sure the fulfilment
of his wishes, the order to engage them was sent directly in his name to
the unscrupulous Indian agent, Guy Johnson, whose functions were made
independent of Carleton. 'Lose no time,' it was said; 'induce them to
take up the hatchet against his Majesty's rebellious subjects in
America. It is a service of very great importance; fail not to exert
every effort that may tend to accomplish it; use the utmost diligence
and activity.'" (Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. VII.,
Chap. xxxiii., p. 349.)]

[Footnote 73: Dr. Ramsay's History of the United States, Vol. II., Chap.
xix., pp. 320, 321.

"It was unfortunate for the colonies that since the peace of Paris,
1763, the transactions with the Indians had been mostly carried on by
superintendents appointed and paid by the King of Great Britain. These
being under obligations to the Crown, and expectants of further favours
from it, generally used their influence with the Indians in behalf of
the mother country and against the colonies. * * The Americans were not
unmindful of the savages on their frontier. They appointed commissioners
to explain to them the grounds of their dispute, and to cultivate their
friendship by treaties and presents. They first sought to persuade the
Indians to join them against Great Britain, but having failed in that,
they endeavoured to persuade the Indians that the quarrel was by no
means relative to them, and that therefore they should take part with
neither side.

"For the greater convenience of managing the intercourse between the
colonies and the Indians, the latter were divided into three
departments--the northern, southern, and middle--and commissioners were
appointed for each. Congress also resolved to import and distribute
among them a suitable assortment of goods, to the amount of L40,000
sterling, on account of the United States; but this was not executed."
(Dr. Ramsay's History of the United States, Vol. II., Chap. xix., p.
321.)]

[Footnote 74: "Anxious (1775, October) to relieve St. John's, Carleton,
after the capture of Allen, succeeded in assembling about nine hundred
Canadians at Montreal; but a want of mutual confidence, and the
certainty that the inhabitants generally favoured the Americans,
dispirited them, and they disappeared by desertions thirty or forty of a
night, till he was left almost as forlorn as before. The Indians, too,
he found of little service; 'they were easily dejected, and chose t