to raise them as reasonably as circumstances will permit. the following plan is nearly similar to one I had the honor of submitting to you last Sept after it had met with the approbation of H. R. H. the Duke of York, I propose on being appointed Lieut. Colonel Commandant with the Rank of Colonel in America to raise theLegion as follows, to consist of eight companies and 4 Troops. with the following proportion of officers non comd. officers & Staff

Govmt to allow 8 guineas per Recruit and 12 guineas per Horse. The Field Officers without Companies as in the West Indies, the Officers of the Corps if reduced to have their rank & half pay, arms, accoutrements & cloathing to be provided or the usual allowance for them to render this easy Govt. I propose that the officers who may

4

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208

.1,000

wish to leave their present Regts to go with me in the same rank into the corps, to be permitted to sell that they may be enabled to contribute a sum to assist in recruiting the regt other officers to pay a sum for their respective promotions according to circumstances for the same purpose, as many prejudices subsist amongst officers about joining such corps, I must have it in my power when argu. ment fails to have recourse to interest to induce them to conquer their reluctance which the regulation alluded to above would enable me to do, I shd require one White Sergt per Troop & Compy as a pay Segt as likewise the Sergt Major, Qr. Mr. Sergt, & Drum Major-others might be lent by the regts in Canada until I could replace them with my own people, this Corps as a Legion I shd from my knowledge of that Country & the particular services necessary for the Troops, form them into the several following descriptions-As Batteaux men, as Marines to fight and work the Gun Boats, as Hussar Troops, possibly at some future day may be necessary to oppose the Kentucky Cavalry the most active Troops of our neighbors and likewise from their habits of labours may oftimes be usefully employed as pioneers and miners, such a corps in such a Country formed for so many services must be of the most general utility, and on occasion may form the basis of so many difft Battalions, to acquire so usefull a Body of Men, and to acquire them so reasonably, I shd conceive would be an object that meritted the attention of Govt. the establishment of an American Black Corps is an experiment that may fail if not in good hands a knowledge of the character of the American Black is necessary, shd the plan meet with Mr. Dundas's approbation I shall take the earliest opportunity of laying it before His R. Highness the Duke of York for the official communication I feel myself much obliged to the Marquis of Buckingham for his kind assistance in digesting the plan and for the usefull Hints he was pleased to give me from his communications with General Simcoe, sh'd any part of this plan require further explanation he will I am sure readily give it to you, having done me the honor to give me his opinion of it and his earnest recommendation to propose it at the present moment.

ADJ. GEN. GEORGE BECKWITH TO LT. GOV. J. G. SIMCOE.

HEAD QUARTERS, QUEBEC, 4th April 1796.

The 5th, 24th and Detachments of the 60th Regiment will hold themselves in readiness to return to Lower Canada, soon after the ' evacuation of the Upper Posts, beyond our Frontier.

The Queen's Rangers to be prepared to detach one captain, two Subalterns and one hundred men with non-commissioned officers in proportion to the Detroit river, and one Captain, two Subalterns and one hundred men, with non-commissioned officers in proportion to the River of Niagara, to occupy the several Posts on those communications within our Frontier. They will guard the King's Stores and give all proper assistance to expediate their necessary Transport.

After the evacuation of the Posts, an officer & ten men of the Royal Artillery with the usual proportion of non-commissioned officers, to do duty at the River Detroit, an officer with a similar Detachment, to do duty at the River Niagara, a non-commissioned officer & Five men to be continued at Kingston; the remainder of this corps, now serving in Upper Canada is then to return to Quebec. GEO. BECKWITH,

Major General Simcoe, Lieut. Govr. Upper Canada.

Endorsed: C.

In Lord Dorchester's No. 57 to the Duke of Portland.

[Q 75-1, p 261]

Adjt. Genl.

MY LORD,

LORD DORCHESTER TO THE DUKE OF PORTLAND.

QUEBEC, 16th April 1796. The Disposition of the Troops in Upper and Lower Canada being of importance, and a difference of opinion on this head still existing between Major General Simcoe and myself, it is proper I should lay his reasons [A] before Your Grace, and the more so as he thinks them supported by great authorities.

These matters not appearing to me in the same light, after hinting [B] at some grounds for a difference of opinion [C], I added such orders [D] as I judged expedient for the present.

Should no circumstance occur which may require a temporary alteration after the Evacuation of the Posts, I shall order the Fifth, Twenty fourth, and the Detachment of the Sixtieth Regiment to Lower Canada, and send up so many of the Canadian Volunteers as may do the Duty at Kingston.