have them in barracks. By this letter, I find Colonel Maxwell's regiment cannot, at present, be provided with the barracks at Trenton, as I expected. It seems there are about seventy or eighty non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, prisoners from Canada, with their women, fee, at Trenton, who have taken possession of the best rooms in the barracks, with all the furniture, and behave in a most insolent and improper manner, exciting mutiny and dissension among the men of Colonel Maxwell's regiment, posted there. From what I am well assured of, I have reason to believe that it is very improper those prisoners should remain at Trenton, or in the Province. The Tories, in every part of it, have of late assumed fresh courage, and talk very daringly. I was yesterday evening informed by the Committee of this County, that they received intelligence of a combination carrying on for opposing the measures of the Congress; that some of them are bold enough to assert that their list of Association already amounts to more than four thousand men; and that they have had a supply of ammunition from on board the Asia, man-of-war. On this foundation, the Committee have applied to me for a party of men to seize two of the most active of the gang in this County, and I hope to surprise them to-morrow evening.

Colonel Lawry has, yesterday, paid off three companies more of my regiment at this place. Part of the eighth and last company arrived at the barracks at Amboy on Friday; the remainder of them are expected there to-morrow. On Tuesday next, a complete company from Morristown will also be there. The troops in barracks will, to-morrow, begin to subsist on their rations, as contracted for by the Congress.

I do not find that it will be possible to get any ammunition in this Province or New-York. We ought to have a magazine of at least twenty-four rounds, to guard against unforeseen emergencies.

I shall, on foot hereof, add an account of the manner of stationing these two regiments as I intended them. Colonel Lawry, who has lately reviewed the barracks, is of opinion, with me that they cannot possibly contain more than I have allotted to them.

I am, very respectfully, sir, your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

Stations intended for the two Regiments in NEW-JERSEY:

COLONEL MAXWELL TO THE EARL OF STIRLING.

Trenton, December 14, 1775.

MY LORD: I have wrote to the Continental Congress to have a surgeon appointed, and that there may be some orders given for repairing the barracks. There is another affair of so delicate a nature I thought it proper to consult you on before I would inform the Congress; and if you please to inform the Congress of it, I will decline. The case is thus: The two barracks in the western division will not be sufficient to hold my regiment when they are put in the best order. The Trenton barracks are already occupied by the Government prisoners. They have possession of the officers' rooms, and most of the bedding and utensils, which cannot be put up with; besides, I look on them as unfit companions for our soldiers; at any rate they may infuse bad sentiments into their minds, that will not be easily removed. The people in the country talk loudly of it, that Trenton is a very improper place for the prisoners, it being so much of a thoroughfare.

I beg you will inform the Congress of what you may think necessary of the above, and you will much oblige me.

My Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,

WILLIAM MAXWELL.

To the Hon. William, Earl of Stirling.

COLONEL MAXWELL TO LORD STIRLING.

Woodbridge, December 17, 1775,

DEAR SIR: YOU will find by this we got no farther last night. Mr. Patterson had me entirely in his power. He would go no farther, but declared he would encamp here; and it was so very dark I did not think it safe to proceed. The purport of this is to beg your Lordship would please to begin the letter I left you yesterday in the following order, viz:

"Trenton, December 14, 1775.

"MY LORD: Your favour of the 10th inst., I just now received, wherein your Lordship informs me the troops are not to march so soon for the Hudson river, as you first expected. I must acknowledge I am very glad of it; for notwithstanding my utmost endeavours, the soldiers would have been far from complete, as they should be, either in arms or clothing, for such a march to the northward. A great many of our best arms want repairs. I have wrote to the Congress for two casks of powder and one of flints, as I can get none there, and begged they would order the barracks to be repaired."

Please to add what part of the above you may think proper to that you have. Give my compliments to Lawry. Mr. Patterson begs I may enclose you his compliments.

I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most humble servant,

WILLIAM MAXWELL.

To William, Earl of Stirling.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK, DATED MONTREAL, DECEMBER 17, 1775.

Our brother-soldiers, now before Quebeck, have thrown up ramparts of snow and water, which, when condensed and frozen, are proved by experience to be sufficient for the purpose. Who but Yankoos would have thought of such a contrivance? Or who but enthusiasts for liberty would carry on a siege at such a season of the year?

The companies of Captains Weisenfels, Cheeseman, Mott, Varick, and Quackenboss, are before Quebeck; Captain Goforth's and Lyon's are stationed here, under Colonel Ritzema. Captain Willet has the command at St. John's.

COLONEL KNOX TO COLONEL MCDOUGALL.

Fort-George, December 17, 1775.

SIR: When I was at New-York, I did not know of any 13-inch mortars, a number of which I found at Ticonderoga. I must beg, sir, that you would use your influence that there be sent immediately to the camp at Cambridge, the following number of shells: Five hundred 13-inch shells; two hundred 5inch shells; four hundred 4£-inch shells. You are too well acquainted with the importance of this request to want urging any additional motive for the utmost expedition. If they are not to be had, please to inform General Washington immediately. The business on which I came has succeeded equal to my expectation.

I am, sir, with great respect, your obliged and most humble servant,

HENRY KNOX.

Colonel McDongall.

COLONEL KNOX TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort-George, December 17, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I returned from Ticonderoga to this place on the 15th inst., and brought with me the cannon, &c., it having taken nearly the time I conjectured it would to transport them here. It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we have had in getting them over the lake, owing to the advanced season of the year and contrary winds. Three days ago, it was very uncertain whether we could have gotten them over until next spring; but now, please God, they shall go. I have made forty-two exceeding strong sleds, and have provided eighty yoke of oxen to drag them as far as Springfield, where I shall get fresh cattle to carry them to camp. The route will be from here to Kinderhook, from thence into Great Barrington, Massachusetts-Bay, and down to Springfield. There will scarcely be any possibility of conveying them from here to Albany or Kinderhook, but on sleds, the roads