The Canadian Brothers | Page 2

in favour of the following tale,
which is now for the first time submitted to the public, and which, from
its historical character, was deemed of sufficient importance not to be
confounded with mere works of fiction. The exception was grounded
on a chapter of the book, which the seeker after incident alone will
dismiss hastily, but over which the more serious reader may be induced
to pause.
The second, and not least important, point disposed of, is one which the
manner in which the principal American characters have been disposed
of, renders in some degree imperative.
The Author has no hesitation in stating, that had it not been for the very
strong interest taken in their appearance, by a portion of the American
public in the first instance, these volumes never would have been
submitted to the press of this country. Hence, to a corresponding
feeling might, under other circumstances, have been ascribed the
favorable light under which the American character has been portrayed.
From the dates of the above letters from the principal Aid-de-Camp and
Private Secretary to His late Majesty, it will, however, be seen, that the
work was written in England, and therefore before there could have
existed the slightest inducement to any undue partiality.
That this is the case, the Author has reason to rejoice; since in
eschewing the ungenerous desire of most English writers on America,
to convey a debasing impression of her people, and seeking, on the
contrary, to do justice to their character, as far as the limited field
afforded by a work, pre-eminently of fiction, will admit, no interested
motive can be ascribed to him. Should these pages prove a means of
dissipating the slightest portion of that irritation which has--and
naturally--been engendered in every American heart, by the perverted

and prejudiced statements of disappointed tourists, whose acerbity of
stricture, not even a recollection of much hospitality could repress; and
of renewing that healthy tone of feeling which it has been endeavoured
to show had existed during the earlier years of the present century, the
Author will indeed feel that he has not written in vain.
One observation in regard to the tale itself. There is a necessary
anachronism in the book, of too palpable a nature not to be detected at a
glance by the reader. It will. however, be perceived, that such
anachronism does not in any way interfere with historical fact, while it
has at the same time facilitated the introduction of events, which were
necessary to the action of the story, and which have been brought on
the scene before that which constitutes the anachronism, as
indispensable precursors to it. We will not here mar the reader's interest
in the story, by anticipating, but allow him to discover and judge of the
propriety of the transposition himself.
Tecumseh, moreover, is introduced somewhat earlier than the strict
record of facts will justify; but as his presence does not interfere with
the general accuracy of the detail, we trust the matter of fact reader,
who cannot, at least, be both to make early acquaintance with this
interesting Chieftain, will not refuse us the exercise of our privilege as
a novelist, in disposing of characters, in the manner most pleasing to
the eye.
We cannot conclude without apology for the imperfect Scotch, which
we have (to use a homely phrase,) put into the mouth of one of our
characters, our apology for which is that we were unaware of the error,
until the work had been so far printed as not to admit of our remedying
it. We are consoled, however, by the reflection that we have given the
person in question so much of the national character that he can well
afford to lose something in a minor particular.
THE AUTHOR.

THE CANADIAN BROTHERS; OR, THE PROPHECY FULFILLED.

CHAPTER I
.
At the northern extremity of the small town which bears its name,

situated at the head of Lake Erie, stands, or rather stood--for the
fortifications then existing were subsequently destroyed--the small
fortress of Amherstburg.
It was the summer of 1812. Intelligence had been some days received at
that post, of the declaration of war by the United States, the great aim
and object of which was the conquest, and incorporation with her own
extensive territories, of provinces on which she had long cast an eye of
political jealousy, and now assailed at a moment when England
(fighting the battles of the, even to this moment, recreant and
unredeemed Peninsula,) could ill spare a solitary regiment to the rescue
of her threatened, and but indifferently defended transatlantic
possessions.
Few places in America, or in the world, could, at the period embraced
by our narrative, have offered more delightful associations than that
which we have selected for an opening scene.