wish he might be employed somewhere this Campaign to save him the mortification of serving as youngest Lieu in the 45th Regt & that favour would be of more service to him, than the Dreams of his Relations have proved hitherto. I have the honour to be with great Respect

Lieu: Bentinck having been unwell I kept him a few days longer on that account Capt. Nelson having informed me that his Comp! is at Bedford, I desired him to send a Party to clear the Road to Ligonier of fallen trees. The Ship Carpenters and Stores are gone up.

I received the Return of Fort Burd. Is M: Hoops to pay for the meat bought there?

I inclose also the Return from Presqu'Isle of 24th March omitted in the last Packett.

We lost since the Return two Granadiers by desertion. I am very Respectfully

RICHARD PETERS TO GEN MONCKTON.

SIR,

PHILADELPHIA 27th April 1761.

I am favourd with yours of the 16th which I put into the hands of our mutual good Friend Mr. Allen and he made the best use of it slily that it was capable of. But it made no Impression as the Politicians of this City were determined to cram their Bill down the Governors Throat tho' in every part directly repugnant to the report of the Lords of Trade and the Judgment of the Privy Council, or else to lay the loss of the 500 men at his door. It was not possible for the Governor to give up the essential Rights of Government and so the Bill dropped and on Friday the House adjourned to September.

Mr. Allen desires me to mention to you that the members for Cumberland York and Lancaster were strenuous for the raising the men and did in all respects behave extremely well not only upon this but all other occasions. This is really true and we would both become Petitioners that the Innocent might be distinguished from the Guilty. Cou'd these wicked men who from private Gain carry on their Party Purposes be made to smart for it I think it woud do some Good but if the poor Frontier Counties who are over voted shoud suffer too they are much to be pitied, especially as it is not their choice to be in such bad Company nor do they approve the Measures.

I am Sir

Your most obedient humble Servant

His Excellency the Honrble General MONCKTON.

RICHARD PETERS.

BOUQUET TO MONCKTON.

(Indorsed, REC3 Y' 17th)

SIR,

FORT PITT 4 May 1761.

This is to inform you that Gray Eyes, and Winghynam with a white Boy their Interpreter are going tomorrow to Pensilvania, to deliver to the Governor the answer of the Delaware Chiefs upon three Messages they say to have received from that Government for holding a Council below.

As the detaining their Prisoners & continual Stealing of Horses, must render them very obnoxious to the Inhabitants, I could have wished to put them off, till I could know your Intentions thereupon, But as they insisted upon going Immediately, I have given them a Pass, and requested the Magistrates in the Settlements to sende them with proper Conductors to Philad M: Spier takes care of them to Carlisle. I have acquainted the Governor with their Journey.

The Communication with Red Stone & Cheat River is continually infested by Mingos & Shawanese, carrying off Horses and Battoes- M: Croghan has had no success in his attempts to put a stop to those Irregularities, & the Shawanese Chiefs declare that they have lost all their influence upon their young Men

The Delawares do not behave much better about the Fort having stole a considerable number of Horses from the Traders going to Detroit. I have forbid again to sell them any Rum, But as it is carried in the night over the River, I could not yet suppress it, But hope to do it in time.

Le Boeuf & Venango are now abundantly supplied, one

Battoe was oversett in French Creek by which accident our men lost arms accoutrements & cloathing, as by the inclosed Return; The arms will be found again when the Creek is low.

The Battoe sent from Presqu'Isle to Niagara was not returned the 25th last. They have meat, but little flour. In case they could not receive in time a supply from that Fort. There is a sufficient quantity at Le Boeuf to support both Garrisons four months.

M: Rou the Master Shipwright arrived yesterday from Lancaster, and he goes tomorrow to join the two others at Presqu'Isle. If the Battoes actually at that Port are not sufficient for their supply, They will build another and proceed with their own to Detroit.

Agreeable to your Orders to me I had certified the quantity of Rum due to the Shipwrights in settling their accounts in December, and fixed the Price to be paid by the same at twelve shillings a Gallon, The current Price at that time.. Capt. Sinclair refused to pay it, & the account is returned to me, The amount is £12.10sh.

Six Brickmakers sent by Capt. Gordon are at Work, and I have ordered four Horses to be bought here to keep two Teams going for Wood for the Kilns till more are sent up. The Store House is raised, & we have almost cleared the Ditch of the Courteen & the two Bastions near the gate.

I am glad to hear that the Pensilvanians have granted 500 more men. If Capt. Gordon is to return it is time he was here as I foresee that in waiting for his directions several parts of the works will not go on with the necessary dispatch. I have the honour to be very Respectfully,

Sir

your most obedient and most

Humble servant

Gen! MONCKTON.

SAME TO SAME.

(Indorsed, REC Y' 30th)

FORT PITT 15th May 1761

SIR,

By a letter received last night from Lieut. Baillie I am informed that Capt. Cochrane was arrived at Presqu'Isle, but as his Letters are not come yet, I do not know any Particulars.

Since my last by M: Spear, The Indians have continued to steal the Trader's horses, and having been obliged to send our Team to the Saw Mill for Boards to cover the Bricks, I ordered the Horses to be kept at night in the Stable joining the House, as we can only afford three men there to attend the Mill, & no guard.

The same night some Shawanese broke open the Stable behind, and carried off the four Horses, one of which was found shot the next morning near Chartiers' Creek: M Croghan sent an Indian after them with a String of Wampum to deliver him those Horses, he overtook them Sixty miles down the River, but they laughed at him, and kept the Horses, Those Indians are well known here, and Croghan has their Names.

That loss in the present circumstances, is the more distressing, that we have no Wood to burn the Bricks: Not to stand quite Still, I have bought two Horses to compleat a weak Team.

The 500 additional men I expected being now vanished, The few I shall get will be all employed in finishing as much as we can of the Fort: I expect daily Capt. De Haa's Company.

The Water that filled up the French Ice House, being low, we have digged for the Cannons and met with the suc