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.

Tonty to the Minister

(August 9, 1727)

Tonty in: Michigan Historical
Collections, Vol. 34, pp. 46-48.

pp. 47, 48.

(page 47) mission] still holds good. But, having found that I was running deeper and deeper into debt on account of the expenses to be defrayed for keeping up this post which amount to at least three thousand six hundred livres each year without taking into account more than eight thousand livres, which it cost me to build a new fort, to prevent our savages from going to war three times with their neighbors, and to stop them for nearly seven years from going and taking their skins to the English: I resolved last year, in order to pay off twenty two thousand livres which I now owe, to transfer my trade to certain upright men for five years, to whom I give up the present of powder which the King gives me, on the terms of seven thousand livres a year. The inhabitants, instigated by the man named Derocher, an arrant mutineer, formerly sergeant of the troops, who claims that the right of trading by permission cannot be taken away from them if they pay one pistole a year according to the contracts of M. de la Mothe, sent to these gentlemen last autumn, in order to take advantage of their uprightness, a request in which they demand the freedom of trading so as not to be obliged to take goods from those who have them on hand; but as they knew that no regard would be paid to it, because the King had excluded them from it, they induced the Huron¹ chiefs (who were invited in an underhand manner by people at Montreal to go down) to demand from the Marquis de Beauharnois that trading should be free to all Frenchmen by not permitting the merchandise to be in the hands of one man only, that there should be several warehouses, and that he should grant them another commandant, pretending that by this change they would enter on the rights which M. de la Mothe had granted them. The inhabitants caused the general to be imposed upon. Not having seen there out of those who are in a position to trade [one] who has not his warehouse of goods coming from those who have the trade in hand, who grant them to them at a reasonable price; but they are so infatuated by what this Derocher has thrust into their heads that they would not accept the goods at ten per cent, which is not enough to pay for half the expenses. They proposed to take over the trade; but, seeing so little stability in their judgment and knowing that they were not in a condition to keep it up on account of the smallness of their means, at least forty thousand livres worth of goods being required every year, in order to get rid of them, I offered (page 48) them to give a hundred pistoles as a contribution to the building of a new fort and fifteen hundred francs for the office, in case it should be necessary to keep it.

It is to be observed, My Lord, that the Hurons alone entered into this project: the chiefs of the other tribes having assured me that they had no part in it and no knowledge of what they were going to Montreal to do, which they would never have dared to do if they had not been supported by some person of influence, for it is without precedent in all the time that the savages have known the French that they have been bold enough to demand the changing of a commandant however discontented they might be with him.

Not having been warned of this business, by a trustworthy person, until too late, I was unable to warn these gentlemen in time of the stratagem which was employed to make the savages speak, wherefore I cannot learn what the Marquis de Beauharnais² has decided regarding their demands. As I can in no way be reproached as to my administration of the affairs of this post, the savages being well pleased with the manner in which I govern them, I ask you, My Lord, that I may stay here for the three years remaining to complete my agreement, so that I may be able to pay my debts. I can assure your greatness that so indignant am I at seeing myself- in spite of the services I am rendering to the Colony- exposed to the attacks of certain persons whose sole purpose is to thrust me from this [post] in order to put novices in it, that but for the unfortunate condition of my affairs I should have demanded to retire some time ago. You are too just, My Lord, not to have me indemnified, if I quit it, for what it has cost me to keep up the interests of the King; it will be easy to prove it through the Governor-General and the Intendant. I have reason to hope from your equity, My Lord, that you will grant me the justice due to me, for which I shall be completely grateful all my life, and continue my prayers for the health and prosperity of your greatness, of whom I have the honor to be, with very deep respect,

My Lord
Of your greatness

The very humble and very obedient Servant,
Tonty.

At Detroit
The 8th of August 1727.
______________________________

¹The Hurons, which also included the Wyandots, lived near the great lakes. They were the most powerful and populous tribe, but were malicious, intriguing, and made trouble between the whites and other Indians. They were very shrewd and persistent but fickle. They had a distinct language. They wore their hair short because it gave less advantage to their enemies. They were very industrious, raised many crops, and rarely danced. They were the most loyal nation to the French, and were very brave, and very neat.

²(1, page 48) See Appendix, Vol. 33

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