Ocf. that we could, .withdraw them , and some must of necessity remain until the Lakes and Rivers are open ; I am Extremely happy to find that those Remarks which I humbly offered on the subject of the reform have been honored with his Majestys attention -- It would much Exceed the bounds of a Letter to enter minutely into so multifarious a subject, or to point out the various arguments that might be brought .in proof of the Weiight of any Remarks, Whatever I have presumed to offer in that way was perfectly disinterested & arose from a conviction of their necessity. The arrangemt^. pointed out in your Lordships Letter of April last, were in my opinion judiciously calculated to answer their object which to me appeared to be the relieving the Kingdom from a Large Expence by transferring the management of Trade to the sevi. Colonies on a supposition that these Colonies would do every thing necessary therein, but if my Experience in these

SIR AVILLIAM JOHNSON. 929

matters here, joyned to my opportunitys of knowing the State of Indian affairs at this time gave me reason to apprehend that the wise measures of Government were liable to be frustrated, or would not be carried on so as to answer their Good intentions, or the Publick Security I thought it my duty to offer my thoughts to avoid a charge of remissness in a matter of so much moment.

My Lord, I would willingly avoid any reflection on the people here, especially those amongst them whose Errors may be imputed to ignorance of the consequence & importance of a subject laid before them but when your Lordship considers the Characters disposition and practice of those who grant money for publick service in America it will not appear new or Extraordinary to suppose that they will not see the necessity of being at any expence adequate to the importance of the subject I could have recourse to undoubted authorities to prove their Extreme parsimony & backwardness, on the most alarming occasions, when their all was at stake, but I persuade myself that enough of this is known, to Justify my apprehensions concerning their Conduct, in matters which appear of less consequence, on the subject of which they are in general totally ignorant, and will of course judge the necessary (or perhaps any) Expence as needless, it is my duty to represent this as it will in its Consequences affect the Crown, -- I gave Sr H Moore a Sketch of my Regulations for the Trade & the last Instructions to my officers, who laid it before his Assembly, and they have as I am since informed, committed it to the Management of the Albany Representatives, I Likewise conversed on the Subject with the GoV^. of New Jersey & Pennsylvania, and from all that I can hear, there is little prospect that the Asserablys will do what may have been Expected from them on this subject.