Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York; Procured in Holland, England and France [7]

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DOCUMENTS RCLATIVK TO THE

COLONIAL HISTORY OP THB

STATE OF NEW-YORK; PROCCREO IN

HOLLAND, ENGLAND AND FRANCE. JOM

ROMEYN BRODHEAD,

ESQ.,

AGENT, UNDEB AND BT VIRTUE OP AN ACT OP THE LEOISLATTRB ENTHXED " AW ACT TO APPOINT AN AOKIT TO I'EOCUEE AND TEANSCBIBE DOCUMENTS IN ECKOPE EELATIVE TO THE COLONIAL 1U8T0KT OF THE STATE," PASSED MAT I, in*.

^

EDITED BT

E. B.

O'CALLAGHAN,

VOL.

M. D.

VII.

ALBANY: WEED, PARSONS AITD COMPANY, PRLNTKR8. 1856.

^

YH

Ol

Colonies,

.

595

..

CONTENTS. 1764.

January

PjkOE.

20. Letter of Sir

William Johnson to the Lords of Trade— imuuere of friendly Indians

Letter of Colonel Croghan to the Ixirds of

Januiiry

February

21. 8.

Trade— snggeations

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Culden to the Lords of

Pennsjlvsnia, Ac,

as to the future treatment of the Indiana,

trade— boundary

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Golden to the Lordi uf Trade

in

question, At.

—granU by N«w Bampihir* of land* oa (06

February

13.

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Halifax, containing copy of a Utter from Sir

February

28.

Extract of a letter of Sir William Johnson to Lieutenant-Oovemor Colden

illinm

Johnson upon Indian

affairs,

(09

—expedition against

bostiU

Indian*,

(11

March March March March

12.

Albany merchants that certain places for trade with the Indians shall be stipulated, A&,. Letter of Major Phillip Skeene to Secretary Pownall— referring to a grant of land near Lake Cbamplaio,

April

12.

Letter of LieutenautrGovernor Colden

2.

Letter of Sir William Johnson to Lieutenant-Governor Colden^-defeat of a party of hostile Indian^

9.

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Coldeu to the Lords of Trade

—

Petition of

to

the

,

— trade vith foreign Colonies,

—grants

by the Qovemor of

Lords of Trade

IS.

April

14 Letter

April

14. Letter of

of

(K

—

(17

—Pondiae,

tha Detroit

Chief;

April

3.

May

8.

(|»

— peace concluded with the Indian^ Articles of peace with the Seneca Indians, Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Halifax— troops on the frontiers supported by the General Gage to the Earl of Halifax

Assembly,

Ac

12.

April

28. Letter of Sir

May

16.

May

22.

July

10.

— praying for a grant of land, Letter of Sir William Johnson to the Earl of Halifax — Indian Letter of the Lords of Trade to Lieutenant-Governor Colden — treatment of tha Indians^

July

10.

Letter of the Lords of Trade to Sir William Johnson

11. Letter of Sir

William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

12. Letter of the Earl of Halifax to

(24

affairs

Lieutenant-Governor Colden—colonial

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of

William Johnson to Lieuteoant Governor Colden

(17

affairs,

Trade— mandamus

to Mr. Apthorp, Aa.

(27

—Indians defeated,

(28

Memorial of Lieutenant Campbell to the Lords of Trade

•!•

(tS

affairs,

Plan fur the future management of Indian

Trade

—Indian

(St (84

affairs,

AST

affairs,

Governor Colden

—boundary disputes,

(41

July

18. Letter of the Ix>rds of

July

17. Petition

July

23.

Representation of the Lords of Trade to the Committee of tha Privy Coonal eooceming a grant to

August

11.

Latter of the Earl of Halifax to

Angubt Auguat

SO. Letter of Sir

July

18. Articles

to Lieutenant

A«.,

MS

— praying for a grant of Land,

of Sir James Jay to the King

MS

King's college,

August

tlie

Governors

in

America, requiring a

list

of instmintDta in wriliog,

law papers, grants, Ac, for the [>urpoee of la}-ing a stamp duty William Johnson to tlie Earl of Halifax—cession by the Indians of lands at Niagara,

SO. Letter of Sir

6.

William Johnson to the Lords of

of peace concluded with the

Huron

Trade— Indian

644 ....

MO

Indians,

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of

ttl

Trade— King's address—large granU

of land,

.

September 21. Letter of General Gage to the Earl of Halifax— Indian Congress at Niagara, October 8. Letter of Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade— Indian affairs, October 8. Sir William Johnson's sentiments upon the "Plan of the Lords of Trade for the future maaagemant of Indian

October

9.

Letter of Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Lords of

12.

October

80. Letter of Sir

William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

Trade— trade

—grants

Ac

670

November

5.

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Halifax- want of officers to traoaaet public

November

7.

Letter of Lieutenant,Governor Colden to the Lords of

business in the Province, Ac,

in the Province,

December

11.

Ac,

6t7

(47

with the Indians,

of land from the Indian^

(tt

4U Ml (M

affairs,"

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Halifax—smuggling, Ac.,

October

(47 648

affairs,

Articles of peace concluded with the Genesee Indians,

20. Letter of

(SO (21

(2S

—Indian

May May May

September

(It

(It

New

—

Gage to the Earl of Halifax military affairs in New-Tork General Gage to the Karl of Halifax expedition up the Mitaiaaippi

Letter of General

(II

(II

Hampshire April

6t)l

(07

,

the west side of the Connecticut, Ac.,

V

699

*'*

•

Trade— Brat appeal from Comaoa

Uw Ooorts •

''

Representation of the Lords of Trade to the King, upon certain proceedinga of Maasaehnsatta and

New-York

'"S

—

CONTENTS.

jcii

P*6''

1764.

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Golden to the Lords of Trade

December

IS.

December

18. Letter of

December December

26. Letter of Sir

King

subject of appeals to ihe

—dissatisfaction

in the Prorince

upon the 679

in Council

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Halifax

— disputes

with the Crown concerning 681

appeals,

4.

William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

Colonel Bradstrecl's thoughts upon Indian

affairs

— importance of

686

possessing the Illinois,

—certain military posts to be established, Ac,

690

1768.

January

William Johnson to the Lords Qf Trade

16. Letter of Sir

—Delaware and Shawanese Indians—

officers in his

694

bureau, Ac,

—appeals to the King Council, of Halifax —suggestions respecting appeals

January

22. Letter of

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of Trade

January

23. Letter of

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl

January

27. Letter of

Ac.,.

in

.

.

700

Privy Council LieutenantrGovernor Colden to the Lords of Trade

—Indian trade— appeals—Mr. Livingston's

removal from his Judgeship recommended,

February

7.

695

to the

702

Letter of Secretary Ellis to the Earl of Halifax, explaining the King's intentions respecting the

powers, authority, Ac, of the commander-in-chief, brigadier-generals and governors of the Provinces

704

in America,

February

22. Letter of

February

22.

March

6.

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Halifax

— influence of the

lawyers in New-York,

— appeals to the Privy Council Colden — Lord Ilcheater's and others' plan of

Letter of the Lords of Trade to Lieutenant-Governor

16. Letter of the

March

16. Letter of the

April

14. Letter of

April

87. Letter of Lieutenant-Governor

May

S4. Letter of Sir

May May May

22. Proceedings of Sir William

show

707

Lords of Trade to Lieutenant-Governor Colden, respecting two

March

as a

in

Mohawk

Indians exhibited

a tavern in Loudon, Ac

708

Lords of Trade to Sir William Johnson, respecting the two Mohawks exhibited in London,

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of

question,

a

New- York, recommended, Ac

settlement in

Trade—clamors

against

him on

8.

Ac,

709 Colden to the Earl of Halifax

—tranquility

in

New-York notwitstanding

—news from

8.

20.

— temper of the Western Indians—review of Indian

the frontiers, Ac,

Johnson with the Indians

in April

711

and May,

718

Treaty of peace with the Delaware Nation, entered into by their deputies, before Sir William Johnson, Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of Trade

William Johnson's claim

JniM Jane

710

William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

previous to his appointment

81. Letter of

— Rensselaer's, Ac,

—lands on

the

Mohawk

patented

all

—Sir 741

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of Trade

—Sir William Johnson's land

claim, Ac,

.

.

745

—Shawanese Indians—conduct of the Pennsylvania borderers likely to excite the resentment of the Indians— French intrigues— Pondiac, Ac,

14. 2.

Proceedings of Sir William Johnson with the Ohio Indians, 4-14 July Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to General as effectually to discourage all opposition

Gage

—temper of

publications against the stamp act

—

the people, Ac,

— present

768 state of

New-York

— virulent

—prosecutions not

secret correspondence throughout the Colonies

expedient in the present temper of the people and state of the courts, Ac,

James McEvers

Letter of Mr.

to Lieutenant-Governor

stamps, Ac, 8ept«mber 24. Representation of the Lords of Trade

Colden

769

—he cannot undertake the distribution of 761

to the

King upon appeals from the courts

Extract of Sir Henry Moore's instructions for the government of

of

New- York

New-York (dated Nov.

Illinois

"

October

12.

October

26. Letter of

763

William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

— his

Common

—violent

treaty at Detroit

—Mr.

Croghan has obtained possession of the

—

conduct of the Colonists

litigious

spirit

amongst the

Americans," Ac

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to Secretary

Conway

—inflammatory publications

765 in

New-York

inquiry delayed, for fear of raising the mob, Ac,

York

762

2), relating to

appeals, Ac. 28. Letter of Sir

746

760

— necessity of a military force in New-York, so

8«ptember23. Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to Secretary Conway

September

744

Representation of the Lords of Trade, to the King, upon the draft of Sir Henry Moore's commission as

Governor, Ac, of New-York

September

738

Letter of Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

Jnly.

July

709

the appeal

the faction, Ac,

affairs

706 706

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of Trade

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to Secretary

—scurrilous publications, Ac,

767

Conway

— account of the stamp act troubles in New768

—

CONTENTS.

xm

1T6S.

Pmb. Fac simile of a placard pasted upon the doora of the publie

Norerober

6.

L«tter of Lieutenuut^Govcrnor Gulden to Secretary

November

8.

letter of the Lords of Trade to Sir Ilenry Moore Connecticut river, Ac., ,

NoTember

9.

November— hia

the 1st of

carriage,

16,

HoTember.

Kovember

21,

in efllgy, Aa, an aoeoant of the gnwta of land od

Anonymous

be sent from England to

many

make examplea

soma

few, in

which eaa* 773

Lieutenant-Governor Colden, signed " New York," Letter of Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade Mr. Croghan'a traaaaetiona with th* ladiaaa— conduct of the French in the west and south, Ac. ,

11$

Journal of Colonel Croghan's transactions with the Western Indians, from

lit

letter addressed to

—

Letter of Governor Moore to the Earl of Dartmouth

KoTember

21. Letter of

November

22. Letter of Sir

weak

—state

Governor Moore

to Secretary

Conway

—stamp

—their

Yorkers"

May

to September,

of the Province of

New-York 00

act

to

719

effects, Ac.,

—

spirit of

Libertinism and Independence daily growing, Ac,

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the t^rds of Trade Letter of Lieutenant Governor Colden to Secretary

up the Government

790

— review of the stamp act troubles—causa

—

their

791

Conway — Governor Moore's

—importance of New-York— whatever

on the other Colonies 6.

arrival,

and

hia giving

happens there, has the greatest influence

dependency or independeney seems now to b« at the

crisis,

Ac,

79t

Lieutenant-Governor Colden's account of the state of the Province of New- York,

16. Letter of

Secretary

aituation,

Conway

to Lieutenant-Governor

New-York

affairs,

letter of Governor Moore to Secretary

21,

December

21. Letter of

Colden

—the King

but does not approve hia declaration to take no step

of the Government upon

December

789

William Johnson to the lA>rds of Trade—" Furious and audacious behavior of the N«w-

of the malice displayed against him, his conduct respecting appeals, Ac.

December December

774

hia

—present tranquility owing the troubles— weakness of Govemmaot

to protect ita officers

outrages in different parts of the Continent

13.

of

years quiet,

—power of Government too

December

771 tji«

77J

suspension of Executive powers, Ac.

6.

770 at New-York, on

Ac, burnt, and himself hung and burnt

arrival

December

mob

of the

Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Coldeo to Secretaryl Con way—eonduct of the people in New- Yorkindignities offered to His Majesty's authority— the lawyers believed to be the promoters of the seditioa the Colony will remain for

1,

New- York, At,

Conway— account

—directing

— recommendation that judges

Noyember Korember

offieea in

till

is

79t

sensible of the delicacy of hia

Oovcmor Moore's

arrival

—riavi

Ac

Conway

800

— his proceedings since his arrival —hopes that the laee BOt

of affairs will soon change for the better, Ac,

—

Governor Moore to the Earl of Dartmouth inconveniences the people of New- York bava brought on themselves by their late rash proceedings, Ac

tOl

1766.

January

13. Letter of

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Lords of Trade— proceedings of the Assembly— appeak to

the Privy Council,

Janaarj

14. Letter of

January

16. Letter of

January

16. Letter of

January

16.

January

31.

Ac

•0*

Conway— factions

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to Secretary

in

New- York

— appeal Ac,

—

Governor Moore to Secretary Conway troubles on aocount of the stamp act, Ac, Governor Moore to the Earl of Dartmouth^nspension of the stamp aet, Ac, Letter of Governor Moore to the Lords of Trade New Hampshire grants, Ac, puesession Uken of Illinoia— beat maans of Letter of Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade

—

—

improving

it,

Conway—has

20. Letter of

February

21. Letter of

February

22. Letter of

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to Secretary

February

22. Letter of

Governor Moore to the Lords of Trade

807

applied to General Gage for a miliUry force-

"*>

Mr. Coldeu's conduct, Ac

Lieutenant-Governor Colden to SecreUry

the stamped paper,

80§

tW ^^

Ac

Governor Moore to Secretary

February

Wt

Conway—explanation

of his conduct in regard to

•"

Ac Conway—Oovemor

Moore's eondoet towards him,

—appeals, Ac,

81*

•!

1766.

November

2.

818

Report of the Attorney and Solicitor Generals on appeals in New-York,

1766.

March

32. Letter of Sir

William Johnson to the Lords of

grant^ Ac,

March March

Letter

in Illinois,

Ac, Canada

•

."', Governor Moore to Secretary Conway eommand-in-«hief of from Governor Fitch, of Connecticut, to Governor Moore, respecting the

26. Letter of 11.

Trade—French movemenU

themiUtia.Ac

'" '"

— .

CONTENTS.

XIV

Page.

1766. 28. Letter of

March

81. Letter of

April

80. Letter of

April

80. Letter of

May

16.

May May

26. Letter of

28.

—

Governor Moore to the Lords of Trade want of a currency, Ac., Letter of Lieutenant-Governor Golden to Secretary Conway Captain Kennedy

March March

stamped paper,

820

—the

affair

of the

821

'' intention, as

Commission of Colonel, Agent and

a further

mark

sole Superintendant of the

Six Nations, and other Northern hid"', together with a salary of 600i£ p' annum,

for executing the

same; and

I

herewith send you the said Commission

you should assemble the Indians as soon as possible, when them with His Majesty's steady resolution to support and protect them, as his Allies; and invite them to join and act with his Troops against the French. You will communicate to the Indians all the orders the King has given for proiiibiting settlements upon their Lands; for redressing their just complaints with regard to the patented lands, and for It

you

is

the King's pleasure, that

will acquaint

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXHI. preventing

tlie like

orders, that the

abuses

for the future;

77

and you will assure them, that His Mnj''' to trade at Albany or Oswegoe: You

will give

Commander

in Chief,

Cacnawagees be not permitted

acquaint the Indians, that large presents will be sent to them by the

who

be fully instructed to

will

make

regulations with respect to their

commerce and

will alao

all

such

Commander

in

Chief of the King's forces in North America for the time being, for such sums of money, shall be necessary, from time to time, in carrying on this important branch of the service ;

u

other points, as regard their welfare and security; and you will apply to the

the execution of which, I cannot too strongly

recommend

it

to you, to exert

in

your utmost zeal

and endeavours; and I may add, that relying on your knowledge and integrity, whatever money you require, as necessary for engaging the Indians to act, will be given you without reluctance, or delay. I

am

— ettc H. Fox.

P

S.

Your patent of Baronet having passed the great

opportunity of sending

it

to you.

LffrdrS

of Trade [

To

Sir Cha*

seal in the usual form, I take this

to

Governor Hardy.

N«w-Tark XntrlM,

B.,

P.

T4. ]

Hardy Kn' Gov' of New York.

Sir,

appearing to us upon a consideration of the present state of Indian Affairs, that the extravagant Tracts of Land, which have at different times been granted to particular persons upon pretence of purchases made of the Six Nations and their confederates, which they alledge It

been fraudulently obtained from them, has been one of the principal causes, of the decline of our Interest with the said Indians and as we are fully convinced, that they can never be induced to engage heartily and sincerily in the just and necessary measures, which His Maj'^ is compelled to take for the recovery of his undoubted righU in America, until they have received full satisfaction with respect to this real grievance, which they have so often and your serious BO justly complained of. We think it our duty to recommend this matter to to have

;

you will also lay it before the Council and Assembly for their consideration. The Patents or Grants, which the Indians principally complain of, and which they consider Keyoderosseras, Connojohary & as most injurious to their Rights, are those commonly called and anull them, that at the Ooejda carrying place, and if proper measures were taken to vacate attention, and to desire

there

little

is

reason to doubt, but that the Six Nations would Act in conjunction with us

against the French with their whole united strength.

which would attend the doing this by Legal process in the Courts, are so no effectual many, as leave us little room to hope for success from such a measure; and we see

The

difficulties,

Remedy passing a

to

great evil, but from the interposition of the Legislature of iNew York, in a measure, for vacating and annulling these exhorbilant and fraudulent Patents;

tliis

Law

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

78 which we desire you not of

tiieir

Interest,

and

recommend

will earnestly

concurrence, as

it

to their consideration,

be so niucli for His

will

Maj'J'"'

and

we

which

in

We

advantage, welfare and security of their constituent in General.

for the

doubt

Honour

service, for their

&

are.

Sir

Your most obedient and most humble servants.

Dunk Halifax Talbot SoAME Jenyns

J.

19.

Rich" Rigby

March 1756

Lords of Trade [

To James De Lancey Esq" Chief

to

New-Tork

Gliief Justice Entries, B. P., p. 85.

Justice of

New

De

Lancey.

]

York.

Sir,

We

have received your

of the S* of October

came

letter dated the

safe to

21" of January, and are glad to

your hands, and that the approbation

we

that ours

find,

expressed therein of

your conduct during your Administration of the Govern', was received by you with

satisfaction

which you request us to intercede with His Maj'J', that the Gov' may be permitted to assent to a Bill for the payment of the Salaries due to yourself and the rest of the Officers of Govern', We have the pleasure to acquaint you, that His Maj'J' has been pleased, upon a consideration of the present State of affairs, to allow his Gov' for the present to assent to such temporary Bills as the Assembly shall frame and pass for the support as to that part of your letter, in

of Govern' and other necessary services.

We

have lately had under our consideration the present State of Indian

appears clearly to

and as it Lands commonly called the Kayoderosseras, the Oneida carrying place, which have been made at different times,

us, that

Conojohary and that

at

the

Affairs,

Patents of

upon pretence of purchases from the Indiana, is one of the principal causes of the decline of our Interest amongst them, and that they can never be induced heartily and zealously to join in the just

and necessary measures, His Miijesty has been compelled

of his undoubted Rights, until

full

they have so long and so justly complained of; this

We

to take, for the recovery

them with respect

satisfaction is given

have thought

it

to these grievances,

our duty, to recommend

matter to Sir Cha' Hardy's serious attention, and to desire he will lay

Council and Assembly to the end that proper measures

may

it

fully before the

be taken for vacating and annulling

these exorbitant grants, as were done upon a former occasion of the like kind in 1699.

many and

difficulties

which

will attend the doing this

so great, as leave us little

remedy

to this great evil, but

room

to

hope

by a

for success

will

— The

Courts are so

from such a measure

;

and

we

from the interposition of the Legislature by passing a

many see no

Law

for

which we have directed the Gov', earnestly to recommend to them, as a measure be for His Maj'^'' service, for their honour and Interest, and for the advantage,

this purpose,

which

legal proces in the

security and welfare of their constituents in general.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXUl.

We

are sensible

tliat

79

the framing a Bill of this kind will be a matter of great tenderness and

delicacy, and will require the advice and assistance of

those,

all

who

are any

ways concerned

or employed in the Administration of Govern'; and as your Situation & character, and the knowledge you have of the true interest of His Maj"'"' Colonys, have rendered you particularly

conversant in questions of this kind, Sir Charles

may

Hardy upon

this

we

our duty to recommend to you to consult with important point, and to co-operate with him in any steps which think

it

be properly taken to render this measure efiectual.

We

are.

Sir

&

Your most obedient

most humble Serv"

Dunk Halifax J Talbot

SoAMB Jenyns March 1756.

19.

Rich'' Rigby.

^

Lords of Trade [

To

Sir Cha-

» < »

to

Governor Hardy.

Nvw-Totk BolriM, B. P.,

p. T8. ]

Hardy Kn' Gov' of New York.

Sir,

Since our letter to you dated the 29* of March,

January, and

The

26'""

we have

received your's of the 12"' of

of Febr'T last and the papers transmitted with them.

fresh proofs,

which His

Maj"''* subjects in

New York

have given of their regard and zeal

own Honour and Security, in making such early and ample provision for that part of the plan of operation for this year, which was assigned to them by the Council of War, cannot fail of recommending them to His Maj''' favour, and it would have been a great satisfaction t« us, to have known by the same conveyance, what were

for

His

Maj'''"'

Interests and Service, and their

the resolutions of the other Colonies to the Eastward upon a matter of so high importance. It has given us

however some concern

to find, that this service is

inconsistent with the sense of the Legislature of this

Kingdom, with

expressed in the Act passed here in the 24"" year of His

New

Maj'''"'

England Colonies, and upon which the Instructions a Fact, that the Assembly can not furnish funds for sinking the

four

provided for

in

a

respect to paper

reign, for restraining

to

it

you are founded, but

Bills in a shorter time,

the necessity of the service will justify your conduct in Assenting to the

Law

manner money, in the

if it

be

we hope

in its present

shape.

Another circumstance in your letter which gives us great uneasiness is, the refusal of the Assembly to make provision for the expence of a Commission for determining the controversies with

New

Jersey and Missachusets

which has already been productive

Bay concerning their boundaries, of so much mischief, and is an evil

the unsettled state of

every day increasing.

We

had hopes that a matter of this nature, and which so essentially concerns the internal peace and quiet of Govern', would not have met with any difficulty, and we can not but still be of opinion, that,

when they

seriously and impartially consider the case, they will

with what has been so properly recommended to them.

comply

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

80

We

have considered your proposal

for settling

temporary

putting a stop to Acts of Violence and oppression, but as

lines of Jurisdiction, as a

tiie

Crown

by the Charter

has,

Massachusets Bay, granted the Jurisdiction as well as the property,

it

New

New York

and

some degree

be made

in

for the

Jersey,

it

undoubtedly may be done and would be ;

In the case of

but even that could not be done

affecting private property,

expence of running out and marking such a

to tlie

does not appear to us,

that such a measure can take place with respect to that part of the dispute.

without

means of

line,

ineffectual, unless provision

when determined

upon.

Commissioners here for determining the controversy upon a supposition that it depends entirely upon the words of the Grant to the Duke of York, the establishing such a Jurisdiction is altogether without precedent, liable to numberless objections, and might be attended with very bad consequences besides it could not be done without as great, if not much greater, expence than that which has been proposed, and therefore upon the whole, we

As

to the appointing

;

method of determining these disputes will be by a Commission, in the nature of that, upon which the limits between Massachusets Bay and New Hampshire were settled; and we desire you will acquaint the Assembly, that, as this is a matter of high concernment to the peace and quiet of Govern' and the lives and properties are of opinion, that the only proper and effectual

of His Majesty's subjects. His Majesty does expect, that they will forthwith

make a proper

provision for the expence of such a Commission, and give their agent here proper Instructions

may

thereupon, that there

We

be no further delay upon a matter of so great Importance.

are.

Sir

Your most obedient humble

servants.

Dunk Halifax SoAME Jenyns 13 April 1766.

RieH"* Rigby.

Governor Hardy

to the

[New York Papen,

Lofds of Trade.

LI.

No.

84.]

Fort George

My I

New York

lO""

May.

Lords

now

enclose copys of

two conferences

Sir William

Johnson has

lately

held with the

Indians, one for the removal of those settled in this Province and called the River Indians

who

have lately caused great Jealousys and uneasiness to our Inhabitants the setting them with the Mohawks will be an additional Strength to their castle and may make them a useful people. The shocking Barbarities committed in the back country of Pensilvania by the Delawares and

Shawanese, has been

terrible

I have repeatedly urged

their

it

and that poor Province reduced

to Sir

William Johnson,

Nephews and Dependants: Indian

brought them to

call

upon the Delawares

to bring the six

deliberations to lay

to very distressed circumstances;

down

Nations to interpose with

are very slow, but he has at length

the Hatchet, join

them and

assist their

English Brethren, what measures have been taken for this good purpose the inclosed report of their Deputies will inform

your Lordships.

The meeting

at

Onondaga, agreed upon between

LONDON DOCUMENTS:

XXXIIl.

81

'Wmiam Johnson and them,

I am afraid will be suspended (but I hope only for a few dayi) French and their Indians were in motion to attack our Magazines on the Mohowks River, these alarms have been so frequent of late, and given by Indians, who

Str

by a

late allarm that the

magnify small

to great

numbers, that

am

I

inclined to think, this, like the others, will turn out

only scouting Partys, to intercept and impede, the transportation of Provisions to Oswego.

If

Breach with Pensilvania and the Delawares should be accomodated by the interposition of the Six Nations at the intended meeting at Onondaga, I shall esteem it a great point gained,

this

show your Lordships, the Influence Sir William Johnson has with the management of them, I should not do this gentleman justice if I did not recommend him to your Lordships Notice and through your Lordships to his Mnjestys Ministers. The manner in which they invite him to the meeting at Onondaga, is the strongest mark of their regard and good opinion of him The good consequences that will attend the accommodating of this unhappy Breach, are great, it will give a great turn to the affiiirs of the present Warr in North America, and I trust may by a little time and proper management, enable us to withdraw the Delawares !c and

will sufficiently

Indians, and his superior abilities for the

Shawiinese that are settled on the Ohio from the French Interest, connections are to

When

strong to hope

for this success

I

doubt

their present

now

Sir William Johnson had his meeting with the Indians last February (his proceedings

him to settle the time with them His Matya Present, your Lordships will

at that meeting have been transmitted to your Lordships) I desired

them

for

my

meeting them

this spring to give

see their answer in the conference, and so

many alarms have

of late taken up their attention

them together, without great inconvenience to the by taking them from it: this has rendered it impracticable for me to go up with the present, and as they had a large one given them by Sir William Johnson, made it less necessary and I beleive will be of more real use and more acceptable in the fall of the year, at such time as they can be conveniently got together. But as there is no arms to be procured in as well as ours, that I could not possibly call

public Service

or the neighbouring Colonies

this

juncture, to send

all

those with the

fit

for the Indians

Powder and Lead

I

judged

it

necessary at this Critical

I brought from England, to Sir

William

by orders from His Majesty; and to acquaint them, as the Johnson French have threatned them to convince them of the regard I have for them, I have put those arms into their hands, and do not doubt but they will make the proper use of them The want of these arms renders my Present very incompleat, and I hope your Ldps will judge to distribute from me,

—

it

proper to replace them early this

summer

(that I

may

have them

in readiness

with the

remainder of the Present and the addition I prevailed on the Assembly to make to it to the value of nearly .£500) to give to the united Nations at the most convenient time. The prospect we have of uniting the Delawares with the Allied Castles, may make a farther addition to the present necessary, as the

which

My

number

of Indians will be considerably increased,

I beg leave to refer to your Lordships consideration. Assembly is adjourned to the 25'* Instant, before they rose

I

passed a

Law

all

to prohibit

the exportation of Provisions for three weeks, but to continue in force for three months, if the neighbouring Colonies pass Laws for the like purpose, 1 hope such an example may bring

them

into

it,

I have proposed

it,

and

shall not fail to

urge

it

strongly, I find the Governors well

and have promis'd to recommend it to their several Assemblys The French draw great quantitys of Provisions for the use of their Islands, by means of the Dutch, and from the Island of St Thomas and possibly may throw some into Louisbourg and

inclined

Vol.

Vn.

11

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

82 from thence to Canada,

if this

as our nearer neighbours.

of

my

proposal.

I

hope soon

expedition, assembled at

can be prevented their Islands must

feel

great distress, as well

I shall by the next Packet acquaint your Lordships with the success to

have the Forces raising

in this

Province for the

Crown

Point

Albany I

have the honor to be

Your Lordships

most obedient and humble servant

Chas: Hardy

Report of a Deputation of [New-Tork Papen,

LI.,

Onondagas.

the

Ko. 39.]

Fort Johnson 21 April 1756

A

Deputation from the Onondagas of

Two

AM

Sachems, and 15 Warriors

Peter Wraxall Sec-r

Arent Stephens Interp'

Tioquanta speaker Brother Warraghiyagey

We

we do

with this Belt of

from your eyes and clear your throat that you clean

away

may

speak to

the blood which hath been spilt that

we may

Gave a

confidence and satisfaction

we doubt

not you are wipe away the Tears us with ease and freedom, and we

are very sorry for your late loss at the Carrying Place^ and as

oppressed with grief on this occasion

Wampum

confer together with our usual

large Belt of Black

Wampum

Brother

At our late

public meeting you put the five Nations, in

mind that the Delaware

& Shawanese

Indians were under their Government and direction, and you enjoined us to send them to express our Disapprobation and Resentment for the bloody Hostilities which they had and

were dayly committing against our Brethren the English in those parts and that we should order them to cease from those Violences, and live in that Friendship and harmony with our Brethren the English as they were wont to do, and that they should turn the edge of their Hatchetts along with you and us against our common enemy the French & their Indians We have been to them and delivered what you gave us in charge and we have succeeded by convincing them that they had acted very foolishly and very unjustifiably and they have promised and agreed to join their arms with us in Conjunction with you against our common enemys, but at the same time they ernestl^ desire that they may see and talk with you at

Onondaga the convince them

you will meet them there it will Harmony and Friendship, and that you

Fire-place of the five Nations and that of your desire to live with

them

in

if

' Referring to the destruction of Fort Bull and its garrison, on Wood Creek, Oneida county, by a detacbtnent of French and Indians, under the command of Lieutenant d« Lery, on the 27th March, 17S6. Ed.

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXUI.

88

intend to behave to them as friends and allies and the five Nations join with them in thii request as they propose to have a very great Meeting there and as the present times are so

we desire you will fix upon as early a day Onondaga. As this meeting will be of great importance to the Common Cause, we press upon you to be present at it, and that with as litttle delay as possible, and that we will bring your Neighbours the Mohowks of both Castles along with you. We would willingly now take you by the hand with us, but if this cannot be done we must beg you will tell us what day you will be at Onondfiga that we may summons the Six Nations the Delawares & Shawanese and our several Allies to come punctually at the time you shall troublesome and the general welfare so precarious, as possible to meet

fix

me

at

upon

(delivered a Belt of Invitation)

Brother

With

up) we put you in mind that as you have often told us, we must now inform you, that as this meeting at Onondaga will be a very considerable, and at which will be present a great number of Indians of several Nations, we are by reason of the present situation of affairs (which requires our

that

we

half of this Belt (holding one

are one people and one family,

young men

to be constantly in

Arms

attending the operations of our Brethren the English)

very short of provision and by no means able to provide for such numbers as will come to this meeting, to support the

we therefore hope you will bring along with you some Provisions many Indians who will assemble at Onondaga on this occasion

to assist ui

Brother

With

the other half of this Belt

General and

we Onondagas

we

in particular

acquaint you that as you desired the Six Nations in

would have our eyes constantly

our Trading place, and keep out Scouts in order to discover and make designs of the

enemy

fixed

known

upon Oswego

the motions and

— This we have constantly done and no sooner one scouting party comes

send out another and upon gaining any Intelligence immediately communicate it to the commanding officer at Oswego; and this we shall continue to do with our utmost zeal and in

but

we

are determined to live and die with our Brethreren the English. Now arms & ammunition are not only the means of our Lively hood and that by constant use they must be wearing out and expended, but more especially so at this time when they are constantly in our hands, and not only for our own maintenance but to assist our Brethren the English, we must therefore desire brother that you will bring along with you to this meeting at Onondaga a good supply of arms. Powder & Ball as things absolutely needful at this conjuncture, dont think brother we are so ernest upon this point with a view of private Abilities, for

brother you

Brother

know

we

that

propose to use our arms and ammunition in conjunction with our Brethren (Then gave the whole Belt) the English against their and our enemies advantage, for

we

21 April 1756 Sir

William Johnson's Answer

to the foregoing speech.

Peter Wraxall Secry

Arent Stevens Interp" Bretheren of Onondaga of your Nation on our late misfortune at the Carrying place is friendly and These things are the natural consequences of War and I hope they will animate

The condolence acceptable

both you and us with a laudable spirit of resentment

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

84 Bretheren

am

I

very glad to find that your remonstrances to the Delawares and Shawanese Indians

have had the desired effects, and that they not only repent of their cruel and unjust behaviour towards their Bretheren the English but now perceive what is their true Interest and Duty & are disposed to join with you and us against the common enemy, agreeable to their request

and your urgent desire I propose to come up to the intended meeting at Onondaga and to be There are several reasons which prevent my being able there in twenty days from this day. to go with you now, or to attend sooner, one of which is that I have been lately called three times to the

German

I shall

Flatts

and Oneida carrying place, by which means

I

have a great deal of

my

hands which must be attended to before I can leave home again. give timely notice to the Mohawks of both castles to be ready to go when

Business upon

I call

upon them. Bretheren

am

I

sensible that at this time

more

especially

you

will not

be able to find Provisions

Buch a number of Indians as will probably be at this meeting, and to

your request take care to

assist

for

I shall therefore agreeable

with a supply of Provisions

Bretheren It

my

gives

me

great pleasure to hear that

you manifest

that attention to your true Interest and

exhortations as to be duly watchful over the safety of your Trading place at Oswego, by

it. I hope you will in this any by every other method continue to lett your and our enemys the French and their Indians see that you look upon the preservation of Oswego not only as a security to your own Castles, but as a place which your Honor and your Interest call upon you to protect from their incroaching attempts and that you will to the utmost of your power keep the road to it free and open

keeping out constant scouting parties round

Bretheren I

well

know how

necessary arms and

Ammunition

particularly so at this, and I shall do every thing in

as

much and

as good of the kind as

I

my

you

are to

power

at all times,

and more

me now making

to obtain and bring with*

possibly can, but as several

Armaments

are

throughout the Continent these important Articles are thereby rendred scarce, and difficult to be obtained and that I may have time to get the best & as large a quantity as I can purchase is another reason why I can not sooner meet you at Onondaga Gave a Belt.

To

this the

Speaker replyed

Brother Warraghiyagey

You have

given us a very satisfactory answer to the several particulars we had in charge from our Castle. We are extreamly obliged to you for it and we shall punctually make our Report on our return. The Friendship between our Brethren the English and us, hath been of an ancient date, and a long continuance, and we can not more effectually distress our

enemies than by stedfastly uniting ourselves together against them. Sir William then told them that as he had promised their Nation at the late meeting that when the weather would permitt he would send people up to build them a Fort, this he now intended speedily to do and desired their people would agree upon a proper place to build

and hoped when the

Workmen came

it

up they would use them well and avoid any Quarrells

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXllL and that he would give a charge

or disagreements

to the

85

Workmen

to

behave well on

their side.

Then

the conference broke up

A

true

copy from the original minutes examined by

me

Peter Wraxall

A

true

Copy examined by Benj° Barons Secry

Secry for Indian

Report of

Mohawk

the

(N«w-Tark Ftpn*,

U^

Affairs.

Delegates.

No. tC]

Fort Johnson 22* April 1766 P. M.

The Mohawk Delegates who were sent down to the River Indians waited upon Sir William Johnson and gave him the following account of their negociation Brother Warraghiyagey

Our Delegates

are returned from our

Nephews

the River Indians, and

we

are

come

to this

our fire-place with them to give you a relation of their proceedings

Brother

Our Nephews were extreamly glad to see us & expressed their gratitude for our Invitation them which they readily accepted of, and promised as soon as they could gather their people together, which they beleived would be next month they would remove hither &; accept our

to

upon themselves as a people abandoned & were extreamly rejoiced to find their Uncles the Mohawks had not wholly forgott them, but had taken measures for their Wellfare and establishment and that previous to their removal they would despatch sope of their young men forwards to give us notice of their coming offers.

They

Hereupon

said they had looked

Sir William

Bretheren of the lower I

answered

Mohawk

Castle

thank you for the account you have given

River Indians,

I

approve thereof and

embraced your kind I shall

consider

&

& prudent

treat

them

am

me

of your Proceedings with your

Nephews

the

glad to find they have so readily and gratefully

invitation.

When

they come and are incorporated with you

as Bretheren and assist

them accordingly and

I

hope they

will

be an addition to your strength and Welfare

A A

examined by Benj" Barons

true copy

Sec''.

true

Copy Pkter Wraxall Secy

for Indian Affairs

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

86

Sir William Johnson

to the.

[New-Tork Papers,

Lords of Trade.

LI., 41. ]

Fort Johnson SS""

My

May 1766

Lords

My

last letter to

transmitt a copy of

George

your Lordships, bore date the

my

procedings

in

Indian

affairs

6""

March, therewith

I

my

from the time of

had the honor, to arrival from Lake

to that date

M' Secretary Pownalls letter bearing date the S** December, which your Lordships did me the honor to direct him to write me. General Siiirley's interfering in Indian affairs, and that with so much personal resentment, I have since received

and such prejudices against my management, was a matter of as much surprize, as it was mortification to me. I had many reasons to think I stood high in that Gentlemans opinion which I had always endeavored to deserve and to strengthen If my sense of duty to that part of His Majestys Service which his Royal Orders had entrusted to my management, had not unfortunately obliged me, to have differed with M' Shirley in opinion, I should not have troubled your Lordships with a detail on that disagreeable subject, but as it did affect that part of His Majestys Service, I thought I could not consistent with my duty be silent to your Lordships thereon Tho' I have reason to beleive, I have lost General Shirleys friendship and confidence, which I wish myself honored with for the good of His Majestys Service, so far as

it

is

my

connected with

department, yet

he hath of late silenced those Agents, he set up in opposition to me, and of whose conduct I

complained I

to your Lordships have the honor herewith to transmitt to your Lordships a copy of

my

proceedings, since

the date of the last I sent

The

Slaughters and devastations, which have been committed on

the Frontiers of His

Majestys Southern Provinces,' I doubt not your Lordships have received particular accounts of from their respective Governors, it is certain that the Delawares, and Shawanese Indians

have been concerned

in these Hostilities

Till very lately those Indians

were

Intercourse with His Matys Subjects

can not take upon 1

beg leave

me

faithfull friends to

what

us

& lived

in

a peaceful and harmonious

are the several and real causes of their defection, I

at present precisely to ascertain

to offer to

your Lordships

my

general opinion from

all

I

can as yet gather on

the subject I

would premise, that the Defection of the Delawares and Shawanese Indians

many

I

beleive yet remain

if

not firm to our Interest, not wholly lost to

is

not general,

it

These Indians were settled in the neighbourhood of the French encroachments on the Ohio, some were settled where the French have now actually built. Forts; when His Majestys Troops under the late General Braddock were defeated, it gave the French who remained Masters of all that part of the Country, an opportunity to strengthen and increase their Indian Interest and influence, they flattered they boasted, and by persuasive and intimidating arts they won over several of those Indians, who were before in our Interest, and some who held themselves as it were neutral till they saw how the event of that expedition would turn out; of those latter were the Twigktwees the Jenundadees, and some Chickasaws Indians, who are as

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXX 111. I

am

French

lately informed fallen in witii the

Interest, but

I

%f apprehend more from

fear

than choice

Those Delaware and Shawanese Indians who the French, went

among

their bretheren

who

lived nearest to the Ohio, being seduced by dwelt on the Susquehanna and propagated those

prejudices against the good intentions of the English, which the French had furnished

with

same time making them

them

and promises from the French and magnifying their prowess, kindness and generosity, by these means they won over some, and spread a general prepossession amongst the rest against the English The great Patents of Land which had been purchased and taken up in those parts and our at the

offers

crowd upon the Indians, had been a long eye sore to them, infected them with jealousy and disgust towards t\)e English, and thus prepared them to be more easily influenced, by the prosperity of the French affairs, and the ill success of our arms, and when they saw after M' Braddocks defeat and death, our military operations ended as it were to the Southward and carried to the Northward, they joined the French and their Indians in their depredations, upon the open and defenceless Frontiers of those Provinces extended scattered settlements beginning

The

and

third

last

cause

I

more immediately under the

shall suggest,

is

These hints

my

suspicion that these Indians,

when

the greatest address

hinted in the last proceedings which

humbly submit

I

I apprehend

affair,

is

I

who

used to be

direction of the Southern Provinces had been either neglected or

injudiciously treated at that critical time

of this kind

to

I

was

requisite; something

transmitted to your Lordships

to your Lordships consideration as this is a very important

might with propriety

particulars relative to this subject for

oft'er

which

my

thoughts thereon

;

there are

some other

beg leave to refer your Lordships to the Papers

I

In those your Lordships will perceive a Meeting at Onondaga was proposed by the

herewith.

Southern Indians in consequence of a deputation sent Nations at which

I

to

them

at

my

ernest request by the Six

agreed to be present and named the day, but as

informations I was from come to Onondago, according to their with some other Indians of all the 6 Nations

very doubtfull whether the Southern Indians were

appointment, and the two

Mohawk

Castles

(except the Onondagas) were so averse to I

thought

before

I

it

would be prudent

undertook

my

promising to go there,

to

my

attending this meeting at this

critical

juncture.

be certain whether those Indians were actually at Onondago

journey thither, as the meeting them was

my

cheif Inducement for

Messengers were accordingly dispatched and your Lordships will see Onondaga Indians, and that they are so exlreemly

the answer they have brought from the

pressing for

my

coming up, and give such cogent reasons

his Majestys service will not dispence with

my

refusal.

I

for

am

it

that I apprehend the good of

therefore preparing to set

off",

so

I by the time appointed, and I meet some of the Delaware and Shawanese Indians there and if so to talk over and settle matters with them on such a footing as may be very beneficial to His Majestys service Besides this General in General, and the tranquility of the Southern Provinces in particular. which the jealousies and uneasinesses of the meeting appears to be necessary on account most amongst Onondagas make mention of, and which I find more or less prevails at present One cause of which is from the Deserters of General of the Indians of the Six Nations. Shirleys and Sir W" Pepperils Regiments, in which are I apprehend a great number of Irish Papists and Transports who were enlisted from the back parts of Pensylvania and Mary Land,

have General Shirleys concurrence therein.

as to be there

hope

to

they desert from Oswego and other Garrisons up the' Uiver, shelter iheniselves '

thin.

ytwYork

Colonial Mannttriptt,

LXXXIT.

— Ed.

among

the

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

88

Indians of the six Nations or pass through their country

in their

way

to the

back parts of those

provinces from whence they were enlisted, and wliere they have acquaintances and confederates,

from Malice and Policy, they pretent a great affection

for the Indians,

and invent lying

stories

who

seeing

to justify their quitting the Service and ingratiate themselves with the Indians,

they are surrounded by our present armaments, being naturally prone to suspicion, and the french continually working upon this their disposition by false and artful Representations of

our views and measures, render these Reports of the Deserters more credible and pernicious. I

am

informed there are great numbers of them amongst the Delaware and Susquehanna

Indians,

who have done

to General Shirley,

a world of prejudice to our Interest.

and proposed

I

have represented

this

matter

empower me to offer the Indians hand some such deserters, as may be, or may come, amongst them

him

to

to

Rewards for taking up and delivering Governor Morris has published a declaration of War against the Delaware and Susquehanna Indians and a small body of men are raised in that Government and marched to build a Fort at Sliamokin a Branch of the Susquehanna Tho Mr Morris has worded this Declaration with Restrictions in favor of our Friend Indians, yet as

previous notice

& explanation given

manner and put I

in a

am fully sensible

Pensylvania yet

I

our Indians

to

it

published and this Fort building without

hath circulated amongst them,

that the horrible cruelties and Devastations

have suffered

a confused

men he

which the Soulhern-i'rovinces

M"" Morris'

declaration of

he had allowed

me

War, backed with so it would have been

hath raised, was premature, and that

me

first

to have acquainted the six Nations and our friend

Indians living on the Susquehanna with his Intentions especially as

Pensylvania had applied to

&

most united and vigorous Resentments,

call for their

can not but humbly be of opinion, that

small a Force as the 400 [if]

in

bad Light by the Ignorance and probably malice of the Reporters, and tho

[in particular],

more adviseable

it is

to lay the

Mr

Morris in behalf of

behavior of the Delawares and Shawanese

hostile

was apprized of the deputation which Ambassy he published this Declaration of War which as a friendly meeting was agreed upon at Onondaga with a prospect of accommodating all matters with the Delawares and Shawanese at least such of them as had before the Six Nations at the Meeting last winter and he the Six Nations had sent, yet before he

knew

the result of their

left the Settlements and absolutely engaged themselves to the French I beg leave to observe your Lordships that while affairs were thus circumstanced I think M' Morris Declaration of

not to

War

had better been postponed,

till

judgement might have been formed

By

perusing the papers herewith,

for the observations

I

have communicated

to

Meeting

tlie

at

to regulate his I

have made on

Onnondaga had been

General Shirley

&

a better

Proceedings

conceive your Lordships will find there M"'

when

over,

Morris's Conduct,

my

is

a foundation

sentiments on this matter I

Hardy who have transmitted them

S' Charles

to

Governor Morris I

have reason to beleive

throw fresh

difficultys in the

those Indians,

An to

who were

Morris's Declaration of

M''

alarmed the Six Nations but yet

will

way in

War by

misrepresentations, has not only

prevent the Southern Indians from coming to Onnondaga

a retreivable State

other thing before I finish this interesting subject, seems to

mention

The

to

half

&

of bringing about an accommodation, with the remainder of

me

of sufficient importance

your Lordships

King and some other Indians of

the Six Nations were lately at

Philadelphia,

Governor Morris had a conference with them, acquainted them with the' Declaration of War, 'his.

Neuf-York OoUmial Jfanvseriptt,

LXXXII.

— Ed.

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS and gave them a

At

tiie

all

his

War

:

XXXIII.

Belt to offer to the Six Nations in his

same time he allowed

the heads of the Quakers,

who

gg

name

in

he well

order to join and assist.

knew

violenlly opposed Warlike measures to have a meeting with the same Indians, they had sent me a copy of what passed and they gave the Half King a Belt of Peace to present to the Six Nations in

Name, telling them they were descendants of the peaceable Penn that there were great numbers of their Bretheren in that Province who were averse to War, and whose principles were to suffer Injuries and leave Heaven to protect and defend their Cause &c &c These contradictory measures, and these opposite Belts the Half King reported, and shewed a few days ago, at a small meeting of some of all the six Nations at my house the Indians their

could not conceal their surprise that one Province should produce such contradictions and your

Lordships will

My I

I

beleive be of opinion, that

it

would be no great honour

our Political Talents

to

Lords

am

sensible that I

am

taking up a great deal of your Ldps time, but

if

am

I

mistaken the subjects I have and shall lay before you are of such importance Indian Interest, as will I hope justify

me

my

real

In

my

last letter I

gave

it

as

in

not greatly

to the British

your Lordships opinion

Sentiments to your Ldps that the Indians of the 6

Nations had discovered at the then late Meeting the strongest Intimations of their sincerity

Qnd

fidelity,

&

that nothing seemed to be wanting to cement and enlarge our Indian Alliance,

but unanimous and vigorous

efforts against the

Common Enemy;

Lords, misrepresent or conceal from your Lordships

what appears

no motives,

I will from to

me

my

the true state of our

Indian Interest I

am

sorry therefore to acquaint your Lordships that the six Nations in general, and the

upper Nations more particularly, do not a Zeal in our Favour

seem

at present

&

as I could wish,

which

it

to

be animated with so warm

has been, and shall be

my

Sc active

unremitted

endeavour to inspire them with, some of their cheifs have in private conversation with me complained of our want of vigour, and good management of our Military operations, they murmured at our inactivity last campaign at Oswego, they censured the weakness and knew the deplorable state of that important Garrison towards the latter end of last winter for

want of Provisions, and told me they trembled for its Fate, they reproached us for laying up our vessels the beginning of last October, and that they do not yet appear on the Lake tho the French were sailing backwards and forwards the whole winter. They were surprized the great carrying place, an other, very important post was so poorly fortified particularly at one end, and such a handfull of Troops

would

left to

certainly attack them, and that

it

protect

was not

it,

they told the officers there that the French

make a good Defence. The They reproach us with the two

in a condition to

event has shewn they judged rightly and complained justly. Regiments laying encampt at Albany, and Schenectady, and ask

why

they dont march against

the French

These complaints and reproaches of the Indians, I mention to your Lordships as causes of discontent to them and of their forming unfavorable ideas of our military Proceedings, which tends to damp their spirits towards us, & nourish the awe of the French which hath & doth I have endeavoured by every method in my Power to remove prevail too much amongst them. their Prejudices, but as they form their difficult

Task

to

Vol. VII.

work upon

judgments from appearances only,

their understandings

18

it

is

an extreem

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

90

An

much awe of the French is the great Western and Northern Indians in their alliance, and which hath been greatly strengthened since our unhappy Defeat at Ohio. These Prejudices my Lords are not the only disadvantages we have to contend with in endeavoring to raise & keep up in their minds a respectable opinion of our Power & consequence. The Cayouga and Seneca Nations are near neighbours to Niagara, the Onnondagas, and Oneidas, are in the neighbourhood of Swegachee a french settlement on the river St Lawrence, to which numbers of those two Nations have of late years been debauched and gone there to live. Tho our Indians do not now resort to those Places as frequent and familiarly as they formerly did, yet some among them do occasionally visit there, when the French and the Indians in their Interest poison the minds of ours with Stories not only to the disadvantage of our good Intentions towards them, but endeavor to frighten them with pompous accounts of the superior Prowess and martial abilities of the French. These things are propagated amongst them, and the truth really is they have had more reason to think highly other cause of the Six Nations standing in so

number

of

of the French this

But,

my

Nations towards us,

meeting

at

way

than of us

Lords, notwithstanding I

am

Onnondaga

persuaded is

finished

all

these drawbacks

at this instant,

and

I

upon the Zeal hope

I

shall

&

attachment of the Six

have when the approaching

stronger reasons to be persuaded that

if

we were now

ready to go upon Action from Oswego, and things wore a formidable and favorable appearance,

would join us with a cheerfulness & vigour which at present does not so And I must beg leave to give it to your Lordships as my fixt opinion upon the

that the six Nations visibly appear

most deliberate consideration, that the 6 Nations will never be thoroughly fixed to the British we strike some grand stroke, and thereby convince them that we have ability to protect them and humble the French, without asserting our dignity & consequence in some such way as this; Presents and Treaties, a diligent & skillful managem' may keep the Six Nations friends & allies, but will not destroy the French Influence and attachment amongst them Could we but give such a convinceing proof of our Prowess, I will take upon me to answer for the hearts & the hands of the Six Nations, and to turn them with such destructive Rage upon the French, as would soon give a new face to our affairs, for of this I am confident that the 6 Nations allmost to a man wish we had the upper hand of the French when they would not only I am persuaded exert themselves, but bring over many great & powerful Nations to the Southward and Westward, which might be facilitated by our management

Interest and arms, untill

that

way

•

My

Lords would not become me to animadvert upon our military conduct here, and to take upon me to advise therein might be going beyond my Tether, but what I have said I hope comes from me in Character, and permit me my Lords to say in general, that speedy spirited and It

active measures are absolutely necessary, to support strengthen and extend our Indian Interest

provided the sword 1

have

in the

is

to be kept

drawn

former part of this letter mentioned to your Ldps that

I

am

informed the

Twightwees, the Jenundadies and some of the Chickasaw Indians have been obliged to submit themselves to the French, since our defeat at the Ohio, and your Lordships will see that the Missisagas,

who were

invited

by

&

promised M' Shirley to meet

at

Oswego this As the

sunmier, will not meet there, but will at any of the settlements of the 6 Nations.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: former Indians

I

fear dare not and the Missasagas will not

meeting of the Western Indians there It

XXXIII,

91

meet at Oswego, I suspect the intended

will not taite effect

happens very unluckily that by our ships from England not arriving

the usual time this

in

Spring, a sufficient quantity of Indian Goods, and things proper for Presents are not to be

purchased

I

have sent to

New

York, Philadelphia, and Boston

for several things,

but can not

get them

Hardy has consented I shall give some name out of His Majestys present, sent by him

Sir Charles in his

of the arms GOOlb of Powder, and Lead to the

6 Nations.

I

heartily wish I had

wrote him there would be scarce a more favorable opportunity of giving that Present than at this Meeting

the rest of

I

it,

I

would humbly propose

to

your Lordships that

the superintendancy of Indian affairs that

I

if

His Majesty

may be allowed

is

pleased to continue

me

in

to order such assortments of Indian

Goods from England as are proper for the Service I am convinced this will be a saving method to the Crown, and that the Indians will be much better supplied The Presents which Governors have brought from England have been ill sorted, many articles bad in their kind, and some useless, particularly that essential article of arms On my return from Onnondaga, I shall transmitt your Lordships Copy of my Proceedings there and give you such further intelligence as may occur

—

I

am

My Lords most

respectfully y'

Lordships

•

most obedient most

•

humble Servant W" Johnson

PS Forts are

now

& Schohare The upon the ace" of the

building in the Senecas country, at Onnondaga, Oneida,

Cayuga Indians have not yet

The

applied

disturbances to the Southward deferred The words within brackets

till

in the preceding letter, are

Fort for the Oghguagees

the meeting at

Onondaga

over.

from the copy in New-Tork Colonial MamueripU. TJtXXlI.

Journal of Sir WiUiam Johnson!a Indian Transactions. [

is

is

Naw-Tork Pipers, LL, Bo.

March

— May, 1Y56.

4*. ]

March the

As

the

Bunt and

several of the

— Ep.

6'*

1756

Onnondaga Nation returned from Albany they made the

following short speech

Canadock Speaker William Printup Interpreter Brother Warraghiyagey

Country we As you were so good the other day to promise we should have a Fort in our be to us. may were thankful to you for it, since that time we have considered the benefit it

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

92

Wherefor we now ernestly request you would build such a one for us as may last many years, if we could have such a P'ort as the Mohawks have it would give us great pleasure

We

beg leave

to repeat our desire of

having our brother Otawandanawa (Lieut Mills) as

& Sagudderiaghta alias William Printup a smith & Interpreter between us and We also beg you would order some people to come up and plow our Corn Lands the officer. which are grown so stiff that our Women can scarce enter them with their Hoes, this is all we Gave a Belt of Wampum have at present to say officer there

Bretheren of Onnondaga out of pure regard for your safety and Welfare Forts are offered to you, well knowing

It is

the great security they will be to you

enemy.

As

to the Officer

therein,

&

all

against any design of your and our treacherous

Wherefore as you desire a good strong and

I

who

is

to

command

interpreter, I will write a letter

durable Fort you shall be indulged therein.

there, General Shirley has

doubt not but he will as I

with some Plows to break up your

&

shall in

it

in his

power

to gratifie

you

sending William Printup to serve you as smith

to the Germans, who live nearest to you, to go up Ground and hope that will be the means of its yielding

by you stiff

A

you good crops

Belt

Bretheren

which

you immediately send one of your Nation meet at Oswego as soon as they can conveniently he is the fittest man I know to undertake it, as he speaks their language and is an honest sensible man, you may assure him of being well rewarded A Belt I

have one thing

called

to request of you,

Canadacta with a joint invitation

that

is

to the Mississagaes to

• Brother Warraghiyagey

We

agree to your desire and

much approve

for the

I

man you mention really we get home prepare him

of your choice, as the

We

deserves the good opinion you have of him.

will as

soon as

A

journey and send him with a joint message and invitation

returned them thanks

& gave

them cash

to purchase provisions

Belt.

on their way home and

then they parted

March

7"'

At a Meeting of the Seneca Sachems at their return from Albany Tagighsady, the Sachem of their Nation, rose up and spoke

1756 greatest

Brother Warraghiyagey

We us, for

hope you

we

will as soon as the Season admits of

it,

send good

men

to build the Fort for

are in a very dangerous situation at present, having such bad neighbours as the

A

French near us

Belt.

Bretheren of the Senecas

You may depend upon my sending men possible.

I

Oltawawaes

to

buitd a Fort for your protection as soon as

must desire that you Bretheren who live nearest to the 'I'wightwees, and the will send Kindarunta of Ganuskago' my great friend to invite them, and as many '

See note, nipra,

p. 57.

Ed.

LONDON DOCUMENTS:

XXXIII.

93

other Nations as incline to speak with us, to the meeting which is to be held at Oswego, and you join in the invitation as it will have more weight, and should we succeed in our designs, it will be for our mutual Interest A Belt that

Brother Warraghiyagey

We for

return

you thanks

for the assurance

you give us of sending up workmen

to build

a Fort

our Protection

Agreeable to your desire we will as soon as we get home send the man you mention with your desire of seeing as many of them as possible and we will also send to them in our own name, and doubt not but they will come unless some unforeseen turn of affairs should

A

happen

my

returned them thanks for their compliance with

I

request gave them

money

Belt to purchase

Provisions by the road and so parted.

March

8.

Crown Point Chenundady Indian Cheif

Fitted out a Party of five Indians to harrass the Settlements about

A

March 9 Fitted out three more. Captain

whom

Dick the Chief,

ordered to go towards St Johns

I

below Lake Cbamplain

March 10 Fitted out an other Party of five

Mohawks and

three

White men, M' Henry Marr

the Whites, Petrus Daniels son cheif of the Indians, they were to go to in case they could not succeed there.

1

had a

letter

Crown

cheif of

Point or further

from Marr dated at Fort William Henry

the 14 Inst, they arrived safe there and were to sett off for

Crown Point

the next day

March

16'» 1756.

Express sent General Johnson by the Oneidas with a large Belt of Black Wampum some French & 400 of their Indians were seen marching towards their country

An

assuring him

they desired his immediate assistance or they must

The General with

He

it

gave him the

then sett out for

1000 of the

News

received the

militia

at

die.

10 oclock at night at Albany and acquainted Coll Bourton'

which he received from the Interpreter who took it from the Indian the German Flatts where he arrived the second day, the next day above whom he had ordered to follow arrived and some few Indians. The letter

' Major General Ralph Btrsroif, was Lieatenant ColoDcl of the 48th Regiment of Foot, Utb October. 17M, and aeeompanied Braddock to the Monongahela, where he wa» wounded. He w»a allowed the rank of Colonel in America, on 10th Janoatj, In 1769, be and hi* regiment 1758. in which year he commanded the 3d Brigade in the expedition against Louisburgh. accompanied General Wolfe to Quebec, and he wa» again wounded in the operationa before that city, notwiUutanding which, however, he wa» at his post in the memorable battle on the plains of Abraham, in command of the reaerra. When Wolfe

received his death wound, the last order he Issued was to Colonel Burton, "to cut off the retreat of the fogitivea;" "then turning on his side ho expired." Kiutx Campalgnt, 11., 79. After the surrender of Quebec, Colonel Burton was appointed

Lientennnt-Governor of the city and General Murray right Brigade.

in his

On

it«

dep«ndencie^ and

in

1760, being advanced to the rank of Brij^adier, accompanied In this campaign he comraande.l the first, or

operations for the reduction of the district of Montreal.

the 10th December, of that year, he

was appointed Colonel of

the 10th July, 1762, was promoted to the rank of Major-General in the army.

22d November, 1764, and, at

his

name

is

not to b« found in the

Army

list

tlie

95lh. then serving in America, and

He became

of 1869,

it is

oa

Colonel of the »d BuBs, on th«

prMomad

that be died in 1768.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

94

General sent an express immediately place to

let

them know he was

to the

Oneidas several of

whom

were then at the Carrying

so near and ready to march instantly to

tlieir

assistance or to

answer was that several scouts

any of our Bretheren if they thought it necessary, their they had sent out to discover the enemies motions were returned without seeing the enemy, also let them know they were that they beleive they had altered their scheme or course that of

extreemly obliged to him for this convincing proof of his regard for them

would

forget

&

that they never

it

General Johnson then sent them the following Message. Bretheren of Oneida I must advise you to keep some of your young men always towards the Borders of the French Country to watch their motions and if at any time you find they are marching towards your Country, let me know it immediately and I shall be with you before they can, for I am light and my men ready always in a moment to follow me

Bretheren not dismayed at the sight or approach of five or six hundred of the

Be

see what a number I can bring to you in so short a time and and were it necessary I would bring four times as many all of

at so

enemy when you now

bad a season of the year

my own Regiment

A March At a meeting of the Mohawks Sir

23.

Speech oF the Indians of the Lower Mohawk Castle Brother Warraghiyagey

We

come here

are

to

you but

situation before

our usual place of consultation not only to lay our private case

about public

lii^ewise to consult

affairs

which

Ic

these troublesome

in

times require almost constant attendance

Brother Warraghiyagey

As we

home

are every day liable to be called from

we must

therefore propose to

you

now

that as

to join

you whereever you desire ut, is coming on whereon

the planting time

our sustenance throughout the year depends that you would be pleased to see oar Corn

Land secured

We

should be glad that you would appoint somebody that understands our Language to take care as well of our Castle as our planting Ground propose to you Yellows Funda

We

to take that

will be as It is

charge upon him, but

fit

true

if it

does not suit you to appoint him

we

think John

we have

a Garrison of regulars but on them we. can't depend in this Case, as they

don't understand us, nor would be willing to assist us in those matters which

We

of.

Wemp

a person for that purpose

therefore leave these Matters to your consideration as

it

we

stand in need

concerns our

Sir William told

own and

A

family subsistance

them he would take the subjects of

our

Belt

their speech into consideration

and

give them an answer in due time

12

May

P.

M.

At a Meeting of the several Cheif Sachems & Warriors of the two Mohawk Castles, and sundry Indians belonging to the Scoharee Castle to the Seneca, Cayouga & Tuscarora Nations (amongst whom were Scharagady or the half King & Tawaghsaniut alias Belt

Wampum a great Seneca Sachem) Sir William opened the occasion of and addressed himself to them in the following manner.

of

Interpreters

M' Montour

M' Clause

this

meeting

Jacobus Clement

Bretheren of Conajoharee

A

few days ago when

I called at

your castle

in

my way to

the

German

Flatts,

you expressed

in a very warm manner your disapprobation and uneasiness on my design of attending the proposed meeting at Onnondaga and said that you had several reasons against my going thither

at this juncture, our like

manner, and

I

Bretheren of the lower

Mohawk

Castle have also expressed themselves in

have received a Message from our Bretheren of

Aughquagey

desireing

me

not to go to the said Meeting

Bretheren of the Several Nations here present

As you are now agreeable to my request met here together & know that this meeting at Onondaga was appointed at the desire of the Delaware and Susquehanna Indians in conjunction J4 Vol. VH.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

106

with our Bretheren of Onondaga and that in compliance with the earnest request of said Indians,

agreed to be present at

I

it

by the 10 day of

this

month, I

account of the late alarm and in consequence of your application to therefore desire

you

reasons against

my

will

now

iiave

me

however upon the

attending at this meeting for without sound and justifiable argument

be very unwilling to break any promise given to our Bretheren of Onondaga, for either of

more or

importance

less

am

I

me

A Fort Johnson 13

At a Conference with the sundry Indian [Sachems]

Same

Bretheren of the

You have

Sachem of

the Chief five

referred

I

shall

matters

my engagements You your serious consideration and explain yourselves

with suitable candour

Abraham

in all

desirous of strictly observing

will therefore Bretheren take this matter into to

my journey, me your

delayed

with the openness of Heart becoming Bretheren, give

the upper

Belt

May 1756 P M.

as mentioned yesterday.

Interpreters

Mohawk

Castle spoke as follows

Nations here present it

to our

two Castles

on what our brother Warraghiyagey said

to deliver the general to us last night,

and

I

Sentiments of

am now

all

here present

going to do

so.

Brother Warraghiyagey

We were called here to give our opinion in relation to the intended meeting at Onondaga. We have all taken that affair into our serious consideration, the result whereof we will proceed to lay before

you

Brother Warraghiyagey

When you were

at

Lake George we were

told

by the Governor of

New

York who was

lately

arrived from England, that early this Spring he proposed to call the five Nations together

After this you Brother had a Meeting with us in the winter in order to settle the differences

between our Bretheren the English and the Delaware and Shawaneese Indians, at this meeting you put us in mind that we were the head or Masters of the Delaware & Shawanese Indians and desired that we would take the Hatchet out of their hands, upon which the five Nations took this affair into consideration and agreed to go and call a Council at Otseningo* and we sent

some

meeting.

forward to summons the aforesaid Indians to this Nations then appointed a Deputation to attend at the Council who set off

of the Scaniadaradighroonas

The

five

without loss of time, instructed according to the utmost of their

power

to

your earnest recommendation

to bring affairs at this

meeting

to exert

themselves

to the desired effect

Brother Warraghiyagey

You

notified to us at the aforementioned meeting last Winter, that as soon as the Ice was out Water you expected the Governors would call us again together. It appears very odd of the to us that after you had given us this notice of the Governors intention in which the Onondagas were included, they should take upon them to invite you to their meeting at Onondaga •

See note. Supra,

p. 67.

— Ed.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXUI.

107

Brother Warraghiyagey

We say it seems very strange to us and contrary to the Custom in force amongst as that the Onondagas who had notice of an intended [meeting] with the Governors of New York should ask you to come to their meeting & bring with you Provisions, Arms & Ammunition, surely they think you can move very easily with such a heavy load, don't they know likewise that you are soon to have a considerable meeting at Oswego. These things look very oddly in our eyes, and we dont think it all proper for you to attend this Meeting proposed by the Onondagas Brother Warraghiyagey

We to

of the two

Onondaga

Mohawk

at this critical

At

the enemies hands.

Castles in particular are greatly alarmed at your thoughts of going

from your house we tremble

open

to

you carried with you, and yourself also might fall into know what place is safe, and whenever you move you, for if evill should befall you the whole Country will be

juncture

this

all

time one dont for

our Enemies

Brother Warraghiyagey If

time

you do

we

persist in going to

Onondaga

shall give ourselves over for lost

or ever leave

and

if

home

at this precarious

any accident happens

to

you what

own Bretheren the English as well as we, for we see nobody else who but you who are ready to march on every alarm, and indeed with regard

of your active

and dangeroua

formerly you were not in

will is

become

any ways

to us,

when

power you were always ready to shew your love and care of ui

Brother Warraghiyagey

An

why

is that if you should you and leave our Castles empty, by which means all our familys would lye exposed to the enemy, and after all these reasons given we dont apprehend there can be any just blame laid upon you for breaking your word, with the Onnondagas, who if they want to speak with you can easily step into their bark Canoei and come down here to you as the Bark now peels easily and they come down stream, whereas it will be a long & tedious journey for you loaded with the necessaries they ask for. Gave a Belt

other reason

our hearts tremble about your going to Onondaga,

go the Mohawks of both Castles are

To

all

determined

to attend

the foregoing speech Sir William replyed as follows

Bretheren of the several Nations here present I have heard your reasons against my going to Onondaga according to think they are not without their weight, and tho'

I

am

sensible

my

my

promise and

I

going at this juncture

would be attended with some risk, yet were I sure of meeting the Delaware & Shawanese Indians there, I would notwithstanding be inclined to go if you think they will not be there and as you are invited to this Meeting as well as I I desire you will advise me what message we shall both send to our Bretheren of Onondaga for not going there.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

108

Friday

At a Meeting, present

The

who came

to

li"-

P M.

them yesterday evening Tawagsaniunt

alias

now ready

answer what the old Belt a Chief Seneca Sachem

Indians having sent notice to Sir William that they were

he had said

May

as before to

with Scharoyady or the Half King spoke as follows

Brother Warrcighiyagey Yesterday you referred

what

would be proper to do in relation to your going to Onondaga, We have seriously considered this affair and think it will be right to send forthwith a proper person to Onnondaga to see if the Delaware and Shawanese Indians are met their according to their appointment, and we have fixed on two persons for this business namely Brant' son Thomas of the Lower Mohawk Castle and a Seneca Warrior called it

to us to consider

it

Silver heels

Here they held a small consultation

after

which the speaker went on

&

said

Brother Warraghiyagey

As you have desired our advice what to do with regard to our Bretheren of Onondaga, We think as you told us last Winter there was to be a meeting of the Six Nations with the Governor of New York this spring, it would not be amiss if you now by the Messengers that are going invite the six Nations down here and if the Delaware and Shawanese are at Onondaga, to desire the Onondagas to bring them also down when all affairs relating to those Indians might be adjusted here

To

this Sir

William answered

Bretheren

From

which I have lately received I have reason to doubt whether the Shawanese Indians will come to the proposed meeting at Onondaga, I therefore approve of the method you propose of sending thither to see if they are there «k I also much approve of the persons you have fixed on to go there, as I am determined to comply with my promise if these Indians should be at Onondaga, I hope you will send away these Messengers without any delay and if they find the Delawares & Shawanese there I shall give it them in charge to desire them to stop a few days & 1 will be up there, but if they are neither come nor expected then to tell the Onondagas I shall defer meeting the five Nations till I see them several accounts

&

Delaware

at

Oswego

Bretheren

The meeting which I mentioned to you last Winter which might take place early this Spring, I did in the name of the Governor of New York, but the present disturbed state of affairs and the many urgent & important matters which require his attention at New York, have prevented his holding this meeting as intended, and you will likewise remember that there

was

upon me call

me

to

be a great Meeting early this

to call the Six

speedily

to

Nations

Oswego

down to

Summer

at

Oswego,

here at this time as

attend

the

I

for these

I

I

told

you

can not take

expect His Majestys Service will

Meeting which

Western Indians Hereupon the conference broke up and an end was put

reasons

to this

is

appointed

meeting

there

for

the

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXHI.

109

Saturday the

16'»

May A. M.

At a Meeting of several of the Sachems and others of the lower Mohawks Castle Sir William gave the following answer to their speech of the IS** Instant Bretheren to me about fencing in your corn and helping you^to and also of your request about the persons to command in your Fort As to the first if you will look for proper persons who will undertake to repiiir your Fences assist you in planting your Corn & send them to me, I will agree with them for it, I am I

have considered what you mentioned

plant

&

it

sensible of the necessity

much

&

prudence of getting

greater charge to the King your Father to buy

you and your familys can not subsist. But I am not Bretheren so well pleased or

me

Persons to to

to

command

for

solicitations for

them but

me

with your other request, and your naming I do not think you are so well qualified

for these Posts as

People with a view to their

appointments

satisfied

for you as it will otherwise be a maintain you in Corn, without which

&

the Garrison for your Fort

judge what Persons are proper

Custom

done

this

own

I

am.

I

know

it

has been and

private advantage to sooth and flatter

is

you

the into

must desire you will not fall into this Trap, but leave these whom it more immediately belongs. At present you have a Garrison of His Mnjesties Troops & I think they will be a sufficient security for you as long as they remain when they are drawn off, I will then take care to provide you with a sufficient number of men and a proper officer in their Room Gave a Belt. to

1

or to those to

Fort Johnson 20

May

1756

Canaghquiesa a Chief Sachem of Oneida, with two young Indians one an Oneida the other a this afternoon & Canaghquiesa spoke as follows

Tuscarora arrived

Mr

Clause Interpreter

Rudt a Tuscarora Chi^f Brother Warraghiyagey At the Meeting you had with the Six Nations this

last

also present

Winter you pressed us so warmly to

take into consideration the Hostilities committed against our Bretheren the English by the

& Shawanese Indians

our influence and authority over those Indiana to prevent any more blood from being shed, that we could not avoid takeing that matter upon us & accordingly a Deput.ition from the six Nations was appointed to hold a council with those I was one who went there and those Indians were so much convinced Indians at Otseningo.*

Delaware

and

to interpose

by the arguments which we made use of that they repented what they had done & solemnly promised that they would not again hurt the Hair of the Head of any Englishmen. They told us they were thankful the five Nations had put them in mind of their former Engagements and That they had been that they would now throw every thing that was evil behind their backs. The Indians who their made easy. and minds but were opened darkness now their in eyes who further Mihikanders spoke to us in the foregoing manner were Shawanese Chickesaws & told us that they had at several times sent Belts of Wampum to the Delawares who live at '

S«e note. Supra,

p. 67.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

110 Tiaoga with Messages for the future

forward

to

to the Six

Nations which they neglected to do, that therefore

they were determined to address themselves to the Six Nations directly and

would attend any Meeting which to take him by the hand

their

Brother Warraghiyagey would

call tiiem to

and be glad

Brother Warraghiyagey

who lives near the aforesaid Indians had applied to the accompany them to the proposed meeting at Onondaga, •which they refused to do saying that one Thos: M'^Gee who lives upon the Susquehana and is married to a Shawanese Squa had told them that in ten days time an Army of the English would come & destroy them, and said to them furtlier "You can not think that as you have "murdered the English from Conastoga to Esopus that they will put up witli it quietly and *' Warraghiyagey may pretend to miike Peace with you but that is not in his power. The " Governor of Pensylvania is master this way & will not listen to Peace." The Tyaoga Indians said they would not therefore leave home but prepare to defend themselves against the hostile Intentions of the English and that they had sent out ten Men as Scouts to observe One

of the Skaniadaradighroonas

Delawares who

Tyaoga

live at

to

the motions of the English

Brother

When we

received

this

Intelligence at

Delawares at Tiyaogo* insisting upon their brother done with this piece of News and I

Oneida we immediately sent a Message to the attending the Meeting at Onondaga I have now shall proceed to tell you some thing else very bad

—

Brother. Several Soldiers from

among

Oswego and

come amongst us at Oneida and King our Fathers son was arrived at Boston

the Carrying Place have

the Tuscaroras and told us that the Great

with a great army and was coming up to destroy

Mohawks and

that

assist in cutting us

us without it

all ofl".

all

Oswegoe and

these People told us they were

the Six Nations and to begin with the the carrying place were to surround and

come

to live

and die with us and advised

own Preservation to cut off the communication with Oswegoe whilst One of these soldiers who came from Oswegoe says he lived three Provisions.

delay for

was short of

the Troops from

our

years with the Governor of Philadelphia and there often heard of this design of cutting off

all

the Indians

Brother

You must not imagine I give it, but I am come down

upon

who

are greatly alarmed

&

credit to these things for to

you

in

I

have brought no

order to inform you

&

be able to

Wampum satisfie

with

me

our People

disheartned by these stories.

Fort Johnson 21

May

1756.

There having lor some time past a jealousy & disagreement subsisted between the Indians livmg at Schoharee who have been split into two parties at the head of which were ISeth and David two of their cheif men Sir William Johnson had interposed and sent three strings of 'K^ow Athena, Bradford county, Penn. 'n the middle

of,

It

was formerly known

or between two other things.

OaUalin't Vocabulary, 387; a

much more

as Tioga point; from Teyaogen, an Interval, or anything

Bruyat. Radices Verb. Iroguceorum.

appropriate name,

it

will

Hence, 7'eiohohogen, the Forks of a River.

be admitted, than that imported from Greece.

— Ed.

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS:

Wampum

admonishing them

to these Indians

inconsistency and

&

danger of quarrels

HI

XXXIII.

unanimity and brotherly love setting forth tha

to

divisions

amongst them

at this critical Juncture,

a Fort & the other was them that if they would follow his admonitions and be reconciled together he would then comply with what they should unanimously request This evening the aforesaid David arrived here with three strings of Wampum 5c made the

during these animosities amongst them one party had applied against having one.

for

Sir William told

following speech

Brother Warraghiyagey

Our People have

Women &

listened to

& we

your good advice

have had a general Meeting of

lately

come

entire

end put to every kind of quarrel amongst us

to live

amongst us and

all

former misunderstandings are

all

the

who were

children belonging to our settlement together with the River Indians

now removed and an

Brother I

am

sent to

you by our People

we have

inform you that

you

in the first place to thank

for

your good advice and to it, and in the next

acted and are determined to act conformably to

place to acquaint you that

we

are

now unanimously

desirous of having a F'ort built for ua as

soon as possible the disturbances to the Southward alarm us and we have received information that those Indians who have fallen on the Southern parts threaten that they will by and by

come

against the part of the country where

have a Fort

Delaware

&

it

will

we

be the means of drawing

Susquehana Rivers

to

come and

live.

many

live

We

are besides in hopes that

Indians

who now

amongst us which

Gave 3

and consequence

when we

live dispersed

will

on the

add to our strength

Strings of

Wampum

Brother After the foregoing Message to you was agreed upon,

I

had further

in

charge to

tell

you,

that our People beg leave to advise you in return for your good advice to them, to take care of

the great trust committed to you of having the

affairs of so

many

Nations of Indians under

your Direction, that you will be steady in your measures and continue to take the same friendly concern for our Welfare as you have hitherto done, and as an instance of it we hope you will supply the wants of those River Indians who are lately come to settle amongst us & our Neighbours the Mohawks

— they are naked &

destitute of ever thing

Gave 3

To

Strings of

Wampum

the Foregoing Sir William replyed

Brother I

am

rejoiced to hear that

again united

in

all

your

late

misunderstandings are at an end and that you are

mutual Love and Friendship you

will certainly find the advantage

&

pleasure

of such an union I will

immediately give orders

for the building

your Fort which

I

hope will be attended with

the good consequences you mention

Brother y^ou may depend I shall continue uiy care of and attendance to your Welfare as I have always done, and I will supply the wants of those River Indians who have lately put themselvet

under your protection

Gave 3

Strings of

Wampum

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

112

Fort Johnson Sir

William Johnson's answer

to

May

22 1756

A. M.

Conaghquiesa and the other Indians who spoke

the 20"" inst'

M' Clause

Interpreter

also present Paulus the

Great Hendrick's Son

&

a Seneca

Sachem

Brethcren I

thank you

Intelligence

for the

heartily wish they

may pay

you have given me concerning the Southern Indians, and by

a due regard to the admonitions which have been given them

the Six Nations and myself in conjunction as

it

will be for their true Interest

Bretheren 1

am

not so

much

who

desert

Soldiers

surprized at the wicked lies and the silly falsehoods tell

to

your people, as

at their

accusations against their Bretheren the English,

Forefathers have for so

from siiewing any lives for

men

ill

you

your preservation as you know

to assist

You know

you and

whose

love and Friendship

many Generations experienced and found

designs towards

fight for

that

this last

which the English

readiness to beleive such

groundless

you and your

us on every occasion so far

you have seen us always ready to venture our winter when I came running up with so many

you

King of England your Father has ever behaved to you as his children, and at your request appointed me to the management of your affairs and has given me money and his orders to take care of you as his children you know I have done so, that the Great

therefore for you to give credit to idle reports to the prejudice of his your Fathers character

and

to be suspicious of

your Bretheren the English

is

both highly ungrateful and very foolish

—

who desert are Traitors to their King & Country and think amongst you by telling these abominable Lyes to impose on you and make you beleive they are your Friends but Bretheren let not your people be so imposed on, but be assured that those who cowardly & treacherously desert from the Service of their King & country can be friends to none but deserve to be detested and abhorred by all Man kind. Such People are worse than the French themselves, and if your People had acted like wise men & faithful Bretheren, they would not either have beleived or harboured those villains but have brought them down to me, and you would have seen how like Traytors & Liars they would have appeared. And Bretheren I must insist upon it that whenever such Traytors come among you and stir up such discontents and suspicions against your Bretheren the English, that you bring them down prisoners to me, and by that means you will give a convincing proof that you are true and faithful Children to your Father the Great King & Bretheren the English. And by this Belt of Wampum I expect and desire that your Nation will not be so ready to listen to lyes & Stories against your Bretheren the English as you have been often apt to do and which but too clearly appears in this instance don't you

know

that these soldiers

to secure themselves

—

Gave

a Belt of

Wampum

LONDON DOCUMENTS

Ug

XXXIIl.

:

t,

J

.

.

Fort Johnson 22 May. 1766. P. M. Sir

William Johnsons speech the Indians of the

to the

River Indians

Lower Mohawk

who

are

come

to live

with

Castle

Children I

am

glad to see you here and

uncles the I

Mohawks and

are

hope will be kind to you

you on your

am much

come

&

pleased that you have accepted the offers of your and put yourselves under their protection who

to live near

ready

to assist

you

as occasion

may

require

&

must admonish

I

parts so to behave yourselves as to merit their protection and assistance

3 Strings of

Wampum

Children I shall at all

times be disposed to consider

&

releive

your necessary wants and

I

expect as

you have now land allotted for your subsistance you will be diligent in improving the same and lead sober and industrious lives You are to remember that what I now and may hereafter say to you or do for you is by order & in the name of our Sovereign the Great King of England who has determined to remove His & your enemies the French from their encroachments in these parts & it will be your duty and Interest to join with your Uncles the Mohawks in aiding His Majestys arms for that purpose, and I shall supply such as go out to war against the enemy with arms & Ammunition A Belt

—

Children

As

I

understand you are destitute of Provisions and cloathing

of Corn which I shall also

expect

To

I

I

I

expect you will divide equally amongst you and

give you a stock of Pipes

will give

you cloathing

for

this they replyed that they

&

Tobacco.

When

I

will

now

make

give

use of

it

yon 60 Skipple with Frugality,

get some Goods up which

I

shortly

your people were not

at present

supplyed with

Wampum

to

make an

answer which they would take an opportunity of soon doing.

Fort Johnson 23

May 1766 P

M

Brandts son Thomas one of the Messengers who was sent the 14** Inst to Onondaga came this afternoon with several Sachems & Warriors of the Lower Mohawk Castle and the heads of the River Indians in order to give an account of the business he was sent about to Onondaga,

was also present the old Belt a Great Seneca Sachem, with Thomas, another Seneca Indian and a Tuscarora Sachem.

at this Meeting

bis

Son Arosa who went

Canadagai Chief Sachem of the lower Mohawk Castle spoke as follows Bretheren I am now going to give our Brother Warraghiyagey an account of what our Messengers, have reported concerning the affair they were sent upon & I shall begin with their arrival at

Onondaga

Brother

When

they came to Onondaga a Meeting was called but there were no Southern or any

other Indians yet arrived

At

this

Meeting our messengers delivered what they had

Vol. VI 1.

15

in charge.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1J4 The Onondagas when

our Messengers had done spoke as follows

" Tell our Brother Warraghiyagey that

message from him about

his

coming

up,

and

we have for some time been in expectation till we knew his positive resolution, we have

ourselves in readiness to act according as that might be. sent to us, in consequence of which

we

shall dispatch

We

are therefore glad he has

our young

men

into

ail

of a

kept

now

quarters to the

them notice to come without further delay to meet our Brother Warraghiyagey at this Fire place by the beginning of next month. We think he can not conveniently be here sooner as he must travel slowly loaded with the several necessaries which he is to bring with him For some time past evil Reports against our Bretheren the English have been coming to us from all parts, so that if our confidence & Friendship were not firmly grounded it would have but as soon as our Brother Warraghiyagey been sufficient to turn both our heads and ourHearts makes his appearance amongst us we doubt not at all these Clouds will be dispelled, and our young Fighters whose Hearts are zealously disposed towards their Bretheren the English will be thoroughly composed and settled " Desire our Brother Warraghiyagey to be punctual to the time now fixed on for the sooner he comes all uneasiness & every effect of these evil Reports will be removed. Our Warriors Southward

as well as to our Bretheren of the Six Nations to give

—

upon him as their Cheif having great confidence dependance upon in these difficult times they want to consult with him and to have in & him, All our Bretheren and that assistance from him which their present circumstances require allies who are to be fit this Meeting stand ready to sett off when they hear our Brother are very desirous of seeing him, for they look

Warraghiyagey is on the Road " The Oneidas were the first who proposed this Meeting at Onondaga the antient Fire place of the Six Nations, but as they dont seem to give that attention to it, which we think they ought to have done, we being sensible of the importance of this General Meeting at this critical juncture shall take upon us to summon all our Bretheren and allies to it "Tell our Brother Warraghiyagey in answer to his string sent by you to know whether we had despatched the Messenger he desired to the Mississagas to invite them to meet him at Oswegoe that the Messenger went long ago and that the Mississagey Delegates are on their way to the five Nations but are determined they will not meet at Oswegoe, but will at any of the Castles of the five Nations for they say

Oswegoe

will be so full of People that there will

no hearing each other speak

we took the Hatchett out of the hands of the Delaware Shawanese, they have told us there is an army of the English coming against them [it is supposed the 4 or 600 Men under Col Clapham which the Gov' of Pensilvania has raised and " Tell our Brother further that since

&

who

are to build a Fort at

Shamokin

is

here meant] and that they think

unnatural for us to hold them in our arms are just on their Backs to destroy

We

&

it

unreasonable and

prevent their defending themselves,

when people

them

we can't comprehend the makeing a War which is made use of by our Bretheren the English, when we go to method of war our manner is to destroy a Nation & theres and end of it but the English chiefly regard building Forts, which looks as if their only scheme was to take possession of the Lands" are informed the English are building a Fort at Shamokin.

'

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIIL Fort Johnson

Abraham

the cheif

Sachem

115

May

26. 1766

P

M

of Conajoharee Castle

young Abraham a cheif Sachem of the lower Mohawk castle, Sith chief Sachem of the Scoharee Indians and two Seneca Sachemt called the old Beit & Seneca George desired to speak a few words with Sir William Johnson

Mr Abraham of Conajoharee spoke

Clause Interpreter

as follows

Brother Warraghiyagey

At the Meeting which was held some days ago here at our fire place relating to your Journey to Onondaga, we advised you to send Messengers to learn whether that proposed meeting took effect. Thgse Messengers report that they found no meeting there as yet but brought you the ernest request of the Onondagas that you would come up without delay, and that as soon at they heard you were on the road, they would send expresses to all the Nations who kept themselves in readiness to sett of on the first notice Now, Brother, we that are hear have been seriously reconsidering this affair and are come to this opinion. That m the upper Nations seem to be in an unsettled and wavering temper. We think tho there is a Risk the French m'' forces for the time being, shall judge most conducive to the service in general

his

;

and the King doubts not but that the several Prov"* truly sensible of

Paternal care, in sending so large a force for their security, will exert their utmost

endeavours

to second,

of I^oudoun, or the

and strengthen, such offensive operations against the French, as the Earl

Commander

not clogg the enlistments of the limitations, as

Chief for the time being, shall judge expedient, and will or the raising of the

have been hitherto found

a further encouragement,

and cloathing

in

Men

I

am

to

pay

for their

difficult

and

ettc,

with such

ineffectual,

and as

to acquaint you, that the raising of the Men, their pay, arms,

will be all, that will be required

having been already taken

money

render their service

for laying

on the part of the several provinces; measures

up Magazines of stores and provisions of

all

kinds, at the

expence of the Crown. I

cannot too strongly recommend

Assembly

for

your influence with your Council and the punctual and immediate execution of these His Maj'^'' commands. it

to you, to use all

I

am

ettc.

W. '

i/a.,

New

Hampshire, Massachosetta Bay, Coanecticat, Rhode Island,

New York

and

New

Jersey.

Pitt.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XIXIV. Governor Hardy I

to the

Lords of Hade.

Ne»>Tork Pmp«n, LL, (0. ]

Fort George

My

217

New York

28 Feb. 1757.

Lords

I have now the honor to transmit to your Lordships engrossed copys of fifteen acts, together with the proceedings and votes of the Council & General Assembly in the seaaions began the

21 September and ended the 1" December last I have before observed upon the two acts for the payment of the Salaries of the officers of the Government, and sent your Lordships a copy of that for continuing the currency of the Bills of Credit entitled

by a former

act,

with

my

observations in a letter of the 2* Dec'

last,

inclosing a copy of the Representatioa of the Council and

Assembly to me in the said Act, which Representation appears in their proceedings, to all which I beg leave to refer your Lordships The Act for Billetting his Matys forces is only in force to the 1 of January next, leaving the

many objections, I then thought so and urged Assembly the necessity of framing a proper Law for quartering His Majestyi Troops in the manner of the Mutiny act in Britain. But the General Assembly insisting on their clause, I thought it adviseable to pass it, in its present Form that some color and authority might be given the Magistrates to put the Troops under cover, well knowing no inconvenience would arise from it. And it is with pleasure I can acquaint your Lordships that little or no difficultys have arisen in quartering the Forces in this City, the Townships near rates to be paid for Quarters appears liable to

strongly with the

adjoining to

it,

and

in others

on Long Island

As to the Acts for laying and recommended these Taxes with

Tea retailed, and establishing a stamp office I had Pole Tax on Negroes it appearing to me absolutely necessary

excise on

a

;

Funds established to prevent in some measure the frequent emissions which I foresaw would be the consequence of the heavy charge the Province must be put to during the War. The Tax on Negroes the Assembly would not come into The Act for paying and cloathing the Forces is of the same Nature with those passed before on the like occasion. And the repealing act referrs to clauses in the acts to raise money for a colledge which I passed to reconsile the differences that had arisen about the colledge by to get other

applying the moneys (confined to those clauses to the purpose only of erecting a colledge) One moiety to the colledge an the other towards building a New Goal in this city and a Pest House

Your Lordships

will

be pleased to observe by the enclosed

list

of their Titles that the other

acts need no observation I

have the Honor to be

Your Lordships

To

most obedient & most humble Servant Cha* Haxdt

The Right Honble The Lords Commissioners for

Vol.

Trade and Plantations

VIL

28

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

218

Governor Hardy

Lords of Trade.

to the

[New-York Papers,

LI.,

No.

91.]

New York

Fort George

My

4 Mar. 1757.

Lords

my speech to the General Assembly at the month with the addresses of the two Houses, and have the pleasure to acquaint you, that the Assembly very readily agreed to make Provision for the subsisting & cloathing 1000 men (the number required by Lord Loudoun) to act in conjunction with His Majestys Forces in the ensuing campaign. The Assembly after sitting Ten days and having a bill for the payment and cloathing the Forces ia the manner with former Bills of the like Nature. A Bill for the speedy and effectually recruiting the forces to be furnished by this I am Colony &c, by which Bill if it appears they can not be compleated by Volunteers empowered to supply the deficiency by detachments from the Militia of the several countys in certain Proportions A Bill for regulating the Pilotage of the Port of New York, and some I

have

now

the

Honor

opening the sessions the

to inclose your Lordships 17"' of last

—

other Bills of a private Nature, being desirous of a recess.

end

to their sitting

if

should receive any orders that

1

by an adjournment

for a

month,

may make

it

at

After passing these acts I put an

which time they

will be

ready to meet,

necessary for their coming together again at

that time

The

disposition of the General

Majestys Commission

to

Assembly

Laws

to pass

for

defraying a moiety of his

determine the lines of controversy, and

those exorbitant Grants of

Land complained of by the

for vacating

&

annulling

Indians, will fully appear to your

Lordships by their address I

must

also

with regard

beg leave

to point out to

to the controverted Lines,

your Lordships

for

your Lordships the sentiments of His Majestys" council

and as

I

His Majestys Interposition

have till

a

in

my former

final

letters

on this subject moved

settlement can take Place, so I can

it to your Lordships as my opinion that we have no prospect of preserving Peace and good order upon our borders without it And that this may more fully appear to Inclosed is a copy of a Message sent to Lieut' Gov' Phips by the two Houses your Lordships of the Massachusetts Government, upon his laying before them a letter I wrote to him upon the behavior of some people of that Province joining with the Tenants of M"^ Livingston in

not avoid giving

—

opposing the sheriff

in

the execution of his duty, a

full

account of which I gave your Lordships

my letter of the 22 Dec' last Lord Loudoun upon his return here from Boston informed me he had his Majestys orders to make preparation for a vigorous and offensive operation In a conference with his Lordship upon this intended service it appearing necessary to procure a number of ships and Vessels for transporting his Majestys Troops it was thought adviseable to embargo the Ports of the

in

continent from Virginia to Boston, that His Majestys Service might not be disappointed for

want of such a supply; and that his Lordship should write to the recommend this necessary measure I received his Lordships letter the a**

Governm"

to

and immediately Matys Council together, who unanimously advised me to lay a General embargo on and all other Ports within this Province, which took place that day and Lord Loudouns

called His this

several

letters carried the advices of

it

to the several

Governors

Inst'

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV.

219

I have since been much imployed in procuring ships here and hope I shall be able to make up three thousand Ton, which will be as much as we shall be able to man, and the deficiency must be made up from the other Ports The inclosed extract of a letter to the owners of the Peggy Privateer of thii City I judged proper to transmit to your Lordships, as it contains not only some intelligence relative to the Southern Indians but of the motion of the Oench upon the waters of the Ohio. If the privateer returns safe to this Port I shall carefully examine the private letters mentioned by Haddon, also a French officer he has on board that he detained out of his Prize, and communicate to you every matter that appears of any consequence or worth troubling you with, I have delivered this information to Lord Loudoun and shall only make one observation upon it. That if it be true that the French have made a Peace with the Cherokees & Shawaneese I

on them to take up the Hatchett against the English, especially the former tribe; The French throwing numbers of men with Provisions and Stores into the Mississippi River may prove very injurious to his Mnjestys Southern Colonies; and

hope they have not been able

to prevail

that they will attempt this, there can be no doubt;

the shallowness of the Waters leading into

it

if

the Port of

New Orleans

would give English

is left

unguarded

cruizers great advantages,

have been informed that no ship or vessel of any burthen or draft of Water, can go over the long flat Bar, without first taking out the greatest part of her Cargo, as this is a matter that relates to a service, I have had the honor to be brought up in, 1 flatter myself I shall have your Ldps excuse in observing, that the Squadron of His Matys Ships employed at Jamaica

and

I

by keeping detached Cruizers from it off" the Port of New Orleans, or .Mouth of the Mississippi River, would renders these supplys very precarious, for if they were even to intercept the Indian Presents only it would be of the Greatest consequence to the British Interest with those Nations the Packet I send your Lordships a copy of a Draft of the River Saint Lawrence, the original I procured out of a prize, brought in here which I have sent to the Board

By

of Admiralty I

To

the

have the honor

Rt Honble

The Lords Commissioners for

Trade and Plantations

Motract

to be

Your Lordships most obedient & most humble Servant Cha" Hardt.

from Captain Bichard

Iladdon's Letter.

[New Tork Pspm, LL, Ho. ML]

Extract of a letter from Richard Privateer dated

off"

Haddon commander

Peggy Mess" Nathaniel

of the Schooner

Cape Corientes a9 Dec' 1766, & Co New York

to

Marston, Jaspar Parmer

Packet was hove overboard after she struck, which I Cape Francois that the took out of the Brigantine that I took off" Mississippi River bound to of Mississippi in Governor Cherokee and the Shawanese Indians have made a Peace with the

•

I discover

by private

letters, for the

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

220 November

last,

at

a great expence in Presents, but

There

advantage of their Colony,

is

is

thought by them vastly to

one thousand Troops sent up

this

summer

the

to the Illinois

country and what troops are in Nevp Orleans will march some time in February next, as there will be one other reinforcement in the Spring to prevent which would be very easy, and with a body of 2 or three thousand discontent

among

men might

reduce

New

Orleans with ease, as there

is

a great

the Colonists, the Military body exercising authority at this time, to

They have had no news from France

heretofore they were estranged,

which

these three months,

and every thing is at a Golden Price with them. I can find nothing out what became of the remainder of General Braddocks Army notwithstanding I have an officer who has been 23 years in the country and has been on several skirmishes in the Indian Nations, I hope to give some light to our Governor, how much Mississippi ou[gh]t at this conjuncture to be watched or in a few years we shall find the effect of such a neglect I have letters on board which I purpose to keep (to shew that what I here assert are real facts) and safer in my hands, than by this ;

conveyance, or would send them, to our country in the service of

I

make

which

I

this digression as I

am

thought

ever ready to sacrifice

A

a matter of consequence

it

my

all

true Extract

Examin"' by

Benj" Barons Secretary

Lords of Trade [K«w-Tork

To

Sir Cha*

to

Governor Hardy.

Entries, B. P., p. 106. ]

Hardy Kn« Gov' of New York.

Sir,

His Majesty having in consequence of yoiir letter to Us, dated the 2™' of August last, permitted and allowed you to resign the Govern* of New York, we herewith inclose you His And we should not do justice to your conduct during the Maj'5''' order for that purpose. Administration of this Govern* if we did not at the same time express our approbation of every part of it, but more particularly in the prudent steps you have taken, and the vigilance and activity you have shewn at all times, and upon all occasions to promote His Maj"''' service and to support and accelerate the measures pursued to distress the Enemy and recover His Maj'^'' Rights, and, tho these measures in general have hitherto ended in loss and disappointment, yet whenever success has shewn itself, it is in great measure to be attributed, to your indefatigable endeavours to furnish the

supply of which has been upon

all

Army

with Stores, waggons and provisions, the bad

occasions a matter of just complaint, and has greatly

erabarassed and obstructed the service.

The keeping up

a body of

them under the immediate

Men

in the

pay of

New York

during the Winter, the putting

Commander in Chief, and the providing your province, are measures which justly of having His Maj'^'' approbation and altho' we can not

direction of His Majesty's

Quarters for that part of the merit, and therefore can not

Army fail

cantoned

in

help expressing our great concern that in the manner of framing the

;

Laws

for those

and other

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV. purposes, the Assembly should have again reverted to the olaims and pretentions which hopes, from former declarations

made by them, they were

the importance of them to the public service rendered

we

should assent to them, and

it

we had

willing to have receded from, yet

highly proper and prudent that yoa

shall not in the present exigency of the

Times, take upon oi

to advise the repeal of them, as they appear to us to be so essential to the good of His

Maj'^' service. It is a melancholy consideration, that in such times as these, the dispute between New York and the Massachusets Bay concerning their Boundaries should have been carried to so indecent a length, as to have been the occasion of Riot and Bloodshed, and as that matter appears to us, to require some immediate remedy, We lost no time in taking it into our

consideration, and shall think ourselves happy, as this appears to be.

and quiet, until a

final

We

if,

in a

can suggest any thing, which

determination can be had.

We

Question so perplexed with difBcultiei may have the effect to procure peace

are,

Sir,

Your most obedient bumble servants Dunk Halifax 80AMB Jbntxs Rich"' Riqbt

W.

10 March 1767

Lords of Trade

to

Sir

[New-Tork BntilM,

To

Sir William

Johnson

Sloper.

WiUiam Johnaon. B.,

P.

111.]

Bar».

Sir,

have received your letter dated the lO"" of September last inclosing a copy of your with the proceedings at the Congress at Onondago and the subsequent one at your own house, of your with a copy 10* Nov' of the of letter your also Shawonese and Delawar Indians, and disbursemenU your of account an and further proceedings from the 21« of July to IT'" of Sept' in the execution of the service intrusted to your care and direction. this occasion, then that in your conduct, It is unnecessary for us to say any thing further upon can not fail of meeting with appears to us to be highly proper in every part of it. and as such endeavours to put a stop your that find to to us satisfaction approbation, it is a great

We

his Maj'^"*

to the hostilities of the

Shawonese and Delawar Indians upon the Frontiers

of Pennsylvania

are not without hopes that the like

and Virginia, have been attended with success, and we Nations steadfast in our interest and to success may attend your endeavours to fix the Six so greatly loosened by the renew that ancient covenant Chain, the Link of which have been which have attended our Arms in America. loss of Oswego and the other disappointments than We entirely agree with you that nothing can more efleclually answer this purpose Landi their of case the in sustained have giving the Indians proper redress in the injuries they difficultys which occurr to Us upon patented under pretence of purchase from them, but the We have not as yet been able to form a Judgement this occasion are so many, and so great that, properly obtained. in what way that redress can be effectually and

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

222

What you Us very

to

We

say in your Letter of the lO'i^of Sepf with respect to M' Penn's purchase appeared

material,

We

and having as

herewith inclose to you

thought

it

upon

our duty to do, communicated

which

We

it

to

him,

you will take into your you think what is therein proposed to be reasonable and proper, you will take such measures, as you shall judge to be most expedient and we are desired by the proprietors to acquaint you, that they will appoint Richard Peters and Conrad Weiser, Commissioners in those parts to treat with the Six Nations in concert with you upon all points relative to these affairs, and also for the hearing and determining of any complaints, that may be made by those Indians, who have committed hostilities on the Frontiers of Pennsylvania; and they desire, in case you approve this, that those Indians may be summoned to attend you^ with the Deputys of the Six Nations, and settle all matters in dispute between them and His his observations

it,

desire

consideration, and in case

;

Maj'5" subjects with the Assistance and consent of the Deputies of the Six Nations at such places, as

you

shall appoint,

and the proprietors have assured Us, they

to their Officers agreable to this proposal.

We

will give Instructions

are

Sir

Your most obedient humble

servants.

Dunk Halifax SoAME Jenyns Rich"* Rigby 10 March 1757

W"

^

Governor Hardy i

New-Tork

to the Papers,

Lords of Trade.

Mm., No.

1. ]

Fort George,

My

Sloper.

New

York. 24""

May

1757.

Lords,

By

his Majesty's Sloop Ferrett that arrived here the first

day of this Month, I received my Flagg and repair to Hallifax and to carry into execution the orders His Majesty's Ships employed there are under till the arrival of Rear Admiral Holbourne, and as their Lordships in their orders to me mention His Majesty having been graciously pleased to permit me to resign this Government in order that I may serve at Sea, I concluded that I should receive from Your Lordships by the packet arrived since the Ferret, his Majesty's permission to resign this Government; under this expectation I have been preparing for my going to Hallifax with Lord Loudoun and the Fleet of Transports with the Forces his Lordship draws from hence to join the succours from Europe, and as I hope I shall be able to sail before the arrival of another packet I take this early Opportunity to acquaint you that as I have also had the honour of receiving a letter from My Lord Hallifax intimating that His Majesty's leave for my Resignation should be sent me by the first Opportunity But as it is not improbable that some Accident may have befidlen the Ship on board which my leave may be, the great consequence of the Fleet of Transports orders from

My Lords Commissioners

prepared here, together with

Admiral Holbourne's

my

of the Admiralty to hoist

being the second in

directions, has determined

me

to

command

of the Fleet under Rear

embark and proceed

to Hallifax with.

MM

LONDON DOCUMENTS! XiXIV.

Lord Loudoun ns soon as possible without waiting for the arrival of any'Ship with my leave of Resignation, and shall leave in the hands of the Lieu« Governor his Majesty's Instructions with all such orders from the Secretary of State and Your Lordships' Board, as are necessary for his conduct iu the Administration of this Province, all which I hope will justify me to his Majesty, and meet Your Lordships' Approbation. I

have the honour

The Right Hon"" The Lords Commissioners for

Trade and Plantations.

Hepresentation of

tlie

Lords of Trade

[New-Tork

To

May

the Kino's

it

please

to be,

Your Lordships' most obedient and most humble Servant Cha' Uardt.

Entriei,

&

to the

King.

P., 11».]

most Excellent Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Gov' of the Province of New York, having, in several during letters to us his Administration, complained of the great prejudice which has arisen to Sir Charles Hardy, your Maj*'"' late

your Maj'''"' service and Interest from the disputes, that have for a great length of time subsisted between that province and the province of the Massachusets Bay, concerning their true

Boundary, or

line of partition,

on account whereof the settlement of that valuable part of your

Maj'^* territories has been obstructed, and the peace and good order of Govern' disturbed

by and outrages and even murder, committed on the Borders of the said provinces; We beg leave humbly to lay before your Maj"* the annexed copies and extracts of the said letters and of the papers therewith transmitted. These papers will inform your Maj*^ of every particular relative to this matter, and of the

many

riots

steps which have at different times been taken thereupon.

It will

appear to your Maj*', that

endeavours have been used to bring the dispute to a proper determination, and particularly that in June 1754. Commissioners appointed, and authorized by each province, met and conferred in order to the settlement of a

final

Boundary.

But each party

stating hii claim

according to the descriptive words in the respective grant or Charter of each province, and the

Commiss'* of the Massachusets Bay having no power to treat of a temporary line, they could not come to any sort of agreement; and if we may be allowed to judge of this transaction from events which have happened since, instead of operating as a iiemedy to the evil, it baa had a quite contrary

Upon a

full

effect.

consideration of this matter and of the

little

probability there

is,

can ever be determined by any amicable agreement between the two Govern",

that the dispute

it

appeared to ua,

method of putting an end to it and preventing those further mischiela which may be expected to follow, so long as the cause subsists, would be, by the interposition of your Maj*''" authority, to settle such a line of partition, as should, upon a consideration of the actual and ancient possesion of both provinces, without regard to the exorbitant claims of either, appear to be just and equitable. that the only effectual

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

224

We conceive it, the more necessary to rest the determination upon to the because We find, upon examining the Grant from King Charles the And

2'"'

16Gf and the Royal Charter granted the limits of those grants,

drawn from them with

We

them.

to the

these principles,

Duke

of York in

Massachusets Bay in 1691, that the description of

so inexplicit, and defective, that no conclusive Inference can be

is

respect to the extent of territory originally intended to be granted

have therefore had recourse to such papers on Record

in

our Office, as might

the Actual and Ancient possession of the Provinces in question and as

it

by

shew

appeared by several

of them, of dates almost as old as the said Grant, that the Province of the Massachusets

Bay

been understood to extend to within 20 miles of Hudson's River, and that many settlements had at different times been made so far to the Westward by the people of that province and as that evidence coincides with the general principle of the agreement

had

in those times

;

between the province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut in 1683. which has received the Royal confirmation ; We were of opinion, that a line to be drawn Northerly from a point on the South boundary-line of the Massachusets Bay, twenty miles distant due East from Hudson's River, to another point 20. miles distant due East from the said river, on that line which divides the Provinces of New Hampshire and the Massachusets Bay, would be a just and equitable line of division between Your Maj'^' provinces of New York and the Massachusets Bay.

But

as a doubt might arise,

whether such boundary could be established without the soil and Jurisdiction of it being granted by Royal

concurrence of the Massachusets Bay, the

We thought

two provinces, in question, and And the to communicate to them such our opinion, and the authorities whereon it is founded. Agent for New York having signified to us, that he submits the settlement of the said boundary as a matter entirely in your Maj'^'* determination, and the Agent for the Massachusets Bay, Charter,

having acquainted line.

We

proper to

us, that he,

therefore beg leave

call

before Us the Agents for the

on behalf of

humbly

above described

his constituents, acquiesces in the

to propose to

your Majesty, that you would be graciously

pleased, by your order in Council, to establish the line herein before described, as a final

boundary of property and Jurisdiction between the provinces of N. York and the Massachusets Bay, and to direct the Gov"^ of N. York, in conjunction with the Gov' of the Massachusets Bay, to settle the said boundary, agreable to the aforesaid description, and to recommend it, each to the Assembly of his respective Gov"" to provide jointly and equally for the expence which may Which is most humbly submitted. attend such settlement Dunk Halifax,

—

James Oswald, SOAME Jenyns, 26'"

May

1767.

W.

,

Lieutenant-Governor [

De Lancey

Nev-Tork

Fnpera,

to the

Um., Bo.

Lords of Trade.

8. ]

New

My I

Sloper.

Fork.

S**

June 1757.

Lords,

have the honour to acquaint your Lordships that yesterday in the evening Sir Charles did in Council deliver to me as Lieutenant Governor His Majesty's

Hardy our Governor,

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV. Commission and Instructions board the Nightingale to

were

all

fall

him with the Seals, and that he that Evening Embarked on down to Sandy Hook to take under bis care the transports which to

rendezvous'd at that Place, and that this morning

devolved upon

me which

fff

I shall

endeavour

to execute

I

qualifyed myself for the trust

with honour and Fidelity.

I

inclose to

Your Lordships Copies of the Minutes of Council of those two days. Sir Charles Hardy desired that I would transmit to Your Lordships Copies of the Memorial of M'' Walton to him of the 29''> of January, praying leave to continue supplies to the Spanish Garison at S' Augustine according to his Contract with the Governour and Royal Officers, And Copies of the Report of the Committee of Council of the 14* of February, and of the order thereon of the 21" which are herewith inclosed, Sir Charles having omitted to do the great hurry of business which his attention

to.

it

through

the fitting and dispatching the Transporta

taken into His Majestys Service for the Troops under the Earl of Loudoun had occasioned. Your Lordships will see the two principal Reasons on which the Report and Order were

grounded, 1" the heavy loss of the Memorialist by the Forfeitures of the Arrears due to him, amounting to sixty thousand pieces of eight, and 2'^'' because the Committee did conceive that

His Majesty's Directions for laying the Embargo could not be construed to extend to a neutral port under the circumstances of S' Augustine, it being manifest from Your Lordships' Letter signifying his Majesty's commands, that the Trade intended to be restrained, is the Trade carried on from His Majestys Colonies to such neutral Ports or Settlements from whence the

enemy have

actually

drawn

supplies or from

whence they might be obtained.

As

this

Contract

beg still subsists and Application will probably be made for a like Liberty next year, 1 must Your Lordships directions on this point that I may know how to govern myself upon it I send Your Lordships Copies of Affidavits in relation to a pernicious trade from some of the Colonies, Rhode Island particularly, This trade is carryed on not only to supply the French with Provisions but also with Naval Stores as I am informed. The method they take where the master and mariners stay, is to go to Monti Christo, a Spanish port in Hispaniola, with a pass to Port Dauphin or some go Spaniards to crew of a and master and they get a other French Port on the same Island : By this indirect way His Majesties enemies are Orders to supplyed. What remedy to apply to this Evil may be difficult to say : The King's and of course elected the Governors there will not avail much, their Governor being annually Perhapc authority : subject to the Humours and Caprices of the People, can have but little a small sloop to be often cruising off that port might put some stop to it. These are the only things I find it necessary to give your Lordships information of at this whaUoever was proper to time. You will undoubtedly have received from Sir Charles Hardy Lordships again be transmitted previous to this. I shall therefore conclude with assuring Your me. My Lords, I devolved on Trust the discharge Power to of my Intentions to do all in my

have the honor to be, Your Lordships most obedient

The R* Hon'''" The Lords Commiss"

Vol. VII.

^ for

Trade

&

Plantations.

89

'"''^^

humble Servant

Jambs Db Lamcbt

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

226

Sir Charles

Hardy

Lords of Trade.

to the

[New- York Pspers, Mm., No.

8.]

His Majesty's Ship Sunderland in

My

Sandy Hook.

June

14"" 1757.

Lords.

As

have frequently wrote Your Lordships that

had reason

was and would be carried on from these Northern Colonies to the Neutral Islands particularly to St. Eustatia from whence the French would draw supplys of Provisions, I cannot avoid informing Your Lordships that some time ago I got information that a Schooner had sailed from Elizabeth I

Town

I

to beleive that a trade

in the Jerseys to St. Christopher's loaded with Provisions, that she did not land

any of where she delivered the greatest part of it, notwithstanding the owners and Master had entered into Bonds conformable to His Majesty's her cargo there but proceeded to

St. Eustatia

Upon the Schooner's return home in her way to Amboy, the had stationed here pressed her Crew, on their being examined upon Oath I Information true, and that the Vessel had been to St. Eustatia and landed there the

late prohibitary Instructions,

Vulture Sloop

found

my

I

greatest part of her cargo consisting of Bread and Flour; previous to the Vessels return I

my Information, desiring him to give orders that the Bond might not be cancelled, and since have sent him the Examinations of the Crew, and have acquainted Governor Belcher with

received the strongest assurances from

him

that he will order the Attorney General to prosecute

the Bonds which I trust will be forfeited.

Since

my

being here a Privateer of this Port brought in a Sloop belonging to Rhode Island

Copy of the Examination I now Inclose you, which, with when I examined him, Your Lordships may more fully see the disposition of the Gentlemen owners of the Sloop Speedwell (viz') "That when he left Rhode Island upon this Voyage Mess" Ebenezer Richardson, Thomas Richardson and Lemuell Wyatt, recommended it to him to settle himself at Monte Christo and there to collect great

that has also been on this trade, a this addition,

took from Bentin

I

Quantities of Sugar and Molasses and that they would supply him with cargoes, and that if he had not been taken he would have settled himself there, and that the Sugars and Molasses

he must have procured from Port Dauphin and other French Ports, and that he was to have p"^ c' Commission from the Gentlemen named above for what Business he did for them." And further to illustrate this matter I send Your Lordships a Copy of an Order given received 10

among his papers and which he confessed to me he received from from Rhode Island. As this Man declared to me he was not naturalized, and had never taken the Oaths of Allegiance, I have detained him on board my Ship to prevent his being employed again in this injurious and fraudulent Trade.

to this Bontin

which

them the day he

The

I

Inclos'd Extracts of Letters I received from Lieutenant

to this trade.

Governor De Lancey relating Your Lordships that a

In addition to these Informations I must acquaint

Privateer of this Port

came

in here a few days ago whose Master informed me that he spoke Block Island from Rhode Island bound to the West Indies with horses and I should presume some Provisions ) notwithstanding the general Embargo ought still to

with several Vessels (

found

sailed

be

in force

off

by Agreement with the I

several

Governments.

have the honor

to

be

Your Lordships' most obedient and most humble Servant Cha' Hardy.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: P. S.

Since writeing the abo»re

Inclosed

I

received a letter from S' Chriitopher's of which

a Copy, by which Your Lordships will further aee Instructions are evaded. is

The Right Hon"^ The Lords Commissioners

for

how Hia

thfl

Mnjeaty'a Prohibiiary

Trade and Plaalations.

Sir William John-son

to

QmmX

[PtanUUoiu

My

m|

XX^CIV.

tJie

P>p«n,

Lords of Trade.

XTU

p. t.]

Fort Johnson 26'" June 1767.

Lords

In the

last letter I

had the honor

to write

Your Lordships,

I acquainted you that I had jnst had charged them with their inactivity in aiding and assisting His Majesty's arms and had insisted upon their giving me the reasoni for their backwardness and coolness, and also to know positively from them what their futura

then finished a Meeting with the Six Nations, wherein

resolutions were, without any disguise. told

me

for the

1

I

then acquainted your Lordships that the Six Nations

they looked upon the matters I had laid before them, to be of too important consequence Deputation then present, lo give me a full and determinate answer to, that they were

—

Onondaga where what I had then said should be faithfully reported, fully deliberated upon, and when that Council broke up, I should receive their full and determinate answer. That therefore I deferred transmitting to Your passed Lordships what at the said Meeting at my house, till I bad the result of the Meeting at Onondaga, when I would send you both together. Accordingly, My Lords, I herewith transmit the same to you. I was in expectation to have been able to have done this much sooner, but the unsettled state of the Six Nations amongst speedily to hold a great Council of

all

the Nations at

themselves and the confusion which the too successful arta of the French Emissaries have

thrown them

into,

have delayed this meeting

at

Onondaga much beyond the time they gave

me

reason to expect it would take place and breake up. Your Lordships will see by the Papers herewith, that the Three upper Nations, to wit, the Senecas, Cayougas and Onondagas, have declared themselves in favour of a Neutrality. As no Deputies from the Tuscaroros or Oneidas came down to this Meeting, I cannot say what It appears probable to me that from their not coming down with their resolutions will be. those upper Nations, they do not wholly agree in sentiments with them.

I

expect they will

come by themselves when these return, and let me know their resolutions but whether those will be more favourable to our interest, than what these three upper Nations have declared, When I receive their resolves, I shall transmit them to I will not take upon me to ascertain. ;

Your Lordships. I beg leave on this occasion to put Your Lordships in mind, and refer you to those papen I sent to the Board in Jan"' 1756 by Gov' Pownall when he went to England, wherein was laid before your Lordships the declining state of our Indian interest at the time General Braddock's commission put the management of Indian Afiairs into my hands, and I told that Gentleman,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

228 at Alexandria, I

would exert

my

utmost influence

&

abilities,

but that

T

doubted whether

I

should be able to prevail on the Six Nations in general, to act with that order' in favour of His Majesty's

Arms which

Our defeat at Ohio, the opposing my management, the loss of

miglit probably be expected from

them.

obstructions thrown in my way by General Shirley's Oswego, and our having reaped no striking advantages since, have been all additional drawbacks upon my retrieving and advancing His Majesty's Indian Affairs. And with respect to our interest amongst the Upper Nations, the loss of Oswego was a mortal wound, as that post was both a curb upon the Upper Nations to retain them in our interest, and a security for them against the enemy, should they act in our favour. I am fully persuaded the loss of this important post, with the consequential menaces of the French and their Indians, have produced the present Neutrality agreed on by the Senecas Cayougas & Onondagas. And 'tis probable our destroying the works at and abandoning the Oneida Carrying place last summer, may produce a neutrality from the Oneidas and Tuscaroras. My Lords, I am extreamly concerned that the great expence which this service hath occasioned should not have produced more favourable effects. Permit me to assure your Lordships that I have acted with uprightness of heart, with all the oeconomy diligence and address within the compass of my abilities, to retrieve support and extend His Majestys Indian interest. I am extreamly sorry my endeavours have not been crowned with all that success was unfeignedly ambitious of being instrumental to. I must confess, all circumstances which I considered I do not think the Indians altogether so culpable as some people on this side the water seem to do ; and I am truly conscious, that if I have erred in judgment, I have not been wanting in an honest and grateful ardor for His Majesty's service, the honour and success of his arms.

As

1

my Lord Loudouns

have

approbation and opinion in favour of

it, I

have told the Six

Nations that I shall dispose of His Majesty's bounty and rewards only to such Indians as will actually go

upon

service.

policy will permit.

This

I

propose to make a

This will probably

in

fixt

some degree

rule hereafter, as far as apparent good lessen the future expence.

However

I must be so ingenuous as to acquaint your Lordships that even under present circumstances

cannot promise that the future expences will

fall

very considerably short of the past

the Upper Nations (as your Lordships will see by their speech)

;

I-

for as

solemnly declare that

unanimously and firmly resolved to hold fast the ancient Covenant Chain of friendship, and remain Allies to His Majesty and bretheren to his utterly to cast off" all notice and expence about them would, in my opinion, be a piece subjects of conduct equally dangerous and impolitic in the present conjuncture, and if my Lord Loudoun or the Commander in Chief should be determined upon such a measure I would beg

notwithstanding their Neutrality they are

;

leave rather to decline acting than put

it

in execution

your Lordships should be of opinion that from the present face of Indian Affairs the advantages of this service will not be adequate to the expence they have and may bring upon the Crown, I shall whenever His Majesty may think it proper, with the utmost obedience and the highest gratitude for the many honours he has graciously bestowed upon me, be If

ready and willing to resign Northern

The Upper and lower interest

my Commission

as his Sole

Agent

&

Superintendant for the

District.

and

Castles of

Mohock Indians will I am persuaded remain firm to our rum is a great impediment to their going upon

tho' their intemperate thirst after '

ardor,

Johmon

Manuscripts, IV.

— Ed.

LONDON DOCUMENTS when they can by any means

service,

going out, to distress the

get

:

yet almost

it,

French settlements

in

XXXIV, all

their

||9

young men are now

out,

and

Canada, beat up their quarters, and obtain

numbers & motions. have taken a great deal of pains to bring about a peace between the Delaware and Shawanese Indians, settled in the Susquehanna and the Provinces of New York, New Jeraey,

iDteliigence of their I

Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia; and in

I

hope

which Governor Denny's candid behaviour and

is

it

in a fair

way

fair proposals, if

of being accomplished,

continued and carried into

effect, will greatly contribute.

Herewith

I

send your Lordships a copy of

my

proceedings

last April

with a number of

Shawanese Nanticokes and Mohickander Indians, who came hither and are settled on one Also the original minutes of M' Croghan my of the west branches of the Susquehanna, Deputy, and Gov' Denny's proceedings at a meeting lately held at Lancaster in Pennsylvania. I think it also proper to transmit to your Lordships herewith, some original papers put into my hands by the said M' Croghan relative to some former Indians management of his for the Southern Governments, as 1 apprehend they may tend to open to your Lordships some original causes of recent events relative to the present I

My To

The Lords Commissioners

&

in

America.

Lords

Your Lordships most obedient & most bumble Servant

the Right Honourable

of Trade

war

have the honor to be most respectfully

W- Johnboh.

(Bigned)

Plantations

Journal of Sir William JohnsorCa Proceedings with [

PUntoUou 0«Mn] Pipm, XTI., No.

the Indians.

S. ]

Fort Johnson 20 Sept' 1766 compleally cloathed and armed, marched Sixty nine Indians of several Nations who had been with M' Croghan to join the Army at Fort Edward. Nations marcht with S' William John»on 17 of October. Sixty three Indians of several Fort Edward, which Indians had been also cloathed thro' the woods to join the army at

and armed.

.... r .u i of the Lower M' Arent Stevens Chief Interpreter spoke to the Mohawks waited expecting them and the acquainting them that Sir William Johnson had .

26 of October. Castle,

have joined & marcht with him. Upper Castle, who not commg They replyed that they had waited for their Bretheren of the come, and both S' William that they were now in time had prevented their accompanying parties were ready to follow. M' Stevens also spoke and to d them 27 October. Some Seneca Indians arrived, to whom told him. them, according to his Summons. They that S' William had waited expecting delayed had returned, not chief men who went to Canada and were

Upper Castle

several

to

of their

their coming.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

299

William having sent orders to M' Stevens, in consequence of my Lord Loudoun's any more Indians from following him to the Camp at Fort Edward; M'' 70 Mohawk Warriors who had been cloathed and armed for service from did stop Stevens S'

1 Nov"'

directions, to stop

Betting out, as also sundry Indians of other Nations. 2.

Nov'

S'

William Johnson arrived from the

Camp

Edward.

at Fort

Fort Johnson 17 Sir William Johnson's

first

NoV

1756.

speech at a meeting of sundry Sachems and Warriors of each

of the Six Nations.

Present

—

Capt. Peter Wraxall Secr^

S' William Johnson M' Croghan M' Johnson, & M' Francis of Philad"

Lieu' Ciaus Dep^

M' Stevens & Capt Montour

SeC

l

^"'^""P' J

Bretheren of the Six Confederate Nations. Before I set off for Albany I did according to the antient custom of your forefathers, bid you

At the same time I acquainted you that my Lord Loudoun required my immediate attendance upon him and that I would return as soon as he had done with me: this I have done, though my stay hath been longer than I expected: I am glad to meet you all well Gave three Strings Wampum. welcome.

Bretheren

As

there are

opportunity to

now tell

men of the Six Nations I take this your Bretheren the English than it is to

present here several Sachems and chief

you that

it is

no

less evident to all

me, that from the beginning of the present hostilities between us and the French, to this day, the Five Nations have in general shewn such a backwardness in aiding and assisting His Majesty's Arms, such a manifest indifference for the welfare and success of their bretheren the English, and such a mercenary principle in the little they have done, as is no less inconsistent with their character of friends and allies than it is contrary to the public and solemn engagements which they entered into at this place last summer was twelfe month, and have at several public meetings since as solemnly ratified, and which most of your chief men of each nation have frequently

avowed

to

me

in private Conferences.

This unfriendly and unfair behaviour of yours has been too notorious

Bretheren.

to require

any particular instances to prove my accusation; it hath or will doubtless reach the ears of His Generals have seen it with concern and the Great King of England your Father. astonishment and the Earl of Loudoun his present General and Commander in chief is equally Tn my opinion you have been like a tree very full sensible of your want of zeal and activity. of leaves but barren of fruit. Bretheren.

honour

&

I

have just

general behaviour that there I will single

First.

is

said that

no necessity

out two, upon which

You have

contrary to

now

your want of brotherly

zeal

and activity

for the

welfare of your bretheren the English hath been so clearly manifested by your

my

I

for giving particular instances to

can not and ought not to be

sent Deputies to

Canada without

either

express advice and directions, and your

own

prove

it;

however

silent.

my

consent or knowledge, and

public assurances at Onondaga,

and you have carried on negociations with our enemies there which you have kept secret from me.

.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV. When

J|gi

summoned all your people .^o come down without delay to march Loudoun and His Majesty's troops; in vain I waited many dayi, and was at last obliged to set off with such few Indians as were accidentally at hand. Many of you I armed and fitted out, who did not come at all, most of you who did join the army at Fort Edward were' very backward to go upon service and spent their time in dninkennesa and idleness, and many went away and lefl me to come home as well as I could. Secondly.

with

me & join

I

lately

the Earl of

—

Bretheren.

whole tenor of your conduct

In short the

for a great while past gives

bretheren the English just cause not only to reproach the 6 Nations, as

them reason

unfriendly, and unserviceable, but gives

to suspect the security

your

allies, unfaithful!,

and uprightness of

your future intentions. Bretheren.

up your

It is

expected from you,

characters, and,

if

you can do

& it,

I

flatter

give

myself that you

some

will in

some measure

clear

satisfactory reasons for your mysterious

any secret uneasiness lays in your hearts, it will be more like bretheren to it fretting there, and this fair dealing will be most for your honour k And I hope you have the remains of so much honour and virtue lefl amongst you, interest. as to acknowledge with due shame and concern every blameable part of your behaviour; and

conduct, and declare

it,

if

than to keep

hereupon I give you

this belt of

Wampum.

Gave

the Belt.

Bretheren of the 6 Nations.

Wampum

upon you in the name of the Great King of England me what part you are determined to act in the your Father and my present war between the English and the French. The time is now come when it is absolutely requisite for you not only to declare what you will do, but to act up to what you do promise

By

this Belt of

I

now

call

Master, to explain to

and resolve upon.

The Great Man whom the King my Master hath made head dominions waits to know your positive determinations.

over

all in

these parU of his

Bretheren. expect and desire you will be clear and positive in your answer, and dont let me write falsehoods by your saying what you do not mean or intend, as you have heretofore done. Gave a large black Belt of Wampum. I

William told them that as what he had now said was of great consequence and deserved had not cleariy their serious consideration, if there was any part of the speech which they attend should & go over Interpreters and the Deputation, appoint a might understood, they Sir

the speech again with them. Thus ended the first day's conference.

The 19 Nov' A. M. them of the

IV"" ins'

The 6

Nations sent three Sachems to desire S' William's speech to

might be again repeated over

to

them

in the presence of M' Croghan, Dep^ Superintendant.

;

which was done by the Interpreters

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

232

Fort Johnson 19 Nov' 1756

The Six Nations answer to Present

S' William Johnson's speech to

them the

17"" Instant.

— Sir William Johnson [Edmund] Atkin Esq' His Majesty's Superintendent Indian District M' Johnson Mr Croghan M' Francis

for the

Capt: Butler

Capl. Peter Wraxall Sec"

D' Catherwood

Lieu' Glaus Dep" Sec''

M' Stevens

&

M' Montour

Southern

Interpr*

Canachquayesa, Chief Sachem of Oneida, Speaker. Brother Warraghiyagey,

We

thank you for saluting us on your return from Albany

Brother.

;

we

Gave 3

in health.

You have charged

are equally glad to see

Strings of

us with acting contrary to the engagements

you

Wampum. we have

entered

into at the late meeting at Onondaga, by going to Canada, talking with the French, and

concealing those conferences from you. meaning the English

talk together,

Conferences and

and write

letters

we

We

propose

now

shall conceal nothing

without acqainting us of

to let

you know what passt

at these

from you tho' you* and the French

it.

Sachems were coming who pressed upon them to defer it till their Deputies came from Canada in order that we might acquaint you with the news they might bring. Gave a Belt of Wampum Brother. You have desired us to give you the reasons and hide nothing from you, which prevented our warriors from attending you agreeable to your late summons. Brother, several of the Senecas were at Cayouga in their way down, but were prevented from proceeding further by some of the Chief men of that nation who took this step in resentment for having Brother.

down

In consequence of your call upon the loss of Oswego, our

to you,

but were stopped by the Cayougas

been reproached as favouring the French

interest

prevented likewise the Onondagas from coming,

;

this

stopping of the

who were ready and

Seneca warriors

impatiently waited for

the Senecas and Cayougas.

This Brother was the cause you did not see our warriors on your

Capt Butler

first

summons sent Gave a Belt.

us

by

Brother.

you afterwards sent to Oneida to be forwarded to the Onondagas the Cayougas & Senecas were sent by Gawihe and Kinderunte, whom we looked upon to be your friends they carried them to Cayouga and concealed them from all the Indians but one Chief Sachem

The

Belts

of that Nation, with

whom

they held a private consultation, and

all

three of

them went away

As you desired us to be explicit with you we will tell you the name of this Cayouga Indian it is Teiyughsaragarat. To confirm the truth of this account there are now here present two Ciiief Sachems of Cayouga, who have declared they never were acquainted with your sending these Belts. Gave a Belt. to Canada.

:

—

:

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV.

233

Brother.

When

the Deputies which were sent from

Onondaga to Swegachie with your Belt to recall came there, they were prevailed upon by the Swegachis which was what they did not expect.

the Six Indians from that place,

Indians to proceed to

Canada

;

The Deputies met the French General at Montreal, who spoke to them as follows Children. I am glad to see you and I expected as you were acquainted with my father, you would before now have come and condoled with me for his loss. Children.

wont be long before who was

It

death [of] Baron Dieskau

I

that

Lake George in order to revenge the by General Johnson last year; will none of

shall proceed to

killed there

me in revenging his death. am an old man & accustomed

the Six Nations join Children.

to dream and have found out that you Five Nations have carried these several BelU of Wampum (at the same time showing them) from your brother Warraghiyagey to the Western Indians. Now Children I must insist on it that you do not any more interfere with those Indians; they belong to me and here are several

I

Wampum which they have sent to me, and I also forbid you to iniermedle with my Children the Delaware and River Indians, they belong to me as far as Shamokin. Children. Your bretheren the English built a trading house at Oswego, in order to get bever, bags of

but they brought a great number of cannon there.

Now

went and kicked the house down. Children. Give attention to what I am now going

with,

as cannon are not

to say.

I

to kill bevers

must desire and advise you

not to suffer your bretheren the English to build an other Fort at Oswego. will be

your interest

a Bark

Hut

to

for trading

have a trading house there, and therefore you may ;

but

if

they

offer to build

are constantly cruizing in the Lake, and

To

fit

I

I

a Fort,

will then

I

shall

soon

come and kick

it

I

know

that

it

them

to build

know it, as my down again.

vesselli

sufier

the foregoing speech our Deputies answered:

Father.

You have warned the Belts

we

sent to

us not to intermedle with the Western Indians and you have showed ai

them

allies and dependants, and

;

many of those Nations the Deleware and River we shall continue to consider them as such.

Indians are yet our

Brother Warraghiyagay.

This

is

Oneidas

all

the

news we have

who were

there to the time they

Brother.

When

with his army

to

received from

Canada by our bretheren of Onondaga, the

there brought us no news, for they were drunk from the time they arrived left: it.

the French General had taken Oswego, he invited the Indians

who were

to Lake George, and said he would be master of the fort there Ottowawa Indians refused to go with him and said they were sorry for the

go with him

in 6 weeks, but the

destruction of Oswego, for they used to get a large quantity of goods there for a small bundle

treatment they had received from some of Ottowawa Indians did accordingly leave the French

of skins, tho' they had been disgusted with some the English formerly at Oswego.

The

ill

army, upon which the French General said he should however have 500 Indians to join him Chief viz' 200 Caghnawagas 100 Arundax, 100 Shouwendadies, the Groote Junge a Seneca Canada and live in who Nations other some remainder of with 20 Indians from Ohio, and the bad we account This that his army would be about 5000 in the whole all picked men. from a Swegachie Indian. Vol. VII.

30

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

234

Those of our Indiana who go down

Canada get such large presents that 'tis no wonder they are tempted to go that way whereas you English are stingy of your goods. The Speaker then delivered a message from the Bunt, the Chief Sachem of Onondaga (who is gone to Canada) to desire Sir William would not think ill of his going to Canada that he hoped to be back by Christmas, and that he would not stop above one night at home on his Brother.

to

;

return before he set out to give

With regard

Brother.

propose to act

William an account of his journey. your speech wherein you ask us what part we the present war between you & the French. That matter was S""

to the latter part of

for the future in

referred in our Council to the

Mohawks, Onondagas and Senecas, and the

latter gave the which was, that we should stand by our Bretheren the English and be at all times ready to aid and assist them, and this is the Resolution of the Six Nations. Then the Speaker sat down. Sir William then introduced M' Atkin to the Six Nations acquainting them that he was appointed by the King their Father, Superintendant of the Affairs of the Southern Indians, their and our friends & Allies and that he should say something to them tomorrow on that occasion. Thus ended the Second Days Conference result,

Fort Johnson 20 Nov' 1766

This morning two Indians arrived who were sent express from Onondaga with a message from that Castle and a letter from M' de Coagne, acquainting S'' William that Jean Ceur the French Agent, who was at the remotest Seneca town, had sent to Onondaga 2 Belts and a

Wampum,

string of

by which he advised the 6 Nations

that they were every hour in danger; next that a great

to

keep very near their Castles,

army from

Virginia

&

for

Pennsylvania

with a body of the Southern Indians were to come against the French and would march thro' the Country of the 6 Nations and pay no regard to friend or foe, and tread lastly that the 6 Nations

German

Flatts,

must not be surprized

nor come down

if

all

under their feet;

they heard the French Guns

to assist their bretheren the English, lest

fire

at the

they should be killed

along with them.

William sent the above Lord Loudoun. S'

Sir

letter

&

intelligence

William Johnson's second speech

Present

—

as before

;

by an express then

to the 6 Nations.

except M' Atkin

who was

at his

house, to

20 Nov' P. M.

indisposed.

Bretheren of the Six Nations. I

must

tell

I am not fully satisfied with the answer you yesterday mado to my You must be sensible that your conduct with regard to your Bretheren present war between them and the French had not been as I told you

you that

speech three days ago. the English, in the

either conformable to the Character of faithfull bretheren

many solemn

promises and engagements.

nor are you honest enough

You have to suspect

told

me what

you have not

to

own

past in

told

me

You have

yourselves in

&

sincere allies, nor to your

fault.

Canada while your Deputies were

all

own

said nothing in vindication of yourselves,

that past there.

there, but I have reason

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXIV. 'H

:

jH§

You have indeed once more renewed your assurances that you will stand by your Bretheren the English, but you have given no belt thereon, according to the constant and^ncientcustonu of your forefathers. I am ashamed to hear you publickly confess that the great presents you get from the French draws your people to Canada; you are Children unworthy of your forefathers, who scorned to sell their faith and their friendship to the best bidder. You say the English

Bretheren.

let me ask you whether your behaviour to them or the services you them deserves the presents you have received, and the expences they have been

are stingy of their goods;

have done at

for

on your account.

Bretheren of the Six Nations. I

have often told you and endeavoured

abundant reason

to

convince you that past experience gives you

French and suspect their fair professions and that on the contrary it is your true interest to stand by and support your bretheren the English you will in the end Gnd my words true, and tho' the English have met with some misfortunes lately, you will by and by see the French will be like a twig in the hands of a strong man. You go from one side to the other, and speak fair to both ; you may perhaps think this is good policy, but let me tell you it is a base foolish conduct, more like fearfull & silly women than brave and to hate the

;

honest men. Bretheren, with this Belt I once more remind and amonish you on this subject

Gave a Belt Bretheren

You charge the English with talking and receiving letters from the French. I dont know what you mean unless it was a packet of letters which were found in the road to Lake George and were from our people taken at Oswego to their friends in this country. It is death among us to talk with the French after war is declared. Bretheren. This morning I have received a message and a letter from Onondaga acquainting me with the news Jean Ceur sent thither with 2 Belts & a string of Wampum the purport of which you have already heard from the Messengers. I see by this fresh instance that the ;

&

you with any lies they by this Belt assure you I do invent, which were you our steady friends you would laugh at. the English have no design, and never will be the first to break the Covenant Chain with the Six Nations, & therefore I expect you will not be so ready to give ear to those wicked and French treat you

like

Children and think they can impose on

frighten

Gave a

false reports.

Belt.

hope you have paid a due attention you may appear in your eyes, before have laid I I dont to it. but I think they ought to appear as matters of the highest moment and as I am sensible there are not a sufficient body of you now come down to speak the fixt resolutions of your whole Bretheren,

Confederacy

now have finished what I had know in what light the matters I

in a binding

manner, you had

to say,

and

better, in

1

my

opinion, carry

what

I

have said to

your wise people without delay, and then you to Onondaga and call a solemn Council of the King let me know the final determination of that Council, that so 1 may not misinform all

your Father and mislead the General here. seemed more than S' William spoke this last paragraph himself during which the Indians commonly attentive, and when he had finished it gave their shouts of applause. He then acquainted them that M' Atkin had been indisposed today, and would not speak would them now as he intended, but at any time to morrow morning if they would come he

be ready.

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

236

Canaghquayesa spoke

After holding some consultation together


d.Uvenoj tkM Maaaenger aaid them. The to might send he whenever Arm. Majesty. come A join Ui. upon whiah thaaa Sir William deair«l to a*, them a. won a. pcMbl.; Belt., i told the ShawaneM

Esquires.

J

and M' Galloway, M' Fox, M*

Masters, and M' Hughes, four of the principal Commissioners, having requested a Conference of the Governor, they were received in Council,

when

they presented to him the following

Remonstrance which was read by M' Galloway.' July 23* 1767 Easton Sir,

As

the

method of managing the present Treaty

and properties of the People of

this

is

of the utmost

moment

Province and the British Interest

in

to the livet, libertiea

General

we beg

leave

to remonstrate to your honour.

That Tsdyuscung on Thursday last came to us and demanded that be might have a Clerk by himself to take down the Minutes of the Treaty who should compare hit Proceedings with the other clerks, before they leave the Table. This he insisted was the most certain means of searching out the Truth and of obtaining Justice to the persons who should prove to be injured. He was pleased further to add that this was his pleasure and bo would have it granted, and that he would not proceed to treat without iU Upon which wo informed the Chief that his demand appeared to us reasonable and just, but that we were not to be appointed

the proper persons to grant

he '

is

it.

We

the head of the executive part

recommended him to the Governour on that occasion, (m of Government) who we did not doubt would allow it.

Haring rcmored to Philadelphia, ha in M>ryland about th« year 1780. and was snbsequentljr Speaker of the AaMtnUy. »He vaa a memlier of the OoaliaaaUl

JouTH Oaliatat was born

hia profenion as a lawyer, in 1774,

when he submitted

beesme a

went

to

Loyalist,

and soon

for

iU approval the Albany Plan of Union of I7»i.

after joined the

Royal

Army

in

Naw-York, whereupon

In 1776 b* hi* eaUle

ab— Joaad

waa

England, where his pen waa constantly employed on anbjeoU ooooeetad witk tha war,

September, 1803. Sabint.

— Eo.

tba

OMgroi

Wh^

aad

IMS ka aa4 wkara ka ^ti ia

eoalaaalail,

la

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

292

This Morning the Chief further informed us that he had made an application to the Governour above purpose but that your honour did not think proper to allow his demand, that he was extreamly dissatisfied therewith and declared he would not treat without it. That as the Governour has begun with clearing his eyes and ears with a soft feather that he might hear and

for the

to attempt now by this refusal to lead him and therefore requested that we would assist him in a second Application to Your honour, which if refused he declared he was determined to give over prosecuting the good work he was ready and willing to accomplish with the English, and go home, and further requested that his Demand and refusal might be taken down in writing that

see clearly he looked on

on blindfold and

it

it

both unjust and unkind

in the dark,

might be represented

to the great

King

in his behalf as the reason of his not

concluding the

peace he had undertaken.

This he assures us was a thought of his

him

at this place,

In pursuance of this natural

own

at

VVeyoming

after the last

Treaty held by

to him by any person whatsoever. which request we beg Your honour would consider the Right and Justice of

and not suggested

demand and

the dangerous consequences that

may

attend persisting in a Refusal

of it. He appears to us to have an undoubted Right as a King and Chief of a Nation, to have a Clerk or Secretary, to take down Minutes of the Transactions of this important affair, And

seems more natural as he and his people are illiterate Persons. Your Honour will be pleased further to consider that the Lives and Properties of the People and His Majesty's Interest in General are immediately concerned in the Event of this Treaty and therefore should the Chief do as he declared, the melancholy consequences must necessarily be a farther Devastation of the Province, more Murders of the People, and an alienation of the this

affections of the Indians of

To

many

Nations from the British Interest.

Will" Masters, Jos. Fox Jos. Galloway John Hughes.

the Honourable

William Denny Esq'

M' John Pumpshire by Tedyuscung's Direction declared that every word there wrote as said by him, was really his own desire and said by him, and in confirmation of this he gave a Belt of

Wampum. The Governour acquainted Tedyuscung

give

that he would take the matter into consideration

him an answer, which he did the next day

in Council,

and

is

and

as follows,

Brother, I

have considered the second Application you made

appoint a Clerk of Your

own

to take

down

to

nie Yesterday that

you might

the Minutes of our Proceedings at the present Treaty.

Brother, 1

have always taken a particular pleasure in seeing you and been ready on

hear any thing you had to say or propose to

me and

treated

all

occasions to

you with that Respect and

friendship due from one brother to another.

Brother,

When and

you first applied to me for a Clerk I received You kindly as I shall continue to do, had considered Your request I gave you my answer why I could not think myself at

after I

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV,

fgf

comply with it and inrormed you of the Method that had bten agreed upon by M' Croghan the King's Deputy Agent and Your Uncle« at Lancaster in May Inat in taking Minutes at Indian Treaties and it appeared to me at that Time that my lleasons gave you sutisfactioo.

liberty to

Brother, ir

on reconsidering the Matter you were

to do,

dissatisfied you should have come to me as you used and you would have found my arms open to receive hear you, and not have applied to any other persons for their Mediation

and have spoken Vour mind

my

you, and

ears to

freely,

with me. Brother, I told

You

before and I again inform you that no one has any right to treat with you or

transact any business with you in this Province but myself and

Dep' Agent; I hope you

will

remember

M' Croghan the King's

this.

Brother,

No

Indian Chief before

You ever demanded a Clerk and none has ever been appointed

Indians in former Treaties nay

I

therefore I cannot help declaring

have not even nominated one on the part of it

against

this

for

Province

my JudgmenL

Brother, I am afraid by Your showing so little confidence in me or the King's Deputy Agent that you have harkned to idle Stories, or the Singing of Birds, tho you advised me against it However to give you a fresh proof of my friendship and Regard if you insist upon having a A Belt. Clerk, I shall noionger oppose it. Tedyuscung immediately answered that he thanked the Governor for what be had said to bim, and the favour he did him in not opposing bis request, that if he had committed any mistake or given OSence to the Governor in what had been done, he was very sorry for it, and That he desired what was past might be done away it must be imputed to his Ignorance: and forgotten, and we might look on one another with chearfulness and proceed with all Our A String. power in the great work of peace in which we were engaged.

To which

the Governour replied

Brother Tedyuscung

What you

said last proceeds from an honest heart I overlook

Your weakness.

You may

depend upon the kindness of me and my Council. No uneasiness remains with us now. I shall always be glad to see you and your Interpreter, and discourse with you like loving A Large String. Bretheren on any matter be it what it will that you may have to say.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

294

At

on Susquehannah, who is empowered by the ten following Nations, viz' Lenopi, Munsey, Mawhickon, Tiawco, or Nanticokes and the Senecas, Onondagas, Cayougas, Oneidas, and Mohawks, to settle all differences subsisting between them and their Bretheren the English; and George Croghan Esq' Dep' Agent to the Hon*"'^ Sir William Johnson Baronet, His Majesty's Sole Agent and Superintendent, of the Affairs of the six Nations, their Allies and Dependants and Colonel of the same. Al Easlon, the 25 Day of July 1767.

a Meeting with Teedyuscung,

Present

— The

Hon*"'*

King of the Delawares,

living

William Denny Esq' Lieu' Governor and

Commander

in

Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Counties of Newcastle Kent and Sussex in Delaware.

James Hamilton „..„„ , Will"" Logan

Lyndfbrd Lardner 1 „ ,, Esquires, Members of the Benjamin .-iL Chew ^ r ^ ^°^" which sooner or later will be the Dominion of America is restored to the British Empire: and from the prosperous way in which the Western operations now are, by the reinforcement* brought by Major General Amherst, I cannot even entertain a doubt, but that the very gates of Canada (as Lake Champlain is truly called by the Indians) must be put into our baodt, so that for the future the Enemy must live with us either in Peace, or not at all. By the same Vessel in which this comes, I do myself the honor to write to M' Pitt at the desire of both houses of Legislature, expressed in their address to me, to represent the State

of the Services of this Province, and the difficult circumstances under which they exert them,

humbly praying M'

Pitt's favorable

matter tho' there

one point, which

is

acceptance and report of them to His Majesty. it is

is

in this

is

suchi

this: the People of this province

have

of the last importance should be

that I could not possibly write in a public letter; It

known

And yet

exceeded their resourses, upon hopes of the recompence promised them; if it be neoe«««ry that they should next Spring be in Arms, it will be absolutely necessary that at the same time that such of it

it

call is

made upon them,

should accompany that

they

may

call,

either that the

without such, any

recompence

call will,

I

itself,

fear,

have

or a certain assurance little effect,

but with

be induced (I will be answerable) to give the lead next year, with the same

tho' perhaps not just in the same manner, as they did this; and

if

the notice thereof

spirit,

come

6rsl

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

350

would have the surest effect, for this Province ever lead when a spirited measure is expected.

to this Province,

must, take I

am

tiie

it

my

sensible of the delicacy and perhaps danger of

manner, but certain of the service should be known,

Amid

all

my

1

must be

it

to

did, ever will,

and ever

taking the liberty to write in this

His Majesty's service, that such matters

had rather run the risque, than omit the service.

public obligations

I

beg leave

to subscribe

myself with the highest respect

Sir

Rob'

Your most obedient and most humble servant J. Pownall.

Wood Esq"

Secretary Pitt to the Governors [

Circular

Governors and Commanders

from

Secr"'^

Pitt

in

i)i

North America.

North America, (8. P.

to

the

0., )

No.

76. ]

Governors of Massachuset's

Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island 9. December 1758.

New

York.

New

Jersey.

Bay New Whitehall

Sir,

His Mnj'y having nothing so much

improve the great and important advantages

at heart as to

gained the last campaign, as well as to repair the disappointment at Tionderoge, and by the

most vigorous and extensive efforts to avert, by the blessing of God on his arms, all dangers, which may threaten North America from any future irruptions of the French and the King not doubting that all his faithful and brave subjects,«there, will chearfully cooperate with, and second to the utmost, the large expence, and extraordinary succours supplied by this Kingdom for their preservation and defence and his Maj'^" considering that the several provinces in particular from proximity and accessibility of situation, more immediately obnoxious to the main irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are, of themselves, well able to furnish at least twenty thousand Men, to join a body of the King's forces, for invading Canada by the way of Crown Point, and carrying war into the heart of the Enemy's possessions; and His Maj'^ not judging it expedient to limit the zeal and ardour of any of his Provinces, by making a repartition of the force to be raised by each respectively for this most important service ; I am commanded to signify to you the King's pleasure, that you do forthwith use your utmost endeavours and influence with the Council and Assembly of your province, to induce them to raise with all possible dispatch, within your Government at least as large a body of Men as they did for the last campaign, and even as many more, as the number of its inhabitants may allow; and forming the same into Regiments as far as shall be found convenient, that you do direct them to hold themselves in readiness as early as may be to march to the Rendez-vous at Albany, or ;

such other place, as his

proceed from thence,

supreme

Command

Maj'^'

Commander

in conjunction

of his Maj"'* said

Chief

in

America

shall

appoint in order to

Commander

in Chief in America, so as to be in a campaign by the 1" of May if possible, or as soon be any way practicable, by attempting to make an irruption into Canada, as above,

situation to begin the operations of the after as shall

in

with a body of the King's British Forces, and under the

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV. by the way of Crown Point, and

found practicable to

if

both of the said places, successively, with time, by a division of the

war

is to

Troops

into separate

in

one body, or at one and the same

and

distinct operations, according ns His from his knowledge of the Countries thro' which the be carried, and from emergent circumstances not to be known here, judge any of

Commander

Maj'^''

Montreal or Quebeck, or

attacii either

whole force

tiie

851

Chief

in

shall,

and the better to facilitate this important service, the King ; you to issue Commissions to such Gentlemen of your prov", as you shall judge from their weight and credit with the people, and their zeal for the public service, may be best disposed and able to quicken and effectuate the speedy levying of the greatest the said attempts to be practicable

is

pleased to leave

to

it

in the disposition of which Commissions, I am persuaded you will have of Men nothing in view, but the good of the King's service, and a due subordination of the whole, when joined to His Majw'' Commander in Chief; and all Officers of the provincial forces, as

number

;

high as Colonels inclusive, are to have rank, according to their several respective Commissionsi agreable to the regulations contained in His Mnj'^' Warr' of the 30"" of Dec' last year.

The King

is

further pleased to furnish

and Tents, as well as in the

all

the Men, so raised as above, with arms, amanition

to order provisions to be issued to the

same proportion and manner

as

is

done

Train of Artillery, will also be provided

at

to the

His

same by His

rest of the

Maj""''

Maj''"*

Commissaries,

King's forces.

expence

A

sufficient

for the operations of the

Campaign, and the ship, that conveys this, carries orders for timely providing, at the Kings charge, with the utmost diligence, and in an ample manner, boats and vessels necessary for the The whole therefore that His Maj"' expects transportation of the Army on this expedition.

and requires from the several Provinces, is, the levying, cloathing and pay of the Men and on these heads, also, that no encouragement may be wanting to this great and salutary attempt, the King is further most graciously pleased to permit me to acquaint you, that strong recommendations will be made to Parliament, in their session next year, to grant a proper compensation for such expences as above, according as the active vigour and strenuous efforts ;

of the respective provinces shall justly appear to merit. It is

His Maj'>" pleasure, that you do, with particular diligence, immediately collect, and pat all the arms, issued last campaign, which can be, any ways, rendered

into the best condition

serviceable or that can be found within your Govern', in order that the as far as they will go, in this exigency.

I

am

at the

same time

same may be employed,

to acquaint you,

reasonable supply of arms will be sent from England, to replace such, as

that a

may have been

lost,

or have become unfit for future service. I

am

further

to

inform

you,

Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode

Govern" are

that

similar orders

also directed to raise

Men

in the

operations, as the circumstances and situation out,

which

it is

on

the wnr' Rights and Revenue, without a clause suspending its execution until His

given your assent to a affect

York, and for

enter into any remarks upon the particular provisions of this

general propriety or impropriety, which

make our

New

in order thereto.

of this kind,

known, and more especially, as the Crown had repeatedly signified its disapprobation of Laws to the same purport and effect passed at different periods, is in our opinion a deviation from your duty in the trust devolved upon you, and a departure from the Directions of His Majesty's Instructions, by which you are ordered to regulate your conduct Maj'^'"

pleasure could be

in the execution of that Trust.

We

are

—

ettc.

SOAME Jenyns G. Hamilton T. Pelham

1

W.

19 Dec' 175S.

W"

Sloper.

Secretary Pitt to the Governors of North America. [

O^Ternori and Commanders in North America,

< S.

P. O.

)

No.

76. ]

Secretary Pitt to the Governors in iV. America except Georgia,

Newfoundland.

Nova

Scotia,

&

Whitehall. 29. Dec' 1758.

Sir,

you the inclosed Duplicate of my letter of the 9"" Inst: I have the King's particular commands to renew and enforce, in the strongest manner, the necessity of a punctual compliance with the orders therein contained ; and you will accordingly urge, in the most expressive terms, to the Council and Assembly of your Province, the importance of their exerting themselves in the present critical and decisive moment, in which, their own interests and security are so nearly concerned, that It would seem superfluous to add the further motives of their duty to the King, and of the gratitude they owe to this Country, for the very great expence, and succours, supplied for their immediate defence, and for the future safety of all their rights and possessions in America; & the Levying the Men, to be furnished by the the several Provinces, without any delay, and in such time, that they may not fail to be at the In transmitting to

be appointed for them, so as to be ready to

commence

the operations

Rendez-vous that

shall

by the 1" of May,

is so essential, as well for preventing the extraordinary efforts,

supposed, the

Enemy

is

preparing to make, to stop the further progress of His

which,

Maj'''"'

it is

arms

in

America, as for pushing, with success, the ensuing Campaign that it is the King's pleasure, that you do employ the utmost diligence, & every means in your power, to forward, and ;

expedite this service in the most effectual manner, and to avoid any disappointment happening from the slowness of the Levies, or from the Men, who shall be raised, not proceeding in due

time

to the

Rendez-vous.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXI V. ^'*^^

|g§

expences, incurred hy your province, for the lait Campaign. acquaint you, that as soon ai the agents of the respective provinces, duely authorised, shnii produce the necessary documents, the same will, without delay, be recommended to Parliament, for a reasonable compensation, agreuble to the j^rncious assurances, which the King was pleased to allow me to give, in my letter of the 30"' Dec' 6o'r"'l£Li;i«' •ortB.,

I

am

'"g'^^'J t° l'^*

further to

last year. I

am

ettc.

W. ^n

Pitt.

»

»

Secretary Pitt to Major-Qeneral Amliertit. [

03T«rnon ud

Ooonudrn In

North ABMrtea, ( 8. P.

a

)

Ha TC] Whitehall Dec' 29. 1768.

Sir,

His Maj'y having nothing so much at heart, as to improve the great and important advantage* gained the last Campaign, as well as to repair the disappointment at Ticonderoga, &, by the most vigorous and decisive eflbrts, to establish, by the blessing of God on His Arms, His .Maj"*' just

and indubitable

am now

to

rights,

and

to avert all future

acquaint you, that the King has

of his Forces in N" America amounting destination of the Troops) to

1200.5

(

Dangers

come you

for that

His Maj""" subjects

N* America; I

in

an adequate proportion

by the inclosed paper, containing the make an attack upon Quebeck, by the River S' proceed from Louisbourg, as early in the year, as on,

as

Men,

will see

to

Lawrence, against which place they are to or about, the T"" of May, if the season shall happen Gen' Wolfe, whom the King has appointed for the have the rank of Major Gen'

to

to a resolution to allot

under the direction of Brigadier

to permit,

Command

expedition only;

And

I

of that operation and

am

to signify to

pleasure, that you do cause the several Regiments, appointed by the said

list,

who

will

you His Maj'»* to be employed

accordingly on that service, without making any change therein, unless some alteration should

be found absolutely necessary, from extraordinary inconvenience, that might otherwise arise to the service, from the unforeseen circumstances or situation of any particular Reg' or Reg"

in

the

allotment, herein transmitted, of the forces destined for the above operation; and, in case

should be found absolutely necessary to change any Reg' or Reg"

it

in the said allotment, you are

any such change of particular corps, the total of amount to the full number, allotted in the inclosed paper, for the same. It is also the King's pleasure, that you do forthwith cause such part of the Troops above mentioned, except Gen' Brag's Regiment' which is already at liouisburg, to be so disposed, that they may be ready, and embarked, at New York, Boston, Halifax or such other place, as shall be most convenient, on board the transports, which shal to take especial care, that, notwithstanding

regular forces prescribed and Gxed for this service, do

be provided

may

for that

purpose,

in

such time, as that

all

be rendezvoused at Cape Breton, as nearly as

the troops above

may

named

for this service,

be, on, or about the 20*^ of April, if

the season shall happen to permit, and you will without loss of time, dispatch '

The S8lh Regiment of

General 6 July 1748

;

Foot, of

which Puiup Bkaoo

wu appointed Colonel m early m

Lieuteuant-Oeoaral 10 Angnat, 17S7, and died in 1799.

He

October, I7*C

did not aerre ia

all

He

Am tnn

necessary

beeaaae M^for.

— Ek

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

356

Commander

orders and in particular, to the Gov' or

Louisburg, with

regard

to

any troops

in

in

Chief

their respective

at Halifax,

and

to the

Departments, destined

expedition, as by the inclosed state of the Troops, in order, that no disappointment

Gov' of this

for

may happen,

proceeding from Louisburg, in case the season permits, by the Iliver S' Lawrence, to

in

Quebeck, on, or about the

May

you will (and particularly fresh provision as far as may be) to be immediately procured for the subsistence and refreshment of the Troops, during the stay they may happen to make at Cape Breton, the place appointed for their Rendezvous, and not

of

as directed in the former part of this letter; and

to order, forthwith all proper provision,

fail

that

7""

all

the preparations there and elsewhere, for this service, be quicken'd'and pressed, with

the utmost diligence.

And you will

particularly direct, that the Battering Train, and the stores

of every kind thereunto belonging, (which by your letter of

Command

sent to Halifax, under the Office of

for

Ordnance, has been sent to Boston

immediate service, so as the same

against Quebeck, as early as to the said

is

Aug:

of Col' Williamson, and which, )

may

now

I

be forthwith put into most perfect repair

&

order,

be in readiness to be employed in the expedition

already pointed out in this letter

Train and Stores, are

you informed me, was am now informed, by the

28""

preparing,

&

will

;

and the necessary additions,

You

shortly be sent from England.

and the Chief Engineer, to obey all such orders, as he or they from the Lieut' Gen' and Board of Ordnance, with regard to the detaching part

will also direct Col' Williamson,' shall receive

of the Royal Reg' of Artillery

&

Engineers on

this

expedition, and

you are

to cause

the

Battering train and stores, together with three Companies of the Royal Reg' of Artillery to be

embark'd, in such manner as you shall judge proper, and sent to Louisburg, so as to be there as near as may be by the 20''' of April.

Twenty thousand Tons proceed to

New

of Transport vessels are actually preparing here, and will shortly

convey the Troops above mentioned to Louisburg, such Divisions, as you shall judge most expedient for the

York, to be in readiness

from such Ports,

and

in

to

service proposed.

any delays or Disappointments happening in this essential deficiency from a in the Transports service, to be sent from England, either on account of their late arrival from England, or from any of the same being rendered, thro' accidents during their voyage, unfit, when they arrive, for immediate service; it is the King's pleasure that you But

to prevent, ns far as possible

do forthwith take up,

at

such place or places, as you shall judge proper in N" America, six

thousand Tons of transport Vessels, or any additional quantity, that you shall find necessary, for the Troops, the Train, the Stores, and the other requisites, to be employed in the expedition up the River S' Laurence, and you will order the said Vessels to be fitted and prepared, in every respect, and ready, wherever you shall direct, for the embarkation of Train, the Stores, and

all

other requisites for this service.

able timely to procure a sufficient quantity of transports,

I

tlie

Troops, the

And that you may not fail in being am particularly to recommend it to

you, and you are hereby directed to order an embargo to be laid, as soon as necessary, on all ships in the different ports of the respective Provinces in JV° America, the Gov" of which were directed

by

my

letter of Sept' 18

(copy of which was transmitted to you)

application from you for this purpose; and you will direct the said

such time as •

all

comply with any to continue until

the transport Vessels, with the Troops, the Train, the stores and

all

other

George Wiixiamsos became Lieutenat-Colonel of the Artillery on 3d February, 1757, and Colonel-Commandant 20 He was raised to the rank of Major-Gencral 10th July, 1762, and Lieutenant-General 25th May, 1772.

November, 1759.

He

to

Embargo

died in 1781.

Army

Liits.

— Ed.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XX XIV. requisites for the expedition against

nm

I

persuaded, you

will,

Quebeck

of yotirself,

357

shall be actually saii'd for their destination

see

the

necessity

of

;

but

not mentioning the abore

Gov" to lay such an Embargo and as it may possibly happen notwithstanding the greatest care to the contrary, that all the transports necessary for conveying the Troops, Train and Stores, may not be altogether ready so nearly at the tame time as is to circumstance in your orders to the

;

I am to signify to you, that it is the King's pleasure, that you do send the above Louisbourg (so as that they may be there by the time above directed) in such Divisions as you shall judge proper, without making the whole of this important service wait,

be wished

;

forces, to

on account of some part only of the Troops, destined in that case, such

remaining part thereof

is

same, not being quite ready

for the

;

and

to be sent, with all expedition, as soon aAer as

main body, assembled

Cape Breton for the service before directed. His Majesty is further pleased to empower you, and has commanded me strongly to recommend to you, to keep up and raise, as considerable a number of Ilaugers, as may be practicable, for the various operations of the Campaign; and in particular, that you do not fail to cause a body of the said Rangers amounting to not less than COO, to be sent with the forces to Cape Breton, for the expedition to Quebeck, but at the same time, it is His Maj"'' pleasure, that you shall not, on account of the said Rangers, should they not happen to be ready, detain possible, so as to join the

the Troops from repairing with

order the said Rangers,

am

when

all

at

expedition, to their destination, as directed, and you are to

ready, to follow and join the Troops as soon after as posssible.

you His Maj"'* further pleasure, that you do forthwith take the proper steps to engage Colonel Gridley' (whom you appointed on the death of M' Meserve^ to command the Carpenters at the siege of Louisburg) or such other Officer as you shall think I

also to signify to

proper, to collect the time, to

Cape Breton,

number in

of eighty Carpenters, and to proceed with them, without loss of

order that the said Carpenters

may

be employed under the

Command

of Colonel Gridley, on such works, as shall be necessary for the operations of the Troops in the above expedition, or in such other manner, as the Commander in Chief of the King's Troops shall judge proper; and in case you shall think it expedient, you will endeavour to prevail on M' Gridley, to decline accepting any Command in the Troops of his Province, the ensuing Campaign, in order that bis whole time and attention, may be employed

on that expedition

on the above most essential

service.

having been represented, that a number of schooners and sloops together with whaleboats will be of the greatest utility to the operations to be undertaken by the way of the River S' Lawrence; It is the King's pleasure, that you do immediately cause a number of achoonen It

not less than 40, as far as may be, to be provided, in the most expeditious manner, and held in readiness at New York, for the service of the River S' Lawrence, and 70 Whaleboats, to be built, with the utmost diligence, which schooners. Sloops and Whaleboats,

& sloops,

means in your power to forward this essential service, in such manner, that the above number of Schooners, 1" April, Sloops and Whaleboats, may not fail on any pretence whatever, to be finished by the Louisburg to proceed do they at the latest, & that they be, in every respect, ready, and that

are to be sent to Louisbourg, for the

»

Colonel RtcHABD

Omolkt was born

in

Botton

same

in the

service,

and you

jtu 1711, >nd

in

174«

will exert every

wu Enginwr in the redoetio* of Li»i.»,iiri^

t^^^ ••»»

«»pediUo« Chief Engineer and Colonel of ProvinciaU and ierred in the In 1755, he agnin entered ihe arniy the PUini of Abraham. AtUi* iu inn Point, in 1760; b1«» under General Amheret, in 1768, and wa. with Wolfe on

M

of the American Uevolution. he

Bre^. HUl. the daj was appointed Chief Engineer, and akillfjlly laid out the woikaon year*. AUtm. waa wounded. He died at Stoujjhton, Jiue M, 17»«, aged S4

before the buttle of the 17th June, 1775, in whidi he

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

358

by the inclosed copy of my letter to the Lieut' Gov' of New York, that he has the strongest ordtfrs, to give you all possible assistance, in the execution of this very necessary work, and you will accordingly concert with him, the proper measures for the punctual and full performance of the said service, so as that no delay or disappointment may happen therein. with the Troops ordered to assemble there; you will

see,

You will observe in the allotment herewith transmitted to you, of the forces to be employed ag" Quebeck, that the 28"" Reg' is to be taken from the Garrison of Louisburg; and in order to provide for

tlie

security of that most important place, during the absence of the said Regiment,

you do employ all proper means in order that a Battalion of the Men, may, in case it be consistent with the terms of their enlistments, as well as with their inclinations, repair to Louisburg, and there remain in Garrison, on the express condition of being relieved, at the end of the Campaign, by His Maj'^'" regular forces and you will also take proper and effectual measures for the safety and defence of the Town of Halifax, and the Province of Nova Scotia, during the absence of such part of the Troops, now there, and which are destined for the expedition above mentioned. I come now to that part of the operations for the ensuing Campaign, in N" America, which are to be under your own immediate direction, and which, from their importance difficulty & extent, as well as from the correspondence and intercourse that they will constantly demand with the several Governors, throughout the whole of North America, must necessarily require it is

the King's pleasure, that

Provincials, consisting of not less than 1000

;

the presence of the Officer on the Continent of America, vested with the

Command

in

Chief of

the King's forces there, by his Commission under the great seal; and His Maj'^ hopes, from

your distinguished

zeal for the

honor of His Arms, and your known

abilities

and experience,

that the execution of a plan of operations of such weight, and formed at such expence for

an irruption into Canada, will be attended with a happier and more honorable event than heretofore. I

am

therefore to signify to

you the King's pleasure, that you do immediately concert the

Campaign with the utmost vigour, early you shall judge proper, of His Maj"''* Troops (not allotted as above for the expedition against Quebeck) in conjunction with such a numerous body of the Forces of the Northern provinces, as you will have seen by the copy of my letter of the 9"" inst to the Gov" thereof, it is hoped, will, in consequence of those pressing orders to that effect, which are renewed and enforced in the strongest manner by my letter of this date (copy of which I now inclose) be ready to join in this most important service, & to this great end, it is His Maj'^'* pleasure that you do attempt an invasion of Canada, by the way

properest measures, for pushing the operations of the in the year,

of

Crown

by an invasion of Canada, with such

point, or

if practicable,

such of

La

part, as

Galette, or both, according as

you

shall

judge practicable, and proceed,

and attack Montreal or Quebeck, or both of the said places successively with as shall remain under your own immediate direction, in one body, or at one

tlie forces,

and the same time, by a division of the said forces with separate and distinct operations, according as you shall, from your knowledge of the Countries, thro' which the War is to be carried, and from emergent circumstances, not to be known here, judge all, or any of the said attempts to be practicable. It is also the King's pleasure, that you should give a due attention to the

Lake Ontario and

facilitate, as far as possible, consistent

with other main operations

of the Campaign, the re-establishment of the important post of Oswego, a place so highly essential to

you

His

Maj'^'' possessions in

North America

will accordingly not fail to concert

in

time of peace, as well as war; and

with the Lieut' Gov'' of

New

York, within whose

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXIV. province

Oswego

|||

necessary and effectual measures, for re-establishing that Post in the course of the ensuing year, and for building a sufficient and proper Fort for the aecuriiy

& defence

is

thereof,

situated,

all

and the inclosed copy of

he has similar orders

to concert with,

were much

and

my

letter to

M' De Lancey,

will

shew you,

that

assist you, in the execution of this very importnnt

any operations on the side of lake Ontario could b« pushed on as far as Niagara, and that you may find it practicable to set on foot some enterprize against the Fort there, the success of which would so greatly contribute to establish the uninterrupted dominion of that Lake, and, at the same time, effectually cut off the communication between Canada, and the French settlements to the South; and the utility service.

It

to be wished, that

and importance of such an enterprize against Niagara is, of itself so apparent, that I am it is unnecessary to add any thing to enforce your giving all proper attention to

persuaded,

the same, as far as the great and main objects of the campaign shall permit.

You

are already by

my

letter of the Q"" inst directed to exert

your utmost endeavours lo

&encourage the several provinces to the full and due execution of the King's commands, and the success of the ensuing decisive campaign, depends so much on commencing the several operations as early as shall be practicable, and thereby preventing the last efforts, there ia reason to suppose the Enemy is preparing to make, to save their posaessions in N* America

incite

you cannot be too urgent with the Provinces to quicken and expedite the levies, so as that the said Provincial Troops may be assembled at the Rendez-vous, and be, In every respect, ready, in conjunction with the regular forces, to open the Campaign by the l"of May, as nothing can contribute so much to the success of the operations to be undertaken, in different parts of N" America, and particularly of the attempt on Quebeck, as puling the

from

total ruin, that

forces early in motion, on the other frontiers of Canada, and thereby distracting the

and obliging them

With

Enemy

to divide their strength.

regard to the Southern operations,

am to signify to you His Maj"*"* pleasure, that you Command, or if his health shall not permit him to I

do continue Brigadier Gen' Forbes undertake that service, that you do appoint such other officer as you shall think proper southern provinces, & that to command such Forces as you shall judge proper to leave in the Brigadier Forbes, or such other Officer to proceed, without loss of time, to Pensylvania, or in that

in order to concert such other of the southern provinces, as shall be thought most expedient with the Forces, conjunction in who, Troops, said by the any operations, to be undertaken those Provinces, in Q"raised be inst to the Southern Gov" to directed by my letter of the

such Officer whom you are to be employed, under the Command of Brigadier Forbes, or shall judge most expedient for shall appoint as above, or any such offensive operations as you most efficatious towards removing all future dangers from the frontiers the Enemy,

annoying

&

of any of the Southern Colonies on the continent of America. promise, You will have observed by ray letters to the Gov" that His Maj'» has been pleased to in the provinces, the several that His Commissaries shall issue provisions to the Men, raised by I am therefore to same proportion and manner, as is done to the rest of the King's forces, you do give the necessary directions to all the

you His Maj's-' pleasure, that Provisions, to furnish Commissaries, and other Officers, who may have the charge of the For which mentioned. manner above the said Men, with the same, in the proportion and sufficient a store, constantly in purpose the contractors have received directions to have shall which as for the Provincials, quantity of provisions as well for the regular National Troops, King's pleasure that you should be raised in consequence of His Maj'^' orders; and it is the

signify to

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

360

keep a particular account of the same, and that no provisions should be delivered to the Provincial Troops, but in consequence of an order from you, or from the Commander in Chief of His Maj''''" forces, in those parts, where the said provisions may be wanted ; and you will in

draw

Bills for any extraordinary expences incurred for this service. And I recommend it to you, as a principal means to preserve the health of the Men, that you do cause them to be furnished with fresh meat whenever the situation and circumstances of the Troops shall make the same any ways practicable and you will tal^e care, that for so long time as fresh meat shall be provided for the Forces, the inclosed clause of

case of necessity,

am

here particularly to

;

the Contract be duely observed on the part of the Contractors, or their Agents, and that the delivery of provisions of Beef and Pork by the Contractors, be accordingly in part, or ia

the whole suspended, and a proportionable allowance only as shall be agreed upon

&

made

for the several other species,

by you. Such a considerable number of Arms and Tents, have been already sent

that I

am, however,

to

to North America,

hoped, a sufficient quantity will be found there for the service of the next Campaign

it is

tents, to

certified

to acquaint you, that the

New York

be forthwith sent to

King has been pleased

for the service in

to order 10,000

North America, which you will cause

be distributed according as the same shall be necessary.

my

In

letter of the 9"" inst

Troops on the Lakes, and

I

you were directed

am now

to refit

;

Arms & 6000 -

and build Boats

for the service of the

to signify to you, the King's pleasure, that

you do procure

such a number of Battoe Men, as you shall judge necessary for the boats attending the Troops,

and Men

sufficient for

navigating the vessels.

The King having been

pleased to direct that the two Engineers and the officers to act as

Engineers, as mentioned in the inclosed list, should be employed on the Expedition against Quebeck, you will give the necessary orders for the said Engineers and Officers to repair, ia

due time,

command

to Louisburg, and to serve accordingly under the

of Major General Wolfe. I

am

ettc.

W.

Report of

the

Right Reverend Dr.

[Plantationa General Entries, (B. T.

To

the

King

in

on

Shei'lock ]

the

XVI.,

Church in

Pitt.

the Colonies.

p. 9.]

Council

Some

humbly offered by Thomas Bishop of London relating Government in His Majestys Dominions in America.

considerations

Ecclesiastical

to

first Grant the Crown made of lands in America was dated the lO*"" April in the 4"" year James the 1" anno 1606 and made to the two Virginia Companies. The King grants that each of them should have a Council, w*^*" sho"* govern and order all matters & causes within the same several Colonies, according to such Laws Ordinances and

The

of

Instructions as sho" in that behalf be given and signed by His Majesty^ hand or sign manual ^pass

under the Privy Seal of England.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV, On

1606.

the 20"' Nov' 1606 the

King

in

861

pursuance of the right reserved to himself, gave

divers orders under his Sign mnnuall and the Privy ScrI, one of which The RitM A

ihc Cliiircli

Irinc! r.f

Id

UoD..

1609. in the

as follows:

"That

.

Mtab. 76 PuotA-

of Enjrtand

lUncu

was

" the President Council and Ministers should provide that the true word and ..^,11,,, " service of Ood should be preached planted and used, according to the Rita amd O « Doctrine of the Church of England."

rxif-

The second

made

grant was

7* of the said King 1609

w'""

separately to the

Virginia

first

Company

dated

May

83*

orders that there sho"* be a Council resident here and gives

them power to establish all manner of laws concerning the governm' of the said Colony, with power to punish, pardon, &* according to such ordinances constitutions &' as by such Council should be established

;

so always as the taid Ordinance* &' as near as conveniently might b«

agreeable to the Laws, Statutes, Government and Policy cf 1620. The third Grant was made to the 2^ Virginia

Plymouth) and bears date Nov' former, with this addition that

3"*

all

18**

James

I.

who

persons

Anno

sho''

the

Realm.

Company

1620, and

(then called the Council at

is to

the

same

effect

with tha

pass in any voiage to the said country sho*

take the Oath of Supremacy, which was meant to exclude Papists from settling

The money

affairs

Company went on

of the

but slowly,

&

after

in America. twelve years and a great sum of

Colony consisted but of 600 persons, men women and children. Under was done and nothing could be expected to be done towards

spent, the

these circumstances nothing

Church there. In 1620. there were but

settling the

Clergymen in the Plantations. The Comp' had ordered an 100 ( w**" were in number eleven ) to be set apart for a glebe, and for upon every planter a certain portion of tobacco to be paid to

five

acres in each of their burroughs

a further maintenance laid the Minister.

The next

was

more Clergymen

this was to by the Virginia Council that sat at London. The Bishop of London was a great promoter of the Plantations and had collected and paid in .£1000 towards the College in The Company therefore, as Virginia, and was himself one of the Council for Virginia. of London, a member of applied the Bishop to '^ ^^* natural for them to do, qJh^i* *th"''Bp'' Tf procuring Ministers. And this is the JJIJJarrng Mmr.te)i! their owu Society,yor his help and assistance in first instance I meet with of the Bp. of London's concern in the Ecclesiastical affairs of

be provided

care

to get

to

go abroad to the Plantations, and

for

the Plantations.

1624 But so little was done towards settling the Church that it appears by the report of the General Assembly of Virginia in the year 1624. that divers of those who acted as Ministers had no Orders. In this Assembly there passed laws consisting of 36 articles. The first seven related to the Church and Ministry, but not the least intimation that the Bp. of London had

any authority or jurisdiction

By Proclamation

IS"-

there.

July 1624. the Virginia

Company

&.'

was suppressed

;

and from that

time the King has appointed Governors. 1626. S' George Yardiy was appointed Governor of Virginia; his instructions bear date 19* April 1626.

2" Article relates to religion

and

is

as follows:

—

That Almighty God may be duly and daily served, both by your self and the people under your charge, which may draw down a blessing on all

That

«'

The

in the first place

you be

careful,

•'

" your endeavours." 1650. S' William Berkely relates to Religion

Vol. VII.

:

—

was Governor. 46

His instructions bear date 1650.

The

first

article

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

362 That

in the first place

you be

Almighty God be duly and daily served, according

careCul

to

of Religion established in the Church of England. " Lct everv Congregation have an able Minister, build for him a convenient o o

the form

charoh of Enginnd

•'

Mlablishcd in Vir-

" Parsonage

s""'*

House with 200

Suffer no innovation in matters

acres of glebe land.

" of religion, and be careful to appoint sufficient and conformable Ministers to each congregation."

1675. At a Committee of Trade and Plantations 21" Jan. 1G76. B

"

of London's!

„

Jurisdiction.

j^^ ^j

" Charter of Virginia and «'

when

the year 1629.

What

gave

rise

:

—

London hath over the Foreign Plantations; in order to w'"" see the New England, or by any other order since, but most probably about

Bp.

Laud was

in

Chief Authority."

cannot

to this inquiry I

find,

but as there was nothing relating to this

jurisdiction to be found, there does not appear any return to be

the part allotted to the Bp. of

was not uiought

the following entry

Lordships desire that enquiry be made touching the Jurisdiction which

'^^*^^^

jj^g

I fin!

London

in the

made

to this

And

Enquiry.

next Governor's instructions shows that the Bp.

to have Tinj jurisdiction; for he has nothing but a

mere Ministerial

Office

appointed him, as appears in Lord Culpepers Instructions in 1679. 1679. 1679.

Thomas Lord Culpeper was Govern'' of Virginia. His instructions bear date The 15"" articles decrees that God be duly served, The Book of Common Prayer

established,

6""

as

read each Sunday and Holy Day, and the Blessed Sacrament administred according

rules of the

Church of Englatid.

Bp. of London

lo

The

"

16"" article

And our

will

and pleasure

is

that

Lord Bp. of London, of

his being conformable to the Doctrine

is

now

to the

no Minister be preferr'd by

you, to any Ecclesiastical Benefice in that Our Co\ony without a

ty of Ministers.

Sepf

Certificate from the

of the Church of England."

Jamaica. 1661. Lord

The

Windsor was Governor of Jamaica

11"" article

concerns religion:

— "You

;

March 21" 1661.

his instructions bear date

are to give the best encouragement you can to

" such conformable Ministers of the Gospel as now are or shall come and be sent unto you. " That Christianity & the Protestant Religion according to the Doctrine and Discipline of the " Church of England, 1681. S'

may have

a due reverence and exercise

Thomas Lynch was Governor. " Our

—

among you."

His instructions bear date

and pleasure

1681.

The

that no Minister be preferr'd

by you without a Certificate from the Bp. of London, of his being conformable to the Doctrine of the «• Church of England." And you are to enquire whether any Minister preaches or administers the Sacrament without being in due Orders ; whereof you are to give notice to the Bp. of London. What the Bp. of London could do upon such notice, does not appear. The Plantations being no part of his Diocese, nor had he any authority to act there.

38"" Article relates to religion:

will

is

•'

1685. At the Committee of Trade 15"" April 1685. a letter from the Bp. of

1" " That he

may have

all

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the

West

London proposing,

Indies, excepting the disposal

" of parishes, licences for Marriage &*= Probate of Wills. 2^ " That no Schoolmaster coming from England, be received without Licence from His " Lordship, or from other His Majesty's Plantations without they take the Governor's licence. 3"* '«

in

"That

Jamaica."

orders

may

be given for establishing the

Donation of

S'

Andrews Parish

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. "Whereupon "

my Lord

,|||

their Lordships agree to take these proposals into further coosideratioa

whea

Bp. of London shall be present."

At the Committee of Tr.ide the 27 Apr. 1085. "

The

Bp. of London contain'd

PropoSfils from the

in a letter to M' Blathwayt are again which being approved, their Lordships agree to move Hit " Majesty that the Governors of His Majesty's Plantations have instructions according to the " two first particulars, and that a clause be added to S' Philip Howard's instructions, to that *'

read, His Lordship being present;

"

effect

as

;

also

for

applying the

Donation at

Andrews

S'

Parish

in

Jamaica

the

to

" proper Uses." In consequence of this application from the Bp. and the Resolution of the Board, a clause

was added

And wilhoul

same year

in the

in S' Philip

our will and pleasure

a

from

certificate

Howards

instructions, as follows:

that no Minuter be pre/err'd by you, to any Ecclesiastical benedce,

R' Reif the Bp. of London^ of his conforming to the Doctritu

end the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the

to the

and

Church of England.

Ditcijdine of the

" Aiid

the

is,

" Island, as far as convenieruly may

be,

we do think

it

/ Bp.

fit that

m thai

of T^ondon may take jdace

you gite

all countenance

our

and encouragm'

"

in the exercise of the same excepting only the Collating to Benefices, granting licences for Marriage, " and Probate of Wills, which we have reserved to you our Governor and the Commander io ••

Chief

for the

And we do England and

time being.

further direct that no Schoolmaster be hence forward permitted (o coaw /roai

to

keep school within that our Island, without

the licence

of the said Bishop."

The like Instructions were given to other Governors. Under this authority Bishop Compton,' Bp llobinson,' and Bp. Gibson* for the 6rst two or three years after he was promoted to the See of London, exercised the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Plantations

with exception to the Collation of Benefices, Marriage Licences

;

Ic

Probate

of Wills w'^ were reserv'd to the Governors at the respective Colonies. 1725. In the year 1725 Bp. Gibson desirous of having a more explicit authority and directioo

from the Crown,

for the exercise of the said Jurisdiction, applied to the

The

that purpose.

Petition

was

King

Council for

in

referred to the Attorney and Solicitor General

&

by their

London had acted in and that the Ecclial Jurisdiction in America did belong neither to the Bishop of London, nor to any Bp. in England but was solely in the Crown in virtue of the Supremacy, and that the most proper way of granting to any person the exercise of such Accordingly, a Patent was granted to jurisdiction, was by Patent under the Broad Seal. D' Gibson late Bp. of Loudon, but it was granted to him Personally k not to him as Bp. of London and his successors ; so that the Patent expired with him and the Jurisdiction is now report their opinion appears to be that the authority by w'* the Bps. of y* Plantacons

was

insufficient,

solely in His Majesty.

By and

the grant to D' Gibson his exercise of the Jurisdiction

and

restraints,

gives

'tis

not clear what powers he had in virtue of the

him authority by himself or Commissaries

'

UiNRT

*

lony

was subjected

(

I)

To

visit all

s*

to certain limitations

grant.

Churches

in

The Patent

which the Rite*

WM oooMcrated bUhop of Oxford, April 18th, 1674, Aod trsmlaUd to I»i>doa, at ItlS. wm coiuecnt«

Cap' Lotteridge

)

his

IS"- April

1759

Majesty Sole Agent.

lud" Officers

Guy Johnson

Cap'

Browu of y« M' Rob* Adams.

46"'

Lieu'

Reg'

Sachems, Chief Warriors

Mohocks of

&

other Indians

of the

following Nations,

the upper and lower Castle, Onondagos, Senecas, Oniedas,

Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Nanticokes, Shawanese, Tiederighroenes alias

Saponys

&

Conoys.

Peter Wraxall Esq' Sec'^ for Ind" Affairs.

Jacobus Clement

«»

&

Will"" Printup Interpreters.

The Indians being asked whether they were now assembled as a compleat body to enter upon business and having by their Speaker answered in the affirmative, Sir Will"" Johnson in conjunction with the Mohawks, Onondagos, & Senecas first condoled the Cayugas upon the loss of their people, who died since they came from their country and hereupon Sir William gave them A Belt of Wampum Then the usuall Ceremonies of Welcome and the customary condolences to all the Nations assembled for any losses they may have sustained by sickness or other accidents, since the last general meeting being fully performed :

Sir Will"" proceeded

&

spoke as follows

Brethren of the Several Nations It is

now

to invite

eighty

Days

you down

compliance with

to a

my

since

I

now assembled dispatched Messengers to

Meeting

invitation,

affairs is so interesting to

20 Days at

and particularly

both you and us,

in order to prevent Suspicions to for this

in

is

my at

Onondago with a Belt

your disadvantage

I

Such a backwardness

house.

a

Time when

a conduct that

1

am

hope you

in

Your

the Scituation of publick

at a loss to account for,

will let

me know

Gave a String

unusual delay.

Wampum

of

of

and

your reasons

Wampum

13"' April.

A. M.

& being seated, with the several Speech as follows. Brethren before we proceed upon any further business I must acquaint you that the murder of one of our people, by one of yours near the Onieda carrying place, this last winter was The

Indians being assembled

Sir

William went out

persons present, as yesterday he proceeded

in his

many circumstances of Treachery, & of so black a nature, Commander in Chief very ill impressions of your Confederacy

attended with so

that

the King's

in general

greatly resented both

by him and

all

Your Brethren the English,

in these parts.

it

has given

Soon

&

is

after

LONDON DOCUMENTS was committed, the Cayugas,

this black affair

three of their Chief

men

me

to

innocence with regard to

to

that the

it,

to wliose

make known

tlieir

:

XXXV.

381

Nation the murderer belongs sent

concern

Murderer was bribed

&

(or the fact, to assure

deluded to do

it

me

down

of their

by our enemies

the French; and by these Deputies to request that this affair might not be imputed to their

nation and at the same time to perform the blood which has been I

the usual ceremonies of condolence, Sc clean

all

referred these Deputies to this Meeting for

&

done,

here are their Belts

Brethren,

Lest you

&"=

&

The Murderer was down there he behaved

all

which

may have

circumstances of this base entertained with

away

spilt.

cruel at

I

now

my

answer

to

deliver to you.

what they had then said and Gave the Belts.

been misinformed or are ignorant of

murder

I

shall relate

them

all

the

provoking

to you.

my house for a considerable time last Summer & was & friendly offices of Brotherhood & friendship, and

the kindness

& expressed

there

while

brother and friend to the English. same manner, was supplied with provisions & received no kind of ill usage or provocation from any of our people there. Our Brother whom he murdered hired him to go with him as a Protector and Guide from Fort Stanwix to Fort Herkemer, with Letters & a little way from the former place he treacherously fell upon the Man he had hired himself to protect, murdered him & scalped him, & was so insolent as to return to Fort Stanwix & told Cap' Butler that he had hurt his knee & therefore could not proceed but that he had left an Onieda Indian with M'Mickel to go with him to Fort Horkemer,

At Fort Stanwix he was

and then run

himself as a

treated in

faithfull

the

off.

Bretheren, Blood

spilt in

Drunkeness, or by a provocation given,

is

brethren, but here the murderer was sober, no provocation given that

himself a friend, received

&

fed

by us

as such,

&

very bad even

we know

of,

among

professing

hired by a Broth' to protect that very brother

he murdered. Bretheren,

When you

and you know, spilt

that

consider the extraordinary villainy of this

some of every one of

and that we know, Mohawks have privately

affair,

the Six Nations, except the

our Blood, contrary to the terms of the old solemn covenant chain between

think

we have

great reason to be suspicious

us,

you must

& provoked & have a right to expect all the & that you ought to deliver up the murderer, if

satisfaction which it is your power to give us, you can come at him, if not you should revenge it upon our enemies the French who you say Your Warriors I know can heal our wounds if they will exert themselves & I set him on. expect & hope they will be our physicians, hereupon I give you this Belt of Wampum.

Gave a very large black belt of Wampum. expect also from you that according to Your Engagements at the late Treaty at Easton you deliver up to us all our Flesh and Blood which you have among you, and that you will hereafter be more carefull to hold fast the Old Cov' Chain between us & on every Bretheren,

We

occasion act the part which that requires you to do, and on these conditions

renew

&

brighten that Old Gov' Chain between us.

In the afternoon the Indians assembled

&

sent

word

to Sir

I

am

ready to

Gave a Belt. they met & desired that William

upon Sir William went out & being seated with the persons above mentioned Conochquieson a Chief Sachem of the Onieda Nation rose up & spoke as follows

to speak,

Brother Warraghyjagey I

am

appointed to speak in behalf of the Six following Nations here present to wit the

Oniedas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Nanticoke, Conoys

&

Saponys.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

382

made by the Six Nations cit the late Treaty at Easton & in compliance with Your Demand made upon us in Your speech this Morning we thus immediately deliver up to you all your Flesh & Blood which we have among us & which Brother, In consequence of the promise

by the Delaware Indians, to replace several of our Friends, whom we had two others who are gone to Siiamokin to be delivered there. The Speaker then took the following prisoners one after the other by the hand & deliver'd them over to Sir Will" Johnson 1. James Perry about 30 years of age born in Wales, taken at Minnisink about Christmas 175G by a party of 20 Delawares who kill'd three white men, & took him prisoner. 2. Robert Wilson aged about 35 years born in London taken near Fort Cumberland in Nov' 1756 by a Party of Delawares & Chenussio Indians who at the same time killed one. 3. Elizabeth Armstrong, a Girl, about 4 years old, taken by 7 Delaware Indians & a Squaw were given

lost,

to us

there are

near Juniata in Pennsylvania in the year 1766.

woman, taken when

Catherine Hiltz, a German

4.

the

German

Flatts

was cut

off,

in

October 1757.

A

5.

was

Highland Soldier taken

Brother,

Campaign

at Fort

Duquesue when Major Grant's party

&

&

you

slip

be renewed

it is our unanimous & firm Resolution to hold it fast on our power the French from hurting it or shaking it out of our hands,

brighten'd, and

prevent

all

in our

conformable to the Admonitions and Advice of our forefathers

Chain

may

our earnest desire that the Antient Cov' Chain between us

It is

strengthend side

last

defeated.

out of our hands,

this Belt of

for if

it

did

we

who

charged us never to

should be an undone people,

Wampum.

Gave a

&

Belt of

let this

hereupon we give

Wampum.

Brother,

Your Speech made to us this morning as we are only the Younger branch of the confederacy & in a manner but children we shall not take upon us to answer thereupon but refer you upon those Matters to the Onondagos & Senecas who are our Fathers,

As

to the other parts of

hereupon

this

Conference broke up.

Present

—

Conojohary 14 April 1759. Sir Will""

Johnson Bart.

Peter Wraxall Esq'' Sec''

W'" Printop, Interpreter

The Report

of 5 Kanassarago Indians (a Settlement between Onieda

were hired by Sir Will™ Johnson's orders

to

Cap' Thomas

Butler at

&

Onondago) who

Fort Stanwix

to

go as

Swegachy & observe the motions of the French there, & obtain what Intelligence That they were dispatched from F'ort Stanwix 28"" January last. That on their way to Swegachy they met a party of Indians belonging to that Settlement who were sent by That these Spies conformable to the the French to Fort Stanwix, in order to get a prisoner. Instructions they had received from an old Oneida Sachem, in case they met any Swegachy Indians, gave the aforesaid Swegachy Party a string of Wampum, desiring they would That the French party after consulting not proceed to Fort Stanwix, but turn back again. That 4 of them went off to together agreed to the proposals made to them by these Spies. Spies to go to

they could.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. Onondago

&

383

2 of our party were sent thither with them to watch their Motions

8c

the rest of

ours proceeded with the remainder of the French party to Swegachy.

That on

their arrival at

Swegachy

the French

suspecting them to be Spies sent them with

two

commanding

oflicer

or three of their

own

&

the resident priest

Indians

down

to the

That they travell'd to Montreal, parly upon the Ice & partly by water River Lawrence as the violent Rifts prevent that River from freezing in some the St. down That in their journey from Swegachy to Montreal they passed thro' the Castle of the places. Cagnawaga Ind", there they saw some of the Germans prisoners who were taken at the German fflatts in the year 1757 to whom they privately spoke & told them they would call again, on their return from Montreal, & carry any letters for them to their friends thi« way, & advised them to write all the Intelligence they could give. That on their return, th6 the Road was very bad, by reason of a Thaw, they did call at y* said Castle and one of the Germans privately slipt a paper into their hands, which was all they gave them, & they beleive the said Germans either had not a proper opportunity or Materials to write any thing more This paper the Scout delivered & its contents are as follows. March y* 12 day 1759. " Adam Helmer with the other Captives with the Indians their humble petition to Gen' Johnson. We beg a Releasement for we are daily in fear of our lives being in the hands of cruel Men. The French are sending Men to Crown Point and to other Gov'

at Montreal.

;

places for they are in great fear, their Provisions being very scarce

& they

cannot get any help

from France." their arrival at Montreal & being brought before the Governor he told them he understood sent as Spies and that they were welcome to make what Observations they had a were they mind to. That they were detained 10 days at Montreal. That they did not see any great number of Soldiers there. That the Walls of the town were in a bad Condition and they did

On

not see any

That

the

new works

going forward.

Cagnawago Indians

could lay their hands on, from

told all

them the French were gathering up

all

the provisions they

the country people, for the Support of their troops.

That

Governor of Canada told them he did not intend to march against the English next Campaign, but keep on his Defence. That Swegachy was in no state of defence nor as they understood did the French expect to make any considerable Defence there, if our army should come that way, but between that place and Cataraqui, on the North side of the River was the place where they proposed to make their chief stand, & that the French expected a great number of Ottawawa Indians, to join them at that place. That at this place they had two new vessells built & were told that they would be ready for the water in Eight Days. The spies were on board these Vessells which they say are of two Masts, that they tried to fathom the Masts with their Arms, but were too big for one man to do it. That between Swegachy the

and Montreal the French have no fort or fortified place. That at the Baron Longeville's settlement they saw 24 pieces of Cannon with a guard of 30 men: They were informed these That they were very long & the were going up, & designed for the aforesaid vessells Diameter of their Bores near a span. That a German prisoner at Swegachy told these Spies as a great secret that there was an Island near the place, where the French hid or proposed to hide their Provisions, if a party of the English came that way, in order to prevent its falling That the French were during the whole winter apprehensive of an attack at into their hands. Swegachy, from the English & had been kept in continual alarms by their Indian Intelligence,

—

that a

Body of the English were coming.

The

spies say this

is all

the Intelligence they could

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

384

They then produced 4 strings of Wampum, which they say was given them by two head fighters of Swegachy, to give to S"' W™ Johnson and acquaint him that they were tired and uneasy witii their present scituation, & did not thinli themselves well used where they were, & sent him word they were determined with 15 of their Young men, to come away from learn.

thence,

&

return to their Castle at Onondago, before the English

if possible,

but

army should come

they could not execute this Design in time, they would certainly

if

William came with the army that way get round

tiie

woods

& join

iiim,

and desired he would

send them such an instrument in writing, as might be a protection to them,

untill

Message they gave very privately to the two Chiefs of the Spies night, with a strict charge of secrecy till they saw Sir William.

him:

this

Present

Conojohary

—

Johnson Bart Peter Wraxall Esq'' Secr^

The Onondago Speaker

The

you

they join'd

at 12 o'Clock at

16"" April 1759.

Sir Will""

& W"

Printop Interpreter.

said

Brother Warraghyjagey, desire

way when S'

that

We

are

come

you with a piece of news which we

to acquaint

will be attentive to.

following Nations, to wit, the Chenundadies, the Twightwees, the Shawanese, Nick-

ariageys,' the Geghtigeghroones,' the Warraghtinooks,^ the

Adawadenys,the Ostiagaghroones,*

and the Missisagos, have sent a Belt of Wampum to the Six Nations acquainting them that 'tis now a long while since they have seen each other, and that they are determined as soon as the Waters are navigable to come to Chenussio, & from thence proceed thro' the Six Nations Towns without stopping to Your house, where they would unbosom themselves at large, & Brother,

we

proposed that a Sachem of each of the six Nations shall attend these Western

Deputies to Your house Brother,

We

in

find these

order to hear what they have to say.

Western Indians received the Belt you sent them two years ago

&

have been considering upon it ever since, that they are now convinced what you told them by it is very true, namely, that the French could not support a Trade with them, so much to the advantage of the said Indians as the English cou'd, & therefore they are determined

come down

to

&

talk

with you on this Subject,

&

if

you

will

engage to put trade upon a good

footing these several Nations are resolved to abandon the French interest, enter into a firm alliance with the English,

understand

is

& establish

a Trade with

one of the principal Motives

them

for the visit

for their

mutual advantage

which these Indians propose

:

to

This we pay you,

tho at the same time they have sent us word they shall bring under their arms a bundle of

Wampum

which

will probably contain

many

other matters to be discussed at the Intended

As these Indians may be speedily expected in our Country the Chenussio Sachems staid at home in order to conduct them down to Your house, which is the reason you see none from that Castle with the Warriors who are here from thence, for should the Western Indians arrive at a time when those Sachems were from home it might have disgusted the said

Congress.

Indians and put

aflfairs

into confusion.

16 April. A. M. Sir Will" having received an invitation to come to a Council composed of the Chiefs of the Onieda, Cayuga, Tuscarora, Nanticoke, '

See note,

* Illinois,

III.,

called

489

;

also, Smith's

Conoy

&

Sapony Nations went

to

Hitlory of Nfw-York, (Alb. Ed.) p. 245, for tho country of this Natioa ' Weas. * Souteurs or Chippeways. Golden calls them Estiaghicks.

by Golden Chicklaghicks.

it,

— Eot

::

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. when

385

That

as they had in their Speech to him three days agoe declared renewing and strenglliening the ant' Covenant Chain between them and their Brelheren the English they had now sent for him in order to give him a clear and uncontestable proof of their sincerity to their Bretheren the English, upon which

the acquainted him.

their earnest and sincere desire of

Conoquieson the Onieda chief spoke as follows. Brother, Sometime agoe an Onieda Indian in the French

interest,

who

Swegachy when

lives at

prevailed upon three of our people to go along with him to the Governor of Canada, and

they came there the Gov' spoke to them as follows. Children,

I

have sent

future welfare

&

for

you

to

impart an Affair to you of the utmost consequence to Your

safety in particular,

&

to that of the

15 Nations in General as

I

sincerely

which concerns Your confoederacy. Children, The matter I am to reveal to you is, you may depend upon it, a certain truth, k of such importance, that I can hardly find words Sufficient to express my concern about it Y'ou know the English have built a F'ort at the Onieda carrying place; I am now to inform You that they propose to build one at each end of the Lake Onieda, another at the ifalls on the Onondago River. These fforts will be strong & well garrison'd, but the fifth which they propose to build will be at Oswego, which will be larger & stronger than any of the other. interest myself in every thing

Now

Children when these

fforts

are

all

finished

&

the English have brought their

Scheme

to

proper ripeness they intend to throw of the mask, and by the Security of this line of fforts to fall on the 5 nations suddenly from every one of them & extirpate Your whole confoederacy its

This scheme I know to be intended & that Your utter destruction is projected. Be therefore on Your guard & in order that you may be armed against this Destructive Design I here present you with a Hatchet (meaning a Belt of Wampum with y* figure of Hatchet work on it) for you to use against the English & thereby prevent the Destruction which they are meditating against you.

was the Gov' of Canada's Speech with the hatchet belt he gave. We have it to you and now to give you a clear Demonstration of our confidence in English, & that we will act with an unreserved sincerity towards you we Bretheren the our here deliver you the Hatchet Belt, which the French Governor sent us, to make use of ngainst We will have nothing to do with it take it and make what use you please of the English. it you may cut Your wood with it if you will. Brother, This

faithfully repeated

—

—

They delivered S' W" the French Hatchet The Speaker proceeded.

Belt, very large, consisting of

6000

Wampum.

—

Some time Brother, there is yet another affair which we will disclose to you, it is this, agoe some of the Nanticokes our Nephews were sent for to Onondago, they went thither & were told that some time or other the English would certainly rise and destroy them, that Onondagos told them they would give them a sharp hatchet, which they must swallow and keep in their bellys till a proper opportunity offer'd, which might call upon them to use it the Nanticokes answered that they would take the Hatchet, and swallow it as the Onondagos desired, but as it was so very sharp a one, lest it might hurt their Bowels they proposed to speak to us the Oniedas, who are their Uncles, and under whose direction they were & take our advice upon it. They did so, and we told them this hatchet would hurt them, if they did not vomit it up again, upon which they threw it up, and returned it to the therefore the

—

expect that the Onondagos will show you this hatchet. Now Brother we have fully cleared up every thing within us, & there remains nothing with us but good will and

Onondagos,

& we

Vol. VII.

49

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

386

friendly intentions towards our bretheren the Englisli,

& we

are unfeignedly desirous to renew,

strengthen, and brighten the Antient Covenant Chain with them.

The Reply

16 April P. M.

of the Six Nations to

Sir Will™

Johnson's Speech of the

12"' Instant.

Present

—

Johnson Bart. Lieut. Pavy. ^ CoJ^' . At. A '^ T r of the Indep' Lieut. M'Aulay j Sir Will"

),..,,

•

1

Lieut Claus, of the R. A. Capt. Johnson Cap'.

Herkimer

Cap* Jn" Butler

]

Cap' Fonda Cap' Lotteridge

)

Mnd"

Officers.

M' Wells. Several of the Neighbouring Inhabitants

Sachems, Head this

&

Warriors,

other Ind* of the

several

Nations at

Congress.

Peter Wraxall Esq' Sec''

Jacobus Clement, Interpreter Conochquieson, Speaker. Brother Warraghiyagey, to us 4 days agoe we seriously attended to & have maturely deliberated upon. now assembled to give you our answer thereto. Brother, To what you said in regard to our Delay, in coming down upon your invitation, we say the weather was so severe & the Roads so unfavourable to our old people, who you know are the principal persons to conduct the business of such meetings as these that we were

Your Speech

We

are

by those impediments prevented from an early compliance with your invitation. Brother, Your Relation of the murder of M"=Mikel the trader near Fort Stanwix we have taken into consideration with due concern, and resentment Brother, attend to what we are going to say, you desired a medicine from our Warriors to heal the several wounds which you :

have received by the instigation of the French. We have asked our Warriors present at this Meeting what sort of a medicine or Plaister they chose to apply, in order to heal y' wounds, they

have answered they were all ready to join and revenge both Your Blood and ours upon the French, and tho the number of our Warriors are but few in comparison of what they formerly were yet those who are left are determined to exert themselves unanimously in this Cause,

and before we

left

our Castles

it

was agreed

in our respective

Councils that whatsoever

Resolutions should be agreed upon at this Meeting should be confirmed by those at

who

staid

home.

was one of the antient and fundamental agreements of our confoederacy that if was kill'd by an enemy the whole were to join in revenging ours (meaning Kindaronte the Onieda Sachem) was killed by the chief Man of

Brother,

It

any one of either of the Nations it.

A

French

last

year at Fort Stanwix, and in conformity to that antient agreement the whole

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. to join in

revenging

some of our Sachems who have had some

&

887

and Brother, as we have understood from you th^t the English have expect, from the operations of this year the French will be brought so low as

confederacy are determined reason to hope

*

it,

private conversation with

you or us, We do sincerely wish and earnestly request you will exert yourselves vigorously in this good work, in which we shall on our sides endeavour all we can to contribute, and as the Resolutions we have now entered into will engnge us in the same cause with you we hope Our Zeal and Success that they will not hereafter be able to disturb or hurt either

for the Event,

therein will enable our Warriors to procure you an Eflfectual plaister for

complain to have received from

all

the

wounds you

us.

The Speaker then threw on the ground towards Sir William the large Belt which he gave the 13"> Inst, in a manner which according to the Indian customs was expressive of the sincerity of

what they had

declared.

Brother,

The Younger Branch of our confoederacy have already delivered you up all your flesh and among them, and those which are remaining among the Onondagos and the Senecas & their Nephews the Delnwares, some of whom are here present, shall be blood which they had

Governor of Pensylvania & not one left behind. hope our exact compliance herein according to the Treaty at Easton, which we went to, and considered as a Meeting of Your appointment and where our brother Croghan appeared on Your behalf, will fully convince you we are steadfastly determined to hold fast the Gov' Chain of peace friendship & alliance with all our bretheren the English, and as we are truely sincere in this Declaration, we hope and expect from our bretheren all that friendship and attachment towards us which the Gov' Chain obliges them to on their parts. deliver'd to the

Brother,

We

Gave a

The Speaker then added. desired from us

Warraghiyagey,

Brother,

& united ourselves We are determined

Belt.

As we have now complied with every thing you have

with you in the same cause and with you our Brother to stand or

fall

:

We

hope you

will

no longer turn Your

when you meet any of us, as you have lately done to some of our people which has given them great concern & we hope all past coldness will be banished between us. After they were served with a Dram round, and S' W" having exhorted them to keep all

head aside

sober, that men,

women and

children

might

all

attend, at his next Speech,

which he had

proposed to deliver to morrow, the Meeting broke up.

Onondago Nation gave an Entertainment of a Roasted Ox, which Sir upon their application had given them & to which they invited the Chief Sachems k Warriors of all the Nations present, where the War dance was danced by one or more of In the Evening the

W"

every Nation.

This Morning about 60 Indians, Men, Women and Children from upon the Susquehannah River arriv'd and Encamped themselves. P. M. Sir William having given notice to the several Nations that he was ready to deliver his second Speech to them, they assembled themselves, and sent word to him they were seated in order to hear him, upon which Sir Will" went out and having taken his place, spoke to them as follows, 17 April 1769 A. M.

Chughnut

& Otseningo

*

388 Present

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

— Most of of

tlie

the

persons as yesterday, Cliiefs

of

vvilli

who

those

the adciilion on the Indians side arriv'd

this

morning

from

the

Susquehannah River. Bretheren of the Several Nations here assembled

&

with the

warm

Affections of a Friend

&

meet you

I

Brother

— the

this

day with a chearfull heart

punctuality and readiness of the

Younger branch of Your confcederacy in restoring our flesh and blood, who were among them and the assurances you have given me that the rest who are among the Onondagos & Senecas or their Nephews will be deliver'd to the Gov' of Pensylvania agreable to your promises at the late Treaty at Easton, will undoubtedly convince all Your Bretheren the English, as it does me, of your sincerity and uprightness, and I give you this Belt as a Memorandum to take with you hereupon, that neither upon this occasion, or any other, you will forfeit Your words, & by that means occasion my giving expectations on your behalf which may not be fulfilled. Gave a Belt. in Your speech of Yesterday of your sincere desire to renew, Bretheren, Your Declarations strengthen and brighten the Antient covenant Chain of peace friendship and alliance with all Your Bretheren the English appear to me really to come from the bottom of Your hearts & I do now therefore, in the name of the great King of England, ray master & in behalf of all his Subjects Your Bretheren by this Belt renew, strengthen and brighten that Antient Gov' Chain, and in his Name & on their parts, I do assure you it shall be held so fast & the terms of it so punctually observed that you shall have no just cause to reproach us; The Sun now shines clear upon us & while we hold this Gov* Chain firmly in our hands & are carefull to keep it from contracting any Rust we shall be able to drive away all Clouds which may attempt to come between us, & continue to see & smile upon each other as Bretheren ought to do. Gave over the Gov' Chain Belt which was a very large black belt with the figures on it representing 10 Nations of Ind" & the English. Bretheren,

You have been acquainted

that at the late Treaty at Easton in Pensylvania, the

Proprietary Agents in behalf of their Constituents then gave up their claim to the Lands on the Ohio which were sold to the said Proprietors in 1754 at Albany, & here I have in my

hands the Instrument of Flelease & Surrender. Bretheren, As you know this affair gave great uneasiness to the six Nations & their Allies, I hope this Surrender will convince you & all other Indians how ready Your Bretheren the English are to remove from Your hearts all jealousies & uneasiness of their Desiring to Encroach upon Your Hunting Lands, & be a convincing proof to You how false the accusations of the French are that we are at war with them, in order to get Your Country from you, for

you see while the French keep

their Forts in the midst of

order to secure the possession of them,

Bretheren,

I

now

The

Your Country and

it

with his

fight

with us ia

give up those lands which you had sold us.

deliver up this said Instrument of Release

Sir William then deliver'd

Bretheren,

we

own hands

strong and solemn Declarations

&

Surrender

to you.

Onondago Speaker. You made Yesterday of Your unanimous

to the

Resolutions to avenge upon the French both the blood of our people and Yours, which they have spilt, will I am perswaded, give great pleasure to all Your Bretheren the English as it does to me and this will be the most efficacious plaister for our wounds, and hereupon I redeliver you

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. my

389

which You returned me yesterday, that you may shew make known by it these Your Resolutions & also to all Your

large Belt

home,

&

it

to all

Your people

at

allies.

Redelivered the large Belt. I

intended Bretheren to have said a great deal more to you on this Subject, but as

I

find

warmed, with a just resentment of Your own Injuries, & as well as ours, from the Common Enemy, and as I look upon the Declarations you have made to arise from a sincere design of putting them in execution; I shall wave many arguments which I did propose to have urged upon you, & proceed to inform you, that the King has appointed Major Gen' Amhurst who took Cape Breton from the French last year to be Commander in Chief of all his forces in North America, in the room of General Abercrombie who is gone home. Gen' Amherst has informed nie that he intends to open the Campaign as early as may be

Your eyes are now opened,

practicable, and directed

your hearts

me

to use all

my

influence to engage as

many

Indians as

possibly

I

Campaign. with, and so stVongly avowed, Your

can, to aid and assist His Majesty's Arms, in the Operations of the ensuing

Bretheren,

As you have Yesterday acquainted me

Resolutions to Engage in the same cause with Your Bretheren the English.

All that

remains

& make no you a share in ail the honours of this Campaign, & in all those Advantages which we have abundant Reason with the blessing of God to expect from the Issue of it. Then Sir William threw the War Belt which was taken up by a Mohawk Chief who danced with it, Afterwards by others of the

for

me

to

do

at present is to offer

You

this General's

Hatchet which

doubt you will chearfully accept and make a proper use of

it,

I

now do

as that will procure

several Nations.

After this the

Onondaga Speaker

said.

what you have now said to us, and we are pleased that you have judged proper not to load our memories with too many things at tiiis time, as we shall the better remember the matters You have now laid before us; this Evening we will consult together upon what you have said, and to morrow morning early we intend to give you our answer to it. Sir William gave notice to all the Warriors that he proposed to have his war kettle boiled to morrow evening, & invited them to the feast then the meeting broke up. IS**" April P. M. The Indians having desired by reason of a strong cold wind which blew Brother,

we have

listened attentively to

that they might speak in S' Willm's Quarters,

which he consenting

to

& they being

assembled

spoke as follows.

Present

—

Sir William Johnson Bart. &' as Yesterday.

Conochquieson Chief Sachem of Onieda Speaker. Brother Warraghijagey,

We propose to say a few words in Reply to what you said to us Yesterday, and we have been prevented by the weather from doing it this morning, as we proposed. Brother agreable to Your Desire we shall take with us Your large Belt of Exhortation, which you Yesterday redelivered to us,

& shew

it

to

our people at home,

&

forward

it

to all

our

allies.

We

shall

do the same with Your war Belt and publish the Resolutions we have taken upon it and we expect these Belts will meet the Western Indians who are to come thro' our Country in order to have a meeting with you at Your house.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

390

The Speaker then repeated what &c and

remaining prisoners

who

yet remain prisoners

we shall and you may safely write

Depend upon

said.

them Yesterday, with regard to among the Upper nations punctually comply with our promises about the

Sir William had said to

their delivering up the rest of our people it

so to

all

concerned, for

we do

not speak but

Engagements we have made & enter'd into at this meeting which we are convinced is the surest method to render both you and us strong & respectable, and we hope You on Your parts will observe to do the same by us. Gave a Belt. Brother, (Having repeated what S' W" said to them with the Gov' Chain Beit) Tis not with the 6 Nations only, but with the whole ten Nations of us here present & it gives us great with sincere intentions of

fulfilling all the

Promises

&

pleasure that this important affair has been performed so

We

assure you

we

are greatly pleased with

it,

& we

trust

much

we

to our mutual! satisfaction.

shall

on both sides keep this

Gave a Belt. Chain firm and inviolate from any injury whatsoever. Last Year on Your return from Tionderogo You desired You might build a Fort Onieda carrying place, & promised we should there have a plentiful and cheap Trade.

at the If

you

promise punctually and honestly, you will gain all Nations of Indians over to French have greatly disgusted the Indians by not supplying goods at a reasonable Gave a Belt. price, or good in quality. Brother, We are now united by the strongest and most solemn ties, we hope all the promises and engagements we have reciprocally made will be duely observ'd, they shall be so on our side; During the present War some few of every one of our Nations have gone out to war with you, but now you are the master of the whole body of us, & all Our Warriors are

keep up You,

to this

for the

Gave

resolved to follow you.

Brother,

We

have

now

finished

sentiments with each other

it

what we had

does not require

to say,

& when

many words

Bretheren

to settle

to use

we

shall

keep

in

Readiness,

&

Expect

to hear

agreed in

matters between them.

After a silence of some Minutes the Speaker rose up and said, Brother, the

gave us

a Belt.

are fully

War

Hatchet you

from you, towards what Quarter

we

are

it.

few Minutes & then returned & spoke as follows. what you have mentioned with regard to Trade, I can take upon me to assure you, that the King Your father has it much at heart, to promote and extend Trade with all Indians, who are or shall be his friends, and that this Trade may be conducted in the best manner possible, for Your Interest & that of his Subjects. If you consider the prices you get for Your furrs now, you will find you have reason to be satisfied with the Trade at present in that respect, and I dare venture to promise you will have no reason to complain hereafter, for care will be taken that our traders shall deal honestly by you, and that goods shall be plentifull & more so than at present, for these troublesome Times prevent Traders from being so numerous, & of course Goods from being so plenty as in times of peace. Gave a Belt Sir Will" then renewed his Invitation to the War Feast this Evening & told them that he proposed to deliver the present of goods he had brought up for them to morrow. They then acquainted him that the Pensylvania Deed of Surrender would be lodged at the Confederate Council fire at Onondago, which they let him know in case any recourse to it shou'd be wanted. They then desired that hereafter no private bargains, about their Lands might be allowed of. Sir Will" retired with the Secr^ for a

Bretheren,

As

to

LONDON DOCUMENTS

:

XXXV.

891

Sir William answered that the Secretary by his directions had recorded the Pennsylvania

Deed

of Surrender in the Indian Records, that in case any accidents shou'd happen to the

Original, a

Copy

Records might remain as a testimony.

in the

And

with Regard to the Sale of Lands he told them the King had given orders to all his Governors in America not to authorise any Sale of Lands from Indians but what should be transacted in an open and publick Meeting of all the Indians concerned. This Meeting then

broke up. In the Evening the Carcasses of 2 oxen having been boil'd in five large Kettles pieces according to the Indian manner,

all

the Indians assembled

being seated in 2 Lines opposite to the several

fires

the

Wampum

ic laid

out in

Sachems and Warriors

kindled in the Center,

Great Seneca Sachim and Warrior rose up, with a Belt of

&

&

The Old

hand,

in his

&

Belt a

acquainted

was authorized by y* Chenussio Indians (one of the most considerable of the Seneca Towns, near to Niagara) publicly to declare at this war feast that they heartily concurred in the Resolutions of joining the English against Sir Will"

the several Nations there present that he

the French, which

&

now

from thence march to to S' Will" Johnson,

W"* Johnson

present determined

&

all

the Confederate Nations present, that the Chenussio Indians

among themselves

did last winter determine

Niagara was built in their Country they gave

of

to Sir

they had seen the face of the enemy, that they would

known

&

avowed

when they left their country not to return now go down to Sir William's house what Quarter he should judge proper. And they now further made

that 26 of their warriors

till

&

the confederate Nations at this Meeting, had

all

up and will

it

would assemble, with

desire that the English it,

commence

to

all

&

as

English in destroying

it,

hostilities against the

assist the

possible speed,

&

French,

proceed to the reduction

as Dispatch herein will greatly contribute to facilitate the success:

That the Chenussio

Indians have kept these their Resolutions a Secret not only to the whole Confederacy but to

the Drunkard himself the to this

Meeting of

all

Head

of the whole Seneca Nation, reserving the publication thereof

the Nations,

&

added

that, in their opinion, the

Reduction of Niagara

wounds we complain'd of. would be The Old Belt then begun the War Dance, which was continued till morning by the several nations, and all the Indians throughout the whole Ceremony expressed themselves, and behaved, with marks of the warmest zeal and sincerity. 21 April 1759. Three Sachems of each of the Nations waited on Sir William at his Quarters a proper plaister to heal all the

and spoke as

follows.

Present

—

Sir Will"

Johnson Bart. &c

Captains Butler, Fonda, Lotteridge

&

Johnson

M' Wells, Jacobus Clement & W° Printop Interpreters. Conochquieson Chief Sachem of Onieda Speaker, Brother Warraghijagey.

Th6 we

finished

all

two days agoe and have complied in our minds, which we have been in Council upon it & are

the material business of this Meeting

with everything you have proposed to us there yet remains one point are desirous of mentioning to you, before

now come Brother,

in the

of

all

part:

We

the Nations present to acquaint you with the Result of

it.

the earnest and unanimous request of all the Nations present that you march you can with an Army against Niagara which is in the Country of the Senecas

It is

as speedily as

name

we

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

392

&

which they now give up,

destroyed or taken by you, the sooner the thing

is done the you who are acquainted with us and our tempers may come this way lest our Bretheren who are strangers to us, and our manners, may not agree so well with us, & this our Desire we request you will acquaint the great man with, who is head over all (meaning the General) as soon as you can Gave a Belt with the Figure of Niagara at the end of it, & iSir William's name worked thereon. They added also that Sir William's going this way would be extreamly convenient in order to speak to the Foreign Nations, who are expected: This Belt is to be returned them

better,

& we

to be

earnestly desire that

with the General's answer. Sir Will"" then returned the Six Nations their belt sent to Cap'

might be held

at the

German

Indians spoke with at the

War

Flatts.

He

Fonda,

to desire the

Congress

next exchanged the Belt, which the Chenussio

Dance, return'd them thanks

for the readiness

they shew'd,

and the healing quality of the plaister they proposed for the wounds we had received, viz' giving up Niagara, & offering their assistance against the Enemy. He also, by said Belt, strongly pressed them to exert themselyes on the occasion,

In

answer

&

to

Gave

Indians to join them and us in this good work.

encourage the neighbouring a black

&

white Belt.

to the Six

Nations Belt relative to his going to Niagara with them, he expressed

&

pleasure at their readiness in giving up the French Fort at Niagara in

his great satisfaction

80 solemn a manner, as also his thanks for desiring he might go with

assured them he would acquaint the

Commander

in

Chief with

it,

and lead them, and

and when he knew his

them their Belt and an answer thereto. them a String of Wampum desiring they would send him the earliest intelligence of the arrival of the Foreign Indians in their Country & that some of the Sachems of each nation would accompany them to his house. Lastly he gave them a Belt of White Wampum mixed with black advising them to send two of their People immediately to desire the Swegachy Indians, Cagnawagas & Skawendadys who live in Canada to withdraw themselves from the French otherwise they may repent it when too late. He gave them a great charge to send this Beit privately & Expeditiously: Sir Will™ also told them he would send a message himself to said Indians, which would be the The Sachems last he ever intended to send them if they would not listen to & regard it. returned him many thanks for the Regard he shewed these Indians, who were their own flesh & blood, by endeavouring to prevail on them to leave Canada, and return to their Friends & said they would send to them without loss of time in as private a manner as possible. Sir William then deliver'd his Miijesty's present of Goods which he had brought up for them, and as it was not sufficient for the numbers there he desired they would devide it among such who were resolved to return home, as he would cloath all who went with him at his house. pleasure therein, would return Sir William gave

The Meeting

then broke up, and the Indians spent the remainder of the day in dividing the very justly done & to every one's satisfaction. At 8 o'Clock in the Evening which was Goods two Onondago'Chiefs arrived with news, which being called out all the Sachems and Warriors came to Sir William's quarters, where those Messengers were to hear what news they had.

The Onondago Speaker

after learning

from the two Messengers, the substance of

it

published

aloud to the whole Camp to all whom it gave great pleasure, & was as follows, being an answer from the Swegachy Indians by Katsieghrona an Onondago Ind" on repeated advice sent by S'' W" Johnson & particularly last winter, with a Belt of Wampum. That when the English army should enter iuto Canada they should keep out of the way and not mix with

it

the French.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV

893 22* April 1769.

Brother Warraghiyagey,

We

the French

were

& are heartily thankful! to You for shall & keep out of y* way when the English army comes, & none of us shall join

the Swegachys receiv'd Your kind Message

do as you desired ;

us,

it,

We

afraid to

had agreed before we heard from you meet the English in our way.

our native Country, but

to return to

A

Belt.

Brother,

We

have likewise received a Message with a Belt from the Cagnawagas

living in Canada, viz. Conaghsadagaa,

&

Arundax

&

3 more Nations,

Shagsowanoghroonas, acquainting us that

they had jointly resolved to act no more in conjunction with the French, or commit further

&

with the English,

hostilities

desired us to consider of

excursions towards Fort Stanwix &c.

Brother

we

it

and desist from making any more

likewise acquaint you that

we

are

come

& none of our settlement shall go out for the future, & shoud any Mischief be committed there we beg You will not blame us for it, but some foreign Nation who knows into their

measures

Before this Message reached our

nothing of our Resolutions.

went out with a French

Officer to Fort

Stanwix

in

Town

a party of 8 of our people

order to get a prisoner

&

had

this

Message

come before they set out none of them should have gone. Gave 4 Strings of Wampum The same Messenger also brought a Belt of Wampum with him which was sent by Swegachys to the Six Nations to the following purport.

the

Bretheren of the Six Nations.

Your Bretheren the English we therefore beg way next Campaign as this is them exert themselves against Tienderoga which will be of more

As we know you have some that

you

an Indian settlement but

influence with

upon them not

will try to praevail let

to

send an army this

consequence to them.

The

Deliver'd the Belt.

following Message the Priest residing at

Children,

I

beg and entreat of you

Your power in behalf of this come against this place as it the Indians

way

of

&

place, to is

to the

Onondago Sachems.

endeavour his utmost that no Body of the English

their Children living here, let the English enter into the heart of

Lake George,

&

Swegachy sent

speak to Y' Brother Warraghiyagey as much as in

it

is

may

not a place concerned in the war, but only a School to instruct

me affect me

a matter of no concern to

Ontario, and go against Niagara,

break

to

it

still

will not

destroy a place intended for nothing but Religion,

Canada by to Lake

Let them even come up

:

so

&

much

as

if

they should intend to

Instruction of the ignorant.

Deliver'd a Belt

The Onondagos, Cayugas, & Miheconders living at Chughnut & Otseningo spoke with a Belt of Wampum to let S"" Will" know the cause of their appearance here was owing to the Onondagos, who called them to hear & see what should pass at the general April 1759.

meeting, and assured him that nothing ever gave them greater pleasure, than the 6 Nations

& that for their part they have always & should continue in the same disposition. Brother We are now very desirous to return to our habitations as soon as possible so as to be ready to come at Your call upon us to join the Army. We acknowledge you have given the

ttiking

up the war hatchet so cheafully as they now saw

been ready,

6 nations a very considerable Present at Conojohary, but those

who

are present

it

will

be a

trifle,

&

as

we

when

shall leave

divided

among

the familys of

our old and Young behind

when

War, they must inevitably suffer unless you make a proper provision for we them of Cloathing, provision and ammunition to kill some fresh meat or birds to make their 60 Vol. VH. follow

You

to

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

394 kettle boil

and

their broth eatable

speedily deliver'd, so that

we may

We

:

by

return to

may be homes, ready our respective and be against you beg that what you intend for us

this Belt

Gave a

call for us.

Sir William Johnson's

Bretheren of Chughnut &c. Altho I have not called you

Answer

meeting I

to this

am

also great satisfaction to find they

chearfulness

&

I

hope Your and our common enemy now determined to act with us

&

actions,

&

who

are

now

you have been the nations who compose it, it gives that

will

soon

in the

feel

the effects of

War

:

I expect

as the

it

;

it

will

induce Your settlement to exert themselves

Resolution becoming the Professions all

all

&

have received the English hatchet with so much

confederacy have

vigour to our arms

Chughnuts &c.

to y*

glad to see you here

witnesses to the solemn engagements enter'd into by

me

Belt.

You now make,

in full

Confidence of which

here to be cloathed and armed as warriors require

shall also be provided for,

which when done

you possibly can home, so

as to be ready at

&

true

order

familys

must recommend to you to make what Despatch the General's call which may be very soon.

Examined by

Copy.

&

I

Gave a

A

new

with that

I shall

your wives

whole

add

R''

Belt.

Shuckburgh Secr^ of Ind° Affairs.

ArcMishop Seeker ["AmericM ColoniM

to the

lieverend Dr. Johnson.

MS.," Lambeth Palace, No. lias,

II.,

No.

14S. ]

Lambeth, July 19 1759

Good D' Johnson I thank you heartily

15. I have received much and longer, of which I hope to have the sequel in a little time. On a Consultation amongst the Bishops it was agreed, that though establishing a Mission at Cambridge might probably furnish a handle for more than ordinary clamour, yet the good to be expected there from the temper and prudence and abilities of M' Apthorpe was likely to overbalance that inconvenience considerably and that it would be best to propose the matter in the Society, without taking notice of its being liable to any peculiar objections which was done accordingly, and the resolution taken unanimously. Your views in relation to a successor are very worthy of you but I hope many Years will pass, before there be occasion to deliberate on that head. Pray will it not be proper, that I should send over a Proxy, as a Governor of the College ? And will you permit me to nominate you ? How the matter concerning M' Beach hath been accommodated, I have not heard: but shall be glad to hear. Nor have I ever seen the Independent Reflector or the Watch-Tower. Nor will it be any use to have every number of a periodical paper transmitted: but only such as relate to the concerns of the Church and the Society. I have an ordination Sermon, published by M' Hobart in 1747, and his second address, but not the first. Just in like manner I had the Continuation of M' Beaches Vindication, but not the Vindication itself, till you lately sent it for

your two

useful information from both of

them

letters of :

March 20 and April

especially from the former

:

:

:

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV.

895

for which I am much obliged to you. D' Bearcroft hath shown me D' Barclays remjirks; which I like very well, so far as they go. But I hope a fuller answer to the several reflexions cast upon the Society may be drawn up, of which his remarks will make an useful part. Your

me:

March contains likewise very proper Materials. I was a very Young Bishop in 1735: and almost my whole time was taken up in the care of St James's Parish: by which means it happened, that I either did not know anything of the letter to the Bishop of London, which you mention, or had forgotten it. But I shall now enquire for it. And whatever God shall enable me to do, or procure to be done, for the Service of the Gospel in Your parts, will letter of last

be a great satisfaction to

Your loving brother

Lieutenant-Governor

De Lancey

[Ncw-Tork

Papsra,

Lords of Trade.

to the

Mm., No.

ST.]

New

My I

York, 24"' July 1759.

Lords, transmit to Your Lordships a

Copy

of Major General Amherst's letter to

June, the printed proceedings of the Assembly, a printed for the loan of .£150,000

lays the

&

a

Copy

Copy

of the Generals Letter lo

me

8""

of the

miiy affect the credit of the currency of this Province, unless the Bills cancelled within the time limited:

By

will justify

Letters from

way

his

of the 3"*

8**

to

me

July thereon, which

made during

now

the

emitted be sunk

hope the Distress his Majesty's service

was

in for

at

War,

&

want of

in this Step.

Oswego dated

Niagara the

1

of

July

whole transaction before Y'our Lordships, together with the two other Acts passed

the same time: so large an Emission in addition to the several others

Money

me

of the Act passed the

first

the light Infantry of the

the 8* Instant

I

hear B' General Prideaux

of the Month, with the 44"" and

4**

Battalion Royal

4(5"'

left

that place in

Regiments, the Grenadiers

Americans, a detachment of 700

&

New York

600 Indians with Sir William Johnson and it was expected 400 more would join on the way. At Oswego remained the residue of the 4* Battalion consisting of about 600 with 620 effectives of the New York Regiment. The French had got Intelligence of B. G. Prideaux's motions and set out from La Galette with 300 Regulars, ]000 Canadians & 150 Indians, intending to be at Oswego the day after he went off and to surprize the troops there, but they did not arrive 'till the 5"* by which time L' Colonel Haldiman' who commands there, had Provincials, and about

* Sir Fbedebicx Halddiaiid, K. B., -« as a native of Switzerland, and appointed Ueotenant-Colonel of the SOlli or Royal American Regiment, on 4 January, 17S6, and came to America, where be was allowed the local rank of Colonel in 1767. He accompanied the army under Major-General Amherst, from Oswego to Montreal, in 1760, and in 1762 was promoted to b«

Army; Major-General in America 26 May, 1772, and on the 20th October following. Colonel Commaodaot of He returned to England in August, 1775, for the purpose of giring infonnation to the Ministry on the Colonies, and was commissioned a General "in Araeriea" 1 January, 1776. In the following year he was

Colonel in the

the 60th regiment State of the

promoted Sir

Guy

anil in

832

;

to be Lieutenant-Genernl in the

Army, and Lieutenant-Governor of the

Carleton in 1778, and administered iu

affiiirs

until the close of 1784.

He

where he tucMeded London on 10th January, 1788,

I'roTince of Quebec,

arrived in

October following, took leave of the King, previous to returning to Canada as Governor, Otntttman't Ma/inzine, LV., his administration bad been so oppressive and tyrannical, and the complainta so loud against him, that be did not

but

return to that country.

He

retired to Switzerland,

and died at Ycvcrden

in June, I79I.

— Eo.

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

396

thrown up a breast work; the enemy began firing about nine that morning and continued it two or three hours and then retired into the woods, the next morning about nine they began again and endeavoured to force the lines and after about three hours firing were repulsed, Some Deserters are come in who say the French are retreated and went otf in their Batteau. at their Camp six miles from Oswego; Our loss three men killed and about twelve wounded,

among the latter Captain Towers an Engineer; the loss of the Enemy not known, it is said M'' La Corne, who commanded, was wounded, the second in command killed, six were found dead in the Woods and a great deal of blood discovered in several places. My last letter from General Amherst was of the 14''' Instant, in which he says every thing would be ready in three days, I expect by the next post to hear he is gone down Lake George. I

am

with the greatest regard,

My

Lords,

Your Lordships most obedient & most humble Servant James De Lancey. The Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations.

Right Honorable

. 1768, and Brigadier-General 6 May, 1769.

July, 1769,

'

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

400

loyalty to the king, and their Zeal for his service, in so readily

towards assured

And

and chearfuUy contributing by their Compliance with Your Motion and my request which conduct they may be shall not fail to Represent to His Majesty's Ministers in that just light it deserves.

it I

more just than that the province should be kept harmless and Indemnified from all Costs, charges and Damages that may happen or accrue by means of this loan (which I have already given assurances of to you by my letter of the 3^ Instant, 1 again this day repeat to M' Mortier the Dep Paym' General that he do draw and lodge in the hands of the treasurer of the said province for the time being, a Sett or Setts of Bills of Exchange at Sixty Days Sight on the Pay master General of His Majesty's Forces, for the sum of three Hundred and Seventy five thousand Spanish milled Dollars, Equal to the Sum of one Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds, New York currency, and as an Additional Security to the Colony I do hereby engage that they shall be kept harmless & Indemnified of and from all costs, charges and Damages that may happen or accrue by means or on account of the Loan granted by the above mentioned Act untill the said Money shall be fully replaced in the hands of the as nothing

is

:

Treasurer of the Colony.

Nothing remains

for

me now

may be as soon as possible may without loss of time, repair to Albany, in Demands of Money there, and as I am sensible that it

but to Desire that the Bills of Credit

emitted and paid over to M' Mortier that he order to answer the great and pressing

owing

Your Influence that this Negotiation has been attended with so much Success and Dispatch I cannot forbear once more expressing to you my true sense of Your kindness upon all occasions to forward and promote the common cause, and of assuring You how sincerely I am. [ Dear Sir Your most Obedient

is chiefly

to

•humble Servant

Jeff

Major- General Amherst [

to

Lieutenant -Governor

New-Tork Papen, Mm., No.

93.

De

:

Amherst.]

Lancey.

]

Camp

at Tienderoga. 27"" July

1759

Sir.

On

Saturday Morning

embarked with the Army

at Lake George, the next day landed took post on the commanding grounds, opposition from the enemy; We lay on our arms all night, and early on last I

without opposition and proceeded to the

meeting only a the 2Z^

we

trifling

Mills,

&

continued our march to this ground which

enemy having abandoned as well as sent away the

took possession of in the forenoon, the first

having carried

greatest part of their troops; as soon as

made, which were finished readiness. Neie-Tork

I

the Lines without destroying them,

place and after having reconnoitred

'

Saw

last

it I

I

was

set

ordered the trenches to be opened

off their Effects

down

&

before the

Batteries to be

night and were to have opened at break of Day, but the

Cmmcil Minutei, XXV.,

289,

from the copy in which the words within brackets are added.

enemy

— Ed.

LONDON DOCU>rENTS: XXXV. did not think proper to wait

up a part of the the Fire

Fort, and

inconsiderable;

is

&

Adjutant General I

till

made

We

then having about ten of the Clock Yesterday Evening blown tlieir

Escape

all

to

about

have only two Officers

Ensign Harrison of

2()

late Forbes'.

I

am

Since writing the foregoing I

You

for

Lieutenant-Governor

&

of assuring you that

am,

favored with Yours of the 22* and

Your kind assistance in forwarding Capt. and entirely approve the Method you & M' Kilby have expence than was necessary upon this occasion. obliged to

Our loss considering Colonel Townshend, Deputy

Deserters.

killed, viz'

take the earliest opportunity of acquainting you with this

P. S.

|0l

De Lancey

Eraser's fallen

to the

[Naw-Tork Ptpsn, Mm., No.

detachment

upon

for

I

— am much

to

Louisbourg,

avoiding any more

Lords of Irade.

»7.]

New York

My

23'*

10«*

August 1759

Lords,

have again the pleasure of congratulating Your Lordships on the further Success of His

Majesty's Arms, in defeating the French forces coming to the relief of Niagara Fort, then

besieged by us, which brought on the Capitulation the same Evening 24 July and the next morning,

whereby His Majesty

now

is

in possession of the

its

Surrender

most important pass

in

The Advantages arising from this defeat are of very great consequence for as those were troops drawn from Venango, Beeve River, Presqu'ile & Detroit, those posts must be unfurnished with Men and Officers, seventeen, of whom seven Captains, Indian

the

all

Countries.

having been taken prisoners. This renders it very easy for B' General Stanwix to proceed that way, as he can meet with little or no opposition. Most of the Indians will begin to see that it The distresses of Canada, the disability of the French to supply is their Interest to join us. them as usual, and the difficulties they must always find, while we have Niagara, will induce the Indians to throw themselves under the protection of His Majesty: And I can make no doubt but that this happy Event will not only fix the Shawanese and Delawares, as far as

As

Indians can be, in the British Interest, but will also draw other Tribes of Indians into it

soon as

I

had received this agreable news

I

dispatched an Express to Governor

Denny with

the

Intelligence to be forwarded to B. G. Stanwix, that he might take the proper advantages of

it.

Your Lordships on General Amherst's being in possession of Crown Point and preparing to build a Fort there, which will effectually cover the Country. I send you an Extract of his Letter of the S"" Instant. As the Authentick Accounts of the Operations at Niagara are sent by the Commanding Officer only to the General, which I have not, I shall inclose Copies of the most particular I also congratulate

Information that has come to I

my

hands.

am, with the greatest regard,

My

Lords, Your Lordships most obedient

&

Right Honorable

Lords Commissioners of Trade &c Vol. VII.

most humble Servant

James Db Laxcet. 61

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

402

from Captain De

Letter

[New-York Papers, Mm., No.

Lancey.^ 99.]

Niagara July SS"- 1759.

have the pleasure of informing You of the Surrender of this Fort. We left Oswego the Army consisting of 2200 and 600 Indians, we were joined by 300 more

I

1" of this Month, our

we

during the Siege, 22'*

we

landed

O""

tlie

and on the

20"' Brigadier

Prideaux was

killed.

On

the

received an account by some of our Indians that a large body of French Indians were

coming, either to attack Our

Camp

that after M'' Prideaux' death the

or throw themselves into the Fort.

command devolved on

the Falls to the Fort, in order to

I

forgot to mention

the SS"" I was Road leading from prevent the enemy's throwing any Succour into the Fort and

sent with 150 of the light Infantry to

Sir William

encamp near the River

Johnson

;

close to the

who were about a mile distant from us, in case they attempted That night and the next morning I threw up a breast work in the Front of my Camp and about 6 OClock I sent a Serjeant & Ten Men to a Camp we had on the other side of the River opposite to the Fort, for a six pounder ordered to be placed in the front of my Camp, they were obliged to go a mile up the River to the Boats, as soon as they got to the Boats they were attacked by the enemy and all taken or killed: I immediately sent a Serjeant to Sir William to acquaint him that the Enemy were coming and in ten Minutes I was joined by three pickets of 50 each who were that morning ordered to reinforce me, about a quarter of an hour after L' Colonel Massey arrived with 150 of the 46"" with which and the picket of the 44"' he drew up on the Right of me, and the other two pickets on the left, about 100 Indians went to the left of the whole in order to fall ou the Enemy's Flank Some of our Indians went to the Indians Enemy's to prevail on them not to fight But the French told them, they did not want to fight with our Indians but with us, on this our Indians returned and told us, the Enemy was coming, which they soon did with a very great noise and shouting; They began the attack on alarm the Rest of the Troops,

it.

:

Men

the Right and our Infantry not to

of the

fire

enemy then

till

kept their ground and soon returned their

soon

I

I

ordered the Light

they were sure of their mark, which they punctually obeyed

inclined to the

left

and gave us a very smart

time and then only about ten shot, at some few of the after this

fire,

found the Enemy's

fire

slacken, upon

fire,

we

did not

Enemy who came

which

;

Part

fire for

some

very near us, very

I sent to Col. Massey to desire he

would let me leave the Breast work and rush in on the enemy which he granted, desired I would move slow and advanced with his party on the Right, we jumped over the Breastwork and Rushed in on the enemy, who immediately gave way, they then Endeavoured to Flank us on the left, but I ordered a party from the Right to move to the left which they did, and with them I pushed forwards to the enemy, who falling in with the party which was on my left Dk Lancey was eldestson of the Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey and Anne Heathcote, and was born in Newand edncatcd at Eton and Cambridge, England. He retired from the service in 1760, on succeeiling to Ids He represented the city of New-York in the Assembly from 1768 to 1775. In May, of the last mentioned father's estate. year, he visited England, whither his family followed him; his name, notwithstanding his absence from the country, was inserted '

Capt. James

York

in 1732,

in the act of attainder of 1779, and his estates escheated. Loyalists,

and he died

in

Allen, of Pennsylvania,

After the peace of 1783, he was Vice-Presidout of the Board of

Bath, England, in the year ISOO, aged 68 years.

who

survived her husband a couple of years.

His wife was Martha, daughter of Chief Justice Sabine in Ids Ariierican Loyalists, confounds this

Captain De Laneey with Ids cousin Colonel James De Lancey, commander of the Westchester Loyalists, " the Cow Boys," and who eventually went to Nova Scotia, Letter of Edward F. De Lancey, Esq. Ed.

—

known

in history ai

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. immediately ran away as

fast as tliey could,

and never offered

408 to rally afterwards, a

few of

them remained behind and exchanged a few shot with us, and were either taken or killed Our Indians as soon as they saw the Enemy give way pursued them very briskly and took and killed great numbers of them, we pursued about five Miles and then returned, we took several prisoners in our return under the bank of the River, the enemy's party consisted of 85U French and 350 Indians, we killed 200 and took 100 prisoners, 5 Captains among whom are M"* De Lignerie and Morang the Gentleman who visited the Bullocks and 12 Subaltern Officers On our return Sir William sent in a Flag of Truce to the French Commandant to let him know what had happened, who kept Harvey in the Fort and sent out the next in command to himself to see the officers who were prisoners that he and the Officers in the Fort with him might be sure they could have no succours and gave up the place with Honor, though we had not made any practicable Breach This Morning the Grenadiers of the Army marched into the Fort, the Garrison surrendered prisoners of war; I shall send more of the particulars of the Siege in my next, Moncrieff goes off immediately. I have not time to send the Old ;

;

:

Gentleman a Copy of

this. I

am

Endorsed

Copy

of a Letter from

Capt De Lancey Dated 25 July 1769. Niagara.

Major-General Amherst

to

Lieiitenant-Oovernor

[NewTork Papm, Mm., No.

De

Lancey.

108.]

Camp at Crown Point S* Aug* 1769. Dear Sir. Your favour of the 29"" Ultimo requiring no Answer I have only to thank you for it, and to congratulate you on our possession of this ground, which I took yesterday Evening the enemy having abandoned it and blown up part of the Fort three dfiys before; Indeed I should have been here two days sooner had not an excessive heavy 24 hours rain Retarded our Balteaus &c from

getting over the carrying place but

as from

its

situation

&

now no

time shall be

lost

in

building such a Fort

strength will most effectually cover the whole Country

may

&

ensure the

you please advise and recommend it to such of the Inhabitants of Your Province as may have deserted their settlements, to come and reoccupy the same & also to encourage all those that you shall think proper to come and settle such parts of it as you shall please to grant and parcel out to them, and now they can have nothing to fear from the Incursions of the Enemy which they may peaceable and quiet possession of this side, wherefore you

as soon as

from henceforth safely look upon to be at an End, not only on this side, but likewise along the Mohawk River, which Sir William Johnson's Success at Niagara (of which you will ere thia have had the accounts) has also ensured.

—

—

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

404

Reverend Dr. Johnson

to

Arclthislwp Seeker.

" American Coloolei MS.," Lambeth Palace, No.

[

1 123, II.,

No.

New May

it

please

ISS. ]

York, October 20. 1759.

Your Grace,

most thankfully received Your Grace's very kind letter of July 19th and am exceeding glad if any letters of mine can be of any use to you. The sequel of that of March 20th was prepared in July, but unfortunately missed of an opportunity till lately: I hope it will soon reach your hand, and meet with a favorable reception. I

find any opposition was made by the Dissenters there Cambridge, and that they treat him with great respect and decency, as they always did me when there, and I had even a Friendship with their Professor of Divinity: As they seem a Moderate people I hope he will have no trouble with them. I humbly thank Your Grace for your kind compliment relating to what I mentioned with

M' Apthorp

tells

me, he never could

to his being settled at

I thank God, I seem to have a very firm health; but my condition here very precarious, chiefly by reason of the small pox, being obliged now, (already a second this especially (together with my advanced years) makes me time) to retire on account of it

regard to a successor. is

—

how my College may who I believe would

thoughtful 80

near,

be provided

for.

On which

account I

am

glad

be immediately pitched upon: his youth

M' Apthorp is would be the

only objection.

As

I

am

obliged to retire I

a few months with Hobart's

first

my

am

entered on a journey to Stratford, where I purpose to reside

Son, and shall there be under advantage to procure a copy of M'

address, which I will send to

sent those papers of the Reflector

if I

Your Grace

can be had.

if it

could find them, which

I

I intended to

have

cannot yet: however you will

them in Hobart and Smith's History so far as the Church is concerned. As M' Beach, I never saw a copy of what was done at that meeting of the Clergy; only M' Wetmore told me he had given them good satisfaction, and they had transmitted what they had done to the Society; so that I concluded the Society were also well satisfied. They were to blame if they did not send Duplicates. It is commonly received that M' Beach then retracted what he bad published, and nothing since has ever been said see the

full

force of

to the Affair of

about

As

it.

to

M' Barclay's Remarks; D' Smith

of Philadelphia undertook to enlarge them and

transmit them to Your Grace with a fuller vindication, and

As

to

Your Grace's appointing

a proxy to represent

I

you

have sent him some materials. at

your

'

Board,

it

is

what the

Governors of the College are very desirous of: and as to myself, I am very humbly obliged to your Grace for the great Honor you do me, in proposing to nominate me, and shall submit to whatever Your Grace shall think proper to do in the Affair. The bearer hereof is one M' Miliner, a Young Candidate of this City, who hath been educated and graduated at the College of

wants about 8 months of age

New

for full orders,

&

Jersey,

&

appears a Youth of good hopes.

He

proposes to pursue his studies at Oxford in that

& then to offer himself to the Society's Service for which I hope he will be well qualified, & I beg leave to recommend him to Your Grace's notice. I wonder M"^ Greaton is

Interim,

Sic

our.

— Eo.

:

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. not here from Boston to go for for him.

—

1

am,

may

it

West

Chester.

he should go

If

405

in

my

absence,

I

beg the same

please Your Grace,

Your Grace's Most obliged and

dutiful Son,

and most humble Servant (Signed) Samuel Johnson.

< n

Lieutenant-Governor

>

i

»

De Zancey

to the

Lords of Trade.

[Naw-Tork Paper*, Um., Ho. 109.]

New

My

York, 28'* October 1759.

Lords,

General Amherst having represented to

me

the necessity of a further provision for the troops

pay of this Province (the former having been made only to the first of November) that they might continue to assist in repairing the vrorks at Niagara, putting the Fort at Oswego in a respectable condition this season and forwarding the cannon, stores and provisions for the Garrisons, bo as to secure these Important Posts from any insults of the enemy. I called the Assembly and laid the Necessity of this Measure before them whereupon they immediately came to a Resolution to provide for the pay of the Troops for one month longer and to furnish each Man with a pair of shoes, stockings and a warm waistecoat which were procured and sent up without delay And B' General Gage by his Letter of the 8* Instant dated Camp at in the

:

me that the works at Oswego will be finished by the end of this Month I inclose a printed Copy of my message and of the Resolutions of the Assembly. General Amherst set out from Crown Point the 11", the very Evening his Vessells came down to him, and returned the 21" not having been able to procede to the other end of the Ontario acquaints

:

Lake, by reason of the strong continual contrary winds and the seasons being so far advanced Of the Enemy's Vessells on Lake Champlain two were sunk by them in a Bay on the Western shore, the third run a ground, whether the 4'* has escaped is not yet known, but we are Masters of the Lake

;

This was owing

Briganline and sloop to

make

whereby they got between

to a

prudent Measure of the General's,

the best of their

way down

the

who

ordered his

Lake the night they set out, enemy perceiving and not

these vessells and St. John's, which the

daring to engage ours they sunk and run ashore theirs.

by Prince Ferdinand over the French, and gladly congratulate Your Lordships on the Surrender of Quebec to his Majesty's Arms. I

most

I

am

heartily join in the publick joy for the glorious Victory obtained

with the greatest Regard,

My

Right Honorable

Lords Commissioners of Trade &c.

Lords,

Your Lordships most Obedient and most humble Servant James Db Lancet.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

406

Lords of Trade

to

[New-York

To

Ja'

De

Lieatenant-Governor EutrlCB, B.

P.

Lancey.

149.]

DeLancey Esq™ L' Gov' of New York.

Sir,

Amongst

As Laws of

this

to try causes to the

complained of in other Colonies had the

in

December 175S, there

is

one for

and under.

value of five j)0U7ids

kind have been attended with great inconveniencys, and have been much

and as we observe, that the judgement of the Justices

;

Law

disapprobation; but as

been a perpetual one,

we

we

them, and no appeal allowed,

in the matters cognizable before

duty,

New York

the Acts passed in the province of

impowcritig Justices of the Peace

have laid

to

it

only to continue to the

is final

should have thought before His

Maj'^

it

for

our

His

of January next, that measure can not have any avail to put a stop to what remains of its efl^ect and operation. We must desire however, that you will not give your assent to a revival of this Law, or to any Law of the same nature, without a clause be inserted in it, suspending its effect, until His Maj'J''' pleasure can be known and in that case that you will fully inform us of the grounds and motives for passing such a Law, and what effect the Law already passed has had. We are. find, that it is

first

;

Sir

Your most obed* humble servants Dunk Halifax

James Oswald SoAME Jenyns W. G. Hamilton 14,

W"

Nov' 1759,

Reverend Dr. Smith [American

My

Coloniei IIS."

to

Slopek.

Archbishop Seeker.

Lambeth Palace, No.

1123, II.,

No. 156.]

Lord

Your Grace by last New York Packet, and mentioned the must now contradict, as a piece of false intelligence ; for the early setting in of the cold weather obliged Gen Amherst to return without accomplishing his design. The French still hold that Fort as well as Montreal, and perhaps may stand it out till next Spring; but all these lesser places must soon follow their Capital Quebec. Having Your Grace's permission and Commands to write at all times freely about the state of Religion and our Church in these Colonies ; I am sorry that I have so soon occasion to write a very long, and I fear disagreeable letter on this head. But Duty calls, & I hope Your Grace will ever believe me incapable of any sinister Motive on such an occasion. I value Your Grace's favor and protection above every other earthly Consideration. It saved I

did myself the

Honor

to write to

surrender of S' John's, which

I

:

me

in the

worst of times,

&

from the worst sort of oppression.

to sufficient confusion, and he

who was

received back again into

Country,

is

Advocate

for Civil

Order and public

it,

like

in

liberty.

to

the

My

Antagonists are brought

be borne down, unheard, as a foe to his

more agreeable

light of

an acknowledged

.

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXV.

:

407

Such a happy turn as this accomplished chiefly, My Lord, by Your Grace's goodness, is not by words or single acts, but by the gratitude of a whole life; and whenever I am found capable of making the least unworthy return, or of abusing Your Confidence in a single instance, I may justly be accounted among the worst of mankind. Indeed, in the present fatal division in which I found our Church at my arrival ( which I to be repaid

hiuted at in

have any

my

and now to give a circumstantial account of)

last

particular interest.

or advantageous station than

The Church I

it is

impossible that

here can do nothing to place

hold at present.

All sides, since

my

me

in a

arrival,

I

should

more honorable

have desired

my

most prudent to take no other public part, except to support the Rev. D' Jenney^ in his just Orders, and to prevent matters (as far as I can) from running to extremity, till we receive a proper interposition of Your Grace's and our Diocesan's authority, interest, but I

have held

it

by which alone the matter can be accommodated. As a foundation for such an interposition, I now proceed to my account; which I must begin a considerable way backwards, to give the

more

perfect idea of the whole.

The Chief Powers of the

of this

Government were

the

stflte

who were a

men of now even exceed one fifth

But, in process of time, by the accession of

first settlers.

they not only became a minority; but do not

The number

originally in the Quakers,

of souls, in this Province

&

my

Territories, is thought to be at least 250,000;

hands,

is

as follows

;

and

viz.

3.

Of the Church of England about Quakers English, Scotch and Irish Presbyterians, Covenanters &c

4.

English Anabaptists

1.

2.

5. 6.

7.

German German Lutherans, who

German

9.

Roman

Presbyterians

or

Calvanists,

In

RoBim Jishbt,

30,000

who

discipline of the

6,000 style themselves

30,000

Catholics, English Irish and

and a small

66,000

35,000

&

the Reformed

10. Moravians,

60,000

are well inclined to be incorporated

Church of England

Swedish Lutherans, who use the Liturgy Church in most Articles

8.

25,000

5,000

Anabaptists, or Menonists, and other Quietist Sects.

into the

Rer.

other persuasions, part of the whole.

of Religious Persuasions, agreeable to the best Calculation I can make, from ample

materials in

•

Majority

German

German

10,000

Society called Donkers, about

6,000

250,000

all

LL. D., son of Arohde»con Jenoey of W»nneytown, IrelanJ,

wm born in the ye«r

1

887,

and rdocntad

Tliompson (Hittory of Long Inland, II., 80, ) myt he bad been a chnpUin in the nary from 1710 to 1714, next an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Evans of Pliiladelphia until 1717, when he l>eoame chaplain to the fort at JfewIn June, 1722, he became Rector of Grace church, Kye, Westoheater county, N. Y., and remained tliere until 1724, Xorit. in Trinity College, Dublin.

when he removed to Hempstead, L. L Ue continued in charge of the Epiacopal church at this place until 1742, when h« was chosfo Rector of Christ Cliurch, Philadelphia. He died 6lh January, 1762, at the advanced age of 75 ycar^ and waa It is recorded of him that he wa^ Pune Religionia, interred in the church, bfincath the aisle and in front of the Chancel. honestffi veritatis

317. — Ed.

Exemplum,

Christianie Fidei Vindicem, Probitatis Coltorem.

Don't yutorp of ChriH Chunk, PhiladtlpMia,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

408

Notwithstanding this great disparity, the Quakers still hold the Chief places in the Government, which, from the above state, it is obvious they could not do by their own single interest.

They

have, therefore,

et impera) to divide

who

and

made

it

Maxim, Divide some men among them,

their invariable rule (agreeable to the

and

distract all other Societies,

have been found mean enough to be so dealt with

;

to take off

and

in

proportion to the reluctance with

which other Societies bear their being excluded from their just share of public Trust, does this subtle political body exert their dividing arts; from which cause proceed most of the confusions and distresses felt by the Ministers & Missionaries of the Church here, and the Continual Clamor kept up against them as Hirelings &c, by this crafty levelling sect, and their Mercenary Adherents. Now, My Lord, no religious Society here so well deserves the exertion of this Quaker policy, as the Congregation of Christ-Church in this City, which is already numerous enough to fill three large Churches, & consists of many of the most opulent and respectable The Quakers, therefore, have always endeavored to get the Ministers families in the place. of that Church in the Interest of their unconstitutional policy (knowing the influence it would

when

them as much uneasiness as possible, by stirring up part of their Congregations against them, and rewarding such disturbers with places & other Emoluments; particularly, procuring them to be elected Members of their Provincial Assembly. The use of these observations will appear immediately. My Lord, for, this being a just view of the Quaker Policy, Your Grace will not wonder that when there is a prospect of a vacancy have on the other Ministers

in the Province); and,

that could not be done, to give

an Office as the Rectorship of Christ-Church here, that Party should

in so considerable

stir

up with a person devoted to their interest, and to exclude every one whom Capable of uniting and Confirming the Congregation in those laudable principles they judge of Religion and Government, which are the Glory of our English Church. In that light. My Lord, 1 flatter myself they did me the Honor to consider me, when they first endeavored to foment differences between the Rev. D"" Jenney's Assistant and me, by telling him that it was intended, on the D''' decease to put me over him in the Church, & The poor Credulous Man gave offering to support him against me with their whole interest. too much Ear to this; nothwithstanding that he had little reason to expect to succed D' Jenney himself, having neither abilities nor consequence enough for the task, and kBew moreover that my station as Head of the College put me above any anxiety about other Preferment here. The story, however, served the ends of the party, to weaken us by jealousies, and was the true cause of the part •M' Sturgeon acted during the grand struggle with the Quakers and their adherents about the King's Service and the defence of the Country, throwing himself wholly into the hands of that party, and doing sundry unfriendly things against me at their instigation, such as writing to Your Grace &c, which I never knew of till my return, and do

themselves to

most hurt

fill it

heartily forgive him, notwithstanding the unkindness of his conduct in endeavoring to

me

liberty,

with Your Grace, at a time when I was so unjustly oppressed in the Cause of public

and had no other support but the goodness of that Cause, and the favor of good and Nevertheless, I should not so much as mention these things now, were

discerning men.

they not connected with

my

sufficiently for his error,

and

• I mention Mr. Sturgeon only

what he was advised

to

;

subject, or could they is

fully sensible of

it,

do him any injury.

for Dr. .Tenney, for three years has

by those about him

;

who

But he has smarted For no sooner

as the sequel will shew.

been incapable of going abroad, or doing anything bnt

too often imposed upon his weakness.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. did the party find a man,

they threw him entirely

whom

they thought

and became

ofT,

This happened about last April, while been many years a dissenting Preacher

fitter for their

409

purpose than M' Sturgeon, than

his bitterest enemies. I

was

in

in

New

England. One M' M'Clennnghan, who had England, having on some misunderstanding

with his brethren, lately become a Convert to the Church of England, was employed by the Ven"* Society in an itinerant Mission on the Frontiers of that Colony. This Station, however, was not very agreeable to his vagrant temper; for, by the best accounts can obtain (of which I

the Society

may more

certainly inform themselves) he

was much on the ramble

on his Mission, but

was not very constant

He

for better preferment.

in his

attendance

much of

spent

his

and about Boston, affecting the Methodist manner and doctrines to captivate the Multitude, and had his Eye chiefly on D' Cutler's Congregation, where by reason of the D'"'

time

in

most frequent opportunities of preaching.

age and infirmities, he had

becoming

many

of

successor,

at length

of the people to have him settled even during the D'"'

which was

Episcopal

But

his

manner

extremely exceptionable, and his designs being discovered by an application like to

Congregations

the

there,

brethren, not only rejected

life,

as his Coadjutor and

much Confusion to that as well as the other Doctor, with much spirit, upon the advice of his

be attended with the

which example was followed by

him any further use of his pulpit, the other Clergy, which left him no opportunity of doing

proposal, but

all

refused

further hurt there.

The consequence went

of this

was a determination to move Southward, and accordingly he he was all this while in the pay of the Society. At

to Virginia, notwithstanding

Virginia he

made some agreement

and the people,

to settle in a parish,

in consideration of his

New

England advanced him Money With this Money, he was on his way in bills of Exchange to the value of about j£75. Northward about April last, and called at this City to turn his bills into Cash, where he was asked to preach. The novelty of his manner, his great noise and eitemjyore effusions, both in praying and preaching, struck sundry of the lower sort of people, and made the party I have been describing, catch at him eagerly as one providentially sent among them, and much filter pretended poverty and inability to

move

his family

from

for their purpose than poor

M' Sturgeon; who they, no doubt found

the lengths they wished, and

if

apparent piety, that has taken

him at the head of the them; being but an unengaging preacher,

they should have succeeded

Church, could never have been of much service averse to public bustle, and of but indifferent

much

to

too Confidentious' to go

&

where he has

erred,

rather led away by bad advice, than any unworthy design in himself. But, to return, it was accordingly proposed to M' M'Clennaghan to lay aside

returning to Virginia, and

to

preferment, this Overture

for

at

settle

was

To

Philadelphia.

acceptable

man

though otherwise a

abilities,

pains in his Office,

in getting

a

I

all

of

much

believe

was

thoughts of

man who was on

the hunt

enough, and he consented to embrace

it,

notwithstanding his Contract with the Virginians, his acceptance of their Money, and perhaps his being at the

own

same time

in the Society's pay,

during

The matter was

accounts will best inform them.

here; but D' Jenney and they objected that there assistant in the

of

London

for

these peregrinations, whereof their

accordingly proposed to the Vestry

was no vacancy;

that

there

was one

Church already, and they had some months before addressed the Lord Bishop another, namely the Rev. M' Jacob Duche, that amiable Youth whom I had the '

Vol. VIL

all

8ie. CoDioientioai.

62

— Ed.

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

410

honor of introducing to your Grace, whose Character stands so high In ClarekaU where he Youth that had been bred up in our College here, born in the bosom of our Church and of the highest expectations that ever any Youth brought into the Ministry; having the most Captivating Eloquence and every engaging accomplishment. They further finished his studies; a

added, that his arrival, to enter upon his Office was then every day expected; that the Church would then be fully supplied during D' Jenney's life; that a third assistant was an unusual as well as unnecessary thing

in

a single Church;

that

the funds were already insufficient to

maintain the rector and his two Assistants which they had already employed; that the

new

Church which they were building would not be ready for some years, and that it was uncertain who the Contributors might be inclined to employ in it; that M' M'^CIennaghan was a stranger to every body in this City, and that his manner and doctrines were moreover very exceptionable to the Hector and the principal people in the Congregation. This did not satisfy the party. They then mustered their whole Force amounting to about

70 persons, signed a paper and came to the Vestry while sitting, insisting that M' M'Clennaghan should be employed, and offering to maintain him by private subscription. This number, tho' but a handful compared to the body of the Congregation, took the Vestry off their guard when some of its principal members were absent, and extorted a kind of Conditional promise of granting M' M^Clennaghan the occasional use of the Church along with D' Jenney's two Assistants, till the matter could be otherwise accommodated provided he should procure sufficient testimonials of his Character, which was now much questioned on account of two letters received from the Rev"* Messrs Brown and Chandler, two worthy ;

Missionaries in

New

Jersey.

D' Jenney, however, still refused his assent, declaring that he wanted no other Assistant, and had a particular dislike to M' M'^Clennaghan ; nor would he leave his Chamber to be present at some of the meetings on this Occasion. This incensed M' M'Clennaghan's party some of the leaders of which found means to force themselves to a Conference with the poor dying gentleman, threatening to keep back all their Pew-Money, out of which his Salary was paid, and to starve him alive if he did not comply ; with other language too insolent & barbarous to be used by any but such a party, to a poor old servant of the Church, who had already one And all this was done with M' M'Clennaghan's assent and approbation the foot in the grave. Consequence of which was, as they pretend, that D"' Jenney gave his Consent to what had ;

been agreed upon, tho' he himself says he does not know what he did on the occasion, having been so ill-used nor does it signify, since it was done so irregularly, and not in a meeting of ;

the Vestry.

Matters being brought so

far,

M' M'^Clennaghan proceeded soon

after

to

New

England

to

bring his family and Certificates; but he brought none of any moment, but a letter from Mess" Caner and Troutbec; the purport of which was merely negative, viz " that they did not know

enough of M' M'CIennaghan to give any character of him, but hoped the people of Philadelphia who had employed him would find no exception to his moral behaviour." This is the substance of all they said, which he procured from them, under pretence that his settlement at Philadelphia was already fixed, and that it would be hard and unkind to disappoint him, by refusing him a few lines from at least some of his brethren. Such a letter, however, seemed men living in Boston, who, whatever they might pretend, could not be strangers to strange from the man who had made so much disturbance in several of their Congregations ; and indeed it did M' M'Clennaghan no service here, more especially when it was found that Governor Poumall

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. was

All

own hand he tore off Nor can M' Caner be excused for not writing all he knew about him, except by considering that he was told every thing at Philadelphia was concluded upon, & that it would be only making more disturbance to write the whole matter. Added to this, perhaps, they were not ill-pleased to get fairly rid of him at Boston, for it ia now known that neither they nor any of the other Clergy there, had for some lime past allowed him any use of their pulpits. 80 far from consenting to join in a character of him, that with his

drawn up.

the Province-Seal from one formerly

Lame

as this letter was, yet as

contained nothing directly for or against him, the violence

it

of the party procured his admission into the Church on his return, which was about the beginning of September, a week after M' Duche's* arrival, and a month before mine. In

drawing up the Minute of Vestry for his admission, he was artfully called an Assistant to D' Jenney, and it was so entered, but without the D'''* joining in it, or any other regular form every thing being in the utmost Confusion, and some of the Chief Vestry men absenting themselves.

Soon after this an address was framed to the Bishop of London, for his Lordship's approbation of M' M'Clennaghan's settlement here, and the extension of his license to this Province.

It

was intended

also that this address should

Jenney's absolute refusal to sign

disappointed

them.

be an act of the Vestry, but D'

Never

at loss, they then called themselves the Vestry without their Rector, and set forth in the body of the address that be it

was consenting to what they did, but by reason of indisposition could not sign which was so far from being true that by the same ship, and on the same day both his Assistants wrote to the

of the leading

men

M°Clennaghan

to pass

Bishop against granting the license

of the Vestry were privy to

to

his

M' M'Clennaghan.

when they

name,

the D' and

Several

M' them and their reason for doing it was that they knew it would be ineffectual without the D''"' hand to it, and they thought it best to procure a little temporary quiet, by seeming to Comply; knowing that the Bishop's rejection of the address would enable them to act the proper part when necessary. So far had matters gone before my arrival, when at New York I received the first notice of them from the Rev*' D' Johnson, and the Rev** M' Barclay who lamented much the distractions of our Church, and gave me some sketch of M' M'CIennaghan's Character and behaviour to the Northward adding that neither they nor any of the Clergy there would allow him their Pulpits, he being an avowed Methodist and follower of Whitfield's plan occasioning much confusion wherever he came. And indeed, the first time I heard him open hit mouth in the With a huge stature, and voice more Pulpit, it sufficiently confirmed what they had said. than Stentorian, up he started before his Sermon and, instead of modestly using any of the all

this,

suffered the address of

;

;

;

;

;

excellent forms provided in our Liturgy, or a form in the nature and substance of that enjoined

by the 65th Canon, he addressed the Majesty of heaven with a long Catalogue of epithets '

ReTereod Jacob DucdC, D.

D.,

wu

born in Philtdolphia in HSS, and edasated in Cambridge, England.

admitted to Holjr Orders, he became assistant to Dr. Jenny in 1764. Congress, in 1774, and snceeeded Dr. Peters,

chaplain to Congress, and offered up "the

(

npra,

first

abandoned the cause of America, and resigned cause of his country

also.

He

retired to

England

p. SIS.)

He

officiated

as ebaplain to

as reotor of Christ's Chnroh, in 1776.

tlie

Hariog b««a

first

Continental

In 1778, he was aleetad

prayer" after the Declaration of Independence, but three months his Chaplaincy, after in 1777,

after,

endeavoring to induce Washington to abandon the

where he remained

until 1790^

when be returned

to Philadelphia,

on the 3d January, 1798, aged SO years. His wife was daughter of Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and his daughter Sophia married John Henry, who acted as agent for the English

and died

in that city

government

in 1810, to induce the

New

England States to separate from the Union.

works, of Caspipina's Letters. Dorr ; Sabint ;

AUtn

Eo.

Mr. Dnehi was the author, among other

—

•

412

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

such as " Sin-pardoning, all-seeing, heart-searching rein-trying God" " We thank thee that we Such an unusual manner in our Church sufficiently fixed are all here to day and not in hell" my attention, which was exercised by a strange extempore rhapsody of more than 20 minutes,

—

and afterwards a Sermon of about 68 Minutes more ; which 1 think could hardly be religion ; I have heard him again and again, and still we have for I am sure it was not Common Sense. which I can give no account, other than that they rhapsodies, of incoherent wild the same

upon the words Regeneration, instantaneous But I find no practical use made of Conversion, imputed Righteousness, the new Birth &c these terms, nor does he offer any thing to explain them, or to tell us what he would be at. In short My Lord, it would make the Ears of a sober Christian tingle to sit and hear

consist of a continual

ringing the Changes

—

such Preachments.

Thus did I find matters at my arrival, the next day after which I waited on D"' Jenney and delivered Your Grace's letter, which I found threw him into tears, & made him cry out he had been much abused by designing men. He did not offer to shew me the Contents, but thanked me for all my past Candor to him said he would always do me justice while he lived, & hoped I would not join M' M^Clenuaghan and his party who wanted to take the bread out of his mouth. I told him that he might depend I should do every thing in my power to make him easy while he lived, and to keep the Peace of the Church, which I could appeal to himself I had never offered to disturb, even when used ill by it. He said that was very true, and he hoped God would bless me for it then he proceeded with many tears to report the substance of what I have set forth above concerning M' M'^Clennaghan, which seemed to affect him so much that I thought it best to beg his wife to try to compose his His Case is indeed worthy Spirits, and found means myself to slip away from him abruptly am sure shall and I I slip no opportunity him all the Comfort Compassion, of administering of ;

;

—

my

in

power.

The day

Came

me, and made very sincere acknowledgments me A few hours afterwards M' spoke much of his popularity, the Call he had from the people

following M' Sturgeon

for the part

to see

—

he had been unguardedly led to act against

M'Clennaghan came

also.

He

to be their Minister, wiiich he pretends gives the only right

title.

The

Bishop's authority he

spoke of very disregardfuUy, and said it could never bind the people. I replied that however that matter might be, it was certainly binding on him and me, who were of the Clergy; that the Bishop pretended no authority over the people, but that

any Clergyman, or withdrew

if

he did not think

fit

to grant his

when

granted, I presumed that such Clergyman would not be warranted to officiate or enjoy any of the benefits belonging to a Clergyman of the Church of England; and that, in this light, the Bishop's approbation was necessary to the removal as well as settlement of the Clergy here ; else they were quite independent, and our Church wholly void of discipline. He hardly seemed to allow this reasoning, and as it was in

license to

it

my own house, I chose to drop the dispute When 1 see him he behaves civilly, but has

too

and Continually calumniating

Several of his party had

to

draw me

his bretheren.

to their side, telling

formerly been

my enemy.

me how

But, as

I

easy

thank

it

little

might

God who

tremble at the thoughts of supporting a man,

regard to truth in his Conversation,

now

has not

who

made repeated attempts

be to crush

M""

who had my nature,

Sturgeon,

made me revengful

in

aiming to intrude himself into the Congregation of another, in a manner that would put and end to all order, and destroy us as a

so

1

Church

here.

is

—

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. This,

my

Lord,

a faithrul account of every thing that

ia

Your Grace's notice, in order to give a Copies of some necessary papers.

perfect idea of

it.

418

can recollect

I

Nothing

in this affair

now remains

worthy

but to subjoin

In my last I sent Your Grace a copy of the Remonstrance of the Clergy of this Province, drawn up against M' M'Clennaghan before my arrival, and a Copy has also been sent to my Lord Bishop of London; both which I presume having got safe to hand, I shall not now insert it. It was signed by D' Jenney, his two Assistants M' Sturgeon and M' Duche by M' Reading Missionary at Apoquiminink, M' Neil Missionary at Oxford, M' Inglis Missionary at Dover, and M' Carter Missionary of the Bahama Islands, who was here for his health and a witness to all the transactions. It sets forth the manner of M' Macclenn'' forces,

where the said Provisions may be wanted; €and you will in case of necessity draw Bills for any extraordinary expences, incurred for this service. And I am particularly to recommend it to you, as a principal means to preserve the health of the Men, that you do cause them to be furnished with fresh meat, whenever the situation, and circumstances of the Troops shall make the same any ways practicable; and you will take care, that, for so long in those parts,

time as fresh meat shall be provided

for the

Forces, the inclosed clause of the Contract be

duely observed, on the part of the Contractors, or their agents; and that the delivery of provisions of Beef, and Pork, by the Contractors, be accordingly, in part, or in the whole,

suspended, and a proportionable allowance only

made

for the several other species, as shall

be

agreed upon, and certifyed by you.

&

Such a considerable number of arms that

it is

Tents have been already sent

North America,

to

hoped, a sufficient quantity will be found there, for the service of the next Campaign;

am, however, to acquaint you, that the King has been pleased and Tents, to be forthwith sent to New York, for the service

I

will cause to be distributed according as the

The King

entirely approves the

same

to order in

some supply of arms,

North America, which you

shall be necessary.

due care, you have taken agreably

you

the orders

to

received last year, for causing sufficient respectable Forts to be erected at the Oneida Carrying

Oswego, Lake George, and on the Ohio. His Majesty further sees, with great your several Dispatches, how justly sensible you are of the high importance of and Crown Point; and the King relies on your utmost attention for the Ticonderoga Niagara, effectual security of those most essential Posts, by strengthening, and establishing such Forts, I am also commanded as you shall have judged most proper and adequate for that purpose. by the King to recommend to your attention the establishing such other Forts and Posts, place,

satisfaction, in

as you shall judge necessary for securing effectually, in

now

possessions in N" America,

of the

Enemy: and

it is

all

times to come, His

Maj'^''*

rights

and

happily recovered from the encroachments, and usurpations

the King's pleasure that

you take

measures

effectual

to secure,

by a

proper Chain of Posts, the communication from the Forts, on the Ohio, to the Lake Erie, and to Niagara on the Ontario, and

you

will accordingly give such orders thereupon, as

you shall judge most proper, whether by repairing the Forts, which the Enemy abandoned at River aux Boeufs and Presqu' isle, or by erecting new ones at such other places as you shall think

more expedient. It is

His Majesty's pleasure, that you should give, as

constant

&

particular attention, to the state

and situation of Quebec, and of the large body

of Troops at that important place; and you will not there, timely information of shall I

judge most expedient

far as the distance will permit, a

fail

to send the Officer,

your operations, as well as such directions

for

His

Maj'J'''

for his

Commanding

conduct, as you

service.

have the satisfaction to assure you, that,

in

all

matters, entrusted to your care, the

King

continues to place the firmest confidence, in your experience, zeal and abilities; and His Maj'J" is persuaded, that you will exert your utmost efforts, for compleating the glory of

His

Arms

in

North America, by the entire reduction of the Enemy, and for securing His

Maj'y"' subjects there against all future

attempts to disturb them in the enjoyment of their

rights and possessions. I

am

ettc.

W.

Pitt.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. The King having been moved,

P. S.

founded by a Dutchess

Dutcliess of that name,

in behnlf of the hotel

Auguilion; in consideration of

d'

I

am

recommend

to

you

to

425

de Dieu at Quebec, formerly

particular request of the present

llie

an especial manner, the giving

in

protection and comfort to the Ladies of that Religious Society; and

you

will not fail,

all

by the

opportunity, to signify the same to Gov' Murray.

first

m

Reverend Dr. Johnson

»

I

»

to the Arcliliahop

[" Auurlean OoIohIm 118." LwnbeUi FtlMW, No. 11S&,

of Canterbury.

II.,

No. 1«S.

]

Stratford in Connecticut

Feb»

May

it

please

In one of

my

1760

New

I

was, a second time, within three

York, on account of the Small pox.

—

I

then

left

my Young

my absence, and want of good conduct in the other, it fell into a very From which we were convinced of the absolute necessity of procuring,

College in a flourishiug state ill

informed Your Grace, that

letters I

last

years, obliged to retire from

the

IS**

Your Grace,

health of one of

suffering condition.

my

:

but within two or three months, by reason of

tutors and the

as soon as possible, not only another tutor, but also a gentleman duly qualified for a Vice

president,

my

who can

constantly reside, and

who would have

the highest probability of being

successor.

Governors of the College met, and concluded humbly to address Your Grace to procure for us two such gentlemen, and to agree with them for three years on such terms as you see by their address and they desired also that I would write a This therefore, my Lord, is the occasion of my so soon letter to Your Grace on this subject. troubling you again. And I do, in conjunction with the Committee appointed by the Governors

Upon

to use

this the

Your influence

;

—

—

to take care of the College in in procuring such

my

absence, most

gentlemen as we want, as soon as

humbly beg Your Grace's kind

may

influence

be.

gentleman designed to be my successor, should be of the University of Oxford and the tutor of Cambridge. This indeed is not of much consequence but it is necessary that he should be a good and eloquent preacher, with a strong voice, because if he should succeed me, he must also for his better support be a lecturer in a

And

I should be glad,

if it

may

be, that the

;

And I beg he may be a truly exemplary person, who, tho' of a candid and moderate temper, hath the interest of Christianity very much at heart: and I wish him to be large Church.

well acquainted, not only with Scriptures:

unmarried.

&

it

And

other parts of polite literature, but also with the

all

Hebrew

be best, for the present, that he, as well as the other, should be

would

as to the tutor,

I

could wish him to be well qualified to teach, not only tha

Belles Lettres, but Mathematics and Experimental philosophy in the use of our fine Apparatus of instruments, because

I

am much

afraid

we

shall loose

him we have.

M' Apthorp would have done very well for a Vice President, but his voice is not strong 1 have read enough for our large Churches, and besides, he is unwilling to leave Cambridge. a piece of one M' Home of Magdalen College at Oxford, intitled a Candid and impartial state

—

Vol. VH.

64

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

426

of the case between the Newtonians and Hutchinsonians, from which, together with some accounts I have had of him otherwise, 1 imagine, if he could be had, would be a very suitable

M' Bayly, whose excellent Introduction to Language Literary and Philosophical, However 1 beg leave to refer I admire: but such as these I doubt we must not expect. ourselves wholly to Your Grace's judgment and care in the Choice of a gentleman suitable person for us

:

or

—

for us. I

would,

my

Lord, only humbly suggest farther, That whereas, what

we want,

short of a sufficient inducement to such a gentleman as

to

proposed

is

come

may

fall

into these remote

would, rather than any Remora should discourage his undertaking, if I live so long, willingly after three or four years, when he and the Governors are well satisfied in each other

parts,

I

resign to

him wholly as 1 would by no means stand in the way of having my College provided manner possible. The President's Salary, besides the house, is ^400 p' An" ;

for in the best

this currency including the Lecture, I

am,

my

which, with the perquisites, will be about ^£250 Sterling.

Lord, with great Veneration,

Your Grace's most obliged & most dutiful humble Servant (Signed)

Lieutenant-Governor I

De Lancey

Nev-Tork Bandle, Nn.,

to tJie p. 17.

Lords of Trade.

]

New York

My

Samuel Johnson.

16«''

February 1760.

Lords

On

the

14"' of

IS'*"

in the

evening I had the honor of three of your Lordships letters, of the IS"" & of the IQ"" of December, I shall trouble your Lordships with answers

November and

in the order they bear date; the

first

of these signifying His Majesty's

commands, that a

His Majesty's Colonies for the signal success of his Arms both by sea and land, particularly by the defeat of the French Army in Canada

Publick Thanksgiving should be solemnised

in all

and the taking of Quebec, in which events these Colonies are so particularly interested for Answer to this I have only to acquaint your Lordships that we were here so fully sensible of ;

the Divine blessing in the last year, that the

22''

of

November

was observed here, as a Day by Prayer in the Morning, gave to the Council, Assembly

last

of Publick Thanksgiving, on the Success of His Majesty's Arms,

George at Noon, a Grand Dinner I and principal Inhabitants, at which were present the whole Clergy of the several denominations in this City, and the Evening w.is concluded with Illuminations and Fire Works prepared for the occasion, without the least tumult or disorder, I enclose a printed Copy of my Proclamation Firing of the

Guns

at Fort

for this Occasion.

November, in relation to the Act for impowering Justices of the Peace to try causes to the value of five pounds and under did not as I said before, come to my hands till the 13"" instant, and I had given my assent to one of the like nature last year, only extended to the Mayors, Recorders and Aldermen of the two Cities of New York and

Your Lordships

letter of the 19"" of

Albany and the Borough of Westchester

in this Province.

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXV. On last,

this

head

1

beg leare

to refer

your Lordships

wherein I have given a succinct history of

assented to the Bill presented to nie the 29"' of

to

my

Letter to you of the 23* of January

this Justices

December

427

last,

Court and the reasons to

which

I shall add,

why

first,

I

that

whatever inconveniences have been complained of in other Colonies in relation to laws of none that I know of, have attended the execution of this, within this Province: 2'"^' That though the Judgment of the Justices may in some measure be said to be final, Yet this kind,

in all cases of

into the

manifest partiality or corruption, their judgments

Supreme Court (which

is

may be removed by

Certiorari

here in the Nature of the King's Bench) and there rectified

—

A third reason I shall add in favor of this law, which I mentioned in my former letter, is that the partiality in the Justice, if any, is corrected and rectified in a great measure, by the plaintifT or the defendant's having it in his power to demand a jury of six freeholders, so much as to the reasonableness and justice of the Law. View it now in a political light; the Justices are appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Council, therefore the greater their powers are, if they be not oppressive to the people, the greater weight and influence will the Government have, and be better able to carry on His Wherefore I humbly conceive that I have fully informed your Lordships Majesty's service. by this and my former letter referred to, of the grounds and motives for passing the law, and of the good effects the law passed in December 1758 has had in this Province, and I flatter myself they will appear sufficient to induce your Lordships not to lay it before His Majesty for his disapprobation, more especially as it is to have continuance only to the first of January 1764; But if notwithstanding what I have said, Your Lordships should be of opinion that the or the parties punished for any corruption.

—

would humbly propose, that your Lordships opinion to that purpose should be signified to me or whoever has the honor of commanding in this Province, that the Members of the Assembly and the People in general who are most earnestly desirous of the continuance of the Law, from the benefit and e.ise they receive from it, may be prepared by degrees to expect Act

is

improper,

I

His Majesty's disallowance of it. I come now to your Lordships

19* December: the Gentlemen of the Council on that head before them, many Escheats having formerly been granted without waiting for His Majesty's orders on such occasions. I am most thankfull to Your Lordships for the good opinion you entertain of me, and for your approbation of my conduct I can assure your Lordships of my most sincere zeal for the King's

were surprised when

letter of the

I laid the King's Instruction

;

do and shall always endeavour to exert on all occasions according to the best of my understanding, though I am sensible I have not that quickness and activity, which I have had and which might have contributed more to the service of the Father of his people.

service,

which

I

The Packet inclosed to me by your Lordships for the Governor of Nova Scotia, was forwarded with General Amherst's letters to that place through Boston, whence there are opportunities at all seasons to convey letters to Halifax, so that there is all reason to expect it'i coming to hand soon. I had the highest pleasure in receiving the Gazette giving an Account of Sir Edward Hawke's success against the Brest Fleet, nothing remained but this great event to complete the glory of 1759.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

428

have called the Assembly to meet on the 11"' of March, by which time T hope to receive an Order for the repayment of the Loan of ^150,000, And His Majesty's commands for the I

operations of this year. I

am

*

with the greatest regard

My

Lords

Your Lordships Most obedient and most humble servant

Right Honorable Lords Commissioners

for

Trade

&

Lords of Trade [New-York

To

Hon"'

the Right

W" Pitt

James De Lancey.

Plantations.

to

Secretary Pitt,

Enlrle», B. P., p. 162.

one of His

Maj'''"'

]

principal Secretaries of State.

Sir,

Commands, We have taken into our consideration, the subject by the 16"" inst relative to the proposals made by the Colonels of several provincial Battalions and by Major Brigade, Piiilip Sliene, for settling certain Tracts of Land in North America, and are of opinion, that the making settlements upon those Lands, In obedience to His Majestys

matter of your

letter to us

which are adjacent

to

:

the great Lakes and Waters, the possession of which, must in

consequences give possession of the Country, provided

it

its

be done with a proper regard to our

engagements with the Indians, is a measure of true wisdom and sound policy. That the Officers and Soldiers of the Provincial Battalions, which have been employed His

Maj"''' service, are in

in

every respect the properest persons for such settlements, for as on the

one hand, those habits of Industry peculiar

which they must be supposed

to

to the

American Colonists, and that knowledge,

have of the best manner of making

new

settlements, will

enable them, to improve their property to the best advantage to themselves, and consequently to the greater benefit of the publick, so on the other hand, they will

be enabled by their

and the use of Arms not only to defend that property, but also that of the Inhabitants of the other Colonies, to which they will be a Frontier. That this is no less, a measure of Justice in reference to what is certified by Gen' Amherst to have been the particular merit of those provincial Officers, than it is a measure of true

knowledge of military

discipline

policy in reference to public utility, and to private merit, that this

measure

is

it is

happy coincidence of public policy and Justice worthy the attention of Govern'. be wished, that the propositions transmitted by

this

in our opinion

upon these considerations greatly to Gen' Amherst had been attended with more precision as to the two following points. 1. The situation, extent and quantity of Acres comprised within the Lands petitioned It

is

of which, altho'

we

we have applyed

their description to every

Map and Chart

for,

in our possesion,

have not been able to form the most superficial estimation.

2.

The number

of persons proper to be settled, the quantity of

person, the terms of cultivation and Quit Rents, upon

Land

to

which the Grants are

be allowed each

to

be made, and

if

LONDON DOCUMENTS! XXXV.

429

they expect any incouragemeDt or Bounties from the publick, what the nature and extent of

them

all*'

The

be.

first

of tliese points,

is

essencially necessary to be

i^nown, as well in regard to the

claims either of jurisdiction or property, which publick corporations or private persons,

may

have to any part of these Lands, under former grants; as in reference to our engagements with the Indians, who may possibly claim part of them as their hunting grounds reserved to

them by the most solemn Treaties upon an exact observance of which, not only our

Interests,

but our Rights in regard to the Claims of other foreign powers do greatly depend.

The second of these points is no less essencially necessary, in reference to that system and mode of acquiring and possessing property in America, which the Crown has so wisely established in order to prevent the many evils and great discouragement to cultivation, which arose from persons obtaining extravagant Grants of Lands in order to make a Job of them, by fraudulent conveyances

Under these

&

other indirect practices.

difficulties

we would

therefore,

propose, that

we

should receive His

directions to transmit the memorials and other papers to the Lieut' Gov' of

New

Maj'^'*

York, within

which province the lands requested, seem from the general idea we have of their situation to be comprised, with orders to him to direct the Surveyor General of the Province, in conjunction with the Petitioners, or such persons as they shall appoint, to take an accurate and exact survey of the Lands, ascertaining the quantity of Acres comprehended within the whole, and distinguishing the Tract petitioned for by the provincial Colonels, from

thjit

Petitioned for by

Major of Brigades Skene, & accompanied with a Report in writing, certifying, within what province the Lands are situated, & whether any or what part thereof is claimed under former grants, which said plan and Report to be then transmitted to us, together with such further proposals, as the Petitioners shall think proper to deliver in, with respect to the

persons to be settled, the

Terms and

which have been already stated information,

make

it is

Measure

to be points of information

impossible for us to say, whether

the grants requested, or into execution.

We

if so,

number of

conditions of settlement, and the other particulars,

what

it

may

will be the proper

;

&

until

we have

this further

be adviseable or practicable to

and

legal

method of carrying the

are ettc.

Dunk Halifax T.

W. 21 Feb'' 1760.

E.

LONDON DOCUMENTS. XXXV. there are

many

some of which Expensive,

to

Tracts

&

survey them over again, besides

Complaint with the true Affiiirs)

Represent

to you,

& you may

same time must it

right, then

I

it

know

Case before me,

properly to the King, who,

be well assured,

desire,

you

would be of no

it

I

will

I

will (as his Majesty's

I

am

do what lays

my power

in

for

Do

can serve you, without being ashamed.

for Indian

interest, at the

with justice do.

nothing but what you are sure

If

Lands, then you and

Your

may

but such as you

appear litigious and unbrotherlike.

to

Agent

convinced, will order justice to be done

make no complaints

will

service to you; but if there

has been unjustly taken from you, and will lay Your

state of the

make any wrong claims

cause, or

you

will

by Your people formerly to the white people, It wouUi be an endless piece of work, &

sold

suppose were justly purchased:

I

be any land that you really

otherwise

Land

Parcels of

485

I

you should proceed will be reflected on,

in

is

an unjust

which

I

hope

will be carejull to avoid I

am Your

well wisher and loving Brother

W" Johnson To

the

Sachems of Conojohary A true Copy from the Records Examin'd by

R""

Shuckburoh

Seer' of Indian Affairs.

Te pwv'lSJ; the Provinces, as large a number of Men, as they ever have raised for any of the iai''*yw^*to*'raiU former Campaigns, instead of the quota, which was demanded the last year; their full Dumb«r of »» tt* r Men. yet. His Maj''' considering the high importance of the service, which makes the subject of this letter, and being desirous to ease the burthens of bis faithful subjects, as far as shall be consistent with their own safety, has been pleased to require only the same number of Men, as for the last year, in order thereby to facilitate a measure, so essential as the compleating the Regular Regiments, by Recruits to be furnished from the Provinces in N" America; and the King is persuaded that the said Provinces, duly sensible of His Maj'^"* tender and paternal care for their welfare, will in return, readily, and chearfully comply with the serving in that Country, be recruited, with

all

convenient expedition, to their

full

;

;

•'

*.

orders

now

•

,

•

i

i

•

i

.

i

i

i

i

i

sent you. I

am

ettc.

Egremont.

Whitehall Dec' 12. 1761.

Lieutenant -Oovemor Golden [

to the

Mcw-Tork Bondle, 0&,

Lords of Trade.

p. ST. ]

New

My

•

York Jan'» 11* 1762.

Lords

By my

had the honour to inform your Lordships of Judges Commissions be durcing their good behaviour ; & I gave your Lordships my reasons. Since which time, in October last, Benjamin Prat Esq. arived in this Province, with His Majesty's commands to me, under the signet and sign manual, to make out a commission for him, under the Seal of this Province, to be Chief Justice dureing His Mnjesty's pleasure, & Mr Prat's residence in the Province: which

my

letter of the 25"« of

having refused

my

September

assent to a

bill

last, I

to enact that the

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

484 is

This has freed

accordingly don.

me

from the

difficulties

I

was under, by

the other Judges

same

refuseing to act, unless they have their commissions dureing good behaviour; but at the

time

it

lays

Mr Prat under some

difficulties, as

he

a stranger to the practise in our Courts.

is

Notwithstanding that the Assembly knew the Tenor of M' Prat's commission,

commissions

&

His

Judges be granted dureing His Majesty^ s pleasure only, they absolutely refused to grant any sallary to the Chief Justice, or to any of the Judges, unless their commissions be dureing their good behaviour, and their sallary to be granted, even They allow no amendment to be made by the Council to in that case, for one year only. M.ijesty's Instruction, that

such

to the

bills.

At

this

time likewise, the Assembly sent up the same

Bill to

the Council, to which

I

had

twice refused my assent, viz to make the Judges commissions dureing good behaviour. The Council had a conference with the Assembly, to perswade them to add a clause to make the Judges Sallaries of the same continuance with their commissions, but without effect. The

Council therefor refused their concurrence, at this time,

passing this

in

of the Assembly, as to the Sallaries of the Judges, seems to

me

Bill.

This obstinacy

an evident proof of a formed

design of undue influence.

my letter of the 25"" of September, but beg leave to add some happened since. I sent a message to the Assembly, (a copy of other arising from what has which & the answer is inclosed) shewing that the usual allowance for the Sallary of the Chief This is too well known Justice is insufficient to support a family with the least distinction. to be denyed & there inclinations plainly appear, in their answer to have no Chief Justice unless he be a gentleman of Estate in this Province & to discourage the appointing of any other. This fallaceous argument takes with the people, tho, in my opinion, not only the King, I shall

not repeat the reasons in

but the Inhabitants likewise stranger,

who

connections

&

may more

safely trust the Administration

of Justice with a

who has numerous private Colony. Sure I am men of

has no private connections, than with an inhabitant, interests, opposite to those of

greater abilities

may

many

others in the

be found out of the Province than in

it.

&

M' Prat being under a necessity to return to Boston by his want of sallary, they expect that the Governer to prevent a failure of Justice, must be under a necessity, in a short time, of appointing a person in M' Prat's place who is ambitious of this office, & on such terms as he likes. From what I know of particular persons, I am perswaded this is their principal view. I must observe to your Lordships, that the yielding to this view may greatly affect the Few people in this Province have any dependence on a administration, in every part of it. an influence on every man in it; because no man knows Governor, but a Chief Justice has

The

when

puisne Judge having declined to act

he

may have

a dispute at law with his neighbour.

If then a

Chief Justice for

large family connections, form a party, to serve ambitious or interested views, the

must

either

we know no method

hypothesis, I

become the

tool of this party, or live in perpetual contention.

had, not long since, a glaring instance of to prevent these evils,

which

I

This

may

am

well informed,

The doing

prevent the Governor's being reduced to the dilemma, of either

appointing in the manner an interested or ambitious

without a Court of Justice.

not a meer

apprehend, but by his Majesty's granting

be don, without prejudice to any appointment on that fund, allready made.

of this without delay,

with

it.

a sallary to his Chief Justice, out of the Quit Rents of this Province; which, I

may

is

life,

Governor

man may

desire, or of leaving the Province

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. M' Prat has come

He was

to this place with the best character, as to his

the expense of his private fortune, to

him Chief Justice of

in appointing I

beg leave

may I

He

at the top of his profession at Boston.

to add,

may

shew

has

left

485 sitiil

in the

law and

a beneficial practice

integrity.

& now

lives at

honour His Majesty has don him, neglect of him must bear hard on him, 8c

his regard to the

A

this Province.

greatly affect the King's authority in this Province, by the influence

it

have on the minds of the people.

flatter

my

self,

that I need

make no excuse

for this trouble, as

proceeds from the sense

it

I

have of the duty of

My

Lords Your most obedient faithfull

&

servant

Cabwalladbr Coldbn. The Right honourable

the Lords Commissioners for Trade

Lords of

Plantatioas.

Ti'ode to Lieuienant-Govenuyr Colden. [

To Cadwallader Colden Esq'

&

N«w Tork EntriM,

Q., ITO. ]

Lieutenant Governor of

New

York.

Sir.

We

have received your

inconveniences

may

arise

of November last, and are fully aware that great from His Majesty's instructions to General Monckton not having

letter of the 23''

we

by enquiry made of Gerenal Monckton's Agent to whom both Commission and Instructions were intrusted that the Instructions were sent some time after by a safe hand, we hope they will have been received before this reaches you. If however they should have miscarried, the inclosed copy, certifyed by our Secretary, of been received with the commission; but as

that article which contains the to their rank

We

names of

find

the Council, will obviate any diflicultys with respect

and appointment.

have directed a carefull examination into the entry upon record in

this Office of

the

Hunter & Burnet and find that articles relating to the allowances to be made to the Lieutenant Governor in the absence of the Governor in Cheif, copys of which we inclose, were the same to both, and as they both correspond exactly with the original declaration of King William at the Treasury Board in 1697, a copy of which we also enclose, upon which declaration this instruction to all the Governors in America was founded, there is little reason to apprehend that there was ever such an interpolation, of a Clerk, as you suppose, but that the article was originally formed as it stands in the Instructions to the late Governor S' Charles Hardy and in those to General Monckton. We are &' &« Sandys SoAME Jenvns instructions given to Governors

Whitehall

Ed Bacon

Jan^ 20 1762

Edmond Thomas

:

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

486

Lieutenant-Governor Colden i

New-Tork Bundle,

Lords of Trade.

to the Oo., p. B9. ]

New My

York Jan-T

SS"- 1762.

Lords

The

last,

by a ship

which

I

had the honour

to Bristol, a duplicate of

your Lordships, was of the 11* of the month,

to write to

which

is

inclosed.

In the last Session of the General Assembly, begun the 24"' of

month January, I gave my Assent minutes of the Assembly likewise inclosed. of this

The

only act of Importance

New York;

in the Colony of

is

which expired

purpose.

I found

former.

at this time

The second

by

is

its

the

is

&

ending the

at the

8""

end of the

under great

The

thereto.

first

part of this

same with an Act formerly passed under the same

own

&

limitation,

has been found of great use for that new, and on a different plan from the

part, for the partition of lands, is

my self

November which

the Act for the more effectual collecting of His Majesti/s Quitrenls,

for partition of lands in order

Sf

Act, for collecting of the Quitrents, title,

to 17 Acts, a list of

difficulties in

giving

my

assent to

it

;

but both the Council

&

Assembly had it so much at heart, that, I found, the refuseing of my assent would lay me under a load, too heavy for me to bear alone. I hope to find some excuse for my sending with this, an Exemplification of the Act under the Seal of the Province, by the first Packet after it

was passed;

&

so soon, that in case His Majesty shall disallow of

it,

the Disallowance

may

reach this place, before the Act, can in any one instance, take effect by reason of the length of time requisite to give the previous notices & other previous steps necessary, before any partition

can be made.

The arguments used

Act

for the bill were, that the

is

principally designed, for the partition

of lands, which have lain long unimproved, by reason of the difficulties the patentees or their assigns are under, in

methods It is

makeing partition among themselves, don without too great expence,

in law, cannot be

& which, according to the common & very tedious proceedings.

certainly of prejudice to the Province that these lands remain uncultivated

Act gives no

title,

and as the nor can prejudice the rights of the Crown, nor of any other person, other

than the patentees, or their assigns,

However

I

it is

said,

must inform your Lordships, that

no equitable objection can be made this

Act

is

:

to

it.

principally intended, for the partition

of the great tracts of land, granted before the year 1708, paying trifling Quit rents,

&

in

by His Majesty's 51" Instruction to S' Charles Hardy, & dG"" Instruction to General Monckton, the Governor is directed ^ required to put in practise all methods whatsoever,

relation to which,

allowed by law, for breaking S^ annulling such exorbitant, irregular and unconditioned grants

of any step

difficulties therein, to report

to the

has been hitherto taken, for this purpose,

improvement of the Country, by

As them,

^

Plantations S^.

may seem

unreasonable

Commissioners of Trade it

not in

all,

are uncertain,

cate

to

prevent the

selling of these lands.

these grants do not mention the quantity of land granted, if

^ in

But as no one

& many

&

the boundaries, in most of

other irregularities appear on the face of them, on

breach of the trust which the King reposed in His Governor

who

granted them,

it

may

be

probable, that these grants are void in law; yet any attempt to break them, will lay a Governor of this Province under great difficulties, by reason, that the owners of these are generally of

great interest in the Province, case, in prejudice to the

&

will certainly

employ

all

Governor, which they can invent.

the most popular artifices, in such

LONDON DOCUMENTS It is

:

XXXVI.

4fy

proper to inform your Lordships on this occasion that the Governor of this Province

has not a single farthing allowed

any contingent expence,

for

&

therefor should he order

own pocket. The with men of no esteem every where else, when a Gentleman

prosecutions to annull any of these grants, the expence must be out of his

Attorney General's

office, for

upwards of 30 years Formerly, and

as to their skill in the law.

came

in the office of

Attorney General,

past, has

believe

I

been

filled

gave such reputation to his character, that he was

it

thereby introduced into a great share of practise in suits between private persons

some time

past,

we

no man intrusting his private

find

when he cannot

to the person with

but for

whom

the

This lays a Governor likewise often under

King's rights in this Province are intrusted. difficulties,

affiiirs

;

confide in the skill of the person,

whom

he ought to consult in

all

cases of law.

your Lordships

It is proper to inform

by reason of the many

farther, that,

uncertainties in

the description of the boundaries of these great tracts, the Patentees have extended their

boundaries in

many

originally intended,

Instances, so as to take in a

&

thereby

granted since that time, difficulty I got

&

paying

much

several instances

in

2|6. *

See mpra,

p. 488.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI.

503

and settlement have actually been made, we cannot but agree with the Petitioners that it will be productive of many mischievous and dangerous consequences, and therefore we think it our duty humbly to offer our opinion that for the several reasons set forth representation to Your

Majesty of the

ll""

immediately dispatched, requiring the said

November

last,

settlers fortlvwith

in

our humble

your royal orders should be to quit and remove from the

said Lands.

All

which

is

most humbly submitted

Sandys SoAME Jentns £d. Bacon Edhond Thomas Geo. Rick

Whitehall

June

3"*

'

1762.

John Roberts.

*»» Lord8 of Trade

to [

To Cadwallader Golden

Lieutenant-Oovemor Golden.

NeW'Tork Kolrlw,

Q..

IM- ]

Esq' Lieutenant Governor of

New

York.

Sir.

Since our letter to you of the 11* of duplicate of which

we

inclose,

we have

December and

that of the

20'»'

of January

last,

a

received yours of the 11* and 26* of January and 11*

of February, together with the Papers referred to in them. It

was with

the greatest concern that

we

found the

Lower House

of Assembly

still

persisting

His Majesty's just rights and authority, in the that they had taken such unjusti6able their unreasonable pretensions and that the com pell Government acquiesce in to measures to Puisn^ Judges had, by their conduct and declarations, in some degree countenanced and supported this measure. Under these circumstances it became our duty humbly to lay before His Majesty the whole of the proceedings upon this business, and we doubt not but that, in consequence therof, proper measures will be taken to support His Majesty's authority, and

in so undutifull

and indecent an opposition

to

case of the tenure of the Judges Commissions;

&

independence of the Courts of Justice; and as the character of M' Pratt, of which we have received the most favourable impression, and his discreet and steady behaviour upon this occasion, has certainly entitled him to His Majesty's favour, we have stated his case fully to his Majesty, and have recommended his having a temporary allowance to preserve the dignity

out of the Quit Rents, as proposed in your letter to us. in steadily adhereing to your instructions, by repeatedly refusing your Assent up from the Lower House, for making the Judges commissions during good behaviour, is very much to be commended but at the same time we cannot but be of opinion that you ought also, at all events, to have refused your assent to the Bill for the payment of the Officers salarys from September 1761. to Sept' 1762: for alth6 we are sensible that great inconveniency must have followed from it, to yourself and the rest of the Officers, yet no

Your conduct

to the Bill sent

;

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

504

kind at

conditions, of that

ought

least,

to

have induced you

to

acquiesce

unprecedented and unjust attack upon the authority of the Crown, and as this light,

We

we have thought

it

our duty humbly to propose that

have fully consider'd the Act

this

it

in

such

Act may be repealed.

His Majesty's Quit Rents

for the better collecting

an

appears to us in

&

for

Lands and we think from what appears upon the face of it, and from an examination of what has passed upon former Laws of the like kind, that it is not proper to be confirmed; but we have declined making any report upon it, untillMt shall have undergone the examination of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury within whose department it more particularly lies, to determine upon propositions that so materially affect His Majesty's

partition of

&

property

When

;

revenue.

whom we

their Lordships, to

sentiments upon

it,

we

lay

shall

it

have referred the Act,

before His Majesty

;

shall

in the

have favoured us with their

mean time we

are sorry to be

under the necessity of expressing our disapprobation of your conduct in assenting to a law to take place immediately, the execution of which, by the principles of the constitution as well as by the tenor of His Majesty's Instructions, does in so many particulars require to be suspended untill His Majesty's pleasure could have been known : and your conduct herein is

more exceptionable, as so many laws of this kind have been repealed and some of them upon representations of your own while acting in another Station. We acquainted you in our letter of the ll"" of December last that we had, in consequence of the doubts which had arisen upon the case of the Sampson Privateer, in respect to the want of a Jurisdiction in the Plantations for the tryal and punishment of murder committed within the Admirals Jurisdiction, laid a state of the case, with some questions upon it, before the

the Advocate, Attorney, and Sollicitor General.

The what

inclosed

Copy

of that case and questions with their answers thereto, will

their opinion has been

;

in

consequence of which we thought

it

shew you

our duty to propose to

His Majesty that a Bill should be prepared to be laid before Parliament for the more effectual trial and punishment in the Colonys of persons guilty of murder within the Admiral's Jurisdiction

;

and having received His Majesty's commands

advice and assistance of His Majesty's Advocate Attorney

&

to

prepare such a

Bill,

Solicitor General,

we

with the have

now

that matter under our consideration

We

are, Sir

Your most obedient humble Servants Sandys' Ed Bacon :

Thomas George Rice John Roberts. Edm"*

Whitehall

June '

11, 1762.

Samukl Sandys was the son of Sir Samuel of Ombersley, and was returned to Parliament in 1111, as representative for He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in 17-t made a peer by the title of Baron Sandys in 1743

Worcestershire.

I

Cufferer of the household in 1747

House of Lords.

He

;

died 21 April,

Chief Justice in Eyre, 1759; was 1

770.

— Ed.

;

first

Lord of Trade 1761

— 1768,

and Speaker of the

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXVI.

:

Representation of the Lords of Trade respecting [

To ^^ay

the Kino's

it

Ntw-Tork BntrlM,

Q.,

SOa

tJie

505

AssemUy of New • York.

]

Most Excellent Majestt.

'

please your Majesty.

Since our humble Representation to your Majesty of the 11* and IS* of November last upon the

measures which

had been

granting lands upon the

We

in

Mohawk

agitation

in

Your Majesty's Province of

New York

for

River and for making the Judges Commissions during good

have received two other

letters from the Lieutenant Governor of that Province January and ll* of February last containing a further account of the proceedings of the General Assembly with respect to the latter point. In these letters M' Golden informs us that Benjamin Pratt Esq. having arrived in October with your Majesty's royall warrant to be Chief Justice during Your Majesty's pleasure and his residence, his commission had accordingly been pass'd under the Seal of the Province; that the Assembly

behaviour;

11"* of

dated the

notwithstanding the that

Commissions

refused

knew

to the

grant any

to

the tenor of M' Pratt's commission and of Your Majesty's instruction,

Judges be granted during Your Majesty's pleasure only, absolutely

salary

to

the

Chief Justice or

commissions were made during good behaviour,

&

to

any of the Judges, unless

their

resolved, even in that case, to grant such

salary for one year only: and in conformity to these Resolutions

it

appears that in December

an Act was passed for the Payment of the Salaries and Services of the Several Officers of the Government to the first day of September 1762, in which a certain salary is granted for the year to the Chief Justice and to each of the three inferior Judges, on the express condition that they hold their Commissions during good behaviour.

The Assembly at the same time sent up to the Council the same Bill to which the Lieutenant Governor had twice refused his assent, for making the Judges Commissions during good behaviour. But the Council after a conference in which they endeavoured ( but without effect) to persuade the Assembly to add a clause to make the Judges Salaries of the same continuance with their commissions, refused their concurrence to the

With

Bill.

it appears by Supreme Court presented a memorial to the the commissions formerly granted to them by the late Governor

respect to the conduct of the Judges themselves during these transactions

the minutes of Council that the three Judges of the

Lieutenant Governor reciting

during good behaviour and praying,

for the

the like tenor might be granted to them of the Memorialists at

first

;

reasons therein set forth, that

new commissions

that the memorial being consider'd in Council

declared they would not accept of

new commissions different

of

two

in their

if, by any future good behaviour, he would

tenor from those they then held, but afterwards upon M' Colden's promise that instruction he should be authorized to grant those offices during

accept their resignations and

commissions during pleasure, the public justice.

Act was and had

It

reappoint

accordingly.

They

on those terms accept do might impede that when the above mentioned did

in consideration only that their refusal so to

appears however by M' Colden's letters

passed, with a proviso which deprived them of salary, they declined acting as Judges, it

not been for the disinterested zeal of M' Pratt, the administration of Justice had

totally ceased in the Province.

Vol.

Vn.

64

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

506

November last, we have so fully stated your Majesty our humble opinion upon the impropriety of appointing the Judges in the Colonies during good behaviour, and the conduct of the Assembly in persisting to contest this In our above mentioned Representation of the 11"" of

to

point and at the same time to refuse making any other than an annual provision for the Judges; that

we have

M' Colden's

only at present to lay before Your Majesty the annexed Copies and extracts of letters,

of the Act, and of the Minutes of Council above mentioned

submitting to your Majesty's consideration what measures

it

may

be proper to take,

humbly

;

in a

matter

of so great importance to the maintenance of your Majesty's just authority, to the rights and

property of the subject, and consequently to the Peace and Prosperity of the Province.

But besides the importance of conceive

it

to

this

question

consider'd in

its

general light,

merit attention with respect to the particular hardship which

it

M'Colden observes was at the top of his profession at Boston, where he practice, and came to New York with the best character as well with regard to who,

as

to his skill in the

law and

private fortune, as

we

now

acts alone in the service of the publick at the

entirely agree in opinion with the Lieutenant

we humbly

lays on left

M'

Pratt,

a beneficial

his integrity as

expence of his

Governor that

if

this

gentleman be neglected under so singular a hardship, the consequences will greatly affect your Majesty's authority in every part of Administration, we cannot but adopt and humbly

recommend M' Colden's proposition that your Majesty would be graciously pleased to grant to M' Pratt as Chief Justice of New York a salary out of your Quit Rents in that Province. But lest such appointment be construed by the Assembly to release them from all further obligation of providing for a Chief Justice, in futuro, we would humbly propose that the grant of such salary be made not generally to the office of Chief Justice, but confin'd personally to M' Pratt and to continue only untill the Assembly shall return to a sense of their duty and make proper provision for the Chief Justice's support.

We

beg leave humbly to observe to your Majesty that however commendable M' Colden's conduct has been in persisting to refuse his Assent to the Bill for making the Judges commissions during good behaviour, he appears to us to be blameable in having pass'd the Act, further

for Payment of Salaries and Services S(C whereby the salaries of the Judges are made dependent on a condition expressly contrary to Your Majesty's instruction in that behalf. To justify his

M' Colden alleges that the proviso was inserted in hopes that for that Bill, and that he thought it more eligible to suffer the Judges only to be without salaries than that they and all the other officers of government should be without any support. But however desirable it may be that Your Majesty's officers be duly and regularly conduct in

this particular

reason he should reject the

provided

for,

it

appears to us so very expedient that your Majesty's disapprobation of the in passing that Act should be expressed, that we think it our duty

conduct of the legislature

humbly

to lay the said

Act before your Majesty All

for

your royal disallowance.

which

is

most humbly submitted

Sandys Ed: Bacon Whitehall

June

11,

1762

Edmond Thomas Geo Rice. :

LONDON DOCUMENTS ArcIibUhop Seeker ["AiiMrieuiColoolM

to the

118.,"

Lamboth

:

XXXVI.

507

Reverend Dr. Johnson. Hatn.]

Ptlao*, No. lin,IIl.,

Lambeth

Oct. 6 1762.

Good D' Johnson I

am

fallen

again into

my

old fault of not answering your letters regularly.

have more business here than

On

the

first

of June the

Gout

months, from subscribing

my

declining health will permit

seized

my name

my with

right it:

me

hand and disabled me,

nor

is it

well yet.

to

I think for

When

But indeed

go through as

it

grew

I

I

ought.

more than two better,

my

left

hand was attacked: and as that mended, the same distemper laid hold on one Foot and Knee, of which it is now in possession, not without threatening the other. But God's will be done. I hope M' Cooper is or soon will be with you, and will answer Expectation. I gave him such advice as

I

it was that he should consult you, and follow your directioa promised him to send some books af^er him: and they were carried for that

could: the best part of

in every thing.

I

You will be pleased to tell him this, and to add, him they would, such Duplicates from amongst my books, good or bad, as I could spare: for I have lent the rest of my duplicates to my Chaplains. D' Jay hath undoubtedly acquainted you with what hath been done for the two Colleges. I approved Lord President opposed your the proposal of a joint Collection, as the best way for both. College very strongly ; and engaged Lord Egremont, Secretary of State, to take the same D' Smith hath acted very honorably and disinterestedly side : but at last we got the better. in this whole affair: and was well contented with my procuring twice as much from the King for New York College, as for Philadelpha, because the former is a Royal Foundation, and hath no other Patron. A Pamphlet, hath been sent me from America, entitled, " The real advantages which Ministers and People may enjoy by conforming to the Church of England faithfully considered and impartially represented." It is written in a ludicrous manner, yet with strange virulence, and seems likely enough to do great mischief. Yet surely the Dissenters, who have any seriousness, cannot approve such a method of writing against us at least, they might be purpose three days ago to D' Jay's lodgings.

that they are only

what

1

told

:

by the prudent use of very mild and friendly Remonstrances, setting forth the uncharitableness of such treatment, and the injustice of such Representations. With brought to disapprove

it,

the author himself stronger Expostulations, yet grave and gentle ones, might be used: begging

him, with

fit

expressions of concern for him, on

some of the more

flagrant enormities of hia

who are not of our Church, one should hope* might thus be brought over to take part with us. And other ways of answering, The American facts, alleged or I apprehend, would do us little good, but perhaps much harm. alluded to, are so many, that no one who hath not been a good while in our Colonies, can make a full answer, unless more than ordinary pains were taken to furnish him with materials. And an intemperate answer would be, and a defective one might be, worse than none. I had pen, to consider

what

spirit

he

is of.

Some good

persons,

D' Smith was gone out of town to the North. A letter hath been brought me, within these two days, from M' Caner, dated Aug. 9. with an Act of the Assembly at Boston, passed in May, to incorporate a Society I know none of for propagating Christian knowledge amongst the Indians of North America. not an opportunity of knowing the contents of this Pamphlet,

them by that

their

till

names, unless the Author of the just mentioned Pamphlet be one

no persons are members by virtue of their Stations:

if

:

but

1

observe,

any of them be Churchmen, I

:

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

508

should be glad to know it. They are accountable only to themselves: and therefore may abuse their trust as much as they please and I should fear they would abuse it to the disadvantage of our Society, and the strengthening of the Dissenting interest. If the matter ;

appears

in

The Act

the same light to our American friends,

lies

I

wonder we had not

earlier notice of

it.

before the Board of Trade here, and might possibly have received the Royal

Assent some time ago. Were our Society to oppose it, we should charged with doing little or nothing ourselves and hindering others. The danger of its hurting our Society will, I doubt,

men and that of its benefitting the Dissenters, not very many. by our Missionaries will be of no use on several accounts: particularly because its Fate will be decided here; where possibly we may be able to stop it for the present, though I am not sure of that: and much less, what can be done, if it comes back another year amended. I should have said one thing more about the Pamphlet, which is more material affect

but few of our great

Invectives against

than

:

it

the rest, that whereinsoever

all

and mend, which May. I have been

it

we

we

are justly accused. Clergy or People,

answer

the only good

is

in

The

such cases.

should

Society hath not

met

own since

and the Bishops, the Secretary, and the Treasurer out of Town. In the mean time I have paid the Bill of 500" from your College out of my own pocket. And I think I have secured from the Crown 170" for the damages done by the soldiers to M' ill

;

Charltons Glebe in Staten Island.

Whether

I

be able to go to

shall

it

shall talk over matters with such as

another Letter. AflFairs,

But

that no one hath hitherto intimated to I

am

And then

I

me

God

bless you,

I

fail

to be

at least I

purpose,

a Meeting next week.

promise myself, that

God

willing, to write

I

you

in yours of last April relative to Society

must go no

further at present.

Only

I

assure you,

the least desire of the office of a Bishop in America

entirely of your opinion, that the

already settled there.

But

very doubtful.

is

can go.

For there are several particulars

yet unanswered by me.

and that

hope there will not

I

Crown

good D' Johnson.

should not begin with Clergymen

Pray

for

Your loving Brother

Sir Jeffery Amherst [New- York Bundle,

to

Mr. Shar^e.

Co., p. 81.1

(Copy.)

New

York

20'"

October 1762.

Sir

His Majesty's Order in Council bearing date the lO"" June 1762, with the Papers thereunto annexed relative to the granting a Settlement to Captain Rutherford, Lieu' Duncan and others, on the carrying place at Niagara, did not come to my hands 'till within these four days; the Packet having been addressed to me or the Commander in Chief of the Colony of Virginia, for

went first to Williamsburgh, which is the reason of my not obeying His Majesty's gracious commands, contained in the said Order before now Before I enter upon the subject of Complaint from the Merchants of Albany, I must beg

the time being,

it

have of the tenderness shewn by His Majesty and the most if I had acted wrong, it might be through want of that kind ; And I humbly hope, it will fully appear, from a perusal

leave to express the high sense

I

honourable Board, upon a supposition, that of information, in affairs

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXVI.

:

509

it never was my intention to assume an Authority of granting have done, was intended solely for the good of the Publick in general. In the Month of April 1761 I received a Memorial from Captain Rutherfurd, Lieu' Duncan

of the enclosed papers that

what

lands, and that

and others

1

requesting

;

me

to

make

application that they might have a Grant of land, on the

carrying place at Niagara, and setting forth, that great advantages must accrue to the Trade in general by settling these lands: in the

mean

time, they begged to have leave to send up

some

I was so thoroughly convinced of the utility of such a proposal, that I them a Permit, until the King's pleasure was known, but without the least as the Trade to the Detroit and clause, that could entitle them to an exclusive right of trade throughout every part of His Majesty's Dominions on this Continent, has been entirely free,

families, cattle &c'

readily granted

;

ever since the reduction of Canada. I

was

so far from thinking that

reported what

Subject

&

is

I

I

had a right

to grant these lands, that I

had done to His Majesty's Secretary of State: an Extract of ray

immediately letter

on that

enclosed (N" 1) and Copies of the Memorial and permit therein referred to (N" 2

3) but as

I

received no Answer, the Memorialists have only

made

settlement, as I constantly assured them, that I could give no further

a small temporary

title, until

the King's

was signified concerning their Rights; I have now in obedience to His Majesty's commands, sent orders to the Commandant at Niagara, to put a stop to any settlements on the carrying place, and I enclose a copy of these Orders (N" 4) which I humbly trust will meet pleasure

with His Majesty's Approbation. If I

may

take the liberty, I can't but say, I

am

still

of the

same

opinion, respecting the

and advantage, that will arise to the Country by settling the lands in Question, and I beg leave, with the utmost deference and submission to the most Hon'"'* Board to represent that, nothing can be more conducive to the security of the distant posts, the advantage of the traders in general ( while every one that adheres to the rules prescribed are free to trade with utility

the Indians) and of those whose

affairs

require

them

to pass

and repass, than the peopling

of the Tracts of Land, situated near our Forts and particularly such a spot as that of the carrying place at Niagara.

That the August Board may be thoroughly informed of every step that has been taken by me in regard to lands in this country since I had the honour to command, I herewith transmit copies of the Applications that have been

my

made

to

me

with

my

answers thereto

&

likewise

His Majesty's Secretary of State, informing him of these applications and what I had done thereon : This necessarily makes my answer more prolix than I could wish, but I hope the most honourable Board will excuse this fault, as it is occasioned by a desire of acquainting them with the whole of my proceedings, with respect to my giving Extracts of

letters to

permission to settle any lands in this Country. It

appearing to

me

absolutely necessary to

my

fix

certain boundaries at each of the principal

the Secretary of State (N' 6) I accordingly gave orders to the respective Commandants, mentioning the particular limits to each Fort, a Copy Forts, for the reasons urged in

letter to

Commandant at Niagara of which similar Orders were given to all the rest, is (N" enclosed 6) As the fixing these Boundarys were purely intended for the King's service, without the least view of Advantage to any private person whatever, I flatter myself they were approved of by His Majesty, as I never had any answer to the contrary. of those to the

The permit to Jeffery Cooper (N" 7) Fort Edward & Lake George, was only

to

occupy the small Post at half way Brook between

intended for the preservation of the Barracks

&;c.

that

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

510

had been erected there, & for the conveniency of Passengers, as I judged it unnecessary after the reduction of Canada; to leave a Garrison at that Post. The Permit (N" 8) to John Macomb is meant wholly for the conveniency of Passengers, and it has proved to be of great use. N" 9. is an Extract of my letter to the Secretary of State inclosing Memorials from the Provincial Colonels for a Tract of land between Crown Point and Number 4; & from Major of Brigade Skene for a Patent of the Lands between South-Bay, East Bay and the Garrison land of Fort Edward; N" 10 & 11. are copies of these Memorials & N° 12. my answer to the Provincial Colonels; whereby it will I humbly conceive, appear that I carefully avoided any thing, that could be deemed the granting, or giving any title to lands, until His Majesty was Nothing has been done by the Provincial Colonels towards the

pleased to confirm the same.

settlement of these lands, although they have several times renewed their application to me,

and I have as often reiterated, that they must wait until the King's pleasure was known The same answer I have given to Major of Brigade Skene concerning the Lands he petitioned for, and altho he has cleared a small part of the Country at South Bay, yet nothing like a fixed :

Settlement has been made, as

have never granted him permission

I

for that purpose.

whole that has passed, in regard to my giving any permission for 'tho' I have had a multiplicity of applications, which I imagine, may appear less strange from the very vast extent of Country that has been subdued by His Majesty's Arms, and the inclination of people here for settling on new grounds, who for want of being rightly informed have applyed to me, & have been constantly told, I could not I have

settling

now

Lands

related the in the

Country,

give grants, and where

I

judged they should make their applications.

command

I beg leave to add, that since I have had the honour to

endeavoured, as

far as lay in

by giving passes

my

to every one

power,

who

to

keep up an open and

applied for the same, and

free

who

in this

Country,

1

have

Trade with the Indians, observed the regulations

no Fees, or Rewards of any kind have been permitted to be taken for licences, or passports I hope I need not say that no Advantage whatever has resulted to myself, but that which is indeed the highest of all, a Consciousness, that what I have done is for the Wellfare of His Majesty's Subjects, and the good of the Country in General, in which light, I most humbly I hope, my conduct will appear to the King and the fixed for carrying

on the Trade

;

;

most honble Board. I

am

with great regard Sir

William Sharpe

Your most humble & most obedient Jeffery Amherst (signed)

Esq''

Sir

William Jolmson [

New-Tork,

to

S. P. O.,

Sir Jeffery Amherst. XCVIII., No.

8. ]

Johnson Hall 18 Decemb. 1762.

(Copy\ Sir

Your Excellency minutes of the proceedings of Lieut. Johnson when he arrived here on the 13'^ instant. from with the Indians at Onondaga I

have the honor

to transmit

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. As

the Senecas did not attend, he, agreable to

the Chiefs of three of the Six Nations,

who

my

511

orders delivered

not only expressed

what he was

much concern

at the

but promised that in case the Senecas did not deliver up the murderers ihey would go of

them themselves;

to say to

murder, in

quest

and from the warmth with which the

as will appear by the minutes;

Nations express themselves, as well in public as in private conversation, tbey

rest of the

appear determined to do us justice.

On

the return of the

Mohawk Deputy, whom

I shall be able to acquaint

I

Your Excellency what

now

daily expect from the Senecas Country,

farther

is

done therein

;

and

am

I

confident

from the behaviour of the rest of the Nations that they will do every thing in their power for the apprehending the criminals, tho' they expect, and

with some opposition therein, from

many

I

am

likewise of opinion they

of the Senecas,

who

still

retain

may meet

the advice and

councils of the French Emissaries resideing amongst them, and do not yet appear heartily

disposed towards us.

Some

time ago I'received a letter from L' Gov' Fauquier' of Virginia, with an answer to a

message of the Six Nations, desiring a passage thro' that country against the Southern Indians; in which answer he acquaints them of the Peace made between the English and Che/okees, &

them to pass thro' the back parts of that Government by Shamokin, and so by the Western foot of the Allegany mountains with all which the Indians were made acquainted at Onondaga. therefore advised

;

I

have the honour

to be,

with the utmost esteem

Sir

Your Excellency's &'

W"

JoHNSoir. (Indorsed) " Copy. Letter from Sir W. Johnson to Sir Jeffery Amherst, Dated Johnson " Hall 18. Dec. 1762. Enclosing a Copy of what passed at a Conference with " the Indians at Onondaga, relative to a murder committed by two Kanestio

" Indians on two of His Majesty's subjects near one of the Seneca's Castles "

In Sir J. Amherst's of Jan 27, 1763.

Proceedings of Lieutenant

Guy Johnson

with the Indians at Onondaga.

tHa4.J

Minutes of the Proceedings of Lieu'

Guy Johnson Dep' Agent

for Indian Affairs

with the Indians at Onondaga December 1762, in consequence of a murder committed by two Indians of Kanestio on two of His Majesty's subjects

who were Nov'

28"' Lieut.

two Mohawk

passing thro' the Seneca's country.

Johnson set out from the German Flatts accompanied by Deputys from the and an Interpreter.

Castles,

• Feaiccb FAWjuiia became Lieutenant-GoTernor of Virginia on the 7th Jane, 1768, and administered the affaire of that Colony until hia death, whieh occnrred late in 1707, or in the beginning of 1768. He waa well adaeated, had fine talente eustained an excellent character, and proved himself a friend of religion, science and libertj. His administration was vary

popular^

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

512

Upper Oneida Castle and pursuant to his instructions assembled all the home, and after acquainting them with the cause of his journey, told them, that he expected they would concurr with him in insisting on the immediate delivery op of the murderers, at the Onondaga meeting, which they promised to do, expressing great concern at the murder, with the particulars of which they had not been before acquainted. Explained to them His Majesty's instructions to the Governor of New York concerning their lands, and returned them the Belt which they had formerly delivered Sir William Johnson relative thereto, which gave them great satisfaction. December 1" Lieu' Johnson arrived at Canowaroghere' a new village of the Oneida's, and having acquainted them in like manner as at Oneida, he received a very satisfactory answer. December 2* Arrived at Ganaghsaragey* a Tuscarora village where he likewise repeated to Sequaresere the Chief Sachem, what he had said at the other villages; on which Sequaresere acquainted him that he would prepare to attend the Onondaga meeting. 4** Lieu* Johnson arrived at Onondaga, and was received and wellcomed by the Bunt Chief Sachem of that Nation, who having assembled all the principal Sachems &' who were at home, the Speaker then addressed Lieut Johnson, and the Mohock's, returning thanks to the Great Being for their safe arrival at so bad a season of the year. Then went thro' the usual ceremonies of plucking the thorns out of their feet and clearing their sight by wiping away the tears which must have been shed on the late melancholy occasion ; which he declared gave their nation the utmost concern, and that they saw with regret that notwithstanding they had been continually endeavoring to preserve peace, and adhere to their treaties, there were still some people bad enough to break thro' their solemn engagements and defeat their Gave Three Strings good intentions. Then Canadagaya, Sachem of the Mohocks, returned the ceremony by clearing their sight, which he said must be overcast likewise on such an occasion; observing with the utmost concern, of what little importance the several engagements were considered by some, since they were so repeatedly infringed as to create many fruitless journeys for the Old People. 30*^ Arrived at the

Indians

who were

at

Three Strings, them that the Cayugas had sent word they were in readiness to attend the meeting on the arrival of the Senecas whom they would accompany to Onondaga. 6*^ Sequaresere, and several other Sachems of Tuscarora arrived Lieut. Johnson gave the Onondagas notice that as the arrival of the Senecas appeared to be uncertain, he should, agreable to his instructions, deliver them what he had to say, tomorrow.

Then

the Speaker acquainted

;

At a Meeting held

Present

at

—

Onondaga Dec'

6'^

with the Indians there assembled.

Lieut.

Guy Johnson Dep^ Agent

Mynd'

Wemp

W" Printup,

residing as a

for Indian Affairs.

Smith

at

Onondaga.

Interpreter.

The Bunt, & several other Sachems of Onondaga Canadagaya and other Sachems of the Mohocks Sequaresere & other Sachems of the Tuscaroras. Teyawarunte Speaker of Onondaga returned Lieut. Johnson the two Strings of Wampum by Sir W" Johnson, saying that on receipt of them they immediately returned from Hunting to hold the Meeting. sent thither

•

S«« TuAt, mpra,

p. 101.

'

C»n»ser«g«, in U>« toirn of SolliTan, Ooeid* Oonntj,

IT.

T.

— En,

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. Then

518

Lieut. Johnson addressed them.

Bretheren of the Nations here assembled. In pursuance of Sir

came

to attend the

W"

Johnson's instructions to

n-.e

as

Deputy Agent

for Indian Affhirs,

I

meeting, which he received advice was to have been immediately held here,

consequence of the late murder committed by two Indians of Kanestio, on two of his Majesty's subjects, with the particulars of which you are now all acquainted. Astlie barbarous in

act of hostility has been perpetrated

upwards of a month

am

sorry to find that notwithstanding their residence

but

I

fire

than mine,

I shall

I

now

have

so

much

have ago

nearer to your Council

been here three days without hearing any thing of their approach.

therefore deliver you

what

I

have

my

before the other Nations, as neither

my

is

my arrival to my journey some time

expected on

I

found the iSenecas assembled, especially as they received notice of

to

say on this occasion, which

I

desire

you

will lay

instructions nor the season of the year will admit of

tarrying any longer.

Bretheren.

I

am

hopefull that

all

you present and

all

those

who

are desirous to preserve

peace and keep on good terms with the English, must be greatly concerned at the

late publick.

breach thereof, and will take every possible measure for procuring us the just satisfaction

which we

require.

immediately brought

therefore, agreable to

I

down

the country

&

my

orders insist on the two murderers being

delivered up to justice, that the

law may take

its

course against them, and thereby deterr others from being guilty of such crimes as claim our highest resentment; which have been of\en committed without our obtaining any satisfaction,

&

which we can no longer pass over, or look upon with indifierence. If any of the greatest powers in Europe had offered us such treatment, and did not, on our application for redress, immediately deliver up the criminals, we should without further delay take satisfaction ourselves; nor could

we I

we

when

be considered as infringers of the peace for revenging an injury

could not obtain the just redress.

know

that on the arrival of the rest of the Nations they will probably talk of the Old

Agreement and that such yourselves

how

very

afi*air8

trifiling

made up without further bloodshed; but imagine to must appear, and how idle it is to suppose that any sett of in their power to murder their friends at discretion, without

should be

that

people whatsoever should have

it

meeting with the punishment due to such crimes.

In vain are

all treaties, in

vain

all

the promises

you have so repeatedly made, of preserving peace, whilst every villain is left at liberty to Yourselves would too soon feel the fatal effects of infringe the same every day with impunity. such a toleration, as too

many

of our people might be thereby induced to return such treatment

on the Indians, when they found there was no punishment for the heinous crime of murder, so destructive to peace and civil society. I know likewise that the other nations may be apt to say that the murderers are fled, or that they cannot find them

;

the English will not be

but dont suffer yourselves to be deceived by such flagrant excuses, for

amused

or put off with such storys,

can be immediately apprehended

if

&

they

know

that these murderers

the Six Nations are disposed to seek for them and give

them up.

You have now

therefore a very good opportunity to

shew your

resolution to adhere to the treaties so repeatedly ratified and

winter before S'

W" Johnson.

I

therefore desire

you

will not

inclination for peace and

omit acquainting the

Nations with what I have said upon this occasion, and remember that

Vol. VII.

66

your

confirmed, and particularly last

'tis

rest of the

expected and insisted

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

514 on, that all those

who

are willing to preserve peace and the friendship of the English will exert

themselves to the utmost, in procuring the murderers to be immediately delivered up, as the only means to prevent us from being reduced to the necessity of taking satisfaction ourselves.

Gave

a Belt of 8

Rows.

Bretheren In consequence of the message which you sent last summer from Lancaster to the Governor of Virginia concerning a passage thro' his country against the Southern Indians, he has transmitted an answer

in writing,

together with a Belt of

Wampum, which Gave a

before you [Here explained L' Gov' Fauquier's answer] and

Bretheren. ^The Kings of France and Spain having

sufltired so

I

now

lay

Beit.

severely by the

war from the

great successes with which the Almighty has crowned the just cause and superiour valour of

which it is imagined His Britannick Majesty from his natural clemency will be induced to grant them in which the security and advantage of His Majesty's dominfons in North America and the safety welfare and protection of all his faithfull Indian allies will be strictly attended to ; and you may rest assured that all the English, are at length reduced to sollicit for a peace

;

those Nations of Indians

esteem

for

who

shall

His Majesty's subjects,

in all their just rights

by their conduct manifest their regard

may

peace and their

for

rely with the utmost confidence on his favor

and possessions agreable to

and protection

his Royall Declaration.

Teyawarunte answered Brother.

We

have

all

paid great attention to

what you have now

said,

with which

we

are very well

pleased and heartily agree to do every thing on our parts at the arrival of the rest of the Indians,

towards obtaining your desire

;

but as the same

is

a weighty affair and will, together with that

concerning the Governor of Virginia, require some deliberation,

remain here tomorrow,

To which

untill

we

we

therefore request

you

will

have prepared a proper answer to your speech.

Lieut. Johnson answered.

Brethren.

Notwithstanding the lateness of the season and the great with horses thro' the deep snow,

when

I

hope

broke up T""

'

P.

to receive

for that

a

full

difficulty there will

be in travelling

your request tarry one day longer, and satisfactory answer to what I have said. Then the Meeting I

shall nevertheless at

Day.

M. The Indians assembled

Phesent^^

as before

Teyawarunte addressed Lieu' Johnson

as follows:

Brother.

We

have

all

heard and carefully attended

hard, both on your parts and ours, as

it

to

your speech, and must confess the case

cannot but give us the greatest uneasiness

is

to

very think

that a village like Kanestio* composed of stragglers from several nations should have to act a part so contrary to the sentiments *

and inclinations of the confederacy.

This was said to thera in consequence of a Report which prevailed that a peace was near at hand, by which Canada would to the French.

he restored '

presumed For our parts

In the present coanty of Stenben, S. Y., where a creek

still

retains the name.

— Ed.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVT. we

assure you that

we

power

are determined to do every thing in our

satisfaclion so justly required, but

we

are very desirous

first

515

to

for

procuring you that

Upper Nations

see the

acquaint them with your speech, and be informed what they have done in the

hope that their present delay

we

beg you

owing

is

being

to their

will rest satisfied untill the arrivall of the

in quest of the

murderers.

Upper Nations, and

do not immediately comply with your demand, you may

we

rest assured

to

we

Therefore

in case the

shall

and

affair,

Senecas

without farther

delay go in search of the Murderers, being unanimously resolved to pursue them to the utmost distant parts, rather than

Brother.

We

of convincing you

fail

how much we

disapprove of their barbarity.

are strangers to the message which you mention to have been sent to the

L' Governor of Virginia, and conjecture

it

must have been done by a

particulars of

what they

sent.

However we

return the L' Governor of

and friendly answer, and beg leave

for his kind

to assure

our warriors who we cannot know the Virginia many thanks

flew of

attended the treaty at Lancaster and are at present hunting; so that

him of our regard

for

him and the

people of this Province.

end is likely to be put to war, & that good a peace, and we return our sincere thanks to the Great King for the regard which he shews for our welfare and the security of our possessions and we shall at all times be glad to convince him that we have nothing more at heart than the preservation of peace and friendship with all his people in America. Brother.

It

gives us

much

satisfaction to hear that an

make

our Brethren the English are likely to

so

;

Lieut. Johnson answered them.

Brethren.

am

I

glad to find you express so

much concern on account

of the late murder.

As

it

will

be your interest to adhere to your present resolutions, which only can convince the English of

your desire measures

must

to preserve their friendship, I

for

procuring the murderers as

engagements, and your inclination

may

to bring

insist

you

will

without further delay take such

manifest your strict attention to your repeated

any Indians to

justice,

who

shall

presume

to violate

the peace and alliance subsisting between the English and you; for I must assure you that

nothing less than the immediate performance of your promise will atone for so barbarous

an

insult.

Then 8'^

Lieut.

John [son] took

his leave of them.

Early in the morning a Seneca Indian

a large Belt of

Wampum

who had been

to his Nation, requiring

at

Onondaga was dispatched with

them, without farther delay, to apprehend

and deliver up the Murderers, as nothing else would satisfy the other Nations. The Seneca Indian was accompanied by David a Conajoharee Indian, who was sent in the name of the

Mohocks

to

know

the Senecas final resolution.

Shortly afler, Lieut. Johnson

Hall on the

left

Onondaga

in order to return back,

and arrived at Johnson

13*>'

and most convincing proofs of his Majesty's gracious and friendly Intentions I have already received and transmitted the King's commands to this

to give the earliest

on this head, that purpose

my

Governors of Virginia, the two Carolinas

to the

Affairs in the

&

circular letter to

them on

&

Georgia,

Southern Department, as your Lordships will see

to the

Agent

for Indian

fully in the inclosed

copy of

this subject.

Having thus executed the King's commands with regard to such questions as relate to North America in general, I am to signify to your Lordships his Majesty's further pleasure that you do take into considereation the following Queries which concern some Parts of that continent in particular.

The

c.nmd» and N«wfomKitand.

first

and most important object

Lordships will furnish

all

is

the Fishery with regard to which Your

the Lights you possibly can in order to shew,

Whether the French had made any Incroachments with regard what is stipulated on this head by the Treaty of Utrecht?

How most

these Incroachments

eflfectually

preserve peace

What

obviate

&

all

may

be most easily prevented by such timely precautions as

may

Disputes between the subjects of both Crowns in those Parts, and

tranquility there for the future?

Inconvenience or Disadvantage

the Fishery

to the Fishery contrary to

may

Northern Colonies, or to

arise to his Majesty's

those parts, from the Vicinity of St. Pierre of Michelon, ceded to France under

in

certain restrictions by the

C* Article of the Definitive Treaty?

And by what

Precautions

may

that Inconvenience be most effectually guarded against, either with re8pect to our Fishery, or

a contraband Trade with our Colonies?

Can Your Lordships

Florid*.

furnish

the Inland Parts of Florida, which

extremely

tho*

any Lights with regard neglected and

hitherto

to the climate or soil of useless,

are

said

to

be

fertile?

any reason to beleive that the mouth of the Catahoche River is, or might be easily made, commodious for shipping? or that a harbour may be found in the Southern parts of the Peninsula of Florida? What particular advantages might arise from such a Harbour, or from that of Pensacola, or Mobile, or from any other on that part of the Coast of North America lately ceded to his Majesty, which bounds the Gulph of Mexico to the North. The general queries with regard to North America having taken in all the Louuuni and Mi»Is there

5i»ippi.

points of Information

wanted

relative to the Louisiana

k

the Illinois,

I shall

only

have Your Lordships opinion whether any immediate

add that his Majesty desires to advantages may be derived from the free Navigation of the Mississippi, & bow they are to be improved and extended ? Having thus gone thro' the several points relative to North America upon which his Majesty

Your Lordships, the obvious application of most of the same queries to the other cessions made to his M.ijesty by the peace, makes it unnecessary to It will [be] sufficient therefore to desire that Your Lordships will report for his repeat them Majesty's Information Your opinion with regard to the most effectual means of improving and securing the Commercial Advantages which may be derived from the conquered Islands, and from Senegal with regard to the latter 1 am to inform Your Lordships that his Majesty has thought proper to accept the proposal of the African Committee made in the Petition of which I send you the Copy inclosed and orders are already given to the Governor of Senegal desires to have the opinion of

:

;

;

Vol. VII.

66

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

522

Detachment under a proper officer to take Possession of that place till the African Committee shall be prepared to take Possession thereof; Your Lordships will report Your Opinion of this Arrangement and suggest whatever may occur to you for the advantage of this Part of the African Trade. In order to supply Your Lordships with all the Materialls in my office which can in any shape assist you in making Your Report as ample and as satisfactory to leave a

as possible,

I

inclose herewith Copies of Accounts transmitted by the King's

Colonels Scott

&

command from

Worge,' as also the Capitulation of Martinico, Grenade having surrendered

under the same Terms which had been granted to that Island. As it must require some time to examine and deliberate upon the several points which are

Your Lordships in this letter, it is the King's pleasure that without waiting to make a full answer to the whole, You do, as soon as possible, report Your Opinion upon such points as shall appear to you most pressing, that proper Directions may be given without loss of Time, with regard to the arrangements immediately necessary for the new acquisitions. I am, My Lords, Your Lordships most obedient humble Servant. Egremont. Trade. The Lords of referred to

Sir

WiUiam Johnson

to

Sir Jeffery Amherst. Johnson Hall,

6""

June, 1763.

Sir,

have been honored with Your Excellency's

I

receipt of which.

and several

belts

letter of IS""

Ultimo, a few days before the

Four Deputies from the Six Nations arrived of Wampum to the Governor of Connecticut,

here, charged with a to desire

Message

he would cause

his

People to desist from the settlement on the Susquehanna River. They desired that some Mohawks should accompany them, as also that I should send a Deputy with them, to take care of

them on the Road, and prevent imposition.

I

accordingly sent Lieu' Johnson together with

an Interpreter, in compliance with their request; They likewise informed me that a very considerable number of the Six Nations were on their way hither in order to have a Meeting

with me. The 21"

— 139 of the Sachims and principal Warriors of the

and the following day they opened the Conference with me, and usual ceremonies, and delivering several belts,

I

several Nations arrived here after

going through

all

;

their

returned their Compliments in the usual

Manner, and they parted for that day. They assembled again on the 26"' when forty five Chiefs and Warriors of the Chenusios The Onondaga Speaker, in the name and on behalf of the whole Confederacy, then arrived. addressed me, repeating our first Agreements with the Indians, and the promises then made

by both "

•

;

all

which, in the name of the whole, he renewed and strengthened

;

then requested

I

RiOHASD WoBOE, goTernor of Senegal was in 1T54 Lieutenant-Colonel of the 9th Regiment of Foot; he commanded the This regiment was disbanded in forces sent against that place in 1768 and was appointed Colonel of the 86th in 1759.

1»nd

1763,

and Governor Worge became M«j»r-Gen«ral

in 1770.

His name

is

dropped

in the

Army

List of 1776.

Ed.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. would join them

in entreating

523

the General to preserve the same inviolable, as they intended

to do on their parts, otherwise the chain might break.

They

next gave a Belt, to desire

we

Chain of Friendship, and not let it slip, least a Judgment should be inflicted on us, and after declaring that they were as much concerned as we could be at the late murder, and had taken every method since, for procuring us satisfaction, they said that they found it impossible to persuade the Nations to deviate from a Custom which was their law neither had the English ever pushed them so much on that head formerly That several of their people had been from time to time killed by us, though they never sought for revenge after the English had condoled with them thereon in the usual manner ; that therefore they might consider well the

state of the

:

;

could not help attributing our present urging to some other cause, namely, that of obtaining

which the great

their lands,

imagine the King,

we would

and which they would hardly had any design upon they therefore requested

Spirit assigned for their habitations,

after his several declarations,

;

They

observe and follow our old Argument with them.

likewise repeated our

promises made at the commencement of the War, of removing the French, and returning them

would take up the hatchet,

their lands, that our hands should always be open to them, if they

and that as

we were

a wealthy and trading people,

we

should be able to supply them with

goods at a very reasonable rate all which they expected would have been performed, but they find themselves greatly mistaken, for instead of restoring lands we were erecting more ;

Forts in

many

parts of the Country notwithstanding the French

were

dead, (as they called

it,)

and goods were still sold so dear that their warriors and women were very uneasy, and apt to beleive every bad report concerning the intentions of the English, and as they had declared up the Friendship subsisting between us, they were induced to expect we we had made, as a means of convincing them of our honest Intentions. They next repeated that at Oswego, which was formerly the place of Trade for both far and near, the Indians formerly found better treatment than they do any where at present ; that the distant Indians often came to them to enquire into the cause of it and the dearness of goods, and the great scarcity of Powder, and that they the Six Nations apprehend these foolish rash People might do something that was bad to the people who go so far into tiieir Country, to prevent which they advised that no Trade should be carried on with them except at Ottoego, theirs of keeping

would

fulfil

the promises

Niagara, and Detroit, and that, on the most reasonable terms.

Then mentioned

all

the trouble they had, in endeavouring to procure us justice, and that

they had at length persuaded the Senecas to

come down, who now with

and cleared the road from Chenustio, hither, saying they for the future,

Senecas told

would have

a proper belt opened

their eyes fixed thereon

and should be ready to attend whenever called upon.

After this the Chief of the

me

that they were under such

me

that he was, on behalf of his Nation to inform

concern for the murder (which they considered as done to themselves,) that they would not rest

'till

satisfied

On

they had procured us a plaister for the wound, and therefore hoped

with the assurance given in presence of

the 27"'

I

answered their Speech

in

all

we would

rest

the Nations.

every particular as far as

was able

I

;

argued upon

the unreasonableness of their custom in not delivering up the ofienders, by which only, they could

give us satisfaction

;

at the

same time

telling

them that

Excellency with the purport of the

I

should

acquaint your

Meeting, and submit the your Consideration. This gave them much satisfaction, and they repeated (heir declarations of preserving peace and good order for the future. I am also of opinion that the manner in

which we have

insisted

on their giving up the Murderers has

several

matters therein to

sufficiently

alarmed them to

)

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

524

prevent their repeating such behavior, and

making As to the

I

hope the Senecas

will still fall

on a method of

us proper satisfaction.

communicated in Your Excellency's letter of the 29"" Ultimo, I cannot better account for the same than by acquainting you that an Indian just now arrived here from Canajoharie, despatched by the Sachems on the news having arrived by express from Oneida of the design of the French from Mississippi, who, 'tis said have ascended that river and invested some of our Posts to the Westward, and that they had sent a large belt of

Wampum,

Intelligence

with some English scalps, through the Southern Indians

to the Six

Nations to

which has been refused by some of the Nations. Although the Indians here are positive that this intelligence is true. I am of opinion the French are neither able nor desirous as yet, to attempt a thing of that kind, but that the belt said to be sent from them desire their Assistance,

must have been some time through which

it

ago, and

may

have

lain in

passed, for their consulting thereon,

the Nations desirous to associate with the

French,

the hands of

which

often

may have

some of the Nations

happens; and that some of

sent the Beit to the Miamis,

which was said to have come from the Senecas. However, I shall immediately send to Onondaga, and through the Nations, to cause strict enquiry to be made into the affair, as well as to speak to the Indians in such a manner as may check their designs ( if they have any such, in the Beginning,

and hope

thereof, within a short time

quarters, that

dispense

many

to

be enabled to give Your

— although

I

Excellency some further accounts

cannot avoid thinking from what

of the Nations will never be perfectly at rest, without

I

hear from

we

all

continue to

some favours amongst them, which they beleive the French, if once introduced again would bountifully bestow on them as they formerly have done.

into the Country,

I

have the honor, &c

His Excellency, Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

Sir William Johnson

(

to

sd

)

W"

Johnson.

Sir Jeffery Amlierst. Albany, 19 June, 1763.

Sir,

now arrived, which news of its having been invested 36 days by 500 Indians, tho' my account says 1600 that the same has been bravely I have only time to assure you that all defended, with small loss, with other particulars. Captain Dalyell

will

inform your Excellency that an Express

is

just

brings an account of the arrival of a Schooner from Detroit with the ;

be undertaken and promoted by me for the protection of the Frontiers, have proposed and strongly recommended to young M' Rensselaer, Lord exert himself in raising some men, and heading them, to give assistance to

measures which purpose

effectual

for

of the Manor, to

shall I

the Troops your Excellency has sent up. I expect a return of my messengers from the Six Nations in a couple of days, when I shall be acquainted with their sentiments, who, I beleive in general, will be pretty easy, provided

they are Satisfied

may

we have no

designs against

bind them more firmly to our interest.

them and that we make them some

offers

which

]

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXVI.

:

525

Croghan assures me from the best authority, that the Indians already engaged are the Chippeunes, and some tribes of the Ddawares : Should it, by their success, become more General, I can think, at present, of nothing more ef!ectuai than that of turning their inveterate enemies the Cherokees, Catawbas &c, against them, as well as many others who by .waes,

our bounty and good treatment

may

be induced to engage

Cause.

in the

I

have given

necessary orders to the Militia, as well for their holding themselves in readiness, as

am

obtaining some Volunteers to go to the Frontiers, and

may

hopeful the measures

I

for

all

the

have taken

prove of some service to the Public.

My

stay at present, here which

is

much

against

my

inclination,

is

on account of a Law-suit

on behalf of the Mohawk's lands, which has given great uneasiness

them and

to

all

the Six

Nations, and therefore should not at present be neglected. I

have the honor, &c

His Excellency Sir Jefirey Amherst.

Sir

W"

(sd)

WHliam Johnson [New Tork

to die

Johnson.

Lords of Trade.

Bnodto, Oo., p. 101,

Fort Johnson July l" 1763

My

Lords

Altho' in

my

transactions &c.

Letter to your Lordships of August last which I

was accompanied with

several

promised myself the honour of laying before you within a short time some

necessary alterations and additions relative to the department of Indian

affairs, yet, as several

matters have since intervened which hitherto prevented me, and as acts of hostility have actually been commenced by the Ottawa Indians inhabiting the environs of Lake Erie with which you will doubtless be acquainted before the receipt hereof,

I

thought myself under the necessity of

writing your Lordships, on the present subject of public concern

Your Lordships may

please to observe by

my letter

before mentioned that

I

therein, represented

power of the English, that we proposed who persuaded them Missionaries & others had insinuations of French the thro' their entire Extirpation, to which they in a great measure give credit from our occupying some old posts & erecting new ones thro' out their Country, the necessity of which they could not discover since the reduction of Canada, unless they were to promote the design which they suspected was in agitation. In 1761, I had in a great measure removed these prejudices at the Conference which I then held with the Ottawa Confederacy at the Detroit and delivered them a handsome present (which is the surest method of proving the reality of Words to Indians) but as these Nations are Warlike, numerous and accustomed to receive considerable gifts & good treatment from the French for permitting them to occupy the several posts, to the Northward, & Westward of the Detroit, which custom 1 was in no wise enabled to continue to them, they began to look od the jealousy which the Indians in general entertained of the increasing

our friendship as not very interesting, friendship, unless they reap

&

indeed in general they have but an imperfect idea of

some considerable advantages from

it,

— The

too general opinion

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

526

which has lately prevailed, that they were an Enemy of very little power, or consequence & not worth our attention occasioned their being treated throughout the Country with a neglect, which never fails being resented by them. Of this their discontent I have been advertised from their own mouths as well as from the accounts transmitted me by my Deputys and others. To prevent the evil consequences of

which

I

took every possible measure to remove their inquietude by representing that their

suspicions of us were without the least grounds, but notwithstanding Misisaga's and Chipeiveghs

(who

I

am

all

my

endeavors, the

well informed have been greatly encouraged thereto by

amongst them from the Gov'' of New Orleans) have lately endeavored to surprize the Detroit, and now closely blockade the same, they have likewise totally defeated a Detachment of 100 men who were on their way from Niagara for that place with a large quantity of provisions which has fallen into their hands. The Fort at Sandousky on Lake Erie has likewise been taken & destroyed and 'tis apprehended all the other outposts together with their garrisons have shared the same fate. Whilst in the mean time some Delawares on the Ohio have infested the communication to Fort Pitt Sec. destroyed several settlements, murdered many Traders and others, spreading an universal pannic throughout the Frontiers. On receipt of these alarming advices. Sir Jeffery Amherst ordered towards Lake Ontario what Troops could be assembled at New York, to which they had returned from the Havana, but as their number is very inconsiderable (the l?"" Regiment not marching above 100 Effectives they can only serve to reinforce the Garrisons on that Communication sustained by some Militia whom I have (tho' with difficulty) procured to engage for a time on pay as Provincials. From the situation of this Country no number of Troops at present to be procured will be able to preserve the Communication, or prevent the loss of Convoys & much less will any number protect the Inhabitants and frontier Settlements which must be entirely cut off to the great detriment of the several Provinces in case of a defection of the Six Natiom who, as yet remain attached to us, and have sent to acquaint me that they rejected the invitation made them by the Western Indians. But, as the Senecas who are very numerous, and the most distant of all the rest were seated in the midst of assiduous Missionaries, and zealous Partizans, which, ( together with their vicinity to Niagara where they were continually receiving presents, provisions &c. ) contributed to establish their regard for the French and give them an aversion

some

Officers sent

which we have not been at much pains to conquer. I am therefore greatly apprehensive it will require no small trouble to preserve their friendship neither can the same be effected without some expense; however to satisfy their doubts, and endeavor to preserve at least a to us,

have called the Six Nations days, from the result of which I am hopeful! strict neutrality I

step, but also prevail

on several of them to

hostilities continue.

And

exciting one Nation to a against those in Arms. period,

which

I

as nothing can

War

And

on another,

meeting

to a I

assist

more 1

at the

German

Flatts within Fifteen

shall not only be able to effect that necessary

us against the Western Indians should

effectually

shall take all

answer our purpose than the possible steps for promoting

it

least the present hostilities should not be brought speedily to a

apprehend very

difficult to effect,

I

cannot help requesting the honour of your

Lordships sentiments and instructions relative thereto, and at the same time must beg leave to represent that as I am of opinion all these evils have arisen from our considering the Indians as incapable of doing us much damage which was the cause of our treating them with

and neglect, so, to remove the prejudices they have entertained and secure their Confidence and esteem, no method will prove effectual, unless that of rewarding those who

indifference

LONDON DOCUiMENTS: XXXVI. shall

527

remain our friends with some marks of Favor by occasionally supplying their wants as it, this will excite an emulation in those who are still wavering,

they shall appear to deserve

and

satisfy

the

doubts of those

without which, meer words have

who in

suspect the reality of our inclination towards them,

much weight with make no doubt but

general not

actions and not our language to them,

And

I

due discharge of the dulys of the several officers and concurrence of the General may enable nie who remain in our Interest, and render the same

The

steps

which the Mohocks have taken

in to

my department

a People

who judge by

a prudent

our

Management and

seconded by the assistance

preserve the friendship of those Nationa

usefull to the public.

to preserve the

peace are

much

to their credit

(notwithstanding the treatment they have lately met with concerning their lands at Comijoharee

which I formerly mentioned to your Lordships) for altho' they are at present but few ia number, they are notwithstanding always considered by the rest as the head of the Six Nations. The Onondagas likewise discover a great attachment to us, and I am certain that by taking pains and expending some well timed favours on them I may be able to secure the rest as well as many of their Allies, and that at a much smaller expence than what would attend a small body of Troops whose measures in such a country as this, might not prove eflfectual in some campaigns, & without the nations in our neighbourhood continue our friends, the Inhabitants will all abandon their settlements, from which step they are at present only restrained by my residence and that of my tenants, whom I encourage to remain at any risque, rather than the Province should suffer by the number of persons who would fly on my discovering any uneasiness from their reliance on my intelligence. Whenever any thing material occurs I shall communicate it to your Lordships, and as I shall have a particular happiness in executing your Orders, I must again request the honour of receiving any Instructions which may be thought necessary for the better regulation of my conduct in the manner most agreable to your Lordships. I

have the Honour

to

be

with the most profound respect

My The

R' Hon"*

The Lords

Lords

Your Lordships most obedient and most humble servant. Wm. Johnson

of Trade.

Iiieutenant -Governor Golden to the [Maw-Tork Bnndls,

Co., p.

Lords of Trade.

M. ]

New York

My

July

8«*

1763.

Lords

General Monckton

lefl this

place the 28"" of last month, on his return to England.

Thereby

my hands, as Lieutenant Governor, I flatter myself, that your Lordships were convinced of my endeavours to perform the trust reposed in me, while I had the Administration formerly. Allow me to assure you, that I have

the Administration of Government

is

again fallen into

nothing more at heart than to preserve any favourable opinion which was formerly intertained

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

528 me; & that While 1 do so,

of

my

be

shall

it

constant indeavour to do

my

duty

to the best of

my

ability.

remain confident of your Lordships supporting me. Without doubt General Monckton has informed your Lordships of the death of Chief Justice I shall

Prat in January

By

last.

People of

his death the

Service has suffered a great

He was

loss.

weak

of the Lawyers, tho of a very

this

Province as well as His Majesty's

of abilities sufficient to restrain the licentiousness

constitution of body.

The Governor

has appointed David Robert Livingstone puisne Judges. The appointment of Judges has appeared to me, at all times, of such consequence to the liberty & property of the People, & to His Majesty's Authority in the Administration of

Horsmanden' Chief Justice

&

Messrs David Jones William Smith

&

' Daniel Hoesmamden, of Gouldhurat, in the county of Kent, England, the last of the Chief Justices of the Province of NewYork, was bom about the year 1693, and is said to have come to New-York about the year 1730, {Allen'i Biog. Diet.,) though He was called to His Majesty's Council on the 23d May, it is more probable that he accompanied Gov. Cosby to this country.

1733,

(

XVI

Council Minutes,

,

255

),

and took

his seat in that

body on the 29th September

•upporter of Cosby's administration, and one of Chief Justice DeLancey's party, with

He

of Zenger, the anti-government printer.

accordingly rewarded with the

office of

Smith's Hittory of Ntw-York,

28,)

(

a salary of

fifty

pounds.

two hundred and

fifty

II.,

Owing

following.

whom

Here he was an active

he co8peratcd

afterwards adhered to Lieut. Governor Clarke against

Recorder of the city of New-York, to which he was appointed

and of 3d Judge of the Supreme Court,

in the prosecution

Van Dam, and was in

September, 1736,

in January, 1737, {Commisiiont, III., 390,)

pounds, for a digest of the

;

greater gain by compiling the history of the Negro plot, in the b-gal investigation of which he was one of the judges the digest to be executed by other hands

left

with

De Lancey's influence, the Assembly voted Mr. Horsmanden the sum of Laws of the Province but Mr. H. took no advantage of the grant, hoping

to his friend, Mr.

Smith,

II.,

66,67.

and

;

His connection with Chief Justice De Lancey had, however,

the bad effect of carrying him into opposition against Governor Clinton, whose administration was defended by Cadwallader Colden, against the attacks of Mr. Horsmanden on the popular side, who was in consequence made to feel the wrath of the Executive; he was suspended from the Council, and removed from the Bench and Recorder's place in September, 1747, "and ca»t

upon the private bounty of the party by

an object of pity

by

;

toasted, indeed, as a

whom

he was employed, applauded and ruined."

man who dared

to be honest in the worst of times,

the importunity of his creditors, hourly exposed to the horrors of a

marriage with Mrs. Vesey,

jail.

Such was

Mr. Horsmanden was

but at a

loss for his

his condition, until

liis

now

meals; and,

advantageous

Church, and until he broke with Mr. DeLancey and became

relict of the rector of Trinity

reconciled to Governor Clinton. Smith. He was restored to his place on the Bench, on 28th July, 1760, and his name being subsequently inserted in the Instructions to Sir Charles Hardy, he resumed his seat at the Council Board on 4th September, 1755. Council Minute*,

XXV.

On

the resignation of Mr. Justice Chambers, in 1672, Mr.

of the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice in March, 1763, as above stated. Ibid, 477.

Commissioners to discover the persons

who burnt

the King's Schooner Gaspee, at

He was one

the Revolution, he adhered to the Royal cause.

Address

to

Lord

He became now

Howe

in October, 1776,

Rhode

of the nine liundred

and

and on the same day addressed Gov. Tryon

very infirm, and having lost his wife, gradually sunk.

He

Horsmanden was appointed 2d Judge

In 1772 he was employed as one of tho

in

Island,

and on the breaking out of

forty-six loyalists

who

presented

an.

behalf of the same persons, Sabine.

died in September, 1778, " a truly honest and

Crown," and was buried in the grave yard of Trinity Church, of which he was vestryman from 1734 to 1765; warden from 1765 to 1769, and vestryman again from 1769 to 1772. To his continuance on the bench until his death, notwithstanding his great age and infirmities, may be ascribed the introduction of that article in the Constitution of the State faithful servant to the

of New-York, formed in 1777, which limited the duration of the office of Judge. Yates cont. to Smith. Albany. 439. Chief Horsmanden was the author, (according to Smith ) of " A Letter from some of the Representatives of the late General

Justice

Assembly of the Colony of New- York, to His Excellency Governor Clinton. Principally in answer to his Message of the 13th October, (1747,) and his Dissolution Speech;" which is printed in the Journal of the House. He published in 1744, "A Journal of the proceedings in the detection of the conspiracy formed by some white people, in conjunction with Negro and other Slaves, for burning the city of New- York, in America, and murdering the Inhabitants, in 1741-2." New-York 4to. It

was reprinted

in 8vo. in

London,

in 1748,

existence and extent of the conspiracy.

Government or to the

and Bnt

in

New-York

it is

in 1810.

Mr. Horsmanden labors hard in this work to prove the

evident (says Mr. Yates) that hostility to Catholicism, which the British

and gave it a bias unfriendly to the fair development of truth, and circumstances. The conspiracy, adds Smith, extended no farther than

so industriously inculcated, tinctured his mind,

full

and impartial examination of

facts

more ease. Chief Justice Horsmanden's will is recorded in Lib. XXXIL, 67, of The following are some of his bequests for public objects in that city £1,000 to rebuild the Rectory of Trinity Church; £200 to rebuilding the Charity School House; £100 towards buying a bell for St Paul's Chapel £200 towards building a pulpit and desk in Trinity Church, when tho same shall be rebuilt; £500 to King's

to create alarms, for committing thefts with Wills, in the Surrogate's office.

;

College.

Ed.

New

York.

:

LONDON DOCUMENTS

'

Government, that 11'* of

for

I

I

gave

11"" of

January,

my

XXXVI,

:

|gg

sentiments without reserve on that subject in

February,

&

can add nothing more, unless

7'* it

of April last year

be, that in case

I

my

must beg leave to

letters of the

referr to

His Majesty think proper

them

to appoint

:

a

become at the same time necessary to allow the same sallary which, I am informed, was allowed M' Prat out of His Majesty's Quit Rents of this Province, otherwise the Chief Justice may be laid under difficulties, which by all means ought to be avoided. M' Kennedy Receiver General of His Majesty's Revenue & Collector of the Customs in the Port of New York dyed the 14"" of last month. The Governor has appointed Oliver De Lancey to be Receiver General; and the Surveyor General of the Customs has appointed his brother Robert Temple to be Collector of the Customs in this Port. Nothing else new bos happened since the Governor went. It shall be my constant endeavour, in the Discharge of my Duty, to obtain the honour Chief Justice,

it

will

of being,

•

My

Lords

Your most obedient Right honourable Lords Commissioners for

Trade

&

&; faithfull

Sir Jeffrey Aniherst

to the

Earl of Egremont.

New

(Extract.)

"

The

servant

Cadwallaoer Coloen.

Plantations,

York, 23 July, 1763.

present disturbed state of the back settlements, by the depradations committed by

the Indians does not admit of putting the orders for the disbanding and reducing the troops,

immediate execution

into

Troops

in

Canada, but

;

and

I

have thought proper not to make the least alteration of the

to leave every thing there in its present state,

till

the Regiments arrive

from the Havanna,

My

last letter to

your Lordship was of 27 June, by Major General Moncton, when

an account of the Mischiefs committing by the Savages,

who have

I

gave yoo

continued to extend their

ravages on the Frontiers, and have treacherously massacred an officer (Lieut. Gordon,) with

Garrison at the Port of Venango, where they were received as friends.

The

blockhouse at Presqu' He, has also fallen into their hands, by their having persuaded the

officer

a small

(Ensign Christie) with a garrison of 24 men

to Capitulate

with them, and they murdered him

and the greatest part of tris garrison. Ensign Price who commanded at Le Boeufi* with 13 men, was obliged to abandon his Post, and retreated to Fort Pitt, where he brought in 7 of his party and left six in the woods. Although the accounts from Venango and Presqu' He, are not from Absolute Authority, yet there

is

too

much

reason to believe they are true

;

and

it is

equally amazing that one officer

should permit such a number of Indians to come in upon him as friends, and put himself in

power

and that another should be so infatuated to capitulate with them, or have the These three small Posts are between Fort The Savages have absurdly made a show of attacking Fort Pitt, and Pitt and Lake Erie,

their

;

least Confidence in their promises or Mercy.

Vol. VII.

67

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

530

some of the Posts below, but have not made any impression on the smallest

post on

that communication.

Your Lordship

will see

T do myself the honor to enclose to you, all that has and that it appears the Six Nations (Senecas excepted)

by the papers

passed regarding the Indian

affairs,

remain quiet.

will

The Province

of Pennsylvania has, on this Occasion,

Empowered

the Governor to raise

Seven Hundred Men, but it is only with a view of getting in their Harvest, which entirely Public good that might be expected from such a number actually raised whereas, these in effect are only Farmers and reapers, which the Assembly mean by their vote

frustrates the

to

arm

own

to defend their

•

fields.

•

• I

have the honour, &c

8ir William Johnson

to

—

Jeffrev Amherst.

(signed)

Sir Jeffrey Amherst. Johnson Hall, July

1", 1763.

Sir,

Since

had

I

last the

a meeting with the

My

honour of writing to your Excellency

Mohawks, who,

I find,

during

my

I

arrived here, after which

had

I

absence at Albany, had, (together with

Message,) sent one on behalf of themselves throughout

all

the Six Nations, to prevent

March of the Troops; and as I judged it highly necessary at this meet the Six Nations, which will be a means of diverting any who may be

their being alarmed at the

juncture, to ill-disposed,

from joining the Ottawas, as well as confirming the friendship of the

Mohawks have by My Flatts, within Fifteen

confident

directions sent to call

them

to

a conference with

me

at the

rest, the

German

days; and I hope this meeting will prove a good consequence, as I

we must owe

am

the safety of the Communication to Oswego as well as the tranquility

of these Frontiers, to the present pacific disposition of the Six Nations, to confirm which, I

am

of opinion

it

will be necessary to repeat our assurances of Friendship,

always consider those those

who

who remain

steadfast to us, so,

on the contrary,

and that as we

we

shall

shall punish all

act a different part.

For this conference, I shall be under the necessity of requiring a speedy supply of Provisions, last, which is entirely consumed ; and indeed whilst the present disturbances subsist, the intercourse between the Indians and me will require my having always something at hand for them, without which they will consider therfiselves as neglected, which never fails being resented by them. I therefore hope to be favoured with Your Excellency's something more than the

orders with regard to Provisions

To

;

the time being so short until

I

am

to

meet them.

prevent any misunderstandings arising thro' the Ignorance under which the Garrisons

labor of the Indian Customs, as well as from the Soldiery being at present too apt to consider

every Indian they see as an Enemy, which I

know would make

our best friends so,

ordered an Interpreter to remain at Ontario during the Summer, who,

very

serviceable, at this juncture.

the Indians of Canada and talk with

I

have likewise sent orders

them on the present rupture.

to

I

make no doubt

Captain Claus

to

I

have

will

be

assemble

LONDON DOCUMENTS Since

my

arrival here, I find that in

consequence of

XXXVI.

:

my

application to the Captains of Militia,

about 50 Volunteers from these parts, exclusive of those towards the Oneida Lake

and

;

I

flatter

581

raist-d in

myself the steps

I

Schauctady, have marclied

have already taken, and shall

may produce a strict neutrality as well on the part of the Six Nations, ai who though perhaps wavering in their sentiments, may by good management, from Associating with those Indians now in arms against us, as well as some

constantly pursue,

other Indians,

be prevented

prevailed upon to act offensively in our favour should hostilities be continued. I

at present labour

under a violent Fever, but

the Conference, as I flatter myself

I

hope

to be sufficiently recovered to attend

many good consequences

will result therefrom. I

His Excellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

have the honor, &c (S*)

< H »

Sir William Johnson

W" Johnson.

11

to

Sir Jeffrey Amherst. Johnson Hall, July

8.

1763.

Sir,

26* Ull" together with the several enclosures therewith transmitted, and I shall use every means within my power, at the meeting which I mentioned in my last was to take place shortly at the German-Flatts, to engage some Indians to assist His Majesty's Troops, or to act by themselves against the Enemy, as at that place I shall have an opportunity not only of sounding their sentiments in general, but also of proposing it to the several nations, and flatter myself my endeavors may not prove ineffectual, although it is a request of such a nature as cannot be agreeable to them in general. Yesterday I received an account from the Mohawks who were all at my house, that the Oneidas had sent to acquant them at Canajoharie, that the Garrison at Venango has been cut off, and that some French partizans sent from the Governor of New Orleans have been very busy amongst the Western Indians for some time past, but that many of those Indians and also some of the Delawares, and their neighbors were apprehensive of the Six Nations joining against them, and therefore did not express much Alacrity to assist the rest. These Frenchmen have been very lately amongst them, and I am certain, however extraordinary it may appear, that the French have been principally instrumental in creating the present disturbances ; I expect hourly the arrival of the Onew/o* here, when I shall be more particularly informed on that head. As the Indians will at the intended meeting, expect your Excellencies answer with regard, to the several points concerning the posts, of Trade, &ca, mentioned in my letter of the 6* Ultimo, I must request to be favored therewith, that I may be enabled to satisfy them therein. I should likewise be glad to have it in my power at the same time to deliver them something of your Sentiments and Resolutions on the present disturbances, as well as what you would in general, desire from them, together with the Encouragement you think I

have been honored with your Excellency's

proper to

offer.

The

them with the appearance of Confidence will be considered as a means not only of removing many groundless Suspicions, but to relish the proposals which I purpose to make them.

treating

great Compliment, and prove a

of disposing

them the

better

letter of the

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

582 I

have wrote

engage some to inform

in

Captain Claus to use

to

endeavors amongst the Indians

his

all

our assistance, and hope to be able after

my

return from the

in

Canada

German

to

Flatts,

your Excellency of the success of that Meeting.

I cannot conclude without representing to your Excellency the great panic and uneasiness into

which the inhabitants of these parts are

every method

my

in

cast,

which

have endeavored to remove by

I

power, to prevent their Abandoning their Settlements, from their

apprehensions of the Indians.

As they

in

general Confide

much

hitherto prevented from taking that hasty measure; but should I

hope

will not be the case,) not only

my Own

Extremity, as

I

know

it

my

residence, they are

be obliged to retire (which

tenants, who are upwards of 120 families, but all

the rest would immediiitely follow the Example, which I last

I

in

am

determined against doing

'till

the

would prove of general bad consequence. I have the honor,

&c

W"

Johnson.

Johnson Hall, July

11. 1763.

His Excellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

(signed)

Sir William Johnson

to

Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

Sir,

my last, a number of the Oneidas arrived here, and acquainted me with the manner which Venango had been surprised, which was effected by the Indians entering the Fort as friends, after which they put the garrison to the sword. This Morning Thomas, a Canajoharie Chief, who was one of the Messengers I sent with the Messages, and to invite the Six Nations to meet me at the German Flatts, arrived express, and Since

in

after informing

me

that

all

the Chiefs of each Nation, (except the Senecas

who

refused to

were on their way to the place appointed, he told me that 2 Onondagas who were sent about 20 days ago by their Sachems, towards the Ohio, to enquire into the cause of the present troubles, had returned and confirmed the account of the taking of Venango, which was done by a party of Chenussios residing in the neighborhood thereof, and that after putting the attend,)

Garrison to the Sword, they

made

which induced them to act as and dearness of Powder for these two years past, being obliged to pay 2 Deerskins for a gill of powder, and so in proportion, for other articles, and that when they complained they were ill treated and never redressed. Secondly that the many posts which the English kept possession of induced them to believe they Intended to possess all their Country, for all which they were determined to destroy them. After writing this, they -put the Officer to death, and sent the paper with a party of Warriors then going towards Fort Pitt, in order to do mischief on the Communication, where they proposed to drop it, that it might be found by the English. they had done; which were

The Mohawk Express

—

the Officer write the reasons

First, the scarcity

further informed

me

that the Onondagas had, in the presence of all

the nations assembled, declared their Resolutions of living and dying by the English,

Consequence be what

the

That they had received the Account that the Twightwees, Oltawas Hurons, &ca, had destroyed Six forts, of which he mentioned the following Viz' Detroit,

the Senecas, &ca. Delaivares,

it

let

would, and had absolutely rejected every proposal made to them by,

LONDON DOCUMENTS

:

*

IXXVl.

5(8

and Venango: He added that at the meeting at which he was present at Onondaga, the Senecas spoke with three Belts of Wampum to the rest of the Confederacy, acquainting them that they had given a loose to their Warriors against the

Miamu

Mirhilimackinac,

Sanduskij,

English, and desired they would do the same, but that their request the

Onondagas and

all

had sent a very large

my

opinion

Just

it

now

1

will

am

the Rest, on receiving

my Message

belt to the Senecas, desiring

have but

little effect

first;

them immediately

am

totally rejected

by

in particular

to desist, although

it it

on them.

favored with your Excellency's letter of the

with the several enclosures, and

was

and that Nation

by Lieu* Montressor,'

V"" instant,

really surprised at the loss of Prett/u

lie,

as

I

look on

it

to

be a work very Capable of making a defence against any attack with small arms, and with a small loss; occasioned I

am

its

I

therefore

presume the scarcity of ammunition or provisions must have

capitulating.

hopeful that the Detroit

however expect

is still

Notwithstanding the report to the Contrary.

to hear stfmething further at the

place I shall set out to

Conference

morrow morning, and on

acquainted with the Success which

my power

safe.

to render those people

may meet

I

who

are

still

my

with, as

return I

I

German Flatts, for which shall make your Excellency

at the

shall use

every Endeavour within

our friends, of some use to His Majesty's Service.

have the honor, &c,

I

His Excellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

(signed)

W"

Johnson.

P.S.

&

The Mohawk has also informed me that Sodons to way .lay any boats going to

the Chenuisios six days ago sent parties to Irondequat or from Niagara, of

which

I

have given Notice to

Major Duncan.^

^

Sir WiUiam Johnson

»

to

»

Sir Jeffrey Amherst. Johnson Hall, July 30, 1763.

Sir,

Since

I

had the honor of writing to your Excellency on the 24*

the Detroit and Niagara, by one

Van Eps, a Schenectady

trader,

I

have received

who was

letters

from

taken on Lake

Erie at the Commencement of Hostilities, and together with Lieu' M'Dougall made his escape from the Ottawaes into Detroit, during the investment of that place. He is an intelligent person, and gave me many particulars, but as he informs me that Major Gladwin has wrote fully on every subject, I therefore presume you are acquainted therewith. knowledge of the Ottawa language, he had an opportunity during his confinement at a Frenchman's house near Detroit, (where the Indians and French in their interest used to hold their conferences,) to hear the various arguments made use of by the latter to encourage

your Excellency

From

his

JohnMontbesoe wns'an Enrign in the 48th Regiment in the Braddock Expedition, when be wsi woonded, and waa in the same corps, on the 4th July, I75S. lie obtained a grant of land in Wilkboro', Eaaex Co^ N. T., in ]7fi4, and in 1766 quitted the army, either by death or resignation. * Alkxandeb Ddncan, of the 65th Regiment, obtained hia company on 2Sth October, I76fi, and WM promoted to th* rank '

appointed to a lieutenancy

of Major in Febraary, 1760, IJaatenant-Colonel in 1764, which commiasion he held until February, 177S.

Army

LitU.

— Bo,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

534

the rest, by assuring them that a French fleet and Army were then at Quebec, and an army marching to their assistance from the Mississippi and Illinois. Several of these Frenchmen have since gone to that place, perhaps to avoid punishment, on finding their attempts on the Detroit ineffectual, and the Indians, some of whom begin now^ to see their Errors, would, I believe for the most part, stop their designs, which appears the more probable from their delivering up several of the English,

The alarm

of which

I

whom

made

they

informed your Excellency in

over for the present; however

I

Prisoners.

my

last,

is

in

a great measure blown

have several Indian scouts out towards the frontiers, but from

have received, that many of the distant nations are begun to surround my house at this place with a good As stockade, well flanked, for the defence of which I could wish 1 had a small party of men. I have already represented to your Excellency that, my removal would infallibly occasion that of all the Inhabitants in this quarter, I should choose to be enabled to stand and keep my ground. If therefore your Excellency judges it necessary, ( as regular troops are at present not conveniently to be had, ) I would raise a few men for that purpose, provided I knew what pay would be allowed them. The Mohawks, (like true friends) came a few days ago in a body to my house on this occasion, and declared that should matters go to extremities, they would to a man join me against any Nation which might attempt to put their threats into execution. I am in great want of some Ammunition to supply scouting parties &c, with, and wish your Excellency would please to order me a couple of barrels of powder &c, for that purpose. It is so scarce an article in the Country, that even the Militia cannot procure the quantity they are ordered the repeated cautions and advice I

determined to cut

me

off,

I have

to have. I

His Excellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

(signed)

^ »

Sir

»

»

WUliam Johnson [

New-York,

have the honour

S. P. 0.,

I

to

to be,

W"

&c

—

Johnson.

»

Jeffery Amherst.

XOVUI., No.

18. ]

•

Johnson Hall August 4* 1763.

Sir I

have been honored with your Excellency's

finding that the steps

The Stockbridge

I

letter of the 28"" Ult°

and am very happy

in

have taken have merited your approbation.

Indians (from their implacable hatred to the

rest, particularly to

some of

imagined might have been made serviceable, when with good officers and along with other corps; however as Your Excellency does not think proper to employ them I shall the Nations)

I

them thanks for their offers and acquaint them that it is not apprehended there will be any necessity at present for their assistance. But from what I know of Indians in general, I am only apprehensive that the Canadian Indians and many others will always be desirous to engage either on the one side or the other, and cannot easily be persuaded to remain quiet return

when

the rest are concerned.

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXVI.

:

585

most heartily wish Your Excellency may receive good accounts from above, and success in your endeavours to procure a reinforcement in the manner you have mentioned, as the same will be very necessary at this juncture, more especially so as the inhabitants are universally I

alarmed If

at the repeated reports of the

your Excellency's

enemys

designs.

leisure will permit, I shall be glad to be

concerning the several articles mentioned in mine

of the 24*^

honored with your answer

30"* Ull*.

and and I beg leave to and situation can enable me to make, shall be made use of for the protection of the country and the good of His Majesty's service. But at this is time of harvest in these parts T am much afraid that any attempts of the enemy will be but too successfull, unless supported with troops disengaged from any such care. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect. Sir Your Excellency's &" W" Johmson His Excellency Sir Jeffery Amherst assure you, that every effort which

my power

Lords of Trade [

Sir

W^" Johnson Bar* Agent

to

Sir William Johnson,

Naw-Tork Kntrlt^

Q.,

lU. ]

for Indian Affairs in the

Northern District of America.

Sir.

His Mnjesty having been pleased upon our report to him of the arrangements necessary to be taken in consequence of the Cessions made to His Majesty in America by the late Definitive Treaty of Peace, to direct that the Agents for Indian Affairs should correspond with Us in all matters regarding their departments, and should transmit all such informations as we should require from them, we take this opportunity of acquainting you with His Majesty's commands, not doubting of a regular & exact continuance on your part of that correspondence with this

Board which has already produced so much

useful! information

and intelligence of the true

state of Indian Affairs.

A is

regular and constant correspondence upon these points, at

now become

essentially necessary from the great

all

number of

times usefull and important,

hitherto

unknown

tribes

and

which are now under His Majesty's immediate protection, and the necessity there is commerce & policy, upon some more general and better established system than has hitherto taken place. It is with a view to this object that we have proposed to His Majesty that a proclamation

nations,

of speedily falling upon some method of regulating the Indian

should be issued declaratory of His Majesty's

nor any settlement

to

made within

be

pretext whatever, leaving

all

final

determination to permit no grants of lands

certain fixed

bounds under pretence of purchase or any

the territory within these bounds free for the hunting grounds of

the Indian Nations, and for the free trade of

what manner

all his

subjects.

and by what general plan the interests and politics of the Indians are to be form'd and directed, will in a great measure depend upon such opinions and proposals as we shall receive from you and His Majesty's Agent for the In

Southern

district,

this free trade is to be regulated,

upon

this subject

:

and therefore we desire you

will apply

your utmost

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

536

thought and attention to this important object, and that you will as soon as possible transmit very full and particular report of the present actual state of Indian Affairs within your

to us a

department, describing with as

much accuracy

&

as possible the several

Nations or Tribes of

and stating the true causes of their present apparent discontents, with your opinion by what means those causes may be removed and the public tranquillity restored, and what will, in your judgment, be a proper plan for the future management and direction of these important interests, to the satisfaction of the Indians, the benefit of free trade, and the security and interests of His Majesty's dominions. We Indians, their different interests claims

are

dispositions,

&"=

Shelburne

Orwell^ Bamber Gascoyne

Whitehall

Aug.

5.

1763.

Ed. Eliot^ Geo: Rice'

lieverend Dr. Johnson to Archbishop Seeker. [

" Amerlcaa Oolonie* MS.," Lambeth Palace, "So. 1128,

III.,

No.

818. ]

Stratford

May

Aug"

lO"-

1763.

Your Grace, I humbly thank you for your kind letter of March 30th. I am greatly concerned that you are still troubled with the Gout; but thankful that you are not (as D' Burton informs me) it

please

wholly disabled from attention to Business.

M' Beache's Book came

me

earnestly pray for your ease and

I

weight of

relief.

my

trouble, otherwise (having his Leave) hope it may answer some good ends. He seems to have now fewer complaints than he has had these 20 years. The Author of that ugly piece is not yet known, tho' he is doubtless in this Country. Indeed all deny it and seem ashamed of it, but I believe most of them had some hand in it. It could not be Mayhew for he is censured in it. But he has done a worse thing: my Answer to which, if your Grace to

in the

I should have expunged and altered several things.

should think

fit

to order

it

to

I

be published, or an[y]thing else relating to

well D' Barclay's defence against Smith should be published with

Reply

will be

made

to M""

Beach.

to transmit to your Grace)

is

M' Apthorp,

(

to

whom

I

sent a

it.

Copy

it,

it might be whether any

perhaps

I question

of M' Beache's answer,

indeed a very worthy and accomplished young Gentleman, and

I hope will be a good writer in the

Cause of Religion, but he does not seem yet enough used

' Fkanois Vbekon, nephew of Admiral Vernon, waa created Baron Orwell, of the kingdom of Ireland, in 1762. He was Commissioner of the Board of Trade, from December, 1762 to July, 1765; also president of the British Fishery, and

He was created Viscount Orwell in 1776, and Down, Ireland. He died in 1783, when his title became extinct. The town of Orwell, Vermont, is supposed to have been named out of respect for his Lordship. ' Edward Eliot represented the borough of St. Germans, in Cornwall, for which Duchy he was also Keceiver-General. He was elected in 1762. ' George Rice, of Newton Castle, Wales, married in 1756 Ceeil, only daughter of William Ist Earl of Talbot, afterwards Baroness of Dineyor. He represented Carmarthenshire in the House of Commons, for which county he was also Gustos Rotulonem. In consequence of the influence of his father-in-law at Court, where he filled the office of Lord High Steward of the Household, Mr. Bice was appointed one of the Commisaioners for Trade and Plantations. He died on the 3d of represented the borough of Ipswich, at this time, in the House of Commons.

in the following year, Earl of Shipbrooke, of

August, 1779.

— Ed.

Newry,

in the county of

:

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. to writing, and

so averse to controversy, that

is

may

it

537

be doubted whether he

very suitable to

is

Mayhew, but would engage with such Antagonists as these. He be glad to have mine printed. 1 have just heard M' Brown' of Fortsmouth has published a Reply, whom with Aplin, I see in a Newspaper, he treats with the most haughty contempt. utterly declines any Reply to

Most Dissenters, I believe, do by no means approve of him. Your Grace will see by my Letter to the Secretary, that the better

among

are so zealous to propagate the Gospel

sort of Dissenters at Boston,

the Heathen, that they are ready to employ

M'

Bennet, or at least to contribute to his undertaking, though he entirely conforms to the Church. So that I would hope that Society has no designs against the Church, however there may be

good

reasons against that

political

act.

—

now

conclude schemes are

1

concerting for the

settlement of America, and I strongly hope the Interests of Religion will not be forgotten.

Now

must be the time done to gain that be

if

ever, to be in earnest for Bishops, and I trust

The

point.

and indeed they know the thing

is

we

so reasonable, that

kind, as well as they in theirs, that

all

that

Dissenters also, and our Newspapers, are

many seem

is

possible will

full

of the talk

should and ought to be compleat

to expect nothing else:

and

I

in

believe if it

our

was

once done, they would generally, soon be easy enough. And I earnestly wish your Grace pray God to bless your endeavours. They have one story here among them which may possibly

—

have some truth in it. It is said D' Chandler was asked by somebody from the Ministry, Whether, if a Bishop were established at Quebec, without any jurisdiction that should relate to the Dissenters, they

And

indeed

I

who might

rather than none provision

would have any objection

cannot conceive

made

why

they should.

visit us

And

once in 4 or 5 years.

one there, now come into our hands

for

and that he answered, none

to it?

all.—

at

— Now we should be very glad of such an one ;

and

if

I

suppose there

is

already

he had some good Missionaries

with him from the Government, he might do much good in converting both papists and Indians. The money is paid to M' Charlton, but it will be faithfully laid out, as he has M' Chandler

—

with him in that case. My friendship for the latter makes me desirous of your Grace's influence Your Grace will see what I write that he may have a Doctor's degree, if he has not had one. to the Secretary about Missions.

and Rye being

for

aught

I

— M' Palmer was glad

—

to be at N.

Haven

can hear, very happy in M' Punderson, would

rather than

now

Rye;

be extremely

unwilling to receive him, but partly through the poverty of most, and partly through the indifferency of others towards Religion, they can by no

—

I

am

gives,

sensible of your difficulty of

which

I

have often used

making

to repress the

New

means do without the Society's Assistance.

Missions, and for the reasons your Grace

forwardness of people to expect.

other things has abated the forwardness of Hartford,

who have

And

this

among

of late gone on but heavily.

—

But at present however building and 1 hope will in time be a flourishing church. there is no hope of good M' Winslow's being any where better provided for than he is here, unless he would go to Virginia or Maryland, which he cannot reconcile himself to the

They

are

thoughts

As

of.

am

to myself, I

am, only as I have never, for almost 60 years been seems somewhat strange now to be without one. some good purpose, by directing Candidates and others to

very happy here as

without some public charge or other,

However

I

hope

1

may

live

here to

I

it

Bev. Abtbub Brottnb was > native of Drogheda, Ireland, and graduated at Trinity College, Dablin, in 1729. After haTing Rhode Island, where he remained until 17S6, when he removed to Portsmouth, N. H. He died at Cambridge, June 10, 1773, aged 73 years. He published, among other thing*, " Rcmarka on '

received Holy Orders, he emigrated to Providence,

Majhew's Reflections on the Church of England, 1763,"

Vol. VII.

(AUm 68

),

which may b» what

is

referred to above.

— Eo.

:

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

538

their studies, and preaching frequently for destitute places.

much

—

hope

I

also,

M' Winslow, and

so enable

him

often to preach at

though at this distance to be of some use to the College.— I

made

obliged to M' Cooper for the kind Report he

me

of

to

Your Grace,

am

so long as

me as a son with a father, many letters passing between

providence permitted us to be together, (5 or 6 months) he was with

and has

since, in a vacation, spent a

week with me

here, besides

on all which occasions, I have suggested everything I could think of that might be of use, which he has readily received with the best good will and I have the great pleasure to inform Your Grace from D' Barclay and M'' Auchmuty, that his conduct since I left them has been us

:

:

prudent

faithful

has

much

and

diligent,

now

and they have

suffered

NicoU's Death.

it

being so young,

how

but

I

hope he

Since

I

will

Governors people and Scholars

want of which

for

that I hope the College will not suffer

my leaving

by

has done, and that he will be a great blessing to

better than ever

care

to the

good Grammar School,

the College

and the Governours are more in earnest than they have ever been since M'

;

— So

for little else

and very acceptable both

at last established a

would hold

his patience

it.

—

it,

I

but rather flourish

own

I

much doubted,

Gentlemen, most of

out, in the Service of

whom

but their Gain and pleasures, and are utter strangers to learning and Colleges:

never meet with such severe

have been here,

1

trials

of patience as

have found every thing the reverse

At the request

describes, both in Ministers and people.

of

I

have had.

what

of the clergy,

I

that

wicked pamphlet

attended and preached

and a large Concourse of people, at their Convention in June. Every thing was truly amiable and pleasing, and I must report them a worthy set of faithful and conscientious Clergymen, (and several worthy Lay-Gentlemen from various distant parts were among us.) tho' much Learning cannot be expected in their low and laborious circumstances. I discoursed with them freely on many points, and among others on the very subject Your Grace mentions in the to them,

—

close of your Letter, the necessity of using exactness their Letters,

which

shall further inculcate.

I

— On

and much Care and Caution in writing

this occasion.

My

Lord, give

me

leave to

observe to you, that neither have the abstracts, heretofore, been always made with sufficient care and caution

:

things of no use have been inserted, and even figures have sometimes been

mistaken or misprinted. prayers and blessing,

I

But

I will not enlarge, only, that,

humbly begging Your Grace's

remain, with the greatest regard.

My

Lord,

Your Grace's most obliged most

and most obedient humble Servant.

dutiful

(

jEarl of i

Egremont

to

OoTernon and Oommandcra

Signed )

Samuel Johnson.

Sir Jej^ery Amherst. in

America, ( 8. P. 0.

)

No,

TT. ]

Whitehall, IS"- August 1763 Sir.

Having been obliged to postpone till this mail, the transmitting to you His Maj'^'" permission home, I will not keep you a moment in suspense but shall begin with acquainting

to return

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. you, that the King

pleased to grant your request to

is

leave North America, and repair

to England, at such time, and in such manner, as shall be

yourself; and his Maj'^ has

commanded me, on

BH^

most convenient and agreable to renew to you in the strongest

this occasion, to

terms, the repeated assurances you have constantly received of his just sense of the

many

eminent and meritorious services you have performed during the course of your long Command in North America; and the King orders me to add, that he shall have a particular pleasure in conGrming to you, on your retura into his preseuce, the uninterrupted satisfaction your whole conduct has given him.

With regard

your

to

Command

N" America,

in

I

am

to inform you, that his

Majv does not

determine your commissions at present, but chuses that the powers, with which they invest you, should be exercised by Major Qen' Gage, on whom, as being the next Officer

judge proper

to

your absence, and particularly those contained in your by a Clause inserted, for this very purpose in case you should by death, or in any other manner, be disabled from exercising the said command ; You will therefore leave your command in the hands of Major Gen' Gage, to whom you will give such orders and instructions, as from the situation of things at the time you embark, you shall judge most expedient for the good of the King's service; and you will also furnish Gen' Gage, with every light, and deliver to him every paper, which shall be necessary for his thorough to you, they, of course devolve, in

Commission under the great

information

&

seal,

&

direction in the conduct of the very extensive

devolve upon him

;

and you will observe, by the inclosed

important

letter to

command

him, which

I

that will

leave under

flying seal for your perusal, that he is entirely refered to the orders you shall leave with him and you will appoint a proper Officer to Command at Montreal in General Gage's abaence. The King has determined on this disposition, for the present, in order not to prolong your stay in North America till His Maj''' could finally resolve on the Officer he should think proper to appoint to the command of his forces there, which cannot but require the more deliberation, from the difficulty, there must be, to find a worthy successor to a person, who has executed the various and intricate branches of the different services, entrusted to him, in such a manner,

as not only to gain the entire approbation of his Sovereign, but also to conciliate the universal

esteem and confidence, of

all

those over

whom

he has had any command, or with

has had any intercourse; and His Maj'^ thinks further, that

you such in

lights

and informations, as you

North America, before he absolutely I acquainted

new

you

in

my

it

may

he

will be able to give relative to the situation of things

fixes

letter of the JS"*

upon any person

to replace

you there.

June, that a plan for the future regulation of the

who had made a report you their LordPi*'* ideas, you (which the King has

acquisitions in America, had been referred to the Board of Trade,

thereupon, which was then under consideration

and His

Maj'>'''

;

I

cannot explain

opinion thereupon, so well, as by transmitting to

me to do may still be

permitted

in confidence, for the information of yourself,

the plan

liable to

dated the

You

whom

be of use to receive from

8"*

new Govern"

His Maj'^ has been pleased

and of Gen' Gage only, as Board of Trade,

alterations) a copy of the Report from the

of June, with the Chart thereunto annexed, and of

will there see the

whom

some

to

to

it

my

answer of the

14*^ past;

has been thought proper to erect, and the persons,

appoint to be Governors;

You

will also see the general

idea of the Board of Trade, with regard to the stationing the Forces in North America, and tho' their Lord'"'"

do not think they have yet

number of Troops

to

sufficient informations to point

out any certain

be kept in each Govern*, yet, you will, as far as will be consistent with

the service in general, attend to

what

is

suggested of keeping a large military force in the

new

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

540

Govern", and the pLicing such garrisons as you

shall, in

your direction think proper

in the

Forts already erected and proposed to be kept up, for the security of the Indian Trade; and

you will during your own stay in America, as General Gage will after your return, transmit from time to time, every possible information and light relative to the new acquisitions, and most particularly as to the Forts, and Posts, it may be expedient to keep up, or to erect; and the number and disposition of the Troops, to be placed in the respective Gov"" in North America, in order that the same may be communicated to the Board of Trade. You will see by the inclosed extract and copy of the letters I write, by this Mail, to Gov' Murray, that the King has received intelligence, which gives some reason to suspect, that the French may be disposed to

avail themselves of the liberty of the Catholick Religion, granted

to the inhabitants of Canada, in order to keep up their connection with France, and by

of the Priests, to preserve such an influence over the Canadians, as

whenever opportunity should

offer, in

any attempts

to recover that

may

means

induce them to join,

Country?

It is

therefore of

the highest consequence to be extremely watchful over the conduct of the Priests, and to

and remove as soon as possible, any of them, who may busy themselves with such views, and to prevent the return of that dangerous Missionary de L'outre whose influence over discover,

those people,

is

too well

known

in

America

;

you

shall

will

me to give Gov"" Murray on this head, and you think may be of use, on this most essential matter.

directed

The King has seen with

observe the cautions the King has will

add any further ones that you

great concern the accounts you give in your dispatches of the

]

1""

and June of the savage and unprovoked behaviour of the Indians by which several of His Maj"'' subjects have already suffered, and it is to be feared that many more may have been 27"" of

victims to their horrid Barbarities before you can be able to put a stop thereto; the King has the firmest reliance on your prudence and activity, in applying the most effectual remedies to this evil,

and His Mnj'^

trusts, that

to reason and re-establish cultivation of the

that

you

will

security

have soon found means

which

Country newly acquired

to

is

the

so necessary

Crown

to

reduce these Indians

for the

improvement and

of Great Brittain; this perfidy

and cruelty of the Indians certainly deserve the severest punishment, and are sufficient to most rigorous proceedings against them, in case it should be found practicable to come at the guilty, but the means they have in their power, from the immense extent of the

justify the

Country,

to

make

incursions into, and ravage the borders of the parts inhabited, and then

may, it is feared, enable them, to avoid the detachments employ against them, and at last reduce you to the necessity of recurring to the old and ineffectual method of healing the breach by temporary Treaties and by presents. The King will expect, with impatience, further accounts from you of this very unlucky incident,

retire into those not yet explored,

you

shall

and should these rash attempts of the Indians, contrary to all expectations, gather to such a head as to become an object of more serious attention. His Maj'^' is in that case persuaded from your well known zeal, that, notwithstanding the leave now given you to return home, you will not

make

America

use thereof while these disturbances with the Indians shall essential for the King's service,

make your presence

and your remaining there some

little

in

time longer

necessary to keep the people quiet, from the just confidence they place in your experience

and

activity.

LONDON DOCUMENTS As

this

conclude

may it

XXXVI.

:

541

probably be the last dispatch you will receive from

my warmest

without oflering you

in being able to assure

you

in

wishes

for

your

safe

me

in

America,

voyage; and

I

cannot

shall rejoice

I

person of the sincere regard and perfect truth, with which 1

am

ettc.

EcaEMONT.'

Sir William Johnson [

HaW'Tock,

(

Sir Jeffery Amherst.

to

S. p. O. >

XOTUL, Ho. M. 1

Johnson Hall August

20*i>

1763

Sir

Captain Gardiner has delivered in consequence thereof given

him

me your all

Excellency's favor of the 10* instant, and

the advice

&

intelligence in

better conducting himself on the service upon which he

my power

I

have

with regard to his

is sent.

As the Nations who have committed hostilities deserve the greatest and most immediate punishment which we can bestow, I think nothing can be more necessary than an attempt on them whilst the season will admit of an expedition; but as I look upon the first blow which may be struck, to be of the highest importance and what will give the Indians an idea of our abilities in that way, as well as strike an awe amongst the several nations, I must humbly beg leave to represent that unless the same be attended with success and a good retreat, it may draw in many other unthinking Indians to engage in the quarrel; the Senecas are pretty numerous & consist of many villages at some little distance from each other: the moment therefore that a body of troops appear before any of them (if not before discovered) some of them will undoubtedly be able to escape to another village and thereby spread an alarm, the consequence of which will be, that a body of these naked men, used to the woods, and able

And altho' British soldiers have more bravery than any Indians, the loss may be very considerable in a woody country should they come up with them; and if this should be the case, it will elate those foolish people & strengthen their alliance. I am therefore humbly of opinion that as the first blow will in a great measure determine the success of what is to follow, the number of those who go on that service, should be pretty considerable, as also that to amuse the enemy and prevent their bending their force one way, two or three attempts of the like nature should be at the same time undertaken. This will not only make it the more secure, but should one fail, another may prove successfull. Your Excellency's intention of immediate chastisement, induces me to ofier these my sentiments in the most humble manner that the success may runners, will immediately set out to cut off their retreat.

infinitely

be effectual.

Mohawk Indian is arrived express from the Meeting with the several Chiefs Senecas country, which in a former letter I mentioned was to have taken place at the

This moment a in the '

CoABLm, Earl of Egremont, was eldest (oo of Sir William Wyndham, by Katharine, seeood daughter of the Dtdce of Ue was born on the 19tb August, 1710, and succeeded by special remainder to the Earldom on the death of hia

Somerset

uncle, 7 February, 1760.

There was something

died of Apoplexy 8 days after

1761.—Sd.

its data, tiz

:

like prophecy in the on 21st of August, 1768.

last

Ue

paragraph of the aboTe despatch, filled

for his

Lordship

the office of S«cratary of State from October,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS

542

them

Indian's desire, in order to bring

of

all

a conference with me,

Senecas

&"=

when they

The Messenger informs me

to reason.

German

the Nations are to be at the

Flatts on the 26"" instant

will lay before

me

that the chiefs

desire to

have

the result of their proceedings with the

The Congress

and their sentiments thereon.

where they

in the

Senecas Country not having

been over at the departure of the Messenger, he is not able to give me any particulars, except all the Deputy's from the other Nations behaved with the greatest zeal and warmth in

that

what he observed, seemed averse to any thing German Flatts will not only enable me to know every

favor of the English, altho' the Senecas, from

As the meeting

they proposed.

at the

particular, but also prove of service

the same, on which account

with regard to the peaceable Nations, with

shall take a present

I

secure them to our interest and reward

them

for

me

for the

I

purpose to attend

Sachems &° the

better to

the trouble they have lately taken in the

which I hope Your Excellency will have no and on my return 1 shall do myself the honor objection, being convinced it will be of service to acquaint you with the proceedings thereat, and the intelligence I shall receive. I have the honor to be with the greatest truth and respect, affair as

well as for their attachment to us

;

to

;

Sir

Your Excellency's &•

W"

Johnson.

Johnson Hall, Aug"

25"" 1763.

His Excellency Sir JefTery Amherst.

Sir William Johnson

to

Sir Jeffrey AmJierst.

Sir,

Yesterday

I

was honored with Your Excellency's

letter of the 14""

instant, together

with

Captain Baugh's information concerning the hostilities committed on the Frontiers of Virginia.

Ever

since the reduction of Canada, the Six Nations, as well as the

Western Indians have

particularly busied themselves in Carrying on the war against the Cherokees &ca, and for that purpose have constantly sent parties, and some of them very considerable, through the back parts of each province.

Indians,

were unknown

And although to

me

until

possible that the Senecas have done

Southern Indians,

commit some Indians

who

full

overtook the rest

As

it,

or a party of

it

is

very

some other nations destined against

the

power and influence of that nation, induced to and turn their arms against the English; and that the six at Dunlaf's Creek, were sent to them perhaps for that purpose,

been, by the

this is all

but uncertain,

I

shall

make

a strict enquiry into the affair for

discovery thereof.

In consequence of

being

some Six Nation

acts of Violence,

from Chenusno. the

may have

these acts, said to be committed by

the receipt of your Excellency's letter, yet,

my

commenced by

Cohnawagey on

Instructions to Captain Claus, at the

first

the Indians, he has held a Congress with

account received of hostilities all

the nations in

Canada

at

Ult" who unanimously agreed to send Messengers to the Enemy them to lay down the hatchet, with which, if they did not Comply, the

the 27""

Indians, to desire

Canada Indians would declare against them. your Excellency.

A

copy of their Message

I

herewith transmit to

LONDON DOCUMENTS The behaviour

XXXVI.

:

543

of the Oltawaes near Michilimachnac in taking the English from the rest and

them with some of their effects and that of the Sakis and others about Lake Michigan, with which I have been lately informed, is very commendable and deserves notice Indeed without reward Indians always did, and always will consider themselves as neglected, as theM Saku and others to the Westward have a great dislike to the Chijqxioai, they might I imagine, be induced to act offensively against the rest, which would be of great service to the regular

restoring

;

Wooden and

troops, in so

distant a Country.

Gladwin success and hope the Reinforcements sent to him by Your Excellency may enable him to strike a blow which may strike terror amongst the Savages. The Indians of Ohio, the Seiucas, Delawara and Shawanese, as they are by all the best accounts the principal authors of the Hostilities deserve the most immediate punishment, and most of I heartily wish Major

them

lie

more convenient

for an

Expedition at this advanced season than the rest of our

Besides that, the security of these frontiers will depend on their immediate

Enemies.

punishment, as the people most capable of distressing our settlements.

A relapse of my former disorder, under which I now labour, prevents me from being able to meet the Indians at the German Flatu, as mentioned in my last. I have therefore sent to call them to this place, and I expect their arrival about the 29"" As the present number of men at Fort Stanwix are but few, and therefore

make any

I

should be very unwilling to distress the Garrison, I shall not

application to L' Colonel Campbell, unless in case of apparent danger, but

wait until your Excellency pleases to send

&ca may, I shall

I

beleive, be

take particular care, as

Powder, which

go but a very

will

at present to supply,

made of

a bad use

of,

me

a Sergeant and 12 Men, which with

my

servants,

sufficient.

always have done,

way amongst

in

any

distribution of the Barrel of

the various wants

1

think

it

but prudent

am certain that what little they have had in that manner was never well know that the Indians are remarkably the very worst managers

and

as I

I

little

I

powder on every occasion, and whilst they have any ammunition are continually discharging

Every hunter consumes their pieces at every little object, be their Necessities ever so great. about 8"" of powder, and 20"" of lead at his two hunting seasons in the year, and without that quantity a good hunter seldom chooses to go out. trade with them

may

Therefore unless the traders, (whenever

again be carried on,) have sufficient to Enable the Indians to hunt as

And

formerly, there can be no trade with them.

to prevent

the Indians more dependent on us than at present,

I

many

apprehend

abuses, as well as to render if

the trade

was confined

to

Osvoego, Niagara, Pittsburg and Detroit, provided the traders could transport their goods in

vessels to the latter, these places

would be

sufficiently

The

convenient for the Indians, and more

HudsonU Bay and the Sioux who are the most distant with whom we have any trade, often came to Oswego, when we had only that out post, and as they think but little of a long Journey they are but too apt to make small allowance for the expence the traders are at, in transporting their goods to Michilimackinac, La Baye, &ca, which no doubt makes them find fault with the prices there, however reasonable, but also the sight of goods in a traders boat passing over the distant lakes and rivers is a temptation which many of the nations cannot resist, and may induce some safe for the traders

and their

effects.

of them often hereafter, however successful for the sake of the plunder,

subdued

in

many

years.

Chrislinaux in the neighborhood of

we may

which may engage us

be against them, to commit depradations

in fresh troubles, as these people

cannot be

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

544

Your Excellency may be assured

that

whenever

my

health permits, and that

it's

upper Country, or any quarter within my department I pleasure execute your commands for the good of His Majesty's Service. I have the honor, &c Expedient,

should

I

visit the

Message of

The

the

Canada

to the

Viz'

the

Caughnawageys,

with

Johnson.

Western Indians.

following Messages, consisting in four belts of

Nations in Canada,

W™

(signed)

His Excellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

Judged

shall

Wampum, were

Caiieghsadarundax,

sent

by the S Indian

Skaghnancs,

Swegachies,

and Hurons, near Quebec, among the Western Nations, two different ways, by two birch Canoes, one through Lake Ontario to Detroite, the other by the Ottawawa, or Grand River, to Missilimackinac. S' Francis, 3 River Indians,

Towaganha

Western Indians. acquaint you that there is an universal peace concluded «• among all the Christian powers in Europe, and consequently among the white people in " America, by which Peace, The King of France ceded to the King of England all his claim Brethren of "

We

by

this

" and right of

belt of

all his

or

Wampum

dominions on

this Continent, as far as the

River Mississippi

:

Wherefore

" you are to consider the King of England as the only Sovereign over the said territories, who,

we

you and us upon a very good footing." You cannot have forgot the agreement jointly made between us and our Brethren " the English, when this Country was taken, of maintaining a firm peace and friendship with " one another. We hereby acquaint you that we are resolved strictly to abide by our " agreements, and expect you'll do the same." •'

.

hear, intends to put the trade with

" Brethren,

A

large white belt with black spots, in Capt" Clau's behalf

Brethren Towaganha, " We are vastly surprised

to hear such bad accounts from you, and that you have forgot the " Engagement, and foolishly and rashly taken up the hatchet against your brethren. You

know that you requested us to take you into our Confederacy, and we have complied but " you have behaved as unworthy members, and slipt your hold of the Covenant Chain; We

"

;

" by this belt entreat and desire you to recollect yourselves, what you are about, " the peace of the Confederacy, and immediately lay down the hatchet."

A

in disturbing

large white belt in behalf of the 8 Nations.

Brethren Towaganha, " We desire you to let us know as soon as possible whether you will comply with our desire " of laying down the hatchet, or not, that we may direct ourselves accordingly, and let you "

know

further

what we think of your inconsiderate behaviors.

A

belt from the 8 Nations.

Brethren Towaganha, " '*

We

would have you always look upon us as keeping a strong hold of the Chain of ; and are resolved to abide by our Engagements

friendship with our bretheren the English

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. " of peace for ever; and regard the

King of England

as our

545

Common

Father

who

is

willing to

" live in peace and friendship with

all his children the Indians, and intends to establish a fair " and reasonable trade with all Indian nations in his American dominions. He does not " mean to claim your lands as his property and desires no more privileges than the King of «• France had, which is to carry on the trade among you for your own good and welfare ; but "if you behave as you have now done, he certainly will deprive you of it; and has it in his " power as you ca'nt be supplied by any other nation, he having the entrance of the two rivers " that lead from the sea to your Country, and Can prevent any other nation of white people " to trade with you Your present behavior, therefore, is enough to be our mutual Destruction. A belt which Capl" Claus gave. :

The

deputies after delivering the above Messages, are to acquaint

them that Peace was

now become

proclaimed in Canada, and the French in this Country were

English Subjects

and of consequence they, the Western nations, must consider them and us as one people, who enjoyed the same privileges in trade and any thing else, and were obliged to submit to the same laws and Government, That if the English were prevented from trafficking with them, the French were likewise,

&ca

Sir Jeffery Amherst [

Naw-Tork,

(3.

to

Sir

P. O.,)

William Johnxon.

XOVOI., So. «.

]

(Copy)

New York

27 August 1763.

Sir

am to thank you for your Our not being able Senecas. punishing the most prudent manner of opinion in regard to the from our just wrath, to take immediate revenge of that ungratefuU tribe, shall not screen them for I am firmly determined to make every Nation that has been engaged in the present insurrection, severely feel the punishment due to such treacherous and unprovoked barbarities I

am

this

moment

favored with your letter of the 20* instant, and

them on the unfortunate persons who have fallen into their hands. I cannot but approve of your meeting the Six Nations at their intended Conference at the German Flatts. That meeting will be over before this can reach you, so that I need not give you any hints relative to your conduct on that occasion. I shall only say, that it behove the whole race of Indians to beware ( for I fear the best of them have in some measure been privy as have been committed by

to

and concerned

in the late mischief) of carrying matters

much

farther against the English, or

daring to form conspiracys, as the consequence will most certainly occasion measures to be

taken that in the end will put a most I

have nothing

new from

eflfectuall

stop to their fxry being.

the Detroit since Captain Dalyell

left

Presqu' Isle; but yesterday

I had the satisfaction to receive letters from Colonel Bouquet acquainting

me

of his arrival at

Fort Pitt on the 10* instant; having on the 6'" and 6* been attacked by a very large body of Indians near Bushy Run, engaged them from noon to night, the first day, our men keeping their ground and always driving off the Savages; but came back at night to cover the provisions and the wounded. The next day the Indians surrounded our little army and advanced to the

Vol. VII.

69

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

546

attack very furiously, but Colonel

Bouquet had made such a disposition

to receive them,

and

the behavior of the troops was so firm and resolute, that the Savages gave way, had not the cournge to support their attempt, and were pursued for a considerable distance with great

both actions assures

wounded

who

Captain Basset

slaughter.

me

in the pursuit.

me Col:

brought

Bouquet's dispatches and was present in

He

likewise says that the three principal persons

Kikyuscung and the Wolf were Fort Pitt: which if true appears to be a very

mischief on that side by murdering Capt. Clapham killed

many who began the

that there were at least 60 or 60 Indians slain and a great

and Butler met with the same

fate at

&*= viz*

providential piece of justice.

This service has not been affected without loss on our side, altho' I must say Colonel Bouquet little army, considering the large convoy he had made his care, has done every thing Capt. L. I could have hoped for, on the Indians forming so large a body to oppose him. 42'' with a Lieut, of the Rangers, killed ; Captain Graham Graham and Lieut. M'Intosh of the with his

and Lieut. Duncan Campbell of the 42'' Lieut. and Volunteer Peebles wounded. Our

Dow

79""

loss,

of the GO"" Lieut. Donald Campbell of the

including officers

is

50 men killed and

60 wounded.

Some random

army between Bushy Run and Fort

shots were fired on the

Pitt

;

but this

any further mischief being done on that communication ; particularly as Colonel Stephen with a body of 4 or 500 men of the Virginia Militia is advanced as far as Forts Cumberland and Bedford, with a view not only of covering the frontiers, but of acting offensively against the Savages. This publick spirited Colony has also sent a body of the like number of men under the command of Colonel Lewis for the What a contrast this makes between defence and protection of their South West frontiers. seasonable check

I

believe will put an effectual stop to

the conduct of the Pennsylvanians and Virginians, highly to the honor of the latter, but places the former in the most despicable light imaginable. 1 enclose you a Copy of what passed between Captain Ecuyer and the very villains who were afterwards engaged in the action against Colonel Bouquet's Detachment. I approve most but I should have been better pleased had he not fully of Captain Ecuyer's answer to them treated with them when they came to the Fort soon after the first mischief happened, by giving them not only provisions but other tokens of friendship, which entitled them to come again to the Fort altho' their conduct ever since and the whole tenor of their speech, plainly prove and I must own I should not have blamed him had he put every that their designs were bad ;

;

:

one of those

who were

in his

power

to death. I

am

with great regard,

Sir&« Jeff

Sir William Johnson Bar«

Sir Jeffery Amlierst

to

Sir

:

Amherst.

William Johnson.

New

York, 9 September 1763.

Sir,

the Packet Boat which arrived here the day before yesterday, I am honored with a letter from the Earl of Egremont, in which is the following Paragraph, which I think proper to

By

transcribe, as the contents relate to your Department.

His Lordships words are these.

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI.

547

" I am likewise to acquaint you that it has been suggested here that some of the Indians of "the Six Nations have lately shown marks of discontent, and have been suspicious of Neglect. "Should you 6nd such suggestions to be founded in truth, and should you imagine that any "such disaffected disposition of the Northern Indians shall require a particular attention, the "King, trusting to your known Economy and discretion, leaves it entirely to you to support "Sir William Johnson in any expence that you may judge expedient for His .Nlajesty's service "upon this occasion, not exceeding, however, the sum of one Thousand Pounds: But it is " needless to caution you not to incur any Expense of this nature, without you shall judge it "absolutely necessary to conciliate the Indian tribes, and more particularly the Six Nations, "to His Majesty's Government, who may possibly f^om the vast cessions made by the Peace to " Great Britain, be disposed to give some degree of credit to tho9e malicious notions of our "designs to extirpate them, which the French have always endeavored to instil into them." have transmitted particular The steps taken by you at the late conferences, of which I

accounts to the Secretary of State, will have shown to His Miijesty that a due Attention has

been had to the

affairs

at those conferences,

of the Indians, particularly the Six Nations.

I trust

The expenses

have been as sparing as the Circumstances would admit

need not add anything on the subject of

Economy,

after

incurred

and

of,

I

what the Earl of Egreniont mentions

in the foregoing Extract.

You but

will

have heard of the Unfortunate fate of poor Dalyell

trifling, for the

for the

Indians must have lost

few that were

killed of ours.

I

;

The

some men, which they

AfTair in other respects

will feel as

much

as

we

most sensibly lament the death of Captain Dalyell,*

he was a brave Officer and a worthy man.

When

the reinforcements get to the Detroit,

I

is

can, for

doubt

not but Major Gladwin will have been able to act offensively against the Savages, and that

every thing there will soon be put on a proper footing.

That Major Gladwin may prepare in time for the Arrangement of the Troops during the winter, I now despatch Major of Brigade Moncriefie, with orders to Major Gladwin ibr that purpose, that he may put them in execution when he shall see occasion, and as circumstances may require. It is my intention that the whole of the 42*' Regiment should be stationed at the Detroit and the Dependent Posts- Should it happen that the 42*' cannot reach the Detroit this Fall, in that event, I have directed Major Gladwin to keep up the 80*^ Regiment, which Otherwise is to be disbauded, and the men drafted in the 40'^ Regiment, which garrisons Niagara and Presqu He. As the present insurrection seems to be very general, and that I suspect the Indians will try every Method that treachery and baseness can suggest, to destroy those whom they fear, I would advise you to make use of the power I gave you in a late letter to demand a patty from Fort Stanwix, as a guard to your house; and I have only to desire that if you should think *

Jahb Daltill

oompaoy

in the

wu

appointed a Lieuttnaot

2J battalion of the Royals or

in

1st

the 60th or Royal Americans, on 16th Janaary, I7SS, and obtained •

regiment of Foot, on the IStb September, 1760.

On

the Slst July, 176S,

be led a detachment against Pontiac, then encamped beyond the bridge on the creek called the Bloody Run, in the vicinity "At a little distance,* says Parkman, "lay a Serjeant of the fiftth, of Detroit The British party was obliged to retreat

wounded, raising himself on his hands and gazing with a look of despair aft«r his retiring comrade*. The sight That gallant soldier, in the true spirit of heroism, ran out, atnld the firing to rfseue the wuunded man, when a shot struck him and he fell dead. Few observed his fate, and none durst turn back to reeoTcr hi* body," Ed. {Contpiraey of Pontiae, 27 S), where the name, however, but why we know not, is printed DalielL

hetplesfly

caught the eye of Dalyell.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

548

men may be

proper to demand them, the

constantly kept on duty, and not permitted on any

account whatever to straggle about the place.

am, with great regard, &c (signed) Jeff. Amherst.*

I

Sir William Johnson, Bar'.

Lieutenant-Governor Gulden [New-York,

(

State

to the

Paper

Office, )

Earl of Egremont.

CLVIII.)

New

My I

York, Sept' 14* 1763

Lord,

have the honour of Your Lordships commands of the

pleasure for suppressing the pernicious

power

illegall

9""

of July signifying His Majesty's

trade carried on in America.

Nothing

in

my

performing so necessary a duty.

shall be neglected in

cannot imagine any method for suppressing the pernicious trade with Holland which can be more eifectual than this now taken by His Majesty's ships of war. I

number of men be put on board every suspected

If a suificient

comes from any foreign port, to prevent her breaking bulk,

till

vessel

on the

coast, or

which

she comes to the proper Port

Baron Amherst, was the son of Jefiferoy Amherst and Elizabeth Kerril, of Hadlow, in the county of Kent, and Having evinced a strong inclination in early years for the military profession, he entered the army under the patronage of the Duke of Dorsel, distinguished himself in the battles of Dettengen in 1743, Fontenoy in 1746, Lauffeldt in 1747, and that of Hastenbeck in 1767, after having risen to be Colonel of the 16th regiment of foot in 17^.. On the recall of Lord Loudoun, he was appointed by Mr. Pitt to the command of the expedition against Louislmrgh, and arri*?d at Halifax 28th May, 1768. On the SOth September following, he was named Colonel of the 60tli or Royal Americans; became Major-General in June, 1759, in which year his signal services procured for him the thanks of the House of Commons, and the sinecure office of Governor of Virginia, worth £1600 a year. On the 8th September, 1760, he signed the capitulation of Montreal, and was invested with the oflBce of Governor General of Canada ; whereupon he divided that Province into three Military Governments and established Martial law, and then returned to New-York, having been '

Jeffert, Ist

•was born on the 29th January, 1717.

all His Majesty's forces in America. On 19th January, 1761, he was raised to March following was created Knight of the Bath and a Member of the Privy Council.

appointed Commander-in-Chief of of Lieutenant-General, and in

the rank

Having

returned to England, he remained in favor until 1768, when, having been asked to give his opinion on the repeal of the American Stamp Act, he strenuously opposed it, and was in consequence dismissed from his sinecure place of the governorship

Hereupon he wanted

of Virginia.

to be created an English peer,

but was refused. Orenville Papers, IV., S29, 349.

He became

Colonel of the 3d Buffs in November, 1768, and in 1770 was appointed Governor of Guernsey; in 1772, Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance, and on the 20th May, 1776, was raised to the Peerage

the

Army on

by the

title

of

Baron Amherst

He became

General in

19lh March, 1778; on 2l3t April, 1779, was appointed Colonel of the 2d Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards,

and Commander-in-Chief of all the British force!, and on the 20th of March, 1782, Colonel of the 2d Troop of Horse Guards. Els Lordship died on the 3d of August, 1797, in the Slat year of his age. Though General Amherst had long ceased to have any connection with America or its affairs, yet he did not cease endeavoring to increase his private fortune at the expense of

When he

made an effort to obtain a grant of a Coal took advantage of the return of his friends to power in 1770, and applied for a grant of the'Jesuits' Estates in Canada, the conceded portion of which afiforded at the tim« a yearly»evenue of about £1500, and the unconceded lands amounted to somewhere in the neighborhood of half a million of acres. Thia

that country.

mine,

we presume,

application

in

lost the sinecure

Nova

was not disposed

Scotia

governorship of Virginia in 1768, he

but having failed

of during his Lordship's

insurmountable, the Crown, to to the second

;

its

in that,

life

time,

and the

Lord Amherst, and the representatives of the family,

The particulars 1824.— Ed.

difficulties in

the

way

of the grant having been found

honor, abandoned the project, and compromised the matter in 1803, in lieu of

by grantingan annuity

any claims they may have on the Royal bounty.

of this transaction will be found in the Report on Ediuation,

made

to the

Aaembly of

Zotcer Canada in

LONDON DOCUMENTS

&

for unloading

measure,

My may

if

to attend the unlading, this alone, in nny

549

humble opinion would

in a great

not wholly, suppress this illegal Trade.

Lord, As Your Lordship

occur to

me

is

pleased to direct

me

Province.

affects

you such further hints ai and Revenue, I presume to

to impart to

as proper for this subject, of his Majesty's Right

inform you of an other matter, which greatly in this

XXXVI.

:

His Majesty's Revenue of his Quit Rents

In His Majestys Instructions to His Governor

it is set forth that his Majesty has been informed of exorbitant grants of vast tracts of Land in this Province, under trifling Quit Rents, particularly in the Counties of Orange and Ulster, without any obligations on the grantee to cultivate and improve, His Majesty directs and requires His Governor to put in

practice

all

legal

methods

&

for

breaking and annulling

such

all

exorbitant,

&

irregular

whatever may be found further necessary, or conducive for effecting the same. No prosecution of this kind can be carried on without considerable expence & the Governor has no fund either from the King or from the Assembly for this or any other contingent service. This alone has disabled the Governor Sc Attorney General ia unconditional Grants,

to report

attempting such Prosecutions.

&

We

have a

set of

lawyers in this Province as insolent

&

same time as well skilled in all the chicanerie of the Law, as perhaps are to be found any where else. This requires Judges of ability & skill in the Law to restrain thera who are not easily to be found in this place, & at the same time disinterested, for the petulant,

at the

distinguished families in so small a country as this are so united by inter-marriages and

otherwise, that in few cases a cause of any consequence, especially where the King's Rights are concerned, can be brought before a Judge

who

is

one of these families,

in

which he can be

supposed intirely disinterested, or free from connections with those interested either case, or in other cases similar to

it.

A

in that

very remarkable case by which the King's interest

greatly affected in proof of this, has lately happened, which

I

is

intend to lay before the Lords

of Trade and Plantations, as soon as I can procure the proper materials.

It relates to

the

Lands particularly mentioned in the Instruction. Your Lordship cannot possibly conceive how weak the hands of Government are in this Province, & how much the Governor is disabled in securing the King's Rights & in putting the In

Laws

of trade in execution.

my humble

This

deserve the attention of his Majesty's ministers.

opinion no means in these cases can be effectual without a disinterested Chief

Justice at least, of sufficient ability

Governor and

may

to carry

&

resolution,

&

an able Attorney General, to advise the

on suits of law, both of thera properly supported, together with a

sufBcient fund for the unavoidable expence of prosecuting effectually whereever the King's

Right or Authority

is

invaded.

His Majesty's Quit Rents

in this Province are sufficient for

these purposes. I

confide in

Your Lordships' protection while

I

do

my

duty

& am

with the greatest

submission,

My The Right honourable Earl of Egremont.

Lord, Your most obedient

& faithfull

Servant

Caowalladeb Coldbn.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

550

Sir William Johnson

Sir Jeffrey Amherst.

to

Johnson Hall, 14 September 1763. Sir,

I have

had the honour of your Excellency's

whose success and I

arrival at Fort Pitt gives

my

enclose your Excellency part of

now been

with a Copy

letter of the 27"' Ultimo, together

of the proceedings between Captain Ecuyer and the Indians

me

who engaged

Colonel Bouquet,

infinite Satisfaction.

proceedings with the Six Nations at this place where

amount of 326, and I hourly expect above 200 more from the Susquehanna River, whose business I am not yet acquainted with. Your Excellency will observe by my proceedings, that the rest of the Nations were they have

accompanied by

for several days, to the

six Senecas, belonging to the Castles

on this side of Chenussio, who,

I

cannot

learn have as yet acted against us; the meeting lately held by the rest of the nations with that

People

whom

they have brought to a sense of the

ill

behavior of the

and you

rest,

will also

observe that the Seneca Villages called Kdnddesseg'y and Canadnsaggo, are said to be in our interest, for which reason the Indians appear very desirous that they might be continued

amongst the number of our

friends, as

they have not committed

and that they had

hostilities,

given assurances to the Indians of these Villages that they would endeavour to

peace with the English, which prevented them from acting against us

On

:

make

this

I

their

spoke

to

them very fully, but shall expect your Excellency's opinion and sentiments before I can give them a definite answer. The declarations and behavior of the rest is very agreeable to me, and I hope may prove so to your Excellency, but that of the Coghnawageys deserves being particularly noticed, and has had great weight at this meeting.

From

the private conferences

I

have had with that people, as also from the letters which they have brought me from Canada I plainly find they have a great inclination to engage against our Enemies and that many of requisition to fall upon them or join our troops. I was therefore unwilling check a proceeding, which from the power and warlike turn of these people might prove of

them only wait our to

infinite

see in

advantage to

my

to pay,) for

and have accordingly given them the war

two Chief Warriors

send out Parties

The

us,

belt, as

your Excellency

will

proceedings as also, at the request of some Chiefs, sent warrants, (but not subject

—

all

which,

I

in

Canada, as

may

hope,

1

had done during the time which

I

was used

to

prove agreeable to your Excellency.

occasion of the arrival of the Coghnawageys,

was

me

principally to lay before

a complaint

concerning a tract of land Six Miles in length, and one and a half in breadth, which the Jesuits claim, by virtue of a Patent as they say, from

Lewis XIV. which

tract

now

in question adjoins

which Governor Gage lately passed sentence in their favour, but there being some circumstances relative to this Patent which prevents the Governor from deciding

to that concerning

the matter, the Indians request

opinion the

affair

may

be

I

may

lay their

made very easy

demand

to them,

—

now

before His Majesty; and

that the society

is

I

am

of

broke in France,

their Grant becoming void. and can consequently hold no lands as a body I told them I should immediately comply with their request, as I would willingly preserve them in the good

disposition they are in, well

them a respectable

knowing

people, and

MichUimacJeinac, and the Sakis, &c,

them

to us,

the unanimity of the several nations in

their if

behavior, together with

Canada renders

that of the

rewarded with some favours from

us, will

Ottuwacs near I

beleive, bind

and make them of great use against a people whose numbers and situation render

LONDON DOCUMENTS it

extremely

Peace, since

am

551

us alone to reduce them to that state which only can secure a lasting

difficult for I

XXXVI.

:

convinced they will never want for assistance from the French to harrnss

and keep our Frontiers

in continual alarms,

of advantage ever so inconsiderable

;

be their situation ever so remote, or their prospect

and

I

am

apprehensive that our greatest care and

precaution will scarcely be sufficient to prevent the French from supplying the Indians our

Enemies with ammunition, by the way of the Mississippi, as I well know that distance is little regarded by Indians, especially where they have so many fine rivers and communications by which they can be supplied and which will enable the French to engross a great part of the trade. Our friendly Indians will naturally expect a continuance of trade; but least others ;

might partake thereof, and thereby be the better enabled your Excellency

few

places,

will

be of opinion that the same

continue their

to

hostilities, J beleive

should be carried on at a very

for the present

and those under our immediate inspection, where our Enemies will not venture oq

a trading footing, as at Fort Stanwix on this Communication, and not further.

The Trade from Canada up dangerous nature, many

friendly Indians in and about

me from all accounts to be of a having been carried on through that channel; and our

the Ottavcawa River appears to

villainies

Canada can be

And

sufficiently supplied at Montreal.

of our Enemies live in the neighborhood of Fort Pitt,

I

apprehend

it

as

many

will be advisable to

discontinue the trade in that Quarter.

The

loss of

one of the Vessels on Lake Erie

is

power

to

burn her

when

the Frost sets

;

a small party having

They

very

in their

it

without the Utmost precaution.

in,

Since writing the foregoing, 246 Indians from Susquahana and Ou?egy are arrived here.

am

very unlucky at this juncture, and I

apprehensive of the fate of the other the ensuing winter

are principally

come

to assure

its

branches as low

me

down

as

of their Resolutions to

remain our Friends and that they have taken the utmost pains to prevent their people from joining the

Enemy, which has occasioned

all

the

ill

They

disposed to leave that quarter.

likewise express great satisfaction at hearing the good Resolutions of the 5. Nations. I had not closed my letter till this day, being the 16*^ instant, when I have been honored with your Excellency's of the 9"" and lO"" instant, in the former of which you was pleased to transmit the paragraph of Lord Egremont's letter relative to my department, and pointing out a particular sum of Money not to be exceeded, to which I shall pay due regard, so far as is

in

any wise consistent with the service and the present

that as matters have gone a

much

greater length than

state of Affairs

— but

was perhaps expected

I

am

of opinion

England when the Expense, but

in

His Lordship wrote. His Majesty will not probably at present choose to limit rather leave it to your Excellency's discretion, and that of those whom he has appointed to that department, who, I flatter myself he will consider as proper judges thereof, as I can sufficiently make it appear that it is with the utmost reluctance I obey the dictates of necessity by incurring any considerable expenses on account of the Indians, and which my desire of lessening the public expenses, and

my

love of ease and quiet

would induce me

to avoid if

possible. None but those who have experienced it, can be truly sensible of the troubles which must be undergone at this time, with the Indians; if they did they would readily beleive that these troubles would certainly be avoided but that the urgency of affairs make it the duty of ;

Crown to do all that is necessary for His Majesty's service, that suggested we owe any future troubles to a mistaken Enemy. And I

every servant of the not be hereafter

it

may

beleive

is of opinion that I shall never run into any expense but what the good of His Majesty's service, and the safety and welfare of the Public shall render indispensably necessary.

your Excellency

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

552 I

am

hopeful that in a short time

Detroit, and

I

we may

hear of some success in the neighborhood of the

beleive your Excellency's judicious arrangement of the troops will secure that

important post to us during the Winter, although

I

apprehend the

Regiment

42**

will hardly

arrive there before that time.

Agreeable to your Excellencys favour of the

and 12 Men,

for a Sergeant

who

be kept

shall

10"" instant, I shall

apply to L* Col. Campbell

strictly to their duty,

and detained no longer

than Occasion requires.

The Attempts Stephen Success

against the Shawanese in

his

is

certainly very necessary, and

I

heartily

wish Colonel

Expedition: His chief danger will be in his retreat up the River;

informed that the Shawanese have moved back from the Ohio this good while past, and that one Village is established about 90 Miles up the Scioto River, where numbers of besides

I

am

the Delawares and others have lately joined them. I

flatter

Sincerity.

myself the conduct of the Canada Indians will leave no room to doubt of their There are many of them now ready to join our troops if required, and they have

formerly been very steadfast to the part on which they were engaged, which they assure

they will evince in their Attachment to I

La

am

at a loss to consider

how

me

us.

those 0/tawaes and friendly Indians in the neighborhood of

Bay, Michilimackinac, &ca, can be conveniently supplied with trade during the continuation

of the present hostilities, without which they will certainly be greatly disgusted, and can see

no other method but by their Coming for goods to Montreal The Indians likewise about the Illinois, who have not, as yet, intermeddled in the present troubles, will expect a trade ;

whenever we

shall

be able to take possession of that Country, which

to us, as I could venture to affirm that the

French

is

of great importance

have been considerably and I much fear they will

in that quarter

instrumental in setting the present hostilities on foot, with the

rest,

occasion us great difficulty in getting there by means of the Indians.

came hither under the protection of the rest, by whom I know the same was was under a necessity of stifling my resentment, for the present and I thought it best to treat them as a people who owed their protection entirely to the other Nations. The Indians have only in general spoke of the out posts as in part the Cause of the defection of the Senecas &c, and I heartily wish they may be established in such a manner as shall prevent their falling into the Enemies hands, should they hereafter commence hostilities. M' Croghan, who will have the honor to deliver your Excellency my letter, arrived here a few days ago, in order to lay before me the necessity he is under of going to England, on his private affairs, for which he had before solicited my permission; and now repeated his desire I have therefore referred him to your Excellency for an answer of going as soon as possible.

As

the Senecas

well meant,

I

;

to his request. I

His Excellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst

have the honor (signed)

to be,

&c

W™

Johnson.

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. Proceedings of Sir William Johnson with the Indiana. Extfacts ffom the Minutes of proceedings between Sir William Johnson Bar'

Wm^'j^hnMn". leu iTont ^'ciwdi Bepir 17681

and the Six Nations, and Indians of Caughnawaga,

^Tt

in

Canada, &c

Johnson Hall, Sepl'

7.

1763.

William Johnson had a private meeting with the Chiefs of the Onondagtu, wherein they acquainted him with the steps they had taken with the Senecas. Sir

P.

M. The Indians of each Nation assembled.

Present

—

Sir William Johnson Bar*

some of

Sir William acquainted the Indians with his having heard that

committed

hostilities

on the frontiers of Virginia, and desired

to

their

be informed

People had

who were

concerned therein, after wiiich he gave them an account of Colonel Bouquet's successful engagement near Fort Pitt, and of the loss sustained by the Indians. Teyauarunte Speaker of Onondaga addressed Sir William, as follows.

Then

Brother Warraghiyagey,

made

In consequence of your Speech to the

Senecas

to

know

to us lately at the

German

Flatts,

we

sent immediately

the cause of their behavior, and on the arrival of our Deputies in that

Country our Warriors addressed

theirs desiring they

would immediately

lay

down

the hatchet

and bethink themselves of the danger in which their bad proceedings must involve their and not proudly Continue the war, but consider their weliiare. Then our Sachems addressed theirs desiring they would think for the Public good, and not

families,

permit their young

men

to prosecute

hostilities,

but that they would remember the old

to keep peace and never begin any disturbances, whereby they might be assured they would never be hurted ; That therefore they should talk wisely to their Warriors, and not suffer them to get drunk and behave as they had lately done, and desired they would mind their proper affairs, which was the Public business, and prevent any bad designs by observing the agreement by which they were bound to shake any Nation by head

agreement, whereby they were

who behaved

amiss; and that

reap the advantage thereof;

we had spoken to at

all

them thereon,

Bretheren to the

their

they acted as

we

desired, our Children yet unborn, should

desired they would

that

we

remember

that this

was the Third time

expected they would communicate what

Westward, as we should expect

their

we had

said

immediate answer

Onondaga.

The

next day

foolishly,

to

to

if

And

we met again, when the Senecas acknowledged some of them had acted know what they did, but begged that we should return, and endeavour

and did not

make up

affairs

with our Bretheren the English.

After which they returned our belts. But Ours and the Seneca Warriors were of opinion that the Seneca Sachems did not act right, & that they only talked; therefore they agreed with us, that

we

should consider our safety, and preserve peace:

vre had wise

men

to guide us, but they had none,

which was

The Seneca Warriors saying

and assured us that they would join themselves, once more, to these their words were from their hearts.

Vol. VII.

70

that

the cause of the present trouble; us,

and act peacably, and that

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

554

After this, a few of us were sent forward to Chenussio;

where the Senecas have two

Castles,

who went thither are not yet returned, we know not the success of their negotiations; And now Brother, we beg you may be assured we are unanimously determined to hold fast by the old agreement, and preserve Peace, a necessary step to which, we think

hut as those

will be

your allowing us a large and reasonable trade at Oswego, and the German Flatts, as As for our parts, we shall say nothing further concerning the Posts which have

formerly

;

much

caused so

But We, The Five

disturbance,

Nations, the Coghnawagas,

and many others

in

our alliance, will carefully preserve peace, and use our daily endeavors to bring about the

may be immediately acquainted with our Answer. Gave a large Belt with 13 Rows. Brother. We now deliver you the Belt which we sent to Canada, whereby we bound ourselves altogether in a peaceable alliance, and we are glad the Governor of Montreal is so same with the Rest; and we

Resolutions, and that

desire the General

we may have

his

A

well disposed thereto.

By

Brother.

MichilimacJcinac

Belt of 8 Rows.

we are to accquaint you that the friendly Ottawaes near have brought home your flesh and blood, who were Prisoners in that Country. this

String

Six Strings. Brother,

We

Inhabitants of Virginia: It

we

sure

any of our People have been suspected for striking the more probable the Shawanese have done so; or if not, we are

are heartily sorry that is

have no hand therein

;

Then

the Meeting broke up. Next day the Coghnawagas acquainted Sir William that as they had unexpectedly found the Six Nations here, they judged it necessary to have a Meeting with them ; which they would

accordingly hold that morning. Sir William afterwards assembled

Present

—

all

the Indians.

as before.

Brethren of the Several Nations. I

have hearkened, with attention, to what you said yesterday, regarding your Proceedings

with the Senecas, and I shall

now

give you

Your design in going to the Senecas meant, but you know it was your mere to attend the

my

sentiments thereon.

in order to bring

them

to their senses,

was very well

notion, and not at my desire, as that nation had refused meeting held lately with me, at the German Flatts; we had nothing else to

expect but their continuance of hostilities which they have really done ever since, and have now parlies out engaged in the same, but the indifference with which they have received all

my

admonitions, and your endeavours,

is a sufficient proof that they are badly disposed, and can only be brought to reason by a proper punishment. It is highly unreasonable to suppose that any nation will sit still and accept of the Sorrow

of another for the murders they have committed; This

degree, and

what

am

would be

folly in us to the highest

sure not one Nation of the Confederacy

would put up with, as you yourselves on occasions not in the least comparable to the present. If your hearts be good, and your old Agreements can be relied upon, you can't but consider that every Nation who are enemies to us, and Covenant breakers, are traitors to yourselves, and I

make war amongst

are depriving assistance

:

you of Trade and quietness, and as such ought But we have not asked that of you, and we only

and observe that we can punish those maintain Peace. still,

who have wanted

to be punished

desire you

who

with your joint are friends, to

sit

war, as well as reward them that

—

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS Can they pay

us for the blood of

gome hundreds

:

XXXVI.

^

555

of their Innocent Brethren

:

Can they make

have plundered, burned, and destroyed, or what security have we Covenant half a year, who have basely and treacherously held one hand to us in show of peace, and with the other struck an axe into our Heads ? I know you can't expect such folly from us, and I sincerely hope, for your own sakee, you will remain quiet, and observe the event, which behavior will not only entitle you to reward, but prevent your destruction the General having assured me that he is determined on noticing and rewarding every nation that preserves the Peace, and is equally resolved to bring all those who have taken up the Hatchet to an immediate and severe punishment, without which our retaliation for the places they

for their keeping the

;

children's children can never expect ease, but

must spend

their time in

war and conferences,

and lose the benefits of hunting and trade, And till this punishment be felt by our Mutual Enemies, you cannot expect the trade to be so extensive as formerly, for which you must blame your perfidious brethren, who have so treacherously struck us on the head, and thereby deterred our traders from bringing up any more goods. However, we shall endeavor all in our power to prevail on some to continue it as formerly in some places, provided you make no bad use of this Indulgence.

The demand and the

for

an extensive trade was made by the very nations

who have

lately struck

and protection not only of the Traders, but Country ; yet the former have been robbed and murdered, and the latter surprised, pillaged, and destroyed. Judge yourselves what encouragement there is for our People to go amongst you, what reliance we may repose on any promises, and you must then be of opinion that no punishment can bo too great for a People who have broken their old agreements, inhumanly butchered their brethren, and deprived you of the happiness and advantages which Peace and plentiful us

;

largest promises given for the safety

also of the several posts in their

trade could afford you. I

make no doubt you

will consider matters as

I

have justly represented them, and I

am

heartily glad to hear your professions of peace and friendship, the observance whereof can never

be

sufficiently

recommended

to you, as the

means of preserving your lives and commerce to your Posterity.

Properties, and

securing the inestimable advantages of liberty and

A

Belt.

you thanks for the Belt which you sent to the Indians in Canada, for the promoting of Peace and Unity, which I am of opinion that wise people will never attempt to Brethren,

I

return

A

yiolate.

Brethren,

It is

with pleasure

I

find that the

Belt.

Ouawaet near Michilimaclcinac, have had the who were Prisoners in that Country,

prudence and friendship to deliver up several of our People

and

I

expect that so laudable an example will be followed by

Then

many

others.

William concluded with acquainting them that he would lay their Speech before Sir Jeffrey Amherst, the event of which was uncertain, as measures were already taken for Sir

punishing those

who had been

Eod" Die. The Caughnawagas had Nations, when they spoke

in

arms against

us.

a meeting with Sir William Johnson, and the Indians of the Several as follows.

Assaragoa Speaker, Brother Warraghiyagey,

We thank the Great Spirit for enabling us to meet this day, which is in consequence of your Message recommending Peace and quietness to our Confederacy, and that w^e should keep our

/

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

556 Warriors shall

in order,

with which

we have

And you may assure yourself we by our old agreement, And that we have

punctually complied,

always concur with your desires, and hold

fast

when You took, the war-axe from us, we must now be still, having no axe. And now means of some bad people you may let slip the Covenant

noticed what you said to us, on the reduction of Canada,

and directed us Brother,

we

to

pursue our hunting, So that

are afraid that through the

chain which

we

are determined ever to hold fast by, and therefore entreat you to do the same.

A Brethren of the

am now

I

6.

We we

to return thanks to the Great Spirit for this unexpected

at this place.

what you

listened with attention, yesterday, to

then told you

We

and

to speak to you,

meeting with you

Belt.

Nations,

we

said to our Brother Warraghryagey,

and

should speak to you this day.

are sorry to find that

what you then

said,

does not appear to us to have proceeded from

your Hearts, but from your lips only, Therefore we now desire you will pay due regard to the old agreements, and speak the real sentiments of your hearts ; And we address you the

Sachems and Warriors here

We

present, to recollect yourselves, as

therefore expect you will be

all

you appear

drunk,

to us to be

of one mind, and speak your true sentiments to your Brother.

Bretheren of the Senecas,

What

are

you now about, or what do you think

will be the

consequence of your

letting slip

the Covenant Chain?

We

desire

you

will recollect yourselves,

and we

now shake you by

the heads, to bring you

to reason.

You

are too apt to listen to false

breaking the Covenant Chain,

we

news and desire

you

idle

stories,

but as that

is

no excuse

will bethink yourselves in time,

regard to them, and that you will seriously consider what

we have

for

your

and pay no

said to you, and for your

and families sakes, mind our words, otherwise you will lose your Country and Possessions. Don't despair of the English forgiveness. You see an example of it in us, who were for a time their Enemies, and we doubt not if you will show a proper sorrow for your behavior, you may obtain the same We therefore desire you will hold fast by your old Agreements, and mind your Brother fVarraghiyagey, and that you will take this our Belt to the Senecas Country, which is spoken on behalf of the Sachems and Warriors of Seven Nations who are all unanimous, and acquaint them that if they will not pay due regard thereto, our Nations must Children's

;

A

assuredly be obliged to quarrel.

The Caghnawagas

then delivered Sir William

ai

letter

Belt.

from Captain Claus, D. Agent in

Canada, giving an account of a complaint made by the Indians concerning a tract of Land Six miles in length, and one and a half in breadth, claimed by the Jesuits by Patent from Lewis the 14"', and adjoining the land lately in dispute. They therefore begged that Sir William

would procure them redress Next day the Indians

Present

all

—

therein.

assembled. as before.

Conoghquieson Speaker, Brother Warraghiyagey,

We

assure

you that on our going

to the

Senecas Country

to peace, so far as Canaderagey, so that, that Castle

we

persuaded

all

of that nation

and Canadisega are your friends

;

And we

LONDON DOCUMENTS

:

XXXVI.

557

yoa that we are Eleven nations of one mind, linked together in the Chain of friendship and determined to preserve peace But as to the more distant Castles of the Senecas, we cannot at present answer for them, as our Messengers are not returned from thence; And as you mny rely on our Resolutions, we earnestly request you will, on your parts, be as careful are to inform

;

of observing the peace as

Brother,

On

we

A

are.

the declarations you

made

large Belt.

us at the German-Flatts, of the General's favorable

all those who are peaceable, and that he had no designs against us who we Unanimously agreed to continue so, and to keep our Warriors at home, according to the old agreement; And we desire you will not believe we are a proud People, inclined to quarrel but that we are all well disposed. We likewise beg, that in consequence of these our Resolutions, you will not break your Engagements with us Your friends, as we

disposition towards

were

friends,

;

are determined never to strike

first,

but only to defend ourselves

in case of

Two Brother,

name

the

We

request you will pay the most serious attention to what

of us

being attacked.

belts together.

we

shall

now

say in

all.

We are very sensible of the Hostilities committed and the Indignities offered you which we know, must awake your resentment, and that therefore you will probably have occasion to use the road up the Country, which was formerly considered as a Road of Peace. Therefore knowing your foot to be large and broad, we earnestly desire you will take care and not touch us your Friends therewith in passing the same, as we shall give you no hindrance: And we have further to request that you will not hurt the party of ours which is now out against the Southern Indians, as we are certain they will do you no barm. A Belt. Then the Meeting broke up for this time. Sir William had also this day, several other Meetings both

Indians, but delayed answering the

The

lO"" Sir

Caghnawagas

William had a meeting with

all

until

public and private with the

he had finished with the

the Nations,

when he

rest.

assured them that should

any nation whatsoever, from a dislike of their Fidelity to us, and their present Engagements, upon their Confederacy, they should find we would afford them both assistance and protection; And that as they had acted so friendly a part, as well as for a reward of their trouble in Endeavoring to prevent any further Hostilities, and an encouragement to them to act as became our Friends, He in His Majesty's name, had prepared a present for them, which should be delivered out the next day. Recommending it to them to act such a part for the future, as should make them appear worth our favour.

fall

ll"" All the

Nations assembled,

on behalf of the

when

Tiyer/uuere addressed Sir

William Johnson as follows,

rest.

Brother Gorah Warraghiyagey, I

am now, on

behalf of

all

the Confederacy, consisting of Eighteen nations, including seven

most hearty thanks for the wholesome admonitions you gave to assure you that they are determined to pay the greatest regard to them. Were they not so inclined, they would not have taken so much pains as they have done, to preserve peace in those parts; I am further to assure you they will never forget the friendly offers you have made them of assistance and Protection, as we know we can rely on your Promises; We shall take your Belt and what you have said thereon, to our Council fire at Onondaga, and after we have acquainted all our people therewith, shall send you a Belt in

Canada,

them, and

in

to return

I

am

in

you

their

their

name

Exchange, with our further sentiments.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

558

Onondaga Speaker stood up, and taking a large Covenant Chain belt in his hand, Commissioners rom delivered to them at Albany in 1754, by the Governor in the presence of and then on behalf thereon, made Engagements the the Several Governments, he repeated Sir William desired he which of the Eighteen Nations, brightened and renewed the same, Johnson should acquaint the General and Governor with, and let them know that so many nations were our friends and determined to remain so, whilst we treated them in a peaceable

Then

the

friendly manner.

Johnson answered them that he was pleased they had remembered their Engagements, the observance of which he strictly recommended to them, as we should, on our parts, strictly observe the same, whilst they adhered thereto ; Adding that he would acquaint the General with their proceedings, and made no doubt but he would approve thereof, with Sir William

which they should be made acquainted. 12* A. M. Delivered out a present to the Indians. Sir W" Johnson addressed them as follows,

Then assembled the Cagnawagas, when

Brethren of Caghnawaga, I

have heard with satisfaction the speech you made to the Six Nations in general, and to the The manner in which you expressed your disapprobation of their

Senecas, in particular.

Conduct Convinces me of your before the General, and

and good sense, and in justice to you I shall lay it home, that the Great King may know your good disposition

sincerity

also send

it

and honest intention. Brethren, Your Concurring with

A my

made

large String

your nations by Captain Claus, my deputy, and your present promises of a due observance of the Treaty of peace and Friendship into which you and several other Nations were received on the reduction of Canada, request lately

me much pleasure. The Wisdom which your Sachems and Chiefs have

to

gives

manifested in adhering thereto, leaves

me

no doubt of your holding the violators thereof in the greatest detestation, and of concurring with us in bringing them to Punishment, which I strongly recommend to you.

A On

the reduction of Canada,

the Country.

we became one

Trade was beginning

these foolish treacherous nations rest of our Brethren, without

people; and Peace

to flourish to our

whom we

was

Belt.

established throughout

mutual advantage, when on a sudden

took into the Chain of friendship with you and the

any notice or provocation,

fell

upon our Traders, butchering and

Captivating them, taking the goods designed for their conveniency and that of others, surprising

Troops who were for the by which unwarrantable behavior they have sullied the Covenant Chain, which we brightened so lately, and thereby debarred the well disposed Indians of the benefit of trade and good offices, which the English intended and were inclined to do them. At the Treaty with You on the Conquest of Canada, I considered the axe given you by the French as a dangerous weapon amongst friends, and therefore, on receiving you into our Alliance, I buried the same by pulling up a large pine tree under which ran a stream of water, into which I cast the Axe, so that it might no more be found But as the Covenant Chain which was then brightened and renewed by us, is broken by those quarrelsome bad People whom we received amongst the number of our friends, I think it necessary that you as a

by

the vilest stratagems, and destroying the King's Posts and

protection of trade posted in their several Countries,

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. i" people

who

559

held the same, should be enabled to defend yourselves, and act agreeable to your

engagements,

in concert

with your Brethren the English against

all

who have

violated the

said agreement.

good English Axe, made of the best stuff, which I desire you will give to the Warriors of all your Nations, with directions to use the same against these Covenant breakers, by cutting off the bad links which have sullied the chain of friendship, in which they will not fail being supported by their Brethren the English. I

now

therefore deliver you a

A Brethren,

I

am

heartily sorry to find that a set of People

who

large Black Belt.

pretended solely the care of

Worldly possessions. You find on your application concerning the former tract in dispute, that the Governor of Montreal gave you immediate redress, which you would have met with in this, but that the case is different, as these lands were given by But I shall, notwithstanding, lay the matter the King of France to the Jesuits, Solely. before the persons in power, who will certainly do you all the Justice which your case shall your salvation, should

appear

thirst after

A

to deserve.

Sir William Jolinaon [

to the

PlantaUona a«nerel Papcn, B.,

Bell.

Lords of Trade. No.

1>,

16. ]

Johnson Hall Sept' 26. 1763.

My

Lords,

Since I had the honour of writing to your LordPP' the at the

German

Flatts, as

I

mentioned

in

my

letter, 1

of July

first

last,

I

met the Indians

should then shortly do.

who together with some and others iooik Prisque-Ile la Batf/'and Venango about that time, the rest of the Indians renewed the Covenant, and expressed themselves in the most friendly manner, and as a proof At that conference

all

the Nations attended except the Senecas,

Oltavoas

of their inclination for peace, agreed to send the Chief

Men

of each Nation Deputys to bring

was done accordingly, and about the beginning of this month, the here to the amount of 320 in order to acquaint me with the result of

the Senecas to reason, which

Five Nations arrived

which they informed me that they had had success, having brought to first Seneca Castles, as a proof of which they were accompanied At the same time 270 Indians of several Tribes living along the Banks by 6 Seneca Indians. of the Susquahana and its Branches arrived here, to renew the Covenant Chain, and acquaint their negociations, in

friendship and peace the two

—

me, that

all

the Indians inhabiting that quarter, so far

determined to remain

down

as

Ouxgy were our Friends,

&

so.

Deputys from Coghnawagey in Canada were also present at the meeting and expressed themselves in a most friendly manner towards the English in a spirited speech to the rest, and after intimating to me their desire of being concerned in punishing our Enemies, I gave them

War

Hatchet according to custom, which they received with great pleasure, and I do assure your LordPP' that I have great reason to expect the Indians in Canada who consist of eight Confederate Nations will give us good proof of their inclination towards Us, ever since the

we

received

them

into

our alliance or the reduction of Canada

— and

from the private

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

560 conferences the

ettc,

which

Five Nations, but

I

have had with the

many

rest, T flatter

myself that not only the majority of

others will be readily induced to act

our

offensively against

Enemies, provided they meet with proper encouragement, and a due Regard be had to their respective Services, which I am well convinced, will be far from being inconsiderable, if they engage heartily in the cause, of which I can have no doubt from the many particular offers

which have been made me, which I shall accept of, so soon as I am properly authorized so to do, as a few Indians, will do more mischief and create more uneasiness amongst our Enemies than many hundred of our own people can ever do but I greatly fear that Indians have been in General considered as too inconsiderable for some time past, and L most heartily wish we may have no occasion to attribute any future hostilities to such a way of thinking, which must produce neglect and disregard on our sides, and discontent and Revenge on theirs, the I have always offered my consequence of which will be, a recommencement of hostilities. sentiments with a freedom an^^ candour becoming a faithful servant of the Crown, and as such ;

—

—

At the expence of my myself they will always meet with your LordPP* indulgence. health. Ease and neglect of my private fortune I have during 25 years experience acquired I

flatter

some knowledge of the power and Act; and

I

and the principles on which they

abilities of the Indians,

have the satisfaction of finding that

my

sentiments have generally met with a

favourable reception from your LordPP".

me

This great encouragement emboldens could not acquit myself in

my own

obliged friend to your Lord^P',

enables you to If

we had no

make such an

whose

to offer

some

further remarks, without

which

I

opinion as a faithful servant to His Maj'^ and a very

you to my sentiments, and whose experience wisdom shall suggest. back settlements and an Indian trade, we might rest

office entitles

use thereof as your

occasion for frontier posts,

tolerably secure in our present possessions, without being at any expence in cultivating the

Friendship and affection of the Indians

;

but as these things are essential to the prosperity of

we

the Provinces, and the increase of his Majesty's Revenue,

endeavour

to possess

them [by] such means,

one, and the extention of the other.

Now

as shall be

must,

most conducive

as the Indians,

who

I

humbly apprehend,

to the welfare of the

possess these Countries, are

by numbers, considerable, by inclination Warlike, and by disposition Covetuous, (which last has been encreased from the Customs in which the French have bred them) I find on all hands, that they will never be content, without possessing the frontiers, unless

them, and make

it

we

settle limits

worth their while, and without which, should they make peace

they would break the same the

first

opportunity.

Your LordPP' well know

to

with

morrow,

that the several

must consist of but few Men and that they are environed with numbers of Savages at too great a distance to receive succours from Us. as also the great expence, and difficultys attending their being supplied with provisions Ammunition and other necessaries, and which can not even be effected if the Indians are our Enemies, but by keeping a very large Regular Force at a monstrous expence to the Nation, and that without being necessitated to have recourse to their ancient weapons, the Indians will never fail of supplys from the French, who out-posts,

'

will thereby, be enabled to engross a great part of the furr trade, as there are so

communications

to the Missisipi, the distance of

which

will

many

fine

never be regarded by Indians.

These Indians conscious of their own strength and scituation, will, unless kept in the best temper by us, be easily persuaded to commit depredations on the Traders, whose goods are a temptation to the Savages thus once embarked, they will not stop till they have spread havock, over all our frontiers, an instance of which is now before your LordPP' in their having taken ;

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI.

561

less than eight Forts, murdered great part of the Garrisons, killed great numbers of Iler Maj""" subjects on the Frontiers, and destroyed their settlements, and that in about the compass of a month. Many people in America, have been too apt to despise the Indian strength, till fatal necessity has convinced them of their abilities, thus by entertaining a contempt for them merely, because they are not civilized, and that they have never experienced what a few Indians (engaged in what they look upon, their own cause) are able to accomplish they neglect the necessary precautions to be taken against the most contemptable people. The Indians, I do assure your Lordci" are no wise inferior to us in sagacity and stratagem, qualities most essentially necessary in this Country ; their ideas of courage are different from ours, and they are only deficient in that courage which the nature and sciluation of their country renders less necessary amongst them, as they attack by surprise, and on failure of success (of which they never neglect taking advantage) are able to repeat their attacks, at the next advantagious place they meet with, killing many of our people in, each encounter, with a very small loss on their side, this, the most partial accounts, which are generally made of our actions with them will sufficiently evince. During the times in which the Frenf^h possessed garrisons in their several countrys, many of their Traders were plundered & killed, but the expence which the French were at to conciliate the afTections of the Savages, alone prevented any overt Act. I know, that many mistakes arise here from erroneous accounts formerly made of Indians ; they have been represented as calling themselves subjects, altho, the very word would have startled them, had it been ever pronounced by any Interpreter they desire to be considered as Allies and P'riends, and such we may make them at a reasonable expence, and thereby occupy our outposts, and carry on a Trade in safety, until in a few years we shall become so formidable throughout the conntry, as to be able to protect ourselves, and abate of

and destroyed no

—

—

—

;

I am well convinced, there can be no reliance on a peace with them, and that as interest is the grand tye which will bind them to us, so their desire of plunder, will induce them to commit hostilities whenever we neglect them. My Lords, I consider it,as a duty indispensable on me to make you this faithful representation of Indian AfTairs, which I could represent still clearer, but that in so doing, should much

that charge; but until such measures be adopted,

I

exceed the bounds of a letter; what former

letters, will, I

I

have humbly offered at

this time, as well as in

my

hope, be considered by Your LordPP* as the faithfull report of a servant of

Crown, who has the honour of his Majesty, and the welfare of America strongly at heart, and that as from the nature of my department, I have no right to conceal my sentiments on this subject Your LordPP* will therefore pardon the plainness and freedom with which they the

;

are offered.

There are still some Nations who are averse to hostilities, and, the behaviours of the Sakit and of theOttowaes of A'bre Croche near Michilimacinac, who, tho' in the midsi of our Enemies, not only rescued and protected several of our officers, with their garrisons, but brought them

down under

a large escort, together with a considerable quantity of Traders goods to montreal, undoubtedly appear praiseworthy to your LordPf, and entitle them to our thanks and a public reward, these people, with others are to come down the Country in the spring and I am will,

of opinion, a good use

punishment

if

may

be

made

properly encouraged.

of them against our Enemies, in order to bring them to

— Notwithstanding

the present pacific disposition of the

Canada, and many others, yet they are much discontented, particularly the former on account of Land disputes and encroachments, wherein I am sorry to say, the Mohawks have chiefly suffered by the unconscionable grant called Kayadarotseras alias Five Nations, the Indians

in

"

Vol. VII.

71

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

562

Queensborough of above Haifa million of acres, which I several times laid before your LordPi" Fort Hunter, and also, that tiie Claim of the Corporation of Albany on their dwelling place at of Mess" Livingston and others on their planting grounds at Canajohare or the upper Mohawk these and many other Castle, in none of which cases the common Law can give them redress sending Deputys to themselves desirous of express to Nations affairs, have occasioned the Five LordPf a more full account lay their complaints before His Majesty. I shall in my next give your ;

of the particulars, of their respective complaints, and in the mean time I must beg leave to request the honour of your LordPP" sentiments and Instructions on any occurring subjects, for

my

better Govern', that

intentions,

my

measures

may

be entirely correspondent with your LordP'"

which has always been the sole aim of my proceedings. I am with the most profound respect

My

Lords,

Your LordPP' most obedient and most humble servant.

W" Johnson. P. S. This moment

who were

I

have received an express, informing me that an Officer and 24 Men, waggons and Ox Teams over the carrying place at Niagra, had

escorting several

been attacked aud entirely defeated, together with two Companys of Coll: Willmot's Reg* who marched to sustain them. Our loss on this occasion consists of Lieut" Campbell, Frazier

and Rosco of the Regulars, Capt' Johnson and Lieut' Deayton of the Provincials, and 60 wounded the Enemy who are supposed to be Senecas of

privates killed, with about 8 or nine

;

arms and amunition, and threw several

Chennssio, scalped all the dead, took all their cloaths,

down a precipice. much want I fear of that

of their bodies beiti^ in

are either killed or taken,

it

am

I

greatly apprehensive of the fate of the Detroit, they

Garrison, and as

carrying place for the remainder of this season. friendly nations,

Settlements

and use every

from

the

our Cattle ettc which were at Niagara

all

will be impossible to get

Enemy

effectual

Indians,

I

measure

who

are

any necessaries transported over the immediately send Belts to all the

shall

preventing the destruction of our

for

but

too

much encouraged from

their

repeated successes.

W.

Lieutenant-Governor Colden [

to the

H«w-Tork Bundle, Oa,

p.

"

My

J.

Lords of Trade.

VA. ]

New

York. Sept' 26. 1763

Lords

Since General Monckton

Government, I have seen the Copy of a representation him by five Gentlemen of the Council relating to the Boundaries of this His Majesty's Province, which in my humble opinion, were it to take effect, would be injurious to Hia

made

left

this

to

Majesty's rights & revenue ; and therefor as the affairs of the Colonies may probably at this time come under the consideration of His Majesty's Ministers, & this representation may be

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. them

laid before

Gentlemen have

Had

think

I

it

I

before

was made,

it

have been 40 years

more conversant in publick

&

make remarks on

it,

shew the mistakes these

to

I

presume

1

should have been able to have

& in that time have been These any man now living in this Province. only a few years at the Council of them except M' Horsmanden have had seats

prevented the mistakes.

Gentlemen,

duty, to

fallen into.

been apprised of

I

my

it

?)6B

all

at the

Council Board,

than

affairs

They is impossible they can be fully informed without the assistance of others. have neglected likewise to consult the Minutes of Council, when the same matter had been formerly under the consideration of the Council, who, after long and mature deliberation, & after consulting the principal officers of Government, & every other person who they thought Board,

it

came

could inform them,

to Resolutions very different

from the Sentiments of these Gentlemen,

as will appear in the Minutes of Council of the IS"" of October 1751, in the Minutes of the

of March 1753.

S"*

proedecessors in office on the

The motives

disorders on the Borders

&

Majesty's Interest

same subject the

:

&

I

may

&

for the benefite of this

viz.

That

clearly

it

is

&

greatly for His

the neighbouring Colonies, that an end be put

but at the same time I hope to shew, by what follows,

;

be don without giving up His Majesty's Rights or incourngeing Intrusions, which

may

I

&

The preventing tumults

have been made, or hereafter may be made on the King's lands, & without in the His Majesty's subjects who have settled on these lands & cultivated them. mistakes

fully

your Lordships

February 1761.

28'* of

&

more

to write to

join heartily in opinion with them, that

assoon as possible to these Disputes that this

had likewise the honour

Representation are certainly just,

the

to

I

not too

in this

much

trespass on your Lordships' patience, I shall pass over several

Representation, that

founded with respect

The Gentlemen,

to the

least distressing

I

may come

Massachusets Bay.

as they say,

«•

to the principal error

on which the whole

is

It is this

have been informed that

in the

year 1664 Commissioners

Boundaries between this & the " adjacent Colonies, who determined that a line parallel to Hudson's River & at twenty miles " distance from it on the East side thereof should divide the two Provinces of New York & " Massachusets Bay from each other, to which the Legislature of the latter agreed, as appears " were appointed

by King Charles the Second,

to settle the

by the Record of this Transaction at the Plantation Office, But this settlement was never " carried into effect, has been rejected or not insisted on by the Massachusets Bay, is not " mentioned in any of the Publick Records or Papers here, nor was introduced in the Debates " on this subject at the Congress or Meeting of Commissioners from both Proviqces, at Albany «'

•'

in the

year 1754,

&

till

In consequence of this

very lately hath been utterly

new

unknown

to us."

discovery they conclude, that a line at 30 miles distance from

Hudson's River would be an equitable Boundary, not only between Bay, but likewise between New York & New Hampshire.

There

is

New York

great reason to doubt of some mistake in this Information

settlement of Boundary related to Connecticut only,

&

&.

Massachusets

— That the whole of

not to the Massachuset

Bay

:

that

for as to

it appears on the Records of New York, but in no shape as to Massachusets Bay. unaccountably odd, if this Information be true, that in so long a ti.ue, the People of Massachusets Bay should at no time avail themselves of it unless it be supposed, that they are convinced of its being now of no force.

Connecticut It is

:

If

the Equity be considered,

Connecticut,

it

by which the settlement of Boundary was made with

will appear, that the Equity did in no

manner extend

to

Massachusets Bay.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

564

Duke of York received his Grant, & while the Dutch were in possession x)f New of Connecticut had their principal Towns & settlements on the West side of People York, the Connecticut River (which is the Eastern Boundary of the Province of New York) & had even extended their settlements on the Sea coast within ten miles of Hudson's lliver; but Before the

the Massachusets

Bay

(as

have been informed

I

was between Boundary the Connecticut that from Hudson's River, reserving however

West

far

as

Connecticut River.

in

It

&

made no

believe) had

consideration

New York &

settlements so

settlements

of these

Connecticut was fixed

at

made by 20 miles

to Connecticut, the settlements actually made, tho

within less than ten miles from Hudson's River: for which they were to allow an Equivalent By this Equivalent the distance between in the inland parts, where they had no settlements.

Hudsons River considering the

&

the Colony of Connecticut in the upper parts

want

is

above 22 miles.

The not

of Equity in the Massachusets Bay, which Connecticut evidently has

produced an essential error

in the

Judgement which the Gentlemen formed

of this matter.

About the year 1676 (if I mistake not the year) the charter of the Massachusets Bay was, by Decree in Chancery declared null & void; This Decree was never reversed & remains in Thereby the Dukes title to the lands on the West side of Connecticut river force at this day. & to the Northward of the Colony of Connecticut became indisputable: and this Decree put an end to all settlements of Boundary with Massachusets Bay, if any there were. While the Duke was thus seized of his Province of New York, as far as Connecticut River, he succeeded to the Crown of England, & thereby the Province of New York became part of the Crown lands & have ever since passed with the Crown. After the Revolution the Colony of Massachusets obtained a new Charter from King William, by which that Colony is to extend as far Westward as Connecticut. As it no where appears, that the King had any intention to grant any part of His Province of New York -to the Colony of Massachusets Bay, the word Connecticut must mean the River Connecticut : and if

Bay had made no settlement

the people of Massachusets

Connecticut

river,

as

construction either in

am

I

Law

confident

they had

not,

or Equity than that the

westward as Connecticut river

&

no

farther.

By

at that time on the

their charter can

West

receive

side of

no other

Colony of Massachusets Bay extends as far any General Map of the Northern

inspecting

Colonies, it appears, that the Colony of Massachusets Bay CJinnot be bounded to the Westward by the Colony of Connecticut. In my humble opinion no reason of any weight can be given, why the King should not affirm His right to the lands on the West side of Connecticut River, & to the Northward of the Colony of Connecticut, unless

the

West

side of Connecticut river,

it

be, that

many

families

would thereby be ruined.

who have But

if

unadvisedly settled on

the

King

shall think

fit

to confirm their possessions to them, on their paying the Quit rent established in His Province

of

New

York, they cannot

any shape be distressed, or have any just reason of complaint. New Hampshire is bounded to the Westward, by the Eastern boundary of His Majesty's other Governments, the Governor of New Hampshire can have no pretence

As

in

the Province of

for extending his claim on the

to him, by the

West

side of Connecticut river,

which

is

the boundary

Eastward

New York especially after repeated remonstrances had been made Government of New York on this head. Notwithstanding of this the Governor

there of the Province of

:

of New Hampshire continues to grant lands far to the Westward of Connecticut river, to numbers of people who make a Job of them, by selling shares in the neighbouring Colonies,

&

have even attempted

it

in the City of

New

York,

&

perhaps with success.

The Quit

LONDON DOCUMENTS rents in

New

made

use

New

York

Hampshire, as I inducement

as an

of,

am

565

in New York, & this is Hampshire, rather than settle under

much lower than

informed, are

to purchase

XXXVI.

:

New

under

grants.

Gentlemen is, that they should which extend above 20 miles from Hudson's river & were made before the second charter to Massachusets Bay, when it is clear that the second charter cannot extend beyond Connecticut river, & it is not so that the first did not. In the last place, I cannot conceive on what principles of Justice, Policy or Publick Utility these Gentlemen advise the settling the boundary between his Majesty's Province of New York & the Colonies of Massachusets Bay & New Hampshire, at 20 miles east from Hudson's River.

The most

surpriseing part of the Representation of these

propose a saving only of the Grants in

If all

the lands

Province of

the

in

Connecticut river were given up, the yearly to a large sum, in

New York

my

New Yor

from 20 miles of Hudson's river to

,

Crown would be deprived

opinion, greater than the

would remain & is now received. The New England Governments are formed on

of a Quit rent, amounting

amount of all the Quitrents

of the

whole

that

republican principles

&

these principles are

zealously inculcated on their youth, in opposition to the principles of the Constitution of Great Brittain.

The Government

of

New

York, on the contrary,

Can

be, after the model of the English Constitution.

it

New

extent of Jurisdiction in His Majesty's Province of

is

established, as nearly as

may

then be good Policy to diminish the

York, to extend the power

&

influence

of the others.

The Commerce

of the Inhabitants on the East side of the Hudson's river, to a great extent

Eastward, probably as

far as

Connecticut river,

is

with the

Towns on Hudson's

river, it

must

then be extremely inconvenient to them, to be under different laws, different jurisdictions different currencies of I

&

money.

have no objection to the observations the Gentlemen have made, as to the boundary of

this Province

Westward

&

I join heartily

with them in recommending a proper fund to be

established for recovering His Majesty's Rights from

all Intruders. It appears by the King's Governor of this Province, that His Majesty has been informed of great Intrusions on His Rights by private persons, & the Governor is directed to take all legal means But this cannot be don without great expence at for recovering of the King's Rights. Law, for which there is the greater reason that provision be made, because no Officer can do

Instructions to his

his

duty without incurring the resentment of I

am

rich

&

powerfull families

with great submission

My

Lords

Your most obedient

&

faithfull servant

Cadwallader Colden The Right honourable Lords Commissioners

for

Trade

& Plantations.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

566

Archbishop Seeker [

"

to

Reverend Dr. Johnson.

Amwican OolonlM MS.," Lambeth

Palace, No. 1128, III., Mo. 8iS. ]

Good D' Johnson I

heartily thank

express about

my

you

your

for

When

attention to Business.

letter of

Aug.

particularly for the

10.

It is frequently disordered

health.

I

fail,

am now

as I

but

:

I

Concern which you

can for the naost part pay some

within a few days of seventy, an abler

is not come to my hands: I hope will succeed me. wish it had received your corrections. I am as desirous that your answer to D' Mayhew should be published, as I can be without having seen it because I dare say it is written with

person in

all

respects,

M' Beaches book

I

:

But indeed I fear the world the temper, which I told you I wished M' Beach might preserve. England and New York: and therefore Missions in New many will think we have settled too it

may

be best, not absolutely to

justifie,

but to excuse ourselves in that respect, as prevailed

on by Intreaties hard to be resisted, as having rejected many applications and resolved to be hereafter more sparing in the admission of them; instead of making it our business to Our adversaries may be asked, episcopize New England, as D' Mayhew expresses himself. mistakes in points some as we in this: and whether whether they have not made as great

Them would

bitter Invectives against

by Car. Q.

in

adjacent parts:

1661 for propagating

which

still

the

subsists,

There was a company incorporated

not be unchristian.

Gospel amongst the Heathen Natives of New England and the

and the

Anne in 1709 incorporated The Society in empowered them to progagate it not only

affairs

of

are

it

managed by

Scotland for propagating

Queen

the Dissenters.

Christian knowledge;

and

there, but in popish and infidel parts of the world.

Accordingly they had correspondents and Missionaries in

New

England above 30 years ago;

be useful to

and Geogia above 20 years ago: and enquire, whether these two Societies have

observed their Charters better than ours hath.

If not, their friends should think and speak

and

in

Long

Island, Pennsylvania, North Carolina

probably they have mildly of us. these, as I

am

The new

What

projected Society at Boston

informed.

Possibly this last word

I

Report from them.

was a

M' Charlton

I

know

in the

about sinking

weak not,

I

itself into the latter

of

of your pen, for Apthorpe.

Application for them

I cannot guess.

His Successor, Lord Halifax,

in the present

Popish Clergy

slip

is

nothing of D' Barclay's defence against Smith, nor of Aplin.

to consult with the other Ministers,

certainly raise opposition.

America: and

know

done about Bishops,

will be

Egremont, who promised

whether

may

It

still.

is

was made

to

Lord

but died without making any

a friend to the scheme

;

but

I

doubt,

he will dare to meddle with what will done or doing yet towards the settlement of

state of the Ministry

believe very

little is

what Disposition

conquered provinces.

I

will be

am

made

of the

Lands belonging

very glad to hear, that the

money

is

to the

paid to

any Design of a Doctor's Degree for M' Chandler, but from You. If any person here is engaged in it, I should know, that we may act in Concert. But I think we should have a more formal recommendation of him from you and D' Barclay, and any other principal persons. Clergy or Laity, that we may apply to the University with a better countenance. Your Account of M' Cooper gives me great pleasure. In a late letter to me, he expresses good hopes about the College but complains of some disappointment in regard to his income, which I do not distinctly understand. I have written to him, to recommend patience and to D' Barclay, to desire that the Governors will be as kind to him, I have heard nothing of

:

:

1

LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVI. as with propriety they can.

M' Caner hath

sent over one

567

M' Frink

for a

New

Mission at

Rutland, about 60 miles from Boston, without any previous mention of the matter to the Society, which is irregular: and I do not think we shall appoint him to it; perhaps to some

we may, if any such there order to make room for you at

The

vacant old one

be.

Winslow,

Stratford.

I

Whether

it

is

offered to

M'

be worth his acceptance,

But the Society are very desirous of restoring you to your old Station and if proposal doth not succeed, they will be glad to have any other method pointed out

know

this

in

Mission of Braintree

not.

:

to tliem.

Since

I

wrote thus

the Society hath appointed

far,

M' Frink, Missionary

at Augusta.

It

seems he was inoculated a few days before. I hope he will get safe through the Distemper. God bless you, good D' Johnson, and his Church in your parts. I am with much esteem, Your loving brother (Signed) Tho. Cant. Lambeth, Sept. 28. 1763.

i" have done me, in consulting Trade with the Indians, is to deliver my sentiments without

for regulating the it,

which

I

think require further explanation.

entirely ignorant of Indian Affairs in the Southern districts.

the Indians near the Borders

sometimes

in

one

district,

restrained,

it

may

be requisite to

and

Districts, may Trade must give them umbrage, to be some boundary on the Land, for ascertaining the limits of

of the

Southern and Northern

at other times in the other, fix

&

it

their several Jurisdictions.

All above

Fort Pitt, on both sides of the Ohio, ought evidently to be in the Northern

below on the West side of that River. It seems most proper to have the Ohio at some distance below Fort Pitt. The Posts which seem to me at present most requisite, are Oswego, Niagara, Detroit, Missilimakinak, Fort Pitt and Fort Chartres. The Indians are desirous of having a Post fixed at Missilimakinak, tho' some think it may be more safe to delay this, till after the others are District,

and

all

division line, on the East side of the

:

well secured.

The King's new

subjects in the Province of Quebec, oflen go to the upper

Uttawa River, which all

falls into S*

Lawrence River above Montreal.

our Posts and their Traders, can not be prevented from going

the Upper Lakes and Trading with them.

and

This

I

suppose your

Lakes by the

In this Rout, they avoid

among

the Indian Nations on

Lord"''" will think impolitic to

Trade of His Maj'^"* old subjects. It can only be prevented Trading Post, with a Garrison, at the first Rapids, in going up, of the Uttawa River, and by not sufiering the Traders to go further; but the Indians may come down the River to Trade there. The New subjects can not with reason complain of this, as they will have suffer,

by

fixing a

will be injurious to the

—

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

668

the Trade of this Post to themselves, and have the Trade in

common

with His

Maj'J'''

other

subjects at the other Posts. I

am

informed by some

conveyance

who have

travelled over that Country, that the easiest and speediest

on the Mississippi,

to Fort Chartres

from the long carriage by land to Fort

Pitt,

is

from Fort Pitt down the Ohio.

think a more easy passage, for Men,

Others,

Goods and

may

be from Lake Erie, by the Miamis River near Detroit, in the spring season, while the Waters are high, and by the Ouabach. In case any of these Routs be thought more proper, than from New Orleans against the stream of the Mississipi, and more convenient for Provisions

releiving the Garrison at Fort Chartres,

it

proper to have a post, where the Ouabach

may be

Ohio, and where the Ohio and Mississipi unite, or where the French lately had Posts or settlements on the Ohio, below Fort Pitt. In order to lessen the great expence of carrying provisions to the distant Garrisons and

falls into the

Posts,

some persons may be empowered

to purchase of the Indians a quantity of

Land

at each

Post, sufficient for a few Farmers to raise provisions, to be allowed a Carpenter and a Smith at

a public expence, and a sufficient encouragement in the price of there are a sufficient

Farms, and

number of new

wheat.

raise

subjects, about

In order to

400 Men

what they

at Detroit,

make them more industrious

in

raise.

At present,

who have

cultivated

farming, they

may

be

prohibited to Trade with the Indians, or to keep goods or spirituous liquors in their houses for Trade. Officers, be not of the immediate appointment of the be a wise precaution, to prevent a kind of Monopoly, which might be otherwise introduced by favour. Then great profits rnay be gained- by favour of the Officers, every prudent check becomes necessary.

That the Commissaries and other

Superintendants, appears to

Nothing

my

in

me

to

more to Civilize the method of obtaining justice in every dispute, or cause of more effijctually, than any thing, subdue that fierce spirit and passion for

opinion can be of more general advantage, or tend

Indians, than to establish an easy

complaint

It will

Revenge, which characterises the Indians. Nothing more

is

make

requisite to

a good Judge

sence, and great probity; but then, their distinctly

As

and clearly described

come from Hunting, any delay

the Indians

'Life in

among them, than

to

be a

Man

of

Common

powers and method of proceeding, ought

to

be

to them.

a great distance, to Trade, and at

of Justice,

is

all

times lead an ambulatory

in effect a denial of justice as to

them; therefore

allowing of appeals, cannot be proper in controversies, between the Traders and Indians themselves. There is reason to suspect, that in Disputes between the Traders and Indians,

when

sometimes but they

in

the judgment goes against the Trader he will on any pretence appeal ; a mistake judgment can not be of so much injury, as I apprehend may arise from appeals,

may

be safely allowed in controversies between the Traders themselves. an absolute necessity of allowing Indian evidence ; for, where evidence is only allowed on one side of the Question, it is impossible that Justice can be done; and yet, this is

There

is

Law,

the practice in the Courts of

I believe, all over North America. Formerly, I conversed always found as great a regard to veracity among them, as is usually found among Christians; tho' in war, every kind of Treachery and deceit with their Enemies, seems to be allowed. The Indians are ashamed when discovered in a lye.

much with

Where

the Indians, and

I

the evidences are contradictory, a Judge must determine from circumstances.

That the Trade be confined the Indians, or to

sell

goods

to certain Posts,

to

and that no Trader be allowed to go among

them any where

else, is of great

importance, not only to the

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS

:

XXIVII.

669

Trader, but likewise in preserving the public peace and tranquility.

fair

Men

generally been

of low or bad characters

quarrels and Murders, and in order to serve

;

These Traders have

they have cheated or abused the Indians, thence

some

Stories, to the prejudice of the public peace.

sinister view, they spread false

Reports and

Not only penalties on the transgression of

this

Regulation, should be inflicted, but rewards given for the discovery.

There must however be one exception as

to

they please.

summarily,

all

The Common

It

seems

requisite, that a

the

Mohawks, and other Indians whose suffered to buy at any shop

Tbey must be

habitations are intermixed with the Christians.

Commissary be appointed

disputes and complaints, which

particularly for deciding

may happen with

the Indians in these parts.

my

opinion, be safely entrusted

Justices of the peace in those parts, can not, in

with such powers.

am

I

at a loss in forming a

Judgment

liquors to be sold to the Indians;

where gained

it is

so strong an appetite to

as to the prohibition of

Rum

and other spirituous

a valuable branch of Trade, and the Indians have, every it,

that the prohibition

may

give

them great

disgust, I

have been well assured that the most distant nations refuse to Trade with out part in Runs and as to the Indians, who live within our frontiers or near them, where the efl^ects of drinking strong liquors are most pernicious and most frequent, I think it impracticable to prevent it; the Traders at least may be prohibited under severe penalties to allow any Indian to drink spirituous liquors, while they are at the Trading Posts, but the Indians may be allowed, to carry

who I

it

to their

own

habitations; every Christian,

bargains with, or sells to an Indian while he

can not conceive,

Lead.

In

my

why Swan

where an Indian

is

drunk

in his house, or

drunk, to be subject to severe pennalties. shott should be forbid, the Indians can make it from Bar

opinion, the most effectual

method

is

to raise the duties

on the Indian Trade,

defraying the expence of the regulation of that Trade, will be, paying

where the Furrs and Peltry are bought,

in kind, at

some

it

certain rate.

for

at the several posts,

By

this

method, the

duty will be paid, according to the value of the goods, and will be the easiest to the Merchant, A as he does not pay, before he has made his profit, & frauds thereby more easily prevented. paid, be carried with quantity Furs and duties to every of Peltry, the specifying of certificate

number and marks of each Pack or Bundle, and the contents of each subject to be inspected and examined at each post the certificates at last to be lodged in the Custom House of the The Goods paid as duties, to be sent, at Port, from whence the goods are to be exported. the Custom House, and year, to there sold at public vandue. a once least, the

;

way

of evading the duties in this method, but by the Traders hiring Ind" by Land, and thereby avoiding the posts ; this can only be done in small On this occasion, I must inform Your quantities, and rewards may be given for discovery. employed Indians by the Traders, the will not make any discovery. When the LordP»" that clandestine Trade was carried on between Albany & Canada, the Indians were the common carriers, and in no one instance, did they betray their trust or imbezel any one article, tho' sometimes they carried considerable quantities of money. If the duties are paid on exportation, the consumption in the Colonies will be free of duty. I understand that the Trade with the Ind" to the Eastward of Boston, is in the hands of that Govern' and is under good regulations. Having never been concerned in Trade, I can form no judgment of the propriety of settling a Tariff from time to time but I suspect, it may be attended with great diiGculties and disputes ; it may give the Ofilcers too much power of favowring on some emergencies. I

can discover no

to carry their goods

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

670

which respects the purchasing of Land from the Indians, I think regulations which have been established, and constantly it necessary to observe, that the followed in this province, for upwards of twenty years, appears to have been effectual and convenient, no complaints having been made by Indians, or others, on any purchases made by

As

to that part of the plan,

By

authority of this Gov"' since that time.

previously to be surveyed

Indians, are

Deputy,

is

Of

made.

is

Deputy Surveyors

for the

due and

who have

the employing of persons,

not be so well assured,

Map

by the King's surveyor General of Lands, or his

late years the

Bonds, to the Surveyor General,

means

lands purchased of the

all

presence of some Indians deputed for that purpose, by the Nation from

in the

the purchase

these regulations

execution of their work.

faithful

of the Province and to locate the

whose

not sufficient skill, or of

prevented, and the Surveyor Gen'

whom

are not only sworn, but give

By

this

integrity one can

enabled, to compleat a general

is

several grants precisely, which cannot be done,

Surveyors, not under the Direction of the Surveyor General, be employed.

if

The Surveyor

General in this Province, makes a return of the Survey, upon every Indian purchase, into the Secretaries Office.

Your Lord^P" may be more

had the honour

papers, which

I

1" 1762. and

doubt not you will think

I

informed of these Regulations, by the Board of Trade, with my letter of March improper to abridge in any manner, the Office of fully

to transmit to the it

Surveyor General of Lands. Since I had wrote so far, I have considered the Arguments,

The

Missilimakinak, or far into the Indian Country. there

is

a real utility, the expence becomes necessary

for not

principal,

may

among

extending our Posts to

the expence

— Against which

Indians travel any distance without difficulty; the truth of this

not be prudent to collect

is

many different Nations to one when different Nations are

may

it

is

— but where

urged, that the

be questioned, and

place at

the

same time

it

may

;

they

enmity with each other, or at other times they may form dangerous combinations; and lastly, it seems prudent to extend our knowledge and influence among the Indians, as far as possible, and to prevent any injurious influence from the West side of the Mississippi If 1 receive any further information, I shall not fail to communicate it what I now write, is with the utmost submission by quarrel

themselves,

at

—

—

My

Lords.

Your most obedient and

faithful servant.

Cadwaldader Golden


•

Lieutenant-Governor Golden [

»>

m

Earl of Halifax.

to Hie

Mew-Tork P«p«n, ( SUIa Paptr

Offlc*. )

OLTIII. ]

New York

My

Johnson.

Nov* 6* 1764

Lord,

For some time past the Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council in this province have complained of the want of a sufficient number to attend the Public Business. Some of them are frequently absent by the situation of their private Affairs. Sir William Johnson can seldom attend, his office of Superintendant of Indian Affairs requiring his presence in very distant parts.

Wtien a small number only attend the publick

Affairs

it

lessens the influence of the

Council with the people and often makes the Service disagreable to them It

is

now

who do

attend.

about 20 years since George Clarke Esq' Secretary of the Province was

appointed of the Council, he has never been in the province since that time, tho his

first

name has

List, & it is not probable that he has now any thought of do not imagine that he will be displeased to have another place, especially if done with a saving of his rank in case of bis coming to

been continued ever since in the

coming

to this place.

appointed in his

If so

I

the Province. It is certainly for his

Majesty's honour

& Interest

that the principal officers of the

Crown

in

For that reason on the death of M' Chambers I took the liberty to recommend my oldest son Alexander Colden, Surveyor General of Lands in this Province (the Office I formerly held) to the Lords of Trade and Plantations. He has been conversant in publick Affairs & his appointment might have been of use to me by increasing that influence in the minds of the people which is requisite for every Governor. But as this seems not agreable I am persuaded no objection can be made to the appointing Andrew Elliot Esq' Receiver General of His Majesty's Revenues & Collector of Customs in M' Clarke's place, in case he do not intend to come to this place. The Gentlemen preceding M' Elliot in Office have all of them been of the Council & it is expedient for His Majesty's Service that he be. I am &c* Right Hon'''* Earl of Halifax. Cadwalladbs Colokn. this Province

be of his Council.

NEW. YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

676

Lieutenant-Governor Colden [

Kew-Tork

Paptrs,

Lords of Trade.

to the

BandU

Pp.,

No.

64. ]

New

My

York.

7.

Nov' 1764.

Lords,

In

my

20"" of

of the

last

September,

had the honour to transmit

I

your Lordfi" a

to

circumstantial account of what passed at the opening of the Sessions of Assembly, in the beginning of that Month, to which on this occasion I must beg leave to refer. Since that time, the

Assembly have prepared Petitions

the contents of which it

me

requisite for

I

do not know

;

to the King, and to the houses of Lords and Commons, and as they were kept secret from me, I did not think

to inquire.

have passed, few of them deserving your LordPP* notice, most of them being to continue Acts near expiring, and to provide, in the usual manner of late, for the annual support of the Officers of Govern*. As soon as the triinscript of the Acts can be

A

number of

great

prepared,

make such remarks, as I think necessary for your LordP"" to take notice of. may be proper to inform your Lord^P' that, on my recommendation by Message,

I shall

At present an Act

Bills

it

passed, for finally determining the disputes between this

is

Prov" and Massachusets

Bay, respecting the Boundary between them. The material parts of it, in the words of the Act, which passed for determining the Boundary between this Province and N. Jersey, and which has received your Lord^P* approbation. I have sent an Office copy of it to Gov' Bernard,

with

my

request to lay the same before the Assembly of this Province,

sitting, that

they

not been time

may

pass a similar act, as

sufficient to receive

is

done

in

New

who

are at this time

Since which, there has

Jersey.

an answer.

term of the supreme Court of this Province had ended, I received a Petition of Appeal from the Attorney of Wadel Cunningham, who is absent in England (a copy of which is enclosed) together with a Bond of four of the principal Merch" in this place, as After the last

security in case the

The next day 82"" instructions,

Judgement of the supreme Court be affirmed. had received this Petition, I communicated

after I

requiring the Gov' or

Commander

in

to the Council His Maj'»''

Chief for the time being, on application

being made for that purpose, to permit and allow of appeals in all Civil Causes, from the Courts of Common Law, to the Gov' or Commander in Chief and the Council of this Province; and that the Gov' or

Commander

in

Chief issue a writ,

before the Council, the appeal offijred to the

manner which has At the same time I laid

in the

been usually accustomed, returnable before himself and the Council.

Supreme Court, and the Bond

together with the Petition of M' Cunningham's Attorney.

I

am

well assured

for security,

that the facts

Petition are true; not any of them were contradicted, by Chief Justice and Justice Smith, two of the Judges on the Bench, when the appeal was made, Horsmanden and then present in Council. After which, I informed the Council, that I thought it incumbent on me to issue the writ prayed for. I have ordered His Maj'^'' 32°'' Instruction, and all the papers which I laid before the related

in

the

Council, to be entered on the Minutes; and at the desire of the Council, the Instruction to be

made

I

directed a copy of

out for each of them.

As soon as the Council was up, M' Cunningham's Attorney applied for the writ; I answered was ready to seal it, and on his saying, that none of M' Cunningham's Attorneys or Council at Law, would advise in drawing it, I told him to get it done by the best advice he could. As

I

;

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXVII.'-

:

677

Common Law, would issue speedily he brought Supreme Court, to stay proceeding on that cause,

he expected the execution on the Judgement at a writ of Inhibition to

which

A

I sealed.

all

the Officers of the

day or two afterwards

I

sealed another writ, directing the Chief Justice to

bring up the proceedings in that cause to the Gov' and Council, returnable in 14 days, which

be the

will

14"' inst:

—

been served on the GfBcers of the Supreme Court, M' Scott Supreme Court, brought an execution to be sealed by the clerk

After the Inhibition had

Attorney

for

the plaintif in the

of the Court,

So

who

refusing to seal

it,

a suit

is

commenced

against

him

in the

Supreme Court.

have given your LordP"" a circumstantial Account of the proceedings, as

far 1

I

can recollect

them, without any consideration of the merits of the Cause. It

may

be proper to inform your Lord''^' that, this

made

Courts, which has been

am

verdict

is

the

first

appeal from the

in this province, tho' writs of error

have been formerly brought, and one of Error (as I

is

now depending

is

Common Law

from the Supreme Court

before the Gov' and Council.

By

writ

informed) the merits of the cause seldom appears, and where a general

given, for the PlaintifT or Defendant, the merits can not appear, because nothing of

the evidence given to the Jury, appears on the Record.

On

of the Judgement..

The

verdict

the sole foundation

is

writ of Error, the regularity of the proceedings in the Inferior court,

some point of Law, can only be corrected by the Gov' in Council and afterwards by the in his Privy Council. So that they can only Judge chicanery of the Lawyers in their proceedings, or untie some knotty points of Law; without knowing any thing of the merits But on an appeal, the whole cause and the evidence on w'** the verdict is given of the case. must appear, and the Judgem* is on the merits. or in

;

King

I

cannot doubt of this being his Majesty's intention in his Instruction to allow of appeals

tho' the Att. I

shall

why,

in

Gen'

differs

from me

next inform your

my

and thinks, that a writ of Error is only meant. with the freedom which my duty requires, of the reasons

in his opinion

Lordi*!^,

opinion, so violent an opposition to appeals

are submitted to in the neighbouring Govern".

It

is

is

made

in this

Province, while they

may

the great, and I

say dangerous

Land in this Province. They know what depending between them and other the King's Tenants, or

influence of the Proprietors of the large Tracts of

must be the consequence,

in suits

the consequence of Informations of Intrusion, which in case the merits of the cause be

In a young Country, like

where the Judges and

this,

principal

may be justly brought

against them, ettc,

brought before the King and Council.

where few Men have any acquired learning or knowledge, Lawyers are proprietors of extravagant grants of land, or

strongly connected with them in Interest, or family alliances,

it is possible, that a dangerous between the Bench and the Bar; not only greatly injurious to private property but likewise dangerous to His Majesty's prerogative & Authority, and his Rights in this Province, in case no appeals as to the merits of the cause be allowed to the King in his

combination

may

subsist

privy Council.

No Lawyer

in this place will at this

giving advice, and

I

knew,

all

time assist the appellant, by appearing for him, or by

the Officers of the Govern' are intimidated.

found to convey hints to me, that tho'

otherwise afterwards, and circumstances

I

have reason

the profession of the

my

I

may

it may be From many

think myself at present screened,

family will certainly be exposed to resentment.

to think that before the Administration

Law was

Means have been

came

first

into

my

hands,

incouraged, and assisted in gaining this dangerous infiuence.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS

678

On

the whole this matter appears to

me

of so great consequence

Authority, and of so general importance, that

am perswaded

I

it

will

to

His Majesty's

draw your Lordw

immediate attention. I flatter myself, that your LordPP* will excuse I should Err, for

it is

my

writing thus freely

my

sentiments, tho*

done with the utmost submission by — My Lords.

Your most obed*

&

faithful serv*

Cadwallader Colden. ^»

M^eseniation of

Lords of Trade Massachusetts and

the

[

To

May

the King's please

it

»

New-Tork

»»

to the

King on

certain proceedings of

New-Yorh

EBtriei, Q. 270. ]

Most Excellent Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Francis Bernard Esq., your Majestys Governor of the Province of Massachusett's Bay, having transmitted to us the printed Votes of the House of Representatives of that Province in their last Session of Assembly, containing amongst other things their Resolutions and

proceedings upon several letters received from their Agent in Great Britain,'

a

letter to the said

Agent from a Committee of the House

&

also containing

of Representatives, which, contrary

Governor and Council, appointed to him in which letter the Acts and Resolutions of the Legislature of Great Britain are, we humbly conceive, treated with the most indecent disrespect, principles of the most dangerous nature and tendency openly avowed, and the Assemblies of other Colonies invited in most extraordinary manner to adopt the same opinions We think it our duty humbly to to the usual practice, was, without the concurrence of the

instruct

;

:

lay these Votes before your Majesty, together with a book, referred to therein, printed

&

published at Boston and since reprinted and published in London.

We

likewise crave leave

humbly

to lay before

your Majesty the Copy of an Address of the

Assembly of New York to the Lieutenant Governor of that Province, and of his prudent and becoming answer thereto; in which address the said Assembly avow opinions and make declarations of the same dangerous tendency with those of the Assembly of the Massachusett's Bay.

These proceedings which are in our judgment calculated to raise groundless suspicion & minds of your Majesty's good subjects in the Colonies, and have the strongest tendency to subvert those principles of constitutional relation & dependance upon which the Colonies were originally established, certain matter of so high importance that we shall not presume to offer any opinion what may be proper to be done thereupon ; submitting it to your distrust in the

Majesty to pursue such measures as your Majesty shall in your great wisdom and with the advice of your Council think most prudent and necessary.

Which

is

Whitehall

Dec

11.

1764 'Jasper Manduit.

most humbly submitted Hillsborough Ed: Bacon. Bamber Gascoynb Soamb Jenyns J. Dyson.

— Eo.

LONDON DOCUMENTS Lieutenant-Governor Golden

:

XXXVII.

to the

[N«w-Tork Ptptn, Bandle

Pp., No,

679

Lords of Trade. M. ]

New

My

York. 13. Dec' 1764.

Lords,

had the honour to acquaint your Lord"^, by my letter of the 7'* of this month, on an appeal brought from the Supreme Court of this Province, to the Gov' and Council, and of the violent opposition made against appeals in any case. As this Affair has, in the proceedings become more and more interesting, & appears to me of the greatest consequence to His Maj*^'* Authority, in this Province, and to the Dependence of the Colonies on the Crown of Great Brittain ; I have thought it my duty to transmit tiie whole proceedings to the Earl of Halifax, I

his Majesty's Secretary of Slate

in his privy Council.

;

for appeals

from the Gov' and Council, are to the King

expect they will be transmitted to your LordPf from the Secretary of

I

State's office.

While the cause in Council,

is

depending, a copy of the speech, which Chief Justice Horsmanden

when he gave

his reasons for not

handed about, with an inflammatory

obeying the writ of appeal,

is

printed,

think their duty upon this occasion.

This

I

Crown

in

doing what they

hope will excite your Lordiv* attention, as

extreamly to weaken the hands of Govern* already too weak in this Province. has been industriously kept from

said all the copies

company

are

delivered

with another person, to

made

privately

preface, containing several falsehoods, and suggestions of

criminal prosecutions, in order to intimidate the Officers of the

Copy

&

to

M'

me;

I

sent

John Morin

my

it

may

tends

This printed

son to the printer for a copy, he

Scott.

Afterwards I sent

my

sob, in

Scot, to desire a copy; he said, that: as several other

persons were concerned with him in that publication, he could not give a copy without their

Accordingly next day, he if they consented, he would send the Gov' a copy. ; but brought six copies, and said, that the impression was designed for England. However, I know several copies have been delivered out, which have been read by great numbers of consent

persons

;

no Man so

far as I

know,

either in public debate or private conversation, spoke

the words printed in the preface in the

Roman

Character, or any words that could bear

that sentiment.

To what

some of the

Law

have arrived,

will appear from the printed preface, to the Chief Justices speech in Council, on giving his reasons for I believe your Lord^i" will think it criminal to threaten or to render odious refusing an appeal. on matters which are then depending before him for Judgement. I any Judge People to the have countenanced, as it was my duty to do, the appeal ; and I have in my arguments in the

highth of insolence

open Court, declared

it

to be

my

profession of the

opinion that, the King intended by his Instruction to bring up

the whole proceedings, and the merits of the causes from the Courts below, and that it

I

thought

a measure, highly necessary for the safety of the rights of the Crown, and liberty and

properties of the subject, and entirely consistent with the Constitution of the Colonies. this public declaration, the sentiments of the preface, will,

thought applicable to me; the last line of the preface

is

by the readers

obliterated in

all

After

in this place,

be

the copies I received

from M' Scott. M' Banyar, Clerk of the Council assures me, that, he gave no copies of any part of the proceedings before the Gov' and Council, to any person except to Chief Justice Horsmanden. That, at his desire, he made out three copies for him, two of them he attested ; and that some

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

580

days afterwards, John Morrin Scott's Clerk desired him, from M' Scott to attest that other That when it came to him, the paper third copy, delivered to the Chief Justice, which he did. was much sullied, and he now believes it had been made use of by the Printer, while he set his press.

many

from

This copy could not have been procured without the Chief Justices consent, and circumstances I am fully perswaded that, the whole transaction is at least with

his approbation.

On

the whole of Chief Justice Horsmanden's conduct in this

affair, it

may

be thought

my

duty to have suspended him from the execution of his Office, and from the Council, until his Majesty's pleasure shall be known, but in the present temper of the Gentlemen of the Council, can not expect to have their concurrence, I think it more prudent to referr it absolutely to your LordPP' Judgement. In case of my death M' Horsmanden succeeds to the Administration of Govern'. The packetts go regularly every month, so that 1 think no great prejudice can

when

I

happen

to his Majesty's service,

by

this

delay, tho'

too clearly perceive in the present

I

situation of Affairs, a Gov' cannot perform the duties of his Office, while he is so far from having the assistance of the Courts of Justice, that appeals are made, by the Chief Justice, to It is no wonder these people the people, in order to excite popular dissatisfaction and tumults. think they can intimidate a Gov', while they are so foolish as to think they can, by the

Assemblies address to me, intimidate the King's Ministers and a British Parliament.

1

am

confident however, that, the disinterested people of this province, entertain no such sentiments;

and they are beyond comparison the greatest number. I have been well apprised of the opposition and resentment, of the whole profession of the Law.on this occasion; for if no appeal can be made on the merits of any case, and the ultimate determination be confined to the Courts of this Province, they become uncontroulable, and their power must be to the last degree dangerous to the King's authority, and the rights and liberty of his subjects.

into

my

have stood well

eyes of the People in general, the strictest examination conduct, while the Administration of Govern' has been in my hands, will give no

Hitherto

I

uneasiness to

my

in the

While I refused formerly

mind.

behaviour, in obedience to His order to

instill

Maj''''*

to appoint the

Instructions, the

Lawyers

the worst opinion of me, on the minds of the people; they failed then in their

purpose, and I hope they will have no better success now. Justice to myself and

my

However,

I think

it

my

family, to request your LordPi" protection in performing

against such powerful resentment, as that of the

must

Judges during their good set up a weekly paper, in

whole profession of the

Law

in

duty, in

my

duty any Country

be.

Notwithstanding of

all

the efforts that can be made, I

am

confident they can have no effect,

when we have Judges of integrity and ability, free from would add greatly to the freedom of their Judgement, in popular cases especially, to be freed from the dependance which may arise, from their support depending on the annual pleasure of an Assembly. They have likewise given, one hundred and fifty pounds yearly for three years past, to the Attorney General for extraordinary services, and made the same payable to him by their Treasurer, without warrant. These things must create an undue influence on the Officers of the Crown. with the people

in this Province,

family or other Connections.

It

In case the public affairs should require the Assembly to meet, as the profession of the Law have great influence on the Members, I expect to meet with uneasiness from them, and perhaps endeavours may be used, to disturb the public affairs of Cover'. This I think appears to be

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XXXVIT.

:

681

intended by some expressions towards the close of the printed preface to the Chief Justices speech.

I

must therefore pray your

Lord''*' to let

me

i^now your sentiments as soon as can be

properly done.

Your LordPi*

on the Council Books, relating to this appeal, in the last pages of the minutes of Council, sent to your Lordw" office in the Box with the Acts of Assembly ettc (of which a list is put up in the Box). Herewith, I enclose a narrative of some will see the entries

— an

proceedings, which do not appear on the minutes

of State, containing chiefly the substance of

my

abstract from

arguments

in

my

letter to the

Secretary

Council upon this occasion, and

a printed copy of Chief Justice Horsmanden's harrangue.

Whatever

my

sentiments

be

on any occasion

they are always offered

with

entire

submission by

My

Lords

Your most obed'

&

faithful servant.

Cadwallaoee Coldbn.

Lieutenant-GoveiTior Golden [

N«w-Tark Papen ( SUI* Paper

to the Office )

Earl of Halifax.

CLVIIL ]

New York

My

IS"-

December 1764

Lord,

month I informed the Lords Commissioners for Trade & which had arisen in this Province, relating to His Majesty's 32^ Plantations of a Dispute Instruction to his Governor of this Province, whereby the Governor or Commander in Chief is Directed in all civil causes on application being made to him for that purpose to permit and allow of appeals from any of the Courts of Common Law unto the Governor and Council &c. The Governor is directed for that purpose to issue a Writ in the manner that has been usually accustomed, returnable before the Governor and Council, with further appeal from the Governor and Council to the King in his Privy Council in case either party think themselves aggrieved. In

my

letter

As

this

Dispute since that time has become very interesting and in

of the V"" of last

his Majesty's Prerogative

and may likewise think

it

my Duty

affect

to

my

opinion greatly affects

and Rights in this Province as well as the property of his subjects Dependence of the Colonies on the Crown of Great Britain, I

the

transmit to your Lordship without delay the reasons of

this affair, together with

an authentic copy of the Proceedings

in

my

conduct

io

Council to this time on this

matter and to give your Lordship a more circumstantial account of

it

then appears on the

Minutes of Council. I

transmit this to your Lordship rather than to the Board of Trade because appeals are

King in his Privy Council, and I have by the former Packett informed the Board of Trade and Plantations as far as I then could. I have anoXher reason I am told that some for informing your Lordship of the steps hitherto taken in this Matter. persons design to make interest with some members of Parliament in this Dispute with the Crown and that Chief Justice Horsmanden's Speech in giving his reasons for not allowing of appeals is printed in this place with an inflammatory preface and distributed privatly, while Vol.. VH. 86

made immediately

;

to the

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

^2

depending before the Governor and Council. This may make it more necessary that your Lordship may be speedily and truely informed. the Dispute before the Council relating to his I am no Lawyer and therefore I can only state understand it. It is this, Whether it be which I 32'' light in Instruction, in the Majesty's intended that the whole merits of the case should apppear before the Governor and Council, the matter

is

still

and afterwards before the King in his Privy Council, or only the errors in the proceedings. In the first case a Writ of Appeal issues in the other a Writ of Error. whole merits might appear was intended. I could not doubt that an appeal by which the For according to the methods of proceeding in the Common Law Courts, nothing in most :

Cases appears on the Record, as the foundation of the Judgements but the Verdict of the Jury. No part of the evidence on which that Verdict is given does appear. The Judgement therefore cannot be reversed in the common method of Error, tho the Verdict on which it is founded be ever so iniquitous, because no Error can appear on the Record. Every man who has been

Common Law

conversant in the

Verdicts have been given in

it.

many

Courts of this Province will allow that

On

some

the other hand suppose

special

iniquitous

pleadings or

Exceptions be taken, and afterwards on the evidence a just and true Verdict be given, the Judgment on this verdict may be set aside in error. In both Cases where the Verdict is bad, and no Error in the Proceedings, and where the Verdict is good, but some slip or mistake has

happen'd in the proceedings, new suits, beneficial to the lawyers, are encouraged, while both but where one party is poor and the other parties are willing and have money to contend :

Rich, they oppress the Poor, and suppress justice. It

my

can not enter into

thoughts that the King intended by his 32* Instruction to enquire

only into the Chicanery of the Lawyers, without having

it

in his

power

to

judge of the merits

of the cause in all cases.

From their

the violent efforts

view appears

me

to

made

at this time

to be to

make

the

by the whole body of the profession of the Law,

Common Law

Courts in

effect the ultimate

Resort

of Justice in this Province which without doubt must give them an enormous and dangerous

power

in

it.

where the people are almost universally ignarant and few people, and they generally in the profession of the Law, have a liberal education, and where the most considerable families who enjoy the principal Offices of trust, are strongly connected by mutual relations or similar interest, It is possible and from the Proceedings at this time it is become probable that the bench and the bar may combine to bring all causes to a general verdict, where In a

new country like

this

;

the King's prerogative, or his Rights, are affected. of the

Crown must depend on

concluded thereby

from a verdict.

;

for

It is

In such case the Prerogative and Rights

the integrity and knowledge of the Jury, and must be finally

according to the doctrine which

said indeed that the

Judges

may

now

prevails there can be no appeal

give a

new

trial,

where the Verdict

appears to be contrary to evidence, but this remedy depends upon the will of the Judge, for in case he refuse no error in his refusing can be assigned where the Evidence on which the verdict is

given cannot appear. It is

not easy to beleive what liberties are sometimes allowed the Attornies to perplex

To remedy this in all the Governments to the Eastward of this I am inform'd that the evidence is taken down in writing in open Court when either of the parties require it is delivered to the Jury and made part of the Record. In this manner the Jury can with more certainty deliberate on the evidence than

the Witnesses on one side, and afterwards to perplex the Jury.

LONDON DOCUMENTS wheo they

trust to tlieir

have a right

memory,

after a

to appeal to a Superior

XXXVII.

:

688

long perplexed hearing of 12 hours and either party

Court on the whole merils without depending on the will

new trial. If a like method were established all over the Colonies it would in my opinion tend greatly to the security of Property in General, of his Majesty's just and necessary Prerogative, and of the dependance of the Colonies on their mother Country. The Arguments against Appeals, are all taken from what the King cannot do hy hia of the Judge to give a

King can do nothing in the Colonies which he must be subversive of every Government in the Colonies of them depend on the King's Charter, or on his Commission to his Governor, are

Prerogative in England, and conclude that the

England.

cannot

in

where

all

all

If this

were true

it

different in their forms of proceedings in their Legislature, is

New York

has

Exchequer.

all

the

may

It

Powers

in

the

first

he

may

in

common Law

shall think necessary for the

since the executive

fountain of Justice.

or

common law

Common

Pleas

of

&

in this

power

The Courts

is in

Province depends on that Court, which has

Crown

to establish

such Courts in the Colonies

Administration of Justice, as certainly by his Prerogative the

Crown, and

in this sense the

King

is

said to be the

of Justice in the Colonies cannot be the object of the ancient

of England, because they did not then exist, and the Prerogative cannot be

new

limited in these

administering Justice

The Supreme Court

instance of the King's bench,

no other authority but the Prerogative of the

King

in

be well doubted whether the King eould establish such a Court in England,

and yet the whole justice as the

and

established in England and different from each other.

from what

countries by usage and custom.

in the several Colonies,

according to the

Common

It is

certain in fact that Justice is obtained

law of England,

in

Courts whoes modes of

proceeding and executive powers are very different and different from any Court of

Common

law in England and therefore I am humbly of opinion that the King may give such executive powers to the Courts of Justice in the Colonies as he shall think most conducive for obtaining of Justice, & that this may be done without the least prejudice to the Common Law. An :

all the Arguments against Appeals in not distinguishing between the Law and manner of executing the Law. I make no doubt of Your Lordship's excusing me in writing my own Sentiments, on a matter which I think of so great consequence. I shall therefore take the liberty to make some Remarks on the harangue which Chief Justice Horsmanden made on giving his reasons for not obeying the writs of Appeal. In answer to his argument from the words of the Instruction by which the Governor is directed to issue a writ in the manner which has been usually accustom'd, I am ef opinion that the meaning must be in the manner which has been usually accustom'd in cases of Appeal, not in the manner which has been usually nccustomd in this Place, for the accustomd manner in this sense may be erroneous. In the first appeal, as it is said this is, there could be no accustom'd manner in this place, nor could there be any accustom'd manner on the first writ of Error, for the time when a writ of Error was first brought in this place can be assign'd. The next Argument of Cheif Justice Horsmanden is from the enormous expence which must be occasion'd by Appeals in case they be allowed. I readily allow that the expence of Law Suits in this Province are enormous, and tend to the suppression of Justice where one party is poor and the other rich. The Bills of Cost taxed by the Judges have been by great numbers

error runs thro'

the

complained of as a grievance which could not have happen'd without their connivance.

In an Ejectment where there were no Special pleadings or exceptions of any kind. Chief Justice Horsmanden not long since taxed the Costs on one side at Tliree Hundred and fourteen pounds,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

gg4 some

instances the Costs have equall'd the value in Question. general appointed Ciiief Justice of this Province he was surprised at the found him of the excessive expence in obtaining Justice, the like not to be

Shillings and Pence,

When M'

Prat was

Complaint made

to

and

in

many

years in which he had any other of the Colonies on the Continent. He said that in twenty Costs which exceeded Bill of any practiced in the Massachusetts Bay, he did not remember of when either Party twenty pounds New York Currency: tho in their Courts the Evidence, remedied this great grievance, required it, was taken in writing; Had he lived he would have or other private connections family had no but since his death it remains without redress. He peoples minds against him in this Province, tho many prejudices were at first infused into the

in

was afterwards generally thought a public loss. Cross As to the objection which M' Horsmanden makes of the necessity of Interrogatories, appointed are Officers which no for &c Interrogatories, Examinations and Cross Examinations on writing in the Court below from whence the it is easily removed by the evidence being put may be done viva appeal is made. Or if Witnesses are to be examined before the Council it as a stranger, yet his death

voce

in

open Court,

&

put in writing by the Clerk of the Council

who

is

a standing officer, or

Authority to appoint such.

any other officer be wanted the Governor has sufficient Chief Justice Horsmanden insists that in case of allowing appeals on the Merits, the Council would be oblidged to sit every day to determine them. This was certainly designed to amuse The Supreme Court of this Province sits not quite six weeks in the whole year. the ignorant. Suppose an appeal were made on every cause (an absurd supposition) as the cause is brought if

to issue before

as

it

did in the

come to the Governor Supreme Court.

it

His objections relating Evidence

in

& Council, it

can not take up so

to the Introduction of Perjury are likewise

writeing in the Courts below

;

and

this objection is

much

time before them

removed by taking the

as strong against a

new

tryal,

remedy which he allows against an iniquitious verdict; and against new tryals on in this province which frequently happen. As to the form of the Writ I had no part in it, but that of putting the Seal to it. The Gentlemen of the Law when I have objected to the absurdity of some writs told me they had

the only

Ejectments

a right to have them sealed, injustice refuse

the Seal.

& they On

took them at their

own

peril,

these occasions I have often

but that I could not without

thought that Lawyers have

Forms, that mankind in general who are not I neither lawyers, may not in such cases have the use of their own reason in judging of them. could nor did advise as to the form of the Writs, whatever error there may be in them, the

introduced misteries

parly

him

who

in

It is

&

absurdities into the

Law

took them out has this excuse to

make

that

no lawyer

in this place

would advise

forming the Writs.

become necessary

for

me

to observe to

Your Lordships

that the Chief Justice in his

Speech has strongly intimated that the proceedings in bringing the appeal are highly criminal^ and to confirm this insinuation John Morin Scot, an Attorney has commenced a suit against this Deputy Secretary, who is Clerk of the Supreme Court, for not sealing the Execution he had been served with the writ to stay proceedings. The same person in open Court before the Council, addressing himself to me, said, it is highly criminal for any person to issue a writ in any case where he has not jurisdiction. He owns himself to be the

in this case, after

Author of the inflamatory preface to the printed Copy of M' Horsmanden's speech, which given out to many persons and read by numbers in this place; a copy of which I think necessary to send Your Lordship.

The

last line

of the Preface

is

struck out in

all

ia it

the copies

LONDON DOCUMENTS which

T

685

These tilings make tiie stronger impression as make me understand that my administration may be

received from him.

nienns before that time to I

XXXVII.

:

must remain in this Province, that

expect to

fee! tlie

resentment

(&

I

have a numerous family

in

it,

and

they had found very short, that

tiiat 1

and they must

perhaps the Malice) of a powerful body of men.

As I have not one single person of knowledge in the Law to assist me I may have err'd in judgment but I am contident it will appear that I have acted on Principles of Equity & Justice, and with a sense of my Duty as Trustee for the King in this Province, in preserving, to the utmost of my power, the Kings Prerogative & just authority and likewise in securing the Properties of his Subjects in this Province by all the Legal means which the Crown has established. With these Sentiments I rest secure in the King's protection at all times, against any Malice or Resentment how great soever. Notwithstanding of the present opposition to appeals I am fully perswaded that with judges of integrity and ability, free from all Family or interested connections and the officers of the Crown doing their Duty appeals will be submitted to & the people become pleased with them. But it may be requisite that any ambiguity iu the Instruction be removed, directions for the method of Proceeding be given, and that it be extended particularly to all Cases in which the title or right to Lands are in question, or the Prerogative or Rights of the Crown are affected.

If the aid of

importance to require

Allow me,

My

Parliament should be thought necessary

it

appears a matter of such

it.

Lord, to observe in the last place that a Delay in determining this matter

withdrawing of the Instruction. which time the judges William Smith and Robert Livingston

will in this place be interpreted as a tacit

Yesterday the Council met, at

why they refused to admit an me answered that he was not in court

gave their reasons his letter to

appeal.

The

other judge David Jones by

at the time, and

had no part

in the refusing

or admitting.

The Council

directed an order to

adjourned this matter I

have

for 14

now endeavoured

the utmost submission by.

him

to give his opinion on the legality of appeals

to inform

My

Your Lordship

to the best of

my ability &

it is

&

faithfull

Servant

Cadwallades Colden.

Hon**'' Earl Halifax.

-^»t

Sir William Johnson [

»>»-

to the Loi-ds

PlanUUons Genen), XXV.,

K

of Trade.

1. ]

Johnson Hall, Dec"*

My

done with

Lord,

Your most obedient Right

and then

days to receive his opinion.

26"'

17G4

Lords,

Since

my

letter of the S"" of

Plan for Indian

affairs

&c"

I

October, at which time

I

my sentiments on the your Lordships on the 3^ Ult"

transmitted

have had the honour of writeing

to

concerning the iniquitous grant in this Province called Kayadaruiseras, papers necessary

for illustrateing the fraud thereof,

Sc

transmitted

some

but there being at present, fresh matter for

your Lordships information by the return of the two armys who marched against the Enemy,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

686

I cannot avoid laying the

same before you,

as

I

would rather acquire y' character of a most laying before your Lordships w' it is my

constant correspondent, than at any time neglect

duty to communicate.

There

is

doubtless an Ace" transmitted to His Majesty's Ministers of the Proceedings of both

the Expeditions which,

it

is

my

not

business to enlarge upon, or explain, I shall therefore

cheifly confine myself to the effects they will have

upon the Several Indian Nations within

my

Department. Your Lordships

will perceive from the procedure of Coll. Bradstreet's Army, that at first Troops from Niagra, they were met at Lance aux FeuiUes on Lake Erie by Ten Indians, with whom he too readily treated (contrary to y" advice and inclinations of our Indians) whereby they imposed on our Troops and prevented their Action, for altho they agreed to deliver up within a certain time all prisoners &c* at Sandosky, as well as to stop all

setting out of the

Hostilities, yet, they never

observed to perform either.

send a party to the

whom

&

were about

Commanding

Illinois,

the

On

to put the officer to death. Officer

Chippewaes several

entered

of

whom

Coll. Bradstreet next

Twightwees would not

the arrival of the

a solemn treaty of

into

had before treated with

me

endeavoured

to

suffer to pass thro their country,

Army

at Niagra.

at y' Detroit the

some

peace with

Ottawaes, and

In this last treaty these

Indians are said to acknowledge subjection, dominion &c" but Pondiac

is

not included.

— On

Sandosky he proposed proceeding against the Shawanese & Delawares, but was found impracticable, & that the Indians appeared averse to it, but the fact is, that the Indians who were prevented from knocking the Impostors on the Head at Lance aux feuilles, & greatly concerned at y' commanding Officer's manner of treating with them, had resolved not to interest themselves any farther (so warmly) in the issue of the Campaign, and therefore declared at Sandosky that they would readily march with the Army, but would not of themselves go in partys against an Enemy whom the Coll. had treated with, and was not the Coll* return to

it is

reported that

it

disposed to attack w"" his Troops.

The

result of this Expedition

is,

that after loosing near

Troops are returned in a most shattered scituation, many have the Woods, and above forty are now daily fed by the Senecas, 'till they become

one half of the great boats, the perished in

all my Officers or Indians yet come in, haveing been turned a drift without any provision on Lake Erie, together with several hundred of the troops. These

able to march, neither are

Heads which can all be enlarged upon, & fully proved by the best Authority. On the other hand Coll. Bouquet under all the disadvantages of a tedious & hazardous land march, with an Army little more than half that of the other has penetrated into the heart of the Country of the Delawares & Shawanese, obtained above 200 English Captives from amongst them, with 14 hostages for their comeing here, and entering into a peace before me in

are a few general

due form &c»

&

I

daily expect their chiefs for that purpose.

Haveing just run over some of the most material circumstances of the Expeditions, it remains that I should lay before your Lordships the state of the Indians at present, & the effect these occurrences will have upon them. For although an Account of the Campaign has been sent to England it is my duty to describe the scituation of affairs as they really are, & as

—

they regard

In the

my

first

Department.

place give

me

leave to observe to your Lordships

are considered by the Freind Indians,

As

to the first Coll. Bradstreet

&

made

what

effect

how

our late Military operations

they will have upon our Enemies.

number I brought to other Canada Indians, whose

choice of 300 Indians out of the

Niagra, in these were comprised near 100

Caghnawagaes

&

LCWDON DOCUMENTS: XXXVII.

687

presence was judged highly necessary and of whose fidelity I can have no doubt from the very good behaviour of these People since the reduction of Canada, I therefore earnestly wished that they might return home prejudiced in favour of the English Conduct & satisfied with the treatment they would receive, as it was y* first time, they ever had an opportunity of joining His Majesty's Troops, and I canaflirm no men of any Denomination expressed a greater desire to go against the Shawanese & Delawares in particular, which were the Nations I had in an especial manner pointed out as our most inveterate Enemys, but to my infinite mortification, I

Caghnawagaes but

find that not only these

those of the Troops their

own

whom

treatment,

&

I

ill

office, I

the rest of the Indians,

have since conversed with, are returned

the transactions of y* campaign, what they

all

My own in y*

&

ofTicers,

all

utmost chagrin at

report

may

be in some

my

Department, and as I was never inclined to do any person willingly suppress them, but I am convinced I cannot do so with regard to what

degree foreign to the aSairs of

an

all

relates to the Indian Interest, without being guilty of a notorious neglect,

&

being accessary to

any troubles which may hereafter proceed from the misconduct of one of the Armys, therefore I

cannot avoid expressing the great uneasiness of

say that those Impostors

all

our Indians at the

who met the armyatL'Ance Aux

late Transactions,

Feuillesonly desired to

know

they

of the

whether he was comeing upon Peace or War to their Country, that was everry whit as agreable as the former. To which he answer'd that he was glad

Commanding the latter

Oflicer

they were so peaceably disposed, as he was himself of that Disposition, the inclination of our Indians wiiom he never consulted

&

then contrary to

made

a treaty with them telling them was over in general terms that the Shawanese & Delawares were become his Freinds. That this was the real proceeding at that place can be proved by all the Indians who were

after all

—

present, as well as Ind" Officers

who

understood the language of these Impostors, and the

Inconsistency thereof occasioned our Indians to resolve not to take upon themselves any thing

campaign, as these were the People they flattered themselves they should have marched against, that haveing appointed a certain day for the Enemy to bring in their Prisoners &c* to Sandosky he proceeded to Detroit &on his return from thence some time after for the rest of the

he asscended Sandosky River where he encamped waiting their arrival, but suddenly on the report of an Enemys approach decamped & retired with the utmost precipitation to y* Lake leaving the Indians behind

joined the

Army

who haveing waited

till

long after the appointed time, retired,

&

greatly disgusted that he had slipped so good an opertunity of marching to

the plains which were not four days march for an Indian, nor above six for the Troops.

That afterwards the Commanding Officer asked them to proceed against the Enemy, to which they answered, that it was verry extraordinary for him to require them to proceed alone against a people that he had treated with contrary to their advice & was afraid to go ag" himself, but that they would readily accompany him, & the Army & then do every thing he desired,

but that he laid aside the attempt, Altho had

would have thrown the Enemy well as releived

the

Frontiers,

notwithstanding the Treaty.

can be fully proved by those

&

he only gone two days march

into the utmost confusion &; greatly favoured Coll.

who

That

who

daily

all this

suffered

from

the

it

Boquet as

Enemy's Scalping Partys

has been misrepresented, and put on another footing

understood the words which

really

passed between the Coll.

— That a Treaty was hsddled up with some of the Nations

at Detroit, on which was mentioned concerning Subjection or Dominion. That the Commanding Officer pardonned Minny Chain Sc Godfroy the two notorious villains so often represented by Major Gladwin, as Principals in the late War, & solely confided in them &

the Indians.

occasion

not a syllable

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

ggg

some other Frenchmen, by one of whose means the boats were cast away, as by Army halted at an open beach when there was a fine river within two miles

his advice the of

them, that

neither did the whole of the Transactions being in French were never explained to our Indians, which they with languages those of they know any thing that past from time to time, except happened to be acquainted, that the Commanding Officer has likewise taken upon him to grant several Tracts of

Land about Detroit

&

Lake

Erie, as well to

some

some

of the Officers, as to

French Inhabitants, & lastly that they the Indians with their Officers were set to shift for themselves on Lake Erie without an ounce of provisions & destitute of every thing, neither was any order

lefl

at

Niagra

supplying them

for

&

the

Commanding Officer

did

it

there for

y

Governor Moore

>

to the

Lords of Trade.

[New- York Papen, Bnndle Qq., No.

., My

21. ]

New

J Lords, T

The

distressed

application to

situation

of several unfortunate

your LordPi", as

unhappy circumstances.

it

is

not in

my

Fitzherbert.

power

York. 26

May •'

1766.

this Prov" occasions this them any relief in their present

persons in to give

Many miserable objects have languished for a great length of time in the prisons here, not for crimes committed, but for having been so imprudent, as to become securities for others, who have not appeared at the time stipulated by the Recognizances, by

LONDON DOCUMENTS

:

XXXIX.

829

which means they have been forfeited, and the securities thrown into goal upon their inability Upon my mentioning this affair to a to pay the whole sum, for which they became bound. Gentleman of the Law here, he was pleased to give me his opinion in writing, which I have here inclosed to your Lord"", as it may place this matter in its proper light, and if approved of by your Lordf^, that an application should be made to His Majesty, that the Instructioa which limits the Govern" power to fines of ten pounds, should be altered and a permission given to compound debts of the Crown, where it shall appear from the circumstances of the by this means many subjects will be saved from offender, that the whole cannot be obtained will be gained by the Crown, which in our present total ruin, and some part of the Demand As it will be necessary, that proper restrictions should situation, often looses the whole debt. be laid upon the power solicited for, to prevent abuses of it, your Lordi^ will be the best Judges of that matter; it is only from a principle of humanity that this application is made, as I should be extreamly happy in having it in my power to grant relief to those, who by their long suffering seem intitled to it, and at the same time save them and their families ;

from destruction.

>

have the honor

I

to

be with the greatest respect

My

Lords

Your LordPP* most obedient & humble serv*

H: MooRB.

Governor Moore [

Secretary Conway.

to

New-Tork P*p«n>

CUX,

No.

El. ]

Fort George

N

York May

27. 1766

Sir I

had the honor of receiving your

time dispatches

letters

by the hands of Major James, and

at the

same

His Majestys Governors, all which were forwarded to them they were landed. As the General Assembly of this Province will

for the rest of

within a few hours after

meet in a few days I shall then have an opportunity of seeing what impression has been made on their minds by the signal favors so lately conferred on them by His Majesty & his Nothing on my part their duty, those who have been imposed on and misled ;

Parliament and what returns of gratitude they are inclined to make. shall

and

I

were

be wanting to bring back to

manner recommend to the Assembly the case of those persons who Commotions that they may have a full compensation made to them they sustained by the hasty and ill timed Peoceedings of the Populace

shall in the strongest

sufferers in the late

for the losses

I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Sir

Right Honorable

H. Seymour Conway

Your most obedient and humble Servant H. Moorb

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

830

Governor Moore [

to the

Lords of Trade.

New-Tork F>p«n, Bondle Qq^ No.

60.]

New

My I

York. 12 June 1766.

Lords,

am

very sorry, that upon our

first

entering on business after so long a vacation,

I

should be

under any necessity of making an application to your Lord^P* to adjust any points in dispute between the Crown and any Pattentee, but as His Maj'J'" prerogative is concerned in this, I could not suffer it to be invaded by any person without first interfering as far as my duty required and then laying the matter before your Lord^P* for your opinions. His Maj'^ by his Chief here, the Collating of the Benefices, granting of Marriage Licenses, and the probate of Wills, I apprehend that the whole business of the Court of prerogative was intended to be under the Direction of the Governor, who was to preside in that Court, and that it was as much in his power to appoint a Register as it is to instructions having expressly reserved to his

appoint a surrogate.

The Business

Gov'

in

of the Register has been constantly transacted at the

whence that Authority is derived the Secretary neither can not or will not shew, for I set out with desiring to see what po.wers were granted by the Crown to the Secretary, that I might not infringe any rights of the Office, & all I can obtain is a sight of several Commissions granted at different times, which specify nothing in particular, but seem to refer to other powers formerly granted, which do not appear and are hitherto concealed from me. The Secretary of this Prov" and his deputy have been frequently appointed the Gov" Surrogates, so that the whole business of the office has then been in their hands. Upon this Secretary's office here, but from

they have taken upon themselves an Authority wh'"" they are not vested with without being appointed Surrogates, and have granted probates upon Wills sent up out of the Country which were proved there, without consulting the Gov' or making him acquainted with any such

which means they would wrest from him the power expressly given by His the Instruction above mentioned, and set up a right for such a proceeding from the

transaction, by

Maj'^ in

of Secretary. I have not appointed the Deputy Secretary to be my Surrogate, as I think he has employment enough in several other capacities, being not only Secretary of the Province, but Register in Chancery and Clerk of the Supreme Court, and have ordered the Seal of the office

prerogative Court to be delivered to

me

as the proper Officer in

kept, and have forbid any probates to be granted

from the

Crown

;

as to the Office of Register, although no

Us being vested by the Crown

in the Secretary,

I

whose custody

it

should be

by any other authority than that which have

still

power has been produced suffered

it

to

to continue there,

I

hold

me till

for

His

Maj'^'' pleasure should be known, as the removing of Books might be attended with some inconvenience, and shall only beg leave to add, that as in England the ordinary, as I am informed, appoints all the Officers in his Court, for which he is responsible, I apprehend it

might have been the intention of the Crown that the King's representative should have had the here, and not have an officer of that consequence in the Court nominated by a Patentee, who has not the least mention made of it in his Patent. The business of the Court will go on in the usual manner, till His Maj"-' pleasure shall be signified to me, with no other

same power

difference than that the Officers will be kept

more strictly to their duty, and I hope your LordPP* look upon this application as arising intirely from a sense of my duty to the Crown and in defence of an attack made upon the prerogative ; and I am perswaded it is not the only one will

I shall

meet with,

for, in this

Part of the world, where the levelling principles prevail so

much

LONDON DOCUMENTS and the combination seems so strong, shall

have

many

points to struggle

meet with success to deserve I

1

expect,

I

hope

to for,

to let

reduce

llie

and many your

power of

it.

831

Crown

the

difficulties to

Lord'"'" see, that

have the honor to be with the greatest respect

>'

XXXIX.

:

it

as

much

as possible, I

engage with; and will be

always

if

my

I

do not

endeavour

— My Lords.

Your

Lord""""

most obedient and humble servant

H: Moore.

Governor Moore I

to

Secretary Conway.

New-Tork Psp*rt ( SU«e PTork Fap«ra

( 8.

Earl of Shelbume.

P. O.

),

CLIX., Ho.

Bl. ]

Fort George

My

New York Feb

23. 1767.

Lord

recommend

I beg leave to

to

your Lordship Will" Smith Jun' as a person every way Smith Sen'' Esq" who is willing to resign his Seat as a

qualified to succeed his Father Will"

member of his Majestys Council

here in favor of his son.*

M' Smith Sen'

is

not only a

Member

William Siimi was born at Newport Pagnel, Buckinghamshire, Kng., on the 8lh October, 1(597, and arrived with bia New-York, on the 17th August, 1715. Smilh't Nev-Yoric, IL, »8. He soon after eorameneed the study of the law and was admitted lo the liar on the iOXh of May, 1724. Commiuiom, IIL, 256. He rose to distinction after a short time in his profession and was one of the Counsel for Zenger in 1732, on which occasion he came into collision with the '

father's family, in

Court, as related in V. 982 note.

Attorney-General, an

Hardy, when the

latter

He

the Supreme Court.

On

the death of Mr. Bradley in 1751, he was, without any solicittttioa on his part, appointed

held, however, but a short time. He was called to the Council in 17S5, by Sir Charlea assumed the government, {Council Minulet, XXV.,) and in 17SS, was appointed one of the Judges of

office

which he

died

November

22, 1769.

He was an

able lawyer, an impressive and eloquent speaker, and a

man

In addition to his high merit as a lawyer, he was an excellent theologian, a pro6eient in the Freoch,

of varied attainments.

Greek, Latin and Hebrew language^ and something of an adept in the Sciences; but was especially distinguished for his oratorial powers, having the unusual natural advantages of an impressive person, a fine voice, great fluency,

imagination. Daly't ffittorieal Skelchei o/tke Judicial Tribunalt of Nmo-York, 61.

Danlap

(Hi$l.

and an active

of N*»-Yorlc, VL, czcTiiL,)

confounds him with his son, mentioned in Governor Moore's dispatch. * WiLLLSH Smith, Junior, author of the History of New-Tork down to 1762, waa.tbe oldest son of Jadge W. Smith, ntpra, and was born in the city of New-York on the 25th of June, 1728. He graduated at Yale College in 174S; in 1748 waa appointed clerk in the court of Chancery, and was called to the Bar in October, 1750. Commiuionn, HL, 449, 505. An

Act having been passed

in

November following

to revise the

partner, William Livingston, to perform that duty.

laws of the Province, Mr. Smith was appointed, with

This revised edition wss published in two volumes

;

one

in

his senior

1752 and the

in 1762. In 1767 appeared his " History of the Province of New- York from the first discovery to the year 1788." 266 pp ; a work which reflects no small credit on the author, when it is considered that it was written and published before he had yet attained his 30th year. At the same time was also published, in London, " A Review of the Military

other 4to.,

operations in North America," in vindication of Governor Shirley and aspersing the characters of Lieutenant-Governor

De Lanoey and

who opposed

pamphlet has been supposed to have been from the pen of Mr. Smith. and worked consequences of private and public utility. Smith'i Uiilory of Nev-Vork. 11., 258. He was called to the Council in 1769, and in 1778 was one of the CommiMioner* to •grae upon a boundary line between New-York and Massaehusetts. Commi$*iom, VI., 79. On the breaking out of tlw It

others

was universally read and talked

his measures: this of,

at the time, in London,

Revolution, Mr. S. repaired to Haverstraw, but in June, 1777, was

summoned

before the Council of Safety at Kingston;

on his adhering to the cause of the Crown, he was ordered to be confined within the Manor of Livingston and was afterward* sent into New-York, where he was subieqaently named Chief Justice of the Province, an appointment, however, which has never been recognized. On the evacuation of the city, he proceeded to England and remained there until 1786, when he He was connected, by received the office of Chief Justice of Canada. H« died in Quebec on the Sd December, 1798. marriage, with the Livingston family, and

of his law opinions, Lift, X.

many

As an

many

historian,

is

represented as having been an eloquent speaker, remarkable for the souDdnets

of which are collected and recorded in Chalmers' " Opinions of Eminent Lawyers."

he has committed many errors of

fact,

and may ba said

to

of the occnrrences he relates, to bo impartial in his opinions concerning them.

Utmoir of

kit

have been mixed np too intimately with

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

910

of the Council but likewise one of the Judges of the in years will readily resign his place at the

by

his Son.

Supreme Court, and

as he

advanced

is far

Council Board provided he can be succeeded in

necessary for m«! to inform your Lordship that the proposal was not

It is

W Smith Sen' but

my

it

made by

was desirous of having his son in the Council, and it is on the terms of being succeeded by him that he consents to resign his Seat. I have heard that several persons have been recommended as members of the Council to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, by others whose knowledge of them must arise cheifly from n correspondence of letters occasion^ by Commercial Interest and that their names now stand upon the lists; But I apprehend that the persons so recommended tho' of great integrity in their private dealings, may perhaps not be possessed of those abilities necessary for the carrying on of Government, and be a means that

it

was mentioned

to

him

at

instance and Request, as

rather to distress than assist His Majestys Governor here: This

with M' Smith Jun' in whose

favor this letter is

wrote

:

He

is

now

far

is

from being the Case

at the head of the Profession

Law, and will be of great Service in the Council as his opinions depended on, not only from his knowledge of the Law but his integrity. of the

with the best families in this Province, of every one here

have

to liis

I

this

:

is

after saying all this,

I

of unblemished Character

&

may always be He is connected

high in the estimation

your Lordships will not be surprized at

mark of His Majestys favor conferred on one who

is

my

desiring

so capable of meriting

it

by

Services

have the honor to be with the greatest respect

My

Lord

Your Lordships most obedient and humble Servant

Rt Honble

H

Earl of Shelburne

Oovemor Moore

to the

(New-Tork Papen,

„ My ,Lord

Earl of

(8. P. O., No. 6.)

SJielburne.

CLIX,51.]

Fort George

,

In answer to the letter which

Moore

New York

24 Feb 1767

I had the honor of receiving from your Lordship by this Disturbances which had happen'd in the Counties of Dutchess and Albany I beg leave to inform your Lordship that in my letter to M' Secretary Conway dated July 12"- 1766. I informed him that the disturbance which had arose in Dutchess County had been quelled by the assistance of His Majestys 2S"' Regiment, which was then come to this city, and in a letter to the Lords Comm" for Trade and Plantations dated Aug 18 1766 I likewise informed their Lordships that upon the breaking out of some riots in the County of Albany, a detachm« of His Matys 46 Regiment had suppressthem and restored the quiet of that part of the Country ; Since that time I have never heard of the least tumult in those parts, or that the inhabitants of the borders of the different Provinces were under the least apprehension

Pacquet relative

to the

LONDON DOCUMENTS

XL.

:

911

was for some time in the County of Albany in the months of Sept' and October, and the Assembly of this Province sate from the beginning of November til the latter end of Dec"' during which time I had opportunitys of conversing with the members of both those of fresh Troubles,

I

Counties, and had there been the least surmise of any such thing

informed of

Whatever did

it;

ministers, and

my

regard for

Service will not allow

me

to

was

actually pass here

my own

at a time

express

my

when we

I

have

Kings

to the

for

His Majestys

misrepresentation of Facts.

After what

how much

to hear that the advices

I

must be surprised

from Boston which have been transmitted to England represent us it

should certainly have been

Character as well as the Zeal

make any

mentioned your Lordships must imagine

I

faithfully transmitted

still

in a state of

I

have here

War or near

look upon ourselves to be in a State of the greatest tranquillity

& can

only

have come to resolutions among themselves of disturbing apprehend that the origin of these disturbances has been

fears that our neighbours

As

the Public Peace again.

misrepresented

beg leave

I

I

to lay

before your Lordships in a

it

dispute in the present case between the Provinces in regard to

the whole has taken

its

rise

few words; There has been no any Territorial Jurisdiction but

from a Scene of Litigation among private Persons

Several

;

Inhabitants of the Massachusetts encouraged by their countrymen, (as they acknowledge in

some of their affidavits) passed over the Westward of it on the Lands belong^ to M'

Division and seating themselves to the

line of

(lenslaer* and

acknowledged on

hands to be

all

within this Province, began Settlements there without any invitation from him, or even

M' Renslaer unwilling to dispossess them offered them Leases on which he had granted to his Tenants their near neighbours which were the same Terms refused, and notwithstand^^ they could not shew any Right in themselves to the Lands refused to acknowledge any in M' Renslaer, who upon such behavior endeavoured to remove them by permission

first

obtained

a due Course of to a legal

;

Law; But

as

never was the intention of these People to submitt their Title

examanal" every opposition was made

Duty and matters were

could be said,

many

when he attempted

to the sheriff

carried to such a length, that they assembled

and attacked and defeated him the County & some lives were little

it

Execution of his

in the

lost

on both

office, alltho'

armed

in

to

do

his

a great body,

supported by the Posse of

After an action in justification of which so

sides.

of the Delinquents thought proper to quitt this Province immediately

of the neighbouring Governments of some letters from M' Bernard in August complaining of the treatment some people had met with who had taken refuge in the Province of Massachusetts, representing their case as deserving compassion, and desiring that I would

and

sheltered

themselves

under

Massachusetts and Connecticut.

interpose it

my

good

Protection

the

I

did receive

offices in their behalf.

To

this

I

made

very extraordinary that any person in this Province

the following answer

who was

;

that

I

thought

aggreived should before he

withdraw himself from the Jurisdiction in which he had lived, then apply for redress to one who had it not in his power to give it, That I apprehended the Persons for whom he interested himself were those against whom the Grand Jury had found Bills for Riots, Murders and Treasons, in which case I hoped he would give the necessary orders to have them secured, that they might be brought to the punishment they deserved But that if

made

his complaint

first

:

any persons had fled into his Government only under apprehensions of being '

JoiiAMNEB TAK Rrnsselair, proprietor of Claverack,

which was conveyed gentleman resided, in Major-General Philip

in

1704 by Kiliaen

V.

R.,

J.

his lifetime, at Greenbueh.

Colnmbia County, N.

Y., sometime* called

in 1711,

Schuyler. Holgalt't American Otnealogy, 44.

— Eo.

and died

in 178S.

treated he

" The lower Manor,"

to his brother Hendrick, the father of Johannea.

He was born

ill

He was

The

last

mentioned

the lather-in-law of

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

912

might assure them from me that on their return, they should be entitled to all the Protection which the Laws of the Country could give them and that any disputes they were engaged in should be examined into with the utmost candor. In order to sett this matter in the clearest light I enclosed to M' Bernard the Proclamation I had issued, in which were inserted the names of the Delinquents and the rewards offered for taking them up but none of them were ever secured allthough they appeared publickly in the Provinces of the Massachusetts and Connecticut neither have those complainants thought proper to return to their Homes and submit their Cause to be decided by the Laws of their Country. As to the interposition of the military, I hope your Lordship will not entertain so unfavorable an opinion of me as to suppose It was with great concern I saw the progress that I should prefer Force to moderate measures ;

of these disturbances,

and

it

but was

still in

hopes that the

Power alone would be able

civil

was

were sent to

their assistance

of a neglect of

my Duty

where the rebels had

;

had

beleive your Lordship will think that

I

I

sett forth

I

I

should have been guilty

refused the aid required especially in the

set the civil

Power

at Defiance,

&

County

Albany

of

had defeated the Sheriff at the head

of the Posse of the County, by which rash act several lives were

have here

to prevail,

at the ernest request of the Magistrates of both those Counties that the Troops

lost.

In support of

what

I

have the honor of enclosing to your Lordship a minute of the Council

day and the copy of a memorial they delivered to Gen' Monkton when he returned to England, by which your Lordship will see the opinion which has been entertained here in regard to all the disputes they have been engaged in not only with the Massachusetts but other Provinces, and the desire they have expressed to have them determined I shall write immediately to M' Bernard to desire that Commissaries may be appointed to settle this

which met

this

;

matter and nothing shall be wanting on not be so happy as to terminate this

my part to

bring

it

to a

speedy conclusion

If I

should

manner now pointed out to me, I shall the whole case in as clear a manner as I can,

affair in the

then in obedience to your Ldp's Orders state and transmitt the account with the proper vouchers to your Lordships that they laid before His Majesty. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect My Lord

may

be

Your Lordships most obedient and

humble Servant H Moore.

OLIX., 51. ]

Fort George

My

Moore

New York

Ap.

7.

1767.

Lord

what I have taken upon myself to propose in this letter, especially as it is done with no other view than that of promoting His Majestys service I have been credibly informed that some years past it has been a matter under deliberation of the Kings Ministers more than once whether it would not be both for His Majestys Service and the good of each Province in America that the number of the Council (now limited to twelve should be enlarged. It is not in my power to lay before your Lordship the state of any other Province on the Continent but that of New York, which is so particularly circumstanced at this juncture that if such a measure should be adopted, I apprehend our present situation would plead greatly in our behalf in regard to the augmentat". Our Lieut' Gov' now between 70 & 80 years of age has not attended a single day since my Commission was published, but retired immediately to his own House on Long Island at some hope

I

I shall

have your Lordships Pardon

distance from this City, nor can

it

attendance could be given by him

for

be expected from a person of his advanced age that

much

M' George Clarke has had an appointm' from the Crown

to

be of the Council here, for many years past, but has never yet qualified and resides constantly in England ; as some application was made by me soon after my arrival here to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations on this account. Their Lordships did write that in

M' Clarke did not come to New York In the Spring, an other gentleman whom I had recommended should be appoint'' in his Room Sir William Johnsons Situation makes it impracticable for him to attend the Duty of the Council not only from his residing at so great case

—

a distance from the Capital, but from the multiplicity of business he is engaged in with the Indians, neither is he ever sent for, but on very particular business, which was the case very lately to attend the hearing of the claims

Stirlings residence

is

Province as well as

made by

the

Wappinger Tribe of

constantly in the Jerseys, and as he

is

a

member

Indians.

Lord

of the Council in that

can not be expected that we can have much of his company here, 80 that the number of the Council is in Fact reduced to eight Members, one of which lives constantly in the Country, and as His Majestys orders are that no Committee less than five shall transact

Business, as far

advanced

this, it

any public

affairs.

We

have frequently since

we could

not get together the

in years

and of course infirm.

number This

my

arrival

required, for is

been obliged

to

some of the Members

postpone are very

the present State of our Council which

I

LONDON DOCUMENTS:

XL.

917

it my duty to Iny before your Lordship, tho' not in the nature of a complaint against any of the persons before mentioned but only with an intention to submit it to your Lordships opinion whether in our present Situation an addition of three more members to the Council Board would not be of benefit to the Province as well as advantage to His Majestys Service. I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect My Lord your Lordships

thought

most obedient and humble Servant H Moorb.

Rt Honble Earl of Shelburne.

Mirl of Shelhwne [

H«w-Tork Ftp«n

( 8.

to

Oovemor Moore.

P. O. Ho. t),

CUX, SI. ] Whitehall April 11* 1767.

Sir

Two

Petitions having been most

humbly presented

to the

King

in Council,

One, by the

incorporated Society for the propagation of the Gospel, and the other by Samuel Robinson of

Bennington, in behalf of himself, and more than one thousand other Grantees of Lands on the West side of Connecticut River, under certain Grants issued by Benning Wentworth Esq"

Governor of

New Hampshire &

forth, lest there should

praying

for redress in several

be any further proceedings

very great Greivances therein set

in this matter,

till

such time as the Council

have examined into the Grounds of it, I am to signify to you His Majestys Commands make no new Grants of these Lands and that you do not molest any person in the you that quiet possession of His Grant, who can produce good and valid Deeds for such Grant under shall

New Hampshire

you receive further orders respecting them, upon the point of former Grants you are there in directed to •« take care that the inhabitants lying Westward of the Line reported by «' the Lords of Trade as the Boundary of the two Provinces be not molested on account of " Territorial differences, or disputed Jurisdiction for whatever Province the Settlers may be the Seal of the Province of

in

my

letter of the

11* Dec'

I

was very

untill

explicit

" found to belong to, it should make no difference in their Property, provided that their Titles " to their Lands should be found good in other respects or that they have been long in the " uninterrupt** Possession of them" His Majestys Intentions are so clearly expressed to you in the above Paragraph, that

I

can not doubt of your having immediately upon receipt of it removed

every cause of those complaints which the Petitioners set forth.

command that was vested in

it

may

be done without the smallest delay.

If not it is the

The Power

Kings express

of Granting Lands

the Governors of the Colony originally for the purpose of accomodating not

and industrious any perversion of that Power therefore must be highly derogatory, both from the dignity of their stations and from that disinterested Character which a Governor ought to support, and which His Majesty expects from every person honored by him with his Commission. The unreasonableness of obliging a very large Tract of Country to pay a Second time the immense sum of thirty three thousand pounds in

distressing settlers especially the poor

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

918 Fees according

to the

allegations of this Petition for no other reason than its being found

necessary to settle the Line of Boundary between the Colonies in question is so unjustifiable that his Majesty is not only determined to have the strictest enquiry made into the

Circumstances of the Charge, but expects the clearest and

fullest

answer I

Sir

Henry Moore

to

am

every part of

it

&c*

Shelbcrne

Bart.

-••--j

admit.

th* Crown.

be uccdless here to enlarge upon the great neglect of our Govern", and ^^^ misconduct of many in office, as the same will appear on inspecting the several ^^ ^111

Reports transmitted from time to time to the Plantation Office

ettc. and the different orders American Govern" will abundantly shew the sense of Govern' thereon. It will be here sufficient to shew how this misconduct descended to the lowest of the people, with their final consequences on Indian affairs. Their c«u«. The Govcm" Councils ettc. were from the remoteness of their scituation, and

received in consequence thereof by the

the latter from their avocations of a different nature, total strangers to these matters, and for several reasons that could easily be given unable to apply a Remedy, had they been acquainted

with one; spent in

tmMmi

when

a scurvy pittance

was applied

debating about the hands to under

tb« wreral head*.

^as

too ofteu

Committed

in the l^olony to protect

whom to

it

for

on the most urgent occasions, a session was

should be intrusted, which

Men who made

them and support

a job of

it,

if at

length granted

and had interest enough

their conduct.

—

LONDON DOCUMENTS: The French made

inroads

oppose their invasions

;

none were

to

XL.

955

be had either to penetrate into their Country, or

Rank or Capacity would venture Westward of Albany, their intelligences were generally received from the most low and ignorant of the Traders or resident Blacksmiths, who to their profession joined that of Trading in the Indian ;

few, or none of the last

Country; these persons often themselves imposed on, did much oftener impose on the Govern" here, as it suited best with their interest The cries of injured Indians against the lesser Traders could not reach the Capitals the abuses and misconduct of the rest could neither be prevented or punished from their provincial interest; whenever disturbances arose they were at their

wits end, but could neither prevent or oppose them

oaths of exculpation were administered ; Commissioners, a curious equivocation having been invented to elude them. Commiss" held annual meetings with such Indians as happened to be in Albany, and

in vain to the

The

were sure the year.

which put an end to the allowance and expences of were publicly bought by the French Agents, and

to have a feast on the occasion,

The English Strowds

ettc,

frequently from the Commissioners at a considerable price, for in vain as the Indian

upbraided us The

EiTeci.

'^^^ Frontier Traders sensible they had

DDoa

ui«Trm

measures, as freed them from their present apprehensions ; for these services the province remains in my debt a considerable sum advanced out of my private fortune. Nrw.y,i,mof

still

Thc War with France here, having terminated by the reduction of Canada ettc new system of Politicks was adopted by the Indians, & a new system

Poll-

'Q 1700, a

lhere3'icuoo"ofcii

evidently pointed itself out for our adoption, on which

— An extensive

offer

my

now

presented to our view, and as our

sentiments.

Indian Affairs

general

in

it

may

alliance with Nations to first

I

then took the Liberty to

whom we were

almost strangers

steps must have a great and lasting effect upon

not be amiss here to shew the Slate of our Indian Affairs and

that of the several Indian N^itions at that Period.

whom we had any intercourse or Trade previous to the War, ^g^g principally the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, Twig/ttuxet nnd Indians of Ohio and Susquehanna, the latter Emigrants from some of the rest. I take no notice of those o{ New England, or of any small domesticated Tribes; as being of little importance in War or Trade at that period, neither do I take any notice of ihe Minsissaga alliance, which existed only on the Books of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs from a few of them having in the year 1723, '^^^ Indians with

Bute of n" O

Cnnitrcvw* amongst

whole Confederacy and so

The Shawanese and Delawares with -

jeo«..

principal of

them

at the Detroit

assumed

himst-lf the

Command

of the Place, and was saluted

as such by the Indians; he presided at their Councils, and with several others, after passing

their faith for the security of Capt" Campbell,' impudently Catechised him,

and the

rest,

and

advised that they should be put to death as was distinctly heard by some Traders, well verstd

who were then prisoners but made their escape thereupon and from and other intelligence, and the accounts transmitted by L' Col Gladwin it appears that above 40 of the FVench were not only advising, but actually aiding and assisting to the Indians in their attemps upon the Fort and Vessels, & taught them to prepare Uafls for burning the l^l'^r, and that they likewise were aiding and assisting in plundering several of iiieir trf.tmeni of in the Indian language,

;

their

:

ihoTrBderi

^^^ Traders, and not only received their goods, but took from them their watches Cloathes and some notes of hand, which they had formerly given these Traders for debts due to them, the much greater part of which, cannot yet be recovered. Whilst this was transacting at and about the Detroit, their

many

Countrymen

of them were not only privy

Miamis and

at the

in

other quarters were as busy

but aiding and forming the plans for the attack of the

to,

& some of them actually inveigled Traders to come on shore to them for which they no sooner did, than they were seized, some of them killed, and all their goods confiscated. Yet several of these Men, tho' well known, have hitherto escaped punishment, & many more might be convicted by intercepted letters, (some of them in my hands) which fully shew the good understanding, and politics of a great part of that Nation at Such was the conduct of our new acquired that time throughout the whole Continent. subjects, and these were the first proofs they gave of their allegiance; indeed many of them in the Capitals, were doubtless sensible of the folly of such a conduct, and many more could not other Posts

;

protection,

—

from circumstances of scituation, opportunity, did not in the

ettc.

let it slip, to their

join in

it

;

but the greater part of those

who had

the

great emolument, and were themselves foolishly sanguine

hopes of a Revolution of Govern' as their letters and assurances to many of the prisoners

will fully

shew.

What

stop, taken by Sir

wm. johawn ^^

stcps I took to secure the majority of the Six Nations and

^^^ interest, and

with the successes attending

it,

in

prevailing on large partys to go against

are I hope

known,

as well as that

it

many the

others

Enemy,

contributed a good deal

to put an end to the War in the following year, when the Indians divided amongst themselves, and alarmed at the apprehensions of quarrels between each; several baviug withdrawn their assistance previous to the movement of the Two Armys, Tf»r bron ht In * •oDciiuioD j^j^g remainder were brought to terms of submission and peace; by which another opportunity was ofTered to us for continuing them in that state ; but now a new The New •ytiem of In- svstem began to be adopted by both Inhabitants, Traders, and Indians. wdiodtaiu. former whose knowledge of these aSairs are chiefly drawn from the public prints, were induced to think from the appearance which the Treaties made, that the Indians tbeireiTecu

might never more give them any trouble, depressed on the '

DoVALD Caufbcll

wm sppoinUd

he obtained a Company

from Fort

Pitt,

succeeded in the

to talie poaseuion

command

Lieatonant in the

6ftth

or Royal Ainerioans on the 4th January, 1768, in which aorpa

In I76U, he eomrnacded th« detachment of hi* regiment that aeoompaniod Major of Detroit, and became

a few year* afterward*

by Pontiao into his power, wa* 111 ; Parkman't Pantiae, 261.— Eo.

siege of Detroit,

Michigan, 88,

in 1759.

slightest occasions, they are as

commandant

by Major Gladwin,

(

cruelly put to daath

of that poet in

tupra, p. 961,)

December

following.

Rogen He wa«

and having been enticed during ths

by the Indiana

in the

summer of 17M. Lmitmtm't

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

9g4

and inconsiderately reassumed their old conduct with regard to Sundry grants were projected and applyed for in places most alarming to, and Lands. in viewing these lands caused the tenderly affecting the Indian's Rights: the very steps taken was about being surveyed, and Kayaderosseros utmost uneasiness; the great patent of the whole Six Nations, who divided, which sensibly affected the Mohawks, and in them Low Agents made Low AR.nl. marte pubHcly applied to me that justice might be done them. easily and causelessly elated,

—

Grants from the Six Nations, took upon them to call the meetings of Indians, and tlio' forbade by the Royal Proclamation, and by the express interposition of Govern' here from intermeddling therein, continued, and still continue to foment divisions in their Villages, and to keep them in a state of continued drunkeness, to the imilL'ni'oiSr use of to obtain

great annoyance of the Inhabitants, until they had eflfected their purposes; and numbers of the frontier Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia ettc, animated with

e™.i,.