alarming letters, endeavouring to arouse all the Colonies by pointing out that their present suffering was the common cause of America; some of the warm partisans in this city immediately got together, and were for entering into resolves as pointed out from Boston, that we should neither export nor import any commodities to or from Great Brittain or the West Indies; this or any other measure was sett aside for that time, and a more general meeting was appointed two evenings after, when about 250 or 300 respectable citizens attended, and after communicating the letters and papers rec from Boston and N York two persons very strenuously insisted that the city should enter into the proposals of nonexportation and nonimportation, and that we should aid and support the Bostonians in every respect, as they were now suffering in the American common cause. Several persons who had never before met at any of their meetings thought it quite time to interpose, and not suffer those warm and violent men to carry measures as they pleased, attended that evening, among whom I was one, and we entered the lists and opposed their measures with so much resolution and firmness, that every step which appeared to have a tendency to inflame was entirely set aside; and only two resolves entered into; the first was, that a committee should be appointed to answer the Boston letter, -the second, that the same committee should wait on the Govornor and request him to call the Assembly that they might unite with the other Assemblies in a decent but firm application to the Crown, for redress of our complaints, thus after the warmest and greatest expectation by particulars, we were capable of quickly (for the present) putting aside any rash resolutions, and we very sincerely hope, that Govornor Gage will be enabled to accommodate matters with that people, and that harmony may again be restored between you and us. It does not remain as any doubt with me, that they will tender the money for the tea; and its now sincerely wished that the advice T. and I. W. gave to our committee, of landing and storing the tea had been VOL. XXXIII.-22

adopted. I have enclosed the copy of our committee's letter to the committee of Boston in answer to theirs by the express. The New Yorkers have appointed a committee consisting of 50 very respectable men, to attend to this important affair, being determined to support their rights, and at the same time not to suffer a few rash men to involve their Colony in difficulties, we shall shortly know the sentiments of the Virginians, as their Assembly is sitting, they are certainly a sensible and wealthy people, and the part they shall take in this affair will have great influence on their sister colonies. The committee appointed by the New Jersey Assembly are to meet this day at Brunswick to take the matter into their deliberation; and it does appear to me that a Congress of the Committees from all the Assemblies on this extensive continent will now take place; I believe you'l find that some constitutional plan must and will be attended to, and altho' the fears of some with you may for a time obstruct it, yet I do give it as my sentiments, that nothing I know of can take place which will so long continue you and us as one people, as the establishing an Upper House to consist of deputies for every Assembly to act in Legislation with a Lord Lieutenant.

We cannot get to the bottom of the report, relative to the killing of those Indians on the Ohio, near the Great Kenhawa, but it does appear to us from every circumstance we can collect that Michael Cressup was in that quarter locating a large quantity of lands to be confirmed to him either by the Government of Vandalia or Virginia, and that some altercation happened between his company and some Indians, that he have acted in a manner unwarrantable both to the laws of nature and natives. I wish that this step is taken to hinder the settlement of that Colony, but surely it must have a contrary effect with our King and his ministers, as it cannot be supposed they will suffer their subjects to kill and destroy those Indians, whom we are in friendship with, and this certainly will be the circumstance so long as that extensive frontier is without

the jurisdiction of any Colony, which surely it at present is, as no laws made in Virginia is of any effect there.

An account has just reached us that the Charter of Boston is taken away by Act of Parliament, but we as yet know not how matters will settle.

If my Bro: is with you be pleased to inform him his family and connections are well, & that I beg his excuse for not writing at this time being extremely engaged. I remain with the sincerest regard and esteem thy

obliged friend

THOMAS WHARTON.

TO THOS WALPOLE Esq.

(To be continued.)

WILLIAM PARSONS.

SURVEYOR GENERAL, AND FOUNDER OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BY JOHN W. JORDAN.

In the Manuscript Department of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is preserved a letter from Thomas Penn to Governor Hamilton, dated September 8, 1751, in which he states: "Sometime since, I wrote to Dr Graeme and Mr. Peters to lay out some ground in the Forks of the Delaware for a town, which I suppose they have done, or begun to do 80. I desire it may be called Easton, from my Lord Pomfret's house, and whenever there is a new county, that shall be called Northampton." William Parsons was selected to lay out the projected town, on the wedge of land between the Lehigh River, Bushkill Creek, and Delaware River, and on May 9, 1750, Surveyor General Nicholas Scull joined him on the site, and with a corps of assistants the survey was soon completed. The county of Northampton was erected under Act of Assembly approved March 11, 1752.

William Parsons was born in England, May 6, 1701, where he learned the trade of shoemaking, and before attaining his majority, came to Pennsylvania. While carrying on his trade in Philadelphia, he devoted all his spare time to study, so that in the course of time, he became acquainted with persons of education, and gained the reputation of "a man having a profound knowledge of mathematics." He became a member of the famous "Junto," the club formed by Franklin, soon after his return from England in 1726, to discuss ethics, politics, and natural philosophy. Franklin mentions Parsons as a Geographer, in a letter of April, 1744. From 1734-1746 he served as librarian of the City Library.

On August 21, 1741, Parsons was appointed Surveyor General of the Province, to succeed Benjamin Eastburn, a

position which called his peculiar qualifications into exercise, but the physical hardships connected with it caused him to present his resignation to the Provincial Council, which was accepted June 10, 1748, and Nicholas Scull was appointed in his place. He then became a resident of Lancaster, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace, April 22, 1749, and also filled the offices of Prothonotary, Register, and Recorder, and continued to survey at intervals.

After the erection of Northampton County out of the upper part of Bucks County, Parsons wrote to Secretary Peters, in December of 1752, that he had removed with part of his family, servants, and household effects, and established themselves at the "Point of the Forks"; and here the most eventful years of his life were passed. The first County Court was held at Easton, June 16, 1752, and the first County election for Assemblyman, Sheriff, and three County Commissioners, October 1, of the same year. Parsons served three terms as Justice of the Peace between 1752 and 1757; one term as an Assemblyman, 1753; and filled the offices of Prothonotary, Clerk of the Court, Recorder, and Clerk of the Commissioners. He also acted as the agent of the Proprietaries, looking after their interests, and promoting the sale and settlement of lands. Through his personal efforts, the first building for school and worship was erected by subscription. Parsons contributed £5 and was a Trustee.

During the Indian troubles, Parsons was appointed Major in the Provincial service, in 1755, and the following year assigned to the First Batallion, commanded by Lieut. Col. Conrad Weiser. On December 29, 1755, he was appointed Major in command of all the troops raised in Northampton County, and for a time supervised the defences of that region. At all the Conferences held at Easton prior to 1758, between the Provincial authorities and the Indians, Major Parsons attended in his military capacity, and Governors Morris and Denny were his guests, the last named, however, found that the Major was at the seashore for the benefit of