Judge Debonne by vote, led to the dissolution of the Assembly; which, with the suppression of "Le Canadien" newspaper, the seizure of its press, the imprisonment of its printer, and of three members of the Assembly who were never tried, and many other arbitrary measures on the part of the executive, imparted to this period the designation of " the Reign of Terror."

Sir James Craig was no doubt led into those odious measures by his council, who were chiefly men who had acquired undue influence in the province; and who, under pretence of upholding his administration, but in reality with mercenary views, persuaded him to do foolish and unjust things. The judges under him interfered in the elections; and although all men acquainted with the constitution of the province knew well that no judge could represent the inhabitants in the Legislative Assembly, one of the judges of the King's Bench was elected: jealousy on the part of the Council, in respect to the House of Assembly interfering with the distribution of the public money, always led either to the untimely dissolution or prorogation of the latter. The legislature of Canada, therefore, became a nullity in its constitutional capacity of originating or passing money bills. Under Sir James Craig, the legislature was frequently dissolved by the advice of placemen. A proclamation, stating that the country was in a state of revolt (as vile a falsehood as was ever framed), was published, and the curates of all the parishes compelled to read the infamous document to as loyal subjects as any acknowledging allegiance to his Majesty. Letters to answer the objects of those interested were circulated on Sundays at the churches. In short, the governor was completely duped, and he only discovered the delusion on his departure from the province.

It is, indeed, easy for those who have been for a long time acquiring influence, through money or interested coadjutors, in a province like Canada, to deceive a governor on and long after his arrival; and his Majesty's ministers have been equally deceived, and generally accused of unjust measures, in which they have had no concern, but an anxious wish to promote the public good.*

people, with their wives and families, from spoliation and ruin; and, after various delays, vexations, and losses, a final representation was made, during the administration of the Duke of Richmond (in 1819), which ended, not in re-establishing M. Sanguinet, but others as seigneurs of the disputed land, securing, however, the censitaires in their concessions, by paying the usual seignorial dues.

It was also injudicious policy for Sir James Craig to make large grants of lands to others, especially to men who came on speculation from the United States, to the prejudice of the loyal Canadians, who were even then too much crowded on the seigniories. The latter, so wonderfully attached to their natal soil, will ever be its best defenders. Destroy their means of settlement, and, to their exclusion, let in strangers upon large grants, and then a favourite policy of the Americans is attained.

CHAP. VII.

SIR GEORGE PREVOST. - OPERATIONS DURING THE AMERICAN

WAR.

SIR GEORGE PREVOST Succeeded to the administration of Canada, in 1811, as governor-general; and in the following year the United States declared war against Great Britain. The details of this war, even as far as respects Canada, would be too lengthy for this work. It will be sufficient, therefore, to observe briefly, that, notwithstanding the reports, industriously circulated by their adversaries, that if arms were placed in the hands of the Canadians, they would fight, not against the Americans, but the English government; the provincial legislature immediately adopted the most decisive measures for supporting the credit of the government, and for the defence of the Canadas. The regular forces amounted to only 4000 men; but the militia was immediately enrolled, armed, and trained for active service; the garrisons were also strengthened, and in a few weeks Lower Canada was completely prepared for defensive war.

In July, General Hull, commanding the American forces, entered Upper Canada; and on the 16th of August he was opposed by General Brock, the lieutenant-governor, who vanquished his whole force, and sent them as prisoners of war to Montreal.

The Americans, however, collected a strong body of troops on the Niagara frontier; and in the end of November they passed over into Canada, where, on the heights of Queenstone, the battle was fought, in which the enemy were completely defeated, but which was rendered still more memorable by being the field on which the heroic Brock fell.

Soon after, the Americans invaded the Niagara frontier, with little success; and the British naval force, with no better fortune, attacked Sackett's Harbour. In January following (1813), General Procter opposed General Winchester near Detroit, and made him and 500 Americans prisoners; but the British were soon after defeated at Ogdensburg; and in the end of April the Americans burnt York, and in less than a month they held possession of all the Niagara frontier.

General Procter again compelled 500 Americans to surrender near the River Miami; and on the 6th of June, the defeat of the Americans, near Burlington, by Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, restored the Niagara frontier to the British. Two American vessels were also captured at Isle aux Noix, by Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor; and in July the barracks at Plattsburg and Black Rock were completely destroyed by the British. But an attack on Sackett's Harbour, by Sir George Prevost, on which great hopes were formed, completely failed; and on the 10th of September the American Commodore Perry captured all the British vessels on Lake Erie; and General Proctor was defeated near Detroit in October following. The British were consequently obliged to retreat to Burlington; and an American army, in three divi