Mess' Johannis Evertse Wendel and Isaac Kip being yesterday arrived from Canada- This board having desired to Speak with them they do say that in their going up thither they found the French Employed in erecting a Fort at the Crown Point, on the South end of Corlaar's Lake,* near the Carrying Place above Sarahtogue, in which work there was Eighty odd men Concerned, which at their return they found Compleated and Inclosed with Stockadoes, and likewise they have finished a howse of Fourty Foot, and were busy to erect two more -- who design to Strengthen the same by enclosing it with a Stone Wall next Spring, as the aforesaid Gentlemen were Credibly Informed in Canada. The aforesaid Mess's likewise say that they have heard that the French positively design to go up next Spring, with two hundred men to Tiederondequatt. which is on the South side of Kaderachgue Lake, above Oswego, near the Sineckes Country, in order to Stop the English trade at Oswego. They say also, (as they are informed,) that Jean Ceur was gone out to bring over to bring over to the Interest of the French, a new settlement of Indians above Nagagera,** who have been in Commerce with the Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsilvania. * Lake Champlain, Chamble, Corlair, or Iroquois, in Henry Popple's Map of the British Empire in America, which was issued in London under the patronage of the Lords of the Board of Trade, in 1732. A section of it is given in the Narrative and Critical History of America, V. 486. It is mentioned as "the lake where Carler was drowned," in New York Documents, III. 817. + Saratoga. * Irondequoit. §Kadarague, Cadarackuy, or Ontario Lake." See map in History of the Five Indian Nations in Canada, by Cadwallader Colden. Many different spellings are given in the General Index to the Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New York. See VI. 125. | Senecas. A Romish priest, who believed in rousing the Indian blood. - Narrative and Critical History of America, V. 490. **Niagara. (Copy) May it please yo' Hono [Inclosure 2.] ALBANY, Sept. 25th, 1731. Yo' favour of the 17th Instant we Received, and have delivered yo' Letter to M Clement to Mr Harmanus Wendel, to forward the same. By the Inclosed minutes yo' Hono' will Perceive that the french are still active to make new Fortifications and Strengthen themselves on a place so near to our Northern Plantations, that it puts us in a great Consternation, Considering the defenceless Condition Wee are in, and God only knows what the designs of these our vigilant Enemies may turn to, while they endeavour to Incroach upon us on all Sides, and to Interrupt our Trade, so that Wee hope the Legislature will take our naked Condition into their Consideration, and use Such measures as may bring us to a Posture of defence. Wee are with great Respect. Yo' honors most obed' humble Servants. EVERT BANCKER. RUTGER BLEECKER. JOHANNES ROOSEBOOM. JOHANNES LANSINGH. GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO FRANCIS WILKS. Sir: I sent you a letter dated June 29th, 1731, giving you to understand that I had received yours with the Report of the Lords of Trade, and our answers to what was objected against us in respect to their Lordships' supposition, that we affected an independency on the Crown, and that we carried on an illegal trade, &c., and also an account of the money ordered for your salary and past services, also a letter of the same date returning thanks to you for the favour of gloves you sent. These went in Cap' Cary, who sail'd from Boston the first week in July ul'. In the last week in August, I sent Duplicates of the same, p' Capt John Smith, who intended his voyage to Ireland, from thence to London; since which, have not received one line from you, except the duplicate of yours respecting the Report of the Lords of Trade, which duplicate was dated March the 12th, 1731. I must now inform you, that by the desire of the sd Lords Commiss's that I would send our Laws to them, that they might lay the state of the Plantations before the next Sessions of Parliament, according to the Address of the last Parliament to his Majesty, I have now sent them to you, that you may deliver them to their Lordships, with the letter with them inclosed. I hope you'l be upon your watch to safeguard us as much as possible from any Injury and Ruin by any acts, &c., that may be passing in Parliament, or otherways. Hope you'l please let me hear often from you, which will oblige, Sir, your most humb obt servt, HARTFORD, Novembr 4th, 1731. TO FRANCIS WILKS, Esq', London. J. TALCOTT. GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO THE BOARD OF TRADE. Right Honourable: By your favour I received the opinion of his Majesties Attorney and Solicitor Gen", upon a querie, whether fines and recoveries past in England, can cut off the intails lying in the plantations, for which favour I desire liberty humbly to acknowledge your Lordships beneficence. Tis a pleasure to me to be inform'd by Mr Popple's letter of May 31st past, that your Lordships have received my letter with our Answers to your Queries; and I am concern'd that the Book of our Laws from Gov. Saltonstall came not safe to your hands. I remember I heard his Honour say he was about sending over a Sett of our Laws, but whether he sent them, or whether they miscarried, I can't tell. By Mr Popple's letter of June 10th last, he informs me that your Lordships desire that I should send you our Laws, that affect the Trade, Navigation, or Manufactures of Great Britton. In answer whereunto, and that I may as much as in me lyes, make good Gov. Saltonstall's promise, I have herewith sent you the whole Sett of our Laws, by which your Lordships will see that our Laws do not incumber the Commerce, Navigation, or Trade of Great Britton, although by reason of our poverty, and want of a staple commodity, wherein to make our returns, we are not able to manage any great trade directly to Britton, which if it were otherwise with us we should rejoice to do. Your Lordships will be best inform'd of the reason, necessity, and usefulness of our Laws, by considering the State and Circumstances of our Country, so very many ways differing from that of England. The book of Laws I send you have been some time out of the press, since which some Laws have been altered, and some repealed, which notwithstanding, I am forct to send with the rest, unless I should print the book anew for this purpose, which I fear would delay the time beyond your Lordships' expectation. With respect to our manufactures, and publick transactions, I know not what I can add to that of my answers to your Queries, those things being now as they were when those answers were made, but if any thing further shall occur worthy your Lordships' notice, you shall not want the intelligence of it from Your Lordships' Most humble, INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE KING. Additional Instruction to Our Trusty and Welbeloved, the Governour and Company of Our Colony of Connecticut GEORGE R. in America: or to the Governour and Company of the said Colony for the time being. Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Tenth Day of December, 1731. In the Fifth Year of Our Reign. L. S. Whereas, Acts have been passed in some of Our Plantations in America, for laying Duties on the Importation and Exportation of Negroes, to the great discouragement of the Merchants trading thither from the Coast of Africa, and whereas Acts have likewise been passed for laying of Duties on Felons imported in direct opposition to an Act of Parliament, passed in the 4th Year of Our late Royal Father's Reign; for the further preventing Robbery, Burglary and other Felonies, and for the more effectual transportation of Felons; * It *An Act for preventing robbery, burglary, and other felonies, and for the more effectual transportation of felons, and unlawful exporters of wool. The preamble states, That the punishment inflicted by the laws now in force against the offences of robbery, larceny, and other felonious taking and stealing of money and goods, have not proved effectual to deter wicked men, and evil-disposed persons from being guilty of the said crimes and whereas many offenders to whom royal mercy hath been extended, upon Condition of transporting themselves to the West Indies, |