SELECT BRITISH DOCUMENTS OF THE CANADIAN WAR OF 1812. Vol.
III. Part I. Edited by Colonel William Wood. (Toronto : The Champlain Society.)—As we turn over the pages of this series of documents, which reveal British blundering, Indian cunning, American generosity, and general Canadian unease, we can sigh that there no longer exists a Parkman to give it all graphic and glowing shape. A review of the book is, of course, needless and impossible, but a picturesque note or two (in the original spelling) may be extracted. At Turkey Point, on Lake Erie, in 1814, there is a shortage of ammunition to " answer French and American muskets." Of the Puant (the " Stinking ") Indians a British officer complains of their " Villanous manner," and adds : " I would cut them off to a man, they dispise the idea of re- ceiving Orders from an Officer that does not hold a Blanket in one hand and a peice of Pork in the other." The same officer mentions (on a homely note) that " I was taken ill last evening with a swelling on the right Side of the Head—I beleive it is what in Canada is generally called the Mumps." Mrs. Cockburn, a lively English lady, admits that to do the Yankees justice they treat a Flag of Truce with uncommon civility, especially when borne by Ladies, whom they allow to go much further and peep about much more, than we should do in a similar case, whatever might be their beauty and accomplishments." After the British naval defeat off Plattsburg in 1814 the American general shows " every attention and kindness to those who have fallen into our hands." The whole land campaign was a sorry business, and " more valuable Officers and men have lost their lives in Canada without effecting any one thing of consequence, than the Duke of Wellington lost in the emancipation of Spain and in accelerating the downfall of the Tyrant of Europe. But this is pessimism indeed.
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