Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York: For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of CanadaGreat Britain. Board of Trade
History
Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York: For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada
Great Britain. Board of Trade
Fur trade -- New York (State); Indians of North America -- Commerce; Iroquois Indians; New York (State) -- Commerce -- History; New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
'We have further to observe, with respect to the Lands lying on
the West-side of _Sasquahannah_, that though Brother _Onas_
(meaning the Proprietor) has paid us for what his People
possess, yet some Parts of that Country have been taken up by
Persons, whose Place of Residence is to the South of this
Province, from whom we have never received any Consideration.
This Affair was recommended to you by our Chiefs at our last
Treaty; and you then, at our earnest Desire, promised to write a
Letter to that Person who has the Authority over those People,
and to procure us his Answer: As we have never heard from you on
this Head, we want to know what you have done in it. If you have
not done any Thing, we now renew our Request, and desire you
will inform the Person whose People are seated on our Lands,
that that Country belongs to us, in Right of Conquest; we having
bought it with our Blood, and taken it from our Enemies in fair
War; and we expect, as Owners of that Land, to receive such a
Consideration for it as the Land is worth. We desire you will
press him to send a positive Answer: Let him say _Yes_ or _No_:
If he says Yes, we will treat with him; if No, we are able to do
ourselves Justice; and we will do it, by going to take Payment
ourselves.
'It is customary with us to make a Present of Skins, whenever we
renew our Treaties. We are ashamed to offer our Brethren so few,
but your Horses and Cows have eat the Grass our Deer used to
feed on. This has made them scarce, and will, we hope, plead in
Excuse for our not bringing a larger Quantity. If we could have
spared more, we would have given more; but we are really poor;
and desire you'll not consider the Quantity, but few as they
are, accept them in Testimony of our Regard.'
_Here they gave the Governor a Bundle of Skins_.
The Governor immediately replied.
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'We thank you for the many Declarations of Respect you have
given us, in this solemn Renewal of our Treaties: We receive,
and shall keep your String and Belts of Wampum, as Pledges of
your Sincerity, and desire those we gave you may be carefully
preserved, as Testimonies of ours.
'In Answer to what you say about the Proprietaries.--They are
all absent, and have taken the Keys of their Chest with them; so
that we cannot, on their Behalf, enlarge the Quantity of Goods:
Were they here, they might perhaps, be more generous; but we
cannot be liberal for them.--The Government will, however, take
your Request into Consideration; and in Regard to your Poverty,
may perhaps make you a Present. I but just mention this now,
intending to refer this Part of your Speech to be answered at
our next Meeting.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account