396 ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan to Johnson September 30, 1766 [Johnson MSS., 13:118 —L.S.] Philad* September 30th 1766 Sir We have been this Day honoured with your Favour of the 15th Instant, and shall you may be assured, pay the strictest Obedience to your just Sentiments, respecting the Trade at the Shawanese Town. This Province is unhappily agitated with party Disputes; of consequence, the Conduct of particular Persons, is too frequently view'd thro' an unfavorable medium;—Which now happens to be Our Case, with Respect to the small Quantity of Goods,—which our Partner Mr Morgan, sent to the Shawanese Town.—We esteem it our indespensible Duty to explain our Conduct in this matter, Particularly, to your Honor; as it is immediately relative to your Department—We therefore pray your Patience, whilst we briefly mention it. We assure you Sir — That our express Agreement with Mr Morgan, before He left Philadelphia, was, that all Our Goods should be transported to Fort Chartres; & none of Them sold in any Part of the Indian Country; & That those which were forwarded from Scioto to the Lower Shawanese Town, were without our Knowledge or Consent & That we were entire Strangers to the measure untill our Partner Mr Morgan, wrote us from Scioto — He was induced to it, At the earnest Solicitation of Mr Croghan. Mr Alexander Lowry & some of the Traders at Fort Pitt, supported, we are told, by two or Three Merchants (one of whom, is scarcely concern'd in the Trade) of this City — have Petitioned Our Govenor against us,1 and have procured a Promise from Him, That if They will prove, we have sent any Goods to the Shawanese Town, —He will order our Bond, to be instantly put into Suit. If any Merit is due to Merchants, for exploring a newly acquired Country for Trade & thereby supporting the important negotiations of your Honor's agent — We humbly conceive, we are entituled to the Countenance, & Ought not to incur the Resentment, of the executive Officers of this Government — may we therefore flatter Ourselves, That your Honor will be so good, as to afford us your Protection and not suffer us to be sued, for doing an act, expressly required of us, by your Deputy. 1 See following