when nothing less could be expected by their withdrawing than continual Murders & Depredations on these Southern Colonies and by a Letter I have from Gov' Morris of the 17. Ins' the Enemy have past the Susquehannah & had fallen upon Tulpichochin one of the finest Settlements in Pennsylvania & I am daily expecting to hear of their coming over the Delaware to harrass & distress the Frontiers of this Poor little Province I have therefore issued Orders to every Col' &c. * * * Gov' Sharpe call'd on me about a Fortnight ago and told me the people of Maryland were lulling themselves into the same stupid false Security [as those of Pennsylvania.] What shall we say Sir,-Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat. One of the most glorious Campaigns the great Duke of Marlborough ever made was in a severe Winter and when he did not quit the Field till the Month of January-and I shou'd really have thought our little Army of 8 or 10,000 men might have made an Attempt ou Crown Point-but that Matter is over at Present & God Almighty grant Wisdom Spirit & Resolution for better conducting the Operations of the next Campaign & to be early in the Field is a most essential thing I mean to have the Forces at their several Places of Rendezvous so as to be ready to march to the Places of their Destination by the Beginning of May & had it been so this Year Fort Duquesne had in all probability been ours. By letters to the 9th of last Month from England it was still uncertain when a War wou'd be declared. I respectfully salute you and am Sir, Your Honours Most Obedt &c. J BELCHER. Letter of Governor Belcher to the Colonels of Regiments in New Jersey-directing them to muster their troops, and march to the Delaware river. [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] TO HIS EXCELLENCY JONATHAN BELCHER ESQ Capt General and Gov' in chief in & over His Majestys Province of Nova Cæsarea or New Jersey and Territories thereon depending in America Chancellor & vice Admiral in the same. To the Honoble Joseph Tuttle Esq' Col' of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Morris in the Province afores; or to the Commanding Officer of the s" Regiment for the Time being Sir, Having about an Hour ago recd p Express several Affidavits of the French & Indians burning a town at the Forks of Delaware and murdering all the People— & from which I am in Hourly expectation to hear of their coming into this Province-these are to require you in His Majesty Name forthwith to muster your Regiments & to see they be well furnished with Arms Amunition & Provisions & to march with them immediately towards the River Delaware & to endeavour to get the best Information you can where you may meet them either in this Province or Pennsylvania & to repell & destroy them in the best manner you can & for which this shall be your Warrant. Given under my hand & Seal at Arms at the Borough of Eliza this 26: day of Nov' in the twenty ninth Year of His Majesty' Reign Annoq Domini 1755. (The same to Joseph Stout Esq: Col of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Hunterdon to Honoble John Schuyler Esq. Col' of the Regiment of Militia & also of the Regiment of Horse in the County of Bergen. Also to Col John Low of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Essex.) Letter from Governor Belcher to his nephew, P. Oliver. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] Mr. P. Oliver My Dear Nephew, ELIZABETH Town Nov! 27, 1755 Sir, I have duly recd your very good Letters of 20: of Sept & of 10:Currt I am too old to accost my Relation & Friends in Compliment or Adulation therefore what drops from my Pen proceeds from the most secret Recesses of my heart in great Integrity and Sincerity. I have feasted and Regaled myself once & again with your fine ingenious Letter of 20: of Sept too full of Gratitude for the little Instances of Love and Affection I was capable of shewing you and your Wife in your late Visit to your Uncle Broken with Age. The Sacred Pages tell us, the desire of a man is his Kindness and altho' I cou'd not entertain you politely in this rustick obscure Part of the Globe yet what I cou'd do I did most heartily & your kind Visit greatly refresht my Bowels & rejoiced my heart. I thank you, Sir, for the Share you are pleased to take in the Pleasure and Comfort God pleases to Grant me in the Ease of my Administration among a People who love me and I love them & I have reason to believe that were this Governm Elective nineteen in twenty wou'd give me their Voices-indeed I believe it is a Government of the least Profit of any in His Majestys Gift on the English Continent and yet perhaps many a man in my Station wou'd have made much more of it than I dare (and at same time might have thought he did it with a good Conscience) the Publick Records of this Province will always shew to a Shilling what I have received in this Government. I thank God who has inabled me to keep my hands empty and clean and my Fingers from all Corruption by the unrighteous Mammon. * * * * * * * I am much pleased with the fine Description you give of the dreadful Storm you met with off New London and I thank God that he who holds the Winde in his Fist & makes His Thunders and his Lightnings exactly fulfill his Pleasure was your Covert in the mighty Tempest & safe guarded you to your Habitation, Children and Friends where may you always live as well as speak his Praises. * * * ** * * * I wish you and your Family all the Blessings of this Life and a better and am obliged for all your kind desires for me and mine & thus I remain, Dear Sir, Your aged, loving Uncle J BELCHER Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Andersonrelating to Military requirements. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] COLL ANDERSON Sir ELIZA TOWN Nov 28 1755 Yesterday about 4 o'clock in the Afternoon I recd p Express yours of 26: Currt, together with a Particular Account from Mr Russell of the Present distrest Con dition of the Inhabitants of this Province from the near Approach of the Enemy to our Borders: Upon an Apprehension of this I issued my Orders the 12: Inst to every Col' of this Province to muster his Regiment &c * * * I hear Col' Stout and Col' Vancampen were getting together a Number of men and near three Thousand marcht Yesterday from Morris County and Col' Low of the County of Essex and Col' Schuyler of the County of Bergen are to march on Monday next the first of Dec' with five hundred men more, and I am this Morning sending Expresses to several other Col's to march with their Quotas that I hope we shall soon have a Body of two thousand men ready to give the French & Indians a Warm Reception upon their Approach. As to a Garrison and men to keep it that must be done by the Assembly who must also supply the Firelocks and Amunition you mention and I shall call them together as soon as possible to lay before them the present deplorable condition of the Province. I am very well pleased & so is every Body else at your good Resolution & Readiness to the Service of your King & Country. May God Almighty keep and protect you & your Neighbours from the Barbarities and Cruelties of the French and Indians who are making their utmost Attempts to drive all the King's Subjects from of this Continent. I am, Sir, your good Friend, J. BELCHER |