the schooner next morning, to offer them and their companions surgical attendance, and whatever money, clothes, or other necessaries they might require; but they gratefully declined his bounty, having now drawn six months' pay, and being well supplied. The duty of recording these acts of the Prince is most gratifying to the author of this work, who owes a personal debt to his memory, from the distinguished notice His Royal Highness took of his father, whom he selected from the whole army for the adjutancy of his own regiment, though the wear of hard service prevented his accepting the appointment.

Lieutenant Douglas and his companions left Halifax in a West India vessel carrying produce to Canada, and passed between Nova Scotia and the island of Cape Breton to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Here they met a squall which sprung the fore-topmast, and compelled them to enter the bay to refit; affording the young officer an opportunity of visiting Douglas Town, erected to commemorate his father's relief of Quebec. The rescued party did not reach the capital till July. Here the name of Douglas was as familiar as at the town below, and would have insured the son of the great Admiral a cordial reception at any time; but obtained him a heartier welcome now that he came as from the grave, seven months after his supposed loss. What gratified him most was the recognition of his meritorious conduct by his superiorsconveyed to him in the following letter from Lieut.General Pattison, Commandant of the 4th Battalion of the Royal Artillery, and intended to acknowledge a narrative of the shipwreck he had addressed to Captain Frazer:

TO LIEUTENANT DOUGLAS, 4TH BATTALION ROYAL ARTILLERY.

"DEAR SIR,

"[London], Hill-street, 22nd April, 1796.

"Your letter to Captain Frazer, reciting all the circumstances of your shipwreck, is a tale of such deep woe and distress as must necessarily make a forcible impression on the feelings of every one who has read it. I am sure it had a full effect upon mine. It only remains for me to offer you my sincere congratulations on the providential escape which you and your surviving companions most fortunately met with; and whilst I gratefully admire the ways of Providence in preserving your lives, I must at the same time pay a just tribute to your cool, firm, and undaunted behaviour during the scenes of horror you underwent. I am convinced that the prudent steps you took after getting on shore proved the happy means of your preservation. After the arrival of your letter I lost no time in laying it before the Master-General, and, since that, I made the strongest application to the Board of Ordnance, requesting that they would be pleased to grant you and all the sufferers an indemnification for the losses sustained by that melancholy event, to which I yesterday received an answer, and which I transmit enclosed; although you will probably receive one directly from the Board, requiring the affidavit therein specified. Unluckily I had not received this letter from the Board when Lieutenant Kiggell called upon me yesterday, previous to his departure from London; but I hope this will reach him at Portsmouth before he sails; and that he may have the pleasure of giving it to you at Quebec.

"I desire you will remember me with my good

wishes to your young companions in the hour of distress, and accept the same yourself from, dear Sir, "Your very faithful humble servant,

"JAMES PATTISON."

At

It will be seen that General Pattison ascribes the preservation of the survivors to the steps taken by Lieutenant Douglas, and the account of the occurrence must suggest the same conviction to every mind. the age of nineteen he had shown an aptitude for grappling with difficulties, a degree of fortitude amidst privation and danger, and a power of influencing others, worthy of an experienced commander; and the manner in which his future life developed kindred qualities induces a regret that he had no opportunity of bringing them into play on the widest field.

The tribute paid to his conduct by General Pattison had an effect upon him similar to the recognition of his talents by Dr. Hutton in earlier years, encouraging his self-reliance without raising his self-esteem; and he used to say that the pleasure it afforded surpassed any he experienced from future appreciation. Nothing could show more the elevation of his character than this feeling, for he was to receive approval from the lips of kings; but he felt greater pride that the first trial had proved him worthy of his name, in a region connected with his father, and where it became him to sustain his father's exploits.

The reputation he had acquired now obtained for him an employment of the very kind he could have wished. News reached Quebec that a French squadron was scouring the coast of Newfoundland, and had been seen bearing towards St. John's, sweeping before it the

colonial traders and the vessels fishing on the great bank. Then came reports that it had not ventured to force the harbour of St. John's, but ran into the Bay of Bulls, where it destroyed the fishing stages, but made only a short stay, hurrying off to the northern entrance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Here Admiral Richey hoisted the French flag on the island of St. Pierre, which had surrendered to a force from Halifax the year before, but had been left without a garrison, though a number of British fishermen had taken possession, and built a little town. This the French destroyed, as well as the fishing establishment and all the stages, leaving the island a desert. The squadron then divided, and a portion sailed for the coast of Labrador, to intercept the homeward-bound fleet from Quebec, while Admiral Richey remained near Cape Breton with four sail of the line and a frigate. The British naval force on the station consisted only of a 50-gun ship of an obsolete type, and four frigates, not one of which was in the St. Lawrence. Hence the French Admiral's vicinity excited great alarm at Quebec, and it became important to know what he was doing in the Gulf, particularly as the outward-bound fleet from England was due, and it appeared certain that it would be cut off. The situation of affairs determined the Canadian Government to send out a vessel for intelligence, and a schooner was equipped and got ready for the service, but so completely had the maritime class been absorbed by the war, that no competent person could be found to take her to sea.

In this emergency eyes began to be cast at a little sailing-boat which cruised about the bay in all weathers, but never more than when it blew fresh;

and it transpired that she belonged to young Douglas, the hero of the shipwreck and the son of the Admiral who relieved Quebec. A rumour spread that he had been in the navy, and this set the authorities to think that he was the very man they wanted and would make an excellent captain for their cruiser.

The subject came before the Governor, General Prescott, and he sent the Deputy Adjutant-General to confer with Douglas, and ascertain his inclination, at the same time that he represented the importance of the service, and that it must be abandoned if not accomplished at once. It was too much to the taste of the young officer to be declined, but he set a modest appreciation on his own capacity, and only agreed to command the schooner if "no better man could be found." The Governor declared that he wished for no better, and placed the vessel in his charge.

He might now feel rewarded for the self-denial he had practised in resigning the profession of his choice at the bidding of his guardians; for what more could he have achieved as a sailor than to be selected for such a post on the spot where he would most desire this recognition-in the basin of Quebec. Indeed the navy would not have afforded such an opening at an age when he might still be a midshipman ; and his success taught him that he could be in no better way to distinction if he made use of his opportunities.

The schooner was from 220 to 250 tons burthen, deep waisted in build, and reputed a swift sailer. Her armament consisted of eight 12-pounder carronades, and two long guns, in charge of artillerymen, and she carried a good crew with a first and second mate, and