not think it advisable, under existing circumstances, to weaken the 49th regiment, which occupies so important and critical a station; nor can he hold out any certain prospect of any further reinforcement until the arrival of the troops he has been led to expect from England, but directs me to assure you of his cordial wish to render you every efficient support in his power.

Major-General Brock to Sir George Prevost.

    FORT GEORGE, July 3, 1812.

    I have been anxiously expecting for some days to receive the
    honor of your excellency’s commands in regard to the measures
    the most proper to be pursued on the present emergency.

The accounts received, first through a mercantile channel, and soon after repeated from various quarters, of war having been declared by the United States against Great Britain, would have justified, in my opinion, offensive operations.  But the reflection that at Detroit and Michilimakinack the weak state of the garrisons would prevent the commanders from accomplishing any essential service, connected in any degree with their future security, and that my means of annoyance on this communication were limited to the reduction of Fort Niagara, which could easily be battered at any future period, I relinquished my original intention, and attended only to defensive measures.  My first object has been the calling out of the flank companies of militia, which has produced a force on this line of about 800 men.  They turned out very cheerfully, but already shew a spirit of impatience.  The king’s stores are now at so low an ebb, that they scarcely furnish any article of use or comfort.  Blankets, hammocks and kettles, are all to be purchased; and the troops, when watching the banks of the river, stand in the utmost need of tents.  Mr. Couche has adopted the most efficacious means to pay the militia in paper currency.  I cannot positively state the number of militia that will be embodied, but they cannot exceed throughout the province 4,000 men.

The Americans are very active on the opposite side, in the erection of redoubts; we are not idle on our part, but unfortunately, having supplied Amherstburg with the guns which that post required from Fort George, depending upon getting others from Kingston to supply their place, we find ourselves at this moment rather short of that essential arm.  I have, however, every reason to think that they are embarked on board the Earl Moira, which vessel, according to Major M’Pherson’s report, was to have sailed on the 28th ultimo.  The Americans have, I believe, about 1,200 regulars and militia between Fort Niagara and Black Rock, and I consider myself at this moment perfectly safe against any attempt they can make.  About 100 Indians from the Grand River have attended to my summons; the remainder promise to come also, but I have too much reason to conclude that the Americans have been too successful in their endeavours