Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II

How very fatal this may be to the Service, by disgusting the Men already there & spreading amongst those who are to come, and how nece-ssary it is to fulfil these public Engagements with Promptitude & Exactness, past Experience will testifie & the nature of the Case so fully evinces, that I will not trouble Your Honour with any of my Reflections thereon. One thing I must beg leave to say with regard to our Military Preparations in general, that if we are dilatory & remiss, the Consequences will probably be irretrievably fatal. I am

most respectfully Mount Johnson Sir

6 June 1755. Your Honours

Most Obed* & Most hum Serv* To Governor DeLancey. Wm Johnson

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 669

THE SAME TO THE SAME.

Sir -- Just now I received by an Express from Albany, Your Honours Favour of the 7. Inst. As that part of it relating to the Cagnawaga Indians, seems to require my immediate Answer, I must defer the other particulars to the next opportunity.

I have talked with some of the Mohawk Sachems about the Cagnawaga Indians, and they are of Opinion that those Indians have at present a more favourable Disposition towards the English Interest, than for many Years past. And tho I think their uncontrolled Intercourse with Albany, & the Indiscretions to which some People there (to give it the softest name) may be liable, is a point of no small Consequence at this critical Juncture; Yet as I expect this day or to morrow Morning the arrival of our Indians here, 9 Nations of whom the Interpreter tells me are on the Road, more in Number than he ever yet saw together, that they seem to be well pleased & in a friendly Disposition, and as the Matter I shall move to them, must be conducted with the greatest Caution & Delicacy, it will be of the highest Importance to my Success with them, that they should be kept in as good humour as possible & receive no Disgusts which can be avoided.