arms against us, and tell them that now it is not too late that we are but a handful of men.

I have sent an express to General Schuyler, General Washington, and to Congress, but you know bow far they have to go, and it is very uncertain how long it will be before we can have relief from them. You, sir, and the Green-Mountain corps are in our neighbourhood; you all have arms, and, I am confident, ever stand ready to lend a helping hand to your brethren in distress. I am sensible that there was some disagreement between you and General Montgomery. Poor man ! he has lost his life fighting valiantly for his country, but why do I mention any thing about disagreement between you; I know that no private resentment can hinder your exercising every faculty to vindicate the rights and privileges for which we are nobly contending; therefore, let me beg of you, to collect as many men as you can, five, six, or seven hundred, and if you can, and some how or other, convey into this country, and stay with us till we can have relief from the Colonies. You are sensible we have provisions of all kinds in abundance, and the weather in this country is not so frightful as many have imagined. You will see that proper officers are appointed under you, and both officers and soldiers shall be paid as the other Continental troops. It will be well for your men to set out as fast as they are collected, not so much matter whether together or not, but let them set out, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty, as they can be first collected, for it must have a good effect on the minds of the Canadians, to see succour coming in. You will be good enough to send copies of this letter, or such parts of it as you think proper, to the people below you. I cannot but think our friends will make a push into the country, and am confident you will not disappoint my most fervent wish and expectation in seeing you here, with your men, in a very short time. Now is the time for you to distinguish yourselves; of obtaining the united applause of your grateful country-men, of your distressed friends in Canada, and your very great friend and servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To Colonel Warner.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FEOM COLONEL ARNOLD, DATED CAMP BEFORE QUEBECK, JANUARY 6, 1776.

Before this reaches you I make no doubt you will have heard of our misfortune of the 31st ultimo, and will be anxious for my safety. I should have wrote you before, but a continual hurry of business has prevented me. The command of the Army, by the death of my truly great and good friend, General Montgomery, devolved on me; a task, I find, too heavy under my present circumstances. I received a wound by a ball through my left leg, at the time I had gained the first battery, at the lower town, which, by the loss of blood, rendered me very weak. As soon as the main body came up, with some assistance I returned to the hospital, near a mile, on foot, being obliged to draw one leg after me, and a great part of the way under the continual fire of the enemy from the walls, at no greater distance than fifty yards. I providentially escaped, though several were shot down at my side. I soon learned the death of our General, who attacked the town at the side opposite to me; he behaved heroically: marched up in the face of their cannon, and when he had nearly gained the pass, received the fatal shot, or the town would have been ours. This occasioned the disaster that afterwards happened to my detachment, which, after the General's defeat, had the whole garrison to encounter, under every disadvantage of ground, &c., &c. To return was impossible, as the route was within fifty yards, and exposed to the fire of the whole garrison, who had brought several pieces out of one of the gates, which our people would have been obliged to pass. In this situation, they maintained their ground near three hours; but being overpowered with numbers, were obliged to lay down their arms; about three hundred, including Captain Lamb, of New-York, and part of the train, were taken prisoners, and as near as I can judge, about sixty killed and wounded. Captain Oswald, is among the prisoners; he was with me in a selected party of about twenty-five, who attacked the first battery; behaved gallantly, and gained much honour; the prisoners are treated politely, and supplied with every thing the garrison affords. Governour Carleton sent to let me know that the soldiers' baggage, if I pleased, might be sent to them, which I shall immediately send. Though the enemy are now double our number, they have made no attempt to come out. We are as well prepared to receive them as we can possibly be in our present situation, divided at a distance of two miles. I expect General Wooster from Montreal in a few days with a reinforcement. I hope we shall be properly supported with troops by the Congress. I have no thoughts of leaving this proud town, until I first enter it in triumph. My wound has been exceeding painful, but is now easy, and the surgeons assure me will be well in eight weeks. I know you will be anxious for me. That Providence which has carried me through so many dangers, is still my protection. I am in the way of my duty, and know no fear.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read January 15, 1776, and referred to Mr. Paine, Mr. Dyer, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wythe, Mr. W. Livingston.]

Lebanon, January 6, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed is a copy of a letter from the Committee of Inspection in the town of Greenwich, bordering on the County of Westchester, in the Province of New-York. This intelligence appears to me worthy the attention of your body. When the Untied Colonies are driven to the necessity of taking up arms for the defence of their rights, at the same lime to feed their enemies, and to give them intelligence and aid, appears incongruous, and requires attention, and some vigorous exertions to prevent it.

Oliver Wolcott and Samuel Huntington, Esquires, the new members from this Colony, will inform what is needful, of the acts and resolves of our General Assembly. Great harmony and unanimity subsisted therein. An act passed for restraining and punishing persons who are inimical to the liberties of this and the rest of the United Colonies, &c.; another for encouraging the manufacture of saltpetre and gunpowder, Hope to produce a considerable quantity of gunpowder by the Spring, from materials collected amongst ourselves.

The furnace at Middletown is smelting lead, and will soon turn out twenty or thirty tons. The vein of ore seems to promise a plenty.

A resolve passed our Assembly directing the Governour and his Council of Safety to fit two armed vessels; one is purchased, will carry sixteen guns. The other to be bought or built; if it be built, will be larger; also to build four row-galleys.

A request was made in a former letter for the loan of fifty cannon from the northern posts. Enclosed is minutes of the ordnance in the possession of the United Colonies in that quarter, exclusive of what is at Crown-Point, at which place there is not less than forty. I hope for a speedy answer, and grant of that favour. The season is advancing wherein they may be drawn down.

Enclosed is copy of the report of a Committee from our Assembly, concerning a lead mine at New-Canaan, in the Colony of New-York. Is it not needful to engage the Congress of that Colony to pursue this discovery. The lead extracted from this ore appears to be of the best kind, and the appearance of a plenty is very great.

I am, with great truth and regard, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To the Honourable President Hancock.

In Committee, Greenwich, December 26, 1775.

HONOURABLE SIR: In compliance with your honourable desire, signified to this Committee by Doctor Mead, who, at the request of this body, has made inquiry into the state of affairs in the County of Westchester, the result of which inquiry we beg leave to lay before your Honour, viz: That upon the best information he could obtain from the friends of the American cause in that quarter, there is now between Byram River and King's Bridge about two thousand barrels of pork, chiefly in the hands of Tories, besides what has been sent off, which is difficult to ascertain.

One Webb and Weyman, of the Borough of Westchester, put up about three or four hundred barrels, which they, (with themselves,) conveyed on board the Asia man-of-war, except twenty-four barrels, stopped by the Committee