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I am persuaded tliat the Iroquois are very anxious for peace now that they see troops, but I donot at all believe that they will submit not to make war any more against the other Nations ourallies, therefore there is no doubt but we must prepare to humble them.
What I should consider most effectual to accomplish this, would be the establishment of a rightgood post at Niagara.
The manner in which the English have managed with the Iroquois hitherto, when desirous toestablish themselves in their neighbourhood, has been to make them presents for the purchase of thesoil and the property of the land they wish to occupy. What I see most certain is, whether weact so by them or have peace or war with them, they will submit with considerable impatienceto see a fort built at Niagara which would secure to us the communication between the two lakes ;would render us masters of the road the Senecas take in going to hunt for furs, none of which theyhave on their own grounds; it is likewise their rendezvous when hunting for their supplies of meatwith which as well as with all sorts of fish, this country abounds.
This post would be of great advantage to the other nations who are at war with these, and whodurst not approach them, having too long a road to travel when retreating. It would keep them incheck and in obedience, especially by building a Fort sufficiently large to contain a force of 4 or 500men to make war on them ; this cannot be done without expense because it must be enclosed by asimple, ordinary picket fence to place it beyond all insult, not being in a position to be relieved by us.
To guarantee its construction, it must not be doubted for a moment, though at peace with them,but a guard would be necessary there for the security of the workmen. The freight of provisionsas well for the garrison as the troops to be stationed there is very high, since a thousand pounds w*which is a load for a canoe, costs 110 liv. from Ville Marie on the Island of Montreal to Catarakouy.Independent of mere provisions, how many other necessaries and munitions are required !
This post, my Lord, would absolutely close the entire road to the Outaouacs against the English ,and would enable us to prevent the Iroquois carrying their peltries to the latter; for with the redoubtat Catarokouy which would serve us as an Entrepot to shelter our barks from the storms in winter,we having posts at both sides of the Lake could render ourselves Masters of the hunting of thatNation who can support itself merely by that means and would draw but little from the English if ithad no more peltries to give them : What is very certain, they would carry them much fewer thanheretofore.
I propose to send Sieur D’Orvilliers to Niagara this year with Sieur de Villeneuve, the draughtsmanwhom you gave me, to draw the plan, and after I shall have seen the Iroquois at Yillemarie on theIsland of Montreal and we shall know what we have to expect from them, I’ll see if I shall not beable to take a trip thither myself, in order to furnish you with a more certain report thereon ; for torely on Sieur de Villeneuve alone, he is a very good, very accurate, very faithful draughtsman, butin other respects he has not a very well ordered mind; it is too confined to be able to furnish out ofhis own head any ideas for the establishment of a post and its management.
I am assured that the land in the neighbourhood is very fine and fertile, easy of cultivation; it issituate about the 44 th degree. Everything I learn confirms me in the opinion which I entertain, thatthis post would, in three years at farthest, support itself. It is to be feared that fortifying it woulddraw war on us, if you wish to avoid it; but at the same time I believe that were the Senecas to seeus well planted there, they would be more pliant.
Should this plan be agreeable to you, my Lord, please send masons and plenty of instruments tobreak up the ground and convey stone.
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You will be surprised, my Lord, to learn that Sieur de Chailly, of whom I had the honour to writeyou this fall, not being able to have his conge from me to retire to France with all his property which