Red of St. George, 1/5 of 5 feet 1 ft. 0 in. Upper white border 4 in. Lower white border 4 in. ----------- 1 ft. 8 in. or 1/3 of 5 ft. Red of St. Patrick 4 in. White of St. Patrick 2 in. Broad white of St. Andrew 6 in. ----------- 1 ft. 0 in. or 1/5 of 5 ft. It is possible that this form of compliance with the heraldic rules was fully intended; yet, even were it not so, it is at all events a happy coincidence which might be taken as a conformity to these rules, and thus the flag which has been confirmed in its shape by the usage and glory of centuries should be cheerfully accepted by the heraldically inclined as being completely satisfactory. It is not to the point for them to say it might look better if it were made some other way, for that would be merely a matter of opinion; or that if the heralds had had the making of it they would have made it differently, but it was not of their making, that having been settled by the Council in the selected draft of which the heralds worded a description, or, as some state, a misdescription; but it cannot fail to be admitted by all, that, as now made, it has been made, in all its parts, in the way ordered by the successive Councils, in whom authority was vested for its designing and issue. The proportions of the crosses and of the borders of our Union Jack are thus not only technically correct, but, of still higher importance, they also preserve in detailed sequence the historical proportions of the three nations and of the three national Jacks, which were, in 1801, joined together in completed union. Our noble flag, with its centuries of loyal history, might well, therefore, be held sacred and free from any objections on theoretical proportions. CHAPTER XXII. _UNDER THE THREE CROSSES IN CANADA._ In 1801 the "new" three-cross union had entered into the upper corner of the red ensign of British rule. The Canadians, both French and English, had been faithful to its two-crossed predecessor, and now again their patriotism was to be put to the test. The parent kingdom of Great Britain had for nineteen years been engaged in its mighty struggle with the great Napoleon for the supremacy of Europe, and the time seemed opportune to a section of the people of the United States for gaining an advantage over the nation from which they had separated their allegiance, and also for striking a blow at the neighbouring people who had refused to become absorbed with them, and had so successfully resisted their previous invasion.