DENONVILLE’b EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.

145

COLL. DONGAN TO M. DE DENONVILLE.

[ Lond. Doe. V. ]

11th June 1687.

Sir—The enclosed 1 came to my hands last night from England with orders to have it proclaimedwhich has accordingly bin done, what is there agreed upon I will observe to the least title and Idoubt not but your Excell: will do the same and I hope bee so kinde as not desire or seek any cor-respondence with our Indians of this side of the Great Lake if they doe amisse to any of yourGoverm* and you make it known to me you shall have all justice done and if any of your people dis-turbe us I will have the same recourse to you for satisfaction as for those further Nations, I supposethat to trade with them is free and common to us all until the meets and bounds bee adjusted thoughtruly the scituation of those partes bespeakes the King of England to have a greater right to themthan the French king, they lying to the southward of us just on the back of other partes of ourKing’s dominions and a very great way from you. I am informed by some of our Indians that yourExcell: was pleased to desire them to meet you at Cadaraque; I could hardly beleive it till I had aletter from Father Lamberville, wherein he informs me that ’tis true, I am also informed of yourFathers’ endeavours dayly to carry away our Indians to Canada as you have already done a greatmany, you must pardon me if I tell you that that is not the right way to keepe faire correspond-ence—I have also been informed that you are told I have given to Indians orders to rob the French wherever they could meet them, that is as false as tis true that God is in heaven, what I have donewas by your own desire which was that I should suffer none of Canada to come to Albany withoutthey had your passe in complyance wherewith I ordered, both, the Indians and people of Albanythat if they found any French or English on this side of the great Lake without either your passeor mine, they should seize them and bring them to Albany: I am now sorry that I did it since itsnot agreeable to you and has as I am informed hindered the comeing of a great many Beauers to thisplace—I shall therefore recall the orders. I am daily expecting Religious men from England whichI intend to put amongst those five nations. I desire you would order Mons r de Lamberuille thatsoe long as he stayes amongst those people he would meddle only with the affairs belonging to hisfunction and that those of our Indians that are turned Catholiques and live in Canada may contentthemselves with their being alone without endeavouring to debauch others after them, if they doand I can catch any of them I shall handle them very severely. S r setting aside the trust my masterhas reposed in me I should be as ready and willing to serve Mons r de Nonuille as any friend he has,I could wish with all my heart the wildernesse betwixt us were not soe great but that there were con-veniences whereby we might see one another often, for I have as much respect tor all the people ofquality of your nation especially such as have serued in the armies as any man in the world canhave: as for newes, the ships lately come from England say all things are at peace both there and inFrance and that both our Masters are in very good health and that the Emperour and the King ofPoland are very vigorous against the Turques—

lam Sir

Your most humble servant

(Signed) Tho. Dongan

S' I send you some Oranges hearing they are a rarity in your partes, and would send more, butthe bearer wants conueniency of Carriage—

[Vol. I.]

1 Treaty of Neutrality.

19