Fonds consists of the following copied material: 1. three anonymous and undated memoranda attributed to "an old Buccaneer, tho' a young man," sent to Lord Halifax, 27 February 1705, by John Chamberlayne, [F.R.S. (1666-1723), a member of the S.P.C.K. and miscellaneous writer]. They urge the ejection of the French from Canada and Nova Scotia, and propose that colonists from Scotland and the Palatinate be brought in, to settle these areas and the Kennebec region and to produce naval stores (ff. 90-97v). 2. A similar proposal set forth in a memorial, 10 September 1709, and letter, 6 October 1709, to Lord Halifax from the lawyer and colonial agent Jeremiah Dummer (ca. 1679-1739), who traces the whole history of Anglo-French rivalry in Canada and Nova Scotia (ff. 119-122). 3.Letter to the Duke of Newcastle (1693-1768), 17 January 1747, from Rear-Admiral [later, Vice-Admiral Sir] Peter Warren (1703-1752), giving his opinion of the number of troops and ships necessary to defend and settle Nova Scotia and secure Louisbourg and Placentia. The letter bears a note stating that a copy was sent, 30 May 1747, to William Shirley (1694-1771), Governor of Massachusetts (ff. 168-172v).
Montague, Charles, 1661-1715 : Statesman.
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (1661-1715), was born on 16 April 1661. He was the fourth son of George Montagu of Horton in Northamptonshire, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Anthony Irby of Boston in Lincolnshire. He was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he formed his lifelong friendship with Sir Isaac Newton. He entered Parliament in 1689 and became clerk of the privy council in the same year. He became a lord of the treasury in 1692; chancellor of the exchequer and a privy councillor in 1694; first lord of the treasury in 1697; auditor of the exchequer in 1700; and first lord of the treasury in 1714. He was created Baron Halifax of Halifax in 1700, and Viscount Sunbury and Earl of Halifax in 1714. He died on 19 May 1715.
