brethren in America, on whose behalf that patriotism has been exerted, will not withhold that accession of pleasure which you ought to receive from their just and grateful applauses. I am directed by the Congress to transmit to you the thanks of the United Colonies for the very important assistance which you have contributed in reducing St. John’s, and spreading the banners of freedom over the greatest part of Canada.

To Brigadier-General David Wooster.

JOHN McKESSON TO LORD STIRLING.

New-York, November 30, 1775.

MY LORD: I am honoured with yours of this day. The Provincial Congress was to have met some days ago. The members from several Counties are here attending, and it is expected they will be sufficiently numerous to-morrow, or on Monday, at farthest, to proceed to business. Who will be elected to preside is uncertain; but as Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., was the last who presided, in the absence of Mr. Livingston, the correspondence you mention will most properly be directed to him for the present. Colonel Woodhull lodges so near to me, that if your letters are sent to me, I will see that they are delivered immediately. There is not any Committee of Safety here at present. The members elected for a Provincial Congress, and myself, receive and open all correspondence on publick affairs, or from the Continental Congress.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, my Lord, your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,

JOHN MCKESSON.

To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Stirling, Elizabethtown.

DUTCHESS COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE.

In Committee, November 27, 1775.

Ordered, That Captain John Schenck take in custody, and confine in jail, Jacobus Ostrum, Johannes Medlar, and Barent Lewis, and keep them in safe custody until the further order of this Committee or the Provincial Congress.

And further Ordered, That John Child, Esq., Zephaniah Platt, Dr. Peter Tappen, and Colonel John Freer, be a Committee to examine the aforesaid persons, and such other persons as they may think proper to call upon, and transmit a copy of the said examination to the Provincial Congress in New-York, and return a copy thereof to this Committee, at their next meeting.

MELANCTON SMITH, Secretary.

Poughkeepsie, November 30, 1775.

Captain Schenck, in obedience to the above order, took the persons therein named into his custody; and having summoned the gentlemen of the Committee, in the above order named, there appeared Colonel John Freer, Peter Tappen, and John Childs, who called in Johannes Medlar, and read the underwritten charge to him:

That he (the said Johannes Medlar) knew of and was consenting to his son John’s going with Peter Harris; that he made interest with Peter Harris to procure a commission for his said son, and he (the said Johannes Medlar) would assist in procuring men to fill a Company for them.

Mr. Medlar answers, that he knew nothing of the matters alleged against him, and was innocent of the charge, or words to that effect.

Mr. Medlar was then remanded, and Jacobus Ostrum was brought in, and the underwritten charge read to him:

That he, (Jacobus Ostrum,) together with Barent Lewis, engaged with Peter Harris to enlist men for said Harris to form a Company in the King’s troops. That he, with said Barent Lewis, persuaded Richard Vanderbergh to join the service and go with said Harris; said Ostrum declaring he would go with them himself, but his wife and family were unwell; that when they got better, he would come on board the man-of-war at York, and join them.

Mr. Ostrum answered as Mr. Medlar had done, wholly denying the charge.

Mr. Ostrum was then remanded, and Barent Lewis brought in, and the underwritten charge read to him:

That he (the said Barent Lewis) engaged with Peter Harris to assist said Harris in procuring men to form a Company in the King’s service, under the command of said Harris. That he (the said Barent Lewis,) together with Jacobus Ostrum, persuaded Richard Vanderbergh to join the service, and go with said Harris.

Mr. Lewis answered as Mr. Medlar had done, wholly denying the charge.

Captain Schenck then, in further obedience to the foregoing order, committed the prisoners to jail, where they lie in a very uncomfortable cold room, waiting the order which Congress shall take respecting them, which we could wish might be expeditious. The proceedings of the General Committee of Dutchess County being grounded on information from the Committee of New-York, we beg leave to refer the Congress to them for further information.

We are, Gentlemen, your very humble servants,

JOHN FREER,
PETEH TAPPEN,
JOHN CHILDS.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO GENERAL MONTGOMERY.

Point-aux-Trembles, November 30, 1775.

DEAR SIR: My last was of the 25th instant, advising you of the Hunter, sloop, Captain Napier, in the snow, and a schooner’s going up to Cape Santé. They have been there until this morning, when they came down, and are now off this place, under full sail down. It will be impossible for them to ascend the river again this season; so that your vessels, if you think proper to send them down, will run no risk, except of ice, and may be laid up in safety at Cape Rouge.

I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you these ten days; am very anxious for your safe arrival. The ammunition you ordered us has been strangely delayed, and is not yet come to hand, but hourly expected. On receipt of it, I intend returning to my old quarters, near Quebeck.

Nothing has lately occurred worth notice, except the burning of Major Caldwell’s house—supposed to be done by order of Governour Carleton, to deprive us of winter quarters. The inhabitants of Quebeck are much disunited, and short of provisions. We have many friends there; and if the place is attacked with spirit, I believe will hold out but a short time.

I am, very respectfully, dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

B. ARNOLD.

Brigadier-General Montgomery.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, November 30, 1775.

SIR: I take the liberty of addressing your Excellency in behalf of Mr. James Aborn who waits upon you with this letter. I can assure your Excellency that he is a worthy, honest man, and hath, upon all occasions, approved himself a sincere friend to the liberties of his Country. He sent a vessel, last spring, to the eastward, to trade and fish; and, to cover his interest from the enemy, made use of a friend in Nova-Scotia, to whom he made a bill of sale of her, although the property is really and truly vested in Mr. Aborn. If this shall appear to your Excellency to be a true state of the matter, I have no doubt of your giving him every assistance in recovering his interest.

I am, with great truth and regard, your most obedient humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

His Excellency General Washington.

By his Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., General and Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the UNITED COLONIES.

To JOHN GESSAGE FRAZER, Assistant Deputy Quarter-master-General:

You are to hire and provide, in the most expeditious manner, a sufficient number of teams, wagons, and carriages, for bringing to Winter and Prospect Hills such boards and plank as you have purchased at Pawtucket Falls, upon Merrimack River, and at Bradford, and hay, at Andover