CANADIAN HISTORY READ)ERS
lishment. His father had risen to the rank
of master carpenter in the Dock Yard, a
position which involved contacts with navy
and army officials. It seems probable that
Samuel obtained his first job through his
father's influence. The inference is that his
education must have been good. A cler*k
who was not neat and accurate, business-
like and good at figures would be valueless
in the office of the scientif;ic branch of the
Army. There must have been plenty of
work-drafting, copying, making plans-in
the Engineers' Offic;e in the Lumber Yard,
for Britain was at war all through Samuel
Cunard's boyhood and young manhood.
He, must have seen the town illuminated for
NelSon's victories, and shared the patriotic
thrills at our triumphs in the Peninsula.
Halifax was an important naval base,
heavily garrisoned, and the Forces were
commanded for six years by a Prince of the
Blood. Halifax prospered, especially dur-
ing the closing years of the great struggle.
Some time towards the end of the war,