The Trail of the King’s Men by Mabel B. Dunham (review)

REVIEWS OF BOOKS 331 of Quebec. In a first part, the author comparesthe merits of the two systems, institutional care and placing-out of children, and seems to favour the former. He then proceedsto show how the religiouscommunities succeedin fulfilling their socialwork at a lower cost than civic institutions, thanks to the gratuitous servicesof their own membersand their self-sacrificingmode of life. As to their efficiency,it restson the permanenceof a trained personnel. But it is pointedout that physical education should receive a larger considerationthan is generally the case. The author claimsthat the Quebecsystemresultsin greatsaving to thetreasurybut that largergrantsshouldbeextended to thedeserving communities. The secondpart of the book is devoted to a review of the multifarious activities of the thirty-nine religiouscommunitiesengaged in the work of suchinstitutionsas day-nurseries,orphanages,asylums, hospitals, industrial schools, reformatories, deaf and dumb schools, institutions for the blind, etc.,in the Province of Quebec. GUSTAVE LINCTaT The Trail of the King's Men. By MABEL B. DUNHAM. Toronto: The Ryerson Press. 1031. Pp. 314. ($2.00) TI•E appearanceof Miss Mabel Dunham's latest novel, The trail of the king'smen,warrants a departurefrom the usualpolicyof the CANADXA• H•STORICA•. REVIEWin confiningitself to noticeof strictly historicaland scientificworksdealingwith Canada. Her storyisprincipallyconcerned with the varied history and fortunesof the famousJohnsonfamily of the Mohawk Valley and the migration to Canada at the time of the American Revolution. It is a stirring epic of Loyalist adventure, and as suchreally lies outsidethe more severecanonsof historicalcriticism. If, therefore, Miss Dunham has somewhat overstated the Loyalist case or understatedthat of their opposers, the exigencies of a goodstory well told (and it is both) shouldbe sufficientjustification;thoughto imply, asonpage211,that evenLoyalist"horses, cattleandfowlviedwitheach otherin shrieksof unavailingprotest"at Americanoutragesisa straining for effect which perhaps is not quite what the author intended. The author's main problem was, however, not so much the nice balancingof onefact againstanother,but the presentationof an authentic narrative giving the experiences and point of view of a notableLoyalist family. In thisshehasbeenextraordinarilysuccessful. It is,therefore, no reflection on her novel to say that it does not stressthe American Revolution as a great civil war, and that it gives in the concluding chaptersa one-sidedpictureof the peacetreaty whichwasdisadvantageousto the Loyalistsin respectto many of their claims. But while some may be incline•to regard the treaty as greatly to the advantage of the United States and as having beenobtained by three remarkably astute Americans,Franklin, Adams,and Jay, at the expense of the complaisant Oswald and the second-rate Strachey, this was not the view of the American representativesthemselveswho adoptedan apologeticattitude to congress, clearly showingthat they had not securedas much as they had expected and had made concessionsfor which some explanation would be demanded. It is small wonder that neither side was satisfied. Miss Dunham is to be congratulated upon her latest venture in the 332 THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW field of the historicalnovel, as a result of which many doubtlesswill not only be entertained and instructed,but somemay even be inspired to explorefurther and to interpret for themselves the recordsfrom which the author has so admirably constructedher stirring story of Loyalist struggle and heroism. A. G. DORLAND The Papers of Sir William Johnson. Prepared for publicationby the ' Division of Archives and History, AI.EXA•DER C. FI.•CK, director and state historian; volume Vii. Albany: The University of the State of New York. 1031. Pp. xiii, 1160. Tins volume of the Johnsonpaperscoversthe period from June, 1760 to February, 1771, when Sir William was virtually at the height of his power. His interests were so comprehensiveduring these years that letters from a great variety of personages are to be found: from British statesmen and military men, such as Hillsborough and Gage; from officials in other colonies, Benjamin Franklin and LieutenantGovernor John Penn of Pennsylvania, Governor Campbell of Nova Scotia, and Guy Carleton of Canada; from New York politicians, Moore, Delancey, Rivington, and Colden; and from fur traders and Indian agents, Jelles Fonda, Daniel Claus, Alexander McKee, Peter Hasenclever,and Thomas Wharton. A corresponding rangeof subjects is covered, from imperial control and military affairs to matters of provincial politics, and Indian relations, including such questionsas land grants, boundaries, licenses,local and western trade, and Indian...