I am ashamed to say that I was obliged to stuff my handkerchief into my
mouth to keep from laughing outright; and no wonder, for I never heard
such an insane screeching in all my life.

In the course of the summer, Mr. Buchanan, the British Consul, visited
Guelph, when the superintendent gave a public dinner at the Priory, to
which I had the honour of an invitation. Amongst other guests was John
Brandt, the chief of the Mohawks, and son of the celebrated chief whom
Campbell the poet, in his "Gertrude of Wyoming," has stigmatized as--

"The monster, Brandt,
With all his howling, desolating band."

And again--

"Accursed Brandt! he left of all my tribe,
Nor man, nor child, nor thing of living birth."

It is said that John Brandt was very angry when these lines were
pointed out to him.* [* Campbell subsequently made an apology to him.]

On his health being drunk, he acknowledged the courtesy in a short but
eloquent speech. He was not handsome, though rather a fine-looking man.
I believe he died of cholera in 1832.

One day, Dr. Dunlop came to my house, and informed me that I was to
accompany him on an expedition to the township of Wilmot, joining the
Huron tract, to examine the site, and make a report of the probable
cost of building a bridge over the river Nith--or "Smith's Creek," as
it was then called--one of the tributaries of the Grand River. "The
accountant," he said, "has taken it into his head that he will
accompany us; and, as he has never been in the Bush before, won't we
put him through his facings before he gets back? that is all. Mind, and
keep your eye on me. When I am ready to play him off, I will give the
signal to you."

"Well, Doctor," said I, "if you will take the blame, I have no
objection to the fun; but remember! I am a very young man, and if Mr.
Smith should complain to the Company--"

"Oh, never fear," was his reply, "for I will make it all right with
Galt, if he do. In the meantime, order my man to saddle the horses. Let
the Cockney have the roan-mare. You can take your own pony; and do not
forget to tell Hinds to bring the brandy. Should we have to camp out
all-night, a small _soupcon_ of the creature will do us no harm."

Everything being in readiness, we started about two o'clock, P.M. Our
route lay through the new settlement of Guelph and the fine townships
of Upper and Lower Waterloo. This tract of land was originally bought
and settled by a company of Dutch Pennsylvania