melancholy accounts I then transmitted, the hurry in preparing for the excursion into Tryon County, and greatly oppressed by the asthma, were so many obstacles which prevented my answering your polite letters of the 30th of November and 2d instant, which were delivered me on the 12th by Mr. Tilghman. I now sit down to answer those, and to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 10th instant, covering several resolutions of Congress, which were delivered me on the 18th.

That my little services should have attracted the notice of Congress, so far as to merit their thanks, I can only attribute to the conviction which, I flatter myself, that respectable body entertains of my wishes and endeavours to serve my country in this hour of danger. I cannot, sir, find words to convey my feelings on the occasion. Let it suffice, that I consider it as a reward the most glorious, since it is conferred by the representatives of a people still free, and who are virtuously struggling to transmit the blessings of freedom to millions of their posterity. May indulgent Heaven so smile on their honest endeavours, that America may be a lasting monument to remind tyrants of their impotency, when they attempt to tyrannize over a free people. To you, sir, my best thanks are due, for the polite manner in which you have conveyed to me the sense of Congress, and believe me, sir, that I feel a grateful sense of the attention which I have experienced from you.

I frankly confess, sir, that I have been greatly chagrined to see the little order that prevailed in the troops under my command, and that, added to my very bad state of health, were the only inducements which made me wish to retire. The first, I hope, will not so much prevail in future; but I am sorry that I have no prospect that the latter will ever mend. Much indisposed when I set out for Tryon County, the severity of the weather, and the fatigues incident to the command of an undisciplined and enraged multitude, ready to run into imprudences of the most dangerous nature, and only to be prevented by the greatest attention and vigilance, has greatly increased my disorders, a complication of which now confine me to my room. But, sir, the affairs of my country are in a worse situation than when I requested to retire; this is motive sufficient for me to continue in any station, however inconvenient, in which my countrymen and my superiors are pleased to think I can be of service. I will continue, then, to do what I can. My country may justly claim my last services. It shall have them.

The resolutions of Congress of the 10th, 11th, and 17th of November, so far as they respect me, shall be strictly complied with; that of the 26th, respecting the lead at Crown-Point, I have already given order about. What was left at Ticonderoga was on its way to Cambridge when I received General Washington's account of the capture of the store-ship; I, therefore, stopped it here, and it will be much wanted for our troops that are going into Canada.

General Prescott was already considerably advanced on his way to New-Jersey, when I received the order of Congress, of the 2d instant, for putting him in close custody.

The resolution of Congress, permitting the officers, who are prisoners, to sell their bills for their subsistence, I have already communicated to those still here, which are the French officers, Major Hughes, Captain Gamble, and Lieutenant Barrington, all of which would have been moved last week if my time had not been engaged otherwise.

I shall take the next opportunity that offers, to transmit to the Treasury an account of my disbursements to the officers. The receipts I cannot, as they are written in a receipt-book containing many others.

The Conductor of Artillery, whom I had, through necessity, appointed, is Mr. Hubbard Brown. He appears to me active, honest, and capable, and now acts in the double capacity of Conductor and Barrackmaster of Ticonderoga; for the former he was to have five shillings, and for the other an additional shilling, New-York currency. I found Gysbert Marselis, Esq., a Barrackmaster here, and employed by the Committee of Albany; he still remains in the office. Mr. Peter Schuyler I appointed to take charge of the arms in this place; he has a considerable number already repaired. For a Storekeeper at this place, I beg leave to recommend Mr. Philip Van Rensselaer.

I have given Mr. Trumbull, the Paymaster-General, copies of the resolutions relative to his Department. I hope they are not founded on a supposition that there had been any negligence in that Department. On the confusion which had arisen in the Army accounts, is much to be imputed to officers commanding companies.

The resolve of the 8th instant, "that shipwrights be immediately sent from New-York and Philadelphia, to build batteaus," I could wish not to be put into execution, as one Albany shipwright will do nearly as much of that kind of work as two that are not accustomed to it. I can also make them work early and late, which the others will not; besides, there will be great saving in the travelling charges.

I shall immediately desire General Wooster to cause the river St. Lawrence to be explored, agreeable to the resolution of Congress, but I fear he is much in want of an Engineer for the purpose, as well as for a proper person to ascertain what kind of armed boats it would be most expedient to build.

Does Congress intend that I should issue warrants for completing the regiment to be raised in this Colony, or is it to be done by the Convention? In my former letters, I advised Congress that I had issued warrants for raising four companies.

I shall immediately proceed to get every thing in readiness for building batteaus at Fort-George, as Wood-Creek cannot be cleared this Winter, and shall send up all the provisions and other stores.

I fear I shall not be able to get a sufficient quantity of nails made in time at this place; what I can get, I shall be obliged to pay fifteen pence per pound for.

Part of the troops which I sent Colonel Warner to raise, are already on their march; the first party, I have reason to think, is, at farthest, within a day's march of St. John's. I have ordered them off by fifties, as they could get ready, a regiment on the last Continental arrangement, in the County of Berkshire; part of it is already marched. I was, however, obliged to give the like bounty as I did to Colonel Warner. It is commanded by Colonel Fellows, and all the officers were nominated by the General Committee of that County. They will not engage beyond the 15th of April. It was, however, lucky that I took those measures, for General Washington writes me that he cannot spare a man. Enclose you a copy of his letter. A few hours before I received it, I wrote him by express, that the necessity of sending troops from Cambridge to Canada appeared to me to be superseded, because of those going which I have mentioned above, and that there were two regiments on their march from Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, which, in all probability, would reach Canada as soon as any he could send.

Governour Trumbull, in a letter of the 20th instant, advises me that a regiment is raising in Connecticut to march immediately to Canada, to be engaged to the first day of November next.

As I have had no accounts from Canada since those which Mr. Antill brought, I conclude that nothing material has happened since the unfortunate affair of the 31st ultimo.

I have, in a former letter, observed that all the heavy cannon and mortars were ordered to Cambridge; I suppose they are there now. Should Quebeck not fall into our hands this Winter, we shall want a considerable number of those. Whence are we to be supplied? And from whence are we to get ammunition?

January 24, 1776.

Some of the troops that accompanied me into Tryon County refused to move unless I promised pay for their carriages; and these same people insist upon pay as Minute-Men. Many of the people, however, expect no pay for their carriages, nor for themselves. Expeditions of this kind would be very expensive at this rate. I cannot think that Congress intended pay for the men on such occasions. I shall wait their orders.

I have just now received a letter from the Committee of Safety at New-York, enclosing copies of the resolutions of Congress of the 8th of January. They observe that several things are left indeterminate "in that resolve