an alliance with the French despot, the measure of our degradation and wretchednes would be full.

The accusations, however, contained in the President's message formed the ground work on which the United States legislature declared war against Great Britain; and such was the astonishment of the government and people of England that they were for a time before they could persuade themselves that the United States were in earnest in the hazardous enterprize they had undertaken, as no conduct of the British government towards that country could have prompted them to such a rash and desperate step. The causes of the war so, emphatically insisted on in the President's message, as now appear, were ridiculous and absurd; complaints, some of which were only imaginary, and the rest had been redressed, accusations which had long been refuted and a thousand and one other things, if possible, still more absurd and preposterous, were all laid under contribution for the service of this manifesto of Mr. Madison's, in order to meet the views and feelings of the turbulent faction by whom he had been once more raised to the head of the government.

A curious circumstance is also connected with the declaration of war by the United States, which probably tended more to exhibit the entire dependence under which the acts of America government lay to those of the French ruler, and to shew the extreme partiality of America towards France, than any other circumstance which transpired

Immediately after the communication of the French minister, declaring the principles of the French decrees to form the fundamental law of the empire, followed the declaration of war by the United States. Whether, therefore, Great Britain considered the pretensions set up and avowed by the American government, or the circumstances attending the declaration of war, the I

conclusion was the same-that a determination had long 'been formed by the United States to oppose the just claims of Great Britain, and with a view to embarrass that country in her contest with France for the indepen dence of Europe, she had determined to unite her resources and exertions.

The news of the declaration of war, at this time, however, completely astounded the people of England. Even those who had advocated the enquiry into the Orders in Council, were convinced that America ought to have been satisfied with the abrogation of those edicts; and they further added, that should America urge any further claims upon Great Britain, that they should now be the first and most strenuous opposers of any further concession being made to that country.

It was frequently remarked in the public journals of the United States, that in all their intercourse with the governments of Great Britain and France, a studied and implacable hostility towards the interests of the former was universasally evinced; while, notwithstanding the reiterated insults and indignities daily offered by the latter to the American flag, yet the government of that republic was decidedly favorable to her views and wishes.

Matters, however, had now arisen to a crisis between Great Britain and the United States, that indicated wa to be inevitably at hand; in view of which, and unde the impression that in such an event Canada would be in vaded, the governor in chief of those provinces immediately employed means to strengthen the public works, fortify the most important avenues into the country, and mor effectually to organize the provincial militia; for should a war be the result, on the militia forces alone could the country depend for her defence, as only a sufficient regu lar force was retained in the country to perform garrison duty under a peace establishment; and, under existin

reumstances with the mother country, employed as er armies were on the European peninsula, little aid om that quarter could be expected.

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HISTORY OF

CHAPTER XIII.

Preparations of a warlike Appearance on the part of the United States-Extract from the Address of the House of Assembly to the Yeomanry of Canada, at the Commencement of the War-Invasion of Canada by an Army under General Hull-General Hull's Proclamation to the People of Canada-Active Measures pursued by General Brock for the Relief of Fort Amherstburg-Evident Signs of Indecision and Distrust in the American Camp.

DURING the defensive preparations on the part of Canada, the United States government was not unmindful of its security against any hostile attack. Besides strengthening her fortifications, &c., an act of Congress was passed, on the 11th day of January, 1812, for raising ten additional regiments of infantry to consist of two thousand men each-two regiments of cavalry of two thousand each-and one additional regiment of artillery, to consist of one thousand-to be enlisted for five years. Early in the ensuing month, another act passed that body, authorising the president of the United States to accept the military services of certain volunteer corps, not to exceed in number fifty thousand men; and, in the month of April following, an act was passed to call into active service, for the

purpose of military drill, one hundred thousand militia, proportioned to each state as follows:

In addition to the above, the United States had a regular army of eleven regiments of five hundred men each, which, in the whole, certainly constituted a formidable army.

Acts were passed, at the same time, for building new ships of war, and repairing such as were out of commission, and for making such provisions for the defence of the maritime frontier as were considered necessary.

As soon as the declaration of war was announced in Canada, measures were employed in that colony to embody a portion of the militia force of the country for its protection against an invasion of the enemy.

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