New York and started north on a sloop April 2nd. The distance from New York to Montreal is about three hundred miles on a straight line by river from New York to Albany, thence by wagon and through Lake George and Lake Champlain to the Canadian line a few miles from Montreal. They had bad weather, but good winds and most of the time the party kept on deck and viewed the beautiful scenery of the Hudson. They reached Albany in three days and were met by Gen. Schuyler who came from his house about a mile from Albany and took the party to dine with him. Mr. Carroll thinks Albany larger than Annapolis but finds that the people mostly speak Dutch. From Albany they go north in a wagon accompanied by Gen. and Mrs. Schuyler, their two daughters and Gen. Thomas. Generals Thomas and Schuyler were two of the commanders of the American troops in the north. By evening the party reach Saratoga Springs where Gen. Schuyler entertains them at his country seat. This is only thirty-two miles from Albany but the roads were heavy.

In that early day a man of Mr. Carroll's keen observation was impressed with the necessity of an all water route from New York to Quebec and he even figured on the cost of cutting a canal from the Hudson River to Lake George. Mr. Carroll and the rest of his party started on the 16th, "parting with the amiable family of General Schuyler with regret." They breakfasted with Col. Allen at Fort Edward on the 17th and drank tea on the shore of Montcalm Bay on the 18th. Reaching the south end of Lake George, Mr. Carroll visited the saw mill, viewed the spot where Lord Howe was killed and the next day went over to Ticonderoga. Then they passed on north and up Lake Champlain in the bateaux that was to take them to St. Johns. They reached Crown Point in the afternoon and slept

at a farm house there. On the way north they frequently stopped at the farm houses and enjoyed the good meals the families could furnish. They brought four beds all the way from Philadelphia and usually slept in them. But reaching the north end of their boat trip, they spent one day and night at the house of Col. Hazen and the next day crossed to St. Johns where carriages and carts met them and they were taken eighteen miles to La Prairie and across to Montreal.

They were received by Gen. Arnold and some of the city's leading people were on hand to welcome them. Then they were quartered in the house of Mr. Thomas Walker described as perhaps the best built and the best furnished house in town.

In his diary, Mr. Carroll tells of the cordial reception by Gen. Arnold, of the entertainments by the people and of receiving and making visits which occupied the next day.

The day following the commissioners made their first report to the president of the Congress, telling the need of specie, of more troops and of the wretched condition of those in Canada. They say They say "it is impossible to give you a just idea of the lowness of the Continental credit here and the want of hard money; and the prejudice it is to our affairs." The commissioners had full authority to do what ever they thought best; to supervise the military, change officers, treat with the Indians, order fortifications, etc. They held a meeting in which all the officers were given a hearing. It was determined to ask Congress for £20,000 in specie to pay the debts already incurred and to form a fund for taking up continental bills.

They found that there was a great change of sentiment against the colonies, caused by the want of money which had forced the commanders to do many

arbitrary things which the Canadians resented. The commissioners advised that the Americans evacuate Canada and fortify the places on the lakes. They also report that after conferences with the Indians they were assured of the neutrality of the latter during this contest.

After further informing Congress of the deplorable state of affairs; made worse by the rigid spread of small pox among the troops, the commissioners express the belief that "it will not be in our power to render our country any further service in this colony."

Before going south, Mr. Chase and Mr. Carroll wrote fully to Congress of the deplorable conditions and made some further suggestions. The party arrived in Canada, April 29th, and remained there till May 11th. On that date they visited Fort Chamblay. Dr. Franklin left for home as the hardships of the trip were telling severely on him. At this time they write Congress," your Generals are now obliged to be contractors and commissioners, and your commissioners, who have neither ability nor inclination are compelled to be Generals."

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On May 27th they sum up by saying, we cannot find words strong enough to describe our miserable situation; you will have a faint idea of it if you will figure to yourself an army broken and disheartened, half of it under innoculation, or under other diseases; soldiers without pay, without dicipline, and altogether reduced to live from hand to mouth, depending on the scanty and precarious supplies of a few half starved cattle, and trifling quantities of flour picked up in different parts of the country."

After some further recommendations to Congress they went to St. Johns and made a visit to General

Sullivan who had just arrived there with fourteen hundred men. They then sailed on their return trip.

Rev. John Carroll had returned with Dr. Franklin. Mr. Carroll and Mr. Chase accompanied by Gen. Schuyler who met them, continued their way south. At Saratoga they regretted not seeing the amiable family of Gen. Schuyler. They were joined at Saratoga by their servants and their luggage and continued the trip to Albany, thence to New York on a sloop that awaited them.

In New York they reported to Gen. Washington and also saw Generals Gates and Putnam. Gen. Washington's barge took them around Staten Island to Elizabethtown. They reached Philadelphia by boat in the night of June 10th. After Mr. Chase and Mr. Carroll had left, Gen. Washington wrote to the President of Congress of his seeing them and of the report they would make.

The journal of Congress merely mentions that the commissioners made their report. Mr. Carroll remained a few days in Philadelphia attending as a spectator the sessions of Congress. While there he wrote to Gen. Gates a long but frank and explicit letter giving his views of the conditions and requirements in Canada. It was believed that Gates would be given command of the armies of the north.

The trip of the eminent commissioners was really more successful than is indicated by a record of their work. A strong impression in our favor was made especially on the people of the province of Quebec and it is believed that they would have cast their lot with our colonies but for some foolish and untactful letters written by John Jay at a critical junction in their affairs. Mr. Jay bitterly attacked the people of Canada on account of their religion and settled the matter against us.

CHAPTER XII

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE- THE NEW CONSTITUTION FOR MARYLAND

On the return of Charles Carroll of Carrollton from his trip to Canada he found that the Maryland Convention had been in session since May 8th and that it had passed the following resolution of instructions to the Maryland delegates in Congress:

Resolved that as this Convention is firmly persuaded that a reunion with Great Britain on Constitutional principles would most effectually secure the rights and liberties, and increase the strength and promote the happiness of the whole empire, objects which this Province hath ever had in view, the said deputies are bound and directed to govern themselves by the instructions in its session of December last in the same manner as if said instructions were herein repeated.

Both Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Samuel Chase were absent in Canada when this resolution was passed and both were chagrined and dismayed on learning of it.

Thomas Johnson and Charles Carroll, barrister, had represented Anne Arundel County in the convention during the absence of the other two members in Canada. Though both of these delegates were opposed to the resolution they were not able to prevent its passage.

A new convention however, met on the 21st of June. Three of the Anne Arundel delegates were present including Mr. Chase, but Charles Carroll of Carrollton did not attend till the 24th, being detained by his duties on the Council of Safety. On the 28th the