239 | To Jeffery Amherst

    Boston Oct 22 1763.

    Sr.

    Upon my return from my Eastern progress I found that you had order’d Hyman to be discharged:931 I am much obliged to you for this concession; & the more so, as I find it to be more contrary to your purposes, than I had imagined it to be. I did not engage him till June last; and I should not have made him so necessary to my Service, if I had thought at that time, that he would have been called upon to join his former Corps. The Allowance of pay &c is so much beyond his expectation, that as he cannot presume to trouble you with his thanks, I must desire you to accept mine.

    In my Eastern Voyage I had some further conference with some of the Penobscot Indian chiefs: and from what I can observe they seem to be well disposed. But if the News which has been circulated here to day, & which is said to come from Lord Colville, viz that 3 french Ships are gone up St Laurence with stores for the Indians, has any foundation, It will be necessary to keep a good look out. The Indians in our Eastern Country are not Very formidable in Numbers: but We know well that a small Number of them can do a great deal of mischeif; and We know not here what resource of allies they may have beyond St Johns River.

    Some time ago, you was pleased to promise me a Copy of a survey thro the Rivers Chaudeire & Kennebeck & the Country between them.932 I should not trouble you now upon this subject, but that I have received an intimation that I may soon expect to receive an order to propose to the Assembly, the settling a boundary Line between the Territory of Sagadahock & the Province of Canada. In such case I shall be glad of all lights which will serve to point out the Geography of the Country: as I presume the Boundary required will be those Hights, from whence on one side the Rivers Kennebeck & Penobscot flow to the Ocean & the Rivers Chaudeire & St Francis on the other side flow to St Laurence. This I suppose the Survey, you have mentioned, may help to explain: but as I have not yet received my orders upon this subject, I would not put you to any inconvenience in hastening this business

    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 246.