[cruikshank] from ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 159 



adjust amicably this important difference, that the United States 

 would admit the right or acquiesce in the practice of the opposite party, 

 or that Great Britain would be unwilling to restrain her cruisers from a 

 practice that would have the strongest tendency to defeat the négo- 

 ciations." Warren considered that this answer precluded any further 

 discussion as it "refused an armistice prior to enteiing into the several 

 points set forth in their declaration of war, unless I was to acquiesce 

 in their opinions relative to the material objects upon which their 

 complaints aie grounded."* 



By the same ship he received a copy of the President's message to 

 Congress which he remarked " breathes sentiments of the most inveterate 

 kind and of active warfare and more particularly stating his intent- 

 ions of obtaining a naval superiority on the lakes, having already employed 

 people for that purpose. Can you not, "he wrote to Prévost," undei 

 these circumstances from the absolute necessity of the case, take upon 

 you to direct a ship of 38 guns, one of 20 and two of 18 in addition to 

 your present force? They might be completed by your Montreal and 

 Quebec carpenters and ready by the spring. I will state in the strongest 

 terms in my power that unless the superiority upon the lakes is preserved 

 the Indian force will be destroyed and your means of defence circum- 

 scribed for Lower Canada and that I earnestly hope, trust and requiie 

 that the Government will give immediate orders for the purpose and 

 foi sending a post captain and 3 or 4 masters and commanders with 4 or 

 500 seamen to be conveyed to Quebec in the spring together with car- 

 ronades and sails for the ships to be placed under your command. " He 

 suggested that troops and stores might be forwarded overland from New 

 Brunswick to Quebec during the winter, but made no reference to a 

 loan of officers and seamen from his fleet. He added that he had 'ep- 

 resented to the Admiralty the absolute necessity of being permitted 

 to undertake some enterprise against the southern seaboard of the 

 United States with troops and ships from Bermuda, as a diversion in 

 Prevost's favour. When this lette • arrived at Quebec the winter had 

 set in with much severity and it ; eemed most improbable that any 

 further invasion would be attempted before spr'ng.f 



When the armistice terminated Dearborn received instructions to 

 resume his preparations for an advance upon Montreal in which Chaun- 

 cey was designed to co-operate by gaining command of Lake Ontario 

 and threatening Kingston. One of his first measures was to secure 

 accurate and circumstantial information of the numbers and distri- 

 bution of the troops likely to be opposed to him. The officer employed 

 for this purpose was more than usually successful sanguinely and reported 



*Warren to Prévost, Nov. 14. 

 t Warren to Prévost, Nov. 16. 



