In answer to another Suggestion of Sir William Johnson's that " the raising Forces and building Forts on Sasquehannah by Order " of the Government of Pennsylvania, tho' it hath plausible " Pretences, is at the bottom bad Policy, and really intended to " secure Lands, which it would be more for the Interest of the " Community to give up;" They beg leave to say, that this Insinuation is without any sort of foundation, as it never would have been attempted. Lad not the Chiefs of the Indians living on Sasquehcmnah, & Delaware River, on their own motion, intirely, desired they should be built, at Shamokin, & *ncar Wyomen, for their own Security as well as of that of the Settlers in Pennsylvania, & promised at the same time to bring their Famihes and Friends to settle about, & between them, and also urged the Government of Pennsylvania, to declare War against the Ohio Indians.

The Proprietors have always taken every Method in their Power,

to prevent the Settlement of Land unpurchased of the Indians,

and can shew their Orders, Proclamations of their Governors,

Reports of Magistrates, who have remov'd such Settlers in the

• Tliat near Wyomen, the Governor, finding it only desired by a few Indians Uying near that Place has not agreed te build.

7iO MANUSCRIPTS OF '''

manner prescribed by the Laws of England against forceable Entrys, who have burnt their Houses, and destroyed their Settlements, as also the acknowledgements of the Indians of their Care in this respect, & they assure their Lordships, there is not the least Intention of granting any of the Lands which are not purchased, and of course not any about y^ abovementioned Places, which certainly are not purchased. -- Their Governor has a standing Instruction never to permit any such Lands to be settled, and therefore must make such Grants at his own Peril.