date of his letter, the weather became most intensely cold in Canada. Congress will perceive by the first part of the second paragraph of his letter, that he expected troops from this quarter. I had mentioned to him, that I had taken the liberty to recommend to Congress, to send a body of troops into Canada this winter. I am so well convinced of the practicability, as well as necessity of it, that, although I am much indisposed, I would willingly undertake to conduct them to the south end of the Bay of Missisque, to which place I can get with the necessary provisions, in sleds; from whence the traverse across that, bay, which is, by this time, passable on the ice, to Windmill-Point, is easy, and thence on the narrow part of Lake Champlain, no obstacles will intervene, and the distance only about twenty-four miles to St. John's.

Enclose you a copy of the pay-rolls, by which I pay off the men. Governour Trumbull has sent me one from Connecticut, copy of which I also enclose. Congress will observe, that in the last, there is an allowance made for going home, at the rate of fifteen miles per day, a bounty of forty shillings billeting money, one penny per day for travelling charges, &c. None of which, except the billeting money, has been allowed by me to the troops raised in New-York, and for which I chose to have separate rolls made out, that if it either exceeded or fell short of what Congress might allow, the difference may be charged to, or credit given the Colony. Enclose an extract of my letter [dated January 6,] to Governour Trumbull, on this subject.

The officers that have been employed in this quarter complain much of a discrimination in favour of those at Boston, whom, they say, are allowed extra rations. I did not conceive that it was in my power to allow more than one. I have paid the officers only to the time when they left the service. They claim more, and say they ought to be paid until Congress revokes their commissions. On this head they have given me much trouble.

I have not yet received all the accounts of the people engaged in taking and garrisoning Ticonderoga and Crown-Point; those that have been delivered, I now enclose. I have been obliged to advance about one hundred and thirty pounds on this account. The people are poor, and are continually pressing me for the money.

Would it not have a very good effect, besides preventing much jealousy, if no Colony was permitted, (although at a Colonial expense,) to make any further allowance to the troops than what Congress thinks proper to give as a Continental.

A deputation from the Caughnawaga tribe have been at this place, and entered into a treaty of peace. Thirteen of them are gone on a visit to Cambridge. The advantage of possessing Canada becomes daily more evident. The Indians see themselves in our power, as they cannot be supplied but by our leave.

Two of the heaviest cannon broke the ice in crossing Hudson's River. The one is got out, and the other will be in a day or two. The others are all gone on, and I hope will reach Cambridge by the 16th.

I have the honour to be, with sentiments of the most profound respect and esteem, your most obedient, and very humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

P. S. I forgot to observe, that the Caugnawaga Deputies avowed that Colonel Johnson had made the infernal invitation to the Indians, mentioned by the Mohawks, viz: to eat a Bostonian, and to drink his blood, and that an ox was roasted on the occasion, and a pipe of red wine given to drink.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO LORD STIRLING.

Cambridge, January 10, 1776.

MY LORD: Having received undoubted intelligence of the fitting out of a fleet from Boston, and of the embarkation of the troops from thence, which, from the season of the year, and other circumstances, must be destined for some expedition south of this, and having such information as I can rely on, that the inhabitants of Long-Island, or a great part of them, are inimical to the rights and liberties of America, and, by their conduct and professions, have discovered an apparent inclination to assist in subjugating their countrymen and fellow-citizens to the system of tyranny Administration are attempting to establish, there is the greatest reason to apprehend, that this armament, if not immediately designed against the city of New-York, is, nevertheless, intended for Long-Island. Knowing it to be of the last importance to the interest of America, to prevent the enemy from getting possession of these places, and the North River, which would give them the command of the country, and a free communication with Canada, I have despatched Major General Lee, with orders to repair to New-York, with such volunteers as he can raise on his way, (having no troops to spare from hence,) to put the city, and the fortifications up the river, in the best posture of defence the season and situation of affairs will admit of; and for taking proper steps against such persons on Long-Island, and elsewhere, whose conduct hath rendered them suspected of designs unfriendly to the views of Congress, I have directed him to apply to you for the troops of New-Jersey, under your command, in the Continental pay, or such of them as he may think necessary for effecting the purposes of his going. I beg, and am assured, that you will afford him every assistance in your power, for facilitating this business, as far as may be consistent (or not repugnant) to the orders you shall have received from Congress, and with all possible expedition.

I am, my Lord, with much esteem, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Colonel Lord Stirling, New-York.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Cambridge, January 10, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: In the confused and disordered state of this Army, occasioned by such capital changes as have taken place of late, I have found it almost impossible to come at exact returns of the strength of our levies. Not till last night was I able to get in the whole, since the dissolution of the old Army. By these, I find myself weaker than I had any idea of, and under the necessity of requesting an exertion of your influence and interest, to prevail upon the Militia of this Government, now in the pay of the Continent, to continue till the last of the month, and longer if requisite. I am assured that those of New-Hampshire will not stay any longer than they engaged for, notwithstanding our weak state, and the progress we make in recruiting, which, by the last week's report, amounts to but little more than half of our usual complement, owing, it is said, to the number of men going, or expecting to go into the Provincial service, at or near their own homes.

I am more and more convinced that we never shall, raise the Army to the new establishment by voluntary in-listments. It is, therefore, necessary, that this, and the neighbouring Governments, should consider in time, and adopt some other expedient for effecting it.

The hurry I was in the other day, when your Committee did me the honour to present a petition from a person, (whose name I forgot,) wanting to be employed in the Continental Army, prevented me from being so full on the subject as I wished. 1 shall beg leave, therefore, at this time to add, that I hope your honourable Board will do me the justice to believe, that it will give me pleasure at all times to pay a proper respect to any recommendation coming from them, and that the reason why I do not now encourage such kind of applications as was made to you, is, that the new Army was arranged as near the plan and agreeable to the orders of Congress, as it was in my power to comply with them, (although some unavoidable departures and changes have taken place,) and the officers thus constituted, ordered to recruit. Every attempt, therefore, of others, not of their appointment, must counteract, and has been of infinite prejudice to the service. They infuse ideas into the minds of the men they have any influence over, that, by engaging with them, or, which is tantamount, not engaging with others, they shall be able to force themselves into the service. Of this we have numberless instances, I am, therefore, anxious to discourage every attempt of this kind, by convincing such persons, that their engaging a company will not bring them in. If they could be once satisfied of this, the business of the Army would go on more smoothly and with much more regularity and order. In short, gentlemen, it is scarcely pos-