The Members of the Council likewise agreed that it was highly necessary to send some person with full powers from the General to treat with the five Nations of Indians and to secure them and their Allies to the British Interest and that Coll Johnston was the flattest man to be employed in that Business and for that purpose that the Sum of jESOO Sterl should be paid into his hands to be laid out by him in such Commodities as he should judge most proper for the Northern and Western Indians J6500 of which should be employed for the five Nations and their Allies and ^£300 for the Western Indians to be given at Oswego. And as to the manner of supplying the presents the several Gov^^ agreed that if the General for the sake of Dispatch thinks proper to advance the money the Colonies ought to replace it according to the proportions settled in the Plan of Union by the Commissioners at Albany last year together with all contingent Charges attending it, and that it was their opinion that the several Governments would readily consent to do it within the space of three months.

The Council expressed their Approbation of the Attack proposed by the General upon Crown point and Niagara as being undoubted encroachments made by the French upon his Majestys Dominions in America and gave it as their Unanimous Opinion that Coll. Johnston was the properest person to have the Command of the Expedition against Crown point. They also agreed to the necessity of strengthening the Fort and reinforcing the Garison at Oswego, and advised the building of two Vessels of sixty Tons upon the Lake Ontario with all possible Dispatch according to a