[CRUIKSHANK] GENERAL HULL’S INVASION OF CANADA IN 1812 267 
that the militia about Long Point, upon whom full reliance had been 
placed, had refused to join Chambers, and giving a dismal account of the 
prospect in the Western District generally.! On learning this, Brock 
well nigh lost heart. 
“My situation is getting each day more critical,” he wrote. “I 
still mean to try and send a force to the relief of Amherstburg, but 
almost despair of succeeding. The population, although I had no great 
confidence in the majority, is worse than I expected to find it, and ‘the 
magistrates, etc., appear quite confounded and decline acting; the con- 
sequence is the most improper conduct is tolerated. The officers of 
militia exert no authority. Everything shows as if a certainty existed 
of a change taking place soon. But I still hope the arrival of rein- 
forcements may yet avert such a dire calamity. Many in that case 
would be active in our cause who are dormant.” ? 
A despatch from Captain Roberts announcing the capture of 
Mackinac, received on the 29th, afforded some encouragement, and the 
militia assembled at York volunteered for service in any part of the 
provice without. hesitation. One hundred picked men were at once 
ordered to Long Point, where he decided to assemble the force intended 
for the relief cf Amherstburg.* Robert’s success might produce a great 
change in the affairs of the West, and Brock continued “to speak loud 
and look big.” although he was still far from feeling confident. 
“ My situation is most critical,” he informed Colonel Baynes, “ not 
from anything the enemy can do, but from the disposition of the.peo- 
ple — the population, believe me, is essentially bad — a full belief pos- 
sesses them all that this province must inevitably succumb — this 
prepossession is fatal to every exertion. Legislators, magistrates, militia 
officers, all have imbibed the idea and are so sluggish and indifferent 
in their respective offices that the artful and active scoundrel is allowed 
to parade the country without interruption and commit all imaginable 
mischief. They are so alarmed of offending that they rather encourage 
than repress disorders and other improper acts. I really believe it is 
with some cause that they dread the vengeance of the democratic party, 
they are such a set of unrelenting villains.” 
During the afternoon he embarked on the Prince Regent for 
Niagara to expedite the movement of troops from that frontier and 
to make arrangements with Lieut.-Colonel Myers for its defence during 

* Hon. J. Baby to Captain Glegg, 27th July, Can. Arch., C 676, p. 219. 
? Brock to Prevost, 28th July, Can. Arch., C 676, p. 217. 
° Brock to Prevost, July 29th, Scadding, Toronto of Old, pp. 78-9. This 
detachment was officered by Captain Stephen Heward, Lieuts. Richardson, 
Jarvis and Robinson, Sergeants Knott, Humberstone, Bond and Bridgeport. 
