184 | To Richard Jackson

    Boston Jan: 6 1762[3]680

    Dear Sr

    My Writings to you have been pretty voluminous of late, & yet I am inclined to add another letter to a large packet, which will set out, I hope in 2 days time.

    Since I made up my last letters681 We have advice that Lord Halifax is made Secretary of State. As the appointment to that office don’t necessarily determine the department, It is generally expected here that he will soon if not immediately enter upon that branch to Which N America belongs.682 Every one that wishes well to this country must desire to have it under the care of Lord Halifax: There is not only an intimate acquaintance, but also, what is the consequence of it a mutual affection between them; & there cannot be a finer field (Ireland not excepted) for him to exercise his abilities & virtues upon than this Continent is like to afford. If this appointment is like to take this turn, I should be glad to have the earliest advice of it.

    My obligations to Lord Halifax are such that I have thought it my duty to pay my compliments to him, upon the several promotions he has been honoured with, since he has left the Board of Trade. I shall certainly not neglect this; but propose to stay till the packett comes in, in hopes that I may have an opportunity of congratulating America as well as his Lordship. I say this with a due regard to Lord Egremonts merit by whom I have been personally favourd, but I suppose such an exchange of departments cannot be unpleasing to him.

    I dont expect that what I urge in behalf of the province’s right to the lands between Penobscot & St Croix will have weight enough to overcome opinions of so long standing as those against the Province seem to be: but this I think, that it may serve to evince that the Objections to the Province’s right are founded upon such refin’d reasoning, that if the Province should be precluded from these lands without a convention or a compensation, it will most probably be thought hard treatment by the Provincials

    Map of Sir Francis Bernard’s American estate, c.1786. This map was probably prepared for John Bernard who in 1785 recovered title to half Mount Desert Island after its confiscation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He later sold the island to speculators. By permission of Robert Spencer Bernard.

    Upon revolving in my mind, what I have mention’d both to you & Mr Pownall of a Scheme for erecting a New Province, the Expediency & practicability of it seem ^to me^ more & more evident. If it should be seriously thought of, give me an early hint of it. I am D S Y m fa & Aff Ser

    R. Jackson Esq:

    L, LbC BP, 2: 244-246.