USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 77
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" Signed by Order of the House. "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
"In Assembly, 9th March, 1754."
On the same Day the Governor sent the following Message by the Secretary to the House :
" Gentlemen :
" My Desire of establishing Harmony between the Branches of the Legislature is such that on the present Occasion I shall wave several Things personal to myself, which another Time I might think it incumbent on me to take Notice of, and proceed to tell You,-
" That had You examined with your usual Accuracy the Gentle- men who by my Appointment attended your House for that Purpose on the sixth Instant and compared their Testimony with the written Papers at several Times communicated to You, it would I think have appeared so clear to You that the French have lately erected one or more Forts far within the Limits of this Province, that nothing less than an actual Mensuration of the Distance could have made it more evident.
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" But even taking it for granted that the forementioned Encroach- ments are not within the Bounds of this Province, yet as I have been informed by the Governor of Virginia that hostile Attempts have been made on Part of his Majestie's Dominions, and have been called upon by him for the Assistance of this Province to repel the Invaders, You must be sensible it is equally your Duty in either of these Cases to grant such Supplies as the present Exigency of Af- fairs requires, and which by his Majestie's Orders contained in Lord Holdernesse's Letter (and by you acknowledged to be equally bind- ing on both of Us), I do now repeat to you the Necessity of.
" I cannot, therefore, but be apprehensive that your Adjournment for so long a Time as to the Sixth of May will defeat any Measures that might have been taken for that Purpose for this Year, and con- sequently that his Majestie's just Expectations from us may be alto- gether frustrated.
" However (if you persist in it), as the Right of Adjournment is a Privilege of your House, I must acquiesce therewith and content myself with the Consciousness of having executed his Majestie's Commands in the best Manner I have been able.
"JAMES HAMILTON.
"9th March, 1754."
And then the House adjourned to the Sixth of May next.
The Governor laid before the Board Two Letters received by Ex- press from Governor Dinwiddie, whereby it appears that the Legis- lature of Virginia had given Ten Thousand Pounds, that Proclama- tions are issued for the Encouragement of all Persons who are dis- posed to enter into his Majestie's Service on this Occasion, and that he hopes their small Regiment will be at Alexandria, the Head of Patowmack River, by the Twentieth of this Month, and informed the Council that since the Assembly declined doing any Thing till they should know the Result of the Government of Virginia, He thought it absolutely necessary to convene them by Writ, and the Council concurring with his Honour in this Opinion, Writts issued for their Meeting on the Second of April next.
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A Letter from the Governor of Virginia to Governor Hamilton. " WILLIAMSBURG, Febr- 23d, 1754.
" Sir :
" As I wrote You lately by an Express, I desire to be referred thereto.
"I Prorogued our Assembly this Day, they have voted £10,000 for supporting the British Interest against the Invasions of the French, &c. In consequence thereof I shall immediately endeavour
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to raise six Companies of Men to march directly to Wills' Creek, the head of Patowmack river, where I hope You will be made able by Your House of Burgesses to give us a handsome Aid and Assist- ance.
"I wrote to the Cherokees & Catawbas to send some of their Warriors to defend their hunting Grounds on the river Ohio, as they have formerly promis'd their assistance. I am in Hopes they will now comply, that we may be able to make a Defence against the French & their Indians.
"Next May I propose meeting some Chiefs of the different Na- tions of Indians at Winchester; where if I can be of any Service to You or Your Colony, freely command,
"Sir, Your most humble Servant,
"ROBT. DINWIDDIE.
"The inclos'd Proclamation will be general to all the Forces. "Gov. Pennsylvania."
" VIRGINIA, SS :
" By the Honour able ROBERT DINWIDDIE, Esquire, His Ma- jestie's Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this Dominion :
"A PROCLAMATION,
"For Encouraging Men to enlist in his Majestie's Service for the Defence and Security of this Colony :
" Whereas, it is determined that a Fort be immediately built on the River Ohio, at the Fork of Mohongialo, to oppose any further Encroachments or hostile Attempts of the French and the Indians in their Interest, and for the Security and Protection of his Majes- tie's Subjects in this Colony, and as it is absolutely necessary that a sufficient Force should be raised to erect and support the same, For an Encouragement to all who shall voluntarily enter into the said Service, I do hereby notify and promise by and with the Advice and Consent of his Majestie's Council of this Colony, that over and above their Pay, Two Hundred Thousand Acres of his Majesty the King of Great Britain's Lands on the East side of the River Ohio, within this Dominion (One Hundred Thousand Acres whereof to be contiguous to the said Fort, and the other Hundred Thousand Acres to be on or near the River Ohio), shall be laid off and granted to such Persons who by their voluntary Engagement and good Be- haviour in said Service shall deserve the same. And I further pro- mise that the said Lands shall be divided amongst them immediately after the Performance of the said Service, in a Proportion due to their respective Merit, as shall be represented to me by their Officers, and held and enjoyed by them without paying any Rights, and also free from the Payment of Quit Rents for the Term of Fifteen Years. And I do appoint this Proclamation to be read and published at the
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Court Houses. Churches, and Chapels in each County within this Colony, and that the Sheriffs take Care the same be done accord- ingly.
"Given at the Council Chamber in Williamsburg, on the Nineteenth Day of February, in the Twenty-Seventh Year of his Majestie's Reign, Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty- Four.
"ROBERT DINWIDDIE.
"GOD SAVE THE KING."
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A Letter from Governor of Virginia to Governer Hamilton.
" WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, March 1st, 1754. “Sir :
" Having an Occasion of sending an Express to New York, I trouble You with this to acquaint You we are raising Forces to pro- ceed to the Ohio to prevent the Intentions of the French in settling those Lands.
"I am in Hopes our small Regiment will be at Alexandria, the Head of Patowmack River, by the twentieth of this Month, from thence they march to Wills' Creek, & so to the Ohio. But without the aid of our neighbouring Colonies we shall make but a small Figure. I have great Dependance on a considerable number of Your Palatines & Germans. I shall be glad to know the supply granted by Your Assembly, the number of Forces, & when You think they will be at Wills' Creek.
" I have ordered six Months' Provisions for those raised in this Colony, with Waggons to attend them on their March. I send You enclosed Major Washington's Journal to the Comandant of the French Forces on the Ohio.
"Your Answer on return of this Express will oblige,
" Sir, Your most Obedient humble Servant, "ROBT. DINWIDDIE.
" Gov". of Pennsylvania."
The Governor, agreeable to the Council's Opinion at their last Meeting, wrote the following Letters to the Governor and Deputy Governor of Connecticut ; and that the fullest Information might be obtained of the Disposition and real Designs of the People of that Province He prevailed on Mr. Armstrong, a Member of As- sembly for Cumberland County and one of the Proprietary Surveyors, to go Express with them, instructing him to make all the Enquiry possible of the Number and Rank of the Persons engaged in this Scheme, and whether it be countenanced by the Government-to
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satisfy all sorts of Persons of the true situation of Wyomink, and of the several Prohibitions that have been by the Province published against settling it at the Instance of the Indians, who have a par- ticular Attachment to that Place-to lay before them the certain Opposition they would meet with both from the Indians and this Government-and if they were too thick settled to assure them if they would come in a peaceable manner of all due Encourage- ment from the Proprietaries.
Governor Hamilton's Letter to the Governor of Connecticut. "Sir :
"I have received Information that a Party of your Inhabitants did some time ago pass thro' the remote Parts of this Province in their Way to Wyomink upon Sasquehanna River, and gave out that they had made a Purchase of those Lands from the Mohock In- dians, and they had your authority to come and settle them, being included within the Boundaries of the Connecticut Charter, and of- fered their Titles to any who were disposed to purchase ; and this, tho' I have disregarded it as an idle Story, is now confirmed by Per- sons of Character who have been in Connecticut and assure me that a large Number of your Inhabitants, tho' without the Counte- nance or knowledge of the Government, were actually preparing to remove in the Spring and settle some of the Pennsylvania Lands on Sasquehanna, depending on their Indian Title and not designing to pay any Regard to the Rights of our Proprietaries or apply to this Government for their Leave and Authority.
" Tho' I can scarce persuade myself that any considerable Num- ber would engage in so rash and unjust a Proceeding, yet as it may be true, tho' highly improbable, I find myself obliged to communi- cate to Your Honour these Informations, and entreat You would be pleased to do all in your Power to prevent these People from put- ting their Design into execution, assured as I am that if they make the Attempt they will involve this Province in an endless Scene of Trouble and Confusion, and as they must expect Opposition it may prove prejudicial to the Cause of the Colonies ; if as it is very pro- bable We shall be engaged in a War to repel the French, who have actually invaded this Province and are now erecting Forts and driving away our 'Traders within its Limits, a Number of Strangers should come amongst Us and forcibly take Possession of our Lands, what can his Majesty or the other Colonies think but that they are Enemies to their Country, and design to hinder this Government from exerting its Force against the common Enemy by raising a Civil War within its Bowels.
" I beseech your Honour further to consider that the Six Nations will be highly offended if these Lands on Sasquehannah be overun
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with White People, for they are their favourite Lands and reserved for their Hunting, and many of them live there, and they have the Faith of this Government solemnly and repeatedly plighted that no White People shall settle there; and if, notwithstanding these publick Engagements, they should now be setled, I will not answer for the Consequences; they may not only turn their Arms against the Setlers but withdraw themselves from our Alliance, which might at this Time prove the Ruin of our Affairs and involve the Colonies in endless Bloodshed and Expence.
"I cannot conceive how the Inhabitants of Connecticut, whose Laws as well as Ours prohibit and render invalid all private Con- tracts with the Natives, could go in so clandestine a manner to treat with the Mohocks about these Lands; surely they are worthy of much Censure on many Accounts, but at this time it is peculiarly unfortunate as it may create a Difference between the Mohocks and the rest of the Six Nations, between whom there is an Agreement that the Mohocks shall have nothing to do with the Lands in Penn- sylvania, nor take any Part of the Presents received for them, be- cause they have already had more than their Share for other Lands, and therefore the Mohocks never come here on Treaties for Land.
" But why will your Inhabitants chuse such a disorderly and dangerous Way of obtaining the Possession of Lands when they may have a legal Settlement ? There is a large Extent of Country in the Western Parts of this Province and That of Virginia vacant, and some of the best Lands in North America. If, therefore, any considerable Number of Families want to remove and are minded to settle these Lands, I make no doubt but our Proprietaries will be glad to give them good Encouragement, and if they encline that I shall write in their Favour I will cheerfully do it at your Instance, and press them to return a speedy Answer, which may arrive here time enough for the Planters to go and view these Western Parts in the Winter, and prepare, if they find them agreable, for their Removal as early as the Season in the Spring will permit.
"Or if the Lands of Virginia shall be found more agreeable, I will recommend them to that Government, who have lately made a Law for the Encouragement of New Setlers, and Both Governments will not fail to obtain for them the Friendship and kind Assistances of the Indians in those Parts, in whichsoever of the Two they shall chuse to settle.
" Should any of your Inhabitants be desirous to enquire of our Constitution and the Quality of the Lands in the uncultivated Parts of the Province, they will receive an impartial Account of them from the Gentleman who is charged with this Letter, who is a Member of Assembly, any ye Proprietary Surveyor over Sasque- hannah, and well acquainted with the Lands not yet appropriated ; for these Reasons I have prevailed upon him to take this Journey, that he might answer any Questions and give Satisfaction'in all VOL. V .- 49.
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Points necessary to be known in this Matter, and I crave Leave to recommend him to your Honour as a Gentleman whose Relations may be received with the utmost Confidence in whatever he be desired to give an Account of.
"I am persuaded your Honour will perceive the dangerous Con- sequences that must needs attend the Settlement of the Sasque- hannah Lands by your People in the manner they propose, under the present Circumstances of Affairs, that it cannot fail to exasperate the Indians, raise a Civil War in the Province, and distract the Government at a Time when all the Attention I am Master of may be wanted to conduct the momentous Concerns of the Publick, execute his Majestie's Commands, and preserve the Colonies from falling a Prey to our Enemies. Suffer me, then, to repeat my Request that you would please to detain your People at home, and prevail with them to hearken to sober and moderate Counsels, which in the End will prove more to their advantage.
"I am, with sincere Esteem,
"Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant, "JAMES HAMILTON.
" PHILADELPHIA, 4th March, 1754.
" The Honourable ROGER WOLCOTT, Esquire."
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Governor Hamilton's Letter to the Deputy Governor of Connecticut. " Sir :
" Hearing that a Number of the Inhabitants of Connecticut are preparing to come and settle some Lands in this Province in a forcible manner, and being apprehensive that it may be of bad Con- sequence at a Time when we may probably be engaged in a War to repel the hostile Attempts of the French, I have wrote a Letter to Governor Wolcott on this Subject, and take the Freedom to enclose You a Copy of it, and request you will be pleased to give your Assistance in this Affair.
" I have not the Honour of a personal Acquaintance with You, yet I am told that the People have a great Esteem for You and Dependence on your Judgment, which I flatter myself will be favourable to this Application.
" I should not doubt of Success if You would be pleased to join your Influence with his Honour's in setting this matter in its true Light.
"I beg Leave to recommend the Gentleman who delivers this Letter to your Notice and Civilities, who is well acquainted with our Constitution and the Quality of the vacant Lands within this Province, and well qualified to give your People Satisfaction in any
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Points they may want to know. I am with perfect Esteem and Regard, , "Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,
"JAMES HAMILTON.
" Philadelphia, 4th March, 1754.
" The Honourable THOMAS FITCHE, Esquire."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 20th March, 1754.
The Governor still indisposed.
PRESENT :
John Penn, Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Esquires.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
A Letter from the Governor and Deputy Governor of Connecticut by Mr. Armstrong, who returned last night, were read as follows:
A Letter from Governor Wolcott to Governor Hamilton. " WINDSOR, March 13th, 1754. " Sir :
"Yours of the fourth Instant is read, and I hope that by your Letter and my Discourse with Mr. Armstrong I am now better in- formed than before of the State of the Sasquehanah Lands.
"It is with Concern that We in these Parts of the Country hear continually News that the French are blocking up the Avenues of the Country North and West, and encroaching upon the Lands be- longing to the Crown of Great Britain. We fear that this is very much from a backwardness in the Western Governments in pro- moting New Settlements; and there being now no unapropriated Lands with us, some of our Inhabitants hearing of this Land at Sasquehanah and that it was North of the Grant made to Mr. Penn, and That Virginia are upon a Design of making a Purchase of the Indians and hope to obtain a Grant of it from the Crown. This appearing to be a Design to promote his Majestie's Interest and render the Country more defencible, we were all well Wishers to it.
" But Mr. Armstrong informs me that this Land is certainly within Mr. Penn's Grant; if so I dont suppose our People had any Purpose to quarrel with Pennsylvania; indeed I dont know the Mind of every private Man, but I never heard our Leading Men express themselves so inclined,
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" Your Proposal to move Mr. Penn and the Government of Vir- ginia to promote New Settlements in the easiest manner, if effected may turn the Eyes of our People that Way ; and it is but reason- able that the Lands so far from the Sea and on the Frontiers should have the Setlers on it encouraged in my Opinion. You may serve your King, your Proprietaries, and your Country, in promoting this Scheme, and this may probably draw many of our People to settle in those Parts, which I hope will prove orderly and indus- trious Inhabitants, and being used to War may be of good Service on that Account.
" This seems to be the time if ever to promote so good a Work, and if omitted may prove our last Opportunity.
" We in New England from our Beginning have often had hard Wars with the French and Indians, and have hitherto made our Part good with them ; it is probable the War will enkindle in the West- ern Parts, and You must come to a Push with the French which shall be the Masters of the Country, in which Case every man will be serviceable according to his Strength of Body and Resolution of Mind ; the Resolution of the Soldier will be very much in Fighting for his Country according to his Interest in it, and if I must go out let me have an Army of Freeholders or Freeholders' Sons.
" I have seen an Instance of this in the Siege of Louisburg. We had but about 3,700 Men, and before We had done about 700 of these were lost or Invalids. With these We beat the French at our Landing and beset the City. The Walls were 34 30, and at some Places 20 Feet high from the Bottom of the Trench, and built so regular that one or more Cannon swept every Face of it. The Trench was 11 Feet deep and ten Rods wide ; without is a Picket and Glacis ; on the Walls were mounted 101 Cannon and 78 Swivels; in the Town were Five Mortars and all Warlike Stores ; besides this We had the Grand Battery and Island Battery to subdue ; in the Town were 2,100 Men and Lads able to bear Arms. Before these Walls We lay 49 Days, hourly expecting an Army the Enemy had raised to take Annapolis would be upon our Backs. We advanced our Battery within Forty Rods of their Walls, and as We accounted received from them 9,000 great Shot and Bombs. The Ground about our Battery was plowed like a Corn Field, yet I never heard a Man in this Time (excepting those in the Hospital) move to go home till We had taken the City, and We took it, but how God gave Us the victory, but humanly speaking it was because our Sol- diers were Freeholders and Freeholders' Sons and had a Sense of Interest in the Country and Liberty, and the Men within the Walls were mercenary Troops.
" Whenever the War commences with You I think a small Army of such Men well appointed and disciplined will soon convince the French of their Error in provoking and insulting of You. I think a Few of them will be more than a Match for a Multitude of their
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Plebes brought up in Slavery and have nothing to fight for of their own.
" This brings to mind a Story a Gentleman told me that he went in to see his Negroe Man then dying, and seeing him just gone said to him, ' Cuffee, You are just going, are you not sorry ?' 'No,' says the Fellow, ' Master, the Loss won't be mine.'
" Pardon the Length of this Letter, and be assured that I am " Your Honour's most obedient very humble Servant,
"R. WOLCOTT.
"The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire."
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A Letter from Governor Fitch to Governor Hamilton. " HARTFORD, 13 March, 1754.
" Sir :
"As I am favoured with the Honour of Your's of the Fourth Instant by Mr. Armstrong, at a Time I am obliged to attend Pub- lick Business from Home, I can only just signify that I have perused Your's to Governor Wolcott as well as that to me, do well approve of the Notice you take of the attempt some of the People of this Colony are making, and the Concern You manifest for the general Peace of the British Interest and his Majestie's Service, which so much depend on a regular Proceeding in such Affairs. I know nothing of anything done by the Government to countenance such a Procedure as You intimate, and I conclude is going on among some of our People. I shall in all proper Ways use my Interest to pre- vent every thing that may tend any way to prejudice the general Good of these Governments, and am enclined to believe this wild Scheme of our People will come to nothing, tho' I can't certainly say. I heartily desire a good Harmony may subsist between your Government and others, and this in particular; I need not, if I had time, enlarge, seeing the worthy Bearer of your's (with whose Con- versation and account concerning those affairs I was well satisfied and delighted) has, I suppose, received from Governor Wolcott a more full and satisfactory Answer to your Honour. You'll please to command me further in this or in any other affair You shall think proper; all which shall be duly honoured by him, may it please your Honour, who is
" Your Honour's obedient humble Servant,
"THOS. FITCH.
" Governor HAMILTON."
Mr. Armstrong reports, that the People of Connecticut are most earnestly and seriously determined to make a settlement on the Sus- quehannah within the Latitude of their Province, relying on the 49*
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words of their Grant, which extend to the South Sea, provided they can succeed in a Purchase of those Lands from the Six Na- tions, which they are now attempting by the Means of Col. Johnson and Mr. Lydius of Albany, having subscribed a thousand Pieces of Eight for that Purpose, each giving Four Dollars for what they call a Right. That some principal Persons in the Government covertly encourage them, and have paid their Constitutions; but he believes they will not be able to procure the open Countenance of the Gov- ernment, nor any publick Act in favour of the Project. That many were staggered at his acquainting them with the Situation of Wyo- mink, and the Injunctions that had issued against setling it at the Instance of the Indians, and the Determination of the Government of Pennsylvania to make all the Opposition possible; And he has reason to think he opened the Eyes of abundance of People, which may have very good Effects.
"The Governor directed the Secretary to inform the Council that since receiving the Letters of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Connecticut, and the Report of Mr. Armstrong, He had by Ex- press from Justice Brodhead and Mr. Parsons been informed that several People in the County of Northampton had purchased Con- necticut Rights, and expected their Agents this Spring to settle and put them into Possession of the Sasquehannah Lands, and that they desired his Advice what they as Justices ought to do; He had, there- fore, thought it proper to apply to the Attorney General for his Opinion, which he had given, and his Honour had sent it to the Justices to be read in open Court, and along with it a Letter from the Chief Justice which he, having had several Informations given him by the Inhabitants of the County of Northumberland to the same Effect as Mr. Brodhead's and Mr. Parson's Information, had thought proper to send to them on the Occasion.
Case for the Attorney General.
" It appears by the Informations of Daniel Brodhead and William Parsons, Two of his Majestie's Justices of the Peace for the County of Northampton, that many Persons, the Natural born Subjects of his Majesty, now residing in this and some of the neighbouring Provinces, have openly declared their Intention in a Body to possess themselves of and settle upon a large Tract of Land in this Pro- vince lying on the Sasquehannah River, and commonly called Wyomink, without any Lycence or Grant from Our Honourable Proprietaries or Authority from the Government, which Intention they have also declared they will carry into Execution this Spring.
" This Tract of Land has not yet been purchased of the Six Nation Indians, but has hitherto been reserved and is now used by them for their hunting Ground.
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"The Government of Pennsylvania by their Treaties with those Indians stand engaged not to permit any Persons to settle upon Lands within the Bounds of the Province that have not been pur- chased from them. Hence it is apprehended those Indians may interpret such a Settlement a Violation of our Treaties-and may be induced to commit Hostilities that would be attended with Con- sequences most dangerous at this Juncture.
"2. If any Persons give out in Speeches that they are going to possess themselves of this Tract of Land, and persuade Others to go with them, and are making Preparation to go accordingly, Or if they shall presume to go and settle there, Is it Lawful for the Jus- tices of the Peace to cause such Persons to be arrested and im- prisoned ?
' "To enter upon and seize the Lands of the Proprietaries or Others without their Permission are Acts against the Laws, and manifest Breaches of the Public Peace. Such offences by a mul- titude are of dangerous Example and highly penal, as they tend to Sedition, and are likely to terminate in Capital Crimes.
"If any Persons, by Words or Actions, discover an Intention to disturb the Publick Peace they may be arrested and imprisoned until they give sufficient Security to keep the Peace and be of good Behaviour.
"Therefore, if it shall be made appear to any Justice of the Peace by Oath or Affirmation that any Persons have engaged themselves in the unlawful Design mentioned in the State of this Case, or have done any Acts tending to promote it, I am of Opinion it will be the Duty of such Justice to issue his Warrants to apprehend those Per- sons, and upon their being arrested to commit them to Goal unless they give Securities to appear at the next Quarter Sessions to an- swer for their Offences, and in the mean time to keep the Peace and be of good Behaviour, such as the Justice in his Discretion shall think reasonable.
"TENCH FRANCIS.
"18th March, 1754."
His Honour once intended to send Mr. Weiser to Onondago to put the Indians on their Guard against being imposed on by the Agents of Connecticut for a Grant of Lands within this Province, but Mr. Weiser, who was consulted thereon, thinking it would be better to transact the Business at Albany, He dropped that Inten- tion and wrote the following Letter to Col. Johnson :
" PHILADELPHIA, 20th March, 1754.
" Sir :
"I am informed that a Party of private People residing in the Province of Connecticut, under a Pretence of some extensive Words in their Charter, have published their Intention, even among our
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own Inhabitants, of coming this Spring in a Body into this Pro- vince and forcibly setling some of the Proprietarie's Lands in the very Centre of our Province, and that they were likewise hardy enough to make this known to the Government of Connecticut, who disavowing their Proceedings they thereupon turned their Thoughts towards the Indians of the Five Nations, and having made up a Purse to give them for their Right to those Lands, they, as I am further informed, now intend to apply to you for your Interest and Sollicitation in their Behalf with those Indians.
" Though I have not the Honour of your personal acquaintance, yet from your Character both publick and private, which is well known to me, I should not entertain the least Doubt that you would encourage a Party of private men, as this is disavowed by their own Government to make Contracts with the Indians for the Sale of Lands either in this or Connecticut Province, being contrary to the Laws of both Places, and productive of many fatal conse- quences.
"Nor can I have the least Suspicion that if the Application was made openly to the Council of Onondago, with whom this Govern- ment only treats for Lands, as they know their Engagements to sell to our Proprietaries all the Lands within this Province when their Indians shall incline to leave them, or the Encrease of the In- habitants requires a larger Extent of Country; but they would re- ject the Application of these People with the greatest Indignation as contrary to the Faith of Treaties subsisting between this Prov- ince and their Nations, and particularly as their own Indians now live on these Lands and use them for hunting; and they have re- peatedly in their Treaties besought this Government that they might not be setled, and Proclamations at their Instance have ac- cordingly issued, strictly charging all Persons to forbear making any Settlements in those Parts of the Province.
" But the Indians being liable to the Temptation of Liquor, and when disordered therewith apt to be imposed on, and for Money grant any Applications from any Body for Lands, though when sober they would condemn themselves and be sorry for what they had done, I am apprehensive if they are not put upon their Guard that these Practices may be tried upon them and these ill-minded People when they have got Indian Deeds, no matter how obtained, nor from whom, may set up these Titles and so pervert the Minds of the Inhabitants and introduce intestine Broils and endless Dis- orders amongst Us.
" Knowing your Zeal for the Publick Good of the Colonies, and the Regards frequently shewn by you in your early Intelligences to this Province, I entreat you would be pleased to put the Indians upon their Guard, as opportunity serves you, against the attempts of these People, which you must be sensible might not only alienate the affections of the Six Nations by taking from them against their
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will the Possession of a favourite Part of the Country, but might also draw on a civil War within this Province, as the Government would be obliged to oppose such tumultuous Settlements and Intru- sions, and thus prove particularly hurtful to the general Interest at this time, when the French have actually invaded this Province, and we are likely to be involved in a War to repel them.
" As this Government has determined to send Commissioners to the general Interview at Albany, I shall direct some of the Commis- sioners to wait on You in Order to confer further with you of what may be necessary to be done on this Occasion, and in the mean time I shall be much obliged to you to use your good Offices in behalf of this Government, so far as that nothing may be done with the Indians by the Connecticut agents, or any others in their Behalf, to the Injury of the Proprietaries of this Province.
"I am, Sir, your very humble Servant, "JAMES HAMILTON.
" WILLIAM JOHNSON, Esquire."
END OF VOL. V.
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