They told me in private that one prevailing motive for their return home was that as the French Indians & they had now drawn the Sword against each other they expecied the Enemy might fall on their Settlements, & therefore it was necessary for their general Safety to go home & put their people on their Guard, call Councills & take eveiy needful precaution, and that when I should acquaint them that we were ready to go forward with the expedition & fix a Day for their Return they would come more in number & with a Determination of Revenge upon their Enemy -- they lost about 30 of their people & among w^h many eminent Sachems & warriors very faithful to our Interest, they Sustained the chief attack from the Enemy in the morning action, and they complained to me that they were Sacrificed by the Backwardness & flight of our People, & I fear from the most impartial acc^s they had reason -- every one of their officers who were in the Engagm* were Slain.

Your Lordships will observe from the inclosed Minutes that they repeat in a verry earnest manner that the Cagnawagas may never again be suffered to trade either at Albany or Oswego.

In my humble Opinion, to grant their request, to prohibit & to prevent by the Strictest Execution of law all trade with the Said Cognawagas or Subjects of the French Kings cither at Albany or Oswego or elswhere by any of his Majesty's Subjects in these parts, but more particularly at Albany, will be a measure of the most useful Kind will highly distress the French, who by the great tiade between Canada & Albany are enabled to Supply the Indians with Goods w^h otherwise they could not but under great Disadvantages, & hereby they make us Tools to the increase & Stability of their Indian Interest.