213 | To Richard Jackson

    Castle William. May. 21. 1763

    Dr Sr

    By the Schooner Hannah Doggett fr Bristol. Ap 11, I sent to Mr Pownall, a grant of 6 Townships next to Penobscot with a Small Map of the Same, & a letter to their Lordships recommending the settlement to them,794 that they would not disappoint it tho’ the right of the Province should be disputed, as this settlement must in general be advantageous let the right of jurisdiction belong to one or the other Province: & by the Devonshire Capt Hunter for London May 9 I sent two more of parts (originals) of this Grant over to you with a large map of the Lands from an actual survey, & dupls: of the others Papers.795 After the first of these dispatches viz on Ap: 15. I recieved a severe letter from the Lords reprimanding me for consenting to grants of Lands east of Penobscot &c without consulting them. I took this so much at heart that I immediately wrote to Mr Pownall (by the Packet) with much concern & I hope with all due respect: & I afterwards by the Devonshire wrote to thr Ldships on the same subject, referring to my letter to Mr Pownall. But I find that I might have saved their Lordships this trouble; for on the 14th instant I recieved a very kind letter from their Ldships, dated Mar. 11796 on the subject of my grant; by which I must understand that the Papers I sent in Dec: last have suf[fici] ently vindicated my conduct from the Nova Scotia impeachment. From this Letter & from yours which I have recieved with it I percieve that both my grant & the Provinces right are seen in a more favorable light than they were some months ago.797 I should be glad to learn the Particulars of the No. Sco. remonstrances & the prejudices Ld E798 was influenced by & from whom the latter came: as to the former I can concieve it possible that deeper designs than the disputing this Country may be at the bottom of it.

    I have wrote to Mr Townshend799 to congratulate him upon his appointment, & have freely made him a tender of submitting to him my thoughts concerning such matters as are of too delicate a nature to be made subjects of public letters, nay some of them too nice to be committed to any letters but the most secret. I have a considerable collection of ideas concerning the Political state of America, & have committed very few of them to writing, having no correspondent of Authority to trouble with them since Ld Halifax left the Office. If I could be of use in making a report in Person I would not grudge the journey; but I could not well bear the expense, without some compensation direct or collateral. I spend ^here^ my whole income: indeed evry thing is very dear, as well on account of the war as of two unfruitfull Seasons following each other. But we may well hope that the times will mend: & in that hope I remain quite contented. I should be obliged to you, if you would recommend or get me recommended to Mr Townsend. I have asked the same favour of L B:800 but know not what the Connection is between them; should be glad to hear.

    In a former letter801 I have mentiond to you the expediency & apparent possibility of forming a new Government on this side of N Scotia. The more I have since thought of it more practicable the Scheme appears, as it seems to me certain that a proposal of this sort might be made so agreeable to the Massachusets as by way of exchange to make ‘em satisfied with an equivalent compensation for their Eastern lands which is all the difficulty attending this Scheme. When I have a little leisure I will reduce this into form: in the mean time I only mention it again that you may turn yr thoughts upon it.

    I informed the College of what you have done, they will direct the Payment of the money & the board of overseers (Governor Council & Ministers of Churches) have passed a Vote of thanks to you & Mr Mauduit. I find I sent you too few books for public & private use. I will send more by this Ship if I can get them. I wish Ld. Barrington had had one. I must leave you to make an Apology to him when you recieve the next parcell.

    Mr Townsend is the first Commoner that has presided at the board of trade: & I had some doubt what address was due to him. But as my letter was to him alone & in some degree private, I thought I could not properly use the word Lordship. If I am wrong set me right. I am with &c

    R Jackson Esq.

    L, LbC BP, 3: 65-68.