but had forgotten it. I have since sounded it over and found it to be twenty-eight, thirty-one, and thirty-two fathoms opposite our two northernmost batteries. Over against our southernmost, (which is now ready to mount ten guns,) and three-fourths of a mile from it, it begins to shoal from eighteen to eleven fathoms in the channel; it then remains at eleven, twelve, and thirteen, till near Fort Montgomery; opposite to it, on this side the creek, called Pooplopen’s Kill, it deepens again to eighteen fathoms; just over the creek, to the southward, it is twenty-two fathoms, and in the mouth of it thirty-one. Near the shoal water mentioned, on the west side the river, is an eminence that commands a long reach, both up and down the river; if it should be thought necessary to boom across, I think it much more practicable there than in any other part of the Highlands.

Since my last, Colonel Nicoll has returned and taken the command. The day before yesterday, I received from the Committee of Dutchess County fifty-eight stand of arms, but they are so much out of repair that they are quite useless. I have put them in store here, till we can get an armourer.

Major Schuyler, of our regiment, will do himself the honour to present you this letter. I could wish him to be continued here, as he is a young officer and wants instruction. He is intelligent, and I believe will make a good officer after a little study and experience.

I remain, sir, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

HENRY B. LIVINGSTON, Lieutenant-Colonel.

To His Excellency George Washington, Esq., New-York.

JONATHAN TRUMBULL, JUN., (DEPUTY PAYMASTER-GENERAL) TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read May 31, 1776.]

Albany, May 21, 1776.

SIR: Some time ago I communicated, by letter to the Delegates from the Colony of Connecticut, the distressed circumstances of the Army in this department for want of money. The number of troops destined this way has since been so greatly augmented that, notwithstanding the small pittance of fifty thousand dollars per Doctor Franklin, and three hundred thousand received through General Washington’s hands, we find ourselves extremely deficient still. Great inconveniences have arisen, and greater still 1 fear will be incurred, unless we are speedily supplied with a quantum equal to our necessities. I need not say to Congress that money is the sinews of war. The service has been greatly impeded, more especially in Canada, for want of sufficient sums, particularly in specie, to answer the necessary demands of the Army.

I have communicated to Doctor Franklin our circumstances. May I also beg leave to refer to my letters to the Delegates from Connecticut and to Mr. Hooper? Large arrears are still due, and gentlemen may judge what sum must be necessary for the current pay of the troops and their subsistence. May I entreat that we may be supplied with not a small sum, and that as soon as possible. After sending but a scanty supply to my Assistant in Canada, I am now left with but about thirty thousand dollars; from this stock I am obliged not only to satisfy the demands arising in this quarter, but also to pay the troops returning from Canada, and answer almost daily drafts from the Assistant Paymaster there, which, for want of money, he is obliged to refer to my chest. Suffer me to say that a Paymaster without money, is but a ridiculous animal.

I must beg pardon for my troubling you on this head.

I suppose it not my duty to request Congress for money, but my anxiety is such that I cannot refrain, although I should be guilty of an impropriety.

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

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort George, May 21, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I was last evening honoured with your Excellency’s favour of the 15th instant. I have sent to Canada half of the money transmitted me by Colonel Gilman; thirty thousand dollars of the other half is gone to Connecticut, where we still owe about seventy thousand; the remainder is nearly expended in paying debts long since accrued; and the calls for daily expenses are very considerable. I hope Congress will remit a further sum, without which it will be difficult to carry on any service.

Since Monday morning last I have forwarded from this post six hundred and sixty-three barrels of pork, in fifty-one batteaus, and about fifty barrels of flour, besides a small quantity for the little garrison at Ticonderoga, and fourteen days’ provisions for the troops which carried the above, which were Reed’s and Stork’s Regiments, the last of which left me this morning. The first of the provisions above-men--tioned I have reason to think reached St. Johns on Friday, and the far greater part, I believe, is there now. Stark’s Regiment carried only seventy-seven barrels, being all I had. About two hundred barrels of pork and eighty of flour are since arrived, and will be sent off on Wednesday, with the third regiment of General Sullivan’s brigade, which I expect in to-morrow. I have now batteaus sufficient to move three of the four remaining regiments, and on Wednesday evening I shall have enough for the last of the brigade, and by that time the nails now here will all be expended, but shall probably ere then receive those your Excellency ordered from New-York, with which I propose to build about forty batteaus more, twenty to be employed on Lake George and the others on Lake Champlain, in transporting provisions, for I dare not trust to the large vessels, (which may be detained by contrary winds, or by getting aground,) until the Army has six weeks’ allowance beforehand.

Yesterday there was no pork left at Albany. I suppose about four hundred barrels are on the way up, with an equal quantity of flour. I propose sending on a considerable quantity of flour, lest if further misfortunes should happen to us, we might be under the necessity of retiring altogether out of Canada.

I have ordered Colonel Dayton, with three hundred men, into Tryon County, to bring away the Highlanders and their families, and to make Sir John Johnson a close prisoner, who, regardless of his parole, has secretly combined with other Tories to levy troops and cut off the communication, and two of the informants agree that they intended to assassinate me and my family, and destroy my buildings. The orders I have given on this occasion I shall do myself the honour to transmit to your Excellency the first moment I can spare. Indeed, I ought to send you every order I issue, but I am really so much pressed by business that I have not been more than about six hours in bed, unless indisposed, in any one night since the beginning of April.

I have not had a line from Canada since my last to you. I am informed that our troops were still at Deschambault about the middle of last week; that the Canadians about the Sorel wish that we may keep the country, though they complain loudly, and with too much reason, of the ill treatment they have received from many of our troops that marched into Canada last winter.

Bennett informs me that a report prevails in the western parts of Connecticut that I was to head some of the regiments raised in this Colony, join the Tories, and fall upon the country; that the people were ordered to collect on the occasion; and that affidavits to support this report had been taken and sent to your Excellency. I hope the scoundrels may be secured and held up to publick contempt. Ungrateful villains! to attempt to destroy a man’s reputation who, having lighted the candle at both ends, is rapidly bringing on old age, by fatigues that nothing but a wish to be instrumental in procuring liberty to my country would make me undergo. Adieu, my dear General.

I am, with the warmest sentiments, ever most sincerely your most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

LEVI HOLLINGSWORTH TO PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

[Received May 28, 1776. Read in Congress May 29, 1776.]

New-London, May 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We came to this place on Saturday evening, where we learned that Commodore Hopkins was at Newport, in the Fly, therefore delivered the order of Congress