"House, that Col. Jo/j^^mw., the Contractor for supplying the Garrison of Osurgo, with Provisions,
" having undertaken to supply that Garrison, at a certain fixed Rate, he ought to be bound by,
"and perform his Contract; but if it shall appear, that by any unforeseen Accident, he has
" been a Sufferer, the House ought to take it into their serious Consideration, and do therein
" what shall appear reasonable ;" notwithstanding Col. Johnson, had obtained the Contract from
others, by Reason of his express Undertaking (as mentioned in your Excellency's Message of
the 2d of December last) " To supply that Garrison in Time of War, without any other Expence
"to the Province, than in Time of Peace."
''"Your Excellency is pleased to say, " that we well know in what Temper and Disposition
" the six united Nations of Ind'uais, were before your Treaties with them last Year."
"Your Excellency must excuse us, if we declare instead of " well knowing," that we knew
little or nothing at all of, " the Temper and Disposition of the Indians, before your Treaty with
them last Year," your Excellency having kept the Indian Affairs a most profound Secret, the
greatest Part of your Administration; and for what Reason you have thought fit to divert them
from their antient Channel, to wit, from the Conduct of the Commissioners appointed, and still
it seems remaining in Commissioners, according to the antient approved Policy of the
Government (as we had Occasion to observe to your Excellency, in our late Representation)
your Excellency can best tell ; we conceive your Excellency was very ill advised, in the taking
those Affairs out of their Hands; for Albiuvj was the established Place of Treaty with those
Indians, they have often declared and insisted upon it to be so in their Treaties; the Persons
in that Commission, were the principal Inhabitants of that County, well known to the Indians,
and had great Authority and Influence over them, which we doubt not would have continued,
had it not througli the Artifices of designing Men, who have private Views, been undermined
by employing private Persons, to negotiate Affairs with the Indians, without the Knowledge of
the former, which rendered the Commissioners Schemes abortive; the Commissioners were
80 sensible, of the pernicious Tendency of this new invented System of Politicks, that socin
after they discovered this new Practice, sensible of the Affront offered to them by it, and the.
evil Consequences that must thence ensue, they, as we are informed, wrote to your Excellency,
requesting to be excused intermedling further in those Affairs; and surely, if your Excellency
had thought any, or all the Commissioners improper Persons to be employed, as it was in your
620 NEW-YOEK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Breast, so it seemed to have been incumbent on your Excellency, to have superceeded them
by a new Commission, and appointing such other Persons, as your Excellency and the Council,
sliould have judged more fit for that Purpose; and your Excellency's Failure in this Particular,
and taking such contrary Measures with the Indians, has, as we conceive, and have observed
heretofore, been the sole Means of distracting and perplexing Affairs with the Indians.
^^ Your Excellency then proceeds, " the Commissioners for Indhin Affairs, gave repeated Advice
"of their Unwillingness to enter into the War against the French; many of them had actually
•'gone over to assist the French, and the Fidelity of all of them became suspected ; the Success
"of my Treaty with them, was so unexpected, that it is well known with what Reluctance
"any Account of it was received, and that all Manner of Doubts were encouraged and
"propagated, till the Effects of their Incursions on the Enemy appeared in this City."
" We believe the Advice the Commissioners gave was true, that the six Nations were very
unwilling to enter into the War ; amongst other Reasons, for fear of being drawn in to slied
the Blood of their own Relations the French Indians, part of which (the Coehnnwaghns) are a
Branch derived from the Mohawk Nation ; and therefore those who know any Thing of Indian
Affairs, are apprized that the six Nations, had long before your Excellency's Arrival iiere, and
since, proposed that the Indians in the British and French Interest, should observe and maintain
a strict Neutrality, and not intermeddle in the War between us and the French; and for this
further Reason, as our Indians have declared, that in Case of War, it is not with them, as with
tiie Christians ; they cannot make Peace when they please, but must proceed, till the one or
other Nation submits to be conquered, or is extirpated ; and 'tis our real Opinion, that had such
a Neutrality been strictly observed by the Indians, it would have been much better for us,
to have been left to fight our own Quarrel with the French, than to have treated with them to
enter into the War ; and after a great Profusion of Treasure, " at the Expence of the Crown,"
and this Colony, to have them still upon a precarious Footing; and to be retained only by the
repeated Gratification of unreasonable Expectations.
" For though your Excellency has been pleased to tell us, " that they had engaged heartily
in the War against the French and their Indians," yet, as touching any Engagement with the
latter, no Advice (at least as we know any Thing of) has yet been received.
" We must take the Freedom to say, we know almost as little of the Success of your
Excellency's Treaty with the Indians, which you are pleased to say, "was so unexpected," as
we do of that Reluctance, with which your Excellency tells us, the Account of it was received,
or of " the Doubts which were encouraged and propagated," concerning it ; and though your
Excellency says, these are " also well known," we are obliged to confess our ignorance about
them; and, as the Truth is, declare we know nothing of those Matters, excepting thus much,
that we remember last Fall, there were a few Indians, making a Parade in this City, who
had taken three French Scalps and some French, but no Indians Prisoners, who for their
Encouragement, received the Bounty by Law allowed, and were handsomly treated by the
Council and Gentlemen of this City, and afterwards by the Assembly.
^' Your Excellency says further, that "after tliis, the Numbers of those gained heartily to the
" British Interest, were with great Assiduity, every where represented to be very small, while,
" at the same Time, the Numbers of the Disaffected were as industriously magnified, till the
"great Numbers of Indians, who iiave joined Col. Johnson, with the greatest Alacrity, in iiis
" Enterprize at this Time, against a Body of the Enemy, discovered by his Parties in Lake
" Sacrament, from whence the Enemy send out great Parties, to murder cruelly the Inhabitants
LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXX. 621
"of this Province;" Iiere, wiien your Excellency slinll be advised to draw a Conclusion from
the Premisses, and make the Scene compleat, we shall endeavour to give a more compleat
answer to it.
But your Excellency says further, " and it has evidently discovered the Falsity of all those
" Reports, and gives us an Opportunity to reflect, for what Purposes those Reports have been so
" industriously propagated, to the Prejudice of the Bri/ish Interest."
" Believe us, Sir, we are sincerely of Opinion, that these are mere Figments of the Person in
whom your Excellency seems to place your sole Confidence ; Reports that never had otiier
Existence, than in the wicked Imagination and Invention of his own Brain ; foisted upon us, as
we imagine, with private Views, to magnify those Treaties your Excellency is said to have
accomplished with the Indians, (considering also those great Difficulties you have been pleased
to complain of, being thrown in your Way) that they may seemingly bear some Proportion,
with those extraordinary Draughts made on the Crown, upon tiie Head of Indian Presents ;
for we are persuaded they are mere Amusements, and without any just F'oundation ; (and we
cannot, but at the same Time, remark the Cruelty of such unjust and invidious Reflections, so
purposely cast upon the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, as if their SuHerings in common,
with the distressed People of the City and County of Albany, in their present deplorable
Circumstances, were not alone suflicient to melt a Heart, that was not devoid of Humanity,
into a Compassion and fellow Feeling of their Miseries.)
" That your Excellency has put the Crown to a very great Expence, as you are pleased to say,
in recovering the Affections of the Indians, we do believe; though how properly the Money has
been applied, we know not; but your Excellency must excuse us, when we say, we also
believe, from the very large Draughts we have been credibly informed, you have made on that
Account (and many of them made this Summer) and as we hear, no Reports of Presents
lately made.
That your Excellency must now have a very considerable Sum in Bank, on that Score,
though you are pleased to ask Supplies of the House on that Article ; and considering " the
"People of Great-Britain (as your Excellency says) are now at a greater Expence of Treasure
"in defending the Liberties of Europe, than ever they were, at any time, since they were a
"Nation;" we cannot but think, every one entrusted with disposing of the Crowns Money,
should be religiously careful in its distribution.
" The Expression of your Excellency's concern for the Welfare of the People of this Colony,
may, perhaps, amuse People at a Distance, and such as are unacquainted with the Management
of our publick Aflairs; but People that are not content with Profession, and outward Shews,
and are apt to pry narrowly into Actions, which are looked upon as best Expositors of the
Intention; and (however your Excellency may be advised to the contrary, under the present
Influence) we bear the Testimony of a good Conscience, that we have with great Earnestness
and Sincerity endeavoured to promote his Majesty's Service, and protect and preserve our
Country, and have at a very great Expence, provided for the Annoyance of the Enemy ; and
we are persuaded, the Measures we have pursued, will, in the Opinion of every considerate
and impartial Man, acquit us of all the innocent Blood that may be shed, in Consequence of
every step of Misconduct under the present Influence.
" Had the Person who ingrosses your Excellency's Confidence, the Welfare and Safety of the
People so much at Heart, as your Excellency is pleased to say you have, there have been
Opportunities for both, to have given many convincing Proofs of it.
622 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
" Had your Excellency not pursued the Advice for with-drawing the Garrison at Saragh/oga,
in the Year 1745, but continued and reinforced the same, it would have looked as if you had
at Heart, the Protection of that Settlement, and would not have hazarded, 'the Shedding that
innocent Blood,' and the carrying the poor People there into Captivity, which was the
Consequence of rashly with-drawing that Garrison.
" If your Excellency had been advised, to have employed a proper Number of the new Levies,
who were quartered near the City of Albany, and were unimployed (especially those of them
raised within that City and County) for the Protection of it; by assisting them in getting in
their Harvests (which for Want of their Aid, was left to perish in the Fields) and in Ease of
the Inhabitants, tired and wearied out with continual Watchiugs, by the quick Return of Duty
to every individual without Distinction of Age, every 3d or 4th Night.
" Had your Excellency not pursued the Advice to with-draw the small Remainder of the new
Levies from the Places posted at, between the City of Albany and Saraghtoga, the frontier
Garrison, and encamped them on the opposite Side of the River below that City, in a Place
not only more convenient for Desertion, but impracticable for them, to give timely Assistance
to it, in Case of a sudden Attack ; these would have been esteemed as so many Demonstrations
of your Excellency's Concern for the Maintenance and Preservation of the Garrison and Fort of
Saraghtoga, and the People under its Protection, formerly, and at this Time of your Care and
Concern for the Protection, Ease and Accommodation of the City of Albany, and its Inhabitants ;
and the keeping the small Remainder of the new Levies, together for the Service of his
Majesty and the Country, and the sending out the 1-50 Rangers, for which the House made
Provision, and desired your Excellency would be pleased to give the necessary Orders for that
Purpose, with all possible Dispatch, which it seems is yet undone, would have been the most
probable Means of preventing the Spilling of innocent Blood, to be laid at any Ones Door.
" Had the Persons concerned under your Excellency's Authority, in taking the Musters of the
new Levies, been just and fair in their proceedings thereon; there would, according to Report,
have been a considerable Saving to the Crown, in the Article of their Pay, which, considering
the great Expence the People of Great-Britain are now at, in defending the Liberties oi Europe,
is a Matter worthy a most strict Enquiry.
We must also be free to declare to your Excellency, that we are very sensible with what
Contempt, you have treated the People of this Colony in general, and the Members of this
House in particular; from a very early Time of your Administration, in Terms so opprobrious,
as are not fit to be published ; and your Excellency's Speeches and Messages to the House of
late, have been so full fraught, with unjust and injurious Reproaches, inviduous Reflections and
Calumnies, that must have tired the Patience of the House, at any other Time than this, when
we choose rather to suffer unjustly, if, perchance, we could by so doing, promote his Majesty's
Service and the Interest, Welfare and Security of our Country.
" What Pains have been taken, through the Advice your Excellency has pursued, in your
several Speeches and Messages to the House, for these twelve Months past, to distract and
divide us ; what opprobrious Insinuations and Reproaches have been thrown out, purposely to
render our Loyalty to our most gracious Sovereign, and our Affection for our Country
suspected? As if such injurious and crafty Imputations to the House, were the most likely
Means to raise a Reputation to others, and cover the Failures of the Administration, under the
present Conduct and Influence, by an Endeavour of throwing the Blame of all Misteps upon us.
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXX. 623
" We have been charged under Authority, witli ' declining every Expence that seems necessary
•for the Security of tiie BritisU Colonies in North- America, and the well-being of this I'rovince
' at this Time,' that we act contrary to the Inclinations of our Constituents, and other injurious
Reflections of the like Kind, often repeated, and as often confuted by us; but, nevertheless,
reiterated and insisted on at this Time.
" We have been harased with frequent short and unnecessary Adjournments, without Consent
of his Majesty's Council, to Times unseasonable, when nothing was expected to be done»
contrary to Precedents in the Times of former Governors, to the great Damage of the Members
in their private Concern, and the heavy, needless, and unsupportable Expence of our
Constituents. For Instance,
"On the sixth of December, after a Sitting of seven Weeks, your Excellency was pleased,
without Advice of his Majesty's Council, to prorogue the General-Assembly, to the 13lh of
Januartj, ' then to meet to proceed upon Business;' a severe Season of the Year in this cold
Climate, when there was no Probability, that any Thing could require their Sitting, if the
Weather would permit them to meet; and on the 13th of Januanj, to the 3d of March, from
thence to the 17th, and then to the 24th of the same Month.
" On the 2-5th of March, the General-Assembly being sitting, your Excellency was pleased to
make a Speech to the Council and Assembly ; wherein, amongst other Things, you were pleased
to recommend to us, in particular, to make farther Provision for victualling the Troops levied
in this Colony; this the House readily and chearfully complied with ; and moreover, provided
for 100 Rangers, to be employed in scouring the Woods in the County of Albtimj, and also for
the Expence of your Excellency's Voyage to Albany, to meet the Indians.
"On the 23d of April, the House having finished, as to the Business before them, and having
nothing more to do than meet and adjourn, they by Order, sent a Representation to your
Excellency, to the following Purpose.
"'That, pursuant to your Excellency's Recommendation, and in tender Commisseration of
' the Out-Settlements, on the Northern Frontier, the House had passed a Bill for providing,
'among other necessary Services, for One Hundred Rangers, to be employed for the Protection
'and Security of the said Settlements, against the skulking Parties of the Enemy: That the
'Council having also then, eight Days since, passed the said Bill, it then only waited your
'Excellency's Assent, to have the several Matters therein provided for, carried into Execution ;
' that the frequent Accounts received, of the Mischiefs done to our Out-Settlements by the
'skulking Parties of the Enemy, evinced the Necessity of a speedy Remedy, and that therefore
' the House humbly desired, that if your Excellency approved of the said Bill, you would be
'pleased to give your Assent thereto, that the Execution thereof might be no longer delayed ;
'and they further represented to your Excellency, that having intimated to the House, in your
'Speech, at the Opening of that Session, that 'the Sitting should be but short,' they had
'declined proceeding upon any other Business, than what was rcommended by your Excellency,
'and had then already done therein, what they judged necessary at that Time, and that their
• continuing Sitting, being attended with great Inconveniences to themselves, and occasioning a
'great Addition of Expence to their Constituents, already groaning under the heavy Weight of
'other Taxes; the House therefore humbly desired, that your Excellency would be pleased to
'allow of such a Recess, as the then Situation of publick Affairs would admit.'
" On the 24th of April, your Excellency sent a Message to the House, which required some
Time to consider of; to which, your Excellency required our Answer, before you would favour
624 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
us with a Recess ; the House then resolved upon a Representation to be drawn, in Answer to
that Message, but before it was prepared, you were pleased, on the 25th, to send for the
Council and General Assembly, and passed the Act before mentioned. And,
"On the 2d of Ma>j, without allowing Time for the House to finish their said Representation,
in Answer to the said Message, you were pleased to send a Letter to our Speaker, intimating,
amongst other Things, ' That his Majesty's Service would not permit you to continue the
' Session longer at that Time, and therefore signified your Pleasure, that the House should
'adjourn to the 12th of the same Month."
"On the 13th, your Excellency sent a Letter to the Speaker, signifying, ' that you thought
' it for his Majesty's Service, that the House should be adjourned to the 19th.'
" On the I9lh, the Representation was ordered to be signed by the Speaker; and the House
sent a Message to your Excellency, by two of their Members, to know your Pleasure, when
you would be attended therewith; and soon after, the Speaker had a Message, signifying, 'that
' you thought it for his Majesty's Service, that the House should be adjourned to the 26th.
"On the 26th, your Excellency, by your Answer to the Representation, was pleased (upon
the Allegations as before ) to direct the Adjournment of the House, to the 2d of June.
" We shall pass over your Excellency's Message on the 2d of June, and the Opinion and
Resolutions of the House thereupon, and only refer to them in the printed Proceedings.
"On the 5th of June, your Excellency sent a Message to the Speaker, signifying to him,
'that you thought it for his Majesty's Service, that the House should be adjourned to the 14th.'
" On the 16th of June, by the like Message, (on the same Allegation) the House was adjourned
to the 7th of Juhj.
"On the 7th, by your Excellency's Letter, to the 14th; on the 14th, to the 2]st; on the
21st, to the 30th of Juli/, on the same Allegation ; and on the 31st, you were pleased to direct
an Adjournment to the 3d of August.
"On the 4ih of August, your Excellency sent a Message to the House; on the sixth, the
House came to Resolutions thereon ; to which we severally refer.
"From the 7th to the 14th of August, the House met and adjourned every Day; sometimes
twice a Day, and nothing to do, your Excellency not having thought fit to recommend to them,
(as has been usual) to make Provision for the current Services of the Y'ear; or rather, your
Excellency had expressed your Intention, that they should meddle with nothing further than
what you recommended by said Message : The House nevertheless, unwilling to remain
inactive, and put their Constituents to daily unnecessary Expence, proceeded upon that, and
other Business, as they found it expedient in the Course of the Session ; and ordered several
Bills to be brought in, which were of absolute Necessity at this Time; which were brought
in accordingly, to tvk. The following severally, entitled,
" A71 Act, to let to farm the Excise on strong Liquors retailed in this Colony, from the Jirst of
November, 1747, to the first of November, 174S.
^^ An Act, further to continue an Act, entitled, An Act, for rcgulntijig the Militia of this Colony.
" An Act, further to continue an Act, entitled. An Act, to prevent Desertion of his Mnjcsty^s Forces
in this Colony.
" An Act, to prevent p'icate Lotteries within this Colony.
" An Act, for appointing Commissioners to take, examine, and state, the puhlick Accounts of the
Colony, from the Year 1713.
"^« Act, for the more effectual cancelling the Bills of Credit of this Colony. «
LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXX. 625
" Two Bills to the like Purpose with the last, having passed both Houses the last Fall, your
Excellency was pleased then to refuse your Assent thereto, saying you would take Time to
consider of them, and yet immediately after prorogued the General Assembly; and the House
conceiving such Acts would be of great Importance to this Colony, they therefore prepared
them again.
" To proceed, there were farther these following Bills brought in, and preparing this Session,
severally, entitled,
" An Act, for raising the Sum of. Two Thousand, Two Hundred, and Fifty Pounds, bif a publick
Lottery, fo7- a further Provision towards founding a College for the Advancement of Lcarnimr, witldn
this Colony.
" An Act, further to continue aii Act, entitled. An Act, for the establishing a Military JTalch, for
the City and County of Albany.
" An Act, further to continue an Act, entitled, An Act, for and towards stqqwrting the Government
of this Colony, by gi-anling to his Majesty the Duties therein mentioned, from the first Day o/" December,
1740, to the first Day of December, 1741.
" An Act, for the Relief of the Poor in the County of Suffolk. And,
^^ An Act, to provide for the Payment and Subsistence of One Hundred and Fifty Rangers, to be
employed in scouring the Woods in the County of Albany, until the first of November next.
" In which Bill was intended should be included, the Provision for all other Services that
might be judged necessary for the Protection and Security of the Frontiers the ensuing Winter.
"And in the midst of our Proceedings thereon, your Excellency on the 4lh of Se/ptember last,
sent a Letter to the Speaker, signifying, ' that you thought it for his Majesty's Service, that the
' General Assembly should be adjourned to the eighth.'
"At this Time we cannot omit observing, that there were Commissioners appointed by his
Majesty's Letters Patent, under the great Seal of this Colony, to meet and treat with
Commissioners of the neighbouring Colonies, that were already, or should hereafter, be
appointed, lo meet and treat touching our joint Conduct in the War; and Commissioners from
the Governments of the Massachusetts-Bay, and Connecticut, were arrived in this City; and all
these Commissioners had met, and had entered upon Treaty for the Purposes in their respective
Commissions, and were continuing fitting every Day, to give the utmost Dispatch the
Importance of their Negotiations required ; and as it would be absolutely necessary, whatever