390 | To Richard Jackson

    Boston Sepr. 10th. 1765

    Dear Sr.

    I wrote one letter to you1 concerning the ^present^ troubles at Boston and intended to have continued it. But I have not been able to find time: which has been scarce sufficient for the necessary public dispatches, the frequent sittings in Council & issuing orders in pursuance of resolutions formed there; At present there is a calm here; but it is a deceitfull one: for the people still declare, they wont suffer the Stamp Act to be executed: and if it is not, on the first of November Government ceases & Anarchy & Confusion must take place. Indeed there is little more of Government left but the form; no Authority remains: Evry thing that is done by the Governor & Council is arraingned2 in the newspaper & an Account of their Motives is demanded as a due to any one who shall please to make the Enquiry. There is but one resort left: & that is the meeting of the Assembly which is appointed for the 25th inst. but I have little dependence upon that: for whilst the people are mad, I have little to expect from their representatives. However I shall make my last & strongest effort there; and if that fails me I have nothing to do but to keep out of harm’s way, If I can, till fresh instructions & powers come from England.

    I did not intend to have said so much on this subject; but it is uppermost: I designed this letter for what I had done on the Grants in Nova Scotia. I have received an Answer to my last letters to Halifax.3 Mr. Franklin, who I suppose is now Lieut Govr. there, writes that he is glad that you are willing to take up lands at the head of the Bay of St. Croix without regard to what may be deemed the boundaries there. He Adds that the fifth Grant, which I told him was intended, would make a Compleat Township  which by instructions are not to be less than 100,000 Acres but may be more, He promises his best recommendations to the Surveyor & all possible service in General. Govr. Wilmot also assures me of general service

    I must repeat that tho’ I have recommended this Situation as Very fine for fishery & Navigation, yet I am not answerable for the quant^li^ties of the inland, having no knowledge of it but of the banks of the Easterly River called St. Croix, which promise well. I could not upon the uncertainty I have been in, fit out a party for examining the inland parts there, which, if sent on purpose would cause a Considerable expence. I intended to have got this done under the cover of some other business; & shall endeavour still to have it done. If I had not been prevented taking my Eastern Voyage by the Comotions at Boston, I should have settled the matter there. As it is I find my self obliged to go on in the dark as to inland qualities: if the Grants are once passed, I shall then make my self acquainted with the topography of the Country without so much Scrupulousness as to Expence, except that not be more than necessary.4 The Comotions at Boston will, I suppose, destroy all hopes of having the transpenobscotan Country given up to this province; as it will probably have many other bad effects on other rights & priviledges of this infatuated people.

    I shall write to you again as soon as I can: but I am greatly behind hand in my public letters. The Narrative of the transactions of this Week, which are very material, I am obliged to reserve for the next ship; when I intend you shall hear from me upon one part of them. On the other hand I must beg that you will give me as exact an Account as you can of the changes in the Ministry,5 together with your apprehension of the probable Consequences: I have no one to expect information of this kind ^from^ but you.

    I am Sr. your most faithfull &c &c &c

    R. Jackson Esqr.

    L, LbC BP, 5: 2-3.