North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-05-26

at the priests house, whilst the troops,
which had been reinforced by large num-
Der Of regulars and volunteers under the
command OF Major Townsend, were bill
lesedsupon The people, who had 10 submit
to all kinds of insult. and eontumeIy from
these rufiians, who now felt that the Ca
nsdians were completely in their power.
When Sir John Colborne promised pro-
testion to the duplicating Canadians, his
lips uttered what his pitiless heart could
not subscribe 10. Thus we see that the
neat morning after he had taken shelter
under the roof of the house Of the county
representative, TO crafty his personal vim
disiiye feelings, he ordered this building
with several others, 10 be set on FIRE and
reduced to ashes. The protection, which
had been SO sacredly promised to the inhab-
i,aH,s Of Grand Brule, provided they laid
down their arms, was nothing but false
pledge or ruse on the part Of the old CORY
British commander. Several, TO whom
this sham protection was extended, were
seized, bennd, manasled and kept TO in
crease the number Of the captives who
were 10 grace the sad and bloody triumph
Of the conqueror's return to Montreal.
On the morning OF the 10th, the whole
village Of Grand Brule was plundered Of
all its valuable contents. It's church, like
that of ST. Charles, was exposed TO the
and sasrilegious displays of a
number OF impious characters, who were
more intent on offending the Deity than
the miseries Of the numberless
unfortunate sufferers, who were exposed
by their barbari.y, to the greatest wretch
edness. The sacred ornaments were pill
jagged ana exposed TO the ribaldry and
Of those who delight in profaning
articles particularly eonseerated to the
worship Of God. Although the Protest.
ants DO net approve Of any OF the rites
and ceremonies Of the Roman Catholic
Church, still is it highly unbecoming and
in any member Of the multi
form Protestant sects to insult, stigmatize
or persecute either its rites or it's followers.
Were civil and religious liberty well un-
derstocd, these base, sordid and contempt
ible prejudiees would disappear before the
broad banner of brotherly love among all
the members Of the human family.
The British, not satisfied with having
ransacked and pillaged all the houses of
the village, began the work Of destruction
and set fire to the village, which was soon
into heap Of smouldering ru-
ms, there remained but two or three small
,uts which were not deemed, by these
Of sufficient value to be consign-
ID to the flames. To exculpate the old
brutal Commander from this foul outrage
md violation Of his pledges to the people
II Grand Brule, his friends pretend that,
when Sir John Colborne left the village on
he morning Of the 18th Dee, he had Civ.
m orders to burR only the houses Of Messrs
cirouard, Dumouehelle and Mason. The
burning of the whole village was attribu-
ed to the volunteers, who were doubtless
IN exact counterpart Of the blood-stainsd
monster, who planned and conducted this
nurderous expedition against the Patriots
IT the North.
The property destroyed at Grand Brule,
BESIDES the plsnder, consisted of the church,
he priests house, mill, forty-6ve houses,
light barns, thirty-three sheds and out
buildings, thereby reducing two hundred
Ind seventy-6ve families to extreme pow
erty and leaving them, in the beginning of
! cold and pitiless winter, without any
'ther shelter than the sod liberali,y of the
world could afford. The loss suffered by
his devoted people is estimated at the en-
'rmous sum Of Sl06, 00s. Could British
vengeance or duplicity, that peculiar trait
II the British character, be more fully
than in the shameful treatment
4 con6ding people, who had trusted in |,
he word and honor Of British GENERALLY