Baylies to Brigadier Brock, at Fort George_.

QUEBEC, February 14, 1811.

From the sincere and lively interest which I am sure you feel
for our worthy chief, I am happy to announce to you that an
important change has taken place in his disease, from which
his medical attendants augur, with great confidence, most
essential and permanent relief. On Sunday last I received a
summons to attend immediately at the castle, where Kempt was
also called, and to our extreme astonishment he informed us
that he was then about to undergo the operation of tapping, as
he fully coincided with his medical attendants who advised it.
Sir James (Craig) proceeded with great calmness to give me
some instructions as his executor, in the event of any fatal
consequence following, which he did with a degree of
composure, and even cheerfulness, which only a mind like his
can assume. We were present, at his request, at the operation,
which appeared to me painfully tedious--but not an expression,
or even a look of impatience, escaped Sir James, whose manner
absolutely inspired spirits and fortitude to those around. At
the close he stood up for several minutes to let the water
drain from the higher parts of the body, and thirty-six pints,
weighing nearly as many pounds, were altogether drawn off.

Sir James lately received accounts of the 14th of November,
that his brother, General Peter Craig, was then so reduced
and weak from a long and severe illness, that no hopes were
entertained of him. You will conceive what a severe shock this
has been, the more so as Sir James never harboured a doubt
that his elder brother, from his apparently stronger
constitution, would have long survived him. Their mutual ties
of relationship were in a manner concentrated in each other,
for Sir James will have none left but of a very distant
degree.

I am happy to find by a long letter from Mrs. Murray to
Colonel Kempt, that you have found the means of enlivening the
solitary scene that has so long prevailed at Fort George. I
assure you that we miss you much here, and that the
fascinating Mrs. de Rottenburg, with all her charms, has not
effaced the very universal regret which your loss occasions in
Quebec.

_Brigadier Brock to his brother Irving_.

NIAGARA, February 19, 1811.

Nothing can be more consi