Some men might attribute my remarks to Interested motives, which I could suflSciently demonstrate is not the case, on the contrary, I am sorry to say that I believe there are men in the World that would in my situation regard the late System with a Malicious pleasure as what must in its final consequences Exalt their own Reputation, and enlarge their Autho-. rity, but I thank Heaven I have ever thought my self Love a small sacrifice to the publick.

The business of the late Treaty was attended with many difficulties & obstructions. The Indians were thro' the former delays,

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 925

very suspicious of our Views, respecting the boundary, & the difficulties to the Northward, where our Settlements are already so far extended and where so many Tribes are settled is not easily to be conceived. The New England Missionaries who I have good reason to think were very seriously bent to have something favorable to the old Views of Connecticut within the province of Pennsylvania, and who were doubtless eager to get an opportunity for extending into the Indian Country endeavored to dissuade them from establishing the Line in any wise favorable for this province, & memorialled me ag* extending it far North, or West, this extraordinary behaviour in opposition to the Orders of the King and the Interests of the Province, deserved to be taken notice of, however I contented myself with pursuing the Task recommended to me & happily effected it as advantageously as could possibly be expected. The Ascertaining this Line so far as it regards this Province by Monuments & Accurate descriptions, is absolutely necessary as well as that Sev^. of the Indian Chiefs should attend upon the occasion, but the Sum of jGIOO would Uttle more than defray the Expense of provisions for that Service.