The Enghsh were unknown to the Western Confederacy before this Century, and the Nature of Our Government, Genius & pursuits of our people, prevented them from being objects of Jealousy to the Six Nations & others with whom they were somewhat acquainted, The little we had to do with them was easily & reasonably transacted whilst they had few suspicions of our designs, a slender opinion of our power and Abilities, and whilst the Inhabitants & Traders thro' fear were cautious of giving them offence. On the other hand they saw a small but Vigorous enterprising Colony in Canada, whose Government, Pursuits, and Genius, Led them to make bold advances, to carry War into the midst of their Country, and whose Politicks set one Nation against another which enabled them to penetrate into the Western Territory, and to form Alliances and Trade with Nations entire strangers to us With one or other of whomthey were nevertheless Generally at War. These were a people suffic' to alarm the Jealousy of Indians, Their Eyes were fixed upon them, & they were glad to see an other European power in the Country, and Indeed for the Greatest part of this Century I cant find that the Inds, were undeceived concerning us. Nevertheless in proportion as they became acquainted with Europeans, ami courted by both parties, their Wants encreased, as did the Expences aiicnding

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them for the French spare;l neither pains or money upon these occasions, whilst we avoiiled both, & what little was given was so ill timed, and passed thro' the hands of such Avaricious, Ignorant & Slothfull managers, as rendered it of little or no purpose, S6 that whoever shall peruse the Records of Ind". affairs will find that their Complaints have been encreasing from the Comencem^. of this Century & their defect", from our Interest is as visible till at the breaking out of the late War they were totally alienated from our Interest At which time the Ind^. were so far imoroved in Knowledge & Avarice that their Services became very Expensive & some Gentlemen contributed thereto by unsuccessful! endeavors to acquire an undue Influence amongst them, The Western Ind^. even at this time were little known, and much prejudiced against us thro' the Suggestions of the French, & our own misconduct to those few who sometimes resorted to Osswego as I once before .related, and as for those who were better acquainted with us, altho' they still retained but a Slender Opinion of our Abilities, they nevertheless grew alarmed & suspicious on observing our encrease and the advancement of our settlements, which joined to a Dislike that had been gradually encreasing rendered the appointment of a Superintend^ extreamly necessary had no War broke out with France.