bordering upon the gulf of Canada, made, as your me morialift apprehends, not by any of the ancient inhabitants of Nova Scotia, or their defcendants, but by perfons who came directly from old France. Over thefe people, the English have not, as your memorialist understands, at any time during the late peace, or the war now ending, exercised the leaft authority; but the people living there, although within the boundaries of Nova-Scotia, and at a place particularly named in the grant of that province to Sir William Alexander, have continued wholly under the government of the French. This fettlement is increased fo far, that, before the commencement of this war, the French used to load there, annually, with fifh, about fix I fall of fhips.

That the French have alfo made encroachments by fome fettlements on the fouth fide of Canada river, in the Englilh country lying to the weftward of Nova-Scotia.

१.

That the prefervation of the ancient boundaries of Nova-Scotia, and keeping the French on the north fide of Canada river, appears to your memorialist to be a matter of very great importance; becaufe, that not only a confiderable part of the country will be loft with that boundary, whenever loft, but another boundary, in your memorialift's opinion, will fcarce ever be found and established ; fo that the English will be unable to enjoy what fhall be left them, by the new boundary, with any tolerable certainty or fafety, but endless contefts and quarrels will enfue.And further, the French will have obtained very great advantages, by having established their footing on the fouth fide of the river. And, in the next place, the Englih, by parting with the river, their ancient boundary to this province, will neceffarily prejudice, in a great degree, their boundaries to divers other provinces, whofe northern boundaries are not better, if fo well, afcertained as that of Nova-Scotia. And the French likewife, by getting over the river, will have greater opportunities of influencing the inhabitants of Nova Scotia, who are, as your grace is fenfible, already inclined to them. And this province, having been the object of defire in the French, ever fince the fettlement of the two nations in America, and more efpecially fuch of late, they will T [Vel. vi.]

doubtless

doubtlefs use their utmoft efforts to gain or increafe an intereft there.

That the maintenance of his majefty's fovereignty over the Five Nations and their country, and fecuring their at tachment to the English, is a matter of the greateft confe quence; as their country is of fuch large extent; is fit uated in the beft latitudes; prevents the junction of the French fettlements on the rivers Canada and Miffifippi; and gives us an opening to the western and northern Indians; and as the Five Nations are the most warlike people on the continent of North-America, and who have been a great defence to the English colonies, and the principal check to the growth of the French power.

That the French having long fince gained a part of the Five Nations, and a few years ago been able to render thofe nations in general diffatisfied and wavering in their fidelity to the British crown, they will doubtlefs ufe their utmoft endeavours to improve that diflike, which those nations, at this time, unhappily have to the English.

The premifes duly confidered, it is humbly fubmitted to your grace, whether it be not neceffary, that, by the treaty of peace at this time depending, the French be confined to the north fide of the river Canada; and that they caufe all their forts and fettlements on the fouth fide of that river to be deftroyed, evacuated or delivered up to his Britannic majef ty; and that they entirely quit the country of the Five Nations.

W. BOLLAN.

I

Gov. HAMILTON'S LETTER TO GOV. SHIRLEY.

SIR,

Philadelphia, 6 May, 1754

RECEIVED, two days ago, by exprefs, the letter and papers herein inclofed, from Col. Washington, who had proceeded, with a detachment of one hundred and fifty men of the Virginia forces, to the New Virginia ftore on Potowmack, within one hundred and thirty mile of the river Ohio, where Capt. Trent had began to buil

a for

CO

cale a fort for the reception and fecurity of thofe forces; at
which place he received the difagreeable
account of the
French having made themfelves mafters of that fort, and
of the retreat of the people employed in building it. As
governor Dinwiddie, to whom the king has committed
the conduct of this expedition, had not, when he wrote,
of laft, which was on the twenty-feventh of laft month, re-
ceived any information of this tranfaction at Ohio, I can-
not pretend to fay what alteration it may occafion in the
meafures he had concerted; but I think we may now
daily expect to hear from himself on that head; in the
mean time, I could not difpenfe with imparting to you
the forementioned intelligence by exprefs; and am, with
very great refpect,

your Excellency's moft obedient, humble fervant,
JAMES HAMILTON,

His Excellency WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Efq.

P. S. I propofe writing to your Excellency foon, more fully, on the fubject of your laft.

MAJOR WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO GOVERNOR HAM

HONOURABLE SIR,

I Mr. Ward, enfign in

ILTON,

Tis with the greateft concern I acquaint you, that Mr. Ward, enfign in captain Trent's company, was compelled to furrender his small fort, in the forks of Mo

nongahela, to the French, on the 17th inftant who fell 75 down from Venango,with a fleet of three hundred and fixty batteaux and canoes, with upwards of one thoufand men and eighteen pieces of artillery, which they planted against the fort, drew up their men, and fent the inclofed fummons to Mr. Ward, who, having but an inconfiderable number of men, and no cannon, to make a proper defence, was obliged to furrender. They fuffered him to draw off his men, arms, and working tools; and gave leave that he might retreat to the inhabitants.

I have heard of your Honour's great zeal for his majes ty's fervice, and for all our interefts on the prefent occafion. You will fee, by the inclofed fpeech of the Half

King, that the Indians expect fome affiftance from you; and I am perfuaded you will take proper notice of their moving fpeech, and their unfhaken fidelity.

I thought it more advifeable to acquaint your honour with it immediately, than to wait till you could get intelligence by the way of Williamsburg and the young man, as the Half King propofes.

I have arrived thus far, with a detachment of one hun dred and fifty men, Colonel Fry, with the remainder of the regiment, and artillery, is daily expected. In the mean time, we advance flowly acrofs the mountains, making the roads, as we march, fit for the carriage of our great guns, &c. and are defigned to proceed as far as the mouth of Red Stone Creek, which enters Monongahela about thirty-feven miles above the fort, taken by the French, from whence we have a water carriage down the river: And there is a ftore-houfe built by the Ohio com E pany, w which may ferve for a receptacle for our ammuni tion and provifions.

Befides thefe French, that came from Venango, we have credible accounts, that another party are coming up Ohio. We also have intelligence, that fix hundred of the Chippoways and Ottoways are marching down Sciodo creek, to join them. I hope your honour will excufe the freedom I have affumed in acquainting you with thefe advices; it was the warm zeal I owe my country that influenced me to it, and occafioned this exprefs. I am, with all due refpect and regard, your Honour's moft obedient and very humble fervant,

To the Hon. James Hamilton, Efq. governor of Pennfylvania.

Philadelphia, 6 May, 1754.

Go. WASHINGTON. V

A true copy, examined by Richard Peters, fecretary

James Foley, the exprefs, fays, he left Mr. Washington at the new ftore on Potowmack, about one hundred and thirty miles from Capt. Trent's fort, at the mouth of Mo nongahela, on Saturday 27th April. vd sucb agamah ond

A SUMMON,

A SUMMON BY ORDER OF CONTRECOEUR, CAPTAIN OF ONE OF THE COMPANIES OF THE DETACHMENT OF THE FRENCH MARINE; COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY'S TROOPS NOW ON THE BEAUTIFUL RIKERFO THE COMMANDER OF THOSE OF THE KING OF GREAT-BRITAIN, AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER MONONGAHELA.

you at

No! OTHING can furprife me more, than to fee tempt a fettlement upon the lands of the king my mafter; which obliges me now, Sir, to fend you this gentleman, chevalier Le Mercier, captain of the bombardiers, commander of the artillery of Canada, to know of you, Sir, by virtue of what authority you are come to fortify yourfelf within the dominions of the king my mafter? This action feems fo contrary to the laft treaty of peace, concluded at Aix la Chapelle, between his moft chriftian majefty and the king of Great-Britain, that I do not know to whom to impute fuch an ufurpation, as it is inconteftable, that the lands, fituated along the Beautiful river, belong to his moft chriftian majefty.

I am informed, Sir, that your undertaking has been Concerted by none elfe than by a company, who have more in view the advantage of a trade, than to endeavour to keep the union and harmony, which fubfift between the crowns of France and Great-Britain, although it is as much the intereft, Sir, of your nation, as ours, to prevent it. Patentier

Let it be as it will, Sir, if you come into this place charged with orders, I fummon you, in the name of the king my mafter, by virtue of orders, which I got from my general, to retreat peaceably with your troops from off the lands of the king, and not return; or elfe I find myfelf obliged to my duty, and compel you to it. I hope, will not defer an inftant, and that you will not force me to the laft extremity. In that cafe, Sir, you may be perfuaded, that I will give orders that there fhall be no damage done by my detachment.

Sir, you fulfil

I prevent you, Sir, from the trouble of asking me one

hour