Brock Centenary, 1812-1912

The object of this publication is to preserve an account of the Celebration, at Queenston Heights, of the Brock Centenary, in a more convenient and permanent form than that afforded by the reports (admirable as they are) in the local newspapers.

Celebrations were held in several places in Ontario, notably at St. Thomas, where Dr. J. H. Coyne delivered a fervently patriotic address. Had reports of these been available, extended reference would have been gladly and properly accorded to them in this book. Considerable effort, involving delay in publication, was made to secure the name of every person who attended at Queenston Heights in a representative capacity, and the list is probably complete.

For valuable assistance acknowledgment is due to Colonel Ryerson, Chairman of the General and Executive Committees; to Miss Helen M. Merrill, Honorary Secretary, and to Mr. Angus Claude Macdonell, K.C., M.P., Toronto. Also to Mr. Walter R. Nursey, for the use of the pictures of General Brock, Col. Macdonell, and Brock's Monument, from his interesting work: "The Story of Brock," in the Canadian Heroes Series; and to the Ontario Archives, Toronto, for the use of the picture of the first monument erected to Brock on Queenston Heights.

ALEXANDER FRASER.

[Illustration: From a Silhouette in possession of John Alexander Macdonnell, K.C., Alexandria.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN MACDONELL.

Provincial Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir Isaac Brock; M.P. for Glengarry; Attorney-General of Upper Canada.

--From Nursey's "Story of Isaac Brock" (Briggs).]

CONTENTS

PAGE

Prefatory Note 3

Introduction--J. Stewart Carstairs, B.A. 9

Preliminary Steps 21

General Committee Formed 25

Programme Adopted 26

Reports of Committees 29

Celebrating the Day 32

At Queenston Heights-- Representatives Present 34 Floral Decorations 40 A Unique Scene 42 Historic Flags and Relics 43 Letters of Regret for Absence 44

The Speeches-- Colonel G. Sterling Ryerson 45 Mr. Angus Claude Macdonell, M.P. 50 Hon. Dr. R. A. Pyne, M.P.P. 55 Colonel George T. Denison 58 Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C. 61 Dr. James L. Hughes 67 Chief A. G. Smith 71 Warrior F. Onondeyoh Loft 74 Mr. Charles R. McCullough 75

Appendix I.--Highland Heroes in the War of 1812-14 --Dr. Alexander Fraser 77

Appendix II.--Programme of Toronto Garrison Service in Massey Hall 82

Appendix III.--Indian Contributions to the Reconstruction of Brock's Monument 88

Appendix IV.--Meetings of the Executive Committee subsequent to the Celebration 91

Appendix V.--Captain Joseph Birney 93

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Major-General Brock Frontispiece

Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell, Provincial Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir Isaac Brock 5

Executive Committee 28

First Monument to General Brock at Queenston Heights 33

Brock's Monument 34

Central section of a panoramic picture of the gathering at Queenston Heights 36

Floral Tribute placed on Cenotaph, where Brock fell, by the Guernsey Society, Toronto 38

Brock Centenary Celebration at Queenston Heights 38

Memorial Wreaths placed on the Tombs, at Queenston Heights, of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, Kt., and Colonel John Macdonell, P.A.D.C., Attorney-General of Upper Canada 41

Wreath placed on Brock's Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, Eng., by the Government of Canada 42

Wreath placed on Brock's Monument, Queenston Heights, by the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire 42

Conferring Tribal Membership on Miss Helen M. Merrill 43

Six Nation Indians celebrating Brock's Centenary at Queenston Heights 44

Colonel George Sterling Ryerson, Chairman of Committee 45