satisfy all sorts of Persons of the true situation of Wyomink, and of the several Prohibitions that have been by the Province published against settling it at the Instance of the Indians, who have a particular Attachment to that Place-to lay before them the certain Opposition they would meet with both from the Indians and this Government-and if they were too thick settled to assure them if they would come in a peaceable manner of all due Encouragement from the Proprietaries.

Governor Hamilton's Letter to the Governor of Connecticut.

"Sir:

"I have received Information that a Party of your Inhabitants did some time ago pass thro' the remote Parts of this Province in their Way to Wyomink upon Sasquehanna River, and gave out that they had made a Purchase of those Lands from the Mohock Indians, and they had your authority to come and settle them, being included within the Boundaries of the Connecticut Charter, and offered their Titles to any who were disposed to purchase; and this, tho' I have disregarded it as an idle Story, is now confirmed by Persons of Character who have been in Connecticut and assure me that a large Number of your Inhabitants, tho' without the Countenance or knowledge of the Government, were actually preparing to remove in the Spring and settle some of the Pennsylvania Lands on Sasquehanna, depending on their Indian Title and not designing to pay any Regard to the Rights of our Proprietaries or apply to this Government for their Leave and Authority.

"Tho' I can scarce persuade myself that any considerable Number would engage in so rash and unjust a Proceeding, yet as it may be true, tho' highly improbable, I find myself obliged to communicate to Your Honour these Informations, and entreat You would be pleased to do all in your Power to prevent these People from putting their Design into execution, assured as I am that if they make the Attempt they will involve this Province in an endless Scene of Trouble and Confusion, and as they must expect Opposition it may prove prejudicial to the Cause of the Colonies; if as it is very probable We shall be engaged in a War to repel the French, who have actually invaded this Province and are now erecting Forts and driving away our Traders within its Limits, a Number of Strangers should come amongst Us and forcibly take Possession of our Lands, what can his Majesty or the other Colonies think but that they are Enemies to their Country, and design to hinder this Government from exerting its Force against the common Enemy by raising a Civil War within its Bowels.

"I beseech your Honour further to consider that the Six Natious will be highly offended if these Lands on Sasquehannah be overun

with White People, for they are their favourite Lands and reserved for their Hunting, and many of them live there, and they have the Faith of this Government solemnly and repeatedly plighted that no White People shall settle there; and if, notwithstanding these publick Engagements, they should now be setled, I will not answer for the Consequences; they may not only turn their Arms against the Setlers but withdraw themselves from our Alliance, which might at this Time prove the Ruin of our Affairs and involve the Colonies in endless Bloodshed and Expence.

"I cannot conceive how the Inhabitants of Connecticut, whose Laws as well as Ours prohibit and render invalid all private Contracts with the Natives, could go in so clandestine a manner to treat with the Mohocks about these Lands; surely they are worthy of much Censure on many Accounts, but at this time it is peculiarly unfortunate as it may create a Difference between the Mohocks and the rest of the Six Nations, between whom there is an Agreement that the Mohocks shall have nothing to do with the Lands in Pennsylvania, nor take any Part of the Presents received for them, because they have already had more than their Share for other Lands, and therefore the Mohocks never come here on Treaties for Land.

"But why will your Inhabitants chuse such a disorderly and dangerous Way of obtaining the Possession of Lands when they may have a legal Settlement? There is a large Extent of Country in the Western Parts of this Province and That of Virginia vacant, and some of the best Lands in North America. If, therefore, any considerable Number of Families want to remove and are minded to settle these Lands, I make no doubt but our Proprietaries will be glad to give them good Encouragement, and if they encline that I shall write in their Favour I will cheerfully do it at your Instance, and press them to return a speedy Answer, which may arrive here time enough for the Planters to go and view these Western Parts in the Winter, and prepare, if they find them agreable, for their Removal as early as the Season in the Spring will permit.

"Or if the Lands of Virginia shall be found more agreeable, I will recommend them to that Government, who have lately made a Law for the Encouragement of New Setlers, and Both Governments will not fail to obtain for them the Friendship and kind Assistances of the Indians in those Parts, in whichsoever of the Two they shall chuse to settle.

"Should any of your Inhabitants be desirous to enquire of our Constitution and the Quality of the Lands in the uncultivated Parts of the Province, they will receive an impartial Account of them from the Gentleman who is charged with this Letter, who is a Member of Assembly, any y Proprietary Surveyor over Sasquehannah, and well acquainted with the Lands not yet appropriated; for these Reasons I have prevailed upon him to take this Journey, that he might answer any Questions and give Satisfaction in all

VOL. V.-19.

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Points necessary to be known in this Matter, and I crave Leave to recommend him to your Honour as a Gentleman whose Relations may be received with the utmost Confidence in whatever he be desired to give an Account of.

"I am persuaded your Honour will perceive the dangerous Consequences that must needs attend the Settlement of the Sasquehannah Lands by your People in the manner they propose, under the present Circumstances of Affairs, that it cannot fail to exasperate the Indians, raise a Civil War in the Province, and distract the Government at a Time when all the Attention I am Master of may be wanted to conduct the momentous Concerns of the Publick, execute his Majestie's Commands, and preserve the Colonies from falling a Prey to our Enemies. Suffer me, then, to repeat my Request that you would please to detain your People at home, and prevail with them to hearken to sober and moderate Counsels, which in the End will prove more to their advantage.

"I am, with sincere Esteem,

"Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,

"PHILADELPHIA, 4th March, 1754.

"JAMES HAMILTON.

“The Honourable ROGER WOLCOTT, Esquire."

Governor Hamilton's Letter to the Deputy Governor of Connecticut. "Sir:

"Hearing that a Number of the Inhabitants of Connecticut are preparing to come and settle some Lands in this Province in a forcible manner, and being apprehensive that it may be of bad Consequence at a Time when we may probably be engaged in a War to repel the hostile Attempts of the French, I have wrote a Letter to Governor Wolcott on this Subject, and take the Freedom to enclose You a Copy of it, and request you will be pleased to give your Assistance in this Affair.

"I have not the Honour of a personal Acquaintance with You, yet I am told that the People have a great Esteem for You and Dependence on your Judgment, which I flatter myself will be favourable to this Application.

"I should not doubt of Success if You would be pleased to join your Influence with his Honour's in setting this matter in its true Light.

"I beg Leave to recommend the Gentleman who delivers this Letter to your Notice and Civilities, who is well acquainted with our Constitution and the Quality of the vacant Lands within this Province, and well qualified to give your People Satisfaction in any

Points they may want to know. I am with perfect Esteem and

"Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,

Regard,

"Philadelphia, 4th March, 1754.

"JAMES HAMILTON.

"The Honourable THOMAS FITCHE, Esquire."

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 20th March, 1754.

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved. A Letter from the Governor and Deputy Governor of Connecticut by Mr. Armstrong, who returned last night, were read as follows:

A Letter from Governor Wolcott to Governor Hamilton.

"Sir:

#

"WINDSOR, March 13th, 1754.

"Yours of the fourth Instant is read, and I hope that by your Letter and my Discourse with Mr. Armstrong I am now better informed than before of the State of the Sasquehanah Lands.

"It is with Concern that We in these Parts of the Country hear continually News that the French are blocking up the Avenues of the Country North and West, and encroaching upon the Lands belonging to the Crown of Great Britain. We fear that this is very much from a backwardness in the Western Governments in promoting New Settlements; and there being now no unapropriated Lands with us, some of our Inhabitants hearing of this Land at Sasquehanah and that it was North of the Grant made to Mr. Penn, and That Virginia are upon a Design of making a Purchase of the Indians and hope to obtain a Grant of it from the Crown. This appearing to be a Design to promote his Majestie's Interest and render the Country more defencible, we were all well Wishers to it.

"But Mr. Armstrong informs me that this Land is certainly within Mr. Penn's Grant; if so I dont suppose our People had any Purpose to quarrel with Pennsylvania; indeed I dont know the Mind of every private Man, but I never heard our Leading Men express themselves so inclined,

"Your Proposal to move Mr. Penn and the Government of Virginia to promote New Settlements in the easiest manner, if effected may turn the Eyes of our People that Way; and it is but reasonable that the Lands so far from the Sea and on the Frontiers should have the Setlers on it encouraged in my Opinion. You may serve your King, your Proprietaries, and your Country, in promoting this Scheme, and this may probably draw many of our People to settle in those Parts, which I hope will prove orderly and industrious Inhabitants, and being used to War may be of good Service on that Account.

"This seems to be the time if ever to promote so good a Work, and if omitted may prove our last Opportunity.

"We in New England from our Beginning have often had hard Wars with the French and Indians, and have hitherto made our Part good with them; it is probable the War will enkindle in the Western Parts, and You must come to a Push with the French which shall be the Masters of the Country, in which Case every man will be serviceable according to his Strength of Body and Resolution of Mind; the Resolution of the Soldier will be very much in Fighting for his Country according to his Interest in it, and if I must go out let me have an Army of Freeholders or Freeholders' Sons.

"I have seen an Instance of this in the Siege of Louisburg. We had but about 3,700 Men, and before We had done about 700 of these were lost or Invalids. With these We beat the French at our Landing and beset the City. The Walls were 34 30, and at some. Places 20 Feet high from the Bottom of the Trench, and built so regular that one or more Cannon swept every Face of it. The Trench was 11 Feet deep and ten Rods wide; without is a Picket and Glacis ; on the Walls were mounted 101 Cannon and 78 Swivels; in the Town were Five Mortars and all Warlike Stores; besides this We had the Grand Battery and Island Battery to subdue; in the Town were 2,100 Men and Lads able to bear Arms. Before these Walls We lay 49 Days, hourly expecting an Army the Enemy had raised to take Annapolis would be upon our Backs. We advanced our Battery within Forty Rods of their Walls, and as We accounted received from them 9,000 great Shot and Bombs. The Ground about our Battery was plowed like a Corn Field, yet I never heard a Man in this Time (excepting those in the Hospital) move to go home till We had taken the City, and We took it, but how God gave Us the victory, but humanly speaking it was because our Soldiers were Freeholders and Freeholders' Sons and had a Sense of ́ Interest in the Country and Liberty, and the Men within the Walls were mercenary Troops.)

"Whenever the War commences with You I think a small Army of such Men well appointed and disciplined will soon convince the French of their Error in provoking and insulting of You. I think a Few of them will be more than a Match for a Multitude of their