and otherwise, and that not once but several times have given them great provocations, butt you have taken away to spill a great deale of Christian blood without gaining the point you aim att, and for you who have taken the King's subjects prisoners, in a time of peace and taken their goods from them without any just grounds for so doing, how can I expect butt that you will use them as you threaten; You say also in your letter, that the King of England has no right to the five nations on this side the lake. I would willingly know if so, whose subjects they are in your opinion, You tell me of your haueing had Missionaryes among them, itt is a very charitable act, but I suppose and am very well assured that giues no just right or title to the Government of the Country-Father Bryare writes to a Gent: there that the King of China never goes any where without two Jessuits with him I wonder why you make not the like pretence to that kingdome you also say you had many Missionaryes among them att my comeing to this Goverment, in that you have been missinformed for I never heard of any, butt the two Lamberuills who were at Onnondages, and were protected by me from the Insolencys of the Indians, as they desired of me, and as by letters in which they give me thanks appears, but when they understood your intentions they thought fit to goe without takeing leave: butt their sending there was as I afterwards found for some other end then propagating the Christian Religion as was apparent by some letters of theirs directed to Canada, which happened to come to my hands Now you have mist of your unjust pretentions-you are willing to refer all things to our Masters, I will endevour to protect his Majestys subjects here from your unjust inuasions until I hear from the King my Master who is the greatest and most glorious monarch that ever set on a Throne and would do as much to propagate the Christian faith as any Prince that liues and is as tender of wronging the subjects of any Potentate whatever, as he is of suffering his owne to be injured Itt is very true that I have eat a great deale of the bread of France and have in requittall complyed with my obligations in doing what I ought and would preferr the service of the French king before any, except my owne, and have a great deal of respect for all the people of quality, of your nation which engages me to aduise Mons' Denonuille to send home all the Christians and Indians prisoners the King of England's subjects you unjustly do deteine, this I thought fitt to answer to your reflecting and provoking letter. a true coppy.. GOV. DONGAN TO THE LORD PRESIDENT. [Lond. Doc. V.] New York, Sept. 12, 1687. My Lord-Since writing my other Letter some messages have come to my hands from Albany of their apprehensions of the French, which obliges me to carry up thither two hundred men, besides the Garrison @ go and stay there this Winter, and to get together five or six hundred of the five nations about Albany @ Schonectade which will be a great charge but I see no remedy for it My Lord it is a great misfortune for this Goverm1 that there are so few of his Matys natural born subjects, the greater part being Dutch, who if occasion were, I fear would not be very fitt for service I am sending to the further Indians to try if I can make a Peace between them @ the Sennekes and also to the Christian Indians about Canada who have a mind to come, I will do what is possible for me to save the Government against the French til I have further orders from your Lodp Judge Palmer has more papers to show your Lodp that came from Albany, by those he carries with him your Lodp may perceive the grounds I have for my proceedings I am your Lodps most obedt and Humble Seryt THO DONGAN [Council Min. V.] Councill Held at ffort James; ffriday the Ninth of September 1687. Present His Excy the Govern" &c. Informacön being given to his Excy and some of the Members of ye Poard that ye ffrench at Cannada are providing ffifteen hundred pair of Snowshews, Ordred that ye Mayor and Magistrates of Albany send ord" to the five Nations to bring Down their Wives Children and old men least ye ffrench come uppon them in the Winter and none to stay in the Castles but ye yong men. That they who come be setled some at Cats Kill Levingstons land and along ye River where they can find Conveniency to be neer us to assist them if they should want and that they send Downe with them all ye Indyan Corne that can be spared by ye Young Men who are to stay in ye Castles. Councill Held at ffort James; Sonday the 11th of Septembr, 1687. Present His Excy the GovernTM &c. Letters from Albany giveing account that the people there are in great Consternation thro apprehension that ye ffrench will come down uppon them this Winter Resolved that Every tenth man of all ye Militia troupes & Companys within the Province Except those who were out y last yeare a whaling be Drawn out to go up thither. M. DE DENONVILLE TO GOV. DONGAN. [Par. Doc. III.; Lond. Doc. V.] Kebec, 2 Octob. 1687. Sir- On arriving in this town I recd a letter from the King copy of which I send, so that you may see, Sir, how much His Majesty has at heart that we should live on good terms. This has induced me not to await your reply to the letters I had the honour o write you by Antoine Lespinard regarding the complaints I made to you of the infraction yourself and your officers at Orange have committed and continue to commit of the Treaty of Peace and Union entered into between the Kings, our Masters. Though I have quite recently again cause to complain of you and your officers since you have a short time since, hired a party of sixty Mohawks to come and make a foray in the country of New France, which is a truth so well known that it cannot be doubted, yet, Sir, in conformity with my Master's orders and in response to the intentions of His Majesty whose will I follow, directing me to do all in my power to contribute to the union that our Masters desire should exist between us, I have determined to send you back Mr. Gregory and all those whom you despatched under his orders, being very happy to evince to you thereby the desire I have to live well with you and to avoid every subject of quarrel, which will be very easy if you wish to remain within the rules prescribed by our Masters. As it is very necessary to the maintenance of good correspondence between us according to our Masters' intentions, that I be informed of your last resolutions; in order to afford you an opportunity to communicate with me I retain here only those named Captain Loquerman, the son of Arian, Abraham Squelar (Schuyler) and Jean Blaquer whom I shall take care will want for nothing until I have replies from you to justify me in not doubting that we shall live hereafter in union and good understanding. [Council Min. V.] Councill Held at ffort James; tuesday the 13th day of March 1687. Present the Members of the Council. Major Baxter now come ffrom Albany Informing that he is Instructed by His Excelcy The Governour to propose to this board that they Consider what ye amount of the Extraordinary Charge of the Expedicôn agt ye ffrench will be this year and what will be ye best & easyest means for defraying It in persuance whereof Computacôn being made the Charge of the new Raised forces with ye Incidentall Charges thereon Is Computed to bee about Eight thousand Pound and finding ye last tax of one penny halfe penny per pound will not amount to above Twelve hundred pound of which many of the Inhabitants are not able to pay their own proportion, It is the opinion of this board that this Goverment alone is no way able to bear so great a burthen, Whereuppon It is Resolved that a lett be sent to his Excelcy proposeing this Board's Opinion that It will be Convenient proposalls be sent to the Neighbouring Collonyes to send Commissiones thither to treat and make some settlement for defraying the Charges of the said Expedition as will be Esteemed most Easy and Convenient Council Held at ffort James; Monday the thirtyeth day of Aprill 1688. Present His Excellcy the Govern' &c. Account of Disbursements made by Robert Levingston at Albany by His Excelcys Ord" ffor ye Maintenance of his Majties fforces there and for sundry Guefts & p'sents made to ye Indyans and Releife of ye ffrench Prisoners, ffrom ye 11th August 1687 to ye first day of June 1688 amounting to Two thousand sixty seaven pound six shillings and four pence read. Council held at ffort James Monday ye third day of May 1688. Present His Excelcy the Govern' &c. Resolved uppon Debate had thereof that the taxes lately made will not Raise mony sufficient to bear ye p'sent necessary Charge of the Governt and that a new Levy of £2556. 4s. be made to be Paid by all the Inhabitants and ffreeholders in ye Province in mony to his Majties Collector at ye Custome house in New York before ye first day of Novembr next in manner following vizt The Citty & County of New Yorke to pay £434: 10:00 County of Westchester 185: 15:00 240:00:00 185 15 00 |
