be serviceable at such a crisis? I observed his name
some little time back in the public prints, without knowing
who he could be, and I suppose that he is my junior in age by
several years.[31]

_Colonel Kempt[32] (Quartermaster-General) to Brigadier Brock._

QUEBEC, January 17, 1811.

Baynes tells me that he has written to you repeatedly, and
most fully and confidentially, on the subject of your
application for leave. The letters, which I have received from
home, explicitly state that the last brevet was made so
extensive with the view of doing away with the appointment of
brigadier, so that no general officer under the rank of
major-general will be in future employed; independent of this
circumstance, you have no reason, believe me, to dread being
unemployed in any rank while you have a wish to serve,--this
opinion, my dear general, is not given rashly or upon slight
grounds,--before I came to this country I had, you must know,
several opportunities of hearing your name mentioned at head
quarters, both by General Calvert and Colonel Gordon, who
unquestionably spoke the sentiments of the then
commander-in-chief, and in such a way as to impress me with a
thorough conviction that few officers of your rank stood
higher in their estimation. In short, I have no manner of
doubt whatever that you will readily obtain employment upon
active service the moment that _you do get home_, and with
this view I recommend you to express, through Baynes, your
sense of his excellency's good intentions and wishes towards
you in respect to leave of absence, and your hopes that when
the circumstances of the country are such as will permit him
to grant six months' leave to a general officer, that this
indulgence will be extended in the first instance to you. I am
very happy to find that you are pleased with Mrs. Murray: I
have just received a long letter from her, giving me an
account of a splendid ball given by you to the _beau monde_ of
Niagara and its vicinity, and the manner in which she speaks
of your liberality and hospitality reminds me of the many
pleasant hours I have passed under your roof. _We have no such
parties now_, and the indisposition of Sir James having
prevented the usual public days at the castle, nothing more
stupid than Quebec now is can be imagined.

_Colonel