ion as to require the aid of the military
to give it even a momentary impulse.

Colonel Brock is therefore obliged to observe, that the
officer commanding certainly would not choose the time when
the troops may every instant be called upon for the defence of
Quebec, to disperse them over the country in aid of the civil
government, coercively collecting a body of men, which, under
such circumstances, would be of more detriment than service to
the regular army. Colonel Brock cannot, therefore, look for
any assistance from that quarter, but, should an emergency
arise, he is confident that voluntary offers of service will
be made by a considerable number of brave and loyal subjects,
and feels himself justified in saying, that even now several
gentlemen are ready to come forward and enroll into companies
men on whose fidelity they can safely rely.

It remains with his honor to determine the degree of
countenance which ought to be given to such sentiments.

Colonel Brock will be at all times proud to attend
deliberations of his honor in council.

_Colonel Brock to Lord Viscount Castlereagh._

QUEBEC, July 25, 1807.

I think it my duty to transmit for your lordship's information
a copy of the communication that has passed between his honor
the president and me, relative to the military situation of
this country.

Your Lordship will perceive from the minutes of the council,
how very inadequate the militia law is to afford assistance to
the regular force, and the degree of dependance that may be
placed on the population of this province.

My own observations, however, enable me to assure your
Lordship, that a respectable force might be trained and
rendered exceedingly useful on any exigency, were the least
encouragement given to the spirit which at present pervades a
certain class to volunteer their services.

To such characters arms might be safely entrusted, but I
certainly would consider an indiscriminate distribution to the
militia, were it possible to collect it, as highly imprudent
and dangerous.

What I stated to his honor the president respecting the
weakness of the works along the whole of the west front of
this garrison, is consonant to the opinion transmitted by the
officers of engineers and artillery, in their half-yearly
periodical report