part of the province, the poor hunted fugitives from American slavery, who had at length found liberty and security under the British flag.* Their ill success hitherto had not taught the Patriots wisdom, and although the jails of both provinces were crowded with prisoners, waiting their doom, others were not warned by their unhappy condition. Secret societies, termed Hunters' Lodges, were formed along the American border in order to revolutionise Canada, and maintained an active correspondence with the republicans at this side of the line. Mackenzie, who had moved eastward to Watertown, and who did not yet consider he had done sufficient mischief, and the other principal refugees, were active in organising another combined invasion of their country—a fresh drama of blood and misery; and so certain were some of their deluded followers of success, that farms in Canada were played for as stakes, and outline maps prepared of the townships they imagined they were about to receive.† Early in the month of February, the Patriots determined to make four simultaneous movements against Canada from Detroit, Sandusky, Watertown, and Vermont. The last of these has already been described in the narrative of the rebellion in Lower Canada. The expedition from Watertown rendezvoused at French Creek on the St Lawrence River, to the number of some two thousand men, under the command of the same Van Rensselaer who had figured at Navy Island, and of "Bill" Johnson, a most notorious border vagabond. Finding, however, that the militia garrison of Kingston was fully prepared for their reception, the courage of these brigands failed them completely, and they speedily dispersed. The movement from Detroit, led by a Canadian refugee of the name of M'Leod, was also unsuccessful. He took possession of a small island in the Detroit River, from whence, on the 24th of February, he was dislodged by the fire of artillery, and returned to the United States, where his force was dispersed and disarmed by the authorities, now beginning to exert themselves effectually. The Patriot force from Sandusky, under the direction of Sutherland and others, established itself on Point Pele, a Canadian island, eight miles long and four wide, situated some forty miles from Amherstburg and twenty from the mainland. Troops had meanwhile reached the Detroit frontier, and measures were promptly taken by Colonel Maitland, of the 32d regiment, to dislodge the enemy. Finding that * Radclift's Despatch, 10th January 1838. the ice was sufficiently strong, he crossed from the mainland to Point Pele, with a force of regulars and militia, and placed detachments at different points to cut off the Patriots' retreat. Their main body, however, after being chased through the woods, succeeded in fighting their way to the American mainland; but with severe loss to themselves, thirteen being killed and forty wounded. Several of them also were taken prisoners. On the side of the Canadians, two soldiers of the 32d were killed and twenty-eight wounded. The Patriots, numbering some five hundred men, were well armed, and fought desperately for their lives, when they found their retreat cut off by a detachment of the 32d and some militia under Captain Brown. A day or two after this affair Sutherland was accidentally met on the ice by Colonel John Prince, and brought a prisoner to the shore.* Meanwhile, the Home Ministry had recalled Sir Francis B. Head, and appointed Sir George Arthur as his successor. The former prorogued the Legislature on the 6th of March, in a long and inflated speech, in which he reviewed the recent occurrences, justified his course, and so dropped the curtain on his exceedingly unfortunate administration. On the 23d the new Lieutenant-Governor, who had arrived out from England by way of New York, was sworn in at Toronto, and Sir Francis B. Head was relieved of his administrative cares for ever. He immediately prepared for his departure to England, and being informed that parties had determined to assassinate him, should he travel overland to Halifax, he resolved to proceed to New York, via Kingston and Watertown, and embark at that city. He succeeded in safely accomplishing his journey, though not without considerable personal risk, having been recognised at Watertown, and pursued from thence towards Utica. Being a good horseman, however, he soon distanced his pursuers. York he was perfectly safe, although an object of considerable public curiosity, a very large body of its citizens assembling to see him embark, Once at New THE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR GEORGE ARTHUR. The jails of Hamilton and Toronto were now crowded with prisoners. In the former town a Special Commission was sitting for the trial of political offenders; in the latter a court-martial had assembled for the same purpose. The "Constitutional Reformers" Maitland's Despatches, 4th and 5th March 1838. Kingston Chronicle, March 1838. of Toronto presented a numerously signed address to Sir George Arthur, congratulating him on his accession to the government, and asking mercy for the five hundred political prisoners held in durance. His answer embodied a sharp rebuke. He stated reform had been made the cloak of the crimes committed by these prisoners; and that, at the present crisis, it was imprudent to adopt such an appellation. At the same time, he avowed his determination to let impartial justice take its course. Having been completely foiled in their combined movement to revolutionise the Canadas, the Patriots adopted no further offensive measures during the months of March and April. Secret associations, however, continued in full operation along the American frontier. Hunters' Lodges were organised in every direction, by which covert steps were taken for another attempt against this country. Meanwhile, Sir John Colborne made prompt preparations to meet every emergency - even a war with the United States, now a possible contingency, owing to the ill feeling excited by the destruction of the Caroline and the Maine boundary disputes, on the one hand, and the numerous acts of aggression against Canada committed by American citizens, on the other. Engineer officers were sent to every point where troops or fortifications were required. At Amherstburg, in the course of the ensuing summer, Fort Malden was repaired and strengthened; extensive barracks were commenced at London; Fort Mississaga, at Niagara, was put into a good position for defence; the works at Kingston were strengthened; additional barracks begun at Toronto; and Fort Wellington, at Prescott, rendered impregnable to sudden attack. No sooner had navigation opened than a large fleet of men-ofwar and transports, which had brought troops up the St Lawrence, crowded the spacious harbour of Quebec. These troops were soon distributed along the frontier, and being supported by forty thousand of the most efficient militia probably in the world, Canada was in a better position to repel hostile invasion than at any former period. Up to the month of May, Lount and Matthews, two leaders of Mackenzie's attack upon Toronto, had alone been executed for treason. Several others had been sentenced to death at Hamilton and Toronto; but Sir George Arthur, blending mercy with justice, transferred the greater part of them to the penitentiary at Kingston. Several political prisoners were acquitted as being innocent, or for want of proof; and many of the lesser actors in the drama of rebellion were released on giving security for their future good conduct. In Lower Canada, martial law had been abolished; and matters generally, in both provinces, bore every appearance of returning tranquillity. But, as the month of May progressed, rumours prevailed that the Patriots were about to undertake another attempt against the province, for which Mackenzie, Duncombe, and M'Leod were actively engaged in making preparations. The more secure condition of the frontier, however, left them not the slightest chance of success, and very little apprehension of the result was entertained. While matters were in this state, a most atrocious act was committed, in the burning of the Sir Robert Peel, one of the finest steamboats plying on the St Lawrence, by the notorious Bill Johnson, at the head of a gang of some fifty men, who boarded her before day on the 29th, while taking in wood at Wells Island at the American side of the river, and seven miles from French Creek. The passengers were compelled to rise from their beds; and after dressing hastily, several females among them were put on shore and left to shift for themselves on a most inclement night, while the men were confined in the cabin, through the skylights of which muskets were pointed to prevent them from interfering. At length, when the pirates had satisfied themselves no danger was to be apprehended, a panel was broken in the cabin door, through which their prisoners were allowed to pass, one by one, and go ashore. The vessel was then rifled and set on fire, when Johnson and his gang, betaking themselves to their whale-boats, made their escape. The crew of the Sir Robert Peel lost all their baggage, and the passengers were able to save very little of their effects. Governor Marcy, of New York State, on receiving intelligence at Albany of this barbarous outrage, immediately departed for the frontier, and took active measures to discover the perpetrators, some of whom were apprehended and lodged in jail, but afterwards escaped punishment for the want of sufficient proof against them. A reward was offered for the apprehension of Johnson; but the labyrinth of the Thousand Islands afforded him and his gang a secure refuge, and enabled him to elude every step taken for his capture. On the 7th of June a descent was made by him on Amherst Island near Kingston, and three farm-houses plundered of money and valuables. On the 10th he issued a most impudent proclamation, avowing that he had commanded the expedition which destroyed the Sir Robert Peel. His opportunities to do further mischief were, however, restricted by Sir John Colborne, who directed a body of sailors and marines to scour the Thousand Islands, and strengthened the various military posts along the Upper St Lawrence with soldiers and picked militia. The American Government also sent troops to their frontier to preserve the peace, and prevent the further organisation of armed expeditions against the Canadas. Despite all these precautionary measures, a body of sympathisers crossed over the Niagara frontier, overpowered some Lancers, and plundered a house at the Short Hills of a large sum of money and some valuable property. Thirty of these ruffians, who had concealed themselves in a swamp, were afterwards taken, as well as Morrow, their leader, who was subsequently executed for the crime. In consequence of these occurrences, Sir George Arthur issued a proclamation, forbidding all persons from travelling in the province without proper passports. At the same time, it was also determined that persons found unlawfully armed, or aiding in or abetting acts of treason, should be deemed prisoners of war, and treated accordingly. Simultaneously with the affair at the Short Hills, bodies of Patriots penetrated into the London district, where a number of state prisoners were rescued from durance, and the store of a French trader at Delaware plundered. From this point they were pursued by the Indians, who overtook, routed them, and captured several of their number. At Goderich a body of these pirates made their appearance in a sloop, and after committing some robberies in the shops there, escaped in a United States' steamer. Such were the ruffians sent to liberate Canada by Mackenzie and his refugee confederates. The remainder of the summer passed quietly away, and was chiefly distinguished by Lord Durham's tour through the province. Some attempts were made to get up hostile expeditions in the adjoining States; but these were suppressed by the American military authorities, now exerting themselves most efficiently. With respect to the numerous political prisoners, the same lenient policy was pursued as in Lower Canada; the leaders alone were to be punished, the rest were released. The Reform press again began to agitate the constitutional redress of grievances; and the old machinery of party was gradually coming into full play, in the belief that rebellious and "sympathising" troubles had terminated. Towards the end of summer, some excitement was caused by the escape of several prisoners confined at Kingston. Theller and Dodge, captured in the Anne, likewise effected their escape from prison at Quebec. On the 22d of October a proclamation offering amnesty to certain political offenders was published by Sir George Arthur. |