The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART I.] THE FRENCH WAR. 235
apology for the incoherence of this letter. The Indians
are all around teazing and perplexing me for one thing
or another, so that I scarce know what I write.
I have the honor to be, &c.
TO JOHN ROBINSON, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF BURGESSES.
Fort Loudoun, 30 May, 17577.*
DEAR SIR,
We receive fresh proofs every day of the bad direc-.
tion of our Indian affairs. It is not easy to tell what
expenses have arisen on account of these Indians, how
dissatisfied they are, and how gloomy the prospect of
pleasing them appears, while we pursue our present
system of management.
I therefore beg leave to propose a plan, which I know
is exactly conformable to the French policy, and which
may, if properly executed, be a means of retrieving our
lost credit with these people, and prove of infinite service to the country. The French have a proper person
appointed to the direction of these affairs, who makes it
his sole business to study the dispositions of the Indians,
and the art of pleasing them. This person is invested
with power to treat with and reward them for every
" Colonel Washington was now returned from Williamsburg, where he
had been for several days concerting with the Governor some new arrangements for the troops. The regiment was remodelled, and reduced to
ten companies, of one hundred men each. Head-quarters were fixed at
Fort Loudoun.
It had been decided by the Convention at Philadelphia, that four hundred men should be sent from the Virginia regiment to the aid of South
Carolina. Colonel Stephen sailed from Hampton with two companies; but
no others followed. South Carolina was not attacked, and a timely reinforcement from England quieted the'alarms in that quarter.