forwarding me as soon as possible. Should it be troublesome, I have desired the bearer, Captain Ogden, a young gentleman and volunteer from the Jerseys, to procure them, and some other articles the officers are in want of, and beg the favour of your order to forward them on.

Captain Napier, in the snow, and a small schooner, passed us yesterday, and are now at Quebeck. The two frigates were laid up the 18th; their guns and men all taken on shore. They are getting all the provisions they possibly can out of the country, and are doubtless determined to make the best defence. From the best accounts I can get, their force is about one thousand men, namely: Landed from the frigate and two transports, from St. John’s, one hundred and fifty; recruits, Colonel Maclean’s Regiment, one hundred and seventy, irregulars; from the Lizard, two hundred seamen and marines; from the Hunter, sloop, one hundred seamen and marines; on board Captain Napier’s, one hundred and fifty—which make seven hundred and seventy: inhabitants, French and English, on their side, one hundred; inhabitants obliged to bear arms against their inclination, and who would join us if an opportunity presented, six hundred; neutrals, four hundred. Total: one thousand eight hundred and seventy.

You will, from the above account, be better able to judge. of the force necessary to carry the Town. If my opinion is of any service, I should think two thousand necessary, as they must be divided, at the distance of three or four miles, to secure the passes effectually; and as there is no probability of cannon making a breach in the walls, I should think mortars of the most service, the situation for heaving shells being extremely good, and I think, of course, would soon bring them to compliance; if not, time and perseverance must effect it, before they can possibly be relieved.

Colonel Allen and his party have been, some time since, sent to England in irons. Mr. Walker I have not heard of. I have ordered Captain Ogden to send down all the powder and ball on the road. If he should not be able to procure sufficient, I make no doubt of your forwarding it as soon as possible. The inhabitants are very friendly, and give all the assistance they dare to do at present. Had we a sufficient force to blockade the garrison, I make no doubt of their coming to our assistance in great numbers. As it will doubtless take some time in bringing down your artillery, would it not be better, if you can spare them, to send down five or six hundred men, who, joined to my little corps, will be able to cut off their communication with the country ?

I am, dear General, with great-esteem, your most obedient and very humble servant,

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

To Brigadier-General Montgomery.

P. S. My hard cash is nearly exhausted; it will not be sufficient for more than ten days or a fortnight; and as the French have been such sufferers by paper money, I don’t think it prudent to offer it them at present.

B.A.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO MESSRS. PRINCE AND HAYWOOD.

Point-aux-Trembles, November 20, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Captain Ogden, is a young gentleman of good and opulent family, from Jersey, and a volunteer in the Army. I have sent him to Montreal, to procure some clothing, &c., for the Army. If he has not cash sufficient for his purpose, any articles you are kind enough to furnish him with you will please to place to my account, which I will see duly paid. If he has occasion for any goods out of your way, if you will be kind enough to recommend him, I will be accountable; or the persons who supply him may, by virtue of this letter, charge the same to me. I hope this will find you and family well; and am, with much esteem, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

Messrs. Prince & Haywood, Merchants, Montreal.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read December 6, 1775.]

Cambridge, November 28, 1775.

SIR: I had the honour of writing to you the 19th inst. I have now to inform you that Henry Knox, Esq., is gone to New-York, with orders to forward to this place what cannon and ordnance stores can be there procured; from thence he will proceed to General Schuyler, on the same business, as you will see by the enclosed copy of instructions which I have given him. It would give me much satisfaction that this gentleman, or any other whom you may think qualified, was appointed to the command of the Artillery Regiment. In my letter to you of the 8th inst., I have expressed myself fully on this subject, which I beg leave to recommend to your immediate attention, as the formation of that corps will be at a stand until I am honoured with your instructions thereon.

The vessel laden with wine, which I advised you was wrecked on this coast, proves to have been the property of a Thomas Salter, of Philadelphia; the papers, relative to her and cargo, were sent to Robert Morris, Esq., who can give you every information thereon. The schooner with the dry goods, from Boston to Halifax, is given up to the Committee of Safety at Beverly, who will dispose of her and cargo, agreeable to the decision of a Court of Admiralty; and the schooner, carried into Portsmouth by Captain Adams, proves to be a friend—is of course discharged.

There are two persons engaged to go to Nova-Scotia on the business recommended in your last. By the best information we have from thence, the stores, &c., have been withdrawn some time. Should this not be the case, it is next to an impossibility to attempt any thing there, in the present unsettled and precarious state of the Army. Colonel Enos is arrived, and under arrest. He acknowledges he had no orders for coming away. His trial cannot come on until I hear from Colonel Arnold, from whom there is no account since I last wrote you.

From what I can collect, by my inquiries amongst the officers, it will be impossible to get the men to enlist for the continuance of the war, which will be an insuperable obstruction to the formation of the two Battalions of Marines, on the plan resolved on in Congress. As it can make no difference, I propose to proceed on the new arrangement of the Army, and, when completed, inquire out such officers and men as are best qualified for that service, and endeavour to form these two Battalions out of the whole. This appears to me the best method, and will, I hope, meet the approbation of Congress.

As it will be very difficult for the men to work when the hard frost sets in, I have thought it necessary (though of little use at present) to take possession of Cobble-Hill, for the benefit of any future operations. It was effected, without the least opposition from the enemy, the 23d instant. Their inactivity, on this occasion, is what I cannot account for. It is probable they are meditating a blow somewhere.

About three hundred men, women, and children, of the poor inhabitants of Boston, came out to Point Shirley last Friday. They have brought their household furniture, but unprovided of every other necessary of life. I have recommended them to the attention of the Committee of the honourable Council of this Province, now sitting at Water-town.

The number enlisted, since my last, are two thousand five hundred and forty men. lam very sorry to be necessitated to mention to you the egregious want of publick spirit which reigns here. Instead of pressing to be engaged in the cause of their Country, which I vainly flattered myself would be the case, I find we are likely to be deserted at a most critical time. Those that have enlisted must have a furlough, which I have been obliged to grant to fifty at a time, from each Regiment. The Connecticut Troops, upon whom I reckoned, are as backward, indeed, if possible, more so, than the people of this Colony. Our situation is truly alarming; and of this General Howe is well apprized, it being the common topick of conversation when the people left Boston last Friday. No doubt, when he is re-enforced, he will avail himself of the information. I am making the best disposition I can for our defence, having thrown up, besides the work on Cobble-Hill, several redoubts, half-moons, &c., along the bay; and I fear I shall be under the necessity of calling in the Militia and Minute-Men of the country to my assistance. I say I fear it, because, by what. I can learn from the officers in the Army belonging to this Colony, it will be next to an impossibility to keep them under any degree of discipline, and that it