Sir William Johnson", well knowing how extreamly tender, the Indians in General are with regard to Forts, near to their Country, or hunting Grounds, and naturally judging a Body of armed Men to support as it were the Building of those, at a time, & in Places, Yv'here he had many reasons to believe the Neighbouring Indians (as it hath since fully appeared) were dissatisfied with the Government on the score of Lands, and encroaching by their Purchases, on their hunting Grounds, and crouding too ne^r upoa

758 MANUSCRIPTS OF

Ihcm by their Extended Settlements, he judged this conduct in the Government of Pennsylvania was Impolitick, and he must beg leave to be still of the same Oppinion, and as he looked upon those Proceedings to be contrary to the true Interest of the Community, lie did suspect they were pushed forward upon other motives, and to conclude, unless the Province of Pennsylvania, is both able, and willing to maintain their Land pretentions by force of arms agamst the Indians, Sir William Johnson, hath not altered his Oppinion, but doth, with a yet Stronger degree of Conviction than, formerly, humbly^oifer his Conception of the matter in the the same words as before, namely " that the most effectual method " of Producing Tranquility to that Province, would be a Voluntary, " & open Surrender of that Deed of Sale, to fix with the Indians, "in the best manner they can, the bounds for their settlements, and " make them Guaranties to it."