to supply 800 Men in the present Expedition, 300 of which Connecticutt has furnished them, but tho' the other Governments have added above thrice their Proportions they have contented themselves with making a small Grant to one of the Colonies concern'd, notwithstanding they will be most benefitted by the reduction of Crown Point, as almost the whole of the Indian Trade has and will center with them.1 We have no disposition for stopping the Current of his Majesty's Favours, may they continue to be diffusive through the Provinces, but hope we may be excused in saying that we think no Government can lay a better Claim to his Majesty's Bounty and Favours than ourselves. We have from the Beginning defended our Country free of Charge to the Crown. We have always chearfully complyed with the Demand of his Majesty, and have more than once saved the Province of Nova Scotia, and for many Years past protected others to which we are the Frontier; and have once and again made considerable Conquests for the Crown. The Province of Virginia have [sic] been a great while almost entirely free from any military Charge, their Frontiers are not so exposed as ours, the Mountains being a Barrier; but notwithstanding since the late Encroachments of the Enemy on their Territory, his Majesty has graciously made them the Object of his paternal Care, and assisted them with his Troops and Treasure: We know not in what light their late Conduct may appear in to his Majesty, but we flatter ourselves that our Men must appear in a very advantageous one, and from former Experiences of his royal favour and bounty we are naturally lead to presume upon its being still afforded to us, and doubt not of Your making Use, etc.

1 Shirley's plans for the future of America were broad, and the colony of Massachusetts had begun to realize their extent and their cost. So long as Shirley could obtain a reasonable proportion of the expense from London and was successful of himself or by deputy in the field, Massachusetts and all New England stood behind him. Failing these essentials, his popularity began to wane, and particularly so if the advantage of victory was to fall to New York while New England continued to pay a large share of the expense.

for procuring the present relief we stand in such absolute Need of.

Endorsed:

A Representation of the Case of

the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO SIR THOMAS ROBINSON 1

SIR,

Camp at Oswego, Sepr. 28th, 1755.

In my Letter of the 19th Instant I acquainted you, that I was in hopes of being in a Condition to proceed to Niagara in a few Days: I had accordingly made preparations for embarking, and Yesterday a Supply of dry Provisions arriv'd here, with certain Advices that it would be speedily follow'd by a further large Quantity: But the immoderate Rains, and tempestuous Weather upon the Lake, which had continu'd thirteen Days successively, have so much retarded our Works, and increas'd the Number of the Sick; and the Albany Men and Indians, who are best acquainted with the general Course of the Weather here, and State of the Lake, have made such strong Representations to me concerning the Winter's being too far advanc'd for the Men to go now to Niagara in Battoes, that I found there was a considerable Uneasiness among the Officers, who had compos'd the late Council of War, at my Intention to proceed thither; I therefore thought it proper to convene them again in Council for their further Opinion, and Advice; a Copy of which, Sir, I have inclos'd; and acknowledge I

2

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A transcript is in the Library of Congress and another is among the Parkman Papers in the Mass. Hist. Society. See also Shirley to Sir William Johnson of equal date in Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 159.

2 The Council referred to was held on Sept. 27. Shirley presided, and there were eight other members exclusive of William Alexander, secretary. Shirley presented a statement of existing conditions, and the Council determined against proceeding to at289

VOL. II.-U

am, for the Reasons there given, as well as several others, in Sentiment with them, that it is more adviseable to employ our whole Strength here the Remainder of this Season in finishing the necessary Barracks for the Men, and Works

tack Niagara or Frontenac. The Minutes of the Council are printed (1 Penna. Arch. 2, 427). Its conclusions follow:

The Council after fully debating what his Excellency laid before them, acquainted him that Several matters of Consequence had occurred to them, which they conceiv'd ought to be made a part of the State of our present situation, and desired his leave to have them entered on the Minutes of this Council, which his Excellency consented to, and are as follows, Vizt.: Major Bradstreet declared that from his own Observation, and the Intelligence he had received since his residence here, he is persuaded that about 1650 Canadeans, went at several times this summer from Cadaraqui to Niagara in order to proceed to the Ohio; a great part of which for want of Provisions, must as he judg'd now be on their return to Canada; that a great Number of French Traders every year go from Canada to trade with the Indians living near the French Settlements at Fort Detroit, and to the Westward of it, who at this Season of the Year generally return home to Canada; That their Passage home is by the way of Niagara, and that it is very probable that they and all the French Troops will stop as long as their Provisions will admit of at Niagara, to defend it against the Attempt intended upon it, of which they doubtless have intelligence.

That we have but few proper Battoe Men here, nor is it possible to have a sufficient Number of them to Conduct the Battoes to Niagara, as the People of the Country who understand the management of them are chiefly employed in bringing our Provisions to us from Skenectady, and in carrying Provisions to the Army at Lake George, so that very few of the Albany Men are now with us. That the Soldiers cannot conduct the Battoes to Niagara thro' so ruff Water, as is now generally five days in six upon the Lake.

The Council, after mature advisement upon the several before mentioned matters, declared that they were unanimously of opinion that tho' from our advices, there appears to be a great probability of a sufficient Quantity of Provisions arriving here in a short time, they ought not to be depended upon, until their actual arrival, especially as since the last Council, we have had frequent Alarms of Indians in scalping Parties being in this Neighbourhood, one of which had killed and scalped three of our Men who were at Work near the new Fort building on the opposite side of the River, and had carried off two Prisoners, who may find Op

for securing this Place against any sudden Attempt; and to take the Advantage of an early campaign the next Spring for acting upon these Lakes, than to proceed this Year to Niagara I think I may without presumption say, I could portunities of cutting off our Provision Battoes, in their Passage between the Oneida Carrying Place and Oswego, notwithstanding the precautions which have been hitherto or may be taken hereafter for their protection; the Consequences of which would be very fatal to the Troops who remain here, and to the Party that goes to Niagara; this is the more to be apprehended, as most of our Indians are going home, and the French Indians at Cadaraqui may take the advantage of their Absence for that purpose; Also, that it is not adviseable for so many of the Troops to be risqu'd in Battoes on the Lake at this Season of the Year.

That they are unanimously of Opinion, that for the preservation of the Men at this place, it is absolutely necessary that Barracks for the Number of Men proposed by his Excellency, be built without delay; That the Fort already begun on the Hill, on the opposite side of the River be finished as soon as possible, and Cannon mounted in it, to prevent the Enemy from making themselves masters of it; that it is likewise very expedient to erect a Work as soon as may be on the Eminence West of the old Fort and Cannon mounted there, to prevent the Enemy landing on that Side and gaining the Eminence; all which cannot possibly be effected before the Winter is too far set in, without employing the whole Strength now at this place.

That they are unanimously of opinion that nothing more can be done at Niagara this Fall than to dislodge the French and demolish their Works there, which from our intelligence, appears to be so weak as not to make it adviseable for his Excellency to leave a Garrison there without erecting new Works, which neither the lateness of the Season nor the present Circumstances of our Provisions will admit, so that no effectual possession can be taken of that Pass this Year.

That therefore, upon the whole, they are unanimously and clearly of opinion that it would be much more adviseable for his Excellency to defer making any Attempt, either against Niagara or Cadaraqui until the next Year, when there is great reason to expect he will be joined in any Attempt against the French by great Numbers of Indians of the five Nations, and draw off some of the far Nations of Indians now in Alliance with the French, most of which had taken up the Hatchet against the English, and been active against General Braddock on the Ohio; as also, that he may have the advantage of opening the campaign at least 15 days

be answerable that every part of his Majesty's Service requisite to be done for securing the whole Western and Southern Country, as far as the Missisippi, together with the Indian Trade, might with 6000 Men, as I have mention'd in my Letter of the 12th of August,' and which may I hope be assembled here by the first of May or sooner, be effected the next Year. If more Force should be wanting, there remain the four Independent Companies posted at New York, and the New Jersey's Provincial Regiment of 500 Men, which that Government hath lately voted to be continu'd in his Majesty's Service with me untill May, and I shall endeavour to get continu'd in it, the whole Summer.

What I mean by every part of his Majesty's Service requisite to be done for securing this whole Country and the Indian Trade, is the Reduction of Fort Frontenac in the first Place (which must be the Work of but a few Days, if attack'd early in the Spring with 4 or 5000 Men, and a proper Train of Artillery) and securing the Harbour there and River Iroquois, the Reduction of the small Fort Toronto upon this Lake, the Fort at Niagara, that at Presque Isle upon Lake Erie, Fort Pourchartrain on the Strait between Lake Erie, and Lake St Clair, commonly call'd the Detroit, and the Fort at Missilimackinac on the Lake Huron, and securing the sevearlier than the Enemy can from Montreal, on account of the distance of that place from Lake Ontario, and the difficulty of the Navigation thither at that Season, occasion'd by the Rapidity of the Waters of the Great Lake emptying into the River Iroquois ; Besides, that his Excellency may then have such a further Number of Forces as may be judged sufficient for the intended Operations upon these Lakes, and a sufficient Number of Whale Boats instead of Battoes, together with a stronger naval force, both which they think necessary to be provided against next Spring for his Majesty's Service upon the Lake Ontario; and they are unanimously of Opinion that in the meantime it is most adviseable for his Excellency to employ the whole Strength now here in providing Barracks for the Men, erecting Forts on the two Eminences which Commands this place, and finishing the other necessary Works. P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A copy is in the Library of Congress and another in the Parkman transcripts in the Mass. Hist. Society. 1 See the letter mentioned, ante, p. 221.