The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-30 00:00:00

• . .4 /

NUMBER 9417

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1822

o "ACTS for SUPPLYING CONVICTS CONFINED
nEcL, ap HULKS with PROVISIONS, CLOTHING,
SARIES, BEDDING, COALS, CANDLES, OIL,
4 so".

CAMPAIGNS IN THE CANADAS.

the St. Lawrence, • as a second line of defence for the whole of
its northern bank, on, which the capital tovvns and most import-
ant part of the. province are situate. From the head of Lake
Erie therefore to Quebec, the only really assailable frontiers of
the Canadas, provided the superiority on the lakes be not yield-
ed to the enemy, are- the banks of the Detroit River, froni.Lake
St. Clair' to Erie 40 miles ; those of the Niagara River-between
Lakes Erie and Ontario, 36-miles ; and the course of the St.
Lawrence, from Kingston pt the foot of Ontario to Sr. Regis,
about 110 miles. Even these weaker portions of the Canadian
frontiers, and particularly the last, may receive a very conside-
rable accession of strength from the command of the waters. A
slight glance at the map wilteriable the reader to follow this de-
lineation with ease, and at the same time assist him in forming
a general idea of the military posts scattered on either side of the
boundary. . • '
_ _ _

As the CANADAS constitute an integral and im-
portant part of the British Empire, we doubt not
that our Readers will be gratified in reading the
folloWing article, for which we are indebted to
that loyal and learned Repository of sound Criti-
cism, The Quarterly Review :
Amidst the agitations of the stupendous struggle which con-
vulsed the continent of Europe, we, had no thought to bestow,
upon American warfare. During the continuance of a conflict
in which embattled nations were the actors, and empires the
stake, anxiety could in vain be demanded for the insignificant
result of a Canadian -skirmish, or the puny vicissitudes of a
campaign on the Niagara. It was natural, therefore, that, with
the public of Great Britain, the late war in America should fail
in awakening any considerable degree of attention, and the cir-
cumstances of that contest have accordingly in this country been
hitherto little known or regarded. But though surpassed in
magnitude and eclipsed in splendour by the achievements of our
Army in Europe, the details of the military Operations in the
Canadas and on the coasts of the United States are both inte-
resting in themselves, and of importance to the future security
of our transatlantic possessions.
In the prOsecution and close of the hostilities in which the
United States chose to embark, they had assuredly little cause
for satisfaction or triumph. The British Orders in Council were
the first ostensible pretext for a war of aggression. But when
it was discovered that the alleged source of grievance had been
-already removed, resistance to the right of search became the
plea for perseverance in the contest, of which the real object was
the conquest of the Canadas. Yet, after the sacrifice of their
commerce, the repulse of every attempt upon the British pro-
vinces, the capture of their armies, the ravages of their coasts,
and the insult of their capital, they were finally reduced to ne-
gotiate a peace, which left our possessions uninjured, and omit-
ted all mention of theiforiginal pretensions. With Great Britain
the war was purely defensive. She fought not for new conquests,
or to establish new claims, but for the protection of her colo-
nies and the maintenance of rights, which had received the so-
lemn confirmation of time. And these objects were completely
secured ; the ratification of the treaty of Ghent by America
was a tacit abandonment of very assumption against which the
government of this country had contended.
But though the war gave neither reputation nor aggrandize-
ment to the American Republic, it must be admitted that, in
the progress of operations in the Canadas, the British arms were
not always crowned with that fulness of success which might
have been anticipated from the high qualities of the troops.
The portion of our brave army employed on the Canadian fron-
tier possessed"the same characteristics, and consisted of the same
materials as_the men of Badajos, of Salamanca, of Vittoria;
how then did it happen that their exertions received not that
brilliant consummation which, on another theanie, rendered the
British army the admiration of the world ? It is due to the re-,
putation and the services of _the defenders of Canada to point
out the real causes of that failure in enterprize, which so fre..
quently marked the course of the war of America, at the very
period when their more fortunate brethren in Europe were reap:
ing a rich harVest of victory.
But it is in another point of view that an examination of the
subject possesses the strongest claims upon our attention. The
problem, how Canada may best be preserved, if again it should
be invaded, is one for which the study of: the late war must
necessarily afford the readiest solution ; and when regarded with
reference to such a contingency, the occurrences of the cam-
paigns of 1812, 1813, anelBl,4, become invaluable lessons of
practical instruction. By aid of the experience which they will
afford, we may confidently hope, should trial of the event be
unfortunately hereafter requisite, to escape a repetition, of
that decision, miscarriage, and error, which mocked the courage
and baffled the zeal of .our troops on many of the principal oc-,
casions of the last contest.

Commissariat Department, Treasury Chambers,
44th October, 1822.
SUCTI Persons 44th
as are desirous of Contracting
tow suPPIY thenbove-mentioned Articles, for the use of
,sh letts confined on board Hulks at Portsmouth, Woolwich,
Cont4"3, and Chatham, may receive particulars of the
Foot at this Office, between the Hours of Ten and
Rcaled
and deliver their Tenders at the Commissariat Office,
and directed to the Superintendent of Convicts,
-$1:•
1:4; there"—" Tender for Provisions, &c. for Con-
• " or befiU•e, Thursdiy, the 14th November ; but
Rill a' gill b received after Twelve &Clock en that Day; nor
Printed Pr°Posal he noticed unless made on or annexed to a
length' Particular, and the Prices inserted in Words at
signs r unless a Letter be Subjoined to such Proposal,
con3e
,11 two Persons of known
.property, engaging to be-
tt;e -°und with the Party tendering in the Scum expressed
...........114tticulars, for the due performance of the Contradt.

At the opening of the war in July, 1812, the regular force
in the Canadas consisted of seven regiMents of infantry, three
of which were feneible battalions, o'ne of veterans or invalids,
anda detachment of artillery, amounting in all to less than
4,600 men. The incorporated anilitia .of the two provinces
probably, amounted to an equal number, . .
On the receipeof intelligence of the -Aittetin declaration of
war, Major-General Brock, who commanded the-troops in the
upper province, immediately dispatched discretionary orders to
the British officer in charge of Fort St. Joseph's to act dither
offinisively or otherwise against the enemy at Michilimechinac
as he should find advisable ; and that officer, without the least
effusion of blood, succeeded, on the 17th July, in capturing
the place with its garriSon' of 'sixty men and•seven pieces of
ordnance. This was the first operation of the war, and trifling
as the success would deem, it was of material importance ; it
gave confidence to the Indians, who had been previously at ,
war with the Americans, and now joined us, opened a ready'
communication with' many of their tribes, and paved the way
for the sulisequent surrender of General Hull's corps.
Early in the. year 1812; the American Government had as-
sembled a force near the Detroit frontier, with the intention of
-invading Canada ; and as soon as their projected declaration of
war was issued,. 2,500 men crossed the Detroit, under General
Hull, and took possession of the British village of Sandwich.
Upon the garrison of Amhertsburgh, however, under Lieute-
nant-Colonel St. George who shut himself up in total in-
action, the American General made no attempt. As soon
as General Brock learnt the entrance of Hull into Ca-
nada, he Sent up Colonel -Procter from the Niagara frontier
to assume the command at Amhertsburgh, and that officer's
operations were so- prompt and judicious, that Hull hastily
recrossed the strait, and encamped under the walls of fort De-
troit, against which, Colonel Procter, advancing to Sandwich,
threw up batteries on the British side. Here, General Brock
arriving with a reinforcement, the enemy, already reduced
to extremities before' hiS appearance, capitulated ow-the 16th of
August, to the number if 2,500 men, with 33 pieces of cannon.
The fort of Detroit, its ordnance, stores, and a fine vessel in the
harbour, fell into the hands be the Victors.
But far more impcirtant consequences than these resulted from
the surrender of Hull. The whole of the Michigan territory,
an extensive peninsula watered by the lake of that name, by
Lake Huron and the Detroit, and which separates the Indian
country from Canada, was ceded to the British by the same ca-
pitulation. No acquisition could so effectually haye secured
the north-western frontier of Upper Canada by cementing our
alliance with the Indian nations, whose 'confidence and respect
were gained by this success. Its effects upon the militia who
had snared in it, and upon the population of the Cafiadas ge-
nerally, were hardly less beneficial : it inspired the timid, fixed
the wavering, and awed the disaffected.
Leaving Colonel Procter in command on the Detroit frontier
and in die newly acquired territory, General Brock hastened his
return to the Niagara line, with the-intention of sweeping it of
the American garrisons, which he knew were then unprepared
for vigorous resistance. But-the first intelligence which he re- I
ceived on his arrival at Fort George paralysed his exertions.—
Theconnuander-in-chief, Lieut.-lien. Sir G. Prevost, had con-
chided an armistice with .the American General, Dearborn,
which provided that neither party should act Offensively until
the Government at Washington should ratify or annul the sus-
pension of hostilities ! Of the inactivity thus forced upon Ge-
neral Brock, the enemy made the best use. As the armistice
(lid not prohibit them from transporting ordnance, stores, and
provisions, of all which they were greatly in need, from Lake
Ontario along the 'Niagara line, they had time to recover
the panic which had seized them on the surrender of Hull,
and to fortify their frontier. The President of the United
States then refused, as might have been anticipated, to con-
firm the armistice, but not before an American force of 6,300
men had assembled on the Niagara frontier. The British on
the same frontier under General Brock, who now received or-
ders from Sir George Prevost to act upon the defensive only,
did not exceed 1,200 regulars and militia.
The enemy now prepared to carry the afar across the Nut.,
gara. Opposite the village of Qucenston on that strait, they
concentrated 3,000 men of their force, and at daylight, on the
18th of October, effected a landing csi the Canadian shore, not-
withstanding the gallant opposition of a British detachment of
300 men which was poSted the village. -By this handful
of troops the passage was /orig and obstinately contested; until
General Brock, who arrived, unattended, from Fort George
during the struggle,_ fell in the act of cheering on his little
band to a Charge. With him the post was lost ; a retreat was
.effected„. and 1,600 of the enemy established themselves in
position on the heights of Queenston. Meanwhile, the whole
of the British disposable force on the Niagara, of about 1,000
men, of whom 560 were regular's, had assembled near Queen-
ston ; at three in the afternoon, they advanced against the
American line, and, after a short and spirited contest,
.put the
enemy Completely to route, capturing on the field Brigadier-
General 'Wadsworth, 900 men, a piece of cannon, and a
stand of colours. Many of the enemy were drowned in the
attempt to swini to their own shore, and 400 of them were
and wounded, while the whole British bass-did not exceed
100 men.

It may be well, before we advance farther, to offer a few
ob-
servations upon the works whose titles are prefixed to the pre=
sent article. Of these, the first, the " Account of the Mili-
tary Occurrences of the late War between Great Britain and
the United States or America," is a laudable eflbrt to oppose a
plain and unvarnished narrative of facts to the exaggerations
and misstatements of the American press. It is, but justice to
the author to declare; that he has evinced ranch zeal for the
national honour, and unimpeachable integrity. He has col-
lected the evidence of our'own accounts and those of the enemy
with great occuracy, and compared the details with the utmost
care and minuteness : his book is therefore highly valuable as a
storehouse of materials for the future historian of the war.—
And here we regret that our commendation must stop ; beyond
the merit of a patient and faithful chronicler, Mr. James has no
great claims to literary praise. - The story of every petty skir-
mish is so overloaded with circumstance that he leaves us no
clue to distinguish between the
_most- important and trifling
events. Before the reader can arrive at. the result of any en-
gagement, he must toil through many wearisome pages of cri-
tical investigation into the truth or falsehood of American nar-
ration; and he, will search in vain for a concise or scientific
survey of the prominent features of a campaign. Mr. James,
we are led to conclude, is not a military man ; and he unfor-
tunately brings no advantages of composition to supply his de.,
ficiencies in professional information.
The Hi3torical Sketches of the late War' enjoyed great
popularity in the United States, and rapidly passed through
several editions. We have therefore noticed it here as af-
fording a favourable specimen of other American publica-
tions on the same subject. Bombast, exaggeration, and false-
hood are among the leading characteristics of Mr. Thomson's
book, which we have, 'however, neither space nor leisure to
particularize ; and we fell the less inclination for the Usk,
because Mr. James has already sufficiently exposed them.
-But Mr. Thomion is by no means the Alunchausen par
excellence of American writers: He has not; as others
of his countrymen have done, seriously assured us that a force
of raw and undisciplined American militia routed severer times
their number of veteran British regulars at the point of the
bayonet. He has not compared the defence of Fort Sandusky
to that of the rass of Thermopylx ; nor likened the successful
issue of the affair at New Orleans to the glories of Cressy and
Agincourt. We have chosen to refer to Mr.. Thomson as the
Representative of American historians, because, compared
with some of. his fellow labourers, he is modest, correct, and
impartial. From his admissions some important conclusion may
be occasionally deduced, and the work is therefore not without
its utility.
The . Letters of Veritas' were originally printed in a weekly
paper published at Montreal in Lower Canada, and subse-
quently collected into the little volume before us. Within a
small compass, these unpretending Letters contain a greater
body of useful information upon the campaigns in the Canadas
than is any where else to be found. They are, we believe, the
production of a gentlenuth in Montreal of known respectability.
Though not a military man, he enjoyed the best opportunities
for acquaintance with the circumstances of the war • and as
these letters which excited great attention in the Canadas,i ap-
peared in successive papers while Montreal was with almost all
the officers of rank 'who had served in the country, it may rea-
sonably be presumed that his errors, had he committed any,
would not have escaped without censure. Yet no reply was
ever attempted to his statements, no doubt ever expressed in
the provinces, of the correctness of his assertions.
With the assistance of these works, and that of other sources
of information, on which our readers may confidently rely, we
shall proceed to ofFer a sketch of the war in the Canadas from
its commencement to the termination of hostilities.

Such was the dismay of the enemy at the result of the action
at Queenston, that had General Shea*, wlio commanded after
the death of Brock, crossed over immediately afterwards, as it
is said he was strongly urged by his officers fo do, the fort of
Niagara, which its garrison had even evacuated for some time,
might have been captured, and the whole of that line cleared
of the American troops. But General Sheafre, like his supe-
rior, was a lover of armistices, and after the action he con-
cluded one of his own with the American General, for which
no reason civil or military was ever assigned. Such • were
the principal occurrences of the campaign of 1812, in ifyper
Canada; those in the lower province were utterly insignificant.
( To be continued.)

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.—We some time
since published some observations upon the repairs which were
then making in this Cathedral; but those observations extend.
ed only to the entrance of the choir or screen ; since then they
have beep progressively going on, and large sums of money
have been expended, and the lilierality and taste of the Dean
and Chapter evinced in restoring to its pristine splendour
this beautiful piece of workmanship. The Statues of the
Founder, and other Saxon Monarchs, which once adorned
it, but were defaced by the Puritanical Uoths of the Cm_
monwealth, have been restored—the mutilations repaired—
and the whole freed from the accumulated filth of ages, in
such a manner that the elegance of its tracery is now fully
developed, and it presents one of the finest specimen of
the florid Gothic in the kingdom. The white-washby which
some neat Vandal had in former days obscured and obliterated
the beautiful antique paintings which once adorned the walls of
many of its aisles and transepts, is now undergoing the process
of r'em'oval, and from the brilliancy of the tints which yet remain
beneath, we understand little doubt is entertained that these spe-
chnens of ancient art will be restored to view, still retaining much
of their former beauty. The choir is undergoing a thorough and
complete repair ; the service of the Cathedral is performed, during
the interval, in the Chapter or Sermon-house, a magnificent
building adjoining the eastern side of the cloisters, which is, in
its turn, also to partake of the general renovation. The tessa-
lated pavement which formed the floor of 'the shrine of Saint
Thomas ti Becket, composed of porphyry, verde antique, and
many other rare and valuable marbles, arranged in the form of
a star, has been cleaned, and the vacancies occasioned by
wantoness, or the rapacities of antiquarians_ filled up._
Much too has been done to the crypt, to which we would par-
ticularly direct the attention of those of our readers who may
visit this ancient Cathedral, as being one of the most interesting
remains of the Saxon style of building, and containing within
its recesses many shrines, tombs, &c., which, were they more
exposed to the eye of day, would not ail of securing the admi.
ration not only of the mere antivarian, but of every person pos-
sessed of real taste and a true relish for architectural elegance.—
(Kentish Gazette, Oct. 29.)

From the mouth of the great river St. Lawrence to the
tary post of St. Joseph's upon Lake Huron, we have the pro-
digious extent of more than 1,500 miles for the length of the
British line of defence and communication in the Canadas ;
and if we take only the city of Quebec as the commencement
of the chain, and regard St. Joseph's as merely an insulated
station, we have still a distance of above eight hundred miles
from the walls of the capital of the provinces,:to the fort and
naval arsenal of Amherstburgh at the head of Lake Erie.—
When it is added, that, along the whole of this line, the British
possessions are opposed by the northern boundary of the United
States, it would at first sight appear a hopeless undertaking to
attempt the preservation of colonies, separated from the mother
country by the Atlantic, and exposed to the assaults of a nu-
merous people. But nature has afforded peculiar advantages
for the protection of this lengthened frontier. The Lakes Erie
and Ontario present a direct line of four hundred'miles, which
a naval ascendancy on their.waters may at once convert into an
impregnable barrier ; and above two hundred and sixty miles
more—from Quebec to the spot where the boundary between
British and Republican America strikes the St. Lawrence at
Regis"—are covered by a range of woody and half-cultivated
country, which, except at two or three points of easy mainte-
nance, forbids the advance of an invading army, and secures
all Lower Canada from that quarter. Behind this again flows

• , • \
- • • • i
•
r• • •
• : ',d 4.,
•
. 3
' f•
" .• 4 1
•
. - • ~st I '74...kl_cy.
- •
• *S'• 0
.1.41141116 t:
•Lrft
•
•••
J. • „ .
•
a? 131
. _