British army officers were invited to every major social event held in Canada and a visit by a member of the royal family was of particular importance. To the colonists, the officers introduced a desirable, English upper-class element to colonial society. Many father and mothers hoped to marry off their daughters to young officers. This engraving of well-dressed guests appeared in The Illustrated London News. As one officer proudly claimed:
These were delightful gatherings. We always had the best music, and the ladies of the city who attended were pleased at all times to be in the whirl with the gay young officers.
