236 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



they had been taken in by one of their own citizens. 

 A protest having by this time been sent to the 

 President by the Governor-General of the Dominion, 

 all restrictions upon British trading-vessels having no 

 warlike material on board were withdrawn. 



This affair of the canal had the effect of retard- 

 ing for some time the departure of the Expedition, 

 but it was not the only cause of delay. As this was 

 the first military expedition ever undertaken by 

 the Government of Canada, excuses can easily be 

 made for the ignorance displayed by its Ministers 

 upon all points connected with army matters, or the 

 requirements of troops in the field. They cannot, 

 however, be so easily pardoned for having failed to 

 recognise their ignorance, and for having neglected to 

 avail themselves of the military talents of the able 

 soldier, General the Hon. James Lindsay, who had 

 been sent out from England especially for the oc- 

 casion. That officer was most anxious to relieve 

 them of all responsibility regarding the organisa- 

 tion, equipment, and despatch of the expeditionary 

 force ; but such an arrangement did not suit their 

 political ends. A large outlay of money was to 

 be made, and they wished to spend it as much as 

 possible amongst their political supporters. When 

 therefore the General, with the thoroughness and 

 energy for which he was celebrated, went to Colling- 

 wood on the 5th of May, and made all the neces- 

 sary arrangements for the despatch of the troops by 



