[Extract]
No. 5
My Lord, The Government has finally published officially the news, which it had received two weeks ago, concerning the defeat and the death of Genaeral Montgomery, Commander of the American troops in front of Quebec. It is the report issued by Congress itself, and the Government certainly does not have any other since it has decided to publish a copy of it without adding any comments ....
You will also observe that M. Tryon, Governor of New York and quoted here for having sent a duplicate of the same report which had already been received through General Howe, is on board a war ship where he has set up his Government, having been forced to withdraw from New York long before General [Charles] Lee captured the city. Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, and Lord Campbell, Governor of South Carolina, have also taken refuge on hoard the ships sent to assist them. Furthermore, My Lord, you will see that the blockade of Quebec is not raised yet and that the American troops must have received reinforcements in order to pursue this undertaking which is considered as being very important for the Insurgents since by securing Canada for them it would provide them with good soldiers, ordnance, ammunition, good Indian warriors and all the resources which the Government had flattered itself to draw from this Province during the present war. There is presently in Portsmouth a warship of 50 guns, called Isis, ready to sail for Quebec. It is not superfluous, My Lord, to give you some information on this ship as well as on the vessels which will sail for the River St. Lawrence when General Burgoyne will leave for Canada where he will take command of the troops sent there either to defend or to conquer that province. The station of these vessels will be close enough to Newfoundland that they could combine their forces in case of need with those of Admiral Moritagu's squadron.
I have not yet mentioned to you the two Indian Chiefs who have b<:en here for some time. They are the deputies of the Six Savage Nations of America and are here to negotiate with the Government. It seems to me that the Opposition has not neglected them and that, if the Ministers count on their help, they will be duped by these Ambassadors of the new world who are said to have much shrewdness and sagacity.
The House of Commons is considering the possibility to make a levy of six thousand Militia-men in Scotland. Although the same Bill which established the Militia in England had also force of law in Scotland, one had not until now trusted the frame of mind of the inhabitants of that part of Great Britain so far as to provide them-with arms. Today, the Government feels more at ease in this respect, especially with regard to the war against the Americans who have few supporters among the Scots; and since the exigencies encountered by the State require that all resources be put to use, this one is being resorted to and I believe that it will take place.
