20^th Aug^st 1753 transmitted by Cap^t Fannin.
S^r
I arrived here the 10^th Instant & was sworn into my office
the same Afternoon at which time I took occasion in a short
speech to acquaint the Gentlemen of the Council, how well
satisfied His Lordship had expressed himself with the Steadi-
ness they had shewn in supporting his Rights & Priviledges, the
Honour & Dignity of the Government; and that I had His
Lordships commands to assure them of the due sense His
Lordship had of their great Qualifications and Merit, & re-
peated the same to them again severally as they occasionally
waited on me. His Lordship being so near a conclusive deter-
mination in regard to the Boundarys of Pensilvania I thought it
my Duty to summon a general Council which I did the 15
Inst^t to consider of the 74 Article of my private Instructions.
To wit, How far the Circle round Newcastle will affect the
Head of Cheseapeak Bay; As the Pensilvanians will not per-
mit any person to take observations thereof, tis impossible to
say certainly, but it is hoped that it will not affect the River
Heads. It is a Country abounding with Hills, therefore super-
ficial measurement will be for his Lordships Advantage. That
part of the Peninsula where a West line has been run from Cape
Hinlopen (or for Distinction sake Cape Cornelius) is a flat
Country therefore the way of Measuring that is no further ma-
terial than that if you allow Horizontal measurement there
Mess^rs Penns may give it as a reason for measuring above
after the same manner. It is to be observed that the Tempo-
rary Line is drawn 15 Miles south of the most southern part of
Philadelphia, which takes away from his Lordship much good
Land; It would be a great Advantage & it is much to be
wished you could continue the Line due North (after it has
touched the Circle) to the 40^o 00" at least to 39 56.
A Line due West in that Latitude will run a little North of
one of the Bendings of the river Potowmack, much depends
thereon in respect to the Boundarys with Lord Fairfax for by
what I have yet seen I doubt that Branch which runs about
S^o West by the Allegany Mountains will be deemed the Foun-