Extract of a Letter to a Gentleman in Scotland

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We have been alarmed for this month past by a party of Provincial Rebels, under the command of Col. Schuyler, of Albany, said to amount to five thousand men, and that they were building batteaus to cross Lake Champlain, in order to invade this Province. There is no persuading the country people here of their danger. Emissaries from the Rebels have made them believe that they are only come into the country to protect them from heavy taxes, which the Parliament designs to lay upon them. This, and the remembrance of what they suffered last war, make them very desirous of observing a strict neutrality; but, if the Rebels should come into the country, that cannot last long, as they will want every thing from the Canadians for their paper money, a currency that the people of this country suffered too much by during the French government to have any faith in now, and the Rebels will be obliged to have recourse to force to give it a circulation, or in other words to take what they want, which will make the Canadians fly to arms in defence of their property; and in that case, as the country is numerous and warlike, it is very probable you will soon hear that they have put Schuyler and all his people to the sword.

General Carleton' s present force does not consist of above seven hundred regular troops, three hundred new

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raised men under Mr. McLean and others, and twelve or thirteen hundred Indian warriors, and many different nations, who go and come as they incline, but are very formidable in an American war.

The English merchants and other English inhabitants here, except very few, are hearty and zealous in the cause of Government, and will do their utmost to defend the Town against the Rebels. They have freighted a ship, which they are loading with milch cows, sheep and poultry, as a present for the wounded soldiers at Boston. They have raised the money for that purpose by subscription.

Letter from Quebec to a Gentleman in Scotland. Emissaries from the Rebels have made the Canadians believe that Schuyler, with the Provincial Rebels, only comes to protect them, but any attempt of the Rebels to force into circulation their paper money will make the Canadians fly to arms in defence of their property. [1775-08-20] Anonymous. [S4-V3-p0211] [Document Details][Complete Volume]