GENERAL ARNOLD TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Camp before Quebeck, February 12, 1776.

DEAR SIR; My last was of the 1st of February, since which nothing has occurred worth notice, except several desertions from the garrison, who are much distressed for fuel, and must soon bum their houses and shipping; they are at short allowance of provisions, and obliged to mountguard every other night, which has made great uneasiness among the seamen, who are the principal part of the garrison.

I have just received the resolves of the honourable Continental Congress as late as 10th of January, and beg leave to present them my respectful compliments and sincere thanks for the honourable mark of esteem they have been pleased to confer on me, which I shall study to deserve.

The multiplicity of accounts which daily arise here, and many which originated in the life of General Montgomery, together with those of the Commissaries and Quartermasters (which, in my opinion, ought often to be adjusted) as well as those of Colonel Livingston's Regiment, and many others, which are intricate, and do not immediately fall under my particular department, renders it impossible foe a commanding officer to pay that attention to them which they deserve, and, at the same time, do his duty as a soldier. I have, therefore, to request that the honourable Continental Congress would take into their consideration, the directing the Paymaster to adjust those accounts, or appointing a Committee for that purpose, who, I make no doubt, would find full employment, prevent many frauds, and greatly accelerate the publick business.

We have been reinforced with only one hundred and seventy-five men; our whole force is about eight hundred effective men. We have about two hundred sick and unfit for duty, near fifty of them with the small-pox. The Canadians, in most of the Parishes, mount for their own safety.

I am, with great esteem, dear sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

B. ARNOLD.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBTJLL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Lebanon, February 12, 1776.

SIR; I received your two favours of the 8th instant; have also received, per Bacon, the remittance for the expenses of the French gentlemen to Philadelphia. I had no design to have ever called on you for the money paid our troops under your immediate command, but to have accounted with the Congress, had we not been unexpectedly drained of cash and had pressing calls upon us, two or three ways at once. That to the northward could not possibly have been answered, but for the seasonable arrival of the Continental supply, just sufficient for that purpose. Our other demands, for the common service, are many. The men, for the short service with you, could not have marched without some money, which they have, I trust, wholly expended for necessary clothing, &c., therefore, could have wished it had been in your power to have remilted the sum advanced by our Pay-Table, but shall do every thing in my power that the common interest do not suffer.

I am greatly concerned for the scarcity of powder, and arms. We have not half a sufficiency for ourselves, as the circumstances may be, yet anxious to furnish you, for the common good, with every supply in our power, have ordered a quantity of gunpowder, lately arrived at Bedford, in Dartmouth, carted to and now lying at Providence, on account of this Colony, to be sent you with all possible expedition. Three thousand weight of this we conclude to order to Major Thompson, Agent for the Massachusetts Colony, on account of money he supplied to Mr. Shaw, the importer, for that end, and you will consult him or them concerning the use of it. I suppose the whole to be, upwards of six thousand weight, the residue, on account of this Colony, for which shall expect payment, or to be replaced, as shall be hereafter chosen by us. I shall send you, this week, twenty or thirty stand of good arms. I have not certain advice from every quarter, but, I believe, our three regiments are all on the march to your camp, except those already arrived there.

I have much more agreeable intelligence from General Lee the New-York Congress than I expected. I cannot but hope propitious Heaven will smile success on that most timely and judicious exertion of your Excellency to prevent our enemies possessing themselves of that important station. I have the pleasure to enclose you a copy of , General Lee's letter. In compliance with his request, we have already sent orders to Colonel Ward to repair again, forth with, to New-York.

I am, sir, with the greatest esteem and regard, your most obedient, humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL,

To His Excellency General Washington.

ROBERT H. HARRISON TO WILLIAM BARTLETT.

Cambridge, February 12, 1776.

SIR: I laid your letter of the 10th instant before his Excellency. He was much surprised at your fresh demand for two thousand dollars; indeed, so was I. There is now upwards of ten thousand dollars advanced upon these armed vessels and very few accounts yet brought in. It is his Excellency's will, that you send in yours as soon as possible. Let the owners of the schooners make out abstracts for their vessels, from the time of their being engaged in the service to the 31st December, for amount of which, warrants will be given them. Enclosed is a form for their government. By this means you will not want money to pay them, and when you send your account, if money is necessary it will be given you. I am, sir, yours, &c.

To William Bartlett, Esq., Beverly.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

In Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York, during the recess of the Provincial Congress,

Die Mercurii, A. M., January 3, 1776.

Several gentlemen of the Committee of Safety have attended daily since the recess of Congress, but have not had Members sufficient to form a Quorum, until this day, when the following gentlemen attended, to wit:

Colonel Pierre VanCortlandt, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Scott, Mr. Sands, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Spooner.

The gentlemen present unanimously chose Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, Chairman of the Committee of Safety.

Mr. Nicholas Low, attended on the Committee, and offered to them four hundred and sixty-five quarter casks of Gun-powder. The Committee agreed to pay Mr. Low twenty Pounds per hundred, for the said Gunpowder, which is the price Mr. Low requests.

Mr. Low agrees to deliver eighteen quarter casks of the said Gunpowder, to the order of this Committee, in Elizabethtown, and the residue in the City of New-York, to the order of this Committee, in two equal moieties, in two different nights.

The Committee adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.

3 ho. P. M., January 3, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Pierre VanCortlandt, Esq., Chairman, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Scott, Mr. Sands, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Spooner.

A draft of a Letter to Jonathan Hampton, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Elizabethtown, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York,

during the recess of the Provincial Congress,

New-York, January 3, 1776,

SIR: We have obtained a very small supply of powder, which enables us to repay that so kindly lent us by the good people of your Colony, for the use of the Continental Army. We have directed eighteen quarter casks to be delivered to you, or your order, to repay the quantities borrowed of the respective Committees of Elizabethtown, Woodbridge, and New-Brunswick, and request you to take the trouble of delivering to each their proper quantity.

We were only a conveyance of that loan to the continental Army, and we take this first opportunity in our