164 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Lord Nelson, Ontario, and Niagara, were seized by him and carried 
into port as prizes on various pretexts. The Lord Nelson was duly 
condemned and sold, but after the lapse of a century, her capture was 
admitted to be illegal and compensation granted. It seems probable 
that this method of depriving a prospective enemy of his means of 
transportation was deliberately adopted in anticipation of the im- 
pending declaration of war. 
When war was declared not less than thirteen American merchant 
craft were lying at ports in the St. Lawrence receiving or discharging 
cargoes. While among the Thousand Islands, attempting to return to 
lake ports, two of these were captured by British row boats from Kings- 
ton, sent out to intercept them and the others turned back and sought 
shelter under the guns of a battery at Ogdensburg. Had the Royal 
George and Moira been properly manned and well commanded all of 
these might easily have been taken or destroyed. There, however, 
they remained unharmed, until the conclusion of an armistice permitted 
their removal to Sackett’s Harbour or Oswego, when they were pur- 
chased by the government and converted into gunboats or transports 
of a very useful type. 
In the beginning of July the new schooner, Prince Regent, was 
added to the provincial marine and two weak companies of the Royal 
Newfoundland Regiment, many of whom had been fishermen and boat- 
men, were detailed for service afloat, nominally as marines, but in 
reality to assist in working the vessels. Until the end of October 
Earle had undisputed command of the lake. Troops, prisoners and 
stores of all kinds were transported from post to post with entire 
freedom and security and military operations were greatly facilitated 
thereby. 
On July 19 the Royal George, accompanied by several smaller 
vessels, while on their way from Niagara to Kingston made a demon- 
stration against Sackett’s Harbour which caused much alarm. A 
revenue cutter was captured in sight of the port and sent in with a 
demand for the surrender of the Oneida and her prizes. The Oneida 
then attempted to escape but finding that impossible ran back into 
the harbour and anchored in a position to command the entrance 
with one broadside while the remaining guns were landed and placed 
in position on the high bank where a battery had already been con- 
structed and armed with a single long thirty-two pounder. This gun 
as a matter of course far out-ranged any guns carried by the British 
squadron. As the Royal George approached her guns opened a slow, 
irregular and ill-aimed fire which had no effect although it was con- 
tinued for two hours. No official account was given of thiis affair by 
Earle or any of his subordinates and there is no reason to believe that 
