USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 33
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"And in December last I had the Honour to receive another Letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, dated 26th of October, wherein he acquainted me that his Majesty, upon taking the State of his Colonies in North America into his Royal consideration, was gra- ciously pleased, besides ordering Two Regiments of Foot from Ireland under the Command of Sir Peter Halket and Colonel Dunbar to be sent to Virginia, to order me and Sir William Pepperell to raise each of us a Regiment of foot consisting of 1,000 men under our respective commands for the defence of his Colonies here.
"In obedience to the first-mentioned orders, Colonel Lawrence and I have concerted Measures for dislodging the French from their Forts in Nova Scotia and driving them out of the Province, and among other Preparations for that purpose I am now raising a Re- inforcement of 2,000 men for his Majesty's Regular Troops there, to be embarked in time to be landed in the Bay of Funda by the first week of April, which I have reason to think I can depend upon accomplishing.
"In consequence of the latter I have made a great Progress in raising my Regiment, and believe there is no great Doubt of its being compleated by the latter End of March.
" Mr. Dinwiddie, Governor of Virginia, in his Letter to me, dated January 14th, acquaints me that his Government had great Depend- ance upon a Strong Diversions being made by Sir William Pepper- rell's and iny Regiments this Summer at some part of Canada in
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favour of the Attempts of the Western Colonies to repel the French upon the Ohio; and such a Diversion of the French Forces must likewise greatly facilitate the enterprize for driving the French from their Incroachments in Nova Scotia. It is most Evident that at the same time the Expedition in Nova Scotia and the Schemes which principally Employ the Attention of the French and a great part of their Forces upon the Ohio, afford a most favourable opportunity for the four Colonies of New England and those of New York and the New Jerseys with their united strength to erect such a Fort near Crown Point as may command the French Fort there, and curb the City of Montreal itself.
"These were the motives which induced me to make the proposal of such an Attempt to the Assembly within my own Government, which is particularly set forth in my Speech to them upon this oc- casion, a Copy of which, together with a Copy of the Resolves of the Assembly consequent upon it, I inclose to Your Honour.
"In these Resolves Your Honour will find what number of Troops this Government thinks necessary to be raised in the whole for the Execution of this Attempt, with the Quotas they propose for the consideration of the several Colonies concerned, and I hope it will not be thought that they have underated their own Quota when it is considered that out of the 2,200 men which are raising for Sir William Pepperell's and my Regiments, and 2,000 now raising for the Expedition to Nova Scotia, upwards of 3,000 of them will be taken out of this Province, which with the 1,200 proposed to be raised in it for Crown Point will amount to considerably more than One-Eighth Part of its fighting men, and that they were at an heavy charge last year in carrying on an Expedition upon the River Ken- nebec and erecting Fort Halifax there, which, as it is a great advance towards securing the principal Pass into the heart of Canada over against their metropolis of Quebec, and thro' which River the French have the shortest Passage into the Atlantic Ocean of any River in North America, must be deemed an Advantage to all the Eastern Colonies in general.
" Your Honour will observe that the Assembly hath desir'd me to appoint an officer for the Chief command of the propos'd Expe- dition. It is Essential to the Service that such an one should be appointed, and as it seem'd necessary that he should be propos'd at the beginning, and this Government is the first mover in this Ex- pedition (as it was likewise in that against Cape Breton, of which, also, I appointed the Commander-in-Chief), it is hoped the other Colonies will have no objection to it.
" The Gentleman whom I shall nominate for this Command will I am perswaded shew Your Honour that the only motive which will sway me in this appointment is a strict regard to his Majesty's . Service and the Interest of the common cause, without the least Partiality to any one of the Government's concern'd.
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" The Gentleman I have thought of upon this important occasion is Colonel William Johnson, of Mount Johnson, in the Mohawk Country, whose distinguish'd Character for the great Influence he hath for several Years maintain'd over the Indians of the Six Na- tions is the circumstance which determines mne in my choice pre- ferable to any Gentlemen of my own Government, though there are not wanting there officers of Rank & Experience out of whom I could have nominated one.
" Your Honour is sensible that one of the principal Things we have in view in this Expedition is to retain such of those Castles as are not yet gone over to the French in the English Interest, and to reclaim those which are; and it would be of unspeakable advan- tage to us at this conjuncture if we could engage any of them in the proposed Service. Colonel Johnson rais'd & Commanded a Regiment of Indians in the late intended Expedition against Canada, and with regard to his Power to engage them now no Gentleman can stand in competition with him. Besides, his military Qualifi- cations for this particular Service, & knowledge of the Country & Place against which this Expedition is destin'd, are very Con- spicuous.
" The Fort intended to be built in this Expedition is propos'd to be so situated as to Command Fort St. Frederic, at Crown Point; to be made defensible against the Strength which the French can suddenly bring against it from Montreal ; to be erccted by the army employ'd; and as to the Support, Garrisoning, and Command of it, that must depend upon his Majesty's pleasure, which will be soon known concerning it.
" It must be fresh in your Honour's memory that the Reduction of the French Fort at Crown Point was look'd upon as a necessary Step in the late intended Expedition against Canada ; and how far the joint preparations of the Colonies concern'd in that Scheme were advanced until, I know not by what fatal Disunion of our Councils, a most unhappy Stop was put to it.
One remarkable Circumstance occurs to me upon this occasion : When the late Sir Peter Warren & my self were endeavouring to engage one Monsieur Vandrene, then at Boston, a very intelligent Frenchman, as a Pilot for our Forces up the River St. Lawrence in the aforesaid late Expedition, he smil'd & told us he should not be convinc'd that the English did in good Earnest design an Expe- dition against Canada from these Colonies until he should hear that. Fort St. Frederick was attack'd.
" But I am perswaded nothing more need be urg'd to your Hon- our concerning the great importance of the propos'd Expedition except that besides securing ourselves against future Depredations of the French from their Fort at Crown Point in a time of War we shall wipe off the Reproach of the Colonies for suffering that dangerous Incroachment upon his Majesty's Territories to be at.
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first erected. I should have mentioned to your Honour that the two Houses of the Assembly in this Province have bound them- selves by oath to Secrecy, both with regard to the Expedition now preparing against the French Incroachments in Nova Scotia and that propos'd against those at Crown Point, which I thought proper to observe that your Honour may use your discretion in that Point with regard to the Assembly within your own Government.
" The same union of sentiments and the like spirit with which the Colonies now proposed to be concern'd in the present design'd Expedition acted in the late intended one against Canada will I hope prevail in their councils at this critical conjuncture, and lead the Province under your Honour's Government into an hearty con- currence with the Massachusetts Bay in the propos'd Expedition.
"Your Honour is sensible that in order to avail ourselves of this favourable Opportunity for the propos'd Enterprize a speedy deter- mination upon it, and the greatest Dispatch in our preparations for it, is necessary.
" I have Commissionated Thomas Pownall, Esquire, the Honoble. Andrew Olliver, and Josiah Quincy, Esquires, to wait on your Hon- our upon this occasion and to Sollicit your Government to join with my own in this necessary piece of Service for the protection of his Majesty's Colonies under our care against the dangerous Incroach- ments of the French, and hope they will succeed in the Execution of their Commission.
"I am with the greatest regard, Sir, Your Honour's most humble and most obedient Servant,
" W. SHIRLEY.
"P. S .- As I thought it might redeem Time to send this by the Post, in Order to put it in your Honour's Power to convene the Assembly in your Government as soon as possible, I make use of that Opportunity.
"The Commissioners will set out from hence for New York, New Jersey, & Pennsylvania, on Thursday the 27th Instant.
"W. S."
" Governor Shirley's Message to his Assembly.
"Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives :
" Since making my last Speech to You at the beginning of this Session, upon considering the happy Effects which thro' the Divine. Blessing upon his Majesty's Arms we may promise ourselves for this Government from the Expedition now fitting out for dislodging the French from their Forts upon the Isthmus and St. John's River
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in Nova Scotia, and driving them out of that Province, It hath occurred to me as a very considerable one that it Affords us a most favourable opportunity for building a Fort upon the rockey eminence near Crown Point, within the limits of his Majesty's Territories, which may command the French Fort & put it into our Power in case of a Rupture with France to march an Army in a few days to the Gates of the City of Montreal itself, & pour our Troops into the Heart of their Country.
" How greatly such an Event is to be wish'd for. How much Blood & Treasure it would save to his majesty's subjects of New England & New York in a time of War I need not observe, Gen- tlemen, to you. The Depredations committed upon us in the late War by the French & their Indians from Fort St. Frederic, are still fresh in our memories ; and Providence seems to point out this present conjuncture as the most proper opportunity for securing ourselves against them for the future.
"The Chief Force & Attention of the French is now employed upon the Ohio in extending their Incroachmts. upon his Majesty's Territories in those parts, and in a short time upon the first alarm which the enterprize for removing the French out of Nova Scotia will give them in Canada they will naturally draw from thence what force they can spare for the support of their Incroachments upon the Isthmus & St. John's River, and in this divided State of their forces and counsels it is most evident that the country about Montreal must be very unprepar'd to repel the Attempt I am now speaking of, especially if to the Surprise which they must then be in at the appearance of a considerable Body of Troops so near One of their Two Capital Cities, a feint should be made at the head of Kennebeck or the River Chaudiere, to cause a Diversion of their Forces in Canada for the Defence of their metropolis at Quebec.
" How greatly the operations I propose, if carried on this year, must contribute towards ridding his Majesty's Colonies upon this Continent of the French Incroachments with which they are now hemm'd in from Nova Scotia as far as North Carolina, to the re- claiming of the Whole Body of Indians to the English Interest, establishing a Barrier line of Forts against the French settlements on the North side of the River St. Lawrence, & making ourselves masters of the principal passes into Canada for driving the French off this continent, whenever it shall be his Majesty's Pleasure to order that to be done, I am purswaded, Gentlemen, you so fully conceive that it is needless for me to dilate upon it.
"You well know how much the success of the Expedition against Louisbourg was owing to its being well-timed; had it been deferr'd to the Year following, it seems doubtfull what might have been the event of it.
" Let us avail ourselves of the present Conjunctures with the same Prudence & activity that we did of that against Cape Briton,
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& we may hope for equal Success; and this Province will have the Honour to be the first mover in the operations for restoring the General Tranquility of North America as it had of being in those of 1745, which contributed so greatly towards the Restoration of a general Peace to his Majesty's Dominions.
" It will require no small Force, Gentlemen, to execute with Suc- cess the Enterprise I propose ; & so far as it depends upon me you may rely upon the Assistance at least of my Regiment to do it.
"This is an Object, Gentlemen, well worthy of your closest Attention, and I should have been greatly wanting in my Vigilance for the Security & welfare of his Majesty's good People within this Province if I had not warned you of it ; what I propose to you for your consideration may possibly prevent a long Expensive War which seems nearly approaching us.
" If You will make Provisions for enabling me to pursue the measures proper for the occasion, you may be assured, Gentlemen, that I shall exert my best endeavors to carry them into Execution.
" W. SHIRLEY.
"Council Chamber, Feb'y. 13, 1755."
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Resolutions of the Assembly of Massachusetts Buy about building a Fort near Crown Point.
" At a Great and General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, begun and held at Boston upon Wednesday the 29th day of May, 1751, and continued by Adjournments and Prorogation unto Wednesday thic 5th day of February following, and then met ;
" The Committee to whom was referred the consideration of his Excellency's messages of the 13th and 15th instant having maturely deliberated thereon report as their Opinion, --
" That the attempting to erect a strong Fortress upon the Emi- nence near to the French Fort at Crown Point, or upon some other parts of his Majesty's lands not far distant from the said Fort, is a measure highly necessary to be forthwith pursued in order to secure his Majestie's Territories from any further encroachments of the French, and to remove such encroachments as have already been made ;
"That in order to erect such a fortress and to repel any Force that may be brought to oppose the erecting the same, and to revenge any hostilities or insults that may be offered during the Execution of this Design an Army of at least five thousand men will be necessary ;
" That his Excellency the Governour be desired forthwith to make
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the necessary Preparation for such an Expedition, to appoint and commissionate a general Officer to command the same, to advise his Majesty's other Governments hereafter mentioned of this Design, and in such manner as he shall think most effectual to urge them to join therein, and to raise their respective Proportion of Men as fol- lows, viz : New Hampshire Six Hundred Men, Connecticut One Thousand, Rhode Island Four Hundred, New York Eight Hundred, or such larger Proportion as each Government shall think proper ;
" That his Excellency be desired to endcavour that his own Regi- ment or Sir William Pepperrell's, or both, be employed in this Ser- vice ;
" That as soon as it shall appear that the said number of Five Thousand Men, including those from this Province, shall be agreed to be raised, his Excellency be desired to cause to be enlisted twelve hundred men, and to promise to each of them a good Blanket at their Enlistment, and twenty-six Shillings and eight Pence ₺ month wages during the Service, and an Exemption from all Impresses for three Years after their Discharge; and to such of them as shall be provided with sufficient Arms a Dollar over and above their wages, to be paid at the first muster, and full Recompence for such Arms as shall be inevitably lost or spoiled, and that the Pay of the Offi- cers shall be the same with that of the Officers in the late Expedi- tion to Kennebeck ;
" That his Excellency be desired likewise to make application to the Government of New Jerseys to raise an additional number of Men in Proportion to the Circumstances of that Government to be employed in the Service aforesaid, And also to the Government of Pennsylvania urging them to contribute a Quantity of Provisions to be transported to Albany for the Service of the Army.
" J. OSBORNE.
" By Order.
" February 18, 1755.
" In the House of Representatives February 18, 1755, Read and Accepted. Sent up for Concurrence.
" T. HUBBARD, Sp'r.
" In Council February 18, 1755, Read and Concurred.
" THOS, CLARKE, Dp ". Sec'ry."
The Matters necessary to be said to the Assembly were con- sidered and the Heads of a Message taken down.
On considering Sir John St. Clair's Letter the Council judged it would be absolutely necessary to open a Road from Shippensburg to intercept the Road of the Army from Wills' Creek to Fort Dusquesne thro' Ray's Town ; and that a good and convenient Road might be found it was agreed that the Governor should issue forth- with a Commission to fit and proper Persons to reconnoitre and ex-
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plore the Country lying between the Kittochtinney Hills, the Great Meadows, and Wills' Creek, and accordingly one issued in these Words :
" PENNSYLVANIA SS.
[L. s.] " The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Es- quire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware,
" To George Croghan, John Armstrong, James Bird, William Buchannan, and Adam Hoops, of the County of Cumberland.
" Gentlemen :
" Whereas, Application hath been made to me by Sir John St. Clair, Quarter Master General, and by Major General Braddock, Commander-in-Chief of all his Majesty's Forces in North America, to cause a Road and Communication to be opened from the present Roads and settled Parts of this Province to a Branch of Mononga- hila called Yohiogain, and to the Camp at the mouth of Wills' Creek, as well for the march of Troops as for the Carriage of Pro- visions ; and it having been represented to me that a good Wagon Road may be opened from the Great Road leading thro' Carlisle and Shippensburg to the Yohiogain aforesaid and to the Camp at Wills' Creek. Now Know Ye, That Reposing Special Trust and Confi- dence in your Judgment, Vigilence, and Integrity, I have with the advice of the Council of this Province nominated, authorized, and appointed, and by these Presents do nominate, authorize and ap- point You the said George Croghan, John Armstrong, James Bird, William Buchannan, and Adam Hoops, Each and Every of You to reconnoitre, explore, and view the Country West and North of the Kittochtinny or Blue Hills, and of the Great Virginia Road leading from Harris' Ferry ; and when You shall have carefully and dili- gently examined all the Marshes, Swamps, Rivers, Creeks, and Waters, together with the Passes in the several Ranges of Hills with which that Country abounds, You are carefully and as secretly as may be to survey and lay out such Roads as You shall judge most direct and commodious to answer the Purposes aforesaid, and with all possible Expedition to report to me your Proceedings in the Premises, with fair Draughts of the Courses and Distances of such Roads, and your observations where it may be necessary to throw up or make Causeways and Bridges, if any shall be wanted, and such other Remarks as you shall judge proper to make thereon, Together with an Account of your charges of executing this Com- mission and a fair Estimate of the Charge and Expence of opening and clearing such Roads and making Causeways and Bridges, if any shall be necessary, according to the best of your Skill and Judg- ment. Given under my Hand and Seal-at-Arms at Philadelphia the Twelfth Day of March, in the Twenty-Eighth Year of his Ma-
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jesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Five.
"ROBT. H. MORRIS."
The Minutes of Council of the Twentieth of February and Tenth of March, 1740, relating to the Embargo then laid by Governor Thomas, were read, and the Attorney General consulted on the Subject, Who giving it as his Opinion that the Governor's Warrant would be binding on the Officers of the Customs, the following Warrant issued to the Collectors and Naval Officers here and in the Lower Counties :
[L. s.] " The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Es- quire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware,
" To Abraham Taylor, Esquire, Collector of his Majesty's Customs, and Thomas Græme, Esquire, Naval Officer in and for the Port of Philadelphia :
" His Majestie's Service requiring that an immediate Stop be put to the Supplying of the French with Provisions, Ammunition, or other Warlike Stores, I do, with the Advice of Council, hereby order You not to clear any Vessel laden with or having on Board Provisions of any Sort, Ammunition, or other Warlike Stores more than are necessary for the Victualling and Defence of such Vessel on her proposed Voyage, until the Master of such Vessel shall have given Bond in the Naval Office with sufficient Security to his Majesty in the Penalty of One Thousand Pounds that the said Provisions, Ammunition, or other Warlike Stores shall not directly or indirectly be carried to or landed in any Port, Harbour, or Place in America subject to the French King, but that the same shall be actually and bona fide carried to and landed in some of his Majestic's Colonies or Plantations in America, or in the Islands Azores or Madeira, or in some Port or Place subject to some Prince or State in Amity with Great Britain other than the French King. And within the Space of Eighteen Months after the Date of such Bond to return a Certificate under the Hands and Seals of the principal Officers of his Majestie's Customs at such British Port or Plantation, or under the Hand of the British Consul, or in such Place where there is no British Consul under the Hands of Two or More of the Principal Merchants resident at such other Place or Port where the said Pro- visions, Ammunition, or other Warlike Stores may be landed as aforesaid, respectively signifying that the same were actually landed or put on Shore at such respective Port or Place. And upon the producing such Certificate within the Time before limited the Naval
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Officer is ordered to cancel such Bond so given as before is directed. Given under my Hand and Scal-at- Arms at Philadelphia this Tenth Day of March, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-five, and in the Twenty-Eight Year of his Majestie's Reign.
" ROBT, H. MORRIS.
" By His Honour's Command.
" RICHARD PETERS, Sec'y."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 18th March, 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governour.
John Penn,
Robert Strettell, Esquires.
Benjamin Shoemaker, Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Sheriffs made Returns of the Service of the Writs directed to them to summon the Assembly.
A Message was delivered to the Governor last Night by Two Members of Assembly, acquainting him " that the House was met in Pursuance of his Writs and ready to receive any thing he might have to lay before them, and desired he would be pleased to furnish them with a Copy of the Writs by which they were summoned ;" To which the Governor was pleased to say " He would sent a Mess- age to the House to-morrow morning, with a Copy of the Writs by which the House were summoned."
The Governor having prepared a Message to the Assembly the same was read and approved and the Secretary ordered to deliver it with One of the Writs. The Message is as follows :
" Gentlemen-
" I have the Pleasure to acquaint You that Major General Brad- dock, who is appointed by his Majesty to command the Forces ein- ployed in North America, is arrived in Virginia, and as the Season for Action is approaching I thought it necessary to summon You together that any Thing the General had to propose might be con- sidered without Delay, and that the Men, Provisions, and Money expected by his Majesty from this Province towards carrying into Execution the Measures concerted for the general Service of America might be provided in Time.
" Sir John St. Clair, Quarter-Master-General of his Majesty's Forces in America, has represented to me the Necessity of having Roads opened from the inhabited Parts of this Province Westward
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