174 | To Jeffery Amherst

    Boston Nov 11. 1762.

    Sr.

    I have received your favour of the 31st of Octr.652 As for the deserters, I have done as much as I could to engage them in the regular Service: & sevral of them have been accordingly recruited. As for those who remain at the Castle most of them have such pretensions to mitigation that I must be content with such satisfaction as can be got, I mean, in regard to myself: at least, I could by no means take upon me to force them into the Service. The Recruiting has hitherto been carried on with the good will of the Country: And I should be glad to have it conducted so to the end.

    I this day communicated the clause ^of yours^ relating to the certificates of the number of the provincial troops in each Year to the Council, & I am desired by them to acquaint you that the rolls for the service of the troops of this Province for the Winter 1759–60 (at which time none of the other Provinces had any troops in the service) have been made out separately, in order to obtain a compensation for this service; and desire to know if you would please to have copies of these rolls sent you in order to be authenticated: or to desire you to certify this service in some other method. The rolls are all given in upon the Oaths of the sevral Officers: and therefore I suppose are not willfully ^or knowingly^ false. The Desertion you mentioned in a former letter,653 I am told, did not begin until after the first of May when the Engagement for the Winter Service expired: and therefore the Certificates for that Service need not be uncertain upon that account. The Lords of the Treasury in the allotment of the grant for 1760 have reserved 10,000 to answer this claim of the Province, &, by agreement of the Agents, have apportioned the rest.

    If you should choose to have these or any other papers, I shall send Mr Goldthwait with them, who will then be ready to assist in settling Any other Matters in doubt, particularly the billeting Account which, by reason of the recruiting, will be different this Year from that of Any other.654

    I am, with great regard, Sr Your most obedient & most humble Servant

    Fra. Bernard

    His Excellency Sr Jeffry Amherst.

    ALS, RC WO 34/26, f 229.