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 — John Shaqi
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
'The Number of Guns, as well as every Thing else, answers
exactly with the Particulars specified in your Deed of
Conveyance, which is more than was agreed to be given you. It
was your own Sentiments, that the Lands on the West-side of
_Sasquahannah_, were not so valuable as those on the East; and
an Abatement was to be made, proportionable to the Difference in
Value: But the Proprietor overlooked this, and ordered the full
Quantity to be delivered, which you will look on as a Favour.
'It is very true, that Lands are of late become more valuable;
but what raises their Value? Is it not entirely owing to the
Industry and Labour used by the white People, in their
Cultivation and Improvement? Had not they come amongst you,
these Lands would have been of no Use to you, any further than
to maintain you. And is there not, now you have sold so much,
enough left for all the Purposes of Living?--What you say of the
Goods, that they are soon worn out, is applicable to every
Thing; but you know very well, that they cost a great deal of
Money; and the Value of Land is no more, than it is worth in
Money.
'On your former Complaints against People's settling the Lands
on _Juniata_, and from thence all along on the River
_Sasquahannah_ as far as _Mahaniahy_, some Magistrates were sent
expresly to remove them, and we thought no Persons would presume
to stay after that.'
Here they interrupted the Governor, and said:--
"These Persons who were sent did not do their Duty: So far from
removing the People, they made Surveys for themselves, and they
are in League with the Trespassers. We desire more effectual
Methods may be used, and honester Persons employed."
Which the Governor promised, and then proceeded:
'_B R E T H R E N_,
'According to the Promise made at our last Treaty with you, Mr.
_Logan_, who was at that Time President, did write to the
Governor of _Maryland_, that he might make you Satisfaction for
such of your Lands as his People had taken up, but did not
receive one Word from him upon that Head. I will write to him
again, and endeavour to procure you a satisfactory Answer. We do
not doubt but he will do you Justice: But we exhort you to be
careful not to exercise any Acts of Violence towards his People,
as they likewise are our Brethren, and Subjects of the same
great King; and therefore Violence towards them, must be
productive of very evil Consequences.
'I shall conclude what I have to say at this Time, with
Acknowledgments for your Present; which is very agreeable to us,
from the Expressions of Regard used by you in presenting it:
Gifts of this Nature receiving their Value from the Affection of
the Giver, and not from the Quantity or Price of the Thing
given.'
* * * * *
At a C O U N C I L held at _Philadelphia, July_ 8, 1742.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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