1. I am to shew, that it is of vast Importance, that we be in good Terms with the _Natives_; and that we engage them in our Interest. I freely grant, that the _Indians_, simply considered, are not of such great Consequence to us. We can subsist without them. But yet, their Trade is a considerable Article, worthy the Care of any politick People, and managed as it might, and ought to be, would yield us great Profit. But if we consider them with Relation to _Peace_ and _War_, as attached to us, or to our _Enemies_, they are of the last Importance to us; for they certainly have the Ballance of Power in their Hands, and are able to turn it for or against us, according as they stand affected to us. _Canada_, inconsiderable as it is, and from which, separate from the _Indians_, we have little or nothing to fear in Time of War; _Canada_, I say, would be more than a Match for us, in case they join with them against us. He must be a great Stranger to, and very ignorant of, the Circumstances both of the _English_ and _Indians_, who is not sensible of this. Our Circumstances are such, that we cannot guard ourselves against the Incursions of such Enemies in Time of War; for our _Frontiers_ are of vast Extent, and border upon the adjacent Wilderness; which, tho’ almost inaccessible to us, yet is the very Element in which they delight to live. They are at Home in it. The People therefore who inhabit our Frontiers, while they follow their necessary Business, are exposed to be an easy Prey to them; and many of them have been surpriz’d in their Fields and Houses, and in a most barbarous Manner put to Death. A small Number of _Indians_, encouraged and supported by the _French_ (which they are ready enough to do) can easily keep us in a constant Alarm, put us to an immense Charge, destroy many, and impoverish more, in our exposed Places, and not put themselves at all out of their Way; yea, find their Account in it; for as they live by Hunting, so where Game is most plenty they are best off: And where can they find a better Supply, than among our Cattle, Sheep, and Corn-Fields? There they live at Ease, distress and impoverish us, and the adjacent Wilderness is their Refuge. By retiring into it, they are soon out of our Reach; and long Experience has taught us how ineffectual the Measures we have taken for our Safety and Defence have proved.