cutt and Gov Law's Letter (wch indeed I now do) and to acquaint you thereupon yt I had lay'd aside the thoughts of making an attempt upon Crown Point; but upon receiving the last advices, this affair has taken a new turn; and I must own yt upon scanning every circumstance of it, and all the probable Events I am clearly of opinion yt this Enterprise is the most adviseable scheme for his Majtys Service and the good of the Colonies, that can be attempted to be carryed into Execution at this juncture; and I am perswaded, if the winter holds on according to the present prospect, we shall most probably succeed; especially if we could be assisted with 500 men from your Excellency, in case of your not proceeding to St. Francois, even if it was to be attempted only by the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Levies. I inclose you Capt" Stephen's answer to me concerning the road to St. Francois &c. and I find it is Col. Stoddard's and other Hampshire Gentlemen's opinions yt you will not find your way to St. Francois unless you proceed by way of Connecticut river. I am in haste, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient Humble servant [Shirley to Wentworth.] [Belknap Papers, Vol. II., p. 250.] Boston February 9, 1746— Sir I have this morning receiv'd advices from Lieutenant Govenour Mascarine, That Mons' Ramsay who was posted at Menis with. about 600 Canadeans & Indians, is upon the news of the arrival of our re-inforcement, retired from thence to Schiegnecto, and Colo Noble with a Body of five hundred men consisting principally of some of those Troops I sent from hence (with the rem' of yours) is now at Menis: But the Reports of the numbers of the Enemy (being represented as much superiour to Col° Noble) makes him cautious of pursuing them without some further re-inforcement. I am inform'd that the Enemy will not be able to get off before April; and I hope our Troops will be strong enough to hinder their Retreat 'till the English can have some further Strength from these Colonies. It appears to me by what advices I have had that if it had not been for the misfortune that happen'd to the Rhode Island Companies & to my last Company bound to Annapolis who were cast away at Mont Desert, and above one half of them drown'd & frozen, and the New Hamp shire Company under Capt. Mitchell (instead of returning to Annapolis from St. John's according to order) going back to New Hampshire, our Troops would have either entirely drove the French Forces into the woods where they must perish if they stay long, or have made them Prisoners of war; and as your Excellency is sensible this is a matter of the utmost Importance to the safety of Nova Scotia, & for securing our Conquest of Cape Breton, and the season is advancing when the Navigation in those Parts will be much safer than it has been in the months past, I must earnestly desire your Excellency in case you find any difficulty of sending your Troops in the King's Pay to Crown Point or St. Francois, you would not fail of sending them as soon as they may be got ready to Annapolis Royal for this necessary Service: And I must urge this with the greater Importunity because (having already upwards of seven hundred men in Nova Scotia) I am not able to spare a man more, the Remainder of our Troops being absolutely necessary to be employed for the Reduction of Crown Point, to which place I have given orders they should march with all possible Expedition. I shall also press the Government of Rhode Island to order the Companies raised in that Government (for the Expedition) to Annapolis. If we can make ourselves strong enough, I hope your soldiers will be detained but a short time on this service: However I shall continue the Massachusetts Troops there in hopes of a Reinforcement from you: And I must desire (which I hope I may rely upon) that at all Events whether you send any Troops to St. Francois or not, your Excellency will not fail to send to Annapolis at least that Company, which Capt Mitchell by a very gross breach of his orders brought back to Portsmouth; in which he seems to every person that has heard of it to have deserted his Duty in a bad manner. And I should think, tho' as your Excellency observes, the Blunder with regard to the French, snow is not to be remedied, yet as the other part of his and Captain Furneys misbehaviour may, by sending 'em to Annapolis again, that you will be of opinion it will be greatly for his Majesty's service in all respects (indeed it may be so beyond Expression with respect to giving a finishing stroke for the security of Nova Scotia by taking Monsieur Ramsay in the Toil we have now got him in, or perhaps securing that Province from the Danger of a superiour Force in the Enemy) to send that Company at least and arm'd vessel to Annapolis forthwith-but I hope indeed you will not fail sending two or three Companies. I don't think your Excellency need regard the Expence of it as doubtless you may be very secure in finding Provisions and Transports at the Expence of the Crown for the Troops you send to Annapolis, which I do; and you have a fine opportunity now put into your hand of employing your Troops most beneficially and acceptably to his Majty, and I intreat you to consider of it thoroughly. Had I not been so ingaged as I am in the attempt against Crown Point before I had receiv'd these advices, I would have broke through every thing to have secur'd this Point in Nova Scotia. I desire to hear from your Excellency without fail by the return of the Post, and Am with the greatest Respect, Sir, Your Excellency's most Obedient Humble Servant His Excy Benning Wentworth, Esq. P. S. Tho' the sooner your Troops arrive at Annapolis the better, yet if they get there by the second or beginning of the third week in March, it will do; and the best way will be for 'em after just calling at Annapolis to go up the Bay of Fundy, and destroy the French shipping at Schiegnecto, wch may be done without hazard or Difficulty: and I will endeavour to cut off the Enemy's getting off by way of Vert () by engaging Mr. Knowles to equip a proper force there. I once more entreat you not to fail. you are secure in doing any thing in this branch of the service at the expence of the Crown: It is of so great Importance to his Majty and the Nation in general as well as to these Colonies. [(') Vert Bay, or Green Bay, between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on the northern coast; longitude 63° 54′ W.; latitude 46° N. - ED.] [Thomlinson to Atkinson. Copy Snelling.] [Belknap Papers, Vol. I., p. 137.] London 24th Feby 1746/7 Theodore Atkinson Esq Sir I am now to Acknowledge your favour of 13th Nov1 and sent your diary to Mr Jones & on ye 19th Inst he paid me £172. 5. 6 for your Acco and it accordingly has Credit for the same I have sent Mr Sherbourns papers to the board of Ordnance but whether or no anything can be done for him I Cannot say. I Observe what you say on Government affairs and just as I apprehended it so it has happened. His Majestys in Concill has agreed to have all the Accots of the severall provinces of New England audited by the Lords Com's for Trade and plantations and the Secretary of War in order to be provided for & paid this Session of Parliment & the Agents for the Massachusetts, Connecticut & Rhoad Island have laid their Accots before them and I suppose will soon be finish'd & paid at the same time how much like a fool I must look that has no Accot of any kind to shew so I Suppose the Consequence will be the other provinces will be paid & you Excluded or at least have to go thro' the whole trouble and Charge of anew selectation the next Session of Parliament and then not succeed and whose fault will it be for if I am not furnished with proper & necessary materials I may attend indeed with my fingers in my mouth but what can that avail I Can only be sorry for you & asham'd for myself I am sure I have given you Notice enough for this year past & told you all along what I feard would be the Consequence I am Sir Your Hum Serv John Thomlinson [Shirley to Wentworth.] [Belknap Papers, Vol. II., p. 251.] Boston, March 10, 1746 — Sir I have but just time before the Post goes, to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's favour by the return of my Express; and to inclose a copy of my last advices from Gov' Mascarene, hoping yt may depend upon your Excellency's complying with his proposal of your sparing the New Hampshire Brig now detain'd at Annapolis for want of anchors, and yt you will send anchors to her as soon as possible, yt she may be employ'd in the service there together wth the detachment of Capt. Sherburne's men now there. This seems in your Excellencys power independent of every body; and I shall despair of the security of Nova Scotia this Spring, if this assistance towards it is not granted. By my last Letter from Mr. Knowles, I find it is absolutely out of his power to send any vessell to Bay Verte in time, so yt I shall be under a necessity, I believe, of fitting out a sufficient strength by Sea from hence for that part of the Service, wch is a material one indeed; and this I am absolutely determined to do, even at the Expence of the Crown (if it can't be done otherwise by me) provided your Excellency will send your other Brig (I think it is) now at Piscataqua, to assist. If these two things are done without delay, tho' your Excellency should meet with difficulties in every other respect, we might possibly make a shift. I doubt not of finding merchts here to take your Excellency's publick bills for any sum you shall not be able to procure in your own Governm1, and hope you will not spare your assistance on acc1 of your being oblig'd to draw bills to defray the expense. I have not time to add more now yn yt I am wth great regard, me. W. SHIRLEY Be pleas'd to let me hear from your Exc' soon as you shall from Every thing depends upon dispatch, wch if we don't use, we shall be too late. His Excy Gov Wentworth. [4-38] [Major Thomas Davis, relative to Government Stores at Winnipesaukee Lake, 1747.] May Please your Excellency Rochester April 18th 1747 Pursuant to your orders I came here the 15th inst I have to the utmost endeavoured to discover the persons who had been to the Pond, and Loaded themselves there with Government's Stores, Being in the way & waiting for my men to come to me here, who are not yet got here, being but 9 of my own men and thirteen pressed With some that return'd from the Pond are found Possessd of Kettles & Axes the Names of Sundry men enclos'd are those who have been at the Pond, Which I enclose your Excellency that they may be brot to Justice, these are considirable of the number that Went to the Pond, but wanting in the whole - As I have no reason but to think your Excellency will take proper notice of it, It is my Opinion it would be most proper to call them to Accot here, than to bring them out of a Frontier place; I have the melancholy accot of four men being killed at Sanco & Dunston Tuesday and Wednesday Last I think proper to Scout about Rochester 'till Monday when I hope to have more men to march with me to the Pond - Interim With Duty Your Excellencys Most Obedt & Most Humble Serv Thos Davis P. S the Last men that came from the Pond heard the Discharge of II Guns Thursday Last I enquired and dont hear of any Hunter's |