260

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SUSQUEHANNAH RIVER.

as the said Indians did expresse, soe y 4 by that meanss your hon r may easily conjeecture, how advan-tageous it will be to his Royall highnesse Intrest, and since your hon 1 ' was desyreous to know ouropinions of y® bussinesse, wee cannot juge, but that it will be Prejudiciall to his Royall highnesseGovernment but y e Expedient that it is to be found for Preventing y« same, is Left to your hono rConsideracon Wee have ordered our Secretary to draw a draught of y * River , and how y® fores' 1 fiveNations of Indians Lie, as near as y e fores d Indians could demonstrate, which wee are apt to beleeveis not much amisse, and have sent it here Inclosed, we shall p r y° first conveniency expect yourhon” Comands how to act and Proceed in y 8 Bussinesse. In y® meantime shall break off and Remain

Your hon” most humble &

most obedient ServantsY c Commissaries of Albany &c a

THE MAGISTRATES OF ALBANY TO GOY. DONGAN.

Right hon blc

Last night Arnout y e Interpreter arrived here fr >m y^Indians Westward and brings us news y*y« four Nations viz 1 Cajouges, Onnondages, Oneydes & Maquase are upon there way hi;her and maybe expected her to-morrow, Wee are credibly; Inform’d of there willingnesse to dispose of y e Susque-hanne River , being verry glad to hear off Christians intending to come and Live there, it being muchnearer them then this Place and much easier to get thither with there beever, The River beingnavigable w 4 Canoes till hard by there Castles, soe y 4 if W M Penn buys said River , it will tend to y®utter Ruine offy® Bev r Trade, as y e Indians themselfs doe acknowledge and Consequently to y e greatPrejudice off his Royall highnesse Revenue’s and his whole Territoryes in general, all which we doehumbly offer to your hon” serious Consideracon, Wee presume that there hath not any thing Everbeen mooved or agitated from y® first settleing of these Parts, more Prejudiciall to his Royal high-nesse Intrest, and y e Inhabitants of this his govern 4 then this businesse of y® Susquehanne River ,The french its true have endevoured to take our away our trade, by Peace mealls but this will cuttit all off at once; The day after your hon r departed, wee sent a draught of y e River and how nearthere Castles lie to it, drawne by our Secr r as near as y® Indians could deskribe, a copy Whereof wehave kept here, and Arnout y® Interpreter says that he is also informed by diverse Indians, that y®Castles are situate as near y® Susquehanne River as y® draught demonstrates, if not nearer; and inhis Private discourse with them, did Perceive there joy of People comeing to live there; Wee didExpect an answ r of our Letter w 4 y e Last Sloops with absolute orders concerning this bussinesse, Inthe meantime shall Putt a Stopp to all Proceedings till wee have Rec<* your hon r ® Commands w ch wehope will be to deny y® treaty in this point. This goes by an Expresse sent by M r Haig Wee sup-pose to M r Graham to come up and Prosecute businesse; In y« meantime shall use our uttmost En-deavours in our Stations both for Our Masters hon r and y e Interest and y* Welfare off his Territories,whilst wee subscribe ourselfs .

Your horn® most humble

& Devoted Servants Y®

Albany 24 Sept r 1683 Commissaries of Albany &c*

M r Haig did not send y® Canoo yesterday, expecting Possibly to hear first off y® Indians arrivallwho are now all att Skinnecttady.