to his retirement in Guernsey. Indeed, the navy has little
left to do, while the army has now a glorious opportunity of
distinguishing itself as much as the sister service. Valour
the British troops always possessed, but unless they evince
discipline, their fame will be blasted for a century to come.


_Brigadier Brock to his Brothers_.

QUEBEC, November 19, 1808.

Yesterday Irving's letter of the 19th September reached me.
How very thankful I feel for his attention. But I have not
received that which he mentions Savery had written on the same
day, giving an account of his proceedings in Spain and
Portugal. This is a truly mortifying disappointment, as it is
impossible to discover by the public prints the mystery by
which the conduct of our officers has been influenced. The
precaution which Irving took to transcribe a part of the
letter, has proved very lucky. Notwithstanding, I look for the
original with unusual impatience, as Savery's opinion must be
formed upon what he saw in full practice in the best
disciplined army that ever, I imagine, left England. His
observations are never thrown away.

I am still confined to my room, more indeed on account of the
badness of the weather than any want of progress in my
recovery. We have had very hard gales from the East. The
Iphigenia frigate, with her convoy, could not have cleared the
land, and the greatest apprehension is entertained for her