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.
Hamilton to Monckton
(Fort Pitt, June 17, 1760)
Hamilton, James in: Aspinwall Papers,
Coll. of the Mass. Hist. Soc.,
vol. IX, 4th series,
pp. 278-281.
How can you execute the great matters entrusted to you with so small a force? Our Provincial Commissioners are clear of Opinion that there are too many officers & have moved the diminishing their Number to the Govr & he has desired to send a Copy of their sentiments to Mr Young wch I have done & who is to confer with you on the subject, of wch I take the freedom to advertise you that you may not be surprized at our taking upon us to know more of the matter than the General.
The Weather has been very rainy, exceeding close and warm, & the Glass is now at 85. The Harvest is abundant & herewards very well got in.
Some reputable People from New York say Sr Wm Johnson joyns Genl Amherst with one thousand Indians. If so, La Galette will not obstruct his Passage to Montreal. I have really nothing from my friends at New York & I verily believe it is because they have nothing worth writing.
The Flags lately taken & carried to Jamaica & Providence were granted by Govr Bernard who has made, it is said, a sum not much superior to Govr Denny.
I dread Pownals officious meddling with the affairs of our Province & helping the wrong side by means of his Intimacy with Mr Franklin.
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Your Excellencys |
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Most obedient |
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humble servant |
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RICHARD PETERS. |
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GOVR HAMILTON TO GENL MONCKTON
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PHILADELPHIA 24th July 1760. |
SIR,
I make no doubt but you have been already informed of the Invitation sent the last Summer by the Indians over (page 279) the Ohio to those settled on the Waters of the Susquahannah to come & meet them in a great Council which they proposed should be held in one of the Owendot Towns at the South West End of Lake Erie, and that they were there to consider and agree upon what measures shou'd be taken as well with regard to the English as the Six Nations with whom they pretend to be not a little disobliged.
As Teedyuscung with the Messengers from those Ohio Indians came to this City on purpose to inform us, that he was very respectfully invited to make one at that Meeting, and to bring with him Deputies from the several Nations who have associated themselves under him, & thro' him held several Treaties with this Government; and as they requested our advice on that occasion, & desired our assistance to fit them out for so large a Journey and to send some suitable Persons with Teedyuscung who coud remind him of all his Transactions with this Government, I complied with their Request; and in the Month of May Teedyuscung set out on this Business, taking along with him Mr Frederick Post & Mr John Hay, who were both of them agreeable to him, & such persons as I coud confide in to observe and report whatever shoud be done at that great Meeting.
So favourable an Opportunity presenting itself, I sent by Mr Post several Messages informing the Indians of the Terms on which the Peace was concluded by Teedyuscung and his associated Indians and of their solemn stipulation to collect and deliver up all our Prisoners; And General Amherst who was made acquainted with this Affair, likewise sent by Mr Post a very important Message to inform these Indians of His Majesties Purpose to take Post wherever the French had done it, but without any Intent of Making Settlements and if this Message as was proposed had been delivered in time it might have rendered the minds of the Indians easy & have had several other good effects.
But now I am to inform your Excellency that unfortunately for the Publick Service Mr Post and Mr Hayes are returned having proceeded no further on their Journey than an Indian Town called Passycotcung, situate about 80 miles up the Cayuga Branch of the Susquahannah, near the Seneca Country, and entirely under the Influence of the Senecas. Here it seems, under pretence of there being no road opened thro' that Country for any Messengers, they were threatened with an Assault on their Lives, and in a public Council held on the Occasion they were advised to return home. I need not trouble you with the reasons of this unexpected Obstruction because you will see them fully set down in Mr Posts Journal, Copy whereof he is preparing for you.
Notwithstanding this Disappointment which is much to be lamented I am well assured by what Mr Post says, that Teedyuscung is very sincerely the Friend of Peace and of the English, & will, by the assistance of one Isaac Stille who was present at most of the Treaties and is well acquainted with all the Publick Transactions make a full and faithful Relation of what has passed between him & this Government and do all he can to Engage those numerous Tribes of Western Indians to enter into and confirm the Peace and deliver up our prisoners.
But the Misfortune is that the important Message entrusted by General Amherst to Mr Post which was a very main point, has mis-carried, for Mr Post, knowing well how apt Indians are to give their own Turns to Messages, and being apprehensive y it might be misunderstood and represented in a wrong manner, did not think proper to give it over to Teedyuscung, and therefore has brought it with him together with the Belts and Strings of Wampum and delivered them to me.
To supply this Mis-carriage and to prevent as much as possible, tho it is now full late, any wrong notions that may enter into the minds of the Indians, which are already (page 281) too much inclined to Jealousy, Mr. Post is of opinion with me that the Sentiments and Purposes of General Amherst which are well expressed in the Indians style in that Message shoud be formally communicated to the Indians at the very first meeting that should be held with any of their considerable and principal Chiefs.
The Original Message is therefore enclosed and the Belts and Wampum to be made up into Strings are delivered to Mr Ennis to be sent along with this Letter, and as they are charged to Mr Post on account of General Amherst by Mr Pemberton who only had Wampum at that time I beg the favour of you to order the inclosed acct of it to be discharged.-
You will likewise be so good as to let the Indians know the Generals Care in the Early sending of this Message and by what means it came to miscarry that no blame may be chargeable on him for want of giving the Indians the earliest notice that was in his Power.
I am not without hopes but you will hear of, if not from, Teedyuscung, and perhaps Isaac Stille who speaks English & has been at Pitsburgh may be dispatched to your Excellency to give you an account of Teedyuscungs Proceedings & what has passed at the great Meeting. If Teedyuscung or any of his Indians shoud think proper to come to Pitsburg or to any place on the Communication I most heartily recommend it to your Excellency to give orders that he or they be well received and supplied with Necessaries.-
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Your Excellencys Most |
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obedient humble servant |
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JAMES HAMILTON. |
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His Excellency General MONCKTON.
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