NAVAL. BRITISH PLOT.-Chilicothe, (O.) Feb. 15.-On Friday last, information which could be depended on, An additional enemy force has appeared off the was received by colonel John B. Campbell, com- Delaware. manding the United States troops in this state, that The U.S. sloop of war FROLIC, captain Bainbridge, the British prisoners encamped in this neighborhood, has sailed from Boston; and the U. S. brig Syren, had laid a plan to rescue their officers from the cus-lieutenant Parker, from Salem. The former is spotody of the marshal; and with them, to force their ken of in the highest terms of approbation. way into Canada. From what we have been able to The following U. S. vessels are at sea-the frigates learn, it appears that a correspondence had been Constitution, 44; Essex 32; Adams 26; Frolic 18; kept up between the officers and the men, ever since Syren 14; Enterprize 14; Rattlesnake 14. the last confinement of the former, in which it had The Peacock sloop of war, 18, is also ready for been decided that the latter should rise upon their sea at New York; she is thought to be the fastest guard in the night, seize their arms, and after re- sailing vessel in our navy, and her appearance on the leasing their officers, to set fire to the town, and water is spoken of as beautiful beyond description. then proceed to some part of the British dominions. A valuable brig was captured by the Fox, of SaThis attempt, desperate as it may appear, might pro- lem, in her late cruise and manned and ordered for bably have been carried into execution, had it not the United States. Two days after the privateer had been for the timely interposition of Providence.-left her, she was fallen in with by two French friTwo of the British officers, lieuts. Stokoe and Pur-gates; captain Damerell, the prize master, supposvis, disclosed their intention, under an injunction of ing them to be English, hoisted a Swedish flag. But secrecy, to a gentleman of this town, who, being a the French commodore sent a boat on board orderfederalist, they considered as a common friend.-ing the officer to set fire to her immediately, as This gentleman, however, having collected all the there were three other vessels in sight; which was necessary information, acquainted colonel Campbell done under the belief that she was a Swedish vessel. therewith, who, with the concurrence of governor When the prize master and his crew were carried on Meigs, gave immediate orders to put the British board, and the matter was duly represented, the officers in irons; the prisoners' guard was doubled; commodore expressed his regret for what had hapthe militia were called out, and remained on duty pened, and told the prize-master that the next vesthe whole night; and every precaution taken to sel he took should be given him in compensation for avert the impending danger. These vigorous mea- the brig destroyed. On the same day the frigates sures had the desired effect. Order was quickly captured the Portuguese brig Prince Regent, from restored; and the hopes of the prisoners soon va- New Haven, bound to Cayenne, with a cargo of flour, nished. Since the discovery of the plot, the British lumber, &c. and according to promise, she was giv officers have freely acknowledged it; and say that en up to captain D. and crew for reasons as before they gave information thereof to one of our fellow stated. The Prince Regent being short of water, citizens, because they knew that if the attempt was captain Damerell put into St. Barts, where he found made its consequences would have proved most fa- the owner of the vessel, who immediately claimed tal to themselves. Much credit is certainly due to her of the governor, and she was ordered to be decolonel Campbell for his zeal and activity on this livered up to him, which was complied with. Copy of a letter from commodore Rodgers to the secre tary of the navy. occasion. Yesterday afternoon, the British officers who were in confinement here, were sent to Frankfort, (Ky.) under a strong escort. BRITISH COMPLIMENT.-London, Dec. 14.-" Sir Philip Broke is to be honored with a gold medal to be worn with his full uniform for the capture of the Chesapeake." PITTSBURG, Feb. 18. United States frigate President, Sandy Hook bay, Feb. 19, 1814. SIR-I have to acquaint you that I arrived at my present anchorage last evening at 5 o'clock, after a Cruise of 75 days, and now have the honor to detail to you the particulars. The above mark of distinction, says the Post, Providence the 5th December; and although I exIn pursuance of your directions, I sailed from conferred on the officer who succeeded, only after a desperate battle, in capturing an American frigate pected to have run the gaunlet through the enemy's of equal force, and loss of her commander in the squadron that was reported to be cruizing between beginning of the engagement, impliedly but unavoid-Block Island and Gayhead for the purpose of interly contains the highest compliment to the superior cepting the President, I had the good luck to avoid bravery of the American navy.-Is it any where rethem. The day after leaving Providence, I re-capcorded in English history, that a similar mark of dis-tured the American schooner Comet, of and bound tinction in a similar case, was ever conferred on an which had been captured by the Ramilies and Loire, to New York with a cargo of cotton from Savannah, English commander for acheiving such a victory over a frigate of France, Spain or any other nation? No. and in their possession about 48 hours. In a few hours after re-capturing the Comet, a sail was discovered to eastward, which I felt inclined to avoid, A letter from a gentleman at Detroit, to his friend from the circumstance of the weather being hazy, in this place, dated 5th Feb. 1814, says-" A scout- and knowing that I was in the neighborhood of an ing party of our men have just returned from the enemy's squadron; from an advantage of wind she river Thames, and have brought in eight prisoners, was enabled, however to gain our lee beam at a disamong them is the famous Francis Batby. I I under-tance of 3 or 4 miles, owing to which I was induced stand he has this day been examined by the com- to shorten sail, with the intention of offering her manding officer, and the excuse he makes is, that battle in the morning, should nothing else be in sight, he was on his way to see his family; but it is well and she not be a ship of the line. The weather be known that he was at the burning of Buffalo, as Mr. coming more obscure at 2 o'clock, prevented our M'Comb who is here now, saw him there; and it is seeing her until day-light, when she stood from us also well known, that he has been acting deputy to the N. F. although the President was hove too to quarter in ister general to the British troops: this is let her come up. From this date until the 25th, we a clear proof to me that he is in advance of the army to procure the necessary provisions. We expect an attack, but are prepared to meet it " did not see a single sail, except the Recovery (a brig belonging and bound to Penobscot, from St. Bartholomews in ballast) until after reaching the long. 35 and lat. 19, being carried that far eastwarding within 4 or 5 miles of Columbia island, and as by a severe S. W. gale, accompanied by such a hea-near to Sayannah as the weather and depth of water vy sea, as to render heaving too impracticable with-would allow, without meeting a single vessel except out infinite risk, when two large sails were discover-a Spanish ship from the Havana, bound to Spain, ed standing to the northward, and to which I gave but steering for Savannah, in consequence of having chase, believing, as well from the situation in which sprung a leak. they were first discovered, as the manifest disposi- Arriving off Charleston, (which was on the 11th tion they afterwards shewed to avoid a separation, inst.) I stretched close in with the bar, and made that one was a frigate and the other an Indiaman un- the private signal of the day to two schooners lying der her conyoy; in this I was mistaken, for on a in Rebellion Roads, and which from their appearance nearer approach I could discover the headmost was I believed to be public vessels. After remaining all a frigate with 7 ports abaft her gangway, and the day off the bar with colors hoisted and the before other a ship of equal or little inferior force; on dis-mentioned signal displayed, without being able to covering their decided superiority, and supposing communicate with the schooners, I stood to the them to be the enemy's ships, I endeavored during northward, and at 7 o'clock the next morning discothe succeeding night to separate them by steering vered and chased a ship to the southward, which afdifferent courses and occasionally shewing a light: ter pursuing 8 or 9 miles, led me to a second sail, (a but was unable to succeed, for the headmost at one brig under her topsails, with her top-gallant-masts time was so near that she fired a shot over us, whilst housed and flying-jib-boom rigged in) and from her consort was but a few hundred yards astern of thence to the discovery of a third sail, represented her. from the mast head to be a large frigate; on disco I now directed our course to be altered, made vering the third sail, added to the manœuvres of the sail, and continued the remainder of the night to first and second, I was induced to believe them a sbew them a light occasionally, but to no effect, as part of an enemy's squadron, and accordingly hauled at day-light they were discovered to be in a situa- up and stood for the former, to ascertain her charaction to unite their force. After this I shaped a ter; and after making her from the deck, perceived course to reach a position to windward of Barbadoes, she was a frigate as reported. I now tacked and on a parallel of longitude with Cayenne, and did not shortened sail, believing that towards night I might meet another vessel 'till the 30th, when falling in be enabled to cut off the ship (which was either a with a Portuguese brig, and receiving information small frigate or a large sloop of war) and brig, from that she had been boarded 36 hours before by two the third or largest sail, at this time nine or ten British store ships bound to the West Indies with miles to windward; in this, however, I was not able 300 troops on board, I crouded sail to the westward to effect my purpose, owing to the weather sail (bein the hope of overtaking them; in this I was again ing sunset and dark) bearing down for the others. disappointed, and after a pursuit of four days, haul-Judging now from the manoeuvres that after dark ed further southward to gain the latitude of Barba- they would chase, I stood to the eastward under does; and in that situation on the 5th of January, short sail; believing that in the morning I might captured the British merchant ship Wanderer, of 7 find them in some disorder; at day light, however, guns and 16 men, from London bound to Jamaica, owing to the haziness of the weather, they were not partly loaded with plantation stores, and after taking to be seen; consequently, I wore and stood back to from her such liglit articles as were of most value the westward to make them again, and in a few misunk her. In the same position on the 7th, I fell in nutes discovered two (one on the lee, the other on with the British merchant ship Prince George, in the the weather bow) to which I gave chase, but after character of a cartel with prisoners, which with chasing them half an hour, the weather becoming four other other British vessels had been captured more clear and two large ships suddenly making by two French 44 gun frigates, the Medusa and their appearance (one on the weather and the other Nymph, the same ships I had fallen in with 14 days on the lee beam) I changed my course to the eastbefore. On board of the Prince George I sent the ward, when the four immediately crowded sail in prisoners captured in the Wanderer to Barbadoes on pursuit; but owing to the weather, assisted by the parole. On the 9th of January, while still to wind-enemy's manner of chasing, I was enabled to get ward of Barbadoes, I captured the ship Edward of clear of them without difficulty in a few hours.6 guns and 8 men, from London bound to Laguira, From this I pursued a course on soundings (except in ballast-which vessel I also sunk. Having learnt in doubling Cape Hatteras) to 18 fathom water off from the master of the Edward as well as those of the the Delaware, where, in a fog, I fell in with a large Wanderer and Prince George, that they had been vessel, apparently a man of war. Shortened sail to separated in the bay of Biscay from their convoy, topsails and cleared ship for action, but she suddenconsisting of the Queen 74, two frigates and two ly disappearing and in a few minutes she, or some sloops of war, I was induced, owing to a belief that other vessel near, being heard to fire signal guns, Į the convoy was still to the eastward, to remain to stood on to the northward, from a belief I was near windward of Barbadoes until the 16th January; when another squadron. From the Delaware I saw nothing finding they must have passed, I changed my ground until I made Sandy Hook, when I again fell in with and ran off Cayenne, and from thence down the another of the enemy's squadrons, and by some uncoast of Surinam, Berbice and Demerara, through accountable cause was permitted to enter the bay, between Tobago and Grenada; thence through the although in the presence of a decidedly sperior Carribean sea, along the south east side of Portorico, force; after having been obliged to remain outside through the Mona Passage, down the north side of seven hours and a half waiting for the side. Jamaica and other leeward islands, without meeting a single vessel of the enemy, or any other than 4 Spa-Hon. Wm. Jones, Sec'ry of the Navy. nish drogers and one Swedish ship, until I got near the Manilla Reef; near which, after capturing and sinking the British schooner Jonathan, loaded with rum and dry goods, (the most valuable part of which I took on board) I hauled over for the Florida shore and struck soundings off St. Augustine, and from hence run on soundings as far as Charleston, pass I am, &c. JOHN RODGERS. Banks of Columbia. The following is a summary of the "statement of the incorporated banks within the district of Columbia," laid before the house of representatives by the secretary of the treasury, pursuant to a ritory (the Yazoo claimants) was read a third time resolve of that body, Feb. 21, 1813. Banks "Notes of other banks *Due from other banks Specie 7 4,000,000 and passed by the following vote: For the bill-Messrs. Bibb of Ky, Bledsoe, Brent, Brown. Condit, Daggett, Dan, Fromentin, German, Giles, Gilman, Gore Horsey, Howell, Hunter, King, Lambert, Morrow. Robinson Smith, Stone, Taylor, Varnum, Wells-.4. Against the bill-Messrs. Bibb of Geo. Chase, Gaillard, Lacock Roberts, Tait, Turner. Worthington-8. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2,508,596 92 Thursday, Feb 24.-After the usual minor busi- Real estate, expences paid, &c. Comparative Statement OF THE POPULATION AND LAND FORCES OF DIFFERENT Friday, Feb. 25.-The loan bill was taken upMr. Wright spoke in favor of the bill, and was followed by Mr. Calhoun on the same side. Saturday, Feb. 26.-The usual minor matters being disposed of-The house proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Eppes on the 24th inst. for the appointment of an additional standing committee, to be called a committee for public expenditures. Mr. Eppes explaired his object in submitting his resolution; stating that the duties contemplated to Population. Land Force. Remarks. be assigned to this committee would fully occupy it Kingdom of Prussia Duchy of Warsaw Deduct for troops indisposa ble (indisposable en Fran ments 7 coise) from Great-Britain 150,000 42,316,000 590,000 16 81 Republic of Switzerland Confederation of the Rhine Kingdom of Denmark United States of America Countries not included in the above during the session, and was necessary to relieve the committee of ways and means from much of the business at present referred to it, and which it was unable properly to consider, &c. The resolution was then passed without opposi tion; and, on motion of Mr. Eppes, the committee of ways and means was discharged from the consideration of such duties as are embraced by the resolution, and the same referred to the committee for public expenditures. The discussion on the loan bill was then resumed. Mr. Pickering spoke three hours against the loan and the war, &c. Adjourned. Monday, Feb. 28.-Mr. Gourdin of S. C. presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the state of S. C. praying the aid and patronage of congress in opening an inland water communication from the Chesapeake bay to St. Mary's river in Georgia-Referred. The speaker laid before the house a letter from Jonathan Roberts, (of Penn.) a member of the house, resigning his seat in consequence of having been elected a member of the senate. The loan bill was taken up in committee of the whole. Mr. Pickering finished his speech, and Mr. Lowndes took the floor and spoke about three quarters of an hour. Adjourned. Tuesday, March 1.-After a good deal of business not necessary at this time to notice, the loan bill came before a committee of the whole-Mr, Pickering craved permission to make a few remarks explanatory of or in addition to what he said before, when Mr. Lowndes took the floor and finished his speech. He was followed by Mr. Eppes; when Mr. Pitkin having spoken half an hour-the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. Wednesday, March 2.-Mr. Wright offered a motion to suspend the embargo law during the impending negociations for peace. He thought it might lessen asperities and then lead to a restoration of peace, &c.-the matter was promptly taken up, and the house refused even to consider the resolution.-The votes were-for consideration, YEAS-Messrs. Baylies of Mass. Bayly of Va. Bigelow, Bradbury, Breckenridge, Brigham, Caperton, Cilley, Cooper, Cox, Culpepper, Davenport, Davis of Mass. Dewey, Duvall, Ely, GasHowell, Hufty, Hungerford, Kent of N. Y. Kent of Md. Law, Lewis, Lovett, Macon, MKee, Miller, Mosely, Markell, Oakley, Pickering, Pitkin, Post, Potter, John Reed, Wm. Reed, Richardson, Ridgely, Robertson, Ruggles, Sherwood, Shipherd. Smith of N. Y. Standford, Stockton, Stuart, Sturges, Taggai, T The bill providing for the indemnification of cer-ton, Geddes, Goldsborough, Grosvenor, Hale, Hopkins of N. Y. tain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi terAccording to the English notions the United States are at war with the allies! What stuff! But the table is interesting. Ed. Reg. madge, Thompson, Vose, Ward of Mass. Wheaton, White, Wil- $100 in Philadelphia. Ditto of twelve spindles is cox, Wilson of Mass. Winter, Wood, Wright.-65. NAYS-Messrs. Alston, Avery, Bard, Barnett, Beall, Bowen $150. Ditto of twelve spinning spindles, and six Bradley, Brown, Burwell, Butler, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chappell doubling and twisting thread for sewing work, at Comstock, Conard, Creighton, Cuthbert, Davis of Pennsylvania, one and the same time, $200. A machine with twelve Denoyelles, Earle, Eppes, Farrow, Forney, Forsythe, Franklin, Griffin, Grundy, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Ingersoll, Ing, spindles spinning, twelve doubling and twisting, ham, Irwin, Jackson of Va. Kennedy, Kerr, Kershaw, Kilbourn $250. A machine with twelve spindles spinning, King of N. C. Lefferts, Lyle, M'Coy, M'Lean, Moore, Murfree, twelve doubling and twisting and six spindles balNewton Ormsby, Parker, Pickins, Piper, Pleasants, Rea of Pen Rhea of Ten. Rich, Sevier, Seybert, Skinner, Smith of Penn. ling (the small balls the ladies use, commonly sold Smith of Va. Tannehill, Telfair, Troup, Udree, Ward of N. J. for from 3-100 to 12-000 each, according to their size Whitehill, Williams, Yancey-68. The loan bill was then taken up-on the question and fineness) $300. A machine with twenty-four "shall the bill pass ?"-Mr. Stanford spoke against, spindles spinning, and twelve spindles doubling and and Mr. Fisk, of Vt. in favor of the bill-A motion twisting, or six doubling and twisting and six balfor the previous question was lost by a small majority, ling, $350. These machines can be easily turned, and Mr. Nelson of Va. rose to speak in favor of the the two first by children of from five to ten years of bill; on his giving way for the purpose, the house adjourned. THE CHRONICLE. British Subsidies.-The British chancellor of the exchequer, in calling for the ways and means for carrying on the war, stated the following subsidies would be paid to foreign powers in 1814: For Russia and Prussia For Austria For Spain For Portugal For Sweden For future application 2,500,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 400,000 1,500,000 10,400,000 The house of delegates of Virginia have postponed to the next session the proposition of the state of Tennessee to abridge the period of service of the age, the other by girls of from ten to twenty. The machines occupy an area of twenty-eight inches square, the six the same size of the one in the patent office, which is about twenty-two inches square; the child that attends them has nothing of consequence to do except turning a crank, taking off the full and putting on the empty bobbins, mending a thread when it breaks, which very seldom happens. Those machines moderately worked will clear their expences in one year, besides accomplishing more than double the work the girl working them can accomplish in the same time before, by hand spinning. A carding machine of the first quality and the same size, will cost $200 This machine will card ten pounds of cotton in twelve hours fit for any size yarn under what is called in Virginia seven-yard thread. A roving frame or machine that will rove the same quantity for the same fineness, 50 dollars. If the thread (yarn) is wanted finer, the cotton must be better and put twice through the carding, and three or four times through the roving machine. The civil war yet rages between the rival parties The carding, roving and spinning machines are of Petion and Christophe, the sable chieftains of St. distinct and separate machines: the first (carding) Domingo. worked by a girl or woman and fed by a child; the Jonathan Roberts, esq. is elected, by the legisla-second (roving) worked by a child, the third worked ture of Pennsylvania, senator of the United States, by a child or girl. in the room of Michael Leib, esq. resigned. United States' senators. The weight of a carding machine will be about A Swedish vessel has arrived at Savannah from 150 lbs. roving 50 lbs. and spinning from 50 to Gottenburg; 85 days. The captain informs that the 150 lbs. according to the number of spindles and king of Sweden was dead; Bernadotte then becomes kind of work they do. king. That he was informed Messrs. Gallatin and I have spun upon a six spindle machine six pounds Bayard has gone to Stockholm. He brings letters for of four yard thread from sun to sun in the month of Mrs. Gallatin and Mrs. Bayard. This vessel has a July, 1812. cargo of dry goods and was bound to Amelia island, The most satisfactory description of my machines but put into Savannah in distress—Another Swedish is to work or see them worked. Mr. Clay, the speaker vessel, laden and bound as aforesaid, has also arriv-of the house of representatives, saw one of my maed at Georgetown, S. C. in distress. The latter was detained by lieut. Monk, of the U. S. shooner Young Boxer. Baxter's Machinery. chines at work in Peale's Museum, in Philadelphia, a few weeks ago; they have been approved of by almost every one that has in my hearing given an opinion of them. When they have been calumniated, it has always been by the "Friends of Britain in America," who still adhere to lord Chatham's doctrine, "don't let America make a hob-nail for herself." POSTSCRIPT. Extract of a letter from Mr. John G. Baxter to a person in the city of Washington. "My machines are much improved since this time four years, the period I embarked at Philadelphia for the county of Lunenburg. Experience has contributed much, and I believe they are now in such a state, that they can with safety be received into any family in America either for domestic economy or for profit. The price is very considerably raised in consequence of the improvements, but more in consequence of the rise of every thing necessary that composes the machines. One necessary article is only requisite to be mentioned as a criterion. Cards that were 45 cents a foot three years ago, are now menced next week, and by the aid of a supplement or supple The report on the failure of the campaign will be com90, and orders must be given for them four monthsments, completed forthwith, in as compact a body as possible. advance to secure the article. The price of the pamphlet, containing these documents, is one dollar; they will cost the readers of the REGISTER about fificer The loan bill passed the house of representatives recorded hereafter. It was decided by calling for the on Thursday last 97 to 55-yeas and nays will be previous question (93 to 53)-or it might have been debated until this time next year. But the debate has, perhaps, been the most interesting and ingenious that has lately occurred; which we design to take full notice of. A machine of six spindles for spinning only, is cents. SUPPLEMENT TO NO. 1, VOL. VI. Hec olim meminisse juvabit.—VIRGIL. Printed and published by H. NILES, South-st. next door to the Merchants' Coffee House, at $5 per annum. This supplement is chiefly published to present the readers of the REGISTER, in a compact manner, a large portion of the highly interesting documents lately laid before the house of representatives by the president of the United States. Until they are completed, many articles must be postponed. Message from the President 2,100 Making a total (of regular troops) of Kingston and Prescott, and the destruction of the British ships at the former, would present the first object; York and the frigates said to be building there, the second; George and Erie the third. The force to be employed on this service should the United States, transmitting a letter from the not be less than 6,000 effective regular troops, be secretary of war, accompanied with sundry docu-cause in this first enterprise of a second campaign ments; in obedience to a resolution of the 31st of nothing must, if possible, be left to chance. December last, requesting such information as may The time for giving execution to this plan iş tend to explain the causes of the failure of the arms clearly indicated by the following facts: of the United States on the Northern Frontier. To the house of representatives of the United States. I transmit to the house of representatives a report of the secretary of war, complying with their resolution of the 31st of December last. January 31st, 1814. JAMES MADISON. War department, January 25, 1814. Sin-In compliance with the resolution of the house of representatives of the 31st of December fast, requesting such information, (not improper to be communicated) as may tend to explain the causes of the failure of the arms of the United States, on the northern frontier, I have the honor to submit the following documents, and to offer to you, sir, the assurance of the very high respect with which I am Your most obedient, and very humble servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. The President. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF WAR 1st. The river St. Lawrence is not open to the pur poses of navigation before the 15th of May: And 2d. Lake Ontario is free from all obstructions arising from ice by the 1st day of April. Under these circumstances we shall have six weeks for the expedition before it be possible for sir George Prevost to give it any disturbance. Should this outline be approved, the details for the service can be made and expedited in forty-eight hours. Extract of a letter from the secretary of war to major general Dearborn, dated War department, February 10, 1813. "I have the president's orders to communicate to you as expeditiously as possible, the outline of a cam paign which you will immediately institute and pur sue against Upper Canada: 1st. 4,000 troops will be assembled at Sackett's Harbor. "2d. 3,000 will be brought together at Buffalo and its vicinity, "3d. The former of these corps will be embarked and transported under convoy of the fleet to The enemy's force at Montreal and its dependen- Kingston, where they will be landed. Kingston, its cies has been stated at 16,000 effectives. It more garrison, and the British ships wintering in the harprobably does not exceed 10 or 12,000. The militia bor of that place, will be its first object. Its second art of it may amount to one sixth of the whole. Is object will be York, (the capital of Upper Canada,) it probable that we shall be able to open the cam-the stores collected and the two frigates building paign on lake Champlain with a force competent to there. Its third object, forts George and Erie, and meet and dislodge this army before the 15th of May? their dependencies. In the attainment of this last, I put the question on this date, because it is not to there will be a co-operation between the two corps, be doubted but that the enemy will then be rein- The composition of these will be as follows; forced, and, of course that new relations in point of 1st. Bloomfield's brigade, strength will be established between us. 24. Chandler's ditto, 3d. Philadelphia detachment, 4th. Baltimore Our pre sent regular force on both sides of lake Champlain does not exceed 2,400 men, The addition made to it must necessarily consist of recruits, who, for a time, will not be better than militia; and when we consider] that the recruiting service is but beginning, and that we now approach the middle of February, the conclusion is, I think, safe, that we cannot move in this direction and thus early (say 1st of May,) with effect. It then remains to choose between a course of entire inaction, because incompetent to the main attack, or one having a secondary but still an important object; such would be the reduction of that part of Upper Canada lying between the town of Prescott, on the St. Lawrence and lake Erie, including the towns of Kingston and York, and the forts, George and Erie. On this line of frontier the enemy have, 5th. Carlisle 6th. Greenbush ditto, ditto, ditto, 7th. Sackett's Harbor ditto, 8th. Several corps at Buffalo under the Total, 1,436 1,04% 400 300 200 400 250 4,039 8,000 7,030 "The time for executing the enterprise will be go verned by the opening of lake Ontario, which usually takes place about the first of April, |