Gentlemen,

As commanding Officer here, I think it my duty to acquaint you, that having lately sent one Mr Hoit, an Indian Interpreter to Montreal, & Caughnawaga, to consult with some Gentlemen of my Acquaintance in the former Place, and with the Indians in the latter, to know their Intentions in the present dispute ー he has returned with the agreeable Intelligence that the Indians are determined not to assist the Kings Troops against us, & have made a Law, that if any one of their Tribe shall take up Arms for that purpose, he shall immediately be put to death. This is confirm'd by five of their chief Men, who are now here with their Wives & Children, and press very hard for our Army to march into Canada, being much disgusted with the Regulars. Three Stockbridge Indians, whom I lately sent to them with a Belt of Wampum & Speech, confirm the above. My Friend in Montreal, a Merchant & Gentleman of Probity, writes that I may depend on the Truth of the above, and that great numbers of the Canadians have expected a visit from us for some time, & are very impatient of our Delay, as they are determined to join us, whenever we appear in the Country with a proper Force to support them ー This I am confirm'd in by many of the Canadians, having just returned from a short Excursion to the Isle aux Noix (Nuit Island) where a number of them offered to Join us. Govr [Guy] Carlton, by every artifice, has been able to raise only about 20 Canadians, and those of the Noblesse who are in Expectation of places of profit or Honor  He is now at Montreal, and has threat'nd the English Merchants, if they will not defend it in case of an Attack, he will set fire to the City & retreat to Quebec. There are now in Canada of the 7th & 26th Regiments only 550 effective men, who are quartered in the following Manner ー At St. Johns & Chamblee 300, at Montreal 40, at Lachine 12, at Trois Riveres 40, at Quebec 120, and some small parties at Out-Posts. From the foregoing matters of Facts which you may rely are undoubted, & from my personal Knowledge of the Country, and Disposition of the Canadians I beg leave to observe, that if the Honorable Congress should think proper to take Possession of Montreal & Quebec, I am positive 2000 Men might very easily effect it, for which purpose I beg leave to recommend the following plan of Operation. ー The Men to embark at Crown-Point and proceed in the Sloop, Schooner, Batteaus &c. to within two miles of St Johns, 1700. Men to land there, a Grand Division of a 1000. to proceed directly to Montreal via Lapreira, the other division of 700. to cut off the Communication between St Johns, Chamblee, & Montreal, and the remainder to remain on board the Shipping to secure Our Retreat, who will be able to make a Diversion in favour of the Main body untill they can possess themselves of Montreal, whose Gates on our arrival at the place will be opened by our friends there, in consequence of a plan for that purpose already entered into by them ー Of Course, Chamblee & St Johns must fall into our hands as well as Quebec, unless a number of Troops should arrive there before our plan an be carried into Execution, the Utility of which the Honourable Congress will be the best Judges. but must beg leave to observe, it appears to me that the Reduction of those places will discourage the Enemies of American Liberty, & in a great Measure frustrate their cruel & unjust plan of Operation, & be a means of restoring that solid peace & Harmony between Great-Britain and her Colonies, so essential to the well being of both, at least it will in my humble Opinion, be more advantageous & attended with less expence to reduce Quebec & keep Possession, where Provisions of every kind are plenty & a strong Fortress built to our hands than rebuilding Ticonderoga, as it will entirely deprive Great-Britain, of the lucrative Branch the Fur Trade, and be an inexhaustible Granary, in case we are reduced to want, as there are annually shipped from Quebec five hundred thousand Bushels of Wheat. I hope the Exigency of the Times, & my Zeal in the Service of my Country will apologize for the Liberty of giving my Sentiments so freely on a subject which the Honourable Congress are doubtless the best Judges of, but which they in hurry may not have paid that attention to, the Matter requires. I beg leave to add that if no person appears who will undertake to carry the plan into execution (if thought advisable) I will undertake and with the Smiles of Heaven answer for the Success of it, provided I am supplied with men &c. to carry it into Execution without loss of time. I must beg leave to refer you to the Bearer, Capt [Eleazer] Oswald, for particulars who is charg'd with an imperfect memorandum of such Articles as will be wanted ー I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect [&c.]

P.S. The American Colonies in general are equally in Danger from Canada, whether it remain in the hands of the English under the present Form of its Government, or should be restored to the French, which many suspect is intended by the Ministry in England. But should, Canada be placed under a Free Government agreeable to the English Constitution, like the other Colonies, we should forever after be secure from any danger that way, as it would ever remain an English Colony, even tho' by the Treachery of the British Ministry it shou'd be given up to France, so that this measure, tho' at first view it might seem like going beyond our own province to invade the Rights of Great Britain, yet a due Regard to our own defence, as well as the advantage of the Inhabitants of that Country, makes it necessary.

B. A.