store. This abandonment of territory so soon following up the affair at the Moravian village, what would the Indians have thought of us? In short, it will not bear reflection.

Towards the end of October, among other sacrifices caused by the dread of general Harrison's zeal and promptitude, two companies of the 100th regiment, which had been stationed at Charlotteville, in the London district of Upper Canada, were ordered to evacuate that post, and join the main body of the centredivision of the army at Burlington, distant 60 miles. Orders were at the same time issued, to disembody and disarm the militia. The officer who had this duty to perform, having ascertained that a large body of traitors and Americans had been plundering the houses of the inhabitants, while the latter were away in the service of their country, left a supply of arms and ammunition with some of the militia officers and privates. These, in number 45, immediately formed themselves into an association; and marched, with lieutenant-colonel Bostwick, of the Oxford militia, at their head, against the marauders; whom they fortunately fell in with on the Lake Erie shore, about nine miles from Dover. An engagement ensued; in which several of the gang were killed and wounded, and 18 taken prisoners. These 18 were afterwards tried at Ancaster for high treason; and all, except three, convicted.

Eight of the 15, so convicted, underwent the penalty of the law. The remaining seven were respited, to await the prince regent's final decision; and have since been transported. How highly, and yet how justly, this well-planned and well-executed enterprise was appreciated by the president of Upper Canada, will be seen in the general orders, which he caused to be issued upon the occasion.*

About the 1st of November general Harrison arrived at Fort-George, with about 1700 of his troops; who, agreeably to Mr. Secretary Armstrong's orders, were immediately quartered upon the inhabitants of Newark. In the course of November, both general Harrison and colonel Scott, with their respective corps, embarked on board commodore Chauncey's fleet for Sackett's Harbor; leaving general M'Clure, with his 2700 militia, and a few. regular troops, in charge of Fort-George. General McClure, now having the entire command to himself, and being disappointed, notwithstanding all the intrigues of his friend Wilcocks, in his endeavours to secure the friendship and co-operation of the inhabitants," began sending the most obstinate of the latter across to the American side, and then set about pillaging and destroying the farm-houses and barns in the neighbourhood of Fort-George.

*-App. No. 1.

These atrocities were represented to majorgeneral Vincent, and he was strongly urged to allow a small regular and Indian force to be marched against general M'Clure. Colonel Murray finally gained his point; and, taking with hin 379 rank and file of the 100th regiment, about 20 volunteers, and 70 of the western Indians, led by colonel Elliot, moved forward on the road towards the Forty-mile Creek; beyond which point he had been ordered not to proceed. The advance of this small detachment soon reached the ears of general M'Clure, who had taken post at the Twenty-mile Creek, and who now retreated, in haste, to a position somewhat nearer to Fort-George. Colonel Murray obtained fresh permission to extend his march to the Twenty-mile Creek, and subsequently to the Twelve-mile Creek. These movements had driven the American general and his men to Fort-George; and then commenced a scene of devastation and horror, of which no adequate idea can be formed, except by such as had the misery to be spectators. How, then, shall we hope to succeed in describing it?

The winter of 1813, according to general Wilkinson, set in earlier than usual. Lambert, in his account of the climate of Lower Canada, says that Fahrenheit's thermometer is sometimes 36 degrees below 0, and that the mean of the

cold in winter is about 0.* The climate of Upper, is certainly not quite so rigorous as that of Lower Canada; but yet the mildest winter of the former, bears no comparison whatever to the severest winter of this country. For several days previous to the 10th of December, the weather in Upper Canada had been unusually severe, and a deep snow lay on the ground. Towards night-fall on that day, general M'Clure gave about half an hour's notice to the inhabitants of Newark, that he should burn down their village. Few of the poor people believed that the wretch was in earnest. Soon, however, came round the merciless firemen. Out of the 150 houses of which Newark had consisted, 149 were levelled to the dust! Such articles of furniture and other valuables as the incendiaries could not, and the inhabitants had neglected or been unable to, carry away, shared the general fate. Of counsellor Dickson's library, which had cost him between 5 and 6007, sterling, scarcely a book escaped the ravages of the devouring element. Mr. Dickson was, at this time, a prisoner in the enemy's territory; and his wife lay on a sick bed. The villains-how shall we proceed? took up the poor lady, bed and all, and placed her upon the snow before her own door; where, shivering with cold, she beheld, if she could see at all, Lambert's Travels, Vol. I. p. 107,

her house and all that was in it consumed to ashes. Upwards of 400 helpless women and children, without provisions, and in some instances with scarcely cloaths upon their backs, were thus compelled, after being the mournful spectators of the destruction of their habitations, to seek shelter at a distance; and that in such a night, too!-The reader's imagination must supply the rest.

In what way will the American historian, or will he at all, describe the conflagration of Newark? Not one word about it appears in doctor Smith's book. Mr. Thomson says briefly: "General M'Clure determined on destroying the town of Newark."* It is Mr. O'Connor whom we have to thank, for being explicit upon this point. "As a measure deemed necessary to the safety of the troops, the town of Newark was burned. This act,' said general M'Clure, (proceeds Mr. O'Connor) however distressing to the inhabitants and my feelings, was by order of the secretary of war, and I believe, at the same time, proper.' The inhabitants, (continues Mr. O'Connor,) had 12 hours' notice to remove their effects, and such as chose to cross the river were provided with all the necessaries of life."+

With the knowledge that Mr. Secretary Armstrong had recently been in the neighbourhood of, if not at Fort-George, we can readily sup*Sketches of the War, p. 188. + Hist. of the War, p. 158.