Chapter III: Brigadier Brock to his Brothers

MONTREAL, July 20, 1808.

I have written to all of you since the navigation opened, and
the only letters I have received from any of the family for
several months came from Irving, who, to do him justice, is
infinitely the most attentive and regular correspondent among
you.

My appointment to be brigadier I first announced by the March
mail. Those who feel an interest in my prosperity will rejoice
in my good fortune, as this distinguished mark of favor
affords undeniable proof that my conduct, during the period of
my command, was approved;--a great gratification, considering
the many difficulties I had to encounter. I once thought I
should be ordered to the upper province, but General Ferguson
being among the newly appointed major-generals, will not now
probably visit this country. In that case, I stand a very good
chance of succeeding him, both in rank and in the command of
Quebec, where it was intended he should be stationed.

What will be the result of our present unsettled relations
with the neighbouring republic, it is very difficult to say.
The government is composed of such unprincipled men, that to
calculate on it by the ordinary rules of action would be
perfectly absurd. We have completely outwitted Jefferson in
all his schemes to provoke us to war. He had no other view in
issuing his restrictive proclamation; but, failing in that, he
tried what the embargo would produce, and there he has been
foiled again. Certainly, our administration is deserving of
every praise for their policy on these occasions. Jefferson
and his party, however strong the inclination, dare not
declare war, and therefore they endeavour to attain their
object by every provocation. A few weeks since, the garrison
of Niagara fired upon seven merchant boats passing the fort,
and actually captured them. Considering the circumstances
attending this hostile act, it is but too evident it was
intended to provoke retaliation: these boats fired upon and
taken within musket shot of our own fort; their balls falling
on our shore, was expected to have raised the indignation of
the most phlegmatic; fortunately, the commandant was not in
the way, as otherwise it is difficult to say what would have
happened. A representation of this affair has been made at
Washington, and, for an act certainly opposed to existing
treaties, we have been referred for justice to the ordinary
course of the law! If our subjects cannot command impunity
from capture under the guns of our own forts, it were better
to demolish them at once rather than witness and suffer such
indignity. By the treaties which have expired, the navigation
of the waters that divide the two countries is regulated and
stipulated to be still in force, although every other part
should cease to be obligatory.

I get on here pretty well, but this place loses at this season
the undoubted advantage it possesses over Quebec in winter.
Great additions are making to the fortifications at Quebec,
and, when completed, the Americans will, if I mistake not,
think it prudent not to trouble the place, for they can have
no chance of making any impression upon it during the short
period which the severity of the climate only permits an enemy
to lay before it. I erected, as I believe I told you before, a
famous battery, which the public voice named after me; but Sir
James, thinking very properly that any thing so very
pre-eminent should be distinguished by the most exalted
appellation, has called it the King's Battery, the greatest
compliment, I conceive, that he could pay to my judgment.[22]
Not a desertion has been attempted by any of the 49th for the
last ten months, with the exception indeed of Hogan, Savery's
former servant. He served Glegg in the same capacity, who took
him with him to the Falls of Niagara, where a fair damsel
persuaded him to this act of madness, for the fellow cannot
possibly gain his bread by labour, as he has half killed
himself with excessive drinking; and we know he cannot live
upon love alone. The weather has been exceedingly hot the last
week, the thermometer fluctuating from 94 degrees to 100
degrees in the shade. The embargo has proved a famous harvest
to some merchants here. It is certainly the most ridiculous
measure imaginable, and was evidently adopted with the view of
pleasing France; but no half measure can satisfy Napoleon, and
this colony has been raised by it to a degree of importance
that ensures its future prosperity.

_Brigadier Brock to his Brothers_.

QUEBEC, September 5, 1808.

I have been here but a few days, having been superseded at
Montreal by Major-General Drummond. I do not approve much of
the change, as being separated from the 49th is a great
annoyance to me. But soldiers must accustom themselves to
frequent movements; and as they have no choice, it often
happens that they are placed in situations little agreeing
with their inclinations. My nominal appointment has been
confirmed at home, so that I am really a brigadier. Were the
49th ordered hence, the rank would not be a sufficient
inducement to keep me in this country. In such a case, I would
throw it up willingly.

Curious scenes appear to have occurred in the Baltic. I fear
very much that Sir James (Saumarez) may be induced to return
to his retirement in Guernsey. Indeed, the navy has little
left to do, while the army has now a glorious opportunity of
distinguishing itself as much as the sister service. Valour
the British troops always possessed, but unless they evince
discipline, their fame will be blasted for a century to come.

_Brigadier Brock to his Brothers_.

QUEBEC, November 19, 1808.

Yesterday Irving's letter of the 19th September reached me.
How very thankful I feel for his attention. But I have not
received that which he mentions Savery had written on the same
day, giving an account of his proceedings in Spain and
Portugal. This is a truly mortifying disappointment, as it is
impossible to discover by the public prints the mystery by
which the conduct of our officers has been influenced. The
precaution which Irving took to transcribe a part of the
letter, has proved very lucky. Notwithstanding, I look for the
original with unusual impatience, as Savery's opinion must be
formed upon what he saw in full practice in the best
disciplined army that ever, I imagine, left England. His
observations are never thrown away.

I am still confined to my room, more indeed on account of the
badness of the weather than any want of progress in my
recovery. We have had very hard gales from the East. The
Iphigenia frigate, with her convoy, could not have cleared the
land, and the greatest apprehension is entertained for her
safety. Her commander, Captain Lambert, is a friend of George
Brock. I find him an exceedingly good fellow; and I have
reason to think that he left us well satisfied with the
attention he received from me.[23]

Sir James Craig has certain intimation of the appointment of
Colonel Baron de Rottenburg, of the 60th, to be a brigadier in
this country, and he is daily looked for. This most probably
will make a change in my situation, as one must go to the
upper province, and, as he is senior, he will doubtless have
the choice. My object is to get home as soon as I can obtain
permission; but unless our affairs with America be amicably
adjusted, of which I see no probability, I scarcely can expect
to be permitted to move. I rejoice Savery has begun to exert
himself to get me appointed to a more active situation. I must
see service, or I may as well, and indeed much better, quit
the army at once, for no one advantage can I reasonably look
to hereafter if I remain buried in this inactive, remote
corner, without the least mention being made of me. Should Sir
James Saumarez return from the Baltic crowned with success, he
could, I should think, say a good word for me to some purpose.

Vincent[24] is doing extremely well. I however dread the
severity of a winter upon his shattered frame. I must
contrive to meet and dissipate the dull hours with my good
friends of the 49th. I have prevailed upon Sir James to
appoint Sergeant Robinson, master of the band, to a situation
in the commissariat at Sorel, worth 3s. 6d. a day, with
subaltern's lodging money and other allowances. He married a
Jersey lass, whose relatives may inquire for him.

* * * * *

It will be seen by the next letter and a few others which follow, that Sir Isaac Brock was well aware of the existence among the French Canadians of a spirit of disaffection, which, in 1837, broke out into open rebellion, the suppression of which earned Sir John Colborne (the present Lord Seaton) his peerage. The outbreak caused great loss of life, and considerable expense arising not only from the hurried dispatch to Quebec of a large body of troops from Nova Scotia and England, but from the retention in the Canadas of about 10,000 men for a few years, to overawe the disaffected, and to repress the piratical incursions of the citizens of the United States in their favor.

_Brigadier Brock to his brother William_.

QUEBEC, December 31, 1809.

You will long since have been convinced that the American
government is determined to involve the two countries in a
war; they have already given us legitimate cause, but, if
wise, we will studiously avoid doing that for which they shew
so great an anxiety. Their finances, you will perceive, are
very low, and they dare not propose direct taxes. They must
have recourse to loans at a time when they have only six
frigates in commission, and about five thousand men embodied.
To what a state of poverty and wretchedness would the
accumulated expenses of war reduce them! But they look to the
success of their privateers for a supply, and contemplate the
sweeping away of all foreign debts as the means of reducing
the calls upon their treasury. Whatever steps England may
adopt, I think she cannot, in prudence, avoid sending a strong
military force to these provinces, as they are now become of
infinite importance to her. You can scarcely conceive the
quantity of timber and spars of all kinds which are lying on
the beach, ready for shipment to England in the spring: four
hundred vessels would not be sufficient to take all away.
Whence can England be supplied with these essential articles
but from the Canadas? Bonaparte, it is known, has expressed a
strong desire to be in possession of the colonies formerly
belonging to France, and now that they are become so valuable
to England, his anxiety to wrest them from us will naturally
increase. A small French force, 4 or 5,000 men, with plenty of
muskets, would most assuredly conquer this province. The
Canadians would join them almost to a man--at least, the
exceptions would be so few as to be of little avail. It may
appear surprising that men, petted as they have been and
indulged in every thing they could desire, should wish for a
change. But so it is--and I am apt to think that were
Englishmen placed in the same situation, they would shew even
more impatience to escape from French rule. How essentially
different are the feelings of the people from when I first
knew them. The idea prevails generally among them, that
Napoleon must succeed, and ultimately get possession of these
provinces. The bold and violent are becoming every day more
audacious; and the timid, with that impression, think it
better and more prudent to withdraw altogether from the
society of the English, rather than run the chance of being
accused hereafter of partiality to them. The consequence is,
that little or no intercourse exists between the two races.
More troops will be required in this country, were it only to
keep down this growing turbulent spirit. The governor will, it
is foreseen, have a difficult card to play next month with the
assembly, which is really getting too daring and arrogant.
Every victory which Napoleon has gained for the last nine
years, has made the disposition here to resist more manifest.

_Brigadier Brock to his sister-in-law, Mrs. W. Brock_.

QUEBEC, June 8, 1810.

It was my decided intention to ask for leave to go to England
this fall, but I have now relinquished the thought. Several
untoward circumstances combine to oppose my wishes. The spirit
of insubordination lately manifested by the French Canadian
population of this colony, naturally called for precautionary
measures, and our worthy chief is induced, in consequence, to
retain in this country those on whom he can best confide. I am
highly flattered in being reckoned among the number, whatever
inward disappointment I may feel. Some unpleasant events have
likewise happened in the upper country, which have occasioned
my receiving intimation to proceed thither, whether as a
permanent station, or merely as a temporary visit, Sir James
Craig has not determined. Should, however, a senior brigadier
to myself come out in the course of the summer, I shall
certainly be fixed in the upper province, and there is every
probability of such an addition very soon. Since all my
efforts to get more actively employed have failed; since fate
decrees that the best portion of my life is to be wasted in
inaction in the Canadas, I am rather pleased with the prospect
of removing upwards.

There is a lady living at Barnet for whom I feel much
interested. If you should by chance drive that way, and do not
object to form a new acquaintance, I wish you to call upon
her. She is the wife of Captain Manners, of the 49th, and the
daughter of the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia. She has
a most amiable disposition and genteel manners. Her sister,
Mrs. Ross Cuthbert, a charming little creature, makes her
husband--my most intimate friend, and with whom I pass a
great part of my leisure hours--a most happy man.

I received the other day a long and exceedingly well written
letter from Henrietta Tupper--she is really a charming
girl. What Maria[25] (Potenger) do you begin to slacken in
your attention to your poor devoted uncle?

_Brigadier Brock to his brother Irving_.

QUEBEC, July 9, 1810.

I have a thousand thanks to offer you for the very great
attention you have shewn in executing my commissions: the
different articles arrived in the very best order, with the
exception of the cocked hat, which has not been received--a
most distressing circumstance, as, from the enormity of my
head[26], I find the utmost difficulty in getting a substitute
in this country.

I proposed writing to you early to-morrow, but Sir James
having this instant intimated his intention of sending me
upwards immediately, I avail myself of an hour's leisure to do
that hastily which I would gladly have done quietly, and,
consequently, more fully. If I am to remain in this country, I
care little where I am placed; but going up, as I do now,
without knowing whether I am to stay or return, is
particularly awkward, and interferes materially in all my
future arrangements: perhaps I shall be able to get the point
settled before I commence my journey.

Every thing here remains in a state of perfect quietness. It
is but too evident that the Canadians generally are becoming
daily more anxious to get rid of the English. This they cannot
effect unless a French force come to their aid, and I do not
think that Bonaparte would risk the loss of a fleet and army
for the chance of getting possession of the country. What
infatuation! No people had ever more cause to rejoice at their
fate; but they are not singular, as all mankind seems prone to
change, however disadvantageous or productive of confusion.

Savery forwarded your pamphlet to me. You have taken a very
proper view of the political dissensions which at this moment
disgrace England. Those to whom I have allowed a perusal, and
who are infinitely better judges than I can pretend to be,
speak of the purity of the language in terms of high
approbation. You have happily suited the style to the matter.
Several copies have, within a few days, been in circulation
here. Savery speaks of a letter you received, in consequence,
from Lord Melville. I hope you will not fail in sending me a
copy, as I am all anxiety for your literary fame. As you
differ in sentiment from the Edinburgh Review, I hope that you
have made up your mind to an unmerciful lashing.

I do not see the smallest prospect of my getting away from
here, as the disposition manifested by the Canadians will
occasion a large military force to be kept in the country, and
it will serve as a plea to retain all at their posts. I wish
that I could boast of a little more patience than I feel I now
possess.

The fortifications of Quebec are improving pretty rapidly, but
workmen cannot be procured in sufficient number to proceed as
fast as government would wish. Labourers now get 7s. 6d. a
day, and artificers from 12s. to 15s. Upwards of three hundred
vessels have already arrived--a prodigious number.

_Brigadier Brock to his sister-in-law, Mrs. William Brock._

QUEBEC, July 10, 1810.

I cannot allow the frigate to depart without sending my
affectionate love to you. A Guernsey vessel arrived a few days
ago, which brought me a letter from Savery of 10th May, and
nothing could be more gratifying than the contents. The May
fleet, which sailed from Portsmouth the 24th, reached this in
thirty days, but as it had not a scrape of a pen for me, its
arrival did not interest me. We have been uncommonly gay the
last fortnight: two frigates at anchor, and the arrival of
Governor Gore from the upper province, have given a zest to
society. Races, country and water parties, have occupied our
time in a continued round of festivity. Such stimulus is
highly necessary to keep our spirits afloat. I contributed my
share to the general mirth in a grand dinner given to Mrs.
Gore, at which Sir J. Craig was present, and a ball to a vast
assemblage of all descriptions.

I mentioned in a former letter my apprehensions of being
ordered to the upper province. I return this moment from
waiting upon Sir James, who sent for me, to say he regretted
he must part with me, as he found it absolutely necessary that
I should proceed upwards without delay. I am placed in a very
awkward predicament, as my stay in that country depends wholly
upon contingencies. Should a brigadier arrive I am to be
stationary, but otherwise return to Quebec. Nothing could be
more provoking and inconvenient than this arrangement. Unless
I take up every thing with me, I shall be miserably off, for
nothing beyond eatables is to be had there; and in case I
provide the requisites to make my abode in the winter in any
way comfortable, and then be ordered back, the expense will be
ruinous. But I must submit to all this without repining, and
since I cannot get to Europe, I care little where I am placed.
I have the most delightful garden imaginable, with abundance
of melons and other good things, all which I must now desert.

What am I to tell you from this out-of-the-way place. Your old
friends of the 49th are well, but scattered in small
detachments all over the country. They are justly great
favorites at head quarters. I mentioned in a former letter my
wish that, provided you could make it perfectly convenient,
you would call upon Mrs. Manners, the wife of a captain of
the 49th. I am satisfied that you would, after a short
acquaintance, approve of her much--she is all goodness. By the
last accounts they resided at Barnet.

I have no doubt that Maria and Zelia (Potenger, his nieces)
continue to conduct themselves in such a manner as to reward
you amply for the unbounded kindness you have all along shewn
them. If I am able in the fall to procure handsome skins for
muffs worth their acceptance, I shall send some to the dear
little girls: they ought, however, to write to me. There are
few here brought up with the advantages they have received;
indeed, the means for education are very limited for both
sexes in this colony. Heaven preserve you. I shall probably
begin my journey upwards in the course of a few days.

* * * * *

Brigadier Brock accordingly proceeded to the Upper Province, Baron de Rottenburg having replaced him at Quebec, and, with the exception of a few months in 1811, during which he visited Lower Canada, he continued in command of the troops there till his death, Lieut.-Governor Gore at first administering the civil government.

_Colonel Baynes, the Adjutant-General, to Brigadier Brock, at Fort George._

QUEBEC, September 6, 1810.

The Brigadier-General (Baron de Rottenburg) is Sir James'
(Craig) senior in age by a year, but is still strong and
active, and looks much younger. I am well pleased with the
little I have seen of him, which by the bye is very little,
for I only returned yesterday from Sorel. Mrs. de
Rottenburg[27] has made a complete conquest of all hearts. She
is in reality remarkably handsome, both in face and figure,
and her manners uncommonly pleasing, graceful, and affable.
There is, I fancy, a very great disparity of years. They both
speak English very fluently, and with very little foreign
accent. Sir James (Craig) is remarkably well: we celebrated
the anniversary of his sixtieth year yesterday at a very
pleasant party at Powell Place. Our general court martial is
over, and will be published in orders to-morrow. A soldier,
who was under sentence of death for desertion from the 101st
regiment, and transferred to the 8th, and a Jonathan of the
Canadians, who is considered a ringleader, are sentenced to be
shot; the others, a dozen in number, are to be transported to
serve for life in the African corps.

_Brigadier Brock to his Brothers._

FORT GEORGE, Sept. 13, 1810.

My good and dear friends,--I have been of late so much upon
the move, that I had no thought of writing to you, and no
letters of yours put me in mind that I should do so. Here I am
stationed for some time, unless I succeed in the application I
mean to make shortly for permission to visit England. At
present Vincent, Glegg, and Williams, 49th, enliven this
lonesome place. They are here as members of a general court
martial, and are soon to depart, when I shall be left to my
own reflections. Should I be so lucky as to obtain leave, I
shall not commence my journey to New York until after
Christmas. Baron de Rottenburg, a senior brigadier, has
arrived at Quebec, where he remains. His presence
unquestionably diminishes my prospects in this country, and I
should stand evidently in my own light if I did not court
fortune elsewhere.

I have been as far as Detroit, a delightful country, far
exceeding any thing I had seen on this continent.

I have not had a letter from Europe since May, and wish you to
write to me by way of New York. I avail myself of an
unexpected passenger to scribble this in the presence of many
of the court, who tell me it is time to resume our labours;
therefore, my beloved brothers, adieu. I shall write again in
a few days, viâ New York.

_Colonel Baynes to Brigadier Brock, at Fort George._

QUEBEC, October 4, 1810.

By yesterday's post, I was favored with your letter of the 23d
ultimo. I regret that so much trouble should have been
occasioned to so little purpose, the more so as I apprehend an
example to be much called for in the 100th regiment. Murray
seems sanguine that the regiment will go on better under his
rule, and that he knows the men better. I hope his conjecture
may prove well founded, but I fear they are too wild a set to
thrive in Upper Canada.

As I felt at a loss how to introduce the subject of your
personal views and wishes, I gave Sir James your letter to
read; it did not, however, draw from him any remark on those
topics. I know that he is very strongly impressed with the
necessity of having a person like yourself for some time in
the Upper Province, that a scrutinizing eye may correct the
errors and neglect that have crept in, and put all in order
again; and, _in confidence between ourselves_, I do not think
he would be more ready to part with you from that station, in
consequence of the arrival of Colonel Murray, who is not at
all to his taste, and has managed, by a most indiscreet and
indecent conversation at his table, to blot himself out of his
good opinion. The conversation was on the subject of Cobbett,
and the colonel's the only dissenting voice, which he exerted
with the more energy in proportion to the badness of his
cause, and after defending him in a style and language highly
indecorous, and reprehensible to be held at the table of the
governor, he so completely forgot himself as to repeat and
justify the very offensive and illiberal publications of
Cobbett respecting the German troops and foreign officers,
although sitting directly opposite to General de Rottenburg.
Sir James, who was suffering extremely from the commencement
of a very severe attack of illness, could contain himself no
longer, and silenced Murray by a very severe but highly just
rebuke. Rottenburg appeared much hurt, and said to me that he
was very sorry to find that any officer, entrusted with the
honor of commanding a corps, could take a pleasure in exposing
such sentiments as he had heard from Colonel M. Colonel Kempt,
who naturally feels much interested for his young cousin,
(Mrs. Murray,) and who really deserves and merits it for her
own sake, was much mortified and vexed at Murray's
impropriety.[28]

The charms of Mrs. de Rottenburg have not effaced you from the
recollection of your friends, who very sincerely regret your
absence.

_Lieut.-Colonel Thornton[29] (Military Secretary and first Aide-de-Camp) to Brigadier Brock_.

QUEBEC, October 4, 1810.

I was yesterday favored with your letter of the 23d ultimo,
and have not failed to communicate to Sir James your account
and your charity towards the poor old fellow, formerly of the
king's.[30] He has in consequence directed the allowance of
the ration to be authorized and continued to him, for which
purpose I must request his Christian name and the date of the
first issue, but I am to remind you of the danger of
establishing a precedent of this nature, and to request in the
general's name that you will refrain as much as possible from
indulging the natural benevolence of your disposition in this
way, as he has hitherto resisted all applications of this
sort.

Your successor, as commandant of Quebec, is certainly much to
be esteemed--a good kind of man, and devoted to his
profession--but it is vanity in the extreme to attempt to
describe the general admiration and estimation of his _cara et
dolce sposa_: she is young, (twenty-three,) fair,
beautiful,--lively, discreet, witty, affable,--in short, so
engaging, or rather so fascinating, that neither the courier
nor my paper will admit of my doing her justice; however, from
what I have said it is necessary further to add and explain,
that this is not my opinion alone but that of the public.

Two hundred volunteers for Colonel Zouch, from other veteran
battalions, have just arrived and landed: the regiment is to
be completed in this manner to one thousand.

_Colonel Baynes to Brigadier Brock._

QUEBEC, October 11, 1810.

Sir James has conversed with me fully on the subject of your
wish for leave, and prefaced it by declaring himself very
desirous on his part to forward your views as far as he could
do so with propriety, but that he had written in such strong
terms, urging the necessity of a third general officer being
kept constantly on the staff of the Canadas, and assigned as a
principal reason the advantage of an officer of that rank
being stationed in the Upper Province, that he does not
conceive himself at liberty to overset an arrangement which he
has been two years soliciting the means to carry into effect,
and the absolute necessity of which he is highly impressed
with. In reply to an observation of mine, that you regretted
the inactive prospect before you, and looked with envy on
those employed in Spain and Portugal, he said: "I make no
doubt of it, but I can in no shape aid his plans in that
respect; I would not, however, be the means of preventing
them, and although from his local knowledge I should regret
losing him in this country, yet I would not oppose it if he
could obtain an appointment to the staff on service; but in
that case I would ask for another general officer being seat
in his place immediately to Upper Canada." I tell you this, my
dear general, without reserve, and give you, as far as I can
recollect, Sir James' words. If he liked you less, he might
perhaps be more readily induced to let you go; as matters
stand, I do not think he will, although I am convinced that he
will feel very sincere regret in refusing you on a subject
upon which you appear to be so anxious.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 22: In some book of Travels in Canada, Duncan's we think, it is stated that the highest battery in Quebec is called Brock's Battery: we know not whether it is that erected by Sir Isaac Brock.]

[Footnote 23: "The young and gallant" Captain Henry Lambert, mentioned above, was mortally wounded in December, 1812, in command of H.M.S. Java, when she was captured by the American frigate Constitution, of greatly superior force.]

[Footnote 24: The present General Vincent, colonel of the 69th foot. He was then major of the 49th.]

[Footnote 25: His niece.]

[Footnote 26: It has been remarked, that men with very small heads are seldom clever, and certainly the Brocks of this family had large but well shaped heads, with full foreheads.]

[Footnote 27: The mother of Lady William Paget.]

[Footnote 28: Whatever may have been Colonel Murray's indiscretion on this occasion, he proved himself one of the most gallant and enterprising officers in Canada during the war, and particularly distinguished himself in the assault and capture of Fort Niagara, in December, 1813, where he was severely wounded. If Colonel Murray admired Cobbett's writings he was not singular, as he was perhaps the most forcible political writer in the English language.]

[Footnote 29: Afterwards Lieut.-General Sir William Thornton, K.C.B., &c.]

[Footnote 30: Sir Isaac Brock was several years in the 8th regiment, but this old man had probably served with his brother, Lieut.-Colonel John Brock, who was many years in the 8th, in Upper Canada.]