day and the Belt of Wampum, who all told me that the
building of a Trading House had been agreed on between
them and the Onondago Council, since the time of the
detachment of French, under the command of Mons'
Celaroon, had gone down the river Ohio, and said they
would send a message by me to their Brother Onas, on
that head.
After I had delivered the present and done the chief of the business, the Indians in publick Council, by a Belt of Wampum, requested that the Governor of Pennsy]- vania would immediately build a strong house (or Fort) at the Forks of Monongehela, where the Fort Du Quesne now stands, for the protection of themselves and the English Traders.
But on my return this Government rejected the pro-
posal I had made, and condemned me for making such
a report to the government, alledging it was not the intention of the Indians. The Provincial Interpreter, who
being examined by the House of Assembly, denyed that
he knew of any instructions I had to treat with the Indians
for building a Trading House, though he wrote the speech
himself, and further said he was sure the Six Nations
would never agree to have a Trading House built there,
and Governor Hamilton, though he by his letter of instructions ordered me to sound the Indians on that head,
let the House know he had given me no such instructions: all which instructions will appear on the Records
of Indian Affairs.[1]
————
- ↑ The records appear to bear out Croghan's contention that he was given instructions to discuss the erection of afort. See Pennsylvania Colonial Records, v, pp. 522, 529. Historians admit that this neglect of the Indians' request was attended with evil consequences to the English colonies, and Pennsylvania in particular. Consult Pennsylvania Colonial Records, v, pp. 537, 547, for the Indian demand and the Assembly's refusal.—Ed.
