To James Alexander and Cadwallader Colden with Short Hints towards a Scheme for Uniting the Northern Colonies
Copy: New-York Historical Society; also transcript: Library of Congress
N York June 8. 1754

Mr. Alexander is requested to peruse these Hints, and make such remarks in correcting or Improving the Scheme, and send the Paper with such remarks to Dr. Colden for his sentiments who is desired to forward the whole to Albany to their Very humble Servant

B: Franklin
[Enclosure] Short hints towards a scheme for uniting the Northern Colonies A Governour General
To be appointed by the King.
To be a Military man
To have a Salary from the Crown
To have a negation on all acts of the Grand Council, and carry
Grand Council

One member to be chosen by the Assembly of each of the smaller Colonies and two or more by each of the larger, in proportion to the Sums they pay Yearly into the General Treasury.

Members Pay

——Shillings sterling per Diem deuring their sitting and mileage for Travelling Expences.

Place and Time of meeting

To meet —— times in every Year, at the Capital of each Colony in Course, unless particular circumstances and emergencies require more frequent meetings and Alteration in the Course, of places. The Governour General to Judge of those circumstances &c. and call by his Writts.

General Treasury

Its Fund, an Excise on Strong Liquors pretty equally drank in the Colonies or Duty on Liquor imported, or —— shillings on each Licence of Publick House or Excise on Superfluities as Tea &c. &c. all which would pay in some proportion to the present wealth of each Colony, and encrease as that wealth encreases, and prevent disputes about the Inequality of Quotas.

To be Collected in each Colony, and Lodged in their Treasury to be ready for the payment of Orders issuing from the Governour General and Grand Council jointly.

Duty and power of the Governour General and Grand Council

To order all Indian Treaties.     make all Indian purchases not within proprietary Grants     make and support new settlements by building Forts, raising and paying Soldiers to Garison the Forts, defend the frontiers and annoy the Ennemy.      equip Grand Vessels to scour the Coasts from Privateers in time of war, and protect the Trade     and every thing that shall be found necessary for the defence and support of the Colonies in General, and encreasing and extending their settlements &c.

For the Expence they may draw on the fund in the Treasury of any Colony.

Manner of forming this Union

The scheme being first well considered corrected and improved by the Commissioners at albany, to be sent home, and an Act of Parliament obtain’d for establishing it.

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