administered the government of the
province, but where he was individually known, and where his
personal influence extended, a better feeling prevailed; and
his counter-proclamation served not only to animate the well
disposed, but to counteract the machinations of the
disaffected. The confident tone of his address to the
provincial parliament was also productive of the best effects,
whatever inward misgivings he might feel; and those who were
dastardly enough to join the invaders of their native or
adopted country, were quickly taught to repent of their
baseness and treason.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 56: Christie's Memoirs, already cited at page 90.]

[Footnote 57: General Sir Thomas Saumarez, now in his 85th year, and
brother of the late Admiral Lord de Saumarez.]

CHAPTER X.

We have mentioned that Major-General Brock had in the spring provided
for the protection of Fort St. Joseph, a small British post, distant by
water nearly 700 hundred miles from York, and situate about 40 miles,
also by water, to the north-east of the American island and fort of
Michilimakinack, or Makinack, which island is in latitude 45 deg. 35' north,
and longitude 84 deg. 30' west; and one of his first cares, on hearing of
the declaration of the war, was to send, on the 26th of June, a
notification of it to Captain Roberts, who was stationed at St. Joseph
with a detachment of the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion, accompanied by
orders to make an immediate attack upon Michilimakinack, if practicable;
or, in the event of an attack by the Americans upon St. Joseph, to
defend it to the utmost. Captain Roberts received at the same time
another letter from Major-General Brock, dated the 27th June, suspending
the orders for the attack from the uncertainty he was under of the
declaration of war. In a third letter, dated Fort George, the 28th June,
Major-General Brock, being sufficiently informed of such a declaration,
directed Captain Roberts to adopt the most prompt and effectual
measures to possess himself of Michilimakinack, and for this purpose to
summon to his assistance the Indians within his influence, as well as
the gentlemen and dependants of the British fur companies near his post.
On the day that Captain Roberts received this letter, another reached
him from Sir George Prevost, dated Quebec, 25th of June, by which he was
directed to take every precaution to secure his post against any attempt