In July this Year, another Nation came, whose Situation and Name we know not. And in August and September, several Parties of the same Indians that had been here last Year. But the greatest Numbers of these far Indians have been met this Year, in the Indian Country by our Traders, every one of them endeavouring to get before another, in order to reap the Profits of so advantageous a Trade, which has all this Summer long, kept about forty Traders constantly employed, in going between our Trading-places in our Indian Country, and Albany.

All these Nations of Indians who came to Albany said, that the French had told them many strange Stories of the English, and did what they could to hinder their coming to Albany, but that they had resolved to break through by Force. The Difference on this Score between the Tahsagrondie Indians and the French (who have a Fort and Settlement there, called by them Le Detroit) rose to that Height this Summer, that Mr. Tonti who commanded there, thought it proper to retire, and return to Canada with many of his Men.

We are for these Reasons well assured, that this Year there will be more Beaver exported for Great-Britain, than ever was from this Province in one Year; and that if the Custom-house Books at London be looked into, it will be found, that there will be a far greater Quantity of Goods for the Indians, (Strouds especially) sent over next Spring, than ever was at any one Time to this Province; for the Merchants here tell us, that they have at this Time, ordered more of these Goods, than ever was done at any one Time before.

These Matters of Fact prove beyond Contradiction, that this Act has been of the greatest Service to New-York, in making us acquainted with many Nations of Indians, formerly entirely unknown and Strangers to us; in withdrawing them from their Dependance upon the French, and in uniting them to us and our Indians, by Means of Trade and mutual Offices of Friendship. Of what great Consequence this may be to the British Interest in general, as to Trade, is apparent to any Body. It is no less apparent likewise, that it is of the greatest Consequence to the Safety of all the British Colonies in North-America. We feel too sensibly, the ill Effects of the French Interest in the present War betwixt New-England, and only one Nation of Indians supported by the French. Of what dismal Consequences then might it be, if the French should be able to influence in the same Manner, so many and such numerous Nations, as lie to the Westward of this Province, Pensylvania and Maryland? On the other Hand, if all these Nations (who assert their own Freedom, and declare themselves Friends to those that supply them best with what they want) be brought to have a Dependance upon the English (as we have good Reason to hope, in a short Time they will) the French of Canada, in case of a War, must be at the Mercy of the English.

To these Advantages must be added, that many of our young Men having been induced by this Act to travel among the Indians, they learn their Manners, their Languages, and the Situation of all their Countries, and become inured to all Manner of Fatigues and Hardships, and a great many more being resolved to follow their Example; these young Men, in case of a War with the Indians, will be of ten Times the Service, that the same Number of the common Militia can be of.

The Effects of this Act have likewise so much quieted the Minds of the People, with Respect to the Security of the Frontiers, that our Settlements are now extended above thirty Miles further West towards the Indian Countries, than they were before it passed.

The only Thing that now remains to answer, is an Objection which we suppose may be made, What can induce the Merchants of London to petition against an Act, which will be really so much for their Interest in the End? The Reason is in all Probability, because they only consider their present Gain; and that they are not at all concerned for the Safety of this Country, in encouraging the most necessary Undertaking, if they apprehend their Profit for two or three Years may be lessened by it. This Inclination of the Merchants has been so notorious, that few Nations at War with their Neighbours, have been able to restrain them from supplying their Enemies with Ammunition and Arms. The Count D'Estrade, in his Letters in 1638 says, That when the Dutch were besieging Antwerp, one Beiland, who had loaded four Fly-boats with Arms and Powder for Antwerp, being taken up by the Prince of Orange's Order, and examined at Amsterdam, said boldly, That the Burghers of Amsterdam had a Right to trade every where: That he could name a Hundred that were Factors for the Merchants at Antwerp, and that he was one. That Trade cannot be interrupted, and that for his Part he was very free to own, that if to get any Thing by Trade it were necessary to pass through Hell, he would venture to burn his Sails. When this Principle so common to Merchants, is considered, and that some in this Place have got Estates by trading many Years to Canada, it is not to be wondered that they have acted as Factors for Canada in this Affair, and that they have transmitted such Accounts to their Correspondents in London, as are consistent with the Trust reposed in them by the Merchants of Canada.

In the last Place, we are humbly of Opinion, that it may be proper to print the Petition of the Merchants of London, and their Allegations before the Lords of Trade, together with the Answers your Committee has made thereto, in Vindication of the Legislature of this Province, of which we have the Honour to be a Part, if your Excellency shall approve of our Answers: That what we have said may be exposed to the Examination of every one in this Place, where the Truth of the Matters of Fact is best known; and that the Correspondents of these Merchants may have the most publick Notice to reply, if they shall think it proper, or to disown in a publick Manner, that they are the Authors of such groundless Informations.

All which is unanimously and humbly submitted by

Your Excellency's