74 THE FRENCH, ENGLISH, AND INDIANS. [1625-1750. 



friendship. But, at the early periods of her history, 

 the assembly of New York was made up in great 

 measure of narrow-minded men, more eager to 

 consult their own petty interests than to pursue 

 any far-sighted scheme of public welfare.^ Other 

 causes conspired to injure the British interest in 

 this quarter. The annual present sent from Eng- 

 land to the Iroquois was often embezzled by corrupt 

 governors or their favorites.^ The proud chiefs 

 were disgusted by the cold and haughty bearing of 

 the English officials, and a pernicious custom pre- 

 vailed of conducting Indian negotiations through 

 the medium of the fur-traders, a class of men held 

 in contempt by the Iroquois, and known among 

 them by the significant title of " rum carriers."^ 

 In short, through all the counsels of the province 

 Indian affairs were grossly and madly neglected.^ 



With more or less emphasis, the same remark 

 holds true of all the other English colonies.'^ With 



1 Smith, Hist. N. Y. passim. 



2 Rev. Military Operations, Mass. Hist. Coll. 1st Series, VII. 67. 



3 Golden, Hist. Five Nat. 161. 



4 MS. Papers of Cadwallader C olden. MS. Papers of Sir William 

 Johnson. 



" We find the Indians, as far back as the very confused manuscript 

 records in my possession, repeatedly upbraiding this province for tlieir 

 negligence, their avarice, and their want of assisting them at a time when 

 it was certainly in their power to destroy the infant colony of Ganada, 

 altliough supported by many nations ; and this is likewise confessed by 

 the writings of the managers of tliese times." — MS. Letter — Johnson to 

 the Board of Trade, May 'M, 1765. 



5 " I apprehend it will clearly appear to you, that the colonies had all 

 along neglected to cultivate a proper understanding with the Indians, 

 and from a mistaken notion have greatly despised them, without consider- 

 ing that it is in tlieir power to lay waste and destroy the frontiers. This 

 opinion arose from our confidence in our scattered numbers, and the par- 

 simony of our people, who, from an error in politics, would not expend 

 five pounds to save twenty." — MS. Letter — Johnson to the Board of Trade, 

 November 13, 1763. 



