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untill last year and we began again to recover a few more Packs[.] This However was not occassioned by the inactivity of those who had charge of the Department, but rather by the late Struggle between the X.Y & N.W. Companies – and Partly by the death of many of the Natives[.]

Competition

From this arises a variety of circumstances which for a moment Promote the interest of many, in augmenting wages and unfurling Capacities which without this would perhaps never have been demonstrated, tho it is often prejudicial to morals and equally injurous to the Characters of many[.] Besides this, Several People who are roguish in Private and dissemblers in Public, (like at a Court) are the most noticed[,] their Persons are publicly attended to while their interested is promoted to the greatest & most advantageous expectations[.] Shares in the Company are given to them Altho they never perhaps deserved it, But from dread and want anything can be obtained[.] [W]hile these are thus forwarded to what their merit ratherwise would not have Entitled them, other Honest characters, let their abilities be every so great, they are disregarded for the time being and must think themselves happy in having the good fortune to gather the rags and allowed the approaches of those dissembling Courtiers[.]

Another Bad effect of competition is Drunkeness[,] murder and Theft, besides many other vices[.]

With Respect to the Indians, by the Care and attention that is Paid, (I was near saying to their Persons) to them for the Sake of their Skins – renders them much more civilized and Cunning[.] By this they embibe a footing which at length of time induces them to commit actions which otherwise they would not have dared even to have ment^d[.]

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