Lieutenants; Benjamin Winslow, Jun., and Joseph Holladay, Jun., Ensigns.

Extract from the Minutes:

JOHN CHEW, JUN., Clerk

JOSIAH BARTLETT TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, January 24, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The Congress ordered me to send you the sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, for the use of the regiment to be raised for Canada. I have agreed with Mr. Wheat, of Connecticut, (who carries the same sum to Connecticut,) to deliver it to you, or to Colonel Gilman, the Treasurer, at Exeter, for which he is to have thirty-six dollars, which you will please to pay him, and take his receipt; which receipt you will enclose to me, that I may receive the same out of the Continental Treasury, as the money is to be sent on the cost of the Continent.

I am, gentlemen, yours,

JOSIAH BARTLETT.

To the Provincial Committee of Safety, or Nicholas Gilman, Esq., Colony Treasurer.

P. S. As I was not certain whether the President had sent you the resolves of Congress of the 17th, I have enclosed them. The ten shillings mentioned, is this currency, equal to eight shillings, L. M.

J. B.

RICHARD SWOOPE TO PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

York, January 24, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I take the liberty of troubling your Honours with these few lines, as Mr. Nelson, the bearer hereof, proposes to raise a rifle company in the back country. If there should be any more men wanting for the service at present, I would take the liberty to recommend him to the Board as a proper person, (as Captain of a company of riflemen,) so far as he stands recommended to me.

Gentlemen, you have been kind enough to send me by Captain Schryak, twenty-five extracts from the votes of the House of Assembly, of the rules and regulations; and as that number is not half enough, I hope you will be pleased to send about thirty more by the first opportunity.

So, no more at present, and from, gentlemen, your most obedient, and humble servant,

RICHARD SWOOPE.

To the Committee of Safety at Philadelphia.

LORD STIRLING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[January 27.—Referred to Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Ward, and Mr. S. Adams.]

January 24, 1776.

SIR: On Monday last I received intelligence that a transport, laden with stores for the Ministerial Army at Boston, was hovering off Sandy-Hook in distress, and waiting for assistance from the men-of-war at New-York. I thought it a matter of so much importance, that I immediately set out for Amboy, and there seized a pilot-boat, and, with forty men, was just pushing out, about two, yesterday morning, when I was joined by three other boats from Elizabethtown, with about forty men each, many of them gentlemen from Elizabethtown, who voluntarily came on this service, under the command of Colonel Dayton and Colonel Thomas. We found her about six leagues southeast of Sandy-Hook. We boarded and took her without opposition, She proves to be the Blue Mountain Valley, commanded by Captain James Hamilton Dempster, laden with coal, porter, sour-krout, &c. (I wish it had been with arms and ammunition, as I expected.) We are now off Amboy, and intend to push in, this evening, into the Sound, between Slaten-Island and the main. I write, now, in the hurry and noise incident to these occasions; I will write the particulars as soon as possible. And am, your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

P. S. She is a ship of about one hundred feet, from stem to stern, above; capable of making a ship-of-war of twenty six-pounders, and ten three-pounders, I shall impatiently expect the orders of Congress,

GENERAL ARNOLD TO CONTINENTAL, CONGRESS.

Camp before Quebeck, January 24, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I wrote the 14th instant, advising you of our present situation, and that of the enemy, and took the liberty of presenting you my sentiments on a future plan of operations, for which my zeal for the publick service, I hope, will apologize; since which, I have made an estimate (which I now enclose) of such artillery, stores, ammunition, &c., which, I imagine, will be necessary, if it is thought proper to carry on a siege in form. Of this I can be no judge, as I know not if powder can be spared from below, or shot, shells, &c, sent up in season. The artillery, except a twelve-inch mortar, (at Crown-Point,) is all in this country. I have also enclosed a list of such ammunition, stores, &c., as we have on hand. A list of such articles as can be procured at Montreal, St. John's, and Chambly, will be taken, and sent you by General Wooster.

I had encouragement from Monsieur Pelissier, at Three-Rivers, of being furnished with shot, shells, &c., in all the month of March. I have this minute received advice from him, that the want of coal will prevent his supplying those articles before May. As coal is his only objection, I have wrote him to procure it, at all events, if it can be done, to supply shells, &c., by the 1st of April, of which the bearer, Major Ogden, will inform; this measure, I hope, will meet your approbation, as the expense of bringing shells from below will be great, and, if not wanted here, the cost will be trifling.

It is very probable the city would surrender before half, or, perhaps, one quarter of the shot, shells, &c, in my memorandum were expended; but, if they should make an obstinate resistance, perhaps the whole will be necessary.

A gentleman, now present, assures me, that the King's Magazines, containing upwards of three thousand barrels of powder, were all full, and that three hundred barrels, his private property, taken from him by Government, was obliged to be stored in a private vault; add to this ten thousand stand of arms, seven thousand of which are new, and arrived last Summer; also, seven thousand complete suits of new clothing, with a large quantity of artillery stores; two frigates, with a number of other vessels, in the harbour, &c., &c., &c. The above-mentioned articles, exclusive of securing an extensive country in our interest, and liberating three or four hundred of our brave men, appears an object of the greatest importance to us under our present circumstances. I make no doubt every necessary measure will be adopted for reducing the city.

Yesterday, arrived here, a reinforcement of one hundred men, from Montreal; sixty men are soon expected. We are still very weak handed. Of course the duty is severe; however, the enemy have not dared to come out, though they are double our number. Desertions from the garrison are frequent. They are in want of fuel, and have attempted to supply themselves by cutting down the houses in St. Roque's suburbs, (under their guns,) to prevent which, I have burnt most of them, with several vessels they had broke up; every artifice is used by Governour Carleton to procure provisions, and induce the Canadians to take arms against us, to no effect, though seconded by the clergy, our bitter enemies. I make no doubt of continuing the blockade until a proper reinforcement arrives to make use of more coercive measures.

Major Ogden, the bearer of this to Montreal, who came out with me a volunteer, proposes going down to Philadelphia. I beg leave to recommend him as a gentleman who has acted with great spirit and activity through our fatiguing march, and at the attack on Quebeck, in which he was wounded.

General Montgomery, on his arrival in this country, was pleased to appoint Mr. John Halstead Commissary; he is a gentleman, has been very active and zealous in our cause, is a merchant, and capable in his department, in which I beg leave to recommend his being continued.

Our finances are low; we have been obliged to beg, borrow, and squeeze, to get money for our subsistence; and, but for Mr. Price, who has been our greatest resource, we must have suffered,

I have the agreeable intelligence from General Wooster, that the Paymaster is at hand.