commissariat department, and engaged in an unpleasant dispute with
President Dunn, the civil administrator of Lower Canada, regarding the
fortifications of the Citadel. To-day deep in plans for mobilizing the
militia and the formation of a Scotch volunteer corps of Glengarry
settlers; to-morrow devising the best way of utilizing an Indian force
in the event of war. In June, 1807, the affair between the British
gunboat _Leopard_ and the American frigate _Chesapeake_ occurred. The
former boarded the latter in search of deserters, and on being
challenged, gave the _Chesapeake_ a broadside. While the _Leopard_ was
clearly in the wrong, the United States Government rejected every offer
of reparation made by Britain. Then came retaliation. French
vessels--though France was at war with Britain--were actually allowed by
the United States, a neutral power, full freedom of its harbours. The
ships of Britain, a power at peace with the United States of America,
were refused the same privilege.

For a proper understanding of the position we must unroll a page of
history. Napoleon, though he crushed the Prussians at Jena, could not
efface the memory of his own humiliation at Trafalgar. His ears tingled.
He was waiting to deliver a blow that would equalize the destruction of
his fleet by Nelson. Though Britain remained mistress of the seas,
surely, thought the "little corporal," a way could be found to humble
her. If her sources of food supply, for instance, could be cut off, "the
wings of her war-ships would be clipped."

To this end Napoleon issued an arrogant proclamation, which was of
far-reaching effect. It authorized the destruction of all British goods
and all colonial produce shipped to any European port by a British
vessel. It allowed the seizure by France of all ships, of whatever
nation, which had even _called_ at a British port. To this the United