Note 1227 — Chapter VIII · (continued 2)

Beauharnois’ despatches about Oswego begin in 1728 (N. Y. Col. Docs., ix. 1,010). That same year Walpole addressed a paper on the two posts to the French government, and with it is found in the French archives a plan of Oswego, “fait à Montreal 17 Juillet, 1727, signé De Lery.” The correspondence of Gov. Burnet and Beauharnois is in Ibid., ix. p. 999. The plan just named is also in the Doc. Hist. N. Y., vol. i., in connection with papers respecting the founding of the post. Smith (New York, 1814, p. 273) holds that the French purpose to demolish the works at Oswego in 1729 caused a reinforcement of the garrison, which deterred them from the attempt. Smith says of the original fort there that its situation had little regard to anything beside the pleasantness of the prospect. Burnet, the New York governor, exerted himself to destroy the trade between Albany and Montreal, and the report of a committee which he transmitted to the home government is printed in Smith’s New York (Albany, 1814 ed., p. 246); but in 1729 the machinations of those interested in the trade procured the repeal of the restraining act. (Ibid., 274; cf. Smith, vol. ii. (1830) p. 97.) At a late day (1741) there is an abstract of despatches to the French minister respecting Oswego in the Penna. Archives (2d ser., vi. 51), and a paper on the state of the French and English on Ontario in 1743 is in N. Y. Col. Docs., vi. 227.