83
DE LA BARRe’s EXPEDITION TO HUNGRY BAY.
FATHER LAMBERVILLE, MISSIONARY AT ONONDAGA, TO M. DE LA BARRE.
[ Onondaga, ] July 10, 1684.
Sir,—A general Assembly of all the Iroquois will be held here at which it is intended to uniteagainst you, and to inform the Senecas that you wished to persuade the four Iroquois Nations not toaid them in case of war. I am surprised that M. Le Moyne or some other persons have not told youthat all the villages were confederated, and that one could not be attacked without becoming embroiledwith the others.
Did affairs permit, I should have much wished to tell you my thoughts on many things. Mybrother will inform you of all when he will have the honor to see you.. The On [non] tagues whohave been spoken to, would like much to settle matters; this is the reason my brother goes toyou, whilst I still keep them disposed to give you satisfaction, in order to avoid if possible an infini-tude of evils which will overtake Canada , and as I know not whether you desire war without liste-ning to proposals for peace, I wish to understand whether it is not fitter that I withdraw, if possible,rather than give occasion to the Iroquois to say that I deceived them, by propositions for peace. TheOnontagues and other nations say, that it grieves them to take up arms against you who are theirneighbour, and who form almost one country with them.
They acknowledge that the Senecas are proud and insolent on account of their great number ofwarriors, but if you are desirous to maintain peace by some satisfaction which they will induce theSenecas to make you, it will be very acceptable, so as not to be obliged to come to extremitieswhich will be very disastrous. If war occurs, Sir, all those who have houses apart from fortifiedplaces must at once abandon their dwellings, for the grain and the houses will be burned, and manywill otherwise be brought away prisoners to be cruelly tormented and insulted. I always think thatpeace ought to be most precious to you, and that all the advantages that can be held out ought tocause you to shrink from war. A delay in order to arrange everything more at leisure and afterhaving received assistance from France , would extricate you from much embarrassment which willlollow from all sides. Pardon me if I give free expression to my thoughts ; you will not at leastdisapprove of the zeal with w ch I am with much respect and submission
Your very humble and
Very Obedient Servant(Signed) DeLamberville.
FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME.
11 July 1684.
Sir, A troop of Senecas on their way to buy their supplies and munitions of powder, lead andarms are two days [distance] from here. They are expected in order to talk fully of affairs and toendeavour for the preservation peace to induce them to give to you satisfaction. I believe if youare really desirous to come to an arrangement in which an effort will be made to satisfy you, andwherein will be prescribed the boundaries of war and trade, you would have leisure to provide withless trouble and embarrassment for the security of Canada , either by erecting forts at La Famine ortowards the Senecas under the pretext of establishing a blacksmith, or at La Galette according as youthink proper.