Letter from William Franklin, Esq., Governor of New Jersey, to the Lords of Trade, containing an account of his proceedings with the Assembly with respect to the means of repelling the hostilities of the Indians.

My Lords,

[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 9, K. 34.]

BURLINGTON, Dec. 5. 1763

I have this moment the Honour of receiving your Lordships several Letters of the 28th of Sept: & the 7th 10th & 11th of October, all by the Pitt Packet. As she is to sail again in a few days from New York, and the Post which is to pass by here in less than Half an Hour will be the only one that can reach her, I have little more in my Power at present than just to assure your Lordships of my strict Compliance with the Directions these Letters contain.

The Assembly of this Province are now sitting, being summon'd on a Requisition from Sir Jeff. Amherst to furnish 600 Men, to join such Forces as shall be raised in New York, for marching early in the Spring into the Indian Country, in order to chastise the Senecas and other Savages to the Northward who are committing Hostilities against the English. I am exerting all my Endeavours to prevail on them to grant what is required: But I am apprehensive that the Example of the Assembly of New York (who have postpon'd complying with the Demand made on them till 'tis known what the New England Colonies will do on the Occasion) may influence this Assembly to the like Delay. However, I believe I shall get them to raise in the mean Time 200 Men to be stationed as a Guard on the Frontier; and I make no doubt, from some Assurances they have given me, but that at a future Sessions they will comply with their Share of the Requisition. And, indeed, unless the Colonies do

come into some such offensive Measures as are proposed, it will be impossible to put an End to the Indian War. The Savages have carried their Barbarities to a greater Length than ever they did before, and appear to aim at a total Extirpation of the English. What has been their Motive for acting in this outrageous Manner I cannot learn. Those who pretend to know most of the matter differ so widely that no Dependance can be plac'd on their Opinions. As the Indians made no formal Complaints before they commenced Hostilities, which is their general Custom; I am inclin❜d to think they have been tempted by the great Quantities of Goods which were carried into their Country. They had, during the late War, tasted the Sweets of Plunder, and had reason to think that the English rather than suffer so much as they necessarily must from an Indian War, would be glad to make Peace with them whenever they thought proper. Some Jealousies which were instilled into their minds by the French Priests and other Emissaries may likewise have contributed in some Degree to occasion their Defection: But whatever may have been the real Cause, this is most certain, that it is in the Nature of Indians to have a thorough Contempt for the nation who would make a Peace with them without having first made them feel severely in the War: And, of consequence, they may be expected to renew their Hostilities upon every convenient Opportunity.

What Sir Jeffrey Amherst's Reasons were for not calling on the New England Colonies I know not. I wish, however, that he had thought proper to do it, as it might have prevented this Province & New York delaying their Share of the Requisition. General Gage, who succeeds in the Command, intends, I am informed to apply to them. If they comply on their Parts, I am in hopes we shall be ably to get together a considerable Body of Forces for an Early Spring Campaign.

Enclosed is a printed Copy of my Speech, by which your Lordships will see what Steps I have taken for the Defence of our Frontiers, &c.

By the next Opportunity I shall send your Lordships an Account of all the Transactions of this Sessions of Assembly, as I did that of the last by the Vessel in which Gen! Monckton went Passenger. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect,

My Lords, Your Lordships

most obedient & most humble Servant

WM FRANKLIN

P. S. I have wrote since my Arrival here, four letters to your Lords of the following Dates, viz. May 10, June 27, July 19, & Augst 6, which, tho' the receipt of them has not been acknowledged, I suppose must have got safe to hand, as I have answers to all the private letters I wrote by the same Opportunities.

The Countess of Leicester Pacquet, which sail'd before the Pitt, is cast away, & the Mail said to be lost. Perhaps your Lordships may have sent some Despatches by her.

Letter from Governor Franklin to the Lords of Trade relative to an act for raising levies for the defence of the province, and to other acts lately passed there.

[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 9, K. 36.]

BURLINGTON Jan 20, 1764

To the Lords of Trade

My Lords

I did myself the Honour of writing to your Lordships the 5th of last Month, when the Assembly of this Province were sitting here. Notwithstanding all my Endeavours I could not prevail on them to grant the

General's Requisition of 600 Men at that Time, because the New York Assembly had before postpon'd complying with the Requisition made on them, until they should be acquainted with what Part the New England Colonies would act on the Occasion. The Assembly however gave me Assurance that as soon as the Royal Pleasure should be signified with regard to the Indian War, and the Determination of the other Colonies were known, they would grant all that could be reasonably expected of them. I have since received His Majesty's Orders, in a Letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, and shall in pursuance thereof summon the Assembly, and once more press upon them the complying with the Requisition of His Majesty's General. All that could be obtained of them at the last Session, was, to grant 10,000£ Currency for the Support of the Militia I had march'd for the Protection of the Frontiers, and to raise 200 Provincials to serve there until August next if necessary. The Act which was pass'd for this Purpose is exactly conformable to all the Acts of the same Nature pass'd during the War. There is a Provision in it for striking a Sum to exchange the torn and defaced Bills of former Emissions, but this makes no Addition whatever to the Currency. The Objection I made to this Act, and the Necessity I was under of passing it, your Lordships may see in the Privy Council Minutes of the 6th of December sent herewith. I had, moreover, Letters from Sir Jeffery Amherst and General Gage, urging from some Intelligence they had received, &c. the Necessity there was of something being immediately done for the Protection of our Frontiers, which were now become very extensive by reason of the back Inhabitants of New York & Pensylvania having abandon'd their Settlements.

There were 19 other Acts passed at the last Sessions, all which I shall transmit to your Lordships by the

first convenient Opportunity. None of them are of a new or an extraordinary Nature, unless it be the "Act to set aside the Partition of Lands in the County of Hunterdon, lately made by Virtue of a Writ of Partition, between the sons of George Leslie deceased,” &c. This, however, being a Private Act, I did not give my Consent to it, till they had added a Clause suspending the Effect thereof till His Majesty's Pleasure should be known. There is likewise an Insolvent Act, & an Act for continuing the old Militia Law. The others are chiefly for draining Meadows, making Roads, Bridges, &c. and were passed with the Consent of all the Parties any ways interested therein, after due Notice given.

I am, with the utmost Respect, My Lords, Your
Lordships most obedient, & most

humble Servant.

W FRANKLIN

Letter from Governor Franklin, to the Lords of Trade, in answer to their Lordships' letters, relative to the transmission of public papers—the revenue— and issuing a sum of money in paper bills on loan, for defraying the charge of erecting public buildings.

[From P. R. O., B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 9, K. 39.]

BURLINGTON, Feb 8, 1764

To the Lords of Trade

My Lords

Your Lordships mention, in your Letter of the 7th of October, that there has been a Neglect of transmitting the Papers and Accounts required by His Majesty's Instructions to his Governors in America. As to my