I Sent Back His 3 Men With Some Tobacco & Other Provisions, But Kept Their
Arms, Bidding Them Tell Mr. Bridgar
On my behalf that had I known hee would
have come himself on this Expedition, I would have taken my
Mesures to have
receav'd him ere he could have had the time to get back; but I heard of it
a litle too late, & that in some short time I would goe visit him to know
what hee would bee at, & that seeing hee pretended to bee so ignorant in
what quallity I liv'd in that country, I would goe and inform him. Before
these men's departure to Mr. Bridgar's I was inform'd that some English men
had hidden Powder without the fort. I examin'd them all. Not one would owne
it; but at last I made them confess it, & 5 or 6 pound was found that had
ben hid. Then I took care to secure the fort. I sent 4 of the English men
of the fort unto my Brother-in-Law, & I prepar'd to goe discover what Mr.
Bridgar was doing. I came to his House & went in before hee had notice of
my coming. Hee appeared much surpris'd; but I spoke to him in such a manner
as shewed that I had no intent to hurt him, & I told him that by his late
acting hee had so disoblidged all the ffrench that I could not well tell
how to assist him. I told him hee had much better gon a milder way to work,
in the condition hee was in, and that seeing hee was not as good as his
word to me, I knew very well how to deall with him; but I had no intention
at that time to act any thing against Mr. Bridgar. I only did it to
frighten him, that hee should live kindly by me; & in supplying him from
time to time with what he wanted, my chief ayme was to disable him from
Trading, & to reduce him to a necessity of going away in the Spring.
Seeing Mr. Bridgar astonish'd at my being there with 12 men, & in a
condition of ruining him if I had desire to it, I thought fit to setle his
mynd by sending away 6 of my men unto my Brother-in-Law, & kept but 6 with
me, 4 of which I sent out into the woods to kill some provisions for Mr.
Bridgar. About this time I receaved a letter from my Brother wherin hee
blam'd me for acting after this manner with persons that but 2 days agoe
endeavor'd to surprise me; that if I did so, hee would forsake all; that I
had better disarm them for our greater security, & that I should not charge
myself with any of them. It was also the judgment of the other french men,
who were all exasperated against Mr. Bridgar. Not to displease my owne
people, instead of 4 English men that I promis'd Mr. Bridgar to take along
with me that hee might the better preserve the rest, I took but 2, one of
which I put in the Fort at the Island, & the other I brought unto our
habitation. I promiss'd Mr. Bridgar before I left him to supply him with
Powder & anything else that was in my power, & demanding what store of
musquets hee had remaining, hee told me hee had Ten, & of them 8 were
broken. I tooke the 8 that were spoyl'd, & left him myne that was well
fixt, promising to get his mended. Hee also offer'd me a pocket Pistoll,
saying hee knew well enough that I intended to disarm him. I told him it
was not to disarm him, to take away his bad arms & to give him good in
stead of them. I offerr'd him my Pistolls, but hee would not accept of
them. In this state I left him, & went to our habitation to give my
Brother-in-Law an account of what I had don.
Some dayes after, I went to the Fort in the Island to see if all was well
there, & having given all necessary directions I return'd unto our place,
taking the Lieutenant of the Fort along with me, unto whom I gave my owne
chamber & all manner of libberty; taking him to bee wiser than his captain,
whom they were forc'd to confine in my absence. Hee thanked mee for my
civillityes, & desiring hee might goe to his Captain, I consented. About
this time I had advise, by one of the men that I left to guard the fort in
the Island, that Mr. Bridgar, contrary to his promis, went thether with 2
of his men, & that our men having suffer'd them to enter into the fort,
they retain'd Mr. Bridgar & sent the other 2 away, having given them some
Bread & Brandy. This man also told me that Mr. Bridgar seemed very much
trobl'd at his being stopt, & acted like a mad man. This made me presently
goe to the fort to hinder any attempts might be made against me. Being
arrived, I found Mr. Bridgar in a sad condition, having drank to excess.
Him that comanded in the fort had much adoe to hinder him from killing the
Englishman that desired to stay with us. Hee spoke a thousand things
against me in my hearing, threatning to kill me if I did not doe him right.
But having a long time born it, I was at length constraint to bid him bee
quiet; & desirous to know his dessignes, I asked him if any of his People
were to come, because I see smoake & fiers in crossing the River. Hee Said
Yes, & that hee would shortly shew me what hee could doe, looking for 14
men which hee expected, besides the 2 my people return'd back. I told him I
knew very well hee had not soe many men, having let many of his men perish
for want of meate, for whom hee was to bee accountable; & morover I was not
afraid of his threats.
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