George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

During the progress of these changes, the colonies were left to plan their own protection. But every body shunned the charge of securing the valley of the Ohio. Of the Virginia Company the means were limited. The Assembly of Pennsylvania, from motives of economy, refused to ratify the treaty which Croghan had negotiated at Picqua, while the proprietaries¹ of that province openly denied their liability ‘to contribute to Indian or any other expenses;’² and sought to cast the burden of a Western fort on the equally reluctant ‘people of Virginia.’ New York could but remonstrate with the governor of Canada.³

The deputies of the Six Nations were the first to manifest zeal. At the appointed time in July, they came down to Albany to renew their covenant chain; and to chide the inaction of the English, which was certain to leave the wilderness to France.

When the congress, which Clinton had invited to meet the Iroquois, assembled at Albany, South Carolina came also,⁴ for the first time, to join in council with New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts,—its earliest movement towards confederation. From the Catawbas, also, hereditary foes to the Six Nations, deputies attended to hush the war-song that for so many generations had lured their chiefs