It is, I think, very probable that the Crowns share of the seizures would at first defray the Expense of such an Establishment. The Fund would decrease as the illicit Trade decreased; but then, the Increase of Dutys paid might be more than equivalent. Dutch Gun Powder has been in use in this Colony ever since I came into it. How it was formerly imported, I know not.—I make no Doubt, all we now have is brought in clandestinly I have not been able to learn any thing of the ship Polly, Captain Broadhelp. I shall pay the strictest attention to your Lordships Directions on this Subject, which appears to be a matter of great Consequence. I shall not neglect to observe your Lordship's Commands, to lay before you, by every Opportunity, an Account of what occurs among Us. I am with the greatest Respect My Lord, Your most obedient and faithfull Servant Cadwallader Colden P. S. Another Paper from the Congress addressed to the Inhabitants of Quebec is just now publish'd here—I inclose one of them. Rl Honb,e Earl of Dartmouth. Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth. My Lord [New-York Papers (8. P. 0.) CLXVII., No. 9.] New York Dec' 7,h 1774. Notwithstanding the business which this time agitates America, is such, that we continually expect some event of great importance, what has occurred in this Province since my letter to your Ldp of the 2d of November, has not been very material. The first thing done here, in consequence of the resolutions of the Congress, was the dissolution of the Committee of 51 in order to choose a new Committee to carry the measures of the Congress into effect. A Day was appointed by advertisem' for choosing sixty persons to form this new Committee. About thirty or forty citizens appeared at the election, and chose the sixty persons who had been previously named by the former Committee I can, no otherwise my Lord, account for the very small number of people who appeared on this occasion than by supposing that the measures of the congress are generally disrelished. The non importation association affects the smugglers as well as the fair Traders. No Tea is to be imported from any part of the world after the first day of this month. The Smugglers expect large quantities of Dutch Tea, and insist that it shall be exempted from the effect of the Association. Others declare that the fair Traders shall not be the only sufferers. It is a dispute which I think may very probably defeat the Association Several Vessels are daily expected here with goods from England and I am told ten or twelve from Philadelphia. It is however shocking to reflect my Lord, that smuggling is such a business among us as to be publicly espoused by numbers and more strenuously advocated than the legal Trade In the present Committee of this Place there are several gentlemen of property and who are esteemed to favor moderate and conciliatory'. I was surprised to find such men joining with the Committee whose design is to execute the plan of the Congress. I have at length discovered that they act with a view to protect the City from the ravage of the Mob. For this purpose, they say they are obliged at present to support the measures of the Congress. That if they did not, the most dangerous men among us would take the Lead; and under pretence of executing the dictates of the Congress would immediately throw the City into the most perilous situation. That however considerable the numbers may be, who disapprove o^ violent riotous measures, yet the Spirit of Mobing is so much abroad, it is in the Power of a few People at any time to raise a Mob; and that the Gentlemen, and men of Property, will not turn out to suppress them. I fear my Lord there is too much truth in this representation. It is a dreadfull situation. If we are not rescued from it, by the wisdom and firmness of Parliament, the Colonies must soon fall into distraction and every Calamity annexed to a total annihilation of Government Mr Gallaway one of the Philadelphia Delegates, has been lately there on a visit. He furnished me with Heads of a plan for the Government of the Colonies proposed by him to the Congress and seconded by Mr Duane of this Place-These Gentlemen are of opinion my Lord, that there is a defect in the constitution of the British empire with respect to the Government of the Colonies, and that the most effectual means of reconciling the present unhappy differences; and for preventing the like hereafter, would be to obtain from the King and Parliament one General constitution that should establish a political Union not only among the Colonies, but with great Britain upon Principles of safety and freedom to both. These were the guiding objects in Mr Gallaways Plan, which underwent a Debate in the Congress, and was entered on their minutes; but was afterwards not only totally rejected without proposing a substitute but expunged from their minutes. I enclose your Lordship a copy of Mr Galloways Plan, with two sets of introductory resolves How amazing is it my Lord that when a rational mode of proceeding evidently tending to a Reconciliation, was introduced and supported by men of the best judgm' the Congress should prefer a method big with wickedness, extravagance & absurdity. A fatal Pride and obstinacy seems to have governed them. The Delegates from Virginia were the most violent of any—those of Maryland and some of the Carolinians were little less so these Southern Gentlemen exceeded even the New England Delegates they together made a majority that the others could have very little effect on Mr Gallaway and Mr Duane tell me that, at the close of the Congress they dissented from the proceedings, and insisted to have their dissent entered on the Minutes, but could not by any means get it allowed. The Assembly of this Province stands prorogued to the tenth day of January, and by the advice of the Council, Summonses are issued for them to meet on that day. Many people think there is a probability that they will go upon conciliatory Measures, and propose some thing that may be countenanced by administration. The event is uncertain but on such occasions I think every thing is to be tryed, that may possibly avert the calamity which hangs over this country. I do not apprehend there is any danger that the Assembly will make Matters worse than they are Several Peices have been published there exposeing the extravagant and dangerous proceedings of the Congress; and advising the people to rely on the Assembly that 2 Sic. here. - ED. VOL. VIII. 1 Sic. measures. 65 they will take the most reasonable and constitutional means of restoring Peace and Harmony between great Britain and this Province I have received your letters No 6 & 7 and have laid them before the King, together with the Petition & Affidavit enlosed in the first of them, relative to the lawless and violent proceedings of such of the Inhabitants of the Township of Bennington, as claim lands in that Township under Grants from New Hampshire. The circumstances attending those Disturbances are very alarming; and if it be true that those parts of the Province are now an Asylum for Fugitives from every other part of America, it certainly is become an object that deserves the fullest attention. I cannot however be of opinion that the assistance of the King's Troops ought to be called for until every other effort has been tried & found insufficient. Whenever the matter comes to that Issue it will certainly be the Duty of the King's Servants to advise His Majesty to strengthen the hands of Government by an application of a Military Force, but I do not at present see sufficient ground for the adoption of such a Measure, and I cannot [be] without hopes that, when the present very alarming situation of the King's affairs in North America, from other causes, will leave our hands more at liberty, some means may be found to accommodate these Disputes without the Risk of Bloodshed. I trust it will not be long before We shall find sufficient Leisure for such a consideration, and His Majesty's subjects who have claims in that part of the country, under Grants from New York, may rest assured that their Pretensions will meet with every Countenance and Support that can be shewn consistent with Justice; for I can with truth say that the Conduct of that Province in general, & more especially in the present Moment, has been such as justly intitles its well disposed and peaceable Inhabitants to His Majesty's particular Favor and Indulgence and I have the satisfaction to assure you that their Conduct is seen in a very favorable Light, and the Wishes they have in general expressed that all Violence might be avoided, & the Sovereign Authority of the Supreme Legislature might be supported, are graciously considered by the King as Evidences of their Respect & Affection for His Majesty, & of the just sense they entertain of the Rights of the British Empire. Lieutenant Govr Colden. 1 am &ca DARTMOUTH Circular Earl of Dartmouth to the Governors in America. [ Plantation! General, CCLX.] Whitehall 10,h Dec 1774 Inclosed I send you, by His Majesty's Command, printed copies of His Majesty's most gracious Speech to His Parliament, and of the Addresses in answer thereto, which were passed in both Houses by a very great Majority. The Declaration which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to make, of His firm & steadfast Resolution, to withstand every Attempt to weaken, or impair the authority of the Supreme Legislature, over all His Majesty's Dominions—The Resolution of both Houses to support those great Constitutional Principles, by which His Majesty's conduct hath been governed, and their entire approbation of the steps His Majesty has taken for carrying into Execution the Laws passed in the last Session, will, I trust, have the effect, to remove those false Impressions which have been made upon the minds of His Majestys Subjects in America, and put an end to those Expectations of support, in their unwarrantable Pretensions, which have been held forth, by artful and designing Men. With my last Dispatch of October 6,h (N° 4. of mine) I had the honor to transmit my proceedings with the Six Nations at the September Treaty, with a French Belt delivered to me, all which I committed to the care of a Gentleman returning to England. 1 have now the honor to acknowledge your Lordship's dispatch of Sept 8th containing his Majesty's Commands for my continuing as superintendant for the present, and until the state of the Indian Department could be farther considered ettc, on which I beg to express my most dutiful obligations for His Majesty's Royall attention to my endeavours and to the warm recommendation of his very faithful servant Sir William Johnson, and others, as well as my most grateful thanks to your Lordship; most humbly assuring His Majesty, that as I have spent much time and pains, in acquiring an influence with the Indians and the knowledge of an office for which very few persons are by any means qualified, I shall continue to discharge it as an active servant, and an honest Man, and although I am sensible that at this distance, both Men and things are exposed too much misrepresentation which his Majestys most faithful servants have often experienced, I shall always offer my sentiments with candour and truth, from a perfect reliance on your Lord's indulgence. In my last I mentioned, that the Six Nations were to hold a general Congress at Onondaga at which Deputys from all their immediate Dependants were to be present and whither I had sent persons of approved fidelity. I have now the honor to inform your Lordship that the Congress ended very favourably, and that the principal Chiefs with others amounting to 106. have laid before me the whole proceedings a copy of which, together with their transactions with me here, I have the honor to transmit herewith. The Indians after duly considering all I had said at the September Congress, and the nature of the application from the Shawanese for support, rejected the latter, and having agreed on an answer to them, and appointed Deputys to carry it, directed that they with the Chiefs of each Nation should imediately lay the whole before me for my farther direction, which they have determined to follow. I find that the intelligence the Six Nations lately received from the Southward has greatly increased their suspicions of the other Colonies, and that those most distinguished for their fidelity found it a very difficult task to procure a favourable issue to the Treaty; that some weak but furious Zealots have busied themselves in telling several Indians of the American disputes, that the King was set against the Americans and Indians, and that the latter must not expect any further attention, which occasioned much disquiet and many private conferences when it was agreed on, that the Chiefs should make further enquiry of me into these matters, that if I satisfied them thereon, they should fulfill their resolutions otherwise they were immediately to take measures for their general interest by supporting their oppressed Dependants and carrying on war against the Frontiers. However, many of the Chiefs declared their determined resolution to abide by their engagements, and some persons of considerable influence observed that if their suspicions were well founded there was time enough to take violent measures; that they remembered what Sir William Johnson had said to them; that I had several times since his death explained these matters with assurances on which they might rely, and that as they wished for me and had many other suits to make to his Majesty they should recommend themselves to favour by their fidelity and good conduct. This had a good effect and contributed to the resolutions that followed; in consequence of which they have now dispatched Messengers to the Southward with a speech a copy of which goes herewith; they likewise mentioned some private grievances that will appear in the minutes; they are nevertheless still in doubt in some measure, and the evil reports they hear greatly encrease it, for Indians should never be engaged in our differences, least it should lead them to disrespect Govern", and incline them to measures they would not otherwise think of, and this is the more to be apprehended, when they hear that such disputes will affect themselves, and therefore I have done all in my power hitherto to restrain those whose indiscreet warmth, might lead them to intermeddle with the Indians. So many concurring circumstances must, My Lord, render it very difficult to conduct matters successfully at present but I have as yet succeeded and 1 shall still endeavour to do so. The Indians are not as unreasonable as may be imagined; they will hearken to those in whom they have confidence, and who understand their affairs, whilst they find support from the Royal authority, on which they have always depended, and this has contributed greatly to the public tranquility, for the different interests, and views of the Colonies are by no means agreable to their inclinations. The invasion of the Shawanese Country by Virginia, is very alarming to them. It has been the practice of some of the Colonies to acquire territory by conquest rather than purchase, and this renders every movement in that quarter suspected, and the Indians cant help believing, that it will be followed by other attempts on their Country or liberties, whilst many private unredressed grievances strengthen their apprehensions, and most of the frontier settlers, are |