CHAPTER XI

THE FIRST BRITISH AGENTS REACH THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY FEBRUARY 25, 1765-JULY, 1765

AUBRY DESCRIBES CONDITIONS THE BRITISH HAVE ABANDONED THEIR PLAN OF GOING UP THE MISSISSIPPI -THE PERPLEXITY OF ST. ANGE MAJOR FARMAR'S DIFFICULTIES JOHN ROSS AND OTHERS GO TO THE ILLINOIS BY LAND - ST. ANGE DESCRIBES A COUNCIL WITH THE INDIANS - THE DANGEROUS POSITION OF ROSS - CRAWFORD TELLS OF THE EXPEDITION - ALEXANDER FRASER REACHES THE ILLINOIS - THE LETTERS OF FRASER PONTIAC PROTECTS THE ENGLISHMEN - JOHNSON DEFENDS HIMSELF TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.

AUBRY TO THE MINISTER, February 25, 1765

[A.N., C., CA45:41-L.S.]

[Ministerial reference:] M. Dubuq

MONSEIGNEUR

J'ay Eu l'honneur de vous informer de la mort de M2 D'abbadie, et des arrangéments que j'ay pris conjointement avec M3 foucault, pour que le bien du service du Roy ne souffrit point par la perte que la colonie vient d'Eprouver; jusqu'a l'arrivée des Espagnols, je feray tout ce que je pourray pour entretenir la paix, et la tranquilite Entre les françois, Sauvages, et Anglois, Ce qui n'est pas facille; je me

[Translation]

[Ministerial reference:] M. Dubuq

MY LORD:

I have had the honor to inform you of the death of M. Dabbadie and of the arrangements which I have taken conjointly with M. Foucault in order that the welfare of the royal service should not suffer by the loss which the colony has just experienced. Until the arrival of the Spaniards I shall do everything that I can to maintain the peace and tranquillity between the French, the savages, and the English, which is not easy to do. I flatter myself in acting this

flatte en agissant ainsy, Monseigneur, remplir vos intentions, et travailler au bonheur de la colonie.

Il Paroit que les anglois ont renoncé du moins Pour cette année au dessein d'aller aux illinois par le mississipy, ils se contenteront seulement d'etablir un poste aux natchers et a la riviere d'hiberville. afin d'Empecher que nos petites nations ne les attaquent en montant, comme elles l'ont fait déja fait l'année passée, Ce qui pourroit Avoir de tres mauvaises Suittes, je vais mander leurs Chefs, et leurs consideréz à la nouvelle orleans, et leurs diray Ce que je croiray de plus convenable pour les en detourner.

Les arkansas placés a moitié chemin des illinois ont aussi reçeu des Colliers de Pondiak dans le dessein de fraper sur Eux lorsqu'ils monteront; En Conséquence je Leurs Envoye un officier leur Parler de ma part avec des présens convenables afin de les en Empescher. Comme Cette nation à toujours ecouté la Parolle du françois j'espere y reussir. A l'egard des sauvages du Nord avec qui ils sont en guerre, ils sont trop Eloignés de moy pour que je puisse avoir beaucoup d'influence sur Eux; je me contente seulement d'ordonner à tous les

[Translation]

way, my lord, that I shall carry out your intention and work for the welfare of the colony.

It appears that the English have renounced, at least for this year, the design of going to the Illinois by the Mississippi. They will content themselves with establishing a post only at Natchez and at the river Iberville. In order to prevent our little nations from attacking them while going up the river, as they did last year, an event which could have very grave consequences, I am going to summon their chiefs and their beloved men to come to New Orleans and shall tell them what I believe most suitable to prevent them from such a course.

The Quapaw situated half way to the Illinois have also received belts from Pontiac for the purpose of persuading them to strike at the English when they shall ascend the river. Consequently I am sending them an officer to speak to them in my behalf, with presents suitable to prevent them from it. As this nation has always listened to the word of the French, I hope to succeed. As regards the northern savages with whom the English are at war, they are too far distant

voyageurs qui vont commercer dans la partie des illinois, de ne point porter de poudre, ni de munitions de guerre, dans leurs villages. Je marque a Mr St ange qui commande dans ce Poste d'y tenir la main, je scay bien Monseigneur, qu'il en passera toujours, mais ce sera en moindre quantité, et je seray par la à l'abry de tout reproche.

J'envoye aussy à Ma de st ange quelques petits presens qui luy sont necessaires dans la Circonstance ou il se trouve, afin de les distribuer, avec la plus grande Economie aux differentes nations qui l'obsedent de toutes parts, La seuretté de sa foible garnison, et des habitans établis à Ce Poste Exigent ce sacrifice; je voudrois Monseigneur s'il étoit possible ne faire aucune depense Mais la position de cette colonie, la situation de nos Postes, la Correspondance continuelle que nous sommes obligés d'avoir avec les sauvages et des évenéments imprevûs, nous forcent quelque fois d'En faire d'indispensables, Par Exemple 200. acadiens hommes, femmes et Enfans, rebuttés du Climat de st Domingue, viennent de debarquer icy, et mourroient reellement de misere, si on ne Les Secouroient; J'ay Cru

[Translation]

from me for me to have much influence upon them. I am contenting myself simply with ordering all the voyageurs, who carry on commerce in the territory of the Illinois, not to carry powder nor munitions of war into their villages. I told M. de St. Ange, who commands at that post, to seize them; I know well, my lord, that some powder will always pass through, but that will be only in small quantities, and I shall be on that account protected from all reproach.

I am sending also to M. de St. Ange some little presents which are necessary in the circumstance in which he is, in order that he may distribute them with the greatest economy to the different nations who importune him from all sides. The security of his feeble garrison and of the inhabitants established at this post demand this sacrifice. I should wish, my lord, if it were possible, not to make any expense; but the position of this colony, the situation of our posts, the continual intercourse which we are obliged to have with the savages, and unexpected events compel us sometimes to make indispensable expenses. For example, two hundred Arcadian men, women, and children, repelled by the climate of Santo Domingo, have just disembarked here and will actually die from want if they do not receive

que l'humanité, et l'honneur de la nation m'obligeoient à faire quelque chose en faveur de ces Pauvres familles Errantes depuis dix ans. et qui ne sont malheureuses que par leur attachement inviolable a leur patrie, et a leur religion, je vais tacher de les placer sur la rive droite du fleuve, et le plus proche de la ville qu'il sera possible; On ne peut se dispenser de leurs donner des armes, des munitions, des outils pour travailler á la terre, et des vivres, sans cela que deviendront ils? ils seront necessaires aux Espagnols quand ils seront arrivés, et il sera de leur interest de les menager.

Les anglois qui se melent souvent de ce dont ils n'ont que faire voudroient les engager á aller avec Eux á la riviere d'hiberville, mais il n'est pas á craindre que des hommes qui depuis le traité d'utrec n'ont pû se soumettre à leur domination, et qu'ils ont traité avec autant de duretté depuis le commencement de Cette derniere guerre, aillent presentement se joindre a Eux.

Il est arrivé aussy a la nouvelle orleans un chef Chaouanon, et un autre des illinois deputés par plus de 40. villages qui sont en guerre avec les anglois pour venir voir leur Pere, qui demeure à la

[Translation]

succor. I believed that humanity and the honor of the nation obliged me to do something in favor of these poor families who have been wandering for ten years and are unfortunate only because of their inviolable attachment to their fatherland and their religion. I am going to try to place them on the right bank of the river and as near as possible to the town. One cannot help giving them arms, munitions, tools for working the ground, and provisions. Without these what will become of them? They will be necessary for the Spaniards when they arrive, and it will be for their interest to take care of them.

The English who often intermeddle with things which do not concern them will desire to engage them to go with them to the river Iberville; but it is not to be feared that men, who, since the treaty of Utrecht, have not been able to submit themselves to the English domination and whom the latter have treated with so much harshness, since the commencement of this last war, are going now to join themselves to them.

There has arrived also at New Orleans a Shawnee chief and another of the Illinois tribes, delegated by more than forty villages which are at war with the English, to come and see their father who lives at

ville Chaude, et luy demander des secours pour continuer la guerre contre Eux, afin de faire voir aux anglois qui ne sont que trop mefiants, qu'il n'y a point de mistere ni de connivance entre ces sauvages et moy; je leurs donneray Audiance En presence de quelques uns de leurs officiers qui ne quittent la Ville, et de tous les officiers françois de cette Colonie, j'écriray Exactement leur harangue et ma reponse que j'auray l'honneur de vous envoyer par la premiere occasion.1

Le gouvernement de cette colonie dans la position ou il se trouve est trés Epineux; il est trés difficille de pouvoir contenter a la fois les françois, Sauvages et anglois, je tache autant qu'il est en moy d'entretenir la tranquilité entre les uns et les autres, et de pouvoir preparer la voye aux Espagnols. Je leurs donneray a leur arrivée un memoire sur la connoissance de cette colonie, et sur la conduitte qu'ils doivent y tenir qui j'espere ne leur sera pas inutille, je chercheray toujours, Monseigneur, icy, et partout ailleurs a meriter l'honneur de vos bontés, et de votre protection.

[Translation]

the "warm town" and to demand of him assistance to continue the war against their enemy. In order that the English who are only too distrustful may be made to see that there is no secret understanding or connivance between these savages and myself, I shall give an audience to the Indians in the presence of some one of the English officers who have not left the town and of all the French officers of this colony. I shall write out exactly their harangue and my answer which I shall have the honor of sending to you on the first occasion.1

The government of this colony in its present condition is a very thorny proposition; it is very difficult to find means of contenting at one and the same time the French, the English, and the savages. I am trying as far as it lies in me to maintain tranquillity between all and to prepare the way for the Spaniards. I shall present the latter on their arrival a memorial to give them a knowledge of this colony and advice on the conduct which they should pursue. I hope this will not be useless. I shall seek always, my lord, here and everywhere to merit the kindness of your honor and your protection.

'These are the "talks" held on February 24. (Ante, 448 et seq.) Since this conference had not been held when Aubry was writing this part of the letter, he must have begun writing on February 23 and finished on February 25; but it should also be noticed that the conference lasted two days.