at the instigation of their Priests, arose with a design to cut off our guards at Point-Levi. A party under Major Dubois attacked their advance guard, killed seven, wounded five, and took about fifty prisoners, twenty-five of which arrived here last evening. General Wooster arrived before Quebeck on Monday last. The battery opened at Point-Levi on Tuesday morning. One of Captain Lamb’s Company made his escape from Quebeck, and informs that the soldiers and prisoners are at an allowance of three ounces of pork per day. A Canadian, who brought letters from Carleton to the inhabitants, is made prisoner, and says (which he offers to swear to) that the inhabitants, as well as soldiers, have risen in a body and gone to Carleton, and that he promised, if he did not get assistance in fourteen days, to deliver up the town.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN THE CON TINENTAL ARMY BEFORE QUEBECK, DATED APRIL 6, 1776.

Our battery at Point-Levi has been firing some days. The mortar-battery on the heights is not quite finished; and in two days we will have another battery at the Little River. We have had a prodigious quantity of snow this winter; the tops of fences just begin to appear, and I sup pose that in a few days the roads will be impassable. I shall continue as long as there is a probability of the town’s being taken. We are discouraged at General Lee’s not corning; however, General Wooster has arrived. We ought to have at least ten thousand men more here, in case of troops arriving; otherwise, the Canadians who have assisted us will be ruined. This Province is the key of America.

INFORMATION FROM CANADA.

Pelton left Quebeck 6th of April.

A Canadian went into Quebeck about the 17th of March, at night; he came out with packets, supposed commissions and despatches, to Sinior, at Island Crane, to raise a party out of the guard at Point-Levi.

That sixty or seventy people joined their people; that seven were killed and four wounded; that thirty-eight prisoners were taken—twenty-five brought to Montreal; that the river was not frozen over at Quebeck; that the Canadians are very hearty in our cause: that he does not know that they understand the controversy.

That they put their prisoners to a short allowance; that McLean wrote to Campbell that they had the same allowance as garrison.

One of Lamb’s men escaped—went into the bomb-proof in the yard—jumped over the wall, and over the city wall—said he had heard of Lamb, that he had lost left eye. Twenty-five hundred troops there—snow deep when he came away.

Met, 16th or 17th April, fourteen or fifteen boats—got to St. John’s the large cannon (four thirty-twos, one twenty four, and one eighteen) taken at Ticonderoga—General Thomas between Crown-Point and Ticonderoga —men healthy—one man a little wounded.

Fresh provisions and wood plenty—battery at Point-Levi began to play 3d April (four twelve-pounders—now three) —a bomb-battery on the Heights of Abraham —snow seven feet deep—Mott well—Hughes with him—Gano well—Goforth very fat at Three-Rivers—not more than a company there—Goforth more respected and feared than any man there—heard at camp troops left Boston 3d April.

Canadians expect vessels from 4th to 10th May, this year 20th May; that General Schvyler is driving with great spirit—has seen nothing like him.

Nicholson at Quebeck when he came away—Arnold recruiting—Clinton well. Must storm—three hundred and fifty men all—blockade. Carleton twelve or fourteen hundred.

Met General Thomas, 21st April, between Ticonderoga and Crown-Point. General Wooster paid his men in hard money at Montreal—Yorkers paid in paper, before Quebeck—that they are very cautious how any recommendations are given to New-York officers—Nicholson appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canada Regiment.

To William Paulding, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety, New-York.

ISRAEL DICKINSON TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Stockbridge, April 6, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: On the 4th instant Timothy Edwards, Esq., one of this Committee, received a letter from two respectable gentlemen in Lanesborough, members of their late Committee, requesting his advice upon important political matters, a copy of which we have obtained of him, and herewith send. Upon the recommendation of the Selectmen and Committee of this town, he went there yesterday to give his advice. On his return, about four o’clock, P. M., in the road against the house of Colonel Jonathan Smith, five men attempted to stop him by violence—one laying hold of his coat, another his horse’s bridle. He disengaged him self from the latter by striking him a heavy blow with a loaded whip; from the other, by the speed of his horse. About forty rods forward, three others appeared also in the road, with an apparent design to stop him. One placed himself on one side with a club; another of them on the other side, who made a violent stroke at Mr. Edwards with a hoe, which fell upon his horse’s withers, at the same time calling Tory. Of enormities of this kind we think it our duty to give you the earliest notice.

We are your Honour’s most respectful, obedient, humble servants,

Committee of the Town of Stockbridge.

To the Honourable President of the Council of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.

Tenth Article in the Warrant for the March Meeting in Pittsfield is, “To see if the Town will direct their Committee what method to take to recover pay for handling persons that appeared to be inimical to their country, for time back and future.”

On which Article the Town voted as follows, viz:
Voted, That this Town determine that said Committee, consisting, or having consisted, of who they may, are one and the same, from their first appointment to this day; and that all their transactions and determinations ought to be considered as the actions and proceedings of an adjourned court. Consequently, all matters and things that have not been finally determined, still have a day with them; and that, if there be any matters or things before them that are not yet determined upon, they (the Committee as it now stands) have as full power and authority to act upon as ever they had; and if any persons have, upon trial, appeared inimical to their country, or hereafter, on trial, may appear so, they are hereby empowered, so far as our united influence can support them, to tax such persons for their time therein expended on trial, and all other necessary charges; and, on refusal, to be committed to the common Jail, or otherwise confined, till paid; and in all other respects to deal with them, as to punishment, according to the directions of the Continental Congress, Provincial Congress, or General Assembly.

Voted, That if the said Committee shall apprehend any person or persons, and convene before them, whom they suspect to be inimical to their country, or to be guilty of any other misdemeanors, and, upon trial, are found innocent, in that case the said Committee have no pay for their time lost.

Voted, That if any complaint shall be brought before the said Committee by any person or persons, and if any complaint so brought be supported, then the offender be ordered by said Committee to pay all costs; and if the offender shall refuse to comply in paying the cost, then the offender shall be ordered to confinement in the common Jail, or elsewhere, until he comply and pay the costs, together with the commitment and charges thereof; and in case any complainant shall not support his complaint, said complainant shall be holden to pay the costs; and, upon his refusal, shall be committed as above-mentioned.

The foregoing is a true copy of the Tenth Article in the Warrant for the March Meeting in the Town of Pittsfield, for the year 1776, and of the Proceedings and Votes of the Town upon said Article.

March 28, 1776.

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