£64 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 arid its neighbourhood feems 

 to me to be as follows. Whilft. the Dutch 

 poilefTed 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 

 colonifls, 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 refpeclable a nation 

 as the Dutch, 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 AU 

 bany, during the war between England and 

 France, which was ended with the peace 

 of Aix la Chap die,- has, among feveral 

 other caufes, contributed to make them 



the 



