USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 58
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At length, in March 1728 after witnessing the failure of his ambitious and unprincipled designs, embarrassed by debts and difficulties and aware that another suit to a large amount had been transmitted from England to this country for collection, he privately took shipping at New Castle, going (in order to avoid his creditors) down to that place, attended only by one friend and the rowers;the ship not being quite ready to sail, he remained on board with the greatest secrecy, none of the inhab. itants of the town except the minister, knowing that he was on board, until after the ship had sailed, and they were apprised of it from Philada. Ilis friends reporting that he had been sent for by Springet Penn and many persons of consequence, in order to receive a new com- mission, with which he would soon return to Pennsylva- nia. D. L.
Copies of several Papers and observations furnished by James Logan to Sir William Keith, and inserted by him into his Report to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, but without any acknowledgment of the source from which he drew them.
PAPERS FURNISHED BY JAMES LOGAN TO SIR WILLIAM KEITH, THEN GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA.
[In .April, 1719, Sir William Keith, Governor of Penn- sylvania, furnished a report to the Lords Commissioners
for Trade and Plantations, for which he obtained great credit, as it was then thought to contain the best infor- mation which at that time they had received .. On which subject I find the following papers in James Logan's hand-writing, viz :- ]
"Materials for Governor Keith's Memorial to. the Board of Trade relating to the Indians.
J. L's rough draught, 10br. 1718.
The Memorial of which the Lords Commissioners have transmitted a Copy, appears as far as any. informa- tion can be had in these parts, to be just and well ground- ed. It is well known, that ever since the expedition of the Sieur la Salle, the French have claimed all the lands to the northward and westward of the British Colonies from Canada along the Lakes and Mechasipi River, in which they further strengthen themselves by alledging that the Article in the Treaty of Ryswick between the British and French Crowns, by which all lands on rivers in America of the mouths of which each nation were then possessed, are conceeded to that nation as high as the first sources of those rivers, is a full cessionof all that tract to the French, 'tho it cannot be probable that it was ever so intended; because it is not only inconsistent with the more ancient grant from the Crown to the Proprie- tors of Carolina, but with the security of all the British Colonies upon the continent of America.
The French, from the time of their first discoveries of the Mechasipi have with great care settled a communi- cation between Canada and the Southern countries on that River, for which they have three different routes, all of which are the same as far as Lake Erie :- They sail in Canoe's from Montreal about three leagues to the falls of St. Louis where they have a Portage or car- rying place by land of about half a league, then they re-embark and row up the stream about 60 leagues to
Extract of a letter from James Logan to John Penn, Esq. dated 27th Feb. 1731-2.
"I think myself obliged also further to observe that as far as can be judged from Sir William Keith's letter to some here, there may be a probability of that com- pany's obtaining the grant they have been soliciting for a large tract westward of this Province on the river Ohio which undoubtedly they represent to be beyond the bounds of Pennsylvania. But as I have been more curious I believe than any other in these parts in collect- ing accounts of that Land and its distance from us, I am verily persuaded that Ohio runs within this Province the whole breadth of it, from the L'at. of 43 to 40. Pray consult De Lisle's map which I take to be a good one as to the distance of the Lakes, &c. remembering the ex- tent of Pennsylvania Westward, is 59 deg. of Longit. from Delaware, which at 69 English miles to a degree at the Equator and proportionably 52 85-100 miles in this Lat. of 40 is 264 miles, that is very near 200 miles west of Sasquehanna at Conestogoe, and I am fully persuaded from all accounts of our Indian Traders who travel it divers times a year that on a direct west line it is not near that distance.
I must farther observe that almost all the lands on Sasquehanna south of the hills above Pextang that bound what is habitable on the east side of the Rivers are generally settled by our People, tho' the 5 nations or Mingoes still claim them. And therefore besides those lands they live on themselves, which they have for some time past thought of selling to New York Govern- ment, they have no other place that they can now re- move to which they call their own, but these lands on Ohio to which they lay an absolute claim; therefore if any attempts should be made by the English to settle them without the consent of those Indians, which I am apprehensive, for the reasons I have mentioned they would not grant, I think it cannot avoid creating a mis- understanding between them and us which 'tis very evident would be fatal to all these Colonies. Now there is not one in that company, as far as I can learn,
211
EARLY HISTORY.
1829.]
Fort Frontenac at the N. side, and at the beginning of Lake Ontario; in this ffort is a small Garrison consisting of one or two companies in the Kings pay. From thence they proceed on Lake Ontario generally reputed to be about 80 leagues in length to those dreadful falls of Niagara, which oblige them to land, the portage is about three leagues, after re-embarking they go up the Strait about 6 leagues, after which they enter Lake Erie which they call 130 leagues in length. .
The shortest passage from hence to Mechasipi by water, is to go up the River of the Miamias or Ouma- nies, that enters Lake Erie on the Southwest about 150 leagues, they then come to another carrying place of about three leagues where the highest land is, and from hence the waters divide their descent between Mechasipi and that Lake; there they embark on- a small shallow river called la Riviere de Portage, down which they row 40 leagues to the River Wabasha or Ouabache, and on that river according to the Traders reckoning 120 leagues to Mechasipi and. thence 350 leagues to the Bay of Mexico. Some call both these Rivers by the same name, and generally Wabache. But they ought to be distinguished, because the head of Ohio comes much more easterly, extending even to the Government of New York, towards Virginia or Carolina, and among divers other large streams it receives the River Peresipi on the South side not far from the mouth of Wabasha, which said river of Peresipi is said to rise in the mountains of Virginia or Carolina.
The other two passages are pricked down on Henne- pin's map, and according to the account given are three: -From the north west of Lake Erie they sail 8 leagues to a ffort on Lake St. Clair, called Pont Chartrain, where there is a settlement of the French, and often 400 Traders meet here. Then along the Lake 7 leagues; thence to the great Michilimakinac 120 leagues; here is a garrison of about 30 men, french, and a vast concourse of Traders, sometimes not less than 1000 besides In- dians, being a common place of Rendezvous; at, and near this place are the Outanies settled. From Lake Huron they pass by the Strait of Michilimakina four leagues, being two in breadth and of a great depth, to the Lake Illinoise, thence 150 leagues on the Lake to ffort Miami situated at the mouth of the river Chigagou. This Fort is not regularly garrisoned. From hence came those Indians of the same name, viz. Miami, who are settled on the forementioned River that runs into' Erie: Up the River Chigagou they sail but 3 leagues to a portage of a quarter of a league, they then enter a very small lake of about a mile, and have another very small portage, and again another of two miles to the ri- ver- of Illinois, thence down the same 130 leagues to Mechasipi ..
The 3d is from Michilimakina to the Lake des Puans
who have any notion in these affairs but Sir William Keith, who undoubtedly will pretend to know a great deal, and will thereupon be exceedingly positive, for it has ever been his method when it might be expected, he should know a thing, or where he thinks it concerns his credit to be thought to know it, he is immediately very sure he knows it absolutely, and all who dare oppose or contradict, are only laughed at in his broad way. But on the other hand I am much more sure that he knows but little or nothing of these affairs, and therefore his positiveness in them if he is believed may prove perni- cions .- Sir William indeed got himself a Reputation with the Board of Trade by sending them about the year 1719 an account of the French Settlements, their Trade, Strength, Indians, &c. which he had wholly from me, being transcribed verbatim from the Papers I fur- nished him, of which I still have the Original draught. But Col. Gordon having a like occasion, viz. in answer to queries sent him last year from that Board, transmit. ted another copy of the very same, owning from whom he had it; this, if that Board now adverts to any thing that comes from these parts may explain the other."
90 leagues, thence to the River Puans (or Panas) 80 leagues, thence up the same to a Portage of about four miles to the River Ouisconsing, thence 40 leagues to Mechasipi.
From the mouth of Onisconsing to the month of the Illinois is reputed about 150 leagues on Mechasipi, from thence to the mouth of Ohio 70 leagues, so that from the mouth of Ouisconsing it is above 5006 leagues .*
These distances are as the Traders reckon them, they appear to be generally overdone, which may be owing to those people coasting along the shores of the lakes, and taking in all the windings of the Rivers.
The French use their utmost endeavours to bring over all the Indians to their interest. The Iroquoise, or 5 nations have stood chicfly in their way, but by the Je- suits and other means, they daily debauch them from us, their number of the whole is not now above 2000 fighting men of which the French have drawn over 700 to inhabit amongst- themselves, viz. 400 seated at the Falls of St. Louis, on the south side of St. Lawrence, and 300 on the north side. The rest of them are planted chiefly along the Lake Ontario, at some distance from it. There are no Indians in the French Interest on this side of St. Lawrence nearer than the Miamis or Twoitthis, as the Iroquoise call them, who are about 2000 seated chiefly on the forementioned River Miamis flow- ing into Lake Erie, and on or near the branches of Qua- bache.
The Illinoise are about 3000 men on or near the River of that name. The Michilimakinas or Outawas were formerly 3000, but now are scarce 500. The Nokes 100. The Fellesavoins 200. The Sac's 200. The Puans six hundred. All these. joined with the French agains the Iroquoise, and all of them except the Miamis are seated about or near to Lake Illinoise, which is commonly called by them Michigan, and on the rivers that run into it, and on Lake Puans, and the River Illinoise.
There are also divers other nations between Mechi- gan and Mechasipi, as the Renards or Foxes, Mascho- tins, Kickapoos, but these being farther off did not join the French against the Iroquoise.
On Mechasipi and its branches there are many great nations, especially in the west, as the Missouris, Osages, Accansias, who are different from those of Accansa on the East, with many more, not less as is affirmed, than sixty thousand men, with all of whom the French have Peace, and some alliance.
On the other hand, the English to the Northward of Carolina have not 1500 men in their interest excepting the Iroquoise. In New England and Connecticut they have very few. In New York they have only the River Indians, besides the Iroquoise. In Jersey and Pennsyl- vania the own, or home Indians, are exceedingly de- creased, and being in subjection to the Iroquoise take their rules from them. In Maryland and Virginia there are very few excepting those that Colonel Spots- wood with great industry has lately established there. Those of Carolina and the nations lately in ffriendship have been very numerous, but the Iroquoise, whether prompted by the French, or from whatever other cause not yet known have of late years made great inroads upon them, and cannot as yet by any endeavours of the English be diverted from it. But of these people their strength and Interest, the best acccount will natu- rally come from Carolina.
The best methods that, may be proposed to prevent the designs of the French seem to be these:
To use all reasonable endeavours to preserve the Iro- quoise; tho' the English of Virginia and Carolina are much incensed against them, and the French endea- vour to animate all the other English to the northward in the same manner, as being bloody, barbarons, and imperious, at the same time that themselves cajole
(* I am not sure these numbers are rightly copied- The manuscript was much decayed.)
212
EARLY HISTORY-INDIANS.
[APRIL
them, and endeavour by all means to make them their own, yet their preservation seems to be of vast import- ance to us.
2d. To encourage the Government of Virginia to ex- tend their settlements beyond the mountains over which the present Governor has happily discovered passes. And to build some fforts on Lake Erie with the concurrence of the Iroquoise settled not far from thence -this colonel Spotswoood had in view till discouraged by the repeal of their act for the Indian Trade, the con- sequences of which, 'tis doubted, were not clearly un- derstood. .
3dly. To encourage the trade of South Carolina, which Province enjoys excellent opportunity of making alliances with all the Indians to the southward of the Lakes and to the east of Mechasipi ;- to which their grant from the Crown gives them a claim.
4thly. To give such orders and instructions to all the Governors that they take special care of the commerce with the Indians; that while they endeavour to promote the trade of their own people they shall do nothing to weaken the interest of the other colonies, to which Traders are too subject, gain being their only view. By these means, all the Indians with whom we have any commerce, may be very much united to the British Interest, for the Indians being supplied generally with better goods, (except Fire Arms, Powder, and some Trinkets, ) and at easier rates by the English than by the French, they will choose to deal with us, (and their Inte- rest in this is commonly the strongest tie upon them) ra- ther than the French, who indeed seem to exceed us in Industry and in accommodating themselves to the hu- mours of those barbarous People, and they have now a vast number of bold expert Traders, whom they call Coureurs des bois, who generally are as capable of the fatigues of long journeys and fighting by ambushes in the woods, the common way of making war amongst them, as any of the Savages. Yet some of Virginia and Carolina have shown that they are scarce to be exceed- ed in that way."
My letter and observation's to Col. Keith on his report to the Board of Trade. 8th 2, mo. 1719. J. L.
May it please the Governor,-I have pursuant to thy directions considered thy report to the Lords Commis- sioners for Trade and Plantations, and according to thy injunctions shall offer a very few observations upon it with the greatest freedom, which I choose to do in writ- ing that they may more easily be taken into considera- tion if they in any wise appear to deserve it.
Thy report in the latter part of it will I doubt give a notion that the Indian trade. in these British Colonies is a considerable thing, whereas upon a reasonable com- putation I believe the whole of it will not be found to amount to 40,000 sterling per annum. which is scarce so much as some one merchant in divers parts of Europe will pass through his hands in a year-and though late- ly there was an uncommon profit for two years togeth- er got upon deer skins, which is now wholly over, and tis hardly probable the like will return again, perhaps there will be no service in mentioning it as in p. 17.
Among the commodities used in the Indian trade lin- nens are not the least considerable article, which to give a just notion of the whole ought therefore not to be omit- ted.p.20 tis proposed that no restriction be made to pro- hibit the kings subjects of any of his colonies from trad- ing with the Indians in any other colony as freely as the inhabitants of it can do: but unless there be some gen- eral provisions to prohibit or regulate the sale of strong liquors to them, this may prove extremely inconvenient, for it will be in vain for any Governor to endeavour to regulate that affair among their own Indians if all their neighbours shall have it in their power to break through the prescribed rules with impunity.
The business of the Forts being of very great import- ance seems to require some further consideration :-- That it is the interest of these colonies to have Forts
extended as far back as is practicable is very obvious, especially on Lake Erie, where at present, there are no Indians, and on Ontario where the 5.nations. are settled, which two are proposed to be under the direction of the governors of Virginia and New York, but I cannot as yet understand the other parts of the proposal; in "that a Fort should be built at the head of Potomac" to be.under Maryland, and another at the head of Susque- hanna to be under Pennsylvania" for the head of the first, so near the christian inhabitants, and so few In- dians are settled upon it, that I cannot well perceive the service of one there. But the head of the latter is in New York government, between Albany and the seat of the five nations, so that it would be impracticable for. this government to settle, or have the direction of any Fort there, nor is it easy (to me at least) to com- prehend the service of it in such a situation, if there be, as is proposed, Fortifications settled to the westwerd of that place.
But as this government has hitherto maintained a very friendly understanding with the Indians without any great expence, it would certainly prove very disagree- able to the country to be put to any charge by direc- tions from home on that account: we have at least equ- alled, if not exceeded our neighbours in preserving peace with these people; and if all the other colonies had taken the same measures, we should have them all much more united to us. The part for this province is limited and it does not reach any one of those places where a Fort is supposed would be most necessary, unless that were Ontario, which notwithstanding falls more properly and conveniently under the cognisance of New York. Upon the whole I think there will sev- eral strong objections lie against the proposal in p. 27, which I request the Governor to take into further con- sideration. Thus I have roughly hinted at those heads, and take the freedom to offer this as being designed solely for the Governor's service by thy
ffaithful friend, J. L.
Postcript to Sir William Keith's Report.
"Least at any time it should be suggested to your lordships, that in imitation of the French, a society may be incorporated, and a company erected for carrying on the trade upon this continent with the Indians, I must beg leave to observe, that such a priviledge or immu- nity would certainly become a very heavy burthen up- on, and great discouragement to the planting as well as trading interests of all these colonies, who from the taste they haveof England liberty are naturally averse to all mo- nopolies and hardly ever will be restrained by the maxims or example of a French government. Besides any such restrictions upon the inhabitants of these colonies would altogether destroy the intent and design of the above scheme which is founded on reasoning after this manner, viz. That under a good regulation of govern- ment the relative advantages which subsist between any state and its colonies abroad are reciprocal.
For as the state has unquestionably a right, and most certainly ought to regulate the trade of its colonies for public advantage, so the colonies have at least an equal, if not a preferable claim to the subsistance and smaller profits which arise from that trade unto those who must be employed in carrying it on.
That when any public interest will be most effectual- ly carried on by the united strength of many ajacent colonies, such an union ought carefully to be established. with equality amongst them, and every thing tending to weaken or obstruct this union is to be considered as prejudicial to the public.
That the Indian nations upon this continent are not to be gained otherwise than by trade, and this trade cannot be managed to any purpose without the mutual assistance of all the English colonies; but from the dif- ferent constitutions and particular interests of these col- onies such a regulation is not to be obtained without the authority of great Great Britain.
1829.]
A STATEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL BUSINESS
OF THE
Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania-of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of the City and County of Philadelphia-of the Mayor's Court of the City of Philadelphia-and of the Court of Quar- ter Sessions of the County of Philadelphia.
FOR THE YEAR 1828.
Circuit Court, U.S. Oyer & Terminer.
Mayor's Court.
Quarter Sessions.
of Bills.
Whole No.
True Bills. |
Ignoramus.
Convicted. |
Acquitted. |
Not tried.
Whole No.
True Bills.
Ignoramus.
Convicted.
Acquitted.
Not tried.
of bills,
Whole No.
True Bills.
Ignoramus.
Convicted.
Acquitted.
Not tried.
Whole No.
True Bills.
Ignoramus.
Convicted.
Acquitied.
Not tried.
Arson
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
162
115 47
60 22 33
221
126
95
71 19 36
Bigamy
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
Burglary
9
8
1 7
1
4
1
1
3
2
2
2
Escape
1
1
1
1
1
1
Forg'y & uttering, &c
15
15
3
4
8
6
6
4
2
4
4
2
2
Fraudul't insolvency
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Kidnapping
1
1
1
4
4
4
192
159 33
123 19 17
168
134
34
93,28 13
Libel
1
1
1
1 1
1
132
0008
3
46
40
6
19;
9 12
21
20
1
2
8
Murder -
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
7
6
1
1
5
|Perjury
1
1
4
4
1
3
Profaneness
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
Riot
9
6
3
1
16
11
5
3
2
6
Robbery
1
1
30
27
5
2 20
48
42
6
4 24
Unlawful Lottery -
3
3
1
Total
30
126
4
5
8|13
22
18
4 15
3
0
473
374 99)
224 56 94
5071
363|
144|
205 60 98
A statement of the number of Prisoners received at the Penitentiary at Philadelphia, for the year 1828, the nature of the offences for which they were convicted; the Counties from which they came; ages &c.
Arson
3
Delaware
-
Assault and Battery with intent to murder
2
Franklin
Bigamy
1
Lancaster
Burglary -
13
Montgomery -
6
Foreging and uttering forged note
Northumberland
Horse stealing
5
Perry
4
Kidnapping
1
Philadelphia
230
Larceny
231
Pike
2
Manslaughter
1
Schuylkill
2
Misdemeanor, not otherwise enumerated
10
Susquehanna -
1
Murder (second degree)
Tioga
4
Receiving stolen goods
Wayne
1
Riot
2
Total
286 First conviction
- 193
Second
53
Third
-
.
19
Fourth -
12
Fifth -
0
Berks
.
-
3
Bucks
1
Chester
-
5
Columbia
-
1
Cumberland
2
Dauphin
1
1
2
3
3
3
Conspiracy
5
Forcible Entry
2
2
2
Gaming -
- House
Larceny -1
Malicious Mischief
1
1
1
Manslaughter .
1
Misdeameanor, not otherwise enum'd.
13
2
2
4
5
Nuisance
Receiv'g stolen goods
3
3
2
1
5
Tippling House
1
Several of the convictions were for offences com- mitted in the Penitentiary.
COUNTIES.
Adams
1
.
.
Sixth
-
Assault
Assault and Battery Assault to Murder
4
3
.
279
-
279
2
Felony, not otherwise enumerated
1
Northampton -
1
7
3
2
3
-
6
3
312
A STATEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL BUSINESS, &c.
OFFENCES.
of Bills.
of Bills.
11
10
14 2
3
214
SHAD FISHERIES OF THE DELAWARE.
[APRIL
SEXES AND COLOUR.
White. Black.
Males
140 87 =227
Females
15
37
279
AGES.
Under 20 years
66
From 20 to 30
117
30 to 40
65
40 to 50
23
50 to 60
5
60 to 70
3
DISCHARGED.
279
On expiration of sentences
197
By pardon - /
61
Removed to Arch street Prison
4
Escaped
2
Died
35
Remaining in Prison on the 1st January, 1828
Males 504, Females 72,
1
- 576
Remaining in Prison 31st December, 1828.
Males 484, Females 72,
556
Excess of number discharged over number received
20
Received at the Penitentiary Males.
Females. Total.
during the years 1825 ..
223
4 32
255
1826. . .. 234
62
296
1827. .237
57
294/
1828. .
227
52
279
A STATEMENT, Exhibiting the number of Commitments received at the Juil of the City and County of Philadelphia, (Arch street, ) for the year 1828, the Offences, Sexes, &c.
MONTIIS OF THE YEAR.
ed by fine and imprisonment at hard labour.
Charged with Felonies, and other offences punish-
Charged with Misdemeanours, and other offences
Charged with being disturbers of the Peace, Idle,
Convicted as Vagrants, and for Profane Swearing.
Number of Number of
Males.
Females.
Total number each month.
60
64
48
81
134
58
37
73
61
48
120
139
51
69
24 43
March,
62
59
39
150
143
62
50
55
April,
50
72
76
104
133
51
58
60
59
90
55
149
173
53 56
67 84
60 48
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