After the French had taken Oswego, they destroyed all our Buildings & sent word to the Onondaga Indians, that they had now drove the English from their Lands & would not like them, keep possession, but leave 'em free to them and their Posterity forever. The French, in fact, did not want that Place, so made their Policy appear Virtue to the Indians, & the plausibility of it will doubtless influence them in their favour.

I think I have before now hinted to your Lordships my opinion, that the Hostilities w^^ Pensilvania in particular had suffered from some of the Indians living on the Susquahanna did, in some measure, arise from the large Purchase made by that Gov^ two

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 737

years ago at Albany. I have more reason every day, from talking with the Indians, to be confirmed in this suspicion, I am inclined to believe, tho' this purchase was publicly consented to at Albany, some of the 6 Nations are disgusted at it & others repent their consenting to it, and that part of them do underhand connive at the Disturbances between the Susquahanna Indians and the Province of Pensilvania, whose raising Forces and building Forts on the Susquahanna River, tho' it hath very plausible Pretences, is at the Bottom bad policy & really intended to secure Lands Wh. it would more for the true Interest of the community to give up, at least for the present, I conceive the most effectual method of producing Tranquility to that Province would be, a voluntary & open Surrender of that Deed of Sale, fix with the Indians, in the best manner they can, the Bounds for their Settlements & make them Guaranties to it. I know that this Land was fairly & publickly paid for & that the Indians are unjust & unreasonable to recant & keep the money ; but if the Times & good Policy require it, to yield will be more advantageous than to contest, tho' on the side of Justice.