person to you, which in his mission I had anticipated. It is reported that he is on his return by Lower Canada.

I am just now in possession of letters which passed between yourself and Mr. Secretary Randolph of the 20th & 22nd of May relative to the Post at the Miamis, together with the President's message on that Subject of the 21st of May.

It may be proper for me to communicate my Ideas upon the Subject which appears to have been regarded as of peculiar importance by the Government of the United States.

The universal aggressions of the United States in my apprehension is summarily comprised in the despatch I have alluded to in the former part of my letter. The particular instances as far as they respect this Government in respect to Oswego, and lately to the language and threats of General Wayne and his Officers that they would approach to the Lakes or within nine miles of Detroit, have been fully explained in the several communications that I have done myself the honor of sending to you from time to time, for the express purpose of your using your endeavours by the means which you possessed of constant access to the Government of the United States to prevent those aggressions which neither the King's honor, nor the public safety would permit those entrusted with this Government to submit to without opposition.

I am sure that Your Excellency will do me the Justice of saying that such have been my Communications to you, that they have been made with a providence which has foreseen the extremities, which must result from such aggression, and in the very spirit of securing the Public Peace by representation and not hostility.

Upon a general view of the State of Canada, it appears to have been the duty of the Governor General as Commander in Chief, to direct such Posts to be reoccupied for the public Security, as might best provide for it upon principles not of Hostility but of self Defence.

The Fort at the Miamis was evacuated in some respect at the Peace of 1783, as occasioning an useless and unnecessary expence. It was occupied afterwards as circumstances directed, at one time, I think in 1789, by a Sergeant's party to prevent flour being smuggled from the Settlement, and in consequence of a general regulation. Colonel McKee has given out the King's presents there, resides there occasionally, and during his residence has had the British Flag displayed, and it has been considered by the respective Officers in Command at Detroit as within their jurisdiction.

I observe with some degree of surprise, that Secretary Randolph in his letter to you, remarks "that the Army of the United States in their march against the Enemy will not be able to distinguish between them and any other People associated in the War." It should appear, Sir, that Mr. Randolph supposes that the British Troops are associated in arms with the American Indians, and not confined to the defence of a Post sufficiently conspicious to all those who do not affect to misunderstand the difference between hostility and self-defence, or do not wish to confound the means of just protection against an Indian invasion with an invasion which must be repelled. I cannot but regret, Sir, that during the pending of these various points the Establishment of a Settlement at the Sodus in the vicinity of Oswego should have taken place.

The principles upon which the British Government defer the evacuation of the Posts to the common observation of mankind can possibly have no effect, should the value of those Posts depending upon the restraint which they place upon the commerce of the United States, or upon the extension of their Settlements, be

evaded by the recent occupation of such positions in their very neighbourhood as may effectually counteract the intention for which the Posts were so withheld.

I cannot but therefore consider, Sir, the present occupation of the Sodus as calculated to throw obstacles in the way of negotiation; but when I add to it the circumstances of the late plunders which have been committed on the properties, and the confinement of the persons of His Majesty's Subjects at the Three River Point, which have been made known to Your Excellency and that some of them have actually happened under the eyes of the Magistrates of the Province of New York, as proved by them not only having been plundered, but having been regularly collected under the pretext of a species of Embargo and that the robbers have been armed with the arms of Mr. Williamson, now a Magistrate, and when I compare these transactions with the Speech of the Governor of New York at the opening of the late Session, evidently aiming to inspire a spirit of hostility into the people, I cannot but think this Government was meant to be betrayed and provoked by such atrocious Offences and insults into reprisals, and that it is amply justified and laid under the necessity of preventive measures as apparently the result of system from receiving countenance by the approaches of a formidable Army to its very Settlements. Nor, Sir, are these encroachments, nor the language of General Wayne to the Indians, nor the language of the unprincipled men at the Genesees, nor of Williamson at the Sodus, the only reasons which fortify and confirm the necessity of the Commander in Chief having directed me to establish a Post at the Miamis. At this moment, I have certain Information that persons at Presqu' Isle have told the Indians that they mean to build ships there, and then to drive the British Troops and Inhabitants out of the Country.

It is true, Sir, such language may be denied, and it may be said to be unauthorized, but it has sufficient weight and authority with the Indians to give a just cause of uneasiness to this Government, to direct its view to self-defence and proper precaution; is a further illustration of the manner in which the Subjects of the United States "push on, act, and talk"-and is sufficiently evident to give a reasonable ground of apprehension that their future intentions are systematically of an hostile nature.

I have just now been furnished with Mr. Randolph's Answer on the 2nd of June.

I think the dispatch which this endorses upon solid grounds, controverts the assumption of the Territorial Line being the line of Jurisdiction till the Territory is ceded by the Indian Nations, the true Proprietors, and I have already sufficiently explained that the Fort now erecting is within the District possessed by the Military Establishment of Detroit at the time of the Peace, and subsequently to that event.

I have been informed that Mr. Ellicott' at Presqu' Isle or Le Boeuf, had held the unjustifiable, and I had presumed, obsolete language "that the King had ceded the lands of the Indians to the United States."

Mr. Johnson', the King's Interpreter, who was present at the request of the Indians, heard the assertion. Mr. Ellicott also attempted to insinuate to the Indians that the permission which Lord Dorchester had given him to pass these Posts, in order to draw a line of demarkation between the Provinces of Pennsylvania and New York, was a proof that the lands were ceded to the United States. I have the honor to be, &c.

His Excy. George Hammond, Philadelphia.

1 Andrew Ellicott.

2 William Johnston.

J. G. SIMCOE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM G. LA MOTHE TO JOSEPH CHEW, S.I.A. DATED AT MICHILIMACKINAC 19TH JULY 1794.

"All our warriors arrived yesterday with very little success, they have lost Twenty five people amongst different Nations, the Americans on their side have lost thirty, and amongst them there were two prisoners which we received yesterday. The action was near Fort Recovery from which the Cannon & Shells were very much against the Indians.

Captain Doyle desires his compliments to you and requests of you to send twelve Medals & twelve Flags to this place, the small medals you sent before the Indians will not accept of him.

There is likewise at Chikagoe Fifty Indians died of the Small Pox which alarms the Indians much in this Post."

MONTREAL 18th August 1794 a true Extract

JOSEPH CHEW, S.I.A.

FROM THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM TO LORD GRENVILLE.

WEYMOUTH, July 19, 1794.

"If the enclosed letter only concerned me, I should not on this account regret the difficulty which cut me off from any communication with the Office which Mr. Dundas has quitted; but, after considering the subject, I thought myself bound in honour to Colonel Simcoe (as a consequence of the confidence which he reposed in me) to communicate this very short and interesting note to Mr. Pitt and you, who first employed him. I will thank you to return it to me, as I wish to answer it immediately, and to state to him how entirely this change in the Cabinet, and particularly in the Home Department, has altered my situation, and by means of assisting him in his correspondence. Upon a subject from which I apprehend so much, I must form my opinion from the few lights which are in your letter, which notified it to me, and they are certainly not sufficient to alter the opinion which I should have given (had it been asked) upon this coalition, so entirely new to me (Historical Manuscripts Commission, Dropmore Papers, Vol. II, p. 602.)

(Extract)

FROM JOSEPH BRANT TO JOHN SMITH.

July 19th, 1794.

"It is our business to push those fellows hard, and, therefore, it is my intention to form my camp at Point Appineau,' and I would esteem it a favour if His Excellency, the Lieut.-Governor, would lend me four or five batteaux. Should it so turn out, and should those fellows not go off, an expedition against those Yankees must of consequence take place. His Excellency has been so good as

1 Now written "Point Abino," the first conspicuous point of land on the shore of Lake Erie, west of Fort Erie. Indian relics in abundance have been found in its neighbourhood, showing that it was a place of frequent resort of aborigines.

to furnish us with a hundred-weight of powder and ball in proportion, which is now at Fort Erie; but in the event of an attack upon the Le Boeuf people, I would wish, if consistent, that His Excellency would order a like quantity to be at Fort Erie, in order to be in readiness; likewise I would hope for a little assistance in provisions."

(Quoted by Mr. D. B. Read in "The Life and Times of Gen. John Graves Simcoe," pp. 216-7.)

FROM D. W. SMITH TO J. G. SIMCOE.

His Excellency, John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada, &c., &c., &c., In Council:

May it please your Excellency,

Having reference to the order which your Excellency was formerly pleased to make of a reserve on Burlington Bay, for certain French Emigrants; as well as to a subsequent order of Council, no longer to reserve those lands, but to assign the same to Messieurs McDonnells;-and understanding that this last order has been in consequence of a surmise that the french agent, the Abbe des Jardins, did not intend to come into this Province; but which I have since learnt cannot altogether be depended on.

I beg to know your Excellency's pleasure, whether the said lands are to be yet reserved for the true Abbe, & the French Emigrants, or whether the assignments made to the Messrs. McDonnells, in conformity to the late order of Council, are to be considered binding

(MSS. of D. W. Smith, Toronto Public Library, Series B, Vol. 9, p. 9.)

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO GEORGE HAMMOND.

NIAGARA, July 20th, 1794.

Sir: I enclose to Your Excellency a letter just received by Doctor Kerr' of this place, by which it would appear that the persons of whom I gave you information by Mr. Peters have committed other robberies at the Three River Point, are attempted to be sheltered in their villainy by the Magistrates of Onondago, the well known friends of Governor Clinton, shamefully applying to their forcible and unauthorized piracy the legitimate Powers of the Federal Authority, and intimating a tumultuous Assembly of the People, who had themselves declared that they took upon them the commission of reprisals, to be legally invested with the due authority of the Laws.

The taunts and improper language is a suitable conveyance of such contemptible and ruffian-like conduct.

The box of goods alluded to was opened and in a great measure plundered.
I have the honor to be, &c.

His Excy. George Hammond. Philadelphia.

J. G. SIMCOE.

Dear Sir:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO GEORGE HAMMOND.

July 20th, 1794.

Since my last communication with Your Excellency, I have seen a letter of yours in the Albany paper to Mr. Randolph &c., &c., bearing date of 17th July tho' from the contents, I gather it is misprinted, and should be the 7th of that month. My letter seems to have anticipated some of the topics of Your Excellency's animadversions and in such a manner, that did I not assure you to the contrary, it might induce a belief that I had some intimation of your Answer to Mr. Randolph previously to the despatch which I transmitted to you.

I enclose for your perusal, the copy of a letter which was written by General Sinclair in 1790, previously to the advance of the Army which he led into the Indian Country, to the King's Officer in command at Detroit.

That Genl. Sinclair was directed and required to establish a Post at the Miamis Village in 1791: after its Establishment he was instructed, rather than before it, to give assurances to the British Commandant at Detroit that the Armament was not intended at different periods, but to have originated on the natural principle, that a large force collected upon the Frontier of a neutral state, is a just cause of jealousy to such a state, and that it is the duty of the Power who collects such a force to remove any umbrage that may arise by the most explicit assurances that no hostile intentions are meditated against the possessions of the neighbouring Power; to what extent such a Power shall believe or admit these assurances, can only be determined by itself, upon a review of every immediate or collateral circumstance, which may illustrate such assurances, and discriminate them from apparent or probable intentions which may not be avowed. A remarkable change has since these periods taken place in the intentions of the American GovernmentThe Establishment of a Post at the Miamis Villages seems no longer to be a primary 1 Robert Kerr.