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.
Letter to Johnson
(New York, March 9, 1772)
Gage, Thomas in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 8, pp. 417-419.
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INDORSED:1 |
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Montreal 8th, March 1772 |
FROM THOMAS GAGE
A. L. S.2
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New york March 9th: 1772. |
DEAR SIR,
I have received the Kings Orders to give Notice to the People Settled at Post Vincent that it is His Majesty's Pleasure they remove from thence immediately, and retire into Some of the Provinces, and to report to the Secry: of State the Answer they shall give to the Message. It may perhaps be Necessary in the Execution of this Order to observe Some Decorum with the Indians of the ouabache and to give them Some Specious Reasons for it, that tend to their Benefit and our own, by preserving a Mutual Amity between Us, extending their Trade by having more Traders amongst them, &ca. which had been interrupted by the Machinations of Said Settlers and others, who constantly raise false Reports and tell them idle Storys of the Designs of the English against them. I therefore postpone Sending the Orders till I have your opinion of the Measures proper to be taken with the Indians at the time the King's Message is delivered, which you will be so good to let me know as soon as you can form a Judgement about it.
The Establishment at Fort-Chartres and the Illinois Country will be Soon reduced to a very Small Matter; and it appears to me that it would be very usefull, if the Deputy you appoint (page 418) for the Western District should reside amongst the Nations upon the ouabache, and be furnished with the Proportion of Presents which You allot for the Use of the Western Nations. He might by these Means conciliate the Affections of those Tribes as he would be a Check upon the Traders and see they committed no Frauds, and sold their Goods agreeable to the Tariff. And you would always be informed of the Designs and Intrigues of those Nations, as well as able to counteract any Schemes of the French Traders, who are chiefly from Canada. It is easy to stop the Canadian Traders at the Miamie, which if their Behavior should Warrant Such a Proceeding, Must be done. But we should have good Proofs of their Conduct. The Deputy might if requisite and usefull have a Commission of the Peace from Several of the Provinces. I imagine Such a Proceeding would be very pleasing to the Indians concerned; it has been tried and has had a very good Effect amongst the French Chactaws, and other Nations bordering upon the Mississippi, very much Attached to the French Interest, and now reconciled to Us.
I am With great Regard,
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Dear Sir, Your Most obedient |
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humble Servant |
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THOS. GAGE |
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SR: WM: JOHNSON Bart:
P: S:
Since writing I have received your Letter of the 18th: Ulmo:, for which I greatly thank You; and am glad of the good Tidings brought you by Thomas King's Companions; which gives Reason to hope the last Deputys, will return with a further Confirmation of the Peaceable Dispositions of the Western Confederacy. They have been industrious in forming a Powerfull League, but unsuccessfull in their Negotiations with many Tribes. A few Days ago I received Letters from W: Florida from Mobile, where the Chactaws & Chikesaws were comeing to a Congress; The Meeting with the Creeks was finished and the Chiefs of that Nation told us of the Deputys from the Western Nations having (page 419) been amongst them, to engage them to enter into an Alliance offensive and Defensive. The Creeks asked them if their Beloved Man to the Northward was informed of their Proceedings; They answered it was a Mater relating only to Themselves. Upon which the Creeks rejected their Proposals, which were made only to the Chiefs, who were carefull not to divulge what had passed to the Warriors. The Deputys returned without Success.
What you have observed of the present Irregularity of the Post is Shamefully true. I hardly know when to write, for the Post Seldom goes on the Day appointed, or comes in the Day it ought and its next to impossible to send Answers by Return of the Post. By the Regulation it ought to go from hence the Day after tomorrow vizt: on the 11th: Instt: but it's So uncertain that I am now writeing past twelve at Night least it should be Sent away tomorrow Morning and it's quite uncertain when this will get to you. I will take an opportunity to talk with Mr. Colder upon the Subject I write in So much haste I wish you may understand what I have wrote. One more Dr. Sir
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Your's |
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THOSs. GAGE |
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INDORSED:3 |
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March 9th, 1772 |
FROM ISAAC LOW
A. L. S.
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New York March 17th, 1772- |
SIR
From misinformation at the Post [Of]fice about the
Departure of the Post, two Posts have escaped me without a Reply to your
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1 In Johnson's hand.
2 In Harvard College Library, Cambridge, Mass.
3 (1, p. 419) In Johnson's hand.
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