mouth, which I think it is most proper to send to you unopened, in order to be laid before the Congress. Captain Morris, who, on this occasion, has behaved with great prudence and alertness, will wait for whatever despatches or commands you may have for me.

I have the pleasure to inform you, that several vessels, with valuable cargoes, from foreign ports, have arrived in this Province, and, under the protection I have afforded them, have landed their cargoes. Among the rest, are some hundred barrels of gunpowder, which, chiefly, is safely lodged in New-York.

I have the honour to be, your most obedient, humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN LONDON, DATED NEW-YORK, JANUARY 6, 1776.

This Colony contains about 200,000 souls, of which, by an exact return, 40,000 are able to bear arms; from whom deduct 2,000, as lukewarm and disaffected, which leaves 38,000 men attached to the American cause. The Militia of the Colony is well regulated by the Convention; 9,500 are appointed as Minute-Men, properly officered, and allowed the pay of the Continental troops, for the extra days they muster above the time prescribed by law. Ammunition is distributed to them, at the publick expense, by the several County Committees. They are tolerably well armed, but, by the Spring, will be as completely furnished as any troops in the world, contracts having, for some time past, been made for that purpose, by, and under the inspection of gentlemen who have the cause at heart. A sufficient quantity of intrenching tools are made, and their camp equipage preparing. They have a good train of brass field-artillery, of their own casting, and a vast plenty of iron ordnance. The Militia is commanded by one Major and six Brigade Generals. This Colony is far better prepared for defence than the Massachusetts was last Spring; all our neighbours are in a better state. The present Convention of the Colony exists till May next; during the recess, the publick affairs are conducted by a Committee, or Council of Safety.

There are now twenty-six complete regiments at Cambridge, of 632 effective men, which amounts to 16,422. The Connecticut troops returned home, after the expiration of their time. That Colony is now raising nineteen regiments, of 900 effective men each. New-York has raised four, of 750 each. Jersey two, of 6-32; and Pennsylvania five, of 632, effective. The number raised in the Southern Colonies, I cannot inform you. The Army at Cambridge is now exceedingly well provided with ammunition and artillery.

General Wooster commanded at Montreal. Our last advices from Canada are dated the 7th of December. General Montgomery was then before Quebeck, with 4,000 Provincials and 5,000 Canadians; he was wailing for his artillery to come from Montreal. Upon its arrival, there is no doubt but he would soon oblige General Carleton to surrender, who has in garrison, under his command, to defend the place, 1,053 men, consisting of English and French merchants, emigrants, Newfoundland-men, sailors, and marines.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN AT NEW-YORK TO HIS FRIEND IN SCOTLAND, DATED JANUARY 6, 1776.

Mr. Washington, with 25,000 men, still keeps General Howe within the limits of Bunker's Hill and the town of Boston. Their privateers have had amazing success in taking a vast number of provision and store-ships, some with cannon and ordnance stores. In short, they are very active. I wish I could say as much for the British fleet, although they are very numerous. Captain Wallace, at Rhode-Island, has, indeed, kept them in good order there; but, by all accounts, [Admiral Graves] has behaved very ill. He gives no proper orders to his Captains detached, and studies nothing, himself, but getting money. In the beginning, some people ventured to Boston by water, with fresh provisions; but there is such oppression, that none of them will go again. Even the poor fishermen cannot get out, till they give a dollar to his Secretary.

GENERAL SCHUYLEH TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Albany, January 6, 1776.

SIR: I have the honour of your favour of the 1st inst. The Paymaster-General has delivered me the rolls of some of General Wooster's regiment, as, also, Captain Curtis's pay-roll, by which, I observe, he is paid for sundry premiums, allowed by your Colony. As these differ from the allowances made in other Colonies, and having no directions from the Continental Congress on that head, I cannot venture to give any warrants for their payment. I believe, at any rate, that this would best come as a Colonial charge against the Continent, together with the days added for returning home. In this view, I have taken the liberty to enclose your Honour a form of a pay-roll, agreeable to which I have paid the troops raised in this Colony. It will be almost impossible for many of the Captains to ascertain the dates of the discharges of many of their men, but this can be supplied from my books; as to such as were discharged by Colonel Hinman or me, I propose to give warrants for the pay, and that the Paymaster should, immediately after the accounts are finished, repair to Connecticut, and pay the Captains there. Such of the men as have reinlisted in Canada, to have their names entered in the roll, following each other, and, if the Captains are not certain as to the lime, then to make up the wages due to them the 18th November. I have ordered the Captains of the troops raised in this Colony, to send me accounts of the distance the people had to travel from where they were discharged to their places of residence, that I might lay it before the Congress, which I wish yours, also, to do. The billeting money, which I will grant warrants for, I wish to have in separate rolls.

General Montgomery was still before Quebeck, on the 16th December, and had intentions of storming, but he has so few troops, (only eight hundred, and a few Canadians,) that I tremble for the event. I wish lie could have prevailed on more of the troops to remain in Canada.

Please to accept my best wishes, with the compliments of the season.

I am, sir, with much respect and esteem, your Honour's most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Governour Trumbull.

P. S. I take the liberty of enclosing fifty dollars, which General Prescott sends Mr. McKay, begging your Honour to cause the same to be delivered to him.

GENERAL WOOSTER TO COLONEL WARNER.

Montreal, January 6, 1776.

SIR: With the greatest distress of mind I now sit down to write to you of the event of an unfortunate attack made on Quebeck, between the hours of four and six in the morning, of the 31st December; unfortunate indeed for us; in it fell our brave General Montgomery, his Aid-de-camp Macpherson, Captains Cheeseman and Hendricks, of the riflemen, and two or three of the subalterns, and between sixty and one hundred privates, (the number uncertain,) and about three hundred officers and soldiers taken prisoners, among whom are Lieutenant-Colonel Green, Major Bigelow, Major Meigs, and a number of Captains and inferior officers. Colonel Arnold was wounded in the leg, in the beginning of the action, as was Major Ogden, in the shoulder, and brought to the General Hospital. I have not time to give you the particulars, but thus much will suffice to show, that in consequence of this defeat, our prospects in this country are rendered very dubious, and, unless we can quickly be reinforced, perhaps it will be fatal, not only to us, who are stationed here, but to the Colonies in general, especially to the frontiers. Greatly, very greatly, depends upon our keeping possession of this country. Yon know as well as any other man, the temper and disposition of the Canadians; that they are not persevering in adversity; that they are not to be depended upon, but, like the Savages, are extremely fond of choosing the strongest party; and, add to this, our enemies in the country, of which there are many, who use every method to excite the Canadians against us; among other things, they tell them that the United Colonies intend to abandon the country; the clergy refused absolution to all who have shown themselves our friends, and preach damnation to those that will not take up