THE

PREF A CE

To the SECOND PART.

HE former Part of this Hiftory was written at NewYork the Pear 1927, on Occafion of a Dispute which then happened, between the Government of New-York and Jome Merchants. The French of Canada had the whole Fur Trade with the Western Indians in their Hands, and were Jupplied with their woollen Goods from New-York. Mr. Burnet, who took more Pains to be informed of the Intereft of the People he was fet over, and of making them useful to their Mother Country, than Plantation Governors ufually do, took the Trouble of perufing all the Regifters of the Indian Affairs onthis Occafion. He from thence conceived of what Confequence the Fur Trade with the Weftern Indians was of to Great-Britain; that as the English bad the Fur Trade to Hudfon's Bay given up to them, by the Treaty of Utrecht, fo, by the Advantages which the Province of New-York has in its Situation, they might be able to draw the whole Fur Trade in the other Parts of America to themfelves, and thereby the English engrofs that Trade, and the Manufactories depending on it.

For this Purpofe he thought it necessary to put a stop to the Trade between New-York and Canada, by which the French fupplied themselves with the most valuable and necelary Commodities for the Indian Market, and to fet the Inhabitants of this Province on trading directly with the Indians. Befides the Confideration of Profit and Gain, he confidered what Influence this Trade had on the numerous Nations of Indians living on the vaft Continent of North-America, and who furround the British Colonies; of what Advantage it might be of, if they were influenced by the English in Cafe of a War with France; and bow prejudicial, on the other Hand, if they were directed by French Counfels.

The Legiflature of New-York was foon convinced of the Juftness of his Reasoning, and passed an Act, prohibiting the PART II.

Trade

The PREFACE to the SECOND PART.

iv Trade to Canada, and for encouraging the Trade directly with the Indians. They were likewife at the Charge of building ai fortified trading Houfe at Ofwego, on Cadarackui Lake, and bave ever fince maintained a Garifon there. As this Act did in its Confequence take a large Profit from one or two confiderable Merchants, who bad the Trade to Canada intirely in their Hands, they endeavoured to raise a Clamour against it in the Province, and prefented likewife Petitions to the King, in Order to get the Act repealed. Upon this Occafion Mr. Burnet gave me the Perufal of the Publick Register of Indian Affairs, and it was thought the Publication of the Hiftory of the Five Nations might be of Ule at that Time.

I fhall only add, that Mr. Burnet's Scheme has had its defired Effect: The English have gained the Trade which the French, before that, had with the Indians to the Westward of New-York; and whereas, before that Time, a very inconfiderable Number of Men were employed in the Indian Trade Abroad, now above three hundred Men are employed at the Trading Houfe at Ofwego alone; and the Indian Trade has fince that Time yearly increased fo far, that feveral Indian Nations come now every Summer to trade there, whofe Names were not fo much as known by the English before.

This Hiftory, from New-York, foon went to England, and I bave been informed, that a Publication, with a Continuance of that Work, would be acceptable there. I bave the more cbearfully complied with this Notice, because of the War threatened from France, believing that a Publication of this Kind may be useful, whether the prefent Inquietudes between the two Nations end in a War or in a Treaty. The French have encouraged feveral Publications of this Sort at Paris, and certainly fuck may be more useful in a British Government, where the People have fo great a Share in it, than it can be in a French Government, intirely directed by the Will of their Prince.

I now continue this Hiftory to the Peace of Refwick, and if I find this acceptable, and that a farther Continuation of it be defired, I fhall, if my Life and Health be preferved, carry it down farther; but as I have too much Reafon to doubt my own Ability, to give that Pleafure and Satisfaction which the Publick may expect in Things thus fubmitted to their View, I think it not justifiable to trouble them with too much at once.