Part 30 (2/2)
”We remained an hour or two at Brockville, the village of palaces; and few villages have I seen more attractive than this one. It is situated on a shelving bank, with a southern aspect, and groves of trees round it. The houses and churches are built of grey stones, and, being covered with tin, have a light and pleasant appearance.” _Alexander's Transatlantic Sketches._ London, 1833.
[NOTE.--Brockville was originally named Elizabeth Town, in compliment to the general's mother, and the towns.h.i.+p or county, in which the village is situated, is still called Elizabeth. There is a large towns.h.i.+p bordering the river St. Clair and Lake Huron, in about lat.i.tude 43 and longitude 82, in the western district of Upper Canada, named Sarnia, the ancient name of Guernsey. This towns.h.i.+p was probably so named by Sir Isaac Brock.]
No. 6. Page 338.
_At a General Council of Condolence, held at the Council House, Fort George, 6th November, 1842,_
Present--The Six Nations, Hurons, Potawat.i.timies, and Chippawas. William Claus, Deputy Superintendent-General.
Captain Norton. Captain J.B. Rosscaux, and several others of the Indian Department. Kasencayont Cayonga Chief, Speaker.
”_Brothers_,--The Americans have long threatened to strike us, and in the beginning of the summer they declared war against us, and lately they recommenced hostility by invading the country at Queenstown. In this contest, which, with the help of G.o.d, terminated in our favor, your much lamented commander and friend, General Brock, his aide-de-camp, Colonel M'Donell, and several warriors, have fallen.
”_Brothers_,--We therefore now, seeing you darkened with grief, your eyes dim with tears, and your throats stopped with the force of your affliction, with these strings of wampum we wipe away your tears, that you may view clearly the surrounding objects. We clear the pa.s.sage in your throats that you may have free utterance for your thoughts, and we wipe clean from blood the place of your abode, that you may sit there in comfort, without having renewed the remembrance of your loss by the remaining stains of blood.
Delivered eight strings of white wampum.[157]
”_Brothers_,--That the remains of our late beloved friend and commander, General Brock, shall receive no injury, we cover it with this belt of wampum, which we do from the grateful sensations which his kindness towards us continually inspired, as also in conformity with the customs of our ancestors; and we now express, with the unanimous voice of the chiefs and warriors of our respective bands, the great respect in which we hold his memory, and the sorrow and deep regret with which his loss has filled our b.r.e.a.s.t.s, although he has taken his departure for a better abode, where his many virtues will be rewarded by the great Dispenser of good, who has led us on the road to victory.
A large white belt.
”_Brothers_,--We now address the successor of our departed friend, to express the confidence we feel that his heart is warmed with similar sentiments of affection and regard towards us. We also a.s.sure him of our readiness to support him to the last, and therefore take the liberty to speak strong to all his people to co-operate with vigour, and, trusting in the powerful arm of G.o.d, not to doubt of victory.
”Although our numbers are small, yet, counting Him on our side, who ever decides on the day of battle, we look for victory whenever we shall come in contact with our enemy.
Five strings of white wampum.
(Signed) ”W. CLAUS, D.S.G.”
No. 7. Page 343.
_Extract from a Description of St. Paul's Cathedral_.
”In the western ambulatory of the south transept is a tabular monument to the memory of Sir Isaac Brock, by the same artist (Westmacott).
”A military monument, on which are placed the sword and helmet of the deceased; a votive record, supposed to have been raised by his companions to their honored commander.
”His corpse reclines in the arms of a British soldier, whilst an Indian pays the tribute of regret his bravery and humanity elicited.
ERECTED AT THE PUBLIC EXPENSE TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK, WHO GLORIOUSLY FELL ON THE 13th OF OCTOBER, M.DCCC.XII.
IN RESISTING AN ATTACK ON QUEENSTOWN, IN UPPER CANADA.”
No. 8. Page 343.
”This chief of the branch of the once great tribe of the Hurons visited England some time ago. I afterwards saw him in Quebec, and had a good deal of conversation with him. When asked what had struck him most of all that he had seen in England, he replied, without hesitation, that it was the monument erected in St. Paul's to the memory of General Brock.
It seemed to have impressed him with a high idea of the considerate beneficence of his great father, the king of England, that he not only had remembered the exploits and death of his white child, who had fallen beyond the big salt lake, but that he had even deigned to record, on the marble sepulchre, the sorrows of the poor Indian weeping over his chief untimely slain.”--_Hon. F.F. De Roos' Travels in North America, in_ 1826.
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