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 W. SHIRLEY. It would give me the greatest pleasure, was it possible for me to see you, before I go for England; many things might occurr to us, when together, which, might be proper to be talk'd over with the Ministry upon my Arrival there, which may otherwise slip me. I am in the most affectionate manner, Some days ago, I had the honor to receive at Albany, two letters from the Right Honorable Mr. Fox, one of His Maj 1R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 531. Similar letters to Governor Sharpe of Maryland are printed, Arch. of Md. 6, 447-448. The letter of Lord Loudoun to Governor Hopkins, announcing the writer's accession to command, follows (R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 531): SIR, New York, 23d July, 1756. His Majesty having been graciously pleased to appoint me, by his commission, under the great seal, to be general and commander in chief of all his forces in North America, I take this first opportunity to acquaint you of my arrival this morning As I have been unfortunately so long detained in my passage, I find it indispensably necessary that I go immediately to the army. I must proceed accordingly. I herewith send Your Honor the letters of Mr. Fox, His Majesty's secretary of state, and of the Earl of Halifax, His Majesty's first lord commissioner of the board of trade. I do, from your zeal and attachment to His Majesty's service, and from the loyalty and good dispositions of your people, depend upon all assistance that the state and circumstances of your colony is able to give me. I will beg Your Honor to assure the good people of your colony, esty's principal secretaries of state, dated the 13th and 31st March last, acquainting me, in the former, with His Majesty's appointment of the Earl of Loudoun to be general and commander in chief of his forces in North America; and in the latter, signifying to me, that it having been represented to the King, that my presence in England may be very useful and necessary, to give many lights and informations relative to the state of affairs in North America, it was His Majesty's pleasure that I should repair to England with all possible expedition; and that, for this purpose, His Majesty had given directions to the lords of the admiralty, who have ordered a frigate to receive me on board, and to proceed with me directly to England. And I have the pleasure of being acquainted in the former of these letters, "that the disposition His Majesty has thought proper to make of the command of his forces in North America, is not owing to any dissatisfaction with my services; but on the contrary, it is the King's intention to give me a new mark of his royal favor." As I think it not improper for me to give Your Honor and the province under your government, notice of my departure for England, so I am desirous of taking this opportunity to that they may depend upon my protection, and my utmost care to avoid and remove (as far as the circumstances of a country become the seat of war, will admit,) every thing that may any way burthen or hurt the interest of any individual. I shall, on all occasions, and in every thing relative to the service and interest of the colonies, communicate with Your Honor; and beg at all times to be favored from you, with all matters of advice and intelligence, relative to the same; and shall impatiently expect the returns you are directed to send. I beg you to be assured, that I am, with the highest esteem, sir, Your Honor's most obedient and most humble servant, LOUDOUN. To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq. P.S. I must beg Your Honor to send me, forthwith, copies of the acts or resolves of your Assemblies, by which the troops that are to act against Crown Point, have been raised, and of the instructions for their proceeding. L. acknowledge their exertion of a most ready spirit for the defence of His Majesty's just rights and dominions, against the encroachments of the French, upon this continent, ever since I have had the honor to have any share in the command upon it; to assure them of my best wishes for their welfare, and that of His Majesty's other northern colonies; and that I shall think myself happy in being able, upon my arrival in England, to give such lights and informations relative to the state of affairs in North America, at this most critical conjuncture, as may best promote His Majesty's service, and the general interest of his subjects there. I am, with great regard and esteem, sir, Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant, W. SHIRLEY. To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq. JOHN BRADSTREET TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY SIR, [Extract]1 I am to return to Oswego with Provisions and Stores, and only wait here for Money, the Battoe-Men not being willing to go without. Colonel Webb and the 44th Regiment moves up there also; The 48th is gone from hence to day for Fort William Henry, and the New England Troops, etc., left the Half Moon Yesterday. The French have had 1000 Men besides Indians out, for these two Months to cutt off the provisions and Stores, and their general Rendezvous has been at the Fort built 34 Miles from Oswego. a true Copy WM. ALEXANDER. 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Fox, Sept. 16, 1756. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. |