THE

PREFACE

To the SECOND PART.

HE former Part of this Hiftory was written at New

of a

then happened, between the Government of New-York and Some Merchants. The French of Canada had the whole Fur Trade with the Western Indians in their Hands, and were Jupplied with their woollen Goods from New-York. Mr. Burnet, who took more Pains to be informed of the Intereft of the People be was fet over, and of making them useful to their Mother Country, than Plantation Governors ufually do, took the Trouble of perufing all the Registers of the Indian Affairs ontbis Occafion. He from thence conceived of what Confequence the Fur Trade with the Western Indians was of to Great-Britain; that as the English bad the Fur Trade to Hudfon's Bay given up to them, by the Treaty of Utrecht, fo, by the Advantages which the Province of New-York has in its Situation, they might be able to draw the whole Fur Trade in the other Parts of America to themfelves, and thereby the English engrofs that Trade, and the Manufactories depending on it.

For this Purpofe he thought it neceflary to put a Stop to the Trade between New-York and Canada, by which the French fupplied themselves with the most valuable and neceffary Commodities for the Indian Market, and to fet the Inbabitants of this Province on trading directly with the Indians. Befides the Confideration of Profit and Gain, he confidered what Influence this Trade bad on the numerous Nations of Indians living on the vast Continent of North-America, and who furround the British Colonies, of what Advantage it might be of, if they were influenced by the English in Cafe of a War with France; and how prejudicial, on the other Hand, if they were directed by French Counfels.

The Legiflature of New-York was foon convinced of the Juftness of his Reasoning, and passed an Act, probibiting the PART II.

Trade

ivTMTMTM Trade to Canada, and for encouraging the Trade directly with the Indians. They were likewife at the Charge of building a fortified trading Houfe at Ofwego, on Cadaraçkui Lake, and • have ever fince maintained a Garifon there. As this A did in its Confequence take a large Profit from one or two confiderable Merchants, who bad the Trade to Canada intirely in their Hands, they endeavoured to raise a Clamour against it in the Province, and prefented likewife Petitions to the King, in Order to get the Act repealed. Upon this Occafion Mr. Burnet gave me the Perufal of the Publick Regifter of Indian Affairs, and it was thought the Publication of the Hiftory of the Five Nations might be of Ule at that Time.

The PREFACE to the SECOND PART.

T

Ifball only add, that Mr. Burnet's Scheme has had its defired Effect The English bave gained the Trade which the French, before that, bad with the Indians to the Westward of New-York; and whereas, before that Time, a very inconfiderable Number of Men were employed in the Indian Trade Abroad, now above three hundred Men are employed at the Trading Houfe at Ofwego alone; and the Indian Trade has fince that Time yearly increased fo far, that feveral Indian Nations come now every Summer to trade there, whofe Names were not fo much as known by the English before.

This Hiftory, from New-York, foon went to England, and I bave been informed, that a Publication, with a Continuance of that Work, would be acceptable there. I have the more cbearfully complied with this Notice, because of the War threatened from France, believing that a Publication of this Kind may be useful, whether the prefent Inquietudes between the two Nations end in a War or in a Treaty. The French have encouraged feveral Publications of this Sort at Paris, and certainly fuch may be more useful in a British Government, where' the People have fo great a Share in it, than it can be in a French Government, intirely directed by the Will of their Prince,

I now continue this Hiftory to the Peace of Refwick, and if I find this acceptable, and that a farther Continuation of it be dfired, I fall, if my Life and Health be preferved, carry it down farther; but as I have too much Reason to doubt my own Ability, to give that Pleasure and Satisfaction which the Publick may expect in Things thus fubmitted to their View, I think it not justifiable to trouble them with too much at once.

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

FIVE INDIAN NATIONS,

DEPENDING

On the PROVINCE of NEW-YORK.

PART II.

The Hiftory of the Five Indian Nations of Canada, from the Time of the Revolution to the Peace of Refwick.

СНАР. І.

The State of Affairs in New-York and Canada, at the Time of the Revolution in GreatBritain.

W

I.

E left the Five Nations triumphing over CHA P. the French in Canada, and they almoft reduced to Defpair. The Revolution, which happened at this Time in England, feemed to be a favourable Conjunction for the Five Nations; the English Colonies, by the War at that Time declared

against

CHA P. against France, becoming Parties in their Quarrel: I. For one will be ready to think, that the Five Nations being by themselves too powerful for the French,. as appears by the preceding Chapter, when thefe were affifted by the Utawawas, Quatoghies, Twibtwies, Chiltaghicks, Putewatemies, and all the Wef tern Indian Nations, and when the Englih stood neuter; now certainly, when not only all these Indian Nations had made Peace with the Five Nations, but the English joined with them in the War, the French would not be able to ftand one Campaign.

But we fhall find what a Turn Affairs took, contrary to all reasonable Expectations, from the general Appearance of Things, and of what Importance a refolute wife Governor is to the well-being of a People, and how prejudicial Divifions and Parties are. For this Reafon, it will be neceffary to take a View of the Publick Affairs in the Province of New-York, and in Canada, at that Time, in order to understand the true Caufes of the Alterations, which afterwards happened in Favour of the French.

The Revolution occafioned as great Divifions and Parties in the Province of New-York, in Proportion to the Number of People, as it did in Britain, if not greater. The Governor and all the Officers either fled or abfconded; the Gentlemen of the King's Council, and fome of the moft confiderable or richeft People, either out of Love, or what they thought Duty, to King James, or rather from an Opinion they had that the Prince of Orange could not fucceed, refused to join in the Declaration the People made in favour of that Prince, and fuffered the Adminiftration to fall into different Hands, who were more zealous for the Proteftant Interest, and who were joined by the far greatest Number of the Inhabitants. After the Revolution was eftablifhed, they that had appeared fo warmly for it, thought that

they