Iroquois were to collect together and fire only at the legs of your people to master them, and burn them at their leisure; and after having cut them off by a hundred ambuscades among the foliage and grass, pursue you in your retreat even to Montreal to spread desolation throughout its vicinity also; and they had prepared for that purpose a quantity of canoes of eighteen men each which they kept concealed. But let us all speak of this war to thank God that He has preserved our Governor in the midst of so much sickness, and that He had compassion on Canada from which He turned away the scourge of war which would have laid it entirely desolate. The English of Merinlande who had killed three Iroquois, and of whom the English Iroquois had killed five, are about to have difficulties with that belligerent nation which has already killed more than twenty-nine of their men, and has been threatened with war should it continue to insult them. We shall see what the English of that quarter will do. Garakontie returned to day from Orange, where he told by a belt of Wampum how you had given peace to the public; also how Colonel Dongan had urged the Iroquois to secure it by the satisfaction which he advised them to give you. M. Dongan left Orange when those who brought the Duke of York's Safeguards came to this place; it is supposed that Arnaud's visit here to prevent the Iroquois going to see you and to get them to hold a Council at Orange, was an intrigue of the Orange merchants who feared that their trade would be diminished by a conference held with you with arms in your hands; for M. Dongan had probably departed from Orange when Arnaud left to come here. What the Iroquois know is, after having heard M. Dongan who exhorted them to an ar rangement with you, it was in no wise probable that on the eve of a negotiation, he should have forbidden them to visit you without his permission. A man named La Croix, in Indian Tegaiatannhara, who answered Garakontie on behalf of the Dutch, said that had you not made peace, knowing that the Safeguards of England were on the Iroquois, 800 Englishmen and 1200 Mohegans, (Loups) who are between Merinland and New York, entirely distinct from the Cannongageh-ronnons whom you have with you, were all ready to march at the first word to aid the Iroquois. This man La Croix passes with the Iroquois for a great liar ; he, possibly may have advanced this of his own accord, as well as many other things he has stated, which M. Dongan perhaps would not approve, were he acquainted with them. I thank you most humbly for having furnished an opportunity for the transportation to us of a part of our necessaries. It is a continuance of your kindness towards us and towards me in particular, who am sincerely and with much respect, My Lord, Your very humble & very obedient Servant, DE LAMBERVILLE. I shall give La Grande Gueule your jerkin as soon as he returns here. I had the honor to write to you by Colin ten days since. FROM THE MINISTER TO M. BARILLON, FRENCH AMBASSADOR AT LONDON. [ Paris Doc. III. ] Versailles, 10 March, 1685. Sir-The King has learned that the Governor of New York, instead of maintaining good correspondence with Sieur de la Barre, Governor of Canada, in conformity with the orders of the late King of England, has done what he could to prevent the Iroquois treating with him; that he offered them troops to serve against the French, and that he caused standards (flags) to be planted in their villages, though these nations had been always subject to France since their country was discovered by the French, without the English objecting thereto. His majesty desires you to present his complaints to the King of England and to demand of him precise orders to oblige this governor to confine himself within the limits of his government, and to observe different conduct towards Sieur Denonville, who is selected by His Majesty to succeed the said Sieur de la Barre. GOV. DONGAN'S REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE OF TRADE ON THE PROVINCE OF NEW-YORK, DATED 22D FEBRUARY, 1687. [ Lond. Doc. V. ] My Lords-I have received the heads of inquiry your Lo'ps sent to mee and indeed I have been as industrious as possibly I could to make myself capable of giving you satisfaction. And wherein I am short of answering your Lo'ps expectation I question not but youl pardon it when you consider that to give a distinct answer to several of your queries must require a longer time than I have yet had since their arrival here. However to such of them as I am at present capable to make an answer, I herein give yor Lo'ps I hope the satisfaction required which are as follow In answer to the first of your Lo'ps Querys. Courts of The Courts of Justice are most established by Act of Assembly and they are Justice. 1. The Court of Chancery consisting of the Governor and Council in the Supreme court of this province to which appeals may be brought from any other court 2. The Assembly finding the inconvenience of bringing of ye peace, Sheriffs, Constables @ other p'sons concerned from the remote parts of this government to New York did instead of the Court of Assizes which was yearly held for the whole Government of this province erect a Court of Oyer and Terminer to be held once every year within each County for the determining of such matters as should arise within them respectively, the members of which Court were appointed to bee one of the two judges of this province assisted by three justices of the peace of that county wherein such court is held. Which Court of Oyer & Terminer has likewise power to hear appeals from any inferior court 3. There is likewise in New York @ Albany a Court of Mayor @ Aldermen held once in every fortnight from whence there can be noe appeal unless the cause of action bee above the value of Twenty Pounds, who have likewise priviledges to make such by-laws for ye regulation of their own affairs as they think fitt, soe as the same be approved of by ye Goyr @ Council. Their Mayor, Recorders, town-clerks @ Sheriffs are appointed by the Governor. 4. There is likewise in every County twice in every year (except in New York where it is four times @ in Albany where its thrice) Courts of Sessions held by the Justices of the Peace for the resp❜ive countys as in Engld. 5. In every Town wtn ye Government there are 3 Commissioners appointed to hear and determine all matters of difference not exceeding the value of five pounds which shall happen within the respective towns. 6. Besides these, my Lords, I finding that many great inconveniences daily hapned in the managent of his Mats particular concerns within this province relating to his Lands, Rents, Rights, Profits @ Revenues by reason of the great distance betwixt the Cursory settled Courts @ of the long delay which thereon consequently ensued besides the great hazard of venturing the matter on |