HISTORY OF VERMONT. 217 



bar to the attempt. General Haldimand, who 

 has the same instructions with you to draw over 

 those people, and give them support, will, I 

 doubt not, push up a body of troops, to act in 

 conjunction with them, to secure all the avenues^ 

 through their country into Canada ; and when 

 the season admits, take possession of the upper 

 parts of the Hudson and Connecticut rivers, 

 and cut off the communication between Albany 

 and the Mohawk country^ How far they may 

 be able to extend themselves southward, or east- 

 ward, must depend on their numbers, and the 

 disposition of the inhabitants." 



This letter was published in the Pennsylva- 

 nia Packet, of August 4ih, 1781. Nothing 

 could have been better suited to promote the 

 interests of Vermont, than the style, and publi- 

 cation of this letter. The people of the United 

 States, had now complete evidence that the 

 British generals in New York and Canada, had 

 orders to receive and support the people of Ver- 

 fnont, and that the British ministry were per- 

 suaded of their disposition to join the British 

 government. They saw at once, the effect this 

 must have upon the American war ; and they 

 knew at the same time, that nothing was want- 

 ing to prevent it, but to admit Vermont into the 

 union of the states. The public opinion was 

 now decidedly in favor of this measure : And 

 it was found that the leaders of Vermont were 

 fully equal to the business they had undertaken ; 

 and while the}'- had acted with great spirit and 

 firmness, in every part of the American war,, 

 they had discovered the same activity and intre- 

 pidity, in every part of the contest respecting 

 vol,. II, C 2 



