the back countries, where the lands are
better, and got upon easier terms; they are already almost out of the
reach of law and government; neither the endeavours of government, or
fear of Indians, has kept them properly within bounds; and it is
apparently most for the interest of Great Britain to confine the
colonies on the side of the back country, and to direct their
settlements along the sea coast, where millions of acres are yet
uncultivated. The lower provinces are still thinly inhabited, and not
brought to the point of perfection that has been aimed at for the
mutual benefit of Great Britain and themselves. Although America may
supply the mother country with many articles, few of them are yet
supplied in quantities equal to her consumption, the quantity of iron
transported is not great, of hemp very small, and there are many other
commodities not necessary to enumerate, which America has not yet been
able to raise, notwithstanding the encouragement given her by bounties
and premiums. The laying open new tracts of fertile territory in
moderate climates might lessen her present produce; for it is the
passion of every man to be a landholder, and the people have a natural
disposition to rove in search of good lands, however distant. It may be
a question likewise, whether colonization of the kind could be effected
_without an Indian war, and fighting for every inch of ground_. The
Indians have long been jealous of our power, and have no patience in
seeing us approach their towns, and settle up on their hunting grounds;
atonements may be made for a fraud discovered in a trader, and even the
murder of some of their tribes, but _encroachments_ upon their lands
have often produced serious consequences. The springs of the last
general war are to be discovered near the Allegany mountains, and upon
the banks of the Ohio.

"It is so obvious, that settlers might raise provisions to feed the
troops cheaper than it can be transported from the country below, that
it is not necessary to explain it; but I must own I know no other use
in settlements, or can give any other reason for supporting forts, than
to protect the settlements, and keep the settlers in subjection to
government.

"I conceive, that to procure all the commerce it will afford, and as
little expence to ourselves as we can, is the only object we shall have
in view in the interior country, for a century to come; and I imagine
it might be effected, by proper managemen