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 Gage
(Johnson Hall, Aug. 22, 1770)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 7,
pp. 852-855.
therefore thought it my Duty in writing to join my humble request to Mr. Kelly's praying your pardon for the intrusion, beg leave with all due respect, and great Sincerity to Subscribe myself
|
Sir |
|
|
ABRM LOTT |
|
Copy
and also copy of Mr. Kelly's
SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON Baronet.
INDORSED:1
8br, 3d 1770
Mr. Kelly & Lott's letters
Answd.-
TO THOMAS GAGE
Df.2
|
Johnson Hall Augt. 22d, 1770 |
DEAR SIR,
My situation as Mentioned in my last Surrounded by Some hundreds of Indians who followed me to this place on the private Affairs of each Nation & a Severe Indisposition in my family rendered it impossible for me to transmit the proceedings herewith inclosed until this time.- They Contain the whole of the Transactions at the publick Conferences, tho' as I have formerly Observed to you, that Is a very small part of the Debates, Arguments & discourses at the private Conferences where the principal Subjects are first Agitated & Determined upon.- My Concern at being reduced to the disagreeable Alternative of either Approving in his Majestys name of the War proposed, or risquing the public Safety by a disapprobatn. of it, was much farther (page 853) encreased on My arrival at the German flatts upon finding that they had resolved in Consequence of their Alliance with us, & of the Assistance they had formerly afforded to make a publick requisition of Men & Amunition for the Support of the War, Not from any real Want of our Aid but merely to put our friendship to the Test. That in case our Ansr. Should be unfavorable or Evasive their Suspicions might be Confirmed & their Resentment wear the Appearance of Justice.- The Disaffected & Designing amongst them had represented this in so reasonable a Light to the rest, that they had very nigh effected their purpose, & would most Certainly have Succeeded but for the pains I took, & the Extraordinary Good behavior of Some of the Chiefs, Thro' whose Endeavors Joined to my own, I have at last prevailed that after a farther [Consider]ation of the Matter, they will send Messages to the Nations to the Southward, and wait the result. [ ] best thing, that I could think of or Effect, under the Circumstances that I found myself in and I hope you will approve of it.- I Then Agreeable to his Majesty's Orders proceeded to the Ratification of the Fort Stanwix Treaty, after which they Stated their Grievances of the Score of Trade, the behavior of the frontier Inhabitants & many other Matters of an Inferior Nature some of which are Contained in the Sheets herewith inclosed & others being Spoken of at private Meetings were too voluminous to be Inserted.- with respect to the Treatment they complain of on the frontier I need say nothing in addition to what I have formerly Mentd.for the Conduct of our Settlers to them is much the same & since my return home I have an Acct. from Mr Croghan at Fort Pitt that 2 Inds. were lately murdered in that Neighborhood.- I observed in publick to the whole, but particularly in private to the Chiefs, that this was often occasioned by their bad behavior, but altho' that is sometimes the Case, I am very certain that it is often meerly thro' the Licenciousness of Our Frontier Settlers, whose hatred & ill timed resentment are not Easily to be removed, and I Wish they may not Smart for it.- The Affairs of Trade I can Say as little about, for there is no prospect of the Colon[ies] (page 854) adopting any One Certain Well digested plan or indeed [one] that will be attended with the Necessary Expence which [the] Inds. Consider as a Willful Neglect, arising, from our Con[duct] & aversion for them, but the Great Scarcity of Goods [for] Some time past, & the disappointment of such Mer[ ] have of late brought down peltry was a very dis[ ] Circumstance, more especially as they [ ] keepers & Traders that it was the [ ] Nothing could have a more dangerous tendency. This too which I was desirous to remove at all Events, together with the peculiar Notice I found myself obliged to take of those Chiefs who had Acted well the Very great Number of the Indians, & the Extravagant prices of most articles from the General failure of the Crops this Year, has made the Expences of the Treaty to Exceed my Expectations, but when all these points are thoroughly considered I believe it cannot be deemed Extraordinary, & I Very well know that to Lessen it I took all possible pains, & Sat up for Sevl. Whole Nights in Conference to Expedite the Affair as their daily Maintenance ammtd. to a large Sum.-
I shall not at present take up more of your time with a repetition of any other Matters of a Subordinate Nature, only to Observe that thro' the Measures I pursued, Supported by the good Conduct & Influence of the best disposed amongst the Chiefs, I have removed Some Very unfavorable impressions, diverted them from a Very dangerous & disagreable requisition & disposed them to Judge more favorably of the friendship & disposition of Government, but ho' it is practicable & highly necessary to Continue them in this belief, Yet I fear it depends on too many Circumstances to be duly attended to. All which I have touched upon in my Letter to Lord Hillsborough, wch accompanies a Copy of the proceedings.-
I have good Expectations that the Matters Settled, & resolutions entered into at this Treaty, will prove a Severe blow to the ill disposed who are now busied at the great Congress at Scioto plains in endeavoring to Alienate the Affections of the Six (page 855) Nations &ca & to form dangerous Confederacies, concerning all which I have taken measures to be easily apprised of their determinations.- [ ] I have been obliged to advance a good deal of Cash on acct of the [ ] incurred, which his Majesty has been pleased to allow of [ ] allowce for the Departmt. I also herewith inclose you the [ ] the paymt of which I am necessitated to [ ] done with Convenience.
INDORSED:
Augt. 22, 1770.
______________
To Genl. Gage
With a copy of Indn. Transactions
& Acct. of Expences.-
FROM GEORGE CROGHAN
A. L. S.
|
Fort pitt August 24th, 1770 |
DEAR SIR,
Sence my last Nothing Remarkable has hapend. hear. by a Dallaway Indian from Siola I hear ye. Indians are Meet att there own Councel Butt Nott So Many as was Expected. I hope in a about three Weeks we Shall hear what they will Agree on.
Last fall when yr. honer Sent Me
of to proceed to this post I was Taken with the Gout & Could Nott proceed
the Gineral advised Me to Send My Instructions to Capt.
Edmonstone & Mr. McKee, & to Direct Mr. McKee
to Make the Neserary Speechess to ye.
Diferent Tribes agreeable to these Instructions wh.
I Did & a quantity of Wampum was Taken up on My account for ye. Speechess which I have been oblidgd. to pay this Day to the Honble: Sir William Johnson Barrt. & Draw on yr. honer for ye.
amount
_________________________
1 In Johnson's hand.
2 In handwriting of Guy Johnson.
Return
to TOC, p. 20
Continue
to next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 23
February 2001
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University