Albany April the 28^th 1756.
Sir
I have just now received your Excellencys Letter of the 6^th
for which I return you my most hearty thanks, I shall do
every thing in my power to obey your Commands in serving
M^r Makay but my Interest and Influence with our Commanding
Gen^l diminishes daily; in so much that I am the only person
in the Army who has nothing to do. I have requested of His
Excellency (seeing he has no use for me) to order me home,
but that cannot be granted.
I assure you that no trouble or pains shou'd be wanting to
give you an account of our situation: All I can say that our
Affairs to me have an Evil Aspect, and in place of anoying the
Enemy, I wish we may be able to hinder them from anoying us.
It is impossible for me to relate facts to you as they are differ-
ently reported from the same people, so that what I see I can
write but nothing else. I am not even able to tell you the
strength of the two American Regiments nor to guess at thier
numbers within one thousand. The 2 British Battallions want
about 400 of which they may receive 100 in Recruits in a few
Days. The Independent Companys have got about halfway up
to their Establishment. As to our taking the field that must
intirely depend on the Military Knowledge and activity of
Lieu^t Colonel Bradstreet, he has got the direction of the
whole, by a Special Commission and ample Instructions.
I wish he may not lead us astray he and Gen^l Shirley I sup-
pose understand one another, I understand neither.
A Detach^t of 70 Men march to morrow from hence to fort
William Henry, the Garrison of that fort and fort Edward are
in great distress, but when they are relieved they may give it
out that their Distress was not real.
I give you Joy with all my heart of your Command, you
have it in your power of gaining more Honour by defending
your Province, than the ablest General can have in our parts, in
acting against the Common Enemy. I am not able to comply
with your Request with regard to M^cKellar I shall write to him
about it, he is gone towards Oswego but I have not heard of
him since the latter End of last Month.
M^cClean the Commissary of Fort Cumberland who arrived
here two Days ago tells me that he delivered over to Com^y
Walker 12 Dozⁿ of Wine & 4 Casks of Rum of Col^o Innes.
As all that Rum & wine was originaly yours I know no one
has a better right to it than you have I cannot say that it all
belongs to me, but I may venture to make you sure you will be
welcome to it tho' part of it may belong to Iames Innes