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 the
Traders of Detroit
(Detroit, Sept. 4, 1767)
Hay, Jehu in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 5, pp. 657-659.
JEHU HAY TO THE TRADERS OF DETROIT
Contemporary Copy1
|
Detroit Septr. 4th, 1767 |
GENTLMEN
I have read your Sentiments which you were pleased to lay before me to day, with regard to the trade at this place & am very Sensible that you and many Others are much Interested in it.
In answer to your first Observation please to give me leave to remark, that if your Credit has fail'd at home the last two years for want of usual Remittances, that it can not be from the Trades being Confin'd to the posts First because it has been Confin'd but One Year, & secondly the Remittances in Peltry for that one year, I believe is much greater than has been for many years past.
I Dare Say the French Traders that live on the West Side of the Mississippi will try to get as much of our Trade as they Posibly can, But the Commissary at the Illinois who ought to know whether any Considerable part of our Trade is taken away by them, Has never mentioned to me that they have been Tradeing at any of the place, you mention, tho I believe he is Sensible they come into the Illinois river and I must Confess the Distance between this and the Illinois is So great that it would be Better if there was a place of trade between this and that, as to Complaints or requests from the Indians with regard to the Traders being Confin'd to the posts, I have never heard any But from the Miamies and the people on the Wabache who I believe only Spoke what those Runigates as you So justly Call them put in their mouths, for as (page 658) they are a Sett of People who lives without Law or Religion, apparently through Choice, they cannot Subsist long, without Succour and therefore do what they can to bring goods amongst them and Since our Traders with the Protection of Small Garrisons at St. Joseph's, Labay, Ouiattanon, Miamie &ca, could not Dislodge them it will be much more Difficult at present, it is True the Extent of this place is Such that it is imposible to provent Peoples Trading Contrary to his Majestys Proclamation and the Regulations Since made for Trade but its my Opinion if the Trading People of this place would joyn Heartily not only in Executing the present Plan for Trade but be Aiding in bringing to Justice all those who Act in Contempt thereof to their prejudice they would Soon find their Account in their Remittances would not only be Great, but with Less Expence and much Less Risque, and the Indians would be more Convinced of their Dependance upon us.
The Trade at this place is no more Confin'd than at any Other post, in the Department exceepting Michilimacka. which you Saw by the Rules & Instructions I had the pleasure of Laying befor you this day and by which you See its not in my power to Give Passes to any one to winter or Trade among the tribes but on the Contrary am Order'd to Ask assistance from the Commanding Officer to Bring away any that I find Trading Contrary to those Rules; I must beg leave to mention that I think Such a proceeding in me Cannot meet with Aprobations, Since in my Presence Sir William Johnson, was at Some pains in Explaining the Present regulations for the Indian Trade To A Number of Nations last Year at Oswego at a publick Congress.
I Dare Say that in Case of Such permission every one Indulg'd with them would make a point of Conducting themselves in the best manner.
I shall Conclude by asuring you that I shall alway
be ready to do any and every thing in my Power for the good of Com-
_________________________________
1 From a copy in the Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Ill., made by Clarence E. Carter before the fire; original much injured. Hay's letter was sent to George Croghan and forwarded by the latter to Johnson.
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