Correspondence between Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden, and William Smith, jun., the historian, respecting certain alleged errors and misstatements, contained in the History of New York, with sundry other papers relating to that controversy. <Mss. New York Historical Society: Colden papers, vol. IV.> 1 0193

IT. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CADWAILADER COLDEN, AND WILLIAM SMITH, JUN. THE HISTORIAN, RESPECTING CERTAIN ALLEGED ERRORS AND MISSTATEMENTS, CONTAINED IN TtfE HISTORY OF NEW YORK, WITH SUHDRY OTHER TAPERS BELATIN9 TO THAT CONTROVERSY. MSS. New York Historical Society: Colden Papers, Vol.- IV. 1

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NOTE. In Smith's History of New York, first edition, published, in London, in 1757, (page 179,) is a statement, referring to the scheme of Governor Clarke for settling the lands in the vicinity of Lake George with a body of Protestant Highlanders, which involves a grave charge against the Governor and Cadwallader Colden, then Surveyor-General of New York. The plan of Governor Clarke was to form a line of border settlements, that would oppose a barrier to the further encroachments of the French upon the frontiers of New York. Governor Cosby, in 1734, had made a public offer of grants of the vacant crown lands to European settlers: and, in 1737, Captain Laughlin Campbell, of Scotland, came over, to obtain a grant for the purposes of settlement. " Ample promises," says the historian, " were made to him. He went upon the land, viewed and approved it; and was entreated to settle there, even by the Indians, who were taken by his Highland dress. Mr. Clarke, the Lieutenant Governor, promised him in a printed advertisement, the grant of 30,000 acres of land, free from all but the charges of the survey and the King's quit-rent. Confiding in the faith of the Government, Captain Campbell went home to Isla, sold his estate, and shortly after transported, at his own expense, eighty-three Protestant families, consisting of 423 adults, besides a great number of children. Private faith and public honor loudly demanded the fair execution of a project, so expensive to the undertaker, and beneficial to the colony. But it unfortunately dropped, through the sordid views of some persons in power, who aimed at a share in the intended grant: to which Campbell, who was a man of spirit, would not consent."* The charge here made, that the grant to Campbell failed " through * Smith's Hist. N. Y. ii. 62. (Historical Society's edition.)

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196 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, AND GOVERNOR COLDBN. the sordid views of some persons in power," is made explicit by Smith, in the continuation of his History, wherein he states, that " it was owing to a discovery that the Lieutenant Governor (Clarke) and Mr. Colden, the Surveyor-General, insisted upon their fees, and a certain share of the lands." To the imputation contained in the original publication of Smith, Lieutenant Governor Colden opposed an emphatic denial, as soon as it came to his notice. He addressed an earnest letter to the historian, pointing out his errors, referring to sources which he thought would convince him that he was in error, and asking him to make a suitable reparation. But the only explanation which Smith ever gave to the public, may be found in the following note, prepared for the last edition of his History: " Mr. Colden, to vindicate Mr. Clarke, and to exculpate himself, though not named in the former representation of Campbell's disappointment, gave himself the trouble of two letters to the author, of the 15th January, and 17th February, 1759. * * * * The author's object being general, he declined entering into any partial controversy respecting the criminality of individuals. Let it suffice, that the account given was consistent with information procured from Mr. Alexander, whose intimacy with Mr. Colden gives it force."* It is but just to the memory of Governor Colden, as well as important to a proper appreciation of the labors of the historian, that the correspondence between them on the subject should be published. A careful examination of the following papers, in connection with the passages referred to in the History of New York, will enable the reader to comprehend the merits of the controversy. They are copied from the originals in the archives of the New York Historical Society, and are now first published, with the exception of the letter from Colden to Smith, of the 15th January, which is inaccurately printed by Dunlap.f Editor. Smiths Hist. N. Y. Note B. vol. ii. p. 380. t History of New York, vol, ii. Appendix 54.

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CORRESPONDENCE. i. LETTER FROM CADWALLADER COLDEN TO WILLIAM SMITH. Flushing, Jan. 15, 1759. Sir: ******** I was surprised very lately on reading the 179th page of your Son's History. Though my name be not mentioned in it, it has been in the discourse in town occasioned by that publication, and I am informed was to my Lord Loudoun. This has occasioned my writing the enclosed to your son, which I leave open for your perusal, and desire the favor of your delivering it to him. I expect that you on recollection may remember the substance of what I write. I am very desirous, that a proper redress be made, in a manner the least disagreeable to your son, and I desire your assistance for that purpose. You know, some persons may with some kind of satisfaction suffer this calumny to pass, though they really know the truth, and may likewise be as well pleased to have your son's veracity, as an historian, called openly in question. Please to let me know your thoughts freely on the subject. I expect it from the friendship which has long subsisted between us, and you will thereby likewise oblige Sir, your most obedient, CADWALLADER COLDEN. To the Hon. William Smith, Esq. II. LETTER FROM CADWALLADER COLDEN TO WILLIAM SMITH, Jb. Flushing, Jan. 15, 1759. Sir: I did not see your History of New York till last week. The account you give, (page 179 of that History,) of the transactions between the Government of New York and Captain Laughlin Campbell, is in every circumstance a

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198 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, misrepresentation of facts. It is, in the principal part, absolutely false, and an egregious calumny of the persons, who at that time had the administration of Government in their hands. It is now about twenty years since that affair happened. Many of the circumstances I cannot with sufficient certainty recollect; and it is probable, that none who were not immediately concerned in that affair, can at this time remember them. I shall content myself, therefore, with giving you a summary account of that affair, so far as, I doubt not, can be proved by living evidence. It is true, that Captain Campbell imported a number of families from Scotland, a great part of which, (I believe the greatest,) had paid their own passages, and were at liberty to dispose of themselves, after they arrived in America, as they thought fit. The others were bound by indentures to Captain Campbell, to serve him or his assigns some certain number of years, in consideration of the expense of transporting them to America; or under some other obligation to repay that expense with a profit to him. Soon after their arrival, Captain Campbell presented a petition to Lieutenant Governor Clarke in council, setting forth, in substance, (so far as I can remember,) that he had imported some certain number (which I have forgot) of families, or persons, in order to cultivate or improve some part of the vacant lands of this province, and prayed the grant of a large tract of land (probably 30,000 acres, as you mentioned) to him, his heirs and assigns, in order to settle thereon those families and persons which he had imported for its cultivation and improvement. This petition and the import of it, became immediately the subject of common discourse in the town. Whereupon the persons who came with Captain Campbell, and had paid their own passages, met together in companies, in the streets, where they loudly exclaimed against it; saying they had left Scotland To free themselves from the vassalage they were under to their Lords there, and they would not become vassals to Laugh-lin Campbell, in America. The Governor being informed of this, ordered these persons to be called together, and to be interrogated on this head. They jointly and severally, to a man, declared they would not become tenants to Laughlin CampbelL It being, likewise, doubted, whether Captain Campbell was in capacity to settle a sufficient number of persons, to have so large a tract of land cultivated pursuant to the directions in the King's instructions ;

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AND COVEEKOR COLDEN. he said that as his settling on the frontiers towards Canada, would be a considerable, additional defence of the province, he expected that the Assembly would ^bear the charge of supporting the families that were to settle upon it, till they could support themselves by their own labor, and that he had, or would, present a petition for that purpose. The Assembly, knowing the aversion which the people who came over with Captain Campbell had to him, for it was notorious, did not enter on the consideration of his petition; and I firmly believe that he gave in no other petitions to the Assembly. i These transactions were public, and the subject of common discourse, yet I never heard Mr. Clarke, or any other person in the administration, blamed at that time by any indifferent person, on account of Captain Campbell's petition, that it was not granted. This being the state of the case, I leave it to you to say whether Lieutenant Governor Clarke could, consistently with the trust reposed in him, grant 30,000 acres of land to Laughlin Campbell; or whether it would not have been a lasting obstruction to the settlement of the frontiers, to grant 30,000 acres of land there to any person, who was in no capacity to settle and improve so great a tract. I likewise leave it to others, who are better acquainted with Captain Campbell's character than you are, to say whether it be in the least probable that Captain Campbell would have refused a share, in that grant, to any person who had influence, to procure it for him, under color of the pretensions which he made. Captain Campbell might have had 2000 acres of land for himself on the frontiers, and the others quantities in proportion to their abilities, but they chose to settle on the inhabited part of the country- In short, Captain Campbell had conceived hopes of erecting a lordship for himself in America. He imagined that the people, whom he enticed over with him, would have become his tenants on condition of being supported till they could maintain themselves and an easy rent afterwards. His disappointment came from these people obstinately refusing to become his tenants on any terms, and from the Assembly's being unwilling to support them, at the expense of the people of this province, and not from Mr. Clarke's refusing them land; for they might have had it as before mentioned, but none of them were willing or in ability to make settlements on the frontiers. So far as I know, this story, which you tell, was not prop-

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200 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, agated till since Captain Campbell's death, at a distance of time when these transactions are forgotten by people who had no concern in them; and were propagated by his family, after they were reduced to distress by his misconduct, in order to move the compassion of some persons who had it in their power to advance them; and they have succeeded. As these stories were only propagated in private, it was not easy to take public notice of them; but now that you have published this calumny in Europe and America, a public redress is become necessary. This public defamation being an egregious injury to the public faith and honor of the Government of New York, you know the proper method for redress that may be taken. But as I think that your writing this and publishing of it, has only arisen from your credulity in some, who do not deserve the confidence you placed in their veracity, and from a generous indignation at what you thought a base breach of trust in the Lieutenant Governor and others, I shall at present leave it to you to propose what you think may be an adequate redress of so public an injury. No doubt several of the persons who came over with Captain Campbell, and were not servants, are still alive ; from them you may learn the truth of the principal facts which I now affirm. Perhaps some of them may now live in the city. I have forgotten all their names except one Montgomerie, brother-in-law to Captain Campbell, who lately lived at Cackeyat. I shall expect your answer without delay, and that thereby the opinion will be confirmed of your sincerity and integrity, which has been hitherto entertained by Sir, your most humble servant, CADWALLADER COLDEN. To William Smith, Jun. Esq. III. New Yoke, Jan. 31, 1750. Sir: ******* I delivered the letter enclosed to me as directed. I remember something of that affair, but as not less than four gentlemen were concerned, cannot tell in particular on whom the censure fell. But know that the common opinion concurred with what is written. Public acts are always subject to public judgment; and what every body is concerned in, every one thinks he has a right

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AND GOVERNOR COLDEN. 201 to give his opinion upon. As this case is circumstanced, I choose to suspend mine. When your letter was read, I perceived it gave offence. I urged an answer, and obtained a promise, but suspect from what I observed, that it will be with some resentment. I beg that you will consider it as a certain truth, Quod Filii mei ex Ephebis excessi togam virilem statim arripuint; they feel an independence, and cease to be any longer accountable for their conduct. I foresee a storm. " Hoc Ithacus velit."------And perhaps it may be impar Congressus, on the younger side. I remember that in the time of Mr. Cosby, a gentleman whom we well knew was attacked in what was esteemed a weak part. We that were his friends, judged it proper that he should answer it; he smiled and said, I am not named ; the censure is not applicable to me; and upon considering the matter, we judged that he acted wisely, in neglecting the censure. For my part, I think, according to the old oracle, " That the beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water." The simile is beautiful. A hole pierced in a milldam, by the incumbent pressure will soon grow larger. Hence the advice, " Leave off contention before it be meddled with." These are the best sentiments that I can suggest, in an affair which as to me is of so much delicacy. I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, WM. SMITH. The Hon. Cadwallader Colden, Esq. IV. LETTER FROM WILLIAM SMITH, Jb. TO CADWALLADER COLDEN. New York, Feb. 1, 1759. Sir: Your letter of the 15th January, which came to me unsealed, contains such a heavy charge of misrepresentation, falsehood and calumny, that I am almost inclined to think myself relieved from the obligation, which your age, rank, character, and particularly your professed friendship to my father, would otherwise, undoubtedly, have laid me under, to take notice of every thing, wherein you might conceive yourself in the least degree concerned. However, since your papers may, after your decease, fall into such hands, SECOND SERIES, VOL. II. 14

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202 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, as may make a bad use of that letter, I thought proper not to leave it to pass entirely unanswered. In historical accounts, it is scarce possible to avoid mistakes. As the memory of them, so the proofs relating to facts, ordinarily decrease in proportion to our removes from the period of action. All, therefore, that can be done, is to make use of the best lights that offer, and to permit nothing to slide into a work, unsupported by the best evidence which the nature of the thing will admit. He that writes under these guards, will escape all just censure, even though he should happen to err; and yet every man has a right to correct him, if it be done with decency and candor. But an abrupt intrusion upon him, with an angry accusation, unhappily defeats the very design of the corrector, by rendering his disinterestedness suspected; the unbiassed advocate for truth being generally calm and unruffled. My meaning, sir, is this: that the first attack ought not to be in such terms as these: " Your account is in every circumstance a misrepresentation. It is in the principal part absolutely false, and an egregious calumny of the persons who had the administration of Government in their hands." Nor ought a threat to be so much as insinuated, because it presupposes the person reproved, to have no other principle or passion to be wrought upon, than fear, the most dastardly and abject of all passions. From this recrimination, I would not have you understand, sir, that I believe the passage against which you except, is false and scandalous. If that was the case, free, as I am, from the least consciousness of a design, wilfully to misrepresent any gentleman's conduct in Captain Campbell's affair, I should think myself bound by the most sacred ties, to retract what I have written, and make immediate reparation. And though the commencement of our correspondence, may incline you to imagine me to be not very much under your influence, I beg you'll take my promise, that I will hear any evidence you are inclined to offer, in support of your charge; and if it is sufficient, I will instantly expunge the guilty passage, against which you complain. In my own vindication, give me leave to add, sir, the occasion of its insertion, the authority upon which it was founded, and my motives for publishing that part of the narrative. I remember to have seen Captain Campbell when I was a boy, and perhaps his Highland dress, which was then a

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AND GOVERNOR COLDEN. 209 novelty in the country, might at that age have made the impression the deeper, and attracted my attention to the general conversation about him and his affairs. When I drew near the close of the detail of our public transactions, and observed from the Minutes of Council, which I perused, our inattention to the French encroachments at Crown Point, Campbell's project of settling the lands above Saratoga, on the Wood creek, started into mind, and I became anxious to know, why a design, which seemed to me a very proper and salutary remedy to the late misstep, was rendered abortive. I consulted public fame an,d tradition, and they warranted in the main what you see I have since written; but choosing, in a matter of that importance, to found myself on further authority, I sent for one of Captain Campbell's sons, and desired him on the next yisit to his mother, who then lived in your neighborhood in the highlands, to set down, from her own mouth, in writing, all she could remember about the matter, and to give me a sight of the papers which her husband had left behind him at his decease. He did so, and I found the vulgar accounts still farther confirmed. This last, indeed, was the evidence of a party interested ; but that no stone might be left unturned to come at the truth, I in the next place took occasion to converse more than once with Mr. Alexander upon this subject, a gentleman of his Majesty's Council, famed for his good memory, clear judgment and minute attention to the course of our public affairs, and to whose testimony, whether we consider his opportunities to know the truth, or integrity in the relation of it, you, I am persuaded, will be the last of all men to object. In these conferences, I related to him what I had collected relating to Campbell's-disappointments, and their causes, and told him of my design to make a public use of the story. He seemed to know it well, and expressed himself with that ready indignation, which usually accompanies a strong remembrance of an injurious, wrong measure, for he immediately said, the obstructions given to Captain Campbell were scandalous ; and then added some further particulars of information on that head. By these accumulated proofs, I had no reason to doubt the main facts, of which, for the greater safety, I chose, nevertheless, to draw up only a general relation. I have since frequently mentioned Campbell's sufferings, in accidental companies of the best sort, and as I never, till the receipt of your letter* found the account I gave, drawn into*

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204 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, question, I am apt to believe that no one has imposed upon my credulity; that the facts are notoriously true ; and that the authors of Captain Campbell's misfortunes, whoever they were, sensible of their guilt, hid their heads in silence, not daring to contradict or oppose, what was once generally known, and still is believed to be true. Among my inducements for publishing that anecdote, which offends you so much, I need only to mention, that it was partly for the sake of historical truth, and partly to call up the public attention to a similar project, should any one be hereafter attempted. But principally to spread the compassionate emotions I felt in my own breast, and to keep up the claim of the widow and children of that loyal, Unfortunate adventurer, to the special regards of the public. I am glad to hear, that three of his sons are now in his Majesty's service, preferred upon the score of their father's misfortunes, and in a condition to support their mother, who, without the help of her children, through a train of adversities, would, if I am not very much misinformed, soon be obliged to depend upon the cold charity of mere strangers. Upon the receipt of your letter, I took some pains to get a second perusal of Captain Campbell's papers, among which I saw Governor Cosby's proclamation, and I think Mr. Clarke's advertisement. And when they come to hand, I believe it will be very easy from them, and the examinations which I have now hopes of obtaining, to establish what I have ventured to relate beyond all possible doubt. It affords me one of the greatest pleasures of my life to re-, fleet, that the present ease of that poor lady (for she is a well bred woman) is in some measure owing to me; and since the truth of the paragraph you dislike, may be the aext, as she conceives it to have been the first step, in the ladder of her son's preferments in the army, I shall not be very forward to erase it, without full proof of the allegations contained in your letter, the burthen of which lies upon you; but when that comes, whether by your means, or upon my own discovery, out of a single eye to truth and justice, I shall act such a part as will confirm the opinion you do me the honor to entertain, of the sincerity and integrity of Sir, your most obedient humble servant, WM. SMITH, Jr. The Hon. Cadwalladee Colden, Esq.

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AND GOVERNOR COLDEN. 205 V. LETTER FROM CADWALLADER COLDEN TO WILLIAM SMITH, Jn. Flushing, Feb. 17, 1759. Sir: I shall return no answer to the greatest part of your letter of the first of this month, which I received on the 9th, because the doing it would lead me from my purpose. However much the style of your letter may become you, it does not become me to make a return to it. At my time of life, it is highly imprudent to enter into any kind of contention. I am only desirous to have my character freed from a vile aspersion, privately propagated, to which the publication of your History gives great force. I enclosed my letter open to your father, in hopes that his friendship would prevent indecent warmth on both sides, and with this view 1 shall enclose this in the same manner. In a private letter to yourself, I charged you with too much credulity in believing a misrepresentation of facts, and a falsehood, on the evidence of persons interested, and of publishing them to the world. 1 pointed out to you the means by which you may be informed of the truth. I expected from your candor that you would take some pains to inquire, and that if you found it as I represented, you would make what proper redress is in your power to those persons, whose characters are injured by that publication. I affirmed, 1. That the heads of families who came over with Captain Campbell, absolutely refused to settle under him on the frontiers, and were not in ability to settle by themselves. Several of them are still alive ; some of them I am told, are in the city. The truth of this may be known from them. 2. That Captain Campbell was in no ability to settle 30,000 acres of land. The truth of this may likewise be known from the same persons, who came over with him, and appears by the difficulties he was under in settling a small farm in Ulster county. 3. That when Captain Campbell applied to the Assembly for their assistance to support him in settling, they would not grant it. I expect some who were members at that time, may remember it. If these things be as I affirm, 1 leave it to you to say whether Mr. Clarke could, consistently with the trtfst re-

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206 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, posed in him, grant 30,000 acres of land to Captain Campbell, and whether the granting of it, under these circumstances, could have been ot any additional security to the frontiers. I repeat these plain simple facts, on which the dispute between you and me depends, and I shall now add that, at that time, I wrote only from memory. Since that time, the minutes of the Council in Captain Campbell's affair, and the files, have been inspected. There you will find many circumstances which had escaped my memory, in confirmation of what I have wrote to you. I believed you had been deceived, otherwise I had never given you the trouble of a single line. You have now living and written evidence pointed out to you, for your information. I gave you, and now again give you, an opportunity of showing your candor and love of truth, the most distinguishing qualifications of an historian ; and I again give you an opportunity to make redress, where you have undesignedly injured others. By this method, I think I act most consistently with the friendship, which has subsisted between your father and me, and with some regard to your character; for, with all the strength of evidence which can be produced, you know that other methods might have been taken. As Mr. Alexander's memory is very dear to me, I cannot entirely pass what you write as from him. On recollection, you will find, that Mr. Alexander was not in the Council at that time. After near twenty years distance in time, Mr. Alexander may have entirely forgotten the circumstances of an affair, in which he was in no manner concerned, and he may have unwarily believed, as you and many others have, after such a distance of time, in a tale, privately propagated, to serve a private purpose ; but this makes it the more necessary that the truth "appear. I willingly receive what you have written in excuse ; and as I desire nothing of you inconsistent with the strict rules of honor, I remain confident that your answer will show your resolution to make a proper redress, and thereby confirm the opinion entertained of you, by Sir, your obedient servant, CADWALLADER COLDEN. To William Smith, Jun., Esq.

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AND GOVERNOR COLDEN. 207 VI. LETTER FROM CADWALLADER COLDEN TO WILLIAM SMITH. Flushing, Feb. 19, 1759. Sir: 1 have your favor of the last of January, and am obliged to you for your advice. I received at the same time a letter from your son, the answer to which I enclose. You may be assured, that I shall avoid contention of any kind at my time of life, and I have that opinion of your son's candor, that I cannot apprehend any on this occasion, after the first impression is over, and he has had time to reflect. However, he cannot excuse the not taking what information he could from the Secretary's office, before he had published ; for if he had, any trouble which I now give would have been prevented. The pointing out to him the evidence, and where to be found, shows that I have no thoughts of entering into a dispute to his prejudice. I find by the Governor's speech, that the settling the frontiers is to come under consideration at this time. It is not improbable that this story may be made use of on this occasion to my prejudice. I am confident you will not permit it, where you can prevent it; and I expect you will be well pleased to make use of the opportunity, if it offers, in vindication of, Sir, your most obedient servant, CADWALLADER COLDEN. To the Hon. William Smith, Esq. VII. To the Honorable George Clarke, Esq., Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New York and Territories thereon de* pending, in America, in Council. The humble petition of Laughlin Campbell, gentleman, in behalf of himself and sundry Protestant families, lately arrived into this Province of New York, from North Britain showeth, That whereas his late Excellency, William Cosby, Esq. Captain General in Chief of the said province of New

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208 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, York, and seven of the gentlemen of his Majesty's Council for the said Province, in council, at Fort George, in said Province, did issue forth a certain advertisement, notice, or proclamation, and caused, (dated the 5th of November, 1734,) the same to be printed, setting forth that whereas several large tracts of good and profitable lands within the said Province of New York, in North America, did remain uncultivated and unimproved, by reason that no grants for the same have been made by his present Majesty or any of his royal predecessors ; thereby inviting1 and giving notice that if any persons from Europe be desirous to settle themselves or families and be at the expense of transporting themselves from thence to New York, in America, every such family should receive his Majesty's royal grant for two hundred acres of vacant and unimproved lands, and that the said lands were purchased from the Indians for such families without any charge or expense to the intended grantees; and that they should be at liberty to take up the said lands in said proportion either in one or more tracts, and by one or more grants, as the heads of such families should think proper. Provided, that from the time such families, who shall first arrive here and shall apply themselves to the Governor in Council for such grant or grants, and shall have their proportion of the lands aforesaid laid out to them, that then such others as shall next arrive should have their share or proportion laid out next and adjoining to the first settlement made in such vacant lands, otherwise in such near part adjacent as will afford a comfortable support to the settlers, until the full quantity of one hundred thousand acres be granted and laid out; and that the grants to the said persons be made without fee or reward, except only that such settlers are to be at the charge of laying out and surveying the same, &c. to be granted to them under the quitrent of £0 1 9£ sterling. And whereas the said advertisement doth further set forth, that the said lands are near to a navigable river, convenient for transportation of goods to and from a considerable town, where there is a constant market for the sale thereof, reference unto the said public printed advertisement and the minutes of this honorable board being had, to which your petitioner doth refer himself, it doth more fully appear; and whereas your petitioner, relying on the faith and encouragement of this Government in the said above recited public printed advertisement, offered and promised at sundry times, to wit, in August last, 1737, arrived here with

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AND GOVERNOR COLDEH. 209 sundry persons, and more particularly in 7ber, 1738, he caused not only his own family to be transported from North Britain, but also sundry other persons to the number of 153, and in this last August, 1739, he brought from the same place into this Province 180 passengers, among whom are seventy families, being Protestants; and whereas your said petitioner has not only been at great charge and expense, in transporting and bringing into this Province the said persons and families, but has also undergone several inconveniences and hardships, all which, your petitioner is ready to verify and prove. Therefore, your petitioner most humbly prayetb, that so much of the lands in the said advertisement mentioned, may be laid out, and surveyed, and granted to your petitioner, as head of the seventy families, in proportion to their number pursuant, agreeable to the condition, savings, and with the advantages in the said advertisement, as to your honor by and with the advice of the gentlemen of his Majesty's Council, shall seem meet; and your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. LAUGHLIN CAMPBELL. New York, November 27, in the nineteenth year of his Majesty's reign, Annoque Dom. 1739. The petitioner humbly prays, that, whereas he intends in a few days to depart this Province for Great Britain, his necessary business calling him there, humbly prays an answer to this his petition in a day or two, or as soon as conveniently may be. LAUGHLIN CAMPBELL. VIII. To the Honorable George Clarke, Esq. Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-chief of the Province of New York and Territories thereon depending in America, fyc. in Council. The petition of Laughlin Campbell, on behalf of himself and others humbly showeth, that pursuant to the encouragement given by his late Excellency William Cosby, Esq., late Governor of this Province, and Council, and afterwards by your honor, your petitioner, Laughlin Campbell, at very great expense and hazard, did in the year 1738, transport himself and family, together with thirty families

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$10 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, more, consisting of 153 persons, being all Protestants, from North Britain to this Province. And in the month of August in the year 1739, your petitioner did also (at a very great expense, on the aforesaid encouragement.) transport from North Britain aforesaid to this Province, forty-one families more, consisting of 180 persons, who are also Protestants. That in the month of November last, your petitioner, at a further great expense, did transport and bring into this Province from North Britain aforesaid, twelve more Protestant families, which consist of 94 persons. That your petitioner, since his arrival in this Province, has been at a very great expense in supporting many of the persons so by him brought over, besides the charge of their transportation aforesaid. That since your petitioner's arrival here, he has not obtained any grant of lands, either for himself or any of the families or persons so by him brought over. That the settlement of your petitioner and families so by him brought over, upon the lands so proposed to be settled by the late Governor Cosby and your Honor and Council, will not only encourage many other Protestant families to come over and settle there, but will also be a good barrier and safeguard to all those already settled in the county of Albany, and to the whole Province. Your petitioner, therefore, most humbly prays your honors to grant to your petitioner and persons by him brought over, in fee simple, his Majesty's letters patent, under the great seal of this Province, for one hundred thousand acres of vacant and unpatented lands, in the county of Albany, proposed to be granted to Protestant families as aforesaid, next adjoining to the lands already patented, under such moder-kte quitrents, reservations, and provisos as other lands are usually granted in this Province, but free of all other charges and expense, agreeable to the aforesaid encouragement, and your petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c. LAUGH LIN CAMPBELL. April 15, 1741. Laughlin Campbell, 2000 Rose Campbell, 2000 Daniel Campbell, 2000 Margaret Campbell, 2000 George Campbell, 2000 Lillie Campbell, 2000 James Campbell, 2000 James Henderson, 2000

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AND GOVERNOR COLDEX. John Mclver, 2000 Anthony Duane, 2000 John Nickoll, 2000 Robert Livingston, Jr. 2000 Peter V. Brugh Livingston, 2000 John Grusbeck, 2000 Thomas Bohanna, 2000 Neil Campbell, 2000 Edward Graham, 2000 Laughlin McLean, 2000 John McCunnell, 2000 Duncan McCollum, 2000 Alexander Campbell, 2000 Archibald McGowen, 2000 Mallcollum McGowen, 2000 Alexander Campbell, 2000 Patrick Green, 2000 William Adair, 2000 Alex. Montgomerie, 2000 Ronald McDougald, 2000 Duncan Campbell, 2000 Robert Fraser, 2000 Charles McKellan, 1000 Arch'd McKellan, 1000 Arch'd Johnston, 1000 John Shaw, 1000 211 Donald Shaw, 1000 Arch'd McDougald, 1000 John Smith, 1000 Malcolm Smith, 1000 Donald McCloud, 1000 Arch'd McDuffie, 1000 James Nutt, 1000 Alex. Graham, 1000 Duncan Gilchrist, 1000 Alex. McNaught, 2000 James Campbell, 1000 Alex. Gillis, 1 Duncan Taylor, > 1000 James Gillis, ) Patrick Me Arthur, 1000 Neil Me Arthur, 1000 Duncan A. Me Arthur, 1000 Duncan McDougald, 2000 Allan McDougald, 2000 Donald McMullen, 500 John Parker, 2000 John McQuarie, 1000 Patrick Anderson, 1000 Hugh McDougald, 1000 Mullcollum McDuffie, 1000 Duncan Reede, 1000 IX. The Report of the Committee to whom the Petition of Laughlin Campbell was referred. In pursuance of an order of Council, referring to us the petition of Laughlin Campbell, the Committee having read and considered thereof, proceeded to examine the petitioner as to the first allegation of his petition, who did confess that from North Britain he arrived first in the year 1737, in Pennsylvania, where, upon inquiring concerning the terms on which he could obtain grants of lands in that Province, he found that they were rated at £15 per hundred, besides officers' fees for the grant and quitrent, &c. That then in the same year he came to this Province, to make inquiry concerning the terms on which he could get

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212 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, lands granted here, and on discoursing thereupon with the Governor and Surveyor General, he was informed 100,000 acres advertised in the time of the late Governor Cosby, to be granted to any Protestant that should come over to settle, in pursuance of that advertisement and encouragement therein, were then already granted; but that they would engage that the petitioner should have lands granted here at the rate of £3 per hundred, inclusive of the charges of Indian purchase, survey, and all officers' fees and other expenses. The petitioner did likewise further confess, that after this he took a journey to Maryland, to inquire upon what terms he could obtain grants of land in that Province. But at last did determine to transport a number of families into this Province, upon the encouragement of the foregoing discourse with the Governor and Surveyor General. Accordingly, in the year 1738, he brought over thirty families. Whereupon the proposals in a printed paper, produced to the said Committee, whereof a true copy is hereunto annexed, were made to the petitioner by his honor the present Governor. The petitioner did likewise further confess, that after his said arrival, he was offered a grant of 19,000 acres, free of all fees, except survey and quitrent, which the Committee finds the petitioner neglected to take. That afterwards, he returned to Europe, and in August, 1739, brought over forty-one families more (as in second suggestion in his petition) several of which have left him without paying their passage; that some have paid, but that all the said families were bound for the payment thereof. It appears to this Committee, that on the 17th October, 173S, a petition from Alexander Montgomerie, Alexander NacNaught, Peter McArthur, and Daniel Carmichael, in behalf of themselves and twenty-six other heads of families, praying 7200 acres of land; also a petition from John Mc-Neal, ibr 1000 acres of land ; and a petition from Ronald Campbell, for 1000 acres (the said petitioners being all of them persons brought over by the said Campbell,) were presented in Council, and the Council advised the granting the prayer thereof. But the petitioners neglected to proceed further thereon. Since which time, it does not appear to this Committee, that any further application has been made by the petitioner, or any persons brought over by him, to the Governor and Council on such account.

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AND GOVERNOR COLDBN. 213 The Committee observes that in the list annexed to this petition, there are inserted the names of several persons for 2000 acres each, whom this Committee well know to have resided long in this Province before the petitioner ever transported any person hither, or came himself into this Province. The Committee observes further, that in the said list annexed to the said petition, that there are thirty-four persons nominated for 2000 acres each, and twenty-three persons for 1000 acres each, and only one for 500 acres. Whereas, as this Committee conceives, it was the intention of the Government to grant to each family, at the rate of about fifty acres for each person therein. Upon the whole, it is the opinion of the Committee, that the allegations in the said petition contained, with regard to any expectation concerning the 100,000 acres advertised in Governor Cosby's time, or with respect to any discouragement that the petitioner, or any others brought from North Britain hither, have received from the Government, are false and groundless. However, that when proper application shall be made to the Government by the petitioner, or the persons already brought over, or that shall hereafter be brought over, by him, all due encouragement should be given to their settlement in this Province, upon their giving satisfactory assurance, that they will immediately after a grant passed, enter upon and settle the lands. All of which is humbly submitted, by order of the Committee. DANIEL HORSMANDEN, Chairman. New York, April 18,1741. X. ADVERTISEMENT. Encouragement given for People to remove and settle in the Province of New York, America. The Honorable George Clarke, Esq., Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-chief of the Province of New York, hath, upon the petition of Mr. Laughlin Campbell, from Isla, North Britain, promised to grant him thirty thousand acres of land, at the Wood Creek, free of all charges ex-

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214 SMITH, THE HISTORIAN, AND GOVERNOR COLDEN. cepting the survey and the King's quitrent, which is about one shilling and nine pence farthing sterling, for each hundred acres; and also to grant to thirty families already landed here, lands in proportion to each family, from five hundred acres unto one hundred and fifty, only paying the survey and the King's quitrent; and all Protestants, that incline to come and settle in this colony, may have lands granted them from the Crown, for three pounds sterling per hundred acres, and paying the yearly quitrent. GEORGE CLARKE. Dated in New York, this 4th day of December, 1738.