Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Sir:

FROM ALEXANDER MCKEE TO J. G. SIMCOE.

RAPIDS 26th July, 1794.

Your Excellency's Letters of the 10th & 16th Inst. with their enclosures reached me this Morning.

The total seperation of the Indians, which I apprehended in my last has been prevented and it is a great satisfaction to me, to be able to announce the prospect of their speedily recollecting themselves: upwards of 300 of those who live at a distance stopped here among whom are some of the principal Chiefs of their several Nations who are now sending Messages to their Villages, for their Warriors to collect themselves immediately and join them at this place-This must necessarily cause the consumtion of a much greater Quantity of Provision than has been usual. I think it proper therefore to apprise Your Excellency thereof, that I may receive your commands should such issues be thought inexpedient, but without such supplies it will be impossible either for them or me to remain here.

Several Parties of Indians are now about the Forts which will greatly interrupt Mr. Wayne's communication-A mixed Band of Ottawas, Chipawas and Putiwatimies Consisting of 60 Men Marched from this place on the 22d Inst. and a Party of Weyondots are following them this day. A Party of Delawares also set off from the Glaze on Horseback about the 20th in order to overtake an American Scouting Party who the Evening before Carried off a Miamies Man from the little Glaze. I feel myself much Interested in the Success of this Party, lest the Prisoner may be induced to tell of the seperation of the Indians & thereby hasten the advance of the Army

A small Party of Chipawas brought a Prisoner here two days ago and the Scalps of a Chickasaw and a white Man the information of the Prisoner is herewith enclosed.

On the 22d I wrote to Lieut. Colonel England and informed him of the disregard paid to Your Excellency's Order with regard to selling Rum to the Indians and I am persuaded no effectual stop will be put to it until a punishment is annexed to a breach of the Order-I also informed him in a Subsequent letter, that the french Traders at the Glaze are using all their endeavours to prevail on the Indians to quit that place now become so dangerous and troublesome, and go with them to settle near Lake Michigan and to leave the defence of this Country to those who wish to stay in it and to their Father-Your Excellency will readily anticipate the fatal effects which must result from the adoption of this plan, nor is it impossible that it may be the effects of Intrigues of a more dangerous nature.

The most material Articles of the Indian supplies are not yet come up vizt. Blankets, Guns, Rifles, Ball, flints, Knives, Tobacco & Paint, so that it is out of my power to make a distribution, the two last Articles are so necessary that I made a requisition to Colonel England for the purchase of some but he writes me that he does not consider himself authorized to approve of it and I am now without any of these Articles which to the Indian is as necessary as food and as constantly called for by them.

With regard to great Britain having occupied a Post on this River, it has been uniform ever since the [year] 1781 and was always considered as a dependancy of Detroit-Captain Pots of the 8th Regiment built a Fort at this place in that year and the British Flag has been flying every year since that period, during the Summer Months while I was waiting the arrival of the different Nations of Indians, to deliver to them the presents directed by His Majesty.

This Post was again re-occupied in 1786 by a Party of the 53d Regiment-But the Dependencies of Detroit, on this River, existed from a much earlier date: ever since the Peace of 63 Great Britain has occupied a Post at the Miamies Towns, often as a Garrison & some times as a Trading Post, until General Harmer's invasion in 1790 when the Indians Moved to the Glaze; it then lost its consequence as a Trading Post and the Traders followed the Indians thither: The possession of these Posts has never been given up, and at this day are considered part of the Dependancies of Detroit.

The Wabash Indians have again made their appearance at this Council fire and on the 14th Inst. a Deputation from the Kicapoes, Outatanons and Piankishaws, requested a Council with the Chiefs of the different Nations, at which they expressed their sorrow for having listened to the big Knives and beg of the Confederacy to take Pity on them and receive them again among them as Brothers-They were answered by Egushawa in the Name of the other Nations, who after strongly warning them against an insidious enemy who had already led them from the pursuit of their true Interest, readmitted them into the Confederacy, on condition however, that they immediately collect the Warriors and assemble them at the Glaze as the only proof of their sincerity which they could now give-The Kickapoe Chief expressed great satisfaction & promised that he would go Home & collect his people without delay.

I have the Honor to be Your Excellency's Most
Obedient and faithful Humble Servt.

His Excellency Governor Simcoe, &c., &c.

Endorsed:-In Lt. Govr. Simcoe's No. 29. of the 5th Augt. 1794.

A. MCKEE.

(1)

BEATING ORDERS FOR THE ROYAL CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS.

Guy, Lord Dorchester, General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America, &c., &c., &c.

Το

These are to authorize and empower you by beat of drum or otherwise forthwith to raise from amongst the Inhabitants of Upper and Lower Canada as many able bodied men whether Natives of Great Britain or Ireland or of the two Provinces as will assist the completing a Company to be commanded by Captain and to consist of seventy five men with the usual establishment of non-commissioned officers to be appointed in proportion to the number of recruits raised. Whenever forty recruits shall have been approved of at Montreal, the Commissions for the Officers shall be granted. This Company to be merely Provincial and for the service of Upper and Lower Canada only, and to serve for the space of three years or during the War; and it is to be understood that neither rank in His Majesty's Army or half pay upon reduction is to be expected in right of such Commissions. It is to be subjected to the control and orders of the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America or to such other orders as in His Majesty's wisdom he may think proper to give.

This order shall be and continue in force twelve months from the date hereof. Given under my hand at the Castle of St. Lewis at Quebec, the twenty eighth

day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety four and the thirty fourth year of His Majesty's reign.

By His Excellency's Command.

Fran. Le Maistre, M.S.

DORCHESTER.

Sir:

FROM JOHN JAY TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.

LONDON, 30th July, 1794.

The great and, I believe, unexpected events in Flanders, and the unusual number of interesting affairs which constantly demand the attention of the British Cabinet, keep their ministers unceasingly employed, and is, doubtless one reason why more time has not been allotted to our concerns. We are, nevertheless, beginning to do business apparently in good earnest. The minister is (if I may say so) besieged by our British creditors. The subject of the debts is attended with difficulties. The minister has been informed that the law in Virginia relative to the evidence of book debts has, since the war, been made more strict than it was before. If the law has been thus changed, and made to apply to pre-existing transactions, there is room for complaint. I wish to have exact information on this head.

I am to see Lord Grenville to-morrow at 11 o'clock, by appointment, on the business of spoliation and impressments, when I hope he will be prepared to say something decisive. I have laid before him several of the cases you sent me, and also the statement by the captains of the vessels taken at Martinique. Of the facts mentioned in the latter, he had never received any information.

I know the impatience that must prevail in our country. At times I find it difficult to repress my own impatience; but for all things there is a season. The importance of moderation and caution in the present moment is obvious, and will, it is to be hoped, continue to operate on the minds and conduct of our fellowcitizens. As yet I do not apprehend that I have committed any mistakes in this business. I wish I may be able to say as much at the conclusion of it.

I have read your thirty odd papers to and from Mr. Hammond and his complaints. You have, in my opinion, managed that matter well; continue, by all means, to be temperate, and put him in the wrong. Let us hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I confess I have hopes, but I also perceive circumstances and causes which may render them abortive.

This letter cannot be satisfactory; it amounts to little more than this; that nothing decisive has yet been done, and that I cannot tell you whether anything, and what, will be done. So is the case; and such will often be the case pending any negotiation or any game connected with events not in our power to control. In both, chances frequently defeat skill, and as frequently give to skill unmerited reputation. For these things I must take my chance.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JOHN JAY.

(Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Vol. IV, pp. 36-8.)

EXTRACT FROM THE UNITED STATES GAZETTE.

LICHFIELD, CONN., July 30, 1794.

On Monday last, Serjeant Lent Munson, late of the first sub-legion in Gen. Wayne's army, arrived in this town from captivity among the Ottawa Indians. Mr. Munson's intelligence, observation, and integrity entitle him to full credence.

[ocr errors]

Mr. Munson escaped by way of the rapids, Detroit and Niagara. He saw the new fort erecting by Gov. Simcoe at the rapids of the Maumee, 15 miles from Lake Erie. The party there at work, instead of quitting the place as has been reported, had later been reinforced by about 100 men. Gov. Simcoe had been there a short time before, but was at Niagara when he came through that place. A regiment, called "the first American regiment or the Queen's Rangers, was raising at Niagara, where the bounty was ten guineas. He was solicited to engage in that corps by Mr. Fanning, one of Gov. Simcoe's aids, who told him that they expected a war with this country. They are making great preparations for war, repairing their forts and arming vessels; three vessels of war were sailing on Lake Erie; two of them carried 12 guns, the other 8, and several gunboats.

The Indians have no expectation of being subdued; they say that when they have cut off two or three more armies of Americans, the United States will make peace with them. On the 4th of June the Indians received their supplies of ammunition from the King's stores.

(Printed in the Gazette of the United States of Philadelphia, 8 August, 1794.)

Sir:

FROM E. B. LITTLEHALES TO FRANCIS LE MAISTRE.

NAVY HALL, 31st July, 1794.

Lieut. Governor Simcoe having thought proper to assist the Six Nations Indians in building a Council House at the Grand River, directs me to mention that he desired that the following things might be issued out of the Stores at Niagara, in part for that incidental purpose, which if it meets the Commander in Chief's approbation he requests may be replaced.

Eighty pounds ten penny nails.

One hundred pounds glass 72 by 82.
Twenty eight pounds putty.

Two hundred weight of flat iron.

F. Le Maistre Esqr. M.S. Quebec.

I am, &c.

E. B. LITTLEHALES.

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF DAVID ZEISBERGER.

Thursday, July 31, 1794. . . . Mr. Allen, who was here in the winter, came here by boat by way of Detroit to settle forty miles up the river. He stayed over night and went on the next day.

Monday, August 4. White people went through here for Detroit with cattle,

who have begun a settlement forty or fifty miles up this river, thirty families strong, having lately come over from Europe. The land will be very thickly settled, and grows perceptibly. We should have gained nothing then if we had settled as far again up the river.-Translation by Eugene F. Bliss, II. p. 367.

No. 28.
Sir:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO HENRY DUNDAS.

NAVY HALL, 2nd August, 1794.

I do myself the honor of enclosing the Speech with which I closed the Sessions of the Meeting of the Houses of the Legislature, & the Observations on the Bills which were passed during their sitting-I also submit to you the Memorandum respecting the Marriage Act, relative to the report of His Majesty's Advocate, Attorney & Solicitor General, as transmitted to me by Mr. King in his letter of the 12th of July, 1793-These Observations and the memorandum have been furnished me by the late Chief Justice Osgoode in conformity to those ideas which in my former letters on this Subject I have transmitted to you.

The acts themselves together with those of the former Sessions duly authenticated, in the manner which you directed in your Letter of the 16th March will be transmitted by the first opportunity that shall conveniently offer.

It is with great satisfaction that I have lately received a Letter from Mr. Rose by the direction of the Lords of the Treasury authorizing me to appoint an Agent for the purchasing of all Provisions that this Province can afford for the maintenance of the King's Troops & Garrisons; as I have every hope that this arrangement will not only be a saving to the Public, but I am confident nothing can be more agreeable to the Inhabitants of this Province than to have the most open market for their produce, which hitherto has been unavoidably subject to a severe monopoly. I have the honor to be Sir, with the utmost respect, Your most Obedient humble Servant J. GRAVES SIMCOE.

Right Honorable Henry Dundas, &c., &c., &c.

Endorsed:-Navy Hall, 2d Augt. 1794. Lt. Govr. Simcoe. R. 17th Octr. No. 28. Ansd. 7th Novr. Four Inclosures.

FROM E. B. LITTLEHALES TO JOHN SMITH.

NAVY HALL, Aug. 2nd, 1794.

Sir:

His Excellency Colonel Simcoe directs me to inform you that the detachment of His Majesty's Corps of Queen's Rangers, under the command of Captain Smith, now doing duty in the Garrison of Niagara, are to proceed to York, Tuesday next, the 5th instant.

Major Smith, Commdng. Niagara.

I have the honor to be, &c.
E. B. LITTLEHALES.

« AnteriorContinuar »