1795]

PORTLAND'S LETTERS.

403

therefore necessary that the command be speedily assumed by his successor, with authority to restore order and maintain the interests of the crown and empire.*

Portland replied by two letters, in May and July, and endeavoured to remove the impression that it was the policy to diminish the power of the person in whom the government-in-chief had been placed or to withdraw any of its attributes. He was sorry that doubt should have arisen with regard to the military command. He had no doubt that the governor-in-chief would listen to representations from the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, but all matters were under his authority and direction. He thoroughly agreed as to the necessity for the consolidation of the government of the provinces. Where it had been found necessary to correspond directly with the lieutenant-governor, it was understood that the letters should be communicated to the governor. He was sorry for the unpleasant disagreement between Dorchester and Simcoe. His own letters, however, had shewn that the matters which affected the commissariat and the Indian department were under the control of the governor; but when the administration of these departments had relation to the civil government in Upper Canada, it was to be hoped that Dorchester would give attention to the representations of the executive authority of that province. I will speak of the misunderstanding that had arisen between Dorchester and Simcoe as to the policy to be carried out in the government of Upper Canada when I narrate the events of Simcoe's government.

There is an extraordinary letter of Dorchester in answer to the duke of Portland, written after the conclusion of Jay's treaty. He recognised the propriety of ministers pointing out every departure from the intentions of the government; and he expressed his acknowledgments for the friendly manner in which his own proceedings had been taken in

*[Can. Arch., Q. 71.2, p. 313, 21st of February, 1795.]

† [Can. Arch., 71.2, pp. 364, 430, 27th of May, 6th of July, 1795.] [Can. Arch., Q. 71.2, p. 459, 25th of April, 1795.]

question. While expressing his full conviction of the expediency of peace with the United States, he remarked that in the progress of political events cases of importance wili arise which require to be decided without delay, though of a nature so delicate that persons of sound judgment and much experience, agreeing as to the end, may yet differ in opinion as to what is best to be done or most likely to produce a desired effect. It was under such circumstances that he had given his reply to the Miamis at the meeting in February, 1794

He considered at that time that Detroit was threatened, especially by the large force of Wayne in the field, when the claim was preferred by the United States to the Indian territory south of the Canadian boundary. At lake Champlain the matter was not important, except from the insult and the mischief that might arise; but in the west there was great danger to be apprehended to both the Canadas. To have allowed these dangerous pretensions to prevail without protest would have permitted ourselves to be straitened, and would have ended in giving over the forts without defence, with the troops stationed there and the whole of the valuable stores they contained. His answer to the Indians was one that the conduct of the United States had called forth. They had failed to execute many of the conditions of the treaty, hence they were not justified in enforcing its other provisions, and they ought to have kept within the limit of the territory they had occupied previous to 1783. Their own proceedings shewed that Canada had acted within the rule that had been laid down for themselves. The plan of the States was to urge their claims to the utmost extent, short of hostilities; and his fear was that, trusting to a meck acquiescence under every act of aggression, the United States might have been hurried too far. In his view it had been necessary to quicken their apprehensions of their own danger. It was the custom in the United States to impress the multitude with sentiments in accordance with the schemes of the rulers. On the late occasion they had well nigh pushed their

1795]

APPOINTMENT OF PRESCOTT.

405

refinements too far. They might have endangered or completely overturned the federal system; if this result had came to pass, the continent would have been a scene of great confusion.

He had offered this explanation, not as an objection to the ministry censuring his conduct, so far as the national interest would require. There the line should be drawn. He had, however, resolved to resign. The political condition of the country in 1786 and the causes of sending him to Canada were no longer the same. Even if the command had not been so broken and inverted, prudence required that he should temporise until the arrival of his successor, and contract his interference within as narrow a limit as possible. Independently of these reasons, his advanced time of life, after fifty-three years' service, denied him the activity necessary for a distant command. He claimed to be indulged with the privilege of an invalid, henceforth to be reserved for home service, if that should ever be found requisite.

To this letter Portland replied that Prescott was to be appointed lieutenant-governor of Lower Canada.* It was doubtful if he would leave that autumn, but undoubtedly he would sail in the spring. He expressed his great regret at Dorchester's determination to retire.

Writers have stated that Dorchester was not aware that he had been recalled until Prescott arrived to replace him. There is no ground for such belief. Indeed, in default of precise knowledge on the subject, a little reflection would have suggested that such a proceeding was not possible with a man of his distinguished services and of his high character: one, moreover, who was able from his position in the house of lords to have vindicated himself from any such slight. So gross an act of discourtesy and wrong would not have been possible, even under the sense of some flagrant act of misconduct by an exalted official. In such circumstances,

[Can. Arch., Q. 72-73.1.2, p. 420, 3rd of September, 1795.]

In

the ministerial displeasure would be communicated in a form more or less condemnatory, but certainly not with insult. Dorchester's case his retirement from the government of Canada was not only his own act; but it was persevered in, after the most flattering and pressing request that he should continue in the position.

1793]

SIMCOE'S DISCONTENT.

407

CHAPTER VIII.

Dorchester's arrival was by no means welcomed by Simcoe, for the governor-in-chief, acting on the power he possessed, dictated the policy that he held essential to the security of Upper Canada. Setting aside the dissatisfaction felt by Simcoe, that the views he had formed during the preceding eighteen months and on which he had so fully written to London should be set aside, there was much in the tone of his mind which made subjection to the authority of Dorchester a matter of positive pain. Who of us has not met men with ability, amiability of character and honesty of purpose, incapable of submitting to contradiction, with whom a trifling divergence of opinion causes much unnecessary anger? The least independence of thought at variance with their own preconceived theories not infrequently leads to an outburst of temper and creates a false estimate of their capacity, which, if moderate self control were exercised, could not fail to exact respect. These outbursts of temper are the more vehement if opposition be experienced on a subject which they have led themselves to believe they understand better than anybody else. It is not possible to examine the records of Simcoe's career without forming the conviction that this spirit of self-assertion was strong in his character and was the ultimate cause of his resignation of the governorship. All must recognise his ability, his patriotism, his continuous. industry, his readiness to sacrifice himself, the sense of duty ever before his mind, and his deep conscientious unselfishness. At the same time, the impression cannot be avoided that the exercise of these qualities greatly depended on his being unopposed and uncontradicted.

Within a fortnight after Dorchester's arrival he wrote to Simcoe; and the date of this letter must be borne in mind. It