communication between Cornwall and Kingston, a predatory
warfare is carrying on there very prejudicial to the
intercourse from hence with Upper Canada. I have ordered a
company of the Glengary to Prescott to strengthen Colonel
Lethbridge, and, under present circumstances, you are not to
expect further aid.

I agree in opinion with you, that so wretched is the
organization and discipline of the American army, that at this
moment much might be effected against them; but as the
government at home could derive no substantial advantage from
any disgrace we might inflict on them, whilst the more
important concerns of the country are committed in Europe, I
again request you will steadily pursue that policy which shall
appear to you best calculated to promote the dwindling away
of such a force by its own inefficient means.

I shall receive with much satisfaction Colonel Proctor's
report of having saved the garrison of Fort Wayne from the
inhuman fury of the Indians. I am particularly anxious that
class of beings should be restrained and controlled as much as
possible, whilst there exists a pretence of implicating the
national character in their cruelties.

* * * * *

The following letter not only explains the impolicy of obeying Sir
George Prevost's provisional orders for the evacuation of Detroit and
the Michigan territory, but also ably deprecates any abandonment of our
Indian allies. With such leaders as its author and Tecumseh, what might
not have been done in this war to obtain the security and regeneration
of this much injured people? But alas! these "kindred spirits" lived not
long enough to plead their cause, and in the negociations for peace
their interests were shamefully overlooked or cruelly forgotten;[92]
although, in the first American war, the Indians had also, with few
exceptions, taken part with Great Britain against the colonists in their
contest for independence. It is true that their mode of warfare is
abhorrent to Europeans, as differing from the more _honorable_
slaughter of _civilized_ enemies; but Sir Isaac Brock proved that they
were to be restrained, and Tecumseh was as humane as he was brave.
Moreover, we should not condemn their previous excesses without
remembering the many injuries they had received. They knew from sad
experience that they could place no faith in the whites, who had