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.
Vaudreuil to Maurepas
(April 8, 1747)
Vaudreuil in: Archives Nationales,
Ministere des
Colonies, C13A 31:52 and in Illinois
Historical Collections, French
Series, vol. III, pp. 18-22.
Monseigneur:
I have inferred from the capture of the king's ship L'Elephant that the three Englishmen whom I had embarked on (page 20) it have not reached France. As a result of their various explorations on our rivers I have been alarmed at the knowledge they had gained, especially of the Wabash, where it is to be feared that they may forestall us in establishing some fort which would cut us off from all communication from here to the Illinois and from the Illinois to Canada by that river. This may very well be according to what M. Bertet has quite recently reported to my by voyageurs who have come down with a good deal of flour. This news is that he has been informed by the Shawnee that there were English who were to come and settle on the lower part of the Tennessee River, from whom, with his permission, they would get what they needed since he was in no condition to supply them. He must expressly oppose it. I am going to send him word by the convoy to do everything to that end. The raids which he is going to have made on the colony of Philadelphia, as well as on some old English settlements on our rivers, by a party of French and Indians, both from the Illinois regions and from Missouri and (page 21) Wabash rivers, including the Shawnee, should disconcert any plans which the English may have formed of coming to settle on the Tennessee. The fear that I have always had of it, Monseigneur, has made me importunate in pressing on you the importance of our proposed fort on the Wabash. I feel the necessity of it so strongly that I would have taken it up on myself to begin it this year if on this point I had not found your orders to the contrary too specific. These considerations make me hope, Monseigneur, that you will be good enough to give me orders by the next vessel providing for that settlement according to the plan that you received.
As to the Shawnee, I will neglect nothing to second the intention of M. le Marquis de Beauharnois to have them settle toward Detroit lest by their settlement on the Wabash the English be given the opportunity to get near us once more.
M. Bertet indicates to me on that subject that if he were in a position to supply that tribe with what it needs, he would be able to not merely prevent its having any trade with the English (page 22) but also to drive them from the store houses which they have had so long on our rivers.
The wampum belts and calumets which were passing among the Illinois and Wabash tribes of which, Monseigneur, I had the honor to give you an account by a former letter came from the English, who had made use of the Miamis of the portage to spread the report among them that the Iroquois were about to come and destroy them. This had much alarmed these tribes; but M. Bertet has reassured them in such fashion that they have all accepted the tomahawk to go and strike the English and are to set out this month to go to the River of the South, where they are to join a party of French on this expedition. . . .
I have the honor to be with a very profound respect, Monseigneur,
|
Your very humble and very obedient servant, |
|
Vaudreuil |
New Orleans, April 8, 1747.
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