danger in discharging their sacred duties. Not having been regularly enrolled, Dr. Burwash was too modest to apply, or at all events had not applied for the 1866 medal; but I, on my own motion, made the application which was readily granted, and no one to-day has a better right to wear, or more worthily wears, the same than our venerable and affectionately esteemed chaplain, Dr. Burwash.

"While to-day our attention is directed to the important operations in which we are more immediately concerned, it is fitting that we should commemorate the spirited manner in which the whole volunteer force rose to arms in readiness to join in the defense of their country, and the general population everywhere organized into home guards. It was a convincing proof that Canadians were the reverse of lukewarm as to what might be the future destiny of their country."

The General continued in eloquent terms to speak of the progress of Canada politically, materially and nationally during the past fifty years. In closing his remarks in reference to the part that is being taken by Canada in the great world war now in progress, he said:

"Canada has stepped out into the world's arena, and amid the applause of nations, has joined in the struggle against Prussian ambition for universal domination, in the struggle for democratic liberty and freedom, for the rights of smaller nationalities and for the establishment of a perpetual peace.

"Fellow veterans who are still answering the roll call, soon we shall join the ranks of those who have already gone. May it always be said by those following us that in a critical time in the history of our country, the memory of which we are to-day reviving, we to our utmost strove to do our duty."

As the grounds were a sea of mud and the rain descending in torrents, the demonstration on the battlefield was eliminated, and the programme was closed with the singing of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," and "God Save the King.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, quite a large crowd had gathered on the battlefield and during the ceremonies their umbrellas formed a roof which made quite a display to the occupants of the many automobiles standing near. The veterans present found that some changes had taken place in half a century; but they easily recognized the place and found most of the buildings and other landmarks standing as of yore, the marks of the bullets still being plain in some places. There stands the barn where most of the wounded were carried, "This is the tree where two of us tried to get shelter at the same time, while we fired at the Fenians, "Here is where our company extended in skirmish line," "There is where the square was formed," and such like remarks were exchanged as the men viewed the grounds.

The generally expressed opinion was that while it was a disappointment to have the programme so interfered with, and opportunities for sight seeing so curtailed, yet there had been much pleasure in the occasion, and all or nearly all were glad to have been present. Old friendships were renewed and there was a determination soon to visit the place again. The visitors to Ridgeway were much pleased with the welcome they received from the citizens and the officials of the town and the preparations which had been made for their comfort. Finally, it is gratifying to note that not an accident occurred to sadden the occasion, and the pleasant recollections outweigh the disappointments.

III.

ROBERT (FLEMING) GOURLAY.

Reminiscences of his Last Days in Canada.

By Mrs. Sidney Farmer.

Following Mr. Justice Riddell's paper on Robt. F. Gourlay in the last number of the Ontario Historical Society's "Papers and Records", these notes may be interesting concerning Mr. Gourlay's life and family both at Mount Elgin, Canada, and in Edinburgh, Scotland.

My father, John McLellan Smith, of Sunnyside, Toronto, acted as Mr. Gourlay's agent and confidential adviser for many years, and was also an intimate friend of the family. Mr. Smith lived at that time seven miles away from Mt. Elgin, in the village of Campbellton, of which he was sole owner. It contained three large houses and about a dozen small ones for the use of his men; also a supply store, a blacksmith shop, and a saw-mill. And to this tiny village Mr. Gourlay fled from his persecutors many times. Mr. Smith was Warden of the County in 1861, and Reeve for 13 years in succession, and a Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a native of the Island of Islay, Scotland, and came to Canada when very young, settling first in Dereham, afterwards removing to Toronto, and dying in 1883. His wife was a daughter of Col. Charles S. Perley, of Burford, who was a prominent military man in Western Ontario, and descended from U. E. Loyalists on three sides of the family. Smith is the Anglicized form of McGowan, the name his ancestors were known by.

Mr. Smith had a high opinion of Mr. Gourlay, and said his ideas were good, and that he was persecuted unjustly, but the great trouble was that he was ahead of his time, and Mr. Smith lived to see fulfilled later many of the principles for which Mr. Gourlay lived and suffered. He was instrumental in securing pensions for life for the daughters after Mr. Gourlay's death from the Government, which had found that Mr. Gourlay was really a benefactor rather than a busybody.

He had an enormous number of lawsuits to contest, some from his own ideas of justice, and others seemingly from scheming tenants and neighbours (for he owned over 1000 acres of farming land in Ontario), and his second marriage proved most unfortunate. He had an extremely good housekeeper who proved so efficient in cooking, nursing, and making his life comfortable, that Mr. Gourlay married her-when she became just the opposite. As a wife, she refused to continue to work, and demanded so much, and acted so disagreeably, burning many of Mr. Gourlay's very valuable papers, taking his property, etc., that Mr. Gourlay was obliged to leave her, and make a settlement with her. Indeed at this time (1858) Mr. Gourlay fled several times in the night to Mr. Smith's house to get away from Mary.