Stafford Court House Febry, 24th: 1768
I have your Favour of the 19th. Inst. Express, & am obliged to you for the Pamphlets you was so kind to send me, which I have not yet had time to peruse. Your's of the 10th Inst. inclosing a Letter from his Honour the Governor to which you refer, is not come to Hand. To my great Mortification we are disappointed in the Compy's. Intended Meeting, not a Member but Mr. Mercer Colo. Richd. Lee & myself attending; so that we are unable to proceed upon any Business. I presume when his Majesty's Instructions arrive, his Honour the Governour will favour us with proper Information; or will let us know the purport of those already received, when they shall have them communicated to the Council; tho' it does not appear from the Papers we have received from England that the Matter is referred to the Council, but to the Governour only.
Most of the Interrogatories you mention may be easily answered. Our Petitions to his Majesty & applicatons to the Board of Trade as well as our own Books & Proceedings, & above every thing else, the Sums of Money actually advanced in the Prosecution of the Scheme, will shew who were the first advisers & Establisher of the Ohio Company; not one Man except the present Members, & those of whom they purchased & under whom they claim, having ever advanced a single shilling; except two or three Gentlemen who were at first concerned, & upon refusing to continue in the Company, or be any longer concerned, were repaid what they had advanced.
The Company had not only an Agent at the Treaty of Logg's Town, but actually ingaged Andrew Montour, the famous Indian Interpreter, (who was himself one of the Onandagoe Council & a Chief of the Six Nations) by a considerable Present to prevail on the Indians to make the Cession they did; which was to have been made