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. [July] 31, 1770)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 7,
pp. 817-818.
TO THOMAS GAGE
Df.1
|
Johnson hall August [July] 31st, 1770. |
DEAR SIR,
I arrived here two days ago from the Treaty attended by a large party of Indians who return home by this rout, & for that reason left Several matters unfinished which must be now attended to.- The Misisagaes & sevl. others are likewise on their way here & may be Expected this Night or tomorrow. The issue of the Congress has proved more favorable than I at first Expected, the proposed War is put off, till they take some farther Steps with the Wabache Indians, and the rest of the business Notwithstanding the dissatisfaction of so many Tribes on sevl. Subjects, wherein they Expect relief has been Satisfactorily concluded & will I believe prove so, if their representations are regarded.- Tho' the Congress was a very troublesome one, near 2400 Indians attendg which was more than I met at one time for many Years Except at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, this was owing to the Number of Senecas that came, with all their people & Connections from the Head of the Ohio & tho it added greatly to the Expence, I own I was pleased to send see2 a Sett greatly from that Quarter as few of them have attended at any late Treatys of which Circumstance they have been too ready to avail themselves as an Excuse for their irregularities.
I have had so much & such constant Trouble with those that returned with me who are to receive their presents here, & have a 1000 little Affairs to settle That I have not been able to attend to any thing but them since I came home, and as sevl are Still behind, It will not be in my power to prepare & Send you the Transactions for a few days, so that I have only been able (page 818) to Snatch a Moment to acquaint you with my return & that I Expect to transmit you the particulars next Week being always with perfect regard Dear Sir, &c
His Excelly GENL GAGE.
CHIEFS OF THE SEVEN NATIONS TO DANIEL CLAUS
D.
|
Tuesday 31st July 1770 |
The Chiefs of the 7 Nations of Canada [] Monsr. Hertel with 20 Abenaquis [] way of Lake Ontario to Sr Wm. Johnson as [] their errand, but could not wait their Coming,3 [] then on their way home addressed Col. Claus Dep[uty Indian agent for] Canada as follows
Brothers Having heard that a party of Abenaquis accomp[anied] by a Frenchman are coming to you, We imediately concluded [that] it must be Mr. Hertel with those Abenaquis who have so [often] disturbed the peace of our Village at St Regis. We see plainly that according to their usual practise they want to take advantage of our not being present in order to misrepresent matters. we know that it is not so much their [], as the Words which Mr Hertel puts in their Mouths. We heard sometime ago that he intended to come this way, and the Chiefs of St. Regis When we passed that Village on the Way to the Treaty entreated us to caution you against listening to them.
Brother,
___________________________________
1 In American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.; in handwriting of Guy Johnson.
2 The writer plainly intended to substitute "see" for "send". A force Transcript of the letter signed has "send.".
3 The chiefs of the Seven Nations were returning from the Congress of July 16-23 at German Flats. They had learned that the Abenaquis were on their way to Johnson Hall to present a statement of their quarrel with the St Regis Indians. See A Meeting with Aughquaisasnes, August 21, 1769. The Abenaquis met Johnson August 6-11. The proceedings are in the Canadian Archives, Loose Leaf Manuscripts, Ottawa, Canada.
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