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.
Extract of Vaudreuil to the
Minister for the Navy
(April 8, 1747)
Vaudreuil de Cavagnol, Pierre Rigaud
de in:
English Translation of Margry,
vol. 6, pp. 662-664.
* * * *
V.
The
settlement of the English on the Wabash
or the River of the Cheraquis would be fatal to French interests.
If the
Chaouanons were supplied with the goods
they need, the English would be driven from our rivers.
__________
(not identified).
Extract of a letter from M. de Vaudreuil, Governor of Louisiana, to the Minister for the Navy.
|
8th of April, 1747. |
From the capture of the King's store-ship the Elephant, I understood that the three Englishmen, whom I put on board that vessel, never reached France. Ever since, I have feared that they wold make some attempt on our rivers, from the knowledge they have obtained of them, especially on the Wabash, where it is (page 663) to be feared that they will forestall us by establishing a fort of some kind, which would cut off all communication between here and the Illinois country, and between the Illinois and Canada, by this river.
There would indeed appear to be some probability of this, according to the news which M. Bertet sent me quite recently, by some Voyageurs who came down with a large quantity of flour. He states that he was informed by the Chaouanons that some Englishmen were to come and settle on the lower part of the River of the Cherakis, from whom they would obtain the goods they needed, with his permission, since he was not able to supply them; this commandant should strongly oppose this, and I am going to urge him, by the convoy, to use every endeavour to do so. The raids which he is going to make upon the settlements of Philadelphia and on our rivers, where the English have some old posts, by a party of Frenchmen and others from the Illinois country and the Missouri and Wabash Rivers, including the Chaouanons, may perhaps divert the English from the plan which they may formed to come and settle at that place. The fear which I have always felt, of their doing so has caused me to persist in impressing upon you the great importance of the proposal for a fort on the Wabash. I feel the necessity of it so strongly that I should have taken upon myself to begin it this year if I had not considered your orders on this matter too clear. These considerations make me hope, Monseigneur, that you will be pleased to give me instructions by the next ship, which may decide upon that post, in accordance with the plan in your possession.
As to the Chaouanons, I will neglect nothing that may support the wishes of the Marquis de Beauharnois,- to induce them to (page 664) settle in the neighbourhood of Detroit,- for fear that, if they settle on the Wabash, it may give the English an opportunity of approaching still nearer to us. M. Bertet writes, on this subject, that if he were in a position to supply that tribe with the goods they require, he would answer for it that he could not only prevent them from doing any trading with the English, but also drive the latter from our rivers, where they have long had warehouses.
The belts and calumets which were being circulated among the tribes of the Illinois and the Wabash, of which I had the honour of sending you an account, Monseigneur, in a previous letter, proceeded from the English, who employed the Miamis of the Portage to circulate among them the report that the Iroquois were to come and destroy them. The report alarmed those tribes greatly; but M. Bertet has reassured them so completely that they have all agreed to take up the tomahawk and go and attack the English. They are to set out this month and proceed to the River of the South, where they are to muster, with a party of Frenchmen, for this expedition.
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