“Head-quarters, British Troops, “Bank of the St. Lawrence, “14th Nov., 1813. “Sir,-- “The object of the present communication, which is made by desire of the officers in command of the British forces in this neighbourhood, is, in the first instance, to claim as prisoners two American officers who were taken on the morning of the 11th, previous to the action, and deserted to their own shore while on the way to Prescott. “I enclose a copy of their paroles. “William Gilkinson, Esq., of Prescott, is the bearer of this flag, and I am instructed to request that you will facilitate his passage to the Commanding General of the United States’ Army, to whom he is desirous of making a representation on the subject of the plunder and destruction of his property by the American troops in this neighbourhood. And on this subject I am instructed to protest in the most solemn manner against that system of rapine and plunder of the property of the peaceful and unoffending inhabitants which has marked the progress of the American army during its short continuance in this province; and I am further to entreat that his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the United States’ Army will allow no consideration arising out of the circumstances of the disparity of rank of the British officer by whom he is so called upon, to restrain his Excellency from immediately disavowing this system so disgraceful to a civilized army, and affording every fair indemnity to the individual sufferers; or that he will, by an open avowal that the system complained of is an authorized one, leave it in the option of the general officer (hourly expected to assume the command of the powerful and rapidly increasing British force in this neighbourhood), to employ it in such acts of just retaliation upon the persons and property of the inhabitants of the right bank of the St. Lawrence as he may think fit, as commensurate with the treatment of the inhabitants on this side. “I have the honour to be, Sir, very respectfully, “Your most obedient humble servant, “(Signed) T. HARVEY, Lieut.-Col., “D.C.G. to the British Forces “in the Canadas.” “Head Quarters, Montreal, “2nd June, 1814. “Sir,--