gov. dongan's report on the PROVINCE OF NEW- YORK.

it has been formerly

patented to people at Albany

@ have promised the Indians that they shall have

them a church @ have assured the people of Albany that I would adas to your Lo'p s that care may bee taken to send over by the first five or six it being

priests and that I will build

dress his Ma4

>'

a matter of great consequence.

@

those at a great distance from These Indians have about 10 or 12 castles (as they term them) one another, soe that there is an absolute necessity of having soe many priests, that there bee three the rest to live with those that are Christians, By that always travelling from castle to castle,

@

means the French Priests will be obliged to retire to Canada, whereby the French will be divested of their pretence to y e Country @ then wee shall enjoy that trade without any fear of being diverted, About 30 years ago I find a very small matter will serue the French for a pretence of right. 6 or 700 of them taking advantage of the Indians being abroad soe farr as Cape Florida at warr came

down @ burnt a castle of the Maquaes wherein there were none but old men women @ children which the rest of the Indians hearing pursued the French to a place called Sconectade about 20 miles above Albany where they had every man been cut off' had not one Corlarr (a Dutchman so beloved of the Indians that in memory of him they call all Governors by that name) interposed However from that time they have fancied to themselves that they have a right to the country so farr as that place