220

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

general, to suggest all Manner of proposals that may be for the Public Benefit in Arts, Manufactures,Agriculture and (Economy.

You may be assured that a proper Respect will be shewn to your Schemes, Hints, and Proposals ;and that they will be regularly communicated to the Society, at their monthly Conventions.

We are, Your very Humble Servants,

Ch s W. Apthorp.

W M Smith J rWal k Rutherford.

Jn° Morin Scott

To the Hon ble S' William Johnson Bart* Ja 8 Duane.

at Johnson Hall.

SIR W. JOHNSON TO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF THE SOCIETY FOR

PROMOTING ARTS &o.

Johnson Hall Jany 4 tb 1765.

Gentlemen,

I did not receive your favour of the 10 th ulto till a few days ago, neither had I a moments leisureto answer it till now. You may be assured that I shall think myself happy In any opportunity ofpromoting the Welfare of this Province, & of encouraging as far as in me lyes a laudable Spirit forthat purpose, which can not be better effected than by the Suppression of Luxury & the promotingHusbandry and Manufactures, the former has not as yet crept in to the parts where my Interest &acquaintance chiefly lyes, to any Degree requiring a restriction, & sho d rather think that a little turnfor possessing more of the conveniencies of Life wo d rather stir up a Spirit of Industry am’st thepeople here, who tho’ they have Lands well Qualified for it, nevertheless neglect Husbandry as theyhave little relish beyond the mere necessarys of Life, & are too Indolent in Gen 1 to Labour formore than a bare subsistence. I am far from thinking the suppression of Luxury, an unnecessaryarticle, on the Contrary I most earnestly wish that the people of America may be prevailed uponto live with" the bounds prescribed by their Rank & fortune, and so far as that it would give megreat pleasure to support the undertaking as well as to encourage Husbandry in all its branches.And altho’ I am persuaded you will not encourage any schemes which may be disagreable to theMother Country Yet you must allow that in a Society composed of persons of all Ranks some thingsmay at least be proposed by some of the Members which cannot be pleasing to G l Britain , and inwhich I couldn’t with the least propriety engage, as a Servant to the Crown.

The Nature of my Department likewise affords me little time to advert to matters of this naturewhich I presume you will readily allow when I assure you that so far from having leisure to attend toany domestic concerns, I cannot command the ordinary hours of refreshment amply enjoyed byevery Labourer in the province, & tho’ I might give myself more Ease I could not do so consistentwith myself and with my desire to promote the public Tranquility.

I must request your Acceptance of £10 Curr which I shall Direct M r Darlington of N York topay into the Treasurers hands, and if circumstanced as I am, I can be of any farther service to yourundertaking, I shall most Chearfully comply, to convince you how much I am a Wellwisher to thisprovince.

and your very humble Servh