[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 173 
refused to receive it—observing that he had contractors who furnished 
all the Flour he would require for His Majesty’s Service, & at all events 
he would not give more than twelve Dollars per Barrel for Flour. This 
information from Major Salmon 
y 

Major General Sheaffe to Talbot. 
My Dear Colonel, Fort George 19th Decr. 1812. 
In consequence of the explanations furnished by you and Lt. 
Colonel Nichol I shall authorise the payment of the sums disallowed 
in the Estimate to the 24th Septr. for the pay of the Norfolk, Middle- 
sex and Oxford Regts. 
I received Dispatches yesterday from Head Quarters—to the 6th 
Decr. a superintendent & store keeper for our Dock Yard is arrived at 
Kingston a Mr. Plucknett who has been in one of our Dock yds at 
-home— from 100 to 120 Shipwrights & 30 seamen are by this time 
near Kingston—Naval Officers and Seamen are expected from Halifax— 
a frigate and a sloop of war are to be built on this lake, and another 
vessel like the Lady Prevost on Lake Erie— Some gun boats with heavy 
guns are to be added to the list. 
The Royal George and Moira winter at Kingston. 
There has been a rediculous affair near Champlain 6 or 700 Ameri- 
cans attempted to surprise a picquet of ours—of 20 Voyageurs & 12 
Indians who were placed in a ditch by Mr. McCoy Commg.—the Ameri- 
cans so completely surrounded the post that had been occupied by our 
people that in firing, as they supposed on them, they only injured one 
another and our men joined in the fire without having a man hurt— 
the Enemy retired after having 50 or 60 killed & wounded 
the latter were taken. 
T. Coffin is appointed temporary acting Asst. Commt. Genl. Ld. 
W. has taken Burgos the French say they have beaten the Russians on 
the River Maskwa 25 leagues from Moscow—they own the loss of 
10,000—and estimate that of the Russians from 40 to 50,000 it is said 
that the latter were joined after the battle by 40,000 from Moscow— 
which City an uncredited report states to have been taken by the 
French. 
a few of 

Madison is elected by a majority of 47—; rumour says that the 
United States frigate has been taken. Parliament is dissolved. 
Massena advancing with 10,000 men towards Spain— Suchot & 
Joseph have retired from Valentia— Seville taken by assault with 
little loss—one of the large french mortars employed against Cadiz and 
