174 ANGER OE THE INDIANS. [1760-1763. 



calamity. Want, suffering, and death, were the 

 consequences ; and this cause alone would have 

 been enough to produce general discontent. But, 

 unhappily, other grievances were superadded.^ 



The English fur-trade had never been well regu- 

 lated, and it was now in a worse condition than 

 ever. Many of the traders, and those in their 



1 Extract from a MS. letter — Sir W. Johnson to Governor Colden, 

 Dec. 24, 1763. 



" I shall not take upon me to point out the Originall Parsimony &c. to 

 w^ the first defection of the Indians can with justice & certainty be at- 

 tributed, but only observe, as I did in a former letter, that the Indians 

 (whose friendship was never cultivated by the English with that atten- 

 tion, expense, & assiduity with w*» y« French obtained their favour) were 

 for many years jealous of our growing power, were repeatedly assured by 

 the French (who were at y« pains of having many proper emissaries 

 among them) that so soon as we became masters of this country, we 

 should immediately treat them with neglect, hem them in with Posts & 

 Forts, encroach upon their Lands, and finally destroy them. All w^ after 

 the reduction of Canada, seemed to appear too clearly to the Indians, who 

 thereby lost the great advantages resulting from the possession w^* the 

 French formerly had of Posts & Trade in their Country, neither of which 

 they could have ever enjoyed but for the notice they took of the Indians, 

 & the presents they bestowed so bountifully upon them, w^ however 

 expensive, they wisely foresaw was infinitely cheaper, and much more 

 efiectual than the keeping of a large body of Regular Troops, in their sev- 

 eral Countrys, ... a Plan which has endeared their memory to most of 

 the Indian Nations, who would I fear generally go over to them in case 

 they ever got footing again in this Country, & who were repeatedly ex- 

 horted, & encouraged by the French (from motives of Interest & dislike 

 \7^ they will always possess) to fall upon us, by representing that their 

 liberties & Country were in y« utmost danger." In January, 1768, 

 Colonel Bouquet, commanding in Pennsylvania, writes to General Am- 

 herst, stating the discontent produced among the Indians by the sup- 

 pression of presents. The commander-in-chief repUes, " As to appro- 

 priating a particular sum to be laid out yearly to the warriors in presents, 

 &c., that I can by no means agree to; nor can I think it necessary to give 

 them any presents by way of Bribes, for if they do not behave properly 

 they are to be punished." And again, in February, to the same ofiicer, 

 " As you are thoroughly acquainted with my sentiments regarding the 

 treatment of the Indians in general, you will of course order Cap. Ecuyer 

 . . . not to give those who are able to provide for their famiUes any 

 encouragement to loiter away their time in idleness about the Fort.'*^ 



