and the first in the East Indies, but, by a recent regulation,
the senior lieutenant-colonel has the option of remaining in
command of the second in Portugal if he chooses. Thornton has
obtained leave to go, in the first instance, to his corps in
Portugal, so as to endeavour to persuade his senior that India
is a more desirable quarter: if he fails in his rhetoric, he
expects shortly to travel that route himself.

The following paragraph is copied verbatim from Thornton's letter; he
is connected with Torrens and in habits of familiar intimacy, so that I
am inclined to think he draws his inference from that quarter: "Pray
give a hint in private to Generals Brock and Sheaffe, that if the former
were to ask for a brigade at home, or on European service, and the
latter to be put on the staff in Canada, I am almost certain they would
succeed."

_Lieut.-Colonel Torrens to Major-General Brock_.

HORSE GUARDS, October 17, 1811.

I have had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 6th of
July, and I beg you will be convinced that I should derive
much satisfaction from the power of complying with your wishes
as far as my situation might enable me to facilitate the
accomplishment of the object you have expressed of returning
to England.

I have made known your wishes to the commander-in-chief, and
his royal highness has expressed every inclination to comply
with them. But until another officer shall join the station,
you will be readily aware of the difficulty his royal highness
would have in withdrawing you, by leave of absence or
otherwise, during the present state of public affairs with the
American government.

Should you wish, however, to quit the Canadian staff with a
view to serve in Europe, his royal highness will not object to
your return to this country, under the arrangement of your
being immediately succeeded by another officer. And as
Major-General Sheaffe is on the spot, and has strong claims to
employment on the staff, his royal highness will have no
objection to furnish Sir George Prevost with an authority to
employ that officer in your room, provided he has not yet left
Canada.

I trust this arrangement may be acceptable to you. An official
communication to the effect of this note will be made to Sir
George Prevost.

_Colonel Baynes to Major-General Brock_.

Q