Orders respecting the duty of the former, and wch were given out before the Appointment of Commissaries was projected, as the Latter is now approved of at home, and the rest of ihe plan by a Second Letter I have from L^ Shelburne is Likely to be so the Comiss^ will certainly be of no use unless supported in the Authority proposed for them over Indians and Traders, which is intended cannot interfere with that of an officer but will Save the Latter an infinity of trouble -- the Office of Ccmissy was first projected by the Alinistry, and his powers by them particularl}- ascertained, which cannot be executed should the Comdif Officer interfere in Matters of Trade and Traders &ca or should he fail ot giving him a reasonable Support when demantled. besides shoulil the latter prove the case the Traders will disregard the Comy whc is lO Inspect them,& he will soon Lose all respect with the Indians, which are the Two prin' Objects of his Appointment -- I take the liberty of mentioning this not as what has happened but what

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 835

probably may, and from my inclination to prevent disputes arising where either the Officer or Comsy should be fond of stretching their autliority Assigning their Separate dutys will prevent both, and I flatter myself you are persuaded that I have not nor can I have any other motive for the Liberty I take in offering my thoughts hereon.

As Michilimackinac Seems now to be our principal Mart of Trade and that for sev^ reasons it should be well and Duly Inspected I think a Comissx there very necessary, and shall be glad of your thoughts about it, which if agreable to mine I shall remove one of the Comiss>s to that place early in the Spring and appoint another in his Stead