[Extract]

Being restricted by Congress to build no more than one hundred Batteaus, and eighty of these being occupied by the Troops above mentioned, General Uohn] Thomas the Commissioners, the Artillery and Stores, provisions & Captain [Ebenezer] Stevens's Company with the Mortars & Shells, I have only twenty new ones left, and thirty seven of those built last Year ー the whole of which will. carry no more than fifteen hundred ー I have however ventured to construct an additional Number; and such a Number of Carpenters are now employed as will daily build for the Conveyance of fifty Men; hence I hope no considerable Delay will be experienced: but Ifear the Troops in Canada,: when joined by those coming up will be in want of p9rk before a Supply can :be thrown in as we have not 150 Barrels of pork left at this place and Tyconderoga, and those that are gone in could not take' more than 100 Barrels exclusive of ten Days provision which was issued to them at Tyconderoga. '

The Vessels on Lake Champlain are sufficie'nt to convey five hundred Men to St John's, but no 'Sailors are yet arrived ー The Convention of New York have been wrote to long since to send them.