Endeavours should prove Successless here, he further prays that they will be pleased, to recommend the Affair, to his Majesties Royal Consideration, whose Principle it is, to reward the Brave, and the Deserving; and from whose Justice, and Goodness, he han't the least doubt, of having his Grievance redress'd

And the Memorialist shall ever pray as in Duty Bound
Jos Sherburn

Portsmouth May 11th 1748.

[4-58]

[Copy of Letter from Captain Sherburne to Admiral Warren, 1748.] To the Right Honorable Sir Peter Warren Knight of the Bath, and one of the Lords of the Admiralty

Sir, After craving your Leave, to congratulate your Advancement, to the high Station, in which His Majesty has been pleased to place you, as a reward of your Merit, since I had the Honour of serving His Majesty under you in the City of Louisbourg; I humbly intreat, that you will be pleased to allow me, to lay before you the injurious and undeserved Treatment (to say no worse of it,) which I have lately met with here; and that you will condescend, to favour me with your Patronage in order to my obtaining relief.

The Case stands thus

Upon my return from Louisbourg I was bound immediately to Boston to wait on you, and with your Countenance and Permission, to take a Voyage in the Chester to London, to seek a recompence for my Service as Store keeper to His Majestys' Office of Ordnance at Louisbourg, pursuant to the Certificate and recommendation which you and General Pepperrell, were pleased to give me for that purpose, and to offer my self to enter anew into His Majesty's Service, in such Office, as you should think me worthy to sustain, and would be pleased to bestow upon me

But I was no sooner got to Piscataqua Than the Govt of this province desired me to engage in the then intended Expedition agst Canada, with a promise that I should be established a Captain in the said Expedition when his Majesty's blank Commissions should arrive, which were then daily expected, and in the mean Time he gave me a Captains Commission for an armed Brigantine, and another for a foot Company, Copys of which are herein inclosed, however when the Expedition was given over, & the Forces were dismiss'd, and pay Day was come, I was told by the Gentleman, who was Colonel and pay

Master of the Regiment that the Governor had determin'd, I should have no more than a Lieutenant's Pay, tho' I had two Captain's Commissions then in my Pocket which I received from him as before mention'd, and tho' I had never given the least Shadow of Offence to the Governor, nor faild in any Point of Duty that I know of, nor can I devise any reason for it, but that, he might promote other persons, that were more his Favourites and oblige them with the Money nor could I be admitted into the Governor's presence to plead my right, tho' I had several Times desired it. Whereupon I apply'd to the General Assembly, desiring them to become Intercessors for me, that I might not undeservedly be reduced and disgraced, and deny'd the pay to which my Commission entitled me, which I understand by the Governor's Friends, has made him still more obstinate. A Copy of the Memorial is herein also inclosed, which is a full opening of the Scene, and on which, I humbly beg that you'l be pleased at a liesure Minute, to cast a favourable Glance of your Eye, and to indulge me with your Interest, in obtaining Justice in my behalf.

The notice you was pleased to take of me at Cape Breton, moved me to make this Application to you but more especially, the universal Character you bear of being a Patron to the distress'd; a rewarder of the well deserving, and just to all mankind.

I am conscious that I have fail'd (in some respects) in the Manner of my Address, which I hope you will be pleased to excuse, when you consider I was bred a Tar and not at Court, and that I am quite unacquainted with the Mode of making an Application to Such a Superior. I am Sir,

your most obedt most obliged, and most devoted humble Servt [Endorsed] Copy to Adm1 Warren Ap1 1748.

The Victualling Accot of Capt Thomas Bell Esq' for the Soldiers at Fort William & Mary from the 25th of March 1747, to ye 25th March

New Hampsh1) June 3d 1748. I acknowledge to have received from George Jaffrey Esqu' Treasurer the above mentioned Bread Pork & Rum for the Use of the Soldiers at Fort William & Mary to the twenty fifth day of March last

[Shirley to Wentworth.]

[Belknap Papers, Vol. II., p. 264.]

Sir I shall be oblig'd to your Excellency if you can assist me in the recovery of the within nam'd men. I beg pardon for troubling you with the inclosed Scrawl. But the Vessell being to sail for EngÍand this morning I have not time to transcribe it, or to add more y yt I am with great regard and esteem,

Sir-your Excellencys most obedient Humble Servant

Boston, May 31, 1748

His Excellency Gov' Wentworth

W. Shirley.

ED.]

Capt. Hanson & wife

about Gilman's affair.

[The following names are on the back of the foregoing.

[Shirley to Wentworth, on the Albany Affair.]

[Belknap Papers, Vol. II., p. 265.]

Boston, June 11th 1748.

Sir— His Excellency Governour Clinton having appointed an interview with the Indians of the six Nations, to be held at Albany the tenth of July next, wherein matters of great Importance to the Safety and Welfare of all his Majesty's Colonies in North America will be transacted, I have at the desire of the General Assembly of this Province (a copy of whose vote I inclose you) as also of Governour Clinton, and in consequence of his Majesty's commands to me to join with Gov' Clinton in this service, determined (God willing) to be present at the Interview, attended by Commissioners from this Province; and as a full Representative by Commissioners from all the Northern Colonies will have a great tendency to render our Negotiations with the Six Nations successful, and fix them in his Majesty's Interest, and engage them in carrying on the War against his Majesty's Enemies, and as other matters may be transacted at the said Congress which may be for the lasting Security & advantage of these Colonies, I do now upon my own meer motion, and the solicitous desire I have that his Majesty's service upon this Continent may be consulted in the best manner, and the Interest of all his Colonies there be most

effectually secured, as well as at the request of the General Assembly, earnestly desire your Excellency would cause Commissioners to be sent from your Governm' to be present at the afores Interview, and to consult & join with the other Commissioners there in transacting the several matters contained & proposed in the inclosed Copy of the before mention'd vote. I shall write to all the rest of the English Governours from New Hampshire to Maryland - and am with great regard, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient Humble servant

W. Shirley.

I have not time to add, except yt I should be glad yr Exc' would let me have the Expedition Accts wch you design to transmit home. His Excy Govr Wentworth.

[Proceedings of the General Court of Massachusetts relative to the "Six Nations," 1748.]

[Belknap Papers, Vol. II., p. 266.]

The Committee appointed to take under consideration those parts of his Excellency's speech which relate to the meeting of the Commissioners lately held at New York, and to the securing the Indians of the Six Nations, as also his Excellency's Message of the 31st May, are humbly of opinion,

That it is not expedient for the Court at this time to come into any new Resolutions respecting the Result of ye Commissioners who lately conven'd at New York - But, that it is of great Importance to this Governm1 as well as to those on whose Borders the Six Nations of Indians are situated, that measures should now be taken for preserving said Indians in their good affection to his Majesty's Subjects, and attachment to his Interest; and that the Treaty or Interview proposed by his Excellency will, in all probability, greatly tend to strengthen such affection & attachment; and as this Government have generally appeared by their Commissioners at such Interviews, the Committee are of opinion that three Gentlemen be now chosen by this Court to attend his Excellency the Governour, and that they be impowered, in case any Bounty or Reward shall be found necessary in order to encourage the Indians to acts of Hostility against the French over & above what may be allowed by his Majesty, to engage for the Same on the part of this Government, agreeable to such Instructions as they shall receive from the Court for this Purpose.

The Committee are further humbly of opinion, that the Gentlemen