wanted to support their Interest in the Country, & tho’ we want none of their services, yet they will expect favours, & if refused look on it in a bad light, & very likely think it done to distress them for some particular Advantages we want to gain over them. They are by no means so sensible a People as the Six Nations or other Tribes this way, & the French have learned them for their own advantage a bad custom, for by all I could learn, they seldom made them any general presents, but as it were fed them with Necessaries just as they wanted them Tribe by Tribe, & never sent them away empty, which will make it difficult & troublesome to the Gentlemen that are to command in their Country for some time, to please them & preserve Peace, as they are a rash inconsiderate People and don’t look on themselves under any obligations to us, but rather think we are obliged to them for letting us reside in their Country. As far as I can judge of their Sentiments by the several Conversations I have had with them, they will expect some satisfaction made them by Us, for any Posts that should be established in their Country for Trade. But you will be informed better by themselves next Spring, as Pondiac & some Chiefs of every Nation in that Country intend to pay you a visit. The several Nations on the Ouiabache, & towards the _Ilinois_, _St. Josephs_, _Chicago_, _Labaye_, _Sagina_ & other places have applyed for Traders to be sent to their settlements, but as it is not in the power of any Officer to permit Traders to go from Detroit or _Michillimackinac_, either English or French, I am of opinion the Indˢ will be supplyed this year chiefly from the _Ilinois_, which is all French property & if Trading Posts are not established at proper Places in that Country soon the French will carry the best part of the Trade over the _Missisipi_ which they are determined to do if they can, for I have been well informed that the French are preparing to build a strong trading Fort on the other side Missisipi, about 60 miles above _Fort Chartres_,[134] and have this Summer in a private manner transported 26 pieces of small canon up the River for that purpose. G. CROGHAN. November, 1765. FOOTNOTES [1] See Weiser’s _Journal_, _ante_; and _Pennsylvania Colonial Records_, v, pp. 287, 295. [2] _Ibid._, v, p. 387; _Pennsylvania Archives_, ii, p. 31. [3] _Pennsylvania Colonial Records_, v, pp. 432-449. [4] See _Pennsylvania Colonial Records_, v, p. 568. [5] _Ibid._, p. 665. [6] _Pennsylvania Archives_, ii, pp. 114, 689. [7] _Pennsylvania Colonial Records_, vii, p. 355; _New York Colonial Documents_, vii, pp. 136, 174, 196, 211. [8] Stone, _Life of Johnson_, ii, app., p. 457. [9] _New York Colonial Documents_, vii, p. 624. [10] _Ibid._, p. 603. [11] Egle, _Notes and Queries_ (Harrisburg, 1896) 3d series, ii, p. 348. [12] For his descendants see Egle, _Notes and Queries_, 3d series, ii, p. 349.