With regard to what appears, in the proceeding at the Congress, of the wishes of the Indians to have their commercial as well as their political concerns managed in the manner suggested in the Plan of 1764, I have already so fully explained to you the Reason and Necessity for departing from that Plan, that I have only in command from the King to desire that you will not fail in your endeavour to represent this matter in such a light to the Indians, as to convince them that His Majesty adopted the Plan at present recommended for regulating the Trade by Laws of the Colonies, not merely upon what was suggested by those Colonies, but upon full consideration of what was represented to be most desireable for the Interests of the Indians themselves, in respect to their commerce wath His Majesty's Subjects, the improvement and extension of which for the benefit of the Indians will ever be an object of the King's Attention and Regard.

I have only to add that I have received and laid before the

King your Letters N" 7 and 8, but have not any commands from

His Majesty to signify to you thereupon. I am,

Sir,

Your Most Obedient

Humble Servant

Hillsborough. Sir William Johnson Bar*

940 MANUSCRIPTS OF

SIR W^^ JOHNSON TO LORD HILLSBOROUCtH.

Johnson Hall June 24th 1769.

My Lord

Since my last of the 25^ Feby I have had the honor to receive your Lordships Letter of the ^^^ Jany. in consequence of which I shall endeavor to execute his Majestys Commands respecting the Surrender of the additional Cession in the best manner possible So as to Shew the Indians, that the Same is Solely declined from the regard his Majesty has for them, and his tenderness for their posterity. I make no doubt of its being readily accepted by them, and am only concerned Least the Virginians especially the frontier Inhabitants should take possession of and begin Settlements on those Lands, If this is done after the Indians are informed that his Majesty declines them, it will create very Strange Suspicions amongst them & doubtless produce ill consequences, I ought to observe this to your Lordship because I have been well assured by Gentlemen from that Country that the frontier people who have a great desire for these Valuable Lands would at all events make Settlements there, and as it is most certain & that there are Sev'. recent instances of the weakness of Civil Authority & the little regard paid to it by these people together with the disinclination of many persons of consequence to promote Such Settlements & in that I Saw a Deed in the hands of the Virginia Commissioners for o^reat part of these Lands which they assui-ed me had formerly met with Encouragem*. from his Late Majesty & the then Ministry of which numbers were determined to avail themselves forthwith, it did not a little Contribute to induce me to accept of the Cession of that Country to prevent the general ill consequences which must attend the estabhshment of Such Settlements without the Indians consent, as judging it best to take that opportunity for enabling his Majesty to accept or reject it as he might think necessary; --