71 Essays 
ara would be a vast security to the frontiers of these 
new colonies against any attempts of the French from 
Canada. The fort at the mouth of the Wabash 
would guard that river, the Ohio, and the Cutava 
River, in case of any attempt from the French of the 
Mississippi. Every fort should have a small settle- 
ment round it, as the fort would protect the settlers, 
and the settlers defend the fort and supply it with 
provisions. 
The difficulty of settling the first English colonies 
in America, at so great a distance from England, 
must have been vastly greater than the settling these 
proposed new colonies; for it would be the interest 
and advantage of all the present colonies to support 
these new ones; as they would cover their frontiers, 
and prevent the growth of the French power behind 
or near their present settlements; and the new coun- 
try is nearly at equal distance from all the old colo- 
nies, and could easily be assisted from all of them. 
And as there are already in all the old colonies 
many thousands of families that are ready to swarm, 
wanting more land, the richness and natural advan- 
tage of the Ohio country would draw most of them 
thither, were there but a tolerable prospect of a safe 
settlement. So that the new colonies would soon be 
full of people; and, from the advantage of their situa- 
tion, become much more terrible to the French set- 
tlements than those are now to us. The gaining of 
the back Indian trade from the French, by the navi- 
gation of the Lakes, &c., would of itself greatly 
weaken our enemies, it being now their principal sup- 
port. It seems highly probable, that in time they 
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