. This they did in good order towards York. There was one man, however, who would not quit the fort, and, though his conduct may seem Quixotic, it shows him to have possessed the stuff of which heroes are made. Nor did the people of Toronto forget it when, having been meanwhile soiled by gross weaknesses, he was borne, amid vast crowds, to his grave. The humble hero was James O'Hara, whose name speaks for his nationality. He swore he would not leave the fort. When the Americans came in, O'Hara asked them what they wanted, and, lifting the butt-end of his musket, was about to strike, when he was overpowered and disarmed. Here we have the spirit of Tecumseh fighting to the last blow amongst his braves. Why did this hero remain a private? For a cause which has kept more men, Irish and otherwise, back

In the thirteenth of the Dudden Sonnets, Wordsworth sings of

"The gusts that lash

The matted forests of Ontario's shore,

By wasteful steel unsmitten."

VINCENT'S GALLANT DEFENCE.

213

than any other-a cause which Sir Walter Scott, brought up in the midst of a drinking society, characterized as the one vice inconsistent with greatness.

In York General Sheaffe held a Council of War, when it was resolved to abandon the town and retreat toward Kingston. In the capture of York the Canadians lost four hundred, forty of whom were killed or wounded; the Americans from four to five hundred, forty of whom were killed and two hundred and twentytwo wounded by the explosion.

On the 8th of May, the Americans evacuated York, re-embarked, proceeded to Sackett's Harbour where under Dearborn's instructions-the General was sick in bed-great preparations were made for invading the Niagara frontier.*

Again he alludes to this in the canto or letter describing the attack on the Niagara frontier. The student of the war should get before his mind a clear picture of the geographical situation.

General Vincent defended Fort George, at Niagara, with 1,400 men against 6,000 men and 11 vessels with a fighting broadside of 52 guns. A landing severely contested was effected under cover of the guns from the ships. Having landed however, the Americans did not have it all their own way. They were three times driven back at the point of the bayonet, nor was it until the corpse of every mounted officer disfigured that placid shore, and every gunner lay dead or dying near his gun that Vincent abandoned the desperate struggle against ten-fold odds. He spiked his guns, blew up his magazine and retreated in good order on the Beaver Dam, a strong position twelve miles from Niagara on the road to Burlington Heights. Fort George fell into the enemy's

* Acadian refers with a want of taste to Dearborn's infirmity.

Near the Lake's margin little York town stood,
Wrapp'd in a robe of deeply folding wood;
Its youthful beauty no disorder show'd,
But peace and plenty made it their abode;

One fort appear'd, but of the smallest size

With Britain's ensign waving to the skies,

From whose dark battery clouds of smoke were spread,

As the invaders on their numbers led;
The General sick and weary staid behind,
To fight his stomach was not much inclin'd.

hands and 445 brave Canadians, whether Irish, English or Scotch, lay dead around the little town. The Americans made no energetic effort to follow up the advantage, and by the time the 3,000 men and nine field pieces sent in pursuit arrived, Vincent had entrenched himself at Stony Creek. The American pursuing force was under Generals Winder and Chandler, the former being chief in command. The Acadian says-with I fear-as just bitterness as contempt, although some Canadian historians do not mention the circumstance of cottage burning, and Americans deny it:

This sober general moved not on in haste,

Slowly he march'd, and laid each cottage waste;
Arriving safe, the fifth fair cloudless day,
Within ten miles of where the British lay
On a fair plain, that its broad bosom lent
An ample space to halt, he spread his tent.
This was enough, no other thought was near,
No cautious whisper reach'd his warlike ear;
But all supine, he and his army fed

On brave spoils pilfer'd from the peasant's shed.

On the 1st June, 1813, Mr. Isaac Todd speaks of the "critical situation" of the country, particularly Upper Canada. "They have had all this spring," he writes, "a superior force on Lake Ontario, and by great numbers have obtained possession of one of our forts after severe fighting, as you will see by a hand bill. Since the arrival of Sir James Yeo with officers and 500 seamen, we have now a fleet ready and willing to meet them, the event of which [meeting] may partly decide the fate of Upper Canada. Sir George Prevost is in Upper Canada, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of more troops to attack them. Our troops are so superior that on a plain they can beat three times their number, and our Indian allies behave so well, I trust Great Britain will never make peace without attending to their interests and protection. We have yet exclusive of seamen, only about 1,000 troops, and the 19th regiment of Light Dragoons, arrived. The latter will not be mounted these twelve months, and if they were, would be of little use in woods. There are two American gentlemen sent by the American Government to Russia, it is said, to solicit the Emperor's mediation for peace. Before they obtain it, they ought to be humbled."

How Vincent had the enemy's position reconnoitred, and how a night attack of 600 on 3,000 was a complete success, the two