Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1692-1694. 539

Commanded by Coll^o Foulkes in the West Indies which I
hope by this time are in action, this is all our news
M^r Trebit arriving yesterday gave me your Exc^llcys Letter
for which I return thanks I hope you have rec'd my last by
M^r Pope giving the news of the defeat of that party of French
& Indians that had invaded our Mohaukes Countrey I
thought fit to give you a short acco^t of what I observe of our
Indians of the Five Nations as now Circumstanced they are
Witnesses to the Desolations of many Out Farms in our Fron-
tiers to the small Number of Forces we have upon our Fron-
tiers which brings an unsupportable charge upon this small
Province & all the encouragement they have to Continue the
war with the French from us which is small to them tho great
from us they are daily invited & allured by the French and
those praying Indians they have already debauch'd to Come
over to their side in their Conference with me after their
return from pursuit of the Enemy they did magnify the
strength of Cannida & Commend their Liberality to their
Indians saying the Gov^r of Cannida gives his Indians Guns &
Ammunition You give only Ammunition I did endeavour to
give them satisfaction & promised to see them again this
Summer my speedy coming with the Forces I brought for
their relief had a great Influence upon them & they were
seemingly Contented

Liber K.

I have their Majestys Directions to maintain the Antient
Alliance with them which Can never be Effectually Done (not-
withstanding their Conveniency of having the English to
friend unless we make some greater show of Action & there
be a Greater force upon our & their frontiers to retrieve Con-
nestoquioena (a place beyond Schennectida near Corlaers
Lake and our out farms & Fortificitions make large presents
& build a Stone fort at Albany w^ch being Furnished with
such Ordinance as I brought over will make our Indians true
and Stedfast & protect us all from Canada when I shall meet
the Indians I will take Care to enjoyn them that they neither
do nor suffer any Damage to be done to their Majestys Sub-
jects of Maryl^d
Our Assembly are now sitting & have Signified their their
good Affection to their Majestys by giving 6000^l for the Year
ensuing to reinforce Albany & the Frontires but we are of
opinion it is almost Impossible for the people to pay it our
Youth run into Connetticot & the Ierseys to avoid the duty
so that we are hard put to it to find 200 Men to releive those
that are to be discharged May next I have wrote to S^r W^m
Phipps for 200 Men which may be well Spared out of Con-
netticot & the nearest parts
If your Excellency do Consider with the Council and As-

p. 236