History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

170 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745-1747.
" I mentioned to Col. Dwight about taking care of the men at No. 4 :
he gave a short answer, and I said no more. I supposed Col. Dwight
had orders to send a guard to cover the workmen in building the fortifications
& supposed he would meet the com'', but he has gone to Brookfield.
* * * Your excellency will discern what work Col. Dwight
and I shall make of doing business together. I have advised him in
the best manner I have been able, but he is almost too great to be spoke
to, and seems to look on the committee as so many spaniels." ^
This lack of harmony was all the more galling to the
home commander on account of the scarcity of men, and
the difficulty of enlisting soldiers for the frontier service.
The expedition against Canada was quite popular among
the people, and no difficulty seems to have been experienced
in obtaining recruits for that purpose. The excitement of
a campaign in the enemy's country was much more attract-
ive than the monotonous garrison life of the frontier forts,
varied only by an occasional alarm, a dangerous scout, or a
march through an ambushed wilderness for supplies. A
portion of the Canada contingent had already been employed
in rebuilding Fort Massachusetts, and it Avas but
natural that Col. Stoddard should suggest still further
methods of making them useful.
A Commissioner from
Massachusetts.
While COmmauder-in-cllief on the west-
QYix frontiers, he was appointed one of
the commissioners to meet with others
from New York and Coimecticut, in order to concert measures
for mutual defense against the common enemy. It
was undoubtedly a meeting of this body upon which Col.
Dwight so unceremoniously turned his back. In 1745, a
conference was held with the Six Nations at Albany by the
commissioners from Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut,
and Pennsylvania. In this commission Col. Stoddard
held an honorable position. Their deliberations extended
over a number of weeks.
Judicial Employ- In addition to his manj^ municipal, miliments.
tary, diplomatic, legislative and agrarian
duties, he also held important judicial ap-
pointments. In 1725, he was made one of the Justices of
the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Hampshire County
1 Judd MSS.