SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 673

schemes of the French, will not only with respect to these Indians, but all those various Nations who surround the Dominion ot great Brittain in America be frustrated but receive a mortal wound. True it is, that to obtain this desirable end, a great expence for perhaps some years will necessarily arise, but the alternatives in my humble opinion most glaringly deserve it, and the beneficial consequences will abundantly repay it.

Three things appear to me necessary to be put into execution with all convenient speed, and which I humbly recommend to your Lordpps attention.

First : that the complaints of the Indians respecting their lands, be taken into a speedy and impartial consideration, and a final determination made therein. They have often and warmly applyed to Governors here, but met with no redress some verj powerful and wealthy people in this Province are I beheve concerned in these complaints. The two patents which the Indians lay most to heart, are Cayaderossoras and the Cannojoherry Patent, and till justice is done them therein, I am convinced they will think themselves oppressed and I fear with some reason. I apprehend the common powers of a Gov. merely as such, are not equal to this affair. I hope your Lordpp^ wisdom will fall upon some happy method to terminate by sufficient authority these perplexing matters, which when the time grow more calm, will, if not remedied, be of fatal consequence. I gave the Indians my promise (speaking in their language) that I would write to the King their Father on these complaints and that I did not doubt but he would do them justice, and this they expect.