Gentlemen  Notwithstanding the many Calamities the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay now struggles under, the Congress there are resolutely determined to leave nothing within their power undone, which may have a probable Tendency] to preserve the rights and property of the American Colonies. In persuance of this resolution they on the 14th Day of June appointed a Committee, whereof I have the honour to be Chairman to proceed to Tyconderoga and Crown Point, to inquire into the importance of holding those posts, and among other things respectfully to signify to you their thoughts on the Subject, ー The Committee have made such inquiries as they were directed to prosecute, and have ordered me to take leave to inform you that it is their opinion, should the Fortreses on Lake Champlain Fall into the hands of our Enemies the Colony of New York with the New England Colonies must be in the utmost ins[ecur]ity, for the Enemy might Land [men] at the southern End of a part of the waters of Lake Champlain called South Bay from whence, as Fort Edward is rased to the foundation, there is nothing to check them, or prevent their Spreading Fire and devastation down to Albany, and over all the Frontier Towns-Eastward, in New York and the New England Colonies wherefore, it is the opinion of the Committee, that all possible care ought to be taken to keep the Command of Lake Champlain, which perhaps, may be more Easly Effected by armed Vessels of Various Constructions, than otherwise.

The Committee has Established on the Lakes, in the pay of the Massachusetts Colony four hundred Effective men with proper officers which are all that the distressed State of the Colony at present admit of: which Regiment from the peculiar embarrassment which that Colony is now Labouring under must look for present Supplies of Provisions to the Colony of New York.

While the Committee was at the posts [above] mentioned, there was a dangerous mutiny, set on Foot by some persons Employed by Col [Benedict] Arnold an officer of our Colony who appeard to have their own Interest more at heart than the publick good which had it not been for the Influence and well Timed Exertions of Judge [William] Duer a Gentleman of the County of Charlotte in your Colony and the principle officers of the Connecticut forces might have been attended with fatal Consequences As the Committee suppose the Colony they serve to be under great obligations to that worthy Gentleman they cannot but inform his own Government of his zealous Exertions for the publick good.