e provinces of Canada were wrested by the arms of
Great Britain, at a vast expense of blood and treasure, from
no other motive than to relieve her ungrateful children from
the oppression of a cruel neighbour. This restitution of
Canada to the empire of France, was the stipulated reward for
the aid afforded to the revolted colonies, now the United
States; the debt is still due, and there can be no doubt but
the pledge has been renewed as a consideration for commercial
advantages, or rather for an expected relaxation in the
tyranny of France over the commercial world. Are you prepared,
inhabitants of Canada, to become willing subjects, or rather
slaves, to the despot who rules the nations of continental
Europe with a rod of iron? If not, arise in a body, exert your
energies, co-operate cordially with the king's regular forces
to repel the invader, and do not give cause to your children,
when groaning under the oppression of a foreign master, to
reproach you with having so easily parted with the richest
inheritance of this earth--a participation in the name,
character, and freedom of Britons!

The same spirit of justice, which will make every reasonable
allowance for the unsuccessful efforts of zeal and loyalty,
will not fail to punish the defalcation of principle. Every
Canadian freeholder is, by deliberate choice, bound by the
most solemn oaths to defend the monarchy, as well as his own
property; to shrink, from that engagement is a treason not to
be forgiven. Let no man suppose that if, in this unexpected
struggle, his majesty's arms should be compelled to yield to
an overwhelming force, the province will be eventually
abandoned; the endeared relations of its first settlers, the
intrinsic value of its commerce, and the pretensions of its
powerful rival to repossess the Canadas, are pledges that no
peace will be established between the United States and Great
Britain and Ireland, of which the restoration of these
provinces does not make the most prominent condition.

Be not dismayed at the unjustifiable threat of the commander
of the enemy's forces to refuse quarter, should an Indian
appear in the ranks. The brave bands of aborigines which
inhabit this colony were, like his majesty's other subjects,
punished for their zeal and fidelity, by the loss of their
posses