On the 17th July, 1807, in consequence of an expected rupture between
England and the United States, Colonel Brock addressed a letter to Mr.
President Dunn, in which he said that the number of militia armed and
instructed in the province did not exceed 300, while he thought that as
many thousands could easily, and with perfect safety, be formed into
corps; and that Quebec, the only military post in the country, was not
in a condition to make much defence against an active enemy, as the
walls on the western side were old and decayed, and could not possibly
sustain a continued heavy fire. He added, that he wished to throw up
such works as would remedy this glaring defect; but as the garrison was
totally inadequate to such an undertaking, he required from 600 to 1,000
men every day for six weeks or two months, besides a vast number of
carts, &c., to complete the necessary defences of the citadel. This
letter being submitted to the council, that body replied, that the only
means by which assistance could be given by the civil government to the
military, in the manner proposed by Colonel Brock, would be by embodying
a proportion of the militia according to law, the men for which service
must be taken from different parts of the province. And that as this
measure had only once before been resorted to in the province, on which
occasion a decided disobedience was generally manifested, and was again
to be anticipated, the council inquired of Colonel Brock whether he had
the means, and would furnish them, to enforce the attendance of the
militia, who, when embodied, were entitled to the same pay and
allowances as the king's troops. The council further informed Colonel
Brock that it would meet again the next day, for the purpose of taking
into consideration any representation, in writing, which he might think
proper to make in answer to their communication, and that, if convenient
to him, they requested his personal attendance. His reply was as
follows: