I doubt whether General Hull had instructions to cross to this side of the river; I rather suspect he was compelled by a want of provisions.

I embark immediately in the Prince Regent for Fort George.

I return here the day after to-morrow, and shall probably dissolve the legislature.
_Sir George Prevost to Major-General Brock._ QUEBEC, July 31, 1812.
I have received your letter of the 20th instant, accompanied by the copy of two letters from Lieut.-Colonel St.George, who is in command at Amherstburg, and some interesting documents found on board a schooner, which had been taken by the boats of the Hunter.
In consequence of your having desired Colonel Proctor to proceed to Amherstburg, and of your presence being necessary at the seat of government to meet the legislature of Upper Canada, I have taken upon myself to place Major-General Sheaffe on the staff, to enable me to send him to assist you in the arduous task you have to perform, in the able execution of which I have great confidence.

He has been accordingly directed to proceed without delay to Upper Canada, there to place himself under your command.
I believe you are authorized by the commission under which you administer the government of Upper Canada, to declare martial law in the event of invasion or insurrection; it is therefore for you to consider whether you can obtain any thing equivalent to that power from your legislature.

I have not succeeded in obtaining a modification of it in Lower Canada, and must therefore, upon the occurrence of either of those calamities, declare the law martial unqualified, and of course shut the doors of the courts of civil law.
The report transmitted by Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, to Lieut.-Colonel Bruyeres, of the state of defence in which he had placed Fort Amherstburg, together with the description of the troops allotted for its defence, give me a foreboding that the result of General Hull's attempt upon that fort will terminate honorably to our arms.
If Lieut.-Colonel St.George be possessed of the talents and resources required to form a soldier, he is fortunate in the opportunity of displaying them.