and enjoy so many Advantages as to Trade in general, that it is in their Power not only to rival the French of Canada, who have almost entirely engroffed the Furr-Trade of America, but that it is impoffible for the French to carry on that Trade in Competition with the People of this Province. The enquiring into the Truth of this Propofition, may not only be of fome Confequence, as to the Riches and Honour of the British Nation, (for it is well known how valuable the Furr-Trade of America is) but likewife as to the Safety of all the British Colonies in North-America. New-France (as the French now claim) extends from the Mouth of the River Mififfippi, to the Mouth of the River St. Lawrence, by which the French plainly show their Intention of enclosing the British Settlements, and cutting us off from all Commerce with the numerous Nations of Indians, that are every where fettled over the vast Continent of North-America. The English in America have too good Reafon to apprehend fuch a Defign, when they fee the French King's Geographer publish a Map, by which he has fet Bounds to the British Empire in America, and has taken in many of the English Settlements both in South-Carolina and New-York, within these Boundaries of New-France. And the good Services they intend us, with the Indians, but too plainly appears at this Day, by the Indian War now carried on against New-England.

I have therefore for fome Time paft, endeavoured to inform myfelf, from the Writings of the French, and from others who have travelled in Canada, or among the Indians, how far the People of this Province may carry on the Indian Trade, with more Advantage than the French can; or what Difadvantages they labour under, more than the French do. As all Endeavours for the good of oncs Country are excufable, I do not doubt but my Intention in this will be acceptable to your Excellency, though I be not capable of treating the Subject as it deferves.

I

I fhall begin with Canada, and confider what Advantages they have either by their Situation, or otherwife. Canada is fituated upon the River of St. Lawrence, by which the five great Lakes (which may properly be called, The five Inland Seas of North-America) empty themselves into the Ocean. The Mouth of this great River is in the Lat. of 50 Degrees, overagainst the Body of Newfoundland. It rifes from the Cataracui Lake, (the Eaftermoft of the five great Lakes) about the Lat. of 44 Degrees, and runs from thence about North-Eaft to the Ocean, and is about nine hundred Miles in Length, from that Lake to the Ocean. The five great Lakes which communicate with each other, and with this River, extend about one thousand Miles Weftward, further into the Continent. So far the French have already discovered, and their Discoveries make it probable, that an Inland Paffage may be found to the South-Sea, by the Rivers which run into thefe Lakes, and Rivers which run into the South-Sea.

The Method of carrying Goods upon the Rivers of North-America, into all the fmall Branches, and over Land, from the Branches of one River to the Branches of another, was learned from the Indians, and is the only Method practicable through fuch large Forefts and Deferts as the Traders pass thro', in carrying from one Nation to another, it is this; the Indians make a long narrow Boat, made of the Bark of the Birch-tree, the Parts of which they join very neatly. One of these Canoes that can carry a Dozen Men, can itself be eafily carried upon two Men's Shoulders; fo that when they have gone as far by Water as they can (which is further than is easily to be imagined, because their loaded Canoes don't fink fix Inches into the Water) they unload their Canoes, and carry both Goods and Canoes upon their Shoulders over Land, into the nearest Branch of the River they intend to follow.

Thus,

Thus, the French have an easy Communication with all the Countries bordering upon the River of St. Lawrence, and its Branches, with all the Countries bordering upon these In-land Seas, and the Rivers which empty themselves into thefe Seas, and can thereby carry their Burdens of Merchandize thro' all these large Countries, which could not by any other means than Water-carriage be carried thro' fo vaft a Tract of Land.

This, however, but half finishes the View the French have, as to their Commerce in North-America. Many of the Branches of the River Mififfippi come fo near to the Branches of feveral of the Rivers which empty themselves into the great Lakes, that in feveral Places there is but a fhort Land-Carriage from the one to the other. As foon as they have got into the River Mififfippi, they open to themfelves as large a Field for Traffick in the fouthern Parts of North-America, as was before mentioned with refpect to the northern Parts. If one confiders the Length of this River, and its numerous Branches, he must say, That by means of this River, and the Lakes, there is opened to his View fuch a Scene of inland Navigation as cannot be parallel'd in any other Part of the World.

The French have, with much Industry, fettled fmall Colonies, and built stockaded Forts at all the confiderable Paffes between the Lakes, except between Cataracui Lake (called by the French Ontario) and Lake Erie, one of our Five Nations of Indians, whom we call Sennekas, (and the French Sonontouans). having hitherto refufed them leave to erect any Buildings there.

The French have been indefatigable in making Discoveries, and carrying on their Commerce with Nations, of whom the English know nothing but what they fee in the French Maps and Books. The Barrennefs of the Soil, and the Coldnefs of the Climate of Canada, obliges the greatest number of

the

the Inhabitants tò feek their living by travelling among the Indians, or by trading with those that do travel. The Governor, and other Officers, have but a fcanty Allowance from the King, and could not fubfift were it not by the Perquifites they have from this Trade; neither could their Priests find any means to fatisfy their Ambition and Luxury without it: So that all Heads and Hands are employ'd to advance it, and the Men of beft Parts think it the fureft way to advance themselves by travelling among the Indians, and learning their Languages; even the Bigotry and Enthufiafm of fome hot Heads has not been a little ufeful in advancing this Commerce; for that Government having prudently turn'd the Edge of the Zeal of fuch hot Spirits upon converting the Indians, many of them have ípent their Lives under the greatest Hardfhips, in endeavouring to gain the Indians to their Religion, and to love the French Nation, while, at. the fame time, they are no lefs induftrious to reprefent the English as the Enemies of Mankind. So that the whole Policy of that Government, both civil and religious, is admirably turn'd to the general Advancement of this Trade. Indeed the Art and Industry of the French, especially that of their religious Miffions, has fo far prevail'd upon all the Indians in North-America, that they are every where 1 directed by French Councils. Even our own Five Nations, (the Iroquois) who formerly were mortal Enemies of the French, and have always liv'd in the stricteft Amity with the English, have, of late, (by the Practices of the French Priests) been fo far gain'd, that several of the Mohawks, who live nearest the English, have left their Habitations, and are gone to fettle near Monreal in Canada; and all the reft discover a Dread of the French Power. That much of this is truly owing to the Priests, appears from many of the Sachems of the Iroquois wearing Crucifixes when they come to Albany: And those

Mohawk

Mohawk Indians that are gone to Canada, are now commonly known, both to the French and English, by the Name of The Braying Indians, it being cuftomary for them to go through the Streets of Monreal with their Beads, praying and begging Alms.

But notwithstanding all thefe: Advantages, the French labour under Difficulties that no Art or Induftry can remove. The Mouth of the River of St. Lawrence, and more efpecially the Bay of St. Lawrence, lies fo far North, and is thereby fo often fubject to tempeftuous Weather and thick Fogs, that the Navigation there is very dangerous, and never attempted but during the Summer Months. The Wideness of this Bay, together with the many ftrong Currents that run in it, the many Shelves, and funken Rocks that are every where spread over both the Bay and River, and the want of Places for anchoring in the Bay, all increase the Danger of this Navigation; fo that a Voyage to Canada is juftly esteem'd much more dangerous than to any other Part of America. The many Shipwrecks that hap pen in this Navigation, are but too evident Proofs of the Truth of this, particularly, the Mifcarriage. of the laft Expedition against Canada. The Channel is fo difficult, and the Tides foftrong, that after their Shipping get into the River, they never attempt to fail in the Night, tho' the Wind be fair, and the Weather good. Thefe Difficulties are fo confiderable, that the French never attempt above one. Voyage in a Year to Europe, or the Weft-Indies, tho it be really nearer Europe than any of the Eng. lifh Colonies, where the Shipping that conftantly use the Trade, always make two Voyages in the Year.

The Navigation between Quebeck and Monreal is likewife very dangerous and difficult: The Tide: rifes about 18 or 20 Feet at Quebeck, which occafions fo ftrong a Stream, that a Boat of fix Oars cannot make way againft it: The River in many. Places very wide, and the Channel at the fame time

narrow