223 | To Jeffery Amherst

    Boston June 19.th 1763

    Sr

    I had the favor of yours of the 12th inst by last night’s post.833 I did not expect that the Affair would have got into the general Court this Session, as I had observed a strict silence upon it. But on the last day but one of the Session It got into the Council without my having the least notice of it: so that I could do no more than prevent the report of the Committee having any offence in it, which I hope it is free from. I must earnestly desire that the Accounts may be so settled that the Province may not be charged with any part of the billeting, transporting &c, And then this Matter will easily subside.

    I hope this Business will be so well settled, before the Assembly meets again, that there will be ^no^ room for it’s affecting future requisitions; concerning which I have the greatest reason to expect a ready compliance: as the composition of the present Assembly is Very favorable to Government. But I shall be allways glad to make such Propositions ^rather^ at the usual times of sitting than at extraordinary Sessions, when the House being often Very thin, their resolutions are not allways so much to be depended upon.

    I shall be much obliged to you for the plan you have been pleased to promise me & should be glad to have it as exact & extensive as may be. I will in return send a Copy of our Surveyors field book, if it will be acceptable. I have laid aside the continuing the Survey of Kennebec river, as I had proposed, this Summer: and in the room of it have got the Assembly to enable me to employ a good Mathematician to make observation of the Variation of the Needle & the longitude along the Eastern Coast from Piscataway to Penobscot: This I shall assist in myself, if I can spare time. I am also getting an actual Survey of the East sides of Penobscot & the Coast eastward of it; where We are making a New Settlement of 12 Townships; but wait for his Majesty’s approbation of it; which, according to some late letters, We may expect to have soon.

    Col Tullikin in a letter I have lately received from him informs me,834 that He can, without any detriment to the Service, supply me with what coal I shall want for next Winter: but that He should be glad to have your order for it. I am sorry to be repeatedly troublesome to you upon this Subject; and therefore will submit to you, whether it may be proper to give me a general order for coals for my own use, not exceeding 20 chaldrons a year: altho’ I shant want above half that quantity this year, as I have considerable remains of my last years stock.

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

    Fra. Bernard

    His Excellency Sr Jeffry Amherst.

    P.S.

    The inclosed contain an Apology for my troubling you with them

    ALS, RC WO 34/26, ff 239-240.

    The reply to this letter is Amherst to FB, 26 Jun. 1763, WO 34/27, p. 295.

    FB had to make several requests of Lt. Col. John Tulleken, the commanding officer at Louisburg, before he finally received ten to twelve chaldrons from the Cape Breton mines. The coals were for his personal use, to stock new grates he had had installed in the Province House and the apartments at Castle William. FB to Tulleken, Boston, 18 Aug. 1763, BP, 3: 4.