62 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



no further notice was taken of it, further than passing the Communi- 

 cation on to another quarter; we were displeased, being firmly con- 

 vinced that the farmer's testimony was implicitly to be relied on, 

 but having No authority to act, nothing could be done, altho' Mr. 

 Ussher volunteered for one to go over and keep guard — there were 

 also numbers in readiness to join him. — The remainder of the day, 

 we kept a sharp look out, allowing no Boats to pass without permission 

 of a Magistrate, yet notwithstanding our vigilance some spies had 

 been Known to Cross, higher up the River. — One of these, however, 

 Corroborated the farmer's Testimony by mentioning the Circum- 

 stance at a small Tavern about }/2 Mile distant, where I called every 

 hour to ascertain if there were any suspicious Characters. — At four 

 o'clock in the Morning, we went down to Chippewa and stated this 

 fact also — but the Colonel was as little inclined to belief as the other; 

 he promised however that a conference should be held in the Course 

 of the day — ^which was accordingly done, but the golden opportunity 

 was lost, by reason of the Time that elapsed in passing, repassing and 

 conferring together. A handful of Men at that Crisis would have 

 prevented the direful disasters that afterwards occurred. I wished 

 for the spirit of Lord Peterborough's Movements, at that Juncture 

 to act promptly, in order to prevent the annoyance which must 

 inevitably arise from those Marauders taking quiet possession of an 

 Island, from which, if they intrenched themselves well, they could 

 with difficulty be removed. — ^The Militia are all very well as Second- 

 aries, but from the Circumstance of being so little engaged in Warlike 

 operations, they make but poor primaries in. a case of Emergency of 

 this kind. — This does not arise from any defect in personal Courage, 

 because the late Events have proved this fact to the Contrary. It 

 arises from a want of organised plans and extension of service, to teach 

 them the importance of every position and advantage to be taken of 

 the Movements of an Enemy, which can only be acquired by ta'ct 

 and Experience. 



I nevertheless agree with my friend, that common foresight and 

 prudence, should have induced the Colonel of the District, in the 

 absence of any Regulars, to send over a guard to the Island, knowing, 

 as he must have done, that Mackenzie was in Buffalo, inflaming the 

 Minds of the People to revolt against us. 



From ocular demonstration, it was proved', on the following day,^ 

 that our Information was Correct, for we could plainly see the pirates, 

 walking around the Island, and preparing their fortifications. — All 

 Night long, the axe was heard, felling Trees for breast work, and the 

 Constructions of Shantys, as temporary huts to shelter them from the 



