Tis my sense of these consequences alone that induces me to offer a word in addition to what I formerly said hereon, for I aver upon my honor I never bad the smallest advantage in the

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 953

appointments that formerly existed, but adcU trouble in Corresponding with the officers, constantly sending them instructions & paying their acct^ & settled sallarys when I reel them from the Comr in chief, and very often obliged to advance them money befor I rec^ it myself. Your Lordship will then judge how little I ought to have Coveted this from any other motive than the better execution of the public Service.

This moment I have advice that the people have abandoned their settlements from Bedford to Fort Pitt, in consequence of some Robberies committed by some partys of Indians, and also fearing their resentment for their own late conduct tovvards them, That a party of Ind^ coming from war had robbed a House where there was only one Woman, whom they threw into the Potowmack, on which a party of the Inhabitants pursued & killed three of the Indians, That they had then resolved to augment their number Si, proceed to cut off a Mingo Village not far from thence, If so, a War is inivitable. In short there is but too much Licentiousness on all sides for by the same acc^t I am assured that Callender a Trader on his way to Fort Pitt with 25 Horses Loaded with Indian Goods was attacked near Bedford by 30 White men disguised & painted like Indians who destroyed & Carried away the Greatest part of his Goods declaring they would suffer none to pass on to the Ind^. That this circumstance has greatly exasperatetl the Ind« & contributed to alarm the peaceable part of the W^hite Inhabitants, When we consider the state & disposition of the Indians a people without Laws, or Government very revengeful and influenced much by French Councills & very Jealous of us.