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Nicholas Perrot, commanding for the King at the post of the Nadouesioux, commissioned by the Marquis de Denonville, Governor and Lieutenant-General of all New France, to manage the interest of commerce among all the Indian tribes and peoples of the Bay des Puants, Nadouesioux, Mascoutins, and other western nations of the Upper Mississippi, and to take possession in the King's name, of all the places where he has hitherto been, and whither he will go.

We, this day, the eighth of May, one thousand six hundred and eighty, (sic) do, in presence of the Reverend Father Marest, of the Society of Jesus, missionary among the Nadouesioux; of Mons. de Borie-Guillot, commanding the French in the neighbourhood of Ouiskonche, on the Mississipi; Augustin Legardeur, Esquire, Sieur de Caumont, and of Messieurs Le Sueur, Herbert, Lemire, and Blein, declare to all to whom it may concern, that, having come from the Bay des Puants, and to the Lake of the Ouiskonches, and to the River Mississipi, we did transport ourselves to the country of the Nadouesioux, on the border of the River Sainte Croix, and at the mouth of the River Saint Peter, on the bank of which were the Mantantans, and farther up into the interior to the north-east of the Mississipi as far as the Menchokatoux, with whom dwell the majority of the Songestikons and other Nadouesioux, who are to the north-east of the Mississipi, to take possession for, and in the name of the King, of the countries and rivers inhabited by the said tribes, and of which they are proprietors. The present Act,

done in our presence, signed with our hand, and subscribed by the Reverend Father Marest, Messrs. de Borie-Guillot and Caumont, and the Sieurs Le Sueur, Hebert, Lemire, and Blein.

Done at the Post St. Anthony, the day and year aforesaid. These presents are in duplicate. Signed to the original: Joseph Jean Marest, of the Society of Jesus; N. Pérrot, Legardeur de Caumont, Le Sueur, Jean Hebert, Joseph Lemire, and F. Blein.

FRENCH CORRESPONDENCE, 1697-1747.

THE COUNT DE FRONTENAC TO THE MINISTER.

Quebec, the 15th October, 1697.

We have caused the King's Ordinance to be published, and have begun to carry it into execution with the utmost severity, and orders are given, generally, to recall generally, next year, not only all the voyageurs, but also all the soldiers who are at the posts with the commandants, with out excepting the Sr. de Tonty, invalided captain, to whom I had given orders, in case the Sr. de la Mothe Cadillac should descend with the convoy of Frenchmen and savages that we were expecting, to re-ascend with these last and five Frenchmen, and with the utmost promptitude to go to Missilimakinac, and there to take command in the absence of the said Sr. de la Mothe.

POSTS IN THE NORTH-WEST.

Conseil de Marine, 7th December, 1717.*

Messieurs de Vaudreuil and Begon having written last year that the discovery of the Western Sea would be advantageous to the colony, it was approved that, to reach it, M. de Vaudreuil should establish three posts, which he had proposed, and he was instructed at the same time to have the same established without any expense accruing to the King-as the person establishing them would be remunerated by trade-and to send a detailed schedule of the cost of continuing the discovery. In reply it is stated that M.

* Library of Parliament MSS., 3rd series, vol. 6, pp. 529, 530.

de Vaudreuil in the month of July last caused the Sieur de la Noüe, Lieutenant, to set out with eight cannon to carry out this scheme of discovery. He gave him instructions to establish the first post at the River Kamanistiquoya, to the north of Lake Superior, after which he is to go to Takamanigen [Takamamiononio]* near the Lake of the Christineaux, to establish a second, and to acquire through the Indians the information necessary for the establishment of the third at the Lake of the Assinipoëlles [Winnipeg].

This journey costs the King nothing, because those engaged in it will be remunerated for their outlay by the trade which they will engage in; but to follow up the discovery it is absolutely necessary that his Majesty should bear the expense, because the persons employed in it will have to give up all idea of trade.

They estimate that 50 good voyageurs will be required; of these, 24 will occupy the three posts, and the 26 others ill be engaged in making the discovery from the Lake of Assenipoelles to the Western Sea. They calculate the wages of these men at 300 francs a year each, and estimate that the expenditure as well for provisions and canoes, as for goods for presents, will amount to

There will have to be added, for supplementary outfit, 600 francs for each of the 6 officers employed in the discovery

f. 29,023 10

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As it will take about two years to make this journey, they estimate that the expenditure may amount to fifty thousand francs.

RECAPITULATION OF THE LICENSES (CONGES) SIGNED BY VAUDREUIL AND BEGON,

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LICENSES WHICH HAVE BEEN UNUSED LICENSES. TOTAL LICENSES.

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Le Sieur de Vaudreuil has been informed by the letters of Sieur de la Noüe, that having arrived very late at Kaministiquoya, where he found but few Indians, he was unable to send any of the canoes to Kamanionen,* and that he will send them after the return of those which he sent this spring to Michilmakinac, in search of provisions; he adds that the Indians of his post were well satisfied with this establishment, and promised to bring there all those who have been accustomed to trade at Hudson's Bay; that he wrote through a French man, who was at Point Chagouamigon, to a chief of the Scioux Nation, and he hopes to succeed in making peace between this nation and that of the

*Takamamiouen-Rainy Lake.

+ Archives de Paris, 3rd series, Vol. VI., p. 943.

Christineaux; the accomplishment of which would put him in a condition to pursue with less risk the execution of his orders for the discovery of the Western Ocean.

In the margin is written: This first article approved.

MM. DE VAUDREUIL AND BEGON TO THE CONSEIL DE MARINE.

Quebec, 14th October, 1719.*

The Sieur de Vaudreuil has not received, in the present year, any letter from the Sieur de la Noüe; he has only learnt, by way of Chagoamion, which is to the south of the bottom of Lake Superior, and where, since last year, the Sieur de St. Pierre commands, that the Sieur Pachot had passed through there on his way to the country of the Scioux, where he had been sent by the Sieur de la Noüe, with respect to the peace that he was trying to bring about between that nation and that of the Christineaux; but that the Sieur Pachot not having returned to Chagoamion at the date when the last canoes left, no information as to the result of his voyage had been there obtained. The silence of the Sieur de la Noue creates the belief that he has preferred to await the return of the Sieur Pachot, before giving account to the Sieur de Vaudreuil of what he has done in execution of the orders which he had given him, and that he was not able to do so at the date of the Sieur Pachot's arrival at Gamanistigoya, because the season was then too far advanced. The Sieur de Vaudreuil believes that the absence of the Sieur Pachot will have prevented the Sieur de la Noüe from sending this year to Takamamionen, but that that officer will have found means to attract to his post the savages who were in the habit of trading at Hudson's Bay.

THE BOUNDARIES TO BE SETTLED-FROM MM. DE VAUDREUIL AND Begon.

26th October, 1719.

They [the Canadians] have learnt with joy that his Majesty has given orders to his ambassador in England to propose and to name commissioners on both sides, to settle the limits of New France. This appears to be very necessary to be done, as the English exercise influences upon the French and the Indians in time of peace, to establish themselves on the River Naurantsonak, where they number 500 men; showing a design to maintain themselves there in case of war, and even to drive away the Indians from this mission.

M. DE BEAUHARNOIS TO THE MINISTER,↑

27th September, 1727.

Whilst at Montreal, I have not missed writing to the Commandants of Detroit, the Miamis and Ouiatanons, who are closer to the River Ouabache than to that of Detroit, to obtain information as to the establishments which the English intend founding on that river. On my departure from Montreal, I left orders to send a man there for that purpose. I shall have the honour of reporting to you as to what I shall learn from him on his return. I have been informed that last summer, the English had sent to trade in the environs of the said river; that they had erected two cabins which served them for store-houses, and that they had demolished them when about to return to Orange. On this information I have sent orders not to tolerate them there in future.

Archives de Paris, 3rd Series, Vol. VII., p. 646.

+ Ibid, Vol. X., pp. 172-4.

EXTRACT FROM AN ABSTRACT, &C., OF OCCURRENCES IN THE COLONY, AND OF THE VARIOUS INTELLIGENCE RECEIVED SINCE THE DEPARTURE OF THE SHIPS IN NOVEMBER, 1746.*

August 13, 1747.-Captain de Noyelle and Sieur de la Verendrye arrive from Michilimakinac, and deliver to the General a letter dated at that post, on the 23rd July, and addressed to him by Sieur de Noyelle, junr., commanding, in the absence of M. de La Corne, senior, and by other officers, who arrived from other upper posts, and happened to be then at Michilimakinac. The General is informed by this letter of the confusion that prevails among all the nations of that post and neighbourhood, Outaouais, Sauteurs, and Mississaguès. The Outaouas of Saguinam have killed three Frenchmen who were coming from Detroit to Michilimakinac. Two French canoes which had gone en prime from Mon

treal to the West Sea, La Mer de l'Ouest, have been attacked by the Sauteurs, about the place called La Cloche,† near Lake Michigan; one, containing eight men, has been wholly defeated; the second, by striking out into the lake and throwing its cargo overboard, escaped to Michilimakinac. Another Frenchman has been stabbed by the Sauteurs at a place called La Grosse Isle, only two fleagues distant from the post. These Indians have offered divers insults and threats at the fort and in the vicinity; they killed all the horses and other cattle that they could not catch; they designed to surprise the fort, but were discovered and obliged to leave, by ringing the bell and beating the tatoo as usual, and even by making some defensive demonstrations. There had been greater reason for presuming bad intentions on the part of the Indians, inasmuch as a crowd of young men had armed themselves with knives, in a council which had been held at their request on the 3rd July, and which terminated in recrimination. The Indians have not been since permitted to enter the fort, except under certain restrictions. Some Frenchmen from Point Chagouamigon, and M. de Noyelle, senr., on his usual return from La Mer de l'Ouest, arrived a few days after. Certain intelligence had also been received there from Detroit. This reinforcement will somewhat tranquillize the fort, which contained before this arrival only twentyeight men. An Outaoua Indian, named Nequiouamin, arrived on the 2nd July at the post, to communicate in secret to the Commandant and the Missionary, that the Iroquois, the Huron, and the Flathead, had come to an understanding with the English to destroy the French, and drive them to the other side of the Sea; that the Outaouac of Detroit is in the plot; that the Poutouatami will co-operate; that the Mississague and Sauteur are gained over; that the Outaouac of Saguinam has already struck; that the Outaouac of Michilimakinac would have taken part against us had it not been for the portion of the village which is at Montreal, and that they would yet possibly declare against us on the arrival of seventy men from Sanguinam, who are to be reinforced by the Sauteurs of Grosse Isle ; that they were to leave in a few days, and to come in the night to speak to the Outaouas of the post, and that it were well to allow no person to go hunting, and to keep strict watch. M. de Noyelle, junr., adds that he will detain, until further orders, at Michilimakinac, the canoes which were to come from Montreal to the different posts, unless affairs changed, and it became certain that the dispositions of the Indians at these posts were altered. We are co-operating in the adoption of the most effectual measures, either to restore tranquillity at the post of Michilimakinac, or at least to place it in a proper state of defence against all attacks of the Indians.

October 14th. Sieur Masse, who has been the whole year at Cape Chat, has returned. We receive letters from Michilimakinac, informing us of the arrival of Chevalier de la Verendrye, who has found that post very quiet; the Outaouacs are beginning to be sorry for what occurred last year.

*N. Y. Hist. Col., Vol. X., pp. 119, 120, 129.

An island north of the Great Manitoulin, in Lake Huron.

An island immediately north of Mackinaw Island; map of St. Mary's Straits in Charlevoix's.

FRENCH CORRESPONDENCE, 1696-1747.

67

ACT, &C., OF WHATEVER OCCURRED OF INTEREST AT QUEBEC, AND THE VARIOUS NTELLIGENCE RECEIVED THERE, SINCE THE SAILING OF THE SHIPS IN NOVEMBER, 747.*

News from Michilimakinac.

ov. 10.—We are in receipt of letters from Michilimakinac. Lieutenant de St Pierre, ad been selected to command the convoy sent to that post, arrived there, without cident, in 45 days. Captain de Verchères, appointed Commandant at La Baye, 10 was to remain at Michilimakinac with his traders from Montreal, had taken his ire thence for his post, with his voyageurs. M. de St. Pierre writes us on October hat he has not been able to speak to the Indians, who were, when he arrived, all their winter quarters, without having given any token of repentance for the outey had perpetrated. It is, hence, to be presumed that they persist in their evil ions; that the Marquis de Beauharnois' orders, sent with Sieur de Laverendrye, in nth of August, have been badly executed; that 'twas the only means of reducing ations; that he does not anticipate success otherwise than by depriving them of plies they derive for the support of their families, and which they cannot dispense This might have been effected, were the traders prevented going to the different cording to the Marquis de Beauharnois' intentions; and this officer takes this of saying that it would be well not to allow the canoes to leave Montreal next or Michilimakinac and other posts, until he have informed us of the sentiments the nations of that country will then be, and as soon as he shall have learned entions, he will take occasion to report them to us.

tract of a Letter from M. Berthet, Commandant at the Illinois, to Sieur Lachine, t the Ouyatanons, dated Cahos, 20th October, 1747, whereof he sends us a copy.]

Sieur de Laverendrye.

h 29.-Sieur de Laverendrye, junior, has returned to Montreal with the ChristiI other warriors of his party. In the neighbourhood of Corlac he fell in with a Mohawks and Dutchmen, who were coming to Sarastua, on a scouting party. ght two Mohawk scalps, among which is that of the principal chief of that nation; Dutchman; and a Dutch prisoner, who reports nothing of interest-only says e is considerable talk about peace. This first blow on the Mohawks will not fail en them.

Convoy to Michilimakinac.

20.-Count de la Galissonière orders the dispatch from Montreal of the convoy limakinac, under the command of Lieutenant de St. Vincent. This convoy is ted and sufficiently well provided with provisions and merchandise to supply bundantly. The General writes to Lieutenant de St. Pierre, Commandant there, convoy was delayed in the hope of receiving news from Michilimakinac, but advanced season obliged him to order its dispatch, though he is uninformed of assing at that post; that, should the troubles continue, nothing remains to be to abandon, as already proposed, those posts which are exposed to danger, in blige the guilty to come to Michilimakinac, and even to Montreal, in search of - want; that he must exact the surrender of the murderers, and, should circumorce him, grant peace on the same conditions as those accorded to the Hurons of who were to bring two English prisoners for every Frenchman they had killed; ses must, first of all, be performed, in order that these nations may not betray Hurons have done. The General leaves this officer at liberty to determine,

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