failed, and tho' they were almost starved they have not killed one Bullock: From Sandusky they found continual Swamps round the Lake, and marched often midle deep in water: Capt. Campbell writes that the Canadiens are only fit for the Lake, and not for such service, But they can be sufficiently supplied from Niagara.

The twelve Cags of Powder arrived also Safe: As the French did not build their Batteaux at Detroit, They cannot make Pitch; What we could spare them is not Sufficient. They must be supplied from Niagara. Capt. Campbell complains of the quantity of Rum sold at that Fort upon Sir Williams' Permitts, and of the bad use that (unknown to him) the Traders make of them.

The Indians have stole some more Horses of the Country People. The bulk of them are not concerned in those Insults committed by some Vagabonds chieffly Mingoes. Since M: Croghan went down, I have spoke so seriously to the Principal Chiefs about us, that they have once more promised to do their endeavours to suppress it, and engaged positively to deliver in two months our Prisoners, & the stolen Horses they can get, I could wish that when they go to the Town they were not made so much of, at least while they detain our Prisoners & continue to steal our Horses: As they are very apt to attribute kindness to Fear, and I never could get any thing of them by sofft words: We are upon very good Terms at present and they have thanked me in form for keeping Rum from them.

We have had another Batteau oversett in French Creek, and lost some Provisions & the Shipwrights Tools, which are replaced.

Another large Batteau with 30 Barrills of Beef for Venango, struck about 40 miles from hence upon a Log under Water in a Rapide, and being carried down with great Impetuosity by the Current fell against a Tree hanging in the River, Splite, and oversett, one man was killed by the Tree, & another drowned; I sent Capt. Clapham with a Party to

save what Provisions they can, they are not come back yet; Those People were expert Battoemen, not belonging to the garrison.

Capt. Barnsley went down on receiving the first orders, but his Bulk does not admit of extraordinary diligence.

I sent to Major Walters a List of fifteen men of his Garrison to be discharged; There are a few more in Capt. Cochrane's Company at Presqu'Isle which I shall keep a little longer, and only three here; the rest intitled or not must serve the Campaign.

The Generals' orders concerning Drummers are given out. The Commissions for Capt. L. Philips, Lieu! M'Donald, and Ens? Geo. Price are arrived. this last has settled with Capt. Bassett for the £125-Sters purchase, as you are pleased to ask my sentiments upon the means of suppressing, or reducing the Pay given here to Soldiers for their work, I shall observe in general that in England and all other services the Soldier is paid when employed in regular Fortifications like this: and tho' they receive Provisions in this Country. Every officer knows that by the difference. of Prices for Necessarys, the whole Pay of the Soldier is no more than sufficient to keep him in repair, as they have no opportunity to earn a Six-Pence out of the Service.

But as it appears extraordinary that they should be paid at this only place on this Continent: I beg leave to point out some Reasons to justify that difference.

In 1758, and 1759, This Batt? like the rest of the army received only a Jill of Rum per day for each man's work: The Price of that Jill was then here one Shilling, which was afterwards reduced to 9 d. The daily distribution of that Rum, when the men came to be continually employed, being attended with Inconveniences & complaints: Gen! Stanwix paid them their Jill in money, which, without increasing the Publick Expence, forwarded greatly the works, by introducing the method of Tasks, impracticable with Rum: and one man making commonly two Tasks, or two

I

days work in one; one half is saved in Time,& conse-
quently so much Provisions upon the whole. When you
reduced the Rum to 6 d. a Jill, Their Pay followed that
reduction: Therefore they have only in fact a Jill of Rum
a day, whether in kind or money is all one for the Publick;
and tho' Rum by the Barrill is bought here at the rate of
ten shills. a gallon; The Retailers cannot sell it much
under 6 d. a Jill, considering the high wages of their Ser-
vants and the Price they have to pay for provisions.

Whatever may be done elsewhere, it appears to me very
just to pay the Soldiers at this Place for work. For they are
charged 10, & 11 Shills a Pair of Shoes, Shirts, Stockings
&c. in proportion, and being constantly kept at work they
waste more than double the usual allowance of those neces-
saries, and their Pay alone could hardly keep them in
Repair.

At any other Post all must be cheaper from the difference of Water, and Land Carriage.

Other Regiments have not been Continually at work and have done other duties.

But this is the fourth year that this Batt is worked Winter and Summer, without Intermission (except the time you was here) and the men begin to be a little discouraged to see no end of their fatigues, as excepting Sundays when the guards are relieved, they have not one day to themselves.

All the Circumstances peculiar to this Place, and the Batt? considered, I see only one method, and that I apprehend impracticable this Summer, to send them upon some other Service, and relieve them by Troops not used to be paid for work.

I am so sensible of the necessity of reducing, even in the smallest articles, the heavy expences of this War, that if I could contribute to that end in my narrow sphere I think myself obliged in honour & duty to do it. But I cannot

think it advisable to make any alteration this year here, as there are so few men, and so much work to do.

But whatever you will think proper to determine thereupon shall be executed.

What I have said concerns only the Batt! But it is not practicable to make a difference wth the Provincials while Employed on the same duty, and we cannot afford to loose. the Labour of the Regulars become now very expert, and handy, in making Bricks, Lime, Sod work &c.

I must beg the favour of your orders concerning the Detachment of Artillery, as they have nothing to do, I make them give six men for the Fort Guard, to have as many more of ours for work.

I wanted also to employ their Artificers about the Fort, But they dont think themselves obliged to work out of the Artillery, unless they are paid for it; as I am not acquainted with the Extraordinary Priviledges of that Corps, I dropt it till I know your intentions.

Bentincks' good fortune has given me great pleasure, I hope he will continue to deserve the protection of his Patrons.

I beg your pardon for the length of this Letter at a time when business must crowd on all sides upon you. Permit me to congratulate you on your Promotion, and appointment to the Government of New York.

I am with great Respect

Sir,

Your most obedient &

most Humble Servant

General MONCKTON.

HENRY BOUQUET.

E:

CAMPBELL TO BOUQUET.

SIR

I wrote you lately very fully of all my proceedings at this place, since that time I have been a little allarmed by the reports of the discontent and bad designs of the Indian Nations which as they carried some appearance of truth, put me upon my Guard and made me at pains to find out the true cause of their Discontent, it was first told me it proceeded from the Northern Indians but I now find it comes from the Six Nations, and for your information I give you the Intelligence I had from my Indian Interpreter and several other people of character whom I can depend upon.

The Six Nations have sent Deputys and large Belts of Wampum to all Indians from the Bay of Gaspier to the Illonois, inviting them to take up the Hatchet against the English, two of their Deputys (Senica Chiefs) came here two Days ago to propose it to the Nations here and to invite them to a grand Councell at the Little Lakes, with the Delewars and Shawanies whose Chiefs are allready there amongst whom is the Bever, as I have so good information of every thing that passes I hope to be able to prevent the Indians here from taking any concern.

The Scheme laid is that the Indians in general shall at one time cut of all the communications and stop the Roads at Niagara Fort Pitt and here and at the same time seize upon all the Goods and Horses of the Traders at Sanduskey; In order to prevent their taking the advantage of the powder and Indian Goods at Sanduskey, I have sent M: Hambach this night with about fifty of the Traders servants armed and five Batteaus to bring all the Traders and Goods here, which will certainly be a great disappointment to their project.