there just before he came away, that they saw great numbers of Boats with troops going down the Ohio, and suppose they are going against the Spaniards; The Indians seem to be unanimous and determined to defend their Country, particularly since the Detachment of the 24th went to the Miamis River, the Fort I mentioned in my last letter is building below the Rapids. There are now several Bands of Chippewas and Ottawas here who are on their way to the Miamis Rapids. I remain, &c. P.S. Captain Elliott is just arrived, he says he heard Nothing of Wayne's building a Fort on this side of Fort Recovery, it is imagined the Boats that were seen going down the Ohio with American Troops were commanded by Clark.' Sir: FROM C. T. A. SCHOEDDE TO J. G. SIMCOE. FORT ONTARIO, 25th May, 1794. One Danford, Jr. (Captain I have little intercourse with the Genesee people. One Danford, of Militia) with 28 lawless ruffians interrupts all communication. Valkenberg, an inhabitant at the Falls who gave me intelligence, has been obliged to fly to this place for refuge, and he expects to hear that all his property has been seized. Those vagabonds are about the Garrison in the bushes; their firelocks are new arms sent up this winter. As the preservation of this Post is my principal duty, I do not attempt to hunt after them, but if they offer to come on the plains I will certainly disperse them. There is one De Wit, a man of some influence and property in Onondago County to whom I have intimated that those proceedings of Danford's may bring serious consequences upon all the settlers, and that it behooved him to interfere; that all the persons concerned were men without property, and probably hired by a set in New York who have no hopes of ever being worth a farthing unless they can bring on a war with Great Britain and fish in troubled waters; that the back settlers can never benefit by it, and that if a war did take place their possessions would in a great measure lay at the mercy of the Indians, at present restrained by our good offices. He has sent word that himself and one Lammas (who have about fifty people at work) intend to remain quiet, and that they will not let their men join Danford's party, and that they hope that their own Government will bring those Algerine Pirates, as they call them, to an account. His Excellency, Lt. Govr. Simcoe. 1 George Rogers Clark. I have the honor to remain, &c. C. T. A. SCHOEDDE. FROM ROBERT HAMILTON TO E. B. LITTLEHALES. It being thought eligible that a portion of the Militia of the Home District of Upper Canada should be made acquainted with the use of Artillery, the following thoughts on the plan for most easily effecting this are humbly laid before His Excellency the Governor. That a Battalion be raised separate from and independent of the present Militia. That this shall consist of Volunteers, but who, when entered into this Corps, shall be bound by the regulations made by the Officers thereof, nor shall any person have liberty to leave the Corps during at least the present prospect of disturbance, without full permission. That as many of the officers and men of the Corps shall be mounted on horses, as is possible, to render their motions expeditious and alert, the men not mounted to be more particularly attached to the guns. To render the Corps respectable they shall adopt a plain cheap uniform, and be known by the name of the Cavalry Artillery. That the Battalion shall first consist of four Companies along the Niagara river, the station of the first, Newark, second, Queenston, third, Fort Welland,' fourth, Fort Erie. That the Companies shall consist of thirty men each under a Captain and two Subalterns. That as soon as formed, they shall meet for the first month twice a week, to learn under an artilleryman, something of the management of great guns, and regularly as often afterwards as their officers shall think proper or necessary, not exceeding one day a week. That when fit to undertake it every Company shall be entrusted with the management of a field piece for the purpose of exercise, the Captain being security that this shall not meet with wilful harm. That the Corps when it may be practicable or necessary may also learn the use of artillery on the water. The above outlines of a plan for effecting this very desirable means of defence is most respectfully submitted to the correction of his Excellency the Governor. by his most obedient and most humble servant. R. HAMILTON. Queenston, May 25th, 1794. MESSAGE DELIVERED BY TWO DELAWARE CHIEFS WHO ARRIVED AT THE FOOT OF THE RAPIDS WITH SIX SCALPS FROM THE GLAIZE THIS 25TH DAY OF MAY, 1794. Father and Brethren: We are sent by three fires at the Glaize to inform you that twelve days ago my companion who now sits by me, and who headed a party of thirty Delawares and Shawanese, discovered a large Force upon its march between Forts Washington and Hamilton, and had two actions with them, in which a great number of our enemies were killed. Part of their flesh we have brought here with us to convince 1 At Chippawa. our friends of the truth of their now being in great Force on their march against us. Therefore, father, we desire you to be strong, and bid your children make haste to our assistance, as was promised by them. We have been constantly calling upon them all this spring to collect here to oppose this Enemy, but hitherto to no purpose. We think if you, Father, could rise yourself, and lead them by the hand, it would give them spirit, and we might depend upon their assistance. They should not put off the time, for a few days will now decide either for or against us, therefore bid them to be strong and repair without any delay to our assistance. You, Father, must make haste and bring us such supplies as are necessary for us in our present situation, therefore make no excuses that you have not got it. Time is urgent and no more words are necessary to convince you of our critical situation and the importance of our affairs. Delivered six scalps to be distributed among the different Nations. Dear Sir: A. MCKEE, S.I.A. FROM ROBERT HAMILTON TO JOHN PORTEOUS. I have received several of your late favors which my present time will not permitt me to Reply. I, however, with you most sincerely deprecate a war between Britain and America as an Event that both parties must essentially lose by, and neither so far as I can judge have the least chance of gain. Queenston, May 28th, 1794. I remain, &c. (Printed in Vol. VI of the Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, pp. 91-2.) FROM EDWARD THORNTON TO JAMES BLAND BURGES. My dearest Sir: PHILADELPHIA, May 27th, 1794. I presume that I shall very shortly resume my post. I cannot say that I look forward to this period with particular satisfaction; as, since the present causes of dispute have arisen between Great Britain and this country, the general malignity against the British name is so much increased when concentrated and pointed against a known Englishman, especially if he has any public employment, that a residence in any part of the country is become extremely unpleasant. At Baltimore solitude or insult is almost my only alternative. In that town since I left it, the most violent outrages have been committed against persons accused of being friends to Great Britain, and I enclose you a handbill which, after one of these riots, the Chief Justice of Maryland (Samuel Chase) found himself obliged to circulate in order to insure from the orderly part of the community protection to his own person in the exercise of his duty. Captain Braithwaite, whom I find to be an intimate friend of yours, my dear sir, and who appears to have very superior talents, can relate to you very particularly the nature of the temper which actuates the people of that part of the country, as he has passed through the most inflammatory portions of it (an absolute ordeal), and I believe was actually in Baltimore at the time of the above riot. Whatever may be the termination of the present dis putes between the two countries, some most important lessons have been given in the course of them as to the nature and extent of her commercial connections with this continent. Our merchants must hereafter in their accounts of profit and loss calculate the risk of a confiscation of their debts in a given period of years, in the same manner as a West India planter looks forward to a hurricane; and I would beg them to reflect whether a less extensive but certain trade (or at least with very little danger of loss and none of confiscation, which is by no means impracticable) be not preferable to one which, though it may produce considerable profits, may encounter a tempest which may sweep off the whole at once. The other lesson which respects the West Indies is a still more momentous one. The late embargo on vessels in the United States has discovered a spirit of refined hostility (which has happily been harmless in the present instance, but) which may one day operate most fatally to the colonies in the West Indies and to Great Britain. If they continue to look to the United States alone as the source of supply for the necessaries of life (I mean flour and Indian meal), let them beware of any period of national calamity in Great Britain. Whenever that moment shall occur, let but any motive of pique, or caprice, or hostility, or even a commercial speculation actuate the people of this country, and the sudden suspension of their supplies will plunge the West Indies in distress, if not in ruin. While the States are the only source of supply the suspension can be sudden and must be effectual, and I beg to observe that it can only be so by being unexpected. I am therefore of opinion, my dear sir, that it is the duty and interest of Great Britain to seek out one or many other markets for the West Indies, even at an additional expense to those islands. Let the United States have a share in that trade if necessary; but do not let us encourage a monopoly which can never be advantageous to us and may be the instrument of our destruction. Sir: EDWARD THORNTON.1 FROM LORD DORCHESTER TO J. G. SIMCOE. QUEBEC, 29th May, 1794. On Sunday morning last the Rev. Doctor Mountain, Bishop of Quebec sent to me two Mandamus, directing letters patent to be issued under the great seals of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, advancing him to the title and dignity of Lord Bishop, and further directing him to be appointed to the Legislative Council of the said Provinces. In compliance with His Majesty's commands, I have given the necessary orders as far as concerns Lower Canada, but not having the Great Seal of Upper Canada, I enclose you the Mandamus relative to that Province as sent to me having received no other notice or intimation respecting the same. I have received a letter from Mr. King, stating that Mr. Dundas had directed him to inform me that His Majesty had been pleased to appoint Mr. Osgoode to be Chief Justice of Lower Canada, in the room of the late Chief Justice Smith. As the situation of this Province is exceedingly critical, and I may say seditious, Mr. Osgoode's presence is of importance, and therefore I hope to see him here as soon as possible. I am with regard, Sir, &c. DORCHESTER. J. G. Simcoe, Esq., Lt. Govr. 1 Secretary to George Hammond. Sir: FROM R. G. ENGLAND TO J. G. SIMCOE. DETROIT, May 29th, 1794. Since my letter to your Excellency of the 24th Inst. by the Chippawa, I received by Express from Colonel McKee a letter accompanied with a Speech to him, copies of which I have the honor herewith to enclose to you. Immediately on my receiving them, I directed Captain Elliott to use every means in his power to expedite all the Indians in the neighbourhood of this Fort to the Glaize, and by advertisement requested that the public at large would not sell rum to the Indians for three days, which they have in general cheerfully attended to, except Sally Ainse,' who availed herself of the general prohibition, and privately disposed of a sufficient quantity to keep an entire Band drunk. I drew my request to the public on a desire from the Chiefs to hold a Council in consequence of a message received from their brothers at the Glaize, and so far succeeded as to send away several this morning, and the rest have promised to set out early to-morrow. There has been within these few days nearly five hundred Indians collected here. The usual presents have been given to them to induce them to send home their families, and as I am informed not more than a hundred and fifty of the above number will go, or are proper to go to the assistance of their brethren. By Colonel McKee's letter the attack made by the Indians was spirited, but as they threw away their firearms when they rushed forward with their tomahawks, and were afterwards beaten back by numbers, and obliged to leave their arms, the Americans will call it a Victory, which will serve to encourage their Army, and endeavour to injure the reputation of the Indians in battle. Some of the scalps arrived here and were immediately passed along to the other Lake Indians. By a Letter from Captain Steel I find he has got both of the Deserters formerly mentioned to Your Excellency, and only waited a good opportunity to send them in, therefore expect them by the return of the Gun Boat, which I hope will arrive in time to send them by the Ottawa, who now only waits in expectation of my hearing something further worth communicating to you. I have directed several batteaux made, which I shall hope your sanction for. There are not any at this Post at present, and I fear they will not be finished as expeditiously as I could wish, the Artificers being still employed on the Dunmore and Felicity but I shall take care that they are not idle. They are indispensably necessary, as no expedition can go on without them. His Excellency, Governor Simcoe. I have the honor to be, &c. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CAPT. JOHN DESERONTYON TO JOSEPH CHEW S.I.A. DATED BAY DE QUINTI 29TH MAY, 1794. "Brother: "by the reports in this Place we seem to be on the Eve of a War once more with the States, as the report says they are Preparing to take Oswego & Niagara, we would wish his Lordship was acquainted with our Sentiments, to Put Confidence in 1 Some particulars of this person may be gathered from "Papers and Addresses," Kent Historical Society, V, pp. 92-5, (1921), in a paper entitled "Phases of the Sally Ainse Dispute," by Louis Goulet. |