Endorsed: Copy Letter from General Shirley to General Abercromby dated Albany June 27th 1756. in Maj. Genl. Shirley's of July 4th 1756. SIR, WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO HENRY FOX1 New York July 4th 1756. I have the Honour to acquaint you that I am just now arriv'd here, after a passage of four Days and a half from Albany, where Major General Abercromby arriv'd the 25th of June in the Evening and Colonel Webb the next Morning, with a great part of Otway's Regiment; And the Remainder of it with all the Highland Regiment were disembark'd in good Health before I left that place: Upon the General's Arrival I receiv'd a Letter by him from Commodore Holmes dated the 20th of June, letting me know that he design'd to sail that Night from New York for Halifax, from whence he would order one of his Majesty's Frigates for carrying me to England; but does not say whether he intended to send it to this port or Boston; But I suppose to the latter; It will be necessary for me to go there, as the Sterling Castle, which brings the Money granted by Parliament to the four Colonies of New England, and the Provinces of New York and New Jerseys is, I hear, to make that her first port, and I am desirous of seeing the £30,000, £10,000, and £3,000 Sterling, which I lent the Provinces of New York and New Hampshire and Colony of Connecticutt, in order to raise Men, and make preparations for this Campaigne paid out of their respective Quotas of that Grant, before I leave North America.2 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Transcripts are in the Library of Congress and in the Parkman Papers in the Mass. Hist. Society. 2 On June 30, Great Britain had transmitted to the American Colonies copies of the Commissions and Instructions respecting The inclos'd Copy of my Letter to General Abercromby, with the Minute of the Council of War held at Albany the 25th of May last, of which I some Days ago transmitted you a Copy, will shew you, Sir, the general State of his Majesty's Service with regard to the preparations in North America for this year's Campaigne, and the Situation of Indian Affairs there: It seems certain that in all this Week at furthest 7000 provincials will be ready to march from Lake George for Ticonderoge and Crown point; and Magazines of provisions are lay'd in at Sarahtoga for the British Troops, which by the Opinion of the Council of War at Albany were design'd to march to Fort Edward and Fort William Henry upon the provincials quitting them, in order to protect that and the adjacent Country in their Absence, and to be ready at hand to support them in their Attempt against Ticonderoge etc., if there should be occasion. And I can't but hope, from the forwardness of the preparations made for the Campaigne at Oswego likewise, that it may be practicable with the Forces, which his Majesty now hath between Lake George and the Lake Ontario to make some Attempt against the French from that place this Year, as well as against their Forts at Ticonderoge and Crown point; provided Otway's and the Highland Regiments shall be ready to move in time; which will depend upon the Arrival of their Tents and Camp Utensils from England, or being immediately provided with others here, if that is possible. I have the pleasure, Sir, to acquaint you, that the Provincials are in high Spirits, and perswaded of Success, which I flatter myself there is a good prospect of if they enter upon Action in time; And I had the Satisfaction to find at a Consultation between myself, General Abercromby, Colonel Webb, General Winslow, and the Commanding Officer of the provincial Artillery 1 held the Day I left Albany, at the the issuance of Letters of Marque, so that from the date of their arrival in America the war with France was fully authorized, after having been carried on over a year. For the order mentioned, see i Penna. Arch. 2, 684. 1 Richard Gridley. desire of General Abercromby, that there is a very fair prospect of a Right Understanding, good Agreement and Harmony's being maintain'd between the Regulars and Provincials, upon which much will depend; as also that General Abercromby and Colonel Webb seem'd, so far as we then enter'd into the propos'd Measures for carrying the Attempt against Crown point into Execution, to approve of them. As I find all final Determinations are to wait for the Arrival of Lord Loudoun and both General Abercromby and Colonel Webb, with whom I have had a very free Communication, have press'd me more than once in the Strongest Terms to stay at New York, 'till my Lord Loudoun arrives there, as they are perswaded that my acquainting his Lordship in a personal Conference with my Sentiments of what may be the most adviseable plan of Operations for his Majesty's Service this Year, in the most explicit manner, would be a great Satisfaction to his Lordship, and may promote the Service,' I shall stay here a very few Days for that purpose, and hope I shall have an Opportunity of seeing his Lordship, as he hath been hourly expected here above this fortnight. Four or five Days before I left Albany I had Intelligence sent me that the French have lately abandon'd their most advanc'd Post on Lake George, and seem to muster their whole Strength at Ticonderoge, except a small party of Troops, which they have at Crown point, at the first of which places it is judg'd they have three thousand Men, and eighteen Cannon of different Natures, with some Mortars. I have the honour to be with the Highest Respect, Sir, Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant, W. SHIRLEY. 1 In like manner, Governor Dinwiddie wrote Shirley on July 1, relative to Lord Loudoun taking up the campaign against Fort Duquesne: "if he send proper officers and artillery it may be conducted to advantage," but he added that the Indians were on the point of making war. (Dinwiddie Papers, 2, 451.) Shirley's influence with Loudoun seems to have been overestimated. Rt. Honble. Henry Fox, one of his The Day I embark'd from Albany I had the pleasure of your Nephew, Capt. Staats's Arrival there, and as he was desirous of making you a Visit before he went to Oswego, I have brought him here with me for that Purpose. 11 Penna. Arch. 2, 693. The warm friendship existing between Shirley, Alexander, and Morris is shown here, and is emphasized by Shirley's letter of July 12. The consent of Morris to the departure of Alexander had been obtained. Shirley writes (ibid. 698): The light in which you consider Mr. Alexander's going to England with me is I flatter myself a just one, and it will give me the highest pleasure to have that Voyage prove of real Service to him in the future course of his life. We have followed your Advice in our application for his mothers leave; It was open'd with a letter from me to her, and followed the evening after with a Visit; we could not have desir'd better success with the Old Lady than we have met with, the whole affair was freely and fully talked over between her and me, her mind is perfectly settled to it, I think I might say she intirely approves of it; and it is Certainly a Circumstance of the greatest satisfaction to us in this Case, that Colonel Barton, and those of the best Sense, who are friends to us both, most earnestly press Mr. Alexander's going to England at this conjuncture, as indispensably necessary. An happy meeting with you here for a few hours would Crown every thing, and I will not dispair of it. After expressing the hope that Morris will find a pleasanter He will acquaint you in what forwardness our Preparations are for opening the Campaign both upon Lake George and Lake Ontario; and I refer you to him for an Account of them, with only saying, that they exceed even my own Expectations; and that there is a very fair prospect of carrying our Points in a great Measure this year against the French at both places, if the carrying our preparations into Execution is not retarded beyond its just time. I am sorry to find that Mr. Alexander and I have miss'd of your Letter in answer to his and mine upon the Subject of his going with me to England; about which I am very anxious as I find his presence there may be absolutely necessary to clear up some Articles of the very large Accounts, which must be transmitted to England from him, your Nephew, Lewis Morris, and Mr. Ewing, and will be examin'd into at the Offices, &c at home; you are very sensible, my Dear Sir, how greatly any Difficulties in passing them would embarrass me as well as them; and how incapable I must be, without Mr. Alexander's Assistance in clearing them up; and consequently of what near Concern, and necessity to me, the Instance I ask of your Friendship is, that he may have your Consent to go with me; which I hope is contain'd in the Letters that are gone to Albany. position than "the Chair of Government in Pensilvania" Shirley continues: Many thanks to you, Dear Sir, for the very affectionate instance of the kind regard you have shewn me in your endeavouring to procure a public Testimony, from Several of the Colonies in favor of my Services in North America, to attend my Exit. I shall ever retain a most gratefull sense of it, and the warmest Friendship my mind is capable of for you. I hope the Revolution in your Nephew Staats affairs, during his stay in England, will, upon his explaining it to you, prove to your own approbation and promote his Happiness. I am, with the most perfect Truth and Esteem, Sir, Your most Affectionate Friend and Servant, W. SHIRLEY. |