into it; for the same Reason they might call the River Outaiais St Lawrence's River, which they never yet pretended to do; The River Iroquois hath it's Source from the Lake Ontario, and after a Course of near 180 Miles falls into the River St Lawrence and if that makes it a part of that River; then all the Rivers, which fall into the Danube may be call'd the Danube, and the great Rivers, which fall into the Ocean, Arms of the Sea.

As the inclos'd Sketch which is design'd chiefly to point out the Several Routes thro' the Lakes, Straites, and Rivers, there delineated, may serve to do that in a more unperplex'd Manner than in the Maps, I have inclos'd it.1

I am with the highest Regard,

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.

JOHN RUTHERFORD TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY 2

SIR,

Albany, September 30, 1755.

I give your Excellency the trouble of this from some things that pass'd in a Conversation I had yesterday with the Baron

1 On Oct. 10 Shirley emphasized his views as to the necessity of taking positive action on the Great Lakes by writing Sir Thomas Robinson a letter of over 500 words (P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46) on the movements of the French. In this letter the Governor states that he has intelligence that the French are building a Vessel of one hundred or one hundred and twenty tons burden at Frontenac. He considers it necessary for the English to have, at least, one vessel of equal force, and very adviseable to have two, as early in the spring as may be, adding that in his opinion the enemy are preparing for an attack upon Oswego, and that one was intended for the season just past.

2 The original of this letter is in Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 168, at Boston. A copy was inclosed by Shirley in his letter to Secy.

Dieskau, and his Aid de Camp, The Baron seemed not only to think the French would easily maintain Crown Point against General Johnston's Army, but that from what he had seen and been informed of their Discipline that I might Depend upon it though Doubted, they would never Arrive there. In talking of General Braddock's defeat, he said none of their Officers was Surprized in the least at it, as 'twas a Constant Maxim with them Never to expose Regulars in Woods, without a Sufficient Number of Indians and Irregulars for any Attack that Might be expected. But what I thought of most Consequence, to inform your Excellency of as immediately Concerning the Expedition you are now engaged in, is that I find the Baron is perfectly well Acquainted with the Country round Lake Ontario, with the great consequence Oswego, is of to us, and does not doubt but that you may take Niagara, if you carry the Forces, Artillery etca. you have at Oswego, Safely there, but in that case they have half the Forces that Arrived with him from Brest, with a Sufficient Number of Canadians and Indians not only to take Oswego but likewise Effectually to cut off your Retreat lying Ready at Fort Frontenac with boats etca. to set out on the first Notice, and seems very Confident that the Six Nations will Continue Steady in their Neutrality except the Mohawks who have Already Joined us.1 Your Robinson, Dec. 19, 1755, and a transcript of this is among the British transcripts in the Library of Congress at Washington. Rutherford, in 1761, requested through Lord Amherst a grant of land near Niagara and received from that general a permit to settle upon the spot desired. Amherst to Pitt, May 4, 1761.

1 In P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46, there is a copy of a paper sent by Johnson to Shirley, and by the latter forwarded to the British Government, which gives a list of the French forces. The information in this list appears to have been obtained from, if not written by, Baron Dieskau. See Dieskau to Commissary Doreil, Aug. 16, 1755, 2 Penna. Arch. 6, 223; Account of French Army in Johnson Papers, 2, 221, and Johnson's letter to Sir Charles Hardy of Sept. 16, Johnson Papers, 2, 222; Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 6, 1013. See also Shirley to Robinson, Oct. 5, post, p. 309, and Rutherford to Shirley, Sept. 22, ante, p. 278, where the information as to the French troops is summarized.

Excellency will see how this Agrees with your Intelligence from Fort Frontenac and I hope the Forces under Col. Dunbar expected here every day may be of Service at Least to Secure the Communication twixt this and Oswego at all events,

I have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect,

The following Particulars relating to the Situation of Affairs in America are taken from private Letters and from the Boston News Papers of the 14, 15, and 18. of August, brought by a Vessel which arrived yesterday from Boston, viz.

That Advice had been received at Annapolis in Maryland, that Colo. Dunbar with the Remainder of the two Regiments under his Command was to march from Fort Cumberland on the 29th of July for Ray's Town in Pensylvania.

That it appeared from the Accounts given by a Man, who was taken Prisoner upon the Frontiers of Pensylvania, and carried to Fort du Quesne, from whence he escaped after the Action upon the Monongahela, that the French Forces at that Fort consisted of 3000 Men.

That General Shirley with the Forces under his Command was upon the Mohawk River about 100 Miles from Oswego on the 6th of August, and that he had sent Orders to Colo.

1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 33,029, 212. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. Mr. Pownall was probably John Pownall, Secretary of the Lords of Trade, and the information presented to the Commissioners appears to have been obtained in large part from Sir William Johnson. See Pownall to Johnson, acknowledging letters and papers, Oct. 9, 1755, Johnson Manuscripts, 3, 56, and Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 6, 1017.

Dunbar to compleat his two Regiments to 1000 each, and join him as soon as possible; for which purpose he was to embark at Amboy in New Jersey, and proceed by way of Albany.1

That Colo. Johnson was still at Albany waiting for some warlike Stores he expected; and that he was disappointed of part of his Force by the New Hampshire Troops not joining him.

That upon Advice of the Arrival of the French Troops from Europe at Quebec, several of the Colonies had agreed to an augmentation of the forces destined for Crown Point, viz.

That Captain Bradstreet, who commands at Oswego, had launched one of the Vessels built there to be employed upon Lake Ontario, and had sunk several French Canoes.

That the News of General Braddock's Defeat had not had any bad Effect upon the Indians of the Five Nations, who only took notice of it as an Accident, from which they should learn to proceed in their Expedition with more Caution.

That Colo. Lawrence, Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia, had resolved to remove the French Inhabitants of that Province, and to disperse them in the other Colonies upon the Continent; for which purpose he had prepared Vessels to transport them.

That the Fleet under Admiral Boscawen's Command had taken a Snow from France laden with Provisions for Louisbourg; also a Ship from Canada for France; also a French armed Snow; and sent them into Halifax.

Endorsed:

American Intelligence from Mr. Pownall Octr. 1st, 1755.

See Shirley to Josiah Willard, Oct. 1, 1755, in Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 170.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO CHARLES HARDY 1

Camp at Oswego, October 4, 1755.

SIR, Yesterday I had the Honour of your Excellency's Letter of the 26th September. The instance you have given of your Attention to the public Service, in removing from New York to Albany before you could be well recover'd from the Fatigue of your Voyage, must have a very good Effect for expediting it.

I am much afraid it will be thought an extraordinary Expence to the Crown for his Majesty to be oblig'd to build Barracks for the Reception of the Troops of Colonel Dunbar's and the late Sir Peter Halket's Regiments at Albany and Schenectady this Winter, when perhaps he may not have Occasion for Barracks there again. But as it is absolutely necessary for the good of his Service in the Operation of the next year's Campaign that those Troops should be quartered there this Winter, and your Excellency informs me in your Letter that you are apprehensive of great Inconveniencies in disposing of those Troops at Albany by hiring houses for them there, and you mention, that "you could "wish you had my Instructions for the constructing of Bar"racks there and at Schenectady, which you apprehend may "be done at any easy Rate, least your Assembly should not "care to be at such an Expense;" I desire your Excellency would take the Care upon you of providing such Barracks at the two before mentioned places, as you shall judge proper for the reception of the two aforesd Regiments which I believe at present don't exceed 1200 Men, but will, I hope, be recruited by the Spring to 1000 each, and that you

1 Printed: 1 Penna. Arch. 2, 435. See also Shirley to Gov. Horatio Sharpe, Arch. of Md. 6, 288, and Shirley to Josiah Willard, Mass. Arch., Col. Ser. 54, 173, both of equal date. Sir Charles Hardy was governor of Newfoundland in 1744, and served as British Administrative Governor of New York, 17551757. He was grandson of Sir Thomas Hardy, the naval commander, and served as Rear Admiral at Louisbourg in 1758.