COLONEL THE HON. SIR ALLAN NAPIER MACNAB, BART., AIDE-DE-CAMP TO HER MAJESTY, AND SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF CANADA. Let to-morrow take care of to-morrow, If to hope over much be an error, "Tis one that the wise have preferred; And how often have hearts been in terror Of evils-that never occurred! On the 25th of April, 1813, an American squadron of sixteen sail, conveying a land force of 2,500 men, left Sackett's Harbor for the invasion of Canada. We shall make use of Colonel Coffin's graphic description of the event, as narrated in his interesting Chronicle of the War of 1812, for it will introduce us to the subject of this sketch in the character in which he is most racily remembered. "Videttes had been long before posted in constant watch on Scarborough Heights, with orders to fire alarm guns, and on sight of a hostile fleet to ride into town. It was late on the evening of the 26th of April, when the first report hushed every voice, and stilled for a moment the startled hearts of a whole population. "Night fell as the news arrived, and with it came hurry, confusion and dismay. We read of such things, and in the interest of the story lose sight of the agony of the hour when the tide of terror topples over the dyke which has sustained it so long, and drowns out human endurance, sense and reason. Whatever may have been the conjectures and preparation, whatever the hopes and fears, it is a tremendous thing to realize that the spoiler is at the door. "But the men of Toronto paused not long to whisper, nor could white lips be said to be in any way prevalent. The bounding flood stood still for an instant only. Men who saw the whole extent of their danger, who knew the importance of defence, also knew their duty; and every pulse of the popular heart throbbed with the rage of resistance. Old and young, rich and poor, high and low rushed to arms. The maimed, the wounded, the invalid, the reckless school boy, the grave Judge of the land, all shouldered their muskets and fell into the ranks. McLean, Clerk of the House of Assembly, seized his rifle and was killed at early dawn among the men of the 8th. Young Allan MacNab, a lad of fourteen years, whose name has ever since been identified with Canadian story, stood side by side with a veteran father shattered with wounds, sire and son equally eager for the fray." Before we leave Toronto and accompany what were left of the six hundred men of all arms, under Major-General Sir Roger Hailles Sheaffe, on the retreat to Kingston, it may be desirable to make one or two notes of the race with which the lad of fourteen and his veteran father were blended. From the historical records of the old "Black Watch," or 42nd Royal Highlanders, we learn, that on its organization in 1739, the list of officers of that regiment included the name of Ensign Archibald MacNab, "son of the Laird of MacNab." In what degree he was related to Robert MacNab, a captain in that distinguished corps, and who must have joined it soon afterwards, we shall not wait to enquire. It is enough to state that the latter was cousin-german to John MacNab, of MacNab, that he married Mary Stuart, of Ardvorlick, and had issue, Allan, the father of the subject of this sketch. Robert MacNab was the proprietor of a small estate on the borders of Loch Earn, in Perthshire, called Dundurn. This name his grandson, with commendable taste transferred to Canada when he built his well known residence at Hamilton. Whether Robert MacNab was present at those memorable actions in which his regiment was engaged on the continent of Europe, we are unable to say; but it seems highly probable that he accompanied it in the spring of 1756, when it was ordered the second time to America. Therefore, he may have been at Ticonderoga in 1758, and also at Montreal in 1760, when the Marquis de Vaudreuil surrendered the Province to the British arms. The regiment continued to be quartered in the British Provinces until 1767, when it was sent to Ireland. Many of the men were transferred to other corps, others were discharged, and settled in the country. Whether the settlers included any of the officers we are unable to say; but it may be assumed that Robert MacNab inclined the destination of his son Allan, who availed himself of the occasion which the revolutionary war offered to transfer his services from the third regiment of dragoons in which he held the commission of Lieutenant to the Queen's Ranger Hussars, at that time recruited in America, by Colonel, afterwards Lieutenant-General Simcoe, by whom he was so highly esteemed, as to be selected for that General's principal aid-de-camp. We have no information of hiscareer from the time when the Queen's Ranger Hussars were disbanded, to the time when Lieut.-General Simcoe arrived as the first Lieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, except that during that period he performed one important part of a settler's duty by marrying the youngest daughter of Captain William Napier, commissioner of the port and harbor of Quebec. On the arrival of Lieut.-General Simcoe, he removed his residence to Upper Canada, probably to the town of Newark, now Niagara, its first capital; as it was there, on the 19th February 1798, that his son, Allan Napier MacNab, was born. After residing some time at Niagara, the family removed to the new capital, where they permanently established themselves; for it was at York, now Toronto, that Mr. Allan MacNab, an officer of the revolutionary war, on the half-pay of his rank, was also a salaried clerk under Mr. Jarvis, the Provincial Secretary. Such appears to have been the modest condition of the family on that unforgotton 26th April, 1813, when father and son, the man from his letters, and the boy from his sums, stood shoulder to shoulder, and with the small regular and militia force of that day sought with the heroism of devotion to fulfil the duty of despair, and defend, or attempt to defend a place that was known to be utterly defenceless. It is not difficult to imagine that thin red line, as, on the 27th April, 1813, it fell slowly back from position to position until it received the order for retreat. We can see it retiring like a stag at bay, with "foot to the field and face to the foe." We can fancy the march on that spring morning, over the marshy broken road which formed the eastern outlet of what was once called "Muddy Little York." Whatever shivering the flesh was called upon to bear, there was no ague of the spirit. The breasts of those brave soldiers were as hot as revenge could make them. Their spirit was unvanquished, their hope undimmed, and their faith unsubdued. Their talisman and their trust, the triple crossed flag, still floated over them. Like true men they felt the magic of its blazonry, and blessed the breezes which kissed it so kindly. It was their, it is "Our glorious SEMPER EADEM, the banner of our pride." This is not the place to criticise a movement or to bewail a sacrifice. The error of the General, if it were an error, only added to the glory of the troops. Though a miserable exhibition of war, it was a magnificent display of heroism. Whatever may be thought of Sir Roger Hailles Sheaffe as a commander, no one will question his courage as a soldier, or fail to recognize the skill and address with which he almost paralyzed the enemy in the very hour of victory. The garrison and works, which were the prime objects to be acquired, were scarcely possessed by the assailants when the magazine was exploded, and thus the goal of victory became the grave of the victors. In the very flush of their triumph, two hundred and fifty of their number, including their gallant commander, were in one moment killed or wounded. Having accomplished the march from York to Kingston, young MacNab, through the influence of Sir Roger Sheaffe, entered the Royal Navy, and was rated as a midshipman in the Commodore's |