The Sachems of the several Nations now ^vith me have this day sent another Deputation to the s^. Cagnawagas to try if by fresh arguments they can bring them over to a Neutrality, and this is to be the last Effort. Our Indians appear to be very sincere & zealous in our cause & their young men can hardly be withheld from goeing out a scalping w^h, is not thought either prudent or politic till the Cagnawagas give their final answer.

Governor Shirley soon after his arrival at Albany in his Way to Oswego, grew dissatisfied with ray proceedings -- Employed one Lydius of that place, a man whom he knew and I told him was extreamly obnoxious to me, & the very man whom the Indians had [at] their public meeting, so warmly complained of, to oppose ray

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. G85

Interest and management wilh them. Under this man several others were employed -- these persons wt?nt to the Indian Castle?, & by bribes, keeping thera constantly feasting and drunk, calumniating ray character, depreciating my commission, authority & management, in short by the most Licenlious & abandoncil proceedings, raised such a confusion amongst tht- Indians particularly the Two Moiiock Castles, that their Sachems were under the utmost consternatinn, scnl Deputies down to me to know \\hat was the occasion of all these surprising Proceeiiings, that I had told theiu I was appointed Sole Superintendent ofiheir affairs w-'^ had given an universal satisfaction thro' all their Nations, but that now every Fellow pretended to be vested with Commissions & authority &c. I sent several Messages and the Interpreters up to quiet their minds, for my military department would not suffer me to leave Albany, as I was marching with the troops under my command, or I would have gone up & should have soon overset all these violent measures.