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nothing more by the publication than to excite in the breast of their countrymen an honest indignation against the authors of their present calamities; to animate them to a manly opposition against a ministerial system of politicks evidently calculated to enslave America; to stimulate them to that industry, and recommend that economy, which are requisite to a discharge of their just debts; and to expose the insidious arts and designs of British merchants and factors, who seem highly pleased with a prospect of having the power of seizing in an instant, with merciless rapacity, the property of the poor and laborious Colonist, by means of an establishment of a more compendious course of law. SAMUEL HAWES, Clerk. Extract of a Letter from D. Cross, Glasgow, to James Dunlop, merchant, Port-Royal, June 8, 1775: I believe also when your courts are opened, you will meet with better and speedier justice than ever, and perhaps a different mode of having it administered. That you will see an immediate and heavy pressure, when this happens, upon certain, classes of the debtors, and their property brought to market; for I believe the late confusions will have given to most individuals a character that is like a stamp upon them, and will, I believe, occasion what I have said taking place, in a very extensive degree. I besides see in conversation, an uncommon backwardness still in people’s trusting their property in America, nor can I help adopting and approving the sentiment, when I consider what strong reasons they have for it. To James Dunlop and Patrick Kennan, merchants, on Rappahannock, June 13, 1775: Let your list of debts, your books, and every other document and voucher you send to us, be all sworn to before a proper magistrate; take your assistants and book-keepers’ oaths also in the same manner, and study to make every matter as authentick and firm as the nature of the things will admit. You ought to have done this with the last list of debts that you sent; you cannot now err on the side of too much precaution and care, for ascertaining things hereafter. You cannot suffer in taking paper money in payment, so far as you have occasion to pay it away again for debts that yon owe; but beware of taking it farther, when you find the exchange affected much, or the difference between it and gold and silver considerable. Mr. Dunlop, in his letter of the sixteenth of July, by the Jean, in case the trade opens again, recommends to us to put the collection of debts into other hands than the sale of goods, each to be under a different firm. This appears to us proper; and if Mr. Kennan is of the same opinion as to his business, he will please to mention it, and each will name the person he would choose to take charge of the collection, and powers will, in proper time, be given. We suppose yourselves would choose to take charge of the sales, and of the apparent new business. Mr. Morris and Mr. Walsh would be the proper people to devolve the collection upon. If any others, let them be named. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM BALTIMORE, JUNE 13, 1775. A gentleman who last night came here from Williamsburgh, which place he left on Friday last, June 9th, brings an account of Lord Dunmore having the day before gone on board a man-of-war, at York, with his lady and family. The Assembly sent a deputation to invite him to return, and assured him of protection, but he refused, and pretends to be afraid of being assassinated. He had dismissed the Indian hostages, and desired them to make the best of their way to their own country. Two of them have since surrendered themselves, the other is not yet found. NEW-YORK CONGRESS TO THEIR DELEGATES IN CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 13, 1775. GENTLEMEN: In consequence of one of your resolves, we appointed a Committee to view the post in the Highlands, whose report, with a map thereto annexed, you have enclosed, which is all we have as yet been able to do respecting that matter. As soon as the proper measures on that head are concluded, we will transmit them to you. We are, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servants. By order of the Congress: P. V. B, LIVINGSTON, President. To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress. BENEDICT ARNOLD TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Crown Point, June 13, 1775. GENTLEMEN: As commanding officer here, I think it my duty to acquaint you that having lately sent one Mr. Hoit, an Indian interpreter, to Montreal and Caughnawaga, to consult with some gentlemen of my acquaintance in the former place, and with the Indians in the latter, to know their intentions in the present dispute, he has returned with the agreeable intelligence that the Indians are determined not to assist the King’s Troops against us. They have made a law, that if any one of their tribe shall take up arms for that purpose, he shall immediately be put to death; this is confirmed by five of their chief men, who are now here with their wives and children, and press very hard for our Army to march into Canada, being much disgusted with the Regulars. The Stockbridge Indians, whom I lately sent to them with a belt of wampum and speech, confirm the above. My friend in Montreal, a merchant and gentleman of probity, writes that I may depend on the truth of the above, and that great numbers of the Canadians have expected a visit from us for some time, and are very impatient of our delay, as they are determined to join us whenever we appear in the Country with any force to support them. This I am confirmed in by a party of the Canadians, having just returned from a short excursion to the Isle-au-Noix, (Nut-Island,) where a number of them offer to join us. Governour Carleton, by every artifice, has been able to raise only about twenty Canadians, and those of the noblesse, who are in expectation of places of profit or honour. He is now at Montreal, and has threatened the English merchants, if they will not defend it in case of an attack, he will set fire to the city and retreat to Quebeck. There are now in Canada, of the Seventh and Twenty-Sixth Regiments, only five hundred and fifty effective men, who are quartered in the following manner: At St. John’s and Chamblee, three hundred; at Montreal, forty; at Lachine, twelve; at Trois Rivieres, forty; at Quebeck, one hundred and twenty; and some small parties at out-posts. From the foregoing matters of fact, which you may rely are undoubted, and from my personal knowledge of the country and disposition of the Canadians, I beg leave to observe, that if the honourable Congress should think proper to take possession of Montreal and Quebeck, I am positive two thousand men might very easily effect it; for which purpose I beg leave to recommend the following plan of operations: The men to embark at Crown Point and proceed in the sloop, schooner, batteaus, &c., to within two miles of St. John’s; seventeen, hundred men to form a grand division, of which one thousand to proceed directly to Montreal; the other division of seven hundred to cut off the communication between St. John’s, Chamblee, and Montreal, and the remainder to remain with the shipping to secure our retreat, who will be able, by a diversion in favour of the main body, until they show themselves off Montreal, whose gates, on our arrival at that place, will be opened by our friends there, in consequence of a plan for that purpose already entered into by them. Of course Chamblee and St. John’s must fall into our hands, as well as Quebeck, unless a number of troops should arrive there before this plan can be carried into execution, the utility of which the honourable Congress will be the best judges. But I must beg to observe, it appears to me the reduction of those places would discourage the enemies of American liberty, and, in a great degree, frustrate their cruel and unjust plan of operation, and be the means of restoring that solid peace and harmony between Great Britain and her Colonies, so essential to the well being of both; at least if will, in my humble opinion, be more advantageous, and attended with less expense, to reduce Quebeck and keep possession, where provisions of every kind are plenty, and a strong fortress built to our hand, than rebuilding Ticonderoga, as it will entirely deprive Great Britain of the lucrative branch, (the fur trade,) and be an inexhaustible granary in case we are
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