Croghan at Fort Pitt acquainting me that a soldier had shot an Indian there & that another was killed by a Virginian two days after near to that River. The continuance of which proceedings will render all Transactions Avith them abortive, and altho' agreable to their Wishes some farther directions to the Gov^^. would give pleasure to the Ind^. Yet I fear it is not in the present state of things in the power of our Governments here to put a stop to these Evils.

As to the Affairs of Trade I wish I could say that they had no cause of Complaint, but the contrary has been too often manifested of late. Commissioners are indeed appointed to meet from some of the Colonies, but it is not Expected that an Expence will be incurred adequate to the Service, in which case it is much better to do nothing. But a still greater & more alarming circumstance arose from the wants & disappointm* of the Ind^. in consequence of the non importation Agreemt^. Those with whom they Traded embraced that opportunity of accounting for the cause of their wants, as prejudice dictated, & therefore had I not fallen upon a happy mode of Explanation, or they been accustomed to doubt the Veracity of the Traders, It would have

976 MANUSCRIPTS OF

had the Worst Consequences. Tliese Secret Negotiations which from their bulk cannot appear on the face of the-proctieiUngs are the Ground Work of the Whole, & the beforemenf^. Circumstance proved no small addition to tlie Expence, as I was Willing to falsify a representation of so dangerous a Tendency persuaded that in so doing it should be approved of. -- Another Circumstance much complained of as well during the Treaty, as since by those Indians who accompanied me to this place is of the great Cargoes of Rum wch (of late in particular) are sent amst them to their ruin, as they call it.