Secret.

Sir,  After having, in my Separate Letter of this day's date said so much upon the ideas which have been adopted of the great risque & little advantage that are to be expected from the Army continuing at Boston during the Winter season, unless a more favourable Prospect opens, & having also repeatedly suggested the advantages of recovering possession of New York, I have nothing to add upon those material Objects of your consideration; but as it is of very great Importance that you should know upon what ground we entertain a confident hope of having a large Army in North America in the Spring, I should be unpardonable if I did not acquaint you that His Majesty's Minister at Petersburgh having been instructed to sound the Empress, how far she would be disposed, in case of necessity, to assist His Majesty with such Force as the state & security of the Empire would admit; Her Imperial Majesty has, in the fullness of her affection for the British Nation, & of gratitude for the benefits she received under her late difficulties, made the most explicit declaration, & given the most ample Assurances, of letting us have any number of Infantry that may be wanted.

In consequence of this generous and magnanimous Offer, a Requisition has been made for Twenty Thousand Men, & it is proposed to send the greatest part of the Auxiliaries, as early as possible in the Spring to Quebec; And I trust we shall have at least an equal number of British Troops in North America to act with them, if Occasion requires. I am &c.