Sir,
The Congress have considered your Letters of the 19th and 29th of Sept last, and directed me to assure you, that they are very sensible of the Difficulties under which you labour, and your unremitted Dilligence to remove such as may in any wise obstruct the public service. They most heartily lament the Loss of your Health, as well on your own, as on Account of the Public, but find some Pleasure in thinking that you are not without Consolation, when you reflect, that the Obligations of your Country are Encreased in Proportion to the Sacrifices you make to her Interest. Their Concern for the Public is greatly alliviated by the Abilities and Zeal of Genl Montgomery, in which they cannot but place the highest Confidence.
The Congress see the Necessity of attending to the Situation of Canada, but trust that your Care and Prudence will render any Delegation from this Body unnecessary, at least for the present. What they expect from your Endeavours is, that the Canadians be induced to accede to an Union with these Colonies, and that they form from their several Parishes a Provincial Convention and send Delegates to this Congress. And as in the present unsettled State of that Country, a regular Election can hardly be expected, we must acquiesce in the Choice of such Parishes and Districts as are disposed to join us.
You may assure them that we shall hold their Rights as dear as our own, and on their Union with us, exert out utmost Endeavours to obtain for them and their Posterity the Blessings of a free Government, and that Security to their Persons and Property, which is derived from the British Constitution. And you may further declare that we hold sacred the Rights of Conscience, and shall never molest them in the free Enjoyment of their Religion.
If our Arms should be crowned with Success, you will consult with your principal Officers about the Number of Troops that will be necessary for the Defence of Canada, and for the different Posts of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and the best Method of procuring Men for those Services. If you should observe in the Canadians an inclination to take up arms, you may immediately, at the Expence of the Continent, raise a Regiment and appoint such officers as you conceive will be most agreeable to them, and serviceable to us. ー The Congress will endeavour to attend to the Cloathing of your Troops, and approve of your design to purchase Woollens at Montreal, which they sincerely hope it may be in your Power to accomplish. You may depend upon their Compliance with all Contracts made by you for the Supply of the Troops under your Command.
The Establishment of a Civil Government in Canada is a Subject of great Consequence, and requires the most deliberate councils. The Temper, the Disposition and local Circumstances of our Brethern in that Colony must be known, before we can form a proper Judgment on so important a Question. You will endeavour therefore to collect the Sentiments of the most discreet and sensible among the principal Canadians and English on this Head, and communicate their opinion, with your remarks to the Congress.
It is the Determination of the Congress at all Events, to keep the Command of Lake Champlain. They would therefore have the most effectual Measures adopted for that Purpose; and, if our Enemies should be expelled Montreal, will exert their utmost Endeavours to secure the River St Lawrence, and prevent by Batteries, Vessels, and every other Obstruction the ministerial Troops from regaining the Possession of that Town.
The Congress approve of the Presents made to the Coghniwagas, also of the Disposition of the prisoners, and have borrowed one Ton of gun Powder from the Committee of Safety of this Colony, and directed it to be sent to the Provincial Convention of New York, with a request to transmit to you the whole, or such a Part of it, as they can spare: Nails will be supplied you, by the Convention of New York, when they receive your Direction on that Head. They, together with the Committee of Albany, and the Governor of Connecticut will on Application, furnish such Carpenters and Blacksmiths, as you may want over and above what may be procured from among the Troops. As for the Artificers taken from thence, you will pay them the customary Allowance if you think their Services entitle them to any Reward. The Congress are pleased with the Mode in which you propose to settle with and pay those, who took and garrisoned Crown Point, and desire that the Accounts may be transmitted to them as soon as possible.
Mr [Elisha] Phelps will be considered as Deputy to Mr Levingston [Walter Livingston] for the New York Department, and be paid as such at the Rate of forty Dollars per Month from his Entrance into the Service.
The Congress are greatly hurt at the Misconduct of a Part of the Troops, and hope they will take the earliest Opportunity to obliterate their Disgrace. It is their earnest Wish, that the strictest Discipline be observed; For, as on the one Hand, they are resolved to reward those, who deserve their Favour, so on the other, a Regard for their Country forbids them to overlook the Offences of such as neglect their Duty, or basely betray their trust.
I cannot conclude without assuring you, that the Congress are highly sensible of the Spirit, Activity, and Zeal, of Mr. James Levingston [Livingston], from which they cannot but promise themselves Advantages, that will be entitled to their earliest Recompense. I have the Honour to be &c
