412 | To Michael Francklin

    Boston, Novr 21, 1765.

    Sr.

    I have recd your favour of the 11th inst,1 & am much obliged to you for it. As the Affair is finished, we have nothing to do now but to make the best of it: I have no pretence to be displeased with what has been done, as it was done with the best intention towards me & my friends. All I have to desire is that I may be at Liberty to say that this was2 contrary to my Opinion of the Boundary Line, if there ever should be an occasion for me to vindicate myself upon the Subject. But I am persuaded there never will be such occasion; for I have now given over all thoughts of the Massachusets Government being ever allowed to come to St Croix.3 And as this Grant upon the face of it presents the distinction of the East Side of St Croix, I dont expect now that there will ever be such an Enquiry into the true Locality of St Croix as will hurt the Intrest of my Friends in this Grant. Besides I must own that upon Comparing Mr Morris’s Map4 & Observations with Champlain, I am very doubtful concerning my former Opinion of the Island St Croix.

    I must desire you to get the following misnomers amended before the grant comes out of the Office.

    for John Pownall.

    read

    Thomas Pownall,

    for John Mitchell

    John Michell,

    for Thomas Thororton

    Thomas Thoroton,

    for John Jackson

    Richard Jackson;

    the first & last are Errors in your Secretary’s Office, the second & third are errors of the Clerk of the Privy Council, according to the best of my recollection. The fifth order which I have expected from England, was not to be in my Name, nor for my intrest: I have not yet insisted received it, and as no mention is made of it in some late letters, I much doubt whether I shall now receive it at all. In such Case I shan’t think myself obliged to be ^a Trustee^ for such intended order which does not take place; but shall consider the insertion of my name with the addition of 20,000 acres as a personal Compliment of Govr Willmot to me. And if it should come, I shall then consult you whether this allocation in my Name must go in satisfaction of such order, or whether I may tender it for a further Addition. In this I shall be guided by your Opinion, & in the mean time shall avoid admitting that I am a trustee for this additional Quantity of Land.

    I shall be obliged to you, if you will pay the fees for the grant, & also such Gratuity to Mr Morris for extraordinary trouble as you shall think the Case will require. I will pay the Mony to Mr Boutineau5 or any other Person who keeps Cash for you here, or to your order; as I suppose it will be more suitable to you to have it paid here than at Halifax. I have not seen Capt Green, being out of Town when he came in: I will do him any Service in my Power; but it can amount to no more than procuring him some assurance that he may go out of this harbour with safety: as for the proceedings of the Custom house, I cannot interfere with them upon any Account. As to what you mention of a Commission; I went no further than recommending to Mr Gerrish to take that Method.6 He never asked me to write upon the subject, & if he had I should have doubted of the propriety of it.

    I am &c

    Honble Mich Franklin Esqr.

    PS.7 I send the Copy that it may be corrected with the original.

    The foregoing letter has laid by ever since its date in expectation of Capt Green,8 who has waited all this while in hopes of getting a Clearance, which if he had obtained must have been an unstamped one. He has now given it up & has agreed with Mr Townsend9 to sail in Ballast to carry dispatches relating to the Victualling Louisbourgh which will admit of no delay. There are also other dispatches for the Kings Service waiting here: & I think it necessary to advise Lord Colville as well as Govr Wilmot of the Stop to exportation here.10 For all these reasons I have Commissioned Capt Green to sail as an Advice boat, which I hope will carry him safe home, tho’ in ballast.11

    AL, LbC BP, 4: 80-83.