THOMAS] ENGLISH POLICY TOWARD THE INDIANS !')Gl 



The third is a treatj' between the .same parties as the last, made at 

 Picolata, Florida, November 18, 1765. The fifth article is as follows: 



To prevent all disputes on account of encroacliineutB, oi' supposed eucroacliuients, 

 made by the Euglisli inUabitauts of liis llajesty's said province, on the lands or 

 hunting grounds reserved and claimed by the I'pper and Lower nations of Creek 

 Indians, and that no doubts, mistakes, or disputes, may, for the future, ai-ise; in 

 consideration of the great marks of friendship, benevolence, and clemency, gener- 

 osity, and protection, exteuilcd to lis, the said Indians of the Tpjicr and Lower 

 Creek nations, by His Majesty King George the Third, we, the chiefs, head warriors, 

 and leaders, of our respective nations, by virtue and in pursuance of the full rights 

 and power which we now have, and are possessed of, have agreed, and wo do hereby 

 agree, that, for the future, the boundary line of His Majesty's said province of East 

 Florida shall be, all the sea coast as far as the tide flows, in the manner settled with 

 the English by the Great Tomachiches, with all the country to the eastward of St. 

 John's river, forming nearly an island from its source to its entrance into the sea, 

 and to the westward of St. John's river by a line drawn from the entrance of the 

 creek Ocklawagh into said river above the great lake, and near to Spalding's upper 

 trading storehouse, to the forks of Black creek at Colville's plantation; and from 

 thence to that part of St. Mary's river which shall be intersected by the continu- 

 ation of the line to the entrance of Turkey creek into the river Altamaha. That no 

 notice is to bo taken of such horses or cattle as shall pass the line. And we do 

 hereby accordingly grant and confirm unto His Majesty, his heirs and successors, 

 all the said lands within the said lines.' 



But little ueed be said in regard to the English policy in the Cana- 

 dian provinces from their acqirisition in 1762. The system outlined in 

 the jiroclamation of October 7, 17G3, appears to have been followed 

 from that time up to the present day, and it may truly be said that, 

 as a general rule, it has been one of justice and humanity creditable 

 to the Canadiau authorities. Mr Jo.seph Howe, in retiring from his 

 position as superintendent of Indian affairs iu 1872, makes the follow- 

 ing statement: "Up to the present time the results are encouraging, 

 and although I regret that the state of my health will soou compel me 

 to relinquish the oversight of the work, I trust it will not be neglected 

 by those who may come after me, and who ought never to forget that 

 the crowning glory of Canadian policy in all times past, and under all 

 administrations, has been the treatment of the Indians." Though this 

 statement is perhaps too broad, yet the course pursued under English 

 control, with some exceptions relative to the seaboard provinces, has 

 been an honorable one. 



One precaution which the commissioners adopted and have generally 

 followed was to require the assembled Indians to name the chiefs, or per- 

 sons of their tribes, who were authorized by them to make the treaty 

 and .sign the grant. This fact and the names of the persons so selected 

 were inserted in the deed or grant. 



' Laws, U. S., etc, respecting Public Lands, vol. ii , 1836, app., p. 276*. 



