mous Advice of his Majesty's Council for this Province I shall tomorrow publish a Declaration of War against the Cape Sable and St. John's Indians, who have join'd with the French in assaulting his Majesty's Garrison at Annapolis Royal and shall propose to the Assembly to give a Bounty of Scalp-money for every Indian of either of those Tribes, that shall be kill'd, which if obtain'd, and the Garrison should not be taken by a Sea Armament from Louisbourg, seems to promise a good Effect, as there is now at Annapolis a considerable party of Indians, under the command of a very good Officer from this province who with such Encouragement would in all probability rid the Government of Annapolis Royal of the Cape Sable Indians at least. I have just now receiv'd a Letter from your Lordships of the 9th of August which I shall answer by the first Opportunity, and have the honour to be with the highest respect, My Lords, Your most Humble and Rt Honble Lords Commissioners for Trade Massachusets W. SHIRLEY. Letter from Mr. Shirley, Governr of the Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated at Boston, the 16th of October 1744. He has sent some Vessels with men for the reduction of the French Indians in Nova Scotia and security of Annapolis Royal. Recd Novbr 27th 1744 WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH1 SIR, Boston, Nov. 10, 1744. This waits upon you by Capt. Ryal who was left in his Majtys service at Canso by Capt. Young to take care Belknap Papers, N. H. Hist. Soc., 1, 194. of the Trade between that place and Louisbourg, and was there taken with the Garrison by Monsier Duvivier, and is now going home, where I hope he will be of considerable service to our part of the world, with the Lords of Admiralty and other parts of the ministry, from his particular knowledge of Louisbourg, and of its harbour; and of the great consequences of the acquisition of Cape Breton and the keeping of Canso and Annapolis to his Majtys northern Colonies; Be pleased to give me leave to introduce him to you, as an honest, worthy young officer, and whatever countenance and civilities you shall show him for the two or three days he will stay at Piscataqua will be esteemed favours done to Your Excys most obedient His Excy Gov. Wentworth humble servant W. SHIRLEY. P.S. I'll send the warrts you write for in your last, very soon. SIR, WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO JONATHAN LAW1 Divers Soldiers belonging to General Philips's Regiment, who were taken from Canso, & returned hither from Louisbourg in the French Flag of Truce, have deserted from Castle William, where they were quartered 'till his Majesty's Pleasure should be known about them: And the Officers of the said Soldiers have advertised their Desertion in the Print herewith inclosed, & offered a Reward to such Persons as shall apprehend and secure them; And it being probable that they may be got into your Governmt & entred on board some Privateer or other Vessel outward bound, 1 Law Papers 2, 37. Printed: Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll. 11, 244. A similar letter was sent to Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire (N. H. Prov. Papers 5, 931). It is a fair example of the vigilance displayed by Shirley in looking after enlistments in the Louisbourg campaign. I must pray your Honour to give Orders to your Officers to search for them, & if they or any of them may be found to apprehend and secure them. You will excuse me if I urge this Matter with some Earnestness, it being of great Importance for the Preservation of his Majesty's Interest at Annapolis Royal that all these Soldiers returned from Louisbourg should be kept from Desertion, and ready to execute his Majesty's Orders, which I expect to receive early in the Spring. I am, Your Honours most obedient humble Servant W. SHIRLEY. Boston, Novr 19, 1744. The Honourable JONATHAN LAW Esqr. Endorsed: Govr. Shirley's Letter Novbr 1744 WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE DUKE OF MY LORD DUKE, Boston, New England, Decr. 7, 1744. Having found a Pipe of Madeira Wine in my Cellar, which the Judges of that Liquor reckon extraordinary good in it's kind, and as that sort of Wine is generally esteem'd better when it goes round than when it is imported directly from Madeira to England, I have sent it to Mr. Thomlinson the Agent for New Hampshire, whom I have desir'd to receive and take care of it 'till it shall be 1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 32703, 458. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. The letter is printed as an illustration of the manner in which the appointees of London ministers catered to the personal tastes of their patrons. 2 John Thomlinson had been one of the opponents of Governor Belcher during the latter portion of his régime and his opposition had been an important factor in bringing about the change in the Massachusetts government as well as that of New Hampshire. In his letter to Newcastle of Mar. 3, 1738-9, Shirley, however, had denied participation in the plan to oust Belcher from office. See letter of Mar. 3, ante, p. 13. fit for your Grace's drinking and then to wait upon your Grace and beg the Honour of your Acceptance of it from me, and receive your Grace's Commands for his manner of conveying it to your Cellar. We esteem the Madeira to be the most wholesome of Wines in New England, and if this shall be acceptable to your Graces Taste and contribute in any measure to your Grace's Health, which it is my Duty to wish and pray for, it will be a singular pleasure to Your Grace's most Dutiful and most Oblig'd Humble Servant W. SHIRLEY. The General Assembly of this Province in their consultations respecting the methods of carrying on the Warr so as it may be most for the Protection of his Majestys subjects in these Parts and least expensive to both Provinces, among other things have judged that it will be for 1 Belknap Papers, N. H. Historical Society, 1, 190, N. H. Prov. Papers 5, 932. Benning Wentworth was born at Portsmouth, N.H., July 24, 1696, and died in that town Oct. 14, 1770. He was the eldest son of Lieutenant Governor John Wentworth, was educated at Harvard College, where he graduated in 1715 and in 41734 became governor of the colony. He served in this position until 1767, and during Shirley's term of office was one of his most faithful supporters among the New England governors and the one to whom the Massachusetts governor first turned for assistance. the common advantage of the Province of New Hampshire & this Province that we should act in conjunction in this important Business, and that we should agree together as well concerning the measures to be pursued in the action. of War, as the Proportion of men which each Province should furnish, and of the charge to be respectively born by them; and therefore the two Houses have desired me to propose to your Excellency that Commissioners may meet together on this affair. As I am fully sensible that such an agreement between us will very much tend to promote his Majesty's service & the Benefit of both Provinces, I desire you would take the matter into consideration, & let me know your Resolution upon it as soon as may conveniently be; and if your Assembly inclines to favour this Proposal that you will please to let me know what time & Place you judge will be most convenient for such commissions to meet, either your Excellency in person or such Commissioners as you shall appoint to manage this affair for your Governmt. I doubt not but you will give this affair a speedy Dispatch, his Majesty's service requiring us to act with the utmost vigour for the safety of his subjects in these Provinces. I have inclos'd a copy of the Resolution of our Assembly upon this subject, which will give you further Light into it. I am, your Excellency's most obedient Humble Servant W. SHIRLEY. DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY1 SIR, White Hall, Jany 3, 1744. His Majesty having thought it necessary for the Secu rity of the Collonys in North America, and particularly of the Province of Nova Scotia, (which has been already in Similar orders were sent to the 1 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 1, 20. governors of other colonies in America. Island, see R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 132. |