x METALLIC IMPLEMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 63 
_ This may have produced but little effect, and, Feb. 25, 1693, the 
Onondaga speaker said to Gov. Fletcher: “ Wee desire that yo" 
Excellency would be pleased to ord" a Smith to bee with us in oF 
country to repair our armes that wee may defend ourselves 
‘against the French.” Fletcher replied: “1 doe grant yo" request 
"of a Smith, and will order one to live in yo" country to repair yo" 
| armes.”—O’Callaghan, 4:23 
He was not so Swift as his Indian name implied and they re- 
~newed their request July 4, 1693, with an addition. “ Wee begge 
of you to lett us have a Smith & a gunn stock maker in our 
c astle to mend our armes when they are broaken.”—O’Callaghan, 
> In 1700 the French offered to furnish smiths to mend their 
“axes and guns. Some years later this led to a conflict of inter- 
“ests in the Iroquois capital, concerning which Father Jacques 
< ’Heu wrote from Onondaga, May 24, 1708: 
' The English blacksmith has returned after nine months 
bsence. On his arrival those of the French party were not will- 
. ing to give him the anyil which belongs to them, and concealed 
“That matter, I told them, would be discussed on M. de Joncaire’s 
-arrival. It seems to me that it would be very important for the 
good of religion and the French Colony, were there a French 
Blacksmith should be under the Black Gown and an exemplary 
One Donné would be our man, but I see no prospect of 
were provided. Seldom have they been of such political impor- 
tance. | 
~ In 1742 it cost £21 74d to set up the bellows, anvil and vise at 
Jayuga, of which New York bore the cost. So it was proposed 
| to the colonies of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, in 
