Name Prefix:<NPFX> Reverend
http://VIRTUALNORFOLK,UEA.AC.UK
DOCUMENT: LETTEROF PHILIP READING TO JAMES READING DESCRIBIN
G THE IMPACT OF THE SEVEN YEARS'WAR
AUTHOR PHILIP READING
Title Leathes CorresPondence
Unpublished manuscript
Date 1 January 1759
Details: Bolingroke Manuscripts.
Archive NRO BOL 1/1/6, 739 x 6
Contributor:- Dr. Andrew Hopper, 2000
Comments: This letter includes descriptions of Reading's settle
ment in Pennsylvania and the campaigns ofGenerals Jeffrey Amher
st and James Wolfe against the French in North America. He als
o provided details of relations with the Indians and the massacr
eof Major-General Edward Braddock's column near Fort Duquesne o
n 9 July 1755.
"The Reverend Mr. James Reading at Woodstock, near Oxford
Apoquiniminck. Jan1 1759
Dear Brother,
Your affectionate letter of May 1758 came safe to hand,but/no
t till the middle of last month: which delay was occasioned by t
he negligence of those/concerned in the Post-Office, who frequen
tly keep letters along time in their possession, without/so muc
h as giving the least notice.
About two months before the receipt of yours I had the favour o
f one/from oursister Nelson, giving an account of her marriag
e and situation at Eriswell.This/gave me particular satisfact
ion, as it assured me of her being perfectly contented in the/ma
rried state. Our brother Thomas is as much a strangerto me a
s your letter say he/is to yourself. I have heard from him abou
t thrice since I resided in America: tho'/he has been so kind a
s to send me a perriwig with each epistle in token of his/affect
ionate remembrance.
It is nowalmost eleven years since I was married to the young/w
idow of a french traderin these parts: herself of Dutch parenta
ge, and a native of/the province ofMaryland. The surviving iss
ue of this marriage are one son and two/daughters. Our son Phil
ip is now a stout boy, and begins to be very fond of his book
. The elder of the Girls is named Catherine-Anne after her Aun
t Nelson, andthe younger/Hester after her Mother.
What you write of modern Oxonians does not at all surprize me
. Pleasure will always have its votaries, where the means of gr
atification are easily procured/and youth and health contribut
e togive it the highest relish. About 15 months since I/hear
d that Metcalfe, whom you must remember at University in our tim
e, was in Virginia/in most miserable circumstances; having trans
ported himself a servant to that colony, had been/redeemed by th
e professors of the College at Williamsburgh, and was become s
o addicted to/strong liquor, that it was thought he would neve
r be ableto get employment.
Affairs on our side the Atlantick begin to take a more favourabl
e/turn than formerly. The Generals Amherst and Wolfe have entir
ely reduced Cape-Breton, and General Forbes with great bravery a
nd good conudct inNovember last drove the /French from Dort d
u Quesne. This last place was erected under the care of that of
ficer/who commanded the Fondroyant, when takenby Admiral Osborn
; the building of it/gave rise to those disputes, which brough
t on the present war. It is most advantageously/istuated on th
e banks ofthe Ohio, and keeps open the communication by water b
etween the/Northern andsouthern possessions of the french on th
is continent-The Campaign in 1755/ (the first in these parts) op
ened with an expedition against this fort, and itproved a most/
unfortuante on tot he Colonies. Upon Mr. Braddock's arrival,wh
o commanded in that.
(page break)
service, our Indians were made to believe that one English Soldi
er was a match for /about 10 Frenchmen, and that thereduction o
f the place in dispute would be a matter of/little difficulty
.I conjecture the General has such an opinion of the french hu
manity and/politeness, that he did not imagine they would engag
e him after any other manner,than the/European method of war
. Hin this he
