ile declaration that had been made against Great
Britain, and seemed to shrink from the miseries which war entails, they
assured the Governor that threats would not intimidate, nor persuasions
allure them from their duty to their God, to their country, and to
their king. They were convinced that the Canadian militia would fight
with spirit and determination, against the enemy, and would, with the
aid of the tried soldiers of the king, sternly defend the province
against any hostile attack. As far as spirit went there was no
deficiency, but Canada was worse off for money than the United States
was for soldiery. There were forty thousand militia about to rise in
arms, but where was the money to come from necessary to keep them
moving? Congress intended to raise an immediate loan of ten millions of
dollars. It was essential Canada should immediately replenish her
exchequer, as those not being the days of steamships, funds from
England could not be soon obtained. Sir George Prevost resolved to
issue army bills, payable either in cash, or in government bills of
exchange, on London. The House of Assembly assented to the circulation
of any bills, and granted fifteen thousand pounds annually for five
years, to pay the interest that would accrue upon them. Bills to the
value of two hundred and fifty thousand were authorised to be put in
circulation; they were to be received in the payment of duties; they
were to be a legal tender in the market; and they were to be redeemed
at the army bill office, in any way, whether in cash or bills, the
Governor-in-Chief might signify. Nothing could have been more
satisfactory to Sir George Prevost. He prorogued the Parliament on the
1st of August, with every expression of satisfaction. And well he might
be satisfied. The men who were, according to the representations of his
predecessor, not at all to be depended upon, in a case of emergency,
had most readily, liberally, and loyally, met the demands of the public
service. The men who feared martial law, and could not tolerate the
withholding of the Habeas Corpus, came forward nobly to defend from
outward attack the dominions of their king. The whole province was
bursting with warlike zeal. A military epidemic seized old and young,
carrying off the latter in extraordinary numbers. Montreal, Quebec, and
even Kingston and Toronto teemed with men in uniform and in arms. The
regular troops were moved to Montreal, and Quebec was garrisoned by the
mil