88 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
the unfortunate Action and of the Retreat of Sir Geo. Prevost’s* Army. 
At a short distance is a Fort built by the Americans which is however 
found to be within our Lines and is therefore evacuated. At the Island 
of Illinois, 14 miles from St. Johns we were happy in the Sight of the 
British Flag, English Soldiers and Sailors. It is commanded by Captn. 
Byng the Brother of Lord Torrington; they are erecting very extensive 
Works. At one we arrived at St. Johns; saw a very large Eagle in the 
Woods. At 2 o’clock. we procured a Sort of German Carriage and 
started. On Board the Steam Boat was a Catholic Priest from St. Johns, 
who gave me a very good Account of Lord Selkirk’s Settlement on that 
Island; it consists of 180 Families. The Roads in Canada are dreadful 
even worse than the American Corderoy. I was much pleased with 
the cheerful Appearance of the Natives; it being Sunday they were well 
dressed and the white Straw Hats gave to both Men and Women a pleas- 
ing Appearance. The Contrast between American Rudeness and the 
French Politeness was very striking. 
At 7 we arrived at La Prairie, a Distance of only 18 miles; from 
thence the Distance across the St. Lawrence is ? miles which we traversed 
in an Hour. The Approach to Montreal is very beautiful and singular, 
all the Houses and Churches being covered with Tin Plates they have 
the Appearance of being covered with Snow. Landed about + past 8, 
lodged at Mr. Dillons—a miserable Inn. Passed a restless Night, having 
caught a bad cold. At 6 o’clock in the morning the Bells rang and con- 
tinued in a constant monotonous Succession till 9. At 12 Mr. Caldwell 
and [illegible]? embarked on Board the “Quebec” Steam Boat for Quebec. 
Parted with them with much Regret. The “Quebec” is even a more 
complete Steam Boat than the “Chancellor Livingstone,” she is 600 
Tons. She was at this moment very interesting. A Vessel with 300 
Colonists, Men, Women and Children had been cast away in the St. 
Lawrence; here they remained 4 Days without Food or Covering. The 
Captain left the Wreck in a [illegible] to communicate the 
melancholy event to Lord Dalhousie. The “Congress” was ordered down 
to take them off and arrived when they were bereft of all Hope and in a 
1 Sir George Prevost, born in 1767; entered the 25th Regiment ; Military Gov- 
ernor of S. Lucia in 1798, Civil Governor 1801. In Feb., 1811, appointed Governor 
of Lower Canada and Governor-General of British North America. Highly success- 
ful in a civil capacity, but most unfortunate in the war of 1812-14. He returned to 
England in 1815, after the conclusion of peace, and died in 1816, a week before the 
meeting of the court-martial which had been formed to inquire into his conduct at 
Plattsburg. Dictionary of National Biography; Quarterly Review for July, 1822, 
art. vii., p. 405, and ‘Some Account of the Public Life of Sir G. Prevost (London, 
1823), pp. 161, 166. 
2 Capt. Dunn. 
