gain proselytes; and by his connexions with those in other parts of the country, who are inimical to the cause we are embarked in, he will be able to do great mischief. The Committees of the several adjacent Towns, thinking him a very dangerous person to remain among them, have desired me to take care of him. I shall therefore, by the first opportunity, send him to the care of the Committee of Hartford, till they can receive your Honour’s orders concerning him.

I am, with the greatest sincerity, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

P. S. I enclose Colonel Willart’s account of the stock he took from Gardiner’s Island.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticondoroga, August 14, 1775.

SIR: Your Honour’s favour of the 8th instant, enclosing a pamphlet, &c., I received this morning.

I hope the Provincial Congress of this Colony will make no delay in forwarding Colonel Hinman’s tents, as I propose moving in a few days, although not so strong as I could wish, and very indifferently appointed. Should the tents not arrive in time, Colonel Hinman’s people will suffer much, and so will Colonel Easton’s; the former has yesterday returned me one hundred and forty-six sick; of the latter, forty-eight out of one hundred and ninety-six.

Permit me to congratulate you on your son’s appointment, which must be the more agreeable to you, as I find it is universally approved of.

Having very little paper left, I am under the necessity of sending this without cover, and which also induces me to get your Honour to send a line to Colonel Mott to make all possible haste up, as I shall not be able to move without him, unless Congress prevents my going forward.

I am your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

PH. SCHUYLER.

The Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., &c. &c.

COLONEL HINMAN TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticonderoga, August 14, 1775.

SIR: This morning I received your favour of the 8th inst.; am sorry to tell you that my Regiment is yet sickly; a great number unfit for duty; those well in good spirits; hope soon to be employed in action. Colonel Waterbury’s Regiment about half arrived; the rest soon expected. The Province of New-York abounds with officers, but I have not had my curiosity gratified, by the sight of one private.

Your Honour has expectation that my Regiment will speedily be supplied with tents, as New-York has undertaken it. Shall be glad if disappointed in my expectation, for we shall much want them.

I am, Sir, your Honour’s obedient humble servant,

BENJ. HINMAN.

Governour Trumbull.

MAJOR JOHN BROWN TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Crown Point, August 14, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: On the 24th of last month, by the General’s order, I set out for Canada with four men, with directions to penetrate the country, and get all the intelligence that could be had in regard to the military preparations making there by the King’s Troops, Canadians, or Indians; what the situation of St. John’s Chambly, Montreal, and Quebeck; how many Troops at each place; whether the Canadians designed to take up arms against us; whether any re-enforcement had arrived in the Colony, &c.

I arrived in Canada on the 30th; had a tedious and fatiguing march through a vast tract of swamp lying on the west side of the lake, in which I lodged three nights; but passing by the particulars of the adventure, how pursued and surrounded by a large party of the enemy, when in a house escaping out of a back window, and pursued two days on my return; notwithstanding which I continued in the country four days, being protected by the Canadians, who, I can assure you are our friends, without whose protection I must have fallen into the hands of the enemy. It is impossible for me to describe the kindness received from the French, as also their distressed situation, being threatened with destruction from the King’s Troops, by fire and sword, because they refuse to take up arms against the Colonies. They wish and long for nothing more than to see us with an army penetrate their country. They engage to supply us with every thing in their power. The Indians are determined to act in conjunction with the Canadians.

Colonel Guy Johnson has arrived at Montreal with a party of three hundred, mostly tenants, unacquainted with arms. There are also some Indians arrived with him, via Swago. They held a council with the Iroquois and St. Louts, and are determined to act with Canadians, except it be to go on discovery.

The Regulars are fortifying St. John’s; have raised two batteaus, which mount nine guns each. They have intrenched and picketed out some distance from their other works. Two large row-gallies, of sixty or eighty feet length each, are on the stocks, and will be finished soon; they mount twelve guns each. There are about seven hundred of the King’s Troops in Canada, near three hundred at St. John’s, about fifty at Quebeck, the remainder at Montreal, Chambly, and at the upper post.

Now, Sir, is the time to carry Canada. It may be done with great ease and little cost, and I have no doubt but the Canadians would join us. There is a great defection amongst them. They have lately raised a mob, fired on the French officers lately appointed, and taken away their commissions. They were under arms several days, and it seemed that the King’s Troops dared not resent it; but their Captain, with one of my men, (a Canadian,) whom I sent to Montreal to do business, are both taken prisoners, and in close hold. This, I imagine, will raise the resentment of the Canadians to a higher pitch than any thing that has yet been done.

I left the county on the 3d instant. Being informed by the Canadians, that two scouts, of fifty men each, were sent out often, the one up the lake, the other to Montreal, I steered to the east-northeast three days, and came to the Bay of Missisque, where I got a small canoe, and on the 10th instant arrived at the Point.

Should a large re-enforcement arrive in Canada, it will turn the scale immediately. The Canadians must then take up arms, or be ruined. It seems that some evil planet has reigned in this quarter this year, for notwithstanding the season is far advanced, and a fine opportunity presents of making ourselves masters of a country with the greatest ease, which I fear may cost us much blood and treasure if delayed, New-York have acted a droll part, and are determined to defeat us, if in their power. They have failed in men and supplies, &c.

I beg your Honour’s pardon for troubling you with this letter; but as every friend and well-wisher to the success of our arms are curious to the probability of the success, I have taken on me to acquaint your Honour of the state of Canada, which doubtless you may have from the General in a more perfect manner. It is by Mr. Bennet’s motion, in part, that I give your Honour this trouble. I hope as my paper, ink, and eye-sight are bad, that you will pass by mistakes.

I am, Sir, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

JOHN BROWN.

To Governour Trumbull.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED CROWN POINT, AUGUST 14, 1775.

Yesterday came in two subalterns who had been down the lakes, as far as Onion River, to procure all the watercraft on the lake. On their return one of them turned in to see one Gilliland, a Justice of the Peace, late a merchant in New-York, now settled about thirty miles down the lake, a man of great interest and our zealous friend. They were scarce seated when one White, High Sheriff of Tryon County, (at Sir William Johnson’s,) with two others, entered without ceremony, and inquired for Mr. Gilliland. After a few words our men disarmed them, Soon after came up one more white man, with three Indians, who, seeing the situation of their friends, attempted to make their escape, but were soon taken and safely conducted to this place. The Indians say they came to take Mr. Gilliland and carry him to Canada, as White and his accomplices