more eligible situation; and our sincere regard for the memory of our first proprietary, must make us apprehend for his children, that if they follow the advice of Rehoboam's counsellors, they will like him absolutely lose,—at least, the affections of their people. A loss, which however they affect to despise, will be found of more consequence to them than they seem at present to be aware of.'

The assembly returned in October, for the remainder of the year 1753, and to last till October, 1754, being composed of nearly the same persons as the last, met with the same disposition, and proceeded on the same principles.

To have a sufficient currency was, as we have seen, the great provincial point; and from the facts already stated, it is sufficiently clear, that the proprietary-concurrence therewith was not to be obtained, but upon such terms as even silver and gold could never be worth. The loan-office, which was in the hands of the assembly, was still considered as an over balance for the land-office, in the hands of the proprietary, though they never came into competition, and no benefit could any way result to the province, but the proprietaries were sure to have their share of it.

What encouragement the near prospect of a war furnished to either; and what use was made of it; and at whose door the obstructions given to the public service are to be laid, will best be deduced from the sequel.

With the consideration of the state of their commerce and the accumulated proofs resulting therefrom, that with the increase of their currency, the trade of the province, as well by importations from England as the exportations of their own product, had amazingly increased, the assembly opened their sessions in February, 1754; and taking in also the consideration of their currency with it, came to the following unanimous resolutions. To wit.

"That it is necessary that the paper-money of this province should be re-emitted for a farther time.

"That there is a necessity of a farther addition to the paper-money at present current by law within this province. "That there is a necessity, that a sum should be struck to

exchange the ragged and torn bills now current by law in ths province.'

Upon which resolutions, they afterwards ordered in a bill for striking forty thousand pounds, to be made current and emitted on loan, and for re-emitting and continuing the currency of the bills already in circulation; and on the other hand, the governor sent them down a written message, accompanied with a letter to himself from the Earl of Holdernesse, a second from the lords of trade, and a third from the French commandant on the Ohio to Mr. Dinwiddie, deputy governor of Virginia.

The Earl of Holdernesse's letter was dated August 28, 1753, and as it may be presumed, was nearly the same with the other letters, sent at the same time, to the governors of the other provinces.

The contents of it were, "That his majesty having received information of the march of a considerable number of Indians, supported by some regular European troops, with an intention as it was apprehended, to commit some hostilities on parts of his majesty's dominions in America, his lordship had received the king's commands to send him (the governor) intelligence thereof; as also to direct him, to use his utmost diligence to learn how far the same might be well grounded; and to put him upon his guard, that he might be at all events, in a condition to resist any hostile attempts that might be made upon any parts of his majesty's dominions within his government; and to direct him in the king's name, that in case the subjects of any foreign prince or state should presume to make any encroachments on the limits of his majesty's dominions, or to erect forts on his majesty's lands, or commit any other act of hostility, he was immediately to represent the injustice of such proceedings, and to require them forthwith to desist from any such unlawful undertaking; but if, notwithstanding such requisition, they should still persist he was then to draw forth the armed force of the province, and to use his best endeavours to repel force by force. But as it was his majesty's determination, not to be the aggressor, he

had the king's commands most strictly to enjoin him, the said governor, not to make use of the armed force under his direction, excepting within the undoubted limits of his majesty's dominions: and that, whereas it might be greatly conducive to his majesty's service, that all his provinces in America should be aiding and assisting each other in case of any invasion, he had it particularly in charge from his majesty to acquaint him, that it was his royal will and pleasure, that he should keep up an exact correspondence with all his governors on the continent; and that in case he should be informed by them of any hostile attempts, he was immediately to assemble the general assembly, and lay before them the necessity of mutual assistance, and engage them to grant such supplies, as the exigency of affairs might require."

The letter from the lords of trade, was dated September 18, and imported, "That his majesty having been pleased to order a sum of money to be issued for presents to the Six Nations of Indians, and to direct his governor of New York to hold an interview with them, for delivering the same, for burying the hatchet, and for renewing the covenant chain, they thought it their duty to signify the same; and it having been usual upon the like occasions formerly, for all his majesty's colonies, whose interest or security were connected with or depended upon them, to join in such interview; and that, as the present disposition of those Indians and the attempts made upon them to withdraw them from the British interest, appear to them to make such a general interview more particularly necessary at that time, their desire was, that he, the governor, would lay this matter before the council and general assembly or the province under his government, and recommend to them forthwith, to make a proper provision for appointing commissioners, to be joined with those of the other governments, for renewing the covenant chain, &c. and that the said commissioners might be men of character, ability, integrity, and well acquainted with Indian affairs."

The letter of the French commandant was in answer to the representations of governor Dinwiddie, concerning the

French incroachments on the Ohio, (for the European regulars mentionedin Lord Holdernesse's letters, were of that nation, though so much caution had been used to suppress the very name) and in very polite terms denied the whole charge.

In the governor's written message accompanying these papers, something was said of each; and of the last rather more (whatever the matter of fact really was) than it seems to contain. The French commandant says, "it belongs to his general at Canada, not to him, to demonstrate the reality of the king his master's right to the lands situated along the Ohio: that he shall forward the letter he has received to him; that his answer would be a law to him; that as to the requisition made to him, to retire, he could not think himself obliged to submit to it; that he was there by his general's orders, which he was determined to obey; that he did not know of any thing that had passed during the campaign, which could be esteemed an hostility; that if the governor had been more particular in his complaints, he had been more particular in his answer, &c."

The governor's comment is in these words, 'An express has this week brought me governor Dinwiddie's account of that gentleman's [Col. Geo. Washington's] return with the answer of the commander of the fort, who avows the hostilities already committed, and declares his orders from the king of France are, to build more forts, take possession of all the country, and oppose all who shall resist, English as well as Indians, and that he will certainly execute these orders as early as the season will permit.'

It is certain, at least, this language was never echoed at home-and not a little extraordinary it is, to find this gentleman in his very next paragraph, making so very free with the French name, which the secretary of state had been so extremely careful to avoid the mention of.

'Gentlemen (he proceeds to say) French forts and French armies so near us, will be everlasting goads in our sides; our inhabitants from thence will feel all the miseries and dreadful calamities that have been heretofore suffered by

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our neighbour colonies; all those outrages, murders, rapines and cruelties, to which their people have been exposed, are now going to be experienced by ourselves, unless a force be immediately raised sufficient to repel these invaders. It is to be hoped therefore, that as loyal subjects to his majesty, and in justice to your country, you will not fail to take into your consideration the present exigency of affairs; and, as it will be attended with a very considerable expence, and require a large number of men, make provision accordingly, that I may be enabled to do what his majesty, as well as the neighbouring colonies, will expect from a government so populous, and likely to be so nearly affected with the neighbourhood of French garrisons.'

In subsequent paragraphs, he farther informs the assembly, that the governors of Virginia, New York, and the Massachusetts, had made a tender of their assistance to the province, and expressed an earnest desire to act in concert with it; inforces the necessity of a general union of all the provinces, both in council and forces; recommends the appointment of some trusty person to reside, in behalf of the province, among the Indians upon the Ohio; as also the preparation of a bill for better regulating the Indian trade; and concludes with the following stimulative, to wit.

'Gentlemen,

"There is so much to be done, and so little time to do it in, the season being so far advanced, and governor Dinwiddie expecting the forces from this province to join those of Virgínia, early in March, on Potowmack, that I most earnestly entreat you will not delay the supplies, nor deal them out with a sparing hand, but use all the expedition in your power; for you will undoubtedly agree with me, that so alarming an occasion has not occurred since the first settlemént of the province, nor any one thing happened that so much deserves your serious attention."

A treaty with the Ohio Indians, it is to be observed, had been just concluded at the expence of the province, by three commissioners, two of them selected out of the assembly by the governor; and the necessity of regulating the Indian