But my chief aim is, after having caus'd the Fort to be erected, which I purpose at present, about 60 miles up the River to get another very strong one built at or near the head of it, capable of containing upon occasion 1000 or 1500 Men, from whence a large Body of Troops might be march'd, and Artillery transported within 6 or 7 days to the River St. Lawrence, within the before-mention'd distance of Quebec; which there seems reason to think, my Lord, would go farther towards keeping Canada in a proper Respect, than the most solemn treaties have hitherto done; especially if this River shall be strengthen'd with the Settlement of 7 or 800 Families upon it, which I am not without hopes may be soon accomplish'd. To complete this Scheme for forming a Barrier to his Majesty's Eastern Colonies upon this Continent, from Nova Scotia inclusive to Pensylvania, which I am laying a rough sketch of before your Lordship, it is necessary to build another Fort of equal Strength with that propos'd for the River Kennebeck upon an eminence near Lake Champlain, and at the distance of less than point-blank Shot from Fort St. Frederick, erected by the French at Crown Point, which I mention'd once to your Lordship, when I had the honour to wait upon you in Grosvenor Square, as necessary to be done before a Rupture with France, in case they could not be brought to consent to the demolition of Fort St. Frederick. This Fort, from whence a Body of Troops might be march'd or transported with Artillery Stores to Montreal in about 7 days time, would be as great a curb upon the motions of the French in that Quarter as the last before-mention'd Fort would be upon them in Quebec; and in conjunction with the other propos'd Forts would not only be a good Barrier to the Eastern Colonies, and confine the French within their just bounds that way, but by keeping them upon their Guard, leave them less at liberty to fit out distant expeditions against his Majesty's Southern Colonies. Another good Effect of building the propos'd Fort would be that it would have a great tendency to confirm the Indians of the Six Nations in a dependence upon us; from which it seems they have in part been discourag'd by Fort St. Frederick's being suffer'd to remain. And it seems a strong argument for doing it, that the French being apprehensive that Fort St. Frederick may be commanded from the Eminence propos'd for the Place of the English Fort, will probably forestall us by their building one there themselves, if it is not soon done, as appears from the inclos'd deposition of one Peter Frank. I cant take upon me, my Lord, to form a certain judgement of what Sea Force may be necessary for effecting the Business propos'd to be done in the Bay of Funda, and at Bay Vert, but think it must require at least two sixty Gun Ships, two of his Majesty's Troops, and four small arm'd Tenders. I have other Matters to propose for Your Lordship's consideration upon the present state of North America. But, as this Letter is grown to such a length, as must I fear tire out your Lordship's patience in the perusal of it, I shall reserve them for another Opportunity. And since Your Lordship allows me that honour, I shall write frequently to you, whenever I have any thing to communicate worthy of your Lordship's notice; but must not omit mentioning here, that in case any Men shall be order'd from Home to be rais'd here for his Majesty's Service in any Expedition, it will be absolutely necessary to send over a sufficient number of Stands of Arms for the occasion, good ones not being to be found in New England for such service. I am with the greatest Respect Sir, Your most humble and most Obedient Servant, W. SHIRLEY. Rt. Honble. Sir Thomas Robinson Knt. of the Bath. Endorsed: Extract of a letter from Govr. Shirley. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE LORDS MY LORDS, Boston, New England, May 23d, 1754. The inclos'd Papers contain an Authentick Account of the taking of an English Fort upon the Ohio, by the French: which I thought it my Duty to transmit to your Lordships by this Opportunity, as I believe it may be the first of conveying it to your Lordships directly by the way of London.2 I purpose to set out for the Eastern parts of this Province in about 17 Days with a party of 500 men, which is to proceed up the River Kennebeck in quest of a French Fort or Settlement said to be erected or made there in the Summer before last, of which I had the honour to acquaint your Lordships in a former Letter, and to cause a Fort to be built about 60 Miles up the River, and to have an Interview with the Norridgwalk, Penobscot, and Arrassangunticook Indians at Falmouth in Casco Bay; But if the Advices are well founded, which I have this morning received from Halifax and Annapolis Royal, that some of the Rebel Inhabitants of Chignecto, together with the Indians of the peninsula and St. John's River, are thro' the Influence of the French Garrison at Beau Sejour engaged in an Enterprize to break up all the Eastern Settlements of this Province, as far as the River Kennebeck, where it is suspected they are gone; the Force, which is rais'd to proceed with me, will not be sufficient to execute the Design, I go upon. If these Advices are true, they will afford your Lordships one instance of the many mischievous Consequences, to the Colonies of New England, as well as to His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, which must proceed from the French of Canada's having possessed themselves of the Isthmus of the 1 P.R.O., C. O. 5, 887. 2 The fort begun by William Trent in February, 1754, and taken by the French on April 17. On this site Fort Duquesne was at once erected by the captors. Peninsula, and St. John's River in the Bay of Funda, and continuing their Incroachments within his Majesty's Territories. I have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect, My Lords, Your Lordships's most humble and most Obedient Servant W. SHIRLEY. The Rt Honble Lords Commissioners for Trade and the Plantations. Endorsed: Massachusets Bay Letter from Willm Shirley Esqr Govr of the Massachusets-Bay to the Board, dated at Boston the 23d of May 1754, transmitting four Papers containg an authentick Account of the taking of an English Fort upon the Ohio, by the French. Recd July the 2d 1754 Read -Do SIR THOMAS ROBINSON TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY1 SIR, Whitehall, une 21, 1754. Having received your Dispatches of the 19th of April and Ist of May last, with their several enclosures, and having laid the same before the King, I am to acquaint you, that His Majesty extremely approves the resolution which has been taken by the Assembly of your Province, in consequence of the proposal recommended by you, to use their best endeavors to drive the French from the river Kennebeck. 1 Mass. Col. Ser. Letters, 54, 306-308. A copy is in P. R. O., C. O. 5, 211. Sir Thomas Robinson was born in 1695 and served as a diplomatist at the court of Maria Theresa. On the death of Pelham in 1754 Robinson was made Secretary of State for the Southern Department, and gave way to Fox in November, 1755. And I am at the same time to inform you, that His Majesty is graciously pleased to authorize and direct you to proceed upon the plan, and to pursue the measures which appear, by your speeches to the Assembly, and their answer thereto, to have been so well calculated for that purpose. I am likewise to assure you, as a mark of His Majesty's particular attention to the welfare of his loyal subjects in New England, that everything recommended by the said Assembly, will be fully considered: and that immediate directions will be given for promoting the plan of a general concert between His Majesty's Colonies, in order to prevent or remove any encroachments upon the dominions of the crown of Great Britain. It is with the greatest pleasure, that I take this early opportunity of giving you the satisfaction to know the very favorable manner in which the account of your prudent and vigorous conduct, as well of the zeal and activity of those under your government, have been received by the King, which cannot fail to excite and encourage them in taking such farther steps as will, most effectually, provide for their own security, and will give a proper example to His Majesty's neighbouring Colonies. I am Sir Your most obedient humble Servant To Governor William Shirley. SIR, WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO JOSIAH WILLARD 1 Falmouth, Casco Bay, July 8th, 1754. The Speaker to whom I am much obliged for his Assistance in the Publick business here, and the Pleasure of his Company, both which I shall miss upon his leaving us, doth me the favor to be the bearer of this. As he is able to give you a perfect Acct. of the Issue of the Conference with the Indians, I refer you to him for it; It hath been, I think favorable, beyond even our Expectation; 1 Mass. Col. Ser. Letters, 54, 309. |