ught to determine me to keep in Quebec a sufficient
force to secure its safety; the number of troops that could
therefore be safely detached would be small, notwithstanding a
great deal might be done, in conjunction with the militia, in
a country intersected in every direction by rivers, deep
ravines, and lined, at intervals on both sides the road, by
thick woods.

From every information I can receive, the Americans are busily
employed in drilling and forming their militia, and openly
declare their intention of entering this province the instant
war is determined upon; they will be encouraged to adopt this
step from the very defenceless state of our frontiers; the
means at my disposal are too limited to oppose them with
effect in the open field, and I shall be constrained, unless
his honor the president make exertions, which I do not think
him at this moment disposed to do, to confine myself to the
defence of Quebec.

I have hastened the completion of the works which enclose the
upper town of Quebec, and I have thought myself justified in
causing a battery of eight 36-pounders to be raised sixteen
feet upon the cavalier in the centre of the citadel, which
will effectually command the opposite heights.

Although these remarks may be premature, I yet conceive it my
duty to give his royal highness the commander-in-chief a view
of my real situation.

I must freely confess that I am unable to account for the
motives which seem at present to guide the councils of this
province. Voluntary offers of service have been made by
numbers, on whose loyalty the utmost reliance can be placed,
to form themselves into corps of cavalry, artillery, and
infantry, at little or no expense to government, provided they
were furnished with arms; but this liberal spirit has not been
encouraged by the president.

I have the honor to report, that at a recent interview I had
at Montreal with Lieut.-Governor Gore, it was judged expedient
that his excellency should assume the command in the upper
province. I regretted exceedingly that I could not, with
propriety, detach troops in support of the spirited exertions
whioh will be immediately made to place that country in a
respectable state of defence. He has been supplied with four
thousand muskets from the king's arsenal at Quebec, and w