SIR, WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO JOSIAH WILLARD 1 St. James's Street, May 16, 1753. About a Month ago I wrote you word that I believed I should embark on board his Majesty's ship the Port Mahon, Capt. Montague, who has Orders to carry me to Boston, within 14 or 15 days; But the Ship I find, will not sail before the beginning of the Week after next; when the Captain hath given me an Assurance, he will be ready the day after my arrival at Portsmouth. Last night I obtained a report of the Lords of the Committee of Council, in favour of my Petition for the Ordnance Stores, for Castle William, together with the Freight of them, at the Charge of the Crown, which Article, it is computed, will amount to about £300; so that the Province will receive them free of all Charges, except fees of Office and Clerk's Perquisites; Nothing remains to perfect the Affair but the reports being approved by his Majesty, which is esteem'd a thing of Course; If he appoints a Council before I go, I shall get the Order for the Immediate delivery of the Stores, which are all ready, and indent for them myself: If there should be no Council before my Departure, that must be left for Mr. Bollan to do: I will however endeavour to get the Board of Ordnance to fix upon a good Vessell here for the transportation of the Stores, before I go, that a Ship may be ready to receive them, as soon as they can be deliver'd. I have also to add, that a strong Attempt being made to continue the act for laying the present Duty upon foreign Molasses &c which expires the Session after next, to a further long Period Mr Bollan hath petition'd against it, and succeeded so well in his Opposition, that it seems to me, he hath pretty nearly given that Act its Death wound; I shall refer you to him for a particular acct of the matter, But he is at present so busy in attending the House to oppose another Attempt making by the Sugar bakers here to put down all 1 Original, Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 303. to direct his Governor of New York to hold an interview with them, for delivering those presents, for burying the hatchet, and for renewing the Covenant Chain with them; we think it our duty to acquaint you therewith, and as we find it has been usual upon former occasions when an interview has been held with those Indians, for all His Majesty's Colonies whose interest and security is connected with and depends upon them, to join in such interview, and as the present disposition of those Indians and the attempts which have been made to withdraw them from the British interest, appears to us to make such a general interview more particularly necessary at this time; we desire you will lay this matter before the Council and General Assembly of the Province under your government and recommend to them forthwith to make a proper provision for appointing Commissioners, to be joined with those of the other Governments, for renewing the Covenant Chain with the Six Nations, and for making such presents to them as has been usual upon the like occasions. And we desire that in the Choice and nomination of the Commissioners, you will take care that they are men of Character ability and integrity, and well acquainted with Indian Affairs. As to the time and place of meeting it is left to the Governor of New York to fix it, and he has orders to give you early notice of it. We are, Sir I received by the last post a Letter from the Earle of Holdernesse dated 28 August past (a Circular one as it ap 1 Original in the Maryland Historical Society. Printed: Arch. of Md. 6, 11; 31, 25. pears to be to all his Majestys Governments in North America) acquainting me that his Majesty had received Information of the March of a Considerable Number of Indians not in Alliance with him Supported by some regular European Troops intending as it is apprehended to commit some Hostilities on parts of his Majestys Dominions in America, and directing me to use my utmost diligence to learn how far the same may be well grounded Acquainting me also that his Lordship had it particularly in Charge to let me know that it was his Majestys Royal will and Pleasure, that I should keep up an exact Correspondence with all his Majestys Governors on the Continent and in Case I should be informed by any of them of any Hostile Attempts, that I should immediately Assemble the General Assembly within my Government and lay before them the necessity of a mutual Assistance and engage them to grant such Supplies as the Exigency of Affairs may require. In obedience to these Instructions I trouble you with this Letter to let you know that in case any Hostile Attempts shall be comitted upon his Majestys Territories within the Limits of your Honours Government, for repelling of which that may Stand in need of the Assistance of his Majestys other Colonies upon the Continent, I shall be ready upon my being informed of it by your honour to do my duty within my own Government for procuring their due Proportion of Supplies upon the Emergency; and for this Purpose I shall be very glad to maintain a Strict Correspondence with your honour, pursuant to his Majestys Commands Signified to me in the Earl of Holdernesses before mentioned Letter. I am with great Esteem Sr. Your honours most humble and most Obedient Servt Honourable Horatio Sharpe Esqr. W. SHIRLEY. of what was expended at Louisbourg during his tarry there, Passed. By the aforesaid means, Your Memorialist, has been exposed to an expence exceeding all the advantages he has received in consequence of his Services: and in as much as nothing has been yet given him by this Government as a reward herefor, though they were pleased to say, "his important Trust was bravely, and Successfully executed :" Prays that your Excellency and Honours would be pleased to make such a Grant of money to him, as you in your Wisdom shall think proper, all which is Humbly Submitd by Your Excellency and Honrs, Faithfull Humble Servant WM. PEPPERrell. On the third day of January 1754 the Great and General Court made a Grant to yor. Memorialist of one hundred and forty four pounds in full for his pay and Service at Cape Breton which was about Eighteen months before he could return to His Family as he was desired not to Leave Cape Breton untill the Provential Troops was releaved in obedience to which I complyd with tho' at a Great charge and preventing me being with an agreable Family. Your Memorialist being informd Since sd. Grant was made that the reason sd. Grant was made so Small was that he had Several Sums of money given him before by this Governmt which was Groundless for he never did directly or indirectly receive one penny but what he paid agreable to the order of the General Court and Accounted with the Committee of Warr for the same, except one hundred and fifty pounds of the then Paper Currency which was given him to Provide for a General Table no other then having any thing Else given for that End and he has never as yet received any part of the sd. Grant of one hundred and forty foure pounds. Endorsed: A Copy of Sir Wm. Pepperrells Memorial to the Great and Gl. Court. VOL. II-C |