he had almost completed a plan for going
into Berwickshire to reside with a farmer and thus equip himself as a
land owner. His friends thought him changeable. "The Captain," wrote Ker
on the 30th of March, 1810, "is a sweet tempered good young man but he
wants steadiness.... I fear that after trying to be a farmer at Murray
Bay he may tire and want to return to the army." So serious was Tom
about his future bucolic life that he wrote to his sister Christine, as
he had written before to his mother, to ask whether she did not think he
should look round for a wife; such a companion would be necessary, he
thought, if he settled down as a farmer in Canada. We can imagine that
the proposition, from a youth of twenty-three, caused some dismay among
the occupants of the Manor House at Murray Bay; but Tom was soon
professing himself something of a woman hater and he never married.

His return to Murray Bay followed quickly. By a fortunate, or perhaps,
in view of the tragic fate awaiting poor Tom, unfortunate, chance,
instead of going on half-pay, he was able to exchange from the 10th
Regiment of Foot to the Newfoundland Regiment. The chief reason for the
exchange was that the Newfoundland Regiment was ordered to Canada, where
Tom could get leave of absence to pay a long visit to Murray Bay and
learn how its life would suit him. So, in the autumn of 1810, the young
man was in Canada, which he had not seen since childhood. To Murray Bay
he soon paid a flying visit; the longer leave of absence would come
later. His competent, busy, prudent and affectionate old mother welcomed
him with open arms. He had thought of himself as a young Bashaw
strutting round among the people of his seigniory. No doubt they were
much interested to see the young Captain; but his duties soon called him
back to Quebec, from which place on December 3rd, 1810, he writes to his
mother:

I have this moment finished drinking tea, all alone.... You have
totally spoiled my relish for anything except for Murray Bay; my
notions of things in general appear to be entirely changed. Murray
Bay while viewed only in perspective afforded me a sort of pleasing
reflection; but now that I have a nearer view and enjoyed its
comforts my ideas have experienced a complete revolution. So you
see what your society and most kind loving treatment have effected.
You may therefore rest assured that no stone will be left unturned
to try to