on a better footing, and brought to some discipline. I pray God this may not be neglected until it is too late to repent of the neglect.

I am, with every respectful and friendly wish, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO GENERAL GATES.

Chambly, May 31, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I am a thousand times obliged to you for your kind letter of the 3d of April, of which I have a most grateful sense. I shall be ever happy in your friendship and society; and hope, with you, that our next winter-quarters will be more agreeable, though I must doubt it if affairs go as ill with you as here. Neglected by Congress below; pinched with every want here; distressed with the small-pox; want of Generals and discipline in our Army, which may rather be called a great rabble; our late unhappy retreat from Quebeck, and loss of the Cedars; our credit and reputation lost, and great part of the country; and a powerful foreign enemy advancing upon us,—are so many difficulties we cannot surmount them. My whole thoughts are now bent on making a safe retreat out of this country; however, I hope we shall not be obliged to leave it until we have had one bout more for the honour of America. I think we can make a stand at Isle-aux-Noix, and keep the lake this summer from an invasion that way. We have little to fear; but I am heartily chagrined to think we have lost in one month all the immortal Montgomery was a whole campaign in gaining, together with our credit, and many men and an amazing sum of money. The Commissioners this day leave us, as our good fortune has long since; but as Miss, like most other Misses, is fickle, and often changes, I still hope for her favours again; and that we shall have the pleasure of dying or living happy together.

In every vicissitude of fortune, believe me, with great esteem and friendship, my dear General, your obedient and humble servant,

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

To General Gates.

P. S. For particulars respecting us I beg leave to refer you to the honourable Commissioners.

B. A.

NEWBURYPORT, (ESSEX COUNTY,) MASSACHUSETTS.

Newburyport, May 31, 1776.

Voted, That if the honourable Congress should, for the safety of the Colonies, declare them independent of Great Britain, this Town will, with their lives and fortunes, support them in the measure.

STOCKBRIDGE, (BERKSHIRE COUNTY,) MASSACHUSETTS.

At a legal Town-meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Stockbridge, at the Meeting-House in said Town, for the purpose of choosing a person to represent them in the Great and General Court or Assembly:

Voted, That it is the mind of this meeting, should the great and important question of the Independency of the United Colonies of Great Britain be discussed in the Great and General Court or Assembly, that he give his vote for the affirmative.

PITTSFIELD, (BERKSHIRE COUNTY,) MASSACHUSETTS.

Instructions from the Town of PITTSFIELD to their Representative, Mr. VALENTINE RATHBUN, for Independence.

You shall, on no pretence whatever, favour a union with Great Britain, as to our becoming in any sense dependant on her ever hereafter; and use your influence with the honourable House to notify the honourable Continental Congress that this whole Province are waiting for the important moment which they in their great wisdom shall appoint for the declaration of Independence and a free Republick.

CONNECTICUT COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Monday, May 6, 1776.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety at Lebanon:

Present: His Honour the Governour, Eliphalet Dyar, Jabez Huntington, William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esquires.

Whereas His Honour the Governour has just received intelligence from the Committee of the honourable General Assembly of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, that a large Army of foreign troops, hired by the Ministry and powers of Great Britain, to lay waste and destroy this country, are in fact on their passage to execute their bloody orders, and, in all probability, near our coasts, and may be daily expected, which renders it necessary that every possible preparation should be made for our own defence:

It is therefore resolved and ordered by this Board, That the men lately ordered to be inlisted or detached out of the First Regiment, and other Regiments east of Connecticut River, be immediately furnished and completely equipped, armed and accoutred, according to the orders given for their being raised, and that they be fitted for an immediate march on any emergency. And in order to that, the Colonels, or commanding officers for the time being of the aforesaid Regiments, are required, without any delay, to direct the Captains, or chief officers appointed to command the several Companies of said Minute-men, forthwith to call their said Companies together, (who are also required to yield obedience to the orders of said officers, on penalty of the law;) and said Captains and officers are carefully to examine into the equipments of their said Companies, and diligently attend to and see that they be forthwith furnished as aforesaid; and where arms and ball cannot be otherwise obtained, they shall be furnished out of the town stocks, so far as may be, and arms impressed, if need be, from such householders, or others who shall appear to be least able and likely to make use of such arms, &c., themselves, to supply such as cannot be otherwise furnished; and any civil authority are to give out such impresses, on request of such Captain and other officers. And every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who shall appear to be completely equipped with every requisite, or shall be so equipped in a reasonable short time, to the, acceptance of such Captain, shall be entitled to a reward of one dollar, and in proportion for the value of such articles as they shall furnish themselves; and all such officers and soldiers shall be allowed a reasonable reward for the use of such arms, ammunition, blankets, and knapsacks, as they shall provide for themselves, if called to be used in actual service; and shall also be allowed for the time necessarily spent in meeting together, according to the direction and for the purposes of this resolve, at the same rate of wages and support as the Continental Army, and if called into actual service, to be upon the same pay and allowance from their march, as the troops in said Army. And all arms and accoutrements impressed, found, or provided for any of said Companies, shall be taken care of and returned to the owners, and a reasonable allowance made for their use; and the Captains are directed to take care of the same accordingly; and if lost by inevitable providence, the value to be paid.

And it is further provided, That if it shall be found necessary, such Captain, or chief officer, may order said Companies, or any part of them, to meet as often as necessary, in order to their being equipped as aforesaid; and all arms and ammunition of such Companies shall be deposited in some proper nearly central place of such Company, by the direction of the Captain of the same, to be also a place of rendezvous for such Company, if and when called to actual service. And the said Captains are to make return of the rolls and the state of said Companies, with all their doings in the premises, forthwith, to his Honour the Governour.

And whereas it is expected that the honourable General Assembly will find it expedient to make further provision of a similar kind, with respect to drafting or inlisting Minute-men for publick service, the aforesaid Companies may expect such limitation of time for holding themselves in readiness as aforesaid, and such allowance therefor, as the said Assembly shall see fit.

Wednesday, May 22, 1776.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety at Hartford:

Present: His Honour the Governour, the Deputy Governour, Colonel Dyar, Colonel Huntington, William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Benjamin Huntington, Esquires.