proceedings of sheriffs, in the sale of goods
and chattels, taken by them in execution, to assessments, to bills of
exchange, and to the raising and training of the militia.

On the 30th of September, in the same year, Lieutenant-Governor Francis
Gore resigned the government into the hands of Major-General, Sir Isaac
Brocke, and returned to England, Mr. Dunn, having, on the 14th of the
same month, been relieved of the government of Lower Canada, by
Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet, the Lieutenant-Governor
of Nova Scotia, and now appointed Governor General of British North
America, in consideration as well of his administrative ability, as of
his distinguished reputation as an officer in the army. No sooner had
Sir George arrived at Quebec, than he set out on a tour of military
observation. War was now more than ever imminent. Another difficulty
had occurred at sea. A British sloop of war, the _Little Belt_,
had been fired into by the American frigate, _President_, and, in
the rencontre which followed, had suffered greatly in her men and
rigging. The British Orders in Council had not been rescinded, American
commerce was crippled, the revenue was falling off, and there was that
general quarrelsomeness of spirit which, sooner or later, must be
satisfied, pervading the middle States of the American Union. Congress
was assembled by proclamation, on the 5th of November, and the
President of the United States indicated future events by a shadow in
his opening "Message." Mr. Madison found that he must "add" that the
period had arrived which claimed from the legislative guardians of the
national rights, a system of more ample provision for maintaining them.
There was full evidence of the hostile inflexibility of Great Britain.
She had trampled on rights, which no independent nation could
relinquish, and Congress would feel the duty of putting the United
States into an armour and an attitude, demanded by the crisis, and
corresponding with the national spirit and expectation. Congress did as
they were recommended to do. Bills were passed having reference to
probable hostilities, one of which authorized the President to raise,
with as little delay as possible, twenty-five thousand men.

In Canada every man held his breath for a time.

CHAPTER III.

General Prevost was the very opposite of Sir James Craig. While the
latter considered force the only practical persuasive, the former
looked upon persuasion a