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The ffrench nation is too much inclined to acknowledge courtesies, not to confess that the Dutch have had very much charity for the ffrench, who have been Prisoners with the Maquaes, and that they have redeemed divers, who had been burnt wthout their succour; They ought also to be assured of our gratitude towards them, and to any others who shall exercise such Christian Deedes, as they have done.

I am also persuaded that they had a sincere intention for the conclusion of a firme peace between us and the Maques. They ought in like manner to believe, that wee have alwayes expressly forbid ye Algonquins to make warr upon or kill them.

Since the Dutch Gent. did send you ye Lrês which I writt unto them, you have knowne the candour of my thoughts, and the confidence which I had in their ffriendship, by that of the 14th July 1666 as also by the Request I made to the Reverend Father Bechefer (who is a person of great meritt) accompanyed with three considerable persons, to transport himself upon the place, to conclude a peace, thereby to ease them of the trouble of coming to Quebec.

Its true the displeasure I received by the death of some Gentmen, who went a fowling upon confidence, of that article wch is in the same letter those Gent'men sent mee, the second time, dated the 26th March 1666, the which I had publisht in our Garrison [we have acquainted the Maquaes, that they are to forbear all acts of Hostility, during the time that the Messenger shall be absent which they have promised to observe] did give mee a just griefe, and a great deale of discontent, It being evident that those Gent'men had not put themselves upon that hazard, without the assurance: wch would have served amongst Europeans as well as the most authentick Passeport that could be had, the which also wee had caus'd the Algonquins to observe.

Such an unexpected misfortune obliged mee to chang the designe I had of adventuring the person of the reverend Father Bechefer, and the rest that accompanied him, & I resolv'd to send only the Sieur Cousture (who had been a Prisoner among the Maques) with a letter to the Dutch Gent. of the 22d July 1666. The said Cousture having no other employ than what was in his

Instruction which hath or might have been seene, since I gave him leave to shew it.

I had never the thought of accusing those Dutch Gent'men either directly or indirectly, nor any other person, of holding intelligence with the Maques in so foule an action as was committed by them; But writt onely to oblige them, and those other Gent'men who serve under yor command at Albany, (for we were then in peace,) to councell the Maques, as Neighbours, to deliver up into our power, the actors of that murder, wch was a satisfaction that with reason I might promise myselfe on that occasion.

My L're of the 224 July to those Gent'men at Albany, might have informed you what the Sr Cousture was; ffor it had not beene prudent after the death of those Gent'men, to hazard a person of quality. And I am very sorry that you tooke the paines to leave the place of yr usual residence, to make a voyage to Albany, to have discourse with an ordinary Messenger who had nothing of Trust committed to him.

The intention you signify to have of Embracing Allwayes the Interest of Europe, against the barbarous Indyans of America, is very commendable and befitting a person of your Quality and a good Christian: That Passion which you likewise expresse, for the interest of his Maty of Great Brittaine, is to be esteemed, and there is no man of reason, who doth not approve y' judgmt therein, & that hath not the like for his Prince.

I returne you thankes in particular for those obliging termes you are pleas'd to use on my behalfe, as also for the assurances you give mee of a desire to hold a mutuall Correspondence of civility and respect with mee to ye end before proposed: If I was particularly knowne to you I might feare you would alter your opinion of mee, for that Reputacôn doth very often give us advantages which wee do not deserve.

I had the honor to serve the King in Germany, in the most considerable commands of his Army, at the time when my son (that was hee and not mee) was knowne unto you, in those which served in fflanders, where he commanded His Maties Cavalry of Strangers: Hee had a very particular respect for the person, and for the great meritt of his Royal Highnesse, The Duke of York,

who seemed to bee well pleased with his respectful carriage towards him: You have no reasons to expect lesse services from mee, that you might have received from my son, upon all occasions where those of the King will permit mee to render them.

It cannot bee but you must have heard from divers of your Nation that have beene in the Islands of America, how I have done them courtesyes with passion, and with as much civility as may bee; I have cause enough to complaine that the same hath not beene practised towards me; ffor that a vessell which went out of Boston, tooke in the Gulfe of St. Laurence, towards the latter end of June, or the beginning of July 1665, (near upon five months before the declaracôn of the warre) a barque of betweene 25 and 30 tunnes, wch belonged to mee, being laden with a good quantity of strong Waters, and other refreshments which come from France: But as I know no other interest than that of the service of his Maty who bestowes many benefitts upon mee, I shall easily forgett that losse, 'till the conclusion of Peace, you may also believe that I am wth a great deale of esteeme, Sr Your thrice affectionate

Quebec Apr. 30, 1667.

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and humble Servt.

TRACY.

IV.

REPORTS

ON THE

Province of New York.

About 1669; 1678.

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