The many nations of Westward Indians, in comparison with whom, the 6 Nations are but a handful, might pass by Niagara in order to come to Oswego, where the French stop them &. their goods, secure them by negotiation & engross their Trade, thib we felt for some years before the war began when very few of iliose Indians came to trade with us to Oswego, and latterly the chief Trade there was rather carried on with the French than Iniians, by which means our Enemies procured assortments & supplies of Goods from us to support their Trade at & from Niagara.

'j'he advantage of the Indian Trade in general to the commerce & . aanufactures of our Mother Country, I need not enlarge upon to /our Lordships, you know it is carried on wholly with the mo lufactures of our own Country, and that the produce of it, exi ept the necessary consumption here, is all exported to England.

S:R WILLIAM JOHNSON. 783

This may possibly be the last letter I may have the honour to write to your Lordships Board. I would therefore wish to make it as worthy of your attention as I can. I hope your Lordships will for that reason bear with me if I make it a long one, tho I will endeavour to be as concise as the apprehended Importance of my subject will permit.

My Lords, whether the actual extirpation of the French from North America will be effected by His Majesties Arms, before he thinks proper to lay them down, is a point which I do as I ought leave in respectful silence.