George Yonge letter to his agent in America concerning his land grant in New York(1784 May 5)
- MS 2008.15
- 1 item
George Yonge represented Honiton in Parliament from 1754 to 1794 and served as secretary of state for war at the time of the writing of this letter. The letter is written to his agent in America concerning his land grant in New York near Lake Champlain. Yonge’s grant was made before the war and he wants his agent to help him secure the grant and aid in securing settlers for the land. Yonge informs his agent that the English are ready to trade with the Americans “as soon as your Government is a little settled.”
Yonge informs his agent of the confusion involved in trading with America: “We must likewise know, if possible, with what Powers, or authorities we are to treat or settle any commercial, or mercantile matters—whether with each particular State, or with Congress. Whether if there is to be a general Treaty with Congress of a commercial Nature, there is to be a Particular one with each State as far as may consist with the General one.”
Yonge goes on to discuss the political situation in England. At the end of Yonge’s letter is the draft of a letter from his agent to the one person currently settled on the New York grant.
Transcript
Page 1
Charles Street May 5. 1784
Sir,
I sent you, in a large Packet,
by the last months mail, a map of the
Province of New York, and a Draft of
that Part of It which relates to my Grant
of Lands on Lake Champlain, together
with Copies of all the Papers relating
thereto, which I hope you will have
receiv’d safe before this comes to Land.
and all of which I must desire you will
take Particular Care of. You will perceive
that my Grant was before the troubles, and
That it was regularly attested, surveyed, mapped,
measured, mark’d with my name, amounting
17,140 acres. In short it is the Peninsula, or
Lead Land, at the Top of Lake Champlain
extending as far as the Boundary of the
Province in 45.0 North Latitude, and Its
Situation very Commodious, being just in the
way for all Communication towards all
the Northern Parts, Montreal & Canada.
The Boundary was mark’d at the extremities
by the Initial Letters of my Name, on great
Polls, or Trees Viz. G.Y. Whether they now
remain or not, I cannot say. I must further
observe that on one Part of It, there was a
House, & small Settlement, next the Lake,
occupied by one John Thomas, who I
understand kept a kind of House of Enter-
-tainment for Passengers going towards
Canada. I have seen several Persons in
Page 2
England, who have seen him, & know Him
and remember him there very well.
I by no means wish to disturb Mr. John
Thomas, being for ought I know, the
only Subject I have; I only hope He
will acknowledge himself as such, and
wish you to settle the Terms of his
allegiance to me, on the footing of the
mildest government possible. Indeed
I shall wish to be inform’d on what terms
settlers may be invited to come to my
Dominions as soon as possible after
my Title is secured; wch. I hope you
will take Care to get done immediately.
I understand It is expected that the
mode of swearing allegiance will be
for my agent at New York to take
the oaths for my Lands & Grants in
that Province, by wch. both Lands and
Grants will be bound. wch. I presume
is all that is required. So much for my
Dominions in New York, concerning wch.
I hope to hear from you very fully, both
in answer to this and to my last, and also
in respect to every other Particular concerning
them. I hope likewise to hear from you
concerning my Friends at Honiton trading
with you, and that you will be so good as to
Point out the Last Houses to trade with,
tho’ they are pretty well known here, so
that they may be well introduced to them
in Case they send any Goods there. You
see we are willing & ready to trade with
you, as soon as your Government is a little
Page 3
settled, so that we know with whom we are to deal
and how we are to be treated. That is as soon as
the Turbulent Spirits wch. got uppermost during the
[commotion?], and who might be disposed to Continue
It are found to give way to men of Property
weight, & Character. We must likewise
know, if possible, with what Powers, or
authorities we are to treat or settle any
commercial, or mercantile matters—whether
with each particular State, or with Congress.
Whether if there is to be a general Treaty
with Congress of a commercial nature, there is
also to be a Particular one with each State
as far as may consist with the General one.
Whether It may not be necessary to send
Consuls, or Factors, on Behalf of the [Nation?]
or of the merchants to each State to settle
all mercantile matters. In short What your
Ideas of Commerce are in your New World.
This you may be assured of, our Disposition is
Friendly. We only wait to see what manner of
Spirit is in you, relative to good Faith and
[certainty of Rounding?], and the Path will then
soon be open likewise us. as to our Politick
here Mr Pitt seems to be at last firmly established
by the measure of calling a new Parliament
the King havg. called a new Parliament in the
way of appeal to the People. They have in general
[reformist?] members [formable?] to Mr. Pitt. to that
degree, that the [Cascades has as united?] out of the
City & out of the County of York, and the Coalition
Party as it is called wch. consisted of the Friends
of Ld. North joined to those who followed Mr. [Fon?]
in his [position?] with him as King out almost
every where. We meet the 18th. and It is expected
Mr Pitt will have 150 majority. so that we
hope Business will at last go on smoothly. I
have now only to add that you must not direct
to me and [contrary at war?]. For then your Letter
will go to my Office and be open’d. You must
direct to me as member of Parliament and
address it to me, in Charles Street Berkeley House
Page 4
[G?] desires her Compy. & is much obliged by
your Remembrance. The Duke of Manchester
is in the Country. He and the Duchess, & Lady
Caroline and all Friends are well. The Log
Book is married to Col. Simcoe and settled
near Honiton, under the Flag of the Old
Admiral, who on your account is become
my mortal Enemy, on all [biearies?]. but
thank God He can do me no more Harm
than He can you. I am Sr. Yr. Geo. Yonge.
Mr. John Thomas N York Augt 5 1784
Sir being be appointed my Agent is Sir G: Y, on whose
Land, I find you are setled on Situated on a Neck of Land in Lake
Champlain, known by the Name of Point au fer, by the French &
by S. G. Yonge Pattent by the late Surveys of this State & Grant given
by the Govr. & Councill & Recorded in the Secr: Office to that Govr.
I beg you will inform me, on what part of the neck you
are setled, on, what Quantity of Land you have tilled [Changed?] &
[Farmed?], & wether there are any more People setled thereon
I propose being with you the latter end of Sept. but should
Business detain me at N York, I desire you will let me
[have?] what you are willing to pay me yearly for the
Ground you Now Occupy or for any Quantity you wish to hold
on Lease under 500 [Acer?]. should there be other Tenants, by you well desire them
Also to let me know their Offers & what Quantity of Land
they would wish to hold what cleared & fenced or wether you [Only use?] to purchase
& what Quantity & at what Prices, your Immediate Answer will
Oblige [by Your informed heall Christian deried?] to me at 14 Sittle Tiller Rd?]