THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
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The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
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published.
A Letter From the
Gov. to Col. Burd
(Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 1762)
Hamilton, James in: Pennsylvania
Colonial Docs., vol. 8,
pp. 776-777.
pp. 776-777.
A Letter from the Governor to Colo. Burd.
|
Philadelphia, 25th September, 1762. |
Sir:
You will herewith receive a Commission appointing You and Mr. Josiah Davenport, Commissioners to receive all such prisoners as shall be brought to Fort Pitt, in consequence of the Solemn Engagements made by Beaver and the Indians with him, at the late Treaty at Lancaster.
The Indian Commissioners have given an Order, which accompanies this Letter, to their Agent, Mr. Davenport, for as many Goods as will amont to Five hundred pounds, which are to be subject to your & his disposal, on this Occasion, and you will take care that such Goods as you shall give, be of proper kinds, and what will best suit the Exigencies of the Indians.
As besides Goods, Money will be wanted to defray all necessary Expences that shall attend the Prisoners, as well as your own Entertainment & Travelling Charges, Five hundred pounds are delivered to the Sheriff to be given to you, for which you are to be accountable, & I can confide in your prudence, that no part of it will be expended in unnecessary Articles.
I am informed that the Goods belonging to the Western Indians are still lying at Fort Loudon, and that several Horses have been stolen from the Indians; with respect to the Goods, I desire you will hire a Waggon, and, as you pass that Way, see the Goods carefully pack'd & put into it, and an account taken of them, and delivered to the Waggoner, who is to be accountable for them, and see that they go off immediately, otherways they may be detained by bad weather, and this would breed much uneasiness in the Minds of the Indians. I could wish some pains were taken to recover the horses that are really taken from the Indians, and that they cou'd be got to their proper Owners.
If you find that no prisoners are like to be brought in any reasonable time, you need not Stay above three weeks at Fort Pitt, but leave directions with Mr. Davenport, to receive them, and to do what is necessary, agreeable to the Commission, which empowers either of you to do this Service; and it is my express Orders that after you come away, he shall write to me, and communicate every thing material relating to the Service.
You are to take notice that no compensation is to be mentioned to the Indians, as made to them for prisoners by way of Ransom, but then, as some Indians may come from very remote parts, and have a good deal more trouble & be at more expence with the prisoners than others, you will proportion the Rewards accordingly.
You will herewith receive a Message to the Indians accompanied with a Belt of Wampum, and under the Lesser Seal, which you will have truly explained to the Indians, as it gives an Authenticity to your proceedings with them.
I should be glad to know, very particularly, what the Indians say at their return, & in what temper you find them, and how many Prisoners are still among them; I therefore desire you will collect all the Intelligence you can relating to them, and their present disposition & System of politicks. I wish you heartily a good Journey. I am, Sir,
|
Your most obedient humble Servant, |
|
|
JAMES HAMILTON. |
|
My humble Service to Colo. Boquet, to whom I would have wrote, If I had not been much out of Order, to request his Countenance and Assistance to you in this Affair.
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