Head Quarters, Fort George, Sept. 17, 1812.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date.  Captain Dyson has obtained my permission to cross on his parole to the United States; he has, however, requested to remain till to-morrow, to settle with the men of his detachment.  He shall in the mean time have an interview with Colonel Van Rensselaer.

    Measures will be immediately taken to land the women and
    children at Fort Niagara.

It has been with the utmost regret that I have perceived within these few days a very heavy firing from both sides of the river.  I am, however, given to understand, that on all occasions it commenced on yours; and from the circumstance of the flag of truce, which I did myself the honor to send over yesterday, having been repeatedly fired upon, while in the act of crossing the river, I am inclined to give full credit to the correctness of the information.  Without, however, recurring to the past, you may rest assured on my repeating my most positive orders against the continuance of a practice, which can only be injurious to individuals, without promoting the object which both our nations may have in view.

* * * * *

We cannot find the dispatch from Sir George Prevost of the 7th of September, to which the next letter is an answer, but it could not have been of a very pleasing character, and certainly Major-General Brock’s implicit obedience to such instructions is most creditable to him.

Major-General Brock to Sir George Prevost.

    FORT GEORGE, September 18, 1812.

I have been honored with your excellency’s dispatch, dated the 7th instant.  I have implicitly followed your excellency’s instructions, and abstained, under great temptation and provocation, from every act of hostility.  The information received from a deserter, and which I had the honor to detail in my last, is far from correct, and, where credit is to be given, the facts apply solely to the regular force.  The militia, being selected from the most violent democrats, are generally inclined to invade this province—­provisions are in tolerable plenty—­the only complaint arises from a want of vegetables.  It is currently reported that the enemy’s force is to be increased to 7,000, and that on their arrival an attack is immediately to be made.  I am convinced the militia would not keep together in their present situation without such a prospect, nor do I think the attempt can be long deferred.  Sickness prevails in some degree along the line, but principally at Black Rock.

The flank companies of the royal Newfoundland have joined me.  A sergeant and twenty-five rank and file of the Veterans arrived at the same time, whom I propose sending to Michilimakinack.

The enclosed letter from Colonel Proctor will inform your excellency of a force having