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India7ia University 
William Johnson, the able superintendent of Indian affairs | 
for the northern department, denounced them in 1770 as 
“that lawless colony of the Wabash who are daily increasing 
in numbers, and whilst they particularly hate us as English- 
men are really enemies of all government”. Again he wrote to 
Lord Hillsborough, the colonial secretary: 
When the Indians are assembled on public affairs there are always 
traders secreted in the neighborhood, and some publicly who not only 
make them intoxicated .... but afterwards get back the greater 
part of their presents in exchange for spirituous liquors thereby defeat- 
ing the intentions of the crown. 
In spite of the evils which Johnson and Croghan saw, they 
were without authority to suppress them. In 1768 Lord Hills- 
borough had definitely lodged the control of the Indian trade 
with the colonial governors, and no improvement seemed pos- 
sible.“ 
Under this loose system of managing the trade all sorts 
of evils resulted. The traders were guilty of brutal treat- 
ment of the Indians, and the Indians, themselves, unable to 
refuse the temptation of rum, again and again besought the 
government to protect them. Under these conditions British 
traders got no more furs from the Indians than before the 
surrender of Canada, and French merchants were as pros- 
perous as ever. 
Various suggestions were made to improve the Indian trade. 
Sir William Johnson insisted first that there must be fairness 
and order in dealing with the Indians. Next he would remove 
the French.^- Then he would rebuild the posts and block the 
French on the Mississippi from entrance to the country.^^ 
In 1771 New York proposed to Pennsylvania and Quebec 
that as these three colonies were most concerned with the 
Northwest fur trade they cooperate to regulate it. The pro- 
posal came to nothing, however, on account of the objections 
of Quebec, for that province apparently felt that her people 
O’Callaghan (ed.), The Documentary History of the State of Neiv York, II, 565. 
Circular letter of Hillsborough to the governors in America, in O’Callaghan (ed.). 
Documents relating to the Colonial History of Neio York (Albany, 1856), VIII, 55. 
12 Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade, January 20, 1764, in O’Callaghan 
(ed.). Documents relating to the Colonial History of Nets York, VII, 599. 
12 Sir William Johnson to General Gage, January 29, 1767, in O’Callaghan (ed.). The 
Documentary History of the State of New York, II, 488. General Gage to Sir William 
Johnson, February 8, 1767, in ibid. 
