haps the case even now in Philadelphia; except indeed, that Parents even there may look to the Western Wilderness as a capacious reservoir for all their seed. But, let us suppose, that there were no channel to this reservoir, and that emigration were confined within the boundaries. of Pensylvania, then, I think, the progress of population would go on nearly thus

It is however proper to add, That all accounts agree, in stating the Emigration since the Peace to the fine Country on the West of the Ohio, and consequently beyond the limits of Pensylvania, as almost incredible. And, I am of opinion, that these emigrations will continue for a Century to come; 1st because this Western Country is unbounded; 2ly because the desire of Emigration Westward is very ardent in American hearts.

5th These observations go to show, that the Pens would not be able to sell all their saleable Lands in fifty years; and that they would be obliged to reduce the price, or purchase money, which was never well collected.

This, I fear, is all the light I can throw on this very obscure business: And, this I have written with the same sincerity as if I had said it upon Oath. Perhaps it would not be wholly impertinent, were I to add, that I have formerly perused the correspondence, such as it is, between the Secretary of State and the Penns, at the epoch of the Revolt, of which I now have notes:-That when the Tea Ship, which was not permitted to enter at Philadelphia, arrived in England the King sent for the Governor's dis

patch but, the Secretary had only a Pensylvania newspaper to send; which newspaper I have seen, with an Indorsment that the King had read it, containing the proceedings about the Tea:-The Spring-garden Penn was sent to; but he had no dispatches:-Governor Penn was written to; but, he had scarcely an excuse, for giving no account of a Transaction which was deemed Rebellious in England. The subsequent correspondence of Gov! Penn is mere lullaby, which was probably taken from the Philadelphia Gazettes. I have notes of curious correspondence from other persons. It is an incontrovertible' fact, That from the epoch of the Stamp Act to the sad period of Independence, the Penns never would or did act, and scarcely would, or did correspond.

When you lay this letter before the Board will you be so good as to beg their excuse for one or two strokes of impertinence, for the sake of my endeavours to show how much I am

Their and your

Mo. Ob. and faithful Serv

GEO. CHALMERS.

CH MONROE Esq.

GOVERNOR DOWDESWELL TO G. CHALMERS, SEPT. 6, 1799.

MY DEAR SIR,

[Private.]

HARBOUR ISLAND, Bahamas, 6 Septm. 1799.

You will probably be surprised, at the Place, from whence this letter is dated, but I had for this month passed, been much indisposed by a Feverish Complaint, which left me so weak, as to make a change, of air, & scence, necessary towards my Recovery, and I intend to remain here, till

nearly the Meeting of the Legislature, or as our friend Gov. Beckwith terms it, The Colonial Parliament. I had a similar complaint last year, but the effects of which, were not nearly so severe, as what have lately oppressed me.

This Letter will be delivered to you by the Hon! Col. Murray. He is going home, on his Private affairs, nor can I conceive, that He will ever again return to this Country. His object I believe to be, the procuring of some Preferment in the Army, to which he has lately had some encouragement to hope for, from some favorable inclinations, which the Duke of York has expressed for him. His manners are mild, & pleasant, and he appears to be, by no means deficient in information. His long residence in the Islands, added to his own observation, will enable you by conversing with him, to procure some useful intelligence in regard to the expediency of opening The Land office, as well as what the real state, and value of The Land in the Bahamas may be, a misunderstanding upon this subject, I take to be the reason, of no steps having been taken upon it.

The Admiral has at length added the Sloop Fox, L Woolridge, to The Prompte, now on the Station, and as I understand, she is to remain with us. In the Fox came passenger, Gen! Bowles, and L. Woolridge has orders to Land him, at the Creeks, but nothing further. M: Bowles, brought me a Letter from Lord Balcarras, to acquaint me of his having paid his expences at Jamaica, considering such a charge would meet, with the approbation of Ministers I consequently have agreed to the same thing here, the amount of which will not exceed Thirty Pound. This General talks boldly, and in good language. He appears to be a most extraordinary character, and I shall be curious to learn how far his interest with the Indians really extends, and what may be the issue of his operations. He told me, it would be two months, before any thing decisive could be done. That his Dispatches to Government would

be transmitted through Lord Balcarras, and if military operations were resorted to, it would be in concert with His Lordship, but that He would take an opportunity of communicating with me, on the Measures He should adopt -I am still in the dark, as to how far, He is encouraged to expect support from G. Brittain, but am inclined to suspect, He has not so much as he professes to have.

I have not for some time, been able to write any Letters, you will therefore excuse the inaccuracy, and confusion, in the lines I now trouble you with, and forgive my now only adding,

That I am ever,

Your very aff. & most Faithful servant

G. CHALMERS, Jr, &c. &c. &c.

W. DOWDESWELL.

P. S. Gen' Bowles told me, He had a Petition from Lord D. to him, for a grant of 20,000 acres of Land in the Creeks.

GEORGE CHALMERS TO WILLIAM HAMILTON, ESQ.

DR SIR,

OFFICE TRADE WHITEHALL, 22 Oct. 1816.

I have perused and considered the letter of Mr Barclay of the 10th and 12th of August last, relating to the Nova Scotia boundaries under the Treaties of 1783 and 1814 which you put into my hands and I now beg to submit what has occurred to me, on the several points so well suggested by his majesty's commissioner.

The United States have arisen within time of memory: and of course, cannot claim those various pretensions, the various topicks which arise from long usage: Their rights must be made out, from the positive grant of the

In this case Great Britain

prior occupant and owner: was, and is, the prior occupant, and owner of the islands, in question from the distant epochs of colonization and discovery. The United States may claim, however, under the Treaty of 1783, all islands within 20 leagues of any part of the United States, with this defeasance; "excepting such islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said province of Nova Scotia." It follows, then, as a fair consequence from the foregoing premisses, that the United States, cannot claim any island that has ever been deemed to lye within the limits of Nova Scotia.

This leads on to the enquiry what has been, at all times, the limits of Nova Scotia. It is curious to remark, that Mr Barclay has at once appealed to the royal grant of Nova Scotia to Sir Wm Alexander Lord Stirling, in the same manner as Mess. T. Shirley & Mildmay did, in 1749, at Paris, when acting as British Commissaries, for settling the Boundaries of that colony. The Board of Trade, with Lord Halifax at its head, disapproved of this: & so informed the Duke of Bedford, the Secretary of State. The objection of the Board was, that to appeal to that grant of Nova Scotia was to make Nova Scotia a part of Acadie; whereas those two colonies were identified, as one and the same; they were so indentified by the Treaty of Utrecht art XII, which ceded to G. Britain, all Nova Scotia or Acadie with its ancient boundaries and all other things in those parts, which depend on the land & islands together with the Dominion, & propriety and possession of the said islands, lands and places.* Upon this point of identification, it may be observed from the Books of the Board of Trade: The first commission which was granted, in 1712, to Col. Nicolson for that Colony, empowered him to take under his government Nova Scotia or Acadie; but without any boundaries; plainly referring, virtually to the ancient boundaries of Acadie or Nova Scotia as stated in

The remainder of this paragraph was struck out of the original draft of the letter.