e were able shipbuilders at
Quebec; the Canadian naval commanders had distinguished themselves
frequently; there was a secure dockyard at Kingston; and, indeed, there
existed no reason whatever, for the absence of that industry on the
Canadian side of the rivers and lakes, dividing the two countries, but
one, and a more fatal one could not have been listened to. It was
simply that the British had been hitherto able to repel the invader
wherever he had effected a landing, and would be, under any
circumstances, quite able, as they were willing, to repel him again.
And there was an ignorance about Canada, on the part of both the heads
of the naval and of the military departments in England, as
disgraceful, as it was inexcusable. It was believed that there were
neither artisans to be found in the country nor wood. It seemed to be a
prevalent opinion that the country was peopled only by French farmers,
a few French gentlemen, and some hundreds of discharged soldiers, with
a few lawyers and landed proprietors, styled U.E. Loyalists, besides
the few naval officers resident at Kingston, and the troops in the
different garrisons. In Upper Canada, during the winter, nothing, or
almost nothing, was done in the way of building ships for the lakes.
Sir George Prevost, it is true, made a hurried visit to Upper Canada,
after having prorogued the Parliament. He was a man admirably adapted
for the civil ruler of a country having such an elastic and very
acceptable constitution as that which Canada has now had for some years
past. He was one of those undecided kind of non-progressive beings, who
are always inclined to let well alone. He was well meaning, and he was
able too, in some sense. He was cautious to such a degree that caution
was a fault. He was not, by any means, deficient in personal courage,
but his mind always hovered on worst consequences. If he had hope in
him at all, it was the hope that providence, without the aid of
Governor Prevost, would order all things for the best. He had a strict
sense of duty and a nice sense of honor, but he always considered that
it was his duty not to risk much the loss of anything, which he had
been charged to keep, and his moral was so much superior to his
physical courage, that he never considered it dishonorable to retreat
without a struggle, if the resistance promised to be very great. An
instance of this occurred while Sir George was on his way to Upper
Canada. On the 17th of February, Li