The Defences Were Entirely Inadequate

Source

From The Battle Of York....

The fact of York being the seat of Government of the Province of Upper Canada gave it an importance greater than it really merited, for it then consisted of only a small village of less than one thousand inhabitants, where houses were built mainly about the banks of the River Don. 

The defences of the town, if indeed they can be properly so termed, were entirely inadequate. 

Old Fort York, existing to-day very much in its outlines as it did in 1813. In this were the maga- 

zines, official residences and the barracks of the garrison.