I have always been intirely of your Lordships Opinion with regard to the advantages we may Expect from the jealousies subsisting between one Nation & another, and I have more than once, observed the like to your Lordship, I have been also allways averse to entering into any of their private Concerns. -- It would therefore give me great pain could I have the least reason to accuse myself of deviateing from your Lordships sentiments, and ray own so repeatedly Expressed, and I am persuaded it can be sufficiently made to appear that no part of my proceedings If they have been Justly Expressed in my pacquets, could have a tendency so contrary to the Political practise 1 have allways adopted, -- Indeed it is extremely necessary & gives the Indians a favorable Idea of our justice & friendship to appear concerned at their private divisions & DiflFerences & desirous to see them composed, but I

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 98t

never interfere in any where his Majestys Interests, & the public tranquility is not materially roncerned which was peculiarly the case in the affair of the Deputies sent to Scioto, where the chiefs of the most powerfull nations on the continent were assembled for purposes that, were too Interesting to be overlooked, so that it appeared highly necessary to me that they sho^ know we were not ignorant of their designs, & that they sho*' be reprimanded for their past conduct, & cautioned ag* any future undertakings, & the means by which this was ordered to be effected, as well as the agents made use of were in my Judgement, the best calculated for that purpose as well as for keeping up that Jealousy which contributes so much to our security. Those Depy^ are shortly expected home when I shall transmit the result of their Embassy, and I flatter myself that my long experience in these matters, & zeal to acquit myself as a usefull se^-v* to the Crown will continue to me your Lordships favorable opinion of my Capacity, for the office I have the honor to hold, as after a series of successful services, nothing co^ be a more sensible mortification to me than the thought of having incurred your Lordships Censure.