J^st nor ever meant to stand on punctilios with you about a Letter as I must from my sev'. avocations often trespass in my Correspondence, and indeed I should have wrote you long since but that ever since my last severe Illness I have been abroad either to try for health, or on publick business, and the Delays at the late Treaty kept me at Fort Stanwix two months -- Indeed my remote situation furnishes me with very few topicks except as to Indian matters and the late Treaty, of which you have had an opportunity of hearing, and from which I am scarcely yet disengaged, -- In return for your friendly wishes on the entrance of the new Year, I most cordially salute you with ray sincere desires that you may pass through it ^•ifh the full enjoyment of your health, and every other blessing yon require.

I am of opinion that the (in some measure) dear bought Experi-

924 MANUSCRIPTS OF

ence'I have acquired of Indian affairs may yet be found wanting, and altho' I cannot think so favorably of myself as your friendship may induce you to do, I cannot help agreeing in the opinion of the impracticability of the Trades being conducted in a proper manner on the footing now proposed for reasons which I have little occasion to point out to you, nor is it probable they will ever come into the expence attending such establishments as are from the present state of our Indian connections absolutely Necessary, any more than they are likely to fall upon such prudent & Impartial Regulations as are or shall be wanting to secure the peaceable enjoym*, of that branch of Trade. The referring that matter to the Albany Members, a circumstance which I had not before heard of, is a very unpromising beginning, and without the Gift of prophecy one may naturally draw the conclusion.