the people for, there is a very considerable sum, which was granted to us in the two last sessions of parliament, now lying in England, part of which, might well have been drawn for, and apply'd to the purposes of your requisition without burthening the people with further taxes. but, you may depend upon it, Sir, that they have no intention to grant any more money for the service, but in a case of the last necessity; nor would they, as I am certainly informed, have given the last hundred thousand pounds, but that they absolutely depended upon my rejecting their Bill. Agreable to your request, I have taken some pains to enquire into the state of the victualling account at the Forts Augusta & Allen, and to that end had Major Orndts and Mr. Croston before me, and interrogated them upon certain queries that were sent me by Mr. Hoops; the result of which will also be communicated to you by Mr. Peters. I must own the examination gave me but little satisfaction as to the right of the matter, which, perhaps, might be owing to my want of knowledge in the methods of proceeding made use of in the Army. I am inclined to believe, Sir, it will require your own personal enquiry when you come down, in which case, I shall be proud to afford you all the assistance in my power. I hope e'er long for the pleasure of seeing you in Philadelphia for the Winter, which will give me the opportunity of cultivating a further acquaintance & friendship with you, which, on every account, is very much to be wished & desired by Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant His Excellency General MONCKTON. JAMES HAMILTON SIR, PETERS TO SAME. PHILADELPHIA 31st 8ber 1760 My Letter was sent away before yours of the 11th Instant came to hand. Col. Ennis met it & returned wth it & should have had with him my Acknowledgment of the receipt of it. It will as you say make it very late before you can have the resolution of this new Assembly which consists of all the old material members. The Governor told me that one of the leading Members expressed himself as if they would raise no more supplies now Canada was taken & the War over in America, & I think you may safely depend upon it from what I hear other ways that the Assembly will not consent to ye Reenlistment of the 400 men. I wish General Amherst who is expected every day at New York could know their temper & write them a Tickler. The Capitulation for Canada is not yet arrived but it is said to be a very severe one. The Merchants as well as soldiery are to be transported to England or old Franceno body to trade with ye Indians without express Lycence -and all owners of Lands on their taking ye Oath of Allegiance to retain their Possessions in quiet.-The King of G Britain to appoint a Bishop, the Regulars not to fight ag: England during the War, neither in Europe nor America. I suppose an officer will be sent to take Posession of fort Detroit and the other Forts on the Lakes on the part of His Majesty agreeable to the Capitulation & this will put an end to the Petit Guerre as well as put it in your power to let them know themselves. I am under the last uneasiness about Carolina not a Letter from that Province but expresses a renewal of the War in a most dreadful manner if it should prove true that Capt? Demere is killed & the Cannon trans[port]ing from fort Loudon to Fort Prince George. Col Byrds Army was within 100 miles of Fort Loudon in good health, as David Franks told me before he went to New York after receiving a Letter from some officer of that Corps on their march. From Montreal I have the following Disposition of the Forces. General Amherst gone to Quebec. General Gage Govt of Montreal with 2 Battalions of Royal Highlanders, the 44, 46, & 4th Battalions of the Royal Americans. General Murray Gov! of Quebec with the former Garrison except the 48 which is to be with Governor Burton at Trois Rivières. Gages The 17th 22 27, 40th and Royal to embark by way of Crown Point, but their Quarters not published. Light Infantry at Fort WTM Augustus (Isle Royal.) The 55th at Oswego & Fort Stanwix, Col. Montgomery to be blessed wth Nova Scotia. [The remainder of this Letter from Richard Peters is gone.] MERCER TO MONCKTON. PRESQU'ISLE 2a Nov: 1760. SIR, I received the honour of your letter of the 19 Ult, in consequence of which and yours to Col. Bouquet, all my Detachment are ordered down except an officer & 25 men at Le Beuff and about 80 at this Post including what is on board the sloop, and a boats Crew sent with your Dispatches to the Commanding Officer at Niagara. Thro' sundrie dis-apointments & Losses in transporting Provisions across the Lake, it is judged necessary to detain a party sufficient to make a trip to Niagara in the Battoes we are building, otherwise the number here might have been greatly reduced. I shall not fail to communicate to my People the encouragement you are pleased to give them, should the service require their being detain'd beyond the Time of their inlistment, and I make no doubt they will continue to do their duty cheerfully I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient and General MONCKTON. most humble servant BOUQUET TO MONCKTON. PRESQU'ISLE 4th November 1760. SIR, The Evening of the 28th October I received by Major Rogers your Letter of the 18th do. and on the 31st the other of the 19th by Mr Croghan. The 2 Instant Captain Cambell arrived with his Detachm and embarked the 3a But being too late, they put in again, and are gone early this morning in 19 Whale Boats and Batteaux, with about seven Weeks bread, and 11 Weeks meat, including 42 Beeves going by the Path along the Shore, escorted by some Indians, 42 Rangers, and 15 R. A. (as there was not Batteaux for all the men) attended by two Whale Boats to ferry the men over the Rivers and Creeks. The French used to drive their Cattle that way, and I hope they will get safe to Detroit in 12 or 14 days. We have kept only a fortnights Provision here, and given them all we had, as per Returns Inclosed. There are besides four Battoes with Rangers gone back to Niagara the 1st Inst. with orders to proceed with Provisions (chiefly Pork) by the North shore of the Lake to Detroit as it is a much shorter and better Navigation. Two Batteaux that had been lefft behind are daily expected here, having sent Materials & People to mend them, & as I hope to receive soon a supply from Venango they will be loaded & sent after them. Cap Gamelin who is a man of Character, assures me as well as the Guide La Fleur, that there is flour at Detroit sufficient to feed the Troops sent there But no meat except what is purchased of the Indians for Powder and Lead. Mr Croghan who went formerly by land from Pittsburgh near to Detroit is of opinion that Cattle might easily be driven that Way, with a Party and some Indian guides. From Pittsburgh to the mouth of Beaver Creek 30 miles 50 40 30 You will judge how far that is practicable, But as there is flour there, and much Indian Corn, That Party could stay at Detroit, and the Cattle be kept alive, as there is good Pasture the whole Winter, besides Hay and the Fields of Indian Corn: The French Garrison having almost killed all their Oxen to the number of 1400, last Winter. Major Rogers will send immediately from Detroit some Batteaux to Niagara and this Post, with Rangers and Canadians to attempt getting in more Provisions. But there is, in every body's opinion, no dependance upon the Lake at this season. The moment I received your Letter for Major Walters, I forwarded it by a Whale Boat, and recommended to send as much Provisions as possible, besides what the Detachment could bring, and lay in a good store at the Landing, |