: Benjamin Franklin 103 
as another encroachment on the King’s territory,) 
and to protect your trade. It was not till after his 
defeat, that the colonies were attacked. They were 
before in perfect peace with both French and In- 
dians; the troops were not, therefore, sent for their 
defence. 
The trade with the Indians, though carried on in 
America, is not an American interest. The people 
of America are chiefly farmers and planters; scarce 
any thing that they raise or produce is an article of 
commerce with the Indians. The Indian trade is a 
British interest; it is carried on with British manu- 
facturers, for the profit of British merchants and 
manufacturers; therefore the war, as it commenced 
for the defence of territories of the crown (the prop- 
erty of no American), and for the defence of a trade 
purely British, was really a British war, and yet the 
people of America made no scruple of contributing 
their utmost towards carrying it on, and bringing it 
to a happy conclusion. 
QO. Do you think, then, that the taking possession 
of the King’s territorial rights, and strengthening the 
frontiers, is not an American interest? 
A. Not particularly, but conjointly a British and 
an American interest. 
Q. You will not deny, that the preceding war, the 
I When this army was in the utmost distress, from the want of 
wagons, &c., our author and his son voluntarily traversed the country, 
in order to collect a sufficient quantity; and they had zeal and address 
enough to effect their purpose, upon pledging themselves, to the 
amount of many thousand pounds, for payment. It was just before 
Dr. Franklin’s last return from England to America, that the accounts 
in this transaction were passed at the British treasury.—B. V. 
108 im 6E