r

It might have saved time had you sent a plan & estimate of the Block House and alterations proposed at Fort Lernoult, as soon as I am furnished therewith I shall take them into consideration and give such directions thereon as seem necessary.

I need not observe to you the inconveniences of deviating from the established method of stating specifically the services intended to be performed and the expence of them, otherwise by a general indiscriminate approbation, I may be lead to sanction services, that had I before known the extent of them, I might not have thought necessary and should by no means have approved.

As to making alteration in the mode at present established for payment of the military disbursements in Upper Canada, I am to refer you to my letters of the 17th October 1793 and 27th-ultimo on this subject, as soon as I receive the information required therein I shall be able to form an opinion, whether the inconveniencies complained of are owing to defect in the present system or abuse in the administration of it. This it is necessary to ascertain and consider before adopting the mode you propose, which will be attended with such an additional expence, beside the difficulty and risque of sending specie to Upper Canada.

Colonel Simcoe.

Endorsed: 7.

In Lord Dorchester's No. 19 to the Duke of Portland of the 31 Jany. 1795.

[Q 71-2, p 284]

DORCHESTER.

[ No. 57. ] LORD DORCHESTER TO HENRY DUNDAS, SEC'Y.

SIR,

QUEBEC, 20 September 1794.

I enclose a copy of a sketch I have received this morning shewing the Position of the Indians, and the Forces under General Wayne, in the engagement which took place on the 20th Ultimo, as mentioned in my Letter No 54.

I am with great Respect and Esteem Sir
Your most obedient humble Servant

The Right Honble Henry Dundas.

Endorsed: Quebec, 20th Septr. 1791.

Lord Dorchester. No. 57.

R. 6 Feby. 1795. One inclosure.

[ Q 70, p 63]

DORCHESTER.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER FROM SIR JOHN JOHNSON.

TWICKENHAM, 23d Sepr. 1794.

By this morning's Post I received a letter from Mr. Chew, Secretary to the Indian Department, dated Montreal the 24th August 1794, an Extract of which, together with a copy of a letter from Mr. McKee, Deputy Agent for Indian Affairs at Detroit, I think it my duty to inclose herewith, for the information of His Majesty's Ministers, least the report might not have been received by Lord Dorchester in time for his last Dispatch.

Having stated that self defence required we should occupy a post upon the Miamis, and that we should prevent Detroit from being straitened either by Land or Water, in consequence of these General Instructions works near the Miamis falls have been carried on, but the regulations relative to the incurring expences have been altogether disregarded as I have observed in my Letter No 17.

The accounts presented for payment were of course referred to the Board of Accounts, who have rejected them as not conformable to order. Extraordinary expences to the extent of four hundred fifty nine pounds, nineteen shillings and nine pence have been likewise incurred in the Marine Department at Detroit, whether under the general Instructions above mentioned does not appear, but supposing this an emergency also which could not await the previous approbation of the Commander in Chief, yet as the particulars of the service and required estimates do not appear, the board have considered them in the same light as the former.

The accounts of Expences incurred at the Miamis in consequence of the above recited General Instructions, were commenced under

your immediate order yet they carry no testimonial thereof, or of having been submitted to your inspection or approbation previous to their being sent to Quebec for payment, nor does it appear that you have had any opportunity of judging how far they were conformable to the directions you had given concerning them. It would seem a matter of course, that where services are performed under the immediate orders of an officer commanding at a distance that before the accounts are sent to Head Quarters for payment, they should be submitted to his inspection, that he may be able to ascertain how far they are correspondent to the orders and directions he has given.

By the General Order of the 29th May last, the officers commanding Posts, when they find it necessary in cases of emergency to incur expence without previous approbation, are directed immediately to transmit Estimates of the Workmanship and Materials to Head Quarters.

It has been reported to Lieutenant Colonel Mann by the Assistant Engineer at Detroit, that Lieutenant Colonel England had ordered several services to be immediately carried into execution, but as the above mentioned order has not been complied with on the part of Lieutenant Colonel England, he, I presume, does not con. sider them as coming under the head of Military Expenditures to be paid out of the Military Chest.

Colonel Simcoe.

Endorsed: 8.

In Lord Dorchester's No. 19 to the Duke of Portland of the 31 Jany 1795.

[Q 71-2, p 287]

DORCHESTER.

JOHN CRAIGIE, COMMISSARY GENERAL TO LORD DORCHESTER.

MY LORD,

QUEBEC, 2nd October 1794.

Your Lordship's having desired that I should state my opinion on the subject of the General Order Upper Canada of the 11th September, whereby the Commissaries of the different posts are required to obey such Instructions as they from time to time may receive from the Agent for making purchases in the Province, necessary for victualling His Majesty's Troops in garrison for the due execution of his office.