it is declared, I conceive they may sit upon courts martial with officers of his majesty’s regular forces; but upon both these points I desire not to be understood as speaking decisively—­extreme cases must be met by measures which, on ordinary occasions, would not perhaps be justified.  Your situation is such as to warrant your resorting to any step which, in your judgment, the public safety may require.  I should therefore think, that after taking the best opinions you can obtain from the first law characters you have about you respecting the doubts you entertain on this subject, you need not hesitate to determine upon that line of conduct which you shall think will best promote the good of the service, trusting, if you do err, to the absolute necessity of the measures you may adopt, as your justification for them to his majesty’s government.

Your letters of the 26th, 28th and 29th July, with the several enclosures and papers accompanying them, were received by me shortly previous to my leaving Quebec; the last containing Captain Roberts’ official account of the capture of Fort Michilimakinack.  Great credit is certainly due to that officer for the zeal and promptitude with which he has performed this service; at the same time I must confess, my mind has been very much relieved by finding that the capture took place at a period subsequent to Brigadier-General Hull’s invasion of the province, as, had it been prior to it, it would not only have been in violation of Captain Roberts’ orders, but have afforded a just ground for the subsequent conduct of the enemy, which, I now plainly perceive, no forbearance on your part would have prevented.  The capture of this place will, I hope, enable the Indian tribes in that quarter to co-operate with you in your present movements against the enemy, by threatening his flanks, a diversion which would greatly alarm him, and probably have the effect of compelling him to retreat across the river.

I send you enclosed a copy of the official repeal of the orders in council, which I received last night by express from Quebec.  Although I much doubt whether this step on the part of our government will have any effect upon that of the United States, the circulation of the paper evincing their conciliatory disposition may tend to increase and strengthen the divisions which subsist amongst the people upon the subject of the war.  I therefore recommend to you to have a number of copies struck off and distributed.

Colonel Baynes is still absent upon his mission to the enemy’s camp.  Your letter to him of the 29th ultimo was received at the same time with those I have last acknowledged.  Colonel Lethbridge I have directed to return to Montreal.

    The issue of army bills has taken place at Quebec, and I hope
    to be able shortly to send you a supply of them.

* * * * *