138 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



"I consider it prudent, 'Trevost said," to avoid any measure which 

 can have a tendency to unite the people of the American states. While 

 disunion prevails among them, their attempts upon these provinces 

 will be feeble. It is therefore our duty carefully to avoid committing 

 any act which may even by construction tend to unite the eastern and 

 southern States unless by its perpetration, we are to derive a considerable 

 and important advantage. But the Government of the United States, 

 resting on public opinion for all its measures, is liable to sudden and 

 violent changes. It becomes an essential part of our duty to watch 

 the effect of parties on its measures and to adapt ours to the impulse 

 given by those possessed of influence over the public mind in 

 America." * 



This conviction was strengthened no doubt by a report from Sir 

 John Sherbrooke that as the inhabitants of Eastport in Maine had dis- 

 played a strong inclination to continue amicable relations with the 

 province of Nova Scotia, he had considered it expedient to issue a public 

 notice of approval in conjunction with Admiral Griffith, hoping "by 

 this measure to avoid that species of predatory war which would be 

 particularly injurious to these provinces. Indeed I am led to believe 

 that a considerable spirit of conciliation towards the subjects of Great 

 Britain, if not of resistance to the measures of their own government, 

 is inclined to show itself in the northern and eastern States, and the 

 Admiral informs mo ihat in one of their ports the inhabitants have 

 entered into a resolution that if any person shall fit out a privateer for 

 the annoyance of the British, they will instantly burn it." t 



But he was obliged to add that the military chest at Halifax was 

 so nearly empty that it would be impossible to remit any money to 

 Quebec. 



The Committee of the Executive Council, to whom the proposal 

 of making an immediate and unconditional declaration of martial law, 

 had been referred, reported that as it appeared that no sufficient hostile 

 force had yet been assembled to excite fears of an invasion of Lower 

 Canada and the resistance to the enforcement of the militia act had 

 terminated in such a way as to remove any serious apprehension in that 

 respect, they considered such a measure be inexpedient and impolitic 

 except in the event of actual invasion or insurrection. J 



The Governor General prudently concurred in this opinion and 

 declared that since the dispersion of the unlawful assemblage at Lachine, 

 not the least symptom of disaffection had been observed anywhere.* 



*Prevost to Brock, July 12; Prévost to Liverpool, July 15. 

 fSherbrooke to Prévost, July 6. 



I Report of the Committee of the Executive Council at Montreal, July 7. 

 ^ Brenton to the Chief Justice, July 7. 



