Your Excellency’s favor of the 14th Instant I had the honor to receive last evening.

I sincerely lament the various distresses Your Excellency must necessarily labour under from the tardiness of the States in furnishing the Supplies for the Army.

Yesterday a pretended deserter from the Enemy arrived here, inclosed is the Information he gives. Your Excellency will recollect that David Higenbottom, was one of the men, the person whose Intelligence you transmitted me, had been Introduced to, and who had been released by the party of ours. Higenbottom is Sensible & Shrewed, has about [24] Dollars in specie with him, with a variety of Good under Cloaths & linnen, he will not confess any thing, altho one of our Party who released him, and with two of the others has confessed the whole business, Is certain he was one of the British party. Since his arrival here we have been Informed that four thousand of the Enemy are actually come to crown point and Tyconderoga, this Intelligance was brought us by an Inhabitant who had spoke with a man who came express from a party of White Creek Militia sent out on a Scout to Crown point; If It be true, we shall probably have an express from White Creek some time to day.

Of the State troops raised for the defence of the frontier only about fourty five have yet appeared. we are to expect none from the East side of Hudsons river for twenty five miles below this, as a Convention which has been held [there] have agreed to a union [With] Vermont, and have published a resolution recommending that no distress should be made under the Authority of New York from any delinquent Class. Ethan Allen in a late Conversation with Major McCracken formerly of V. Schaicks regiment, declared he would neither take assistance from nor give any to New York, and I really believe he will act as he says. I am Dear Sir with Every Sentiment of respect & Esteem & most affectionably Your Excellencys Obedient Servant