ose brothers
"who loved him so dearly," but had not time to tell the graphic story of
his sojourn in Canada or revisit the haunts of his boyhood, for news
arrived from the United States of so warlike a character that he
returned before his leave expired. He overtook at Cork the _Lady
Saumarez_, a well-manned Guernsey privateer, armed with letters of
marque, and bound for Quebec. Leaving London on the 26th of June, 1806,
he set sail for Canada, never to return to those to whom he had so
endeared himself by his splendid qualities.

[Illustration: RUINS OF OLD POWDER MAGAZINE, FORT GEORGE]

CHAPTER VIII.

FRANCE, THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

Shortly after his return to Quebec, Isaac Brock succeeded to the command
of the troops in both Upper and Lower Canada, with the pay and allowance
of a brigadier.

Though no overt act had been committed against Canada by the United
States, relations were strained, and he found much to occupy his time.
His humanity stirred, he set about erecting hospitals, reorganized the
commissariat department, and engaged in an unpleasant dispute with
President Dunn, the civil administrator of Lower Canada, regarding the
fortifications of the Citadel. To-day deep in plans for mobilizing the
militia and the formation of a Scotch volunteer corps of Glengarry
settlers; to-morrow devising the best way of utilizing an Indian force
in the event of war. In June, 1807, the affair between the British
gunboat _Leopard_ and the American frigate _Chesapeake_ occurred. The
former boarded the latter in search of deserters, and on being
challenged, gave the _Chesapeake_ a broadside. While the _Leopard_ was
clearly in the wrong, the United States Government rejected every offer
of reparation made by Britain. Then came retaliation. French
vessels--though France was at war with Britain--were actually allowed by
the United States, a neutral power, full freedom of its harbours. The
ships of Britain, a power at peace with the United States of America,
were refused the same privilege.

For a proper understanding of the position we must unroll a page of
history. Napoleon, though he crushed the Prussians at Jena, could not
efface the memory of his own humiliation at Trafalgar. His ears tingled.
He was waiting to deliver a blow that would equalize the destruction of
his fleet by Nelson. Though Britain remained mistress of the seas,
surely, thought the "little corporal," a way could be found to humble
her. If