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FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR - JAMES DELANCEY, JR.
JAMES DELANCEY, JR. (1703-1760) Powerful New York politician who in his capacity Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor, essentially ran the colony from the 1730s to his death. Very fine content A.L.S. 1p. 8vo., New York, Mar. 27, 1759 to attorney general William Kempe concerning a threatened mutiny of mariners who had been pressed into service supplying Sir Jeffrey Amerhert's army preparing to march north to engage the French in Canada. Delancey writes, in most part "...I was yesterday at the Generals shown a letter from you to Captain Pettigrew threatning to sue him in behalf of some of his sailors, the General [Amherst?] has desired me to acquaint you, that his vessel is taken into his Majesty's Service as a transport, which may be obstructed if the Sailors should quit the vessel. Colonel Robertson has promised me that the men shall be paid their wages due as soon as the vessel goes into Hudsons River, and shall while in the transport service be allowed the same wages as other mariners shall have in it. His being reasonable, I do suppose the men will have no objection to it & there will be no further trouble on that account.". In March, 1759, there were frenetic preparations for what was thought to be the final campaign of the French and Indian War. Fresh from his capture of Louisbourg in 1758, the new commander-in-chief, Jeffrey Amherst, established headquarters in New York City and made plans for the 1759 campaign. He would personally lead an expedition north from Albany, aimed at Montreal, while Brig. General John Prideaux would move to strike Fort Niagara and General James Wolfe would ascend the St. Lawrence to strike the capital of Quebec. Most supplies for Amherst's and Prideaux's expeditions came through New York City; British officials either impressed or contracted for hundreds of whaleboats, scows and bateaux to bring men and supplies up the Hudson in the spring and summer of 1759. Acting Governor DeLancey supported British aims, and moved quickly to quell a potential mutiny or lawsuit of British sailors who had not signed up for a stevedore's duty. Though the circumstances were unusual, DeLancey assured Kempe, who had inclined to support the sailors, that they would be paid the same as other mariners involved "in the transport service". It is very likely that the "General" DeLancey refers to is Jeffrey Amherst , and that Amherst wanted Kempe to remove all obstacles to the efficient mobilization for the critical 1759 campaigns. Lightly toned at margins, usual folds, else very good to fine condition.

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January 20, 2010 10:00 AM EST
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