41 | From Jeffery Amherst

    New York, 9th. April 1761.

    Sir,

    I am this day favored with Your Letter of the 4th. Instt.;1 I had flattered myself it would bring me a Confirmation of my most Sanguine hopes that the Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay would have been no ways deficient in His Majesty’s Requisition, but on the contrary would have prided themselves in Setting a worthy precedent of the most strict Compliance with the King’s Expectations; Instead thereof, I find they have not only Voted short of their Numbers, but that there were even Parties formed to diminish those that had been proposed; The difficulties these Endeavored to raise, sufficiently Evince that they were actuated by no other principles than those of mere opposition, for they could not have the least foundation for their Insinuations; and I cannot help Expressing my Concern, that notwithstanding such frivolous pretences, which ought to have fallen to the ground of themselves, You have been obliged, in order to quiet those restless Spirits, to give them assurances to which they were not Entitled, and that from Circumstances & Events, unforeseen at present, may prove prejudicial to the General Good; for tho’ I never proposed the New England Forces should be Employed South of Albany, nor that I do not foresee it will be necessary to Continue them in the service beyond, or even to, the time for which they are to be Raised, yet You will own, that by being tied down to these Conditions, I may be debarred from making Use of that Force, where, when the Regular Troops are Employed in their Intended Operations, they may be most necessary, the result of which may be a failure in part of His Majesty’s Instructions, which must then lay at the door of the Provinces, who, when too late, will repent being the occasion of it.

    However, since You could not Obtain the 3000 men, without these Assurances, I must Yield to the disagreable necessity that Compelled You thereto; and that You may not forfeit Your word with the Assembly, I must Corroborate the same, and You may Assure them that their Forces shall not be sent South West of the River DeLawarr, and that they will, in all human probability, be discharged long before the First day of July 1762.__ But I will not promise that they shall return immediately after a peace; for as their Assistance is demanded to secure His Majesty’s Conquests in North America, and that this End cannot be Answered but by finishing the Forts that have been begun for that purpose, suppose I was to receive tidings of a peace by the next packett, is it to be Expected that they should immediately withdraw their aid? I am hopefull they have a better sense of what they owe to the King and to themselves, and that they would not harbour any such wild thought.

    The Rendezvous will be at Albany and Crown Point, of which more hereafter; at the same time, I must just hint to You, for Your own private Information, that if I should find it necessary to Call away any more of the Regular Forces from Nova Scotia, the protection of that Valuable Province may require some of the Massachusetts Troops to put it into a perfect State of Security; and, in that case, I shall give You timely Notice thereof, but in the present uncertainty, it is needless to Add any thing further on that Subject.

    I am, with great Regard, Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant

    Jeff Amherst.

    His Excellency Govr: Bernard.

    LS, RC BP, 9: 183-185.