Before the French begun to build the Fort at
Niagra, which is about 20 years ago, they cajoled some few of the young fellows of the Five Nations, to give
them permission to build a trading House there, but so soon as it reached the ears of the
Sachims or Rulers of those Nations, they resented it, acquainted the Governor of this Province, that the French had begun to build, & offered to join any force he should send to demolish the works,
and to drive the French from thence, but this was unhappily neglected incouraged by their success there, they did, about twelve years ago, erect another Fort, and much stronger (on the Lands like:
wise of the Five Nations) at a place called the Crown Point, about 160 miles from Albany between that & Canada.
In that part of the Country, where the Senecas chiefly dwell, & where I propose
our Vessells should be built, & the Regiment quartered, the Climate is temperate, & the lands exceeding Fertile, so that in three years time from their going thither, provisions of all kinds (sufficient for the Regiment
& Vessells) may be raised, Except only Beef, which will require a year or two more,
in the mean time cattle may be drove thither from the County of Albany, with as much ease as they
are now to the Garrison at Oswego, & no sooner will the Regiment will go thither
under their cover to
settle in that
march towards it, than farmers