[From Council Min. V.] Councill held at ffort James Thurs day ye 18th of Augs 1687. (O. S.) Present His Excelcy the Gover' &c. The account of the Expence that has been about the Seneckas & the ffrench, Read Resolved that it be taken into Considration that the Councill Do tomorrow give their oppions about a Method for Raising it, Councill held at ffort James ffriday ye 19th Augst 1687 The Councill give their opions about Raising mony to Defray expence about ye Indyans & ye ffrench. Resolved that a penny in ye pound besides the former tax of a halfepenny in ye pound be raised out of ye Estates of the ffrehold's Inhabitants of Kings County queens County Dukes County Dutcheses County Countys of Richmond Orange Suffolk & Westchester & one halfepenny in ye pound out of ye Estates of ye Inhabitants & ffreehold's of ye Cittys & Countys of New York and Albany & County of Vlster and the mony be brought in to ye Kings Collector at ye Custome house on or before ye first day of May next. Ordered that two bills be Drawn up for the same Accordingly Councill held at ffort James Saturday August ye 20th 1687 The Bill for Raiseing a penny in ye pound out of ye Estates of ye ffreeholdrs & Inhabitants of ye Kings Queens Dukes & Dutcheses Countys the Countys of Richmond Orange westchester & Suffolk, Read and approved Passed and Signed by ye Govern & Councill MR. SCHUYLER TO GOV. DONGAN. [Lond. Doc. V.] 2 Sept. 1687. May it please your Excellency Last night Anthy Lesjinard & Jean Rosie arrived here from Canada, have been twenty days upon the way, have letters from [for?] your Excell: have therefore dispatched Anthoy with 2 Indians down, his compagnion being sick, could not goe The news your Excell: will hear of Antho. neverthelesse have thought fitt to examine his compagnion, who is an honest man, tells us these following news, of which your Excell: may discourse Antho about at large 1 That he heard of father Valiant that the French will not release our people, Except that your Excell: will promise not to supply the Sinnokes with amunition or any other assistance 2 That Antho told him he heard one of the Fathers say, if the Sinnekes got any of there people prisoners would exchange our people for them, man for man. 3 That they had now a great advantage of your Excell: and of the Indians also, having so many of our people and of the Indians prisoners— 4 He heard the Jesuits say that Cryn and the rest of the Christian Indians, were no ways inclined to engage in the war if the Maquas, Oneydes and Onnondages were concern'd, because their brethren sisters, uncles ants ettc were there; and therefore all means was used to engage said three nations to sit still, for he see 5 Onnondage Christian Indians dispatched with belts and presents to the Onnondages 26 days agoe, to persuade them not to warr 5 The French were not minded to warr with any of the Indians, except the Sinnekes, and would make a peace with them also if they would deliver to them 10 or 12 of the best Sachims children for hostage and then they would appoint them places where they should hunt: and so gett them wholly to their disposition 6 The Governour of Canida sent for all the Bosslopers that were at Ottowawa and ordered them to come only with their arms and meet him at Cadarachqua which they did, being about 300 men under the command of three French Captns and left their Bevers in the Jesuits house at Dionondade, and so marched with the Governour of Canida to the Sinnekes, in the mean time a fortunate fyer takes the house and burns them all to the number of 20,000 Bevers, when the news came to MonRoyal the Bosslopers were like to go distracted— 7 He heard by beat of Drumm proclaimed throu Mon Royall that as soon as the peace was made with the Sinnekes the Ottowawa trade should be farm'd out, which displeased the Bosslopers much and said, that if that was done they were all ruined 8 Many of the Bosslopers were inclined to come here not being minded to fight against the Sinnekes, but dare not come for fear of the Indians by the way 9 Itt was generally beleev'd that the Sinnekes would come to Canida and begg for peace, because there corn was destroyed, and if they were supplyed by them of Albany they would come hither in the winter and plunder this place, having 1500 pare of snow shoes ready made, and if they found that we gave the Sinnakes any the least assistance, they would not let the Childe in the cradle live 10 He heard further of a Merchant that if we would supply the Sinnekes they would send our people away all severall ways, some to Spain, some to Portugalls me to the Islands, and it was no more than the English had done to Mons Pere whom they kept 18 months in close prison at London 11 The French all acknowledge the Sinnekes fought very well, and if there number had been greater it would have gone hard with the French for the new men were not used to the Sinnekes hoop and hollow. all the officers falling down closse upon the ground, for the Officers jeard on another about it att Mont Royall This is what Jean Rosie Antho Lespinard's compagnion doth relate being an inhabitant of this towne, and a verry honest man, although a frenchman, they were kept 5 weeks in arrest after they came to Canida upon pretence that there passe was false, for could not beleive your Excelley was here butt gone home haveing such advice from the French ambassadour he prays your Excell: would consider the pains and trouble and the loss of time that has been att waiting for an answer from the French Governour; we have put down these articles that your Excell: may examine Antho about them (since he knows nothing of this) because he was extream familliar with the Govern1 and all there great men there: We have the news of Keman that the Indians have taken 8 men 1 woman and 8 crownes or scalpes, and kild neer upon 20 more at the place where the Barks are, the particulars your Excell: will have in R Levingstone's letter — We find that the selling of strong Liquor to the Indians is a great hindrance to all designs they take in hand. lay a drinking continually at Skinechtady, if your Excell: would be pleased to prohibit itt for two or three months would do very well: We remain Your Excelleney most humble and most obedient servant Pr SCHUYLER. COL. DONGAN TO THE LORD PRESIDENT. [Lond. Doc. V.] Sept. 8 1687 My Lord-I gave your Lodp an acct in my last letter that I had Intelligence the French were come on this side of the Lake, to war with the Sonnekes I send the Bearer Judge Palmer to give his Maty an account of their Invading his territories without any manner of Provocation if your Lode will please to read his Instructions you will find a true accompt of their Proceedings The Senekas desired assistance of men but I put them off by giving them Powder, Lead, Arms and other things, fitting & necessary for them @ also by making such Propositions as I thought would please them being unwilling actually to ingage the French until I knew his Maty's pleasure I must needs say of ye French without being Partiall that they are very unjust, to enter the King's Territories in a hostile manner after the offers I made them I know their Pretence will bee, that our Indians have wronged them, but it is not soe, for the Beaver Trade is the sole end of their Designs, whatever Colour they give to their Actions which is only hindred by the Five nations of Indians on this side of the Lake who have submitted themselves @ their Lands to the King's subjection. Those Five nations are very brave @ the awe @ Dread of all ye Indyans in these Parts of America, and are a better Christians defence to us, than if they were so many The Claim the French can make, to the farther Indians, or any on this side ye Lake is no other than what they may have to Jappan which is that some of their Priests have resided amongst them Peace, or Warr, it will be very necessary to send over men @ to build those Forts, I have mentioned in my Instructions to Judge Palmer, for the French are encroaching as fast as they can, and a little thing can prevent now what will cost a great expence of Blood @ Money hereafter. My Lord there are people enough in Ireland who had pretences to Estates there @ are of no advantage to the country @ may live here very happy I do not doubt if his Maty think fitt to employ my Nephew he will bring over as many as the King will find convenient to send who will be no charge to his Maty after they are Landed, Provided all Connecticut @ East @ West Jersey be added to this Government @ to add any thing of Conecticut to Boston is the most unproportionable thing in the world they having already a hundred times more Land, Riches @ People than this province @yet the charge of this Governmt more than that |