In 1754, Franklin was already a figure whose talents were
respected and utilized both by Pennsylvanians and the crown. The commission having been declared on May 13,
1754 and the date of the interview being set for June 14, we begin to have a
sense that travel from Philadelphia to Albany was expected to take well under a
month — however much Albany was on the then far frontier.
The Pennsylvanian agents were not the only called upon by
the King in the name of the Governor of New York. Similar declarations were presented
to the colonial governments of
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania,
and Maryland, appointing each their agents.
Each of the colonies that might have been affected were invited to
participate under the direction of New York.
This also indicates that the Iroquois were valued
allies. This was the time of the
lingering French and Indian War. Some of
their number were being successfully recruited by the French. The English needed
to limit the number. The Indians were in what the English considered to be their
territory. Should they turn enemies the war could easily prove far bloodier.
Perhaps lands disputed with the French could be lost.
This will be the first of several posts of instructive documents regarding the interview and related affairs. Details taken down directly by the British witnesses provide insights that general histories cannot.
Pennsylvania ss
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain
France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth.
To our Trusty and wellbeloved John Penn, Richard Peters,
Isaac
Norris, and Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia
Esquires Greeting.
Whereas the Honorable James DeLancey Esq. Our Lieut Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New-York has received our Directions to hold an Interview with our loving and good Allies the Six United Nations of Indians at the City of Albany within our said Province for delivering to them our Presents and for renewing the Covenant Chain with them, and has fixed upon the fourteenth day of June Ensuing for this purpose, and it has been usual when an Interview has been held with these Indians for all his Majesties Colonies whose Interest and Security is connected with and depends upon them to join in such Interview, and it appears to us that the present disposition of those Indians and the attempts that Have been made to withdraw them from our Interest do make such a General Interview more particularly Necessary at this time, when the Subjects of the French King have actually marched into, and Erected Forts, and committed Hostilities within the known limits of our Dominions.
Know Ye that reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, abilities and prudence We have thought fit to nominate and Appoint you the said John Penn, Richard Peters, Isaac Norris, and Benjamin Franklin and every of you our Commissioners on behalf of our Governor of our Province of Pensylvania aforesaid in Conjunction with our Lieut Governor of New York and with the Commissioners of the other Governments to Treat with the Six united Nations of Indians at Albany, or with their, or any, or every, of their Chiefs or Delegates, and with them to renew, ratify and Confirm the Leagues of amity subsisting between us and the said Nations of Indians and to make them the presents that have been provided for them by the Governor and Assembly of our said Province of Pensylvania, and further to do. Act and Transact, and finally to Conclude and Agree with the Indians aforesaid, all and every other matter and thing which to you shall appear necessary for the Engageing them heartily in our Interest and for frustrating any attempts which have been made to withdraw them from it,— As fully and amply to all intents Constructions and purposes, as our Governor of our province of Pensylvania aforesaid might or could do, being personally present, hereby ratifying confirming and holding for firm and Effectual whatsoever you the said John Penn, Richard Peters Isaac Norris and Benjamin Franklin, or any of you shall Lawfully do, in and about the Premises— In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Great Seal of our said Province to be hereunto Affixed.
Witness James Hamilton Esq.
(by Virtue of a Commission from Thomas Penn and Richard Penn
Esqrs true and absolute Proprietors of the said province and with our Royal
approbation) Lieut Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province aforesaid
and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware at philadelphia the
thirteenth day of May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and
fifty four and in the twenty Seventh of our Reign
A true Copy James Hamilton
Ex’d Richard Peters
Is. Norris
B. Franklin
Also from the Library of Babel:
- Mrs. Trollope observes Andrew Jackson. July 26, 2020. “This resolution was hardly acted upon when the news reached us that the General had arrived at Louisville, and was expected at Cincinnati in a few hours.”
- An Excerpt from Joseph Addison’s Spectator #94. July 4, 2020. “Joseph Addison and Richard Steele’s Tatler and Spectator papers were a brilliant addition to the daily sheet. They developed into prototypical society pages.”
- A Memoriam for W. S. Merwin. April 17, 2019. “It took about three days, as I recall, for me to surrender to the fact that W. S. Merwin was the finest English language poet of his time. I wished I’d been prepared to read him years ago.”
- Be sure to check out the Browser's Guide to the Library of Babel.
Also from Virtual Grub Street:
- The Fascinating Itinerary of the Gelosi Troupe, 1576. June 10, 2019. “The Spanish soldiers had not been paid and unpaid soldiers tend to rob and loot. The citizens were prepared to give them a fight. Violent flare ups were occurring everywhere.”
- A Thousand Years of English Terms. June 2, 2019. ‘One person did not say to another, “Meet you at three o’clock”. There was no clock to be o’. But the church bell rang the hour of Nones and you arranged to meet “upon the Nones bell”.’
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