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The Senekas desired assistance of men but I put them off by giving them Powder, Lead, Armsand other things, fitting & necessary for them @ also by making such Propositions as I thought wouldplease them being unwilling actually to ingage the French until I knew his Maty’ 8 pleasureI must needs say of y e French without being Partial! that they are very unjust, to enter the King’sTerritories in a hostile manner after the offers I made themI know their Pretence will be, that our Indians have wronged them, but it is not soe, for theBeaver Trade is the sole end of their Designs, whatever Colour they give to their Actions which isonly hindred by the Five nations of Indians on this side of the Lake who have submitted themselves@ their Lands to the King’s subjection. Those Five nations are very brave @ the awe @ Dread ofall y e Indyans in these Parts of America , and are a better defence to us, than if they were so manyChristians.
The Claim the French can make, to the father Indians, or any on this side y e Lake is no other thanwhat they may have to Japan which is that some of their Priests have resided amongst themPeace or Warr, it will be very necessary to send over men @ to build those Forts, I have men-tioned in my Instructions to Judge Palmer, for the French are encroaching as fast as they can, anda little thing can prevent now what will cost a great expence of Blood @ Money hereafter. My Lordthere are people enough in Ireland who had pretences to Estates there @ are of no advantage to thecountry @ may live here very happy I do not doubt if his Mat y think fitt to employ my Nephewhe will bring over as many as the King will find convenient to send who will be no charge to hisMat y after they are Landed, Provided all Connecticut @ East @ West Jersey be added to this Gov-ernment @ to add anything of Connecticut to Boston is the most unproportionable thing in theworld they having already a hundred times more Land, Riches @ People than this province @ yetthe charge of this Governm 1 more than that
GOVERNOR DONGAN’S INSTRUCTIONS TO CAPT. PALMER.
[ Lond. Doc. V. ]
8th Sept. 1687.
You are to inform his Maty that in May last I had letters from Albany @ Informacons of Indiansthat came from Canada, That the Governor of Canada went from Monte Royall with a great manyFrench and Indyans in Boats and Canno’s towards Cadaraque with an Intention to come on this sideof the lake @ war against the Sennekes upon Receipt of which I called the Councill @ the letters @Information were read upon which the Councill thought convenient to give what assistance possiblywe could to our Indians, and to that intent I, Major Brockhells yourself @ other gentlemen went upto Albany where there was from time to time such orders and Instructions sent @ given to the In-dyans as was thought fitt for their security
The French Pretence for Coming into the King’s Territories @ warring with our Indians is thatthey war with the further nation of Indyans who lye on the back of Maryland , Virginia, @ Carolina,which is only a feigned pretence for that I have sent sev 11 Letters to Mons r La Bar who was Governorof Canada to signify that if our Indians had done them any injury they should make them all rea-sonable satisfaction, but that would not satisfy, for he came to Cayonhage where the Indians wouldhave me build a Fort @ there made a Peace with the Indians so that what the Indians had done be-