Sir William Johnson well knowing how extremely tender the Indians in general are, with regard to Forts, near to their country or hunting grounds and naturally judging a Body of Armed Men, to support as it were the building of those, at a time, and in places where he had many reasons to believe the neighbouring Indians (as it hath since fully appeared) were dissatisfied with the Government on the score of Lands, and Encroaching by their purchases on their hunting grounds, and crowding too near upon them by their extended settlements he judged this conduct in the Government of Pensilvania was impolitick, and he must beg leave to be still of the same opinion, and as he looked upon those proceedings to be contrary to the true interest of the Community, he did suspect they were pushed forward upon other motives. And to conclude, unless the Province of Pensilvania is both able and willing to maintain their land pretensions by force of Arms against the Indians, Sir William Johnson hath not altered his

opinion but doth with yet stronger degree of conviction than formerly, humbly offer his conception of the matter in the same words as before.

Namely, " that the most effectual method of producing

tranquility to that Province would be a Voluntary and open Surrender of that Deed of Sale, to fix

with the Indians in the best manner they can, the bounds for their settlements, and make them Guaranties to it."

Note.

--See further on

this subject,