purpose, I am now raising a reinforcement of 2000 Men, for His Majesty's Regular Troops there, to be imbarked in time to be landed in the Bay of Funda by the first week of April, which I have reason to think, I can depend upon accomplishing. In consequence of the latter I have made a great progress in raising my Regiment, and believe there is no great doubt of its being compleated by the latter End of March. Mr. Dinwiddie, Govr. of Virginia, in his letter to me, dated Janry. [the 14th, acquaints] me that his government had great dependance upon a strong Diversion's being made by Sr. Wm. Pepperell's and my Regiments this Summer, at some part of Canada [in favour] of the Attempts of the Western Colonies, to repel the French upon the Ohio, and [such a] Diversion of the French Forces, must likewise greatly facilitate the Enterprise [for] driveing the French from their incroachments in Nova Scotia; It is most evident, [that] at the same time, the expedition in Nova Scotia, and the Schemes which principally employ the attention of the French, and a great part of their Forces upon the [Ohio,] afford a most favorable opportunity for the four Colonies of New England, and [those] of New York, and the New Jerseys, with their united Strength to Erect such a Fort near [Crown] Point, as may command the French Fort there, and curb the City of Montreal [itself.] These were the motives which induced me to make the proposal [of] such an Attempt to the Assembly within my own Government, which is particularly set [forth] in my speech to them upon this occasion; a Coppy of which, together with a Coppy of the Resolves of the Assembly consequent upon it, I enclose to Your Honour. In these Resolves Sir you will find what Number of Troops this Government thinks necessary to be raised in the whole for the Execution of this Attempt, with [the] Quotas they propose, for the consideration of the Severall Colonies concerned, and I [hope] it will not be thought they have under rated their own Quota, when it is considered that out of the 2200 Men, which are raising for Sir Wm. Pepperrell's and my Regiments, and 2000 now raising for the expedition to Nova Scotia, upwards of 3000 of them will be taken out of this Province; which with the 1200 proposed to be raised in it for Crown point, will amount to considerably More than one Eighth part of its fighting Men, and that they were at an heavy charge last year in carrying on an Expedition upon the river Kennebeck, and erecting Fort Hallifax there, which as it is a great advance towards securing the principal pass into the heart of Canada over against their Metropolis of Quebec, and through which River, the French have the shortest passage into the Atlantick Ocean of any River in North America, must be deemed an advantage to all the Eastern Colonies in general. Your Honour will observe, that the Assembly hath desired me to appoint an officer for the Chief Command of the proposed Expedition. It is essential to the Service, that such an one should be appointed, and as it seemed necessary that He should be proposed at the beginning, and this government is the first Mover in this expedition (as it was likewise in that against Cape Breton, of which also I appointed the Commander in Chief) it is hoped the other colonies will have no objection to it. The Gentleman whom I shall nominate for that Command, will, I am persuaded, show Your Honour that the only motive which will sway me in this appointment, is a strict regard to His Majesty's Service, and the Interest of the Common Cause, without the least partiality to any one of the governments concerned. The Gentleman I have thought of on this important Occasion, is Colonel William Johnson, of Mount Johnson, in the Mohawk Country, whose distinguished Character for the great Influence He hath for Severall Years mantained over the Indians of the Six Nations, is the circumstance which determines me in my Choice, preferably to any gentleman in my own government tho there are not wanting there Officers of Rank and Experience out of Whom I could have nominated one. Your Honour is sensible that one of the Principall things we have in View in this Expedition, is to retain such of those [castles as] are not yet gone over to the French, in the English interest, and to reclaim [those which] are; and it would be of Unspeakable advantage to Us at this Conjuncture, if we could [engage any] of them in the proposed Service. Colonel Johnson raised and Commanded a [Regiment of Indians in the late intended Expedition against Canada; and with regard [to his] power to engage them now, No Gentleman can stand in Competition with him; [besides, his Military qualifications for this particular Service, and knowledge of [the] Country and place, against which this Expedition is destined, are very [con]spicuous. The Fort intended to be built in this Expedition [is pr]oposed to be so situated as to command Fort St Frederick at Crown point, to be made defensible against the strength which the French can suddenly bring against it from Montreal, to be erected by the army employed, and as to the Support, garrisoning and command of it, that must depend upon His Majesty's pleasure, which will be soon known concerning it. It must be fresh in Your Honour's memory, that the reduction of the French Fort, at Crown point, was looked upon as a necessary Step in the late intended Expedition against Canada, And how far and advanced the preparations of the Colonies concerned in that Scheme were, till I know not by what fatal Disunion of our Counsels, a most unhappy Stop was put to it. One remarkable Circumstance occurs to me upon this Occasion. When the late Sr Peter Warren and myself were endeavouring to engage one Monsieur Vaudreuil, then at Boston, a very intelligent Frenchman, as a Pilot to our Forces up the river St Lawrence, in the aforesaid late expedition, He smiled, and told Us He should not be convinced that the English did in good earnest design an expedition against Canada from these colonies, Untill he should hear that Fort St Frederick was attacked. But I am perswaded nothing more need be urged, to Your Honour, concerning the great importance of the proposed expedition, [except] that besides secureing our Selves against future depredations of the French [from] their Fort at Crown Point in a time of War; We shall Wipe off the reproach of the Colonies for Suffering that dangerous Encroachment upon His Majesty's Territories, to be at first erected. I should have mentioned to Your Honour, that the two Houses of the Assembly in this Province, have bound themselves [by oath] to secrecy, both with respect to the expedition now preparing against the [French] Encroachments in Nova Scotia, and that proposed against those at Crown Point; [which I thought proper to observe, that Your Honor may use your discretion in that [point,] with regard to the Assembly within your own Government. The same [union of] Sentiments, and like Spirit with which the four sister Colonies of New England acted in the late expeditions against Cape Breton and Canada, will I hope prevail in their Counsels at this most Critical conjuncture, and particularly that the depredations which the County of Albany [suffers ?] from the French and their Indians at Crown Point, not only in time of War, but [as well] in time of peace, together with its present exposed State, will move the Government of New York to an Hearty concurrence with the Massachusets Bay in the proposed Expedition. Your Honour is Sensible that, in order to avail our selves of the favourable opportunity for such an Enterprise, a Speedy determination upon it and the greatest dispatch in our preparations for it is Necessary. I have Commissionated Thomas Pownall, Esqr' to wait on Your Honour upon this occasion and to solicit your government to Join with my own, in this necessary piece of Service for the protection of His Majestys Colonies under Our care against the dangerous encroachments of the French, and hope he will Succeed in the Execution of his Commission. I am with the greatest Regard, Sir Your Honours Most Humble and Most Obedient Servant, To Governour De Lancey of New York. W. SHIRLEY. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ELIJAH WILLIAMS AND OTHERS1 GENTLEMEN, Boston, Feby. 27, 1755. At the motion and desire of the Council and House of Representatives I do hereby direct you forthwith to desist from Building and Repairing the Line of Block Houses (you were directed to build and repair) until my further orders. And in particular you must desist from building the Fort you were ordered to build at a Place west of Massachusetts Fort until I receive an answer to a Letter I shall send to the Honble James DeLancey Esq. Lieut. Governr of New York by the next Conveyance. I am Sir Your assured Friend W. SHIRLEY. To Elijah Williams Esqr. and the Comee for building and repairing Forts and Block Houses West of Connectt. River. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ROBERT HALE 2 Boston, March 4th, 1755. SIR, I thought it might be of use to you to have a copy of Governour Wentworth's letter to me and of my answer to it, I have therefore inclos'd them.3 1 1 Original, Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 382. A letter from Joseph Dwight to Shirley of Feb. 25, giving an account of conditions at Stockbridge and the movements of Indians toward the Ohio, is in Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 380. The needs of Fort Halifax are given in a letter of Feb. 20-21 from William Lithgow, ibid. pp. 371-379. Shirley's reply to Lithgow is in the same volume, p. 383, and Williams to Shirley, stating conditions west of the Connecticut, with map inclosed (Feb. 10), is on p. 367. 2 Original, Amer. Antiq. Society. Shirley wrote the New Hampshire governor as to Crown Point on Feb. 21. Wentworth replied a week later, and the second Shirley |