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

IV. The Report of the said Lords to His Majesty on the Merchants Petition, and other Allegations.

V. The Report of the Committee of Council of the Province of New-York, in Answer to the said Petition.

VI. A Memorial concerning the Furr-Trade of New-York, by C. Colden, Esq;

TO THE

King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council,

The Humble Petition and Representation of Samuel Baker, Samuel Storke, John Bayeux, Richard Jeneway, Robert Hackshaw, Joseph Low, Joseph Paice, George Streatfield, William Parkin, and John Evered, Merchants of London, trading to New-York, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Persons concern'd in the New-York Trade.

SHEWETH,

That by an Act passed in New-York the 19th of November, 1720, entitled, An Act for Encouragement of the Indian Trade, and rendering it more beneficial to the Inhabitants of this Province, and for prohibiting the selling of Indian Goods to the French, all Trade whatsoever is prohibited in the strictest Manner, and under the severest Penalties, between the Inhabitants of New-York Government, and the French of Canada, or any Subjects of the French King, or any Person whatsoever, for or on the behalf of any such Subjects; and which Act was to continue in force for three Years.

That the Reasons assigned in the Preamble of this Act, for the passing thereof, are, For that the French at Canada, by means of Indian Goods purchased from the Inhabitants of New-York, had not only almost wholly engrossed the Indian Trade to themselves, but had, in great measure, withdrawn the Affections of the Five Nations of Indians from the Inhabitants of New-York, and render'd them wavering in their Faith and Allegiance to your Majesty; and would, if such Trade was not prevented, wholly alienate the Minds of the said Indians, which might prove of dangerous Consequence to the English Interest in America.

That this Act was sent home for your Majesty's royal Consideration, but your Petitioners do not find that your Majesty ever signified your Allowance or Disallowance thereof; from whence, and from the Act's being to continue but three Years, your Petitioners humbly conceive the same was suffered to lie by probationary, to see whether the said Act, in its Effects, was really advantageous or prejudicial to the British Trade and Interest in America.