"The appearance of our squadron on the Lake has been productive of great confusion and alarm at Burlington, and other places, along its shores, and the whole of the population appeared to be turned out for their defence." No. XXVIII. _Extract of a Letter from Major-General Sir James Kempt to Sir George Prevost, respecting the intended Attack upon Sackett's Harbour, dated_ "_Kingston, 18th Sept. 1814._ "Sir, "With all due deference to your Excellency's superior judgment, it appears to me, that an operation of this magnitude, and _probable duration_, should not be undertaken without the most ample means, and at the very best season of the year; that not less than 8,000 infantry, with a strong efficient corps of artillery and engineers, should be employed on this service; that Watertown and Brownville should be occupied in force by strong corps of observation, capable of covering the operations; that there should be an intermediate rendezvous for the assembly of the troops and stores, between this and the place of debarkation; and, that above all, we should have the _decided superiority_ on the Lake, before the service is undertaken. "I have the honour to be, with great respect, "Your Excellency's most obedient "And most humble servant, "JAMES KEMPT. Lieut.-Gen." No. XXIX. _Extract of a Letter from Sir J. L. Yeo to Sir George Prevost, dated 29th Aug. 1814, p. 141._ "I have this day received a correct statement of all the officers and men belonging to the establishment on Lake Champlain. "I enclose your Excellency a scale of the complement of each vessel, agreeable to the Admiralty order, by which you will perceive that, after each complement is complete, there will remain 97 seamen over and above. Your Excellency must be aware, that when this squadron proceeds up the Lake, I shall be under the necessity of taking the seamen out of the gun-boats; neither will the number of seamen we have in this country, afford a sufficient number of men to man the gun-boats on Lake Champlain, independent of the ships." No. XXX. _Correspondence between Sir George Prevost and Capt. Downie, p. 145._ "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, Wednesday, 7 a. m. 7th Sept. 1814._ "Sir, "The enemy's force in the Bay consists of a ship, inferior to the Confiance, a brig, a large schooner, a sloop, and seven or eight gun-boats. When the gun-boats are manned, the remaining craft appear to have but few men left on board. If you feel that the vessels under your command are equal to a contest with those I have described, you will find the present moment offers many advantages which may not again occur.