[Extract]

By the last accounts, we have from Montreal, we hear that Montgomery had ordered a battery to be raised at the mouth of the sorrel & got a Gondola from the lake into the river St Lawrence by which means has stoped nine vessels loaded with Stores from going down, & am in great hope they will be taken ー Carleton is said to have escaped by land to Quebeck, where we hear he has about 700 men chiefly of the Royal Emegrants (in which oure Stephen Watts is enlisted) & they are employed below Quebeck in distressing the inhabitants who are favourable to us Arnold we hear is at point Levi waiting for assistance from Montgomerry who writes me that he will go down immediately if he can get his men to follow him in which we hear he is like to succeed ー He proposes to secure the channel below Quebeck & advises that some able genl be sent to take the command, and recommends Lee as he expects a pretty severe attack in the spring ー I wish he would stay himself as I know no person of more prudence & conduct in our service, but I believe [he finds] that the provision made for a second in command, will not support one at the head of an army. He says nothing of this to me but express a warm desire to return to his farm & mill . . .

P:S: I just hear doubtful whether Carleton has escaped his vessels have made too fruitless Attempts ー Montgomerry has marched to join arnold, most of our troops enlist, all those that Woster had with him stay amount to about 300.