We shall now proceed to communicate our northern intelligence, the substance of which you will fully collect from Col. Arnold’s letter to us, dated twenty-second inst., where-of we enclose you a copy, No. 12. Second: Col. Arnold’s letter to Captain Noah Lee, dated the twenty-third instant, whereof we enclose you a copy, No. 13. Third: We yesterday received the Quebeck mail opened, and sent to us by some of our people from above, and such letters as were already opened, were inspected by two of our members, who made an extract of such passages in them as respected their publick commotions, a copy of which extract we enclose you, No. 14.

We shall now take notice of the New-York Committee’s letter to us, of the twentieth instant, enclosing the Resolution of the Continental Congress, from which we find that the reduction of Ticonderoga by our forces, is approved of, and recommending us to proceed with all possible despatch with a sufficient body of forces, &c., to the northward, to remove the cannon and stores from Ticonderoga to the south end of Lake George. We are now busy to raise two Companies, each Company composed of fifty men, in order to go upon said expedition, who we expect will be in readiness to march in two or three days. But, gentlemen, there are a number of very material difficulties that immediately arise. We have no ammunition; all the powder already gone up, with what we can possibly collect yet among us, will not amount to above two hundred and fifty pounds; and with so small a quantity it is impossible for us to do any thing of consequence, nor can we possibly conceive how the Provincial forces can maintain these northern posts, or withstand the attack of the British Troops from Quebeck, who are, from the best intelligence we can collect, preparing, as fast as possible, to come clown, in order to take these places from us; an enterprise which, if by them undertaken and completed, will introduce our enemies into the very bowels of our Country. We beg of you, gentlemen, without delay, to take these important matters into your most serious and immediate consideration, and afford us the necessary assistance in this our distressed situation, and send us up, with all possible speed, a sufficient quantity of powder, without which nothing, can possibly be done. We likewise stand in need of blankets, pitch, tar, oakum, nails, spikes, gin, ropes, camp-kettles, intrenching tools, &c., and some rice, oat-meal, and barley, &c.; also for the sloop and schooner, two mates, two gunners, two gunner’s mates, two boatswains, and eighteen seamen, agreeable to Colonel Arnold’s list, (copy enclosed,) No. 15, all winch you'll be pleased to cause to be sent up to us with all possible despatch.

We would beg of you, likewise, to take into consideration some mode or plan for raising and paying our forces; the one which we have adopted here, pro hâc vice, until you conclude upon a better one, we enclose you a copy of, No. 16.

We would mention another matter to you, which, in our humble opinion, requires your immediate consideration; that as the vessel from St. John’s has lately been taken by our forces, and whereof the Continental Congress have had no intelligence, on the eighteenth instant, when they entered into the Resolution respecting Ticonderoga, and removing the stores and cannon from thence to Lake George, whether it would not be expedient to fortify the latter instead of the former, as Ticonderoga is by far the strongest and most important fortress.

We beg the favour of you that you will, immediately after your perusal of this our letter, and the papers herewith sent, be pleased to forward the same to the Continental Congress by the most speedy and eligible mode of conveyance.

We are, gentlemen, you most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee:

SAMUEL STRINGER, Chairman pro tem.

ETHAN ALLEN TO THE ASSEMBLY OF CONNECTICUT.

Crown Point, May 26, 1775.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: I here communicate to you a copy of a letter I sent by Mr. Winthrop Hoit and Captain Abraham Nimham, a friendly Stockbridge Indian, to the several Tribes of Indians in Canada.

“By advice of council of the officers, I recommend our trusty and well-beloved friend and brother, Captain Abraham Nimham, of Stockbridge, as our ambassador of peace to our good brother Indians of the four Tribes, viz: the Hocnawagoes, the Swagaches, the Canesadaugans, and the Saint Fransawas.

“Loving brothers and friends : I have to inform you that George the Third, King of England, has made war with the English Colonies in America, who have ever till now been his good subjects; and sent his army and killed some of your good friends and brothers at Boston, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay. Then your good brothers in that Province, and in all the Colonies of English America, made war with King George, and have begun to kill the men of his army, and have taken Ticonderoga and Crown Point from him, and all the artillery, and also a great sloop which was at St. John ’s, and all the boats in the lake, and have raised, and are raising two great armies; one is destined for Boston, and the other for the fortresses and department of Lake Champlain, to fight the King’s Troops that oppose the Colonies from Canada; and as King George’s soldiers killed our brothers and friends in a time of peace, I hope, as Indians are good and honest men, you will not fight for King George against your friends in America, as they have done you no wrong, and desire to live with you as brothers. I was always a friend to Indians, and have hunted with them many times, and know how to shoot and ambush like Indians, and am a great hunter.

“I want to have your warriours come and see me, and help me fight the King’s Regular Troops. You know they stand all along close together, rank and file, and my men fight so as Indians do, and I want your warriours to join with me and my warriours, like brothers, and ambush the Regulars: if you will, I will give you money, blankets, tomahawks, knives, paint, and any thing that there is in the army, just like brothers; and I will go with you into the woods to scout; and my men and your men will sleep together, and eat and drink together, and fight Regulars, because they first killed our brothers; and will fight against us; therefore I want our brother Indians to help us fight; for I know Indians are good warriours, and can fight well in the bush. You know it is good for my warriours and Indians too to kill the Regulars, because they first began to kill our brothers in this Country without cause.

“Ye know my warriours must fight, but if you our brother Indians do not fight on either side, we will still be friends and brothers; and you may come and hunt in our woods, and come with your canoes in the lake, and let us have venison at our forts on the lake, and have rum, bread, and what you want, and be like brothers.

“I have sent our friend, Winthrop Hoit, to treat with you on our behalf in friendship; you know him, for he has lived with you, and is your adopted son, and is a good man; Captain Nimham, of Stockbridge, and he will tell you about the whole matter more than I can write. I hope your warriours will come and see me. So I bid all my brother Indians farewell.

ETHAN ALLEN,

“Colonel of the Green Mountain Boys.”

This, gentlemen, is a copy of the letter I have sent the Indians; I hope it may have a good effect. I thought it advisable that the Honourable Assembly should be informed of all our politicks. And am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and humble servant,

ETHAN ALLEN.

The Honourable General Assembly.

BENEDICT ARNOLD TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Crown Point, May 26, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: My last was of the 23d instant; I then advised you of the situation of matters here, since which there has been no material alteration. Very few men have arrived. We have fixed the sloop with six carriage and twelve swivel guns; the schooner with four carriage and eight swivels. Both vessels are in good order, and tolerably well manned. Eight gentlemen having arrived from Hartford, who are seamen, I have sent two ten-inch iron