amongst the Indians, did thereby very much incroach upon yo r Majesties right on lake, and particularly did draw away many of our Indians into Canada,

this side of the

under the notion of supplying them with priests to instruct them in the Christian religion ; by which

means they lessened our

hunting much, and has so weakened the Maquase nation that they are not capable to do yo r Majesty the service as formerly. Besides they are so affected to the French Yo Maj ties enemy s that while they are in being we cann have no safety.

Since the war the French priests have retired from their

castles, and the Dutch Minister at Albany hath been very successfull in

converting many of them to

the true religion, in which they are very devout and desirous to have a ministry settled amongst

them for their pious comfort and instruccon.

This would be of great advantage to your Majesty not

only in the increase of your revenue but also to endear the Indians to us, that they would continue to be the preservacon of this and the rest of your Majesty's adjacent Colonys ;

the strongest and most terrible

these Nations being

among the Indians are the only bulwarke and wall of defence both

--

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SUSQUEHANNAH RIVER.

against other Indians and the French pretences, which we are daily threatened with, being informed that they intend with a considerable force of themselves and the Ottawawes Indians to descend upon Albany and take it, which is not at present able (if attaqued) to resist, neither is the whole Province as now narrowed, capable to secure that post, which hath occasioned an applicacon to our neighbours for assistance, but possitively denj^ed : the particulars whereof are more plainly expressed in letters to the Secretary of State and Plantacons :