The Story of the Upper Canadian Rebellion, Volume 1Dent, John Charles
History
The Story of the Upper Canadian Rebellion, Volume 1
Dent, John Charles
Canada -- History -- Rebellion, 1837-1838; Ontario -- Politics and government
the war he was placed on half pay, and took up his abode at York. He
attached himself to the Provincial militia, whence he derived his rank
of Colonel. He likewise obtained a post in the Adjutant-General's
office, and subsequently became Deputy Adjutant-General, which position
he held at the period at which the narrative has arrived. He was also in
the Commission of the Peace, and frequently sat in Quarter Sessions.
His share in suppressing the revolt in 1837 will be narrated in its
proper place. For the rest it may be added that he was always
impecunious, for, apart from the fact that he was no financier, and
never knew how to take care of money when he had any, the expenses of
his outfit when promoted to the rank of Adjutant, in 1806, formed the
nucleus of a debt which hampered him from youth to old age. His
indigence often subjected him to straits which must have been hard to
bear; but he was of a sanguine, joyous disposition, and poverty, though
it might temporarily overcloud his happiness, had no power to break his
indomitable spirit. During his long residence in Canada he was a
persistent seeker after office, because he was almost always in
pecuniary straits; but he fully earned all the emoluments he ever
received from the Government, and if his income had been five times as
large as it ever was he would probably have been neither more
comfortable nor less impecunious. It seemed as though no experience
could lead him to take thought for the morrow. His chief characteristics
were such as are not uncommon among his fellow-countrymen. He was
generous and open-hearted to a fault, ever ready to bestow his last
shilling upon anybody who needed it, or who even made a plausible
pretence of needing it. He was rash, impetuous and indiscreet, but the
ranks of the British army held no braver or more loyal heart than his.
In his simple and gentle soul there was no room for envy or guile. He
seems, indeed, to have been in many respects a sort of Irish reflection
of Colonel Newcome; and the parallel even extended to the outward
circumstances attending the close of their respective lives. Colonel
Newcome, when all his worldly possessions had gone from him, retired to
Grey Friars--the Charterhouse--a retreat for "poor and decayed
brethren," when the world seemed to afford no other asylum. There he
passed the remainder of his days, and there he said "Adsum" when his
name was called for the last time in this world. In like manner Colonel
Fitz Gibbon, when all other resources failed him, was able, through the
kindness of Lord Seaton, to obtain a place in an asylum of somewhat
similar character. At Royal Windsor there is an institution which
provides a retreat from the cares and storms of life for a limited
number of depleted old military officers. The members are styled
Military Knights of Windsor, and the abodes provided for them are
situated "within the precincts." Hither, in 1850, when he had entered
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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