The sole and absolute property of this Country they desired might be secured to them ; and as a proof of perpetual Alliance, and to support Our Rights against any Claims which the French might make, founded on the va(yue and uncertain pretence of unlimited Grants or accidental local discovery, they declared themselves willing to yield to Great Britain, the Sovereignty and absolute dominion of it, to be secured and protected by Forts to be erected whenever it should be thought proper.

A Treaty was accordingly entred into and concluded upon these terms by M^' Nanfan then Lieu* Governor of New York; and a Deed

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 779

of surrender of .the Lands, expressing the Terms and Conditions, executed by the Indians.

The advantages of such a concession on the part of the Indians were greater than our most sanguine hopes could have expected ; and had the Judgment Zeal and Integrity of those, whose Duty it was faithfully to execute the Conditions of the Engagement, been equal to those of him who made it, the Indians might have been forever secured in Our Interest and all disputes with France about American Territory prevented ; but by neglect of Government on one hand, and the enormous abuses of Individuals in the purchase of Lands on the other hand, all the solid advantages of this Treaty and concession were lost, and with them the memory even of the Transaction itself; The Indians were disobliged and disgusl^d, and many of them joined with the Enemy in the War wl.ich followed this Treaty, and disturbed our Settlements, whilst he French, to whom this Transaction pointed out what their j Ian should be, took every measure to get possession of the Country by Forts and Military Establishments ; and altho' they were compel led at the Treaty of Utrecht to acknowledge in express terms )ur Sovereignty over the Six Nations, yet finding We took no Si ;ps to avail Ourselves of such a favourable declaration cither by a rene fal of Our Engagement with the Indians, or taking measures to supj ort Our sovereignty by forts erected in proper parts of the Coun --y, they ceased not to pursue that Plan, in which they had aire: dy made so considerable a progress, and it was not 'till the year 17 ^5, when they had by their Establishment at Niagara, secured to themselves the possession of Lake Ontario, that We saw too hte our Error in neglecting the advantages which might have b-^en derived from the Treaty of 1701.