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 Cadillac
(April 19, 1702)
Mermet, Jacques Jean in: Michigan Historical
Collections, Vol. XXXIII, pp. 118-119.
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This 9th letter is from Father Mermet. From the first paragraph it contains it seems that this Father is very glad to make known to M. de Lamothe that he willingly gives him an opportunity to attain to glory if by his care and action he may avert the evils with which the colony and religion are threatened; and he claims by his action he is taking (although the thing is in itself greatly to be commended) to convince him that the Jesuits are more friendly to him than he thinks. This infers and means in good French [=in plain English] that, if the Jesuits had been enemies of M. de Lamothe, they would rather have let religion and the Colony perish than have informed him of the dangerous condition to which they were reduced or, it were better to say, according to his letters, of their imminent and almost certain ruin.
This father seems to be alarmed at the Miamis being more eager than usual for hunting, and pays no regard [to the fact] that it is evident that that is on account of the general peace that has been concluded, which invites them to hunt without fear. He asserts that Quarante Sous, Chief of the Hurons, is to settle 20 or 30 leagues from Detroit, and does not know that the same Quarante Sous is already settled with his village at Detroit in the place which M. de Lamothe has assigned to them; he makes him out to be the soul of all intrigue at a time when this chief is doing nothing but carrying out what has been laid down for him. They bear this poor man ill-will because they believed it was he who spoke against Father de Carheil, and they do not perceive that they are blundering, that it is another Quarante Sous, who was (page 119, I) sent to M. de Lamothe to speak to him on behalf of the Hurons of Missilimakinak. Finally, after this Father has roundly abused the innocent Quarante Sous, he draws an inference for which there appears to be no grounds; these are his words,- judge from that, Sir, says he, how far we should trust to the report of the savages, and yet it is on their report that he informs M. de Lamothe of this important matter which concerns the welfare of the colony and even of religion. Finally in a postscript to his letter he returns to the charge; he urges me to send his letters filled with similar advice to the Governors and the Intendant, as well as to his Superiors. He writes through Missilimakinak, and there is reason for astonishment that he is not already in Quebec, and the English with the Miamis.
This is the Gordian knot of this important matter, on which M. de Lamothe was already informed. Two captains, namely MM. de la Forest and Tonty, arranged a meeting at Missilimakinak in the month of July, 1701, and they formed a scheme there with the Jesuits to form a post at the river where the Miamis are, with the intention of making the post of Detroit fail. That is why the missionaries of Missilimakinak invited the savages to go and settle there; and it was decided that this Father Mermet(see fn. 1) should give this alarm to M. de Lamothe with Father Davenant; the Jesuits undertook M. de Champigny and the two officers of M. de Calliere, the whole with the object of compelling the Governor-General to send a strong garrison to the Miamis in order to start that post under the pretext that the English would come there.
At St. Joseph River the 19th of April, 1702
Ninth
Sir,
Although I have not the honor of being known to you I cannot omit writing to you about an important matter which concerns the welfare of the Colony as well as of religion; and from that Sir you may see that the Jesuits are more friendly to you than you think unless you yourself will not honor them with your kind remembrance, and if I dare say so, with your friendship.
Five of our Miamis are betaking themselves to the English for goods which they will bring this summer. They have never been seen more eager in hunting the beaver than since they received fine belts from the English, brought by the Iroquois who have come here. That is in order to get permission from our Miamis to establish a post freely, three days from here near a river which is the source of the Oüabache, whence there is only one portage of half a league to get to this river here and another like [portage] to go to a river which runs down to Detroit. From thence the English would be able to go, or send from all sides the savages from our Lakes.
In this latter river which runs to Detroit M. Quarante Solz, who will not fail to inveigh against Father de Carheil, and is the moving spirit of every intrigue of our Miamis [?is going] to settle, 20 or 30 leagues from Detroit. He has also made very large presents to testify to the alliance which the Hurons and the Miamis wish to form between them. From this river the said Quarante Solz will have the choice of the English or the French for trading, in order to be more at peace there, he is to go- they say- to M. de Calliere to (page 119, II) ask permission to trade there on his own account [?saying] that if he does not go nearer to Detroit it is so as not to deprive the French of the advantage of the hunting, or from fear of incommoding the French who have sheep, cows or other domestic animals which their children could not help killing if they were nearer. But he ought not to disclose either the alliance he meditates with the English or the resentment which he will some day cause to break out against the 8ta8as; he has not even managed to keep himself from saying, to one of his confidants, that the French were preventing him from revenging himself on the 8ta8as, but that the English would assist him. Judge from that, Sir, how far we should trust to the report of the savages. You should, Sir, however, conceal [the fact] that the report I am making to you comes from us, especially as they might do us an ill-turn; but I thought, Sir, in writing this to you, to oblige you. You should not doubt that there will be no lack of denials of so infamous a case; but, if you think I am interested in this, so that you do not entirely credit it, inquire into it elsewhere and be on your guard against the Hurons. I take the liberty of addressing to you, on the same subject, letters to the Governor, and the Intendant and our Superior. I beg you to send them as soon as possible. If I have the opportunity you shall learn how far I am, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant.
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[Signed] |
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Jean Mermet.(see fn. 1) |
In order to succeed, Sir, I beg you to use all possible diligence either in
writing yourself or in forwarding our letters to the authorities. I think the
matter so certain and so important that, if your man had not set out for
Detroit, I should have started specially to go down to Missilimakinak and
thence perhaps to Quebec. Lest your man should be stopped by the Savages, I am
writing the same matter by Missilimakinak, but that way will be much longer. So
diligence! I beg you.
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