Y^ friend S"^ W™ Johnson is sore fail'd he is every now & then m a bad way, wherefore is tho* *not to last many years more, which will be a great loss to mankind in general', but particularly to this neighbourhood & I don't see that any one of the Family is capable of keeping up the gen' applause when he is gone.

SIR W'^^. JOHNSON TO r GOV. COLDEN.

Johnson hall Novr 23d 1769. Dear Sir

I have had the pleasure of receiving your kind Letter of the 5^^ Inst and am much obliged to you for the friendship you Express in it on the subjects of my last. I hope that this will find you a little rested after the formalities & troubles on entering upon Government,

I am really at a Loss which will be the best method for securmg the Lands of the two Mohock Villages, It should Certainly be done in the way that is likely to be most Effectual as well as Satisfactory to them, and in this point your Judgment will better direct you as to what is most likely to be the strongest security thereof, against any future attempts to deprive them of it.

You may be assured that the Division petitioned for, for the County of Albany, is the most rational, & liable to the fewest Objections of any that could be thought of, and that should it be Carried through the House it will be of advantage to the Settlem*^ and property this Way, without prejudice to the rest.