Lawrence to the Mississippi, for in this Country lie the Heads of the Delawar, Susquehanna, Ohio, S*. Lawrence, and Hudson's rivers ; and the Light in which they themselves consider it will clearly appear from the account which they themselves gave of it some time ago to a Person in whom they had Confidence at Onondage, viz*. That it has many advantages superior to any other part of America, the endless mountains (meaning the Apnlachian) separate us, say they, from the English from Albany to Georgia ; the falls of S*. Lawrence and Sorrel River and the Mountains of Ahnouchousen separate us from the French ; If the French sliould prevail so far as to attempt to drive us out of our Country, We can with our old Men Wives and Children come down the Streams of the Mohawks River, the Delawar, both Branches of the Susquehannah and the Potowmack to the English; If the English should expell us our Country, We have a like Conveyance to the French, by the Streams of S*. Lawrence, & Sorrell River ; and if both should join. We can retire across the Lakes.

From this short description of this Country, the Lines of Indian Politicks may be easily traced out, And their first Resolution not to part with this Situation either to French or English as Settlers ; Their great Uneasiness when the French attempted to make a

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 707

Settlement at Niagara in 1719, which gave rise to that treaty of 1726, whereby they put tiieir Country and Hunting Lands under the Protection of the Crown of England -- Their Difficulties, when the Commissioners on the Part of Pennsylvania proposed to purchase part of this Country at Albany, and their Declaration to Sr Wm Johnson, that, notwithstanding their purchase, they would not part with it, are Circunsstanees which clearly mark out what should be the Conduct and Politicks of the English with regard to them viz. to leave them in Possession of their Country according to the Description in the Deed of 1726, and to undertake the Guarantee of it to them, protecting them and their Hunting Lands in such manner as to command both it and them, and Yet most religiously to preserve the Use to them.