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DENONVILLE’s EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
the English who had been to the Outtawas had been well received and invited to return among themwith merchandize, and well nigh procured from the Iroquois the restitution of their prisoners, bywhich means they will be more attached to them than to us; that the Merchants at Orange hadurgently entreated Colonel Dongan to request the Senecas to surrender the prisoners; that the Colonelhad convoked a meeting of the Five Nations who went together to see him; that it is the generalbelief that the Colonel will obtain satisfaction of the Iroquois and thus the English will attract tothem both the Outtawas and the Hurons and that their cheap bargains will ruin our trade. Thesaid Antonie L’Epinart assures moreover, that there is a Company of fifty men formed to go Missili-makina; that their canoes were purchased, and that the low state of the waters had prevented themstarting ; that they waited only the rising of the rivers by the rain; and that the Senecas promisedto escort them.
I have heard that Sieur du Lhu is arrived at the post at Detroit of Lake Eri6, with fifty good menwell armed, with munitions of war and provisions and all other necessaries suflicient to guaranteethem against the severe cold and to render them comfortable during the whole winter on the spotwhere they will entrench themselves. M. de la Durantaye is collecting people to entrench himselfat Michilimaquina and to occupy the other pass which the English may take by Taronto, the otherentrance to Lake Huron . In this way our Englishmen will find somebody to speak to.
All this cannot be accomplished without considerable expense, but still we must maintain ourhonor and our prosperity.
The Oumeamies and other savages of the Bay des Puans have expressed much joy to me on learningthat Sieur du Lhu was posted at Detroit , but 1 am very sorry to hear that Tonty has learned on theroad that these same savages had quarrelled with the Illinois, which would prevent the Illinois attacking the rear of the Senecas, as we had projected. It would, in truth be an afflicting circum-stance to see our allies devouring one another instead of uniting with us to destroy the commonenemy. But it is useless to be vexed at it. Nothing remains but to be prepared for everything thatmay happen, and rely only on ourselves. If God give us the advantage, the people will rouse to ouraid.
My lord ought to place no reliance on the changeable disposition of a people without discipline,or any sort of subordination. The King must be the master in this country to effect any sort of good,and success cannot be secured without expense.
The M. de Denonville.
M. DE DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER.
[ From the same. ]
My Lord,—Since my letters were written a very intelligent man whom I sent to Manat, whohas conversed and had much intercourse with Colonel Dongan, reports to me that the saidColonel has despatched fifty citizens of Orange and Manat among whom are some Frenchmen,to winter with the Senecas whence they will depart, at the close of the winter, under the escortof the Senecas, for Michilimaquina, carrying with them the Huron prisoners to restore them onthe part of the English Governor, who is desirous to prevail on the Outaouas, by the servicewhich he renders them, to abandon our alliance in order to attach themselves to the English .They carry an abundance of merchandise thither to furnish it at a much lower rate than we.