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.
Letter to Johnson
(New York, July 25, 1765)
Gage, Thomas in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 4, pp. 798-800.
FROM JAMES MACDONALD, ETC.
In the Johnson Calendar, p. 277, are entered these papers, which were destroyed by fire: a letter of July 24th from James MacDonald, New York, sending a historical account from Ensign Hutchens of Colonel Bouquet's expedition in 1764, also news that Captain Sterling with 102 men has embarked at Fort Pitt for the Illinois in consequence of Croghan's negotiations, and complaining of obstacles to his patent of 10,000 acres in Ulster county (an extract printed in Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, 11:65, ed. C. W. Alvord and C. E. Carter); one of the 25th to Lord Adam Gordon, acknowledging an invitation to Sir William's son to accompany Lord Gordon to England; and one of the 25th from Richard Shuckburgh, Detroit, on Colonel Crogan's adventure and casualties, his own readiness to resign in Dr Antoine's favor and the inclination of the Indians for peace (an extract printed in Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, 11:66, ed. C. W. Alvord and C. E. Carter).
FROM THOMAS GAGE
Copy1
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New York July 25th, 1765 |
DEAR SIR,
I have received both your favours of the 6th & 13th inst. It is impossible to say what may be approved of with respect to the appointing of Commissaries to inspect the trade. The board of trade, may not perhaps approve of anything of that sort being done without their orders, or possibly their own appointment. But as for Deputys Interpreters & Smiths I am clear you might appoint them immediately without waiting, in all places where you shall judge necessary, & the sooner you do it the better it will be. These officers immediately belong to you, & there can be no doubt of your authority to appoint whom you please & where you judge proper. Detroit certainly deserves our attention at all times & very much so at this present time. I hope when the belts are withdrawn, & your message with those from (page 799) the Six nations recd. that the Miamies and Pouteatamies will be in better temper.
There is very little money stirring in this place. It comes in very slow, but I may shortly have sufficient to pay what you mention on acct. of Draughts for Interpreters &c. As for the demand on account of Mr. Croghans goods it certainly can't be paid, till Mr. Croghan settles it; nobody but himself can do it. The clearest account given of the affair is what Mr Callendar has given, but he has told different stories about it, as well as the rest: If the merchants had been sincere & fair from the beginning there would not be much difficulty to ascertain what was justly due them, but they have all told such different stories backward and forwards, that there had not been a possibility to come to the truth. Great Part of the good which were saved at Ft. Loudoun they have again recd. of course there must be a great deduction from the acct.
Lieut. Col. Reid2 has orders if he receives favourable reports from Mr. Croghan and sends the detachment ordered from Ft. Pitt to permit as many traders to go the Ilinois as chose before the detachment with them or to follow others. Your money due on your acct. transmitted in your favour of the 13th Inst. is ordered to be paid to Mr. Dailington.3
I have now some certain accounts of Lt. Frazer's party. They were very ill used soon after they got to the Ilinois. His men went down to the Mississippi, one Crawford a hatter who went to the Ilinois with Lt. Ross of the 34th Regt. saw them after they came down to New Orleans. Pondiac took Mr. Frazer under his protection & was to carry him to Detroit. I wonder we hear nothing of him. Crawford is now here & I find they did not hurt L. Ross. There were several councils held at Fort Chartres. The Indians of the Ilinois seemed well disposed towards us, but those of the Missouri & some Chippewas & Pouteatamies of St. Joseph who were in Council appeared greatly averse to (page 800) us, that they at length sung the war song, & resolved not to admit the English to come into their country. Crawford left the Ilinois on the 7th of May. Mons. Aubry whom you took prisoner at Niagara; is now Govr. of New Orleans. He has received a letter of the 20th of May from the Commandant of the Ilinois, & says things looked very well for us. That Pondiac was pacific & if we had really made peace with the Shawnees & Delawares we should be enabled to take possession. He mentions the circumstance of Pondiac having protected Lt. Frazer.
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I am with great regard |
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Dear Sir |
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your most obedient |
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Humble Servant |
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Thos. Gage |
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TO THOMAS GAGE
Df.4
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Johnson Hall, July 25, 1765. |
[ 5] for their respective quarters, [ ] their Ratification of the Treaty [ ] a Copy of some Intelligence received by [Capt. Howard at ] Michilimackinac which Lieut. Hay [ ] down that I might take a Copy of it [ ] particulars of some Transactions among [the Ottawas] during the Winter & Spring, as reported by Mr. [ ] amongst them, it will Serve farther to Corrobor[ate ] of the French Intrigues & dealings with the [ ].
I have Just heard Likewise from Capt. Cla[us] on that Subject, on what he
heard from Some Inds. [ ] in 13 Days from
Michilimackinac, & who charge [ ] of Canada with some proceeds.
of that nature, & I believe it [ ] as Majr. Gladwin
when Comdg. at Fort Wm. Augustus in 1762 not only discovered their
Intrigues but sent Sir Jeff Amherst a
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1 In Library of Congress, Force Transcripts.
2 (1, p. 799) Lieutenant Colonel John Reid, of the 42d regiment.
3 (2, p. 799) Darlington.
4 (1, p. 800) In handwriting of Guy Johnson.
5 (2, p. 800) Several lines missing.
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to TOC, p. 18
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