our Settlements, in cafe of a Rupture with the French, it will be in the Power of this Province, to intercept the greatest Part of the Trade between Canada and the Indians, round the Lakes and the Branches of the Mifilippi. Since this Act paffed, many Nations have come to Albany to trade, and fettle Peace and Friendship, whofe Names had not fo much as been heard of among us. In the Beginning of May 1723, a Nation of Indians came to Albany finging and dancing, with their Calumets before them, as they always do when they come to any Place where they have not been before. We do not find that the Commiffioners of Indian Affairs, were able to inform themfelves what Nation this was. Towards the End of the fame Month, eighty Men, befides Women and Children, came to Albany in the fame Manner. These had one of our Five Nations with them for an Interpreter, by whom they informed the Commiffioners, that they were of a great Nation, called Nebkereages, confifting of fix Caftles and Tribes; and that they lived near a Place called by the French Miffilimakinak, between the Upper Lake and the Lake of the Hurons. Thefe Indians not only defired a free Commerce, but likewise to enter into a ftrict League of Friendship with us and our Six Nations, that they might be accounted the Seventh Nation in the League; and being received accordingly, they left their Calumet as a Pledge of their Fidelity. In June another Nation arrived, but from what Part of the Continent we have not learned. In July the Twightwies arrived, and brought an Indian Interpreter of our Nations with them, who told, that they were called by the French Miamies, and that they live upon one of the Branches of the River Mififfippi. At the fame Time fome of the Tabfagrondie Indians, who live between Lake Erie and the Lake of the Hurons, near a French Settlement, did come and renew their League with the English, nor durst the French hinder them. In July this Year, another Nation came, whose Situation and Name we know not. And in August and September, feveral Parties of the fame Indians that had been here laft Year. But the greatest Numbers of these far Indians have been met this Year, in the Indian Country by our Traders, every one of them endeavouring to get before another, in order to reap the Profits of fo advantagious a Trade, which has all this Summer long, kept about forty Traders conftantly employed, in going between our Trading-places in our Indian Country, and Albany, All these Nations of Indians who came to Albany faid, that the French had told them many ftrange Stories of the English, and did what they could to hinder their coming to Albany, but that they had refolved to break through by Force. The Difference on this Score between the Tabfagrondie Indians and the French (who have a Fort and Settlement there, called by them Le Detroit) rose to that Height this Summer, that Mr. Tonti who commanded there, thought it proper to retire, and return to Canada with many of his Men. We are for thefe Reasons well affured, that this Year there will be more Beaver exported for GreatBritain, than ever was from this Province in one Year; and that if the Custom-house Books at London be looked into, it will be found, that there will be a far greater Quantity of Goods for the Indians, (Strouds efpecially) fent over next Spring, than ever was at any one Time to this Province; for the Merchants here tell us, that they have at this Time, ordered more of these Goods, than ever was done at any one Time before. These Matters of Fact prove beyond Contradiction, that this Aft has been of the greateft Service to New-York, in making us acquainted with many Nations of Indians, formerly entirely unknown and Strangers to us; in withdrawing them from their Dependance upon the French, and in uniting them to us and our Indians, by Means of Trade and mutual Offices of Friendship. Of what great Confequence this may be to the British Intereft in general, as to Trade, is apparent to any Body. It is no lefs apparent likewife, that it is of the greatest Confequence to the Safety of all the British Colonies in North-America. We feel too fenfibly, the ill Effects of the French Interest in the prefent War betwixt New-England, and only one Nation of Indians fupported by the French. Of what difmal Confequences then might it be, if the French fhould be able to influence in the fame Manner, fo many. and fuch numerous Nations, as lie to the Weftward of this Province, Penfylvania and Maryland? On the other Hand, if all thefe Nations (who affert their own Freedom, and declare themselves Friends to those that supply them best with what they want) be brought to have a Dependance upon the English (as we have good Reafon to hope, in a fhort Time they will) the French of Canada, in cafe of a War, must be at the Mercy of the English. To thefe Advantages must be added, that many of our young Men having been induced by this Act to travel among the Indians, they learn their Manners, their Languages, and the Situation of all their Countries, and become inured to all Manner of Fatigues and Hardships, and a great many more being refolved to follow their Example; these young Men, in case of a War with the Indians, will be of ten Times the Service, that the fame Number of the common Militia can be of. The Effects of this Act have likewife fo much quieted the Minds of the People, with Refpect to C 4 the the Security of the Frontiers, that our Settlements are now extended above thirty Miles further Weft towards the Indian Countries, than they were before it paffed. The only Thing that now remains to answer, is an Objection which we fuppofe may be made, What can induce the Merchants of London to petition against an Act, which will be really fo much for their Intereft in the End? The Reason is in all Probability, because they only confider their present Gain ; and that they are not at all concerned for the Safety of this Country, in encouraging the most neceffary Undertaking, if they apprehend their Profit for two or three Years may be leffened by it. This Inclination of the Merchants has been fo notorious, that few Nations at War with their Neighbours, have been able to restrain them from fupplying their Enemies with Ammunition and Arms. The Count D'Eftrade, in his Letters in 1638 fays, That when the Dutch were befieging Antwerp, one Beiland, who had loaded four Fly-boats with Arms and Powder for Antwerp, being taken up by the Prince of Orange's Order, and examined at Amfterdam, faid boldly, That the Burghers of Amfterdam bad a Right to trade every where: That he could name a Hundred that were Factors for the Merchants at Antwerp, and that he was one. That Trade cannot be interrupted, and that for his Part he was very free to own, that if to get any Thing by Trade it were necessary to pass through Hell, he would venture to burn his Sails. When this Principle fo common to Merchants, is confidered, and that fome in this Place have got Eftates by trading many Years to Canada, it is not to be wondered that they have acted as Factors for Canada in this Affair, and that they have tranfmitted fuch Accounts to their Correfpondents in London, as are confiftent with the Truft repofed in them by the Merchants of Canada. In In the laft Place, we are humbly of Opinion, that it may be proper to print the Petition of the Merchants of London, and their Allegations before the Lords of Trade, together with the Answers your Committee has made thereto, in Vindication of the Legislature of this Province, of which we have the Honour to be a Part, if your Excellency fhall approve of our Anfwers: That what we have faid may be exposed to the Examination of every one in this Place, where the Truth of the Matters of Fact is best known; and that the Correspondents of these Merchants may have the most publick Notice to reply, if they fhall think it proper, or to difown in a publick Manner, that they are the Authors of fuch groundless Informations. by All which is unanimously and humbly submitted Your Excellency's Moft obedient humble Servants, R. Walter, Cadwallader Colden, Rip Van Dam, Ja. Alexander, John Barberie, Abraham van Horn. A Memorial concerning the Furr-Trade of the Prefented to his Excellency William Burnet, Efq; I T has of late been generally believed, that the Inhabitants of the Province of New-York are foadvantageously fituated, with refpect to the Indian Trade, and 1 |