a very great measure arisen from the civil and military authority being combined in able hands.  The prisoners, with their general, arrived here on Sunday night; as they had not halted since they left Kingston, and were in a very dirty state, we kept them here on Monday, and they yesterday proceeded to William Henry, on their way to Quebec; the officers are to be on parole in Charlesbourg, and the men confined on board two transports in the river.  Sir George has permitted most of the officers, who have families with them, to return on their parole; four of them are proposed to be exchanged for the officers of the Royal Scots, taken by the Essex frigate.  Sir George has also consented to allow General Hull to return upon his parole:  he is loud in his complaints against the government at Washington, and the general thinks that his voice, in the general cry, may be attended with beneficial effects, and has allowed him to return and enter the lists.  General Hull appears to possess less feeling and sense of shame than any man in his situation could be supposed to do.  He seems to be perfectly satisfied with himself, is lavish of censure upon his government, but appears to think that the most scrupulous cannot attach the slightest blame to his own immediate conduct at Detroit.  The grounds upon which he rests his defence are not, I fancy, well founded, for he told us that he had not gunpowder at Detroit for the service of one day.  Sir George has since shown him the return of the large supply found in the fort; it did not create a blush, but he made no reply.  He professes great surprise and admiration at the zeal and military preparation that he has everywhere witnessed; that it was entirely unlooked for, and that he has no doubt that his friend, General Dearborn, will share his fate, if he has the imprudence to follow his example.  Hull seems cunning and unprincipled:  how much reliance is to be placed on his professions, time will shew.

General Dearborn has certainly left Albany for Skeensborough, at the head of the lake, where great preparations have been making in collecting boats and sending the regulars from Greenbush to the stations in our vicinity.  Major Cotton, with about 300 men, half of the king’s regiment, is stationed at Isle aux Noix,[90] and two gun-boats have been carried into that river, as the enemy’s preparations seem to indicate that quarter as their point of attack.  Colonel Murray commands at St. John’s, and will give them a warm reception.  I do not feel a doubt of Jonathan’s complete discomfiture and disgrace if he make the attempt:  we could, I fancy, bring as many men as he will be able to persuade into the field, and of very superior stuff, for our militia have really improved beyond all expectation in discipline, and with it in spirit and confidence.  This town would turn out 2,000 volunteer militia, a great proportion of whom are clothed and very tolerably drilled.  We have destroyed all the roads of