On this day 250 years ago in Montreal, Canada, John Brown prepares a report to Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren of the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondences. Brown was a lawyer from Pittsfield, Massachusetts who had traveled to Montreal to assess the status of sentiments in Canada. Brown writes that Governor-General Guy Carleton of Canada is “a strong friend to Administration and the late Acts of the British Parliament which respect America, particularly the Quebeck Bill; has restrained the liberty of the Press, that nothing can be printed without examination and license” and that British soldiers in “this Province are ordered to hold themselves in readiness for Boston, On the shortest notice. Four or five hundred snow-shoes are prepared, for what use they know not.” Critically, he added

One thing I must mention, to be kept as a profound secret. The Fort at Ticonderoga must be seized as soon as possible, should hostilities be committed by the King’ s Troops. The people on New-Hampshire Grants have engaged to do this business, and in my opinion they are the most proper persons for this job. This will effectually curb this Province, and all the Troops that may be sent here.

Source: https://www.fortticonderoga.org/news/john-brown-march29-1775/