New-York, beg leave to offer our services in the defence of this Province, and America in general. We therefore, with due submission, propose cheerfully and with the utmost gratitude to accept (if your honourable Congress shall think proper) commissions from this honourable Provincial Congress, viz: Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Major.

We determine to be entirely under the command and order of the Provincial Congress, hoping we shall truly merit the favours of said Congress, and be useful instruments in serving this ancient and honourable Colony of New-York, as also the common grand American cause.

Sir your assisting us in this our humble request, and presenting to us the above-mentioned Commissions, would much oblige your most obedient humble servants,

WM. WILLIAMS,
BENJAMIN WAITE,
JOAB HOISINGTON.

To the Honourable P. V. B. Livingston, President of the Provincial Congress.

N. B. We hope to raise a Regiment of good active enterprising soldiers in this County, which we hope will reflect honour on this Colony. The arrangement of said commissions we desire might be according to the following order: Major William Williams, our Delegate, to be first Colonel; Major Benjamin Wait, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Captain Joab Hoisington, Major.

ETHAN ALLEN TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Crown Point, June 9, 1775.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: I am informed by Colonel Easton that you are well satisfied with the economy and enterprising spirit of a number of the sons of liberty, who, animated with the glorious example of the brave action at Concord, were inspired to make those acquisitions to the United Colonies of which your Honours have received intelligence, viz: the sovereignty of Lake Champlain, and the fortresses thereon, with an armed sloop and all the boats on the lake, and also took into possession a schooner, which was the property of Major Skene, and furnished it out for war. These armed vessels are at present abundantly sufficient to command the lake. The making these acquisitions has greatly attached the Canadians, and more especially the Indians, to our interest. They have no personal prejudice or controversy with the United Colonies, but act upon political principles, and consequently are inclined to fall in with the strongest side. At present ours has the appearance of it, as there are at present but about seven hundred regular Troops in all the different Posts in Canada. Add to this the consideration of the imperious and haughty conduct of the Troops which has much alienated the affections of both the Canadians and Indians from them. Probably there may soon be more Troops from England sent there, but at present you may rely on it that Canada is in a weak, and almost helpless condition. Two or three thousand men, conducted by intrepid commanders, would at this juncture make a conquest of the ministerial party in Canada, with such additional numbers as may be supposed to vie with the re-enforcements that may be sent from England. Such a plan would make a diversion in favour of the Massachusetts-Bay, who have been too much burdened with the calamity that should be more general, as all partake of the salutary effects of their merit and valour in the defence of the liberties of America. There would, furthermore, be this unspeakable advantage in directing the war into Canada, that it would unite and confirm the Canadians and Indians in our interest; and as England can spare but a certain number of her Troops, therefore the more she sends to defend her interest in Canada, which at present is languid and weak, the less she can send to Boston, or any other part of the Continent. By gaining the sovereignty of Canada, would intercept the design of the Quebeck Bill, and greatly discourage the Ministry, who dote much on the efficacy of it.

I would to God America would exert herself in proportion to the indignity offered her by a tyrannical Ministry. She might mount on eagles’ wings to glory. Fame is now hovering over her head. A vast Continent must either sink to bondage, ignominy, and exquisite horrour, or rise triumphant above the shackles of tyranny to immortal fame.

I hope, gentlemen, you will use your influence in forwarding men, provision, and every article for the Army that may be thought necessary. Blankets and provisions are scarce. I might have added the article of powder. It ought to be observed that the Colonies must first help their friends in Canada, and then it will be in their power to help them again.

I subscribe myself your Honours’ most obedient servant,

ETHAN ALLEN.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay, or the Council of War, at Watertown and Cambridge.

PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOUR CARLETON.

By his Excellency GUY CARLETON, Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief in and over the Province of QUEBECK, and the Territories depending thereon, in AMERICA, Vice-Admiral of the same, and Major-General of His Majesty’s Forces, commanding the Northern District:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, a rebellion prevails in many of His Majesty’s Colonies in America, and particularly in some of the neighbouring ones: and whereas, many of the said rebels have, with an armed force, made incursions of late into this Province, attacking and carrying away from thence a party of His Majesty’s Troops, together with a parcel of stores, and a vessel belonging to His Majesty, and are at present actually invading this Province with arms, in a traitorous and hostile manner, to the great terrour of His Majesty’s subjects, and in open defiance of his laws and Government; falsely and maliciously giving out, by themselves and their abetters, that their motives for so doing are to prevent the inhabitants of this Province from being taxed and oppressed by Government, together with divers other false and seditious reports, tending to inflame the minds of the people, and alienate them from His Majesty: To the end, therefore, that so treasonable an invasion may be soon defeated; that all such traitors, with their said abetters, may be speedily brought to justice, and the publick peace and tranquillity of this Province again restored, which the ordinary course of the civil law is at present unable to effect, I have thought fit to issue this Proclamation, hereby declaring, that until the aforesaid good purpose be attained, I shall, in virtue of the powers and authority to me given by His Majesty, execute martial law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this Province, and to that end, I shall order the Militia within the same to be forthwith raised; but as a sufficient number of commissions to the several officers thereof cannot be immediately made out, I shall, in the mean time, direct all those having any militia commissions from the Honourable Thomas Gage, the Honourable James Murray, Ralph Burton, and Frederick Haldimand, Esquires, heretofore His Majesty’s Governours in this Province, or either of them, to obey the same, and execute the powers therein mentioned, until they shall receive orders from me to the contrary; and I do accordingly, in His Majesty’s name, hereby require and command all his subjects in this Province, and others whom it may concern, on pain of disobedience, to be aiding and assisting such commissioned officers, and others who are or may be commissioned by me, in the execution of their said commissions for His Majesty’s service.

Given under my hand and seal of arms, at Montreal, this ninth day of June, 1775, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.

GUY CARLETON.

By his Excellency’s command:

H. T. CRAMAHE.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Lebanon, June 9, 1775.

SIR: I have received your letters of the 31st May and 1st June, enclosing the resolves of the honourable Continental Congress of the same dates. By a wonderful coincidence of counsels the first was nearly complied with before the receipt of it.