private affairs necessarly takes up the remainder & the distance of my house 90 miles from Albany & 60 from New York occassions a considerable difficulty in obtaining the Materials for such a work however I am resolv'd to attempt it again this winter that it may be more usefull by being more correct & complete & therby more worthy of your acceptance as a Testimony of my desire of making any return in my Power for the Frank & obliging trouble you have taken for one an absolute stranger to you If I have the happiness to see Mr Bartram I shall cheerfully do him any Service in my power I thank you for Dr Warren's book which I hear Mr. Alexander has sent to my house from whence I have been absent ever since the first of April. The want of leisure at this time has made this letter longer & more indistinct than perhaps it otherwise would have been pray therefore excuse it I conclude I must beg leave to observe that as I take it the theory on which I propose these new kind of Quadrants remains undisputed but that the Methods I have proposed before this cannot with sufficient certainty be reduced to practise as I can see nothing impracticable from the nature of the thing I think sufficient skill is only wanting to reduce it to practise & therefore I hope to be excused in giving these hints for the assistance of those that have Skill. I have had so much experience of the Difficulty in making accurate astronomical and Geographical observations with small instruments that I cannot help thinking that the minuteness which the French pretend to in their late observations in Lapland with a Quadrant of two foot radius has more ostentation than of reality [Indorsed] Ruff Draught of a Letter to Mr Collinson Petition of Lauchlin Campbell to Gov. George Clarke. [Copy] To the Honble George Clark Esqr Lieut Governor & Commander In Chief of the Province of New York and Territories Theron Depending in America &c In Council The Petition of Lauchlan Campbell on behalf of himself and Humbly Sheweth That pursuant to the Encouragement given by his late Excellency William Cosby Esq' late Govenour of this Province and Council And afterwards by y Honour Your Petitioner Lauchlen Campbell at very great expence and Hazard did in the year 1738 Transport himself and familly together with 30 famillys more (consisting of 153 person being all protestants from North Brittain to this Province And in the Month of August in the year 1739 your Petitioner Did also (at a very great expence on the aforesaid encouragement) Transport from North Brittain aforesaid to this province 41 famillys more consisting of 180 persons who are also protestants. That in the month of November last your Petitioner at a farther great Expence Did transport and bring unto this province from North Brittain aforesaid twelve more protestant familys which Consists of 94 persons That your Petitioner since his arrival in this Province has been at a very great Expence in Supporting many of the Persons so by him brought over besides the Charge of their Transportation aforesaid That Since your Petitioners arrivall here he has not obtained any Grant of Lands Either for himself or any of the famillys or persons so by him brought Over That the Settlement of your Petitioner and famillys so by him brought over upon the Lands so proposed to be settled by the Late Gov Cosby & y Honour & Council will not only Encourage many other Protestant famillys to come over and settle there But will also be a good Barier and safe Guard to all those already settled in the County of Albany and to the whole Province Your Petitioner therefore most humbly prays your Honours to grant to your Petitioner and persons by him brought over in fee simple his Majestys letters Patent under the Great Seal of this Province for one hundred Thousand Acres of Vacant and unpattented Land, in the County of Albany proposed to be granted to Protestant famillies as aforesaid next Adjoining to the Lands Already Petitoned under such Moderate Quittrents Reservations and Provisoes as other Lands are usually Granted in this Province but free of all other Charges & Expence agreeable to the aforesaid Encouragement & your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever Pray y 1Probably the Gaelic compound word "Gunnish beach" meaning a man with a ghostly appearance. land custom. This would conform with a common High Petition of Lauchlin Campbell to Lt. Gov. George Clarke. To the Honble George Clarke Esqr his Majestys The Petition of Lauchlan Campbell in behalf of himself & Several Others whose Names are hereafter mentioned. Humbly Sheweth That whereas your Petitioner has already at Three Several times brought over Eighty Three Families Consisting in the whole of four hundred & twenty Eight Persons, most of which are now in this Province besides some Children who are bound out for a time, few exceeding five years. That your Petitioner and y said Families & Persons as well as Several others who are ready to come over are willing and desirous to Settle themselves in this Province And your Petitioner having been inform'd that there is a Certain Tract of Land in the County of Albany containing about one hundred thousand Acres of Vacant and unpatented lands next Adjoining to the Lands already patented Therefore most humbly prays your Honours to grant to your Petitioner and the Rest of the Persons concerned with him his Majestys Letters Patent for the Tract of Land aforesaid under Such moderate Quittrents Reservations and Provisoes, as other lands are granted in this Province so that the whole Charge and Expence of Surveying &c do not Exceed thirty Shillings Br thousand Acres Seeing his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to forgive his part of the said fees and Expences upon your Petitioners giving Satisfactory assurance that they will imediately, and from time to time within Seven years after passing of the Grant enter upon and Settle the Said Lands, and your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever Pray &c |