is necessary to enclose you a copy of his letter to me, with the result thereon, as appears by the Council of War, which I immediately summoned on the occasion, and at which Mr. Adams, by my particular desire, was good enough to attend. It may appear strange, sir, as 1 had not men to spare from these lines, that I should presume, without first sending to Congress, and obtaining an express direction, to recommend to the Governments of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New-Hampshire, to raise each a regiment, on the Continental account, for this service. I wish, most ardently, that the urgency of the case would have admitted of (he delay: I wish, also, that the purport of General Schuylcr's letter had not, unavoidably, as it were, laid me under an indispensable obligation to do it. For, having informed you in his letter (copy of which he enclosed me) of his dependance on this quarter for men, 1 thought you might, also, have some reliance on my exertions; this consideration, added to my fears of the Altai consequences of delay, to an information of your having designed three thousand men for Canada; to a belief, founded chiefly on General Schuyler's letters, that few or none of them are raised; and to my apprehensions for New-York, which led me to think that no troops could be spared from that quarter, induced me to lose not a moment's time in throwing in a force there, being well assured, that General Carleion will improve, to the utmost, the advantages gained, leaving no artifices untried to fix the Canadians and Indians, (who, we find, are too well disposed to take part with the strongest,) in his interest.

If these reasons are not sufficient to justify my conduct in the opinion of Congress, if the measure contravenes any resolution of theirs, they will please to countermand the levying and marching of the regiments as soon as possible, and do me the justice to believe, that my intentions were good, if my judgment has erred.

The Congress will please, also, to observe, that the measure of supporting our posts in Canada, appeared of such exceeding great importance, that the General Officers, (agreeing with me in sentiment, and unwilling to lay any burden which can possibly be avoided, although it may turn out an ill-timed piece of parsimony,) have resolved, that the three regiments for Canada shall be part of the thirteen Militia regiments which were requested to reinforce this Army, as appears by the Minutes of another Council of War, held on the 16th instant.

I shall, being much hurried and fatigued, add no more in this, letter than my duty to Congress, and that I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

P. S. I enclose you a copy of my letter to the Governments cat Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New-Hampshire; also, a copy of a resolution of this Colony, in answer to an application of mine for arms.

G. W.

Since writing the above, I have been informed by a message from the General Court of Massachusetts, that they have resolved upon the raising of a regiment for Canada, and appointed the Field-Officers for it in the western part of this Government. I am also informed, by express from Governour Trumbull, that he and his Council of Safety had agreed upon the raising of a regiment for the same purpose, which was anticipating my application to that Government. If commissions (and they are applied for) are to be given by Congress to the three regiments going to Canada, you will please to have them forwarded, as I

have none by me for that purpose.

G. W.

Albany, January 13, 1776.

I wish I had no occasion to send my dear General this melancholy account. My amiable friend, the gallant Montgomery, is no more; the brave Arnold is wounded; and we have met with a severe check in an unsuccessful attempt on Quebeck. May Heaven be graciously pleased that the misfortune may terminate here. I tremble for our people in Canada; and nothing, my dear sir, seems left to prevent the most fatal consequences, but an immediate reinforcement, that is no where to be had but from you, and the only route that which I have pointed out in my letter to Congress, copy of which you have enclosed; nor do I think that a less number than I have mentioned, will suffice. Should your Excellency think proper to send the troops, you will please to let me know it by express, that I may send provisions to Onion River.

Congress has wrote to me on the subject of my request to retire. Our affairs are much worse than when I made the request; this is motive sufficient for me to serve, my country in any way I can be thought most serviceable; but my utmost can be but little, weak and indisposed as I am.

The clothing is gone to Cambridge.

I am your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

PHILIP SCHCYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

At a Council of War, held at Head-Quarters in Cambridge, January 16, 1776:

Present: His Excellency General Washington, the Honourable John Adams, Member of the honourable Continental Congress, Major-General Ward, Major-General Putnam, Brigadier-General Heath, Brigadier-General Spencer, Brigadier-General Sullivan, Brigadier-General Greene, Brigadier-General Gates.

His Excellency the Commander-in-chief, laid before the Council Letters received last night from Major-General Schuyler, enclosing copies of Letters from Brigadier-General Wooster, Colonel Arnold, and Colonel Donald Campbell, containing the melancholy account of the death of General Montgomery, the wounding Colonel Arnold, and the consequent failure of the success of the assault upon the city of Quebeck, on the 31st of December last.

His Excellency then requested the opinion of the Council, whether it be proper, in the present circumstances of the lines, to detach a reinforcement from hence, to the succour of the troops in Canada.

The question being put, it was.

Resolved, That in the present feeble state of the Regiments here, it was improper to detach any force from these lines to Quebeck, or Canada.

The General then asked, whether in the present critical situation of affairs in Canada, he should, in their opinion, stand justified in requesting, in behalf of the Continent, a supply of Troops from the New-England Governments, which was, unanimously, resolved in the affirmative.

The Council then, unanimously, advised his Excellency the General, immediately to apply to the Legislature of each of the above-mentioned Colonies, Rhode-Island ex-cepted, forthwith to raise a regiment of seven hundred and twenty-eight men, officers included, and direct them to march with all possible expedition, by the route prescribed by Major-General Schuyler, to Canada, to be continued until the 1st of January next, as part of the Continental Army, should the affairs of the Continent require it.

His Excellency then demanded the opinion of the Council, whether ten regiments of Militia of seven hundred and twenty-eight men each, officers included, to be added to the troops now in the lines, and expected to be inlisted, would not be a sufficient number to answer all the purposes of offence and defence ordered and intended against the Ministerial army in Boston.

Resolved, unanimously, That as matters are at present circumstanced, it is best that the three regiments intended for Canada, should be taken out of the thirteen which have been requested to reinforce the Army in these lines,, and that ten regiments, only, be marched to Cambridge, to serve until the 1st of April next.

The Council were, unanimously, of opinion, that in the present situation of the affairs of the Colony of Rhode-Island, continually subject and exposed to the attacks of the Ministerial fleet, and detached bodies of troops, it was neither prudent nor reasonable to demand any more troops from thence.

At a Council of General Officers, held at Head-Quarters in Cambridge, January 16, 1776:

Present: His Excellency General Washington, the Honourable John Adams, the Honourable James Warren, Major-General Ward, Major-General Putnam, Brigadier-