while, I have thought over what your daughter said to me, and as it is my most earnest wish to have you make the voyage to Europe safely, I have myself examined the ship that has been chosen for you to see if it was suitable, but I find it unsafe. On the contrary, however, the one that your daughter was so pleased with, I find to be as good as I could wish for you, and therefore, although it is not of the number of those that were selected for the transportation of the troops, I have, nevertheless, assumed the responsibility of hiring it and having it put in proper order for the occupation of yourself and family. Now go and look at it, and order it fitted up for your comfort exactly as you wish. I have already given orders that every thing shall be as you desire. Your husband is about to go to Sorell, and it would be well if you should also accompany him thither to make all necessary arrangements for your voyage. But you must return soon and give me your company for the little time that will remain to you before your departure." He then left me deeply moved. How could one not give such a man his whole friendship?

An hour afterwards Major Twiss came to take me on board the ship. It was a large West-India three-decker, and in good condition. The captain, also, was highly praised as an excellent seaman, and a courteous and upright man. They showed me every part of the ship, and requested me to select those apartments I desired, as I would certainly need a dining and a sitting room. I laughed and said, "How can you manage to give me such accommodations." "Let me alone for that," replied the major. He immediately ordered the cannons, which were on the gun deck, to be taken away, a large window to be cut through above it, and on each side closets,* for the gentlemen, in which their beds, chairs and tables were securely fastened. We retained for ourselves the great cabin, in which my husband and myself had a closet with two beds, and close by one for our

*State-rooms in modern parlance.

children. In short, every thing was comfortable as could be expected in such a floating prison.

sug

The day after I went to Sorell, in order to travel faster, I was advised to make the journey in a boat. I followed the gestion; but we soon found the water too shallow, and they told us we must again take to land. "But how shall we reach it," said I, "for here there is nothing but swamps and stones?" It was then proposed to carry us, which, indeed, was a frightful undertaking, for our bearers slipped every instant. When we at last reached the land, a new difficulty awaited us; for we were obliged to climb up a high and very stony mountain. I protested that I never should be able to ascend it; but the Canadians who are inured to this kind of work, and can climb like chamois, assured me that this was a mere trifle to them, and besides, that there was nothing else left for us but to ascend the mountain. Accordingly they carried up my children, at the same time that two of the men dragged me up the ascent under their arms. The mountain was so steep, that those who went ahead of me, seemed as if they would fall on to me; besides all of which, the heat was unbearable. Finally, after much toil and trouble, we arrived at the top; and it was high time, for I was so completely tired out, that I was obliged to sit down, while my veins, also, were so swollen, from my having overheated myself, that my poor children felt exceedingly anxious about me. We were compelled to pass a night on the way. I found, however, a good bed and some refreshment, both of which I needed to restore my strength; and the next morning we again set out on our journey.

On our arrival at Sorell, I found my husband already very busy, and I, on my part, set myself to work to such good purpose, that in about a week I was able to return to Quebec, whither my husband very soon followed me. Before leaving, however, I took pains to speak to the parish priest, who was a very good man, about my little daughter's grave in that place, and to express to him my fears, that some of the very bigoted

people living there, out of blind zeal, would violate the resting place of one who was no Catholic child. But he assured me that the child had only been christened, not yet confirmed; and that it was therefore regarded as an angel, whose ashes would not be disturbed. He, also, gave me his word that he would personally watch over them.

On our return to Quebec, I heard that the new alterations of our ship had already advanced so far that every thing in it had assumed an entirely different appearance, and that General Haldimand himself had been there several times to oversee matters, besides having sent on board a cow and her calf, that we might be supplied constantly with fresh milk. He had also caused a place upon the upper-deck to be covered with earth, and salad-plants set out, which was not only very agreeable but exceedingly healthy on a sea-voyage. We bought also many fowls, sheep and house vegetables, so careful was I (as there were many of us), that our table — at which twenty-two people sat down daily-should be well supplied.

Our physician, Doctor Kennedy, on our passage through Three Rivers, pressed us to arrange it in such a manner that his family, namely, his wife and three daughters, two maid-servants and an attendant, could go with us to Europe. We promised him, accordingly, to speak with the general, for he was very skillful, and we thought it would be a capital idea to have such a man with us. The general replied to me, when I asked him, "The ship is yours, arrange matters as you please; but you do not know the pretentions of these people, who will make you a good deal of trouble." I learned afterward, by dear experience, that he knew his man well.

Another cabin was, accordingly, fixed up close to ours for Madame Kennedy and two of her daughters and a maid-servant; my children taking her third daughter, who was ten years old, in their own state-room. The doctor, himself, occupied one of the cabins in the great space adjoining the saloon.

On our departure, my husband sent to the good general his

favorite mare, with her beautiful foal; and in return he sent me a magnificent muff and tippet of sable, to remind us of the land where we had so long resided. This, too, was the more appropriate, as furs of many kinds are the principal products of Canada. English merchants become rich by sending over common articles of merchandise, which they exchange for furs, that are afterward dressed in England.

The general also, presented my daughter, Augusta, with a beautiful hound; and indeed he neglected no opportunity of showing his great friendship for us; and on our departure he was so much moved, that we also, were deeply affected. Two days before our departure, the English officers paid us the attention-in a comedy which they gave twice a week, and the receipts of which, after deducting the expenses of lighting up, went to the poor- of giving, at the end of the performance, a truly touching song, expressive of their regret at the departure of our troops; closing with thanking my husband for his kind. treatment of each one of them, and with wishing us a prosperous journey.

After my husband had seen to the embarkation of the troops, we took dinner and tea with the general; after which, he carried us himself, to the ship, where we took a right hearty and sad farewell of him, and several others, who had showed us friendship.

MRS. RIEDESEL'S ACCOUNT OF HER RETURN

JOURNEY TO EUROPE.

It was about the middle of the month of August, when we set out on our return journey to Europe. My husband, myself and our three children went, as I have already said, in the same ship. The morning after we had embarked, the signal of our departure was given. Every one laid in as great a supply of fresh meat as he could; and an hour after, our whole fleet was under sail. We sailed as far as the Isle de Bec, at the mouth of the river St. Lawrence, where we were obliged to lie two whole weeks waiting for favorable winds. This made it the more unfortunate for all hands, as we were consequently forced to use up our supplies of fresh meat and vegetables, for the surrounding country had those articles neither as good, nor as abundant as was necessary to meet the wants of the whole fleet. We also learned that we would not be able to reach Europe before the equinoctial, and would run great danger of meeting with the storms so prevalent at that time off the English coast.

While we were in this frame of mind, our chaplain, Mylius, of my husband's regiment, held one Sunday his accustomed service; and just as he was praying most fervently that God would soon grant us a favorable wind and a happy arrival in our father-land, the ship, which had hitherto lain motionless in the calm, suddenly began to move; and as the chaplain said, "Amen," the cry went round that the English commodore, who commanded the fleet, had just given the signal for our departure.