Eastern Colonies, where they have secured all the Indians in those Parts to join them against the English.

Should the French prevail in the former Part of their Scheme, and gain a general Influence and Dominion over the Indians behind the Apalachean Mountains, which they must in the ordinary Course of human Events do in a short Time, if they are not timely prevented by an Union of His Majesty's Colonies, they will have in a very few Years a most formidable Army of those Indians at their Command, maintained without any Expence to themselves, but on the other Hand, with great Profit, arising from an immense Fur Trade carried on with them; And what fatal Consequences such an Army of Warriours (a few of which have been found sufficient to keep a large Frontier in continual Alarm) must have upon all His Majesty's Southern Colonies, by continually harrassing them at the Direction of the French, and supported by them from Canada on one Side, and Mississippi on the other, and covered in their Retreat behind the Mountains by a strong Line of Forts commanding the Navigation of all the Lakes and Rivers, is easy to conceive, especially if the Indians of the Six Nations should desert our Alliance, and join the French, which must in such Case, be a decisive Blow to the British Interest in that Part of the Continent.

At the same Time if they are not prevented by a Coalition of the Colonies from finishing the Scheme, which it is most manifest they are forming against the Eastern Provinces, and already far advanced in, they must soon have it in their power equally to distress them likewise; and all the English. Colonies will be involved together in one general Flame.

It is true, those Colonies are far superiour to the French in their Numbers and Strength, but if that strength, Gentlemen, is not properly exerted by an Union among themselves, how little will it avail?

It is not difficult to imagine that such a Body of Troops as the French may soon collect, together with the Assistance of all the Indians scattered throughout this Continent, on the Back of the English Colonies (as the French Settlements likewise are) when under the Command of the Govr. Genl.

of New France, who upon all Emergencies can direct their Force as he pleases, may reduce a Number of disunited Provinces, many of them very remote from each other, tho' much superiour in Point of the Number of Inhabitants.

For forming this general Union, Gentlemen, there is no Time to be lost, the French seem to have advanced further towards making themselves Masters of this Continent within these last five or six Years, than they have done ever since the first Beginning of their Settlements upon it; and how determined they are to accomplish their Scheme as soon as possible, appears from their breaking thro' the most recent solemn Treaties and Agreements made between the two Crowns in order to effect it.

Gentlemen:

His Majesty hath on all Occasions given the strongest Proof of His paternal Care of His Colonies, and constant Attention to their Safety, particularly at this Time, in directing his Govrs: to promote this Union within their respective Governmts; and I hope You will not be wanting on your parts to contribute all in your Power towards effecting it, by improving the Opportunity which the approaching Interview with the Indians of the Six Nations at Albany, happily presents for that Purpose; And I doubt not but that You may depend on all reasonable Support and Protection on the Part of His Majesty against all present and future Enterprizes and Attempts of the French against You.

Council Chamber, April 2, 1754

Endorsed:

Copy of Govr. Shirley's

Speech to the Council and House
of Representatives of the Province
Massachusets Bay 2d: April 1754.

W. SHIRLEY.

No. 4. in Govr. Shirley's Lre of 19th: April 1754.

GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS TO
WILLIAM SHIRLEY1

May it please your Excellency,

The Council and House of Representatives of this His Majesty's Province have given very great Attention to the two Speeches which you have been pleased to make from the Chair on the 28th March and the 2d of April. We are Sensible they contain Matters of the last Importance, not only to the Inhabitants of this Government but to every other of His Majesty's Subjects in America, to the British Interest in General, and to the Interest of all Europe.

It now evidently appears that the French are far advanced in the Execution of a Plan, projected more than fifty Years Since, for the extending their Possessions from the Mouth of the Mississippi on the South, to Hudsons Bay on the North for Securing the vast Body of Indians in that inland Country, and for Subjecting this whole Continent to the Crown of France. This Plan agreeable to the Genius and Policy of the French Nation was laid for a future Age, the Operation of it has been gradual and almost insensible, whilst the British Governments in the Plantations, have been consulting temporary Expedients, and they are in Danger of continuing to do so untill it be too late to defeat it. And however improbable it may seem that this scheme should succeed, since the French Inhabitants on the Continent, at present, bear but a small proportion to the English, yet there are many other Circumstances which give them a great Advantage over us, and which if not attended to will soon over balance our superiority in Numbers. The French pay no Regard to the most Solemn Engagements but immediately after a Peace take and keep Possession of a Country which by Treaty they had just before expressly ceded, whilst the English, in the Plantations afraid of incurring Displeasure and of being instrumental of bringing on a War in Europe 1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 32735, 123. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

suffer these Incroachments to be made and continu'd. The French in time of Peace are continually exciting the Indians settled among them to come upon our Frontiers, to kill and captivate Our People and to carry their Scalps and Prisoners to Canada, where, as We have full Evidence, a reward is given for them, and by this Means we are prevented from extending our Settlements in Our Own Country, whilst the English from the Principle just now mentioned Scruple to avenge themselves by carrying the War into the Indian Settlements, least they Should annoy His Majesty's Allies amongst whom our most barbarous Enemies are Settled, and by whom they are cherished and encouraged. The French have under their Influence by far the greatest Part of the Indians on the Continent, whilst the English by the different Measures of the several Governments, are in danger of losing the small Proportion which at present are attached to them. The French have but one Interest and keep one Point in view, the English Governments have different Interests, are disunited, some of them have their Frontier covered by their Neighbouring Governments and not being immediately effected seem unconcerned.

The French are Supported by the Crown and Treasure of France which seems now more than ever to have made the Plantations the Object of it's Attention, the English Governmts. are obliged to carry on any Schemes at their own Expence and are not able long to Support any great Undertaking.

These are some of the disadvantages which the English at present labour under and they are not likely to be removed without His Majesty's gracious Interposition. We therefore desire your Excellency to represent to His Majesty the exposed, hazardous State of these his Governments, and humbly to pray, that he would be pleased to cause the most effectual Measures to be taken for the removal of any French Forts or Settlements that are or may be made in any part of his Territories on this Continent; and in particular, that the Subjects of the French King may be compelled to quit the Province of Nova Scotia, where, in direct violation of the

most express Agreement to the Contrary they are daily increasing and fortifying themselves; that His Majesty would allow and order that whensoever the Indians who are Settled among the French or are under their Direction and control shall captivate and destroy his English Subjects, his respective Governments shall suffer and encourage the Indians who are in the English Interest to make reprisals upon the French, there being no other way of putting a Stop to the Incursions of the French Indians, or of forwarding the Settlement of Our Frontiers, That Affairs which relate to the Indians of the Six Nations and their Allies under some general Direction as His Majesty shall think proper may be constantly regarded, and that the Interests or Measures of particular Governments or Persons may not be Suffered to interfere with such Direction; that the several Governments may be obliged to bear their proportion of the Charge of defending His Majesty's Territories against the Encroachments of the French and the Ravages and Incursions of the Indians, and that in Case of any great and heavy Charge His Majesty would be graciously pleased to Relieve Us.

In the mean time We assure Your Excellency that we are ready to do every Thing that can be expected from Us on the present Emergency. We think Ourselves happy that we have a Gentleman at the head of the Province who is so perfectly acquainted with His Majesty's just Title to the Country encroached upon by the French, who has given such distinguished Proofs of his Zeal for His Majesty's Service, whose Endeavours to defend his Territories and enlarge his Dominions in time of War have been attended with such happy Success, and whose abhorrence of such perfidious Invasions in Time of Peace we are so well acquainted with.

We take great Pleasure and Satisfaction in Measures taken by Your Excellency with the Advice of His Majesty's Council in the Recess of the Court and will chearfully Support the Execution of them.

We look upon it to be of absolute Necessity that the French should at all Events be prevented from making any Settlement whatsoever on the River Kennebeck or the carrying