tries, so lately the Scene of so much Cruelty. But both Colonies having now an Abhorrence of the Cruelties of the last War, agreed on a kind of Neutrality for the Indians, during Queen Anne's War, in which Time we lost much ground with our own Indians : For the French having learn'd, by dear Experience, that it was not possible for them to conquer our Five Indian Nations, resolv'd to try all Means to gain their Affections, and in this Art the French are always more successful than in that of War ; and the English failing in two ill-concerted Expeditions against Canada, the Indians lost much of the Opinion they had of the English Power and Valour. . . .
As soon as the Peace was proclaim'd, an open Trade with Monreal was carried on with such Earnestness, that Monreal was fill'd with Indian Goods, and Albany exhausted ; by which means Monreal became the principal, if not the only Indian Market, and the Indians depended entirely on the French for what they wanted. . . .
. . . From the whole, it seems plain, that any Difficulties and Disadvantages this Province has been under, have only proceeded from the Wars, which have continued since the first settling of the Province, to the beginning of the last general Peace. But now, that not only this Province, but likewise our six Nations of Indians are at Peace, and in Amity, both with the French, and all the Indian Nations with whom we can have any Commerce, these Difficulties are all remov'd, and we now enjoy the most favourable Time, that at any time can be hoped for, in order to extend the British Commerce in North-America, while the French not only labour under the Difficulties which I have shown to be inseparable from the Situation of their Colony, but likewise under another Disadvantage, (not before taken notice of) by the Furr-Trade of Canada being restrain'd to one Company. . . .
Cadwallader Colden, Papers relating to . . . the . . . Encouragement of the Indian Trade, etc., in his History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada (London, 1747), second pagination, 25-40 passim.
112. The Government of Canada (1749)
BY PROFESSOR PETER KALM
(Translated by John Reinhold Forster, 1771)
Kalm was a Swedish botanist who travelled in America during the years 1748-1751. He was a painstaking and accurate observer. — Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, IV, 367-368, V, 244; Charming and Hart, Guide, § 89.
