wretchedly officered. Six companies of the 49th are with me
here, and the remaining four at Kingston, under Vincent.
Although the regiment has been ten years in this country,
drinking rum without bounds, it is still respectable, and
apparently ardent for an opportunity to acquire distinction:
it has five captains in England, and two on the staff in this
country, which leaves it bare of experienced officers. The
U.S. regiments of the line desert over to us frequently, as
the men are tired of the service: opportunities seldom offer,
otherwise I have reason to think the greater part would follow
the example. The militia, being chiefly composed of enraged
democrats, are more ardent and anxious to engage, but they
have neither subordination nor discipline. They die very fast.
You will hear of some decisive action in the course of a
fortnight, or in all probability we shall return to a state of
tranquillity. I say decisive, because if I should be beaten,
the province is inevitably gone; and should I be victorious, I
do not imagine the gentry from the other side will be anxious
to return to the charge.

It is certainly something singular that we should be upwards
of two months in a state of warfare, and that along this
widely extended frontier not a single death, either natural or
by the sword, should have occurred among the troops under my
command, and we have not been altogether idle, nor has a
single desertion taken place.

I am quite anxious for this state of warfare to end, as I wish
much to join Lord Wellington, and to see you all.

Has poor Betsey recovered the loss of my young and dear
friend, John Tupper?

_Sir George Prevost to Major-General Brock._

MONTREAL, September 25, 1812.

It no longer appears, by your letter of the 13th, that you
consider the enemy's operations on the Niagara frontier
indicative of active operations. If the government of America
inclines to defensive measures, I can only ascribe the
determination to two causes: the first is, the expectation of
such overtures from us as will lead to a suspension of
hostilities, preparatory to negociations for peace; the other
arises from having ascertained, by experience, our ability in
the Canadas to resist the attack of a tumultuary force.

In consequence of your having weakened the line of