you will order that justice may be done to the sufferers; and beg leave to subscribe ourselves,

Your Excellency's most obedient, humble servants.

WINTHROP SARGENT,

Chairman of the Committee of Safety.

SOUTH-CAROLINA COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO THE CONTINENTAL TREASURERS.

In the Council of Safety, Charlestown, S. C.,

December 31, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The Congress, by a Resolution of the 12th July last, empowered the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, to receive from the Continental Treasury ten thousand dollars, for defraying the expenses of treaties and presents to Indians. The Commissioners met at Salisbury on the 13th ultimo, and, among other proceedings, (copies of all which they transmitted to the Congress,) resolved on a meeting with the Creek and Cherokee Indians, empowered three of their members to purchase goods for presents to the Indians, and to draw on us for ten thousand dollars, and required us to advance them, and draw on you for the like sum. We have, accordingly, agreed to do so, acquainted them therewith, and shall pay their draft when presented, which we expect will be soon.

As we have occasion to send a gentleman, Captain Robert Cochran, to the Massachusetts-Bay, on some particular business of the Colony, in the execution of which he will require money, we have thought proper to draw on you, in his favour, for the sum, to be paid as he may have occasion. We should have procured an order from the Commissioners, which would have been a more formal and proper way of doing the business, but the service on which this gentleman goes requires despatch, money for him will be absolutely necessary. The only Commissioner in this Colony lives at a very great distance, another is in Georgia, a third in the Cherokee country, another in North-Carolina, and the fifth in Virgina; so that waiting for a draft from them, or a majority of them, would have occasioned much delay. We have, therefore, only to repeat, that we hope Mr. Cochran will meet with no disappointment, as it would frustrate our scheme, and be very detrimental to this Colony in particular, and, perhaps, to America in general. We presume the Congress is adjourned, or should have wrote to them on the subject. If they are, and you have any doubts about the propriety of paying this money, be pleased to mention them to the Delegates of Pennsylvania and Mr. Charles Thomson, who, we think, will remove them.

By order of the Council of Safety:

HENRY LAURENS, President.

To George Clymer and Michael Hillegas, Esquires, Continental Treasurers, at Philadelphia.

FREDERICK COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Fredericktown, Frederick County, Md.,

December 30, 1775.

SIR: I am directed by the Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 8th instant, which only came to hand yesterday evening, enclosing a resolve of the Congress respecting the removal of Connolly, Cameron, and Smith, to Philadelphia. In obedience thereto, the Committee have sent the prisoners, under guard of an officer (Dr. Adam Fisher) and ten privates, and make no doubt of their being safely delivered, agreeably to order. The guard expect to be reimbursed their necessary expenses, which the Committee do, and they hope the Congress will, think reasonable.

I am directed, also, to transmit you an account of the expenses incurred, on account of the prisoners, during their confinement here, amounting to £27 14s. 51/2d., which sum the Committee request the Congress will be pleased to order to be paid to the bearer, Dr. Fisher.

The jail of the County being, in the opinion of the Committee, altogether insecure, they were under the necessity of hiring rooms for the prisoners, and of appointing a guard to prevent their escape. The Militia of this town performed that duty till lately, but, on their refusing to serve any longer without a reasonable satisfaction being made, they were obliged to hire a guard. This has added to the expense, which the Committee would willingly have saved, but which, in our circumstances, could not be avoided.

I am, with respect, sir, your most humble servant,

JOHN HANSON, Jun., Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Congress, Philadelphia.

P. S. Since sealing this letter, I am sorry to acquaint you that Smith has made his escape.

JOHN HANSON, Jun.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read January 6, 1776.]

Sunday evening, December 31, 1775.

SIR: This moment an express arrived from General Wooster. Copy of his letter, with copy of a letter from General Montgomery to him, I now enclose you.

I cannot procure any gold or silver here to send to Canada. I am afraid it is not to be had at Philadelphia, as a considerable time has already elapsed since Congress gave me reason to hope that a supply would be sent.

I cannot, sir, help repeating my wish that a considerable force should be immediately sent into Canada; the necessity appears to me indispensable, for I do most sincerely believe that, unless such a measure be adopted, we shall severely repent of it, perhaps when too late to afford a remedy. I beg a thousand pardons of Congress for my importunity on this occasion; and I hope they will have charity enough to impute it to my zeal for the American cause.

From what I can learn, the troops that are at Ticonde-roga will leave it to-morrow, and I have none to send there. The few that are here refuse to remain until Tuesday, to escort the provisions, before which I cannot move them, for want of carriages.

I have been so very long without hearing from Congress, that I am exceedingly anxious to have the honour of a line from you.

I am, sir, with sentiments of real esteem and regard, your most obedient and most humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., &c.

COLONEL DONALD CAMPBELL TO GENERAL WOOSTER.

[Read January 17, 1776.]

At Holland-House, Saturday, December 31, 1775.

DEAR SIR: It is with the greatest distress of mind, that I have the task of communicating to you the event of an unfortunate attempt that was made to storm the town of Quebeck, between the hours of two and seven this morning, by four different attacks; unfortunate, indeed, when, with bitterness of soul, I inform you that the gallant and amiable General Montgomery was killed the first fire, as, also, his valiant Aid-de-camp, Captain John Macpherson, and Captain Cheeseman, of the first New-Yorkers, with two or three more. All this happened in the attack on the lower town, at Anse de Meres, where were the three battalions of Yorkers, commanded by the General, whom I attended; and I found myself under the disagreeable necessity of drawing off the troops (too ready to depart) at about seven o'clock, after having passed the first barrier, and just opening to attempt the second.

In the other principal attack, made by Colonel Arnold, with the detachment under his command, Captain Lamb's company of Artillery and two field-pieces, on sleighs, were at the Sole de Mattelan, where he succeeded so far as to force one gate, or barrier, and battery, with the misfortune of having his leg splintered, yet I hope not very dangerous, though, from his gallant conduct, he sustained a considerable loss of blood, and is now in the General Hospital, as, also, Brigadier Major Ogden, who was shot (a flesh wound) through the upper part of his shoulder, after a spirited and officer-like conduct, which was distinguishable in the whole of the officers, particularly Lieutenant-Colonel Green, Major Bigelow, and Major Meigs, as, also, Captain E. Oswald, Secretary to Colonel Arnold and a volunteer in the campaign; yet, after carrying that barrier