53 | To Jeffery Amherst

    Castle William July 5. 1761

    Sr.

    I am favoured with yours of the 25th of June & 1st July:268 and having given orders for Col Hoars Regiment to proceed immediately for Springfield, I shall return to Boston tomorrow to make further dispositions both for hastening the march of the present levies, & for completing the intended Corps

    I find here more than 70 privates since the last embarkation; & as some more are expected, I hope to morrow to make an embarkation of near 100 more including officers. And I think upon the whole, that Thwings Regiment will be soon compleated.269

    I wish I could say the same of the other Regiments: the returns made to me dont make them quite half full. But the musters must turn out better, as many of the returns are of an old date. I am satisfied that the principal Cause of the deficiency of the levies arises from the delay of beating up, by which the people in general were engaged for the summer before it was known that troops would be wanting. There maybe some that lie by for an encrease of bounty, in which, I beleive, they will succeed, the Assembly being generally disposed to do something more, to encourage the inlistment; and the Scheme proposed for that purpose I think will be sufficient. This will be determined as soon as a Business of great consequence now before the House is finished.270

    I am Very sorry that this Business has been so prolonged; but hope We shall still fullfill our engagements.

    I am, with great regard, Sr Your most obedient humble Servant

    Fra. Bernard

    His Excellency Majr Genl. Amherst

    ALS, RC WO 34/26, f 101.