UEBEC, November 21, 1811.

We fortunately received yesterday the last batch of recruits
for the 41st regiment, as from the present state of the
weather and appearance of the river, I fear their situation
would have been very desperate. They have, poor devils, been
sixteen weeks and four days on their passage, and have
suffered much from dysentery. Four men have died, and several
are sick; but as the former detachment recovered fast when
landed and taken care of, I doubt not that these will also:
they amount to three hundred, and are in general very fine
young men. What a noble battalion they will make when brought
together; and the officers say that about 200 more were left
at the depot, for want of room in the transport.

What do you think of the president's speech? In any government
more consistent, it would mean war. I think that he has
committed himself more openly and more unjustifiably than
could have been expected, in the relation of the affair of
the Little Belt, by accusing that poor little sloop of a
wanton act of aggression by attacking a huge American frigate,
when Commodore Rodgers himself admits that he was for nearly
eight hours the chasing vessel.

Governor Gore has revived the formation of the Glengary
Fencibles, and I have shewn Sir George what passed on a former
occasion. I hope the latter will be able to provide for his
school-fellow, Major-General Sheaffe,[39] and he expresses
himself very anxious to do so.

_Major-General Brock to Lieut.-General Sir G. Prevost, Bart., at
Quebec_.

YORK, December 2, 1811.

The information contained in the message of the president to
congress, relative to the existing differences between England
and the United States, will justify, I presume to think, the
adoption of such precautionary measures as may be necessary to
meet all future exigencies. Under this impression, I beg leave
to submit to your excellency such observations as occur to me,
to enable you to form a correct judgment; of the actual state
of this province.

The military force which heretofore occupied the frontier
posts being so inadequate to their defence, a general opinion
prevailed that no opposition, in the event of hostilities, was
intended. The late increase of ammunition and every species of
stores, the substitution of a strong reg