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
(Guy Park, May 20, 1768)
Johnson, Guy in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 12, pp. 507-511.
our Brothers, and Nephews at Onoghquagey, and others, who live on the road, had best to be called to the Congress.- This we tell you, as you have been so good as to desire our advice.- but we Submit this matter entirely to you.-
To which Coln. Johnson answered.-
Brothers-
It was may intention from the beginning that your Brothers, and Nephews, who live out of the road, should be called, and I thought it unnecessary to mention them, when I named the Six Nations to whom many of them are Brothers, and the rest Nephews, as the Shawanese & Delawares are, who are likewise called. I therefore entirely agree to it, and only add, that as business is best carried on, when none but fit men go about it, there is no Occasion for the attendance of any, but Chiefs, and Warriors.-
GUY JOHNSON TO THOMAS GAGE
A. L. S.1
|
Guy Park May 20th, 1768. |
SIR,
Since the Letter of the 4th Inst2 which I had the honor to address to your Excellency, Your Letters of the second3 and third4 instant arrived here, the former with Extracts from that Wrote by Capt. Turnbull5 concerning the Murder of the Two Traders, or which I have likewise received an Account from Commissary Hay,6 as also of the Murder of James Hill Clark 7 by one Meyet a French Man, at the House of Mini Chesne8 in the pres (page 508) ence of several Canadians, and from the Depositions taken thereon it appears that Chesne suffered the Offenders to get off, and Clarks goods to be cut up and divided.-
Mr. Hay farther reports that one Beau Soliel at St. Josephs who acts as he gives out as Commandant there, by Appointment from Major Rogers, Informs that the Chiefs of that place deny their knowledge of the murder of Mr. Hambach,9 and say it was committed by some who have left their Village & disregard their Admonitions; all which I take to be an idle, stale Excuse. Mr. Hay adds that an Ottawa Chief conversing with him about Major Rogers said "he was a good father but that Mr Roberts10 begrudged them every thing altho the property of the King."- That Major Rogers's last Words to him were to Come in with his people so soon as the Ice was gone, having something of great importance to communicate, after which he would set out to Wait on your Excellcy., and that the Indians give out they have received Belts from the Spaniards to kill all the English who may be found trading in their Country. Mr. Hay farther says, that the Indians who killed Rogers11 came to the House of L. Chevallier,12 and in the presence of sevl. Frenchmen, desired that the Command and Commissary shod. be informed that their intentions were bad, & that they would go against Detroit, or Fort Pitt so soon as the Snow was gone Assisted by the Shawanese;- That they had killed Rogers to shew that they would suffer no Englishman amongst them, and that the only terms on which they made peace, were, that no Englishman should be sent amongst them.- Mr. Hay also gives an account of the Murder of a Huron (whose brother was killed by a Soldier in 1764) by a french Man at the Detroit, and that on the late Accidents he assemble the Traders who agreed to send French men to protect their effects in the Indian Country & to put their Rum into a general store, giving bonds to each other that none should give beyond a Glass (page 509) per diem to an Indian, but he seemed to doubt the continuance of this Resolution.-
From these reports, as well as in Obedience to
your Excellencys Letter I have wrote fully both to the Comissys. & to Mr.
Croghan and I wish it may have a proper effect. The French who live in the
Indian Country are without doubt at the bottom of all this: But their Influence
over & Connection with the Indians will make it a Work of much difficulty
to remove them, which I apprehend the Indians will hardly consent to, and
Should force be found necessary, it may be productive of a Quarrel,- One means
of Withdrawing them will be the prohibition of Goods to them. Yet, so long as
other Traders are suffered to go into the Indian Country, they will get
Supplies. Our Traders often finding it their advantage to sell to those who are
on such terms with the Indians that they can afford to give high prices of
goods, which they dispose of to them at a proportional Advance without giving
them discontent, whereof proof has been often given to Sir William Johnson.-
The practices of these French gives Occasion to the Quebec Merchants to desire
an Unlimitted indulgence throughout the Indian Country, Alledging that the
Trade will otherwise be drawn down the Misisipi and in all probability
it originated with the French who were sensible that when in Conjunction with
our Traders they had once obtained this Liberty, they would render it of no use
to any but themselves through the Artifices of their Agents,- The Traders may
now see the danger of being in a Country Exposed to the artifices of French,
and the fury of Indians, and I hope they will become sensible of the Necessity
of some Restrictions, when found to operate In their favor, and to the
disadvantage of these Disturbers. Lieut Roberts being called down I have wrote
Mr. Hay concerning Michilimackinac,
as it will be without a Commissary, and since My Last two Letters are arrived
from the Earl of Hillsborough the one to Notify his Appointment,13 the other14 on
____________________________
1 In William L. Clements Library.
2 Ante pp. 488-90.
3 Ante pp. 486-88.
4 Johnson Papers, 6:211-13.
5 Johnson Papers, 6:121-22.
6 Lieutenant Jehu Hay.
7 A trader.
8 An interpreter at Detroit.
9 Frederick Hambach.
10 Commissary Benjamin Roberts.
11 A trader.
12 Louis Chevallier, See Johnson Papers, 6:121.
13 See Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 8:7.
14 March 12, 1768, Ibid., 8:35-36.
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