than which nothing would more contribute to the Security of that Country against an Indian Enemy. I have also the Satisfaction to inform you, Sir, that the Measures propos'd by me to the Governments of Pensilvania, Maryland, Virginia and Carolina for engaging the Southern Indians in our Alliance, a Copy of which I sent you with my Letter of the 20th December,1 are in a great Measure carried into Execution, and with Such Success, that the Cherokees, the most formidable of those Nations, have already taken up the Hatchet against the French and their Allies, and sent 130 of their Warriors to join a Number of Virginia Rangers, who are now out on an Expedition against the Shawanese Villages; and they have promis'd to join a much larger Number in the Spring; Commissioners are likewise gone from Virginia and Carolina to the Cherokees and Catawabas, to finish a Treaty offensive and defensive with the former, and to Stipulate the Number of Warriors they are to join us with next Summer: And those Commissioners are likewise to endeavour to prevail on the Catawbas to take up the Hatchet; All which Governour Dinwiddie, in the inclos'd Extract2 of his Letter to me, expresses great Hopes of their being induc'd to do. As the inclos'd Rough Sketch may serve to Shew at one View the Situation of the whole Line of Forts upon the Western Frontier, from New York inclusive to the most Southern limits of Virginia, I have inclos'd it. I have the honour to be with the Highest Respect Sir, Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant, W. SHIRLEY. The Rt. Honble. Henry Fox, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.} 1 Ante, p. 355, addressed to Sir Thomas Robinson. Endorsed: Boston March 8th. 1756. Majr. Genl. Shirley. R. May 5th. STEPHEN HOPKINS TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY 1 SIR, Newport, March 11, 1756. The General Assembly of this colony met the 23d of February past, and I laid before them the determinations of the general council of war, held at New York, by Your Excellency, I also then laid before them your letter of the 20th of February, accompanied with the act of the Great and General Court of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, for raising three thousand men for the Crown Point expedition, the ensuing campaign; a letter from Sir Charles Hardy, and the resolve of the General Assembly of the colony of New York, for raising one thousand men for the same service, was then also laid before them. After full consideration of these matters, the Assembly here came to a resolution to raise and furnish five hundred men for the aforementioned expedition, and have made the necessary provisions for raising, subsisting and paying that number of men; being of opinion that five hundred is as large a proportion for this colony, considering their ability, and number of inhabitants, as three thousand is for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, or one thousand for the colony of New York; and do not think themselves obliged by any means to follow the unequal proportions raised by the several colonies the last year, at the beginning of this enterprise; however, they seem to be willing, and I dare venture to pass my word for them, that they shall cheerfully under 1 Printed: R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 563. 2 Printed: Kimball, Corres. Col. Govs. of R. I. 2, 188. The letter is on the same lines as Shirley's letter to Governor Morris of same date, ante, p. 393. take to bear an equal share of the expense of reducing Fort St. Frederic, and the whole Lake Champlain, with its appendages, to the obedience of His Majesty, in proportion to their abilities, when truly compared with the other colonies concerned in that enterprise; but what methods may be come into for settling such proportions among the colonies concerned, seems yet to be very uncertain; and the less to be depended on, as the Massachusetts Court absolutely refused, when earnestly pressed thereto, by Your Excellency, to nominate and authorize any commissioners for such a purpose, the preceding year. As to the conditional acts of Assembly, in the Province of the Massachusetts, and in the colony of Connecticut, for raising men, I am persuaded they can be of very little service to the common cause. The instructions framed by your General Court, to be given to their committee, placed at and near at Albany, for carrying their resolutions into execution, and a copy of which Your Excellency has been kind enough to communicate to me, I have shown to the committee of war, for the colony, with whom powers are lodged for the like purposes, and are fully approved of by them; and full powers immediately will be given to some proper person or persons, in behalf of this colony, to repair directly to Albany, and to act there in concert with the gentlemen appointed by your Province, for carrying all the matters mentioned in those instructions into execution; and I shall be glad to be informed what number of troops will be sent by the Province of the Massachusetts, for transporting and guarding the provisions and stores in their passage from Albany, to Fort William Henry, and at what time they will be sent away, that I may order a proportionable number to join them in season, for that purpose, which I shall not fail to do. The list of ordnance stores prepared by the commanding officer of the detachment of the royal regiment of artillery, and communicated to me by Your Excellency, as needful to be provided by the colonies, for the ensuing expedition, I have also laid before our committee of war, who agree that this colony ought to pay their proportion toward the expense of it; and will do it in such manner as may be proposed by Your Excellency, or others principally concerned in that matter; or otherwise, if their proportion can be set off to them, it shall be forthwith provided, and sent forward, as shall be ordered, — this colony and all employed by them for this expedition, being fully determined that whatever part this colony undertakes in it, shall be executed without any kind of delay. The committee of war here have given me a list of sundry articles they would willingly furnish towards the train, if it be agreeable, with such others as might make up their full proportion, if those should fall short of it. With the greatest respect, I am Your Excellency's most humble To His Excellency William Shirley, Esq. STEPH. HOPKINS. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO JOHN BRADSTREET 1 INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIEUT: COLO. BRADSTREET [Boston, March, 17, 1756.] You are to proceed forthwith to the City of Albany and there take upon you the Command, of all the Battoemen engaged in His Majesty's Service, agreable to my Proclamation of the 19th of January Last. You are there to Muster them, and to Form them into Companies, and to such of the Captains and assistants as bring their Companies compleat, 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 47. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. On Mar. 13 Fox had announced to the Colonial Governors the appointment of the Earl of Loudoun as Commander in Chief and the advance of Col. Daniel Webb to ad interim command. (Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 7, 75.) This copy of Shirley's instructions to Bradstreet was forwarded by Loudoun Aug. 19, 1756. See also N. J. Arch. 8, pt. 2, pp. 209-212. or who are deserving of the same, you are to fill up and deliver to them, the Warrants for their respective Posts, which shall be delivered Blank for that purpose. You are also to take upon you the direction of all the Whale boat Builders, and Battoe Builders, and all others Employed in building finishing or Supplying the same, both at Albany, and Schenectady, And all the Battoemen are hereby Strictly charged to observe and follow such Rules and directions as They shall receive from you, You are also to take upon you the direction and Command of all Such Waggons and Sleys employ'd at the Carrying places between Schenectady and Oswego, as may be necessary for the Transporting of the Battoes, Whale boats, Provisions etca. and all persons employ'd, or to be Employ'd in Transporting Provisions and Stores from Schenectady to Oswego, for His Majesty's Forces to be employ'd the ensuing Campaign on Lake Ontario. You are to get prepared and finished as many Whale boats and Battoes as Shall from time to time be necessary for Transporting Provisions and Stores for said Forces, and are with the utmost dispatch from time to time, to Transport the Provisions and Stores that Shall be Provided for said Forces at Schenectady, from thence to Oswego, You are to Appoint at Schenectady, and such other places as are necessary, proper persons for the Safe keeping of the Battoes and Whale boats and for keeping them in proper repair, and such other Officers, and Overseers as you find necessary for the well conducting the Business herein mention'd, And you are to constitute and make such Rules and Orders as you do from time to time find necessary for the well Conducting and good Management of the Same, informing me in Writing of them. You are from time to time to make Application to me for what Money is necessary for the payment of the Wages of the Battoemen, and Waggoners aforesaid, and to pay them. regularly, and you are to Employ proper persons to keep Regular accounts with the Capt. of each Company of Battoemen, and all others necessary in the business aforesaid, and all Commissaries, Deputy Commissaries, and all other Officers employ'd in keeping and Storing Provisions, or |