nature. Doubtless, the _habitants_ are precisely, even at this day, as
Sir James represented them to be. But it was superlative impudence in a
man of plebeian extraction to say that he could not associate with
members of Parliament, who followed the occupation of shopkeeping for a
living. It surely was enough for Buonaparte to have stigmatized England
as a nation of shopkeepers. Sir James might have left it alone, after
having experienced the independent energies of a nation of wooden clock
and wooden nutmeg makers. The "_gens en place_" had badly advised him,
and he was too blind to see it. Sir James was an Indian Governor with a
vengeance.

The fortifications of the City of Quebec had been much improved during
the summer of 1808, and the foundations of the four martello towers,
which now stand outside of the fortifications, on the land side, at the
distance of nearly a mile, were laid.

After the dissolution of the Parliament, about the middle of June, the
Governor set out on a tour through the Province. He was attended by a
numerous suite, travelled in great state, and was well received
wherever he halted. At Three Rivers, Montreal, St. Johns, and William
Henry, addresses were presented to him. He was applauded and even
thanked for having stretched the royal prerogative so far as to
dissolve the House without any sufficient reason. What was gained by
the fulsome adulation is not particularly apparent, unless it be that
the _Canadien_ had an opportunity afforded it for not very flattering
criticisms. The opportunity was not by any means lost. The _Canadien_
grinned at the _gens en place_, and even ventured to laugh at the royal
prerogative himself. But the _gens en place_ were not to be laughed out
of countenance by a vile print, which only could appeal to French
passions and Romish prejudices. They only waited until His Excellency
returned to Quebec, to renew their congratulations. The citizens of
Quebec, on Sir James' return to the Chateau, waited upon him with an
address. They approved of his judicious and firm administration. Sir
James, perfectly elated, expressed, in a particular manner, his
satisfaction. It was most gratifying to have received such an address
from those whose "situations" afforded them the more immediate
opportunity of judging of the motives by which he might be actuated on
particular occasions.

In November of this year, the first steamer was seen on the St.
Lawrence. At 8 o'clock on the 6