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 Croghan
(Fort Chartres, Dec. 19, 1767)
Cole, Edward in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 6,
pp. 20-22.
[Johnson ] stop to such practises for the future [and your Petitioners as in duty] bound will ever pray &Ca
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for Baynton Wharton & Morgan |
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JOHN CAMPBELL |
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INDORSED: |
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The
Petition of the |
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the 18th Dec [ ] |
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EDWARD COLE TO GEORGE CROGHAN
A. L. S.1
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Fort Chartres Decr. 19 th1767 |
DEAR SIR
Yours of the 18th of Octr I received [a few] days past. You Doubt not I was Surprisd: [at] my accounts being refused, for not being properly Certified, had your letters or Sir Williams Instructions, been as full as this above, they never would have wanted these formalitys but haveing answered all these points fully in former letters to you and Sir William, Shall refer you to them, if ever they get to hand [they] have been twice up as far as the [Cherokee] Fort2, a man falling Sick the first [time, &] Indians fireing on them the Second [obliged] them to return, tho' I hope they will [now goe] Safe as the faithfull Silver heels takes [them under] his charge.- I hope you will [now find my] Accounts, Sufficiently certified if they [are not please] to Send me the necessary formes [that they may] be wright for the future.
The Smiths you [hope behave well and do] their duty, how far they [would do the Latter if they had] Tools I can be no (page 21) Judge at [present, it is but] Little they can do without [belloweses, none have] they nor none can I get, I did [obtain liberty for them] to work Some time in the Fort, but [that was put] a Stop too, being but one bellowes, [it was] wanted for Garrison use. Mr [Phyn brought] two pair with him, have applyed [to Coll Reed] for one, he says they are so bad [they cannot be] mended in this Country, and [Wither their own] will Ever be Sent I cant Say, as [they tell me] they were at Fort Pitt when [they left it] and that if they'd had a Batt[aux, they could] have brought them to the [Mesissipi, and] I could have easily Sent [for them.]
You wish Some Stop [could be put to] French traders going [out into the Indian] Country, So do I with [all my hart but unless] the Posts are Established [I mentioned in my former letters,] the mouth of the River [Illinois,] the cherokee Fort & Post Vinsent [it never] can be prevented, that being done [and all] peltrys obliged to be bonded for an [English] post, and a duty or prohibition Laid on all French [goods,] landed on this Side would in a great measure through the Trade into our hands, make our Influence much greater with the Indians, and the monys arising from the dutys of the peltry, and French goods, would go far towards paying the Expence of the Country, besides a much Larger consumption for British manufacturies.- But these are Considerations [for the] Great, not, for a triffling Commy [Subject] to the orders of every Rank.
[I] dare say You will be able in your [Voyage to] Detroit to find out the Belts [I mentioned] pasing among the Indians, and prevent [any thing being] attempted in the Spring.
I am Sorry [ the House you mentioned] was obliged to Stop pay[ment, but as they did it with] So much reputation, [it can be no prejudice] to their Trade or Carrecters, [but reather Give] them more weight than [ever, you may] Depend that whatever is in [my power to] render them Service, I shall [not be backward] So long as I remain here, and [wither ever] I shall get away God knowns, [for notwithstang] the repeated (page 22) Letters I have wrote [for liberty] to go down and Settle my affairs, [or leave] to resigne, can get no [answer to them] neither from you or Sir William.
I am Extreemly obliged [to you for the kind] offers you make me of ren[dering me Service] believe I shall soon be [obliged to Accept] them, if I cant get [liberty to down soon] pray Sir Interest your[self for me in this affair] and let me once more [Smell Salt water if for] ever so Short a time, [I am Dr Sir Your most obt Sert]
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EDWD COLE |
FROM THE EARL OF SHELBURNE
L. S.3
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Whitehall Decber. 19th, 1767. |
(No. 5)
SIR,
Your Letters No. 4 and 5, with the State of the Trade, Politicks & Proceedings of the Indians in the Northern District, have been duly received and laid before The King; And I have great Pleasure in conveying to you His Majesty's entire Approbation of the zeal and Attention with which you persevere in the Discharge of your Duty.
The Completion of a Boundary Line between the several Provinces and the
Indian Hunting Grounds, being a Matter so essential for the Preservation of
Peace and Harmony with those People; I was in hopes to have sent you by this
Conveyance positive Instructions for effecting this necessary Work without Loss
of Time. But as so many different Interests are concerned in this Affair, The
Lords Commrs. of Trade have been obliged to postpone their Report
for a few Days in order that such a final Determination may be taken upon it as
will be liable to no future
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1 Burned portions supplied from the copy printed in Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, 16:147-48, ed. C. W. Alvord and C. E. Carter.
2 Fort Massac, on the Ohio river below the mouth of the Cherokee (Tennessee) river.
3 In Public Record Office, C. O. 5.225. p. 27, London, England.
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