t, without either forts or
settlements. Our manufactures are as much desired by the Indians, as
their peltry is sought for by us; what was originally deemed a
superfluity, or a luxury by the natives, is now become a necessary;
they are disused to the bow, and can neither hunt, or make war without
fire-arms, powder, and lead. The British provinces can only supply them
with their necessaries, which they know, and for their own sakes would
protect the trader, which they actually do at present. It would remain
with us to prevent the trader's being guilty of frauds and impositions,
and to pursue the same methods to that end, as are taken in the
Southern district; and I must confess, though the plan pursued in that
district might be improved by proper laws to support it, that I do not
know a better, or more oeconomical plan for the management of trade;
there are neither forts nor settlements, in the Southern department,
and there are both in the Northern department; and your Lordships will
be the best judge, which of them has given you the least trouble; in
which we have had the fewest quarrels with, or complaints from the
Indians.

"I know of nothing so liable to bring on a serious quarrel with Indians
_as an invasion of their property_. Let the savages enjoy their desarts
in quiet; little bickerings that may unavoidably sometimes happen, may
soon be accommodated; and I am of opinion, independent of the motives
of common justice and humanity, that the principles of interest and
policy, should induce us rather to protect than molest them: were they
driven from their forests, the peltry trade would decrease; and it is
_not impossible_ that worse savages would take refuge in them, for they
might then become the asylum of fugitive Negroes, and idle vagabonds,
escaped from justice, who in time might become formidable, and subsist
by rapine, and plundering the lower countries."

VIII. The opinions delivered in the foregoing recitals are so accurate
and precise, as to make it almost unnecessary to add any thing more:
But we beg leave to lay before your Lordships the sentiments of his
Majesty's Governor of Georgia, upon the subject of large grants in the
interior parts of America, whose knowledge and experience in the
affairs of the colonies give great weight to his opinion.

In a letter to us, on the subject of the mischiefs attending such
grants, he expresses himself in the following manner, viz.

"And now, my Lords, I beg you