Moore in consequence of which on the Arrival of their Agents they met the Mohocks who on Examining the Indian deed & Survey, & receiving a handsome sum of money were at length prevailed on to yield their claim to the Patentees in my presence, This will save some trouble, and Expence to the Crown as according to the opinion of the Lawyers there were not sufficient grounds to proceed ag'^. the Patent with any prospect of success in a Court of Law.

906 MANUSCRIPTS OF

In adilition to what I formerly mentioned, concerning the Boundary Line on which I expect shortly to meet the Indians, I have only to express my desire of hearing from your Lordship concerning that part relating to the Province of New York Should I not be honored with your Commands previous to the Congress I shall endeavour to do it in the best manner I can -- as I have all along conceived & as it is understood by the Commander in Chief, the Boundary is a matter of a General Nature, Negotiated on the part of his Majesty with the Indians & that whatever Cession they make is in Consideration of an Adequate present to be solely at the disposal of the King in all Royal Governm^^ & may be Granted by him to any of his Subjects by Mandamus or otherwise without farther purchase from, or treaty with the Indians, I am hopefull that this construction is the Sense & Intention of Government, as I believe it to be the most effectual means of preventing disputes. At the same time it is presumed that all those UnLocated Land at the Back of the Colonies which Shall be So ceded to his Majesty by the Indians will be added to and become a part of Such Provinces as have just claims, or pretensions to Comprehend them within their bounds, or with which they may be most naturally conected, but with this I apprehend I have nothing to do, and that my duty is solely to treat with & obtain a Cession for, and on behalf of the Crown of a Tract of Country along the frontiers, the sere of which is to be the Boundary Line between the English in General, and the Sev^ Indian Nations, agreeable to w'^^ I mean to act, according to my best judgment, and as correspond^ as possible with the Line described on the Map Transmitted by your Lordship, hoping that the Commissioners from the Governments who attend the Treaty will be enabled to give the Strongest & most Satisfactory assurances to the Indians that no Encroachments Shall be made by any of the Inhabit^ on their Lands beyond that Line, and this cannot be too firmly Guarded & secured for should it hereafter be invaded, and the agreements violated on our parts it were better they had never been entered into.