Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II

fioni whence they were enlisted & where they have Acquaintances &, Confederates, from Malice & Policy, they pretend a great affection for the Indians, & invent Lying stories to justifie their quitting the service & ingratiate themselves with the Indians, who seeing they are surrounded by our present Armaments, being naturally prone to suspicion & the French continually working upon this their Disposition by false and artful representations of our views «& measures, render these Reports of the Deserters more credible & pernicious. I am informed there are great numbers of them amongst the Delaware & Susquahana Indians who have done a World of prejudice to our Interest. I represented this matter to Gen}. Shirley & proposed to him to impower me to offer the Indians handsome rewards for taking up & delivering such Deserters as may be or may come amongst them.

Gov^ Morris has published a Declaration of War against the Delaware & Susquahanna Indians, & a small Body of Men are raised in that Gov^. & marched to build a Fort at Shamokin a Branch of the Susquahanna River. Tho M"". Morris has worded this Declaration with Restrictions in favor of all our Friend Indians, yet as it is published & this Fort building without previous Notice & Explanation given to our Indians it hath circulated amongst them in a confused manner & put in a bad Light by the Ignorance & probably the Malice of Reporters. And tho I am fully sensible that the horrible Cruelties & Devastations w^h. the Southern Provinces «Sc Pensilvania in particular have suffered, call for their most united & vigorous Resentments, yet I cannot but humbly be of Opinion that M"". Morris' Declaration of War backed with so small a Force as the 400 Men he hath raised, -was premature, & that it would have been more advisable if he had alowed me first to have acquainted the 6 Nations & our friend Indians living* on the Susquahanna with his Intentions especially as M^'.