I had received an acct. of the Murder of the Traders by the Cherokeesj they have neither plundered or Scalped them which shows that it has been done by way of retahation, -- Tis certain they have exceeded the number of those who were killed by the white people, but they never act on equal principles on such occasions, and it was of this I have been all along so apprehensive, for as the Life of an Individual is of much more consequence to them than those of Ten in our Estimation, their thirst for Revenge is without bounds, Nor can I well see how satisfaction can be easily obtained from them. A Gen^. War has taken its rise from a smaller Cause, for they imagining that War is intended & being once entred seldom recede, and the Lawless persons who have been the Authors of it

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 84.9

would be the last to rise in defence of their Country if invaded, as experience has shown. The Weston Nat^, may not follow the Cherokees Example, on account of the murder of the 2 Squas at Detroit by a negro who is now in jail, but I believe will escape punishment for y*^ want of prosecution. I believe Col. Campbell and his officers, who were then at Detroit, know y®. affair as well as any.

I have had a particular information of the murder of the Delaware Indian at Redstone Creek, it appears from the information of sevi. White Men that the Quarrell arose thro' the Instigation of Coll. Cresap of Maryland who trades on that frontier &, (probably from interested motives) had actually told the deceased that if he met with any Traders in the Country or going to it, he should take their Liquor from them & cause the Kegs to be staved.