Detroit 2nd August 1789

Winds S. W. Fresh Breeze, upon examining the provisions found 246 Pounds of Biscuit and Flour and 50 pounds of Pork damaged and lost, owing to the Provision Boat sinking on the Lake on the 10th of July, this day delivered up the Corporal and Five Soldiers with their Arms and Ammunition to Major Murray Commandant at this place, likewise delivered over the Provisions and Stores to the Commissary of Provisions at this Post, and took his Receipt for the same.

Latitude of Detroit 42° 13′ North

N. S. E. W.

Commander of one of His Majesty's Vessels on Lake Erie

34. 66. 7. 201 From the narrows of Fort Erie to the narrows at the entrance of Detroit River.

Quebec May 1790.

Examined

Gother Mann

Capt Command'g R'l Eng'rs

[Q 47 I page 210]

TO COL. MCKEE

DETROIT 14th May 1790

SIR The last letters from the Governours Secretary express His Excellency's Expectations that all obstacles would before this be removed to the immediate Location of such Loyalists as under various Instructions are entitled to Grants of Waste Land. We are sensible of the various Causes which protract all Transactions with the Indians, but as there are numbers to whom the Board has pledged the faith of Government for early locations and as at present the King has no regular Grant of any land unappropriated but a Square of Seven Miles on the River au Canard whereupon they can be fixed. The Board is desirous, if you think it consistent with propriety under the present circumstances to direct the Deputy Surveyor to report immediately a Plan of a Tract from point au Petè [Petée] to the Grant of June 1784

Entrance of the Straight, that it may be laid out in Townships and Lots for the earliest accommodation of the Petitioners.

That the Board taking into consideration the letter of Alex'r McKee Esq Deputy Agent of Indian Affairs

Agree that the Deputy Agent be requested to enable the Board to inform his Excellency the Governor why their minute of the 7th of December Last respecting the purchase to be made from the Indians was not carried into effect without Reserve, or if the cause of the Reserves is of a private nature not proper for the knowledge of the Board that he would communicate the same thro the proper Channel to the Governor as early as possible;

That the Institutions of the 2nd of September last respecting a County Town may be reconsidered as that it rendered nugatory by the Reserves stated in Capt. McKee's Letter to the board of yesterday's date, which reserves cover the whole unoccupied Ground on ye east side of the Streight. That a Copy of the Minute be communicated to Capt McKee.

A true extract from ye minutes

T. SMITH C. L. B. Dist. of Hesse

Indian Affairs M: G. II.

COL. MCKEE TO THE LAND BOARD

DETROIT 23d May 1790

GENTLEMEN, Having received a Copy of the proceedings of the 22nd Inst, wherein you request that I should enable the Board to inform his Excellency the Governor "why your minute of the 7th of December last respecting the purchase to be made from the Indians was not carried into effect without Reserve."

In answer to your request, it is incumbent on me to make the earliest report through the Superintendant General for his Excellency the Governor's Information, and willing in the mean time to give the Board every Satisfaction in my power consistent with my Duty.

I now inform you that I found it impracticable to obtain so extensive a tract, without paying some attention to the Claims of the Indians, and in complying with the express orders of His Excellency the Governor, that all possible regard shall be had to their ease and comfort, which would have been materially effected had not this reserve been made

I have the honor to be Gentlemen

Your most obedient & humble servant

To the Gentlemen of the Land Board

Indian Affairs M. G. II.

A. MCKEE

DISSENTING OPINION

I dissent from this minute because I do not think that this Board ought to presume to advise his Excellency the Governor on Subjects so intimately connected with the Indian Department; from the Reports of which I have every reason to be convinced that His Excellency's Instructions have been executed in the most advantageous Manner for the Crown whose Honour is equally concerned in securing the comfort and Peace of mind of the Indians under its Protection, and the undisturbed enjoyment of their Farms to the White Inhabitants, which could not be accomplished by any Means so effectual as those adopted by the Agent for Indian Affairs in the late Purchase.

Because several matters stated in the minute do not correspond with official Reports made to me several opinions therein expressed are contrary to mine and because I do not conceive that an Inquisition on the Conduct of Officers who from their Situation are Responsible to their proper Superiors is a fit Occupation for this Board, nor animidverstions thereon, a proper subject for the employment of its Members as such

Indian Affairs M. G. II

PAT. MURRAY

No 37

LORD DORCHESTER TO MR. GRENVILLE.

QUEBEC 21st June 1790

SIR, Intelligence having been received at Detroit, that the Indians upon the Ohio, in the course of their hostilities against the settlers of that Country, had lately gone so far, as to burn one of their prisoners, a message of remonstrance was sent to them from the post to prevent if possible the like cruelties hereafter.

Eight prisoners, who had made their escape from the Indians, and came into Detroit, have been sent down to Niagara, and from thence to their friends in the United States, with some provisions for their journey.

I am with much respect and esteem Sir

Your most obedient and most humble servant

SIR, Thirteen prisoners, taken by a party of Indians on or near the Ohio, having been brought into the vicinity of Detroit in the Month of July last, the Commanding officer caused the King's Displeasure at such conduct to be signified to the chiefs in such a way as to induce them to deliver up these people, who were kindly treated, furnished with provisions, and according to their wish, sent by the way of the Moravian settlement to Fort Pitt, as the safest & nearest rout to their homes.

Care was taken at the same time not to encourage practices of this sort by the offer of a ransom.

I am with much respect & esteem, Sir

Your most obedient and most humble servant

The Right Hon'ble W. W. Grenville.

Endorsed :-Quebec 25th Sept'r 1790 Lord Dorchester No 54 R. 4th Nov'r [Q 46 part II page 377]

DORCHESTER

REPORT ON THE STATE OF FORTS LERNOULT,* MICHILIMACKINAC, &C.

Detroit

State of Fort Lernoult Fort Lernoult at Detroit although in want of some things, yet it is not altogether in a bad state of repair; the following are the principal deficiencies. Some of the Platforms want trifling repairs, one new Mortar Bed, and one Gun Carriage are wanting; All the Drains want opening, they are now choaked up and very offensive, and the water stagnates under the floors of the several Buildings. Part of the interior line of the Parapet wants to be new sodded, or rather lined with Oak Planks. The Pump is out of repair, and some repairs are wanted to the roofs and Floors of the Barracks and Storehouses.

A Part of the Fraize is too weak, and the Abbatis has begun to decay. All the Checks of the Embrazures should be lined with Planks, they are at present Hurdle work, which is not sufficient to stand the shocks of the Firing from the Guns now in the fort, most of them being too short for Battery; the scaling of these Guns has already destroyed some of the Embrazures, which ought immediately to be rebuilt.

Defects of Fort Lernoult

}

The disposition of the Building within the Fort is the most injudicious that could have been devised, as they do not admit of any interior space for a place of Arms, or Parade, where the Garrison can assemble.

The Fort being small and constructed with Half Bastions, of course their Faces are not properly defended, and the Ditch and Palisading is very imperfectly seen. There does not appear to me any other remedy for this, but in placing a small Blockhouse over the middle of the Ditch upon each Front to defend the same. The Repairs as before stated, together with these defences in the Ditch might cost about Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds. The Powder Magazin without the Fort wants the Floor to be compleated, this Building is in every respect badly situated and too much exposed.

Citadel or Barracks

inclosed

In what is called the Citadel, which is only the Barracks inclosed with a Picketted Fence, the Buildings want considerable repairs. The Soldiers Barracks want entire new Shingling; the Partitions, weather boarding, Floors &c want repairing, and several new sashes are wanting. The Officers Barracks want repairs, particularly the lower stories, where new Doors, window shutters, steps &c are necessary, and the Drains require to be opened and cleared. The Floors, Roofs and Sashes are in very *Heitman gives this name as Le Noult and says it was afterwards called Fort Shelby.