I must further refer to Governor Hopkins's Letter to his Son, and Mr: Fitch's Letter from himself, at the desire of not reason, to have ex 10. Another Material thing for me to his Assembly, if I had take care of, if possible, before I left pected immediate America, was the Replacing the £43,000, Supply from those two I had Advanced out of the Contingent Governments, if they had an This I do not look on, not been kept by Mr: Money, to The Massachusetts, ConShirley's delays. necticut, and New Hampshire Governas an Aid to the Service, ments, for enabling them to raise Men, but as a Cloak, to cover and make other preparations for this the Obstructions he gives, Years Expedition against Crown Point with the like sum out of their Respec to every part of it. Paragraph 10th at the Hook of New York, The Stirling Castle, tive Quota's of the £115,000 granted with the Money, arrived by Parliament, to them, and the Other on the 17h of August; Colonies Concern'd: The effecting of the Money was delivered this, Mr. Alexander informs me, your to Sir Charles Hardy, to keep for the several Gov- Lordship told him, You thought would ernments, till they sent be Attended with Difficulties, and bid him to Speak to me to take Care of: keep a Guard there, to This, my Lord, could not be done before secure it; and by my last Letters, none of the the arrival of the Stirling Castle, and Governments had sent I shall be able now to Compleat it. for it. the Money to for it; And I am now forced to be repaid to the Contingencies, which he had lent, has been repaid long ago, or I could not have carried on the Service; So this furnishes no good Excuse for his Stay. Paragraph 11h If Mr. Shirley has no plan for keeping up a party; for what purpose does he inform his Assembly, in his Speech, that he may come back? he abuse Mr. Pownall in For what reason, are cert the plan for the next II. As to Your Lordship's Observation upon my Speech, to the Assembly, on my first Meeting them, after my Return to Boston; it was known at the time of my making it, to many of the Members, to For what reason, does whom I had declar'd it, and to some by the News Papers of every a Sight of Mr. Fox's Letter, that it was Colony on the Continent? his Majesty's Intention, as a mark of his friends dispersed all His Royal Favour, to Appoint me to be over America, to give out, Governor of Jamaica; and that Mr. that he goes home to con- Pownall Had been thought of by His Majesty as a proper person to succeed me as Governor of the Massachusetts Bay; and I must further inform Your Lordship, that both I and Mr. Alexander understood from Mr. Pownall himself, that no new Commission would be made out for the Government of the Massachusetts Bay, 'till my arrival in England; all which is, I think a Sufficient Answer to Your Lordship's Observation on my Speech. Campaign, and have the Sole Management of Affairs in America ? Paragraph 12h erica but himself; and 12. The Inference, your Lordship I do think he is rais- would make from that Part of my Speech, ing parties to support is that I am endeavouring by it to Suphimself, and to convince You that no Man can port and draw after me parties. - What serve the King in Am- parties, my Lord? Surely Your Lordthis he does by two ship Can't mean parties to Obstruct methods, by enriching his His Majestys Service, either under Your friends, by lavishing the Publick Treasure, and Lordships Command, or in the Civil by imposing on the Department, within this Government, People, that he is the only Man entrusted in in the Hands of my Successor; A long American Affairs, by the Series of Faithfull Services to His MajKing or his Servants.1 As to his Services, you esty, and my Establish'd Character 1 See Shirley to Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, post, p. 581. The charge that the Massachusetts governor was reckless at the public expense is not borne out by the facts. See also Shirley to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, Mar. 16, 1757, post, p. 584. must know his former founded on 'em, will protect me, I ones, better than I can; but when the Campaign doubt not from so injurious a Charge; is over, I hope to be able let it come from what Quarter it will. to shew you, in a clear light, what they have been here. Paragraph 13h All that passed between Mr. Alexander and me, 13. I can't therefore but look upon this Letter as one of the Effects of the Rein this Letter, was, that sentment which Your Lordship sent me I thought it a very im- Word by Mr. Alexander, You was deproper Letter for Mr. Shirley to write to me, termin'd to Shew me, for writing You and that it had cut off all the Letter of the 10th August, in which personal correspondence between us; but that he I have been so unfortunate as to incur might depend, on having Your Lordship's Displeasure against my an Answer to it, at a Intention.1 proper time. Paragraph 14h how far I was right in writing it. 14. After having given Your Lordship I have enclosed a Copy all the Satisfaction, I can, in answer to of the Letter here mentioned, from whence you your Letter of the 6th Instant, I beg will be able to Judge, leave to say that Your Lordship seems to me, to have given Yourself a very My own Opinion was, needless trouble in sending me a Letter, that on the Information I send you, of his Manage- to let me know that I am ordered diment last year and this rectly to depart for England, by three at Oswego, I am entitled to send him home Pris- Letters from His Majesty's Secretary oner; but other People of State, all which Your Lordship obthought this would appear Violent; and I am always serves I have Received, and as they willing, to be advised to carry the Highest Authority in themselves, can't be suppos'd to receive any Additional Force from Your Lordships moderate measures. 1 Ante, p. 501. A good discussion of this controversy between Shirley and Loudoun is given by Parkman in chapter 13 of his "Montcalm and Wolfe." Letter; which I can't but think concerns matters, which are entirely out of Your Lordship's Department. I have the Honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most Humble and Most Obedt: Servant WM. SHIRLEY. P.S. I have Issued a Warrant for em pressing [25] Ox Teams and Carriages, for Your Lordship.1 His Excellency the Right Honble: the Earl of Loudoun etca. Endorsed: Copy of a Letter from Gen: Shirley To the Earl of Loudoun Boston September 13th, 1756. With His Lordships Remarks thereupon. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ISRAEL WILLIAMS 2 [SEAL] William Shirley Esqr. Captain General and To Israel Williams Esqr Greeting. Whereas His Majestys Service does require a considerable Number of Teams and Carriages for transporting Provisions 1 See Shirley to Israel Williams of equal date, (a) warrant for ox teams, etc., (b) warrant for raising troops, and (c) circular letter to Colonial Governors urging the enlistment of additional troops, following this letter. 2 Original in Mass. Hist. Society, Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 254. for the Forces in the County of Albany within the Province of New York. You are therefore hereby impowered and directed forthwith to issue your Warrants in His Majesty's Name to such Persons as you may judge will most effectually execute them, immediately to impress within the Limits of your Regiment Twenty five substantial Carts and Ox Teams with Drivers necessary and proper for transporting Provisions for the use of the said Forces, to proceed without delay to the said City of Albany there to be employed as His Excellency and the Right Honble Earl of Loudoun General and Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America shall direct; The Charge of which will be defrayed by the Publick, And make Return to me of your Doings hereon; Hereof fail not. Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Boston the 13th day of Septr 1756 in the thirtieth Year of his Majestys Reign. W. SHIRLEY. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ISRAEL WILLIAMS1 [SEAL] WILLIAM SHIRLEY Esqr. Captain General To Colonel ISRAEL WILLIAMS, Greeting. I do hereby impower you and in his Majesty's Name require you forthwith to draw out or cause to be drawn out of the Regiment of Militia under your Command, either by Inlistment or Impressment as shall be found most proper and necessary Three hundred and fifty able bodied, effective Men, to be well armed and appointed, to be under the Command of such Officers as I shall commissionate; Who must hold themselves in readiness to march out upon any Emer 1 Original in Mass. Hist. Society, Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 255. |