During the winter of 1814-15 a king’s messenger arrived at Montreal with despatches, announcing the conclusion of a treaty of peace with America, and I was ordered to proceed with this despatch to Upper Canada to put an end to further hostilities. I travelled by sleigh with a pair of horses on the ice, driven by a French Canadian along the River St. Lawrence, avoiding the rapids at the several portages. When crossing Lake St. Francois—an expansion of the St. Lawrence—it being near the close of the winter, the ice broke under us. The driver was skilful, lashed his horses, which sprang with their fore-feet on the firm ice, giving them a fresh impulse; this also broke and several others in succession, until at length the firm ice was gained at some distance. The current underneath was very rapid. I delivered my despatch to the Commodore, Sir Jas. Yeo, on board his flag ship the “Ontario,” 110 guns, at Kingston, Lake Ontario. This ship was an extraordinary object to see on a fresh water lake. After my return from Upper Canada I rejoined the 1st Battalion of my regiment, and intelligence having arrived of the escape of Napoleon Bonaparte from Elba, 10,000 troops, chiefly composed of regiments recently arrived, and which had belonged to the army of the Duke of Wellington, were ordered to embark at Quebec, and were to receive further instructions on reaching the English Channel. Those troops were formed into three brigades, under Sir Geo. Murray, Sir Thos. Brisbane, and Sir Fredk. Robinson, with artillery, and equipped in all points ready to take the field. They sailed in the month of May, and expected to reach Europe in time to take part in the first battle with the army of Napoleon. When the fleet of transports reached the banks of Newfoundland it was enveloped in a dense fog, and the ships’ bells were constantly ringing to prevent their falling foul of each other. Suddenly they entered a clear atmosphere, which was caused by the presence of numerous icebergs of enormous size. The Commodore, Sir Geo. Collyer, in the “Liffey” frigate, sailed close to one of them, and his royal-masts only reached two-thirds of its height. It must have been 100 feet high, and ice is always two-thirds under water; its length was about three miles, and its enormous bulk may thus be conceived. It must have broken off from some very high cliff. It appeared clear as crystal, and numerous rills of water were flowing down its sides forming gullies. The clear atmosphere extended within a radius of about five miles; after which the ships re-entered the fog on the opposite side. On entering the English Channel a frigate was waiting the arrival of the fleet, and gave the intelligence that the Battle of Waterloo had been fought only seven days previously. The strong regiments landed in France and joined the army of occupation at Paris. The 8th landed at Portsmouth and marched to Windsor, where it was quartered.