muft not be mistaken as containing a lift of the whole of the nations enumerated, but only fuch part of them as lived near the places defcribed. E.]

A lift of the number of fighting men of the different nations of Indians, through which I (Dr. Franklin) paffed, living at or near the feveral posts.

SANDUSKY,

Wyandotts and Mohickons

200

DETROIT.

There is a nation, back of the Bay, who ufed formerly to come there to vifit the French, when they were in poffeffion of that poft, called La Sieu, computed to be 2500 fighting men; who have this fummer fent word to Mr. Gorrell, who commands there, that they purpose paying him a vifit late this fall or in the spring.

III.

PAPER S

UPON

AMERICAN SUBJECTS

DURING

THE TROUBLES.

N. B. All the Papers under this divifion are diftinguished by the letters [A: D.T.] placed in the running title at the head of each leaf.

Caufes of the AMERICAN Difcontents before 1768.

The Waves never rife but when the winds blow.

SIR*,

Prov.

S the cause of the present ill humour in America, and of the refolutions taken there to purchase less of our manufactures, does not feem to be generally understood; it may afford fome fatisfaction to your readers, if you give them the following fhort historical state of facts.

From the time that the colonies were first confidered as capable of granting aids to the crown, down to the end of the laft war, it is faid, that the conftant mode of obtaining thofe aids was, by requifition made from the crown, through its governors to the feveral affemblies, in circular letters from the secretary of state, in his Majesty's name; setting forth the occafion, requiring them to take the matter into confideration, and expreffing a reliance on their prudence, duty, and affection to his Majefty's government, that they would grant fuch fums, or raife fuch numbers of men, as were fuitable to their respective circumstances.

The colonies being accustomed to this method, have from time to time granted money to the

[This letter first appeared in a London paper, January 7, 1768, and was afterwards reprinted as a poftfcript to The true fentiments of America, printed for Almon, 1768. E.]

crown,

crown, or raised troops for its fervice, in proportion to their abilities; and during all the last war beyond their abilities; fo that confiderable fums. were returned them yearly by parliament, as they had exceeded their proportion.

Had this happy method of requifition becn continued, (a method that left the King's fubjects in those remote countries the pleafure of fhowing their zeal and loyalty, and of imagining that they recommended themfelves to their fovereign by the liberality of their voluntary grants) there is no doubt, but all the money that could reasonably be expected to be raised from them in any manner; might have been obtained, without the leaft heart-burning, offence, or breach of the harmony of affections and interefts that fo long fubfifted between the two countries.

It has been thought wisdom in a government exercifing fovereignty over different kinds of people, to have fome regard to prevailing and established opinions among the people to be governed; whereever fuch opinions might in their effects, obftruc or promote public measures. If they tend to obftruct public fervice, they are to be changed, if poffible, before we attempt to act against them; and they can only be changed by reafon and perfuafion. But if public bufinefs can be carried on without thwarting thofe opinions; if they can be, on the contrary, made fubfervient to it; they are not unneceffarily to be thwarted, how abfurd fuch popular opinions may be in their nature.