Hampshire, Road Island, Conecticot, New York joined in one, we then should be near to [ten?] or 15 for one of those of the French in Canada, and might reasonably propose to make an entire conquest of that place. -New York Colonial Records, vol. IV, p. 209.

MR. PENN'S PLAN OF UNION.

[1698].

A Briefe and Plaine Scheam how the English Colonies in the North parts of America, viz: Boston, Connecticut, Road Island New York New Jerseys, Pensilvania, Maryland, Virginia and Carolina may be made more usefull to the Crowne, and to one anothers peace and safty with an universall con

currence.

1st. That the Severall colonies before mentioned do meet once a year, and oftener if need be, during the war, and at least once in two years in times of peace, by their stated and appointed deputies, to debate and resolve measures for public good.]

[on

2. That in order to it two persons well qualified for sence sobriety and substance be appointed by each Province, as their Representatives . . [in Congress].

3. That the Kings Commissioner for that purpose specially appointed shall have the Chaire and preside in the said Congresse.

4. [Central meeting place.]

5. [Suggests governor of New York as King's Commismissioner.]

ince.

3dly to prevent

6. That their business shall be to hear and adjust all matters of Complaint or difference between Province and ProvAs 1st where persons quit their own Province and goe to another, that they may avoid their just debts 2d where offenders fly justice, or cure injuries in point of commerce, 4th, to consider of ways and means to support the union and safety of these Provinces against the publick enemies In which Congresse the Quotas of men and charges will be much easier, and more equally sett, than it is possible for any establishment made here to do; for the Provinces, knowing their own condition and one anothers, can debate that matter with more freedome, and satisfaction and better adjust and ballance their affairs in all respects for their common safty.

7ly That in times of war the Kings High Commissionr shall be generall or Chief Commander -New York

Colonial Documents, vol. IV, p. 296,

From the scheme of Gov. Livingston, recommended to the Lords of Trade, May 13, 1701:

To settle the American Governments to the greatest possible advantage, it will be necessary to reduce the number of them; in some places to unite and consolidate; in others to separate and transfer; and in general to divide by natural boundaries instead of imaginary lines. If there should be but one form of government established for the NorthAmerican provinces, it would greatly facilitate the reformation of them. A nobility appointed by the king for life and made independent, would probably give strength and stability to American governments as effectually as hereditary nobility does to that of Great Britain.—Cited in Frothingham, p. 117.

Shirley says in a letter dated Oct. 21, 1754, to Governor Morris, newly appointed governor of Pennsylvania:

The best advice I can give you is to lose no time for promoting the plan of a union of the colonies for their mutual defence, to be concerted at home, and established by act of Parliament as soon as possible I am laboring this point totis viribis.—Ibid, p. 146.

Daniel Coxe, 1722, proposed that all the British colonies be

united under a legal, regular, and firm establishment, over which a lieutenant or supreme governor should be constituted and appointed to preside on the spot, to whom the gov. ernors of each colony should be subordinate; that two deputies should be annually elected by the council and assembly of each province, who are to be in the nature of a great council or general convention of the states of the colonies [to fix on quotas of men and money which] should be levied and raised by its own assembly in such manner as they should judge most easy and convenient. Cited by Frothingham, p. 113.

About 1725, when a proposal had been made by the Massachusetts assembly for a convention of all the colonies, it was pronounced by the Board of Trade as "a mutinous proposal."Hutchinson's History of Mass., vol. III, p. 119.

The following extracts give us an insight into the conditions from the standpoint of the colonial governors:

Reasons why this great undertaking of building of New Forts &c extending the English settlements into the Indian country is not effected as begun by this Province alone.

6thly. We have late experience how ineffectual Her Majesty's circular letters in the late war did prove, appointing the several Governors to send Commissioners to New York to agree upon certain quotas of men, and for a supply of money, and tho' the Governors of Virginia and Maryland did prevail with their people to assist us with some money, yet could not prevail with them to send any men; some of the commissioners came others came not; those that came refused to act without the rest, and gave reason enough to believe they were fond of the opportunity of that colour, by various excuses, doubts, fears and jealousies; so parted doing nothing.-New York Colonial Documents, vol. IV, 873.

To carry on this design of extending the Christian settlements and English forts into the Indian country for the security of all His Majesty's Plantations on this North Continent of America ;

I humbly begg leave to propose that it is best to be done in time of peace with France. 1st That one form of gov ernment be establish'd in all the neighbouring colonies on this main continent.

That they be divided into three distinct governments-towit.

That Virginia and Maryland be annexed to South and North Carolina.

That some part of Connecticut, New York, East and West Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Castle be added together.

And that to Massachusetts be added New Hampshire and Rhoad Island and the rest of Connecticut.—Ibid, p. 874.

The degree of union is well illustrated by the following extract from a letter of Gov. Fletcher:

Our neighbours on the Right and left sitt at ease, they govern by theire own Fancies, Connecticutt full of people keep up a Comonwealth Power, oppress the better sort who dissent from them but will not send a man or sixpence to our relief.

And from that Collony I could march up men dry foot to Repell our Enemies, from hence we have a voyage of fifty leagues to Albany, In my absence the Councill here writ to all the neighbouring Collonies for men or money, the Republick of Connecticutt quarrell att the Superscription of the Councills letter for want of theire proper Title.-—Ibid.

From Pensilvania they say they have nothing to send us but theire good wishes. East Jersey has sent us £248 and promiss to make itt £400 those remoter Collonies I have not yet heard from. Nothing in my sight but an addition of Connecticutt and some other Colonys can support us by paying equall duties to the Crown, the Acts of Navigation are wholy violated by these out lyers.

I send this to Boston in hopes of a passage from thence if Sr William Phips do not intecept it.-New York Colonial Documents, vol. IV, p. 13.

The governor of New York writes as follows of the conditions in America:

Notwithstanding their Majst Lettrs Mandatorie to the sev. eral governments to assist this Province little or no assist ance had been given or can be hoped for through the remoteness of some Governments and Excuses and delays of others.

That Pensilvania being most Quakers will give no men or money for warr unless they were joined to the Government of New York, by which that Province may be able to outvote them.

That this Province lying under heavy Taxes and Pressures, most of the young men and those that can in any way remove, depart this Province to the neighbouring Government where they are wholly free from Tax or any other Contrybution towards the Common Security.-Ibid, p. 53.

A NEW STAGE-THE ALBANY CONGRESS-INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSIONERS.

William Shirley, Esq. Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England,

To Samuel Welles, John Chandler, Thomas Hutchinson, Oliver Partridge, and John Worthington Esq'rs Greeting. Whereas, in pursuance of letters from the right honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and the Plantations, a General Convention of Commissioners for their

respective Governments is appointed to be held at the city of Albany in the month of June next [1754] for holding an interview with the Indians of the Five Nations and making them presents on the part of said Governments usual upon such occasions, in order to confirm and establish their ancient attachment to his Majesty and their constant friendship to his Majesty's subjects on this continent; and whereas the Great and General Court or assembly of the Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid, have elected and appointed you to represent and appear for said Province at the Convention aforesaid for the purposes abovementioned; as also for entering into articles of Union and Confederation with the aforesaid Governments for the general defence of his Majesty's subjects and interests in North America, as well in time of peace as of war:

Now I do, by these presents, empower and commissionate you, the said Samuel Wells, John Chandler, Thomas Hutchinson, Oliver Partridge, and John Worthington, as Commissioners (or any three of you) to appear for and represent the Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid.

Given under my hand and the public seal of the Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid, the nineteenth day of April, 1754, in the twenty seventh year of his Majesty's reign.

Similar instructions were given to the commissioners from the other provinces.-Massachusetts Historical Collections, vol. V, 3d series, p. 9.

It was proposed by the Governor, that to avoid all disputes about the precedency of the colonies, they should be named in the minutes according to their situation from north to south; which was agreed to.—Ibid, p. 26.

A motion was made that the Commissioners deliver their opinion whether a Union of all the Colonies is not at pres ent absolutely necessary to their security and defence. The question was accordingly put, and it was decided in the