By Gov^' Shirley's ill-grounded Resentments, from the imperious Stile he writes to me since Gen^ Braddock's Death, from his threatening Intimations, I am confirmed in this Lesson, that a Subordinate Power here with regard to Indian affairs & a Fund dependent upon the will & pleasure of his Majesty's Gov^^ in these Colonies will be incompatible both with my abilities and Inclinations to Conduct them, & as I have no private or mercenary views to serve by them, I must humbly beg leave to decline the Charge unless I am put upon the footing as above intimated. I shall always be desirous to take advice from any of His Majesty s serv** in these parts & to be accountable for my conduct to any* Judicature His Majesty may think proper to appoint, but to be subjected to the Caprice & political views of Gov^. I cannot think will ever harmonize wuth one uniform Direction of Indian Affairs, & persuaded

1 am if they are branched out into various channels of power, the British Indian Interest in those parts will be unstable, perplexed.

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 689

& in the end totally lost, and upon that footing I would not choose 1o have the least hand in them.

I am building a Fort at this Lake where no house was ever before built nor a rod of land cleared, w'^^ the French call Lake S' Sacrament, but I have given it the name of Lake George, not only in honor to His Majesty but to ascertain his undoubted Dominion here. When the Battoes (certain small Boats so called) are brought from the last Fort I caused to be built at the Great Carrying Place ah^ 17 miles from hence, I propose to go down this Lake with a part of the Army dnd take post at the end of it about 50 miles from hence at a pass called Tionderogue ab* 15 miles from Crown Point there wait the coming up of the rest of the Army & then attack Crown Point.