As we have lately no particular Accots of the proceedings of the Troops since there being at Skenectady no Judgment can be formed as to their Attempts whither they are destined God grant they may find better Success than what the Troops have hitherto met with. The Constant good Accounts we receive from the Eastward of the Success of the Kings Ships and Land Forces in some measure alleviate the gloomy Prospect we are entertained with in these Southern Coloniesfor the three only Forts the French had in Nova Scotia are reduced and are now garrisoned with English Troops so that that Province is entirely evacuated by the French and His Majesty has a fine Fleet of 20 Ships of the Line Commanded by Admiral Boscawen cruising about Nova Scotia and Cape Breton to watch the motions of the French and to prevent as much as Possible their being supply'd with Provisions or warlike Stores. Your Letter of the 2: of June I have laid before our Commissioners who have the Care of our Part of the present Armament and they tell me they have made the Remittance to Mr. Hanbury as you directed & shou'd observe your farther Orders in that matter. As the Assemblies of Pennsylvania and of N. York are now Sitting your honour will doubtless have an Acct from the several Gov's of what they are like to do in this Critical Conjuncture-the Assembly of this Province met here the Inst when I press'd upon them the absolute necessity of exerting themselves to the utmost on this important Occasion for his Majestys honour and Service as well as for their own Safety and Welfare & that of their Neighbours & I really think the Colonies (take them all together) ought immediately to get together a Body of at least 20,000 men in order to their making a Rational Effort in what they have already began or otherwise their poor Inhabitants must expect to be Continually sacrificed to the Depredations & murders of the mercyless French and Indians from whom may God almighty defend and deliver them. I remain with much Respect Sir Your Honours Most Obed & Most humble Serv L. Gov. Dinwiddie. J. BELCHER Letter from The Lords of Trade to Governor Belcher -in answer to several received from him. [From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 16, p. 1.] To Jonathan Belcher Esq Governor of New Jersey. Sir Since our letter to you dated July the 5th 1754 We have received yours of August the 14th and 24th, November, the 6th 23d and 26th, December the 28th 1754, and April the 28th 1755, together with the several Publick Papers transmitted with them. It gave Us great pleasure to find by the last of these Letters, that the Assembly of New Jersey were at length awaken'd from that extraordinary inattention to their own Security, & that of the Neighbouring Colonys, which you had so justly complained of in your former Letters, and that they now seemed disposed to shew a proper sense of His Majestys paternal regard to them, by an exertion of their Strength in Conjunction with the other Colonys for the defence of His Majestys Territorys against the Incroachments and Invasion of a Foreign Power. It would have given Us great satisfaction, if the Bill prepared by them for the emission of 70000 £ in paper Bills of Credit had been so framed, that We could, consistent with Our Duty, have laid it before His Majesty for His Approbation; but as it did not in any one Provision of it conform to His Majestys Instructions to you upon that head, We could do no otherwise than report our opinion against it; the reasons for which you will find fully contained in our Report upon it, a Copy of which was sent you some time since, together with His Majesty's Order in Council respecting the Bill. We have read and considered the Papers you transmitted to Us, relating to the disputes between New Jersey and New York concerning the Boundary Line; and are now clearly convinced, that this Question can never be adjusted or determined but by Commission from His Majesty; the Act passed by New York for submitting the controversy to His Majesty appeared to Us to be very improper and ineffectual for that purpose; and therefore We laid it before His Majesty for His Disallowance, and proposed a Commission; but as the Agent for New York declined entering into any Agreement to pay his part of the Expence of taking it Out, We were under a Necessity of proposing that an Instruction should be sent to the Governor of New York to recommend it to the Assembly to make immediate Provision for that Purpose, and We hope it will have its Effect, and that this dispute will soon be brought to a final Issue: for it gives Us the greatest concern, that the internal peace of His Majestys Colonys shou'd be disturbed by disagreement amongst themselves upon Questions of this kind, at a time when an exertion of their United Strength is necessary in Vindication of His Majestys Rights and in defence of His Territorys. So We bid you heartily farewell, and are Your very Loving Friends and humble Servants, DUNK HALIFAX J. PITT J. GRENVILLE WHITEHALL August 6th 1755 Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary John Read-desiring the Council and Assembly to meet him at Elizabethtown. [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] MR. SECRETARY READ. Sir Aug. 8 1755 The Advices I have recd this morning make it necessary I shou'd see the Council & Assembly here to impart them to them it is therefore my Order that when this Comes to hand you adjourn them accordingly to meet me at this Place tomorrow as what I have to say cannot be so well done by Message. It is now Eight days since the Opening of the Session a great Part of which time has been spent in passing between this Place and Amboy and the Case must still be so to the great Expence of the Province and to the Delay of the Publick Affairs while the Kings Governour is in the Providence of God disabled from travelling. You know, Sir, I have been for near twelve months out of Pocket for Expresses sent for the Safety of the Province tho' I know no reason why it shou'd be so or that the Kings Serv's shou'd advance money while pursueing the weal and prosperity of the People but there shou'd be always a Provision in the Treasury for Contingencies and more especially during the present Crisis of Affairs. I have been expecting to hear from your House respecting the Choice of a Speaker pro tempore in Mr. Lawrence's Absence. I have particular Matters to lay before His Majesty's Council in which the Attendance of the Sec'ry will be absolutely necessary. My kind Respects to His Majesty's Council & to the House of Assembly to whom you may Communicate this Letter. I am Honoble Sir Your ready Friend J. BELCHER. Letter from Governor Belcher to Lieut.-Governor De Lancy, of New York, about Laws to enforce embargoes. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZ: TOWN Aug 8 1755 Sir L. Gov DELANCEY * * * As the Assembly is now sitting I shall press upon them the passing a Law as mentioned in my last' for your Honour is sensible that altho' Governours may issue Proclamations of Imbargo yet without a Law they can impose no mulcts or Fines for the Breach of them. If the Assembly here finally come into Resolutions of doing what is proper in the difficult Situation of Affairs I agree with you that it will be best to do it by raising of more men & with the greatest Dispatch to be sent to Coll Schuyler for reinforcing Genl' Shirley. I am with much Esteem & Respect Sir Your Honours Most Obed' & 1 July 30, 1755, he wrote to Lieut. Gov. Delancey: "I am to meet the Assembly of this Province to-morrow, when I shall press upon their doing something effectual for restraining the Exportation of Provisions and warlike Stores for such Time as may be judged necessary."-ED. |