nada, I cannot till up the commissions; I sometime ago wrote to General Montgomery for it, and should probably have had it, had we been so happy as not to have lost him. I have reminded General Wooster of it, and am in hopes I shall soon receive the proper returns.

I am making every preparation in my power to facilitate the march of the troops into Canada. Biscuit is baking here, at Fort-George, and Ticonderoga; and I have had a quantity of the most portable pork boiled, to be used on the march. I am much put to it to procure a sufficient number felling-axes, but hope to receive some from New-England, to which I have sent.

Permit me to observe, that intrenching tools of every kind will be wanted in very considerable numbers, whether we do or do not possess ourselves of Quebeck in the course of the Winter.

The hint General Wooster, has given of sending Sutlers to Canada, is a very good one. If I can get any good men to go, I will venture to assist them, on proper security, with money out of the military chest here, to purchase the necessary articles, and let them repay it in Canada.

From all the inquiries I have made, I have reason to conclude, that the want of a small circulating medium greatly distresses our people in Canada. Perhaps it will have a good effect, and tend to introduce the circulation of all our paper currency in Canada, if Congress was to furnish some persons, such as may be depended upon, with ten thousand pounds in specie, and send them to Canada with twice or thrice that amount in small bills, none exceeding a dollar, and a great proportion of them of one shilling only. When a soldier receives his pay in Continental money, he might go to those persons and get small change, and if it was then promulgated that any holder of such small bills might immediately receive cash for them, and that being punctually complied with for a little time, their credit, I fancy, would be so well established, that very few more would be brought in. The expense in emitting these bills would, I conceive, be compensated to the publick by the wearing out of the bills. I am the rather induced to believe that this plan would have the effect I expect from it, as the bills emitted last Spring by the Committee of this County, and which were small, are not brought in for redemption, although the Committee have repeatedly advertised for them. Many of the bills should be one shilling and six pence, two shillings and six pence, and three shillings and six pence, as with these six pence may be paid, where no more is due, by changing.

The expense that arises by the officers that are prisoners is extremely high. I have desired them to pay the bills, and promised to repay as much as Congress should allow. In future I shall allow only fire-wood, candles, and lodgings. I shall order the expense that has attended them to be made out, and transmit it as soon as I can. The transportation of the clothing should be charged to them, as also that of such women as are above what each company is allowed. It is even a great burden that we are to furnish these with provisions.

The six Highland chiefs will leave this next Monday. The others whom the Tryon County Committee have sent down, appear to me to have no influence. I have desired that the charges against them should be reduced to writing. If they should appear frivolous, which I suspect to be the case, I will take security for their forthcoming whenever Congress shall please to direct it.

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

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., &c., &c.

P. S. Mr. Trumbull has delivered me the enclosed this moment, and as none of the Connecticut people have been paid, a considerable sum will be wanted for that purpose. What I have still in hands may amount to about twenty-five thousand dollars.

P. S.

Sheffield, January 27, 1776.

SIR: Your letter of the 22d, this instant by Timothy Edwards and Theodora Sedgwick, Esquires, I received, with the money for paying the men their bounty and the officers their advance pay.

Being fully apprehensive of the importance of getting men into Canada as soon as possible, I immediately directed the officers, nominated by the Committee of this County, to inlist the men with all speed, and, agreeable to your orders, gave them money to pay forty shillings, lawful, to each inlisted soldier, as a bounty; and I find, by the returns made before this day, about two hundred and eighty-six men have been inlisted, one hundred and ten of which, I am informed, have marched and joined to Colonel War-net's Regiment, who had received part or all of their bounty, from the money sent to me. The remainder, I have ordered to march immediately to Albany, with a part of the officers, there to receive further orders from yourself.

While I was proceeding in this matter as fast as possible, I received information from Colonel Williams (who was nominated to be the Lieutenant-Colonel of this regiment now raising) that General Washington had applied to the Assembly of this Colony, to raise a regiment of men from this County and the County of Hampshire, to march immediately into Canada, (the men to be inlisted for a year,) with which requisition the Assembly have complied, and said Colonel Williams has received a commission for Lieutenant-Colonel in that regiment; upon the receipt of which information, I thought it my duty to give you notice thereof immediately, that I may have your further orders upon this occasion, whether I shall proceed and endeavour to fill up my regiment, pay the men their bounty, and march them forward, as fast as may be, or whether I shall forbear inlisting more men?

The speediest information of your orders, by the bearer hereof, will much oblige your most humble servant.

JOHN FELLOWS.

To Major-General Schuyler.

P. S. I conclude there are a large number of men in-listed of which I have received no return, as yet. I, also, would inform you, that our Assembly have directed that three companies be raised from this County, as a part of the regiment which they have directed to be raised as aforementioned; and if my regiment is raised, I apprehend those three companies cannot be inlisted in this County. I, therefore, beg leave to propose to you, whether the men already inlisted had not better proceed under Colonel Williams, and join with the other regiment when it shall arrive at Canada, and no more be inlisted. If so, I myself, and Major Cady, may stay at home, and thereby save publick expense.

I write this with the advice of several gentlemen of the Committee of this County. Yours, &c.,

J. F.

Albany, half after ten o'clock, A. M.,
January 28, 1776.

SIR: Your favour of yesterday's date was this moment delivered to me. I thank you for the information it contains, and am happy to learn that you have already inlisted so considerable a number of men.

As the Assembly of Massachusetts-Bay have ordered a regiment to be raised, and the men to be inlisted for a year, it will supersede the necessity of raising any more in consequence of my directions to you; but I do not wish that those already inlisted (who, I suppose, will not serve beyond the 15th of April,) should be considered as part of the regiment to be raised by virtue of the act or order of your Assembly, unless they would, also, engage for a year. I, therefore, hope they will march without delay, and the whole to be under the command of Major Cady, as Major-Commandant of the corps, unless you should think proper to take the command of them.

It is with infinite satisfaction that I learn the alacrity with which my countrymen step forth on this occasion; it will at once redound much to the honour of the persons who engage in this service, and those who have been active in promoting it, and, also, evince to our enemies that no obstacles can deter Americans from prosecuting their righteous cause.

Your zeal, sir, on this occasion, merits the thanks of your country: if mine are worth accepting, you have them, most sincerely, and I shall not fail of doing myself the pleasure to mention you and the respectable Committee of Berkshire to Congress in honourable terms.

I am, sir, with much respect, your most humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To Colonel John Fellows.