d at the same
time. The Church was robbed, and the town library perfectly pillaged.
Commodore Chauncey, who has generally behaved honourably, was so ashamed
of this last transaction, that he endeavoured to collect the books
belonging to the town and legislative library, and actually sent back
two boxes filled with them; but hardly any were complete. Much private
property was plundered, and several houses left in a state of ruin.

"In June, 1813, Newark, Niagara, came into possession of the army of the
United States, and its inhabitants were repeatedly promised protection
to themselves and property by Generals Dearborn and Boyd. In the midst
of these professions, the most respectable of them, although
non-combatants, were made prisoners and sent to the United States.

"Two churches were burnt to the ground. Detachments were sent under the
direction of British traitors [of whom the traitor deserter Wilcox was
the leader] to pillage the loyal inhabitants in the neighbourhood. Many
farm-houses were burnt during the summer; and, at length, to fill up the
measure of iniquity, the whole beautiful town of Newark, with a short
previous intimation--so short as to amount to none, and in an intense
cold day of the 10th of December--was consigned to the flames.

"The wretched inhabitants had scarcely time to save themselves, much
less any of their property. More than 400 women and children were
exposed without shelter, on the night of December the 10th, to the
inclement cold of a Canadian winter. A great number must have perished,
had not the flight of the American troops, after perpetrating their
unfeeling act, enabled the inhabitants of the country to come to their
relief.

"President Madison has attempted to justify this cruel act as necessary
for the defence of Fort George. Nothing can be more false. The town was
some distance from the fort; and instead of thinking to defend it,
General McClure was actually retreating to his own shore when he caused
Newark (Niagara) to be burnt. This officer says that he acted in
conformity with the orders of his Government.

"The American Government, finding their defence useless, disavow the
conduct of McClure, who appears to have been a fit agent for such a
Government. He not only complied with his instructions; but he refined
upon them, by choosing a day of intense severity, giving the inhabitants
almost no warning until the fire began, and the conflagration in the
night."

(The above