THE
P R E F A C E
To the Second Part.
_The former Part of this History was written at_ New-York _in the Year_
1727, _on Occasion of a Dispute which then happened, between the
Government of_ New-York _and some_ Merchants. _The_ French _of_ Canada
_had the whole Fur Trade with the_ Western Indians _in their Hands, and
were supplied with their woollen Goods from_ New-York. _Mr._ Burnet,
_who took more Pains to be informed of the Interest of the People he was
set over, and of making them useful to their Mother Country, than
Plantation Governors usually do, took the Trouble of perusing all the
Registers of the_ Indian _Affairs on this Occasion. He from thence
conceived of what Consequence the Fur Trade with the_ Western Indians
_was of to_ Great-Britain; _that as the_ English _had the Fur Trade to_
Hudson's Bay _given up to them, by the Treaty of_ Utrecht, _so, by the
Advantages which the Province of_ New-York _has in its Situation, they
might be able to draw the whole Fur Trade in the other Parts of_ America
_to themselves, and thereby the_ English _engross that Trade, and the
Manufactories depending on it_.
_For this Purpose he thought it necessary to put a Stop to the Trade
between_ New-York _and_ Canada, _by which the_ French _supplied themselves
with the most valuable and necessary Commodities for the_ Indian _Market,
and to set the Inhabitants of this Province on trading directly with the_
Indians. _Besides the Consideration of Profit and Gain, he considered
what Influence this Trade had on the numerous Nations of_ Indians _living
on the vast Continent of_ North-America, _and who surround the_ British
_Colonies; of what Advantage it might be of, if they were influenced by
the_ English _in Case of a War with_ France; _and how prejudicial, on the
other Hand, if they were directed by_ French _Counsels_.
_The Legislature of_ New-York _was soon convinced of the Justness of his
Reasoning, and passed an Act, prohibiting the Trade to_ Canada, _and for
encouraging the Trade directly with the_ Indians. _They were likewise at
the Charge of building a fortified trading House at_ Oswego, _on_
Cadarackui Lake, _and have ever since maintained a Garison there. As this
Act did in its Consequence take a large Profit from one or two
considerable Merchants, who had the Trade to_ Canada, _intirely in their
Hands, they endeavoured to raise a Clamour against it in the Province,
and presented likewise Petitions to the King, in Order to get the Act
repealed. Upon this Occasion Mr._ Burnet _gave me the Perusal of the
Publick Register of_ Indian _Affairs, and it was thought the Publication
of the History of the_ Five Nations _might be of Use at that Time_.
_I shall only add, that Mr._ Burnet's _Scheme has had its desired Effect:
The_ English _have gained the Trade which the_ French, _before that, had
with the_ Indians _to the Westward of_ New-York; _and whereas, before that
Time, a very inconsiderable Number of Men were employed in the_ Indian
_Trade Abroad, now above three hundred Men are employed at the Trading
House at_ Oswego _alone; and the_ Indian _Trade has since that Time yearly
increased so far, that several_ Indian _Nations come now every Summer to
trade there, whose Names were not so much as known by the_ English
_before_.
_This History, from_ New-York, _soon went to_ England, _and I have been
informed, that a Publication, with a Continuance of that Work, would be
acceptable there. I have the more chearfully complied with this Notice,
because of the War threatened from_ France, _believing that a Publication
of this Kind may be useful, whether the present Inquietudes between the
two Nations end in a War or in a Treaty. The_ French _have encouraged
several Publications of this Sort at_ Paris, _and certainly such may be
more useful in a_ British _Government, where the People have so great a
Share in it, than it can be in a_ French _Government, intirely directed by
the Will of their Prince_.
_I now continue this History to the Peace of_ Reswick, _and if I find this
acceptable, and that a farther Continuation of it be desired, I shall,
if my Life and Health be preserved, carry it down farther; but as I have
too much Reason to doubt my own Ability, to give that Pleasure and
Satisfaction which the Publick may expect in Things thus submitted to
their View, I think it not justifiable to trouble them with too much at
once_.
THE
H I S T O R Y
OF THE
Five _INDIAN_ Nations,
DEPENDING
On the Province of _NEW-YORK_.
* * * * *