that the Canadians were headed by M. L’ Artifice; that they have arms, but no ammunition but what they got from the merchants, who, as this deponent understands, have a considerable quantity at Quebeck; that Artifice and two others went to Governour Carleton at Montreal, to know if it was his positive orders to force them to take up arms; for if it was, they were determined to oppose it to the last; that he heard the officers at Chambly had received letters informing them that four Regiments were expected every day at Quebeck; that about six of the Indians at St. John’s, with an interpreter, are sent as spies once every week, with positive orders not to pass the line; that the country in Canada is very ill off for provisions, and flour four Dollars per hundred at Quebeck, by reason of the exportation to England, and that the dry weather has greatly injured their crops; that they have only two small batteaus at St. John’s, about ten at Chambly, and twenty at Montreal, which may be got up the river, or over land, to St. John’s; that when the vessels are finished, they propose to bring them upon the lake; that this deponent heard of two men being taken with an Indian boy, on the other side of the line, and the boy was released; that there were three armed schooners, of sixty or seventy tons each, lying off the mouth of Sorel, in the St. Lawrence, commanded by Algeo La Force and La Tourt; that he thinks the number of Regulars at Montreal does not exceed twenty, and that those at Quebeck are not more than a company, and most of them sick, and about thirty recruits from England; that on a report that the New-England people intended to come through the woods and attack Quebeck, a Captain was sent down to take command of the troops there; that the Canadians about Quebeck were disposed to be neutral, as well as those about St. John’s, but that the priests and seigneurs were stimulating them to take up arms against the Colonies; that on account of the new laws, which impose the same taxes that were levied by the King of France, the Canadians are very much disobliged, and declare they will oppose the taxes to the utmost; that there was a report in Canada, that an army of fifteen thousand men was coming from this way; that the Regulars determined when they come up the lake, to destroy all the settlements on this side of the line, particularly Mr. Gilliland’s. And further saith not.

JOHN DUGUID.

Sworn this 2d day of August, 1775, before me,

PH. SCHUYLER, Judge.

The above Deposition was taken from the mouth of the deponent, in the presence of General Schuyler, Colonel Hinman, Colonel Mott, and Major Welsh, by

JOHN MACPHERSON.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, to wit:

John Shatforth, late of Yorkshire, in Old England, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith: That he went from Esquire Gilliland’s Patent to St. John’s, about the first of May last, where he has been since employed in farming; that his father and mother live there; that he procured a pass from Major Preston to come from St. John’s to Mr. Gilliland’s, to harvest, and accordingly left that place the 21st of July; that at that time there were about four hundred and sixty Regular Troops there, but no Canadians, except two Indian interpreters, and about half a dozen hauling pickets for the fortifications; that there are between thirty and forty Indians there, some of them of the Caughnawagas, and some of the Messasagas, who go out for spies; that this deponent believes their orders are not to pass the line, but cannot tell whether they would act against the Colonies, if required; did not hear that General Carleton was enlisting any Canadians; was informed by Mr. Duguid that there were some Indians at Montreal, but does not know certainly, as he never was there; that he, this deponent, had heard the Canadians say they wish to remain neutral; that the fortification at St. John’s is a fort with a double row of pickets, and the largest pickets of it are as big as a man’s thigh; that there are trenches on the outside, and a breastwork on the inside of the pickets; that they intend to let water from the lake into the trenches; that he was not allowed to go into the fort, but supposes it to contain about an acre of ground; believes they have eight or ten guns mounted, mortars included, and are preparing to mount more, as they have more embrasures for them; that the fort is square, and without bastions; that there is another fortification to the northward of the one described, and like it, on which no cannon are mounted; that the timber, ready framed, was hauling by the Canadians from Chambly, when he left St. John’s, for building two schooners, one of which is to be of fifty-four feet keel, and the other of fifty-five; that the timber belonged to Mr. Bell, and was seized by the Regulars at Chambly; that provisions in Canada were very scarce, and that flour was the most so; that this deponent saw no boats at St. John’s, except two small batteaus, and did not hear of their having any more elsewhere; that more Regular Troops were expected in Canada, which news they heard from Quebeck; that he cannot tell what other Troops are in Canada, but that there are some at Chambly, though he cannot tell their numbers. He knows John Duguid, who was a cooper at St. John’s, employed by the Commissary. That the schooners were coming up the lake, as soon as they were finished; that he, this deponent, lived better than half a mile from the fort; that he has not lately seen any provisions come to St. John’s, and all that are brought must pass by his door; that he saw the two men that were taken with the Indian boy, and believes they were sent to Montreal; that he does not suppose the Canadians would take it ill if the Colony Troops were to pass the line; that he heard and believes there were about three thousand people assembled at Chambly, to defend themselves against being forced to take up arms, who did not continue together above two or three days, but he cannot tell in what manner they were dispersed; that the Canadians have arms, but no ammunition; that the Regular Troops declared, that when they came up the lake, they would destroy Esquire Gilliland’s settlement. And further saith not.

JOHN SHATFORTH.

Sworn this 2d day of August, 1775, before me,

PH. SCHUYLER, Judge.

The above Deposition was taken from the mouth of the deponent, in the presence of General Schuyler, Colonel Hinman, Colonel Mott, and Major Welsh, by

JOHN MACPHERSON.

Paper delivered Major-General SCHUYLER by Captain SMITH.

I hereby certify to whom it may concern, that on the 1st day of August, 1775, by order of Major-General Schuyler, I took command of the Sloop Enterprise, then lying at Crown Point, for the service of the United Colonies, and find, by strict examination, the condition she is now in, to be of very little use to the service, as I am well assured, in the present state, the vessel might be easily taken by four batteaus, with one swivel gun and ten men armed, in each; as witness my hand this 2d day of August, 1775.

JAMES SMITH, Commodore.

To his Honour Major-General Schuyler, at Ticonderoga.

JOSEPH TRUMBULL TO JOHN HANCOCK.

Camp at Cambridge, August 2, 1775.

SIR: I have received your kind favour of the 24th ult., covering my commission from the Continental Congress, as Commissary-General in the American Army, and sincerely thank them for the honour done me in this appointment, and you for your kind wishes of happiness. It shall be my constant and earnest endeavour to discharge the duties of my trust to their satisfaction, and thereby obtain their approbation therein, which will render me happy.

I am, Sir, your obliged and obedient humble servant,

JOS. TRUMBULL.

Honourable John Hancock.

ELBRIDGE GERRY TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Chamber of Supplies, Watertown, August 2, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: Colonel Porter is just arrived from New-York, and has so far succeeded in his business, that about 80,000 flints and eight tons of lead are expected here on Saturday next. It arrived at Hartford on Sunday and Monday last.

Colonel Campbell, the Deputy Quartermaster, informed Colonel Porter at New-York, that fifteen hogsheads of