the Lower Counties, so that I cannot at present see the papers you refer me to, but I shall wait upon him in my journey to Virginia; and if, on perusing those papers, any thing seeming worthy of your notice should occur to me, I shall communicate my sentiments to you with that honest freedom, which you always ap

prove.

This journey, which I cannot now avoid, will deprive me of the pleasure of waiting on your Excellency in New York, at the time you mention. I hear, too, that the governor does not purpose to send any commissioners thither, but to go himself. I know not what is to be the particular subject of your consultations; but, as I believe all your schemes have the King's service (which is the public good) in view, I cannot but wish them success.

Our Assembly meets the beginning of December, when I hope to be at home again; and, if any assistance is to be required of them and the people here, depend on my faithful services, so far as my little sphere of influence shall extend. With the highest esteem and respect, I have the honor to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.*

The following extract from a letter, written by Israel Pemberton in Philadelphia to Dr. Fothergill in London, towards the close of the year 1755, affords some interesting particulars concerning the spirited conduct of Franklin in promoting Braddock's expedition, and other public measures of that period. Sir John St. Clair was quartermaster-general to Braddock's army.

"When the governors of Boston and New York were here on their way to Annapolis, to meet General Braddock, Governor Shirley insisted on Benjamin Franklin's going with them. He, with some difficulty, undertook the journey, though he had scarcely perfected the scheme, which some others had projected for enabling the Assembly to raise a sum of money legally without the Governor's concurrence, and thereby making use of the opportunity they desired of demonstrating their readiness to comply with the demands of the King, as far as we are capable, consistently with our religious and civil liberties.

"After the business of the Convention was over, Franklin stayed be

TO JAMES READ.

Arms and Ammunition sent to the Frontiers.

DEAR SIR,

Philadelphia, 2 November, 1755.

I have your letter by Mr. Sea, and one just now by express. I am glad to hear the arms are well got up; they are the best that we could procure. I wish they were better; but they are well fortified, will bear a good charge, and I should imagine they would do good service with swan or buck shot, if not so fit for single ball. I have been ill these eight days, confined to my room and bed most of the time, but am now getting better. I have, however, done what I could in sending about to purchase arms, &c., for the supply

hind the governor, in order to settle a post from Will's Creek to this city. He then had an opportunity of frequent conferences with the General, and by that means of removing the great prejudices they had imbibed against the people of this province, which were such that they seemed more intent on an expedition against us, than against the French. They had been told, that we had refused to supply them with provisions and carriages, though the pay for it had been offered us, and would not agree to open a road from their camp to our settlements; and it was very constantly insinuated, that we were at the same time supplying the French with provisions. In answer to which, he had the opportunity of assuring them, that the Assembly had voted £5000 to be laid out in provisions, and made ready before their arrival; that no notice had ever been given of their wanting any more carriages, than the Virginians and Marylanders had undertaken to furnish; and that a committee was then surveying the ground in order to lay out the road. The last charge was so wild that it required little trouble to refute it. Franklin immediately took care to hasten the transportation of the meal, &c., which had been provided, and undertook to use his endeavours to procure as many horses and wagons as were wanted, and he succeeded so well, as to leave the General in a much better disposition than he found him, and to prevent the ill consequences to be feared from a disappointment. He stayed in the back counties of this province, till he had engaged the wagons, and thus he was providentially employed to avert the unhappy effects, which might reasonably be expected from a madman, as St. Clair may be termed, coming with an armed force among VOL. VII. 13 I

of the frontiers, and can now spare you fifty more, which I shall send up to-morrow with some flints, lead, swan-shot, and a barrel of gunpowder. The arms will be under your care and Mr. Weiser's,* you being gentlemen in commission from the governor. Keep an account of whose hands you put them into. Let them be prudent, sober, careful men, such as will not rashly hurt our friends with them, and such as will honestly return them when peace shall be happily restored.

I sincerely commiserate the distress of your out settlers. The Assembly sit to-morrow, and there is no room to doubt of their hearty endeavours to do every thing necessary for the country's safety. I wish the same disposition may be found in the governor, and I hope it. I have put off my journey to Virginia, and you may depend on my best services for the common welfare, so far as my little influence extends. I am your affectionate kinsman and humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

a peaceable, inoffensive people, who very probably might, through their ignorance, have become the objects of his rash displeasure.

"Franklin's conduct through this affair was very prudent, and indeed he was the only person who was alone equal to it. The Assembly, sitting immediately after his return home, unanimously thanked him for it. The satisfaction of serving a people, whom he respects, and the quick sense of the injurious treatment they meet with, animated Franklin so effectually, that I am in hopes it will engage him to act steadily and zealously in our defence. We are so fully sensible of the unwearied exertions of our adversaries, that we think no just and reasonable measures should be omitted to obviate them."

Other particulars respecting these transactions may be found in "A Brief Review of the Conduct of Pennsylvania for the Year 1755,” written by William Smith, and published in London the year following. After relating the facts, the author says, "Mr. Franklin has taken the greatest pains in this whole affair, without the least recompense, but the satisfaction of serving his country." p. 34.

Conrad Weiser, celebrated as an Indian interpreter for many years, highly respected for his character, and of great influence with the In

P. S. My best respects to Mr. Weiser. Nine hundred arms with ammunition have been sent up, by the committee of Assembly, to different parts of the frontier.

TO WILLIAM PARSONS.*

Money appropriated for the Defence of the Frontiers.A Militia Act passed. Arms and Powder pro

vided.

DEAR SIR,

Philadelphia, 5 December, 1755.

I received your favor of November 25th, and take this first opportunity of acquainting you, that an act is passed granting £60,000 chiefly for the defence of the province, and is to be disposed of for that purpose, by seven persons, namely, Isaac Norris, James Hamilton, J. Mifflin, Joseph Fox, Evan Morgan, John Hughes, and your old friend. We meet every day, Sundays not excepted, and have a good agreement with the governor. Three hundred men are ordered to be immediately raised on pay, to range the frontiers, and blockhouses for stages to be erected at proper distances and garrisoned; so that I hope in a little time to see things in a better posture. A militia act is also passed, of which, if people are well disposed, a good use may be made, and bodies of men be ready on any occasion to assist and support the rangers. All par

* William Parsons was one of the earliest members of the Junto, formed by Franklin soon after he established himself in Philadelphia. See Vol. II. pp. 9, 551. Parsons was afterwards Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania. When this letter was written he was at Easton. He died in 1758. p. 78.

See this Militia Act, Vol. III.

་ ་ ་ ་ ་ ་

ties laid aside, let you and I use our influence to carry this act into execution.

I received also your letter of the 27th, relating the unhappy affair of Gnadenhutten, and desiring arms. I have accordingly procured and sent up by a wagon to one George Overpack's a chest of arms, containing fifty, and five loose, fifty-five in all, of which twentyfive are for Easton, and thirty to be disposed of to such persons nearest danger on the frontiers, who are without arms and unable to buy, as yourself with Messrs. Atkins and Martin may judge most proper; letting all know that the arms are only lent for their defence, that they belong to the public, and must be held forthcoming when the government shall demand them; for which each man should give his note. By the same wagon we send twenty-five guns for Lehigh township, and ten for Bethlehem to the Moravian Brethren; which make in all one hundred; with which goes one hundred weight of gunpowder, and four 'hundred pounds of lead; so there should be one pound of powder and four pounds of lead divided to each

man.

Who brought your last letter to me I know not, it being left at my house. You mention sending a wagon, and I daily expected to see the wagoner, but he never called on me for an answer. Please to let me know by a line when you have received what is sent. I am your affectionate friend and humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.