Philid^a Ian^ry 29^th 1756.
Sir.
I last night returnd from Visiting the frontiers of this
Province in which I have been employd above a month and
Expect in about ten days a chain of forts will be compleated
from Delaware to the New Road made towards the Alleghany
Hills which will be Garrisond by about eight Hundred men.
On the West side of Susquahana the forts are already erected
one at a River Calld Matchitango about twelve miles from
the Sasquahana which I have calld Pomfret castle another near
Juniata where Kishignokilis falls into it, calld fort Granville a
third at Auchwick call'd fort Shirley, and a fourth at the Sugar
Cabins upon the New Road Calld fort Lytellton at each of
these I have placed a Garrison of Seventy five men & orderd
them to range the Woods each way. Fort Lytellton I am told
is within about sixteen mile of a fort you have erected and I
have directed the Party there to range towards that fort, to give
them notice of the Approach of any enemy, and to afford them
all the Assistance in their power.
A Messenger employd upon some private business to your
town gives me an opportunity of Writing you, but allows only
time to mention an unhappy affair that happend at Halifax
between the Col^s Monckton and Winslow who it seems had
some dispute while they were upon Service together but sup-
pressd their resentment till they came to Halifax when meeting
either by Accident or appointment they engaged and are both
wounded in such a manner as to leave little hopes of the
recovery of either of them, this Acc^t was sent to Gen^l Shirley
by Express and is therefore to be depended on. I last night
receivd the Kings speech in a New York paper which I send
you inclosd by which & by M^r Foxes being made Secretary of
State it seems to me a War with france is near at hand
I am Sir Your most obed^t
Humble Serv^t
Rob^t H. Morris.