Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York / For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada

by Cadwallader Colden; Great Britain. Board of Trade; Great Britain. Privy Council; New York . Council

After having as above, related what had passed between them and the Governor of Canada, they sent the following Message from themselves.

Brethren of the Six Nations, "We hear the Governor of New-York has invited you to meet him; we intreat you not to mind any Thing he shall say, in order to set you against us; for if you do, you, as well as we, must all die. Wherefore, Brethren, we conjure you by all the Ties of Friendship subsisting between us, to inform us of any Design that is plotting against us; and that when any such Thing shall be discovered, you will send an Express to Cadarackui[14], where our Fire always burns.

"Brethren, We shall be glad to see you next Spring at Cahnuaga, to hold a Council together, where you shall be as safe and welcome as ever.

"Brethren, The Governor our Father, being informed, that your Governor is raising Men to come against Canada, desires us to tell you, that he has one thousand eight hundred Men at Crown Point, ready to give them Battle; in which Number, the Men of eight Castles of the Utawawas are included.

"Brethren, Be not angry at our destroying Saraghtoga last Fall; Col. Schuyler dar'd us to it, by saying he wished to see a French Army there: We gratified him in his Wish."

A Cahnuaga Indian was sent along with the Prisoner that was restored; but when he came near the Settlements of the Six Nations, his Heart fail'd him, and he sent the Prisoner forward by himself with the Message.

The Readiness with which the Six Nations communicated this Message, and the flight they in all Appearance put upon it, is some Proof of their Sincerity in the Promises they made to his Excellency; neither from any Thing which has happened can it be shewn, that they were not sincere. On the contrary, it appears by Mr. Johnson's Letter to his Excellency of the 21st of October, that several Parties are now out against the French; and that Mr. Johnson having received Orders from Col. Roberts, to send as many Indians as possible to join the Army, all the Mohawks, even their oldest Men, were fitted out and ready; and having sent to the upper Castles at the same Time, they appeared so hearty, that there would not have remained above three old Men in any of the next Castles: And that Col. Roberts afterwards contradicting these Orders, they had appeared very uneasy on their being stopt. It was not expected that they would enter into the War without us, or by themselves, neither are they a People of so little Thought, as to give any Reason to expect it from them.

When the Companies raised in Pensylvania arrived at Albany, his Excellency was informed by their Captains, that Mr. Thomas Governor of that Province, had sent Conrad Weiser their publick Interpreter, among the Susquehannah Indians; and that they expected his Arrival at this Place in a little Time, with at least three hundred Indians. The Treaties with the Indians, which Mr. Thomas has published, gave great Hopes of the Success that Interpreter would have; and thereby increased the Disappointment, when Mr. Weiser arrived a few Days before his Excellency left Albany, and did not bring one Indian with him.

His Excellency Governor Clinton, had perhaps more Difficulties to struggle with on this Occasion, than any Governor of New-York had at any Time: The Six Nations had on several Occasions given Grounds of Mistrust; the Governor of Canada was attempting all the Means in his Power to divert their Affections from us; the People of the County of Albany had for some Time past, entertained a Dissatisfaction in the Conduct of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs; the Commissioners themselves were divided in their Sentiments, and several of them refused to attend their Meetings; and they confessed to his Excellency, that they had lost all Influence on the Indians; Mr. Gooch having declined the Command of the Forces at Albany, his Excellency was forced likewise to undertake a new and great Care, which he in no Manner expected when he left the City of New York, and which from many Incidents, was attended with many Difficulties. If these Things be duly considered, and the Dangers his Person was in from the Infection of two different Diseases, which at that Time raged in the City of Albany, of which great Numbers died during his Residence there of near three Months; none can doubt of his hearty Zeal for the Success of an Affair, in which the Safety and Prosperity of all the Colonies in North America, were immediately concerned.

But as every one may not be sufficiently apprized of what Consequence the Six Nations being hearty, is to the Interest of Great-Britain, it may be proper to observe, That though a Number of Indians to march with the Army, which was intended to attack Canada, would be of great Use in discovering and defeating the Ambushes of the Enemy's Indians, while they were every Day to be guarded against by the Forces which were to march by Land, and would by their Incursions into the Enemy's Country, terribly harass them, and keep them from joining their Forces into any great Body to oppose the Design; these are not the most considerable Advantages might be gained from the Affection of the Six Nations at this Time, or any Time of War; for if the inland Extent of the Colonies from Nova Scotia to Georgia be considered, and at the same Time the numerous Indian Nations on the Continent of America, who may by the Artifices of the French be induced to make Incursions every where; and the cruel Methods by which the Indians make Incursions in small Parties, from the vast Forest which every where covers the Continent, and which in many Places is impenetrable; it must evidently appear, that though the English Colonies be of much superior Force in Numbers of Men, yet their Number would not be sufficient to protect their Frontiers from the Incursions of the Indians in every Place: And, that while their Forces must in this Case be divided and scattered all over their Frontiers, it may be in the Power of the French in Canada, to invade with Success any Part of the English Colonies. On the other Hand, if a proper Attempt were to be made by the Northern Colonies alone, without the Assistance of their Mother Country, but with the Assistance of the Indians, it would in all Appearance be sufficient to reduce Canada; for if the Indian Nations can be persuaded to join heartily, (as from what is above related it seems probable they may) it will be impossible for the Inhabitants of Canada to defend themselves from the Incursions of these numerous Indian Nations, and from a Body of regular Troops at the same Time. As the French are very sensible of these Advantages to be gain'd from the Friendship of the Indian Nations, they neglect no Means in their Power to procure them: And it is to be hoped, that the Northern Colonies will be no less assiduous in a Matter on which their Well-being at least depends.