To this it may not be improper to add the following Original Letter.
From J. A. Esq; to Mr. P. C. of London, shewing the Success of the Measures taken at that Time.
New-York, 1740.
SIR,
If you should be at the Pains to read these printed Papers, it will be a Pleasure to you to hear of the Success of the Measures taken by Governor Burnet for redeeming the Indian Trade out of the Hands of the French. He has succeeded far above our Expectations.
Governor Burnet, through his earnest Application, and at first chiefly with his Money, Credit, and Risque, erected a Trading-House and Fortification at the Mouth of the Onondagues River, called Osneigo, where the Province of New-York supports a Garrison of Soldiers, consisting of a Lieutenant and twenty Men, which are yearly relieved.
At this Place a very great Trade is carried on with the remote Indians, who formerly used to go down to the French at Monreal, and there buy our English Goods, at second Hand, at above twice the Price they now pay for them at Osneigo; whilst, at the same time, the French were chiefly supplied by one Gentleman at New-York, who almost entirely engrossed the Indian Trade of this Province, and thereby acquired a very great Estate and Influence. But the prudent Steps taken by our late worthy Governor, to open a free Trade, was the Cause of the Engrosser's losing his.—The Probability of doing this, was the principal Motive of our applying to the King, which is shown by these printed Papers.
The Indian Trade, to the great Advantage of this Province, is now divided into several hundred Hands, and there have been for many Years past upwards of one hundred young Men of this Province, who have gone yearly among the Indians, to supply them with our Goods.
By this means, at a modest Estimate, I am assured, that the Indian Trade of this Province is now far above five times as much as when Governor Burnet began to put his Scheme in execution.