The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-02 00:00:00

MAGAZINES-CON TIN UED.

UNITED SERVICE JOURNAL.
The present state of our relations gives addi-
tional interest to two good articles in this num-
ber—" The Naval Recollections of the late Ame-
rican War," and " Hints on the Management of
a War in America, by a British Officer of ability
and experience, who resided in the Canadas for
more than eight years." As the latter contains
some useful information respecting the course
this country should adopt, in case the Maine
people and the Lockport rioters should unfortu-
nately bring affairs to extremities, we shall
forego any remarks on the other articles, and
subjoin from it a few useful extracts :
As to the matter of our holding the Canadas, or, as I be-
lieve, they ought now to be called, Canada, I conceive our ope-
rations would be only defensive, as acquiring territory, above
certain posts, would be out of the question ; and, to obtain this
advantage, the plan of the late General Brock ought to be fol-
lowed—which was, to go slap-dash at their principal posts,
without giving them time to strengthen themselves in them.
In the Lower Province, we have not so much to do in that
way (I shall talk of them as distinct provinces, as formerly),
as there they cannot cut off our supplies so readily. The first
thing to be done, is to make a simultaneous attack upon Fort
Niagara, Sackett's Harbour, and Detroit, as far up as Fort
Gratiot, on the Detroit River, as these points command the
great lakes on which the fate of the province depends. Sackett's
Harbour, it will be remembered, was the great dockyard,
where they built their large ships, in opposition to ours at
Kingston. This ought to be seized at once, and the mouth of
the harbour destroyed by filling some old vessels with stones,
and sinking them there : the channel is very narrow, and can
easily be obstructed. Oswego should be treated in the same
manner : they have no other ports on Lake Ontario.
Fort Niagara lies immediately opposite our forts, George and
Mississaqua. Fort George, I fancy, is gone to rum no los's,
as it was in the worst position an unfortunate fort could be
placed in, being commanded and enfiladed upon three sides of a
square.

The Rideau Canal makes a great alteration in this country
since its formation, as now our stores can be got up without
risking, as we did last war, their passage close to the enemy's
lines ; how they ever allowed them to pass them has always
been a mystery I could never solve.
If xe wish to hold the Canadas, we must have a great supe-
riority on the Lakes. The building of ships is expensive : a
small steam craft can be established, if we can destroy the
harbours along their shores, at the same time we must take
care they do not destroy ours first.
The Niagara frontier is a place of great consequence, as they
can cross in so many points. A strong redoubt on Navy
Is'and and Fort Erie would give us the command above the
Falls of Niagara. A strong post at Queenston Hill, seven miles
from Fort George, or Illissit-saqua, secures us pretty well on
this frontier, as from Queenston Hill everything can be seen
down to Lake Ontario.

On Lake Erie the Americans have no good harbours, while
we have several,—Fort Erie one, though rather open. Ship::
can, however, run down the river to shelter or find good an-
chorage under Point Abinean.
The Detroit River is about a mile across; and if the Ame-
ricans have sufficient force they may cross over at any time,
and destroy and pillage our settlements on the frontier, which
they would be prone to do, and retire to 'heir own side, after
doing some mischief, without attaining any good; and, to pre-
vent thi•, we must have possession of their strong places on the
rivers and lakes, and the supremacy on all the waters.
In the Upper Province I should conceive the people are
generally loyal, though there may be many radicals among
them of the deepest nie ; yet I think, generally speaking, they
may be firm to the Queen's Government. They make good
soldiers, especially in that country, where they know the woods
as well as the Americans, and can be brought into excellent
discipline, as witness the Incorporated Regiments of Militia,
the Glengarry, the Nova Scotia, and other regiments. Put
them on the footing of the regular army ; allow their officers
halt-pay and pensions for wounds, and the men with grants of
land after the war, and never fear but a respectable force may
be raised in a few months fit for any service.