610> MAKUSCRIPTS OF
almost Incredible Quantities, the Laws of the Colonies now in force being insufficient to restrain the Supply, and the Indians of I'very Nation are frequently Drunk and abused in their Trade, and their Affections thereby alienated from the English ; They often wound and iVIurder one another in their Liquor, and to avoid Revenge flee to the French, and perhaps more have been lost by these means than by the French Artifices.
That purchases of Lands from the Indians by private persons for small Trifling Considerations have been the cause of great uneasiness and discontents, And if the Indians are not in Fact imposed on and injured. Yet they are apt to think that they have been, and indeed they appear not fit to be entrusted at Large with the Sale of their own Lands, and the Laws of some of the Colonies, which makes such Sales void, unless the allowance of the Government be first obtained, seem to be well founded. ■
That the granting or patenting vast Tracts of Land to private Persons or Companys without conditions of speedy Settlements has tended to prevent the Strengthening the Frontiers of the particular Colony where such Tracts lye, and been predjudicial to the State.
That it seems absolutely necessary that speedy and effectual measures be taken to secure the Colonies from the Slavery they are threatened with -- That any further advancfes of the French should be prevented, and the encroachments already made removed. That the Indians in Alliance or Friendship with the English be constantly regarded under some wise Direction or Superintendency. That endeavours be used for the recovery of those Indians who are lately gone over to the French and for securing those that remain.