ties to gratify, that rock on which so many provincial governors
have split, he meted equal favor and justice to all, British born
subjects soon felt convinced that with him their religion or their
birth-place was no obstacle to their advancement. Even over the minds of
the Indians Sir Isaac Brock gained, at and after the capture of Detroit,
an ascendancy altogether unexampled, and which he judiciously exercised
for purposes conducive equally to the cause of humanity and to the
interests of his country. He engaged them to throw aside the scalping
knife, implanted in their breasts the virtues of clemency and
forbearance, and taught them to feel pleasure and pride in the
compassion extended to a vanquished enemy. In return they revered him as
their common father, and while under his command were guilty of no
excesses.[107] It is well known that this untutored people, the children
of the forests, value personal much more highly than mental qualities,
but the union of both in their leader was happily calculated to impress
their haughty and masculine minds with respect and admiration; and the
speech delivered by Tecumseh, after the capture of Detroit, is
illustrative of the sentiments with which he had inspired these warlike
tribes. "I have heard," observed that chief to him, "much of your fame,
and am happy again to shake by the hand a brave brother warrior. The
Americans endeavour to give us a mean opinion of British generals, but
we have been the witnesses of your valour. In crossing the river to
attack the enemy, we observed you from a distance standing the whole
time in an erect posture, and, when the boats reached the shore, you
were among the first who jumped on land. Your bold and sudden movements
frightened the enemy, and you compelled them to surrender to half their
own force."

Of all the good qualities which adorned this accomplished soldier none
was more prominent than his decision, and it was ever under the guidance
of a sound judgment. His strong attachment to the service, and
particularly to his regiment, formed another distinguishing feature in
his character. A very gallant officer, who still survives, is not
ashamed to confess his pecuniary obligations to Colonel Brock while he
was a subaltern in the 49th, and rendered, as he states, doubly valuable
by the manner in which assistance was afforded to him in his
difficulties. When, as Colonel Brock, he had secured the ringleaders of
the intended mutiny at Fort