THOMAS] THE FRENCH AND THE ENGLISH POLICY f)4c9 



Colbert, writing to Talon, April 6, 1(566, says: 



III order to strengthen the Colony in the manner you propose, by bringing the 

 isohitcd settlcnientH into parishes, it appears to mr, withovit waiting to depend on 

 the new colonists who may be sent Irom France, notliing would contribute more to 

 it than to endeavor to civilize the Algouquins, the Humus and other Indians who 

 have embraced Cliristianity, and to indnec tliem to ooine and settle in common with 

 the French, to live with them and raise their cliildren according to our maimers and 

 customs.' 



In his reply, some seven niontlis later, 'SI. Talon informs Colbert tliat 

 he lias endeavored to put his suggestions into practical operation under 

 police regulations. 



In another letter, dated April 6, 1()()7, Colbert writes to Talon- as 

 follows: 



Recommendation to mould the Indians, settled near ns, alter our manners and 

 language. 



I confess that I agreed with you that very little regard has been paid, up to the 

 present time, in New Fr.auce, to the police and civilization of the Algonquius and 

 Hurons (who were a long time ago subjected to the King's domination,) through our 

 neglect to detach them from their savage customs and to oblige them to adopt ours, 

 especially to become acquainted with our language. On the contrary, to carry on 

 some traffic with them, our French have been necessitated to attract those people, 

 especially such as have embraced Christianity, to the vicinity of our settlements, 

 if possible to mingle there with them, in order that through course of time, having 

 only but one law and one master, they might like nMse constitute only ono peojile and 

 one race. 



That this was the policy favored by the King is exi)ressly stated 

 by Du Chesneau in his letter to M. de Seignelay, November 10, KJTO. 

 "I communicated," he says, "to the Keligious communities, both male 

 and female, and even to private persons, the King's and yoiar intentions 

 regarding the Frenchitication of the Indians, They all promised me to 

 use their best efforts to execute them, and I hope to let you have some 

 news thereof next year. I shall begin by setting the example, and will 

 take some yoiiug Indians to have them instructed.''-^ 



In another letter to the same person, dated November 13, 1681, he 

 says: "Amidst all the plans presented to me to attract the Indians 

 among us and to accustom them to our manners, that from which 

 most success may be anticipated, without fearing the inconveniences 

 common to all the othins, is to establish Villages of those people iu 

 our midst. "^ 



That the same jxilicy was in vogue as late as 1701 is shown by the 

 fact that at this time the Abnaki were taken under French protection 

 and placed, as the records say, "In the center of the colony." 



THE ENGLISH POLICY 



In attempting to determine from history and the records the British 

 policy in dealing with the Indians in regard to their possessory rights, 



' New York Colonial Documents, vol. ix, \). 43. * Ibid., p. 136. 



»Ibid., p. 59. «Ibid., p. 150. 



