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.
An Abridgment of the Indian Affairs
Wraxall, Peter in: Harvard Historical
Studies, vol. XXI, pp. 48-49.
|
Albany 29 Sepr 1706.-- Vol. 2d of the Records. |
My Lord Cornbury Govr & Commandr in Chief met the
Indians at Albany wch is the first meeting there held by a Govr
or Lieut Govr [from] that appears in the Records from
[the] July 1701. In the intermediate Time everything was managed by the Commissrs
a Neutrality subsisted between the Govr of Canada, whilst a Hot War
was carried on by the French against New England, & it appears from the
Records that the Commissrs used their Endeavrs with the 5
Nations to exert their Influence with the Indians in Canada & elsewhere not
to make war upon New England- but this had little or no Effect. The French
during this Time were practising every Art in their Power to increase their
Influence amongst the 5 Nations, [&] also to distress & disturb them by
fomenting Wars, Feuds & Misunderstandings between them & the farr
Nations [that] wch lye to the Southward & Westward of the
Sennecas Country, & did engage them in a War with the Flat Heads who live
at back of Carolina- And tho the Commissioners did at several times lay open to
the 5 Nations this Perfidious Conduct of the French yet such was their
Attachment to the French or such was their Fear of them, that the 5 Nations
kept us a Friendly commerce with the Govr of Canada & harboured
the Jesuits amongst them
However Numbers of the farr Nations came down to Albany & Traded with the Inhabitants, wch created a great Jealousy in the French & set them at work to endeavour to disturb the Tranquility [of] amongst the Indians & by engaging them in (page 49) Civil Warrs amongst one another to prevent their continuing a Trade with Albany, & this in a great Measure they Effected.- The French sent Pouder & Shot Gratis amongst the 5 Nations to induce them to go out & fight wch was a great means of prevailing on them- I find at this Time it was very justly apprehended that one great Design of the French deducing our Indians to march to the Southward, was to take from us their assistance & whilst they were gone out to war the French might more easily make an Attack upon this Govt wch was expected & feared at Albany.- . . .
|
Albany 22d Febry 1706/7.- |
The French Jesuits at Onondaga and Cayouge stir up the 5 Nations to go out a fighting against the Farr Indians in order to prevent those farr Indians from coming to Trade at Albany, and raise several false reports among them to the prejudice of the English.
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