All this is carried on with a secrecy which renders it the more dangerous, the public in general are ignoran* hereof, & unguarded against them, & thus American affairs are represented as best suits the views of party, or the pursuits of Interest. -- It has been admitted & is most certain that the Colonies can neither attend to these matters or correspond in sentiments so as to defeat these designs. ^ All these affairs are properly the Task of a person imder his Majestys imediate direction & is it possible, my Lord, that such person can oppose himself to an Enemy so powerfull without proper support & some Assistants, It may appear improbable that the French or Spaniards sho<i. act this part, and still more so that they should act by authority; whilst a peace is subsisting between the British Crown & them, but be this as it will, certain it is that not only several known Partizans & many Traders but also some officers of their Troops have actually" come into the Indian Country, where they have conducted themselves as is represented, and their Councils have not only greatly retarded the measures we are now taking but threaten this country with farther Calamities. -- The Indians who seemed most desirous of a boundary line, are now either indifferent about it, or apprehensive that we have something thereby in View which may be dangerous to their Libertys. The French &

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 915

Spaniards have given them a formal invitation, and used every medns in their power to draw them to a Gen'. Congress at the Misisipi. . And I have undoubted authority for assuring your Lordship that had not my Belts and Messages arrived when they did to the Southward, the Chiefs would have complied with the Invitation.