short time, but I cannot bear it long. Mr. Wooster has behaved hitherto much to my satisfaction."

Camp, near St. John's, November 3d.—" The garrison surrendered last night, and this morning we take possession. We played on the fort from our battery of four twelve pounders on the north west, and of two twelve pounders on the east side. Major Preston commanded. Governour Carleton made an attempt to land with thirty-four boats full of men at Longuiel, and was repulsed with Warner's detachment: send all the troops you can."

Montreal, November 13th.-" This morning this city capitulated, and Carleton with his garrison has gone down to Quebec." [He talks of finishing the business at once by a vigorous attack on Quebec.] "If your health will not permit you to engage in this affair, Lee ought by all means to have the command here. The troops are exceedingly turbulent, and indeed mutinous. My vexation and distress can only be alleviated by reflecting on the great public advantages which must arise from my unparalleled good fortune. I shall call a convention in Canada when my intended expedition is finished. Will not your health permit you to reside at Montreal this winter? I must go home this winter-I am weary of power, and totally want that patience and temper so requisite for such a command. I wish some method could be fallen upon of engaging gentlemen to serve a point of honour and more knowledge of the world to be found in that class of men, would greatly reform discipline and render the troops much more tractable. The officers of the 1st regiment of Yorkers were very near a mutiny the other day, because I would not stop the clothing of the garrison of St. Johns. I would not have sullied my own reputation, nor disgraced the continental army, by such a breach of capitulation, for the universe. There was no driving it into their noddles that the clothing was really the property of the soldier, that he had paid for it."

Montreal, November 17th." Colonel Easton has six guns mounted at the Sorrel, and disturbs Carleton's eleven sail in the river. I am making preparations to attack him on my side with artillery. I hope to give a final blow to ministerial politics in this province. I cannot retire with honour until the campaign is finished, but that instant it is over I must retire."

Montreal, November 19th.-"I have an express from General Arnold-he has crossed the river to the Quebec side-he had been near surprising the town. Carleton is fifteen miles this side Sorrel. I presume he is with that fleet. Arnold has no artillery, and is in want of warm clothing. I have set a regiment on foot of Canadians-James Livingston, colonel. I have declared to the inhabitants that I should call a convention upon my return from Quebec. The Popish priests have hitherto done us all the mischief

in their power. The inhabitants are our friends on both sides of the river down to Quebec. They permit our expresses to pass unmolested."

Montreal, November 20th.—“ Captain Lamb of the artillery is active, spirited and industrious. The rascally Green Mountain Boys have left me in the lurch, after promising to go down to Quebec. I am obliged to speak to you of Colonel Easton in the warmest terms of acknowledgment."

Montreal, November 24th." I am ashamed of staying here so long and not getting to Arnold's assistance. To-morrow I shall sail with two or three hundred men, some mortars and other artillery. Lieutenant Halsey, whom I left as assistant engineer at St. Johns, has run away and taken the artificers 1 had left to carry on the works; he deserves the severest punishment. Poor Allen is sent to England in irons. I wish Lee could set off immediately for the command here. Our commissaries have made great havoc with the public stores. There are great abuses to be rectified. Several commissaries and other officers have flown without settling their accounts. I wish exceedingly for a respectable committee of congress. I really have not weight enough to carry on business by myself. I have not above 800 effectives here; but I can have as many Canadians as I know how to maintain.

An affair hapened yesterday which had very near sent me home. A number of officers presumed to remonstrate against the indulgence I had given some of the officers of the king's troops. Such an insult I could not bear and immediately resigned. To-day they qualified it by such an apology as puts it in my power to resume the command. Captain Lamb is a restless genius, and of a bad temper, and at the head of it: he is brave, active and intelligent, but very turbulent and troublesome."

Holland House, near the Heights of Abraham, Dec. 5th.“ I have joined Colonel Arnold at Point aux Trembles, where I arrived with the vessels. They carried 300 troops equipped for a winter campaign. Colonel Livingston is on the way with a part of his regiment of Canadians. Mr. Carleton is shut up in the town with a shew of defence. I mean to assault his works towards the lower town, which is the weakest part. I shall be very sorry to be reduced to this mode of attack, because I know the melancholy consequences.

Colonel Arnold's corps is an exceeding fine one, and have a superiour style of discipline. I am not intoxicated with the favour I have received at the hands of fortune, but I do think there is a fair prospect of success. I have been under the necessity of clothing the troops. As a stimulant to the troops to go forward, I was obliged to offer as a reward all public stores taken in the vessels, to the troops, except ammunition and provisions. I gave

them the year's clothing of the seventh and twenty-sixth regiments. I would not wish to see less than 10,000 men ordered here in the spring to protect the province, with artillery, row-gallies, etc. The Canadians will be our friends so long as we are able to maintain our ground. I am much obliged to you for communicating to congress my desire of retiring. I wish like a New England man for the moment of my release. Mc Pherson is a young man (Captain) of good sense and a great deal of spirit, and most amiable." Head Quarters, before Quebec, Dec. 16th.-" Yesterday we opened a battery of five guns; very little effect: the governour would not receive any letter or summons. The enemy have very heavy metal. I never expected any advantage from our artillery than to amuse the enemy and blind them to my real intention. I propose the first strong north wester to make two attacks by night-one with about one-third of the troops on the lower town-the other upon Cape Diamond bastion by escalade. I am fully convinced of the practicability; but if the men should appear not to relish this mode of proceeding, I shall not press it. The enemy are weak in proportion to the extent of their works. We have not much above 800 men fit for duty, exclusive of a few raggamuffin Canadians. We want cash, and shirts and artillery stores. The Canadians will not relish a union with the colonies till they see the whole country in our hands. Were it not for this I should have been inclined to a blockade till towards the first of April."

Head Quarters, before Quebec, Dec. 26th.-"I have discovered that three companies of Colonel Arnold's detachment are very averse to a coup-de-main. Captain Hanchel, who has incurred Colonel Arnold's displeasure, is at the bottom of it: a field officer is concerned in it. This dangerous party threatens the ruin of our affairs. I shall at any rate be obliged to change my plan of attack. I am afraid my friend Major Brown is deeply concerned in this affair he wishes to have, and they wish him to have, the separate command of those companies. The officers have offered to stay, provided they may join some other corps. This is resentment against Arnold.

Send a large corps of troops down as soon as the lake is passable. I am distressed for money. Paper will not pass in Canada. Mr. Price, of Montreal, has been a most faithful and valuable friend to our cause. I have had £5000 York currency cash from him. I take it for granted measures are taken to supply my place, as I am determined to return home. If this business should terminate in a blockade, I shall think myself at liberty to return; however, if possible, I shall first make an effort for the reduction of

the town."

CHAPTER II.

The Johnsons-Brant - Schuyler's Expedition to JohnstownThe state of the valley of the Mohawk.

1774 SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON had filled offices and performed actions in the province of New York of too much importance to permit the historian to pass over his death unnoticed. He' had made a voyage to England, in 1773, and returned prepared to take part in the struggle which was anticipated between the ruling country and her provinces. He had assembled his Indian friends, and prepared the Iroquois to raise the tomahawk against the colonists: but, on the 24th of June, he died of apoplexy, at his house near Johnstown. His son John succeeded to his estate and title. His efforts against the American cause will be found in the sequel. The friend of Brant, without some of his good qualities, they were both scourges and dealers in mischief to the western and northern part of this state, even before she took that proud title. Guy Johnson, the son-in-law of Sir William, succeeded him as English agent for Indian affairs: Brant was advanced to the office of secretary; these with Miss Molly-Brant's sister, and the baronet Sir William's concubine-added to the hereditary noble, Sir John, moved every engine, and exerted all their power to oppose the spirit of liberty which was aroused in the east and spread its benign influence even to the valley of the Mohawk. Hendrick and John Frey, Christopher P. Yates and Isaac Ferris, names unknown to the officials of Britain, fanned the flame of freedom; and, in the face of the Johnsons and Miss Molly, published a declaration of rights and echoed the voice of the patriots of the city of New York.

The Butlers, John and his son Walter N., (famous for their murders subsequently, in connection with Brant and his Indians,) were early coadjutors with the Johnsons, in opposition to the colonists. They were all bound to England by offices, and by the belief that she was the stronger party in the contest.

1775

The tories of Tryon county assembled at Johnstown, at the time of holding court, and procured the signatures of many to an address, in opposition to that of the congress. The county named after Tryon, embraced all the settlements west and and south west of Schenectady. This effort of the tories aroused

the friends of reform; and meetings were called, and committees appointed in every district. At Caughnawaga they proceeded to the erection of a liberty pole; but the Johnsons, with other officials, attended by their associates, tenants, and followers, armed, made their appearance, to oppose this demonstration. Guy harrangued the multitude, and told them of the irresistible power of Britain, her justice, and the insolence of her opponents. The whigs interrupted his oratory, and a scuffle and bloodshed by bruises ensued, principally endured by the liberty boys. In Cherry Valley the whigs held their meeting at the church, in the month of May, and, with enthusiasm, signed an address, approving the proceedings of Congress. But in the Palatine district the Johnsons overawed the people by show of force, and prevented their assembling. Sir John fortified his house, armed the Highlanders of Johnstown, and with his family and the Butlers, prepared the Indians to act against the colonies. Brant was secretary to Colonel Guy, and an influential agent with the Mohawks. The Oneidas, influenced by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, espoused the American part, and Brant was active in opposition to him. Guy, in the name of the British government, ordered away the missionary.

In June, Gen. Washington wrote to Schuyler to keep a watchful eye upon Guy Johnson, which that patriot was already disposed to do; and Colonel Guy was in an uneasy position, which he endeavoured to mitigate by addressing a letter to the people of Canajoharie and others, professing his desire to keep the Indians quiet, hinting dangers to himself from the New England people, and the vengeance of the Iroquois upon those who injured their agenthimself.

The committee, however, denounced Johnson, as taking upon himself unauthorised powers, arming those around him, stirring up the Indians of the upper country, and cutting off communication between the districts favourable to Congress with the city of Albany. The Albany committee advised the people thus oppressed by Johnson, to procure arms and ammunition, act on the defensive, and counteract Johnson's intrigues with the Indians. These frontier whigs showed a determined spirit; at the same time they acted with praiseworthy caution.

Guy Johnson likewise addressed the people of Albany and Schenectady by letter, of a tenor similar to that sent to the people of the Mohawk valley. The leaders at Albany replied, that the report of danger threatened to the colonel, was an artful rumour raised to enlist the feeling of the Indians on his part, and against the colonists. They assured them, however, of their wish to preserve peace and friendship with them, and the tribes in his charge.

The seat of Colonel Johnson, was called Guy Park, and the