were several of the prisoners destitute of comfortable
clothing; that the clothes of some were not even decent to cover those
parts of the body that even our savage Indians conceal, and he
promised to accommodate them: but we never heard any more of him or
the clothing. However it may be accounted for, we saw this man part
from us with regret. It seemed to be losing an old acquaintance, while
we were going we knew not where--to meet we knew not what.

Previous to our sailing we had applied to _Mr. Mitchell_, the American
agent, for a supply of clothing; but from some cause or other, he did
not relieve the wants of our suffering companions. Mr. Mitchell may be
a very good man; but every good man is not fit for every station. We
had rather see old age, or decrepitude, pensioned by the government we
support, than employed in stations that require high health and
activity. Disease and infirmity may check, or impede the benevolent
views of our government, and cast an odium on the officers of
administration. After all, we may find fault where we ought to praise.
It is possible that we may not have made due allowance for Mr. Miller,
the British agent, and we may sometimes have denounced him in terms of
bitterness, when he did not deserve it. His general conduct, however,
we could not mistake.

On the third of September, 1813, we sailed from Halifax in company
with the _Melpomene_, a man of war transport, armed en flute. On board
this ship were a number of Irishmen, who had enlisted in our
regiments, and were captured in Upper Canada, fighting under the
colours of the United States of America! or, in the language of the
English government, found fighting against their king and _country_.
The condition of these Irishmen was truly pitiable. Unable to live in
their own oppressed country, they, in imitation of our forefathers,
left their native land to enjoy the liberty, and the fruits of their
labor in another. They abandoned Ireland, where they were oppressed,
and chose this country, where they were protected and kindly treated.
Many of them had married in America, and considered it their home.
Here they chose to live, and here they wished to die. As few of them
had trades, they got their living as laborers, or as seamen. The
embargoes and the war threw them out of business, and many of them
enlisted in our army; that is, in the army of the country which they
had chosen, and had a right to choose. Their consciences forbade them