osed
suspension of hostilities, in consequence of the revocation of
the orders in council, which are the plea for war in the
American cabinet; and also whether Mr. Baker has been allowed
to assume, _pro tempore_, the character of a charge d'affaires
at Washington, where Mr. Foster had left him in a
demi-official capacity. I consider the arrangement entered
into by General Dearborn with Colonel Baynes, requiring the
confirmation of the president, to establish its sacredness.

The king's government having most unequivocally expressed to
me their desire to preserve peace with the United States, that
they might, uninterrupted, pursue, with the whole disposable
force of the country, the great interest committed in Europe,
I have endeavoured to be instrumental in the accomplishment of
their views; but I consider it most fortunate to have been
enabled to do so without interfering with your operations on
the Detroit.

I have sent you men, money, and stores of every kind.

_Sir George Prevost to Major-General Brock._

Head Quarters, Montreal, Aug. 31, 1812.

I had scarcely closed the letters I addressed to you
yesterday, when an aide-de-camp from Major-General Dearborn
made his appearance, and delivered to me the dispatch herewith
transmitted. It will expose to your view the disposition of
the president of the United States on the provisional measure
temporarily agreed upon between the American
commander-in-chief and myself, in consequence of an earnest
desire not to widen the breach existing between the two
countries, the revocation of the orders in council having
removed the plea used in congress for a declaration of war
against Great Britain.

I am much disappointed that the particulars of the surrender
of Detroit have not as yet reached me, particularly as my
aide-de-camp, Captain Coore, is to leave Montreal this evening
for Quebec, where a ship of war is on the point of sailing for
Halifax, from whence I expect the admiral will give him a
conveyance for England.

Being unacquainted with the conditions attached to the
surrender of Brigadier-General Hull's army, and giving scope
to your expression of prisoners of war, I have made
arrangements for increasing their security against any attempt
to rescue them, by ordering Captain Gray to proceed with two