Society for the Encouragement of Arts &c. There youll see the Premiums engrossed to be given in America, amongst which are Pott Ash & Hemp. I do not know whether you have this book or not, so I send it at a venture, as I would be happy at any time, could I in any manner contribute to your Pleasure or Proffitt. We have no News here. I am told that a Man of War is hourly expected with ye Difinitive Treaty, the Declaration of Peace & some Orders to Sir Jeffry about the Troops &c. I have already trespassed I fear too much by this long letter, so will not detain you longer than to present Mrs. Wallaces respects to you, & to assure you that I am with great Esteem & Truth Dear Sir

Yr. most obed'. Humo. Serv!.

HUGH WALLACE SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON Bart.

FROM DANIEL CAMPBELL ETC.

The preceding letter is followed in the Johnson Calendar, p. 167, by a letter of April 25th from Thomas Flood, at New York, about affairs in which zeal for Sir William's reputation has landed him in prison; by a letter of the 25th from Daniel Campbell, at Schenectady, about attempt of McCord to leave in clandestine manner, death of old friend, Mr Corry of Albany, enforcement of order concerning width of wagons on highways, price of nails, and money for which he would like a bill on Albany or New York; by a letter of the 25th from William Darlington, at New York, mentioning draft on Mr Mortier, trees sent by Mr Dyckman, articles to be sent in charge of Garret Marselis, things delivered to Dr Stringer, and strong demand for fruit trees; by a letter of the 26th from Abraham Lyle, at Albany, sending bill of Captain Montour in favor of Francis Wade and inquiring about several accounts; by a letter of the 27th from Daniel Claus about trees and other articles, from New York, brought in bateaux from Schenectady; by receipt of the 28th of Gerrit Merselis, at New York, to William Darlington for barrels and keg shipped to Albany for Sir William Johnson on Merselis' sloop. These papers were destroyed by the fire.

TO CATHERINE CORRY

Df.

Johnson Hall April 29th 1763 MADAM

I am greatly concerned at the Melancholy occasion which Providence hath afforded me in condoling with you on the great loss you have sustained by the death of my Friend Mr. Corry, a loss so sudden and unexpected that I never once heard of his Indisposition until I received the disagreeable news of his Departure.

Having always considered you to be a Lady of good sense I shall not attempt to offer you the usual consolation on such occasions, convinced your direction will enable you to support a loss which is at present irretrievable especially as the care of your Family is now become your sole & particular charge for the Welfare of whom prudence demands the utmost Extension of those Abilities of which I know you to be Mistress.

This will I am certain meet with your most serious attention, & in some measure tend to alleviate the Grief which is so naturally excited by the death of an Affectionate Husband, and as Providence did not deprive you of him so long as your Family remained in an Infant State, I make no doubt it will still continue to second the Endeavors of an Affectionate Mother in forming their Minds & promoting their Happiness.

I shall be always ready to convince you of my Esteem for the Memory of Mr. Corry & friendship for his family, and do assure you that I am with much Sincerity, Mamam.” MRS. CORRY.

2

Original destroyed by fire.
**Mamam” in the copy, a manifest error.

TO JAMES HAMILTON

Df.1

Johnson Hall April 29th 1763 DEAR SIR

Since my last in which (amongst other particulars) I mentioned my having wrote to Gov". Fitch concerns. the designs of the people within his Government, I have received his answer intimating " that he wod. take the first opportunity to lay the matter before the Assembly wch, would set in May & recommend these affairs to their Serious Consideration, doubting not but they would be disposed to take every proper Measure that might come within their province to preserve a Good Harmony & understanding with the Six Nations.”

About the same time Sir Jeff Amherst acquainted me by Letter that Just as he had received mine on that Subject he opened a packet from the Earl of Egremont thereon Enclosing a Letter to Gov' Fitch wherin he acquainted him of his Majestys Disapprobation of the Steps taken by the Connecticut People for settling on the Susquehanna, & directing the Govr. to Exert every Legal Authority over his People, & employ his utmost influence to prevent the prosecution of any such Settlement, 'till the case could be laid before his Majesty.

I am hopefull this will meet with all just deference & that his Majestys orders will be obeyed, altho' those concerned have been hitherto blind enough to Slight the representations so repeatedly made them from me. & the whole Confederacy now met at Onondaga on accht of a Message sent to them by me, to wh. I have sent some of both Mohawk Castles to enforce my desire, & as they are much alarmed at ye proposed Settlement, I dare say they will take the same into their serious consideration, with the result whereof I shall as soon as possible make you acquainted as I have nothing more at heart than the preservation

Original destroyed by fire.

of peace and the preventing any unjust Encroachments to the Prejudice of the Original Owners, and the Disadvantage of the proprietary of Pensilvania.

I am &c. The Honble. GOVR. HAMILTON.

FROM WITHAM MARSH ETC.

There occur in the Johnson Calendar, p. 168, a letter of April 29th to Rev. Dr Barclay on the plan of the forthcoming Indian prayer book and advantage of mission work not only to Indians but to the established church (printed in Doc. Hist. N. Y., 4:330; Q, 4:211); a letter of the 29th from William Marsh, at Schenectady, with reference to added obligations to Sir William for espousing his cause, and intention of Mr Mcllworth and himself to set out for the fort on the following day in a wagon; a bill and receipt of the 30th of Sanuel Tyms at Schnectady to Daniel Campbell for cloth; a letter of May 2d from Richard Allen, at Fort Stanwix, complaining of loss at hands of Indians and asking that his grievance be laid before the nation responsible for murder and robbery; Richard Allen's account of losse's sustained from the Indians; and a letter of the 2d from Catherine Corry informing that Mr Corry is dead and asking advice and assistance in settling his affairs. These papers were destroyed in the fire.

FROM JOHN TABOR KEMPE

A. L. S.1

New York May 24. 1763. SIR

Your favour of the 30th March, has been so long by me unanswered that I must confess it needs to be apologized for, but I did not receive it til just before the Term, when I was so engaged with the preparations for the Term, that I really had not an Opportunity of writing, or indeed thinking of any Thing but the Business immediately before me; however I did not neglect communicating to the Gov'. your Letter as we were a

Original destroyed by fire.

little astonished at the appearance of those Indians, some of whom it was said were Sachems. They were introduced in Council' I believe to inform the Government that the Lands had been fairly purchased and that the Nation was satisfied except a few, among whom some have no Right to the Lands there, being of another Tribe. The Governor desired I would inform you of the Proceedings of that Day, which I cannot say I am very capable of, not having been in Council to hear the proceedings but was called in after the Indians withdrew, and desired to consider of some method to recover these Lands by Law, but I cannot as yet devise any means to get over the objections I formerly mentioned to you. After reading your Letter the Govt. told me that these very Indians met him in the Bowery Land’ a Day or two after they had been in Council, stopped his Chariot, and asked him whether he intended to give them their Lands again. Which seems a very odd Question if they knew the purport of their Testimony given in Council (which I understood was by affids.)

Klock is charged with a fraud in making the Indians drunk, and then procuring them to sign the Deeds, a copy of which I believe you have. There is no other Charge against him but that, there being no order for any other prosecution. I have seen no affidavits relating to this affair, but those transmitted by you to the Governor.

The next Post I shall transmit to you the Subpoenas & Tickets, that there may be full Time to secure the Witnesses, and I should be glad if it suited your Conveniency you would be present at the Trial, as many questions may be necessary to be asked the Witnesses which for want of knowing the whole circumstances I

I have not yet applied to any other Lawyer not knowing how they were to be paid. I shall speak to one to assist as the Burthen of a Trial of such Moment, and where there are so

may omit.

1On March 22d, Calendar of Council Minutes, p. 461. ?Bowery Lane. "Land" in the copy.