The consequences whereof will be of the greatest moment. All our Colonies

from this to Georgia, will be secure from the incursions of the French in time of War. The Indians depending on the Governments of Virginia, Carolina and Georgia, who are now almost every year attacked by the French, and their Indians will live unmolested ; All the Indian Nations living on or near the Lakes, and all those over whom the French at present have a very great power, will no

PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO.

sooner hear of our conquests, than they will submit to, & trade altogether with us,

The Five Nations

will no longer be divided by French Intrigues, but will be absolutely at our Devotion, and the Trade

& Influence of our Enemy will be confined to the Cold Country of Canada, which will scarce be worth keeping, and to the Banks of the River Messasippi, Nay, no sooner will the Five Nations see us masters on the Lake, than they will assist us to take the two Forts of Frontenac, & Niagra, for they are now complaisant to the French only through Fear, knowing them to be a treacherous & enterprising people.

It was I

presume to think, a very great Oversight, to suffer the French to build

those two Forts, & I am persuaded if it had been strongly & rightly represented by the Governors

of this &. the other Provinces a stop would have been put to

it.

Those Forts being built on the