means of commanding the lakes. The Committee would write your Honour more fully on this subject, but they are convinced, from the letters you have favoured our Congress with, that you are fully possessed of the importance of holding those fortresses.

Justice compels the Committee to let your Honour know, that on Colonel Arnold’s refusing to serve under Colonel Hinman, a mutiny arose amongst some of Arnold’s men, who would not engage anew in our service, which seemed to be attended with dangerous symptoms; but by the noble exertions of the officers of your Government, with those of Judge Duer, of Charlotte County, in the Colony of New-York, and the ample support by them rendered to the Committee in the most difficult situation, it was happily quelled. The particulars of it are too tedious and disagreeable for your Honour’s attention, while you have constantly business of the last importance before you. But this much the Committee order me to take leave to say, that from the polite, generous, and manly disposition of Colonel Hinman, and the officers in the Connecticut Forces under him, we may gather the most happy prospects of a campaign at the Northward replete with honour and interest to the Colonies.

I am, in behalf of the Committee, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

WALTER SPOONER.

Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.

GOVERNOUR WENTWORTH TO SECRETARY ATKINSON.

Castle William and Mary, July 3, 1775

DEAR SIR: I have occasion to inspect the books of Charters in the Secretarys Office, and to make some minutes’out of them. I desire you will deliver them to the bearer for that purpose, and I will be responsible for their safety and return into the Secretary’s Office. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.,

J. WENTWORTH.

Honourable Theodore Atkinson, Esq.

CONGRESS OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Exeter, July 3, 1775.

GENTLEMEN:We take the earliest opportunity to convey to you some intelligence we have just received from Canada, by the way of Mr. Dean, a Missionary, lately come from that country. We enclose copies of two letters from Doctor Wheelock, and from a Committee in Hanover. Mr. Wheelock and Colonel Bedel, who will take the charge of this, will be able to give you, perhaps, some further par-ticulars. We wish to have, as soon as possible, your judgment on the matter, and shall probably defer acting until we hear from you. If any plan of operation towards, or in Canada, is suitable, we wish to act in concert with you and the other Colonies in the neighbourhood. We trust we shall not be backward in exerting ourselves in the common defence; but would act with caution in a matter of importance.

We are, with respect, gentlemen, your friends and brethren in the common cause.

In the name and by order of the Congress:

MATTHEW THORNTON, President.

REVEREND DOCTOR WHEELOCK TO THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE CONGRESS.

Dartmouth College, June 28, 1775.

MUCH RESPECTED GENTLEMEN: Yesterday Mr. Dean returned from his tour to Canada, on which I sent him in the capacity of a Missionary, last March, with a view to strengthen and perpetuate the friendship which has lately commenced between the Indian tribes in that quarter and the Seminary, to attach them to these Colonies, and secure these frontiers from an invasion from that quarter. And on hearing his narrative, the intelligence appeared so interesting, and the authority so good, that I thought best to send him forward immediately to the honourable Continental Congress, whose determination I thought would probably be governed in some important respects by his accounts.

The Tribes of Indians near Montreal and Quebeck are doubtless well affected towards these Colonies and the cause we are engaged in. But about forty savages from a great distance, came into Montreal, with a profession of coming to a Congress or treaty, we understand, at the desire of the Governour, who ordered the Commissary to make provision for the entertainment of three hundred more, by which he supposed the number was expected soon. The neighbouring tribes will none of them join with the savages, excepting that the Caughnawagas, to save themselves from being distressed, have engaged to assist in defending him at Montreal, but to go no further, and gave the fullest evidence that this concession was only for self-preservation; and Mr. Dean is confident that the Governour cannot persuade an Indian there so much as to conduct those foreigners through the roads to our settlements. He further informs, that the inhabitants of Canada were much alarmed at our peoples taking the forts on the lake; and that upon it, they (the Regulars) exerted themselves much in preparing themselves for an attack from our soldiers; and that this appeared to be their grand object when he left the place. But my son, who comes on purpose, can give you a more full and particular account of this and of the present state of Oswego, &c. And I would humbly propose to your consideration, gentlemen, whether it be not expedient, and of the first and greatest importance to the safety of the whole, that all these frontier Towns be well and speedily supplied with arms and ammunition, and as much as they can, to put themselves into a posture of defence; and that in order hereto, some method to procure such stores be pointed out to them by the honourable Congress; and also some means be provided to make it practicable by such as are poor and unable to purchase for themselves.

I most heartily pray the Father of lights to direct you in your consultations and deterrninations on this most interesting affair; and am, much respected gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

ELEAZER WHEELOCK.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress now sitting at Exeter.

P. S. My son can inform you of the measures used by the Canadian Indians to engage all their allies not to join against us.

Since I wrote the foregoing letter, I have seen a man direct from Albany, and late from Mount Johnson, who informs me that Colonel G. Johnson has lately received presents to the amount of three thousand Pounds, from the King, to be disposed of to engage the Indians within his jurisdiction against the Colonies; and that all his endeavours for that purpose have been fruitless. Not one of the Indians would go to receive the presents. That said Superintendent has withdrawn, with his family and presents, by the way of Oswego; but where he is going is not known. That the Mohawks and Oneidas are firm for the Colonies; which also agrees with other accounts.

COMMITTEES OF HANOVER AND LEBANON TO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CONGRESS.

Hanover, June 27, 1775.

SIR: Mr. Dean having yesterday returned from Canada, with intelligence which we apprehend of importance, we think it our duty forthwith to communicate it to the Provincial Congress; and as sundry Members of the Continental Congress have desired Mr. Deans attendance at Philadelphia, as soon as he returned from his mission, for which place he sets out to-morrow, we have desired Mr. John Wheelock totake the journey to Exeter, to communicate the intelligence to your honourable House, with as much speed and accuracy as possible, not doubting your approbation of our procedure therein.

We are, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servants,

Committee of Inspection and Correspondence for Hanover.

Committee of Inspection and Correspondence for Lebanon.

To Colonel M. Thornton, President, of the Provincial Congress in New-Hampshire.

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