I believe there will be great difficulties in a Treaty between us and the French about settling the bounderies of our English Collonies upon the Continent of North America and those of the French particularly the Province of Carolana of which they seem very fond having already made some settlements and are preparing to make more & greater But I aprehend I have found an Expedient beyond all just exceptions which I hope may prove satisfactory unto both parties The River Mis-chacebe by them stiled Messisipy runs through the middle of this Province and the land on the west side rather larger then that on the east and it hath been very long generally believed that the western side abounds most
with gold and silver bordering upon those belonging to Mexico in which are the richest mines belonging to the Spaniards in North America My Proposal is that we should abandon above half the Province totally and finally to the French which is on the west side of the great river and retain unto ourself all that on the east side all the rivers whereof proceed from our Collonies of Carolina, Virginia Maryland Pensylvania and New York And that all the Land on the east side of the river to the river of the Illinoneeks by them called the river of the Illinois unto the head thereof & five or six leagues farther unto the Lake of the Illinois and thence South to the North Border of Carolana may be adjudged to belong unto the English it being purchas'd of the Indians and much more in the begining of King James the second his reign by Governor Dungun after Earl of Lymerick which is recorded in the Plantation Office and that the navigation of the river of the Illonois should be free to the English into & from the great river & from thence down the river unto the sea And because it may be supposed that the French will not willingly abandon their settlements on the west side of the river that they may be allowed to keep them they not being prejudiciall unto the English plantations being 200 miles remote from any great river coming out of our plantations—Conditionally the French plant no more upon the east side of the great river within the bounds above mentioned All which will be manifest unto your Lordships from a strict view of the Map I had the honour to leave with Your Lordships