THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Lewis Evans: A Letter
With an Answer
(December 1, 1755)
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
In: Gipson, Lawrence Henry, Lewis
Evans, Philadelphia: The
Historical
Society of Pennsylvania, 1939,
pp. 177-212+.
Geographical, Historical,
Political, Philosophical and Mechanical
E S S A Y S.
NUMBER II. CONTAINING,
A
L E T T E R
Representing, the
Impropriety of sending Forces to Virginia.
The Importance of taking Fort Frontenac;
And that the Preservation of Oswergo
was owing to General Shirley's
Proceeding thither.
And
containing Objections to those Parts of Evans's General Map and
Analysis, which relate to the French Title to the Country, on the
North-West Side of St. Lawrence River, between Fort Frontenac
and Montreal, &c.
Published in the New-York Mercury, No. 178, Jan. 5, 1756.
WITH AN
A N S W E R,
To so
much thereof as concerns the Public;
And the several Articles set in a just Light.
BY LEWIS EVANS.
PHILADELPHIA:
Printed for the AUTHOR, and Sold by him in Arch-Street;
And at NEW-YORK by G. NOEL, Bookseller near Countz's Market.
MDCCLVI.
A
L E T T E R
Published in the New-York Mercury, January 5, 1756.
Mr. GAINE,
The following Letter from a Gentleman in New-York, to his Friend at Philadelphia, is upon a Subject of so much Importance, that I beg you'll give it a Place in your Paper.
S I R,
I Thank you for the Copy of Evan's Map of the Middle British Colonies. It shews in a very stricking Point of Light, that the Virginia Sollicitations for the Landing of the European Troops in that Colony, in order from thence to make a Descent upon Fort Du Quesne, were to the last Degree absurd, abstracted from their Fitness to serve the Interest of a private Company, at the Expence of the Welfare of the Public. Had General Braddock's Army succeeded in that Enterprize, it would, in my humble Opinion, have been a useless and untenable Acquisition; and therefore nothing could be more fortunate, than that Part of the Scheme for dividing the Troops, and General Shirley's proceeding to Oswego, by which Means that Garrison has been preserved from falling into the Hands of our Enemies; which but for this singular Precaution, would have been it's inevitable Fate. If we can maintain the Command of the Lake Ontario, the Forts at Presque Isle, Riviere Beuf, and that at Du Quesne, with all the other Encroachments on the Ohio, must necessarily fall, because the only remaining Rout from Canada, thro' the Outawais River, the Lakes Huron and Erie, will be attended with insuperable Difficulties. But if the French are permitted to pass thro' the Lake Ontario, and to continue their Forts at La Gallette, Frontenac and Niagara, it will be impossible to preserve the Country, or the Fidelity of the Five Nations, or to defend the Frontiers of our South-western Colonies. This appears evident from all the Maps of the back Country; and if one may argue from the Vessels which General Shirley built last Summer upon the Lake, the Works erected at Oswego, and the strong Garrison left there this Winter, doubtless he considers the Possession of the Lands on both Sides of that Lake, and the compleat Command of it, as the grand Object which we ought to have in View. But nothing to Purpose can be done, without the Reduction of Frontenac, which commands the Entrance from Canada, and is distant about 180 Miles from Montreal. Considering the Matter in this Light, I was extreamely surprized to find the Author of the Map you sent me, endeavouring to obstruct the Attempt upon Frontenac, by putting in a Claim to it, on the Behalf of his most Christian Majesty. For, besides the Colouring in the Map, the Author in a Pamphlet, or Analysis, which accompanies it, tells us, that "the French being in Possession of Fort Frontenac, at the Peace of Ryswick, which they attained during their War with the Confederates, gives them an undoubted Title to the Acquisition of the North-west Side of St. Lawrence River, from thence to their Settlement at Montreal. But the Confederates still preserved their Right to the other Side, fully to Lake St. Francis, leaving the Rest to Montreal as a Boundary."
This Pamphlet is intitled, Geographical, Historical, and POLITICAL Essays, &c. and doubtless the French King is much obliged to the Author, for this seasonable Specimen of his Politics. For Thousands who observe this Passage in his Analysis, may take the Doctrine for an incontestable Truth, and thro' an Indolence, common to most Men, spare themselves the Trouble of examining the Treaty of Ryswick, which would give the Inquirer as indifferent an Opinion of Mr. Evan's Talent at Reforming, as we ought to have of this, his POLITICAL Tenet. All that the Treaty contains, that can be Thought to be in the least Degree applicable to the Matter now under Consideration is in the VIIth Article, which is in these Words, "that the most Christian King, shall restore to the King of Great-Britain, all Countries, Islands, Forts, and Colonies wheresoever situated, which the English did possess before the Declaration of the present War. And in like Manner the King of Great -Britain, shall restore to the most Christian King, all Countries, Islands, Forts, and Colonies wheresoever situated, which the French did possess before the said De- (page 180) claration of War: And this Restiration shall be made on both Sides, within the Space of six Months, or sooner, if it can be done.
Now upon the Supposition, that this Treaty has any Relation to the present Debate, and admitting, that the French attained the Fort at Frontenac during the War, the most obvious Conclusion is, that they ought by Virtue of this Treaty, to have restored it to the British Crown; and this Consequence, appears to me so natural and necessary, that Mr. Evans, or the Gentleman, who suggested this Hint to him, is under the strongest Obligations to his Majesty, and the Public, to make a Declaration of his Inducements to advance this extraordinary Doctrine, especially at such a Juncture as the present. Had Mr. Evans's Conclusion been founded upon a long Thread of Argument, all the World would in Charity, suppose that he had fallen into an Error thro' Inattention; but to publish a map, and assert in print, in the most positive Terms, that the King of France has an undoubted Title to the very Lands, for the regaining of which, his Majesty is now in Arms, and to found that Title upon a solemn Treaty, and yet suppress the Publication of the Article relating to it; is a Piece of Conduct, for which, I confess myself at a Loss to Account. Certainly it has a most mischievous Tendency. The Bulk of Mankind are weak enough, to repose an implicit Faith in every Thing asserted in Print, and few but will take Mr. Evans's Word, that Frontenac belongs to the French, especially as it is so strongly asserted, with a Reference to a Treaty for Proof, which one would presume must be plain, simple and express.
Should his Majesty's Orders to the General, extend only to the Removal of Encroachments, without naming them in particular, no Man can tell how many of his Subjects, may refuse to be concern'd the next Campaign, in an Attempt upon Frontenac; which, according to this surprising Piece of Politics, would be unauthoritative and illegal, and of Consequence expose all who may be concerned in it, to his Majesty's Resentment. We do not want Men of evil Designs, in some of our Colonies, at least, who would doubtless gladly improve Mr. Evan's Map, to serve a French Interest; and it is well known, that not long since, a very respectable Body, unacquainted with his Majesty's Rights in America, or influence by false Geographical Representations, seemed in an Answer to a Message from one of our Governors, to doubt the Equity of our Claim to the very Lands on the Ohio, which even Mr. Evans himself, has included in the Province of Pennsylvania. Other Consequences equally prejudicial to the British Interest, may attend the Dispersion of this Chart, and its more mischievous Analysis, in Europe. The intestine Enemies of the Government, and all those who are disaffected to the present glorious, and vigorous Measures of the Ministry, would not fail to make the worst Use of our Author's Doctrine, to stir up the Coals of Discontent in Great-Britain and Ireland; while the French, after our Example, would doubtless urge the Map as conclusive Evidence against our Right, to the Lands on the North-side of the Iroquois River, which issues from the Lake, and falls into St. Lawrence at Montreal.
It is true indeed, the British Title to that Country, can be established by the most irrefragable Arguments, founded on the solemn Decisions of the two Treaties of Utrecht and Aix La-Chapple, but this hinders not the malignant Consequences I have mentioned, nor does it weaken the Obligations Mr. Evans lies under, to correct his Error; for I hope you have Reasons to think it deserves a Name no worse; and let me intreat you, SIR, to press him to do it with the utmost Dispatch. Nothing could be more unseasonable, than the Edition of his Map, in the present Situation of Affairs, and I could wish the respective Colonies, for the future, would pass a Law to restrain these Gentlemen, who divert themselves with setting Bounds to Provinces and Empires, till their Works have stood the Test of an accurate Examination, by Judges whose Capacity enables them, and whose Office may oblige them to give such king of Performances the severest Scrutiny. I believe you will agree with me, that this Map of Evans's , affords the strongest Arguments in favour of such a Regulation, for should the disputed Limits, receive a Settlement according to that Gentleman's sage Opinion, and important Discoveries, these Colonies could never be secured against the Irruptions of the French, and must in a short Process of Time, be entirely lost to Great-Britain.
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I am, SIR, |
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|
|
1st Dec. 1755. |
Your most humble Servant. |
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