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

But his Lordship at that time was so much crowded with business that we could not wholly finish that affair ; and indeed the alteration of circumstances since will admit of many particulars being suspended, till some more certain Judgment can be formed of our Indian Interest than at present.

I received the Copy of Instructions given to S'". Charles Hardy relative to those Patents or Grants of Land in this Province of w^h the Indians complain, and also Copy of your Lordship's Report to His Majesty upon a Memorial of the Proprietors of Pensilvania, both transmitted to me by M^ Sec''y. Povmall.

As to the former, the effectual redressing those Complaints strikes at the Interest of some of the wealthiest and most leading men in this Province, & I fear that Influence w^h may be necessary

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to succeed, will be employed to obstruct. I have I believe before mentioned to your Lordships my humble opinion, that applications on this head on this side the water M^ould I imagined fall short of the desired End.

I have the honour perfectly to concur with your Lordships in bpmion upon the proprietors of Pensilvania's Memorial.

In the Papers I had the honour to transmit to your Lordships by IVP. Tho^. Pownall now here. The Jealousy of the Indians with regard to their Lands, their tenaciousness upon that Article -- their opinion of the present contests between the French and us, our respective Views & Designs -- and the Influence these matters had on the conduct of the Six Nations, was discussed, tho' not in so ample a manner as the subject deserved & would afford, I am every day more and more'convinced of the Truth of the observations contained in those Papers upon this subject, and fully am I assured, the 6 Nations are sensible that the Deprivation of what they deem their property will be the consequence of either we or the French prescribing terms to each other -- and hence the chief cause of their Indifference in our Quarrel.