15, Sir George Prevost was directed to return to England for
the purpose of meeting accusations relative to his conduct at
Plattsburg, which had been preferred by Commodore Sir James Yeo, who,
after some delay, produced his charges in legal form; and to afford time
for the arrival of the necessary witnesses from Canada, the general
court martial was postponed to the 12th of January, 1816. In the mean
time the health of the late governor-general, naturally of a delicate
cast, became seriously affected, partly from anxiety of mind, and he
died in London on the 5th of January, exactly a week preceding the day
appointed for his trial. Previously to his departure from Lower Canada,
the commons, or French party, voted him the sum of L5,000 for the
purchase of a service of plate, as a tribute of respect, which vote was
approved of by the prince regent; but the legislative council, or
English party, refused their assent to a bill for that purpose.

Sir George Prevost was of slight, diminutive person, and unsoldierlike
appearance; his manners are represented as unassuming and social, and
his temper as placid and forgiving. His public speeches or addresses are
said to have partaken of even classical elegance, and his dispatches and
general orders also afford proofs of his literary acquirements.
Discredit can only be thrown on his character as a general; and indeed
his best friends must admit that his defensive policy at the
commencement of the war, and his subsequent irresolution and infirmity
of purpose, did not tend to raise the glory of England, or to advance
his own fame, and that of every enterprizing officer who served under
him. And yet soon after his death, notwithstanding that the lamentable
failures at Sackett's Harbour and Plattsburg were fresh in the public
recollection, new and honorary armorial bearings, with supporters, were
solicited and obtained by his family in seeming approbation of his
services in Canada, the supporters being two grenadiers of the 16th
foot, of which regiment Sir George was colonel, each bearing a flag,
gules; the dexter flag inscribed, "West Indies"--the sinister,
"Canada"! If these distinctions were conferred in honor of his civil
administration, which we have already eulogized, although _Veritas_, in
his well-known letters, stoutly denied him any merit even on this point,
they were, we believe, justly bestowed; but if they were intended as an
approval of his military conduct during the conte