Early New York Paper Currency, 49 



absolutely useless, and without effect, for we are fully 

 persuaded that no man in the province will be willing to 

 accept that for money which he knows that another may 

 refuse to receive as money from him, and if a law even 

 under this restriction must have its execution suspended 

 till his majesty's pleasure can be known, this his majesty's 

 loyal colony may fall a prey to some ambitious, avaricious 

 enemy before any return can be made." In answer to 

 which objections the governor recommended the legisla- 

 ture to pass a law with the suspending clause, "the bills 

 to be declared not a legal tender for debts contracted in 

 Great Britain." The house refused to adopt his sugges- 

 tion, and an adjournment was made. In the meantime 

 advices were received from England, a proclamation for 

 reassembling was issued, and soon after hearing and con- 

 sidering the governor's speech a bill was introduced and 

 subsequently passed, 1 raising by tax £45,000, issuing for 

 immediate use bills of credit for the like amount. They 

 were put on the same footing as other bills of the 

 province, and their currency continued until November, 

 1761. 



The disastrous campaign of 1755-56 now opened. As 

 a preliminary, Forts Beausijour and Gaspareau in Nova 

 Scotia, were taken by some eastern troops, thus subduing 

 the French in that province, but a succession of defeats 

 followed, which more firmly established the French domi- 

 nation in America. The expedition against Fort du 

 Quesne was a failure. Fort Edward was lost, as were 

 Forts Granby and "William Henry. Forts George and 

 Oswego were taken aad demolished. The only defeat of 

 the opposing forces was that at Lake George. The plan 

 for connecting the northern and southern possessions by a 

 line of forts succeeded, and the French now held undis- 

 turbed possession of all the country west of the Alleghany 

 mountains. 

 'Feb. 19, 1755. 



[Trans. v.~\ 7 



