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Under these circumstances it becomes necessary to concentrate three or four battalions on the frontier of each District most liable to be suddenly invaded, and to make such arrangements as may enable the Local Government to call out and arm a portion of the sedentary militia at a short notice. I recommend that each of the four incorporated militia corps, engaged originally to serve for eighteen months, may be com pleted to 500 rank and file, and that two of them may be stationed in the London and Western districts, and attached to the three regiments of the line which I intend should occupy Amherstburg, Sandwich, and St. Thomas; that two regiments of the line may be stationed at Niagara and Drummondville, and one of the battalions of the incor- porated militia, and the independent companies of coloured men at Chippewa and the adjacent frontier; one regiment of the line at Toronto, and nine companies of the line and a battalion of the incorporated militia at Kingston. Gananoquí, Brockville, and Prescott being points where the inhabitants are under constant apprehension and alarm, should be occupied by the volunteer independent companies raised in those towns, and Captain McDonell's company of the Glengarry Highlanders, and detachments from the incorporated battalion at Kingston. The corps commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Vankoughnet at Cornwall, and Captain Crawford's company, are, I believe, composed of Irish labourers, who have been employed on the Cornwall Canal. The service of this force might, I think, be advantageously extended, and be stationed at Cornwall and Prescott. Two or three companies, I think, should be selected from the Glengarry regiments, commanded by Colonels McDonell and Fraser, and stationed at Lancaster and Coteau du Lac. I see by the Returns that there are 1,000 provincial cavalry now on duty in the Upper Province. This expensive force will, I conclude, be greatly reduced. I beg that Captain Sandom may be requested to order the steam-boat, com- manded by Lieutenant Duffil, to proceed to Amherstburg, and that the Detroit may be considered the station of that vessel, and that he will authorize arrangements to be made at Ryerce's Wharf, Port Stanley, and Pelée Island, for supplying the steam-boats stationed at Granelly Bay, or the Grand River, which may be employed in conveying troops and military stores to posts on Lake Erie, or the Detroit River.

It is very difficult to ascertain the extent of the means of the patriots, or whether any considerable force is really at their command. The whole frontier may he kept in alarm by a small band of outlaws, or the reports which we receive of the intentions of the brigands may be correct, and their preparations more formidable than we imagine. I have no doubt of the bad spirit that prevails in the States of Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Vermont; but events have proved to the people of the United States, that however they may be interested in promoting disturbances in the Canadas, they cannot accomplish their object without involving the two countries in war.

The American authorities, and particularly the officers of the army, employed near Missisquoi Bay and the Seigniory of La Cole, have lately been more active in their exertions to protect the frontier, and appear determined to put an end to the border

outrages.

In this province I have reduced the volunteer corps to 700 infantry and 300 cavalry. This force is employed in forming a chain of posts on the frontier, from the Eastern township of Stanstead to Hinchinbrook and St. Regis.

Bir George Arthur.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. COLBORNE

No. 28.

:

My Lord,

Sir George Arthur to Lord Glenely.

Upper Canada, Toronto, April 24, 1838.

1. IN my despatch No. 1, of the 29th of March, I had the honour to inform your Lordship, that there was not at that moment any cause to excite your Lordship's particu- lar apprehension for the safety of this Province."

Since that period, the trials of the prisoners have been proceeded with, and in

my despatch of the 14th instant, No. 4, I have informed your Lordship, at considerable

length, what course is being pursued in that matter by the Government.

3. Independent of the information which has been derived from the trials and state- ments of the prisoners, I have been unceasingly endeavouring to acquire by the most extensive inquiries, what is the general feeling in the country, and what may be further intended by the lawless characters on the frontier--and, the result, I regret to say, is far from being satisfactory.

4. The feeling of disaffection within the Province, or, in other words, the desire for republican institutions, is much deeper and far more widely extended than I had supposed: and, on the American frontier, there are thousands of lawless characters" the scum" of the population, to use the language of Mr. Aaron Vail, who is now in this city on a special mission from the President of the United States-ready for any enterprise proposed, and with them many persons who have fled from this Province, and others who remain in it,

are closely associated.

5. Not wishing to rely on my own judgment, having been so short a period in Upper Canada, I have brought the subject of "the state of the Province" under the

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