264 



June 1749. 



and readinefs to ferve and to oblige ; but 

 their number fell far fhort of that of the 

 former. If I may be allowed to declare 

 my conjectures, the origin of the inhabi- 

 tants of Albany and its neighbourhood leems 

 to me to be as follows. Whilft the Dutch 

 pofTeffed this country, and intended to peo- 

 ple it, the government took up a pack of 

 vagabonds, of which they intended to clear 

 the country, and fent them along with a 

 number of other fettlers to this province. 

 The vagabonds were fent far from the other 

 colonifts, upon the borders towards the 

 Indians and other enemies, and a few honed 

 families were perfuaded to go with them, 

 in order to keep them in bounds. I can- 

 not any other way account for the difference 

 between the inhabitants of Albany, and the 

 other defcendants of fo refpe&able a nation 

 as the Dtutch, who are fettled in the lower 

 part of New York province. The latter are 

 civil, obliging, juft in the prices, and 

 fincere ; and though they are not ceremo- 

 nious, yet they are well meaning and honeft, 

 and their promifes are to be relied on. 



The behaviour of the inhabitants of Al- 

 bany, during the war between England and 

 France, which was ended with the peace 

 pf Aix la Chapelle, has, among feveral 

 other caufes, contributed to make them 



the 



