placed on the population of this province.

My own observations, however, enable me to assure your
Lordship, that a respectable force might be trained and
rendered exceedingly useful on any exigency, were the least
encouragement given to the spirit which at present pervades a
certain class to volunteer their services.

To such characters arms might be safely entrusted, but I
certainly would consider an indiscriminate distribution to the
militia, were it possible to collect it, as highly imprudent
and dangerous.

What I stated to his honor the president respecting the
weakness of the works along the whole of the west front of
this garrison, is consonant to the opinion transmitted by the
officers of engineers and artillery, in their half-yearly
periodical report, to the master-general of the ordnance.

To a question from the president, viz. "Should the council
conceive it necessary to call out the militia, whether I
thought myself warranted to issue pay and provisions to them?"
I answered, Certainly not: that in all British Colonies, of
which I had any knowledge, they on all such occasions defrayed
their own expenses.

The consideration that there is about £30,000 in the civil
chest, which cannot be applied to its object until next
spring, and the ease with which the error I may have fallen
into might be remedied, induced me to be so positive upon a