rummond and other ladies formed part, his grace
appeared to be very little at his ease until he effected his
escape out of the frigate's barge into one of the small boats
that was in attendance with his _compagnon de voyage_ and the
commander of the sloop, when, with the aid of his favorite
cigar, he appeared to be perfectly happy. I mention these
traits in order that you may be prepared to receive him or not
on his return, as you think best. I am sure he would prefer
William Henry to sleep at in preference to Montreal.

* * * * *

After an inter-regnum of nearly three months, Sir George Prevost arrived
at Quebec in September, and assumed the government of Lower Canada,
having succeeded Sir James Craig in the chief command of the British
North American provinces. The known mildness of his character, and the
popularity of his administration in Nova Scotia, from which he had been
just promoted, afforded a hope that his government of Lower Canada would
prove more auspicious to the internal union of the people than that of
his predecessor. Sir George Prevost had moreover the advantage of
being, we believe, a Canadian born, and, as his name indicates, his
family was doubtless of French origin, a circumstance which the French
Canadians could not fail to appreciate. Soon after his arrival,
Major-General Brock, in addition to the command of the troops, was
appointed president and administrator of the government in Upper Canada,
to which office he succeeded on the 9th October, 1811, in place of
Lieut.-Governor Gore, who returned to England on leave. At the close of
the year, his royal highness the duke of York expressed at length every
inclination to gratify Major-General Brock's wishes for more active
employment in Europe, and Sir George Prevost was authorized to replace
him by another officer; but when the permission reached Canada, early in
1812, a war with the United States was evidently near at hand, and
Major-General Brock, with such a prospect, was retained both by honor
and inclination in the country.

_Lieut.-General Drummond[37] to Major-General Brock_.

QUEBEC, August 31, 1811.

I have just been favored with your kind letter, and return
many thanks for your friendly congratulations. Under present
circumstances, it must be the wish of every military person
to seek active employment; I should most willingly sacrifice
many domestic