brought into the port of Philadelphia, or to some other port as near Philadelphia as can be with safety. Resolved, That Mr. Morris be added to the foregoing committee.

The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the agents, brought in the same, which, being read and debated, was agreed to.

Ordered, That a fair copy be made out, signed and forwarded.

. N. B.

This and former letters to the agents in England, are in Mr. Hancock's (the President's) letter book.

DECEMBER 4, 1775.

Information being given to Congress that major Stopford, notwithstanding his parole, is endeavouring to debauch the minds of the people

Ordered, That the delegates of New Jersey be directed to write to the committee of Trenton, and desire them to make inquiry into the conduct and behaviour of major Stopford, and the officers there, and make report to Congress.

JANUARY 1, 1776.

The committee to whom the letters from general Washington and the intercepted letters were referred, brought in a report: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the seizing and securing the barracks and castle of St. Augustine will greatly contribute to the safety of these colonies; therefore it is

earnestly recommended to the colonies of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, to undertake the reduction of St. Augustine, if it be thought practicable.

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolution, together with copies or extracts of such of the intercepted letters as tend to show the state of the fort and garrison at St. Augustine, be transmitted by express to Henry Middleton and John Rutledge, esquires, members of Congress, to be by them laid before the committee directed to meet at Charlestown; and in case the enterprise be judged practicable, that immediate preparations be made by the joint force of the said colonies, viz. South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, and the expedition be undertaken without delay, at the expense of the United Colonies.

JANUARY 3, 1776.

Resolved, That the committee of safety of the colony of Pennsylvania be requested to furnish colonel Heard with two hundred pounds of gunpowder.

JANUARY 17, 1776.

A letter from Messrs. P. Livingston, Alsop and Lewis, was read, informing that only four hundred and sixty-two quarter casks of powder had arrived at New York.

JANUARY 24, 1776.

An account of the repulse our troops met with in their attempt on Quebec, the 31st December, 1775, published by Congress.

The letters from Canada bring an account of an unsuccessful attempt made to gain possession of Quebec by storm, on the 31st December last, between the hours of two and seven in the morning.

The general, finding his cannon too light to effect a breach, and that the enemy would not hearken to terms of capitulation, formed a design for carrying the town by escalade. In this he was encouraged by the extensiveness of the works and the weakness of the garrison. When every thing was prepared, while he was waiting the opportunity of a snow storm to carry the design into execution, several men deserted to the enemy. His plan at first was to have attacked the upper and lower town at the same time, depending principally for success against the upper town. But discovering from the motions of the enemy, that they were apprized of his design, he altered his plan; and having divided his little army into four detachments, ordered two feints to be made against the upper town, one by colonel Livingston, at the head of the Canadians, against St. John's gate; the other by captain Brown, at the head of a small detachment, against Cape Diamond; reserving to himself and colonel Arnold the two principal attacks against the lower town.

At five o'clock, the hour appointed for the attack, the general, at the head of the New York troops, ad

vanced against the lower town at Aunce de Mere. Being obliged to take a circuit, the signal for the attack was given, and the garrison alarmed, before he reached the place. However, pressing on, he passed the first barrier, and was just opening to attempt the second, when, by the first fire from the enemy, he was unfortunately killed, together with his aid-de-camp, captain John Macpherson, captain Cheeseman, and two or three more. This so dispirited the men, that colonel Campbell, on whom the command devolved, found himself under the disagreeable necessity of drawing them off.

In the mean while, colonel Arnold, at the head of about three hundred and fifty of those brave troops who with unparalleled fatigue had penetrated Canada under his command, and captain Lamb's company of artillery, had passed through St. Roques, and approached near a two gun battery, without being discovered. This he attacked; and though it was well defended for about an hour, carried it with a loss of a number of men. In this attack colonel Arnold had the misfortune to have his leg splintered by a shot, and was obliged to be carried to the hospital. After gaining the battery, his detachment passed on to a second barrier, which they took possession of. By this time the enemy, relieved from the other attacks, by our troops being drawn off, directed their whole force against this detachment; and a party sallying out from Palace gate, attacked them in the rear.

These brave men sustained the force of the whole garrison for three hours; but finding themselves hemmed in, and no hopes of relief, they were obliged to yield to numbers, and the advantageous situation the garrison had over them.

No regular return is yet come to hand; but by the advices received, we learn, that our loss, in killed and wounded, amounts to about sixty, and three hundred taken prisoners, who are treated very humanely. Among the slain are captain Hendricks and lieutenant Humphreys, of the riflemen, and lieutenant Cooper.

After this unfortunate repulse, the remainder of the army retired about three miles from the city, where they have posted themselves advantageously, and are continuing the blockade, waiting for reinforcements, which are now on their march to join them.

Every possible mark of distinction was shown to the corpse of general Montgomery, who was interred in Quebec, on the second January.

PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CONGRESS.

The Letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Canada.

FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN,

OUR former address to you pointed out our rights and grievances, and the means we have in our power, and which we are authorized by the British constitution to use, in the maintenance of the former, and to obtain a redress of the latter.

We have also shown you, that your liberty, your honour, and your happiness, are essentially and necessarily connected with the unhappy contest which we