soon be supplied with felling-axes. If the helving will not cause much delay, I could wish to have it done, and the axes ground, otherwise to send them on as they are, we being in great need of them.

I am happy that your Honour has so early issued the proclamation concerning the deserters from the Army. I hope it will have a good effect. Before I went last to Crown-Point, I gave directions to Lieutenant-Colonel Buell to collect all the boards he possibly could for erecting hospitals for the sick at Fort George, and temporary barracks for the troops wherever they might be. He has carried into execution my wishes with that diligence which distinguishes him, and a very considerable quantity of boards are collected. As soon as I found our Army was to retreat from Canada, I caused a saw-mill to be erected at the head of Wood-Creek, that will cut nearly three hundred boards of fourteen feet long in every twenty-four hours. The mill began to work about twelve or fourteen days ago, so that I trust we shall have sufficient shelter for our troops. I believe there are not any old gun-barrels or locks left; if there should be, I will order them to be sent to you. The head carpenters will be charged with the money you have advanced, and I will order it to be replaced as soon as the Deputy Paymaster-General has it in his power to do it. I dare say Doctor Ely's design will not be mistaken. I wrote to General Gates on the subject, and pointed out his errand. I consider his being sent up on such an occasion, as an evidence of his foresight and attention to the good of the common cause. The conference with the Indians is not yet opened, and I fear it will not be until Monday next. My long absence from the Army distresses me much, as the variety of business carrying forward on the communication, I fear, will get somewhat deranged. But neither my colleagues nor the Indians will permit me to return until the business is completed.

I am, with perfect esteem, and every wish for your health and happiness, your most obedient, humble servant,

PH. SCHCYLER.

To the Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL GATES.

German-Flats, July 25, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 13th instant, I received yesterday, and that of the 17th, this morning. I am perfectly in sentiment with you on the subject of private sutlers. They are in an Army what tippling-houses are in cities: the receptacle of the abandoned, where mutiny, disorder and every vice takes rise. I shall immediately give orders for purchasing Arnet's rum; but your order to the Deputy Commissary-General would have been sufficient.

Governour Trumbull, from whom I had a letter this morning, of the 17th instant, advises me that I may soon expect one thousand axes. I hope they are now on the way, with such others as may have been collected by the other people employed in that business before I left Albany.

This moment I received the enclosed. If the chain can be spared, I wish you would send it without delay, under the care of a careful officer to attend it to Poughkeepsie.

The Indians are not yet convened; and I fear we shall not open the conference until Monday next. I intended to leave the business to my colleagues, but they were both of opinion that if I quitted this place before the treaty was held, that it would essentially prejudice our cause; and the Indians, too, formally addressed me on the occasion. Their delays greatly distress me, as I know I could be of some service in expediting matters. Can you procure no intelligence from Canada?

Adieu, my dear sir; I am, with best wishes and esteem, your most obedient, humble servant,

PH. SCHUYLER.

To the Hon. General Gates.

P. S. If you do not send the chain, please to advise my Secretary, who is at Albany, of it, and direct him to despatch a messenger to Messrs. Van Zandt, Lawrence, and Tudor, at Poughkeepsie, to inform them of it.

Yours, &c.,

P. SCHUYLER.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO GENERAL GATES.

Skenesborough, July 25, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I wrote you early yesterday morning, and delivered the letter to Colonel Wynkoop, who was to have set off for Ticonderoga in the morning, but was obliged to wait for his people, who were gone to Cheshire's, and did not return till evening, when he received your order to remain here. I have sent carpenters to assist in fixing the gondolas and vessels. I should have returned this morning, but the boats which were sent to Cheshire's the day before yesterday for the carpenters are not yet returned. It will be necessary for me to stay until they arrive, to give them orders respecting the craft they are to build. I have sent off an express this morning to General Schuyler for sundry articles wanted for the gondolas, and have requested him to send either to Connecticut or to General Washington for two or three hundred seamen, who will be absolutely necessary to man what craft we shall soon have completed. Without a larger number of seamen than can be found in the Northern Army our navigation will be useless. We have received no advice from below lately. The first company of Militia arrived last evening—others are expected every minute.

I am, with esteem and affection, dear General, your obedient and humble servant,

B. ARNOLD.

To the Hon. General Gates.

CAPTAIN WYNKOOP TO GENERAL GATES.

Skenesborough, July 25, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I have received yours of yesterday, and shall, with a great deal of pleasure, comply with all commands in said letter. I shall send you one gondola tomorrow, and the rest I shall forward as fast as possible, and send them down.

When I came here on this ground, I found things went very irregular and slow. The carpenters complained to me that if the soldiers went into the woods to help them, they would sit down by the trees instead of working, and when they complained to their officers thereof, found no redress.

I have been one day from here, to Cheshire's saw-mill, where I saw that neither the store nor barracks was set up at that place, and the commanding officer at that post was gone to Albany; and found also that the saw-mill did not go at night, only by day; and no boards sawed. I have now given them the strictest charge to saw continually, for I found they had water plenty. I have employed my officers and men to clear the creek and fetch the boards, and expect this day one hundred and forty boards here from that place, which I will send you down to-morrow.

The same day that General Arnold arrived here on this ground, he told me it was General Gates's positive orders that I should go down to Ticonderoga and join my regiment, which I thought a little strange of. As I had no men at home, (they being all employed in clearing the creek and fetching boards down,) I could not comply with his orders. The greater part of them arriving, I was determined to comply with his orders; but receiving your letter this morning, and finding nothing of that nature mentioned, induces me to stay till further orders from your Excellency.

What is the reason of General Arnold's giving such orders to me I know not, except that some of our commanders at this place see that I drive business on faster, as several have complained to General Arnold concerning me.

I am, dear General, your Excellency's humble servant,

CORNELIUS WYNKOOP.

To Major-General Gates, at Ticonderoga.

P. S. Concerning the stores, I found it went very irregular, and have demanded the keys, and have appointed one of my officers to act in that station, as long as the General pleases to continue him therein.

Providence, Saturday, July 27, 1776.

Thursday last, (25th July,) at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, his Honour the Governour, at tended by such Members of the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly as were in town, and a number of the inhabitants, went in procession to the State-House, escorted by the Cadet and Light-Infantry Companies, where, at twelve o'clock, was read the Act of Assembly concurring with the most honourable General Congress in their Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was also read; at the conclusion of which, thirteen volleys were fired by the Cadets and Light-Infantry; the Artillery Company next fired thirteen cannon, and a like number of new