I this moment received the enclosed Letter from Genl Schuyler to your Excellency which agreable to his Direction I have perused & now forward by the same Express who handed it to me. This Letter with one which the Express is charged with from Brigr Genl Clinton will I presume give your Excellency all the Intelligences from the Northward and render it unnecessary to communicate the Particulars contained in my Letter. The Destruction of the Barracks at Fort Schuyler is a Loss which I fear cannot be easily repaired in our present situation and I find it is my Brothers Opinion which he informs me is supported by the concurrent Sentiments of the principal People of Albany, that it would be more eligible to abolish the Works, remove the Artillery & Stores and take Post at the German Flatts than attempt it. It is conceived that a Post established at that Place would afford greater Security to the frontier Settlements & be supported with less expence & difficulty; and it is alledged that the great Object of maintaining a Post at the former Place is removed by the friendly Indians having abandoned their Settlements in it’s vicinity & retreated to Schenectady.

I promised myself the Pleasure of seeing your Excellency at Head Quarters before this: but the necessity then was of convening special Courts for the speedy Trial of a number of attrocious Offenders confined in the Goal here prevented it. This business being completed which I hope will be effected in a Day or two at farthest I shall not fail waiting on your Excellency. I have not yet been furnished with Returns of the Levies raising for the Defence of the State and therefore am not able to form any estimate of the additional Strength they will afford to the regular Force on the northern Frontier—I fear but f[ew] of them are as yet collected in that Quarter. I am with the highest Respect & Esteem Your Excellencys most Obedt Servt