They reproached us for laying up our Vessels the beginning of last October & that they do not yet appear on the Lake tho the French were sailing backwards & forwards the whole Winter. They were surprised the Great Carrying Place another very important post was so poorly fortified particularly at one end & such a handful of Troops left to protect it, They told the ofl[icers there that the French would certainly attack them & that it was not in a condition to make a good Defence, the event has shown they judged rightly & complained Justly. They reproach us with the Two regiments laying encampt at Albany & Schenectady & ask why they dont

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march agains;! llif Frencli. I mention these complaints & reproaches of the Indians to Your Lordships, as Causes of discontent to them of their forming unfavourable Ideas of our Military Proceedings w'^h tends to damp their spirits towards us & nourish that Awe of the French which hath & doth too much prevail amongst them. I have endeavoured by every Method in my power to remove their Prejudices, but as they form their Judgments from appearances only, it is an extream difficult Task to work upon their understandings.

Another Cause of the 6 Nations standing in so much Awe of the French is the Great number of Western & Northern Indians in their Alliance & which hath been greatly strengthened since our unhappy defeat at the Ohio.

These Prejudices My Lords are not the only disadvantages we have to contend with in endeavouring to raise & keep up in their minds a reputable Opinion of our Power & Consequence. The Cayouge & Seneca Nation are near neighbours to Niagara; the Onondagas & Oniedas are in the Neighbourhood of Sweegachie a French settlement on the River S* Lawrence to w*=*> numbers of those two Nations have of late years been debauched & gone there to live.