Johnson recognized Indian’s just complaints and their power.

Explains reasons for Indian’s “Defection”: 1) Growing English power in the Out Posts doesn’t mean Indians get to experience the advantages and are worse off than during their alliance with the French 2) Reports given by the French present the Indians as on the brink of being enslaved.

Believes they are neglecting the Indians and need to “Redress...their Grievances” to create better understanding between them and secure peace, trade, and new frontiers. This is the best method, as war offers few advantages. In fact going to war with Indians as allies is a way to strike fear into their enemies since “they have much more Reason to fear Indians than the best Troops in the World.”

Date of letter

Sir William Johnston to William Eyre, January 19, 1764. In “Military affairs in North America, 1748-1765: selected documents from the Cumberland papers in Windsor Castle,” by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, edited by Stanley McCrory Pargellis, pg 458-460. New York, London: D. Appleton-Century Company Incorporated, 1936. GKS ID: 58861.