THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Celoron to Vaudreuil
(August 4, 1751)
Celoron in: Huntington Library
Manuscript,
Loudoun Coll. 306 and in Illinois
Historical Collections, French
Series, Vol. III,
pp. 283-292.
I gave you in full detail the measures I took in consequence of my orders to bring those tribes to their duty by the method of gentleness which was prescribed me. This affair which I have conducted with all the prudence my experience could suggest has not has the success to have been expected from it. The Indians after having given assurance of their return in the spring by all that is most binding among them, after having sent a deputation to M. de Villiers, who commands at Miamis, as well as to all the tribes that entered into that negotiation for their return, by which they gave assurance of their return without delay, having broken all their promises and renewed all their insults in their words to M. de Villiers, who gave himself the trouble of going to their village after them, and that in terms so insulting that I do not think that when M. the general is informed of them he can refrain from repressing them by force of arms. It is of the last consequence for the honor of the French nation to strike a coup d'etat which shall annihilate these rebels and keep the other tribes respectful.
To that end I had the honor of giving an account to M. le Marquis de la Jonquiere of the necessity of sending off a strong party by the Chautauqua River and one by this place to envelop all the tribes which are defiant and especially the English traders who are the cause of all the troubles. I took the liberty in very respectful terms of letting him perceive that he could not defer making a movement to preserve the communication of Canada with Louisiana the routes of which would be closed if we remained inactive. I let him see the ascendency the English were gaining over the minds of our Indians by the large presents they make, and by the low price at which they sell their goods. Finally I ended by giving assurance that our opinion, Monsieur, was for destroying from top to bottom the settlement of Great Miami River, which was the entrepot of the English and which helped them expand into all the regions of the South; on this movement, I indicated, depended the resettlement of affairs now completely in disorder.
I gave him also an account of the disposition of the tribes of Detroit to execute all our wishes, they having given me assurances of uniting with us to make the English withdraw and to punish the Miami against whom they were extremely provoked for their shortcomings toward them. As proof of the feeling of the Ottawa and Potawatomi against the rebels, I had induced them to go to Great Miami River to reproach the rebels for their mad acts and for breaking their word, and to threaten them with their resentment, assuring them that they will join Onontio to revenge their want of good faith. They did all I wanted to these people; and I can say, Monsieur, that if M. the general had moved, all the Indians would have joined us.
But today with none of my projects executed, they begin to draw back, and when we wish to use them they will not perhaps be in so favorable a mood.
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