M.} Croghan has represented the Case of the Indian Deputys who accompanied him to the Ilinois to whose Services he was 'greatly indebted, and who lost their hunting season thereby, I cannot but recommend this to your Consideration, as a reward for

840 MANUSCRIPTS OF

their behavior and an incitement to others to act in like manner, whatever is ordered for them may be given them at Fort Pitt ; -- I wish the Services lately performed at the Ilinois may appear adequate to the expense, the amount of which I am not acquainted with but I suppose you are furnished with the particulars --

I have only further to assure you of the perfect Regard with

which I am

Gen' Gage. Dear Sir

GEN. GAGE TO SIR W^. JOHNSON.

New York Febry. 8th. 1767. Dear Sir,

I have received yours of the 29th ul™o: M"". Croghan has intimated here his Design of quitting the Service ^ but I have heard no other Reason given for it but that he does not find it answer ; and that he could do better for himself in another situation.

No better Method occurs to me to prevent the French from interfering with our Trade, or our own Traders from carrying their Furs and Skins down the Mississippi, than to forbid all kinds of Merchandize going up the Ohio or Ilinois Rivers, and all Ships from going down those Rivers ; and unless Posts are erected on convenient spots near the Junction of those two Rivers with the Mississippi, with orders to the above Purpose, the Ilinois w^ill be of little use. At present you can only say that there is a Fort, which may give us some superiority with respect to the Savages; at an enormous Expence ; but little or no service as to the Trade.