My Dear General

I am ashamed of dating my letter from hence you will not be Surprized at my long Stay here, but day after day have I been delayed without a possibility of giting to Arnolds assistance ー his last letter I inclose you together with one for General Washington ー To morrow I believe I shall sail with two or three hundred men some mortars & other Artillery. 'Tis with great indignation I hear Lt Halsey whom I left as assistant Engineer at St John's to put the Barracks in a proper State for the Reception of a Garrison has run away without leave taking with him the Artificers I had left to Carry on the work ー notwithstanding this behaviour deserves the severest punishment. I beg he may be made an Example of, he is a fit Subject of it & deserved to have been dismissed with infamy for endeavouring to persuade the Soldiers to Return from St John's & not to proceed to Montreal Lieut [Charles] Graham of the 4 Regt & Several others can prosecute him ー It will be necessary to send hard money here immediately, as paper will not yet go down. Price has sent me £5000 York money, Walker has been so fortunate as to git home, being retaken in one of the Vessels. Poor Allen is sent to England in Irons, Should any accident befall him I hope Prescot will fall a Sacrifice to his manes ー

I sent by Mr Schuyler a return of Provisions taken in the Vessels² ー I wish [Charles] Lee Could set off immediately for the Command here. I have thought of disarming the Tories in this Town. ー not so much from any apprehensions I have of them as to quiet the jealous apprehensions of the troops ー Several Commissaries & other officers are flown without Settling their Accoun[ts] I hope those people will incur the heavy Censure of Congress ー One Mr Waterhouse who was appointed by Col. Bedle [Timothy Bedel] and whose Conduct must be Enquired into, having I fear made great waist of Public Stores ー One Mr Stewart who Acted at La Prarie, one Mr Power who acted at St John's ー Lt Col. [Seth] Warner I believe has large Accounts unsettled  in short there are great abuses to be rectified ー

I wish exceedingly for a Respectable Committee of Congress ー I realy have not weight Enough to Carry on business by my self ー I send you the two Indians taken in Carlton's Attack, I forgot to make you this Present before ー

With Respect to the Canadians Soldiery I Think you may Venture to send them back ー The Seignears I should immagine might influence in some measures the Choice of Representation for a Convention ー

I am my Dear General with Sentiments of Real Esteem: & Respect [&c.]

The Indians are of the Conosadago I have not I believe more than 800 Effective [Men] ー However I can have as many Canadians as I know how to maintain ー at least I think so while affairs ware so promising an Aspect ー