552 Assembly Proceedings, May 16—July 11, 1747.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 34

and others Daily offering themselves; which is a point the neigh-
bouring Governments have been labouring to carry ever since the
beginning of the War, as a Matter of very great and general Con-
cern and welfare to all his Majesty's Colonies upon the Continent;
and if this Spirit, which seems throughly raised, and has been
hitherto happily kept up, is cherished, and properly managed and
directed, it may, by the blessing of God, prove of unspeakable Bene-
fit for the safety of his Majesty's Colonies in North America. I re-
fer your Honour to an Extract from Col Stoddard's Letter to me,
for a more particular account of this affair; and would observe, that
Col. Johnson and M^r Lidins whose Influence on the Indians has been
very Serviceable in bringing about this great event, are under such
Engagements as they are not able to fulfil, without proper Supplies
from these Governments; and if for want of that, the Indians should

p. 712

suffer any Disappointment 'tis more than probable they will be dis-
gusted at their being left in the Lurch by us, and will fall intirely
into the Interest with the ffrench; which will be more fatal to these
Colonies, than any thing that has yet befallen us. Our General Court
have intrusted M^r Lidins, with this affair, and have undertaken to
supply him with a Considerable sum for this Service; and he has
made his Draughts for the payment thereof, which will be answered :
But the parties of Indians came so fast upon him, and M^r Johnson
to be fitted out for this service, that what they will Receive from
this Government, will be a very inconsiderable part of what they
are under Engagements for; and these Gentlemen seem to appre-
hend that there is great Danger of their being ruined, and the Com-
mon Cause suffer the greatest Damage that we can conceive of,
unless they be releived from these Governments.
Our new Assembly for this province are now met, and having
taken these matters under Consideration, have voted 4000^l Old
Tenor, to put into the Hands of Col Stoddard, to be employed in
this Service; which, together with 3000^l before remitted to him in
Goods, being added to the many presents which this Government
have made to those Indians since the beginning of the war, may
justly be esteemed so large a proportion of the Charge necessary, in
the most effectual manner, to encourage the Six Nations to prose-
cute this war, that if the other Governments in North America would
grant proportionable Sums for the same Service, 'tis highly probable
that the success of these attempts would more than answer our Ex-
pence; it being the most likely method to weaken and distress the
ffrench at present, and to make way for the Reduction of Canada,
whenever it may be attempted. This I write to your Honour, at the
Request of Our General Assembly (who are much Concerned to
have this affair succeed) as well as from my own earnest Desire to
promote a Service, in which I think his Majesty's Interest, and the
safety of his Subjects in these Colonies, is so deeply concerned: And