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hostile Indians. But all the facilities thus afforded and all the expenses incurred by the British Government on this occasion will perhaps be fruitless unless some means are used to counteract the effects of deep rooted preju- dices and unfounded reports among the Indian tribes; for the acts of a few bad men dwelling among them or having a familiar intercourse with them by cherishing those prejudices or raising and spreading those reports, may be sufficient to defeat every attempt to accomplish a peace.

As an instance of such unfounded reports the Commissio- ners have noticed the Declaration of a Mowhawk from Grand river; "That Governor Simcoe advised the Indians to make peace but not to give up any of their lands."

The Commissioners further observe that if any transactions at former treaties were exceptionable the principles of the present treaty are calculated to remove the causes of complaint, for the views of the Government are perfectly fair.

And although it is now impossible to retrace all the steps thus taken, the United States, are disposed to recede as far as shall be indispensible and the existing state of things will admit and for the lands retained to make ample compensation.

The views of the United States being thus fair, and liberal the Commissioners wish to embrace any means of making them so appear to the Indians against any contrary suggestions. Among these means the Commissioners consider the presence of some Gentlemen of the Army to be of consequence for although the Indians naturally look to their superior [indecipherable] as their Patron yet the presence of some Officers of the Army will probably induce them to negociate with greater confidence on the terms of peace