if steered by a wheel. Our baggage having arrived from New Brunswick, we were obliged to throw aside our fur caps, blanket coats, and rags, to find but a bad exchange for our free life on the Richelieu in the pipe-clay and garrison duty of Montreal. Then the parade, or guard, or smart review, CHAPTER XV. UPPER CANADA-NIAGARA. Look back! Lo! where it comes like an eternity, As if to sweep down all things in its track, Charming the eye with dread, a matchless cataract. Horribly beautiful! but on the verge From side to side, beneath the glittering morn, An Iris sits amidst the infernal surge, Like Hope upon a death-bed, and unworn By the distracted waters, bear serene Its brilliant hues with all their beams unshorn : Love watching Madness with unalterable mien. CHILDE HAROLD. Leave Montreal for Upper Canada-Niagara-The Falls in Winter-Clothing-Mammoth Icicles-Governor's Feed The Lady from Troy-Hanging Match-Benito Soto. At six o'clock in the morning, at least two miles out of the town of Montreal, and in the midst of as much fuss as is generally displayed on an ill-managed garrison field-day, we received an order to march in two hours for Upper Canada, to prevent the self-styled 66 patriots" from crossing the Niagara. We had neither breakfast nor baggage, and were consequently without incumbrance. As the clock struck eight, the right wing moved off, and by nine were packed in boats on the canal cut to avoid the Rapids of Lachinebetween the Lake St. Francis and Montrealwhen we were transferred to steam-boats, and ascended the Ottawa, landed and crossed a portage of some twelve miles, to overcome the Rapids of the St. Lawrence, which roared on our left during our midnight march. Towards morning, wet through and beat, we were again sent on board steamers, and by noon the following day were landed, jaded, fagged, and without food, at Cornwall, when a halt showed sufficiently the absurdity of our hurried march, which had been performed in strict conformity with the command received, viz., 66 light marching order," no food having been supplied by the quartermaster-general's department, so there was no exertion required on the part of the men to carry it; who, poor devils, indulged at night with what they good-humouredly termed a soldier's supper, viz., "some wind and a pipe of tobacco;' and, when it is taken into consideration that they found the tobacco themselves, it is easy to ascertain the exact amount of the consideration of the quartermaster-general's department. From Cornwall we again marched to avoid the Rapids, among which was to be discerned the terrific "Long Sault," one of the grandest scenes on this magnificent river, at the moment a fleet of bateaux were shooting the Rapid. Any description of the sea-green river, the broken and foaming tide, the skill of the voyageurs when entangled in such a Rapid, or of the scene itself, is beyond my powers. The ever-varying scenery of the Thousand Islands was passed, and we were put up in the fort overlooking the town and harbour of Kingston, at the outlet of Lake Ontario, and at the head of the navigation of the St. Lawrence; whence, after a couple of days' rest, we were ordered on board a large steamer, where we found the governor of the province and a fieldbattery, and immediately got under weigh for the Niagara. The next evening we were under canvass on the plateau in front of the village of Niagara. Nothing could be more lovely than the accidental locale of our encampment; on the right flowed the river, sea-green till it mixed its water with those of the deep-blue Ontario, which, calm as molten silver, lay before us. A glorious sunset contrasted the golden-tinted green of the hickory with our gay encampment. An invitation to a dinner and a dance soon arrived; the band played soft music, while cool claret and the bright eyes of the Niagara fair obliterated all re |