r
the interest of Tom as seigneur. He regrets that he cannot himself offer
to stand since he is unsettled in plans, "and totally unacquainted with
the language of the country"; a strange comment on the fact that in
early youth he had known only French. The habitant had recently secured
the right to vote but already pleased himself in exercising it. Though,
as Tom says, "Dr. La Terriere of the adjacent seigniory of Les
Eboulements, the Cures, and the Devil knows who" all wished Bouchette
elected and Tom was himself anxious that a habitant should not be
chosen, Bouchette failed and a habitant was sent to Quebec to represent
the district in the Legislature.

Tom's letters written during the winter of 1810-1811 are full of the
gossip and events of the time in Quebec. He is now obviously keen for
self-improvement, and, in the manner of his father, for the improvement
of others also; while congratulating Polly on the better style of her
letters which are now "sprightly", he corrects her spelling. Among other
things he is trying to complete a proper inscription for his father's
tomb. He sends for the title deeds of his property in order that he may
do homage to the governor Sir James Craig, and shows a lively interest
in the management of his estate. His father's old friend, Colonel
Fraser, was visiting Quebec which, more than fifty years earlier, he had
helped to win for Britain but where now, it is somewhat sad to think, he
has, as Tom says, very few acquaintances. So the young Captain spends
two or three hours daily with the Colonel and finds that he has many
interesting subjects to talk with him about. He drives with him into the
country. He enquires about a house in Quebec which his mother had some
thought of buying and talks of a trip to Montreal to buy a horse to send
to Murray Bay. In the letters home Christine, "Rusty" is the special
object of his teasing. She has been accustomed to spend the winters at
Quebec, but is now at Murray Bay, and he asks how she likes the dull
country at this season. "She never says anything about it, which is in
her favour.... I trust that through the means of Picquet you contrive to
keep her rusty dollars moving." Tom's absence from Murray Bay was soon
to end. On March, 23rd, 1811, he wrote joyously that he has got leave of
absence for six months, and is coming "to my own dear Murray Bay."
Christine had been dangerously ill and he is naturally anxious to be at
home.

So behold the young