TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR.
Monticello, August 27, 1808.
Dear Sir,—In my letter of yesterday I omitted to enclose that of Hern, which I now do. I add to it a newspaper from St. Louis, in which is an account of the surrender of some Indian murderers. This paper says there were three or four whites murdered. But I think Governor Lewis' letter says but one. On that ground I wrote to him to recommend, if they should be convicted, to suffer only one to be executed, unless there was strong reason for doing more, and to deliver up the rest to their friends, as a proof of our friendship and desire not to injure them. Mr. Woolsey, our Collector on Champlain, has lately been to Montreal. He took much pains to find out the British strength in that quarter, and the following is what he says, we may rely on:
| At | Montreal | 450 |
| Chambly | 80 | |
| St. John's | 40 | |
| Odle Town | 14 | |
| Isle Aux Noix | 10 | |
| 594 |
He adds, that 10,000 men will take the whole country to within a league of Quebec. I salute you with affection and respect.