I was honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 17th inst. yesterday. I have communicated its Contents to Mr Rensselear, and expect in a few Days to have a satisfactory Account from him.

It gives me peculiar Pain to be obliged to fill my Letters with Accounts which I am persuaded must be very disagreeable to you; but a Reguard to my Reputation and a Sense of the Duty I owe to my Country renders it indispensable. A Letter from Genl Schuyler dated the 29th inst. at Saratoga informs me that there has been no Beef at Post for some Days past, and he fears the Troops will abandon the Post, unless a speedy Supply is received: This is the Case with every Post in the Department—not a Barrel of Beef has been received during this Monh—[no turn] for Fort Schuyler. I have repeatedly written to Colo. Hay on the Subject. I have sent Mr Gamble to Barrington to endeavour to procure a Supply but he has not yet returned[.] The Spirit of Direction has some time past prevailed, and where it will end I know not—Genl Schuyler has also received authentic Intelligence that three of the Enemys Ships have arrived at Crown Point. I do not yet expect that any Party will advance into the Country as the Watters are very high—if they should, we can make no Opposition, unless a speedy Supply is received.

There are a Number of Prisoners of War now in Goal whom I shall send down to the Comsy Of Prisoners, as the Commissioners of [Con]spiracy do not approve of their remaining on the Frontier.

The Troops in this Department have not been regularly mustered since my arrival, owing in some Measure to the distracted Situation they are in. I should be glad to know your Orders on the Subject. I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your Excellenys most Obt