306 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. IV. 



informed of the complicated circumstances attending that remote trade 

 as I could wish, or as it is necessary I should be. I enclose to you a few 

 hints and memorandums upon that subject, and I request you will 

 with your leisure correct them and suggest to me all such as your long 

 experience and knowledge of that country, and your late observations 

 may have furnished you with, that I may be the better enabled to give 

 that encouragement I wish to so essential a branch of trade, but at the 

 same time carefully avoid giving latitudes, which in the present state of 

 affairs might tend to prejudice what we most want to preserve. So 

 heavily do the traders complain of the losses they have sustained that to 

 content them I have given passes for lOO canoes upon the conditions I 

 have already mentioned to you, . that whenever you see the least 

 prospect of danger you will not suffer a single article to be sent." 



t 



Again, on the 31st of May, he said: "The Pottowatamies and all other 

 Indians at trading posts may be informed that if they ever again permit 

 the enemy to pillage the traders they may rest assured that a trader will 

 never be permitted to return to them — they being on their hunt or any 

 other evasive argument will not be any more admitted as an excuse. If 

 traders are sent amongst them at their request, it is their duty to protect 

 them, and they must never leave their villages defenceless. If they keep 

 out proper scouts and support that intercourse with each other which the 

 times require, they can never be surprised. Much credit should be 

 given to the Indians towards the Mississippi, who have so faithfully 

 protected their traders." 



In August, 1782, the reckless misconduct of some traders caused the 

 adoption of more stringent regulations than ever before. 



" As the traders will not conform to regulations established for the last 

 year, recommended by his excellency the governor-general, although 

 their passes oblige them to conform to such regulations, it is not judged 

 necessary to stop trade on account of the obstinacy and demerit of the 

 trader; therefore another scheme is proposed to them to avoid the ruin of 

 the most worthy. Goods will be permitted to go to a certain number of 

 wintering grounds. Proper people will be chosen by the lieutenant- 

 governor for these places. The others must lodge their goods in the 

 fort under a proper person also chosen by the lieutenant-governor, and 

 they will be permitted to take an equal quantity out weekly, giving 

 bond that they will sell none but by retail at the post." 



During the same summer a commission composed of Lieut.-Col. 

 Henry Hope, Sir John Johnson, and James Stanley Goddard, was 

 sent to Mackinac to inquire among other things into the condition 



