222 | To Lord Barrington

    Boston June 15. 1763

    My Ld

    When I was at Penobscot last Summer I engaged the Commander of Fort Pownall on that river to employ the best hand he could to make an Indian Canoo, which I entended for yr Serpentine River at Becket. The Captain afterwards wrote me Word that he had employed a Squaw of the Penob[s]cot Tribe (who are all now our Freinds) esteemed the best hand for a Canoo in America, to exert the utmost of her art on this occasion. But when I came to recieve it, I find I have been mistaken; & instead of a practicable Canoo they have sent me only a Modell of one. I am so disappointed in this, that in order to alleviate it, I have resolved to send yr Lordship this trifle of trifles, which perhaps may recommend itself as a curiosity: as it is the work of a Lady, perhaps of the first Quality among her own people, & is exactly the same both in materials & Workmanship as a full sized Canoo. I intend however to send yr Lordship a full sized one, which tho capable of holding three or four at a time is easily carried by one man from river to river.

    I propose to reconnoitre this Country this Summer with great accuracy, the assembly having authorised me to employ a mathematician to make observations all along the Coast. I have a very good man for that purpose, the Professor of Mathematics at this College, whom I shall accompany, & assist myself.830 And I shall make a further progress in surveying mount desart, unless I am ordered off from home. I have concluded with 60 families with a minister at their head & a merchant to supply ‘em to settle there this Summer upon a plan already laid out: I want only power to make them a title.831 There are also 720 families ready to settle upon the continent adjoining to the Islands in 12 Townships already mark’t out. I shall greive much (setting aside my own interest) if this settlement should be defeated; as it is compactly planned & laid out to great advantage. And when I consider how much it has Cost the Government of Great Britain to settle 4000 Souls in some other Parts of America, I think it will be a great pity that such a Settlement should be refused when offered to be brought forward at no public expence at all.832 For my own part I have been drawn into this scheme unperceptibly: & now the People call on me to be their leader, which I shall decline no longer, than till I can learn that my establishing a New Colony in a desert (which will long remain unpeopled if this opportunity is neglected) will be approved

    Yours &c

    The R Honble the L Viscount Barrington.

    L, LbC BP, 3: 78-81.