present there is no prospect of the
business being in one place, as we expected when Col. Francklin
left this place. At present I have given up trying at Saint Anns,
for the Pine proves so rotten that it never will pay the expense
of cutting a road in to where it groes

"There is sum that pertended to undertake to ingage to get us sum
sticks, by what I can learn has ingaged them to Davidson,
especially that scoudril John Tibbits, although he gave Mr.
Francklin good incurragement, as I thought, that we should have
all the sticks that he could procure.

I am, with respect,
Your Humble Serv't,

SAM'L PEABODY.

A year later William Davidson writes in quite as emphatic terms to
Samuel Peabody:

Maugerville, 9th December, 1782.

"Sir--I'm not a little surprised at a piece of your conduct that
has lately come to my knowledge; which is your triming my masts,
etc., on the streame of Rushaganes and its vicinaty. I cannot
conjecture upon what principle you pretend to have acted. I had (&
have) a speciall order from Government to cutt masts, yards, etc.,
for His Majesty's use wherever I could find them, when I cutt
those sticks, which constitute as good a right in them to me as
any that could be given. If (by some kind of means) the people
you're concerned with afterwards got a grant of the lands on which
they were, it could not be supposed to extend to a prior right any
other person had derived from as good authority. But in the mean
time I shall not take the trouble to say any more on the subject
than to desire you will from this time desist from meddling with
any sticks that have been cut for me, and also relinquish what you
have already medled with.

"I wish to live peaceably, but I have lately experienced so many
instances of your most bare-faced and wanton oppression, to my
prejudice, that there's no longer a doubt with me what course I
must be under the disagreeable necessity to take, that I may
obtain redress and do justice to myself and family. I shall expect
your immediate answer for my future government, and am, sir,

"Your Humble Serv't

"WM. DAVIDSON."

The fact that William Davidson was the first in the field gave him
some local advantages that were increased considerably by the
predilection in his favor displayed by Constant Connor, the commander
of the small garrison posted at the Oromocto blockhouse. This we know