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They were making a considerable advance; but the disastrous seasons of the three last years have been exceedingly adverse to the desired object. A withdrawal or apparent cessation of that encouragement at the present crisis, it is to be feared, would throw these people back upon their former listless and vagrant habits.

My constant attendance at the Crown Land office is an impediment to the personal inspection , which, as Commiss[ione]r. I should be expected to make, of the Indian settlements; but I shall gladly [?render] such aid as may be within my power for communicating to them whatever measure of relief the Lieutenant Governor may be pleased to extend to them. If I may be permitted, however, to offer a recommendation, I should say that the member elect for this township, Mr. James [?McKeagney], would be a much more efficient person for the office of Indian Commissioner, having his time at [?command] and having also opportunities of seeing these people in their settlements ; but I know not how far he may be disposed to undertake their superintendence-

I ought to state that the Indian settlements that will look to Sydney for supplies are, Escasoni, Wagamathkook, and probably Whykokomagh . The chapel Island Indians
will