Benjamin Franklin [1755 
edly (perhaps in less than another century) become 
a populous and powerful dominion *; and a great 
accession of power either to England or France. 
The French are now making open encroachments 
on those territories, in defiance of our known rights; 
and, if we longer delay to settle that country, and 
army to repel their invasions. He pursued this favorite object for 
many years; and after he went to England a company was formed 
under his auspices, who petitioned for a grant to settle a colony west 
of the Allegany Mountains. Many obstacles were encountered, but 
the application was at last successful. The scheme was prevented 
from being carried into effect by the troubles immediately preceding 
the revolution. 
The following paper was probably written shortly after the Albany 
Convention, in 1754, at the request of Governor Pownall, who had a 
project for settling what he called “barrier colonies.”’ He presented 
a memorial to the Duke of Cumberland on this subject in the year 
1756, in which he says: 
“If the English would advance one step further, or cover them- 
selves where they are, it must be at once, by one large step over the 
mountains, with a numerous and military colony. Where such 
should be settled, I do not take upon me to say; at present I shall 
only point out the measure and the nature of it, by inserting two 
schemes, one of Dr. Franklin's, the other of your memorialist; and if 
I might indulge myself with scheming, I should imagine that two 
such were sufficient, and only requisite and proper; one at the back of 
Virginia, filling up the vacant space between the Five Nations and 
southern confederacy, and connecting into one system our barrier; 
the other somewhere in the Cohass on Connecticut River, or wherever 
best adapted to cover the New England colonies. These, with the 
little settlements mentioned above in the Indian countries, complete 
my idea of this branch.”’—Administration of the Colonies, 4th ed., 
Append. p. 43. 
When this memorial, with Franklin’s plan, was presented, the 
whole country was too much involved in the war with the French and 
Indians, to allow any scheme of this sort to be matured; the peace 
followed, when the occasion for them was less pressing; and the revo- 
lution opened the way to other methods of attaining the same object. 
—SPARKS. 
I This prediction has been verified in a much less time than even 
the author anticipated. 
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