a large body of western warriors had left Michillimackinac for Sandwich about the 24th Ulto. & was hourly expected; upon his arrival Col. Procter would be enabled to advance nearer to the Enemy's position at Fort Meiggs which Major General Harrison had reached with a body of Horse part of whom had ventured as far as the River Raisin. It was said to be Major General Harrison's intention to advance with his Army into the Michigan Territory, while the Flotilla from Presqu' Isle was to land Troops on the Canada Shore. By accounts from the borders of Lake Champlain I understand there are some movements of the Enemy's Troops in that quarter & that they are collecting a considerable force at Burlington; but I rather think this proceeds more from an apprehension of an attack from us than from any plan for penetrating the frontier of Lower Canada. The Naval force which we have now on the Richelieu River being very respectable since the capture of two of the Enemy's armed Vessels, & such if properly commanded as affords a reasonable prospect of annoying the Enemy on Lake Champlain, I have employed Lieut Pring of the Royal Navy as a Commander of that service. Lieut Pring was sent with two other officers of the same rank during the Winter by Admiral Sir John Warren to take the command of the Vessels on Lakes Erie and Ontario as Commanders in the Navy, but the subsequent arrival of Commodore Sir James Yeo with officers appointed by the Admiralty for this Service not having left any opening for the employment of Lieut Pring, who is a most able & deserving officer, I have after communicating with Sir James Yeo, with whom he has been lately serving on Lake Ontario as Captain of the Wolfe, entrusted him with the command of the Naval force to be employed on Lake Champlain, & where he may be of material service I have therefore respectfully to request of Your Lordship that he may be confirmed in the rank to which he was appointed by Sir John Warren.

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It is extremely gratifying to me to have to report to Your Lordship for the gracious consideration of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, that His Majesty's Troops continue to do their duty with unabated valor, & daily exhibit the advantages of a well regulated system of Discipline by their conduct in the Field, notwithstanding that they experience all those privations & hardships inseparable from a campaign carried on comparatively on a great scale, for the defence of an extensive Frontier, in a new Country,

& against an Enemy superior in numbers and contiguous to his resources of every description.

I have the honor to transmit for Your Lordship's information an extract from a letter addressed to me by Captn Barclay the senior Naval Officer on Lake Erie, together with the Statements accompanying it, on the subject of what he requires to enable him to man & equip the squadron placed under his command, in order that Your Lordship may be satisfied of the propriety of my demand for more seamen, both upon His Majesty's Government at home and upon the Admiral Commanding on the North American Station. The great uncertainty attending my communications with Your Lordship, does not encourage the hope of my receiving timely aid from England; but on the other hand I am cheered with the expectation of Sir John Warrens promptitude in affording me sufficient supply of seamen, which is the most material of Captain Barclay's wants for the present. Lest however I may experience a disappointment on this head, I submit to Your Lordship the importance of guarding against the consequences of it, by adopting such measures as you shall judge expedient for affording from England the supply of men required if possible during the present year, either direct to Quebec, or by the way of Halifax, from whence they

may be sent on by land after the Navigation of the river closes which will not be the case until the middle of November.

The Ordnance Ammunition and other Stores for the service on Lake Erie had been deposited at York for the purpose of being transported to Amherstburg, but unfortunately were either destroyed or fell into the Enemy's hands when York was taken by them; & the subsequent interruption to the communication by their occupation of Fort George has rendered it extremely difficult to afford the supplies Captn Barclay requires, which are however in readiness to forward to him, whenever circumstances will admit of its being done with safety.

I have reason to think that the report Captn Barclay has received of the American force is an exaggerated one, as I do not find even from their own papers, that they have any other description of Vessels on Lake Erie besides the two Corvettes & the Schooners. I have the honor to be

My Lord

Your Lordship's

most obedient

humble Servant

GEORGE PREVOST.

The Right Honorable Earl Bathurst.

[ Q 122, p 92 ]