incur the heavy censure of Congress: one Mr. Water-house, who was appointed by Colonel Bedel, and whose conduct must be inquired into, having, I fear, made great waste of publick stores; one Mr. Stewart, who acted at La Prairie; one Mr. Power, who acted at St. John’s; Lieutenant-Colonel Warner, I believe, has large accounts unsettled. In short, there are great abuses to be rectified.

I wish, exceedingly, for a respectable Committee of Congress. I really have not weight enough to carry on business by myself. I send you two Indians, taken in Carle-ton’s attack. I forgot to make you this present before.

With respect to the Canadian soldiery, I think you may venture to send them back. The seigneurs, I should imagine, might influence, in some measure, the choice of representation for a Convention.

I am, my dear General, your most affectionate humble servant,

RICHARD MONTGOMERY.*

To General Schuyler.

P. S. The Indians are of the Conosodago. I have not, I believe, more than eight hundred effectives here. However, I can have as many Canadians as I know how to maintain, at least I think so, while affairs wear so promising a prospect.

Montreal, November 23, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: In answer to your favour of yesterday, suffer us to acquaint your Honour that we are exceeding unhappy to find that you have mistaken the motives which induced us to remonstrate against a number of prisoners being suffered to remain in this Town. Be assured, Sir, it proceeded not from a want of confidence in you, as our General—far from it; but being well acquainted with your humane, generous disposition, and knowing how importunate many of those people are, and, at the same time, firmly believing that the publick safety may be in danger from their remaining in this place, we concluded that a dutiful remonstrance, from your faithful officers, might be used as an argument against granting their requests. Suffer us, Sir, as it really proceeded from a sincere regard to our Country as well as to you, to intercede with you, not to think of quitting us at this critical time; we conceive the worst of consequences must almost inevitably follow from it; and also let us beg of your Honour to reconsider the permitting the officers to remain here. We assure you that we are not alone in our fearful apprehensions of the consequences, but all our friends in this country join with us in sentiment.

We are, Sir, your Honour’s most obedient and humble servants,

JAMES CLINTON, Colonel.
JOHN NICHOLSON,
LEWIS DUBOIS.

To the Hon. General Montgomery.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Point-aux-Trembles, November 20, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE TOUR EXCELLENCY: My last was of the 14th instant, from Point Levi. The same evening I passed the St. Lawrence without obstruction, except from a barge, on which we fired and killed three men; but as the enemy were apprized of our coming, and the garrison augmented to near seven hundred men, besides the inhabitants, it was not thought proper to attempt carrying the Town by storm, but cut off their communication with the country till the arrival of General Montgomery. We accordingly invested the Town with about five hundred and fifty effective men, took possession of a Nunnery, and Major Caldwell’s house, about half a league from Town. We marched up several times near the walls, in hopes of drawing them out, but to no effect; though they kept a constant cannonading, and killed us one man.

On the 18th, having intelligence that Captain Napier, in an armed snow, with near two hundred men, having made his escape from Montreal, was very near, and that the garrison, furnished with a number of good field-pieces, intended attacking us the next day, I ordered a strict examination to be made into our arms and ammunition, when, to my great surprise, I found many of our cartridges unfit for use, (which to appearance were good,) and that we had no more than five rounds to each man. It was judged prudent, in our situation, not to hazard a battle, but retire to this place, eight leagues from Quebeck; which we did yesterday, and are waiting here, with impatience, the arrival of General Montgomery, which we expect in a few days. I have been obliged to send to Montreal for clothing for my people, (about six hundred and fifty in the whole,) who are almost naked, and in want of every necessary. I have been as careful of cash as possible, but shall soon have occasion for hard money; as the French have been such sufferers from paper heretofore, and mine so large, I thought it not prudent to offer it to them at present. I have wrote General Montgomery my situation and wants, which I expect will be supplied by him. Had I been ten days sooner, Quebeck must inevitably have fallen into our hands, as there was not a man there to oppose us; however, I make no doubt General Montgomery will reduce it this winter, if properly supported with men; which, in my opinion, cannot in the whole be less than two thousand five hundred, though it may possibly be effected with a less number. The fatigue will be very severe at this season, and in this inclement climate.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest esteem and respect, your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble servant,

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

To his Excellency General Washington.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO GENERAL MONTGOMERY.

Point.aux-Trembles, November 20, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I wrote you the 14th and 16th inst., from before Quebeck, which make no doubt you have received. I have this minute the pleasure of yours of the 17th inst. I heartily congratulate you on your success; and hope, as fortune has so far been favourable, and is generally so to the brave, it may, in future, be equal to your warmest wishes.

It was not in my power, before the 18th, to make an exact scrutiny into the arms and ammunition of my detachment; when, upon examination, great part of our cartridges proved unfit for service; and, to my great surprise, we had no more than five rounds for each man, and near one hundred muskets unfit for service; add to this, many of the men invalids, almost naked, and wanting every necessary to make them comfortable. The same day I received advice from my friends in Town, that Colonel Maclean was making preparation, and had determined, in a day or two, to come out and attack us. And as his numbers were greatly superior to ours, with a number of field-pieces, and the limits of Qucbeck are so extensive, I found it impossible entirely to cut off their communication with the country, without dividing the small number of men, (I have about five hundred and fifty effectives,) so as to render them an easy sacrifice to the besieged. I therefore concluded it most prudent to retire to this place; and ordered the main body to march at three o’clock, yesterday morning, and waited, with a small detachment, to watch the motions of the enemy until the main body were out of danger; they all arrived here last night. I have procured leather sufficient to shoe them all in a day or two—the only article of clothing to be had in this part of the country. Enclosed is a memorandum of clothing absolutely necessary for a winter’s campaign, which beg the favour of your

*Extract of a Letter from General MONTGOMERY to General SCHUYLER, dated MONTREAL, NOVEMBER 24, 1775.

I am ashamed of staying here so long, and not getting to Arnold’s assistance. To-morrow I shall sail with two or three hundred men, some mortars, and other artillery. Lieutenant Halsey, whom I left as Assistant Engineer at St. John’s, has run away, and taken the artificers I had left to carry on the works. He deserves the severest punishment. Poor Allen is Sent to England in irons. I wish Lee could sot off immediately for the command here. Our Commissaries have made great havock with the publick stores. There are great abuses to be rectified. Several Commissaries and other officers have flown without settling their accounts. I wish exceedingly for a respectable Committee of Congress. I really have not weight enough to carry on business by myself. I have not above eight hundred effectives here; hut I can have as many Canadians as I know how to maintain.

An affair happened yesterday which had very near sent me home. A number of officers presumed to remonstrate against the indulgence I had given some of the officers of the King’s troops. Such an insult I could not bear, and immediately resigned. To-day they qualified it by such an apology as puts it in my power to resume the command. Captain Lamtb is a restless genius, and of a bad temper, and at the head of it, He is brave, active, and intelligent, but very turbulent and trouble-some.—Dunlop’s New-York.