Part 4
Now I have brought this Account to the Time your Excellency arriv'd; what has happen'd since, your Excellency knows better than I can by any means inform you. From the whole, it seems plain, that any Difficulties and Disadvantages this Province has been under, have only proceeded from the Wars, which have continued since the first settling of the Province, to the beginning of the last general Peace. But now, that not only _this Province_, but likewise our _six Nations_ of _Indians_ are at Peace, and in Amity, both with the _French_, and all the _Indian Nations_ with whom we can have any Commerce, these Difficulties are all remov'd, and we now enjoy the most favourable Time, that at any time can be hoped for, in order to extend the _British Commerce_ in _North-America_, while the _French_ not only labour under the Difficulties which I have shown to be inseparable from the Situation of their Colony, but likewise under another Disadvantage, (not before taken notice of) by the Furr-Trade of _Canada_ being restrain'd to one Company. This Company is obliged to pay heavy Duties in _France_ upon the Importation of Beaver, or any other Furr; for which reason they always fix a Price upon Beaver, and their other Furrs, in _Canada_; and the _Indian Traders_ of _Canada_ being restrain'd from selling to any but the Company's Agents there, they cannot raise the Price of _Indian Goods_ as the Price of _European_ rise, or as their Profit on the Goods they sell to the _Indians_ is lessen'd.
The Merchants of _New-York_ allow our _Indian_ Traders double the Price for Beaver, that the _French_ Company allow their _Indian_ Traders, the Price established by the Company for Beaver, in _Canada_, being two Livres, or _eighteen Pence Sterling_, the Pound-weight; and the current Price of Beaver in _New-York_ being _five Shillings New-York_ Money, or _three Shillings Sterling_ the Pound-weight. Therefore it plainly follows, that our _Indian Traders_ could under-sell the _French Traders_, tho' they were to give as great a Price for _European Goods_ as the _French_ do, and did transport them at as great Charge, because of the double Price they have for their Furrs in _New-York_.
But as our _Indian Traders_ not only have a double Price for their _Indian Goods_, but likewise buy the Goods they sell to the _Indians_, at half the Price the _French Indian Traders_ do, the _French Traders_ must be ruin'd by carrying on this Trade, in Competition with the _English_ of _New-York_. And the _French Indian Traders_ had been ruin'd before now, if they had not found means to carry their Beaver to _Albany_, where they got double the Price they must have sold for in _Canada_.
It may be objected, against this Argument, _That the_ Canada _Company as soon as they find that the Traders cannot sell at their established Price, will allow a greater Price_. But if we consider the Duties the _French Company_ is obliged to pay to the King, they cannot allow so great a Price as the _English_ can at _New-York_. And if it should be insisted, _That the_ French Company _may obtain a Remission of those_, yet if the clandestine Trade with _Albany_ be entirely stopt, the _French Traders_ will be ruin'd before such Remission can be obtain'd, and their Trade will be at an end.
* * * * *
My Inclination led me to show what Advantages not only the _Indian Trade_ would reap by extending our Frontiers as far as the Lakes, but likewise the _British Trade_ in some other Branches, which the Parliament of _Great Britain_ seem to have much at heart, _viz. Naval Stores_; for the Soil on both Sides of the _Mohawks River_ being as rich as it is possible (I believe) for any Land to be, will be found the most proper for raising of Hemp, of any Part of _America_, and the whole Country round it being full of the largest Pines, the royal Navy is as likely to be well provided with Masts there, and at as cheap a rate as any where else. But I have already too far presum'd on your Excellency's Patience.
_Cadwallader Colden_.
* * * * *
To this it may not be improper to add the following Original Letter.
_From_ J. A. _Esq; to Mr_. P. C. _of_ London, _shewing the Success of the Measures taken at that Time_.
_New-York_, 1740. _S I R_,
If you should be at the Pains to read these printed Papers, it will be a Pleasure to you to hear of the Success of the Measures taken by Governor _Burnet_ for redeeming the _Indian_ Trade out of the Hands of the _French_. He has succeeded far above our Expectations.
Governor _Burnet_, through his earnest Application, and at first chiefly with his Money, Credit, and Risque, erected a Trading-House and Fortification at the Mouth of the _Onondagues_ River, called _Osneigo_, where the Province of _New-York_ supports a Garrison of Soldiers, consisting of a Lieutenant and twenty Men, which are yearly relieved.
At this Place a very great Trade is carried on with the remote _Indians_, who formerly used to go down to the _French_ at _Monreal_, and there buy our _English_ Goods, at second Hand, at above twice the Price they now pay for them at _Osneigo_; whilst, at the same time, the _French_ were chiefly supplied by one Gentleman at _New-York_, who almost entirely engrossed the _Indian_ Trade of this Province, and thereby acquired a very great Estate and Influence. But the prudent Steps taken by our late worthy Governor, to open a free Trade, was the Cause of the Engrosser's losing his.--The Probability of doing this, was the principal Motive of our applying to the King, which is shown by these printed Papers.
The _Indian_ Trade, to the great Advantage of this Province, is now divided into several hundred Hands, and there have been for many Years past upwards of one hundred young Men of this Province, who have gone yearly among the _Indians_, to supply them with our Goods.
By this means, at a modest Estimate, I am assured, that the _Indian_ Trade of this Province is now far above five times as much as when Governor _Burnet_ began to put his Scheme in execution.
And this is not all the Advantages reaped thereby, but a much more considerable one to this, and all the other _English_ Colonies is, that not only our own six Nations, but also many far and remote _Indian_ Nations are drawn off from their Dependance on the _French_, and made, by Trade and Intercourse, dependant on the _English_; by this means a great Security and Protection is acquired by the _English_, in case of a War with _France_; and by this Trade our Settlements in this Province are extended up to the _Onondagues_ Carrying-place, which is now well attended with Waggons, for the more commodious transporting of Goods to trade in the Lakes.
And they are now settling on the Branches of _Sasquehanah_ River; and from the western Branches of this River, there is but a small Land-Carriage to _Allegheny_, a Branch of that great River _Misissippi_; which Branch extending a thousand Miles from its Mouth, where it enters the said River; and which joins so near to our Settlements, as is above taken notice of, opens us a Trade to that vast Country, called by the _French Louisiana_, which they possess on the _Misissippi_.
I am,
S I R,
_Your humble Servant_,
J. A.
T H E
=T R E A T Y=
H E L D W I T H T H E
_I N D I A N S_
O F T H E
S I X N A T I O N S,
A T
_P H I L A D E L P H I A_,
In _J U L Y_, 1742.
T H E T R E A T Y, &c.
The Deputies of the six Nations having, at their last Visit, agreed to release their Claim to all the Land on both Sides of the River _Sasquehanah_, as far South as this Province extends, and to the Northward to those called the _Endless Mountains_, or _Kittochtinny Hills_; in Consideration whereof, they then received a large Quantity of valuable _Indian_ Goods for the Lands situate on the Eastern Side of the said River, but declined at that Time to receive any for those on the Western Side of the said River, chusing to defer the same till another Visit; a large Number arrived from these Nations at _Philadelphia_, on _Wednesday_ the 30th of _June_, with Deputies duly impowered to receive the said Goods; and acquainted the Governor, that being weary from the Fatigue of their long Journey, they should crave three or four Days to rest themselves before they proceeded to their Business: In the mean time they would wait on the Governor to discourse, according to their usual Method, about News and other Occurrences; which the Governor readily agreed to, and ask'd them when they would chuse to pay their first Visit; which they desiring might be on _Friday_ the 2d of _July_, in the Afternoon, the Council was accordingly summon'd, and met at Mr. _Logan_'s House, where were
P R E S E N T,
The Honourable _G E O R G E T H O M A S_, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor.
_James Logan_, } _Clement Plumsted_, } _Samuel Hasell_, } _Abraham Taylor_, } Esqrs; _Samuel Preston_, } _Thomas Lawrence_, } _Ralph Asheton_, } _Robert Strettell_, } The Chiefs of the _Six Nations_, with the Chiefs of the _Shawanese_. _C A N A S S A T E E G O_, the _Onondago_ Chief, Speaker. _C O N R A D W E I S E R_, Interpreter.
The Governor opened the Conference as follows.
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'The Proprietor having purchased certain Lands from your Nations about six Years ago, a Moiety of what was agreed to be given in Consideration of that Purchase was at that Time delivered to them, and the other being at their Desire left in the Proprietor's Hands, he pressed you by _Shikalamy_ to send last Year for it, and would have been glad to have seen you, and taken you by the Hand before his Departure. But as the Design of this Meeting is to hear your News, and converse together in a free and friendly Manner, I shall say no more about the Goods than that they lie ready at the Proprietor's House, and will be delivered when you shall have sufficiently rested from the Fatigue of your Journey.'
The Chief of the _Onondagoes_ spoke.
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'We propose to rest four Days, and then come to the main Business. At present we are at a private Conference about News, and have something of this sort to mention to our Brother _Onas_.' And on the Governor's signifying they would be glad to know what it was, the Chief proceeded.
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'It is our Way when we come to our Brethren, or any other Persons, whom we live in strict Friendship with, to remove all Obstructions to a good Understanding; with this View we are to inform you of a Piece of disagreeable News that happen'd in our Journey.----Some White People living at a Place called _Conegocheegoe_, whose Names we cannot tell, nor whether they belong to this or the neighbouring Government, but one of them, as we heard, had his House burnt over his Head some Years ago, and he was brought down a Prisoner and committed to the Goal of this City: These People lighting of our young Warriors, as they were hunting, made some Proposals about the Purchasing of Land from them, and our young Men being indiscreet, and unacquainted with publick Business, were foolish enough to hearken to them, and to receive five Duffil Strowds for two Plantations on the River _Cohongoronto_. A _Conestogoe Indian_, and a _French Indian_, and some others that were in Company, had three Duffil Strowds, and went away with them; and our young Men carried off the other two. As soon as this came to our Knowledge, we sent for our Warriors, and after examining and rebuking them severely, we took away their two Strowds, and publickly censured them for exposing us to our Brethren of _Pensylvania_, in doing a Thing so inconsistent with our Engagements to them; "You are, said we aloud, that all our People might hear and take Notice, to know and remember, that the Six Nations have obliged themselves to sell none of the Land that falls within the Province of _Pensylvania_, to any other but out Brother _Onas_, and that to sell Lands to any other is an high Breach of the League of Friendship." Brethren, this rash Proceeding of our young men makes us ashamed. We always mean well, and shall perform faithfully what we have promised: And we assure you, this Affair was transacted in the Manner we have related, without our Privity or Consent. And that you may be fully convinced of this, and of the Sincerity of our Intentions, we have brought you these two Strowds [_here he presented two red Strowds to the Governor_] they are the very Strowds our foolish young Men received; we took them from them, and we give them to you to return to those white People who made the Bargain, and desire when the Strowds are returned to them, they may be told what we now say, and that we shall not confirm such Bargains, nor any other that may interfere with our Engagements to our Brother _Onas_.'
The Governor then spoke:
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'I thank you for this Piece of News; you have taken this Matter perfectly right. All Bargaining for Land within this Province, is, to be sure, a manifest Breach of your Contract with the Proprietors, and what we know you will not countenance. We have hitherto found the _Six Nations_ faithful to their Engagements, and this is a fresh Instance of their Punctuality. You could not help these Mistakes of your young Men; they were not done in your Presence: But as several Inconveniencies may arise from these kind of clandestine Sales, or from any such loose Sales of Land by your People, we desire you will, on your Return home, give publick Notice to all your Warriors not to bargain for any Land; or if they do, that you will not confirm such Bargains; and that this very Affair, together with what you have done therein, may be particularly reported to all your Nation assembled in Council.'
The _Onondago_ Chief promised to give such publick Notice; and desiring Liberty to mend his former Speech, he proceeded:
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'I forgot one Circumstance: Our People, who pretended to sell the Land, demanded a Belt of Wampum of the Buyers to carry to their Chiefs; and on their declaring they had no Wampum, our Warriors said, they would not answer that their Chiefs would confirm this Bargain, since they never did any thing of this Nature without Wampum.'
The Governor, after a short Pause, spoke:
'_B R E T H R E N of the Six Nations_,
'I take this Opportunity to relate to you a Piece of disagreeable News I received some Days ago in a Letter from _Le Tort_, the _Indian_ Trader, at _Allegheny_, who says, "That in _May_ last some _Indians_ of the _Taway_ Nation, supposed by us to be the _Twightwees_, in their Return from War, called and staid some Time with the _Shawanese_; who being asked, and denying they had brought either Scalps or Prisoners, the _Shawanese_ suspecting them, had the Curiosity to search their Bags, and finding two Scalps in them, that by the Softness of the Hair did not feel like _Indian_ Scalps, they wash'd them clean, and found them to be the Scalps of some Christians. On this Discovery, the _Twightwees_ were so much ashamed, that they stole away from their Town in the Night-time; and coming, as they afterwards understood, to a little Village belonging to the _Shawanese_, they told our People that their Hearts were full of Grief; for, as they came along the Road, they found it all bloody; and having good Cause to believe it was made bloody with the Blood of some of the white Brethren, they had very sorrowfully swept the Road; and desired them to inform the Governor of _Pensilvania_ of their (the _Twightwees_) Grief; and how they had swept the Road clean." '_Le Tort_ adds, on Behalf of the _Shawanese_,' "That they were much grieved at this unfortunate Accident; and prayed, as they had no Concern in it, more than by being Instruments to discover it, their Brethren would not blame them, nor suffer a Misunderstanding to arise between them on this Account: They would sweep the Road clean, and wipe all the Blood away; and desired their Brethren would be satisfied with this, and not weep too much for a Misfortune that might not happen again as long as the Sun and Moon shone."
'The Person who delivered me _Le Tort_'s Letter, brought this Bundle of Skins as a Present to me; but I told the Messenger, I would not meddle with it; he might leave it if he pleased: The Affair appear'd to me in a bad Light, and I would represent it to the _Six Nations_, who were expected in Town every Day. This is the Fact, as I have it from _Le Tort_: I desire to be inform'd if you know any thing of this Matter; and if you do not, that you will make diligent Enquiry who committed the Murder, and who are the unhappy Sufferers, and assist us to obtain Satisfaction, if it shall appear to be any, of our Fellow-Subjects that have been treated in this Manner.'
_To inforce this Request, I present you with this String of Wampum_.
The _Onondago_ Chief, in Reply, said:
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'We take this Information kindly at your Hands; we will take this String of Wampum home with us to our Lodgings, and there consult about the most regular and proper Steps to be taken by us to answer your Expectations, and when we have duly considered the Matter, we will return you an Answer.'
Upon this the Governor put an End to the Conference; and calling for Wine, and other Liquors, according to the _Indian_ Custom, after a decent and chearful Entertainment, the _Indians_ withdrew.
* * * * *
At a C O U N C I L held at the Proprietor's House, _July_ 5, 1742.
P R E S E N T
The Honourable _G E O R G E T H O M A S_, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor.
_James Logan_, } _Clement Plumsted_, } Esqrs;
With several Gentlemen of the Town.
_The Chiefs of the Six Nations_.
It being judg'd proper, at this critical Time, when we are in daily Expectation of a _French_ War, to sound the _Indians_, and discover what Dependance we might have on them, in case their Aid should be wanted, an handsome Dinner was provided for their Chiefs; and after they had made an hearty Meal, and drank his Majesty's Health, the Proprietors, and the Health of the _Six Nations_, the Chiefs gave the solemn Cry, in Testimony of their Thanks for the Honour done them. And soon after the Governor began, in a free Way, to enquire for what Reason the _Senecas_ were not come down, since they had an equal Share of the Goods with the other Nations.----_Canassateego_, their Speaker, said, 'The _Senecas_ were in great Distress, on Account of a Famine that raged in their Country, which had reduced them to such Want, that a Father had been obliged to kill two of his Children to preserve his own, and the rest of his Family's Lives; and they could not now come down, but had given Directions about their Share of the Goods.'----The Governor express'd his Concern for the unhappy Circumstances of their Brethren of the _Seneca_ Nation; and, after a short Respite, enquired if any of their Deputies were then at _Canada_, and whether the _French_ Governor was making any warlike Preparations. And on their answering _Yes_, the Governor said, with a smiling, pleasant Countenance, 'I suppose, if the _French_ should go to War with us, you will join them.' The _Indians_ conferr'd together for some Time, and then _Canassateego_, in a chearful lively Manner, made answer.----'We assure you, the Governor of _Canada_ pays our Nations great Court at this Time, well knowing of what Consequence we are to the _French_ Interest: He has already told us, he was uncovering the Hatchet, and sharpening it, and hoped, if he should be obliged to lift it up against the _English_, our Nations would remain neuter, and assist neither Side.----But we will now speak plainly to our Brethren: Why should we, who are one Flesh with you, refuse to help you, whenever you want our Assistance?----We have continued a long Time in the strictest League of Amity and Friendship with you, and we shall always be faithful and true to you our old and good Allies.----The Governor of _Canada_ talks a great deal, but ten of his Words do not go so far as one of yours.----We do not look towards them; we look towards you; and you may depend on our Assistance.' Whilst the _Onondago_ Chief made this open and hearty Declaration, all the other _Indians_ made frequently that particular Kind of Noise which is known to be a Mark of Approbation.----The Governor bid the Interpreter tell _Canassateego_, 'He did not set on foot this Enquiry from any Suspicion he had of the _Six Nations_ wanting a due Regard for the _English_.--Our Experience of their Honour and Faith, said he, would not permit us to think any other of them, than that they would esteem our Friends their Friends, and our Enemies their Enemies, agreeable to the strict Union which had ever subsisted between us.--As to the Governor of _Canada_, he told them they need not mind what he said.--The _English_, on equal Terms, had beat the _French_, and could beat them again: And were they but to consider the Advantages which the _English_ have, by possessing so many large and populous Countries, and so many good Ports on the Continent of _America_, they would soon see who had most Reason to fear a War, the _French_ or the _English_.'
* * * * *
Here the Conversation dropped; and after another Glass of Wine, the _Indians_ resumed the Discourse, by asking whether their Brethren had not been for some Time engaged in a War with the King of _Spain_, and what Successes they had met with.
The Governor told them, the King of _Great-Britain_ lived in an Island, and being surrounded with the Sea, his chief Strength lay in his Ships; in which he was so much superior to his Enemies, that they were seldom to be met with on the broad Ocean, but sculk'd and hid themselves, only venturing out now and then; and whenever they did, they were almost sure to be taken; and that the King of _Great-Britain_ had with his Ships, beat down, or taken several of the _Spaniards_ great Forts in _America_.--The _Indians_ said, they were pleased to hear their Brethren were an Over-match for their Enemies, and wish'd them good Success.
The Governor then enquired into the State and Condition of the Nations to the Westward of the Great Lakes, and whether they had any Warriors then in those Countries? Whether they had concluded Peace with the Southern _Indians_? And whether they had heard what their Deputies had done at _Albany_?
They made Answer: That they had always Abundance of their Men out amongst the Nations situate to the West of their Lakes.--That they had kindled a Fire with a vast many Nations, some whereof were Tributaries, and they had a good Understanding with all.--They set out from their own Country in Company with two Sets of Deputies, one going to hold a Treaty with the Southern _Indians_, and they believed a Peace would be concluded: The other going to meet the Governor of _New-York_, at _Albany_; but they could not tell what had been done at either Place.--On their return, they were to hold a General Council, and would inform their Brethren of these Particulars.
Then the Governor put an End to the Conference, by telling the _Indians_ the Goods would be delivered to them at a Council to be held To-morrow Afternoon at the Meeting-House.
* * * * *
At a Council held in the Meeting House, _Philadelphia, July_ 6, 1742.
P R E S E N T,
The Honourable _G E O R G E T H O M A S_, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor.