Document: Letter from Johannes de la Montagne to the Governor of Canada

Holding Institution

Document ID

NYSA_A1810-78_V12_87

Description

Fort Orange. Letter. Vice-director La Montagne to M. De la Poterie, governor of Three Rivers, Canada; the Mohawks desire a peace with the Canada Indians, and send some French prisoners for exchange [In O'Callaghan's Hist, of N. Netherland, II, 366.] [1658]

Document Date

1658-08-15

Document Date (Date Type)

1658-08-15

Document Type

Letter

Document Type Unlinked

Letter

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Translation

Sir,

The Indians, called Maquas by us, have come here on the 13th of this month, bringing with them a Frenchman named Louis Paraget, whom (as they told us) they desire to return to your Lordship with two others, in exchange for six of their people who are held prisoner there, trying at the same time to conclude a general peace with all the Indians in your region. And as they dare not do it themselves, they have asked me urgently to assist them with someone who has knowledge of the French language to help them in this matter. I could hardly refuse them this for fear of causing an obstacle or ruining an opportunity to do a good work. For this reason I have dispatched this soldier, bearer hereof, name Henry Maertin, to serve them in this work according to his ability. I hope that your Lordship will take in good part what I am doing, which only proceeds from good intentions and affection. Meanwhile, I remain (after my humble compliments) Sir,

At Fort Orange, 15 August 1658.

[ ADDRESSED: ]

To MonsieurMonsieur de la Poterie Governor of Three Rivers In New France

La Montagne

References

From the collections of the New York State Archives, Albany, New York. https://www.archives.nysed.gov/

Translation link see: http://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=tei/A1810/NYSA_A1810-78_V12_87.xml

Published bound volume is also available: Translated in: Correspondence, 1647-1653, trans. and ed. Charles T. Gehring ("New Netherland Documents Series") (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2000).

Copyright to the published bound volume is held by the Holland Society of New York.
A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.