come abroad, they pass eafily, and answer the purpofe well enough for a few months; but as foon as the intereft becomes worth computing, the calculation of it on every little bill in a sum between the dealer and his cuftomers in fhops, warehouses, and markets, takes up much time; to the great hindrance of business. This evil, however, foon gave place to a worfe; for the bills were in a short time gathered up and hoarded; it being a very tempting advantage to have money bearing intereft, and the principal all the while in a man's power, ready for bargains that may offer; which money out on mortgage is not. By this means numbers of people became ufurers with fmall fums, who could not have found perfons to take fuch fums of them upon intereft, giving good fecurity; and would therefore not have thought of it; but would rather have employed the money in fome bufinefs, if it had been money of the common kind. Thus trade, inftead of being increased by fuch bills, is diminished; and by their being fhut up in chefts, the very end of making them (viz. to furnish a medium of commerce) is in a great measure, if not totally defeated.

On the whole, no method has hitherto been formed to establish a medium of trade, in lieu of money, equal in all its advantages, to bills of credit-funded on fufficient taxes for discharging it, or on land-fecurity of double the value for repaying it at the end of the term; and in the mean time, made a GENERAL LEGAL TENDER.

The experience of now near half a century in the middle colonies, has convinced them of it among themselves; by the great increase of their fettlements, numbers, buildings, improvements, agriculture, fhipping, and commerce. And the fame experience has fatisfied the British merchants who trade thither, that it has been greatly useful to them, and not in a fingle inftance prejudicial.

It is therefore hoped, that fecuring the full discharge of British debts, which are payable here, and in all justice and reason ought to be fully difcharged here in fterling money; the restraint on the legal tender within the colonies will be taken off; at least for those colonies that defire it, and where the merchants trading to them make no objection to it.

Remarks

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Remarks on a PLAN for the future Management of Indian Affairs ‡.

THE regulations in this plan seem to me to be in general very good: but fome few appear to want explanation or farther confideration. Claufe 3. Is it intended by this clause to prevent the trade that Indians, living near the frontiers, may choose to carry on with the inhabitants, by bringing their skins into the [English] fettlements? This prevention is hardly practicable; as fuch trade may be carried on in many places out of the observation of government; the frontier being of great extent, and the inhabitants thinly settled in the woods, remote from eachother. The Indians too do not every where live in towns fufficiently numerous to encourage traders to re

[The plan remarked upon, was under the confideration of miniftry before the clofe of the year 1766, and (as I am inclined to think) after the commencement of 1765. I can go no nearer as to its date.

It is needless to enter into the particulars of it, as the remarks explain themselves; except perhaps as to the following points. The trade was to be open; there were to be two fuperintendants to it; in the northern district the trade was to be carried on at fixed posts, in the fouthern within the Indian towns; the military were to have no power over the fuperintendants or the Indian trade, even in war time, unlefs with the fuperintendants affent, or in great exigencies; the fuperintendants, by themfelves or deputies, were to make annual vifitations among the Indians, to fee to justice, &c. and their proceedings were to be very fummary; and no credit was to be given to the Indians beyond 50 fhillings, for no higher debt was to be made recoverable. E.]

fide among them; but in fcattered families, here and there; often shifting their fituation for the fake of better hunting;-and if they are near the English fettlements, it would feem to them very hard to be obliged to carry their skins for fale to remote towns or pofts; when they could difpofe of them to their neighbours, with lefs trouble, and to greater advantage; as the goods they want for them, are and must be dearer at fuch remote pofts.

4. The colony "laws for regulating Indian "affairs or commerce," are the refult of long experience, made by people on the spot, interested to make them good; and it would be well to confider the matter thoroughly, before they are repealed, to make way for new untried fchemes.

By whom are they to be repealed? By the colony affemblies? or by parliament ?-Some difficulty will arife here.

13. The districts feem too large for this. The Indians under the care of the northern fuperintendant, by this plan, border on the colonies of Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Hampshire, Maffachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penfylvania, Maryland, Virginia: The fuperintendant's fituation, remote from many of thefe, may occafion great inconvenience; if his confent is always to be necessary in such cases.

14. This feems too much to be done, when the vastnefs of the district is confidered. If there were more districts and smaller, it might be more practicable.

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15 and 16. Are these agents or commiffaries to try causes where life is concerned?- Would it not be better to fend the criminals into fome civil well settled government or colony, for trial, where good juries can be had?

18.

"Chief for the whole tribe; who shall conftantly refide with the commiffary, &c."-Provifion must then be made for his maintenance, as particular Indians have no eftates, but live by hunting; and their public has no funds or revenues.-Being used to rambling, it would perhaps not be easy to find one, who would be obliged to this conftant refidence; but it may be tried.

22.

If the agent and his deputies, and the commiffaries, are not to trade; should it not be a part of their oath, that they will have no concern in fuch trade, directly or indirectly? — Private agreements between them and the traders, for fhare of profits, fhould be guarded against; and the fame care taken to prevent, if poffible, private agreements between them and the purchafers of Indian lands.

31. "or trading at any other poft, &c." This fhould be fo expreffed, as to make the mafter liable for the offence of the fervant; otherwife it will have no effect.

33. I doubt the matter of difficulty. of fineness, goodness, different traders, that for by general tariffs. And it feems contrary to the nature of commerce, for government to inter

fettling of tariffs will be a There may be differences and value, in the goods of cannot be properly allowed

fere