The Merchants of New-York allow our Indian Traders double the Price for Beaver, that the French Company allow their Indian Traders, the Price established by the Company for Beaver, in Canada, being two Livres, or eighteen Pence Sterling, the Pound-weight; and the current Price of Beaver in New-York being five Shillings New-York Money, or three Shillings Sterling the Pound-weight. Therefore it plainly follows, that our Indian Traders could under-fell the French Traders, tho' they were to give as great a Price for European Goods as the French do, and did tranfport them at as great Charge, because of the double Price they have for their Furrs in New-York. But as our Indian Traders not only have a double Price for their Indian Goods, but likewife buy the Goods they fell to the Indians, at half the Price the French Indian Traders do, the French Traders must be ruin'd by carrying on this Trade, in Competition with the English of New-York. And the French Indian Traders had been ruin'd before now, if they had not found means to carry their Beaver to Albany, where they got double the Price they muft have fold for in Canada. It may be objected, against this Argument, That the Canada Company as foon as they find that the Traders cannot fell at their established Price, will allow a greater Price. But if we confider the Duties the French Company is obliged to pay to the King, they cannot allow fo great a Price as the English can at New-York. And if it fhould be infifted, That the French Company may obtain a Remiffion of those, yet if the clandeftine Trade with Albany be entirely ftopt, the French Traders will be ruin'd before fuch Remiffion can be obtain'd, and their Trade will be at an end. My Inclination led me to fhow what Advantages not only the Indian Trade would reap by extending our our Frontier's as far as the Lakes, but likewife the British Trade in fome other Branches, which the Parliament of Great Britain feem to have much at heart, viz. Naval Stores; for the Soil on both Sides of the Mohawks River being as rich as it is poffible (I believe) for any Land to be, will be found the moft proper for raifing of HEMP, of any Part of America, and the whole Country round it being full of the largest Pines, the royal Navy is as likely to be well provided with MASTS there, and at as cheap a rate as any where elfe. But I have already too far prefum'd on your Excellency's Patience. Cadwallader Colden. To this it may not be improper to add the following Orignal Letter. From J. A. Efq; to Mr. P. C. of London, fhewing the Success of the Measures taken at that Time. SIR, New-York, 1740. F you fhould be at the Pains to read these printed Papers, it will be a Pleasure to you to hear of the Succefs of the Measures taken by Governor Burnet for redeeming the Indian Trade out of the Hands of the French. He has fucceeded far above our Expectations. Governor Burnet, through his earnest Application, and at first chiefly with his Money, Credit, and Rifque, erected a Trading-House and Fortification at the Mouth of the Onondagues River, called Ofneigo, where the Province of New-York fupports a Garrison of Soldiers, confifting of a Lieutenant and twenty Men, which are yearly relieved. At 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 fecond Hand, at above twice the Price they now pay for them at Ofneigo; whilft, at the fame time, the French were chiefly fupplied by one Gentleman at New-York, who almoft entirely engroffed the Indian Trade of this Province, and thereby acquired a very great Eftate and Influence. But the prudent Steps taken by our late worthy Governor, to open a free Trade, was the Cause of the Engroffer's lofing 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 fupply them with our Goods. By this means, at a modest Estimate, I am affured, that the Indian Trade of this Province is now far above five times as much as when Governór Burnet began to put his Scheme in execution. And this is not all the Advantages reaped thereby, but a much more confiderable one to this, and all the other English Colonies is, that not only our own fix Nations, but also many far and remote Indian Nations are drawn off from their Dependance on the French, and made, by Trade and Intercourse, dependant on the English; by this means a great Security and Protection is acquired by the English, in cafe of a War with France; and by this Trade our Settlements in this Province are extended up to the Onondagues Carrying-place, which is now well attended with Waggons, for the more commodious tranfporting of Goods to trade in the Lakes. And And they are now fettling on the Branches of Safquebanah River; and from the western Branches of this River, there is but a fmall Land-Carriage to Allegheny, a Branch of that great River Mififfippi; which Branch extending a thousand Miles from its Mouth, where it enters the faid River; and which joins fo near to our Settlements, as is above taken notice of, opens us a Trade to that vaft Country, called by the French Louifiana, which they poffefs on the Mifilippi. I am, SIR, Your bumble Servant, J. A. THE |