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My dear General,  The Badness of the Weather & worse Roads have put it out of my Power to get here before Yesterday ー A favorable Wind the Night before enabled Mr Carleton to get away with his little Garrison on Board ten or eleven little Vessels reserved for that Purpose & to carry away the Powder & other important Stores. ー I don't despair of getting hold of the Powder yet ー No Diligence shall be wanting for that Purpose ー By Intercepted Letters I find Colo: Arnold is certainly arrived in the Neighberhood of Quebec, that the King's Friends are exceedingly alarmed & expect to be beseiged. ー Which with the Blessing of God they shall be if the severe Season holds off & I can prevail on the Troops to accompany me ー The Lizard Man of War is arrived there she has brought £20,000 Sterling & 100 Marines They have had some other little Reinforcements of Recruits for McClean's Regiment & Artificers to the Amount in all of including Marines & Sailors [of] 450 Men ー one of the Brigs is arrived with Cloathing & Arms for the faithful Canadians as Mr Carleton with Propriety terms them. ー

This Morning we have taken Possession of the Town  I send You their Articles of Capitulation with my Answer & hope  It may meet with Approbation. ー

I can't help feeling great Uneasiness till I know the Determination of the Troops with respect to engaging for six Months longer ー I was obliged at St Johns to promise all such their Dismission as chose it, to coax them to Montreal Indeed Wooster's Regiment shewed the greatest Uneasiness. I make no Doubt of retaining as Many as will hold the Ground already gotten ー but it is of the utmost Importance to finish this Business at once that the Ministry may have no Hopes left of carrying on their infernal Plan[s] in this important Quarter ー At any Rate it will be highly expedient to throw in a large Body of Troops as soon as the Ice will bear in order to make a Vigorous Attack on Quebec before the arrival of Succours in the Spring should It not fall into our Hands this Winter ー but should this Instance of good Fortune crown our Labours, some Advantageous Post must be chosen below Quebec, where a large Corps of Troops strongly posted, a Boom over a Narrow Channel & floating Batteries may baffle all Attempts from Europe, I am told a difficult pass, termed the Traverse will Answer this Purpose, if your Health will not permit You to engage in this Affair. ー I think [Charles] Lee ought by all Means to have the Command here. I send some Choice Letters of that Worthy & steady Freind to the Colonies, Brook Watson, whose Zeal is only to be equalled by his Sincerity ー You will think them of Importance enough I believe to be communicated to General Washington & the Congress, Your Freind Mr William Smith has been pretty well humbugged by this Gentleman.

I am exceedingly sorry Congress have not favored me with a Committee ー It would have had a great Effect with the Troops, who are exceedingly turbulent & indeed Mutinous. ー My Vexation & Distress can only be alleviated by reflecting on the great Public Advantages which must arise from my unparallel'd good Fortune. ー

I shall clothe the Troops compleatly who engage again. I find with Pleasure that my Politicks have squared with the Views of Congress, & shall loose no Time in calling a Convention, when my intended Expedition is finished. ー

Will not Your Health permit You to reside at Montreal this Winter? I must go home If I walk by the Side of the Lake, this Winter, I am weary of Power & totally want that Patience & Temper, so requisite for such a Command. ー

I will take it as a Favor, If You will send Henry Livingston with Your Dispatches for Congress. ー

I wish some Method could be fallen upon of engaging Gentlemen to serve, a Point of Honour & more Knowledge of the World to be found in that Class of Men, would greatly reform Discipline & render the Troops much more tractable.

The Officers of the 1st Regiment of Yorkers & Artillery Company were very near a Mutiny the Other Day, Because I would not stop the Clothing of the Garrison of St Johns. ー I would not have sullied my own Reputation Nor disgraced the Continental Arms by such a Breach of Capitulation, for the Universe ー there was no driving It into their Noddles, that the Clothing was really the Property of the Soldier, that he had paid for It & that Every Regiment (in this Country especially) saved a Years Clothing to have decent Clothes to wear on particular Occasions. I am &ca