the Sioux & Chipeweighs, with w^h I think we have very little to
do, in good policy or otherwise. By Letters I have this day
received from Capt Claus I find that farther drafts on me have
been shown to him at Montreal to the amount of ,£1100, and I
hear the whole Exceeds j£5000. In short from the several
acc^s I have received I am induced to think there must be
some particular motives for this Expense, ani3 indeed the method
.^64 MANUSCRIPTS OF
practiced in conducting Affairs there tends to strengthen that opinion. The Traders have been vastly indulged to procure thtnr Esteem, but are nevertheless very importunate for their Money and I am at a loss what to say to them upon it, for Expences seem to have been made & Ind^ called purely to shew authority and gain reputat" the business was given into the hands of the Commissy with a bad orace, and much has been done to draw the latter into large Expenses, which however he is sufficiently armed against by his Instructions, as was also the Major upon the whole I have reason to apprehend some thing more than common is in View (^ which may not be mattter of surprise to you) & I should have Given the Sec^ of State a Hint of it so that he might at least be sent soBie where else, but that I would not do it with* your knowledge & approbation -- I cannot help having more than ordinary apprehensions at present on the score of the Indians, from some Intelligences I have lately received particularly from a few Indian Chiefs with whom I have been well acquainted near 30 Years, whose interest it is to be faithful, and who never once deceived me in that long period.