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Sr Please to acquaint my Lords Commissrs of the Admty that a Council of War was held at the Lieut Governors at Quebec the 11th Inst the result of which I send home as also of another held the 16th Inst by the determination of which, it was found Absolutely necessary by the Members to detain the Kings Ships as it was impossible to defend the Garrison without the reinforcement from them, I am therefore preparing to lay them up in the best manner the time will admit of as it was determined to defend the place to the last & it appearing it will with difficulty hold out til the middle of May, I think it my Duty to represent to their Lordships the absolute necessity of sending out a sufficient Force & Provisions as early as possible And as Pilots may possibly be wanted have sent home some as likewise the private Signal in case the place should be surrendered into the Hands of the Enemy Their Lordships may depend on it no means in my power shall be neglected to destroy the Kings Ships if the place should be destroyed ー The Kings Forces are few the Canadians in general in the Interest of the Rebels, many of the Merchants indifferent so as they secure their property. The Garrison is extensive and in a Wretched State and confusion, Many things wanting particularly Match which was said to be in the Elizabeth Storeship but unloading her to find it, proved to be Twine & Paper, & the whole stock which is supplied by the Men of War; not exceeding 500 Wt as by the Council of War an Embargo was laid on all Shipping to prevent the Seamen from going out of the Province, as much depends on them in our present situation & have given them directions to lay up their Ships as soon as possible as we are in want of their assistance And as they have shown great allacrity & zeal for His Majestys Service & now lay under many unavoidable losses both to themselves & Owners beg leave to recom mend them to their Lordships for redress, And have inclosed their Petition.
And as I have ordered Capt [Thomas] McKenzie on Duty on Shore with a Party of Seamen under his command I judged it for the good of His Majestys Service to order Lieut Tooks [Fooks] to command the Hunter in his absence We are in daily expectation of Genl Carleton with about 150 Men with him from Montreal tho the Rebels have given it out they have taken the General & his Men Prisoners ー
As it is not in my power to give their Lordships so full & particular an Account of our situation as I could wish & of many things which their Lordships might wish to be informed of have dispatched Lt Pringle of His Majs Ship Lizard to whom I beg to refer them who can give a very clear & particular Account of the whole I have sent the Polly on this Service as none of the Kings Vessels could be spared & have given her the preference on account of her Cargo being Flax Seed the property of the two unfortunate Clerks who would be hangd if they fell into the Rebel Hands ー The Things of use for the Garrison I have taken out of the Elizabeth & Jacob Storeships & for fear their valuable Cargoes should fall into the Hands of the Enemy have ordered them either to Hallifax, Boston or England as the Weather will admit
I beg leave to inform their Lordships that everything in my power & Ships under my command will be used for the protection of the Garrison & Province & hope the steps I have taken will meet their approbation I am &c
Lizard Quebec 20th Novr 1775
Since writing a Deserter has come in from the rebels who gives Us information that the People under the command of Arnold is in a weak situation & want of Ammunition & had retreated a few Miles back on having information of the Garrison intending to make a Salley.
John Hamilton
I have the pleasure to acquaint their Lordships that His Excellency Genl Carleton is just arrived.