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This is not all. Colonel Dongan has given orders that one hundred and fifty other English shoulddepart, accompanied by several Mohegan Indians to follow the first fifty Englishmen with goods.But this detachment is not to leave until spring. I believe there is no room to doubt but the designis to seize the post of Niagara. Were the English once established there, they must be driven off or
we must bid adieu to the whole trade of the country.
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The same man who came from Manat told me that within a short time fifty or sixty men, Huge-nots, arrived there from the Islands of St. Christophers and Martinique , who are establishing them-selves at Manat and its environs. I know that some have arrived at Boston from France . Thereagain, are people to operate as Banditti.
Whilst writing this, My lord, further advice is come from Orange that Colonel Dongan sent to tellthe fifty men who are to winter among the Senecas, not to leave until the arrival at the Senecas ofthe one hundred and fifty men which he is to despatch in the spring to support them. The reasonof this order is that he has learned by Indians that the Sieur Du Lhut is posted at the Detroit ofLake Erie . If those men commanded with the savages attack that post, you perceive, my lord, thatI have nothing more to manage with the English . Send me, if you please, orders on this point, formy disposition is to go straight to Orange, drive them into their fort, and burn the whole.
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The English governor prompted at present by the cupidity of the merchants and by his avarice todrag money from them, pretends that all the country is his, and will trade thither though an English-man has never been there. He gives passes under pretext of hunting, to his creatures, from whomone was taken at Michilimaquina, which I would have sent, had he who was bringing it, not upsetin the water and been thereby drowned.
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Whilst writing this letter here, My lord, I receive from Father de Lamberville confirmation of thenews which I had the honor to communicate to you respecting Colonel Dongan. I send you what hewrites me of the speech made by the said Colonel to the Iroquois assembled by his order at Manat.Be so good as to read it yourself my lord. 1
tf ■;
COL. DONGAN TO M. DE DENONVILLE.
[Par. Doc. III. j Lond. Doc. V.]
1 Decem. 16Sb'.
Sir—I had the honour to receiue your letter of the first of October 1686 and had sooner sent ananswer, butt that I wanted a convenient opportunity to do itt, I find you was angry at the writingand therefore for fear it was ill turned into French for I have no great skill in your language, havesent a copy of it in English . I desire you to continue in your opinion that nothing shall bee wantingon my part that may contribute to a good and friendly correspondence, and that I will not protecteither merchant or others that shall give any just occasion to suspect it. Bee assured, Sir, that Ihave not solicited nor bribed the Indians to arme and make warr against you, all the paines I havetaken hath bin to keep those people in quiet who are so inclineable to warr that one word is enough forthem. I have forbidden their joining (if they should be entreated) with any others against you
1 See p os tea, “ Susquehanna Papers,” for an extract from this speech.