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tract of the Federal lands-about 6 or 7 millions of acres; and we wanted to abolish the old system, and get a better one for the Government of the country-and we finally found it necessary to adopt the best system we could get. All agreed, finally, to the inclosed, except A. Yates. He appeared in this case, as in most others, not to understand the subject at all. I think the number of free inhabitants, 60,000, which are requisite for the admission of a new State into the Confederacy, is too small; but, having divided the whole territory into three States, this number appeared to me to be less important. Each State, in the common course of things, must become important soon after it shall have that number of inhabitants. The Eastern State of the three will probably be the first, and more important than the rest, and will, no doubt, be settled chiefly by Eastern people; and there is, I think, full an equal chance of its adopting Eastern politics. When I drew the Ordinance, which passed (a few words excepted) as I originally formed it, I had no idea the States would agree to the sixth art. prohibiting slavery, as only Massa. of the Eastern States was present, and therefore omitted it in the draft; but, finding the House favorably disposed on this subject, after we had completed the other parts, I moved the art., which was agreed to without opposition. We are in a fair way to fix the terms of our Ohio sale, etc.; we have been upon it steadily three days. The magnitude of the purchase makes us very cautious about the terms of it, and the security necessary to insure the performance of them.

We have directed the Board to inquire into and report on Hother's affairs, etc.

Massa. Legisa. was prorogued the 7th inst., having continued the Tender Act, as it is called, to Jan. 1, 1788, and having passed no other Act of importance, except what, I presume, you have seen, respecting the raising of troops, and the powers of the Governor to pursue the rebels, etc.

You ask me how I like my new colleagues. Sedgwick, you know, we all esteem, but I fear he will not make his attendance an object. Thatcher I am quite unacquainted with. I do not know whether Mr. Otis, at his period of life, and under

his misfortune, will enter with vigor into Federal politics. I wish his accounts with the Union had been settled, etc. Nothing occurs worth particular notice. Your affecta. friend,

HON. RUFUS KING, ESQ.

N. DANE.

P. S. States present: Massa., N. Y., N. J., Delaware, Virga., N. Cara., So. Carolina, and Georgia. Brother Holton is rather an invalid, is not well able to take an active part in business, but I think supports pretty good eastern politics.

CHAPTER IX.

LETTERS DIARY OF 1788-LETTER FROM GENERAL PARSONS TO DR. JOURNEY TO THE MUSKINGUM-REV. DANIEL STORY-LET

CUTLER

TERS.

[Dr. Cutler to General Putnam, Rutland.]

IPSWICH, December 3, 1787.

Dear Sir:-There are two men gone from us into the Western Country, Ebenezer Porter and Nathaniel Sawyer, who have subscribed each for one share in our Company. Porter has paid his silver money part, and has made provision for the payment of the securities here. Sawyer has not yet paid any part; but both of them wished, if they found it in their power, to turn in provisions, or such other articles as might be wanted by our Company in that Country, in payment toward their shares. I suppose they are either at Hannah's Town or Well's Mills, and will make application to you as soon as they are informed of your being in the country. I wish they may be permitted to do whatever may lie in their power toward making payment in that country consistent with the interests of the Company. They will make, I presume, good inhabitants; and the service they have rendered to our cause, by going early into the country, returning, and removing their families, entitles them to as much attention and lenity as can be consistently given them.

When you go to New York I beg you will not fail of mentioning to Colonel Platt the establishment of a channel for conveying letters backward and forward from that country to this. It will greatly oblige the people going into the country, and their friends here. And should their accounts of the country be favorable, it will facilitate the collection of the remainder of the money, and the obtaining of settlers. The mode I should suppose best, would be to engage some one person in Philadelphia, who would be careful to forward the packets to Colonel Platt, as early as may be, free of postage.

Colonel Platt to put them on board the Providence Packets addressed to the care of Major Corliss, in Providence; Major Corliss to forward them to Boston, to the care of Colonel May,* or some person toward the South-end-perhaps to Barrill's, near the Common, where the western stages, and some of the eastern, put up. Opportunities to send from New York to Providence are frequent. Letters may be sent from Providence nearly every day in the week; and, if properly lodged in Boston, may be sent immediately eastward or westward. And with the same ease they may be sent to the Ohio Company. I should think it most eligible that the letters, in general, should not be sent single, but in packets, and somewhat periodically; say, a packet to be closed with you on a certain day, once in a fortnight, or once a month, and then embrace the first opportunity for forwarding it to Philadelphia. In Boston a packet may be made up and forwarded in the same

manner.

It may possibly be necessary to establish one of this kind of Post Offices at Fort Pitt. If we can engage persons in these several places, who are interested in our Company, they will probably pay greater attention to the matter, and we shall avail ourselves of a ready mode of conveyance free of expense. Should you approve of this plan, and will make the establishment at the southward, I will take care to engage Major Corliss, and some person in Boston. Should you forward letters from that country before you hear further from this quarter, let them be inclosed, if you please, to Colonel May,

*Colonel John May was born in Pomfret, Conn., 1743. He came to Boston when but a lad, and served an apprenticeship with his uncle, Colonel Ephraim May. In 1773 he married Abigail May, his cousin. In 1778 he was commissioned Captain in "the Boston Regiment of Militia," and was promoted through the different grades to Colonel. As Major of the regiment, he was in service in Rhode Island during the Revolution, and won the commendation of his superiors. He took an active interest in the Ohio Company as an Agent, and procured a number of subscibers to its shares. He came to Ohio in 1788, and again in 1789. His journal of these visits (with a biographical sketch, where the facts here given were obtained) was published by the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio in 1873. Colonel May died in Bos ton, in 1812.

or to any other person in Boston you may think proper. proper. Our letters will be addressed to you, and when the matter is settled in Boston we will inform you.

Saying so much about conveying letters reminds me of the necessity of a name for the place where you will reside. I doubt not you will early inquire the meaning of Muskingum, or you may meet with some other name that will be agreeable. At present, I must confess I feel a partiality for the name proposed at Boston, and think it preferable to any that has yet been mentioned. I think that Adelphia will, upon the whole, be the most eligible. It strictly means brethren, and I wish it may ever be characteristic of the Ohio Company.

Shares in our Company are now in higher demand this way than at any time before. I have disposed of all assigned to me. Some few will fail, but there are others ready to take them. I have taken up Major White's, and have delivered him one hundred and ten dollars more in silver, which he has receipted to me as received on the account of the Ohio Company, and promised to deliver the same to you. I hope to obtain more silver money before you go to the westward, and shall, if possible, forward it to you; if not, shall embrace the first opportunity to send it to Colonel Platt. The matter of fixing a regular mode for the passing of letters appears to me of so much importance, that I wish to be favored with a line from you on the subject, if you have time, before you go into the country.

Wishing you an agreeable tour, and success in your business, I am, dear sir,

Your most affectionate friend and humble serv't,

M. CUTLER. My son is gone on in the Company, and I beg you will be so kind as to pay some attention to him, and give him such counsel and advice as you would your own. I feel a satisfaction in the reflection that he is under your care.

[General Putnam to Dr. Cutler.]

ADELPHIA, May 16, 1788. My Dear Sir:-Your favor of the 20th of February came to hand a few days since, and I find by its contents that Mr. Plummer has alarmed the people with respect to the Indians

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