These letters caused great indignation in North Carolina, when they came to light, and had the worst possible effect upon Indian relations.

The Indians now inclined their ear to the French who, though fewer than the English, were at least united in purpose.
Governor Glen took this inauspicious moment to hold high festival with the Cherokees.

It was the last year of his administration and apparently he hoped to win promotion to some higher post by showing his achievements for the fur trade and in the matter of new land acquired.
He plied the Cherokees with drink and induced them to make formal submission and to cede all their lands to the Crown.

When the chiefs recovered their sobriety, they were filled with rage at what had been done, and they remembered how the French had told them that the English intended to make slaves of all the Indians and to steal their lands.

The situation was complicated by another incident.