CHAPTER XIV

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON

THE story of the French and Indian wars on our
border does not fall within the scope of this chron-
icle; but in order to understand the development
of New York we must know something of the con-
ditions which prevailed in the province during that
troubled epoch. The penurious policy pursued by
the Dutch and continued by the English left the
colony without defenses on either the northern
or southern boundaries. For a long time the
settlers found themselves bulwarked against the
French on the north by the steadfast friendship of
the "Six Nations/' comprising the Mohawks, the
Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Senecas,
and the Tuscaroras; but at last these trusty allies
began to feel that the English were not doing their
share in the war. The lack of military preparation
in New York was inexcusable. The niggardliness
of the Assembly alienated successive governors and

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