Ninth Article. "Such as are venders of goods or merchandise, will not take advantage of the scarcity of goods that may be occasioned by this Association, but will sell the same at the rates we have been respectively accustomed to do for twelve months last past. And if any vender of goods or merchandise shall sell any such goods on higher terms, or shall, in any manner, or by any device whatsoever, violate or depart from this agreement, no person Ought, nor will any of us deal with any such person, or his or her factor or agent, at any time thereafter, for any commodity whatsoever."

By order of the Committee:

HENRY WYNKOOP, Clerk

COLONEL MAXWELL TO LORD STIRLING.

Trenton, December 26, 1775.

MY LORD: I have begun to write, though 1 know of no opportunity to send it, as the communication this way is not passable for carriages at present.

I have received two bundles, one of breeches and the other of boots, from Mr. White, which 1 will forward as soon as possible.

I was in company with Mr. Lewis, one of the Congress, on his way home. He said your letter, concerning the Government troops, came to hand the evening before he set off, and it was the subject of discourse of a number of the Delegates for a considerable time, though in a private capacity; and he said it was acknowledged, by all present, that this was not a proper place for them.

The people of this place and Burlington, on proper application made to them, were complacent enough to order the barracks repaired, and provide every other necessary in their powers. I find, when I get them in repair, they will be large enough to hold my regiment; and it will be very handy to exercise them.

I hope you will send me one of your best frocks for a pattern, by the first of the stage carriages, and I will send it back again.

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

WILLIAM MAXWELL.

GENEBAL SCHUYLER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

[Read January 8, 1776.]

Albany, December 26, 1775.

SIR: I do myself the honour to enclose you the extract of a letter which I yesterday had the pleasure to receive from General Montgomery. It has relieved me from a most distressing anxiety, occasioned by a report which prevailed here, that General Montgomery was killed, Colonel Arnold taken prisoner, and our Army totally defeated. I find that this lie was contrived by some here, inimical to us, and so industriously circulated, that it will probably reach Congress before this letter.

Not one of the recruiting officers is as yet returned, and I fear that in four days more Ticonderoga, Fort George, and this place, will be left without any troops; and at all these places there are so many stores, that it gives me great uneasiness that they should be left without proper guards to protect them.

As I have no troops it will not be in my power to send a garrison to the fort in the Highlands. A post of so much importance ought not to be left without a strong one. I have sent Captain Billings, of Colonel Clinton's Regiment, to raise a company; he thinks he can speedily effect it. I propose to send him to the Highlands, unless Congress should direct otherwise.

The officers, prisoners, are making daily applications to me for money to subsist themselves with, and I find myself under a necessity of supplying them, which I do as sparingly as possible. They make no doubt but that General Howe will order their subsistence to be paid whenever he is applied to.

I am informed that General Carleton has sent home all the pilots from Quebeck, probably with an intention to have their services early in the Spring.

Congress will perceive that General Montgomery is in sentiment with me on the necessity of sending a reinforcement into Canada. If any preparations are to be made for it, no time is to be lost, as the boards, Sic, &c, must be carried to the spot where the boats are to be constructed, before the Winter breaks up, as it will be utterly impossible after that to procure them.

The expense of expresses from here to Cambridge rises so high that I believe it would save money to appoint a post to go from hence to Springfield, where the post from New-York might take the letters to Cambridge, and on his return leave those for this place.

Enclose a list of the military stores intended for General Washington; they are now at Fort-George, and as we have a fine fall of snow, and the weather extremely cold, I hope to see them here on their way to Cambridge in a few days.

Mr. Macpherson, my Aid-de-camp, has behaved during the whole campaign with so much propriety that General Montgomery has entreated me to recommend him to Congress, and beg that he may be rewarded with a Majority. I most sincerely join in the request, and I believe Congress never will have occasion to repent, should they be so good as to confer the favour.

As I have not been honoured with a line from Congress acknowledging the receipt of any of ray several letters of the 11th, 18th, 20th, 22d, and 27th ultimo, and 8th instant, I begin to be apprehensive that they have miscarried. Be so good as to let me know by the New-York post if they are come to hand or not.

I am, sir, with respect and esteem, your most obedient, very humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER

To Honourable John Hancock, Esq., &c.

GENERAL MONTGOMERY TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

[Read January 17, 1776.]

Head-Quarters before Quebeck, December 26, 1775.

MY DEAR GENERAL: When last I had the honour to write, I hoped, before now, to have had it in my power to give you some good news. I then had reason to believe the troops well inclined for a coup-de-main. I have since discovered, to my great mortification, that three companies of Colonel Arnold's detachment are very averse from the measure. There is strong reason to believe their difference of sentiments from the rest of the troops arises from the influence of their officers. Captain . . . . *, who has incurred Colonel Arnold's displeasure by some misconduct, and thereby given room for harsh language, is at the bottom of it, and has made some declarations which I think must, draw upon him the censure of his country, if brought to trial. Captain . . . . *, and Captain . . . . *, seem to espouse his quarrel. A field-officer is concerned in it, who wishes, I suppose, to have the separate command of those companies, as the above-mentioned Captains have made application for that purpose. This dangerous party threatens the ruin of our affairs. I shall, at any rate, be obliged to change my plan of attack, being too weak to put that in execution I had formerly determined on. I am much afraid my friend . . . . * is deeply concerned in this business. I will have an eclaircissement with him on the subject. I will, hereafter, acquaint you more particularly with this matter. In the mean time, I wish you would not mention names; for I know not whether the situation of affairs will admit of doing the publick the justice I could wish.

Strain every nerve to send a large corps of troops down the instant the Lake is passable. It is of the utmost importance we should be possessed of Quebeck before succours can arrive; and I must here again give it to you as my opinion, and that of several sensible men acquainted with this Province, that we are not to expect a union with Canada, till we have a force in the country sufficient to ensure it against any attempts that may be made for its recovery. I believe I have mentioned this in my last, but I cannot help repeating it again.

One difficulty occurs to me: How are those troops to be paid here? The Continental money will not be received by the inhabitants. I had distributed part of it to the troops at Montreal; few would receive it. The consequence was, the soldiers offered it for less than its value, and so it became depreciated. One scheme has occurred to me, which I shall communicate by this opportunity to Price, and our other friends at Montreal. If they can send down to the army such articles as soldiers choose to lay