144 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Dearborn added that considerable reinforcements with artillery 

 and stores were then on their way to the military posts on the frontier 

 and he could not undertake to delay them or alter their destination 

 to which BajTies promptly replied that similar detachments were on 

 the way from Montreal to Upper Canada, and proposed that all uch 

 bodies of troops and convoys should be unmolested by the forces 

 mutually instructed to remain on the defensive. Dearborn agreed 

 to this, but objected to a wi'itten agreement as this would have the 

 appearance of a convention which he had no authority to enter into. 

 He believed that he had already exceeded his powers, but in so doing 

 he was actuated by an sincere desire to promote the welfare of both 

 nations. He was willing an trust to the honour and good faith of 

 the Governor General who could rely that his verbal understanding 

 would be faithfully carried out by him. Letters to this effect were 

 accordingly addressed both to Baynes and Provost, that to the latter 

 concluding with this sentence: — 



"No other nations are so deeply interested in a friendly inter- 

 course with each other as Great Britain and the United States, and 

 I most sincerely hope that the time is not far distant when they will 

 embrace as friends." * 



In private conversation Dearborn strongly condemned the em- 

 ployment of Indians in the war, intimating that it originated with the 

 British, and that the Americans were blameless in that respect. Baynes 

 instantly retorted that he had in his office intercepted letters from 

 General Hull which proved beyond doubt that he had not only entered 

 into engagements with Indian tribes to assist him, but had employed 

 agents to win over those who were supposed to be attached to Great 

 Britain, and remarked that the necessity of employing such auxili- 

 aries was unquestionably lamentable, yet, as the disposition of those 

 people would inevitably induce them to take an active part on one 

 side or the other, it became a question of mere expediency to make 

 sure that they did not assist the enemy. 



On parting General Dearborn assured his visitor that no event 

 of his life would give him greater pleasure than the act of resigning 

 his commission as the result of an honourable settlement of all national 

 disputes and the evident frankness and sincerity of his manner made 

 a strong impression. 



Both in going and returning Baynes had made excellent use of 

 his opportunities for observation and otherwise gaining information, 

 and he was able to report that, judging from the actual state of the 

 American forces in the vicinity of the frontier, there could be no im- 



*Baynes to Prévost, August 12; Dearborn to Prévost, August 8; Dearborn to 

 Baynes, August 8; Baynes to Brock, August 8. 



