you.

My appointment to be brigadier I first announced by the March
mail. Those who feel an interest in my prosperity will rejoice
in my good fortune, as this distinguished mark of favor
affords undeniable proof that my conduct, during the period of
my command, was approved;--a great gratification, considering
the many difficulties I had to encounter. I once thought I
should be ordered to the upper province, but General Ferguson
being among the newly appointed major-generals, will not now
probably visit this country. In that case, I stand a very good
chance of succeeding him, both in rank and in the command of
Quebec, where it was intended he should be stationed.

What will be the result of our present unsettled relations
with the neighbouring republic, it is very difficult to say.
The government is composed of such unprincipled men, that to
calculate on it by the ordinary rules of action would be
perfectly absurd. We have completely outwitted Jefferson in
all his schemes to provoke us to war. He had no other view in
issuing his restrictive proclamation; but, failing in that, he
tried what the embargo would produce, and there he has been
foiled again. Certainly, our administration is deserving of
every praise for their policy on these occasions. Jefferson
and his party, however strong the inclination, dare not
declare war, and therefore they endeavour to attain their
object by every provocation. A few weeks since, the garrison
of Niagara fired upon seven merchant boats passing the fort,
and actually captured them. Considering the circumstances
attending this hostile act, it is but too evident it was
intended to provoke retaliation: these boats fired upon and
taken within musket shot of our own fort; their balls falling
on our shore, was expected to have raised the indignation of
the most phlegmatic; fortunately, the commandant was not in
the way, as otherwise it is difficult to say what would have
happened. A representation of this affair has been made at
Washington, and, for an act certainly opposed to existing
treaties, we have been referred for justice to the ordinary
course of the law! If our subjects cannot command impunity
from capture under the guns of our own forts, it were better
to demolish them at once rather than witness and suffer such
indignity.