I wrote to you on my first arrival at lake George & hoped to have found a Line from you here on my return. My disappointment has not however so angered me as to prevent my appologizing for you, of which this second letter is a proof—I most sincerely congratulate you upon our amazing success in Canada, if you knew the Obstacles we have had to strugle with you would think it little short of a miracle—Tho’ as you will find by the letters you will receive herewith the matter is far from being ended yet, as the base desertion of the troops in the hour of victory,1 has left us much inferiour to the enemy and I could wish that no attemp was made upon Quebeck till the freezing of the lake admitted of our sending in a reinforcement, since there is no dependance to be placed upon the Canadians, & the first ill success will convert them into enemies, in which case with the assistance of Carleton we may be easily cut off—But the people that compose our army think so much for themselves that no general dare oppose their sentiments if he was so inclined—You can not conceive the trouble our generals have had, petitions, mutinies and request to know the reason of every maneuver without a ground to suspend or punish the offenders, the strongest proof of which is that Montgomerry was under a necessity to reinstate Mott2 in order to quiet his men—Lamb is a good Officer but so extreamly turbulent that ^he^ excites infinite mischief in the army, a few days ago he promoted a petition & remonstrance upon the subject of some indulgence that was shewn to one or two Officers who had families in Canada & were permitted to visit them on their parol—It was conc[eived]d in such terms that Montgomerry immediately resigned the command but on their making a proper appology reassumed it.3

You can form no judgment of the impositions on the publick by the Officers & troops of the New England Colonies. I speak this in confidence & without prejudice—A great number of troops have been raised but when ordered upon Duty tho they had recd. pay the whole season for doing nothing they dwindled down to a handful when ordered upon duty whole companies falling sick at once & yet full muster rolls being returned—You ask why this is not punished? The aggressors Offenders form the court martial & tho it may seem incredible yet mutiny, disarming the centries, & endeavouring to resque officers from the gaurd is punished only by a fine of 6/—Many of our own Officers are little better—however I am pleased to find that our Troops have continued in Canada & have on all occasions behaved with spirit if we except the regiment raised in New York, who together with Waterburies regt. ran away at the first landing of which you have had an account.4 the rest of our Troops were not there accept one or two companies who behaved well—Contrive if possible to introduce me Gent[lemen] into the army—Genl. Prescot is now here, He is the author of all the cruelties agt. Walker & Allen in Canada,5 & even descended so low as to break the windows of the Barracks with his own cane—Montgomerry resented his conduct so highly as to refuse to see him or any of the Officers of his party—The Officers taken at St Johns we hear are gone with their men, notwithstanding an express direction to Capt Mott of Connecticut who had the charge of them to separate them—This shd. by all means be done as they have it in idea to keep up the regiment which it would be very absurd to permit—you judging from the climate of Philadelphia may wonder we did not proceed to Canada but if I had been so inclined we should have met with many obstructions besides that Canada is not yet in a state to negotiate, especially as we could derive no assistance from Montgomerry who was going down to Quebeck—

But my strongest objection was that your Committee6 is by no means adapted to the manners of the people with whom they are to deal, & I am persuaded would not greatly raise the reputation of the congress, nor answer any good purpose among the polished people.

You brought us into this scrape pray get us out, chuse men who have the address to conciliate the affections of their fellow mortals, & send them up in february. I will accompany them in my private capacity, as I wish to make the jaunt—If it lays in your way to serve Harry I know you will do it—7 Let me hear from you soon—The express waits present my Comps. to Duane & Morris8 they both owe me a letter—farewell—Yrs Most Affly