Redcoats & Patriotes: The Rebellions in Lower Canada 1837–38 by Elinor Kyte Senior (review)

REVIEWS 431 Redcoats & Patriotes:The Rebellions in LowerCanada•837-38. ELINORKYTE SENIOR. Stittsville, Ont.: Canada's WingsI985. Pp. 218,illus. Thisisa handsome book,at timescompellingly written.Yet,contraryto the foreword, itisneitherimpartialnordefinitive andtheassertion thatitiswritten without rancour or'parti-pris' isonlypartlytrue.Senior's pointofviewisclear. Papineau was 'rashandpolitically ruthless.' A riotquelled byBritishsoldiers in Montrealin I832, resulting in thedeathof threeFrenchCanadians, 'wasan excellent example of disciplined troopactionin riotouscircumstances.' Asto thecauses oftherebellions, Senioradmits Canada hadpolitical, economic, and social grievances; shecontinues 'It hasthemtodayandprobably willhavethem in theyear2o37.'Thisisan amazingtrivialization of thecauses of themost important civildisorders everfacedbytheBritishin Canada. The realfaultof thisbookisnotitspredisposition tosympathize withthe British authority, apointofviewwhichmayultimately bedefensible; rather,its basic weakness istheabsence ofsynthesis andargument. Theauthorsets outto examine theBritishmilitaryresponse to therebellions andto investigate the elements ofsociety whichremained loyal.In addition,shebelieves it necessary to argueGerard Filteau'sclaim that the rebellionswere provokedby the government. SeniorcallsFilteau'a modernhistorian,' but he published his Histoire des Patriotes overfortyyears ago.Howeverinteresting andprovocative, hisworkisnolongerconsidered byanyone tobethefinalwordonanyaspect of therebellions. In the conclusion, Seniorcitesmanylessons - thatthe British werepreparedto fight for Canada,that mostLowerCanadians opposed 'physical force,'thatforeignmercenary officersamongtherebels wereasbad astheamateur'patriotes,' andthattheevents of •837and1838showed thatthe FrenchCanadians wereno longerdocileor submissive. Theseare not new lessons. Moreimportantly, whilesome aretouched upon,nonearedeveloped in continuous or consistent fashion in this book. Whatthisstudycontains isanabundance of description toldandretoldby generations of historians.While referencesto Christie, Garneau, David, Fauteux,and Filteau are generous,modern studiesare nearly ignored. Undoubtedlythe result of arduouswork, Senior'sgarnering of factsis extraordinary butslightly oppressive. Sherecounts thechampagne supperof the'patriotes' in thehouse of theseigneur of StCharles andof thecumbrous progress of ColonelWetherallon hiswaytosuppress them.He stopped at St Hilaireandwas greetedbythelocalseigneur, 'avenerable gentleman oftheold school, wearing a frilledshirtandivoryminiatures.' WhenWeatherall tookSt Charles, hedinedin thesameroomwitha supper'ofroastfowl,friedbacon, bakedand fried potatoes,hot bread and rolls, pancakes, tea and coffee.' Apparently, therewasno morechampagne. Such detailmaybeintriguingandpleasant, solongasthereisapoint.Notso acceptable istheless thancritical useofprimarysources. Onlyafewexamples canbementioned. To reconstruct events, Seniorrefersmorethanfortytimes 432 THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW to the Swanton NorthAmerican, but nearlyhalf of thesereferences are to two issues. Sheaccepts officialsources for theexplanation of thedepredations to thenorth of Montrealin •837. It seems the onlyproblemiswhoshouldbe blamed, Britishofficers andregulars orthelocalmilitia? Notsurprisingly, it is thelatter.In thefinalchapters therearenumerous references toDr Brien's testimony atthestate trialsof •838.Whiletheauthorultimately acknowledges hebetrayed the'patriote' cause inordertosave himself, sheseems untroubled aboutthetruth or validityof hisdeposition. Senior'searlier work, BritishRegulars in Montreal:An ImperialGarrison, •83•-•854, omittedanydiscussion of the rebellions. This latestbookisan incredibly detailed version oftherebellions, unaccompanied byhercontextual wisdom of thegarrison. Fromthevoluminous materialof these twobooks, a clearer,shorter,moreinventive, andmoreeffectively arguedhistorymight have been written. sT•.•,•.• r,a•¾ Campion College, University ofRegina In AllRespects Ready: TheMerchant Navyandthe Battle ofthe Atlantic, •94o- •945. g•D•.R•CKB. WAT•.Scarborough: Prentice-Hall•985. Pp. xviii, 22•, illus. $19.95 Oneof theunknownaspects.of theBattleof theAtlanticistheroleplayedby NavalControlof Shipping,the branchof the Commonwealth naviesthat orchestrated themovementof merchantshipsalong'safe'routes,or oranized themto sailin escorted convoys. •cs formed the vitallink betweencivilian agencies, whodetermined wheretheships wentandwhatcargoes theycarried, and the operational forcesof the fleet. An importantparticipant in this unheralded, yetcrucial,taskformsthe subject of FrederickB'.Watt'sIn All Respects Ready. Watt'sbookfocuses on a branchof the •cs knownasthe NavalBoarding Service. Established atHalifaxin •94øtopreventsabotage in ships boundfor Britain, the •Bs soonevolved into much more asWatt and hismen realized that prevention involved morethandeterrence. Indeed,inthecourse oftheirwork a greatdealof goodwasdoneonbehalfof merchant seamen. The ideaof a Boarding Service provedsosuccessful thatit spread worldwidebytheendof the war. Peoplewere what the •ss was all about, and mostof the problems threateningto delay sailingsarosefrom 'crew trouble': agitatorsin the seamen's mess,drunkenand abusive masters, sabotage to preventsailingin another perilous convoy, poorlivingconditions, andthelike.Recounting the morememorableand illustrativeexamplesof crewtroubleformsa large portionof thebook,andfor thisreason it doesgiveexcellent insight intothe lifeandhardtimesofmerchant seamen. However,strictly speaking, thebookis not aboutthe merchantnavy.It is unfortunatethat a subtitlestressing this ...