Grand Lake, about 40 miles from Mr. Simonds' house, where he has a
number of men to work. * * The French people at Kanibikashes have
about 100 sticks cut. They say they will be able to get out and
bring here this Spring about 40 sticks, the others they can get
out in Summer. Pork, beef and corn is very scarce and dear; the
two former not to be bought. Have engaged what wheat and Indian
corn we could on the River. * * Davidson expects to have 200
sticks out this season and near as many more cut in the woods; he
gives the people larger prices for sticks (and takes them at
Maugerville or elsewhere afloat) than we give Mr. Peabody
delivered here. * * We must have two or three hundred pounds in
cash here by the first conveyance.

"Yours etc.,
"Hazen & White."

The pines of our primeval forests were evidently of magnificent
proportions. Samuel Peabody mentions cutting a yard 110 feet in
length and 26 inches in diameter, and a mast 38 inches in diameter,
and other timber of nearly equal size. Many of the largest pines grew
on the banks of the Rushagonish, a branch of the Oromocto. By the
favor of Lieut. Governor Hamond and his council Messrs. Hazen,
White and Peabody obtained possession of a tract of 8,000 acres of
land in that quarter. The grant was made in the first instance to
William Hazen, James White, Jacob Barker and Tamberlane Campbell,
as officers serving in the provincial troops in the last French war.
Tamberlane Campbell immediately sold his share to Samuel Peabody
for a small consideration.

The extent of William Davidson's masting operations must have been
very considerable, for Hazen & White wrote to Colonel Francklin in
March, 1782, "Davidson will have about 200 sticks out this season and
near as many more fell in the woods, having employed almost half the
Inhabitants in cutting. We should not be surprised to hear that he,
with many of the Inhabitants, should memorialize the Navy Commissioner
to have all his sticks received; if so, and he should succeed, another
contract for us would be but of little advantage as he has raised the
price of provision and men and Ox labour--oxen to 7s. 6d. pr. pair pr.
day and men in proportion."

The masting business seems to have been remunerative, and was the
means of putting in circulation a considerable amount of specie, which
was greatly appreciated by the settlers on the River St. John. On
April 25, 1782, Col. Francklin wrote to his