278 | To [Richard Jackson]

    Boston Aprl. 5. 1764

    Dear Sr.

    I have just received yours of Decr 26th. giving account of the grant at St. Croix.1 I would not discourage you in an undertaking I recommended: but the Terms are hard & in some measure impracticable. I will consider them seperately, that is2 the rent & the Conditions of settling.

    The Rent is usual, being I think the same as in New Hampshire. If the depth of the Settlement had not been so much, it would have been less exceptionable: but 15 miles deep in the Country will be a long time settling; & the back lands will be an incumbrance upon the front lands. It would have been a better bargain, if you had taken the same lenght but 10 miles deep: but as it is we will endeavour to make the best of it. If the lands can be let to settlers at something a better rent at 5 s pr 1003 for instance, it will ease the thing greatly. And I think this may be done.

    As for settling, the proportion of sou[ls]4 is not amiss: the more usual way is by houses & families; We allowed near 400 acres to a family, and the families run at more than four souls each. But the Time is abominable; there is not the lea[st] probability of performing this. Therefore you had best at first setting out get it inlarged to 5 or 6 years. New hampshire allows 5 years; Massachusets in this Country 6. If this Inlargement is not done now it must be done at the end of 3 years & then there will be double fees to pay. Therefore if the Warrant is gone to Nova Scotia, you had better get an order sent after it to enlarge the term.5

    As for procuring settlers, It well ^is^ not ^to^ be done, but very partially, in this Country. I will undertake to get the land surveyed, to plan the Townships, to draw up the proposals: you Europeans must apply for settlers. The North of Ireland affords the best kind of people for this purpose;6 Germany also is a good reservoir. As soon as pla[ns?] & proposals can be formed, you must employ Agent[s] in these parts, to engage Settlers & for that purpose to advertise &c. But of this more hereafter; as it will be best to have evry thing prepared for settling before the Settlers are engaged.

    I cannot take a single step in procuring lands on the West side of the Bay untill I have certain advice of the grants being confirmed.7 If I had ^had^ that at the last Session, I should have certainly procured you a grant, for which I had a plan in petto.8 I may have a worse Assembly but never can have a better: they studied to oblige me in evry thing they could, & gave me the whole Direction of the business of the Eastern Country & granted evry thing I askt for. I hope I shall have the same good understanding with the next Assembly; but there is no depending upon it. However if I receive the confirmations before they meet, I will move the affair in the best manner I can; & according to my present Ideas I think I shall succeed in getting the west side of the Bay.

    Altho I have in my letters to you reckoned the Island of Passimaquoddy as belonging to Nova Scotia for the reason I gave you, which I had from Govr. Belcher;9 Yet our People do not allow it so & have good reasons to urge on their side. Therefore, I must if they desire it, state their right to that Island: but I apprehend that their claims may be satisfyed with the jurisdiction, which, if convenience alone was consulted, should be left to the Massachusets. But I shall know more of this, as I intend with all expedition to send a surveying party down to survey the West Side of the bay of St. Croix to the mouth of that River & up it some miles. They will also take a cursory view of the East side of that Bay & River.10

    Altho I have since I received your letter formed a Scheme that seems feasible for the getting [the] Massachusets side of the bay, yet it is so likely to be changed by myself or by those whom I must trust with the Execution of it, that it is not worth the while communicating now. If I could have moved your affair last Session I intended you a beautiful Island lying halfway between Fort Pownall & Mount desart containing, they say, 6,000 acres, but I beleive more.11 According to my present Idea this must be dropped, as probably I shall want to make use of the Debt to you for a greater purpose.

    Ap. 7. 1764

    This Evening the Mail is come in from New York, which brings me your letters of Jan 14 & Feb. 12. I see nothing in the former upon the subject  I have before been writing that wants further notice: I wait for the confirmation, which if it comes before the end of May next, will be time enough. I heartily congratulate you on your appointment in the Exchequer,12 which tho’ of so long standing I have never been able to do before. Notwithstanding what I have said in the foregoing I would still have you pursue the grant you have mentioned: I will stand to my share & give the best Assistance I can. ^As to 2^ I must wait till the fate of North America is quite determined before I can think of it, & then perhaps shant dare to speak my thoughts. I wish well to this Country, but have not a single desire concerning it that I think is not for the advantage of Great Britain. I shall be sorry to see the intrests of N. America, & of course of Great Britain too, sacrificed to the west Indians. It will be a fatal stroke. By the present news paper from Philadelphia I perceive the Disputes between the proprietors & the people are come to such an highth, that there is nothing left but to take the Government into the Kings hands.13 Ever since I have been in America I have seen the positive Necessity of this Measure. The Masterly manner in which this dispute is brought to a sudden crisis makes me think that a friend of ours14 has had the guidance of it. I hope this will find you in good health; a formal condolance at this distance, will not arrive till you have forgot that you had any disorder. However by this time your Parliamentary fatigue must be over.

    I am with Mrs. Bernards complimts &c

    P.S.

    My Son returns in the Ship that carries this: he goes directly from Bristol to Oxford, when he visits London he shall wait on you.

    AL, LbC BP, 3: 226-330.