PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

191

REV® M R HARTWICK TO SIR W* JOHNSON.

Honourable Sir, May it please Your Honour.

Here i make bold to communicate to Your Honour a Project for the better peopling gov-erning and defending of the Limits of North America , wich i leave to Your Hon rs Wisdom andDiscretion, if you could aprove of it Sir, or devise any better, i conceive it would be more takenNotice of, if proposed to his Majesty, by Way of an Advice of the Indians. I have thought Sirthat it would be more for the good of the Plantations in the present Circumstances, if the Cost,wich must be spent to the Carrying on of a War, were imployed for transporting settlers, and pro-viding for them for one year at least, besides parchasing of Implements and Cattle and that a CirclingLine might be improved and at convenient Places and Distances Forts and Towns erected and aBorroagh Grave or Guard a limit settled at Camp Johnson, at Oswego, at Lake Erie and at Ohio ,wich Borroagh Graves should be immediates that is independents of the Kespective Govermentsbut only depending on his Majesty’s Orders, and only accountable to him. To whom a District suffi-cient for its own Defence should be granted and assigned, with Pow’er sufficient for the Defencethereof, wich at set Times should be subject to a Visitation of a Commission of Ins Majesty, whosePower must be more extensive in the Beginning in order to make Tryal and subject to Limitationsfrom his Majesty as occasion should offer. This i conceive is the Method, by wich the GermanEmperors have preserved their Extensive Territories against the Incursions of the Barbarians, informer Times You know Sir, it doth not signify, to claim and even conquer large Territories, ifyou can not keep them, and you cannot keep them except you can settle them, and that it willcost less to settle and improve them then in process of time it will cost the king and Country toerect Forts keep them in Repair and maintain Garrisons at so great a Distance from the SettlementsIt will indeed cost more in the Beginning and at once, but these Costs will lessen and determine andinstead thereof the Income of the Country will increase and the Costs and Troubles of Ware will bespared. But then i would also advise That such Borrough Graves or Guard a limits must settlefirst in the Fixt Line one towards the other, and that in defensible Towns, so that the settlingmust begin at their respective Residences and so round about and extending first and principallyas much as possible from the Residence of one Borrough Grave to the other and to secure the Com-munication of the Burggraves with one another Forts must be erected at convenient Places andproper Distances between them, and a Correspondence by Post and express kept. If the Crownwould resolve upon this Method it would be adviseable to listen at present to the Proposals of theFrench Carl for an accommodation, on Condition that the Forts errected on the kings Territories beimmediately demolished. And if then this Method was immediately put in Execution, we wouldgain upon Canada insensibly so that they would be obliged to be in fear of us in place that we mustnow be in fear of them. If Your Honour approves of my scheme and promoteth a Subscription of theIndians to the Inclosed Petition i shall, God willing undertake a Voyage to England and promote thescheme, with all my might. I wish that i might be so happy to speak with your Honour about it,°r to obtain an Answer' in Writing But Circumstances bid me conclude Recommending Sir, YourHonourable Person, House, Office and circumstances to the Divine Favour and Protection, and myself to the Continuation of yours i remain with all possible Respect.

Honourable Sir Your Honour

most obedient Servant

Staatsborough y e 18 th Janu r y 1756.

J. C. Hartwick.