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of public money could be made, which would reflect greater credit upon our Legislature, than for the erection of a monument to their memory. What place more fitting than the old Johnstown District, by the banks of the magnificent river, which, once crossed, brought them to the Mecca of their hopes—a land where they and their children were destined to enjoy in the highest degree the benefits of a government based upon the fullest exercise of civil and religious liberty. Actuated by a sublime patriotism and the noblest feelings of manhood, they left behind the loaves and fishes of democracy, preferring, in their stead, the justice of a constitutional monarchy. All the way from the New England States, their trail was marked with blood, such as the heroes at Marathon and Leuctra shed. Hunted by day, and shot down at night, multitudes paid the forfeit with their lives. To insult their rob, plunder, and defenceless wives and children, was to elicit marks of approbation from the Continental authorities. When they had concealed from the rapacious enemy a few morsels of food, they were, time and again, drawn up to the tops of trees (within sight of their sorrowing families), by means of a rope around their necks; remaining firm. their lives paid the forfeit. What was their crime? Simply because they They believed that the evils of which the colonists complained should held that rebellion was wrong. be righted by constitutional means. True to the natural instincts of hearts beating with loyalty, they refused to become aliens to the old flag, under which they were born, had lived, and hoped to die. Theirs was a lofty patriotism, worthy of emulation by their sons, who should ever be ready to spurn the charge of disloyalty that has, in some instances, been flung at them by parties who have yet to prove that they would sacrifice all for country’s sake. When the fortunes of war turned against Great Britain, the Loyalists were made to feel that they were outcasts. In intellectual supremacy and moral worth, their claims more than weighed down the rebels. Says Sabine: “From what has been said, it is evident that a very considerable portion of the professional and editorial intelligence and talents of the thirteen colonies was arrayed against the popular movement.” Again: "A large number of the clergy were United Empire Loyalists; the giants of the law were nearly all Loyalists; the physicians were mostly Tories.” For many years, our schools were filled with American geographies and _ histories, written to | the Republic. Happily for Canada, such a curse has "passed away. Yet it speaks volumes for our country and its institutions, that, in the face of teachings so pernicious, there has grown up and developed in our young men a sturdy patriotism never surpassed. Could the trackless wastes, from the Valley of the Mohawk to the Canadian frontier have spoken, what tales of sorrow would they have uttered ? Barefooted men, women, and children, pressing onward, hungry and footsore,often in the dead of winter seeking protection within the British lines! Longfellow, in the beautiful poem, “ Evangeline,” has told the world of the expulsion of the - Acadians. What they suffered was exceeded in severity by the United Empire Loyalists, who founded the town of St. John, on the St. John River, swelled the population of Halifax, and settled along the Bay of Fundy; ten thousand, in the years 1784-5, facing the wilderness of Ontario, and dotting with hamlets the beautiful shores of the St. Lawrence and the Bay of Quinte. The first severe blow which befell the Loyalists was the defeat of Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga, N.Y.,in 1777. They had flocked to his standard in great numbers, and when he surrendered, no adequate provision was made for their protection. They were handed over to the tender mercies of a villanous band, called the “Sons of Liberty,” who carried out the most diabolical systems of persecution. Many took refuge in the military forts established on the frontier. When Great Britain was compelled to acknowledge the independence of the United States, the utmost consternation seized upon the Loyalists in the British army ; many tore the lappels from their coats, and declared that they were ruined. Upwards of twelve thousand men, women, and children embarked at the port of New York, seeking homes in Nova Scotia, the Bahamas,and Canada. Prompt measures were taken by the respective Legislatures of the different States, "to attaint and confiscate,”’ also prohibiting the return of Loyalists, under the penalty of imprisonment, and even death. Confiscation did its work rapidly, and in a few months thousands were turned into the trails leading to Canada, to struggle forward, or to die. Well did Mr. Sheridan denounce as a crime the policy which delivered defenders of the flag “ over to confiscation, tyranny, resentment, and oppression.” the refugees assembling in large numbers at St. John. From this point Jessup’s corps departed after being disbanded, and many of its numbers. became the pioneer settlers of Leeds and Grenville, a az Mk
