SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON	221
prepared and a general invitation had been sent,
only a hundred and fifty warriors appeared at Al-
bany and they held themselves aloof with a distrust
that was almost contempt. " Look at the French!"
exclaimed Hendrick, the great chief of the Mo-
hawks. "They are men. They are fortifying
everywhere; but, we are ashamed to say it, you
are all like women — bare and open without any
fortifications/' In this crisis all the commissioners
deferred to William Johnson as the one man who
enjoyed the complete confidence of the Six Nations.
It was he who formulated the Indian policy of the
congress.
He had been born in Ireland. His mother was
Anne Warren, sister to Captain Peter Warren, who
"served with reputation" in the Royal Navy and
afterward became Knight of the Bath and Vice-
Admiral of the Red Squadron of the British Fleet.
Captain Warren was less than a dozen years older
than his nephew, whom he regarded with affec-
tionate interest. He described him as "a spritely
boy well grown of good parts and keen wit but
most onruly and streperous," and the sailor added:
"I see the making of a strong man. I shall keep
my weather eye on the lad."
The result of this observation was so favorable