Sir

General Sullivan with our Northern Army is now at Isle au noix to which place he retired on the 18th inst. having conducted his retreat from the Sorrel in such a manner as not to lose a man and only nine batteaus with three pieces of Cannon ー For particulars, as I am crouded with business, permit me to refer you to Mr [Jonathan] Trumbull [Jr.] who will write you by the Bearer ー We have, happily, such a naval superiority on Lake Champlain that I have a confident hope the Enemy will not appear upon it this Campaign, especially as our strength in that way is encreasing by the addition of Gondolas, two of which are nearly finished ー

Congress has ordered that we should, by all means, keep the navigation of that Lake to ourselves. I must therefore employ more Ship Carpenters and should be glad if Your Honor would order some proper persons to engage two Companies of twenty five each ー The wages will be the same as those recieve that are now employed in the public Service, and I wish they should enter into a similar agreement, observing that their pay will commence from the time they respectively leave home, and allowing at the rate of one day for every twenty miles for coming to or returning from Albany, from thence the same as those now employed. What that is Your Honor will see by the enclosed which is a Copy of my agreement with one of the Companies now employed, as they must necessarily provide themselves with provisions during their march, I will allow them one third of a Dollar pr Day untill they arrive at Albany, and as every specie of this allowance cannot at all times be got, the difference will be paid at the end of the Campaign & therefore they will give receipts to the Commissaries for the quantity of each specie they may recieve ー²

Sundry Persons are prisoners here, some from Canada and others from Tryon County ー The Committee of this place think it dangerous that they should remain in it, and have requested me to move them elsewhere ー I have ordered them to your Colony ー They are to leave this to morrow by the way of Dutchess County, and I have directed their Route to Hartford ー permit me to beg your Honor to give the necessary Directions for their future residence ー A list of the names is enclosed ー Serjeant Brown of the Artillery I am informed by General Arnold and others attempted to escape into Quebec ー He I think ought to be closely confined for his breach of promise ー

Be so good Sir as to favor me with a line in answer by the Bearer and advise me, if you possibly can, when you guess the Carpenters (if any) may reach Albany ー I am, Dear Sir [&c.]