1898-99. | THE CONTEST FOR THE COMMAND OF LAKE ERIE IN 1812-13. 369 
On the 28th Barclay again reconnoitred the harbour and ascertained 
that the two new brigs were still in the inner harbour, apparently in a for- 
ward state but not yet rigged. Besides these he noted two smaller 
brigs and seven schooners, all of which appeared to be armed, manned 
and ready for sea. Next day he wrote from Long Point to the 
Governor-General, complaining warmly of the want of seamen and 
stores. “The ships,” he said, “are manned with crews, part of whom 
cannot even speak English, and none of them seamen and very few in 
numbers.” 
In fact, nearly every letter written by Procter or Barclay at this time 
contained an anxious appeal for seamen and soldiers to carry out the 
proposed attack upon the harbour of Erie before the American squadron 
could put to sea. 
On June 1oth Procter had written, “I am very anxious to have our 
new vessel in the water where she will be much safer. Every effort 
should be made to send us seamen before the vessels at Presque Isle are 
ready. If reinforced I shall have some confidence.” * 
On the 15th he said, “I am fully aware that the enemy are not idle at 
Sackett’s Harbour, neither are they,I apprehend, at Presque Isle. Capt. 
Barclay is endeavouring to ascertain their real state. I am surprised 
they have not appeared on this lake. We are well aware of the necessity 
of giving the first blow, indeed we owe everything to our having done 
so. Captain Barclay has, I believe, written urgently to Sir James Yeo 
on the necessity of our having seamen without delay.”+ 
On the 29th, Procter informed Captain McDouall that “the Detroz 
will be launched in a fortnight. We could lend her guns,” he added, 
“if she had seamen. 1 believe now that Captain Barclay is making 
some attempt on the enemy’s vessels. We had proposed making an 
attempt with all our means, but I suppose he saw and learned that an im- 
mediate attempt was most eligible.”t 
But the promised troops did not come and nothing could be done 
without them. On July 4th General Procter wrote to Captain McDouall 
that the detention of “the force ordered here by the commander of the 
forces has prevented this district from being in a state of security, which 
the destruction of the enemy’s vessels at Presque Isle would have 
effected, a service that might very easily have been completely effected a 
**Canadian Archives,” C. 679, p. 110. 
t** Canadian Archives," C. 679, p. 107. 
t**Canadian Archives,” C. 679, p. 155. 
