Cambridge, 31st Decemr 1775.
[Extract]
Captain Freeman, arrived this day at Camp from Canada, he Left Quebec the 24th ultmo in Consequence of General Carleton's proclamation, which I have the honor to send you herewith ー he saw Col Arnold the 26th ー and says that he was joind at Point au Tremble by General Montgomery the 1st instant that they were about 2000 Strong & were makeing every preparation for attacking Quebec, that General Carleton had with him about 1200 men, the majority of whom are Sailors, ー that it was his oppinion the French woud give up the place, if they get the same Conditions granted to the Inhabitants of Montreal ー
Captain Adams, of the Warren armed Schooner sent into Marblehead the sloop Sally, bound from Lisbon to Newyork Laden with 2 pipes and 126 Qr Casks of wine ー this sloop was made a prize of by the Niger man of War, somewhere near Bermudas, the Captain of whom put his mate & five hands on board with orders to proceed with her to Boston, the sloop & Cargo belongs to Mr Peter Barberie of Perth Amboy in newjersey ー
Captains Semple & Harbeson take under their Care Mr Kirkland who appears to be a much more illiterate & simple man than his strong recommendations bespake him ー Captain Mathis [Thomas Mathews] & Mr [William JRobinson will accompany them ー the two Later were prisoners taken by Lord Dunmore who was sending them to Boston, from whence there is little doubt, but that they would be forwarded to England, to which place, I am Credibly informed, Captain Martindale & the Crew of the Washington are sent, allso Colonel [Ethan] Allen & the Prisoners taken with him in Canada, this may account for General Howes Silence on the Subject of an Exchange of Prisoners, mentiond in my Letter to him ー
General [Charles] Lee is just returned from his excursion to Rhode Island, he has pointed out the best method, the Island woud admit of, for its defence ー he has endeavourd all in his power, to make friends of those that were our enemies, you have inclosed a Specimen of his abilities in that way, for your perusal, I am of Oppinion, that if the same plan was pursued through every Province, it woud have a very good effect
upon a further Conversation with Captain Freeman ー he is of opinion that General Montgomery has with him near 3000 men Including Col. Arnolds ー he says that Lord Pit, had received repeated orders from his father to return home in Consequence of which he had embarked some time in October, with a Captain Green who was master of a vessell, belonging to Philadelphia ー
By a number of Salutes in Boston Harbour yesterday I fancy Admiral Shuldam is arrived two Large ships were seen Comeing in ー
Our Inlistments now amount to 9650.
Those Gentlemen who were made prisoners of by Lord Dunmore being Left destitute of money & necessarys I have advanced them one hundred pounds Lawful money belonging to the publick, for which I have taken Capt. Mathews draft on the Treasury of Virginia, which goes inclosed ー I have [&c.]