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 Gage
(Johnson Hall, Feb. 20, 1766)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 20-24.
to undertake the Journ'y, as it would afford me the Satisfaction of Seeing You and him, and I could wish I might be of any use, but my constitution is greatly changed. for Six years past, I have been at different periods attacked with a Violent disorder in the Bowels, wh. often produces a Dilirium and from several Symptoms I expect a return of it daily which has oblidged me to apply to Doctor Magrah,8 should it attack me on the Road at such a Season as this, It might prove fatal. I must therefore of necessity postpone my Journey, the rather as there is no Sledding, Albany River is Shut up, no other Carriage can yet go on the Road, & my Wound which everry Year grows more troublesome will not permit me to undertake a Journey on Horseback, I have wrote to Sir Henry on the Subject by this Conveyance.
I am pleased to find by your letter of the 10th. that You approve of my meeting with Pondiac & the Cheifs of ye. Westeren Nations at Ontario,9 I now Send orders to Mr. Croghan to forward Belts with my Messages to Him & the rest, whilst I send others by way of the Lakes to prevent a Disapointment.- as the Indians are Slow in their Motions on these occasions they may not arrive at the fixed place before June, or July next, a Conference wt. him and the rest may contribute to consolidated wth. has been hitherto done, He is a fellow of Ambition & forwardness, & those kind of People will make an Interest amongst all Indians- whether he had Sufficient to obtain possession of the Illinois I cant pretend to say, I know from a variety of proofs it was the cheif obstacle to our acquiring that Country till last Year, but I dont consider his power alone as the cause of our Success, & I apprehend Capt. Sterling10 may have been misinformed by the French (whose Study it is to misguide us) with regard to the cause of his gaining possession of Fort Chartres,11 for I know the Indians were well (page 23) acquainted with all his Motions, and had the Majority been actually disposed to oppose him, it is evident He could never have reached that place, neither are they to be Surprised by any body we can send by so tedious a Rout, & thro so many Nations. The French will doubtless, tho falsly assert that the Cheifs did not attend, or approve of it, because they like to create misunderstandings & avail themselves thereby, doubtless many disliked it, & none more than the French as appears by their Letters, but the Cheifs & the Majority were willing to try our bounty otherwise we could not have got it. I only mention this in Justice to Mr. Croghans endeavours.-
I should be sorry that the Parliament did not find time for attending to affairs, the importance of which have been felt here severely, but as You observe it is highly probable they may be otherwise engaged, if so, my hands must be greatly tyed up, for it will be out of my power to consult the Board on any occurring Matter, and without that my Risque is evident. In the present case there is some difference, & Mr. Croghan will be the best Person certainly to go to the Illinois & introduce the Commissary who is to reside there to the Indians Acquaintance, there will be some Expence attending his Journey, as no Man can go empty handed amongst the Indians.- I am verry glad You approve of these appointments, which I shall report to the Board of Trade, and for the present confine the expence to those of most importance; as Fort Pitt, Illinois Michilimacinac Detroit & Niagra, for which as I formerly mentioned I have pitched upon Several persons whose names I shall transmit in my next, as also an Estimate of the quantity of provisions as near as I can. It would doubtless be a Saving to give them the provisions You mention to be at Niagra, but as they would certainly take notice of it, I apprehend it might give them offence, as I once experienced on such an occasion.-
The size of the Dye you sent is very large but most of the Workmanship of
that nature done at New York is so ill executed that it is observed even by the
most distant Indians. I believe this work is better finished at Philadelphia,
by some Meddals I
___________________________________
8 Dr. Redmond Magra.
9 Oswego.
10 Captain Thomas Stirling of the 42nd, or Royal Highland regiment.
11 Fort Chartres was located on the Mississippi River near La Prairie du Rocher in present Randolph County, Ind.
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