rom his dispatches not being transmitted by express, or from some other
unexplained cause, they did not reach their destination until the 29th
of July, or exactly five weeks after the declaration of war was known
in Upper Canada.

On the breaking out of hostilities, the regular force in Upper Canada
amounted to barely 1,500 men, including seamen, as under:

41st Regiment 900
10th Veterans 250
Newfoundland Regiment 250
Royal Artillery 50
Provincial Seamen 50
====
Total 1500 men.

This force had to occupy the forts St. Joseph, Amherstburg, and
Chippewa--Fort Erie and Fort George--and York and Kingston--to maintain
the superiority on the lakes; to preserve the communication and escort
convoys between Coteau de Lac and Kingston; and to defend an assailable
frontier of nearly 800 miles, reckoning from the confines of Lower
Canada to Amherstburg, and excluding the British coast from the Detroit
to Fort St. Joseph. With this very inadequate force, it was the opinion
of the highest authorities that the country could not be maintained.
Major-General Brock was well aware that, in carrying on the war along so
extensive a frontier, uncovered by a single fortress of strength, and
with such a handful of regular troops, he could only expect success in
the aid and zealous co-operation of the people. But the province had
long been torn by intestine disputes, and the prevailing factionwhich
had been originally established by one of the judges, and which after
his departure was fostered by one of his zealous supporters--had been
for years hostile to the measures of the government. We have already
given Major-General Brock's speech to the provincial parliament, on his
meeting it for the first time; the session, although obstructed by party
dissensions and unlooked-for opposition, terminated better than was
anticipated, as the rancorous spirit of many was subdued by his frank
and conciliatory demeanour; and laws were passed which enabled him to
organize the flank companies of the militia, unaccompanied, however, by
the desired oath of abjuration, so as to exclude settlers from the
United States and persons of doubtful loyalty. A troop of volunteer
cavalry was also incorporated, and on his return to York from
Amherstburg, about the 20th of June, Major-General Brock was gratified
by the offer of a company of farmers' sons with their draft horses for