,.^.. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^ >^. // ^ / >> m /A Photographic Sdaices Carporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ a bibliographically unique, which may alter any of tha imagea in the reproduction, or which may aignificantly change the uauai method of filming, are checked below. D D D n D □ Coloured cover*/ Couverture de couleur I I Cover* damaged/ Couverture endommagAe Cover* reatored and/or laminated/ Couverture reataurAe et/ou pelliculAe I I Cover title mi**ing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured map*/ Cartes giographiqua* en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plate* and/or illuatration*/ Planche* et/ou iliuetration* en couleur Bound with other material/ Relit avac d'autres document* r~7| Tight binding may cauae ahadow* or d^atortion along interior margin/ La re iiure aerrte peut cauaar de I'ombre ou de la diatortion le long de la marge inttrieure Blank leave* added during reatoration may appear within the text. Whenever poaaible, theae have been omitted from filming/ II *e peut que certainea pagea blanche* ajouttea lor* d'une reatauration apparai**ent dana le texte. mala, ioraque cela Atait pooaibia, ce* pagea n'ont pas 6ti fiimtea. Additional commanta:/ Commentairea *uppl6mentaire*: Tl to L'ln*titut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaira qu'il lui a AtA poaaible de ae procurer. Lea detail* de cet exemplaira qui aont paut-Atre unique* du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dana la mAthode normale de filmage aont indiquia ci-de**ou*. I I Coloured page*/ D Page* de couleur Page* damaged/ Pagea andommagia* □ Pagea reatored and/or laminated/ Page* reetaurte* et/ou peiliculAe* Page* diacoioured, *tained or foxed/ Page* d6coiorAe*, tachatie* ou piqudes Tl P< oi fil Oi b( th 8i( ot fir *i( or I I Page* detached/ Page* ditachtes Showthroughy Tranaparance Quality of prir Qualit* intgale de rimpre**lon include* *upplementary materi{ Comprend du materiel suppitmantaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition diaponible r~~^ Showthrough/ r~/n Quality of print varie*/ I I include* *upplementary material/ r~1 Only edition available/ T> ah Tl wl Ml dil en| be rig re< mi Pagea wholly or partially obacurad by errata aiip*, ti**ue*. etc., have been refilmed to enaure the be*t po**ible image/ Lea pagea totalement ou partiellament obacurcie* par un feuillet d'errata, une peiure, etc., ont M filmte* it nouveau da fafon A obtenir la -?ieilleure image po**ible. This item i* filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document eat filmt au taux Je reduction indiqu6 ci-deaaoua. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Ms lu lifier ne age The copy filmed hero has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The iffiages appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies In printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion,, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or Illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. L'exemplaire fllnr., .*ut reproduit grAce A la gintrosit* de: La bibliothdque des Archives pubiiques du Canada Lm images suivantes ont At* reproduites avec ie plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de ia nettetA de l'exemplaire film*, et en conformity avec ies conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont ia couverture en papier est imprimie sont filmte en commenpant par Ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'iilustration, soit par ie second plat, salon ie cas. Tous ies autres exenr^piaires originaux sont fiim6s en commen^ant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'iilustration et en terminant par ia dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, soion Ie cas: Ie symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, ate, may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams Illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllm6s A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui cllchA, 11 est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant ie nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mAthode. ita lure. : IX 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 m: „ii^ ^ -.^ )IV^- frS PROP OSALS For Uniting the ENGLISH COLONIES ON THE Continent of America So as to enable them to ad with Force and Vigour agaihft their Enemies. LONDON: • " Printed for J. W I L K I E, behind the Chapter- Houfi, In ' St. Paul*: Church-yard. C ^ M. DCC. LVII. [Price IS. ') T. *, '■> i •u^. I <4" S. V *I.:^ **A *•■* ■\ i n THE V . ■ I f '■' .^ ^,/''■.^i ^'-r' ".''^t l i 4 i H IM He .*Y-l 'I I'll [i. ] He fliews, that after the Acceflion of thcf Stuart Family, the breaking in upon the Syftem of the publick Offices filenced thofe Informations that ought to hai^e been given to the Crown, both with refpedl to the Revenue, and to publick and private Affairs : So that there could not, under fuch Circumftances, be any Confiftency in our Government, cither in the Condu.# His principal View was to draw the At- tention of the Publick to the Importance of the Subjcft, before he treated of the Syftem of the Publick Boards fmce the Year 1690: In the Profecution of which many Things of a very interefting Nature will neceflarily arife, and be brought to the View of the Publick ; and it would have been very imprudent in him to have carried on a Work of fo important a Nature, without being firft able to judge of the Difpofition of thofe who have the Power to redrefs. However, he hopes that the can- did Reader will not accufe him of Vanity, as a Dwarf may often fee many Things which a Giant may overlook j and that by pointing out the Road to more able and ikilful Perfons, he may be the Means of faving this Nation from imminent Danger and Diftrefs. With refpedl to the prefent ElTay, its Defign is humbly to propofe a Plan for uniting the Englijh Colonies on the Continent of America for their mutual Defence. Some Readers IJ Readers may not fully underftand certain Parts of this Difcourfe j but they will be fo candid, as not to cenfurc the Performance until they be better informed of the Courfc of Bufincfs in America, Such as are Judges of the Matter, if they fee any reafonable Ob- jedtions to what is propofed, will» it is hoped, for the Benefit of our Colonies, propofc fome othec Expedient for the uniting of them : By which the Author will gain all that he aims at, as his Endeavours have been wholly cal- culated for the Service of the Publick, with- out the Icaft View, or Intention, to refle<^ on any Perfons, who either have been, or now are, in Power. . .^ v »: r ^ :*.' '1 iiV :": ,. A,. . U; "U; IhA ^A .:Li "loil - : i .. it ' P R D P Q-. !• ' yj^ • / ftri ) , PROPOSALS F O R Uniting the EngliJJj Colonies on the Continent of Anie7^ica^ fo as to enable them to ad: with Force and Vigour againft their Enemies. O' N a Treatife publiflied in 175-5 *» I obfervcd, that the Policy and (jenius of all Gov;;inments are beft ciif- cerned by iiieir Courfe of proceed- ing in their great Offices ; and as wc had then, and have now, many Concerns of a very intercfting Nature depending with J: * I'ltituhd, The Wifdom and Policy of the Fnrrh in con- ftrudting their (jreat Offices fo, as beft anlwers the Puipofes ot' cxtcndinj^ tbtir Tiadc and Commerce, b'f. R - France [2] France^ I thought it i. light be of Lie to the Public to take a (hort View of the Syftern of their Go- vernment, and the Conftrut^ion of their great Of- fices i and in particular of their Council or Board of Commerce, that we might be the better enabled to judge of their Strength, Defigns, and Connexions in America. And in the Profecu- tion of the faid Defign I endeavoured to fhew, that in Government there muft be fome Power, which compared with the reft might bear the Sig- natures of Authority, and claim the Right of Di- redion -, for otherwife the Delegates of Power would be at Liberty to gratify every Appetite and Paflion in its Turn, and indulge every Defire which happened to h^ uppermoft. But that this not being thought confiilent with the Dignity of the French Monarchy, their Offices were fo con- ftituted, as to make the King the fole Mailer and Arbiter of all Rewards -, and that therefore he was confidered as the Center to which all Perfons employed in the Adminiilration of publick Affairs, and ail Matters relative to the Oifices, ultimately re for ted. A^ND in treating of the Motives which induced Leivis XIV. to conftitutc a Board of Commerce, and the Plan upon which the faid Board was con- ilituted, I obfcrved, that ic was not much above h»lf a Century fince France was not a Soil in which one could expect Trade to flouridi -, the Maxims [ 3 ] Maxims of their Government being, in many Refpe6ls, contrary to that Freedom and Security which are abfolutely neceflfary for the Improvement or Enlargement of Trade. But that Lewis XIV. in a great Meafure removed thofe Obftacles, by the Rules or Ordinances which he made on con- ftituting a Council of Commerce in 1700. For whatever the Exigencies of State might require him to do at particular Jundlures at Home, yet he took efFedluai Care to provide for the Security and Safety of his Subjects in America^ fo as not to leave them a Prey to the Governors and other Officers in the Plantations. J, t The French King was under no Reftraint in appointing what Form of Government he thought fit, or in dire(5ting that all the Lands in America fhould be confidered as a Demefne of the Crown ; but as the Order and Subferviency of all lefler Syftems, and their Concurrence to the Good of the general Syftem, depend upon the Subordina- tion of the Parts, the Conftitution of the French Council or Board of Commerce, and ihe Form of Government inftituted in the Colonies, evident- ly (hew, that the Crown referved to itlcif only a Kind of parental Property in the American Colo- nies. . V . • ■■m I added, that in many other Refpeds, the politi- cal Views and Forefight of the French King, 2^\\^ his . . B 2 Minifters [ + 1 Minifters of State, cannot be fuPiiciently admired, particularly in making the Crown the Center to which all Matters, relating to the Colonies, mull ultimately refort, by one Conveyance, or thro* one Channel only ; and in keeping the Offices, in all their feveral Branches or Departments, uniform, entire, and open, under fevere Penalties to be in- flifted on the Aggreflfors, and recoverable by the Subjeft, when injured I" y thofc in Truft and Power under the Crown. I N order more clearly and effeachments upon the • Entituled, A Milcellaneous Eflay concerning the CouiTes purfucd by Gnat Untaiv in the AtFairs of her Colonies. With ("ome Obfervations on the great Importance of our '^i^i' dements in .•?/«ir;f<7, and the Trade thereof. <.v Crown, Grown, and Afts of Oppreflion upon the Sub- Then, as one great Advantage the French have had over us in extending their Settlenients, and in gaining the ludiun Nations, or Tribes of Indians^ to their Intereft, hath principally arifen from their having feveral Funds, not only appropriated, but duly applied, to the Uies of their Colonies j and as, by our prefent CourCe of Proceeding, there is an Opening for many Incioachments, I thought it of life to treat briefly on that Subjedt, and to Ihew, that as all the foreign Revenues of the Crown wen formerly brought into the Exchequer^ by Aft ot i*arliament, the Reafons were equally ftrong for bringing the Revenues of the Crown in Ame- rica into the faid Court •, for all the Revenues of the Crown under the View of the Lord T^cafurer ought of Courfc to be brought into the Exchequer, And in tlie Profecution of the faid Difcourfe, I humbly offered it to the Confideration of the Publick, whether the Care and Vigilance of the French, in not only putting their Colonies into a Poflure of Defence, but alfo into a Capacity of beiii?;; very formidable, did not loudly call upon us to give the utmoll Attention to the Affairs of America ; for altho' we had very extenfive Settle- ments, an.i many natural Refources, yet if thofe Refources \::xc not properly exerted, they would not '"■"■fl [ 9 \ not avail us, or keep us from Surprize ; nor could we, in any Event whatfocver, reafonably hope for Succefs, until we introduced a regular and orderly Method of proceeding in Bufinefs. 't • ' ' Therefore, if we haftily purfued vigorous Meafures, in the Recovery of the Territories which of right belonged to us in America^ and did not firft regulate our Courfe of Proceeding with Refpe(5i: to the Affairs of our Colonies, and alfo build Forts for the Security of our frontier Settle- ments, and as a Place of Retreat to our Troops and to our friendly Indians^ it was much to be feared, that all the Blood and Treafure we might employ to that End would not have the defired Effed; and that our afting, at that critical Jundure, either too remifsly, or too precipitately, might be the Means of drawing on a Train of evil Confequences, which, in the End, might prove deftru6live to this Kingdom. That the Intrigues of the French in the Eafi Indies were likewife very alarming, and their Views and Defigns in Germany and Holland might eafily be difcovered j fo that there never was a Time, ivhich called more loudly, or more impor- tunately upon us, to take a View of our own im- mediate Concerns, and fo to regulate them as to free us from all Surprize. C And [ 10] And altho' we had .1 Fleet greatly fuperior to France, it was to be confidered, that fhe had it \\\ her Power to alarm us in different Quarters of the World, and fo to divide and draw off our Strength, in the Protedion of our Trade and dillant Settle- V ments, as to leave us too much cxpofed at Horn , yet notwithftanding the Confideration of thofc Matters was really very alarm.ng, it was (till in our Power, li we did not delay theSearon,toput our Affairs into fuch a Pofture, as to defy all the fecret and open Attempts of France againtt us ; but that this could only be done by having a regular uniform Courfe of Proceeding in our publiclc Boards j which might be the Means of laving us immenfe Sums of Money, that have been too often profuieiy employed, at improper Times, to regain •what we have loft by our Miftakes and Inadver- tencies ; the Truth of which might be evinced, by examining into our Conducl for upwards of twelve Years before the laft War with Spain ; and alfo the Meafures we have purfued, fince that Time, in relation to America. All which Miftakes, and the vaft Expence attending them, might have been avoided, provided we had had a regular, uni- form Courfe of Proceeding in our Publick Boards^ and Funds applicable to the Ufe of America. in< thJ Therefori; i\ [ n ] Therefore it was moft humbly hoped, that pfoper Attention would be given to the feveral Matters contained in the Courfe of that Eflay ; that it would be thought for the Service of the Crown, and of the Subjc6t, to regulate the Publick Offices fo as to bring every Matter of Importance to the View of the Crown j that it would be thought ncccflary for the Support of our Trade and Settlements, to eftablifti fome new Funds, applicable only to the Ufe of America ; that it would be thought for the Security of His Majefty*s Subjefts in America^ and alio for the Protedtion of our Trade and Settlements, to ereft Forts neaf to the Five Indian Nations, to the Upper Cherokees^ and to the Creek Indians ; and alfo that it would be thought for the Service of this Kingdom, to put our Iflands in a Porture of De- fence i and, laftly, that the Importance of thofe Matters might be judged worthy of the Atten- tion of thofe, in whofe Power it was to defeat the lecret Defigns of our Enemies. ^ r However, as the aforefaid Treatifes had not the defired EtFe£tj and that we entered into a War without regulating our Affairs, and eftabhlh- ing a Plan or Syftem of Adion ; we have been thereby liable to an nfinire Number ot Miftakes and Inadvertencies, and from that Caufe we have expofcd ourfeives to many Hazards, and to an in- finite Expence of Blood and Treafurc. And as C 2 , fuch 1:^ t .2 ] fiich Regulations were abfolutely ncceflary, pre- vious to our entering into a War, and as by Experience we have found the fatal Confequences arifing from tlie Want of them ; this ought to in- duce us, before we proceed further, to ellablilh fome invariable and fixt Plan of Action ; for with- out it, private Interefl: will, for the moll: Part, be preferred to the publick Good •, and Stratagems will be employed to deceive Men in Power. And akho' what is propofed may be attended with fome Trouble, yet in the End it will give more Eafe and Plcafure, and will be much more con- fident with the Honour and Dignity of Men in Power, to purfue one invariable Plan of Adlion, than to be led out of the due Road of Bufinefs by every firft Appearance, or Species of Good. However, as it is fcarce poflible to determine the Will of others, in any interefting Matter, without the Authority and Example of Men of eminent Wifdom and Experience, I (hall pray L(^we to mention, that Sir William Cedl (afterwards Lord Burleigh, and Lord High Trcafurer of England) plainly fliewed, by his Condudl, at the firft felting out of Queen Elizabeth^ Reign, that he thought the firft Entrance into Bufinefs was the proper Time to eftablifn a regular and orderly Courfe of and therefore he requefted her Ma- emorial, to remove to the Tower, in :he Archives, or Records, were then kept Proceeding \ [ J3 ] kept; that being there freed from the Attendance and Importunity of her Courtiers, (he might fettle her Officers and Council, and take fuch other Steps as were nccelTiry for regulating the publick Con- cerns of this Nation j a Copy of which Memo- rial may be found in the Coiionian Library. Whereupon I beg Leave to obferve, that Sir JVilHam Cecil was of Opinion, that if he de- ferred the Confideration of thofe Matters, and continued the Courfe of Bufinefs which was in Ufe in the Reign of Queen Mary^ he would find it extreamly difficult, if not impoffible, to introduce an invariable Plan of A(fliGn after- wards : And indeed, when Men in Power fet out in a wrong Road, it is not eafy to influence fuch as are in Connections with them, to return into a proper Courfe of Bufmefs ; nor is it poffible for them to guard againll the Cabuls or Fadtions which may be raifed by Men who want to thrive and fatten upon the Spoils of a Nation. Thr Example of the Great Sully ought likewlfe to have its proper Weight -, for when he undertook to reform the /ibufes which had crepe into the Adminiftration of publick Afi'airs in France, he did not proceed by partial Reformations in the Great Council, in the Treafury, and in the Cham« ber ot Accounts, ^c. nor did he attempt to re- cover the Demeliie of the Crown, until he had re- formed \ I ': \ ■M [ 14 1 formed the Great Offices •, becaufe, although fuch an Attempt might have had fome good Effcdls for the prcicnt, they could not have been perma- nent or lii.'tingi nor could he in any Event what- ibevcr have rcdrelled the many Grievances then complained of, or fupported the Dignity of his Sovereign, il he had not laid a proper Foundation for the Strudlure alterwards to be raifed by him. FrcDi which wc may learn, that all Pretenfions to Pacriotifm arc vague and idle, and a mere Decep- tion, unlels they take their Rife from conftitu- onal Principles! and when this is the Cafe, it will be found the firll and moll necelTuy Thing to re- ftorc the ancient Syilem of the public Boards. However 1 (hall in the prefent Difcourfe con- fine myfcif to the Confideration of the Affairs of our Colonies on the Continent, more efpccially as I intend hereafter, if needful, to treat of the Syf- tem of our public Boards, from the Revolution unto this Time, having already traced it from the Reign of Henry VII. to that Period. The firft: Settlements of moft of our Colonies in /hncrica were made by private Adventurers ; many of the Colonies were alterwards incorporated by Chatters or Privileges granted by the Crown, with a Power to make Laws, and to eftablilh Courts of Juftice, Forms of Judicature, and the '' Manner ncr oF Proceeding, and in fomc Rcfpefts to cfta- blifli their own Form of Government, under this Limitation, that the Laws or Statutes pafled by them, (hould not be repugnant, but as r\car as pofliblc agreeable to the Laws of England, And whereas in thofe remote Colonies fit u ate near many barbarous Nations, the Incurfions of the Savages, as well as other Enemies, Pirates, and Robbers, might probably annoy them i the faid Corporations were authorized and impowered to levy, mufter, and train all Sorts of Men, of what Condition foever, and to purfue their Ene- mies as well by Sea as by Land, even without the Limits of their refpedlivc Provinces. V It is alfo proper to mention, that there are fe- veral other Colonies that are more immediately dependant on the Crown, both with Refpedt to their Laws and Conftitutions -, yet it has been the Pleafure of the Ciown, to allow them a kind of legiflative Power, under particular Reftraints and Limitations, Now as all thofe Colonies may in fome Particu- lars be confidered, with refpedl to each other, as fo many independant States, yet they ought to be con- fidered as one with refpedt to their Mother Coun- try ; and therefore a Union of the Colonies, for their [ i6] their general Defence, fo framed as to oblige them to aft jointly, and for the Good of the Whole, can only be made by the Wifdom of our LegiQature ; and without fuch an Union, it is impoffible to make the Colonies ad with Force and Vigour, or to oppofe the united Force of the French^ altho' much inferior in Point of Number. if 1 i Ijii If m There is another Thing highly worthy of At- tention, viz. that tho' the Charter Governments are entitled to make Bye Laws for the better order- ing their own Domeftic Affairs, yet they are not entitled to make Laws which may have a general Eficd:, either in obfl:ru6ting the Trade of this Kingdom, or in laying Rellraints and Difficulties on the neighbouring Colonies : For as their Power in a Legiflative Capacity originally flows from the Crown, under certain Limitations and Reflric- tions, particularly that of not paffing any Laws, but fuch as are confiftent with the Conftitution and Laws of this Kingdom, the Intention of the Crown muft have been, that the F^itnefs and Expediency of fuch Laws fhould be only cognizable and deter- minable by the Crown, or by the Legiflature in this Kingdom, as it is conceived the Colonies can- rot be proper Judges in their own Cafe : Yet to fuch Excefs have fome of the Charter Governments proceeded, particularly Rhode Ifland and Connec- ticut ^ that they have enabled Laws, that no Law ihall take Efted in their Colonies, unlefs it be firft authenticai.ed [I?] authenticated or enadled into a Law by them •, and thus they have made themfelves Judges of the Fitnels and Expediency of their own Laws, by not tranfenitting them to the proper Boards at Home : Their Charters indeed are injudicioufly filent on this Head, yet the Thing is in itfelf not only fi: and reafonable, but abfoluteiy neceflary. ^ And therefore if the Affairs of the Colonies are taken into Confideration in Parliament, it is humbly conceived, that it would be highly fit and proper to regulate this Matter, in order to pre- vent the many Incroachments, which feveral of the Co' >nics have made with refpe6l to Trade, and in the "fTuing of Paper Bills of Currency, which hath often had a publick and a general^ Ef- fect, and greatly injured the Trade and Commerce of this Kingdom J and in Cafe of an Union amongfl: the Colonies for their mutual Defence, it would make it impolTible for them to make good the Supplies neceffary to fupport the Charge of the Troops which may be fent from one Colony to the Support of another, efpecially as their Bills of Currency differ greatly in Value, and that they have no regular Courfc of Exchange between one Province and another : befides, in new Countries they cannot have thoib Refources which may be had in Countries where Trade and the Courfe of Exchanges are regularly effablifhed. D I'm [ i8] The firft or principal Morive for ifluing Bills of Credit in the feveral Provinces on the Continent of America^ was to anfwer the incident Charges of the refpedive Governments ; and if this had been done under wile and prudent Regulations, there would not have been much Caufe of Complaint: But in the firft fetting out they went upon a wrong Principle, by making fuch Bills of Credit a legal Tender in Payment of all Debts whatfoever, even fuch as were contraded before the ifluing of the f-id Bills of Currency ; which was afluming a Power which did not of Right belong to the Co- lonies, and was in its own Nature contrary to ali the Principles of Law and Equity. ., . .,^ M m\ liU The Metbod ufually taken In emitting Paper Bills of Currency in the Colonies, was, by Aft of Aflembly to order that Bills of Credit to the Amount of fhould be ftampt and figned by the Commiflioners appointed for that Furpofe *, that fuch Bills fhould be lent out on Land Se- curity, at legal Intereft -, and that fuch Perfons as were poiTelTed of the faid Bills, Ihould be intitled to pay their Debts with them, as rated by Ad of Aflembly. The faid Bills had originally no other intrinfick Value than the being a Tender in Law, and enabling fuch Perfons as borrowed them to dif- char^e [ '9 ] charge their Debts therewith ; the Fund that was applicable to the Difcharge or finking of the faid Bills arifing wholly from the Intereft paid by the Mortgagees into the Treafurer's Hands. This Method of Proceeding is therefore dia- metrically oppofite to all the Principles of Law and Juftice, and in its Confequences prejudicial to the Crown, the Colonies, and the Trade and Commerce of Great Britain. I i i u It is likewife to be obferved, that in fome Inftances the Colonies have emitted Paper Bills of Currency upon the Credit of a future Provifion to be made by Provincial Taxes tor the Difcharge of the faid Bills ; but as often as the fiid Taxes have fallen fhort, or been mifapplied, the Colo- nies have had Recourfe to a new Emiffion of Paper Bills of Credit: And in all Cafes, the Value of the faid Bills have fluduated more or lefs, in Proportion to the right or wrong Appli- cation of the Funds whereon they were iflued > fo that in feveral of the Colonies, at different Times, their current Bills have been greatly depreciated jn their nominal Value, "oiz. from 3^ ^^ per Cent. to 600 per Cent, and in fome of the Colonies 1000/. in Bills of Currency would not, by the Courfe of Exchange, bring more than One Hun- dred Pounds Sterling j but in this Refpett tncrd have been fome Alterations made fince 174^- D 2 1 have h l;:i [ 20 J y if« I have treated the longer on this Subjeft, in order to fliew the Neceflity of introducing one Currency as a Medium or Standard in the Inter- courfes of Trade ; for if at any Time hereafter, we unite the Colonies, fo as to make them all concur and adl together for the good of the whole, the having different Kinds of Currency will, as is above obi'erved, lay them under great Difficulties in the Payment of their Quotas, or in paying the Troops which may be fenc from one Colony to the Aid and Affiftance of another; befides, their making the prefent Bills of Currency a Tender in the Payment of all Contrads, even fpccial, where Gold or Silver is contra(5lfd for, is in itfelf un- juit, and cannot be legitimated from the Plea of Necellity : therefore luch Claufes in Adts of Af- fembly for emitting Paper Bills of Credit ought to be repealed. And akho' this may feem to in- jure the Holders of the faid Bills of Currency, yet if the Colonies are obliged to make good the Funds on which they were ifTued, and that they are received in Payment of the provincial Taxes, and ol the Qj.iit Rents and Cultoms, tne Holders of the Bills will not find any conliderable Lofs thereby. -^ v ; '!■■ 1 ' Besides, the introducing of Paper Currency, as a Medium in Trade, is an Infringement on the Prerogatives ot the Crown, and could never have ■ ''^' "'■ , '" taken [21] taken Place in the Manner that it has done, if the Lords of Trade had not formerly omited to report to the Crown, a true State of the Colonies once in every Year, as directed by their Inftitution or Appointment. Having thus briefly mentioned fuch Matters as require the Confideration of thofe who have the Power to redrefs, I (hall beg Leave further to offer to their Confideration, the Steps which I humbly apprehend may be necelfary to be taken, in order to form an Union of the Colonies in America for their general Defence and Protection. The Colonies, as is above obferved, are to be confidered with refpeft to each other as fo many independent States \ yet they ought to be con- fidered as one with refped: to their Mother Country, bt'.ng under the Proteflion of the Legiflature, and in fome Degree in the Character of Wards, or thofe under the Protedlion of Guardians ; and altho* many Pcrfons in the Colonies have often snfitted that they have no proper Rcprefentative here, yet this Plea may with equal Reafon be urged by many Men of Fortune in this Kingdom ; but as both there and here fuch Pcrfons enjoy the Privileges of Subjects, and the Protedlion of the Laws, they are indifpenlabiy bound to conform their Condudl to the Rules and Principles pre- fer i bed w . t 22] fcribed to them by the Laws and Conftitutions of this Kingdom. And therefore it is mo(t humbly propofed to the Confideration of the Pubiick, whether it may be proper to enadc, that every Perfon refiding in the Colonies from the Age of Fourteen to Sixty, (hall be liable to a Poll-Tax of Eighteen Pence Sterling, per Head, to be colleftcd by fuch Offi- cers as His Majefty (liall appoint for that Purpofe, or by Direction of the Governor and Council and Aflembly in each of the Colonies refpeftiveiy; and that the Sums arifing therefrom (hall be only applicable to the mutual Benefit and Advantage of the Colonies. • .1 •'','' ^' ■ ■ ■> * ■■ ■ ■'.''.' ■' ■' . ■ I . f M> . jt- ■ 1 HAT as by a moderate Computation, the Poll- Tax fo collected would amount to upwards of Fifty Thoufand Pounds Sterling per Annum^ Com- miflloners be appointed by His Majefty to emit or ilTue Bills or Cafli Notes (which may be in- titled the Bills of Union) to the Amount of the Sum which may reafonably be fuppofed to arife therefrom j payable either in the Courfe of one, two, or three Years, or as the Exigency of Affairs may require, viz. if One Hundred and Fifty Thouf id Pounds Sterling be required, the Bills to be yable in three Years, and lo in Proportion for a iA'^v Sum. That N [ 23 ] That when the above Tax is colledlcd, the faid Bills be cancelled by proper Officers appointed for that Purpofe i but as the Fund is every Year increafing, if the Exigencies of tVi Affairs of the Colonies require a further Enriiffion of the Bills of Union, that the Commiffioners be empowered to iiTue more Bills on the Credit of the faid Fund. • That the faid Bills be made a legal Tender in the Payment of provincial Taxes, in the Payment of the Quit-rents to the Crown, and of the Cuf- toms, and alfo in the Payment of fuch provincial Troops, as are raifed for the mutual Defence of the Colonies, but not in any Cafe whatfoever to be tendered as a Payment in fpeciai Contrads ; for they will always find their true Value, with- out taking this Step, or breaking in upon the Jntcrcourfes of Trade and Commerce. \"i There is another Courfe which may be taken, namely, to ifTue Exchequer Orders, or to ifTuc Bills of Union, or Army Debentures, in fmallSums, upon the Faith and Credit of Parliament -, which may be done either Abroad or at Home ; but then fuch Bills muft be made redeemable within a reafonable and limited Time. That And there is a third Method which has been often mentioned in private, viz. to introduce a 5tampt Duty on Vellum and Paper in America, "• and [24] and to lower the Duty upon foreign Rum, Sugar, and Molafles, imported into our Colonies to one Penny Sterling per Gallon ; which Duties, if juftly collc(5led, would amount together to upwards ot 60,000/. Sterling per Annumy and in this Cafe it would be proper toeftablifh and incorporate a Bank at London, by the Name, Style, and Title, of the Bank of America, in the following Man- ner, viz. That One Million Sterling be raifed by Sub- fcription, each Subfcriber paying down (as in our Bank Circulation) -,'d Part of the Money fub- fcribed, the Subfcribers being dill liable to a Call for the Remainder, under the Penalty of forfeiting the Sum fo depofited. That for the greater and more regular Difpatch of Bufinefs, the Bank Ihall have a Committee of Correfpondents at Williamf. hurgb in Virginia, and another at the City of NeW' 2ork, or if needful in all the Colonies. That the Colonies on the Continent of Ame- nV^ Ihall be at Liberty, by mortgaging their Funds, to borrow Bills or Calh Notes from the Bank; and that the faid Bills or Cafh Notes fhall be made out by the Committee of Correfpondents appointed by the Bank in fuch Sums, as the Legiflature in the faid Provinces refpcdively (hall think fit to dirc(ft. That [«5 ] ,.T. i ^» That the faid Bills or Cafh Notes (hall circu- late, and be a Tender in America, in the Pay- ment of Chief Rents, Cuftoms, and alfo in the Payment of Provincial Taxes, and in all Matters whatfoevcr wherein there is no fpecial Contraft to the contrary j but at the fame Time the Holders of tKe faid Bills, or Ca(h Notes, (hall be at Liber- ty to demand Payment for the fame in England, in Sixty Days from the Time they are fo offered for Payment to the Qgnk, 1 ; That the f^id Bank Ihall not iflue any greater Sum in Bills or Caih Notes, than what is equal to the Sum fubfcribed by them ; and that the Bank (hall be fe(trained from taking any higher Intereft than Six per Cent, per Annum, for any Sum advanced by them to the Provinces by Way of Mortgage. If this Scheme meets with Approbation, it will, las js conceived, be of infinite Service to the Colonics, and the Proprietors of the Bank will be greatly benefited by it; which I (hall endeavour to illuftrate by the following Confiderations : • hi By the Liberty granted to the Provinces to raife Money in the Manner above propofed, they will be enabled to difcharge their prefent Bills of E Credit, m [ 26 ] Credit, which are, from their uncertain and fluc- tuating Nature, of great Diflervice to the Creditt Trade, and Commerce of the Colonies. The faid Provinces, by mortgaging their Funds or fuch Taxes as they raife upon themfelves, will have it in their Powjr to eilablifti Loan Offices, in the Manner which has been pradifed in Pennjjfha' nia i which may be the Means of bringing a great Number of foreign Settlers amongft them ; the Truth of which may be fully evinced from what has been done in Pennfylvania^ in which Province they have ofcen fupplied above Four Thoufand Settlers, in the Year, with Money by way of Mort- gage on the Lands taken up by them : So that if we had Loan Offices eredted in the other Colonies, it is reafonable to believe, from the Difpofitions of the Swifs^ Palatines, &(. that vafl Numbers of them would hereafter tranfport themfelves to our Colonies in America. And with regard to the Proprietors of the faid Bank, the Advantage arifing to them may be very confiderable, as in all Probability much lefs than One Hundred Thoufand Pounds would circulate a Million Sterling. But then there is Allowance to be made for the Rifk and Charge the faid Bank would be at in carrying on this Bufinef^. What [27] s ill / What I have now mentioned is only the Out- lines, or Heads of what I would humbly propofe to be carried into Execution, and may perhaps admit of fome Alteratiqns. But if the above Regulations are approved of, it will be further necelfary to edablifh a Militia in each of the Provinces, which Ihould ferve as Provincial Troops, not only in ths Colony where the fald Militia is raifed, but 9}io in any Part of America^ where the Safety anrl Procedtion of any of the Colonies may require their Attendance* m That the Governor and Council in each of the Provinces have the Nomination of the Officers. : And as the Magiftrates, in the Counties in the refpeStive Colonies, are the proper Judges of the Perfons who can be belt fpared within the faid Counties, that they be impowered to nominate fuch as (hall ferve in the Provincial Troops. That the faid Troops be allowed Arms when needful, and a Coat and Breeches^ as an Uniform, once in two Years ; and be exercifed as frequently as the Governors anc Councils of the Provinces (hall judge that the Diilance of their Habitations will allow them to affemble without hindering their E 2 ncccflary ■I llf [ 28 ] nccedary Occupations i and be allowed 2/. 12 s. per Annum for their travelling Charges ro the Place of Hxcrcife. And that thofe who have fervcd four Years, (hall, if required, be difcharged, and others^ nominated by the Judices of the faid Counties, put in their Room. That when they arc called imon to do Duty, or to march from one Colony to the Aid of another, boih OiHcers and Soldiers (hail be paid and pro* vided for in the fame Manner as the regular Troops in His Majefty's Service. T It is proper to obferve here, that all Men fit to bear Arms in the Colonies are obliged to do Duty when the Law Militaiy is declared by Proclama- tion : but then they cannot be compelled to march out of their own Provinces, therefore the other Method is neccflary to be taken, in order to unite the Force of the Colonies for their general Pro- tection. ^At There are at Icaft Two Hundred and Fifty Thoufand Men fit to bear Arms in Jmerica, but the fmall Number of White Inhabitants, and the Multitude of Slaves in the Southern Provinces, would render it unfafe for a great Number of the former to quit the Province: An Equivalent in Money ought therefore to be paid by thefe Pro- vinces i which might be raifed,' by including the ** Slaves a T [ »9 ] Slaves in the Poll-Tax •, and this would be an equitable Way of raifing it, as the Rich ought to pay more than the Poor. On the whole, the having of one Currency throughout all the Englijh Colonies in America^ if properly condufled, will be of infinite Service to their Trade and Commerce \ and their having provincial Troops, who may be called upon by the Crown, to aid and afllfl in whatfoever Place they may be required, will give Force and Vigour to the Colonies, and enable them to defend them- felves againft the Incroachments of the French, And the having a Fund appropriated to the Ufe of the Colonies will likewife enable them to make handfome Prefents to the Indianst which ought ^o be done yearly, at fuch Times as are appointed for that Purpofe \ but then the fafefl: Courfe we can take, is to reftore the Importance of the Five Nations, and make them to treat with the Indians^ who were formerly their Dependants ; and we ought to obferve the fame Rule with the Cberokees, and with the Creek Indians •, and the more effedjally to attach them to our Interefl:, we ought to apply at lead Twelve Thoufand Pounds Sterling per Annum to that Ufe; and to prote(^ the Indians from the Abuies which have been too often committed by our Indian Traders j fome Regula- tions are much wanted on this Head. ^ It >> i [30 §' It may be objeded by fomc Pcrfons, that altho' the above Regulations are necefTary and proper in themfelvcs, yet this is an improper Junfture for carrying them into Execution. In anfwer to which I beg Leave to obferve, that without an Union of the Colonies we cannot profccute a War with any reafonable Hopes of Succefs : That the vifibk Decreafe of the current Specie of this Kingdom, and the heavy Taxes we groan under, r..ake it ab- folutely necefTary to introduce all the Oeconomy in our Power, which may be confident with the Safety or Protedion of Ar*erica ; and that if this Matter is deferred until we come into Terms of Accommodation with Fran^:^ it would then be an improper Time to do it, as it would carry all the Appearance of hoftile Preparations, and im- mediately embroil us in new Troub!;:s and I>if< putes with them i fo that in all Refpeds this is the only fit Jundlure to proceed in this Matter, and to lay the Foundation of our future Security and Protedion. ' r* - ■ji. And if this is done under proper Regulations, the Colonies would be enabled to extend their Arms, and to vindicate their Rights and PofTcf- fions again ft the Frenchy provided we do not limit their Bounds by any indigeftcd Treaty with France, nrf' **ri But [3' ] But after all, with rcfpcft to our interior Coa- cerns in the Colonies, if wc do not regulate our Courfe of proceeding in the Offices in Jmerica^ and at Home •, the Subjefts of this Crown in Ame- rica may be made very unhappy from the unjufti- fiablc Condu6t of Men in Power % and there will alfo be an Opening for many Incroachments on the Crown, as well as on the Subjeft. Therefore every Perfon concerned in colleift- ing any publick Taxes, which may be levied ia America^ in purfuance of any Aft of Parliament, ought to be obliged to give in Bond ir the Exche- quer for the faithful Performance of the Truft ic- pofed in him. The Secretary's Office in each of the Colonies refpedtively in Anttrica, ought alfo to be confidersd as an Office of Record ; and all Bufinefs tranfadv^d by His Majefty's Governors, either in a minifte- rial or judicial Capacity, or as Ordinary, in grant- ing Probates of Wills, cr Adminiftrations. ^c. ihould be entered at large in the Council Journals (which is a Branch of the Secretary's Office ;) and fo remain in the Colonies as a Record, for the Safety and Benefit of the Subjects *, Copies of which ought alfo to be remitted to his Majeily's Secre- tary of State, and Council of Trade : And for the Performance m I f i \iU i? [32] Performance of this Dutv, the Secretaries ought to enter into Bonds or Recognizances at Home. And as His Majefty's Governors are conlidered to have a Superintendency and great Influence over all the Officers within their refpedive Govern- ments, if iny of His Majefty's Subjeifts there ap- prehend ihemfeives to be aggrieved by any Perfon in Power, they ought to be intituled to lay their Grievances before the Governor and Council ; and to examine all fuch Evidences as they can p«-o" duce in Support of their Charge, fo as to make the fame Matter of Record. ■f. And £.5 thoie Records ought to be tranfmitted Home once in every Year to the Lords Commif- fioners for Trade and Plantations, their Lordlhips might thereby be fully apprized of the Courfe and Proceedings of the Officers of the Crown, and of the Affairs of the Colonies; fo as to enable their Lordlhips to recommend thofe Officers to the Crown who behaved properly in the Truft repofcd in them, and to difmifs and punilh fuch as de- viated from tiicif Duty. By the Inftkution of the Board of Trade, it evidently appears, that tii;^ re- commending of Officers to the Crown, was a fpc- cial Truft repofed in that Board, to be employed only for protecting the Servants of the Crown in their Duty, and rewarding Merit and Ser- vices. I S£G 1 1 3 J; V < [33 ] I BEG Leave further to obferve, that although there appears great Wifdom and Knowledge in the Frame or Sy ftem of our Council of Trade as d ra wn, or planned, by Lord Sommcrs, yet there are ieveral Things wanting /ith refpeft to the Regulations neceflary in America ; and likewife in the original Inltru6tions to our Governors, which were faid to be prepared and drawn by Mr. Locke, who doth not feem to have been thoroughly acquainted with the dueCourfe of Proceeding in the publick Offices, by which the Crown or ^ht to be made the Center of Bufinefs. Thofc ^ ix -.uAt to be better informed on this Subjcft may look into the Rolls, where they will find all the Proceedings in relation to the conftituting of a Council of Trade upon Re- cord : But as this Affair will come properly with- in the View of another Difcourfe, I (hall defer treating it any further till another Time. red wn However, with refpedl to the Colonies, it is further to be obferved, that -bo-igh an Union amongft them is abfolutely re irrry, and cannot with Safety admit of Delay, yti, ?s the French have introduced a great Number of regular Troops into their Colonies ; and that they have prevailed with moft of the Indian Nations to aft in concert with their Irregulars, in fcalping and murdering our frontier Settlers, ana Ir. intimidating many F Thoufands [ 34 ] Thoufands of others, fo as to make them defert and fly from their Habitations •, it becomes thereby indif- penfably necelfary in us to tranfport a confiderable Number of regular Troops to America, The Nc- cefilty of which may be better underftood by con- fidering the Situation, and what, in all Probabi- lity, are the Views and Defigns of the French in the prefent War in America-, viz, ,:• , The French Colonies are in the For'M of a Crefcent on the Back of the Englijh Colo..' i.i America^ and extend oppofite to our Settletr*c s upwards of Fifteen Hundred Miles in Length -, and m this extended Country mod of the Indians are in their Intereft, at leaft under their Diredion •, whereby they are enabled to make fudden and bloody Irruptions into our Colonies, and to exer- cife unheard-of Scenes ot Cruelty. And as there has not been any Syftem or Plan formed, for uniting our Colonies in their general Defence, in- ftead of collecting their Force properly, they have been thrown into the utmoft Confufion and Diftrefs. So that the French, taking the Advantage of our want of Syftem, have employed their Irregulars and Indians to maffacre our frontier Settlers, whilft they employ their regular Troops, and Coureurs des Bois, to adl againft I'uch Bodies of Men as we have coUedted together to annoy them in their Settlements. ■ *' v ^> »..,•: And [35] An'd in relation to their prefent Views and Defigns, 1 apprehend it may, upon good Grounds, be conjedlured, that next Campaign they intend to attack us in three different Quarters ; and alfo by their Indians and Irregulars to alarm and deftroy the back Settlements in all the EngUJh Colonies on the Continent of America, I'; I For having this Winter fent upwards of One Thoufand Men to Mijjiftppiy in which Government they have not hitherto met with any Difturbance ; their unwearied and flrenous Endeavours to gain to their Intereft thofe powerful Nations, which are known by the Names of the Cherokee and Creek Indians^ and feveral fmaller Nations in Confede- racy with thefe (which, when colledled together, would amount to upwards of Seven Thoufand fighting Men) plainly difcover their Intentions 10 be againft Georgia and Carolina, and, in their defenfelefs State to over-run them, fo as to gain their Sea Coaft, or Ports upon the Wellern Ocean. The great Number of regular Troops they have at prefent in Canada, and the feveral Regiments which are faid to be embarked, or at Icafl: ready to embark, for that Province, makes it reafunable to believe, that they intend to give fuch Regulars E 2 as :* ■ [ 36 ] as we have at prefent in New Tork Government^ and fuch as we may hereafter fend, even when joined with the New England Forces, full Employ- ment : Or, indeed, if our Succours, or a farther Aid of regular Troops, be long delayed, to take Advantage of our Negledls or Omiflions, and to feize, or take Pofleflion of, the Provinces of New Tork and Pennjylvania, ; ,,,, ,, • • The Proximity, or Nearnefs, of Cape Breton to Nova Scotia, the Affiftance of the Indians in the Province of Ga/pejie, and the leaving a Part of the great Number of Troops the French are faid to be fhipping for Anwica, at the Ifland of Cape Breton^ may alfo greatly endanger the Province of Nova Scotia ; and if they fucceed there, Newfoundland cannot make any confiderablc Refiftance ; fo that in fuch an alarming Situation of Things, we can neither depend fingly upon the Protection of our rvTgular Troops, or fingly upon the prc'nn- cial Troops nor on both of them united i until there be fuch a regular Plan formed, as may enable us not only to aft againft thofe Armies the French may bring into the Field, but alfo againft thelncur- fions of the Indians, when joined with the French Ir- regulars. Which can only be done by uniting the Forceof our Colonies, and by keeping feveral thou- fand Rangers conftantly employed to watch the Motions ot the French Irregulars, and to annoy them in our Turn -, in which Cafe many of the Indians, who t 37l who rather fcrve tht French thro' Fear than Incilna- tion, will immediately return to our Incereft, and a(5t jointly with our Irregulars, in didurbing the French in their Settlements j which would draw off many of the Courmrs des Bois, as well as of the Re- gulars, to the Protedtion of their ow People. ■— But as this will require confiderable Sums of Mc* ney, even more than we can cafily fpare, *tis juft and reafonable that the Colonics fho'jld contribute to an Expence principally calculated for their own Safety and Protcd' \ Yet in the prcfcnt Situa- tion of their Curi, cy, and in the Manner of railing the provincial Taxes, they arc utterly un- able to contribute any Thing confiderable in this way, unlefs it be thought agreeable to the Wifdom of the Legiflaturc to eftabiilh a Fund for the ge- neral Ufe and Security of the Colonies, or to al- low our Governors in /Imerica to iflue Notes or Bills of Credit, redeemable by fome future Pro- vifion to be made by Parliament. Upon the whole, if we compare the Number of . the French Settlers on the Continent of America with our Number and Situation, and the many Refources we have, if properly exerted, it is ' Matter of Wonder and Amazement to confider the Advantages they have gained over us, and the Danger we are ftill expoled to from the Want of Syftem in the Condui^t of publick Affairs : , As we are at prefent circumftanced, we cannot reafcnably, i [38 1 reafonably hope for Redre "r/efs it be thought agreeable to the Wifdoni > r Senators to ap- point a Committe to examine into the State and Condition of our Colonies ; to create a new Fund and to eftablifli a Militia, for the general Security of our Settlements, and to apply fuch further Remedies, as may be thought neceffary in fo inte- retting a Matter. •' '■ ^-I'^rKi i.( .1 1 '' And altho' what is now offered may have the Appearance of giving much Trouble and Fatigue to the Members of any Committee which may be appointed for that Purpofe, yet I humbly apprehend, that, in lefs than Ten Days, the Members of fuch Committee might examine and difcufs fuch Propofals as may be brought before them i and that, in a very Ihort Time, they would be enabled to propofe fuch Remedies to the Ho- nourable Houfe of Commons, and alfo to fettle fuch a Plan of Operation, as would cfFeftuaily fccure our Colonies on the Continent of America from the barbarous Cruelties daily committed by the French and Indians, and from the Incroach- nients of all our Enemies. "•• • ' "«' I F I N I S. by Lately Publijhed, Sold ^;r R . B A L D w I N, at the Rofe, in Pater- Nofter-Row, and J. Wilkie, behind the Chapter-Houfe, in St. Paul's Church-yard. I. /^ E N E R A L Thoughts on the Con- Vj ftrudion, Ufe and Abufe of thp great Of- fices : With a View to fome furthti Difcourfes on the fame Subjedl. Price 6d. II. The Wifdom and Policy of the French in Con- ftrufting their great Offices fo, as bed to anfwer the Purpofes of extending their Trade and Com- merce, and enlarging their Foreign Settlements: "With fome Obfcrvations in Relation to the Dif- putes now fubfifting between the Englijh and French Colonies in America. Price is. 6d. III. A Mifcellaneous Eflay concerning the Courfes purfued by Great Britain in the Affairs of her Colonies: With fome Obfervations on the great Importance of our Settlements in America^ and the Trade thereof. Price is. 6d. IV. The Fatal Confequences of the Want of Syflem in the Condudt of publick Affairs. Price i s. i\