FOOTNOTES:
[1] “Among French as well as among English military men, swearing on every trivial occasion was formerly so common that it was considered as quite the proper thing. A witty French author asserted that ‘God Damn était le fonds de la langue anglaise’—the root of the English language! whilst the Vicomte de Parny, an elegant writer, composed a poem in four cantos bearing that profane title. Long before and after the British soldiers ‘swore so dreadfully in Flanders;’ long before and after Cambronne uttered his malodorous ‘juron’ on the field of Waterloo—though it must be confessed in extenuation the incidents of that day were ugly enough to make any of Napoleon’s vieilles moustaches swear most emphatically—swearing was indulged in all over Europe.”—J. M. LeMoine.
[2] Curiæ Canadenses.
[3] This banner, a remnant of an old election, with date changed, was taken possession of by Sir Francis and carried to England as a personal trophy. His grandson, Sir Robert Head, ignorant of the flag’s true history, exhibited it, as apropos, on the occasion of the lunch given by the National Liberal Club to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, K.C.M.G., July 9, 1897. The Canadian statesman followed the spirit of Lord Sydenham’s life and utterances in the comment that “in 1837 Canadians were fighting for constitutional rights, not against the British Crown.” Query: By what right was the banner left in the possession of Sir Francis?
[4] In opposition to this account see Dent’s “History of the Canadian Rebellion.”
[5] McArthur raided the neighbourhood twice. After such a lapse of time, narrators doubtless are more interested in incident than in date.
[6] Presentation of medal and chain, January 2, 1832.
[7] This cloak was returned to Mackenzie anonymously when he was in Monroe County prison.