O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.

proposing that then when I could know the whole amount of his debt I would at once doe my best to secure the Kings concerns from sustaining any loss by him At last hee brought in a book without being signed and said he could not lieve them neither, Mr Blathwayt Whereupon we were forct to give him 3 weeks longer to get them copied @ then with great adoe he signed them @ brought …

@ he suspended Maty pleasure should be known from thereon @ @ hee taken into the Sheriffs custody and there remain till hee should give in such security as in the said orders is expressed as relation to the said orders had, may more at large appear Upon search of the Pap's relating to his Maty s revenue I found a charge drawn up against myself with letters to his Maty Lord …

I am sure if I had not taken more care of the Revenue than hee did since I found his failure it had been more embezled than it is for though he received the money I was obliged to continual watching to guard against his carelessness @ neglects And truly what he takes very ill what there is neither president nor establishment for In his commission hee has allowed him ,£200 p …

Besides this Mr Smith being his Deputy-Surveyor @ of £50 p aim as his deputy £40 P' ann as his acwould have allowance to him Book-keeper, hee r comptant £30 P ann for his transcribing his books £20 P r annum P r his diet besides his salary for For John Harlow hee would have allowed £30 P ann as waiter, £48 P ann as being Surveyor, employed in the Kings service where or how noe …

Of his own head hee bought a little rotten tool of a sloop on pretence for his Mat 5s service, which as your Lop s may see by their audit, has stood the King in near £100 @ now cannot be sold for thirty soe must either be laid up or burnt In his instructions @ by several orders from me @ the council he was expressly forbid to trust out his Mat ys revenue notwithstanding I was …

And besides notwithstanding his confused way of accounting @ being without a cheque upon him as aforesaid, he is found by his own accounts brought into the audit to bee £1758 15 shillings threepence and | ths of a penny in debt to the King as your Lop s may see by the said audit which (as is to bee feared) is all gone besides his salary and pquisits, on which he might have …

Hee is likewise very troublesome to the present management of liis Mat 73 customs I desire that as soon as may bee I may know what his M&P 3 pleasure is should bee done with him, what ace* I have here given y Lopi of him is as moderate as may bee farr short of what I might have represented @ yet have spoken nothing but the truth. What I have done has not been out of malice …

Thus my Lords I have given you as good an account of the Revenue received, @ by whom as I can mismanaged and by what meanes I shall theres fore now proceed to give your Lopp an estimate of what charge the maintenance of this Govermt has been hitherto to mee @ what will bee requisite for its further support Its a very hard thing upon mee that coming over hither in troublesome …

@ on the Lord Howard of Effingham when here with his train Governor Pen, commissioners from Boston @ other colonies, the Gov of Connecticut East @ West Jersey, the running the line between this @ East Jersey, and the like between Connecticut and this, tho' that last not yet finished besides the establishment as will appear by my books when audited @ sent over, which shall be …

the judges such as devote themselves wholly to that soe small to support them @ their familys in that station as is set forth in their petition which I have herewith sent to his Maty for his consideration, neither can the Attorney-generals small perquisites bee able to maintain him in going thro his Mat ys concerns, which may take up his whole time, without the addition of …

Mr Santen taxes me with covetousness in not allowing sufficiently to the officers employed. gardly I have not been, but the revenue being soe small to bee as good a husband for the King as I could Nig- % having soe great a charge, I endeavored I'm sure better than I ever was for myself. And truly I have been put soe to it to make things doe that what small pquisits I got, I …

Now My Lords before I proceed to answer the rest of your queries I will take occasion here to give your Lop satisfaction as to those articles Mr Santer has been pleased to draw up against Answer s to n,er 3 cha rgM mee a copie whereof I herewith send for y r Lopp s perusal the scope of which being to c iial,g e me w j£ja mismanagement of his Mat ys affairs, I thought noe place …

This is noe less true than the other as appears by Major Brokhelles testimony &c @ truly had I any such design I had not communicated with the Kings collector especially to a man of his disposition @ subject to soe many follies @ infirmity s that he was never capable of concealing his own @ always made the debates of the Council (while he was a member of it) the subject matter …

But Mr Santen too was mistaken in this they did not clear for the wreck @ least they should make incursion upon the Spaniards I took security from them that they should not, in short for my justification on this point I refer myself to the testimonies of Frederic Flipson @ Beakman @ the obligation aforesaid herewith sent To the Fourth Copartnership with Mr Antill for Jamaica …

to make over his share in the vessel for what security hee could give mee, hee proposed Upon which in kindness to him I let him have the money @ took the vessel in security for it @ by him sent as a venture ten Barils of Oyle of a drift Whale that came to my share, @ thirteen half Barils of Flower, to purchase Sugar Molasses Sweetmeats Oranges and other necessaries for use in …

m in Whereupon S r have the his own share in Kings @ her soe hee brought her hither reward of his good service gave him where shee being a Dutch built @ and the man having a mind to sell her, had her condemned at a Court of Admiralty. Upon which I forgave him the Kings share which by apprizement amounted y e dutch for fishing with one deck as doth appear by Mr Beekman's …

Neither had I any advantage by that vessel as Mr Santen knows tho' hee had by making George Heathcot pay him ninety pounds @ charges which was more then the third part the condemnation came to soe that I hope this is not the voyage hee charges the King with soe much for, tho' it is the only remarkable one hee ever made @ yet but ten miles distant from this place To the seventh …

what hee has done himself what goods he has admitted to entry without examination contrary to Act of Assembly @ my order as appears by his own books to the great diminution of his Mat!S revenue in this Province neither does he remember what bills of store hee has granted : notwithstanding several orders to the contrary To the eighth concerning one Riddell Mr Santen does mee …

where when they came they broke open the door upon this Riddell who being still drunk endeavoured to keep them out @ in the struggling stabbed Mr Vaughton. Whereupon he was secured in prison where hee lay a long time till Vaughton recovered. Afterwards the lodging, poor Sprag Mr Vaughton @ himself @ Mr @ several others hee was set at liberty, and on a petition of his to the …

@ indeed they met with such reception as they deserved, the sheriffs took noe other Whereupon I being somewhat surprised at his manner of notice of them than to send them to mee proceedure called him before the Council where (being asked how he came to issue forth such warrants) his answer was that to his knouledge the Lord Treasurer did soe in England, But here I would ask …

Santen speaks true in saying I have been covetous) it was in the management of this small revenue to the best advantage, @ had Mr Santen been as just as I have been careful, the King had not been in debt, as I had more in my pocket than now I have It may be true when I called for the King's money @ accompts from Mr Santen @ I met with unbecoming returns I might use some …

Nicolls looking upon them to bee honest men @ agreed with them for £20 P P s @ what they could make over @ above they should deliver to Mr Santen That Dan. Whitehead offered me three pounds for my license it is false, or that I had <£10, from Nicolls @ Vaughton is likewise false as doth appear by Mr Nicolls testimony @ would by that of Mr Vaughton were hee here. Neither had I …

allegation in his memorandums that Shaw was put in for satisfaction for two or three years pay due to him, it is wholly untrue as does appear by the testimony of Mayor Baxter, Mr Coker, @ by the receipt under Shaws own hand To the Thirteenth concerning the deprivations of the Officers fyc This John Smith is a man that if hee were as honest as hee is able the King had had more …

@ by them built upon whose buildings have been GOV. dongan's report on the province OF NEW- YORK. since carried away by the overflowing of the river, It does not contain above fifteen or sixteen acres. I doubt not but I shall make it appear that I have done nothing in this to his King very good service in Albany. ceive I have done the Mat ys prejudice I con- The town of Albany …

The Ranslaers came @ brought me the same orders which I thought not convenient to execute @ which brings his Maf soe great a Revenue should bee in the hands of any particular men The town of itself is upon a barren sandy spot of land, @ the inhabitants live wholly upon trade with the Indians. By the meanes of Mr James Graham Judge Palmer @ Mr Cortlandt that have great …

near my P rquisits, viz, ten shillings for every house am but promised £300, which is not @ the like for every hundred acres patented by me, established by a committee appointed by the Assembly for the establishing of all fees, where Cap 4 Santen may remember himself was chairman, Alsoe what they have given to those other Gentlemen I know nothing of it @ upon my word in Gen 1 …

Mat y had granted that to them, so that I conclude it would be more inconvenient to keep it than to part with it. Therefore Judge Palmer having an interest in East-Jersey @ an influence with the Governor there, on his giving mee his obligation to pay as a fine the summ of £60. to the King in case hee should not think fit to forgive it @ the rent of twenty shillings p r ann. @ …

meers @ bounds the patent was passed in which Capt n Palmer is expressly bounded where hee adjoins to Hempsted by their line, And, wherein hee says the Hempsted people were frighted to let their Suits fall, its quite otherwise, for this Pearsall, upon the granting of this Patent got into possession of this land, inasmuch as Judge Palmer was forcet to commence suits against him …

for it. To the Seventeenth concerning Mr Grahams insinuation Mr Santen is in the right that Mr Graham is Attorney-general @ supervisor of all Patents @ soe made upon Mr Rudyard's going from this place to Barbadoes @ is a person understanding in the law, it being his whole business Wherefore I thought it not fit to pass any patents without his perusal least I might doe …

to doe so, that I might see by what Tenure they hold their lands, which I find genepaying noe acknowledgment to the King Whereupon being convinced of by the resolution of y e Judges the people for their own ease @ quiet @ that of their posterity which otherwise might have fallen under the lash of succeeding Governors, without the least murmuring have renewed their patents with …

Mr Santen sure when hee wrote this article against mee did not consider the obligation that was upon us both to advance the Kings interest in our several stations, far less how inconsistent it was with his office to bee the only pson aggrieved at the advancement of his Mat ys revenue, when the people themselves that are concerned are not only satisfied but pleased with it …

From Hempted I recd one hundred pound by forty @ that in Cattle which is far less than my pquisits they hauing upwards of 100.000 acres, I own alsoe I have received <£300 from the cirty of New York, @ have granted them nothing more than what they had from my predecessors, @ is now before his Maty for a confirmation The land that Mr Santen complains of to bee such a grievance …

presume not being perfected, I presume further to trouble your Lop s with what I have to say therein in my vindication The Kings share of Cobbys Ship came by apprizecobbysShip ment to £19 7 6^ which was by Judge Palmer paid into Capt" Santens own hands as appears by the testimony of Capt Palmer Merrins house As to Mr Merrits house it does not pay soe much rent as Capt Santen …

For Coker's house I am glad Capt n Santen has found so considerable a rent, for my part I never received a peny for it, therefore I shall now charge £72, more, being four years rent to Capt HoU6e Santens account for which he has not yet given the King credit There was a cooper liv'd in the next house to it and paid 12 or 15 pound p ann for winch I find no credit given to the …

Two or three years agoe S r John Worden sent me an order to give a long lease of them to any that would take it, I have not met with any such person @ I am sure if rebuilt by the King, it would @ Merrits house is in the same condition, as appears by the not give him the interest of his money return of the Survey made by some of the Council and Carpenters sent to view it As for …

justify what hee had said. Whereupon Mr Antill took out the execution against him (he not being him y e like message as before with the same effect then of the Council) but before the serving sent whereupon the execution was served Larkms Case As for Larkins case I refer to the orders of Council herewith sent And as for the Kings concerns going in a right channel I am sure …

Palmer Judge @ Graham attorney for the King, And *Mr jaGra- if Mr Santen would speak truth he must needs say they both have been very serviceable for the King in the advancement of his Revenue, @ that they still continue with their utmost endeavors soe to bee And though their way of living is by the law, yet their management has @ such other mild courses that were there was …

hee @ Major Brockhelles falling out, hee took occasion to seize his sloop, which the Council s taking security discharged from him till his Maty malicious further pleaonly bee to upon looking sure were known Mr Mayne coming here @ shewing mee his instruction, noe vessel has gone from hence thither since, And had I not relyed soe much upon Cap Santen none had gone, @ for his …

The negro-story I refer to the record herewith sent I never did anything since I came into the government without the advice @ consent of the Council The ship Charts was cleared upon trial Mr Santen had nothing to allege against her The sloop Lancaster is the same with that of Gov. Heathcot before mentioned The Boat of D'Morez was condemned for going to the Mill with Corn …

@ in consideration of his service in bringing home our people @ my own part in the sloop after shee was condemned with the proviso that if I willingly granted him liberty to doe, I forgave the Kings pay that share according to appraizement for which Bond his Maty did not approve of it hee should was accordingly taken, as will appear to y Lop s by the attested copie herewith …

abundance of Quakers preachers men @ Women especially; Singing Quakers, Ranting Quakers; Sabbatarians; Antisabbatarians Some Anabaptists some Independents; some Jews; in short of all sorts of opinions there are some, and the most part of none at all The Great Church which serves both the English @ the Dutch is within the Fort which is found to ; The church bee very …

And hee himself went with some soldiers to surprise them, intending when he had done it to keep possession by a Fort he designed to make at a place called Seabrook but was prevented by the opposition of two Companys of men then lodged there ready to goe out ag st the Indians with whom they were in Warr Much less it can subsist now without it, being at more expense than in the …

Weighing this with the reasons aforementioned, I hope his Ma*y will be graciously pleased to add And the people thereof that Colony to this which is the Centre of all His Dominions in America. 8 service and have expressed upon all occasions more Loyalty inclined more to his Ma^ been have than any other of these parts Likewise I am to give y r Lop s an account that since I …

I demanded the money from him to which hee returned for answer that he was Mr. Santen's servant @ would live @ die by him @ would not pay it without his order. On which an Extent was made out against him @ hee taken thereupon @ put into Prison Where after many endeavors of Mr Saten to the contrary as will appear by the Minutes of Council hee at last paid'j£l40 of it which I …

him to be arrested in an action of account at his Ma'y 3 suit, upon which hee lies a prisoner to answer it at the Court appointed for the management of his Maty 8 Revenue Mr Santen since Ms commitm* hath been soe unruly @ abusive to mee and the Council that in our own defence, Wee are force't to send him home, tbreatning us with Chains at least for what wee have done …

Santen his oath as appears by the Minutes of Council John Young had his oath given him but hee lives 1 50 miles from this, @ has no estate of his own and very old, that it is a thing impossible for him to serve There being a clause in my Instructions wherein I am limited not to act without five, therefore Mr John Spragg @ Major Jervis Baxter going for England, and there not …

His principal object ought to be to establish, the repose of the Colony by a firm and solid peace. But to render this peace durable he must lower the pride of the Iroquois, support the Illinois and the other alhes whom S r de la Barre has abandoned, and by a firm and vigorous policy to let the said Iroquois know that they will have every thing to fear if they do not submit to …

England to whom he has made representations by his Ambassador, will give orders to his Commandant to put a stop to these unjust pretensions, he, notwithstanding, considers it necessary to explain to him that he ought to do every thing to maintain good understanding between the French and English Yet should the latter, contrary to every appearance, rouse the Savages and afford …

other villages to unite with them against Mons r de la Barre, have changed their minds since they were assured that the peace concluded last year, as you desired, should not be broken by M. de la ; Barre, as they were maliciously told, and as a hundred false reports which are never ceased being [Vol. I.] would persuade them. To complete successfully what you have so well …

Onnontagues and those who are of their opinions, have operated powerfully on the minds of the said Senecas to induce them to resume thoughts of peace, as well as Mr. Arnout, bearer of this letter, who was present at what was done and said ; and who can inform you, and from whom you will be glad to receive this report. Since peace, through your care, will aparently last, we …

Do him the charity to exhort him to be a good Christian, as he was whose name he bears, and who was his brother. Recommend him I beseech you not to get drunk any more, as he promised when he was baptized, and to perform the duties of a Christian. One word convoked at Albany. from you will have a wonderful effect on his mind, and he will publish throughout that it is not true …

Oblige me, I request you, to have the enclosed sent to its address. Please, My Lord, pardon me the liberty which I take to present my humble respects to the Governor of Virginia, who is called among the Indians, Big Sword or Cutlass, who I learn is with you at Albany, to whom, some time ago, I caused to be restored an Englishman named Rolelman, whom these Indians here had …

The most to be feared is the Iroquois who are the most powerful in consequence of the facility with which they obtain arms from the English and the number of slaves they make daily among this is the only their neighbours by carrying away at an early age their children, whom they adopt means of their increase, for thro' their debaucheries of Brandy wliich lead them into …

and are ten leagues from Orange (Albany) the second is Oneyoust (Oneida) which can furnish one hundred and fifty men at from 15 to 20 leagues from Annie the third is Onnontague which could bring out three hundred men, ('tis one hundred leagues from Montreal) the fourth is Goyoguoain (Cayuga) which could put two hundred men a-foot, at twelve leagues from Lake Ontario, and the …

It is at the entrance of Lake Ontario from the extremity of which the Senecas are distant only five or six leagues, in a beautiful country towards the South. The position of this fort is sufficiently favorable to secure the barks against the storms and the atThe passage to be made through this lake is forty or fifty leagues before disembarking near the Senecas. The three barks …

opposition, by the permanent establishment of a post, with vessels on this lake, and by another fort DENONVILLE's EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA. and vessels on lake Erie which is only two leagues distant, by the Niagara River, from this lake Ontario ; but as tins post cannot be established until after the Iroquois are conquered, I shall, before entering into a …

reaching through tins lake the Illinois, and surmount by this communication with ships many of the difficulties experienced in the Rivers in consequence of the number of portages. Being masters of these two lakes and cruizing there with our vessels, the English would lose the Beaver trade in that quarter, of which they have abundance. A durable peace with the Iroquois Indians …

I consider that what troops we have, and what militia we can collect together, if we had them all with some of our Savages, would suffice to attack them but as it is not sufficient to make them let go their foot, and it becomes necessary to deprive them of all means of disturbing us in our settlements, we must not go after them to chastise them by halves but to annihilate them …

stand For as it would be very unfortunate not to vanquish them if we attack them, nothing ought to be neglected that can be done, to endeavor to destroy them and put it beyond their power against us. to injure the Colony. If we succeed, I calculate the English will lose their trade in that quarter. I find all our allies so discontented with us, and so dissatisfied on account …

I likewise sent to M. de Ladurantaye who is at lake Superior under orders from M. de Labarre, and to Sieur Duluth who is also at a great distance in another direction, and all so far beyond reach that neither the one nor the other can have news from me this year, so that not being able to see them all, at soonest before next July, I considered it best not to think of …

We shall, however, lose no time in putting ourselves in a position to resent the insults that the Iroquois may oifer the Colony, which would suffer very much if we were mastered, and we will not let pass any negotiations that offer so as to lull the Senecas who are the most insolent, and with whom there is no permanent peace to be expected, much less that they will observe it …

The said Sieur de La Forest having demanded my permission to go and join said Sieur de Tonty on M de Lasalle's business, I deemed it proper to select a capable person to guarantee the safety of the Post of Catarokvy. I chose Sieur D'Orvilliers a very prudent and intelligent man and who has much experience, whose conduct during M de Labarre's administration is praised and …

number of savages on whom I may depend he is accredited among them and rendered great services to M de Labarre by a considerable number of savages whom he brought to him to Niagara, who alone would have attacked the Senecas were it not for an express order from M de Labarre to the contrary. : On arriving here I found neither batteaux nor canoes for our troops, and as they are …

The means for preparing to wage war against the Iroquois, if the King approve of it, so that that Nation may not have any suspicion, remain to be considered. DENONVILLE's EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA. It is very much to be desired that first of all, sufficient flour into Catarokvy next year, so as to have nothing to enemy ; and other provisions might be put do …

so as to secure punctuality, since from the Illinois country there are four hundred leagues to be and from the Outaouacs and Savages of lake travelled to arrive at Niagara, the place of rendezvous ; Superior, three hundred leagues, and from Quebec nearly two hundred to the said place of Niagara. All this must make me think of putting myself in a condition to be, myself …

made of it will afford some imperfect idea by remarking the pitch in several places there. The surest remedy against the English of New York would be to purchase that place from the King of England who in the present state of his affairs, will, without doubt, require money of the King. By that means we should be masters of the Iroquois without waging war. M. DE DENONVILLE TO …

which shall be furnished him, will post himself with twenty good men at the River, communicating from Lake Erie with that of Ontario, near Niagara by which place the English who ascended Lake I regard, my Lord, as of Erie" must of necessity pass on their return home with their peltries. primary importance the prohibition of this trade to the English, who without doubt, would …

by them or have peace or war with them, they will submit with considerable impatience to see a fort built at Niagara which would secure to us the communication between the two lakes would render us masters of the road the Senecas take in going to hunt for furs, none of which they have on their own grounds it is likewise their rendezvous when hunting for their supplies of meat …

Independent of mere provisions, how many other necessaries and munitions are required This post, my Lord, would absolutely close the entire road to the Outaouacs against the English, and would enable us to prevent the Iroquois carrying their peltries to the latter for with the redoubt at Catarokouy which would serve us as an Entrepot to shelter our barks from the storms in …

able to take a trip thither myself, in order to furnish you with a more certain report thereon ; for to rely on Sieur de Villeneuve alone, he is a very good, very accurate, very faithful draughtsman, but in other respects he has not a very well ordered mind ; it is too confined to be able to furnish out of his own head any ideas for the establishment of a post and its …

Should this plan be agreeable to you, my Lord, please send masons and plenty of instruments to break up the ground and convey stone. You will be surprised, my Lord, to learn that Sieur de Chailly, of whom I had the honour to write you this fall, not being able to have his cmge from me to retire to France with all his property which denonville's expedition to the genesee …

-- have sent for the five Nations of Indians y belongs to this Governm*. to meet me at this place, to give them in charge that they should not goe to your side of the Great Lakes nor disturbe your Indians and Traders, butt since my coming here I am informed that our Indians are apprehensive of warr by your putting stores into Cataract [Cataraqui] and ordering some forces to …

Whether these Territories belong to our or the French King is not to be decided here, but by our Masters at home ; and your business & mine is to take Mapps of the Country so well as we can and to send them home for the limits to be adjusted there. am likewise informed that you are intended to build a ttbrt at a place called Ohniagero on this side of the Lake within my Masters …

though we have suffered much, and doe dayly by your People's trading within the King of England's territoryes. I have had two letters from the two Fathers that lives amongst our Indians, and I find them somewhat disturbed with an apprehension of war, which is groundlesse, being resolved that it shall not begin here, and I hope your prudent conduct will prevent it there, and …

DENONVILLE's EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA. my sending a gentleman to Quebec to conam constrained to make use of y e Father for j* safe This Rumor of y r coming to Cataracto has prevented gratulate your arryval in y e Governm* soe conveyance of this to your hands M. DE DENONVILLE TO GOV. DONGAN. [Par. Doc. III.l Ville marie, June 20. 1686. I received, Sir, the …

You know the savages sufficiently to be well assured that it would be very imprudent on my part You are not ignorant that it is impossible to get up there at all seasons if I were to have them conveyed to leave that place without having enough of supplies and munitions there for one year's time. ; for a large force, I should have used other means. The natural treachery of a …

What have I done to cause them the least uneasiness 1 And what do they want 1 In respect to the pretensions which you say you have to the lands of this country, certainly you are not well informed of all the entries into possession (prises de possessions) which have been made in the name of the King my Master, and of the establishments which we have of long standing on the …

Father de Lamberville has been so kind as to be the bearer of from me on the 6 th June last ought to suffice, Sir, to put you perfectly in possession of my intentions. It would be unnecessary that I should make any other reply to your last of the 22* of May, were it not that I was very glad hereby to prove to you again that I shall always feel a great pleasure in seizing every …

humour altogether differing from Monsieur de la Barre your predecessor who was so furious and hasty very much addicted to great words as if I had bin to have bin frighted by them. The Indians perad venture might justly offend him for they as you well remarke are not people of the greatest a and reputation, but certainly I did not amiss in offering sincerely to compose the …

have heard that before ever the King your Master pretended to Cannida, the Indians so farr as the South Sea were under the English Dominion and always traded with Albany Maryland and Virbut that according to your desire with very good reason is wholly referred to our Masters, and I heartily pray that neither you nor myselfe give occasion of any of the least misunderstanding …

had no time to kisse the King's hands and petition for itt a very great misfortune after so long service, for in the circumstances I was then in I served faithfully to the uttermost of my power. After I quitted France I went to Tangier and haveing left that place sometime after came hither so that I never had time to represent my case to His Majesty which I request you to …

Father de Lamberville, the elder, missionary among the Iroquois of the village of the Onontagues the letter which you took the trouble to write to me on the 27 th July. repeat, Sir, what I already had the honour to state to you that it will not be my fault that we shall not live in very good intelligence. I am willing to believe, Sir, that you will contribute thereunto on your …

You have proposed, Sir, to submit every thing to the decision of our Masters, yet your emissary to the Onnontagues, told all the nations in your name to pillage and to make war on us. This is so notorious a matter that it cannot be doubted, and it will be maintained before your emissary ; whether he acted by your order, or at the suggestion of your merchants at Orange, it has …

You had the civility to tell me that you would give me up all the deserters, who to escape the chastisement of their knaveries, take refuge with you; yet you, Sir, cannot be ignorant of those who are there, but as all these are for the major part bankrupts and thieves I trust they will finally give you reason to repent of having given them shelter, and that your merchants who …

I should have wished, Sir, that you had explained your case more clearly, and that you had placed in my hands the proofs or vouchers of your debt, so as to explain it to the King, for so many things pass through the hands of Mess his Majesty's Ministers that I fear M. de Lonnoy will not recollect your affair, which he cannot know except through the Intendant who was at Nancy …

It is no trifling My lord, to reestablish it in view of fhe expense and labor and the dreadful consequences of a war, absolutely necessary. But, My lord, when we are certain that it is God's business and the thing, King's glory that are in question, and that all those to whom they are committed have head and heart occupied only with zeal to perform their duty so as to have …

be much have recourse to open acts of hostility by firing our settlements, than to do what they are doing through the Iroquois for our destruction. The Country between Lakes Erie and Huron was thus called. Paris Doc. iii. 84. DENONVILLE's EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA. I know, beyond a moment's doubt that Mr. Dongan has caused all the Five Iroquois Nations to …

Father de Lamberville, Jesuit Missionary at Onontague, one of the five villages, being advised of the wicked designs of the English, set all his friends to work to avert the storm, and enjoining them to report everything to him, he obtained from them that they would not budge until he had seen During his absence Mr. Dongan sent an express to the Iroquois to notify them to …

Dongan's letters will sufficiently fices in the world, to debauch our Frenchmen and Indians. explain his pretensions which embrace no less than from the Lakes inclusive to the South Sea. Missilimackinac belongs to them. They have taken its elevation. They have been there treating with our Outawas and Huron Indians, who received them there very well on account of the excellent …

Thus you see, My lord, that the Senecas and the English understand each other charmingly, and are in perfect harmony and this alliance is made particularly with the army whom M. de la Barre went against, for at the time of his march the Senecas ran to Orange to find Colonel Dongan to beg him to take them under his protection, giving themselves over to him by a public Acte …

Doubtless he has given them to my late lord, your father. Father de Lamberville having given me an account of all the Colonel's intrigues which tended to take the Hurons away from us and to draw off the Outawas, I entrusted him with presents to gain over the principal and most intriguing of the Iroquois to secure the friendship of the young men ; DENONVILLe's EXPEDITION TO THE …

saying that theirs did not wish to return home. part of September, he gave Father de Lamberville returned here in the latter me an account of all his cares, and of all his troubles and fatigues. Whatever affection he may have for the mission where he has been stationed fifteen or sixteen years every year in danger of being killed by the Iroquois, he admits himself that nothing …

You will notice, My lord, by a letter of the Colonel's how desirous he is for something from the King which he says is due to him. He is a very selfish man, who would assuredly govern himself thereby if you thought proper but the fact is he is not the master of those merchants from whom he draws money. Father de Lamberville has returned with orders from me to assemble all the …

I am very sorry to see him exposed, but if I withdraw him this year the storm without doubt will burst sooner on us, for they would be sure ; ; of our plans by his retiring. have advices, notwithstanding, that the Five Nations are making a large war party, supposed to be against the Oumiamis and other savages of the Bay des Puans who were attacked this year, one of their …

Nothing more, My lord, is required to convince you that we cannot hesitate, and that the Colony must be put down as lost if war is not waged next year they destroy on all sides our allies who ; are on the point of turning their backs on us if we do not declare for them. The Iroquois plunder our canoes whereever they find them, and no longer observe appearances. Nevertheless …

I cannot draw more than eight hundred militia, one hundred of the best of whom will be required These will do nothing else than come and go during our exto manage the fifty canoes for convoys. pedition to transport provisions for our troops and for those whom we shall station during the winter at the Post which we must occupy either at Niagara or near the Senecas, to serve as …

As you, My lord, are perfectly acquainted with the ruinous condition of this Colony, you understand very well the deplorable consequences of this war which require that the settlements be confor in truth the establishment of the tracted, and it is here we must anticipate many difficulties Colony would have to be almost begun over again, and this it is which causes me repeat …

Those details, My lord, require considerable troops, which could not fail to greatly advance this country by laboring to draw (resserer) the Colony closer together and make it more compact, by means of forts around which clearances would be made. Al this, My lord, is no trifling work to be prepared. For what certainty can there be of destroying so powerful an enemy as that …

It is very certain that were I in a position to be able to send a strong detachment to the Mohawk Country by the River Richelieu whilst I was proceeding against the Senecas, not only should I create considerable alarm among the English which would keep them at home, but I would obtain a great advantage over the Iroquois by separating and pillaging them and laying waste their …

what I have, I must attack one after the other, and endeavour to raise another army, which it is impossible to effect at first. 'Tis true, were all done at once it would be much better, and promote our expedition and dishearten our enemies considerably. am very sorry, My lord, to witness all the expence necessary for the support of Fort Cataracouy, merely with a garrison of …

The letters I wrote to Sieurs du Lhu and de la Durantaye, of which I sent you copies, will inform you of my orders to them to fortify the two passes leading to Michilimaquina. Sieur du Lhu is at that of the Detroit of Lake Erie, and Sieur de la Durantaye at that of the portage of Taronto. These two Posts will block the passage against the English, if they undertake to go again …

Many difficulties may be encountered as well in regard to the nature of the Savages who are little accustomed to obedience and the prosecution of a design during several months, which are required to reach the rear of the Senecas from their country. Chevalier Tonty, who came to see me at Montreal in the month of July last, has I send repairing of our Savage allies to Niagara …

him, but I'm certain he will make great exertions to succeed in this affair in which he will participate largely if the Indians will allow themselves to be governed and led by him. cannot sufficiently He is a lad of great enterprize and boldness, who He left Fort des Illinois last February to seek after M. de la Salle at the lower end of the Mississippi. He has been as far as …

Canadians with him to march at the head of the Indians, which he hopes will encourage them. will have to walk three hundred leagues over land, for those Savages are not accustomed to canoes {ne so7it pas gens de Canot.) Now Peoria, 111. have greatly desired to shorten my letters to you. But, My lord, as it is necessary to inform you of the state of our affairs and to render …

Whilst we have the Iroquois on our hands, can we be certain of anything ] Solicited by the English, they daily plunder our canoes and openly declare they will continue (to do so) being unwilling that we should carry ammunition to the Savages, their enemies and our allies. The principal affair at present is the security of this Colony which is in evident danger of perishing …

The whole of the Hurons are waiting only Had I not by the care of Father de Lamberville fortunately avoided the for the moment to do it. war this year, not a single canoe would have come down from the forests without having been captured and plundered in the river of the Outtawas. We should have lost a great number of good ; men. This, My lord, is a long narrative about the …

Our march cannot begin before the fifteenth of May, for we must let the sowing be finished, and the storms before that time are furious on our river and Lake Ontario. I say nothing of the risks to be incurred that the harvest will not be saved next year on account of the war, nor of the necesBy sending us troops, many things will be done of which we dare not sity of making …

the English who had been to the Outtawas had been well received and invited to return among them with merchandize, and well nigh procured from the Iroquois the restitution of their prisoners, by which means they will be more attached to them than to us that the Merchants at Orange had urgently entreated Colonel Dongan to request the Senecas to surrender the prisoners that the …

All this cannot be accomplished without considerable expense, but still we must maintain our honor and our prosperity. The Oumeamies and other savages of the Bay des Puans have expressed much joy to me on learning that Sieur du Lhu was posted at Detroit, but 1 am very sorry to hear that Tonty has learned on the road that these same savages had quarrelled with the Illinois …

The M. de Denonville. M. DE DENONYILLE TO THE MINISTER. [ From the same. ] Quebec, 16th Nov. 1686. My Lord,--Since my letters were written a very intelligent man whom I sent to Manat, who has conversed and had Colonel has despatched much intercourse to winter with the Senecas with Colonel Dongan, reports to me that the said Manat among whom are some Frenchmen, whence they will …

But this detachment is not to leave until spring. I believe there is no room to doubt but the design Were the English once established there, they must be driven oft' or is to seize the post of Niagara. we must bid adieu to the whole trade of the country. depart, accompanied # ######### # The same man who came from Manat told me that within a short time fifty or sixty men …

Send me, if you please, orders on this point, for my disposition is to go straight to Orange, drive them into their fort, and burn the whole. I have nothing more to manage with the English. The English governor prompted at present by the cupidity of the merchants and by his avarice to drag money from them, pretends that all the country is his, and will trade thither though an …

of October 1686 and had sooner sent an answer, butt that I wanted a convenient opportunity to do itt, I find you was angry at the writing and therefore for fear it was ill turned into French for I have no great skill in your language, have I desire you to continue in your opinion that nothing shall bee wanting on my part that may contribute to a good and friendly …

ful for the English as French nations to trade there we being nearer by many leagues than you are I desire you to send me word who it was that pretended to have my orders for the Indiana to plunder and fight you; that I am altogether as ignorant of any enterprise made by the Indians out of this Government as I am of what you meane by " mihilmiqum " and neither have I acted any …

this people, and will when you send word who they are, expell, not detain them and use all possible means to preuent your good wishes and hopes that our merchants may suffer by them Tis true I ordered our Indians if they should meet with any of your people or ours on this side of the lake without a passe from you or me, that they should bring them to Albany and that as I …

-- : -- copies of them to Mons r Pagaion living in the street of S Hon e to putt them into the hands of Mons r Carillon Chaplaine to the Duchesse of Orleans, but, Sir, you need not to trouble yourself l about itt for I intend to get it represented out of England and doubt not but the King your master who is so bountiful a prince will be so just as to pay what became my due by …

MEMOIR FOR THE MARQUIS OF SEIGNELAY REGARDING THE DANGERS THAT THREATEN CANADA, THE MEANS OF REMEDYING THEM, AND OF FIRMLY ESTABLISHING RELIGION COMMERCE AND THE KING'S POWER IN NORTH AMERICA. JANUARY 1687. [ Paris Doc. III. ] Canada is encompassed by many powerful English Colonies who labour incessantly to ruin it, by them away with their peltries for which the English give …

King for nearly a century without the English having up to this present time had any pretension to it. They also employ the Iroquois to incite all our other Indians against us. They set them last year Hurons and the Outawas, our most ancient subjects swept by surprise from them more than 75 prisoners among whom were some of their principal Chiefs, killed several others, and …

Colonel Dongan, Governor of New York, has pushed this usurpation to the point of sending Englishmen to take possession, in the King of England's name, of the post of Mislimakinac which is a Strait communicating between lake Huron and lake des Illinois, and has even declared that all those lakes including the river St. Lawrence which serves as an outlet to them and on which our …

them to himself. That he sends thirty English to take possession of Missilimakinak and the lakes, rivers and adjoining lands and orders the Iroquois to escort them and to afford them physical assistance. 3. 4. That he has sent to recall the Iroquois Christians belonging to the Mohawk tribe, who have settled a long time ago at Saut St. Louis, adjoining the Island of Montreal …

The Iroquois pillage our Frenchmen every where they meet them, and threaten to fire their settlements which are much exposed and unfortified. These measures, and the discredit we are in among all the savages for having abandoned our allies in M. de la Barre's time, for having suffered them to be exterminated by the Iroquois and borne the insults of the latter, render war …

Commerce and the Kings' Power over all North America if he be granted the aid he demands. If the merit in the eyes of God, the Glory and utility which the King will derive from this succor be considered, it is easy to conclude that expense was never better employed since, independent of the Salvation of the quantity of Souls in that vast Country to which His Majesty will …

and a war is made to drag along, the continuation of winch for many years will cost His Majesty more to sustain than would the immediate expense necessary to guarantee its success and prompt termination. It is necessary to attack the Iroquois in two directions. The first and principal attack, through the Seneca Nation on the borders of Lake Ontario ; the second, by the River …

Of these there are sixteen companies which make 800 men and 800 selected from the habitans, 100 come Of these 3000 Frenchmen, of which he has only the half though incessantly to convey provisions. he boasts of more for reputation's sake, because the other habitans are necessary to protect and cultivate the farms of the Colony, a part must be employed in guarding the posts of …

supply them with officers to lead them, and to fortify them in their villages. If they be not attacked all at once at the two points indicated, it is impossible to destroy them or them from their retreat, but if encompassed on both sides, all their plantations^ of Indian corn will be destroyed, their villages burnt, their women, their children and old men captured and other …

EXTRACT FROM A MEMOIR OF THE KING TO SIEURS MARQUIS DE DENONVILLE AND DE CHAMPIGNY, DATED VERSAILLES, 30 th MARCH, 1687. *********** *********** [Pari* Doc. III.] His Majesty has no knowledge of the claim of Colonel D'Unguent for 25 m ,bs which he pretends to be due him in France ; therefore he has nothing to say about it. His Majesty has seen the Memoir that the said Sieur de …

And as a number of prisoners may be made, and His Majesty thinks he can make use of them in his Galleys, He desires him to manage so as to retain them until he have vessels for by the return of His Majesty's Ships which will convey the troops he can, even, send those which will have been captured before the departure of these ships. France ; COLL. DONGAN TO FATHER DE …

what country they conquer belongs to them as their own, yet I lay no stress on that, but I am still in doubt whither that land where the Indians goes to warr belongs to our King or to the King of France, but in all probability if I bee truly informed it must depend on the King of England territories it lying west and by south of this place and your countryes lye to the …

But I hear they pretend that they are affraid of the French but I hope that Mons de Nonville will well weigh the business before he invades any of the King of England's subjects I have no time to write to him at present but assure liim of my humble service and that I will write to him before I goe, haveing no other businesse here in sending for the Indians but to check them …

Other war parties who had gone against the people towards Virginia have also returned through the same troubles. The consternation of our enemies thus costs Colonel Dongan very dear. I have learned that a party has come from Virginia who brought a dozen prisoners, Englishmen, whom they will also burn, and this is a matter about which Monsieur Dongan gives himself scarce any …

The enclosed came to my hands last night from England with orders to have it proclaimed Sir which has accordingly bin done, what is there agreed upon I will observe to the least title and I doubt not but your Excell: will do the same and I hope bee so kinde as not desire or seek any correspondence with our Indians of this side of the Great Lake if they doe amisse to any of …

away our Indians to Canada as you have already done a great many, you must pardon me if I tell you that that is not the right way to keepe faire correspondence I have also been informed that you are told I have given to Indians orders to rob the French wherever they could meet them, that is as false as tis true that God is in heaven, what I have done Fathers' endeavours dayly …

intend to put amongst those five nations. I desire you would order Mons r de Lamberuille that soe long as he stayes amongst those people he would meddle only with the affairs belonging to his function and that those of our Indians that are turned Catholiques and live in Canada may content themselves with their being alone without endeavouring to debauch others after them, if …

as for newes, the ships lately come from England say all things are at peace both there and in France and that both our Masters are in very good health and that the Emperour and the King of Poland are very vigorous against the Turques am Sir Your most humble servant (Signed) r Tho. Dongan send you some Oranges hearing they are a rarity in your partes, and would send more, but …

DE DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER. ATTACK ON THE SENECAS ; ERECTION OF FORT NIAGARA. [ Paris Doc. III. ] Ville Marie, 25 August, 1687. The first thing with which I occupied myself on my arrival [at Irondequoit Bay] was to select a We post easily to be fortified for securing our batteaux to the number of 200 and as many canoes. cut 2000 palisades which we finished planting in the …

On the 13 th about four o'clock in the afternoon, having passed through two dangerous defiles, we arrived at the third where we were vigorously attacked by 800 Senecas, 200 of whom fired, wishing to attack our rear whilst the remainder of their force would attack our front, but the resistance they met produced such a great consternation that they soon resolved to fly. All our …

whom we durst not make sure having The Illinois performed their duty well. We had five or six men killed on the spot, French and Indians, and about twenty wounded, among the first of whom was the Rev Fath Angleran, superintendent of the Otaous missions, by a very severe gunshot. It is a great misfortune to us that this wound will prevent him going back again, for he is a man …

I deemed it our best policy to employ ourselves laying waste the Indian corn which was in vast abundance in the fields, rather than follow a flying enemy to a distance and excite our troops to catch found it burned and a fort quite nigh, abandoned ; it only some straggling fugitives. We learned from deserters that the Senecas had gone to the English where they will not be …

was in cache which we burnt and that which was standing, was computed according to the estimate afterwards made, at 400 thousand minots of Indian corn. 1 These There was a vast quantity of hogs which were four villages must exceed 14 to 15 thousand souls. a great many both of our Indians and French were attacked with a general rheum which put killed the loss, including old …

Returning to our batteaux I should have greatly wished to have been able to visit other villages, but the sickness, the extreme fatigue among all and the uneasiness of the savages who began to disband, determined me to proceed to Niagara to erect a fort there in their presence, and point out to them a sure asylum to encourage them to come this winter to war in small bodies. I …

He is a worthy fellow who richly deserves some share in the honour of your good graces and protection. He can be very useful to you in many things he is prudent and intelligent, very willing, and has well served on land. ; This post has caused much joy to all our farther Indians, who having no place of retreat, scarcely dared to approach the enemy. They have made me great …

the cause that of six 700 savages on whom we relied, only 80 came, which was the reason of their having been obliged to come to the fort of Detroit to join Sieurs du L'hut and de la Duranit was taye not being able to take the Senecas in the rear. On quitting Niagara I left M. de Vaudreuil there for a few days with the troops to cut fire wood, after having done what was …

to build, the destruction of the enemy's corn and the thirty leagues of road we had, going and coming, to travel by land, they will not have been idle. It was impossible for us to do any more than we accomplished, for provisions would have failed ##### ##*# us hadnve made a longer delay. #* It is full 30 years that I have had the honour to serve, but I assure you, my lord …

As I have of the movements the much dispose news of Iroquois, should like not to of all these not yet any Nevertheless, my lord, as you desire them, I shall content myself by retaining those only prisoners. who will be of use to me and are guiltless of all the disorders of others. Yet, my lord, be so good as to keep them in a place from which they can be withdrawn, in case of …

The body of the mine is not yet discovered. I have seen one of our voyageurs who assures me that he saw, 15 months ago, a lump 200 weight, as yellow as gold in a river which falls into Lake Superior. When heated, it is cut with an axe, but the superstitious Indians regarding this piece as a good Spirit would never permit him to take any of it. DENONVILLE's EXPEDITION TO THE …

France, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Calliere, Governor of Montreal in said country, Commandant of the camp under his orders,and of Philip de Rigaud, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Commandant of the King's troops, which being drawn up in the order of battle, Charles Aubert Sieur de la Chenays citizen of Quebec, deputed by Messire Jean Bochart, Chevalier, Seigneur de Champigny …

and laid waste, burnt and destroyed their provisions and cabins. Whereof and of what precedes, the said Sieur de la Chenays Aubert has required an Acte granted to him by me Paul Dupuy Esq. Done at the said Village Councilor of the King and his Attorney at the Provost's Court of Quebec ; : of Totiakton, the largest of the Seneca Villages in presence of the Rev d Father …

This day, the last of July of the year One Thousand Six hundred and Eighty seven, We declare whom it may concern, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Callieres, Governor of Montreal in to all the said Country and Commandant of the Camp under our orders, and of Philippe Derigaud, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Commanding the King's troops, being encamped with all the army at the post …

Moreover the said Sieur De la Salle having erected quarters (logemens) with settlers at the said Niagara in the year one thousand six hundred and Sixty Eight which quarters were burned Twelve years ago by the Senecas, which is one of the causes of discontent that with many others have obliged us to wage war against them, and as we considered that the houses we have thought fit …

to be subscribed by Mess rs de Callieres and Vaudreuil and by Monsieur Gaillard, and countersigned by Our Secretary. And they sign : J. Rene de Brissay, Marquis de Denonville, le Chevalier de Callieres, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Gaillard ; and lower down by Monseigneur Tophlin. [ From Council Min. V. ] ffort James Tuesday ye Mr Brockholes Informed y e 19^ July 1687. (0. S.) …