with him on the impropriety of his conduct, and recommended it to him to draw up and sign a recantation of such principles, with a show of contrition for his behaviour, whereby his indiscretion might be forgiven. The said Johnson at length produced a paper, affecting to make amends to his Country for his wishes against it; which being adjudged insufficient, the Committee required some alteration, which Mr. Johnson pretended to make, still treating the inquiry with contempt and disrespect.

The Committee having also called upon him for a justification of his conduct in continuing to deal with a certain Christopher McConnico, of the said County, who was held up as a violator of the Continental Association, and ordered to be published in the Virginia Gazette, on the 8th day of February last, Mr. Johnson confessed he had dealt, and did continue to deal with the said McConnico, since his publication, after sufficient proof had been made thereof. This Committee consider the said Thomas Johnson to have acted as an enemy to America, and ought to be deemed as such by every good member of this community; and, further, do recommend it to all the people of the said County in particular, and Country in general, to withdraw and cease all other and further communication and intercourse with him.

THOMAS READ,Chairman.

LORD STIRLING TO HENDRICK FISHER.

Morris, New-Jersey, November 28, 1775.

SIR: I have this day received two Companies of my Regiment, raised at this place, which, by orders of the Continental Congress, I have put under orders of march for a very consequential purpose, which you well know admits of no delay. In those two Companies I find there is a deficiency of arms. They are to be had in the County, provided money is ready to be paid for them; and, as you have twenty-five hundred dollars in your hand of Continental money for this purpose, I must desire that you will pay to Captain Silas Howel, whom I send express for that purpose, eleven hundred and thirty dollars, for which the men who receive those arms will be put under stoppages of two dollars a month in the Commissary’s hands, to repay this advance.

I am well informed that there are about seventy very good arms, with accoutrements, at Hackensack, which I mentioned to the Committee of Safety. It is absolutely necessary we should have them, and if you will send the money to pay for them, I will see that they are forthcoming. This must be done immediately.

STIRLING.

To Hendrick Fisher, Esq.

EGBERT BENSON TO NEW-YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Red-Hook, Dutchess County, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1775.

SIR: I am now to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from some individual members of the late Congress, enclosing copies of certain resolutions of the Continental Congress, of the 8th instant, respecting the number of men to be furnished by this County for the use of the fortress in the Highlands. The letter came to hand the 18th instant, and I would immediately have called the County Committee together, but found it would be the saving only of a few days, (the stated meeting being on the 27th;) and therefore, with the unanimous advice of the friends to the cause in the neighbourhood, I thought it proper to defer the matter till that time, especially as the calling a special meeting, the members being dispersed through the County, is attended with considerable expense. There was a circumstance, also, of which I supposed the Congress ignorant, that induced me to think that the business did not require such immediate despatch, namely, that Captain Havens, with fifty men belonging to the Continental forces, (the party that escorted the Chambly garrison to Connecticut,) were on their march to garrison the fortification. I laid the letter before our General Committee on Monday last, who ordered me to write to the Colonels of the two Minute Regiments in the County, desiring them each to hold a Company in readiness to march at a minute’s warning, with a request, also, that those gentlemen would immediately write to the commanding officer at the fortress, informing him of the places of rendezvous of their respective Regiments. This measure was advised by three members of the Continental Congress, whom I saw as they passed through this County on their way to the northward. They informed me that they had been at the fort, where they had left part of two Companies, and that when Mr. Havens arrived with his party, there would be men sufficient for its present defence, or, at least, as many as could conveniently be accommodated, and therefore proposed that we should only hold a Company or two ready to march upon an emergency. I have the pleasure to inform the Congress that several Companies have not only turned out, as volunteers, but have, both men and officers, solicited the service.

I remain, by order of the Committee, your very humble servant,

EGBERT BENSON, Chairman.

To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.

EGBERT BENSON TO NEW-YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Red.Hook, Dutchess County, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1775.

SIR: We have lately elected a new General Committee for this County, which met yesterday. Although the gentlemen have honoured me with the chair, yet, as I reside in the extreme part of the County, we found it very inconvenient that all matters respecting the County should previously come to me, especially when they are of such nature as to render a special meeting of the Committee necessary. We have therefore appointed a Committee of Correspondence for the County, consisting of the following gentlemen, to wit: Colonel Freer, Captain Platt, and Messrs. John Child, Paul Schenck, and Peter Tappen. The residence of those gentlemen being at Poughkeepsie, they can, with more ease and despatch, communicate to the County whatever intelligence they may, from time to time, receive, and summon the members of the Committee, in case of a special meeting, (which we have authorized them to do,) whenever they think it expedient. I am directed to advise the Congress of this matter, with a request that, for the future, all letters, directions, &c., respecting the County, may be sent and directed to our Committee of Correspondence.

I remain, by order of the Committee, your very humble servant,

EGBERT BENSON, Chairman.

To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Ticonderoga, November 28, 1775.

MY DEAR GENERAL: The evening before General Montgomery landed on the Island of Montreal, Mr. Carleton embarked his garrison on board of some vessels and small craft, and made two attempts to pass our batteries, near the mouth of Sorel, but was drove back by Colonel Easton, who has behaved with bravery and much alertness. On the 19th, Mr. Carleton, disguised en Canadien, and accompanied by six peasants, found means to make his escape; Brigadier-General Prescott surrendered next day by capitulation. What terms General Montgomery has given him, I do not know, as he was so hurried, in preparing to move immediately to Quebeck, that he could not find time to send them. Prescott and the officers arrived here at four, to-day. I have just received a return of the officers, men, vessels, and stores, taken, which I do myself the honour to enclose.

Your Excellency’s favour, of the 16th November, I received two days ago. I believe some cannon and mortars may be spared; but none, except what I have sent across Lake George, can be got down until that or this lake freezes over. I haven very fine thirteen-inch mortar here, and I will make a push to get her over the lake. But where will you get shells? We have none here.

Mr. Livingston, Mr. Langdon, and Mr. Paine, arrived here at seven, this evening. The season was so far advanced that I could not wait the orders of Congress upon sundry matters which appeared to me absolutely necessary to be carried into immediate execution. I am, however, happy to find that every measure I have pursued corresponds with the instructions given to the Committee.

I am informed that Prescott has used poor Walker and Allen with a shameful brutality. Of this I shall acquaint Governour Trumbull, to whose Colony I shall send him.