1796] AFFAIRS IN THE WEST. 453 to be placed in the hands of the French Canadians. The landing was to be made at Kamouraska. Here the rallying point would be made, and a proclamation issued. Success, of course, was considered assured. The belief, whether felt or not, was expressed that Quebec would immediately capitulate. The British should have the option of remaining in possession of their property, on condition of becoming French citizens; or would receive liberty to depart. The French Canadians themselves were to be relieved from all the burdens of the seigniorial tenure and made possessors of their property. This was the keynote of the song of liberty promised to them. The dime was to be abolished. The priest would become a totally different person and depend upon voluntary contributions. The main scheme was thus clearly traced out. One Volney had been in Albany, in the summer of 1797, directing the movement in Canada, and had returned to France to concert measures for the invasion.* There had been likewise a plan for Canada to be assailed from the west. A general Collot, in 1796 and the following year, had been busy with the Indians, with the design of engaging them to make a diversion against Upper Canada on the arrival of the French troops in the east. The difficulty in Prescott's mind was that the only troops to meet such an attack would be the Canadian militia; for his whole force would be required for the defence of the lower provinces. The news of this design, communicated to Prescott, was made known to Russell. It caused great anxiety. Russell asked for troops, but they were not in the country, and Russell himself did not know the tribes on which he could depend from those that were considered to be in the French interest. † Some light was subsequently thrown on the events of this time by the arrest of one M. Le Couteulx, a Frenchman, * [Can. Arch., Q. 81.1, p. 21, 1st of Oct., 1798.] naturalized in the United States. He was arrested at Niagara on the 7th of October, with a large quantity of merchandise, and taken to fort George. He appears to have brought a letter of introduction from the officer in command at fort Niagara, major Rivardi. On hearing of his arrest, Rivardi wrote to know why an American citizen should be detained, but colonel McDonnel, in command at fort George, explained that he was without a passport and must be held until the pleasure of the commander-in-chief was known. Le Couteulx was sent to Quebec. The opinion of the attorney-general was that he could be held as a prisoner of war. Sir Robert Shore Milnes was then lieutenantgovernor. He ordered the papers of Le Couteulx to be examined, and he was placed in confinement in rooms in the jail. His letters, dated 1797, were full of bombast, but this fact did not lessen the dangerous character of the schemes in which he was engaged. Nothing, he wrote, would please the Canadians more than to see the arrival of ten ships of the line in the Saint Lawrence with 6,000 troops. There were 197,000 Canadians with French hearts. that were burning with the desire for the old government of France. He recommended the introduction of forged notes into England. What was essential was that France should have a footing both in the north and south of America; at Florida and in Canada. It was precisely the policy the public men of ability in the United States opposed; they saw the mischief that might arise from such possession, and from the whole federalist party such theories received strong opposition. That this policy was entertained by Adet and his predecessors is ample proof the desire was strongly felt in France; we here have the origin of the crisis which threatened Canada. All that prevented such measures being carried out was the want of power to consummate them. To meet an emergency which might arise in any attempt on the part of France, there were at the disposal of the government of Lower Canada but 2,034 rank and file of 1798] THE DEFENCE OF CANADA. 455 the regular force, and 424 of the 1st battalion Royal Canadian volunteers, principally French Canadians. In Upper Canada there were 647 troops, composed of the Queen's Rangers and second battalion Canadian volunteers, of the loyalist population.* The unceasing feeling of serious responsibility on the part of those charged with the defence of the province can, in these circumstances, be easily conceived. * [Prescott to Portland. Can. Arch., 81.1, p. 4, 22nd of August, 1798.] CHAPTER II. The last twenty months of Prescott's government were embittered by his serious dispute with the council on the subject of land grants. No principle affecting modern practice is involved in the points at issue. In that sense, any inquiry into the merits of the misunderstanding can effect no result. The subject, nevertheless, is of historical interest and furnishes its teaching, as it bears upon the relations of the governor with the executive council. Moreover, although all traces of the quarrel passed away after the arrival of Prescott's successor, for it is to be presumed parties had learned the necessity of moderation, the ill feeling it engendered at the time actively penetrated the small society of Quebec. On one side were bishop Mountain, chief justice Osgoode, with the members of the council who acted with them, and their friends. On the other, the influence of government house, at no time a slight matter in Canadian social life, was enlisted. We read in the Simcoe papers how an aide-de-camp passed in the streets the bishop's wife without the customary salutation, although he had dined at her table. A colonel on the governor's staff resigned his position and asked leave to return immediately to England. His secretary took the same course. On the representations of Prescott, the duke of Portland, in the first instance, authorized him to carry out the recommendations he had made. Subsequently, the duke took exception to Prescott's having arraigned the motives of the council committee, and directed that consideration should be given to the views expressed by them. Finally, Portland wrote that he regretted the continual difference between Prescott and his council, and the only remedy was his retirement. It was the king's pleasure that he should 1798] PRESCOTT RECALLED. 457 return, and by personal communication enable the ministry to decide on the measures necessary to be taken. Mr. Robert Shore Milnes, who had been appointed lieutenantgovernor in June, 1798, had been ordered to proceed to Canada, while major-general Hunter was appointed governor of Upper Canada and lieutenant-general in command of the forces of the whole province.* It would seem on the first consideration that such a letter must be regarded as a censure on Prescott. This view, however, must be modified. Although Prescott never returned to Canada, he remained the titular governorgeneral until August, 1807, when sir James Craig was appointed. As Mr. Milnes became a baronet in 1801, he is generally named as sir Robert Shore Milnes. Although he remained in Canada until 1805, he never obtained a higher rank than that of lieutenant-governor. The fact is of importance in judging the estimate made of Prescott's conduct by the home ministry. Previous to his departure, Prescott wrote to Portland that he would answer personally any representations made as to his conduct. He did not know what the memorial of the executive council contained, but, from what had been said of other representations, he hoped that Portland would have strong doubts of its truth. He felt assured that a full investigation as to the conduct of himself and his opponents would be granted. His own conduct had commanded universal respect; and more general content existed throughout the province than had been felt since it had been annexed to the British crown. The lieutenant-governor, Milnes, reported on his arrival, on the 13th of June, that he had met Prescott without any unpleasant circumstance. It is not a very easy matter to narrate the difference of view entertained regarding the grants of land. Little interest really is attached to it, but it cannot be passed over without allusion. Prescott maintained that owing to the proclamation of 1792 by sir Alured Clarke, which had been * [Portland to Prescott. Can. Arch., Q. 82, p. 2, 10th April, 1799.] |