which I opened, not knowing but they might contain something of a publick nature. The private letters I shall enclose with this. You will, doubtless, send them to his friends.

I am glad to hear that we may soon expect a Paymaster. We have drained our friends here of most of their cash, and it is next to impossible to do any thing without it.

Some of the persons you have sent back have really behaved very illy; one Sears especially, whom I have now in confinement, immediately upon coming into the country, circulated a report, that the Colonies had given over the thoughts of keeping this Province; that there were no soldiers at Ticonderoga or Fort-George, nor any expected, and so few at St. John's that it would be an easy matter to take it, and indeed all the rest; a story very illy calculated for us in our present delicate situation. Some others of the prisoners which were sent back, I hear have made themselves very busy in reporting stories to our prejudice. I shall, therefore, be obliged to return to you some of them, and perhaps some others, ringleaders of the Tories in this country, with the prisoners who were left here, in a few days.

The four fusils taken by Major Lockwood, are put up in a box, according to capitulation, and are now at St. John's ready to be sent over the Lakes. It was a mistake of Colonel Flemming's, or the fusils would have been taken from all the officers.

They capitulated upon the same conditions as the garrison of St. John's, and if you look into that, you will see that the officers were all allowed their side-arms; but their fire-arms were to be put up in a box and delivered to them when these unhappy disputes were ended, unless they chose to dispose of them before.

I have great hopes, however arduous and difficult it may be, that our little army at Quebeck will keep up the blockade till they can be relieved, provided a reinforcement is sent on in a short time. I have sent them an hundred and twenty men from this garrison, which was all that could with prudence be spared. Colonel Clinton has gone down with Mr. Price. I dare say they will take every possible measure for the safety of the army, and preserving the blockade. I enclose you copies of two letters from Colonel Arnold, with the translation of one sent by Lanaudiere out of Quebeck, received since my last.

Just after Mr. Antill left this place, I despatched an express to Onion River, in order to get a reinforcement from the Green-Mountain Boys. I wrote to Colonel Warner in the most pressing manner to bring a regiment into this Province, and remain here under Continental pay till they can be relieved, a measure which the present exigency, I think, will justify. Whether they will come or not you know is uncertain.

Quebeck is strongly fortified, and so well stored with provisions, that many think they will be able to hold out till they can be relieved in the Spring. It is a great chance if they do not make out to get in some provisions, should the river there break up, before our army can be augmented.

How then are we to take the place? We have at St. John's two twenty-four pounders, brass. I understand they have a number of thirty-two pounders at New-York. Will it not be well to send for them (if the heavy cannon are taken from Ticonderoga and Fort-George,) and with such mortars as you have, with proper ball, shells, Sic. Sic, send them forward as quick as possible. I am of the opinion, that heavy cannon will be necessary in taking of that place. I wrote you in my last that we had but a trifle of powder. We have at Quebeck a howitzer which throws an eight-inch shell. I am informed that one Pelissier, at Three-Rivers, can cast shells, shot, &c, of any size; but whether he will be able to do it soon enough, I cannot yet find out.

All kinds of liquors and West-India goods, are so extravagantly dear hear, that I am confident they may be brought over the Lakes to great advantage.

In order, therefore, in some measure, to remedy the great difficulty in procuring hard cash, suppose rum and sugar should be forwarded for the soldiers, and a number of Sutlers should be encouraged to come over with every kind of article wanted in the Army, for which we are obliged to pay hard money here at the most extravagant rates. The Sutlers would be able to sell them to us full as low, and many things much lower, and take in pay Continental money. The people in the country seeing the money pass freely among us, perhaps will be induced to give it a currency.

By the enclosed letters, especially the one which was wrote in French to General Montgomery while he was at Quebeck, and before the unhappy defeat, (since when, our enemies are more bold in their measures against us,) you will see the great necessity of sending many of (heir leaders out of the Province, and of forwarding a reinforcement immediately, not only for continuing the blockade of Quebeck, but for preserving the country.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To General Schuyler.

Holland-House, January 4, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: A person going to Three-Rivers presents an opportunity of informing you that nothing of consequence has happened since I wrote you yesterday morning. We have a number of Canadians joined us, most of them without arms, which are much wanted. I make no doubt you will send all you possibly can, with three or four hundred pair of snow shoes, a few barrels of sugar for the Hospital, and fifty light shovels.

Our cash is nearly expended. Enclosed is a letter I received this minute from Montreal. I have sent back Lieut. Hull, but detained his party at Point-aux-Trembles. He has in charge Captain Belat, the villain who destroyed the powder; he has behaved exceedingly ill here. I think it necessary to confine him in Montreal, or send him into the Colonies. I must also beg leave to observe, the lenity shown to our prisoners heretofore in Montreal and places adjacent—it may be justified by principles of humanity at the lime, under our present circumstances would be highly imprudent and dangerous. It is my opinion that every soul who were in office at the reduction of the country, and others who are looked upon as inimical, should be immediately sent over the Lake without respect of persons. If they are suffered to remain in the country, and we defeated, the consequence will probably be the loss of the whole country. You will be good enough to excuse the incorrectness of my letter, which I am obliged to write lying on my back. If there is any absent officers belonging to the regiment here, perhaps it may further the service to order them to join immediately. Colonel Nicholas went from this yesterday morning for Montreal, without liberty or taking leave.

I am, dear General, with esteem, your most obedient, humble servant,

B. ARNOLD, Colonel, &c.

To General Wooster.

P. S. I hope you will think it necessary to send back every soldier who has deserted from us under pretence of his time being out.

B. A.

Holland-House, January 5, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL.: Last night, a faithful Acadian, belonging to our train of artillery, and who was taken prisoner in the unhappy affair of the 31st, was sent out of town by Carleton and Lanaudiere, with the enclosed note and seal, previous to which he was terrified with threats of being hanged, and when thought a true convert, he was told to carry the note to one Mange, at Verrenne, who was to raise two hundred men, &c. The seal was to be delivered to Mr. Jacob Jordan, the King's Commissary at Montreal. This the man seemed to consent to, when they promised him his fortune should be made. He was further ordered to call on the Captains of Militia on his way up, and endeavour to prevail on them to raise their Parishes against us; the needful to be done inconsequence of this intelligence, I have no occasion to mention. I make no doubt of your sending those people out of the way of danger and mischief. Every tiling remains quiet here at present. I believe the enemy dare not venture out, though they threaten it. I pray God they may not, for we are in a miserable condition to receive them.

We have brought three pieces of cannon from our battery. I intend getting the whole here as soon as possible, for de-