238 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

this respect, and am at the same time to advise you, that S^r
William is directed to fun the Line Conformable to a Report
of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations on
that Subject, (an Extract from which is herewith trans-
mitted to You.) As I expect S^r William Johnson will soon
Settle with me the General Plan of Execution, any hints that
you may be pleased to furnish, or any Representation that you
may think proper to make, of any thing that may in the Ad-
justment of these matters, particularly effect the Province
under your Command, will be duly attended to.
I have the Honour to be with great Regard, Sir
To Your most Obedient Humble Servant
The Honble Lieu^t Gov^r Sharpe. Tho^s Gage

Extract from a Report of the Lords of Trade to the Earl
of Shelburne.
Whitehall December 23^d 1767
In this Line, as described by the Indians, begins at Owegy,
upon the Eastern Branch of the Susquehanah, from whence,
pursuing the Course of that Branch to Shamokin, it runs up
the Western Branch to the Head thereof, and from thence to
Kittaning on the Ohio, and so down that river to its Conflu-
ence with the Cherokee River. In tracing the Course of this
Line upon the Map your Lordship will observe that, tho' it
does preclude from Settlement, a Considerable and Valuable
part of the Province of Pensilvania in the forks of the Sus-
quehannah, yet it does on the Contrary leave room to the In-
habitants of that Province, Situated to the South of that
River, and also to the Inhabitants of Virginia to extend their
Settlements further to the Westward, than they have hitherto
been able to do with any Degree of Safety; and therefore,
when we reflect that the Establishment of this Line, will in all
Probability have the Effect to prevent the fatal Consequences
of an Indian War, that seems at present to threaten the Middle
Colonies, by giving Satisfaction to the Indians, in a point the
most Essential to their Interests, without Confining the Settle-
ments of His Majesty's Subjects to too narrow Limits; We
Submit to your Lordship, whether it may not be advisable that

p. 21

Orders should be immediately sent to S^r William Johnson for
the final Settlement of this Boundary Line, in a Congress to
be held with the Indians for that purpose, and that he should
be enabled to make such Gratification to the said Indians, as
the nature and Extent of the Concessions on their part shall
Appear to require.
It would have been going beyond the bounds of the Subject
which occasions our troubling your Lordship with this Letter,