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I have to acquaint you, Sir, that upon Governour Morris's representing to me1 the present Devastations made there by the Indians within the Province of Pensilvania, under his Government, (an Account of which I understand, Sir, he hath sent to yourself) and the present defenceless State of the Province, for want of some Regular Troops to Act in Conjunction with what Provincials the Governour shall raise in his own Colony a Copy of which last is Inclos'd, I have propos'd the Inclos'd Measures to be taken by the Several Western Governments from Pensilvania to South Carolina both Inclusive; 2 which I have Transmitted to the respective Governours, as also the Inclos'd Instructions to Colonel Johnson; and have Determin'd to send him a Detachment of 90 of the Regular Troops now at this Place, which is all the Succour, I have it in my Power to send at present, and may I hope Infuse a Sense of Discipline into the Irregulars, Encourage the Province to make some Opposition to the Enemy, which they have not hitherto done, and be some Check to the Enemy in making their Incursions.

3

I can't but Attribute, Sir, the present Confusion and Distress of Pensilvania principally to the Government's being but just now Beginning to recover from its principles of Non-defence, and the People's being unacustom'd to Attacks from the Indians and making a stand against them.

The Comparison of the State of Pensilvania with that of the Province of the Massachusets Bay may serve in some measure to shew the Justness of this Remark; the latter Government hath a very extended Frontier, which was for many Years us'd to feel Cruel Effects from the Incursions of the Eastern Indians by their cutting off whole Townships in time of War; and Still feels bad Effects from them in their most Expos'd Settlements; but from being long us'd

1 See Morris to Shirley, Nov. 26, ante, p. 333, and same to same, Nov. 6, 1 Penna. Arch. 2, 469. See also Morris to Sir Thomas Robinson, Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, 1755, ibid. 439, 440.

2 See post, p. 364.

3 See ante, p. 338.

to defend themselves they have establish'd a very different System of treating the Indians from that of Pensilvania: before I left the Government War was Declar'd against all the Eastern Indians except the Penobscots, and since I left it, they sent to demand of the Penobscots to bring in their Old Men, Women and Children into the Province, there to remain, during the War with the Indians, as Hostages for their fidelity, and on their Refusal to do it, the Government hath Declar'd Warr against them and then at a time when a fifth part of the Province's fighting Men were Engag'd in other parts of the Kings Service

I am with the highest respect

Sir

Your most Humble and

most Obedient Servant. W. SHIRLEY.

Rt. Honble. Sir Thomas Robinson Knt. of the Bath, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. Endorsed:

New York Decr. 20. 1755

Govr. Shirley

R. 22 Janry. 1756.

MEASURES PROPOSED BY WILLIAM SHIRLEY FOR THE WESTERN GOVERNMENTS1

[Dec. 1755.]

By His Excellency Major General William Shirley, General and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Forces in North America, &c.

Upon taking into his Consideration the very Great importance of the numerous nations of Indians in Alliance with

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Robinson, Dec. 20, 1755. Shirley appears to have sent a copy to Robert H. Morris. See Morris to Horatio Sharpe, Arch. of Md. 6, 321, and Shirley to Sharpe, Dec. 30, 1755, post, p. 370. The plan here outlined was to embrace the colonies from Pennsylvania to South Carolina.

his Majesty's Southern Colonies, the advantages that will accrue to the English in General from their Friendship and the Particular necessity there is at this time, to enter into a Solemn Treaty with them in order not only to secure them to the British Interest, so far as to Prevent them from joining in the Designs of the French, but to engage them to Assist his Majestys Subjects in Defending their frontiers and annoying their Enemies;

It is Proposed,

Ist That a Treaty be held with the several Tribes of Indians in Alliance with his Majesty's Southern Colonies, at such time and Place, as shall be agreed on between the Governments of North and South Carolina and notified by them to the General and to the other Western Colonies as far north as Pensylvania.

2dly That one or more Commissioners should be Appointed by each of the Western Provinces from South Carolina to Pensylvania both inclusive to carry on that Treaty, in behalf of his Majesty, and of those Colony's to be particularly instructed by their respective Governments for that Purpose.

3dly That such Instructions be without Delay transmitted to the General and that he or the Commander inChief of the Kings Forces for the time being give such further instructions to the Commissioners collective or seperately as he shall think necessary for his Majesty's Service.

4thly That the Governments of Virginia and the two Carolina's as soon as Possible Dispatch the Messengers to those Southern Tribes inviting them to a General Treaty in his Majesty's name and in the names of all the said Western Provinces, and that the time and Place agreed on for such Treaty be particularly mentioned in such invitation.

5thly That at such appointed place, Provision be made for the Reception and entertainment of the Indians that may Attend the Treaty, by the Province wherein such place is, to be Afterwards Reinbursed in Proportion by the other Colony's.

6thly That money be Provided by the said Western

Provinces for defraying the Expense of the Treaty and for Providing a Proper Assortment of Goods to be given in Presents to the Indians that shall attend, and sent into their Country's to be distributed among those that cannot personally Assist at the Treaty.

7thly That the Commissioners be instructed to engage those Tribes to Assist the English in the Present Dispute and to take up the Hatchet against the French and their Indians and that they be enabled to Promise English Pay and Provisions, Arms, Ammunition and Indian Cloaths, to such of Warriors as shall Join his Majesty's Forces, or the Troops in the Service of any of the Western Provinces, and as to such of them as shall incline to Attack the French upon the Ohio, or any of the Indians in their Alliance, to Promise them certain Rewards for every Prisoner or Scalp they shall bring in, and to Appoint certain Places to which such Scalps or Prisoners shall be brought.

8thly. That Proper persons be Appointed by the Commissioners to Return with the Indians from the Treaty into their own Country, if Necessary to conduct the Warriors to such places as shall be appointed for their Rendezvous where stores of Provisions, Arms and Ammunition should be Provided for their use.

SIR,

ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS TO WILLIAM
SHIRLEY1

New York, Decr. 22nd, 1755.

I did myself the Honour to send your Excellency some Accts I received on Saturday night of the Continuance of the Ravages of the Indians in the Province of Pensilvania. requesting some Military Force might be sent to the relief of his Majesties distressed Subjects there. I think it my Duty further to represent to you that they are without a

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

Militia or any Law Obliging them to bear Arms, for want whereof the Commander in Chief cannot enforce Obedience to his Military orders tho' he shou'd be enabled to raise and support Men on this present Exigency and that this Obstacle which may prove Fatal and even [cause] the Loss of the province can only be removed by the Junction of Regulars with the Provincial Forces. The King's Service therefore Absolutely Obliges me again to request that your Excellency wou'd be pleased immediately to order that some Troops which may best be spared may March into Pensilvania and that you would favour me with your Orders and directions respecting them which shall be punctually Obeyed by Sir

Your Most faithfull and Obedient

Humble Servant.

His Exy. Genl. Shirley

A true Copy examd. by

WM. ALEXANDER Secy.

ROBT. H. MORRIS.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM JOHNSON 1 New York Dec. 24 1755

Additional Instructions to Major Genll. William Johnson relative to the Indians of the Six Nations under his command

That a party of the Six Nations to consist of a few Sachems the rest to be Warriors be engaged by private applications and the offer of rewards to take up the Hatchett against the French and their Indians who have fallen upon the Provinces of Virginia, Maryland and Pensilvania.

That they be requested immediately to proceed to Pensilvania where the[y] will find a large force actually in readiness, and there concert the best measures for carrying on the War.

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 52. Another copy undated is in C. O. 5, 46, also Sir William Johnson Manuscripts, 4, 9–10. Printed: Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 7, 10.

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