| Title: | [?] [Smith?], London, to John Hanbury, [Location?]. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3860 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | 1741-50/6 |
| Year | 1749 |
| Sender | unknown |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | London, England |
| Destination | North America? |
| Recipient | Hanbury, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | politics |
| Source | D 162/47: Presented by Major A.F. Dobbs, Castle Dobbs, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9510060 |
| Date | 24/06/1749 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 12:10:95. |
| Word Count | 827 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | London 24 June 1749 Mr John Hanbury Sir, As you have admitted me to be an associate with you & the Gentn. [Gentlemen?] of Virginia in the late Grant of Lands on the (River) Ohio, the back of the Appalatian [Appalachian?] Mountains. I think it now incumbent on me to hint to you by letter ( as I cannot with convenience see you in the country, before I set out for Ireland, which I purpose to do in a short time) what I fancy may contribute greatly to the peopling & support of this new projected colony, so as to answer the good purposes of the Government in getting the start of the French, who have all along had an Eye to that great and valuable Country, which may if properly conducted, turn out vastly for the advantage of this Nation, in not only securing our other colonies from French Incroachment [encroachment?], but in raising a new people to take off our British Manufactures, by encouraging the German & French protestants to go and settle there, my present design by this Letter is to acquaint you, that there have a number of Protestant Families gone this year to America from Ireland, and I am inform'd [informed?] many more purpose to go next season, therefore as this is and will be the case, I think it would be right in us who have undertaken to raise this new colony to endeavour to divert these people for the future from going to new England & Pensylvania [Pennsylvania?] by giving them proper Encouragement to go up the Potomac river, and settle upon the Ohio, and this I imagine may be easily done, by giving them Grants of Lands free of quit Rents for Ten years, and convincing them that they will be supported and protected in the peaceable possession of these grants, which I apprehend may best be done by the Government sending an Officer and a Company of men from Ireland to settle upon the most convenient spot on the Ohio for that purpose, and I think it would be a right step in order to encourage those people to behave well, to give each of them a grant of land upon their going over. If you think well of this proposal, and will talk with Lord Hallifax on the subject, who I observe with great pleasure is taking the right measures to promote the Welfare and increase of our Colonies, & consequently the advantage of England, I will engage to procure an Officer and such a company of young men that understand country business, as will effectually answer all the purposes that so many men can, upon such an occasion, and they shall be so chosen as to be able effectually to encourage those others who may afterwards think of removing from America to go to the Ohio, As you and I can have nothing in view by engaging in this Ohio scheme, but the Publick [public?] good, and at our private expence, take it for granted the Lords of Trade will very readily comply with every proposal that has an evident tendency to that End I doubt not but the Gentlemen of Virginia will take all the prudent methods possible to secure the friendship of all the Indians in this new Country, as well by making allyance [alliance?] with them as new purchases, If it is thought necessary because the French will doubtless take every step of this sort that be maybe in their power. I wish my Lord Hallifax would Patronize the taking out another Grant in order to admit some of the principal German and French Protestants who are. or may be inclinable to go there as that would in my opinion be the most effectual method to people the Country Expeditiously. When you write your friends in Virginia, pray Enquire which is the best place to land people who may be inclinable to go and settle on the Ohio, and to let you know exactly the difficulties and conveniences that may attend their getting thither after they are landed; the proper seasons of the year for going; the necessaries which will be wanted upon their first getting over, and every thing else that may occur to them on the subject, that we may not be in the dark, or be oblig'd [obliged?] to venture on saying what may not afterwards prove strictly true, to those whom we would willingly Encourage to go thither. If you will be so kind to ask these questions in the first letters you write, I may have an answer sent me before my return from Ireland. My friend Mr Dobbs who is now in that Kingdom, has the selling & Extending the British Colonies as much at heart as any man in England, therefore I intend to consult him on this subject and will write you his sentiments, these things having occur'd [occurred?] to me I think proper to mention them to you. |
