We have understood your propositions that we are no more Brothers but looked upon as Children of wch we are gladd. And what concerns the sending the prisoners back againe which the Cayouges and Oneydes have no hand in taking them; that concerns the Sinequas What your Honor hath said about the Indians that are at Canada we will do our utmost endeauor to bring them from thence & do desire that y1 Honor would write a letter to them, wch will have more influence upon them then our bare words Concerning the Indians going to Cadaracqua that doth not concern us but the Onnondagos. What yor Honor hath said of the Christian hunters & the traders that may come upon the Susquehañah River to hunt or trade wthout your passe; that we should take their goods from them & bring their persons to Albany, we dare not meddle therewith; for a man whose goods is taken from him will defend himself wch may create trouble or warre, and therefor we deliver the seales to yr Honor againe. * The Maquas stood up and said * * * * * * We desire that yr Honor will order that lande & a priest may be at Saraghtoge; for they will be most Maquas that return from Canada; and for the reasons given your Honor by the Cayouges & Oneydes we allso deliver your Honor the Seals againe-upon that they gaue a present us put us in a new trouble; therefore we deliver them to your Honour againe, that we may liue wholly in peace. The Sinnequas said We came first to Albany Although we liue the furthest off, and do find Corlear to be a good brother to us, therefore did not delay. I shall speak first of the Seales; We know the ffrench by their Coats and the other Christians by their habitts & if we should take their goods from them, it would create trouble or warre & therefor deliver the same againe. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GOV DONGAN TO M. DE DENONVILLE, DATED 31 Octbr 1687. [ Lond. Doc. VI. ] Sir, I doe not take the King my Master's right to the five nations on this side of the lake from Mons' de la Barr, but from our records which demonstrates that these five nations has been in a free and brotherly correspondence from the first Settlement of this towne, and further they have submitted themselves, there country and conquests to the Dutch in their time and to the Kinge of England since this Colonie came under His Majesties obedience, so that the King haveing given a Pattent to Mr Wm Penn of a tract of land in which there conquest land uppon the Susquehana River was included in the grant, Since all this they came to me in the presents of the Lord Effingham now Govr of Virginia presentinge two dorst [dressed ?] Deerskins desiringe me to send them to the Kinge that a red broad seale might be affixed to them, that, that part of Susquehanna river might be annexed to this Collony haveing some of their friends livinge there. THE HUMBLE ADDRESS OF THE GOVERNOUR AND COUNCILL OF YOUR MAJESTY'S PROUINCE OF NEW YORKE AND DEPENDENCYS. [6 AUG. 1691.] [ Lond. Doc. VIII. ] Most Gracious Sovereigne May it please Yor Most Excellt Majty There being nothing so dear unto us as the prosperity of your Majesty the increase of your empire and the safety of your people planted in these remote parts of America, We therefore in all humble manner find it is our duty to represent unto your most sacred Majesty the State and Condicôn of this your Majesty's Province, that by a view thereof Your Majesty may be truly informed of the advantages accruing to your Majesty and also of the great detriment and prejudice that threatens your Majesty's interest by the pretences of our Neighbours and the strength of the French your Majesty's declared enemys. Therefore Most Excelt Sovereigne This your Majtys Province was first settled and planted in the year of our Lord 1619, by the States Generall of the United Provinces, who did extend the line of their dominion from this your Majesty's Citty of New Yorke to the Eastward so farr as Connecticut River and to the Westward along the Coast beyond the Delaware River, and to the Northward up Hudson's river so farr as Schenectady and from thence to the Lakes of Canada, and from thence to the Westward so farr as the Sinnekes land or the Indian hunting reacheth. Since which time in the year of our Lord 1664, King Charles the Second did subdue and reduce to the allegiance of your Majesty's Crowne all the Inhabitants and Territorys within the limits aforesaid; all which was granted by King Charles the Second unto His Royall Highness James Duke of Yorke in the same year together with the governmt of all that tract of land to the Westward of Delaware River unto Maryland. His Royall Highness was pleased out of the premises to grant a certain tract of land unto the Right Honorable John Lord Barclay, and Sir George Carterett limited and bounded by Hudson and Delaware River, as per the Deed of Conveyance relation being thereunto had may more fully appeare; the remaining part continued in his Royall Highness possession untill the yeare of our Lord 1682, William Penn procured a Patent from King Charles the Second for land to the Westward of Delaware River, now called Pensilvania, as per said pattent doth more largely appeare. His Royall Highness was also pleased to grant unto the said William Penn, New Castle upon Delaware River and twelve miles round about and afterwards he made another grant unto him of all the land to the Southward of New Castle. Now, may it please your Majesty, all that been reserved out of the Territorys and dominion aforesaid is only Long Island and some other small Islands adjacent, New York, Zopus, Albany and the limitts thereof; for the preserving of which the Crowne hath been at great charge, and for the support of your Majties governmt there is now in Generall Assembly a revenue established upon the trade thereof which is managed in manner following. New Yorke is the Metropolis, is scituate upon a barren island bounded by Hudson's River and the East River that runs into the Sound, and hath nothing to support it but trade, which chiefly flows from flower and bread they make of the Corne the West end of Long Island and Zopus produceth; which is sent to the West Indies, and there is brought in returne from thence amongst other things a liquor called Rumm, the duty whereof considerably encreaseth your Majesties revenue. Zopus is a place upon Hudson's River, 80 miles distant from New Yorke; consists of five small towns whose inhabitants manage husbandry and have not above 3000 acres of manureable land; all the rest being hills and mountains, not possible to be cultivated. Albany lyes upon the same River distant from New Yorke 144 miles, only settled for Indian trade; its commerce extends itself as far as the Lakes of Canada and the Sinnekes Country in which is the Susquehannah River; their chiefe dependance is upon their traffick with the 5 Nations called Sinnekes Cayeugoes Oneydes Onondages and Maquase; which Indians in the time of the Dutch did surrender themselves and their lands to the obedience & protecôn of Albany, and upon that place's reduccôn to your Majesties Crowne of England they continued confirming the same successively to all the Governours of this Province, and hath now ratifyed and confirmed the same unto your Majesty; so that all that tract of land from the Westermost extent of the Sinnekes. Country unto Albany, hath been appropriated and did absolutely belong unto the Inhabitants of Albany upwards of fourty yeares; The Indian inhabitants have always reckoned themselves subjects to your Majesties Crowne, and are not willing to submitt or have any trade or Commerce with any of your Majesty's subjects but those att Albany, your Majesty's forts of New Yorke and Albany had always an absolute dominion over all the Indian Nations adjacent to this Province but especially of all those to the Westward; and they were accustomed annually to bring tribute to your Majesty's forts, acknowledging the same, but of late years the neighbouring Collonys have obstructed them which we conceive highly injurious to your Majesty's interest and that this royalty is not conveyed by any of the afore recited grants. Long Island is pleasantly situated and well planted but brings little gain unto your Majesty, the East end being chiefly settled by New England people who have erected five towns. Their improvements are most in pasturage and whaleing. What is produced from their industry is frequently carried to Boston and notwithstanding of the many strict rules and laws made to confine them to this place they interlope that the revenue there is not able to defray the expense of looking after it. The middle of the Island [is] altogether barren; the West end chiefly employed in tillage, which in a great measure supplys the traffiq of New Yorke. All the rest of the Province, West Chester, Staten Island and Martin's Vineyard excepted, consist of barren mountains hills not improveable by humane industry. Now May it please Your Majty : The revenue that is established in this Province is in such a nature that if the encroachmts and pretences of our neighbours be removed, it will not only be sufficient to defray the charge of your Majties Governmt but also bring in profitt into your Majties Coffers. East Jersey is scituate on Hudsons River over against Long Island Staten Island and New York, and they pretend by the aforementioned grant to be a free place and to have free ports to trade as they please, which if admitted must certainly destroy yor Majties interest and revenue here; for what merchant will come to New York and trade and pay to yor Majty 2 and 10 p cent with the excise and yor Majties duties settled here, if they can at 2 or 3 miles distance over against the same place go and be free from any duty or imposition whatever. Connecticut lyes to the eastward of us & pretends to the like freedome as East Jersey, and doth in the same degree threaten yr Majestys interest with the like inconveniency and prejudice. Therefore may it please our Majty if Connecticut East and West Jersey be not annexed to your Majesty's Government of this Province it will be alltogether impossible to raise such a revenue to yor Majesty here as will be sufficient to defray the charge of the government, and the annexing thereof cannot be injurious to the proprietors, but on the contrary advantageous to them, for it will ease them of the charge of governmt which hath allways exceeded the quitt Rents accrueing to them; whereas if they were annexed the profits would be freed from that charge, retain their propertys and putt the Quitt Rents clear in their pocquets. These inconveniences of Connecticut East and West Jersey are not only prejudiciall to yo Majtys interest, but also the pretences of William Penn Esqr to the 3 lower Countrys on Delaware River and to the Susquehanna River are equally if not more injurious to your Majty and particularly in this respect Susquehanna River is scituate in the middle of the Sinnekes Country which they gave unto your Majesty's Crowne and hath belonged as an appendix to this your Majties Governmt many years before Mr Penn had his pattent. Notwithstanding thereof Mr Penn endevors to disturb your Majesty in the peaceable and quiett possession of the premises; endeavoring to tempt the Indians to sell it again to him, by that means not only to dispossess your Majesty of your antient rights, but also to pervert and draw away the trade of the Indians to his Province; which will be an irreparable loss to your Majesty, all the Nations with whom Albany hath their trade liveing at the head of Susquehanna River. So the revenue of 10 pr Cent, the impost upon powder, lead, alum and furrs, quite lost, and if Mr. Penn should attain his pretences to the Susquehanna River, it will not only destroy the best branch of your Majties revenue, but it will likewise depopulate your Province, the inhabitants of Albany haveing only seated themselves there and addicted their minds to the Indian language and the misteries of the said trade with purpose to manage it, that if it should be diverted from that channell they must follow it, haveing no other way or art to gett a livelyhood. The 3 Lower Countrys were planted at the charge and expence of this your Majtys citty of New Yorke and chiefly to encrease and preserve the navigacôn of this port, being recommended to imploy their industry in planting of tobacco, which being a bulky commodity gave great encouragement to shipping as well as it brings great profitt to yor Majty Since we have mett with obstruccôns from that place by the pretences of Mr Penn, we have not been able to load so many ships as formerly; all that yor Majesties province produceth suitable for Europe being only furrs, which are of great value and in small bulk, gives little encouragement to navigation. We were also accustomed to have considerable parcells of peltry from said Countrys, which go now another way without paying yor Majesty any thing, and that which is a heavier presture upon us, they constrain us a penny pr pound for the tobacco brought here, and send it to Pensilvania, a distinct Province, without paying any thing; by that means diverting the trade of this port to Pensilvania; by all which your Majesty may perceive that the pretences of Mr Penn to the Susquehanna River are very injurious to your Majties right and revenue; so that some care must be taken if your Majty sees cause shall remain a distinct government that his line doth encroach upon your Majesties right noe further upon the Susquehanna River then the fall thereof; otherwise its scituation being so near the Sinnekes Indians, if planted by him, must of necessity divert the whole trade of Albany. May it please Your Most Excelt Majty. This is the state of your Majesties Province with relation to our neighbours your Majesty's subject. There is likewise the French formerly under the pretence of propagating the Christian faith amongst the Indians, did thereby very much incroach upon yor Majesties right on this side of the lake, and particularly did draw away many of our Indians into Canada, under the notion of supplying them with priests to instruct them in the Christian religion; by which means they lessened our hunting much, and has so weakened the Maquase nation that they are not capable to do yor Majesty the service as formerly. Besides they are so affected to the French Yo Majties enemys that while they are in being we cann have no safety. Since the war the French priests have retired from their castles, and the Dutch Minister at Albany hath been very successfull in converting many of them to the true religion, in which they are very devout and desirous to have a ministry settled amongst them for their pious comfort and instruccôn. This would be of great advantage to your Majesty not only in the increase of your revenue but also to endear the Indians to us, that they would continue to be the preservacôn of this and the rest of your Majesty's adjacent Colonys; these Nations being the strongest and most terrible among the Indians are the only bulwarke and wall of defence both against other Indians and the French pretences, which we are daily threatened with, being informed that they intend with a considerable force of themselves and the Ottawaes Indians to descend upon Albany and take it, which is not at present able (if attaqued) to resist, neither is the whole Province as now narrowed, capable to secure that post, which hath occasioned an applicacôn to our neighbours for assistance, but positively denyed: the particulars whereof are more plainly expressed in letters to the Secretary of State and Plantacôns: by all which yor Majty may judge of the present state of this Province, and of the inconveniencys that dayly attend it. Now may it please your most Excellt Majty. The premises considered we humbly presume and represent unto yo most sacred Majesty that there can be nothing in America more conducive to yor Majties subjects upon this continent then that Connecticut, East and West Jersey, Pensilvania and 3 Lower Countys be reannexed to this yr Majties Province which then will be a governm of sufficient extent; our late annexing to Boston haueing been evidently ruinous and destructive to these parts and may be other waies prejudicial to yor Majties interest for these reasons. Your Majty hath already by the unanimous consent of the people,a revenue established of greater value than is any where else in yor Majtys Plantacôns and whoever are joyned to this Province submit to the Establishmt; whereas it will be difficult to settle the like among our neighbours, and if settled, remain distinct governments they are so weak as not capable to defend themselves, and the revenue will be eat up in looking after it, that they cannot be profitable to your Majty. Whereas if they be annexed the charge will be no more to your Majty than now without them, and their conjunction must at least increase the Revenue 3 fold, besides will make this province not only capable to defend themselves but to anoy if not subdue the enemy May it please your Majesty; the small quantity of stores Govern' Sloughter brought over are mostly disposed of in the severall small forts of Albany and Schenectady & so that now we must begg the favor of a fresh supply. A true Copy M. CLARKSON Secy. All which is humbly submitted RICH: INGOLDSBY STEV: CORTLANDT NICH: BAYARD GAB: MONVIELL CHID: BROOK WILL: NICOLLS. REMARKS UPON THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE PROPRIETORS OF PENSILVANIA ON A PARAGRAPH OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON'S LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS OF TRADE AND PLANTATIONS BEARING DATE THE 10TH OF SEPTEMBER 1757. 1757 22d Sept [ Lond. Doc. XXXIV. ] The whole paragraph of the above letter which gave birth to the observation is as follows:"I think I have before now hinted to your Lordships my opinion that the Hostilities which Pensilvania in particular has suffered from some of the Indians living on the Susquehannah did in some. measure arise from the large purchase made by that Government two years ago at Albany. I have |