22 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Niagara frontier successfully assailed the whole line of the United States 
territory to Buffalo in retaliation for the wanton injuries which had been 
inflicted upon Canada. 
‘“ Vincent behaved most generously to Harvey, to whom he left the entire 
direction of the movement. He, however, led the main body from the 
heights to join his detachment. In his despatch he acknowledged great 
obligations to his lieutenant, adding that from ‘ the first moment the enemy’s 
approach was known, he watched his movements and afforded me the earliest 
information. To him, indeed, I am indebted for the suggestion and plan of 
operations ; nothing could be more clear than his arrangements or more 
completely successful than the result.’ ”’ 
SIR ALLAN NAPIER MACNAB, BART. 
Note 12, page 7. 
My readers will find biographical sketches of Sir Allan MacNab in 
Appleton’s ‘“ Cyclopedia of American Biography’ (New York); Rattray’s 
“Scot in British North America,” vol. II., pp. 347, 532; Dent’s ‘“‘ Canadian 
Portrait Gallery ” (Toronto, 1881), vol. IV., p. 73 ; Canadian Home Journal for 
December, 1898 (art. by Miss Nisbet) ; but the most interesting and readable 
sketch is that written in “ Portraits of British Americans ” (Montreal, 1867), 
by William Notman, with biographical sketches by Fennings Taylor, Deputy 
Clerk of the Legislative Council of Canada for many years, who knew this 
distinguished Canadian intimately, and could appreciate better than most 
men his personal qualities. I give the following extracts from this valuable 
series of portraits, not now generally accessible except in public libraries : 
“To a soldierly frankness of demeanour, suited to the martial tastes 
which he more especially affected, there were added numerous physical 
advantages whose influence can scarcely be exaggerated ; like the milk maid 
in the ballad, ‘ his face was his fortune.’ His figure was on excellent terms 
with his face. He possessed a handsome person, a dignified manner, a grace- 
ful address and a voice pleasantly attuned to the pitch of heartiness in which 
truth commonly finds expression. In his youth he indulged the privilege of 
youth, for he not only rejoiced in his strength but he had great strength to 
rejoice in. He was courageous and active, bold and outspoken, with a hand 
to vindicate what his tongue uttered. No difficulty deterred him, and no 
labour distressed him, for he possessed audacity enough to grapple with the 
one and determination enough to overcome the other. He was generous 
alike in his thoughts and in his actions; he put confidence in others and 
never lacked confidence in himself. 
“His deficiencies of knowledge were supplied by tact; and when the 
latter was unequal to the duty, there remained some convenient covering 
qualities to fall back upon in the forms of temerity, and a stock fund of racy 
assurance which, though of little actual worth to ordinary men, were turned 
to noteworthy account through the adroitness of one who certainly was not 
an ordinary man. Thus his unequalled self-possession, or what the his- 
torical woman who was privileged to sell oranges within the walls of the 
parliament building called his ‘ pretty impudence,’ became powers, when the 
same auxiliaries in abler men would have proved impediments. He trusted 
