immediate notice if any one offers to meddle with them; and tell them from me, that I will take care he shall be satisfied for his trouble. If the key should not be there, I must get you to write to Mrs. Mallett, or to go up, if necessary, to know where it is put. I left them all in a drawer of my desk, and I dare say you will find them at Mrs. Reid’s, as I know that of the bedding store is there. I should be glad of a bale or two of old sheets, but am afraid it will be difficult to get them. Don’t risk any thing, but first let me know if it is practicable to get them, and several other articles I want, out of the medicine store on some future occasion. Captain Kingston, who brings you this, has directions to find you or Bowden, and give you all the assistance he can, and will take care of whatever you give into his charge. There are some lancets, needles, scalpels, and pocket instruments, in one of my drawers also; if they could be got at, I should be glad they were sent here, but I fear Mrs. Mallett has the keys in the country. Mr. Bruce will write to you on this subject, to enjoin your transacting this business with all imaginable precaution; and be assured you will, in return, meet with every thing to serve you in the power of your assured friend,

J. MALLETT.

To Mr. William Allmon, at Dr. Bruce’s, New-York, per favour of Captain Kingston

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticonderoga, July 18, 1775.

SIR: Your favour of the first July I only had the honour to receive on the fifteenth, on my way to this place, where I arrived this day. Be assured, Sir, that every recommendation of yours will claim my particular attention. I left Captain Elisha Phelps to forward the stores from Albany, where he will remain, unless the necessity of the service should oblige me to call him elsewhere. If any opportunity offers in which I can employ Captain Noah Phelps, I shall embrace it with alacrity. I find the Troops from your Colony, under the command of Colonel Hinman, destitute of tents, an article they much stand in need of, being now crowded into bad barracks, which I fear will be productive of disease. Should it be impossible to procure the materials for making tents in your Colony, they may possibly be furnished by the New-York Congress, which can make no material difference, as it will probably be a Continental charge. Colonel Hinman informs me that fat cattle were expected up from Connecticut for the Troops here. I had ordered Mr. Walter Livingston to purchase a hundred head. Should your Honour learn that he has succeeded, it will supersede the necessity of sending any until a future requisition.

Permit me, Sir, to assure you of my respect and esteem, and that I am your Honour’s most obedient and very humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

The Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.

P. S. Colonel Hinman begs his respects. Be pleased to forward the letters for General Washington by the next post.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Ticonderoga, July 18, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I do myself the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at this place early this morning, and as a person is just going to Hartford, I sit down to give you the little information I have procured.

A Canadian, who twelve days ago left St. John’s, advises me that General Carleton has about four hundred men at that place; that he has thrown up a strong intrenchment, covered with chevaux-de-frise, picketed the ditch, and secured it with an abattis; that he has an advanced post of fifty men intrenched a league on this side; that there are many Indians in Canada, but believes that neither they nor the Canadians will join him; the latter he is sure will not, unless compelled by force.

You will expect that I should say something about this place and the troops here. Not one earthly thing for offence or defence has been done; the commanding officer had no orders, he only came to re-enforce the garrison, and he expected the General! But this, my dear General, as well as what follows in this paragraph, I pray may be entrenous, for reasons I need not suggest. About ten o’clock last night I arrived at the landing place, the north end of Lake George, a post occupied by a captain and one hundred men. A sentinel, on being informed I was in the boat, quitted his post to go and awake the guard, consisting of three men, in which he had no success. I walked up and came to another, a sergeant’s guard. Here the sentinel challenged, but suffered me to come up to him, the whole guard, like the first, in the soundest sleep. With a pen-knife only I could have cut off both guards, and then have set fire to the block-house, destroyed the stores, and starved the people here. At this post I have pointedly recommended vigilance and care, as all the stores from Fort George must necessarily be landed there. But I hope to get the better of this inattention. The officers and men are all good looking people, and decent in their deportment, and I really believe will make good soldiers as soon as I can get the better of this nonchalance of theirs, Bravery, I believe, they are far from wanting. As soon as I am a little settled, I shall do myself the honour to send you a return of my strength both on land and water.

I enclose your Excellency a copy of a letter from Colonel Johnson, with a copy of an examination of a person lately from Canada, contradictory of the accounts I gave you in my last from Saratoga. You will perceive that he is gone to Canada. I hope Carleton, if he should be able to procure a body of Indians, will not be in a hurry to pay us a visit. I wish to be a little more decently prepared to receive him; in doing which, be assured I shall lose no time.

I have no way of sending you any letters, with a probable hope of their coming to hand, unless by express, or by the circuitous route of Hartford; by which only, I can expect to be favoured with a line from you.

Generals Lee and Gates share with you in my warmest wishes. I shall devote the first hour I can call my own, to do myself the honour to write them.

I am, most sincerely, your Excellency’s obedient and humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER

P. S. Permit me, Sir, through you, to inquire the health of Colonel Reed, Major Mifflin, and Mr. Griffin.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Cambridge, July 18, 1775.

SIR: Allow me to return you my sincere thanks for the kind wishes and favourable sentiments expressed in yours of the thirteenth instant. As the cause of our common Country calls us both to an active and dangerous duty, I trust that Divine Providence, which wisely orders the affairs of men, will enable us to discharge it with fidelity and success. The uncorrupted choice of a brave and free people has raised you to deserved eminence.

That the blessings of health, and the still greater blessing of long continuing to govern such a people, may be yours, is the sincere wish of, Sir, your, &c.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Camp, July 18, 1775.

SIR: It is with no small concern that I find the arrangement of General Officers made by the honourable Continental Congress has produced dissatisfaction. As the Army is upon a general establishment, their right to supersede and contract a Provincial one must be unquestionable, and in such a cause I should hope every post would be deemed honourable which gave a man opportunity to serve his Country.

A representation from the Congress of this Province, with such remarks as occurred to me on this subject, is now before the Continental Congress. In the mean time, I beg leave to assure you that, unbiased by any private attachments, I shall studiously endeavour to reconcile their pretensions to their duty, and so dispose them as to prevent, as far as possible, any inconvenience to the publick service from this competition. I have the honour to be, &c.

GO. WASHINGTON.

To Governour Trumbull.

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