The same spirit of justice, which will make every reasonable allowance for the unsuccessful efforts of zeal and loyalty, will not fail to punish the defalcation of principle.  Every Canadian freeholder is, by deliberate choice, bound by the most solemn oaths to defend the monarchy, as well as his own property; to shrink, from that engagement is a treason not to be forgiven.  Let no man suppose that if, in this unexpected struggle, his majesty’s arms should be compelled to yield to an overwhelming force, the province will be eventually abandoned; the endeared relations of its first settlers, the intrinsic value of its commerce, and the pretensions of its powerful rival to repossess the Canadas, are pledges that no peace will be established between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland, of which the restoration of these provinces does not make the most prominent condition.

Be not dismayed at the unjustifiable threat of the commander of the enemy’s forces to refuse quarter, should an Indian appear in the ranks.  The brave bands of aborigines which inhabit this colony were, like his majesty’s other subjects, punished for their zeal and fidelity, by the loss of their possessions in the late colonies, and rewarded by his majesty with lands of superior value in this province.  The faith of the British government has never yet been violated—­the Indians feel that the soil they inherit is to them and their posterity protected from the base arts so frequently devised to over-reach their simplicity.  By what new principle are they to be prohibited from defending their property?  If their warfare, from being different to that of the white people, be more terrific to the enemy, let him retrace his steps—–­ they seek him not—­and cannot expect to find women and children in an invading army.  But they are men, and have equal rights with all other men to defend themselves and their property when invaded, more especially when they find in the enemy’s camp a ferocious and mortal foe, using the same warfare which the American commander affects to reprobate.

This inconsistent and unjustifiable threat of refusing quarter, for such a cause as being found in arms with a brother sufferer, in defence of invaded rights, must be exercised with the certain assurance of retaliation, not only in the limited operations of war in this part of the king’s dominions, but in every quarter of the globe; for the national character of Britain is not less distinguished for humanity than strict retributive justice, which will consider the execution of this inhuman threat as deliberate murder, for which every subject of the offending power must make expiation.

    ISAAC BROCK,
    Major-Gen, and President. 
    Head Quarters,
    Fort George, July 22, 1812. 
    By order of his honor the president. 
    J.B.  GLEGG,
    Captain and Aide-de-Camp.