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Gent.  Mr Dirick Swart a member of this Board, who is just returned from Crown-Point, brings the following intelligence; that one Mr Hay who lives about 40 miles up Lake Champlain came down to Crown-Point, who told Colo [Benedict] Arnold and others that he had been to Montreal for some flour, that Governor [Guy] Carleton had him Seized, and Confined for several days; that by the interposition of the English Merchants of that place he received Liberty to return Home, & that the Merchants who procured him the pass from the Lieutenant Governor desired him to go down to Crown-point and Ticonderoga with all Speed, and to Communicate to the Commander of those Fortresses that the French Caughnewagie Indians had taken up the Hatchet, but that they refused to go out upon any Scouts untill nine of their men who were then out returned; and that Governor Carleton was giving them presents daily.

We are very sorry to inform you that from a number of Corroborating Circumstances, we have but too much Reason to believe the above Information to be true, and more Especially as the Troops which Amounts to about Six hundred men, Suffer no persons coming up the Lake to pass St John's if they can avoid it, where they are building Floating Batteries and Boats; Mr Swart also acquaints us, that Mr Hay said, that Governor Carleton had asked the English Merchants to take up Arms against the Yankees to make use of his own phrasiology, that the Merchants refused, upon which he told them that he would set the Town on fire; which the Merchants said he was welcome to do, and added they could carry as much fire as himself. Mr Hay also desired Mr Swart if he should happen to meet Mr Price, he should requet him not to proceed, as the English Merchts in Canada, conceived it unsafe for him.

The forces above are in no proper State of Defence, principally owing to the scarcity of Powder, of which Article we have not yet been able to send up more, with the Supply we have received from New-York, than three hundred and fifty pounds; wch quantity is altogether insufficient to answer the purpose intended, and of little Service in Case of an Attack ー We can further inform you this City is not half supplied; nor have the frontier Inhabitants either powder or Arms; for which Applications have been made, and daily are making to us; and as we have no prospect of any further supply from New-York, we beg to be assisted if possible from Lower Governments with all the Dispatch possible.

We should also desire that the Command at the Forts, might be settled Colo [Benjamin] Hinman we understood would have taken the Command, but by his appointment, from Governor [Jonathan] Trumbul, his Orders are only to Reinforce the Garrisons and Command his Regiment; upon which Colo Arnold refused to resign; We therefore Conceive it highly necessary that a Matter of such Importance should be sett'led with all Speed. The above we are abo informed by Mr Swart, who was present and heard each read the others Instructions we thought it our indispensible Duty to acquaint you of these matters, and therefore send them you P. Express.

We are Gent. [&c.] By Order of the Committee