some have actually set off. I shall endeavour to continue the blockade while there are any hopes of success. For God's sake order as many men down as you can possibly spare, consistent with the safety of Montreal, and all the mortars, howitzers, and shells, that you can possibly bring. I hope you will stop every rascal who has deserted from us, and bring him back again.

Every possible mark of distinction was shown to the corpse of General Montgomery, who was to be interred in Quebeck this day. Had he been properly supported by his troops, I make no doubt of our success. We are short of cash—not more than four or five hundred pounds, and only twenty barrels of salt pork. If any can be spared from Montreal, I think best to bring it down, and all the butter.

I beg you will transmit a copy of this letter to the honorable Continental Congress, and another to his Excellency General Washington. I think it will be highly necessary, with the reinforcement which, I make no doubt, Congress will send, that they should order all the large mortars and howitzers at Crown-Point, Ticonderoga, and Fort-George, on to this place. Monsieur Pelissier, who has a furnace at Three-Rivers, assures me that he can cast any size and number of shells between this and the beginning of April. I hope the honourable Continental Congress will not think of sending less than eight or ten thousand men to secure and form a lasting connection with this country.

I am in such excessive pain from my wound, (as the bones of my leg are affected,) I can only add that I am, with the greatest esteem, dear sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

B. ARNOLD, Colonel, &c.

To General Wooster.

N. B. Many officers here appear dispirited; your presence will be absolutely necessary. I don't expect to be in a capacity to act this two months.

B.ARNOLD.

Albany, January 14, 1776.

SIR: Through the great hurry in which the express was sent off from hence, the enclosed was forgot.

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

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

SIR: I have sent Colonel Warner to throw into Canada whatever numbers of men he can procure upon what are commonly called the New-Hampshire Grants; and, in order to encourage them to march without delay, I have offered forty shillings, lawful, as a bounty to the men, and a month's pay to the officers, and an allowance of one-sixth of a dollar per day from their leaving home until they can receive Continental provisions. I hope the Congress will give their approbation of this measure.

I am, as above, yours, &c.,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO COLONEL MCDOUGALL.

Cambridge, January 13, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour of the 2d instant last evening, and note what you mention of the cannon. I am in daily expectation of Colonel Knox's arrival, and until he comes, I cannot, with certainty, inform you whether I shall want the iron cannon or not.

Upon examination of the stores that were on board the brigantine, I find we stand in great need of shells, and shall esteem it a particular favour if you will, immediately on receipt hereof, forward the eleven hundred specified at the foot of your letter.

I am told that there is a vessel arrived with you, that brought twenty tons of powder. I need not inform you the great necessity I am in for that article. If it is true that this quantity is arrived, it would be of infinite service to the great cause we are engaged in, that the whole, or such part thereof as can be spared, was sent with the utmost despatch to this camp. If it belongs to private persons, I request you will purchase it; if to the publick, your exerting your influence with the Committee of Safety to effect this good purpose, will very much oblige, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Colonel Alexander McDougall.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

Cambridge, January 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: It is exceedingly painful to me to give you so much trouble as I have, and am like to do, in the support of our lines and the arrangement of the new Army. But my difficulties must, in their consequences, devolve trouble on you. To my very great surprise, I find that the whole number of arms which have been stopped from the discharged soldiers, amount to no more than one thousand six hundred and twenty; and of that number, no more than one hundred and twenty in store, the rest being redelivered to the recruits who have come in. I also find, from the report of the Recruiting officers, that few men are to be inlisted who have arms in their hands, and that they are reduced to the alternative of either getting no men, or men without arms. Unhappy situation! What is to be done, unless their Governments will exert themselves in providing arms from the several towns, or in such other manner as to them shall seem speedy and effectual.

To account for this great deficiency would be tedious, and not much to the purpose. Suffice it, generally, to say, that it has arisen from two causes: the badness of the arms of the old Army, which the inspectors and valuers of did not think fit to detain; and to the disobedient regiments, which, in spite of every order I could issue to the contrary, (even to a solemn threat of stopping the pay for the months of November and December, of all those who should carry away their arms,) have, in a measure, by stealth, borne them away.

I am glad to hear, by a gentleman of your honourable body, who does me the honour to be the bearer of this letter, that you have, for some time past, been collecting arms at Watertown, whilst a good deal of despatch has been used in making them elsewhere. I beg to know how many I can rely upon, as the recruits now coming in from the country will be useless without. It is to no purpose, I find, to depend upon imported arms. What you can furnish, I must take on behalf of the Continent, and will, upon notice, send some gentlemen to receive them. Will it be prudent to apply to such of the Militia as are going away, for their arms? Leaving it optional with them, cannot be amiss; but, will the necessity of the case justify the policy of detaining them? I ask for information, being, with great truth and esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. James Warren, Speaker of the House of Assembly, &c.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MATTHEW THORNTON.

Cambridge, January 13, 1776.

SIR: I am very sorry that I should have so often troubled you respecting this Army, and that I am under the necessity of applying to you again.

To my great surprise, sir, I find that, notwithstanding I have taken the utmost pains to prevent the soldiers that would not reinlist in the new Army from carrying away their arms, or such of them as were good, the whole number collected amounts to only one thousand six hundred and twenty, of which there are no more than one hundred and twenty now in store, the rest being delivered to the recruits who have come in.

I also find, from the report of the Recruiting officers, that few men are to be inlisted who have arms in their hands, and that they are reduced to the disagreeable alternative of getting men without any, or no men at all. Unhappy situation! What is to be done? Must not these Governments exert themselves in procuring them from the several towns, or in such other manner as to them shall seem most effectual and speedy.

To account minutely for this great deficiency would be tedious, and of no importance. I shall only say, that it has arisen from two causes, to wit: the badness of the arms of the old Army, which the inspectors and appraisers did not