rned for Brock.
Mrs. Bowen wrote to Christine Nairne, "I am sure you will have deeply
felt the loss of poor General Brock. He was always a great favourite of
yours as well as mine. Salter Mountain spoke in the highest terms of him
in his sermon last Sunday."

As the war became more grim in character Captain Nairne formed a fixed
resolve to see it through to the end. On October 5th, 1812, he writes
from Kingston that in response to his former request he had just
received notice of having been put on half pay. With this release he
might now have retired to the serenity of Murray Bay. But, even though
he had not changed his mind, this would have been to turn his back on
fighting when men were most needed. So when Captain Wall of the 49th
Regiment broke his leg, and was thus rendered unfit for service, with
him Nairne effected an exchange. "I could not reconcile myself to the
idea of sneaking down to Murray Bay and forsaking my post at the present
critical period," he wrote to Fraser. That old soldier was delighted at
Tom's spirit and made this note at the foot of the letter which
announced this action:

Point Fraser, [Murray Bay], Oct. 23rd, 1812: I do hereby certify
that my Godson Captain Thomas Nairne has, as I think, acted as
becomes him and very much to my satisfaction--Malcolm ffraser.

From Prescott on the 29th of October, 1812, Tom wrote to his mother of
his delight at being once more a regular "in that distinguished old
corps the 49th." It was indeed a fine regiment. Brock had led it in
North Holland and in 1801 it had been on board the fleet at Copenhagen
with Hyde Parker and Nelson; it is now the Berkshire Regiment and the
name "Queenston" where its commander, Brock, fell, is on its flag.
Though a soldier not a sailor, Tom had now one gunboat and three armed
batteaux under his command, and, when writing, he had just arrived at
Prescott with the American prisoners taken in the gallant action at
Queenston where Brock was killed. His tone is serious and tender. "When
the war is over I trust in God we shall all have a happy meeting again
at Murray Bay, perhaps never more to part during our stay in this
world." It was now his plan that if he should outlive the war he would
go to Edinburgh, find a wife and settle himself on his property without
loss of time. A few days later, on November 15th, he writes from
Kingston of a lively incident in which he has taken part. With six
schooners and an armed tug,