te, if he has the imprudence to follow his example. Hull
seems cunning and unprincipled: how much reliance is to be
placed on his professions, time will shew.

General Dearborn has certainly left Albany for Skeensborough,
at the head of the lake, where great preparations have been
making in collecting boats and sending the regulars from
Greenbush to the stations in our vicinity. Major Cotton, with
about 300 men, half of the king's regiment, is stationed at
Isle aux Noix,[90] and two gun-boats have been carried into
that river, as the enemy's preparations seem to indicate that
quarter as their point of attack. Colonel Murray commands at
St. John's, and will give them a warm reception. I do not feel
a doubt of Jonathan's complete discomfiture and disgrace if he
make the attempt: we could, I fancy, bring as many men as he
will be able to persuade into the field, and of very superior
stuff, for our militia have really improved beyond all
expectation in discipline, and with it in spirit and
confidence. This town would turn out 2,000 volunteer militia,
a great proportion of whom are clothed and very tolerably
drilled. We have destroyed all the roads of communication in
our front, leaving open the water route only, and these woody
positions will be shortly occupied by the Indians of this
neighbourhood and a corps of volunteer _voyageur_ Canadians.
The enemy's preparations, however, may be a feint to cover
some plans in agitation against your province.

I send you a long letter from Kempt for your perusal, with a
sketch of Badajos, though no longer recent news. I am sure the
interest you take in the success of our arms, and in his share
in particular, will induce you to read it with pleasure.

_Sir George Prevost to Major-General Brock._

MONTREAL, September 14, 1812.

Captain Fulton arrived on the 11th instant with your letter of
the 7th; the intelligence you have communicated by it
convinces me of the necessity of the evacuation of Fort
Detroit, unless the operations of the enemy on the Niagara
frontier bear a character less indicative of determined
hostile measures against your line in their front than they
did when you last reported to me. You will therefore be
pleased, subject to the discretion I have given you under the
circumstances to which I have alluded, to ta