the quarters the 41st now occupy,
has prevented my making personally the periodical inspection
of that regiment required by my instructions. But its
dispersed state and the many evils by which it is surrounded
will, however great the zeal and intelligence of
Lieut.-Colonel Proctor and the other officers, so far affect
the discipline and morals of the men, as to justify my saying
that both the one and the other must, without the possibility
of a remedy, progressively suffer in proportion as the
regiment remains stationed in the Upper Province. The 41st
regiment, having a considerable number of old soldiers, is
better calculated for that service than either the 49th or
100th regiments, and no change is therefore meditated.

Not being possessed with the means of making a more
circumstantial report of the state of the 41st regiment, I
have only to add, in justice to the officers commanding posts,
that they evince in their communications with head quarters
much attention and sound judgment.

Contemplating the probable arrival of a general officer by the
fleet daily expected from England, I have so far presumed to
deviate from my instructions as to postpone making the
periodical inspection of the regiments quartered in this
garrison, conceiving that his royal highness the
commander-in-chief would esteem a report coming from such a
high source more satisfactory, than if I were to undertake the
task in my present situation, which may naturally be supposed,
in some degree, to bias my judgment.

* * * * *

On the 17th July, 1807, in consequence of an expected rupture between
England and the United States, Colonel Brock addressed a letter to Mr.
President Dunn, in which he said that the number of militia armed and
instructed in the province did not exceed 300, while he thought that as
many thousands could easily, and with perfect safety, be formed into
corps; and that Quebec, the only military post in the country, was not
in a condition to make much defence against an active enemy, as the
walls on the western side were old and decayed, and could not possibly
sustain a continued heavy fire. He added, that he wished to throw up
such works as would remedy this glaring defect; but as the garrison was
totally inadequate to such an undertaking, he required from 600 to 1,000
men every day for six weeks o