Part 2 (1/2)
To these Advantages must be added, that many of our young Men having been induced by this Act to travel among the _Indians_, they learn their Manners, their Languages, and the Situation of all their Countries, and become inured to all Manner of Fatigues and Hards.h.i.+ps, and a great many more being resolved to follow their Example; these young Men, in case of a War with the _Indians_, will be of ten Times the Service, that the same Number of the common Militia can be of.
The Effects of this Act have likewise so much quieted the Minds of the People, with Respect to the Security of the Frontiers, that our Settlements are now extended above thirty Miles further West towards the _Indian_ Countries, than they were before it pa.s.sed.
The only Thing that now remains to answer, is an Objection which we suppose may be made, _What can induce the Merchants of_ London _to pet.i.tion against an Act, which will be really so much for their Interest in the End_? The Reason is in all Probability, because they only consider their present Gain; and that they are not at all concerned for the Safety of this Country, in encouraging the most necessary Undertaking, if they apprehend their Profit for two or three Years may be lessened by it. This Inclination of the Merchants has been so notorious, that few Nations at War with their Neighbours, have been able to restrain them from supplying their Enemies with Ammunition and Arms.
The Count _D'Estrade_, in his Letters in 1638 says, That when the _Dutch_ were besieging _Antwerp_, one _Beiland_, who had loaded four Fly-boats with Arms and Powder for _Antwerp_, being taken up by the Prince of _Orange_'s Order, and examined at _Amsterdam_, said boldly, _That the Burghers of_ Amsterdam _had a Right to trade every where: That he could name a Hundred that were Factors for the Merchants at_ Antwerp, _and that he was one. That Trade cannot be interrupted, and that for his Part he was very free to own, that if to get any Thing by Trade it were necessary to pa.s.s through h.e.l.l, he would venture to burn his Sails_.
When this Principle so common to Merchants, is considered, and that some in this Place have got Estates by trading many Years to _Canada_, it is not to be wondered that they have acted as Factors for _Canada_ in this Affair, and that they have transmitted such Accounts to their Correspondents in _London_, as are consistent with the Trust reposed in them by the Merchants of _Canada_.
In the last Place, we are humbly of Opinion, that it may be proper to print the Pet.i.tion of the Merchants of _London_, and their Allegations before the Lords of Trade, together with the Answers your Committee has made thereto, in Vindication of the Legislature of this Province, of which we have the Honour to be a Part, if your Excellency shall approve of our Answers: That what we have said may be exposed to the Examination of every one in this Place, where the Truth of the Matters of Fact is best known; and that the Correspondents of these Merchants may have the most publick Notice to reply, if they shall think it proper, or to disown in a publick Manner, that they are the Authors of such groundless Informations.
All which is unanimously and humbly submitted by
_Your Excellency's_
_Most obedient humble Servants_,
_R. Walter_, _Rip Van Dam_, _John Barberie_, _Fr. Harrison_, _Cadwallader Colden_, _Ja. Alexander_, _Abraham van Horn_.
_A Memorial concerning the Furr-Trade of the Province of_ New-York.
_Presented to his Excellency_ William Burnet, _Esq_; _Captain General and Governor_, &c. _by_ Cadwallader Colden, _Surveyor General of the said Province_, the 10_th of_ November 1724.
It has of late been generally believed, that the Inhabitants of the Province of _New-York_ are so advantageously situated, with respect to the _Indian Trade_, and enjoy so many Advantages as to Trade in general, that it is in their Power not only to rival the _French_ of _Canada_, who have almost entirely engrossed the Furr-Trade of _America_, but that it is impossible for the _French_ to carry on that Trade in Compet.i.tion with the People of this Province. The enquiring into the Truth of this Proposition, may not only be of some Consequence, as to the Riches and Honour of the _British Nation_, (for it is well known how valuable the Furr-Trade of _America_ is) but likewise as to the Safety of all the _British Colonies_ in _North-America_.
_New-France_ (as the _French_ now claim) extends from the Mouth of the River _Misissippi_, to the Mouth of the River _St. Lawrence_, by which the _French_ plainly show their Intention of enclosing the _British Settlements_, and cutting us off from all Commerce with the numerous Nations of _Indians_, that are every where settled over the vast Continent of _North-America_. The _English_ in _America_ have too good Reason to apprehend such a Design, when they see the _French_ King's Geographer publish a Map, by which he has set Bounds to the _British Empire_ in _America_, and has taken in many of the _English Settlements_ both in _South-Carolina_ and _New York_, within these Boundaries of _New-France_. And the good Services they intend us, with the _Indians_, but too plainly appears at this Day, by the _Indian War_ now carried on against _New-England_.
I have therefore for some Time past, endeavoured to inform myself, from the Writings of the _French_, and from others who have travelled in _Canada_, or among the _Indians_, how far the People of this Province may carry on the _Indian Trade_, with more Advantage than the _French_ can; or what Disadvantages they labour under, more than the _French_ do.
As all Endeavours for the good of ones Country are excusable, I do not doubt but my Intention in this will be acceptable to your Excellency, though I be not capable of treating the Subject as it deserves.
I shall begin with _Canada_, and consider what Advantages they have either by their Situation, or otherwise. _Canada_ is situated upon the River of _St. Lawrence_, by which the five great Lakes (which may properly be called, _The five Inland Seas of North-America_) empty themselves into the Ocean. The Mouth of this great River is in the Lat.
of 50 Degrees, overagainst the Body of _Newfoundland_. It rises from the _Cataracui Lake_, (the Eastermost of the five great Lakes) about the Lat. of 44 Degrees, and runs from thence about North-East to the Ocean, and is about nine hundred Miles in Length, from that Lake to the Ocean.
The five great Lakes which communicate with each other, and with this River, extend about one thousand Miles Westward, further into the Continent. So far the _French_ have already discovered, and their Discoveries make it probable, that an Inland Pa.s.sage may be found to the _South-Sea_, by the Rivers which run into these Lakes, and Rivers which run into the _South-Sea_.
The Method of carrying Goods upon the Rivers of _North-America_, into all the small Branches, and over Land, from the Branches of one River to the Branches of another, was learned from the _Indians_, and is the only Method practicable through such large Forests and Deserts as the Traders pa.s.s thro', in carrying from one Nation to another, it is this; the _Indians_ make a long narrow Boat, made of the Bark of the Birch-tree, the Parts of which they join very neatly. One of these Canoes that can carry a Dozen Men, can itself be easily carried upon two Men's Shoulders; so that when they have gone as far by Water as they can (which is further than is easily to be imagined, because their loaded Canoes don't sink six Inches into the Water) they unload their Canoes, and carry both Goods and Canoes upon their Shoulders over Land, into the nearest Branch of the River they intend to follow. Thus, the _French_ have an easy Communication with all the Countries bordering upon the River of _St. Lawrence_, and its Branches, with all the Countries bordering upon these In-land Seas, and the Rivers which empty themselves into these Seas, and can thereby carry their Burdens of Merchandize thro' all these large Countries, which could not by any other means than Water-carriage be carried thro' so vast a Tract of Land.
This, however, but half finishes the View the _French_ have, as to their Commerce in _North-America_. Many of the Branches of the River _Misissippi_ come so near to the Branches of several of the Rivers which empty themselves into the great Lakes, that in several Places there is but a short Land-Carriage from the one to the other. As soon as they have got into the River _Misissippi_, they open to themselves as large a Field for Traffick in the southern Parts of _North-America_, as was before mentioned with respect to the northern Parts. If one considers the Length of this River, and its numerous Branches, he must say, _That by means of this River, and the Lakes, there is opened to his View such a Scene of inland Navigation as cannot be parallel'd in any other Part of the World_.
The _French_ have, with much Industry, settled small Colonies, and built stockaded Forts at all the considerable Pa.s.ses between the Lakes, except between _Cataracui Lake_ (called by the _French Ontario_) and _Lake Erie_, one of our Five Nations of _Indians_, whom we call _Sennekas_, (and the _French Sonontouans_) having hitherto refused them leave to erect any Buildings there.
The _French_ have been indefatigable in making Discoveries, and carrying on their Commerce with Nations, of whom the _English_ know nothing but what they see in the _French_ Maps and Books. The Barrenness of the Soil, and the Coldness of the Climate of _Canada_, obliges the greatest number of the Inhabitants to seek their living by travelling among the _Indians_, or by trading with those that do travel. The Governor, and other Officers, have but a scanty Allowance from the King, and could not subsist were it not by the Perquisites they have from this Trade; neither could their Priests find any means to satisfy their Ambition and Luxury without it: So that all Heads and Hands are employ'd to advance it, and the Men of best Parts think it the surest way to advance themselves by travelling among the _Indians_, and learning their Languages; even the Bigotry and Enthusiasm of some hot Heads has not been a little useful in advancing this Commerce; for that Government having prudently turn'd the Edge of the Zeal of such hot Spirits upon converting the _Indians_, many of them have spent their Lives under the greatest Hards.h.i.+ps, in endeavouring to gain the _Indians_ to their Religion, and to love the _French Nation_, while, at the same time, they are no less industrious to represent the _English_ as the _Enemies of Mankind_. So that the whole Policy of that Government, both civil and religious, is admirably turn'd to the general Advancement of this Trade.
Indeed the Art and Industry of the _French_, especially that of their religious Missions, has so far prevail'd upon all the _Indians_ in _North-America_, that they are every where directed by _French Councils_. Even our own _Five Nations_, (the _Iroquois_) who formerly were mortal Enemies of the _French_, and have always liv'd in the strictest Amity with the _English_, have, of late, (by the Practices of the _French Priests_) been so far gain'd, that several of the _Mohawks_, who live nearest the _English_, have left their Habitations, and are gone to settle near _Monreal_ in _Canada_; and all the rest discover a Dread of the _French Power_. That much of this is truly owing to the _Priests_, appears from many of the Sachems of the _Iroquois_ wearing Crucifixes when they come to _Albany_: And those _Mohawk Indians_ that are gone to _Canada_, are now commonly known, both to the _French_ and _English_, by the Name of _The Praying Indians_, it being customary for them to go through the Streets of _Monreal_ with their Beads, praying and begging Alms.
But notwithstanding all these Advantages, the _French_ labour under Difficulties that no Art or Industry can remove. The Mouth of the River of _St. Lawrence_, and more especially the Bay of _St. Lawrence_, lies so far North, and is thereby so often subject to tempestuous Weather and thick Fogs, that the Navigation there is very dangerous, and never attempted but during the Summer Months. The Wideness of this Bay, together with the many strong Currents that run in it, the many Shelves, and sunken Rocks that are every where spread over both the Bay and River, and the want of Places for anchoring in the Bay, all increase the Danger of this Navigation; so that a Voyage to _Canada_ is justly esteem'd much more dangerous than to any other Part of _America_. The many s.h.i.+pwrecks that happen in this Navigation, are but too evident Proofs of the Truth of this, particularly the Miscarriage of the last Expedition against _Canada_. The Channel is so difficult, and the Tides so strong, that after their s.h.i.+pping get into the River, they never attempt to sail in the Night, tho' the Wind be fair, and the Weather good. These Difficulties are so considerable, that the _French_ never attempt above one Voyage in a Year to _Europe_, or the _West-Indies_, tho' it be really nearer _Europe_ than any of the _English Colonies_, where the s.h.i.+pping that constantly use the Trade, always make two Voyages in the Year.
The Navigation between _Quebeck_ and _Monreal_ is likewise very dangerous and difficult: The Tide rises about 18 or 20 Feet at _Quebeck_, which occasions so strong a Stream, that a Boat of six Oars cannot make way against it: The River in many Places very wide, and the Channel at the same time narrow and crooked; there are many Shelves and sunken Rocks, so that the best Pilots have been deceived; for which reason the Vessels that carry Goods to _Monreal_ are always obliged to anchor before Night, tho' both Wind and Tide be fair. The Flood goes no further than _Trois Rivieres_, half way to _Monreal_, and about ninety Miles from _Quebeck_: After they pa.s.s this Place they have a strong Stream always against them, which requires a fair Wind and a strong Gale to carry the Vessels against the Stream. And they are obliged in this Part of the River, as well as under the _Trois Rivieres_, to come to an anchor at Night, though the Wind be good. These Difficulties make the common Pa.s.sages take up three or four Weeks, and sometimes six Weeks; tho' if they have the chance of a Wind to continue so long, they may run it in five or six Days.