[Endorsed:] Disposition of the 9th-22d-34th & 35th Regiments. State of Florida, Pensacola, Mobile &c In L Col: Robertson's Letter to Major General Gage, of the 8th March 1764. (Copy sent to the Board of Trade the 20th April 1764.) Report referred to in Inclosure 3. Inclosure 4. Bundle A in N° 8.

CROGHAN1 TO JOHNSON, March 10, 1764
[Johnson MSS., 8: 202 - A.L.S.]

LONDON March 10th 1764

HOND SIR

after my ARivel hear Last Month I Wrote you all the News then hear & Inclosd you two papers of Co11 Lees prefermance Respect

1 George Croghan came to Pennsylvania from Ireland in 1741, and entered the Indian trade. He was the first of Pennsylvania traders to penetrate the Northwest, and soon was regarded as having great influence among the Indians in that region, and was employed by Pennsylvania in her negotiations with the natives. He was repeatedly in the West, at Logstown and elsewhere, between the close of King George's War and the outbreak of the French and Indian War. In 1754, it was written that "Croghan and others had stores on the Lake Erie, all along the Ohio from Bar[?], and other store-houses on Lake Erie, all along the Miami River, and up and down that fine country watered by the Branches of the Miamis, Sioto, and Muskingham Rivers . . . an extent of 500 mile on one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, and they traded all along the River." By 1755 George Croghan and William Trent, with whom he was in partnership, were in financial difficulties, but were relieved from the pressure by the generosity of their creditors. Shortly after Sir William Johnson was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs, he made Croghan his deputy. The latter held this position for a number of years. In 1763 Croghan went to London to look after his own affairs, to represent Indian traders who had suffered losses by the outbreak of the Indian war, and also to represent Sir William Johnson who was attempting to free the Indian department from the supervision of the military. On his return to America, Croghan was sent to the Illinois to make peace with the Indians in that country. He was stopped by the natives before reaching his destination, but succeeded in making the peace which finally ended in the occupation of Fort de Chartres by Captain Stirling. The next year he was again sent by General Gage to treat with the Illinois Indians. On this journey he was accompanied by Harry Gordon, Ensign Thomas Hutchins, and George Morgan (for journals of this expedition see post, 2: 1, 23, 38). Upon his return Johnson and Croghan planned the colonization of the Illinois country, and a company was formed for that purpose, the documents of which are printed in this series. Croghan was a large speculator in Indian lands and, at the treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, received from the Iroquois a large grant in Cherry Valley, New York. Previous to this he had purchased a large tract on the Allegheny River, four miles above Pittsburgh. At the outbreak of the Revolution he appears to have sided with the colonies, but later was subject to suspicion and, in 1778, he was declared a public enemy by Pennsylvania. He died at Passyunk in 1782. Hanna, Wilderness Trail, 2:1-88; Thwaites, Early Western Travels, 1:47 et seq.

2 This letter was dated February 24, 1764, and is found in Johnson MSS., 8:169, a volume that was badly burned in the Albany fire. A correct and complete copy is possessed by the Illinois State Historical Library.

ing Gineral Amherst whos Conduct in aMerrica is Much Condemd hear by Every Rank of pople with Respect to my Reception hear on my aRiveal and what Mr Pownal Desierd me to Write you about y' Indian Deed att or Near the uper Mohock Castle I must Refer you my first Leter.

to

tho I have been hear Now a Month Nothing has been Don Respecting North aMerrica - the pople hear Spend thire Time in Nothing butt abuseing one aNother & Striveing who Shall be in power with a view to Serve themselves & thire frends, and Neglect the publick itt was butt yesterday that your State of Indian affairs1 was Read att the Board of Trade tho I Deliverd itt the 13th of Last Month Lord Halifax & Lord Hillsborrow2 boath have Read itt and Mr penn Tould me yesterday that Lord hallifax3 aproves Much of Every thing you have Recommended, Lord Hallifax Talkt with Me about a boundrey with the Indians and I Menshond to him your Honours thoughts on itt, which we Talkt of before I Left Johnson Hall & there is a Talk of Setleing a Colony from the Mouth of the

1This is printed in New York Colonial Documents, 7:572.

2 Wills Hill, Viscount Hillsborough, is a typical politician of the era of George III, his characteristics fitting him more for performing the social duties of the court than administrating the functions of a public office; but his success in the former led to his rapid promotion in the service of the state. His first employment that brought him in touch with colonial affairs was in the autumn of 1763 when through the influence of Lord Halifax, he was made president of the board of trade. Thus it became his duty to formulate the policy that was to be followed towards the Indians and the fur trade. The important document on this subject printed later (post, 273) was largely the result of his labor. In January, 1768, Hillsborough was placed in charge of the new secretaryship for the colonies, a position he held until August, 1772. During this critical period he was largely responsible for the development of a reactionary colonial policy. He finally resigned because his colleagues insisted upon the establishment of a colony west of the Alleghenies. He died October 7, 1793. Dictionary of National Biography.

3 George Montague Dunk, Lord Halifax, became an important factor in politics under the patronage of the Duke of Bedford, through whose influence he was appointed president of the board of trade in 1748. He immediately set himself the task of re-establishing the power of that body which had become moribund. So efficiently did he work that the board of trade became one of the most important factors in the development of the colonies for the next twenty years. His energy in aiding the founding of Nova Scotia was such that its capital was named for him. As a minister he is best known as president of the board of trade. His administration of more important offices such as secretary of state with Lord Bute and, afterwards, George Grenville was not such as to add to his reputation. Halifax must be regarded, after the accession of George III, as a devoted follower of the king, from whom he received many favors. The best accounts of the activities of Halifax in the board of trade are to be found in Dickerson, American Colonial Government, 1696-1765. For his life consult Dictionary of National Biography.

4 For discussion of the boundary see post, general index.