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.
Beauharnois and Hocquart
to the Minister
(October 15, 1730)
Beauharnois and Hocquart in: Michigan
Pioneer and Historical Collections,
Vol. 34, pp. 70-71.
PLANS TO
PREVENT THE ENGLISH FROM TRADING WITH
THE INDIANS.
Endorsed Canada. MM. de Beauharnois and Hocquart1 - 15th Octr. 1730.
Monseigneur
We have received the letter which you did us the honor to write us on the 2nd of May last, communicating to us your observations as to the means for preventing the trade of the English with the savages, upon which you are pleased to ask for our opinion.
In order to prevent this trade and put a stop to it entirely, it would be [advisable] to take steps to ensure that the posts of Niagara and Fort Frontenac should always be well supplied with goods for trading, and this will be very easy when the King's ship arrives early, as this year.
As regards the post of Detroit, and also to prevent the trade of the English with the savages, it would be important to pursue the objects which we had when it was first established; and to succeed in that, it would be necessary to set up a good garrison there to begin with, in order that, as intended by the Court, the commandant of that post might be in a position to maintain good order there, and make himself respected by the French people and the savages.
It is certain, Monseigneur, that the objects aimed at when Detroit was established were partly to break off the connections between the English and the savages, and to put a stop to the trade they did with each other. The plan which we find for pursuing these objects, and entirely preventing the dealings of the savages with the English, would indeed be as you do us the honor of telling us,- to compel the Miamis and Onitanous to come to Detroit for what they wanted, by not permitting the Voyageurs to take them to them at their villages. But we think that there would be a danger of the English going to these savages, who would receive them thinking that the French had abandoned them. It is indisputable that, if we are now to abandon a single post where there are any Frenchmen, the English would immediately estab- (page 71) lish themselves there. Therefore, Monseigneur, we think it would be more advisable to strengthen the posts we now occupy, than to weaken them by compelling one tribe to go to another to find what it wants, more especially as it seems to us dangerous to bring different savage tribes together in one place, for fear they should not get on well together.
The Onitanous were taken away to the government of Louisiana by the Sr. de Vincennes, who has entirely withdrawn from this government. In order to compel that tribe to go back to the Miamis for what they required, the Sr. de Beauharnois had at first intended not to allow any voyageur to go up in that direction, and his design would have been carried out if he had not been induced to grant that permission to some Frenchmen for taking missionaries to the Tamarois,2 who took a quantity of good with them which they disposed of in the old post as usual.
The Sr. de Boishebert,3 who was urgently asked for as commandant at Detroit, went up there this summer. He does absolutely no trade there, and would not enter into any partnership with anyone. In consideration of the permits that he sells to trade at this post, he has undertaken to bear all the expenses, whether of the almoner, the interpreter, the presents to be made to the savages or the garrison. In this way, Monseigneur, all the voyageurs have been pleased; a greater number of them have gone up this year than usual; hence there will consequently be more goods, and they will be sold cheaper. This is one of the greatest means of attracting the savages there and making the place flourish. The Sr. de Beauharnois will make not change until you order him with your orders, more especially as the Sr. de Boishebert is doing no trading, and that appears to be in accordance with your wishes.
One of the ways to make the post of Detroit still
more flourishing would be to keep up a garrison of fifty or sixty men there.
The commandant would then be in a position to make himself respected by the
French and the savages at that place, and it would form an important post at
the head of the country, which would not fail to make an impression ion the
tribes, and would sweep aside the designs of the English. But, as it tends
inevitably to be a source of expense to His Majesty, we cannot think of it
until he has decided upon it, and also as regards Missilimakinac which,
however, would not return the same advantages
_______________________________
1 Chevalier Giles Hocquart was the twelfth Intendant of New France and regulated the system of weights and measures.- C. M. B.
2 An Illinois tribe located near Kaskaskia.
3 See Appendix, Vol. 33.
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