Upon your letter, I have issued warrants to apprehend the two Irishmen mentioned in Delap's information, and such as shall be found carrying provisions or warlike stores to the French; and if any of them are taken, I shall have them punished according to an act of this province lately made for that purpose; but as the laws are slow in their motions, and legal proofs difficult to be obtained of transactions carried on in secret, and in the remote and unsettled part of this country, should your scouts take any that are concerned in that unnatural trade, or that utter treasonable words, I shall not be surprised to hear that you have proceeded to do them justice in a more summary way than I am able to do.

Agreeably to your requests, immediately upon my return from Alexandria, I sent to George Croghan,* the person entrusted with the management of the Indians in this province, to join you with as large a body of able bodied Indians as he could; copy of my letter to him upon that head, I send you herewith; but as I have had no answer to it, I send Mr. Peters, the Secretary of this Province, to further that affair, and to hasten the opening of the roads.

The letter herewith, from Governor Shirley, will inform you that the destination of the five hundred men raised in Jersey, is so far enlarged as to admit of their being employed under him at Niagara, which is the more necessary, as Sir William Pepperell's regiment is not near full.

I am glad Mr. Franklin has had success in procuring a number of horses and dragoons, and I shall endeavor to make my Assembly bear the charge of them, but cannot say I have any warm expectations upon that head. Mr. Franklin will be in town this evening, and I detain your messenger till he arrives, as he may have something to write to you of his transactions. I am, sir, &c.,

ROBERT H. MORRIS. PHILADELPHIA, 20th May, 1755. SIR: I had yours by Mr. Leslie on the 16th inst., and as my Assembly was then sitting and about to rise, I sent it to them to know if they would furnish the forage you wanted at the expense of the province, and by a private message they gave me to understand, that their committee would purchase and send the forage required; but upon my writing to the committee, they returned me for answer, that they had no money in their hands, and could only assist as private citizens.Upon which I have supplied Mr. Leslie with £500, and given Mr. Shippen of Lancaster, where Leslie has contracted for part of the forage, an order to furnish him with any greater sum he may require, and to draw upon me for the same, which shall be punctually paid. Col. Hunter being here on his way to New York, desired me to recommend it to you to make as many payments by draught to this town, as you could, where he would lodge money subject to my call, or your order. This he imagined would save the money you have with you, and consequently the trouble of sending and escorting money to the camp.

*George Croghan wrote Gov. Morris from Fort Cumberland, May 20, 1755. Prov. Rec. N. 37.

Mr. Leslie is to purchase what oats, &c., he can in the back counties, and by letter to inform you what further quantity will be wanted, which I shall order to be brought here and sent to the camp; and upon his return, you will be kind enough to let me know of any thing you may want for your own use, or for the army, and I will order it to be immediately supplied. I am, &c.,

R. H. MORRIS.

FORT CUMBERLAND, May 24, 1755. SIR-As I propose soon to begin my march for Fort Du Quesne, I am desirous of adjusting every future contingency with the several Governors in such a manner as to avoid any mistake or misunderstanding. If I take the fort in its present condition, I shall make what additions to it I shall judge necessary, and shall leave the guns, ammunition and stores belonging to the fort with a garrison of Virginia and Maryland forces. But in case, as I have some reason to apprehend, they should abandon and destroy the fortifications with the guns, &c., I will repair or construct some place of defence and leave a garrison as before. But as to the artillery, ammunition, stores, provisions, &c., they must be immediately supplied by the governments of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland, separately or conjunctively, for the train I take with me I shall find it absolutely necessary for the farther execution of my plan; and these are determined to leave none of them in the fort.

And that I may not, by any delays in yours and the other governments, be detained so long for the arrival of your guns and convoy, as to frustrate any other designs for this year, I must beg that the artillery, ammunition, provisions, stores, &c., may be sent with all diligence to the fort; and a proper quantity of flour and meat should be preparing, as these, in every situation, must be required, and if care is not taken to send these convoys to them the men must starve, and his Majesty's arms be dishonored, (should they prove successful,) and the expenses and trouble which his regard to his Colonies have engaged him in, rendered useless. A neglect of this kind must therefore consequently be highly disapproved by the King and his ministers.

Some Indians lately arrived from Fort Du Quesne, mention a bravado of the French and their Indians, (at best it appears to me as such,) that they propose, when the army is far advanced to fall upon this back country and to destroy its inhabitants. Make what use or give credit to this intelligence as you please. However it may not be amiss to take all possible precautions..

I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servt.

E. BRADDOCK.

DEAR MORRIS-You will by the bearer, Mr. Peters, be informed of the situation I am in by the folly of Mr. Dinwiddie and the roguery of his Assembly, and unless the road of communication from your province is opened, and some contract made in consequence of the power I have given, I must inevitably be starved. Sir John St. Clair, (who by the by is ashamed of his having talked of you in the manner he did,) has employed, by the advice of Governor Sharpe, a fellow at ConneGoGEE, one Cressap, who has behaved in such a manner in relation to the

Pennsylvania flour, that if I had been a French commissary he could not have acted more for their interest-in short, in every instance, but in my contract for the Pennsylvania wagons, I have been deceived, and met with nothing but lies and villainy. I hope, however, in spite of this that we shall pass a merry Christmas together! (?) E. B.

PHILADELPHIA, June 3d, 1755. SIR-Mr. Peters brought me your proposals for a contract for three months provision for the army under your command, upon which we immediately consulted some men best acquainted with the trade and circumstances of this country, and I am well assured the quantity of provisions may be furnished in time to answer your demand.

Mr. Turner, a gentleman of note in this province, has undertaken to purchase the provisions necessary upon this occasion, and has already, at my request, bought one hundred head of cattle, and twelve barrels of pork, twenty barrels of rice, and two hundred bushels of peas; and he is endeavoring to get two hundred and forty barrels of pork more; the rest of the meat will be supplied in beeves, which may be had very good in this and the neighboring province of New Jersey. All the pork mentioned above is of the very best kind, well cured and packed, and may be depended on for keeping.

I send a man into the counties of York, Lancaster, and Cumberland, to purchase up twelve hundred barrels of flour, and to hire or build proper storehouses at Shippensburg, or M'Dowell's Mills, for the reception of that and other species of provisions that will be sent from hence, who is to remain at the place and take a particular account of all the provision he receives and sends away-and he is to provide good pasture for three hundred head of cattle, so that what are sent up and remain in his care may be kept fat and fit for use, and you may have them drove to the army from time to time in such numbers as you shall judge best.

Mr. Peters, who, in his way from the camp through Cumberland county, judges that a place called M'Dowell's Mill, situated upon the new road about twenty miles westward of Shippensburg, is much more convenient for the magazine than Shippensburg, which, if you approve of, you will let your Secretary notify your approbation by the return of * Proposals for a contract or contracts for supplying the forces under General Braddock's command.

That Gov. Morris, in conjunction with Mr. Peters, do find out some proper persons who may make one or more contracts for furnishing bread, and flour, and beeves, or in want of them, salt beef, pork, or fish, sufficient to subsist three thousand men for three months, to be laid in at Shippensburg until any other more convenient place can be prepared by letters and agreed to by me, which will be necessary in order to avoid the disappointments aad ill consequences that must happen through mistakes. These provisions to be in store and ready to be fetch'd or sent to the forces early in July.

In case it should be found impracticable to make such contracts, the most early accounts must at all events be sent to prevent my depending upon them. And I do hereby promise to fulfill and perform my part of the contracts so made in my behalf by Gov. Morris and Mr. Peters for the purpose aforesaid, and to be accountable for the expense and charge attending them. E. BRADDOCK.

CAMP AT FORT CUMBERLAND, May 21, 1755.

this express, to Charles Swaine at Shippensburg, who, by my instructions, is to wait that approbation before he begins to build or hire storehouses; and in the meantime he is to employ himself in procuring pas tures and purchasing the flour.

I observe that in your proposals you mention bread, and if you have conveniences for baking in the camp, it may answer the purpose as well; but if not, and bread is absolutely necessary, I will order the whole or any part of the flour to be baked at the magazine, and will send bakers up for that purpose, but that will be attended with additional expense.

The hay and corn, (wheat and rye,) harvest in this country begins in this month, which will render it very difficult to have the whole quantity of provisions laid in by the beginning of July; but notwithstanding that, I can venture to promise that a great part, at least one-third, shall be ready by the first week in July, and the remainder by the first week in August. This you may depend on and govern yourself accordingly.

The expense of this supply cannot be reduced to any exact certainty, till the several things are bought and delivered at the magazine; but enclosed I send you an estimate of the expense, which you see amounts to between six and seven thousand pounds, or about £4,000 sterling, which, you must be sensible, is more than a plantation Governor, lately returned from Europe and upon bad terms with his Assembly, can easily furnish. I must, therefore, desire you will send me bills for that sum, and every thing shall be managed to the best advantage, and the public served at as cheap a rate as any private merchant in this town.

I send you' enclosed a copy of instructions I have given to Charles Swaine, for the government of himself in the management of the affair I have intrusted him with, to which I shall add such others as may be from time to time necessary.

I am told that a great part of the flour, sent by the committee of the Assembly to the mouth of Conegochege, is put into casks made of green timber, which will inevitably turn it sour. I mention this to you that you may have it surveyed as it arrives at the camp; and if not quite spoiled, it may be saved by putting it into bags, or other casks.

I am, Sir, &c..

ROBT. H. MORRIS.

FORT CUMBERLAND, June 9th, 1755. SIR-I have, this morning, received a letter from Governor Glen, inclosing bills upon England, payable to myself, for £4,000 sterling. As you have been so good as to advance money for purchasing forage, and have undertaken to make contracts for provisions, for the supply of the forces, I send the bills to you, to be sold at the best price you can get for them, that you may reimburse yourself what you are in advance, and may leave a fund in your hands for further contracts. When I have the pleasure of seeing you, I shall call upon you, to settle accounts with me and others.

Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

E. BRADDOCK.

P. S. If you should have it in your power to employ some of the money in raising recruits for me, I should be obliged to you; and desire you would send them after me, as soon as the road from your province is opened. I want them to complete the English regiment. You may allow them £3 sterling per man. Arms and clothes will be ready for them; and if you have any body you can confide in to bring them up, he shall be well rewarded for his service,

I beg you would send me advice by the return of the express, of your receipt of the bills.

E. B.

CAMP, FIVE MILES FROM FORT CUMBERLAND,
June 11th, 1755.

SIR-I received your two letters, by express, last night, and am greatly obliged to you and Mr. Peters, for the steps you have taken towards laying in a magazine of provision for me; as also, for the supply you are collecting of forage.

I shall signify to Mr. Swain, by the return of your messenger, my approbation of the deposites being made at M'Dowell's mill, instead of Shippensburg. I dispatched an express to you yesterday, with bills upon England, £4,000 sterling, sent me by Governor Glen; and upon notice from you, I will send the draughts, from the deputy paymaster, upon Mr. Franklin, for such further sums as you may have occasion for.

I have ordered a party of an hundred men, as a guard, to the people working upon the new road, which will set out this day.

I am much obliged to yourself and your little government, for the present of oxen they have made me, and am,

Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

E. BRADDOCK.

PHILADELPHIA, June 12th, 1755. SIR :-Governor Delancey, by express, sent me the letter that accompanies this; and also a letter from Capt. Bradstreet, giving an account of the passing of some French troops to Oswego, with some cannon. I send you a copy of this letter under this cover, as it is uncertain whether the express which he mentions to have sent through the woods, will get safe to you in time. From this, and other pieces of intelligence sent you, the French seem to be mustering to oppose you; but whether they will exert their strength on the Ohio or Niagara, I can't take upon me to say, but am rather inclined to think they will choose the latter, as they can, with more ease, draw their forces together and supply them there, than at Fort Du Quesne, and your march through an uninhabited country, will be much longer than to the other, and consequently, more liable to be interrupted and harrassed by the Indians and wood-fighters, and your communication with the country behind you, rendered more difficult.

Upon this intelligence, I shall press my Assembly to enable me to escort provisions and other necessaries to you, from time to time, that you may not be under a necessity of dividing or lessening your force; but I have little reason to expect any thing from them.

On the 13th inst. my Assembly met, agreeable to my summons, and