Agent of the Province of New Hampshire prepared a Petition to the King in Council to be heard against the Report, and an Order of Council was thereupon made that the Matter should stay untill the Lords or Council should call the Agents of both Provinces before them. It is necessary to stay a decent Time out of Respect to that Order, without moving by a Petition on the Part of the Province to have the hearing brought on. When that is done Mr Bollan will move it, and I hope there can be no danger of having the Report of the Lords Commissioners of Trade confirmed.

There is an appearance that the Settlement of a Line between the Province and N. York may soon be brought on. The finishing Memorial upon the Limits of Nova Scotia as claimed by his Majesty to extend as far as the Southern Bank of the River St. Lawrence hath been some months transmitted by Lord Holderness to the Court of France. I flatter myself that in the opinion of all His Majesty's Ministers the English right to the Limits which they claim (particularly with Respect to the Ancient Limits of the Province) is asserted in the clearest and most convincing Manner, even upon the Foot of the French Records and Histories which themselves have produc'd to maintain their Pretensions in their Answer to our first Memorial and that there is not the least Colour or Shadow of Argument or rather Sophistry which they have advanced left unanswered and unconfuted.

I can't conclude without observing that when the Supply for the Maintenance of Nova Scotia came on in the House of Commons to be debated it was not only unanimously voted, but with the most visible Satisfaction on the Countenance of every Member that was ever known there upon any such. occasion, most explicit strong declarations were made by the Minister in favour of its Support and of the Importance of it to the Nation and the Parliamentary Faith was plighted for it as much as could be done by his Declaration.... I am Sir Your most humble Servant

W. SHIRLEY.

SIR,

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO JOSIAH WILLARD 1

St. James's Street, May 16, 1753.

About a Month ago I wrote you word that I believed I should embark on board his Majesty's ship the Port Mahon, Capt. Montague, who has Orders to carry me to Boston, within 14 or 15 days; But the Ship I find, will not sail before the beginning of the Week after next; when the Captain hath given me an Assurance, he will be ready the day after my arrival at Portsmouth.

Last night I obtained a report of the Lords of the Committee of Council, in favour of my Petition for the Ordnance Stores, for Castle William, together with the Freight of them, at the Charge of the Crown, which Article, it is computed, will amount to about £300; so that the Province will receive them free of all Charges, except fees of Office and Clerk's Perquisites; Nothing remains to perfect the Affair but the reports being approved by his Majesty, which is esteem'd a thing of Course; If he appoints a Council before I go, I shall get the Order for the Immediate delivery of the Stores, which are all ready, and indent for them myself: If there should be no Council before my Departure, that must be left for Mr. Bollan to do: I will however endeavour to get the Board of Ordnance to fix upon a good Vessell here for the transportation of the Stores, before I go, that a Ship may be ready to receive them, as soon as they can be deliver❜d.

I have also to add, that a strong Attempt being made to continue the act for laying the present Duty upon foreign Molasses &c which expires the Session after next, to a further long Period Mr Bollan hath petition'd against it, and succeeded so well in his Opposition, that it seems to me, he hath pretty nearly given that Act its Death wound; I shall refer you to him for a particular acct of the matter, But he is at present so busy in attending the House to oppose another Attempt making by the Sugar bakers here to put down all 1 Original, Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 303.

Sugar houses in the Colonies, that you will scarcely hear from him by this Ship.

I hope to have a good sight soon of Boston and am

His Majesty having received Information of the March of a considerable number of Indians not in alliance with the King, supported by some regular European Troops, intending as it is apprehended, to commit some hostilities on parts of his Majesty's dominions in America, I have the King's commands to send you this intelligence, and to direct you to use your utmost diligence, to learn, how far the same may be well grounded, and to put you upon your guard, that you may, at all events, be in a condition to resist any hostile attempts that may be made upon any parts of His Majesty's Dominions within your Government; and to direct you in the King's Name, that in case the subjects of any Foreign Prince or State, should presume to make any incroachment on the limits of His Majty's dominions, or to erect Forts on His Majesty's Land, or commit any other act of hostility, you are immediately, to represent the injustice of such proceed

1 P. R. O., C. O. 211, Entry Book. Printed: Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 6, 795. See Shirley's reply of Jan. 7, 1754, post, p. 18. The letter is a circular to the various governors in North America, and from it the Massachusetts Governor took the cue for his letter of January, 1754, to the Lords Commissioners of Trade, post, p. 26, in which he declares that a union of the Colonies is necessary for defense, and that the quota of men and money to be furnished by each colony should be fixed by the king. Holderness had succeeded Bedford as a Secretary of State in June, 1751, serving until March, 1761.

ing, and to require them forthwith to desist from any such unlawful undertaking; but if notwithstanding your requisition, they should still persist, you are then to draw forth the armed Force of the Province, and to use your best endeavours, to repell force by force. But as it is His Majesty's determination not to be the agressor, I have the King's commands, most strictly to enjoin you, not to make use of the armed force under your direction, excepting within the undoubted limits of his Majesty's dominions.

And whereas it may be greatly conducive to His Majesty's service, that all his Provinces in America should be aiding and assisting each other, in case of any invasion, I have it particularly in charge from his Majesty, to acquaint you, that it is his Royal will and pleasure, that you should keep up an exact correspondence with all His Majesty's Governors on the Continent; 2 and in case you shall be informed by any of them, of any hostile attempts, you are immediately to assemble the general assembly within your Government, and lay before them, the necessity of a mutual assistance, and engage them to grant such supplies as the exigency of affairs may require. I have wrote by this conveyance to all his Majesty's Govrs to the same purpose. I am ettc.

HOLDERNESS.

LORDS OF TRADE TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY 3

To William Shirley Esquire Governour of Massachusetts Bay. SIR,

His Majesty having been pleased to order a sum of money to be issued for presents to the Six Nations of Indians and

1 Two months earlier Holderness had written Shirley as to furnishing 500 muskets for the use of foreign Protestants in Nova Scotia. The letter is in P. R. O., C. O. 5, 886.

2 See Shirley to Horatio Sharpe, Nov. 26, 1753, post, p. 14. This is a circular letter to the Governors in America, and is Printed Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 6, 802. A like letter was sent to the Governors of Virginia, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

to direct his Governor of New York to hold an interview with them, for delivering those presents, for burying the hatchet, and for renewing the Covenant Chain with them; we think it our duty to acquaint you therewith, and as we find it has been usual upon former occasions when an interview has been held with those Indians, for all His Majesty's Colonies whose interest and security is connected with and depends upon them, to join in such interview, and as the present disposition of those Indians and the attempts which have been made to withdraw them from the British interest, appears to us to make such a general interview more particularly necessary at this time; we desire you will lay this matter before the Council and General Assembly of the Province under your government and recommend to them forthwith to make a proper provision for appointing Commissioners, to be joined with those of the other Governments, for renewing the Covenant Chain with the Six Nations, and for making such presents to them as has been usual upon the like occasions. And we desire that in the Choice and nomination of the Commissioners, you will take care that they are men of Character ability and integrity, and well acquainted with Indian Affairs.

As to the time and place of meeting it is left to the Governor of New York to fix it, and he has orders to give you early notice of it. We are, Sir

Your very loving friends

I received by the last post a Letter from the Earle of Holdernesse dated 28 August past (a Circular one as it ap

1 Original in the Maryland Historical Society. Printed: Arch. of Md. 6, 11; 31, 25.