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.
Letter to Baptiste Campau
(Poste Vincent, June 7, 1765)
Capucin, J. in: The Papers of
Sir William Johnson,
vol. 4, pp. 761-765.
du reste; je vous parle du Poste Vincent. Le Gendre de Bourbonne en rendra Temoignage il est ici. Nous venont d'apprendre par les derriers Arrivants, qu'ils y avoint encore Sept Batteaux en Riviere dans une partie a Mr. Callet, et l'autre a differens Commercants. Il est arriv aux Ilinois un Prisonier venant de chz les Cheraquis, il raporte qu'il a et mal traite en arrivant aux Villages des Sauvages, non pas seulement par les Nations memes, mais par les Anglois, qui s'y sont trouvs par ce qu'il etoit Canadien, et qu'un francois qui avoit et pris avec lui, navoit et aucune Insulte, cepandant les Cheraquis l'on renvoy en lui disant, que s'ils frapoint les franois, ce n'etoit qu'a la Solicitation de l'Anglois, qui ne essoit de lui dire de nous faire la guerre et de boucher aux francois le Comere de la Belle Riviere. Les Sauvages ont dits a le Canadien qu'ils n'en feroint rien, et qu'ils alloint venir parler au chef francois aux Ilinois, il y'a Apparence qu'ils ne veuillent point consentir au Volont de l'Anglois, car il y'a pass plusieurs Voitures en differents tems, tant pour aller aux Ilinois, que pour venir ii et ont n'a pas ou dire, quon avoit v un cheraquis. Tout paroit nous tendre les Bras, fass le Ciel que les Volonts apparentes, sortent du profond des Coeurs, et que l'Artifices des Anglois ne puissent corrompre les Nations. Voila ceque nous devons souhaiter.
Pour que je puisse jouir paisiblement d'une Sante parfaite dans mon Voyage et vous cher papa &a.
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Votre obeisant et soumis Enfant |
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J CAPUCIN |
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Note |
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The person to whom this Letter is addressed has been one of the principal Instruments in Exciting the Late Indian War at Detroit & the Author1 who is well known, has Spoke the Sense of all the French, in the Wish which (page 764) closes the above Paragraph, & his unjust Charge against the English manifests the Tales they propagate to Stir up the Spirit of discord amongst the Indians. |
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WM. JOHNSON |
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INDORSED: |
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Plants.
Genl. |
Translation
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Post Vincent June 7, 1765 |
To MR. BAPTISTE CAMPAU,
DEAR PAPA,
Glad to find an opportunity to write you before letting you know the day of my departure, as much to wish you, my dear Julie and all our dear children perfect health as to tell you the news which we hear every day. Know then that fourteen boats and two pirogues have arrived in the Illinois country, and among the boats are several of extraordinary size, for it appears from the account of those who have seen them, that they carry ten to fifteen thousand more than those which used to come up there.
I should have been pleased to inform you with certainty of what is reported about New Orleans. Some talk one way, some another; what I can tell you is that the English are not attempting to come up to the Illinois country, so great is the fear which Coton de Moilly, chief of the Shawanese, and Vacheur, of the (page 765) Illinois have inspired. In spite of this Frenchmen are found who have undertaken to come up with two boat loads of English merchandise on English account, but Pontiac is waiting for them to put them in the stew. Mr La Grange has arrived with his two boats, and two others with him. It is said that, if M. d'Abbadie were not dead, we should not have seen so much merchandise in the Illinois country. M. Aubry, who commands today as governor, lets all who wish to catch the breeze set sail. They say that the filibusters are arming at New Orleans. Toulouse is the only one who denies it.
He wished to arrange a settlement with me for M. Aubry's notes, but he did not wish M. Villiers', which may mean that I shall continue my journey to the sea. He gives me hope that M. Aubry will certainly pay his, If I find him in the city, for the rumor spreads that the Spaniards are to take possession of New Orleans. However they see Acadians coming to settle on the Mississippi. If that is so, there is a mystery to occupy the mind of the curious; I let you think about it. The Acadians are French subjects. See! I am waiting for Mr Polette, who perhaps will give me more information than the others have. I will impart to you what he tells me. The English whom Maisonville conducted to the Illinois country all escaped the fury of the Indians, like those who came in the first place. These have succeeded no better than the others.
Mr George Croghan is much expected; but I think that, if he arrives, he will be no better received than the others. I believe that he has exercised more prudence than the first people sent, or else he has been defeated on the Ohio. Maisonville remained alone, insulted, beaten and ridiculed by the Indians. What humiliation for him! He is to return this way. I think that he will be no better received than he was in the Illinois country, for all the Indians know him. If he arrives before my departure, I shall tell you what happens in his case. You will learn perhaps by the messenger the purpose of his journey. They say that he is going to the Shawanese. Goods are coming in abundance. The blankets at three (beavers); so of the rest. I am speak- (page 766) ing to you of Post Vincent. Bourbonne's son-in-law will testify to that. He is here. We have just learned by the last arrivals that there were still seven boats on the river, one part for Mr Callet, and the other for different traders. A prisoner has just arrived, coming from the country of the Cherokees. He reports that he was badly treated when he reach the villages of the Indians, not only by the nations themselves, but by the English who were found there, because he was a Canadian, and that a Frenchman who had been taken with him had suffered no insult. Nevertheless the Cherokees sent him back, saying to him that, if they struck the French, it was only on the solicitation of the Englishman, who was always telling him to make war on us and stop the Ohio river trade against the French. The Indians said to the Canadian that they would do nothing of that kind and that they meant to come and talk to the French commander in the Illinois country. It looks as if they would not yield to the Englishman's will; for several boats have passed at different times, going to the Illinois as well as coming here, and no one has heard them say that they had seen a Cherokee. Every one seems to stretch out his arms to us. Heaven grant that the seeming disposition may come from the bottom of their hearts, and that the devices of the English may not corrupt the nations. That is what we must wish.
So that I may enjoy peace and good health in my journey, and you, dear papa etc.
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Your obedient and dutiful child |
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J CAPUCIN |
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TO JOHN PENN
Df.3
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June 7, 1765. |
I am just favoured with your letter of the 23 with the Inclosures and I am
much obliged to you for the particulars you
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1 For futher information regardin Capucin see The New Rgime, 1765-1767, ed. Clarence W. Alvord and Clarence E. Carter, in Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, 11:483 and 535.
2 (1, p. 764) This letter is printed: Doc. Rel. to Col. Hist. N. Y., 7:775.
3 (1, p. 766) From an extract in Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Ill., made by C. E. Carter before the fire; original destroyed.
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