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. Tho our Indians do not now resort to these Places as frequent & familliarly as they fomerly did yet some amongst them do occasionally visit there when the French & the Indians in their Interest, poison the Minds of ours with stories not only to the disadvantage of our good Intentions towards them but endeavour to frighten them with pompous Accounts of the superior prowess & martial Abilities of the French. These things are propagated amongst them and the truth really is they have had more reason to think highly of the French in this way than of us.

But my Lords notwithstanding all these drawbacks upon the zeal and attachment of the Six Nations towards us, I am presuaded at this Instant & I hope I shall have when the approaching meeting at Onondago is finished, stronger reason to be persuaded, that if ■we wore now ready to go upon Action from Oswego & things were a formidable & favourable appearance, that the 6 Nations would join us with a Chearfulness and vigor which at pesent dos not so visibly appear. And I must beg leave to give it to you