out their money upon, employing sutlers for that purpose, who will receive our paper, the troops may then be paid in Continental currency, which will not be depreciated, the soldier will not grumble, as he may be regularly paid, and, by degress, the inhabitants may acquire confidence in it, seeing our merchants take it freely. What hard cash can be mustered, might pay the contingencies of the army, such as transportation of baggage, &c., and purchase provisions.

I am amazed no money is yet arrived. The troops are uneasy, and shall, by-and-by, be at my wit's end to furnish the army with provisions. I am the more surprised, as I am credibly informed cash arrived from Philadelphia, at Ticonderoga, three weeks since. I have almost exhausted Price, having had upwards of five thousand pounds, York, from him. I must take this opportunity of acknowledging his service. He has been a faithful friend to the cause indeed. His advice and assistance, upon every occasion, I have been much benefited by; and when I consider that he has been the first mover of those measures, which have been attended with so many and great advantages to the United Colonies, I cannot help wishing the Congress to give him an ample testimony of their sense of his generous and spirited exertions in the cause of freedom.

Having so early reported to you my determination to return home, I take it for granted measures are taken to supply my place. Should not any body arrive shortly for that purpose, I must conclude Congress mean to leave the management of affairs in General Wooster's hands; and, therefore, if this business should terminate in a blockade, I shall think myself at liberty to return. However, if possible, I shall first make an effort for the reduction of the town.

I will shortly comply with several articles of directions which I have received from you, and which I deferred in hopes of complying with them, before now, in peaceable possession of Quebeck. The strange, divided state of the troops, all this campaign, has prevented my sending returns, having never been able to get one with any tolerable exactness. The three discontented companies are within a few days of being free from their engagements. I must try every means to prevent their departure; and in this matter I am much embarrassed. Their officers have offered to stay, provided they may join some other corps. This is resentment against Arnold, and will hurt him so much that I do not think I can consent to it.

I am, my dear sir, with great respect and esteem, your most obedient and affectionate humble servant,

RICHARD MONTGOMERY.

To General Schuyler.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Cambridge, December 26, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 6th instant did not reach this place till Saturday afternoon. The money which accompanied it came seasonably, but not, as it was so long delayed, quantum sufficit, our demands at this time being peculiarly great for pay and advance to the troops; pay for their arms and blanketing, independent of the demands of the Commissary and Quartermaster-General.

Lord Dunmore's letters to General Howe, which very fortunately fell into my hands, and were enclosed by me to Congress, will let you pretty fully into his diabolical schemes. If, my dear sir, that man is not crushed before Spring, he will become the most formidable enemy America has. His strength will increase as a snowball, by rolling, and faster, if some expedient cannot be hit upon to convince the slaves and servants of the impotency of his designs. You will see by his letters what pains he is taking to invite a reinforcement, at all events, there, and to transplant the war to the Southern Colonies. I do not think that forcing his Lordship on ship board is sufficient. Nothing less than depriving him of life or liberty will secure peace to Virginia, as motives of resentment actuate his conduct to a degree equal to the total destruction of the Colony. I fear the destination of the naval armament at Philadelphia, is too well known to answer the design. I have heard it spoken of in common conversation, at this place, near a fortnight ago; and the other day was told that two men-of-war, going into the harbour of New-York, (supposed to be those intended for the relief of the Asia,) were ordered, and accordingly sailed immediately out, as it is imagined, for Virginia.

My letters to Congress will give you the occurrences of this place. I need not repeat them; but I must beg of you, my good sir, to use your influence in having a Court of Admiralty, or some power appointed to hear and deter-mine all matters relative to captures. You cannot conceive how I am plagued on this head, and how impossible it is for me to hear and determine upon matters of this sort, when the facts, perhaps, are only to be ascertained at ports, forty, fifty, or more, miles distant, without bringing the parties here at great trouble and expense. At any rate, my time will not allow me to be a competent judge of this business.

I must also beg the favour of you to urge the necessity of appointing a Brigadier-General to the vacant brigade in this army. The inconvenience we daily experience, for want of one, is very great; much more than the want of a Colonel to a regiment, for then the next officer in command does the duty. In a brigade, this may not with propriety happen, and seldom or ever is done with any kind of regularity. Perfectly indifferent is it to me whom the Congress shall please to appoint to these offices. I only want it done, that business may go regularly on.

My best respects to the good family you are in, and to your brothers of the delegation; and be assured that I am, dear sir, your most obedient and affectionate servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Richard Henry Lee.

ROBERT H. HARRISON TO GENERAL THOMAS.

Cambridge, December 26, 1775.

SIR: I have it in command from his. Excellency to request you to inform him whether the two persons you spoke of and recommended some time ago, have got into any of the regiments. One of them you said had inlisted a company. His Excellency wishes to know, as there are some vacancies here.

I am, &c,

ROBERT H. HARRISON.

To Brigadier-General Thomas.

[GENERAL WASHINGTON] TO JONATHAN GLOVER, ESQ.

Cambridge, December 26, 1775.

Acknowledged receipt of his of 25th, relative to the sloop Sally, retaken by Captain Adams, and sent into Marblehead. Desired him to get information to whom the vessel and cargo belonged. If in danger, to land the cargo, avoid embezzlement, &c.

[GENERAL WASHINGTON] TO WILLIAM WATSON, ESQ.

Cambridge, December 26, 1775.

Acknowledged receipt of his of 23d instant, and informed him that application had been made to General Howe for exchange of prisoners, to which Mr. Howe was silent.

[GENERAL WASHINGTON] TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM BARTLETT.

Cambridge, December 28, 1775.

Ordered him to advertise in the Cambridge and Water-town papers at least eight days before that of the sale of any goods taken by the Continental armed vessels.

MAJOR-GENERAL HOWE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Boston, December 26, 1775.

MY LORD: I am this day informed, by the master of a vessel arrived here a few days past, from Cape-Nicholas, in the Island of Hispaniola, that the Rebels get supplies of arms and gunpowder from thence in large quantities; one person, by this informant's account, having sold one thousand stand of arms, and one ton of gunpowder, to the master of a privateer, fitted out for that intent from Providence, in the Government of Rhode-Island. And it was generally said at Cape-Nicholas, that the same privateer had sailed with three other vessels under her convoy, having on board two tons of gunpowder, and ten thousand stand of arms, for the use of the Rebels.

It has lately been discovered that persons in the coun-