Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ob

papers. The Americans are accused of cowardice for having retreated before inferior numbers and ta ken shelter in Baltimore. Why was this cowardice? The main object was to defend that great and rich city. The second was to annihilate our army and naval force. To make a long stand in the open country, with raw troops, against disciplined soldiers, was not the way to effect either of these purposes. The main object was effected, and our retreat only, probably, prevented the effecting of the latter. The Times newspaper, a few days ago, remarking on the cowardice of the Americans, contrasted with the bravery of our army and navy, served that the cause was, that they had no feelings of patriotism; that they cared nothing about their country. Now, what is the ground of this war?Why, we complained that the Americans harboured deserters from our navy; and they complained that we forced native Americans into our service. This fact is notorious to all the world. This fact is recorded in our own official documents. This fact makes a part of unquestionable history. Another fact has just been recorded by this same Times newspaper; namely, that two of our seamen were hanged, on board the fleet in the Chesapeake, for attempting to desert to the enemy. It is also stated, in the same paper (24th Oct.) that about 150 of our soldiers deserted on the retreat from Plattsburg.Now, let this empty boaster produce instances like these, on the side of the Americans, if he can-and if he cannot, let him acknowledge himself to be either a deluded fool or a deluded knave. But has Jonathan shewn no zeal for his country? What was that act of self-devotion which induced a man to expose his property to certain, and himself to probable destruction, by shooting at general Ross and

killing his horse under him, in the city of Washington, after the town was in possession of our troops? By what feeling was the man actuated who exposed his life for the sake of killing general Ross, and who must have been almost alone, since he was hidden behind some brushwood? To what are we to impute the capture of 200 young men of the "best families in Baltimore," found in the fore ground defence of their city? Was greater courage, more desperate devotion to country, ever witnessed than at the battle of Chippewa and at Fort Erie ? How comes it, that during the last campaign, we have lost more officers and men, out of twenty thousand employed, than we ever lost in the European war out of one hundred thousand From what feeling was it that Mr. Madison called, as we are told he has, Mr. Rufus King to his counsels, and from what feeling is it that Mr. King has accepted of the call?

The Morning Chronicle, that camelion of this war, now boasts that it foretold union against us. It never foretold it. It always urged on the war. It called, and it was the first to call the burnings of Washington a most gallant dash.-However, it is now clear that we have completely united the whole country. The bombarding of Stonington in Massachusetts, and the plundering of Alexandria, in Virginia, have done what all the workings of good sense and public spirit were not able to effect. Mr. Rufus King, whom we regarded as the rival and the implacable enemy of Mr. Madison, has taken a post under him for the defence of his country; and we shall now see that, amongst those whom we thought our friends, we shall find the most resolute enemies. Stonington and Alexandria will be constantly before every American's eyes. I always was opposed to

the war, and to this mode of warfare especially. I knew it would produce that which it has produced. I knew it would render the breach too wide ever to be healed again. I knew that it would produce either the total subjugation of America, which I thought impossible, or our final defeat in the eyes of the world, with the ulterior consequence of seeing America a most formidable naval power, which the recent events on the borders of Canada seem but too manifestly to portend. It is quite surprising to what an extent this nation has been, and still is deluded, with regard to America, and to the nature and effect of this war. It is only fifteen days ago that the Courier newspaper contained the following paragraph:

"There were reports last night of our having attacked and taken New London, and destroyed the city of Baltimore. Both these events are probable, but there are no arrivals from America later than the last despatches from Admiral Cochrane, dated on the 3d of last month. But as the wind has been fair for some days we hourly expect a fresh arrival. It must bring news of the greatest importanceintelligence from Canada-another attack upon Fort Erie-another conflict with gen. Brown-perhaps a battle with the American gen. Izard-the further operations of admiral Cochrane and general Ross-the result of the expedition under general Sherbroke the operations of the Creek Indians who had already made their appearance upon the frontiers of South Carolina-and "last not least," the effect of our late attack upon the minds of the American people-the steps taken by Mr. Madison, if he yet remains president, and the measures adop ted by these states that were in a ferment against the government, even before the disaster, and were

[ocr errors]

not indisposed to a separation from the other states. No arrival from America was ever expected with more impatience."

Well, the arrival has taken place. The impatiently expected arrival has taken place. New London has not been attacked. The attack on Baltimore has failed. General Ross is killed. Admiral Cochrane has arrived at Halifax for the winter, with the plunder of Alexandria. The effect upon the minds of the American people has been such as to unite even Mr. King with Mr. Madison, who " yet remains president."-No new attack has been made on Fort Erie, but the army of general Izard at Plattsburg has been attacked by our commander in chief, with the "Wellington heroes" under him, with the "conquerors of France" under him, while the American fleet was attacked by ours; and not' only have both attacks failed, but we have experienced a more complete defeat than, as far as I can. recollect, we ever before experienced, the notable affair of the Helder only excepted. Thinking Johnny Bull! You, who were so eager to give the yankees a drubbing-you, who were so full of fight that nothing but another war would appease youPray can you tell me how it is that our ministers, who have given us such exact accounts about the "gallant dashes" at Washington and Alexandria, and who have published such loads of despatches and proclamations about the conquest of the Penobscot territory, not equal in population to the parish of St. Martins in the Fields; can you tell me how it has happened that this ministry has not received, or at least have not published, the account of the land and water battles at Plattsburg and on Lake Champlain, though we have sir George Prevost's general order, issued after the battle, and

[graphic]

I

though we have numerous extracts from Canada papers, dated many days later than the date of the order! Cannot you tell me this, thinking Johnny Bull! you who, when you heard of the capture of Washington City, were for sending out a viceroy to the American states? You, who called the Americans cowardly dog's, and hailed the prospect of a speedy release from the income tax, and the payment of the national debt by the sale of lands, and by taxes raised in America? Well, then, in waiting patiently for this official account, we must content ourselves with what the newspapers tell us they have extracted from the papers of Canada.Letters extracted from the American papers make our loss dreadful indeed. General Macomb, the American commander, is represented to have written to his father, at New-York, telling him that he had killed or taken 3000 of our army, and that he expected to destroy one half of it. Our newspapers said that this was false. They also said that it was false that we had any thing like a frigate on Lake Champlain, though it now appears that we had a ship actually mounting 32 guns, and that the largest of the American vessels was rated 28 guns, and carried, as we say, 30 guns. But let us take, for the present, the account of the Canada papers, and look with impatience, but with becoming humility, to his majesty's ministers for further information. Thus, then, speak the Canadian printers; thus speak the bitterest enemies of America:

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"Montreal, September 15.

"You have herewith a copy of the general order of the 13th inst. to understand which requires more than being able to read it. There never was, perhaps, such a composition: for, without knowing the result, one might be led to think we had

« AnteriorContinuar »