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me much more Powerfully to assist you in recovering your Property in Rumney. If you consent to favor me VVith the loan of that sum, I sho (I prefer Bills of E\change if agreeable to you on Account of safe ConVey ance and as it is inconvenient for me to leave our aﬁairs here to make a Journey to Quebec this year I we (I send a lrusty Pe1 son to receive them and carry the Securities, or I VV‘o’d propose another method which is more agreable to me which is that one of your sons sho’d malce us a visit and inspect the State of your Atl'airs in this Country and bring the Bills and settle the Affair with me here. I she’d be very happy to see him here, as would his friends in Portsmouth. The Road is now so far improv‘d that he could come conveniently and the Bearer, Mr. Porter, will be a good Pilot.

My son, Jack, has been at Cambridge this year and I intend to continue him at that College or at Ilyartm outh some time longer and then put him to some Lawyer to study the Law I wish to know 3our Opinion whether Ouebec VV'o ’d be a good place for him . . . that Study and if a Plate (oulcl be had with some I ..'aV13'er of eminence there. He is in his eighteenth year and is not VV ant1n0 in Genius or Acquirements.

Please do 1V rite me what news 3011 get from home and whether Peace will continue I have little runs to write 3011 only that he Trade between Great Prittain and the States 15 exceedingly embarrassed b3 the Acts of Parliament 1egulating Irade and by the IIeavy Duties laid by the States on sundr3 articles imported f1om Brittain—& the I’tople uneasy I expect in little Time we shall haVe a considerable Tiade from ()uebec to save the I)ut3 as Vermont hath not laid a Dnt3 on goods imported that V1. ay. The Dut' 3 on Beaver Ilats is ﬁve shillings each your Currency and as l. ig1h on man3 other art ,les which VV'o d more than pay the Transportation from Britton to this Cot ntry. If a ()uantity of woods which pay the highest duties 1n our Ports were to be imported that way, they would bring a (onsiderable profit ev Ien to send them to Boston. I have tho’ ts of attempting some Trade that way another 3ear. But I mus t close my tedious Letter VVith Compliments to 3"oui Famil3 in which Mrs Porter joins me heartily, and am with the spinttrest friendship and wishes 1or your welfare,

Dr Sir your most obliged humble servant,

ASA PORTER. Major Samuel Holland.

It would be interesting to know if Major Holland advanced the loan to Porter, or if Holland’s son visited Porter at Haverhill.

I'Iaverhill, Cohass, 29 July, 1786. Dear Sir:

I have just returned from I'Iallifax where I had the Pleasure to hear that you and Family were well, but was much aflicted with the News of the Death of your Daughter.

(iovernor V\7entVV'ortli show me the State of your Claim. Governor Fanning also conversed with me on your AlIairs. I'le supposes 3ou will stand no Chance to recover any Thing for Losses in Vermont as there hath been no Conﬁscation in that State. I comlude your Claim will not be consideied till the Commissioners 111to Canada next y,ear V1. he 11 I may perhaps be able to render you some SerVice in that matter. If 3011 can furnish me VV 1th the Sum I proposed in 1113 letter, I can make 3our Interest secure in Vermont for altho' I cant rec031 er mat the Quantity of Lancl I expected, yet I can make that suﬁicie 1tly valuable by i11'1proveu'1ents to make your money secure, and I can give you suﬂ'icient Security. llave some Expectation of coming)r into Canada in September. If Gen. Carlton sho'd incline to settle the Country on Lake h’lemphramagog and the River St. Francis I sho'd wish to be concerned in it, if I could have proper Incourngement I could carry a great number of settlers from this Country. I wish for an Opportunity of con- versing with you on this and other matters which sho’d not chose to 1'01'1111‘1it to writing by this Conveyance which is uncertain. If you think it expedient Please to hint this Matter to Gen. Carlton.

I sho’d be happy to hear from you if you have Opportunity to write me, have rec’d no Letter from you since last Summer. Mrs. Porter and Family are well and join me in Respects and Compliments to you, Mrs. Holland and Family. I send this by two Indians belonging to St. Francis who are now waiting, must therefore conclude myself in hast, your Sincere Friend & most obliged Humble Servant

Samuel Holland, Esq. ASA PORTER

It is unfortunate that copies of the Major’s letters to Porter are not now available. There can be no doubt, however, that the Major’s lands in the

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