The circumstance which happened to the guard stationed opposite to Queenstown, arrived here much exaggerated. Your account of it silenced the idle reports in circulation. I agree with you in deploring the limitation, until the end of the ensuing session, in the operation of the militia act for Upper Canada; but as in the event of hostilities it might not be possible to convene the legislature, then the bill would in all probability continue in force during the war, provided you were not induced to make an exertion for a more perfect law. Colonel Baynes having informed me he had an opportunity of communicating with you more expeditiously than by post, I desired him to make you acquainted with the peaceful intelligence I had just received from Mr. Foster; but although it comes with a good deal of reservation, still it warrants me in recommending the most rigid economy in carrying on the king's service, and in avoiding all expense that has not become absolutely necessary, as it is with the utmost difficulty money can be raised for the ordinary service. I am apprehensive that I cannot look forward to the pleasure of seeing you before the end of August, as my presence in the province is become indispensably necessary during the first operation of the new militia law. Many thanks for the particulars of the transaction which led to the censure passed by the house of assembly on Chief Justice Scott. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 43: He died at Mount Vernon, on the 14th December, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, leaving a widow but no issue.] [Footnote 44: Pictorial History of England.] [Footnote 45: This and a few of the subsequent letters from Colonel Baynes are partly in cipher of figures, but of course we have not the key.] [Footnote 46: The present Lieut.-General Ellice, colonel of the 24th regiment of foot. He is the officer mentioned at page 97, but was deputy adjutant-general in Canada, and not inspecting field officer of militia as we supposed.] [Footnote 47: The late Major-General Heriot, C.B., then Captain Heriot, of the 49th.] [Footnote 48: The late Admiral Lord de Saumarez, G.C.B., &c.] [Footnote 49: The present Colonel Le Couteur, Militia Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, in Jersey. In the _United Service Journal_ for October, 1831, Colonel Le Couteur has described the winter march of the 104th regiment, early in 1813, from New Brunswick to Canada.] [Footnote 50: The present Major-General Thomas Evans, C.B., then a captain of the 8th foot.] CHAPTER VII.