Whitehall 12th October 1768. SiK,

The experience the King has had of your ability and zeal for His service, in the department of Indian affairs, will always induce His Majesty to give attention to whatever you may think fit to submit upon that subject. His Majesty has therefore fully considered the remarks you make in your letter to me N" 2, upon the present state of the service under your direction j and it gives His

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 909

Majesty great satisfaction to fint/, that the arrangements pointed out in my letter of the 15'^ of April, are, in your opinion, judiciously calculated to answer the object they have in view.

It is not however upon the propriety of the propositions themselves that the advantage of them altogether* depends, it is upon the execution of them, and upon the regulations, which the colonies shall think fit to adopt for the management of the commercial part, that we are to rely for those benefits which are intended to be the result of them.

The relieving this kingdom from every expence, that can with safety be avoided, is, in its present state, a consideration of the greatest importance, it is one great object of this plan, and I have it in command from the King in an especial manner to recommend to you the strictest (Economy in those services, the expence of which is to be defrayed by this Kingdom • and it is His Majesty's pleasure that, after consulting with General Gage, you should make out some certain Estimate of what you think the state of the service in your department may require, to be laid before His Majesty for His consideration, in order to the determining whether any greater sum than that recommended by the Board of Trade, should be finally allowed for this service.