APPENDIX A XXXV 



adherence to the enemy, or neutrality, by summary procedure — asked — 

 whether it would be expedient to prorogue the House of Assembly and 

 proclaim martial law?" 



The Council adjourned until the next day, and then decided to 

 prorogue the House and declare martial law. On the 5th August this 

 was done. This was in all probability the turning point in the history 

 of this continent. Had Brock been a weak man, or had his loyalist 

 militia shown any lack of enthusiasm in backing him up. Upper Canada 

 would have been lost. Sir George Prévost, a weak, incompetent man, 

 seemed willing to abandon the province. The Executive Council were 

 mainly of U. E. Loyalist descent and they stood by Brock under cir- 

 cumstances calculated to appall the strongest heart. 



General Brock was now master of the situation, and the change 

 in the aspect of affairs in 13 days was almost miraculous. A stirring 

 address to the people went forth on the same day. On the 6th Brock 

 left for Amhersitburg. On the morning of the 16th August he crossed 

 the river with 1,330 men, and captured Detroit, with the whole of 

 General Hull's army of 2,500 men, and their immense stores of supplies 

 and munitions of war, which he needed urgently to help arm the 

 militia. On the 13th October following, the brilliant victory of Queen- 

 ston Heights was won, at the cost of Brock's life. Here again at his 

 heels were the loyalist militia, his last words of encouragement being 

 given to the York volunteers, who had also been with him at Detroit. 



To show under what circumstances Brock and his followers fought 

 tc retain Canada for the British Crown, I may mention that when he 

 set out from Fort George, on the morning of the victory of Queenston 

 Heights, he left in prison under the guard of a few old soldiers, as 

 large a number of traitors and aliens as he had altogether of loyal 

 soldiers under hig command, when he made his charge upon the Heights 

 before the reinforcements came up. 



These two victories, Detroit and Queenston Heights, settled the 

 fate of the war. They inspired the loyal, they overawed the disloyal, 

 they gave a confidence to our soldiers which they did not lose through 

 all the fighting, and in the subsequent victories the regiments of loyalist 

 militia, with their British comrades, did yeoman service, and after a 

 most arduous struggle preserved Canada to the British flag. 



Can anyone say that our Loyalist fathers and their sons, in this 

 crisis, did not exert an immense influence upon the history of this 

 continent ? 



The next crisis in the affairs of Upper Canada occurred in 1837, 

 when owing to the agitation of a few newcomers, and some descendants 

 of those who were lukewarm in 1812, an attempt was made to throw off 



