Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON. 995

of it by his Brother and others, before the story was new modelled as it has been since to favor him, -- To Excuse his having scalped thero which with Indians is considered as a National Act, and Declaration of War he says he was told that War had been actually commenced between the English and Indians, and that in his hurry & confusion the Woman & Child were killed, -- but it appears clearly to me, and it is likewise the opinion of his Excel 1/ General Gage, that he has been guilty of these murders tliro' Wantonness & Cruelty. For, in the first place the Indians whenever they meditate mischief carefully avoid Liquor, whereas it appears that they were very much disguised, and tho' apt to u?e Threats & quarrel at such times, yet incapable of putting them in execution, as is evident from the number he killed of them, and in the next place he could have but little Temptation to kill the Woman, and not the least inducement to murder the Child but what has arose from sentiments of Barbarity superior to the most Cruel Savage, who seldom puts an Infant to death. -- The General has directed him to be sent to Canada to be tryed,but, (as is usual on such occasions) the Interest which his Creditors will make with those who are his Jarors, and the prejudices of the Common ^Ity against Indians will probably prove the means of his being acquitted, altho' he makes use of threats that he v/ill do muL-h more mischief when enlarged. The nation imediately sent down 15 Deputies to lay the matter before me, & to assure me that they had given strict orders to prevent any sudden act of Resentment, and that they relied on our Justice in affording them such satisfaction as the Case required, as well as in preventing the.like for the future, to which end they (after complaining much of the want of any Regulation for Trade) requested that Traders might not be suffered to go where they pleased but confined to the Posts and there duly Inspected. -- I enlarged much on the circumstance alledged by Ramsay, that the Ind^. threatened his Life In which case I observed that not only the English Laws, but the Laws of Nature justified his defending himself, and after adding every thing I thought prudent or necessary I covered (according to Custom) the Graves of the 8 Persons whom he killed, and dismissed the Deputies with a large & handsome pi-esent, and wlUi proper messages & behs to their Nation. -- The Indians at par<'