Chapter VI: Part II

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to raise a Clamour against it in the Province, and presented likewise Petitions to the King, in Order to get the Act repealed.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_.

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