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.
Memorandum
(February 13, 1731)
In: Cadillac Papers, Michigan Historical
Collections, Vol. 34, pp. 85-87.
p. 85.
[Added in autograph of Noyan to copy after "20,000."]
The Court may rest assured that, as I have never done any trading, nor had command of any post of this kind, I shall not begin to do so at Detroit, especially when I am pointing out the drawbacks to doing so.
|
Noyan. |
[The lower part of the signature is cut off.]
__________
IMPORTANCE OF BREAKING THE TRADE
RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND THE INDIANS.
Endorsed 13 Feb. 1731.
Canada.
A letter was written to MM. de Beauharnois and Hocquart, on the 2nd. of May 1730, as to the importance of breaking off the trading relations between the savages and the English, as it is to be feared that, if they resort much to them, that may detach the savages from our interests, by their taking their furs to the English: stating
That the settlement of Detroit was formed partly with that object:
That, however, the Miamis and Onyatanous, among whom we keep up garrisons, take the greater part of their furs to the English, which arises from the difficulties which the French Voyageurs meet with in going to these tribes, on account of the various portages; that it might, therefore, be advisable not to keep on these posts, that of Detroit being sufficient because the savages, to whom the difficulty is of no importance, could go there:
That, in order to obtain from the post of Detroit the advantages which it was intended to obtain, it was advisable to take away the trade of that post from the Commandant, in order to make his authority respected:
To give him the strictest orders to prevent any Frenchmen from traversing the backwoods under the pretence of trading or hunting, which would draw upon them the contempt of the savages and be the cause of disputes between them.
That, by way of compensation to this commandant, when making the trade free, it would be necessary to make every boat convey a considerable weight free, for food; also, to grant him something on each license, part of which might be assigned for the cost of the almoner and the in-
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