Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-05
BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN
POSSESSIONS.
LNroRTANT.

Extract of letter from gentleman. resi-
ding at Batavia, county of. Genesee, N.
Y. TO the editors of the Watchman, da-
ted August 5th, 1909.
owe have, occasionally, news from Ca
NADIA. The inhabitants OF that country
have just received intelligence of Mr. Can
ing's disavowul of the engagements of MIR.
Erskine 1t has created the utmost alarm.
Ssme behave it to havebeen a secret under
| standing between the government & the nil
mister; many are of'the opinion that Mr..
| Erskine was unauthorized; others consi
der it as eminating from the proveroial
treachery of the ministry (; bat they all u
mite in the opinion that war will inevitably
be the consequence. So prevalent was the
! latter opinion, that many Americans, mia
bitants of Canada are preparing to remove
within the limits of the United States.
! O.hers, less fearful, were determined. 20
remain in Canada, and in. case OF hostlI .
ties, TO take up arms in favor of the A,Re
ricans 1t is "a fact that nearly half of The
inhabitants of Canada are friendly to the
United States, and only wan a favorable
opportunity to tear asunder the sltackles Of
| English tyranay.
| Ehe British are making every pvspa.
ration tor war. Unusual activity is o5ser.
we'd IN the organization of troops, the tram
! ing OF the Hfliitia, and the pre- parasion OF
m,itary stores. Isaw an intelligent gen.
tleman the other day from YORK. "a small
town in Canada.l He stated that from e.
very oDse va,lon and appearance ne was
firmly persuaded that England mad deter
! mined on war, but that il was delayed in
order that the word might be accompani-
ed with the blow.
| There has lately been,an unusual in
tercourse, by courlers, between certain NC
! fnp rla-c ~ hfa
| British officers in Canada. Some plan is
evidently IN embryo, but what am una
| bic TO determine. II is not my wish to
excite unnecessary alarm, out | am firmly
persuaded some method sncu.d be speedi-
! ly adopted to anD!hIiate this unlawful in
tercourse, THIS secret understanding, TINS
| tory Ike Smuggling, more particularly at
the present crls.s, when all Appearances
are indicative OF an approaching rupture"
2EMARKS. ~
| from the source from which we obtain.
| ed the above ptor mat.o1, we entertain NOT
| the least doubt of Its authentic ty. The
] fact appears fully confirmed, that more
| than ont half o!t,ie surplus of wheat, pork,
potashes, sc, OF the fertile counties, OF On
/ tario, Genesee, and Niagara, has been
purchased by British oticers and agents
( of federal merchants. Mortlfyng as 1t is,
! 1t is evident that these ARTICLES will be en-
! piOyed Tor the subsistence OF a mercenary
soldiery, who are employed to Commit de-
/ predations on the defenceless Inhabitants of
| our frontiers.
Continuation of the above is contained
in news RON Vermont. a correspondents
| to the New York Public Advertiser, resi-
ding on The frontier, states that ga storm
| is gathering which 1t would be well 10 be
| prepared ior." He informs us that Craig
! [governor OF CanadA Is making tour in
the interior OF his province WIN respec-
| table staff ana nu ncrouS escort TO IKE
| the necessary measures for putting tae
| country in Il stat oi deisnce by organizing
the militia and providing ana iortty ny
| the garrisons. Some OF ms military asents
have been sent up the waters issu ns rom
lake Champian, for the object o survey ..
Hing the river and the neighDorhood up as
far rs Dutchman's Point. Others are en- 4.
! played in mastering aud rails ny their con-
| scrIptons OF militia, which were last year
| detached 10 be ~ readiness for service.
These appearances are too impOrtant
and too serious to be viewed with Idle IN
difference. Il is time to arouse from our
Iethargy. Ii England has determined on
war, God knows we shoaid be prepared to
| meet It.
PROCLAMATION.
By his Excellepcy Iieut Gen. Sir Ceorse