rs from those which emptied into the St.
Lawrence. By this the Americans gained all the land bordering their own
rivers, while the British had the banks of all the rivers extending to
the sea coast. Breach after breach was made, yearly inroads upon British
territory were effected, until the free navigation of the St. Lawrence
was claimed, leaving the colonies without a frontier.

In the State of Maine, a hostile feeling influenced the entire
population. A spirit of fiery independence asserted itself in the face
of the British government. Sir Howard kept his eye on the stealthy
movements of his disorderly neighbors. He was not to be outwitted by
such aggressions; he was determined that neither Colonist nor American
should transgress; his rights were to be respected. A New Brunswicker
had been prosecuted for attempting to interfere. Equal justice was to be
extended to all. The filibusters were not to be pacified; they abused
England and her representatives in the most violent and abusive terms.
The grievances of Maine must be redressed. Governor Lincoln ordered out
the militia to the frontier, while an army of filibusters was ready to
take possession of the territory. They thought to work a plan to throw
blame upon Sir Howard, in the hope that the English troops might be led
to engage in a conflict with the American militia; but the experience of
the British representative served him aright, as on former occasions.

Baker, an unprincipled filibuster now resolved to force proceedings,
rushed into British ground and tauntingly hoisted the American flag. At
this juncture of affairs it was expected that English troops would
interfere and a general fight would be the result.

Sir Howard had kept the troops at a respectable distance, where he could
order them up at short notice; but he had no such intention. Imagine the
surprise of both parties when a constable, having arrived, knocked down
the flag and took Baker prisoner. Heavy imprecations fell upon such a
course of conduct. Federal troops marched to the frontier, a
circumstance of which the colonists took no notice. Sir Howard took
further steps; he ordered the prisoner to be brought to trial before the
Supreme Court at Fredericton, where he was found guilty, with sentence
of a heavy fine.

Threatening attitudes were assumed by the leaders of this dispute, but
to these Sir Howard paid not the least attention. Messages were sent by
Governor Lincoln with urgent demands for