366 | To Richard Jackson

    Boston Augst. 7. 1765.

    Dear Sr.

    I have received all your Letters by Mr. Ingersol and also that by the packet,1 & would not miss an oppertunity of acknowledging them altho I have not time now to enter upon the several maters therein contained and therefore this is not an answer but an acknowledgement of a receipt.

    Mr. Ingersol arrived here July 28th, & spent last sunday from noon to evening,  excepting prayers at the chapple, with me, chiefly alone, much to my satisfaction. I could not engage him for a public dinner (& perhaps it was as well that it was a tete a tete) because, to use the words of a factious News writer, The Placemen of this Town were very fond of a new Stamp man come from London. However he dined but 5 days in this Town.2

    You have relieved me from a good deal of Anxiety by declaring your Acceptance of the Agency.3 If you had refused it would greatly have disconcerted me & my friends who are your friends. I won’t desire you to embarrass yourself with it longer that [than] can be well helped: indeed I hope to see you soon in an Higher station. But while you continue in that relation to other Colonies may not we hope for the same favour?

    I shall immediately apply to Nova Scotia for a grant of the lands at the head of the Bay of St. Croix, without regard to what I apprehend to be the boundary with the Massachusets. There must be in such a Grant this tacit Condition, that if any part of the granted lands should be evicted by the Massachusets, Nova Scotia will grant an equivalent. I will also endeavour to get a resolve of 20,000 Acres adjoining to this for a 5th Grant as expected, I don’t pretend to know the inland Country; you must take your chance of that: the Situation as to sea is very fine & the land as far as explored, seems very good.

    I shall be very glad to hear that you have prevailed to have the trans-penobscotan lands left to us: Assure yourself I never desired to part with them; but thinking I saw the hand of power laid upon them, I was willing to make as good terms as I could. I can’t think that if we are permitted to take them now, we shall hold them long: the budget of new arrangements will soon be opened.

    Once more this is a receipt & not an Answer

    I am Dr. Sr. &c your most faithfull & Affecte servant

    R Jackson Esqr4

    PS I have not heard from Lord B at all or from P anything certain concerning T’[s] accusation.5 all the hints I have come from you: so you may guess my uncertainty.

    L, LbC BP, 4: 9-10.