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Dear General. I wrote you the 27th Inst by Col: [Rudolphus] Ritzema since which I have received the Papers and Letters of our dear deceased General Montgomery ー all which except some few which contain Instructions for our Operations in this Country, I now forward you by Major [Matthias] Ogden ー I am informed that he commonly burnt all confidential Letters from Friends as he received them so that there are none left unless there may be some in the packet to Mr [Robert R.] Livingston. I shall take particular Care of his Effects and Capt McPherson's when I receive them ー The Army Accounts Receipts &c I shall be obliged to keep for a few Days till I can get them copied to prevent Impositions.

I have also received Letters from Col. Arnold with an Estimate of such Artillery Stores &c as he thinks necessary for the Reduction of Quebec together with an Inventory of such Artillery, Ammunition, Stores &c as are at St Fays, and Point aux Tremble ー As I find the Return of Stores which has been made from St Johns is an imperfect one I shall to Morrow send Major [James] Lockwood to St John's in Company with Major Ogden (who will be on his Way to the Colonies) where he will make out and enclose to you an exact Inventory of all the Artillery, ammunition Stores &c which are now in this province in our Possession ー We have but one piece of Cannon larger than a twelve pounder and that is a brass twenty four. If it is possible to send us a few heavy Cannon across the Lakes I think they will be highly necessary as our small ones will make but little Impression upon such a strong fortified place as Quebec, besides it will hardly answer to strip this Garrison & St Johns entirely.

I inclose you a Letter from Col Arnold to Congress with his Estimate &c you will see its Contents and if you think proper send with it the Inventory which Major Lockwood will make out, there is no need of suggesting to you the almost infinite Importance of taking possession of that Town before they can obtain a Reinforcement in the Spring and therefore the most vigorous Measures ought to be pursued and the greatest Expedition in forwarding every Thing necessary more especially as the Canadian and our Friends here assure me that by the middle of March the Roads from this to Quebec will be impassable.

Of the few Men who have arrived here I find several of them have bad Arms and are obliged to wait in this Place to have them repaired and even then they are but bad ー I could wish they might be better furnished if it were possible before they come into this Country. I hope before this reaches you, that the Rebels of Tyron County will be quelled and their good Arms put to a better Use. ー Accept my best Wishes for your Health, Success and Happiness and believe me very respectfully [&c.]